A/N: Thank you to all my readers/followers who are here and showing love for this new story. After this next chapter, just know that things will start taking off for our two favorite ladies. Yes, there will be romance and plenty of sweet moments, but as you all know- eventually- expect drama and a break-up unfortunately. Don't worry, I shall warn ya'll before it happens. For now, I hope you enjoy this new chapter and leave a review that only takes a minute to write. :) Happy reading, everyone!
Unfortunately, no updates will be posted tomorrow, given the weather is going to be really bad here at home. And I do have a job that requires my attention tomorrow. But Thursday, expect more!
Chapter 6: A Leap of Faith
Once Emma felt that Regina was more composed from her drowning episode, she guided her into one of the smaller boats for comfort and warmth. It was better than standing outside where a breeze would blow their way every minute with a chill due to both of them being drenched.
"Alright, come on," Emma guides Regina inside, placing a hand carefully at the top of Regina's head. "Watch your head." She guides her to sit.
Regina watches Emma quietly. How familiar she is with walking inside the boat, searching up front and reaching for a large blanket.
"Here," Emma didn't hesitate to wrap that very same blanket around Regina's shoulders to protect her from being cold or getting sick.
Regina was relieved to see a second blanket had been searched for by Emma to wrap it around her own body. It was then she finally had to ask, "Is this your boat?" In the smallest voice possibly.
"No," Emma shook her head, taking a seat alongside Regina. "It belongs to a friend of mine. She agreed to let me fix it, but I sometimes find myself here more times for the quiet than actually fixing it." She chuckles.
It's a little dark inside the boat, but some of the light from outside enters through one of the small windows of the boat that lights up half of Emma's face, where Regina can clearly make out a dimple accompanying that row of perfectly white teeth. How embarrassing. Regina had hoped to see Emma again after their first time meeting on the bus, but not like this. She had hoped the circumstances of them meeting again- if there were any- would be better than having to be rescued. Again.
"What were you doing out here, anyway?" Emma finally asked, wondering that very thing.
"It's my birthday." Said Regina. She didn't see or feel the need to ruin this moment by talking about how suffocating Robin had been tonight, and how she needed to escape him. "I was at my party, but it all became a little too overwhelming so I decided to be alone for a little while." Good enough.
"Well," Emma gave another little smile. "At least I'm relieved to know that you weren't out here purposely getting yourself into trouble. Although, trouble certainly does seem to find you." She said jokingly, chuckling afterward.
Regina can't help but smile at that. Her eyes found Emma's even in the dim lighting of the space they found themselves in. She could catch a glimpse of the white of her eyes, shining brightly. She smiled because she wanted to believe that Emma remembered her from that day on the bus. Just like she never forgot her. "I guess I have to consider myself lucky that you happened to be out here, then. You seem to make it a habit of saving damsels in distress."
Emma watches Regina carefully, studying her familiar features. She was even more beautiful up close. Or it was possibly that Regina grew even more beautiful as days passed. "Maybe it's you who brings the heroics out in me," Emma shrugs. "I warn you, though, I'm no knight in shining armor."
Once again, Regina smiles. "Tell that to the person you've heroically saved twice now."
"I wouldn't call giving up my seat on the bus such a heroic act." Said Emma.
"But diving in head first into the water to save someone you don't know is." Regina retorts. Her fingers hold tightly onto the blanket as she stands, watching Emma quickly stand with her.
"I'm sorry my heroics don't come with a warm cup of coffee or some tea or something."
Regina chuckled, "I'm plenty warm, thanks to you." Her eyes find Emma's, wishing she could see them a little more clearer.
It's then, as if reading her mind that Emma says, "Would you like to step outside now?" She motions toward the way they entered, following Regina close behind. She could feel the boat dance a little due to the movement in the water. "We can sit here," she offers, "Here." Reaching for Regina's arm, she carefully guides her just upfront, where they both perch themselves next to one another. Despite the boat having a small roof and a table with chairs to sit in, that were made of rough, old and worn out wood.
