Title: Venom

Fandom: Once Upon a Time

Chapter: 4

Pairing: Emma/Regina

Warning: None

Copyright: Characters belong to ABC.

A/N: My apologizes for all the mistakes as always.

Chapter 4: Hope

Now

"Mayor, Mills?" Officious voice broke the office silence.

"Yes, Gladys. I am listening," Regina was trying not to sound disgruntled. Her secretary irritated her to no end but she was diligent and orderly, and what most important – she would delve into every detail and that was essential for the work like this.

"Your 3 pm appointment is here." Crap, she thought glancing at clock. It was exactly 3 pm. "May I let him in?"

"Yes, Gladys." She closed the folder with a bill she was reviewing and shifted in her chair. She was already tired and losing her concentration. She started early this morning spending hours to this bill. In fact she was having second thoughts about agreeing to this job. It was so much easier when she was a mayor for the first time. It was no accidents or emergency situations, no strikes, no scandals, no problems with shoestring budgets. She had things and most important people under her control, it was boring yes, but she managed to find satisfaction in such routine. Things were everything but under her control right now. She was running out of budget constantly, she could pass no bill without an approve of Council, sometimes they would spent hours and hours discussing the same things over and over again and it was extremely tiring and, as she thought, useless but people still had a little trust in her so she had nothing else but comply with such order of things for now. And the moment her visitor entered she knew exactly what she needs to consider more particularly – the list of her appointment.

"Mr. Cassidy," she tried at least not sound surprised. She moved the bill folder from her planner and saw that indeed, she had an appointment with "Mr. Cassidy" at 3 pm. That was definitely the last time she let Gladys to write her appointments down into her planner, especially the days like this, when she didn't even had a moment to check them out. „Come in and take a sit, please". She smiled politely and pointed at the chair across her sit.

"Regina, hi. Thank you." Neal entered the room and took a sit. He was obviously feeling uneasy.

"I need to admit I was surprised to find out about your appointment." Especially because it happened just now. „So what brought you here?"

"Yes, well... umm... I thought it's the best chance to talk knowing how busy you are."

"Right," she clears her throat. "And to talk about what exactly?"

"Henry, us, in general. I know things didn't go smoothly lately. But still we manage to maintain this co-parenting thing and I think we are doing very well. I know you may still have doubts about me and my influence on Henry and all this situation with wedding and perhaps you feel like we are taking him away now more than ever and..."

"Neal, it's..." She tries to say that in fact she doesn't feel that way, at least not anymore.

"And it's fine, Regina. I mean it. I think it's a very natural reaction. And despite all the clashes we had before, I just want you to know that I am totally on your side. We all are on one side – you, me, Emma. We just want what's best for Henry. So... emm... I was thinking perhaps we could have dinner together?" He doesn't sound very certain about the last.

"Dinner?" Regina can't hide the surprise this time.

"Yes, it's kind of late for lunch, right? Henry is spending night with Snow since Da.. Charming is working late with Emma. We never get a chance to talk when others is around, so... What do you think?"

"It's... it's unexpected... I guess. But sounds great. That works fine for me."

"Excellent! I will pick you up at 8 then. I hope you don't mind if we are not going out. It's not like we have wide choice of restaurants here. " He chuckles. „And Granny's place would be a way too predictable."

"So you are going to cook? "

"Yes and don't worry. I am not that bad." He laughs. „Life has taught me some things. Cooking is one of them."

"That's... great." She manages to smile.

"See you at 8 then."

Regina feels terrified the moment Neal leaves her office. She is sure he doesn't know about her and Emma, he obviously wouldn't be that friendly if he did but the thought of spending time with him makes her sick. She would never be worried about something like this before but things are different now. She is trying to do the right things for Henry first of all and for herself too. She is trying to let the past go as much as it's even possible and to live the present day and she knows if she ruins Henry's family, the real family he is about to have, he would never forgive her and she would lose him forever. And this thought terrifies her deeply.

Regina got home around 6.30 pm and tried to call Emma once more. "The number you have dialed, is temporary not available. Please try again later."

Perhaps it's for the best, she murmurs and just leaves a message for Emma to call her as soon she can. It seems she has no other choice as to have dinner with Neal.

8 months ago

She walks straight from her place, cold wind is crawling under her jacket and she shivers. She is not feeling well, today more than ever. She haven't slept for a few days, her mind doesn't let her. Burning feeling inside her stomach doesn't disappear as she clenches her fists and increases her pace. She is almost running now and to be honest last month caused a serious damage to her physical state because she is almost out of breath. Finally reaching white door, she stops and takes a few deep breaths to calm down and only then knocks. The door opens unexpectedly fast.

"I need help."

"You do realize it would be better to ask for help somewhere else, right?" The brunette finally sits downs across the table. Emma is fidgeting on her chair, sipping her tea and feeling anxious.

"I know, Regina. But I don't want to go to my parents. Not now, maybe later."

"Why?" The answer is quite obvious but she wants to hear.

"You know why. Because I am embarrassed. "

"But you came here. I always thought it's easier to come for help to your family rather than…" Regina stops not being able to find a definition of who they are.

"You won't pamper me or treat me like a child. Besides I can't trouble Snow now, not in her condition."

"You already do, she sees and knows everything even if you are trying to hide things. She is not saying anything yet because you forbade her."

"She judges silently." Regina chuckles because she knows exactly how good Snow is at judging silently.

"I feel like the biggest disappointment in her entire life." Emma continues. "No matter how much I try, no matter what I do, I am not who she wants me to see. Especially now."

"Maybe, but she has no choice as to deal with the fact that you are a grown person who lives her own life. She loves you eben if she is slightly disappointed." Emma grins.

