A/N: SO SO SORRY THIS TOOK ME AGES. I've had so much work omfg you don't even understand, drowning in it. It's calmed down a bit now until late Spring though!
I wasn't sure when Regina's birthday is. It's not going to make any difference to the story though, so I just picked a date. (she seems like a May, November or February to me, but birthday guessing isn't an exact science!)
In case it's not obvious, I'm REALLY going for the clichés in this fic. But clichés are good sometimes! A couple of people were worried I was going to whack out the angst in this fic, but don't worry, I have no intention of doing! As I've said before, I'm doing this fic a little differently and am sort of just seeing where the wind blows with what happens. So if there's anything you're interested in happening in this fic, write in a review and tell me what you'd like to see!
Thanks again for following and favouriting and reviewing. I try to reply to all non-guest reviews, but if for some reason I've missed yours then I'm really horrible and really sorry!
If you're enjoying this fic, don't forget to keep the reviews coming! Even if all you have to say is "I like this" (I'm being optimistic), that's great for me! I need constant validation if you can't already tell.
In flagrante delicto – caught in the act (you'll understand in a bit)
Tim Elias = Gold/Rumple btw.
"'Regina Mills was once again spotted out with her mystery lady-friend on Friday night, and this time there was no denying the nature of their relationship when her blonde companion reached across the table at society-favourite The Establishment to give her a kiss.'"
"Is that all it says?"
"Nope, that's just the caption under the photo. It talks a bit about you, and the magazine. Nothing else really important."
"You mean nothing else mentioning you."
"That too."
Emma and Regina sat in the brunette's office on Monday morning, perusing the newspaper to see if there were any repercussions from their dinner the week before. Lo and behold, a half-page picture of the two of them kissing graced the middle page.
"The 'spotted' section. Truthfully, I'm ashamed to have my name sullied by a column that works from hearsay and very little else."
"Well, the picture was pretty damning. Are you going to get this one redacted too?"
Regina sighed. "I can, but I'm not sure there's any point in that. As you said, the picture's damning. Once a picture like that's out there, there's no use trying to remove it."
"Do you think I was out of line?"
"To kiss me? Absolutely not. In spite of what these papers might suggest, my private life is none of their business."
"Ok, good. I've been feeling a little guilty." Emma shifted in her seat.
"You have?" Regina furrowed her brow and ran a hand through her hair. "What about?"
"Robin." Regina opened her mouth to protest, but Emma continued to talk before she had the chance. "No, hear me out. You guys have been broken up what; a few weeks? A month? And now he has to open the paper and see you making out with someone else. I just feel bad for him, that's all."
"Well that's good of you, dear. But I can assure you that your words will mean very little to him."
"I just.. we said we weren't even dating. Not properly. Not yet. And now there's all of this, and… you don't think we're moving too fast?"
Regina looked away. "Do you?"
"No, no, I'm happy. With this, I mean. But it was you that didn't want to get into a proper relationship so soon, and so I just wanted to check that this wasn't too much."
"We aren't in a proper relationship yet, Emma. We may be going on dates, yes, and having fun, but we aren't in a relationship. What these papers choose to interpret is up to them, I'm comfortable with the nature of our relationship as long as we – the people who matter in it – know what it is."
Emma considered this. "That makes sense. It just seems strange, you know? I mean obviously this is so out of the ordinary for me. You don't even know my birthday and here you are kissing me in the newspaper."
"October 23rd."
"How do you know that?"
"You're my subordinate. I hired you. It's my job to know these things about you."
"May 17th." Regina looked taken aback, and Emma smiled. "I did some research."
"You mean you cyber-stalked me."
"Same difference. So.. what do I tell people?"
"Tell them?"
"About us."
"When there is something to know, we'll discuss it."
"People are going to ask me, you know. Around the office. Belle's been staring at me all morning, she's working herself up to the question."
"I suppose as Belle is coming to Paris, perhaps you may be justified in telling her. But I hope I can count on your discretion."
"I get it, you're embarrassed of me."