"Thank you." Regina kneels carefully in her dress, not looking forward to stepping on it again. The lighting was better out here, so she was thankful to be able to see Emma a little better as she sat next to her. Her clothes stuck to her body, drenched from their swim. Her golden hair was a little darker, strands of wet hair hung loose along her face.
And this time, as Emma turned to lock eyes with Regina, Regina didn't turn away. And neither did Emma.
"How old did you turn today?" Emma asked.
"Twenty-four."
"You live nearby?"
Regina nodded, "Not too far. Why? Are you offering to drive me home as part of your hero complex?" She teases, gaining a blush to settle along Emma's cheek.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't come with a noble steed." Emma smiles, feeling a little embarrassed. "I told you I'm no white in shining armor."
Regina feels free to chuckle upon seeing another smile emerge from Emma's lips. "So, does that make you a frog ready to be kissed to turn into a princess?"
Emma's eyes sparkled as her smile widened. Her dimples flashed along her cheeks. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Your Highness, but I'm far from being a princess either. What you see is pretty much what you get."
Regina is quiet for a moment, taking the sight of Emma all in before she says, "Who said that pretty much was such a bad thing to get?"
With those words, it was enough for Emma to realize that Regina didn't care about social differences or where they came from. All Regina knew was that whenever Emma touched her, whenever she was in her arms, she would feel a trail of goosebumps travel up her spine every single time. And she wasn't about to lose contact with her this time without getting so much as a name out of her savior.
"I'm Emma. Emma Swan." she was surprised once Emma stretched out her hand to her first in introduction. Emma Swan. That was her name in the book.
Regina's brown eyes looked down at Emma's hand before she shook it. "Regina Mills."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Regina Mills." Emma smiles, and Regina had never loved the sound of her name more than hearing it voiced by Emma's lips.
"The feeling is very mutual, Emma Swan." Regina's smile matched Emma's. She noticed that their hands continued to be joined but she wasn't in a hurry to move away. And by the looks of it neither was Emma.
"I know who you are." Said Emma, her voice so low that it sent chills up Regina's spine again.
"You do?" Regina's brow slightly lifted.
Emma's head bobbed, "I caught some of your artwork at the mall the other day. Inside a gallery."
Of course. Regina's cheeks were the ones to color now as she looked away for a minute. "You saw your picture…" she murmured, looking back into Emma's eyes, attempting to find maybe a bit of anger in them for daring to draw her without her permission. But there was no such thing. "I'm sorry. As an artist, I couldn't help myself."
Emma was the first one to ever say that she recognized her for her art. "As an artist, you shouldn't have to." She replied, her eyes never leaving Regina's as they locked in again. "You're very good. You have real talent." Not that Emma knew anything about art, but she could spot talent a mile away.
"Thank you." Regina fought against another smile that surely came with a blush. "And thank you for saving me. Yet again. Not in a million years did I imagine we'd be meeting again under these circumstances."
A crease forms along Emma's brow, but there's a smile along her lips that relaxes Regina. "You imagined that we'd be meeting again?" Her head tilts.
Damn. In comes another blush. "Well… If I'm being honest… I hoped we would." Said Regina. "At least now I know what to call you. Emma." She smiles.
Emma's smile mirrors, "Regina." She nods, bringing her knees up to her chest. Her arms resting around them. In this light, Emma looked even more beautiful to draw. The lights above cascading over her, her hair draped over her eyes from coming loose from her ponytail.
Regina froze as the next she felt was the light caress of Emma's fingertips brush away a strand of hair of her own that had found its way out of Regina's perfect bun. It surprised Emma just how much Regina's eyes mesmerized her.
"I'm sorry about your birthday being ruined." Said Emma.
"I'm not," Regina shrugged off her words. Her eyes locking onto Emma's as she dares to look into them again. "To my notion, apart from almost drowning- this has turned out to be one of the best birthday's I've had in quite a long time."
