A/N – Ouch. I am so sorry guys for keeping you waiting. Honestly I feel seriously guilty. I hope you all are going to enjoy this chapter to try and make up for the wait. You might want to refresh your memory slightly, but if not…let's get on with the story.
"You know, I sometimes think that just talking about things, makes them easier to understand." She didn't react for a second. But when she did, my heart almost beat straight out of my chest.
"Thank you Emma." Those three little words. So simple, and yet that packed such a punch. And it made my heart swell. She had been very open, but hadn't always registered it all. And this now shows that not everything I do goes crap. I can help people, and make people happy, and feel good about themselves. And it turns out, the result is better than I could have ever imagined.
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"Regina, I meant what I said. You really have been amazing. I can't even begin to think about where I would be right now if you weren't here with me every step of the way. I mean Ruby and Bell are absolutely great friends and they have been my biggest supporters throughout the past year, but you just bring this whole new side to me. There is just something about you." We were still curled up on the couch at either ends, and had finished our drinks and neither of us went for the refill knowing we would possibly come to regret it in the morning.
"Emma, you really don't have to say anything. The whole point of me being here is to help you. As both your event planner and your son's babysitter. And you would be surprised at how well I can handle children." I couldn't help the smile grow across my face. Regina had such an innocence to her, and it just made my heart flutter. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing it's just…" I looked into her eyes and saw her curiousness shining in them. "Regina, have you ever done something? Something you knew was wrong at the time, but thought that it would all work out in the end?" Her face became a mixture of confusion, and concern that I might possibly be crazy. And I honestly couldn't blame her. I sound insane even to myself. "Forget it. It's stupid anyway."
"No come on. Tell me what you meant." She rested her hand on my knee, and whether it was her subconscious or just her, but she started rubbing her thumb around my knee, and it was so soothing and relaxing it was strange, but wonderful at the same time. "You can trust me." And it was scary how true that statement was.
"I just meant like, stealing a cookie from the jar, and just hoping your parents wouldn't notice. Something like that, but on a bigger scale."
"Are you trying to subtly tell me that you robbed a bank and are hoping the police won't notice?" God I knew this would be a bad idea to bring it up in the first place. "Emma come on. Seriously just tell me what you're trying to say. I won't judge you. I promise." I looked into her eyes one more, and saw no sign of trickery. Maybe telling her would be easier than just trying to beat around the bush.
"I guess what I am trying to say is that, I'm the child in the kitchen, and you're the cookie I am trying to steal." Yeah that sounded ten times worse coming out my mouth than it did in my head. I saw Regina's cheeks go bright red. And I am pretty sure that mine weren't far behind.
"You think I'm a cookie?" And that sounded even weirder. I took me a second to register what she was asking me, but I answered quickly enough.
"Yes. Maybe? I don't really want to answer that." Perhaps not my best response ever, but at this point it was better than sitting here with my mouth open waiting for the flies to swarm around it. Regina sat up from her side of the sofa and shifted into the middle slightly.
"Emma, can I be honest with you?" She seemed serious, so I took her for how she was acting.
"Of course you can Regina. What is it?" She took a deep breath as if she was readying herself for a massive speech.
"Would you believe me…if I said I was…" She looked as though she was really struggling to get the words out. She took a long pause and my mind managed to think of hundreds of possible endings to the sentence. None of which were correct. "…a virgin?" Yeah, not what I was expecting by any means.
"Honestly, no. I wouldn't believe you. But you have never given me reason to doubt you, so I don't know why I would start now. That and the look on your face is way too serious for you to be lying." It managed to make her laugh, even if it was just for the split second. "But wait, I thought you were this confident, don't mess with me, looks for fun anywhere and everywhere, sassy pants diva. Now you're telling me you have never slept with anyone. Something doesn't exactly add up here." She started fidgeting in her seat again before I took her hands, more by reaction than actual thought. "Relax. Think it through in your head first and then explain to me what the hell is happening." She took a deep, calming breath and finally looked straight into my eyes.
