It was completely out of character for the Mayor to be late for anything but she'd barely been able to make breakfast for Henry and get him off to school before almost running the Mercedes-Benz through a few red lights. Regina was agitated by the time she walked into her office, her assistant, Kathryn, following close behind while trying to remind the Mayor what was on her schedule for the day, she stopped short when the raven haired woman was staring at her desk.
"Oh yes, these were delivered for you this morning. I signed for them and I think there might be a note," She took Regina's coat before setting down a few files "I'll be right back, Ms. Mills." But the Mayor hadn't even registered that Kathryn was still in the room as she approached the flowers. They were lavender roses, the fragrance enveloping her as she ran her fingertips over the petals with a small smile. No one ever sent her flowers, let alone in her favorite color, and she plucked the note from the bouquet as she settled into her chair.
'You have no idea how hard this was to pull off, Madam Mayor, and I can't say I didn't have some help- a certain prince got me in touch with the florist in Storybrooke. When I heard what color roses he had these one's jumped out at me. I'm banking on you liking purple. Hopefully you got enough sleep last night- sorry! Have a lovely day, Regina. xx Swan'
Emma had guessed her favorite color and sent her flowers? It was touching to say the least and she moved to pull her phone out of her purse, taking a picture of the roses before texting the blonde. 'You'll never believe what I found this morning. Someone that kept me up terribly late wanted to apologize. I love them, Miss Swan, this is very sweet.'
Regina set the vase on the edge of her desk before settling in and starting on the items she had been supposed to work on the previous night but had been distracted by a Skype call with a beautiful blonde.
The phone buzzing beside her head pulled her from sleep and she reached over to shut it off, thinking it was an alarm in her haze, only to spot a message and picture. Emma pulled her glasses off her bedside table to read it with a smile, so Regina liked the present? It was the least she could do after keeping the Mayor up so late but it had been too much fun talking to her.
'I'm glad you like them. They aren't nearly as beautiful as you are but I'm hoping they brighten up your office a bit. If you wind up having time free today I still want to hear two truths and a lie from you, Ms. Mills.'
Emma stretched and headed for the shower, putting music on as she started the water only to be interrupted by pounding on her door. She frowned, not expecting company, and flipped the shower back off before heading to her door and peering through the peephole at whoever was disturbing her morning ritual. "Good morning, Rubes," She opened the door and smiled at her leggy friend who brushed past her into the apartment "Sure, just make yourself at home."
"Why didn't you text me back at all last night, Emma? I could have used you as a wingman!" Ruby dropped herself on the couch with a sigh, pulling her red hair up into a ponytail as she did indeed make herself at home. Right, there was some gay bar that Ruby had been pestering her about going to that she had little to no interest in it. "I mean there were a TON of cute girls there and you might've even found a date or something- got any coffee, Swan?"
The blonde laughed and shook her head, Ruby loved to skip topics at a rapid pace and it had taken some getting used to but now was endearing, before going into the kitchen to start a cup for her friend. "I had a previous engagement Rubes, game night with Henry," She took the mug from the machine before switching the Keruig to hot chocolate for herself "And then I met a cute girl. Well, cute doesn't begin to cover it. She's more like a goddess and-" She was cut off by the taller woman now standing behind her, almost dumping the cup of coffee as she was spun around.
"You met SOMEONE? And you didn't think to tell me? You haven't dated anyone since /you know who/ and have been staying inside playing games. How did you meet her? I swear if you say on PlayStation and you haven't actually seen her I am going to lose it because that does NOT count as meeting a quote goddess end quote and-"
"RUBY! Here's your coffee," Emma handed the mug with a little wolf on it to her friend to stop her from going on a tangent "Also I DID first talk to her over a headset-" "Ah Emma, come ooooon-" "BUT then I had a Skype call with her that lasted hours." She brushed off the groan from her friend before moving to her fridge for whipped cream and then the cabinet for cinnamon- hot chocolate toppings that she could not do without.
