A/N - I'm sorry for the delay with this chapter! My family has been visiting from out of state and I've been working a ton so I've been going non-stop from morning to night. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!
—
Emma's alarm went off at six the next morning. She groggily opened her eyes to realize she was still in Regina's bed. She forgot she had stayed over the night before. Speaking of which, Emma became painfully aware that Regina was not next to her. Emma stood up, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. Coffee, the blonde thought. She walked over to Regina's dresser where there was a small piece of paper laying right on top with Emma's name on it. "There are clothes for you in the closet. Get dressed and meet me in my study." it read. Clothes for her? She hadn't even thought of the fact that she didn't have a change of clothes for work.
Emma walked over to Regina's closet and opened the door to reveal a huge walk-in closet. "Shit!" Emma was pretty sure her apartment was smaller than this closet was. She walked in and was surrounded by Regina's power suits and blouses. She continued in further and saw in the back a decent sized section of clothes that she assumed were for her. There were shirts and blouses of many different colors, along with jeans, leggings, slacks, and even a couple of dresses. On a shelf above her clothes there were multiple bras and panties. Emma chuckled at the sight. She didn't know what to think about Regina having bought so many outfits for her. Emma grabbed a red laced bra and matching thong, a pair of simple black leggings and a tight fit red shirt. She quickly dressed and made her way downstairs to the study.
Emma opened the door to the study to find Regina already dressed and ready for the day, buried in her work. Regina glanced up at the blonde, removing her glasses and setting them down on her desk.
"Out of all the outfits up there you choose leggings?" Regina said, staring Emma down.
"Well, I thought they accentuate my ass perfectly, don't you agree?" Emma said, turning around and sticking her ass out for the Mayor to see.
—
Emma's ass did look good in those leggings, Regina thought, trying to ignore the arousal that was setting in between her legs. Regina pointed to a plate that was sitting on the coffee table.
"Eat" she commanded. Emma looked at the plate. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Emma was more of a cereal person in the mornings, but she wasn't going to rudely point that out now.
"I'm not hungry." She wasn't lying. She usually needed a cup of coffee in her first before she could eat.
"Emma, we discussed this last night. You need to take care of yourself and part of that is keeping your energy up with food. Now, eat." Emma was in no mood to argue with Regina, who didn't seem like she was in a very pleasant mood to begin with. She walked over and sat on the couch, picking up the plate in front of her.
"Aren't you going to join me?" Something was up, Emma could tell.
"I'm fine. Emma I need to ask you something and I need you to be truthful." Emma put the plate back down, clearly concerned. "I don't want to be that girlfriend that gets jealous and nosy but I need to know. Hook texted you last night. Why?" Emma hadn't even stopped to check her phone this morning so she had no idea that she had received and texts the previous night.
"How do you know Hook texted me, Regina?" Emma was standing now, walking towards the brunette.
"Your phone went off when you were asleep. I shouldn't have looked and I know that…but I did."
"You went through my phone? Seriously Regina?" Regina understood why the blonde was so angry. She had invaded her privacy.
"Why would he be asking if you were awake and telling you sweet dreams, Emma?" Regina was trying to deflect the conversation off of herself. She was pressed up against the front of her desk as Emma closed the gap between them.
"You seriously don't trust me? You felt the need to go through my phone? Jesus, Regina we haven't even beed official twelve hours yet and already this shit?" Emma turned and stomped out of the study and towards the front door. Regina ran after her. This was new, Regina never chased after someone like this, but Emma was different. She knew she fucked up and needed to try to right this.
"Emma please, where are you going?" Regina was almost begging now for the blonde not to leave.
"Work." Emma spat back, slamming the front door behind her. Regina stood in the hallway staring at the door, tears rolling steadily down her face.
"FUCK!" She screamed. She needed to make this up to the blonde. To prove that she trusted Emma, because she did. She didn't want to lose the blonde. Emma made her a better person and she couldn't be the reason for the blonde to leave.
—
Emma's anger had subsided by the time she had gotten to work, but she still could not help but to be plagued by Regina's confession that morning. Emma thought better of the brunette than to invade her privacy the way she had. She wanted this relationship so badly and to give herself completely to Regina but how could any of that work out if there was no trust?
