A/N: It's 4,088 words! Have you seen today's episode? OMFG! Can't give the spoilers.
Grammatical Errors are mine.
Chapter 6: Graduate School Event for Criminal Justice
The next morning, Regina slept in her bed and snuggled with the blanket. She snored loudly while she was very sleepy because the brunette woman was busy with discussing with her staff for the graduate school event for Criminal Justice all day. Everything went smoothly as they excepted the event to be a great one since they arranged for few years before Regina joined as a professor in Criminal Justice Department.
Until, Henry Jr walked into his mom's bedroom and found Regina opening her mouth to snore loudly. He shook his head and decided to scare her with his loud screams. Luckily for him, his grandparents went out to meet their old friends from their work for lunch. The brunette man knew that his mom was tired since she arrived home at 9:30 pm from Boston University. He grinned mischievously.
Regina was clueless that Henry was in her bedroom and still snored. The brunette man cleared his throat and screamed loudly. The echo in the house carried out as the brunette woman cried when she heard the loud voice of her son. It caused her to fall back on the ground and hit her forehead on the floor. Henry winced when he heard a thud and spoke lightly.
"Mom, are you ok?"
"Henry Christopher Mills! You startled me! Stop it!" The brunette woman got up and continued with a serious tone. She rubbed her forehead and winced at the same time.
"Sorry." The brunette man rolled his eyes and mumbled.
"What the hell?!" Regina scolded him while giving a glare. Henry surrendered his hands and spoke lightly.
"What?"
"You yelled in my ear while I was sleeping."
"Sorry, mom. I want to wake you up because it's already afternoon. Grams and Gramps went to see their friends for the lunch. They told me that you arrived here yesterday night."
"Oh. Did they leave you here for the lunch?" The brunette woman mumbled while she was sleepy.
"No. I was taking out the lunch from Ruby's." Henry shook his head with a reply.
"Ok." Regina nodded with an answer and went back to the bed. Henry sighed and went to rip the comforter away from his mom. The brunette woman whined after she tried to go back to sleep.
"No. Get your ass up."
"Watch your mouth, young man." Regina scolded him again. The brunette man smirked and retorted.
"Do you have the event in one hour? Or you will be late?"
"What!?" The brunette woman exclaimed.
"It's already 1:30 pm." Henry indicated the alarm clock. The brunette woman looked around and widened her eyes then ran back to the bathroom. Henry laughed and dropped the comforter on the bed then left the room. Regina didn't realize that she slept all day until 1:30 pm. She had 30 minutes left to get ready for the event. But the problem was one hour and ten-minute drive. The brunette woman didn't look forward to having a dull trip.
Regina got ready and went downstairs to meet her son in the kitchen. Henry handed her lunch bag. She wore the pantsuit with the black heels. He smiled at her, and the brunette woman rolled her eyes when she grabbed her purse from him and left the house. Henry sighed and texted to his grandma that Regina left the house to her work at Boston University. He went to do some chores around in the house before he went to catch up with his friends.
After arriving at Boston University, Regina got out in her car and grabbed her things. She closed the door and strode away to the Department of Criminal Justice. In her mind, she was not looking forward to work on the event with several staffs but she realized that Emma would be there. It eased her up when she came in the front to see the staff who were decorating a bit little.
She rolled her eyes when she saw Mr. Gold walking to her, and the brunette woman turned around to put her things away in her office, not far away from the social gathering. Regina stiffened when she heard the raspy voice of the old man behind her. She put her mask on while she turned around to face him with a forced smile.
"Good afternoon Professor Mills, it's nice to see you here. So, your social gathering, I recall, it's nice."
"Why, thank you Mr. Gold." The brunette woman continued while she took a glance over the old man's shoulder to check on the social gathering.
"Indeed, dearie. Have a good afternoon." The old man retorted.
