AN: I'm so sorry I've been so crap at updating!
August seemed to inflict major writers block with me, but hopefully I'll update sooner!
Chapter 23
Emma walked in the diner just behind Regina, she saw Ruby look up from the counter her eyes flicked to Emma and then to Regina, her face lit up and she dashed around the counter causing Emma to internally groan.
"Table for two ladies?" Ruby asked taking two menus
"Actually Rubes we just ate" Emma interrupted standing just in front of Regina.
"Right well would you like a drink then?" Ruby asked still with a wide smile on her face
"Erm, I'm not sure, er"
Emma heard Regina cough behind her lightly, Emma turned her head to look at her
"Miss Swan aren't you going to introduce us?" Regina raised her eyebrows at Emma
"Oh yeah, of course" Emma felt flustered suddenly, she didn't want Regina to think that she wanted to keep her away from Ruby, if anything it was more the other way round "Regina, this is Ruby, Ruby this is Regina"
Regina stepped forward and held her hand out to Ruby, who shook it politely
"Well Fancy Pants it's nice to finally meet you" Ruby smiled, Regina rolled her eyes
"And you, I've heard quite a bit about you"
"All good I hope"
"Mostly"
Ruby grinned before shrugging "well you can't be good all the time, can I get you ladies anything?"
"Erm" Emma looked to Regina, who smile and nodded her head, maybe this wasn't going to be too bad "I'll have the usual Rubes"
"And what about you Fancy Pants?" Ruby asked Regina
"I'll have a hot chocolate please"
"With cinnamon?"
"Why would I have cinnamon with it?" Regina asked, wrinkling her nose slightly. Ruby laughed lightly
"Just thought you might, there's booth over there" Ruby pointed to the booth the furthest away from the door in the corner of the diner. "You know in case you two don't want to be disturbed"
Emma glared at Ruby before leading Regina to a different booth, but still one that gave them some privacy, Emma sat down on the side where she could see who was walking in. They chatted for a few moments before Ruby walked back over with their drinks
"I wasn't sure if you were into whipped cream or not, so I brought it over just in case" Ruby winked at Regina, Emma wished that the ground would swallow her up.
"Only at certain times" Regina retorted back and Emma flushed.
"I like her" Ruby told Emma before walking back behind the counter
"And you were worried about me meeting her" Regina smiled
"I was more worried about what she would say" Emma told her "but she's actually been fairly controlled for Ruby"
"Oh gosh, I'm sorry" Regina said looking at Emma's drink "I didn't realise you had yours with cinnamon, and I acted as though it was the most ridiculous thing"
"It's fine, it's pretty uncommon, Snow is the only other person I've known to have it this way, so don't worry about it"
The date ended all too quickly for Emma, but it was late afternoon by the time she walked Regina to her car. Ruby had shouted over to them before they left
"Oh Regina you not staying the night?" she added a wink, but Emma rolled her eyes and hurriedly exited the diner.
"I had a lovely time, thank you" Regina told her facing Emma, holding both her hands in her own.
"So did I, I'm glad you enjoyed it, and that Ruby didn't scare you off"
"Please, she's just a pup, it'd take a lot more than that to scare me off" and there it was, that smile that made Emma's heart flutter and make her feel as though they were the only two people who mattered. Emma closed the distance between them gently kissing Regina, moving her hand to cup her cheek, as Emma felt Regina deepen the kiss she pulled away, smiling at the brunette.
"I'll see you soon yeah?"
"Of course" Regina smiled, before turning and getting into the car, she waved at Emma before driving away. Emma stood on the street for a few moments watching her drive away.
/-/
Since their date to Storybrooke they had been on a few other ones in the following fortnight, they had just finished having lunch and Regina was leading Emma up the path towards her home.
Regina unlocked the door and allowed Emma to step past her. Emma whistled as she looked around her.
"This place is insane!"
