Chapter 4
December 11th
Regina's alarm went off at five in the morning, more than a full hour earlier than usual. She grumbled as she pulled herself out of bed and over to the window, pulling the curtains open slightly. The early morning light blinded her as it reflected off the fresh snow outside. Sure enough, just as predicted, the storm that had threatened Storybrooke had arrived, and it was in full force. It looked like there was already six inches of snow on the ground, and by the looks of it, they still had a few more hours before the storm passed on. She walked back to her bed to make the required phone calls, starting with a text to Aurora, informing her that Town Hall would be closed today due to the weather, and to enjoy her snow day. She typed a quick email to the principals of each of the schools in Storybrooke, informing them that schools would also be closed due to the weather, and to please spread the word to students and faculty. Her last call was to the Storybrooke Sheriff's Station to inform the department that schools, as well as Town Hall, would be closed and the plow would need to begin clearing the roads soon.
"Sheriff's Station," a familiar voice answered on the other end.
"Miss Swan, you sound rather chipper for five in the morning."
"That's because I've been up since three-thirty," Emma answered, a slight chuckle in her voice.
"Well, then I'll make this quick so we can both get back to sleep. I was just calling to inform you that schools and Town Hall will be closed today, due to the weather. We will also need the plow services to begin clearing the roads soon."
"Yeah, that's going to be a problem. The call that woke me up at three-thirty was from Dinah at The Rabbit Hole. I had to pick up Leroy for 'drunk and disorderly'. He's in his usual holding cell here at the station sleeping it off. It's going to be a few more hours before he's awake and sober." Regina could practically hear Emma roll her eyes.
"First thing in the new year, I'm going to start looking to hire more reliable plow drivers. We simply can not wait around for the dwarf to sober up everytime it snows," Regina said, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"I second that. I'll even help you with the interview process."
"I'll hold you to that," Regina said, followed by a large yawn.
"Go back to sleep."
" Yes, I think I will. You should too."
"Yeah, I'm going too, right after I finish filling out the arrest reports for Leroy. My boss is a real hard ass when my paperwork is late," Emma said with a yawn.
Regina couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, I hear she can be quite tough," she said with another deep yawn.
"Ok, go back to sleep, Regina. And have a good day with Henry, even though he's probably going to be glued to the TV the entire time."
"Thank you. And be careful if and or when you need to leave the station. It looks pretty bad out there already," Regina said, surprising herself at her sudden deep concern for Emma's safety.
"I will. Thanks, Regina. Bye."
"Goodbye, Miss Swan," Regina said, hanging up the phone and tossing it on the nightstand before diving back under the covers. She was sound asleep again within a few minutes.
She woke up a few hours later to a soft knock on the door. "Hey Mom, are you awake?" she heard Henry whisper through a cracked open door.
"Good morning little Prince…" she said, her voice groggy from waking up.
"Hey..sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Just wanted to know if you wanted me to wait to have breakfast with you. I can have cereal or something so you can go back to sleep," he said, closing the door.
"No, Henry. Of course I want to have breakfast with you. Give me a few minutes to wake up a little bit, then I'll make breakfast. Start thinking about what you want to eat."
"Cool! I'll meet you downstairs!" Henry said. She rolled her eyes as she heard him stomping down the hall, a trait he clearly inherited from Emma. It's a wonder the floors don't have cracks in them the way that boy stomps around the house. Surprised at how late it was, she pulled herself out of bed and downstairs, making sure to put on her warm fuzzy slippers to protect her feet from the cold linoleum floors.
"Ok, what have you decided you want for breakfast? Pancakes?"
"Actually, can we have eggs and bacon?"
"Absolutely!" she said, moving quickly to start cooking breakfast.
They took their time, enjoying every moment they spent together. It took every ounce of her power to stop herself from once again dwelling on the years to come, when Henry would be off to college and she would be alone once again. She snapped herself out of her sad thoughts to look out the window, discovering the snow had finally stopped falling.
"How about this, after we finish eating and cleaning up, we go outside and get the shoveling over with. That way we don't have to worry about it, and we can enjoy the rest of our snow day," Regina suggested, as she poured the rest of the coffee into her cup.
"Yeah, we can do that," Henry said, snagging the last of the bacon.
"No rush to finish breakfast though," she said, sipping her coffee. She despised shoveling snow, even though Henry helped her these days.
They dragged their feet finishing breakfast and cleaning up, before heading back upstairs to get dressed for their shoveling chore. "Hey Mom!" Henry called from the hallway. "I'm going to head out and get started. I'll meet you outside."
"Ok, I'll be right there," she yelled back. She sighed as she started lacing up her snow boots, dreading the task. She was halfway down the stairs when she heard the front door open again.
