A/N: I'm sorry for the delay, I have written this chapter, deleted it and rewritten it, so many times, I think I'm happy with it now. I hope you guys like it and I hope this is what you were hoping for. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Xo
Chapter Four
Regina hardly slept a wink that night, she tossed and she turned, she didn't know what to do for the best - she was officially out of control of her life. She lay awake watching Emma sleep, all she wanted to do was cuddle into her, protect her from all the evil in the world but she couldn't bring herself to put her arm around her from fear of rejection. Emma was still mad at Regina for kissing her then running away, so the brunette wasn't needing to upset Emma even more. It was just gone 3am and Regina decided to get up and go home, she was torn if she should wake Emma or let her sleep. As she sat up in bed and went to fetch her clothes, Emma began to stir - she was waking up.
Through a very sleepy voice the blonde looked over at Regina, "What are you doing?" She asked, concerned, she knew Regina was fragile and was terrified of what she was going to do.
"Im just going to go home, I need to have a shower," Regina said, looking over at Emma, she had no idea what to do.
"Stay for a bit, Regina, try and get some sleep, what time is it?" Emma asked as she woke up fully from her sleep.
"3am, dear," Regina replied.
"Its the middle of the night, Regina. Come on, come lie down," Emma said, convincing Regina to get some more sleep.
"Okay, ill try again," Regina said as she made her way back into bed, Emma was now sitting up.
"Come here," Emma said as she held an arm out to Regina.
"What do you mean?" Regina asked, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
"Come over a bit," Emma said as Regina moved over slightly closer to the blonde.
"Okay, i'll move over then," Emma said as she moved right over to Regina, she told the First Lady to lift her head from the pillow.
"Why?" Regina asked, she wasn't sure at all what was happening.
"For a bloody smart woman, how do you not know when someone is asking for a cuddle?" Emma said, looking at Regina realising what she had just said.
"Oh right," Regina said, a tiny smile forming on her face, she cuddled into Emma as she laid her head on Emma's chest, she could hear her heart beating, Emma wrapped two arms around Regina and began stroking her forehead, she sat like that until she heard Regina let out a little snore.
Once, Regina was fully sleeping Emma lay down next to her and held her for the rest of the night, this was all she ever dreamed off.
That morning Regina's alarm went off at 7am, it was a lot later than when Regina would normally get up. "Good morning, sleepy," Emma whispered into Regina's ear as she began to stir from her sleep.
"Good morning," Regina said, until she sat up with a jerk. "Oh no, I have the interview this morning, what do I do?" She asked, looking at Emma for any sort of advice.
"What do YOU want to do?" Emma said emphasising the word 'YOU.'
"I want this all to be over, I just want to be with you," Regina said, laying everything on the line.
"I just want to be with you but you know it'll never be that simple." Emma said, as much as she wanted to be with Regina there and then, she didn't want Regina making a mistake that she'll regret. Emma knew that Robin wouldn't let Regina go without a fight and so did Regina.
"It won't be simple for a while then it'll all die down and we'll get to be together." Regina said.
"Regina, you're living in a fantasy world, this isn't a storybook, this isn't going to be simple at all, Robin is probably going to try and kill you and I think you know that." Emma said, now looking at Regina trying to gauge a reaction.
"I know, I know, I'm just going to have to go back and play the dutiful wife, aren't I?" Regina sighed, as she got out of bed and began putting last nights clothes back on.
"No, not at all, Regina but what I'm saying is this isn't going to be easy, if you really want to be with me, this isn't going to be easy at all." Emma said as she watchfully looked at Regina.
"I know, I know, I just need to go, I should be in make-up right now." Regina replied.
"Just do what you've got to do, I've waited years for you Regina, I'm willing to wait a few more." Emma said, she couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice.
Regina walked around to Emma's side of the bed, put her index finger under her chin bringing her lips up to Regina's. Regina began kissing Emma, hard and passionately, Regina pushed Emma down on the bed as she got on top of her, she kissed her hard, tongues intertwining with each other, playing to the sound of butterflies in both women's stomachs.
Regina jumped off Emma and stood at the side of the bed, leaving Emma breathless, and wanting more. "I'll finish that tonight when you're my girlfriend, okay?" Regina winked sexily at Emma.
"Please do what you think you can handle." Emma said.
"I can handle anything." Regina said as she wittily walked out, a spring in her step and feeling like a new woman.
She made it back to the White House miraculously without been seen by paparazzi, she had no idea how. She made her way up to her bedroom and got in the shower, thoughts began filling up her mind of how this was all going to play out, what should she do, what would be the best for her, she knew what she wanted to do, but how would she ever get her reputation back?
After Regina's shower, she got dressed, she put on her best red dress, just as she got ready, Robin walked in. Regina took one look at him and her skin crawled, she didn't want to live like this anymore.
