Chapter Nine

It was two o'clock in the morning and I was so excited. Regina was asleep, naked, next to me. I heard her little snores and thought they were so cute.

She loves me! And I love her so much. I can't believe it. I'm so excited.

I tried to settle down by turning onto my side, facing her. I couldn't fall asleep though.

I noticed a strand of hair fall down onto Regina's forehead. I tried very hard not to disturb her as I brushed it away. I accidentally poked her forehead slightly. She stirred in her sleep and I froze.

It took her a couple of minutes to murmur, "What time is it?"

"It's 2-ish."

"Why'd you wake me," Regina said groggily.

"I'd tried not to. I'm sorry," I said sadly.

"It's okay. Did you need anything?"

"Just…"

"You wanna go again?" Regina asked as she stretched her arms out.

"No, no…tempting, but I'd never wake you up…"

"Then why'd you wake me up?"

"To say…I love you, so much, Regina!"

Immediately she lifted her head off of the pillow and smiled so brightly at me.

"Awww, I love you so much," Regina said and leaned in for a kiss. We connected our lips together and almost instantaneously we moaned each other's names.

I moved closer to her and quickly positioned myself on top of her awesome body.

"Em," she said lovingly.

"Gina," I replied and that's all we needed to begin another wonder lovemaking session.

XXXX

Much later that morning, I was getting ready to go to the club.

"You have work today?" she asked with a yawn.

"Kinda…listen I was meaning to talk to you about something…"

She quickly sat up in bed. The sheet slipped down and she was still naked.

"Emma, you're magnificent," I said as I ogled her chest.

Emma blushed and then asked, "What's up?"

"Now that we've…"

Emma raised her eyebrows in delight.

I smiled. "Do you think you'll be okay to know that other people see me partially naked?"

Emma took a few moments to fully understand the depth of my question. "Well, Regina, I'm not going to play the 'jealous girlfriend' cuz that's not my style. At the same time the idea that lousy men try to grope you and throw money at you isn't that appealing to me. I love you and with that love comes trust. I trust that you will act professionally and not do anything that might jeopardize us," she said honestly.

"Thank you. I hope you know that I'd never do anything like that to us," I said with tears in my eyes.

"It's good that you know that along with my love and trust you also have my undying support," Emma said with a small smile, "I'll support every decision you make. On the ones that I may not understand you'll explain it and I'll understand it. I want you to know that I'm always here for you."

"How are you single?"

"I'm not," she said.

"You're not," I said and worried for split second.

"I'm not cuz I got you!"

I jumped onto the bed and into her arms. She wrapped them tightly around me. I felt so safe, wanted, and needed in her embrace.

XXXX

I was sitting at my desk grading papers when there was a confident knock on my door.

"Come in," I answered.

'Hey, Henry," Emma said as she poked her head around the door, "I know I don't have an appointment, but…"

"Come on in," I said cheerfully. "I don't like the whole appointment making policy of the school…what can I do for you?"

"Well, I was hoping we could chat about my future," I said hopeful.

"Sure," I said as I motioned to the empty chair.

"Well, I've always wanted to write a book…"

"That's fantastic, Emma. You'll do great at that," I said happily.

"The thing is I am now in a committed relationship and I feel like I need to, not take of, but make sure if she needs something she can get it," she said.

"Does your girlfriend have a job," I asked.

"Yes, yes, she does, um," Emma said as she nervously bit her finger nail. "She's a dancer."

"Oh, ok," I said, unjudging.

Emma smiled relieved.

I thought about the situation in front of me. Suddenly I remembered something.

"I may have a solution…"

"Oh yeah," Emma asked happily.

"I am currently looking for a teacher's assistant," I started to say, "Would you like to apply for the position? If you do, you'll have plenty of time to write and you'll earn some good money. The college really values their teaching assistants."

I watched as Emma contemplated the proposal.

I added, "Also I've heard that they are looking to hire a secretary/receptionist for this department. Maybe Regina would be interested?"

"I can't speak for her, but I will mention it," Emma said and smiled, "May I think about the position you offered me?"

"By all means," I said as I went through my desk drawer. I found the paperwork I was looking for and as I was handing it to Emma I said, "Here are the two forms…if you both are interested, fill them out and return them to me the next time we have class."

"Thank you so much, Henry," Emma said excitedly.

She got up and walked to the door. Before she left, I said, "Emma, I've offered this to you not because of anything else except for you innate talent as a writer. I've enjoyed reading all of your work this semester. I look forward to reading whatever it is that you'll write!"

