A/N: I'm happy to bring you ch. 9 to this new story. Thank you to all who are enjoying it and giving it a read. :) Things aren't going downhill yet, but, that moment will be approaching. Just a little head warning, there. For now, I hope you all like this chapter while I finish writing and posting the next update. If I can go un-interrupted, I should have it within two to three hours. Stay tuned! Happy reading.
Chapter 9: Careful Planning
Regina woke up inspired to draw. More so than the day before, or the day before that. She drew what she had committed to memory of that cave Emma had taken her to about a week ago. With Emma standing right in the center of it, drawn out as she remembered her. Reaching for her phone, she snapped a picture at the finished result, and attached it along with a text message directed at Emma.
Emma readied a table after finishing another, laying out the cloth along it and gathering up a few empty glasses to take behind the counter.
"Em, slow down, will ya?" Said Graham. "You're moving so fast around here, you're making me look bad in front of my old man." He watched her curiously, at how easily a smile split across her lips.
"Sorry, Graham," Emma placed her hands along the bar. "I'll try to slow it down."
After seeing Regina a week ago, and having their first and second date, Emma had taken a day time job helping Graham along the family bar. She could leave whenever she needed to, given she was busy applying to a job, and then another. Heart still set in New York. A couple of companies had turned her down, given that they didn't want someone fresh out of college with a degree in hand that would make them believe that just because she obtained it, it meant that she could do it all.
But Emma would be damned if she didn't move to New York. Especially now that Regina was in her life. She thought about it a lot. Emma hardly ever had two dimes to rub together, but it wouldn't be like that forever. And it wasn't like something was set in stone with them, but she wanted it. More than anything in the world, Emma wanted and could see herself with Regina. Growing and learning from one another and enjoying a life together.
And when the opportunity presented itself. She would make sure to let her know exactly that.
"Hey listen, Em," Graham sat along the bar. A serious tone to him. "We haven't really gotten a chance to talk and I haven't brought it up again since it happened-"
"Graham," Emma shook her head.
"No, please," Graham held up his hand. "Please, just… hear me out." His shoulders slump. "I'm sorry for that night. I ruined what should have been a great moment between us as friends and I should have never told you about my feelings. Especially when I knew that you could never feel the same. I owe you big. I mean, you could have stopped speaking to me after that night, but you didn't. And believe me, the least I ever want is for us to lose our friendship."
Emma smiled, "I don't want to lose you either, Graham."
"Forgive and forget?" A tiny smile tugs at the corner of Graham's lip.
Emma moved around the bar and extended her arms, feeling Graham's body press to hers in a hug that was just as given as it was received. Graham still felt a hint of feelings for Emma, and she very well knew it. But it was something they would have to work on, day-to-day.
Their hug came to an end as Emma's phone gave out an alert of a text message coming through. "Shit, sorry," she said, reaching for her phone along her back pocket.
Graham watched as a huge smile colored itself along Emma's lips, her eyes lit up with such hope, he envied it. "What is it?" He asked, feeling curious.
Regina: I have some free time after two today. I saw us in another dream inside this place and it made me miss it. Miss you. Pick you up?
Emma's grin positively grew at the thought of Regina missing her. And if she missed her just as much as Emma had missed her, then they were far more connected than she thought. Her thumbs danced along her keys.
Emma: After two sounds perfect. I'll meet you there. You remember the road that leads to the cave, don't you?
Regina grinned. Watching those dancing bubbles along her screen, followed by Emma's instant reply just told her that she missed her, too. She paced along her room as she typed out her next reply.
Emma watched those dancing bubbles…
Regina: Yes. I remember. I'll see you soon.
Emma: I'll see you soon, Regina.
With that, Emma tucked her phone back inside of her pocket and began to move. "Graham, I'll need to clock out a little early today." She informed him.
"Again?" Graham's brow lifts, watching how eager she was to leave. "You know, Em, sooner or later, you're going to have to tell me what you've been up to. You've been very mysterious these past couple of days." He chuckled, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had a date."
A date. This would mark her fourth date with Regina. One where Emma wanted to give in to some of her impulses and finally dare to kiss Regina before saying good night. She wanted to give Regina something that she didn't already have. And she knew the perfect thing. "Graham…" she grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Look, I really have somewhere I need to be right now, but do you still have that projector of yours up in your attic?"
