It was 6.45 am and Regina had long ago woken up in order to prepare breakfast for her wife and three sons. She had already showered and dressed and was wearing a sleek black skirt which stopped right above her knees, a crisp white shirt and her stylish but kick-ass black boots. Her make-up was simple yet impeccable. Boston at this time of the year was already covered in snow making her commute from work to home a little tiring. Emma was a much more skilled driver so Regina didn't have to worry about her safety. As her thoughts turned to Emma, Regina took a big breath and sighed. Her happiness about her wife's pending promotion was shadowed by her worry of what might be coming along with it. She knew that her wife's insane work hours were due to the fact that she wanted to provide for her family as much as she could. Sure, they didn't have any financial problems as their jobs offered a more than satisfactory income but Emma always wanted the best for the boys from good schools to numerous toys and little treats. Regina was always saying that she was spoiling the kids that way but Emma was always able to come up with an excuse; like how she had to buy that robot-dog because Regina wouldn't allow them to adopt a real one.
As she was making some pancakes she heard loud footsteps coming from the stairs. She was sure that it couldn't be Emma as her wife would never wake up more than twenty minutes before she had leave. Emma loved sleeping and everyone at the house knew it. Turning her head she was met with a very sleepy Colin who was still dressed in his pyjamas.
''Good morning little prince. Did you sleep well?'' she asked and in return she received a sleepy nod from the boy who was now seated on the stool, yawning wide and rubbing the sleep off his eyes, while waiting for his breakfast. Despite being Regina's biological son, just as Ezra was, all of their boys had Emma's enormous appetite when it came to food.
Sensing her son's silent pleading for food she grabbed a plate and put two pancakes along with some sliced banana, strawberries and chocolate syrup. She put the plate in front of him and opened the fridge to retrieve some milk and orange juice and set it on the table.
''Everything okay with your project at school?'' Regina asked the eight-year old boy, as she reached down three glasses from the cupboard and set those on the table too.
''Yeah," he answered brightly, instantly waking up as he took a huge bite of pancake. "Hen helped me and I think it's going for a straight A'' Colin grinned while shoveling more pancake into his mouth.
Regina chuckled at her son's face and then said ''Where's Henry anyway? The school bus is gonna be here in a few minutes.'' She walked to the kitchen's door and yelled up the stairs ''Henry! You're gonna be late!''
''No need to yell. He's getting dressed. I checked'' she heard someone saying and she watched her wife, fully dressed in black slacks, with Ezra held gently in her arms coming down the stairs.
''You woke up before 8.00? Well that's a new one'' Regina teased, smirking and leaned up to kiss her wife's lips.
''Well I wanted to enjoy a nice breakfast with my family. Good morning prince'' Emma said to Colin as she entered the kitchen with Regina in tow. She grabbed a plate with three pancakes, her wife's cup of coffee and helped Ezra to sit at his kid-stool.
''I was going to drink that…'' Regina whined towards Emma, as started preparing Ezra's plate.
''Let me finish and I'll make you another one'' Emma said between mouthfuls of food.
''Slow down dear, the food isn't going anywhere.'' Regina chastised and Emma complied, only slightly begrudgingly as she eyed her pancakes drenched in syrup lustfully. Regina, after yelling Henry's name once more towards the stairs, took her plate and sat next to Ezra.
''Good morning Bubbah. Mommy's going to work for a little while and you're gonna be with grandma Cora. Is that okay?'' Regina softly asked and the toddler simply nodded before returning to his food.
Regina raised her eyes to meet Emma's who simply gave her a sympathetic look. They knew that Ezra wouldn't reply using words but they still hoped.
At the same time Regina heard Henry entering the kitchen. He walked towards them and without sitting down reached over the table grabbing an apple from the bowl.
''Aren't you going to eat breakfast?'' Regina asked.
''I am eating'' he replied lifting his arm for Regina to see the apple. At that Regina rolled her eyes and elaborated.
''I mean eating something a bit more substantial like cereal or pancakes. You love those. I even picked up more chocolate syrup on the way home yesterday.''
''Nah I'm good. Besides I'm on a diet.'' He shrugged.
''Since when?! The Swans are never on a diet,'' Emma interjected while narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
''Well the basketball's league is starting and coach wants us all in shape.''
''Girls don't like chubby boys'' Colin said matter-of-factly, still shoveling pancake and strawberry into his mouth, and at that everyone turned their heads to look at him. Henry's face went a red with embarrassment and Emma laughed seeing him in such distress.
''Emma, don't laugh,'' Regina scolded her wife and turned her full attention to Henry, raising her eyebrows curiously. ''So… who's the girl?''
''Colin's just a baby he doesn't know about that stuff.'' Henry spoke through mouthfuls of apple, trying to avoid his mother's questions.
