Emma waited for a reply for several minutes. When none came, she buried her face in her pillows, trying to calm her racing thoughts enough to sleep. It was no use, though.

Regina had kissed her.

Regina had kissed her, and then pulled away like she'd been burned.

Emma groaned into the pillow. That was not how she'd wanted their first kiss to go. It had been sweet, it had been thrilling – but Regina hadn't been sober. Hadn't been acting with a clear mind. What if she regretted it in the morning? It sure seemed like she would, given the way she'd jumped away so quickly.

When she finally did get to sleep it was fitful. She was grumpy at work the next day, and even worse, she felt guilty about it, because Aurora and Mulan kept casting knowing little smiles at her, and Belle was practically glowing. Emma was working the morning shift, Belle the evening, and when she blew in around noon it was with the brightest smile on her face and flushed cheeks.

Emma was happy for them, she really was. Ruby hadn't been home when she'd woken up, which meant she'd stayed the entire night at Belle's, and maybe done breakfast, too.

It was sweet, and she was jealous.

She pulled out her phone for the millionth time today, opening her texts and staring at the still-blank message window.

Goodnight, Regina.

There was a little Read 5:28 AM just below her message.

Of course Regina had to be the type to have read receipts on. It would've been easier if Emma could've just pretended her message hadn't gone through. Emma had been able to reason that Regina had probably fallen asleep as soon as she made it home, and then again that she'd probably just been busy with work – but lunch hour had come and gone at this point too, and the reality –

Emma sighed. The reality of it was that Regina just didn't want to talk to her.

"Woah." Emma turned to see Aurora just behind her, brows raised. "That's a hell of a sigh, Emma. You okay?" Emma only shrugged, and Aurora continued, "I kinda figured you'd be in a better mood today. Seemed like you had a pretty good night." Emma didn't reply, and she prompted, "Did something happen?"

For a moment Emma contemplated just shrugging it off, maybe saying that she just hadn't slept well, had a headache, maybe. But there was something in her that curled at the thought, a yearning in the hollow of her chest that said it was nice to have people to confide in, and so she simply nodded and then showed her phone to Aurora.

"Yeah. I mean, no. But yes."

Aurora seemed confused at that, but she took Emma's phone and glanced down at the screen.

"...Oh. Ouch," She said, and Emma's heart sank a little more. "I mean, maybe it's not that bad. Maybe she's just busy."

"She kissed me last night," Emma blurted out, and Aurora's eyes shot up to meet her own.

"That's – Emma! That's good, right?" Emma pursed her lips, and Aurora echoed, much more quietly, "...Right?"

Emma sighed. "She kissed me, and then she jumped away and apologized for it. And then she practically bolted from my car, and hasn't said a thing since. That doesn't sound good, does it?"

"Not really, no," Aurora conceded, and Emma's heart sank. "But maybe she was just embarrassed. She was pretty far gone by the time you guys left."

"Maybe," Emma replied, but there was a sinking feeling in her gut. "I'm just worried I've scared her away somehow." They stood there in silence for a moment, Emma picking the thorns off of their newest shipment of roses and Aurora with a comforting hand pressed to her back. "When's my next delivery for her?"

"Monday," Aurora replied. "It's a single delivery week." She frowned, handing Emma's phone back to her. "...I can scale it back on the romance factor, if you want? She gives me creative control. I can do whatever you – I – want."

Emma's heart was like a rock in her stomach at this point. That was exactly the opposite of what she wanted – everything inside her was screaming to go the opposite direction, hell, show up at the woman's doorstep with a dozen red roses. But, of course, that was stalker behavior, and the last thing she wanted to do was frighten her away entirely. No, space was a good idea.

"Probably a good idea."

Emma spent the next several trying not to pout too hard. Each day she'd check her messages for a text, contemplate sending another one, and then close the app out altogether. It was ridiculous, really – she'd only met Regina, what, two weeks ago?

But she couldn't help it. There was just something about her that drew Emma in. And now that she knew what it felt like to kiss her – how soft her lips were, the way she'd sighed into Emma, the way her fingertips skimmed over Emma's cheekbone – she didn't want to just forget it and move on.

Mulan had passed her when she was loading the truck for the day, and had simply nodded, offering, "Good luck."

She was directed up to Regina's office by the same bored receptionist and the same friendly assistant. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until she entered the room.

Regina was already standing, hands wrung together in front of her.

"Hi, Emma."

