"Hey, when are you guys going on a date?" Katherine asked Regina while having lunch at the office.
Regina had already detailed the situation to Katherine. Even though Em and Regina agreed to move forward , both were pretty laid back about making things official. Regina was expecting Em to say something and Em was giving Regina space to recover from Daniel's come back.
"Don't know. I mean we haven't talked about that." Regina replied as she twirled with her salad.
"What were you guys doing all these times? Don't tell me you are going to jump straight to bed with your so called handsome "husband" "Katherine chuckled as she teased Regina.
"I am not that desperate" Regina replied feeling offensive but deep down she didn't ignore the fact it may happen.
"Yea...yea.. if you say so. I saw the way you guys eyeing each other when he came to drop you off. By the way why did he drop you off and that too in the Sheriff's truck ?" Katherine wiggled her eyebrows making Regina squirm even more.
"Well, my car broke down. So he gave me a lift" Regina cleared her throat to make a point, which of course Katherine wasn't buying.
"You are lying." Katherine squinted her eyes at Regina.
"No I am not" Regina once again failed to look at Katherine in the eye.
"Yes you are. I know you take care of your car like a baby. I don't believe it broke all of a sudden." there is no escape from her best friend Regina thought.
"May be" Regina mumbled as she sipped her ice tea.
"Huh...I knew it." Katherine pumped her hands in the air in victory and laughed.
"Okay, you won. It was just that..." Regina stopped mid sentence, her face blushed.
"It was what?" Katherine teased
"He was standing out in his uniform and I saw the truck on the driveway. I couldn't resist." Regina admitted shyly
"Your husband or the truck" Katherine asked faking innocence. She very well knew the answer to the question.
"Both." Katherine raised her eyebrow daring Regina to lie again. "Fine, him okay. I couldn't resist my husband in his perfectly fitting uniform and that damn truck" Regina folded her hands over her chest huffing.
"You are a badge bunny" Katherine stated as she dodged and ran from the empty cup thrown her way by Regina.
Em was having a bad day. He broke his hand trying to help a cat on the roof. A quick trip to the clinic and his hand had fracture. With the new cast around his right hand it was difficult to finish his paperworks. Graham being the nice friend helped him with it.
"Aren't you going to call your wife ?" Graham asked pointing at the broken hand.
"Its just a small fracture." Em replied even though the thought crossed his mind several times while at the doctors office. He didn't understand why he felt the need to inform her. He had been injured at work many times. But this time he is married. He sighed and took his phone. Its better to tell her himself than anyone else informing her.
Regina picked up the phone quickly when she saw Em's name on the screen.
"Hello." Her heart beat faster and she felt like she was at lose of words.
"Wow, that was quick" Em replied chuckling.
Regina mentally facepalmed,"Uhh..yeah I had the phone in my hand." She tried to reason.
"Hey, its okay. Just called in to check if you had lunch"
"Yeah, just finished. Did you had lunch?"
" .. listen I kind of broke my arm today at work. Its nothing just a small fracture. I wanted you to know." Em said as calmly as possible.
"Oh god! are you okay? Do you want me to come over? What happened?" Regina quickly switched to care mode which she didn't knew she even had. But something about Em getting hurt made her all protective.
"Hey, relax. Its just a small accident. I am fine and you don't have to come over. I went to the doctor's and got it taken care of" Em filled in not wanting Regina to panic.
"Okay. Please rest your hand or may be stay at the station you know until its healed." Regina didn't want to make Em uncomfortable by making him do things he doesn't like.
"Yeah, I will do some desk work for the day. Meet you at home, take care" Em replied softly.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying it?" Regina replied with a smile playing in her lips. There was silence for a few seconds on both ends. They could hear each others breathing and something stirred inside of them. Hearts beating fast.
"See you Gina." Em replied and hung up the phone.
Regina's eyes widened at the nick name. She felt like she misheard it but upon playing the sound a few times in her head she knew he called her Gina. Regina's eyes welled up and she loved that name.
Em winced as soon as he hung up the phone.'May be she didn't notice' he tried to convince. But he knew Regina did. He hoped she wouldn't hate him for it.
Regina opened the door for her husband. Em walked in with a smile. Regina quickly noticed the casted right arm.
"How's your arm?" She asked
"Not bad. Doctor said not to strain it a lot. The cast is kind of cool though " Em said looking at his cast.
"May be you can take a day off. How long did the doctor said to keep the cast?" Regina asked as she poured him some juice.
