Hello everyone! I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelmed I am at all of the Story Favorites and Story Followed emails I've gotten in the last day! You guys rock! Thanks so much and please, please, please, review the chapter, let me know what you like, what you don't and ask me any questions you have if I've confused you.
As you can hopefully tell, this is a slightly angsty story on Regina's part right now and that may very well be the case as time goes along until things (that I'm not going to reveal quite yet) come to fruition. It also may get worse - I'm just going with the flow here friends! But I will definitely warn you of any possible triggers that may happen in the chapters, so please don't worry.
I also realize that the characters may seem OOC but this is how I think things should have happened during and then after The Cricket Game and I'm trying to play with character development and voice right now – something I've never been super good at…
Plus, sad Regina needs a damn hug okay? And getting Emma to man up and hug her is definitely a goal of mine.
A huge twist is going to be thrown into this story soon and it will become a slightly AU story and things may get a bit (or extremely) weird from time to time but I hope you are all okay with that. I have so many ideas and directions I want to take this story so I hope you'll all hang on and join me for the ride. I hope to have it be a great journey!
Anyway, sorry for the novel, please enjoy!
Disclaimer: Ha, I wish!
Chapter Two
From Regina: The one thing I've always disliked about you since the day we met was your inability to put up with my bullshit. Thank you for that.
The insistent beeping from her cell phone was what woke the Sheriff. Groaning in annoyance, she rolled over and grabbed the offending object off her nightstand.
This had better be good she thought grumpily as the LED screen momentarily blinded her.
Emma couldn't help the slow smile that graced her lips and lit up her beautiful green eyes as she read the woman's words. Was this Regina's way of saying she forgave the blonde for her earlier outburst? Sitting up in bed, Emma decided to be daring and respond to the message.
From Emma: Ha, you noticed that huh? You have the same inability when it comes to me though, if you think about it.
Across town in the quiet mansion, Regina perked up at sound of an incoming text message. She quirked an eyebrow in silent response before rolling over and grabbing the phone.
She smirked at the woman's words.
From Regina: You are correct in your assumptions Sheriff.
Always so damn proper Emma thought rolling her eyes at the text. As the blonde awoke a little more, she could remember the argument vividly from the night before. It saddened the Sheriff to think she had caused someone who she would like to say was starting to become a friend - but she couldn't help but wonder as to what was the deeper cause of that sadness? Going out on the smallest limb imaginable, Emma bit her bottom lip nervously as she metaphorically bit the bullet and her fingers flew across the phone's keypad.
From Emma: Can I ask you something?
From Regina: You may, however, I cannot say that I will respond to said question.
From Emma: Okay… Why do you always think you have to be so defensive? What happened to you that was so bad… What happened that started all of this 'evil queen' crap in the first place?
A frown marred the features of the woman as memories assaulted her psyche and tears threatened to fall once again.
From Regina: I'm regretfully not quite ready to answer those questions Miss Swan…
Not wishing go on with the conversation any longer, Regina put the phone back onto the nightstand to distance herself physically when she was in such a fragile emotional state and unable to defend herself verbally. She rolled to her side and wrapped her arms around her stomach, holding herself as she finally was unable to fight back the onslaught of tears. Heart wrenching sobs wracked the lithe body of the broken woman, and she couldn't help but subconsciously wish for a pair of strong warm arms, other than her own, to be the ones holding her.
Memories of her mother's torment, from her father's horrid inability to care enough to stand up to her mother and protect his daughter, to Daniel's death, to all of the horrible things that King Leopold did to her when she was nothing but a young woman and so much more that she'd never told a soul, flew through the woman's mind as tears drenched her pillowcase. For once, Regina let herself have a moment of weakness in the quiet solitude of her own private room and she cried. She cried and cried until her throat was raw and her head pounded in time with her erratically beating heart.
She cried so loud she didn't hear her phone signaling a new text message had been received.
From Emma: Please remember my intentions are not to piss you off - just merely questioning something that I'm curious about. This is always something I've wondered about you… why you are the way you are and what made you so sad. Because, even though you hide it very well, I can see that you are one of the saddest people in this town … and well, I don't like it when my friends are sad.
