She slammed a folder down on her desk on top of an already abnormally high pile of paperwork. "I don't get it. How can someone just disappear like that?" Emma asked her partner Graham, who sat a few feet over at his desk going through his own reports and statements. She rubbed the palms of her hands against her face and leaned against her desk. "This is frustrating!" She snapped and then whipped open another folder full of notes.
It was a quiet Friday afternoon. Most of the department were out on their own cases or fighting crime. Graham and Emma, however, were logging some desk time trying to work on their on-going case by diving deeper into some of their notes to see if they missed anything.
It had been four months since she started work at the Portland Police Department. First she was a basic patrol officer and moved up the ranks to detective rather quickly. Her prior work experience, just as Graham promised, pushed her along. It worked to her advantage, especially when she was paired up with Graham. It was funny how not only did they work side-by-side, but so did their loved ones, Regina and Jeff. It was destiny, or so Emma thought at least. There was just no other way to explain it.
"It's as if he vanished. Like, poof, into thin air." She threw her hands up. "It doesn't make any logical sense." She continued her rant. "It's been two months and not even a trace of him. You'd think he'd use a credit card or use his cell phone so that we could locate him. Where is the rock that bastard crawled underneath and died?"
"Emma." Graham cautioned, trying to simmer her down. She was totally making a scene. Fortunately, they were the only two in the bullpen. Clearly, she was stressed out, and this case was getting to her.
"No, don't 'Emma' me! I just want to find him! That's all." She tossed the folder across her desk in a moment of anger. "This is bullshit!" She exclaimed.
Emma always thought cheating couples were the worst. Especially that one heartless dude that cheated on his wife who was dying of cancer, which they had four kids to make things worse. She'd been around the block a time or two, but Emma didn't expect she'd ever feel more attached to a case than this one.
It was her first official case with a dead person. It happened two months ago, right after her promotion. A woman's body was found, discarded, on a boat in the harbor that the coast guard found floating around, without a crew, in Casco Bay. She was slashed eighteen times and, for the life of her, Emma could never forget the way her deformed body looked or her lifeless, glazed over eyes.
Together, Graham and Emma worked tirelessly to collect evidence and work with the forensics team to get answers. They met with people connected to the victim and were able to narrow down to three suspects, including one who'd claimed to be a witness to the crime.
Once Graham and Emma had enough incriminating evidence to arrest the killer he skipped town without a trace. Emma was having a hard time dealing with that. She often wondered if they had acted faster, worked longer, asked more questions, then maybe he wouldn't have skipped town? Maybe they'd see justice for the woman killed.
"We all do. We're all invested in this case and I know it's frustrating. I know you're used to cases back home having a quicker turnaround. This is homicide. Doesn't work like that. Sometimes we can solve the case overnight if the evidence allows us to. Sometimes, they never get solved and they turn into a cold case file." He paused, "Listen, we're all invested in this case. Me just as much as you. We just have to do the best we can to solve it." He carefully said, "Emma, you have to understand that not all cases get solved. At least we know who the person is. And maybe he'll eventually turn up."
She shook her head in disbelief. Not solving this case, well that was bone-chilling. She supposed that was life. Not everyone gets a happy ending like she did with Regina.
"Someone's dead Graham, I just, I want to find the bad guy and bring him in. I can't stand not being able to solve this. Her family deserves closure. I just can't imagine if this was someone I knew or loved. The grief they're going through… it's just not fair."
"It takes time, Swan. You're doing the best you can at your job." He encouraged. He stood up from his own desk and walked over to her and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "Why don't we go get a beer, to unwind a little, at the tavern? I think we've been staring at these reports for a little too long. We both could use a break." He added with a friendly smile.
While the case was dwindling on with no immediate end, at least, Emma was paired up with a friend. They were friends, and it was nice to have someone she could talk about work. Emma did her best not to overshare her cases with her wife. She didn't want Regina to be uneasy about her job, or be traumatized by some of her homicides. So like Graham, she left work at work.