Emma's heart was already in her throat. She'd tried to calm herself down before she'd come up, tried to prepare herself – but now that Regina was in front of her, it had all flown out the window.

"Hey," Was all she said. It came out quieter than she'd intended, and she shifted the vase down and to her side so that it wasn't obstructing her view of the other woman. She was dressed as impeccably as ever, but the usual commanding presence had been dampened just a bit, and there was a flush on her cheeks.

Regina's eyes dropped wordlessly to the flowers and Emma strode forward, depositing them on their usual table.

"So what's in there this time?" Emma asked. Aurora had tried to tell her before she'd left, but she'd held up a hand, wanting to save it. It had become a game with the two of them, Regina deciphering the meanings with that mischievous glint in her eye, and Emma missed it.

But instead of that glint, this time Regina gave a breathy, nervous laugh, reaching out to take a few of the petals between her fingers. "White carnations, yellow roses, and baby's breath." She skimmed her fingertips over each of the blooms as she identified them. Silence passed between them, and Emma stuffed her hands into her pockets.

"Aren't you going to tell me what they mean? That's our thing now, right?"

Regina finally met her eyes again, an almost shy smile on her lips. "They're…kind." There was the slightest hesitation to her words. "You didn't pick these? Aurora did?"

Emma frowned. "Aurora always picks them. Why, what do they mean?"

Regina paused, worrying her hands together as if deliberating. Eventually she shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Innocence, mostly. Friendship."

Emma felt a pang go through her. This was what she'd asked for, though – Aurora had delivered on her promise to scale back the romance. "Do you like them?" She prompted.

"Of course," Regina replied, though her smile was tight. She dropped her hand from the blooms, making her way over to her desk. "Anyway. I'm sure you've heard by now that we're having a fundraiser."

Emma blinked at the abrupt change of subject. "Yeah, Kathryn mentioned it when she was ordering those flowers. I kinda figured it was yours. You know, once I found out you knew each other."

Regina's cheeks flushed a bit at that, but she nodded. "Good. I wanted to let you know that all of the vendors are welcome to stay for the entirety of the party, and they are welcome to bring a plus one."

"Cool. I'll tell Aurora. I'm sure she'd love to bring her wife."

Regina only offered her a small smile, and then nodded. "Will you...be bringing anyone along? A date, perhaps?"

"Oh," Emma's eyes widened. "I didn't - I'm just a delivery woman. I didn't think -"

"Didn't think I'd invite the woman who's carried every one of those vases into my office, week after week?" She regarded her with one brow raised, and her tone had softened when she spoke again. "Of course you're invited, Emma. And besides that, I…I'd like to think I could call you a friend," She added, eyes sliding behind Emma to focus on the flowers for a heartbeat. "You will be attending, won't you?"

"I… I guess I will." Emma tried not to be too disappointed at the use of the word friend. Maybe the flirting had been just for fun after all. Maybe Emma had read too far into things, maybe Regina was just friendly when she was buzzed –

Regina nodded. "And you'd be welcome to bring a date. That is...if you want to." It was more of a question than a statement, and Emma frowned.

"Is this an everyone will have a date kind of event?"

"I assume." Regina gave a shrug. "...I won't, as of yet. But I suppose most people will."

"Well," She began, heart fluttering. "I'm sure I could ask somebody."

Regina was just staring at her expectantly, and Emma worried at her lower lip. Surely she wasn't asking – no, there was no way. Flirting was one thing, a stolen kiss in a quiet car another – but this…this was Regina's work.

She was the CEO.

Would she really want to show up with a woman on her arm?

Probably not. And even if she did, she definitely wouldn't want it to be a woman like Emma. And then there was the kiss, how quickly she'd jumped back – and Emma's text message app, which still displayed nothing but a forlorn Goodnight, Regina. Regina didn't want…there was no way she would want Emma to just. Invite herself as Regina's date. She'd say no, and then things would be awkward, and Emma would have to choose between skipping the event entirely and hurting her feelings or, worse, spending the entire night at the party gazing at her from afar like some kind of stalker –

And so, she just replied lamely, "I could bring a friend." Except, no she couldn't, because her only friends were from work. Aurora and Mulan were out for obvious reasons, and they'd just introduced Ruby and Belle, so - "I could probably get Ruby to set me up with somebody, at least."

Regina's face fell, ever so slightly. It was only for a moment before she recovered, but still, Emma caught it. "I'm sure she would."

