Regina's POV
That night I had trouble falling asleep. All I could think of was this blonde woman Henry brought home.
"The fairy dust will lead you to your true love." I was cautious but excited at the same time. I wanted to love someone again but was scared to know who it was. When we got to the back door of the tavern we stopped. Tinkerbell looked in the dusty window, a grin tugged at the side of her mouth.
"What is it?" I looked through the window and saw a blonde woman who glanced up and smiled at me. Her eyes were green and her smile was inviting. That's my true love? A woman? I glanced back at Tinkerbell who was gone. "What the hell?" I continued to look around but she was nowhere to be found. When I glanced back, the blonde was coming my way. Panic surged through me and I ran. When I turned a corner I hit someone hard. Falling backwards I was caught before I hit the ground.
"Are you alright?" I didn't say a word. When I opened my eyes it was her.
"Who…who are you?" I looked into the woman's eyes and couldn't look away.
"I'm just a commoner, Regina." How does she know my name? I got to my feet and took a step back.
"How do you know my name?" A sheepish smile tugged at her mouth.
"Everyone knows who you are. I just figured being called The Queen or Your Majesty gets old. I didn't mean any disrespect." I felt myself softened as I studied this blonde woman.
"Yes, it does get old. Everyone looks at me like I'm some powerful, untouchable person. When really, I don't want to be powerful; I just want to live my life and have a normal one." She listened to every word I said. I'm not sure why I kept talking to this woman. I just met her a few minutes ago. She was so inviting though and she felt like home to me. She treated me like a person; not royalty. "Why do you treat me like a person and not royalty?"
"Because I'm sure it gets old quickly. Why were you at the tavern? I'm sure it wasn't to get a drink." I couldn't tell her the truth. She'd run if I did.
"I have my own reasons." The words came out harsher than I meant them to. The blonde simply shrugged.
"Alright then." She started to turn and walk away. "Goodnight your Majesty." I couldn't let her go.
"W-wait," she stopped. "I didn't mean for that to come out so harshly. I'm just…"
"Scared?" She turned back to me with a soft smile. "Regina, you will accomplish great things in life. You will have some setbacks but everything happens for a reason. I've said too much already so I need to go." What is she talking about?
"What are you talking about?" She said nothing and began to walk away. "I command you to stop and answer me!" She finally stopped a few yards from me.
"I never listen to you so why start now."
I shot up in bed. It was her; the woman from the tavern! But how? I cast a curse and she wasn't in town. She was from Boston. I had to get to the bottom of this. I looked over to the clock and it read 3AM. There was nothing I could do now so I tried to get back to sleep.
Emma's POV
I woke up the next morning thinking about Regina. My car was still at her place and I needed the change of clothes I kept in there. After I got out of bed, I realized I left my jacket there too. Damn. I locked my room and walked out the door. It was at least a fifteen minute walk from here so I started that way. As I walked towards Regina's I wondered whether I should stay in town or not. I obviously fucked up everyone's lives by being in the tavern and talking to her. I was surprised to see Regina leaning against the back of my car when I turned up her driveway.
"Good morning Miss. Swan." There was something different about her but I couldn't place it.
"Good morning Madame Mayor." I hesitated as I walked up the driveway. "I came to get my car and jacket."
"Yes I noticed that it was still in my den this morning. Come in for coffee?" Did she remember something? You wouldn't invite a random stranger into your home right?
"Sure." Regina smirked as she pushed herself off my car and started for the front door. I hummed as the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled my lungs. As we walked into the kitchen I was surprised to see two coffee mugs by the coffee pot. I knew Henry didn't drink coffee so why did she have two mugs on the counter. Was she expecting me?
"So you decided to stick around I see?" Regina poured me a cup and told me to get the creamer from the fridge.
"Well, my car and jacket were here so I couldn't exactly leave." She handed me a cup. "Thanks." Regina and I stood in silence. Both of us waited for the coffee to cool enough for us to not burn ourselves when we drank it. "But, I'm not sure if anything is holding me here. I mean, you're Henry's mom not me. I may have given birth to him but you're the one who's taken care of him." Regina raised an eyebrow at me as she leaned against the counter.
Regina's POV
No damn it. You're not about to leave me again. Not now when I finally realize who you are. And I wonder if she knows who she really is. If she knows how she got here from the enchanted forest. I couldn't just walk up and kiss her to break the curse and figure everything out. Well I could, and she wouldn't mind, but I needed to tread lightly. If I broke the curse everyone would know who I really was. I couldn't let that happen. "So you don't want to know your son? Things haven't changed in the past ten years?" Miss. Swan took a sip of her coffee.
"I'm not the mothering type and you are. Besides, I don't have a job here so there's no way to pay for a room."
Emma's POV
Oh come on Regina just say the word stay and I will! Don't beat around the bush any longer. "Hmm. Since I'm the Mayor, if you did choose to stay, I'm sure I could find you a job. One that would use your skill of finding people of course."
"Like what? Deputy?" I couldn't help it. Graham may have been Sheriff back then but I called the shots.
"Is that a question Miss. Swan?" Oh she wants me to stay. I know that look.
"It is Madame Mayor and I believe you've peeked my interest. What would I need to do to become deputy of your fine town?" And thus I fell right back into the habit of flirting with the Mayor. Damn old habits do die hard.
Regina's POV
And I've got her! My true love will be staying in town and she does have a thing for me. I know the two of us could make some beautiful magic together. "You can come by my office later today to fill out the paperwork and information you need. How about a second cup?" Emma smiled and emptied her mug before handing it to me. I wasn't sure how this was going to work since true love's kiss would break the dark curse, but it was nice knowing that my true love was staying in town. Ironic that she's Henry's birth mother.