July 25th 2017

Regina hadn't been lying when she'd said she had a migraine. Emma had text Henry telling him to go to his grandparents when he was done hanging out with his friends and she had gone straight home. Regina had been laying still, in silence, in a dark room when Emma arrived, and so the blonde kept quiet, undressing quietly before she climbed into the bed with her fiancée, holding her until she fell asleep. Emma had made dinner but it had gone uneaten, she'd provided medications and cool washcloths, and after reading in a dim light, she eventually fell asleep beside her partner.

The next morning she'd been fully recovered and Emma had woken to the curtains opened wide and a cup of coffee, still steaming on the table next to her. The clock showed it was just before 8 and Emma knew Regina would already be on her way to work. As driven and dedicated as she was to her role, she knew that Regina would be working longer hours to make up for the previous day off work.

So she decided quickly that she was going to visit Regina, a habit that on her days off work, she would take her coffee or lunch or pick her up from work so they could walk home together. She wasn't due in work till the next morning and so decided to sleep for another 30 minutes. However the smell of the coffee caused her to roll over and sit up, inhaling the smell as she gripped it with both hands. There was something about the coffee that Regina made for her that made her close her eyes, thinking back to the first time Regina had made her coffee, after their relationship had changed, after they'd spent their first night together.

It wasn't that long ago, when she thought about it. And it was crazy to think how much their relationship had changed in mere months. This time last year, her fiancée had been dating the human tree trunk, and now they were in love and planning their wedding. They'd been together in total for just over half a year, though Emma had loved the woman for much longer. She could lose days thinking about all the reasons she loved Regina, and she wanted to be able to show her that.

By the time the sheriff was showered and dressed, and had made and consumed a fruit salad, an effort to show Regina she cared about her health too, it was before half past eight, and so Emma started pulling out ingredients to make some breakfast muffins. As much as Regina got on at Emma about her health, she frequently skipped breakfast, having coffee only. Sometimes when her work day was busy she would also forgo lunch. It often came to a text or email from Emma reminding her to eat, or the blonde physically taking lunch to the office for her to eat anything substantial before the evening meal. She sometimes carried fruit and raw veggies but would only allow treats for herself after a run or during the weekend.

The muffins would be healthy enough for the calorie conscious mayor to eat one with her breakfast coffee and if she liked them, she vowed to make fresh batches of muffins weekly to make sure she was getting some sustenance. The mixture was all mixed and in muffin cases by the time the clock struck nine and Emma text Regina to say good morning, trying to gauge her mood. The text she received back was short but had an emoji, her standard response when she was busy or in a meeting. Emma sent back a quick message, ending in a couple of x's, going back to her baking. She finished the bake and packed them in a Tupperware, arriving at the Town Hall just as some big-wigs in suits were leaving. Emma assumed that the meeting the mayor had been in was now over and she left her bug, taking the muffins up to her office.

When she was stood outside the office she knocked, before creating a filled mug with a flick of her wrist to go with the muffins.

"Enter."

Emma smirked to herself as she pushed open the door with her shoulder, seeing Regina bent over her paperwork, glasses that Emma had not seen before perched on the end of her nose. She paused for a moment to just appreciate the sight in front of her before she walked over to the desk.

"Hey babe, I made some muffins and I bought you a nice hot cup of coffee."

Regina looked up at the intrusion, and grinned at her fiancée who stood in front of her, an adorable little smile on her face. She accepted the mug gratefully, wrapping her hands around it. She frowned down at the mug before looking up at the blonde again.

"It's cold."

Emma tried not to smile as she spoke again. "Nice cup of coffee…"

She paused with a brow raised as Regina took a sip of the drink, spitting it out as soon as she did. "It's horrible!"

She couldn't suppress her smile this time at Regina's bewildered look. "Cup of coffee…"

The mayor raised her brow at Emma, not in confusion but because she sensed something was going on. "I'm not even sure this is coffee dear." She spoke dryly, having noticed Emma's face as she struggled to hide her smirk.

"Cup…?" Seeing Regina's face break at the terrible joke Emma was so clearly finding hilarious caused her to start laughing herself and she waved her hand over the mug she set down, causing it to be refilled with her favourite blend of freshly brewed coffee.

When Emma had finally calmed down she remembered the purpose for her visit and set the box of muffins on a spare space on the desk.

"I made these for you." There was no hidden joy in her face at the comment, instead she looked expectant, biting her lip as she waited for her fiancée to taste one of the first successful bakes she had ever made.

