A/N: Thank you to all my lovely readers for your patience on my updates. I know I said I would post since yesterday and post two chapters, but again, things got in the way of that. Luckily I was able to finish this next chapter and post it up for all of you to enjoy. Happy reading! :) don't forget to drop reviews, along with follows and favorites.
Just in case, if you are new to this story. Stop reading and be sure to read parts 1 and 2 first. Up to you.
Killian's eyes remained locked on Robin's and even Regina's fearful ones. But through his peripheral vision, he could see Mulan Fa coming into the apartment with her glock drawn.
Fa came up right behind Robin, the barrel of her glock pressed right at the back of his head. "Drop the knife."
Robin's jaw clenches in anger. His eyes dark and angry as he looked at Killian. Angry at Regina, angry at Emma. Regina let out a scream as she felt her body being tossed across the room, right into Killian's arms. Killian quickly placed her behind him, while Robin's body shifted to strike at Mulan.
Only Mulan raised her arm, blocking his attempt, along with another strike with the knife. Robin grunted time and time again as he was punched in the face twice, and knocked to the floor, flat on his face by her.
His anger raged as he felt the barrel of her glock being pressed against the back of his skull.
"Hands on your head," said Fa. "Hands on your head or I'll fire." She barked more menacingly this time.
With a freshly pinked bruised cheek, and a red pearl of blood against the corner of his mouth, Robin did as he was told, placing both hands against the back of his head. He had lost this battle, but not the war. Not yet.
"Are you alright, Mrs. Swan? Did he hurt you?" Mulan asked, her weapon still aimed to the back of his head.
"No." Regina shook her head, her eyes meeting Mulan's then Killian's.
"We better restrain him." Jones placed his weapon inside its holster.
"With what? I don't have anything."
Cable ties! "We do. Cable ties. Will that help?" Regina's mouth opens before they have time to think. All eyes turn on her.
"Yes, ma'am. Perfect," Jones says, serious and straight-faced.
Despite her cheeks turning a crimson red, Regina rushes into their bedroom to retrieve some cable ties that Emma kept somewhere inside their walk-in closet. Maybe it was the fear and her level of intoxication making her so brave.
Once she comes back, she sees Mrs. Lucas, thanking God and all above that she was safe. Where was she? She hands Jones the cable ties, which he quickly binds Robin's hands together. Not as expertly as Emma, but he places them nice and tight, not caring to hear the man wince in pain.
Yeah, have fun getting out of those, Robin. Believe me, they'll bite.
She watches as Jones and Fa search the man's pockets, where they discover a roll of duct tape and a gun with a silencer attached. Jones hands Fa the glock and he keeps the duct tape.
"I just called Gold, but he isn't answering." Fa informed Jones.
"Different time zones. He might be sleeping. We should call the police." Jones replied.
Regina glares down at Robin. And it dawns on her. If he broke into their home it was to cause some serious damage. She doesn't want to imagine what he had planned with the duct tape, or what he was even thinking at all. The good thing about it was she wasn't here, and that thank heaven's Jones heard her scream. But what will Emma say? Regina already knows she is going to be mad. She already knows that Emma will beat herself over not being here. And she won't be able to be back until tomorrow evening.
"Ma'am," Mrs. Lucas calls out, disrupting the brunette from her thoughts. "I'll get you some tea."
"Thank you," Regina nods, because tea would be great right now. "Are you alright? Where were you?"
"Panic room, ma'am. Inside the library."
Panic room? That would have been nice to know.
While Mrs. Lucas heads into the kitchen, Regina walks out of Robin's view, into the hallway and decides to dial Emma. Her voicemail answers immediately which means she must have it off, and is asleep at this time or she is really, really mad to answer the phone.
"Hi. It's me. Please don't be mad. We've had an incident at the apartment. But it's under control, so don't worry. No one is hurt. Call me." She hangs up.
Two police officers are with Mrs. Lucas in the kitchen, while a detective is with Jones and Fa. A detective Skinner. Detective Walker is barking questions at Regina as they sit on the couch in the great room. He's tall, has copper brown hair and a beard.
