DISCLAIMER:: do not own. just borrowing for purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.
A/N:: yea, so it was pretty unanimous for the long version, so that's what we're going with. i like it better that way anyway, i just didn't want to draw it out if everyone was going to stop reading after the birthday chapters. anyways, update. this chapter ended up being ridiculously long, over 13000 words, so i've split it in two. it's emma's last chance to win mayor mills over. can she do it with the help of queen regina's trip to the past? we shall see. enjoy and as always, kindly drop me a review.
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-Chapter 53: I'll Keep A Part Of You With Me Part 1-
The day of her birthday broke the sunniest in the month since she had arrived in Storybrooke, despite the awful weather the previous day. It was almost as if the cheery weather was mocking her for her pain. She should be happy. It was her birthday after all. She would get to spend her birthday with her son for the first time in his, or her own, life. But a dark cloud hung over her, raining heavy on her soul. That look in Queen Regina's eyes as she'd drifted off to sleep for the last time in her arms, that look of utter fear, a fear of loss, in the eyes of a woman who had already lost so much. Would this break her? Would it even matter if it did? She asked herself, not for the first time, whether that world would even still exist after today, or if it would simply fade away, into the void. Would Regina just become a memory? Maybe it was already lost and everything she did here on this day meant nothing anyway.
This past month had been a tumultuous one of revelations. She'd found the love of her life, in both worlds. She had children. Her life was as complete as any one person could ever wish for. Both lives, when considered separately, were very fulfilled. But when considered together…. There was a part of her that belonged to Queen Regina, but she couldn't deny that she also belonged to the mayor. Regina Mills had a part of her heart too, and until she had them both, she'd never be entirely happy. There would always be something missing.
Before she could dwell on the subject too much, her door flew open and a short blur burst through, launching himself onto the bed. "Happy Birthday Emma!" Henry fought his way up the duvet, careful of his casted arm, to throw his good arm around the blonde.
"Thanks kid." Emma held him tightly against her for a long moment, savouring the precious seconds, before she forced herself to pull back. "Does your mom know you're here?" She pushed his brown hair out of his eyes and did her best at the stern parent look, though it failed rather miserably, not being a look she'd ever truly attempted before. But now, she'd have to dedicate her time to being a better parent. He was all she had left, him, and her, tenuous at best, relationship with his mother.
"Since I drove him here, I'd say that's a fair deduction."
Emma looked past Henry to where Regina was leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed across her chest. She wasn't in her usual power suit or fuck me heels and Emma was glad that her birthday had fallen on a Saturday this year and Regina didn't have to dress up for work. Instead she was in a loose fitting silk shirt, a rich burgundy in colour and jeans almost as tight fitting as Emma's… they were Emma's jeans! Emma didn't know whether she was more horrified by the fact that Regina fit so comfortably into pants that she had to spend nearly ten minutes every morning squeezing herself into, or that she'd worn Emma's clothes in front of not only their son, but Mary Margaret. Henry might not notice something like that, so wrapped up was he in his fairytale mindset that he sometimes forgot the world around him, but Mary Margaret had done Emma's laundry on more than one occasion. She was the only person almost as meticulous as Regina in this town and this change in Regina's attire would certainly not escape her radar.
"I should tell Mary Margaret to make a bigger breakfast. We didn't expect you until later." Emma looked away to avoid looking at Regina, afraid that the brunette would see the desire in her eyes. With the way they'd left things the previous night, she was still unsure of where she stood with the brunette.
"Mom suggested we take you out to breakfast at Granny's for your birthday. Even Miss Blanchard is invited."
Henry's excitement pulled Emma out of her thoughts and she smiled at him. "That sounds great kid. Why don't you go downstairs and turn on some cartoons while I get ready okay?"
He nodded enthusiastically and jumped off the bed, running past his mom and thundering down the stairs.
Emma stood with a stretch and trudged over to the dresser. She heard her bedroom door close and figured Regina had gone downstairs to join their son, but arms encircling her waist told her she'd assumed wrong.
"Happy Birthday Miss Swan." Regina kissed just behind her ear causing Emma to shiver involuntarily.
"I see you raided my wardrobe." Emma bit her lip as a hot, wet mouth moved down to her neck, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Regina smiled against her skin before nipping at it. "I wanted you to know the same ache I get between my thighs every time I unzip them when you have the opportunity to take them off me at our own private birthday party later." She sucked and bit at Emma's pulse point.