She could see another smile lift up from the corner of Emma's lip. She had hidden her face along her arms that rested on top of her knees, possibly to keep herself from blushing again, but Regina found it such an adorable gesture. The more they talked that night as it slipped right on by, Emma seemed to like Regina all the more. And Regina became more and more intrigued by Emma Swan. They both came up with endless questions and pieces of conversation for one another that time didn't matter.
"What time is it?" Regina asked, reaching out for Emma's left arm to check the time on her watch. Her eyes grew widely, "Crap!" They had spent so much time talking that Regina hadn't realized the time. With her foot almost slipping, she shot up from the front of the boat, seeing Emma mirror her stance. Her body on alert, as if ready to catch her if need be. "I have to go. Kathryn is probably wondering where I am, and she'll kill me just for taking so long to get back." She said with a sadness to her voice.
"Kathryn," Emma murmured. "Is that your girlfriend?" What? She couldn't believe that she had asked Regina such a daring question, especially when they just met. For the second time nonetheless, but they barely knew each other. And Emma was never the type of person to pry. But there was just something about being around Regina that made her question everything.
And as she asked that question that seemed innocent enough, Regina couldn't help but notice how gentle Emma's eyes remained. How the tone in her voice gave off a hint of worry to the idea of her already being spoken for, but it wasn't in a I-must-have-you type of way, either. So different from Robin.
It actually made Regina smile, "No," she shook her head, looking back up into Emma's eyes so that she could see she was being nothing but truthful. "I don't have a girlfriend. Yet."
Yet. Emma's brow slightly lifted to the sound of that word, "A boyfriend, then?" She dared ask, seeing as they were being honest with one another.
"Definitely not. No." Regina scrunched up her nose.
The sight of it made Emma smile, being the most adorable faction on Regina she had seen since they met. "Careful," she held out her hand for Regina to take as she stepped out of the boat first. "Sorry about your shoe." Her eyes looked down at Regina's broken heel in her hand as they walked off the dock.
"I didn't really like them that much, anyway." Regina smiled, enjoying the feeling of the warm concrete underneath her bare feet.
"Well, then I'm sorry about your dress." Emma's eyes flickered over Regina's drenched body, drinking in the sight of a droplet of water making its way down her bare arm. It was a nice dress on her. And it appeared that tonight- around Regina- Emma's mouth had no filter. "For what's it worth… I still think you look beautiful in that dress."
Regina's cheeks went from cool to hot in a split second. "Thank you," she murmured, looking elsewhere but into Emma's captivating eyes. "I appreciate you walking me all the way back, but I wouldn't want to keep you from anything."
"You could never keep me from anything." Emma smiled, feeling a blush of her own color her cheeks.
"Well…" Regina looked toward the party, picking up on the music as it played loudly. She could spot some people leaving and others arriving. But if she was being honest, she much rather be here with Emma. "This is me." She turns to look at Emma, their eyes instantly locking. "Would you like to come in?"
Emma looks toward the party, seeing all of the luxurious cars arriving. "Not like this," she looks down at her soaked clothes. "I appreciate the invitation, though."
"Do you live near here?" Regina asks quickly.
Emma nods. "About twenty minutes away. It's not far. You?"
Regina shakes her head, "I live on the other side of town."
"Far?"
"Thirty minutes."
"Regina!" Kathryn's voice echoed as she shouted across the street from where Regina stood. Her eyes staring in horror. Clearly she was worried.
"I guess I better go," Regina frowns, wondering if she will see Emma again after tonight.
"Yeah," Said Emma. Her eyes looked down at Regina's extended hand. And as she took it, butterflies danced inside of her stomach at the contact of skin on skin. "I'll see you around, Regina Mills."
"I hope so," Regina murmured, unable to look away from Emma's eyes. That is until she saw a sudden movement from Emma's hand as she brought it between them.
"Happy Birthday, Regina." Emma said, holding a single white rose.
