After Henry went up to take a bath Regina looked over at her guest, her hands on the counter as she leaned against it. Emma had taken off her leather jacket and boots, standing in front of her clad in socks and smiling at her. It was still surreal that the woman she had only seen in photos and over Skype was in her home to stay for an undetermined amount of time. There was no rush, in the mayor's opinion, to set a date for the end of her visit, not when her presence brought such joy to the mayoral mansion and the family that resided within it.
"I'm glad you enjoyed dinner and dessert. Henry made me promise that would be your first official meal with us. They are both favorites of his and I know he wanted to share them with you," Regina smiled and moved away from the counter, starting towards the living room "While we were making dinner he mentioned you picked something out for me at the library? Pertaining to my favorite DC character?" She slipped her heels off and settled next to the two comic books on the couch, setting the one with Iron Man on the cover off to the side to pick up the other option. Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn were standing proudly on the front in their tight costumes. It was a series she hadn't started yet, only having read a few from each universe before making the decision that DC was superior.
Emma joined her on the couch and nodded "I loved the Sirens when I first came across them. Putting Harleen, Selina and Pamela together as roommates was a stroke of genius. I also was smitten when I saw Selina wearing a tuxedo in one of the panels although I will always prefer her in leather. She's your favorite right? Other then Diana." She rested her arm on the back of the couch, leaning her head against it as she watched the Mayor with a small smile on her lips that only grew in size when she pulled a pair of black reading glasses from her purse and put them on.
Regina looked up from the comic book she'd opened, seeing the way Emma's current position showed off the muscles in her arm and quickly looked back down at the panel that showed Catwoman protecting two people from a wannabe villain trying to mug them. "I'm a fan of leather myself. I could see the appeal in wearing the cat suit, whip and claws included. There's more to Selina however, she's not your typical bad guy just like we see here," She moved to share the comic book with Emma "If this was the Joker or the Riddler do you think they'd even stop to look? No, not to mention she's on the mend after a major operation but she's still acting like one of the heroes. Maybe I just like the possibility of redemption for everyone." She gave a partial shrug and then closed the comic book to read it later, seeing the peculiar way she was being looked at. "What?"
Emma grinned and leaned closer "I didn't know you wore glasses and-" "They are just my readers-" "And you look really, REALLY good in glasses Madam Mayor. I'm starting to come to the conclusion that you could make anything look sexy. One of these days you're going to have to model a trash bag dress for me and I'm sure that'll only confirm it." Regina laughed and reached up to remove the frames from her face only to be stopped by Emma's hand, she had a knack for grabbing tan fingers before they could act.
"Regina, eres guapísima." Emma said softly and watched the beautiful smile blossom on Regina's bright red lips, she loved the way that the other woman reacted to any compliment but when it was said in Spanish she just lit up. She curled her fingers to hold Emma's hand and shift a little closer, her knees resting against jean-clad thighs.
"It's unfair when you speak Spanish, Emma, I can't focus and I get flustered," Regina was quoting the blonde at that point but she found it to be true for herself as well "You are really getting a handle on the language and I must admit that I'm impressed." She squeezed the pale hand before letting go to actually take her readers off and put them back in her purse despite the soft whine of protest from the other woman.
Emma took a deep breath and mentally practiced a phrase she had been working on for weeks, she was adamant on getting it just right and it felt like the perfect moment to ask "Saldrás conmigo mañana?" She held her breath a minute after the words left her mouth, knowing that she had just asked Regina out on a date for the next day. It was terrifying but also thrilling and she bit her lip while she waited for a response.
Regina's brown eyes went wide and she looked down at her hands, she hadn't been asked on a date in a very long time let alone by someone she wanted to go out with. She thought about Henry and how it could affect him in the worst case scenario if things didn't work out between them. Emma was his best friend, he loved having her there and Regina was very fond of her company as well not to mention there was the already agreed upon attraction and feelings between the two of them. She started twisting her fingers together the more she contemplated her answer but a hand moving to rest on her own stopped her and as she looked up into hopeful cerulean eyes, the doubt melted away "I would love to Em-ma. Sí por favor." The massive smile on Emma's face was heartwarming and she chuckled at the way she started bouncing a little in her seat.
