Regina was one-hundred percent certain that she was not going to live through the night.
If Emma Swan had been stunning in her red prom dress, then she had achieved goddess status in the sea-green dress that Regina had bought for her. Complete with silver heels, her swan pendant, golden curls, and a face full of bright, fresh makeup that made her green eyes match her dress, Emma was going to be solely responsible for a young-age heart attack in Regina. She was sure of it.
As Regina stood in awe, mouth agape, Henry and Cora swarmed Emma, fawning over how beautiful she was and how well the stylist had done on her look. Emma turned beet red and thanked them shyly before making eye contact with Regina. "Is it…okay?" she asked.
Regina snapped her mouth shut so hard her teeth hurt from the impact. "Beautiful," she whispered, attempting to smile, but feeling like she was going to faint any minute.
"You look amazing," Emma said then, biting her lip and smiling through her discomfort at being at the center of attention for a moment. "I don't know if I'd told you that yet or not."
"You did," Regina chuckled. She'd come out before Emma, wearing a tight black gown with a high neckline that ended in a choker-style around her neck. Her makeup was dark and smoky, and her hair had been French-braided and decorated with glittering diamond hair pins. Together, Regina and Emma appeared the epitome of light and dark, which Regina felt was fitting. Emma was the light in her life, after all.
"You both look absolutely breathtaking," Cora confirmed dramatically as she whipped out her camera. Regina groaned. "Mother, I'm going to hide that thing from you, I swear."
"Pawn it, put it on Ebay," Emma whispered, loud enough for Cora and Henry to hear, which left Henry in a fit of laughter.
"You two may hate it now, but later on in life you'll thank me for the memories I'm preserving. Now pose right there and show those teeth."
Regina moved closer to Emma and they wrapped their arms around each others' waists, turning to Cora. Emma plastered on a smile. Regina, however, bared her teeth in a mocking grimace.
"Regina Mills, I will not hesitate to ground you for the remainder of the year," Cora warned.
Rolling her eyes, Regina dropped the look and instead smiled sweetly. At the last second, she felt Emma's fingers tickling her ribs and she squealed, squirming with laughter, which made Emma laugh and move closer in an attempt to keep her from getting away.
The flash went off.
"Oh, Mother, that's not fair!"
Cora had gone quiet as she looked down at the picture on the screen. "Actually, this is perfect," she said in a low tone. "I'm keeping it."
Regina groaned.
"Whoa," Emma whispered as they walked into the gigantic bookstore that was hosting the event. The lighting was dim, but in a warm way. Rows and rows of books stretched all around, and up a winding staircase was another entire storey of wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor books.
All around them, men and women were dressed to the nines, in tuxedos and gowns and jewelry that glittered and sparkled in the low light. Cora had been immediately swarmed upon entering the bookstore: women boasting of her clothing line, mostly. Henry had gone in the back way, away from cameras and swarms of people, always the mysterious introvert.
"Miss Mills! Regina Mills! Look over here!"
Regina turned to the sound of her name and got a flash bulb to the retinas. Ugh.
"Is it always like this?" Emma asked, taking her arm, appearing to need something to steady herself as she walked in the high heels.
"Unfortunately, yes," Regina grouched. "It's okay. Smile and wave, and they'll eventually get bored with us."
Emma took her advice, smiling widely and raising a hand in a half-hearted gesture.
"Miss Mills! Who is your lovely friend?"
"Can we have a name?"
"Is she an up-and-coming celebrity? Is your father's new book going to be a movie?"
"Is she starring in a movie adaptation of a previous book?"
"Regina! Is your friend sporting one of your mother's dresses?"
"Tell us please!"
"Oh my God," Emma whispered, looking beyond claustrophobic.
Regina held up her hands. "This is Emma Swan, my guest for the night. She and I go to the same school. Yes, she's dressed in Cora Mills' signature styles, down to the earrings. I have heard no word on any movie adaptation of my father's books. Now, if you'll excuse us."
"Regina, Miss Mills, wait! Can you stop for a few pictures? You look completely marvelous!"
Regina posed for a couple of pictures, and then pulled Emma to her before quickly letting go of her. "Head high, smile, hand on your hip, back straight. Keep your stance open but elegant. Flaunt the clothing, not your body. Have fun with it, don't be nervous. You're gorgeous." she instructed quickly before stepping back and letting Emma be photographed.