"Thanks," Emma said and left my office.

XXXX

After I finished my set and did a disgusting private dance for some loser, I went back to my dressing room. Once I was there, I sat down and cried.

Why am I still doing this? I have a good woman who wants me…not for anything else but me…

I was struck with the image of Emma in my mind as I made the most important, life changing decision.

Even though I was due to go back out there, I quickly changed my clothes and gathered my belongings. I scribbled a note to Belle.

Belle,

I have Emma so I don't need this place. I hope we can still be friends. Call me.

~ Regina

I folded it up and as I made my way to Archie's office, I slid the note under Belle's dressing room door. After, I confidently walked to his office and knocked on the door.

I didn't wait for an answer as I barged in.

"Reggie, why are you dressed? Where you going?"

"I quit!" I said as I closed the door half way.

"You what?" he asked disbelievingly.

"I quit, Archie. The costume is in my dressing room."

He rose from his chair and meanly strode over to where I was standing. When he was standing toe to toe with me I flinched for a split second, but then stared him down like he was doing to me.

"I'll ask one more time because I don't think you fully understand…"

"I. Quit!" I repeated again.

Out of nowhere, he grabbed my arm tightly.

XXXX

I wanted to tell Regina so I went to the club. Robin let me in with no questions. I walked to her room, but no one was there. I walked around backstage.

"Emma!"

I whipped my head around and saw Belle running to me.

"Hey, Belle," I started to say.

She threw a piece of paper at me. "She's quitting!"

"What?"

"Regina's quitting," Belle said out of breath.

"Where's Archie's office," I demanded quickly.

"Down, the hall," Belle said as I threw the paper onto the ground and ran to the office. Once I got there, I heard Regina yell, "Archie…you're hurting me!"

I busted into his office, grabbed him by the back of his shirt and threw him to the ground.

I leaned down and began to punch him repeatedly.

XXXX

I watched as Emma took the first punch at Archie and thought that'd be it. To my utter surprise, Emma continued to pummel Archie.

"Emma," I screamed out, but she didn't stop.

"Robin," I yelled out into the hallway. In a second or two, Robin burst into the office and tried to get Emma off of Archie.

It took some doing, but with my help of trying to calm her down, we got her to stop punching him.

I stepped into front of Emma and put my hand on her shirt. Her piercing eyesight wasn't on me. It was on him.

"Emma," I yelled at her. She immediately looked at me and started to cry. I enveloped her in the tightest hug ever.

"Shh, it's okay…It's okay," I cooed.

"Are you 'kay," Emma said through sniffles and deep breaths.

"I'm okay," I replied, "He grabbed me by the arm…"

With hearing that, Emma lunged at Archie again, but luckily Robin caught her in mid air. She fought him, but eventually calmed down.

"I'm gonna let go," Robin warned as he released his grip on Emma. I immediately placed my hand on her upper arm.

"If you ever hurt her again, you piece of shit…" Emma yelled at Archie.

Archie was standing then as he checked himself out for any injuries. "You broke my nose," he said as he lightly brushed it.

Emma penetrated his eyesight and grinned evilly.

Belle came rushing in with a bag of ice from the bar. Archie extended his hand for the ice, but Belle ran right past him to give the ice to Emma.

"Bitch!" Archie said. Robin heard him first and punched him in the stomach. Emma walked up to them and meanly asked, "What did you call her?"

"I called her a bitch," Archie said with defiance, but bent over in pain from the punch.

Emma raised her hand high in the air and slapped him hard against the cheek. The impact was so hard that Archie fell to the ground.

"Emma!" I yelled out of shock.

"He's disrespecting you and your friend. Hell, he's disrespecting all women," Emma defended herself.

"I know," I said and grabbed her hand.

I led her out of the room. Belle and Robin followed us until we were outside.

It was then that it hit Emma.

"Holy fuck…I just assaulted someone, Regina," Emma said with a shaky voice.

"I know," I said and grabbed her hands and kissed them. She flinched when I touched the one that she used to hit Archie with.

"Oh, I'm sorry. That must hurt a lot," she said and kissed it.

"Little, but I'll live."

Regina pulled me closer to her and kissed me passionately for a few seconds. In those seconds, my hands wrapped themselves around her waist. Our tongues met and massaged each other.

After the kiss ended, I said, "Wow! I love that. Um, I did want to talk to you."

"Okay," Regina said and took my hand into her own.

We walked out of that dingy club. Regina didn't even pause to look behind her.

"I'm so proud of you!"

