Hi there! Thank you all for reading and the feedback on yesterday's story! Here's the next one, this prompt inspired me so much that I came up with two shorter oneshots so you'll find them both in this chapter, divided with a horizontal line... I hope you'll like them! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this...
SWAN QUEEN WEEK
Day 4- Mistaken for a couple
The Storybrooke Fair had always been something Regina had hated with passion. Kids running around madly, annoying carnie music constantly playing in the background and part of her beautiful main street and the park ruined by the sight of the booths the vendors set up. And the vendors, oh... they sold everything from greasy or sugary carnival food that was sure to cause early death to little trinkets you would never be able to use. All of it was as good as trash. And of course there were the games, the target shooting and ring throwing and those that didn't even depend on skills rather than just chance, the little carousel and the bumper cars that were more dangerous than they looked.
It had always been something she had to endure each year in order to make Henry happy. And really, seeing his little face flushed, his eyes sparkling with excitement, it was a small price to pay. Ever since he was a toddler he begged her until they went out and wandered the rows of booths and wasted some money on the goods and the games. She thought he would grow out of it but somehow her little boy never did and the only year she wasn't forced to go was the year when Henry got the storybook and started to pull away from her, the year he brought Emma town. That year she sat at home, listening to the occasional laughter and squeal that sounded from down the street and she found herself wishing she was out there too with Henry, found herself kind of missing it. And then there were all sorts of dangers threatening the town and for the first time ever since they arrived in this new land, the Fair wasn't held for years in a row.
The next time, after every threat was warded off and curses were broken and wicked sisters defeated and finally finally they had some peace again, it was Emma and Henry making plans, the blonde just as excited about it as their son and they practically dragged Regina with themselves and even though she put up a fight just for the pretense of it, just because she was used to hating it, she didn't mind going with them so badly. And it felt something like family as they strolled down the street, munching on caramel and cotton candy.
She did her best not to look at the couples holding hands around them or the one making out against a tree as they went because really Robin wasn't so long ago and no matter how hard she tried to act tough about it and deny that it affected her at all, it wasn't so easy.
But she had Henry and Emma was making silly jokes and they looked so happy that it was making it just a bit easier, making her forget about it all. And from time to time Emma's arm and hand brushed against hers as they walked beside each other, the blonde seemingly not even noticing it anymore and it felt nice.
"Mom! I'm going to go over there and say hi to Nick, okay?" Henry told her, pointing over to the other side of the carousel where she could see his friend Nicholas waving him closer. He had a huge bubble maker in his hand and he was blowing extra sized bubbles all around.
"Okay but don't get lost." Regina nodded.
"Do you have your phone? Turn the volume up, kid, so we can reach you." Emma added and Henry rolled her eyes.
"Yes moms, don't worry, I'm not eight, I'll be fine." he said before grinning at them and sprinting across the crowd to meet his friend.
"Oh he grows up so fast..." Emma sighed dreamily next to her and she swatted her arm with a grin.
"Like you know it. You barely notice when he's wearing a new T-shirt or when he's outgrown his jeans." she teased.
"Hey, the kid has tons of shirts of course I can't keep track of each one of them. I can barely keep track of my own." she protested.
"Not like you have such an extensive wardrobe." she said and earned an indignant look from the blonde.
"Not everyone can have as many blouses as you do, Regina" she shot back and Regina felt the thrill of their familiar banter.
"Do you even own one?"
"Yes." Emma stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Other than the one Henry stole from me?" Regina asked with a smirk.
"I gave that back! You even wore it several times since..." Emma cried out, throwing her arms in the air and the brunette let out a chuckle.
"Good to know you keep track of what I wear so carefully."
"Uugh" Emma just groaned and Regina grinned in victory. Emma glanced at her from the corner of her eye and when she saw Regina's beam a smile spread on her face as well. It was great to see the brunette so happy...
"Madam Major! Mayor Mills!" one of the vendors they passed called out to them and Regina turned towards the voice in surprise. "Come and try yourself out, win a plush or a heart shape for your girlfriend there! Come and shoot a round!" the man beckoned them closer and Regina's eyes widened when she heard his words. Her girlfriend? She realized he must have meant Emma and a blush started spreading on her cheeks. So that was what they looked like from the outside? It wasn't that she really minded anyone thinking they were a couple. Actually, she really didn't mind at all but... She couldn't be sure if it bothered Emma.
"We're not...she's not..." she started to say, gathering up all her usual snark and sass but Emma cut her off.
"Yes Regina, why don't you try?" she asked with a twinkle in her green eyes. "I'd like that little pony over there!" she said, pointing at a purple miniature plush on the second shelf with a shit eating grin on her face, enjoying the situation far too much and Regina had to restrain herself not to do something childish, like stick out her tongue.
"Fine." she huffed out then payed for one round and with her first shot she got into the middle of the target, getting Emma that damn pony. "Happy now?" she asked from a slightly shocked blonde, feigning annoyance when in fact she was rather enjoying herself.
"Very." Emma nodded and clutched the animal to her chest, making a show of stroking its mane lovingly before she grinned at Regina, who just rolled her eyes then pulled the blonde along by the crook of her elbow, making their ways down the road by those goddamn booths.
Regina never knew how exhausting an election could be. Before her curse she didn't have to go through any of that and then after it broke, they never really had time to worry about who's Mayor. Then it was Snow of course and then when the woman couldn't do it herself it was back to Regina. But she was told not a week ago that since now this is a town just like any in the world and since the citizens desired to be able to make their own choice they would have to hold elections so they could vote. Also so anyone who wanted to become mayor could have a campaign and try.
