A/N sorry everyone I tried really hard to get this up yesterday but I seem to have come down with something and I'm really struggling with the fatigue that's come with it, I just had to go to bed last night in the end but it's the first thing I've done this morning after getting my kiddos off to School.
By mutual agreement they decided to skip their Monday lunch together and pick up with their Wednesday night 'date' instead this left Regina with the new challenge of finding something for them to do, she immediately ruled out restaurants as much as she knew that they would have to out for dinner a few more times before Christmas she just couldn't bear to face that so soon after their last restaurant drama, so what else was there?
She bought up an internet search engine and looked for ideas eventually settling on the movie theatre, that would be safe she thought, they would sit next to each other in the dark watching a movie, she could buy popcorn for them to share and they wouldn't even have to make much conversation so it wouldn't be so bad if things were still a little awkward between them to begin with, plus she knew that Eve hated going to the movies so the chances of bumping into her and Derek and having them mess everything up again, not that they could even if they tried now, were next to zero.
She barely had time to bask in the impressiveness of making such a good choice of venue for their 'date' when a new problem presented itself.
As Regina scrolled through the movies on offer, with nothing really jumping out at her she realised that she didn't even know what Emma's taste in movies was and the last thing that she wanted to do when she was still so tentatively trying to make it up to Emma was to take her to watch something that she would hate.
She looked for a little longer quickly ruling out any of the romances as a possibility, under normal circumstances she would probably enjoy one of those and think them a perfect choice for a date, but these were not normal circumstances, this was not a normal date and Regina letting her heart get carried away was why they had ended up in such a mess to begin with.
So, she picked up her phone and text Emma.
R: How would you feel about going to the movies with me this week?
E: I love going to the movies, what were you thinking of watching?
R: I thought it would be good for you to choose, so what do you prefer Action, thriller, comedy or horror?
She tapped out the message and hit send quietly praying for anything but horror as she waited on tender hooks for the reply, which came seconds later.
E: Horror.
Regina read the single word and swallowed dryly wondering why she hadn't just omitted to list horror as an option the same way she had done with romance.
She hated horror, she hated the gore and the jump scares, and they were far worse with the intensity of the huge screen, darkened room and thunderous sound coming from the speakers in the movie theatre.
Still, it was too late now and the one positive to the situation was that there was only one horror showing so that made choosing easy.
She added two tickets for the slasher film, with a sinister looking masked killer as its protagonist to her basket with a sigh. Great she thought creepy masks another thing she hated and no doubt there would be creepy music sending chills up her spine every time the killer was near, or just in random parts of the movie to make you think they were.
Regina shuddered at the thought and then she paid for her tickets with another sigh.
With that done she moved on to arranging the car that would take them both to the movie theatre picking her up first before they headed to the university dorms to collect Emma.
She felt her nerves rising when she slipped into the back seat on Wednesday evening wondering how things would be with Emma when she saw her again. This would be their first 'date' since the one that ended in disaster after all.
She found herself wondering if things would be awkward between them? Would it have been better to have met for their usual Monday afternoon date after all just to make sure things felt okay between them? How would they move past the awkwardness if it was there? Or would it last all night? Now there was an awful thought she shuddered her anxiety rising.
They had left things okay on Sunday but going on another date felt very different and as they got closer to Emma's dorms Regina found herself feeling even more glad that she had chosen not to do another restaurant date this week, doing something totally at least felt a little less daunting.
She sighed and shook her head, it was far to late to be worrying about this now and besides they were pulling up to collect Emma and she could see the blonde already outside dressed casually as Regina had instructed she should, in jeans paired with a black sweater and boots, she looked good Regina thought smiling at Emma as she got into the car beside her.
Emma started to say something but whatever it was got stuck in her throat as she caught sight of Regina and immediately fell silent blinking mutely at her.
Regina had also adorned causal gear for their date that evening, she wore dark blue form hugging jeans similar to those which she had loaned to Emma on Sunday and which she had yet to return but the ones Regina wore today were several shades of blue darker and would show off the curves of her perfect ass when she was standing as much as the ones that Emma currently had sitting in her laundry pile showed off her own.
She had paired the jeans with a gorgeous red off the shoulder cashmere sweater and stylish black leather ankle boys with a heel. Her make-up was much lighter than when they went on their restaurant dates but still flawlessly applied as always.
