***Author's Notes: So, even if you're not ready for it, some major drama is about to happen. But, I think that it is well overdue. In this chapter we finally get to meet the person that Regina loves/hates and I think that you will find that she is actually really easy to hate. Also, please excuse some of the language that happens in this chapter. I try really hard to keep it clean but I'm also someone who believes a great deal in the F-word when it needs to be used (one of my favorite words, actually). Let me know what you think!***
When Regina gets home, she turns the oven on to warm, slides in the apple pie, and goes into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable. Shortly after she is done, there is a knock at her door. She opens it to find Emma with a huge smile on her face and the rest of the six-pack that they had earlier. Regina moves to the side so that Emma could enter.
"I didn't know if you had anything to drink here so I brought these just in case."
"Hmm. I actually don't drink much at home so I don't think I have anything besides water and orange juice. But, I don't think that IPAs go very well with apple pie." Regina smiles.
"Well, we can have apple pie and ice cream first and then we can watch a movie and have beer?" Emma says with a grin on her face.
Regina chuckles. "Ah, a woman with a plan. That's sounds fine to me."
Emma walks over to the kitchen and puts the beer in the refrigerator. Then, she walks back into dining area which is by the front door and looks around at Regina's apartment. The space is not very big but it looks very homey. The first thing that Emma notices is that Regina has a vintage record player in her living room along with a pretty impressive collection of vinyl records and CDs on a shelf beside it. She walks over and looks through a few of them pulling out an original Etta James record that still looks like it is in mint condition "Whoa…"
"I'm sort of a traditionalist when it comes to music." Regina says from behind Emma.
Emma turns and smiles at her. "Yeah, so I've noticed. And it is very cool. I mean, I thought you were pretty cool before but this is really, really cool."
Regina rolls her eyes.
"You know, you do that a lot around me." Emma says laughing.
"Well, you say a lot of things that warrant that reaction."
"No, I don't. You, just don't know how to take a compliment." Emma is smiling at Regina again waiting for her to say something when she notices that Regina might be blushing.
Regina looks down at her feet for a moment and reaches her hand up to tuck some hair behind her ear, a definite nervous habit of hers. Then she replies, "I suppose that I should just thank you then" as she looks up again and returns Emma's smile.
"Why, you're welcome." Emma says smugly. She continues walking around the room when a few pictures on Regina's bookshelf catches her eye. One picture is of a younger Regina, probably eleven or twelve, with who looks to be her parents. Then there is one of Regina and Marian from when they were in school, both of them in cheerleading uniforms. The last one is from Marian and Robin's wedding and Regina is off to the side as she is obviously one of Marian's bridesmaids. This makes Emma smile. It has to be a crime to look so much more beautiful than the bride in a wedding photo, she thinks to herself before turning back towards where Regina is standing and watching her. "Your apartment is very nice. It seems very cozy."
Regina shrugs. "Well, as you know, I don't spend much time here. I spend the most time in my bedroom, sleeping." She laughs. "Are you ready for some pie?"
"Oh, yes. I'm always ready for pie."
Regina walks into the kitchen, puts on the oven mitt, and pulls the pie out of the oven. "I hope that you like yours warm because that's how I usually eat it."
"Mmm, warm is good." Emma say as she takes in the scents of apples, cinnamon, and butter all at once.
Regina places it on a pot holder and pulls a knife out cutting into it. "Do you want to show me how big or small of a piece you'd like?"
Without having to think about it, Emma excitedly takes Regina's hand that's holding the knife and moves it to where she wants her to cut.
"Wow. Alright." Regina laughs as she sees the large slice that Emma has requested. "Would you get the ice cream from the freezer for me please? And there are spoons in the top drawer on your right."
Emma does this as Regina plates their dessert. She scoops herself a generous amount of ice cream as well and moans into her first bite. "Oh my god, Regina. This is so good."
"It's my mother's recipe." Regina says as she takes a bite of her own piece.
"Your father's burgers and your mother's apple pie are now my two most favorite things in the world. I bet the holiday meals at your house are amazing."
"Mhmm. They are pretty amazing actually, but I haven't had a proper Thanksgiving with them in a while. They always travel around that time of year now because I can never make it home. I will probably close the bar down for a week or two this Christmas though because I really should spend it at home this year."
"If you don't want to close the bar down completely, I can always stay and work for you. We can do short days or something. I don't think that I have plans to go anywhere."
