Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! This chapter's a little bit shorter, but the next one will be soon and it will be longer again. Enjoy :)
Over the next few days, Regina and Emma couldn't keep away from one another. Since their kiss outside of the floral shop, they were inseparable. The two of them made excuses to see each other. Between Emma telling Snow and Charming that she'd left her jacket at Regina's, and Regina telling Henry that she needed to pick up papers at the office, their silly little lies were easily detected.
Snow slowly sipped her coffee while Ruby sat for a minute at her booth. "And here comes Regina," she said to the wolf, who was laughing. "Give it three minutes," she said, "and Emma will walk in, overtly acting nonchalant to cover the fact that they came together."
Shortly after Regina had sat down in a booth near the window, Emma came walking in, sure enough. As Ruby poured Regina her coffee, she looked back to Snow.
"Watch this," she said softly. She looked over to the blonde and eyed her gate. "Wobbly legs there, Em," she pointed out, startling her. "Almost like you have the I-got-fucked-too-hard-last-night walk!"
Regina instantly spun her head around to look at the blonde. At this, Emma got nervous. "What?" she said, shaking a bit too hard. Her jarred movements caused her to fall backwards to the ground, flat on her ass.
"Oh my God," Ruby whispered to Snow. "Fucking priceless."
As convinced as all members of the wedding part were that Emma and Regina were having some tantric love affair, these observers were wrong. It was true that they were at each other's sides always, and what was happening between them was all consuming. But they weren't thrashing wildly under the sheets with need. They were falling into conversations that kept them awake for hours. They were walking, gently brushing each other's hand, downtown to watch the sunrise. They shared tender kisses that lasted and weren't rushed. And yes, they had shared a bed and held each other close, but the fabric of their warm sweaters kept their skin from meeting.
Emma awoke that morning, her body twisted in the folds of her sweater and jeans. She breathed in the scent of vanilla mixed with apple and smiled. She turned, to see Regina beside her, leaning back with her head resting on one hand as she watched her stirring.
"Morning," Regina said.
"Hey," Emma smiled back, "morning to you too."
Regina giggled a bit to herself. Emma knew from previous mornings like these that she was laughing at her ruffled bed head. She instantly moved to fix her hair, despite Regina's constant reminders that she thought it looked cute.
"I need to reserve the place for the bachelorette party today," Emma said, as she sat up in bed. "I was thinking of going to a few places in Boston to check them out."
"Oh," Regina said, assuming that meant she'd be busy.
"I was also thinking it'd be nice if you came along," she added. "It shouldn't take all day—maybe we could have dinner somewhere that people aren't gawking at us."
Regina smiled warmly. "I'd like that," she answered softly.
After sneaking in the diner separately to get breakfast, they were off for the city. They listened to the radio for most of the way. Emma grinned to herself whenever Regina would hum along to the music. Her voice was beautiful, and she didn't even know it.
"What?" Regina laughed a bit when she saw Emma smiling.
"Nothing," she chuckled and turned away. Regina pushed her gently.
"Tell me!" she demanded, playfully.
Emma turned back to look at her. "I like your voice," she admitted.
Regina blushed. It was rare for her to even hum, let alone sing. She was usually too serious for such things. But driving in a car with Emma made her happy.
A few short hours later, they were parking the yellow bug in a garage in the South End. As they got out of the car, Regina could see Emma shivering a bit. She rolled her eyes to herself, knowing the blonde all too well—Emma waited until the last week possible before switching from her red leather to her winter jacket.
"Here, dear," Regina said, placing her black scarf around her neck and bundling it.
"I really don't—," she began to protest, but Regina silenced her with a kiss.
As they walked through the streets, hand in hand, Emma couldn't help but notice that Regina seemed at ease. She expected her to be looking around, not having left Storybrooke that often. But if anything, the brunette acted as though she was entirely familiar with the neighborhood, at times seemingly leading the way.
"So I was thinking we could check out this place," Emma said, "it's supposed to be a classier strip club."
"Classy strip club?" Regina asked, raising her eyebrow. "Does such a thing exist?"
Emma laughed. "I'm hopeful," she said. "I'm sure Kathryn doesn't want some sleazy place."
Regina smiled. "How considerate of you."
"Considerate?" Emma asked. "I'm not doing it for her—I'm doing it for me."
