Escort Services: Chapter 14 - Family Matters
Author's note: Hey everyone! Sorry, I'm running a little late on my Saturday updates (I know it's unexceptable) And please don't worry I more than likely won't delete the fic :) And OMG the reviews! I LOVE YOU ALL! They were amazing and I thank you all very much!
WARNING: Unfortunately it can't always be fluffy with rainbows and unicorns and happily ever afters and...well you get the picture.
Anyway I won't waste your time any longer ;)
Here you go!
"Ruby, STOP cheating!" Emma exclaimed in exasperation.
"I'm not cheating!" The waitress defended innocently.
"Pffftt, 'cause you were born with bigger ones. Yeah, right." The blonde sarcastically added with a playful grin.
Ruby glanced around the diner frantically, "I was! It's not my fault I keep winning. You're just a sore loser." The brunette smirked and elegantly folded her arms across her chest in victory.
Emma pouted and swiveled on her stool to face Granny who resided at the other end of the counter interacting with the cash register. "Granny..." Emma moaned in a child-like manner.
The older woman sighed with a gentle smile and raised her head meeting the blonde's eyes. "Yes, Emma. How can I help you?" She asked politely. She had grown a strong-liking to the blonde, especially since she had never come across someone with such a remarkable sense of humour.
"Can you ref our next war to make sure your grand-daughter doesn't cheat again? Pretty please."
Ruby frustratingly threw her hands up in the air, "I give up." She exhaled and began to get into position when her grandmother strolled over.
"Oh, you two girls are like 5 year olds I tell you..." The older woman trailed with a slight chuckle reaching the end of her sentence.
Emma lowered her body further down onto the counter to meet the brunette at eye level before raising a leather clad arm. Ruby gave her a competitive glare and full view of her presently unveiling chest due to a few buttons that had accidently popped open...it wasn't a strategy or anything to distract the blonde *cough* *cough*
"You're going down blondie." Ruby whispered teasingly with a sly grin slowly masking her stone expression.
Emma's chuckle almost came out as a scoff, "Bring it on bitch. Ready?"
The waitress raised an eyebrow, "More than ever."
A few moments later the two women nodded in count and began to twiddle their thumbs from side to side. "One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war, five, six, seven, eight, try to keep your thumb straight." The pair sang in an unusual juvenile tone.
Emma immediately attempted to crush Ruby's thumb but ultimately missed as the brunette eagerly made a quick switch from one side to the other. The tactical moved briefly caught Emma off guard, however, it was enough for Ruby to swoop in and hold the shorter thumb down under her own for the required amount of time. Emma grunted and wretched in hand back in defeat while Ruby wore a (as Emma who call it) a 'Shit-eating' grin at her victory.
Granny huffed impatiently, "And Ruby's the winner. Now get back to work." She pivoted back over to the register to take care of some rather important business.
Ruby nudged the blonde's shoulder, "Next time, honey." She winked.
Emma laughed, "Alright, game on."
The waitress blew her a kiss before heading off to serve a few of the other arriving customers. Emma let a small smile trace her lips at the mere thought of relishing in a causal dinner at the diner with her son and Regina. The thought itself invigorated her. The blonde unconsciously tilted her head to the side and drummed her nails periodically with the underlying nerves incessantly pulsed through her veins. The rough vibration of her phone located in her side pocket pulled her out of her reverie. She quickly answered it without another thought.
"Hello?" She spoke breathlessly as her throat felt quite hoarse.
"Emma, darling. I haven't heard from you in a while. How are you?"
Emma gently fluttered her eyes close with a soft smile at the all too familiar voice.
"Hey, Mom. I'm pretty good at the moment. This job just takes a lot out of you." She chuckled.
The older woman emulated the sound on the other end of the line. "I know, honey. I hope Regina's not being too much of a handful, is she?"
"Nah, believe it or not. She can be quite a charm, actually." Emma without a doubt knew Meagan was smirking on the other end.
"Mm-hmm, I see where this is going. Just do me one favour...if you decide to bring her home to meet the family, please give me a heads up if she's a Romney or Obama supporter." Meagan snorted into the phone but still managed to convey her sterness at the instruction.
Emma rolled her eyes playfully, "Like that's going to happen...and why would you wanna know who she supports?" A perplexed expression crossed her features.
"Because we could end up in World War III at the dinner table specifically regarding politics. And I'll be like 'You're going to burn in hell. Can you please pass the potatoes?"
Emma face palmed, "Oh my god, I can so see you doing that!"
"Exactly! And another thing...make sure your using protection." Meagan pleaded.
Emma frowned, "Mom...Regina's a girl."
"I know."
