Hey guys, thanks for the awesome reviews! As promised, here is a treat; Regina's Halloween Ball. It was such a long chapter, that I've split it up...fear not, the second part of the party will be posted in time for Halloween. Enjoy chapter 15 :)
Also, I'm currently beta reading for Paigelindsey97's Chemistry...it's shaping up to be an excellent teacher/student SwanQueen fic. Check her work out if you're interested :)
Granny watched in amazement as Emma poured the sugar into her to-go cup of coffee. She laughed hysterically when Emma finally put down the container.
"You trying to give yourself diabetes?" she asked as Emma stirred.
"No, but I would like some cinnamon, please."
Granny rolled her eyes and handed the blonde the spice jar. "I would have thought you'd be in here with your regal lady?"
"Huh?" Emma asked as she put on the lid to her coffee.
"Well, seeing as Ruby is still with that friend of the mayor's, I woulda thought the two of you would be cuddled up as well."
"Oh, no, Mrs. Lucas," Emma chuckled nervously, "you know I have a girlfriend! So funny, you are." She said as she backed up.
"Uh huh," Granny said, crossing her arms.
"Better get going—I must. Have a good day!" Emma stuttered out as she backed out of the diner. Granny waved to her.
"Yes, you too, dear," she said with a smile. As Emma closed the door, she sighed. "Yes, stupid you are, Master Yoda Swan."
Emma sped up the highway faster than she'd driven in a long time. Sweat dripped against her forehead, as she found herself running, once again. You can't do this—she said to herself—you can't do this to yourself again. You deserve better and so does she. But as she tried so hard to convince herself that being with Regina would be wrong, she couldn't help but taste the apple still on her lips.
"Fuck," she said, grabbing for her coffee to rid her mouth of the taste. "Fuck!" she yelled, as the coffee burnt her lips. "Fuck," she whispered, as she realized she was running from the love of her life.
Regina was surprised when the doorbell rang a few hours later. She was still in her clothes from the previous night, too lost in thoughts to change. She was especially shocked to see Kathryn at the door.
"Dear," she greeted her friend, "I would have thought you'd still be in bed with that dog."
"Oh-kay," Kathryn said, raising her eyebrows, "I see the Evil Queen Regina is here today," she continued, as she walked in. "What happened?"
Regina rolled her eyes at her friend. "What always happens with her," she hissed, stomping into the kitchen. "I don't even know why I get my hopes up."
Kathryn helped herself to a cup of coffee. "What did she do? I thought you guys were hitting it off so well last night."
"We were!" Regina yelled in anger. "That's the thing—it was going so well, and then we kissed. All night practically!" She was now holding back tears. "We held each other on my lawn until dawn for fuck's sake."
"Oh God," Kathryn said, stroking a now teary eyed Regina.
Regina continued. "And then, I wake up to make her coffee. Kathryn, who the fuck do I ever make coffee for before late morning?" she stopped to ask. Kathryn shook her head, knowing she was surprised she didn't have to make it herself today. "And then, I walk back outside with it and she's gone…just up and left without even saying goodbye."
"Oh, sweetie," Kathryn soothed her sobbing friend. "Come on, let's focus your Halloween party. It's coming up in a few weeks and we still need to plan."
"I don't feel like having it anymore," Regina sniffled.
"Oh no," Kathryn said, shaking her head. "You are having this party. It's the first time you're throwing it since people regained their memories and we've been talking about it since July," she insisted. "And it will not be cancelled just because Emma Swan thinks with her dick and has a fetish for college girls."
Regina laughed at this. "I'm only going if I wear the collared dress from my early years ruling."
"Of course," Kathryn answered. "You will show up whatever animal-lingerie costume her little skank will come up with."
The two women smiled and began making lists in preparation for the party.
Over at their usual bar a few days after the incident, Emma and Neal sat over a couple of beers. Emma had her head in her hands, while her friend tried to cheer her up.
