Title: Butterfly Effect
Author: misscanteloupe
Rating: M
Summary: In her final year of college, Emma finds she has more to account for than the extra credits she needs in order to graduate. Only... she doesn't expect it to come in the form of her newest instructor, Professor Regina Mills. AU Swan Queen
A/N: Yeah, I know. I'm surprised I'm updating, too. But I promised you guys I wouldn't give up on this. For those who are still reading and/or have to go back to catch up on previous chapters, thank you. I'm planning on finishing this story within the next week or two (hopefully). As of right now I will not be writing any more stories until I have this completed. This story's very close to being finished.
Also, because it's been a while since I've worked on this, I apologize for any plot holes I most likely haven't noticed. And possibly the change of writing style as well.
And any mistakes since I haven't edited it. There might be a lot of those.
"Say cheese."
The remark is greeted by a bored look, followed by the familiar click as a grin spreads across Emma's face. She lowers the camera this time, much to Regina's apparent relief, though it goes without saying that she isn't in the least bit impressed by the last twenty or so attempts.
"Are you going to spend the rest of the night taking pictures of my face, or are you at least going to try to be productive?" Regina asks dryly.
Emma's smile is sheepish. "Define productive?"
A sigh.
"Emma…"
At least Emma has the decency to feel embarrassed before she places the Nikon back on the table. It's one of Mary Margaret's older models, given to Emma two years ago as a belated birthday gift. It's only now that she's had the inspiration to pick it up and finally use it.
"Sorry," Emma murmurs.
At this, Regina's eyes soften around the corners as she reaches forward and takes Emma's hand in hers. "It's alright, dear," she assures. "Though when you asked me to help you with your paper, I assumed you'd be upholding your end of the bargain."
"I thought you helping was code for let's meet up at your house," Emma grumbles. "I mean, who comes to the library this late at night anyway?"
"No one. That is why we're here," Regina says.
She has a point, of course, not that Emma's likely to admit it.
It's a quiet night in the library. Considering it's the day before the start of spring break, it's not much of a surprise. Unlike the majority of other students, Emma has zero plans to leave campus any time soon, instead working through the midterm papers that are long overdue.
It's not something that she likes to dwell on, knowing that her roommate is taking a beach vacation somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico and Ruby is leaving for the whole week to visit her grandma up in Maine.
But the fact that she had managed to convince Regina to stay behind, instead of using the time to go on several business trips... it's what's keeping Emma sane.
"You make it seem like you don't want to be seen with me," Emma tries to joke, although there's an underlying hitch in her tone that says otherwise. "What, am I that ugly?"
"If that were the case, I don't think I would've taken you to bed four times last night, now would I?"
Emma feels her face flush, sensing the burn skyrocket all the way down to her stomach. "Probably not."
"Good," Regina says, obviously pleased with Emma's reaction. "Now that we've established that –"
"You still haven't said why, though," Emma points out.
"Miss Swan," Regina sighs. "Emma. You know why."
Emma knows. She's always known. It's the first thing she thinks of when she wakes up every morning, knowing that for the last month and a half she's been dating her professor. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to even smile at Regina during class without arousing suspicion, nonetheless show any sort of affection you normally wouldn't show an administrator.
Knowing that if she isn't careful, she'd be risking Regina's job. And the thought of suspension several months before finishing her degree isn't too far from the realms of possibility, either.
She'd be risking their still budding relationship, and that's potentially the last thing Emma could ever want.
Since their first night together several weeks ago, things have been going well. Great, even.
Perfect.
Except for the ongoing fear dwelling in Emma's stomach; the fear that none of this is going to last. Because every day she finds herself falling more in love with this woman, when all this time Emma has been practically grasping for straws. She wants to be able to hold Regina's hand in public, to kiss her and take her out on dates where the whole world would know who she belongs to.
But every day after that is just another day closer to graduation. And Emma has no idea what kind of future that entails.
Despite knowing all of this, Emma feels her heart drop to her stomach at Regina's words. She tries in vain to cover up the bitter shine in her eyes as she grits her teeth and moves to slide her paperwork over.
"I should go," she says. "It's getting late."
A hand lurches forward and brings Emma's movements to a halt before she can even stand. Brown eyes linger over Emma's in concern.
"You're angry," Regina states. It's not a question.
"No," Emma quickly denies and moves to wipe a stray tear from her cheek. Traitor. "I'm just... frustrated. It's getting late and I'm tired."
