A/N: As always, thank you all for your patience on this update. I know I didn't update yesterday, as it was the beginning of the weekend and I decided to take a little break to catch up on some reading and a couple of films. But, finally, here is the next chapter, which I must say I am super content with! And I hope you all will be, too. There will be nothing but SQ for a couple of chapters- and yes- a kiss will eventually happen. Don't ask what chapter, however, because I myself don't even know the answer to that. Let's just enjoy along with them, shall we? :) Happy reading!
And stay tuned for another chapter today!
"So, your father planted these trees himself?" Emma asked, eyeing one apple tree after another as they walked around the Orchard. Her question from her first visit already answered.
Regina smiled proudly, giving the blonde a single nod.
"Wow. And why apples?" She held onto her camera, as if waiting for the right moment to snap a picture.
"It was my father's favorite fruit, for one. And you can do a lot with apples. Plus the horses love them." Regina walked along, under a tree, looking up at a few grown apples and reached up to pick one.
Click! It was the perfect moment to snap a picture. There was a content look on Regina's face as she held onto the round fruit. As if she were in her own little happy place filled with fond memories of her and her father.
"Hey- Emma!" Regina tried reaching for the blonde's camera, but failed.
"What?" Emma smiled, she glanced down at her screen on the back of her camera before flashing it for Regina to see. "You look real good."
The brunette groaned, rolling her eyes, but she moved over to Emma to have a better look at the picture. Simple curiosity. Emma gladly scoots the camera screen a little closer her way.
"See?" Says Emma, her eyes taking a quick glance at Regina's brown ones.
Regina chuckles, glancing down at the picture. "It is a nice picture. You are very good." Her eyes find Emma staring directly at her.
"Or maybe you're just really photogenic." Her voice is a bit low that Regina can't help but glance down to Emma's lips.
Suddenly, the brunette finds herself wondering just what it would be like to kiss them.
She could kiss her.
Their close proximity was so close, she could pick up on Emma's leather-y scent coming off of her jacket. While Emma could pick up on Regina's rich and sweet perfume, which made her head spin if she was being honest with herself.
"We should…" Regina's voice caught in her throat that she had to clear her throat, which broke off her distance from the blonde. "Shall we continue with our tour?" She asked, feeling her heart jump right into her throat.
"Definitely." Emma smiled, following Regina along the open field. Her camera hanging by her neck freely. "So, all this land is now yours?" She asks.
"Yes." Regina nods, toying with the stem of the one red apple she had picked off the trees. "I couldn't wait to come out here again." She smiles.
"You really love it out here, huh?"
Her smile widens. "Probably because I had some of the best memories as a child here."
"Did you ride a lot as a kid?" Emma asked, wanting to know more.
Another nod, "Constantly. My mother- as you can imagine- hated it out here. She was against me visiting, but my father always had his ways to bring me along. It was because of him that I learned how to ride a horse, and it was because of him that I know so much about apples and baking."
"He baked?" The blonde's brows skyrocketed.
The brunette chuckled, "Yes. My mother hated to bake- let alone cook- she hated the kitchen in general."
"So you learned all your cooking from him?" Emma smiles.
"He was one in a million." Regina gives off a sad smile.
"He must've been. If he had you."
Their eyes meet again as their stroll comes to an abrupt stop.
A small smirk appeared on Regina's lips as she brushed away a strand of hair behind her ear. As well as a small blush and, Emma couldn't help but think just how adorable Regina looked every time she blushed.
"Was that a compliment?" The brunette's brow raised.
Was it? Emma couldn't even figure out why she was running at the mouth so much today. It could be a compliment, but it could have also been a flirtatious remark.
"Uh…" Emma's cheeks grow a shade of pink. "Yeah," she breathes. "Is that a bad thing to say?"
Regina smiles. "Not at all." She brushes back another strand of hair that tickles her face. "I'm just honestly not used to receiving so many compliments."
Click! Emma raised her camera and snapped an unexpected picture, which Regina wasn't at all happy about.
"Hey!" Again, Regina tried snatching the camera from the laughing blonde, but failed. "That's not fair, Emma." She chuckles.
"It is totally fair." Emma smiles.
"How so?" Regina scoffs.
"It's my camera."
"Well, it's me you are taking pictures of." Regina stands with her hands placed on her hips. "Why don't you take pictures of everything else that's around you? Of the horses?" She motions toward the animals.
"Oh, I've taken plenty of them. I'll show you."
Regina smiles, and in an attempt to hide her smile she glances down at the apple she had been holding. "I'll have to bring you back here once the apples are fully ready for harvest. My father and I used to pick them when they were at their pique. They would make the best apple pies."
