After a few minutes of Mary embracing and examining the awkward Regina the four of them made it out of the hallway and into the living room. Mary and David sat comfortably on the couch with Skittles on the ground between their legs soaking up the attention. Regina sat in the nearby arm chair and Emma sat on the arm of the chair gently rubbing the woman's back trying to keep her calm.
"So, Regina, Emma tells us that you are the head pastry chef for La Pomme Merchant?" Emma's eyes went huge and she tried to motion to her mother to stop talking. Regina noticed Emma's movements and giggled at how cute it was that Emma was trying to protect her feelings.
"What Emma?" Mary noticed her daughter's weird hand gestures and raised her eyebrows.
"It's okay dear," Regina replied. "Yes, I was for a long time actually until yesterday."
"Oh, I'm sorry I had no idea." Mary replied sincerely.
"Its okay how could you know? The restaurant decided to start moving in a new direction and I simply could not be a part of it any longer so I decided it was best for me to part ways."
"Well they are fools for letting anything drive you out. David and I have had your desserts and they were mind blowing! You are really talented." Mary smiled.
"Thank you that means a lot to me." Regina smiled back. Wow, these people are too nice for their own good.
"What are your plans? If you don't mind me asking?"
"Emma and I had recently begun talking about opening my own place." Regina watched as Mary's eyes lit up. "I'm still unsure though. There is just a lot to think about at the moment."
"I think it is a splendid idea! You have the talent and the rest has its way of working out. As long as you are willing to put in the time and hard work it can really be very rewarding." Mary smiled at Regina and then turned to smile at her husband.
"I'm definitely not a stranger to hard work."
"I can tell that about you." Mary smiled. "So…Emma dear… just getting back from the gym I see?"
"Yep, you know me…" Emma laughed making eye contact with Regina and Regina quickly turned her head before she lauged.
"You would think you could at least clean up before you meet with your new girlfriend. You are all sweaty and your hair is a mess…" Mary scrunched up her nose and David laughed.
"Its fine mom she doesn't mind." Emma rolled her eyes.
"Oh how can you say that? Look at her she is dressed so elegant and beautiful and you meet with her looking like that! Sometimes Emma I swear!" Mary laughed at her daughter.
"Goodness Mom you want me to go shower right now?" Emma said jokingly.
"Yes, actually I think you should."
"Seriously?" Emma asked her mouth hanging open. Regina was just sitting back enjoying the banter between mother and daughter.
Mary nodded at her daughter as if she was a teenager and Emma stomped off down the hall.
"I will be back in ten. My god you still treat me like a child!"
"Okay dear enjoy your shower." Mary laughed and looked at Regina who was laughing as well.
"If you ladies do not mind I am going to take this one out back and throw the ball around for a bit." David said as he headed towards the kitchen.
"Not at all, have fun!" Regina smiled. Emma reminded Regina a lot of her father.
"Well, now that it is just the two of us, how are things going between you and Emma?" Mary smiled and Regina felt her anxiety ramp up a little. Mary was extremely sweet but there was something about being alone with your new girlfriend's mother that was a little uncomfortable.
"Things are wonderful. Emma is amazing. I have never met anyone like her in my life." Regina smiled at the older woman as she began to play with the hem of her skirt.
"That's good to hear dear. Yes, Emma is one of a kind. And what exactly are you looking for? A relationship I hope? My daughter seems to be pretty smitten with you."
Regina gulped. Here we go.
"The feeling is mutual I can reassure you. Yes, a relationship. In fact I hope that I am not coming on to strong here but I love your daughter Mrs. Swan. I know that sounds soon but from the moment that I met her I knew that I wanted to be with her."
Mary sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. Regina couldn't read the other woman's body signals and prepared herself for the worst.
"Wow, I cannot tell you what a relief that is to hear."
Regina took a deep breath and smiled.
"After Ruby left us, God rest her soul, I was so worried for my daughter. She went into such a dark place. David and I were terrified that we were never going to get our daughter back. A few months ago we started to hear a little more of her return but she still wasn't quite the same." Mary looked down at her hands and took a deep breath.
"Then a few days ago when I spoke to her on the phone she had a different sound to her. I hung up and cried. I cried tears of joy because for the first time in two years I heard my sweet Emma again. I heard the happiness and love in her voice again." Mary began to choke on her words and her eyes filled with tears.
Regina felt herself become emotional. She knew that Emma obviously had a hard time with losing Ruby but she had no idea that it was this deep.
"If you are the reason that my daughter has come back to us then I am beyond grateful for you Regina." Mary stood up and walked to the arm chair where Regina was sitting and reached out for her. Regina stood up and embraced the woman into her arms. The love that radiated through them was genuine. It was raw and real and Regina became so overwhelmed with emotions that tears began to flow down her face.
"Whoa, what the hell did I miss?" Emma said as she walked in the room.
"Oh shut up and get over here!" Mary laughed as she pulled her daughter into the hug.