Emma turned her head away from her friend and shrank down in her desk chair. Weeks of research and folders littered her desk. She had logged countless hours nose deep in case files, relentlessly trying to find answers. Emma spaced out and stared at her desk lamp for a few passing seconds. When her eyes diverted away, she saw green spots and sighed out a heavy breath.
Working in homicide was a whole new ball game. She loved being a P.I. working for Maurice back in Orlando. She got to make her own schedule, and her cases were pretty simple, for the most part. Portland was different. It was a whole new ball game, and she felt like she was striking out.
"Yeah, maybe that's a good idea. I could use a breather." Emma pushed her chair back away from her big metal desk and stood. She took a sip from her cold coffee and tossed the cup into the trash can before motioning for them to leave.
When they got to the bar, Emma was elated to see her best friend August already sitting on a barstool enjoying a beer. The tavern was the go-to spot for drinks, after work, with the boys. Emma was still over the moon that August had bit the bullet and moved to Maine. Though, she still questioned the catalyst for his motives.
"It's an hour before five. What are you doing here so early?" She asked as she plopped down next to him, Graham at her side.
"Oh you know, just dealing with Kat being away in Paris, on business. This long distance thing is horseshit." He accentuated his words by waving his watery Bud Light beer bottle in the air.
Emma raised her eyebrows up at her friend, who was clearly buzzed. "Okay." She said as she settled down next to him, "I mean, I can honestly say I know the feeling." She was practically the poster child for long distance relationships.
His red swollen eyes locked with her own, "How'd you do it Ems? It's so hard. I'm so in love with her!"
The bartender slid her usual Blue Moon in front of her. She eagerly took it and thanked the man with a head tilt. Her friend having a meltdown next to her was likely a clear indication that she was going to need it. Now she was the one in the hot seat, having to help a friend cope.
When Regina and Emma arrived home from their honeymoon in Bora Bora, they were both dumbfounded to find out that August had moved to Maine to be closer to Kat. Apparently, they both got drunk enough at the wedding, to make things official. It seemed as if August wasn't just into blondes, but ones that were as cuddly as a porcupine.
And here August was, the same man that made fun of her for 'uhauling', crying into his beer, basically, over a woman he had met six months ago. Of course he knew her as Satan back then. Now she was Jesus, who could walk on water, and do no wrong.
She remembered telling him about how horrible Kat was that one time when they were out on the boat in Orlando, after her first visit to Maine. Kat was an unhinged lunatic. Her sob story was, well, sad. But damn, was she ever a trainwreck in stilettos! Who would think her best friend would fall for Regina's best friend, later ex.
"I still don't see how you're so crazy about her." Emma sipped her drink. "I still think she hates me still, even after the wedding."
August shook his head, "No, she's cool with you, now. Maybe in the beginning, she was a bit jealous."
"You don't say." Emma dryly commented.
"Look, now she's, I don't know, she's just different with me. We get each other." August drunkenly said.
"Whoa man, looks like someone has caught the love bug." Graham turned and sipped his own drink, "But that's none of my business."
Emma laughed at Graham's comment. She looked at her pseudo-brother and smirked. She could sympathize with his heartache. Too many times she'd ended up at a bar with him drinking her sorrows away, after being separated from Regina. "August, you're going to be fine. It's not like the distance is going to kill you. How long is she over in Paris for?"
"Three weeks. We just spent everyday together for the last few months, and I don't know if I can make it."
Emma rolled her eyes at his melodramatic statement. The tables had completely turned on them. Back over a year ago, she was the one love-sick at a bar drinking her sadness away. Now the ladies' man, August Booth, was a claimed man.
Emma felt like she was about to state the obvious, but she did it anyway, "Why don't you just go to Paris? It's not like you can't afford it. You both can have a romantic getaway, for the three weeks, and then come home together."
