Double Trouble 37
Chapter 37 'Outed'
Regina's heart skipped a beat in the now-familiar way and she stared in awe at the last person she expected to see tonight. "Emma! I didn't think-"
"That I'd be here? Yeah, me neither." Emma smiled.
The Sheriff was still in her work clothes and she was disheveled and dusty from head to toe. Her tangle of messy curls was piled up into a haphazard bun and there was even a patch of dirt on her face. She was slightly out of breath, judging from the way her chest was heaving, and whatever exertion she'd recently been involved in had left her with sparkling green eyes and a pink glow in her cheeks.
"So do you wanna-"
Regina leaped forward to plant a messy kiss on Emma's mouth, without a thought of where they were or who was around. It was probably the least graceful thing she'd ever done but as soon as their lips met her loneliness dissipated in an instant. How different this felt! Compared to her memories of last year when their relationship had been so uncertain. Back then Emma had kissed her first, passionately, and then offered her a happiness she hadn't been able to accept at the time for so many reasons.
Now Emma was hers to kiss almost whenever she felt like doing so. Regina knew that she must be happy, as far as she was able to be, though the feeling hadn't quite sunk in yet.
"Hi," Emma said breathily. "Nice to see you too."
They both took a seat opposite each other in the booth.
"I got your message," said Regina. "You said you were going to be out late?"
"I know. I had a disagreement with somebody near the high school, I thought he should be placed under arrest and he didn't. I'm pretty sure his Fairytale name was Jack Be Nimble because I ended up having to chase him all over the damn field." Emma looked down at her dirty clothing with a grimace. "Sorry. I should've gotten changed first but I wanted to see you."
"No! I don't mind you being dirty," Regina was quick to say.
"Oh really? That's something we should explore later tonight." Emma waggled her eyebrows. "But first... here's the other eleven."
Reinga heard a crinkly rustle as Emma brought out something she'd had in her hand the whole time without her noticing. It appeared to be a bouquet of red roses wrapped in cellophane that matched the single rose she'd left in a vase in her office.
"I wanted us to go on a date tonight so I made reservations at Pendragon's but I ended up giving them to my parents because I thought I had to work late but then-"
Just before Regina could take the bouquet in her hand, Emma dropped it onto the table in front and accidentally knocked over the mug of vanilla latte straight into the Mayor's lap. Regina flinched at first, then she was stunned as the tepid coffee soaked through her blouse and expensively tailored skirt.
"Oh shit! I'm sorry," Emma started to apologise profusely.
Regina shook her head and tried not to laugh at the genuine horror on Emma's face. She took the wad of napkins that Emma had grabbed from the dispenser on the table and patted at her ruined skirt.
"It's fine, dear. I've had worse. From you - and your son."
"Ok, imposter. Who are you and what've you done with my girlfriend," said Emma warily. "There's no way the real Regina doesn't threaten to kill me after I spill coffee all over her clothes."
"You can replace them. Perhaps I should also back-charge you for all of the outfits that your son ruined over the years."
"Oh so he's my son when he's messy and he's your son when he's acing chemistry, is that it?"
"Yes. That sounds right."
"Hi ladies, how are we tonight?" One of the diner waitresses appeared with their two meals. She set a plate of pasta in front of Regina and a junior burger with extra fries in front of Emma and then left. "Enjoy."
Emma furrowed an eyebrow. "You ordered for us. How'd you know?"
"I didn't." Regina smiled. "Mrs Lucas ordered, assuming that I'd be eating with Henry after his session. But he's having dinner with Archie now."
Emma still didn't look convinced. "Okaaay. So are you really suggesting that we should give this a go? Because the way this started off it promises to be the worst first date ever."
"It's not that bad, Emma. Really."
"Regina. We're in the diner. I'm covered in dirt, you're covered in coffee. Maybe we should just call it a night and start over some other time. This isn't how I wanted it to go. I'm sorry our date got ruined."
"It's not ruined. As you know, I have a distinct lack of such experiences for comparison so according to me this is already the best date I've ever been on."
"Then you are easily pleased." Emma smiled, turning her own words back on her.
Regina smirked in return. "We'll see. That's something we should definitely explore later tonight."
Archie watched the boy push food around his plate with a fork. "Do you want something else, Henry?"
Henry shrugged. "Not really."