"I'd love that," Emma smiles, her eyes look down at the apple Regina holds in her hands. "If that one isn't ready, why did you pick it?"
"Because it's good enough to eat." The brunette tosses Emma the apple, which she catches mid-air.
She watches as Emma inspects the apple before taking a huge bite out of it. A smile tugs at her lips upon seeing the delight look on the girl's face.
"That's very sweet." Says the blonde.
"It is." Regina nods with a grin to her. "Imagine it inside an apple pie."
"I can't wait."
"Would you like to help me prepare lunch?" Asked Regina.
"I have a better idea." Emma replies, taking Regina completely off guard. "Why don't I fix you lunch for once?"
Regina's brow rises. "You can cook?"
"Okay," Emma rolls her eyes playfully. "I'm going to pretend I'm not offended by that question."
"I'm sorry," the brunette frowns. "I- I didn't mean to-"
"Hey- Regina," Emma smiles in assurance. "You don't need to apologize."
She did. She actually had to apologize for one thing.
"No. I do," Regina breathes and welcomes herself to step closer toward Emma, who's eyes lock into her own.
As Emma looks into her eyes, she can read concern, and a deep apology.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted before you left."
"You have nothing to-" Emma is quickly interrupted.
"Emma. Please." Regina's eyes are so full of sincerity, it hurts Emma. "I may be a woman trapped in a life I didn't ask to live. I may be a woman who hasn't experienced much of the world- not like you have- but, I am a woman who can admit when I am wrong. And me hitting you… That was…" Her eyes water and her throat closes as she forces it to open again. "I'm really sorry. I- I give you my word- it will never happen again. Because I'm not him." Her voice brakes. "I'm not-"
"Hey," Emma could hear a small gasp escape from Regina's lips as her sudden action is to close the small space between them, watching it disappear, until her hand cups her cheek.
Regina's eyes lock right into gentle- and what's worse- understanding green eyes looking right into her soul.
"It's okay. It's okay, Regina." There's a small crease formed in Emma's brow. She can feel the bridge of her thumb caress her cheek, and Emma can't understand why, but in that moment she wants to caress that scar above her lip. But, holds back. "Let's get one thing clear. I know you're not him. You could never be him or anything like him. You are you. And that makes you perfect."
Perfect? Did she hear that right? Did Emma Swan just refer to her as perfect?
"Perfect?" Regina can't help but scoff and break free from Emma's touch as she echoes the word, leaving the blonde girl in awe. "I am not perfect, Emma. No one is. Not even you."
"Well, you are to me." Emma can admit to that. "Look, I know we don't know each other that much, but from what I do know about you- I know that you-" she goes interrupted this time by the brunette.
"Emma-" She shakes her head and tries her best to hold back a few tears that make her brown gaze turn glossy. Regina takes a moment to collect her thoughts. Because if anything, what she really wants right now is to throw herself into Emma's arms and feel her embrace again. "I am nothing like you see me. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing left of the adolescent girl I once was before I met the man I was forced to marry."
"You're wrong." Emma breathed, taking a small step forward. "Regina, everything you once were is still in there. That fear you feel whenever he is near you- that's the same fear you felt when you were sixteen years old- so everything you were then, is in you now." She hears a scoff escape the brunette's lips. "You just need to see that for yourself. I saw it when we were in your car, driving up here."
"Well, I am not sixteen years old anymore." Regina retorted.
"You're right. You are a grown, beautiful, but broken woman. And I love that about you."
Love? Regina can't fathom what she just heard. Of course, Emma didn't love her. She loved Audrey. She knew Emma didn't mean it in that way. But for someone to love something about her?
That was new.
"We should have our lunch." Regina blinked.
Emma nodded. "Okay. But, only if I can cook for you for once."
Seeing as this was a battle Regina couldn't possibly win, she chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Very well. What may I ask, will I have the pleasure of eating for lunch today?"
Emma grinned. "Only my specialty that's to die for."
"Grilled cheese? That's your specialty?" Regina's brow was perfectly raised as she stood by Emma, who stood in front of a sizzling grilled cheese, almost ready to be enjoyed.
Soon, the entire kitchen, followed by the rest of the room of the small house was filled with grilled cheese aroma.
"Don't knock 'em, 'till you try 'em." Emma grinned, giving Regina a little wink that- dare Regina admit- stopped her heart on the spot.
Otis Redding's Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay filled the room, upon Emma's request. She loved the classics, thanks to her mother and David. Which was something Regina could quickly get used to about her.
The brunette hardly listened to any music, but when she did, it would mostly be classical. She had no idea what was popular nowadays to listen to.
