A/N: Hey everyone! I've updated it every day so far - I probably won't make a habit of that (sorry) I just seem to have really got into the swing of this one!
Thank you so much for reading/following/favouriting once again :)
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After letting Henry go back to play his new video game, and took the short walk over to Regina's office. She was as usual taken aback by the stark colour changes of the office; the contrast of white against black, and when she walked in the room she was struck by how the colours of Regina's skin, the slight rosy tint to her cheeks and her pouted red lips stood out from the rest of the scene, as if she was the single ray of light amongst a sea of monochrome.
Regina tilted her head up from her work as Emma cleared her throat, and subconsciously licked her lips before putting her pen down. "Miss Swan. Glad you could join me. Just give me a minute to finish filling this in, and I'm all yours."
"Alright.. I'm sure I can find some way to entertain myself." Emma took her leather jacket off and threw it over a chair, before walking across the room to stand behind Regina.
"What do you think you're doing?" Regina asked, with a husky note to her voice. Before she could say anymore, Emma bent over, gathered Regina's hair to one side of her head and began to kiss her neck. "You're determined to distract me, I see dear. If I didn't know you any better, I'd think you had some hidden agenda to sabotage me."
"But you do know me better. I just can't keep my hands off you." Emma smiled into Regina's neck, and ran her hands up and down Regina's biceps. Regina tipped her head to the side and pushed her neck further into Emma's path. The expression on Regina's face was bewitching, and it was difficult for Emma to pull away. She did though, and perched herself on the edge of Regina's desk, facing her. "So?"
Regina was confused for a moment, before realising that it had been her to invite Emma here in the first place. " Ah, yes. I wanted to check that we're on the same page in regards to telling people. I can assure you that I have no desire in letting my town know our private business, especially your mother."
"About that; I think she might be onto me." Emma looked apologetically, "She was sat up waiting when I got home last night, there's no way she could possibly believe we were talking all that time."
"Well you'll have to find a way to make her believe," Regina ran one hand up Emma's jean-clad thigh, feeling the muscle clench beneath her touch. "While Snow and I have come a long way in our relationship, I think her knowing that I'm dating her daughter might be the nail in the coffin of any reconciliation attempts. No pun intended."
Emma smirked. "Oh, we're dating, are we? Well, that's mighty presumptuous of you, Madame Mayor."
For a moment, Regina looked taken aback, and scolded herself for not thinking before she spoke. "Lighten up, I'm joking! Do you seriously think I wouldn't date you? Even after everything I told you last night?"
"You may be right. I have heard I can be quite… irresistible." Regina raised an eyebrow, a glint in her eye.
"You got that right," Emma swung one leg over to the other side of Regina's chair, and hooked her legs behind the back of it, pulling Regina in closer, before closing the gap between them.
For about fifteen minutes, Emma and Regina had been sat on the sofa in the brunette's office, with Emma sat with her feet to the side of her, and Regina leaning onto her shoulder. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, both of them taking stock of recent events, Emma let out a slight chuckle.
"What is it? I hope you aren't laughing at me dear." Regina sat up and turned to look Emma in the face.
"I was just thinking about this situation. Who'd have thought it; a boy comes to see his birth mother, telling her she's the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming and that she is the saviour and needs to protect an entire town from his mom. She goes along with it, ends up freeing the town of the curse, and dating her son's adopted mom. The very person she was sent here to stop." Emma shook her head in disbelief.
"When you think about it; it's sort of poetic, isn't it? The Saviour and the Evil Queen. I know you say I'm not anymore… but it does have a certain ring to it." Regina leaned up to place an uncharacteristically sweet kiss onto Emma's parted lips.
The women were startled by a knock at the door. Emma internally thanked the gods that she remembered to close the door when she entered, and both sprang up, with Regina taking her place back behind her desk and Emma leaning against the table nearby.
"Come in," Regina called to the closed door.
"So, um, yes. That sounds like a good idea to me." Emma mumbled, and tripped over her words in only a way a person desperate to hide something would. Regina shot her a look, and turned to see Charming entering the room.
