Waking up with Regina wrapped around her was fast becoming the favourite part of Emma's day, the reassuring weight of Regina's head on her chest, her hair tickling against Emma's skin silky smooth, her calming breaths steady and slow, everything about those moments made Emma feel at peace so she was very reluctant to wake the sleeping brunette up but wake her she must because they were both due on set early this morning, Regina had scenes to shoot with Charlie and some of the actors playing the doctors and nurses while Emma would be working in a different part of the hospital with whoever was playing Leah's adoptive parents.
Breakfast like their meal the evening before was room service Regina said that she preferred that to going down to the main restaurant because it meant that they could eat as a couple without having to put on any kind of act to keep their relationship a secret. They got ready as soon as they were done eating leaving their dirty dishes for room service to collect later then they made their way out the main entrance of the hotel where they were greeted by a load of flashing camera's and multiple people asking several different questions at once, without hesitation Sidney and Jefferson closed in on the two of them forcing them through the crowd and safely into the back of their waiting car, they were taken to a back entrance at the hospital where thankfully no paparazzi waited for them.
Inside the hospital the two of them parted ways, Emma taking the elevator to the top floor where she quickly located the room set up for filming, A woman was already lying in the bed tapping her fingers impatiently on the blanket, the peaks that her feet made from under the blanket visible from the door,
"Where is she then" the woman demanded "She should be here by now"
"I'm sure she'll be here in a minute" a male voice replied, and Emma could see what looked like a man pinching the bridge of his nose through the half-opened blinds,
"Why is that thing even in the room?" the woman snapped viciously when the sound of baby's giggle wafted through the open door, "I don't have any scenes with it, so it doesn't need be in here, take it away"
"He is not an it" a very disgruntled sounding younger woman's voice replied "there's no need to be nasty" the voice continued moving closer to the door and then suddenly a young woman cradling an infant appeared in its frame, "Are you Emma" she asked hopefully as Emma tickled the baby under the chin making him shriek loudly with laughter,
"Can't you control that thing for five seconds" the woman inside grumbled "What am I, surrounded by idiots"
"What's her problem" Emma mouthed silently the young woman read her lips and shrugged, while out loud Emma answered "Yep that's me"
"Thank god" the young woman sighed with relief moving to one side with the baby "the sooner we can get this over with and get out of here the better" then over her shoulder she announced jovially, "she's here"
"Well, it's about time" the woman inside shouted pointedly, Emma sighed sensing that this was going to be a god-awful long day and stepped inside the room to get a feel for the setup before they began filming.
Stepping through the door she looked first at the man who was indeed pinching the bridge of his nose and looking thoroughly fed up, he greying hair was ruffled up and he had a handsome kind looking face, he dropped his hand offering Emma a small, relieved smile when she entered the room.
Then she turned to look at the dreaded woman in the bed who seemed as though she wouldn't need to do much acting in order to play Leah's terrible adoptive mother, her eyes fell on the formidable face and with a jolt, she recognised her immediately,
"You" she gasped mouth dropping open,
"So, my reputation proceeds me" the woman smirked, it was a familiar smirk, but it looked all twisted and cruel on this woman's face,
"Something like that" Emma swallowed
"Well good" the woman replied "I wish that I could say the same about you dear but honestly I don't have a clue who the hell you and neither do I care to know, I just want you on your mark when you're supposed to be, got it"
It was a lie and Emma knew it, this woman knew exactly who Emma was, but she wanted to make sure that Emma knew that she saw her as a nobody and this was the way that she hoped to achieve that none the less Emma nodded and left the room to find her mark pulling out her phone as soon as the vile woman was out of sight,
I need to talk to you about something asap,
Love Emma xx
She sent the message to Regina returning the phone to her pocket as soon as she was done.
