Author's note: Hey all! Thanks for the reviews. Sorry its been like a week since the last update. I've had a very tough week filled with uncontrollable panic attacks. I would have been able to update sooner if it weren't for those unfortunate events :(
Ok, I'm going to give everyone a head's up and you might not like it and might unfollow me which would be devastating...Here I go *deep breath* Ok, so...hang on. *Another deep breath* In terms of the QUAT storyline I will only be going as far as Henry telling Emma about the curse (along with the ins and outs of who's who) and Emma finding out that Henry's her son in THIS story. No Cora, no Cook, no portal to FTL. - only really because I can't write fighting action stuff.
Now some of you may get excited at this, there's going to be a sequel to this story where you'll see the aftermath of the curse breaking, Emma's reaction blah blah blah, Snow's reaction, a whole nother chapter in the Swan-Mills life etc. - I've already given too much away so I'm not going to tell you the title of the sequel aswell- unles you PM me and I feel you're special :) no, you're all special anyway :P hahaha.
Anyway I hope you're all not too disappointed, if you are then...I don't know. Private messsage me to oblivion or something drastic like that. Hehe.
here you go! Enjoy!
Escort Services: Chapter 9 - Pulse: The Proposal
"Would that be such a bad thing, Regina?"
Regina found herself rather speechless and at loss for words. It definitely wasn't the response she was expecting from the usually humorous blond. Her lips parted as she watched Emma nod at her with a weak smile. The escort knew what the answer was by the look on the brunette's face. She glanced at Regina for a few seconds before wiping down her pink dress and making her way through the bushes, to the SUV.
Regina watched on helplessly as Emma brushed past her. She let her eyes close in defeat while an almost desperate expression embraced her features. She massaged her temples and released a breath she hadn't known she was holding in the first place.
"No, it wouldn't." She whispered into the cool air to know one in particular.
The sun's vibrant rays began to depart below the horizon and out of sight as night commenced. With one last glance to the lake Regina walked through the bushes and back to the car.
...
Silence.
Not a single sound was audible. The atmosphere was very heavy and filled with an extreme amount of tension. You could cut itwith a knife. However, every so often Regina would discreetly and unknowingly glance at the blond. She noted that Emma seemed quite deflated and exhausted whether what happened earlier between the pair was the cause Regina Had no clue.
Emma sighed silently with her one hand on the wheel. They weren't far from the nightclub now and she knew that she required a bit of background info on the Mayor who wad hosting this evening celebrations.
"So whose celebration is this?" She inquired nonchalantly with a heavy sigh while she kept her eyes on the road.
"The Mayor of Portland, Kyrah Parker." Regina didn't hide the disdain in her tone at the mentioning of the Politician she loathed.
Emma frowned slightly, "Is she the one you and Aaron were talking about?"
"Unfortunately. I am clueless as to how she became welcomed in these celebrations." She responded with her voice laced in spiteful venom.
"Well despite all your negativity I think tonight might actually be fun." The escort admitted with a light smile.
Regina faced her, "Ok, you can have your fun but I do not want you near Miss Parker. Understand?" She lowered her tone into a warning.
Emma scoffed, "Why not? Are you scared that I might kiss her, fall in love with her and no longer be yours?" She mocked with a mirthless laugh before continuing, "You don't own me, Regina." She shook her head, her expression now quite solemn.
Regina let out a sarcastic laugh,"Don't be absurd! I couldn't care less if you got together with that pathetic excuse for a human being. Only for tonight do I want you to stay away from her unless I'm with you." She snarled impatiently.
Emma sighed dramatically, "Yes, boss. I mean wifey." She gave a two fingered salut.
The Mayor glared at her but made no comment. Instead she let out a sigh and sunk further into the seat with one thought replaying over and over again in her mind. This is going to be a long night.
...
It wasn't long before they arrived at Pulse located in the heart of the Boston CBD. Regina had prebooked them a hotel across the road from the club as she knew they would both be too exhausted or intoxicated in Emma's case to drive back to Storybrooke. As they both walked silently across the road and over to Pulse Regina had noticed Emma tense dramatically. Despite what had occurred between them earlier the tension had suddenly increased.
Regina placed a hand on Emma's forearm halting any further movement towards the evidently packed club. The escort frowned in confusion at the sudden stop. She faced Regina with a questionable expression.
"What's wrong, dear?"
