Chapter 5: BFF Romance

Making her way down the path to the beach, Emma came to a stop and surveyed the beach for the best viewing. Settling on a spot not too far, Emma waited for Regina to catch up before continuing on to the chosen spot. She spread the blanket and ditched her boots before kneeling and making her way to the middle. She watched Regina take the last few steps and realized she was barefoot. "Smart idea, Regina. I should have taken off my boots and left them behind too." "Well, I would have told you to do so but you took off like a bat in hell." Emma smiled and touched her forehead to her knees "I know, I just wasn't really expecting that from a little old lady!" Regina chuckled and maneuvered her way to sit down besides Emma. "You know, sex doesn't stop the minute you turn 60." Emma groaned "Please don't make me think about two little old ladies having sex!" As the sound of Regina's throaty laughter drifted to Emma's ears, she turned to look at Regina and the two smiled together. "So, how about that wine?" offered Emma. Regina held out the two wineglasses and Emma unscrewed the bottle, pouring its contents into the glasses. They clinked the glasses together and watched in silence as the colors of the sunset started to have its way with the evening sky.

As the colors turned from bright orange to deep pink to violet purple, the women sat staring off at the horizon in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Regina absently lifted her wineglass to her lips and felt nothing touch her lips. Looking down, she realized she was out of wine and reached over for the bottle to pour herself a second glass. As she reached over, she glanced at Emma who was staring off in the sunset, and she had this sad look in her eyes. Regina's stomach clenched because she could very likely guess the reason for Emma's sadness. Pouring the wine, Regina decided it was time to have a honest conversation with Emma, as much as she wanted to avoid it, if she was going to be a true friend to Emma, she had to do this. First, a dose of liquid courage. As Regina put down her semi-empty glass after downing half of it in one gulp, she spoke.

"Emma."

Emma blinked, pulled back to reality by the sound of Regina's voice. "Yeah?" She reached over to fill her glass, waiting for Regina to continue.

"I'm sorry."

Emma wasn't expecting that and she looked at Regina quizzically. "For what?"

"You deserved better. When you… declared your feelings for me, I—" A groan from Emma caused Regina to stop midsentence. "Regina, no. I said I'd deal with it. You don't need to bring it up, believe me. We were so awkward for so long and we're finally getting better. I'm afraid this will just make things awkward between us again."

"That may be true, Emma, but I still feel awkward inside because you deserve better than that as my friend. Let me do this, please, and then we don't have to speak of this again if you wish that to be so."

Emma groaned again and said "I'm gonna need more alcohol." Regina gave a half-smile and said, "Me too." Emma topped off Regina's glass and turned her gaze to the now dark horizon. Regina took that as her cue to continue. "I know that you… think I was adverse to the idea of allowing our f-friendship to evolve into dating, but I am positive, Miss Swan, that you harbor misconceptions as to why I'm against the idea." Emma drew up her knees, still staring at the horizon, and Regina's heart hurt because it was clear Emma was preparing herself to feel rejected yet again and that was the last thing Regina wanted to do. She steeled herself and continued, "I've had very few friends in my life, much less ones that I value highly. But I have had them, and I at least am comfortable with my ability to keep my friends. Now, for people that I l-love, I have not managed to keep them. They either die or I lose them some other way. So, you see, Emma, I wish to keep you in my life and therefore that means being friends is the best way to do it. If I were to allow this to turn into something else, I'm very much afraid you would be lost to me eventually. Do you see, Emma?"

"Henry. You love him and you still have him." Regina sighed, "That may be true, but it was touch and go for a time there, if you will recall. I only still have him in my life, ironically enough, because of you."

Emma's eyes locked with hers and Regina felt her heartbeat accelerating. Suddenly Emma's lips quirked into a grin and she let out "So… basically we're best friends, forever?" Regina gave a start at the absurd label but she smiled back "If you must use that childish label, I suppose we are." Emma let her grin fade into a sad smile and murmured, "Oh, Regina. You are so wrong." Regina sighed and took another long sip from her glass. "Pray tell, why am I wrong?" Emma said, "Look, Regina. Love can grow from many things, but many of the best relationships bloom from friendship. It makes sense, doesn't it, because you know that it's true love, and not just hormonal attraction when you decide to move from friends to lovers. I mean, you're afraid of losing my friendship, but you know, friendship comes and goes according to life. What about down the road, if, you know, I met someone else and started a life with that person? You'd lose my friendship, not totally, but it wouldn't be the same as it is now. And we'd never know if we would have been something far greater than friends."