"Hey Mom, you're going to want to see this," Henry said. She could practically hear the smile on his face. She rushed outside, worried there might be a major problem, remembering the year a large tree branch fell and practically crushed her car under its weight.
What she found was far from a disaster.
"Henry, I don't understand. How did you shovel everything so quickly?" she asked, staring in awe. The driveway was completely clear, not a single snowflake on the asphalt. If she hadn't seen the snow piled up on the edge of the driveway, she would have thought it simply didn't snow over their driveway.
"I didn't do this, Mom. It was like this when I got out here." Upon further inspection she discovered that not only was the driveway completely cleaned, but so was the front walkway, her car, and even the sidewalk in front of their property. Everything was cleaned to perfection, leaving piles on the side as evidence of the work that had been done. "Did you hire someone to shovel for us and forget you did?" Henry asked, just as confused as Regina was.
"No. I'm certain I would remember if I hired someone to shovel the driveway. But I think I have a feeling who did," she added, once she caught sight of something red on the hood of her car. She rushed over, not at all concerned about slipping on hidden ice when she heard her boots crunch the rock salt that had been generously scattered to prevent ice from forming once the temperature dropped that night. Sure enough, tucked neatly under the windshield wiper was a single preserved red rose, and a familiar card. After taking a short sniff of her rose, which was quickly becoming her favorite scent, she carefully opened the card.
I know how much you despise shoveling the driveway in the wintertime. Enjoy your day with Henry.
Love Always, Your Secret Admirer.
"I don't know who your Secret Admirer is, but I'm really starting to like them, especially if they are going to keep shoveling the driveway for us," Henry laughed.
"Well, now that we don't have to shovel, what do you want to do with the afternoon?"
"Hey, how about we work on getting your mix CD onto your phone and set up the bluetooth speaker and headphones," Henry suggested.
"I'd like that, actually."
"Great. Now let's get inside before we freeze our asses off!" Henry said, rushing inside.
"Henry Daniel Mills! Language!" Regina scolded. Clearly, he had been spending too much time with Emma and her questionable word choices.
She was relieved to change out of her stiff jeans and into her yoga pants and sweatshirt, a combination reserved for staying in the house when she's sure she won't see another living soul, other than Henry. She pulled on her favorite pair of oversized wool socks and slipped her feet into her fuzzy slippers, all set to spend the rest of the day with her son. By the time she made it downstairs, Henry had her computer plugged in and was typing away, already knee deep in the task. She sat on the couch next to him and peered at the screen and watched as he clicked away.
"Wait! How did you know my password?" she asked, suddenly realizing that no one, other than her, should be able to access her computer.
"Mom, seriously? It was HenryDaniel815. It only took me all of two tries to get it. You really need a more secure password," Henry laughed, barely looking up as he continued his task. "Don't worry, I'm not looking at anything other than itunes. You know, in case there is anything inappropriate saved on here." The smirk on his face screamed Emma Swan.
"Don't be crude!" she said, nudging her son in jest.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Mom. I know all about the birds and the bees," he said, looking up at her. "You know, it's ok for you to date, right? After Robin…after he…he would want you to be happy. He wouldn't want you to be alone." There was a softness in his voice that almost brought tears to her eyes.
"It's not that simple, Henry. People still see me as the Evil Queen. Most simply tolerate me as the Mayor, and I doubt any would choose to be with me in a romantic nature."
"That's not true, Mom. Just look around you. There's someone out there sending you gifts every day. But not just gifts, super personal gifts. Obviously someone cares for you, like that ."
"Yes, it would appear that way. I'm still not entirely convinced this isn't an elaborate and cruel joke to punish me for everything I've done in the past."
"I think you're wrong, Mom. Something in my gut tells me that you're wrong, and whoever this is, is the real deal," Henry said, a smile so wide spread across his face as he looked up at her with his big hazel eyes. "Despite what you might think, you do deserve your happy ending."
"Thank you…" she managed to say, as she lost the fight and tears began to fall down her face.
"Okay, no more tears. Grab your phone so I can put this music onto it," Henry said, changing the subject. She handed her phone to her son, who instantly knew the combination despite her not telling him the code. He plugged the phone into the computer, tapped the screen a few times before handing it back to her a few moments later. "Done. Now, all you have to do is tap the music app and it's all there."
"That's it?" she asked, astonished at how easy it was, as she hit the appropriate app, discovering that each song was neatly listed there.
"That's it! Now, let's set up your speaker and earbuds and you'll be all set to listen to your mix CD of loooooooove anytime you want," he said, a teasing tone in his voice.
