The next morning, Regina called me to her office. As I walked up I saw my bug in the parking lot. "How did you like driving my metal death trap to work?" Regina looked up from the paperwork that littered her desk.
"It stalled and died on me four times. I'll be happy when I get my car back." I chuckled as I took a seat in one of the guest chairs. "When I called the mechanic, he said the car had already been called in. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I called it in early this morning so it would be the first thing to be done today. He said it would probably take until five."
"I find it funny that your car smells like leather and coffee. Do you not believe in air fresheners?" Regina was holding back a grin so I knew she wasn't being totally serious.
"Yeah well your house smells like apples." I paused. "And forest." Regina's nose crinkled in slight disgust.
"I'd take leather and coffee over forest any day." There was a slight pause after she said that. I'm guessing Regina didn't mean to say it aloud.
"So, what did you need? The town meeting isn't for a few days so I know it wasn't to remind me to be on time." There was a twitch at the corner of Regina's mouth. That was one routine we got into. The only way to get me to be on time for those horrible meetings was to call and remind me.
"Yes well, you left so suddenly last night. This being after you finished not only your wine but mine as well." Regina folded her arms and looked at me. "Do you really not like him that much?"
"It's not that I don't like him…it's…," I can't tell her the truth. "I don't know." Regina's eyes narrowed a moment.
"Well, thank you for calling my car in. Once I go to pick it up, I'll call you so you can get your metal death trap." I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I think my metal death trap is growing on you." Regina huffed and leaned back in her chair.
"Not a chance." Regina waved a hand trying to brush off the subject.
"Yeah well, don't fix anything with magic. I like it the way it is." Regina rolled her eyes.
"No promises. As long as the driver side door doesn't stick I won't be tempted to total it." Regina looked down at the files on her desk. "Well I better get back to work."
"Yeah." I stood. "I'll see you around five to get my car." As I walked back into the station, I was surprised when I turned the corner and saw Maleficent. "Good God. What would you have done if I drew my side arm?"
The brunette chuckled. "Hello dear." She continued to sit in my chair. "I would have averted the bullets. So, are you going to ask Regina on a date? Last night went so well."
I just stared in disbelief. "What did you do to her car?" Maleficent chuckled with an evil grin.
"Nothing that can't be fixed. And you're welcome. If it wasn't for that, the two of you wouldn't have had such a nice night. I couldn't keep forest boy away any longer."
"So you messed with her car and kept forest boy away?" She gave me a slight nod. "I wondered why he didn't get to Regina's until eleven last night."
"So, are you going to ask her out to dinner tonight when you go to pick up your car?" I said nothing. How does she know all of this? "I keep an eye on everything. Well, Diaval does."
"So basically if I ever see a raven I should assume that's Diaval?" I folded my arms.
"Yes. Since I no longer have my wings and I need to keep an eye on the two of you." I shrugged. I couldn't believe I had someone watching me constantly. I mean, I'm thirty years old. "How is it you know that bottle of wine would cost close to eighty dollars?"
A small blush crossed my cheeks. "I found out that was her favorite wine and I ordered a bottle for her. I was going to give it to her but it came the day I found out her and Robin were together."
"Oh. That would make an awkward situation. And even now, you're tempted to ask her out for dinner? I assume you'd be taking her to that fancy Mexican place downtown. A night of good food, margaritas, and maybe some dancing?"
"Are you insane? Regina would never go for that." Maleficent just raised an eyebrow. "I don't even know if she'd say yes let alone agree to dance with me."
"You won't know until you give it a shot. Besides, you already have reservations for the best table in the place." She grinned evilly. I can't believe she did this.
"You're insane."
Xxx
Five came and Regina said her car was fixed. When I arrived, she was leaning against the bug. "Did you…wash my car?"
"Yes. I ran it through the car wash. It was the least I could do to thank you for letting me barrow it." My pace slowed as I got closer. "Don't worry. All I did to the inside was clear out all the empty coffee cups and trash."
"Thanks." Regina smiled and handed me the keys. "Would you…like to grab a bite to eat?" Regina was quiet a moment. "Or…never mind it was a stupid idea." I cleared my throat and walked around to the driver's side.
"Sure." I opened the door and looked back at her. "It'd be nice not having to cook for a night. Where are we going?"
"I was thinking that Mexican place downtown...around seven?" Regina thought it over a moment. The whole time my heart was pounding in my chest.
"Sounds good. Come to my place around seven and I'll drive." Regina pushed herself off the back of my car and started towards hers. Before she got in, she looked back towards me. "Isn't tonight half price on the pitchers of margaritas?"