"I don't know Emma… I don't think I should trust any consumable item you try and give me." It was said teasingly and she was already opening the Tupperware as she spoke. She raised her brow again, and Emma fought to ignore the clench in her stomach that the look caused whenever she gave it, as she appraised the muffin she had picked out.

"It's got seeds in it and its good for fibre and vitamins and it has xylitol instead of sugar so it's quite healthy and I thought if you had something you could just grab for breakfast then maybe you'd actually eat." Regina was simply staring at the woman endearingly while she rambled on and she continued to do so until Emma stopped talking, peering at her optimistically, while she nodded slightly, excited to hear the verdict on the baked good.

Though she was slightly hesitant at something Emma had created in the kitchen, the Sheriff looked so hopeful that she took a big bite from the top of the muffin, closing her eyes at the taste.

It was not clear to Emma, how Regina rated the food and so she took a deep breath trying to hold back from asking the brunette what she thought.

Wanting to tease the woman a little, Regina frowned, pretending to ponder. As Emma's face turned a slightly pinker shade, Regina smiled and Emma finally let out her breath.

"This is amazing Emma. Seriously… did you definitely make these or buy them?" Emma flushed at the praise, sticking her tongue out at the older woman's comment. "Are these all mine?" She gestured to the box and Emma nodded proudly. "They're wonderful, truly. Thankyou baby." She stood from her chair and leaned forward, capturing the blondes lips in a sweet kiss.

Emma grinned, proud of herself and stood for a few moments, before giving one solid nod and turning on her heel. "Don't be too late home babe you need your rest. I'll cook." She laughed at the splutter from Regina and carried on walking to the door.

"Just because you can make some good muffins sweetheart, doesn't mean I'm going to let you loose in my kitchen." Emma chuckled as she turned at the door, winking at Regina as she left the room.

The day went by fast for Emma. She had decided to stick to an easier recipe that even she couldn't mess up and had even set the table for the three of them. At six thirty, when Regina was supposed to be home, Emma and Henry ate together, with Henry agreeing to clean up in the kitchen. Emma sat at the kitchen table with some files to complete before her next shift.

When the clock struck 7:45, Regina was officially late home. Emma had text her and received no response. She'd even logged into her emails as she knew if Regina was still in the office, she'd be notified by the pinging from her computer, if her phone was on silent. She copied in both Regina's work and personal email, wanting to make sure it was received.

From: sheriffswan storybrooke .com

To: mayorrmills storybrooke .com

Cc: reformedevilregal (Mills, R.)

Date: 25/07/17 19:48

Subject: Whereabouts are you?

Hey Regina

It's late. I was just wondering how long it might be until you're home?

I cooked dinner, but we had to eat as Henry has soccer practice tonight.

Can you text me so I know you're ok?

Emma

After waiting for 10 minutes and having no response to her text or her email, she decided to go to Regina's office to make her finish up and go home, figuring her fiancée was probably exhausted, but also knowing that if she didn't get her, she'd stay there until she was dragged home.

With a puff of smoke, she appeared outside the Mayor's office door. It was late and the rest of the building was empty so she decided against knocking. She opened the door quietly seeing Regina with her head in her arms, asleep against the desk. Emma couldn't help but smile at the sight, seeing her so unguarded in her office. She poked the sleeping woman gently, shaking her shoulder to rouse her.

The older woman blinked awake, and smiled serenely when she saw her partner next to her.

"Hey my love… what are you doing here?"

Instantly Emma schooled her features to stop from smiling, trying to look as serious as she could, despite the warmth that she felt in her heart looking at the love of her life, all sleepy and adorable.

"Regina you would not believe it. There was the biggest fucking nerd sitting in your exact seat this morning."

"…" Regina looked confused for a moment before she narrowed her eyes jokingly.

"That was me with glasses on."

The younger woman laughed at the look on the brunette's face as she wrinkled her nose at the joke. She was in a playful mood and she grinned, taking Regina's hand, before lifting her from her seat.

"Babe it's late. You've been here almost 12 hours and I know you've yet to eat a proper meal. So come on. Food, bath then bed." Regina rolled her eyes teasingly and tucked her chair under the desk, picking up her phone and purse.

"Alright mom, let's go home. But only if you let me drive!" Emma laughed at the pretend pout on Regina's face and shook her head as if she was scolding a petulant teenager.

"Well unless you drove I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I was just in too much of a rush to see you that I could waste time driving could I? Now come on. Home then food. Can't have you wasting away." Regina cast one final glance around the desk making sure she had everything she needed and linked her arm with the blonde's, flicking her wrist before they disappeared in a puff of smoke.


Credit to QuotableSwanqueen (on tumblr) for a couple of prompts I used after reading through her whole tumblr page on a quiet night at work.