"You know, I did order you a surprise, but if you're going to continue to mock me, I might just have to return it," she said, standing to leave the room. She returned with the two boxes that arrived the day before, as well as her letter opener from her office. She quickly opened both boxes and pulled out two identical bluetooth speakers and two sets of airpods, handing one of each to Henry.
"You got me some too? I don't understand, you usually say I can't have new things this close to Christmas."
"I thought you might like them as well, to go with your new phone."
"Thanks, Mom!" Henry exclaimed, lunging forward to hug his mother.
"You're welcome, my Prince!"
It didn't take long for Henry to set everything up, and after a quick tutorial, she knew exactly how to use each one. They had a quiet afternoon together, Henry glued to his video games while Regina sat on the couch with her book, one airpod in her ear as she listened to her mix CD. She took a break from her relaxation to make them burgers and fries for dinner, which they ate in the den in front of the TV while they watched a movie together. Henry excused himself after the movie ended, saying he wanted to read for a little before going to bed. Sitting in silence for a few minutes, Regina decided to take advantage of this time and head up for the night as well, opting for a nice warm bath before going to bed early. She set up her new speaker in the bathroom and started playing her mix while she soaked in the tub, allowing the hot water to warm her bones.
She rested her eyes and started to doze off, as thoughts of her Secret Admirer ran through her mind. Who is this person who has been doing and giving me such sweet gifts for the past week and a half? But more importantly, why are they doing this and giving these things to me? Is Henry right, could they actually be interested in me? Or is this a cruel joke? she thought, as the water began to grow cold. Shaking away the negative thoughts, she changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, eager to grab a few extra minutes of sleep for the next day. Just as she was starting to drift off, a thought crossed her mind, one that shocked her, and suddenly took over her mind. She reached for her phone and opened the message app, composing a text message as fast as her inexperienced fingers would allow.
"Miss Swan, I apologize for texting at such a late hour. I just wanted to make sure you were alright after the snow storm." She hit the send button before her brain could convince her not to.
"Hey! Yes I am safe. I'm still at the station, but safe and sound tucked away on the couch. Hopefully it will be a quiet night," Emma texted back almost immediately.
"Oh that's unacceptable, Emma. You slept at the station last night. You should go home. Surely David can take over for you."
"It's cool. He's going to come in a little early tomorrow so I can go home and take a shower."
"Well, in that case, I am going to personally ensure that you are given extra compensation for the nights you spent sleeping at the station."
"Thanks, Regina. I really appreciate that."
"It's the least I can do. Please try and get some sleep. If things get bad, please go home," Regina texted, once again hitting send before her brain can convince her not to.
"I'll be fine. But thanks. Night, Regina."
"Good night, Emma. Sleep well."
December 12th
Regina was slightly less cranky the next morning when her alarm went off at six-thirty, even though her room felt considerably colder than it usually did. She wasn't angry when she ran out of hot water while she was rinsing the shampoo out of her hair. She even let it go when she stepped into yet another icy puddle in the parking lot of Town Hall as she walked into work that morning.
She approached her office and found herself almost eager to speak to the chipper young lady that would greet her. "Good morning, Aurora. How was your snow day yesterday?" Regina asked, before Aurora could even look up from her desk.
"Madam Mayor, good morning. It was nice. Philip Jr. and I spent the entire day in our pajamas, and he played on the couch next to me while I caught up on my trashy television," Aurora answered with a wide smile. "How was your day?"
"It was quite nice. I spent the entire day with my son as well. Even though he had his eyes glued to the television playing video games, at least we were in the same room," Regina laughed, and was genuinely startled by her happy demeanor.
"That's wonderful. It can be so hard to connect with kids Henry's age. I'm glad you got to spend time with him."
"Me as well. I keep finding myself thinking about what life will be like when he's off at college in a few years, and I have to force myself to focus on the present, and worry about the future when it comes."
"They grow up so fast, don't they," Aurora said, giving Regina a sympathetic yet happy smile.
"They certainly do." Regina took the slight lull in the conversation as her cue to enter her office to start her workday. The first thing she did after hanging up her coat was to light a fire in the fireplace, hoping the flames would warm the cold room quickly.
She dove into work with a smile on her face, her good mood causing her to hum quietly as she worked, despite the cold air that threatened to infiltrate her bones. She was in such a good mood that she sent Aurora out for lunch, treating her secretary as well. It wasn't until right after lunch when her good mood began to fade. It all started with a text message from Henry just as she was taking her last bites of her club sandwich.
