New Year's Eve
After triple-checking the address that Emma had provided, Regina passed it along to the driver. She smoothed out the fabric of her cocktail dress in the backseat as soon as the car started moving.
When they were coordinating their New Year's Eve plans via text message, Regina had insisted, on numerous occasions, that she would pick Emma up from her apartment so they could arrive at the party together. But with each attempt, she was met with resistance on Emma's end.
It doesn't make sense for you to drive down to LES when I can just meet you in Midtown. The venue is on W. 39th. See you there.
Despite wanting everything to go her way, Regina reluctantly agreed, knowing Emma's logic held up.
As soon as the car pulled up outside of Venfino, Regina spotted Emma standing outside peering down at her phone and glancing up on occasion. She found herself smiling without realizing it.
"A beautiful woman standing outside alone on New Year's Eve?" Regina raised her eyebrows at her and continued. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in desperate need of a date."
Emma peered up and smiled as soon as she heard the sound of Regina's voice. It had been a week since she'd last heard it, and she'd nearly forgotten the slight rasp in her tone and the way it was both sexy and soothing simultaneously.
"Well then I guess it's a good thing you showed up." Emma extended an arm for Regina to take. They made their way through the main entryway and were quickly gestured toward the coatcheck.
"So who's hosting this event anyway?" Regina asked as they waited in line, still bundled up in their heavy winter coats.
"My best friend, Ruby. Don't tell anyone, but she's planning to propose to her girlfriend tonight. So thank you for agreeing to come," she paused and frowned. "As happy as I am for both of them, I don't think I can handle any more romance if it means feeling singled out for yet another holiday."
"Are all of your friends gay?" Regina asked, more out of curiosity than impoliteness.
Emma hummed. "Most of them, yeah. It's not a huge group – mainly just Ruby, Belle, a few of my friends from work..." Her voice trailed off. "And a bunch of Ruby's other friends. She's much more sociable than I am."
Regina only nodded, and it made Emma nervous for some reason. As if she was worried she'd said something wrong.
"Have you ever been to this venue?" It was all Emma could think to say to break the silence. "I've heard it's really nice inside."
Looking around, Regina's lips tugged upward into a playful smirk. She spoke as she began to peel off her fur coat.
"Well it's not The Rainbow Room nor The Plaza, but it seems like a suitable atmosphere for a party."
Emma didn't hear a word she'd said. Because without the coat to obstruct her view, Emma took in the sight of the off-the-shoulder deep burgundy dress Regina opted to wear tonight. Her eyes fell to the generous cut of the neckline, showing off the curve of her cleavage.
When Regina caught Emma staring, she fought the urge to call her out on it. But, before she had a chance, Emma tugged off her own jacket.
Clad in a suit that seemed like it had been made for her, Regina licked her suddenly dry lips.
"Well– Miss Swan," she forced her gaze upward to meet Emma's green eyes, a hint of amusement in her own dark, sultry stare. "If I had known how well you pulled off a suit, I never would have agreed on the 'no sleeping together' part of this little arrangement of yours."
Regina's bluntness made Emma's lips part, her mouth agape in shock.
"Your jacket, dear." Regina reached for Emma's coat and handed it to the man behind the counter who had taken both of their jackets and gave them a ticketed number in return.
Emma shook her head, reminding herself of why she and Regina were here. They weren't friends. They weren't into each other. They were just standing in for the sake of having a date tonight. Hell, she still wasn't certain if Regina even liked women or if she'd only agreed to the arrangement to have plans of her own.
They made their way into the main ballroom and Emma grabbed two glasses of champagne from a man carrying a tray. She handed one to Regina and finally broke the silence that was beginning to make her sweat.
"So are you ready to meet my friends?"
Regina took a sip and laughed. "Well, that depends. Are they as charming as you are?"
Once again, Emma wasn't sure what to make of the comment. Nobody seemed to confuse her as much as Regina Mills did. But, surprisingly, it was a nice change of pace. For someone like Emma, who usually was able to read people well, Regina kept her on her toes.