"Most of what you said was true. I am a confident, don't mess with me, sassy pants diva. And I do look for fun. I just never seemed to actually find it. I thought that I could find a girl at a random bar when I was like seventeen, eighteen. And I could just have my first time over and done with. All people ever told me was that the first time would hurt and the rest were pure bliss. But I never managed to find anyone. And as the years went on I just stopped trying so much. I wouldn't go out all the time. I only met new people through work, and personally I think I scare a lot of them. But I guess that I just never actually got round to having that moment. I mean, I didn't want it to be meaningless, so I wanted to have some connection with the person I slept with, but at the same time, I didn't want it to be with someone that I cared for so much in case it ended up being really bad and I ever wanted to speak to them again." I didn't do anything as Regina was practically pouring her heart out to me.
"Regina, why are you so…embarrassed to admit such a thing?" She looked up at me like I was a complete and total idiot. And I might very well have been.
"Because, saying that I am a virgin to a person I am extremely attracted to is not exactly high on my list of enjoyable things. You can't honestly tell me that you were still a virgin when you were my age." I simply looked at waiting for the shoe to drop. It only took a moment but she got there in the end. "Right. Forget I asked." It was true. I had gotten my first time done when I was younger than her. But that didn't mean it made any different.
"Regina, you need to understand. No matter what age you are, your fist is only ever going to be what you make it. And you only get to make it once. So don't go wasting it with someone you hardly know and barely care about alright." She nodded her head in agreement. The room went silent, and I was replaying a few of Regina's words in my head. And I couldn't help but question her about it. "Did I hear wrong it did you say that you are extremely attracted to me?" Her eyes practically bugged out of their sockets before she quickly calmed down.
"Like you didn't already know." True.
"Yeah. I knew. But you haven't actually said it out loud before now. It is one thing to know it for yourself, but it is another thing to admit it out loud. And I am really glad that you did." I don't know why, I don't even know how but my hand started brushing through her gorgeous, soft brown curls. It was oddly soothing for me, and I was hoping it gave the same feeling for her. And as I ran my hand through her hair, I could see the look in her eye. The look that I knew would only lead to trouble for both of us. But it wasn't as powerful as I had seen her before. This was much weaker, and innocent. She seemed almost nervous. As I ran all the thoughts through in my head, I knew that what I did next would kill both of us. I removed my hand from her hair, and got up from the sofa. I turned back to face Regina, and was relieved to see that she didn't seem hurt.
"Emma…I'm sorry I just…"
"Don't be. I'm glad you shared. I just think that maybe it's time we started winding things down for the evening." I looked at my watch, and found that it was actually gone midnight. Oh god. I couldn't let Regina drive home now. One it was far too late to be driving. And two she had already had a glass to drink. That is by no means a good combination. "You are more than welcome to stay here for the night. I have a guest bedroom, and I can lend you a pair of baggy clothes to sleep in for the night." She got up from the sofa and I could tell just from her expression that she was ready to argue. "If I hear anything but agreement come out of those lips, they will never be feeling mine again." It was a cheap shot, but it seemed to do the trick. She closed her mouth and simply bowed her head in submission. And who says you can't use sex as a weapon? She stood up from the sofa and opened her mouth once more.
"I was going to say, that I will stay so long as you don't give me any of your hideously baggy clothes. Remember, I am smaller than you, so any loose trousers you give me are likely to end up just falling straight off." The smirk that grew across her face told me she knew exactly what she was doing. I was trying so hard, not to show the effect she was having on me, but god she wasn't making it easy.
"Fine, I can give you a pair of leggings and one of my tank tops. Does that suit you?"
"That will be fine, thank you. But you are going to have to show me around a bit because I have only really been in about three rooms in the house, and none of them are upstairs."
