Sorry for the delay, happy reading.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Address unknown...Upper Manhattan, New York...[Saturday, January 24th ...4:58 pm]
Emma Swan rolled her shoulders as she stood from her seat, popping her joints with a satisfied sigh. She had been waiting in the lobby for well over two hours now and she was starting to get anxious and annoyed. Anxious because she didn't know what was going on with Henry and Regina had yet to come back down to inform her of anything, and annoyed because Ruby was blowing up her personal phone to the point of running down the damn battery.
The executive pulled out a half eaten Snickers bar from her pocket and polished it off to calm her nerves, but she shouldn't be nervous because this doctor was the absolute best...despite being banned from every medical facility from New York to Texas. Dr. Whale was a wizard who knew no bounds but Emma was certain he knew better than to mess with Emma or any guest she brought by to his private practice. Dr. Victor F. Whale legally owned a five story building that was decked out with the latest medical equipment, though his main income was treating injured sorcerers and sorceresses—very few humans crossed his path, and if they did they were under the strict protection of someone with great authority such as now.
Emma was leaning against the humming vending machine, looking out of the small window watching as people milled about, completely oblivious to everything around them. She often wondered what it would it would be like to be so oblivious to the normal things around her. Normal to her...strange to them.
The soft ding of the elevator caught Emma's attention and she turned around quickly, expecting to see Regina and Henry but it was only Dr. Whale. The bottle blonde man smiled at her, "Santa."
"Doctor." Emma greeted with a polite smile, "How are they?"
Dr. Whale's smile waned, "Mayor Mills isn't taking this so well, they will both be down momentarily."
"Alright but what about Henry? How is he? What the hell happened to him?"
"He's freaked out but he's calm." Dr. whale held up his hand before Emma could fire off more questions, "The boy is suffering from Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)...unfortunately there is nothing I can possibly do to help him. It's a life long effect."
"What about hearing aids or some kind of implant? You can't do anything?"
Dr. Whale shook his head solemnly, the same expression he used when Regina asked him the exact same thing ten minutes prior, "I'm afraid that won't help...this type of case is quite common but it's rare that some sort treatment is not needed. It's unfortunate but fortunately he won't need a speech therapist. Maybe a volume therapist." Whale laughed but the dull joke fell on unamused ears. "Ahem, sorry. As I've told Mayor Mills, sign language is usually the common route victims of SSHL take when hearing aids and cochlear implants aren't an option."
"You didn't call Henry a victim did you?"
"No." He was lying, but Emma had more things to worry about than Whale's lack of empathy.
"What do I owe you for this...'favor'?"
"I'm taking a vacation in a couple of months back to the station to recharge...I want free access to your vault for an item of my choosing."
Emma thought long and hard about that deal—she's been around for a well over a millennium, Whale could be in her catacomb for days. With a long drawn out breath, Emma nodded in agreement. "Fine, but you only get a day in there with an escort and one item."
Dr. Whale chuckled, "There's only one thing in there I want, just a matter of finding it."
Emma started to ask him what he wanted but the elevator dinged right before the doors opened revealing the Mayor of New York carrying her slumbering son. It was obvious that Regina had been crying and Emma's heart went out to the woman and for Henry. Mother nature delivered the worst birthday present to the kindest little boy Emma's ever met. Dr. Whale quietly excused himself as Emma gathered Regina's coat and draped it over the brunette's shoulders.
Both women were quiet as Emma steered her massive SUV back to Brooklyn but the traffic on Grand Central Parkway was proving to turn a forty minute drive into something hellish. Regina was thankful that Emma valued her privacy and had tinted windows, she wasn't sure if she could deal with the paparazzi especially in slow moving traffic. She was sure headlines would soar if she was spotted with Emma Swan the city's controversial financial adviser outside of the office in casual clothing with her son sleeping peacefully in the backseat.
Regina sighed, exhausted. "You should have taken I-278. We could have avoided this mess."
Though Regina's words were chastising her tone lacked the bite and Emma looked over at brunette with a contrite smile, "I know, I'm sorry. If I had magic, I'd just poof us back to Brooklyn."
"There's no such thing as magic and even if it were, I doubt transportation would be called poofing dear." Regina scoffed and reclined her seat a bit, and Emma had to do a double take—she's never seen Regina this relaxed in the short amount of time she's known the woman, the blonde just chalked it up to exhaustion. Emma offered no further comment and focused on driving, choosing to allow the woman to sleep—or so she thought. "I suppose Dr. bottle blonde told you that Henry has to learn sign language." it wasn't a question.
"Yeah he did...and I guess by extension, you need to learn it too."
Another heavy sigh from the Mayor, "As if I'm not stressed enough."
