Chapter 10
Since Emma had returned Henry to Storybrook on Sunday things had been running smoothly. She was still working hard in Boston but took the time throughout the day to call Regina and Henry to see what they were up to. She really wanted to make things work with Regina and that meant putting some extra effort to keep in touch.
"You have Henry on line one." Tiffany announced through the phone.
"Got it." Emma said to her secretary before she took the call from her son. "What's up, kid?"
"So I've been thinking…" Henry said.
"God help us all." Emma muttered.
"I'm serious, mom." Henry said. "You known ma's birthday is this Sunday."
"I'm aware, yes." Emma said.
"So I was talking to Ruby and she thought it would be an awesome idea if we would throw her a surprise party at the diner." Henry said eagerly.
"I don't know about that, Henry." Emma said. She didn't want to completely disregard Henry's idea but deep down she knew that Regina would hate the thought of a surprise party. "You know Regina is not the most social person, I don't know how she'll like a surprise party."
"She'll love it." Henry said convinced. "Ruby and I will plan all of it we just need an investor."
"Of course you do." Emma said with a sigh. "I'm still not sure if this is the best of ideas but I'll send Ruby some money so you can make this party happen."
"Thanks, mom." Henry said enthusiastically. "Remember is a surprise party, you can't tell her anything.""Relax, I wont tell her anything." Emma said lying through her teeth. She knew that Regina hated surprises and if Regina found out that Emma knew about this party beforehand and didn't had the courtesy to at least give her a warning, things could get ugly, really ugly. "I have to get back to work now but I'll call you later tonight ok?"
"Ok. Love you, thank you for the money." Henry said hanging up before Emma could get another word in.
Before calling Regina, Emma called Ruby to get the details from an actual adult about this whole party that Henry was so intent on throwing. After organizing herself with Ruby she called Regina and gave her the heads up. Even though the thought of spending her birthday with the likes of the people who frequent the diner, she was moved by the fact that Henry was going through such troubles to throw her a birthday party.
"Hey, if you want to stay with Henry for the weekend that's fine by me." Emma said to Regina.
"No, no. Weekends are the only time you get to spend with him." Regina said. "I'm not going to take that away from either of you."
"Its fine, Regina." Emma said. "We're not coming to Boston this weekend. We're staying at Ruby's. Somehow I got coaxed into helping with the set up so…"
"You're staying with Ruby?" Regina asked not liking the sound of that at all.
"Yeah." Emma said. "It's more practical than driving from Boston to Storybrook every day of the weekend and its more comfortable than staying at Granny's."
"Why don't you just stay at home with me?" Regina asked. "That way we can both spend the weekend with Henry."
"Really, Regina?" Emma asked warily. "Do you think that's wise?"
"Yes." Regina said and Emma could almost see her eyes rolling. "You'll sleep in the guest room and I will sleep in my room."
"Are you suggesting this because you're jealous of Ruby?" Emma asked. "Or is it because you want to sleep with me?"
"I am suggesting it because it is a practical solution to our predicament." Regina said. "And I am not jealous of Ruby." She said the name with disdain.
"Of course you're not." Emma said. "Fine, fine. I'll stay with you. In your house, I mean."
"Perfect. I'll have the guest room ready for you." Regina said.
"This will be just like old times. You sleeping in our bed, me sleeping in the guest room…" Emma commented casually. "The only difference is that we're not going to be pissed off at each other this time."
"You might be speaking too soon." Regina said.
***************
On Friday night Emma and Regina found themselves stumbling with each other. They tried to treat each other in a way that was friendly enough to make Henry comfortable but distant enough that wouldn't make him think that something else was going on.
"Henry, just an hour of T.V. tonight." Emma said. "Remember we have that thing in the morning."
"What thing?" Henry asked.
"The thing, Henry. Remember?" Emma said.
"Oh yeah. Right." Henry said. "The thing."
"Do I even want to know?" Regina asked.
"Probably not." Henry said.
"Its best if you don't." Emma said.
"Emma, stop." Regina said with a chuckle as Emma kissed and sucked her neck. They were walking backwards towards Regina's room stumbling with the walls. "You've been working out, haven't you?" Regina asked as she ran her hands through Emma's toned stomach.
"A little bit here and there." Emma said as she wrapped her arms around Regina's waist.
"Take that shirt off and show me." Regina said before she grabbed Emma's face crashing their lips in a breathtaking kiss.
"God, you're so fucking hot." Emma said as she slid her hands down to grab Regina's ass.
"Keep it down." Regina said. "Let's go to the bedroom."
"I thought you said this wasn't happening again." Emma said as they toppled into the bedroom. Regina ignored Emma's comment, proceeding to kiss her neck and slip her hands inside her shirt. "Cause, you know, if you would rather not do anything until things are more…more…more stable between us, I totally get it."
