A/N: Hey Everyone!
I want to start by saying no, I have not abandoned this story, nor do I have any intentions of doing so. And follow that by thanking you all for sticking with me and not getting upset when I miss a few updates. If anyone is upset over it, I'm sorry, but we can't change the past now, so I hope you enjoy this update at the very least! All I can really say is that life has been pretty bumpy these past few weeks, and I hope you all forgive me. It is better to ask for forgiveness than permission, you know.
Emma sat in the lecture hall, wondering if they'd ever release her. She really hadn't been in the class very long, but with the amazing news she received that morning from her cooking lab instructor was leaving her very antsy, and as soon as this class was over, she planned on speeding home and telling Regina just what Mr. Hood had told her. Emma's hands fidgeted in her pockets. She wanted to pull her phone out and check the time, but she knew it was against the course rules. Not for the first time that day, the blonde wondered why she picked a seat that kept her back to the clock.
"Miss Swan, are you alright over there?" her lecturer's Aussie accent broke through the blonde's thoughts, and her eyes shot up to the professor, who was looking slightly annoyed and very amused with the woman. "You've been fidgeting since you've sat down. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Emma turned beet red. She hated being called out in class, and for something as stupid as being fidgety. The blonde shook her head and looked at the teacher, "I'm very sorry, Miss French. I'm just a little overly excited to get home and share some big news with my girlfriend."
"Ahh, yes," the professor said, nodding her head and tightening the ponytail that held her long, brunette locks in place. "Class," she addressed the rest of her students in the room, "I think we should all put our hands together for Miss Swan, here. She was the only freshman to make it onto Mr. Hood's culinary team this year."
The classroom exploded in clapping. Professor Hood's culinary team was filled with the best of the best from Storybrooke University's culinary majors. They traveled the world, competing in the most amazing cooking competitions. It was no easy feat to make it onto Hood's culinary team, but it was even more impossible to make it as a freshman.
"I'm sure if any of you need any help with your skills, and Miss Swan isn't too busy with her mysterious girlfriend, she will be more than happy to help you out," the professor ended with a smile. "Now, Miss Swan, we have ten minutes left in this kitchen lecture. Do you think you can sit still that long, or do I need to appoint you a babysitter?"
Emma smiled shyly and slid down in her seat. "I think I might be able to make it," she said, clearing her throat lightly.
"In that case, let's move on," Professor French moved to the board and wrote down her next topic. "For the last ten minutes, class, we will be discussing…."
Emma tuned her professor out. She may be able to make her body sit still for the last ten minutes, but her mind would continue to run rampant until she told Regina. She could just imagine the look of happiness and pride crossing Regina's features as she listened to Emma's recounting of what happened earlier that morning.
"And that's all for today," the professor announced. "You may go visit your girlfriend, Miss Swan, and if you want to know about what we've discussed today, you're more than welcome to come in during my office hours or ask any other student in the class. I promise what we covered wasn't too incredibly difficult today."
Emma shot out of her seat, throwing a "thank you" over her shoulder. She practically sprinted to her yellow bug, finding it easily in the parking lot. She slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. She pulled out of the driveway and turned in the direction of Regina's house. If she didn't speed, and the traffic was light, it would take her twenty minutes to reach the brunette's house.
The blonde wasn't in luck, however. Every light she came across miraculously turned red. She sat at the latest light, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited impatiently for it to turn green. Luckily this was the last light in town. In a few minutes she'd be parked in front of Regina's mansion and she'd be able to tell her lover of the great news.
The light turned green and Emma punched the gas. She didn't care if she sped anymore. All that mattered was the look of pride on Regina's face when Emma would tell her. She remembered to thank the big man upstairs that Regina didn't have office hours or class today. She was all Emma's.
The blonde broke out of her thoughts as she pulled into the drive. She quickly put the car in park before cutting the engine and jumping out. She ran up to the door, taking the steps two at a time. Emma grabbed the handle of the front door and turned it. She looked around the foyer for any sign of what room Regina would be in. She smelled a delicious scent from the kitchen and smiled. Regina was probably in there.
"Hooooney, I'm hooome!" the blonde sing-songed as she made her way to the kitchen.
"In here," her lover's smooth voice called back.
Emma flung open the door to the kitchen and her eyes locked onto Regina's, giant smiles lighting both of their faces. The blonde ran to her girlfriend, grabbed her around the waist and spun her around in circles. Regina's shocked squeal and melodic laughter filled the air until Emma placed her back on the floor and claimed her lips in an excited, bruising kiss.
When they pulled apart, Emma and Regina stared at each other for a moment, smiles still in place, before Emma pulled her girlfriend in for a bone-crushing hug.
"I have the best news," Emma whispered in the brunette's ears, burying her face in the other woman's hair.
"Really?" Regina asked, "What would that be?"
"I was accepted onto Professor Hood's culinary team!" the blonde said, pulling back to look at Regina's face as she told her. The look of pride on the brunette's face was better than Emma had ever imagined it to be. It was so much more than anything her mind could ever create. The brunette's eyes shone with love, pride, and admiration, and her smile was megawatt.
"That's so great, my love!" Regina responded. This time it was she who pulled Emma in for a bone-crushing hug. "I'm so proud of you!"
The blonde pulled back and kissed her girlfriend again, only stopping when she heard a throat clear from off to the side. Both women jumped back, Emma only now taking in the man sitting at the kitchen island.