The blonde ran a hand through her golden tresses, "And?..."
"And you can still catch an STI, Emma."
"Okay. First, I am 100% sure that the Mayor's all good. Second, it's an STD not STI."
"Tell that to the Australians in Australia! Did you both go have a health check? No, I didn't think so."
"Okay then, what am I meant to use? Gloves!?" Emma laughed in disbelief at her own idea and at her adoptive mother's unusual adamant behaviour towards the notion.
"Yes."
The Escort's jaw slacked, "You're kidding right, Mom." She groaned into the phone. "This conversation is ending now. Besides we've already done it without anything." She attempted reasoning and was surprised that it had worked.
"Fine." The older woman huffed in defeat. "Anyway, besides checking up on you to see how you're doing, I also called to notify you of a new client. Just a one-off on Monday evening in Boston. A simple businessman who needs a date for a corporate function, nothing new." She spoke in a reassuring tone as she already sensed her daughter's hesitation to leave Storybrooke.
The blonde found herself speechless for a few moments. "Ermm..r-really?...do...I..uumm...okay." She stuttered. It was apparent to any bystander that she appeared completely blown by the unexpected news. "Do I have to?" She immediately questioned once her brain rebooted.
"Unfortunately...yes, dear. He only wants you and his always been a loyal customer. I can sense that you're pretty cosy there in Storybrooke and I would never have asked you if it wasn't him." Meagan spoke remorsefully.
Emma nodded understandingly, it was after all her job. The thought of quitting had never really crossed her mind until now as there was quite a bit at stake with her newfound son Henry and then there was Regina. She knew the repercussions of leaving Storybrooke to go service another client, even if it was just for a day. Her and the brunette's relationship was slowly developing and all it would take was for something like this to instantaneously shatter it.
"Okay, I'll do it." She spoke in an almost exasperated manner.
"Thank you, my darling daughter. Then you can return to Storybrooke in assissting the Mayor."
Emma nodded, "Sure."
Meagan knew this was not settling well with the blonde. The time had finally arrived where she had to remind her daughter that it was her life. "Emma, you know you can quit, right? And find another job? but only after this client on Monday and of course Regina."
"Yeah, of course I know. I know I've always been allowed to leave. This client on Monday...he'll be my last one." Emma smiled at her decision.
"That's absolutely fine with me, sweetie. But what about the Mayor?." Meagan grinned cheekily. In general she was so proud of her daughter.
"I'll do it as a personal favour. I'm warming up to her, she can be kind when she wants to be and she is incredibly smoking hot. It's unbelievable." Emma laughed at the realisation that she was indeed blushing as she described the Mayor.
Meagan smiled at the cheerfulness in her tone, "I'll have to meet her sometime then. I assumse you're going to go back into the bounty hunting business?"
Emma frowned at the idea that hadn't crossed her mind, "You know what? I think I will. Maybe more local though." She smiled.
Meagan replied softly, "Whatever makes you happy, honey. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Mom. Talk to you again soon?"
"You betcha! You're number 1 on speed dial."
"Aha! Great minds think a like." Emma smirked, indicating that she also had her mother as number 1 on speed dial.
"You learned from the best of the best."
"Can't disagree with you there. Bye, Mom."
"See you, sweetheart. I love you."
"Love you too." The blonde finished warmly before ending the call.
Emma chuckled at the conversation with her mother. Meagan Swan was definitely the most important person, besides Henry of course (which she decided to leave out for now) If it wasn't for her, Emma and no idea where she would have been right now in this very moment. With a warm smile still imprinted upon her face she slid off the stool and proceeded to make her way out of the diner to pick Henry up from school.
...
The weather coincidentally replicated the blonde's current mood. The sun's golden rays pierced through the azure sky erupting colour and life throughout Storybrooke. There was not a single cloud or dark shadow visible in sight. The birds chirped from the skyscraper trees and Emma couldn't suppress a smile at the sound.
She had arrived rather early at the elementary school and struggled to come up with something to do in order to pass time. She stood on the opposite side of the street waiting as patiently as possible. Suddenly her eyes landed on the back of a brunette sitting quitely on a bench under a tree that loomed over blocking the sun's bright light. A smile immediately sprung to her face as she hurriedly crossed the road.
Emma decided to playfully approach the seemingly placid Mayor. "Nice perfume, must you marinate in it?" She teasingly approached the bench and sat down next to her. She made sure there was an appropriate amount of distance between them for Regina's sake.
Regina gave a condescending smirk towards the blonde, "If I throw a stick, will you leave?" She replied.
Emma snorted, "Only for a few seconds, and then I'd come running back." She glanced at the brunette who was staring at her.