"But that's not why you're frustrated."
Emma wants to pull her hair out at that moment. It's true that it's not the reason, but she isn't lying about being tired. After spending the whole day working on midterms on her own, she's ready to head home and crash. Maybe drink her worries away. But this - she isn't any good at this. At talking and spilling her thoughts.
Neither is Regina, for that matter.
"No, it's not," Emma reluctantly agrees. "Why do you think, Regina? It's bad enough that you treat me like I'm some kind of dirty little secret."
Even though I am.
"Is that what's bothering you?" Regina asks, arching a brow. "I can assure you, Emma, that's the last thing you are to me. We've talked about this."
"Have we?" Emma grits out in a whisper. "Because as far as I know, there hasn't been a whole lot of talking aside from me chanting your name out. I mean, it's not like we ever talk about the future. What'll happen once I'm not your student anymore?"
Regina's stare is long and thoughtful. And a little unnerving. But Emma successfully holds it despite the fact that it creeps her out sometimes when she can't read Regina's expressions.
Finally Regina nods her head. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"You're right," she adds as she folds her hands over the table. "We have not talked about anything that matters in a long while. And the fact that we haven't addressed what will happen once you graduate only serves as another barrier. So, let's talk."
"You... want to talk?"
Regina's lip curls into a wry smile. "Don't sound so surprised. I am capable of it when I'm not using my mouth for other things."
Sucking in a sharp breath, Emma ignores the thrumming quickly picking up between her legs and clears her throat. "Right. So what do we talk about?"
"I was under the impression you wanted to talk about the future?"
"I want to study at an academy in New York. I've had it planned out since freshman year," Emma points out. "And you... you'll still be here."
"That's one possibility," Regina surmises. "If it comes down to that, it's not the craziest idea in the world to try out a long distance relationship."
"New York is five hours from here."
"You could always finish your training here in Boston," Regina adds as an afterthought. "Or if you're truly serious about this, I can look into applying for a position at NYU."
Emma feels her heart skip a beat. "You... you would do that?"
"Emma," Regina begins softly, and she's staring at Emma again, this time with a much tender gaze that leaves Emma's insides melting. "I think you severely underestimate my feelings for you."
She reaches out then and gently grazes the side of Emma's cheek, probably to brush away the dry tears still clinging to her skin. But Emma is too busy smiling widely to notice.
"You know, I think I could actually fall in love with you," Emma ponders out loud.
She doesn't mean to, and she immediately regrets it when Regina's movements come to a halt. There's a slight crease between Regina's brow that Emma doesn't know what to make of.
"You think?" Regina says finally with an amused smirk.
Letting go of the breath she'd been holding, Emma rolls her eyes. "Give me a break. I'm not good at this sappy stuff."
"Oh, that I know, dear. That's why I have to rely on your other talents," Regina says in a purr and she's grabbing Emma's face in her palms, pulling her into a slow kiss.
Emma melts into the embrace instantly. Even with all the unspoken worries arising between them, Emma never gets tired of those lips, of Regina's mouth tracing every single inch of her skin. She doesn't think she can resist as Regina molds into her, guiding Emma out of her chair and propping her over the table.
Emma's silent gasp snags against the other woman's mouth as Regina goes to unzip the blonde's jeans, the forcefulness of the act causing Emma's ass to dig into the edge of the table.
"Wait, what're you doing?" Emma pants into Regina's mouth.
"You said you had a problem with my lack of public affection," Regina murmurs before slipping her hand beneath the hem of Emma's panties. Fingers trace the outer dip between Emma's thighs as they slowly sink into slick heat. "Now's a good time as any to change that."
"By screwing me in the library?" Emma hisses when Regina's fingers brush her clit. Her hips jerk at the motion. "I wouldn't call it public when no one's here."
"On the contrary, dear, there's a custodian on the second floor, directly above us. His name is Mike and he's here every night." Regina pauses to nibble on Emma's throat. Her lips curl into a smug smile against Emma's neck as the brunette's fingers dip inside her. "So I suggest you remain quiet if you don't want to get caught."
Emma's breath hitches. Her fingers grip the edge of the table tightly as she tries to reign in the moan threatening to explode from her chest.
"Regina," she whispers.
