The sound of keys fumbling in the door woke Emma from her dream and she groaned, pulling the comforter up to act as a shield over her head.
When she emerged from her cocoon, she eyed the sight of Ruby doing the walk of shame, both high heels dangling between her fingers in one hand. She yanked her dress off and slipped on an oversized T-shirt.
"You look like you had one hell of a night."
Ruby took that as an invite to plop her weight down onto the edge of Emma's small bed.
"It was so incredible, Em. She is incredible. Not only is she beautiful – Belle is smart and funny and tons of fun."
Emma leaned forward and wrapped an arm around Ruby. "You're glowing, I haven't seen you this happy in a while. And, best of all, now you don't have to pry into my love life!"
"Ah, ah… not so fast! You know you can't get rid of me that quickly. Speaking of - why did you run out so quickly last night?"
Emma groaned, although she'd anticipated this question. "My dreams are getting out of hand, Ruby. I think it's even more difficult now that Regina isn't just a figment of my imagination. I'm struggling to separate reality from fantasy. Last night, she approached me at the bar and sat down next to me."
"Wait? She was there? At the bar?"
"No, Ruby. That's just it. I saw her there, and even felt her put her hand on my knee. But she wasn't actually there. I feel like I'm losing my mind. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I came home and obviously had another dream about her."
"Tell me about the dream. What happened?" Ruby asked, intrigued, but in a way that voiced her concern for her friend.
"We were walking down Main Street together, hand in hand, drinking hot chocolate. It was so domestic and just… it felt real. Her hair was a little shorter than it was in my past few dreams, which is odd because I've met her now and her hair was longer."
"Ohhh… I have a theory!" Ruby jumped up. "Not about the daydreaming thing, I'm still working on processing that. But do you think your dreams are actually following a timeline? Like a real timeline? Maybe her hair is longer now in real life and the dreams you have with her hair long are supposed to represent the beginning of your relationship. And maybe later she cuts it shorter!"
"Okay," Emma paused. "That actually could make sense—if my dreams were real. But they aren't. They're dreams," Emma sighed, combing her fingers through her hair on both sides of her scalp, bowing her head in frustration. "Can we change the topic? Did you sleep with Belle? I'm surprised you didn't lead with that when you came in…" Emma laughed, eager to lighten the mood and relieve the throbbing pain forming behind her temples.
Ruby shook her head. "We were a little too drunk and I didn't want to rush it." Emma's eyes went wide in disbelief. "I know, I know - shocking. But we were at her place and in her bed and making out and talking and making out some more and she's so cute, she kept cuddling up closer to me and she fell asleep with her head on my chest. I was so content just listening to her breathing peacefully and then I fell asleep so quickly."
"Ruby Lucas, have you officially gone soft?" Emma teased, resulting in a playful slap on her shoulder from her best friend.
"For her? Abso-fucking-lutely. I even asked her out to dinner tonight. Nothing fancy, just going to grab a burger from Granny's and maybe I'll give into this newfound soft side I have and offer to split a milkshake." Ruby's face was glowing at the thought of Belle, and Emma couldn't be happier for her.
"Not to completely ruin your high, but what are we going to do?"
"What do you mean, Em?"
"We have to head back to Boston tomorrow since we have to work the night shift. I didn't even get a chance to really get to know Regina yet."
"Well, I just gave you a free evening to yourself. What are you waiting for? Go find a way to get to know her some more! Let's get dressed."
After they had both showered, they climbed down the stairs of the Inn and walked into Granny's for breakfast. As she rounded the corner and headed toward the booths, she glanced over at the bar where she spotted Regina yesterday.
She didn't have much time to be upset over the empty row of barstools because she suddenly felt herself colliding hard into someone, followed by burning pain.
"Ah, fuck!" Emma yelped from the pain and shock of impact. She peered up quickly with a frown on her face. "Oh, it's you," she laughed, suddenly forgetting the burning sensation of hot coffee against her skin.
"My apologies, Miss Swan. I should have seen you coming. I'm not usually clumsy. Are you okay?" Regina grabbed a handful of napkins off of the nearest table and started fumbling to dab at the inevitable coffee stain she had just created on Emma's shirt.
"I'm okay, it's okay." Emma's pain suddenly vanished, and the feel of Regina rubbing against her shirt caused an entirely different sensation that was overwhelming her.
"Are you sure? I've ruined your blouse. I will pay for the dry cleaning bill."