"You look fantastic" she said unable to stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth.
"Thanks, you look pretty good yourself" Regina replied blushing deeply as the compliment washed over her and turning her head away to hide it, while Emma was distracted securing herself into the seatbelt so that they could move off.
It wasn't a long journey and soon the driver was pulling up to drop them off on the sidewalk before heading to find somewhere to park and wait until he had to return to collect them after the movie.
Regina led Emma into the theatre where the two promptly joined the queue for snacks before they headed into the screen room to settle into their seats.
Emma with a huge share box of popcorn in hand, she settled it between them, but she was the only one snacking from it because Regina far too anxious to eat had her hands clenched together in her lap as she waited for the terror to begin.
"Are you okay?" Emma whispered noticing her tense posture and it was all that Regina could do to nod in response her eyes never leaving the blank screen.
Emma's eyes narrowed suspiciously, something was definitely off here but before she had a chance to enquire any further the screen flared to life starling Regina who flinched and clenched her hands even tighter as the lights dimmed and trailers started to play, way to quickly for Regina's liking, who quite frankly would rather have watched the blank screen for the next two hours than put herself through the horror movie that they were about to watch.
She swallowed dryly and reached for her soda reminding herself why she was doing this as she tried to calm her already rapidly beating heart, the anticipation almost seemed worse than the movie itself, was it really too much to ask for the film to get jammed or melt in the machine, anything to get out this?
The adverts were over in what seemed to her to be a far shorter than was normal, and suddenly the title of the movie had appeared on the screen announcing that it was about to begin.
Oh, how Regina wished that she could close her eyes and shut it all out, but somehow hearing the sounds without seeing the accompanying images flashing across the screen made it seem so much worse, so she kept her eyes open and barely dared to blink.
It started out tame enough like most horror flicks did, a bunch of dumb teens on a trip to the beach, discovering upon arrival that their accommodation was the scariest looking beach house ever with a horrible history of previously being owned by a serial killer who was thought to be long dead, drowned in the sea trying to escape from the cops as the legend went.
Of course, a couple the teens who fancied themselves a pair of jocks already knew the story and had chosen the place on purpose and much to the others dismay they quickly discovered that they were staying there as part of a dare, but Regina knew you wouldn't get her in a place like that, at least not alive.
Then of course the disappearances started and from there it didn't take long to hit full slasher mode poor Regina gradually moved closer to edge of her seat her back growing more and more rigid as the killer crept around taking the kids on the screen out one at a time and Regina wanted to scream at them as they each picked the stupidest most scariest places to hide, she almost lost her mind when one started to descend the creaky wooden stairs into the basement.
Emma's own eyes were so fixated on the screen that she hadn't yet noticed anything further amiss with Regina, but that all changed when a hand suddenly grabbed her knee in a vice like grip almost making her shout out loud as simultaneously the killers hand flew a gap between the wooden basement stairs and gripped the ankles of the girl making her way down them, sending her hurtling head first the rest of the way down with a blood curdling scream followed by a sickening thud at the bottom that instantly silenced the scream and left her with head at an unnatural angle, eyes staring blankly and a blood pooling out around her head like a distorted version of a halo.
Emma gasped in surprised her racing as she looked at Regina whose face was paler than she had ever seen it before as she continued to watch looking terrified but apparently unable to tear her eyes away from the screen.
"Do you want to leave" Emma leaned in and whispered into Regina's ear, startling her so much that the brunette almost jumped a foot in the air and had to suppress a scream of her own that desperately wanted to escape.
"It's okay, just breathe" Emma whispered again prizing Regina's sweaty palm off her knees and lacing her fingers through the brunettes instead, giving her hand a gentle reassuring squeeze.
"Better?" she asked when Regina failed to respond in anyway.
This time she nodded silently eyes still glued to the screen.
"So, should we leave?" Emma quietly asked again.
"No" Regina whispered back surprising Emma who thought that the brunette looked ready to flee at any second "I can't leave before they catch the killer" Regina explained in hushed tones.
Emma nearly quietly chuckled at that, but she totally got it, the unknown was often what plagued the mind so much more than the known, now she was here Regina had to see it through to the end so that the what ifs wouldn't continue play on her mind long after they left.
