Chapter 5.

Emma's knee bounced up and down quickly until a hand gave it a gentle squeeze.

"It's alright, Em," Belle reassured her with a sweet smile.

Emma looked at her, grateful that her best friend was with her, "Uh-huh," she merely replied.

She could feel her heart thumping in her chest; she hated seeing new therapists, starting all over again sucked. She really hoped this was the last time she had to do it.

"Emma Swan?"

Emma's whole body tensed up as she stood up, walking as close to Belle as she could. Her friend grabbed her hand lightly and squeezed her fingers.

"You did really well, Swan," Belle insisted as the two walked down the street, "Did you like her?"

"She seemed okay, I suppose," Emma mumbled as she pulled her beanie on, covering her ears from the wind.

Belle nodded, "It will take a while before you can trust her, that's normal."

"Mm," Emma simply agreed.

"Shall we go to Granny's?" Belle asked as they reached the street corner.

Emma shrugged, "You want to come back to mine instead? I don't really want to be around everyone right now."

Belle's eyebrows rose, "Um, am I allowed? I mean, with Miss Mills…"

"No, she said you can come over whenever. Plus, I'm sure she'll understand, and she's probably worrying about how it went, anyway," Emma bit her lip after the last statement.

Belle just nodded, "Okay, cool, let's go then. But, Em?" she frowned.

"Yeah?" Emma asked.

"What am I meant to call her? Does she tell you off if you swear? Does she know about me and Ruby or should I not mention – "

Emma laughed, "She'll probably tell you to call her Regina. And you don't swear anyway," she teased, "Yes, she knows about you and Ruby and she knows about you and me too. Just don't treat her like she's a teacher, I guess, she's actually really cool, you know, for an older person."

"Older person?" Belle giggled, "I don't think you should call her that."

"An adult," Emma rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know," Belle agreed, "Hang on, you told her about us? Like last year, you mean or?"

Emma nodded meekly, "She asked if we were ever a thing…so I told her."

"She asked you that?" Belle questioned thoughtfully.

"Yeah, well, she asked about you and Ruby and then about you and me, one thing led to the other," Emma shrugged, rubbing her hands together to fight the icy wind.

Belle tilted her head, "Is she allowed to ask her students stuff like that? Hang on, does she like you? Was she jealous?"

Emma rolled her eyes, "No, it's not like that, Belle," she replied, honestly, "I mean, she's super hot and everything and she's got these really cute pj's…" she shook her head, "But, no, I think she's just like interested. She's always asking me stuff, she says the more she knows, the more she can help me. I guess that makes sense, right?"

Belle nodded, "It makes sense…as long as she isn't pushy about it," she raised her eyebrows.

"She isn't pushy at all," Emma bit back a smile, "She's actually really sweet about it. And protective too. She gives these hugs like…" she trailed off.

Belle couldn't help smiling widely at her blushing friends, "Hugs like…?" she teased gently.

Emma was still blushing, "I don't know, she's very snuggly, I guess," she couldn't pull the stupid grin off of her face, "She makes me feel like…warm and safe."

Regina was cooking. She always cooked when she had something on her mind. Currently, what was on her mind was Emma and her appointment. It was more than that, she was constantly worrying that she wasn't enough for the young woman. She wanted to help her so badly and sometimes she feared that she couldn't provide what Emma needed.

But she always shook those thoughts out of her head, reminding herself, sometimes all someone needed was someone to be there, and that she could do for Emma.

The door clicked open as she closed the oven door and she walked out into the foyer, surprised to see Belle accompanying Emma through the front door.

"Hello girls," she smiled.

"Hey," Emma replied as she took off her scarf hanging it up.

"Hi, Miss Mills," Belle smiled shyly, standing awkwardly behind Emma.

Regina smiled, "Please, call me Regina outside of school, dear."

Belle nodded, "Okay… Regina," she scrunched up her face at how strange it was calling a teacher by her first name.

"How did it go, dear?" Regina's eyes were painted with worry.

Emma bit her lip, looking at Belle then back to Regina, "It was okay. She seemed fine, I suppose… I mean, first sessions are always pretty boring when they just want to get to know you. I guess we'll see," she shrugged.

Regina nodded, "Yes, we will. I've got some turnover's cooking if you girls would like some."

Emma smiled, "You always cook when you're stressed," she noted, "But I do love your turnover's," she added sheepishly.

"I know you do," Regina smiled, shaking her head, "Maybe that's why I cook them."

