Dinner was delicious, as always, Regina really could cook. But 30 years in a cursed town leaves a person with a lot of spare time. Hobbies would have to help with the boredom, especially if killing people for fun wasn't on the table.
"That was wonderful, Regina." Emma smiled across to woman in question.
Regina returned Emma's smile from the other side of the table. "Thank you, and to have Henry on clean up makes it all worthwhile." With a smirk dancing across her lips Regina shot a pointed look at Henry which told that him he should start cleaning now.
"Oh fine," Henry whined as he stood from his position next to Emma.
"So well trained," Emma observed as Henry walked out of the dining room with an arm full of dirty dishes. "I need to take advantage of this."
"I would highly recommend it." Regina laughed as she heard a loud groan coming from the kitchen.
"I can hear you two!" Henry call out to his mothers.
"And I can't hear the dish washer." Regina called back to Henry.
"It's on, it's on." Henry grumbled as he came back into the dining room.
"Better be, Kid." Emma glared at her son playfully.
"It is," Henry confirmed as he slumped back into his chair next to his blonde mother.
"Good," Regina smile gratefully in Henry's direction. "Now, I believe you have an assignment that needs writing."
"I do," Henry nodded slowly.
"Well it won't write itself." Regina raise her brows to meet Henry's puppy dog face. "Go on,"
"Finnee," Henry stood with weight in his step and made his way across the room.
"I'll come say goodbye before I leave, Kid." Emma called out to Henry just as he disappeared.
After Henry went upstairs Emma and Regina fell into a comfortable silence. Both of them content in the dim light radiating from the kitchen, full stomachs and warmth in the air- summer was coming.
"Thank you," Regina mused softly as she looked down into her swirling wine.
"Thank you?" Emma question after a moment of silence.
"I didn't get a chance to say it earlier. So, thank you." Regina looked up to catch Emma's eyes. "The card was beautiful."
Emma nodded. "You mentioned."
"I had no idea that you wrote so beautifully, let alone anything." There was that unknown look in Regina's eyes again- awe.
"Like I said, there is a lot you don't know." Emma offered with a shrugged.
"Then tell me," Regina's voice was a little firmer now. "We've been through so much, you're right, and I know the woman that you have become but tell me how you got here."
Emma sat for a moment thinking. Where would she even start. Was this going to be a two-way conversation? Could she finally ask Regina the questions that had being taking residence in Emma's mind for the past 6 years? "Ask, and ye shall receive,"
"Well, first of all, how did you know when my birthday was?" Regina asked curiously, almost sure it was Snow- because Regina knew for a fact that she couldn't keep a secret.
"Snow was reluctant to tell me but I got it out of her eventually. I've been sitting on this classified information for 5 months now." Emma offered with a small laughed. "Anything else?"
Regina tapped her ring on her wine glass as she thought. "When did you start writing?" Starting small seemed like a good idea. Because despite these two being good friends, there relationship was based in the present, the past was keep separate- perhaps there was so much pain and chaos in their respective lives, that neither of them were willing to share.
"I would have been ten, maybe a little younger."
"Was it always poetry?" Regina decided this was a simple enough question to keep the conversation moving.
"Not always, sometimes prose, but mostly poetry." Emma nodded to herself slowly. "Yeah, poetry has always come naturally to me."
"Then why not share it with anyone?" Regina asked with a cocked brow.
"Well, I do believe I shared some with you," Emma pointed out like captain obvious.
Regina laughed. "Yes, after 6 years of me being completely unaware."
"Well," Emma held up her hands in defence. "A girls gotta have some mystery."
"Emma, I think that only applies when you're trying to date someone." Regina noted with a smile. If you didn't know Regina then that statement would come across as an observation, but as Emma knew, it was a very Regina joke to make- something that was sassy and verging on truth.
"Well, if I'm mysterious to everyone then I'd call it keeping my options open." Emma quipped back without missing a beat.
"Everyone is a lot of people." Regina noted lightly.
"Lonely nights, call for desperate measures." Emma said dramatically.
Regina nodded, "Oh, now that I understand." And there was that laugh again, the one that filled the room. "I have been so close to getting tinder on a few occasions, but I'm too scared of what I might find." Regina admitted after a moment.
