Updated
The stage was set at Storybrooke's Athletics Center, the only area that was used by both citizens and students freely. The center was set off to the side with both a walk way and pavement road to both the town and the academy. There was a football stadium with two set of bleachers next to each side of the yard lines, with two buildings behind each bleacher set a few yards away, large lights were spaced out every other yard and two score boards, one at each end zone. The building to the right was the town's only gym and it was where Storybrooke Academy held their physical education classes. The building to the left was the basketball stadium that held basketball, hockey matches, and martial arts tournaments. And one of those martial arts tournaments was being held the first Saturday of November.
The tournament was separated into the style of fighting's country of origin. Karate went into the American circle, stick fighting in the African circle, kung-fu and t'ai chi in Asia circle, and so forth with a total of six different circles going on at once. The martial arts team had at least four players per circle, two male two female, two varsities and two junior. But in Mulan's case, she was the only member of Storybrooke Academy's martial arts team in the t'ai chi bracket of the Asia circle.
T'ai chi was the last event in the Asia circle, leaving Mulan to practice on the flow of her movements. She closed her eyes and let her chi move her limbs, her movements were slow but swift. Though it was not the most forceful style of martial arts, t'ai chi was an art and though they were not fighting against each other like in the other circles, they were competing with each other, much like gymnastics.
What she saw when she opened her eyes shocked her to her very core. Sitting in one of the front rows was Mary Margaret and her very unamused roommates. When Mary Margaret caught Mulan looking at her she waved almost stupidly, hand half covered by the mint green cardigan she wore. Tink looked flat out bored, head in her hand and releasing an overly long sigh every other minute. Ruby was nonstop movement, but in nerves, not in her usual energetic way, red fingertip between red painted lips. And Emma was trying her hardest to just stay awake, her head was slumped over and her eyelids were half closed. There were visible dark circles under emerald green eyes, the most blatant evidence that she has not been sleeping well since the fire. Despite her roommates clear disdain of being there, Mulan's heart swelled at the fact that they were just there at all.
When it was almost time for her to go on stage she ducked into the locker rooms to change into her "uniform". The "uniform" was a loose long sleeve shirt with a mandarin collar and loose traditional Chinese style trousers, both of which were made out of red silk, the frog buttons on the front were made out of gold thread. She styled her hair into a tight bun held with two hair pins, one with a small jade dragon and the other with a cherry blossom on top.
Coming out of the locker room she noticed a couple around her age, the boy had shaggy light brown hair and the girl long strawberry blonde hair that cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves. They stood next to the door leading to the male locker room, the girl fussing with the collar on the boy's shirt, which popped right opened again when her fingertips left the stark white material. She sighed and went for the collar again but the boy squirmed away, his own thin fingers on the collar, but he had as much success with it as the girl.
"Damn thing. I do not know why it is not staying put." He huffed in frustration, the collar open to expose the hint of an Adam's apple at the center of his throat.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more Phillip." The girl put her hands on the boy's, now Phillip, biceps gripping it as though it was her only life line to the boy.
"It's not your fault Aurora." Aurora,it fit the girl very well for she looked fragile with the way that she held onto Phillip and the pink dress did nothing to help her. The dress was a light rose pink color with thick shoulder straps, the bonnet was an even lighter pink, the rest of the dress was loose and fell off her hips in a sea of pink fabric. A white shawl attached with a silver broach was around her shoulders, it didn't seem appropriate for fall weather.
"You're buttoning it wrong." Aurora jumped so high that she lost her footing, and if wasn't for Mulan standing not too far off she would have fallen to her knees. Mulan caught the girl by her elbows, strawberry blonde head against red silk clad chest. Clear blue eyes looked up at dark brown ones, then at red silk chest.
"Y-you're a... girl." The strawberry blonde regained her balance, rubbing one light skin elbow as she got back on her feet, her eyes never leaving Mulan's chest.
"Woman." She turned to Phillip, his jaw was slack, pink tip of tongue could be seen between white teeth. Mulan approached the boy and reached for the collar buttoning the loose frog button with ease. When she backed away her eyes caught bewildered hazel ones, the brown swirling against the green. "My names Mulan. You're in the t'ai chi tournament?" Phillip was dressed almost identical to her, except his "uniform" was all white, including the frog buttons, and the material was cotton not silk like hers.
