Once again I would like to thank all of you who continue reading my story! Your kind (and sometimes not so kind) words are always inspiring me to give the 100% of my writing skills.
However,I would like to give special thanks to these three following people who had helped me with this story either with their hard work or their dedication and kind words!
So Special Thanks number one: JoshyLephor; your comments on that story always warm my heart!
Special Thanks number two: outlawqueenalways; You are really passionate and dedicated to this story!I can't thank you enough for that!
And last but not least,double-special thanks to the awesomest beta ever! Loweze thank you for supporting my crazy ideas and editing that story. I am so grateful for your help (and you know it) !
Alright so chapter 13 is here!
It was a few hours before the gala and Regina was pacing in her bedroom, her cell phone in her hand, wearing only a thin, silk robe. Emma had offered to drive the kids to Ruby and Belles' place as they had agreed saying that she would only be away for an hour tops but an hour and a half later Emma still hadn't returned. Regina had already called three times and she was going for her fourth attempt when their bedroom door opened revealing a smiling Emma. However when she saw Regina's eyes glaring at her, the grin on her face quickly disappeared and a frown took its place.
''What happened?'' Emma asked confused.
''Where have you been?! The gala starts in two hours and neither of us is remotely ready yet! And you said you'd be home early.'' Regina whined and Emma refrained herself from rolling her eyes knowing that something like that would aggravate her darling wife even more.
''Relax Regina we still have plenty of time. And I was late because Ruby wanted to catch up and I told her that I had to get home early but she offered me some bearclaws that she made this morning and well I couldn't resist. You can't blame me for that can you baby? You know they make me weak.'' Emma used her puppy dog face which she knew would make Regina relent… a little.
''We really need to start eating healthier.'' Regina growled before entering the closet to retrieve some potential dresses to wear to the gala. Emma sighed with relief as the subject of her lateness was now over,launched herself onto the bed,reached for the game controller and selected to load a new game. However Regina was quick and mere minutes later was back holding an abundance of dresses.
''No way Swan! You are so not playing video games right now.'' She ordered, snatching the controller roughly from Emma's hands.
''Come on! I'll only be on a few minutes, besides I need something to do until you decide what to wear.'' Emma whined but Regina was having none of it.
''Last time you said 'a few minutes', you started a new game on Friday night and when I woke up the next morning you were still playing! So I'm not risking it, no way am I going alone to that gala with all those old school lawyer types gawking at me all night. And speaking of, what should I wear?'' She continued grabbing the two first dresses to show to a now grumpy Emma. When Emma didn't say anything Regina sighed and tossed the controller back to Emma.
''Fine you have half an hour, now tell me.'' Regina demanded, holding the dresses across her body.
Emma was thankful and gave Regina due attention. ''Uhm, okay, definitely not the white one, your whole back is exposed. Even your tattoo is showing.'' Emma said and Regina rolled her eyes. While Emma was not much of a tattoo fan, Regina had managed to influence her to get a small one on her wrist, where she could hide it easily with jewelry if she felt the need. It was a fine, black ink infinity sign with their wedding date delicately detailed above it. Regina herself loved small tattoos with meanings, they were a small reminder of her rebellious side and she now had three of them; a matching one as Emma's on her wrist, her sons' names and birthdays across her ribs and a small swan on her lower back.
''That was the point dear.'' Regina winked and Emma glared at her.
''But fine, I wasn't into wearing white anyway.'' Regina admitted and continued ''What about the red one? It's not that revealing and it fits the occasion.''
''It also really accentuates your ass.'' Emma added making Regina laugh, ''But then again your ass is pretty damn great in any dress.'' Emma shrugged and slapped Regina's ass to make her point.
''Mrs. Swan that was a highly inappropriate comment.'' Regina teased as Emma tickled her managing to pull her up and throw her on the bed, making Regina yelp in surprise.
''I can think of a few more inappropriate comments I'd like to make.'' Emma smirked and kissed Regina hungrily. Regina however, pushed Emma lightly back, making her stop her attack.
''We don't have time love. I have to do my hair, my make-up and get dressed and you haven't showered yet. Go take a shower and I'll go get your tux, okay?''
