Emma fumbled with her backpack, pulling at loose strings as she sat outside of Mr. Gold's office. It had been an hour of doing just that, for the most part, after finishing the short paper she had to write for her insubordination.
Thus, she had sat for most of the hour, thinking about the dinner that she would be having with Regina after being released from this little hell. She thought it would be quiet, fast, and peaceful sitting alone in the office for her punishment. but she had been dead wrong. Upon entering the domain, she soon realized just where the other two would be, serving their punishments at the tables beside Emma.
She watched the two teenagers from the corner of her eye. Each were at a different table, but with Mr. Gold's absence, they decided to make a game of it and had started to throw bits of paper at each other, laughing quietly.
She really disliked teenage boys. Well, it wasn't all of them, but more specifically these two and the only reason why she disliked them was for their rude and crass comments about Ms. Mills. Even then, she felt offended by their cruel words, but now, it felt far more personal. It wasn't even just for the fact that they were making those same comments about her as well, no. It was for some reason far different.
What was she getting herself into? That's what she had been asking herself ever since she woke up this morning, and the question had come more frequent after lunch. But those matters would be sorted through later, she thought, watching as Mr. Gold stepped out of his office to relieve them.
And as soon as he had, she was out of that office in no time and on her way to Ms. Mills' room. Her heart was fluttering madly in her chest at the thought. Those two were basically going out on a date, although she wasn't quite sure if her brunette teacher had thought the same. But whatever it may be, she could still feel as the simmering storm within her stomach tore through the small organ.
That was, until she heard footsteps behind her. Her mind immediately jumped to the thought of Ms. Mills, but the older woman usually wore heels…
Whipping around, she came face to face with Jefferson. His jaw had ugly bruises on it that made Emma proud, but the angry scowl on his lips scared proud Emma away and replaced her with a coward. He was much larger than her and she didn't have much of an advantage against him, especially if his equally giant friend was standing behind him. In the class, she had an advantage; Ms. Mills was there to end things when it had gotten rough, and to begin with, he wasn't suspecting her to deck him.
Emma straightened her back and made eye contact with Jefferson, pushing her fears to the far corner of her brain. She had to show them that she wasn't afraid, which was a tactic that she used before. So, she asked, "What do you want?"
"You," he growled, taking a step toward her. Emma stood her ground, eyes narrowing. She knew the hallways were empty, since most students were gone by now and the darkened rooms told Emma that most of the teachers were gone as well.
"Why? The fuck you want me for?" She glared up at him, teeth slightly bared.
"To get you back for punching me, you cunt!" Effortlessly, he slammed Emma against one of the lockers, pinning her to it. She struggled, eyes widening.
"Would you really be such a fucking jerk and hit a defenseless girl?" she snarled.
"Defenseless, my ass!" Emma's knee met with his groin, causing him to cry out. Taking advantage of his lost grip, Emma darted away from him and down the hallway toward Ms. Mills' room. Hopefully she could get there before they were to follow her.
But her luck was not so great that day, for Jefferson's friend, Victor, seized her arm, ultimately yanking her into a backwards halt.
"Fuck!" Emma squawked in surprise, eyes as wide as saucers. Oh, gods, she hoped someone had heard her. She really didn't feel like being in pain today and her fear only heightened when Jefferson straightened up and started to slowly limp toward the two of them.
"And now, you're really going to pay," he hissed, not even giving Emma a chance to retort before his fist met with her face. The recoil caused both Emma and Victor to stumble backwards, and when she was no longer being held, she had fallen to the ground.
Pain radiated from her left eye, completely filling her senses. She vaguely heard the mocking laughter of the two boys before they had walked off. It was a relief that he wasn't going to continue because she didn't think she could handle all that pain at once.
She held her cheek, willing the pain to go away, but she knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Then sudden realization hit her as she remembered where she was heading. She was supposed to go out with the English teacher.
Oh, no…
Emma couldn't let the older woman see her like this. She couldn't let her know that she was weak. Perhaps she could try to cover it up with her hair. Sure, it'll be an odd look, but at least it would hide it. Now she really wished that she was like some of those other girls that carried makeup around with them.