''Am not! I have a girlfriend and she told me that she doesn't like boys with big bellies.'' Colin reeled off, pouting his bottom lip in annoyance.
''Woah woah, wait a second'' Emma held up her hand to silence them all ''You have a girlfriend?!'' she asked looking at Colin.
''Duh'' he responded and Emma rolled her eyes and turned her stare to Henry, ''And you like a girl?''
''No'' he whined.
''A boy?'' Regina interjected.
''No mom, I'm straight.''
''Well, I had to ask'' She replied shrugging her shoulders and stood up to take the plates to the dish washer.
''This conversation changed quite quickly'' Emma laughed and stood up to to help her wife.
Emma approached her wife putting her arms around her wife's waist, nuzzling in and kissing the back of her neck.
''Don't cook anything for dinner tonight," she said breathing in the smell of Regina's freshly washed hair, "we're eating out.''
''What do you mean?'' Regina asked confused.
''Tonight, after work. I made a reservation at a new restaurant which opened a few blocks away from the office. Since we're having something to celebrate I said why not?''
''That's sweet of you'' Regina said turning in Emma's arms to kiss her nose. ''What about the boys?''
''We'll send Colin and Ezra to my mom's and I overheard Henry saying something about a sleepover.'' At that Regina averted her eyes from Emma and looked at Henry raising an eyebrow.
''I was going to tell you.'' He defended.
''After or before the sleepover?'' Regina asked amused.
''Let the kid be. He knows the rules and he'll be okay.'' Emma calmed Regina, stroking her arm.
''Fine, but just so you know I'm not okay with a sleepover during school days.''
''The bus is here, love you moms.'' Henry stood up and kissed both of his mothers. Next was Colin who also earned a ruffling of his hair from Emma. After the boys were gone, Emma helped Regina clean up Ezra and waited for Cora to arrive.
It was barely ten minutes when Regina's mother made her way into the kitchen.
''Good morning dear,'' Cora greeted her daughter with a kiss on her cheek.
''Good morning mother. Are you okay? Do you want some coffee?''
''No I'm okay, thank you darling. Where is my little man?'' Cora asked as she scanned the room for her youngest grandson. She spotted him on Emma's lap.
''Oh good morning Emma! I didn't see you there.'' Cora said sweetly finally acknowledging the blonde and reaching over to lift her grandson into her arms.
''Good morning Cora,'' the blonde greeted back raising Ezra to her. ''I was just leaving,'' She grabbed her briefcase from the floor where she had left it, kissed Ezra's head before Cora moved away with him, and approached Regina for a kiss.
Regina welcomed it, ''Good luck baby. I'll be waiting for a call okay?''
''Yeah, I'll call you as soon as I can. I'll be home to pick you up at 7pm. Please be ready. I love you'' she finally said and kissed her wife goodbye.
''I love you too'' Regina started but Emma was already walking out the kitchen door, and not listening to her.
When Emma arrived at the firm's parking lot she took a few minutes to collect herself in the car. She was quite nervous. She knew that she had pretty good chances of becoming a partner today, but she couldn't shake Regina's words when she reminded her that Gold was unpredictable. As she was right, it was a fact. From the way he approached his cases to his personal life; he could tell you that he's taking the left road and at the last minute you would see him turning right. She hoped that her father had helped him to make the right choice without it being received as favouritism. She checked her hair and her make up one last time in the rear-view mirror and exited the car. She walked through the rows of cars until she reached the elevator. She stepped in and pushed the button to the 20th floor where her office was, and tried to force all nerves out of herself as the doors closed.
After the elevator arrived at her floor, Emma walked along passing the many offices until she reached hers; the one on the right, at the end of the long corridor. She opened the door and walked to the big window, abandoning her coat and her briefcase on her chair. She sighed and buzzed the call button to ask her secretary to come in.
Two minutes later the door knocked and a beautiful redhead, not older than twenty-five, came inside.
''Good morning Mrs Swan. Did you want something?''
''Yes Ariel, first of all I want you to buzz me the second Gold calls. And secondly call at Mo's flower shop and tell him to have a bouquet of a dozen roses ready for 6.30 pm.''
''Aw, do you and Mrs Mills have your anniversary?'' Ariel asked excited.
''No, no, I just promised her a romantic evening today.'' Emma admitted and Ariel smiled at that.
''Lucky Mrs Mills. Anyway can I do anything else? Would you like a coffee maybe?''
''No I'm okay. You may go.'' And at that Ariel nodded politely and left.
Fifteen minutes later and Emma saw the door opening out of the corner of her eye. She was too engrossed reading about a case that she didn't hear her brother knocking.
''Don't you have work to do?'' Emma smirked raising an eyebrow. She removed her reading glasses and sat back in her chair.
