A/N: Happy Wednesday! Thanks for all the messages r.e. the motorbike incident (it really was minor - my knees are just a wonderful rainbow colour of bruises and my boob hurts although I still can't work out what I landed on to do that damage). Your concern both for my wellbeing was perfectly balanced with mild threats that I am not to die before the story is finished. Three more chapters …
August had been taken aback by the appearance of White House officials in his office. Hadn't they been through this? He was not going to reveal the name of his source. And they had no right to force him to do so. When the head agent calmly told him the White House were fully aware that Belle Lacey had passed him the information, however, August stopped talking. Once informed that the President had requested to speak with him, he dutifully got into the blacked out car. To be fair, judging by the number of agents who were waiting outside his office, it was apparent that there really was no other option.
His inside source, Belle, had been niggling in the back of his mind for weeks. When she first approached him, he was just glad to have got his hands on the exclusive. She had practically offered it to him on the spot and the fee had been negligible. The network was over the moon with it and his pay check had seen a healthy bonus that month.
Emma's reaction had irked him, however. He still didn't understand why she had refused so adamantly to report on the story. True, it was more personal than her show usually covered but it wasn't like the President getting divorced was a common occurrence. She was being petty, he had decided. It had cost her show and the network valuable ratings.
And then he had begun to wonder whether he had in fact crossed a line by broadcasting the news in the first place. It was deeply personal, he knew. But the more he thought about it, the more he thought it was strange that this particular source had so willingly contacted him with the information. Why? What was her motive? It wasn't money. August had easily been able to pay her fee from his own account. Over time, the man couldn't help but speculate as to whether his network had become a pawn in a much larger game.
The interrogations he had endured were a testament to something bigger going on. He had assumed it was over. After days of refusing to speak to the agents who repeatedly asked for the name of his sources, he had heard nothing more. But now they knew her name: Belle Lacey. That meant they were still investigating. And, seemingly, had new information.
August walked down the corridors in the White House, an agent in front of him and two behind him. Despite the heavy guard, he was still able to enjoy the beauty and architecture of the prestigious building. He was being led, he realised, straight to the Oval Office, his cell having being confiscated as soon as he arrived. Told to wait, he sat in the expansive reception area for less than a minute before he was shown inside by Graham.
"Emma," he said, aghast as he realised his network's most successful political commentator was sat beside the President. Both women were perched on a cream couch, apparently having been waiting for him.
"Hi August," Emma said, rising to her feet as the woman beside her did the same.
"Mr Booth," Regina said. "Thank you for coming."
"M-Madam President," August stuttered, stepping forward and shaking the offered hand of the most powerful woman in the world. "What's going on? Why am I here?" This question, despite where they stood, was directed towards the blonde.
Regina glanced at Emma, nodded slightly at her, a clear indication that the younger woman was ok to lead this conversation. The two women sank back down in unison and August placed himself on a chair opposite them.
"August," Emma began. "I guess you know that I called the studio to inform them I couldn't come in this morning, correct?"
"Yes, Ruby told me," August said. "What's wrong?"
"Ok, well, before I tell you that, there's something you need to know," Emma said, shifting slightly on the couch. "Um, Regina and I are in a relationship. We're dating. We're a couple."
The man's jaw dropped. He stared at the blonde before him before his gaze moved to the President who was sitting calmly beside the correspondent. August's eyes dragged back to Emma who seemed to be waiting for a reply.
"You're dating?" August said at last.
"Yes," Emma said. "Although, I suppose you could say it was a little more than that at this point. We're in love. We've been together for a few months."
"In love?" August repeated.
"Yes," Emma nodded, reaching for Regina's hand and clasping it.
"A few months," August said slowly, mentally working backwards through the year. His eyes snapped to Regina as he did the maths. "Is that why you got divorced? You met Emma and left your husband?"
"No," Regina replied. "Robin chose to leave me. You know about his affair, of course. Although I will admit that I had confided in Emma before the news of our divorce was broadcast."
"You confided in a political correspondent about the fact that you were getting a divorce?" August frowned.