Emma, slightly taken aback by the tenderness in the Mayor's voice found herself speechless. Her lips parted but she could only stare at the Mayor. If she were to tell her what was wrong she knew Regina would murder her and more than likely dump her body in a nearby alley. Emma forced a smile.
"Nothing. I'm just...nervous." She attempted a lie and instantly knew that Regina could see straight through her.
The brunette crossed her arms over her chest, "Oh really?" She quirked an eyebrow that accompained her sceptical expression.
"Yes. Now come on." She mumbled, making sure that she didn't make any eye contact whatsoever.
...
"Fuck me." Emma grumbled under her breath as she hesitantly let her eyes roam the massive and overcrowded club that she had known so well. "I'm most likely going to be leaving in an ambulance tonight...I don't even have medical insurance." Se muttered once again so that Regina couldn't hear.
Music blared rapidly throughout the club with people swaying their hips and grinding into their partners. The illuminated dance floor was so heavily packed that people were unknowingly touching and brushing against each other as the beats thumped throughout the place. The barmans were hurrying from one side of the bar to the other as people placed their orders and threw their bills unceremoniously. It wasn't when Emma's eyes laid on the few women planted on stools near the bar a fair distance away did she gasp.
The escort's shock didn't go unnoticed as Regina curiously followed her eye line to the group of young women who were portraying chesire like grins as they stared at Emma. "Miss Swan, do you know them?" She asked incredulously over the booming music while leaning in closer to her ear.
Emerald orbs locked on the brown pair as she smiled sheepishly. "Promise you won't get mad?" Emma asked temtatively with her face contorting into an expression of a slight plea.
Regina rolled her eyes in irritation and nodded while folding her arms over her chest. "Yes, I promise." She grumbled under her breath. Her eyes darkened as she stared closely at the rather unnerved blond.
"Well you see...errmmm...before I became an escort I was a...dancer here." She cringled slightly as the Mayor's expression instantly hardened with fury.
"Exactly what kind of dancer, Miss Swan?" She growled.
"Uhhh, exotic..." Emma trailed.
Regina shook her head in irritance before running a hand through her brown locks. "So you were basically a former stripper who danced here!?" Regina exclaimed incredulously over the thumping music beats. Emma decided to just nod in response. "Fucking fantastic!...Let's just go upstairs I can't deal with this!" She yelled in annoyance before whizzing past the blond and the other surrounding bodies. Emma rolled her eyes and followed her.
"I'm so fucked."
...
The pair curiously strolled down the sleek corridor that lead into numerous VIP rooms. They heard laughter, chants and the sound of glasses shattering to pieces from passing their the rooms. "Something tells me that the staff will once again end up dragging out several drunken and unconscious men and women onto the streets." She observed the noises erupting from the inside.
"Something tells me that I'll be hauling a former exotic dancer's dead body into an alley if she doesn't behave herself." Regina snarled bitterly with her face hardened.
Emma winced slightly, "Yeah...I'd hate to be her. Death by bitch." She chuckled and failed to suppress a grin at the Mayor's hardening expression. Regina gave a low disapproving growl and instantly manoeuvred herself in front of Emma preventing her from moving any further down the corridor.
The Mayor glared at her menacingly,"Miss Swan, listen here I w-"
"You look really pretty tonight, Regina." Emma cut-in with a warm smile ignoring her oncoming attack. It unconsciously sent a tingling sensation to the brunette's cheeks. Regina ducked her head slightly to defer her unusual display of self-consciousness away from the blond. However, within seconds she resumed her austere demanour and lifted her chin up.
"Thank you. You...dare I say it, don't look too bad yourself. Despite your excessive amount of clevage on show for the world." The Mayor failed to defy a small smirk that arose on her lips as she trailed her eyes over the blond's considerably revealing chest.
A low chuckle escaped Emma's parted lips as she noticed a surge of temerity pass through the brunette. "First, I am very pleased you noticed, Madame Mayor. And second, I thought I needed some extra boob-oli tonight, besides you gotta let the girls breath." She waved a hand dismissively while genting brushing past the brunette who seemed adamant to be infuriated or annoyed with the blond's comment. And yet she was neither, instead she gave a small smile before slowly walking over to the blond outside of their booked function room.
"Are you ready m'lady?" Emma beamed while she briefly glanced at the Mayor.
Regina nodded curtly, "Yes. Oh and incase you have forgotten we are 'married' and we need to act like it. Hold my hand." She muttered distastefully and leant her hand out to the blond next to her.