"Shh" someone turned and hissed from in front them getting Emma's back up immediately, but she kept her cool, responding with a glare and abstaining from being petty and flicking popcorn in the complainer's hair, instead she settled back into her seat to watch the rest of the film with Regina's hand still safely tucked into her own.
By the end of the film Regina had half squeezed the life out of Emma's poor hand and buried her face into the blonde's shoulder and loose hair no less than seven times, each time the soothing scent of Emma's shampoo brought her comfort that calmed her racing heart.
"You should have said you hated horrors" Emma laughed as they walked down street after with Regina grumbling about the Killer disappearing at the end so that nobody knew where he actually was, paving the way for a sequel which meant that Regina had forced herself to sit through the entire movie only to be left with no resolution at the end.
But it had done what Regina had hoped it would do, it had put them back on track and now they were back to being completely comfortable in each other's company again as they walked and laughed together still holding hands as they searched for a bar to finish up what had turned into a perfect evening despite the terror that Regina had been forced to endure.
"I was thinking" Regina said as they settled with their second drink.
"You want to be careful doing that Regina" Emma teased.
"What thinking?" Regina asked in surprise.
"Yup, you might hurt something" she jested with a chuckle.
"Idiot" Regina retorted giving her a playful slap across her bicep.
"So, what was It then?" Emma asked when Regina distracted by Emma's teasing seemed to have lost track of her previous train of thought and fallen silent.
"What was what?" Regina asked brow furrowed in confusion.
"That you were thinking about" Emma laughed again, and Regina looked a little like she was having a eureka moment.
"Oh yes that, I was thinking that Halloween is just around the corner and how perfect a time that, that would be to stage a date" she smiled and pressed on "And I wondered how you would feel about going to a party."
"Let me get this straight" Emma chuckled "you hate scary things, but you want to go to a Halloween party?"
"I hate horror movies, but this isn't the same thing" Regina insisted "I love Halloween, it's harmless fun and nobody gets murdered."
Emma laughed and shook her head slightly.
"Just when I think I'm starting to understand you, you throw another curve ball at me" she said, Regina pouted at that, and Emma suddenly found herself having to fight a strong desire to lean in and kiss the pout away.
"So, what do you think?" Regina pressed "is a Halloween party something you would be up for?"
"Well," Emma spoke slowly and paused to take a sip of her drink her own brow creasing as she thought about it seriously. "I usually stay in and study whenever something seasonal is going on, I've been told that I'm not much fun hovering on the sidelines staying sober, but frat boys drinking until they throw up all over the place and pass out on the other hand are apparently the life and soul of the party, go figure" she shrugged and continued "But I could probably get us an invite to a reasonably decent party and if I can't then we could probably just show up and get in anyway, I don't think it's very difficult to crash once the drinking has begun" she shrugged again.
"As kind as your offer is that's not quite what I meant" Regina chuckled "and please don't take any offence but I was thinking about something a little more upper class than a college dorm party."
"Oh no I'm not offended at all, more upper class sounds so much better" Emma smiled back at her, "So did you already have any particular party in mind, or will we be looking for one to get into?"
"Kathryn has a Halloween party every year, I always get an invite, and I thought you could be my plus one if you have no objections that is"
"Why would I object?" Emma asked a confused frown forming.
"I just didn't know how you'd feel about going to the party of one of your employers" Regina replied.
"Oh right, yeah, didn't think about that" Emma laughed and rubbed the back of neck a little awkwardly for a second "But you know what I'm fine with it if she is" Emma concluded.
"Great, now we just have to decide what our costumes will be" Regina grinned rubbing her hands together eagerly.
"Uh, costumes" Emma gulped.
"Yes, it's a costume party" Regina said, "but don't look so worried I'll pay for the hire of yours, this is all part of service you're providing after all, we just have to decide on something, I suggest we go with something couple themed, we're supposed to have been together for seven months now after all and I feel like we'd definitely want to dress as a couple."
"Yeah I guess so" Emma replied cautiously her concerns having a lot more to do with having to wear a silly costume in the first place than paying for the hiring of it, this was definitely way out of her comfort zone.
