Regina waits with bated breath. It has only been five minutes, but she is anxious. She wants that girl's cell phone to ring already. She is about to start pacing the room when a familiar tune sounds. It was the same song she'd listened to the day before with Emma sitting across from her. She smiles warmly at the memory before pulling her attention back to the present.
"Hey, Elsa."
"Yeah? Smart! Yeah, we'll be there in 20 minutes."
Regina's eyes light up with hope. The girl said we'll!
"Alright Professor Mills. If you'll follow me, I'll take you to Emma."
Regina snatches up the things she needs and practically runs ahead of Anna. She can't get to Emma fast enough.
"I'm parked just across the street. It's the purple mini cooper."
"Alright, give me just a moment, I'll get my Benz from the faculty lot, and we can be off."
Regina runs to her car. She flings her belongings in the back, fastens her seat belt, and pulls out onto the street behind Anna. When Anna's car starts moving Regina makes sure there is enough room for Anna to breathe but not enough for anyone to get between them, though the drive is taking forever. Regina is nervous but excited. She is wary but hopeful. And as Anna stated, in about 20 minutes she is pulling up to an apartment building across town.
Regina gets out of her car and waits on the sidewalk for Anna to join her.
"Alright, we're going to the third floor. Apartment A."
The two walk into the building together and wait for an elevator. Regina would have run up the stairs, but she doesn't want to make Anna suspicious or trip on her heels. When they finally reach the third floor, she scans the hallway for apartment A. There it is, just to her left. She allows Anna to walk ahead of her and open the door.
"Elsa! I'm home!"
."Hey guys." The two women are greeted by Elsa.
Regina takes in her surroundings. The walls are a pale periwinkle with shelves lining the top, an array of toys and stuffed animals spread on them. The walls have posters scattered around them of varying cartoons and animated movies. She smiles softly to herself and thinks "One day, I'll have a room like this in my own house."
"Would you like something to drink?" Elsa pulls Regina from her musings.
"Coffee?"
"Sure thing!" Elsa offers her a bright smile.
Regina can't figure out why she is being so nice if this is the woman Emma came home to so distraught last night. Perhaps Emma wasn't as upset as she thought. But then, why wouldn't she show up to class today?
"Hi." A small voice sounds from a door at the northeast side of the apartment.
Regina's gaze shifts, locking her chocolate eyes upon those beautiful jade orbs she loves getting lost in.
"Hi." Regina offers back with a small smile.
"Emma, would you like some coffee?" Elsa asks.
Emma shakes her head. "Can I … have …" she has to concentrate to keep her words big, "some hot chocolate please?"
"Of course." Elsa beams at her.
Regina watches the exchange. Something is different about the blonde. It isn't bad, in fact, it makes Regina want her even more than she already does, but it also makes her want to protect her. In that moment there is nothing more in the world that Regina wants than to wrap her up in her arms and hold her, shielding her from any pain she has ever been subjected to.
Emma motions for Regina to have a seat in the living room. Regina chooses the far end of the couch, hoping the blonde will take the middle seat.
"Can I have some cocoa too?" Anna asks.
"Of course!" Elsa says as she looks up from the beverages she is preparing to gauge what is happening in the living room. Emma sits in the middle of the couch, keeping a decent distance from Regina, but not the complete other end.
Elsa brings a plain white mug of coffee and sits it on the table in front of Regina, and in front of Emma, she places a Pinkie Pie mug of hot chocolate, whipped cream and cinnamon to top it. Emma looks up at Elsa with wide eyes. Elsa winks at her and whispers so quietly Emma almost can't hear her, "Trust me." and takes the seat on the other side of Emma.
Anna sits in the armchair just to the side of the couch after grabbing her mug of cocoa from Elsa.
"You teach creative writing Professor Mills?" Elsa decides to break the tension.
"Yes, and please call me Regina."
"Alright then, Regina. What made you decide to follow that career path?"
