They wake the next morning, a tangle of limbs and a mess of hair. Regina is the first to wake and glances towards the clock before practically jumping out of bed. She's so late and very sure that her mother might just kill her this time.
"Emma, wake up!" She gently nudges the other woman. "Emma, please I have to go."
Slowly Emma starts to wake up, taking in the bedroom briefly before seeing Regina's panicked face. "Shit, what time is it?"
Regina dresses herself quickly, "Late."
Emma does the same and is dressed in record time. Compliments of the lack of privacy one has living in group homes. "Oh, shit Regina!"
Her eyes are wide, "What? Emma, what's wrong?"
"Your show is tonight and I don't have anything to wear. Shit, I am so going to stand out."
Regina chuckles lightly at the other woman's pained expression. Walking over to her closet and retrieving a shopping bag from their previous excursion. "Please take no offense, but I figured something like this might happen. Here," she passes the bag to Emma, "This should work for tonight."
Emma takes the bag and opens it slightly to peek inside. She can tell already that whatever Regina has chosen for her to wear, it is expensive. "Wow, thanks."
Regina nods in acknowledgment before walking with Emma towards the door.
"I'll leave a ticket for you at the counter, I'll see you later." Regina gives Emma a quick kiss before opening the door. Behind the door stands Cora, poised as always but eyes like a viper.
"Regina, dear. What do we have here." She stalks into the room, eyeing the wine glasses before glancing back at the pair. "Alcohol before the opening show Regina? I thought I taught you better than that."
"It was nothing mother, just something to calm the nerves is all."
"Yes, well I say you might have," she stops and looks at Emma. Inching closer to Emma's boundary of personal space before retreating, "over-indulged, wouldn't you say Regina?" The way the question is posed leaves no room for doubt that it is less a question and more a statement. She gives Emma a once-over before turning back towards Regina. "Come along dear, we don't want you later than you already are."
Regina shoots Emma a sympathetic glance and mouths I'm sorry before exiting with her mother.
"Oh, and Regina," she says, looking squarely at her daughter for the first time, "you missed a button." She points at her daughter's chest, "Fix that, we don't want to give anyone else a free show." She says and Emma knows exactly who she is talking about.
With that final statement, the pair leave and Emma stands there awkwardly for a moment. Well, that could've gone worse. Things to look forward to for their future tour. Let the universe grant them strength because Emma and Regina will definitely need it if they are to even exist near Cora.
Emma shakes her head in disbelief, knowing already that dealing with Cora will prove to be more difficult than fucking time travel. The things she does for the woman she loves. She closes the door when she leaves. It's going to be a long day already and it's barely even begun.
Emma walks back to her room and "packs" her bags. Packing is a word being applied generously here as she really just throws her remaining clothes back into the shopping bags from before. Cheaper than a suitcase, she thinks.
She busies herself for the rest of the day. Going into town for a short time to acquire items here and there that they might need for the road. She is unsure how long the tour will go on, but knowing Cora, she does not doubt that she will try to showcase her daughter in every major city that she can. While walking back from the town she sees Henry outside Mifflin house and she stops to greet him.
"Hey, Henry."
"Emma!" he exclaims, running over to her. "Emma! Are you going to Auntie's show tonight?"
"I sure am, are you going to kid?" she smiles kindly at him.
"No, I'm too small Mommy says. I have to stay here with Daddy." Emma nods in understanding, "Auntie and Mommy are going to leave tomorrow, something 'bout a tour. You should go too, Emma."
"Me?" Emma looks amusedly at the boy, doubting very much that Regina told the boy about their plans. "Why do you say that?"
He looks up at her, a slightly solemn look over his face. "I dunno, Auntie always looks sad."
Emma pauses at that statement, listening more closely to the boy.
"Like even when Mommy and I spend time with her or just me, Auntie just looks sad." He stops a moment before continuing, "Like you Emma. You look sad too sometimes. In your eyes." He points to his own eyes to illustrate the point.
Emma looks at him carefully. She's never been called out by a kid before but knowing Henry, it is not surprising. He is wise well beyond his years.
