Awakening (Once Upon a Time; Regina/Emma)
TITLE: Awakening
CHAPTER 2: Oddities
FANDOM: Once Upon a Time
PAIRING: Swan Queen (Regina/Emma); hints of Outlaw Queen (Regina/Robin)
SPOILERS: "Witch Hunt" (3x13)
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: “If we can’t get this potion just right, Henry will have no idea he’s even related to the little goblin she’s pushing out.”
*****
She managed to get to City Hall less than five minutes after she promised Regina and yet she still got a flat, “You’re late,” from the brunette.
“I know,” she huffed, shucking her jacket and hanging it up. “I had to get Henry back to the loft.”
Not to mention she had to dodge his questioning about where she kept going all the time. And, she had to ignore the grin he gave her when she said she was meeting up with a friend.
“He’s helping Mary Margaret set up a nursery.”
Regina pursed her lips, already seated at the table within her office working on a new potion. “She could go any day now,” she said.
“Yeah.” Furrowing her brows, she asked the brunette, “That’s weird, right?”
“What is? Snow’s pregnancy?” She sniffed. “Hardly. I’m surprised they didn’t start popping out new saviors as soon as the first curse broke.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “No, not that.” But leave it to Regina…
She sat down across the table from her and watched as she extracted a dark liquid from a vial. “I mean… I’m going to have a little brother or sister who’s thirty years younger than me. Henry’s aunt or uncle will be younger than him.”
Without raising her head, Regina lifted her eyes and quirked a brow. “After everything we’ve seen, after all the other twisted branches of this family tree have been uncovered… that’s what you find odd?”
Emma smirked. “I guess when you put it that way…”
“Besides,” Regina sighed. “If we can’t get this potion just right, Henry will have no idea he’s even related to the little goblin she’s pushing out.” Lifting her head then, she asked impatiently, “Now can we get to work, please?”
Emma raised her brows, partly glad to see that Regina hadn’t completely gone soft. She had to admit she sometimes enjoyed her attitude.
“Yeah, we can get to work. What do you want me to do?”
*****
A good few hours later, they were no closer to finding just the right combination of ingredients. They were also starting to run low on beakers and vials with how many Regina had flung against the wall in frustration.
“Seriously, slow down with that,” Emma chided her. “I don’t know how many more of these we can find.”
“Oh please, the school has plenty,” she snipped, waving dismissively as she paced the length of the table.
She raised her eyebrows. “You’re saying when we run out, we’re gonna steal from the school?”
Regina swept a hand toward her, reasoning, “You’re the sheriff.”
“Am I?”
The question halted her pacing, and Regina turned to her with her hands on her hips. “What?”
Emma shrugged. “I just mean… I’ve only been here three days.”
“You’re not staying?”
She tilted her head, taking in Regina’s tone of voice. It was soft, almost… sad. She was probably concerned about salvaging her relationship with Henry. So she assured her, “Of course we’re staying, but…”
“But what?”
There were so many ‘buts’ in this scenario. ‘But’ Henry would question why his mother was suddenly appointed sheriff. ‘But’ this new enemy, whoever they were, could start targeting her… and maybe Henry as well. And then there was the ‘but’ that she voiced. “But isn’t David the sheriff right now?”
Regina rolled her eyes. “He’s a stand-in. He’s always just a stand-in. He was a stand-in prince, and now he’s a stand-in sheriff.”
Emma decided not to question the past - they probably didn’t have enough time - and instead asked Regina tentatively, “Do you… want me to be the sheriff again?”
Regina shrugged, as if the answer were obvious. “Of course. You were before. And,” she gestured to her once more, “you said it yourself: we need to stick together. The mayor and the sheriff work closely together.”
At this, she smirked. “Getting kinda sick of David?”
“Ugh.” Regina threw her head back dramatically. “He hasn’t been getting anything done.”
“Well…” she tilted her head. “In his defense, neither have you.”
“Right, because I needed you.” Shrugging, she said, “Perhaps you were right, in Neverland, when you said our best chance is together. If I keep going with that idiot shepherd at my side, nothing will ever get done. Besides, I trust you.”
Emma decided to mark the comment internally as another ‘win’ - Regina admitting it aloud without being asked or coerced. “If you want me back, Regina, I’ll come back. I’ll be the sheriff.” Before Regina could look too delighted at being rid of David, she held up a finger and added, “On one condition: David is my deputy.”
