A/N: I don't want to have too much going on at once in this fic but I did want to deal with the August stuff quickly and I also wanted to add some depth to Emma's new job. Hope you like this!
Emma sat curled up in the chair, watching the almost muted television and waiting. She had been waiting for most of the day, in fact, and Regina's deadline for when she had to leave the hospital and return to the penthouse was approaching. After all, Emma started her new job the following afternoon and she couldn't very well stay another night in the uncomfortable armchair. Just as she was considering writing a note to her friend, August finally stirred.
"Where am I?" he asked, opening his eyes slowly and looking around the unfamiliar hospital room.
"General Hospital," Emma said, turning her attention to her friend at once. "How are you feeling?"
"Awful," August croaked. "What happened?"
Emma hadn't expected her friend to remember the ordeal they had had when he was admitted. The emergency room had come to a standstill to watch as the man thrashed and yelled, shouting expletives and trying to get out of the restraints. But she still hoped the truth about how ill he had been would sink in.
"You had your stomach pumped," she said. "Severe alcohol poisoning. You … you nearly died."
August's reddened eyes widened and then narrowed as the bright light made his head hurt.
"You found me?" he asked. It was, after all, the only explanation as to firstly why he was in hospital and not dead, and secondly why Emma was there beside him.
"I did," Emma nodded. "I was coming to ask you to go to rehab, actually. But I suppose after this you've got no choice."
"After what?" August frowned.
Emma looked incredulous. Her friend surely didn't need it spelt out for him. From the look on his face however, he did.
"You nearly died, August," she said. "You drank so much your body physically began to shut down. You are literally poisoning yourself and if you carry on this way you will end up six feet under within a year. You need to get sorted out. You have to go to rehab and get clean."
"How?" August scoffed. "How the hell am I supposed to pay for rehab?"
"Does that mean you want to go?" Emma asked.
She had been expecting more of a fight but after a moment's pause, August simply sunk back into the pillows and closed his eyes, nodding his head.
"I've known for a long time I have a problem, Emma," he said. "I wanted to change my ways, I really did. But with the PTSD, alcohol was the only thing I could find which numbed the pain and the thoughts. I needed it. But I do want to get help. For the drinking and the PTSD. I just don't have the money."
"It's sorted," Emma said softly.
Regina, despite Emma's protests, had insisted she wanted to cover the cost of both August's medical bills and his rehabilitation treatment the night before when the two of them had met at the hospital. Emma, naturally, had claimed that she couldn't possibly do that but Regina's lawyer skills came into play and she put forward a very convincing argument. Eventually, Emma had relented and thanked her girlfriend for her generosity, promising to repay her as soon as she could. Which, realistically, was in the very, very distant future but neither of them felt the need to mention that. It was the thought that counted, after all.
"What do you mean, 'it's sorted'?" he frowned.
"It's taken care of," Emma repeated. "But there's one condition."
"Name it," August said, his body sagging with relief as the realisation that he might finally get the help he needed washed over him.
"I want you to promise me you're going to work each and every step of this programme and once you're clean, you're going to stay that way. This is a one time offer, understand?"
August nodded. "Yes, thank you, Emma."
"You're welcome," Emma said. "And now I've got to leave. I've got work tomorrow."
"The diner?" August asked.
Emma shook her head, realising the man probably thought she still worked there after he came looking for her and found her exactly where he had expected to. "No, different job. New, actually. Tomorrow's my first day."
"Good luck," he smiled.
"Thanks," Emma said. "The people from the rehab facility will be here in the morning at nine sharp. I'll be up to visit you in a few weeks."
She leaned down and placed a kiss to his forehead before walking out of the room. She felt lighter somehow as she headed down the corridor and towards the car park where she knew Graham would be waiting for her. That was an example of yet another argument Regina had won. But she had to admit it was rather nice to sink into the plush leather and be whisked back to the penthouse after the day she had had.
Henry was in bed by the time she got home and Regina was pouring over a case-file, chewing on the end of her pen. She looked up at once, however, when Emma entered the room.
"Well?" Regina asked.
"He's going," Emma said with a small smile as she collapsed onto the couch beside Regina and pulled the brunette into her arms. "He's going, Regina. He's going to get clean."
Regina nuzzled into Emma's neck and kissed the soft skin there, immensely relieved that both Emma and August had accepted her assistance. Although, of course, August didn't know who she was. She hoped she would meet him one day, however. There were very few people in Emma's life and Regina wasn't too keen on meeting Neal or Lily. She knew the introduction would have to wait until August was sober though.
"Well, you've certainly had an exciting weekend," Regina said, looking up into Emma's tired face. "Ready for your first shift at the youth centre?"
