Chapter Eight

Regina brushed stray hairs away from Emma's face, as the blond continued to rest her head on her shoulder. "Please, don't fall asleep in the tub," Regina said, softly.

"I won't, I'm just enjoying this. And it's my birthday, so…" Emma said, with a sly grin.

"It's past midnight. Sorry, but your birthday's over, dear."

Emma pouted. "Does that mean we have to get out of the bath?"

"The water's starting to get cold," Regina pointed out.

"So add more hot," Emma suggested.

"Your skin's getting pruney," Regina said, pulling one of Emma's hands up from the water to show her.

Emma shrugged. "You don't like me touching you, anyway. What difference does it make if my fingers are pruney?"

Regina sighed. "My legs are cramping up."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You're making it really hard for me to relax, you know."

"Good. I don't want you to fall asleep on me."

"If we get out now, can I still stay the night?" Emma asked, hopefully.

"Was that ever the plan?" Regina asked.

"But… you always let me stay the night," Emma said, mild panic filling her voice as she feared Regina might actually kick her out this time. Had she decided that she didn't like her as much as before? Was it because of the red-head? Emma's heart rate was quickening. She didn't want this to end.

"Relax, dear, I'm only teasing," Regina assured her. "Now get up."

Emma breathed a sigh of relief and finally got up and stepped out of the tub. She pulled a big, fluffy white towel around her and started to dry off and she watched Regina step out of the water. She was so graceful and elegant, even doing the most mundane of tasks – like drying off after a bath – and Emma was mesmerized.

"Do you let the people you hook up with spend the night?" Regina asked.

"No," Emma said, shaking her head at how ridiculous it was that they could discuss things like sleeping around as easily as other people might discuss the weather.

"What about your red-head?"

"No, never."

"That's my girl," Regina said, stepping over to give Emma a kiss, before taking her by the hand and leading her back over to the bed. They both crawled under the covers, naked, and Emma laid on her side, facing Regina.

"What is it?" Regina asked, after several long moments of Emma's green eyes studying Regina's intensely.

"Why does my red-head bother you?" Emma asked.

"She doesn't, I just…" Regina let her voice trail off.

"You just what? You just don't like that I sleep with people who are not you?" Emma suggested.

"No. I don't care who you sleep with, so long as you don't end up giving me a disease," Regina said.

Emma scrunched up her nose in disgust. "I won't," she insisted.

"Good. Anyway, it's not that I have an issue with your little red-headed girl, it's that I don't like seeing… well, for lack of a better word, the competition."

Emma laughed. "She's got nothing on you, don't worry."

"She's prettier than I am," Regina said.

"No, she's not."

Regina sighed. She really didn't want to get into this tonight – or ever. "Roll over," she said. Emma complied, and rolled over on to her other side, allowing Regina to move in close and press up against her, snaking her arms around her and holding her close.

"This is pretty intimate for someone who doesn't like intimacy," Emma remarked.

"Please, stop talking, Miss Swan. I'm tired."

Emma sighed. Before long, she could hear Regina's breathing becoming rhythmic, and she knew she was asleep. Emma, however, was wide awake, thinking about how this morning she had expected to go out, get drunk, fuck her red-head, and kick her out. She was well aware of what casual sex meant, and now, in this moment, she realized that either Regina didn't understand, or she did, and she was equally aware that what was happening between them was anything but casual.

She wasn't sure how long she lay awake before sleep overtook her, but the sun seemed to stream in far too early that morning. Emma groaned and rolled over, to find that the bed was empty beside her. She looked over to see Regina up and dressed, applying her make-up in the mirror.

"You have to leave," Emma said. It was a statement, not a question, though she had hoped she could spend more time with Regina that morning.

"I have to get home to my son," Regina said. "He's just a baby. I don't like to leave him longer than I have to."

"You look good for having a baby. I never would have guessed," Emma commented. Regina looked over and smirked, but chose not to correct her. She didn't feel the need to explain why she'd had to adopt, and it was none of Emma's business, anyway.

For her part, Emma figured she must have looked good for having had a baby not all that long ago, since Regina didn't seem to notice. She was grateful that she managed not to get many stretch marks. The child she'd given up was something she'd prefer to never talk about again, and she was glad there wasn't much evidence left behind.

Emma sat up in bed, pulling the sheet up over her chest. She didn't have an issue with nakedness, but nakedness hardly seemed appropriate when Regina was fully dressed. She grabbed the hotel notepad and a pen, and started writing.

"What are you doing?" Regina asked, as she came back over to the bed and handed Emma her discarded clothing from the night before.

"I have a phone number now," Emma grinned, handing the paper to Regina. "You know… just in case."

Regina bit her bottom lip to try to stop the smile that was spreading across her face as she took the paper from Emma. "Perhaps… if I'm ever in Tallahassee, again."

After Emma got dressed, the routine was the same as always: Regina offered to call her a cab, and Emma politely refused, swearing she lived close. This time, it wasn't for lack of a home, but for embarrassment over where she lived. She wasn't sure how well Regina knew Tallahassee, and she didn't want her to know what a sketchy area she lived in.

When she arrived home, she grabbed her cellphone from where she'd left it, before heading out the night before. There were several missed calls and texts from Stacy – the red-head – and one text from Regina.

I'm giving you my number again. You know… just in case.

Emma smiled to herself as she saved Regina's number in her phone. She still didn't know her last name, but it still didn't matter. This time, she would be smarter. This time, she wouldn't hock her phone. Or, if she did, she would write down Regina's number. They had already met by chance, twice, but Emma couldn't help but think her luck might run out eventually, and if she lost Regina's number again, she might be screwed.

She sighed as she texted Stacy back to let her know she was still alive.

How was your night? Stacy texted back, quickly.

Amazing ;) Emma replied, grinning down at her phone as she replayed the night before over and over in her mind.

Drinks tonight? I still owe you a birthday present ;)

Emma stared at her phone. She knew what Stacy meant, but suddenly, she felt that she had lost all interest in this girl.

Can't tonight. I'll have to take a rain check, Emma sent back. After she sent it, she realized this was a rain check she had no intention of ever cashing in on. Her night with Regina had reminded her of feelings she had long since forgotten, and now that they were back, she realized Stacy – and every other man and woman along the way – were all just poor substitutes for Regina.

She didn't want stand-ins. She wanted the real thing.

The only problem was, would Regina ever want her?