Emma enters her own apartment, jogging, out of breath, dripping in her own sweat, but she doesn't give a damn as she slams her front door shut. She yanks out her earbuds and lightly jogs toward her kitchen in search of a bottle of water. When she passes by her bedroom, her eyebrows furrow when she notices a rather large lump still in her bed.
"Really?" She exasperates, her feet subconsciously padding heavier against the hardwood floors to disturb her sleeping buddy.
She really thought that guy would have snuck out while she was out for her morning run, but apparently this guy isn't a total scumbag. She slams her refrigerator door shut, hoping that will do the trick and wake his ass up. Quickly, she chugs down more than half the bottle and decides it's time to wake her one-nighter.
She finds the man still naked, sprawled out across her bed, appearing awfully comfortable as if he's in his own bed. She climbs onto the mattress, fists balled on either side of his face as she leans down and presses a kiss to his cheek.
"Time to wake up sleepyhead," she whispers teasingly, persuading the man to wrap her up in a tight hug and pull her down against his impressive bulky chest and his best friend standing to attention. Of course, he's well defined, she did pick this one up straight from the gym.
"Did you make breakfast?" He sleepily murmurs, pressing his smiling lips against hers.
"Nope."
"Oh," he sadly replies, slowly blinking away the sleep to meet her gaze. "Uh, did you want to go grab a bite?"
"Nah, but I made a pot of coffee if you would like some," she flippantly says, already moving to untangle herself from his strong hold.
He slowly slides up in bed, watching as she struts away, confident as ever, not a care in the world. He knows she certainly doesn't give a damn if he stays or goes and he finds himself longing for her in a way he is definitely not accustomed to after a one-night stand. He's intrigued and she doesn't have to peek over her shoulder to know exactly what he's thinking.
"Are you sure? My treat," he offers again, so sweetly that she finally grants him her attention, glancing over her shoulder and smirking in the most desirable way.
"Nah, I really should get going," she vaguely replies, crossing her arms over her abdomen to swiftly remove the tank top clinging to her body.
She disappears into her bathroom, quick to wash her face and change, so she can at least have a cup of coffee with the poor schmuck before she kicks him to the curb. She isn't completely void of emotions and she knows how terrible the feeling is being kicked from a house, so she at least has coffee with her one-night stands in the morning before her final goodbyes.
"Hey," he cheerfully greets her when she reappears from her bathroom. "I'm not sure how you take your coffee, but I-uh, left some room in case you're the extra cream and sugar kinda gal."
She smiles kindly at him, accepts the cup and pours a hefty amount of hazelnut cream into her coffee, because she is that kinda gal.
"Thanks..."
"You forgot my name didn't you," he deadpans, his face falling before he actually appears somewhat amused.
"I did not...Graham," she chuckles, creating the sappiest grin to spread across his entire face before they both take a seat and enjoy each other's company.
XXXX
"What do you think?" Regina nervously investigates, her bottom lip caught between her teeth while her eyes bore into the side of her manager's face.
"I-I think it's really beautiful, Regina." Tiana pauses and Regina wants nothing more than to rattle this woman until all her truths come tumbling out.
"But?"
"But...can you do this? Expanding the bakery for actual tables and chairs...seems...expensive," Tiana anxiously admits because well, Regina Mills is so damn intimidating and she rather pull a pan out of an oven without gloves on than piss the owner off.
"Well, yes, it's expensive, but I will figure it out," she clips, quickly rolling up her plans and tying a rubber band around them to keep her dreams sealed away from any prying eyes.
Tiana is the only person she trusts.
"But-"
"No need to worry, I will..." she trails off when her peripheral catches a splash of black flowing in front of her cafe's front window.
A swarm of butterflies immediately awake from their hibernation, persuading her lips to spread into a maniac grin. Her feet move all on their own, stepping out from the table and rushing toward her front counter.
"You are such a sucker," Tiana snickers under her breath, but Regina hears her and instantly scowls, shooting her a glare that would singe her to ash, if only Regina had some magical powers. "I'm sorry, but just...talk to the woman."
"You shush," she scolds before turning to her employee that handles the register. "And you, go take your break."