"Hi there," Robin said as he walked closer and closer to Regina.
"What do you want?" Regina said, holding all the anger behind her teeth.
"Always the pleasure, my darling." Robin replied. "Where did you stay last night?" He asked pacing around Regina like she was his prey.
"I stayed here," Regina replied, she prayed Robin believed her.
"No, you didn't, I came in to check on you and you were gone," Robin replied.
"I was in the gym, I went down early hours this morning, I didn't get back till 3am this morning anyway, so basically, I stayed in my car." Regina replied, trying to cover up anything to do with Emma, she didn't need the grief just yet.
"Okay," Robin simply said, still pacing around her. "What are you going to say at this interview?" He asked looking her dead in the eye.
"That its all a lie and I love my husband." Regina said, as she matched his stare.
"Will you though?" He asked, he could see right through her.
"Yes, dear." Regina said, causing Robin to walk closer and closer to her until he was right in her face.
"Because if you don't, I will have Emma Swan killed by the time you walk out of the interview, I will have her killed, if you tell the world what they want to hear, I can't promise I won't touch Emma but I'll try my hardest not to kill her." Robin replied, Regina could smell the hooch already lingering on his breath.
"Im not going to say anything except I love my husband, ok?" Regina said, as she stood up pushing him away from her.
"Okay, dear. I'm glad we cleared that up." Robin said as he walked out of her bedroom.
Regina sat back on her bed, staring into space, her anger had reached a whole new level. She picked up her mobile and called an old friend.
"Hi, Mr Gold, its been a long time." She said a smile starting to glow across her face.
"Hi, deary, what do you need?" Mr Gold replied in his strong Scottish accent.
"Remember, how you told me if I ever needed 'the job done?'" Regina replied, hoping Mr Gold would remember, he was Regina's oldest friend and he possibly hated Robin more than Regina did.
"Yes, deary, I remember." Mr Gold said, he knew she would finally give into him and realise what he's been telling her for years about Robin, he's always known he was a bastard.
"I need it done, today." Regina replied, she never thought she would have this in her but Robin had pushed her too far.
"Deary, it'll be done by noon." Mr Gold said before laughing his way off the phone.
Regina lay back on her bed and began laughing, she was finally living up to the evil queen status. No one threatens Emma's life and gets away with it. This sorts all problems.
Regina made her way to the interview, a bottle of hooch later. She sat down next to Robin, she knew she had to play this right, this was the last time she ever had to deal with him. "Hi, dear." She said as she sat next to him, smiling brightly, red lips as wide as they could go. She looked perfect.
"Hi, honey." Robin replied, putting his hand on Regina's knee. It made her feel sick but she refused to show it.
"Lets get this interview done," she said seething through her teeth but still smiling.
Ellen Degeneres was interviewing them. She was always Regina's favourite.
"Mr President, Madam First Lady, so nice to see you two." Ellen said as she put out her hand to shake theirs.
"Hi Ellen, always a pleasure," Regina replied, looking Ellen in the eye.
"So, shall we get down to business?" Ellen asked. "So, this newspaper article saying you are a lesbian, where did that come from?" Ellen asked.
Regina looked at Robin before saying anything, she wanted to see him squirm for a little second longer.
"I have no idea, where it came from, I don't know why anyone would say that, I love my husband." Regina smiled, first at Robin then at Ellen.
Ellen then said, "With articles like that how do you know who to trust?"
"You never know who to trust, Ellen, its normally those closet to you that turn on you but we have each other and know we can always rely on each other, so thats all that matters, it doesn't matter what anyone else says," Regina smiled again, it was so easy to put on an act when she's so good at it. No one would ever know the difference.
"True that," Ellen said smiling back at them before continuing the interview.
In Regina's White House office, Emma sat watching them live on TV. The more she was watching the more anger she was feeling. "What is she doing?" Emma kept asking herself. Less than 5 hours ago this woman was in her bed, on top of her and now she's telling the world she loves her husband, "What is going on?"
Emma began pacing round the office, she was waiting patiently on Regina coming back to have it out with her, she wanted to be so angry at Regina but she was more angry at herself for telling Regina to do what she wanted, of course this isn't what Emma was expecting, albeit the opposite.
Another hour went by, before Regina walked into the office, looking a million dollars. Emma was sitting in Regina's chair behind her desk, with both feet crossed on top of the desk. She was flicking through the channels on the TV. She watched Regina walk in but didn't move an inch.
"Hi, darling." Regina said, a massive smile covering her face.
"What the hell did you just do?" Emma asked, looking Regina in the eye, she wasn't able to hide her anger anymore.
"I done what I had to do, Emma, you would have done the same." Regina replied, she did not want to tell Emma any part of her plan, she didn't want her thinking she was a monster.
"I love you, I love you, so much. 6 hours ago, you were in my bed on top of me, kissing me," Emma said, Regina finally realised that Emma was a little angry. "And, then you're on TV telling the world you love your husband, do you know how hard that is to hear?"
