Emma spent Sunday morning nursing a hangover, ignoring her friends' constant texts asking about what happened with Regina.
"Nothing," Emma muttered to herself, feeling a bit ashamed that her tipsy self hadn't done more than just talk to Regina. The incessant buzzing on her nightstand continued. Groaning, Emma buried herself under the covers, hoping to hide from the noise. Maybe avoiding her friends was better if they acted like this over one small talk at a gay bar.
But something had clearly shifted in her and Regina's relationship; the antagonism had softened. The best birthday gift she could have hoped for.
Monday arrived too quickly, as it always did. Emma still nursed a headache, exhaustion evident in her gaze. As she set up her classroom, Regina stepped in, surprising her once again.
"Good morning," Emma greeted with a yawn, chuckling. "Sorry. Still waking up."
Regina smirked, a look Emma was getting attached to, and handed her a latte in a cup stamped with a fancy French logo. Emma accepted gratefully and took a curious sip. The coffee tasted delicious, frothy, creamy, and rich, leagues ahead of the 60-cent stuff she usually grabbed from the sketchy stand by Mary Margaret's place.
"Is it?" Regina asked. "How's your head?"
"Better," Emma admitted, especially after David, who'd spent the weekend at Mary Margaret's, made his hideous but effective special hangover concoction with at least two raw eggs in it. "You?"
"Please," Regina said, waving her hand dismissively. "Not my first rodeo."
Emma smiled. Regina, likely ten years her senior, seemed experienced at everything. An attractive quality. As Regina helped prepare the morning stations, Mulan's MILF comment sprang unbidden into Emma's mind. She nearly choked on her next sip of coffee, shaking the thought away.
"Everything alright, Ms. Swan?" Regina looked up, her expression hinting at second thoughts of being there.
Emma composed herself, trying not to blush. She cleared her throat gently and gave Regina a pointed look. "Emma, remember?"
Regina rolled her eyes but nodded. "Emma," she corrected.
Emma was pleasantly surprised at Regina's easy relent. Though, over-formality between them seemed absurd now— considering they had shared drinks together at a gay bar.
The kids trickled into the classroom, their chatter filling the room with the usual morning buzz. Emma greeted each one with a smile, noting how the kids' eyes widened slightly upon seeing Regina standing by her desk.
"Good morning, Ms. Mills," one of the braver students greeted politely.
"Good morning, Melody. Take your seat and prepare for morning work," Regina said. Her crisp tone left no room for dawdling.
As the morning progressed, Emma couldn't help but notice the subtle signs of the children's apprehension around Regina. They were more subdued than usual, their whispers hushed and their movements cautious. Regina's reputation for strictness preceded her, and it showed.
"Kiara, that's your second warning for talking out of turn. See me after class for a demerit," Regina announced. Kiara's face turned pale as she nodded quickly, avoiding eye contact.
Then, during a group activity, a couple of boys started giggling and passing notes. "Unacceptable," Regina lectured, eyes sharp. "Hand over the note. Both of you will receive a demerit for being off task." The boys immediately complied, their previous bravado evaporating under her stern gaze.
As the day went on, Regina's presence maintained a strict order. During silent reading time, Emma immersed herself with the struggling readers at the small group table, delighting in having Regina's watchful eyes on the rest of the class. As they worked on their independent novels, Emma felt a tug on her sweater.
"Miss Swan, can I please talk to you in the hall?" Henry whispered.
"Sure, Henry," Emma said. Regina, busy helping a student with the correct color coding rules for class annotation, didn't notice as the two of them slipped out. Emma shut the door behind them.
"What's up?" she asked. "Everything okay?"
"Um," Henry's eyes squinted, struggling to form his statement politely. "I think the whole class is terrified of my mom."
"Me too, kid," Emma admitted. "Our styles are pretty different, but I think they'll get used to her rules with time."
"Mmm…" Henry fidgeted. "A couple of the other kids were upset at lunch because of all the demerits. What if they stop being nice to me?"
"Oh, Henry," Emma breathed, understanding now why he looked so anxious. She gripped his shoulder. "I'll talk to her when you guys go to music, okay?"
He looked immensely relieved. "Thank you, Emma."
They returned to the classroom. As Emma slipped into her desk, Jacinda, one of her regulars at the small-group table, had her head down. Riley, a new student who always looked a little down, shrugged when Emma passed her a curious look.