"And you said, he used to be your boss?" Walker asks.
"Yes."
Regina feels exhausted all of a sudden. Beyond tired, and all she wants is for these questions to be over so she can go to bed. She still hasn't heard from Emma, which makes her miss her wife all the more. On the plus side, the two police officers have removed Robin from her sight and their home. Mrs. Lucas walks over, handing the detective a cup of tea.
"Thank you." Walker turns back to Regina. "And where is your wife, ma'am? Mrs. Swan?"
"Seattle. On business. She'll be back tomorrow evening- I mean this evening." It's after midnight.
"Locksley is known to us," Detective Walker murmurs. "I'll need you to come down to the station to make a statement. But that can wait. It's late and there are a couple of reporters camped out on the sidewalk. Do you mind if I take a look around?"
"Of course not," she offers, relieved his questions are finished. For now. She groans at the thought of the photographers outside. While the detective looks around downstairs, she calls her parents quickly so that they will hear the news from her and not worry.
"Mrs. Swan, may I suggest you go to bed?" Mrs. Lucas says, her voice warm and full of concern.
Looking into her warm, kind eyes, she suddenly feels an overwhelming need to cry. Mrs. Lucas reaches over and rubs her shoulder.
"We're safe now," she murmurs. "This will all look better in the morning, once you've had some sleep. And Mrs. Swan will be back tomorrow evening."
Regina nods. Emma is going to be so mad.
What an evening. Regina suddenly finds herself feeling homesick- homesick for Emma. Even if she was mad, she wishes she was here with her. She wanted to crawl into her lap and have her say that everything was fine. That everything was going to be fine. She wishes she was here to tell her that she loved her, even if she liked defying her. Why didn't she possibly tell her anything about the increased security for everyone? She can be so frustrating sometimes, but right now she doesn't care. She misses her wife.
When she finally heads to their bedroom and crawls into bed, she curls up to Emma's side, dressed in one of her old t-shirts. Both her pillow and her t-shirt smell like her, and as she drifts off she silently wishes her safe passage home… and a good mood.
It's a new morning when Regina opens her eyes. Her head was throbbing, right at her temples. She notices the chair in their bedroom has been moved, just a few feet away from the bed and Emma is sitting in it. She's wearing an all black dress, Regina's favorite- the exact same dress that she wore to the Swan's auction ball. Her left arm is draped over the chair and she's holding a glass of amber liquid. Brandy? Whiskey, maybe? She has no idea. One leg is crossed over the other, the opening of her dress exposing her elegant soft skin. She's removed herself out of her heels, which are positioned beside the chair. Her hair was loose but held in place by a couple of pins to keep it away from her face. Her right elbow rests on the arm of the chair, along with her forearm. In the morning light, her green eyes burn with grave intensity, but her general expression is completely unreadable.
Regina's heart almost stops at the sight of her beautiful, but angry wife. She's home. How did she get here? She must have left Seattle last night. How long has she been sitting there watching her sleep?
"Hi," Whispers Regina.
Emma's eyes don't move from her wife. She tosses back the remainder of her drink, and places the glass on the bedside table. Regina expects her to kiss her, but she doesn't, she just sits right back down and continues to watch her, her expression impassive.
"Hello," she says finally, her voice hushed. It let's Regina know that she is still mad. Really mad.
"You're back."
"It would appear so."
Slowly, Regina sits up, her eyes never leaving Emma's. "How long have you been sitting there watching me sleep?"
"Long enough."
"You're still mad," Regina states the obvious.
Emma gazes at her wife, as if considering her response. "Mad," she says, as if testing the word, weighing up its nuances, it's meaning. "No, Gina. I am way, way beyond mad."
Silence stretches between them. Regina reaches over to her glass of water that is placed on the nightstand, taking a welcoming sip.
"Robin was caught," she says after a while, placing her glass back on the nightstand, next to Emma's empty glass.
"I know," Emma's reply is as cold as a block of ice.
"Are you going to be monosyllabic for long?" Regina asks.