"Yeah. Why?" Graham's brows scrunched together.
"I need you to do me a huge favor."
"Name it."
"Take it to Mary Margaret's house. I will go on over to set it up later on top of her roof. It's important." Emma said eagerly. Of course, that being said, she knew she would have to introduce Mary Margaret to Regina.
Graham chuckled, "Okay, now I know you have a date. What's up, Em? Who is she?"
Emma's smile grew, "That's for me to know, Graham. Will you do this for me? Please?"
As much as it stung Graham, he powered through it, "Yeah, but you'll owe me one. I hope you know that." He gave her a pointed look.
Emma rushed over to him to give him one last hug. "You're the best. Thanks!" She said, before taking off running. "I'll owe you one!" She shouts.
"I'll hold you to that!" Graham shouts back, his smile disappearing with traces of sadness.
Regina packed up her small sketchbook inside one of her portfolio's. She couldn't stop smiling since she had seen Emma almost four times this week. She wondered if and when she could introduce her to parents if they officially started dating. Her mother she wasn't so sure about. Cora always spoke ill about those less fortunate than her and Regina would be damned if she allowed for Emma to be talked down to the way her mother intended to do. And Zelena? She was the most curious of everyone to know who Regina had been seeing. Frequently asking questions and wanting to pump her for information.
It almost felt like being happy for once was a crime in this family. The thought made Regina scoff.
Henry, her father, Regina thought about him the most. Her father would be the most understanding of them all. She knew he wouldn't care who she was with as long as she was happy.
"Going out again, sis?" Zelena leaned against the entrance to her sister's bedroom, a knowing smile on her face.
"That's right. I have a couple of projects I need to work on and I can't concentrate here today. So I'll be going over to Kathryn's for a while." Just to cover her story, Regina began to pack some of her pencils, and took some of her other sketchbooks as well. All placed neatly inside one of her large portfolio's.
"Oh," Zelena pushed herself off the door frame, walking further into the bedroom. "Projects, huh?" She stood before a new drawing displayed along the easel in the middle of the bedroom. Her eyes observing it.
"That's right." Regina watched her carefully. The good thing about Regina was that she could lie and make it seem believable. It was a strategy that worked many times with her sister, at least so far.
Either that, or Zelena knew the truth and was just waiting for the opportune time to expose her like Regina knew she would like to. She never did understand why Zelena hated her so much. At least that's what it felt like to her. Regina on the other hand loved her sister, even if sometimes she did get on her nerves.
They used to be close as kids, once upon a time ago, but as they grew older, Zelena's feelings started changing toward her. Regina never dared to ask what had changed.
Zelena chuckled, flipping through a large page of Regina's 24x36 sketchbook, eyeing each drawing that she encountered with the flick of her wrist.
"Is there a reason you're here, Zel? Did you want something?" Regina asked, glancing down at her watch.
"So impatient, Regina…" Zelena grinned, deciding to ignore flicking through Regina's drawings. "I would think you were eager to leave not because of work as you claim, but for other reasons." Her eyes narrowed.
Regina scoffed, "And what reasons might those be? According to you."
Zelena shrugged, "I haven't quite figured them out yet. But make no mistake," she pointed a long, manicured nail. "I will."
"Hm," Regina hummed, giving her sister a nod. "Well… good luck with that. Now if you'll kindly leave my room?" She motioned toward the open door, glancing down at her watch for the time. "I have to get to Kathryn's." She brushed past her sister, seeing her mother appear along the door frame, blocking her only exit.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Cora asked, her eyes blinking.
Regina sighed, "Kathryn's. I have a big project I need to work on, and suddenly," she says the word suddenly with a little volume in her voice as she glances over her shoulder at Zelena before turning right back to her mother. "I find it a little hard to concentrate here lately."
"What, to work on your pictures?" Cora scoffed, brushing her hand in the air. "How much concentration could that require, dear, really? Anyway, you can't leave."
"I can't?" Regina's brow lifted, definitely.
"No. Robin is here for you, dear." Cora grins.
While Zelena is green with envy in the background, Regina blinks. "I'm sorry, what?" Her head tilts.
"He's here to pick you up. Now, I want you to be nice, put on something suitable and go downstairs."
"No." Regina shook her head.
"I'll go," Zelena volunteered, all too eager.
"Regina," Cora gives a pointed look. "Enough of this. Go downstairs, and accept his invitation. He's got tickets."