Emma didn't speak. She had been avoiding thinking about her new job all day. She knew she should be pleased, thrilled even, to have been offered a job with a real purpose and doing things which were actually interesting and fun. But the weight of responsibility settled heavily upon her. She knew she could look after kids. Growing up in foster care meant she had more younger brother and sisters than she could count. But being a good role model? How exactly was she supposed to do that? It's not like she ever had one, nor was she one. What if, instead of turning these kids onto the right path, she steered them off the deep end?
"You're going to be amazing," Regina soothed, reading Emma's self-doubt all over her face.
"How do you know?" Emma asked, turning to her girlfriend with worried eyes.
"Because I've seen how you are with Henry and you're amazing. And because you're inspiring, Emma. You've been through so much and yet you still fight so hard to get more out of life. You want to have a better life and you are determined to get one. Which is how I know you'll succeed and also what I know you'll teach these youngsters. They're lucky to have you, Emma, honestly."
"Maybe," Emma shrugged. "I just want to get tomorrow over and done with to be honest. I hate first days."
"Me too," Regina agreed. "But I'm confident yours will go smoothly."
And it did. Right from the start. Emma was on time and the other members of staff greeted her warmly. As well as Mal and Ursula, she also met a young man named Will who had been inside for robbery, Belle, who was arrested for graffiti one too many times and did a stint up-state, and Archie, who had committed fraud whilst practicing as a psychiatrist. The latter lent his therapy knowledge to the children now, after being struck off the register. Will was in charge of most of the sports activities and Belle ran the reading and homework clubs. All of them welcomed Emma and made her feel instantly at home.
The only difficulty Emma encountered was when the children started to arrive. She felt immensely awkward around them, despite being used to youths. A few of them said hello but most ignored her presence entirely, heading instead to Belle's book corner or out to the back yard to play basketball with Will. Emma tried to make herself useful and sat down to read with some of the children but they seemed reluctant to read out loud to a stranger. Despondent, Emma wandered outside and leaned against the wall, watching the basketball game. She considered joining in but the teams were already decided and she lacked the confidence to just jump onto the court anyway.
As she watched, she became aware of a presence behind her. Turning, she saw a boy of about eleven standing nearby. His long blonde hair hung over his eyes and his face was thin and bony.
"Hello," Emma said, smiling at him. "I'm Emma. What's your name?"
There was a pause before the boy answered. "Felix."
"It's nice to meet you, Felix," Emma said. "Do you want to join in the basketball match?"
Felix shook his head. Emma glanced around but there were no other children outside who weren't playing and the young boy didn't seem to be with anyone.
"Ok, do you want to read?" Emma asked, sensing that the child was at a loss for what to do.
Again, Felix declined.
"What do you usually do here?" she said, leaving the question more open so he would have a chance to answer.
He shrugged. Emma glanced around to see if there was anything she could do with the child. She got the feeling he didn't have many friends in the youth group nor got much attention at home. His whole demeanour screamed foster kid to her. Or perhaps she was just sceptical.
"How about we go inside and check out the board games?" Emma suggested.
Felix shrugged indecisively but followed Emma back into the building. Belle watched with interest as Emma and Felix sat down together at a little table and the former began to point out a range of board games they could play. They settled on a pack of cards, not least because it was Emma's preferred form of gaming and the boy had shown no interest in any of the other options. Few words were spoken between then, just a brief explanation of each game's rules. Emma watched Felix curiously. He kept his eyes averted from hers, darting anxiously around the room and often looking over his shoulder. It seemed as if he wasn't focusing much on the games but he did manage to beat Emma on several occasions.
After an hour, Ursula announced that there were some snacks in the small kitchen area and Felix wandered off to get some food. As Emma was tidying up, Belle came over to her.
"Hey, how was Felix today?" she asked.
"Well I don't have anything to compare to but quiet and lacking in confidence," Emma said. "Why? Is there anything I should know about him?"
She had been briefed on all the regular children who had allergies, illnesses, physical disabilities, or mental health issues when she arrived but she knew Felix's name hadn't come up.
"His older brother was arrested last week and is in prison awaiting trial," Belle replied. "They were pretty close and we were wondering how he took it but he hasn't said a word to any of us."
"He didn't mention it to me," Emma said. "What did his brother do?"
"Got involved with a gang," Belle replied. "Actually, he started a gang. We were all worried Felix was going to go the same way so I guess it's a relief Peter is inside for a while. He's been in trouble so often before but he turned eighteen last week and is being tried as an adult for an armed robbery. He won't see the light of day again for years."
Emma glanced towards the kitchen where she could see Felix nibbling on a biscuit and not talking to any of the other children.
"Poor kid," Emma said. "Is there anyone else in the family?"