"Hey, you okay?" Emma asked Jacinda gently, leaning forward. Jacinda flinched and covered her head with her arms. Even while buried in her arms, Jacinda's firm head shake was visible. No.
"Don't like," her muffled, accented voice came. "Don't like reading."
Aware that their conversation might attract curious looks, Emma nodded, busied herself with the other students at her table, and let Jacinda have her moment.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Regina's click of heels announced her presence.
The rule was students couldn't put their heads down during class time unless the teacher permitted it as a break. Before Emma could explain that she had allowed it (silently, at least), Regina leaned over Jacinda's desk.
"Sit up, Jacinda," she said. "It's time to read. This isn't like you."
Jacinda flinched again but didn't move. Regina's expression softened, and she placed her hand on Jacinda's head, between her cute black pigtails. She spoke softly in Spanish, and Emma didn't understand. But whatever Regina said made Jacinda sit up immediately, looking pleased. She picked up her book and began to read.
Something powerful and indescribable built inside Emma as she observed their interaction, feeling that having Regina in her classroom might be the most impactful thing this year for Jacinda and kids like her.
Mary Margaret waltzed into the room when it was time for music, striking a silly pose as the kids packed up their books, making them laugh. She wore a paint-stained art frock and had a paintbrush tucked behind her ear. Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Geppetto had surgery, so I'll be covering his art classes for a month or two," Snow explained. She made a crazy face, showing her frustration from all the extra work, causing Emma to snort and cover her mouth to stifle her laughter. When Snow noticed Regina, she became rigid and still, nodding at her.
"Ms. Mills," she greeted solemnly, the playfulness evaporating.
Regina, still clearly not her fan, made a noise of disapproval, ignored her, and went back to grading the spelling tests from Friday.
Snow gave Emma a bright look. "That's actually a huge improvement," she whispered. "Normally she says something nasty."
She clapped her hands together. "Alright, everyone. Since Halloween is coming up, we're going to be doing some spooooooky music," she said, drawing out the "ooooooo" in a ghostly noise that made the kids laugh again. Clearly, she was beloved by them. Most of the kids had been together since kindergarten, so they'd had Mary Margaret as a teacher for years. Seeing Snow's camaraderie and management through love and mutual respect inspired Emma. It was how she wanted to be as a teacher too.
Snow waved goodbye and took the kids to music, and Emma braced herself for another tough conversation with Regina. Regina sat at her desk, licking a finger to turn over spelling tests, grading rapidly, and frowning as she wrote the scores. Emma tried not to feel anxious.
"Hey… can I talk to you for a minute?" Emma asked, trying to sound confident. She hopped up and took a seat on top of a student desk.
Regina looked up dryly. "What is it now?"
"Having your help today has been a godsend," Emma began, raising her hands slightly. "You're a natural in here. But…"
"But what?" Regina interrupted, scowling.
Emma sighed. "Don't you think you're a bit tough on the kids? Your management is impressive, but Henry might have a hard time making friends because... well, people are scared of you. Not just the students, but the staff too."
Regina set down the red grading pen with a sharp click and glared. "I can't help if they're intimidated by me. Maybe they should try being less weak."
Emma sensed she'd hit a nerve, maybe one of Regina's sore spots. Mulan had mentioned something similar once, that being a woman of color meant people often projected meanness and aggression onto you, even when none was meant. Emma thought of how gently Regina had spoken to Jacinda. She knew Regina was actually a very kind-hearted woman, undeserving of her horrible reputation.
"I'm not scared of you," Emma said. She chuckled. "I was at first, but then I realized you're actually kind of a sweetheart."
Regina sneered, and Emma couldn't help laughing. "I promise I won't tell anybody," Emma said, trying to lighten the mood.
Regina relaxed a bit and resumed grading. "What's your point? Would you like me to stop coming into the classroom, then?"
"Please, no," Emma replied frantically. "Losing your help would be a disaster. Henry really likes having you here. And so do I. Maybe we can give more warnings and fewer demerits as a start?"
"Sure," Regina said. "Though I normally don't assign so many. Life works easier with the students if you scare them in the beginning."
Regina continued grading. Emma tidied up the classroom, picking up scraps of paper and garbage left behind by the students. At the small table, she noticed the slim, level-one readers left behind. Her heart sank, thinking of Jacinda's head in her arms.
"Hey, thanks for helping with Jacinda earlier," Emma said, turning to Regina.
Regina shrugged. "She's normally a wonderful student. Her grandfather is really sick."