"Your mother just messaged to say she'll be here to pick you up whenever you're ready."
"She's probably with Emma." Henry sighed heavily.
"Does it make you feel left out that your mother is dating someone?" Archie paused to see if the boy would answer. "Or is it who she's dating that's the problem."
"No, I want them to be together. That way Em and Ri will have a happy ending too. It'd be cool if we were a real family."
"That's not the impression I heard," Archie contradicted him gently. "Your mother seems to think you don't want her and Emma to be together. You know that when you lie to people it hurts them, don't you?"
"Yeah. But what if telling the truth ends up hurting them even more?"
"Yes, sometimes the truth can be painful. But you owe it to your parents to be honest with them about your feelings. I'm sure they would listen."
Henry's next question seemed out of the blue. "Do you think they'll get married?"
"Maybe. How would you feel about it if they did? Sometimes grownups don't get married after they get together. I know the stories in your book often end with someone dying or someone getting married and that can seem like a finality. Even though we now know that those stories actually happened it doesn't mean that's all there is. Sometimes you have to see past the edge of the pages. Life goes on for everyone after the story ends."
"So if they got married it wouldn't have to mean that they'll stay together?"
Archie thought he was finally getting somewhere with the boy. Even though his mothers had only just begun having a relationship, Henry seemed to think it was doomed from the start. For some reason he expected them to break up one day.
"It's true that our parents don't always stay together forever but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth it at the time. Why do you think your parents will break up?"
"She's going to hurt her," Henry muttered.
Archie nodded to himself. "Henry, she's made many mistakes but I believe your mother really has changed for the better. She's trying hard to put her past behind her and she needs our support to do so. I think you know that."
"Not Mom. Emma," said Henry crossly.
Archie tried not to let his surprise show. "You think Emma is going to hurt Regina?"
"I have to protect my Mom, especially if no-one else will," Henry insisted and that was his only answer.
Archie tried to get Henry to talk more about what was bothering him or at least reveal why he thought Regina was in danger. As much as the psychiatrist continued his efforts in drawing the boy out, that was all he would say.
"Ok, since you're new to this dating thing, this is the part of the date where we get to know each other better and ask about interests and hopes and dreams and stuff. But we already know each other pretty well so I got a better idea. Truth or Dare?"
Regina gave her an unimpressed look. "Emma, I'm fairly certain we're too old for that. Perhaps you're confusing me for Ri."
"As if you've ever played. Come on, I'm trying to make up for lost time here. Truth or Dare."
"Fine. Dare."
Emma shook her head at the predictable answer. "Doesn't count. You can't choose Dare because everyone has to choose Truth on the first round."
"Then why did you ask!" said Regina exasperatedly.
"Choose Truth already so I can ask something really revealing and/or embarrassing."
"This game is inane."
"I think I just heard Truth. Don't bother lying because I'll know. Ok. When did you..." Emma bit back a grin. "...first look at me and think 'I want to give that girl the best orgasm of her life'?"
"It'll be your last if you keep this up. Lower your voice."
"Answer the question."
"Never."
"Normally the penalty for refusing to answer truthfully is Dare, but the last thing I'm going to do is give you your own way. So I'll downgrade the question. When did you first want to kiss me?"
Regina let out a smile before she could stop it. "I am not going to tell you that either. When did you first want to kiss me?"
Emma whined. "You are such a cheater! You can't refuse to answer and you can't ask a question that's already been asked."
"You are making these rules up."
"Nope. Get out your phone and google 'official Truth or Dare rules' if you don't believe me. Ok I got a better idea."
"'Better'? Are you sure you don't mean terrible or ill-advised? I think you got your sense of a good idea from your mother."
Emma grabbed two paper napkins from the dispenser on the table and two marker pens from the kids' colouring caddy and offered one of each to Regina.
"Here. We'll each write down the answer in secret and then we'll swap and see who was the lightweight who fell in love first."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I dare you to give Mary Margaret a compliment. A nice sincere one. In my hearing distance. Before the end of the day. No sarcasm allowed."
Regina snatched the napkin and pen from her in defeat. She paused and thought for a minute, pen hovering above the paper, before jotting something down in her precise fluid script.
Emma gave her a fake suspicious look and then wrote down her own answer, shielding her napkin from view with her forearm like she was in a classroom warding off cheaters from copying her exam.