"I'm sure she'd set you up with somebody too, if you asked," Emma joked, attempting to recover. The tension had shot up in the room, and she shifted her feet uncomfortably. "Somebody who cleans up well." Better than I do.

But that barely earned her a cracked smile, and it didn't seem genuine. "I'm sure she would." Regina pressed her lips into a flat line. "But I'm afraid I'll likely be attending solo."

A few moments passed in silence. They felt like minutes, and they had Emma contemplating backpedaling , saying wait, no, I'm sorry. Be my date? Until - mercifully, Emma thought - a knock sounded at the door. Regina's receptionist poked her head in.

"Sorry to interrupt, Miss Mills, but Mr. Gold is outside."

Regina gave an exasperated sigh. "Alright, I'll be right there." She shook her head, smoothing her skirt down as she made for the door. She paused as she neared Emma, meeting her eyes. "Don't go anywhere, Emma. I'll get you your invitation when I come back."

With that she made for the door and ducked out of the office. As soon as it clicked shut behind her, Emma let out a groan.

"Nice going, Swan," She muttered to herself. She wasn't entirely sure what she'd done, but she'd done something to upset the other woman. That much was clear.

"No kidding," A voice came from Regina's sitting area, and she jumped. Henry's head had appeared over the back of the sofa - he'd been laying on it, apparently, invisible from Emma's vantage point. And, apparently, he'd been there for their entire conversation, judging by the pointed and judgemental stare he was currently treating her to. "You're an idiot."

"You scared the hell out of me, kid."

"And you deserve it, too," He replied, and Emma rolled her eyes.

"Why, exactly, is that?"

He shot her the most exasperated look that Emma thought she'd ever seen come from a teenager. "Because, Emma! Did you not get that she wanted you to ask her to the fundraiser just now? She practically begged you!"

Oh.

"Okay, kid, she did not beg me. She didn't even prompt me." Even as she said the words though, they faltered, and she found herself questioning the statement.

Henry put on his best doe-eyed faced and mimicked his mother, "Will you be bringing anyone, Emma? I'll be going alone. Please ask me to the prom, I have such a crush on you."

"Oh, that is not even remotely what she sounds like."

Henry laughed, the innocent face breaking into a grin. "Okay, maybe not. But she did want you to ask her." He paused, and when Emma didn't say anything he added, "Look, Emma. I like you, and so does my mom. Just trust me on this one. Ask her out."

Emma frowned. "If she's so into me, then why…" She shook her head, deciding against relaying the details of their flirting to Regina's kid of all people. "Nevermind. She just hasn't been giving me the clearest of signals, that's all. I think she wants me to back off."

Henry just huffed, as if Emma was the densest person he'd ever had to deal with. "She's embarrassed that she kissed you. Duh."

Emma furrowed her brow. "She told you that?"
Henry wrinkled his nose. "Of course not. Ew. I overheard her talking to Aunt Kat," He explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And, honestly, maybe it was.

Leave it to a teenager to see the obvious.

She blinked. "You're saying that she hasn't texted me back for five whole days because she's embarrassed that she kissed me? Really?"

Henry rolled his eyes, dropping back onto the couch with a thud. "Duh. She thinks she came on too strong. She thinks she scared you off."

Emma faltered. "I…I texted her, though!"

Silence, and then: "Mom's been burned before. By men, mostly, but still. You're gonna have to show her you care." There was a scraping noise and then Emma saw his eyes slowly appear from over the armrest as he pushed himself so that he was hanging over it. "You still remember what flowers I said were her favorites?"

Of course. Of course she'd been an idiot this whole time, sulking around because Regina didn't want her, when really –

She nodded. "Red roses, red lilies, and orchids."

Henry nodded approvingly. "Good. I like you, Emma Swan."

Emma rolled her eyes, but offered him a smile. "Right back at you, kid."

The door thudded open then and Emma jumped, eyes snapping over to see Regina blowing back into the office, looking far more irritated than Emma had ever seen her. There was a man at her heels, greasy hair and an outdated suit, barking some nonsense about shareholders at her. Emma's first instinct was to drag him right back out of the room, but she figured that wouldn't end well for anyone.

Emma managed to drown him out as Regina met her eyes and then popped a drawer on her desk, neatly sliding a piece of cardstock and striding directly over to Emma to hand it to her. Her eyes met Emma's for a moment and there – finally – Emma could see nothing but affection.