Cursing herself, she picked herself up off the ground with a hefty grunt. She was left swaying on her feet as blood rushed to her head, blackness dotting her vision. After a minute of standing still to regain herself and kicking her bag halfway down the hall to pick up later, Emma turned around and headed back to the main hall to find the restroom.
As soon as she lifted her gaze to the mirror, she cursed. Her eye was already starting to turn sickly colors and there was a small spot of blood on her cheekbone.
After cleaning up and fixing her hair to lay over the left side of her face, she left the bathroom and, once again, headed towards the English hallway. It wasn't long until she made it to her backpack and bent to pick the object up on her way to Ms. Mills' room.
Her nerves got the better of her once she had reached the door. She stood outside of it for several heartbeats. That little organ was working double-time, pounding in a rapid tattoo against her chest.
"Emma!" Regina greeted her when she was finally able to open the barrier between them. "I thought you would have been here sooner?"
When Emma looked up, the brunette was pushing herself from her chair with pinched brows and a frown.
"Are you alright, honey? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine." Emma forced a smile, because she was, in fact, the opposite of fine. Her eye was throbbing, her ass hurt from landing so hard on it, her palms were sweaty, and on top of all that, she felt ill from her churning stomach. And now she just lied straight to Ms. Mills' face.
Ms. Mills' frown only deepened as crossed the distance between them, the spicy scent of her perfume engulfing Emma's senses. "Are you sure?"
Emma swallowed hard and looked away. She couldn't bring herself to lie to the woman again, but she didn't want to say anything else. "Are we still going?" she asked instead.
"Yes, we are. Of course." The teacher tilted her head, concern clouding her eyes. "I'll grab my purse and coat, then we can leave."
"Alright." Emma nodded and watched the older woman's rear as she bent for her purse, taking her mind to a different plane once again.
"Emma?" There was a hand on her cheek, soft and gentle fingers lightly fluttering over the surface, gently pulling her back to reality in a fuzzy warmth. But then one of those fingers brushed against the fresh cut on Emma's cheek and she flinched when it stung, forcing Regina's hand from her.
"Emma… Wh-what happened?" Ms. Mills' hand hovered over Emma's left cheek as she examined the bruising flesh.
"It's nothing." She shrugged, turning away. "Why don't we go?"
"Emma, dear." Ms. Mills frowned; the hand left abandoned in the air had curled into a fist before landing by her side. "Who did this to you?" she whispered.
"Jefferson. He wanted payback, I guess." Emma bit her lip.
"Why would he do this to you?" All the anger melted into distress, and before the blonde knew it, she was being pulled into her arms. "We can't go to the cafe."
"I'm sorry I'm mutilated," Emma solemnly muttered, pressing the unaffected cheek against Ms. Mills' shoulder.
"No. No, dear. That's not what I meant." Regina frowned, her grip tightening. "I meant that you're more than likely in pain, yes? You need ice and medication."
Emma nodded slightly but continued to frown. Did Regina think her not worth the effort?
"I'll start walking home, then," she finally mumbled.
"No," Ms. Mills was quick to respond, and Emma swore she could feel the arms constrict even tighter. "I'll take you home. To… to my house, I mean. We're still having dinner, regardless. Unless, of course, you would rather nurse yourself at home, which is completely understandable."
"You do owe me a talk," Emma said into the brunette's coat.
"Does that mean you will join me?"
She merely nodded this time, pulling herself from the older woman's arms. She was going to take her to her house. Emma just could not believe what was happening right now. Anyone in their right mind would be freaking out, she thought, as they headed toward the door. In fact, she just might be.
"How are you feeling, dear?" Regina asked, her hand lightly gripping Emma's elbow as they neared her Mercedes.
"My face hurts like fucking hell," Emma responded, grounding her jaw. "But, aside from that, I'm pretty good. Spending time with you evens it out."
The words felt foreign leaving her lips, but anything that earned a smile like that from the brunette teacher was worth doing anything for.
"Does it really?" Ms. Mills halted, digging her car keys from her pocket to open the passenger's door.