Emma nodded, understanding. "That explains why she's been so down lately. I wish I'd learned Spanish back then, but honestly, I wasn't a great student," she admitted, feeling a bit shy. "What did you say to her?"
"I told her that tomorrow I would bring her a book in Spanish to read. Only for independent reading, of course," Regina replied, flipping a page and marking it expertly.
"Wow," Emma breathed. "Thank you. That probably meant so much to her. Even more so having someone that looks like her in the classroom and speaks her language. You're really incredible, Regina."
Regina scoffed, stopping to look at Emma with a raised eyebrow. She looked embarrassed. "It's really not a big deal." Then she relented a little. "But, thank you."
Gold's voice echoed in Emma's mind: Regina values results. She seized the opportunity. "Maybe if you work closely with Jacinda for a while, and I work with Riley, we can get all the kids to pass the winter benchmark math test?"
Regina nodded. "Not a bad idea. I'd be happy to work with her."
Emma's spirits soared at the praise. Winning approval from Regina felt like scoring a touchdown every time. This arrangement would be a win-win: Regina would have a focused task besides handing out demerits like candy, and the students would benefit too.
Emma sat down next to Regina, opened her laptop to check emails, and felt lighter than in a long time.
October came and went, and the entire staff of Storybrooke Academy felt grateful that Halloween and the kids' candy rush had finally ended. November often presented as one of the darkest and most difficult months for new teachers. Studies supported this claim. Early months with a new class were challenging as kids tested boundaries, rules were still being learned, and the days grew shorter.
Emma dragged herself to the Tuesday morning PD, noticing her table mates looked equally tired and grumpy.
"No girlfriend today?" Mulan teased, and Ruby beat Emma to smacking her.
"Leave it alone," Ruby sighed, rubbing her temples. "The middle schoolers are giving us hell right now, and Elsa, Merida, and I have a parent meeting in the middle of this with that Mother Gothel woman." The three of them shuddered.
"Man, you ladies should get good. I never have a problem in P.E.," Mulan joked.
Merida looked at her dryly. "Aye, it's P.E. Ye throw rubber balls at each other's faces and get to hit things with rackets. What's not to like?"
"We're not in the mood, Miss Fa," Elsa said tiredly. The purple circles under her eyes stood out starkly against her pale skin. Glitter eyeshadow usually adorned the corners of her eyes, but today, even Storybrooke's goddess looked like a mere mortal.
Mulan leaned back, properly chastised but passed a grin to Emma. "Tell me when things heat up between you two."
Emma scowled at her but with a smirk. "Tell me when things heat up with you and a certain someone in the main office."
Mulan's eyes widened that Emma knew about her little secret, but David stepping up to the podium spared her.
"Alright, team. I have good news and bad news," he began, amidst a room of groans at this familiar corny setup.
"Bad news," Grumpy demanded, not even in the mood to yell it.
"Well," David began, "at the school board meeting last week, they discussed some budget shortfalls. We're in a pretty bad deficit, which means there will be cuts."
"We're doomed," Grumpy moaned, putting his head in his hands. Mary Margaret placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Emma felt a pang of sympathy for the specials teachers. She gripped Mulan's shoulders, knowing that specials were always the first to get cut.
"I know it's scary," David said quickly, sensing the tension in the room. "But, as your principal, I'm not going to let anyone get laid off. We'll try to cut things we can do without for now. Unfortunately, that means our annual November school field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo will have to be canceled."
A murmur of disappointment and disapproval spread through the room, and several hands raised. Disappointment settled over Emma. Last year, her fifth graders bonded during that trip, which provided valuable lessons in science. While David fielded questions, the scent of Regina's perfume wafted by, indicating her presence at the meeting.
"Ms. Mills?" David called on her.
Regina crossed her arms, looking extremely displeased. "Well, I for one do not agree with this decision. I have a son who loves animals and looks forward to this trip every year." She looked at David pointedly. "I'd be happy to make a sizeable donation for my son's class to attend, and I'm sure the PTA members would do the same for their children's classes."
David sighed. "Unfortunately, while that's a generous offer, I can't allow it if only some classes can go and not others. It wouldn't be fair."
Emma surprised herself by raising her hand, always acting without thinking when it came to helping Regina. David, surprised himself, called on her.
Emma cleared her throat, nervous speaking in front of the entire staff. "What if we did a school-wide fundraiser?" She looked at Regina, who seemed grateful for the assistance. "Maybe each class can contribute? I'm sure, along with the PTA's help, we can raise enough money."
