A/N: thank you for all your thoughts and advice on the last chapter - I now have a plan for finishing off this storyline but there'll be a little angst on the way.
Mild NSFW.
"Where are we going?" Emma asked for the hundredth time, the whine in her voice making Regina roll her eyes.
It was Sunday evening and Regina and Emma were driving through the streets of New York, the blonde desperately trying to find out from the older woman where they were heading. She had nothing to go on except that it must be a nice venue since she had walked into her bedroom to discover a new dress laid out on her bed for her. Emma had protested, of course, but couldn't deny that Regina had chosen well. The dark green dress fitted her perfectly, hugging her slender figure and bringing out her eyes. Her pale skin and blonde hair accentuated it even more, and Regina had positively stopped breathing when she first saw Emma that evening. She herself was wearing a simple cream dress, a string of pearls shining at her neck and a black scarf draped across her shoulders.
"I'm not telling you," Regina chuckled, crossing her legs and leaning into Emma's side as they rounded the corner and slowed in the busy traffic leading up to Times Square.
"Why not?" Emma asked. "I mean, I need to know how far away we are in case I need to eat this."
She pulled out a cereal bar from her clutch purse, another gift from Regina, and waggled it between her fingers. Regina just laughed and shook her head.
"You're not going to starve to death," she assured the blonde. "We're going to have something to eat in just a few minutes."
Emma glanced out of the window and frowned. The bright lights ahead were looming closer but Times Square didn't seem like the sort of place Regina Mills would frequently visit. Just as she was thinking this however, Graham swung the town car off Seventh Avenue and drove west.
"Broadway?" Emma gasped.
She had never seem a show on Broadway before. In fact, she hadn't been to the theatre before. Ever. She turned to Regina and smiled widely, her mind already racing through a catalogue of billboards trying to determine which one they might be going to watch.
"Perhaps," Regina nodded with a teasing smile. "But first I think I should feed you, no?"
"Please," Emma nodded. She had hardly eaten any lunch in preparation for the night. She wanted to make the most of the inevitably amazing evening Regina would have planned.
The car turned onto Broadway and weaved through the crowded streets before taking another turn and stopping in a quieter side road. Regina thanked Graham and got out of the car, holding out her hand for Emma and escorting the blonde onto the sidewalk. Several people passing glanced at the two stunning women but neither noticed; Emma was too busy staring at the beautiful, grand restaurant front they were facing and Regina was too busy watching the blonde's reaction. Her heart pounded at the look of awe on the delicate face.
"Ready?" Regina asked when it became apparent Emma wasn't going to move from the spot.
Taking a deep breath, Emma nodded and turned to Regina. She smiled and laced their fingers together, allowing Regina to lead her into the entrance hall of the building. Emma took in everything as she passed; the white-gloved waiters, the silver platters, the plush carpets and the ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. She had never been in a place quite like it in her life. Once seated opposite Regina in a high-backed chair, she exhaled with relief.
"You ok?" Regina asked, confused at the reaction.
"Yeah," Emma nodded. "I'm just not used to being somewhere like this. I'm half expecting them to chuck me out as soon as they realise they've made a mistake."
Regina smiled softly. "Emma, you're not getting chucked out. You are stunning tonight and I promise you no one is looking at you like -,"
"Like what?" Emma asked, prompting Regina after she fell silent. "Go on, you can say it."
Regina shifted uncomfortably in her chair, regretting even starting the previous sentence. "Like you used to live on the streets."
The air somehow seemed to chill around the couple for a moment. Regina's heart beat faster. Had she ruined their date already? Was Emma going to walk out on her? But then the blonde smiled and all the warmth rushed back into the room.
"Well even street rats scrub up pretty nicely when their girlfriends buy them amazing dresses. How did you know what size to get me?"
Regina raised an eyebrow and then laughed. "Really, Emma? You think by now I don't know exactly what size you are?"
Emma blushed and smiled too, the memory of their time together the previous night washing over her. Their love making, for that was now what it was, had grown more passionate and more intense with each night they spent together. They were already becoming finely attuned to one another, after spending hours touching, kissing, and memorising every inch of the other's body.
"So what show are we seeing?" Emma asked, just as a bottle of wine appeared on their table and was poured into their glasses.
"I'm not telling you," Regina said, nodding her thanks to the waiter as he left.
Emma pouted but accepted the answer without argument, sipping her wine instead and marvelling at the exquisite taste. Regina, of course, knew how to chose a good bottle. And, as it turned out, she ordered perfectly too. Emma had been surprised when, five minutes after they arrived, platters of food were set down on their table until Regina explained she had called ahead and ordered a range of appetisers which would make up their meal.