Regina looked up at the moon and noticed that Venus and Jupiter were especially close this evening. She then perused Emma's outline, reflected in the light of the moon. As her eyes silently moved over Emma's facial features, exposed yet hidden in the moonlight, Emma gave voice to her next thought. "Course, there needs to be some level of attraction between best friends. For my part, there's no hiding the fact I find you extremely hot, Madam Mayor. Just sayin'."

Regina closed her eyes as something indefinite swam through her blood and chose to settle in her stomach. "You have no idea how much of a temptation you are, Emma Swan. But…" She felt, rather than saw, Emma's hand clasp her cheek. "But, nothing. I'm going to kiss you now, Regina." Regina froze as she watched Emma's face come closer and her other hand reach up to cup the other cheek, before Emma's lips touched her own. Regina then closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation that was Emma's lips on her, and God help her, she couldn't resist kissing Emma back. Emma's lips parted slightly, and Regina ran her tongue over Emma's lower lip. Emma, taking this for permission, slid her tongue inside Regina's mouth and the kiss turned passionate. Emma's hands slipped from Regina's face and circled her waist, and Regina's landed on Emma's biceps. There was a moan and an answering sigh before they broke apart, breathing accelerated.

Regina ran a hand through her hair "As I was saying, despite that rather invigorating kiss, …but I remain convinced that staying friends is the best thing to do in the long run." She glanced worriedly at Emma, waiting for her reaction. Emma, after a long moment, took Regina's hand into her own and replied, "And I remain convinced that you are wrong, and that the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Tell you what. If I do not convince you that taking it to the next level up from being best friends is a good idea by the end of this trip, I will drop this entirely and we will be the bestest friends in the whole wide world." Emma ended the sentence with a grin, and Regina rolled her eyes while smiling back. "Very well, Emma, you have your work cut out for you. Now, it is dark, and I don't know about you, but I would like to be comfortably ensconced in bed." Emma stood up and offered Regina her hand, and after packing up, they made their way back to the house.

Regina was in the bed, reading (pretending to read, truth be told) when Emma emerged from the bathroom and slipped in. Regina put the book on the nightstand and clicked off the light before saying "Good night, Emma." She felt some rustling behind her and realized Emma was moving to spoon her. "Really, Miss Swan. The bed is small, but not that small," sniffed Regina. "But best friends can cuddle, Regina. And you yourself declared that we're best friends, so we can, isn't that right, Regina?" She just knew Emma was wearing her biggest grin by the tone of Emma's voice. She sighed, "Very well. But if I feel your hands in improper areas, I'm kicking you out of this bed," and settled down to sleep.

She heard a mumbled "'S too bad we're not putting the soundproofed ceiling to good use," and didn't deign to reply to that, choosing to instead close her eyes and allow sleep to overtake her but if there was light in the room, Emma would have seen a smile on Regina's face as she fell asleep with her best friend snuggled up behind her.

Regina stirred as she heard noise coming from somewhere in the room. She struggled with opening her eyes against the light streaming in from the windows, but she finally did it. She realized she wasn't being held anymore by Emma and she rolled over on the bed to find where Emma had gone. The door to the bathroom was closed and Regina now could decipher the noises; they were shower noises and something suspiciously like singing. Was Emma singing in the shower? Regina smiled at that thought and when she ushered herself to a sitting position on the bed, she noticed a folded note on the nightstand with "Regina" written on it. She reached for the note and opened it.

Regina,

This is the first of hopefully not so many attempts to get you to believe that love can be had—and kept—in your life. I came across this quote and just wanted to share.

'Every girl has her best friend, romantic partner, and true love. But you're really lucky if they're all the same person.'

-Emma

Regina smiled to herself as she closed the note and reached over to put it in her purse. She had to admit, she was curious to see what else Emma would come up with in the next few days. Right now, she had to pack and get ready for their final push to Charleston, which was about 7 hours away.