"Of course I'm embarrassed of you!" Regina retorted in a half-flirtatious voice, earning her a look from Emma. "Surely you can understand this from my perspective? This is.. delicate for me. I've worked hard to build my reputation and I don't want it tarnished now."
"Nah, I get it."
"Are you sure?" Regina sounded uncharacteristically self-conscious, and began to play with her hair as Emma had noticed she did when she tried to hide vulnerability.
"Yep." Emma smiled sincerely at her, "So what do you want me to do for the rest of the day?"
"There's a couple of reports which need sending out, I'll send you a list of what and who they need to go to. Other than that, nothing comes to mind. Ask Belle if she wants to delegate you anything of hers."
"Ok. Will I.. see you later?"
"I'm your boss, Emma. I should hope so."
"Later later."
"Not tonight, I have a mountain of paperwork I need to get done for Paris." Regina rubbed her temples at the thought. "Soon, though."
"Cool. Soon."
Emma went to ask Belle what work needed to be done, and Belle almost visibly leapt for joy and announced that Emma was to accompany Regina to a meeting with what she referred to as the "head honchos."
"Isn't Regina the head honcho?"
"Well yes, but these are the big ones. The guys you don't want to get on the wrong side of."
"…Right." Emma tensed, and Belle changed tack.
"No, no, Emma. You'll be fine. They're perfectly pleasant to tell you the truth, they're just a little… intimidating."
"Great. Great. Oh, and uh… about that other thing."
"The you-dating-Regina thing?" Belle looked up from her work and smiled.
"Yeah, that. The party line is that there's nothing to tell, ok?"
"Of course. But am I to believe that isn't true?"
Emma looked down, coyly. "No, it's not."
"Then that's all I need to know."
Emma knocked on Regina's door to let her know it was time for their meeting, and the woman came out almost immediately.
"So Emma, ready to meet Elias and Clark?"
"Wait.. what? Those are real people?"
"Yes, dear, they are." Regina smirked as they entered the elevator.
"I thought it was just a name. Like Target, or… McDonalds."
"A clown, I'm lead to believe."
"I can't do this. I can't meet Elias and Clark!"
"Calm down dear, it was bound to happen at some point. Just smile and take notes, it will fly by."
The elevator doors opened, and the receptionist that was sat behind the nearest desk pointed them through. With a smile of encouragement, Regina opened the door.
"Ah Regina, good to see you again." One of the two men greeted Regina, who stayed stood in the middle of the room as Emma's gaze hovered on the window.
"Arthur, Timothy, this is…"
"No, don't tell me. I think I know. Emma Swan… Mystery Blonde." The thinner of the two, who had been sat behind a name plate reading 'Elias' stood and walked towards the two women. "I must say Miss Swan, it's nice to finally be able to meet you in the flesh. Of course, I feel as though I know you already."
Elias was shorter than Emma had expected, and had, for want of a better word, an impish way about him. A smug grin was cast almost constantly over his face, and Emma squirmed under his gaze.
"Now now Timothy, let's not send Emma running for the door." Regina quipped with a hint of playfulness, and sat on the edge of the desk Elias had just vacated. Throughout all of this Clark, who was much older and stockier than his business partner, remained quietly sat at his desk.
"I trust that this dalliance of yours won't cause any problems for us, Regina. We all know what love can do to a person."
"Emma and I are not dating."
'Yet' was on the tip of Emma's tongue.
"Hm." Elias responded, non-convinced.
For all intents and purposes, Emma was essentially ignored for the entirety of the meeting. Only Regina regularly acknowledged with words the fact she was actually in the room - bar from a few subtle comments from Elias, and the stare and grin that accompanied them. It continued in much the way it had begun; Regina and Elias conversing like old friends, Emma squirming uncomfortably under Elias' occasional glare, and Clark sat silently behind his desk. At one point he chimed in with an "I agree," and Emma jumped at the sound, rough and gravelly for such a calm-looking man.
"Well Regina, if that's everything I think we're finished here."
Regina stood and smoothed down her skirt, Emma mimicking her actions.
"Excellent. I'll get Emma to send you through the summary."
"Sorry, can I get a confirmation on who it is that's going with you to Fashion Week?" Elias called after Regina as she and Emma turned to exit the office.