Lunch couldn't come soon as far as Emma was concerned, the woman was impossible, she found faults with everything demanded breaks to sip water every forty minutes which led to multiple pauses for toilet breaks, but if anybody else so much as dared to pause for either of those things she huffed and tutted loudly while pointedly looking at her watch until they were back on their mark, when she reduced the baby's mother to tears Emma couldn't hold her tongue any longer,
"Cut it out" she seethed,
"Just who do you think you're talking to?" the woman retorted voice dangerously low, as she looked at Emma through narrowed eyes,
"You're being cruel" Emma replied evenly,
"I'm being honest" the affronted woman declared sounding every bit as though she thought that she was doing the world a massive favour,
"Nobody asked for or wants your brand of honesty" Emma told her "Not when you're making everybody's working environment an absolute nightmare, please just keep a lid on it so that we can at least get this scene finished before lunch" Emma pleaded, the woman looked at her disdainfully, but she didn't say anything else, she merely huffed and returned to her mark to begin shooting again.
It was a huge relief when the clapper sounded and a wrap for the morning was finally called, Emma didn't even wait to see what everyone else was doing she was out of there, she needed to warn Regina about their new co-star stat, that was if she didn't already know which if Regina's static silence was anything to go by, she didn't.
She found Regina waiting for her outside the hospital's restaurant looking concerned,
"What's the matter?" she asked holding her phone up to show that she had read the text,
"It's about…"
"Regina darling" a voice cut across Emma's laced with sickeningly fake affection that didn't meet the speakers' stone-cold eyes,
"that" Emma sighed groaning inwardly at the same time as Regina exclaimed,
"Mother what are you doing here" jaw dropping in shock,
"Didn't what's her face" Cora flicked a hand dismissively in Emma's direction "tell you" she asked feigning surprise, was anything about this woman real Emma thought while aloud she said,
"I was just about to" through gritted teeth,
"I've landed myself a role in your little show dear, isn't that wonderful, I'm playing the little new bloods mother" not only had she totally ignored Emma's response, but she spoke about her as though she wasn't even there and with obvious contempt in her tone,
"Her name is Emma mother" Regina growled making the hairs on the on the back of Emma's neck stand on end,
"Whatever darling, it's not important, now you must tell me dear how are getting on, you know they really should have cast somebody more experienced across from you, you should have insisted dear I mean really an actress of your calibre and background expected to work across from a nobody, it's abysmal, I can only imagine how awful it must be for you"
"Her name" Regina repeated sounding downright dangerous now, her mother had evidently taught her well "Is Emma, it is important and it's been great working across from her, there is a beauty in watching someone blossom and grow that you will never understand mother because you're far to stuck up your own ass to notice, it's a joy to work with Emma and there is absolutely nothing abysmal about working with her at all, now if you'll excuse us we were about to have lunch" Regina said marching into the restaurant with Emma hot on her heels.
"I'm so sorry" Emma groaned when they were waiting in the queue "I should have warned in the text I just thought that I'd have time to tell you in person",
"It's not your fault Emma it's the way my mother is, she always like to make an entrance, create a scene, maybe now you can see where the evil queen reputation comes from",
"For her maybe, but you Regina, you couldn't get any sweeter If you tried, I don't even know how you came from that she devil, all it I can say is that your dad must have been a god damn saint to put up with the likes of her"
"Something like that" Regina laughed settling at a table with Emma, but Cora Mills wasn't abouts to concede defeat easily, she glided into the restaurant not far behind them looking like a panther stalking its prey, and spotting them she strolled purposefully over to their table clicking her fingers for her entourage of staff to bring her, her lunch,
"I'm sorry did we invite you to eat with us mother?" Regina asked when she sat herself down next to her daughter,
"Come now Regina don't be like that, I'm sorry dear I didn't realise that you two had grown to be so close and I certainly didn't mean to upset you or your little friend here" she finished insincerely trying and failing the hide the disgust from her voice,
"Fine you can sit there but only because I don't want you giving Emma a hard time this afternoon, though I'm sure you'll probably find a way to do just that anyway" Regina sighed,
"As If I would" Cora sounded affronted promptly adding mock offence to her rapidly growing list of fakeries.
