A/N: This chapter has been ready for a few days, but since it takes place today, I figured why not post it in real time? (Though I didn't want to wait until 6:30 tonight to post it, so it's a little early).

Thursday, January 11, 6:30pm

"Regina!" Mary-Margaret shouted as she saw the older brunette at the catering table. They were in the midst of another long day of filming, and they both had about an hour to kill between their scenes as the crew worked to reset the soundstage. It was right around dinner hour, and Regina was famished. As soon as she was able to change out of the corset she had been in all day and into more comfortable clothes for her upcoming scene, she made a beeline for the table with the delicious spread of sustenance. She had been hungry since three o'clock, but the corset hadn't allowed her to eat a full meal.

"Hey, Mary-Margaret," she said as she took a bite of her sandwich, followed by one of the salt and vinegar chips on her plate. "What's up?"

"I just heard the good news!" the woman beamed. "You must be excited to work with her."

Regina pursed her lips slightly, trying to comprehend what her co-star was saying. "What are you talking about, Mary-Margaret? Work with who?"

"Emma, of course!" she said, looking at Regina as though she was crazy.

"What?" Regina asked. "What do you mean?"

"Wait, you didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"I was just on the phone with Gaston," she said, referring to the director for the upcoming musical episode. "He was talking about the dancers they cast and he mentioned someone named Emma as a lead dancer in my scene. I asked if it was Emma Swan and he said yes."

Regina felt her heart drop into her stomach. "Wait, Emma got cast in the show?"

"She didn't tell you?" Mary-Margaret looked confused. She thought the two women were friends, and she knew Emma had worked with Regina to help her on her dance training, so she was surprised the blonde hadn't mentioned it.

"No, she did not," Regina exhaled. "Excuse me."

*.*.*

"Why didn't you tell me?" Regina asked as she paced back and forth in her trailer, casting an occasional glance at her girlfriend on her Macbook screen. Her laptop was resting on the trailer's kitchenette counter, allowing her to see her girlfriend, who was back in her apartment in Montréal and was in the process of boiling water for her pasta dinner.

"I literally found out like eight hours ago that they were offering me the part, Regina," Emma replied. "I didn't want to tell you via text, which is why I just texted you to call me when you had a few minutes."

"Why didn't you tell me you were auditioning for it?"

"I didn't know I was. Remember a few months ago when I mentioned we were having industry auditions at the company's studio?" When she saw Regina nod her head slightly, she continued. "Well, what they told us was for a teen vampire television drama was actually for Frozen Mirror. I don't know if it was always going to be for your show and they were just trying to keep it a secret, or if they share a casting director and choreographer and decided to cast both that day. But they literally just pulled a few of us aside this morning after rehearsal to tell us."

"And you're taking the job, I assume?" Regina asked, briefly pausing her pacing to look at her girlfriend on the screen.

"Of course I am. I accepted it on the spot. Why wouldn't I?" Emma asked, somewhat rhetorically. She heard Regina sigh and watched as she tilted her head back before resuming her pacing. "Wait," Emma continued. "Why are you mad about this?"

"I just wish you would have talked to me first before accepting the part."

"Why? Shouldn't this be a good thing?"

"Yes, but—"

"But what?" Emma interrupted.

Regina stopped walking and turned toward the screen. "This is my career, Emma," Regina said firmly into the laptop.

"Yeah, I know…and it's mine, too." Emma pointed out, her adrenaline starting to build. She had thought this would have been an easy and exciting conversation, but it had taken an unexpected turn.

"Yeah, but this is just one random gig for you. This is what I do every day."

"Are you saying your career is more important than mine?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, that's what it sounds like to me."

"Well, that's not at all what I meant."

"Really? Well then tell me, Regina, what do you mean? Because I'm confused as hell right now. Why is me dancing in one random episode of Frozen Mirror such a problem? Do you not want me there? Is that why you've never invited me to visit you in Halifax?"

Emma could hear Regina growl in frustration as the brunette walked away from the laptop, running a hand through her hair and briefly disappearing from view. Before Regina had a chance to respond, she heard a knock on her trailer door and one of the production assistants call for her. "Regina, we're ready for you. We need you on set in five," the woman said through the closed door.

"Thank you," she called back before walking back toward the computer and turning to look at Emma, who was still expecting an answer. "I have to go."

"What? Regina…"

"We'll talk later. I have to go film my next scene," she quickly walked up to her laptop and closed it, not giving Emma the chance to say anything else as the call disconnected.