"We should probably start looking sooner rather than later, there's this great little costume hire place a few blocks away from my office, I go there every year, maybe I could get you a car to meet me at work this Friday instead of the park and we could check it out together, what do you think?"
"Fine by me" Emma replied still not feeling at all convinced over this.
"Okay who are you and what have you done with my roommate?" Belle laughed after Emma had told her about Regina's proposition after she had been dropped back home a little tipsy later that evening to find the brunette still up studying. "You've never gone to a party in the whole time I've known you, let alone a fancy dress one".
Belle laughed again while Emma groaned and rolled her eyes in response.
"It's going to be an absolute nightmare isn't it?" she said dropping onto her bed and holding her head in her hands.
"I don't know, you might actually enjoy it" Belle shrugged, and Emma groaned anew lying back against her pillow and kicking her shoes off before she pulled her feet up onto her bed to.
"Nope it's going to be a nightmare, I just know it, but Regina sat through a horror movie for me tonight so the least I can do is suffer through a party in return."
"True and you are getting paid pretty well for this gig" Belle added, and Emma sighed, a little sad to be reminded of that, though she knew of course it was perfectly true, sometimes she couldn't help but wish that it wasn't.
She fell asleep that night wondering what the hell she was letting herself in for.
Regina was nowhere to be seen when the car pulled up outside of the office with Emma seated comfortably in the back a couple of days later, but it didn't take long for her to appear and slip into the back seat beside the blonde.
She leaned forward to give the driver directions then settled back into the seat and put her seatbelt on.
"You can't beat this little place for costumes" she told Emma as the car moved off "they make the most beautiful things".
Emma nodded and quietly watched out of the window until they pulled over.
The store front had two large windows, each with its own display in it, one had a spooky theme while the other had a fairytale theme, and a door situated between served as the customers way in and out.
Emma stepped out of the car her eyes rising to see the sign that stretched above the door and windows the brown wooden sign with peeling gold letters looked as though it had seen better days and could have used a face lift, but even with the peeling paint and two totally missing letters it was still easy enough for Emma to read that it was called Once Upon a Time, Costumes for all occasions.
"I know it doesn't look like much from the outside" Regina said her eyes following Emma's up to sign but what it lacks out here it more than makes up for inside, it's a real hidden gem this place."
"I'm sure it is" Emma smiled her eyes moving to the nearest window display which was already a contrast from the aging sign.
Emma could immediately tell just how much time, effort and care had gone into the window display which depicted an enchanted forest with castles and villages, the whole scene was kept spotlessly clean and the more she looked the more she saw little details like pumpkins with carved faces and lights inside them glowing outside of the little houses, the scene had clearly been decorated for Halloween and that intrigued Emma.
"Do they change the little decorations for each holiday?" she asked Regina who was standing looking in the window beside her now.
"Yes they do" Regina beamed happy that Emma seemed to be enjoying this trip so far "and every outfit you see on a character has a life size version for hire inside the store."
"Wow" Emma breathed steaming up the window in front of her "In that case I think you should get this one" she pointed at figure standing on the balcony of a dark castle that rose into sharp points, the figure wore a figure-hugging deep red velvet dress that pooled around her feet and was adorned with delicate black lace.
"It is beautiful" Regina smiled "and I think I'd look good as the evil queen but you might get a bit hot in the role of my huntsman" she pointed at the man on his knees next to the queen holding up a bag for her that Emma presumed he was pretending contained snows heart, he eyes raked over the thick furs that he was wearing and she had to agree with Regina.
"What if we changed the story and gave the Evil Queen the happy ending, I could dress as Prince Charming, his outfit looks much more comfortable" she said eyeing the outfit on the prince sitting astride a white horse as he rode through the forest in search of his precious princess who lay a short distance from his location sleeping in a glass coffin.
"Please" Regina scoffed "we can do so much better than, that sap for the Evil Queen."
"Hmm true, maybe she needs a Princess Charming instead." Emma laughed and Regina smirked.
"You know you might be on to something there" Regina smiled her eyes fixed on Emma.
"And we'd totally have to give you a different back story" Emma added, and Regina's smile turned into a confused smile.
"What do you mean?" she asked not quite following.
