Thursday.
Emma knocked on Regina's office door at 10.22am. She was a little pissed that this man she had standing next to her. had walked in saying he was there for the personal assistant job.
She had barely gave her notice and Regina was already lining up someone to replace her. She knew she shouldn;t be pissed. It was her decision to give in her notice but she was.
"Come in" Regina said and Emma opened the door, to see Regina sitting at her desk.
"Morning Miss Mills, this man is hear for an interview" Emma said with annoyance in her voice.
Regina quickly looked over the man. Mid thirties, average build. dark haired, looked a little anxious.
"Thank you Miss Swan"
Emma nodded and turned round to leave but five moments later, she was hoovering by the door, looking in. She heard them laughing and found herself walking into the room and Regina and the man looked to her.
"Oh, sorry Miss Mills but I"
fuck! she thought.
"I um, wanted to see if we were still good for lunch?" she tried to hold a blank expression.
Regina quirked an eyebrow.
"You should try the patio. Wonderful place" the man said and he glanced back to Regina, with bright eyes.
"Yes I have been there and it is wonderful, you have good taste" she smiled at him and Emma looked between the two, with jealously.
"And yes were still good for lunch Miss Swan" Regina then said, suddenly giving Emma her full attention and noticing there was something off, about the blondes behavior.
"Good. Okay" she turned and quickly made her exit. Cursing herself for being an idiot and she hoovered around the open space, pretending to be working but waiting for the man to leave. However she was surprised to see Regina appear from the office with the man and they were speaking with each other and he laughed at something she said.
Emma clenched her jaw at this and she started hitting the stapler, that was on a table aggressively. She then saw Regina put her hand on his upper arm and Emma paused her aggressive stapling and glared.
It wasn't until a long moment later, that the man walked away and Regina turned to go back inside her office. Leaving Emma to let out a sigh and look down at her sheets of paper and say "CRAP"
At Lunch. Regina sat herself opposite the blonde in a Cafe, they had been to before.
"Do you care to tell me what that was all about earlier, when you barged into my office during an interview?" Regina asked, as she put her glass of water down on the table.
"No. It was nothing really" she licked her lips and looked down at the menu. "Will you be hiring that man?" she added.
"Possibly. He has the qualification and seems like a very decent man"
"Sure and I bet it helps, that he is eye candy for you" Emma muttered under her breath, but Regina caught it and she smirked.
"Believe it or not Miss Swan. I want my next assistant to be a man to annoy my mother, not because he would be eye candy as you put it"
Emma sighed.
"Why would it annoy your mother?"
"Because she has clearly said I can't hire a male assistant. it wouldn't be right apparently" she smirked again.
"Did you find him attractive?" Emma then asked and Regina tilted her head and wondered was Emma jealous.
"He has a nice face" Regina said seriously.
"So you do?" Emma asked. Before cursing herself for sounding like a jealous girlfriend, or which she was not and would never will be, she thought to herself.
"Miss Swan" Regina warned.
"What? can't I ask you if your attracted to him?" Emma snapped.
"It would be unprofessional and no I do not see him in that way" she replied firmly.
Emma frowned.
"Why are you so bothered anyway?" Regina asked curiously.
"No reason. Just interested in my friends life"
Regina starred at her for a moment and then they continued to have lunch, whilst wandering on what the other was thinking.
Friday.
Emma had one of the worst days at work. Firstly she forgot a document that Regina had requested for a meeting and then she gave Regina the completely wrong files to read and then, she spilled coffee down herself.
This day can;t get anyworse she said to herself as she parked her car, in the car park across the street from the cinema.
It was 6.48 and Henry was eager to get in to the Cinema.
"I know it's the new Avengers movie kid, but I've never seen you so excited to get to the cinema"
"Um, I have a confession" Henry muttered, turning in his seat to face her.
"Yeah?"
"I invited someone to join us and I don't know if their gonna show up"
Emma gaped momentarily.
"Who is it? Is it a girl" Emma smiled, thinking Henry asked a girl from his school to come.
"Yeah it's a girl" he smiled back.
"Will her parents be bringing her?"
"I don't know" he said, getting out the car. He didn't want her to know yet that it was Regina that he had asked.
