Author's Notes: I hang my head in shame as I come back 2 months later...The holidays came(half chapter was finished), then I got a new assignment at work that literally WORKED ME! So things JUST slowed down a bit... I see all ALL the reviews, follows, favs, and PMs. And they all make my heart flutter! So I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 14: Hook, Line, and Sinker

4:56 am

The faint incessant sound invaded Regina's otherwise peaceful slumber. After a few seconds, she recognized it as knocking. She looked over at the alarm clock on the night stand, and saw it was close to 5am. "Does anyone sleep in this town?" She sat up and half-wondered if it was Emma. It had barely been three hours since she'd said good night, which should have been good morning to the blonde. Regina pulled her knees to her chest as her thoughts strayed again to kissing Emma and almost…The knocking continued and thankfully cleared her mind. She got up and answered the door. There on the other side stood a Swan that she hadn't been expecting. "David?"

David stood there with his eyes covered. "All clear?"

Regina half smiled and took a quick look at herself. And then deemed her sleep attire adequate for him to view. "Yes."

Slowly he moved his hand and smiled. He had the same easy smile as Emma. "Great." Regina arched a brow that posed an obvious question. "Oh, yeah. Well me and a couple of guys go finishing. And…" He scratched the back of his head. "I figured maybe you'd like to come along."

"Fishing?"

"Yeap."

"With you and the guys?"

"Yeap."

"It's freezing outside."

"I know."

"I see…" Regina was trying to clear her sleep fogged head as she tried to understand why David's suggestion could even resemble a good idea. "Is this some type of tradition? Because of Emma and I?"

David laughed. "You and I can't exactly go shoe shopping, now can we?"

Regina couldn't help but smile a little. He was as charming as his daughter. Almost. "I don't think I brought any attire that would be appropriate for such…"

"I figured as much. So I rifled through some of Mary Margaret and Emma's stuff in the basement." He picked up a box."Fifteen minutes enough time?"

She stifled a yawn. "To find something to wear?"

He gently pushed the box into her arms. "To be downstairs and ready to go."

"Seriously?" She heard herself say. She must have been absorbed Emma's favorite phrase through osmosis.

David laughed. "See you downstairs Regina."

6:05 am

"Granny is one of the guys?" Regina said as she and David arrived at the lake. There were others gathered around the bonfire. Other than a few flashlights, the blazing fire was the only light in the still pre-dawn darkness.

David chuckled. "I guess you can say that." He got out of the truck and started unpacking their gear.

The professor sipped on her still piping mug of coffee and sighed. "Emma is not paying me enough…." She mumbled. Regina hadn't considered the fact that Emma's father would want to assess her worthiness for his daughter. After Mary-Margaret's obvious dislike of her, David appeared to be approving. She had assumed that she had swayed him with her cooking, conversation, and a list of other things. But sitting on a bucket perched on a slab of ice while baiting hooks had not been on her list. She could have made up another excuse not to be dragged out in the wee hours of the morning, but David seemed like a nice enough fellow and she didn't want to damper his day. After all she was supposed to be playing the perfect girlfriend for Emma.

She pulled the visor down and checked her appearance with a frown. Her chocolate eyes looked tired, despite her being creative with her mascara and eye shadow. She had on one of Emma's awful yet whimsical looking ear flat hairs with Regina's dark hair nearly flipping out in various places. She wasn't the least bit excited about the ice floating angler suit that resembled a skiing bib. The professor felt like she looked bulky. And Emma's slightly too large waterproof boots didn't help. She drained the last of her coffee but paused before putting on her Neoprene gloves. They weren't exactly smart touched enhanced ones she was use too.

6:08 am

It took a full five minutes for Emma to register that her phone was buzzing beside her bed. With a pillow over her head, she reached trying to retrieve it. Still groggy and half-asleep, she extended too far and off target. She went tumbling off the bed. She pushed herself to her knees and clawed her way up her nightstand and answered her phone.

"Yeah." She said as she pulled golden hair out of her eyes.

"I'm going to kill you." She heard a deep venomous voice say on the other end.

"Regina?" She dropped the phone as she tried to get up. "Shit." She fumbled and found the phone again in the dark room. "What did I do now?" She collapsed backwards on her bed.

"Your father, dear."

"Did you flash him again?"

"Of course not!"

"Then what did he do?"

"Ice fishing. He's taken me ice fishing."

Emma chuckled and covered her eyes with her forearm. "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."

"What?"

"Something my grandfather use to say. I guess in your case, ice is more appropriate than the shore."

Emma heard the other woman sigh. "So I was right in my assessment that your father is doing a test of sorts."

"Well this is a coastal town after all. This must be Dad's vetting process."

"I'm not running for office."

"No, you're just sleeping with his daughter."

"We are not sleeping together!"

