CHAPTER 3

SOLID AS A ROCK

Regina got up and walked to the radio, as if she didn't want to miss a single word. Emma looked at her and felt the inevitable tension in her jaw. "Are you sure?, over."

"Of course I'm sure. You don't always see a beast like that one!, over." Hook sounded completely excited.

"And now what?" Emma said, now with a big knot forming in the back of her neck. There was silence on the other side of the radio. Emma looked at Regina.

"You forgot to say 'over'." Regina gently said.

Emma rolled her eyes. "And now what?, over."

"I don't know. She saw us and got away of course. But now we have a clue of where her nest is. We'll keep working on it. Over."

"Good. Thanks for the heads up. Over."

"Later, Sheriff. Clear."

"See. It won't even be that hard." Regina said with a smug.

Emma nodded and bit her inner cheek. "Let's don't skip ahead okay? We can have many outcomes for this."

Regina nodded biting her baguette. She had of course noted the distress in Emma. As for herself, she wasn't so naïve. She had lived this life long enough to guess Emma had some kind of fascination for her. She was a witch after all, and she certainly understood matters of energy irradiated by people, and away from that, she was also a woman.

By this moment, Regina was only sure that Emma felt somehow dazed by her, but as far as assuming Emma had a crush on her, would have been presumptuous, especially now that her friend was, in fact, married. Yes. Regina didn't understand just how much effect she had on the blonde, no matter how many times she had step on a thread of dead for her. 'She is a Charming, after all.' She had thought to herself many times. 'They do these things; they love their friends in such a selfless way.'

"So…" Regina tried to ease the moment. "How's paradise between Miss Lucas and her woman?"

Emma coughed surprised by the question. "Uhm. They're getting along pretty well." She saw the smirk in the Mayor lips and suddenly she felt annoyed by the confidence of that woman. Whether it was the recent conversation with Ruby or because this was one of those moments when she wanted to despise that woman who wanted to go away from her, Emma felt brave, courageous enough to put her out of place. "This whole Ruby thing got me thinking. Did you ever have a thing for a woman?"

Regina arched an eyebrow and sat back on her chair. "That's kind of a very personal question, Emma."

"Well, we've been friends for a while now. I thought we were up to personal questions." Emma said casually with an innocent look.

"That's fair." Regina looked at her and she measured the challenge. After a moment she smirked and shake her head. "You know what. The workspace is hardly the place to talk about these things. How about we leave the subject for later. It's Saturday, there's family dinner today at my place. Remember?"

"I do remember. As you wish, Madam Mayor." Emma said trying to sound confident enough.

"It's a date then." Regina said smiling affectively.

And, there it was. 'It's a date'. The little detail Emma would think about for hours. 'Goddamn, she's doing it again. A date? What did she mean? Why couldn't she just answer my question? I was supposed to have the control on this one. Damn you, Regina.'

After being at the station, Emma went to her parent's house to have lunch, as it was one of Snow White's favorite rituals. Ruby and Dorothy were also there.

The wolf gave Emma a meaningful look and they both smiled. Emma shook her head and took her little brother in her arms. "How are you, buddy." She said while kissing his cheeks.

"We heard the news, honey." Snow said setting up the table. When Emma looked at her with a lost expression she added "Captain Jones, finding the Mákara."

"How on Earth do you know about that already?" Emma said frowning. She felt secretly annoyed by the fact her parent's didn't call him Hook anymore since the wedding, as if they were trying to forget he was ever a pirate.

"Henry told us. He spoke with him on his radio." Snow said with simplicity.

"Well, mom, it's supposed to be a matter of discretion." Emma said.

"Honey, it's us. We are part of the counsel. And Ruby and Dorothy, we're family. "Said Snow. Emma rolled her eyes while playing with Neil. Her mother was indeed the best when it came to spill the beans.

"We can't be prouder of Killian. This is such an achievement." David said joining them at the table.

"Yes. He sounded pretty happy. How are the sheep going, dad?"

"Glorious." David answered sweetly.

His wife rolled her eyes and then took the subject back "With Mákara eggs or not, I don't think Regina should go back to the Enchanted forest." Snow said worriedly. Emma felt infuriated now. Ruby looked at her with apprehension, and the teacher excused herself "Henry told me too. He said this morning Regina told him it was an option. He thought it was such a sudden idea. I think Regina hasn't get over Robin's death. I feel so sorry for her." Snow was indeed sorry, she just had to speak her thoughts out loud.

Dorothy gave Emma a saddened look. 'Great, no one in this town can keep any secret' Emma thought. Ruby shrugged in a quick apology. "Geez, mom. Can we just talk about something else?"

Snow looked at Emma, noticing her tense appearance. She shook her head subtly and exhaled dejectedly.