"But I-"
"Break, now, or I revoke your employee discount," she snaps, and of course she would never actually do that, but the girl scurries away rather quickly and Regina is grinning again like a lunatic.
The front door to her little cafe swings open and the wind blows her favorite customer right inside. She holds her breath, actually inhales sharply and leaves her lungs struggling to hang onto that one breath. She swears this woman somehow becomes more gorgeous with each passing day.
So, this stupidly attractive woman waltzes up to the counter, a shy, yet confident smile, which totally contradicts itself, but it's there, shining back at Regina. The woman slowly slides her big framed sunglasses up her nose until they are resting in her jet-black hair. And then, they are both smirking at one another, without any words spoken and it's humiliating, because Regina is the queen of vocabulary and sharp quips, but nothing is coming out.
Still just beaming at each other...
Two sets of big brown eyes just gaping at one another...
"Hi."
"Hi," Regina breathes out, finally releasing that breath she held hostage just because a pretty girl flashed her a smile. She really is a hopeless lesbian.
"Umm, I'll have..." the woman trails off, eyes scanning the menu above.
"A blueberry muffin, coffee black," Regina recites, not at all in a creepy way, but in a professional way, since she's been taking this girl's order every day now; Monday through Friday at precisely seven o'clock, every morning, for two weeks.
"Oh no, am I that predictable?" The raven-haired beauty nervously chuckles, curling her hair behind her ear, but it's already in place. Everything is always in place and immaculate on this damn woman and Regina is a sucker for that kind of flawless.
"No, no. You have just become a regular now. I like to get to know my customers here, hopefully make them feel comfortable with visiting," she mumbles while Tiana moves swiftly behind her to retrieve the black coffee.
"Well, you're doing an excellent job. I love the vibe here, it's...cozy," she compliments through a soft smile that is so genuine, Regina melts.
"Thank you."
"One black coffee," Tiana politely acknowledges, encouraging the customer to rush forward and accept her beverage.
"Thanks."
"How about an apple crumble muffin instead today?" Regina recommends, carefully placing the massive muffin into a paper bag.
"Yeah, I should change it up, right?" The girl sweetly says. "I should try new things..." she trails off, accepting the white paper bag and gently brushing her fingers against Regina's and...is that a twinkle in her eye?
"Of course," Regina smiles, hoping to convey professionalism, but her cheeks are starting to become sore, so maybe it's a bit too much.
Her smile vanishes.
The customer quickly hands over her money and Regina accepts and counts out the change. The stranger flashes another smile, slowly gliding her sunglasses back into place as she pivots back around to leave, make her escape, when suddenly...
"Do you have a business card?" Regina blurts out, embarrassingly so and she has to mentally talk her blood down from rushing to her cheeks.
The woman swivels on her heels, slowly edging her sunglasses back up again. "I do."
Regina blindly manhandles the fish bowl beside her and thrusts the dish across the countertop. "We are having a little contest, place your business card in here and if you are drawn, you will win a free lunch."
"Oh nice," the woman chirps, quickly opening her clutch and digging for her business card. She smirks, and it's daring, salacious, breathtaking, absolutely the kind of stunning woman Regina would fall hopelessly for. She drops her card into the bowl and flicks her sunglasses back into place. She sashays away, Regina not at all following the rhythm of her hips in those tight, black dress pants. And when she reaches the door, she leans heavily and says over her shoulder, "Dr. Ryan and maybe if I win, I can repay the favor and take you to dinner."
And Regina doesn't even have the decency to wait until the woman rounds the corner before she's digging through hundreds of cards for Dr. Ryan.
XXXX
Turns out, fate, is still paying to watch her life burn down to ash. Turns out, there are six Dr. Ryans that adore her baked goods and dropped their cards into the bowl.
Dr. Sam Ryan, who was a woman at least, but spent most of the phone call with Regina, screaming at her children. And is, so looking forward to a peaceful lunch.
Dr. Ryan, physical therapist, who is a very lonely man and refused to end the call.
Dr. Michealle Ryan, and she wasn't sure if this was supposed to say Michael or Michelle, so she tried anyway and well, Michael's wife was not happy with the strange woman calling and inviting her husband to lunch.