"Yes," Emma simply answered, ducking her head as she got in. Her gaze lifted to Ms. Mills who had been waiting. "I'm usually not… I don't know, but for some reason, you just make my day better. And I really like to see you smile."
"Emma." Regina nibbled on her lower lip, but the smile never faded. "How could I ever stop smiling when you're around?" she whispered softly. "You're one of the sweetest people that I have ever met."
"I'm really not sweet," she said, blood racing to color her cheeks pink.
"Well, you are selfless." Ms. Mills brought a hand to cup Emma's face, but soon dropped it when she remembered the bruise. "We ought to get going. You need ice on that."
Emma nodded, unable to respond as the teacher closed the passenger's door and watched each graceful step that the Regina had taken. Her body was like a work of art. The thought of what lay hidden underneath those articles of clothing had Emma in goosebumps.
Silently, she scolded herself. Here Regina was helping her, and the only way Emma could repay her was by imagining what the brunette teacher looked like nude. But, Gods, was it a fantastic image.
"Are you alright, dear? You look a little flushed…" The profound, husky voice next to Emma sounded, startling her from her veering thoughts.
"I-I'm fine," she lied, heart drumming furiously against her chest. "When did you get in here?"
That earned an eyebrow quirk. "Only a moment ago, but you were staring at the cement."
"I was?" Blood raced to her cheeks. Subtlety was not her strong suit.
"Yes," Regina chuckled softly before starting up the Mercedes. "Perhaps you're in dire need of medication, more so than I thought."
"Probably." Emma couldn't help but to join in.
"Put your seat belt on first. Safety and all."
"Yeah, safety." But she obeyed, clicking the belt into place, and looked toward the older woman. "Ready?"
"Mhm." Ms. Mills put the car into drive and pulled out of the nearly empty parking lot.
Before long, Emma was staring at a white manor with her jaw slack, all logic seeming to escape her brain as she muttered, "It's so big."
"Perhaps too large," the teacher muttered softly as she shut the car down and unbuckled her seat belt.
Emma followed suit, popping out of the car as soon as the doors were unlocked. She continued to gawk at the house, even as they walked toward the door marked with a crisp black 108.
As Regina fumbled with the lock, Emma couldn't help but to comment, "It must be really nice."
"It's just a house." Regina paused momentarily and frowned, key stuck in the door.
"Why do you say that?"
Regina sighed at the question and shucked her jacket, hanging it up in the hall closet. Emma had nearly forgotten she had asked the question as soon as she had stepped foot into the foyer, completely taken by the picturesque view. It was something she thought only existed in magazine yet, here she stood, staring at a chandelier that hung from the second floor.
"I have no one to share it with, so what's the point of all this… material?" Regina turned toward her. "The house has become just another thing in my everyday life. It lost its glow after I had realized how big it really was and how lonely I was in it by myself."
"Why did you buy such a big house, then?"
"I didn't," she said, walking toward the left side of the foyer. Emma followed behind her, taking advantage to gaze upon the walls for any personal effects. They were filled with meaningless art.
"What do you mean?" Emma leaned against the island counter, watching the brunette head toward the refrigerator.
Regina didn't look at her as she spoke, her tone clipped, "My mother had bought it for me."
"So, what do you plan on making for dinner?" Emma asked, dropping the previous topic completely. She saw the way Regina's shoulders had visibly relaxed upon the question and decided that she made a good choice.
"I planned on making lasagna. Well, warming some up, since I had made it last night and had leftovers, if you don't mind?" The brunette's eyes twinkled with amusement upon the distasteful look on Emma's face. "You cannot hate it unless you try it, dear. At least try mine," Ms. Mills purred softly as she moved toward the refrigerator once again. After pulling something out, she retraced her steps to the island and handed Emma an ice pack.
"Thanks," Emma muttered, immediately taking the small pack to gently place over her left eye. "I'll try it, only because you're making it. Leftovers are always better, anyways."
"Thank you." She grinned widely and tentatively took a step forward to place a chaste kiss on the blonde's cheek. "Now, I'll get this ready to throw in the oven, then I'll get the pain medication… Now that I think of it, I'll grab those now."