"Your Majesty knows what tinder is?" Emma was shocked. She knew Regina had mourned and then subsequently moved on from Robin but she didn't know Regina was- or wanted to- get back out there.
"I too, have my secrets, Emma." Regina smirked.
"Don't get it, this town is way too small and there are no fish in this sea." Emma offered a supporting tip to her friend.
"Are you speaking from experience, Miss Swan?" Regina grinned.
"Sheriff," Emma corrected with a playful glare. "And yes. So, unless you want Sneezy and Grumpy as dinner dates I would advise another form of dating."
Regina eyes went wide in shock, and then she burst into laughter.
"Oh, it's not funny! I shouldn't be subjected to my mother's henchmen on dating apps." Emma glared at the still laughing Regina.
"Oh, come on, that's hilarious." Regina argued between fits of laughter. Perhaps Emma had found the humour in it, or perhaps it was Regina's infectious laugh but Emma too began to laugh.
Eventually the room filled crackling died down to wheezing and then to a beautiful silence.
"Oh, my god. Emma, you should have never been exposed to such trauma." Regina teased.
"You don't think I know that," Emma scrunched her face up. "Imagine if I had matched with them." Emma's eyes went wide. "Oh, god, no. That's not something I want to think about."
"That is not something anyone wants to think about." Regina agreed.
"Just don't get tinder." Emma reaffirmed.
"Oh, I won't." Regina confirmed quickly. "Maybe we'll just have to get out of town on a girl's weekend and have some fun elsewhere." Regina finally offered after a long silence.
"Sounds good to me," Emma smiled. "Even without the fun, getting out of town would be great."
"Well, let's just start small then," Regina smiled as she stood. "More wine?"
"Please," Emma nodded as she followed Regina through to the den.
"I have-"
"Let me stop you there," Emma interrupted. "I have no idea what anything your about to say means so just take your pick." Emma was a vodka kind of girl, wine was definitely Regina's forte.
"Enchanted path it is," Regina smiled as she pulled a bottle of red wine from the rack.
"Really?" Emma couldn't help the laugh. Enchanted path, that was just to fitting.
"Yes, really." Regina glared. "Its Australian- South Australia has a great wine region." Regina poured Emma and herself more wine before moving over to the couch and sitting.
"Well its strong, so I like it." Emma noted as she sat next to Regina.
"Mollydooker is known for their strong wines." Regina agreed as she took a sip.
"Why are we talking about wines?" Emma asked with a grimace.
"Because wine is better than Grumpy and Sneezy on tinder." Regina quipped.
"That's a good point." Emma nodded. "Being single in Storybrooke is just sad."
"Are you calling me sad?" Regina glared.
"No, I'm calling myself sad." Emma retorted.
"Why?" Regina hadn't been aware of how open and vague her question had been, so of course Emma's answer was somewhat unexpected.
"I don't know if you've noticed, Regina, but I like sex." Emma admitted freely. She and Regina had become good friends, and Emma wasn't the type to shy away from this type of conversation.
"You're sad because you like sex?" Regina questioned for clarity. "But, Emma, sex is a wonderful thing." She smirked wickedly.
"It really is," Emma nodded. "I'm sad because of the lack of sex I'm having," Emma added with a groan.
"Well, if my many years have taught me anything it's that you don't have to have a second person or third, or any number over one to have a good time, Emma." Emma found herself staring at Regina in disbelief- now that was completely unexpected, and the way Regina had purred it… Well, that was completely unnecessary. "Close your mouth, Emma, you'll catch a fly." Regina teased after a long time of getting no response.
"I just-" Emma tried and failed to form a sentence.
"You couldn't seriously think someone of my age would be a prude?" Regina grinned, she liked how well and how easily she would get under Emma's skin- it was almost a game. Almost. But there was something about this time, it was different from all the rest- there was a look in Emma's eyes, a shallower type of breathing, Regina had really gotten to Emma and it was something Regina wanted to do again. It left a feeling of curiosity in Regina's mind and a flutter in her stomach.
"Have you met my mother?" Emma shot back.
