A/N: Forgive me for taking so long to update on my other stories, but as you all know of me, I like to start on multiple stories in case I'm in a rut with previous ones. Well, this AU based on the movie Ocean's 8 just happened after re-watching the movie. I've seen a lot of you wanting this movie turned into a SQ ff, so- here you go! I hope you enjoy it as I update and the changes I will make upon it. Happy reading my lovely readers! :) Also, I am writing and updating an AU based on The Notebook for those of you who are in the mood for something more romantic. You're welcome!
Five years, eight months, and twelve days. That's how long Regina Mills has been staring at the bars of her cell day in and day out. She knew every inch of them.
Today was a big day for her. Her parole was up and she needed to convince her parole officer that she was a changed woman after a life of crime. She was a changed woman. And when out of prison, this time, Regina would do things right. Especially by a hot blonde whom she missed and knew would be waiting for her when she got out. Her partner in life and in crime.
Yes, today, she would do right by her deceased father and mother and make them proud of the new woman she has become.
Plus, she was tired of this orange prison suit. She needed to feel like a person again. She needed her clothes back.
With cold handcuffs wrapped around her wrists, Regina waited patiently inside a cold white room for her parole officer to show. Her heart was beating steady, her features were calm, and she was ready.
The only door to the room squealed loudly as it opened before a middle aged man walked into the room, taking the seat before her before opening up her file.
"Good evening, Ms. Mills."
Regina gave the man a curt nod.
"As you know, parole is a privilege," she nodded to every word he continued to instruct her. "And one of the restrictions as a parolee is to avoid any contact of any person who has a criminal record of any kind." He glared up at her upon reading over her record again. "That would include most of your extended family."
"Yes, that's obviously not something I'm proud of." Regina nodded again, her voice filled with shame.
"Is this something that would pose a challenge for you?" He asked her.
"Absolutely not," Regina assured him, shaking her head. "I don't want that life. I am done with that life. My father…" She inhaled a slow breath, "May he rest in peace, was a criminal. I loved him, but that was his truth. He was a conman. It was in his blood."
"And it's not in your blood?"
"No," she shook her head. "No, sir. I fell for the wrong person. It was a mistake." Boy was it ever. "And if I were to be released…" She paused, her eyes watering at the thought of being elsewhere that didn't hold her in a bar cell. She blinked to fight back the tears, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice practically breaking. "Wow, just saying that…" She started again.
"If I were to be released, I would just want a simple life. I would just want to hold down a job, make some friends, go for a walk in the park after work for some fresh air." The corner of her lip tilted into a tiny and hopeful smile. "You know, pay my bills."
Regina always thought there would be nothing more glorious than to hear the words 'your parole has been granted.' But there was. The fact that she was back in her favorite pair of black dress pants, her white, a tiny bit wrinkled shirt, along with her black trench coat, while applying back some of her favorite Chanel ruby red lipstick. A pearly white smile stretched out across her lips of pure satisfaction and liberty.
"A simple life?" A female officer at the front desk lifted a brow to the brunette while she handed her a clipboard with her paperwork to sign.
"You heard about that?" Regina couldn't help but smirk, her hand scribbling down her signature on the dotted bottom line before sliding the clipboard back to her.
"Everyone did." The officer reached for a plastic bag, which contained only two of the brunette's most precious possessions. "Here's your stuff."
"Thank you." Regina reached for the bag, opening and pulling out a silver watch with a brown leather strap. Her thumb gently caressed the name Henry which was inscribed on the back with two dice drawn in at the bottom.
"Nice watch," the officer commented.
"It was my father's." The corner's of Regina's lips tilted into a small smile.
"He left it to you?"
"I stole it." Regina's eyes looked up at the officer's surprised yet hardened glance. "It's fine, Dina. He stole it, too." She wrapped up the watch around her right wrist, reaching for a plastic silver diamond ring with a single jewel in the middle. She didn't waste any time slipping it on her finger.
"You married?" Dina asked the brunette. She knew very few things about Regina, but she never figured her for the marrying type.
Regina smiled down at the ring, her eyes looking back up at the officer before her. "You can say that."
"Let me guess, the girlfriend stole that for you, too?" Her tone was filled with sarcasm.
"No, she bought the cracker jack box that held this ring with money she stole." The memory made Regina chuckle, "She must have gone through ten boxes that day."
"Quite the romantic, huh? Oh, and I almost forgot-" Dina reached into her breast pocket, handing Regina one last precious item. The most precious of them all. A wallet sized picture of her and a blonde woman, posing happily side by side with matching smiles directed at the camera.
"That the girlfriend?"
