DISCLAIMER:: do not own, though the endless swanqueen possibilities if i did
A/N:: so here's an update. i have yet to see yesterday's episode, but i'm told it was amazing. luckily for me, it doesn't affect this story in the least either way. i'm excited about where this story is going. thank you to everyone who's added it to their favourites/alerts and especially to those of you who take the time to review. it's always appreciated. read, review, and enjoy.
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
-Chapter 7: You Make me Think of Someone Wonderful-
"I hate Thursdays." Emma stumbled down the stairs, a permanent grimace attached to her face, her shorts and wife beater slightly askew.
Mary grinned. "I made oatmeal."
Emma grumbled something incoherent as she shuffled over to the island.
"I thought you might have had a rough night, so I also made some very strong coffee. I don't drink the stuff myself, but I figured it might help. Oh and this." She plopped a bottle of aspirin and a mug of coffee on the counter next to the oatmeal.
Emma eyed them gratefully and then slowly shuffled around the counter and absentmindedly hugged the brunette in appreciation.
Mary smiled and rubbed Emma's back.
Finally Emma pulled away and took a seat before her breakfast of painkillers and caffeine with a small side of nutrition.
"Honestly, after your confrontation with Mayor Mills last night, I thought you'd sleep in. Going a round with her would exhaust anybody."
Emma had the decency to frown apologetically. "Did we wake you? I'm sorry. I had no idea she was even going to be here." Then, it hit Emma. Why had the mayor been there last night?
"Oh? She seemed as if you had plans when she came knocking on the door. She looked upset when I told her you had gone to meet Graham. I thought maybe you had forgotten some plans you'd made with her, but perhaps she was just jealous." Mary shrugged.
"Jealous?" Emma raised an eyebrow, a quizzical expression on her face.
Mary nodded and sipped from her mug of hot tea. "She and Graham have a thing. She thinks no one knows, and it's probably better for us all that she believes we don't know, but more than one resident of this town has seen his cruiser parked next to her Mercedes in front of Granny's Bed and Breakfast every Saturday morning."
"Regina and… and Graham?" Emma all of a sudden felt nauseous and she pushed the bowl of oatmeal away, half eaten.
"Are you okay?" Mary's brow furrowed in concern.
Emma scowled into her coffee. She couldn't exactly confess to Mary that she was romantically involved with Regina in another realm of existence any more than she could confess to the woman that she was her daughter. It was frustrating, but a necessary evil for the time being. But she couldn't ignore the physical manifestations of her attraction to the mayor in this realm either, such as the jealousy that was currently colouring her neck a nice shade of red.
"Emma?"
"I… um, well it's just that I kinda have a thing for…"
"Graham." Mary nodded. "I figured as much. There are several jobs available in town and I was wondering why you risked the mayor's wrath to get that one. But now it makes perfect sense." She smiled, happy with herself to have figured it out. "Don't worry though. There's nothing serious between them. Mayor Mills hasn't actually dated anyone in… well, as far back as I can remember actually."
"Yea, commitment isn't really her thing." Emma polished off the last of her coffee and Mary refilled it without even having to be asked. "Mary, can I ask you something personal?"
Mary nodded without hesitation. Apparently there was nothing in her life she was ashamed of people knowing about. "Of course."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
A small blush warmed Mary's cheeks and she shook her head. "No, I had a crush on someone once, but he's married now; he has been for a long time."
"What's his name?"
"David. David Nolan. He works at the animal shelter here in town. He's a very sweet guy and his wife is lovely. Her name is Kathryn. In fact, Kathryn is the best friend of Mayor Mills."
Emma raised an eyebrow in surprise. "She has a best friend?"
Mary Margaret waved the comment off as if Emma were jesting. "Of course, everybody does."
Emma face fell. "I don't." She got up and set her dishes in the sink. "I'm going to go get ready for work."
"Emma…"
Emma just held up a hand over her shoulder and trudged back up the stairs.
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
She'd never been a huge fan of animal shelters. Like pet stores they had a lingering smell that she found less than pleasant. It assaulted her the second she opened the door and she had to fight off the urge to flinch and plaster a forced smile on her face. There was no one behind the counter in the small lobby area, but there was a bell and she tapped it. She heard a muffled call from the back.
A moment later, he emerged from a hallway off to the side of the front counter, a friendly smile on his face.
