AN: Thank you everyone for all of your support, it is what keeps me writing and the updates coming. I lied, not much fluff in this chapter but I promise lots more in chapters to come! Enjoy! *hugs*
"I've got some lovely red apples over here," Regina shows her customer as she motions to her booth, "they would be excellent for an apple pie or turnover. But if you're into something harder, like my apple cider I have just the thing."
"Oh, why not? They're for my boyfriend. I'm going tell him we're having a baby."
"That's great. But if you're pregnant I would go with the non-hard cider. For the baby of course."
The woman stutters, "I think so. He will, too. He definitely will."
"He's a bit of a control freak," the woman continues.
Regina chuckles. The woman releases a nervous laugh and suddenly her eyes fill with dread, "He's... He's going to hate me. He's going to hate me. I love him so much."
"Yeah, I'm not surprised. He sounds wonderful." Regina says comfortingly as the woman begins to cry.
"I didn't..."
The woman sobs hysterically.
Just then the phone rings.
"Apple A Day, how can I help you?" Regina says as she picks up the phone.
"Yes, I can do delivery," Regina continues to speak on the phone, "Right now? No, it's no problem."
"Listen miss, I have to go." Regina says to the still sobbing lady.
"Oh of course." The woman stutters as she begins to walk away but changes her mind and grabs onto Regina sobbing harder on her shoulder.
Just then Regina looks over to Maleficent who is casually flirting with Aurora in the next booth over.
"Hey Mal can you um," Regina stutters as she motions to the woman.
"Oh yeah sure." Maleficent replies as Regina stealthily slips away...
"Hi." Regina says as she approaches the waitress, "I was told to deliver these to Table 7."
"Oh, certainly. It's through there." The woman says as she directs Regina to a booth were a man is sitting.
As she gets closer to the booth the mysterious man becomes recognizable.
Robin.
Regina chuckles.
"Cute, huh?" Robin says as Regina sits across from him.
"Very cute," she replies sarcastically.
"Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you want to kiss me."
Regina sighs, "Robin, you and me... it's not gonna happen."
"It's not?" He says pretending to be hurt by the statement.
"I'll be your friend."
"Well, that'll do...for now." He replies devilishly as Regina laughs to herself once more.
"Mother are you coming?" Regina yells downstairs as she quickly changes her clothes and grabs her keys.
"Regina darling why would I want to go to a children's fencing tournament when I can stay home watching Once Upon A Time."
"I don't know mother maybe because your grandson is going to be there in his first tournament?" She replies sarcastically.
"He's my grandson but your nephew, now run along and send your sister Zelena my love."
"Mother please-"
"You know Regina darling, this evil queen character looks a lot like you. And she has your sass, your unmistakeable sass. You should really come watch with me."
Regina rolls her eyes at her mother," Send me a postcard when you're done with the show."
And with that Regina leaves the apartment, leaving her mother to be fixated on the TV.
The gym is full of screaming children, all dressed in white with their fencing masks on.
Emma shows the children how to use their "makeshift" swords and prepares them for the competition moments away.
Emma towers over the kids, as they stare in awe at their fencing instructor.
"Remember what I said. Winning is good but it's not everything. Give it all your best and you will always be enough. And above all be kind to others, these kids are just like you. Treat them the way you treat each other with kindness and respect."
Emma eyes all of her little pupils as they look at her for more advice, smiling at each one.
"I am proud of all of you! Now go have fun!" Emma says as the children swarm her in a group hug and run off to their positions for the competition.
Emma smiles as she looks at all of her students interacting with the other team's and showing sportsmanship to all.
"Ms. Emma can you help me?" The young boy asks as he holds half of his suit in one hand and his mask in the other.
"Sure Henry, where's your mother?" Just then she sees his mother relentlessly flirting with a man across the room, "oh, I see."
Henry nods along with Emma as she starts to help the young boy with his suit.
"Auntie! Auntie!" The young boy yells over Emma's shoulder as a woman approaches.