Emma's day was spent taking care of quite a few calls. An abnormally busy day for the Sheriff of Storybook. It was four thirty in the afternoon before Emma even realized it. That signaled the end of her shift. On the drive back to the station her stomach rumbled fiercely, reminding the blonde that she hadn't even stopped for lunch.
Emma walked into the station to find that David had already gone home for the day. Emma was happy to escape her father for the day. She loved her parents, that much was true. But sometimes the incessant questioning that often ensues when Emma is in their presence can be a bit much and she really wasn't feeling it today.
Then she thought about Ruby and the bar that she had been going on about the last time she had seen the petite brunette. When was the last time she had talked to Ruby? Other than casual conversation at Granny's, she couldn't recall. She might as well go and see what the wolf was up to tonight considering she really didn't want to go home and be alone and she definitely was not going to go to Regina's. Emma hadn't talked to the former Queen all day. She might not feel much anger anymore but she still wasn't ready to forgive the brunette. She was still upset that Regina had taken it upon herself to go through her personal cell phone. Emma sighed, she missed the brunette but she still needed time. And maybe a night out with friends.
Emma walked into the quaint diner to find Ruby waltzing around in little clothing as always, taking orders. The brunette spotted Emma walk in and shot her a huge grin of perfectly straight white teeth.
"Emma!"
"Hey Rubes, just the woman I wanted to see!" Emma walked over to the counter where Ruby was wiping up coffee that someone had spilled. "You busy tonight?" Emma asked as Ruby threw the cloth under the counter and beamed up at the blonde.
"Girl's night?!" She was now overly excited. Emma started to think maybe this wasn't the best idea. She just didn't want to be alone that night and Ruby had always been fun to hang out with, but her enthusiasm was making Emma uneasy.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Girl's night. I was thinking that bar you were telling me about that one time?"
"The Rabbit Hole, yeah! That sounds great! Oh, this is going to be fun! I'm just about to end my shift here anyways, come with me and we can get ready!"
"We? Oh, I'm ok like this, really." Emma didn't see anything wrong with her outfit. Besides, they were the clothes that Regina had bought for her.
Ruby led Emma up to her room and closed the door behind them.
"I'm so excited, I was wondering when we were finally going to hang out! I was beginning to think maybe you didn't like me!" The brunette winked playfully.
"Oh shut up, you know I like you. I've just been busy. You know, what with being sheriff and all." Emma joked back and Ruby laughed.
"Oh, I know, I'm just teasing you, blondie!" Ruby began going through her closet. "Ah-ha!" She pulled out a shirt and threw it at the blonde. "Those leggings are perfect but that shirt? No. Put this on."
"What's wrong with my shirt?!" Emma frowned.
"There's nothing wrong with it. It shows off your curves perfectly! But you need to show a bit more skin! If you've got it, flaunt it babe!" And with that she turned back around to find herself an outfit as well.
—
"What would you like to do tonight, Henry?" Regina asked the young boy as they sat at the dinner table. Regina had finished her plate of salmon and rice.
"I dunno. You?" He responded, pushing the remains of fish around on his plate.
"Would you like to go see a movie?" The brunette asked.
"Yeah!" Henry was visibly excited. Regina couldn't remember a time when the two had gone to Storybrookes's only movie theatre, Regina wasn't one for sitting in a dark theatre with people who no doubt didn't like her, if not still hated her. But tonight she needed a distraction. She needed to get out of the house and since she had Henry, she thought what the hell. She knew if she was home she would think about nothing but contacting Emma. Regina knew the blonde needed her space, but it was so tempting to call her up.
"Ok, Henry. I'll even let you pick the movie." Regina smiled at the boy as he grinned back at her. "Go wash up while I clean up the kitchen and then we will go." Regina demanded as she took both of their plates and began washing the dishes. When she had finished drying them and putting them away, she placed the wet towel on the counter to dry and walked back to her glass of red wine and downed it in one swig. Henry showed up in the doorway once more.
"Ready mom!"
"Ok, let's go, Henry." Regina grabbed her keys and a coat before leading the boy out of the house. The two walked to the shiny black BMW. Henry went to open the front passenger side door. "Excuse me, young man. You know the rules. Back seat."