"Hey Mom, don't forget. I'm spending the weekend with Emma so I won't be home until Sunday afternoon. Grandpa is going to pick me up after school and bring me home to grab my overnight bag before we go." Regina sighed heavily. She had forgotten that Henry would be with Emma that weekend. It felt like they were divorced parents, sharing their son on agreed upon weekends. But this had been Regina's idea, so she had no choice but to uphold her end of the bargain.
"Sounds good. Have a good weekend. Try to eat something healthy at least once in the next forty-eight hours please."
"I can't make any promises lol. Try not to miss me," Henry texted back almost immediately.
"I miss you already. Now go back to class."
"Bye Mom, see you Sunday," he texted one last time. She put her phone down instead of texting back so as to not encourage more texting when he's supposed to be in class.
Her good mood was officially destroyed when she received an email from Sidney Glass, demanding a meeting with her immediately. It was common knowledge that Sidney still harbored very strong feelings for her, so every time he demanded a meeting with her, she could tell his mind was filled with filthy thoughts. Even though meeting with Sidney always left her feeling dirty, she knew she needed to. She was the Mayor after all. She let Aurora know she would be meeting Sidney in the conference room with the door wide open to prevent any inappropriate advances from the man, and to kindly walk by the door every so often to make sure everything was alright.
As she expected, her meeting with Sidney was tough. She felt disgusting everytime she felt his eyes roam over her body instead of her face, and by the end of it she wanted to strangle the man and curse him back into her mirror, deeply regretting letting him out in the first place. She felt completely drained when she walked back to her office after listening to the infuriating man complain for forty-five minutes straight, and was already counting down the hours until she could leave for the weekend.
"Welcome back, Madam Mayor. How was your meeting?" Aurora asked when she made it back to the office.
"Painful, as always. My mother's punishments were less tortuous than listening to that man complain," Regina said, causing them both to laugh.
"Well, a package was delivered shortly after you left. That should brighten your day," Aurora said, winking at Regina slightly.
"Aurora, what do you know? Do you know who keeps sending me these gifts? Who delivered the package?" Regina asked, firing questions at the unsuspecting woman.
"In complete honesty, Madam Mayor, I don't know anything that you haven't told me yourself. The package was delivered by a FedX driver. Although, it was shipped priority, one day delivery, which is really expensive. So whoever it is really wanted you to get this gift today," she laughed. Her heart skipped a beat when she caught a glimpse of the thin cardboard box sitting on her desk, and she had to stop herself from running into her office to open it.
"Thank you, Aurora," she said, trying to casually walk into her office like she wasn't going to rip open the package the moment the door closed behind her.
As soon as the door clicked closed, she ran to her desk looking down at the familiar handwriting on the box. She quickly opened the package to discover her preserved red rose nestled under the mountain of packing peanuts. After inhaling the sweet scent of the flower, she dove back in to search for her usual card, written on the same stationery.
I know this isn't as fancy as the clothes you usually wear, but when I saw it I immediately thought of you. I hope you like it!
Love Always, Your Secret Admirer.
Regina smiled as she reached back into the cardboard box one last time, pulling out a smaller white box, clearly containing a piece of clothing. She slowly opened the thinner cardboard box to reveal a beautiful purple cable-knit v-neck sweater. She pulled the sweater out of the box and held it up, marveling at how soft the fabric felt in her hands. Her Secret Admirer was correct, it wasn't something she usually wore, but she didn't care. This person took the time to pick out this sweater for her personally, and that made it her new favorite piece of clothing.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. "I'm sorry, Madam Mayor, I know I shouldn't pry. But I'm dying to know what was in your package," Aurora said, as she peeked her head through the door.
"Come in, Aurora," Regina said, holding up her sweater for the woman to see.
"That's gorgeous. And it's the perfect color for you."
"And it's so soft, almost impossibly soft," Regina said, offering up the sleeve for Aurora to touch.
"Oh gosh, it really is! Whoever your Secret Admirer is has good taste."
"I am inclined to agree." Regina smiled as she glanced at the clock on the mantel. "You know what, Aurora, why don't you leave a little early today. It's been a long week and I'm eager to get home and take a shower after my meeting with Mr. Glass. Let's finish up any tasks we are still working on and call it a day."
"Really, Madam Mayor?"
"Yes. We both deserve an early day."
"Great! I'm just about done anyway. Give me thirty minutes tops and I'll be ready to leave."
"Wonderful."
Aurora rushed out of the room and closed the door behind her, as Regina folded her new sweater and secured it back inside its original box, putting everything back inside the larger cardboard box after she emptied all the annoying packing peanuts into the garbage can. She busied herself answering emails for a little longer until Aurora announced she was finished and would be heading home, if the offer was still on the table.
"Of course it is, Aurora. You are free to go. Have a great weekend."