There's a crease in the blonde's brows. "Yes," she finally says.
Great. Well, there was only one thing to say. "I'm sorry I stayed out late."
"Are you?"
"No," she mutters after a pause, because it's the truth.
"Then, why are you apologizing if you don't really mean it?"
"Because I don't want you to be mad at me."
Emma releases a sigh that sounds like she had been holding for the remainder of the time she was away. She looks beautifully elegant.
"I think Detective Walker wants to talk to you." Says Regina.
"I'm sure he does."
"Emma, please…"
"Please what?"
"Don't be so cold."
Emma's brow slightly raises. "Regina, cold is not what I'm feeling at the moment. I'm burning. Burning with rage. I don't know how to deal with these feelings."
Regina can't think of what more to do but do what she's wanted to do since she came home last night. Quickly, she moved out of bed, crawling awkwardly into her wife's lap, taking the blonde by complete surprise. She doesn't push her away, which is what she feared would happen. After a while, she feels Emma's arms wrap around her form, her nose burying, losing itself in her hair, inhaling deeply. She smells of whiskey. She smells of her intoxicating perfume too. She wraps her arms around her neck, and hears Emma sigh once more, deeply this time.
God, did Emma miss her, but she was also so fucking angry at her. She was mad at herself for having to leave. That fucker could have killed her.
"Oh, Mrs. Swan. What am I going to do with you?" She kisses the top of the brunette's head.
"How much have you had to drink?" Regina asked.
Emma stills. "Why?"
"You don't normally drink hard liquor."
"This is my second glass. I've had a trying night, Regina. Give a woman a break."
This makes the brunette smile. "If you insist, Mrs. Swan," she breathes in her wife's intoxicating scent. "You smell heavenly. I slept on your side of the bed because your pillow smells of you."
Emma nuzzles jet black hair. "Did you now? I wondered why you were on this side. I'm still mad at you."
"I know." She can feel Emma's hand rhythmically stroke her back. She kisses a spot on her throat, that makes Emma close her eyes and her arms tighten around her frame.
"When I think of what might have happened…" Her voice is barely a whisper, broken and raw.
"I'm okay. We're all okay. A bit shaken. But everyone, Fa, Jones, Mrs. Lucas. Robin is gone."
Emma shakes her head. "I really don't want to argue about this now, Gina."
Well maybe I do. Regina stays silent, because yes, she wants to argue. She has a few things she would like to say to her bad tempered wife, but maybe it would be a good idea to wait until she is more calm. She can feel as Emma's hand moves away from her back and begins playing with her hair.
"I want to punish you," she whispers. "And I mean, really punish you. Do you understand how hard that is for me?"
"I know," Regina whispers. Her heart leaping into her throat.
Emma hugs her tighter. "You really try the patience of a saint, Gina."
"I could accuse you of many things, Mrs. Swan, but being a saint isn't one of them." Finally Regina is blessed with a reluctant chuckle that escapes her wife.
"Fair point well made as ever, Mrs. Swan." She kisses her forehead and shifts. "Back to bed. You had a late night, too." She picks her up and places her back into their bed. As she's about to walk away, she turns to the feel of Regina's hand reaching for hers.
"Lie down with me." Says Regina, hopeful that Emma will say yes.
"No. I have things to do." She reaches down to collect her empty glass. "Go back to sleep. I'll wake you in a couple of hours." She leans down again to pull the cover over her wife.
And once again, just as Regina thinks she is going to kiss her. She doesn't. Instead she just walks out of the room, her heels forgotten on the floor. Regina is left with the wonder as to why Emma didn't decide to punish her usual coping mechanism with having her wicked way with her.
Regina woke up to the sight of an orange juice being placed on the bedside table.
"There's some orange juice for you here," Emma says.
The orange juice is a welcome sight- as is Emma. She's in her workout attire, the same ones she wore when she went to her rescue and took her back to her hotel room. And suddenly, Regina is transported back to that moment. Either she's been working out in the gym or she went for a run, but she still was a sight to see with a few sweat spots on her light gray leggings and top. A few strands of hair loose around the sides of her face from being grabbed into a messy ponytail. Even after a workout, she looked so good. That hasn't changed.