"Your choice, remember".

"Emma." Regina growled.

"Too soon?" Emma offered, slightly regretting a reference to the touchy feely recent events between them. She was just happy and more than a little surprised that Regina had stayed. And ever more surprised that she'd actually gotten up at the crack of dawn for her father's outing.

"Just a tad, dear. But your timing does seem to be more than a bit handicapped."

"Ouch! This coming from the woman calling me at…" She pulled her phone away from her ear so she could see the time. "6:09am."

"Why should I be the only one to suffer?"

"It'll be fun."

"I highly doubt…yes I'll be right there David."

"So what are you wearing?"

Again a deep sigh from the professor on the other end. "Are you sure you aren't a twelve year old boy?"

"Pretty sure" Emma snuggled more into her covers. "I'm just hoping you aren't poking holes in the ice with your Manolos."

"That would be blasphemy, dear. Your father pulled together some clothes from your basement. I look like a discount postcard for Alaska."

"Ha, I take offense to that! You probably look like well…a Swan. I bet it looks good on you." Emma closed her eyes. "I mean…umm…well…go show them you're the original Alpha female."

"I think Granny has already claimed that title. She appears to be smoking a pipe."

Emma laughed. "Number two alpha female, then. But I think you could arm wrestle her for it if you want."

"I don't want." The professor deadpanned. "This will cost you extra."

"We had a deal. No more negotiations."

"This is an un-expectant excursion."

"You should have read the fine print. This is clearly covered under the Meet the Parents clause.

"Good-bye Emma."

"Wait! Don't hang up."

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to say…"

"Yes?"

"I didn't get a chance to tell you…"

"Emma, please get your words together. Your father is motioning for me to come over to the fire. I hope they don't want to sing Kumbaya and I hope they have more coffee."

"Thank you."

"What?"

"Last night or rather this morning after well everything that happened. I asked you to stay."

"I was there, remember?" Regina said slowly. "Why do you think I'm here with your father?"

"I know, it's just I never told you thank you."

"Really there is no need for that Emma."

"Sure there is. Despite the gossip mill at school, you're a good person Regina Mills. You were looking out for my feelings…"

"You are giving me too much credit. I assure you my motivations were not as unselfish…"

"Probably not." Emma offered. "But it doesn't matter."

There was a long pause on the other end of line. So long Emma thought they'd been disconnected. "You're welcome."

"Good-bye Regina. Have Fun."

"I seriously doubt. Good-bye Emma. "

8:15 am

"Then she says I'm a pescatarian. And I don't care what religion you are. My food is good!" Granny said and everyone laughed.

"I don't care how many times you tell that Granny." Leroy said. "It's still funny."

Regina bit down on her bottom lip to suppress a frown. She'd heard the story twice now and it had yet to even amuse her. But everyone seemed to be entertained by it. Perhaps it was the hot toddies that Granny has been passing out, which were pretty good. Despite their taste and quality of alcohol, Storybrooke really did enjoy their adult beverages. Regina just hoped her liver would be able to recover from it all.

Besides Granny, several other men had joined them. Leroy, who Regina had to refrain from leering at. There was Graham, the town's deputy. Dr Whale, the town's doctor. Archie, the town's one psychiatrist. And August's father Marco, the town's carpenter. It was still quite odd to Regina, that the town was so small that it seemed that only one person was assigned to a particular trade.

They sat about twenty feet out from the shore. Despite her bulky clothing, Regina sat crossed legs on top of a bucket that had a suspicious looking crack forming on the side. She'd noticed that everyone else had comfortable looking chairs. She hadn't complained, assuming it was part of her initiation.

The men had all volunteered to dig Regina's hole out, but she had declined their offers and performed the task herself. It had been a little more work than she had anticipated, but she had been proud of how she had handled the ice auger while following David's instructions. She'd been grateful for the use of artificial baits called jigs. David had mentioned something about using them for luck. He'd offered real worms if she chose, but Regina has politely declined.

She took another sip of her toddie as she jigged her pole a couple times up and down with hopes of simulating that her bait was swimming, per David's advice.

"So you're a professor?" Graham asked.

"Yes, I teach art history at Santa Clara." Regina answered with a smile.

"I went to medical school at Berkley." Whale said.

"Are you from Storybrooke originally?" Regina asked, wondering why he would practice medicine in such a small town.

"He's our version of Doc Hollywood." Granny explained.

"Pretty much…" David added.

Whale frowned a bit. "Whatever." He looked at Regina. "Nothing that theatrical. I wanted a relationship-based practice." He hunched. "So far it's worked out."

Regina smiled. "Good for you."

"We have Mercy General for all real emergencies." Leroy said with a laugh. "Doc here is just window dressing."