"Nuh uh uh," Regina iterates each syllable in a mutter. She thrusts herself further into Emma, eyes glinting dangerously when the blonde shivers against her and whimpers into her neck. "What do we say?"
Emma's knuckles are white against the table. The urge to groan tears at her throat as she clenches her thighs around Regina's wrist.
"What do we say, Miss Swan?" Regina tries again. She makes sure to circle Emma's clit in a slow and torturing manner. Emma's abrupt gasp echoes into the room.
"Fuck me."
"There's a good girl," Regina purrs before silencing the resulting moan with a kiss.
The following days after that occur in a blur of skin and hours upon hours of lessons in mapping Regina's body with her tongue.
Emma spends most, if not all of her time at Regina's mansion either way, rather than in the lonely confines of her apartment. In the mornings she likes to watch Regina work while completely neglecting her own assignments. It's distracting enough as it is seeing the other woman in her own private environment, sitting at her desk and donned in casual wear and reading glasses - which, quite frankly, only emphasizes Regina's hotness by like, a hundred times.
Most times Emma likes to rest her head in Regina's lap. Lazy afternoons usually consist of moments like these - quiet hours of lying on top of one of Regina's expensive sofas while Emma's pretending to work, when in actuality she's watching Regina from the corner of her eye. The brunette's fingers would be entwined in Emma's hair, weaving through the knots as she reads through several piles of paperwork.
It's all so domestic and homely and it kind of makes Emma queasy.
But in the good sort of way. Because she can't imagine her life without any of this anymore.
Sometimes Emma would drag Regina out from all the workload.
It's a warm week in Spring. The last traces of winter had disappeared, replaced by sunny skies and the kind of atmosphere that has Emma hoping for the future. From here it looks bright. Not quite as distant as it once did before.
She hasn't felt this happy in a long time.
"Let's go to the beach."
It's a Thursday morning when Emma brings up the suggestion. She had spent the majority of the week indoors. Aside from the occasional supermarket trip and gardening lessons on Regina's part, Emma hadn't actually succeeded in getting Regina outside for longer than an hour.
She had emailed her Criminology professor the final edit of her paper the night before, freeing up her last few days of spring break.
She wants to spend her final days of college doing something memorable.
Regina's sitting in her study when she arches an eyebrow at the suggestion. "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me," Emma says, completely undeterred by sarcastic demeanor. Regina's always sarcastic anyway. "Come on, pack your things. We're going on a roadtrip."
"Have you completely lost your mind?" Regina replies calmly. It's a little scary. "Or did you forget that all of the beaches near the Boston coastline are being overrun by unruly college students on spring break? Much like yourself?"
"Who said we're going to any of the beaches near Boston?"
In the end it's like pulling teeth trying to get Regina to agree, but Emma manages to guilt trip the woman long enough to pack bags for them both. Since Emma's bug is still in the shop, and would be for the unforeseeable future until she can get her notice paid, that leaves Regina's car. That in itself is an argument Emma has no idea how to win.
"You're not driving my car," Regina reiterates in a growl.
Emma shoves her hands into her back pockets and scowls. "What's the big deal? You have no clue where we're going and I want this trip to be a surprise."
"You are not driving my car."
Emma does end up driving halfway through the trip when the early afternoon traffic sparks Regina's road rage. It might've been funny if Emma didn't also fear for her life, or rather both their lives. Eventually Regina gives in just as they pass the sign crossing from the Massachusetts border.
"Maine?" Regina reads out loud, surprise coloring her tone.
Emma simply grips the steering wheel and smiles.
The town is called Storybrooke, and it's where Regina grew up. It had taken a bit of research to find this place as it scarcely exists on a map, but judging by Regina's reaction it's the best decision Emma had made in a long time. It's a little colder than she had anticipated. Plus the name is kind of stupid and the town is closer to the more tourist-oriented attractions along the coast. Luckily for Emma, none of those attractions are holding students as most of the schools within the vicinity have had their break.
It's also with a streak of luck that she doesn't need to string up any new connections in this small town. She already has them.
"Emma!"
Emma glances up from the doorway of the inn in time to see Ruby barge from one of the back doors and collide right into her. She's pulled into a breathtaking hug (literally), and hardly gets the chance to catch her breath before she hears a throat clearing behind her.
Ruby pulls away from the hug to glance at Regina, who doesn't even try to hide the look of displeasure leveling over her face.
Or the twinge of jealousy.
