Emma was minding her own buisness enjoying lunch at Granny's when Regina stormed into the diner looking for a fight or so Emma thought. Emma took a long swig of her hot chocolate and looked over at the mayor, who looked like she was ready to burn the world down.
Emma shrugged and looked back at the newspaper she was reading, To her this was just a typical Tuesday for the Mayor. What came as a surprise was that when the Mayor made a b-line for her booth, Instead of making a scene and verbally assaulting Emma, she took a seat and waited for Emma to look up at her.
Emma glanced up at the mayor over her newspaper and took another sip of her drink before she sat it down and looked Regina In the eyes.
"What do I owe the pleasure of having you grace me with your presence Madam Mayor?" Emma asked, knowing the way she stated the question would irritate Regina.
"I… I need your help." Regina whispered quietly, causing Emma to look at the Mayor wide eyed in shock.
"What could you possibly need my help for?" Emma asked unsure of where this was going exactly.
"I can't give you details here, can I come by the station later?" Regina asked.
"Sure." Emma said with a shrug, Regina stood up promptly and glared down at Emma.
"Don't forget I want those reports on my desk by the end of the Day Sheriff Swan." Regina said in an authoritative tone, causing Emma to nod her head yes at the mayor and then look back down at her news paper. Before Emma really had a chance to wrap her brain around the fact that the mayor just asked her for help.
She finished her drink and paid her tab for her meal and got up and went back to the station. Once she arrived David's car was gone and the Station seemed empty. So Emma walked through the station giving it a quick once over before she sat down at her desk and started looking over the paperwork for the past week. She could easily get it done in the next hour or so if she put her mind to it but something was bothering her. She had never expected The Mayor to come to her and openly ask for help.
Emma started working on the paperwork and waited for The Mayor to arrive. Fortunately she didn't have to wait long for the Mayor to decide she wanted to make an appearance. It was about 3:45 in the afternoon when Emma heard the familiar click of the Mayors shoes on the tile floor of the station. Emma Kept working on the paperwork, unsure if Regina actually meant what she said back in the diner about the paperwork.
Regina has to clear her throat to get Emma's attention, which only slightly surprises The Mayor that Emma was so engrossed in her work.
"My apologies Madam Mayor. You did say you wanted this paperwork done by the end of the day." Emma said to Regina with a cheeky smirk.
"You and I both know those reports aren't due until Friday night, now will you take this seriously?" Regina said as she placed her hands on Emma's desk. Looming over Emma who is still sitting. Emma's eyes trailed up from her paperwork to Regina's face, after a long detour over the curves of her body.
"What do I exactly need to take seriously Madam Mayor? I have no idea why you came to me asking for help. So if you could enlighten me I would greatly appreciate it." Emma told Regina.
"Look, I don't want to ask this of you. I don't even want to think about asking this. But Henry has come to me recently asking for a family Vacation and I need your help." Regina said with an exasperated sigh.
"So? Just go, if the kid wants to spend time with you I don't mind. We are past fighting over him. So if you want to take him for a few weeks you can." Emma said to Regina not caring that her sons other mother takes him on a trip. He was doing well in school, making friends, and behaving well.
"No Miss Swan you don't quite understand. Henry wants the three of us to go together. Something about getting to spend time with both of his moms' away from Story Brooke." Regina said and Emma's face paled slightly.
"He can't be serious? He does know we fight like cats and dogs right? Has he had blinders on every time we've been in the same room?" Emma asks confused and distressed.
"Look, I wouldn't come asking you if Henry didn't want this. He has been begging me for weeks. He wants both of us together with him. He has been adamant about that fact. Plus we have gotten better about being around one another as of late" Regina tells Emma
"How do you feel about it?" Emma asked, wanting to know where the Mayor stood.
"At first I was completely adverse to it. I shot him down out of the gate because I didn't know if either of us could make it out of a family trip alive. Then he kept begging me and I started to come around to it. I want him happy, and if both of us being together with him will make him happy how can I deny that to him?" Regina asks.
