A/N: I finished up this chapter last night at 3am, so I went to bed right after. But, here it is now and I do hope you all like it. Thank you so much for the endless support you have shown me throughout my writing. Happy reading! :) On quick exciting news, my story A Girlfriend for Christmas has made it to a Russian fanfiction page! Thank you for who contacted me and making this possible. I am extremely honored.
The ambient was perfect, the sky was a dark blue crisp color. The crowd was well organized, some danced on top of a swimming pool that had been covered up with a glass floor. The blue light coming from within the pool illuminated everyone that danced freely on top of it. It was a private gathering, it seemed. And quite the night Regina needed.
She was never one to drink too much, but after the day she had, having to hold her tongue and her jealousy inside the pit of her stomach, watching another woman make eyes at the woman she loved and was with, constantly flirting with her as if she weren't there at all. She needed those drinks.
The brunette wasn't going to deny being overcome with a sense of satisfaction and sassiness after her little talk with Lily about boundaries regarding her girlfriend. She really did hate confrontations, but enough was enough for the day. Even if the courage for it came from the intoxication that ran through her veins at the moment.
Emma, on the other hand, was delighted at the sight. Especially when she had never seen her slightly buzzed before. Signs of her slight intoxication lingering in the way Regina's hands would run their way across her back as they danced. The movements in her body, how close to her she was being held and kept in place. That sly grin she would get to her, knowing perfectly well the effect her movements had on her.
Yes, they loved dancing together.
If Emma was being honest, it was one of her favorite activities to do with Regina.
"You said all that?" Her brow raised, impressed by the brunette's sudden take of charge with Lily.
"She had it coming. She's been all over you, practically pretending as if I'm not even here." Regina's features were displeased and filled with jealousy. "Besides, it's true." Her arms snaked around Emma's shoulders, her hands finding the familiar feel of her soft golden locks as she whispered, "I don't share well with others. It's never been my style."
The princess' grin grew, her hands finding their place against the brunette's perfectly slender waist, "You, Ms. Mills…"
"Mhm." Regina hummed, sporting her own grin. And that look in her eye that Emma found inviting.
"Are truly… an amazing woman." Her grin grew, "A little intoxicated, but amazing all the same."
Regina's brow raised, "Why, your majesty… coming onto me while under the influence of alcohol? That really isn't your style now, is it?" She asked her.
"Can you blame me?" Emma answered with a question of her own, "I mean, here you are, in my arms…"
"Mhm."
"Dancing and looking incredibly breathtaking."
Regina chuckled, "Mhm." She hummed, encouraging her to continue.
"Not to mention that hint of jealousy in your eyes, along with lust and longing for me."
"Lust and longing for you? Really?" Her brows hit her hairline, "Oh, that's just the alcohol. I can assure you."
Emma smirked, "Well, then, Ms. Mills…" Her hands traveled south, slowly cupping her perfectly round ass, while she pulled her in place just as the music changed from a slow dance to something more sensual and intimate as the beat to Senorita played out. The vibrations of the song radiating below their feet. "We must certainly intoxicate you more often. I could get used to this possessive side of yours."
Regina's own smirk grew, her nostrils picking up Emma's rich and intoxicating perfume, which caused her to feel a sense of arousal run right through her veins, finishing in her most intimate of areas. Was it their sensual dancing, the lyrics and voices of both artists singing to the beat of the music, or that look in the blonde's eyes, along with the feel of her hands cupping and squeezing at her behind? Or how incredibly sexy Emma looked right now. She always looked sexy to her, but right now, in this moment, she looked especially sexy, with the first three buttons undone on her shirt, her trusty, old red leather jacket and tight jeans.
"Good choice, Ms. Swan. Because I can become very possessive of the things I love the most." Regina purred, enjoying the close proximity the blonde was providing her with. Her nails raking across her back, caressing the cotton fabric of the blonde's shirt.
Brown eyes looked over to Lily, who's eyes were focused on them both, before locking on their favorite pair of green ones for the remainder of the dance.
"I think your friend Lily, would gladly murder me just to be the one dancing like this with you."
Emma smirked, loving the way Regina was marking her territory, because that's exactly what she was doing. And she was okay with that. More than okay. Without a doubt, Emma would gladly slave over this amazing woman she was lucky to call hers. She would lay the world at her feet, reach for the moon and the stars, if she asked her too.
"I don't know whether to bow at your feet, or kiss you right now." She said, which caused a light chuckle to escape the brunette's throat.
"Why not both?" Regina purred once again, her lips parting and coming in contact with Emma's soft, thin ones, meeting and dancing away in a kiss so soft, so slow and filled with the most undying passion, it made the world jealous.
As the music picked up with the song Promiscuous, Ruby placed Henry down from her arms, after having danced with him. Her eyes now focused on Graham, who sat calmly at their table, taking a drink of his sparkling water.