She didn't know how she hadn't seen it sooner. Blinded by her own insecurity, apparently, but it was there in the way that her brow relaxed, the way her lips turned up just a hair. Emma was intoxicated with the knowledge, and she took the card, their fingertips brushing as she did. It sent butterflies off in her stomach, flush to her cheeks – But then Reigna's eyes tore away from her, hardening instantly as she spun to face the man again. Emma hadn't been listening, but she managed to catch the last part of what he'd said, and oh.

" – You'd know that if you weren't such a stupid brat. Your mother and I built this company and you will not –"

"She won't what?" Emma cut him off, tone like ice. A hush fell over the room, and the man turned to her.

"And who the hell are you to speak to me like that, dearie?"

Emma took a deep breath, trying to tamp down the rage that that tone brought boiling in her throat. "A friend of Regina's." She said the words with certainty, a steel to her voice that she hadn't had just minutes ago. "You don't scare me. Talk to her like that again and I'll drag you out of here myself, and you can find out exactly who I am."

Emma felt a hand on her upper arm at that, and she glanced over to find Regina, staring at her with something like gratitude in her eyes. Still, she ran her thumb over Emma's shoulder in a calming gesture.

"Thank you, Emma, but I can handle this. You should go."

Emma might have been hurt by the dismissal if it wasn't for the way her eyes were shining. She could bask in that look forever, she thought –

"This is the kind of company you keep?" Gold's voice cut through the moment, and Regina's look fell to exasperation immediately.

"You may have had my mother under your thumb, but this is my company now. You will not speak to me like that, much less in front of my son." Regina's voice had taken on an iciness that she'd never heard, but that fit perfectly with her initial impression of the woman – beautiful, and terrifying.

It was kind of hot.

She turned back to Emma, her hand still on her shoulder. She gave a grateful squeeze, and then said, "I'll see you at the fundraiser, Emma."

Emma's eyes darted back towards the man – he was seething, but held his tongue – and then back to Regina.

"Alright," She finally conceded. "If you need anything, you have my number."

Regina's eyes flashed at that, a flicker that may have been guilt – and Emma bit back regret. But it was gone in an instant, and she let her hand drop from Emma's arm.

"I do," She replied, and when she offered her a small smile it was genuine, if tempered by the current situation. "Thank you."

With that Emma nodded, making her way out of the office with one watchful eye on Gold.

She'd just completed the rest of her rounds and made it back to the shop when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, one leg hanging half out of the truck as she checked the notification.

You'd be a hell of a lot more scared of him if you knew who he was.

Emma's heart stuttered as she registered the name above the message.

Regina Mills.

She found herself grinning at the message, unable to help herself, and unlocked her phone to reply. You know, hello is customary, she sent back. Followed quickly by: Why, who is he?

Hello, Emma Swan. The reply came quickly, followed by the three little dots to indicate that Regina was still typing. You never struck me as the traditional type, anyway.

Emma's fingers hovered over the keyboard, and she began to type out a reply, just as another message popped up:

Gold owns half the major companies based in Maine, and then some.

Doesn't matter, Emma replied. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

There was a pause, those three little dots popping up and then disappearing again a couple of times. Emma was just about to lock her phone and head inside when a new message finally appeared.

I'm sorry, was all it said.

Emma waited, breath caught in her throat, until another came through.

I'm sorry for leaving you hanging these past few days. I'm afraid I overstepped the other night.

Emma laughed outright. Henry had said –

You're kidding, right? Emma sent the text before she could talk herself out of it, and then felt a momentary panic, worried about how Regina would take the comment. You didn't overstep, she added quickly.

Good. I don't want to frighten you.

Impossible. You're not scary. Emma replied, despite the fact that she had very much found Regina intimidating when they'd first met.

I'll have you know I'm terrifying, came the response. My employees call me the evil queen, you know.

"I'm gonna guess things went well, then?" Mulan's voice made Emma jump, and she jerked her head up to spot the other woman leaning against the brick wall of the shop, cigarette in hand. She noticed Emma's eyes on the cigarette, and added with a sheepish smile, "Guilty pleasure. Don't tell my wife, and I won't tell anyone you've been grinning like an idiot and muttering to yourself for the past five minutes."

Emma laughed. "Deal," She replied, and typed out one last message:

You're too cute for that. I've got those eyelashes on order, you know.

With that she locked her phone and slipped it back into her pocket as she hopped out of the truck. Mulan clapped her hand over her shoulder as she went, snuffing out the cigarette and following her back inside.

Yeah, things went well. Very well.