"Nice one, nerd," Mulan whispered, and Merida snickered, but Emma ignored them.
"That's a wonderful idea," Mary Margaret chimed in, beaming at Emma.
David smiled. "I can get behind that. Thanks, Emma, I needed some good news this morning." The staff chuckled. "Bring your fundraiser ideas to our next PD, and we'll get them approved so we can start raising the funds right away."
After the meeting, Emma tried to catch up to Regina, but she had beelined for David, clearly frustrated. Emma headed back to her classroom early.
Once again, her door was unlocked, the lights were on, and Henry was inside, waiting as usual on days Regina came to school early. He didn't hear Emma walk in, as his back was turned and he was talking to Killian the gecko.
"… you know what I mean?" Henry asked glumly. "Girls are really hard to understand."
Killian the gecko munched on his cockroaches, happily.
"Thanks for talking with me, Killian. I'm glad you're my friend," Henry said.
Feeling embarrassed for listening in, Emma stepped back out, then re-entered, making a ridiculous amount of noise and banging into the door on purpose. Henry spun around, brightening when he saw her.
"Morning, Emma," he greeted. "How was your meeting? Did Mom do anything embarrassing?"
"Morning, kid," Emma returned. "Boring and long, as usual, and no, she was really cool actually." Emma tossed her keys on her desk and sat down on top of it. "We need to raise some money for our annual field trip to the zoo. Got any ideas?"
Henry hopped up on his desk, giggling, knowing Regina would lecture him as soon as she came in. He kicked his legs as they dangled.
"Hmmm," he mused, then lit up. "How about a bake sale? Mom makes this thing called pastelón de manzana, and it's really good. I dream about it sometimes." Henry sighed. "She said she's gonna teach me how to make dulce de manzana soon. It has my favorite things in it: sugar and cinnamon." They both laughed, but then Emma tried not to remember the Halloween Candy Black Market of 2013 from a week ago.
The way the Spanish words rolled off Henry's tongue, Emma guessed he was fluent but was curious. "Henry, do you speak Spanish?"
He nodded and said something long and rapid in Spanish, much too fast for Emma to catch.
"Woah, uh, sorry—my Spanish is pretty much nonexistent," Emma admitted reluctantly.
"I said, yeah, I practice it at home all the time with my mom." Henry shrugged. "It really helps me learn French in Belle's class."
Emma lost her train of thought, giving him an amused look. "Do you call all your teachers by their first names?"
Henry shrugged again. "Only the ones I like."
Regina walked in, still looking slightly agitated. She didn't need to say a word, only gave Henry a motherly look, and he quickly hopped off the desk and sat in it properly with a sheepish smile. Regina sighed, then walked over to Emma.
"Well, do you have any ideas?" she asked, tiredly. "I tried to change David's mind, but he's adamant. I'd be happy to donate for the entire school, but I'd have to get Zelena's approval since she's also part of the company. And right now, I don't want to speak to her whatsoever."
"I don't blame you," Emma said, not needing a longer explanation, since the little Regina had shared before was enough. She nodded at Henry. "Henry thinks we should do a bake sale. Says you can make a mean…" Emma looked at him helplessly.
"Apple flan and sweet stewed apples," Henry helped her out.
Emma smirked at Regina, playfully leaning forward. "I'm sensing you like apples, huh?"
Regina backed away a little, clearly blushing at the proximity, but she nodded. "Papa worked the harvest when I was growing up. We always had delicious fresh apples, and so I tend to cook with them often." She patted Henry's back, fondly. "Good idea, Henry. I'll get the PTA and Mr. Nolan on board."
"Can I help?" he asked eagerly.
"Of course," she agreed, and Henry danced happily in his seat. His eagerness sparked another idea in Emma's mind.
"Henry, we'll need some students to volunteer at the bake sale. Do you want to ask Jacinda to help us? I think she would love to try some familiar foods and maybe even make some with her parents."
"Sure," Henry nodded.
With Regina's help, the PTA and David launched their fundraising with weekly bake sales before Friday school sports events. The effort would culminate right before Thanksgiving break with a late-night dinner and auction, featuring fall-themed games and activities. The entire staff got on board to help, with Grumpy and Mary Margaret's classes making wood and art decorations, and the middle schoolers hosting the event.