"I'm going to take a shower," she murmurs and disappears into the bathroom.
Regina frowns. Emma is still distant. She sits up, reaching for the orange juice, drinking it down. It's delicious and ice cold, and it makes her feel so much better. A shower doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe that's what they both need, maybe that's where Emma will talk about all this.
She scurries out of bed, anxious to close the distance between them. Real and metaphysical. It's eight o'clock when she glances quickly at the alarm clock on the nightstand. She strips out of Emma's t-shirt and follows her wife into the bathroom. She's already in the shower when she walks in, washing her hair, and Regina doesn't hesitate. She slips behind her, and she can feel the blonde stiffens the moment she wraps her arms around her from behind- her breasts are pressed against her wet back muscles. She ignores her reaction, remaining wrapped around her, holding her tightly, her cheek pressed against her back, her eyes closed.
After a moment, Emma shifts so that she is facing her wife. But just as Regina thinks Emma will do something, one of her familiar actions that Regina already knows too well- she doesn't. She just continues on to wash her hair.
Emma hated this. Being this mad at her, being this distant. But she needed to restrain herself. And this was the only way she knew how without punishing her to the point where she would go back to that dark place again. She made her wife a promise that that would never happen- and damn it, she would keep it. Even if she had to distance herself a bit to clear her head. She loves her, by God- she loved her so much it ached at her heart to think that that fucker could have hurt her.
Both stand in a cascade of hot falling water. And Regina just cradles the woman she loves, even if Emma stiffens again. Her mind takes her back to all the times Emma has fucked her in this shower, and made love to her. This pained her, because she was getting nowhere. Emma has never been this distant.
As Emma turns again, without warning this time, Regina wraps around her like a vine, her lips start a trail of kisses against the wet skin on her back. Her body stiffens again.
"Gina," she warns.
Regina's hands travel slowly down over her wife's stomach to her belly. She keeps traveling down, all the way to her wife's… Emma's hands catch Regina's wrists, bringing her hands to an abrupt stop. The blonde shakes her head.
"Don't," she warns.
Regina pulls away from Emma immediately as soon as she hears her mutter that one word. She's saying no? Emma is saying no? That's never happened before. She's rejecting her? Could Emma be this fucking mad to the point where she no longer wanted her anymore? Alarms went off inside her head, worrying her for a moment that this was exactly what was happening. Emma no longer wanted her.
Emma did want her. It took all of her to say no for the first time in her life. Especially to her wife. But, she wasn't about to punish her with sex. Not over this.
Emma turns once again, facing her, and Regina is relieved at some point that her wife isn't completely immune to her charms. Grasping her chin, the blonde tilts her head back, and Regina finds herself gazing into her green, dark eyes.
"I'm still fucking mad at you," she says, her voice quiet and serious. Leaning down, she rests her forehead against Regina's, closing her eyes.
Regina reaches up to caress the side of her face. "Don't be mad at me, please. I think you're overreacting," she whispers.
Emma straightens, blanching. It causes Regina's hand to fall away from her face. "Overreacting?" she snarls. "Some fucking lunatic gets into my apartment to kidnap my wife, and you think I'm overreacting!"
The anger in her voice is almost frightening. Her eyes are at a blaze as she stares down at her.
"That's not what I was referring to. I thought this was about me staying out."
Emma closes her eyes once more, shaking her head.
"Emma, I wasn't here." She tries to reassure her.
"I know," she whispers, opening her eyes. "And all because you can't follow a simple, fucking request." Her tone is bitter and it's Regina's turn to fume. "I don't want to discuss this now, in the shower. I am still fucking mad at you, Regina. You're making me question my judgement." Emma turns and promptly leaves the shower, grabbing a towel on the way and stalking out of the bathroom, leaving Regina chilled under the hot pouring water.