Regina thinks about asking Emma about her family but does not want to overstep. She feels that Emma would have volunteered the information already if she really wanted to because she has been pretty candid with everything else. "We'll see. It's still too early to tell. What if you do decide that you have plans for Christmas?"
"Eh, doubt it, but we'll talk about it closer to the time." Emma smiles again but immediately turns her attention back to her dessert.
Once they are both finished, Regina tells Emma to choose a movie from her DVD collection while she cleans the dishes.
Emma browses through the DVDs until she comes across one of her favorite movies. "Aha! I love this movie." She turns the television and DVD player on and by the time she has everything set up, Regina is coming into the living room.
Regina grabs one of the cushions off of the sofa and sits in its place as she pulls the pillow against her chest and hugs it. "What did you decide on?"
"Only one of the best movie of all time." She holds up the box to the DVD that she has just put into the player.
Regina smiles. "Funny, you really don't strike me as the romantic comedy type."
"And you'd be correct. I'm definitely more of a Star Wars or Indiana Jones type, which I am surprised to see that you have as well because you totally seem like the rom-com lover. But, those ones are really meant for sleepover marathons, so we can save that for another night. Tonight just felt like a When Harry Met Sally night." She hits play on the DVD player and waits to make sure the movie is starting.
"You say that assuming that I will invite you back over here again." Regina teases.
"I mean, I'm definitely hoping that you will." Emma says with a smile on her face.
Regina shakes her head and chuckles. "You're welcome to come over here any time. Now, will you open up that ottoman over there and grab the blanket that's inside? It should be big enough for us to share."
Emma gets the blanket just as the the beginning credits of the movie starts. She sits down next to Regina and opens up the blanket. She spreads it out so that both her and Regina are able to have some of it but it falls a bit short, so she shyly positions herself closer to Regina until they are both fully covered. Then she relaxes and turns her attention to the movie.
They do not even make it to the middle of the movie when Regina feels her eyelids start to get heavy. She yawns which in turn makes Emma yawn as well.
"Hey, quit that! It's contagious."
Regina mumbles something as she leans against the arm of the sofa and pulls her feet up and onto Emma's lap.
Emma looks over at Regina who is now has her head on the cushion she was holding with her eyes closed. She reaches over and taps Regina on the shoulder. "Hey…" she says softly.
Regina blinks tiredly and looks over at Emma. "I'm getting very sleepy."
Emma chuckles. "I can tell. And that's okay. I should probably go and let you go to sleep." Emma gets up, careful not to pull the blanket off of Regina.
Regina gets up with her. "I'm sorry Emma. We can finish the movie next time." Regina says mid-yawn.
"Nope. Next time we are having a Star Wars marathon for sure and a sleepover."
Regina is too tired to argue so she just agrees instead. "Sure, but we'll have to move the television into the bedroom because that sofa is not going to fit both of us comfortably."
"Deal." Emma says happily.
Regina walks Emma to the door and opens it for her. She thinks about hugging Emma before she makes it out the door but the moment passes and if she does it now, it would be make things extremely awkward. "Get home safely. Text me if you need anything because I don't think that I'll see you until later in the week. You don't work again until Thursday, right?" she asks, her brain still cloudy from the drowsiness.
"I'll probably stop by and hang out with you guys tomorrow. I don't have anything else going on and there is nothing in the condo unless I go buy a TV tomorrow." Emma laughs.
"Oh okay. Well then, I will see you tomorrow. Good night, Emma."
"Good night. Go get some rest."
Regina nods, waves, and then closes the door when Emma turns and walks away.
As promised, Emma shows up at the bar the next evening just to have a drink and to hang out with Killian and Regina. Monday nights are not very busy but Regina runs a burger special which brings an adequate dinner crowd. When Emma arrives, there are already a few small groups of people and a large party of about ten guys that she believes are from a local fraternity. It is not exactly bustling but it is just enough to keep Regina and Killian on their toes.
Emma helps Killian with bringing the beers and food over to the large party and refills the water for the small tables before she takes a seat at the bar.
Regina comes out from the back and sees Emma sitting there. "Hey there." Regina says. "Are you hungry? You want something to eat?"
"Nah, I ate already. But I'll take a Maker's and soda."
Regina pours the drink and hands it to her. "So, did you get a television today?"
Emma scrunches her face. "No, not yet. I have been so lazy today. I went on a run this morning but then just basically laid in bed all day after that. Regina, that bed is so comfortable. I am not going to want to sleep anywhere else ever again." She says. "So, I think we're going to have to do the sleepover at my place."
