Chapter 2: Jealousy
"So where are we headed today?" Emma asked as she slid into the passenger seat with two coffees from the local coffee shop. Regina shrugged and said "We'll be in the D.C. area. We could do the sights in DC or stay in Annapolis, which I've heard is rather cute or perhaps the King Street area in Virginia. Have you ever been to D.C.?"
"Yeah, on a job. That one didn't go so well, though. Didn't exactly have time to catch the sights so D.C.'s good." Regina, intrigued, glanced at Emma "Tell me about the job."
"Its kind of a long story and probably not that interesting, really."
Regina's eyebrow rose in that "Is-that-so-Miss-Swan" way and bit out, "Really, Emma. We're hours from D.C. and when better to tell long stories if not on a road trip?"
Emma chuckled "Well, okay, when you put it that way. But that means you owe me a long story of your own. Anyway, I was chasing this dick who had been put up on domestic violence charges…"
"I'll never complain about Boston traffic again" groaned Emma as they made their way – finally – to the exit Emma's iPhone told them to take for their hotel in DC. The last hour and half had found them stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the 495, they should have planned around rush hour but what's done is done. They made their way to the hotel they had picked out on Yelp, one that was close to all the sights so they could do some quick touristy sightseeing that evening and maybe the next morning. Emma had wanted to see the Nationals play, but Regina shut that down as they simply didn't have enough time. After a brief pout, Emma cheered up when Regina promised her she'd consider catching a game in one of the big cities—DC, Philadelphia, or NYC- on the way back.
The room had two beds this time, and Emma couldn't help the twinge of disappointment she felt at this; she had enjoyed the feel of Regina's arms around her earlier this morning. She smiled as she recalled feeling Regina's body stiffen behind her as she pretended to be asleep. Surprisingly enough, Regina hadn't said anything, rather she slid off the bed carefully as not to wake Emma, and no mention was made when Emma "woke up" a few minutes later. So no freak-out, to Emma's slight dismay. They freshened up and when Emma pointedly glanced down at Regina's heels as they were leaving their room, Regina sniffed "We're in D.C. and I most definitely am not wearing flats when we could run into senators!" Emma rolled her eyes and pressed the call button for the elevator.
It was well past 10 pm when they returned to the hotel, grinning. Emma declared, "I'm so freaking hot and sweaty from this humid weather! I need a drink and I'm gonna hit the hotel bar. You coming?" Regina, feeling rather hot and sweaty herself, declined. "No, I feel I need a shower. I'll go on upstairs. See you soon." Shrugging, Emma made her way to the hotel bar and slid into a seat at the bar, waving the bartender over for her usual beer. "On second thought, bring a tequila chaser with that beer!" she yelled after the retreating back of the bartender.
After Emma threw back the shot of tequila, she nursed her beer and thought about the evening. It had been fun; they had walked from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and then made their way to the Lincoln Memorial. Emma had walked up as close as possible to Abe and squinted at his hands resting atop the sculptured chair arms. Regina looked at her quizzically, and Emma said, "I had a deaf friend who once told me that Abe's hands here spell out 'A' and 'L' in American Sign Language and I was just curious if that was actually true." Regina looked carefully at the hands and asked curiously, "So can you tell? Do you know sign language?" Emma smiled bashfully and stated "Yeah, a little bit. Mostly fingerspelling which is why I can tell that ole Abe's hands here actually do look like they're in the 'A' and 'L' positions." Regina gazed at Emma wonderingly. There was a lot more to Emma than what met the eye.
"Come on, let's do a selfie!" exclaimed Emma, snapping Regina out of her reverie. "Really, Miss Swan? I don't do selfies" sniffed Regina. Emma rolled her eyes and grabbed Regina in order to maneuver her into position and held out her iPhone, trying to get Abe in the background. "Let me see that!" said Regina as she grabbed Emma's iPhone. As she studied the picture, she wished her smile had looked better but she wasn't about to admit that to Emma. "Let's go!" said Emma as she grabbed Regina's arm and didn't let go until they were down the steps.
Both Regina's and Emma's feet were aching by the time they were done with the FDR and MLK Memorials, and after spotting water taxis cruising by on the Potomac, Emma persuaded Regina that it was a good idea to take one to Georgetown, where there were several restaurants that were highly recommended, at least according to Yelp. The sunset was beautiful that evening, golden light hitting everything. Regina was at the front of the water taxi, hair blowing in the wind, a smile on her face as she took in the sunset and lights glowing by the side of the river. Emma felt her heart grow and expand to near bursting, and she knew at that moment she'd have a hard time getting over Regina, if ever. She sighed and pushed her thoughts aside; she'd cross that bridge when it was time to cross it. Right now it was her mission (Operation? She snickered at that thought) to snap a picture of Regina, if it was possible to capture such beauty. As Emma stood off Regina's left, snapping a few pictures, Regina turned around and beckoned Emma over. "Emma, I think Henry would appreciate a picture of us here." Emma grinned "Is that your roundabout way of asking for a selfie, Madam Mayor?" Regina huffed "Hurry, before the light fades!" Emma, laughing, raised her arm and snapped a couple of shots.