"I confided in someone whom at the time I felt I had some sort of connection to," Regina said. "I wasn't sure what it was back then. I suppose I thought it was the beginning of a friendship but it's blossomed into something much more. I had no one to talk to here in the White House and Emma had offered to be something akin to being my friend when we met on her show. I will admit that when the news broke, I did doubt Emma's loyalty for a moment."
Emma squeezed Regina's fingers. She had long ago forgiven Regina for that heated phone call. If she had been in Regina's position, she was sure she would have drawn the same conclusions. After all, it was too coincidental.
"That's why you bit my head off?" August asked his correspondent. "Because you were pissed your girlfriend got mad at you?"
"Firstly, she wasn't my girlfriend then," Emma shot back. "And secondly, no. I got pissed at you because that story crossed a line. I told you then and I'm telling you now, it's not our place to report on the private lives of our politicians."
"Not when you're seeing that private life from between their bed sheets it isn't," August snarked back. "You could hardly be seen as in a position to offer an impartial view now, could you?"
Emma glowered. "We'll move onto that in a bit. I have a new show idea for you, as I presumed you wouldn't be happy with me presenting my existing one. But before we get to that, there is a reason we asked you to come here."
"And it wasn't to tell me about your relationship with the President?" August said, surprised. What could be bigger than that?
"It's related," Regina said. "You needed to know about that for the current situation to make sense. The lives of Emma and Henry have both been threatened by Belle Lacey and the NRA. They're trying to blackmail me and they're using my feelings for Emma and her son as leverage. We need your help to find her and Robert Gold, who we believe is bankrolling a huge scheme to block my gun reform bill."
Once again, August's jaw fell open. He had been speculating what the White House may want on the way over but he had never for a second thought of this scenario. Emma dating the President. Emma and Henry's lives being threatened. His inside source linked to the NRA and embroiled in illegal activities.
"Are … are you sure it's her?" August asked.
Emma and Regina both nodded grimly.
"We can't tell you the details right now but we do need your help," Regina said. "I appreciate that you have just been given some pretty big news but we only have a few hours left to find Belle and Gold before they make their next move."
August's head whipped back to Emma. "Where's Henry?"
"He's here, he's safe," Emma assured him, reminding her that the two of them had once been friends. Henry used to spend lots of time at the studio when he was younger and August had always had a soft spot for her son.
"I don't know what I can tell you," August admitted. "You know who gave me the story. I assume you also know how she got the information. I don't understand how I can help."
"The money," Regina said. "You paid them for the story, right?"
"Right," August said, just as Graham moved to sit down, joining the small group now the conversation had moved towards the investigation.
"How did you pay her?" Graham asked, hoping it was a wire transfer so they could follow the money to some previously undiscovered bank account.
"Cash," August replied.
No such luck, Graham mused. But then again, perhaps it wasn't a dead end.
"Did you hand it over in person?"
"Of course," August nodded. "Don't drop-off points only exist in movies? Plus, I'm not about to leave twenty large ones taped to the bottom of a trash can."
So that was how much her private life was worth, Regina mused. Twenty thousand dollars. She hated the media sometimes.
"Where did you meet?" the agent asked.
"Somewhere off Route 66," August said. "A park. Southside Park, I think."
"What happened?" Graham pushed.
"Not much," August admitted. "It was a Saturday afternoon. We met on the edge of the park, by the play area. She was there before me, sat on a bench. She was wearing sunglasses, I remember. I though it was a little odd at the time because it was a grim, grey day. But then I figured we were exchanging information from inside the White House so perhaps she didn't want to be recognised. We talked. She told me what she knew. I took notes. She didn't have evidence but she explained her position and I knew she was your makeup artist. Then she told me about the upcoming press release."
"How did you know to send me here on that Monday?" Emma interrupted.
"What?" August frowned.
"You made me and Ruby come up here," Emma reminded him. "You specifically told us to come here rather than our regular White House reporter. Why? Did you know it was going to be Regina speaking?"
August glanced at 'Regina', almost impressed that Emma was allowed to call the President of the United States by her first name.