"Alright, when do we leave?" Emma asks deflating entirely. She knows the second her son flashes those puppy dog eyes at her she's doomed, so she just caves early and avoids making her son feel bad.
"I… I hadn't expected you to say yes so quickly." Regina says to Emma.
"I care about him and his happiness and we have gotten better about being civil I think this might be the ticket we need to get on the same page." Emma says with some consideration.
"Don't you want to know where we'd be going?" Regina asks.
"I trust you to not book a horrible vacation." Emma answers.
"Alright. Come by tonight and we will get things sorted out. Please take time to pack a bag we are planning on leaving Friday morning. Some warm weather clothing and a swimsuit if you have one?" Regina asks.
"I don't but I'm sure I can get one when we get to where we are going. No real need for a bathing suit in Storybrook." Emma answers
"There's plenty of reasons in the summer. We do have a beach, and I own a pool." Regina answered as she stood up and started to walk away.
"If you do happen to finish that paperwork tonight please bring it by the house, it will be a good excuse to show up for no reason at all." Regina says to Emma as she straightens her blouse out and starts to walk away.
"I'll stop buy around 6 if that's fine?" Emma asks.
"That's perfectly fine, bring your bag and we will figure out if you have the appropriate attire for the trip. I'll tell Henry you are having dinner with us as well." Regina says to Emma.
A few hours later the paper work is finished and sitting on the kitchen table, Emma has packed a bag for a trip including toiletries and made sure the had complete outfits along with a pair of flip-flops packed into the side pocket when Snow wasn't looking. Snow had asked quite a few questions as Emma packed her bag but Emma deflected them well enough.
"Snow, stop worrying everything is Fine, I just have to go out of town for a few days for a seminar that is being held in New York. Regina and I have to attend we are the towns representatives." Emma lied to her mother.
"But what if she tries some funny business?" Snow asks.
"Look Ma' we are past this, She's not Evil anymore. We fight and bicker but that's it. This is for the town so we are going to be on our best behavior. Just relax." Emma lies again. She's starting to feel guilty but she knows that no one can lie to her, not the other way around.
"Alright I have to go and talk to Regina about the itinerary for this trip. Once I know exactly what is going on and how long I will be gone I will let you know. Okay? Just relax. I will be fine." Emma says as she grabs her bag off the counter top along with the paper work and heads out to her car. She tosses the bag into the back seat of the bug and heads to The Mayors house.
A few minutes later Emma is sitting in front of The Mayors house and she grabs the paperwork and the duffle bag from the backseat. She looks around to make sure no one notices that she has a huge duffle bag and is taking it into Regina's house. She knocks on the door and hears her Son say something from behind the door.
Henry opens the door and smiles brightly at Emma, he lets her into the house where he takes the duffle bag and climbs the stairs with it.
"Henry, where are you taking that?" Emma asks.
"Mom's room Ma, She told me to take it up there when you got here so it wasn't just sitting in the entry way." Henry answers.
"Miss Swan please come in." Regina says from the Hallway leading into the Kitchen, Emma follows her voice and ends up in the Kitchen. Regina is wearing an apron and has her hair tied up into a small ponytail that is keeping it out of her face and the way.
"You know, you can call me Emma right?" Emma asks.
"I wasn't sure if you were comfortable with that?" Regina asks.
"Might as well be, we are going to be spending a lot of time together with Henry, he isn't going to be too enthused about me calling you Madam Mayor or Mrs. Mayor all the time." Emma tells Regina.
"Fine, for this trip, you may call me Regina, and I will do my best to call you Emma instead of Miss Swan." Regina tells Emma.
"Thank you, and I will do the same." Emma answers. Henry pops into the kitchen a few moments later with a bright smile on his face.
"Did you tell Ma where we are going Mom?" Henry asks.
"No, I was going to leave that to you." Regina said to her son as she turned around an went back to cooking.