Not surprising to Regina, each of them took a turn at asking her questions. Graham asked her about how she was enjoying the Maine winter. Marco asked her a few questions about art. He seemed please when Regina agreed that carpentry was indeed a great art form. She and Whale talked about a few well known restaurants on the west coast. Granny asked her did she know any famous designers she liked because in her words, Regina looked like a walking magazine ad. David asked her did she play any sports.

"Well I play tennis, a bit of golf and oh yes I fence." She replied as Granny refilled her mug.

"You build fences?" Granny asked and everyone laughed, except Regina. "I'm just messing with you sweetheart." Granny gave her another of her not too gentle pats on the back before heading back to her seat.

That was the last bit of conversation that actively involved Regina for a while. The men and Granny tended to talk about everything ranging from war stories, of course fishing tales, what's wrong with kids today, and the latest sports news. Regina had been happy with that and got lost in her own thoughts as she waited for a fish to take her bait.

"So how is that a woman like you is still single?" Leroy asked out of the blue. If Regina had hadn't been mistaken the gang has been discussing the NFL playoffs.

She looked up a bit confused. "We're you addressing me?"

"Well I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking to me." Granny said with a hearty laugh.

Regina smiled and cleared her throat. "Well my career has been a big focus."

"You're career driven?" David queried.

"I wouldn't say that as much as I would say that my career has been a high priority of mine. I'm the youngest professor to get tenure at the university to get tenure. "

"Good for you." Marco said.

"Thank you." Regina nodded in appreciation. "And on top of that it seemed I just hadn't met the right person until now I suppose." She looked at David. "Until Emma of course."

"So you're not a divorcee or anything?" Leroy further asked.

"Leroy!" Graham muttered.

"Real smooth." Whale added.

David just shook his head then asked. "Well are you?" He hunched with a grin. "Well I'm Emma's father so maybe I can asked."

"I've never been married." She answered honestly.

"Well it wasn't too long along that I thought my boy August would be in your shoes. Glad he dodged that bullet."

"Hey!" David chimed in.

Marco smiled before dodging a piece of bait thrown from David. "You can do better, but you're done very good. But the Swans are a good family to marry into. "

"Marriage?" Regina almost choked on her toddie.

"Yeah."

"Emma and I aren't getting married. Far from it." She assured everyone there but only received blank and confused stares back.

"You don't want to marry Emma?" David asked.

Regina's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't say that…"

"Because you guys have been dating quite a while."

"Over a year." She nodded in agreement. "But still…"

"But still you don't want to marry her?" Granny added.

"Well, we haven't really…" Regina tried to answer.

"Emma's quite a catch you know." Graham interjected.

"Of course…"

"And it's legal in California and Maine." Whale said.

"I'm quite aware."

"Are you sure you're not secretly married already?" Leroy asked again.

Regina just sighed.

8:37 am

Freshly showered and dressed, Emma followed the scent of breakfast to the kitchen. She was happy to see her mother making omelets.

"Morning Mom." Emma kissed her cheek and went in search of coffee.

"Good Morning." Her mother said back.

"Where's the gnat?"

"If you mean your brother, he inhaled his food and he's upstairs going over his lines for the final run through today."

"So, he's in his room playing video games."

Mary-Margaret sighed. "I hope not. The play is this afternoon."

"You and Dad do realize that Henry hates all of this, right?"

"Hate is a strong word Emma."

"But appropriate."

"It's a tradition." She handed Emma a piping hot mushroom and spinach omelet. Something she only cooked for herself or Emma. David and Henry weren't fans, the more bacon the better for them in anything.

"You can't keep using that as an excuse to make people do things. Tradition is a guide and not a jailer."

"How poetic. Who told you that? Regina?" Both women sat down to the table.

"No, I read it somewhere." Emma wanted to laugh at how much her mother hated her fake girlfriend.

"I see. I didn't realize I'd created some prison…"

"Mom, please. That's not what I meant. I didn't exactly hate playing Wendy, but I wanted to be Tinkerbell. She was the cool one after all." Emma smiled and noticed something missing on the table. "No homefries?"

"We have to get to the school for the final rehearsal." Mary-Margaret reminded her. "And back to the subject at hand." She cleared her throat. "I admit that sometimes I get a little carried away with things, but your father and I had such a wonderful time growing up here in Storybrooke and I wanted the same for you and Henry. "

"We know." Emma reached across the table and grabbed her mother's hand. "I had a wonderful childhood, and I'm pretty sure Henry feels the same way. The kids has it made if you ask me. But would you consider letting him opt out of this next year if he's still against it? I mean you want him to have fond memories, right? We don't want a repeat of what happened with me and cheer-leading do you? I still have nightmares about all that splits that went terribly wrong."

Her mother opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. She simply nodded. "I'll consider it."

"Great! A small victory for the Swan kids."