Ruby drank her coffee in silence for a few minutes before offering up a wolfish grin "So who is she, Emma? Who is this goddess? Some gamer babe? Did you guys… play together?" She smirked and the blonde let out a disgusted noise before going back over to the couch, sinking into the cushions with her hands wrapped around the mug. Leave it to Ruby to turn things into some kind of innuendo but they had indeed played a game together, one that was still left unfinished on Regina's end.
"She's Henry's mom," Emma answered after a while of thinking, turning to her friend that had joined her on the couch "Her name is Regina, she's the mayor of Storybrooke where she and Henry live and from what I've seen on Google maps it looks like it is actually from a story book. She's got this amazing smile. She speaks Spanish and plays these cheesy romance games on her phone. I sent her flowers today." Ruby's eyes had only gotten larger as Emma spoke, it seemed her friend was smitten.
The music was disrupted, still playing in the bathroom from where she left it as she had been planning on taking a shower, and alerted the two women of a message. It set Emma into immediate action, hurrying to grab it with Ruby hot on her heels. "Is it Goddess Mayor? Do you two text now? You'd figure she would be busy with work or something," Ruby commented as her pale friend stopped the music to read her text "Well? What'd she say? Or are you sexting already?" Another disgusted noise from the blonde who shook her head.
"No, she's playing a game with me. Two truths and a lie. Remember? The game you suck at. Besides I don't think I'm lucky enough to have Regina freaking Mills sext me. She's like... A queen. You should've seen her sitting at her desk at home last night, she was like royalty come to life." Emma responded but anything Ruby said in reply was tuned out as white noise while she read.
'Bossy, Miss Swan, usually I am the one in the position of giving orders but I'm feeling generous after someone sent me flowers so I'll play your games. That being said… I make my own apple cider, both alcoholic and non-so Henry can enjoy it as well. It is the best apple cider you've never tasted. I use the apples from my own tree. It was a gift from my wonderful father; Henry is named after him, and shares much of his personality with the grandfather he was never able to meet. They are both kind, caring, and loving men.'
Emma was all smiles until she realized Ruby was trying to read over her shoulder and she hid the phone from prying eyes "Rubes, don't you have some place to be? Like work or taking care of your puppy or anything other than trying to insert yourself into my... friendship with Regina." She pocketed the phone, crossing her arms over her chest and giving her friend a pointed look. It wasn't as if she didn't cherish time with her red headed friend but not so much when she was eavesdropping.
"Friendship? I'm pretty sure I spotted something flirtatious in there but alright, I know when I'm not wanted," A scoff from Emma at that "Thanks for the coffee and I'll see you later. Enjoy your time with the queen!" For once Ruby made a timely exit and left her to her thoughts, reading through the message a few more times with a smile.
'I'm not sure if taking orders from you would be such a bad thing but maybe the people from your kingdom might disagree with me. Unless you're a fair benevolent ruler? I'd like to try that apple cider and I might wager that you were drinking it last night? I won't make a guess just yet but something is telling me that is a truth. Only two things left to tell me, on the edge of my seat. Dying of anticipation.'
There was a smirk on her face from the very first lines of her text message, it was.. charming how Emma could juggle between flattery and flirtation with a few simple lines. The mayor was immediately wrapped up in a meeting that lasted far longer than she would have liked, having her work through lunch and having to take a later one as result. If Emma had been dying before, she thought and her phone chimed again as she pulled a salad from Granny's diner out of its bag.
'Oof, Madam Mayor, how you build suspense. It's borderline cruel. (; I get it if you're busy but what a tease. Your next truth or lie, whenever you return to being a kind queen.'
She chuckled, pouring her dressing onto her salad before sparing a look over to the roses still on her desk. The flowers had gotten quite a few looks and some comments but she'd been quite protective of them, fending off anyone getting to close to the rare gift by directing them back to matters at hand. Regina ate a few bites in thought before picking her phone back up to fix Emma's death by anticipating a reply.