"I don't care what he's got. I am not going out with Robin, mother. Forget it. I have more important things to do." Regina attempts to brush past her mother but is pulled back.
"Regina, you can color on a page anytime," her hand grasps firmly along her arm. Eyes glaring into Regina's. "Besides, I think it's about time you start giving up on this nonsense and start acting like an adult. You are not five years old anymore."
Regina yanked her arm away, "That's exactly it, mother. I am not five years old anymore. I am a woman who can make her own choices and my choices- my life- doesn't revolve around Robin Locksley!"
"Keep your voice down! He'll hear you!" Cora hisses under her breath, shutting the door in place.
"Then, let him hear!" Regina shouts a little more. "I don't care! I am not going out with him just because you want me to."
"You know, I think I'll just go downstairs and keep Robin company. Make sure he doesn't hear anything." Zelena said with a small wave, rushing past them, leaving them to argue while she shut the door.
Robin waited patiently along the entry, two tickets in hand, tapping them a little impatiently along his palm. Zelena watched him as she made her way down the stairs, taking in his perfect form. The expensive material of his dark gray suit and dark gray tie to match.
"Hello, Robin," Zelena grinned, finding Robin's blue eyes staring up at her from mid-stair.
"Zelena," Robin nodded curtly. "You're looking well this afternoon."
"As are you," Zelena's smile widened. Her eyes not knowing discretion as she scans over his appearance once again. "Then again, you always are, aren't you?"
Robin's eyes watched the woman carefully, allowing the tiniest of smiles to appear along his lip. Women always had the same flaunting reaction over him. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for him.
Cora groans, rubbing away at her temple with two long fingers. "Honestly, Regina. I don't understand what is so wrong in having a little… normalcy, for once, around here. Why can't you just- for once- do as you're told?"
"Normalcy?" Regina laughed at that, "You call wanting to control your twenty-four-year-old daughter, normal? Really, mother?" She shakes her head.
"Be that as it may, you don't know better, Regina! You don't know what you want out of life." Cora's face turns redder and redder by the minute.
"Oh, and you do?" Regina crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yes, I do! Because I am the adult!"
"So am I!" Regina stands tall. "That's what really bothers you, doesn't it? The fact that you can't control me. The fact that I am not seventeen years old anymore. I'm an adult, I don't have to follow your rules anymore."
"Yes, you do!" Cora's voice raises an octave as she holds up a finger in warning.
"Why?"
"Because as long as you live under my roof, you will do as I say! That's why!"
Regina scoffed, shaking her head. "Goodbye, mother." She brushed past her with the strongest step, enough to prevent Cora from stopping her any further.
"Regina!" Cora seethes, rushing to her daughter, too afraid to make an unnecessary scene in front of Robin.
"What do you have there?" Zelena peeks at the two tickets over Robin, smiling up at him as Robin rotates his body to her.
Robin grins, "Two tickets to the theater."
"The theater?" Zelena's eyes light up. "I just love the theater."
"Oh, you've been?" Robin's voice was filled with disbelief that someone like Zelena has actually ever set foot in a theater before.
Last time Zelena was in a theater, she was eight years old. But she wasn't about to admit that to him. "Once or twice," she nodded. "You must go a lot, don't you?"
"Once or twice." Robin's eyes study her, calling on her bullshit with that simple response. He turned around at the sound of fast steps coming down the stairs. "Ah, Regina," he smiled, blocking her path as he eagerly stepped forward, flashing up the two tickets. "I do hope you like the theater. I got us two tickets to this afternoon's show. If we leave now we can make it in time. I reserved us the best seats."
Regina exhaled sharply through her nose, feeling a headache coming on. She didn't have time for this. She needed to meet Emma. "Thank you for the gift, Robin. It's very thoughtful of you." She turns to her mother who smiles, seeing the same smile flash over Robin as she looks back up at him. "But I'm afraid I can't accept it."
And just like the blink of an eye, Robin's smile is gone.
"Regina," as is Cora's as she moves in behind her daughter a little closer.
"Mother, I told you, I have to be at Kathryn's this afternoon. I have to work." Regina's voice is calm as she says this. She rotates her body, seeming shocked. "Didn't you inform Mr. Locksley of that? Oh, mother, really…" she shook her head.