"No problem. Come on, I'll give you the grand tour." Without even thinking about it, I grabbed her by the wrist and started dragging her around the house. Showing her all the rooms. I brought her around to my room, I don't even know why. I guess I was just on auto pilot. Showing her each room that came into my head. As we entered the room it quickly dawned on me what could happen, but it was too late to do anything about it. I know I was trying to wait, and hold off till after the event, and something like this situation wasn't going to help, but I didn't want to be rude to Regina and just tell her to leave. I couldn't do that to her. Especially when she has been so understanding of me. Doing that could just push her all the way out the door. Literally. "And this is my room." Regina stood into the room, and had a quick look around. "Over there I have my own bathroom. You should have one in the guest room for yourself." Her eyes had come to stop on the bed. She looked as though she was about to throw up. "Regina? Are you okay?" She tore her eyes away and looked over to me.
"I know this is going to seem like an awkward question, but when you were with Neal, how did…where did…Did you two sleep in the same bed?" She stopped and looked into my eyes, and I could tell the answer she was looking for, just by looking at her. And I had never been so happy to give an answer to anyone.
"Regina, I must admit that yes at the beginning of the relationship we slept in the same bed, but as the time went on, we simply became further and further apart. After a while I suggested that we no longer sleep in the same bed. I wasn't sleeping because I was feeling so uncomfortable knowing that he was near me, in such a close proximity. So we agreed that he would sleep either in the basement, or the attic. He chose the attic as it meant he wouldn't have to go past Henry's room all the time to go to and from his room." I could begin to see her face lighten, and a smile spreading across her face. And that might very well have been the best sight I have ever laid eyes upon. "It was a good arrangement. Henry never actually suspected anything. At least not until he was about eight. He thought it a normal thing for parents to sleep separately. Then he started getting a bit wiser to what was happening, and that is when things started to crumble. When life began to be hard."
"Emma, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It wasn't my place." She looked down to the ground as though she was ashamed. I took her by the chin, and raised her head to get her to look up to me.
"Hey, don't worry about it. You ask and I will answer. I won't tell you anything I am not comfortable with. Just relax. I don't have anything to hide. At least nothing I am aware of." It got her to laugh slightly. Just enough for her to smile again. "I am sure that I have plenty of secrets to hide…" I took a step closer to Regina. Everything I was doing right now was not what I should be doing. "…But none of them I would want to hide from you." Tears began to build in her eyes, and just seeing that began making me tear up. And just for a moment, it was like my body had a mind of its own. Like I was powerless to do anything about what was happening. I took a small step closer to Regina, never looking away from her eyes even for a second. As I leaned in a saw a flash of doubt come over her face. It stopped me from moving any closer. She looked up at me, and then took a quick glance down at my lips. I still didn't miss the look on her face that showed the sign of doubt. She was comfortable with this, but I didn't quite understand why. "Regina?" She took a step back and looked down at the ground. She tucked her hands behind her back, and finally looked back up to my eyes. I was about ready to cry at the sight of the pain on her face.
"I don't want you to do something you are going to regret later. You want to wait, and I am not going to make you do anything with me unless you are sure." She started heading towards the door wanting to leave. I grabbed her arm just before she got to the door. She didn't turn to face me, she simply stood still.
"I only wanted a kiss goodnight." She didn't move for a second, but she finally turned to look at me for the final time tonight. "I know it sounds selfish, but I don't want to forget what you feel like." As she turned completely around, a smile started to show in her face. Showing off those pearly white teeth. Something I would never get tired of seeing. She came right up to my body, and the warmth he was radiating sent shivers through my body. Control it was easy. Trying to ignore it wasn't so. She looked at me, with a smirk now resting on her face. She leaned in, but moved her lips to my cheek. She pulled back and the smirk had not left her lips. But I am certain some of her lipstick had.
"I guess you will just have to be as patient as I am. Good luck though. And goodnight Miss Swan." She turned back to head out the door, and her hips had just a bit more sway than usual. She really was a tease. And a good one at that.