"If we're gonna hold hands you have to switch sides." Emma stated mindlessly.
Regina frowned in confusion, "What? Why?"
The escort gave her a 'duh' look and held up her other hand, "'Cause this is my holding hand." She admitted as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Fine." Regina huffed and quickly replaced herself on Emma's left side and laced their fingers together. "Happy? Miss Swan." She snapped impatiently.
"Soitenly." Emma voiced in an unusual tone. Regina stared at her with an unreadable expression. The blond sighed dramtically, "Ever seen the Three Stooges?... No? Didn't think so." She mumbled with a roll of her eyes.
"Let's get this over with." Regina muttered dismissively as she couldn't be bothered with the blond any longer. She opened the door and immediately caught the beaming faces of Kyrah and the other Mayor's with their dates lounging around a very large circular booth at their appearance.
"Aahhh, they're here! The iconic Regina Mills and her beautiful wife Emma Swan." Russell announced in delight as the pair began to approach the booth.
Regina offered a small grin in return but gave a small frown as Emma nudged her. "What is it now?" She whispered indignantly.
"Please don't smile at them." She whined like a child.
"Why not? I have to be nice." The Mayor retorted in irritation.
"Because then I have to smile and it's too much effort. Besides I have a back bad." Emma groaned and placed her free hand on her lower back for emphasis.
"Just smile and look like you're having the time of your life." Regina's tone dripped in sarcasm as they moved closer to the table.
"Good evening, it's wonderful to see you all again." Regina gave a genuine smile that only faltered within a matter of seconds as her eyes found Kyrah's. The Mayor of Portland gave a sly grin as she hopelessly let her eyes dart back and forth between the pair before lingering on Emma who was oblivious to the attention.
"Regina, it's lovely to see you. And who might this blond beauty be?" She spoke in a provocative manner. Regina narrowed her eyes at the young brunette who seemed too preoccupied undressing Emma with her azure blue eyes. Her blood boiled while her lips made a thin line.
"This is my wife, Emma." Regina frowned inwardly at how the announcement easily slid off of her tongue. She almost felt proud to call the blond her wife. The sound of Kyrah's voice brought her out of her brief reverie.
"Nice to meet you, Emma. Please both of you take a seat." Kyrah beamed and snapped her fingers sternly over at the pair of handsome waiters who gave a small bow before bringing over a glass of chardonnay while the pair took their seats. Emma gave a shy smile as the man leaned over her shoulder to place the glass in front of her. He reciprocated the warm expression.
"Too much effort my ass. And put your arm around me, wifey." Regina mocked quietly in her ear and discreetly gave her a warning glare.
Emma quirked an eyebrow, "I would except you're sitting on the wrong side." She lifted her opposite arm from Regina. "This arm says 'let's cuddle'" She then lifted the one closest to Regina, "And this arm says, 'Good game bro!'" She smiled.
Regina gave her a stern look, "Well I'm saying, put one of them around me." She remarked.
Emma followed the instruction, "Sheesh, someone doesn't know their manners..." She mumbled disapprovingly. The Mayor disregarded her comment and began to indulge in a conversation with the blond Mayor.
Emma shrugged nonchalantly and felt Regina pull her away from the hold. She watched as the brunette moved closer over to Quinn who seemed very excited about whatever she was yapping on about. Emma with a heavy sigh decided grasp her glass and take a huge gulp. She could see Kyrah coming into view from the end of the glass. Ermahgehd.
A sheepish smile graced her lips at the sight of the brunette.
"You seem quite young." Kyrah moved closer to Emma with a small chuckle escaping her dark pink lips. "Maybe even my age." She winked and Emma chuckled.
"I think it's pretty safe to say that you're younger than me by far."
Kyrah shrugged, "Maybe. So you are really married to Regina? This is no fake date, arranged marriage, business deal or escort type thing?" She waved a hand around with a throaty laugh but still conveyed her solemnity through her tone.
Emma immediately tensed and became rigid at the unexpected accusation. She quickly shook her head, "No, it's all real. Why? Is it that hard to believe?" She inquired in mild disbelief with a slight frown.
Kyrah tilted her head in thought, "You being married in general definitely not. However, you being married to someone like Regina...well." She gave a nervous chuckle with an almost obnoxious expression.
Emma's lips pursed, "Well what?"