"Come on Regina there is no way in hell that anybody would buy you wanting to kill someone else and keep their heart as a trophy because you are jealous of their looks you're like hot with a capital H" she laughed, and Regina blushed deeply as Emma continued.
"No, for you to want to kill someone you would have to have a much better reason than looks" Emma looked thoughtful, and Regina moved her eyes back to the figure in red velvet her as deep a red as the dress was now.
"Yes, well" she stammered slightly and paused to clear her throat not quite sure of what to say next.
"We don't have long so what do you say we get inside and try some of these costumes on?" she suggested, however nice the compliments were she was feeling a little hot under the collar for hearing them especially from Emma, she knew that she was attractive but knowing that Emma thought she was too, well that did things to her insides and made her want to squirm in ways it probably shouldn't.
"Just a second I want to look at the other display first" Emma said taking out her phone to grab a few pictures of the fairy tale forest before moving to the next window.
This one also had a lovely display, but it was full sized costumes displayed on mannequins, all Halloween themed, with real pumpkins at their feet each with its own uniquely carved faces. Behind the stylish mannequins complete with hats and wigs was a wall displaying other fun Halloween accessories that the store stocked, Emma thought that this display looked like more of an advertisement and probably wasn't a permanent fixture like the other one.
"This display gets changed in full for each holiday season usually to show the stores newest items for the nearest upcoming holiday" Regina explained as though reading Emma's mind.
"Makes sense" the blonde shrugged, "let's go see what we can find inside" she added and with a smile and a nod Regina led the way into the store.
A bell jangled above the door the second that Regina opened it and short plump man with a dark eyes, a tanned complexion slightly darker than Regina's own and shock of black curls atop his head appeared seconds later.
"Regina" he greeted in slightly high vibrant tone, "welcome my darling, tell Alfonso what he can help you with today?."
"Pleasure as always Alfonso" Regina smiled back at him and leaned in to greet his air kisses above each of her cheeks "my friend and I haven't decided what we want yet so we were hoping to just have a look around for now and perhaps try some things on."
"Of course, of course" Alfonso urged them towards the racks of costumes "take your time and remember Alfonso is here if you need him" he gave a wave as flamboyant as the shirt he was wearing and disappeared somewhere in the depths of the store leaving them to look around in peace.
"I suggest we split up" Regina said turning to Emma once they were alone again, "You go one side and I'll go the other, pick two costumes for now and we'll meet in the middle to go try them on."
"Sounds good to me" Emma shrugged.
"Oh, and Emma don't forget our theme is couples and whatever you pick needs to have a counter costume for me, so pick out your costumes pair too."
"Got it" Emma nodded again, and they split to start their search.
Emma started searching her first rack, she knew that she didn't want to be dressed up in any sort of princessy gown so she dismissed those quickly as she passed them, until it occurred to her that maybe Regina would like to be a princess, and she could be the prince.
But if she wanted that then she would pick a gown for herself right? This was proving to be more difficult that Emma thought it would be and three racks in she still hadn't found anything that appealed to her.
She started on the fourth rack with a fed-up sigh already convinced she would have found nothing by the time she had to meet with Regina and wondering if the brunette was having any better luck when something finally caught her eye in the next rack and quickly abandoning the one she was standing at she hurried to free the pinstriped suit from its confines.
She pulled it out to reveal a Jack Skeleton outfit, perfect Emma thought with a smile as she took out the Sally costume to go with it, a suit and she would even have a mask to wear, not to mention that this costume would go perfectly with her brogues so she wouldn't have to worry about finding suitable footwear.
On the other side of the room Regina was having the opposite problem she liked everything and had picked her first outfit out of the first rack and was now wondering whether she had been too premature and should swap it for something else.
She held out the Robin Hood and maid Marion costumes looking them over for the third time in less than five minutes then still feeling less than certain she shook her head slightly and kept hold of it deciding that trying it on would the only way to be sure if it was for them or not, then she moved through two more racks before she chose Chucky's signature dungarees and Tiffany's wedding gown, that could be fun she thought selecting the outfits and moving to meet Emma who also had her second selection in hand, Batman and Cat woman.
Regina had to refrain from rolling her eyes when Emma handed her the cat woman outfit and Emma actually did scoff at the Robin hood costume.
"Something the matter?" Regina asked.