''Ughh fine, I'm going. But you owe me Mrs. Mills.'' Emma said getting up from the bed. She held eye contact with Regina as she slowly lifted off her shirt, and slid out of her slacks. She posed briefly, flashing Regina a smile before sauntering towards the bathroom, swaying her hips as she kicked off her underwear. She looked seductively over her shoulder and slid her bra down her arms and off, watching Regina's eyes darken and her chest start to rise rapidly, before closing the bathroom door blocking herself from view. Emma laughed loudly hearing Regina's frustrated moan through the door, and reached in to turn on the shower.
While Emma was in the shower, Regina managed to calm herself down and was doing her hair when Emma's phone beeped, signaling that she had a new message.
''Emma, you have a new message.'' Regina yelled when she heard the water turn off, but no response came.
''Emma!'' Regina tried again but after not answering for the second time she got up and went towards Emma's nightstand where her wife had left her phone.
She was just about to unlock it when Emma emerged from the bathroom one towel at hand and another around her still wet body.
''What happened?'' Emma said eyeing closely her wife who was holding her cell.
''You had a new message.'' Regina said before passing the phone to Emma and continued with her hair.
Emma unlocked her phone and found one new message from Jane.
''Are we going to talk about what happened at my house? And at the firm?'' at which Emma pinched the bridge of her nose.
''Everything okay love?'' Regina asked worried, seeing Emma's face fall though the mirror.
"Yeah, my mom just texted me, asking what time we are leaving'' Emma lied.
''Oh tell her in about an hour. Your tux is on the bed, go get dressed.'' Regina ordered and Emma rolled her eyes.
''Yes, your Majesty!'' Emma bowed mockingly and left the bedroom and a chuckling Regina.
An hour and a half later, as Regina had estimated, the couple, dressed to the nines arrived at the hall where the gala was taking place. Regina had changed her mind the last minute, opting to wear a long, black dress and black stiletto heels, while Emma was wearing her black tux along with her black high heels. As they entered the hall they left their coats with the attendant and walked further inside, taking in their surroundings. The grand hall was fully lit with five stunning crystal chandeliers hanging from the high, painted ceilings above them. Large round tables dressed with elegant china and crystal-ware and warm, flickering candles, were arranged around a small stage, and waiters dressed smartly for the occasion, were gracefully twirling through the crowds, politely offering the guests champagne or appetizers. At the end of the room was an extravagant buffet, with more dishes than someone could imagine. Seeing that the whole place was screaming luxury and riches, Emma wondered how many money Gold and her father had spent on that gala.
''Emma! Regina! I am so glad to see you both.'' Gold exclaimed when he saw his best attorney and her stunning wife.
''Bobby!'' Regina smiled broadly and pecked the shorter man's cheeks before saying, ''You know that we wouldn't miss it for the world.''
''Emma's face suggests otherwise,'' Gold teased and Emma laughed.
''You know me. I'm not that into social events. But oh well, my lady wants what my lady wants so I couldn't say no.'' Emma joked and Gold chuckled.
''Speaking of wives; where is Milah?'' Emma asked.
''Oh, Milah has a terrible flu and she isn't well enough to join me, but she did allow me a fair replacement.'' Gold turned his head to signal his date to come closer.
Upon seeing who Gold's date was, Emma's eyes opened widely. Here she was; Jane, wearing a long white dress, with an incredibly low cut neckline, leaving very little, indeed, to the imagination. She was balancing a glass of champagne between her fingers and smiled broadly as she approached her uncle.
''Mrs. Swan, it's nice to see you.'' Jane raised her hand to greet the other blonde. ''And you must be Regina; your wife has told me a lot about you." Jane smiled and gave her hand to the other woman. "I'm Jane."
''Yes indeed, Regina Mills, and I hope you don't believe everything Emma says. It's lovely to meet you Jane.'' Regina joked, shaking her hand and Jane chuckled.
''She might be a little reticent from time to time but she can't stop talking about her wife, and I can't possibly blame her given how beautiful you are.'' Jane complimented smiling widely and Regina blushed a little.