"We have to be at the theatre in about an hour," she explained, scooping up an oyster shell and offering it to Emma.
The blonde eyed the slimy food warily but at Regina's encouragement, allowed the older woman to tip the shell up to her lips and she swallowed it down. Her eyes narrowed at the sharp lemon taste but she had to admit it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Regina laughed at this and served herself one as Emma turned her attention to the paté.
Their heels clacked on the sidewalk as they hurried through the cold streets towards the theatres. Regina had somewhat lost track of time and they were in danger of being late. As the bright lights of Broadway came into view however, Regina was relieved to see the theatre they were heading into only one block away. Emma's eyes scanned the billboards, wondering where Regina was taking her.
"Oh, not the Lion King?" she asked a little despondently as they passed that particular venue.
"Sorry," Regina said. "But I have been meaning to take Henry for quite some time. Maybe in the summer?"
Emma nodded happily, already imagining sunny days in the park and picnics and Coney Island with the Mills family. Just as she was wondering whether Regina had ever been to the amusement park, she felt herself being tugging into a building before she had even looked up at the giant poster outside. She scanned the lobby area and a huge grin spread over her face.
"Wicked?" Emma asked, just as Regina reached a doorman and handed over the tickets she had produced from her purse.
"Indeed," Regina nodded. "It's a personal favourite of mine."
Emma followed as Regina led the way into the theatre and an usher showed them to their seats. As soon as they sat down, Emma knew they must have cost a fortune. Their view of the stage was unobstructed, central, and the chairs they sank into were the largest and comfiest Emma had ever sat in.
"I didn't know you were into musical theatre," Emma said quietly after Regina had asked their usher to bring them two glasses of Pinot Noir.
"You also didn't know that I played Glinda in my high school production of Wicked," Regina said.
"The Good Witch of the South?" Emma asked. "I'd have thought you were more of a Elphaba character."
Regina pretended to be offended and then laughed. "I have to admit I did want that role but it was given to someone else. Still a sore point, naturally. But I did love playing Glinda too. I just think evil is more fun."
"Ah but she's not evil, she's wicked," Emma pointed out.
Regina rolled her eyes at the pedantic blonde but just as she was about to speak, darkness shrouded the theatre and the music began.
The door banged off the hallway wall as the two women stumbled through it, their mouths fused together in a furious kiss which had started in the back of the car and barely broken between the cocktail bar Regina had taken them to after the show and the moment when Ruby's cough brought them both back to earth.
"See, this is why I was snooping last time," the brunette teased, leaning against the doorframe as she watched her two friends smooth down their ruffled hair and wipe the lipstick from their mouths. "Did you forget I was here?"
"More like I didn't care," Regina teased, depositing her coat and following her friend into the lounge. "How was Henry?"
"A little reluctant to have his bath but when I reminded him that both you and Emma had showers before you left he seemed to understand that washing wasn't so bad."
Emma and Regina both laughed as they took a seat on the couch side by side. In fact, Emma was practically in Regina's lap. When noted by Ruby, the lanky brunette quickly realised she probably wanted to leave before the soft porn show started up again.
"How was Wicked?" she asked as she gathered her tablet and handbag together.
"Amazing," Emma grinned. "But how come you know what we saw? Regina wouldn't even tell me?"
"Dot got you guys the tickets," Ruby shrugged. "She has connections in the theatre world. Her aunt from Kansas used to work on stage."
"Well thank Dot for me then because they were incredible seats."
"I will do," Ruby assured. "See you guys on Friday."
The two women thanked her for watching Henry and then waved goodbye from the front door. As soon as it snapped closed Emma turned to Regina and kissed her softly.
"So," she said, her voice low and husky, "where were we?"
As far as Emma's life went, the following week was one of the best. At least, everything seemed to be moving in the right direction … until Friday. On Monday she met Regina in her lunch break and the two of them went for an appointment at the local parole office. Since David had already got Emma's paperwork in order, it didn't take long for the blonde to sign up with Tina Bell, the officer with whom Emma would have to meet once a week for the next year. Tina seemed friendly enough and, most importantly, was not Killian Jones.
On Tuesday Tina called Emma with a list of job interviews with companies and organisations linked to the parolee programme. Emma had never been great at interviews. Low self esteem, she supposed. But when Regina returned on Tuesday evening with a brand new skirt-suit for her, Emma couldn't help but feel a little optimistic. Of course, the optimism only set in after a mini-argument between herself and the brunette, during which she tried to stop Regina buying her things. The suit combined with the dress and handbag the previous weekend must have set the older woman back hundreds if not thousands of dollars. "But I have the money and I like buying things for you," Regina had reasoned when Emma protested. "And no, I don't see you as a charity case. I see you as my girlfriend and someone whom I want to spoil." Emma's counter-argument fell on deaf ears and when Regina's lips began to pepper kisses all over her neck and collarbone, she eventually gave up.
