A/N: An extra chapter today is my gift as a thank you to everyone who has been leaving such wonderful reviews. They mean so much to me! Thank you so much!
"So, date night," Emma mumbles, peering down at the little one leaning heavily against her arm. "Just you and me tonight, huh?" She places a kiss on top of Lennox's head, a frown upon her face that's slowly morphing into a smile just because of this little girl's presence. "Alright, I'm gonna go get us some snacks," she announces, standing from the couch, but before she leaves, she wags her finger at her goddaughter. "Don't you move, I'll be right back," she sternly orders, but then she's laughing at herself. "Not like you can walk."
She treks into the kitchen, ignoring how heavy her feet feel this evening. It's not from exhaustion or stress at work or any of the other lies she keeps telling herself. She rather convince herself she's dying than admit to any type of stupid lovie-dovie feelings for Regina. It's wrong. It's irresponsible. And it will only make her miserable in life.
Well, that's what she has been repeating to herself like a broken record since the green-eyed monster showed up in the grocery store, okay, he's more like a gremlin in Emma's eyes. She's hoping if she doesn't feed into thoughts of Regina after midnight and doesn't shower her feelings with attention than maybe that little gremlin deep inside won't grow to be this hideous, disgusting thing that falls so hopelessly in the l-word for the stuck-up princess.
Now that her mind has run away from her, she finds her arms already full of junk food for her and Lennox to pig out on while Regina's on her date this evening. It's definitely not comfort food, just girls night and she needs to show Lennox the ropes.
She spins around abruptly and finds a little thing blinking up at her.
"Uh...didn't I tell you to wait on the couch for me?" Emma chuckles, gazing down at her goddaughter on her hands and knees. "You're a little stinker, you know that? You're gonna have to crawl back, my hands are full," she states, gesturing to her arms that are indeed overflowing with so much crap Regina will indefinitely yell at her for. "Come on."
Emma nods her head back toward the family room, but instead of crawling back, Lennox slowly stands up and Emma's heart collides so brutally into her chest, like it wasn't watching where it was going and crashed into a brick wall.
"Look at you...standing," she murmurs, terrified she might spook her goddaughter and the kid might not walk. "You're doing so well, ummm you're not gonna walk are you?" Lennox blinks up at her, sucking lightly on her pacifier. "Because I think Aunt Regina will have a full-blown heart attack if you walk and she misses it."
Lennox smirks, actually smirks behind her pacifier and Emma knows she's been hanging around Regina for too long now.
"Uh, Regina!" Emma calls, leaning out of the kitchen and around Lennox like she's made-up of toxins that will explode with any sort of contact. "Get down here now!" She's screaming, but in a peppy voice, like a cheerleader while she plasters on the biggest smile for Lennox's sake.
"Emma, I'm finally taking a bath and relaxing. You know I have a date tonight," Regina screams back.
"Don't move, kid. Please just wait for Aunt Regina," Emma softly pleads before she cranes her neck again and hollers through the house. "Regina! Get your butt down here. I think Lennox is going to walk!"
"Don't you dare let her walk without me!" Regina frantically yells back.
"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?" Emma shouts back and she can hear Regina upstairs, fumbling around.
"Stall her!" Regina bellows and she sounds so much closer, so she must be on her way already.
"Stall her?" Emma blinks back at Lennox who is blinking back at her with those big green eyes full of innocence.
"Don't let her walk!" Regina demands, her feet bouncing down the steps forcing Emma's heart to pound ridiculously fast out of fear of pissing off her roommate. "I'm coming!"
"Uh..." Emma stammers, her eyes darting across the room as Lennox lifts one foot and she panics. The adrenaline is just too much and she doesn't really think about much of anything, but stalling Lennox, so she drops all the junk food in hand and lightly shoves the baby to sit down.
Emma's eyes almost fall out of their sockets as she realizes what she just did while Lennox slowly bounces onto her bottom. It's just dead silence to Emma for a split second before Lennox belts out an ear piercing shriek. That's the moment Regina comes rounding the corner, way too fast for someone who is dripping wet on hardwood floors with only a towel wrapped around her midsection.
"What happened?" Regina coldly accuses, but her bare-feet slide because she is coming in way too hot and she slips.