"An older sister but she's steered clear of Peter and his problems. Wendy, I think. She hasn't come here for years now though. Peter used to come and collect Felix every night after the youth centre closed but now his foster father does it. Weird man, incidentally."
With Emma's suspicions about Felix being a foster kid confirmed, she felt her curiosity piqued to find out more about his family. As she was about to ask a question however, she noted the boy moving tentatively back towards her.
"Hey, Felix. Do you want to play some more?"
He nodded and resumed his seat. Belle regarded the pair with interest for a moment before heading over to where Ursula was standing and beginning to organise a group activity for the children who had previously been playing basketball.
"How was work?"
Emma wasn't even out of her coat when Regina appeared in the hallway, eager to ask her girlfriend the question she had been wondering all evening. Emma rolled her eyes at the woman's impatience and then smiled.
"Good, I think," Emma said. "The kids all seemed great and one in particular interacted with me positively. Well, apparently it was positive for him. He's usually very quiet."
"But he spoke to you?" Regina asked, beckoning for Emma to follow her into the kitchen where she removed a plate of warmed food from the oven and placed it in front of the blonde.
"Thanks. And not really," Emma said. "But we played games and sat together for most of the time. He even let me help him with some homework which Ursula says is uncommon."
"See, I told you this job would be great and you'd be fantastic at it," Regina said, beaming at the blonde.
Emma smiled back. She supposed it had gone better than she had expected. At least, Mal hadn't fired her and she hadn't gotten a call from Tina Bell saying as much either.
"How was Henry this evening?" Emma asked as she tucked into her food.
"He asked about you constantly," Regina replied. "He kept going on and on about how books were boring now he had Emma stories and refused to have a bath until I told him an original Marlo adventure. Which I did but he said it wasn't as good as yours."
"Sorry," Emma chuckled. "Although, you do realise he has you wrapped around his little finger, right?"
Regina nodded. She did know that. Henry was spoilt rotten and she was entirely aware of that fact. But she had never managed to deny him anything. It felt wrong somehow. She couldn't say no to the boy whose birth mother abandoned him and then who lost one of his adoptive mothers so early on. Life had been unfair to her son and since Regina was in a position, financially at least, to give him everything, she did. But she was aware that if she wasn't careful he might turn into a bit of a brat. Clearly this was something Emma also hoped they would avoid. Regina's heart skipped a beat when she realised she had thought about the two of them as a parental unit for a moment.
She snapped herself back to the present but Emma hadn't noticed Regina's little daydream as she was steadily eating her way through the large plate of food. They chatted as she ate and then moved through to the living room to watch some television.
"Oh, I got a call from the rehab clinic," Regina said after a while. "August arrived safely and we, I mean, you, can go and see him next weekend."
"Thanks," Emma said. "I was wondering whether he would actually make it there or if he'd disappear on us again."
Regina shook her head. "He made it," she said. "It seems that he knows he has to face his demons rather than run away from them."
Emma narrowed her eyes slightly. "Subtle."
"What?"
"I know what you're doing," Emma said. "You still want me to go to the police about Killian, don't you?" Regina hesitated and then nodded. "It's not going to happen, Regina. I'm not running away from a demon either. I'm choosing not to take on an impossible battle and instead I'm moving on with my life, ok?"
"But what if August could give evidence?" Regina suggested.
"Well since he's now a recovering alcoholic, I guess what little credibility he had as a fellow tramp is now shot to pieces. And as I told you, he wasn't there … that night."
Regina opened her mouth to speak but a glare from Emma made her snap it shut again. Clearly the blonde did not want to have this conversation and Regina didn't want to push her. But that didn't mean the thoughts didn't plague her night after night. She wanted justice for the blonde. She wanted Killian Jones to pay. When she had seen David that afternoon, the man had asked about Emma once again. He had even mentioned Killian, saying that Cap was wondering how her search for a new parole officer was going. Regina was sure Killian had recognised Emma that day in his office. After all, as she found out, those green eyes were startlingly difficult to forget. Yes, Regina was certain Killian knew exactly who Emma was and also that she knew, in the biblical sense, Regina. The question was, how would she be able to gather evidence against him?
As Emma sat beside her on the couch, gaze fixed on the television, Regina's mind worked desperately to come up with a plan.
The rest of Emma's work week flew by and she returned to the penthouse on Wednesday evening drained but happy. That afternoon, Felix had offered her some potato chips and they had sat together, in silence, watching some of the other children playing ping pong on an old table someone had donated to the youth centre. As Emma toed off her shoes in the hallway and hung up her coat, she became aware of an unfamiliar voice from the kitchen.
"It's only once a year, Regina, and I expect you to attend this time."