"That's not a bad idea, and you should surprise her." Graham agreed, "I wouldn't know, but I would assume it's the same. Jeff would swoon if I flew across the world to just show up with a bouquet of flowers."
August looked between the two detectives and said, "So the two of you think I should just fly to Paris and just show up at her home there, with a bouquet of roses."
She laughed, "Yeah, just like that. Besides, why wouldn't you? You're in love with her, aren't you?"
Her friends watery blue eyes had ocean swell sized tears building up. She had never seen him this torn up about a girl, not even with Ruby, who had broken his heart last year. "I do. I really do. What do I say? I -"
"Please. You, August Booth, know exactly what to say. Remember, you were basically cupid with Regina and I. You were the one that helped me when I didn't know what to say. Sometimes your antics got me a bit of trouble, but still, you were there for me. And were my lifeline so many times, in the beginning when I had no idea how to talk to her." Emma laughed about how awkward and nervous Regina made her. Just the second day into their messaging on FindLove she signed a message, 'xo.' Emma literally had had no idea how to handle it. And as if she were on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, she had called her lifeline, August.
"Not just that, but you encouraged me. And I know I still have some reservations about Kat, but I do want to see you happy, and if she's that for you, then you need to go for it. I'll support you." Emma told her friend. The last thing she wanted was for him to miss out on a great love like she had.
"Dude just do it. What's stopping you?" Graham asked as he leaned against the bar to look at August.
"I don't know, fear maybe?" August said, as he rolled his eyes and drank back the rest of his beer.
Emma furrowed her brow, "Why fear?"
"What if it's too much, too soon?"
Who knew? August was a hopeless romantic after all.
"You need to follow your heart. You already moved to Maine. Just go for it. Right, she's in, Paris, and that's where you need to be too." Emma said, "Besides, I will gladly be your lifeline if you need someone to call and freak out too. Consider it part of my repayment plan to you for setting Regina and me up." Emma cheekily said as she drank some of her beer.
Her phone buzzed in her back jean pocket. She pulled it out and read a text from 'Wifey (kiss and bride emoticons).'
When are you going to be home? I have a surprise for you! ;)
Emma's eyebrow rose up at that. Since the turn of the year, Regina's schedule had freed up considerably after she no longer had to deal with the acquisition. She was home more often, and her sole focus was being the Mayor of Westbrook and Emma's wife.
Emma picked up her beer and took a sip as she texted back her response.
At the tavern with the boys. August is grieving over Kat being in Paris. You know, going on about how hard it is dealing with a long distance relationship (as if I don't know the feeling). I can probably leave in about 30 mins? And what kind of surprise are we talking? Inquiring minds would like to know!
Emma sat the phone back down and directed her attention back to her friends. "Alright, Graham why don't you call Jeff and tell him what's up. Have him do his magic and book August on a flight tomorrow to Paris." She told her partner.
She turned to August, "Do you know where she is in Paris, like where her home is, or office?"
He nodded, "I know her schedule and where she works, in the city."
"Okay, so Jeff needs to find a flight that will get you to Paris and have some sort of car service set, to take you to her office. I'm sure he can stop for flowers along the way."
"Am I really doing this?" August looked at his friends.
Emma nodded, "Yeah, you're really doing this." Her phone buzzed on the bar counter top.
She called me this morning before leaving. She's a mess. I think they're really in love. And I can't tell you what the surprise is, or it won't be one. Come home to me soon!
Now knowing that Kat was just as torn up only fueled Emma's desire to help her friend. "Oh, this is too rich."
"What is?" August asked.
"Nothing. But what I can say, is going to Paris is what you need to do."
Graham was currently on a call with Jeff, and the two of them were already ironing out the travel details. And just like that her best friend, August, was going after the love of his life.
She rolled her eyes. Since when did her life become one of those stupid romcom movies?
Emma kicked off her work shoes and shoved them in the hall closet as she usually did. "Hey, babe? I'm home!" She yelled throughout the house to her wife.