"Maybe you could call her and tell her you got an emergency call from the station," he suggested. But she shook her head.
"Even then, Regina knows me well enough to know I'd come in and tell her," she sighed. "She knows exactly why I left."
"Maybe not though," he pointed out. She raised an eyebrow, so Neal elaborated. "Maybe she thinks that you only kissed her because you were drunk. Maybe she thinks you regret it."
"But I do," Emma let out.
"Yeah, but not because you don't want her," he corrected her. "You only regret the kiss because you resolved to stay away from each other and now, you caused the very thing stirring up these emotions."
"Thanks, Doctor Freud," Emma spat out bitterly.
"Emma," he sighed, "you've gotta try something. You two need to work this out—whatever it is that's between you."
"Yeah," Emma nodded, gulping her beer, "that's my plan. I'm working it out by ignoring the problem."
Neal shook his head. Emma got up from her stool. "Gotta pee. Be right back." As Emma walked away, Neal eyed her abandoned phone on the table. Quickly, he scrolled through the contacts looking for the number to dial on his own phone.
"Kathryn," he said, "it's Neal. Hey, I need your help with something…"
A few days later, Emma and Blue returned home after a long day of work. Emma grunted at the pup as the climbed the stairs. He had cost her a bounty when he decided that a nearby tree was more of a threat than her target. He was a long way off from being her partner.
"Hey," Kate said, as she kissed her tired girlfriend and ruffled the fluff on Blue. "Dinner's in the fridge."
Emma didn't say a word—she just went to the kitchen and grabbed a beer and her plate. As she threw the dish in the microwave, Kate stepped out into the kitchen to wrap her arms around Emma's waste.
"Something wrong?" she asked. Emma realized she had been silent. She turned and kissed her girlfriend. "No, nothing. Sorry, just a long day."
Kate nodded and went to sit down. Just as Emma's dinner was heated, her phone rang.
"Hmm," she said, surprised to see Kathryn's number appear on the screen. "Hey Kathryn, what's up?"
"Hi Emma," Kathryn said, "I don't know if Regina mentioned it to you, but she's having her annual Halloween party next week. I'm in charge of invitations and your name is on the list."
"Halloween party?" Emma asked, which made Kate look up. "Are you sure I'm invited?"
"Yes, certain," Kathryn said, "I'm sure Henry will be glad if you come."
"Hmm," Emma let out, "well, I guess if that's the case."
"Great. See you Saturday at eight."
As soon as they hung up, Kate questioned Emma. "A Halloween party?"
"Yeah, apparently," Emma answered. "it's at Regina's."
Kate thought for a moment and then continued. "Well, the band doesn't have any gigs that night, so maybe I'll come with you."
Emma gulped at the thought. "Yeah," she finally said, "that'd be great."
The following week, Emma found herself driving up to Maine with Kate and Blue. Henry was thrilled that she was coming, even though he wouldn't be at the party. Emma laughed as he had explained that Regina told him it was an "adult party and he wouldn't enjoy it". She found it funny mainly because Henry protested to her, insisting he would enjoy it—after all, the only difference between adult and kid parties, in his words, is that, "adults stay up later…oh, and they kiss too".
When they arrived at the Charming's apartment, Emma took her girlfriend's hand. "You ready for another weekend of fairy tale characters?" she asked.
"Round two, Kate vs. Disney, 3, 2, 1, fight!" she joked, kissing Emma on the lips. "Ready when you are, Baby."
Snow greeted them at the door, excited to see them both. She hugged Kate and told her how beautiful she was. Charming told Emma that Snow really liked Kate's hair. Apparently, it was so much that the last time, she asked him how he thought she'd look with a purple streak.
"Was there much traffic?" Charming asked.
"No, not too bad after we got away from the city," she answered.
"Well good," Snow chimed in, "we need to get ready for the party!"