"You too." Regina nodded with a reply. Mr. Gold flashed a smile and walked away. The brunette woman shuddered at the creepy smile he sent and walked away on the opposite side to reach the social gathering. The brunette woman in white dress with a bookworm necklace, Belle French, was the chairperson of the event, and she was busy with the staff until she found Regina walking into the room and yelled.
"Regina!"
"Oh hello." Regina turned to find Belle's voice not far away from the entrance.
"Hello, how are you?"
"My son woke me up like one hour ago. So, what do you need?"
"Oh, it's sweet of your son. Everything is getting better than last time. I think that we are finished with our decorations."
"It's fantastic. Are you ready to let our students mingle around in here?"
"Thank God, it is an hour event. It's not a whole day."
"I concur." Regina nodded with a reply. Belle smiled and took a glance at her staff member then continued.
"I'll be right back. I have to help Ruby to fix something."
"Oh, go for it. I'm just walking around." The brunette woman nodded and continued.
"Ok see you later." The brunette librarian retorted.
"You too," Regina said. The brunette woman exhaled in the air and looked away at her watch; it was 3 pm. She looked away at the entrance, the students came in their semi-formal clothes and went to mingle with other staffs. Regina walked to the stage and found herself to check over the list that she made for the lecturers. The workers went to mingle with the students about the courses and majors/minors. Belle was away to be with the brunette waitress to fix something in the control room.
The brunette woman finished with her duty, turned around and found Emma standing there near the entrance. She realized that she didn't move at all until her student came upon her to chat with her. Regina looked away at the redhead woman and recognized her immediately then spoke lightly.
"Ariel, is it right?"
"Yes. I'm Ariel." The redhead woman nodded with a smile and a reply.
"I recognized you from my class. So how are you?" The brunette woman smiled and asked.
"I'm good. I'm glad that I came." Ariel exclaimed while she looked away at the people in the social gathering. Regina looked away and tried to find Emma at the entrance, but she couldn't find her at all then replied back.
"Well, it's good that you came to this event. So, can I help you?"
"You are my professor, but I wanted your help." The redhead woman tilted her head and spoke lightly.
"What do you need?" The brunette woman got Ariel's attention for a moment and asked.
"I am not sure that I should take Cybersecurity next semester."
"Well, I teach that class next semester. It takes a lot of time to research on this topic, and there are a lot of projects." The brunette woman explained right away while she was trying to catch the blonde woman's eye in the public.
"I don't know if I need that. I'm majoring in political science but my minor in Criminal Justice." Ariel spoke lightly.
"Well, Cybersecurity class is in the major. But it is a free elective class, though." Regina said.
"Oh ok. Thank you so much for your help. I think I saw my friend. So, see you next Monday."
"You too." The brunette woman waved her hand as she replied. Ariel left to find her friend in the corner near the buffet table. Regina exhaled in the air as she looked for Emma until she moved without stopping by seeing her students from her classes. She finally turned around to find Emma not far away from the stage and noticed the blonde woman in her disheveled state.
Several minutes later, Belle walked toward the brunette woman and spoke lightly. Regina looked away for a moment and heard her voice then furrowed her brows.
"I think it's time for you to go on with the lectures."
"Oh, right. I'm sorry that the time took me away." The brunette woman retorted. Belle chuckled and asked with a concerned tone.
"It's fine. So, has Emma look awful to me today or I'm overlooking?" Regina looked away at Emma and tilted her head then continued.
"I don't know either. I think I'm going now."
"Of course. Go on." The brunette librarian waved her dismissed hand, and the brunette woman nodded then left back to the stage. The students were still mingling with some professors. Regina went to the podium, looked down on the list that she made for the lectures and lifted her chin up to speak openly. The students, the professors and some of the staff who were looking away at the brunette woman. Emma slowly turned around to find her emerald eyes staring at Regina on the stage and felt her body starting to weakened. She grunted every second and felt someone's hand on her arm then looked away at Ruby with a small smile.
