Thanks again for all the love on this story. Enjoy.
Emma threw herself back into work with gusto, out of necessity, but also to quiet her mind. With the new restaurant, Gold's, opening across town, August was relieved to have Emma's full attention again. He knew he could handle the kitchen, but Emma had a head for the business side of the restaurant, and August hated all that stuff.
Plus, despite Emma's feelings about Regina's review of Saviors, it had garnered attention, and it had piqued the public's curiosity. Now people were driving from 20 miles away to check it out, and they had to make sure they liked what they saw and tasted.
She was putting the final touches on the weekend menu when August tossed the Food section of the Boston Globe in front of Emma and pointed at Regina's latest review.
"Looks like her Evil Highness is back to crushing the hearts of aspiring chefs everywhere," August said with a smirk.
IT'S PLENTY RICH, BUT GOLD'S IS SOULLESS
by Regina Mills
Boston Globe Food Critic
I was not going to be thrown off course by the famed (read: notorious) gold teeth or the acrid reputation that preceded the owner and head chef of the self-named and highly anticipated Gold's. And while the staff was impeccably dressed and no piece of cutlery dare be askew or finished food sit unattended on a tabletop for a fraction of a second, the experience of dining at Gold's feels empty and, ultimately, forgettable.
If you would have asked me to close my eyes and imagine what a four-course $172 prix fixe format would feature, I would have guessed foie gras, sea scallops, lamb medallions, and a creme brûlée. And I would have been correct on two out of four. But instead of the sea scallops, Mr. Gold's menu offered wagyu and Kobe beef tartare, prepared tableside, with fried Malpeque oysters, which were smothered in a wildly rich lobster béarnaise. It was decadent and delicious but the richness of the food as a second course just about made me forget anything else I ate.
For dessert, the chocolate torte was created from a blend of 28 cocoas from round the world and decorated with edible gold florets. It was indeed delicious—heavenly really—but almost offensive given that the restaurant is located about six miles from the county's most populated homeless shelter. Have we really gotten to the point that we need to eat gold in order to feel good about our stature and to prove our collective manhood?
If you eat at Gold's, you will eat well, but I make no promises for what will happen to your soul after the fact.
Emma felt a shiver run through her. The review was satisfying, and Regina became, impossibly, even more desirable to her. But Emma also worried for her and for how little regard she seemed to have over making enemies out of some really powerful chefs, even in her own back yard.
Emma knew a little bit about Mr. Gold. His reputation was sinister. In fact, there was a rumor about a local rival of Gold's whose restaurant had been plagued with a series of incredibly unlucky circumstances (a roach infestation and a case of Mad Cow disease that was somehow tracked back to his establishment by an anonymous source), which had effectively put him out of business and ruined his reputation.
If Gold was in fact responsible for ruining someone who did nothing much more to provoke him beyond being the direct competition, Emma wondered how he'd handle a direct takedown like this.
She considered texting Regina and voicing her concern, even in the form of a joke or an Evil Queen jab, but she thought better of it. They hadn't even truly voiced their feelings for each other yet, and they still had so much to learn about one another, it seemed much too soon to put Regina on the defensive. This was Regina's work, and it seemed better to keep church and state completely separate for the time being.
A tug on Emma's ponytail brought her out of her thoughts, back to the here and now. Emma twisted to look over her shoulder, and Ruby gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Hey, Red."
"Ems, you look miles away. You ok?"
Emma had shared some of the details of her encounters with Regina to Ruby, not to be salacious, but because it helped it feel more real if she could share it with her best friend.
She handed Ruby the Food section of the newspaper and gulped down some water while she read, worrying her lip nervously. A moment later, big brown eyes shot up to Emma's.
"Wow. Ems, you found yourself a live one. She's brave as fuck, I'll give her that."
Emma nodded solemnly, pushing her hair behind her ears.
"Yeah, I know. She's really something. I just hope he doesn't go after her."
"Well enough of that. She knows what she's doing. This isn't her first rodeo. Lets get to the good stuff. When are you seeing her again?"
"I'm ducking out of here around 6 so I can go over to hers to make dinner with Regina and Henry," Emma said, a small smile finding it's way back onto Emma's face.
"Henry? Her son? Wow. Emma Swan, this is serious. I've never heard you like this. It sounds like you really like her, and vice versa."
Emma reached into her apron and pulled out the letter Regina had written her the other day and handed it to Ruby shyly.
As Ruby read Regina's words, her face split into a huge, brilliant grin.
"No way. Holy shit. Is this woman an extraterrestrial? This is the fucking cutest thing I've ever read. She is totally smitten. Do you… I mean, do you feel the same way?"
Emma nodded.
"I can't even explain it, Rubes. She's gorgeous and so accomplished and sophisticated but also generous and sweet. And when I'm with her I can think of a single other place I'd rather be. The only thing is—and don't take this the wrong way because I'm not doubting myself—I'm still not 100 percent sure what she would want with someone like me, but I'm trying to just put that out of my head and just enjoy it.
Ruby's expression twisted in frustration, and she narrowed her eyes in scrutiny at Emma.
