Miraculously, the dinner got off to a pretty good start.
Regina poured red wine for David and herself to go with the food, and he pulled out a chair for her to sit down. Anyone watching from the distance would have thought this was their standard Saturday night.
David didn't want to spoil Regina's mood, but he didn't really know what to talk about with his ex-wife's best friend. It wasn't like he could complain about Mary Margaret ignoring him for days.
That very evening he was preparing to find her and settle their relationship once and for all. He wanted to prove to her that their relationship was worth fighting for, but Regina needed his friendship and that was just as important. Maybe he'll have time for Mary Margaret tomorrow.
"So, Regina" he began cautiously "Henry's been spending quite a lot of time with Emma lately"
It was more of a statement than a question and he saw the way she flinched at the mention of the Sheriff. He regretted speaking immediately.
"David, it hurts me enough that my own son isn't here right now, I really don't want to talk about Emma." she looked at him as if she simply didn't have the strength to think about her situation anymore.
Her momentary satisfaction in the fact that she was having dinner with one of her greatest enemies and he didn't even know it, instantly subsided and was replaced by worry. What if this plan of hers came with a price? What if Henry was that price?
"Regina," he said softly "you are as much his mother as she is, he'll come around, just have faith".
She wanted to roll her eyes so badly at the hope speech. He might not have his memories, but David was just as annoyingly optimistic as his Enchanted Forest persona. Still, she needed to play her part, so with a soft sigh she tried to get his dense brain satisfied with her answer.
"David, I know I am his mother, but I can't pretend like Emma is just some random woman. She wants to be in his life and there is nothing I can do except try and live a normal life. I can't help it that I am sad and angry, but it will pass." she lowered her head, the next sentence almost a whisper "I never get what I want anyways".
She finished, not sure if she really meant for all of that to come out. There was a certain honesty in her words and while David couldn't quite understand what she was talking about, he could see it in her eyes.
"You deserve so much, Regina" he smiled softly and as he did, his hands found hers "If it means anything, I am happy to have you in my life".
David did not know how else to comfort the broken woman sitting across from him. David himself didn't know what made him take her by the hand or tell her such an intimate secret that he kept only for himself, but he didn't feel bad about it.
Regina did become a close friend of his and while both their lives were a mess, he was glad he had her by his side.
"Thank you, David"
She watched him as he frantically ate his plate of lasagna. The fact that he was enjoying her food almost made her laugh. Prince Charming and the Evil Queen having dinner together sounded ridiculous, but somehow not as bad as she thought it would.
They didn't talk much after David complimented her by calling her important to him. Here and there they would comment on little things, but it was mostly him eating and her drinking her wine.
Just as he had finished eating, did she allowed herself to speak.
"I am safe to assume you enjoyed my cooking, right?"
He only looked up at her when he heard her speak. For a moment, David felt embarrassed going at the food like a wild animal, especially after he almost declined the offer, but the food was amazing, and he had no idea just how hungry he was.
Still, he took the napkin and lightly tapped at his mouth before flashing her one of his charming smiles.
"Honestly, Regina, best lasagna ever!" she let out a hearty laugh, catching him off guard.
"You really know how to work some magic."
She was amused at his choice of words, but still grateful for the compliment.
"I am glad to hear that. When I had Henry, I didn't know how to prepare almost anything except eggs. Thanks to him, I got the desire to experiment in the kitchen and what can I say... I'm obviously doing something right"
"You are definitely doing something good! Granny is lucky that you are the mayor, otherwise, she would have had some serious competition"
The compliments just kept coming and she didn't know if it was the wine they had been drinking, but certainly didn't mind it. In fact, his compliments only made her more confident.
"Well dear, since you are so... charmed, I will pack leftovers for you to take to your suite. I know you've been on your own lately and could use something home cooked."
Regina started to get up, but David beat her to it. He started picking up the dishes,
"Please Regina, you made the food. The least I can do is get the dishes."