As Regina watched Emma pose for a few photographs, she felt her breath catch in her throat. Emma turned and changed poses like a natural-born model, her head held high and her smile now beaming. Tonight, there was no trace of the gangly, clumsy softball-player with rough knees and slouched stance. Tonight, Emma Swan was one of the elite.
Finally, after the photographers begged for side-by-side photographs, Regina and Emma were able to tear themselves away from the attention. (The arrival of another well-known novelist allowed them the quick getaway.)
"That was insane," Emma laughed breathlessly. "I was so nervous! Does this happen every time?"
"I've been featured in magazines since I was barely old enough to walk," Regina replied dryly. "It's normal for me."
"I'm not going to lie, that was a ton of fun," Emma giggled, looking a bit hysterical. Regina laughed at her giddiness, surprised she could even breathe or think in the direct beam of Emma's smile. "I'm glad," she said happily.
They mingled for about thirty minutes as the room continued to fill with people. Regina introduced Emma to at least a dozen important figures: models, novelists, designers, chefs, and was pleasantly surprised by how well Emma kept her head and remained professional and polite through every introduction. Emma got sucked into a conversation with a famous chef that she recognized but Regina had never met or heard of, and Regina found herself being pulled away from Emma to speak to a couple of young men that seemed intent on vying for her attention. Emma is probably having a much better conversation than I am, Regina thought bitterly as the boys in front of her boasted about their hedge funds and stocks and utterly boring things, while Emma continued to speak animatedly to the chef.
Suddenly, to her relief, the lights dimmed even more and a spotlight was trailed around the room, resting finally on a big curtain in front of the only large space in the bookstore, which sported nothing but a stand with a hard-back copy of Henry's new book.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the launch of the highly anticipated new fantasy-thriller novel, The Shadow Kingdom, written by the New York Times' best selling author Henry Mills!"
Applause erupted around the room as Henry stepped into view, waving and smiling widely into flashing cameras and smiling, cheering faces. "Thank you, thank you," he said into a microphone that had been placed in his hand. "As always, it's a pleasure to be invited to this marvelous, historic bookstore. Thank you! I'd also like to thank my beautiful wife, fashion designer Cora Mills, founder and owner of the Queen of Hearts boutiques, who pushed me to pursue my dream of writing…"
After he finished his acknowledgements, there was more applause, and Henry launched into his speech about his method of writing, where his ideas came from, and his plan for a sequel. He ended the speech by reading the first chapter of the book aloud, and when he was finished, the room erupted in even louder applause than ever.
Women and men alike flocked toward Henry with their copies of The Shadow Kingdom, begging for autographs, and Henry welcomed them all with a warm smile and a pen in hand.
"He's loving this," Cora said as she sidled up to Regina. Regina smiled up at her, admiring how regal her mother looked in her long, dark purple evening gown. "He gets a little better at the speeches every time. Did you know people are asking about movie adaptations of his books?"
"Indeed, I've been hearing rumors all night. As if that man needs an even bigger ego boost." She was teasing, and Regina noticed her eyes shine with love as she looked at her husband. "So," she said then, turning back to her daughter. "I've noticed Emma seems to be quite the socialite tonight as well."
Regina scanned the room and found Emma once again the focus of another magazine photographer who had apparently been late to the party. She was laughing and turning slowly in her dress, proudly displaying her look. "She's doing wonderfully," Regina said proudly.
"She sure is. And a tall, athletic, attractive blonde showing off my line isn't hurting my business at all," Cora winked before heading across the room to join Emma in the mini fashion show.
Regina shook her head, still chuckling to herself at her eccentric mother.
She had no idea how long she stood there, watching her mother and Emma with the photographers. All she knew was that she couldn't look away. Emma was radiant. More than half the room had all eyes on her, and her clear laughter could be heard even on the far side of the bookstore. Regina noticed more than a few young men introducing themselves, kissing Emma's hand…
Then, a gorgeous woman with striking Asian features, dressed in a short black cocktail dress approached her. Even from a mild distance, Regina could see the intent in the woman's eyes. She greeted Emma with a smile, then introduced herself and managed to pull Emma away into a less crowded corner. Her body language screamed "interested", and before long Emma was tucking her hair behind her ear and displaying different signs of flattery.
Regina felt like she was going to combust. Jealousy raged through her in such a strong wave, she could almost feel steam come out her ears.
When the Asian woman moved to place her hands on Emma's hips in a very forward, classless manner, Regina swore she could probably breathe fire if she wanted to.
I'm in love with Emma. That's supposed to be me.