Cora's appalled expression at being thrown under the bus like that flashes over to Robin, taking in his serious expression.
Regina turns back to Robin. "I'm sorry to disappoint you for the hundredth time, Mr. Locksley, but I am as late as is. I really must be going."
Robin jaw tensed but he managed a tight smile. "Perhaps some other time, then."
Regina didn't say anything. She just moved past Robin and walked out the front door, even against her mother's protests as she called out her name for the last time.
"Robin," Zelena called out to Robin, stopping him by the door. "You know, it's such a shame to have those tickets go to waste…" She runs her long nail along one of the tickets seductively. Her eyes locked into his. "Perhaps… you and I could go together?"
Robin's jaw tensed once more. His eyes never left Zelena as he held both tickets with both sets of fingers and ripped them in half right in front of her before tossing them along the air.
Zelena's eyes followed the scattered pieces, watching as they fell on the floor before looking back up at Robin. "Perhaps another time, then." She grinned defiantly.
After throwing another hardened glare in Cora's direction, Robin exits out the door, slamming it in place.
Regina ran inside the cave, careful not to go deeper as Emma had warned her before that deep within was an unknown path, even to her. "Emma?" She breathed, searching for Emma as she walked in a little further.
The cave was quiet other than a few droplets of water which formed due to earlier rain and squeezed their way in through the rocks.
"Are you here?" She called out, getting no answer. A frown formed along her face as she quickly reached for her phone, opening their messages window. A gasp escaped her as she felt two hands place themselves along her waist from behind. Regina whirled around to find Emma's grin staring right at her. "Oh, my God! Emma!" She let out a nervous laugh.
"Hi." Said Emma.
"You startled me," she breathed, clutching onto Emma's shirt for dear life.
"Sorry."
"I thought you'd left. Where on earth were you?" Regina looks over to the dark part of the cave, wondering if she had been in there exploring.
"And leave you here alone?" Emma shook her head. "Not a chance."
"Were you following the path?" Regina's eyes flick toward the dark path from within the cave. Her eyes narrowed back in Emma's direction.
Emma's curiosity radiated it off of her guilty expression. "Maybe a little," she said.
Regina's brow lifted, "Are you crazy? What if you had gotten yourself into an accident? Hurt yourself badly? What would I have done then?"
Emma chuckled, "Are you saying you would have missed me if I met my demise?"
"Please don't say stuff like that, Emma," Regina's frown deepened, turning away from Emma.
"Hey," she frowned, too, stepping in front of Regina again to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry, I'm only joking around." She smiled. "At least I know that you would in fact miss me."
Regina fought against a smile of her own. "Of course I would miss you." She admits.
That was all Emma needed to work up her courage. "What are you doing tonight?" She asked.
"Tonight?" Regina thought for a moment, checking her mental schedule. "Nothing that I know of. Nothing important, at least."
"Great. Then, meet me outside of my apartment tonight." Said Emma, her eyes sparkling.
Regina blinked. This was the first time Emma would show her where she lived. "Your apartment?" Seeing Emma nod, she asks, "Does this mean I finally get to see where you live?"
"Sort of. But we won't be going inside," Emma explains. "I want you to meet someone. Someone really important to me."
Regina smiled, "Who?"
"Mary Margaret. She's my neighbor and a good friend. You'll really like her. She's very smart, too smart for her own good I always say." Emma chuckled, shaking her head. "And she's extraordinary. Good cook, too, although she loves baking more than she likes to cook."
Regina's brow lifts once more, her studying that glow along Emma's face as she talks about said neighbor. "Extraordinary? Sounds to me like you might have a little crush on this neighbor of yours."
Emma's nose scrunched up, even if she couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't be ridiculous. Mary Margaret's a good friend. That's all. She's the one person I can rely on to say that she will take her clothes off her back if you need them. So, will you come? Please?"
Regina grinned, her eyes glowing along with Emma's. "You make it impossible to say no to. And I suppose, if she's that important to you, I could stop by."
"Until then." Said Emma.
Regina took Emma's hand, palm up, and traced the infinity symbol along her wrist. Her eyes locked into place. "Until then." She watched their hands, how Emma's finger performed the same motion along her own wrist, before they joined at a touch.
Green eyes flicked toward Regina's lips, and what stopped Regina's heart was to feel Emma's thumb lightly brush along her bottom lip, as if Emma was studying it, reading every line like braille.