Before Emma could answer, she heard Ruby shouting her name. When she peered over in the direction of the sound, the sight of Ruby in her red strapless dress was charging over in her direction.
"Ruby, everything looks perfect!" Emma greeted her best friend with a reassuring nod – but it didn't seem like Ruby was nervous in the slightest.
"Isn't it great? I can't wait for the ball to drop so I can ask Belle to be my wife." She practically squealed, and Emma had to hush her to remind her that others might overhear and ruin the surprise.
"This is Regina Mills," Emma said with a smile. Regina extended a hand and Ruby took it, shaking eagerly.
"You are absolutely stunning. To be honest, I thought Emma was joking when she told me she was bringing a date tonight." She turned to Emma and laughed. "Better hold on to this one, Em. She's way out of your league."
Regina laughed softly, and Emma thought she was about to accept the compliment.
"Well, if you ask me, I'd have to say it's the other way around."
Emma blinked and looked at her. Once again, Regina had managed to surprise her in a way nobody else had before.
Emma turned to give Ruby a look that screamed, 'how can this be real?' But Ruby had disappeared just as quickly as she'd arrived, and Emma turned to Regina. Despite the extra height that Emma had on her, Regina's perfect posture made her appear taller than she was. Emma swallowed and tilted her head.
"So what about your friends? Any of them gay?"
"Oh? I'm not suitable company and you're already scouring for your next date?"
"N– no," Emma choked. "No, of course not. I was just—"
"I'm only joking, dear." Truthfully, Emma's question halted Regina in her tracks. To stall her response, she took a long sip of her champagne. Raking her brain, she tried to come up with people who could be deemed a friend to her. There was Kathryn, but she was more of an employee than a friend.
"My close friend, Kathryn. She's bisexual. And my college roommate is a lesbian who recently married. My friend list is smaller than most, though." She frowned, and Emma was about to ask another question before someone called her name.
"Swan, there you are."
The sound of his voice sent a wave of nausea through her body, and she felt her stomach muscles tighten in response.
"Neal," she said simply, lifting her glass to her lips to take a large gulp. When she realized she'd managed to empty her glass, she sighed.
"I'd heard through the grapevine that you were bringing a date tonight," he paused and eyed Regina up and down. "I didn't realize you'd be showing up with Manhattan's finest."
Normally, Regina would graciously accept the compliment. But something about this man already rubbed her the wrong way – though he'd only spoken a handful of words. He reminded her of the type of sleazy, overzealous men that her mother always tried to set her up with. She made a mental note to ask Emma about him later.
"Regina Mills," she said simply, not bothering to extend a hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Regina Mills." His gaze kept drifting from Regina's chest to Emma's, doing little to conceal the thoughts that Regina undoubtedly knew were crossing his mind. She narrowed her gaze. Neal continued. "Emma, where did you find this beauty?"
Emma eyed the bar in the distance behind Neal, wondering what excuse she could pay to get out of his presence. She wondered who even continued to invite him to these events.
"Oh– um." She'd prepared for this question, knowing people would inevitably ask them at some point. "We actually just met at a bar one night. We hit it off and I knew I'd be an idiot if I didn't ask her out," she answered casually. It sounded convincing enough. Regina only nodded.
"It's a shame, that's all." Neal answered, and both women frowned in confusion. Regina only now realized he was slurring his words. He directed his attention solely at Regina. "Normally, at these events, Emma and I are the only two single ones and end up spending the night together."
"Neal—" Emma interjected, not wanting to hear the nonsense he was about to sputter. Regina lifted an eyebrow in amusement.
"There's no need to deny it, Em. You know that's how it goes."
Regina was moments away from interjecting, sensing the discomfort Emma was feeling as she shifted her weight from side to side beside her. Regina reached out to grab her hand.
Neal continued, "But who knows? Maybe tonight, I'll end up with both of you underneath—"
Regina didn't bother to let him finish. Anger bubbled up inside of her just seeing how uncomfortable he was making Emma feel.