Emma had hoped that Cora would get bored and leave them alone for at least some of their lunch break just to get a break from the woman before she had to spend the rest of the afternoon with her, but Cora Mills wasn't going anywhere and since Emma would much rather spend lunch with Regina than alone even if it meant putting up with her mean mother, she put up with her,
She didn't say anything out right offensive for the rest of the meal at any rate if anything she was sickeningly sweet in the fakest possible way of course and much to Emma's dismay even offered to walk back to the set with her afterwards an offer that she couldn't refuse if she didn't want to seem petty because Cora was being overly nice even if it was fake nice with the transparency of a freshly cleaned windowpane.
Regina hadn't mentioned anything about her and Emma being a couple over lunch and nor had she acted romantically towards Emma in any way in fact if Emma hadn't known any better she would have thought that they were just friends, which given their decision to keep their relationship on the down low until their families knew wasn't entirely unexpected but it did however hurt that Regina hadn't even mentioned their relationship to her mother, not even when Cora had given her an opening by enquiring as to her current relationship status, Emma suspected that she had a reason, maybe she was worried about being overheard and wanted to tell her in private but none the less that 'no' that had fallen from Regina's lips when her mother asked her if she was seeing anybody new stung like a dagger to the heart and then she was forced to wait while Cora made a big charade about saying good bye to Regina, leaning in to kiss each cheek one at a time, more exaggerated drawl as she told Regina that she see her again soon and then finally they were on their way back to the set and Emma had, had next to time away from the dreaded woman at all.
They were abouts to turn back into the set when Cora turned on Emma without warning eyes flashing dangerously as she spoke sending spittle flying into Emma's face,
"Whatever your intentions are for my daughter forget them now" she hissed nose inches from Emma's "and don't even try to deny it" she cut across when Emma opened her mouth to speak "what you didn't think I noticed that way that you were looking at her" she laughed viciously at Emma's surprised look "Not such a great actress after all" Cora laughed again and Emma had to bite her lip to stop herself from retorting with a comment about Cora's own transparent terrible fake acting in the dining room,
"My daughter wouldn't look twice at you little girl, you're so far beneath her that you aren't even worthy of cleaning her shoes, and don't you forget it" she looked at Emma as though daring her to challenge her and Emma being Emma took the bait,
"If you're so confident that, that's true then why are we even having this conversation" Emma challenged walking away before Cora could answer.
Cora was no nicer to be around in the afternoon than she had been in the morning the only upside was that the mum and baby had left for the day which gave her one less thing to complain about and meant that she didn't succeed in making anybody cry again, still it came to relief to all cast and crew alike when it was time to finish for the day, quite frankly Emma couldn't wait for this week to be over with.
"How was the rest of your day sweetheart" Regina greeted her as she stepped out of the elevator and into their suite, Regina having finished much earlier than Emma thanks to Cora causing constant delays had gotten back to the hotel ahead of her"
"Exhausting" Emma sighed "Your bloody mother is the devil in disguise"
"mmm" she sighed contentedly against Regina's lips wrapping her arms around her waist and pulling her in closer when Regina leaned in for a gentle lingering kiss, "I could get used to this though" Emma smiled after the kiss had ended and Regina was still in her arms gazing into her eyes, with its ever-brilliant timing her stomach picked that second to growl, loudly protesting its emptiness, Regina laughed and Emma groaned,
"Damn it" she said, "I don't suppose you'd mind if we ordered dinner now?" she asked sheepishly,
"Actually" Regina smiled shyly "I already did, when you text to say you were on your way back I figured you'd be hungry and they had Lasagne on the menu tonight, I remembered you saying that was your favourite when I made it so I went ahead and placed the order, I hope that was okay because I can always order you something else if you'd prefer"
"That's more than okay, Regina you are an absolute star" Emma beamed picking her up and twirling her around planting another quick kiss on her lips before settling her down onto the ground again, "Do I have time for a shower before it arrives?" she asked
"Only if you're quick and go now" Regina smiled,
"I'll be quicker than Clark Kent changing in a phone booth" Emma grinned hurrying off down the hallway,
A shower was just what Emma needed to wash the grime of the day away and make her feel refreshed, she hummed with relief as soon as the hot water hit her shoulders, cascading over her body, the last of her tension left her and her body sagged as the remaining remnants of Cora and her irritating ways were washed away right along with it.