Regina nodded with a distasteful smile. "She is the only exception."
Emma shook her head. "Gross,"
"You better be calling your mother gross, Miss Swan." Regina scolded with a lively glare.
"I am," Emma nodded quickly. "The thought of my mother-" Emma stopped herself. "Oh, ew, nope." Emma shook her head trying to get rid of some very unpleasant thoughts.
"How do you think you were conceived?" Regina laughed as she stood up to get herself more wine.
"Magic is the only option I would like to consider." Emma whined as she handed her glass to Regina for a refill.
Regina laughed once more as she returned to the couch. "Now that's a better thought."
"I know," Emma gratefully took her refilled glass from Regina. "But let's talk about something else because, well, my ladyboner won't survive the night otherwise."
"You have a ladyboner?" Regina questioned with a strain of shock in her voice. Though Emma completely missed it, there was a look of something close to hunger in Regina's eyes- for just a split second.
"Always, my ladyboner is a constant. Always ready to go." Emma nodded confidently. "Because let's be real, I'm too old for courting."
"Yeah, kids these days and their foreplay, it's terrible." Regina sassed.
"I know you're being sarcastic, but yes, exactly." Emma claimed.
"And too old?" Regina scoffed. "You're far too young to think that, Emma. I'm not even there yet."
"Well maybe you're cursed years don't count?" Emma questioned, "And then that would make you what? Thirty something?"
"My cursed years definitely count- they added to my face routine. And my, Miss Swan, weren't you ever told its rude to ask a woman her age."
"I'll ask mum," Emma threatened. "I just want to know how long I have before my ladyboner seriously dies." Emma whined.
"I'll let you know when I get there." Regina offered with a smirk.
"One day I will figure out how old you are," Emma declared with a swift change in topic.
"Good luck," Regina grinned innocently.
"I'm the sheriff, Regina, I don't need luck." Emma countered.
"If you think you're going to find my real age anywhere in Storybrooke, you are sorely mistaken." Regina warned.
"Well, it may not be written down, but again, I can ask my mother." Emma teased.
"And how hard was it for you to get my birthdate off of her?" Regina grinned. "Again, good luck, Miss Swan."
"All your secrecy about it makes me want to know even more, Regina." Emma explained.
"I know." Regina sassed. "Now, stop talking about my age," Regina waved a dismissive hand. "I believe this all started by me simply and innocently asking you about your poetry."
"Innocently?" Emma laughed. "Regina, you are anything but innocent."
"Well, I'm certainly agree," Regina nodded with a smirk, she took pride in being anything but innocent. "But the beginning of this conversation was."
"Oh, you are forever going to be a mystery to me, Regina Mills." Emma signed as she leant back onto the couch and stared distantly at Regina.
"It's all about dating options." Regina jested. "But why am I a mystery to you?" Regina asked pointedly.
"In the grand scheme of it all, I barely know you." Emma admitted softly. "And I always find myself trying to fill in the blanks."
"You could just ask," Regina deadpanned.
"You won't even tell me your age, so I doubt that's true." Emma's words weren't venomous or hurtful, but there were rather flat.
"Is my age really that important to you?" Regina queried, as she place a soft and reassuring hand on Emma's shoulder.
"No, it's not that I want to know your age but I barely know anything about you before the year 2011." Emma thought for a moment, "Except the Evil Queen stuff but I mean, everyone knows that. And that's not really, you, it's that one thing that over shadows everything else." Emma sighed. "I want to know about stupid things you did as a kid, or fun adventures you had when you weren't trying to kill my mother, or I don't know- things about you that pre-exist Henry and-"
"Emma,"
"Hmm?"
"You're rambling."
Emma looked up from her wine glass. "Oh, sorry,"
Regina smiled softly. "It's okay," Regina court Emma's eyes and held them with her own. "We can talk about our pasts if you want, that's perfectly fine with me." Regina's smile and eyes were soft and kind. "I just assume most people don't want to hear about my past, which is fair enough, and well, you never opened up about yours so I didn't pry."
Emma looked at Regina and thought about it for a moment, all of that made complete sense. "So, does this mean I have permission to ask about your past?" Emma grinned, hoping that her livelier tune would be taken well.
