CHAPTER 19

"We're here," Emma cried out happily.

Regina slowly blinked her eyes until they adjusted to the change of light. She was surprised that she had dozed off considering how angry she was. She looked around her at the city's landscape. They were in front of what appeared to be a restaurant on the beach. There were garish lights twinkling and loud music that could be heard clearly all the way from the parking lot.

"I never took you for a sleeptalker before," Emma said as she smiled over at her.

"I do not talk in my sleep," Regina growled. "Where the hell is here?"

It was after 8. They had been driving for hours. Regina had called her sister outraged as Emma continued driving despite her protests and threats. Emma had responded by turning the music louder to drown her out.

During the phone call, Regina had found out that her sister had packed her a bag with everything she'd need for a week. Emma had already stowed it away in her trunk. She had begun to yell at the betrayal but her sister had only laughed in her ear before hanging up.

"Here is my town. Boston," Emma shrugged and laughed at Regina's venomous look. She took a deep breath. She, Luka, and Zelena had worked on this for the past 2 weeks. "I thought that since you're so anal you could help me with the packing up for the big move. Friends are supposed to do that kind of thing with friends right?" Emma's fingers began to trace a pattern on the back of Regina's hand.

Regina's breath caught in her throat at the contact. It had been a while since she'd been intimate with anyone besides her family. She really wasn't the touchy feely kind of person. Then again she really wasn't the fall all over a stranger kind either and yet there was something undeniable between her and Emma. "We are friends," Emma's voice lowered to a purr in her ears, "aren't we?"

Regina refused to look up knowing that if she did she'd get caught in this woman's bewitching green eyes. And she wanted to keep her anger as a barrier between them. "Friends don't kidnap friends and force them to do their manual labor," she hissed at her while shooting her a glare that would've melted steel. She snatched her hand away from her.

Emma just laughed and pulled the keys from the ignition. She got out and began to stretch and yawn. "The food is great here," she told Regina who had gotten out and joined her. She reached for her hand again, "Come on."

Regina jerked her hand out of her grip. Emma looked down with a pout but then she shrugged and began to make her way inside. Not knowing what else to do, she followed along behind her.

They were seated immediately even though the place was crowded which led Regina to believe that Emma probably had connections. For some reason this didn't make her feel any safer or happier about the situation.

"Ems hi," a young, shapely brunette waitress who could give Ruby a run for her money in most inappropriate workwear ever came over with glasses of water, silverware, and menus. She was wearing what Regina supposed was supposed to be shorts although they looked like they could double for underwear. And the tank top that she wore was white and see-through. Regina rolled her eyes at her. The waitress ignored her as she dropped the menus in front of them and placed their water and silverware down onto the table before leaning over and giving Emma a side hug. Regina just pursed her lips and looked away. "its been so long since we've seen you. Where have you been hiding yourself at?"

Emma smiled at the girl, "I got a new job and relocated."

The waitress whose nametag read Tammy threw Regina a sweeping glance before going back to ignoring her altogether, "Really? That's great," she smiled before she lowered her voice an octave, "I don't know how you lasted that long in that business anyway."

Emma shrugged it off, "Being a bail bondswoman had its perks." She gestured toward Regina, "it led me to my new boss lady here."

"If it makes you happy," she shrugged. "You know you always have a home here if you're ever in the market." She grinned at Regina who only gave her a cursory passing smirk. Tammy turned back to Emma with a surprised look on her face, "well, I'll give you two ladies some time to figure out what you want to order. Can I bring you some drinks?"

"Just a beer please," Emma replied before picking up her menu and perusing through it.

"Vodka and grape juice with a splash of grenadine on the rocks please. And keep them coming all night," Regina opened her menu and looked over the items as the annoying waitress finally left to do some work other than fawning all over Emma. She noticed Emma's stare, "What?"

"Nothing," Emma shrugged. "It's just I've never seen you drink anything harder than red wine."