"Shit," Emma mumbles, reaching a hand out to save her, but it's too late, Regina's already parallel with the floor and Emma flinches when her left hip smacks against the hardwood floors.
Lennox instantly stops crying.
"Mother," Regina growls but then her eyes dart to the little girl sitting directly in front of her, so she just hums the foul word instead.
And then, much to her own mortification, Emma is snickering. She's hopelessly trying to stop her insides, but her belly is fluttering and her shoulders are bouncing and no matter how tightly zipped her lips are, that laugh is still pouring out through her nose. Dark eyes squint at her, expressing how unamused Regina is, probably even in pain, but then, Emma snorts. She snorts so hard that she slaps a hand over her mouth and nose which only inspires Lennox and Regina to giggle along with her.
Regina rests her head in Lennox's lap, her eyes fluttering closed as she laughs at the ridiculous situation she has found herself in.
"Awww," Emma attempts concern, but she's still chuckling. "Are you okay?" She finally manages, kneeling before the half-naked woman, still dripping wet. Her fingers curl around the fluffy towel upon Regina's right hip and she squeezes without a second thought.
"Besides a bruised ego?" Regina's voice comes out all muffled from the safety of Lennox's little legs.
"Oh babe, you're gonna have more than just a bruised ego. I can only imagine how big that bruise will be on your hip." Regina groans in response. "But hey, props to you for keeping all your goodies hidden in this little towel during the fall," she cheerfully compliments, earning herself a nice shove that forces her to fall back on her own bottom.
And they are both still laying on the cold floor, junk food surrounding them, chuckling away while Lennox decides to crawl on top of Regina and snuggle upon her chest.
"Ugh," Regina groans, running her fingers through Lennox's growing hair. "I can't believe I almost missed out on you walking, baby girl." She squeezes the little one close against her chest and drops a kiss to her head.
"You won't miss it," Emma states with conviction, like she has already seen the future and knows this for a fact. She scoops Lennox off Regina and moves to stand back up. "Maybe you should put some ice on your side and rest a little," she suggests, extending her one hand to help Regina off the floor.
"No, I really need to start getting ready for my date," she says, ignoring Emma's hand because she's so focused on standing up in the skimpy towel without flashing her roommate.
And Emma's hand falls away, not because her friend doesn't need her help, but because this so-called friend isn't a friend at all and Emma can't stand the thought of someone taking her out. Without her consent, her face contorts into one that expresses she's about to vomit.
"Emma, are you feeling alright?" Regina sincerely investigates, one hand holding her towel into place and the other clamping down on Emma's forehead.
Emma immediately flinches from the touch because of how desperate her body is aching for this woman. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Peachy-keen."
Who the fuck says peachy-keen anymore?
Emma's entire face burns crimson.
"Are you sure? You looked very pale a moment ago and now you're flushed," Regina points out, her hand lingering between them like she wants to touch Emma again, but hates the thought of being rejected once more.
"No, I'm good. I swear," she flippantly replies, always so good at hiding her feelings, except Regina's really starting to know her and they both know she's lying. "Better go get ready for your date," she coldly dismisses her.
Regina, clearly annoyed with Emma's blatant lie, rolls her eyes, presses a kiss to Lennox's temple and walks away without another worry or concern expressed.
The moment Emma hears Regina's door slam, she kicks the bags of chips skewed about the floor.
XXXX
Emma is bitter. She can't even control this disturbing sensation gnawing at her gut any longer. She has her thumbnail clenched between her teeth while her index finger neurotically rubs the beaten path up and down her nose. Her eyes are glued to the television, but she has no idea what period it is, who is winning, or if the game is still even on. It must be though, considering how quiet Lennox is beside her.
"Am I being ridiculous?" She softly whispers, encouraging glossy green eyes to peer up at her in question. "I am, aren't I? I have no right to feel this way, just because we are raising a kid together. That doesn't like... give me the right to any part of her."
Lennox sucks her pacifier extra hard as she slowly blinks up at her aunt in consideration. "You tired, kiddo? You seem kind of out of it." Of course, she doesn't receive an answer, but Lennox crawls into her lap and cuddles against her chest. "Ahh, you're the best," she happily sighs, wrapping her arms around the baby and holding her extra close this evening.