Regina rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Yes, Emma."
"Okay," Emma nodded, thinking about what she could ask Regina. "What year were you born in?" Emma's grin took up her whole face.
"Oh my god, you idiot." Regina couldn't help but laugh.
"Your idiot," Emma retorted.
Regina froze for a second, no air in her lungs, she had heard exactly what Emma had said- But why had that gotten to her, why was her mouth dry, why where her lungs empty? Regina shook off her invasive thoughts and moved the conversation forward. "I was 32 when I cast the curse. You do the math."
"So, you're 38? You don't look it. That face routine is working." Emma smiled softly.
"38? That's putting it kindly." Regina admired how sweet Emma was.
"Well, technically time was frozen, so magically and physically you are." Emma offered kindly.
"Oh, let's not get into technically," Regina let out a playful groan. Because with technicallys they would be sitting on that couch until the sun came up.
"Yeah, you're right," Emma rubbed her face in her hands. "It's late anyway, I should get going." Emma stood and stretched a little. "Do you think Henry is still up?" Emma asked as she looked at the clock.
"Yes probably, but please, tell him to go to sleep." Regina smiled.
"Will do." Emma nodded and made her way out of the den and headed up to say good night to her beautiful son.
Regina took the wine glasses to the kitchen as Emma went up to say goodnight to Henry. But the quietness may have been too much. Regina stood on the kitchen with the hum of her thoughts swirling through her mind. One too many glasses of wine, Regina thought.
As Regina came out into the foyer she found Emma descending the stairs. "Is he up?" Regina asked as Emma came to her side in the foyer.
"Just finishing off a bit of his assignment and then he will head to sleep." Emma confirmed.
Regina nodded. "Good."
Regina stood, slowly swaying, next to Emma, unsure of how she should say goodbye. She was never sure, a hug, an arm squeeze, just words? Nothing ever felt right- it was like subconsciously Regina never wanted to leave Emma, and vice versa.
"Are you driving?" Regina finally broke the silence.
Emma pulled her keys from her pocket and looked at them. "I've had a bit to drink, maybe I'll walk."
"Whatever you do, just be safe." Regina said firmly. Regina knew Emma could take care of herself but there was always that fear- what if Henry's other mother didn't come home? Regina knew it was silly but ever since Storybrooke had been rid of magic there was always that fear lingering in the back of Regina's mind, especially when Emma was on duty.
"Always am," Emma reassured just as Regina went in to hug her. In that moment it seemed right, and apparently Emma agreed. Emma tightly hugged Regina back and held onto her for what most would be considered longer than necessary.
When Regina finally pulled from the hug her cheek grazed Emma's and for just a moment she could feel Emma's breath on her lips. Regina's muscles tightened as her lungs forgot how to work and her heart went into over drive. But quickly enough the sensation was gone, and then Emma was gone. And Regina was left standing in an empty foyer, her mind buzzing with thoughts that she had never had before.
…
Regina couldn't sleep that night so instead of tossing and turning in bed she decided to be productive in her office.
Regina had finished several forms and had checked over a few reports before she got to Emma's budget request. A vending machine. Sheriff Emma Swan wanted a vending machine that was filled with candy and no good snacks. Regina couldn't help but laugh, because of course Emma would want one and of course she could find a May only offer that would put every other company to shame.
Regina signed her name on the dotted line and moved to the next file on her desk. Regina didn't get much more work done after that. Her mind was to clouded by Emma Swan. Regina had tried to distract herself with work but it seemed that Emma Swan was still able to seep through the cracks.
Regina couldn't pin point why this night, one like many others, had turned her upside down. She was replaying every second, everything she had said, everything Emma had said. Your idiot. Yours.
By the time Regina crawled back into bed at 4:40am she had put all these unwanted thoughts down to one thing- Sex. They had spoken so freely of sex and their lack of if, causing a certain loneliness in Regina's heart and mind to spring alive. Yes, Regina was sure of it. Regina was lonely and Emma and their conversation had stirred up said feelings of loneliness. Tomorrow Regina could suppress that again and move one.