A/N: Okay, so unlike the film, I changed this up a bit near the cliffhanger of this chapter. I hope all my readers enjoying this story still find it entertaining enough to send reviews my way. :) I hope you enjoy! Happy reading! This story is coming close to reaching it's end.
The car fell so silent that Emma could hear her own heartbeat, racing to jump out of her chest and hide under a rock. Regina was wearing the same matching frown as the blonde was, and Emma wasn't at all sure how to start, where to start or even what to say to excuse her action. She didn't even dare to start the car, because she wasn't even sure if Regina would want to see her after this sudden discovery that she was always too much of a coward to tell her about herself.
She deserved this. She deserved everything Regina had coming for her.
"Look, Gina…" Her voice was so low, it was filled with shame. Her eyes kept looking over to the brunette, who simply kept facing forward. "That- that was before you hired me. I was just really trying to connect with Henry on some level of desperation that- it was a stupid mistake. And then, we started knowing each other more, and I liked you- and it all became too hard to tell you." She inhaled her soul back into her body. Her eyes glanced at the woman's own brown orbs who looked right at her. "You have to believe me, I wanted to tell you so many times. I'm really sorry-"
"Emma." Regina's voice was firm while saying her name, that it stopped Emma's heart. But what caught her by surprise wasn't the soft, understanding look in the woman's eyes, but how soft her voice was after, as she simply said- "Books are meant to be read."
Thin lips parted in surprise. She couldn't find her voice due to her throat going so dry, she had to thickly swallow down some saliva.
"You knew?" She breathed out, surprised yet again to see a small nod come from Regina.
"This book was always one of my favorites of the entire collection. I would never forget where it was if it was out of place." She wanted to reach over for her hand to give her more reassurance that everything was fine.
Emma let out a scoff, because how could this woman be so amazing that she wasn't even angry right now?
"Surprised?" The brunette asked.
"Well… Yeah." Emma breathed, shaking her head. "Regina, you should be royally pissed at me right now. I mean, I should be getting fired and have you tell me that you never want to see me again, threaten to call the police."
Regina chuckled, "You made a mistake. No one's perfect. And as wrong as it was, you did it with a very sweet intention to gain closure with your son."
"Yeah," the blonde scoffed under her breath. "A lot of good that did me. Whatever progress I had made with him today, I just lost it."
"So, you get back up and try harder." Brown eyes locked on green ones. "Just… A little advice?"
Emma nodded.
"Don't steal again. As sweet as your intention was, it was also very stupid." A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, the sight of it actually made Emma feel relieved and had her smiling.
"I swear. No more stealing." She placed a hand on her heart, her eyes locked on Regina's. "I've honestly made so many mistakes in my life, I really am trying to change that. Do better by him. By you."
"I believe you. I mean, do you honestly think we would be sitting here, having this sible conversation right now if I so much as thought that you did it because you wanted to hurt me?"
Emma shook her head, looking away to blink a few stinging tears out of her eyes.
"Emma." Her name was called out again in that sweet tone of voice that only Regina knew her way around.
She locked eyes with the brunette once again, feeling them sting more. She couldn't see them, but she was sure they were red.
"You're a wonderful person, who's been dealt with bluff's her entire life. That's not your fault." She sees her wipe away a fallen tear. One that she wished she could wipe away herself. She almost wished she could feel her hand move, but while it just sat there immobile, she gave her another warm smile. "Do you want to know why I hired you when there was a room of highly qualified people ahead of you?"
So there was another reason. She nodded, feeling her heart ready to jump out of her chest again.
"Potential." She made that word sound so important as her answer, for a moment Emma forgot it's meaning. "You have so much of it, and you have this way of looking at life with a smile even when it's dealt you a wrong hand. I admire that."
Emma breathed out a tiny scoff, "So, your best bet is to hire a convict who was just released from prison?"
"I'll admit there were moments where I doubted you, and cursed at myself for possibly making a mistake in the beginning." She chuckled as did Emma. "But, life is also about second chances, right? Why couldn't you have yours? Especially when without even realizing it you gave me mine."
"So, I was right when I told Zelena that the reason you hired me was because of my charming personality. You liked me even then." She grinned.
Regina scoffed, holding back a grin of her own. "Don't get cocky."
Both women shared a laugh inside the car that it was like a breath of fresh air. It made Emma feel safe enough to reach for Regina's hand, bring it up to her lips and place a kiss right on her knuckles.
"You are truly an amazing woman, Regina."
"Better to hire you, who wasn't looking to kiss my ass because of all the money I have." She chuckled.
"Well…" Emma grinned. "I'll admit, you do have a nice ass, but that's not what I thought about kissing first when I first saw you."
There was a flirtatious glare in both their eyes, it was suddenly becoming a little hard to breathe.
"And… What exactly did you want to kiss?" The brunette's voice was a purr. Clenching all of Emma's insides.