The Mayor rolled her eyes with a small smile before shifting her gaze back over to the school. "And here I thought you were a runner?" She subtly challenged the blonde.
Regina firmly crossed her arms over her chest as a heavy silence settled in the atmosphere. A majority of her prayed that Emma's solution to alleviating problems was to leave, to run away and let others pick up the broken pieces. If the blonde were to leave unexpectedly she wouldn't have to be continuously anxious about the mere possibility of Emma filing for custody of Henry. The Evil Queen was renowned for her lack of fear, an induced emotion which appeared to prevail throughout the entire Enchanted Forest due to her infamous magic regarding the dark arts. Yet, here in Storybrooke she feared the blonde would take her son away from her. It was her worst fear of all.
Conversely, a small part of her had a yearning desire for Emma to remain in Storybrooke if an issue or problem arised. To her dismay that intense longing for the blonde gradually grew as the days went by in a blink of an eye. She placed her proclivity for happiness as being responsible for her feelings towards the woman.
Normally taciturn, Regina struggled to contain such a manner as she waited for an answer or as she expected a dim-witted come back of some sort from Emma. Then a small audible sound escaped the blonde's lips.
"Not any more." She spoke almost timidly.
At the lack of courage that normally surged through the blonde's tone the Mayor instantly snapped her neck to analyse her abrupt change in demeanour. Within a few seconds after the admission Regina remained silent. That, however, was until a single word withdrew from her lips which managed to leave her a little blown by her own response.
"Good."
It was a simple word that conveyed many underlying and unspoken meanings. One's that didn't require to be stated out aloud. Not just yet anyway.
Emma slowly smiled, "Does that mean if I did leave you'd miss me?" She tactically moved closer to brunette who scoffed at the question.
"No, it means Henry would miss your presence. I, however, would relish in your absence something that unfortunately you can only provide." Regina attempted to sound harsh and firm but was unsuccessful as Emma traced no malice in her tone.
"Of course Henry would miss me. And I know deep down you'd miss me. And heck even i'd miss me!" Emma chuckled softly.
"You're mistaken, dear."
"You're in denial."
"No, I'm not!"
"...You so are."
"You're unbel-"
Emma immediately cut the brunette off by smothering her lips with her own. A moan left the back of the Mayor's throat at the sudden intrusion. Their lips moved in sync with each others, their last thoughts vanishing from their minds and replaced by the warm sensation growing at the pit of their stomachs. Regina's hand found the blonde's neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Emma gently nibbled on her lower lip eliciting a soft moan from the brunette. A small smirk reached her lips at the sound she evoked from the woman.
The kiss slowed down to a soft pace before the pair pulled apart slightly flustered. Emma eyes averted to the patter of feet trailing the steps of the school. Students rushed out of the building in a heap mess. Both woman preferred not to say anything as they stood up to greet Henry with beaming grins.
"Hey, kid!" Emma smiled.
"Hey, Henry." The Mayor gave a genuine smile to her son.
"Hi Moms!" He exclaimed, evidently surprised by the sight of his two mothers together and with that he enveloped both of them in a hug pushing them together.
Emma unconsciously slipped her hand onto the small of the woman's back while ruffling her son's hair. Regina was well aware of the blonde's hand pressed against her lower back and made no attempt to remove it. She slithered her hand along Henry's shoulder and held him close.
"How was school?" The brunette questioned curiously.
"Boring." He muttered tiredly with a strong grip on his mothers.
"What's new?" Emma chuckled while gently moving her hand up and down Regina's back in a gentle almost loving manner.
"Are we all going to Granny's for dinner tonight?" He gazed up excitedly at his mothers who briefly glanced at each other.
Emma nodded with a grin, "Yeah we are. But right now I have a few errands to run. I'll see you both later." The blonde gently removed herself from the embrace, however, not before giving Henry's hair another ruffle. She tapped lightly on Regina's lower back before pulling away entirely from the hold. She smiled before pivoting on her heel and whisking away down the road. All the while Regina stared at her closely, watching her every movement from the second they held Henry together. A faint smile appeared upon her face at the previous position the three of them were in. They were holding each other much like a family would. Regina swallowed the absurd notion and with that guided her son over to the Mercedes.
...
"Am I delusional?" Belle questioned unsurely.
"Are we being pranked!?" Leroy bellowed, evidently enraged by the possible thought.
Mary Margaret swatted him on the arm, "Be quiet, do you want her to know we're here?" She glared at him.
"I think it's wonderful." A lopsided grin stretched across Astrid's face at the sight. She shifted uncomfotably in her crouched position, peering through the front windows of the diner.