Emma's teeth bit down harder on her lip to keep herself from letting out a groan. Her mother and the son she shared with this woman were both downstairs and these walls were not exactly known for their thickness as Mary Margaret had proven several times. "Henry's downstairs."
Regina pulled her mouth away with a sigh. She unwrapped her arms from around Emma's waist, but as she was pulling them free, she squeezed Emma's hip, her fingers slipping over the lacy material of her boy shorts. "I can be patient Miss Swan. But this evening, you're mine." She turned abruptly and left the room.
Emma grabbed a spare pair of jeans and slipped into them, but as she looked down at the denim on her legs, she changed her mind. She didn't want to be standing next to the mayor and give Mary Margaret a visual beacon of comparison. She pulled the jeans off, refolded them and stuck them back in the drawer. Then she went over to her closet and grabbed the garment bag containing the dress Ruby had picked out for this very occasion. She had been telling herself she wouldn't wear it, that it wasn't her style. She unzipped the bag and smirked. This was a special occasion after all. So, Regina thought she was the only one who could play a game of seduction? Two could play that game. She took the dress off the hanger and pulled it on. After she ran her brush through her hair, she grabbed her cell phone, dialing the teacher's number. She heard the other line ring downstairs a couple times before she heard the double echo of Mary Margaret's voice from downstairs as well as through the phone.
"Hello?"
"Mary Margaret, it's me. Is Regina still downstairs?"
"Uh, yes."
Emma frowned. Just as she'd thought. She couldn't let Regina see her in the dress until the right moment. "Do you know your trench coat?"
"Which one?"
Emma had to admit that Mary Margaret's wardrobe consisted vastly of trench coats, cardigans, and dresses. The woman had one in every colour of the rainbow it would seem. "Let's go with the light brown one. Can you bring it up to my room?"
"Sure. Can I ask why?" She heard Mary Margaret leave the great room, the sounds of the Saturday morning cartoons on the television becoming muffled, apparently to go fetch the coat.
"I don't want Regina to see me in my dress. Not yet anyway."
"Not that one?" The schoolteacher couldn't keep her tone from sounding scandalized.
Emma nodded, though she knew Mary Margaret couldn't see her from downstairs. "Oh yea, that one."
"Okay, sure, well I have to go now Ruby. Yea, I have to check and see how Emma's getting on." The brunette's voice got louder as she started up the stairs.
The blonde smiled at her roommate's attempt to throw Regina off. "You're the best."
She could practically hear Mary Margaret's smile through the phone. "I know. Talk to you later Rubes."
Emma hung up just a second before the knock on the door. She pulled it open and the schoolteacher's smile faded as her eyes went wide at the sight of the blonde in the dress. She handed over the light brown trench coat and Emma slipped it on gratefully. After buttoning it up, she quickly disappeared into the bathroom to finish getting ready.
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Fifteen minutes later she emerged down the stairs into the great room. Regina was the first to notice her arrival and her eyes raked briefly down from her head, where she had left her hair down in its natural waves, doing nothing extreme to dress it up, to the trench coat and her bare legs extending out from the bottom of it, finally ending at the tan ankle boots with the three inch heel, which was three inches more than she usually wore, all with a look of curiosity. Emma chose to ignore the questions in brown eyes. Let Regina's curiosity go unsated for a while.
"You look nice Emma. Doesn't Emma look nice Mom?" Henry finally noticed her presence, or rather, Henry noticed how his mom had stopped telling him about his sugar consumption limit for the day and then, when he'd looked at her to see why she stopped, he saw her look of interest and followed it. He'd turned his head to find Emma on the receiving end of that look.
"Yes, Henry, she does." Regina was still eyeing the coat curiously, the fringes of suspicion in her eyes.
"Thanks." Emma smiled warmly at the woman before turning her attention back to their son. "We ready?"
He switched off the television and nodded, hopping up from the couch and racing over to grab Emma's hand.
She smiled down at his enthusiasm. Maybe she'd be able to be happy like this. Maybe she could be satisfied here, with her son and this Regina and all the people she'd known growing up. Sure they'd forgotten who they were, who they'd once been, but maybe that wouldn't matter. Maybe. She'd have Henry. For today, and hopefully for forever, that would be enough to dull the absence of the sorceress with the long hair and the deep eyes. Suddenly overcome, she knelt down next to him. "I love you kid, you know that right?"
Henry's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You're not leaving, are you?" The hysteria already starting to seep into his voice.
She smiled in reassurance and shook her head. "Not today kid. You're stuck with me."