Emma had to fight back tears. It had been years since she'd seen her father look anything more than the shell of a body he had once inhabited.
"Can I help you?"
"Um, yea. I wanted to look at your puppies. I was thinking about maybe getting one for my son." She had come up with the lie as an excuse to check out David. Storybrooke had so many parallels to her world and it baffled her that her father would be married to someone else here. It didn't seem right. Her parents had done so much to be together. So why weren't they?
"How old is your son?"
"He's ten. You may know him. Henry Mills?"
David's eyes widened in shock. "You're the home wrecker?" His eyes widened even further when he realized what he'd said. "I mean… I'm sorry. I overheard Regina telling Kathryn, and…"
Emma held up a hand. "It's okay. I've been called much worse, believe me."
David frowned apologetically.
"So… puppy?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, yea, of course. Come on back."
She followed him behind the counter and down the hallway he'd originally emerged from. Now, all she had to do was look at a few dogs, pretend like she'd changed her mind, and then get to work. Easy as pie.
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
"I wasn't aware this was bring your dog to work day." Graham stared at the blonde laying down sheets of newspaper in the bottom of a cardboard box.
Emma sighed. "I know! I'm sorry. But I couldn't leave her alone at Mary Margaret's apartment all day and the kid won't be home until four."
Graham stared at the little black furball panting up at him from her desk. "You do know Regina's allergic to dogs? She'll never let Henry have her."
Emma grinned. "Oh I thought David said she wasn't allergic to dogs… my bad."
Graham shook his head, but couldn't stop a smile. "You are a cruel woman Emma Swan; I think the mayor has met her match in you."
Emma picked the little puppy up, pressing her face close to the dog's and looking at Graham with a pout. "Look at this face…. How can I be cruel just because I love this little face?"
Graham rolled his eyes. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Just make sure she stays in the box, yea?"
Emma saluted him and placed her pup down into the box next to her desk. She looked down at the precious face and she couldn't help but smile. Regina would not be happy, but she'd get over it, Emma would make sure of that.
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
"Are you sure it's wise?" Mary Margaret stroked the dog's head fondly as she raised an eyebrow at Emma.
Emma shrugged. "Possibly not, but it will be fun."
After Regina threw her initial fit, Emma was hoping she could bend her will a little and convince her to give in. If not, it would seem that Mary Margaret was already sold on taking her in if Regina did refuse. Either way, things would work out.
"You enjoy pushing her buttons, don't you?"
Emma frowned. "It isn't about pushing her buttons, or even about getting under her skin. I just… it's hard to explain, but we kind of have a history. I know all about her past and I want her to drop her walls. I need her to let me in."
Mary tilted her head and stared at Emma curiously. "You really do care for her, don't you? I mean I heard you say it when you opened the door last night, but I thought maybe you were just taking a shot at her."
Emma frowned. "She's lived a harder life than anyone here can imagine; I know what that's like." She stared at the baleful blue eyes of the puppy that Mary Margaret was holding.
"Emma… are you… from here?"
Emma's eyes snapped up to the schoolteacher's. "Why would you ask that?" Was Mary remembering?
"Most of the people here… we've lived in Storybrooke our whole lives. Yet you seem to know a lot about the people in this town and there's this… almost familiarity about all this."
Emma frowned. Slowly, almost painfully, she forced herself to shake her head. She couldn't tell Mary the truth. Not now, maybe not ever.
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
Regina opened the door with her scowl already firmly in place, leading Emma to believe that she had either been warned in advance that Emma would show up or she'd been watching from one of the windows. Either way, it meant Regina was keeping tabs on her; a concept that gave her quite a bit of pleasure. Even if she was watching her for purely paranoid control freak reasons, at least Emma could be reassured she was on the mayor's mind, and quite often it would seem. "Miss Swan. What part of our conversation last night did you not understand?"
Emma put on a huge smile. She was going to enjoy this. "I brought a peace offering."
Regina didn't seem intrigued in the least.
"Emma, is that you?" Henry came racing down the stairs.
"Hey kid. I brought a surprise for you and your mom."
His face lit up and he pushed his way past Regina and out the door. "What is it?"
Emma smiled, set down the hole filled box and lifted off the lid.
Henry's eyes grew wide in excitement and he plucked the dog out of the box. "A puppy!"
Regina narrowed her eyes at Emma. "Henry, dear, you know we can't keep it."
