Chapter 4

Regina's POV

"It's Thursday." I whisper quietly to myself. Im alone in my room, getting ready for work. My usual routine isn't feeling sufficient today, but I've already worn my nice and I don't have another one. I should have asked Katherine if I could borrow something of hers. Too late now. I am so nervous I feel like my whole body I vibrating. Its 7:30 and I have to go wake Henry for school, so I quietly pad into his room, opening the door and sitting on the end of the bed.

"Henry, baby, it's time to get up. Come one sweetie," I ruffle his hair and rub his back. I know he should be able to wake up on his own, but I like this. Some mornings I get a mushy, snuggly little boy, and I wouldn't trade those days for anything.

"Okay, okay." He grumbles. Today is obviously not one of those days.

"Would you like eggs and bacon for breakfast?"

"Yes please."

"Okay. Go wash your face and brush your hair please. Then come on down."

He slides out of bed, wiping the sleep from his eyes and teetering a little bit on his still tired feet. I follow him out and head downstairs to make breakfast.

As I'm whisking the eggs, I think of all the possible outcomes for today. Number one, we have a nice chat over a drink and go our separate ways and never do this again. Number two, she asks me out again. Number three, I ask her out again. As im going through my list, the phone rings. I snatch it quickly, seeing Katherine's name on the screen.

"Good morning sunshine!" I giggle a little, despite myself.

"Good morning Kat," I deadpan.

"Well rested?"

"Yes, mom," I teased.

"Don't forget to pay for her drink. Just do it. She'll be putty in your hands. Pull out her chair. Compliment her outfit, it doesn't matter what shes wearing. Tell her she smells nice. Ask her lots of questions."

"Okay, okay."

"Mom! Im hungry!"

"Kat, listen, I'll call you later this afternoon."

"Hi aunt Kat!" Henry is dishing food on to his plate, getting pieces of egg everywhere, of course.

"Hey! Hey! I got it. Go sit down. Give mom one second please. Patience, young man," he rolls his eyes, putting his plate down and walking over to the kitchen table. "Attitude!"

"Okay, sorry! Im hungry."

"I'll talk to you later, Gina. Good luck! Be yourself! Love you!" the line goes dead.

Emma's POV

12:37; its 12:37 and I'm standing outside the building where her office is. I have once again donned my red leather jacket, but I have opted for a skirt and tights instead of jeans. She could be impressed by this. I read my paper over again. Of course, it's a little too late to change anything short of writing on it myself, but I need something to pass the time and keep me from throwing up. I've never been like this at school. I do well, but Im a slacker. I don't like work or rules or structure. But this women makes me feel like a completely different person. She makes me want to be something. In me canvas bag, I have my camera. I've had it for years, sometimes I can't adjust the zoon just right, but its mine all the same. I take it out and take a few shots of the door that leads into the hallway.

12:43

I think I can go inside now. I step in, clutching my camera. I scan the doors until I find her number. 2002. Her name is listed above the number. I take a snap of that too, before sliding it back into my bag as quietly as possible. I can hear papers rustling on the other side of the door and my breath hitches a little. Her foot must be tapping on the floor, because I can hear the reverberations. Taking a deep breath, I knock quietly but, hopefully, assertively.

"Come on in," her voice is like a siren call and I turn the handle, focusing on walking with as much confidence as possible. One look at her and my heart begins to beat wild, unsteady rhythm. She's wearing an aqua, spaghetti strap tank top, her bra strap sticking out in an annoyingly adorable way, and tight jeans. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail as usual, and her smile is warm and welcoming. I try to return it as best I can.

"Hi." I feel like I stuttered through that whole word.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Swan. Have a seat," she gestures to the chair next to the desk. I feel like I'm frozen, watching her gaze move from my face down my body and back up again. When her eyes meet mine, I glance away quickly. It's then that I realize how small the room is. There's her desk, my chair, and a big bookshelf, mostly empty. I gape at the room, suddenly feeling like the four walls are closing in on us.

"Ms. Swan…?" her voice interrupts my train of thought and I realize I haven't taken my seat yet.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. It's just so… small in here," she laughs a little and I'm relieved.

"I agree. Second year professors like me don't get the big offices until much later," I smile a little, glancing around the room again. "Let's take a look at your paper."

Oh yeah. The whole reason I'm even here. I open my bag and retrieve the folder containing my paper.

"Here you go," I slide the paper over to her, careful not to let my touch linger. Stay calm, Emma. Stay calm.