"Oh Great! We are going to Monterey Bay to visit the aquarium and then we are going to go sight seeing and check out California." Henry tells his Mother excitedly.
"That sounds great. When are we planning on leaving?" Emma asks.
"Our flight leaves Friday night and we will be getting back next Saturday." Regina tells Emma.
"I lied to Snow and told her I was going on a business trip with you to New York." Emma said.
"I can't believe you lied to grandma!" Henry said in an exasperated tone.
"Well as long as someone didn't open his big mouth and tell his Grandmother that he was going on a trip to California with his mother we should be fine." Emma says to her Son teasingly.
"Mom made me promise to not tell anyone until after she talked to you about going with us." Henry answered his mother.
"Good, so for the Record we are going to New York on a business trip and we are taking Henry because he is our son and we aren't leaving him with his grandparents for a week." Regina said in a stern tone.
"Yes Madam Mayor." Emma says out of a knee jerk reaction. Causing Regina to give her a look that she wasn't exactly familiar with. It was a cross between something she hadn't seen from the mayor and a fire that she had seen all too often. This is normally the look Emma would receive right before a fight. This time was different though. Regina smiled softly at Emma as she turned and went back to attending to dinner. Emma and Henry continued to talk while they waited for Regina to finish making dinner. Emma helped Henry set the table and offered help to Regina but was shooed away. They sat down to dinner and Regina and Emma listened to Henry talk about his day at school and how excited he was to go on a trip with both of his moms. Emma noticed how happy Henry was just to be with both of them.
After Dinner was done Henry was sent to his room to do homework and Regina and Emma went up stairs to go through her bag. Much to Regina's amazement Emma's bag was packed quite well. Her outfits were rolled into sets and everything seemed neat and in order.
"Alright did Snow pack this bag?" Regina asked as she went though it.
"Nope, That was all me." Emma answered as she sat in the seat in the corner of the room lazily.
"This makes zero sense. I've been to your home several times. Its always a mess, how is this so neat?" Regina asks waving her hand in the direction of the duffle bag.
"Because my clothing are the only thing I could take with me when I went from home to home in foster care. So I made sure I never left anything behind. As soon as it was clean it was folded, rolled into sets, and placed back into my duffle bag that I practically lived out of. My mother is the reason its such a mess, I've just given up on cleaning." Emma answers with a sigh.
"You can't lead me to believe that Snow White is a slob." Regina asks in disbelief.
"No Mary is a slob, being a teacher and alone with out any dwarves to clean up after made her one too." Emma says.
"I ruined her." Regina said in disbelief.
"No she ruined herself. She had the foundation to continue to be the neat and clean individual she was before the curse she just didn't apply herself. I love my mother but she is a mess." Emma says as she shrugs.
"So from the looks of thing's all you need is a swim suit, because we are going to California." Regina says.
"I will get one when I get there." Emma tells Regina.
"Alright Emma… Do you want to put this in my trunk so we can just leave Friday because we have to drive to the airport? Which is about 5 hours away."
"Sounds great. Lets go do that. Is your bag packed? I'll grab it and put it in the trunk for you if you are ready." Emma says.
"I haven't had time to pack a bag yet. I was trying to decide if I just wanted to magic one into the car." Regina said.
"I don't see why not, Henry has gotten more accustom to magic ever since I got my powers. I just don't use them very often." Emma says.
"Why not?" Regina asks.
"I just lived with out having them for 30 years why would I need them now?" Emma asks.
"To make your life easier." Regina comments as she waves her hand over the room and then sits down on the bed facing Emma.
"I can see that as a benefit but I haven't really gotten the hang of using my magic either." Emma tells Regina.
"Do you want me to teach you? Or I can offer some reading material for you to go over to help. We are going to be powerless the second we leave Story Brooke." Regina says to Emma.
"Id like something that I can read on the plane. I hate flying." Emma said..