He grinned, hugging her.
She met Regina's eyes over his shoulder, apologising with her gaze. She hadn't meant to come so close to having to tell him the truth about leaving tomorrow; she'd slipped. Regina met her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher.
As Henry pulled away his enthusiasm was back. "Come on Emma. I hope you're hungry." He pulled her towards the door.
She wasn't sure what possessed her, maybe she had a momentary lapse in judgment, maybe she was just glutton for punishment, or maybe she'd forgotten which world she was in for a moment, but whatever the reason, she reached out and grasped Regina's hand with her free one, pulling her along for the ride. She knew when she did that Regina would pull away, giving her some sort of scowl, but maybe she was feeling generous because it was Emma's birthday, as she allowed the gesture, letting Emma pull her from the flat.
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The second they stepped out of the building, Regina dropped her hand. She gestured to the black Mercedes. Emma slid into the passenger seat. Mary Margaret had declined the invitation; she had to get the flat ready for the small party they we're having to celebrate her birthday. The schoolteacher had been cooking up a storm for the past few days, but she hadn't had any time to set up any decorations. Emma had told her it wasn't necessary, but she had insisted.
"Everyone buckled in?" Regina looked pointedly at Henry in the back seat.
He sighed and buckled his seatbelt rather dramatically with a huff and then they were off. They could have easily walked to Granny's. Had Regina decided to drive to Granny's so that Emma and Henry would just walk back to Mary Margaret's while she continued home after they had breakfast? Was Regina even coming to the party?
They pulled to a stop in front of Granny's. Emma got out and chuckled as Henry nearly launched himself from the car and inside.
"He's in a good mood." Emma raised an eyebrow. She could practically see those white cartoon running lines following after him.
Regina stepped up beside her. "He's excited about today."
Emma smiled as she glanced at Regina. "Are you?"
Regina smirked. "Might be that I am." She gave a half-hearted shrug and disappeared inside the diner.
Emma smiled to herself before following them.
"Happy Birthday Emma." Granny greeted her from behind the counter as she walked in.
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Thanks. Where's Ruby?" Not only was the waitress absent, the diner was pretty dead for a Saturday morning.
Granny shrugged. "You know that girl; she'd forget her head if it wasn't attached."
Emma chuckled. Ruby wasn't exactly known for being the most responsible citizen in Storybrooke. But her aloofness was rather adorable more often than not, so everyone let her slide. She turned to the booth Henry and Regina had selected, towards the back. She walked over and, in a move that surprised everyone but Henry it seemed, she slid in on Regina's side, not his.
"What's looking good kid?" She picked up her menu, pretending to examine it to avoid the questioning gaze the mayor had trained on her.
"I'm having waffles with a ton of syrup!"
Emma laughed. "You might want to make that half a ton… remember what your mom said back at Mary Margaret's place about not having too much sugar today? And I happen to know that Mary Margaret baked a lot of sweets for my birthday party. So you might want to save room."
Henry's eyes seemed to light up at the prospect of so many sweets at his disposal. "You're right Emma. I'll have eggs instead."
Emma felt a hand squeeze her knee and when she glanced over at Regina, the woman gave her a small nod of gratitude. It filled her with a sense of accomplishment to know she'd made a move Regina approved of. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, being here for the rest of her life.
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Regina had never thought she was meant for the domestic life, not after Daniela. She had no dreams of being married, of coming home from the office to find someone there waiting for her. Henry had been all she'd ever needed, been content with. And then Miss Swan had stumbled in. These past few days with Miss Swan staying at her home, taking care of their son, being there whenever she came home, sleeping in her bed. She may not love the woman, but she could admit that she loved that. She loved life with Emma and the way it felt. But could she really trust that feeling?
Emma. Remember that name. Emma. Trust her Regina.
Her own voice from ages ago filled her mind. The memory, which had eluded her all month, was suddenly all she could think about. It was as if it was brand new, but that was absurd. It was before the curse. Her one true memory of anything that had to do with Emma. She may not be able to remember the blonde's presence in her life, but there was no denying anymore that she'd been there.
She glanced sideways at the blonde woman. Their son had run off to the bathroom and Emma sat next to her quietly picking at her breakfast, a spice muffin, her eyes lost in thought.
"Are you not hungry?"
Emma looked down at her muffin. She had been tearing little chunks off every few minutes, chewing slowly. She had no appetite, but if she told the brunette that, Regina would certainly want to know why. And she couldn't answer that right now. "Just saving room." She finally looked up into the probing brown eyes next to her and tried to smile.