The thought hit Regina like a tsunami. Here she was, struck dumb by the scene in front of her, when she should be going to pull Emma from the womanizing clutches of…whoever that was.
It was like a dream. Regina found herself being pulled as though by a magnet toward the women, easing politely past a sea of bodies to get to her destination. When she approached her friend and the woman who was likely going to get a fist to the face if Regina couldn't calm down, she heard a snippet of their conversation:
"I actually live not far from Storybrooke. My father is a columnist in Augusta, he's here doing a piece on the event. We should meet up sometime. I'd love to take you out to dinner…"
"That would be great, Mulan…"
"Mulan, is it?" The words were out of Regina's mouth before she was aware she was thinking them. Everything was a blur, and she felt like everything that happened beyond this point would be out of her control. She felt like a monster had woken up inside her. "It would seem someone's parents are Disney fans. How unfortunate."
"Regina!" Emma gasped, appalled at the insult and the icy tone that dripped from Regina's lips.
"Actually," the annoying Mulan rebutted, "I was named for the legend herself. Way before the movie."
As if Regina cared. "Excuse us, Mulan, Emma and I are needed elsewhere."
Regina gripped Emma's bicep, dragging her to the staircase and up the stairs to the part of the store that was devoid of a crowd. The upstairs was more crowded with bookcases, but was dim and empty and Regina had no idea what was going to happen now, what she was capable of in this insane storm inside her.
"What the hell was that?" Emma snapped, ripping her arm away once they hit the landing of the stairs. "That was so incredibly bitchy, Regina!"
"She was coming on to you!" Regina hissed, forming her shaking hands into tight fists as she faced her friend.
"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock! You probably just ruined my chance with her."
Regina faltered. "You…wanted her to come on to you?"
Emma's eyes popped wide in angry sarcasm. "No, not at all. I hated being flirted with by a freaking gorgeous girl. Of course! What good is coming out to you if you're just going to….twat swat me at any given chance? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Twat swat?" Regina repeated dumbly.
"So what is your purpose of dragging me up here looking like you're ready to murder someone? You got beef with that girl?"
"I've never met her," Regina admitted through gritted teeth. Emma looked so damn beautiful, her eyes wild and her stance defensive…
"What then?"
Regina fought to find the words for several seconds, her lips moving uselessly as clipped noises failed to escape her throat.
"Come on then, Queenie, spit it out!" Emma all but roared at her.
Something snapped inside Regina in that moment as Emma stepped into her personal space, practically challenging her to grow up, be a woman, take what she wanted.
So, she did.
She grabbed Emma's shoulders and forcefully backed her up against a bookshelf-lined wall, causing Emma to cry out as her back collided with hard wood, but her cry was swallowed by Regina as her mouth descended upon Emma's, roughly, passionately, purposefully. Emma let out another muffled cry at the surprise attack, and Regina took the opportunity to invade Emma's warm, inviting mouth with her tongue.
After the shock wore off, Emma's arms wrapped around Regina's neck in a vice grip, and she began to reciprocate.
Regina was in heaven. Emma was kissing her again, really kissing, with tongue and teeth and her body was flush against hers, feeling every soft curve and hard angle…
She bit down roughly on Emma's bottom lip, eliciting a sharp grunt of pain from the blonde even as her hips shifted against Regina's.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity and yet half a second, Emma wrenched away. "Oh…oh my God," she gasped, panting heavily, moving her hands to Regina's shoulders. "Everything makes so much more sense now."
"Shut up," Regina snarled, capturing her lips again fiercely. Emma kissed back fervently, hands gripping Regina's shoulders tight.
"All this time?" she asked when they parted again, breathless.
"Since day one," Regina admitted, feeling the blazing fury in her dwindle down to a warm flame in her belly.
"And you…you didn't tell me. Even when I told you. Even when we were standing naked in your bedroom."
"I didn't want…to lose what we had. I wasn't sure if you felt the same way. I wasn't sure about anything."
"I'd like to think I made my interest clear on like, multiple occasions, Regina. I kissed you, told you I was definitely gay, managed to get you naked the very next day."
"You have no idea how badly I wanted to give in then. You were killing me."
Emma's eyes darkened, glittering with want. "We literally could have been doing this for months, you absolute nut!"
"Then let's make up for lost time," Regina smiled, feeling wild and wanton and free, finally, in the arms of the girl she'd fallen head over heels for.
"Gladly," Emma whispered before taking her lips again.
The two girls were so lost in each other, they didn't notice the footsteps coming up the stairs, or the flash of a camera in the dimly-lit room.