"Holy shit," Ruby mutters after a stunned silence, in which her gaze widens and darts back and forth between her and Regina.
"Rubes," Emma sighs. "This is Regina. She grew up here. Regina, Ruby. Now can you please give us the keys so we can unload the car?"
"You know, when you told me you were dating Professor Mills, I didn't think you actually had the balls to date her."
Needless to say, introductions are awkward.
There's a long, winding pathway leading down into the beach, where the gravelly road meets sand. The wind off the shoreline is brisk, but the sun is warm against Emma's face and she can taste the tang of sea salt lingering in the air. Ahead, Emma can make out the shadowed outlines of boats along the harbor. She almost wishes she can say the sight, the taste brings back some decent childhood memories. But she doesn't remember ever going to the beach as a kid, not in her long line of foster homes.
"Your friend is... certainly something," Regina muses thoughtfully.
"Yeah. She can be a dick sometimes."
They're sitting on a bench facing the water. Emma digs her feet into the sand and commits the feeling to memory.
After they had settled into their room and had a late lunch over at the diner, Ruby had insisted on giving them, or Emma really, a tour around town. Ruby's granny owns both the diner and the inn, and in a small town like Storybrooke are really the only options if they plan on staying over the next few days.
"So what's it like?" Ruby had asked her as she guided them down Main Street. Regina had trailed behind in favor of wandering the shops and reminiscing.
"What's what like?"
"Dating your teacher," Ruby clarified, grinning. "That kind of thing only happens in people's fantasies. Is she as good in bed as she looks?"
"Seriously?" Emma laughed. "For your information, it's nothing like those raunchy pornos you watch. I mean, yeah, it feels like a dream sometimes. But this is it for me, you know?"
"And the sex?"
"Amazing," Emma had answered with a low hum. "Mind blowing, actually."
It was then that Emma slowed her pace in time to see Regina walk past her. It dawned on her that their conversation might not have been the quietest of affairs. That was only proven by the wink Regina had tossed in her direction and the less than subtle -
"Mind blowing, dear?"
Now, as Ruby had gone back to finish her shift at the diner, Emma sits back and watches the tides that are coming in.
"What're you thinking about?"
Emma turns to Regina, admittedly slightly surprised by the question. It's probably the third time Regina had asked in the last week - it didn't seem like something she would show any interest in. But there's a kind of placidity in Regina's expression that Emma rarely sees when they're on campus, or even inside Regina's home.
"How lucky I am," Emma says after a brief pause. "You?"
"That maybe this road trip wasn't a complete waste of time."
Emma laughs. "Wow. Any more compliments and people are going to start thinking you have a soft side."
"Oh hush," Regina says and gently shoves her by the shoulder. "But I can't thank you enough. I haven't been here in years. I almost forgot what it's like to taste the salt in the air."
"You don't have to thank me," Emma adds, and continues, "Did you come to the beach often?"
"My father would take me here and teach me how to swim. Those moments became one of the few I have with him where my mother didn't interfere," Regina explains in a subdued tone, but there's a distant sparkle in her eye when she mentions her father. "Have you?"
"I don't think so. My foster parents didn't usually take us out on vacations," Emma tells her. "I don't have memories of any of this."
"Well," Regina begins and brushes her palms over her lap. She moves to stand before taking Emma's hand in hers. "That's why people are capable of creating new ones."
She lets Regina pull her up until she's ankle deep in the sand, until she's guiding Emma closer to the edge where the gentle currents reach her feet. Aside from the waves and the sound of seagulls in the distance, the beach is quiet around them.
"What're you doing?" Emma asks, furrowing her brow as she watches Regina fumble with the Nikon Emma has tied around her neck.
"Putting this ridiculous camera of yours to good use," Regina explains as though it's obvious. "You're creating new memories."
There's a faint click from the camera shutter when Regina raises it to take a photo, followed by another before Emma realizes what's happening.
"Hey, stop. I wasn't ready."
"Hm, not really my problem now, is it, Swan?"
Emma laughs and moves to shove it away from the direction of her face, only for Regina to take the step back and follow the movement with another photo. This one she manages to catch just in time for Emma to wrestle the camera out of Regina's grip. Or rather, try to.
"Swan?" Emma echoes, smiling. "What, did I finally upgrade from Miss Swan?"
"I wouldn't call it an upgrade, dear."