"Come on mom, I'm eleven!" Henry retorted.
"I don't care, Henry. Your safety is my concern. Back seat. Now." Regina's anger began to rise, although she reminded herself not to take it out on her son. Henry sighed and moved to open the door to the back seat.
"Emma lets me sit up front." He mumbled under his breath. Regina caught what the boy had said and was ready to lash out but stopped herself. She knows the boy was just being a child, and she made a mental note to speak to the blonde about their son's safety. If she ever wants to speak to me again. She thinks sadly before getting in behind the wheel.
"I'm not Emma, Henry." She says, not expecting a response. She put the car in gear and the two headed to the theatre.
—
Emma and Ruby enter the town's bar. It was a small place, but then again most everywhere is in that small town. Inside it was dark with neon signs lining the walls casting an eerie glow over everything and everyone inside. The music was loud and catchy and the drinks flowed heavily from the bartender behind the long wooden bar.
Emma wore her leggings and, after putting up a losing fight, a crop top that belonged to the young wolf. Her makeup was done meticulously, as well as her hair, all thanks to Ruby as well.
"So what made you want to come out with me all of a sudden?" Ruby yelled over the loud thumping music of the bar. Emma took a sip of her third whiskey and coke in thirty minutes before answering.
"Aw come on, don't make it sound like that! I told you, I get really busy with things, what with being the savior and all!" Emma winked at the brunette, who smiled back chuckling. "Plus I just had a rough day and wanted to unwind."
"I'm always down for unwinding! Hey, lets go dance!" Ruby jumped down off of the worn barstool and pulled the blonde behind her out into the middle of the dusty bar. There were more people in the bar than Emma had expected, but the whiskey was working wonders and her shy embarrassment didn't last for more than a second. The two woman danced viciously out on the floor. Emma let the music flow through her while her body moved to the beat.
"Damn, Em, you can dance!" Ruby yelled, her body moving in ways much like the blonde's.
"You're not to bad yourself!" Emma smiled back. She closed her eyes and got lost in the sounds. A second later she felt a hand slip around her waist. Green eyes snapped open and Emma spun around to face the hand's owner.
"Hook? What the fuck?"
"Hello, love. Wouldn't peg you to be one to come out to this joint." Hook yelled over the music, gesturing grandly. He stepped closer to the blonde, causing Emma to take a step back. "Come on, Swan, you were having such a good time! Let's dance." Killian closed the distance between them.
"Hey back off!" Ruby came to the rescue.
"Stay out of it, wolf!" Hook spat at the brunette.
"Fuck off or you're going to see my wolf first hand! You wanna keep that other hand of yours?" Ruby barred her teeth at the man who was now visibly pissed at her.
"Look Hook, you have to leave me alone! I'm not interested. I'm sorry." Emma reasoned, grabbing Ruby's hand and pulling her behind her to the bar. Both women set their glasses down. "Ruby, I'm sorry, but I just kinda want to go home."
"That's fine, babe. Let's go." Ruby agreed and the two walked out the door.
Ruby walked Emma home, despite Emma's protests. She insisted that she wanted the blonde to get home safe.
"Thanks Ruby, despite the little one handed hiccup, I had a really fun time." Emma told the young wolf when they were outside of her apartment.
"Oh, don't thank me! I had fun too! Can we please do it again sometime? I can invite some other people too!" Ruby pleaded excitedly. Emma agreed with a laugh and the two bid each other farewell.
Once Emma stepped into her apartment she kicked off her shoes and grabbed a bottle of tequila off the shelf. She plopped down on her couch and began taking long swigs from the bottle, not bothering to grab a glass.
—
Spending time with Henry was always Regina's favorite past time. They had a fun night. Henry had chosen a superhero movie, of course. She even allowed Henry to indulge in popcorn and soda, although she herself would never touch the stuff. During the movie Regina tried to pretend to understand what was going on, but her mind wandered to Emma every chance it got. She needed to get Emma to forgive her but this whole 'giving her space' thing was only becoming harder and harder.
Regina and Henry arrived home past the boy's bedtime. She immediately told Henry to get ready for bed and went up to tuck him in.