"No not at all" Emma sighed, and they both entered separate dressing rooms to try on their first costumes emerging minutes later dressed as Chucky and Tiffany.
Emma's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Regina in the white gown, she'd be a beautiful bride she thought before she shook the thought away and approached the mirror with the brunette to see how they looked together.
"These could work" Emma smiled as they posed in front of the mirror and started to take some selfies.
"Let Alfonso take photos for you" the portly man spoke seeming to appear from nowhere, Regina nodded and handed over the phone freeing the women up to pose together.
"So, what do we think?" Regina asked as they headed back to the changing rooms.
"I'd be happy in this" Emma replied, and Regina nodded.
"I'd be fine with this to" she said looking down at herself in the gown, "let's put them as a possible for now and see how we feel when we've tried a few more on."
Emma nodded her agreement and the two re-entered the changing room re-emerging as Robin and Marion, this time Emma was scowling.
"You don't approve" Regina laughed.
"I look like a forest fart" she answered flatly as she stared into the mirror then reluctantly posed for Alfonso, while Regina laughed heartily and finally Emma feeling it was worth putting this costume on just to hear that laugh managed to crack a real smile.
"It's a no for these, then" Regina said as they headed back towards the changing room and Emma gave her a grateful smile and nod.
The batman costume was difficult to get in to, but Emma finally emerged triumphant almost ten minutes after she had hastily removed the Robin costume, a feeling of anticipation tingling low in her abdomen as she thought about what Regina would look like in the cat woman outfit that she had given her.
That feeling rapidly vanished when she stepped out from behind her curtain to find said brunette waiting for her in her regular clothes holding the cat woman outfit in her hand.
"Not happening" was all she said to a flabbergasted Emma who just stared at Regina for a second while Alfonso excitedly flapped around her taking photos of her in the batman attire.
"You could have said before I spent ten minutes getting into this thing" Emma grumbled.
"And where would the fun in that be" Regina smirked mischief sparkling in her eyes and Emma found that she couldn't stay cross at her.
"It's a good job that I like you Regina Mills" Emma retorted turning to go back into the room.
This time they both emerged wearing the Jack and Sally outfits.
"These are my favourites so far" Emma grinned but Regina didn't look so certain.
"You don't like the Sally one?" Emma asked hiding her disappointment.
"It's okay" Regina sighed "definitely one for the maybe list, I'm just not totally sold it on it, maybe we need to try a few more things on, but not today, lunch is almost over for today and they aren't open on a Sunday so maybe we should come back on Monday lunch time?"
"Sounds good to me" Emma agreed.
When she got into the car on Monday lunchtime Emma found herself looking much more forward to the visit to the costume shop than she had the Friday before.
This time Regina was already outside waiting for them when the driver pulled up outside of her offices and she wasted no time slipping into the seat beside Emma and as luck would have they had been assigned the same drive so Regina only had to tell him to take them back to the same costume store as before for him to give a nod and watch for her to clip her seat belt in before he pulled away.
Emma couldn't resist another peek at the fairytale window display before they went inside and she was excited to spot a few more Halloween decorations here and there, she found herself wondering if Alfonso had added these details over the weekend or she had simply missed them before with there being so much to see.
"We should come by here one evening" Regina said as she watched her look "it's quite magical when it's lit up at night".
"What plans do you have for Wednesday?" Emma asked suddenly realising that they hadn't discussed anything yet.
"I don't know" Regina sighed and bit her bottom lip thoughtfully "I know we should get another meal together at some point but I'm so not ready for that yet" she admitted.
"Maybe I could just come to yours and we could order in and watch a movie and then you could come with me when I go home, and we could do a detour here to look at the lit-up display" Emma suggested.
"But we do that on a Sunday" Regina pointed out not wanted to admit just yet that the idea really appealed to her.
"We sort of do, but you cook on a Sunday while I study and then we talk more than watch movies, this would be a different kind of date night in, no cooking for you and no studying for me, just us with some take-out food and a movie of your choice, no horrors" she chuckled "how does that sound?"
"Pretty good actually" Regina replied.
"It's a plan then" Emma stated with a finality to her tone that Regina didn't have any desire to argue with.
"Yes it is" the brunette smiled and moved to push open the costume store door with Emma right behind her.