"No. I can wait. It's fine. The ice is helping, thank you." She couldn't help the ever-growing blush on her cheeks.
"I can get them written up for doing this to you, Emma." Regina paused her work and turned a serious eye on the blonde. "They could get suspended."
"No, don't," Emma blurted, shaking her head. "It'll only make things worse, trust me. You know how people can be. They'll only want to smash my face in if they knew I tattled on 'em."
"Are you sure?" the brunette asked, leaning toward Emma. When she nodded, Regina sighed and proceeded with preparing the lasagna. "I'll create a seating chart so you wouldn't have to be seated next to them."
"Would you really do that?" Emma tilted her head, using a finger to nab some stray sauce on the side of the pan.
"Of course, dear." She gave her a quick shake of the head but decided against voicing her disapproval. "I cannot expel them from my class without reason. Students get into fights all the time. I cannot show favor." Then she added with a low whisper, "Even though I wish I could."
Emma smirked and watched Regina as she slid their dinner into the oven, head tilted ever so slightly as she watched the round rump.
"Me too," she whispered, forcing Regina to stand stark upright. "But I know that you can't in class. Although…"
"Although?" she pressed, sashaying toward her.
"We aren't in class, so you can favor me all you want." Emma grinned. But, soon enough, her face twisted as she realized what she had said. "That sounds so cheesy."
But the English teacher only shrugged and reached forward to take Emma's hand, tugging her behind. "I like your cheesy."
"Where are we going?" she asked, following Regina out of the kitchen and across the foyer.
"The sitting room, sweetheart," Regina answered as they passed into a warm-colored room and led her to a cream couch. "I hope that you don't mind waiting while I grab the pills from upstairs, do you, dear?"
"Of course not!"
"Perfect. Please, make yourself at home. The remote to the television is right there on the coffee table." Then she left to fulfill her promise.
Emma sighed and leaned back against the couch. Her eye was throbbing again. That damn ice wasn't doing much to help her. In fact, it felt as if it were only freezing her skin and making it even more painful.
Taking Regina's suggestion, Emma reached over to grab the remote and flicked the television on and when she had, she was greeted by an ungodly noise that had her chucking the remote away from her as if it were the culprit. Her entire body was haphazardly splayed out on the floor between the couch and coffee table as soon as she realized what she had done and scrambled to find the remote and its pieces so she could turn that horrendous noise off.
"What the fuck?!" she yelled over the noise as one of the batteries rolled underneath the couch from her fruitless touch. Just her luck. Break and lose something her first day in Regina Mills' house.
Regina had found Emma arm deep under the couch, her face twisted in struggle as she attempted to stretch for an object. And that was her own luck once again. No doubt the deafening noise had alerted the brunette.
"What the hell are you doing?" Regina yelled over the racket as she moved toward the television.
The music blasting from the television was suddenly cut off, leaving a deafening moment of silence. It took a moment before Emma could regain herself and continue with all her might to reach the newest bane of her life. She yelped a cheer as her fingers grazed over the cool cylinder and soon was crawling back onto the plush surface of the couch.
She met Regina's questioning gaze and offered a sheepish smile. "The TV. I turned it on and… it was loud."
"Uh huh…" Those dark eyes drifted toward the now-whole remote in Emma's hand.
"Which raises the question, though." Emma's voice had the brunette's attention back to her. "Why the hell was your TV so loud? Were you trying to make yourself deaf?"
"Well, sometimes I do get tired of being able to hear properly," Ms. Mills replied with a sly smirk.
"Really?" Emma quirked a brow.
"No. I like listening to music while I do housework. I must have forgotten to turn the volume down before turning the television off."
"Why don't you wear headphones like regular people?" Emma muttered, half for her disdain toward the television that nearly made her pass a bowel movement on the living room carpet.
"I am not regular people," Regina chirped, elegantly taking her seat beside Emma.
"And am I glad. You're unique and I like that." She gave her a beaming grin, earning a bright smile in return.
"I'm glad that you think so, Emma." The teacher gently picked up Emma's hand, turning her palm upward so she could drop the pills into it. "Here, dear. This should help ease your pain."