She placed her jacket on a hanger and then strolled towards where the most sinful smells were wafting from the kitchen. She took a deep breath as she walked in, her wife was standing behind the stove, with an apron on, leaning over a pot about to taste test her cooking. God how Emma could never get over how much she adored her wife. She was an impeccable human being and the world's best cook.
In fact, not to long ago, she got her a mug that said, World's Best Cook to match her, World's Best Daughter mug. She thought it was rather fitting.
"Whatever that smell is, it's to die for." Emma walked up behind Regina and wrapped her arms around her tiny waist. "What are you making?" She kissed the nape of her neck just beneath her tiny ponytail. She loved it when Regina dressed down and threw her hair up. Before they met, she barely ever wore jeans or flannel. Just after their honeymoon she somehow managed to get Regina into one of her flannels and Emma had to admit, it looked better on her, especially with her pants off.
Regina smiled, "Well hello to you too! I'm making us chicken cacciatore. It's been in the crock pot all day. That's why the house smells so good."
Emma hummed in appreciation. God was she lucky to have a wife that had amazing cooking skills. Emma wasn't bad, but she wasn't like her wife. She did make a mean French omelet, thanks to watching Julia Child cooking shows when she first moved to Maine.
"How was work?" Regina asked licking the excess sauce from the wooden spoon.
It was near impossible not to shiver from the desire from that sight alone. Her wife was so goddamn hot. It was hard for Emma not to wrap her up in their drapes so that no one could see her as she did. "Uh, you know, there's been better days. I was nose deep in old paperwork trying to see if I missed something. We ended up calling it a short day to give ourselves a break. Went to the bar and that's where Graham and I ran into August sulking over his beer like a kicked puppy." Emma laughed at the memory. She didn't even feel bad.
Regina unhooked the top of the apron from around her neck and draped it over the side of the counter and turned in Emma's embrace to face her. "Oh. So he's just as much of a wreck as Kat, I take it? I guess they really are perfect for one another." Regina stated.
Emma kissed her lips and then said, "No one will ever be more perfect than we are for each other." Her hands affectionately ran up and down Regina's sides, "I'm telling you, loves like us exist very rarely."
Scarlet leaked into Regina's cheeks, "You keep saying that. I must admit; I don't think someone could love harder than the two of us." Regina reached forward and started to play with a loose strand of Emma's blonde hair. "I love you."
"I love you more." Emma winked. "You know a year ago, I thought August was broken by that one girl he spent Valentine's day with. But I was wrong, he's an absolute trainwreck without Kat."
Regina rolled her eyes, "Tell me about it. She was crying on the phone to me about how perfect he was." Regina turned and cut her eyes at Emma. "And then said she didn't know if she could do the distance."
"It's three weeks." Emma started and then laughed. "They act like it's so hard and impossible. Were we this bad when we were long distance?" She questioned.
Regina laughed, "I think we had our moments." She moved from Emma's grasp and over to the sink to rinse her hands clean.
Emma nodded, "Well, I'll gladly let you know that Graham and I jumped in and made a plan. Jeff booked August a flight to Paris. He'll be with her come morning, with roses of course. I will take credit for that idea." Emma took pleasure in pointing that out.
"Get out!" She turned with a shocked expression on her face. "August, move over, there's a new matchmaker in town!" Regina laughed. "Good for shoving him in the right direction. Who knows, maybe someday the two of them will get married and live happily ever after!"
Emma sheepishly rolled her eyes. She wouldn't go as far as calling herself a matchmaker, but she was pretty sure sending August to Paris was the best idea. It was a surefire way for him to solidify really his intentions with Kat. Maybe even push him to say his first 'I love you' to her too.
"Do you think we'll ever go to Paris?" Emma questioned. "I've kinda always wanted to go."
Regina walked forward and looked at Emma and said, "You know we can go whenever you want. You just let me know."
