Hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day! Here's the next installment.
This is a continuation of the same day in Chapter 5, so if you need a refresher, you know where to go!
Chapter 6
"Congratulations on being on time, Miss Swan," Regina drawled as she opened the door up for Emma and Henry.
There was a sheepish shoulder shrug from Emma. "Yea well, thought I'd surprise you for a change. Surprise!"
Regina choked back a laugh that threatened to break free. "Lovely," she deadpans instead.
"Hey, Mom," Henry said before either women could say another word. "I have a lot of homework that's not done yet. Can I go in and start before dinner?"
Regina smiled at him. "Of course, honey. Dinner will be ready soon though." With an affirmative nod, Henry bounced past Regina into the house.
"Bye Emma," he calls out behind him.
"See ya, kid." Emma turned back to Regina and gulped. She was glaring at her.
"Did you not make him do his homework?" Regina asked quietly.
"The thing is," Emma tried to explain. "I tell him to do his homework and he ignores me!"
"Really?" Regina asked skeptically. "He's ten. Of course he's not going to want to do it."
"I don't know how to get him to!"
"Let me guess… you let him watch tv like he wants to?" Regina smirked at Emma's guilty face. "Here's some advice. Put your foot down," she leans in a little closer to Emma, unable to resist. Regina's voice dropped lower, "Show him who's boss."
Emma shivered at the tone. She had a feeling they weren't talking about Henry anymore and that tone had sent heat to her face along with a small, almost inaudible gasp.
Before she could respond, Regina stepped back and straightened. "10pm, Sheriff. Don't dally with your admirers too much." She quipped.
"I don't plan on it," Emma shot back after a quick shake of her head. What just happened? "Going straight home. Not that you needed to know."
Regina smirked, "No, I do not need nor want to know." That was a lie, but she couldn't bring herself to say what she was really thinking. This would make planting her letter easier knowing where Emma was headed.
The comment didn't faze Emma. "Right. I'll see you soon." She nodded at Regina before turning and walking back down the path to her car.
Regina grimaced at the sight of Emma getting into that yellow hunk of metal. Any other vehicle would be safer then that pile of junk. Closing the door, she wondered why Emma was so attached to it. Perhaps if they ever got to a point where they were at least friends, she would ask.
The Mayor looked over to the dining table to see Henry bent of a piece of paper scribbling. Nodding, she decided to get that letter sent to Emma before setting the table for dinner. Henry looked distracted enough. Without delay, she clicked down the hallway into her study. She hadn't wanted to be caught unprepared again by Emma, so she stayed in her mayoral outfit and planned on keeping it on until after Henry was picked up.
Reaching her study, she grabbed a bag sitting off to the side. It was Granny's take out. Earlier that day when she was there with Emma, Regina had impulsively added a bear claw to her order, receiving a very confused look from the wolf. It was after Snow had announced her pregnancy and Emma had looked upset. On impulse, Regina thought that something like the sugar laden dough she had in her bag would cheer Emma up. So, she bought it.
Regina opened the bag and winced at the sugary scent that overwhelmed her. She strode to her desk and pulled open a drawer to pull out a napkin. Being a mom, she was always prepared with random things in her office in case Henry needed something. The bear claw was taken out of the bag and placed delicately onto the napkin. Back facing the door to her study, Regina grabbed the freshly printed letter that she had written right before Henry and Emma had arrived. She placed it underneath the treat and nodded in satisfaction. Perfect. With her signature wave, the set disappeared from Regina's desk.
Immersed in what she was doing, Regina did not notice Henry at the door of the study. His eyes were wide as he took in the sight of his mom waving her hand in the way that he knew without a doubt that she was doing magic. Without a sound, Henry stumbled a few steps back and rushed to the dining table before she had turned around, homework question forgotten.
He was hurt and angry that she was lying to him. She told him she wasn't using any magic anymore. He thought she was trying to be better. Henry sat and stared at his homework blankly. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe his mom was still planning something bad. There must be a way to find out what she was up to, he mused, wheels turning. For now, he was going to pretend nothing was wrong.
There was the clicking of Regina's heels down the hallway and Henry quickly picked up his pencil and pretended to be furiously working on his homework. Regina went straight to the kitchen and plates and clinking silverware was heard. Soon after, Regina appeared in the dining area with a smile, carrying two plates.
"Are you ready, honey?" She asked with a smile. Henry imperceptibly narrowed is eyes at how happy his mom seemed to be and nodded without comment. Regina placed his plate in front of him. "Put away your homework then. I can help you afterwards."
"Okay," Henry replied and quietly began to put his books away.
"Henry," Regina prodded. "Is everything alright?"
"Yea, why?" He responded quickly.
Regina tilted her head in confusion. Something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on why. She almost always knew when Henry was lying or hiding something. She was his mother after all. Deciding to drop it for now, she shook her head.