*.*.*

Back in Montréal, Emma looked at her blank iPhone screen that moments ago had shown her irate girlfriend's face. Regina had hung up on her, and Emma was fuming. She had thought Regina would be happy they would have the chance to work together, and she had thought that Regina would have congratulated her on getting such a coveted role, an opportunity that dancers all over North America would love to have. Instead, the brunette had withdrawn from her and was clearly angry. Emma just didn't understand why, and Regina was doing a poor job of explaining herself.

She was so distracted by everything that had happened during their short call that she had forgotten about the pasta water on her stove, which promptly started to boil over. "Shit!" she said as she turned around to the water spilling onto the gas stove, causing the fire to flare up briefly as she removed the pot from the burner. She quickly got it under control, quite literally throwing the penne pasta into the water and grabbing her phone to quickly call Regina. As she predicted, it didn't even ring and went straight to voicemail. This wasn't unusual, as Regina would often completely turn her phone to airplane mode when she was filming so a notification or vibration wouldn't get picked up by the microphones on set. "Regina, please call me back as soon as you're done filming so we can talk about this," Emma said with a sigh. "I'm not understanding why you're upset about me getting this part, so I'd really like to hear from you. Thanks," she hung up. She bit her lip as she contemplated her next step, ultimately deciding to text Regina as well, as she knew the brunette may not be able to listen to a voicemail in between scenes, but she would definitely see a text as soon as she turned her phone back on: 'please call me when you get a few minutes. I know it might be late, but I'll wait up.' She hesitated briefly, and then quickly texted another message: 'I love you.' With a groan of frustration, she slid her phone across the island as she turned her attention back to the stove to finish preparing her dinner, even though she no longer had an appetite.

*.*.*

"Oh, Regina, a moment," Robert Gold said as the brunette walked off the soundstage late that night. They had been filming the same few scenes on the green screen for nearly four hours, and she was exhausted. She also saw that she had several missed calls and texts from Emma, and she knew the blonde wouldn't go to bed until they talked. It was already nearing midnight. She was dreading the conversation, but she knew they had to have it. "Can I have a word, please," he stated again. It was a demand, not a question.

"What is it, Gold?" she sighed, exasperated at his presence. He rarely came to set, as he spent most of his time in their studio's main office in New York or its Montréal satellite site, but he occasionally came up to Halifax to check in. "It's been a long day and I'd like to get home."

"Yes, I'm sure you would."

"So make this quick then, please."

"Very well, dearie. Your request for the last weekend of the month off has been denied. We had to modify the filming schedule to account for Lucy's movie schedule."

"What?" Regina shouted, looking at the shooting schedule he handed her. "You're fucking kidding me, right?"

He smirked. "No, I'm not."

"Gold, I told you months ago that I have to be in Montréal that weekend. I can't be here. And everyone already signed off on it months ago. It's already been approved."

"Yes, well, now it's been unapproved."

"You can't do that!"

"Oh, but I can. Lucy has a conflict with the Disney Channel movie she's been cast in, and they are graciously moving one of her filming dates to accommodate us, so we have to accommodate them as well."

"Lucy has been on this show for all of five minutes," Regina seethed, referring to the young actress who started on the show earlier in the season as a recurring cast member. She played Mary-Margaret and David's long lost granddaughter, who was also part demon superhero. God, this show is so weird, Regina thought to herself. "Not to pull rank here, but come on, Gold. I've been here since the beginning."

"Well, she's a minor, so we can't make her work longer hours to get her coverage in, and has another commitment we must work around."

"You would never let any of us audition for any projects that might conflict with filming. But this new 11-year-old gets a free pass for some made-for-TV movie?"

"Yes, because she is drawing in a new demographic for us, and her wholesome Disney Channel movie might bring over even more viewers in the tween demographic. You know our studio loves to appeal to families."

Regina analyzed his smug smile as he silently challenged her. She knew his game. "You're doing this on purpose."

"Why in Heaven's name would I do that?"

"You know what that weekend is for me, don't you," Regina said, daring him to deny it.

"Oh, well, I may have seen an advertisement in that Montréal lifestyle magazine when I was home over Christmas advertising the first performance of the year for your friend's dance company. I can only assume that's why you requested it off."

"Cut the bullshit, Gold. You know what Emma means to me," Regina said. After that horrific summer dinner party with Gold and her mother, Regina gave up trying to deny the true nature of her relationship with Emma when it came to Gold. She had thought that maybe Gold finally would feel at least some empathy for her, given that he had been just as manipulated by Cora as she had. She thought they had a silent understanding. But, she was clearly mistaken.

"Yes, well, that is neither here nor there. I cannot control Lucy's filming schedule."