Emma let go of Regina's hands and turned when the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching them, Henry smiling at the closeness of his friend and mother. "Did you guys figure out what movie we should watch?" He asked as he moved to join them on the couch, sitting on the other side of their guest. She bumped shoulders with him before shaking her head and waving over to the DVD collection.
"We were waiting on you to join us kid. Go on and pick one out." He jumped back up to look through the various choices, tapping his barefoot on the ground as he searched. They had a lot to choose from but he grabbed a movie from its designated spot in the alphabet, switching the game back to its case and putting the movie in before sitting beside Emma again. The familiar Disney logo taking over the television screen as The Emperor's New Groove started playing.
After a day filled with excitement Henry didn't manage to stay awake long enough to see Llama Kuzco dressed in drag and Regina looked over to find her son asleep with his head on Emma's shoulder, the other woman's head on top of his with her eyes closed and her glasses off in one hand. She couldn't help but pull out her phone and get a picture of the two of them, finding it to be too adorable to pass up. When she lifted her phone for one more she saw Emma looking back at her with a smile, still leaning against Henry. "Get some good shots there, your highness?" She asked in a whisper, not wanting to disturb the sleeping boy next to her.
Regina flipped the phone around to show off the two photos and then set it back on the couch "I'll wake him up and-" "Nah, don't worry about waking him. I got this one covered." Emma interrupted with a hand up, putting her glasses back on and carefully pulling away from Henry only to pick him up in her arms. The Mayor was shocked at the ease Emma had in accomplishing such a task, she hadn't been able to pick her son up in quite a few years and the other woman made it look like she was only carrying a grocery bag. "Just uh a little help on getting his door open and everything?" She asked and Regina stopped staring to lead her up the stairs and get her son's door.
Emma kept a hand on Henry's back as she moved through the dark room, laying him down gently and pulling the blankets around him. "Sleep tight kid, sweet dreams." She brushed his hair back before moving out of the way so his mother could finish tucking him in, kissing his forehead with a soft "I love you Henry Daniel Mills." The blonde stretched on her way out of his room, twisting one way and then the other to work out the stiffness in her back after drifting off on the couch.
"I think there was mention of the best apple cider in the world? I could go for a glass before I take a bath and then have to make up a bed on the couch." Emma turned to the other woman as she shut Henry's door and then looked at her with a mortified expression, she had forgotten all about the need to set up a guest room after such a busy day. Regina shook her head and covered her face with a soft groan.
"I am so sorry, Emma. I should have put a room together for you before we had dinner or even after. You must think I'm a terrible hostess to have you sleeping on a couch. I promise tomorrow before Henry goes off to his sleepover the three of us will tackle the room of least resistance," She dropped her hands with a sigh, hoping to placate any disappointment "It might be the one near mine so you are welcome to use my bathroom, you might fair better there anyways since my son has yet to master keeping up his own."
Emma shrugged "I don't mind sleeping on a couch, I'd sleep on a floor as long as it meant I would be waking up to you and Henry. We can worry about this tomorrow, Regina because right now I am interested in having a drink with you. Come on, your highness. Lead me to this delicious apple cider." She started down the stairs before being taken into Regina's den/ home office, watching as the raven haired woman started to pour two glasses with amber liquid from a crystal decanter in a practiced fashion.
She noticed the way Regina often tucked a few locks of her hair behind her ear, how she twisted her bare foot on the floor, the way her eyes lit up when she looked over her shoulder at Emma and how she smiled when she sauntered over with a glass in each hand, holding one out towards her. Emma smiled and tapped her glass against Regina's "To… the best day being today, tomorrow, and every single one while I'm in Storybrooke." She toasted and took a drink, her eyes going wide when she tasted yet another of the mayor's apple creations. Was there anything the woman couldn't do?