"Thank you." Emma met her gaze once again, getting caught in her drawing stare.
She could feel that little organ inside her chest pump away, bringing her back to that night in the Mercedes. Whatever the force had been that had pulled them together then was working its magic now, or at least on her. The brunette just watched her with expectant eyes and perfect lips pursed.
She licked her own subconsciously before daring a chaste kiss to those very lips in front of her, letting the sweet spice fill her lungs and the softness of red painted skin to transcend her. It may have only lasted a moment, but that moment caught Emma's breath in her throat, leaving the blood in her veins singing for more. But she pulled away despite the protest, her cheeks tingling, and watched the older woman's gentle smile through her lashes.
"You're welcome, dear," Regina mostly purred her words, and when Emma gazed into her eyes for a second time, she had noticed that they were much darker than before. Then she leaned forward, and the blonde swore she was going to kiss her again, but the older woman's mouth missed her own and, instead, went straight to her ear as she whispered, "take the pills."
Emma obliged, popping the tablets into her mouth before swallowing them dry, and as soon as she had done that, Regina was in her personal space, their hips touching and their mouths only a breadth apart. It was almost dizzying and before she knew it, Regina had leaned in and claimed her lips.
That sweet feeling greeted her again, boiling the humming blood in her veins and setting her on fire. Something rumbled within her, rising and escaping from her throat, but for a moment, she wondered if it was a dream as her brain floated away. Warm, tight arms grounded her for a moment, pulling her into reality before she lost herself in a much deeper kiss.
She pressed closer to the older woman, feeling herself merge into Regina's form, and let her fingers explore, touching gentle curves and combing through dark tresses. The brunette stressed a moan that shot straight to Emma's core, and she suddenly wondered if Regina was feeling like this too.
When she felt a tongue slide along the crease of her lips, she didn't care, and granted permission to the invasion that brought an intense pulse between her thighs. Emma wasn't always one for tasting her food a second time, but there was something about a little Regina flavor mixed with it that made the prior meal all the better.
Like clockwork, she felt an exploring hand, sliding up her sides from her hips to… oh, Emma groaned against the brunette's mouth as her hands found the swell of her chest and gently squeezed.
Beeeeeeeep!
The two ignored the faint bell coming from the kitchen. They had been so lost in each other and neither one wanted to let this moment go.
Beeeeeeeep!
The timer had gone off a second time. Emma heard Regina grunt with irritation, but she showed no sign of moving.
Beeeeeeeep!
"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Regina growled as she pulled away from the blonde and stood, sauntering off with heavy steps.
Emma blinked as she watched her disappear.
She must have enjoyed it as much me.
Emma smirked to herself and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Who would have known how far that would have gone if not for the timer? But, then again, perhaps it was perfect timing.
Her stomach grumbled as if on cue.
"The lasagna's done!" She heard that familiarly wonderful voice sound from across the house. It hadn't taken long for Emma to hoist herself up from the couch and make her way to the dining room where Regina had set the lasagna.
"It smells terrific... Regina." Emma smiled, her forest eyes on the steaming dish. She tried not to look at the reaction on the teacher's face after using her first name – which, as Emma could recall, would be the very first time she had used it.
"Thank you, Emma." Regina pulled out a chair. "Please, do have a seat. I shall get the dinner plates and then we can start eating." And then she was gone.
Emma waited until she was completely out of sight before staring the lasagna down. Perhaps it would turn out alright since she assumed that it was homemade by Regina. If it was twice as good tasting as the older woman was, she was sure to enjoy it. Upon further inspection of the door leading to the kitchen, Emma extended a hand to dip her finger into the sauce.
"It is bad manners to stick your fingers in the dish," a voice called, immediately pulling Emma's hand away with a sheepish look.
"Sorry… It just looked so good."
"Mhm…" Regina quirked a brow before setting the collected plates in their respective places and served a square of lasagna on each. "I do hope you enjoy. It's my own recipe."
"I'm sure I will." Emma beamed, eyes dropping to the lasagna on her plate. Carefully, as if afraid to ruin its integrity, she dug her fork into the very corner of the square and lifted it to her mouth.
