A/N: I had meant to do a fair rotation of my working fics, but this was playing on my mind with the way the last chapter finished, and the elevator scene has been waiting to be written since Enemies, so I folded! Enjoy :) Reviews would be awesome!


Looking up from her work as Johanna comes into the drawing room, Regina smiles.

"Oh, you're here, dearest."

The old maid states in surprise, and the Mayor nods as she searches her top drawer for a hole punch. She hasn't really given it a whole lot of thought, but Johanna's curiosity opens her eyes to the fact that she has fallen into old habits without even realising it. When Emma had been in town before, she'd worked almost solely from home; something she had done more due to Henry's age than anything to do with the girl herself. Nowadays, she tends to favor her public office as she finds it a preferable place to receive company and run meetings rather than tarnish the privacy of her own home, but it would seem that with the blonde's return, she has resumed old habits.

Well, it would be rather more dangerous to bend her over the desk in the municipal building...

"Am I interrupting?"

Johanna frowns, noting the way dark eyes flicker as the brunette wets her bottom lip, and Regina looks up at her swiftly and shakes her head.

"No, dear. My mind was just wandering a little."

"That's a charge I find I'm often guilty of myself."

The maid grins, before asking if the Mayor would rather she come back later to clean the room.

"No need, I'm almost done. You can start over by the hearth."

Johanna nods agreeably and shuffles over with a rag and duster in her hand. Kneeling with an audible sigh and crack of her joints, she shoots the brunette a sheepish look as the latter grimaces with commiseration.

It's only going to get worse now that age has come for us in this town once and for all, dear.

"Are you going to stay in for lunch? Would you like me to prepare the salmon in the fridge?"

The maid asks as she gets to work, and Regina shakes her head as she looks back down at the last of the documents requiring her approval.

"No thank you, dear, I'm going out."

"With the girl?"

Johanna asks, and the brunette looks up sharply as the term brings back a whirlwind of memories.

"She's not a girl."

She corrects casually, well aware that she had said those words several times in the past, but that they have never been more apt than now.

No, certainly not a girl anymore.

"Emma."

Johanna elaborates dutifully, and the darker woman nods and keeps her gaze carefully trained on the pen in her hand as the maid remarks

"That's nice. You two seem to get on well."

"Yes, I suppose."

The Mayor agrees noncommittally, risking a glance up and spying the small frown that graces the older woman's weathered brow. She supposes that of anyone, Johanna had been most aware of how involved her relationship with Emma had truly been, and while she is certain that those memories are safely guarded by the curse, their existence seems to have crossed the maid's mind for a moment, like a ghost of the past that sometimes remains just beyond one's grasp when encountering a certain song or scent.

"Will Henry be straight home from school today, or does he have chess after?"

"No, he should be done at the usual time."

Regina replies, before stacking up her finished papers and placing them neatly inside a folder. Reaching for her phone, she texts Emma to let her know that she's done with work, and raises a brow as the blonde replies almost immediately.

Emma S (New phone):

Great. I'm at the hospital. Meet me here.

Frowning, the brunette replies hastily with a sense of disquiet.

Why? What's wrong?

"Everything alright?"

Johanna asks from the corner, taking in the Mayor's troubled expression.

"I don't know, I-"

Emma S (New phone):

Nothing. Why would there be?

Sighing with exasperation, Regina pushes herself from her desk and stalks for the door, grumbling over her shoulder

"I'll see you later, or tomorrow if you're gone before I get back. I best go and see what Miss Swan has gotten herself into now."

The maid nods, musing curiously that while the Mayor sounds rather perturbed, there is a note of resignation in her tone that seems out of character.

Does it, though? Isn't it how she often spoke to and of the girl in the end?

Frowning as she has no idea what to make of such thoughts, Johanna goes back to scrubbing the marble fireplace; deciding that it does seem rather odd. Regina is not one who tolerates annoyance, and her reaction rarely wavers from infuriated or entirely unmoved.