"Done!" Emma declared. She leaned over the table between them to steal a kiss but Regina only let her peck her lips knowing what she was up to. Regina slipped the napkin out of sight in case Emma made a grab for it.
"Nice try, dear."
"Well, isn't this interesting." Mr Gold was standing next to their booth with both his hands resting on his cane before him. His presence dampened the atmosphere considerably.
"You always were one for a tragic romance, Regina, but a love triangle with the Saviour? What would your dearly departed mother say. Something amusing no doubt."
"We'll never know. As she's dead," said Regina, glaring at the interruption. "You killed her to save yourself. Rather cowardly act wouldn't you agree?"
Gold pretended to ponder it. "Not really. Self-preservation is nature's first instinct. I did what I had to. But I didn't kill your mother. Why would I bother when Mary Margaret proved such a willing accomplice? Again."
"Gold," warned Emma.
"Ah." Mr Gold chuckled to himself and waved his hand from one woman to the other. "So this is your new strategy, Regina. Get to the Charmings via their daughter. It's spared your life so far. I bet they're not even suspicious yet. Will you one day slit their throats while they sleep? Perhaps you won't spare young Henry's life this time."
"I would never hurt my son!" said Regina angrily. "I'm not your monster anymore. You can't even admit that you're still trying to ruin my life. Why don't you ever take credit for what you did to me?"
Gold shook his head at her. "Your actions were your own, dearie."
"No. I wasn't born evil. You made me what I've become. Everyone has seen my younger self now, they know I wasn't always this way. They know how you used me."
"Yes, I'm sure they have seen how easy you are to manipulate. Young Regina is a darling little thing. But if you act like prey the predators will come."
"Keep talking, Gold," said Emma fiercely. "I still owe you a punch in the face."
"A convincing job she's done on you I see, Miss Swan. Don't be fooled. Her Majesty is an accomplished actress. Do you really believe she's in love with you?"
Emma raised her shoulders in a casual shrug, fully aware of the wedge he was trying to drive between them. "Yep. She says so."
"Sometimes I scream it," said Regina with a snarl.
"Yeah, she's definitely not faking. Speaking of which, let's go, Regina. Dessert's waiting at home."
"Are you going to your mother's apartment?" asked Gold.
"Why." Emma frowned. "What's it to you?"
"By now Mary Margaret Blanchard will have received a notice to remove herself and her possessions from my property by 10am tomorrow morning."
"You're evicting her!" Emma exclaimed in shock.
"Why?" Regina demanded.
Mr Gold held out his hand and produced a tenancy agreement from thin air accompanied by a puff of purple smoke. "The conditions of the lease Miss Blanchard signed clearly stipulate that the apartment will be occupied by one adult and no children. I believe the extended Charming family now numbers four adults and three children. There is a 'no children' clause in the lease."
"Big deal," said Emma. "You can change the lease. Come on, Henry's a good kid. As for the teenagers, Ri is already of age and Em's nearly eighteen anyway."
"Ah yes, the lovely young lady who wilfully damaged my shop. If she's not already a felon she soon will be. You can see why I'm hesitant to allow such undesirable tenants to remain."
"Don't do this," said Emma, trying to appeal to whatever good side he had. "Henry's your grandkid. Isn't family supposed to stick together?"
"Whatever Henry's connection to me truly is, she," Gold pointed at Regina but kept his eyes trained on Emma. "is not my family. Do you think I give a damn about my-son's-bastard-child's-mother's new love interest? I promised Belle I wouldn't kill her but that is as far as my benevolence extends. Because of her, Belle doesn't even remember it so what motivation do I have for upholding my promise? I think Lacey might prefer my bad side actually. Your girlfriend is in danger until I get mine back."
"Belle's memories are gone, Gold," said Regina. "That identity no longer exists. Except in the sense that she'll live on in your shrivelled mess of a heart."
"I hope you don't mean the way Daniel lives on in yours? She is not dead."
"Gold," said Emma, far more compassionately. "Is there any way that we can get the lost memories back? For Belle and anyone else."
"If I knew of a way don't you think I would've set a plan in motion by now?"
"But Henry says there is always a way..."
Gold almost smiled. "Maybe, but I wouldn't wait around for the Blue Fairy to pull a potion out of her arse."