She let the predominance of oregano linger on her tongue for a moment before admitting, "I think I just found my favorite lasagna."
"Did you now?" A grin broke across Regina's face like a rash.
"Yes! It's really good." And to prove just that, Emma took another bite, one much larger than the last.
"I am certainly glad that I broke you from your hatred of lasagna." Regina gave her a wry smile before taking a dainty bite off her fork.
"I like it. I like it almost as much as I like you, and that's a lot."
Those words earned Emma a speechless Regina and a foot in her mouth. Why did she feel the need to say such stupid things? As she stuffed another bite into her mouth, she thought of how to mend her statement to make it sound less desperate, but Regina beat her to the punch.
"It's quite comforting to hear that I am better liked than the lasagna I make." Regina looked to her fork, then to the lasagna before meeting Emma's gaze, a light smile touching her eyes. "Although, I do quite like you as well, dear. More than apples, even, and that's a lot."
"Huh…" Something within that statement lifted Emma high into the air once again. "I'm glad I'm more worthy than apples."
Regina hummed, taking another forkful of lasagna. "And speaking of liking, we must talk."
"We do. You still have to answer my question. What do you want to do? About… all of this." Emma gestured to herself, unable to hide the smile when she saw Regina's lips twitch despite the slight case of irritation.
"Emma…"
"I know, I know. I was joking. Well, only sort of… because I really want to-" Emma set her fork down and sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "You know I'm really, eh, bad with words and this type of… uh… stuff. I know this is risky already for you, I wouldn't want you to lose your job over me. Hell, I would understand completely if you wanted to turn away because of that, I'm really not worth the risk. I don't know why you've bothered to invite me over here in the first place. I'm just being selfish here, y'know?"
"Emma, honey, just stop right there." Regina's tone was gentle, and her touch was the same when she took Emma's hand. "If anyone is being selfish, it's me. What we have done is very risky, indeed, and we really should not be doing this, and I should know better than to let myself fall into this hole-"
"See, I knew that I'm not wron-"
"But," the brunette quickly interrupted, her lips pursed, "I cannot stop what I feel for you, Emma. Everything is telling me to just back away, that this isn't worth the risk. But in my heart, it is. You are."
Regina paused and closed her eyes, her thumb absent as it smoothed over the top of Emma's hand. "I've been debating all night and day trying desperately to find a reason to turn away - that logical part of me. But… Gods, I couldn't find it. I just kept thinking of last night in the car and…" She breathed for a moment, her gaze clouded when it met Emma's, but there was a sureness in them, something clear and concrete. "I have my answer to your question. Are you truly ready for it?"
"Yeah, I am." When Emma's voice cracked, she felt a squeeze at her hand and let the vise that had taken her lungs to release.
"I was thinking that… that perhaps we can-" she stumbled, as if trying to find the right words before letting herself fall. "We can see where things take us."
"You mean- Do you mean that we can try to have a relationship?"
"That's- I was thinking something along the lines of testing those waters out, yes. We would have to keep quiet, though. No one can know, not even those closest to you. Gods, I sound despicable for saying such a thing…"
"I- Y-You don't, I mean… I'm the one over here forcing your hand… I-I know." Emma nodded, a smile creeping onto her face. Suddenly she felt so much lighter than before. There was a fear that she would float into the clouds like a feather. "No one will know."
"Are you sure that you want to go through with this? I have no quarrels to hold against you if you decide to back out, and you can, at- at any time." Regina had looked as if she were expecting to be rejected the way she sat, staring, building walls around her.
"Of course." And just like that, those fears swirling in her eyes were vanquished and replaced with a smile that could brighten the room. It certainly filled Emma with light.
"Really?" Regina's smile turned Emma into putty, and the blonde just nodded.
"Why wouldn't I? You're a wonderful woman, Regina, despite what others might think. I can't tell you all the gushy stuff because I don't really know what draws me to you but… I just know." She carefully gave the older woman's hand a squeeze. "All I know is that I'm basically shi-… soiling myself that you actually want anything to do with me. I mean, you've practically invited me on a date already."
"You don't need to flatter me." Regina's cheeks had visibly reddened, delighting Emma into a bright smile.