Regina is slightly confused at the line of questioning but decides to go with the flow. It meant she'd get to be in Emma's presence longer after all.
"I grew up in a small town with very closed-minded people. Everything was always the same and I found myself daydreaming a lot when I was a child. When I was old enough to read, I would drink in any book I could get my hands on. When I reached my teenage years, I found that I wanted to try my hand at writing stories that people could escape into and so I took a creative writing class in high school. My teacher said that I had a lot of promise and that if I stuck with it, I could very well be a best-selling author. And so, when I went to college, I majored in English, more specifically the fine art of creative writing. My mother disapproved of my career choice though. She said I was living with my head in the clouds and needed to pursue a real career. If I couldn't write, then I decided I would like to teach the next generation how to expand their minds and their horizons."
Elsa nods. She has been watching Emma as Regina talks, the girl's eyes locked on the woman like she might disappear at any moment. Elsa's heart breaks a little bit. She sensed something in Regina when the woman walked through the door, and she prays to anyone who will listen that she is right, because if she isn't, it's going to be a long night and an even longer semester for Emma.
"Thank you for sharing that story with me, Regina. Anna and I will leave you two alone to talk." She kisses the top of Emma's head when she's standing. "If you need me, I will be right here. Just yell." She takes Anna's hand and leads the girl to their room and closes the door, leaving it open a crack in case Emma yells.
Emma looks back at the brunette in front of her. "Hi," she says again. She looks shy and oh so small. She picks up her mug and takes a tentative sip, and when she puts the mug down has whipped cream on her nose. Regina chuckles softly.
"You have some …" she cautiously lifts her hand to the girl's nose and wipes the whipped cream from it.
"Oh. Thanks." Emma blushes. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to speak to you about last night."
Emma tenses. She isn't sure if she can handle this yet, but she is home, and safe with Elsa and Anna, so this is the ideal scenario.
"Emma," Regina's voice is gentle, "did I upset you?"
The blonde looks down. "No."
"Did I hurt you in some way?"
"No."
"Then can you tell me what happened? Why did you run off like that? Why didn't you show up for class today?"
Emma winces. She doesn't know what to tell her professor. She can't tell her the truth, but she isn't sure she can lie either.
"I'm sorry Professor Mills …"
"Please, call me Regina. We aren't in class."
Emma nods. "Okay … Regina." she swallows hard. "I can't really explain what happened. I wish I could."
"Emma, if I did something wrong, I would appreciate it if you would tell me."
"You didn't do anything wrong. It was … it's just. The problem …" the blonde sighs frustrated with herself.
Regina can see the turmoil in those jade eyes, but she can't make anything of it. She sits silently, unsure what to do or say. She decides it will be better to take a chance than regret her inaction later, and so she reaches over and gently takes Emma's hand into her own. Emma gasps softly, but noticeably enough for Regina to catch.
"Take your time. I'm in no hurry."
"I … I can't tell you." Emma's eyes fill with tears that immediately spill over her lids and saturate her cheeks in a hot cascade.
"Oh, Emma." Regina isn't sure what to do. She wants nothing more than to hold the girl in her arms and tell her that everything will be fine, but is that the right thing to do? She looks up when she sees movement across the way. There stands Elsa watching the scene, a sad smile on her face. Regina looks at her, questioning with her eyes.
Elsa shrugs. She doesn't know the right move any more than the brunette does.
"Emma I'm sorry I kissed you and …" but before she can finish her sentence Regina's heart is shattered by the most desperate cry she has ever heard and the words that follow knock the breath from her lungs.
"Elllsssaaaaa. I told you she wouldn't want me!"
Elsa runs over taking Emma into her arms. "Baby, she wasn't done …"
"No one wants me!"
Elsa tries again. "Listen to her Em …."
"I'm never gonna find a Mommy like Chrissy did!"
Regina snaps her head up at these words. Had she just heard her correctly?
"Baby, listen …" suddenly the blonde is wrenched from her arms. Elsa sits in shock. "What the …"
Regina looks at the lighter blonde, pleading with her eyes. Elsa nods and sits back.