"Of course you can't," Regina replied sarcastically. "It's not like you don't know the executives over there and couldn't have made a quick phone call to manipulate their schedule to purposefully keep me from going home that weekend. That doesn't sound like something you would do at all."

Gold said nothing.

"And what if I refuse to play your little game?" she asked, taking a step closer to him. "What if I refuse to work that weekend?"

"Well, rumor has it that our casting director went rogue and cast your little girlfriend in our musical episode. I was supposed to approve all hires, but somehow that job offer slipped through the cracks. I could always make sure that oversight is rectified."

Regina bit her tongue. She wasn't happy about Emma's involvement in the show for many reasons, and in some respects, having her removed from the project would be better. But, she knew if they reneged on her contract, Emma would blame her for it, even if it wasn't her doing. That would be worse.

"And," he continued. "Don't forget that a lot of the cast, including yourself, have expiring contracts at the end of this season. We are still deciding who we are going to ask back. I would be very careful if I were you…not only with your behavior on-set, but off-set as well. Everyone is watching you closely." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Regina to continue staring at the call sheet in her hands and leaving her with another hard conversation to have with the woman she loved.

*.*.*

"Hey," Regina said when she finally got up the courage to dial Emma's number. She decided on a voice call instead of Facetiming, because if this conversation went poorly, she couldn't stand to see the pain on her girlfriend's face. She was lying on the double bed in her Halifax apartment. It was much smaller than the king-sized she had had at her apartment with Robin, and still significantly smaller than the queen-sized that was in her old apartment where Emma was living. But since she was always by herself since the show started filming eight and a half years ago, the smaller bed made her feel less lonely — there was less of an empty space next to her. But that night, she just missed Emma. It was her first week back on set after having nearly a month off, and she had spent every night of her hiatus next to the blonde. "I'm sorry it's so late," she said, realizing it was well after midnight.

"It's fine," Emma said, as she too rested against the headboard of her own bed. She subconsciously grabbed the pillow Regina often slept on and brought it to rest on her stomach. "How was the rest of your night shooting?"

Regina sighed. She could tell Emma was trying to make small talk, because neither one of them wanted to have the conversation they both knew was coming. But, she was tired, and wanted to get it over with. "The filming part was fine. Long, but fine."

"I feel like there's another 'but' somewhere in there," Emma commented.

"Yeah. Gold pulled me aside afterward and we got into it. Frankly I'm surprised he and I went this long without a confrontation. It's been awhile."

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"It is what it is," she said, taking a breath. The silence on both ends was deafening. Regina finally broke it. "Look, Emma, I'm sorry if I made it seem like I'm not happy that you got the part or if I implied that your career isn't important. It absolutely is."

"But…"

"But…it's complicated."

"Okay, so uncomplicate it for me," Emma demanded, sitting up and crossing her legs as though preparing herself for a battle. She brought Regina's pillow to her lap and rested her free arm across it.

"It's not that I don't want you to come to Halifax. I would love nothing more than to have you up here. It gets lonely, especially when I'm not on set. And I think it's great that the casting director selected you. I'm not surprised, because you're so incredibly talented."

"Okay…" Emma kept waiting for an explanation. She didn't need to be buttered up first. "So what's the problem? Because I'm still not seeing it."

"It's a few things. Even though it's just one episode, I've always thought it's a bad idea to work with the people you're involved with romantically."

"Regina, we may not even have scenes together. But even if we do, we're both going to be so busy that it won't matter."

"I know…but then there's also the fan component. This episode will have a lot of exterior shots for Mary-Margaret's coma-induced dream sequence, so fans will be everywhere. I don't want to have to hide our relationship…I love you so much, and I don't want to have to worry that others may pick up on that every time I see you and interact with you. I don't think I can hide it any more, especially not for that length of time. These are going to be 15 hour days for five days in a row. I can't pretend to be just your friend for that length of time. It's one thing if we're grabbing lunch at a bistro in Montréal and need to pretend to just be friends for an hour while we're in public, but we're going to be together a lot over the course of the episode filming."

"Regina, there are like 60-some dancers being hired for this. You probably won't see me at all."

"Well that's the other thing. I will want to see you, and if there are that many other dancers and I won't give a shit about seeing any of them, it will make us look even more suspicious if I'm coming over to talk to you or if you are hanging out in my trailer. With all those extra dancers around, someone may see something if we let our guard down and they'll figure it out."

"I don't think it makes us more suspicious…people know we know each other, they believe that I was your dance trainer, so it would make sense that we might want to hang out if we have down time..."

"You realize you can't stay with me that week, right?"

