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The next morning I got up early and paid special attention to what I wore and how I fixed my hair. Jefferson put in his two cents with everything. God I am pathetic. I stopped by Granny's and got two coffees and headed towards the Mayor's office. The least I could do was bring a peace offering and if she didn't want it…well more for me. When I got there her door was cracked and I lightly knocked. "Come in."
"Good morning Madame Mayor. I have those files you wanted." I was nervous since she never looked up at me.
"Take a seat." She didn't look at me until I placed the drink carrier on her desk. "Really Miss. Swan how many coffees can one person drink?" It seemed like her eyes lingered a little as she looked me over.
"One is for you. I know I'm not the nicest person without it so I figured I'd be nice and bring you a cup." She raised an eyebrow at my statement and folded her hands on her desk.
"Just what are you implying?" There was that sexy smirk that drove me crazy.
"I'm not implying that you're a fire-breathing dragon lady in the morning before or after coffee. Contradictory to popular belief that is." I could feel the coy grin that was creeping across my face as a glimmer of fire burned in Regina's dark eyes. "As I said, I'm just being nice, but if you don't want it," I reached for the cup but Regina grabbed it first. "That's what I thought." I shot her a quick grin and she rolled her eyes.
"Just give me the files." After rummaging through my bag for a moment I finally found the files and placed them on her desk. She thumbed through them while sipping on the coffee. The slight twitch at the corner of her mouth told me she enjoyed the steamy beverage. "These actually look decent Miss. Swan. Now if you would file them in the filing cabinet over there." I took the files over and started putting them away. For some strange reason I could feel Regina's eyes on me. Was she checking me out? I turned around quickly and saw the last of her hair move. She was checking me out!
"There you go. All done." I finished the last of my coffee and looked for a trashcan. Of course the only one being near Regina's desk, which was very close to her bare legs because of the dress she wore. "Do you have a trashcan I can use?" I tried to keep my eyes off of her tanned legs but it was so hard.
"You obviously found one already." She looked over at me from her computer, "or are you just using that as an excuse to check me out again?" Fuck she caught me. "It's not very hard to tell you're into me Miss. Swan." She stood slowly and never took her eyes off me. She must have enjoyed the horrified look on my face. I knew I was as red as my leather jacket and that grin on her face wasn't helping. "But know," she got inches from my face and my back was to the wall at this point, "I'm not interested. As you probably know I already have a suitable partner fulfilling all of my needs." Her voice went to a low purr.
"No he's not." The words escaped before I knew what I said. She looked pissed…very pissed. "I'm sorry. I.." Before I knew it I felt the sharp sting of her hand across my cheek.
"Get out of my office! Now!" Without a word I did as she said. I left everything. It wasn't until I got to Granny's that I realized I had left my jacket in her office.
"Damn it." I sat in my normal booth and just covered my head with my arms.
"What's wrong Emma?" I froze. I knew that voice. When I slowly decided to move I wished I was wrong, but I wasn't.
"Hey kid. Aren't you supposed to be in school?" There he sat. Henry of all the people in this town Henry is the one to sit and ask what was wrong. Granted he was the only person who wasn't working.
"Teacher work day. I just came to get some hot chocolate." He placed his book on the table beside him and folded his arms on the table. Something his mom always did. "So what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Long day. Hey Ruby? Can I get some coffee please? Thanks." If all else fails the coffee here was amazing.
"It's ten in the morning. It's not been a very long day." He had me there. Can I spill part of my guts to him? The son of the woman who just slapped me and still the woman I want.
"Your mom may fire me soon. Long story. So why do you carry this book with you all the time?" I tried to turn my attention towards his book. I was curious about it. Ruby came and placed a big cup of coffee in front of me and a cup of hot chocolate with cinnamon in front of Henry. "Thanks."
"Why would she fire you? You're her knight." I frowned my brows over the rim of my cup as I took a long sip. "In my book, you're the white knight who's going to bring back the Evil Queen's happy ending." What kind of book is he reading? "Everyone else has their happy ending and has someone but you and my Mom."
"I'm not her type. Besides she's…" I closed my mouth quickly. Does he know his mom is sleeping with Graham?
"I know she's with Graham but it isn't true love. It's not her happy ending and besides, he's not right for her. She's not happy with him." I was quiet a moment trying to keep the smartass comment to myself.