"You too, Madam Mayor. Have a great weekend."
"Oh, one more thing. Please call me Regina from now on. We've been working closely together for the past six months, no need for any further formalities."
"Wow…okay…have a good weekend, Regina ," Aurora said, before turning and exiting Regina's office. A few minutes later Regina left herself, making sure everything was locked on her way out, her gift tucked securely under her arm. Not even stepping in the same icy puddle on her way out could ruin her good mood.
As soon as she got home she raced upstairs like a teenager, eager to try on her new sweater. She immediately pulled out her new rose and added it to the previous eleven in their vase before turning back to her sweater, pulling it out and laying it neatly on the edge of her bed. She instantly shed her blouse and pulled the sweater over her head, her heart skipping when she felt the soft material against her skin. Even though she knew it wasn't possible, she swore it felt softer against her torso than in her hands. She rushed to her mirror and was amazed at how well the sweater fit her, as if it were custom made to fit her and only her. For a second she considered that maybe her Secret Admirer had , in fact, had the sweater made for her specifically, but then quickly shooed that idea away. She was definitely not important enough to have a custom made sweater made just for her.
She spent the next twenty minutes testing how the sweater looked when paired with her different pants and skirt combinations, finding that no matter what she wore, the sweater went perfectly with everything. "This IS a magic sweater," she said to herself out loud, as she shed the garment for the last time, folding it and neatly placing it in her drawer to keep it safe, before grabbing her new speaker and making her way into her bathroom. With Henry at Emma's for the weekend, she would take full advantage of his absence and soak in the tub for the rest of the afternoon, listening to her mix CD on repeat until it was time for bed.
As she dozed off in the warm, bubbly water, her mind once again began to wander to the person who keeps sending her these gifts, when a random thought passed through her mind, only to be gone as soon as it came. Maybe I AM worth all this effort…
December 13th
She woke up earlier than usual, not out of obligation, but because she was well rested, having had one of the best night's sleep in over thirty years. She laid in bed for longer than usual, once again listening to her mix while she savored in the warmth of her blankets.
Regina Mills was in a really good mood.
Once she managed to pry herself out of the warm cocoon she had made for herself, she made her way downstairs, excited to make herself a spinach and egg-white omelet for breakfast without Henry making fun of her for eating so healthy all the time. She was just finishing the delicate task of separating the egg whites from the yolks when she heard the doorbell ring. Confused, she made her way to the door, opening it to find no one on the other side. Instead, she found a familiar red rose and envelope sitting on the doorstep, but this time with nothing else. She grabbed her rose and envelope quickly in an attempt to keep the cold air from infiltrating her warm home, and slammed the door behind her. She smelled her rose as she wandered back to the kitchen to start cooking again, opening her card while she walked.
Get dressed. You have an appointment at eleven o'clock.
Love Always, You're Secret Admirer.
The address listed below had once been the location of Any Given Sundae , and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember what new business had taken over the space now that Ingrid was no longer with them. She checked the clock and immediately sprang into action, realizing she had forty-five minutes to shower and get dressed and make it to her mystery appointment on time. She rushed through her shower, enjoying the warm water as much as time allowed and quickly got dressed, hoping her nice jeans and a warm sweater was an appropriate outfit for the appointment.
She parked in the small parking lot behind the building and discovered the new business was called The Three Bears Day Spa when she approached the front doors. "Madam Mayor, welcome. What can we do for you this morning?" a young woman with tight blonde curls, whose nametag read "Goldie", asked from behind the counter.
"I believe I have an appointment today," she said, asking more than stating.
The woman clicked the mouse a few times before speaking again. "Oh yes, I see you here. Wow, you are having quite the day at the spa, Madam Mayor. You're scheduled for our Queen For A Day package . I'm jealous," the woman said with a wide smile on her face. "Let me show you to our changing room, and we'll get you set up with a robe and some slippers, as well as a locker for your things," she said, leading Regina through the door off to the side and into the spa.
She laughed to herself as she quickly changed into the soft terry cloth robe supplied by the spa. "Queen for a day. Whoever they are, they certainly have a sense of humor," she whispered out loud. The sound of soft soothing spa music played in the background as she settled into the lounge area, where she waited for her service to begin.
A few minutes later, a young woman whom she had never met before emerged from the closed door in the corner. "Regina?" she asked.
"Yes, hello," Regina answered, standing to greet the woman.
"Good morning. My name is Jennifer, and I'll be your Massage Therapist this morning," Jennifer said, offering her hand as a greeting.
"Oh, I'll be having a massage?" Regina asked, suddenly realizing she had no idea what she was receiving during this surprise appointment.