"I hadn't really thought about it," Emma said. "I know they put us in a hotel, but I figured I'd still crash with you…"

"I wish you could, but that's exactly my point. They are going to put you guys four to a room in a decent hotel, but they're going to cram as many of you into one room as they legally can to save money. If you had your own room, then it may not matter, but your roommates will notice if you're gone every night and every morning. They'll wonder where you're staying. And if we're ever seen coming into work together…"

"Oh…" Emma said, realizing Regina was right. "Okay, so I'll stay in the hotel with everyone else. That's not a big deal. But why does any of this even matter, Regina? The media knows that Robin and Gwen are together and that your marriage is only a few months from being legally dissolved. A few months ago you kept saying you didn't care what anyone thought, or who knew, and that you were done going out of your way to hide us from the public…that you were just going to be as you are. What changed?" Emma asked. When Regina didn't immediately respond, her own anxiety picked up. "Are you having second thoughts about this? About us?"

"Oh, Emma, God no," Regina reassured. "This has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Please know that. I am not having doubts about us."

"Okay, so what is it then? What changed?"

Regina let out an audible sigh, and even though Emma could not see her girlfriend, she could perfectly picture the disheartened look on her girlfriend's face. "There's been a lot of talk on set about contract renewals. Allegedly there will be a significant shakeup, and rumor has it they won't be asking everyone back next year…in fact, I think most people are on the chopping block. Ingrid has already renewed for another year, because they want to keep her and Hyde's character developing and pursuing that relationship. But, my storylines are winding down. There's a real chance that they won't offer me a new contract, and that was made even more clear tonight when Gold flat out threatened me. If we're made public, I don't think I'll get an offer. I just need this to stay private until those decisions are made and contracts are issued, which should be in March."

"Oh, wow, Regina…why didn't you say anything before?"

She shrugged, even though Emma couldn't see her. "It was mostly conjecture, although it was reliable speculation. I didn't want to worry you. And then when Gold pulled me aside tonight, reminding me that my off-set behavior is a factor in these decisions, and not-so-subtly reminding me that the studio and network is big on traditional family values, that really confirmed it… I think that's why I didn't take it well when I found out you'd be up here for an episode — the stress of the cast rumors has gotten to me, and I know Gold and the other producers and executives are watching me closely. There are too many ways this could go badly if we're on set together. And if people find out about us, I want to be the one to tell them, when I'm ready. Or I at least want to be in control of the message. I don't want to be outed by a fan or a dancing extra on set, you know?"

"I get it," Emma said. "But when I came to stay with you over the summer and you were talking about your contract with Robin and me, you kept saying that you might leave anyway after this year because of all the stipulations they put on you —"

"Yes, and that's still true. If they don't change their policies, then I would likely walk away. But that would be my decision to make, my choice to make a graceful exit. Even if the end result is the same, that feels much different than them flat out firing me and not offering me a renewal. It may also make a difference in terms of finding work in the future…how it gets portrayed in the media and spun online can make a difference. If they don't offer me a renewal, they can say I'm difficult to work with or whatever the hell they want, and it would be hard for me to counter that. Even if I said that I was fired because the studio was homophobic, they would deny it and just continue to say that I'm a disgruntled has-been. If I choose not to return on my own, I'll have the power. But if I can get them to keep me on the show and loosen the rules they place around our behavior and persona, then I'd be crazy to walk away from a successful show."

"Oh. That makes sense," Emma said. She could certainly understand where Regina was coming from. It was one of the reasons she left the ballet company in New York when she did — she knew she would continue to get offers to stay in the corps de ballet for another year or two, but ultimately she would age out of that role, and she knew she wasn't in a position to be promoted within the company. They would have inevitably given her spot to a fresh-faced 19 year old who would have the potential to move up the chain in the next few years. She left when Killian presented her the opportunity to launch their own modern company because she was able to be in control of her decision. She didn't wait for them to suddenly stop offering her a contract. "I'm surprised that Gold would let me get cast in this, though. If he's that worried about your image or about us, why would his casting director give me the part?"

"Apparently the casting director went a little off-script and didn't run everything by Gold. In true Gold fashion, though, he threatened to have you fired, but I was able to stop him from doing so."

"Why?"

"He was pissed that you were hired without his approval."

"No, not why did he want to fire me. I completely get that. Why did you stop him if you didn't want me to take the job?"

"Oh. Well, I didn't want you to blame me for it. He gave me an ultimatum, and I kowtowed to his request."

"Regina, you didn't have to do that for me."

"I know. But you do deserve the part, regardless of how I feel about it. I'm not going to let him fire you because of me."

"What did he make you do so that I would keep my part?"

