Hi Everyone, not long to go now, two more chapters after this one.
Emma was stood with Henry and her mother in the supermarket, when she felt the vibration of her phone In her jean pocket and she dag it out to read the message.
She then smiled upon seeing it was from Regina, but then gaped at the message itself.
Surely she cant be flirting with me…no..its gotta be her joking with me. She reasoned inside her head.
"Emma, do you want chicken, or fish for dinner?" Her mother suddenly asked as she picked up a bag of vegetable's from the freezer section.
"You always ask me this mom and the answer is always chicken" she replied.
Her mom then frowned.
Moment's later, Emma decided not to reply to Regina message, she didn't even know how she should reply to it. Which left Regina wandering all night if she had gone to far and said the wrong thing.
Saturday.
Regina, arrived at the benefit ball, feeling anxious and she took a moment to get used to her surroundings... a bar, a band playing old style music, servers walking round with food and three dozen people wondering around.
Regina then glided across the floor, meeting her parents and a local Judge.
"Regina dear, you look lovely"
"Thank you mother" she smiled.
"Regina, I haven't seen in a while" the judge said.
"Not since I won that case if I remember rightly" she smiled smugly.
he chuckled "you were very professional"
"thank you, I am just going to get a drink" they nodded and Regina walked off glancing around to see if Emma had arrived, but instead she came face to face with an old colleague, who used to have a thing for her and was a total creep.
"Hello Regina you look…well" he raked his eyes over her.
Regina scoffed and thought he obviously hasn't changed.
"Sidney. Should of known you would be here"
"don't be like that"he replied with a cheesy smile.
Meanwhile, Emma had arrived and wished she had stayed home. This place was too posh, she thought and she felt out of place.
Henry Sr meanwhile, had spotted her and excused himself from his wife and the judge to approach her
"Hello Emma" he said happily.
"Oh...Hello Henry, I'm glad I know at least someone here" she pulled at her red dress.
He chuckled lightly "Yes these events can be a little daunting"
"Tell me about it"
There was a pause.
"Regina will be happy your here"
Emma gave a smile.
"I hope so" she replied.
Five minutes later, Regina managed to lose Sidney and stood by herself by one of the windows. She sighed but then heard.
"Hey"
She turned and was instantly hit with the sheer beauty that was Emma Swan. Loose curls that shaped round the blondes beautiful face, those bright stunning eyes and those soft lips. The red sleeveless dress that hugged in all the right places and bare legs and heels. Regina thought she was imagining her.
The blonde herself also was taken breathless by Regina, in her double breasted black dress. That she said she would be wearing.
"You look…." Regina said breathlessly, as she was unusually lost for words and her pulse had quickened and she became fuzzy.
"And you…." Emma stuttered, as they gawked at one another.
There was a long pause until Regina said "I mean you look beautiful. You clean up rather well dear" she smiled.
"Thanks, so do you" she smiled goofily and found herself wanting to take the brunette woman into her arms.
"How long have you been here?"
"Not long, your father said hi to me"
Regina nodded and she took a deep breath. Calm yourself, keep it together she told herself.
Suddenly Henry Sr interrupted.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" he asked and looked between the two, in amusement.
"Of course not daddy" Regina replied and she became a little tense.
"I was meant to say, you look beautiful Emma, doesn't she Regina?" he looked to her and she knew exactly what he was doing.
"Yes, She does" Regina looked back to Emma who was smiling at her, she held her breath.
"I should take a picture of you both..give me your phone Regina" he held out his hand and Regina couldn't believe her father was actually doing this. She then pulled her phone from her clutch bag and handed it to him.
"Do you remember how to take a photo with that phone father?"
"Of course" he replied happily and stepped back slightly.
Regina stepped next to Emma and whispered "I'm sorry Emma"
"Don't be" she smiled and looked back to Henry who was now ready.
"You need to be closer together" he said and Regina swallowed thickly.
Emma smirked and put her arm around Regina's back and placed her hand, on Regina's hip before resting her head on the brunettes shoulder.
Regina's eyes widened in surprise and she could feel the heat from her friend, radiating through her clothes.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah" Emma replied, squeezing Regina's hip a little. She hoped the brunette couldn't hear her racing heart.
Regina smiled the best she could, but being this close to Emma was making her body have a dozen overwhelming sensations and she totally unaware that Emma was also feeling the same.
"Done" Henry Sr suddenly said and admired the photo.
"Wonderful...Now you have something to remember this night" he handed the phone back and Regina and Emma looked at it.
"I will leave you two to talk" Henry then said and walked away happily.
"Your have to send that to my phone" Emma said a little shakily, as she looked up to meet Regina's gaze and both were unwilling to look away and both were curious to what the other was thinking.