"Yes, you'll be starting your day with a ninety minute deep tissue massage with me," Jennifer smiled.
" Starting? " Regina asked in shock.
"Oh yes, you're having quite the day at the spa. A massage followed by a seaweed wrap and facial. And to end, you'll have our premium manicure and pedicure in our nail salon. I think you'll even have a small lunch at some point during your fabulous day at the spa," Jennifer explained, as she led Regina down the quiet hallway.
"Oh my," Regina whispered, completely shocked at the day of pampering she had ahead of her.
"I take it this was a surprise visit?" Jennifer asked as she gestured for Regina to enter the room they had stopped in front of.
"Yes, it is quite the surprise," Regina whispered. After a short intake regarding any possible injuries or medical conditions that might affect the massage, Jennifer stepped out of the room to allow Regina to get comfortable on the massage table, only to return a few minutes later.
Everything was perfect! Her massage made all the tension in her muscles melt away, and she walked out of the room feeling like a wet noodle and more relaxed than she could ever remember being in her entire life. Her seaweed wrap and facial left her skin feeling clean, smooth and shiny, and so healthy despite the cold and unforgiving air outside. She returned to the waiting room in a deep state of relaxation to find a table set up for her containing her usual chicken caesar wrap and side kale salad, and a bottle of root beer off to the side. Clearly this was a custom lunch prepared just for her. She ate slowly, not willing to rush through anything, trying to soak up as much of the calming energy around her. As explained, her day at the spa ended with their premium manicure and pedicure. Not a single inch of her body was left untouched and unpampered.
"Purple polish. I like it," the young woman at the front desk said when Regina eventually made her way out to the front, ending her day of pampering.
"I thought I would try something different," Regina said, looking down at her perfectly manicured nails.
"I like it. It suits you."
"Thank you. How much do I owe you for today's services?"
"Everything has already been taken care of," the receptionist smiled, as if she knew something Regina didn't.
"Oh…well then can you help me with the gratuity? I want to make sure everyone is receives an ample tip for their hard work."
"The payment includes a very generous gratuity for everyone."
"Can I ask you something…slightly personal?" Regina asked, returning her wallet to her purse.
"Of course."
"Can you tell me who arranged for this day, and who paid for these services?" Regina asked, her heart pounding slightly, in the hopes that she might finally find out who her Secret Admirer was.
"I'm sorry, Madam Mayor, I'm not at liberty to divulge this information," the young woman said.
"I'm really starting to think that everyone in this town knows something except me," she said under her breath.
"Oh, Madam Mayor, before you leave," the young lady said, jumping from her seat and searching for something under her desk. A moment later she returned with a small bag with the spa's logo on the front. "I was asked to give you this as well," she said, handing Regina the bag. Regina peered inside and saw three fancy looking bottles, as well as a card written on her special stationery. She knew immediately who this bag came from. She pulled out one of the bottles to inspect it, discovering it contained an aromatherapy bubble bath.
"Oh that one is my favorite. And you only need a little bit for each bath, so it'll last a long time."
"Well, in that case, I think I'll have a nice long bubble bath tonight to continue the relaxation. Thank you again for this lovely day."
"That sounds wonderful, enjoy!" the young woman said before Regina turned and walked out of the spa. As soon as she got to her car she opened her card, excited to have received two cards from her Secret Admirer on the same day.
You spend so much of your life caring for and protecting others. Let me take care of you for a change. I hope you enjoyed your day at the spa. You deserve it, Regina.
Love Always, Your Secret Admirer.
She had to fight off the tears that threatened to fall as she read those words. No one had ever made her feel as special as this person did, and she still didn't even know who they were. She was so incredibly relaxed when she left the spa that she didn't dwell on the fact that it appeared that more and more people in town knew who her Secret Admirer was.
She decided on the way home that, although she really did enjoy cooking, she had no desire to cook dinner tonight. Instead, she crossed over into the next town where she knew there was an amazing Thai restaurant that she was dying to try, but hadn't had the chance since Henry despised Thai food. She ordered take out and went directly home, curling up on the couch to eat dinner while indulging in a rom-com movie that she wouldn't usually be caught dead watching. After dinner, true to her word, she prepared a luxurious bubble bath and decided to open one of her bottles of Mead, pouring a single glass for her to sip amongst the warm bubbles. She would never admit it, but it had been a perfect day and she felt like a million bucks after a day of pampering.
She slept so well that night and her dreams were filled with a faceless, featureless body of her Secret Admirer.
