Feather of a Swan

Chapter 35:

Emma watched as Regina walked away, and then she returned to Granny's Diner.

Regina was right. She should probably tell her father how things were between them. It wasn't fair to keep him in the dark like this.

So Emma calmly asked him to walk with her to the Sheriff's Station, and David quickly accepted that suggestion. Snow flashed Emma a little smile as father and daughter left the diner.

Once they reached the Sheriff's Station and David was about to leave, Emma said: ,,Hey dad, can we talk for a moment?"

,,Sure," David said. ,,Everything okay?"

,,Uh.." Emma wasn't sure how to do this. Really, it was a bit funny. A full-grown woman about to "come out" to her father. And telling him exactly who she had fallen in love with. Even in Emma's head it sounded like some sort of mad story. And it almost was.

,,What is it, Emma?" David asked, and now he sounded a bit concerned.

,,I, uh.. haven't been completely honest about the reason why me and Hook ended things," Emma said. Yeah. For once she chose the right approach.

David's expression immediately grew dark. ,,What did he do, Emma?"

,,Actually, it was me who did something, dad."

,,You? What did you do?"

Messed things up completely. But I'm not unhappy about it. Not anymore.

,,I fell in love with someone else."

Admittedly, David looked a bit shocked, and Emma couldn't blame him one bit. But the prince quickly recovered and asked: ,,Alright. Who?"

Here it comes.

Emma sucked in a breath. ,,It's…Uhh.. It's… Regina."

Afterwards, Emma would often think back and be grateful that her father wasn't eating or drinking anything in that moment, because his daughter's little confession might just have made him spit the lot out.

David's reaction was quite similar to Snow's. It's a known fact that spouses often "adopts" each other's expressions and facial features.

The prince stared at his daughter, his mouth opened with a pop and then he said: ,,Regina as in… Regina?"

,,Do you know any other Regina's?" Emma quipped half-heartedly.

,,Right. Okay," the prince said, still looking completely shell shocked.

,,I know it's strange, dad. Believe me, I was as surprised myself, but..."

,,No, no, it's fine," David insisted. ,,I'm just… surprised."

I don't think "surprised" begins to cover it, dad.

Emma decided to give her father a moment and sat down in front of the computer, starting today's work. She was already halfway through the first report when David spoke up again: ,,How did.. how did this happen?"

Emma abandoned the computer and hopped up on the desk next to her father. And then she told him about how a cursed Emma Swan had met an equally cursed Regina, now Roni, a bartender in Hyperion Heights.

,,I fell in love with her right off the beat," Emma said truthfully, and David didn't look judgmental in anyway. He just nodded a bit. ,,And those feelings remained when you came back to Storybrooke?"

,,Definitely."

,,And Regina feels the same?"

,,Yes, I think she does," Emma nodded. ,,And I know I should have told you way sooner, but.."

David gently put a hand over Emma's. ,,Maybe I'll need a moment to get used to it, but your happiness is what matters, Emma. If she makes you happy, then I'm happy."

Emma felt how her shoulders uncurled and returned to their normal position. ,,Thanks dad."

David gave her a quick hug. ,,Don't ever be afraid to confide in me, Emma. Both me and your mother support you. No matter what and who you chose."

I am this close to burst into tears.

As there was no reason to "turn on the waterworks" Emma quickly freed herself from her father's embrace. ,,I'm glad I told you."

,,Me, too." David smiled. ,,I'll let you work now. Lily will probably be here in a second anyway."

,,See you later."

,,See you later, Emma."

But David only made it to the door before he turned around and looked at his daughter. ,,Does that mean Regina is my daughter-in-law now?"

Emma choked on the remains of yesterday's bear claw.

Now difficult hours followed. Emma already wanted to see Regina again. And kiss her again. Yeah. She most definitely wanted to kiss her again. She hadn't quite had her fill yet.

Last night had been…. Well, probably one of the best in Emma's life. The fact that Regina had been there when she woke up, had meant everything. Emma was well aware that they would have to start completely over with this dating thing, and she understood why Regina was a bit hesitant. This was a completely new situation for everybody. They'd known each other for what, seven years almost? And going from friends to "something more" was a lot to take in for all of them. She couldn't blame Regina for wanting to take things slow.

It occurred to Emma that she was thinking about the brunette again instead of working. Not the worst way to spend working hours, but still, it would only mean that the papers would pile up on her desk, and that would prevent her from doing anything else besides working.

So Emma tried to pull herself together and actually work, but it didn't take long before a new distraction arrived in the shape of her son.

,,Hey mom."

,,Hi, kid. Everything okay?"

,,Yeah, everything is fine," Henry said.

,,What does Lucy and Ella think of Storybrooke so far?"