"You brought your camera?" I turn beat red.

"I, uh, always have it with me. Whenever the mood strikes me, I take a picture. Well, mostly whenever."

"And when do you refrain?" I bite my tongue, stopping myself from telling her how badly I want to photograph her.

"Oh, you know, the usual. In class mostly, eating out, stuff like that," she seems satisfied with my answer.

"Okay," she turns her attention to my paper and begins reading it quietly to herself, her pen following each line. I watch her face mostly, desperate to take a picture. Her lips press together as the rereads a sentence.

"Bad?"

"No," she glances up. "I like it. Very insightful. I like the metaphor."

Metaphors. I recall the day we learned about metaphors, the day I imagined fucking her against the wall and, against my will, I blush again.

"Thank you." She continues reading quietly to herself. She writes little notes as she goes, most of them content oriented, some grammatical.

"Okay. So, general consensus, this is an amazing paper. You kicked ass."

I feel my heart clench at the genuineness of her voice. I kicked ass. Emma Swan ass kicker. Damn that feels good.

"Th-thank you," I stutter, my heart now racing. "Thanks," I repeat myself for clarity purposes, and also to feel less lame.

"I want you to be a little more specific in this paragraph. You see how in the first paragraph, you defined this word? I want you to go with same kind of concept here. I know it seems redundant, but it helps with clarity and consistency. That's good for your paper."

"Okay, yeah I see what you're saying."

"Also, comma splice here. I'll take off for that," her voice is stern, but she's smiling. Sometimes I don't even know what to do with her, she's so cute.

"Comma splice…?" I tried to recall if she had taught us that, but I couldn't.

"Okay, look at this half of your sentence before the comma. It's a complete sentence, right?"

"Right."

"Okay, that's an independent clause. Now look at the other half after the comma. Independent clause?"

"Yes."

"Yes. So, that's a comma splice. You can put a semicolon there, or a period if you would prefer. That would depend on how you want it to flow."

I am completely blown away by all of this. She's just so intelligent. I can hardly stand it.

"Okay, yeah. I got it," I can't think of anything else I can say except okay. My heart is still pounding and I just feel like I'm stumbling all over myself.

"This makes sense, right? You get it?" I nod my head again, more eager this time.

"Totally. Thank you for doing this. You just really know your stuff and I love that so much. It's really refreshing to listen to you," its her turn to blush now, as she turns away from my gaze. I slide the paper back towards me and move to put it away.

"I'll pack up my things and we can go. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect. Can I help you with anything?"

"No, dear. Thank you though."

I watch her slip her papers into her laptop bag and sling it over her shoulder. She pulls her keys out of her purse before putting that strap over her laptop one, and then shuts down her desktop computer.

"Okay," I hear her take a deep breathe. Could she be as nervous as I am? Or is she dreading this? Did she say yes out of pity? Swan. Keep it together. She isn't Neal. She isn't your parents. She isn't trying to hurt you. Shes a good person, kind person. Just go with it.

"All set?" I ask. Her eyes rise to meet mine, and I'm stuck with the domesticity of all of it.

"Yes, I believe so," I open the door for her and she slips by, the faint smell of her perfume trailing after her. She smells like apples; maybe its her shampoo. She locks the door and her sunglasses, always on top of her head, gets slipped onto her face. God shes precious.

"After you, professor," she smiles one of the most genuine smiles I have ever seen, all wide eyed and toothy.

"Thank you, Ms. Swan."

We make our way down the narrow hallway, me just a few steps behind her. She holds the door open for me when we get outside and we walk in companionable silence. Every now and then her hand brushes mine and a shiver runs down my spine. I can't tell if she notices, or if shes feels the same, nut I glance at her every so often as we walk. Her hair in the sunlight is a rich brown and the natural flow is just barely subdued by the ponytail. Her face is round, her body all curves. Im stuck again by her natural beauty. She wearing no makeup. Damn.

When we get to Starbucks, she stands ahead of me in line.

"So, hot coca with whipped cream and cinnamon?" I blush.

"You remembered."

"Of course. Henry drinks the exact same," oh right. Her son.

"And you. Black with two sugars?" She smiles and a giggle comes out too.

"Usually. I think I might try something a little sweeter."

"I hear pumpkin spice lattes are all the rave right now if you're into that kind of stuff," we're both laughing now and I'm monumentally relieved.

"Well, I'm not so sure for myself, but my best friend Katherine is crazy about them."