''Nothing important,'' He replied as he flopped himself on the nearby couch in Emma's office.
''You do realise that you're a lawyer?'' Emma teased.
''Who's got the mind for that. The whole firm is talking about the announcement of the new partner. They even started taking bets! Your name is pretty high on the list by the way.'' Nate admitted and Emma laughed.
''And what other's names are in?'' Emma was a bit curious about the competition which was not real as Gold hadn't made known the candidates of this promotion.
''My eyes caught Killian's, Robin's and Booth's names.''
''No other females?'' Emma enquired amused.
''Nah, just my bad-ass sister'' he grinned at her; that wide cheeky smile of his.
''You are impossible'' She chuckled and stood up. She smoothed her hands down her slacks and sat next to her brother.
''Have you seen dad yet?''
''Nope, he's with Gold since morning. He didn't even let him go to the bathroom. God knows what they're talking about."
''You'll find out soon enough.'' A voice said. Both Swan siblings raised their gaze to meet Ariel who was standing at the door.
''Gold called demanding everyone's presence at the conference room immediately.'' She continued. Emma and Nate looked at each other as they stood up.
''I guess it's time,'' Emma chuckled nervously and shook her shoulders out in an attempt to release some tension. She felt her brother's arms grabbing her shoulders and opened her eyes to meet his.
''Hey, don't worry. You've got this.'' He smiled encouragingly and enveloped her in a hug.
''Okay'' she whispered. She took a step back and looked at Ariel.
''You can go home if you want. I won't be needing you today.''
''If you're sure Mrs. Swan, good luck'' Ariel smiled with gratitude and walked out of the office.
Almost everyone was at the conference room when Emma and Nate arrived. They were still missing a few of Emma's colleagues, Mr. Gold and her father. She walked through the room to reach the far end of it where someone had laid out fresh coffee and some pastries. She poured some coffee into a cup while grabbing a bearclaw. She didn't even manage to take a bite when Gold's Scottish accent reverberated through the big room. Emma abandoned her pastry at the table and watch Mr. Gold and her father entering the room. Her father's face was unreadable and she couldn't tell what they had decided. She tried to catch his eyes but he was looking elsewhere to avoid meeting her eyes. Emma had a nagging feeling but she tried to stay calm by taking big breaths.
''Hello everyone. I hope I didn't make you wait too long.'' At this everyone shook their heads and remained silent not wanting to put a foot wrong with the boss. For most of them this announcement didn't mean anything except whether or not they had made any money from the bets, but to Emma it meant the world.
''Well as you know myself and Mr. Swan have been looking, for some time now, someone with passion and a fresh mind to become our partner. We did have several candidates in mind and believe me the choice wasn't an easy one but we managed to reach a consensus. Without further ado I would like to present you our new partner at Gold and Swan….
…Miss Jane Smith!''
Everyone was clapping and cheering but Emma was frozen in place. He didn't say Swan, did he? That bastard chose someone else. How could he?! Rage started boiling through her body and if it weren't for her brother's strong hold on her arm she might have punched Gold right in the face.
''Who the fuck is Jane Smith?!'' Emma caught herself asking out loud and she didn't have to wait long for the answer. A beautiful blonde made her way through the room and towards Gold and her father. She greeted both men and turned to smile brightly at the room. She was around Emma's age with beautiful honey gold hair that flowed in gentle curls all the way down her back with gorgeous sea-blue eyes and a dazzling smile. She was wearing a black fitted dress which made her ass look incredible and bright shock-red heels.
Emma found herself staring at this new blonde who was now introducing herself. Emma closed her mouth and tried to concentrate.
''Hello everyone .My name is Jane Smith. I wanted to say that I'm really excited to be working with all of you at this firm. I am so ready to become a partner but as I'm new here I hope you will be gentle with me.'' She flashed a smile at everyone, ending her speech. Emma took another glance at the beautiful blonde before pushing through the crowd beginning to gather around Jane and exiting the room.
''Emma, Emma wait'' Emma heard someone calling her as she was walking towards her office. She span around to see her father running towards her.
''What?'' she spat angrily.
''I'm sorry Emma. I didn't know'' He apologised.
''What do you mean you didn't know?! You have been discussing it for days! Weeks!'' She hissed while opening the door of her office with a bit more force than neccessary. He quickly followed her inside and closed the door. Emma grabbed a tumbler from the old side table and poured some whiskey. She finished it in one gulp.
''He only told me today. That's why we were late. I tried to reason with him, but you have to understand my place too. I couldn't be seen to support only my daughter.''
''So you direct him towards someone who doesn't even work here!'' She shouted angrily while she reached for the bottle to pour some more whiskey.
''Emma stop and please listen to me. '' He grabbed the tumbler from Emma's place and put it a little out of her reach back on the table. He took her by the shoulders and guided her to the couch.