"He seems pretty happy." It came out anyway…well a G rated version of it. "Sorry. It just came out." Henry chuckled as he drank his coco.
"Of course he is. He's just Mom's play thing and doesn't know it." I'm so glad Ruby and Granny aren't in ear shot of this conversation. And I'm surprised I'm having this conversation with a ten year old. "But we need to get you and Mom together for you both to be happy. I know you like her. It's obvious to everyone in the town." I sat back with a groan.
"I'm so mortified right now." I covered my face with my hands and he chuckled again. "Not funny kid." I ran my fingers through my hair and finished my coffee. "Well even if all of this in your book is true, she doesn't like me." Unconsciously I rubbed the cheek that she smacked.
"Because she doesn't know you. We need to get the two of you together so you can get to know each other." He's serious and for some reason I believe him. Kind of. The part where Regina isn't really happy with Graham is what I believe but the part where I'm the one who she'd be happy with, not so much. I want it to be true but I have my doubts. "Emma."
"What? Sorry." When I heard a car door open and a familiar set of heels walking towards the door I panicked. Oh shit she's here! And I'm with her kid! "You didn't warn me?"
"I tried. You didn't hear me." Before I could say anything the door opened.
"What are you doing here with my son Miss. Swan?" Her voice was dark and cold. I didn't move; I couldn't. "I asked you a question." I opened my mouth but Henry answered first.
"I came to say hi. She asked why I was skipping school and I told her it was a teacher work day." He was a quick thinker. He didn't lie to his mother but he didn't tell her the whole truth. I was fine with that as long as he didn't lie to her.
"Right. Come along Henry, let's get you some lunch." She motioned for him to go to the bar and take a seat. "Oh and you're fired Miss. Swan. I'll take your badge now." I leaned back with a groan.
"Fine. Today can't get any worse." I reached down to get the badge from my belt and handed it to her. She didn't say another word. She just walked over and joined her son. I just laid my head on the table. They didn't stay long. They must have gotten it to go.
"Bye Emma!" I mumbled a bye back to Henry and could tell Regina wasn't happy with him talking to me. I heard someone walk up to me and could tell by the smell of perfume it was Granny. "I don't want to talk about it Granny." She chuckled and took a seat.
"Well you're going to talk about it anyway." Granny didn't say anything else but I could tell she was watching me. After a few minutes I raised my head. "Why do you put up with that? And what were you and Henry talking about?"
"I don't know why. I get the feeling she doesn't totally mean it. I mean," what did I mean? "Regina's not happy. And that unhappiness has built up and she's taking it out on everyone else. It's not the right way to get the frustration out but it's the way she's doing it. And Henry thinks I'm the one who can make her happy. He thinks I'm the one she's supposed to be with. I'm the one who can make her happy." Granny just stared at me. She was mulling this over in her head.
"How does a ten year old think of these things? I know he's much more mature for his age but still. Why does he think you're the one who's supposed to make her happy?" I sighed and leaned back crossing my arms.
"It's in his book apparently. I'm the white knight who's going to save the Evil Queen and give her the happy ending she deserves. Do I believe it? No. Do I want to believe it? Yes." I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. "What am I going to do?"
"Well you obviously like her. Everyone knows that." I groaned and she chuckled. "But you know she's with Graham."
"Yes I know she's with my now ex-boss." I leaned up and rested my arms on the table. "Yeah she fired me before she ordered food. I pissed her off earlier this morning and she slapped me." Granny's eye got wide. "Obviously, I'm not going to press charges. Technically I could have her arrested for assaulting an officer but it'd be too much trouble. And if there was any truth to Henry's book I highly doubt she'd consider me after having her arrested." I sighed and rested my cheek in my hand. "I'm in a lose/lose situation."
"Yeah you are. I can't believe she slapped you. How'd you piss her off?" I chuckled nervously.
"Uh…she kind of caught me checking her out and she said she wasn't interested. She said she already had a suitable partner that fulfilled all of her needs and I said no you don't. Or something like that. I spoke before I realized it and it pissed her off." Granny was quiet a few minutes. "What?"
"You always have been one to speak your mind. And you don't let anyone push you around. That might be one reason why she doesn't like you." I sighed and ran my finger along the rim of my empty cup.