"Do you have any idea what that thing could do to your arteries?" Regina asked, looking down at the golden crisp grilled cheese being served onto a plate.
Emma chuckled, holding onto the plate as she served the sandwich right on it. "Well, if I am cursed with this being my last meal before a heart attack- I am not ashamed to say- I shall die with a smile on my face."
How was it that Emma found humor for everything? Even death.
"Now, come on. I want to watch you take the first bite." Said Emma, whistling along to the song as she moved her way toward the breakfast table, but not before turning off the stove.
"May God have mercy on me," Regina muttered under her breath as she reached for her glass of wine and Emma's and headed toward the table.
"Allow me," Upon setting the plate down, Emma reached for the two wine glasses and set them down, each on their side of the table, before she pulled out a chair for Regina.
"Thank you." Regina's brow raised, but a smile stretched across her lips it reached her eyes. She welcomed herself to a seat, glancing down at the grilled cheese before her before attempting to pick it up with the tip of her nails.
"Alright," Emma adjusts in her seat, scooting it up with a smile of her own. Her eyes trained on the brunette. "Dig in." She waits.
Regina chuckles, "Grilled cheese sandwiches and wine. Interesting combination." She teases.
"I'm nothing if not interesting." Emma grins.
"Alright," the brunette breathes before carefully lifting up the sandwich, bringing it near her lips, her eyes avoiding Emma's as she takes her first bite.
Emma chews on her bottom lip in a nervous habit. "So?"
She's chewing her way through the gooiness of the cheese, followed by the stickiness and buttery taste of the bread. It's warm, soft and oh-so-good!
It was her first grilled cheese, but it was the best.
Her taste buds weren't aware of what on earth was happening right now. Her own tongue was doing a happy dance inside of her mouth, begging her for another bite.
And whatever Regina couldn't communicate with her mouth at that moment, her eyes happily did.
"Good, right?" Emma happily grinned.
"I'm afraid good is not enough word to describe this. This is… Amazing!" Regina can finally bring herself to say, seeing another breathtaking smile being delivered straight from Emma's lips.
"Coming from you, that means a lot." Emma's hand lands on her own heart before she reaches for her own grilled cheese and happily takes a bite. "But, don't let my mastery cooking skills on a grilled cheese fool you. I can make other things, too. You name it, I can do it."
Regina's brow arches. "And here I thought I would have to teach you how to cook before you adventured off living with my daughter."
Emma lets out a low chuckle, helping herself to another bite.
"How is that going, by the way?" Reality sank in for Regina upon asking that question.
Emma shrugged, "Okay, I guess."
"Just okay?"
After a sip of her wine, the blonde replied. "Well… To be honest… The apartments Audrey has had her eye on are a little too…" Her eyes squint in thought.
"Extravagant?" Regina decides to finish her sentence for her, and is happy to know she guessed it right upon seeing the blonde's face light up before her.
"That's it!" Emma snaps her fingers as a pink blush sets in her cheeks.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about that, dear." Regina assured her.
Emma took a sip of her wine before she continued. "I mean, the first few she saw were great, they were tiny little apartments- big enough for two- which was awesome, but now, I don't know… She says her father wants her to have the best." She shrugs.
"And you want something small but simple?" Regina could understand that.
The blonde nodded after taking the last bite of her sandwich. "Yeah. That's not awful, is it?" She scrunches up her nose, which makes a small smile tug at the corners of Regina's lips.
"Not at all, dear." She takes a moment to visualize the type of apartment Emma would like to have. The type she, herself would like to have- if she could. "Any place to live in is good. I would go for something small, too."
"Right?" Emma leans into the table, resting her elbows on top. "I mean, obviously big enough to have my own little black room, and all. But, nothing too big."
As Regina smiles, Emma could see something in the woman's eyes that again comes a little too difficult to decipher. It's not until a beat that she finally asks.
"Have you ever thought about leaving?"
The smile that was once dancing on Regina's lips disappears into a frown.
There's a beat that lingers in between that question before the brunette says, with a sadness in her voice. "Many times."
"But?"
Regina shrugs this time as she reaches for her glass of wine and twirls it a little. There's a chuckle that wants to escape her, but Emma could tell she holds back from it and takes the last sip instead. "It's not so easy, Emma. It never is." She answers truthfully.
But Emma couldn't believe that. "There are always ways-" She's quickly interrupted.
"Emma," this time Regina does chuckle a low sound. Her eyes lock on gentle green ones. "The only one who can leave that house without a care in the world is Audrey." Suddenly she glances down at her wedding ring, and she can see a frown thin out against the blonde's lips. "As long as I wear this ring, I am bound to him."