"Ok whatever!" said Emma. "I'm sorry you lost someone you love. But you can't punish the whole town for what happened."
"Like the Evil Queen did you mean? Of course I can. Perhaps Regina will come up with a creative solution to this latest Mary Margaret problem as well."
"But my Mom signed that stupid lease when she was under the influence of the curse. It shouldn't count."
"You have no legal grounds for an eviction," said Regina. "Not without notice at least. Your reasons are trivial."
Gold tittered gleefully. "Oh by all means let's get the law involved and draw attention to the quaint little town of Storybrooke. I'm sure the outside world would love to scientifically examine the magical evil sorceress and her teenage clone. Is Gregor Mendel still in town? I wonder what he'd have to say about the genetic abnormalities here."
Emma was really losing patience with his double-talk. "What the hell is this really about, Gold. Are you actually worried about the place getting wrecked or do you just want us out. If me and the kids move out will you let my parents stay? Why would you want the apartment vacant? There'll be no-one paying the rent."
"I may have an interested tenant."
"Who?" asked Regina. "You know as well as I do that the curse provided everybody here with a living situation."
"My son and his fiance."
"Neal and what's-her-face are moving here?" Emma laughed. "Yeah right."
"Is this the son who refuses to talk to you?" said Regina. "I'm sure he'll do exactly what you say. Nice parenting, Gold."
"This from the woman whose son ran away to Boston to find his real mother," countered Gold.
"Your son jumped a portal to another world to get away from you."
"I will get him back!" Gold raised his voice menacingly, attracting the attention of the rest of the diner for his outburst.
"Good luck with that," said Regina, delighting in finally making him lose his temper. "Seeing as how we're all trapped here. In a place that's getting smaller day by day. Soon you might not even remember that you had a son."
"Whatever do you mean by that?" said Gold evenly, with raised suspicions.
"Nothing," said Emma quickly.
Regina crinkled her nose in distaste. "By the way, Gold, you stink. Why are you wearing that piece of old sheepskin. Does it remind you of home?"
"I suggest you be careful, Regina. It'd be a shame if you lost another True Love. The first loss is a tragedy, the second is simply carelessness."
"I won't need your help for what I'll do if that happens. Don't threaten my family."
"Alright, enough!" Emma jumped in before they could argue further. She was completely fed up with both of them. Rumpelstiltzskin and the Evil Queen were bad enough separately, let alone together and poking the hell out of each other's sore spots. She held up her hands in surrender but they both regarded her as a mere amusement.
"We're leaving. If you two are done comparing the size of your magic wands that is." She grabbed Regina's hand and pulled her to her feet before heading out.
Regina leaned against the Sheriff's police cruiser waiting for Emma to get off the phone. They were parked outside the diner in Main street, which was deserted and lit only by streetlights at this time of night. She drew her coat around her to ward off the chilly night air. Emma must be too fired up to be feeling the cold, she thought.
"Neal, what the hell!" Emma sniped into the phone. "What do you mean 'what time is it where I am'. I'm in Storybrooke of course, where are you... What? Since when... Does Henry know?"
Emma clenched her free hand into a fist. "You mean you didn't tell him, you just left without saying goodbye? You didn't tell your father either? Nice."
"Neal, I know you're angry at Gold but you can't just do that to a kid. You can't get his hopes up that you're going to be involved in his life and then leave. He's had a tough year as it is..."
Regina listened to the rest of the one-sided conversation until Emma finished berating her ex and ended the call. Emma stuffed her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and started to pace. Regina could see how agitated she was, her mouth was set in a grim line and she crossed her arms tensely as she paced back and forth. After growing up with her own parental abandonment issues the last thing Emma would want is for her son to go through the same thing and her protective instinct was definitely flaring.
"Emma, calm down before you set something on fire."
"I am calm!" Emma growled.
Regina arched an eyebrow as if to say 'oh really?'. "What was that all about?"
"Something about wedding preparations and having to go back to work. He's a stockbroker, how boring and ridiculous is that? I can't believe anyone would trust a conman like Neal with their money. Guess he learned plenty about making deals from his father. He said he went back to New York with Tamara last Saturday."
"And his leaving upsets you?"
Emma gave her a significant look. "Only because of Henry, not me."