''When he suggested her I told him that we need someone that our employees know and trust, but he said that we need new blood at the firm and that she's the best choice. And I must agree with him. She's really...good'' He admitted.
''Who even is she by the way?''
David sighed, ''Gold's niece.''
''What?!'' she shrieked in a pitch associated with a five year-old girl, and David was sure the whole office heard that one.
''He didn't tell me but I've done some research. Her mother and Gold's wife are sisters.''
''So he's allowed to show favouritism but you have to be fair and impartial?!'' she rhymed off pacing around the room, gesturing widely.
''Emma, you know that Gold pulls all the strings.Ι don't have as much a say in this as Gold does. He also loves deeply his wife and when she suggested Jane he couldn't really refuse.''
''So he made that girl partner because his wife told him to?" Emma asked amazed at her boss's lack of balls! "God this is so fucked up!'' Emma exclaimed burying her head in her hands, unable to stop pacing her office.
''Can you please relax Emma? I know that you're angry and you have every right to be but it won't help. So I suggest you go home, spend some time with the boys and tomorrow you can come and introduce yourself; you know get to know her.'' He recommended, "Give her a chance." With this Emma's face appeared again scowling at her father.
''No. I won't be getting to know her. She took my job. The job that I have been working for all these years. What am I supposed…" she stopped bluntly, throwing herself on the couch, "oh my god, what am I going to tell Regina? She's going to think that her wife is a complete loser!''
''Emma…'' David sighed. ''Regina would never think that. She wouldn't care even if you didn't work at all. She loves you and she supports you completely.''
''I don't know, I need some time to think.''' She admitted and grabbed her coat and briefcase.
''Be careful okay?'' her father held her cheek, concern etched over every inch of her face.
''Yeah dad, goodbye,'' Emma called bluntly as she pulled out of his touch and marched down the corridor towards the elevator.
In the meantime Regina was at the clinic examining a cat. She had promised Ezra that it would be only three hours but seeing that Kathryn hadn't arrived yet she couldn't just leave. So here she was now waiting for her best friend to arrive.
"There doesn't seem to be anything seriously wrong. He might have just eaten something and his stomach just rejected it. Don't worry though. I can prescribe some medication in case the vomiting continues.'' Regina smiled at the owner and caressed the cat's head lovingly.
''Thank you again Regina. If something goes wrong I'll call you right away.''
''Of course," Regina smiled in sympathy, "and if I don't answer call Kathryn or my secretary.''
''Yeah. Right. Thanks again!'' The woman took her cat in her arms as she walked out of the examination room. Regina followed after her and made her way to the small hall.
''Did you call Kathryn?'' Regina asked her secretary, Jefferson.
''Yeap, she's on the way'' he replied nonchalantly and Regina rolled her eyes.
''I'm going to kill her. I promised Emma that I wouldn't be late.'' she whined.
''Where is she taking you?'' Jefferson questioned.
''Oh there is a new restaurant near the firm and she said it's really cosy and would suit the occasion.'' she checked her phone to see the time and if she had any missed calls.
''Seriously sometimes you act like a teenage girl waiting for her crush to text,'' He teased.
''Sush you. I told her to call me once she finds out about the promotion.'' It was well into the afternoon and Emma hadn't called yet.
''Well she might have gone to a bar to celebrate with her colleagues or something.'' Jefferson offered.
''Unlikely. It's not something that Emma would do. Maybe she's in a meeting with her new partners and can't talk." Regina rambled off, thinking out loud. She caught herself and shook her head clearing her thoughts, "Anyway call Kathryn again!''
''No need, I'm right here.'' The tall blonde exclaimed.
''Where have you been?'' Regina demanded, a little more annoyance in her voice than she had planned.
''Easy there tiger. Fred was sick. Poor guy; he couldn't even get up from the bed. I had to call a doctor. Apparently it was just food poisoning. I've told him oh so many time to not eat junk. But he won't listen to me.
''Like Emma.'' Regina chuckled. ''Though she's immune to everything. She once drank milk that had expired three days ago and she didn't even flinch!'' Regina looked at her watch and her eyes went wide.
''Oh my god I have to go. Emma is going to kill me.''
''What happened?''
''I'm in a bit of a hurry now, but I'll tell you later. I'll come by tomorrow with Ezra. See you babes.'' Regina hastily kissed Kathryn's cheek and sprinted out of the door, barely managing to grab her bag off the rack by Jeffersons desk. The rack toppled but Jefferson reached his hand out without looking up and straightened back into place.
''Goodbye shorty'' Kathryn chuckled, starring after her friend as she shrugged on her labcoat and got ready for work.
So I will be updating every week more or less! Just so you know! Thanks again for reading it.!