Sorry guys for the late update. I have been busy with works and didn't get enough time to write. Hopefully I will get time soon.
It was a pleasant Sunday morning. Em woke up disoriented and that's when he realized that last night he ended up sleeping in the living room. He looked up to see Regina asleep on the couch. They talked last night. After everything happened, both of them couldnt come up with anything to start. Finally they decided that , they will first understand each other before taking any step further. Both agreed that they want this relationship to work not only for them but also for their family. Lost in thoughts Em didnt notice Regina waking up.
"Good morning" Regina said sleepily as she looked over to her husband.
"Good morning. I hope you slept well." Em replied with a small smile.
"This isnt the best place to sleep. My whole body is paining " Regina winced as she tried to stretch her limps.
"Ha..ha..may be a cup of coffee would help. I will make one for you " Em replied and walked to the kitchen.
"That would be nice. Did you sleep on the floor?" Regina asked when she saw Em get up from the carpet on the floor.
"Yea. Your carpet is soft. Nice choice by the way." Em simply replied as he started the coffee maker.
"You say it like it was comfortable. You could have hurt your back sleeping on the cold floor. " Regina pointed out.
"Chill Regina, its not that bad. I have slept in worse places. " Em shrugged.
For a moment Regina wondered what that actually meant. She decided to ask. "Worst places ? and what would that be ?" she hoped she didnt cross any lines.
"Your father didn't mention much about me did he?" Em asked still smiling.
"Mention what?" Regina asked clearly confused.
"Dont worry am not a serial killer or anything. But I did go through some serious stuff as a kid" Em replied.
"I do not believe you are a serial killer, otherwise you wouldnt be in the force. Now what do you mean by serious stuff? Remember we said we will get to know each other. Today is the day to start. " Regina was curious.
"Alright, here have this coffee while I tell you my story" Em made Regina sit on the table while he poured himself a cup of coffee. Regina sat down eagerly waiting for Em's story.
"Well you may know that my parents had me when they were teenagers. My grandfather said it was their "mistake" as they were only 17. They both were high school sweethearts. When I was born , they couldn't support me, so they decided to give me up for adoption" Em felt his heart beat faster as he remembered the horrors of the system.
"Yeah I know bits and pieces. Daddy said that you were adopted back to your family when you were ten" Regina replied softly. She felt bad for him.
"Yeah, in between those years. I switched several homes, different types of people. Some places treats foster kids like slaves. One meal a day, then you have to sleep with smelly boys and share one blanket." Em looked down at the cup of coffee and remembered the days as everyone called him a freak and made him do things he never wanted to. Regina understood that it is hard for him to remember those days.
"Hey, those days are over. You are here now and you have a loving family" Regina said.
"Ha...ha...seriously. Dont be fooled by what you see Regina. My family is not charming as you think." Em chuckled as he replied." Drink your coffee before it gets cold. I will go freshen up" He left the kitchen without much explanation. Regina was once again bewildered by the revelation. Every family has their complications but Em's sounded like there is more to the way they presented.
Regina walked into the bedroom in time to see Em trying to find his t shirt from the pile of clothes in the dresser. He still hasn't arranged his stuff around the house. Regina saw his back and was shocked to see so many scars. She wondered what made these many scars. She knew he was muscular but didn't expect to see his abs this soon as he turned around.Em had more lean physique and Regina liked it. Much to Regina's dismay Em pulled down a 90's t shirt. Regina shook the image of a ripped Em from her mind.
"You could find your stuff more easily if it was organized, you know !" Regina chuckled looking at Em.
"Yeah I need to arrange them." Em sighed.
"Why don't we start today? We both are free and I could help you as well." Regina asked excited.
Em thought for a moment and he smiled as he saw how excited Regina looked.
"Okay, fine we will do it today "
Regina quickly got to work. She loved organizing. Her father always teased her for having OCD about everything. It's not crime to want everything clean.
Regina already had everything planned out within the short amount of time as she instructed Em. She made him do the heavy lifting while she secretly looked in the boxes Em owned.