Regina had almost forgotten about the movie marathon that she had promised Emma.
Killian overhears this. "What's this about a sleepover? I better be invited."
"Pssh. Are you even a Star Wars fan?" Emma asks.
"Are you kidding me, Emma? I love Star Wars!" Killian reveals. Just ask Regina, She'll tell you I do."
Regina is busy doing something on the computer on the back counter but says, "It's true. He may not look like one but he's actually a huge nerd."
Emma smiles. "Well, that's just too bad because it's a ladies only party. We don't want any of your man cooties."
There's someone at the end of the bar that is trying to order something so Killian walks in his direction but not before replying to Emma. "Whatever, Swan. Women go crazy for my man cooties."
Emma is laughing at Killian's remark as someone walks up to the bar next to her. She looks over to see a beautiful woman in business attire that looks as if she just stepped out of a magazine ad. She is definitely not someone you would normally see in Regina's bar. The woman looks at her and politely smiles. Emma returns the smile and tries to get Regina's attention for her but the woman speaks up before Emma can say anything.
"I am hoping that you still make the best martini in this city." she says in Regina's direction knowing very well that her attention was currently elsewhere.
Regina recognizes the voice right away and turns to look at the woman who is now standing in front of her. "Hello, Danielle." She is stunned but tries to smile cordially, only managing a small, tight one.
Killian has just handed the man his drink and looks over when he hears Regina say the name and his expression quickly changes to one of rage."What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Killian says angrily but not loud enough to draw the attention of the other patrons. Killian takes a protective step closer to Regina and adds, "You're not welcome in this bar, you stupid c-"
Regina grabs his arm and squeezes it hard cutting him off, at the same time trying to remind him how much she hates it when he uses the word that was just about to come out of his mouth. "Killian, why don't you go check on that large table over there?" Regina nods her head in the direction of table full of frat guys. "I think that they have a few empty glasses and they probably want another round."
Emma notes that Killian wants to but does not argue. He glares daggers in Danielle's direction once again before walking away like Regina asks. Emma looks between the two women and when she catches Regina's eyes, she sees that the woman is silently begging her for some privacy. So, Emma picks up her glass and heads to one of the tables on the other side of the bar.
Regina then focuses her attention back to Danielle. "So, a martini, is it? Bombay and dirty, if I remember correctly." She does not wait for an answer and turns to begin making the drink, both her heart and brain racing the entire time.
Danielle takes a seat on one of the bar stools and silently watches Regina as she makes the drink.
When Regina is finished, she puts the martini glass on a coaster and slides in slowly over to the woman without saying anything else.
Killian is back and filling up a few beers at the other end of the bar. He looks up every few seconds at the two women and when Regina catches his eyes, she walks over to where he is and softly says, "Hey, why don't you go sit and hang out with Emma for a bit. I'll take care of this."
Killian frowns. "Gigi, just tell her to leave."
"I'll take care of it. Killian, please." Regina pleads.
Killian grumbles something to himself but ultimately agrees. He takes the beers to those who ordered them before sitting down at the table with Emma.
Emma has many questions but thinks she should probably keep them to herself for the time being. She looks again at Killian trying to read his expression. He seems very angry and sad at the same time because he is looking over towards the bar glowering but would also turn towards the front door like he is expecting someone else to join the woman at the bar who is now striking up a conversation with Regina.
"How have you been?" Danielle asks Regina who has run out of things to keep her busy.
"I don't believe you have the right to ask me that." Regina retorts.
"For goodness sake, Regina, I'm trying to be civil, you don't have to be a bitch."
Regina laughs mockingly. "You say that as if you were the one that got screwed over in the situation. I should really be the one telling you that I'M trying really hard to be civil, and you probably shouldn't be a bitch." Regina says with a fake smile plastered on her face.
"I guess that's fair." Danielle says as she takes a drink of her martini.
Regina sighs. "Seriously, Dani, what are you doing here? What exactly is it that you want?" Regina asks clearly agitated now.
Danielle smiles at Regina's use of the nickname. "I closed a big case today. I was in the neighborhood and I really miss coming here. I really miss you. I'd like to think we were friends once."
Regina shakes her head at Danielle. "Wait, are you actually fucking serious right now? You know what, I'm doing very well. And I'm very happy. Is that what you want to hear? You just want to be absolved of all that guilt, right? Well, you don't have to feel guilty about anything because I am fine."