During the next hour, the four of them scrambled all over the small apartment as they got themselves ready. In between swapping makeup, passing along accessories and trading hair gel and straighteners, they had all managed to get themselves together on time.
"Baby, can you zip up my dress?" Emma asked her girlfriend, who took off her black gloves to do so.
"Sure thing," she answered, leaning in close to Emma. She then quickly smacked Emma's ass, making her squeak and blush. "It's nice to see you in a dress for once."
"Don't get used to it," she answered, as she held the white feathers needed for her hair.
Charming and Snow emerged from their room to find the two girls in the living room. "Oh, Emma," Snow gasped, "you look absolutely beautiful."
"You do," her father added, as he helped her pin the feathers to her hair.
"I gotta say, guys," Emma said, "if you hadn't stuck me in that tree, I woulda never gotten the name Swan," she said, and pointed to her whole outfit, "and this ensemble wouldn't exist."
"You should thank Regina for that tonight," Kate suggested, only to hear nothing but silence. "Oh…shit, did I say something wrong?"
Charming patted Kate on the back. "No, not at all, Kate." He looked to his wife, hoping his stare would force her mouth to shut from its open position. "Shall we head over?"
Emma wiped out her phone and began typing. "Sure," she said, "I just have to text Ruby to make sure she brought Henry over to Granny's—she's babysitting him tonight."
Snow picked up Blue from the couch. "You do that," she said as she grabbed the leash, "and I'll take this one out one last time for a quick walk."
Emma laughed at her mother as she tried to maneuver the clasp of the leash with her own paws. "Here," she said, clipping it to his collar. As she watched her mother take her dog out in her tiger costume, she sighed. "Only Snow White would dress as a tiger and actually go for cute and furry instead of feline sexy."
Minutes later, with the dog walked and texts sent about Henry, they were off for Regina's party.
Kathryn came into the kitchen to find Regina still perfecting her batch of cider. She put away her phone and walked over to her friend.
"Ruby's on her way," she said, "she just dropped Henry with her grandmother."
"Perfect," she said, as she looked over to eye Kathryn's costume. "Tell me that your new girlfriend is not a part of your costume."
Kathryn smiled. "It just so happens she is," she said, as she leaned her whip against the counter. Just as Regina opened her mouth, Kathryn answered the question she knew her friend would ask. "And yes, she's wearing a collar."
Kathryn noticed now that Regina was still in her normal clothes. "Shouldn't you be getting dressed?"
Regina stirred her cider and tasted a sip from the spoon. "In a minute." But Kathryn took her spoon. "No," she corrected, "Now."
Regina sighed and gave in. Just as she was about to climb the stairs, her friend called to her. "Oh, and make sure to look your best," she hollered, "Emma's coming."
The house echoed with Regina's roar. "WHAT!?"
About a half hour later, Snow, Charming, Emma and Kate walked up the jack-o-lantern lit path of the mansion. The street had been lined with cars and the low hum of people talking could be heard beneath the tones of Toccata and Fugue. Emma climbed the familiar steps of the house and rang the bell, only to be greeted by….Neal?
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Emma asked as the zombie dressed Neal welcomed them in.
"Kathryn invited me at the last minute," he said, as he took Kate's coat. "Figured I'd come and then have breakfast with Henry in the morning."
Emma gave him a looming glare. Something's up—she thought, but couldn't imagine what it could be. She simply shrugged her shoulders and took her flapper lady's hand, following Neal into the kitchen.
The chatter of the entire house and lawn flowed into Emma's ears as a symphony of white noise. Her eyes shifted and searched from her position, looking for her. Surely she'd be somewhere near Kathryn—the two women never left each other's sides at parties this large. She noticed Kathryn was in the other room, currently whipping a laughing Ruby for the entertainment of others as they delighted in the sexual joke of their costumes. But Regina was nowhere to be found.
"You okay?"
Emma suddenly looked up, startled by the voice of her girlfriend, as she extended her gloved hand to give her some cider.