Regina looked confused, and mildly upset. Emma clarified. "The last thing I want is to take everyone to a place where Ruby's eyes will surely wander too far and I'll be stuck talking to her drunk ass when Kathryn gets upset."
Regina let out a deep laugh as Emma smirked.
After walking a few blocks, they found the small club that Emma had suggested. Regina examined the outside of the building, looking for any signs of it being too trashy to enter.
"Well, at least it doesn't have a bright neon sign out front," she suggested optimistically.
Emma nodded. "Shall we?" she asked, opening the door.
It was dark inside, and empty, as it was the middle of the day. They looked around, seeing tables set up cabaret style, facing a stage. No poles—Regina thought to herself—good sign. Emma caught the eye of a woman, standing behind the bar. She looked up from cleaning a glass.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"Yeah," Emma said, walking further into the establishment. "We're looking for a place to have a bachelorette party and hoping to find somewhere that's more upscale. Someone recommended this place."
The woman looked at both of them. "Well, we're more of a low key kinda place," she began. "We do have dancers, but they do more of a burlesque kinda thing rather than some strip tease. Our customers are usually business type, classy—no pervs if ya know what I mean."
"Sounds like it might work," Emma said.
"Why don't you two come on by tonight and check it out," the woman suggested, much to Emma and Regina's dismay. She saw Regina shaking her head, but she encouraged. "You know, get a feel for it. Plus, tonight's a jazz night and we always get great people."
Emma looked at Regina and shrugged. "What do you say? You want to?"
"Emma, are you asking me on a date?" Regina asked, as she narrowed her gaze.
Emma chuckled. "No, I'm asking you to help, seeing as you are the maid of honor."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine."
They spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around the city and talking. Regina didn't remember this side of Emma—perhaps because she didn't see it before recently. She never saw Emma as someone who could converse on matters ranging in topic. She smiled when she heard Emma speak so passionately as she described a painting, just as they had passed by the Museum of Fine Arts. Where was this person when they were together?—she thought to herself.
Little did she know, Emma was thinking similar thoughts. Regina actually laughing?—she said to herself—and not because she's mocking me? Emma laughed to herself as she listened to Regina explain the lack of good artwork in the Enchanted Forest. The snarky comments were absent and the sarcasm, when there, was playful. When had that happened?
As it grew darker, and too cold to continue walking, they made their way back over to the club to check out its atmosphere. Upon entering the club, Emma instinctively rubbed Regina's shoulders and upper arms a bit to give her warmth from the cold. She paused for a moment, silently realizing this was something she did often for Kate. But she shook the thought from her mind.
The host led them further into the dark club, only illuminated by soft red lights and candles on each table. When they reached their corner table, Emma helped Regina slip out of her coat, as the smooth notes from the saxophone filled the room. Regina smiled, batting her eyes gently down as Emma touched her from behind to remove the garment.
They both ordered martinis, much to Regina's surprise. She'd only known the Emma who chugged beers and ate greasy pizza. She couldn't help but smile warmly, staring longingly at the woman in front of her.
"It's nice, right?" Emma asked, believing her smile to be one of approval for the location.
"Yes, dear," Regina nodded, taken off guard, "indeed."
After much talking throughout the day, the two of them sat quietly, listening to the music. A female vocalist came on along with a pianist for awhile. Regina gazed over at a few couples who had gotten up to dance to the music. She wanted desperately to ask Emma for a dance, but knew she couldn't. While they'd shared kisses, cuddled and been together all week, there was something intimate about dancing. She didn't know what was going on between them, but she knew well enough that there was a line—and she wasn't going to cross it.
But as she felt Emma's hand touch her thigh under the table, she knew that Emma's line went a bit further. She moved her hand on top of Emma's, squeezing it tightly.
As they left the club, hand in hand, Regina noticed they weren't walking back toward the parking garage. She pulled Emma back, and shot her a look of confusion.
"I was thinking," Emma began, "we could get a room."
Regina didn't need to think about whether or not Emma was suggesting they sleep together. She shook her head, knowing firmly where she stood. "I think we should get home," she said. "We have a busy day tomorrow with more wedding planning."
Regina released Emma's hand, leaving her feeling cold. Nonetheless, she nodded, and they turned back to walk to the car.
The drive home was silent. Regina wondered if she had hurt Emma with her indirect rejection. But still, she gazed out the window, her body turned slightly away. Looking at Emma right then was more than she could handle.