"Someone like you? Ahh, I see what you mean. You mean like an executive chef and restauranteur who came from nothing and owned two restaurants by the time she was 26? Not to mention runway-model gorgeous, self-deprecating, hilarious, loving, and sweet? Yeah, I know what you mean, you're such a dud. I ask myself all the time what I'm doing with someone like you as a best friend. Loser."
Emma chuckled, conceding to Ruby's words with her head bowed.
"That's exactly what Regina said when I brought it up, but it's still hard to make myself believe it. I know it sounds pathetic, but do you have any idea what I mean? Have you ever felt like that?"
"Yes, of course. I totally get it, but I just wish you'd give yourself the credit you deserve. Either way, don't second guess this. You deserve to be happy with someone who sees you and thinks you're the most sensational creature that ever lived. You are, honey. You're special. Be happy, baby girl."
Emma pulled her friend into a hug.
"Working on it, Rubes."
—-
Emma stared at her reflection in the rearview mirror a few hours later, her bug parked in the driveway at Mifflin Street. She put on some chapstick and roughly pushed her hair behind her ears, fingering through it a few times to pull out any knots.
"Why are you nervous, Emma? Maybe because you're a big fat loser who talks to herself in her car?" she said to her reflection, letting her face drop into her hands.
A tap on her car window caused Emma to leap out of her skin, her heart suddenly hammering wildly in her chest. She looked up and peered out the window, a laughing Regina tossing her head back in pure amusement.
Emma opened her door, and Regina offered her a hand pulling her up and into her body, immediately wrapping her arms around her waist and kissing the corner of her mouth.
"Sorry," she mumbled into her cheek. "I didn't actually come out to startle you. "I just wanted to see if you might actually like to come inside instead of sitting out here in the cold. We won't bite."
Emma blushed and bit her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm nervous. I just don't want to mess up I guess."
"Emma, I promise that's not going to happen. Just come in and be with us. That's what we want," Regina said with a reassuring smile, pulling out of the hug and lacing their hands together, leading her gently into the house. Henry was standing in the entryway, and he offered Emma a knowing smile as soon as she crossed the threshold.
"Caught that, huh kid?"
"Yeah, but don't worry about it. I was trying to look good in front of a girl at soccer today when we were running laps around the field. And I literally crash into one of the goalposts and fell on my butt. So in the scheme of things, you sitting in your car is much less embarrassing."
Emma laughed, instantly disarmed.
"You got me there, I guess. But I am literally the clumsiest person you will ever meet, so we could have an embarrassing story duel, but I've got 11 years on you and about nine extra left feet. You don't want a piece of this," Emma said, feeling suddenly at ease.
Henry laughed and led the way into the kitchen.
"You're right, Mom. She's kind of a big kid," he said, shooting Emma a grin as he disappeared through the door.
When it swung shut, Regina moved in on Emma, steering her to a wall and kissing her longingly. She pulled her lips away but slid her cheek next to Emmas, languishing in the smooth warmth of her skin.
"I missed you. Is that insane? It's only been a few days," Regina confessed, tucking her face into Emma's neck and leaving a row of kisses there.
"Mmm, I missed you too, but I think that means we're both a little crazy. I can't seem to get enough of you," she said, looking getting her first good look at Regina. She was dressed simply in a purple cable knit sweater, black jeans, and boots, and her hair hung loosely across her shoulders. She wore the tiniest bit of lipstick, but otherwise her face was pristine. And just so beautiful. Emma just let her eyes graze, greedily taking in all the loveliness.
Regina offered a slippery sideways smile and raised an eyebrow in question.
"I just… Oh man," Emma fumbled, letting her fingers draw the contours of her face. "You are so gorgeous."
Regina sucked in a breath and picked Emma's hand off her face, kissing the knuckles. Just as with almost every interaction they'd had, Emma once again felt her heart quick, her worries and thoughts fade when Regina was in her personal space.
"You know, there's something I've been meaning to ask you, Emma," Regina said. "I've been wanting to ask you since our first kiss practically, but didn't want to scare you away. But I have it on good authority that you don't scare easily, so I'm going to put on a brave face and just do this."
Emma leaned a little further into her body, trying to encourage her.
"Ok, ask me anything, Regina."
"Emma, I know what you wrote to me. And it was… so sweet. But I do know this is soon. But when we're together—and even when we're not together—I feel so close to you and better than I've felt in a very long time. The thing is, I'm crazy about you. And I want you to be… my girlfriend. I don't want to see anyone else, and I really don't want you to either. I think I'd have to kill them. I just want to be with you. Is that—"
"—Yes," she said, kissing her. "Yes, yes, yes."
Regina's face broke into a 100-watt smile, that brightened her whole face and made Emma's stomach somersaulted. She slid her arms once more around the blonde's waist, and Emma felt a tidal wave of joy as she hugged her. She was wanted. By Regina Mills. And man, she wanted her back.
"Well, now that that's settled, shall we go make dinner with Henry?" she asked brightly, taking Emma's hand in her own.
"Yes, what are we making."
"Nothing fancy, but it's Henry's favorite thing I make. Lasagna. Hope that won't disappoint the chef."
"Impossible."