"Well..." Emma shifted in her seat, turning down the A/C so Henry wouldn't freeze to death in the backseat, "Believe it or not Regina but I know American sign language... I can teach you both if you'd like? I mean you don't have to say yes or anything but I think it would be easier for him to learn with someone he already knows and trusts."
Regina opened one eye, "You think Henry trusts you?"
Emma smiled softly, "I'd like to think so...I was invited to his birthday party. I can teach you both together and I can teach you whenever he isn't around so you could practice together."
Regina turned her head to look out the window, her mind wondering. Emma never ceased to amaze her with her never ending uncanny knowledge and thoughtfulness. "I would have never guessed you knew sign language."
"I'm the CEO of the largest international stock company in existence Regina, I have to at least be coherent in different languages...including sign language. I gotta warn you now...it's a pain in the ass to learn but the knowledge of a language that beautiful is worth the arthritis."
Regina rolled her eyes, "Tell me something Ms. Swan...why are you so kind to my son and I? We haven't done you any favors so why are you constantly—"
"Because I'm a nice person Regina." Emma interrupted, shrugging nonchalantly, "Nice people do nice things for other nice people...even when they act like they're the Evil Queen. And before you even think about asking...you don't owe me anything."
"I do Emma, I do. You may be infuriating at times but you helped me and my son when I couldn't. I owe you more than you think but I insist you let me cook you dinner one night."
"Well if you insist." Emma smirked playfully, she would admit that Regina's cooking was better than Johanna's by far (not that she would tell Johanna that) and a free meal from the Mills household was a meal she would not pass up for anything. "Now get some rest, we're going to be stuck in this mess for a while. You can figure everything out later."
"Thank you Emma." expressing genuine gratitude was strange for Regina as she often did not find herself in the position of offering such a treasure. But Emma was genuinely helping her and Henry and Regina couldn't bring it in herself to slight the blonde even in jest—at least not in this very moment.
"What are friends for Regina."
Friends. Regina couldn't remember the last time she's ever called anyone a friend—all of her so called friends had betrayed her one way or another. She was aware that she was not an easy woman to love or to just deal with but...Emma made it look so easy, Emma made Regina feel—even for a moment—that maybe it wasn't her that ran her friends off...that maybe they were just shitty people to begin with and were only her friends to gain social favor. Regina smiled tightly and closed her eyes, she would cherish having a friend in Emma Swan but she couldn't help but wait for the other shoe to drop—it was never far behind.
Emma got comfortable in her own seat and turned on the radio, making sure it wasn't too loud to wake up the two brunette's. Had Emma been paying more attention, she would have noticed a high definition camera lens poking out of a car just ahead a few lanes over.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Mayor Mills Manor...2108 Mifflin Ave, Brooklyn, New York...[6:49 pm]
Emma was a little surprised to see Robin at the gate considering she hasn't seen him lately and there was another, unknown security guard manning the gate earlier. Emma assumed that Regina fired him, but clearly she was wrong. Emma rolled down the window when he stepped out of the small security booth.
"The Wall Street Leech, what are you doing here?"
Emma scratched her chin,smiling at him sweetly. "Just open the gate Sasquatch."
Robin frowned, "The Mayor isn't home Boss Hog, sorry you wasted your precious time driving here. Do you even pay for your own gas? Or do you own every gas station in New York? I'm"
Emma grinned but she was not amused, she was used to people judging her status and making assumptions about everything she did—but it didn't mean she'd take it sitting down, especially from Robin Lochlyn. "Aren't you late to some Hunger Games convention or something? Open the goddamn gate."
Robin crossed his arms across his broad chest, "I don't care who you think you are Leech, you're not on the Mayors guest list so you're not going in."
"Enough! Both of you." Regina's raspy but firm voice cut through the darkness of the SUV and Emma could tell Robin was startled to hear his boss. "Mr. Lochlyn I am sincerely disappointed in you and we will have a little chat Monday morning. Now open the gate, and be sure to put Ms. Swan's name on the permanent party list. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Madam Mayor." Robin's tone was polite but his cold gaze still lingered on the smug CEO. He went back into his security booth mumbling under his breath and opened the gate. Emma rolled up her window and crept along the drive way until she was parked directly in front the Mayor's front door.
Emma turned the truck off but neither of them said a word, Emma wasn't sure if there was anything she should be saying so she opted to just wait for Regina to gather her own thoughts—she didn't have to wait long. "While I greatly appreciate everything you have done today Ms. Swan, I trust you understand the sensitivity of this situation correct?"
"Yep."
Regina's eyes narrowed and Emma could feel the heat of them even though she couldn't see them that well. "I don't care what the press says about me, but I will not have my son become some kind of spectacle in the press to get to me!"