"Fine," Emma answered. "Just fine."
Kate adjusted her feathered headband. "Really?" she sighed. "Emma Swan—you may think you're all mysterious, but I know that look." Emma tried to look away, but Kate pulled her chin back with her hand. "What's wrong?"
In that moment, Emma could have told her. Hell—Kate would probably understand. She knew from the nature in which the two of them had begun dating that Emma was still hung up on Regina. The worst thing is, Emma knew, was that she'd probably be fine with it. Kate would make some joke about how she may not be the evil queen, but at least she knew about the modern inventions of science. She wouldn't joke in insecurity—though, internally she felt it. She'd do it because it would make Emma laugh and take her mind off of things. She'd do it because she understood.
But instead, noticing Kathryn headed toward her, she wrapped her arms around her young lover's neck. "Just—feeling a bit out of sorts, I guess," she whispered into her ear before placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
"Emma!" Kathryn greeted her just as the two broke from their embrace. "And…Kate?! It is Kate, right?"
She had spoken her name as if she wasn't expecting Emma to bring along her girlfriend. Emma saw the look boldly planted on her face. She knew that look—it meant, 'Regina won't be pleased'.
"It is okay that I brought her along, right?" Emma asked. "I mean, I figured it's a party."
Realizing that her stare had cast an unwelcome vibe in Emma's eyes, Kathryn cleared her throat. "Oh, of course it is!" she insisted. "Just wasn't expecting it."
As soon as Snow went toward the dance area with Kate, Emma pulled Kathryn aside. "I'm sorry about Kate," she apologized, "I know this will hurt Regina, but Kate was right there when I got the call and if I said no, I didn't want her to—"
"Suspect anything?" Kathryn asked in a way that sank Emma's underlying guilt further into her heart. She simply refilled her glass of cider and left Emma to feel its pangs.
Emma downed a glass of cider and quickly poured herself another before joining the men as they talked in the other room. She put on a smile and hoped the alcohol would calm her nerves should she see Regina.
Hook, dressed in attire from his days as a lieutenant, was trying to figure out David's costume. At the same time, Neal attempted explaining the concept of a zombie to Mulan.
"I don't understand the badge, mate," Hook said, poking his hook at David's plastic star pinned to his chest that read 'Sheriff'. "Emma was the sheriff here and she didn't get any star pin."
David laughed, him and Snow having had a bit more knowledge of the outside world, thanks to Emma. "I'm a cowboy, Hook," he explained, "a cheesy one at that."
"Cowboy?!" he raised his eyebrow.
Neal interrupted. "Think of it like a pirate but in the mid-west about a hundred years after you started sailing."
Mulan seemed confused by both ideas. Instead she turned her attention to Emma. "That young maiden you came in with…," she began, "Snow tells me that's your girlfriend?"
"Yeah," Emma nodded, as the two of them starred at her dancing with her flapper wig and feather band, right next to a furry Snow.
"She's absolutely beautiful," Mulan said, complimenting her and Kate in one breath.
"I know," Emma breathed out. She said this with an ever so slight bit of sorrow to her voice—more guilt. She watched as Kate turned, noticing her eyes. The girl blushed at Emma's adoring gaze. At the end of her dance with Snow, she sauntered over to her admirer, only to be greeted by wolf-whistles from the boys.
She laughed as she wrapped her arms around Emma, making her laugh too as they kissed for their viewer's delight.
"Aren't you a lass for sea sick eyes," Hook jested, only to receive a protective knock to his shoulder from David.
"You've met Hook?" Emma asked, still chuckling a bit. Kate took his hand and kissed it.
"Always a pleasure, Captain," she swooned, curtsying to him for fun. But just as the crowd had welcomed Kate over, another stole the attention away, making an even grander entrance. All talking quieted to a low roar as eyes turned to the staircase. They watched her fingers slide down the railing as she slowly descended.
The queen had arrived.