"Well, we are on a date. Am I not supposed to be flattering you or whatever the hell it is people do on dates?"
"A date," Regina chuckled, shaking her head slowly. "I suppose this would be our first one?"
"Well, if you wanted to play like that, yeah." She nodded. "I don't know what people do on dates, so…"
"Honestly, I've never been on a good one, so neither do I." She laughed, this time, something full and hearty.
"A good one? You've been on dates before?" Emma blinked. A part of her bristled at the thought, yet a part of her was too curious to grow jealous.
"Yes," Regina admitted, rolling her eyes. "They were with men that my mother had set me up with when I first moved here. They were all unsuccessful, considering. Most of the time I had ended up telling them that I preferred women to get entertainment. They knew I was disinterested anyhow."
Emma leaned forward, intrigued. "Holy shit, really? What'd they do?"
"One of them just nodded and said, 'knew it' before getting up and walking out, leaving me with the bill." She wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Another one had been homophobic and I nearly thought he was going to have a brain aneurysm. He, also, got up and left, but not without showing me what he really thought and dumped the rest of his meal on my very expensive dress. Mother was not happy about that one, but perhaps that was because she had asked him the reason and he explained what I told him."
"What an asshole," Emma commented with a frown, squeezing the teacher's hand. "I hate those people. Did he tell you that you were going to hell or whatever?"
"I wish. He had some very colorful language," Regina muttered bitterly. "The other guys weren't as bad. I mean, I caught them by surprise, though. One of them blatantly stated that I was 'too hot to be lesbian' and the other said that it was 'cool' that I 'digged chicks' and that he would too if he were one because he liked 'tits too much.' We had remarkably talked for a few hours, but after that, we went our separate ways, and I hadn't heard from him since."
"Sounds like you sure as hell had a lot of fun back then." Emma couldn't get the images of her foiled dates out of mind and chuckled. "Have you had any dates with women?"
"Not dates, per say…" Regina closed in on herself after muttering the words, her eyes dropping to her empty plate. Emma stared at her when sudden realization struck.
"You mean- you mean you had booty calls?"
"Now, that's just crass!" Regina protested, but the blush blooming on her cheeks gave her away. "They weren't that, Emma. They were-"
"Where the hell did you pick 'em up from if you didn't date them?"
"Nowhere. Just, I do not wish to have this conversation with you. It doesn't make me feel comfortable."
"But…"
"Please."
"Fine. I'll drop it. Only because it looks like your head is going to explode." Emma smirked.
"Oh, quiet," Regina mumbled before releasing her grip on Emma's hand to stand. "Why don't you go to the living room and pick out a movie while I put the dishes away? I suppose a proper date requires a good film?"
"And popcorn?"
"I'll make popcorn as well… even though we just ate."
"You're awesome." Emma grinned widely at the other woman before finding her way back to the sitting room.
It wasn't long before the two of them were sitting side by side on the large sofa with a bowl of popcorn on Emma's lap. She had already popped the DVD into its player and hid the case to surprise Regina with.
"What movie did you pick, dear?" Regina asked innocently, searching the coffee table for the case. Emma smirked.
"You'll see." And we'll probably want to rethink this popcorn, she added silently. Because, yeah, she chose a gory and disgusting movie to watch, though it was in Regina's film collection.
"Emma...?"
She ignored the prompt and skipped every preview up to the warning screen with a wide, knowing smile on her face. "It's probably not date material, but I'm not a fan of those sappy rom-coms."
"... someone found my horror selection, I take it." Regina quirked a brow, eyes sliding over to the flat screened television as the title screen popped up. "The Human Centipede, Emma… Really?"
"Yeah… popcorn probably won't be…" Emma wrinkled her nose and hit the play button to take a handful from the bowl. "Think we can finish it before the doctor starts doing the freaky shit?"
"I… uh…"
Emma laughed and playfully bumped into the older woman. "I didn't know you liked this sort of stuff. You're pretty demented, Regina, but that only makes me like you more."
"This movie was a part of some deal at the store," Regina finally said, though there was a little drop that gave her away.