"I feel uncomfortable spying on them." Belle spoke through her thick Australian accent while averting her eyes from the people residing at the back of the diner to Mary Margaret.
"We aren't exactly spying on them...just...observing from a distance." The pixie hair-cut woman attempted to reassure herself along with the others.
Leroy shook his head with a disgruntled expression, "It's just weird...the Mayor...smiling and laughing." He apparently couldn't fathom such a notion as he watched the renowned Mayor flick whipped cream on her son's nose.
Belle shrugged at the rare sight of the Mayor interacting in a non-mayoral manner, "At least we know she's human." She gave a faint smile.
Astrid tilted her head in admiration, "She's happy and I think its all Emma's doing." She frowned thoughtfully at her own theory of the brunette's change in demanour for the last few weeks.
Mary Margaret nodded in agreement, "I think so as well." Intrigued by a sudden movement under the table, she squinted. At the realisation an immediate smile consumed her face as Regina placed her hand over Emma's that was gently laid on her knee. She closely watched the pair exchange a warm glance before settling their eyes back on Henry on the opposite side of the booth.
"Aawwww." Leroy lightly chuckled at the seemingly subtle movement between the pair. He felt all the women's eyes on him and faced them. They were all wide eyed at the abnormal comment that escaped his lips. He cleared his throat uncomfortably before throwing them an intimidating glare. "I had a few cans, alright. Sheesh." He muttered as an explanation for his momentarily unusual behaviour.
Belle scoffed, "Yeah, okay." She chuckled.
Mary Margaret smirked, "What ever you say."
Astrid gave a little squeal, "Leroy, I never knew you were such a big softie at heart." She beamed in an adorable manner.
"I am not a softie." He growled before gathering his feet and making his way away from the diner.
"I think we should head off too." Belle nodded in Leroy's direction before standing up along with Mary Maragaret and Astrid.
"That was so much fun." Astrid spoke sweetly, glancing back inside the diner. "It's nice to see the Mayor happy." She sighed happily while Mary Margaret and Belle giggled in response before the three of them made their way home.
...
The presently off-duty Mayor smiled warmly between her son and the at times surprisingly charismatic Emma Swan who appeared to be both debating about something absolutely childish and irrelevant. What a surprise. Regina chuckled inside. She subtly relished the warmth permeating through her slacks from the blonde's hand. The brunette had come to notice that her body reacted wildly in Emma's presence, especially if contact was initiated which she didn't object to much to the blonde's pleasure. She was snapped out of her reverie by Emma's question that seemed to indicate a life or death matter judging by the expressions on their faces.
"Pardon?"
Emma smiled, "Buzz Lightyear or Woody?"
"Emma thinks Woody's better because he has his own horse." Henry chirped in a playfully mocking voice at his mother's obviously wrong choice.
"And he has a girlfriend!" Emma defended her favourite hero.
Regina chuckled in amusement at the blonde's deep involvement in the current argument of the best hero. "But Buzz can fly." She challenged towards the blonde and Henry immediately gleamed at his mother's choice. "I have to say Buzz, dear." She smirked and lightly squeezed Emma's hand.
The blonde shook her head in disbelief with her jaw nearly dislodged, "You're all wrong. Woody is amazing. Buzz is just arrogant and cocky."
Regina scoffed, "Sounds like someone I know." She teased her. Emma just smiled and nudged her leg slightly. "But we will finish this debate another time because Henry needs to go to bed." She reasoned by the quick look of her watch and immediately heard groans coming from the other two.
...
Emma waited patiently at the base of the stairs while Regina tucked Henry in. She anxiously shifted her weight from one foot to the other as earlier news surfaced her mind. The blonde was attemtping to figure out exactly how Regina would react to her having to attend to another client. The fact that the brunette was very unpredictable made the situation even worse and caused Emma to be fuelled with trepidation and reluctance. The soft sound of heels snapped her out of her reverie. She gave a nervous smile to the brunette.
"He was lights out the second he hit the pillow." Regina smiled and stood in front of the blonde.
"It was a pretty hectic day."
The Mayor nodded, "Thank you, for this evening. Henry had fun and...so did I." She breathed out and out of habit suppressed a smile. Emma noticed.
"You're welcome. Anytime." She found herself gazing deep into the brown eyes before her.
Emma shook her head slightly and briefly averted her gaze to the ground before meeting her questioning eyes again.
"Is there something on your mind, Miss Swan?" The question had come out harsher than intended, almost as though she ordered a specific demand from one of her employees underneath her.
Emma's hands retracted into the back pockets of her jeans. She once again met her now hardened stare.
"There's something I need to tell you..."
*Sits at piano* Dun dun dunnn.
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