"Um, yeah, Belle called me that morning," he confirmed. "Told me that the President would be taking to the podium. I figured it would have given you an edge when it came to your show."
Emma glanced at Regina. The brunette smiled softly, grateful and relieved that her girlfriend had indeed stuck to her moral compass and not reported on what was the biggest political story of the year. At least, they hoped it continued to hold that title and wasn't surpassed by the deaths of the President's new girlfriend and her son.
"She called you?" Graham said, continuing with his line of questioning. "She has your number?"
"Of course," August replied. "That's how she told me where to meet her."
"We ran your phone records," Graham said. "We couldn't find any number linked to Belle."
August rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well of course I don't use my registered phone for confidential sources. It was a burner cell. I use them all the time."
"Do you still have it?" Graham asked.
"Yeah, I think so," August said. "I've got loads."
"We're going to need that cell," Graham said. "But let's go back to the day in the park. After she told you everything, what happened?"
August thought for a moment. "She walked off," he said. "I had driven there and when I realised she was on foot, I offered to drive her somewhere. It was raining by that point and really cold. I felt bad. Plus, I had just handed her a wad of cash and I didn't know who may have been watching. She agreed and got in my car which was parked nearby."
"Where did you drive her?" Graham asked.
"Not far," August said. "We drove for maybe five minutes away from Route 66, towards Vienna. She told me to stop just after we passed a school. The house was nothing special but there was a fancy car in the driveway. I remember thinking it was weird she hadn't driven to meet me. If I owned an Audi like that, I'd be driving it everywhere."
"Do you remember the Audi model? Or the name of the school?"
"It was an R8," August said, without hesitation. The car had been a dream of his ever since they hit the market. "As for the school, I don't know but it was no more than five minutes from that park. There can't be many, right?"
"We're going to need that burner cell," Graham said, standing up. "Where is it?"
August recounted where in his office the burner cells were located. Graham nodded his understanding, dismissed himself from Regina's presence and left the room. They were close, he could sense it. He was going to find Belle and Gold and eliminate the threat to Emma and Henry. Over the weeks and months, he couldn't help but grow rather fond of the pair. And he had vowed to protect Regina with his life. As far as he was concerned, that included protecting her politics and his heart.
The women could sense they were close to the end too. This was it. This was the lead that was going to help them track down Belle and Mr Gold. Once they knew where they were, the threat could be removed. Emma and Henry would be safe.
"So, um, what now?" August asked, looking at the couple before him.
"You'll have to stay here," Regina said. "I can have you escorted to a room where you can get some food and drink. Emma and I are prepping to speak to the press now."
"About the blackmailing?"
"About us," Emma said. "We're going public."
"Today?" August said, eyebrows raised. Didn't these two women have enough on their plate without creating their own political scandal.
"We were planning to go public next week," Emma said. "I was going to talk to you about this new show idea on Monday, before the press conference. I wanted to tell you myself, you see. And I do appreciate that I can't present my show in its current format from now on. Once everyone knows about me and Regina, any semblance of impartiality I may have been able to uphold is shattered."
"You have a new show idea?"
Emma nodded. "And a new executive producer. Self-appointed, I might add."
Regina smirked. Zelena had been adamant that the only way Emma's show concept was remotely viable was if she was a permanent member of staff on the production team. The President wasn't sure how her publicist was going to juggle her two roles but she was also hoping that the need for Zelena's skills would significantly reduce once everything was out in the open.
"Right," August said slowly. "Well, I guess I look forward to hearing about this idea then."
"Does that mean I'm not fired?" Emma asked.
August let out a dry chuckle. "You know as well as I do that the network won't fire you, Emma. You're our best correspondent and your show has the highest ratings in its genre. I might have been pissed at how you handled that story but at least now I understand why. And if you really can present me with a viable alternative, I don't see why The Swan Show can't live on. I assume you have access to a higher calibre of guest now."
His eyes flicked to Regina who was nodding slightly. They had already discussed that and Regina had agreed to make somewhat regular appearances on the show. If this was going to be about how politics in the US really worked, it made sense to have the President featured. Plus, Emma now had a whole slew of different tactics she could use to persuade Regina to appear. Most of those tactics involved them both being naked.