The slimmer brunette held out a hand before him, "Come on, Graham cracker. Let's see what you got."
Graham's eyes grew wide, a quiet cough erupting from his chest. He placed the crystal glass down on the coaster of the table before shaking his head at her, "Oh, no. I don't dance."
Ruby threw a glare his way, her hands on her hips, "That's not what Emma said."
"What didn't I say?" The blonde asked, nearing the table to take a sip from her glass.
"Mr. Party Pooper here says he doesn't dance." Replied Ruby.
Emma glanced his way, her lips parted in surprise, "You most certainly do and he is quite good."
"I'm here to do my job, your majesty. With all due respect." His eyes found Emma's, practically begging her to not make him dance. A message the princess picked up on.
"Maybe we should get a refill on those drinks." Lily stood from the table, taking her glass with her as she headed towards the bar.
Regina glanced at Ruby, "That's a good idea. Would you like another drink?" She asked Emma, who smiled sweetly at her.
"Please. Thank you."
"Come on, Rubes. Henry." Regina headed towards the bar with a disappointed Ruby and a happy Henry.
Emma joined Graham at the table, "Graham."
"Your majesty?"
"All titles aside, speaking to you not as a ruler, but a friend. May I give you some advice?"
He gave her a nod, patiently waiting for her piece of advice.
"As your friend, you know I also have your back, don't you?" She asked him.
"Always. As I have yours." He replied.
The corner of her lip twitched up into a tiny smirk, "You're a good man, Graham. And every good man deserves a good woman. I appreciate the respect you've always shown me and my family. But, I promise you, you won't be overstepping any boundaries if you took a chance with Ruby." She smiled, seeing the man's features slightly light up, "I know you like her, she has a certain pull to her that just makes you…"
"Feel a little on edge." He finished her sentence for her, to which the princess chuckled to.
"She's just her own person." She said.
"A little too much, I'd say." His eyes watched the brunette from afar, staring right back at him from the bar area, "Besides, she's going out with Killian. I can't get involved in that."
Emma released a small laugh, "Come on, Graham. She's only going out with him to make you jealous."
He chuckled, "I highly doubt that, Emma."
Graham never called the princess by her name, not in front of anyone, at least. It was in rarity when he dared to, which tonight would make it his second time in doing so. And even though she did not mind it one bit, to Graham it felt weird and still new. But to Emma, growing up together with him, and playing around the Swan estate for what felt like all their lives, had earned him that right.
"Ruby really likes you, and for as long as I've known her, I can tell you- I have never seen her this crazy over anyone before." Her eyes met his as his head turned to look her way, "Trust me on this one." Her hand clapped at the man's shoulder, "Don't pass up a good thing. That's my advice to you as a friend."
A new song began playing out through the outdoor party, when Emma stood from her seat to grab her drink from Regina's hands as they all returned from the bar.
"Well…" Ruby's head turned to look at Lily, "Lily, would you fancy a dance?" She asked her, not wanting to waste anymore time waiting around for Graham's attention.
Lily's head turned towards Emma and Regina, who were sitting back down at their table. The blonde's arms wrapped around the older woman's waist, while she rested right on her lap. "Sure. Why not?" She shrugged, taking Ruby's hand as they headed towards the dance floor.
"Mom, can we dance now?" Henry asked, causing the brunette's lips to split into a smile.
"Of course we can." She took her son's hand, taking him towards the dance floor as she stood from Emma's lap.
Graham's eyes were trained on Ruby the entire time. He sat there, quietly observing her body movements. She really was an excellent dancer. Even Lily was complimenting her on that, given the looks she was throwing her way. Ruby certainly had a way with people to make everyone like her.
It was then, he finished up the remainder of his sparkling water before standing to his feet, "Excuse me, your majesty." He nodded at Emma, moving his way towards the dance floor and up to Ruby. His stomach a bundle of nerves, like a thousand butterflies flapped uncontrollably without any indication of stopping.
"Mind if I cut in for a minute?" He asked Lily, even though his eyes were focused only on Ruby.
"Not at all." Replied Lily, walking away from the pair, making her way back towards Emma, who now sat alone.
"May I?" He asked her, holding out his arms towards a shocked Ruby.
It wasn't enough to say that she was taken by surprise, something no one could ever manage to do.
Graham froze, feeling Ruby's hands slide inside his suit jacket, slipping it right off his shoulders and arms. He was too frozen, he didn't care that she just dropped it, allowing it to pool on the floor right behind him.
"Think you can keep up?" She asked him, brow raised.
No words were said from him. Graham just grabbed a hold of the slim brunette, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her hard into his frame, his feet instantly moving to the beat of Only Girl (In The World).
A smile spread across Ruby's lips, that it hurt her cheeks. A smile that grew along with Graham's.