Dr. Ryan Holmes, never answered, but her voice sounded lovely on the recording.
Dr. Ryan Roberts, ended up being another man.
And now Dr. Ivy Ryan is her last card and she's losing hope and she already promised a free lunch to four others...she's mortified from her own desperation.
She takes a deep breath and slides down into the bubbles enveloping her skin to wash away her trepidation about making another embarrassing phone call. She really should just stay down in her tub, maybe drown some of the humiliation crawling it's way to the surface.
Except...her phone is the one ringing from outside the water and bubbles.
She instantly pops right up, wiping the bubbles away from her face and answering without ever having a chance to glance at the screen and it's all because of this twisting in her heart and gut that feels like all her organs are being wrung out like a sopping wet towel.
"Hello?"
"Is this Regina Mills?"
"Y-yes, this is she," her voice cracks without her permission and sends her heart soaring to the pit of her stomach.
"There has been an accident and you were listed as an emergency contact for Kathryn and August Booth."
XXXX
It's ironic how one single second changes the entire outcome of the world. It's funny how the most disturbing nightmare becomes a reality and yet, her brain cannot seem to grasp the concept of her new life. Everything around her seems foggy, hazy, like she's stumbling through some distorted dreamland. She can't feel much of anything, can't comprehend a thought long enough to understand the new world she was dumped into.
Except for one...
"Lennox. Was their baby-" she slaps a hand over her mouth, she cannot possibly finish the sentence and place that kind of disturbing thought into the world.
"She was at home with a babysitter. However, the sitter was a minor and social services had to remove her from the home-"
"Where is she?" She sternly orders, despite the wobble in her throat and the tears dribbling down her flushed cheeks. "I will take her home with me until..." until what?
Until what?
Her mother and father passed away in a horrific car accident and now she's an orphan. Her beautiful baby Lennox has no parents in this world to turn to. Who is even remotely responsible enough to take this precious baby into their home and raise her as their own?
"It's late and I assure you she's fine. However, this is all protocol and you can contact social services in the morning."
"No, absolutely not. That's not acceptable," she shouts and she's so lost in her own crumbling world that she doesn't even notice Emma jogging through the front doors.
"Regina? They called you too? What happened?" Emma rushes out, carrying her helmet and gasping for her next breath, instantly snapping Regina out of the blinding rage swallowing her whole. "Are August and Kathryn alright? They said there was an accident."
Regina slowly shakes her head, the tears streaming down her face faster than the rough rapids of a river during a storm. Emma swallows, creating an audible gulp that makes Regina's heart hurt even more, but Emma doesn't cry. No, instead, the blonde steps forward, dropping her helmet and ignoring the loud crashing noise as she wraps her strong arms around Regina and holds her close.
Everything from their past is instantly swiped away in that moment. There is a silent understanding that their back and forth banter, sharp quips and hate for one another is shoved aside to focus on something that is so much bigger than them. And Regina completely shatters in the comfort and security of a familiar face. She heaves for her next breath and releases a sob that encourages Emma's arms to squeeze her even tighter, silently willing her to stay glue together. She doesn't hug the woman back, she's too busy holding herself and also pleading that she physically stays intact. She clings to the moment though, because it's all she has left, Emma is all she has left that will forever keep her connected to Kathryn and August.
"They won't release Lennox to me...something about protocol," she weeps, burying her blushing face into Emma's neck to hide from the world and pretend this isn't her reality.
"Alright, well..." Emma's voice is plagued with heartache, but she masks it surprisingly well and Regina wonders how she can be so in control at a time like this? "Why don't we go back to their house and we will call first thing in the morning and get her back, okay?" She recommends against Regina's ear before she moves her head away to meet the officer's gaze. "Is that okay? Can we take her home in the morning?"
"I would assume so since you are their emergency contacts."
"You hear that, Regina?" Emma murmurs, holding the sobbing woman even closer. "We will get her in the morning."
XXXX
They step inside the gorgeous house that was once a second home to both, a home filled with laughter and love and now, all that's gone. The house somehow feels hollow, bitter cold even, like it's been abandoned for years and the only residents are the ghosts lingering down the halls.
