The Mayor was gripping the mirror so tight her knuckles had gone white and she was shaking, almost hyperventilating while her heartbeat pounded in her ears. It made her numb to the fact that Emma was speaking until she pried the mirror from her hold and got her to her feet, wrapping her arms around her. "Regina? Hey hey, it's alright. Just take some deep breaths for me okay? Come on, in and out." She rubbed her back to comfort the still frozen woman. "Mi reina, I need you to come back to me." Emma pulled back to look into hollow brown eyes, cupping her cheek.
Regina blinked a few times and focused on the concerned face in front of her, feeling the warmth radiating through the palm on her face. She followed the instructions from the blonde, taking a few deep breaths as she held onto Emma's arm as a way to keep her grounded. "I-I'm sorry. It's just… the thought of my mother coming back into my life terrifies me. I don't want her around Henry and I certainly do not want her to meet you. She destroys happiness, Emma, and I don't want to lose that after I just found it again." She leaned into the hand still on her cheek, sighing at the comforting feeling of her thumb brushing over her skin, and closed her eyes.
Emma leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Regina's forehead and then rested her own against it, closing her eyes as well. "On a positive note I can make good on my offer to kick her ass now," She attempted to bring some humor to the frightened woman before sighing "She won't destroy your happiness this time, mi reina. I promised you that I'm not going anywhere and I keep my promises. There's nothing Cora Mills can do to tear me away from you and Henry, Regina." She opened her eyes to find chocolate ones staring right back at her.
Regina didn't have the words to express how she was feeling, there was still a rolling wave of fear inside of her at the idea that Cora was coming to Storybrooke but as she looked at Emma she was finding nothing but support and a well of strength to draw from. She moved to kiss Emma yet again, her face still framed by a soft hand as she moved her lips against Emma's. It wasn't a long drawn out gesture but it conveyed the affection she felt for the remarkable woman. When she broke away she breathed out a thank you against a pink mouth, squeezing the arm she was still grasping.
"No thanks necessary, your highness. If you don't want Cora here then make sure she knows that. I know you don't have a return address but there is someone who should have a way to contact her. After all he delivered her threat by hand." Robert Gold flashed in her mind; his arrogant sneer and she saw red as she wanted to tear into the crocodile of a man. Regina nodded once as she stepped back, casting one more glance at the mirror.
"Mother always liked things that were ostentatious, decadent, and that screamed of status. I want nothing more then to smash this to a million pieces and throw the shards across the town line of Storybrooke," She touched the glass and frowned "She used to make me hold this up as a child while she brushed my hair, I hated how she fawned over the long locks and that's why I've kept it shoulder length for the majority of my adult life. She would hit me with the brush whenever I would try to pull away." Regina lifted the mirror as she spoke and could see herself and Emma in its reflection, putting it back into the box with a shake of her head.
Emma frowned "I'd like to hit her with a lot more then a brush. How hard do you think it would be to drop a house on her? Logistically speaking I'd need some pretty powerful magic or a tornado." Regina gave her a small smile, reaching over to squeeze her hand as a token of her appreciation that Emma was protective over her. No one had threatened Cora Mills on her behalf and it was touching.
"Hey, why don't I take you out to lunch? It won't count as our second date since it's your turn to plan but I'd like to get your mind off of this for a little while." She suggested and intertwined her fingers with Regina's, marveling over the contrast of mocha to pale. Like yin and yang or day and night with the Mayor being the dark yin and the alluring night, she thought with a smile.
Regina looked at the paperwork on her desk and weighed the pros and cons, on the one hand she did need to do a little work but on the other there was a chance to be with Emma. Not to mention the literal hand in her own. "Yes, I just have to do some of my work at home tonight. I think you'll make Kathryn's day to be honest," She reached over to the phone on her desk, pressing a button that buzzed her assistant "I'm sure you saw her on the way in but this is a great time for her to be properly introduced since you'll be around for a little while." She looked up as her door opened a minute later and the other woman appeared with a notepad.