Emma then got out and locked the car, before they proceeded to the cinema. where they brought their drinks and popcorn and then Henry stood at a poster in the confectionery area.
"Why we standing here? is this where she's meant to be meeting us?" Emma asked, putting a piece of popcorn in her mouth and then seeing Henry's face light up. She immediately turned her head and gaped.
There was Regina, walking towards them, in her black long coat, red dress and heels. Her make up was perfection and those red full lips, were just asking to be kissed.
However, she looked slightly anxious as she approached.
"You came" Henry said happily.
"Yes. I hope your mother doesn't mind" she looked to Emma, who was gazing at her in surprise and in awe.
"Of course not. Wow. I mean we should get the tickets"
Henry shook his head amusedly at his mother.
"What movie are we going to see?" Regina then asked.
"The Avengers" Henry happily said, looking up at Regina.
Regina nodded and they walked in silence to the queue, where they purchased the tickets and headed to the screen.
Emma couldn't believe it. Regina was here. Henry had asked Regina to come. Sneaky, she thought and smiled to herself as she watched Henry talking to Regina in front of her. She can't be that mad at me, Emma then thought and smiled to herself.
Once they arrived at their seats. Regina took her coat off, to reveal the stunning sleeveless red dress and Emma gawked at her. How can she be this beautiful Emma thought.
"Ma sit down" Henry said firmly, noticing his mom practically drooling over Regina and he pulled her arm so she would sit. She gave a smile in thanks to Henry and sat down, thinking what the hell am i going to do, I haven't felt like this about anyone before and she's straight. God help me.
Regina meanwhile, had sat down next to Henry and was oblivious to Emma's inner turmoil. As she was watching the screen that was starting to play the trailers and she fiddled with her hands in her lap.
"When did you last come see a movie?" Henry asked her and she glanced sideways at him.
"A long time ago"
"Oh" Henry frowned. "I think your like this movie, lots of action"
"I look forward to watching it with you Henry" she smiled at him and then noticed Emma looking at her with adoring eyes. She felt the butterflies within her stomach returning and looked away shyly.
Two hours later, they walked out of the screening, with Henry asking Regina what she thought of certain scenes. Emma thought it was great that Henry seemed really like her boss and then she suddenly said "Do you want to come back to the apartment with us?"
Regina gaped momentarily and found herself nodding.
"Cool, I can show Regina my room" Henry said happily and both Regina and Emma laughed.
Regina followed behind in her car, until they got to Emma's apartment.
"Won't your parents be home?" Regina asked as they walked towards the door.
"They've gone away" Henry said.
"They go away once a month up to Maine to visit family" Emma added.
"I see"
They then entered the apartment, where Henry immediately took Regina's hand and lead her to his bedroom.
Emma just smiled and went to the kitchen, to make some drinks.
"This is my room. Do you like it?" Henry asked.
Regina glanced around the room, noticing the blue walls with the odd poster. A telescope, a small desk with comics on and a bed and wardrobe.
"Its very nice" she said honestly and stepped forward, to have a better look at his nightlight, which Henry had just turned on.
"You like the swan don't you" Henry said with a smile.
"Yes i do" she replied softly, whilst watching the swan shadow move across the nightlight.
"Ma does too" he said and then pulled out a drawing he had done of him, his mates, Emma and Regina at Laser tag.
"I did this the other day" he held it out to her.
Regina's eye's softened and she put a hand to her chest.
"This is so sweet Henry"
He went a little shy and sat on the bed.
"Your mother actually mentioned this to me the other day"
"Cool" he replied, watching Regina studying the drawing.
Regina then noticed, that the one that was meant to be her was holding the blondes one hand and she swallowed thickly.
"Hey" Emma suddenly said from the door.
"Ma, Regina likes the swans too" he pointed to the light.
"That's nice"
"Yeah and she likes my drawing"
Emma suddenly realized Regina was holding the drawing of them at tag. she too had noticed that she and the brunette person was holding hands.
She cleared her throat.
"Right, I think it's your bedtime kid"
"But ma..."
"No buts" she gave him a look.
