Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! Thanks for the awesome reviews! Just to clarify what I said in the last chapter's note; while I pointed out that Emma and Regina haven't slept together, I still consider them to be having an affair. Pointing it out was more to say their affair is about more than sexual relations. On a personal level, I do feel that any type of interaction with another in a romantic sense is cheating and should be treated as such...sorry if I offended anyone.
That being said, enjoy chapter 22's segment of the ride; hold your hats, everyone! :)
Regina awoke early the next morning, expecting to find a sleeping Emma by her side. But when her eyes opened, she only saw the tangled bed spread and the indentation left from her body. Disappointment swept over her when she found the blonde was not downstairs making coffee. There was no note, no trace or sign of Emma or anything—in Regina's eyes for that matter—suggesting that she cared about how Regina would feel to find her gone.
"You okay, Mom?"
She turned around, startled a bit to see Henry drinking a glass of juice.
"Fine, dear," she answered. "Why do you ask?"
"You seemed upset, like you lost something," Henry said.
Regina gave a sad smile and shook her head. "You better finish up there," she said. "We both need to shower before I drop you off with David."
He nodded as he downed the rest of his juice. "You guys are staying overnight, right?"
"Yes," Regina answered. "But we'll all be back tomorrow around noon with plenty of time to get dressed for the rehearsal dinner."
Regina drove her Mercedes over to the diner, where she was to pick up her passengers, Kathryn and Belle. She saw the yellow bug parked nearby, and she didn't dare get out. She didn't want to face Emma just yet.
"Morning!" Kathryn sang out when she opened the door to the car. She pulled up the seat and Belle climbed in the back.
"Morning," Regina said softly, unable to conceal her sadness, which was quickly turning to anger.
"So," Kathryn began, smiling at Belle as Regina began to pull back onto the road, "we've got a good few hours—Belle and I have decided that you're going to fill us in on your little love affair."
"What?!" Regina cried, only to be hit lightly by her friend. But still, she shook her head. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Come off it, Regina," Belle insisted. "We all know you and Emma have been doing the no-pants-dance all week now."
Regina laughed at the slang coming from Belle's mouth, but shook her head again. "Believe it or not, we haven't actually had sex yet."
Belle and Kathryn exchanged glances. "But you are…having an affair?" Kathryn prodded. "Are you not?"
Regina sighed. "I suppose so—I don't know," she sighed. "I thought we were, but then last night—and this morning—"
"Whoa," Kathryn put up her hand. "What happened last night?"
"And this morning?" Belle winked.
"Nothing like that," Regina corrected their thought trajectories. "The other night—she suggested we get a hotel room. I said no."
"Good girl, Sweetie," Kathryn said, patting her on the back.
"Well, I thought so," Regina answered, "but last night—I initiated things—and then stopped them." The girls leaned in as they listened. "I asked her to cuddle instead. We fell asleep together," Regina continued. "I expected her to be there when I woke, but she was gone."
"She left you again?" Belle asked. Regina nodded. "Sounds like she doesn't know what she wants."
Kathryn saw her friend was disappointed. "Forget about her, Regina," she said as an attempt to comfort her. "Tonight, we're going to party—and you are going to find a girl to hook up with!"
Belle whistled as Kathryn laughed. Regina smiled at their support. They were right. Tonight, she would find someone to help her forget Emma.
A similar conversation transpired in the yellow bug as they led the way to Boston. Snow and Ruby poked and prodded Emma for the information. Eventually, she gave in.
"I'm serious!" she laughed with them. "Regina and I haven't been sleeping together!"
"But you want to, right?" her mother asked.
Emma remained silent for a moment. "Yes," she said softly.
"So what's the problem?" Ruby asked.
Emma rolled her eyes. "You mean aside from the fact that I have a girlfriend?"
"Don't give me that, Em," the wolf answered. "You two have been inseparable all week. This is Regina—we both know you'd leave Kate in a heartbeat for her."
Emma sighed, knowing Ruby was right. "Okay," she finally let out, "I tried to."
"You tried to sleep with Regina?" Snow asked for clarification.
"Yes," she answered. "When I was booking the place for tonight, we stayed and checked out the club. After, I casually suggested we get a room—it was late, after all."
"And she said no?" Ruby asked.
Emma nodded. "I'd take that as sign enough," she sighed, "but last night, she asked me to touch her—and then when I started to, she freaked out and changed her mind. I figured I must have pissed her off, so I left before she woke up."
