A/N: Hey ya'll. I hope you enjoy this next update. I know it's longer ang that's exciting, but I have to give you a warning, though. I probably cannot post next week because I'll be traveling from Small-town Iowa to Big-city Boston! Anyways, leave your thoughts, comments, reviews, etc.
Love always!
~R
"I'm just saying, Reggie. There is no way I can have time to think of how to woo you if you're constantly sucking on my face."
The women broke out in simultaneous loud laughter, but the brunette was the first to recover.
"...And the moment is ruined."
"How much longer?" a whine came from the couch to the left of Regina's desk. Four hours had passed since Emma and Regina decided how they would move forward with their budding relationship. Those hours were filled with silence, work, and- worst of all- no touching.
"Well, I guess office hours were over two hours ago, dear," the brunette responded offhandedly. "You're welcome to leave whenever."
Emma stuck her lip out into a pout, "Trying to get rid of me already?"
Looking up from her work, Regina furrowed her brows and frowned at the blonde, "Of course not, Emma. I would never try to get rid of you."
The student stood from her chair and walked to her professor's desk, pushing herself up to sit on it. Once she was firmly perched where she wanted to be, she kicked her legs back and forth and smiled at her professor, never saying a word.
"Emma," Regina warned, seeing the seemingly innocent smile starting to turn devious.
"Yes, Professor?" Emma asked, crossing her legs at the knee and wishing she was wearing something sexier than sweatpants and a t-shirt.
"I know what you're thinking," Regina smirked at the blonde. "Trust me. I can think of better ways to spend this time, too," she places a hand on Emma's upper thigh, "but, I really need to get this paperwork done today. I know I don't have class tomorrow because it's Sunday, but that's Henry and I's day. I do have class, though, on Monday and Wednesday next week, and meetings every other day. The only day I get off is tomorrow, and an occasional Friday."
"So I guess cooking you dinner tomorrow night is out of the question, then?"
Regina looked up in shock, "I beg your pardon? I never said that."
The widened eyes that met Emma's were clearly trying to think of why Emma would infer such a thing, so the blonde decided to help. "You said tomorrow is your day with Henry, Regina. I would never take away your day with him."
The brunette continued to stare at Emma, her thoughts clearly torn. She managed to stutter through a sentence, "I-I'm sure Henry wouldn't mind spending the night with his Grandmother."
Emma smiled and leaned down, dropping a small kiss to the tip of Regina's nose, "You're so cute, Reggie, but I won't make you do that."
Regina's eyes turned from confusion to faux anger. "Call me that one more time, Miss Swan, and we're over."
The brunette's scowl didn't last when met with Emma's devious smile and her next comment: "Is it strange that the whole 'Miss Swan' thing is kind of a turn on?"
"Well," Regina whispered, her voice dropping an octave as she leaned forward and whispered into Emma's ear, "I enjoy when you call me professor. So what does that tell you?"
The professor leaned back in her chair, an arm resting on each side, looking like the cat that just caught the canary.
And, boy, did she catch the damn canary. Emma thought to herself.
"If you're not careful, professor, I might have to figure out a way to wipe that smirk from your gorgeous lips."
"Oh, but how can you think of a way to woo me if you're too busy sucking on my face, dear?" The brunette grinned wickedly as she used Emma's words against her.
"Now, who in the world would put such inhumane thoughts inside your head, woman?" Emma questioned before leaning down and locking her lips with the almost too attractive brunette.
When the blonde pulled away moments later, she was met with closed eyes, a dazzling white smile and a hum of appreciation.
"I have an idea," the blonde offered.
"And what would that be dear?" Regina asked, opening her eyes and meeting hazel.
"If tomorrow is your day with Henry, and I was going to ask you to come over tomorrow because Sundays are your only free days for awhile," Emma's voice shook. She knew the question she was going to propose would be a big step in Regina's playbook, and she honestly wouldn't be surprised if the brunette told her no. "What I'm trying to ask is if you wouldn't mind bringing the kid over, too. I promise to keep everything PG. I wouldn't want to scar him for life or anything."
"I- I don't-"
Emma stopped Regina before she could get any further, knowing it would be hard for the brunette to answer the question and giving her the out she was looking for. "If you want to say no, Regina, it's okay. I can wait as long as you want for me to meet Henry. You set the pace, here."
"Thank you, Emma." The blonde watched her professor relax. All the tense muscles, the widened eyes, the stuttering- it was there and gone before her very eyes. She knew Regina was about to say no, and though she wasn't surprised, she was a wee bit disappointed. "It's very nice of you to invite the both of us, but I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. I like you, and I trust you, but Henry is- Henry's my baby boy, and if anything were to happen between us- I just don't want him to have to lose someone again."