There's a smug, almost mischievous glint in Regina's eye that Emma can't make out. At least not until another attempt at retrieving her camera has Emma shoved onto her ass just as the next wave rolls in. It knocks her forward and drenches her from the head down.
A burst of laughter interrupts her stunned daze and Emma's left scraping up the last shred of her dignity with a glare.
"Regina."
"You can't expect me not to enjoy this moment, Emma," Regina says before snapping another photo.
In the end Emma decides not to wiggle out of her drenched clothes just yet, instead using it to her advantage as she gets up and gathers the other woman in her arms. The result is a screech when they're both chugged into the water, soaking Regina along the way. And all Emma can do is laugh at the horrified expression consuming the brunette's face and snap a picture for the sake of memory lane.
"Miss Swan," Regina begins in a voice that ensures Emma knows she's in big trouble. "You're going to pay for that."
And oh, she's definitely looking forward to it.
The next several days are spent hanging by the sea shore, in the small town of Storybrooke that Emma has actually grown to like despite the gaping difference from the city. She thinks she wouldn't mind living here in the future, away from the pressures of a larger society and in a more quiet residence once she settles down.
The thing is, every time the idea of settling down occurs to her, Emma always imagines Regina by her side.
Come Monday and classes resume as they normally do. All thoughts of living in a small town by the sea while playing family with Regina is chugged out the window the moment she steps back into the role of a student. Emma didn't truly realize how much she hated it until now.
"You look upset," Regina notices one Wednesday afternoon.
She hadn't seen Regina much apart from class and their usual corner in the library, which, as it turns out, isn't really their corner anymore now that Regina is too busy to leave her office these days. They're sitting at her desk, with Regina's glasses pulled up to her nose as she works diligently on the large amount of paperwork she has stacked on the surface. Emma sits across from her, staring aimlessly at her book until she feels Regina's hand clasp over hers.
"Emma," she tries again.
Emma's gaze shoots up to find Regina watching her intently, studiously, like the way she used to do when Regina had been the mean teacher Emma had a crush on and Emma was the unwilling guinea pig. It makes her palms sweat and her stomach churn nervously before she realizes those days are long gone now.
They're equals now. Regina might still be her professor by name, but that doesn't change the status of their relationship any more than if they were both just two normal people.
"I'm fine," Emma finally responds and emphasizes it with a small smile. "Seriously."
At Regina's disbelieving expression, Emma adds, "I was just thinking."
"You've been doing that a lot lately. Try not to hurt yourself."
Balling a paper ball in her hand, Emma tosses it at her. "Shut up," she says and laughs. "And fyi, I have a lot to think about. Graduation's coming up and I have this really mean debate professor who I think is planning on failing me."
"Oh?" Regina mutters humorously. "She sounds atrocious."
"She is," Emma agrees. "Nice instructors don't assign six page papers the week after spring break."
Regina breathes out a chuckle at that and focuses on her paperwork again. "Sorry to disappoint you, love, but I've never been a 'nice' instructor. Maybe if you do your work, you'll pass."
"Love?"
Regina glances up at her, confused. "Pardon?"
"You called me love," Emma points out. Her throat feels tight all of a sudden, and she swallows down the swell of emotions bubbling up in her chest before she does something stupid like admit those emotions.
"Ah," Regina says slowly, looking a bit shell-shocked herself. She scrunches her forehead in a pensive manner before adding, "I suppose I did. Does that bother you?"
"Not at all," Emma admits honestly. She peers down at her hands, clasped tightly together over the desk, before anxiously glancing up at Regina again. The other woman seems to be lost in a whirlwind of her own thoughts much like Emma was, except now it's Emma's turn to break the long stretch of silence between them.
"Do you..." Emma trails off and clears her throat, pretending to shuffle through the pages of her book. "Do you ever think about maybe... moving somewhere less... urban? You know, maybe somewhere out of the city and into a small town like Storybrooke?"
"I'd never given it much thought," Regina confesses lightly. "Storybrooke was my hometown. I never thought about moving back. I always imagined I'd be in Boston. Or some place similar."
"What about kids?"
"I want them, if that's what you're asking," Regina answers. "I've thought about adopting one in the future and forming a family of my own." She tilts her head then, eyeing Emma curiously.
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Emma fibs and shrugs her shoulders. "It's just nice to know these things. Like, I don't even know your middle name. Or your favorite color."
"It's green," Regina says. "Not that that is important."