"Emma," Regina begins softly, as she holds the girl to her chest, "what did you just say?"
"I said …" Emma stops cold. Her tears stop momentarily. She looks up with horror written on her face. She scrambles to her feet and sprints to her room slamming the door behind her.
Regina looks at Elsa. "What do I do?"
"Give me a moment, please. I … I think I might have a way to fix this, but regardless of what you decide after this, you have to promise me that the information you gain stays here."
"I promise." the brunette nods solemnly.
Elsa narrows her eyes at the woman but sees nothing but concern and pain.
Elsa gets up and goes to Emma's room knocking on the door. "Emma honey, it's Auntie Elsa."
"Is ... is she gone?"
"No baby, she's not gone. Remember what we talked about yesterday?"
"Yeah." the response is almost whisper quiet.
"Do you want to try it?"
After a minute the door opens but all that appears is a hand and a small book.
"Do you want Auntie Elsa to give it to her?"
"Uh-huh."
"Okay baby. I'll let you know when she's done reading, or when she's left, whichever the case may be."
Elsa walks back over to the couch and hands the book to Regina.
"I'm going to go back to my room to give you some privacy. Please read that. It's only a little over 100 pages long, but it will give you some insight into what is happening around you."
Regina takes the book, never breaking eye contact with Elsa. "Thank you." She says, her eyes misting a bit.
"Don't thank me just yet."
Elsa calls for Anna who walks to the doorway of their shared bedroom.
"Anna, can you go sit with Emma? Turn on ponies for her on the laptop and make sure she's okay."
Anna nods and heads for Emma's room while Elsa heads to her own.
Alone on the couch, Regina turns her attention to the book. The cover is all gray save for the author's name in red, a cup of coffee with a panda in the milk foam art and the word 'Mommy' in a rainbow. She reads the title and author aloud to herself. "How I Met My Mommy" by Calliope St. James. The covers of the book have an almost satin feel to them. It is a nice texture that would be good for anyone with sensory issues. She has a feeling she already knows what this book contains, but she is going to read it. Emma is sharing this with her, and she will not let her down.
An hour has passed when Regina finally sets the book down. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before standing from the couch to head to Elsa's bedroom. She knocks softly as the door is cracked but waits for a reply. "You can come in."
"So, Emma's …" the question fades on her lips.
Elsa nods, trying to gauge Regina's expression. "She is. There is one more thing I want you to read if you aren't about to run for the front door."
"Not at all. I am more than happy to read anything."
Elsa gets up and goes to her dresser taking out a photocopy of Maria's letter to Chrissy. She keeps one in her purse as well in case the girl ever needs something to give her hope no matter where she is. "I probably shouldn't be offering you this, but I've never seen her this … let's say 'taken', with someone before."
Regina takes the papers and reads over them slowly, carefully. When she's finished, she looks up and hands them back to Elsa.
"Well?" Elsa asks.
"Well," Regina lets out a deep breath, "do you happen to have some paper and a pen I can use?"
Elsa smiles warmly at the brunette. "In the kitchen, middle drawer of the island."
Regina leaves the room to retrieve the objects and sits back down on the couch to pen her letter.
My dearest Emma,
I know that you are scared. To tell you the truth, so am I. I read the book that Elsa handed me, and I liked it a lot. I understand your hesitation and guards and I won't ask anything of you.
In exchange for the knowledge you have given me I want to share something with you. I know what an MD/lg relationship is. I have been searching for a special 'little' girl of my own for quite a long time.
When you first walked into my classroom, I was attracted to you, but I never intended to act on it. There was something about you that kept a hold of me though. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but I wanted to be close to you. Then, last night when you left in such a hurry, I thought I probably lost you for good. When I saw the way Elsa treated you when I came into your apartment a couple of hours ago I still couldn't understand what was happening right in front of me, but it made me feel warm and I wanted you even more.