She could have happily stayed there longer If not for her loudly protesting stomachs growing urgency for food the arrival of which was imminent, so true to her word her shower was quick, drying and dressing was even quicker and soon she was padding out of the bedroom and into the massive living space.
"Nicely timed" Regina greeted from the table where their meals were waiting "I was just abouts to come get you"
"God, it smells good" Emma groaned plopping herself down in her seat stomach growling loudly again as the irresistible aroma Lasagne wafted into her nostrils. They ate in silence with Emma far too distracted by her food to talk, she finished quicker than Regina but not by far clearly the brunette was feeling the hunger too even if her stomach hadn't betrayed her in the same noisy way that Emma's had,
"I'm sorry that my mother Is so awful" Regina suddenly sighed as she crossed her cutlery over on top of her empty plate,
"Please don't apologise for her, her behaviour is not your fault and she's not sorry in the slightest" Emma replied "But I do have one question" Emma ventured the question that had be burning inside her since lunchtime itching to come out,
"Well," Regina pressed "what are you waiting for, spit it out already"
"Your mother's behaviour, is that the reason you didn't tell her that we were a couple at lunch time?" Emma asked quietly
"Yes and no" Regina replied, "I didn't want to mention in such a public setting as the hospital restaurant because I didn't want to risk anybody that we didn't want to know yet overhearing"
"I figured at much" Emma said with a small smile,
"But yes, her behaviour was a big factor too" Regina smiled kindly, eyes smouldering with love "The main reason that I didn't say anything is because I didn't want to give my mother any more ammo to give you hard time than she already has" she confessed,
"So, you aren't planning on telling her about us at all?" Emma asked slight frown forming, she understood Regina's motive she really did, and she knew that this didn't mean that she didn't love her, but she couldn't help the disappointment that she felt at realising that Regina would be keeping their relationship a secret from her own mother,
"I didn't say that dear" Regina's velvety tones sounded, capturing Emma's attention immediately, a reassuring hand laced its fingers through hers and Regina continued "I didn't tell her today for all the reasons that I said but I will tell her, you're important to me Emma, I'm in love with you and don't you ever forget it and for that reason I don't want to give my mother any extra reason to give you a hard time this week, just her being Cora Mills is more than enough to deal with as you found out today" Emma subconsciously nodded in agreement as Regina pressed on "I've arranged for her to meet us here for dinner at the end of the week, her last evening in town to be exact though she isn't aware that you will be here, I'm going to tell her about us then, that way, you my darling" she smiled affectionately and caressed Emma's cheek "won't have to deal with the immediate after math of her reaction because I very much doubt that she will take it well" she shrugged like she didn't care about that because she didn't,
"Sounds like a good plan actually" Emma smiled remembering Cora's earlier threat "she was bad enough earlier when she suspected that I fancied you so gawd knows how much worse she will be after finding out that we're an item" she laughed
"She was" Regina frowned concerned,
"Yup, cornered me on the way back to the set after lunch, practically demanded to know what my intentions were for you then told me that you wouldn't look at me twice anyway because I'm way to far beneath you apparently" Emma laughed but Regina looked appalled
"That was awful for her to say and entirely not true" Regina choked out,
"Hey, I know that" Emma reassured Regina squeezing her hand "Anyway I asked her if she believed that then why was she so worried, then walked off before she could reply"
"Good for you" Regina chuckled "I bet she loved that"
"Eh it gave her something to think about, gaping after me like a stunned fish she was" Emma chuckled feeling much better about the whole situation, tickled by the fact that Regina was now roaring with laughter,
"Time for dessert I think" Emma smiled uncovering slices of chocolate cake and pushing one towards Regina once the brunette had finally regained her composure. After dessert Emma put all their dishes out by the elevator for the staff to collect, turning the door hanger to do not disturb before she closed and locked the foyer door, then she met Regina back in the living area where that sat on opposite ends of the couch, Regina with her feet resting casually in Emma's lap, sipped wine and watched a movie until exhaustion finally claimed them and they were both barley able to keep their eyelids open.