"Hello, I'm Regina Mills, and I'm a professor from Department of Criminal Justice. Some of you have taken my classes this semester. So welcome back. Before we start with the lecturers, I want to thank Belle French, a chairperson for this event and others who worked with her to make this event happens. Give some applause for them."
Everyone clapped. Belle smiled and winked at Regina. The brunette woman nodded and continued.
"Now, I want to make sure that you understand clearly. This event is for social gathering, and you are mingling with your professors and staffs about your majors in Criminal Justice. It's great. Also, the presentations would give you more boost to research on your majors and minors. So, I introduce you to this woman, she was raised in New York City and graduated from New York University. She held two degrees in Criminal Justice and Law. Now, she is working for New York Law Firm in Manhattan, New York and has her own business. Please give a warm welcome, Kathryn Midas."
Others clapped while the blonde woman in the pantsuit walked upon the stage and gave a handshake with Regina. The brunette woman nodded and left the stage to let Kathryn take over the stage to present her experiences in Law and Criminal Justice. Regina walked back to her spot with Belle in behind of the buffet table and took a glance at Emma for a while. She studied on the blonde woman's disheveled state and spoke lightly.
"Belle, is Emma pale?"
"I don't know." The brunette librarian looked away at Emma and whispered back. The brunette woman nodded and continued.
"I will be right back. I'm going to have a talk with her for several minutes. Do you mind that you can take my position for the lectures?"
"Sure, no problem. Go on. Nothing to do for you around here. You will be okay without us. Go see her if she is ok."
"Thank you, Belle, you are a lifesaver."
"No problem. Go." The brunette librarian gently pushed Regina's back away and nodded away. Regina smiled and made a beeline to Emma. The blonde woman caught Regina in her eye and tilted her head to look away. The brunette woman smiled at her when she arrived to meet her in person. Emma sighed and looked away at Kathryn's presentation. Regina puffed in her mouth, and her cheeks went in a balloon until she exhaled in the air. The blonde woman rolled her eyes and spoke lightly.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, I'm part of this committee. So?"
"Yeah right." Ruby laughed. Other ladies looked away at the brunette waitress, and she looked away at Regina and Emma until she stuttered her words and nodded while she indicated to the buffet table. The blonde woman nodded with a glare. Ruby saluted herself and walked away to Belle. Regina chuckled and spoke lightly.
"What did she think of me?"
"Well, did you meet that person, Ruby Lucas?" The blonde woman scoffed and asked.
"Oh wait a minute? Ruby Lucas? Your doctor was Dr. Lucas?" Regina stuttered her words while she looked away at the brunette waitress in a safe distance. Emma chuckled and continued.
"Oh yes. I met her several times when I met my doctor. And she is a granddaughter. Welcome to Boston."
"Well, it's a small world. So, cut to the formalities and do you mind to step outside so can we talk?"
"Sure." The blonde woman tilted her head and confirmed. Regina gave a small smile and walked away to the entrance of the room. Emma exhaled in the air and followed her along.
"I think that Regina got it bad for Emma." Belle and Ruby studied on both ladies and the brunette librarian whispered.
"Oh yeah, Emma talked about her all the times. I got tired of it, and I tried to shut her up." The brunette waitress scoffed and continued with a bam.
"How hell did you meet Emma?" Belle furrowed her eyebrows and asked.
"Well, my grandmother is her doctor. I always come and go on the first serve. I like to get to know everyone in the patients' area unless Dr. Lucas kick my ass out." Ruby replied with a shrug.
"That explains a lot. So, do you think that Regina and Emma should be together?"
"Oh yes. They should be."
"But one problem is that Regina is afraid to attach with her because…" Belle retorted carefully but stopped with her words. Ruby looked away at the brunette librarian and arched her eyebrow.
"She thinks that she couldn't be involved in an intimate relationship with her student because it's a policy in the university law."
"No fucking way." The brunette waitress was surprised that Regina was a coward and continued. Belle nodded. Ruby looked away at the lecturer and replied again.
"If Emma is available, I would do her right away unless I'm her professor."