"Nice to meet you Mulan. I'm Phillip and this is my girlfriend Aurora." He didn't even indicate the strawberry blonde with a nod or even a simple hand gesture. His focus was solely on Mulan. A gravelly voice from the intercom snapping Phillip out of whatever trance he was in. "I'm up." Mulan bowed her head in respect as he passed her to exit out of the hallway. The semi forgotten strawberry blonde rushed passed her, her shoulder bumping against the Chinese girl's one. At the opening of the hallway Aurora whispered something to Phillip, her fingers in his shaggy hair, before kissing him soundly on his lips. Mulan looked away to give the couple some privacy. When Phillip was gone Aurora stomped over to Mulan, her face flushed with anger.
"I do not know who you are but leave Phillip alone." Fragile in appearance, but not in attitude as she looked as if she wanted to bite off Mulan's head.
"You got it wrong I'm not interested in a man that is already in a relationship, nor am I responsible for other's actions." Mulan started to the hallway, the strawberry blonde close behind her. When she was almost out of the hallway however she noticed that the fast footsteps that sounded after her slower calmer steps stopped. She turned around to see Aurora tugging on her shawl, which was caught on the metal edge of a bench. "Stop." She approached the struggling girl, her hands covering the strawberry blonde's. "You'll rip it." Just like with Phillip she skillfully detached the delicate shawl from the bench.
"Thank you." Aurora held the section of shawl that was once a captive, her cheeks flush with something that wasn't anger.
"You're welcome." The dull sound of the crowd sounded the end of the last contender's routine and her name was called from the intercom. "I have to go." She left the other girl behind to do the only thing that made sense. But as she performed she did not picture her usual motionless cherry blossoms, instead they were moving with a shadow figure in the cloud of light pink petals.
The incoming night was cool as the small group of five females exited the basketball stadium. They took the path that led to town, which was illuminated with the faint glow of the street lamps. Ruby and Tink were up front, with the long hair brunette shivering in the night air even if it wasn't that cold. Mulan was behind them, a gold medal was around her neck, but she did not look happy about her victory. Mary Margaret was behind her a few feet away to a point that she can see the three girls but at the same time not leave Emma completely unattended. Emma was at the rear, her back was hunched and her walk was so slow that she was almost dragging her feet. It pained Mary Margaret to see the blonde like this but it was for this reason she did something that she know would tick off the blonde teen once she found out what her teacher did.
Once they were in town they met up with Mrs. Lucas in front of the run down diner and inn, with Ruby all but running to her grandmother and it was not because she was excited to see the elder Lucas. Ruby took the basket that was in her grandmother's grip lifting up one of the brown flaps, but was stopped by the elder woman with a quick slap to the wrist. Mary Margaret and Mrs. Lucas shared a look and a quick nod before the elder woman led three of the four girls away with a prompt that they can listen in on Ruby's date earning a very loud protest from the brunette teen, while Mary Margaret led Emma in a different direction. The normally cautious teen held no protest in being led astray by her supervisor, which worried Mary Margaret even more. She just hoped that her plan works.
Dr. Hopper, the owner of a very mischievous Dalmatian and Storybrooke's only psychiatrist, was more than happy to set up a last minute appointment for Emma when the young teacher called in distress about the limited sleeping teen. After setting the droopy teen on the couch in his office Dr. Hopper talked to the young teacher for a moment, and he was reminded that Mrs. Lucas was going to pick Emma after her appointment. Once he had what he needed the teacher quietly slipped out, closing the wood door behind her with a soft 'click'. After the ginger man placed a single yellow legal pad on the coffee table in front of a black leather arm chair, he took his seat, adjusting the wire rim glasses on his nose.
"Okay Emma where shall we start?" the look that he got from the teen unnerved him.