The brunette washes herself and showers quickly. Emma's words ringing in her head about her almost being kidnapped. Could it be? Was Robin waiting in here all this time just to take her? Fuck. The thought prickles at her skull. Why would Robin want to do such a thing? What the hell did Detective Walker tell Emma that she hasn't told her? What more did Emma know? That angered her to her very core. Well, she wasn't about to be kept in the dark. Not about this.
Emma isn't in the bedroom once she comes out of the shower. She quickly picks out her attire for today. The blue dress that Emma loves seeing on her. Along with a pair of her heels and her diamond earrings. She applies her make-up to perfection, dries her hair and decides to keep it straight for today. Taking a deep steading breath, she heads on out to face the music.
Once again, Emma is nowhere to be seen in the great room. Mrs Lucas is busying herself in the kitchen.
"Good morning, Gina," she says sweetly.
"Good morning." Regina smiles broadly at her.
"Coffee?"
"I'll have some tea this time. Please."
"Anything to eat, ma'am?"
"Please. I'd like an omelet this morning."
"With mushrooms and spinach?"
"And cheese."
"Coming up." Mrs. Lucas smiles.
"Where's Emma?"
"Mrs. Swan is in her study."
"Has she had breakfast?" she glances at the two plates set on the breakfast bar.
"No, ma'am."
Emma never misses breakfast. As Regina is enjoying her breakfast, she sees Gold coming out of the blonde's office. She can distantly hear Emma being on the phone.
"Good morning, Gold," she smiles at the man.
"Good morning, Mrs. Swan," he smiles back at her. At least someone was happy to see her.
"How was the flight?" She asks him.
"Long, ma'am." His voice speaks volumes. Emma must have been impossible on that flight. "May I ask how you are?" he adds, his tone softening.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
He nods. "If you'll excuse me." He heads toward Emma's study again.
Regina glances down at her watch- her gift from her wife- it's eight thirty. She's late for work. Quickly she finishes breakfast and heads into the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth, and spray on some perfume on herself before heading back into the great room. She is relieved to see Emma there, sitting at the breakfast bar, enjoying her breakfast.
"You're going?" the blonde says once she sees her wife.
"To work? Yes, of course." Bravely she walks toward her and rests her hands on the edge of the breakfast bar. Emma gazes at her blankly. "Emma, we've hardly been back a week. I have to go to work."
Emma runs a hand through her hair, and Mrs. Lucas quickly leaves the kitchen. Even she knows not to cross her when she's in a bad mood. Gold seems to be the only one who knows her way around her.
"I know we have a great deal to talk about. Perhaps if you've calmed down, we can do it this evening."
Emma's head tilts, her lips slightly parting. "Calmed down?" Her voice is eerily soft.
"You know what I mean."
"No, Regina, I don't know what you mean."
"I don't want to fight. I was coming to ask you if I could take my car."
"No. You can't," she snaps.
Regina rolls her eyes but stays quiet, not wanting this to turn into an ugly fight between them. Because right now wasn't the time. She had to get to work.
"Jones will accompany you." Her tone is slightly less belligerent.
"Fine," Regina mutters. And because she doesn't want to leave things like this between them, with so much unresolved and so much tension between them, she steps tentatively toward her wife. Emma stiffens, her eyes widening, and for a moment she looks so vulnerable, it pulls at some deep, dark place inside Regina's heart. She kisses her chastely on the side of her mouth. Emma's eyes are closed as she steps back, until they open again.
"Please don't hate me," whispers Regina.
Emma sighs, her hand reaching for her wife's. "I don't hate you." How could she when she loved her so goddamn much?
"You haven't kissed me," wording it pains Regina's heart all the more.
"I know," Emma mutters.
Abruptly the blonde stands and grabs Regina's face between her hands, and in a flash her lips are hard against hers. Regina can't help gasping in surprise, granting Emma's tongue quick access inside her mouth. Emma takes full advantage of this action, invading her wife's mouth, calming her, and just as Regina is beginning to respond, Emma releases her, her breathing quickening.
"Gold will take you and Jones to work," she says, her eyes flaring with need. "Gold!" she calls.