'To be fair, I never said I was kind. In fact I even admitted to being quite strict and into giving orders, do try to keep up dear. However you have been ever so patient so I'll muster some kindness. I have one tattoo, a thunderbird in flight on the back of my neck littered with geometric shapes and patterns. It was an impulse decision but I do not regret it. How about you, Miss Swan? Any tattoos?'
It was a tattoo idea she'd mulled over long before Henry was even born but she'd put it off and focused her attention on other things in life and so she'd settled on the lie to tell Emma, although it was a lot more detailed then the blonde's attempt. Regina figured it might be enough to throw Emma a bit but it was her game they were playing after all.
'Yeah, a flower on the inside of my wrist. It's a tiny thing but still a tattoo. A bird huh? Majestic and on the rise to boot, it suits you well. Do you have any plans to get more of them? If so might I suggest a little crown.'
'You are hell bent on this royalty thing, Emma, and why would I need a tattoo when I have my very own crown? A little flower you say? It seems you like flowers a great deal if the tattoo and roses on my desk are proof enough. How about my last truth or lie? I have a scar on my upper lip; I got it while trying to run away from my abusive mother on a horse only to fall from it when she started screaming at me to stop with threats of far worse. When I fell I also fractured my wrist but received no sympathy rather more abuse despite the bleeding lip and cradling my arm to my chest.'
Regina hesitated on hitting send as she read through her words several times, it wasn't a story she'd shared with anyone and she didn't know why she felt so safe to do so with Emma. Clicking send she started to eat again and look at her flowers, knowing that Henry was in part to thank for the gift as he'd helped Emma get information on the local florist. They had a shared friend between them now, an uncommon occurrence to say the least. She was just considering how to approach that topic with her son when another alert from her phone pulled her from her thoughts.
'So I think I've got you figured out, Madam Mayor, and I'm ready to make my guesses. Your apple cider, the best one I've never tasted, is a truth and I hope to rectify never tasting it by doing just that someday. You seem to really enjoy it.'
Another quick message appeared after it.
'You do have a scar on your upper lip. I'm kind of annoyed that Skype doesn't have a decent enough resolution so I could have seen it better but I am more annoyed at your mother. Why would she be abusive to someone as amazing to you? Why couldn't she be more like your father, Henry? I think it's incredible you named your son after him and I'm sorry they never got to meet.'
'Last but not least this tattoo. While I think the design would be apropos my superpower crushes my dreams of you having sexy ink on your neck. The tattoo is your lie but you did a way better job of lying than I did that's for sure. Thank you for playing, Regina, I think I know you a lot better now. You deserve better then what your mother gave you and I want you to know that. Despite her cruelty you have been an amazing mother in turn. I think you have a lot of your father in you too from what you've said about him.'
Tears almost sprung to her eyes at what Emma had said it was touching. She idolized her father and how he had been the most caring parent any child could ask for and she missed him dearly after losing him to a heart attack many years ago. Regina finished her salad, disposing of the trash and moving to respond to Emma before her assistant brought in yet another person. A mayor's duties never finished when she needed them to be.
This time it was Dr. Archie Hopper paying her a visit, the only therapist in Storybrooke and someone she had been going to for sometime, and he had Pongo, his Dalmatian, following him in. "Hello Mayor Mills, I wanted to come by and see how you were. You know you missed your last session with me, correct?" The red headed man smiled, sitting in one of the chairs in front of Regina's desk as he cleaned his glasses.
Regina sighed and nodded "I'm aware, Dr. Hopper, I have been quite busy as of late but I do have all intentions of keeping up our next appointment. Unless you're doing house calls now?" She quirked an eyebrow as he pulled out a notebook, it seemed he had decided to do just that. Pongo sniffed at the roses causing her to cast a glare at the dog before he settled next to Archie's feet. Henry loves the dog, she repeated a few times to herself as not to snap about the canine's behavior.