"I had a lot of fun tonight, mom." Henry said as he climbed into his bed.
"As did I, Henry." Regina responded, pulling the covers up over the boy.
"Is everything ok between you and Emma?" Henry was always a curious boy. He caught on to things quickly.
"Why do you ask?" Regina asked cautiously.
"Well, she didn't come over today and I thought you would have invited her to the movies with us but you didn't. So is everything ok?" Henry asked again. Regina was quiet for a moment, contemplating on how to answer the young boy in a way that wouldn't raise any flags in his mind.
"Everything will be fine, Henry. I'm going to call her right now. Get some sleep." Regina kissed his head lightly and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
She walked into her bedroom and sat down. Regina pulled out her phone and stared at it for what felt like a very long time before dialing Emma's number.
—
Emma groaned when she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She fumbled trying to get it out, her fingers seeming to not want to work. She blinked at the bright screen. Emma sighed at the name flashing in front of her.
"Regina" Emma answered the call.
"Emma, I'm sorry I didn't know if you wanted to hear from me."
"Uh, yeah, I mean it's fine." Emma slurred.
"Emma?"
"Mmm?" Emma responded .
"Are you drunk?" Regina's voice sounded hard. Emma licked her lips. She needed water. She was drunk. Very drunk by now. And she wasn't feeling all that well.
"I guess, I mean, I went out." Emma squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make herself sound less pathetic. Willing herself to make cohesive sentences.
"You went out? Out where? With who?" Emma could hear the jealousy in Regina's voice and smiled. The Mayor, jealous, it was a funny concept to wrap her head around and she started laughing. "Emma, what is so funny?" Emma knew Regina's patience was wearing thin but she couldn't help it. She attempted to pull herself together.
"Are you jealous, Madam Mayor?" Emma giggled, slurring every word.
"Jealous? No. Emma, answer the question."
"So pushy! I went out to the Rabbit Hole with Ruby." Emma answered. "But then Hook showed up." Emma frowned.
"Hook." Regina confirmed.
"Yeah but Ruby and I put him in his place!" Emma laughed at the memory. "He looked like a kicked puppy when we left!"
"Oh?" Regina questioned. Emma could tell from the one word that Regina had relaxed. The blonde took another loud swig from the bottle, groaning from the burn. "Emma, please stop drinking. I'm sorry I did this. Please stop and talk to me."
"You're right, Regina." Anger boiled up inside of her now, created and fueled by the booze that she has consumed all night. "You did do this. You couldn't just trust your girlfriend! I trust you! I signed that contract because I fucking trust you, and you couldn't even give me the same god damned courtesy back!"
"Emma I want to do this when you're sober-"
"No! You called me! We are doing this now!" Emma was yelling now. Why was she so angry? It had to be the alcohol. She would never talk to Regina like this any other time, angry or not. But the yelling was taking a toll on the blonde. Her stomach lurched and she leaned over, booze mixed with bile spilling all over the floor. Emma groaned and jumped up, almost falling over the coffee table in her attempt to get to the bathroom. She finally stumbled in to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor in front of the toilet. Her stomach spilled it's contents again and again into the porcelain bowl.
—
Regina heard the blonde throw up the first time and sighed. She needed to get over there. The brunette walked into Henry's room and scooped his sleeping body into her arms with a grunt before magicking them both into Emma's apartment. She placed the boy in his bed and covered him up. Before leaving she placed a silencing spell so that no matter what happened outside that door, he wouldn't be disturbed. Regina then turned and walked into the bathroom to see Emma passed out on the floor. Her heart sank at the sight.
"Emma. Emma wake up, come on!" Regina kneeled, scooping up the younger woman's torso and shaking her slightly. She leaned up and wet her hand with cold water in the sink and rubbed it on Emma's forehead. The blonde stirred slightly at the act. "That's it. Come on, baby. Open your eyes for me." Emma's eye's opened slightly. Bloodshot green eyes met honey brown ones.
"Regina." Emma croaked, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-"
"Shh, we will talk about it in the morning, dear." Regina replied softly, rubbing the blonde's head. "Are you going to be sick again?" Emma shook her head no at the question. "Alright, let's get you in bed."