The park was mostly empty, which was perfect considering what a certain long hair brunette teen had in store for the park. A large red and white plaid blanket was spread out on one of the large picnic tables, sealed containers were spread all over the blanket along with the wooden basket which sat at one end. Tink and Mulan were off playing on the monkey bars, well more Tink than Mulan. Ruby was pacing back and forth; a small trench was quickly growing underneath her feet.
"We are going to have to dig you out soon if you don't stop Ruby." Mrs. Lucas was setting out the plates and table wear, pulling the appropriate items out of the basket.
"I can't help it Granny, I'm too nervous. What if she thinks I'm weird or pathetic for having a first date in a park of all places, but with my friends and grandmother as well? Or is that creepy. Do you think its creepy Granny?"
"I think it's safe. You don't know anything about this girl Ruby, and though I think its better that it is a girl and not a guy, I do not want you out here all by yourself." Ruby wined and her foot kicked off a little more dirt than it normally did.
"I'm not five years old Granny, I can take care of myself." Mrs. Lucas grabbed her granddaughter by her shoulders, stopping Ruby mid stride, and looked her firmly in the eye.
"I know you can take care of yourself Ruby, but you are all I have left in this world. I cannot afford to lose you." Ruby looked away and rubbed the corner of her eye, being extra careful for makeup.
"Don't do that Granny, you know how I get when you talk like that."
"I'm sorry sweetie." With a combination of bending Ruby ever so slightly and raising onto her toes, Mrs. Lucas placed a sloppy kiss on her granddaughter cheek causing the teen squirm and chant 'ew' as she wiped the offending slobber. And for a moment it was like she was five again.
"What do you mean 'where shall we start'? How about we start with the fact on why I am here?"
"Mary Margaret is concerned about you." Emma huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah concern sure she is." Dr. Hopper placed his pen back onto the legal pad; he never took a lot notes during sessions anyway.
"Has Mary Margaret done something that she didn't have to but she did it anyway even if she went out of her way to do it?" Emma opened her mouth to protest but snapped it shut. Damn it the man was right.
Cora's townhouse was the first one behind the only apartment building in Storybrooke, the building was made out of smooth red bricks, darker than they were from their original color from years exposed to Maine's seasons, and as it was in Cora's case, the windows and door frame were painted in a rich brown. Mary Margaret made sure her hair was in order before she rang the shiny gold door bell. It only took a minute or two before the door opened reviling a surprisingly casually dressed Cora.
Even in casual attire, the headmistress still had an air of elegance and grace around her. The maroon dress fell just above the knee, with not so quarter sleeves for they stopped just before they hit her elbow, and showed just the right amount of cleavage to keep it modest in accord to Cora.
"Mary Margaret, glad you can make it. Please come in." The older woman stepped aside to let the young teacher inside. The inside matched almost perfectly with Cora's office on campus, except it was mix of red and white instead of solid shades of red like the office was. "Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything? Dinner should be done in a few minutes."
"I'm fine thank you Cora."
"I'll check on dinner, is roasted chicken all right?"
"Yes, that's perfect."
"Be right back." Cora left to an unseen part of the house, leaving Mary Margaret to her own devices. The teacher sat on the soft white leather sofa, a small red pillow pressed against her lower back. While Ruby was externalizing, she was internalizing her nervousness, which had been building up to this moment. The nervousness made her stomach tighten to a point that it was almost uncomfortable. Cora came back, a glass of white wine in each hand. "Is white wine okay, its better with poultry than red, but if want red I can take out a bottle."
"No, Cora this is prefect thank you." She took the glass that the older woman offered her and took a small sip from her glass. Cora sat next to her, legs crossed at the knee and taking a sip of wine before setting the glass down on the table. She leaned back against sofa, right arm resting on the back cushions.
"Relax Mary Margaret; I hold you before you are not in any trouble."
"I know, I'm sorry it's just..." She took a deep breath and another sip of wine, Cora had exquisite taste in wine.
"What's wrong Mary Margaret? I can see the worry plain on your face." The teacher set her glass down, playing with the last button on her cardigan.
"I'm sorry, it's just I'm worried about Emma. She hasn't been sleeping very well this past week."
"That's horrible, is she alright?" Cora watched the teacher's face as her lips trembled and the tip of her nose started to turn red. Clearly she was taking Emma's lack of sleep personally.