Emma nodded, "Soon then, because I'd like to kiss by the Eiffel Tower."
Regina shook her head, "You're a hopeless romantic."
"Totally!" Emma laughed, "But you love me." She coyly smiled at her love.
"I do. I love you, forever and always."
"And in death, may we never part." Emma repeated their wedding vows. "So what's my surprise?" She cut to the chase, finally.
Regina smirked. "As soon as you set the table, I'll serve dinner, and you'll find out."
Emma didn't need to be told twice. She moved about the kitchen collecting plates, utensils, and napkins. Mrs. Hopeless Romantic also lit two candles between their place settings because why not?
Since their honeymoon, nothing had changed between them. Their love didn't stay the same. Instead, it grew stronger as they continued to learn new things about one another. Regina, apparently, really loved surprising Emma and she was was more than happy to let her.
"How is it?" Regina pointed to Emma's plate with her fork.
Emma's eyes rolled back in her head, "So good, babe. It's going to give me a foodgasm." She playfully said to her wife.
"Don't do that now. The night is still young, and I have plans for you." She said in a lust filled tone.
Emma felt her entire body shiver in anticipation for what was in store. "You going to kill me, woman. I'll take you upstairs right now if you keep talking to me like that." Of course, maybe she'd take her plate of food too because damn it was good.
"Do you know what today is?" Regina asked.
Emma looked at her and suddenly freaked out over what she may have forgotten. Patriot's day was just last week. Other than that, she had no clue what she forgot.
She stalled, picked up her napkin, and blotted her lips. "Uh. Am I supposed to remember something?" She winced. God did she hope it wasn't big.
Regina nodded, "It's April 22, Emma."
Emma paused for a few seconds trying to recall what that even meant and then it dawned on her. "Oh!" She said. "It is, isn't it." She felt her body grow flush. It had been exactly one year since her surgery. She supposed she should have remembered that considering her one-year checkup with Dr. Hale was in two weeks.
"So, I decided to make it a thing. Let's call it 'T' day." Regina said. "And I have two gifts for you."
"T day?" Emma questioned.
"Transition day!" Regina nodded, "I think it's important not to forget how far you've come. I can never tell you enough, how proud I am to be your wife and the person that you fell in love with. You're special Emma. I think you're a brave woman and what you've gone through, well, we shouldn't forget. I want to celebrate it every year, so we can remember how far you've come to be the woman that you've always been. Your authentic self."
Emma had tears building up in her eyes as she listened to her wife. Being accepted for who she was never got old and Regina wanting to remember how far she'd come, well, that made Emma feel pretty damn good about herself.
"So this is a thing, April 22, T day?" She asked again.
"I want it to be. You want to see your gifts?" Regina smiled.
"Do I? Do you know me?"
"I'd say I know you pretty well." Regina pulled out a gift bag from under the table. "This isn't your big gift, but I figured it'd be fun for later tonight."
Emma's eyes widened. "Oh!" She reached out for the present and pulled out the tissue paper. "Oh god. Regina?" She looked up holding up a very risque piece of red lingerie.
"I thought red would look good on you," Regina told Emma. "I plan to do so many things to blow your mind tonight in that."
Emma shifted in her seat. Her wife was making her start to squirm from the burning between her legs. "You keep talking like that, and I won't make it much longer." Emma looked down at the lace garment in her hands. It was stunning, to say the least. She hadn't yet purchased something like this, and she loved it. She wanted to wear things like this for her wife.
"So, are you ready for your real gift? Well, it's kind of one for the both of us." She said. She got up from the table and walked over to their knick-knack drawer and pulled out a manila envelope.
She handed it to Emma and sat down next to her. "Go ahead." She paused, "Open it."
Emma had no clue what it could be, but when she pulled out the paperwork, she realized exactly what it was.
"Regina?" Emma looked up shocked. "Is this real?" Her heartbeat picked up, and she could barely believe her eyes. "We're approved for adoption?"
