Summary: Emma sees Regina at Graham's party.
"Excuse me. Would you like to dance?"
Emma had literally just walked through the door into Graham's apartment when she got accosted by some guy.
"Who, me?" she asked, looking around to make sure he was actually asking her.
"Yes, you," he said and grabbed her hand. Emma tried to pull back, protesting that she didn't dance. "Come on. Come on, just loosen up!"
"Hands to yourself! She's spoken for," Graham said over the loud music, pulling Emma away to safety. "How's Auggie? When can I see him?" Emma had mentioned she was going to visit him later that day.
"I don't know, Graham. It's like talking to a fern." Emma grimaced as she said this.
"Well, I'm glad she's improving. Come on, let's dance." Graham pulled her back onto the dance floor.
"Give me a break, Gray. I'm a lousy dancer." Emma tried pulling away. She didn't like dancing. Unless there was a beautiful woman in her arms and it was a slow dance.
"Walk on the wild side, Emma! You're in the big city!"
"Oh, hell. All right... " Emma hadn't gone dancing for a while so she just moved her arms and hips to the blaring music, not knowing what the hell she was doing.
"God, you are a lousy dancer! Go mingle. Get in here. Get into the party."
Graham waved her off as she walked further into the apartment. Emma noticed Regina watching her from a distance. She was leaning against a wall, one arm across her chest as she held a wine glass in the other hand. Regina was in a smart white skirt suit which showed off her olive skin. She looked beautiful, to say the least. Her hair was also different. It was all wavy as opposed to the straight and sleek long bob she usually styled. She had a gold chain around her neck with a pendant showcasing the letter "R" with a crown on top. And to finish off her look, she was smirking at Emma who was now standing before her pointing a finger. "Don't laugh." Regina did. "You're laughing!"
"I'm sorry," Regina said, still smirking.
"I'm surprised to see you here."
"Why? I like Graham."
"How the hell do you two even know each other? You are both so different from each other."
"Well, he was my sister, Zelena's, friend first. Zelena is a lawyer and Graham is in the police force-"
"That, he is… sorry, go on." She caught Regina's glare for being interrupted.
"...Anyway, he helped her win a case with his testimony. They became… friends. Then she brought him to my home, one night, for a dinner party my husband and I were throwing - this was about a year ago - and we hit it off. I see-"
"Friends? Are they dating?" Emma couldn't recall Graham telling her he was dating anyone new since Ruby left him.
"Oh, um," Regina sounded like she was unsure what to disclose, "more like friends with benefits…" she whispered the last bit.
Emma burst out laughing, putting a hand over her mouth. "Ha! Looks like I have the ammunition I need to tease him now. Thanks, Doc!"
Regina just smiled back. "You and Graham are friends, then?"
"Oh yeah, well, I actually know Gray from way back... "
"Oh? So you've not just met him when you moved into August's place?" Regina asked, surprised.
"Nah, he was one of the - ahem - guards at the juvie I was sent to."
"Really? So you've known him a long time."
"Yep." Emma didn't want to talk about Graham or her past, now, so she changed the subject. "You know, I... You really pissed me off yesterday. But you made me think about some things."
"Don't make it a habit, or I'll have to start charging you," Regina smirked again. That smirk!
"Oh, you do have a sense of humour! I was beginning to think you had it surgically removed!"
Regina just smiled, then took another sip of her white wine.
"You look mighty pretty tonight."
Regina looked down into her almost finished wine glass as she blushed. "Thank you. Are you alright?"
"Oh, God, I'm great. I'm just great. Now that I finished lying, can I ask you to dance?" Regina shook her head no, but that didn't stop Emma. "You'd be the first woman I've danced with in New York."
"I'd rather not. I just watched you dancing. I'd like to keep my feet intact."
"Come on, Mills. Walk on the wild side, or should I say dance? It's a party. This is a slow dance, anyway, and that I can do without stepping on your toes. Don't worry, I can't dance and make a pass at the same time. I lose count." Emma took Regina's now empty wine glass, placing it on a nearby table, then took her hand, leading her to the dancefloor. They danced to an Eric Clapton song ironically titled "Wonderful Tonight" because that Is exactly how Regina looked tonight. "You came alone?" Emma finally asked.
"Yeah, it's funny. I never went anywhere alone until I got married."
"Well, that speaks well for matrimony."
"No, it's just that... ...my husband travels a lot."
"What does he do?"
"You know, it's late. I really should go."
Emma released her hold on Regina, not wanting to make her feel trapped.
"I'll take you home," Emma practically begged. She needed fresh air, anyway.