"But," he starts again, "Auntie looks less sad since you came and I like spending time with you. Will you stay Emma, please?" He is looking up at her with such shining eyes. Sincerity brimming at its absolute most.
She suddenly has the urge to cry. She imagines for the briefest of moments spending her years with Regina and watching the boy in front of her grow into a man. Would he call her Auntie too someday or perhaps just Aunt Emma? It is almost too much to handle as she kneels in front of the boy and gives him a loving embrace.
"I will Henry, I will," she says, and she can feel the boy smile with his face in her hair. A memory from long ago enters her mind. You'll find a home too, Emma. The social worker said to her. She didn't believe it at the time, for how could she? Yet, she thinks to herself, after traveling time and space to get here. Despite all odds, she might have finally found a home.
Afterward, she says goodbye. "See ya around Henry", she says before walking back towards the hotel to get ready for opening night.
She finally pulls out the mystery garment from the bag that Regina gave her earlier. Laying it on her bed before stepping back to get a good look at it. Ah, she thinks, so this is how Regina envisions her. She chuckles to herself before slipping on the garment and matching heels (she really thinks of everything) and making her way towards the lakeside theatre. Cars are pulling up and dropping off guests and it appears that the whole population of this small town and then some are in attendance.
The lobby is busy, people are chatting with each other and finding their friends among the crowd. However, the crowd goes silent the moment Emma walks through the doors. An image of perfection, she is wearing a long, tight, sleeveless dress. The front of the dress cuts straight across, beginning just slightly below her clavicle. The fabric is silk the color of liquid rubies. It clings to her body in just the right places and flows in others. However, it is the back of the dress that is most breathtaking of all. The dress is completely backless beyond the backing of the golden locket that hangs across her neck and is tucked safely beneath the dress. Her hair is tucked into an updo, allowing a person a full view of her toned back without the distraction of her beautiful, golden hair. She is holding a bouquet of red tulips, a gift for Regina after the show. She walks towards the counter and picks up her ticket. Saying a quick 'thank you' before finding her seat.
She finds her seat easily, a perfect view of the stage. She takes a moment to settle in before the lights are turned low, the curtain rises, the stage is lit. The show is about to begin.
The orchestra begins just as Regina takes the stage and Emma cannot turn her eyes away from her. She is the star of the show and rightfully so, her presence upon the stage is commanding yet does not feel forceful. Simply put, she is captivating. Every smile, movement, and gesture seems to move something in Emma. As though she is speaking a silent language that only Emma can understand.
The play is a comedic drama, a typical story about a loveable, yet dysfunctional family and their daughter's impending marriage.
Yet it is really Regina who brings this story to life, who breathes in a sense of reality to these characters. She knows that with Regina's acting, they may very well make their way to Broadway. Her heart swells with pride as she sees her move across the stage.
The play is on its final scene of the first act when suddenly Emma notices a change in Regina. A shift so subtle that she doubts anyone else can see it, but she does. She sees it. Regina moves towards the center of the stage, the rest of the actors try to cover their expressions of panic and anticipation with their fake smiles and nervous laughter. Regina closes her eyes, for only the briefest of moments. Taking a deep breath as her mask slips away, revealing her true self standing beneath the harsh stage lights.
"Are you out there somewhere, waiting for me?"
One of the stage girls laughs, improvising, "And who might that be, Miss?"
"The person I have created in my mind. The sort of person that each one of us dreams of in the deepest and most secret reaches of our hearts." Regina brings a hand up to her chest, as if to stop her heart from falling into the palm of her hand, "I can almost see her now before me, what would I say to her if she were really here? 'Forgive me' I have never known this feeling. I've lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder, then, that I failed to recognize you?"
Emma stares up at her, frozen by the words.
"You, who has brought such tender feelings to me for the first time," tears are flowing from her eyes now, "Is there any way that I can tell you how my life has changed? Any way at all to let you know what sweetness you have given me? There is so much to say, I-'' She stops for a moment, her voice caught in her throat. "I cannot find the words except for these...I love you."