"I'm so sorry, Emma, I had to do what I had to do and thats final, now could you get out my office?" Regina asked, she had to play it right for Emma's safety, the last thing she needed was to loose Emma before Mr Gold had gotten them both out of danger.
"With pleasure." Emma said as she stormed out slamming the door behind her.
Regina sat in her chair and sighed. She realised the time and decided to go outside and mingle, just incase she ever needed an alibi, she had one.
Within minutes, of walking out of her office, the police began walking up to her, she didn't know what to do. "Madame First Lady, my name is Mellie Grant, can I speak to you in private?" They asked.
"Yes, certainly, whats going on?" Regina said as she walked into her office, she quietly closed the door behind them and offered them to take a seat infront of her desk.
"I'm so sorry to tell you but your husband has been shot," the police officer said, looking Regina in the eye attempting to gauge any reaction.
"What do you mean shot? My husband? Shot?" She began asking.
"Yes, ma'am, President Robin Hood has been shot." Mellie replied.
"Is he... is he.. okay?" Regina asked, stammering attempting to hold it together.
"No, he died on the scene. He was shot through the heart, the bullet came from a high height." Mellie said, watching every move Regina made.
"He's dead?" Regina asked, she went numb, she looked stone cold.
"Yes ma'am. Im so sorry."
"But, I was just with him, I was just with him?" Regina asked before suddenly the tears began to flow, she began hysterically crying. "Can I see him?"
"Of course you can, ma'am, we can arrange for you to see him in about an hour?" Mellie replied, this was what a grieving wife looked like and Mellie never thought at the beginning of her shift she would be telling the First Lady this.
"WHO DID THIS?" Regina shouted almost screaming.
"We haven't found anyone yet. Were currently tracing the bullet to see what forensics can pull from it, I can assure you, we are doing everything we can and we will find the person who did this, I promise. But I need to ask, is there anyone you can think of that wanted your husband dead?" Mellie asked, now wasn't the right time to interrogate anyone but anything that helps the investigation is a bonus.
"My husband was the President of the United States of America, hundreds probably did!" Regina was starting to loose it. "Okay, can I just be left alone?" Regina asked.
"Is there no one you want us to call?" Mellie asked, she didn't like leaving people on there own when they were like this.
"No, I'll sort it, I just need a minute alone, please." Regina asked through her tears.
"Sure, we'll arrange for you to see him and we'll be in touch. Once, again I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." Regina said as Mellie and her colleague walked out the door.
Regina closed the door behind them and wiped away her tears. She was meant to feel free, she was meant to feel happy, why was she feeling like a monster instead? She had to toughen up.
Regina sat back in her chair and phoned Emma, just as the phone began to ring, Emma flew into Regina's office.
"Is it true?" Emma asked Regina, she didn't know how to feel either, she wanted to be happy, she wanted to feel happy but she felt the opposite. She hated him but she never wanted him dead.
"Yes, the police have just left, what am I meant to do now?" Regina asked, looking at Emma.
"I don't know, you knew nothing about this?" Emma asked, watching Regina's facial expression.
"What the hell are you trying to say?" Regina asked, almost snapping at Emma.
"Nothing babe, I'm sorry." Emma said, as she walked around to Regina, she wanted to give her a cuddle but didn't know how it would be received.
Regina put her arms out and willingly, happily cuddled Emma back. "We can be together now atleast." Regina said, evil written all over her face, it had been a long time since she had done something like this, possibly some would say, in another life, in another realm.
Emma pulled back, quickly. "How can we? You just sat on national TV saying how you weren't a lesbian, that you love your husband and now he's dead, we shack up, hows that going to look?" Emma scolded.
"I know, it doesn't look good at all. I had to say that stuff Emma, I had to or he was going to have YOU killed." Regina said looking Emma in the eye. "I said it all for your safety, I had to say it or he said he'd have you killed before I even left the interview, what choice did I have?"
"He said he'd have me killed?" Emma asked, with a now worried facial expression.
"Yes, he said if I said anything other than that I loved him, you would be dead. I couldn't even take the chance that he was bluffing, I wasn't willing to take the risk." Regina said, putting her head in her hands, realisation of what has just happened kicking in.
"I'm so sorry, Regina," Emma said, looking at her, she didn't know what to say, or what to do.
"Its about to get crazy now, I know it is, as soon as I walk out this door, the world will be going crazy, so I just need a few minutes of no craziness, can you do that?" Regina asked as she looked at Emma.
"Yes, I can." Emma said as she walked over to Regina's office, locking the door.
Emma walked over to Regina and kissed her softly. "I'm so sorry about your husband." Emma said.
"Yeah, me too." Regina replied grinning as she pulled Emma into a hug.
Old Regina is gone, this Regina is going to run the world.