Tammy brought their drinks over and took their orders. Emma ordered the steak and side veggies and Regina ordered the fried shrimp. Emma added a blooming onion appetizer for them both to share.

Once the waitress left the two women fell into silence. Emma bobbed her head and tapped her fingers to the music while Regina gently swayed back and forth. Again Emma could do nothing but stare at the woman who'd ensnared her months ago.

"What now?!" Regina asked annoyed with the way Emma kept her eyes glued to her.

"You're beautiful," Emma said before she had a chance to think about it. When Regina turned to look at her she dipped her head as her cheeks blushed an adorable shade of pink.

Regina relaxed into her seat as she took a sip of her drink. She eyed Emma over the glass. "Why exactly am I here Miss Swan?"

"Will you stop with the Miss Swan stuff?" Emma huffed. She pointed at her chest, "Em-ma. Come on, I know you can do it," she coaxed gently. Regina glared at her before putting her glass back down harder than was necessary. She reached across the table and took Emma's napkins to wipe up the bit that had spilled over.

Emma frowned. She placed her elbows on the table and folded her hands. She rested her chin upon it as she decided to answer the question honestly, "I brought you here because I wanted to spend some time with you alone. Away from the kids and all of the watchful eyes and trappings of being Mayor and all. Also, I want you to know all of me. I really like you. And I'm not the type of person to become infatuated with anyone easily. I have just as many trust issues as you do," she confessed. 'And I think you like me too. I know you do. I can feel it. So does everyone else by the way. You're the only one who's still denying it."

Regina was thoughtful as she turned this over in her head. Tammy brought their appetizer over and the two sat in silence for a while as they dug in. Finally, "What is this place?" she asked Emma as she dipped a blossom in the house sauce.

Emma swallowed and wiped her mouth and hands. "It's an old haunt of mine. I've actually used it as a home base for meeting a lot of my marks. It's far enough on the outskirts of town that they think they're just meeting up for a date. Gary over there," she pointed to the guy who was obviously a bouncer. He had a muscular build and his eyes never stopped moving around the rooms as he watched the crowd carefully. "He's usually my backup in case things go south. And Lorraine, she's the cook, she bought this place after I put her husband away. I'm sure you'll meet her before we leave here."

Regina wasn't sure what to do with this information. She knew getting involved with Emma would be a mistake. She was the proverbial 'Savior' after all. But she had to admit the more she learned about her the more intrigued she became.

Their meal came and the two sat in comfortable silence just enjoying the food and the music. The food was surprisingly good. Emma told Regina most of the foods on the menu were old family recipes that had been in the owner's family for generations. The band played mostly '80s cover tunes but every once in a while they threw in something that sounded original. They weren't great but they weren't bad either.

After dinner the two women did a meet and greet with the owner who was called Lorraine and other members of the establishment. Obviously Emma was a regular there. Lorraine was a kind woman who was as enthusiastic in her greeting of Emma as Tammy had been. The two made some small talk for a while before Emma made her goodbyes and ushered Regina back to the car.

Once they were inside the car Emma again turned on the radio. This was fine with Regina. She leaned her head back against the seat. With the music playing softly and her stomach full she ended up dozing lightly until they finally pulled up in front of a high rise building.

"Home sweet home," Emma crooned.

Regina looked around her and then up. This was surprisingly a nice area of town. And the building definitely wasn't what she'd expected of the blonde either.

Emma parked and she continued to stare up at the building as Emma grabbed the luggage. She got out and followed behind her at a slower pace as she took it all in.

The building was surprisingly modern. All of the accents were chrome and glass. The elevator was fast, quiet, and efficient. Emma immediately stepped out and turned to the left. She pulled Regina's suitcase behind her and leaned it against the wall as she fiddled with the keys and the lock.

Once the door opened she moved aside to allow Regina passage. "Entre madame," she said with a flourishing mock bow.