Belle watched this exchange curiously; she'd never seen her friend so open with an adult, she was usually so closed up and tense around her parents, or even Granny, even though she'd known them for years. She was distracted when her phone buzzed and pulled it out.

"Oh, it's Ruby," she smiled, "We were going to meet at Granny's later," her smile turned to a frown as she looked at Emma, "But it's cool. I'll just see her tomorrow," she shrugged.

"She is welcome to come over here if you would like," Regina stated, "Or you can all go to Granny's, whichever you prefer."

Emma bit her lip, "I just didn't really want to be around crowds today," she mumbled.

Regina nodded, "Emma, I have told you, your friends are more than welcome in this house. If it will make you more comfortable, I can make myself scarce."

"No," Emma said quickly, "I don't want that," she turned to Belle, "Text her back, tell her to come over."

Belle thought about protesting but sighed and started pressing the button's on her phone.

"Are those turnover's ready yet?" Emma licked her lips.

Regina laughed, "They should be, come, help me serve," she stood up and Emma followed her out of the room, leaving Ruby and Belle in the lounge.

"Yum, I can taste it already," Emma bounced after her teacher.

Regina turned around to smile at her, "You're in a good mood," she noted.

Emma stopped in her tracks and looked thoughtful, "I suppose I am," she agreed.

Regina bent down to open the oven and Emma couldn't help her eyes averting straight to the woman's ass, it seemed no matter what she wore it always hugged her hips just perfectly. Emma was practically drooling but composed herself as the brunette pulled out the tray and set it on the bench.

Emma reached out to the tray but Regina swatted her hand away, "Not yet, you'll burn yourself."

"Aw, come on, I'm starving," Emma pouted, "Plus they look really good. You cook the best turnover's ever."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Stop sucking up, you. Wait five minutes first."

Emma smiled, "Fine, fine," she sighed, giving in.

"So, is she like all teachery?" Ruby asked in a hushed voice as the other two left the room.

Belle rolled her eyes, "She seems okay, she's nice."

"Seriously? You've been here an hour and that's it? No goss?" Ruby encouraged.

Belle just laughed at her girlfriend, "There's no gossip to tell, Ruby. She's just like a normal person."

Regina smiled as she entered the room, "Thank you, Belle," she said, smirking as Ruby shrunk back in her seat, "Ah, don't worry, Ruby, if I had been in a teachers house at your age I probably would have wanted some kind of gossip too."

Ruby blushed but allowed herself a small smile as Belle rolled her eyes.

Emma had a mouthful of apple pie, "This is delicious, you guys should have some," she managed to get past the food in her mouth.

"Em, would you swallow before you talk? Jeez," Belle shook her head.

"I would second that request, dear," Regina added.

Emma just grinned before she took another bite, "It's so good, though."

Ruby took some pie and bit into it, "Whoa, Miss Mi-…Regina, this is so good. Don't tell my Granny I said anything, but it might even be better than hers. Maybe."

Regina smiled widely; always proud to hear compliments on her food, "Why thank you, dear, but I'm sure you're exaggerating."

"No, she's really not," Emma said enthusiastically before swallowing, "Yours is better than Granny's. Sorry, Rubes," she grinned at her friend.

"Emma, really, must you talk with your mouth full?" Regina shook her head, despite finding the teenager somewhat endearing as she woofed down another slice of her turnover.

Emma merely nodded as she rested back on her chair, looking satisfied.

"She does seem pretty nice, don't you think?" Belle asked, "I've never seen Emma like that with an adult before."

Ruby smirked, "Yeah, because she's hot."

Belle rolled her eyes, "Is that all you think about?"

Ruby bumped her shoulder into her girlfriend playfully, "Nah, I think she seems pretty cool for a teacher and those turnovers, damn," she licked her lips.

Belle laughed as leaned into Ruby's side, "Don't let Granny hear you say that," she teased quietly.

Ruby just laughed, zipping her lips, "Yeah, yeah," they reached the corner where they sent their separate ways and stopped under the streetlight, "How about I walk you home?"

Belle blushed; she still wasn't used to Ruby's sweet side, "My parents are out for the night," she mumbled, "Why don't you come over?"

Ruby tilted her head, "It's late, don't you wanna go to bed? School in the morning," she both loved and hated how dedicated her girlfriend was to her education.

Belle shrugged, "We could go to sleep…couldn't we?"