The blonde Sheriff sighed exasperatedly at the one response and she waited a bit for another. She was being downright honest with the former Queen – she may think that she could hide her emotions from everyone, and sure, everyone else in Storybrooke may not care enough to take half a second and really look at the brunette but Emma could see it from mile away. There was deep sadness etched into the very soul of that woman and it honestly made Emma a little mad at whomever had etched it there in the first place. What did the woman do that was so bad to have whatever it was that had happened to her, happen in the first place? Was it her evil doings that had made the people of the fairytale realm hurt her, or was it something much more human? More 'normal'?
Emma sighed sadly as she waited for a response she feared would never come. She shook her head and ran her fingers through her blonde tresses. She couldn't help but wonder why did she care so much about this silly woman who had done nothing but try and make her life a living hell since the very second they'd met? Sure, she had felt some sexual tension in that very first meeting, or maybe imagined it - hell the mayor was downright beautiful, and Emma Swan was not blind, but Regina had threatened to 'destroy her if it was the last thing she did', the very first time they'd met. She didn't understand either reaction from the woman – the hatred and especially not the awkward sexual tension. She could potentially come to a conclusion about the hatred from the facts she had now, but when she started to think about the sexual tension bit, she just had to stop.
Yes, Emma was sexually attracted to the woman and she hoped it was nothing more than the fact she'd hadn't had a decent lay since arriving in Storybrooke but something deep within her told her it was more than that – what that was, however, was also just a giant question mark. Either way, she wasn't quite ready to admit to herself that she had had a slight crush on the mayor since the very second she'd lay eyes on her.
Still no text and realizing that she'd have to be up in about an hour anyway, Emma got out of bed, put on some running shorts and a tank top and decided to go for a nice jog. She'd had enough of her ponderings of the brunette, and having dealt with people somewhat like Regina, she didn't really think she'd get a text back for a while, if at all.
How was she going to make Regina see that she could be a good person? Emma had seen it in her, in those moments that two women had shared with their connection to Henry. Regina was a very good mother - loving, caring, albeit a bit strict, but she never once did something that was going to cause Henry heartache. Emma had to admire and respect that. She'd raised Emma's baby boy - the baby boy she'd only got to hold for a few minutes upon his birth, and had helped him turn into a splendid young man, who was smart, motivated, and empathetic and had a great sense of humor.
She had a lot of respect for Regina. She'd given Henry the life she'd wished for him to have.
Deciding to text the woman one last time, and maybe again later, her fingers clicked rapidly across the keypad and she hit send. Setting her phone to silent and putting it back on her nightstand, the blonde set out into the crisp dawn air.
From Emma: I know this may be strange to you, letting someone in that is, but I'm not here to exploit you Regina. All I truly want from you is two things. 1, I want to be your friend and have that friendship returned and 2, I want you to be able to still be in Henry's life because whether or not he may think so, he does need you.
"Let me get this straight," Ruby asked, sitting down at the blonde's table, who had somehow found her way to Granny's for some cocoa, "You are trying to befriend Regina, the Evil Queen, after all the crap she's put us all through?"
Emma nodded, a guilty smile gracing her features. Ruby sighed exasperatedly. "Em, I know she's all hot and mysterious and whatnot but she's the Evil Queen…" Ruby stressed the two words with huge eyes, "you don't know what she was like-"
"And that's why I think she deserves a chance Rubes." Emma told the woman with an eye roll, who she considered her best friend besides her mother of course, "I wasn't there. I don't know that side of her so you have to understand where I'm coming from. I've never seen this 'Evil Queen' you are all so terrified. She's just Regina." Looking down at her cocoa, she mumbled, "And besides, it has nothing to do with the fact that she's hot."
Ruby rolled her eyes while shaking her head - silently hoping Emma wouldn't get herself into any trouble by befriending the woman who'd caused so much pain and heartache throughout the years. "Okay Emma, I understand your point, just be careful okay? I know she's different now, and seems like she's trying to be better, but she's still capable of things that are so horrible…"
Emma smiled as she covered Ruby's hands with her own, "I just want to help her Ruby… for Henry."
