Chapter 4 – "Step 4 - Emma" - part 1
Emma's POV
They were on the manor porch waiting for Regina to open the door.
"Remind me.. How did I agree with this crazy idea of yours?" Emma asked Elsa fidgeting her feet around.
"Come on Emma! You know this is for the best.. This is our only chance to defeat Ingrid! I'm sure Regina will be a great teacher with us!" She smiled sweetly.
'Unfortunately this is not really what the problem is!' She sighed 'of course she'll be perfect.. as usual.. and it means I'll fall in love with her more and more.. And this is going to fucking kill me!' Another sigh.. 'I just hope I won't do a total fool of myself like staring at her all the time or..'
"Miss Swan are you here with us or are you on another planet?" Regina asked her after trying to call out the blonde's attention several times. She was standing on the doorstep with a close-fitting black dress, high heels, eyes sparkling and hands on her hips.
'Breathtaking as usual! And Great.. well done Swan! A complete and total fool of myself in less than 5 seconds! We haven't even started with the lessons yet, still I was able to completely embarrass myself!'
"Hi..?" 'I'm an idiot!'
Regina arched an eyebrow crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sorry for bothering you Regina but we might have a plan for defeating Ingrid and we wanted to discuss it with you" Elsa interacted shyly nudging at Emma in the ribs.
"Please come in, so we can discuss it further and in a more comfortable place" she gestured them to enter and moved from the doorstep giving them free access to her house.
'Don't pass too close to her Swan.. You know that she always smell so damn good and it makes you weak in your knees.. So stay away!' Unfortunately Regina hadn't move so much and so there wasn't enough space for keeping the safety distance from the former Queen that Emma had hoped for. 'I swear I'm intoxicated by her scent!' She thought while passing very close to the brunette and smelling her apple scent.
As soon as they entered the manor Regina invited them in her office and Elsa sat immediately on the couch with her regal composure while Emma chose to stand there in between the two of them.
"Would you like some apple cider to drink?" Regina asked politely.
'Anything stronger?' Emma sighed in her mind but instead she answered with a simple "yes thank you".
"None for me, thank you".
The brunette poured two glass of cider and handed Emma hers, in that moment their fingers just brushed against each other's for a brief moment and Emma felt a shiver ran through her body.. 'oh come on I can't believe it! We just brushed our damn fingers for a sec.. not such a big deal! If this is my reaction for just a brief touch how could I ever react if we ever kissed?' At the thought she went weak at her knees and bit her lower lip. In her current state she decided that it was not safe to try and move and so she remained still were she was, while in the meantime Regina just past forward her and went to sit in her chair.
The brunette stayed quiet for some minutes moving in circles her glass and taking some sips of her cider when she decided to broke the unnerving silent.
"So.. What is this marvelous plan of yours to defeat the Snow Queen?" she asked with a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Elsa looked at Emma silently asking her to take the lead of this conversation.
"Well Regina.. As you know Elsa and I have magical powers, but unfortunately we both have some.. power-controlling issues.."
"My dear.. That's an understatement.." The Queen said arching her sculpted eyebrow. At this Emma rolled her eyes waiting for the Queen to get quiet again and then she continued.
"In any case.. That's quite the point: our lack of magical powers control. Luckily on the other hand you are a master at it.. Therefore we thought that you can give us some magic lessons, in this way we can improve our powers and maybe working with you we can kick the Snow Queen ass together!" She said the very last part with a mischievous grin. Elsa had been nodding vigorously during all of Emma's speech showing her total agreement.
Regina was completely stunned by the blondes' suggestion. Indeed it was a good plan; the three of them with their powers under control and working together.. That could really be a possibility to stop Ingrid. The only think she couldn't quite understand was why they were asking her for this teaching-task.
"Why are you asking ME for doing this?"
Elsa started to panic taking the brunette's question as her way to say she wasn't interested in helping them.
"Regina, I know that you don't see any benefit in helping us, but Ingrid could be a problem for everyone here.. even for you.. She could hurt Henry.."
The raven woman shook her head disappointedly, as it usually happens she had been totally misunderstood.
"Perhaps I haven't made myself clear; why did you choose ME for such a relevant task instead of Gold or.. Maybe even better.. The Fairies?"
Elsa relaxed for a moment realizing she had totally had misunderstood Regina's intentions, but soon after she panicked anew and even more because she hadn't thought at this kind of turns of events when she had made up this plan with Anna and now she was completely caught off guard . She hadn't any good explanation for asking Regina instead of the Fairies except that she (as well as all the others involved in Henry's operation) wanted for Emma and Regina to spend some time alone with each other.. but of course she could tell her that!
"Because I NEED YOU." Emma blurted out suddenly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me Regina.. I NEED you and I trust you!" 'Seriously? Why I'm telling her all of that?! I should just slap myself and keep my damn mouth closed!'
"Dear, I'm sorry but you can't be serious. YOU.. The Saviour.. You could never need or trust me! Because I was and I'll always be for everyone just the Evil Queen.. Especially for you!" The brunette said with a deep sadness in her voice.
At that Emma walked dangerously in Regina's personal space challenging her with her gaze and added.. "Sorry to disappoint you, your Majesty.. But you are wrong! You are the one that deserve it the most! For me you have never been her, for me you have always been the lovely, caring, overprotective woman who raised our son and of course also the infuriating, bad-ass, clever Mayor with whom I fought and won so many battles! For me you are Regina and not the Evil Queen! So.. Yes, I trust you more than anyone else! And yes I need you because no one can fully understand me like you do!" Emma almost yelled the latest part of her rambling.
'Well done Emma! You just completely screwed up all your not-let-her-know-how-much-you-care-about-her plan!'
Elsa stared at the two women dazed waiting anxiously for Regina's reaction.
On the other hand Regina was completely taken aback from Emma's words and she was almost speechless. She searched the blonde's eyes for any kind of doubt or lie regarding her previous speech and finding none she couldn't help telling.. "Well.. If this is really your opinion.. I reckon your reasons for choosing me for this task are convincing enough. Meet me at my vault in two hours."
Emma and Elsa suddenly released a breath they hadn't know they were holding.
~~~SQSQ~~~