"It's Emma!" I called to her before she closed the door on me. I looked around my empty room, and I couldn't help but think about everything that had gone on tonight. From Regina being concerned with Henry as we were leaving work, to her standing in my room, kissing me upon the cheek. Nothing about tonight has been normal. But it has all been so nice at the same time. It was as if no matter what Regina did, she couldn't put a finger wrong. But I was so determined to find something she couldn't do.
One thing that kept running through my mind was that Regina was a virgin. That was perhaps the strangest thing I had heard all week. But as weird as it might sound to others, I couldn't have been happier that she told me that. One because it means that she trusts me enough to say something like that to me. And two because it means that if everything turns out alright, I could be her first. And that is something that would be so special to have with her. She seems like such a sweet and kind-hearted person, she deserves to have someone that would treat her right. And I intend to do just that. But she was right. I asked her to wait and she is being respective of that. She might even be more respective than I am. And I wasn't going to ask her to stop. I would just be sending her mix messages, right? One second I don't want to even kiss, and the next I don't want her to leave my side. Christ I seriously need to get my shit together.
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"Emma!" A voice came ringing through my ears. But it wasn't Regina. I opened my eyes, and saw Belle standing in front of me. It took me a second for my eyes to adjust, but the brown hair and yellow skirt was a bit of a give-away. I rolled over on the bed to face up at the ceiling, before looking back to Belle. "Good morning sleepy head." Words didn't come to me this early in the morning. So all I could manage to let out was a low growl. I wasn't ready to form sentences just yet. I needed my morning coffee first. Then again I normally get up at…Oh shit.
"What time is it? I need to get Henry to school. Shit. Shit. Shit." I was jumping out of bed and trying to find any item of clothing that looked or even smelled remotely clean. Now was not a time to be waiting around.
"Emma!" I looked back to Belle, who hadn't moved other than to get out of my way from when I was jumping out of bed. Her face was like a stone. No sign of anything. How could she be so calm at a time like this? "Henry is already at school. Didn't you get the note I left for you yesterday?" I took a moment to think about what happened last night, and the only thing that came to me was Regina. Regina…shit. She stayed over last night. And if I know Belle, which I do, she will know very well that someone is here. She always had a thing for noticing the small things. Such as the blush that started creeping up my face the more I thought about last night.
"Right. Yes I did get it. Sorry it was just a long night. I need to go and check something…outside my room. Just wait here a second." I barely even faced the door before she started talking again.
"If you were going to 'check' on the half-naked woman in the kitchen, I already said hello. She told me to come wake you up." Half-naked? I gave her a top and bottoms to wear. "She is making coffee. So get dressed and join us downstairs." She walked past me, and out the room.
"Shit. Shit. Shit." I whispered to myself. I still hadn't told Belle or Ruby about Regina. But what was there to tell really? We had only kissed. And it was only once. It's not like either of us were proposing to the other. No. There was nothing to be freaking over. I am completely over reacting to the situation. I just need to take a deep breath and brave whatever is going to happen. There is nothing I could about anything now. So I might as well face it head on. I didn't bother getting changed. I was wearing decent enough clothes. From the sounds of it, I was wearing more than Regina. As I turned into the kitchen I found Belle sitting at the counter, cup of coffee in hand chatting. As my gaze moved to where Belle was looking I saw Regina turned away. She still had the tank top on, but she wasn't wearing the leggings. She had the top pulled down over her ass. She reached up to grab a cup from the cupboard, and as she did, the shirt popped up over her ass. And a cute ass it was. And I couldn't seem to take my eyes off it. Even when Belle was talking to me.
"Ahh. And the sleeping beauty has arisen from her sleep." Regina turned around, pulling the shirt back down as she did. Her face was as red as I am sure mine was. But there was nothing I could do about it now.
"Good morning Miss Swan. How do you like your coffee?" Nothing. Nothing was coming out of my mouth. And I don't think anything was going to.
"Just give her what you gave me."
"No problem." Regina went to work on making me the coffee, and I took a seat next to Belle on the counter. She gave me a small nudge and finally I was brought out of my dazed state.