December 14th
It was almost ten o'clock when she finally woke up the following morning, later than she had slept since adopting Henry. A smile spread across her face as she stretched, the scent of roses had begun to slowly fill the room with each passing day, as she added each new preserved rose to her collection. She jumped out of bed with a spring in her step and made her way downstairs to finally make the egg white omelet she didn't get a chance to yesterday. This time she decided to cut up some peppers to add to the spinach, filling the egg-whites with delicious vegetables. She loved Henry with every fiber of her being, but she was relieved he wasn't there to poke fun at her boring breakfast. Although she hated to admit it, she had chores to do around the house, since she was otherwise occupied yesterday, and she desperately needed to go grocery shopping.
She popped in her headphones and turned on her mix as she went about her tasks of laundry and cleaning with a bit of extra pep in her step as she sang along to the lyrics that she was slowly memorizing. Her newfound energy made the tasks go quicker, until all that was left to do was grocery shopping. And even though grocery shopping was her least favorite task on her to-do list, nothing was going to bring down Regina Mills' good mood.
She bundled up and grabbed her purse, double checking to make sure she had her list, she set out to her car, only to nearly trip over the small box sitting on the doorstep. A small thin box with a red rose and card secured around it with a red ribbon to be exact. She smiled even wider as she grabbed the gift and retreated back inside, eager to find out what her gift was today, forgetting her previous task completely. After smelling her new rose, she opened her card, sighing sadly when she accidently ripped the envelope a little too much in her excitement.
I noticed that you stopped wearing your favorite scarf a few months ago, and I realized it was likely because it was lost or ruined somehow. I know how much that scarf meant to you, because it was the first gift that Henry ever picked out for you by himself, so I knew I had to somehow replace it. It took me a little while but I think I found an exact match, if not really close. I hope I did it justice.
Love Always, Your Secret Admirer.
Regina quickly opened the small box to reveal a silk scarf tucked neatly inside. Sure enough, inside the small thin box was a nearly identical scarf, matching the one she once had, the scarf that had ripped so badly a few months ago that it couldn't be fixed. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she examined the black scarf with tiny red polka dots, discovering that the dots were actually tiny red apples, exactly how Henry's scarf had been. She tied it around her neck in the usual fashion, and the tears finally began to fall. She had been convinced she would never see that scarf again, and yet here it was, around her neck once more. She knew it wasn't the exact same scarf, that one had been reluctantly thrown away after trying in vain to fix it, but it was the next best thing. She took a few moments to relish in the feel of her favorite scarf before reality kicked in again and she realized she really needed to get a move on if she wanted to have dinner ready by seven.
"Mom! I'm home!" Henry called as he stomped into the house a few hours later.
"I'm in the kitchen!" she yelled back, before returning to the task of mashing the potatoes for dinner.
"Hey Mom, I'm home. Emma's here too. I'm going upstairs," he announced, before turning around and racing upstairs, leaving the two women alone in the kitchen.
"Hello, Miss Swan. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Regina asked, slightly confused to find Emma in her kitchen, since the woman generally just drops Henry off after his weekend spent with her.
"I was going to ask if you and Henry wanted to grab dinner at Granny's with me, but I am clearly too late in inquiring," Emma said. It didn't take a genius to notice the disappointment in her voice.
"Oh, Zelena and Robin are coming over soon, or we definitely would."
"That's cool. I should have asked sooner."
"You're welcome to stay, of course. We have plenty of food to go around."
"No, that's ok. I wouldn't want to invade your family dinner."
"Emma, you know you're family too. You're Henry's mother, that makes you part of our dysfunctional family," Regina said, stifling back a laugh.
"Nah, that's alright. Maybe another time."
"The offer always stands," Regina said, smiling sincerely at the blonde.
"That's a beautiful scarf, by the way. Where did you get it?" Emma asked, noticing the scarf that Regina still wore.
"It's a funny story, actually. My Secret Admirer left it for me this morning. It's actually an exact replica of one that Henry gave me when he was younger that, unfortunately, was destroyed a few months ago."
"Wow, whoever they are, really knows you," Emma said with a large grin. "I'm sure they get extra brownie points for that one."
"Most certainly. They also treated me to a spa day yesterday. I don't think I have ever been that relaxed in my entire life. I could get used to it," Regina laughed.
"Good! You deserve it, Regina!" Emma said, jumping slightly when she heard the front door open and slam closed.
"Regina! Where are you? I need you to take your niece so I can have a proper pee alone!" Zelena screamed through the house, eventually finding them standing in the kitchen. "Oh, hello Emma, have you come to infiltrate our family dinner?" she asked, handing the car seat to Regina before she had a chance to wash her hands.
"No, I'm just leaving actually. I have some paperwork to catch up on. Plus I'm on call, and we all know that Storybrooke should be called the tiny town that never sleeps."