"Kathryn Midas, this is Emma Swan. Emma, Kathryn," Regina introduced the two blondes to each other and then smiled at her assistant "I thought you would like to meet the person responsible for you getting the rest of the day off." Kathryn's eyes went wide as she shook Emma's offered hand, she had never gotten a day off unless it was a holiday. Regina even worked when she was feeling ill so this was unheard of.
Emma shrugged "It's no big deal, I'm glad to be the reason you'll have a small vacation. Also Regina-" Kathryn was shocked again, someone calling the Mayor by her first name other then Henry and Dr. Hopper "Needs the break today. I promise to make sure she gets some work done when we get home. Er, to her house." Emma flushed when she made the mistake of calling the mansion home but it felt wrong to correct herself, the mayoral mansion already felt like more of a home to her then her apartment ever had. Regina felt her heart swell when Emma called the Mills household home but she bit her lip to contain the grin of pure joy that was threatening to take over her face.
Kathryn blinked slowly and refrained from dropping her jaw in shock, this woman was staying at the Mayor's house? She hadn't ever stepped foot inside the mansion, no one in Storybrooke outside of Regina and Henry had but this mysterious woman was residing there? "Wow, well I'm grateful, Miss Swan-" "Emma, just call me Emma. There's only one person who calls me Miss Swan and she gets away with it because I like the way she sounds when she says it." Kathryn didn't miss the smirk Emma threw Regina's way or the fact that Regina reached out to playfully bat at her arm. This was an entirely new side of Mayor Mills; she was happy and appeared to be enamored with Emma.
"Thank you, Emma. I hope I see more of you while you visit us here in Storybrooke, unless you are intending on making this a permanent move?" Kathryn couldn't help but be curious about the woman that had the Mayor acting so different. She watched as each woman reacted in two opposing ways, Regina was crestfallen with her eyes turned down to her black heels while Emma wore a smile and was playing with the zipper on her leather jacket.
Now Kathryn felt bad for prying and she was about to vocalize her apologies when Emma spoke again. "I've been thinking about it," Regina's head shot up and she appeared to be floored by the new information "I just have to find out if there's any kind of work for a bail bonds woman in this town." Emma was refusing to meet Regina's gaze and continued to look at Kathryn instead, afraid that the raven haired beauty might be put off by her thoughts on the matter.
"You know, Sheriff Nolan has been looking for a deputy the past few months. He's finding it to be a real challenge but I bet you would be a perfect fit. Here, give him a call if you are interested." Kathryn scribbled the Sheriff's phone number down and handed it to Emma, who pocketed it into the leather jacket with a quiet thank you. "Have a good day, Emma and you too, Mayor Mills. I'll see you tomorrow morning." She left the pair to go grab her purse and shut down her computer, giddy to have the day off.
Emma turned to Regina who was still looking at her with incredulity; the idea of Emma moving to Storybrooke had seemed like an impossible fantasy but to hear that she was considering it? "Just so you know I would get my own place and I wouldn't move here if it would make you uncomfortable. I know we have just started dating and I'm not trying to pressure you or rush into anything but I've been realizing how much I like it here. It's not like Boston at all, it is just so beautiful with the greenery and the town seems great and I-" Regina reached up to cover the rambling mouth with her hand and shook her head.
"Em-ma Swan, I think you would make a fine deputy and a wonderful addition to Storybrooke. Contrary to what you may think I wouldn't be uncomfortable by you moving here at all but I need you to be absolutely sure you want this and I don't want to be the reason you uproot your life in Boston. If you want to live here you need to do it for yourself, not for Henry and not for me. So promise me you'll take everything into consideration?" Emma blinked blue green eyes and nodded slowly, reaching out to brush a few locks of Regina's black hair back with her fingers curling along the shell of her ear.
Regina dropped her hand and smiled "Good girl," She praised and then turned to gather a few things from her desk, pausing when her eyes landed on the box "I think we should pay Gold a visit before our lunch. I want to return this from once it came with a message of my own and since he's so willing to play the role of delivery boy for my mother I imagine he knows exactly where she is." Emma nodded and moved over to shut the box, picking it up so Regina wouldn't have to touch the thing again.