Ruby smiled sweetly at the blonde across from her, eyes twinkling with mirth, "You mean to tell me it's not just to get into her pants…?"
Emma blushed furiously, "Shut up Ruby! It has nothing to do with that, I'm trying to do the right thing by Henry, and by Regina."
"Uh huh," Ruby said, grinning with twinkling eyes.
"Shut up," Emma mumbled, looking down into the depths of her coffee cup, silently begging it to swallow her whole.
Ruby stood and kissed the crown of Emma's head, "No worries Em, your secret girl crush on the admittedly sexy ex-mayor, is safe with me." Ruby smirked, "She may be evil but damn has that woman have a fine pair of-"
"Ruby!" Granny yelled from the kitchen door, "Stop gallivanting around and get your skinny ass back here to help me make this food - it's not going to cook itself!"
The two girls laughed loudly at this and continued on with their morning as thoughts of just how sexy Regina was threatened to slowly start to kill Emma.
Later that week, while Regina was tending to her garden, Emma and Henry showed up at the house in hopes to surprise Regina by asking her to join them for dinner at Granny's. Emma had never received a response from the brunette, and was honestly a bit worried about her. She'd asked around a bit and no one that she'd talked to had seen the ex-mayor. So, possibly going against her better judgment, she had asked Henry his opinion about another outing, and of course it was a positive response, so here they were.
The sunshine was shining brightly, a gentle breeze wafted through the trees and the smell of flowers created a serene setting behind the mansion. Regina's aura was calm and peaceful which brought a smile to the faces of the two watching her silently as she bent over the rose bushes, deep in thought seemingly without a care in the world. It was nice to see her so peaceful, Emma realized as she gazed thoughtfully upon the woman.
"Mom!" Henry hollered at the brunette, effectively breaking the blonde's thoughts that were slowly but surely becoming not so 'g rated' at the sight of the woman on her hands and knees, and startling said woman in cut off sweat pants and a black tank top with dirt up to her elbows. She even had a smear of dirt on her forehead. A light layer of sweat had worked its way over the brunette's body from being outdoors for a few hours, effectively causing the blonde to lick her lips. Sun kissed shoulders were completely visible from her hair being pulled up and were practically begged for Emma's attention as the brunette turned with a beaming smile upon her face.
Emma smirked as she took in the brunette's casual appearance. This was definitely not a side of the former mayor that she'd ever seen. She liked it – she liked it a lot.
Regina stood and quickly made her way over to the duo, "Henry, what a wonderful surprise!"
Henry and Regina hugged as the older woman stood and greeted the blonde with a kind smile, "Hello Miss Swan."
Emma rolled her eyes with a shy smile, "For the millionth time, its Emma, Regina."
Regina chuckled quietly, shyly, "Yes, of course, please forgive me. I'm not used to being so casual with someone other than Henry."
Emma raised an eyebrow as she looked up and down at the ex-mayor, letting the woman know she was taking in her appearance, "Now, that I can believe. I can't lie, I figured you even did yard work in your tailored suits and fancy pumps."
Regina huffed and gave the two a glare that was only partially in jest causing the other two to chuckle. "Well, I can't help that I like to keep up appearances…"
Emma smiled, "it's okay Regina, I'm just giving you a hard time."
"Oh," Regina said blushing slightly, "Okay."
There was a comfortable silence for a minute, "So, anyway. What did I do to get this wonderful surprise?"
"Oh!" Henry said excitedly as he finally remembered why they were there – eyes lighting up, "We were wondering if you'd like to come to supper with us tonight?"
Regina looked to Emma, who nodded kindly with an amazing smile on her lips – green eyes shining brightly.
Regina grinned happily as she pulled the boy tighter to her side, "I'd love to. Let me shower and get ready and we'll be on our way?"
Henry and Emma nodded as they followed the brunette into the mansion. Emma couldn't help but notice the enticing sway of the brunette's hips as they followed her into the back door. She was definitely a fine woman.
