"You've managed grand things under strenuous circumstances, Miss Swan, but it is always best to start with the basics."
Regina had set up shop for their magic lessons in her backyard after they had spent lunch willfully forgetting the situation with Cora's grand design. It had been oddly easy, both women wanting nothing more than a few moments of normality and both willing to hide whatever could disrupt that illusion. It didn't hurt that Emma once again had got to enjoy a meal of Regina's as the brunette found comfort in her cooking. But now Emma was grumpy again. Talking about magic meant they had to be thinking about Cora, and in Regina's makeshift studio with candles and assorted other mystical objects, Emma couldn't ignore just how much she had to learn.
"C'mon, Regina, we don't exactly have a lot of time here. Can't we jump forward a couple of lessons?"
Regina was none too pleased with the Sherriff's whining and had been straining at the limits of her patience, when she suddenly realized that this mother was a lot like her son.
And she knew exactly how to deal with her son.
"Fine. If you can light this candle right now, we'll "jump" ahead."
Emma's face lit up. She could do this! Then she'd be a master witch in no time. (She was a witch, right? That's how you would categorize her? She felt she might actually have to discuss these life changes with someone when all of this was over.)
"I just have to light it?"
Regina couldn't help but smile at the Sheriff's childlike enthusiasm even though she knew how it would end.
"The simplest task in the book."
"Okay! Okay." Emma focused in, staring squinty-eyed at the wick, leaning forward, trying to light it with her mind. Watching the effort, Regina actually found herself on the verge of laughing. Though the fact that she needed this woman's power to help with her mother and that Miss Swan didn't seem to consider any of the things she had taught her up to that point, her good humor quickly faded to impatience.
"Any day now, Miss Swan."
Emma didn't remember this being so hard…then again, every other time she had done magic, it had been a direct result of coming in contact with other magic. And they had been substantial events. Maybe it was harder on a smaller scale?
She threw a few more flinty glares at the wick but there wasn't even a spark. She slumped.
"Ugh, fine, Regina, you win."
"So glad you agree." Regina was always happy to win. But this time she wished she had been wrong. They had quite a lot to accomplish, no matter how powerful Emma was.
"Starting at the beginning, since apparently you have the retention of a goldfish…"
They worked all afternoon and into the evening, Emma making great progress as a diligent student despite the many setbacks and frustrations. Regina had to admit that while the blonde's patience was often lacking, her determination and drive never were. Emma wouldn't stop until she had mastered everything Regina gave her, and they might have ended up working well into the night had the Charmings not called to check in.
Their exhaustion settling in, Emma and Regina agreed to end their lessons for the time being, and Emma went home to eat with the Charmings and Henry, checking up on their son and Sheriff's Office affairs. Though Henry had not asked for Regina over the phone outside of a passing question on her well-being that was much too blasé to actually be indifferent, Emma had invited her along anyway. She felt more comfortable when the brunette was around and not just because it was easier to keep an eye on her. She was beginning to enjoy her company, her wit and the repartee that always made her feel smarter, the glimpses into her past, the moments where it felt Regina liked her company, too. She wasn't at all surprised when Regina turned down the offer, knowing that the former Queen was likely sick of spending all of her time with her, and that another dinner with her parents wouldn't be possible without someone getting injured—especially when Henry had not specifically requested her presence.
So Emma left the Mayor's mansion alone, promising to return in time for bed, since with no move on Cora's part, they should stick to the same plan, and Regina watched her go, expecting to feel some relief at losing her golden retriever for a few hours.
Instead, she thought about upping the thermostat a few degrees.
Emma returned late that evening. Snow and Charming still weren't happy about her spending nights at Regina's but it was clearly non-negotiable. Snow had tried to send her back with some leftovers, and Emma almost laughed. Her mother's heart was in the right place, but anyone who even kind of knew Regina would know how offensive she would find the gesture. Someone else's table scraps? Her, a charity case? Emma wondered how much her mother's inability to read her former step-mother had contributed to the disaster that was their relationship.
Instead, she brought back a bottle of whiskey she had been keeping around. Alcohol and magic may not mix, but at least when the magic was over, they could get smashed.
Regina greeted her at the door, rolling her eyes at the bottle, but stepping aside to let her in.
"I know, I remember, no alcohol and magic, but I figure we could at least use something to look forward to."
