Regina violently slammed down the receiver of the phone on her office desk. She inhaled deeply as her stress levels were about to hit the roof, a feeling Regina had been experiencing a lot lately. Her anger began to fog up her glasses. She turned herself in her swivel chair and gazed out the large glass window at the magnificent skyline view from her penthouse office. She roughly dragged her fingers through her flicky, wavy dark locks as her brown eyes closed inhaling the scent of coffee that had just filled her nostrils. She turned in her chair and her eyes snapped open.

"Good morning Miss Mills"

Regina was greeted by the blonde with a sweet smile as she placed the takeaway cup on Regina's desk.

"I'm sorry… I thought you were my assistant. I beg your pardon who might you be?

The blonde looked at the ground shyly and gave a half a smile she gestured her hand for a handshake.

"My apologies Miss Mills I was told you knew I was coming to see you today?

Regina cleared her throat and frantically looked the younger blonde woman up and down, immediately fumbling through the papers on her desk. The blonde reached out and lightly touched Regina's hand. Regina's eyes met the blonde's green ones.

"My apologies Miss Mills. It must be my mistake. It's just I was waiting a long time to see you and I may have snuck passed your assistant, or in fact didn't have an appointment at all. I can always tell when people are lying I guess I'm not a great liar myself."

Regina sat back in her chair and straightened her blouse, she rested her elbows neatly on her desk and lowered her glasses onto the bridge of her nose.

"Who the hell are you dear?

The blonde gulped.

"Emma. Emma Swan"

Emma stood ridged at Regina's voice dropped an octave.

"Miss Swan… I see… and what do I owe this unauthorized visit to dear? Relax your shoulders dear I don't bite"

Emma exhaled.

"I work for Killian Jones and he tends to send me on errands that he either is too busy to do himself or just…"

Emma sighed.

Regina's eyebrows rose. The younger woman intrigued her, the mannerisms and the way she spoke so freely and casually made Regina feel somewhat normal. She needed a break from the stress.

"I see… and tell me dear does Mr. Jones owe you back for the way you just walked in and disrupted me in my office. It was a big risk of you coming to see me without permission Miss Swan, the fact that I haven't called security is beyond me, however there is something about you that fascinates me… perhaps you remind me of a younger me. You're shy yet you possess definite confidence and that brings out the best in you I think.

Emma smirked.

"Oh he owes me big it was a pain in the ass trying to get in here...

Emma immediately bit her tongue as her trail of thought vomited out of her mouth. Regina scrunched her face and gave the blonde a distorted grin.

"Thank you for that observation… Miss Swan"

Emma flushed red.

"No I mean… I'm sorry I dunno why I said that… I must have lost my trail of thought"

Regina chuckled.

"Indeed you fascinate me dear… I believe I shall hear you out"

Emma exhaled again.

"Well you see Killian… my boss… Mr Jones."

Regina gestured her hand into a round a bout motion.

"Sometime today Miss Swan… I am quite busy… as you know"

Emma gathered her words.

"He wants a meeting with you"

Regina smirked.

"Oh I'll bet he does dear, well you can tell him from me that he will have to wait like everybody else, unless he is some form of you dear who just weasels into my office unannounced… I do appreciate the coffee dear it was a nice touch but it doesn't make up from taking me off guard"

Emma cut across her,

"Actually I was watching you from the waiting room for awhile. I could see how stressed you were and I just felt like the coffee was a nice gesture… I'm lame like that. I saw you needed something… plus your assistant was gone so I took my chance and grabbed it from her desk"

Regina's eyes were a mixture of gratitude and dismay.

"You mean to tell me you also stole the coffee from my assistant?

Emma scrunched her face.

"Ummm well stole is such a strong word… the point is I wanted to cheer you up"

Regina cut across her.

"So I would talk to you like I am doing right now dear?

Emma exhaled for the third time.

"Finally. We have an understanding"

Regina's mouth just slightly fell open as Emma walked over to look out at the view. Regina watched as the blonde's eyes followed the tiny dots of life that moved below them.

"Thank you for the coffee Miss Swan. I'll be in touch about a meeting… perhaps if you don't steal anything else from this building..."

Emma immediately dropped a pen onto Regina's desk.

"I borrowed it to the the crossword puzzle when I borrowed the paper from the security guard"

Emma shoved her hands into her pockets and Regina smiled for the first time in a very long time.