"I will"
A long moment later, both were pulled out of their musings.
"Regina"
Regina then turned to her right, in a slight daze.
"Katheryn" she whispered.
"These events are rather exciting aernt they" the blonde haired woman said happily.
"If you say so dear" Regina replied and looked back to Emma who was biting her lip.
Katheryn then looked Emma over "And who is this? is this the famous..." she smirked at Regina, who blushed and Emma tilted her head in confusion.
"Katheryn this is Emma, my soon to be ex assistant and Emma this is Katheryn by long time friend"
"Best friend" Katheryn corrected, which made Regina roll her eyes playfully.
"Oh hello. It's nice to met you" Emma replied a little shyly.
"She's adorable" Katheryn teased.
"Shut up" Regina muttered, but Emma heard and she chuckled.
"So Emma, what do you think of the place?" She gestured to the room.
"Nice"
"And what do you think of Regina?"
Regina glared at her.
"Oh, um.."
Katheryn laughed.
"It's okay I was only joking. I know you like her, that's clear to see"
"Katheryn" Regina warned "Don't embarrass her"
"Oh I'm not, it;s okay" Emma then said, but that was a slight lie.
There was then a pause, as they took a sip of their drinks and looked around.
"Oh, did you see Sidney is here" Katheryn said.
"Yes, I bumped into him before and he was creepy as always"
"It was a good thing your mother booted him out the company"
"I agree"
Emma then asked "What happened?"
"He was stealing from the company" Regina replied then Katheryn added "And he was too friendly with you"
"Don't remind me" Regina snapped bitterly.
"Oh" Emma replied and thought I will punch him in the face if he tries anything tonight with Regina.
An hour and ten minutes later, The ball was in full swing.
Regina was dancing with her father, while Emma watched happily from the side. She didn't know Regina could move so well, but she wasn't surprised.
"Hello dear"
Emma froze momentarily, before glancing sideways.
"Ms Mills" she replied seriously.
"Are you enjoying the evening dear?" the woman stared blankly at her.
"Yeah. Very much thanks"
Cora then looked out towards Regina.
"She's a wonderful dancer. She took lessons at a young age"
"I didn't know that and yes she is" Emma smiled, also looking out towards Regina and Henry.
There was pause.
"I am glad she is making friends. You two seem to have become rather close"
Emma quickly took a sip of her drink.
"We get on well"
"Yes, my daughter seems to have soft spot for blondes it seems. Apart from Daniel of course"
Emma blinked a few times, not sure of what to make of the comment.
"Regina has told me of him" she replied.
Cora raised an eyebrow.
"And how is your son doing?"
"Good thanks. He is with my parents tonight"
"I see" she narrowed her eyes briefly, then turned her gaze to the blonde.
"You know, I am sure you and Henry would like a nicer life. Where you wouldn't have to worry about money"
"What do you mean?" Emma asked, looking to Cora with confusion.
"What if I were to make you an offer, so you could move away. Say twenty thousand dollars"
"Why would you do that?" Emma snapped.
"For Regina. She doesn't need more hurt or disappoint in her life"
Emma clenched her jaw.
"I would never hurt her Ms Mill's" she said seriously.
"Maybe not intentionally dear"
Emma stiffened.
"Listen...No amount of money, or whatever, would make me stop talking to Regina, or being her friend, You really are a piece of work Ms Mills"
Cora smirked.
"I didn't know you had it in you Miss Swan" she replied smugly.
"Had what?" she snapped.
"Fight"
"That's because you don't know me lady" she downed the rest of her drink and added "I'm going to get another drink" and she walked off, fuming.
Cora, watched the blonde storm off. She knew the blonde was mad with her. However what surprised her the most was there was no hesitation or thought to the offer that she had made. She had seriously meant what she had said and had passed Cora's test.
Regina and Henry walked over to her a minute later.
"Where has Emma gone mother?" Regina asked, whilst holding a hand on her stomach.
"To get a refreshment. However I think I have upset her"
"How?" Regina snapped.
"I tested her" she smirked.
"You tested her?" Regina narrowed her eyes.
"To see if she was worthy of you"
Regina gaped.
"Mother nothing is going on between me and Emma, you know that"
"I am not blind, they is obviously something going on" Cora snapped.
Regina shook her head.
"I am going to find her" she walked off and Cora looked to Henry Sr.
"You know I'm right, don't you dear"
He just smiled knowingly at her.
Meanwhile, Regina found Emma downing a beer at the bar area.
"Emma.." she said anxiously, coming to stand next to her.
"Oh, Hey Regina. You okay?"