"He didn't see Henry before he left?"
Emma shook her head and then realisation overtook her face. "Hey, Mary Margaret said Henry went for a bike ride to the shops on Saturday and came back sad. I bet he found out that Neal left. Maybe he saw them checking out of the B&B."
Regina frowned. "I wonder if Mr Gold knows. Why would he think his son is moving here if he's gone back to New York to get married?"
"He's probably denying it to himself. His master plan to come to this world and find his long-lost son involved some fucked up shit, but it must be killing him to realise it was all for nothing. Neal doesn't want anything to do with him. And now that Belle's lost her memories he's got no-one. I feel kinda sorry for the evil bastard. No wonder Gold was pissed at us. But he is family, no matter what he says."
Regina smiled to herself, both surprised and yet completely unsurprised to hear it. "You're very like her sometimes. You have her compassion."
"Maybe we should keep an eye on him. Do you think he suspects anything about the border? He's wearing that scarf of Neal's. The same one he wore to keep his memories intact when we went to New York."
"We'll tip our hand if we ask him what he knows, which is probably more than he'd tell us anyway."
Emma resumed ranting. "What'd he mean by that love triangle thing huh? Does he think I'm gonna chase them back to New York to fight over Neal or something?"
"If you are, I'd appreciate some notice. I want my shirt back."
Emma exhaled and smiled. She held out her arms. "Cm'ere. I'm not going anywhere but home with you."
Regina evaded the hug and walked Emma backwards until her back was against the car door and she pressed herself flush against her. She kicked Emma's feet apart and stood between them, relishing her height advantage due to her heels. Emma's arms settled around her lower back.
"I believe you owe me something," said Regina softly.
Emma pretended not to know what she was referring to. "I'm not sure what you mean. I checked my account this morning, I have no unpaid debts."
"I heard that a kiss traditionally follows the first date."
Emma laughed. "Yeah, we're so traditional."
"Well, you never know. It could be True Love's kiss."
"That reminds me. The first time I wanted to kiss you was..." hinted Emma, before pulling out the crumpled up napkin out of her jacket pocket.
Regina produced hers as well, neatly folded in half, from her purse. They traded answers and neither could contain their smiles at what the other had written.
… WHEN YOU GAVE ME THE APPLE. I WANTED TO TASTE YOUR FRUIT.
… After you dared to vandalised my tree. I didn't know whether I wanted to kill you or kiss you. I nearly did.
Emma tucked a lock of hair behind Regina's ear and brought their mouths together. They were both seeking the connection after their respective days apart and the kiss quickly grew passionate.
A loud crack split the air and a bright shower of sparks fell from the nearest streetlight as the globe blew. It was so close it made both them jump in fright at the sudden noise.
"Calm down, Emma," chided Regina.
"Me?! Maybe it was you."
"You are determined to destroy the town I worked so hard to create aren't you."
Emma sputtered. "What? Are you talking about the historic sign thing? That was an accident. So was this. If I even did it."
"Regardless, I expect you to write yourself up. Just because you are Sheriff doesn't mean you are above the law."
"Sure, I'll get right on that, Madam Mayor. You really are irritating sometimes. You are so paying for that as soon as we get home. You know what, I've already decided what I'm going to do to you and your delicious fruit..."
Archie heard the knock on the door to his apartment, which was above the office he operated his psychiatry practice from. He glanced at Henry who was half-asleep lying on the couch watching TV. The screen showed the Road Runner outpacing Wiley E Coyote in their perpetual battle for speed.
"That's probably your mother coming to collect you," said Archie. He got up to open the door.
"Hey Archie," said Emma, with Regina right behind her. "Thanks for minding Henry."
"We apologise for the lateness of the hour," said Regina, even though it was barely 8:30.
Archie ushered them in. "Not at all. I know it's a school night but we've been watching some cartoons."
"Looney Tunes, is that allowed?" said Emma, looking at the screen. "Thought you guys were Disney."
"Keep going and I'll drop an anvil on you," said Regina.
Emma went over to where Henry was lying on the couch and tousled his hair. "Hey, kid. You awake?"
"Emma? You're still here," Henry mumbled sleepily.
"Yeah, of course I am. Can't get rid of me that easily. Ready to go home?"
"Yeah."