"That's very understandable." Emma answered.
"You're not upset?" The brunette asked, and Emma saw something flash across her face. Was that fear?
"Of course not," Emma leaned down to meet the plump lips once again. "I'm a tad disappointed, I'll admit. I'm sure any offspring of yours is an amazing kid that I'd love to meet, but I respect your choice." Another kiss. "It shows you're a great mother." Another. "And that makes me like you even more." One more. "However-"
"However?" the brunette questioned, a smile still adorning her face as she looked up at the blonde.
"I have to either 1) Leave and figure out a new way to woo you, or 2) Stay here and pretend to keep working while I figure out a new way to woo you."
"Ahhh," Regina smiled, "That's why you took so long to finish proof-reading one file."
"Ahaha. You're so cute when you try to be funny, Reggie." Emma leaned down and gently collided their lips one last time. "I seriously am leaving now, babe," she said, sliding off the desk and onto the floor.
"Before you go, Emma-"
The blonde stopped in her tracks and spun around to find Regina right behind her. "Yes?"
The brunette wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck and crashed their lips together in a bruising kiss. It was the most passionate kiss they had shared since their first, and Emma definitely didn't mind.
Once Regina was satisfied that her tongue had won their little battle, and her brain told her she needed oxygen, she pulled away, a little breathless.
"Not complaining one bit," Emma smiled, "But what was that? And what did I do to deserve it?"
"That, my dear, was something to remember me by, and you'll have to figure out what you did if you ever want another kiss," Regina matched Emma's smile with a faux innocent one of her own. "When are you planning on seeing me again, Miss Swan?" the professor inquired.
"That is for me to know and you to find out. Goodbye, Reggie."
And with that, Emma scampered out the door, loving the melodious sound of Regina's laughter as it trailed behind her. She was going to impress this woman. She was going to woo her. The only question was the same question she had been formulating answers to all night: How?
Another hour had passed before Regina had finished with all her work. It was nearly nine pm, and the brunette was afraid that her son would be in bed by the time she pulled into the garage, so the woman rushed about her office, shutting lights off, grabbing her purse, locking the door, and…. she heard her phone ring from the other side.
"Dammit." Rushing to unlock the door, Regina sprinted into the office, grabbed the device off her desk and rushed back out. She flipped the phone open to see she had a text from Emma.
Let the wooing begin, Professor.
-E ;)
Regina smiled down at the text before her, all sense of time lost as she read it over and over again, standing stock still in the middle of the hallway. After minutes of staring, she felt the device vibrate longer and with more urgency, signaling her to it up before she even got a look at the name.
"Professor Mills?" She answered, the smile evident in her voice.
"I wish I could see the smile has currently lit up your gorgeous face, Professor." the voice responded.
"And what makes you think I'm smiling, Emma?" The smile grew during this question.
"I can hear it through your voice. It has a lift to it that is never there unless you're smiling." Had Emma been paying that close attention to her all this while?
"Oh, really? You've noticed so after only these few days, huh?" Regina teased the blonde, "That's kind of creepy, Miss- Oh my God." The brunette interrupted herself with her reaction to the sight in front of her.
"Actually, Emma is just fine, though I can see how you'd make that mistake." The blonde joked.
"Shut up."
"Excuse me?"
"Shut up, Emma. I'm not going to let you ruin this moment." Regina stared ahead of her at her car, clearly seeing what used to be the black leather interior of her car. The only problem? It was now covered a million small paper hearts, each one with a new word on it.
"Emma, this is so sweet of you." Regina said reading the biggest heart through the window. It was taped to the middle of the windshield and read:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
This is only the beginning
Prepare to be wooed
"It's just a little something-something." Emma replied shyly. "No big deal."
"Emma, there has to be hundreds of hearts here," Regina replied, flabberghasted. "There is no way this is a little deal."
"Yeah, well… I may have been planning ways to woo you since before today."
"Why am I not surprised in your overconfidence, Miss Swan?" The brunette questioned as a smirk drew across her lips. "And what if I had told you no today? What If I had not told you I was interested in you?"
"Well, I still would've tried something," the blonde laughed quietly. " I mean, I would've started with something on a smaller scale than this, but I would've tried something."
"One more question, dear."
"Yes, Reggie?"
"How the hell did you get into my car to do all of this?" The thought had just popped into the professor's mind and now she was curious- if not a bit concerned- as to how this plan went into action.
"I thought you'd never ask," the blonde laughed out louder this time. "The answer to that, Regina, is behind you."