"A week tops. There is no need for a day off. I will just sit at the station and catch upon some paperwork" Em shrugged and replied.
"As you like. I made dinner. You can freshen up." Regina said as she placed the dishes on the table.
"Smells nice. What did you make?" Em asked quickly checking the dishes.
"Nothing fancy just some chicken and rice." Regina replied and watched as Em scooped up some of the sauce in the spoon and tasted.
"Mmm...so good. You are amazing Gina." Em said enjoying the taste with his eyes closed.
Regina's eyes widened. Em opened his eyes realizing what he said. "I ...I...didn't mean to..." he started
"I like it." Regina replied cutting Em off. A smile spread his lips as Regina shyly replied.
After freshening up they both ate dinner talking to each other about the day. Regina loved how funny Em was when he detailed what happened to his hand. He made a pretty big story with a cat villain just to detail the incident. Em on the other hand couldn't get enough of how Regina laughed at his silly story and it made him add more comedy just so that he could see her smile. He was secretly enjoying it all. They helped each other in the Kitchen. Cleaning the dishes, wiping the counters and even watched a movie.
Em woke up the next morning and found Regina's hand on his casted hand. She had her hand on top of his cast. He looked at the sleeping beauty. She had her face turned to Em, eyes closed ,breathing evenly. She looked peaceful. He lost track of time as he watched her. When Regina stirred in her sleep, he quickly closed his eyes pretending to sleep.
Regina opened her eyes and she saw Em sleeping, eyes closed. She quickly took her hand from top of Em's not wanting him to see it. She laid there watching him. She smiled as her mind wandered. May be someday she could sleep on his chest and wake up to him kissing her head. Regina shook her head. Its too soon for all that. She got up and started the day.
The only trouble Em faced that morning was buttoning his uniform shirt and figuring out how to tie his shoes with one hand. Regina walked in to the bedroom only to see Em trying to button his shirt with one hand. She felt sorry for him. But she didn't want to break the boundaries trying to help him. She moved to stand in front of Em.
"May I?" she asked Em pointing to the buttons.
"Uh..yeah sure" he replied. Em watched as Regina's soft fingers touched the buttons. She was so close to him that he could smell her. Em wasn't ready for this much closeness. His whole body screamed to hold her. Regina looked at the buttons as she worked on them. She knew his eyes were on her. Its just, she didn't trust herself to look at them.
Em stood still. He felt like his breathing stopped as Regina's hands buttoned up his shirt, inching up to his chest. He didn't realise his shirt had this many buttons. Regina on the other hand was praying to not give away. She was intoxicated by her husband's body heat and his sweet smell. The last button just below his neck made her look at his eyes. The very eyes which were trained on her the moment she stood in front. Her hand softly stayed beside the last button, flat on his chest. The height difference between them made Em look down at her and Regina to look up at him. Em wished he was dead at that moment. A small wind blew out from the opened window, making a strand of hair fall on Regina's face. Em slowly bought his hand up, moved the lone strand of hair behind her ear. He was suppose to leave it there but his hand decided to stay there. Softly holding her face.
Em's phone rang loudly waking them both from their trance. Em quickly dropped his hand from Regina's face and Regina quickly removed hers from Em's chest. He quickly looked at the phone to see Ruby's name flashing on the screen. He mentally cursed her. Ruby is going to die soon. Em saw Regina was about to leave the room. He quickly disconnected the phone and stopped Regina at the door.
He stood in front of her. Regina tried to avert her eyes.
"Sorry about that and thank you for helping me with the buttons." He said awkwardly.
"Its okay and no need to thank me" Regina replied smiling, trying hard not to look at his eyes.
"Hey, listen. Why don't I take you out on a dinner tonight ?" He blurted out the question.
"Like a date ?" Regina asked curious.
Em nodded his head too scared."Is it okay?" he asked. Regina decided to tease him for what he did a minute ago.
"I am offended Sheriff. Is that how you ask a girl out ? I want a proper invite for the date. If I like it I will go out with you. Are you up for the challenge Sheriff ?" Regina raised an eyebrow challenging her husband.
Em who wasn't going to back down from a challenge, smirked and said. " Challenge accepted Madam Mayor. I am taking you out today. It's a promise" Em said.
Regina decided to tease Em even more. "Well then Sheriff Swan, I will be waiting." She walked towards him and pecked his cheek lightly. She chuckled at her husband's shocked face and hurried for work.