Mary-Margaret stood up and just smiled at her daughter. Then she reached down and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you."

"Right back at ya." Emma then turned to give her delicious omelet the attention that it deserved.

"Did you have fun with Ruby and August?"

"It was… a very eventful evening."

"It must have, you got in pretty late last night. Or should I say this morning."

"And I'm sure your random bed check showed that we slept in separate beds. " Her mother playfully swatted her head with a towel. "Admit it. I know you checked."

Mary-Margaret ignored her. "Your father and Regina left early this morning."

"I heard. Regina called me. I bet Dad is making her sit on the bucket with the crack."

"I'm sure he'll go easy on her. Though she doesn't seem like the fishing type."

"You're preaching to the choir on that one." Emma chuckled.

"It doesn't bother you sometimes. How polished and poised she is?"

"Sure it does." Emma answered honestly. "But at the same time I find it so sexy."

"I see." Mary-Margaret said with her voice almost cracking.

"I'm sorry does it bother you? Me talking like that?"

"No. Of course not. I mean I suppose Regina is very…sexy as you say. And we're adults so you can describe your girlfriend in whatever way you decide because well we're adults."

"You said that already."

"I'm just want you to understand…"

"That we're all adults I get that." Emma finished her omelet and stood up. "Hey, can I meet you at the school. I gotta make a short stop before I come?"

"Sure, I suppose." Mary-Margaret fixed the collar on Emma's red button down shirt.

"Thanks." She noticed her mother's eyes transfixed on her neck. "What?"

"Nothing. I guess it's just a...ah…umm…hickey?"

Emma immediately reached for her neck. "Oh." She must have missed the love bite, in her rush to get dressed this morning. Leave it to Mary-Margaret Swan to find it. Emma's thoughts immediately went back to the events of last night. Had she not been standing in front of her mother, she would have grinned from ear to ear. Regina Freaking Mills had given her a hickey. An honest-to-goodness hickey! Emma could feel the heat rushing to her face as she thought about Regina's lips…Then she remembered her mother. "Mosquito bite?" She said in an attempt to spare them the conversation they should have had when she was sixteen.

"In the middle of winter?"

She shrugged. "It could happen."

"We're both adults, remember?"

"But you're still my mom." Emma raised her right hand . "So I'm pleading the fifth on this one. "Well I have to go." She turned to leave.

"You never came home with hickies in high school."

"Had Regina went to Storybrooke High maybe I would have." Emma called over her shoulder as she exited the kitchen.

9:04 am

Emma took a deep breathe just before getting out of the yellow VW in front of Granny's. She glanced at her watch and noted she only had 30 minutes before her mother would start calling to see why she was running behind for rehearsal. Thirty minutes wasn't nearly enough time to talk to Ruby about all that had happened. But deep down Emma was somewhat relieved that she had a time restraint. She'd second guessed her choice to come see Ruby several times on the way over. But she figured it was best before the day's festivities began and before Regina would be back at her side. By my side...I like the sound of that. She realized.

The familiar ring of the bell above the door rung as she entered. Ruby acknowledged her with a nod towards an empty booth. With Granny off with her dad and Regina, Ruby was extra busy with the morning rush. Emma was a bit surprise her friend hadn't called in sick. But it was a rare occasion that neither grandmother nor granddaughter was running the place.

Emma slid into the empty booth and waited. She was going to play the game Flappy Bird on her phone for a few minutes, but instead found herself calling someone instead.

"Yes?" Regina answered on the other end.

"A hickey." Emma tried to say rather smoothly as if annoyed. But on the inside she was still giddy with her love bite.

"Ok, and you're calling to say random words to me because..."

"On my neck. The right side in fact. My mom was the one who found it."

"Collateral damage dear...when you play with fire." Emma smiled when she heard what she hoped was a smile in the other woman's voice. It was crazy, the professor's voice alone without the all gorgeousness that was Regina Mills was still enough to enthralled her. "The look on her mother's face must have been... Yes David, I'm on my way!"

"You ok?" Emma frowned.

"Yes, I'm fine. However, Leroy fell through the ice."

"Again?"

"Why am I not surprised that you're not surprised."

Emma laughed. "It's not ice fishing unless someone falls through. Usually Leroy. Granny's toddies pack a punch."

"Yes, I know. I've lost count with how many I've had." There was a muffled sound and she barely heard Regina talking to someone. "Again, I will do no such a thing!"

"Let me guess, Leroy wants to be warmed up by skin to skin contact?"

"Your father had defended my honor. Yet, he keeps asking as if my answer will change!"

"Well tell him you're my woman. Hands off."

"The job of your woman comes with many hazards. Emma Swan, if there isn't even a hint of this fishy stench lingering after I escape this icy fiasco..."