Regina made sure she heard the huff of disgust, but ultimately, she gave in. “Fine,” she grumbled. “But he stays out of the way when you and I need to work on…” she gestured around them at the spell books and ingredients, “this stuff.”
“Agreed.”
“Now,” Regina sighed, flipping her hair out of her eyes. “We just need to break the news to David’s current deputy.”
Emma frowned. “Who’s his current deputy?”
**
The question hung in the air for the entire ride to the sheriff’s station. It was so unlike Regina to just suddenly clam up. Anytime Emma attempted to repeat the question, Regina’s cheeks turned slightly pink and she changed the subject.
When they arrived, not much had changed. The back of the station still boasted just two jail cells - one of which was occupied by a surlier-than-usual Leroy. Emma gave him a nod as they came in and he rolled his eyes. Clearly another drunk-and-disorderly bust, from which he’d be released later that night.
“Emma?” David stepped out of the sheriff’s office, looking pleased to see her. “What are you doing here?”
Emma breathed a smile and accepted the kiss on the forehead. “Just… stopping in to say hi.” She hoped he wouldn’t be too terribly hurt.
“There are going to be some minor… organizational changes around here, Charming.” Regina gave him a catlike smile, and Emma knew too well what that smile meant.
Apparently Regina wanted to rip the bandage off as quickly and painfully as possible. Though she should have expected no less.
David glanced between the two of them. “Will Emma be joining us again?” he asked, looking to his daughter.
Emma gave him a smile, though it quickly turned into a cringe as Regina once again barreled through the potentially delicate situation.
“Actually, she’ll be leading you. I’ve decided to reinstate her as sheriff.”
Emma glanced at her counterpart, watching her lift her chin just slightly - and she knew that look well too. She was daring David to challenge her.
But David, bless him, knew her well enough not to take the bait. Instead, he smiled. “Well I think that’s a wonderful idea, Regina. We can get her up to speed much more quickly.”
“Well.” Regina faltered momentarily, clearly prepared for (and maybe even wanting) an argument. “Right.”
Emma hid her smirk by looking around the ‘bullpen’ area, way too amused by the reprisal of ‘old Regina.’ She turned to her father. “So, uh… I’d like to keep you on as my deputy.”
He smiled. “I’d like that.” But the smile faded quickly as he turned to Regina. “But, I doubt you’d be able to afford all three of us. What about-“
“I’ll handle him,” Regina sighed, and she looked much less gleeful about letting whoever this deputy was go.
“Regina?”
A fourth voice joined them, with a soft accent. They turned to see a tall man with an athlete’s build, holding a bag from the diner.
“Those the sandwiches?” David asked him.
“Yeah.” The man smiled at Regina, then turned to his partner. “Sorry, mate. Bit backed up at the diner today. Here you go.”
“Thanks.” To Emma, he sighed, “Lunchtime.”
“Right.” But Emma was a bit too interested in how this guy was looking at the mayor.
“Regina, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company today?”
Regina rolled her eyes, but Emma was surprised to see the smile sneaking its way across her lips. “Would you mind if I steal you for a moment?” she asked the man.
He gave her a grin. “I wouldn’t exactly complain.”
At that, Regina flushed bright red and looked a mix of annoyed and embarrassed. She grabbed the man by the forearm and dragged him down the hall.
Emma watched them go, amusement and confusion battling for control. She turned to David. “Is that your deputy?”
“Yeah. He’s really been a lot of help around here.”
“Who is he?”
David folded his arms, the two of them now watching Regina and the man converse in the back hallway. “Well here, he’s been going by ‘Rob.’ But in our land, he went by Robin.”
Two different images flashed through Emma’s mind in that moment - both of them involving tights. “Robin,” she repeated, dubiously. She side-eyed her father. “As in… ‘Hood’ or, Batman’s sidekick?”
He smirked at her. “Robin Hood.” After a beat, he nudged her and added, “Batman’s a fictional character.”
Chuckling, she whacked his arm playfully. “Yeah and for almost thirty years, I thought all you guys were too!”
“Fair enough,” he chuckled back.
“So…” Her attention turned once more to Regina and this ‘Rob’ guy. “How does he know Regina?”
She watched her father shrug beside her, half expecting him to say he didn’t really know. He wasn’t exactly a gossip.
What he did say, she never would have expected.
