A sigh of relief escaped Regina at the bean grinder's steady, rhythmic sound. The thought that coffee would soon be hers for the drinking was one of the very small joys she still had in her otherwise mundane and depressing existence.
The fact that the smell of coffee still reminded her of Sheriff Swan was a small annoyance. Coffee was one of her vices she could still partake in, and she wasn't going to let something as trivial as Emma Swan stand in the way of a good cup of finely blended and brewed coffee.
As she poured the hot water into her French press, she glanced out of her kitchen window and across her backyard. The morning sun looked warm and inviting, though she knew it was chilly this morning, and she gave a hum as she considered going out into her backyard to do a little weeding instead of reading her paper this morning.
Perhaps she would weed the garden after she read the paper? It was at least entertaining to see what the plebeians had to say regarding their next major complaint about her. The paper was often filled with letters to the editor demanding she be, at the least, placed in jail and, at the most, killed in some horrible fashion. She wished she could say the letters didn't get to her, but, on some level, they did, though not because she was personally offended by them. She was more concerned with Henry reading them and having to deal with that kind of hatred and vitriol. She sincerely hoped none of the loathing thrown her way was ever cast upon her son, but she had no way of knowing for sure. Henry had always been slightly bullied in school, and she still worried that it was happening. Her only solace was the knowledge that it likely was not simply because of who his biological family was.
Still, it bothered her that she didn't know how he was doing in school or if he had managed to make friends finally. She wanted so much for him to be a happy, healthy child.
With a deep sigh, she picked up the paper and began to flip through the pages as she waited for the coffee. The usual articles were there ranging from local productions of musicals and plays all the way to brief information on the outside world's political issues. None of it really interested her anymore. Why should it? It didn't have any effect on her.
Rolling her eyes, she poured her coffee and strolled onto her back deck to settle and read the editorials and letters to the editor. One particular letter caught and held her attention, but not for its high level of disgust or animosity toward her. Instead, it was a letter that could arguably be considered supportive of her. The very fact that it existed at all shocked her so strongly she had to stop reading the first paragraph and start over again by reading it aloud just to make certain she was reading it correctly.
"I realize this will be an unpopular opinion," she read quietly to herself, "but I think it's about time we seriously considered the issues regarding our local politics versus how government is run beyond our city limits. We've all said it at least once by now, and I think it's time we all acknowledged the fact that there is only one person who actually knows and understands how to deal with the outside political structure versus the politics of our unique situation. I realize no one wants to hear it, but the fact is that person is Regina Mills."
She stopped reading and rubbed at her eyes. This had to be a hoax. "I know a lot of you want to burn her at the stake or lock her up for everything she's done, and I can't say that I completely disagree with you. Also, she did some very illegal though difficult to prove things while she was in office as the acting mayor."
Ah, there it was. She knew the positive couldn't last. However, this letter was unusual. She read on, "Still, she's less corrupt than a lot of politicians out there. I mean that in the sense of just politicians, and not in the sense of a monarchy. That's a completely different subject, and I'm not getting into it. But we all have to admit that Regina was a very competent mayor. She was good at handling the budget, on top of all of the paperwork associated with the office, and great at handling crises that are specific to towns."
Regina raised an eyebrow. Someone was actually paying attention to how she did her job. This was interesting. "Though I don't think she ought to be making laws, which isn't what a mayor does anyway, and I'm definitely not okay with her using the office as she would if she were a queen, which isn't something I think any of us would let happen again, I do think we should seriously consider allowing her to be the acting mayor again. Whether we like it or not, she's really the only one who can do the job."
The former mayor's jaw dropped in disbelief. Someone was actually suggesting she be mayor again? The whole thing was insane. There's no way a single citizen in the town would support the idea. "Like I said before, I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I think everyone should at least think on it. There's a town hall meeting in two days. I'm going to bring it up then, and I'm hoping everyone will bring their well thought out, solid, non-hate filled thoughts on this matter with them. If you want to discuss it before then, you know where to find me. Sheriff Emma Swan."