One Friday, Emma stayed late to finish grading essays. The squeaking of shoes, cheering audience, loud buzzing scoreboard, and Mulan's coaching shouts pulled her to the gym, lured by the excitement and the delicious smell of the bake sale.
At a table, Regina sat with a beautiful, lipsticked redhead. Emma smiled, pleased to see the bake sale packed with patrons. Pies, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes piled high on the table. Some looked professional, while others had charmingly crooked lettering with store-bought icing. Everything smelled amazing, showcasing the school's community spirit. Regina clearly had a talent for organizing the parents.
"Why, hello there," a playful British voice greeted her. "You must be Miss Emma Swan, judging by my sister's reaction."
"Ah, you must be Zelena," Emma replied, noticing Regina's simmering dark rage next to her.
Zelena waved her arms proudly, leaning back. "My reputation precedes me, how wonderful." She gestured to the spread. "My lovely sister and I are having a bit of a friendly competition to see whose dessert is the most popular. Care to participate?"
Emma dug her wallet out of her back pocket and bought the two desserts Zelena pointed to. She unwrapped what looked like a brownie from its saran wrap and took a bite, realizing how long it had been since lunch.
A swirl of dark chocolate ganache topped the brownie, sprinkled with edible green and gold glitter. Inside, creamy, mint-flavored ganache added a refreshing twist to the rich chocolate.
"Delicious," Emma admitted, with an apologetic look at Regina, who remained stubbornly silent.
"I don't even know why I let her on the PTA," Regina grumbled.
"Now try sister dear's," Zelena ordered, moving the plate closer.
Emma picked up a piece of Regina's pastelón de manzana and took a bite. The smooth, creamy custard infused with vanilla perfectly complemented the layers of tender, spiced apples. Each bite offered a harmonious blend of tart apples and sweet caramel, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The delicate, buttery crust added a satisfying crunch, making every bite delightful. Emma sighed dreamily, unable to keep a happy smile from her face. "This is… probably the best thing I've ever put in my mouth."
"Surely not… the best thing," Zelena pressed with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Regina smacked her so hard she yelped.
"Enough, Zelena," Regina hissed. "There are children present."
"Yes, there are," Zelena said again, rubbing her stomach. Regina, clearly fed up, stood and stormed out to the parking lot.
"Oh dear," Zelena sighed. "I pushed too far. Be a dear, Miss Swan, and go fetch her back for me, would you? I'll mind the table."
Emma nodded and hurried after Regina.
"Hey!" Emma called out, hoping to catch Regina before she drove off. Regina didn't make it far. It was pitch black outside, and the wind picked up, biting through to the very marrow of their bones. Emma pulled off her leather jacket and wrapped it around Regina's shoulders. Regina, clad in a sleeveless dress, shivered.
"Thanks," Regina said darkly. She softened when she looked at Emma. "I left my sweater inside but felt foolish going to retrieve it."
"I'll get it," Emma said. "Before you leave. You okay?"
Regina sighed, tugging Emma's jacket tighter. "I'll be fine. That's just the way she is. She can be cruel and hurtful, but she doesn't mean to be. She honestly can't help it. It's the way our mother raised her."
"I'm sure she could have helped not having your ex's child," Emma said.
Regina snorted. "True, but maybe it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because now I'll never be tied down to a man again."
"That's the spirit," Emma said, patting her shoulder. Regina finally caved and smiled a little, then frowned.
"Ms. Swan, why are you so kind to me? I've done nothing but make your life miserable, and I'm not… a nice person." Regina shook her head. "I don't understand you."
"Everyone deserves kindness," Emma replied.
"Not everyone," Regina muttered. Emma sensed a bigger story there but didn't want to press. Instead, she stepped closer, taking both of Regina's shoulders. Regina still looked hurt and vulnerable.
"You deserve kindness," Emma said firmly, waiting until Regina's liquid black eyes met hers, the silvery scar over her lips visible. "I've already forgiven you for what happened at first. Now, I honestly see you as a friend. You've helped me so much and clearly want what's best for the students. Maybe it's time to let the past go, Regina."
"You think of me as a friend?" Regina asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah," Emma admitted, smiling. "Will you be friends with me?"
Regina's hands clutched tighter around Emma's jacket, and she glanced away, biting her lip. A bit of the vulnerability passed, and she nodded.
"Alright, but I'll probably be an insufferable one," Regina said.
Emma couldn't help but laugh, feeling infinitely pleased.