"Actually we want to share something with you all…" Ruby said smiling and grabbing her girlfriend hand. "Dorothy and I, we're getting married."

Finally Emma felt like really smiling about something, and she quickly joined her mother in a big hug with the couple of girls.

They ate and celebrated the news. After a while, Emma went out to the porch. The new property of the Charming was quite enjoyable; it was nice to hang out there.

"We couldn't finish our conversation this morning." Ruby said joining her and sitting on the stairs next to her.

"Wanna call Dorothy to join us?" Emma said with a snort.

"I didn't tell her what we talked about. Everything she knows is from before our conversation, you know? Just my assumptions." Ruby guaranteed and Emma felt immediately more reassured. "Is it true, then? Regina wants to leave?"

Emma looked ahead and nodded. "That's what she says…"

Ruby sighed. They both spent a moment in silence until Ruby said. "If she goes, I think she should know first what you have to say."

"What do I have to say, Rubes? I already picked Hook."

"Did you?"

"I don't know. I guess."

"You know this thing won't go away even if she does, right?" Ruby said with a sad face. "Emma, you're almost my…"

"Goddaughter?" Emma gave a short laugh.

"Yes. And one of my best friends." Ruby said with a serious look "I wouldn't meddle in all of this if I was convinced you're really happy right now."

"I have been used for so long to be half-happy, I could easily do it for the rest of my life." Emma said bitterly.

"That's because you actually don't believe you could be completely happy. There is fullness too, Emma, but it is only for those who reach for it."

"Geez, Rubes, when did you become so wise." Emma mocked her to lighten the moment.

Ruby stood up and pushed Emma with the side of her leg in a loving way "Save yourself, Savior."

And, that had definitely reached the soft spot.

That night, Emma arrived to the Mayor's mansion prepared to keep her head up and not back down if one of those moments with mixed signals occurred. In a last moment of bravery, she had bought a bottle of white wine, after Regina sent her a message notifying her that the dinner would consist on lemmon butter fish. 'White wine. What am I doing?'

Regina opened the door when she heard the doorbell and the blonde's thoughts just fade away. "Make yourself at home, Emma." She said hurrying back to the kitchen.

Again that scent and Emma followed her. "I brought this." She said placing the bottle on the kitchen countertop.

"Well, look at that." Regina approved, looking behind her back while still cooking. She gave a quick twist to her wrist and magically the bottle opened. "Let's get on it."

Emma smiled and swallowed. She hurriedly took a couple of glasses from the cup shelf. After some family dinners, she knew well the location of many things in the kitchen. The blonde felt so filled with energy she didn't want to risk doing magic. She stared at Regina who was still next to the stove, cooking some vegetables and checking the interior of the oven from time to time. Sometimes she felt hypnotized by the grace and elegance that the former Queen had to do absolutely everything.

"Is Henry home already?" The blonde said trying to break the spell of the Mayor's perfect kitchen rhythm.

"No. He and Violet will get here after the movies." Regina tried not to smile.

"Oh, is Violet coming too?" Emma said. She then handed Regina a glass of wine.

The Mayor took the glass and laughed lightly. "Give it a rest, Emma. I never thought it would be you the one being this jealous over our son's girlfriends. "

Emma just loved how it sounded every time one of them said 'our son'. It was almost intimate; a phrase that would leave everyone out. Henry was theirs. Call it destiny or whatever, he was theirs. Regina's and hers.

"Only because you say so." Emma conceded with affection.

"Cheers ..." Regina said with pleased eyes. Emma clicked her glass on Regina's, staring at her; somehow expressing that she was also playing the sparkling-eyes-game too. Because sometimes it was just like that, and Emma hated that as much as she loved it.

They talked for a while about the eventualities of the day such as the new vegetarian menu at Granny's dinner, and laughed again at David's new-old shepherd phase. Emma refilled the glasses.

"Already?" Regina said surprised. "Anyone would think you want to get me drunk, Miss Swan."

Emma laughed "At this point I don't even care you Miss-Swan-me."

"You don't, do you?" Regina took her glass again, and took a seat on one of the stalls near the countertop and right next to Emma. "Well, cheers again then."

Emma hit her glass one more time. "I remember we have a pending conversation, Madam Mayor." Emma felt anxious, but she had made an agreement with herself. Do not retreat.

Regina quietly laughed and nodded. She took a bit moment before saying with assurance: "Maleficent." Emma looked confused and then suddenly opened her eyes widely when she understood what she was talking about "We had a brief thing. Hardly something, but I guess that answers your question."

Emma was speechless "Whoa! I didn't see that coming!"

"Liar! Of course you did!" Regina shocked her head and laughed. Sometimes she couldn't still believe she have got to this point of affection and confidence with the blonde. Emma was astonished with surprise and the Mayor couldn't avoid thinking she was adorable sometimes.