“They’re sort of dating.”
TBC
CHAPTER 2: Oddities
FANDOM: Once Upon a Time
PAIRING: Swan Queen (Regina/Emma); hints of Outlaw Queen (Regina/Robin)
SPOILERS: "Witch Hunt" (3x13)
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: “If we can’t get this potion just right, Henry will have no idea he’s even related to the little goblin she’s pushing out.”
*****
She managed to get to City Hall less than five minutes after she promised Regina and yet she still got a flat, “You’re late,” from the brunette.
“I know,” she huffed, shucking her jacket and hanging it up. “I had to get Henry back to the loft.”
Not to mention she had to dodge his questioning about where she kept going all the time. And, she had to ignore the grin he gave her when she said she was meeting up with a friend.
“He’s helping Mary Margaret set up a nursery.”
Regina pursed her lips, already seated at the table within her office working on a new potion. “She could go any day now,” she said.
“Yeah.” Furrowing her brows, she asked the brunette, “That’s weird, right?”
“What is? Snow’s pregnancy?” She sniffed. “Hardly. I’m surprised they didn’t start popping out new saviors as soon as the first curse broke.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “No, not that.” But leave it to Regina…
She sat down across the table from her and watched as she extracted a dark liquid from a vial. “I mean… I’m going to have a little brother or sister who’s thirty years younger than me. Henry’s aunt or uncle will be younger than him.”
Without raising her head, Regina lifted her eyes and quirked a brow. “After everything we’ve seen, after all the other twisted branches of this family tree have been uncovered… that’s what you find odd?”
Emma smirked. “I guess when you put it that way…”
“Besides,” Regina sighed. “If we can’t get this potion just right, Henry will have no idea he’s even related to the little goblin she’s pushing out.” Lifting her head then, she asked impatiently, “Now can we get to work, please?”
Emma raised her brows, partly glad to see that Regina hadn’t completely gone soft. She had to admit she sometimes enjoyed her attitude.
“Yeah, we can get to work. What do you want me to do?”
*****
A good few hours later, they were no closer to finding just the right combination of ingredients. They were also starting to run low on beakers and vials with how many Regina had flung against the wall in frustration.
“Seriously, slow down with that,” Emma chided her. “I don’t know how many more of these we can find.”
“Oh please, the school has plenty,” she snipped, waving dismissively as she paced the length of the table.
She raised her eyebrows. “You’re saying when we run out, we’re gonna steal from the school?”
Regina swept a hand toward her, reasoning, “You’re the sheriff.”
“Am I?”
The question halted her pacing, and Regina turned to her with her hands on her hips. “What?”
Emma shrugged. “I just mean… I’ve only been here three days.”
“You’re not staying?”
She tilted her head, taking in Regina’s tone of voice. It was soft, almost… sad. She was probably concerned about salvaging her relationship with Henry. So she assured her, “Of course we’re staying, but…”
“But what?”
There were so many ‘buts’ in this scenario. ‘But’ Henry would question why his mother was suddenly appointed sheriff. ‘But’ this new enemy, whoever they were, could start targeting her… and maybe Henry as well. And then there was the ‘but’ that she voiced. “But isn’t David the sheriff right now?”
Regina rolled her eyes. “He’s a stand-in. He’s always just a stand-in. He was a stand-in prince, and now he’s a stand-in sheriff.”
Emma decided not to question the past - they probably didn’t have enough time - and instead asked Regina tentatively, “Do you… want me to be the sheriff again?”
Regina shrugged, as if the answer were obvious. “Of course. You were before. And,” she gestured to her once more, “you said it yourself: we need to stick together. The mayor and the sheriff work closely together.”
At this, she smirked. “Getting kinda sick of David?”
“Ugh.” Regina threw her head back dramatically. “He hasn’t been getting anything done.”
“Well…” she tilted her head. “In his defense, neither have you.”
“Right, because I needed you.” Shrugging, she said, “Perhaps you were right, in Neverland, when you said our best chance is together. If I keep going with that idiot shepherd at my side, nothing will ever get done. Besides, I trust you.”
Emma decided to mark the comment internally as another ‘win’ - Regina admitting it aloud without being asked or coerced. “If you want me back, Regina, I’ll come back. I’ll be the sheriff.” Before Regina could look too delighted at being rid of David, she held up a finger and added, “On one condition: David is my deputy.”