"Yes but you are not. What did my mother say?"
Emma took a breath.
"She offered me money, can you believe that?" she starred at Regina, in disbelief.
Regina's eyes then widened, remembering her past.
"I told her, there's no amount of money that could stop me being your friend, She's unbelievable" She then downed some more alcohol.
"Stop that. Don't let her make you get wasted"
"Does she really think I'm that low! Like I would do that, who would even do that!" Emma said, still clearly angry.
Regina just starred for a moment and she realized something important.
Her mother must have done the same to those other women and they could not have cared enough for her. As they must of took her mother's offer. And then her mother's words came to mind. "I tested her"
"My mother was testing them and they failed" she muttered out loud and she shook her head in disbelief. Now it all made sense.
Emma looked confused.
"What?" she said.
Regina put her and Emma's glass down and took the blondes hands. Emma relaxed instantly at the touch, although her heart began to race and her mind went to mush.
"My mother was testing you Emma. She's done this before and they failed her test. You passed." She smiled widely and squeezed the blondes hands.
"Wha...Oh..." Emma just starred into brown pools of stirring emotion.
However before Regina either could say another word, Katheryn interrupted "Oh what's going on here then" Katheryn teased, as she came to stand next to them and noticed the joined hands but they pulled away instantly.
"Nothing Katheryn. My mother has just been up to her old tricks and upset Emma"
"Oh, she's always up to something"
Regina nodded in agreement.
When the time came to leave. Regina stepped outside with her parents and Emma.
"It's nice of you to give me a lift back to my apartment" Emma said happily to Henry and Cora.
"That's not a problem dear. It is the least I can do for upsetting you earlier"
"Yeah, well I am still not sure if I forgive you yet" she smiled.
Cora chuckled.
"Of course" she replied casually and her and Henry then walked in front leaving Regina and Emma to walk behind.
"You know, I've been thinking about what you said that there was others, that took your mother's offer..how?" Emma asked Regina shakily, looking sideways at her.
Regina took a breath. "When I was younger, I had these two close friends and they suddenly stopped talking to me. I didn't know why, but it seems my mother had tested them so to speak and they took the money" she sighed and looked down sadly.
Emma gaped momentarily. She felt an ache that there was people out there that would do this to the wonderful woman next to her.
"It's there loss Regina. Don't be sad. Your better off without them...they can't see how special you are" she gave a smile.
Cora and Henry meanwhile glanced to one another in surprise, having heard the conversation.
Regina blushed. Trust Emma to make her feel better.
"Thank you"
They then reached the car and got in. The journey was rather a silent one as Regina was lost of in thoughts of the nights events and Emma was wondering how those so called friends could have done that to Regina, she wanted to punch them for being the worlds biggest idiots.
"Were here" Henry Sr said fifteen minutes later, as he pulled up to Emma's apartment.
"Thanks again for this, I will see you again soon" Emma said casually, as she motioned to get out.
"Goodnight Dear" Cora replied with a smirk, as she saw her daughter motioning to get out the car aswel.
Emma got out and noticed Regina had got out her side too.
"Regina you don't have to walk me to my door you know" Emma tried to joke and Regina brought her hands together and stepped in front of the blonde.
"I know and I'm not" she smirked then added "Thank you for everything tonight"
"I didn't do anything" Emma replied casually, as she tilted her head and watched how Regina seemed a little anxious or shy. She wasn't sure.
"You did Emma. believe me"
"Okay"
They smiled at one another.
"I better go, Henry is probably still awake, as she will want to know what happened"
Regina smiled widely.
"Could you tell him I said Hello and I will see him soon"
"Of course. He would like that"
"Okay. I shall see you Monday at the office"
"You will"
Regina went to step back.
"Goodnight Regina"
"Night Emma" she smiled softly at the blonde and then motioned to get back into the car, while Emma walked inside where she found her parents and Henry on the sofa watching a movie.
"What you doing up this late kid?" she asked.
"Ma..."
"He couldn't sleep"
"Why not?" Emma asked, but she knew why.
"Because I wanted to know about your night with Regina duh"
"Henry. Everything went well and Regina wanted me to tell you hello and she will see you soon" she walked to the kitchen and Henry followed after her in his pajamas.
"Really?"
"Yeah" she chuckled.
"So you didn't tell her tonight then?" he muttered, with a sad face.
"Henry..."
"Ma, you really like her, she really likes you just tell her and then we can be all together"
Emma gaped.
"Its not that simple kid. Now go to bed" she whispered.
"Fine" he huffed and walked away thinking, if she doesn't say anything soon, I will have too...
Thanks for reading everyone, next chapter Emma gets the wrong idea...