It was then, Ruby realized that with looks, moves and a smile like his. She could dare to fall in love with this man. Another first for anyone to accomplish from her.
"She dances very well." Lily commented, her eyes focused on Ruby and Graham as they kept up their dancing. "Both of them could go into a competition and I'm sure they'd win."
Emma chuckled, her eyes trained on Lily next, "Thank you for today, Lily. We needed this."
"It's no problem." She paused, "I'd ask you to dance, but… I think that's off limits now."
Emma smiled, holding out a hand before her.
Lily's eyes looked down at the blonde's offered hand, looking back up at her, "Won't Regina be mad?" She had to ask, a tiny smirk tugging at her lips.
"Not if we join her and Henry." She smiled, standing from her seat, her hand still stretched out towards the brunette.
Lily chuckled, taking the offered hand and heading to the dance floor.
Once they arrived back home, it was just in time for dinner. A dinner to which Ruby would miss out on account of Graham asking her to take a stroll with him under the night's sky, to which she quickly agreed to.
"Don't do anything, I wouldn't do, red." Regina whispered, a smirk to her.
"I can't make any promises." Ruby winked in response, watching as Lily, Regina and Emma, carrying a passed out Henry in her arms, entered the home. Her eyes trained on Graham once again after they were left alone. "So… where will we be going this fine night, Mr. Grey?" She asked him. Silently drinking in the man's fine appearance as he left his jacket off, wearing only a white buttoned up shirt that was still tucked inside his light gray pants. A gray tie to match, which its knot had been slightly loosened from around his neck, giving it a chance to breathe.
"Mr. Grey?" He chuckled at the new nickname given to him.
"You have a certain… dangerous masculine appeal to you. Like Christian Grey. You know, he has a certain look in his eyes, you don't know whether he is mad or wants to fuck your brains out." She paused, observing the way the man's head cocked to one side. His eyes suddenly growing a dark shade of green around them. A gesture that made her weak at the knees. "Very much like that."
"Well, why don't we take that stroll first and we shall see what more comes out of it?" He suggested, holding out his hand to her, which Ruby quickly took without any ounce of hesitation. Allowing him to lead her into the quiet night.
Mal's eyes glanced over at the brunette, a smile tugging at her lips. Her hand reached for her glass of wine of the evening, while her eyes glanced down at the very noticeable and unique engagement ring.
"That's a very beautiful ring. Very unique, I'd say." She commented, to which Mary Margaret's eyes glanced down to, slightly shifting with discomfort in her seat. "Did you have it made, Emma?" She asked the princess.
"I did." She smiled, reaching for Regina's hand. A gesture Lily took notice in.
"That's very romantic of you."
"Why the family crest?" Mary Margaret finally asked, holding onto her fork with a cut up piece of food, "People are going to think you are serious about your engagement."
Emma's jaw tensed, her eyes glaring at her mother's direction, "I am serious, mother. And, it so happens that Regina is my family, therefore she deserves to wear it proudly without any judgement from you."
"Who's judging? I am simply stating a fact."
David cleared his throat, his eyes finding Regina's, a warm smile to him, "I wonder, where is Ruby?" He asked. "Did she not wish to eat tonight?"
"Oh, she and Graham were all over each other tonight," Lily chuckled, answering David's question, "I think they are on a date."
His brows shot up in surprise, "A date? Ruby and Graham?"
Mal shared a knowing look with the queen, Mary Margaret's head soon turned to her husband, "Why must it concern you as to what Graham does or doesn't do?"
"I am simply asking a question." He glared back, "Graham hasn't been on a date in…" He thought about it for a moment, not remembering when was the last time, if any, that Graham dated anyone.
Mal chuckled, "I see a lot has changed around here, your highness." Her eyes focused on Regina's, "Oh, I do apologize, dear, I hope I don't step out of line by saying, your friend is quite the… free spirited one. I never imagined him going for such in anyone. Especially when the queen mentions to me that she has also captured Killian's interest."
"I can assure you, Ruby isn't what you think." Regina replied, "She really likes Graham, and I can tell he likes her."
"Regina's right, mother." Lily agreed, which shocked Regina. "I was able to know her well myself tonight and she certainly would be quite the catch for Graham. Or anyone for that matter."
"To each its own." Mal shrugged, brushing aside her daughter's words.
"I couldn't agree more with you." David spoke, a smile to him, his head replaying the memory of the night he spent with Ruby, "She certainly would make any man lucky."
"If you ask me," Mary Margaret glared his way, her words cold, "I think you find yourself a little too fascinated with her yourself, David."
"Mother." Emma cut in, going ignored.
David glared, his jaw tightening, "For your sake, I hope you aren't insinuating anything ridiculous."
The queen's brow raised, "Insinuating?"