"I-I don't know, she won't talk to anyone. Every day I find her out on the front poach, and she says she's been out there since four in the morning, and it's getting colder, and it rained twice this week alone. What if she gets sick, or she passes out from exhaustion? Today alone she almost fell asleep at the tournament and didn't even put up a fight when I took her to see Dr. Hopper." She paused for a moment, remembering who she was talking to. "Oh my god could I even do that?" Cora lifted her head from where it was resting on her fist.
"Do what? Send a student to Dr. Hopper if they are in trouble? Yes, if you think they need it, and in this case I believe Emma needs it. It's now up to Emma to help herself." The teacher nodded and took a sip of wine, the golden liquid burning her throat in a most pleasant way as it traveled down. Emma was the most unpredictable teen she had and god could only tell what was going on in that office space right now.
"Now Emma, Mary Margaret tells me you haven't been sleeping well why is that?" Emma looked at the ginger doctor, her face showed her annoyance clear as day.
"Why are you asking obvious questions? This whole damn town knows about the fire and that I was in it, so don't I have PTSD or whatever?"
"Some might say that, but I think something else is bothering you. Something that you don't quite understand, and it's keeping you up, and I think you will feel better if you talk about it." Emma looked out the window, the town's clock can be seen, taking up the majority of the space. She watched the clock as the minute hand inched to the next minute. Another minute gone and they were still no closer than they were when they started. God help her.
Belle watched the three girls fight amongst themselves for the last slice of lasagna in the white ceramic pan, forks clashing together like small silver swords. It was amusing to watch them scramble, trying whatever means necessary to stick even a fraction of their fork's prongs in the Italian cuisine. Their fighting caused Ruby's grandmother to take away the lasagna all together, causing a loud course of 'aww's. Mrs. Lucas recruited Mulan and Tink to help clean and put away the dishes and blanket, shooing Ruby and Belle off with a wink, causing the long hair brunette's cheeks to turn pink. The two girls went as far as the playground, making sure to stay in Mrs. Lucas' sight.
"I'm sorry." Belle turned to look at the other teen with surprise and confusion.
"About what?" Ruby hunched her shoulders and started to kick a loose pebble.
"You know... this date... it wasn't exactly... romantic... you know?" Belle stood in front of the long hair red streaked brunette, a warm genuine smile on her face.
"Nonetheless I loved it." She took a deep breath preparing herself for what she was going to say next. "If we are considering the option of dating then it would be just a matter of time until I meet your friends and your grandmother, who is lovely by the way." Her words calmed Ruby as her shoulders dropped and she gave Belle a small smile of her own.
"Thanks Belle."
"You're welcome."
"And don't worry, the next date I am going to romance your socks off!" She nodded her head a few times with hands on her hips and it made Belle laugh.
"I will keep you to that promise." Mrs. Lucas called the girls over and they walked Belle home before going to Dr. Hoppers to pick up one of their missing dorm members.
"What did you do after the fire?" Emma huffed; the man was persistent even if he was soft spoken.
"I went home, took a shower, ate some leftovers that we had in the fridge, and then went to bed."
"Did you have any dreams?" The quick catch of breath gave Dr. Hopper the answer he needed. "What was it about?" Emma sat up, scratching the back of her head.
"I don't know."
"You don't know what it means?"
"No not that. I... I... Have you ever experience something and if you don't know if it was real or your mind playing games with you?"
"What do you mean? Tell me what happened Emma."
"I woke up, and I couldn't go back to sleep, so I went outside, and..."
"And what Emma?" Emma shook her head clearly not wanting to say what happened next. "Emma please tell me." The blonde's chest tightened and the corner of her eyes stung with tears.
"I-I can't." Dr. Hopper opened his mouth to speak, but a loud chime stopped him. The town clock sounded the half hour, and the end of their session. Emma jumped up from her spot on the couch and all but ran to the door, but when her hand touched the nob a small voice stopped her from opening.
"Please Emma tell me what did you do?"
"I KISSED HER!" Dr. Hopper jumped and Pongo, who was snoozing in the corner, popped up from around the corner, well his head did.