"No, it's okay. I'm fine."
"I'm a Southerner, ma'am. We take our ladies home."
Regina relented and let Emma escort her out once she had said goodbye to Graham who had thanked her for coming and kissed her on the cheek before winking cheekily at Emma.
Once they were out in the fresh air, walking towards Regina's apartment, Emma spoke again.
"How do you do it? How do you listen to people's sob stories? Doesn't it depress you?"
"No, not if I think I can help them. Anyway, you learn to separate your patients' problems from your own. Tell me something. Did you ever wanna write like August?"
"You're changing the subject, Mills," Emma chuckled.
"Am I?" Emma nodded. "It's a technique I'm learning from you!"
"There he is again," Emma said as they walked past a window display featuring Robin Locksley and advertising his tour. She stopped and pointed at the poster."You see him? That guy is following me. So you're a shrink to the stars, huh?"
"He's not my patient. He's my husband." Regina said, almost sadly.
"No kidding? Robin-fucking-Locksley is your husband?" Emma was truly shocked.
"Robin Locksley is my husband, yes."
"How'd you meet him?" Emma asked as they began walking again.
"I saw him perform at Carnegie Hall. I was 22 years old. I had never heard anything like it. I mean, that kind of... ...passion, artistry, whatever you call it. It's like August's. They have that gift to make people feel. I fell in love with him instantly."
Emma couldn't explain why she felt jealous, but that was her first emotion after hearing Regina speak of her husband. "So you married him, and then you lived happily ever after, huh?"
"I married him," was all Regina offered.
"Are you telling me that mine isn't the only screwed up relationship?"
"I'm not telling you anything more."
"Wait. No fair. I spill my guts. I tell you my ex-girlfriend troubles. But you've got nothing to say? I think it's your turn to give a little. Come on, Mills, be human. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself."
"I can't. Why are there never any cabs?" Regina asked, looking at the street and trying to avoid Emma's eyes.
"Look, I'll ask you a few simple questions, and you just answer. Simple?"
"Very simple."
"What's your father's name?
"Henry."
"What's your favourite car?"
"I like the old Ford Woodies."
"Oh, those are cool. Is that what you drive?"
"No, I don't own a car now. I used to have a Mercedes, but I just found it was not great for driving in the city."
"Okay. Who's the first... person you ever kissed?" Emma knew she was being sneaky asking Regina that, but she had to try to see if Regina was completely straight. A woman being married to a man didn't mean anything these days. Seemed like Regina knew her game plan as she gave her a knowing look before answering.
"Daniella Berkowitz. She was very cute."
Emma just hummed, taking in that little piece of information.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you look in that suit?"
Regina blushed brightly. "Is this "Make Mills Feel Better Day"?
"And you've got a great smile. You should smile more."
"Now stop, Miss Swan."
"Hey, it's Emma out of the office. And you don't believe me, do you?" Regina didn't respond, instead just walking without looking at Emma. "Come here. Let me show you something." Emma stopped in front of another window display and pointed. "Come here. Let me show you -"
"A painting?"
"No, you. Look at you." Emma stood behind her - she was a head taller than Regina - and pointed. "You. Your face, your smile, your suit. I'm talking great stuff here. Beautiful." She smiled as she caught Regina's eyes in the reflection of the window.
"Okay, you convinced me. Now, would you please get me a cab?"
"Sure."
Emma managed to hail a cab pretty quickly and before she knew it, they had stopped in front of a grand looking entrance to an apartment building.
"Come up for a minute. I'd like you to meet my son."
"Sure. Okay." Emma wasn't expecting to get invited up, so was quite happy to be spending a bit more time with Regina.
"Come on in." Regina said when they got to her apartment. She led them into a grand looking entrance hall and then opened the door to the living room. Her dad and Henry were watching "Jurassic Park", but her dad paused immediately when they saw Regina enter, followed by another woman.
"Regina, carinho. Did you have a nice time? I was expecting you home later. Who is your friend?" Henry Sr had stood up to greet his daughter's guest.
"Papi, Henry, this is Emma Swan. Emma, this is my father, Henry. And my son, also Henry."
"Hi," Emma waved shyly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Swan." Henry Sr replied, politely shaking her hand.
"Oh please, just call me Emma," she smiled back.
Henry Jr just smiled at Emma shyly.
"Henry," Regina addressed her son, "Miss Swan has a black belt in Karate and Judo.
Ahhhhhh! So it seems her son is interested in martial arts. That's why she got so excited about martial arts in her office that time, Emma thought to herself.