Emma laughed even more and drew a few stares from the other customers...and Ruby as well. She cleared her throat. "Seems I'm missing all the fun."

"Your definition or fun and mine seem to differ greatly."

"Oh come on. I'm sure all the men are at your beck and call."

"I'm use to that."

"Of course you are, your highness." Again the muffled sound was back and she could barely hear Regina. "Your father has me fetching blankets from the truck. I can barely move around in all this clothing."

"Catch any fish?"

"No. But I did catch a lot of questions. Or should I say dodge a multitude of them. Can you believe one of them asked me was a witch!"

"Leroy?"

"No, Graham I think that's his name."

"Ah, yes. He's been watching too much American Horror Story this season." Emma laughed. "I'm sure he was just joking with you. But I gotta admit you would make one bad ass Supreme."

"I have no idea what you are talking about. But then I never do." She sighed. "But anyway apparently if you date someone for more than a month you're supposed to be married. We're supposed to be married."

"Small town remember?"

"It's hard to forget." There was a pause. "Shouldn't you be assisting mommy dearest with rehearsal?. Instead of harassing me? "

"I had to make a stop first."

There was another pause. "Ruby?"

Emma looked over her shoulder as if expecting to see the professor in the diner. "How did you know?"

"How could I not know. I hope you get your answers Emma." There was a trace of something in the professor's voice that Emma couldn't quite identify.

"Regina..."

"Oh, and when you get to rehearsal. You can tell your mother you're very welcome for me."

"For what?"

"Good-bye dear. I think Leroy is turning a tinge blue."

Then the phone line when dead. Emma pulled the phone away from her ear and slowly watched the photo of Regina fade back to her home screen.

"Coffee?"

Emma looked up and Ruby was standing at the table. Her usual bright blue eyes looked tired, showing the wear and tear of the previous night. Other than that telltale sign, her smile, hair, clothes, and even her crisp white apron showed her usual morning self.

"Sure." As she poured, the only thing shared between was the steam from the coffee and an awkward silence. "Ruby..."

"I'm sorry Emma." Ruby said before she could finish.

"What the hell happened last night?" Emma whispered.

Ruby gave another look around the diner before taking a seat across from Emma. "I only have a few minutes. But honestly, I only remember bits and pieces. August filled me in this morning" She hunched. "And again I apologize. I had too much to drink..."

"You weren't just drinking."

Ruby gave a self-depreciating smile. "And yes, too much of a little something extra as well. I was just trying to let off some steam and went overboard."

"At Regina? You totally went after her."

"I got carried away. And I'm sorry. I'll set things straight with her tonight at play or the ball, ok? Everything will be just fine. No worries." She moved to get up, but Emma gently caught her hand.

"I doubt that. Because it hasn't been fine for a while with us. And I think we need to talk about it. It's like the elephant in the room."

Ruby's easy smile faded slowly. "Let it go."

"Have you?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

Ruby stood up. "Is this your girlfriend talking?"

Emma sighed. "This is all me."

"So little Ms. Perfect is possessive too?"

"This…" Emma reached in her pocket and pulled out some cash to drop on the table. "was a mistake. You're obviously busy. And I have somewhere to be. I'll catch up with you later. I'd like my coffee to go please."

"Fine." Without another word, Ruby walked off towards the counter.

Impatiently Emma stood to her feet and pulled on her gloves and hat. "Women." She muttered. "Way more complicated than guys."

"Here."

She spun around to see Ruby with a cup outstretched to her. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Emma left the restaurant, and sadly felt the elephant between she and Ruby following her still.

9:28 am

"Is he going to be able to play the piano today?" Regina commented as she and Granny watched Leroy try to warm up by the fire in dry clothes. The other men were starting to break down their camping site.

"Sure. Leroy is a member of our local polar bear club like many of the rest of us." Granny assured her. "He'll be just fine."

"I see." Regina folded her arms.

"Can I ask you something?"

She turned to Granny. "Yes."

"Do you have any idea what's going on between my granddaughter and Emma?"

Regina's expression renamed…expressionless. "What do you mean?"

"I just wondered if Emma had confided in you. Something's not right there is all. It's been that way for a while. Then when Ruby went off and starting dating August, I thought all hell was going to break loose. But then we found out that poor August never really had a shot with Emma because she likes the ladies."

"That she does." Regina had a brief flashback of she and Emma intertwined on the cushions of the limo.

"So had she said anything about her and Ruby."

Regina nodded thoughtfully as if trying to search her memory. "I don't know Ruby very well. Nor would I really know how they interact together. So, I wouldn't know any awkwardness to look for. And Emma has been on the west coast for quite a while now. Perhaps they grew apart. That's been known to happen when childhood friends go off to college." She rationalized even though she knew the answer.

"The distance didn't help I suppose. How'd last night go?"