"I'm quite shocked, Regina. Believe me."

"What about you? "Regina said suddenly quiet.

Emma stared at her friend and snorted as if she couldn't stop the laughter anymore. "Lily."

"Maleficent's daughter." Regina smiled when the blonde nodded. "Aren't we made for each other?" she murmured with simplicity and almost looked nostalgic. "Though I won't lie, I have guessed that one already."

Emma rolled her eyes.

A meaningful silence fell upon them for a brief moment, in which both women took a long sip of their drink.

Then, as in counting to three, Emma suddenly spat, "Regina. I've been meaning to ask you something for a very long time…"

Regina looked at her expectantly. She looked almost hopeful.

"Moms?! We're home!" Henry's deep voice called from the foyer.

"Keep that question for later." The former Queen said with her eyes fixed on the blonde.

It was as if a spell had been broken. 'What the hell am I doing? I'm married.' Emma had been about to ask her, what would have happened if she had invited her out at some point, and that would have been so out of place.

"Hey guys." Emma said.

"Ma, mom. Smells so good. "Henry hugged his mothers and took one of the vegetables from the casserole.

Regina pushed him aside. "All of his childhood begging him to eat those and now look at him!"

Emma laughed taking a moment to register that scene. It was exactly this. The family she had always longed for, and she knew that. 'But I do have it. Could it be better than this?'

Henry and Violet took some of the tableware and hurried to set up the table.

Emma imagined having the opportunity at that moment to hug Regina and kiss her cheek, or even better, her lips, before helping her take the dinner to the dining room.

'What's going on with me. I was fine already.'

"Here. Help me with this." Regina said, handing her the casserole with vegetables.

"Sure."

The blonde brought the vegetables to the table with Regina behind her, carrying the fish.

"I'm going to the toilet." Emma murmured. And so she did and closed the door breathing deeply. That wine was stronger than she had assumed. She thought of her husband and his gentle eyes, and felt guilty knowing he wouldn't have a chance if Regina ever showed some sign of wanting to be with her.

'Because you see something in her wanting you to feel it too.' She remembered Ruby's words.

'But of course everyone loves feeling wanted. That doesn't mean anything.'

She returned to the table trying to lighten her mind. She had the control and there was no reason to lose it. They all chatted for a while and Violet even sang a little when Henry asked her to show his mothers her talent. Emma was, in fact, surprised and Regina looked at the blonde pleased. Then Violet took an unexpected turn when Henry encouraged her by saying, "Come on, tell her."

"There is this guy. He was a knight back in Avalon. Sir Tristan. He asked me to give you this." Violet said handing Regina an envelope.

Regina looked at Henry curiously and he only shrugged. "I don't know anything about it!"

The former Queen took the envelope smiling while shaking her head. "I'll see it later. Thanks, Violet. "

Emma looked at Regina and noticed the slight reddening of her cheeks .The rest of dinner she didn't talk much anymore.

The white wine was over when Henry announced he should take his girlfriend home and Emma handed him the keys to the yellow bug.

The couple of women picked up the table in silence.

"I actually think she's a nice girl." The brunette said when they were leaving the plates on the sink.

Emma nodded. "I guess." And without being able to hold back the curiosity that ate her, she said: "So…What's with the letter? Who is this guy?"

Regina shrugged. She took the envelope and opened it, taking out a classic parchment. Then she held it next to the blonde so she could read it too.

"My lady, I may be bold but I could not ignore anymore the enchantment I feel when I look at you. Let me express to you my sincere admiration, and please know there is a loyal servant in this man who hopes at some point to enjoy the delight of talking with you.

Sir Tristan, Knight of the round table. "

Emma snorted and rolled her eyes next to a blushed Regina, who was trying to suppress a smile. There was no doubt, they both came from very different worlds.

"Seriously, who is this guy?" Emma said trying to sound casual. It was aggravating.

"He works at the stables, I think…" Regina said shaking her head with a flattered smile.

"Oh, so you know him?"

"Of course I know him. I'm the Mayor. After all the curses I've been trying to keep the record on who's still around." Regina said feeling the urge of excusing herself.

"So? Do you like him?" Emma said trying not to sound cold.

"He's a stranger, Miss Swan." Regina said frowning.

Emma nodded and scratched her head.

Regina got closer and touched her arm. "Emma, what's going on?"

Emma closed her eyes. "Is nothing. I think I had enough wine. I better go home."

"Henry has your car." Regina said with ease.

"I can walk." Emma stared at Regina and shrugged placing her hands on her pockets. "Thanks for dinner. Good night, Regina." She squeezed her lips and then just walked away.

Regina looked absorbedly as the door closed. If at that precise moment she could have left Storybrooke, she would have done it.