Chapter 7

The rest of the week went by and soon enough it was Friday. Regina could not be happier to have the weekend arrive. Exiting her apartment a lot more cheery than if it were any other working day, Regina glances over down the corridor, hearing another set of keys jingle. Raising an eyebrow she takes in her new blonde neighbour trying to straighten her dress out before zipping her jacket from the cold weather. "Who knew she owned a dress" Regina thought realizing by now she must be staring as Emma turns in her direction giving a shy smile.

As Emma approaches, the brunette smiles. "Good morning Emma, I see you are finally settled in"

Emma stops next to Regina as soon as she spoke. "Hi..morning yes thank you" watching the brunette, Emma looks curious. "Let me guess...off to work?"

Regina nods then gestures for them to walk. Emma walks beside her casually glancing in the brunette's direction unaware that the woman is doing exactly the same. "Yes but it's not so bad even if the boss is a...excuse my language..jerk?...its Friday at least"

Emma chuckles at her choice of words. "I'm surprised you would let someone boss you around"

Regina frowns at the comment as they have only 'known' each other a week but lets it go. "What about you?..dressed up all smart..job?"

Emma looks cautious at the brunette's expression from what she had said to her then smiles a little that Regina had noticed what she was wearing. "No, this whole outfit is because I have a meeting at 9 at a school for Henry"

Regina pushes the main door for the pair to head out the building. "So you really are staying in New York?"

Emma nods. "Yes..I'm still..looking for my..friend"

Regina raises an eyebrow wondering what is so great about this friend that the blonde would move her and her son to another city. "Oh...I'm sorry, I did briefly talk to Henry about it. He said that you 'sorta' found them...so not a happy reunion?"

Emma looks stuck biting her lip awkwardly. Regina's eyes widen. "I'm sorry of course it's none of my business.."

Emma shakes her head. "No its fine..it's just complicated"

Regina nods. "Well if you..want to talk or anything you know where to find me and I am quite good at supplying wine"

Emma chuckles at this. "Thanks..I might take you up on that"

Regina smiles. "Okay well I'm going that way" pointing to the opposite direction Emma was gradually heading. "Good luck with the school and I might see you later..in the corridor or in the lobby" stopping Regina frowns at her slight ramble. Why the hell was she acting so forward?.

Emma smirks a little noticing. "Thank you and you, with your jerk of a boss. I'm sure we will see each other at some point"

Regina nods. "Il look forward to it.." Turning away, the brunette hugs her arms cursing herself mentally for what she said and how she is acting like a ridiculous teenager having a crush on the blonde.

Emma walks the opposite way again with a big grin on her face. "My Regina is still there"

Walking through the offices, Regina suddenly feels a strong hand take her arm and pulls her into the head office. Glaring, knowing full well who it is, Regina pulls herself free crossing her arms together. "I highly doubt that, that was an appropriate action to take with a member of your staff!"

Larry shrugs her comment off and shuts his door. " I needed to catch you before you made it to your office. We need to talk about the upcoming work do"

Regina sighs. "And you couldn't just ask me like a regular person instead of snatching them?"

Larry sits down on his chair swinging slightly with confidence. "Not when only a few people are invited..."

Regina raises an eyebrow. "Are you trying to make this a date?"

Larry chuckles. "No I expect you to be there considering your second in charge...unless you want to make it a date?"

Regina pulls an annoyed look. "No I would not, in fact I was actually thinking I could bring a friend"

Larry nods with a smirk. "That other brunette that always phones you on your lunch break..Kate was it? Sure"

Regina bites her lip not thinking before it's too late. "No there is someone else..."

Larry looks over curious. "Oh?"

Regina clears her throat. "I just...need to ask if they are free first. Anyway some of us actually have work to do" heading back to the door, Regina can't help but give a small smile at Larry's puzzled expression.

"Wait are you seeing someone?!"

Regina rolls her eyes ignoring him and heads to her office.

At lunch, just as Larry said, Regina's phone rang. Picking it up, the brunette shakes her head at the eagerness of her friend. "Hello my dear friend, what have you got to tell me today?"

Kate chuckles. "Hey and nothing really..just calling for a chat..as I do.."

Regina nods to herself finishing for her. "...everyday..yes"

Kate huffs. "Oh come on Regina you love our lunch chats!"

Regina scoffs. "If you say so.."

"Regina!"

Regina chuckles knowing how easy it also is to wind her up as Kate as done to her on many occasions. "Actually I need a favour?"

Regina can hear Kate suddenly shuffle around, clearly making herself comfy for the talk. "Okay listening?"

"There is this work do in a couple of weeks and I said I was going to bring you as Lanky Larry is determined that I go and I am not going to be on the receiving end of his drunken antics"

Kate sniggers. "So you want me to be instead? I'm sure I can put him in his place"

Regina laughs. "I have no doubt about that dear, so you will come?"

Kate nods to herself. "Sure"

Regina twirls her pen leaning back in her chair. "Thank you"

"So my lovely fellow brunette friend, you got any more info on this new blonde living in your building?"

Regina bites her pen raising an eyebrow. "What exactly are you implying?"

Kate rolls her eyes. "seriously? Twice now you have literally both stared at each other with these ridiculous puppy eyes"

"I never give anyone 'puppy eyes' "

"Yeah yeah sure whatever but she totally digs you"

Regina frowns. "Well she..she is nice and her son is very polite"

Kate laughs. "Oh you could so do better than that!"

Regina sighs. "She has better dress sense than I first imagined? You know I am not used to the whole...dating scenario"

"I know which is why you need one..hold on what do you mean she has better dress sense?"

Regina bites her lip thinking of how Emma looked this morning. "Well I saw her this morning, she was going to a meeting at a school for her son and..she was in a dress.."

Kate laughs. "You really do have it bad! Get a good look did you?"

Regina feels herself redden even though no one is there. "Oh stop it! I'm going back to work, talk to you later"

Returning from work and counting down the days to the Christmas holidays, Regina heads down the corridor to her apartment trying to fish her keys out of her bag. Approaching the door, she stops dead in her tracks frowning. Looking up and down the corridor hearing a beeping noise, she wonders which apartment it is coming from grimacing at how piercing it is.

Following the excruciating sound, the brunette's eyes widen noticing that is it coming from Emma's apartment. Knocking abruptly feeling slightly worried at recognising it as a smoke alarm, Regina waits anxiously as the door springs open revealing Henry standing with a broom and concerned look.

"Henry?"

Henry bites his lip and looks up to the detector still going but couldn't reach. Without further word, Regina enters the apartment taking the broom from the scared boy and pushes up with force, hitting the button causing the sound to stop. Regina sighs looking to Henry now smelling the burning smell that set the thing off. "What were you doing? And where is your mother?"

Henry looks down slightly. "She is on her way home from getting school and a job sorted, I...wanted to surprise her with dinner...although she would probably kill me for using the kitchen"

Regina raises an eyebrow, walking to open a window. "My opinion is she will kill you..I would if I were your mother..but I'm not so I am going to help you instead"

Henry doesn't know whether to smile or not at this, glad for the help but sad about the 'her not being his mother' comment. "Thanks...you don't have to though, I'm sure helping me out is the last thing you want to be doing on a Friday night..you probably have plans"

Regina shakes her head with a smile. "No I don't actually, so let's get started" giving his shoulder a comforting rub, Regina removes her coat hanging it up before heading over to the kitchen surface to see what can be done.

Author's note: chapter split as I rambled too much!