Summary:
Emma has dinner with Regina and the two Henrys. In Regina's office, they discuss their Uber experience with the creepy driver.
Chapter Text
By the time Regina came back down stairs, refreshed from her shower and dressed casually - for her, anyway - in a linen pant suit, Emma had already arrived and was sitting in the kitchen with the two Henrys, nursing a glass of apple cider.
"Ah, Miss Swan, I see my father has introduced you to his famous cider."
"Oh, hey Doc! Yes, it's really delicious." Emma then took another sip, humming delightfully at its flavour.
Henry Sr was about to dish up dinner which he had made himself - a very delicious smelling seafood paella - and asked Emma if she'd like some too. Emma had mentioned that she had already eaten, but by the look of her salivating over the dish Henry was serving up, she looked at Regina.
"By all means, Miss Swan. I can see you are foaming at the mouth. I have yet to eat dinner myself, so we may as well have some before we go into the office. You are a tad early, so we have some time."
"Great, then yes please, Sir," Emma said as she looked back at Henry Sr.
"Emma, what did I tell you this afternoon? Please call me Henry," he said as he handed her a bowl full of steaming hot food.
Emma smiled, looking like she had just been handed a pot of gold. "Mmmmmmm, this smells delicious! Thanks, Henry."
Everyone laughed at Emma's excitement.
"Are you sure you had something to eat before you came here, Emma?" Henry Jr had asked her.
"Yeah, I had leftover mac-and-cheese. This smells way better, kid."
"Please dig in, Emma," Henry Sr said as served everyone else's plates.
Emma didn't need to be told twice. She certainly did dig right in and there was silence -apart from Emma's moans - at the kitchen island where everyone was enjoying their dinner. The only thing that disturbed them was a ping from Regina's phone. It was just a message from Robin, telling her his tour had been extended and he would only be home 2 weeks later than he had originally told her. She snorted as she read the message, gaining funny looks from all three of her companions which she just ignored. Extended my ass, Regina thought to herself. But that reminded her she needed to rate her Uber driver before she forgot. She quickly went into her app and gave Mr Glass the lowest rating she could possibly give him, hoping that would stop her from getting him as a driver again.
After dinner, she led Emma to her office and asked her to take a seat on the sofa, offering her a drink.
"Another apple cider would be great," Emma smiled brightly.
"Sure, I'll just go get us some from the kitchen. Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Swan."
"Thanks, Doc."
Regina arrived minutes later, carrying a tray with their drinks. An iced tea for herself and Emma's apple cider. Placing the tray on the coffee table before Emma, she took her drink and went to sit in an armchair. She was somewhat at a right angle to Emma, on her left, getting her notes on August's out of his file.
"Miss Swan, I-"
"Please call me Emma. I'm not your patient and when you call me "Miss Swan", I feel like I'm going to be reeled out by a disgruntled foster parent, social worker or headmistress. And none of the headmistresses I ever had looked… like you." Emma blushed as she said this last bit.
"Oh? And how do I look like to you?" Her left eyebrow raised.
"Um, well…. You're certainly not frumpy." Emma looked away from Regina.
"Very well, Emma. Before we get started, I just… well…" Regina put the notes down on the table and then leaned forward towards Emma, her hand clasped together on her knees. "This is going to sound strange, but I need to ask you about your experience with your Uber driver last Saturday evening...What?" Regina saw the panicked look on Emma's face."
"Oh, well, I'm so relieved you brought that up first because I wanted to ask you about that creepy driver. I take it you've had him before?" Emma looked worried.
"Yes, only about three or four times now, but that's three or four times too many. I get Ubers all the time, but I've never felt uncomfortable with a driver before. I actually had him this evening again. He brought me home and casually happened to mention picking up my friend from my place on Saturday evening and how he found her to be unpleasant." Regina actually looked quite concerned for Emma.
"Me, unpleasant!?" Emma yelped in disbelief. "Regina… may I call you Regina?"
"Yes."