Emma frowned at the harsh, snobby tone and made her way into the apartment until she rounded the corner and froze. Even thought she had never met her, she knew exactly who was standing with her back to Emma in the kitchen. Regina's eyes softened at the sight of the blonde and, noticing this, Cora Mills turned around. Her own brown eyes, by contrast, were cold.
"Is this her?" she asked, beckoning Emma further into the room. "This is the woman you met on the streets?"
Regina ignored her mother and stepped over to kiss Emma hello. The blonde was too unsure of what was happening to kiss her back but she relaxed somewhat as Regina's arm slipped around her waist.
"Mother, this is my girlfriend, Emma Swan. Emma, meet my mother, Cora Mills."
"Pleasure to meet you," Emma said, extending a hand for Cora to shake.
The older woman took it, her grip vice-like, and then wiped her palm on her Chanel suit as if she thought Emma's hand might have left some dirt there.
"Likewise," Cora said. "I've heard very little about you and I've been eager to find out who's been causing my daughter's work to slack."
Emma turned, wide-eyed, to Regina who shook her head.
"Mother don't exaggerate," Regina said, pointing Emma to the oven where her food was and resuming her seat on the bar stool. "Emma has nothing to do with the fact that Gold and Locksley don't want to merger with us. It's more Robin's penis that's the problem."
There was a clatter as the plate Emma was holding slipped from her hand. She swore quietly and muttered her apologies as she quickly began to clean her spoiled dinner from the floor.
"It's fine," she assured Regina who began to make her way to the fridge to prepare some food. "I wasn't that hungry anyway. I'll just have some fruit."
Cora watched the exchange with distain and then turned her attention back to her daughter. "Anyway, Regina, I expect you to attend this party regardless of your personal situation. In fact, this year you can have Miss Swan watch Henry so your excuse from the last few years are invalid."
"If I'm going at all, Mother, it will be with Emma by my side," Regina snapped back.
Emma, who had no idea what they were talking about, stayed silent as she began to mop the floor to stop the tomato sauce from staining the pale marble.
"You … you want to bring her? To the ball?"
"Yes," Regina said. "Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
She didn't need to ask the question or hear the answer. Regina knew her mother certainly did have a problem with her bringing Emma to such a prestigious legal gathering. The annual charity ball, held by several law offices, was not a place people like Emma Swan would usually be found. But it wasn't exactly Regina's scene either so if she had to endure it, the only way she would was with her lover proudly on her arm.
Cora looked between her daughter and the blonde who was now kneeling on the floor, scrubbing furiously. Her daughter was stubborn, that Cora knew. And if she wanted her presence at the ball, perhaps this was a sacrifice she was going to have to make.
"Take her shopping first," she said at last. "And for heaven's sake don't tell anyone she used to be a beggar."
Emma's movement froze. Regina winced at the sound of the word coming from her mother's mouth but nodded her agreement, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Right, well I'll see you on Monday I suppose. Kathryn said she has almost finished the preparation for the Flynn/Redford merger so she'll be presenting that. And I expect an update from you on the Smith and Cunningham case."
Regina nodded but didn't say anything, not trusting the anger inside her to spill over. Instead, she followed her mother, who didn't even say goodbye to Emma, to the door and helped her with her coat. Once the heavy wood had swung shut behind her, she let out a shuddering breath, her hands balled into fists.
"So," Emma said when Regina walked back into the kitchen moments later, "that was your mother.'
"Yup," Regina nodded. "That was Cora Mills."
Emma quirked her mouth to one side as if she was thinking and then picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and took a bite. She chewed for a while and then asked:
"What ball are you dragging me to?"
"You don't have to come," Regina said at once. "Honestly, I've not attended one since before Henry was born. I'm sorry, I just … wanted to piss her off."
"Using me?" Emma asked, a little hurt.
"No, no," Regina assured, rushing to Emma and kissing her quickly. "No, I would love to go with you. I'd be honoured, even. But the fact that I'll be bringing a woman will have annoyed her. She seemed to think that after Dani, whom she never accepted either, I'd forget I was gay and start dating men. She's still waiting for that to happen I think."
"So you're taking me because I'm a woman?" Emma frowned.
"No," Regina said. "I'm taking you because I love you and I want to go with you. That is, if you want to go because I'd be more than happy to make up an excuse."
"What even is this thing?" Emma said.
"A charity ball," Regina explained. "An annual event where all the lawyers in New York meet and pretend they're doing something good by giving away a tiny percentage of their earnings all the while trying to form beneficial relationships between firms. Dull and stuffy and insanely pretentious. But as my mother's daughter, I'm supposed to go. After four years of avoidance, I think this one will be hard to wriggle out of."
"Then let's not wriggle," Emma suggested. "Well, unless it's on the dance floor and your mother's watching."