Regina shook her head in amusement and stood up. Handing the drawing back to Henry and once he was settled in bed. Emma and Regina sat on the sofa, one with a glass or wine, the other with a beer.
"I really didn't know, he had asked you to come to the cinema with us tonight but Thanks. You made his night" Emma said and took a sip of her beer ,whilst looking at the adverts on the TV and thought you made my night too.
"You don't have to thank me"
"I do, you have only just met Henry and his taken to you fast, which is surprising...You've been really great with Henry"
Regina blushed slightly and took a sip of her wine happily.
"He is a great kid" she then said.
"Yeah he is" Emma smiled and glanced sideways, to see Regina looking sweetly at her.
"What did you really think of the movie?" Emma then asked.
"It was interesting...Henry seemed to really enjoy it, that's all that matters" she looked back to the TV, not seeing Emma's doe eyes and her heart swelled at the brunettes words.
They sat in silence for a long moment.
"Have you thought anymore on hiring that man?" Emma suddenly asked, whilst staring at her bottle. Since yesterday it had niggled at her.
Regina couldn;t help but chuckle.
"No, I shall decide by Monday. As you know I interviewed two other people today, that were also suitable. However, why are you so interested in that one?" she tilted her head and watched the blonde intently.
Emma stiffened.
"No reason , just curious I guess"
"Emma...if you have changed your mind about resigning, that is fine. You can still stay"
Emma blinked a few times.
"You would do that?" Emma asked, now starring at her.
"Yes. You need a job" she replied, although that wasn't the entire truth.
"That's...nice of you" she took a sip of her beer. "But I am not that good at this assistant stuff and I only took it, because of the center which is still being demolished" she frowned.
"Emma" Regina said, thinking the woman would never forgive her for breaking this promise.
"I know, it's not all down to you"
"Well you have till Monday to change your mind" Regina replied lowly.
"Thanks, I will think about it"
"Have you looked around for another job?" Regina then asked, looking into her glass.
"Um, no. I just don't know what to do. I want to feel like I'm making a difference to people, maybe working with kids" she stared at Regina who nodded slightly and reached her free hand over and put it on top on Emma's hand. That was rested on her knee. Emma looked down at their hands.
"Believe it or not Miss Swan, you have made a difference in my life. You have become my friend and have shown me that their is good people in the world. People that are not just out to use me, because of my money" she squeezed the blondes hand.
"How could anyone do that to you. Your great Regina" Emma unconsciously blurted out and looked up into the brunettes wide eyes.
"You think I'm great? I find that hard to believe Miss Swan" she looked away, back at the TV but still held the blondes hand.
"Your impossible you know that" Emma chuckled. "And whats with the Miss Swan again? If I didn't know any better I'd say you love saying my name like that" she smirked to herself.
Regina shook her head and a small smile wanted to break out on her lips, but she forced herself not too.
"I do not and I told you I am just used to calling you that" she held her head up, in a kind of smugness.
"Hmm sure" Emma stared at the TV with a smile. She really was enjoying this.
Regina meanwhile, took a long sip of her drink and then released Emma's hand. Which made Emma frown.
"I should go"
Emma tilted her head at her and thought have I said something wrong.
"Why?" she asked.
"It's getting late. I've got to go into the office tomorrow"
"You work a lot" Emma said matter of fact y.
"I like to keep busy, especially after Daniels death, it has helped" she swallowed the last of the wine, in her glass.
"Oh" Emma muttered and bit her lip.
"Um, this may seem weird and feel free to say no, I won't be offended. but um, you can stay here tonight and go to work from here in the morning if you want too"
Regina just starred at her.
"It's getting late and I just thought ,maybe you wouldn't want to drive back"
Regina then started to smile at the blondes rambling.
"I shall be fine Emma" she smiled. "Thank you for the offer though"
"No problem" Emma replied as Regina stood up and the brunette saw the flash of sadness, in the blondes face.
"How about I make myself a coffee and get you another beer" she found herself saying.
"But you said..."
"I know what I said, but staying a little longer won't hurt" she walked off to the kitchen and Emma grinned and watched Regina adoringly, as she help herself to a mug and opened the fridge to get a beer.