Where had Emma picked up that white rose from? Regina wasn't sure. She possibly would never know, but even the not knowing didn't prevent her from accepting the most beautiful gift she had ever received. After waving goodbye to one another, Regina was met halfway from Kathryn, who rushed across the street.
"Regina," Kathryn breathed. "Where on earth were you? You took more than a minute! I was about ready to call the police." Her eyes looked her over. "Why are you all wet? Where did you go? And who was that?" She points to Emma.
Regina's eyes didn't leave Emma as she watched her walking away. "I fell," she murmured.
Kathryn's eyes grew wider. "You fell? In what- a water tank?"
"Is Robin gone?" Regina asked, turning her attention back to Kathryn.
"Yeah, he's gone. He left soon after you did, and believe me, he was not happy."
A grin spread at the corner of Regina's lips. "That doesn't matter."
"What do you mean that doesn't matter?" Kathryn's brow furrowed. "And you can quit smiling like that? You're really freaking me out!" She turned to Emma, seeing her wave at Regina from a distance with a smile from ear to ear that could very well match Regina's. "Okay, who is that? Do you know her?"
"Yeah. I do." Regina's smile positively grows as she looks down at her single rose.
"Let's get you inside," Kathryn urged her friend back inside the dance hall. "What on earth happened to your heel?" She asked, catching a glimpse of her broken shoe.
Regina entered her bedroom after a much needed shower that night, to the sight of Zelena, holding up Emma's book and the single rose she had left on top of it. "What are you doing in my room?" Her eyes widened.
"I came to ask how your birthday bash went. Can't a sister do that?" Zelena grinned, twirling the rose between her fingers. "Pretty flower. Is it from Robin?" She brought it up to her nose and took a whiff.
"That's none of your business," Regina snatched the flower from her sister's hands, deciding to hold onto it. "How many times have I told you not to touch my things?"
"Well, where's the fun in that?" Zelena shrugs. She observed Regina carefully as she moved about her room, sitting in front of her vanity mirror.
"What do you want, Zelena? Are you that bored?" Regina places down the rose and reaches for her brush, running it through her wet hair.
"Why would you ask such a question?" Zelena chuckled.
Regina's eyes found Zelena's through the glass of the mirror. "Because you only bother to visit me when you're bored or want something."
"I didn't realize you knew me so well." Her brow arched. She picked up the single rose Regina had set aside, bringing it up to her nose again. "But you're right. I do want something. Or rather, I wanted you to clear something out for me."
"Clear what out?" Regina twists the cap off of one of her creams. Her fingers pick a smudge off the container before applying it along her face.
"I want to know where you and Robin stand." Zelena's blue eyes sharply find Regina's through the mirror.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Regina," she points the rose directly at her reflection. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"There's nothing between Robin and I. So you can ease your mind about that."
"Really? Because he doesn't seem to think so."
"That's his problem," Regina shrugs her shoulder. "Not mine. I've made it perfectly clear that there will never be anything between him and me."
"So, you're saying you're not interested? Because accepting every flower he gives you can give any man the wrong idea."
Regina jerks away from feeling the rose tickle along her cheek. "For your information, Zelena," she stands, snatching the rose safely back into her possession. "Robin wasn't the one who gave me this flower. Now, please leave me alone. If you want to make a move on Robin, you go ahead. I already told you, I don't care."
Zelena's prying gaze follows her sister as she settles on top of her bed. A rose that wasn't from Robin? That was an intriguing mystery for another day. "Sweet dreams, Regina."
She watches her, making sure she shuts the door before leaving. At the click of the door, Regina sighs, smiling down at the single rose that her fingers slowly twirl. As she brings it up to her nose, her smile widens and she reaches for the Frankenstein book.
"I'm sorry about your birthday being ruined." Said Emma.
"I'm not," Regina shrugged off her words. Her eyes locking onto Emma's as she dares to look into them again. "To my notion, apart from almost drowning- this has turned out to be one of the best birthday's I've had in quite a long time."
"Emma! Hey, Emma!"