"You have been here before you know?" Regina smiled closing the door behind her
"Yeah I know, but on the way in I was too drunk to notice anything and on the way out, I just wanted to, well.. you know… get out" Emma stood awkwardly shuffling her feet
"I know dear, it's fine" Regina kissed Emma's cheek and took her hand leading her towards the living room. Regina left Emma in the living room looking at all the things she had around the room, whilst she went to get them both drinks. She returned to see Emma holding the only framed picture in the house in her hands.
"Is this your dad?" Emma asked. Regina nodded placing their drinks of the coffee table before joining Emma
"It was my 21st, it's one of the few pictures we have together" Regina replied staring at the picture of herself and her father, both smiling at the camera.
"How come you only have the one photo up?"
"I don't own that many pictures, let alone ones I'd be happy for other people to see" Regina walked back towards the sofa where there drinks where placed.
Emma quickly flopped next to her and took out her phone holding it out in front of them
"What are you doing?" Regina asked, looking at the phone, seeing herself an Emma
"I'm giving you more happy pictures" Regina couldn't help put smile at Emma's thoughtfulness, Emma snapped the picture, then turned kissing Regina on the cheek and taking another one. "There now we have at least two happy pictures"
"Well I hope we'll have more than that" Regina smiled, picking up her drink and handing Emma hers.
"Oh I'm sure we will" Emma smiled at Regina.
It was nearly dark when they heard the front door open and Maleficent walked in.
"Emma, hi" Maleficent said as she sat down on a seat in the living room
"Hey" Emma said, not moving from her spot where she lay on her back with her head on Regina's lap.
"Where have you been?" Regina asked
"Out with Cruella" Maleficent replied
"Of course"
"She wants to know what's going on with your birthday by the way"
"It's your birthday?!" Emma shot up staring at Regina "when?!"
"Saturday" Regina smiled awkwardly
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I forgot" that was the truth, Regina liked to ignore her birthday for as long as possible especially as her mother made such a big deal out of it. "But that does remind me, my mother throws a party every year"
"One that gets bigger every year" Maleficent added
Regina nodded before continuing "and it's Saturday if you'd like to attend?" Regina surveyed Emma's face for any sign of discomfort.
"How big is it going to be? Like is it just close friends and family?" Emma asked
"Oh dear, if only you knew, Cora Mills doesn't do things by half, the party is a pretty big event, most people look forward to it all year"
"Believe me if it was just close friends and family some people wouldn't be invited, but you certainly would be" Maleficent pretended to be offended by Regina's comment and then simply rolled her eyes.
Emma suddenly looked more confident and smiled widely nodding at Regina, "sure then why not?"
"Excellent, and please bring Ruby so at least you know someone else"
"She'll know me" Maleficent remarked
"Sorry, someone who you will want to be around"
"You know dear, I may start to take these comments personal" Maleficent said
"Feel free to" Regina then turned her attention back to Emma "Lacey was there last year, so hopefully she'll be there this year as well" Regina wanted to encourage Emma to attend as much as possible, scared that she may suddenly change her mind.
"Sounds good, I'll be there and I'll ask Ruby too, just text me with the place and time"
"I will, and there are plenty of spare rooms here if you and Ruby don't want to drive back"
"Or you could just bunk in with Regina" Maleficent commented before standing up and walking towards the kitchen, dodging the cushion that Regina threw at her
"Ignore her, like I said we have plenty of room for you and Ruby to have your own bed" Regina smiled, hoping to avoid an awkward moment.
"Thanks Regina" Emma looked at her watch "I better be heading back, but I'll let Ruby know and I'll see you Thursday"
Regina walked Emma to the door, she softly kissed her goodbye, knowing full well that if it was anything but that then Regina would struggle to let Emma leave.
Regina waited until Emma had drove away before closing the front door and walking back into the living room where Maleficent was sat again slouched on the seat with a huge smirk on her face.
"You can take that smirk of your face" Regina told her "you failed to make the situation awkward"
"Oh that isn't what I'm smirking at dear"
"Then what are you smirking at?" Regina looked at confused, Maleficent sat up and leaned towards Regina, the smirk growing.
"I can't wait for your Mother to meet Emma"
AN: Reviews? Maybe? Please? :D