"A 'deal,' sure… Just admit it, you like the gross things," Emma mumbled, a pleased smirk on her face.
"Shh. The movie's starting."
With a pout, she reluctantly faced the screen and focused on the opening. It wasn't until she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders did she smile and forget about the world for the time being.
It wasn't even an hour into the movie when Emma heard a soft snore. The position had changed quite a few times during the film until they finally ended up in their current situation. Emma was leaning against the arm of the couch while Regina was curled up with her head on the former's lap.
She had ignored it for the most part, too busy smiling inwardly and too afraid to wake up from this dream to say anything. But when Emma had heard the snore, she looked down to see Regina snoozing peacefully.
Her brain was on autopilot from there as she watched her own hand move to weave pale digits through the dark tresses. When Regina hadn't reacted, she relaxed slightly and let the situation feel normal for just a moment. Sure, she was biased, but Regina must have been the most beautiful woman in the world, especially as she slept, peaceful, without a care in mind.
Emma's fingers moved to touch her cheek, warm and velvet, and smiled even wider when Regina's nose twitched slightly. She was lost until a loud snore followed it, ripping through the silence she made for herself, with a chaser of pain in her ribs when the older woman shifted and dug her elbow in.
She bit her lip to keep from verbally expressing her pain and instead lightly touched the tender area. That woman was lethal in more ways than one. If not for that killer smile, it was those pointy elbows.
But Emma couldn't stay mad long, after all, Regina hadn't meant to do it, and the arm that wrapped around her waist helped her along to another smile, and an even bigger one when Regina nuzzled her tender ribs.
"Well," she whispered softly, grinning like mad. Regina must love to snuggle while she slept. It was one of the most precious things that Emma had laid eyes on.
Was she watching some sappy movie that had made herself just as goopy-hearted? What the hell were these thoughts? She was Emma Swan. She was the Motherfucking Swan Beast. She kicked ass to defend a woman's honor and she took that punch like a statue when it was sent her way. Well, for the most part. At least she hadn't cried like a baby.
Emma needed to toughen up. So, she looked up and proceeded to watch the film she was supposed to be viewing for the past who only knows how many minutes she had been fawning over the sleeping English teacher.
By the end of the movie, Emma had trouble keeping her eyes open. She hadn't realized how tired she had been until now, but that was probably because she had been running on adrenaline earlier that day in angst to see Ms. Mills. But now that she was resting and all the excitement was over, the lack of sleep from the previous day had taken its toll on her. She probably really should be getting home so she could do just that.
Although Emma didn't know the time, but she assumed that it was late considering the sun had no longer glowed through the curtains. She bit her lip and searched the room for a source of time, nearly grunting in approval upon finding a clock on the far wall.
It was past seven.
Mary Margaret knew that she wasn't going to be home directly after detention today, but she hadn't exactly specified when she would be back, either. Usually, they had an agreement that she would be back before ten on school nights, so she did have a couple of hours yet. Plus, she didn't have the heart to wake up Regina. She looked so peaceful and sounded much like someone threw a rock into a grinder, because that woman could snore.
Emma smirked at the imperfection that she had discovered. It didn't bother her any, though. She quite liked it. It made the brunette real. And that was just perfect.
If she didn't know what was what, she'd say she was falling rather hard for the brunette. She really liked her, and she knew that. Her feelings were inexpressible with the use of words and welled so much inside her that she felt as if she would implode at times. And that would happen often when Regina did something that triggered those emotions, even so much as smiled at her.
Whatever was happening between the two of them was just the beginning and Emma knew that it could go one of two ways. Whatever it may be, Emma was scared as hell. She didn't want the heartbreak, but she also didn't know how to handle things if they ever got more serious.
Those thoughts were all too frightening and they were beginning to push Emma on the edge of unease. She really needed to think about something else for now. Perhaps if she just slept on it since the heaviness of her eyelids seemed to be weighing her down. Anyways, it wouldn't hurt to take a nap. She had plenty of time. And if not, she'd catch hell for being late.
It's totally worth it, she thought, looking down to the brunette still snoring peacefully on her lap.
Yes, so worth it.