After the incident in the kitchen, Regina constantly called out to Emma to help her pick out a dress for the...evening, but she really didn't have it in her. She just can't be the bigger person right now and she knows she should probably just surrender and admit she is having strong...like-like feelings for Regina, but she can't. She refuses to cave.
She refuses to be rejected again by the amazing, gorgeous, talented brunette.
"How about this one?" Regina breathlessly questions, slightly timid and self-conscious and Emma hates her heart for skipping a beat or two.
"It's fine," she murmurs under her breath, hardly allowing the syllables to bounce off her tongue while her eyes remained glued to the television.
"You didn't even look," Regina growls darkly, forcing green eyes to crawl in her direction.
Emma's mouth instantly waters and it's not in a salivating delicious way, but more like she's about to vomit because Regina is jaw-dropping, smoking hot in that little black dress clinging to her sexy curves, but it's all for some other woman. She swallows down her bitterness, but her face isn't cooperating with her brain and refuses to remove her frown.
"Aren't you going to be cold?" Her mouth accuses before she can think of something appropriate to say.
"Is that a nice way of saying this is slutty?"
"Your words," she mumbles against the crown of Lennox's head, shrugging noncommittally.
"Ass," Regina grumbles low enough for Lennox to miss, but Emma catches the name calling and it forces her to leap off the couch with Lennox pressed firmly against her chest.
She chases after Regina, out of the family room and toward the foyer. "When is Dr. Love coming?" She mocks, her distaste evident for the baker to pick a part, probably condemn her for.
"Don't call her that," her roommate exasperates.
Regina leans to one side to slip on the sexiest red heel with crisscross straps that paints a very vivid picture into Emma's mind of those stilettos digging into her back while her head is busy between those olive-toned thighs. She gulps.
"Where is she taking you?"
"I don't know," Regina breathes out like she's rather annoyed with the third degree.
"Is she really supposed to ask you out? Doesn't that like break some laws of doctor-patient-"
"She's a pediatrician and if I was her patient then yes, she would definitely be breaking some laws. But I'm not her patient, am I?" Regina growls, balancing on that one heel to slip her other shoe on.
"Okay, so if you two have sex," Regina is already blowing hair out of her face to show off those big brow eyes rolling in annoyance. "Is she going to tell you what percentile you are in?" Emma jokes, but it's very clearly a facade to cover up her jealousy.
"You're hilarious," Regina deadpans, straightening her dress just as the doorbell is ringing. She moves quickly to swing open the door while Emma readjusts Lennox to her hip. "Hi," she breathes out, gesturing for the woman to step inside.
"Hi," Ivy excitedly greets her, beaming like a child on Christmas morning. It makes Emma sick. "Wow, you look, wow." The doctor nervously laughs at her stammering mouth while she anxiously curls her hair behind her ear. "You look...steal-my-words-away-beautiful."
"Thank you. As much as I enjoy the doctor's coat, this is rather stunning," Regina easily compliments right back, gesturing toward the deep red wine dress that is sexy, yet not at all revealing.
Emma's freckled nose scrunches as her head jerks back, her body physically crumbling from this other woman's presence. She peers down at her goddaughter, still grimacing which encourages Lennox to smile behind her pacifier and poke Emma's cheek before they turn back to the couple.
"Hi, Emma," Ivy politely greets her before smiling even wider at the baby. "Hi, Lennox."
"Hey."
"Thanks for giving her the night off."
"Oh yeah, no problem. She really needs this," Emma spills the tea, smiling with all her teeth.
"Okay, time to go," Regina rushes to interject before Emma embarrasses her.
"She tried like everything on in her closet."
"Bye, Swan!"
"This needs to go perfect," she calls out as Regina is escorting Ivy out the door rather roughly. "She hasn't gotten any in forever!" She yells as the door slams in her face.
Rage surges through her veins, her lips quivering and she has never ever felt jealous in her life. She hates feeling this way, especially when she has no claim or right to Regina, but she's absolutely furious.
"Come on, kiddo. I believe we have a date tonight." Lennox blinks up at her, those eyes extra glassy and heavy tonight. "And I promise, no matter how bad my life is going tonight, I won't let it show on our date. I won't make that mistake twice."