"Oh, yeah? That's so cool. So can you do all that karate kid stuff like in the films?"
Emma just laughed. "Oh yeah, kid, and more." She winked at him. Something about his face looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"So, are you going to teach me!?" Henry asked, excitedly."
"Oh, well…"
"If Miss Swan agrees, I'll let you try some one-on-one lessons with her." Regina felt guilty dropping this on Emma unexpectedly. Perhaps she should have asked before but the idea just popped into her head as the cab stopped in front of her apartment building.
"I'm sure we can arrange something, kid. I do need a job after all."
"So how did you two meet?" Henry Sr asked.
"Oh, um. can I tell him, Regina. Or is it confidential?"
"Sure, but no specifics about my patient, Miss Swan."
"Okay, well, Regina is my brother's doctor. I've moved to New York after finding out he….hurt himself?" She looked to Regina who just nodded. "Anyway, I'm just helping her figure out why he did what he did while he recovers."
"Where are you from? Your accent's different," Henry Jr asked.
"Well, I grew up in the south, mostly. I was a foster kid, you see. I met my brother in one of my foster homes in South Carolina. But I've spent most of my adult life in Florida. Tallahassee to be more precise."
"I see," Henry Sr responded. "Well, your brother is in excellent hands. My daughter is a very good psychologist."
"Papi!"
"What? It's true, carinho."
"She sure is, Sir. I read an article she wrote in a magazine journal called "Psychological Review". I was impressed. Plus she has been really great these past few weeks since I've met her." Emma smiled at Regina, who looked shocked.
"You read one of my articles?" Regina asked, truly surprised.
"Yeah, remember I asked you if I could borrow that magazine last week? It was great and informative. And if you've written more, then I would like to read them."
"Thank you, Emma. I'll have to look some out for you." Regina was blushing.
"Don't be modest, Regina. You certainly know what you are talking about," Emma said in awe.
"Oh mom, before I forget: Dad called from San Francisco today. He said to say hi to you when I saw you. And that he will be home in a couple of weeks."
"Thanks, sweetheart. Did you practice this afternoon?"
"Mmmm, a little. I've been reading most of the afternoon."
"Henry, come on, you know I don't ask much of you…." Henry looked at her in disbelief…" okay maybe I do, but if you want those karate lessons then the least you can do is practice your violin."
"You play the violin!?" Emma asked. "That's great, kid. You'll have to play for me sometime."
"I have a concert next Friday evening. I'm sure my mom could get you a ticket if you want to see me."
"You have your own concert? Wow!"
"Not just me," Henry Jr giggled, "it's a whole group of violinists and some other string instruments. I do have a solo, though." Henry sounded embarrassed.
"Which I can't wait to hear, my little Prince."
"Mom, please stop calling me that. I'm almost eleven!"
"Okay, okay," Regina raised her hands."I can get you a ticket, Emma. But please don't feel like you have to come."
"Oh, I really want to now!"
"Oh good, in that case, we can save you a seat next to us," Henry Sr declared brightly.
"Well, it's getting late so I better get home to my sad and depressing apartment," Emma chuckled.
"See you soon, Emma! It was nice to meet you." Henry Jr said, politely.
"Likewise, Emma." Henry Sr said as he shook her hand again.
"You too, sir." Emma shook his hand, noticing again how big and strong they were. He was a kind-looking man, also olive-skinned like Regina's. She then looked at the smaller Henry. "Cheers, kid. I'll arrange some karate lessons with your mom."
"Thanks!" Henry Jr said, excitedly waving goodbye.
Regina walked Emma to her door.
"Sorry for bombarding you with that. I just realised when we got here in the cab that it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to him. I hope I haven't overstepped. You just sounded so excited when you spoke about martial arts and Henry has been hounding me for lessons-"
"Regina, it's ok. I'd be happy to teach Henry. It will give me something else to do."
"Well, that's why I brought you here to meet him. I thought that maybe you could teach him a couple of days a week. You see, he never gets a chance to do much while his father's around. Robin's on tour. I thought maybe…"
"Is this a job offer?" Emma asked, curiously.
"Yes, and I would insist on paying you. What would you consider a reasonable rate?"
"What are your rates?"
"I charge $150 an hour."
"Fine, I'll take it."
"You must be a very good teacher," Regina said, eyes wide.
"Forget it, Mills. I'm not a charity case yet. Tell Henry we'll start Monday. Let me know what time so I can work around seeing August or yourself."
"Okay, Good. Good night, Emma."
Regina opened her door to let Emma out.
"Good night, Regina." And she left, still thinking of Henry Jr's familiar features.