Sunday morning began as one of the laziest day's Emma had had for a while. She must have been so tired, even the birds didn't wake her this morning. She awoke to a weight pressing down on her though, a physical one. Killian was sprawled on this front, his arm casually plopped over her chest, it was causing her ribs to ache now. She assumed it had been there for quite a while now as she peered over at him. He was drooling and snoring lightly. It was nothing like waking up with Regina. She missed her soft skin, smell, how they fit together like a jigsaw. She wondered how long she could keep doing this. Regardless of how angelic, or not, Killian was, even if he was just using her, this was not fair on him.
She traipsed downstairs, desperate for her hit of caffeine. It was only as she neared the bottom that she could here shuffling coming from the living room. She went into the office – the nearest room – and picked up the first thing she could find - a letter opener. She rolled her eyes; who had a letter opener nowadays.
She slowly pushed the door, peering around the crack. "Henry!" She was now able to breathe out, much to her relief.
"Ma, what are you doing?" He was sat on the Sofa, watching something on the laptop.
"Umm, good question." She pondered whilst looking between him and the letter opener. "Being overly paranoid I guess. What are you doing up so early on the weekend?
"Look, come see." He gestured for her to come over. Her heart melted when she looked at the screen.
"Henry." She sat down beside him and began to study the information.
"It's from a woman who lives not too far from here, about an hour's drive. She teaches sign language, these are the basics (he pointed to a sheet he had opened). She offers an online course and once a month she likes to meet up face to face for extra practice with as many of her students as possible so they can learn first-hand. It's interesting, I was reading she mainly teaches people who can hear who want to learn for many different reasons. Sometimes they know someone who is deaf, or have a deaf child and sometimes they just want to learn another language."
"Henry, this is very impressive and sweet, I'm just curious, why right now?" Henry sighed.
"I heard Killian talking to some people yesterday. Apparently, one of the guys he was with had said he liked Regina and tried to hit on her, but then he said she freaked out on him. I wasn't really sure what they were talking about, but I think they were being rude. Then Killian told him she was really deaf. He seemed surprised. Killian then laughed and said it would be handy having a girlfriend or wife that was deaf, then he said that it was only a shame she wasn't mute as well. I had to look that up. I thought it was mean, but they all laughed. Then he said something about how close you two were getting, but they started walking away then." Emma was fuming. She knew guys liked to joke around, but she knew there was little humour in that. There was no way she wanted that man anywhere near Regina and Killian? She barely recognised him now.
"Why the sudden need to learn sign language then? I'm all for it, don't get me wrong, and I was hoping you'd want to learn with us. But why now?"
"Killian mentioned that the Mayor had said she was getting worse and wondered if she even realised a lot of the time. Are they not together any more Ma? He said they were separated, does that mean they are not married anymore?" Emma scooted closer and placed her arm around him.
"Not necessarily, they are still married, but choosing not to be together, they will get divorced, but that takes time; when they've finished the divorce proceedings then they will no longer be married."
"Oh, can you and Killian do that?" Emma thought about it, it was possible they could still get annulled, but Killian would probably make it too messy.
"Henry, please don't go saying things like this, I don't want him to know I'm not happy right now. I need time to work out what I am going to do to get us out of this, do you understand?" He nodded, confirming he did. The mom guilt she felt for placing her son in this position was nearly crippling her.
"Anyway," she drew the attention back to the screen. "What's your game plan with this?"
"I think me, you and Regina should learn, I also want the kids in my class and the teachers in the school to learn, then they can teach the little ones. I think if they get someone who does speak it already, they can teach the little ones and help with everyone else learning. Then by the time they are in Mrs White's class, they will have lots of ways to communicate."
"Wow, you really have thought this through. I love the idea, though whether the school will be able to do that is another question. How about we start learning and put forward a proposal to Mary Margaret. Do you know what that means?" He shook his head.
"It means, we think about different ways that this could practically happen and in the cheapest way, then we go to her and suggest our ideas."
"Yeah I like that, can we do these lessons then? Look, I'm already learning." He tried his best effort at 'Hello', 'how are you?' and 'thank you.' She welled up, she couldn't be prouder of her son if she tried.
"I will speak to Regina about it. Maybe we can all start the lessons together. I know the only reason she hasn't done so is because she would have no-one to talk to, so she didn't see the point." Henry's eyes watered up.
"That is really sad." Then he perked up in the way only a child truly can. "But she will now. Can I ask her tomorrow, in school, I want to show her this as well?" He opened a small folder of beginner signs that he was going to give her.
"Of course Kid, I will leave this to you. I'm sure she'll appreciate it. I'm very proud of you Henry."