"That's her." Regina nodded, tucking the picture away in the safety of her purse. "Don't forget a shipment is coming in. You take your cut, plus a few extra cartons, okay? Remember, I want you to trade them, not smoke them." She glared.
"So, where are you going next?" Dina asked.
"Well," Regina exhaled a sharp breath. "I have forty-five dollars in my purse, Dina. I can go anywhere I want." She smiled a charming smile, giving the woman a wink before walking out of the double doors with her head held up high and a poise to her that only Regina could have.
Bergdorf Goodman. That was Regina's first stop as a once again free woman. What woman didn't love nice, expensive things?
She walked along the store, her eyes taking in every new and old items. Her fingers caressed along a line of perfume bottles before she chose one at the end and sprayed a sample in the air. Emma would love this. She smiled, her hand picking up one of the boxes of the same perfume.
Regina walked along, smiling and nodding at one of the employees who noticed her pick out a lipstick from her section. Her hands were already filled with two more boxes of another perfume for herself and an eyelash primer.
"Hi," she smiled, placing down the items she cradled in her hands down on the counter. "I'd like to return these, please."
"Of course!" Smiled a young innocent girl behind the counter, scanning the merchandise. "Do you have your receipt?"
"No, but they're unopened. They haven't been touched." Regina assured her, making direct eye-contact.
"I really need your receipt." The young girl scrunched up her face.
"They are sealed. They are brand new." Regina motioned to the brand new, packed items before them.
"Do you perhaps have the credit card that you used?" The girl asked as was store procedure.
"This is ridiculous!" The brunette scoffed, appalled. "I bought these last week."
"Ma'am, maybe you can try customer service on the sixth floor-"
"You know what- fine," Regina scooped up the items in her hands, throwing a glare and an eye roll at the girl. "I'll just keep them. Jesus." She sighed for one last effect. "Could I at least get a bag?"
"Sure." The girl quickly reached for a paper bag, holding it open for the brunette with an apologetic smile stretched out on her lips.
"Thank you," Regina reached over for the bag and walked right out of the store with a satisfied smirk and raised brow marked on her features. Works like a charm! She mentally patted herself on the back for not having lost her touch.
She repeated this in other stores along her way to a hotel. The finest in New York city. Her head turned to a middle aged couple who were checking out at the reception desk.
"Checking out, Room 2814 under the name of Mr. Leopold White, please." The older man smiled at the receptionist. His brunette wife smiling satisfactorily beside him.
"Did you have a pleasant stay?" The receptionist asked with a matching smile.
"Terrific." Beamed the man.
Regina casually moved her way up the marbled steps, her eyes observing the happy couple, and listening in on their few exchanged words with Monica, the receptionist. She came back down upon seeing the couple leave the hotel grounds, taking a seat in one of the lobby chairs which faced the reception desk before taking out her cell phone from her purse and dialing the hotel.
"The Langham Hotel, this is Monica."
"Hi, Monica, this is Mrs. White," Regina smiled, speaking in a casual voice. "My husband and I just found out our flight was cancelled."
"Oh, no." The girl's face fell.
"I know," Regina chuckled. "I know. And instead of staying in a horrible airport hotel, we were hoping that maybe we could get our original room back?"
"Of course! We can give you that same room back." She smiled.
As did Regina, "That would be amazing. Thank you so much. We are just going to grab a quick bite, so would it be possible to get the maid in there now?"
"Of course, ma'am. Everything will be brand new by the time of your arrival."
"That would be wonderful. Thank you so much, Monica. We'll see you soon." She hung up the call, her smirk growing while she remained seated and continued to read her magazine to pass the time.
Walking out of the elevator to the second floor, Regina came across a fur coat hanging on a hotel rack. Her hand reached for it faster than the woman in the elevator with her could blink. She walked down the hall, toward her room, stopping in front of the maid's cart and snatching up a few soaps, placing them inside one of the paper bags before entering her room casually.
"Hi," she smiled sweetly at the maid who was finished making her bed. "Could you come back later, please? I just have to get off my feet."
"Of course, ma'am." The maid kindly smiled, going on her way, closing the door on her way out.
Regina released a heavy sigh, tossing everything on top of the queen sized bed before plopping down in exhaustion herself. She dug through her trench coat pocket, pulling out hers and Emma's picture together of the day Emma gave her the plastic diamond ring from the cracker jack box. Regina showing off her ring while Emma pointed right at the diamond, both sporting matching smiles.
This picture was her favorite. Emma had sent it to her while she was in prison and she kept it with her always. Flipping the picture over, she read the inscription on the back.
Fly back to me.
That was exactly what she was going to do. Especially when she had the perfect plan for the perfect heist ever known to be pulled off. And for that, she would need Emma right by her side.