"Puh-leeeeeese mom. Look at her!" Henry cradled the little black puppy in his arms.
"Yea, please mom." Emma gave the brunette a grin.
Regina shook her head. "I'm allergic Henry."
"But I'll keep her in my room and I'll walk her and make sure she doesn't make a mess and…"
"You haven't been able to accomplish that with Miss Swan."
Henry's brow crinkled in a frown and Regina instantly regretted making the insult in front of her son. Why did this woman and her infuriating persistence drive her so far up a wall?
Emma turned her attention to Henry. "I hope you don't mind, but I already named her. Her eyes remind me of someone I know."
Henry shook his head. "What's your name girl?" He looked at the small tag on the collar around her neck. "Daniela."
Emma nodded and scratched fondly behind the dog's ear.
Regina's entire body went rigid. "Henry, take the dog upstairs and play with her in your room while I talk with Miss Swan a moment."
Henry didn't need to be told twice. He bolted straight up the stairs, Daniela tucked safely in his embrace.
"Miss Swan, my parlour, now!"
Emma left the box off to the side of the porch and made her way inside and straight for the parlour. She was unsure of the obvious and sudden change in the mayor's demeanor. She had a feeling this wasn't about the dog, not entirely anyway.
The second Regina had closed the door, she rounded on her. "What gives you the right?"
Emma sighed. "Listen, I just thought he might like a friend. It's not that big of a deal."
"Don't play with me Miss Swan. I'm not talking about the animal. Where did you hear that name?"
Emma's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong with the name Dan…."
"Shut up!" Regina stepped up into her personal space; she was becoming quite adept at that. "You don't get to say her name. If you truly know who I am, then you know what I'm capable of. I will destroy you Miss Swan, without even a second thought. Just give me a reason."
Emma was confused. So, she just nodded.
"Now, you will tell me where you heard that name."
"She is a woman from my past."
Regina shook her head, looking angrier than Emma had ever seen her. "That's impossible." She shook her head. "I want you out of my house."
Emma stood, concerned now. "Madam Mayor, it wasn't my intention to upset you."
"Wasn't it? Hasn't that been your intention from the moment you entered this town?" Regina shook her head. "Just get out Miss Swan. You overstep your bounds with both myself and my son."
"He's my son too."
"Not legally."
Emma stepped toe to toe with the brunette, now angry herself at being dismissed so carelessly and without any sort of explanation. "Laws having nothing to do with what's in his heart."
Regina slapped her, a powerful blow that sent a resounding crack echoing through the small parlour.
Emma put a hand to her cheek, her eyes narrowing.
Regina looked like she was caught somewhere between sheer satisfaction and horror that Emma had caused a break in her carefully constructed walls.
Emma, for the first time, had no retort, nothing clever to throw back in the brunette's face. It wasn't the slap itself, a part of her had even been expecting it. What she'd said was a low blow, even for one of their fights. But there was something about the mayor's eyes, the tendrils of pain behind the obvious anger that pulled at her heartstrings. Finally, she nodded. "I'm sorry Madam Mayor; I'll go."
SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN
"She actually slapped you?"
Emma nodded. "Full contact, palm spread, connected right on my cheekbone, slapped me." There was already a visible bruise forming along the line of her cheekbone from where the heel of the mayor's hand had connected with her cheek. She put the homemade ice pack Mary had constructed for her, out of a ziploc sandwich bag filled with ice cubes wrapped in a dish cloth, against her cheek
"What prompted that?"
Emma frowned. "I may have implied that Henry doesn't care about her."
Mary Margaret's face fell. "Oh, Emma."
Emma hung her head in shame at Mary Margaret's admonishing tone. "I know. But she just frustrates me so much! Can't she see that I'm really trying here?"
"Trying to what?"
Emma looked into the mug of tea as if she were a seer reading the leaves. "Trying to be what she needs."
Mary Margaret's brow furrowed as she tried to process what Emma had just said. "Are… are you in love with her?"
Emma bit her bottom lip, her eyes glazing over as her mind flashed with images of the woman waiting for her back in the Enchanted Forest, of mouths moving hungrily against each other, skin glistening in the moonlight, of smiles and breakdowns, of hands questing across piano keys. "I was once."
"But you're not anymore?"
Emma frowned. "I don't know. But I do know that I owe it to the part of her that I once loved to try and love what she's become."