"I got it last week. I figured I'd wait to give it to you today!"
"Oh my god. We're going to be mothers!" She said with tears streaming freely down her face. She pulled her wife into a hug and smiled. "I can't believe this!"
"I know. I thought the processing time would have taken longer. Now, we just need to wait until they place a child with us."
Emma pulled back and kissed her wife some more. God, how could she ever not love her. "You'll make an excellent mother, and you know that."
"You will too." Regina said.
"Did you specify what sex you wanted?"
Regina shook her head, "No, I just want a healthy baby to bring into our family. Boy or girl, we'll give them the best life that we can." And that was a promise Regina intended to keep.
"We should clear the table and then head upstairs. I need to go put this in the lock box, just in case anything happens." Regina told Emma.
Emma watched as her wife went on her way. She stood and started to clear the table and kitchen. It was their routine, if Regina cooked, Emma cleaned. After a few minutes, she heard her wife walk back in reading from a piece of paper.
"Hey, what are you looking at?" Emma asked as she loaded the dishwasher.
"Oh. Um." She licked her lips, "I just found this on the desk." She turned the paper for Emma to see. "When did you write it?"
Emma took a step closer and looked at the paper with her handwriting. She smiled and then said, "I wrote it right after we got married. I forgot about it." She blew against it, a small layer of dust had collected on it since it had been about four months.
"Why didn't you send it?" Regina asked, her brow furrowed.
Emma shook her head, "I couldn't find the stamps, so I forgot." She looked at her wife, "I think we should send it."
"Yeah, I think you're right." Regina leaned into Emma and kissed her cheek.
Dear FindLove,
My name is Emma Swan - aka - EmmaSwan88975. Back in 2015, I met my now-wife Regina, RegalRegina80, through your website. I honestly didn't even make the profile, and my best friend did because I was resigned to the fact that I was forever going to be single, dreaming of what finding and falling in love would be like. I can still remember the day he sat me down in my desk chair in my in home office and begged me to look at the profile he set up for me. I was wary of course. I hadn't been with someone for a few years, and the whole dating thing was something I wasn't sure if I was ready for. But then, I came across a profile of a woman who, in every regard, was what I was looking for. So despite my reservations about online dating and the fact that she lived 1000+ miles away, I contacted her.
We exchanged emails back and forth for some time, getting to know one another. Later we videoed each other and the chemistry we shared was pulling us closer together. Fortunately, she had business in Florida and not long after we met online, we officially met in person.
It was kind of like a movie the first time I saw her. I grew weak at the knees and tumbled forward in the world's most awkward first hug. I even forgot to invite her in, because yes, I was that nervous. I desperately wanted to make a good first impression.
I just knew, this person was it for me, after we met. I was on your website for all of a total of one hour and I was connected with the love of my life. It's crazy because without you guys, our paths would never have crossed and I sure as hell wouldn't be the woman I am now without her, literally.
For months we traveled back and forth to visit one another. At the turn of the year, circumstances brought us closer together more than ever. I took a leap of faith and moved to live with her. I know we weren't together for long and my best friend that set up my FindLove profile called the big move, 'uhauling'. But once you find love, it's hard to not be with that person. You feel this need to be closer.
Halfway through our first year of living together, I proposed to her. We didn't want a crazy wedding, just one that was intimate with close friends and family in the place we first said our I love you's, at a ski resort. In our wedding dresses, cuddled up close, we rode a ski lift up the mountain to watch fireworks light up the night sky, since it was New Year's. Our love story has just, begun and it will never end.
I figured, I owed you guys this letter. You connected us. I don't want to be one of those smiling faces giving a testimony on your website. I just wanted to share our love story. If you ask me, it's one for the books. I can't tell you how much I love my wife, she's my world and the reason I live.
So, thank you. I found my person because of you and everything else, well, it just fell right into place.
Sincerely,
Emma Swan-Mills