The entire theatre is still for a moment. Emma stares up at Regina and although she knows that it is impossible to see in the darkness, she feels as though Regina is looking directly at her.
The moment lasts for just a beat or two, no longer than an instant. Her mask slips back on as though this was truly all a part of the show, but Emma knows what this was. It was a declaration.
She laughs, "Well, that is what I would say if they were really here."
The audience claps and the curtain falls to signify intermission. Emma does not realize she is crying until the woman next to her, also in tears, offers her a tissue. "That was so beautiful, was it not? She is such a great actress."
"Yes, she really is." Emma responds, mind still reeling over the words she spoke, "Excuse me." She grabs her bouquet and makes her way towards backstage. God, does she love this woman.
She makes it backstage before she is approached by a young man. "Sorry miss, no one besides cast and crew is allowed back here."
"It's alright, I just need to-" she tries to move around the young man who quickly steps in front of her.
"Sorry, I can't let you pass."
Emma looks at the young man, who must be no older than 17 perhaps 18 at most. He is tall but skinny. Something in his eyes reminds her of herself and she pities the boy.
Zelena approaches him, putting her hand on the boy's arm. "It's okay Al. She's with Regina." The boy nods in understanding before walking away, joining the backstage chaos that is the intermission.
"That way," Zelena says pointing towards a direction. "Regina's that way."
Emma says a quick thank you before Zelena calls out again. "Emma, dear."
She turns to face her. "Be careful with Mother, won't you? She only plays games that she can win and she wins them all."
"I will," Emma says, giving the woman a small smile and nod before returning to her walking.
The moment the curtain fell, Regina was ushered off stage to change for the next act.
"Oh, Regina!" A man says, a camera in his hand. "Quick, we need a picture of you for the newspaper. It will only take a moment."
"Please, sir I need to change-"
"Only a moment, please just a moment of your time." The man is all but begging her and Regina feels pity and agrees.
"Alright, but only a moment." She says, sitting on the chair placed in front of the camera.
"Que bella!" The man says, standing behind the camera. "Now, look at me and smile."
Regina gives a tight smile, eager to leave and get changed.
"Perhaps, less like a grimace and more of a smile please."
Regina is about to get up and leave the man to take the picture another time when she sees a flash of blonde hair in front of her. Emma strolls up, standing just beside the man.
"Emma." She says in her softest voice. Her face brightens up and she smiles at her with such devotion and familiarity.
"Perfecto!" The man yells. "Stay just like that, that's the smile I was after."
Emma hears the click of the camera and suddenly the image of the portrait enters her mind. This was the moment that was captured. With Regina staring at her with the softest expression. As though no one else exists in the world besides the two of them, in this very moment.
Regina stands up from the chair and the pair embrace. "Oh Emma, you look so lovely tonight."
Emma blushes, "Yeah, you think so?" She asks coyly. "Here, I brought you these." She hands her the bouquet.
"Oh, Emma these are exquisite. I will put these in a vase right away and then I really must get going. Intermission is almost over and I need to change."
Emma nods in understanding.
"But I'll see you after the show my love, at the reception." She gives Emma a quick kiss on the cheek before walking swiftly towards the dressing room.
Her words echoing in her ears. How natural they sound.
My love.
Emma makes her way back to her seat before she is approached by a young man in a suit.
"Excuse me, but are you, Emma Swan?"
She looks up at him. "I am."
"I have a message for you." He shoves a letter into her hand before walking away.
Emma opens it looking down at the unfamiliar script.
Miss Swan,
Meet me by the gazebo by the lake immediately. This is a matter of life and death.
Cora.
Something in her gut wrenches. Still, if this is concerning Regina she needs to check it out.
She walks up the aisle quickly, careful not to cause too much of a disturbance.
She stands at the threshold of the door. Staring at the darkness of the night and glancing back to Regina on stage.
"I'll be back", she whispers to Regina who she knows cannot hear her. "Wait for me." She says as she slips into the darkness of the night.