Emma and Henry had eaten lunch together, Killian ate at his desk. It suited her at the time as she now finds even straightforward conversation with Killian awkward. She gets that he needs to provide for the family, but there really wasn't much of a family life, this was turning out to be nothing like she'd she thought they had envisioned. She'd been so deep in thought whilst washing up that her fingers were now pruning.
"Hey." Emma stood at the entrance to the study. Killian looked up from his work.
"What do you want?" It was now Emma's turn to narrow her eyes at him.
"Oh I don't know, have a conversation with my husband and spend some time with him. I don't understand this Killian. I get you are determined to provide all of this, which clearly involves working a lot, but…"
"But what!?" He was clearly stressed and Emma doubted it was from the Sheriff's workload. She sighed and decided on a different tactic. What was the point of starting an argument and enduring his wrath.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Killian stood from his desk, moved to its edge and beckoned her over. As soon as she arrived he embraced her, resting his chin on her head.
"I'm sorry love, there's just a lot more going on than I imagined there would be. And I've the report from this first shipment to complete for the Mayor."
"I take it the shipment was a larger one than you normally handle, can I help with the report?" He thought for a moment.
"Nah love, you just do something fun with Henry this afternoon. By the time I've explained it to you and helped you understand, I may as well have just done it myself." Emma chose to ignore the lack of confidence he had in her. "Tell you what, take my card. Why don't you get yourself a few new items of clothing, something business-like, just in case I need to entertain any one in that capacity." He added with a wink. Emma stared at it jaw dropped before he turned her shoulder and gently pushed her towards the door. Shopping with Henry for clothing did not sound fun. Pressing the card to her lips, a plan began to hatch.
Emma: Are you busy? Have the afternoon to spend with Henry, wondered if you'd like to join us? - E
'Please, please please!' She knew it would take time to get a reply, even when she knew it had been read.
"Hey kid, what do you fancy doing this afternoon? I haven't really planned anything, but I could do with going shopping."
"Oh, I…" he looked sheepish. Emma suspiciously eyed him.
"What, everything okay?"
"I kind of told Nicholas I would join his World of Warcraft group. I was going to do that from two."
"Oh, right, okay, that's not a problem. I might go shopping or out with Regina or something. Will that be alright? Wait, you don't have any homework to finish do you?" He shook his head. "I guess its fine then, but not too long okay. You don't want to frazzle that great intellect of yours."
"Mom, gameplay doesn't…"
"Woah, relax kid, I'm just joking, Kinda. As long as it doesn't consume your life to much I'm good with it okay?"
"Thanks Ma." He hugged her before going off to retrieve his laptop.
Emma checked her phone and beamed.
Regina: You know me and my riveting social life; it pretty much revolves around you now. I'm only cleaning which can wait. What's the plan? – R
Emma didn't bother replying; instead she grabbed her coat and headed out.
Regina was just finishing vacuuming when the house began to flash. She turned it off and placed it in the corner before slowly walking to the door, wondering who it could possibly be.
"Emma!" The sheer delight in Regina's tone sent the blonde's stomach a fluttering.
"Hi." She mentally slapped her-self for sounding like a twelve year old with a crush; at least she hadn't waved as well.
"Did you want to come in?"
"I can do, or we could go shopping?" She dangled her keys and the card in front of her face.
"Huh! Okay, I'm up for a shopping trip." Regina turned to gather her coat and scarf from the cloak rack.
"Why did you say that as though a but was coming?" Regina sniggered.
"Oh nothing, I just never quite pegged you as a shopper."
"You pegged right. I'm not really, but Killian thinks I should acquire some 'business dinner worthy' attire. Honestly, it's more the sort of thing you wear I guess."
"Hmm, I suppose you should be grateful he's not insisting on coming with you to pick out the clothing himself." Emma hadn't even thought of that, but stopped her thoughts from spiralling.
"Hey, I've an idea. Do you even own anything casual, I'm not talking house or gym clothes; I'm talking tatty jeans, tanks, leather jacket?"
"You mean your type of clothing Miss Swan?" Emma wiggled her eyebrows. Regina just groaned.
"Fine, I will choose a selection for you and you may choose a selection for me. How does that sound?" Emma actually squealed, grabbed her hand and dragged her to the car.
Storybrooke, being rather small, had a very limited variety of shops. There was only one high end tailor shop. The second they walked in, Emma could tell this was the only clothing shop Regina regularly frequented in this town. She even suspected most of her clothes came from elsewhere.
"Ah, Mrs White! Welcome, it's been a while."