Regina saw through the fake smile to the sadness underneath. Something was distressing Emma. She was surprised to find that her first urge was to comfort the woman beside her. Slowly, her hand raised up, coming to cup the younger woman's cheek. "Miss Swan, there's something…"
Henry slid back into the booth across from them.
Regina's hand snapped away and she turned back to her own breakfast, her courage suddenly gone.
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Emma opened the door of the diner and held it open for her son and his other mother. Once they were all out in the soft breeze of the late morning, Emma walked back over to the black Mercedes. "I hope Mary Margaret had enough time to get everything set up for the party." They really hadn't been gone more than an hour at best. She glanced at Regina. "You're coming right?" She paled at the weak hope that infused her tone. It was not something Regina would approve of, and their morning had been going so well. She tensed, waiting for the hard look of reprimand.
But it didn't come. Regina nodded, a small hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Of course. How else would I keep you from corrupting my child?"
Emma smiled, her eyes sparkling. That had just been Regina's way of telling her that the momentary weakness was acceptable. She got into the passenger seat of the car and buckled in.
Regina glanced over at Henry with a smile. "We ready?"
Henry nodded, a grin on his face. "I'm ready for cake!"
Regina rolled her eyes at their son's one track mind, but couldn't keep the small smile of contentment from turning up the corners of her lips. She hadn't seen him this happy in her presence in a very long time; it was refreshing to know he still could be, even after finding out the truth about her in that wretched book. Maybe she wasn't giving them enough credit, this woman and their son, or more accurately, maybe she wasn't giving herself enough credit. Was it possible they could look past who she'd been? Could there really be someone out there to see through the darkness and love her still?
She put the car in drive, but kept her foot on the brake as Emma's cell phone rang. "Who'd be calling you today?"
Emma stared at the screen. "It's Graham."
"But you're on sabbatical."
"He probably just wants to wish me happy birthday." She accepted the call, putting the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
There was heavy breathing on the other side. "Emma?"
"Graham, where are you? I can barely hear you." He sounded so far away.
"I need back up at City Hall. There's been a break in. I think the perps are still here." He was whispering.
Emma glanced up at Regina. "We need to get to City Hall, right now. There's been a break in."
Regina's eyes flashed in fury. "My office?"
Emma was about to pose the question to Graham but the line was already dead.
Regina peeled away from the curb and sped through the streets towards City Hall, her expression caught somewhere between angry and lethal. Emma felt sorry for whoever was responsible for the break in. Magic or not, Regina would skin them alive.
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When they pulled up in front of City Hall, the building was dark. She saw Graham's patrol car parked off to one side; it appeared to be empty. He must already have gone inside. Emma turned to the other two occupants of the car. "You guys wait here." Her eyes focused on Henry pointedly, and then softened as they moved to Regina. "It could be dangerous." Her gaze slid back to Henry. "No…"
She jumped as something hit her window. She looked up to see Mary Margaret standing outside her window. The schoolteacher climbed into the backseat next to Henry. Emma turned in her seat to look at her. "What are you doing here?"
"Graham was helping me set up for the party. We were just running out to pick up some last minute items when he got the call. He didn't have time to take me back, so he told me to wait in the car."
Emma nodded, her gaze turning serious once more. Now yet another person she cared about was in danger. "No matter what any of you see or hear… stay together and stay in the car. Do you understand?" She didn't wait for an answer but opened her door and got out. She closed the door and set off up the side walkway to the front of the building. She heard a car door open and shut and she froze. When she turned around, she saw Regina following after her. "Did you not hear what I just said?"
"On the contrary dear, I heard you perfectly. However, you are ten shades of delusional if you think I'm going to wait in a car like a scared little lamb while some criminal is rifling through my office."
Emma knew she wouldn't win this. She could see the determination burning in the mayor's gaze. They would just waste precious time fighting over it. She sighed. "Stay behind me. If it gets too dangerous, you will leave."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine."
Emma set off towards the front doors of City Hall. She walked up to the right most red door, the one closest to her and tried the handle. It was unlocked. She held up an arm to block Regina should there be any unexpected gunfire when she opened the door, but when she opened it, she was met with an empty lobby. She ushered Regina to stay behind her as she cautiously stepped across the threshold, cursing herself for not having her sidearm. If they ran into the perps, they'd be totally defenceless.
A door at the far corner was flung open and Emma had just enough time to push Regina directly behind her and pray that the end was quick and that the brunette had time to get away and get her mother and their son to safety. The barrel of a gun poked out. It was followed by Graham.