"I'll collect a couple for you. Is there anything else you are concerned about this trip?" Regina asks.
"No, I think we are good and it looks like your bag is fully packed." Emma says standing up. She grabs her duffle bag off the bed and grabs Regina's suitcase and carries them down stairs and sets them by the door. Regina follows Emma down the stairs and grabs her keys off the table in the entryway and pops the trunk of her car.
Emma walks out of the house and puts the bags into the trunk and shuts it. She walks back up to the house where Regina is standing there waiting for Emma.
"I'm going to say goodnight to Henry and then I'll head home. Text me if you need anything done by Friday?" Emma asks as she walks back into the house and Regina shuts the door behind them. Regina reaches out and grabs Emma by the hand causing Emma to turn around and look Regina in the eyes.
"Emma… Thank you, this is the happiest I have seen Henry in a very long time. He is over the moon about the fact that he gets to spend a whole week with us with out the town looming over everything we do." Regina said with a soft look in her eyes, she looked like she was letting the stress of the day finally seep out of her. Emma could visibly see how relaxed Regina had become since that afternoon.
"It's for Henry. I would do anything for him." Emma answers. She gives Regina's hand a squeeze and then lets it go. Emma climbs the stairs and goes to Henry's room, she knocks on her son's door and he tells her to come in and sees that it's Emma.
"Hey bud, I gotta head out. I just wanted to tell you goodnight." Emma said to her son with a smile.
"That's fine Ma I wish you could stay but I understand. I will see you Friday." Henry says as he gets up from his desk and walks over to give his Mom a hug. Emma gives Henry a kiss on his head, enjoying the hug for a moment before he lets go and walks back to his desk.
"Have a safe drive home Ma." Henry said as Emma shut the door and walked back down the stairs. She found that Regina's study light was on and she walked over to tell Regina goodnight who was sitting at her desk drinking some hard liquor.
"I told the kid goodnight, do you want to come lock the door behind me?" Emma asked as she leaned against the door frame with a smirk.
"I was trying to figure out if I wanted to ask you to stay for a drink or not." Regina said to Emma.
"Well Madam Mayor, that is entirely up to you. I wouldn't say no." Emma answered.
"I'm still deciding. I don't know if I want to share my scotch with you." Regina said with a smile.
"You have been quite generous lately, I mean we haven't fought once today… Well not really." Emma answers.
"Honestly fighting with you is Exhausting, but the townspeople expect us to bicker and fight. We have to give them something to gossip about." Regina says with a shrug taking another drink of her alcohol.
"You've been feeling that way lately too?" Emma asks.
"I'm tired of fighting with you, fighting how I feel about you, and putting up this charade for the town, letting them think that I'm still the villain." Regina says as she attempts to run her hand through her hair that is still tied up.
"Regina… I… I don't know what that means exactly." Emma says slightly confused about the middle part specifically the "her" part.
"I'm just tired Emma." Regina says to her.
"I understand. Have a good night." Emma says as she starts to turn to walk out the door.
"Emma wait!" Regina practically yells, but not loud enough to alert Henry. Emma stops and she hears Regina's chair push back and her stand up.
"I don't want you to get a big head about this but I have to tell you something." Regina said as she walked over to Emma.
"What would that be exactly?" Emma asked raising an eyebrow at Regina.
" I like you…" Regina said quietly.
"I know." Emma answered, causing Regina to look up at Emma wide eyed.
"What do you mean you know?" Regina asked.
"Back when we fought, I would purposefully do things to piss you off just so I could see that fire in your eyes. This afternoon when you came into granny's I saw that fire again and I got excited, because I thought I'd get a chance to rile you up again." Emma said with a smile.
"How dare you!" Regina said glaring into Emma's eyes, knowing the Emma has the higher ground here.
"Oh Regina, we both know we did things for our own selfish wants, so lets just let the past go. We are here now, and talking about important things so lets get back to that." Emma said.
"Fine. I still can't believe you." Regina answered.
