Chapter 10

Emma ran a hand through her hair, smoothing down the top and adjusting her curls to drape over her shoulders. Today was going to be another great day. She and Regina were getting to know one another and all was going well. They talked quite often at work, and had even had lunch together a few times. Now all she had to do was get Regina to see her as possible romantic partner.

"Killian," she yelled to the sleeping man. "Killian get up!"

He didn't move.

"Kill, get up. We're going to be late for work. We can't afford to upset Cora Mills right now, especially since things are going to so well with Regina and I."

"I don't give a shit about work!" Killian said as he rolled over. "I'm not going to work today."

"Yes you are!" Emma said pulling the thin blanket off of him. "Get up!"

"Why?!" Killian said sitting up. "We work, and for what? Look at this place. I am sick of living like a fairy damned peasant! Do you know I had to sit and listen to that damned Sidney telling me how it wouldn't be long until we got a raise? He kept speaking to me with pity. I am Killian Jones. No one has ever pitied me!"

"You hate living like this?" Emma yelled as she flung her arm over the stacked milk crates serving as a nightstand. She knocked over the empty fast food containers and an old lamp. "Fix the place up if you want, but you are going to work. You will not ruin my chances with Regina!"

Killian said nothing as he angrily sat up. He could not go against his princess, no matter how friendly they were.

"You have five minutes!" she said before storming out of the apartment and walking to the bus stop.

[SQ]

"You know, I guess I dated him because my mother expected me to," Regina said as they walked out of the office building. "He didn't even want me to continue working. He wanted me to become some trophy wife, and yet I stayed with him. I do so many things just because others expect it of me."

"It's possible."

"God," she sighed. "You must be so sick of hearing me talk about my problems."

"No, not at all," Emma said with a smile. "I enjoy hearing you speak."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were flirting," the brunette husked. "Well, since you're being so nice, how about I cook you dinner? You can come to my house tonight," Emma gave a small shrug. "I know Zelena will be there."

"Why don't you come to my place instead," this was her chance to find out more about Regina's stance on wealth and she could avoid the amorous redhead. "I could cook for you."

"You cook?"

"I...uh…." Emma had spent time watching the cooks in the palace kitchen, when her mother wasn't around, yet she realized she couldn't fake it. Of course she was never expected to have to fix meal for herself, but now, she wished things had been different.

"Judging by your silence I am going to assume that is a no, Ms. Swan," Regina smiled at the blonde's shrug. "How about I make you my famous lasagna?"

"Sounds good." Emma exhaled pausing before they reached the brunette's car. "I must warn you. My home is very poor. Please don't be alarmed."

"Emma," Regina placed her hands on the blonde's shoulder. "I told you before, I don't care about that. Quit trying to scare me."

[SQ]

Emma watched as Regina picked out the ingredients for this 'lasagna'. It was apparently one of the executive's favorites from when she was child. Regina had also picked up a bottle of wine for them to enjoy with the meal. It would be a lovely evening. Now she just hoped Killian hadn't messed up the place. He had left early, saying he was going to spend the afternoon fixing up the apartment.

"Welcome to my humble home," she said as the fished out her keys to open the apartment.

"Emma!" Killian yelled as she stuck her head inside the door.

The princess nearly dropped the grocery bag she was carrying.

He didn't.

He couldn't have.

She quickly closed the door, turning to Regina.

"What's wrong Emma?"

"Nothing," she pushed her grocery bag into Regina's arms. "Could you give me a moment?"

Not waiting for a response she entered her apartment closing the door quickly.

"Killian, what did you do?" Emma didn't even recognize the place. The two thin twin mattresses had been replaced with two actual beds, covered in what looked like luxurious comforters. The empty wall that had been covered in holes now held a big flat screen tv, with speakers hooked up onto the wall. The small kitchenette had been upgraded with still small, but state of the art appliances. Was that granite?

She didn't even want contemplate anything else, she could see what looked like a Jacuzzi in the corner from where she was standing.

"You like it?" Killian asked as he leaned back on the leather couch, meshing buttons on a small controller. "This thing here is called an XBOX. It's really cool!"

"I should kill you!" she screamed.

"Why? You told me to fix up the place!"

"I'm supposed to be poor!" she whispered as loudly as she could. She was cut off from continuing her tirade by the sound of Regina saying her name and knocking on the door. She pointed an angry finger at her best friend before heading back to the hallway.

"Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine," Emma plastered on a big smile. "Excuse me, I have to..um, tidy up." She took the two bags from Regina and slipped back inside the apartment. She put the groceries down on the new stone countertop. Emma said nothing as she opened the top drawer on on what was an actual nightstand and removed the stacks of money inside.

"Emma, what are you doing?" Killian whined.

She said nothing as she opened a McDonalds food bag and removed the wrappers, putting the stacks of money inside.

"For fairies sake do not take my pocket money!"

"If you have no more New York money, you can cause no more problems."

"Calm down Emma, you are being unreasonable!"

"If you have ruined my chances to get to know Regina as only myself, I will never forgive you." She stuck the money filled paper bag as far as she could into her winter jacket and left.

Regina was leaning against a wall near the door, picking at her nails.

"I'm so sorry Regina."

"It's fine. Can we go in now? I'm looking forward to an evening with you."

"No. We cannot. There's…a rat. A big rat inside the apartment. I mean this rat is huge."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Emma I know there is no rat."

"But-"

"Are you so ashamed of your apartment, that you don't even want to let me inside." Emma bit her bottom lip, nodding. Yeah she was ashamed, but not for the reason the businesswoman was thinking. "If it bothers you that much Emma, we can go out to dinner. There is no need to lie."