"Professor Hood!" Emma almost shouted in shock, her eyes wide as saucers. "I...uh… It's not what it looks like?" she tried, though judging by the amused smile on the man's face, he knew better.
"Emma, dear, you don't have to worry about Robin," Regina reassured with a smile. "He and I go way back. He knew about you before I was sure about you."
"It was hard not to," Robin laughed. "I noticed Regina was dressing a little sexier than normal, baring more of her assets, and then I noticed you going in during her office hours every day. And, I mean, there was the way I caught you two looking at each other in the hallway a few times. You two are very oblivious, by the way."
"Did you just admit to checking out my girlfriend's assets, Professor?" Emma questioned, narrowing her eyes in faux inspection of the man. "I'm not too sure how I like that, sir."
Regina and Hood looked at each other over the island and broke into loud, raucous laughter. Emma looked at the two, wondering what the hell she had missed. There had to have been something the way those two were going on.
Once he caught his breath, Robin looked up at the girl, a smirk highlighting his features. "Oh, honey, listen to Regina. You really don't have to worry about me."
"And why is that," Emma questioned skeptically.
"Emma, I'm gay," Robin said with a laugh. "Yes, I admire Regina's assets, but I'm not going to try to take your woman from you unless she's a man."
"And you know better than anyone that I'm not a man, sweetheart," Regina said, wrapping her arms around Emma's middle and smiling up at the woman. The brunette turned her attention towards the man at the counter, "I'm assuming this is what you came to tell me, Robin?"
"Oh no, sweetheart. I figured you already knew you were a woman," Robin joked, smirking. "I did, however, come to tell you that Emma made the cut. Pun extremely intended," the man flashed a megawatt smile as he tried not to giggle at his own jokes.
"I swear you're still a five year old," Regina commented in retaliation.
"I think I remember a certain brunette darling taking a liking to me when I was a five year old," Robin smirked again, winking at Regina. "Anyways, Emma, I think Miss Mills here has some exciting news for you, too."
"Really?" Emma asks the brunette excitedly. "What is it?"
Regina blushes, "I told the board about us today…" She trails off, completely leaving the blonde hanging.
"...Annnnd?" Emma urges, nudging the woman in her arms.
"And they didn't have a problem with it. We can be as open as we want, as long as we don't act inappropriately."
"Regina!" Robin admonished. "You're forgetting the best part!"
Emma's eyes flicked between the two, taking in Robin's wicked grin and Regina's very red-tinted skin.
"What's the best part?" Emma asked, genuinely curious.
"It's nothing," Regina whispered, wanting nothing more than to escape the moment.
"Oh, it's something," Robin pushed on, his grin getting wider by the moment.
"Reggie, what is it?" Emma's brow furrowed in question. She was starting to get worried about the brunette. She never acted this way before. Regina was always in control, always in command. Emma had never seen her so… bashful before.
"Well… It wasn't really a shock to a few of the members," the brunette responded, hoping Robin would let her leave it at that.
Of course he wouldn't.
"And why is that, Regina?" he questioned with a giggle, squirming in his seat. It was obvious he was excited about something.
"Theymayhaveheardushavingofficesex," Regina mumbled under her breath so quickly that it came out as one word.
"What was that, darling?" Robin asked from across the counter.
"Theymayhaveheardushavingofficesex," Regina mumbled again, slightly louder than before, but still at an incomprehsible level.
"Huh, sugar?" Robin urged, somehow managing to look even more excited.
"THEY HEARD US HAVING OFFICE SEX!" Regina shouted at the man. "They heard Emma and I fucking in my office, okay, Robin?"
The man burst out in a cacophony of laughter. He wiped at his eyes as the tears fell. Emma just stared at the woman in front of her, slack-jawed and trying to process the information that was just thrown her way.
"Who saw what?" Cora asked, making her way into the kitchen. "You know, you really shouldn't use that sort of language with your very impressionable son in the house.
Regina groaned. This was just perfect.
"I didn't know he was in the house, mother, but thank you for the heads up." The brunette turned back to her girlfriend, who was still standing there staring at the ground.
"Emma…. Say something."
"My teachers... heard me having sex... with my other teacher," the blonde mumbled.
"Well, to be fair, they heard me," Regina whispered, a blush creeping up her cheeks once again. "They didn't know it was with you, but they kind of put two and two together after I informed them."
The blonde broke out into laughter, while Regina stared at her. The brunette was dumbfounded. She faintly wondered if she was going to have to check her lover into the psych ward.
"Emma?"
"This is great, Reggie," the blonde breathed out between giggles. "Do you know what this means?!"
"That I have to avoid looking my co-workers in the eyes for the next few weeks?" the brunette asked, cocking an eyebrow and tilting her head in question.
"No!" Emma smiled. "It means I can do this whenever I want."
Emma took Regina into her arms and dipped her low to the ground. She leaned down over her and crashed their lips together passionately, not caring who was in the room to see. When oxygen became a necessity, and the two women broke apart, Emma pulled her back up to stand on her two feet and peppered kisses all over the brunette's face.
The kitchen door swung open and little footsteps pounded the floor on their way over to the two women. Emma felt a tiny tug at her t-shirt.
"Henwe wants mwauh-mwauhs, too!" the little boy whined, laughing when Emma swung the him up into the air, and both the blonde and the boy's mother peppered his face with little pecks.
Cora and Robin smiled on at the image, watching as the little family had their perfect moment.