''Emma didn't mention how charming her new boss could be.'' Regina teased and turned slightly to face her wife who was gripping her waist quite tightly.
''Are you okay love?'' Regina asked quietly while she soothed Emma's hand off her back.
''Yeah, everything's fine. I'm gonna get us a drink. What would you like?''
''A glass of red please. Would either of you like a fresh drink?'' She turned to ask the other two people with whom they were speaking.
''I'm good, thank you.'' Jane said while raising her glass to make her point
''As for me, I'm afraid I have to leave you for a while.'' Gold said before kissing Regina's and Jane's hands, leaving the two woman alone as Emma followed him towards the bar.
''So, Regina, Emma tells me you work as a vet.'' Jane began some small talk, not wanting to stay in an awkward silence.
''Uh, yes my best friend and I opened a clinic together, not far from here actually, taking care of wounded animals, and performing small surgeries from time to time.'' Regina offered. ''What about you? I mean I know where you work now, but before that?'' Regina asked genuinely interested. When Emma had talked about Jane, Regina always imagined her as bossy and stuck-up and generally nothing like the charismatic and beautiful woman now making conversation with her. In fact Jane was beyond gorgeous, Regina couldn't deny that, and she had been really very sweet so far.
''I was working at a law firm in Philadelphia but when Mr. Gold offered me the job I couldn't say no. I mean it was an respected firm but not as prestigious as Swan and Gold.''
''Do you like it here?''
''It was difficult at the beginning, being the new girl and with some of my colleagues more or less hating my guts but it's much better now.'' Jane admitted
''And by some colleagues you mean my wife?'' Regina offered only half questioning, she remembered very well how that first day had gone. ''I know that at least one of them is my wife, and I apologise. I promise she's not like that all the time, but she really had her heart set on that job.'' Regina confessed and Jane nodded.
''I know and had I known from the beginning that someone else, especially Emma had been working so hard for it I might have refused. She's a great lawyer, in fact one of our best, and…speak of the devil.'' Jane said as she noticed Emma coming with two glasses of wine. She offered one to Regina as she asked.
''What are you guys talking about?''
''You.'' Regina replied smirking and Emma chocked on her drink.
''We were saying how talented a lawyer you are'' Jane elaborated knowing full well why Emma reacted like that.
''Oh.'' Emma tried to sound nonchalant but her heart was thumping in her chest.
''I just spotted my mother, I'll be right back.'' Regina whispered to Emma and cleared her throat to catch Jane's attention who was looking at Emma, or behind Emma, she wasn't sure.
''Jane, it was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we can talk again during the gala.'' She said greeting Jane once again before leaving.
''Okay what the hell was that all that about? Flirting with my wife? Have you no limits, like at all?!'' Emma hissed as soon as Regina was out of earshot.
''I wasn't flirting! I just pointed the obvious!'' Jane hissed back.
''Also chatting with her like some old friends? Are you trying to complicate things even more?''
''So you would prefer I not talk to her at all? She would think that I have something against her, which I don't.''
''I know, but...'' Emma sighed so as to collect her thoughts
''You think that I'm that stupid that I'd tell her about us.'' Jane stated more than she asked.
''First of all there is no us. We…I… made a mistake once…"
"Twice."
Emma starred at her. "Seriously? And no, I know you're not that stupid.''
''Which reminds me of the fact that we need to talk about that.'' Jane pressed. ''We can't keep ignoring the elephant in the room. I know that is difficult for you but I need to talk about this…'' Jane pleaded.
''Why do you 'need' to talk about it?'' Emma asked
''I like you Emma,'' Jane whispered, ''and being stuck in this 'limbo' is not helping. At all. I have these feelings which I don't know how to handle and I...'' she breathed heavily her eyes starting to water.
''I need some air.'' She whispered before pushing past Emma and making her way to the door. Emma stared in shock after her and wondered briefly if she should follow, but she considered that this time and this place was not the time or place to have the conversation that she knew would follow. She downed her wine, and fleetingly thought that she would regret that in the morning, before going off in search of another.