She put a hand to her chest. It was heaving. "Graham."
He put a finger to his lips. If he was surprised to see Regina with her, he didn't show it. He was probably used to her demanding to be included in everything by now. He waved them behind him as he headed for the double doors that led to the conference hall that took up most of the first floor. He motioned Emma and Regina to one door and he took the other.
She grabbed the handle of the left door and nodded. They'd do this together.
He held up his fingers, first three, then two, then one. They each clutched their handles and yanked the double doors open.
For a moment, Emma saw only blackness and then the lights turned on, throwing the room into blinding clarity.
"SURPRISE! Happy Birthday Emma!"
The whole town seemed to be shoved into the conference hall, all with bright smiles focused on her. Emma's first instinct was to run from all the grinning faces and streamers and confetti and balloons. But just as her flight instinct convinced her legs to move her away and she managed to take two steps back, she felt something, or rather someone, warm press lightly into her back and Regina's voice slide into her ear, grounding her. "Don't look so terrified dear. Your friends, our son, and even myself did go to quite a bit of trouble to plan this for you." Emma relaxed at the words and finally let a smile cover her face.
"Were you surprised Emma?" Henry pushed his way through the crowd. Him and Mary Margaret must have snuck around and in the back entrance to the building.
She crouched down and pulled him into a hug, always mindful of his arm. "Yea kid, I was."
He beamed proudly. "Mom helped too."
"She did, did she?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
She had to admit that Regina had been a very convincing actress. She had seemed genuinely angry. She glanced over her shoulder, but Regina was too deep in conversation with Graham to notice her and Henry. She stood. It was time to unveil the secret weapon. She slowly unbuttoned Mary Margaret's trench coat and let it slip down her shoulders and off.
All conversation in the room ceased. White was definitely Emma Swan's colour. The dress reached down to her knees, making it an appropriate length, but it was so tight it fit like a second skin and had a slit that ran up the side of her thigh all the way to just below her hip. It was backless as well, the combined effect of both elements showing off more of her body than she was used to, but nothing inappropriate. She knew the effect it would have on the male population (and apparently a good chunk of the female) and she felt the surge of power in the pit of her stomach that one gets when you know you are desired, to know you possess something someone else wants and therefore have leverage over them. But when she saw David Nolan's jaw hit the ground, and his eyes flash as if he was imagining peeling that second skin off of her, she quickly felt the power drain away, replaced by violation. She grabbed Henry's hand and let him drag her through the crowd, feeling a pair of eyes burning into her back until the crowd swallowed her up.
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"Did you see the mayor's face when you took the coat off?" Mary Margret appeared next to Emma where she was leaning against a wall in the back of the room, partially hidden from the prying eyes of the crowd, taking a much needed breather from all the dancing she'd been doing, mostly with Ruby, who seemed to appreciate the dress almost as much as the men in the room.
The party had gotten into full swing quickly, everyone dancing, eating, or chatting animatedly in groups. Emma had spent the first thirty minutes mingling with everyone, thanking them for coming; she had purposely avoided Regina during that time, knowing it would only work to frustrate the mayor. Then she'd found Ruby and they'd spent two hours dancing to every song that had an adequate beat, and many that didn't, another action Emma knew would get under Regina's skin. In both worlds, Regina's jealousy and possessiveness were something Emma could bet on.
She shook her head. "Was it priceless?"
The schoolteacher nodded. "I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head. I've never seen her look so…"
Emma understood exactly what her roommate was unable to put into words. She grinned.
Mary Margaret's own eyes grew wide as she caught sight of something across the room. "Speak of the devil…" She glanced at Emma and gestured with her head.
Emma had already spotted Regina, cutting her way through the crowd like a laser, her destination obvious. She'd kept the brunette in her peripherals all afternoon, observing her growing frustration with a sense of pride. The woman may not love her, but she certainly wanted her. "Looks like somebody finally got tired of being ignored." The blonde smirked slyly at her roommate.
"Do you want me to stay?"
Emma shook her head. "That won't be necessary."
Mary Margaret squeezed her shoulder and then departed, just as Regina reached her little hidden space of wall and came to a stop.
"Madam Mayor." Emma smiled innocently at the brunette as if she hadn't been ignoring her for nearly three hours.