Regina turned around to see Emma sitting on the flight of steps she had just descended moments before, twirling a set of keys on her finger. Taking the necessary steps to reach her, Regina smiled at the look that crossed Emma's face. Was it…. shame?
"Look, Regina," the blonde started as the other woman made her way over. "I want you to know I took these because I had to, and I would never intentionally steal from or harm you in any way, shape, or-"
She was cut off by a soft finger landing on her lips, "You don't have to apologize, dear. It's beautiful. Slightly worrisome because I never noticed my keys missing, but beautiful."
"Well, that's a story for another time, Reggie. As I'm sure you're aware, you have a little man waiting for his mama to tuck him in tonight."
The smile that crossed Emma's face at the mention of her son made Regina rethink previous decisions. Would it be so bad introducing Henry to Emma? Would it really be so terrible to let the boy be around Mommy's new friend? Would it be so bad if-
"Regina? Where'd you go?" a soft voice broke her thoughts.
"Nowhere." she shook her head and smiled at her own thoughts that had flown away from here. "I'm right here, but as you mentioned, my baby boy is waiting. Goodnight, Emma."
"Goodnight, beautiful." Emma grabbed her hand, gave it a slight kiss and a quick squeeze before hopping up and turning around.
"No goodnight kiss?" she heard the voice behind her call out. "Why, Miss Swan, you seem to be setting the bar pretty high just to drop it low again."
"I'm afraid, mi'lady, that if I attempt a single goodnight kiss to those soft, full, gorgeous lips, that I may not be able to stop. I don't want to be the one to step between a child and his mother, so with all my gentlewomanly respect in tact, I choose to leave without one."
Regina was glad it was dark. She couldn't remember the last time she blushed this brightly.
"And what would you say if the mother wanted a kiss?" She questioned.
"I would say, Reggie, that it will have to wait. Absence makes the heart grow fonder." And with that, the blonde disappeared- once again- into the night.
Regina stepped into the room and was met with her mother holding a very sleepy Henry. She was greeted with a simultaneous, "Hello dear!" and, "Momma!"
"Hello, mother," she kissed the older woman on the cheek and stole her little boy out of her arms, "and hello to you, my baby boy."
"I'm not a baby, momma." He whined.
"You'll always be momma's baby, baby."
"I remember telling you the same thing, my dear," Cora gave a small chuckle. "I remember you responding the same way, too."
"Like mother, like son. Right Henry?" She asked. When no reply came, she looked down to see his eyes closed and his right thumb hanging loosely in his mouth.
"I think that's my cue to lay him down for the night."
Cora chuckled before leaning in to hug and kiss her daughter and grandson, "And my cue to depart. Goodnight, Regina. I love you."
"I love you, too mother. Lock the door on your way out?" she asked.
"Of course, dear."
Regina heard the door closing as she carried her son up the stairs to his room. She smiled, thinking back through the day's events. How she went from terrified, to happy, to overworked, and back to happy. She blushed when she thought back to her last moments with Emma. She isn't going to have to try very hard if she wants to woo me.
The brunette laid her son down in bed gently, as to not wake him, but as she did so, he opened his eyes and met hers. "Momma?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" He asked quietly, as though scared she'd say no.
"Any time you want, little prince," She picked him up again and rearranged the blankets on his bed, remaking it so they wouldn't have to tomorrow. "Is there any cuddle buddies you want to grab before we lie down?"
"Just you, Momma."
Regina found herself smiling again. Even if her son sometimes reacted less than ideally to still being called her baby, moments like these proved he still deserved the title, and there was no way he was going to lose it any time soon.
Flipping off the light switch and closing the door behind them, Regina carried her son to her bedroom and tucked him in underneath the covers. "I'll be back in a minute sweetheart. Momma has to change into her jammies."
"Okay, Momma."
Regina turned around and stepped into her walk-in closet, turning on the lights and closing the door behind her. She stripped her work clothes from her body slowly as she wandered about, looking for a pair of pajamas to wear. She remembered a time when she slept in no clothes, but that quickly ended as soon as Henry came about. Too many times she woke to find the boy lying- thankfully- on top of the covers, fully asleep while she tried to figure out a way to get up and sneak to the closet without waking the boy. She always succeeded, but it always sent her into a panic.
Expecting her son to be asleep by the deep and even breaths he seemed to be taking, Regina was more than surprised when he turned around and met her eyes. His giant brown eyes were hers, but everything else reminded her of Daniel. She missed him. She sometimes wished he was still next to her at night, and though every day got slightly easier, she knew her heart could never replace him.