This letter won't be nearly as long or as pretty as Maria's but know this, sweet Emma, I am a Mommy, and I do want you and I would love nothing more than to get to know you and maybe one day to be YOUR Mommy.
Regina wants to say so much more, but she wants the letter in the blonde's hands faster. She needs her to know that she does want her. With a deep breath, she walks over to Emma's door and knocks before sliding her letter underneath it. Then she walks back over to sit on the couch and give Emma time to read and process. As much time as she needs.
Elsa comes out of her room when she hears the knock on Emma's door. She watches as Regina retires to the couch and walks over to join her.
"Are you hungry?" Elsa asks.
"I wouldn't want to impose."
"Not at all. I'll make some sandwiches."
Elsa goes to the kitchen and gathers the sandwich ingredients. She is working on making the fourth when the blonde's bedroom door shoots open. "Auntie Elsa! Auntie Elsa! Did you read?"
Elsa looks at her slightly shocked. "She wants me! She's a Mommy and she. wants. me!" Emma throws her arms around the lighter blonde's neck.
Elsa giggles and hugs the little one tight as she whispers, "I think you're hugging the wrong person." Emma pulls back looking at her in confusion when she sees Regina walking over to her out of the corner of her eye.
Regina smiles softly at the little girl and opens her arms. Emma runs into them with a smile that could rival the sun.
"Did you really mean it?"
"Yes, baby, I really mean it."
They were nose to nose now, their breath mingling.
"You want me?" A tear of joy trails down her cheek.
"If you'll have me, little one."
"But I's broken."
"Then I'll put all your pieces back together again," Regina says, the promise evident in her tone.
Emma doesn't hesitate this time as she presses her lips to the brunettes. Regina sighs into the kiss holding the blonde tightly to her. She lets her tongue dance over Emma's bottom lip hoping to be granted permission and she is not disappointed as Emma grants her request immediately. The once soft and sweet kiss is quickly turning into something passionate.
"Ahem." Elsa clears her throat, smiling at the pair. "As happy as I am for you two, I know at least two little girls in this house need food."
Anna who has been standing at Emma's door laughs when right on cue, Emma's stomach growls.
"I guess I am a little hungry." She giggles.
They each take a plate and go to sit on the couch again, eating in companionable silence.
"Now then," Regina speaks first, "after tutoring tomorrow, assuming you still want to do it, I would like to take you out to eat. A casual dinner date to talk about limits and boundaries."
Emma looks to Elsa for a brief moment, the lighter blonde nodding her head with a smile on her face.
"I would love that!" Emma gives Regina that toothy grin she loves so much.
"Then it's a date." Regina returns the enthusiasm of the blonde's smile. "For now, I have to get home and start grading these papers."
She pulls out a piece of paper with Emma's assignment written on it. "And you have to get started on your next assignment. It should be no shorter than four pages. I want you to write about a land with magic, and what you think life would be like there."
She cups Emma's cheek and gives her a sweet kiss before she stands up and addresses Elsa.
"Thank you. For everything."
"NOW you can thank me," she smiles, "and it was my pleasure."
Regina slowly makes her way to the door. "I will see you tomorrow my love?"
"Can I come early to have lunch wif you?"
"Of course, my darling. Can I have a packet of Italian dressing with my salad this time please?"
"Anything for you Mommy."
Regina makes her way back to the blonde taking her into her arms and holding her tight. "Say it again."
Emma laughs as Regina twirls her around. "Mommy, you so silly."
Regina stops and loosens her grip on the blonde. That word, from those lips, is the sweetest song she's ever heard, and she will do everything in her power to hear it always. With a contented sigh, she makes her way back to the door, actually opening it this time.
"Until tomorrow then, my love." She gently closes the door behind her and starts toward the elevator. Regina feels like she is walking on a cloud. She isn't going to let this slip through her fingers. Emma is different and she knows just as she would never hurt Emma, Emma would never hurt her either. And as she drives away from the apartment building, she wonders how she is going to manage until lunchtime tomorrow.