"What?"

"You are defending Snow." Regina rolls her eyes.

"I am not defending Snow. I am merely explaining."

"May I stay here with you? And Henry?" She asks in a rush and the question leaves them both speechless. Regina from surprise and Emma from fear being rejected."

"For a night? Why would you stay here?" Regina widens her eyes.

"Maybe longer if you let me. It's nice here." She smiles sheepishly.

"Nice?"

"Well…" Suddenly Emma feels uncertain and coming here feels like a stupid idea.

"Just say it Emma, I mean it. You already came here, so it must be a reason."

Emma knew it would be hard to explain. Especially to Regina.

"I just don't want to stay alone. And I don't want to go to my parents. I hope that staying here with you and Henry would keep me busy when I am not working."

"You are going back to work then?" Regina glances at her and then takes a gulp of her own tea.

"I don't know… Next week? Monday? Please?" She makes her best puppy eyes and looks exactly like Henry when he was five.

Regina is biting her lower lip. She is quite uncertain about what to do. She remembers the last time she came to Emma and it was a disaster. They saw each other since that day of course; they spent time with Henry but never stayed alone. She knows it was very hard for Emma to come and ask for help, she knows that perhaps maybe, only maybe the fact that she will be staying here may help. She understands Emma needs help but not sure if she is the right person who may help. It sounds crazy and either helps Emma or destroys any good relationship they still have.

"Listen, Regina, I understand you are not an AA club. And perhaps this is what I need but right now I don't have a gut to do it so I am hoping I will be able to deal with it by my own. But I really need someone who can scold me and curse me (not literally!) and to show me the situation as it really is. I apologize for my behavior last time when… well you came and I slapped you. I am really sorry. And for slapping Henry too." She is fidgeting again. "And I need to stop behaving like this. And… and… I need to stop drinking. I know it, I realize it. I won't trouble you, I promise. I will try my best, I just… need someone to talk about things. Things that happened and are still happening. When I need it." She finally paused. She knew it's a lot to ask but she also knew it's probably the only thing that can really help and that's why she came here. She haven't been drinking for almost 2 days now and it was a huge success for her. But she also haven't been sleeping since then and almost didn't eat. Her mind was restless and her body was exhausted. She needed to change something. She hated the apartment she lived in, she hated her lifestyle, her drinking habit, non-ability to go back for work. She tried several times but failed. She saw this pity in David's eyes and it was even worse than her mother's disappointment. Somehow she felt Regina and Henry was her only chance not to fall down even more. She just wanted to stop thinking about everything that invaded her mind and finally have some order in her mind and her life in general.

"All right," Regina finally breaks the silence. And Emma jumps from surprise. "You may stay."

"Really? You let me stay here? In your house?" Emma can't believe it and grins widely.

"I do. Stop grinning! And God forbid you destroy something here. And you won't leave your things anywhere you like. I can't stand mess. And if you are going to live in this house you will follow certain rules. I will make a list tomorrow."

"A list? You are kidding, right?"

"Only about the list. Not about the rules. Do you understand me?" Regina asks as Emma rolls her eyes.

"Yes, Regina. I understand. I am not five."

"Why I feel like I am going to regret very soon?" Regina says washing their cups and not seeing Emma's wide grin.

Unexpected warm coming from another body makes Regina to wake up and jump from unexpectedness.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she hisses at sleepy blonde who was comfortably snuggling next to her.

"Dunno… sleeping?" she yawns and closes her eyes again. She didn't know if it was chamomile tea Regina made her, or clean sheets that besides smelled very nice or feeling of not being alone anymore, but for the first time for a very long time she felt good enough to sleep.

"Don't play dumb, Miss Swan. What are you doing in my bed? You were supposed to sleep in a guest room!"

"It's cold there. It's much warmer in your room. And…" She doesn't finish when Regina interrupts her.

"It's fine there. Go to your room. I mean it. Get out. Please."

"Get out please? That's something new." Emma chuckles. "Let me stay, please. It's really warmer here. I will behave, I promise. It's not like you are sleeping naked or something. I mean I wouldn't mind to see…"

"Shut up!" The brunette exclaims and punches Emma on the right side.

"Ouch! I am kidding, calm down. Everything is decent between us, I swear." Emma is rubbing her hurt side. "May I stay?"

"Fine." Regina is tired and doesn't really mind. She just wants to sleep. She moves to her side of the bad and turns away not face the blonde.

"This pyjamas is really very cozy, you know." Emma says moving herself closer to Regina. Regina stiffs at first but then relaxes again. It seems it was useless to fight against this woman. She was doing what comes into her mind anyway. "Who would think someone classy like you would have flannel pants and a tank top to sleep in. I am shocked. In a good way."

"Was keeping them in a case some irritating blonde creature would break into my house in the middle of the night."

"Ha-ha, very funny. Old Regina is back. I was worried already you were nice the whole night." Regina growls but doesn't say a word hoping Emma will just fall asleep.

Minutes are flowing slowly and Regina is almost asleep herself when loud whisper is pulling her out of sleep again.

"Regina?"

Oh my dear god, does she ever shut up? "What?" One word and it's full of irritation.

"Thank you for letting me to stay. I mean for agreeing to help. You have no idea how much it means to me right now."

"I am doing this for Henry. And for the sake of this town. It needs its Sheriff."

"I know, and still thank you." They close their eyes once more.

"Wait, do you think I am a good sheriff?"

"You are pushing you luck, Miss Swan". Regina can feel the blonde rolling her eyes even in darkness. "Let's just sleep now. Please."

"All right, all right. I get it. Good night, Regina."

"Good night, Emma."