Dinner had been great, they had chosen a restaurant on the waterfront and the conversation had flowed naturally, not at all awkward like it had been lately. They had enjoyed a quiet taxi ride back to the hotel and while Emma was slightly disappointed Regina had chosen to go up to their room rather than partake of a nightcap with Emma at the hotel bar, Emma was determined to keep their friendship at this level—comfortable and casual. She wouldn't ruin it like she had almost done several weeks ago. She took out her iPhone and looked fondly at the selfie of them together on the water taxi. Regina had one of her authentic smiles on and it was really a good picture of them, one Emma would treasure forever. She took a sip of her beer as she continued to study the picture on her phone, not looking up as someone slid into the stool next to hers.
"That's a beautiful picture. Girlfriend of yours?" Emma snapped her head up to meet the slightly amused gaze of a brunette, dressed in a power suit. She wasn't too bad on the eyes either. Emma felt a slight flush climb up her neck and she looked down, muttering "No. We're just friends." The brunette's eyes flickered from Emma's face down to the picture. "Shame. Or maybe not." Emma looked up, startled at the flirtatious tone, to see the brunette smiling a bit sheepishly. "Sorry. Sometimes my filter doesn't work. You would be quite a catch, that's the truth though." Emma smiled, flattered, and extended her hand. "Emma." "Serafina."
As Regina dried off from the shower, she started to feel a little bad that she had ditched Emma; one drink wouldn't have hurt to wrap up the nice evening they had. Looking in the bedroom, Emma still wasn't there, so maybe she should go downstairs and see what Emma was up to. Pulling on black yoga pants and a black t-shirt, Regina made her way downstairs.
Regina wandered into the hotel bar, scanning the area for Emma. Her eyes alighted upon Emma and a small smile grew on her face as she stepped forward. When she saw Emma throw back her head and laugh heartily, she stopped in her tracks, puzzled. Regina realized that Emma was laughing at something the brown haired woman next to her was saying—and she was laying her hand over Emma's! Regina saw red but remained frozen in her tracks, unsure if she should approach the two women or just turn around, go back upstairs and pretend she never was there. Fury battled with reason in her for what felt like forever until fury won out – she was the former Evil Queen after all—and she stalked over to the bar.
Emma smelled Regina before she saw her and her head turned towards Regina, smile already in place and her hand slid out from under Serafina's to wave Regina over, "Hey Regina! Come to join me for a drink after all?" Her smile faltered as she realized Regina had on her smile that wasn't a smile and Emma had no idea what she'd done this time. Regina's fake smile widened as she cooed, "Emma! There you are! I was waiting for you upstairs and when you took so long, I thought I'd come and check on you" and her hand reached out to rest on the small of Emma's back. As soon as Regina turned her head and that wickedly fake smile in Serafina's direction, all became clear to Emma. Regina was pissed because she'd been talking with Serafina. Huh. Did that mean Regina was jealous? Emma hardly dared hope that was the case but there was no other reasonable explanation. She'd have to test her theory. "Regina, Serafina. Serafina, Regina. Serafina was nice enough to keep me company here, she's really funny!" Regina ground her teeth and said, "Nice to know. Now, is that your last drink or are you coming up soon?", the last few words coming out huskily. Emma's mouth hung open slightly—damn that was one sexy voice—and Serafina, sensing what was going on, decided to help out her newfound friend a little by injecting, "Oh! You can't be tired already! Stay for at least another drink! Emma and I were having so much fun, you would be missing out if you went back upstairs!", meeting Regina's furious gaze head-on. She was no slouch in the bitch department and this Regina was one Class-A bitch when it came to protecting her property. She had a hunch Emma wouldn't be mooning over her "friend" much longer- there was obviously chemistry between the two. Serafina smirked and rose her glass, gaining the bartender's attention, and gestured for three tequila shots to be served. As soon as the three glasses were set down, the three women picked up one and Serafina met Regina's eyes challengingly as she toasted, "To beautiful women". Regina downed her shot and slammed down the glass on the counter, making Emma jump slightly. "It was a pleasure meeting you. I will see you upstairs, Emma." Emma watched Regina's retreating back with wide eyes and turned to look at Serafina, who was busy trying to hide her smile with her hand. "What the hell was that?" Emma exclaimed. Serafina waved her hand "Just two bitches having a showdown and I was serving her a side of jealousy. But don't worry. I think this will help your cause." Emma flushed again, she hadn't realized she was that obvious about her feelings for Regina. She grinned and clacked her shot glass against Serafina's, "Well, guess I'd better have faith in you, otherwise I'm so screwed!"
Less than thirty minutes after Regina made her dramatic exit, Emma cautiously opened the door and stuck her head in, scanning the room. Her eyes landed on the prone form of Regina on her bed, and it appeared Regina was sleeping. Slipping inside, Emma stood next to Regina's bed and stared down at her, slightly disappointed that Regina had apparently chosen to go to sleep rather than wait up for her. It had been such a good day, too, and Emma hated that it had ended on this down note. After brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas (well, more like removing her clothes until she was clad in just her tank top and panties), Emma slid into bed, turned off the light, and laid back, staring out in the darkness. As the evening's scenes replayed in her mind, Emma's mouth curved up in a small smile. Regina had totally been jealous. Jealous. That was a start and she'd take it. Smile still on her face, Emma turned over on her side and let sleep overtake her.
Regina's eyes flickered open as soon as the light went out. She'd taken the coward's way out, not wanting to face Emma after her silly scene downstairs. Regina really didn't know why she had overreacted to the sight of someone else holding Emma's hand and making her laugh so throatily. She knew she felt a bit possessive of Emma, but that was just because Regina was in short supply of friends and she didn't really want to share. Or was it? She couldn't possibly be… jealous, could she? Sleep did not come easily to Regina that night.