She hugged my torso as we walked directly to the diner that we went to on the first night. We entered and the waitress remembered us and said, "Hey, you two…" She pointed to a booth in her section.

We slid in on the same side. I twisted in the seat so that I could look at Regina.

We ordered. After I looked at her and took a deep breath. I wanted for things to return to before I turned into someone I wasn't, but I wanted to make sure she knew why I had to do that.

"I want to make sure that you understand what just happened back there…"

"Okay," she smiled and caressed my cheek.

"I attacked him because it scared me. It truly petrified me. It's not because I didn't think you couldn't handle it. I know you could have. Okay?"

"Yes," she said with her hand still on my cheek.

"I wasn't prepared to see what I saw and I went temporarily crazy. I want you to know that I will never, ever do what I did to him, to you…"

"Oh, Emma, you're the kindest, gentlest, loving person I know. I totally know that you'd never do that to me. I want you to know that." she leaned forward and kissed me.

I ended the kiss smiling at her. I cleared my throat and said, "So, I dropped by Henry's office today to have a chat with him…"

"About what?" she asked intrigued.

"My life after I graduated. I told him that I want to write a book. He is very supportive of that…"

"As am I!"

I blushed. "Anyway, I told him that I knew that I have to get a job…"

"I'm not knocking the idea of working, but why do you think you need to get a job," Regina asked.

"Well, I want to make sure I can take care of you…if you ever need it," I said honestly and nervously.

XXXX

I raised my eyebrows at her with a warm smile on my face. "Listen, Emma, I don't need you to take care of me that way."

"I mean no disrespect, I know you've been taking care of yourself for a long time and I admire that, but don't you get tired," she asked.

I thought about what she said for a few minutes. "Yea, sure, I get tired sometimes, but if I didn't work I couldn't eat. I'm strong!"

"God, Regina, you're the strongest person I know. I love you. Please don't be mad at me," she pleaded.

"Emma, It's okay," I said with a loving smile, "I'm flattered that you want to help me. It's my pride you gotta know that…"

"I totally understand, there's more, do you want to hear it?"

Our meals had arrived at the time.

"Sure," I said as she popped a French fry into her mouth.

"Henry offered me a teacher's assistant position! He says that they pay pretty well. And he also said that there's a secretary position opened. He gave me both of the applications…"

She handed the secretarial application to me. I looked at it quickly as I thought to myself.

After a few minutes of silence, I said, "Well, I did quit my job. And I think this could be great! We could carpool to work together."

Emma's head raised up and she wore the biggest smile on her beautiful face.

"You're exquisite, do you know that?"

She blushed and sat back in the booth as I grabbed her hand.

"I love you, Regina," she said and leaned closer to me. When we were inches apart I connected our lips together for a passionate kiss.

Minutes afterwards, we filled out the applications and enjoyed our meal and our time together.

XXXX

We ended the day in my bed, wrapped up in each other's arms.

"I love you, Regina," I said tenderly.

"I love you too, Emma. I told you and your mother that I'd prove myself," she said.

Since I was holding her, I shimmied down on the mattress to look at her. When I was satisfied I looked deeply in her brown eyes.

"Regina, please listen to me. You don't have to prove anything to me or to my mother. You passed the test. She knows that you love me. And that, my dear, is all that matters…"

"But," she tried to interrupt.

I put my index finger on her lips to silence her. "No buts. She knew you had strong feelings for me…"

"Did she though?"

"What?"

"I did say that you were and are the best thing to ever happen to me and I'm proud to be your girlfriend. Was that enough?"

I nodded my head up and down.

"May I have your cell phone," she asked me.

I handed it to her without question.

"God, you're so trusting!" she said as she shook her head in disbelief.

"I trust you," I said as I put it in her hand. She opened it and scrolled down.

She pressed two buttons. She held the phone out since one of the buttons was for the speaker button.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mrs. Swan, it's Regina. I'm using your daughter's phone," she said shyly.

I burst out in laughter and she poked me.

"It's Mary Margaret, dear. What can I do for you this evening?"

"Well, I wanted to take the time out to tell you that I am so very much in love with Emma. She is my world. I am more than honored to spend my life with her."

"Thank you for the kind words, Regina, I truly appreciate it. I hope to see you both again soon."

"You can count on it…right Emma," she said and looked at me expectantly.

"Oh, yeah, sure, Mom…"

"Good night you two. Sleep well."

Emma grabbed the phone from me and turned it off when her mother did. She threw the phone onto the carpeted floor and then quickly straddled my hips. She leaned forward and kissed me passionately.