"Regina," Emma also leaned toward her companion, "you need to rate him a one so that you don't get him again, and perhaps report him to Uber. I have never felt so creeped out by someone so quickly. As soon as I got into the Uber, he told me he knew someone who lived here. And then he said your full name including your doctor title."
"Yes, he actually addressed me as Dr Mills this evening. I have never given my title when I book an Uber. Just my name. How would he even find out?"
"Do you use social Media? Or has he perhaps dropped you off at the hospital? He seems like the type of guy that does research. He was asking a lot of questions when I said you're a friend of mine."
"You said we were friends?" Regina looked shocked.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. Did I overstep?"
"Oh no, no. I guess I just don't have many." Regina looked a bit embarrassed.
"Oh, me neither. Well, you have a friend in me now… I mean if it's allowed, I mean you're August's doctor, I mean…"
"Yes, Emma," Regina smiled. "So what else did Mr Glass say?"
"You know his name?"
"Yes, it comes up on the Uber app when you book a ride."
"Ah yes, it was my first time trying out the app on Saturday. Anyway, he was going on about how beautiful and sophisticated you were and how you were too good for Robin. He asked if we've been friends long. I just ignored him, but made a note to ask you about him. After I got out, I took a photo of his car and number plate as he drove away. Look, I can speak to Graham about him, see if anyone has reported him in the past?" There was silence as Regina seemed lost in thought. "Regina?" Emma gently touched Regina's hand.
"Thank you, Emma, it might be better if I tell Graham myself. I actually have the number of another Uber driver I use quite often. I had told him about Mr Glass's and he also suggested giving him a low rating. He also mentioned something else that was quite disturbing. Apparently other client's of his had also mentioned Mr Glass, telling him how Mr Glass also stares at them through the rearview mirror when he stops at a traffic light. And they all seem to look alike, apparently."
"Meaning...?"
"They all have dark features like myself. Dark hair/eyes, olive-skin-"
"Oh Jesus, Regina, you really need to report this guy." Emma sounded worried which in turn made Regina concerned.
"Yes, I'm afraid I shall have to," Regina sighed.
"Let me know when you go so I can come with you. I can tell them about my experience with this guy and all the stuff he said about you to me."
"Alright. Thank-you, Miss...Emma. I'm sorry for putting you in this predicament."
"Hey, it's no hassle. I'd rather keep you safe. You are my only friend, after all."
"What about August?"
"He's my brother."
"And Graham?"
"He's my temporary neighbor-slash-former prison guard. Okay, and my only male friend."
"Okay," Regina smiled,"well, I'll go in the morning. I need to be at the hospital at ten to - oh my goodness, I can't believe I forgot to tell you this when you first arrived!" Regina almost jumped with glee.
"What, what!?" Emma smiled at Regina's obvious excitement.
"I went to see August today and-"
"Oh my God, did he speak?"
"No, but the nurse has told me that there's been an increase in his brain activity every time you visit and talk to him, and when you read to him." Regina was smiling, but Emma didn't know why Regina thought that was good news if he still wasn't speaking. Regina observed Emma's expression. "That is good news, Emma. It means that he is listening to you, taking in what you are saying to him or reading to him." Regina smiled at Emma, hoping she would understand the significance of this breakthrough.
"So, that's good, right?" Emma smiled back.
"Yes! Considering he was just lying in bed showing no hope for recovery before you showed up. So, you see? You are helping, Emma." Regina smiled brightly which was contagious because Emma smiled right back.
"Well, I'm glad you told me this now, Doc. It's always better to end a conversation with good news."
"Yes, agreed. So I could meet you somewhere for a coffee tomorrow morning and then we could head-"
"Just come over to mine's tomorrow morning. I'll ask Graham to join us. Plus, August seemed to have splashed out on a gourmet coffee machine so you will be guaranteed five-star-restaurant quality coffee for free," Emma winked.
"Alright. Thank you, Emma. Shall we finally begin, then," Regina smiled.
"Sure," Emma said, leaning back into the comfy sofa and spilling more stories from her and August's childhood.