That week was Emma's hardest yet, Cora's constant torrent of demands, snarky comments and snide remarks resulted in late finishes every night, by the forth night Emma had been too tired to eat or shower by the time she had gotten back to the hotel and after a grumbled greeting to Regina had proceeded to trudge into the bedroom and crash out still fully clothed, she had woken up in the morning feeling well rested, with Regina's limbs wrapped around her as always and wearing nothing but a vest top and knickers, apparently Regina had changed while she slept which she had no doubt had promoted a much more restful sleep than sleeping in her jeans would have and for that she was immensely grateful, she needed all the rest that she could get in order to have the strength to face Cora every day.
Cora had also invited herself to lunch with them every day and frequently brought up how much she was looking forward to sharing a decent meal and some quality time with her daughter ahead of her flight home at the end of the week,
"You know that I would love to stay longer if I could don't you dear, spend a bit more time with you without the riff raff" she said one lunch break flicking her eyes towards Emma as though it wasn't already obvious that she was talking about her, Regina just glared darkly at her in response,
"Oh, come now Regina" Cora smiled grotesquely "I know you have a soft spot for the girl, and she doesn't have any friends to sit with, but you have to admit that it'll be nice being just the two of us, free to really speak our minds" she chuckled nastily,
"I'm pretty sure that you do that anyway mother" Regina sighed "and I am Emma's friend, I enjoy her company"
"If you say so dear" Cora tsked impatiently "Any way as I was saying I would love to have stayed longer but work commitments and all, that's why I've had to work so late every night" she sighed as though she were hard done by "lack of time you know and so much to fit in, I certainly underestimated how long it would take to film this little part" she reminisced pointedly eyeballing Emma again as though the extra hours were all her fault, Emma had needed to exercise all her self-restraint to stop herself from less than politely reminding Cora that it was her and her many unreasonable demands and expectations that were the cause of the many delays, late nights and extra strain on staff and cast alike.
Her final day working with Cora came as both a great relief and a worry for Emma because it meant that, that night Regina would be outing them to her mother.
"Maybe we should just not tell her" Emma said shifting from one foot to the other casting anxious looks at the silent elevator "It's not too late to back out you know"
"You want to back out" Regina replied eyebrow raised in an accusatory way,
"Not like that" Emma gasped appalled look turning to slight irritation when Regina started to laugh,
"This isn't funny Regina" Emma berated "I mean it, I could just leave, hang out in my room downstairs, chill in front of the tv and order some room service while you entertain Lucifer, uh I mean your lovely mother" she amended as Regina's laughter grew "all by yourself just like she wanted, without telling her about us and then you can message me once the she demon has left the building and then I can come back up with both my life and limbs intact, what do you say?" she asked overly brightly,
"I say it's too late because the lift is already on its way up to this floor" Regina replied nodding towards the elevator which was indeed lit up to indicate that someone was on their way up "and even if it wasn't, I'm going to have to tell her at some point if we're serious about being together and I really would rather she didn't find out from some gossip rag, I'd never live that down so you aren't getting out of this Emma Swan"
"Fine" Emma sulked kicking at the ground like a petulant child, making Regina laugh again then the lift pinged, and they both looked up to watch the doors open rooted to their spots,
"Regina darling" Cora rolled out her usual greeting for her daughter as though she were reciting it from a script stepping out of the elevator open armed to receive her only to be pulled up short arms dropping back to her side when she suddenly spotted Emma standing nearby,
"Don't miss the lift dear" she said catching the doors before they closed eyes narrowed in Emma's direction a though daring her to contradict her observation that Emma must be on her way out,
"Actually, mother I've invited Emma to dinner too" Regina supplied,
"What!" Cora gasped looking appalled "But what about our plans darling" she implored letting go of the lift door and stepping closer to Regina "this was supposed to be our dinner together without the riff raff remember" she pressed
"Those were your plans mother and how many times do I have to tell not to call Emma that" Regina snapped