The little boy watched his mother looking over his face, inspecting every inch like she did when he ate something messy. Except this time, she wasn't licking her finger and smudging it across his cheek. She was just staring. Though Henry wasn't quite sure what was going on, he knew his momma looked sad, so he cuddled up next to her and laid a hand across her chest, wrapping his fingers loosely in his mother's hair and lying his head right in front of hers.
"Night Momma." He whispered. "Love you."
The older brunette fought off tears as she stared into her son's giant eyes, "I love you, too, baby."
Emma rushed through the doors a giant smile on her face. "RUBY! RUBE! RUBAAAAAYYYY!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, running through their shared house, trying to find her roommate. Hearing loud music start from the one of the upstairs bedrooms, Emma want skipping up the stairs, ready to tell her friend about her new relationship. "RUBBBBBBBBEEESSS!" She shouted as she opened the door and…
"Shit!" She slammed the door closed again and ran down the stairs, hearing Ruby's music cut out and a door slam a few minutes later.
"Really, Ems?" the brunette asked with a smirk, eyebrows so high they almost became hidden in her hairline. "You've forgotten what it means when I have the door closed and refuse to answer your dreadful hollers?"
"Sorry." the blonde refused to meet her friends eyes, thoroughly embarrassed by having seen her best friend naked.
"C'mon, Ems. Don't be shy. It's not like you haven't seen it before," Ruby joked.
"Oh I've seen it," Emma replied. "It's hard not to when you're always walking around the house naked. I've just never seen it in action before."
"Not true. Do you remember when you caught me with Billy a few years ago?" Ruby asked trying to make her friend feel less awkward.
"You were under the blankets. I didn't have to see naked butt that time," Emma whined.
"You didn't have to see it this time, either, love. You should've known better."
Emma shook her head and dropped down onto their couch, "I really had thought you'd just been sleeping or that you couldn't hear me over the music. Honestly, Rubes, it's been awhile since you've had anyone here. You usually don't bring one nighters home."
"You're right, Ems. I don't," her roommate agreed, "However, Mary Margaret is more than a one nighter, I think."
"Who the hell is Mary Margaret, and why haven't I heard of her before now?!" Emma questioned, hurt.
Suddenly a petite brunette stuck her head out from behind Ruby. Her pixie cut framed her face beautifully, and Emma could see why Ruby was attracted to her.
"That would be me." The woman offered Emma a hand, but Emma denied it, deciding instead to make the girl sweat it out.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want to shake the hand that may or may not have been near questionable spots on a girl that is basically my sister."
Ruby sent the blonde a glare overtop of Mary Margaret's head, promising to kill Emma if she chased this girl away.
"I understand," the girl looked down obviously hurt.
"Hey, I'm joking," Emma amended, reaching out a hand and properly introducing herself to the brunette. "I'm Emma, I'm basically Ruby's sister, and I know that she and you are two adults who can choose to pass the time in whatever ways they want."
"I'm very sorry the first impression you have of me is this," the brunette still hadn't met her eyes, obviously uncomfortable with the situation.
"It's fine. Rubes said she really likes you, and that's all the first impression I need," Emma smiled as the brunette finally looked up, relief etching itself into all of her features. "Now, Rubes, you need to hear this!" Emma practically shrieked.
"Shit." Ruby breathed after Emma told her all about how the day went. "That's great, Em. I'm really happy for you."
"Pardon me for interrupting, but you're going through an awful big amount of trouble for some girl Ruby said you just met. Why?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Great question, M&M- May I call you that?" Emma asked before continuing.
"As long as you don't refer to me as 'the naked girl I found in bed with my sister' I'm okay with anything," the petite brunette laughed, causing the other brunette, who had her arms wrapped around Mary Margaret to join in.
"Duly noted!" Emma nodded her affirmative, then continued on. "So here's the thing M&M: I have no idea how to answer your question because I have no idea why. I made a complete fool out of myself in front of her the first day. I should've just run away and hidden under a rock, right? Right! But I never do anything the easy way, so instead, I talked with her. She showed me a side of her that not many people get to see, judging by her reputation. She was so open, and so beautiful, and so funny, and so…. seductive? It was just instant."
M&M smiled, "Love at first sight?"
"No." Emma answered. "Nope. I don't believe in that. Plus, it was thorough embarrassment at first sight, and love seconds later…. I mean- Not love. I can't say love when it's been less than a week." Emma stammered, hoping Ruby wouldn't read into what she had just said. And just like many times before, her hopes were denied.
"Be real, Ems," Ruby said. "It's love. You know it, and by the sounds of it, she knows it, too, but is too afraid to admit it, much like yourself."
"Of course she's afraid. It's been less than a week," Emma responded.