Emma wasn't sure what inspired the next sentence to escape her lips, but they came out before she could stop them. "How about you let me buy you dinner tonight instead?" She shifted her stance, rolling her shoulders back, and locked eyes with Regina.
Regina's mouth slackened, blinking in disbelief for a brief moment. She held her breath momentarily to regain her sturdy composure.
"Last I'd checked, treating me to dinner doesn't exactly seem like the proper repayment for someone who just gave you second-degree burns."
Emma stayed silent, waiting for an answer, and Regina pursed her lips.
"Pick me up at 6. I'm at 108 Mifflin Street." Before she could say another word, Regina disappeared out the front door.
Emma exhaled, an awkward sound that was a mixture of a sigh of relief and a nervous giggle escaped her lips. She turned to Ruby quickly, "Did I really just say that out loud?"
"See, Em. I knew you'd find a way to get to know her better before we have to leave. Not exactly what I had been expecting, but... effective nonetheless."
Emma rummaged through her suitcase and groaned. "Everything is wrinkled and I don't have anything impressive to wear!"
"Relax, Em. You'll look great no matter what. Here—" She paused and picked out a top from her own bag. "Try this top on and wear it with dark jeans and boots. Trust me, it's Storybrooke. Nothing is that fancy here."
She tossed on the red blouse that was definitely more of Ruby's style, then she tousled her curls to loosen them a bit and smiled at her reflection in the mirror, clearly satisfied, before heading out.
"Oh, Em. Before you go… what are your thoughts on us coming back here for Thanksgiving in two weeks?"
Emma's face lit up at the idea. "You're a genius, Ruby."
As soon as she reached Regina's house, she could feel her pulse quickening. Not only was she nervous for their dinner, but she was rightfully spooked when she saw Regina's house and recognized it from her dream.
"How is that even possible?" She mumbled to herself as she made her way up the entryway and rang the doorbell, the sense of deja vu that washed over her making her uncomfortable. Luckily, once the door swung open, the sight of Regina alleviated her discomfort.
She wasn't shocked when she saw Regina standing in the doorway in the same black dress that she remembered seeing her wearing in her dream just a few nights prior, but only because she was too busy trying to hide the flushed skin burning her cheeks as she struggled to remember to blink.
She wasn't sure whether she wanted to reach out to brush Regina's hair behind her ear, eager to know if it felt the same as it did in her dreams, or pin her up against the doorway and take her right there. Instead, she stilled her posture before opening her mouth. "Wow, you look… breathtaking, Regina."
"You look wonderful, as well." Regina stepped outside. Her toned, tan legs practically glistened from the reflection of the moonlight, and Emma couldn't help but let her gaze fall on her décolletage—her collarbones prominent—and Emma tried her best to hide it when her eyes fell on her chest.
Regina smirked, her pupils dark in contrast with the whites of her eyes. She raised one eyebrow carefully and, with a sharp tone, asked, "Like what you see, dear?"
Emma licked her lips, unable to speak as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Very much so, yes."
"I'm glad you approve. I took the initiative of making us reservations at my favorite restaurant. I assumed that since you're not from Storybrooke, you might not know where to take me."
"I like the way you think, Madam Mayor," Emma said with a relieved smile.
Emma wasn't surprised that Regina had insisted on driving and already had a restaurant picked out with reservations set in place, but she was taken back by how upscale the restaurant was.
"So, aside from the fact that I offered to foot the bill for dinner, what made you decide on this place?" Emma asked as she studied the menu.
Regina laughed - a deep, genuine laugh that made Emma's stomach muscles flutter.
"Emma, I'm the mayor of Storybrooke. That makes you my guest. I insist, I'll be treating you to dinner tonight. And I picked this place because their Italian is almost as impressive as my own recipes. It's simple, really."
"Well, I haven't had your homemade recipes," Emma lied – sort of. "But I'll take your word for it that this place does a good job."
The server approached the table and Regina ordered them a bottle of the Brunello di Montalcino. Emma swallowed and didn't bother to look at the wine menu to seek out the price of the bottle to know it was a nice wine, probably from some extravagant vineyard in Tuscany.
"I hope you're hungry, Miss Swan." She proceeded to place her order – a bruschetta ricotta for the two of them and then the spaghetti carbonara for her entree. Emma ordered chicken Parmesan, deciding to play it safe with a dish she knew she'd enjoy. Not that she was very picky.
"So what made you decide to say yes to dinner with me?" Emma quizzed.
Regina straightened her posture, her lips curling up only slightly as if she were trying to suppress her smile.