Emma and Killian are still sitting there, neither of them saying anything when suddenly, Emma hears that Regina is cursing at the woman at the bar which is something that is completely out of character so before she can stop herself Emma makes her way behind the bar towards Regina. Killian is right behind her and he looks as if he is ready for a fist fight.
"Regina, hurting you was never my intention. If I could redo it all, I would. And I would have told you everything sooner." Danielle says as she leans forward on the bar, closer to Regina.
"HA!" Killian says. "You've ruined the relationship and the engagement but hurting her was not your intention? Just get the hell out of here, you floozy."
"Killian!" Regina says to him angrily.
Danielle shakes her head as she steps off of the chair. "You know what? This was obviously not a good idea." She looks at Regina and frowns. "I really just wanted some closure for all of us, Gina. Your friendship has and will always remain very important to me."
Killian tries to talk again but Regina speaks up first. "I don't think that you coming here tonight will give any of us closure so you should probably leave."
Danielle just nods knowing that Regina is right and reaches into her purse for her wallet, pulling it out.
"Don't worry about the drink. It's on the house." Regina says.
Danielle nods again and then turns and leaves the bar without another look back.
Killian reaches over and takes the empty martini glass. He slams it into the sink below, which snaps the stem of the glass in two. "What a bloody waste of good gin."
Regina rubs at her temples feeling so very tired all of a sudden. "Killian, you're going to scare the other customers away." She says. She looks at the broken glass in the sink but does not say anything else. She looks at Emma for a second, with a blank expression on her face, and then shakes her head and walks into the back of the bar.
Emma really wants to ask one of them what the hell is going on because she cannot make any sense of the bits and pieces that she has already heard tonight. She decides she should wait until later when everyone else is gone so instead, she takes a seat at the bar again and spends most of the night texting Ruby about her itinerary and what they will do when she arrives in Seattle.
Killian and Regina work in silence until the bar closes and it is not until he has locked the front door that Killian finally says from across the room to Regina, "I don't know why you would even let her walk into this bar after everything she's done. You just stood there while she sat around with that stupid smug look on her face. Regina, you don't owe her anything. The very least of all, your kindness."
This startles Emma.
Regina looks over at Emma, then turns towards Killian and sighs. "Killian, do you really want to do this right now?"
"Well, why the bloody hell not? You're the one that let her back into our lives. GODS REGINA, THAT WOMAN IS SUCH A FUCKING C-"
"Killian Jones, if you even so much as to think that word in this bar again, I will not let you come back in here. Do I make myself clear?" Regina states, her patience dwindling.
Killian balls his hand into fist and punches it into the wall right by where he is standing. "AHHHHH!" He screams with frustration. The impact causes the books on the bookcase on the other side of the room to fall over and it also leaves a visible dent on the wall.
Regina closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, clearly upset. "Are you finished? Because if you are, please just go home. I don't want to talk about any of this right now. And you need to go home before you tear this whole place down."
"Gladly." Killian says without even looking at Regina. Then he just unlocks the door again slamming it on his way out.
Regina looks over at Emma again. "You should probably go after him and make sure he gets home alright. I have to finish cleaning up in back."
Emma speaks for the first time since Danielle entered the bar tonight. "Hey, if you need to talk…"
"I'm fine, Emma. Please go check on Killian." Regina furrows her brows. "I don't want him to do anything stupid."
"If you're sure that you're okay…"
"Emma, please just go before he gets too far away and neither one of us knows where he's at." Regina turns and walks into the back without another word.
So, Emma does as Regina says and leaves the bar, chasing after Killian. "Hey, Killian! Wait up." Killian turns and sees her but does not stop walking. When she catches up to him, she notices that he looks as if he has been crying.
"I'm fine." Killian says.
"You know, that seems to be how everyone is feeling at the moment but it's the weirdest display of being fine that I have ever witnessed." Emma tries to jest. When she does not get a reaction, she sighs. "Regina is worried about you. She told me to come after you."
Killian scoffs. "The person that she needs to be worried about is herself." After a few more strides, he stops walking and looks at Emma with a serious expression on his face. "Emma, I just need to get some fresh air and walk this off. You should go back to her. Regina needs someone there for her tonight, more than she will admit and I'm too pissed off to be that person for her right now."
"UGH. You two drive me nuts, you know that? ARE YOU SURE that you're going to be okay?" Emma asks.
Killian smiles sadly. "Yeah, I promise that I won't get myself into any trouble. Go."
Emma nods and runs back up the street to the bar. She uses her key to unlock the door and once she is inside, she pours herself a glass of wine and sits back down at the bar to wait for Regina to finish up.