"It has Stefan, but I am not here for myself, this beautiful young lady needs to be measured if you please."
"Absolutely."
"Wait! What? Measured!" Emma almost looked petrified.
"Emma, how on earth to you expect to buy a second skin-like suit if you don't know your measurements." Emma huffed.
"How do you know I don't know my measurements already?" Regina raised her eyebrow.
"Fine!" Emma deadpanned.
Twenty minutes later and Regina had picked out five different suits in Emma's size of varying colours. Emma was like petulant child trying on the different suits. One thing was decided by suit three. Trousers were far more flattering on her than the skirts. It was suit four that really caught Regina's attention however. She gasped as Emma opened the curtain. It was a simple, three piece, extremely figure hugging black number with velvet lapels, cuffs and some small white accents.
Emma blushed as Regina gawped.
"I take it you like?" Regina's eyes were glistening as they made contact with Emma's.
"Emma, you look stunning." And she did, the suit accentuated her curves perfectly. Her waist looked tiny and just the right amount of cleavage was on show. Regina had a quick look around before pushing her back into the changing room and attacking her lips. Emma moaned at the welcome assault. Regina felt the curve of her waist as she slid down her hands down the fabric, before sliding them over her backside. After a few moments, she pulled back to breathe.
"I think I may like shopping more than I used too." Emma confessed as she pulled Regina back into her.
There were a few more shops that catered to Emma's taste, but Regina refused to buy anything from the one the kids favoured, declaring she would not go around dressed the same as her students.
Emma found what appeared to be a clothing-come-outdoor type store and dragged Regina in. It appeared Regina had no idea what size she was in normal clothing; Emma guessed she was around a four. After stuffing her in a changing room and telling her to wait, Emma dashed around picking up items she merely wanted to see her in, just for kicks, she was sure they'd all look stunning on her anyway, but she wanted relaxed and casual.
After trying on a few of the Jeans, it was definitely the black, high rise skinny pair with ripped accents that caught Emma's attention. She literally couldn't pry her eyes from her arse. Even though Emma loved the way she looked in a tank top, Regina was having none of it, certainly not on its own. Then, there it was, a red, black and white flannel shirt. God she looked good in a shirt and even managed to find a casual one. Emma couldn't decide whether she preferred Regina's arse or breasts… or waist, face, eyes. Wait eyes, nothing beat those eyes. She couldn't stop smiling as Regina paid for the selection, which was decidedly cheaper than Emma's. She hoped Killian would approve, or did she? It was possible she just hoped he wouldn't get mad.
As the ladies were heading back towards Main, they noticed someone dashing around near the old cannery. Regina nudged Emma. "Look it's that Smee bloke." They watched him for a moment as he appeared to be buzzing around, taking wares from a boat and placing them in the cannery.
"Come on." Said Regina as she nudged Emma and sneakily ran across the road. Emma went to call after her but with the loud wind near the docks, she realised that would be pointless. She had no option but to follow. She eventually caught up to her as she hid behind a crate near the doorway. Emma was about to reprimand her, but before she could, she ran towards the open doors as Smee returned to the boat.
"Shit!" Cursed Emma as she bolted after the wayward brunette.
Once inside they ran to the furthest area and slid behind a shelving unit. "Bloody hell," Emma exclaimed as they took in all the merchandise. Aside from the boxes of cigars along the top shelf, it was mainly full of a variety of whisky's.
"Emma, there's nothing here that isn't worth under $200 a bottle, some are near £1,000, possibly more."
"Seriously?" Emma looked to her, partially impressed, partially horrified. They quickly hushed as Smee came back in and emptied another crate. As soon as he left, Regina slipped out, phone in hand. She quickly looked at some of the labels, coming to a quick realisation. Everything had a twin. She began snapping pictures of some of the doubles. Emma could hear Smee coming back. Her heart lept as she realised Regina wouldn't be able to hear him. She quickly shot out, dragging the older woman back with her. With a hand to her lips she nodded to the door as Smee returned. Regina's eyes gaped. She'd been reckless, again, and after promising Emma she wouldn't be. Why did she constantly run away with these ideas? She internally reprimanded herself. Emma smiled at her, knowing what was likely going through her head right now. Regina took her the blonde's hand, giving it a little squeeze.
"When he leaves we need to leg it, we can't risk getting locked in." Emma nodded in agreement and as soon as he left they began to creep out. As he was getting another box, they shot to the familiar crate and sank to floor.
"I have to admit, that was pretty exciting." Emma quietly panted out as her breathing began to slow.
"Hmmm, I do believe we are beginning to build a case Miss Swan."