Xxx
I was nervous driving to Regina's. I secretly hoped Robin was there to see me picking Regina up. Not that it screamed I'm taking your girlfriend out for a date but it was something he would never think of doing. When Regina opened the door my jaw dropped. She wore a sleeveless black and gold dress that was fitted until the waist. From there it flared out slightly until the knee. It wasn't low cut at all but very elegant. The only jewelry she wore was her normal ring and a pair of pearl earrings. Regina finished the outfit with a pair of dark red, open toe stilettos. She had curled her hair and had it feathered back; totally different from two hours ago.
"W-wow…you look amazing." I suddenly felt very under dressed. I was in my simple black leather dress and my hair in loose curls.
"It seems this was the one time I didn't have to call and remind you to be somewhere." Regina smiled softly. "Thank you Emma. You look nice as well." She paused a moment after looking me over once again. "Shall we go?"
"Yes. Do you need to grab a coat or anything?" Regina stepped inside the door and grabbed a coat. "Lead the way." I was quiet as we drove. Regina had changed back to her old perfume; the one I liked. I didn't dare say anything about it though.
"So what made you want to ask me to dinner?" I felt Regina glance at me.
"It's just…it's been rough the past few weeks and you deserve to have a good time. Care free and I'm sure you get sick of cooking all the time. I would have invited you over and me cook but…I can't cook anything you'd like."
"That's very generous of you. And yes, it has been a rough few weeks." I let out a deep sigh and I felt a smile tug at my lips. "I'm guessing since you're sitting so close you've noticed."
"Notice what?" Regina smirked. She knew I noticed the second we sat down.
"Okay or you can play dumb if you'd like. Whatever works for you." I couldn't help but chuckle. Regina seemed to be in a playful mood tonight. She called me out on acting differently and now she does the same thing.
"Oh. You're wearing your old perfume. Now I notice." Sarcasm was clear in my voice. All Regina did was shake her head. When we arrived, I opened the doors for Regina. She thanked me each time.
"Emma!" Matt, the greeter, gave me a sideways hug. "Madam Mayor." He gave her a simple nod. "Here for your reserved table near the dance floor I presume." Regina looked at me mischievously. I'm going to kill Maleficent.
"Uh…yeah." I could feel a blush on my cheeks. Thank God it was dim and no one could see it. Regina followed me and I could feel her dark eyes burning into my back. After Matt took our drink orders, Regina decided to speak up.
"So, you called ahead and made reservations. How long have you been planning this little escapade?" I said nothing. I just opened the menu and started to look at anything but Regina. "Emma."
"Five minutes after I asked you and you agreed." I didn't dare look at Regina. When she said nothing I finally looked up from the menu. She didn't look mad. She actually had a soft smile. "You're…not mad?"
"Why would I be mad? You're making sure I have a nice night." She opened the menu and started looking through it. "It's very thoughtful of you. No one's ever done this for me."
"Are you serious?" Regina gave me a nod. Matt came back and took our orders. Before I could ask, he came with a pitcher of strawberry margarita. "Thanks Matt." After he was out of ear shot I poured us each one. "Why hasn't anyone done this for you?"
"Most of the town hates me. Well hated me. Therefore, no one would take me out like this. Until you came along." I wasn't sure whether to feel special or slightly awkward.
"Well at least I was the first." Our food came and we made small talk while we ate. So far the night had been going great. No mention of the boys who followed us around like puppies or any of our troubles. It was just us. Nothing else really mattered.
"Alright señoras and caballeros, it's time for the dancing to begin. Who of you is brave enough to get up here and show your skill or lack there of?" Regina and I couldn't help but laugh at the couples and singles who tried to dance. Some weren't bad but others were horrible. "How about you two lovely ladies?" A spotlight shined on our table and I was mortified.
"No. I'm good." No way in hell was I about to dance in front of people. Especially this kind of dancing. It was very intimate and sexy. The blush returned as I thought of Regina and I dancing like that.
"Oh come now, miss. Badass Emma Swan scared to dance with me?" Regina stood and held out her hand. She had to be joking right? "Come now or I'll make you."
"I have no idea what the hell I'm doing." Regina grabbed my wrist and drug me to the floor. When "She Bangs" by Ricky Martian started to play all the blood drained from my face.
Regina took my hands and started to move. "Just feel the movements Emma. Let your body move and don't think about it." I took her advice and moved with the music. I spun Regina and she spun me. As the music took me over I started to sing with it.
"Well if lady luck gets on my side we're gonna rock this town alive.
I'll let her rough me up till she knocks me out. 'Cause she walks like she talks and she talks like she walks." Regina laughed as we moved. I about died when she straddled my leg then moved away quickly. "When she moves I go crazy. 'Cause she looks like a flower but stings like a bee."