Ruby gave her a warm smile and tried to cheer her up. But Emma was too caught up in her misery. "Maybe she just wanted to play me, you know?" she suggested. "I mean, after the Halloween incident, it wouldn't surprise me."
Snow nudged Ruby to turn on the radio as a distraction. But despite their best efforts, Emma spent the next hours chasing thoughts in her head. She convinced herself that Regina's affections were nothing more than a queen's manipulation.
When they had arrived at the hotel, the passengers got out, exchanging looks, knowing full well that everyone was caught up with the Emma-Regina saga. They smiled and smirked, but quickly headed inside to check-in and get ready for their night on the town.
Emma sprawled out on her bed while her mother laid out her outfit for the evening. She looked over to her distressed daughter.
"Aren't you going to get ready, Honey?" she asked.
Emma buried her head further in the pillow. "What's the point?"
Snow rolled her eyes and set her shirt down on the bed as she made her way to Emma's side. "Emma Swan," she let out with a heavy sigh, "you did not drive all this way to sit in the hotel room during your best friend's bachelorette party." She rubbed her hands through Emma's golden locks. "I know things are confusing for you right now," she said, "but in a few days, you won't have to be around all this. You can simply go back home and forget all about this little problem."
Emma sat up and raised her eyebrows. "Aren't you the one who told me that running away wasn't necessarily best?"
Snow shrugged, nonchalantly. "But it's what you do," she said, smugly. "And I'm sure you'll do it this time as well."
Emma huffed and got up. As she headed to the bathroom to take her shower and get ready, Snow smiled to herself. She was getting the hang of how to mother a fully grown Emma Swan.
After a few hours, the girls met downstairs in the lobby of the hotel. They all had on their night time make-up and party attire, ready to celebrate Ruby and Kathryn's last moments as single ladies. Emma hung back a bit, uncertain if she was feeling incredibly social, but Snow grabbed her arm and nudged her forward.
It was then that she noticed Regina, just as she came off of the elevator. She was used to seeing the brunette in pencil skirts and suit jackets. The occasional business dress here and there had even become expected. But as Emma stared longingly at the cerulean blue linen that flowed gently tugging her curves, a state of pure admiration overwhelmed her. She quickly looked up from the plunging neckline to see her gently slicked back hair, tucked neatly behind her ears, with only a few strands of curled hair waving out on the sides.
"Shall we head out, then, ladies?" Regina asked, mainly addressing the more feminine members of the party. She had turned away from Emma, not giving her the satisfaction that she had in fact noticed Emma staring at her body. Once they had begun walking, and her face was out of view, she gave Kathryn a smirk, which was immediately reciprocated.
Entering the darkened room she'd sat in a few days prior listening to jazz with Regina, Emma headed straight for the bar. Her mother had made it clear that she should be present for the night, but she said nothing about her not getting completely smashed. Doing so was the only way she'd be able to be in Regina's vicinity.
"What is with her tonight?" Kathryn asked Regina quietly, as they eyed the blonde from across the room, two drinks in. Emma seemed to be nonchalantly ignoring everyone, with the exception of Ruby.
Regina rolled her eyes angrily. "I have no idea what the hell her problem is," she said, as a good song came on. "Come on," Regina said, putting down her drink and pulling her friend onto the floor, "let's dance and watch the show!"
Ruby walked back over to the bar area just as she saw Emma put up her finger to get the bartender's attention.
"Another," she said, tapping her empty glass to the wood.
Ruby stared at her as she tilted back another double shot of whiskey. "Damn," she said, slightly startling the blonde. "You'd think you were getting married in two days."
"Thank god I'm not," Emma answered bitterly, only to turn back to her friend apologetically. "Sorry—nothing personal."
Ruby laughed and sat next to Emma. "You okay, Em?"
Emma shook her head. "Sorry, Rubes," she sighed. "I don't mean to ruin your night. I just feel pretty low right now."
Ruby nodded, taking a shot herself. "No worries," she said. "I just want you to be able to take your mind off of it and have some fun." She pointed toward the burlesque dancers on stage. Currently, there was a female dancer doing an act with a trans-man who wore a skinny tie and fedora.
Emma raised her next shot glass. "Working on it."