Regina's cheeks are hot, she takes a moment to compose herself from her own needs bubbling up inside her.
"Ma'am." Gold is standing in the doorway.
"Tell Jones Mrs. Swan is going to work. Can you drive them, please?"
"Certainly." Turning on his heel, Gold disappears.
"If you could try to stay out of trouble today, I would appreciate it," Emma mutters.
"I'll see what I can do." Regina smiles sweetly. And is relieved to see a reluctant half smile tug at Emma's lips, but she doesn't give in to it.
"I'll see you later, then," she says coolly.
"Bye," Regina nods, her head still spinning from that surprising kiss.
Jones and Regina take the service elevator down the basement garage in order to avoid any media outside. Robin's arrest and the fact that he was apprehended in their apartment are now public knowledge. As the brunette settles into the black SUV, she wonders if there will be more paparazzi waiting outside of her job like the day their engagement was announced.
They drive in silence. And just as she feared, there's a small crowd of reporters and photographers lying in wait. They all turn as one, looking expectantly at the SUV.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Mrs. Swan?" Gold asks.
Part of her just wants to go home, but that would mean spending the day with Ms. Burning Rage. At last Robin is in jail, so one would think Emma would be happy about that, but she's not. Part of her understands why, too much of this is out of her control, including her, but Regina doesn't have time to think about this now.
"Take me around to the delivery entrance, please, Gold."
"Yes, ma'am."
It's one o'clock and Regina has managed to immerse herself in work all morning. There's a knock and Marian pops her head around the door.
"Can I have a moment?" she asks brightly.
"Of course," Regina is surprised by the woman's unscheduled visit.
Marian enters and sits down. "I just wanted to check if you're okay. Hades asked me to with all that went on last night."
Robin's arrest is all over the newspapers, but no one seems to have made the connection yet with the fire at Emma's company.
"I'm fine," Regina answers, trying not to think too deeply about how she feels at the moment. She glances quickly toward her email and sees nothing from Emma. She wonders if she were to send her an email, would she be provoking her anger even further.
"Good," Marian answers, and her smile actually touches her eyes for a change. "If there's anything I can do- anything you need- let me know."
"Will do."
She stands. "I know how busy you are, Gina. I'll let you get back to work."
"...thank you." What was that about? Why would Hades send her to see if she was okay? Perhaps he is worried given that she is married to his boss. She shakes her head, reaching for her phone to see if there is any email from Emma. And as she glances at her screen, her email pings.
Regina
Detective Walker will be visiting your office today at 3pm to take your statement.
I have insisted that he should come to you, as I don't want you going to the police station.
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
She stares at her wife's email for a good five minutes. She can't think of a response, nothing witty, or clever to say to this dry email of hers. So she settles on just a single word.
Okay.
R x
Regina Swan
Editor, New York Book Publishers
She stares at her screen for another five minutes, anxious for her to respond, but there's nothing. Emma is not in the mood to play today.
Can she blame her for being angry? Emma was probably frantic when she received the news of what had happened back home. Then it occurs to her that Emma was still dressed in her elegant black dress and heels when she arrived home this morning. What time did she decide to come back from Seattle? She normally leaves functions between ten and eleven. Last night at that hour, Regina was still out with Belle.
Did Emma come home because she went out or because of the Robin incident? If she left because she was out having a good time, she would have had no idea about Robin, about the police, nothing- until she landed in New York. It's suddenly very important to her to find this out. If Emma came back merely because she was out with her friend, then she was overreacting. As glad as she is that her wife is back, so maybe that's irrelevant. But still- Emma must have had one hell of a shock when she landed.
Regina has to know- did she come back because of her not following a simple request or because of Robin's breaking and entering, almost kidnapping attempt?
What time did you decide to come back to New York yesterday?
Regina Swan
Editor, New York Book Publishers
She hits send and waits.
Why?
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
Keeping it short, Regina replies.
Call it curiosity.
Regina Swan
Editor, New York Book Publishers
Three minutes later.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
What? Regina scoffs, quickly typing up not a short reply this time.