"Never mind."
Henry shrugged and told himself to act more normal. Grabbing his backpack, he tossed it on the living room couch, receiving a disapproving glance from Regina. Better.
"So," Regina asked as she sat. "Tell me about school."
Henry forced himself to be animate about his day like he normally is and threw himself into a story on how Paige and Abby thought their new teacher had this goofy laugh.
Emma tapped her steering wheel in beat with some silly pop music as she drove home to the apartment. David and Mary Margaret were supposed to be out with Ruby celebrating today. Apparently having wolf senses meant you could smell hormone changes. Who knew. So, the cat's out of the bag with her so they were going out. This meant Emma had the apartment to herself and she was grateful for that.
She parked her car and strolled to the apartment door. Nearing it she paused and looked curiously on the ground. There was a bear claw there with a piece of paper underneath it. Excitement gathered at the pit of her stomach. Emma had a guess who this would be from. Eagerly, she knelt down and picked up the bear claw. Yum. Her secret admirer knew what she liked to eat too! This would be perfect with a cup of coffee.
Quickly, she opened the door to her apartment, eager to read this next letter. Emma placed the bear claw on the counter before shrugging off her leather jacket and carelessly tossing it onto the couch. Going to her room with the letter in hand, she grabbed the folder sitting there. She had a habit of keeping it around her and she'd have to add another letter to it anyways. Setting it on the coffee table, she got the bear claw and ran the coffee maker.
Throwing herself on the couch and taking an enormous bite out of the treat, she unfolded the letter and began to read.
Emma Swan,
Do you ever feel like one of the people closest to you doesn't understand how you really feel? They tell you something expecting a certain reaction from you?
Huh. Weird. It was as if this person knew what Emma went through at Granny's earlier with Mary Margaret. Saw right through her fake smile and her fake excitement. Who could it be? It was crowded there when Snow had broken the news. She was generally good at hiding behind the smile though. No one had yet been able to see through that. Curious, Emma continued reading.
Whenever that happens to me, I feel at a lost as to what to do. Especially if I had no one else to talk to about it. If you wanted to confide in me, I would happily lend an ear. But alas, you do not know who I am still. When the week is up, I will tell you. Perhaps we can talk then.
I brought you your favorite treat! Hopefully it will cheer you up. You looked like you've seen happier days. Yes, I saw you today. Are you still trying to figure out who I am? Don't lose hope! I will reveal myself soon. Before that, I'm counting on having you hooked (but not literally).
Not literally, huh? Guess Hook really wasn't the guy. Though Emma hadn't been seriously considering him as one of the options anyways. These letters were too sophisticated for the likes of him.
Some more about myself:
-I've never gone on a date
-Secretly, I love pop music like Taylor Swift
-Christmas is my favorite holiday
Enjoy the bear claw! Do you have that horrid sugar stuck to your fingers? I'll lick it clean for you.
Emma felt heat shoot to her core as she imagined the mystery assailant, tenderly taking her hands into theirs and deliberately taking each finger into their mouth. His tongue would not miss anything. Emma shivered.
The last bite of bear claw disappeared into Emma's mouth and she looked at her sticky fingers. With a sigh, she got up and went to the sink to wash her hands. Normally, she'd lick them off, but after reading that, she felt it too weird to do. Images of an unbidden faceless figure kept flashing through her mind.
After cleaning up, Emma groaned. Now what? She glanced at the letter again and then at the time. It was getting late. Maybe a run will calm her down. That or a cold shower. She shifted uncomfortably. Her jeans suddenly seemed too tight. Both would be a good idea. Run and a cold shower. Ice cold.
Quickly going to her room, she changed into a pair of running shorts and a white tank top that hugged her figure. On the way out, she looked at the couch again and decided to take the letter with her. Grabbing it, Emma folded it carefully and put it in her pockets. Locking the door, she began a brisk walk.
It was a brisk night and Emma felt the cold and welcomed it. This would cool her off. She took off running her usual route towards Granny's then down to the Rabbit Hole and then usually by the park where Henry's castle used to be. She inhaled deeply as she jogged and let out a sigh. This always cleared her mind of all thoughts. Her shoes made a repetitive slapping sound on the pavement that became monotonous and calming. Breathe in. Breathe out. And repeat.
Emma made it all the way to the Rabbit Hole before running didn't help anymore. Going by, she saw David, Mary Margaret, and Ruby sitting around a table of the tavern with plates of food in front them. They were laughing and their faces glowed with happiness. Emma grimaced at that scene. She tried not to feel hurt and left out. They could've at least invited her. Emma had always considered herself Mary Margaret's friend more than her daughter. However, since the curse broke, Snow remembered that Ruby was her closest friend. They probably didn't want their daughter celebrating with them anyways. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw David gesture to the waiter for more drinks. They wouldn't be going home anytime soon.