As she tilted the liquid back, she caught a glimpse of the stage. She watched as the two tangoed, undressing each other playfully. Then her eyes strayed toward the crowd. Regina was not dancing with Kathryn. Instead, she was off to the corner, talking and laughing with a stranger. Emma dropped her jaw nearly when she saw this other woman—tall, dark, and very handsome—flirting with her girl.
"Oh fuck," Ruby said, tracing Emma's line of vision and seeing the scene unfold.
"I need a fucking cigarette," she spat out, getting up. Ruby was about to follow her, but was quickly pulled out onto the dance floor by her soon to be wife.
A few minutes prior to Emma's exit, Regina and Kathryn found themselves busy dancing to the beat. Kathryn grabbed Regina's chin, turning her gaze away from the bar where Emma sat.
"Sweetie," she said, trying to gain Regina's attention, "if that dumb blonde wants to drink away her angst instead of discussing things with you like an adult, let her."
Regina nodded and regained her sense of confidence. As soon as her attention was back on the dance floor, she felt a tap on the shoulder.
"Regina?" a tall brunette questioned.
Regina looked and smiled, a bit surprised. "Hi—Doct—"
"Olivia," the woman quickly corrected, and smiled warmly. "Office hours are long over."
Kathryn, not wanting to intrude, as the two women spoke, gracefully danced away.
Regina blushed. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
The woman laughed. "I should say the same for you," she said. "Isn't Maine a bit far from here?"
"It's a friend's bachelorette party."
"Oh, I see," Olivia said. "Well, I don't want to keep you. I'll see you in….three weeks, right?"
Regina nodded. "Appointment on the fourth."
Olivia touched her shoulder in a friendly manner. "Have fun tonight, Regina."
"Fuck."
Emma spoke aloud as she felt the cool night air blow gently against her flushed cheeks. Her hands trembled as she fidgeted in her pocket to grab her pack. As she lit her cigarette with a shaky hand, she closed her eyes, trying to forget the image of Regina with another woman.
"Emma?"
She looked up, not registering the voice instantly, expecting it to be Snow or Ruby. But instead, she found herself staring at her girlfriend.
"What are you doing here, Emma?" Kate asked, a bit alarmed to see her girlfriend so intoxicated.
Emma quickly shook off her frustration and gave a smile. "Bachelorette party for Ruby and Kathryn," she said, "I thought I told you I booked it here?"
The girl shook her head. "You said Boston, but you didn't say it was here." Kate came closer and tucked the purple dyed strand of hair back from her face to join her darker hair. "You okay, Em?" she asked.
Emma drunkenly laughed a bit. "I'm fine," she said, nodding. "Really, I am."
Kate eyed her with another look of concern. "I was just walking back to the apartment from meeting friends for coffee—"
"You should come in," Emma said, cutting her off. She grinned at the idea.
"No, I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Nonsense," Emma told her. "Ruby loves you." She pitched her cigarette and grabbed her girlfriend's hand. "Come on!"
As they entered the club once more, arm in arm, Snow and Belle caught sight of Kate's presence. Emma was clinging to her tightly, as if she couldn't be happier to be with her girlfriend.
"Oh dear," Belle let out.
Snow dropped her mouth open. "Oh Emma," she sighed.
"I have a feeling this is going to be a repeat of Halloween," Belle said, as she handed Snow a drink.
Emma led Kate to the bar where she took her coat. "Something to drink?"
Kate nodded reluctantly, not sure if she needed to stay sober to keep an eye on her. She took a shot of whiskey quickly and pulled Emma back from her own drink.
"I think you're inebriated enough to dance," she said, winking and pulling Emma to the dance floor.
Kathryn saw their two bodies move closer as they moved to join the rhythm. She turned Regina, hoping she wouldn't notice Emma was with Kate. But Regina went for a twirl on her own. Her happy, carefree smile instantly faded when she saw Emma—her Emma—whispering sweet nothings as she swayed with the younger woman.
She wanted to cry. She wanted to run. But as soon she tried, Kathryn held her back and embraced her in a hug, continuing to dance with her.
"Don't let her get to you," she whispered as she danced with her friend. "Just keep your cool and remember—you deserve to be happy."
Regina nodded at Kathryn's words. She swallowed the coming tears and put a smile on her face. It was fake, and Kathryn could see it. But nonetheless, she patted her friend on the back as they made their way over to the bar.