Regina looked around her mystified. With her background, she figured that Emma would be living in some flea bag place. Instead she found a glass and chrome modern yet comfortably furnished place. The floorplan was completely open and gave an air of cheery openness. The place was cleaner than she'd thought it would be. And there were floor to ceiling windows lining the dining and living rooms.

Emma watched her with a grin on her face, "Surprised?" She pulled her suitcase inside and leaned it up against the wall. She cocked her head to the side as she regarded the woman who had come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time.

Regina's neck swiveled in her direction. She was standing in the middle of the living room and admiring the place. "Yes, actually," she said honestly.

"So, let me give you the tour," Emma walked toward her. She stood in the middle of the room and pointed out the obvious. "That's the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, and my work space is over there," she pointed to a desk in the corner. "Tada!" she threw her arms out and spun around.

Regina had had an early day chasing around the kids, a long day at work, been kidnapped and forced to participate in this farce. She suddenly felt the intimacy of the place, Emma's place, bearing down on her. The unusual amount of hard liquor she'd consumed and the out of control feeling she'd had since Emma had forced her on their 'road trip' caught up with her. She was suddenly bone weary. "It's late and I'm tired. Where's the bedroom?"

"There's only one bedroom," Emma informed her. She waggled her eyebrows at her suggestively.

Regina arched an eyebrow in her direction. Since the bathroom door was open she could instantly identify it. She looked past it towards the door at the end of the hallway that was closed. She pulled her suitcase behind her as she walked toward it, "then I hope the couch is sufficiently comfortable for you." She closed the door on Emma's hurt and surprised face.

She looked around the room. Emma had decorated it in tones of blue, white, and black. Like the rest of the apartment, it was surprisingly modern and clean.

She put her suitcase on the bed and sorted through it. She and Zelena had always been close and her sister knew her well. However, inside she'd found none of her usual business attire or Mom outfits. The only things inside were either more casual than comfortable for Regina or things meant for an exciting night out with a lover.

Regina shook her head and muttered to herself knowing before the week was over she was going to have to get to a store to find things more geared to her tastes. At least she'd remembered her make-up and heels. Regina felt naked without those things.

She dialed the phone and Zelena answered with a laugh. "Curses Regina, can't we get just one night off from you? I thought shipping you to another state would help."

Regina smirked into the phone, "and don't think we're done with that subject. I will be home in a few days."

Zelena sighed, resigned to her fate. She knew helping Emma would rebound on her, "It was the only way! You never listen. Emma adores you. And you love being adored," again Regina smirked while being thankful that her sister couldn't see her. "I think the two of you are perfect together."

"The savior and the Evil Queen?" Regina's lips curled downward. "I think you'd be alone in that assessment."

"Since when do you care what anyone else thinks? I can already tell that you've given it more thought than you want to admit to," Regina's silence was all that Zelena needed to go on. "And I'm telling you that you and Emma are absolutely perfect together."

Regina examined her nailbeds. "How are the kids," she asked changing the subject.

'Henry's being Henry and Luka's her usual doll self. Hold on, let me go and get them. We just finished watching a movie and I sent them up to get ready for bed," Regina could hear heels against her marble floor and up the staircase before becoming muffled on the carpet in the hallways. She heard Zelena whisper that it was her on the line. Next thing she knew Henry was shouting down it.

"Where's Emma!? Did you hurt her?! You'd better not have!" Henry threatened.

"Or what?!" Regina demanded to know. Henry became instantly silent. She closed her eyes and counted to 10 in her head before she'd managed to get herself under control, "I'm reminding you that you are the child here. And you will never speak to me that way. Do you understand me?" she said in an even tone that brooked no insolence.

Instead of him answering Zelena responded. Regina knew he must've handed the phone off to her, "sorry about that. I told you he's – you know."

"Yes, I do," Regina answered tiredly. She was so tired of having to deal with Henry's behavior. She was almost at her breaking point and suddenly this vacation didn't seem like such a bad idea anymore. She heard some mumbled talking back and forth between Zelena and Henry but she couldn't make out the words. Then she heard the door close.