"Yeah, Lacey, from class?" she nods her head. "She's obsessed. She waited in line for like half an hour the day they started making them here so she could have one."

"I figured you two were friends."

"Yeah, we hang out a lot."

It's her turn in line and she walks to place her order.

"I would like a Grande hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon, please. Also, a Grande vanilla latte. Scalding please." I reach my hand out and lay it on her shoulder, trying to stop her.

"Professor Mills-"

"No, no. I insist." I can't help the blush spreading all over my body. Im swooning.

"I really don't-"

"Sh. Maybe I'll consider letting you pick up the tab next time," I nearly squeal in delight. Next time. She already wants there to be a next time! She pays for our drinks and we stand off to the side to wait.

"Thank you," I whisper quietly, looking down at my feet.

"It's my pleasure, Ms. Swan."

"You can call me Emma, you know? Or Em. Or I guess whatever you want," shes laughing now.

"I'll work on it, Emma."

I hear the barista call out "Regina!" and shes moving towards the counter to retrieve her drink. Regina? Her first name is Regina. That's fucking gorgeous. She returns, clutching her drink in her hand.

"It smells delicious."

"Sure does."

A moment later, they call my name, and I take my drink.

"Where would you like to sit, Emma?" I smile at the way my name sounds coming out of her mouth.

"Maybe somewhere a little quieter?"

The Starbucks was crowded and noisy. I already felt like people were staring.

"I know a nice place. Follow me."

We only walk for a minute and then I see a small set of tables under towering oak trees. "How's this?" she asks, concerned perhaps.

"Lovely," I walk toward a table directly under a tree, setting my drink down before moving to sit. She pulls my chair out before I get the chance. I stare at her.

"Sit, Emma. It's just a chair," shes teasing me, but she looks anxious somehow.

"I'm sorry. Thank you," she tucks it in as I sit, sliding me into the table. After shes seated, we both release a heavy sigh.

"You look so nice, Emma," I think I've died and gone to heaven.

"Thank you." I spend far too much time blushing around this women.

"So do you, professor Mills," she seems to be hesitating, biting her lip.

"I think you could call me Regina, if you'd like. After all, I did but you hot chocolate," she winks at me and I immediately burst out laughing.

"Regina…" I try the name out, and I notice her shiver. "Are you cold?"

She stares at me. "What?"

"You shivered. I thought maybe you were cold. I was going to offer you my jacket."

"Sure, I'm a little chilly." I stand immediately shrugging off my jacket and walk around to the other side of the table to help her into it. My fingertips brush her bare skin and I feel as if they're on fire now. I walk back and sit down, appraising her in my clothes.

"That's a very nice color on you, Regina," another shiver and I realize she isn't cold. Oh damn, is it possible shes affected by me too?

"Thank you," now shes blushing and my god the pink in her cheeks. Im so attracted to her.

"How's your semester going?" I'm a little thrown by the change in pace.

"I'm enjoying it so far. I love this campus, it's beautiful to photograph. Very inspiring. And my professors are all pretty good. Nobody tops you, of course," I wink at her and she laughs, the kind of where her head falls back. "The work can be a bit crazy and my schedule sometimes overwhelms me, but my roommate Belle is my best friend in the whole world and she helps me through everything." I've never volunteered so much information to anyone in my lifetime, besides Belle.

"My best friend Katherine and I are like that. She lives two blocks down from us and is over all the time. Sometimes I think she actually lives in our home," she laughs, seeming to recall a memory.

"And Henry? You said he was ten, right?"

"Yes, ten. He's growing up so fast. And he adores Katherine. Shes helped me raise him since he was a baby."

"Henry's father?"

"Non-existent. We had a falling out within a month of Henry's birth. I haven't seen or heard from him since he left almost 10 years ago."

"I'm so sorry," I'm supremely uncomfortable now. I can't believe I brought him up.

"It's okay. Henry understands, I think. As much as a ten year old can. And we've managed just fine all these years."

"You seem like a great mom."
"I do my best. I love him so much."

"What about you? You said you've been in foster homes. Have any of them stuck?"

"No, not really. I've been to 8 homes, but they were always parents with tons of other kids and they just wanted extra money. It was always temporary for me and I usually ran away so they would move me. I met Belle when we were eight. I was on my third home and I ran away and went to the playground. She was sitting on the swings and I was sitting in the sand crying. She came over and started talking to me and we've been attached to the hip ever since. She's an English major and I'm babbling," she smiles.