Ruby frowned, "Really? Are you sure?"

"I said sleep, Ruby," Belle mumbled as she blushed.

Ruby rolled her eyes, "I know, but we hardly ever sleep together, usually just when you fall asleep on the couch, which is adorable by the way," she grinned.

"Do you wanna come over or not?" Belle asked, entwining her fingers with Ruby's.

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, "Sure, let's go," she squeezed Belle's hand.

"Emma," Regina knocked on the teenagers door, "Are you up? I'm leaving in half hour if you want a lift," she smiled upon hearing Emma groan, "I'll take that as a yes."

"Uh-huh," Emma mumbled as she reluctantly threw the covers off and opened the door, running a hand through her hair as she dragged her feet to the kitchen.

Regina was still in her pj's and Emma couldn't help a small smile coming over her face; she'd never imagined seeing her teacher in cute silk pyjama's. She looked so much less intimidating than at school.

"What are you grinning at?" Regina asked, curiously.

Busted, Emma thought, shrugging, "Nothing," she lied, turning to the fridge and opening it.

Regina narrowed her eyes but didn't push; she had grown used to the teenagers not so subtle stares and had decided to take them as a compliment.

"I'm going to jump into the shower, eat quick, we're running late," Regina instructed as she left the kitchen.

Emma tapped her pen on the desk distractedly until she earned herself a glare from the English teacher, Miss Blanchard. She yawned as she continued writing her essay, wishing she'd gone to bed a little earlier because she was exhausted. She supposed she was lucky it was an English test, even at her worst she still beat most people's normal skill's…not that she was cocky.

Emma had been writing ever since she was a kid, it was the one subject she wasn't struggling with. Her teachers had used to lecture her on wasting her potentials, she wasn't even trying and she would excel; just imagine what she could do if she actually tried. But word got around and at some point, the teachers had stopped giving her those lectures, but that was fine by her. At least, that's what she told herself.

She finished her essay and lay her head on her arms, closing her eyes. At least it was quiet, she thought, as she receded into a world she knew didn't exist but it was still somehow a comfort. She hadn't been doing this, though, quite as much, since she had been living with Miss Mills. There must be something to that, she thought, with her last conscious thought.

"Emma…Emma Swan," a loud voice started her awake.

Shit, she hadn't meant to fall asleep and not so deeply, she pulled her head out of her arms groggily and looked up at Miss Blanchard, "Sorry," she muttered.

"Mhm, essay?" the English teacher merely replied, holding out a hand.

Emma picked it up and handed it to her.

"I'm surprised you could finish this when you slept half of my class," the teacher raised an eyebrow.

"I finished my essay first," Emma shrugged, packing up her bag, "There wasn't exactly anything else to do."

"No homework for any of your classes? I find that quite remarkable, Emma," Miss Blanchard's voice was like ice; but Emma supposed she deserved that.

Emma sighed, "Well, I guess I'll get in trouble with them then," she shot back, "I don't think my other classes are really your business, Miss Blanchard," she was snapping now, but god, this teacher grated her.

"Well, I don't know why you came back if you're not even going to try," Miss Blanchard delivered.

If there was one thing that riled Emma up, it was when people said she wasn't trying, she stood up with clenched fists, "Again, that's none of your business. And you have no idea how hard I'm trying, you act all high and mighty like you know everything – "

"Lower your voice, Emma," Miss Blanchard interjected, looking around the classroom even though it was empty apart from the two of them.

"Wouldn't want anyone hearing how it really is," Emma muttered.

She shook her head, slung her bag over a shoulder and left the classroom before she let her mouth get her in serious trouble.

Ruby had an arm around Belle when Emma arrived, throwing her bag moodily onto the table before sitting down and placing her feet on the seat next to her. Ruby and Belle exchanged glances, Belle leaning forward.

"Everything okay, Swan?" she asked.

Emma shrugged, "Yup."

Belle couldn't help rolling her eyes, "Very convincing."

"Just get off my back, okay?" Emma snapped.

Belle leaned back, "Okay," she muttered; she knew when to leave her best friend alone. Emma could have a foul temper and you didn't want to rile her up when she was in one of her moods.

Ruby and Belle chatted throughout lunch whilst Emma seemed to stare into space, not really paying attention until a visitor came to the table.

"A word, Emma?"

Emma looked up to see her Spanish teacher standing beside the table and frowned as she stood up, "Um, sure," she picked up her bag and gave a quick wave to her friends, noting the worried look on Belle's face.