"I think it is," Emma pipes up before moving to stand. "Mine is yellow."
"Like that hideous car of yours?"
"Mhmm," Emma hums as she rounds the desk, stopping to rest her backside against the edge, right by Regina's arm. "And like the cords on my cap and gown when I graduate in a few weeks. I think you should know they came in today."
Regina watches her like a hawk, her dark eyes following the motion of Emma's fingers as they lightly trace the inside of Regina's wrist.
"Oh?" Regina says noncommittally, voice husky. "I thought you weren't graduating until later in the summer."
"I'm walking with the rest of my class," Emma says. She lets her fingers slide from Regina's wrist to the collar of her own shirt, slowly and teasingly releasing the buttons as she continues, "But I don't get my actual diploma until I complete my last four credits."
"Emma," Regina warns, though her gaze continues to linger over Emma's fingers.
"I thought maybe we could celebrate afterwards. And you know, among other things."
Reaching the last button, Emma lets the open flaps of her shirt shift to her sides, revealing the white lace bra she has underneath. She feels her body warm up with the heated gaze Regina has pinned on her. She doesn't know whether to proceed with the seduction or rip her clothes off just to have Regina take her against the desk. Or vice versa.
It's not like she hasn't had fantasies of both.
"Oh?" Regina murmurs.
"Yep. I hope you plan on coming, by the way. It'd be a real shame not to have my girlfriend at my own ceremony."
"Then you're in luck. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
At this, Emma twirls the chair until Regina's facing her. She grabs the armrests on either side of the older woman, dipping her head so close that she can feel Regina's breath hitch against her mouth. Warm hands immediately settle over Emma's hips and to the bare expanse of her stomach. Emma shivers and, placing her knee in the space between Regina's thighs, allows their ragged breaths to mingle for a while longer before she closes the distance.
Their lips glide over one another at a steady rhythm. Regina's fingers tighten around Emma's waist, somehow managing to bring her closer. With a promising nip at Regina's lower lip, Emma reluctantly pulls away and brings her mouth to Regina's ear.
"Good. Because I wanna get a head start on my graduation gift."
And then Emma's on her knees, her eyes never leaving Regina's as she gently spreads the brunette's legs apart - she's wearing one of those pencil skirts and suspenders that Emma absolutely loves, especially now - and nuzzles her cheek over a bare knee before kissing the inside of a thigh.
"Emma," Regina breathes and squeezes her thighs around Emma's head. "Don't. You know the rules. We're not doing this in my office."
"It's after office hours," Emma points out, leaving a trail of wet kisses along the delicate skin of Regina's thigh. "It'll be fine."
"Emma -"
Her statement trails off into a sharp gasp when Emma lifts the hem of Regina's skirt up to the underside of her ass and presses her mouth directly over Regina's panties. Emma's slightly disappointed she's wearing any in the first place, but it dwindles quickly when a hand tangles into her hair and shoves her face closer against Regina's arousal.
Emma glances up and smiles smugly into damp panties. "You were saying?"
Regina's grip tightens as she growls, "Stop teasing."
Emma doesn't plan to. Her whole body is on fire and she wants nothing more than to devour Regina over and over again, hear her name called out in between raspy moans. In fact, she gets as far as pulling Regina's panties down to her ankles when there's a knock at the door.
And all shit goes to hell.
Emma freezes and darts her gaze from her open shirt to Regina's face in a panicked frenzy. She doesn't have time to utter a word when the door suddenly opens and Regina's knee is shoving her to the side. Hard.
She manages to contain her yelp in time to hear the intruder greet Regina, hidden from Emma's view.
"Regina," a man says in a curt tone. There's a familiar Scottish ring to it that Emma almost recognizes. "If I had known you'd be in your office this late, I might have caught you sooner."
"Gold," Regina answers just as curtly. There's a shaky edge in her voice that Emma immediately recognizes as panic. "If I had known you would be looking for me, I would've gone home a long time ago."
Gold. Gold... Emma's eyes widen in realization.
President Gold.
Emma anxiously fumbles with the buttons of her shirt as she strains to hear the conversation. It dawns on her how horrifyingly ironic this all is, having sulked over the giant barrier between their positions as student and teacher over the last few weeks, only to come in here and seduce Regina right on school property. It had been one thing to let Regina take the lead in a secluded corner of a library with no one around - except for a custodian named Mike that Emma isn't sure actually exists.