,,They like it here," Henry smiled. ,,I think we're gonna be very happy."

Emma squeezed his hand. ,,It's good to have you home again. We've missed you."

,,I missed you too."

Emma smiled and Henry sat down on her working desk. ,,Are you busy right now?

,,Yeah I am," Emma grinned. ,,But I wouldn't mind a little break."

Henry chuckled and then he began telling his mother everything about Lucy and Ella and how glad he was to be back in Storybrooke.

,,Sounds like you found your story after all, kid."

,,Yeah, I did." Henry smiled, but then his expression changed to a more concerned one: ,,What about you, mom? What's your story gonna be like?"

,,Well…" Emma smiled broadly. ,,That remains to be seen."

,,And what's that supposed to mean? Henry half-chuckled. ,,It's not like you to be cryptic."

Emma grinned again and gave Henry's hand another squeeze. ,,All in good time, kid."

Henry read her like an open book. ,,You've worked things out with mom, didn't you?"

,,Maybe."

,,Come on, mom," Henry rolled his eyes. ,,You can tell me."

,,There isn't much to tell," Emma said calmly. ,,We're taking things slowly. One day at the time."

,,That's great," Henry grinned and squeezed her hand.

,,Yeah it is," Emma said and had to stop herself from smiling like a lovesick teenager.

The door to the sheriff's station opened, and the first thing Emma saw, was the red cocker spaniel coming through the door, barking and wagging her tail like crazy at the sight of Emma.

,,Hey, Lady," Henry cooed and patted the dog. ,,Hi. Who's a good girl? Hmm?"

Emma was much more focused on Lady's owner who had just stepped inside. At first, the brunette had been smiling, but when she spotted Henry, her expression had become a bit more guarded.

Taking things slow indeed.

But again, Emma couldn't blame her. This was such an unfamiliar situation.

,,Hi mom," Henry grinned.

,,Hi sweetheart," Regina smiled and patted the young man's shoulder. ,,Tell me, are you preventing the sheriff from working?"

,,Maybe," Henry sniggered.

Regina rolled her eyes at his cheekiness, and then she reached inside her purse and dumped what looked like a report on Emma's desk.

Emma squinted her eyes at the sheet of paper.

,,The sheriff's budget," Regina explained.

,,Oh. Right. Thanks. Do we finally get those new computers I've been asking for?"

,,Perhaps." Regina smiled, a genuine smile. A smile that send about a million butterflies straight to Emma's stomach.

Henry smirked mischievously and glanced from Emma to Regina. ,,I better get going. See you later, moms."

,,See you later, kid," Emma said, and Regina flashed their son a smile.

Henry went towards the door, but stopped halfway there. ,,Oh, by the way. Ella and I are hosting a family dinner next week."

,,I'm looking forward to that, sweetheart," Regina smiled.

The young man left, and Regina glanced at her watch. ,,I should probably get back to the office.

Leaving already? Shoot.

,,See you later then."

Regina clapped her hands to get Lady's attention, and the dog followed her owner to the door. But with one hand on the doorknob, the brunette stopped and turned around.

,,Are you.. free tomorrow night?"

Are you saying what I think you're saying?

,,Yeah, I am," Emma said. Probably a bit too eagerly, but what the hell.

,,Good." Regina slowly walked back to the desk. ,,Because I was wondering if you.. if you would like to have dinner with me?"

,,Are you asking me on a date?" Emma beamed. And now she probably looked like a lovesick teenager.

,,I am," Regina said and returned the smile. ,,Will you have dinner with me, miss Swan?"

,,Yes! Duh." Emma teased, and earned an eyeroll from Regina.

,,My place? Seven o'clock?" the brunette said, and sounded very much like she was giving Emma every opportunity to back out if she wanted to.

But Emma had absolutely no intention of backing out. Not now, not ever. ,,It's a date, Madam Mayor."

That elicited another beautiful smile from the brunette.

God, she's so damn beautiful. Where the fuck have I been these past seven years?

Regina looked around in the empty station, almost a bit sheepishly like she was afraid to be seen.

,,Can I kiss you?"

,,Is that even a question?" Emma replied, and now it was her who rolled her eyes. Regina smiled again and leaned forward (Emma was flooded with a million "Roni memories") and rested her palms on the desk as she lightly brushed her lips against Emma's.

Okay, I'm definitely addicted to this.

Regina took Emma's hand for a moment, and soon- way too soon, she broke the kiss again and brushed a lock of golden hair behind Emma's hair. ,,I'm looking forward to tomorrow night."

Yeah, so am I, Emma thought to herself as she watched the brunette and her dog leave the station.

In fact, I can hardly wait.

To Be Continued?