This time Alfonso directed them straight to the changing rooms.
"Alfonso already selected some costumes for you" he insisted hurrying them along "you must try them." And before they knew it both women were standing in the same changing rooms as they had used before only this time the costumes hanging up waiting for them were not of their choosing.
As she looked at the sheer pink gown that had be hung up for her to try first Emma felt certain that Alonso had made a mistake but before she could ask she heard Regina's voice floating out from next door.
"Are you sure these are for me?" she asked as she stood looking at a prince's outfit complete with sword and sheaf.
"Yes, yes my darlings, Emma will be the perfect princess Aurora and Regina you will this time, be my prince."
Regina shrugged and started to change.
"I don't think I want to put on the dress" Emma called out next.
"Oh, come on, be a sport" Regina shouted back to her thrilled at the idea of seeing Emma in the gown for a change "It'll be fun" she added.
"You didn't think that when I gave you the cat woman costume last week in fact I seem to recall that you refused to put that one on."
"That was a skintight leather leotard with a whip, it would have basically made me look like a dominatrix and It isn't something I could have worn to a party with my god sons in attendance" Regina retorted.
"No but it's something you could have tried on for me" Emma mumbled to quiet to be heard.
"What was that?" Regina asked.
"I said fine I'll try it on" Emma called out much louder and conceding defeat she changed into the dress stepping out to face Regina wearing an outfit that she would have much preferred for herself but even Emma had to admit that Regina looked good in it, but then Regina, Emma thought could make a black sack look attractive.
"Wow, Alfonso was right you do make a beautiful Aurora, the pink suits you" Regina smiled moving closer to Emma and then together they turned to look in the mirror.
Alfonso didn't allow them long before he had them posing for the photo shoot that they had become accustomed to after each costume change.
"That's it twirl her" he instructed Regina, "Swoon in her arms Emma" he added really getting into it.
"Now look into each other's eyes."
Green locked with brown and the shutter sound from the phone's camera kept sounding.
"And finally, a kiss" Alfonso shouted out.
Emma swallowed eyes still focused on Regina's as she wondered what to do, both seemed to realise that they couldn't refuse without it looking strange, but Emma refused to make the first move, instead she waited in quiet anticipation for Regina lean in and brush her lips against hers.
It was too long and to little all at the same time, just a taste but enough to make them both painfully aware of how much they wanted more at least in the privacy of their own thoughts, and both wondered not for the first time how they were going to get through Christmas in two months' time when they would have to be more affectionate with each other.
"Time for a change I think" Emma spoke quietly and gently separated from Regina to get into their separate changing rooms where they each took a little longer than strictly necessary to change just to give them a little more time to cool off.
Alfonso's second choice wasn't any better than the first, Emma was a prince this time which was relief to begin with, but she hadn't realised which prince she was supposed to be until she stepped out of the changing room and came face to face with a scowling Regina dressed as Snow White.
"This might be worse than when you wanted to pair the Evil queen up with that sappy prince" the brunette spoke quietly so that Alfonso wouldn't overhear and take offence, she only put the costume on at all to humour him.
"Not a fan of Snow white huh" Emma chuckled in return.
"Am I that transparent" Regina grumbled making Emma laugh again.
"So, tell me dear lady what did the fair princess do to offend you so."
"I don't know she just always rubbed me up the wrong way for some reason, and I'm sure you're right about there being more to the Evils queens' story than just being jealous of Snows looks, I mean who in their right mind would be jealous of someone who goes around dressed like this" her scowl deepened "the queen always looks so much better than the princess in this story."
"I can't argue with that" Emma smiled and pulled Regina into a twirl.
"How about we pose for Alfonso now my princess then later you can take great pleasure in eradicating the images forever."
Regina laughed at that, and they struck a few poses before heading back to change into their clothes.
"I think we'll just take Jack and Sally" Regina told Alfonso on her way into her changing room.
"Really" Emma beamed.
"Yes" Regina shrugged "the more I've thought about it and looked at our photos from Friday the more I realised how perfect they were for us and that suit will go perfectly with your brogues."
"It's as though you can read my mind" Emma laughed happily.
"Alas dear ladies but those are gone" Alfonso sighed regretfully, "Somebody collected them this morning."