The escort had a vague yet understandable idea of the notion Kyrah was tentatively referring to. Although she adored stirring Regina up and teasing her incessantly until the brunette threatened to murder her, she was not prepared for anyone else to do so, especially not in front of her.
"...It just doesn't seem right. No offense, but no one can love her. I mean who would put themselves through that kind of torture. So up with it how much did she pay you?" Kyrah relaxed back into the softness of the booth satisfied with her work.
Emma's expression contorted into one of fury and her body language became implausibly austere. She glanced around the chatter filled booth as to make sure no one was within range of accidentally eavesdropping before diverting all of her undivided attention back to the very smut looking woman.
"Listen, alright? Regina paid me nothing. She is my wife and I am hers. Regina means the world to me, Kyrah." She paused momentarily, it became visible just how intrigued the brunette seemed by her words. It was now or never. "Yes, we fight constantly. We insult each other, yell at each other and even threaten to kill each other but...I don't know how we would survive together if we didn't..." She gave a weak smile. "I wake up with her on my mind and I fall to sleep with my last thoughts being about her and how much I would fade away if she wasn't in my life. She's like the peanut butter to my jelly and the smoke to my high." Emma chuckled along with Kyrah. She fiddled with the ring on her finger and took a small breath, "And...I love her."
The last thing Emma had expected was the lonely tears that gently cascaded down her cheeks. She quickly wiped at them and shook her head at such abnormal actions. However, to a bystander like Kyrah It depicted the enormous amount of love that Emma felt for Regina. It was only in this moment did the blond realise exactly how much she was attached to the brunette. It's my job. It's just my job. Nothing more. I'm paid to do this. Oh, bollocks...
Kyrah gave an apologetic smile, "I can truly see how much you love her and I'm sorry I made those awful accusations." She spoke earnestly with her voice laced in gentle kindness.
Emma managed to recompose herself within a few minutes without any other people noticing. "It's fine, really." She smiled and wiped her hands along her dress.
Everything was fine but she herself wasn't.
...
"The Ravens deserved the win fair and square." Emma pointed out mainly towards Spencer who couldn't fathom how his beloved 49ers lost.
The middle aged man frowned, "I know. But if it weren't for that damn power outage..." He mumbled gloomily with a saddened expression. "Stupid NFL..."
Everyone at the table laughed at the poor man's despair over his team's defeat in the Superbowl. "Don't worry about it Spence, they'll do better next year." Aaron attempted to console him while sliding him a vodka shot which he happily downed in a measly few seconds.
Emma leaned into Regina's ear and whispered, "Is it vodka o'clock yet?" She basically whined at how the brunette had banned her from having vodka until a certain time.
"No." Regina growled without looking anywhere near the blond.
"Fucksakes..." Emma muttered under her breath while taking another swig of her wine.
"Ok, ok everyone, new topic!" Kyrah exclaimed over the noisy group as more drinks were served.
"Oooooo, I know!" Quinn clapped her hands excitedly. The people quietened down as a mischievous grin appeared upon her features. "How about Regina's proposal to Emma?" She suggested all giddy at the thought. Everyone immediately nodded and agreed on the topic as their eyes became fixed on the wedded pair.
Regina and Emma immediately glanced at each other with no idea on how to handle the formed predicament. Emma within in a few seconds thought of a plan and decided to speak up."Regina will tell you since she's the one who proposed." She gave her a sweet smile.
The Mayor instantly shot her eyes to Emma's and gave her a discreet menacing look before she broke out in a faux smile. "No, Emma will tell you since she loves telling stories right, honey?" She gave a small adorable pout that seemed so out of character.
Emma chuckled as a bitter smile graced her lips, "Ok, then. It was about 18 months into our relationship and I had begun to notice that Regina was acting very nervous, she started leaving me little hints here and there and I caught them instantly because let's face it, Regina's about as subtle as a gun." Emma chuckled along with everyone else on the table except for the evidently fuming Mayor of Storybrooke. "Anyway I knew she was leaving those hints because she thought that I might reject her..." Emma trailed with a beaming grin and placed her hand on her chest for extra effect.
Regina immediately spoke up, "Well dear you placed my fears at ease by those lovely rose-coloured t-shirts you made of us with the bi-line 'We were made for each other.' It really was a wonderful birthday present." She spoke in a discreet mocking manner and Emma didn't fail to pick up the sarcasm underlying her tone. She had to duck her head momentarily as the blush crept up onto her cheek due to everyone's eyes on her.