When she pulls up outside the hospital, Regina checks her phone again, but she's received no further messages to enlighten her on what the hell is going on. While pulling out of her driveway and speeding into town, her mind had been filled with a number of horrific images and reasons the blonde might be summoning her to the hospital, but as she'd begun to near the hulking building itself, she'd slowly gotten a hold of herself and realised that the likelihood of anything too terrible having befallen Emma is slim. She doubts that if anything unfortunate had happened, that the younger woman would be so quick to ask her to play a part of it, similarly she muses that if the blonde were the cause of someone else's pain, she'd maybe not text in order to boast. These realisations had led her down a different path to ponder, and she sighs now as she steps from the Benz and locks the doors as it occurs to her that following their discussion this morning, Emma might have come looking for answers in the form of her father. She tells herself that this is hardly the worst case scenario, given she'd only moments ago been picturing the blonde in a variety of dire states, but the idea of being questioned about how she's dealt with Charming leaves her rather unenthused.

Where are you?

She texts as she stalks up the broad path that leads to a set of glass double doors, but when she looks up she realises she needn't have bothered as Emma stands lent against the wall with her arms crossed tightly to ward off the cold.

"You messaged me."

The blonde greets her needlessly, and the Mayor sighs as she follows the younger woman into the warmth inside and replies

"I'm aware of this."

"Yes, I suppose you would be."

Emma nods, and Regina finds herself wondering- as she has on several previous occasions- if the blonde is playing with her, or if she really is as contrary as she sometimes comes across. She would guess the former, and she glowers at the younger woman accordingly.

"Where are we going?"

She asks, but Emma merely leads her through the almost deserted waiting room and over to the elevators.

"Up."

The blonde replies vaguely, and the brunette frowns as she watches the younger woman press the button for the third floor, and sighs.

Charming's floor... Well... I suppose it's only fair that we do this if she thinks it might help.

Following Emma into the elevator, she stands beside her awkwardly as she wonders if she should say something, or wait for the blonde to broach the matter. As it is, the younger woman simply stares ahead at their misted reflections in the brushed steel of the doors, her expression strangely serene.

"What are we-"

But Regina trails off as the blonde reaches out suddenly and slams her palm against the emergency stop button, bringing them to a shuddering halt. The brunette gasps as she stumbles, while Emma tenses for a moment before relaxing and offering her companion a gleeful smile.

"That's good! It occurred to me just as I did that, that an alarm might go off or something, but this thing's ancient! Look, you have to call the operator for help. Who even is that?"

"What are you doing?"

Regina demands incredulously, before her eyes widen with realisation as the blonde offers her a pointed look.

"Miss Swan, this is a hospital!"

She hisses, but she is unable to stop her breath catching in her throat as the younger woman takes a step towards her; backing her into the corner.

"Yeah, I know. I was thinking about that too, but in the time I've been down there, only one person's come in, and it was for a sore thumb... Besides, they always say you should use the stairs in emergencies."

"In the case of a fire, you idiot!"

"If you want me to start it up again, I can..."

Emma challenges, and the brunette holds her gaze intently, before reaching for the lapels of the blonde's jacket and pulling soft lips roughly to her own.

"There's no camera in here either, I checked, it-"

"-Shut up."

Regina demands hoarsely, and she bites the younger woman's lip in reprimand as the latter pushes her up against the wall. Allowing the blonde to retaliate with a sly hand slipping up into her shirt, she relishes the lingering outside chill from wicked fingers before once more using red leather to steer Emma where she wants her. This time, she forces a switch of places; shoving the blonde up against brushed steel and murmuring against parted lips

"I asked you what you wanted to do, and it's your turn."

A notable shiver at this, but the younger woman answers breathlessly

"I'm not sure you get just how hot it is watching you lose it."

"I can well imagine."

The darker woman replies airily, and she laughs along with the blonde; the sound husky with sin.

"You asked me what I wanted to do..."

Emma points out, sliding her palm firmly down the brunette's stomach and dipping into the waistband of her skirt with a little difficulty. Regarding her heatedly, Regina swallows as cool fingers have warmed up considerably, and now slip into her underwear.

"I did, but it's hard letting you get your way when it clashes with what I want."

The brunette growls with a hitch to her voice, and the younger woman laughs lightly as she calls the darker woman out

"Really?"

She challenges; the Mayor doing absolutely nothing to stop her or call an end to her teasing.

"You're making a compelling argument."

Regina hisses through gritted teeth; the sheer cheek the blonde has always been so adept at teasing her with only serving to excite her more.

"I'm good at that."