But this was taking it too far. She should've listened to Regina.
"Come now, dearie. Is it too hard to set our differences aside for several minutes and converse like two mature adults?"
"What the hell do you want, Gold?"
"My, you truly are your mother's daughter, aren't you? Well then I suppose we can get straight to the point."
Emma doesn't listen after that. Her head feels thick and hazy and her heart might as well be pounding straight out of her ribcage. She can sense Regina's anxiety rolling off her in waves. The way her heeled foot raps against the floor gives her away and makes Emma's stomach roil with nerves.
That's when Emma notices the panties on the floor, sitting far off to the side that she's sure it's within viewing distance if Gold were to look in that direction. Shooting a glance at Regina, Emma bites her lip and ignores the rush of fear pulsing through her veins as she cautiously reaches for the undergarment.
"I told you I'd have the paperwork done by tomorrow. Perhaps if you'd stop comparing me to my mother for one damn second, I might just forget how much you disgust me long enough to hand it over tonight."
"Why Regina, you wound me."
Emma silently leans over just a bit further until the tips of her fingers curl around the lace, when Regina's knee jams into her again and this time she can't contain the yelp.
Oh shit.
She clenches her eyes shut, her blood freezing in her veins as silence ensues. The kind of silence that seeps into your skin and crawls all over you. Emma holds her breath for several long seconds, and then Regina's hand is on her shoulder.
"Emma, you can get up now."
Emma does so with shaking legs. She makes sure to leave the lacey undergarment by her feet as she reluctantly meets Gold's dark gaze from across the room. He looks the same as he did when she met him for the first time in her Sophomore year, but wearier and somehow colder.
"Miss Swan, this is Mr. Gold, the president of the school, as I'm sure you already know," Regina states tersely. "Miss Swan here has been helping me arrange my files as punishment for disrespecting me early this semester. Before you rudely interrupted."
"I see," Gold drawls pensively, in a tone that suggests he doesn't believe the excuse at all. His smug gaze turns from Emma to Regina before he says, "And does Miss Swan typically make it a habit to hide behind an instructor's desk when you have guests?"
"Only when that guest is a repulsive imp who doesn't know when to mind his own business," Regina snarls.
"Careful, dearie. We wouldn't want your dearest mother to think you've been hiding something from her, would we? Or maybe it's not a 'something' she should be worrying about," Gold says.
Regina's hands clench into fists. "Get out."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Swan," he says, turning to Emma with an eerie smile. "Regina." He nods to her and whirls around to face the door, stopping short just as he's about to leave.
"I suggest you do something about the articles of clothing you have lying around the floor. It's quite unsanitary. And as I recall... littering is against campus policy."
And with that, the door closes behind him. The resulting silence has Emma shifting uncomfortably on her feet.
"He knows," Regina grits out after several tense seconds.
"Maybe he doesn't."
"He does," Regina asserts without a doubt, a deep frown marring her features. "And he's going to use it against me how ever he can."
"Regina," Emma begins, swallowing harshly. "I'm -"
"Don't," Regina stops her, raising a hand to halt Emma's next words altogether. "I think you should leave."
Any words that were about to spew out of Emma's mouth trail off into horrified silence instead. The air leaves Emma's lungs as though she'd been kicked in the gut, which she might as well have.
"Regina," she tries again, feeling her throat clench up with unwanted tears. "Please, don't make me leave. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean for any of that to happen and I - maybe we can fix this."
"There is no we, Miss Swan," Regina snaps back. "What I need right now is for you to leave."
"But I can help."
"Any 'help' you can offer is only going to make this worst," Regina says. "Just go."
Emma can hardly breathe. Her chest tightens with every breath she takes. She knows Regina is scared, and come tomorrow things will go back to normal as they work together to find a way to fix this. At least, that's what has to happen, because anything else just isn't an option with Emma's heart at stake.
"Okay," Emma mutters eventually. "I'll go. Just... call me tonight? Please?"
Regina doesn't respond, and it scares Emma more than she ever thought possible. But she ignores the feelings of rejection and fear in favor of gathering her things. She stops in front of the door much like Gold had done as she contemplates what to say next.
"My favorite color's yellow because it used to give me hope when I was a kid," Emma says and clenches her jaw. "Nowadays it's been you."
Emma lets the words hang in silence before turning the knob. The door clicks shut behind her.