"Do you really want to go there right now Regina?" Emma asks as she leads Regina toward the living room and takes a seat on the couch.
"No, Fighting with you isn't worth it anymore. Again it's exhausting and I'm very tired of doing it when I'd rather be doing something much more productive." Regina says in a flirtatious tone causing Emma to sit up a little straighter.
"What do you think would be more productive?" Emma asks, Unsure of what exactly Regina views as productive.
"Cuddling and drinking scotch." Regina said taking a few sips of her drink. Emma takes that as a sign to wrap her arm around Regina's shoulder to which Regina snuggles into her side.
"Is this weird?" Emma asks.
"A little, but don't make it weird." Regina said sipping on her drink.
"Alright then its not weird." Emma responds as she takes the glass from Regina and takes the last sip, feeling like she needed a drink if this conversation were to continue.
"I'll go get both of us a glass." Regina said as she moved away from Emma and stood up. A few moments later Regina came back and handed Emma a glass, which she took gratefully and then took a long swig.
"Is this making you uncomfortable?" Regina asked taking a seat at the edge of the couch.
"No it's just a lot to process. I mean we've come a long way since the day I showed up here but I was looking at us as best friends as the best possibility, not lovers." Emma answers honestly as she leans forward on the couch resting her elbows on her knees while holding the glass of scotch.
"If that's what you want Emma…." Regina started but then Emma cut her off quickly.
"We both know I'm gay. Neil ruined any chance of me ever wanting to be with another man. I have not been interested in men for a very long time. So lets get that straight. I just wasn't expecting you to be bisexual is all. Its quite a bit to take in." Emma answers.
Regina sits in silence for a long moment with Emma trying to understand. Regina was thinking Emma was repulsed by the idea of being with another women, when in reality she wasn't at all.
"I just don't want to mess this up. We've been doing so good, Henry is happy. I don't want to ruin what we already have, which is us getting along. I don't want us to do this and then have a break up and it destroys Henry even more. I worry about everything I do. I don't want to hurt him." Emma explains.
"Alright then we take it slow, see if these feelings are genuine." Regina answers.
"I know how I feel about you Regina, I think I always have." Emma answers.
"And exactly how do you feel." Regina asks. Emma looks down at her glass of scotch and downs it all in one gulp. She sets the empty glass on the coffee table, making sure to set it on a coaster for Regina.
She looks over at Regina and then slides over the couch to be close to her. Emma brushes a stray strand of hair that was grazing Regina's cheek. Then Emma takes Regina's cheek and rests the palm of her hand against it guiding her face toward Emma's. Emma's lips barley touch Regina's and both women feel electricity running through their veins. Regina lurches forward and presses her lips against Emma's. Both women feel like this is the first time in a long time that something has been ignited deep inside of them. After a few seconds they part and the kiss is over, Emma is looking at Regina with wide eyes and dilated pupils.
"Wow…" Emma says as she feels like her heart is lighter than air and her stomach is jittery.
"I… I…" Regina starts but she can't seem to get anything out. Emma looks into Regina's eyes and see's the desire in them. Her deep rich brown eyes almost non-existent with how wide her pupils are.
"MOM?!" Henry yells from up stairs. Causing Emma and Regina to scramble apart.
"What Henry?" Regina asks from the couch after she composed herself.
"What was that loud boom?" Henry asked in a scared voice, causing Emma and Regina to look at each other wide eyed.
"What loud boom?" Regina asked confused.
"There was a loud boom and then the house shook." Henry asked from the top of the stairs.
"I don't know hun, do you want me to call Emma and have her check out the house?" Regina askes trying to deflect her sons questions.
"She's still here mom. I'm not stupid." Henry answers as he starts to descend the stairs.
"Bud, go back to your homework. I'll figure out what the loud noise was and the house shaking." Emma finally chimes in.
"Fine." Henry answers.
Both women look at each other in shock. They couldn't be… Could they?