"It was…eventful." Regina said with a tight smile.

Granny smirked. "Is that bullshit speak for Ruby getting out of hand again. That girl is going to be the death of me…or poor August. I hope that boy knows what he's getting himself into." She slapped Regina on the back. "Well I didn't mean to pry." She held up a canister of brew. "One more for the road?"

"Please." Regina said with a smile as accepted yet another toddie. "These are very good by the way."

"I know." Then Granny went off to pack up her stuff.

"Those things sneak up on you." David said as he approached her.

"A warning a bit too late I'm afraid." She said before taking a sip. "It helped numb me during the interrogations."

He smiled and scratched the back of head. "Sorry about that. The guys were just playing around. And well Leroy was just being…"

"Leroy."

"You learn fast."

"I've always been a quick leaner." Then she lifted up her empty bucket. "Except perhaps at ice fishing."

"You can't be good at everything."

"So people keep telling me." They both laughed and then David helped Regina with her gear. "So did I pass?" She asked.

"With flying colors." He winked at her. "I'll admit I wondered if you and Emma fit. Then I thought about how when Mary Margaret was pregnant with Emma. I came downstairs one night and found her eating pickles with strawberry jam. I didn't quite get it. But the look on her face was enough to tell me I didn't need to because she did."

Regina shook her head with confusion. "You and your daughter are so much alike."

He grinned. "What I mean is…I see how Emma looks at you. And that's enough for me. Got it?"

"Yes. Yes, I think I do." I haven't exactly missed those looks either. She cleared her throat a bit. "Please forgive me if my statement is in anyway offensive or out of line. But you seem much more relaxed than your wife."

He paused. "It's no secret that Mary-Margaret can be a little high strung about certain things."

"Like when it comes to Emma?"

"Or do you mean you and Emma?"

"You doesn't like me." Regina blurted out.

David stammered a bit. "I wouldn't say that."

"David, please."

"It's only been 2 days." He conceded.

"Two very long days…" She muttered under her breathe and noticed that perhaps she muttered a little too loud. "My apologies, seems these toddies do pack quite a punch." She drained the rest of her cup.

9:41 am

When Emma walked into the auditorium, she stopped short. What stood before her was the familiar scene of her mother in the middle of chaotic gang of kids running around. But what wasn't familiar were the clothes the children were wearing and the scenery on stage.

"What the…"

"I know right." August said as he walked passed her. "These props and costumes are awesome." He was carrying what looked to be some type of rock. "People may actually be able to tell the difference between the Neverland and Nursery scenes. And wait until you see the props for the pirate ship scenes."

"Where'd this stuff come from?"

He hunched. "Ask your mom? Pulled in the parking lot this morning and two trucks were waiting here full of all this stuff." He pointed up. "Wait until you see the harness they're going to strap Henry in"

"They?"

"Yeah, those guys." He nodded towards a group of guys helping with the setup, whom Emma had never laid eyes on before. "Well I gotta hurry up and get this stuff setup." He moved away. "Oh, by the way. You and Ruby cool? She texted that you stopped by the diner."

"Ruby and I are…something." She answered honestly. "Let me go catch up with Mom. We'll talk later." She really didn't want to get into the details of what happened at the diner.

They went their separate ways and Emma approached Mary-Margaret.

"Yes, you can put that over there." Her mother was instructing. "And I suppose that can go backstage for now." She laid eyes on Emma, she let out an exasperated sigh. "Emma, finally! I thought you were never going to get here."

"Did Gold finally squeeze a penny out of his ass and get new stuff?" Emma asked.

"Language." Her mother reprimanded. "And to your answer your question..." They both quickly stepped aside as large moon was carried pass them. "No. This seems to be the doing of Regina."

"Regina?"

"Yes, apparently she arranged all this…somehow."

"Look Emma!" Grace twirled around. "My dress is so pretty!"

Emma knelt down. "Yes, it is." The little girl smiled.

"And I have been practicing just like Miss Regina taught me!"

Emma patted her on the head. "Good Girl." Grace smiled and ran off as Emma stood back up. I guess I know why she told me to tell Mom you're welcome...there is nothing this woman can do that does not AMAZE me... "Wow, this is going to be so cool!"

"Cool? I have no idea how I'm going to get all this together in a few hours."

"Mom, calm down. Once the kids are in the costumes and the sets are ready to go…things should be back to normal. The kids don't know their queues and constantly ignore our stage directions anyway. This year will just be a better looking disastrous production." Emma laughed.

"Disastrous Emma?"

"Come on Mom, we were never going to win a Tony for these plays."

Her mother smiled. "True. Have you seen your brother in all this chaos. He needs to be trained on that harness. Which I am not sure about at all!"

"He should be stoked about that."

"I can't tell." Her eyes finally found Henry who was sitting down playing video games. "And Leroy fell through the ice! Again!"