It was strange to Regina just how easy this all seemed. Having dinner with someone and having her dishes handled. Chatting comfortably in the comfort of her home and sharing a glass of wine. It made her realize just how much she missed having a man around, even just to keep her company.
"You saved me from having to call the tow truck today and now you're doing my dishes? Doesn't seem right."
She gave him a grateful nod before raising herself to follow him into the kitchen.
"You fed me, let yourself share your worries with me, and made me feel better than I did in a while. I needed this, Regina; I am the one who should be thanking you."
The dishes were put in the sink, David was leaning on the kitchen counter, his arms relaxed at his side, and Regina... well, she saw the perfect opportunity to bring this evening to an end, or rather a beginning.
"Aw, well I can't help it: I feel responsible for you." the next words were sickeningly sweet "Ever since I... found you."
"You know? After all this time, no one's ever told me the story."
Regina was standing at the entrance to the kitchen, although she had already started walking towards him, stopping right next to where he was leaning.
"What story?" she asked innocently.
"About how you found me."
Ah, and there it was. She gave him a soft smile.
"That's probably because I'm the only one who knows it. "
Before she proceeded, she made sure her eyes were locked on his, her voice lower than usual.
"I was... working late. It-it was a cold night. It must've been ten below. And on my drive home, I realized I left my phone in the office. I remember thinking... just to forget about it; I didn't need it... but something inside me told me to turn around and go back."
He listened intently and found the whole story to be incredible. Regina could've gotten her phone the next day, but she didn't. She found him, and she saved his life.
"That's when you saw me?"
It didn't go past her the way he moved closer to her. Whether it was to hear her better or just his curiosity, she couldn't quite tell, but it was fun to watch the shepherd slip into her lies so easily.
"You were on the side of the road. Unconscious. So cold you felt like ice. The doctor said if I'd found you ten minutes later, it would have been too late. It's amazing, isn't it? If I hadn't forgotten my phone, I wouldn't have been on the road then."
She kept her lips slightly parted as if she was about to continue her little game of lies, but he was the one to speak first.
"Yeah, it's... almost...almost like the universe wanted you to find me."
Regina's gaze instantly landed on his mouth and her body began to move towards him. She would never admit it if ever asked, but at that moment, Regina really wanted to kiss David.
Maybe it was the wine or the fact that it had been so long since she'd felt a man's touch, either way, she was left stunned when David pulled back.
What? She thought to herself when his startled look matched hers. The Evil Queen never gets denied, never gets rejected. Was the Charming Prince that resilient to her? She started panicking but couldn't let him see it. Instead, she pulled herself together and straightened her back. He will not see her weak.
He was the first one to speak as he kept backing away. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Uh, I-I'm sorry. I hope you didn't get the wrong idea."
Regina was his friend, and while she was a beautiful woman, she was also his ex-wife's friend and he had mixed feelings for Mary Margaret. Adding Regina to the mix wouldn't do him any good and wouldn't be fair at all.
"Regina, I..." he wanted to continue and explain himself, but she cut him off.
"No. I'm sorry, I just got caught up in the moment..." she trailed, looking anywhere but at him. In all her life, the Queen was never rejected by a man or a woman before. She was slightly angry that the first man who ever did it was no other than Snow's Charming Prince.
Still, she needed to stay calm. It still wasn't over; she would just have to find another way to get him away from Mary Margaret.
"You don't have to apologize. I just... we... this is great like it is."
He said, but he could see she was hurt by his rejection. For a moment, he wondered if it genuinely was the heat of the moment for her or maybe there was something more. No matter, he needed to go home and think about what happened, and seeing how she started walking towards the foyer, it was apparent she wanted to be alone.
"Thanks again for dinner." He tried to get her to say something more, but she smiled and nodded politely.
As David left her house, she dawned her glass of wine in rage and when the door was closed behind him, she threw it against her mirror which shattered instantly.
What the hell went wrong?!