"Good afternoon, David. What can I help you with?" Regina stood from her chair, and crossed around her desk, "Emma and I were just discussing some ideas of how to catch whoever's responsible for this."
"Actually, that's what I'm here about. There've been calls coming in from people, quite a few actually, reporting seeing people they can't recall from the Enchanted Forest around. They might just have got caught up in this new curse; it's impossible to tell, but I was thinking we should organise some kind of search party. Nothing official, just maybe a few stakeouts, try and gather some information about the new people around town." David shifted a little on his feet when his daughter and Regina shared a look.
"That's definitely something to look into. Why don't you speak to Hook? And Ruby? It sounds like something she may be able to provide some help with too, I know how she enjoys to gossip." Regina offered in return, "and of course myself and Emma will provide all the help we can."
David thought better than to question Regina speaking for both women, so instead said goodbye and left the office. Once outside, he was greeted by Mary Margaret.
"Well? What did you think?" His wife asked him, with some concern in her voice and eyes.
"There's something going on. I'm sure of it, but I don't know what. Emma and Regina?"
"We probably shouldn't jump to conclusions. We have to trust her, she's our daughter and she'll tell us when she's ready." Mary Margaret sighed, and took her husband's hand as they left the building.
"Did you hear that? Stakeouts. Looks like we have an excuse to spend even more time alone together. However will we pass the time?" Emma grinned at Regina, and put her arms around her hips.
"Indeed. Perhaps we should get started tonight; just to be efficient." Regina responded, and registered a wince in Emma's face in way of a response.
"It's just… I promised Henry we could spend some time together tonight. I feel like I've neglected him since we've came back to Storybrooke, especially considering I can't tell him any of what's going on. I don't want to leave you alone though."
Regina offered an obviously practiced, and heartbreaking, smile. "Don't worry dear, I'm used to being alone. Will you do me a favour though?"
"Name it," Emma smiled, tucking a strand of raven hair behind Regina's left ear.
"Tell Henry you love him. Twice; once from me?"
"Of course. And in the meantime, get brainstorming about ways we can reverse this curse, and get Henry his memories back too. We need to put everything back how it's supposed to be."
"And this is what it's supposed to be?" Regina searched Emma's eyes, "With you and Henry here?"
"I gotta be honest, I had my doubts. But me and Henry belong here with you, Regina. End of story."
That evening, while in the midst of a movie marathon with Henry, Emma received a phonecall.
"Yep?" she answered, chewing on a piece of popcorn.
"Really, dear? You couldn't have finished your mouthful before answering the phone? I sincerely hope you didn't pass on those habits to our son." Emma could sense Regina's tone as if she was in the room with her.
"Honestly, Regina," Henry's ears pricked up at yet another mention of the mayor's name, "You need to have a little more faith in me. He's a perfect gentleman, as you'll soon find out."
"Yes, well as long as you taught him manners, and didn't let him eat too much junk food, I'm sure I couldn't have done a better job myself."
"God, manners? Healthy food? You're all about the fun, aren't you?" Emma scoffed.
"Are you saying I'm not fun? That wasn't the impression you gave me last night…" Regina finished in an increasingly flirtatious tone that sent a surge of electricity spreading throughout Emma's body.
"You got me there. Can I come and see you tomorrow for a follow up? Just so I can be sure, obviously."
"Of course, Miss Swan. I'll be waiting." Regina hung up.
As Emma returned to her seat and took a sip of her coffee, Henry turned to face her. "Mom… are you and the mayor.. I mean.. are you dating?"
Emma choked on her drink, sending spurts of it flying out of her mouth. "What?"
"Dating! You know, going out? You two seem really close, and I just wanted you to know that it's ok, and everything. It's obvious you broke up with Walsh, even though you won't talk about it, and Miss Mills seems nice."
"You are WAY off the mark, kid. It's just a case she's helping me with." Emma tried to gain composure, flicking her hair back and clearing her throat.
"It didn't sound like a case to me just then…"
"Put the film back on, Henry. We're just friends, ok? Stop thinking the worst in me." Emma batted him with a pillow, feigning horror. Henry knew her too well.