There was silence and then her little Luka was on the line. Regina instantly perked. "Hi Mommy," her babygirl gushed at her. "Are you having fun with Emma?"

"Of course my princess. What about you? How are you doing?" Regina was instantly perked up. Henry could tear her to pieces. But her little girl could instantly soothe away anything that ailed her.

"I'm good. Auntie Z says we can do whatever we want for the whole weekend. Henry gets tomorrow. But Sunday's my day. Guess what I'm going to choose Mommy?"

"Umm, fly to the moon?" Regina grinned when she got the giggle she was expecting.

"No Mommy. We're going to have breakfast out and then," her voice lowered conspiratorially, "I get to have a slumber party. But I told Aunt Z I wouldn't tell you that. So you can't tell her that you know."

Regina was more of a helicopter Mom than she wanted to admit. She wasn't sure how she felt about a group of young girls in her house when she wasn't there. But Luka sounded so happy. And Regina wanted her to have all of the childhood experiences that young children had that she herself never got to experience. "I won't. It'll be our secret princess. How about when I get home we have our own day and you can tell me all about how it went?"

"Wahoo!" Luka cheered. "This weekend is getting better." There was some muffled talk in the background and then Luka came back on the line, "I have to go to bed now Mommy. I love you and I miss you," she began to make kissing noises into the phone.

"I love you too princess. Always and forever," Regina returned the kisses.

There was some shuffling and then Zelena came onto the line. "Good night hermana," she lowered her voice and whispered into the phone, "And do EVERYTHING that I would do."

"Ugh!" Regina rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose. She clicked off and sat on the bed looking around her. She wiped at her eyes and chastised herself for her sentimentality. She knew the kids would be fine with her sister. She just hoped by the end of this week she would be too.

She ruffled through her bag and found a sheer nightgown. She rolled her eyes. Apparently her sister seemed pretty sure that this would help warm her up to the Savior's charms. She went into the en suite and went through her nightly routine. When she came out she found Emma in the closet.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I'll get out of your hair. I was just making sure I had everything I needed for the morning," she gathered up her things and walked over to the door. Before she walked out she turned and flashed Regina one of her brilliantly goofy and oh so Emma smiles, "Good night," she gave her a flexed finger wave and softly closed the door behind her. "You look beautiful," she called out through the closed door.

Regina chuckled to herself. She looked down and saw that the light from the lamp caused the nightgown that was already short and sheer to become completely see-through. She sighed and shook her head. There was nothing she could do about it now.

She walked over to the bed and pulled the blankets down. She climbed between the sheets and was immediately bombarded with Emma's smell.

It was a combination of some fruity shampoo, something that reminded her of sunshine and fresh air, and something else that was just all Emma. She checked her phone to make sure she hadn't missed anything as she tried to block out the intimacy of Emma lying between these very sheets. She texted Zelena and asked for a status update of the kids.

Zelena replied back quickly with: they're in bed. Like you should be with Emma.

Regina shot her back a text that read: fat chance.

Zelena's responded with: Your loss. I really hope you let someone help you with unclogging those pipes. You deserve to love and be loved too!

Regina angrily threw her phone aside. Daniel had been her love. And he had been all that she knew she'd ever need. Until her Mother went power hungry and decided to force her children into roles they didn't want.

Cora had ruined both their lives even before they were born. Regina had spent decades going over everything from front to back repeatedly and she came to the same conclusion every time. Being born to Cora was a curse that couldn't be removed.

Regina inhaled a lungful of Emma's smell. Emma had made it perfectly clear from the beginning what she was after. But would she still feel that way after learning she was a monster? That wasn't a chance Regina's heart was willing to take.

For the first time in a long time, she gave into her self-pity and hatred of the situation that had been foisted upon her. She ended up crying herself to sleep.