Several drinks later, her smile was as real as ever, though it hid her pain. Regina was whipping out cracks and sassy remarks, which went enjoyed by Belle and Snow. Kathryn looked nervous, as she knew Regina was drinking more than she usually did. But reasoning with her at this point in the night was impossible.
"I bet after they fuck, she keeps Emma wide awake asking dumb questions like," Regina said, twirling her hair, and began to mimic the younger woman's voice, "'What are you thinking about?'" She batted her eyes, exaggerating the mannerisms of the naïve girl as Belle laughed.
"No, Regina," Belle laughed a bit, "she probably flies up and says, 'oh shit, I forgot I have homework to do!'"
Snow wasn't sure whether or not to laugh as Regina made digs at Kate's inexperience, touching on all the stereotypes as she did. She was quick to signal them to hush when she saw Kate walking over, as Emma trailed behind.
"So what are you guys so giggly about?" Kate asked.
Regina leaned close to the girl, almost drunkenly falling from her stool, and cupped her hand to the side of her face as she whispered quite loudly. "It's a conversation for adults," she slurred. "Run along, little girl."
Kate rolled her eyes and dismissed it as Emma's ex-lover being jealous and drunk off of her ass. She grabbed a beer and a water for Emma.
"I see she's finally legal," Regina whispered to Ruby, who laughed a bit, but quickly stopped as Emma came closer.
"Is everything okay over here?" she asked Kate, as she held her shoulder, steadying her balance.
"Yeah," Kate nodded, "it's nothing."
But a snide laugh erupted from Regina and Emma quickly turned to her. She could see the brunette was wasted. Regina had now turned her attention to the handsome performer who was now sitting on the barstool to her left. Emma watched angrily as Regina gently ran her hand up the tranny boy's leg. She cringed as she watched her nearly give him a hand job in front of her.
Before she knew what she was doing, she grabbed her shoulder and pulled her from her seat. "You. Outside," she said, "Now."
Regina giggled wildly back at her friends as Emma nudged her through the crowd of dancers. She nearly tripped twice, but Emma instinctively put her arms out to catch her, though her balance was not much better.
As soon as they got outside, Regina tumbled forward a bit, laughing as she caught herself from hitting the pavement. She didn't need to turn around to know Emma was pissed.
"What the hell were you doing in there?!" Emma yelled.
"Whatever do you mean, dear?" Regina asked as she turned around. "It's a party—I'm having fun."
"Yeah," she scoffed. "With every walking vagina you see!"
"What the fuck do you care, huh?" she spat back. "You brought your little two-bit whore around tonight."
Emma was furious. "I only invited her in after seeing you flirt with another woman!"
Regina laughed. "Flirt with another woman?" She thought of telling the truth about Olivia, but reminded herself that Emma wasn't entitled to the information. "Tell me, Emma," she said. "Why is it that you think I owe you any sort of explanation?!"
In that moment, Emma came closer. She pulled at Regina's face. "Are we together or not?" she cried. Without thinking, she leaned in and pressed her lips firmly to Regina's, and then pulled back. "What are we doing here?"
Regina's façade crumbled at her touch. She began to feel the tears coming, so instead, she resorted to anger. She slapped Emma across the face.
"What you're doing is continuing to break my heart," she shrieked. "What I'm doing is trying to move on."
With that, Regina stormed away, back into the club, leaving Emma to hold her cheek.
Emma reentered the club, shaken by their fight. She saw Regina was back on her stool, once again smooth talking the handsome dancer. She moved closer, determined to stop the interaction, but she was held back by Kate and Ruby.
"Baby, I think you've had too much to drink tonight," Kate said.
"Yeah, leave it alone, Em," Ruby added.
But Regina sighed as she saw the upset blonde, who was still trying to come closer. "Relax," she said to Ruby, "she doesn't have to leave—I will."
Regina turned back around to her new friend. "Tell me, beautiful," she said as she pulled his tie and took his fedora, plopping it on her own head. "I don't need to show you the ropes," she said in a low, husky voice. He shook his head, being closer to Emma's age.
"Didn't think so," Regina said smiling as she motioned for him to come with her simply by using his tie as a leash. "You're a big tranny man—you know what a woman wants," she said with a wink, staring boldly at Emma before exiting the club with the stranger.
Emma broke as she watched Regina leave. The game of flirtation was over—there was no need to try and play tit-for-tat making each other jealous. Regina had won.