And Regina sways from the comparison of ghosts, knowing that the owners won't be returning, that there is nothing left of her very best friend. She staggers, placing her hand against the wall for support as Emma carefully locks the door behind them.
"Was it always so cold in here?" Emma mutters to herself, shoving her hands into the pockets of her red leather jacket.
"Lennox must be so terrified," she whispers, her hand instinctively splaying across her stomach to keep the damn thing from flipping once again. But Emma is abnormally quiet. "She's only one and she has no idea what's happening and who those strangers are and I bet she's crying for her-" she hiccups, slapping a hand over her mouth to keep from sobbing all over again.
"The first night is always terrifying," the blonde mutters under her breath, "no matter how old you are." She shrugs, as if she doesn't care at all, but Regina sees her, she sees that pain from her past looming over the blonde like a dark storm cloud, haunting her, ready to come pouring down upon her all over again.
"You can take their bedroom," Regina offers, thinking maybe Emma needs some familiar comfort tonight, to keep those old memories at a safe distance.
"No-no," Emma reflexively sputters. "Absolutely not. You can-"
"No, the guest room is just fine."
A blanket of silence covers the foyer, that neither one can seem to step out from, both too horrified of proceeding on with the night and accepting this nightmare as their new lives. Both too terrified of stepping into the home without either one of their best friends, laughing and leading the way to the kitchen for drinks or to the backyard for a party or the living room to just sit and catch up.
"Alright, well..." Regina's words die out on the tip of her tongue, not having the strength to continue.
"Yeah."
And Regina thinks that maybe she should hug Emma and offer the woman comfort like she had with her at the police station. Maybe they should talk and lean on each other because nobody will understand what they are going through, except each other. But Emma is already walking away toward the living room and Regina remembers all too well, they aren't friends, that's not them. And tonight was the very first time they had ever hugged one another in three years.
XXXX
She can't sleep. She's fucking miserable and feels so damn uncomfortable that she is willing to go back in time and relive all those first days in a new home during her foster years just to escape this exact moment. She has never felt more out of place in her entire life and she has a very long record of times that she was dumped into a new foster home where she felt like an outcast.
It's just this damn house feels haunted now. She can faintly hear the laughter from Kathryn and August every time she closes her eyes. Her heart yearns to see their faces walking in at any moment, beaming from ear to ear, claiming that they really fooled her, but the sad reality is, that it's not some sick joke and this is her life. This is her new norm, where the only person that she ever connected with in her miserable life, a person she deemed worthy enough to call her brother, has passed away. And he took the only friend away that he introduced her to. Kathryn was the only woman Emma has ever considered a true friend and now that's all gone.
"How the hell am I supposed to stay connected to Lennox and not fall apart every time I see her?" She groans, pushing herself off the couch just to pace around the room anxiously.
She mindlessly shuffles her tired feet around the room, hating the way their family portrait glares at her from across the room. She obsesses over who will take Lennox into their family because this is all hitting a little too close to home for her. Who is going to love that baby and raise her as her own? She knows all too well that there is a very real chance that nobody will ever adopt her, nobody will ever love her the way August or Kathryn ever could.
She knows all too well.
She plops down on the couch, feeling that anxiety buzzing and swelling maliciously in her body once again. It's been so long since she last felt this off balanced and she knows that unnerving feeling started to ebb away when August became a constant in her life. And then he introduced her to Kathryn and they became best friends and she started to forget how her body would feel so lonely that she would swear the walls were closing in on her and she would suffer from panic attacks. And then, the announcement of a baby washed away what little residual anxiety she had left inside of her.
But now, it's all flooding back to her, like a tsunami and she can't even find the energy to inhale one deep breath. She snags the throw pillow decorating the couch and forces it against her torso. She hugs the pillow close, bends over and tries to breathe through the pain tormenting her soul. She sobs, fat tears free falling to land upon her boots while her wavy locks shield her face from the world.
She's so lost in her own world, in her own panic attack that she doesn't notice a shadow lingering in the doorway. Her sobs are so heavy and wracked with heartache that she doesn't hear the silhouette sniffling along with her.
And she definitely doesn't notice Regina standing there for over a half an hour, contemplating whether or not she should join her, until she slinks away in the shadows and pretends she was never there at all.