"So," Graham grunted as he placed the heavy projector along a patio table that Mary Margaret kept along her roof. "Tell me something, Mary Margaret, 'cause I know you know- who is this mystery girl Emma's been seeing?"
"Emma's been seeing someone?" Ruby's head pops out from behind the door to the roof. She rushes to be at Mary Margaret's side who is shaking her head. "And you know who it is?"
"I am not saying anything," Mary Margaret raised her hands, stringing along a row of white lights along the wall. "In fact, I don't know anything because Emma hasn't told me anything."
"Yeah, right," Ruby snorts, holding onto the other end of the light string that Mary Margaret handed her. "You really expect us to believe that Emma hasn't told you anything? She tells you everything."
"She didn't tell me this. Emma just said that she is a nice girl." Mary Margaret extends her hand. "Hand me that stapler, Ruby, please."
Graham frowns as he is hearing this news for the first time.
"What is all this, anyway? What are you doing?" Ruby asks, looking at the light stings and couch all set up along the roof with the projector up front.
"Well," Mary Margaret grunts as she steps down. Stepping back up along the arm of the couch, she continues to stable the string to the wall. "Emma asked me to meet her, and so, I thought, why not set up this little movie theater where they could spend some time interrupted?" She grins as the lights stay afloat along the wall.
"She's bringing her here?" Graham asks.
Ruby gasps, her eyes lighting up like candles but before she can get a single word out, Mary Margaret holds up a single digit in warning. "No. You absolutely cannot be here."
"Ugh! But, Mary Margaret!" Ruby follows the older woman.
"No-"
"Emma's my best friend! I have a right to see who she's dating!" Ruby whines.
"And as her best friend, you have to respect- both of you-" Mary Margaret gave both Graham and Ruby a pointed look. "That Emma wants her privacy with the girl. She wants to officially ask her out before she introduces her further. Now," she claps her hands. "You two have been a wonderful help, but I must ask you to leave now. Emma shall later and I don't want you lurking around when she gets here."
"But, Mary Margaret-!" Ruby protested, even as she was shoved along with Graham into the door that would take them back into the house and out the front door. "This really isn't fair!"
"Life isn't fair, Ruby. We don't always get what we want. Now, goodbye." Said Mary Margaret, giving Ruby one last shove until she is able to close the door.
"What do you mean you lost her?!" Robin shouts, his fists whitening as his fingers grip tightly to a man's leather jacket. His eyes glared into the frightened gaze before him. "How could you possibly lose her?"
"I don't know what to tell you, sir," the man shook his head. "I-I was right behind, but there was a lot of traffic. B-but I followed her trail not too long after, and she went where she said she would, her friend Kathryn's apartment. She's still there."
Robin's jaw clenched, "I don't care if she spends the night at Kathryn's, Will. I want to know where Regina was when she vanished right in front of your eyes!" He shoved him so hard, his back thudded against the wall. "Or do I have to do everything myself?"
"No-" Will shook his head. "Of course not, sir."
"Because if that's so, then I'm afraid I have no use for you, Will." Robin took a step forward again, towering over Will. "And you know what that implies."
"Y-yes, sir, I do. But, there's no need for that. Just give me time and I'll-"
Robin holds up a hand, halting Will's trembling voice as he answers the ringing phone along his desk. "What?"
"Sorry to disturb you, sir, but a Mr. Killian Jones is here to see you."
Robin's eyes look toward his office door before his shoulders compose. "Wait exactly three minutes, then send him in. And whoever else calls, tell them I'm in a meeting for the next hour."
"Yes, sir. Right away."
He hangs up the phone and makes his way around his desk, composing his suit jacket. His eyes fall on Will. "I'll be traveling to London soon. I shall be gone for two months."
"Excuse me, sir, but won't I be coming with you?" He asked, given that he always went along to meetings with him to drive him around.
"No. I hired another driver that will take your job. I need you here."
"Doing what, sir?" Will's brows bunched together.
Robin's head turned to the sound of his office door opening. He flashed a grin toward Mr. Jones, a man dressed in a dark suit, hair neatly combed and a five o'clock shadow along his jaw. "Mr. Jones," he extends his hand, feeling Killian's firm handshake. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. We have a lot to discuss and very little time to do it, I'm afraid."
"I'm all ears, Mr. Locksley." Said Killian. Robin grinned.