Ruby shook her head and gave Emma a sad smile, "did you ever think that maybe it's something else?"
"What?"
"You said she had a kid, right?" when Emma only nodded, still clearly confused, Ruby went on. "Did she say what happened with the father? Do you really know anything about her past work and her son?"
Then it hit her. Regina had said, "I don't want him to have to lose someone again." And holy hell, how had she ever missed that?!
"Shit, Rubes, you're right. I never even thought of that."
"Now you have." M&M offered with a smile. "And now you can improve your chances with the woman."
"Ruby, you better keep her," Emma pointed at the newest addition to their group and smiled as she stood up and left the room.
"Plan on it," Ruby responded as Emma laced up her shoe laces. "Where are you going, Em?"
"I have to go make a few calls and orders and such."
"And you need your shoes for that, why?" Ruby questioned.
"I don't." Emma suddenly realized, not knowing why she had put them on.
Ruby moved Mary Margaret off her lap and walked over to hug Emma, chuckling the whole time. "You're such a weirdo. Love you sis."
Emma smiled, "Ditto."
The brunette walked to the stairs and turned around motioning to the woman standing in the middle of the room, "I'm going to sleep, Mare. C'mon."
The next day Regina awoke to the same two eyes staring at her.
"Good morning," she whispered with a smile on her face.
"Mornin Momma," he tried to whisper back, but it came out louder than expected.
"What do you want for breakfast today, Henry?"
"Momma! You know what we eat on Sudays!" he shouted, his pronunciation wrong, as expected of a five year old, and eyebrows raised as he looked in her eyes. He was right. They had a routine. Every Saturday was chocolate chip pancakes and fresh fruit. That didn't mean Regina couldn't play with him a little.
"Oh no, Henry. I forgot. Do you want waffles?" She asked, eyes wide in faux confusion.
"Not waffos!" Henry hollered.
"Oh, I know! You want…" she pretended to think for a moment, "French toast?"
"Yuck!"
"How about….. a visit from the tickle monster!" the elder brunette shouted the last part as she pounced, her hands ready to attack. She watched the little boy squirm and smile and giggle, and couldn't help but laugh herself.
"NO MOMMA!" the boy shouted even louder! "Pancakes!"
Regina didn't stop her assault, though. She tickled more and more until the boy yelled again.
"Pancakes!"
Regina slowly stopped her hands, looking at her son quizzically, "Did you say something, dear?"
"Pancakes and froot, Momma!" He while trying to catch his breath. "It's Suday."
"Ohhh," the brunette nodded and pretended to look like she just solved a thousand piece puzzle. "I guess I can do that."
Regina lifted her little boy out of bed and placed him on the ground, holding his hands as they walked down the stairs and to the kitchen together. Once he was seated safely at the table, she started making the pancakes. Before she finished, however, the bell rang.
"Who do you think it is, Hen?" she asked, putting him on her hip and walking to the door.
"Gramma?!"
"No, sweetheart. Gramma had other stuff today, so it's not her," she informed the boy.
Opening the door, she found it was the local delivery man.
"Miss Mills?" he asked, hoping he was at the right address.
"Yes?" Regina questioned back.
"We have a pretty big delivery for you courtesy of an anonymous shipper. Will you sign here?"
"Of course," Regina grabbed for the pen and electronic pad. "Do you happen to know what the box contains?"
"It isn't one box, Miss. It's not 'one' anything. In fact, the order is so big I needed to bring a couple of other guys with me this morning."
Another man walked up just that moment carrying a vase full of flowers, followed by another man, and a third. "Where do you want 'em Miss?"
"The kitchen table is fine," Regina motioned to the room behind her.
"I hate to say this, Miss Mills, but it's going to take more than just a table," all the men laughed at their joke, knowing just how many vases this woman had coming.
Twenty minutes later, the men were getting back into their delivery truck and pulling away into the street while Regina was left dumbstruck at the sight of 100 vases of flowers in front of her.
"Emma," she mumbled, shaking her head and feebly attempting to cover the smile and blush that was bound to spread across her face if it hadn't already.
"Momma," Henry whispered, amazed. "There's so many."
"I know, sweetheart."
"And they're pretty, like you."
The tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down at her son, "Baby? What do you say about meeting Momma's new friend tonight?"
"Is he nice?" the boy asked.
"She is very nice, Sweetie." Regina corrected his use of pronouns so that she didn't confuse the little boy.
"Will she play dinos with me?" he asked seriously.
"If you ask nicely, I'm sure she would."
"Then what are you waitin fo' Momma?" He giggled with his mother when she finally understood his question.
"I have no idea, Baby. No idea."