The gala had run smoothly so far, with speeches from Emma's father and Gold, the divine food that followed and some dancing after that. Emma was not really in the mood, but Regina had persuaded her to dance with her. When Henry Sr. offered to relieve her from her dancing duties Emma thanked him, leaving father and daughter to dance while she approached her brother who was sitting at the table drinking from his glass.
''How come you're not dancing?'' Emma asked Nate.
''The only person I wanted to dance with today isn't here.'' Nate admitted and Emma understood immediately to whom his brother was referring.
''Did you speak with her? Did she tell you why she left?''
''She had a headache and left even before the whole speech thing. I bumped into her when I was coming in. She looked pretty upset and I think she was crying.'' Nate replied at which Emma sighed. She grabbed her cell phone from her jacket pocket and drafted a text to a certain blonde.
''I'm so sorry for what happened earlier. I didn't mean to upset you. And you're right we do need to talk. This whole mess is not right either to you or Regina .Look tomorrow morning me and the boys are going the cinema? Do you wanna meet for coffee and talk?''
The reply didn't take long to come.
''What about Regina? Won't she be with you?''
''No, she and Ezra will be at home tomorrow and she doesn't want the other two to be around so she asked me to take them out. Is that a yes?''
''Fine. I'll come.''
''Great. I'll text you tomorrow with the details. Goodnight Jane.''
''Goodnight Emma.''
The next morning Regina and Emma woke up earlier than their usual time on Sunday's and after having a quick breakfast both drove towards Belle's and Ruby's house where their sons had stayed for the night. They had also texted Henry in order to pick him up from his friend's house but he texted back saying that he'll come home later.
Knocking the household's door and waiting for a while, the door opened to reveal a very sleepy Ruby dressed in only a white tank top and red boy shorts, her hair mused from sleep. Emma seeing her best friend like that broke into laughter which quickly stopped after Regina's death glare. Without speaking Ruby motioned the duo into the house and towards the kitchen where Belle was making pancakes.
''Good morning dear.'' Regina said as she approached the other brunette kissing her cheeks. ''We brought you some bagels and doughnuts as a thank you for watching the boys.'' Regina said and sat next to her already seated wife. Ruby had returned to bed, not able to fully operate at this time of the day.
''Oh you shouldn't have. It was our pleasure to watch them. You know how much we love them.'' Belle said smiling to her best friends.
''I know but it was the least we could do.'' Regina admitted ''Anyway were they well behaved?''
''They were angels.'' Belle replied ''We watched some movies, played some board games and at nine o'clock they were tucked up in bed.
''They didn't give you any trouble, did they?''
''No, they were gentlemen .Even Bubbah had more fun than the last time. Anyway how was the event last night?''
''Oh it was wonderful. Emma and I had so much fun. Thank god we have such events to escape from routine once in a while.'' Regina admitted.
''Any plans for today?'' Belle asked again as she grabbed a plate and put some pancakes in it.
''Emma along with Colin and Henry are going to the cinema. As for me and Ezra, we have arranged a meeting with a new nanny and we wanted for him to meet her before hiring her.''
''Oh that's nice. I hope she charms him.''
''We hope that too. I mean, I don't mind my mother or Mary Margaret watching him but I want him to start interacting with other people besides family.''
''I know what you mean. So I'm going to wake them up and then we can have a quick breakfast okay?'' Belle asked before leaving the couple
'Oh I forgot to tell you.'' Emma said out of the blue, ''I invited Jane to come with us to the cinema. I hope you don't mind.''
''Of course not love. It'll be nice for you to have some adult company.'' Regina winked said as she pecked Emma's lips and got up to help Belle with her sleepy sons, knowing that no-one can wake a Swan when they don't want to, especially this early!
When the breakfast at the Lucas's household finished Regina and Emma along with their slightly more awake boys left for their own home. After leaving Regina and Ezra there and taking some food with her in case Colin got hungry, as Regina refused to let him eat any fast food, Emma with Colin and Henry,who had come back from his sleepover, left for the movie theatre.
When Emma and her other two sons left, Regina got Ezra to have a bath and dressed him for the day .Then mother and son cleaned up the house a bit; they wanted to be more presentable for their guest and after that they sat at the piano to play a little until Ashley arrived. Not twenty minutes later the door knocked signaling Ashley's arrival. Regina stood up to open the door with Ezra not far behind.
