A Christmas gift!
Regina had been ready for almost half an hour. Her outfit, her hair, her makeup – all meticulously put together. There wasn't a thing left for her to do but go downstairs.
And yet she was still sitting on her bed, inspecting herself from every angle in the ornamental mirror that topped her dresser.
This would have been a whole lot easier, she thought, if Emma had told her where they were going. The only thing she'd been able to glean from the blonde all week was the day and time of their date. Nothing that hinted at where they would be going or what they would be doing.
A part of her appreciated the romance, was grateful for the time and effort Emma had clearly put into making this date as special as possible. That part had been increasingly drowned out over the past few hours by her inner control freak. Her shrill, pedantic, pencil pusher within was screaming about itineraries and demanding to be told what would constitute appropriate footwear.
In an effort to silence her, Regina settled for one last inspection of her hair before turning away from the mirror and reaching for her handbag. Without taking a backwards look, she strode out of her bedroom and made for the stairs.
At the bottom of the staircase, Emma was leaning against the bannister sluggishly, having passed impatient on the way into bored at least ten minutes ago. At the sound of Regina's feet on the floor above her head, she straightened – pushing herself away from the railing and peering up the stairs eagerly.
Worth the wait, Emma thought to herself.
Regina was casually dressed by her own standards. She wore form fitting black trousers, a white cashmere pullover and a light blue scarf. Her black boots while stylish were flat, clearly pulled from the more practical part of her wardrobe. Her hair had been blow-dried in light waves that flicked away from her face and she'd gone very light on the makeup.
Emma wondered how it was possible for Regina to look that innocent and that hot all at the same time. Witchcraft, she thought with a chuckle.
Regina's lifted one eyebrow at Emma's laugh, trying to conjure up a look of superiority that would mask the doubts and insecurities it had sparked in her head. Was Emma laughing at her? Did she look ridiculous? Maybe she should change…
Seeing right through her façade, Emma held out a hand – beckoning Regina down the stairs towards her. When she was on the last step, Emma reached out to grab her hand and pressed it to her mouth.
"You look beautiful," she said with a tone of reverence.
Regina blushed - amazed that she still had the ability.
"As do you," she added, taking the time to look Emma up and down. Dressed in a faded pair of jeans and a black button down shirt that was open just enough to show a hint of cleavage, Emma struck the perfect dichotomy between masculine and feminine.
Regina was also pleased to note that not a single item of Emma's clothing featured tacky, coloured leather. A marked improvement.
"So do I have to wait until the end of the date to kiss you or does the fact that we're basically living together mean I can cop a feel now?" Emma asked cheekily.
Regina smirked at her boldness, mulling the question over in mock consideration.
"I suppose you may kiss me now," she said regally, leaning down to give the blonde better access.
Deciding this wasn't enough, Emma tugged on Regina's hand, causing her to pitch off the final step and crash into Emma. Before Regina had time to recover her balance, Emma descended on her mouth, taking advantage of the fact that the fall had pushed Regina's body flush against hers.
The kiss was not one of your average first date chaste variety. It was teeth and tongues and hands and heat, coiling deliciously against one another in a sizzling display of friction.
Before they could get completely carried away, Regina placed a hand against Emma's shoulder and gently pushed her back.
Both women were flushed and breathing heavily – barely containing sheepish grins.
"Well," said Emma "I think this date's going pretty well so far, don't you?"
Regina quirked her eyebrow. "We haven't left the house yet dear."
Emma mirrored Regina's expression, her hands seeking out the brunette's waist. "That's my favourite kind of date."
As Emma leaned forward to press herself closer, Regina took a deliberate half step back. She clicked her tongue against her teeth in a tone of disapproval.
"Really Miss Swan, is this your idea of romance? Pawing me in my own foyer? I have to confess I expected a little more effort. Particularly after your promise that this date would….how did you phrase it again? 'Rock my world'?"
Emma laughed, Regina's formal tone echoing her own words back to her in a way that she found very amusing. She stepped backwards and raised her arms in surrender.
"Oh I intend to keep my promise," Emma said with a sly grin. "But you're right, we should go."
Emma offered a gentlemanly hand to Regina and accompanied her to the front door.
As she stepped into the jacket that Emma held open for her, Regina tried once more to find out the other woman's plans for their evening.
"You're really not going to tell me where we're going?" she asked poutily, hoping that Emma's fixation with her mouth would distract the blonde long enough for her to needle out some useful information.
Emma, though momentarily thrown off balance by Regina's perfectly pursed lips, retained her composure.
"I've kept it a secret all week, why would I tell you now?"
Regina opened her mouth to interject but Emma cut her off.
"It's a surprise Regina – you do get the concept right? You're just going to have to trust me."
Outside the weather was calm and pleasant. A light breeze skimmed across the surface of Regina's skin, refreshing rather than chilling.
As Emma guided her down the familiar streets of her town, Regina couldn't help but feel a little bit of pride for the world she'd created. It may not have begun with the best of intentions, but Storybrooke had developed into a beautiful place and she was glad that it existed.
The closer they got to town the more nervous Regina grew. Where was Emma taking her? Surely not to Granny's?
While their appearances together in public had become…if not accepted than at least not opening reviled, that was before this new development in their relationship. A development that the two idiots had surely spread around town by now.
What would people think?
Some of them undoubtedly would share Prince Prat's ridiculous suspicion that Regina had done something to their Princess; cast some hex to manifest false feelings in Emma's heart. It was a notion that any half-wit with a grain of magical knowledge would soon dismiss. Emma was the product of true love – the saviour. She had a heart so pure that the Queen of Hearts herself hadn't been able to touch it.
If Cora couldn't alter Emma's heart with magic, how could people think that Regina would be able to?
But then people, as Regina was far too aware, were morons. If she were counting on their ability to apply logic to this situation then she was in trouble.
As if sensing her growing discomfort, Emma's hand slipped into Regina's and gave a light, reassuring squeeze. The gesture was sweet but ultimately useless, Regina's dread mounting as they came to a stop in front of the town's only diner.
She fought to swallow down a groan. Really? This was the romantic, spectacular date that Emma had planned? A meal surrounded by people who were probably sharpening their pitchforks at this very moment in a place they went ALL – THE – TIME?
Didn't being born a Charming come with some sort of guidebook on romantic gestures? How could Emma be this inept?
Unnoticed by Regina, Emma was watching her internal conflict play out on her face with mild amusement. To still the thoughts racing across Regina's mind, Emma bent forward to press a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"We're not eating here," Emma assured a wide eyed Regina. "I just need to pick something up."
Regina exhaled a breathful of relieved air, her body visibly relaxing.
"Oh! Wonderful, I'll wait here for you then."
"Oh no you won't!" Emma said, grasping Regina firmly by the hand and tugging her forcefully towards the diner door. "If I have to go in so do you. I'm not dealing with this nosy lot by myself."
"With you they'll be nosy," Regina muttered snidely. "Me they'll tie to a stake."
Clearly not interested in arguing the point, Emma continued to charge forward. Regina eventually submitted to the blonde's pull, rationalising that the sooner they went in, the sooner they could be on their way.
Emma, unprepared for Regina's sudden lack of resistance, stumbled into the glass door and toppled through it, dragging Regina with her. The bell above the door sounded like an accusatory screech and in unison, as if rehearsed, a whole diner full of eyes turned to the two of them.
One more chapter to go in this story! I'll try and get it to you soon lovely people. In the mean time have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)