And that was why Regina was suffering through interviews with the three local newspapers, that was why she had to be so ridiculously lovely with everyone in town, even the stupid new girl at the flower shop who just couldn't wrap her mind around why Regina would want to buy a big bouquet even though it was absolutely none of her business and really can't someone want to decorate their home or office with fresh waters... but she had to force a smile on her face and tell this girl her reasons. And then afterwards thank her for her services. She absolutely hated it! It wasn't what she was used to at all.
And it was why, to the urging of her secretary who was now acting as her campaign manager, she had to do a press conference. Which wasn't so much of a press conference because Storybrooke only had one Tv channel and the previously mentioned three newspapers and some online bloggers who were mostly just geek kids who liked to be informed so the conference was mostly open to anyone who was willing to listen and that was how the room got packed, a crowd gathering quickly, everyone wanting to feel very included and very important in this whole election thing. She mostly found it ridiculous but of course she couldn't say that out loud, maybe only complain to Henry at home or to Emma when the blonde popped up at her office, like a breath of fresh air, with a coffee or something to eat.
And so she opened her speech with her wide but entirely fake smile, her mayor persona slipping into place perfectly as she welcomed everyone and thanked them for being present on this conference. She said a few words about her campaign program, her plans and her reasons and then she opened the conference up to questions. At least fifteen hands lifted into the air at the same time and Regina took a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst. She scanned the crowd quickly around the back and her eyes found the blonde Sheriff standing near the door, leaning back on the wall with her arms crossed above her chest. Emma was looking at her with reassuring eyes, sending a small smile her way as their eyes met above the crowd and it calmed Regina's nerves immensely.
"Mayor Mills what do you think about your opponents?" came one man's voice and Regina repressed her urge to be sassy about it.
"I believe everyone has the right to want to try and I think they're all worthy opponents no matter how inexperienced they might be." she said.
"Madam Mayor! The lost boys you brought back from Neverland are starting to grow up into hooligans, damaging public property... what do you plan do do with them?"
"Those boys are just like our own children in their teenager years, they need love and care and understanding and I hope that over the years they will find families who are willing to take them in. Until then they are living together under the supervision of the fairies. Sheriff Swan and I are working on a way to occupy them when they're not in school, a way for them to use their extra energies in something that the town could profit from rather than suffer. Some of the boys are going to be helping out at the Sheriff's department and others will be doing some lighter jobs around town. We also thought of building a center, not just for the lost boys but for all the teenagers in our town who need a place to... " she trailed off in her little monologue and glanced at Emma again with a playful smile before continuing. "How did you say, Miss Swan? They need a place to 'chill out', right?" she asked and Emma rolled her eyes with a grin. "So that's what our plans are at the moment."
A murmur ran across the crowd, everyone having an opinion about it and wanting to share with the one sitting next to them, reporters quickly writing down what she said so they could quote it later in their articles.
"Mayor Mills! What did you think of the events of June 26th? Now that same-sex marriages are legal in the whole country, will you and Sheriff Swan get married?"came the next question, catching Regina entirely off guard. This was why these conferences weren't open to everyone. She composed herself quickly and tried to answer as politely and as diplomatically as she could.
"While I do support marriage equality and I am very glad it is legal now, Miss Swan and I are not an item, so no, we are not getting married." she said with a smile.
"How do you feel about the fact that half the town thinks you're together?" the next question was shouted and immediately came another one. And one after that, Regina not having the chance to say a word.
"What does your son think about that?"
"Then why did the Sheriff dump that pirate of hers?"
"Can you tell us about the rumors of you and Maleficent?"
"What about the time you and Sheriff Swan went to find that woman?"
"When you were out of town together...?"
"What about when the two of you fought against...?"
The crowd started to move, everyone yelling their questions in at the same time, the noise getting too loud to hear anything after a while and Regina felt her stomach clenching and her nerves getting the better of her. This is so not how she planned this...
Her eyes involuntarily jumped to the back of the room to search for the blonde, she really needed that moral support at the moment, but she was not much of a help, Emma was almost doubled over, laughing into her hands and Regina shot her a glare.
She looked to the side where her secretary was standing and after sharing a look, Regina stepped back from the microphone and gave way to the other woman who spoke up, the microphone allowing her to speak over the noise and get people's attention.
"Please! Everyone! Let's take a break now! We can continue in ten minutes but we would like everyone to keep their questions on the topic of the town and the election and not Mayor Mills's personal life. Thank you!"
The people started to stand up, many looking disappointed but others were busy chatting about these unexpected turn of events as everyone wandered out of the room. Regina slipped through one of the doors next to the stage and she found herself in an empty corridor, blissfully quiet and peaceful. Her secretary gave her a bottle of water and very respectfully told her to just take a few deep breaths and get ready for round two then she left her alone. A few minutes later Emma appeared, striding down towards her with a smug grin on her face.
"Well that was fun!" she said as she came to a stop beside Regina.
"Oh shut it." she snapped.
"What? It's good to know so many people would support us, they are all little shippers..." Emma said, the last part in a sing-song voice and Regina couldn't be mad at her really, not when she was so adorable.
"You're such an idiot." she shook her head with a smile.
"Why, Mayor Mills, is that way of saying you love me?" Emma teased and even though Regina didn't answer her, they both knew it was indeed.
And that's it. Thank you for reading, please tell me what you thought! Any and all feedback are most appreciated! :)