"I don't mean to dismiss you, Mr Booth," Regina said. "And I certainly appreciate you being so forthcoming with the information. Hopefully we will be able to make sure Emma and Henry are no longer in danger very soon. However, Emma and I do have to prepare for this press release. It's not every day the President stands up and tells the world she's in a relationship with a woman. My fixer is arriving shortly to help us prepare for the forthcoming scandal."
Although August understood, and knew that he was going to be locked up in the White House for several hours, he was slightly annoyed that he would miss the aftermath of the announcement. Regina was right, this was going to unprecedented news and he wasn't going to be at the network to see it being broadcast.
"I understand, but I do have a request," August countered. "Seeing as I've been so cooperative, as you've acknowledged, I was wondering if I could have an exclusive on the blackmail story."
Regina glanced sideways at Emma. Did this man ever not think about work? The two of them hadn't even discussed releasing the details of the blackmailing to the press. If everything was dealt with quietly, there was no reason for anyone to ever know it happened.
"Once everything has been resolved and we are sure Emma and Henry are safe," Regina said after a few seconds, "how about I appear on the last airing of Emma's show, in its current format, explaining what happened. We can use that time to launch her new focus as well."
"Deal," August said, holding out his hand to shake. "Assuming I agree to Emma's new show idea."
"How about you agree right now?" Emma suggested.
August laughed. "Not a chance, Swan. I'll wait until I've heard the pitch, thanks."
Regina stood and moved to the door. One of Graham's agents outside was assigned the task of accompanying August to an unoccupied meeting room and arranging lunch. He was not to be left alone, Regina insisted. August may have helped them but he was still the media and she wasn't taking any chances on either story being leaked before she and the White House were ready.
Alone once more, she settled herself back on the couch beside Emma and let out a deep sigh.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked, concerned.
"Exhausted," Regina admitted. "And scared. But we're getting closer, aren't we?"
Emma shuffled over and pulled Regina into her arms. "I'm going to be fine, you'll see. Graham is going to track down these two crazy people and Henry and I will be safe. We'll go back to our apartment and everything will be normal again."
"I don't want you to go back," Regina mumbled into Emma's shoulders.
The frame of the blonde froze. Regina, registering what she had said, pulled back, stuttering out an apology. "I didn't mean … I'm not saying … It's not like I was asking -"
"Regina, I love being here with you," Emma interrupted, not needing the brunette to finish her sentences to understand what she was trying to say. "I love you. But I can't move in here right now. I have Henry to think of and also the fact that being the partner of the President kinda makes me the First Lady. I'm sorry but I'm not in a position where I can give up my career and do that role. Not yet."
"I have someone in the role of First Lady," Regina pointed out. After Robin had moved out, the duties which were usually performed by the President's spouse had been reassigned. "But I understand. And I wasn't asking you to move in. I was just saying I'm going to miss you when you leave."
"I'll miss you too," Emma assured her. "Although I do prefer it when we spend time together because we choose to, not because someone is trying to kill me and my son."
Despite the statement, Regina let out a wry chuckle. "I agree with you there. Now, shall we get back to how we're going to tell the nation about our relationship?"
Jolted back to their upcoming task, Emma nodded. Was she really about to stand in front of America, in front of the world, and announce that she was in a relationship with the President of the United States? She glanced at Regina who was now pouring over the brief notes she had already made for the press conference and felt her heart warm at the sight.
It had been quite the revelation to discover that Regina wore reading glasses. The sight made Emma's core clench, despite the situation. But it wasn't the raw physical attraction to Regina which warmed Emma's heart. No, it was the all consuming, overwhelming and utterly blissful feeling of love she could feel welling up inside her every time she looked at or even thought of her girlfriend.
"Let's do this," Emma said, leaning forwards and scanning Regina's notes as they began to work together to sketch out the details for the press conference which was scheduled in less than an hour's time.
A/N: Next up … the press conference. Feel free to submit your questions which you think journalists would ask and I'll see what I can do to squeeze them in.