"You're perfect. I mean, you were fine. I'm interested in hearing about your life," shes stammering through all of it and it's so, so cute.

"Oh. Thank you," we both pause to sip our drinks. "How's the latte?"

"Actually quite good. Hot."

"Well, you did ask for scalding."

"I like two things scalding: showers and coffee."

"That's a good motto," suddenly, I feel her foot brush against mine. I pretend not to notice, but subtly kick her back. I've never played footsie, but I think this is it.

"What about your parents?"

"My father died many years ago of a heart attack and my mother… Well, we aren't on good terms. Shes appalled that im an English professor and a single mom. She thinks I'm too good for that."

"She sounds like a…" I trail off. A snob. The same thing I thought of the brilliant, gorgeous, quirky women sitting in front of me just a few weeks ago.

"Bitch?" she lightly taps my foot again. I jump.

"Uh. Yeah. Yeah that's why I would say," she laughs lightly, but there's a hint of sadness and heaviness in it.

"I know. I struggle with her at times, but mostly we just never talk."

"I'm so sorry. I know how you feel," the silence is back. She nudges me again, this time running her foot up my calf and I blush, making eye contact with her."

"Where do you see yourself in ten years, Emma?"

"Well, I'm not sure, I guess, I would like to be married, maybe have a child. I guess it's kinda of complicated because I want to travel the world and take pictures of fascinating people, but I also wasn't to settle down and have a family. I thought about photographing people for magazines and stuff like that. And now I'm babbling again. I'm so sorry." She laughs again.

"Emma, I asked. I like hearing about your life and your goals and your ambitions. That's what dates are for, right?" I can feel my heart start racing. She called it a date. I call it a date and now she called it a date. God, Swan. You are swooning hard.

"Okay, so can I ask you now? Do you still see yourself doing this in ten years? How did you decide to become a teacher?" she pauses, looking up at the tree above us.

"When I got pregnant with Henry, I thought my fiancée and I would get married and have henry and I don't think I thought too far past that. When he left, I knew I needed to take care of my son, so I went to school to get my degree in teaching and I hoped I would change someone's life in the classroom. As long as I can keep my job here, I think I would stay. But I haven't thought about marriage or even dating in 10 years."

"What made you change your mind?" I pray she'll answer me the way I want her to. I feel her foot brush mine slowly.

"I think we'll save that for later," suddenly, something dawns on her. "What time is it?" she checks her phone. "Oh shit. We've got to get going or we'll be late for class." I stand hurriedly and take her empty cup, depositing both of ours in the trash. We collect our bags and start walking towards class. I see Lacey coming up the walkway and immediately turn and walk the other direction. I laugh.

"Something funny, Ms. Swan?"

"No, not at all, professor Mills," we're both laughing. Before we enter the building, she stops me.

"Emma-"She pulls me away from the building, out of earshot of other people. Her touch on my skin is electric and my whole body is on fire. I gasp slightly when her hand slides down my arm and squeezes my hand. "I really enjoyed this with you. I want you to understand that if you're not interested in pursuing anything, I understand. But that being said, I would like to do this again. Or something like it. Maybe somewhere off campus?"

I can hardly breathe. My heart is racing and my ears are pounding and I'm not sure if I'm imagining this or not.

"You're… asking me out on a date?" she nods shyly, glancing down at her feet.

"Is it too soon?"

"No, Regina, definitely not. I would love to go out with you," shes beaming, absolutely beaming, for the first time, I let go of my self-control and giggle like a child.

"We should really go inside. You go first," I nod and turn to walk in. "Emma!" I turn to her. "Your jacket," she shrugs it off her shoulders and hand it back to me. "Thank you for letting me borrow it. Even though I wasn't cold," she wink at me and I giggle again.

"Anytime you are cold, just let me know." Shes cracking up.

"Go inside."

I jog up the stairs, internally screaming. When I bust through the boor I see Lacey expectantly waiting for me. She stands from her chair and runs to me and we both run down the hall out of earshot of anyone, especially Regina when she comes upstairs. Regina. I can call her Regina now. Oh god yes.

"Emma Swan she was wearing your jacket!" Lacey is squealing and shaking my shoulders.

"I know. She was cold! Actually she had a shiver that I mistook for a cold. And I can call her Regina now and Lace oh my god she asked if I wanted to go out again sometime."

"Emma no way! No fucking way! Oh shit!"

Never in my life have I felt more alive.