"Enjoying yourself Miss. Swan?" Regina's voice was a sexy purr and the look in her eyes drove me insane. They were dark with passion. All I could do was grin.
"I'm wasted by the way she moves. No one ever looked so fine. She reminds me that a woman has one thing on her mind." All I saw was Regina and all I heard was the sound of her heels clicking on the wooden dance floor. She was beautiful, sexy, and elegant at the same time. "Well, if it looks like love should be a crime, you'd better lock me up for life. I'll do the time with a smile on my face, thinking of her in her leather and lace." Before I could comprehend what Regina did, she spun and held my arms above my head.
"Thinking of me in leather and lace huh?" Her hot breath caused shivers to run through me. I hoped to God she didn't hear the whimper that escaped my throat. The song ended with me leaning Regina in a dip and her right leg wrapped around my waist. To help support her, my hand held her thigh. Her arms were wrapped around my neck and we gazed into one another's eyes. Regina flashed me a gorgeous smile as the crowd began to cheer. I hated letting her go so we could bow and get back to our table. "You're not as bad as you think Emma."
I finished my margarita before answering. "Only because I followed your lead." I paused. "That was a lot of fun Regina. I never knew you could dance; especially like that."
Regina shot me a mischievous grin. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me. I'm not always a hard ass." I chuckled. We continued to talk until Matt came. I asked him what time it was and he said it was almost midnight.
"Holy shit. Are you serious?" Matt gave me a nod. "Can I get the bill?" He walked off and I dug around my clutch for my debit card. "Tonight is on me whether you like it or not." I gave Regina a joking glare.
"At least let me leave a tip." I agreed to that. When the bill came and was close to forty bucks I was rather surprised. I was expecting it to be much more. "I guess we better go."
"Yeah. I can see that you're a little fuzzy so I'll drive." Regina didn't put up a fuss. She simply gave me her keys and followed me out. I opened doors and closed them for her. As we drove I noticed she had gotten quiet. When I looked over, Regina was peacefully sleeping. She really was too gorgeous for words. I didn't bother waking her when we got to her place.
Regina's head rested on my shoulder as I carried her inside. Gently, I placed her in bed and tucked her in. It took everything I had to not kiss her on the cheek. Before I left, I wrote her a note. Had fun tonight. You fell asleep and I didn't want to wake you. Hope you slept well. ~Emma
xxx
The next morning I went to Granny's for a nice artery clogging breakfast. I ordered a bacon biscuit and sausage biscuit to go. I figured Regina would be waking up soon and she may have a bit of a hangover. After I knocked, a heard a groan and footsteps. Yup, she's got a hangover. Regina squinted as the morning light came into her home. "I brought hangover relief." Holding up the bag Regina just moved to the side. "Greasy food, caffeine, and aspirin will help the headache I promise."
"Thanks." I followed Regina into the kitchen. She brought down a coffee mug for me. "How do you not have a hangover?" Regina's voice was gravely. Her hair was messy. And somehow she still looked beautiful.
"I can hold my liquor and I drank forty ounces of water before I went to bed. And also took two aspirins." Regina's brows knitted over the rim of her coffee mug. "I was a bartender for seven months for an job."
"That would explain it." Regina took a sip of coffee. "What's in the bag?"
"A bacon biscuit and a sausage biscuit. Both greasy so it will suck up the liquor that's left in your stomach." Regina's nose crinkled as I set the biscuits in front of her. "Trust me Regina; you need to eat these." Regina ran her fingers through her hair. "Eat at least one."
"You're not going to stop nagging until I eat one right?" I smiled triumphantly. "Fine." Regina opened a biscuit and started to eat. I could see the color come back to her cheeks as the food started to work its magic.
"Don't eat too quickly." Regina took a sip of coffee. "Feeling better?" I chuckled when she glared at me before taking another bite.
"Regina, I'm home!" Regina cringed as Robin's voice rang through the house. "How's my lovely oh…" He rounded the corner and saw me leaning against the bar where Regina continued to eat. "Sheriff Swan, what are you doing here?"
"Hello f…" Regina elbowed me hard in the side and glared up at me. "Hi Robin." My scary nice voice fell into tone. "I just came by to bring the Mayor some breakfast."
"Oh." He walked up to Regina and kissed her softly after she took a sip of coffee. The color drained from her face slightly as the smell of forest filled her nose. "Are you alright my love?"
"Yes. Just feeling a little sick." Robin passed by me without rubbing Regina's shoulders or anything to comfort her.
"You shouldn't be feeling sick for another four or five weeks." Regina's head whipped up and horror was clear.
"You're talking about morning sickness." I looked from him to Regina. "You're trying to get pregnant?"