"I'd advise you to not finish that sentence," she said in a deep tone that sent a delicious shiver down Emma's side. Emma wasn't sure whether it turned her on or terrified her. "As a friend of Emma's, I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. But I think I have heard enough."
His mouth fell open, staring dumbfounded as if nobody had ever stepped on his fragile ego before.
"Now if you'll excuse us, Neal." The way Regina said his name somehow managed to make it sound like an insult. "I'd like to dance with my date and to continue on with my evening as though you do not exist."
Before Neal could say another word, Regina tugged Emma away.
"I can explain," Emma began.
"No need, dear. I've spent enough time in the presence of men like him to know not to trust a word he says. Are you alright?" She looked down, realizing Emma's hand was still gripping tightly onto hers.
Emma only nodded, not wanting Regina to think she was incapable of fighting her own battles. She was. She'd handled Neal plenty of times in the past. But she had to admit, she didn't hate the way that Regina stepped in and defended her.
They stopped at the bar for another round of drinks – downing them quickly before Regina insisted on dancing.
Emma protested for a moment, but realized Regina wasn't backing down.
"If I end up stepping on your toes in these heels, you're to blame," Emma teased.
Their bodies fell together with ease, and Emma realized she couldn't remember the last time she'd danced with someone other than Ruby, who always insisted on dancing in the the center of the room every time they went out.
But something about the sensation of Regina's hands settling onto her hips as they moved to the music felt simple. As if their bodies were designed to fit together perfectly.
"You smell nice," Regina whispered against Emma's neck when Emma was facing away from her, their hips swaying together. She wasn't sure if the soft vanilla fragrance was from Emma's perfume, or her hair, or maybe just the natural scent of her skin, but it was intoxicating – adding to the few glasses of champagne she'd already consumed.
"I do?" Emma laughed nervously, taking the compliment with pride as she nestled closer to Regina. The song picked up.
"Incredible."
Her cheeks grew warm and Emma wanted nothing more than to throw her head back and nestle against the crook of Regina's shoulder. Instead, she spun around and grabbed Regina's hips so they could dance face to face.
When the music picked up, and the DJ decided to play The Time Of My Life, Emma was surprised when Regina's more reserved inhibitions broke loose and she started dancing wantonly, not caring that people were staring. Emma decided she had nothing to lose by joining in, kicking off her heels and jumping around aimlessly. They both laughed and Emma felt lighter than usual.
"This is probably the best New Year's Eve I've had in my entire lifetime," Emma confessed between spurts of laughter.
When the song slowed, a bunch of couples made their way onto the dance floor and Regina took a step backward. Emma sighed, but did her best to conceal it.
"I've underestimated my liquor tolerance, it seems." Regina laughed, her usual composure wavering slightly as her body swayed a bit.
"Are you okay? I can help get you home if you're feeling too drunk to stay out longer?"
Regina shook her head curtly.
"Don't be silly, Emma. It's nearly midnight. I'll be fine. Excuse me while I run to the ladies room to freshen up?"
Emma nodded and ducked off to the side of the dance floor, debating if she should head over to the bar for another drink. She glanced around at all the couples who were now slow dancing.
Counting the minutes, she realized seven had passed since Regina left her. She spotted Neal eyeing her up from across the room and averted her gaze.
Two minutes until midnight.
When the countdown for the new year began, Emma sighed and dropped her gaze to the floor. She reminded herself this wasn't a real date, so she shouldn't have expected a kiss at midnight anyway. But she couldn't help the way the disappointment nestled deeper as it weighed heavy on her chest.
Ten seconds. Then nine. All the way down to one.
Confetti, cheers, toasts, and celebratory kisses began and Emma couldn't look away. Another year alone. She fought off the sadness that kept creeping in, reminding herself it was just a dumb holiday.
Before she knew what was happening, she felt a delicate hand on her shoulder and her body being spun around.
The way Regina's lips felt against her own made Emma moan softly, and she deepened the kiss for another few seconds before they broke apart.
"Sorry I'm late," Regina whispered against her lips.