"Alright, let's not do this right now." Emma wiped at her mouth with her napkin, nervously shifting in her seat.
"No, let her finish, Emma." Regina spoke next, her eyes glaring the way of the queen's direction, "Your highness, please. Say what you feel the need to say."
"Regina, don't-"
"No." Regina glared at Emma, "She is about to speak badly about my friend, and that I can't allow."
"Allow?" The queen's brow raised, a chuckle escaping her, "You wear that engagement ring on your finger, and already you think you have some power over this household?"
"That's enough, Mary Margaret." David muttered.
There was a crease in Regina's forehead, anger displaying in her features, "I don't think I have power over anything, but I do think I know Ruby a little better than you do, your highness. And, sure, Ruby may come off highly flirtatious around everyone, but that's just who she is. And I for one, love that about her. One of the things I find irreplaceable about her is her ability to be loyal and hard working. And she has worked her entire damn life to make an honest living for herself. Now, I may not know Graham much, but with what I do know about him, is that he would be very lucky to have a woman like my best friend. I happen to think he is good for her."
"Good for her?" Her chin raised, "Is that the pep talk you gave yourself when you divorced your boy's father?" She continued, even through Regina's angry glare, "Such a great example you are allowing your son to have, from someone who will sleep around with anyone and a mother who was once married to a man but is now with a woman who is way out of her reach."
"Mary Margaret!" David shouted.
"That's enough!" Emma stood from the table, seething with rage, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You will mind your tone when you speak to me, Emma!" The queen shouted, "I am still your mother."
"I honestly wish you weren't right now." Emma hissed.
"What did you say to me?" She stood from the table, her jaw dropping to the floor.
"Emma." Regina held onto the blonde's forearm, in an attempt to calm her down.
"I think you heard me."
"Why, I have never been treated with such disrespect!"
The vein in Emma's forehead popped out, displaying her anger, "What do you call what you just said to the woman I intend to marry? Who are you to disrespect her or Ruby like that? It's a disrespect to me, mother and I will not allow you to say another word about them in my presence, is that understood?"
"Emma, enough." Regina spoke, "There's obviously no getting through to her."
"Apologize, Mary Margaret." David glared.
"I will do no such thing, David." Her reply was appalled, "You are blind if you can't see how much this whole moving to New York has changed our daughter, and she doesn't even care to realize it herself."
"With all due respect, but I think it's you who has changed." Said Regina, "At least Emma went for what makes her happy and that is enough for her."
The queen chuckled, "My dear. Do you honestly think you are enough?" Her head shook once, "You will never be enough."
Emma was about to say something else, but Regina placed a single hand on her arm, preventing her from speaking anymore, "That may be true," Her voice broke a little, as those last words spoken by the queen did sting more than she expected them too. Her brow creasing with not only exhaustion but anger, "You don't want me for your daughter, that much is clear. That's your opinion, and I chose to respect that and take your crap out of love for Emma, because she wants so desperately for me to give you a chance to like me." Her eyes found Emma's before moving back to Mary Margaret's, "When the truth is, you probably never will. Hell, I don't like you much either. But, again, out of respect for Emma, I've been biting my tongue ever since I set foot through those doors. But, now you chose to not only disrespect me and Ruby, but my son as well. And that simply I can't allow."
"You'd do well to choose your next words carefully, dear." Said the queen, "A threat might be the last thing you ever do."
"Oh, it's not a threat, your majesty. It's more of a fact. You can say whatever you want to me, disrespect me all you want, because in the end you are the one who will lose Emma forever. But, I will promise you this…" Regina slightly leaned against the table, her eyes dark with anger, whatever ounce of buzz she still had was now gone, "Queen or not, if you disrespect my son again… that will be the last mistake you ever make."
The room grew quiet after Regina excused herself and headed up into Emma's bedroom for the remainder of the night. Mary Margaret was left with her jaw to the floor in utter shock, even more after Emma simply walked away and joined the brunette in the bedroom. But what infuriated her more was not that Emma took Regina's side, but the king as well as he stood from the table and began to walk away without so much as a glance in her direction.
"David! Are you really going to allow them to speak to me that way?" She hissed her question at him.
The king turned, throwing his last glare for the night, "You brought it on yourself. Excuse me."
"Unbelievable," he queen scoffed, sitting back down in her seat, her eyes moving towards Maleficent and Lily, "Everyone in this house has gone insane."
"It's not your fault, dearie." Mal reached for her hand, patting it gently, "Don't over work yourself. All this will soon pass, you'll see." She chuckled, in which Lily could hear a certain hint of satisfaction within it, "I will say this. It certainly has been one interesting dinner. But," She stood from her seat, "I think Lilith and I will take our leave." She walked up to the queen, placing a quick kiss to her cheek, "We'll see you the night of the ball."
Before the queen knew it, both mother and daughter had left.