Emma couldn't believe that. She didn't want to believe that. There had to be something more for someone as wonderful as Regina out in this world.
And just as Emma wanted to attempt to reach over the table and hold her hand, Regina startled her by retrieving her empty plate, followed by hers and saying, "I'll clean up."
The blonde stood up, "I'll do that-" she's quickly interrupted once again.
"No, I'll do it. You cooked so it's fair." Regina gave the girl a nod with a small pleading smile.
Green eyes moved down to that little scar above the woman's lip. They started doing that a lot. Just like her brain started to wonder a lot what it would be like to caress it.
"You just help yourself to look around, if you want." Regina offered with another smile as she excused herself to head toward the kitchen, taking the two plates and empty wine glasses, leaving the blonde no other choice but to accept.
Emma took that opportunity to do just that. She moved about the small living room, taking in the sights and noticing a lot more things about it than she had the first time. Of course, her first time here she did end up with a black eye, which didn't help matters. She winced at that.
Now, Emma could see that among the bookshelf, Regina kept pictures. A lot of happy pictures of her and her father. Nothing else. Like her own personal capsule that locked her most happy moments with a lock that only she had control of.
She looked over toward the kitchen to make sure Regina wasn't watching her, and once confirmed, she helped herself to reach for a picture of a little brunette girl, riding along with the help of her father, sitting right behind her, keeping her safe. The smile she had in the picture matched the one Emma had seen a few times when she was able to make her smile. Really smile.
Placing the picture back, she moved away from the bookshelf, not wanting to pry much longer. And her eyes took in the sight of a grand piano, sitting right by the wall space that divided the living room area between the kitchen.
"You have a piano?" The blonde asked out loud.
"It was my father's. He never knew how to play it, but he loved keeping one here. He said it gave this place a musical charm." A small smile tugged at her lips as she washed the second plate.
"Sounds like something my mom would say," Emma chuckles, her eyes trained on the piano until she welcomes herself to a seat against the bench. She parted open the cover that revealed the keys, and Emma could tell it was intact.
It was a beautiful instrument. It was carved out beautifully, all natural wood, not black or white, or any other color. It matched the house.
Emma's fingers lingered above the keys as her mind tried remembering the beginning to one of her favorite songs, and soon, they began to play her own melancholic melody of Bittersweet Symphony.
Nothing Regina recognized, but she couldn't help to have all the glass clattering stop inside the sink upon hearing music coming from inside the house, followed by a soft, low ranged voice singing along to the playing. Her lips parted upon leaving the kitchen, but not before drying her hands, and realizing that it was Emma who was playing and singing all on her own.
Regina couldn't speak, especially not after Emma's green eyes met up with hers as she continued to play and sing along to her playing, all without even glancing down at the keys. As if she had played it before.
There was a small smile playing on the blonde's lips as she sang that was also so inviting, that Regina couldn't help but join Emma to a seat against the bench.
Brown eyes watched the girl's pale hands, how they smoothly played along to the melancholic melody, how naturally her long fingers danced along the keys as her surprisingly talented voice continued to sing along and surprise her all the more. It made her heart stop, as her eyes begged to be allowed to cry then and there.
Regina had never heard anything more beautiful in her entire life.
And if she didn't like Emma then, she liked her even more now.
Hearing her sing like this, seeing that concentrated crease above her brow as she would glance down at the keys and her own hands, and sing along.
She loved it.
Upon finishing the song, there was a little smirk tilting at the corner of Emma's lip that Regina took in next.
"What was that?" Regina asked almost out of breath.
"I wanted to see if your father was right." Emma shrugged, a shade of pink coating her cheeks.
She never played for anyone but her mother. Not even Audrey.
"Audrey never mentioned you could sing." Regina shook her head.
"Um…" Her shade of pink was back against her cheeks. "That's because she doesn't know." She chuckles upon seeing the surprised wide-eyed look on Regina's face. "I don't go around singing in public or anything. That was just for my mom mostly, when I didn't practice on my own."
"But you sang it here, for me?" And suddenly, Regina realized how ridiculous that question sounded.
Because why would Emma sing for her?
She probably just sang to test the waters on her father's theory, just like she had said.
Regina couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle herself at the ridiculous assumption. "I'm sorry," she uttered. "You must think I'm ridiculous."
"Why?" Emma's head tilted.
"Well, because… Why would you sing for me?" The brunette chuckled once more, brushing away a strand of hair behind her ear as if dismissing that thought.
But it wasn't until she was met with Emma's gentle green eyes again that she began to see something she couldn't quite understand in them.