Regina stepped close enough so that only Emma could hear her, but kept enough distance that any of the other partygoers wouldn't suspect anything. "You walk around here with a body that'd be considered a sin in any religion, eyes that speak of a world no one can recall, a smile like honey dripped on sugar, encased in that dress, and they have the audacity to name me evil."
Emma smirked, taking a step closer, pressing in near to the brunette and daring the mayor to step away from her, feeling her heart skip when she didn't. "Does that mean you like my dress?"
Regina met the smirk with one of her own. "I'm going to like removing your dress." She nuzzled the blonde's neck with her nose, breathing in her perfume as if it was her oxygen, a necessity for her to breathe.
Emma's smirk only became more pronounced as her eyes fluttered closed. Her hands slipped over the mayor's denim clad hips. "Who says I'm going to consent to…"
"Emma!" Henry seemed to appear out of nowhere, interrupting the two women and shattering the sexual tension between them instantly. Regina took a small step back, putting an appropriate distance between them, though a reassuring hand stayed on the small of the blonde's back for a lingering moment before being pulled away. Henry didn't seem to notice any of it. "You need to open your present."
"Henry, we already decided that we'd do that later, back at Mary Margaret's. There's just too many to do it here." She glanced at the table covered in brightly wrapped packages. Her hand ached just thinking about all the thank you cards she'd have to sign and send.
Henry rolled his eyes. "Not those presents. Just this one." He held up a plain silver box with a white bow on the lid. It was compact as if for jewelry but the shape was wrong, it was too big to be a ring, too small to be a necklace, not long enough to be a bracelet. He pressed the box into her hand. "It's from me, and mom helped me with it."
Emma glanced at the little box in her hand and then at Regina. "You're in on this?"
Regina just raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Why don't you open it Miss Swan?"
Henry was practically bouncing, so great was his excitement.
Emma opened the lid and stared at the object inside curiously. She picked it up and inspected the shiny object in puzzlement. "A key?"
Henry nodded so fast, she thought he might actually launch his head right off his shoulders. "It's to our house. You can come stay whenever you want."
Emma smiled down at the small object in her hand. This was the beginning of Regina letting down her walls. This was her ticket in. It wasn't enough to save the Enchanted Forest, to save her other life, but it was something.
"Do you like it?" Henry looked up at her, hope the most prominent emotion on his face.
She leaned down to kiss the top of his head. "It's amazing kid. I love it. Thank you." She glanced over at Regina, who was watching her closely, judging her reaction. "And thank you. It couldn't have been easy for you to allow this." Considering what we discussed last night was the part she left unsaid.
Regina pursed her lips. "Despite my best efforts to the contrary Miss Swan, I've grown quite accustomed to having you around."
Henry glanced between his mothers. "That means she likes you."
Regina rolled her eyes, but Emma could see it was more playful than annoyed.
"Well Madam Mayor, I've grown rather accustomed to being around."
Henry looked at Regina, the ever widening grin still present. "And that means she likes you too."
Emma was about to respond when she felt his presence. She scanned the room until she saw him. He was standing off to one side, looking comfortable despite being obviously out of place here. Everyone seemed repelled by him, though he exchanged polite nods with several of the partygoers. She frowned in his direction and as if sensing her disapproval, he glanced across the room and straight at her. His direct gaze beckoned to her. "I'll be right back." She set off before either Henry or Regina could have the opportunity to object.
"I believe a Happy Birthday is in order Deputy Swan." Mr. Gold smiled as she stopped in front of him. "You do look quite lovely dearie."
She ignored the compliment. "What are you doing here Gold?"
He didn't seem offended by her tone, merely shrugging in response. "I was invited and it is a lovely party."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Something tells me you're not the party type. So what really brings you here?"
"You failed in your task dearie. Your birthday is over halfway to its conclusion."
"I can't make her love me if she doesn't." Emma looked over her shoulder back across the room to where Regina was staring back, her face blank and impossible to read. Emma knew her well enough to know that the gears were turning in her head, wondering what the pawnbroker and the blonde could possibly be discussing, a million conspiracy theories flooding her mind because she was always prone to suspicion over trust.
Mr. Gold looked positively pleased with himself, grinning with wicked intent. "Oh, but dearie, she does. Just as with her other half, her heart belongs only to you." His eyes danced with the insane merriment inherent of his other half.
Emma's head snapped back around to regard him, her eyes narrowing. "Then why…"
Mr. Gold shrugged, still looking rather amused. "Her head hasn't quite caught up with her heart yet I'm afraid. You see dearie, the challenge was never to make her fall in love with you; it was to make her realise that she already is."