Regina decided not to comment on Emma's recent enthusiasm for this particular vice, seeing as she had often considered the same thing herself. Emma got the judgment from the silence just the same and decided to continue on, hoping to avoid the lingering awkwardness when they were alone with nothing in particular to focus on.
"David said nothing happened that could give us any information today, unless your mom has decided enlisting some teens to commit minor vandalism is part of her plan. And Henry would like to see you in the morning—" Emma may have been exaggerating Henry's enthusiasm for Regina's benefit, but it was so worth it to see her hope shine through. "He wants us to come over and update him on our progress. I think my parents have been indulging his desire to play General. Sorry."
"No, no need to apologize," Regina cut in. "Henry probably had an operation name chosen as soon as he found out about my mother. It was unavoidable." She laughed to herself considering her son's predictability. She had spent her evening alone sitting in Henry's room. She shouldn't have, considering how painful it was, but it had seemed preferable to sitting alone at her kitchen counter. She couldn't even bring herself to have dinner in the dining room, the table foreboding without her son—and his biological mother. "You weren't like this as a child, were you?"
She wasn't sure where the question had come from, but she suddenly found herself wanting to know all about Emma—and how much of her Henry had inherited. Emma was taken aback that Regina would want to know about her at all, Henry or not. As much as she could see the brunette becoming more comfortable with her around, she certainly hadn't made an effort to bond.
"I—no, not really. I mean, I liked to pretend." Emma was uncomfortable talking about her past, but it was because of that that she felt the need to continue. Regina had revealed so much of herself—unwillingly—it was the least Emma could do to share a little. "I never had operations like Henry does, but sometimes, I'd be a spy tracking enemy agents or an undercover police officer, living with my foster families because they had to be investigated, brought to justice."
Emma found herself staring at her feet by the time she had finished speaking. Like mother like son after all. But she didn't want Regina to feel like she was anywhere near those foster parents. She didn't want her to know about those parents at all. This whole being open thing was less and less appealing by the moment, especially as she realized Regina could ask a whole host of questions because that's what Emma would have done, but also because Emma had told her she could ask whatever she wanted. She had exposed her weakest spot to the most expert combatant while simultaneously providing her reason to attack. But Regina paused. Long enough that Emma looked up to meet her eyes and saw a glimmer of pain, understanding, and what she only could think was gratitude.
"I suppose you were destined to become Sheriff, then."
Emma smiled. Savior she still couldn't get her head around, but she could handle being destined for Sheriff. Besides, Regina had joked—her typical wry humor—but not intended to harm, and Emma could not have been more relieved. But she still used the opportunity to head straight for safer ground.
"So, tomorrow, we'll come up with something to tell him. Unless we figure out what Cora wants Gold for between now and then." The moment she had said it, Emma realized that was a very real possibility. "Do you think she'll come again tonight?"
"It's likely." Regina was resigned to it. Her mother would make an appearance between then and the dawn, if only to keep her off balance.
Emma couldn't even begin to think about how much that would suck. The thought of Mary Margaret (who she trusted and liked) appearing randomly in her bedroom while she slept was enough to give her the willies. And Cora was no Mary Margaret.
"Should I stay up? Are you going to wait for her? Do you want to talk? I could keep you company, if you're not sick of me, or if it would be okay for appearances—"
"Miss Swan—" Regina stopped, shutting her eyes and gathering her emotions, and softened. "Emma. I appreciate the sentiment. But I think we're both tired, and spending the night talking would leave me in no position to deal with my mother."
Emma acquiesced easily to this newly calm and reasonable Regina. Considering all she had to deal with, the brunette was doing an extraordinary job keeping herself in check.
What Emma didn't realize was that she didn't have the energy to do anything else. To feel these emotions, to rage at her situation—she was just too tired.
"You're right. We're gonna get the chance to really talk one day, though. Don't think there's always going to be a crisis to offer you a valid excuse."
"Well, Doctor Swan. I didn't realize you were so in tune with sharing your feelings."
"I'm not. I was scolding myself. No more excuses for me. I owe you some major share-age."
Emma had been playing it fast and loose with her comments, she knew, especially when she felt Regina's anger flare, but it had all been worth it to go to bed with the image of Regina's little smile fresh in her mind.
"Goodnight, Regina. If you need me—"
"—I know where you'll be. Goodnight, Emma."
A/N: Sorry it's a little short-I've never been much good at long chapters, but I particularly wanted to keep the next bit separate-I might try and post it later today to make up for it!