"Hey Henry!" The woman replies as she crouches down to give him a hug.
It is then that Emma recognizes the woman's voice, Regina.
"Regina?" Emma asks confused as she turns to face the woman.
"Emma? What are you doing here?"
"Auntie how do you know Ms. Emma?" Henry chirps.
"Oh um..." Regina stutters
"Your Auntie helped me on my wedding day. Did you know that your Auntie is awesome at finding wedding rings in cider bowls?" Emma says playfully.
"Yeah I know, my Auntie is pretty awesome!" He says as he wraps his small arms around Regina's neck.
The trio laugh.
"Henry, you better get in place the tournament is gonna start soon." She says as she ushers the boy in the right direction.
The two woman watch as the young boy runs down the gym ad gets in his place.
"So you're Henry's-"
"Instructor, fencing instructor. He really is a great kid." Emma says.
"I know, he is like my own little prince."
"So...how's things with Killian? Plan to have any kids anytime soon?" Regina continues.
"Oh no! It's just, he wants to but I'm not sure. I mean I love kids and all but, er, um, I'm just not so sure if I want to have them with hi-"
Emma is cut off by the sound of the bell signaling for the matches to start.
"I'm sorry what were you saying." Regina asks as she turns her attention back to Emma.
"Nothing. It's nothing." Emma mumbles, "It's nothing."
"You were so good, kid. Soon you might even be better than me."
"You really think so Ms. Emma?"
"I know so kid!" Emma says as she ruffles her student's hair.
"I have to agree with Ms. Emma you were very good." Regina adds.
Henry gives his Aunt a toothy grin before giving both women a huge hug.
"Henry lets go, we're gonna be late." His mother says as she comes out of nowhere and takes Henry's hand.
"Um, hi Zelena." Regina says as her sister proceeds to give her a nod of recognition and then trots away, not giving the boy a chance to say goodbye.
"So is that-"
"My sister, yes."
"She's a piece of work, y'know?"
"Indeed, ever since we were children she has been like this. I suppose some people are just like that."
A silence passes between them.
"Look Regina, I want to apologize on behalf of Killian what he said at the store was completely out of line to both you and Maleficent."
"Emma," Regina says as she smiles at the blonde, "It's okay, really. I'm a big girl, and that's not the first nor the last comment I suspect I"ll get on being sapphically inclined." She laughs.
Emma is silent again.
"You have to go, right?" Emma questions.
"But I don't. I'm okay."
"Regina, I think that we should talk about something that...well it's just, I don't know. When I'm with..."
"Yeah, I do have to go. Actually, I've just realized I've got a delivery." Regina says nervously, making up the excuse.
"Oh, yeah, right." Emma says disappointment lining her voice, "you go. "
"Yeah. Bye."
"Bye." Emma says and just like that the brunette walks to her car and drives away, leaving Emma gripping her chest, as that small ache in her heart grows stronger.
"Listen to this," Emma reads to her colleagues as they dress into their white suits before fencing," 'In her acceptance speech, the distinguished scientist paid tribute to her husband, Dr. Hopper. Tomorrow the pair celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary after eloping together on the day they met. When asked how they could possibly have known it would all work out Professor French replied in true scientific fashion... 'You don't know. You can never be sure. But you take the plunge anyway. 'Sure is for people who don't love enough.' "
The several women in the locker room have smiles painted on their faces as they say various "aw's" in response to the real love story.
"Do you guys believe in love at first sight?" Emma says as she thinks back to the day of her wedding, her eyes meeting Regina's.
"Well, it saves time." One friend replies.
"No. Really, that you could meet someone, or just across a room and with that one glance you could look in their eyes and see their soul. Do you believe that could happen?"
"No." One friend says.
"Absolutely not." Another replies.
Emma pauses, "No. Me, neither." Emma says remembering how complete she felt when she first stared into the brunette's chocolate orbs.
"Of course not, of course not." Emma silently repeats to herself, feeling the ache in her heart only growing stronger.