Wednesday saw Emma interview for three companies. Two were clerical roles which Emma knew would bore her senseless and one was for a kitchen porter. Although she knew she could do the latter job well enough, she didn't relish the work. She also didn't think the interviews went well and spent the evening scouring the job adverts in newspapers and online just in case there was anything applicable. Despite Regina trying to persuade her to go for a junior journalist position at a local newspaper, Emma didn't and she went to bed that night hoping her next two interviews went better.
Thursday was the day that Emma confirmed something she had always suspected: torrential rain and a closed subway station was not a good combination right before a job interview. She arrived in the reception dripping wet and steamed slowly throughout the questions. She was shivering by the time she left and almost decided to ditch her final appointment. But not wanting to get on Tina's bad side too early on, she trudged through the now drizzling rain until she reached the youth club in Queens.
As soon as she pushed the door open, the loud chatter of children met her. The place was colourful, pictures and artwork adorning the walls and kids running around throughout the room. She caught the eye of a supervising adult who made her way over to the blonde.
"You're Emma?" the woman asked, her dark brown skin crinkling around her kind eyes as she smiled at the nervous younger woman.
"Yes," Emma nodded, holding out her hand.
"Ursula," the woman introduced. "Welcome to the mad house. Mal is in the back waiting for you. Excuse the mess, the rain means playtime is inside today."
Emma thanked Ursula and worked her way through the mass of children and teenagers until she reached the corridor the black woman had indicated. A door on her left, bearing the plaque Malory Fire, stood ajar. Emma rapped her knuckles on it and entered when she heard someone call for her to do so.
Malory Fire smiled widely as Emma stepped into the room and the blonde immediately felt at home and welcome despite feeling equally overdressed. Although her new suit was still damp, it seemed unnecessarily posh compared to the older blonde's outfit. A flowery blouse clashed brilliantly with a floaty skirt, great coloured bangles clanking on her wrist as she held her hand out to shake Emma's. She waved at the seat on the far side of her cluttered desk and then propped her bare feet up on the edge of her chair, curling up like a cat and taking a sip of her coffee.
"So, Emma," the woman said. "Before we start, please call me Mal. Malory was my mother and I am certainly not her."
"Ok," Emma nodded. "Well, thank you for meeting with me."
"Of course," Mal said. "It's been a while since Tina has sent anyone she though appropriate for the role."
"Um, what exactly is the role?" Emma asked. She knew it was important to be prepared for job interviews but the information Tina had given her had been minimal and the information she had managed to find on the internet about the Dragon Youth Centre had been less than helpful.
"Well, we're a centre for troubled and vulnerable youths," Mal said. "In this area of town kids go one way or the other. We try to keep them off the streets and away from the gangs by providing them a place to come after school. We run sports groups, workshops, game sessions. Anything really. And we try to play to our employees strengths so if there's something you're particularly interested in or talented at, there's scope for our programmes to expand."
Emma nodded her understanding but before she could stop it, the question she had been burning to ask since she got the information about the job, spilled from her lips.
"Why do you want ex-cons working with troubled kids?" Emma frowned. "Surely you want people who are going to be a good influence."
"Are you saying you'd be a bad one?" Mal asked, eyebrow raised.
Emma spluttered through her answer, backtracking fast. "No, of course not! It's just … well, it's an unusual choice, right?"
Mal nodded her agreement. "We find that children who have already been in trouble or those who have family members who took the wrong path are often inspired by seeing those who have emerged on the other side after some bad decisions. We set an example, you see, a way of showing how lives can be turned around."
"We?" Emma asked. The woman in front of her hardly looked like someone who had been in trouble with the law.
"Everyone here has a criminal record," Mal said. "Myself included."
"What?" Emma frowned. That had certainly not been in the notes Tina had given her.
"Yep," Mal nodded. "I got caught for arson when I was fifteen. You've met Ursula who was inside for theft. And the rest of our staff have been in trouble too. No murderers or rapists, mind you," she added as an afterthought.
"Wow," Emma said, sitting back in her chair. "An interesting concept."
"And one we'd like you to get involved with," Mal smiled.
Emma frowned. "You … you're offering me the job?"