XXXX
"So, do you come here often?" She asks lightly, a fork dipping into her pasta with her eyes lingering on her date, slightly amused. "I, myself, have been here before, I don't live far," she chuckles, flying the fork through the space between them.
Except, Lennox's head rolls to the side like her neck cannot possibly support the weight of her brain any longer. Emma frowns, her hand moving all on its own to clamp down over her goddaughter's forehead when she realizes how flushed the baby's cheeks are.
"Hey kid, you feeling alright?" She softly whispers, noting the immense heat radiating from every inch of Lennox's little body. "You wait here, okay? I'm going to grab the thermometer," she explains before dashing up the stairs.
Her heart is erratic because she has never felt a body that hot before and the fever just spurred out of nowhere and quite frankly, she has no idea what to do. She quickly snatches the thermometer out from the first-aid kit under the sink and leaps down the steps, skipping a few here and there.
She finds Lennox, half asleep in her high-chair, the pacifier back in her mouth and completely abandoning her food this evening. She falls back into her seat across from the baby and slides the thermometer across Lennox's forehead. Within seconds the numbers are flashing at her and she doesn't even hesitate to disrupt Regina's date.
She fumbles for her phone in her back pocket and clicks on the name that's at the top of her call history.
"Emma, you better be on fire," Regina laughs lightly but it's all fake for her date's sake.
"I'm not calling for you, put Doctor Love on," she coldly demands, eyeing Lennox closely to make sure she's not about to pass out or throw up.
"Emma, what's wrong?"
"Please, put Dr. Ryan on the phone."
"Yes, of course," Regina says, sounding taken back for a moment from the stern tone, before Emma hears Ivy's voice.
"Hey, umm Lennox has been acting off all night, won't eat, and I thought she was tired, but she spiked a fever and I-"
"Alright, how high is her temperature?" Ivy calmly inquires just before Emma hears Regina hissing in the background.
"Is Lennox sick? She has a fever?"
"It's at one hundred and three degrees," Emma anxiously replies, nibbling on her bottom lip as she sweeps Lennox's hair away from her forehead.
"Why don't you take her to the urgent care, there is one a couple of miles from your house. Tell them I am her pediatrician and I am on my way," she sweetly instructs.
"Alright, uh...thanks."
"No problem, I will check her out and figure out what's bugging her," she gently says before ending the call.
"Come on kiddo, seems our date needs to continue somewhere else," she teases even though her voice is shaking, but Lennox is none the wiser.
All while Regina is across town, jumping out of her chair in fear and not waiting for her date's explanation as to what's wrong with Lennox. She doesn't even bother waiting for Ivy as she dashes out of the restaurant and runs to the car.
XXXX
The amount of heat is suffocating, she can actually feel her shirt drenched from the fever pouring out of Lennox who is sniffling her blues away against Emma's chest from the IV in her from dehydration. None of that matters though, because she just wants to keep this baby calm. That's her top priority, well, that and sneaking glances of Regina and assessing her body language around the pediatrician.
"She does in fact have strep throat," Ivy announces sadly with a pout upon her lips.
Emma knows that this woman is especially sexy when that bottom lip puckers out and she can only assume Regina's vagina is drooling over this damn doctor at the moment.
"How the hell did she catch that? She's really only ever with us?" Regina asks, flabbergasted at the diagnosis.
"Which brings me to my next point, this is very contagious and I recommend both of you getting tested, that way we can start antibiotics for whoever else needs them."
"Really?" Emma complains, but it definitely comes off whiny.
"Yes, Lennox could have picked it up from anywhere. A grocery store, a park, but I think it's wise to check you two just in case."
"Very well," Regina agrees while Emma simply nods along.
"Great, I will have the nurse come back in and swab both of you," the doctor informs them before she disappears behind a curtain like a magician.
"Why do you look squeamish?" Regina investigates, narrowing her eyes at the blonde on the table with a sleepy baby in her arms.
"I'm not."
"Clearly you are uncomfortable."
"I'm fine."
"You're actually a stubborn ass."
"Fine, then I'm a donkey. Just leave me alone."