Regina hadn't even realized how close they were sitting to one another, sharing that piano bench. Their shoulders were brushing side by side and their faces were about two, maybe three inches apart. Her heart sank as she had never experienced the green color in Emma's eyes at this close proximity.
The only time she had, the circumstances weren't this bright around them. She had tried to kill herself.
"It's not ridiculous." Emma whispered, her eyes unable to help themselves to move toward that scar above Regina's lip.
And just as she was about to reach up and dare to caress that scar above her lip-
Knock, knock.
Two light knocks, followed by Daniel entering the comfort of the house startled them apart, leaving Regina to stand abruptly and pat on her cheeks while Emma remained seated with a confused blink to her eyes.
"Hey-" Daniel's brow creases upon catching a short glimpse of the flustered look on Regina's cheeks. "Are you alright?" He asks innocently.
"I'm fine," Regina stands elsewhere, while Emma places the cover over the keys of the piano before standing and looking over toward Daniel.
"Well, um… I just wanted to come by and see if you needed anything else, and if you were planning on riding today-" He's startled upon hearing Regina's voice jump right in after.
"No." Regina breathes, counting mentally down from a hundred as she smiles over at him. "Thank you, Daniel," she says a little more collected this time, feeling the color in her cheeks turn back to normal. "But there will be no riding today. We, um, actually should get going." Her eyes look over at Emma.
Emma can't see why she shouldn't agree as she simply nods.
Their drive back seemed shorter as they drove home that evening. They didn't share much of a conversation, but decided to bond a little over music, and Emma came to discover that Regina loved a lot of romantic melodies, which made her smile. And Regina came to learn that Emma also had a taste for a bit of rock music, and other bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers. All that Regina wasn't quite fond of, but she loved the look on the blonde's face upon listening to a song she liked.
Neither of them had been hungry, so Sidney was surprised when dinner was skipped.
For the rest of the night, Regina had entertained herself reading a book, while Emma did the exact same thing for a while, until she pulled out her sketchbook, laid in bed and began to draw away when her phone rang.
"Hey, Audrey," she answered quickly, her pencil scratching along the paper in front of her.
"Em, we have to come back to Colorado. You are going to love it."
Emma smiled upon hearing the excitement in Audrey's voice. "I'm glad you are having fun." Her eyes focused on the drawing before her as she continued to work on it. "What time is it over there?" She asked while glancing at her watch and noticing it was eleven thirty-five pm.
"Nine thirty-five. We're only only a two hour difference. I'm glad you were up, I was afraid I'd wake you, but I really missed you and wanted to hear your voice."
She smiled again, "I miss you, too."
"Did you swim after all?" Audrey asked.
"Um, yeah," Emma's eyes began to add more to the drawing, and the shading of jet black hair. "Just for an hour. It was too hot out today."
"Well, that's good. What about tomorrow?"
"I don't know, I might give your mom a break tomorrow from having to keep me company and maybe go out for dinner."
"By yourself?" She could hear the question in Audrey's voice.
"Yeah." Emma answered plainly with a shrug as her hand continued to draw.
"Well, just don't fall in love with any cute waitress while I'm gone, okay?" Audrey joked.
Emma chuckled softly. "That's a promise."
"Okay, I'll let you get to bed. But call me tomorrow morning?"
"I will. Bye."
"Bye. I love you."
"Love you, too." Emma hung up and placed her phone aside as she sighed and looked down at her almost finished drawing of Regina's face.
When suddenly, her stomach growled, startling her. She was hungry after all, and quickly wondered if maybe Regina was, too.
Reaching for her phone, she typed out a quick text and watched it sent.
Regina placed her book down against the mattress of her bed and reached for her phone as she heard a notification ping come through.
Unknown Number: So, out of nowhere, my stomach decided- it's starving!
Regina smiled upon reading the unknown text. Only to her, it wasn't unknown anymore. She saw three dogs at the bottom of her screen followed by another message.
Unknown Number: How about yours?
Like magic, her stomach equally rumbled a little, giving the brunette the confirmation that yes- it was starving.
Regina: It would appear so. However, it is about to be midnight, and I really shouldn't.
Emma smirked as she shook her head before tying out her next reply.
Unknown Number: Sounds like pancake hour to me!
Regina: You do realize that's breakfast?
The brunette scoffs as she shakes her head. Whoever in their right mind had breakfast at this hour?
Unknown Number: To my notion, and my mother's, you can have breakfast any damn time you want!
Regina: Language, Ms. Swan…
Unknown Number: Sorry! :P
Unknown Number: So, what do you say, Gina? Meet you in the kitchen in five minutes?
Emma chewed on her bottom lip as she saw those three infamous dots appear…
Regina: See you in five minutes.