"This is deadlier than the turnovers. You have a magic touch when it comes to apples, Regina. I bet you could bottle this and make a fortune, call it Regina's Wicked Apple Cider? No, we can do better than that. Give me a little time and I'll figure out something suitable." Regina took a seat in one of the leather chairs, resting her arms on either side before taking a drink while Emma walked around the den. There were a few family photos around, showing Henry and Regina in various ages, clothes, and occasions. She stopped in front of one that was clearly Halloween, grinning at Henry's big smile. He had to be about four years old and both he and Regina were dressed as pirates, Henry raising a plastic hooked hand up into the air with a beard drawn onto his face and an eye patch over his left eye while Regina had a loose braid, dark rimmed eyes, and a skull pendant.
She touched the gothic black frame around it, her finger sliding along the swirls that held the photo in place. "You two look cute here and the pirate life definitely suits you. If you ever want a break from being a mayor the role of pirate queen is all yours." Emma moved on from the photo to another, Christmas morning with the Mills in matching pajamas and cups of cocoa. They were a perfect little family and every picture of them together held so much happiness and love.
Regina watched Emma closely; she was drinking her cider while taking in all the photos and knick knacks in the room. The blonde finally finished her little tour and sat on the loveseat across from Regina, tilting her now half empty glass toward the Mayor in a gesture of thanks. "I'm happy you enjoy it so much. I don't get to share the adult version with anyone; typically I'm indulging in it all alone after work or on the weekends. As for bottling it," She took the last sip from her own glass and then clicked her tongue "I think I'll keep it a secret. People can just enjoy their appletinis instead." She was about to get up to pour another when Emma beat her to it.
"Relax Regina, you've been on your feet all day long with Henry's full day for us and making dinner. Let someone do something for you for a change." She moved to fill her glass only part of the way before giving Regina the same amount, handing it back to her and taking her seat once again. Regina said a soft thank you as she took her glass and leaned back in her seat, finding it sweet that Emma was so considerate and caring which only added to the guilt of not having a bed to offer her yet.
She opened her mouth to vocalize her apologies about it once more but was cut off by the blonde speaking first "We have to make sure not to drink too much tonight. You do have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow. There's cleaning a room out, getting Henry to his sleepover, and the fact that you have a date with someone dashing and dangerously charismatic." She smiled over the glass before taking another sip, hoping the slight burn of the cider would destroy the nerves she felt over taking Regina out on an actual date.
Regina chuckled and nodded, there was truth in her words. Emma was charming and dashing among her other outstanding qualities. "Do I get to know anything about our date? At the very least a proper dress code. Should I leave my crown at home?" Emma laughed, it was a sound mesmerizing to hear and she loved to watch how her eyes danced with humor. A great laugh was yet another one of those qualities.
"You can wear your crown when we get back from the date. I'd like to see it anyways; you have seen my sword after all. Kind of a you show me yours and I'll show you mine deal." She smirked at the double entendre, finishing off her cider and standing up. "Well, your majesty, I would fight a giant for a bath right now. I need to grab my pjs and toiletries but then you can show me this glamorous bathroom of yours. And thanks again for the drink, you really are a sorceress with apples." Emma left the room with her empty glass, deciding to wash it so Regina wouldn't have to.
Regina let out a breath that she wasn't even aware she'd been holding in and closed her eyes only to have the flash of a dream behind her eyelids. The same dream where Emma was playing video games with Henry and she stole her away for a drink that ended up with them kissing. She snapped her eyes open and took a long drink to drain her glass, trying to brush off the phantom sounds of Emma saying her name and the imaginary feeling of being pressed against the wall. Standing she took her glass into the kitchen, finding Emma had already dried and put away every dish from dinner and dessert. Her glass that had previously been used for cider was also washed, dried, and set on the counter.
She wasn't used to only having one thing to clean up after her night, the singular glass in her hand, and she set it in the sink. When she looked up her eyes nearly burst from her skull as she saw Emma taking her shirt off in the living room, exposing a stomach littered in defined abdominal muscles and a white bra that was almost see through. Regina tried to tear her eyes away but found them uncooperative and glued on Emma's body, watching her pull her hair up into a messy bun before putting her hands on her hips as she looked down into the bag on the couch. All that running she did in Boston was really working in her favor and she found herself wondering what she did to keep her arms in shape, probably weights.