"I'll try not to bring in my sword even though I really want to." Regina chuckled, shutting off her computer and making sure she had everything before leading the blonde out. "I'm guessing you want to take the Mercedes?" Regina nodded and Emma let out an exaggerated sigh "Royal carriage it is. Just remember I need to pick up Talla at some point today." She set the box in the back seat and turned to see Regina was holding open the passenger door for her.
"What? A queen can be chivalrous too you know, you don't have it trademarked," Regina grinned when Emma's response was a kiss to her cheek before getting in the car "No comment? I'll take it you're in agreement then. Buckle up dear." She shut the door, rounded the front of her car and didn't miss the look of shock on Emma's face when it roared to life and classical music filled the interior.
Emma listened to soothing sound of a piano accompanied by violins as she looked at the pleased expression on Regina's face while she drove. "I had a feeling you liked classical music. Who's your favorite composer?" She relaxed in the leather seat and tried to guess who she was listening to at that exact moment.
Regina turned the volume down a bit "I enjoy the three B's when it comes to classical music. Beethoven, Brahms and Bach. Although Mozart and Tchaikovsky are among my favorites as well. Do you listen to any of them or is it all chart toppers and rock for you?" She pulled to a stop at the sign which indicated such a maneuver, knowing they wouldn't have much longer until they reached Gold's shop. One of the perks of living in such a small town.
"Hey! I'll have you know I used to fall asleep to Chopin. Sometimes Debussy here and there. Don't judge me when you have only heard at most ten songs off my iPod, Mayor Mills. I could even play you Moonlight Sonata on the guitar sometime if you'd like." Regina was impressed and the idea of Emma playing her music on the guitar did sound incredible, it was something she hadn't been treated to since her father was alive.
"You're right, Miss Swan. I should not assume things about you when you are always surprising me. I would love to hear you play some time, whether it's classical music or a childhood lullaby." Regina stopped the Mercedes-Benz and looked out her window at the green building right outside. "Mr. Gold Pawnbroker and Antiques Dealer," She read out loud and shook her head "I can't stand going into that man's territory but we don't have much of a choice since he's the only one in contact with my mother." Regina's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Emma reached over to touch her shoulder and gave a small smile when Regina turned to her "We still have time if you want to go back for my sword?" There was a snort in reply as she let go of the steering wheel to cover the hand on her shoulder. "Just a suggestion, your highness." She squeezed gently and then got out of the car, looking at the unassuming storefront. If she didn't know the man who owned it the little shop would be almost interesting but she did know Robert Gold and he was like a walking lie that set her super power into overdrive, maybe Regina was right in saying he acted like there was some secret only he was aware of and that was why she got such a weird feeling around him.
Regina got out of the Mercedes as well, her hand on the car door as she looked at open sign in the window. "It doesn't look like much but he's got ownership over just about everything that once belonged to someone else in Storybrooke," She shut her door "Henry, you, and I might be the only three people exempt from that. I know this might be an unfortunate request given your feelings toward Gold but try not to rip his head off. You might be deputy one day and sadly that means protecting his sorry hide as well." Emma scoffed as she grabbed the package from the back seat but nodded when she was given a deliberate look, the 'do as I say' look.
"Fine fine, he keeps his head. I can't promise to be nice though. Especially if he calls you the evil queen again, I might need to be restrained if it comes to that so get ready to flex those hidden guns of yours." Regina let out a wry chuckle but followed the blonde over to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.
Emma walked in and was overwhelmed by how many items he had on display, her eye being caught by an interesting mobile with dangling glass unicorns on it. She reached the hand not holding onto the box out towards it but froze when she heard a tut from behind the counter. "Look but don't touch, dearie. It's an old family heirloom and I'm certain they might want it back someday. If they remember where it is." Gold was there, polishing a silver platter without looking up. Frowning she pulled her hand back and moved to set the package down in front of him, stepping back to cross her arms over her chest and let Regina handle the talking.