Emma shook her head. "I heard. He's fine though right? I mean he'll be able to play like always?"

"Probably, but it seems the teachers and apparently a few kids voted to stay with Regina on the piano for the final performance."

"Say what?"

"They all seem to like her." She pouted. "And I half get the feeling I was just a few votes shy of holding on to my directorial position."

Emma smirked because during rehearsal the day before thankfully Regina Mills hadn't been running on all cylinders. If she had, Emma suspected the kids and most of the other volunteers would have run in the opposite direction. But she had been firm and mostly honest in her critiques and suggestions. The town must have taken to that. "She's very likable."

"So everyone keeps saying." Mary-Margaret acknowledged.

10:17 am

"Are you sure we couldn't have stopped by the house so I can changed." David held the auditorium door open for Regina.

"No time. There's still lot's to do before the show."

"Of course." She gave a thin-lipped smile and entered the noisy room. She felt like a farmer in her ice fishing bib as she discarded her bulky jacket to reveal one of Emma's purple hooded sweat shirts. She ran her fingers through her hair, hoping to give it some type of decency. The only thing that seemed to brighten her mood a bit was observing that the props and crew she'd arranged had arrived on the scene.

After sitting through the dreadful rehearsal the day before, Regina couldn't stop thinking about how the production needed a MAJOR face-lift and makeover. There was only so much that could be done to improve the talent, even though she had certainly given pointers. But pleasant scenery and apparel were a must. And since Gold didn't have the decency to give the play the budget it sorely needed, Regina made a few phone calls. She had honestly been surprised, when she found herself reaching out to a couple acquaintances with theater connection in the Boston for such a small production. Even if it was not big effort on her part, she knew it would mean a great deal to the town.

While she preferred to go home and finally get some rest, that nagging voice in the back of her head goaded her into offering her assistance once again. She climbed up the stage stairs.

"Thanks." She nodded. "

"Hey Miss Regina!" A group of kids greeted as they passed her by.

"Hello there."

"Thanks a bunch for this." August said.

"You're welcome. I just wanted to he..." But before she could finish her words two arms wrapped around her from behind.

"You are amazing, do you know that?" Emma said into her neck.

"Emma?" She spun around in the circle of her arms.

"When did you have time to do all of this?"

A dark brow arched. "All I did was make a few phone calls."

Emma smiled, noting how adorable Regina looked in her rumbled state. "The kids are so excited."

"That's good to hear." She cleared her throat a little, not feeling totally comfortable being pressed against the blonde. That wasn't entirely truthful. She rather enjoyed the closeness, but she was not comfortable with that at all. "We should get to work. How can I help?"

"By playing the piano." Mary-Margaret interrupted. "And yes, Regina thank you so much for this."

"You're welcome." Regina smiled brightly, relishing in the satisfaction that Emma's mother had to thank her once again for something. "It was the least I could do."

"I seriously doubt that. But we're still grateful. We'll have to change a few things of course."

"Of course. I can assist with that." Regina cooed. "The lighting needs to be tweaked among other adjustments. But in the end, I think it will all be for the better."

"Of course." Mary Margaret clipped. "Now about the piano."

"Ah yes, Leroy is recovering from his impromptu fall through ice, but I've been assured he'll be able to play. But I can fill in again for rehearsal."

Emma stepped in front of her. "No, we kinda mean for rehearsal and this afternoon...during the actual play."

"Excuse me."

"Well its been decided for consistency, you should continue on as pianist." Mary-Margaret explained.

"Or to simply put it, everyone likes you better." Emma laughed.

"I see." Regina mulled the idea over in her head. "Very well, if you insist."

"We do." Emma said and draped a arm around her. "Best Girlfriend ever!"

"Definitely full of surprises." Mary-Margaret said. "Well let me get back to making changes." She rushed off.

"Still not enough." Regina muttered. "Short of ripping out my beating heart to donate just in case she'll ever need it, I don't think that woman will ever warm up to me."

"Let's talk outside." Emma grabbed her by the hand and led her out to the hallway. She wanted to thank the professor in private, but got distracted by memories of the all too familiar surroundings of the elementary school. "It's funny..." Emma mused. "this hallway is where I got into my first fight."

Regina, hoping this trip down memory wasn't Emma's only reason for dragging her out there, took a moment to take in the vivid blue walls decorated with the children's artwork and projects.

Then she looked at Emma and imaged her as little girl walking down the hall. She almost smiled. "Did you win?"

"Hell yeah!" Emma declared. "Misty Winslow, didn't like me."

"Imagine that."

"Ha. Probably still doesn't until this day. But anyway she use to bully kids relentlessly. She was a big girl. I think she was almost 6 feet in fifth grade. A real amazon. Well one day she was bullying this kid named Mike Reynolds. Taking his lunch I think. So I stepped in and next thing I know I was given the infamous meet me on the playground at 3pm challenge."