"To be transparent, I'm not quite certain. It certainly took me by surprise. I would've come up with an excuse if it were anyone else. But there's something different about you, Miss Swan."
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment. I was surprised when you agreed, though. I assumed you'd have other… obligations."
"You mean a date?" Regina laughed, reaching for the freshly-poured glass of red wine. "No, Emma. I don't make a very good date."
"I beg to differ," Emma cut her off.
"I'm not usually—" she paused and averted her gaze for only a fleeting moment. "I'm not this warm. I don't exactly have many friends to make evening plans with."
Before Emma could ask what she meant, or even comment, the server approached the table carrying their appetizer.
"They top the whipped ricotta with truffle oil," Regina commented. But Emma didn't need to know anything other than that there was bread and cheese in front of her to elicit the smile on her face.
One bite had Emma nodding in approval and reaching for more ricotta with her butter knife.
They ate in a comfortable silence, and when the entrees came, their small talk felt natural as they got to know each other better.
"The dessert here is also exquisite, but I'd much prefer we head back to my home if that's alright with you," Regina proposed. Emma did her best to hide the way her eyes widened, unsure what Regina's intentions were. But she knew one thing was certain: she was not going to argue with that offer.
The server dropped the check and Emma swooped it up and placed her card inside, handing it back to him before Regina could even blink.
"Miss Swan, I do recall saying you were my guest. Besides, I was the one who spilled coffee on you. I should be paying."
"You can get it next time. I wanted to treat you. You deserve it."
Regina tried to protest again, but Emma cut her off.
"Ah-ah, don't bother arguing with me. I never lose arguments," Emma smirked.
"Oh, is that so? I'll have you know, your bravery for even attempting to put up a fight against me is admirable."
When the waiter returned, Emma nearly screamed at him for interrupting this flirtatious moment, but when she caught a glimpse of Regina, the anger subsided.
"Thank you," Regina said softly, accompanied with a sigh of defeat. "I'll return the favor." She bowed her head and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and Emma was certain that her heart had melted at the sight of her.
"How would you like a glass of my homemade apple cider? It's a family recipe."
"That sounds perfect, assuming it's spiked." Emma laughed and watched as Regina headed toward the kitchen and came back carrying two glasses. She took a sip, letting the cider warm her throat.
"Mm, this is delicious."
"I'm glad you approve."
"I think I'd like anything you served me, to be honest," Emma laughed, not realizing she sounded a little flirtier than she intended to be on a first date. In fact, she wasn't even certain if Regina thought this was a date. The thought dwelled in her head and she suddenly felt herself growing fidgety at the fact that Regina had disregarded her remark.
The silence that fell over the room suddenly felt overwhelming. Emma took a long sip of the cider and dropped down onto the sofa, but not before noticing that Regina's gaze shifted to peer at the clock that was mounted on the wall. Emma stood, taking a step in Regina's direction.
"Regina, I have a question."
"Yes, dear?"
"You mentioned earlier that you don't usually date or spend time with friends. What did you mean by that?" Emma asked, her tone unsteady.
"I meant it quite literally. I don't have many friends or people to spend my time with. It's not that I don't try to befriend people, that's not it. Or, well, maybe it is. I don't know. I just come off as unapproachable to most people. I guess, in a way, they are right to perceive me that way." Regina sighed and Emma frowned.
"Why would anyone see you as cold?" But then Emma thought back to what she'd heard others say about Regina. What Belle said about rarely seeing her smile. About Archie mentioning that she tends to stick to herself and her work. She frowned and looked back at Regina.
"It's just—" She paused, searching for the right words. "It's just easier. I hide behind my work and keep to myself because I've never met anyone worth changing that for."
Emma nodded but didn't open her mouth to speak so Regina cut the silence instead.
"It's getting late, I wouldn't want to keep you too long."
"Oh, you're not keeping—" she pressed her lips together and cut herself off when she realized Regina was already gesturing toward the door. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she fought the disappointment that she could feel washing over her. If only she knew the right thing to say.
She swallowed the last of her drink and followed Regina back to the foyer. All she wanted to do was lean in and kiss the woman she had come to know in her dreams. But she knew this version of Regina wasn't that same woman, at least not yet, and she couldn't do that.
"When will I see you again?" Regina asked before Emma finished crossing the doorway.
Emma smiled, realizing there was hope lying behind that one question. Then she laughed to herself at the irony.
"Oh, I'm sure I'll be seeing you again very, very soon."