"What!?"
"Belle, I'm kidding. I let Regina have it. Anyway, she should have her before Emma is unavailable."
"I concur." The brunette librarian responded. Ruby had an idea and smiled to herself then spoke lightly.
"Why not we do the operation to get them together?"
"Fantastic idea, Ruby. I like you already." Belle said. The brunette waitress grinned and looked away at the lecturer.
Meanwhile, Emma followed Regina out of the room, walked slowly than before and grunted a bit little. Regina waited outside, fidgeted her hands and went into her thoughts about her concerns on the blonde woman until she heard the grunts from Emma and turned around to find the blonde woman walking slowly. She spoke in a concerned tone.
"Emma, are you ok?"
"Oh, I'm all right. I think that I need to sit down."
"Ok, let me help you." The brunette woman continued and went to help Emma to sit down on the bench across from the entrance to the room then sat down beside her. The blonde woman smiled at Regina's generosity and spoke bluntly.
"What do you want from me?"
"Well… how are you since I left yesterday?"
"Let's see, my doctor said that I've been well, but my cancer is still there. I've been in chemotherapy for a long time. Come on, I'm just 27 years old and still alive."
"Oh. Is there more tests?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"That's all you want to talk about this shit? That's great. Nice to know you. So have a good day. I have to go." Emma slowly got up after replying back. Regina stuttered her words and grasped the blonde woman's arm then spoke lightly.
"Not like that I had pity on you. I just came by seeing you and see that you are ok."
"Well, it's a generosity of you. Tell your son, Henry that I said hi." The blonde woman retorted and started to walk away until Regina yelled.
"Wait, Emma!"
"What?" Emma sighed and continued while her back was facing her.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I had a freakout." The brunette woman kept rambling while she was nervous.
"What?" Emma furrowed her brows and tilted her head while they were still standing in the hallway. Regina fidgeted her hands and stuttered her words while she was staring at the blonde woman until she blurted it out.
"Well, you just asked me out on the date yesterday."
"I recalled that your son asked me that question before you denied it."
"Oh, that's difficult to say it in front of you. Oh god!" Regina growled at herself and continued.
"What is it then?" Emma continued bluntly when she turned around to face her.
"Because I like you!"
"What? You like me?" The blonde woman stuttered her words while she was shocked that Regina liked her.
"Yes, I do. I think you are beautiful, and I'm scared." The brunette woman waved her hand and stomped on the ground until she whined.
"Why are you scared?"
"Because…" Regina looked down at her hands and replied.
"Because what?" Emma retorted.
"I'm scared that I let you in my life like I did last time with Daniel. I closed my heart, and I don't know how to love someone beside Henry. Also, I don't know if I could be involved in this kind of relationship than being a professor and student."
"Really? I don't care about the policy based on the teacher and the student's relationship. Look, I had love once. I was in a relationship with my high school teacher when I was what, 17 years old. We had lasted for few months before she left the school. I didn't know where she went. It's a long time ago." The blonde woman looked down on the ground while explaining about her love life before she got a breast cancer.
"You had a relationship with your teacher?!" The brunette woman widened her eyes and exclaimed. Emma whisked to look up and yelled.
"It was a long time ago! Can you put it aside?"
"Ok, but you've been shocking me." Regina was taken back when she heard the tone from the blonde woman and hesitantly spoke lightly. The blonde woman cackled and mumbled immediately.
"I'm full of the surprises. Am I?"
"Yes, you are." The brunette woman nodded with a reply.
"Anyway, my point is to let someone in your life and let them help you to find your love. I believe in true love. Love is unconditional, but you cherish it every day. I've not dated anyone since my relationship when I was in high school. I focused on my life pretty much. Well, life is short than you think. So have a good day, Professor and see you Monday." Emma retorted with a nod and half-turned away then was stopping by Regina's voice.
"Emma, I don't know if I could do that with you."