"Did I do something wrong?" Emma asked, confused as Regina led her into an empty classroom, closing the door.

Regina sighed, "What do you think?"

Emma frowned, "You know I studied for the test afternoon, what – "

"Not in my class, dear," Regina cut in, raising her eyebrows at the student.

"Miss Blanchard dobbed me in to you?" Emma asked incredulously.

Regina shook her head, "I heard her talking to another teacher… and it's not the first time. You're going to get yourself in trouble if you keep giving her attitude. What is it with her that riles you up so much?"

Emma shrugged, "She's a bitch," she answered.

Regina looked at her sternly, "Emma… I am trying to keep you out of trouble here. Why don't you just apologise to her? I don't care if you don't mean it, I just don't want her going higher up with this."

Emma scowled, "I get that you're trying to help, but she's had it in for me since forever," she shrugged.

"Emma," Regina sighed frustratingly, "Please, did you ever think maybe she just doesn't like seeing one of the most gifted writers in this school waste her talent?"

Emma's eyes widened, "You're protecting her?" she asked, shocked, "Ugh, right, this is some kind of teacher brotherhood bullshit. Just because she's a teacher – "

"No," Regina attempted to put her foot down, realising she was unintentionally winding the teenager up, "It's not like that, but I've talked to her – "

"You're on her side," Emma was raising her voice now, "You're just another fucking teacher."

The brunette looked like she'd been slapped in the face.

Emma couldn't find her voice for a moment, blinking rapidly as the teacher turned and headed to the door, "No, Regina, I didn't mean – "

"It's fine," the teacher's hurt was painted on her face, "I'll see you at home."

Emma closed her eyes, berating herself. She had Spanish in a couple of hours; those classes was hard enough pretending that Regina wasn't just another teacher, but now? They'd never even argued before, why hadn't she just thought before she spoke? I'm so stupid, she thought.

Emma unlocked the front door and headed straight to her room, throwing herself onto the bed. She'd really screwed up today, majorly. She knew she was only going to be in more trouble now after skipping Spanish but she couldn't bear to sit there and watch Regina and not be able to apologise to her. It would be too painful.

Though being here, in her house, now felt wrong too. She'd been so harsh. She hadn't even meant it; she knew that Regina was more than just another teacher. She'd done more than any adult had ever done for her. She spent the afternoon beating herself up, until she decided to turn the television on and numb her brain out to feeling.

"Emma?" she hadn't even heard Regina get home, she switched the tv off and rolled off her bed.

"Hi," Emma stood awkwardly.

"You skipped my class?" and there was that hurt look on the brunette's face that killed something inside of Emma.

"I know, I'm sorry, Regina," Emma took a step closer to her teacher, "I know I screwed up today, I didn't think before I spoke, I never meant what I said. You're way more than just a teacher, and I only skipped because it would be too hard seeing you and not being able to apologise to you. I'm so, so sorry."

Regina thought about interrupting but she could the desperation in the teenagers eyes and she knew her words were true; but at the same time, she wondered if it was time to move some discipline into their relationship, "We've never fought before," she started, hesitating, "I can't say I'm a fan," she smiled.

"Me either," Emma's eyes were still wide, "I'm sorry," she repeated, "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, it was so disrespectful and I do respect you – "

Regina put a hand up, "Emma, I know," she sighed, "But if we argue, you can't just skip my class. That defeats the point of me helping you."

"Can't we just not argue?" Emma smiled sheepishly.

Regina shook her head, "I hope so," she said, "But arguments happen in all relationships, Emma. We are, unfortunately, not immune from that."

Emma nodded sadly.

"It is not always easy for me, honey, trying to be your friend and your teacher," Regina admitted, "You know I can't let you get away with things at school, I can't just turn a blind eye…"

Emma sighed, "Detention, right?"

Regina nodded, "Yes, for the rest of the week. And you need to re-sit the test you missed this afternoon."

Emma nodded, "Okay," she shrugged, "I get it."

Regina quirked an eyebrow, surprised, "You do?"

Emma shrugged again, "Sure. I swore at you, I skipped your class… I know you can't play favourites, you'd get in trouble and that's the last thing I want."

Regina smiled, "Good," she looked at the teenager weakly, "Are we friends again?"

Emma's smile widened, "I hope so," she stepped forward and put her arms around a surprised Regina, who took a moment to react before she returned the embrace.