The second note came later that day, when they made a pit stop at a truck stop. Regina didn't particularly enjoy truck stops, but she saw how much Emma enjoyed looking at all the gadgets and found it a harmless concession to make for her sake. As the two walked back to the car, Emma stopped and turned around, "I forgot to buy one more water bottle. Ill meet you at the car." The two parted ways as Regina made her way to the car. As she slid into the drivers seat, she saw a note on the passenger seat. Chuckling at Emma's deviousness, Regina reached for the note.

What if we were made for each other? Born to become best friends and lovers. Think about it. The Evil Queen and the Savior. Perfect on paper, poetry in real life if we allowed it.

p.s. I know you're not evil. The Grey Queen? J

-Emma

Emma had chosen well; just seeing the words 'what if we were made for each other' on paper had more impact on Regina than if they were spoken aloud from the savior's mouth. For, truly, Regina had been nursing a tiny thought about how their fates had been intertwined from the very start. That tiny thought wasn't so tiny anymore thanks to Emma's words and Regina sighed, putting away the note to join the other one in her purse.

As they approached Charleston, and could see the famous bridge in the distance, Emma turned to Regina and asked, "I never did ask, but this conference you're attending, this is pretty much an all-day event?" Regina replied, "Yes, for the most part, the days will be from 9 am to 5 pm for me. I'm the closing keynote speaker at the banquet for the final night, and that'll be 6 pm to perhaps ten pm." Emma's eyes widened, "Regina! You didn't tell me! You're the closing speaker… what a honor." Regina rolled her eyes "Please, Emma. Its not that big of a deal." Emma shook her head "You're wrong, Regina." The women drove on in silence until Emma shyly spoke again, "Can I come watch you present that final night?" Regina couldn't help but feel flattered that Emma wanted to be there for her. She smiled at Emma, "I would be honored if you would accompany me that evening." Emma smiled back and turned her gaze to the ever approaching city.

They wove their way through the streets to the Historic District, where their hotel, the Renaissance Hotel, was located. It was also the conference headquarter hotel so it would be easy for Regina to attend the sessions and have the security of knowing she could pop back to her room any time for any reason. They looked out the windows at the city passing by them, and Regina told Emma, "It looks as if you'll have a nice time exploring the city while I'm attending the conference." "Yup, but it would have been nicer if you were exploring along with me." Regina felt warmth spread inside her at the idea that Emma wanted to spend time with her and she replied with affection in her voice, "Perhaps we could meet for lunch at places nearby the hotel if that's convenient." Emma turned her dazzling smile on her and declared, "That'd be great, Regina. 'Course if something pops up for you, it'll be okay, just give me a call. I don't want you to feel pressured when you don't need to be, okay? I know this conference is important to you." Regina gave a nod as they pulled up to the valet parking area at the Renaissance.

Emma lifted her eyebrow as they entered the suite and she spotted the king sized bed. Regina couldn't hide the light flush that bloomed on her cheeks, and she said, "I know, but I wanted a suite and this hotel only offers king beds for their suites. I…" Emma waved her hand, "No worries, Regina. We did just fine in a double, and we'll be lost in this ocean of a bed." She bent over to retrieve her bag, and Regina could see that Emma was trying to hide her grin.

Regina wanted to spend the evening in, so she could think a little about what she would say for her speech during the closing ceremonies. Emma was more than happy to give her the space she needed, so she went downstairs to hit the hotel bar. As the door closed behind Emma, Regina settled down at the desk and stared out at the twinkling city lights spread out under her. She remained that way for several minutes, lost in thought and ideas, and finally started to jot down some notes. About an hour passed before she looked up and wearily rubbed her neck. She could use some wine, and she stood up to check the contents of the mini-bar. As Regina wandered over to the mini-bar, she noticed a note that had been slipped under the door. Regina bent over, eagerly anticipating what she would read in this third note.

Regina,

I want someone who would be my best friend, my lover, my other half, my reason to smile, my world, my everything. Don't you want the same thing? Give us—you and me—a chance.

Emma

Regina held the note close to her heart, feeling different emotions run through her. She was tempted, to say the least, but she was also very afraid. She had handled losing Daniel, her mother, Henry—thank god he had come back into her life—but she really wasn't sure she could survive losing Emma if it came to that. Staying friends was the only way she could ensure Emma stayed, but Emma's words from the previous evening whispered hauntingly to her: And we'd never know if we would have been something far greater than friends.