"Just think about it. Take your time. Someone had told me before she died. Sometimes, you have to listen to your mind but you will follow your heart. Every time, I think about it for a while, and I always take these opportunities before you know what. So, enjoy your day." The blonde woman spoke lightly. The brunette woman was taken back when she felt different toward her and tilted her head. Emma gave a small smile and walked out of the building. Regina watched the blonde woman and gave some thoughts about Emma's words in her mind.
Sometimes, you have to listen to your mind but you will follow your heart.
The brunette woman sighed and walked back to the bench where they sat down before then looked away at the entrance of the room. She was in her thoughts for a while and didn't pay attention to the time or the students walked out of the room. It was already past 5 pm. The event came to the end, and the staffs cleaned up. Belle and Ruby were there to take everything down in the social gathering. Until the blonde woman in the pantsuit walked toward her and spoke lightly.
"Are you ok?"
"Oh, I'm all right. Thank you for asking. It's been a long day." The voice snapped Regina out of her thoughts and stuttered her words with a nod.
"I see. So, thank you for inviting me to the event. I enjoyed my time with your students. They are great. Thank you again. I hope I come back again." Kathryn smiled and replied.
"Of course, I will contact you again when it comes." The brunette woman nodded with a reply.
"Great. Have a good day and I'm pleased to meet you, Professor Mills." The blonde woman in pantsuit extended her hand to her with a response. Regina smiled while she reached her hand to shake it and spoke lightly.
"You too, Ms. Midas."
Kathryn smiled with a nod and left the building. Regina was getting up and looked away at Belle in the room then walked away to her office and decided to get her things. She finally locked up her office and left the building then headed back to home on her drive. The brunette woman was still thinking about Emma's words on repeatedly.
After arriving at her home, Regina came in the foyer and smelled the goods from the kitchen. She heard the banter between Henry and her mother. It made her smile, and it tugged her away to see them in the kitchen after dropping her things on the table. She spoke lightly.
"Mom, Dad and Henry! I'm home!"
"Come in, we are in the kitchen!" Mr. Mills yelled. Cora slammed her dish towel on her husband's chest. Henry cackled at the interaction between his grandparents. Regina walked into the kitchen and smiled at her small family. The oldest woman looked away at her daughter and opened her arms. The brunette woman rolled her eyes and walked toward her mother to give a hug then she felt a kiss on her forehead. Mr. Mills winked at her. The brunette man waved his hand and spoke lightly.
"Hello, mom."
"Hello dear. How was your day?"
"Good." Mr. Mills said. Cora rolled her eyes and spoke lightly.
"We've been catching up with our friends. They're great! So what about you?"
"It's been good. The event went successfully. Also, I saw Emma there too." The brunette woman explained right away with a smile.
"Oh really!? How was she?" Henry exclaimed. Regina looked away at her son and smiled a little. The oldest man caught his daughter's look and spoke lightly.
"Is everything ok?"
"It's fine. Emma's doing good, and she said hi." The brunette woman nodded with a small smile then replied back.
"Cool!" The brunette man continued with a big smile. Cora shook her head and looked away at her daughter then continued.
"You are in this time for dinner!"
"Great, I'm hungry." Regina moaned when she smelled the lasagna and spoke lightly.
"Have you eaten your lunch? I made you a meal few hours ago." Henry asked with his furrowed brows.
"Oh! I forgot. Sorry Henry, I was busy with the event." The brunette woman shook her head and mumbled.
"You have to eat something. Come here with us and eat our dinner together." The oldest woman continued with a small smile.
"Ok." Regina nodded and grabbed the dish of lasagna to the table. Henry and Mr. Mills carried the drinks. Cora collected the dishes and utensils to the table. They went to settle down on the table and sat down around the table. They grabbed their dish of lasagna and continued with their talks on the days. But Regina was still in her thoughts about Emma's words in her mind and nodded to everything her son talked about friends he hung out at the café.
A/N: Next Chapter: Emma's POV. Only 8 more chapters to go. :-D
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