"Well, for starters…" Emma leaned in, capturing Regina's plump lips with her own in a kiss that melted both of them- and the tension that Emma felt built up minutes ago- away. "I've been wanting to kiss these ever since I stormed into your penthouse, giving your sister a hard time because she made me wait so damn long." She grinned against Regina's lips, who grinned back.
Kissing Emma always turned Regina on, and she could feel that without a problem every single time. And having her whisper against her own lips like this- an action she could easily feel- made her want to fight her own body for any sign of life.
"Anything else?" The brunette whispered against Emma's lips, her grin stretching from ear to ear.
Taking a sharp intake of breath, Emma exhaled it slowly, her eyes were as dark as Regina's as they took in her figure. "I would very much like to show you, but only when you're truly ready."
"And who says I'm not?" A brow arched up, matching Emma's as she looked at the brunette fully surprised by her comment.
A light buzzing could be heard, one that disrupted their moment and had Emma cursing under her breath as she reached for her cellphone. Her eyes fall on a text message.
"It's Z. We have to get back." She told Regina, who rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Now?"
"Apparently so. But, believe me- you and I are finishing this kissing discussion later." Emma placed her seat belt back on, started up the car and drove off.
"Surprise!" Regina was startled with how many people (people she knew, some friends and Gold) were in her penthouse as Emma and her made their way out of the elevator. They cheered in celebration of her birthday.
What the hell did you do, Zelena? She gritted her teeth in silence, but put on her best fake smile as everyone began to gather around her, crowding her with what very little space she had to move around and their felicitations.
"Happy Birthday, Regina!" A woman smiled down at her, patting her shoulder.
"Thank you." She forced a smile, nodding to her curtly.
"Happy birthday." A man with glasses raised his glass of champagne to her.
"Thank you." Another forced smile, which was gone as soon as she spotted Gold walking up to her with a bright smile and a bottle of wine in his hands. Probably from his cellar.
"Happy birthday, Regina. This is from my cellar. It's one of my best wines." Gold smiled, placing the bottle of wine on the brunette's lap, leaning it near her arm.
She would love to throw this bottle directly at his head right now.
"Thank you, Robert. I'll take it, Regina." After giving the obnoxious man a smile, Zelena reached for the wine bottle from her sister's lap.
"Could I see you in the other room, please?" The brunette found herself whispering.
"Of course." Zelena knew what was coming. "Everyone mingle among yourselves! We'll be right back." She smiled at their guests before she followed Regina into the next room, which was the office.
Emma followed quietly behind both sisters, knowing perfectly well that Regina was not having this surprise party idea. She closed the door as Regina began to make that exact point.
"I specifically said nothing for my birthday." Regina's eyes threw a hard glare, her words hissed out of her lips like daggers.
"Regina, they're our friends. I just thought that maybe you would like-" Regina's voice interrupted her.
"Zelena, there are a few things in my life that I can control and I would very much like for this to be one of them." Regina snapped. "Now, I didn't ask you to do this, did I? So kindly I ask you to inform everyone that the party is over and see to it that they go home."
Zelena's eyes moved over to Emma, who stood silently near the brunette, giving her an apologetic look for her sister's outburst. "Okay. I'm sorry." She walked over to the door, shutting it behind her, leaving Emma alone with her.
"Gina…" Emma's voice was soft, but loud enough for the brunette to rotate in her chair to face her. "Don't you think you were a little hard on her?"
"Did you know about this?" She snapped at her, her jaw clenching hard in place.
Emma shrugged while tucking her hands inside her pockets. She spoke once she heard a scoff escape the brunette's lips. "Come on, Gina. Z just wanted to do something nice for you on your birthday. It's not fair for you to attack her like that."
"Now, you're telling me what I can and can't do?" Her brow raised.
Emma frowns. "Hey, don't start with me. It's not like that. I would never tell you what you can and can't do, okay? I just mean- look at everyone here, what your sister has done for you to make sure that you have a good time on your day. Don't ruin that by asking her to tell everyone to leave. Okay? The guests are here- so let's go out there and dance our socks off."
"You dance?" Her brow raises at this newfound information about Emma.
"You want to find out, you'll have to go out there and dance with me." The blonde grins, leaving Regina to release a sigh, but chuckle and give up this ridiculous argument.
"I'm sorry, but the party's over. My sister isn't feeling well, and would like to be alone. Thank you all for coming." Zelena nods curtly at all the guests.
"There's no need for anyone to go home. I'm actually suddenly feeling a lot better." Brown eyes look over to a grinning Emma before turning back to the guests. "Please, stay. There's plenty of food and drinks to go around. Enjoy yourselves." She smiles.
Everyone went about their business, classical music began to play throughout the room, while Zelena stood in shock at Regina's sudden change of heart.
"Zelena. I apologize for my undignified behavior earlier." Says Regina, looking up at her sister who stood before her.