Regina deflates for a moment, noticing a far off look possessing Emma's gaze that sends a shiver right down her spine. It seems lonely, maybe even a little dark and scary in those green eyes, but it convinces Regina to step forward and comfort her friend.
"Seriously, Emma, are you alright?" She tenderly questions, placing her hand upon Emma's shoulder so her thumb can sweep across to offer support.
"I said I'm fine."
"The test is fairly simple-"
"I know, I've had it done a thousand times," she angrily bites out through a clenched jaw, taking Regina by surprise.
"Emma, please stop pushing me away," and because her voice is so delicate and concerned, Emma relents, breathing out a heavy sigh.
"It just...it brings up some bad feelings from when I was a kid."
"Will you tell me about it?" Regina softly questions, not at all pushy or demanding like she normally is and because Emma has been craving this woman's attention all night, she caves.
"You know I was bounced between homes a lot. When I was around ten, I had strep throat every two weeks. I was constantly in and out of the doctor, but because I always had different foster homes, I always had a different doctor. I should have had my tonsils taken out that year, but nobody really cared enough to go through the process of surgery with me. The amount of times that stick has been shoved down my throat-"
"And you're not used to it by now?" Regina gently asks.
"I mean, I am, I don't know. It just brings up a lot of those feelings about being neglected, I guess," she mumbles, subconsciously holding Lennox closer to her chest.
"I-I know those feelings don't just vanish," Regina cautiously says, but Emma refuses to meet her gaze. "But I hope you understand, you're not alone anymore in this world. You have people who care about you now."
Emma's gaze snaps to Regina's, a liquid clinging to those sad green eyes, but she refuses to expose how vulnerable she feels. Except, her mouth has different plans. "Yeah, but that doesn't stop the pressure in my chest."
Emma swallows thickly, wishing she could somehow swallow those words back up instead. Regina's eyes are on her, intense, piercing, and most of all, compassionate and it scares Emma to death, no matter how much her heart is aching to be with this woman.
"Okay ladies, who is first?" A nurse asks as she pulls back a curtain, barging herself right into the private conversation.
Regina quickly offers to go first, allowing the nurse to swab the back of her throat. When the nurse turns to Emma, Regina subtly places her hand upon Emma's thigh, offering her support and reminding the blonde that she's not alone in this world anymore.
They sit in silence when the nurse disappears, but it's only five minutes before Ivy is reappearing from behind the curtain.
"Regina, your test came back negative, however, Emma I'm sorry, but you do have strep as well. Luckily, it's just starting, so hopefully if we get you on the antibiotics tonight, you won't suffer too much," Dr. Ryan claims, a broad smile on full display. "I'll write both of you a prescription."
"Thank you," Regina sweetly says, following the doctor out of the tiny space while Emma slaps a hand over her face and groans.
"Of course, this is part of my job description," Ivy teases as they step out into the hall.
"I know, but you didn't have to come running during the middle of our date," Regina softly whispers, encouraging Ivy to step closer for their private conversation.
Both women ignorant to a set of cold green eyes watching them through the small gap between the curtains.
"I know, but I really like you, Regina and Lennox is just the sweetest baby, I wasn't about to bail on you."
"I am very sorry our date was ruined and that I ran out so quickly, but-"
"Lennox is top priority," Ivy finishes, persuading the sappiest grin to spread across Regina's face.
This is exactly the kind of woman she's been searching for her whole life. Someone who is responsible, successful, in control, compassionate, understanding, mature...
For some odd reason, Regina peeks over her shoulder, discovering Emma watching her intently with a scowl on her face. When their eyes lock, Emma abruptly turns back to her task of getting a sleeping Lennox into her sweatshirt. Regina sighs heavily, not sure how to breathe through a peculiar ache in her chest.
"I understand Lennox will always come first and that's how it should be," Ivy states, misreading why Regina's eyes are back in that little room.
"You have no idea how much that means to me," Regina softly whispers, enclosing the space between them. The grin she receives is more contagious than Lennox and she can't help but beam back at the doctor. She sways closer, ready to end their date with a kiss that promises another, but then she hesitates. "Should I not kiss you because of-" she isn't granted an opportunity to finish her statement with Ivy's plush lips firmly against her own.
And it takes everything in Emma not to punch the doctor in the nose.