When pale fingers went to reach for the button on her jeans she forced herself to turn on the sink and focus on washing her glass vigorously, deciding it needed to be cleaner and grabbing the soap again only to squeeze too hard on the bottle when a voice interrupted her "That glass owe you money?" She gasped and blinked when there was now soap on the front of her dress. "Whoa Regina! Hey, it's alright, lemme grab a towel for you." Thankfully she found that Emma had pulled on a loose shirt and sweatpants before coming over. Regina swallowed and took the towel when it was offered to her, knowing she'd have to get her dress off and into the washing machine as soon as possible.
"Seriously are you okay? You were scrubbing the crystal design out of that thing and now you're covered in.. Fluid. Do you need to sit down or-" "I was just distracted and not paying attention so that's why I find myself wearing lilac dish soap. I'll just get the dress off after I show you to the bathroom." She had to cut Emma off, trying to distance herself from the other woman who had currently given her a new onslaught of inappropriate thoughts about biting along ab muscles and ripping a white bra off her. Turning back to the sink to wet an edge of the towel she blotted it along the spots of soap on the red fabric only to stiffen when she felt a hand brush against her back.
"You must be some kind of super woman to zip these things by your self. This zipper is all the way up here," Regina gripped the edge of the sink, her breathing turned shallow at the close proximity, whispered words, and the feeling of Emma's fingers on the zipper that rested on her neck "Good thing I'm here to help or you might dislocate your shoulder trying to reach it." She turned to look over her shoulder, seeing Emma biting her lip and looking at her with darkened eyes. "Let me know if you need me, Regina." She added and the words threatened to be the mayor's undoing. There was some small mercy in the way Emma took a step back to grab the bag of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other toiletries she'd set on the counter.
Letting out a shaky exhale she released the white knuckle grip on the sink as well, nodding a few times before clearing her throat "Let's go upstairs. I can show you where the bathroom is and then get changed. I'll help you set up a decent enough bed on the couch when you're ready." She ran her hands along the sides of her dress, finding they were a little clammy after seeing Emma in stages of undress and having her so close. Regina started up the stairs without another word as she didn't trust her voice to stay even at the moment, turning the light on in her bedroom before heading to the en suite bathroom and repeating the same motion with the light switch there in.
"Well there's obviously a bathtub or you can shower, whichever you'd prefer," She moved to pull a towel out from the rest in her linen closet "Towels are in there in case you require more then one and I'll be nearby if you need anything. Enjoy." Regina was careful to keep a little distance between the two of them so she wouldn't be tempted to act on any of the thoughts screaming in her head. She shut the door behind her and hurried to get even more space between the two of them by going into her closet to get the dress off.
She growled low in her throat as the zipper decided to be difficult, cursing softly and refusing to go ask for help with it. Regina finally managed to get the damned dress off and into a button up silk pajama shirt, pulling the matching pants off the shelf with a shake of her head. She could still hear Emma whispering right behind her, could feel the hand running along the zipper up her spine and it was frustrating. The sound of water running interrupted her thoughts and she gathered the red dress in her hands to take it down to the washing machine only to pause when she heard soft singing in her bathroom. Emma sings in the shower, she mused, and then shook her head as more thoughts flooded over her when it came to the blonde naked in her bathroom.
Regina dropped the dress in the machine and went over to grab a glass and the half full bottle of wine from dinner, walking past one of Emma's bags her attention was caught by something folded on top of it. A white blanket with purple ribbon weaving along the edges and the name Emma embroidered in cursive on a silk edge- a baby blanket. It seemed like such a personal item and she wondered if a foster family had made it for her when she was young. Opening the back door she turned the light to her patio on and sat down, pouring herself a glass of wine and folding her legs underneath her on the chair. She needed the liquid distraction from all of the things running through her head, every single thought of Emma, and she started to drink to escape them.