Emma grins, and the darker woman closes her eyes; supposing that if the girl wants to watch her go over, she can't find a great deal of fault in that. It only fuels her ecstasy knowing her release is a show, and she supposes in the end, she's the one getting the prize in more ways than one. Wrapping her arms tightly around the blonde's shoulders, she clings onto her with her face buried into soft curls as her body begins to shake and move at the mercy of her pleasure. Unlike this morning, they don't suffer the noise restrictions posed by Henry being nearby, and she lets her bliss be known as she moans agreeably against the younger woman's jaw; chafing soft skin with her teeth entirely on purpose.

"Keep going."

She warns throatily as she leans back a little to regard the blonde with hooded eyes, and Emma complies readily, her teeth nipped over her bottom lip. Eyes flickering from cool green to the silver that plays their backdrop, Regina glances around at their mirrored copies moving salaciously against each other and clenches her jaw as she feels herself tipping over the edge. Releasing her tight grip on slim shoulders, she slams her palms against cool steel either side of the younger woman and bows her head as she rides out her pleasure for as long as she can bear.

"Stop... Stop, now!"

She orders finally, her legs shaking and her voice unsteady, and the blonde obeys; slipping her hand carefully free from the tight confines of the Mayor's now rather creased skirt.

"Yeah, that was more or less what I wanted."

Emma laughs; breathless herself as she studies the brunette with an open expression of awe.

"You're going to get a lot more than that."

Regina warns, though she takes a moment longer before making her move, simply staring the blonde down as she remains with her hands planted either side of her head. She waits for a sarcastic remark in response, but Emma simply smiles at her; a surprisingly sweet smile given the circumstances, and the darker woman lunges forward to taste it aggressively.

"Go on, then."

The blonde whispers against full lips, and the Mayor nips at soft velvet dominantly before lowering her attention to rough denim and working open tight jeans. She pushes them down with a couple of brisk movements until they pool at the younger woman's calves. Tugging down the scant black cotton the blonde has changed into since leaving her mansion this morning, she leans back in to brush at parted lips; softly this time as her fingers dip lazily between slender thighs to examine the effects of her recent display. Finding that she is more than satisfied with the result, she smiles wickedly and grinds her palm against sensitive flesh once in warning.

"Gladly."

She purrs, watching as pale hands reach out blindly to grip at the metal bar that runs the circumference of the elevator. Pushing the younger woman back so that she's confined to the corner, Regina offers a final, promising smirk before lowering herself onto her knees. She has thought before on how this is not an act she'd have ever thought she'd comply to- let alone enjoy- but that had been back when they were still discovering each other, and now she knows full well that getting on her knees for the blonde in no way means submitting to her. Still, Emma raises a brow in surprise as she looks down with blown pupils, and her breathing is ragged and audible as she waits in anticipation.

Digging her nails into sharp hips cruelly, Regina's intent is validated as the hissed expletive that escapes above her is one dripping only with pleasure. Taking heed of the blonde's husky curse, she pushes the younger woman firmly into the wall as she tastes her hungrily. She works slowly at first, simply relishing the act, but her mind returns slowly to her thoughts this morning; when she'd looked at the girl jealously- possessively- as the topic of fooling around in an elevator had come up. Before she'd known it would be new to both of them. Her mind flickers once more with images of the blonde thrashing and begging against brushed steel, and she looks up from beneath hooded lashes to drink in the real thing. Emma stands with her hands fisted tightly over the metal bar in order to keep herself up at a decidedly delicious angle, with her eyes squeezed shut and her cheeks beginning to flush a paler version of the hue of her jacket. The Mayor removes one hand from the sharp peak of the blonde's hip, sliding her fingers down over sensitive skin to join her tongue. Glancing up again, she spies a flicker of shadow play across the younger woman's jaw, and she knows Emma has her teeth clenched. She briefly considers requesting the blonde enjoy herself a little more vocally, but she knows that if she says anything, it's likely to backfire and cause Emma to bite back her pleasure completely. Instead, she roughens her approach, and the blonde lets out a choked sound that the brunette savours with a small smile before striving for another.

"Fuck..."

Emma groans between gritted teeth, and the darker woman rewards her with a pointed swipe of her tongue. Banging her head back against the wall, the blonde begins to move as she pants quiet encouragement that the Mayor heeds eagerly. Feeling the younger woman start to jerk at her touch, Regina moves her fingers roughly and watches- fascinated- as the blonde throws her head back a final time with a yelp. She shivers violently, and for a just moment, Regina thinks that she's crying, and she licks the younger woman's excitement from her lips as she watches this reaction curiously. Finally, Emma looks back down at her, and she realises that the blonde is laughing, not crying, and she joins in huskily; feeling deliciously sinful as she pushes herself to her feet and steps back to study the younger woman still wedged in the corner with her underwear between her knees.