Regina turned suddenly, mouth open to say something but regarded Emma with a curious look, closing her mouth, when she realized that she was sure that she had just, once again, caught the blonde checking her out. She smirked a little at the slight blush that instantly covered the blonde's cheeks when she realized she had been caught. "Make yourself at home Emma; it shouldn't take more than an hour for me to get ready."
Emma nodded once, smiled uncomfortably as she shoved her hands in her pockets and followed Henry into the family room to watch some TV while the woman readied herself.
Emma couldn't help that as time went on and she was actually, kind of anyway, allowed get to know Regina that her attraction to the brunette was definitely growing. As the metaphorical walls Regina had built up over the years slowly crept down and she let the blonde woman see who she really was without walls, even if it was mainly that one time in the park, a few small past incidents and an early morning of somewhat revealing text messages, she could tell that Regina was really, truly a beautiful soul. She was definitely broken but Emma had a theory about broken souls. She found them to be unbelievably beautiful, scars and all. The unbroken were usually, in her opinion, the ones who were ugly, without layers, without complexities and just plain boring. In her assessment of Regina, she could tell the woman was deeply layered, almost to a flaw, but deep down, somewhere in the depths of her soul, she was a very good person who just, as she'd said to the brunette that night in the park, needed someone to tell her everything was going to be okay.
"Hey ma?" Henry said bringing the blonde out of her thoughts as he made himself comfortable in his spot on the couch, "are you and mom going to become good friends?"
Emma shrugged as she ungracefully plopped down beside her son, "I'd like to think so. I honestly think she needs a friend right now more than just about anything."
Henry chuckled, "You have no idea."
Sure enough an hour later, Regina made her way down to the living room where the two were now playing Henry's Xbox.
"I don't see how you can stand this barbaric game Henry," Regina huffed as she sat down beside Emma on the couch, "it's so violent."
Henry laughed out loud, his eyes never leaving the television, as he effectively stabbed another zombie in the head, causing it to groan and fall to the floor. "It's fun though mom!"
"Yeah Regina," Emma piped up as she herself killed a horde of zombies with her automatic gun, "it's honestly a great time and helps relieve some tension when you're pissed off so you don't kick the shit out of someone."
Regina rolled her eyes with a small smile, "Language Miss Swan."
Emma balked, "Sorry Regina."
Henry laughed at his two, completely opposite mothers.
Regina sat patiently while she waited for the two to finish their game of zombie killing and noticed that for once she felt extremely at ease. She wasn't sure if it was Henry's presence, or Emma's or both and that was something she didn't quite know how to go about dealing with. She'd honestly never had anyone other than Daniel she could really call an actual friend, and look at what happened to him. She knew that Emma Swan was definitely something else and even though she was a tad bit incessant, slightly annoying and rather crass, the woman was quickly becoming extremely grateful that she was in her life.
She also couldn't help but take in the blonde sitting next to her realize how good the blonde lookedlately, and that was definitely uncharted territory.
Regina shook the thought from her head and tried to quiet her subconscious' ramblings about how attractive the blonde was in the black leather jacket, black skinny jeans and white tank top. Taking in the sight of the blonde's profile she couldn't help but check her out. Blonde hair was braided back behind her ear, where the rest of the, what Regina assumed to be silky locks, met and was pulled back in a low ponytail, a moist tongue was caught between pearly white teeth as the woman concentrated on the game, soft makeup accented the beautiful yet fair skin of the blonde's face and she could see the subtle dance of a heartbeat beating against the creamy white skin of the blonde's long graceful neck.
Regina swallowed thickly and shook her head out of the clouds as the round finished with Henry and Emma groaning in annoyance at their deaths.
"If I could have just jumped over those dang zombies," Henry went off, tossing his controller down onto the coffee table, "we so would have made it to the teleporter and we could have bought more ammo and got better guns!"
Emma smiled and bumped shoulders with the boy, "next time we'll get it kiddo."
"Yeah, I know," Henry said with a small smile.
"Anyway," Emma said standing quickly as she suddenly felt herself being watched by Regina and it was making her slightly uncomfortable - not in a bad way of course, "Who's hungry?"
"Let's go!" Henry shouted as bolted off the couch and ran out the front door leaving the two women to follow in his footsteps both laughing wholeheartedly.