With a shake of her head, Emma took off again at an even faster pace. She tried to shake out her bitterness towards the event. Attempting to calm herself, she thought of the letter. She wished they would reveal themselves now more than ever. She could use someone that understood her. He sounded like he knew what Emma was going through and was eager to offer an ear. If only she knew who.
Mindlessly, Emma slowed to a walk and began to wander aimlessly around StoryBrook. She didn't want to head home yet. There was too much on her mind and everything at the apartment reminded her of her parents. Soon there would be baby things all over too. Deep down, she knew that she would not be replaced. It was clear how much Snow and David loved her though she had never said it back to them. They constantly showed that they cared even though they were still unused to being parents. The fear was just so deep rooted that Emma didn't know how to break free of those thoughts.
"Be good, Emma. We know you will."
She remembered those words from her first foster parents. Emma had loved them then. Even now, she had kept their last name, Swan. They said that to her before sending her back into the system because they finally had a kid of their own. Soon after, Emma realized that was how every foster family would be like.
"Miss Swan." Emma heard. Confused, she looked up and saw that she was somehow in front of 108 Mifflin. The door was open and light streamed out from inside with Regina blocking the doorway. "On time again," she heard Regina drawl. Emma stood at the end of Regina's property at the gate and pulled out her phone to check the time. 10 sharp. Wow, she got lucky.
She let herself into the gate and sauntered up to the porch with a shrug. "Thought I'd surprise you twice," Emma said with no conviction. There was no response from Regina for a while so Emma looked up curiously.
There was an indecipherable look on Regina's face and her eyes were not on Emma's. It was on her legs. Furrowing her brows in confusing, Emma lightly cleared her through. "Uh, Regina?" Regina's eyes shot to Emma's. Her face looked slightly flushed. So slight that Emma was sure it was the light.
"What are you wearing?" Regina asked sharply, as if scolding a child.
"Uhh…." Emma started, unsure of what was happening. "My running clothes…" she trailed off uncertainly.
"In this weather?" She retorted skeptically.
"Yea." Emma nodded. "It wasn't cold until I started walking." She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to get warm in them. The cold didn't bother her till just now. She glanced almost longingly into the warm mansion. Doing so, she missed Regina's eyes lingering on her biceps as she attempted to warm herself up.
"Emma!" A voice in the house exclaimed. Henry came skidding around the corner. Regina half turned and pointedly looked at him. He ducked his head sheepishly. "Sorry for running, Mom." She nodded in satisfaction.
"Hey kid. How was your stay?" Emma asked.
"Good." Henry said without much conviction. Emma narrowed her eyes and glanced up at Regina. Regina shrugged. She didn't know why Henry was acting so strange. "Can we go home now?"
"Uh," Emma started. "If you want to walk home…"
"You mean you didn't drive?" Henry asked, looking at Emma.
"Well, I kinda got distracted running…"
Regina scoffed. "You mean you didn't mean to be on time."
Emma scuffed the floor lightly with her tennis shoes. "Yea…"
"Unacceptable." She stated regally.
"Well, my apologies, Madam Mayor," Emma replied sarcastically. The mayor title sounded just like 'Your Majesty' and Regina shivered delightfully at that tone. An image of Emma calling her that in the bedroom made her flush. "Geez," Emma continued, not noticing. "Girl can't stay in shape without getting in trouble."
"I will not allow my son to walk back in this weather." Regina stated with a huff.
"How about"
"Oh!" Henry interrupted. "I have an idea." Both of them looked over at Henry waiting. "What if you stayed the night?" He looked over at Emma.
"Look, kid." Emma started, "you can't just invite me to your mom's place like that. She probably doesn't even want me here." She looked over at Regina who was expressionless. "Right?"
The wheels in Regina's head churned. She would want nothing more than have Emma spend the night here. Would that be wise though? Could she even stay civil enough with her for that long? Regina glanced at Emma who was hunched over from the cold and still rubbing her arms.
She gave a long exasperated sigh. "Stay the night, Sheriff. I don't want to be paying for your sick leave because you failed to bring that horrendous jacket." Regina smirked.
Emma nodded, "Exac… wait, you want me to stay?"
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Regina dragged out slowly as if it was a hindrance to her plans.
"I mean. I'd really appreciate that." Emma said eagerly. "I'll be gone in the morning before you know it."
"So, you'll stay?" Henry asked, excited.
"I guess I will, kid." Emma said, looking to Regina for confirmation. There was none but Regina stepped away from the door slightly.
"Well don't let the air out," Regina snapped.
In a rush, Emma stumbled into the house.
Hope you liked this chapter! Feel free to leave reviews :). Until next time...