Regina made sure she heard the huff of disgust, but ultimately, she gave in. “Fine,” she grumbled. “But he stays out of the way when you and I need to work on…” she gestured around them at the spell books and ingredients, “this stuff.”
“Agreed.”
“Now,” Regina sighed, flipping her hair out of her eyes. “We just need to break the news to David’s current deputy.”
Emma frowned. “Who’s his current deputy?”
**
The question hung in the air for the entire ride to the sheriff’s station. It was so unlike Regina to just suddenly clam up. Anytime Emma attempted to repeat the question, Regina’s cheeks turned slightly pink and she changed the subject.
When they arrived, not much had changed. The back of the station still boasted just two jail cells - one of which was occupied by a surlier-than-usual Leroy. Emma gave him a nod as they came in and he rolled his eyes. Clearly another drunk-and-disorderly bust, from which he’d be released later that night.
“Emma?” David stepped out of the sheriff’s office, looking pleased to see her. “What are you doing here?”
Emma breathed a smile and accepted the kiss on the forehead. “Just… stopping in to say hi.” She hoped he wouldn’t be too terribly hurt.
“There are going to be some minor… organizational changes around here, Charming.” Regina gave him a catlike smile, and Emma knew too well what that smile meant.
Apparently Regina wanted to rip the bandage off as quickly and painfully as possible. Though she should have expected no less.
David glanced between the two of them. “Will Emma be joining us again?” he asked, looking to his daughter.
Emma gave him a smile, though it quickly turned into a cringe as Regina once again barreled through the potentially delicate situation.
“Actually, she’ll be leading you. I’ve decided to reinstate her as sheriff.”
Emma glanced at her counterpart, watching her lift her chin just slightly - and she knew that look well too. She was daring David to challenge her.
But David, bless him, knew her well enough not to take the bait. Instead, he smiled. “Well I think that’s a wonderful idea, Regina. We can get her up to speed much more quickly.”
“Well.” Regina faltered momentarily, clearly prepared for (and maybe even wanting) an argument. “Right.”
Emma hid her smirk by looking around the ‘bullpen’ area, way too amused by the reprisal of ‘old Regina.’ She turned to her father. “So, uh… I’d like to keep you on as my deputy.”
He smiled. “I’d like that.” But the smile faded quickly as he turned to Regina. “But, I doubt you’d be able to afford all three of us. What about-“
“I’ll handle him,” Regina sighed, and she looked much less gleeful about letting whoever this deputy was go.
“Regina?”
A fourth voice joined them, with a soft accent. They turned to see a tall man with an athlete’s build, holding a bag from the diner.
“Those the sandwiches?” David asked him.
“Yeah.” The man smiled at Regina, then turned to his partner. “Sorry, mate. Bit backed up at the diner today. Here you go.”
“Thanks.” To Emma, he sighed, “Lunchtime.”
“Right.” But Emma was a bit too interested in how this guy was looking at the mayor.
“Regina, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company today?”
Regina rolled her eyes, but Emma was surprised to see the smile sneaking its way across her lips. “Would you mind if I steal you for a moment?” she asked the man.
He gave her a grin. “I wouldn’t exactly complain.”
At that, Regina flushed bright red and looked a mix of annoyed and embarrassed. She grabbed the man by the forearm and dragged him down the hall.
Emma watched them go, amusement and confusion battling for control. She turned to David. “Is that your deputy?”
“Yeah. He’s really been a lot of help around here.”
“Who is he?”
David folded his arms, the two of them now watching Regina and the man converse in the back hallway. “Well here, he’s been going by ‘Rob.’ But in our land, he went by Robin.”
Two different images flashed through Emma’s mind in that moment - both of them involving tights. “Robin,” she repeated, dubiously. She side-eyed her father. “As in… ‘Hood’ or, Batman’s sidekick?”
He smirked at her. “Robin Hood.” After a beat, he nudged her and added, “Batman’s a fictional character.”
Chuckling, she whacked his arm playfully. “Yeah and for almost thirty years, I thought all you guys were too!”
“Fair enough,” he chuckled back.
“So…” Her attention turned once more to Regina and this ‘Rob’ guy. “How does he know Regina?”
She watched her father shrug beside her, half expecting him to say he didn’t really know. He wasn’t exactly a gossip.
What he did say, she never would have expected.
“They’re sort of dating.”
TBC