"If you'd please be so kind as to return this to the sender, Gold. Inform her that she isn't welcome in Storybrooke and that she will never be allowed around myself or my son," Regina pushed the box forward an inch to get his attention of the damn platter "I'm sure it won't be too hard with you two being so close, enough so that you play her little errand boy." Gold set the serving dish down as slow as he could, a deliberate act just to agitate the Mayor and looked up at her.
"I'm afraid you and I don't share the type of relationship for me to help you, Regina. I only help my friends-" "And my mother is your 'friend'?! How the hell did you even get in contact with her again?" Regina snapped, glowering at the man who was lifting the mirror out of the box to inspect it. He clearly hadn't known what was in the package he'd delivered.
Again? Emma blinked but refrained from commenting when she saw how Regina was seething, she had never seen the other woman this angry before and she wondered if it was all directed at Gold or if some was towards her mother. "Cora and I have remained in touch which is more then I can say for her daughter," Regina's nostrils flared and she looked about ready to climb over the counter to strangle Gold while he spoke "She's eager to see you again and to meet Henry of course. If you want to inform her that her presence isn't welcome you'll have to do it yourself. She'll be among us in a day or two, dearie."
He was turning the hand mirror one-way and the next as if appraising it. "You seem to have inherited some of your mother's tastes, Regina. This looks well suited for your office. Are you sure you don't want to keep her gift?" Regina was still visibly enraged and Emma stepped up, letting her have time to process.
"The only thing Regina inherited from that bitch is posttraumatic stress disorder. You can give it to her along with Regina's message when she gets here, Gold. Tell her not to come near Regina or Henry or she's going to have to deal with me and that won't be pleasant," Emma turned to the door and stopped to give Gold one last scathing look "From what I hear about her, you and Cora make such a perfect pair. Both rotten from the inside out." She couldn't stay in the store another minute and walked out into the fresh air, letting Regina make up her mind if she wanted to follow or speak to Gold further alone.
Regina clenched her fists and took a few deep breaths "Listen to me very carefully, Gold. You can deal with Cora and you can give her a place to stay until she gets out of Storybrooke because she is not welcome in my home and it will be over my dead body that she comes near Henry or Emma." She took one more look at the mirror in his hands before leaving, slamming the door behind her. Emma was already inside of the Mercedes-Benz with her face contorted in an expression that was half anger and half despair while she looked down at her lap.
When the Mayor joined her in the car the blonde was silent, fuming. "Em-ma, I just want to say thank you. I think I would have choked him into unconsciousness if you weren't there with me," She reached over to hold her hand "I also find it extremely enjoyable when you are protective over me and Henry. It's not common that I have someone by my side let alone willing to stand up for me but you take on Gold and my mother without thinking about it. Thank you." She tried to meet Emma's gaze, seeing it had softened.
"That's what you do for someone you care about, Regina. You have their back no matter what. I love Henry," Emma finally turned to look at her with a shy smile "And I really, really like you. If you don't want Cora to be in your lives then I'm going to make sure she can't get anywhere near you or the kid." She moved to cup her cheek, tracing her thumb along her bottom lip before stopping it just below the scar.
Regina had been self-conscious about the little mark for so long, always finding it to be an ugly reminder that she had fallen off her horse as a child with her mother screaming after her. "I am constantly conflicted when I look at this," Emma brushed her thumb over it and could feel the shallow breathing coming from Regina "On the one hand it's terrible that you only have this because you were running away from your mother but the reason I'm conflicted… I just want to kiss it every single time it catches my eye." She leaned over planted a soft kiss on the scar, having her lips caught by Regina's before she could pull away.
Emma smiled into the kiss and it lingered when they parted, deliriously happy every single time Regina kissed her. "You may just be too sweet for your own good, Em-ma and as much as I'd like to make out with you in my car like a couple of teenagers, I believe someone offered to take me to lunch. What did you have in mind, dear?" She turned her keys in the ignition and the classical music started up again.
"We need to revisit this concept of making out in your Mercedes sometime but for now I have a great idea." Emma beamed and pointed forward, directing the Mayor.