Regina sat in absolute silence, unable and slightly unwilling to fully understand what she had just read. It was simply too improbable. The Savior does not suggest putting The Evil Queen back in any type of authority. Why would she do that? It didn't make any sense.
With a huff, she tossed the paper onto the table beside her and started to reach for her cup of coffee. She was stopped short and severely startled when a pair of light eyes looked at her from what she had thought was the unoccupied chair next to her.
"Miss Swan!" It was only with great control that Regina didn't literally jump out of her chair. "What are you doing here again this morning?"
"I came to talk to you, but you didn't answer the door or your cell, so I figured you were out here again. Is this like a thing?" She glanced around the yard. "You drink a cup of coffee and read the paper in your backyard in the morning?"
The brunette narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips in thought. "How long have you been there?"
Emma shrugged. "Since about halfway through my letter."
With a roll of her eyes, Regina reached for her coffee and took a long sip. "What do you want?"
The sheriff feigned hurt feelings. "What? I don't even get a 'thanks Emma for the nice letter'? You're just going to ask me what I want?"
"I believe that's what I'm doing, yes." Regina sipped her coffee. "But, for what it's worth, thank you for the letter, though I suspect your citizens are going to be very unhappy with you once they finish reading their paper this morning, and, tell me, Sheriff, how do your parents feel about these opinions of yours?"
"Honestly?" At Regina's small nod yes, Emma made a face that expressed a very high level of annoyance. "They're pissed, but I don't think I care."
A well-manicured eyebrow lifted in surprise. "Trouble amongst the Charmings? Interesting."
"You know what?" Emma snapped back, not bothering to hold the irritation out of her voice, "I am not a Charming. In case you missed it, my last name is Swan. Oh, wait, I know you know that because that's all you ever call me." She lowered her voice into a mocking tone of the other woman's. "Miss Swan don't do this. Sheriff Swan do that. Yo, Swan bitch, I hate your guts." She rolled her eyes. "I think everyone in this town forgets that I wasn't raised by Snow White and her Prince Charming. It's getting old."
It was Regina's turn to feign being affronted. "I have never called you 'Swan bitch', though I've thought it, but thinking it and saying it are two very different things, Sheriff."
"I can't believe it. Did Regina Mills just crack a joke?" Emma smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Who are you and what have you done with that bitch, the Mayor?"
"In case you haven't noticed, Ms. Swan," Regina answered coolly, though her eyes betrayed the enjoyment she was actually getting from this conversation, "I am no longer a mayor nor a queen. I'm simply an irritant to the community."
"I'm working on fixing that so that you'll be the bitch Mayor again, just give me a little time." The blonde wiggled her eyebrows and her smirk grew slightly mischievous. "This annoying my parents thing is a lot of fun."
Regina snorted. "I see you've hit adolescent, though I'm not sure you ever actually left it." She waved a hand in the air to dismiss their current train of thought. "Why are you here, Sheriff?"
"I came to see if you wanted to have dinner with me and Henry tonight." Emma gave an honest smile and tried not to wince at the hopeful yet infinitely sad look in the other woman's eyes. "Henry said he wanted to see you, and we're both getting tired of Mary Margaret's food, so I figured it's a win-win for all of us."
"All of us? I wouldn't be so sure. I'll have to be in the same room with you while you display your horrid table manners. I would consider that a loss." Regina stood, picking up her paper and taking it and her mug with her to the back door. "One of Henry's favorite meals is a chicken dish I used to cook often for him. I'm willing to make that tonight."
Emma's smile brightened. "Sounds good. What can I bring?"
"Nothing," the older woman responded with no inflection. "I'm asking you to my home. I don't expect you to bring anything except my son, and I'll try to overlook the fact that I'm only being allowed to see him in a supervised visit." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Dinner is at 6:30. Try not to be late, Sheriff. I think you can see yourself out the same way you found your way in."
"Right," Emma nodded, but she was talking to a closed door. She stood and straightened her jacket as she walked to the back gate. "Well, it's a start," she mumbled to herself as she left.