"What the hello happened last night?" Her voice was so low I was the only one that could hear her.
"Nothing happened. That's the thing. She slept in the guest room, and I stayed in my room."
"Okay, then why is there is a half-naked woman pouring you coffee in her underwear?"
"Would you please stop calling her 'woman'? This is…"
"Regina." Regina finished as she placed my coffee on the counter in front of me. "You know if you two want to talk in private you should have either left the room, or asked me to leave. But whispering never works. Especially when the person you are whispering about is in the same room at the time of the whispering commencing." She looked towards me, as though I had something wrong. But a smirk quickly took its place. I'll just leave you two to finish your convocation. I need to go change anyway." She left the room, swaying those hips once more. She could poke an eye out with those things. Hearing her go up the stairs, Belle burst into it.
"Is that the same Regina Ruby told you about? The same Regina that is meant to be babysitting Henry? The same Regina you told me you were working with at work?" Before she could even start the next question, which I am certain was just another variation of the first one, I jumped in and tried to explain things.
"Breathe!" She closed her mouth, and took in a much needed breath. "To answer your questions. Yes that is the Regina from work and the one that is meant to be babysitting Henry. They are the same person. And before your brain decides to run wild, nothing happened last night. I gave her a top and a pair of leggings, and she must have taken the leggings off at some point in the night." She looked at me sceptically trying to find something to poke a hole in I am sure.
"Okay, so if nothing happened last night…what has happened between you two? Because there is something happening here. And you can't deny that." Might as well tell her now than leave it till later and maybe never say anything.
"A week ago, when you called me to help you pick an outfit out for your date with Ruby…"
"Oh yeah, remind me to thank you and slap you for that later." Her face wasn't serious so I could assume everything went well between the two, but she wasn't happy that I interfered, which is fair enough.
"Anyway, I left Henry with Regina to go help you, then I came back and had a talk with Henry, about…well everything. From Neal, to my sexuality, to us being a family and all that. He was call with it and he was surprisingly very mature about a lot of it. Anyway, Regina heard some of the conversation and when Henry went upstairs, she came in and kissed me." Belle's face didn't change. She was waiting for me to continue. She figured there was more to the story than that. "I kissed her back but only for a second. I stopped before it actually went anywhere. I don't want anything to happen between us At least not yet. And when I told her that she just told me 'she could wait'. And that was it. We haven't done anything since." At that her jaw dropped. She just stared at me like I was a freak of nature. "What?!"
"Seriously? You told her you didn't want to do anything? And she told you she would just wait."
"I told her I didn't want to do anything until after the event was over and done with. I don't want anything to be awkward or for things to cross-over. You know like the job coming to the bedroom, or the bedroom going to work. It just…I don't want to do that."
"And she understood?"
"Honestly, I think she understands better than I do." Her face went into a state of complete confusion. To be fair what I did say didn't make any sense out of context. "I tried to kiss her again last night before we went to sleep, and she refused. But to meet me half way, she kissed my cheek. Honestly Belle, I think she is really special. She just seems to understand me, and she gets along with Henry, and she is intelligent and…"
"Wow, Emma. You sound like you want to marry the girl. You barely know her."
"I don't want to marry her. But she is certainly someone I want to keep around." I looked down into my cup, and didn't hear another word from Belle, but what did make me jump was the sound of the front door slamming. Regina must have left. Without saying goodbye? Oh god, did she hear the end of the convocation. I quickly jumped from my seat to go open the front door. As it swung open I saw Regina's car driving off down the road. I had never seen someone move so fast. I think I might have just blown any chance with Regina. If I had any chance to begin with.
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A/N – I really am sorry for the long wait. Thank you Gunner4Life, for all the reviews. You sort of pushed me to try and rattle out this chapter. I hope everyone likes it. Let me know why you think Regina left in such a hurry. I would like to see anyone who can get it right. Have fun. Goodbye my lovelies.