"I'm confused, you said you fought in the hallway."

"You caught that huh? Well Misty cheated, as soon as school ended, she snuck up behind me swung me into the wall by my bookbag. Right there." Emma pointed to a nearby wall covered with drawings of dinosaurs.

"I thought you said you won?"

"The straps on my bookbag were loose or something so when she grabbed to swing me again, the straps came loose.. fell back...and knocked herself out cold, right there." She pointed to the opposite wall. I won."

"Technically."

"I claim it." Emma wiggled her eyes before they kept walking down the hallway. "Wanna hear something strange?"

"Stranger that story you just told?"

"I miss the sound of your shoes against the floor."

Regina stopped walking, realizing for the first time they were still holding hands. Gently she dropped Emma's hand. "Why did you want to talk to me?"

Missing the warmth of the other woman's hand, Emma buried her hands in her pockets. "I just wanted to say thank you."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Again?"

"You didn't have to go fishing with my Dad."

"You told me it was part of the job."

"And all the props, costumes, and..."

Regina put up her hand. "Emma it needed to be done. While technically not part of the job, I give you permission to claim it." She frowned. "Since you like technicalities."

"And playing the piano this afternoon? You could have let Leroy fumble through it as always."

"Fumbling does not even approach good enough. Besides my mother taught me that the phrase good enough is nothing more than a fallacy. It's neither enough or good. I am confident that my skills in the area of the piano are unmatched by him. I'm simply offering more than good enough. And it's my understanding that my services were requested. The town has spoken. And who am I to disagree?" There was a hint of a smile playing at the brunette's lips.

Emma laughed as she looked Regina up and down. "Not even wearing my clothes could make you less arrogant."

"I suppose not. But I do feel less stylish." She tried to smooth her hair. "That stupid hat of yours probably murdered my hair. I'm sure the back of my hair looks like I was prisoner at Guantanamo Bay."

"I kinda like it." Emma pulled her hands out of her pockets and hesitated just a second before she reached out to touch soft raven locks. She playfully twisted it around her finger. "It looks like morning after hair. Like you had a really good time...hair."

"And what would you know about that?"

Emma pushed a lock of hair behind Regina's ear before her eyes connected with Regina's. "A girl can imagine, can't she?"

Regina wanted to ask had Emma meant she'd imagined her in particular with morning after hair or other women in general. But when she felt Emma's fingertips graze her cheek, her thoughts had something new to concentrate on. "Boundaries Emma." She warned in her best teacher tone to herself as well as Emma. "No one is watching."

"I am." Emma said, her eyes dropping to Regina's lips then moved back up. "It's so hard not to watch you Regina."

Regina took a step back, her back hitting the wall. "You can't keep doing this. We agreed."

"I'm not doing anything." Emma said innocently. "It's simply a compliment. You're beautiful. You know that. And sometimes I..." She sighed with a smile. "...just can't take my eyes off you. And Regina you know that too. I'm just being honest." And she couldn't believe she was being honest. No backpedaling. No quickly taking it back. Emma was simply telling the truth and letting it linger between them.

"What you're being Emma, is exhaustively charming. A trait that I been exposed as being vulnerable too. A chink in the armor. And you know that. Let's both be honest."

"Is it working?"

"No." Regina declared. "Not in the very least."

Emma moved closer and then she grinned with a shake of her head. "Liar." And without another word she kissed Regina. The professor laid her hands flat on Emma's chest, with the intention to push her away, but instead felt her hands fisting the material of Emma's shirt and pulling her closer.

My body betrays my mind once again. Damn Toddies. Another chink in my armor. Just as she couldn't ignore the twinkle in those green-blues eyes, neither could she deny herself the pleasure of indulging in the kiss. She opened her mouth wider and let the kiss deepen, to only a second later have Emma snatch her lips away.

"Still not working?"

Regina slightly raised up on her toes the tiniest bit to even their heights. "Maybe..." She whispered against the other woman's lips. "just a little." Slowly she captured Emma's bottom lip before claiming the top one. She was wasn't about to be out done by Emma Swan. It didn't take long before she seduced a soft whimper out of Emma before feeling the woman's hand move down to rest on her hip.

"Oh, there you are". A flat voice called out to them. As if struck by a hot iron, the two women separated to see they were no longer alone.

The stiletto against the floor sound was back. Only it didn't belong to Regina, but instead to the woman walking towards them.

"Mother?" Regina said.

Author's Notes:

What? Cora is in town! The plot thickens! More fun for the girls...

Well that's it! Hope you enjoyed. Again my apologies for the frequency of these updates...and my THANKS for all that have hung in there with me!