"Oh" Regina's face fell "then I guess we get change and start looking again" she said looking back at Emma who nodded in agreement.
"If I may, there is one more I think might work for you" Alfonso said.
"Come now" he added when neither woman looked convinced "I fell short of the mark with these two and I see that now but I think my final idea will be perfect, humour an old man one last time?" he asked "think about it, what do you have to lose, if you hate them you don't even have to try them on, just trust you old friend Alfonso one last time".
They looked into his pleading eyes and sighed in unison.
"Fine go get them" Emma said "But I'm warning you if it's some frilly ball gown I'm not putting it on" she added as an eager Alfonso hurried away waving her off.
They went into their changing rooms and removed their current costumes as they waited for him to return.
Emma heard him passing something into Regina first and then it was her turn, she found herself holding her breath as the outfit came around the curtain along with Alfonso's chubby hand.
Emma took the hanger from him and looked at it, she was confused at first as it seemed like she had been handed Jacks pinstriped suit after all, but Alfonso had just told them that, that had been hired out already, had he lied to them and if so what for? it just didn't make any sense.
But the more she looked at it the more she realised that it was in fact a different suit with a fake red rose to accompany it that had a very long stem clipped to the front of the jacket.
Emma released the pin and twirled the stem between her fingers and suddenly she thought she knew who she was going to be when she was wearing this suit, and she pulled it on excitement rising as she prayed that she was right because she knew that if she was correct then she was going to be in for a real treat when she saw Regina in a few minutes time.
Suit on she picked up the rose from the stool that she had carefully placed it on to free up her hands for dressing and stepped out from behind her curtain to find Regina already examining her reflection in a form fitting floor length dress that hugged her all of the right places.
Emma licked her dry lips and took a deep breath before stepping up to meet her.
"Perfect" she breathed as she looked at their reflections together.
"I'm glad you said that" Regina replied smiling at Emma's reflection in the mirror "Because I totally agree."
"So much better than Jack and Sally" Emma grinned eyeing Regina appreciatively and the brunette's cheeks coloured a little in response.
"I think we've made our choice" Regina said turning away from their reflections to address Alfonso, "We'll just get changed and then you can pack them up for us."
"Pictures first, change and pack up after" Alfonso suggested.
Regina turned to Emma who nodded put the rose stem between her lips and held a giggling Regina in her arms then she started to march her up and down the section of floor space in front of the changing rooms with sharp turns each time they had to turn to go back the way they came in a way that was very reminiscent of Morticia and Gomez Addams dancing.
"Honestly Emma" Regina scolded her after she had finished up by tilting her in her arms and presenting her with the fake flower "you don't know where this thing has been" she said twirling the stem in-between her own slender fingers now.
"Fear not darlings I can assure you that it's been nowhere unpleasant, I always give a new rose with this costume, new wigs for both of you too, it is all part of the service in Alfonso's shop, and you must keep them, Alfonso does not want anything that has been on your head or in your mouth back, no thank-you" he shook his head fiercely and both women laughed, Regina relieved that it was new and Emma just happy to have been responsible for so much happy laughter coming from Regina that day.
"Could you drop me at the dry cleaners around the corner from my office, I need to drop these off and then I'll walk the rest of the way" Regina told the driver when they were back in the car a short while later laden with their hired outfits and a bag of extra bits that they were given with them and told to keep.
"I'll pick them up again when they're ready and take them back to my place, I thought we could get ready for the Halloween party together but if you'd rather take yours home with you and get ready there that's fine too" she said to Emma as she settled comfortably into her seat for what would be a very short ride for her.
"Getting ready at yours sounds good to me" Emma smiled warmly "as long as you don't mind me grabbing a shower, I always work on Saturdays, so I'll be coming straight from there, I'm doing an earlier shift but I still won't have time to go home, and shower then come and get ready at yours after."
"Emma you don't need to explain, as far as I'm concerned my home Is your home when you're there and you should treat is as such.
Emma's heart skipped a beat at those words, she had lived in many homes growing up, but nobody had never said those words to her before and now here Regina was suddenly giving her this wonderful gift of welcome and it warmed her heart more than she could possibly say.
"Thanks" she smiled in return not wanting to appear rude by saying nothing at all.