Emma blinks to her dad's hand waving in front of her face. Ever since seeing Regina again, she really has been anywhere but where she needs to be, which is at home, having dinner. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I said, could you pass the potatoes, please?"
"Oh. Yeah." Emma reaches for the container of mashed potatoes and passes it along.
David chuckles, "What's going on with you?"
Emma thanked her lucky stars before she had to provide David with an answer as her cell phone rang in that instant. "Sorry. Can I-?" She tucks her hand inside of her pocket, her eyes trained on David.
"Not too long. We're having dinner."
Emma stood from the table, withdrawing her phone out of her pocket. Her brows bunched together as an unregistered number flashed along her screen. Swiping the green button to answer the call, Emma moved in the direction of her bedroom for a little privacy. "Hello?"
"Emma Swan?"
"You've reached her."
Regina grinned at the confirmation of Emma's voice. "Thank God. I was beginning to fear that maybe this wasn't your number."
Emma's head tilts, "Who's this?" She asked.
"Regina. Your drowning victim." Now that she didn't drown and was among the living- thanks to Emma- Regina could laugh at it now as she settled more along her bed. "Don't tell me you forgot about me already." She hated to admit it, but a wave of sadness filled her at the thought of being forgotten.
"Regina…" Emma's eyes narrow. "I'm sorry, but you must be trying to reach another Emma Swan. That name doesn't ring a bell." She shakes her head, even if Regina can't see her.
A frown takes over Regina as she sits further in bed. "You're joking, right?"
Emma can't help but grin in silence.
"Emma? Please, tell me you're joking. Hello?"
"Oh, now I remember you… the girl from the bus." Said Emma.
"Very funny, Ms. Swan."
A laugh vibrates in the back of Emma's throat. A laugh that instantly calms Regina's panic. "How did you get my number?" She asked.
"I have my ways…" Regina smiled. Her eyes looking down at her name and phone number scribbled inside the cover of the book.
Her brow arched, "A mystery, huh? Well, there's nothing I like more than a mystery. You know, I was actually thinking about you earlier."
"You were?" Regina asks. Emma was thinking about her? Her heart accelerates inside of her chest.
"Yeah," Emma admitted through her grin. Her own heart accelerating a thousand beats per minute. "How are you holding up? You know, after your fall."
"I feel fine, thanks to you. Actually I was thinking about you myself and I thought: why not? I should just call her."
Emma's smile widens, "Well, I'm glad you did. You know, I would have asked for your number, but I didn't want to keep you from your party."
"You wouldn't have kept me from anything." Regina chews on her lower lip to stifle another smile. It was now or never. "Anyway, I just wanted to ask you… are you free tomorrow afternoon? Say around one?"
"I should be. Yeah." Emma looks toward her open bedroom door after hearing David call out to her to get back to dinner.
"Good. Then, you can meet me tomorrow for my first art show. That is if you want to. I'll treat you for that coffee afterward. It's the least I can do after you saved my life."
Was Regina asking her on a date? Emma was at a loss for words. "Coffee? What, like a date?"
"No," Regina shifted in her bed, feeling her nerves roll into a ball at the pit of her stomach. "I mean- unless you want it to be- but it doesn't have to be a date. It can just be, you know, two friends, casually enjoying a coffee together."
Emma's teeth flashed instantly. Regina rambling was possibly the most adorable thing she's heard today.
"So, what do you say?" Regina's nerves were on the edge of their seat. This was certainly easier when she imagined how she would ask this question.
"I'd say, why lie about wanting to see you again?" Said Emma, the corner of her lip lifting upward. "I'll be the first one there, tomorrow."
Regina bit on her lower lip, her smiling winning in the end. "Great! I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Until tomorrow." Emma grins.
"Until tomorrow. Good night, Emma."
"Good night, Regina." The next thing Emma does, before exiting her room is save Regina's phone number into her contacts. And at that moment, Regina does the exact same thing before going to bed with the biggest smile she's worn in a long time.