"We only have a part-time position open at the moment," Mal explained. "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday but there might be some more shifts opening up in the future if you're interested. We work from two until seven most days unless we have a special occasion like a cinema trip."
"What would my role be?" Emma asked.
"Making sure the kids are safe and happy," Mal said. "For the first couple of months you'd be helping our current workers run sessions before we'd let you do your own. There's homework club, reading hour, football lessons, arts and crafts, social studies, and everything in between."
Emma sat there stunned. She had never, ever been offered a job on the spot before, certainly not after she left prison. Mal must have sensed her disbelief because she smiled reassuringly.
"I spoke with Tina about you," she said. "And I read your resumé. You're an impressive young woman, Emma, and I think you have a lot of potential. As does your reference who could not speak more highly of you."
"My reference?" Emma frowned. She had been worried about the fact that she had no one to write down at her reference when she made her resumé and now was very concerned about who Mal could possibly be talking about.
"Regina Mills," Mal said. "I got off the phone with her about an hour before you arrived."
"Regina?" Emma asked, eyes wide. "How did you get her number?"
"Tina," Mal shrugged. "She said Ms Mills had offered to act as your reference."
Silently cursing herself for leaving her girlfriend alone with Tina when she went to the bathroom, Emma sighed. She knew she needed to tell Mal that Regina was far from impartial.
"Um, Mal, there's something you should know," she began but Mal held up a hand to stop her.
"She told me," Mal assured the nervous woman. "And I don't have a problem with it. As a matter of fact my daughter is gay. And yes, I know that Regina's assessment of you is wholly bias but nevertheless, having a senior lawyer from Mills Associates give a glowing reference your behalf is far more than any of us here could hope to receive. I have complete faith that you will live up to her glowing recommendation."
Emma blushed and ducked her head meekly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mal smiled. "So, do you want to begin next week?"
Regina gasped and gripped the sheet beneath her palms. Her hips bucked forwards and she looked down her naked body to where a blonde head was bobbing between her legs. Letting her thighs fall open even further, she felt Emma's tongue glide over her clit. The younger woman smirked into Regina's sex as the body beneath her mouth and hands tensed and shuddered before focusing on her task. Or rather, her aim. To show Regina how grateful she was for everything the older woman had done for her.
She sucked the hardened bundle of nerves into her mouth as two fingers, slick with her own essence, slipped into Regina's tight channel. She curled them against the ridged front wall, causing Regina to cry out before thrusting back in, relishing the feel of hot velvet surrounding her fingers. She suckled once more, her tongue flickering over Regina's clit again as she pumped in and out. The brunette had already come twice and her body was wonderfully loose and pliant. Emma pushed her thighs wider, settling as close as she could and burying her face against Regina's core. She would never get close enough, she realised. But as she pumped and pumped, licked and licked, drinking down Regina's juices, Emma knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life trying.
Regina came with a soft cry, her hands fisted in Emma's hair as she trembled through her release. When the fingers relaxed against her scalp, Emma pulled away, her face and chin smeared with Regina's liquid. She crawled up the spent woman and lay beside her, trailing mindless patterns on the brunette's stomach and chest as she waited for those big brown eyes to open once more.
"You're incredible," Regina said at last.
"So are you," Emma countered. "You got me a job, remember? Me. Emma Swan. Convict. Beggar. Orphan. General loser."
Regina rolled onto her side, frowning at the words her girlfriend used to describe herself.
"You got yourself that job, Emma," Regina said. "I just told them the truth. And you, Emma Swan, are a beautiful, kind-hearted, intelligent, loving, and fiercely loyal woman whom I am honoured to have in my life."
"I don't believe you," Emma said quietly. "But keep saying those things and maybe one day I will."
"You'd better," Regina said, kissing Emma and sighing at the taste of herself on her tongue. "I love you."
"I love you too," Emma said, the words coming to her so easily and so naturally that it made her heart sing with joy.
Emma was sitting opposite Henry in the diner on Friday afternoon. They were, as always, waiting for Regina who was, as always, running late. The game of cards they had started an hour ago was beginning to bore Emma but since Henry was still entertained, she was willing to stick it out. Just as Henry triumphantly played an Ace, he glanced behind the blonde and his proud grin faltered. Emma turned too, wondering what Henry had seen to make him react in such a way.
The man standing there was barely recognisable. His beard was long and straggly, his hair falling unkempt into his eyes, one of which was swollen and surrounded by a large purple bruise. His clothes were filthy, the stench reaching Emma from several metres away. A small bag was slung on his back but the blonde could tell it didn't have much inside it. There were no shoes on his feet and his socks were peppered in holes. She stood up and made her way slowly towards him.
"August?"