"You haven't opened your gift?" Regina asked curiously as she held up a neatly packed gift box.
"Is there a name on it ?" Em asked while placing the last box of his stuff on the living room floor.
Regina inspected the box "August Booth, can I open it ? " Regina asked almost opening it when Em jumped in.
"No don't open it " He tried to get the box out of Regina's hands but she was quick to hide it behind her.
"Why not ? Is it a bomb? and who is August Booth ?" Regina quickly dropped the box as soon as she asked.
"Ha..ha..no it's not a bomb. August is my brother and I know him very well enough to not let you open the gift. He always gifts me something to embarrass." Em replied and picked up the box.
"You have another brother ?" Regina asked surprised.
"August is not my real brother, but he is really close to me." Em replied as he held the gift box closer to his heart. It felt to Regina like he missed August very much.
"Was he at the wedding ?" Regina asked trying to remember if she saw someone like that at the wedding. But ofcourse even if she did she wasn't interested in meeting anyone at that time.
"No, he is in Afghanistan with the military." Em replied sadly.
"Oh, sorry about that. Aren't you going to open it ?"
"Ha..ha.. not when you are around" Em chuckled.
"That's not fair. I want to know what it is." Regina lunged forward and snatched the gift from Em. Before he could react Regina ripped the wrapper apart.
"Flashlight...your brother sent you a flashlight" Regina asked looking at the label on the box. It was a pretty big black box. There wasn't any pictures on the box. Em quickly grabbed the box from Regina.
"Hey I was going to open it. Why would your brother sent you a flashlight?" Regina asked curiously.
"Huh...it's not that kind of flashlight" Em replied his face turned red from the embarrassment. He hoped Regina understood what he meant.
"I don't understand."Regina replied wondering what other kinds of flashlights are there in the world.
"Hey why don't we start with clothes, while I set my gym stuff in the attic" Em hurriedly placed the box among the pile of his gym accessories.
"How many boxes of gym accessories do you have ? There is little clothes and more shoes." Regina asked while rummaging through the remaining boxes.
"I like to workout. Besides theresnt any gym here where I could workout properly" Em shrugged
"Oh, well we do have a basement.You can set up a gym there." Regina suggested
" That's a brilliant idea.I will place these boxes in the basement." Em replied and went down to the basement to arrange things.
Regina neatly folded her husband's clothes and finished organizing his side of the closet. She noticed Em like vintage. Most of his t shirts were 90s. Em likes things mostly plaid. He owned boots, many of them. Most of them looked like biker boots. He loves leather jacket and he has sweatshirts of almost all sports teams. Regina also noticed that he is collector. She saw several vintage posters and collectibles in some of the boxes she unpacked. He even had bottle caps from 90s famous drinks. Even though she didn't like the choice of formal clothing Em owned, she decided not to question it. May be later on she can persuade him to getting more lighter shades than just black and blue.
The day went by as both exhausted from organizing around the house. It was a new experience for both. Em always felt foreign but it resembles his personality too. It felt like this was quite a big step for them. Even though it was just a house, this will be a place they will share most of their time. This effort had created acceptance on both sides which will reflect in their relationship.
It was Em's idea to eat out. This is the first official lunch they will be having together publicly as a couple. They decided to walk to the diner. Regina being the mayor of the town had huge respect, people were just noticing Em as he is pretty new to the town. Em noticed how everyone showed their respect to his wife and how professionally Regina handled it all. He realised that he loves this part of Regina- a self driven woman.
Entire diner had eyes on the couple from the moment they took seats. Em never had a diet and he always ate too much food, today was no different. Regina mentally made a note to make sure to get Em a healthy diet before he clotted his artery with fat. The grilled cheese burger and loaded fries weren't doing him any good. Regina didn't say anything as she ate her salad. Em teased about her being picky. Belle kept her distance as she knew madam mayor wouldn't be happy if she talk to her husband in front of her.