"Such a shame, take care now." Zelena said sarcastically as she raced out of the kitchen to the bathroom.
"You're not sleeping at the station again tonight, are you?"
"No, I'll go home and wait for the phone calls," Emma laughed.
"Good. Take the night off and worry about the paperwork in the morning. I'll give you an extra day to complete it if you need it."
"Thanks. See you soon, Regina. Have a good night," Emma said, racing out of the house, slamming the front door just behind her exactly the same way their son does. She paused for a second to contemplate Emma's behavior. There was something about her that seemed off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Her thoughts were disrupted when baby Robin began to cry, causing her to free her niece from the carseat and begin bouncing her until the toddler started laughing.
"So sis, what's new? I'm stuck in the house all day with a toddler, I need to know all the juicy gossip," Zelena said during dinner.
"Nothing much is going on. Same ol' same ol'. Small town living can be quite boring sometimes," Regina answered, purposely not looking up from her meal.
"Are you kidding, Mom? I would say something very important is going on!" Henry exclaimed, startling both women slightly.
"What's this now? What's going on?" Zelena asked, ready to receive the latest gossip.
"Mom has a secret admirer!" Henry blurted out, causing Regina's head to snap up suddenly, giving him the death stare.
"Henry!" she scolded.
"A secret admirer, you say! Tell me EVERYTHING!" Zelena demanded, putting her fork down to pick up her wine glass, eager to hear all the details.
"Whoever it is keeps sending Mom presents everyday. And each present is accompanied by a rose and a special card explaining the present. In fact, that scarf Mom is wearing was her gift today," Henry explained, gaining the death stare from Regina.
"Well now! I say that is rather exciting! Who is this secret admirer?" Zelena asked.
"That's the thing, we have no idea who it is," Henry said, answering for his mother as if she wasn't there.
"Really? You really have no idea who it could possibly be?"
"No, we have no idea. It's someone who knows Mom really well though."
"Really? Regina you don't even have a guess as to who this secret person could be? Not even a tiny guess?" Zelena asked, a tone of suspicion in her voice.
"No, Zelena, we really have no idea," Regina finally answered, her voice filled with irritation at her sister's insinuation. "They give me no clues as to their identity, although I'm starting to get the impression that people in town know who this person is. But no one is talking."
"Don't worry, sis. Give me a list of people who you think know this person's true identity, and I'll get the information out of them," Zelena said, cracking her knuckles, leaving nothing to the imagination as to her plans of retrieving said information.
"No, don't do that, Aunt Zelena. I know you want to help, but I think we shouldn't pry. I'm sure Mom's Secret Admirer is planning on revealing their true identity in due time. We should let their plans play out," Henry said, trying to defuse the tension between the two sisters. "Plus, this is kind of fun, and I know Mom likes getting presents everyday, even if she won't admit it." Henry smiled, feeling the tension begin to lift in the room.
"Well then, keep me updated on any new developments. And be sure to tell me who this mystery person turns out to be."
"I promise." Regina smiled shyly. The conversation was abruptly halted when baby Robin threw a handful of peas at Zelena's head, causing Henry to burst into uncontrollable laughter, and prompted Regina to start telling all the embarrassing stories of Henry growing up that she could think of, to embarrass her son the way he embarrassed her by telling Zelena about her Secret Admirer.
Later that night, as she was getting ready for bed, she was suddenly compelled to text Emma to make sure she was alright. There was something about the tone of Emma's voice earlier that was still concerning her.
"Good evening, Emma. I just wanted to make sure that you're alright. You seemed a little down earlier," Regina texted, placing her phone on the counter to continue her nighttime skincare routine. A moment later her phone chimed, indicating a new text.
"Hey! Yeah I'm alright. I'm sorry I made you worry. I didn't get much sleep this weekend is all. I'm just tired," Emma texted back, and yet her text only made Regina more concerned.
"Are you feeling alright? Why are you having trouble sleeping?" Regina asked, suddenly realizing her question might be a little too personal.
"My brother is quite loud, and my parent's loft is quite small. I gave Henry my old bed and I slept on the couch downstairs."
"Why were you guys at your parent's loft? Is everything alright with your house?" Regina responded as fast as her inexperienced fingers would allow.
"Everything is fine. I just thought Henry would like to spend a little more time with my parents and brother is all." Regina wasn't convinced, but she knew that Emma would only continue to lie until she was ready to talk.
"Good, I'm glad everything is alright, and that Henry got to spend a little extra time with everyone. I'll let you get to bed, Miss Swan. Have a good night."
"Good night, Regina. Thanks for checking in on me."
"Good night, Emma. Sleep well."
A/N: Can I have Regain's spa day please?