Zelena shakes her head, "Forgiven and forgotten." She smiles. "Excuse me a moment, I need to see to more champagne."
Regina turns to her girlfriend. "Emma… I'm sorry. You were right."
Emma smiles, "Of course I was. I usually am about these things. Besides, it's a pretty fancy party to let it go to waste. And I know it's crowded now, but… Later you and I can be alone and enjoy the night all the more."
Whatever it was that Emma had planned for her, Regina was all in.
"Regina," Gold smiled down at the brunette, motioning to an empty seat nearby. "Could we sit for a moment?"
"I'll go see if Ruby wants a dance." Emma smiled, leaving the brunette alone with Gold. Clearly, the man wanted to converse with her alone, which didn't worry Emma. She knew Regina was capable of handling herself.
The brunette moved off to the side, watching Gold take the empty seat that was beside her. She eyed the man who's gaze fell on Emma.
"Enjoying the party?" She asked him, breaking his eye contact toward the blonde.
"It's quaint." He smiled, ignoring the unamused look on Regina's face. "You know, my wife still has her mother's carer's number, if you're interested."
"Thank you, but… Emma has been doing extremely well around here."
"Extremely?" His brows hit his hairline.
"That's right." Regina nodded.
"Hm," a hum escaped his throat, his eyes looking over at the blonde as she was in deep conversation with Ruby. "So, she's been… Keeping out of trouble, then?" He turned back to Regina as he asked this.
She frowned, not bothering to answer his question.
"Tell me something, honestly… Just how well do you know Emma Swan?" He leaned in.
"Well enough." Her response was dry.
Gold chuckled, "Well, sometimes well enough isn't well enough, is it?" His hand reached inside his coat pocket, pulling out his phone and flashing it before Regina. "You know, we always think we know someone until we don't." He flashed his screen in front of her, and Regina's frown deepened upon seeing Emma's entire incarcerated record flashed before her.
She hummed, mentally counting down from ten to not explode at the man. "I know about her past."
"Do you, now?" Gold's brow arches while he places his phone back inside his coat pocket.
"Yes, she was honest with me about it from day one, and after getting to know her, I can assure you she's redeemed herself."
He sat back, realizing the anger radiating off of Regina's face. "Look, I'm sorry I had to choose your birthday to tell you this. I mean, it's your choice who you want walking into your house and caring for you. I'm simply saying: Think about how well you think you know her. We all have to live here, Regina." He forced out a smile that the brunette wished she could rip off his face.
Why was he even here? Was it because he knew that his presence alone bothered her?
"Is this new?" Gold's eyes took notice in the painting hanging above his head, finding it strangely fascinating.
Regina's eyes followed his line of sight toward Emma's painting. "Yes." She wanted to smile but held back.
"Who's the artist?" He asked, standing from his seat to have a better look, his head tilting off to the side.
"Oh, the artist goes by various names." She lied coolly, knowing that if she could make the painting sound famous enough, Gold would want to buy it.
"Is it Michelle?" His brow furrows, unable to move his line of sight away from the painting.
"Well, we don't really know, do we?" This time she smirks, given that the man's back was facing her. "You do know what it represents?"
"Well… Obviously." Gold nods, having absolutely no idea. But, he wasn't about to tell anyone that, making himself look clueless about art.
Like a G6 began to play through the penthouse, capturing Gold's, Zelena's and even Regina's attention. Her eyes moved toward Emma and Ruby as they shared a dance. Her lips parted at the movements Emma had in her hips and legs. She could really dance! Which made Regina wish she could dance along with her.
"Come on, Z!" Emma danced around Zelena who couldn't keep herself from laughing. She actually joined in on the dance, leaving Regina more in shock.
"Excuse me for just a moment." Regina moves along toward Emma, watching her hips move along to the music. She couldn't stop staring. "You can really dance." She smiles at her.
"You want to join me?" Asked the blonde, dancing around the brunette's chair. "Come on. Just don't step over my feet."
Regina laughed, controlling her chair with her chin, making it move from one side to another. She couldn't get enough at watching Emma dance. Nothing could disrupt this moment.
"Look at you go! You dance very well." Emma grinned, dancing in front of the smiling brunette.
"Believe it or not, this is an improvement from how I used to dance." Regina chuckled, her smile turning into a frown and her chair coming to a complete halt at the sight of who was now standing before her.
Even Emma stopped her dancing upon seeing the shocked state to the brunette's face, looking over at who had dared to disrupt them. It was a man, around her age, but well dressed and with a bouquet of roses in one hand. She had no idea who this guy was, but she didn't like it. Especially with the way he was smiling at a surprised Regina.
"Daniel?" Regina spoke through the music still playing around the room.
"Hi, Gina," his smile grew.
Who the hell was this Jerry Maguire wannabe? Emma wondered, throwing a glare his way.