"So, was it everything you were hoping for?"

She asks coyly, and Emma smirks as she pulls her jeans back up.

"It's one thing I can cross of the list, yeah."

The blonde grins; her tone heavy with the suggestion of more to be explored. Regina eyes her back with dark amusement, drinking in flushed cheeks and hellishly mussed hair.

"You must provide me with a copy of this 'list', I'd be curious to give it a read."

"Your turn next."

The younger woman shakes her head, and the Mayor chuckles evilly before gesturing towards the elevator's controls.

"We best start this up again, lest anybody actually need to use it."

"I guess so."

Emma agrees, stalking over and once more hitting the emergency button to resume their ascent.

"Why the third floor?"

Regina asks with belated discomfort, and the younger woman shrugs and informs her casually

"I just hit a button at random."

"I see."

The brunette smiles with a sigh of relief, which dies on her lips when the doors finally open up as they reach their floor.

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Hello..."

"Hi."

An awkward silence settles between the three of them as Mary Margaret looks from Emma to Regina curiously. Despite knowing that the two have been working together, it still catches her off-guard to encounter the brunette in the company of another that isn't cowering under her disapproving glower. She supposes she must have caught the others rather unaware as she takes in bright eyes and the rather flustered vibe shared between them. Wondering if she's perhaps inadvertently interrupted a dispute or heated debate, she smiles sheepishly and stands aside so as to let the others out of the elevator. Her brow furrows when neither makes a move.

"Wrong floor."

Emma informs her eventually in a rather disjointed tone, and the Mayor glances over at her distractedly before agreeing woodenly.

"Yes. We were aiming for the reception. It would appear I was foolish allowing Miss Swan my confidence to manage the controls."

Forcing a smile that feels like it's way too many teeth, the blonde chips in

"Whoops."

And she throws Regina a pointed look as the latter studies her curiously.

"Oh. It's an easy enough mistake! I'm going down also, can I join you?"

Mary Margaret appeases with a hint of confusion she fails to hide. Something that only grows as neither woman moves immediately to allow her in. Finally, Emma steps back clumsily and offers her a grin.

"Sorry; daydreaming."

She apologises awkwardly, and Regina sniffs disdainfully as she presses the correct button; trapping the three of them in a bubble of silent discomfort that seems to last a lot longer than the thirty seconds it actually does.

When they finally reach the first floor, Mary Margaret excuses herself swiftly as she expresses the need to go and find Dr Whale to discuss her volunteer hours. Emma nods, while Regina ignores her entirely, before they each head towards the main doors at a bizarrely brisk pace. By the time she reaches her Benz, she's all but jogging, and the brunette lets out a low sigh as she slips behind the wheel and slams the door shut behind her. She glances to her right as Emma falls into the passenger seat and shakes her head. The blonde sits with her knees drawn up into her chest with her face pressed against rough denim as she groans loudly, before twisting around and thumping the Mayor none too gently in the arm. Eyes wide with shock at the callous nerve of this act, Regina opens her mouth to give the younger woman a piece of her mind, but no words come out. Instead, her eyes find Emma's- just as wide and just as dumbstruck- and when the blonde finally starts laughing, she simply joins in.

"Oh god."

Emma shudders, kneading at her temples, and the despair in her tone only serves to make the brunette laugh harder.

"Oh dear."

Regina agrees breathlessly, before striving to pull herself together and adopting a more serious tone; still slightly croaky in the aftermath of her horror.

"Well... I suppose now's a good a time as any to suggest we go and pay Gold a visit."

She smiles tightly as her lashes glitter with hysterical mirth, and the blonde lets out a noise somewhere between a sob and a hiccup as she nods her agreement.

"Yeah. Things can only look up from here."

"Indeed."

"And it wasn't all bad."

"No, it was all decidedly enjoyable until your mother showed up."

Another groan at this and when the younger woman turns in her seat the Mayor barks warningly

"Don't even think about it!"

Catching Emma's fist easily in her hand, she pushes it back firmly and fixes the blonde with a stern expression that does little to mask her amusement.

"...Just drive."

The younger woman sighs, turning back to face the front and shaking her head with a slightly dazed expression.