"Are you awake enough to walk yourself, kid? Or am I gonna have to carry you like that time I had to save your Mom from the fire."
Regina sent her a Look. "You didn't carry me. I walked out on my own."
"As if!" said Emma in disbelief. "I had to carry you through the flaming debris."
"I think I'd remember that, Miss Swan."
Emma chuckled at the formality. "Oh right. Now I see how it is. You just don't wanna admit that you were the damsel in distress and I had to save you. I carried you out of a burning building, Regina. In my arms."
"No you did not," insisted Regina. "You let me hobble out on a twisted ankle while you flirted with the firemen, bragging about the rescue. My hero. Forgive me for not swooning."
Emma's jaw dropped comically. "What?" she shrieked. "I did not- You are so making that up!"
"And you left my purse behind. It was Chanel."
Archie coughed discreetly to cover his amusement and even Henry giggled behind his hands, looking from one of his mothers to the other as they bickered over the rescue.
"Oh not you too kid," Emma groused. "You're supposed to be on my side. Come on, Millses, it's getting late and we better get out of Archie's hair before you two start denying something else I did. Like fight the dragon. An argument with Regina could go on forever."
Emma dropped to a squat in front of the couch so that Henry could climb onto her back for a piggy-back lift.
"Oof!" Emma groaned as she staggered upright with the boy's added weight. "Kid, you're getting heavy now that you're eleven. What have you stuffed your pockets with - rocks? Ack! Can't breathe -"
"Lift with your legs, Emma," said Regina. "Henry, sweetie, stop choking her neck. We might need her one of these days."
"Yeah, Emma, don't leave," Henry mumbled into her neck. "We need you. Your family needs you."
The park
"How does your lip feel today, Ri?" said Em.
Ri smiled. "Better. Not so sore anymore."
"Good, I'm glad you're ok."
The girls were walking hand-in-hand. It'd been Ri's idea to go for what she called a romantic late-night stroll in the moonlight. It was dark and cold so they were both bundled up in coats. In the soft glow of the streetlights their breaths clouded visibly in front of them. Even if anybody else was around they wouldn't have noticed - the girls only had eyes for each other.
"Are you asking because you're angling for a kiss?" teased Ri.
"Not exactly. Just checking."
"You can kiss me everywhere else if you'd like?"
"Oh, one day I will certainly take you up on that. You're such a tease!"
"Me?!"
"Yes you! You're so cute, how am I supposed to resist?"
"You're not, that's the point."
Their older selves and Emma's parents had both gone out for the night, leaving the teenagers at home alone. Unfortunately they hadn't been able to take full advantage of it. Em was fighting the temptation to get things going on a more physical level, which was especially hard since Ri kept touching her or pressing up against her or giving her flirty looks. She seemed keen but Em was still concerned about whether she was really ready to go further. The last thing she wanted to do was to make her feel scared or pressured. With Ri's injured lip though, the timing wasn't right.
"So um, I was thinking..." started Em.
"I hope I like where this is going."
"Maybe, I dunno," said Em nervously. "You know how when we were at the stables... after we went riding… after we had the picnic. We uh, kissed a lot -"
"We did more than just kissing."
"-yeah. You were ok with that weren't you? I mean, would you want to -"
"Yes," Ri said quickly.
"Really?"
"Yes, of course!" Ri sighed. "I've been trying to give you hints, Em. You know I don't know much about sex but I suspect there's much more to it than what we've done. I wish I could tell you how good it makes me feel to be alone with you like that. The way you touch me… you make me feel so many things."
"Oh," Em's voice squeaked. She let out the breath she'd been holding. "That's - wow."
Ri stopped and stepped in front of Em with a coy smile. She hooked her fingers in the beltloops of Em's jeans and brought their bodies close together.
"Did I make you speechless?" Ri whispered close to her lips.
"Yeah," Em breathed. "You do."
"Kiss me, please."
"But-"
"It's ok. Be gentle."
"It feels like such a long time since I last kissed you," Em murmured.
Em pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Ri's mouth. Her scar must've really been ok because Ri smiled and kissed her back with little sips and pecks. She felt Ri push her hands up under her shirt to run over her back. Em wrapped her arms around her too and laid her head in the crook of Ri's neck. They could both feel the comfort and warmth and closeness of being with each other.
"Love you."
"I love you too, my darling girl."