"Those are lovely flowers Regina, a gift from Henry?" It wasn't like the mayor to have flowers in her office let alone something that wasn't color coordinated to match with the interior. Regina Mills only had one plant she tended to, her famed apple tree but it seemed like- as she'd bristled at Pongo's interest in the roses- there was something else she was protective of.
Regina shook her head, standing to set the roses on a nearby shelf to deter Pongo from being curious once more "No, Dr. Hopper. They are from a friend of mine." Now that was news, he took note of it in his book as he watched her with interest; she was running her fingers over the vase with a faint smile.
"A friend, Regina? You used to tell me that friends were a weakness you couldn't afford to have. I see that school of thought has evolved then. I'm sure Henry is thrilled for you. Is it someone here in Storybrooke?" A weakness, those were her mother's words- friendship is a weakness, love is a weakness, and it seemed compassion for one's children a weakness.
"She's not in Storybrooke and I suppose my thinking may have changed or rather I've stopped listening to the voice in my head-" "Your conscience?" "My mother, Cora. She was the one who said friends are weakness and I believed her for a long time. Believed she was right about that and love and… Me." Regina started to wring her hands together as she shook off the thoughts of her mother and the memories she had left behind.
"Her name is Emma, my new friend. I think she's quite interesting and we met through Henry to tell you the truth so I have no doubt he'll be pleased. I had a long conversation with her last night, one that kept me up very late and she sent these," The black haired Mayor gestured to the roses "To apologize for keeping me up. It's the first time anyone has sent me roses or even wanted to do something so kind. Someone that I didn't know two days ago does something like this for me and… And…." She was struggling to find the words.
"And you feel unworthy? Like you don't deserve friendship? You don't have to listen to that voice anymore, just like you said. I think it's great you are making friends, Regina, and what's more I think this Emma sees you as worthy and deserving of her friendship and this gift." Archie looked down at his watch before shutting the notebook "I think you should pursue this, it could be good for you. But it's about time for Henry to be out of school. I'll see you in a couple days for our session if you'll be available for it?" Regina nodded, still in thought and unable to speak at the moment. "Alright, Mayor Mills, make sure to take your roses home. Come on Pongo."
She stood, shutting the door behind Archie and his faithful companion as they left, before just resting her forehead against it. Regina did respect what Dr. Hopper had to say and she considered it as she took a few deep breaths, turning to move back to her desk and pick up her phone, seeing a few messages and even a picture attached.
'I'll have you know that Boston might not be Storybrooke but it's got some amazing things about it too. I mean, look where my run took me today!' The photo underneath it showed a sweaty Emma, without her glasses, wearing a tank top and a loose ponytail, ear buds in and a grin as she stood in front of a row of boats all with swans on the backs of them. 'It's a whole row of ME, Regina! Can you handle that much Swan?' The way she was pointing at them showed off the muscles in her arm and she was just about to reply when Henry opened her office door.
"Hey Mom," He greeted, dropping his backpack into the chair Archie had vacated not but fifteen minutes ago, and giving his mother a smile before purple flowers caught his eye "I see operation Game of Thorns went off without a hitch. Do you like them?" His smile had grown; it had been awesome to wake up to a message from Emma- she'd told him her real name in it- asking for help with a gift for his mother.
"Hello my little prince and yes, I do like them very much. Thank you for your part in the operation. What do you say to lasagna tonight for dinner?" "Okay, can I say hi to Emma when you guys video chat tonight?" Regina blinked a few times at the quick question, it was presumptuous of her son and she hadn't even considered that they were going to Skype again but now there was a definite reason to.
'That is much more Swan then I am used to that's for sure but it seems as if we at the Mills house haven't had our fill- Henry would like to talk with you tonight. Over Skype. If you're able to that is.'
Just like Henry Emma's response was immediate, the mayor hadn't even had time to tell her son that she'd asked when the other message popped up.
'Since you said we and our I'm assuming Henry isn't the only one who's interested in talking to me? I wouldn't miss it for the world, Madam Mayor, just tell me when and it's a date.'