"I at first thought Regina's nervousness was due to the fact she was seeing another woman and was going to get caught anytime." Emma gave a faux look of despair. She wore she heard Regina mutter "Bitch" under her breath.
"Oh my god, that would have been terrible." Quinn gave a saddened expression along with all the other Mayors.
Regina parted her lips, "Thank, god it was not the case. However, Emma-"
The blond cut in, "However, Regina confessed her undying love to me and spoke with such heartfelt words how she wanted to spend the rest of her life loving me...she did all this in front of the people of Storybrooke with a megaphone." Emma gave a sweet smile as she glanced at Regina who seemed like she was at boiling point with the blond's antics.
"Way to go, Regina!" Aaron fist punched the air with joy at Regina's unusual public display of temerity.
"Girl, you must have some balls!" Kyrah chuckled along while taking another swig from her glass.
"That's so romantic, aawww." Quinn gave a small pout.
Regina could only grin shyly at the other Mayors since Emma was blatantly embarassing her on the spot. Damn woman. Making me look like some love sick puppy. It's my turn now.
The brunette cleared her throat, "Then a couple of nights later I told Emma to meet me at our private part of the park as I was going to propose to her."
Emma smiled, "I did and there was my beautiful girlfriend...kneeling"
"Standing." Regina retorted.
"Under our favourite apple tree with gentle music playing in the background..." The blonde trailed.
"It was a song that Emma recorded about the love we share for each other. Not the ones where she sings in the shower with a hairbrush." Regina nudged her with her elbow in the lower stomach.
Emma suppressed a painful groan and instead a bitter smile became plastered on her face. "Anyway, there I saw her with gentle tears cascading down her cheeks, struggling to hold back the choking sobs as she asked me-"
Regina interrupted, "Will you marry me? She said yes. The end. Who'd like another drink?" She had finally had enough of this nonsense and decided to put an end to it straight away. Everyone however gave a small applaud and whistled.
"Well we all wish you a very happy life ahead." Kyrah gave a warm smile.
"To Emma and Regina." Aaron raised his glass and the rest followed in suit.
"To Emma and Regina." The group repeated with delightful cheers and clinked their glasses together along with the wedded pair themselves.
"Now whose ready to go dancing?" Russell moved out of the booth in excitement.
Several people's arms shot up in the air at the suggestion. "Let's go people, we'll meet back here in half an hour or so!" Kyrah yelled excitedly.
Emma and Regina moved out of the booth and slowly but intentionally fell behind the group, "So what are the rules now?" Emma groaned tired of all these rules. "Don't dance with Kyrah? Don't grind against anyone? What are they?"
The brunette faced her expectantly and crossed her arms over her chest. She breathed out a heavy sigh with a brief roll of her eyes, "Go have fun. Go spend time with your dancer friends." She stated contently but avoided Emma's eyes at all cost.
Emma's eyes were now the size of saucers, "Oh my god you're serious! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I will behave." She grinned excitedly.
Regina nodded, "Yes, well you better. Otherwise you'll have me to deal with." She couldn't help but give a small smirk to the blond.
The blond gave a small frown, "What about you?"
"Don't worry about me. I'll be with Quinn and the rest." She waved a hand to dismiss the subject.
Emma sent the brunette a warm smile and then unexpectedly gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek. "You're the best wife ever." She whispered her voice laced with kindness before moving out through the room to the dance floor downstairs.
Regina quite shell shocked from the unexpected yet warming gesture brought her fingers tips to her cheek and lightly grazed them over the tingling area where Emma's lips were attached to moments ago. She closed her eyes and felt her heart beat loudly in her ears. She hadn't experienced these kinds of emotions since Daniel and it made her anxious at the fact it was Snow White's daughter who had the power to do so. She cautiously allowed her eyes to flutter close only to be bombarded with flashing images of the blond. Regina knew how wrong it was but it felt so right, she couldn't deny it.
"What are you doing to me, Emma?" She asked herself in an exasperated manner. She was alone in the exquisite room and fought the urge to stay by herself and drink her conflicting thoughts away.
However, little did the Mayor know that a certain blond was leaning on the wall next to the door and therefore out of sight. A weak smile graced her lips, "It's more like, what are you doing to me, Regina?" She murmured before gently pushing herself off the wall to head downstairs with the others.
Ermahgehd! What did you think? Did I succeed in the proposal? :) xxx