"Oh, you know what I mean darling" Cora casually waved her off "Now about this little arrangement it really doesn't suit me at all, indulge your mother and send the Swan girl away" she demanded,
"I will do no such thing" Regina retorted "she's staying and we're going to have a lovely dinner and that's the end of that" she emphasised the finality of her words by spinning on her heel and heading towards the dining area settling at the table and immersing herself in her menu, Cora threw Emma a disdainful look then hurried after her,
"Come Regina be reasonable" Cora continued as she sat down just ahead of Emma
"I am being reasonable" Regina sounded exasperated "and you mother are being very rude now pick up your menu and choose something before I do It for you" she sighed
"I must say I'm very disappointed Regina, you didn't used to so disrespectful" she sniffed to emphasise her disapproval as she picked up her own menu and pretended to glance over it "but this is what hanging around with the riff raff will do to you I guess, still you can't say that I didn't warn you" she sneered,
"ENOUGH!" Regina hollered slamming her menu down onto the table startling, Emma, and Cora who both visibly jumped at the sudden loud noise eyes flying up from their menus and fixing themselves onto the furious brunette,
"It's okay Regina" Emma whispered
"No, it's not" Regina replied at the same time as Cora snapped,
"Who asked you"
"Enough of this nonsense" Regina seethed staring her mother straight in the eye her own dark eyes flashing dangerously, "I wanted to do this over a nice civil dinner but as usual you force my hand" Regina spoke evenly but her eyes continued to betray the anger that she felt inside, "I invited you here because Emma and I wanted to tell you about our relationship in person"
"Your what" Cora laughed as though Regina had just told her the funniest joke that she'd ever heard, "You can't be serious" she spluttered
"Oh, but I am serious mother" Regina suddenly sounded as dangerous as she looked and even made Emma shudder "I love Emma mother, and she loves me and you're just going to have to learn to live with it or don't it makes no odds to me because we'll still love each other and be together either way" Regina declared adamantly,
"Oh come on now" Cora replied all traces of humour vanishing from her eyes leaving stone cold bottomless pits in its place "I've been tolerant of this silly little friendship of yours, but love" Cora laughed harshly, shaking her head "Look at her Regina she's a nothing a nobody pining over a movie star that she can never hope to be good enough for, it's just a silly fling, it won't last and when it doesn't you'll get over it, there's a million fan girls like her out there and there's certainly nothing special about this one"
"As per usual you aren't listening to me mother" Regina replied "I am in love with Emma, this isn't a fling, a quickie or a one night stand, it's real, it's true and if you can't handle it then you know where the door is, don't let it hit you on the way out but Emma and I we will be together and you'll just have to lump it" she finished with a determined nod,
"Well I never" Cora fumed rising to her feet "you" she accused turning on Emma "You've done this, you've corrupted my little girl, dragged her down to your level, but you mark my words you won't last, she'll see the light and you'll be nothing more than a bad memory, I'm just glad that your father isn't alive to see you behaving like this, he'd be so disappointed in you Regina" Cora said eyes wide with mock sadness returning their focus to her daughter,
"And the Oscar goes to Cora Mills" Regina replied rising to her feet to clap "and actually" she said leaning forward with a menacing look on her face, her fingers pressing into the table top "I think that father would be rather proud if he could see me now" she smirked triumphantly and returned to her seat casually picking her menu back up as Cora hmphed turned on her heel and stalked out of the room calling the lift as soon as she reached it and hammering the button that would take her to the ground floor.
"That woman" Regina thundered once it was clear that she had gone, she threw her menu down again though this time minus the slamming of the hands immediately following it,
"Don't let her get to you" Emma soothed "You did good, you stood up to her, your right your father would be proud of you, no scratch that he is proud of you, somewhere he's looking down on you feeling super proud and so am I" she grinned
"You really think so" Regina whispered with a strange look in her eye,
"I know so" Emma replied reaching to squeeze her hand "now what do you say we ordered some food I'm famished" she said a loud rumbling sound from her stomach agreed with her and Regina burst out laughing.