What is that oblique reference to? Another threat?
You know where I am going with this, don't you?
Did you decide to return because I went out for a drink with Belle after you asked me not to, or did you return because a madman was in your apartment?
Regina Mills
Editor, New York Book Publishers
She stares at her screen for another five minutes. There's no response. She glances at her clock on her computer screen. One forty-five and still no response.
That's it. She was done being quiet. She had some things on her mind, too and things of her own to say to her overreacting, unbarring, angered, annoying wife.
I will take your silence as an admission that you did indeed return to New York because I CHANGED MY MIND. I am an adult and went for a drink with my friend. I did not understand the security ramifications of CHANGING MY MIND because YOU NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING. I found out from Belle that security has, in fact, been stepped up for all the family, not just us. I think you generally overreact where my safety is concerned, and I understand why, but you're like the boy who cried wolf.
I never have a clue about what is a real concern or merely something that is perceived as a concern by you. I had two of the security detail with me. I thought both Belle and I would be safe. Fact is, we were safer in that bar than at the apartment. Had I been FULLY INFORMED of the situation, I would have taken a different course of action.
I understand your concerns are something to do with material that was on Robin's computer here. Do you know how annoying it is to find out my best friend knows more about what's going on with you than I do? And I am your WIFE. So are you going to tell me? Or will you continue to treat me like a child, guaranteeing that I continue to behave like one?
You are not the only one who is fucking pissed. Okay?
Regina.
Regina Swan
Editor, New York Book Publishers
She hits send and draws in a deep breath, trying to calm herself from the rage that is taking over her now. Here she was feeling sorry for not following Emma's simple request. Well, no longer. Consequences be damned.
To her surprise, a response from Emma comes in almost immediately.
As ever, Mrs. Swan, you are forthright and challenging in email.
Perhaps we can discuss this when you get home to OUR apartment.
You should watch your language. I am still fucking pissed, too.
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
Watch my language! Regina groans to herself, scowling at her computer, realizing this is getting them nowhere. She no longer responds, instead she picks up a manuscript recently received from a promising new author and begins to read.
"Thank you for your statement, Mrs. Swan." Detective Walker says, with a smile this time. He looks like he's obtained good hours of sleep.
"You're welcome, Detective. Is Locksley in police custody yet?"
"Yes, ma'am. Not to worry, with what he's charged, he should be with us for a while." He smiles, the corner of his eyes crinkling.
"Good. This has been an anxious time for my wife and myself."
"I spoke at length with Mrs. Swan this morning. She's very relieved. Interesting woman, your wife."
You have no idea.
"Yes, I think so." She offers Walker a polite smile, and he knows he's being dismissed.
"If you think of anything, you can call me. Here's my card." He fishes out a card from his wallet and hands it over to her.
"Thank you, Detective. I'll do that."
"Good day to you, Mrs. Swan."
"Good day." Regina sighs, content as the detective walks out of her office, closing the door behind him. Well, at least with Robin being in jail, that's one less thing to worry about.
As they drive back to the apartment, Regina's heart starts pounding, growing heavier and heavier. Her palms are sweating because she already knows that her and Emma will have a big fight. She isn't sure she has the energy for that, but she did write out a long email dropping her anger in each typed up word. What will she say once she enters their apartment? What will happen?
Inside the elevator, Jones beside her, she tries her best to gather her thoughts. And as the doors slide open, revealing the foyer, Regina walks inside, dropping her briefcase in the hall and heads into the great room. She comes to an abrupt stop. Her eyes wide. Holy shit.
"Good evening, Regina," Emma says softly. She's standing by the piano, dressed in one of her black tank tops and jeans… those jeans- the ones she wears in the playroom. Jesus. They are over-washed pale blue denim, snug, ripped at the knee, and hot. Her hair is up in Regina's favorite messy ponytail. She saunters over to her wife, her feet bare, the top button of her jeans undone, her smoldering green eyes never leaving Regina's. "Good to have you home. I've been waiting for you."