Without thinking, Emma reached over and placed her hand on top of the brunette's—selectively ignoring the immediate tension, "Regina...I understand, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. If the press catches wind of his situation, I promise you it won't be from me but...you have to be realistic here. He's going to be signing soon, and so are you. They're going to catch on sooner or later."
Regina sighed and let her head fall back on the head rest, "I know that, but I just want time for Henry to adjust to this before it becomes a headline. I need time to adjust."
"I know." Emma patted Regina's hand comfortingly before removing it, not wishing to make her uncomfortable. "But we're friends now right? I mean...I can help you and Henry. This isn't going to stay a secret for long Regina, Henry goes to school remember and—"
"Don't you think I know all of this?!" Regina snapped, running both hands through her hair, "I don't need you to remind me of that Ms. Swan, I am the Mayor of this damn city."
Emma held up both her hands in a placating manner, "Okay okay...chill. I was just saying...look...this is gonna be just as hard on him as it will you."
"Oh god." Regina's voice cracked as she tried to keep her tears at bay but they were falling anyway and Emma willed herself not to panic. "Ever since he could talk he'd always ask if I heard it...he'd say 'mommy did you hear?'...I never knew what he was talking but now—" Regina shook her head and looked at Emma, "I'm responsible for this. I should have been paying more attention to what he was saying and now he's going to suffer for my ignorance!"
Emma leaned over the console and pulled the Mayor into an awkward but tight hug, a hug that was slowly returned but just as tight. Emma rubbed the Mayor's back, "Regina...this not your fault, but Henry is going to need you to be his rock now more than ever—and if you'd allow it, I'd like to be in the kids corner too."
Regina nodded against Emma's shoulder but she made no move to let go and Emma was willing to hold Regina forever if she could. "I think he'd like that Ms. Swan."
"And what about you? Would you like that too Madam Mayor?"
"I wouldn't have a choice." Regina responded sarcastically as she pulled back though she was close enough now, and Emma could see the mirth swimming in those beautiful brown eyes. They were inches apart from each other, just staring into each others eyes. Regina finally offered a soft smile, "I'd like that very much Ms. Swan."
"Emma, Regina. My name is Emma, we're friends now. Would it kill you to stop calling me Ms. Swan? It's annoying as hell."
Regina winked, "I know dear." the brunette pulled herself completely out of Emma's embrace but her touch lingered a while longer before completely disappearing but Emma was sure that was just her imagination. She followed Regina out of her vehicle and walked the Mayor to the door, amazed that Henry was still asleep after all this time. Emma shoved her hands into the pockets of her trench coat trying not to look as awkward as she felt, "I guess I'll be seeing you later I guess."
Regina nodded, puffy eyes and red nose more obvious under the dim porch light. "Yes dear, and try not to be late Thursday for dinner or I won't let you in."
"I'll bring flowers and bourbon." Emma joked, kind of. Regina looked like she had something to say yet thought against it, but Emma had already caught the look. "What is it?"
Regina cleared her throat, shifting Henry's weight in her arms staring down at the executive from the top of the porch steps, "Thank you."
"You've thanked me plenty of times Regina, but as I've said time and time again...this is what friends do." Emma knew that wasn't what Regina wanted to say originally but she wasn't going to push.
"Thank you for being the only friend I've ever had in my life that doesn't want to take something from me."
Emma blinked, "Oh."
"Goodnight Ms. Swan."
"Goodnight Regina. Is it okay if I call tomorrow to um, check on you guys? Is that okay?"
Regina nodded briefly, "Yes dear, that is perfectly acceptable."
"Awesome...um...well, bye Regina." before she could further make their goodbye any more awkward in her own mind, she turned and all but ran back to her truck. Emma felt like she was on cloud nine as she left the Mills property and yet—she still didn't take notice of the man squatting in the bushes documenting it all after sneaking past the open gate that was carelessly left open.
On the drive home, Emma mentally and physically steeled herself to face the irate wolf that was no doubt anxiously waiting for her return—but even Ruby's unpleasant attitude wouldn't be able to deter Emma's good mood.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
So, we're finally getting somewhere with SwanQueen...I kinda liked sensitive...vulnerable Regina, and I think Emma is making some real progress don't you think? Henry's issue has been revealed, not as bad as some thought it was going to be but it's not exactly a trip to candyland either...but the kid will be okay, he has a great support system. Santa and his mom. :D
Shit is about to hit the fan in the next chapter with that paparazzi stalking them. oooo.
Well I hope you guys liked this hallmark ass chapter, lol. I admit I enjoyed writing it. Bye for now...
Monster