"Kissed who Emma?"
"Regina!" Emma's breathing came in fast gasps and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I kissed Regina... and she kissed me back... but I..."
"You what?"
"I don't know if it was real. One minute she was there and the next gone." The tears came down more freely, leaving small dots on the grey turtle neck that Emma wore.
"And that frightens you doesn't it?"
"Petrifies me, and the worst part is... I don't know if I want it to be a dream or real." She stormed out the office, almost running into Mrs. Lucas on the way. Once she was outside and finally felt like she could breathe again, she was more lost than she ever was before.
Desert was a pleasant affair enjoyed in the living room, vanilla custard with orange slices and the last of the wine. As the evening wore on Mary Margaret became more and more relaxed, it could be because of the wine, or the company she was with, or both, either way she was laughing and smiling freely, something that had become hard for her to do as the years wore on. The custard was finished, with Mary Margaret taking the last small bite.
"Cora that was absolutely wonderful." The teacher leaned back, the same pillow pressing more into her back.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I know I'm no five start chef." Cora smiled at the other woman, scooting herself just a bit closer. "You have a little custard on the side of your mouth." The teacher blushed and placed a hand on the side of her mouth.
"Did I get it?"
"Not quite. Here, I'll get it." And then Cora did something that Mary Margaret was not prepared for; she kissed her. Cora's soft plump lips grazed the side of her own thin lips, almost catching her upper lip. It only lasted a second, not a moment longer, before Cora pulled back, licking away the remaining custard.
"You missed some." A light brown eyebrow rose to an elegant arch.
"Did I?"
"Yes." The teacher scooted a little bit closer so that their knees were touching. "I'll get it." She placed her lips squarely on Cora's naturally pouting bottom lip, holding the flesh between her own two lips.
The electricity was almost numbing, and with every second Mary Margaret's lips stayed connected to Cora's, the faster her heart pounded in her chest. She ended the kiss, but as soon as she did Cora kissed her back, deeper, and with so much force the short hair woman already feel her lips start to swell. The older woman pressed her tongue against her lips, tracing the light red flesh until the teacher let the appendage in. Their tongues intertwined together, making the younger woman's mouth go numb. They broke apart when oxygen became a painful reminder, panting, lips kissed swollen, and a numb kind of feeling rocked them to the core. Cora brought a hand up; stroking the teachers flushed cheeks with soft fingertips.
"You have to know that before either of us can think about continuing this we must make sure that our professional relationship is not compromised. You understand right Mary Margaret?" The teacher nodded and leaned against the hand that was against her cheek.
"I understand." Cora tilted her head, kissing the younger woman's free cheek, the flesh warm on her lips. The teacher let out a small moan as plump lips traced her jaw line, then her pulse point, the vein pounding against them. The hand that was on her cheek slowly made its way down her slender neck, making her gasp. Fingertips left a heated trail to the hollow of her neck before starting to play with a closed button of her cardigan.
One by one, lime green buttons parted before expert fingers until the cardigan was open to reveal the top half of her dress. Goose bumps rose as nails lightly scrapped down her arms as they were exposed to the open air. Cora's lips pressed at the hollow part of her throat before kissing the exposed part of her chest.
"C-Cora." The two women looked at each other, eyes dark with lust.
"I want to make love to you Mary Margaret, may I?" The teacher kissed the older woman again; it was simple but still sent that growing familiar wave of numbing electricity.
"Please." With that Cora led her upstairs, cardigan and dishes left abandoned.
When the sun pierced threw the town house the next morning, Cora woke up to cold sheets but not a cold heart. The dishes from the night before were in the sink already clean and a still warm stack of pancakes sat on the counter with a note. The scent of coffee hung in the air.
'Cora,
last night was wonderful, but I had to head back before the girls woke, but I let you sleep in. I hope you like pancakes, if not I'm sorry, I'm stuck in weekend mode and started to make them automatically. Enjoy the rest of your day, and I hope we can do it again. Mary Margaret'
Cora smiled and took a bite of soft warm pancakes; there will be another time, oh yes indeed. And for the first time in a long time she felt brighter than the sun that was shining through her kitchen windows.