"He deliberately changed the shooting schedule so that I have to be here the weekend of your debut performance," Regina said, quickly brushing away a tear that managed to fall.

"Oh," Emma replied.

"I'm sorry, Emma. You know I want nothing more than to be there."

"I know you do."

"But, he said if I don't show up to film that weekend as scheduled, you'll be fired and it pretty much guarantees that my contract won't be renewed. They could actually fire me immediately for that because it would be a breach of contract. By telling me today, he's within the window of notice the contract requires that they give us for modifying our vacation schedules."

"You made the right call, Regina."

"You're not mad?"

"No, I'm not mad, because it's not your fault. Am I disappointed that you'll miss my first performance with the company? Yes, of course. But there will be another show in the spring after you're done filming, and I don't doubt that Gold would fire both of us if you bailed on filming and showed up to my concert, so I understand. You can't control your shooting schedule."

"I'm still sorry, though. I really wanted to be there for you."

"I know. But, it's not like I won't have anyone in the audience...Killian is coming up, and Robin and Gwen are even going to try to come, along with some of the other bartenders I've been working with at his restaurants. It's probably a good thing anyway that you can't be there…if you were seen there that would pretty much confirm our relationship. There will be a lot of press at the show, and I'm sure some of your local fans will probably get tickets and come, half expecting you to be there and hoping to meet you. If you're not there, that might help kill any remaining speculation about us."

"Yeah, you're probably right," she chuckled.

They fell into a comfortable silence, both exhausted from the stress of the day. "So, are we okay?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, we are," Regina said. "I'm sorry for how I freaked out earlier. This is a great opportunity for you and I don't want to stand in the way of that."

"What about all the extra people on set and the fans who might see us?" Emma asked, testing to see if Regina really was fine with it.

"We'll just have to be careful and make it work."

"Okay, then."

"I think we should talk soon about how we want to go public, once the contracts are out and my divorce is finalized…

"Really?" Emma smiled.

"Yeah… we should decide if we want to make some sort of formal announcement or if we just want to say 'fuck it,' live our lives and stop hiding and stop making excuses and just let people figure it out until I bring you as my date to some public event. This is assuming that you want to go public, of course. I don't want to pressure you into anything, and I don't know where you stand in terms of your public image as your career moves forward…especially if being one of the lead dancers in the Frozen Mirror musical episode moves you into the commercial space."

"I don't care about that…in dance our sexuality really doesn't matter anyway, but even if it did, I don't want to build a career pretending to be someone I'm not. I'm not ashamed of who I am."

"Ouch," Regina replied.

"Shit, Regina, that's not what I meant," Emma backpedaled. "It's different now than it was when you started, and you were a lot younger when you were breaking into the industry than I am now. I completely understand why you weren't open about being bi when you were 22 and just getting started."

"It's fine, Emma," Regina sighed, running a hand through her hair as she pulled back the sheets of her bed, more than ready to call it a night.

"Are you sure?" Emma asked, cursing herself.

"Yes, I'm sure," Regina said, trying to force herself to laugh so that Emma would relax. "It's been a long day though and I have an early call time tomorrow, so I should be getting some sleep."

Emma looked at the clock and realized just how late it was. "Shit, yeah, you need to go to bed…when will I see you next? I miss you."

"I miss you, too," Regina said, pulling the blankets over her body and tucking herself in. "And it may not be until the musical episode films. My schedule won't let me get back to Montréal at all before then. I don't have more than one day off in the next three weeks."

"Damn it," Emma sighed as she, too, prepared herself for bed. "This long distance thing sucks."

"Yes, it does," Regina confirmed. "The first day of filming isn't until February 5th, but you're welcome to come out as soon as your show is done and spend that week with me."

"I wish I could, but the dancers are doing most of our rehearsals here before they send us to Halifax for the actual filming. Our rehearsal schedule is insane. I might have a day or two between finishing rehearsal and having to be on set, but not any more than that."

"Well, even one or two days would be nice before they put you in the hotel."

"I'll see what I can do. If I can get up there early, I will."

"Okay, good," Regina said, turning off the sconce next to her bed. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Goodnight," Emma said, as she ended the call and turned off her bedside lamp. She let out a sigh and a few tears of frustration that had been threatening to fall all night finally did. She wiped them away with the pads of her finger as she closed her eyes, her cat Adagio almost immediately jumping up and curling up next to her to help comfort her in Regina's absence.

A/N: So, they had their first real fight. Not quite an epic blowout, but enough to raise and air out some of the issues in their relationship. I hope you enjoyed! The next chapter (which I haven't started writing yet so it may be a little while before it's posted) will take place during the musical episode filming.