Regina reeled off a short list of names; journalists, photographers and two of the magazine's online bloggers. After a brief pause, she ended her list with "And Belle, of course", and a questioning silence hung in the air.
"An interesting choice."
"Is there a problem, Elias?" Regina questioned sharply, eyebrows lowering slightly.
"No problem. It's just… intriguing."
"Belle is my senior assistant, and is a perfectly competent young woman."
"Of course. I had merely assumed that Miss Swan here would be your first choice in.. overseas partner." Elias' grin returned. Emma looked away, and Regina caught discomfort in her eyes.
"Though it's really none of your business, Emma is coming to Paris in a personal capacity. I know that you see us as friends, Elias, but in future I would ask that you treat Belle, Emma and myself with the respect we have shown you we deserve. Runway is the most profitable branch of the Elias-Clarke group; past, present, and most likely future. You'd do well to remember that."
Elias said nothing, still with the un-fitting smile spread across his face. With a nod to the silent partner, Regina turned and left the office, Emma following in quick pursuit.
The two marched in silence to the elevator, and still when they were inside. Emma and Regina both moved towards the button for their floor, and Emma fumbled awkwardly to move out of Regina's way, walking to the back wall of the elevator.
"Are you ok, dear?" Regina asked with an attempt at nonchalance, taking an extra second to turn to face her and step to the back of the elevator. "You've been very quiet this afternoon. Which is quite a step from the norm."
"I'm fine." Emma coughed, "He just… made me a little uncomfortable, you know?"
"I'm sure there are bigger problems in both of our lives than that weasel of a man, Emma."
"Hmm." Emma hummed in response and smirked towards the elevator doors.
"You shouldn't let yourself be rattled by him. And if he ever does anything to make you uncomfortable again, anything at all, you let me know. Immediately." Regina quietened abruptly, and after Emma made no attempts at a reply, continued to stare at the elevator doors in front of them.
Emma waited a second. Two. Three. Four, and she leaned forward and pulled the stop lever on the elevator. It ground to a halt.
"What…" Regina began, a tone of confusion over-ruling her voice. Emma waited one more second.
All of a sudden, Emma's lips were over Regina's, and moved her slightly to push her up against the wall. This all happened within a split second, and with such spontaneity that Regina, for a moment, didn't respond. Emma deepened her kiss as Regina sprang into action and opened her mouth slightly to allow Emma's tongue entrance. Emma put one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her hip holding it in place, and in retaliation Regina removed her lips from Emma's and repositioned them on the blonde's neck.
Emma groaned, and pushed a leg between Regina's as a hand ran through her hair. Emma moved her hands up clumsily to the front of Regina's shirt, and began to undo the buttons. After the top 3 were undone, she impatiently moved her neck from Regina's lips and placed her own on the top of Regina's right breast, just above her bra.
"Uh… ladies? You really shouldn't pull the lever."
Emma and Regina sprang apart as a sheepish voice stifling laughter called out from the previously-unnoticed speaker above their head. Regina began to button her shirt and Emma snorted an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, Miss Mills… Ma'am. The uh… there's a system, when the elevator stops it connects us to the… to the cameras."
Emma hid her face in her hands, still guffawing, and Regina hit her on the arm.
"This is your fault!"
"What? Me?"
"Yes, you. You decided to pull the lever! We're going to be put up on the internet!" Regina opened her mouth in disbelief. "I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe this is happening."
"Just lighten up a little, will you?"
"Lighten up? Lighten up? I'm sure it's all good for you, Emma, god knows getting caught in flagrante delicto with me will raise your street cred."
"A woman that speaks Latin? Oh yeah, they'll all be really jealous."
"Uh.. Sorry to interrupt. Again. We.. uh…" the man continued to dissolve into laughter, "We'll destroy the tape, Miss Mills. No harm done."
"I'll make sure of it. I'm on my way immediately."
Emma leant over and lifted the stop lever.
"You, Miss Swan, can return to your desk. Where you'll hopefully cause me no more trouble."
"Oh…" Emma planted another short kiss on Regina's lips. "We'll see about that."