Before opening the door Regina bent to reach Ezra's height and told him.
''Alright Bubbah, now Miss Boyd will come in here to meet you. I want you to be a good boy okay?'' The boy nodded timidly and Regina kissed his temple as she scooped him up.
She opened the door and she was met with not one but two blonde heads, one considerably smaller than the other.
''Mrs. Mills good morning! I hope you don't mind but I brought my daughter along.'' Ashley explained. Regina watched the younger girl, who was the spitting image of her mother before replying.
''Of course not! Please do come in'' Regina exclaimed as she opened the door even further for the blondes to enter the house.
Once inside the kitchen where Regina guided them, they started with a small introduction as Regina was preparing a glass of juice for Ashley's daughter and a cup of coffee for Ashley.
''So as you can see, this is Ezra or Bubbah as we call him and he's very excited about all the new friends he's going to make.'' Regina said smiling at both mother and daughter.
''Hi Ezra it's so nice to meet you. I'm Ashley and this is Alexandra, my daughter.'' The blonde said giving her hand for the boy to shake which he did, something that surprised Regina as by this time Ezra would have probably started crying.
''I remember telling you me about your other two sons. Are they here?'' Ashley asked.
''No, my wife took them for a movie, because if they were here Ezra would get distracted by them. I wanted the meeting to be just between you and him.''
''Oh that's perfect. So if Ezra doesn't mind we can go to the living room?'' Ashley suggested eyeing the boy for his reaction. When he just wriggled to get out of his chair and then walked towards the living room Regina was beyond shocked.
''Okay that's the first time he's just done something like that, listening to a stranger.'' Regina admitted.
''I can assure you that we will become best buddies'' Ashley teased and then continued. ''You don't mind watching Alexandra for a little. It'd be better for me and Ezra to be completely alone, at least to start.''
''Yes dear don't worry. We will be here if you need anything'' Regina reassured Ashley who left after telling her daughter to be a good girl for Mrs. Mills.
''So Alexandra how old are you?'' Regina asked
''I'm five!'' The younger blonde exclaimed as she showed her five fingers to make her point.
''Oh wow, you are a big girl!'' Regina said smiling to the girl ''Alright Alexandra tell me what would you like to do?''
''We can have a tea party!'' Alexandra said happily and clapped her hands together.
''I'm afraid, only raising three boys, I don't know how this is played'' Regina admitted and Alexandra laughed
''Oh okay, we can play with my dolls.'' And to make her point she climbed off the chair and went towards her bug to take some of her toys. She returned along with to Barbie dolls and hundreds of dresses, shoes and accessories.
''Okay'' Regina said as she took one of the two dolls. ''What are we gonna do now?'' She felt silly for asking such question but she had no idea how to deal with this. Raising three boys she knew all about sports, video games and super hero figurines but nothing about girly toys.
''Take the brush and brush her hair. Then you will change her clothes and shoes and she will be ready to meet Ken!.'' The girl exclaimed and Regina complied, her inner child slowly coming back to her.
An hour later Ashley returned to the kitchen with Ezra in her arms only to find her daughter and Regina playing with Alexandra's toys.
''I see you too are bonding quite well!'' Ashley teased and Regina snapped her eyes towards the door where Ashley was standing.
''And clearly I can tell the same for you!'' Regina said surprised. She stood up from her chair and approached her son and his new nanny.
''How did it go?''
''Perfect!'' Ashley smiled broadly. ''Ezra showed me some of his toys, we did some drawing and he helped me learn to play the piano. That part didn't go so well for me but Ezra was an excellent and patient teacher.'' She said as she tickled the boy's belly at which Ezra laughed and Regina felt her eyes started to filling with tears. She quickly wiped them clean as she took the boy from the other woman's arms.
"Would you like to see Ashley again Bubbah?'' Regina asked her son as she gave him a kiss. The boy nodded enthusiastically.
''Master Ezra has spoken. Miss Boyd, you're hired.'' The brunette announced as she shook the other woman's hand.