"You need to shut up and fuck me." Regina said pulling away from Emma for a second so she could look into her eye and see that she wasn't fucking around. She wanted to have sex and she wanted to have sex right now.
"Shutting up." Emma said as she pulled Regina close to her again.
*****************
"Please act surprised." Emma said to Regina as they arrived to the diner's parking lot. "You look really beautiful by the way."
"Thank you, dear." Regina said. "You look rather lovely yourself." She said before leaning over to the driver's seat to peck Emma's lips.
"Happy birthday." Emma whispered against Regina's lips.
"Thank you." She said before she pecked Emma's lips once more.
"Please, please, try to act surprised." Emma said. "Henry worked really hard on this party."
"I know, dear. I'll do my best." Regina said.
"That's all I ask." Emma said. "Stay right here." She said as she got out of the car and went to open the door for Regina.
"I see chivalry is not dead." Regina said clearly impressed.
"It's your birthday." Emma said with a shrug.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled when Regina opened the door to the diner.
"Happy birthday, mom." Henry said as he ran towards Regina involving her in a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank you, Henry." Regina said. "This is all very nice."
"Happy birthday, baby mama." Emma said giving Regina a hug of her own.
"Don't call me that." Regina said coldly, nevertheless she held on to Emma's hug for a few seconds more.
Everyone at the party seemed really happy to be there, everyone was whishing Regina a happy birthday and giving her presents. For someone so adamant against birthday parties she seemed to be having a lot of fun.
"You're taking all of this really well. I have to say that I'm very impressed." Kathryn said to Regina.
"I had time to prepare." Regina said at the look of confusion from Kathryn she decided to elaborate. "Emma warned me."
"I was going to, but then I thought it would be hilarious to see your expression of panic and despair and decided against it." Kathryn said with a shrug.
"Thank you, always the dedicated friend." Regina said nonchalantly. She accidentally locked eyes with Emma and Emma on her part sent her way a small wave.
"What was that about?" Kathryn said the interchange not lost on her.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Regina said defensively.
"Don't think I didn't see what just happened." Kathryn said. "Oh and I know that she stayed at your place this weekend. Did you have sex? I bet you did. I'm betting Emma is good in bed maybe a little clumsy but good nonetheless."
"What?" Regina asked. "You think about how good my wife is in bed? What the hell Kathryn?"
"Ex-wife. And its just mere curiosity." Kathryn said. "Is she clumsy though? Because I've seen her spill drinks all over herself more times than I'd like to count."
"We're not having this conversation." Regina said getting annoyed by her friend's incessant questions.
"Come on, we've never talked about this." Kathryn said. "Humor me a little bit."
"She was a little…inexperienced when we first met, but I've trained her well." Regina said with a smirk. "Trust me, there is nothing clumsy about Emma Swan in bed."
"Did you take a trip down memory lane this weekend?" Kathryn asked wanting the juicy gossip. "Is that why you've had such a great attitude about this whole ordeal?"
"I'm not answering that question." Regina said walking away from Kathryn and her incredibly invasive questions.
***************
"Hey, you having fun?" Emma asked when she saw Emma walking towards her.
"Surprisingly, I am." Regina said with a smile.
"I have something for you." Emma said as she took Regina by the hand dragging her to the back of the diner where they could have some privacy. "I bought you a present."
"Oh Emma, you shouldn't have." Regina said. "This party is present enough."
"No, this is Henry's gift to you. Now this-" Emma said reaching into the right pocket of her jacket. "is my gift to you."
"What is it?" Regina asked excitedly as she tore the wrapping paper off. "Oh Emma." She said when she opened the rectangular box, which contained a beautiful diamond bracelet.
"Do you like it?" Emma asked.
"I love it. Its gorgeous." Regina said. "Thank you." She said giving Emma a small kiss.
"I thought it was classy and beautiful." Emma said. "Just like you."
"Thank you." Regina said once more. "Help me put it on."
"Of course." Emma said as she put the bracelet on Regina's wrist. "It looks even more amazing on you."
"Its perfect, Emma." Regina said before she gave one more kiss to Emma.
"I'm glad you like it." Emma said. "Now come on, let get back to the party before they come looking for us."
They walked hand in hand back to the party only letting go when they saw Kathryn staring at them from a distance. It seemed like everyone was having fun. Ruby was dancing with Henry, Mary-Margaret and David were dancing close together, Kathryn was gossiping with Belle. All in all it seemed like a very successful party.
"Come on, let's dace." Emma said dragging Regina closer to her by the hand.
"I'm not dancing with you." Regina said.
"Why not?" Emma asked feeling slightly rejected.
"Because you're a horrible dancer, dear." Regina said.
"No, I'm not." Emma said. "Look at Henry, he got all of his moves from me." Henry's dancing was all over the place, but at least it looked like he was having fun.
"Exactly." Regina said.
"Come on." Emma said pulling Regina close to her body. "Don't be a spoil sport."
"You can't dance." Regina said with a chuckle.
"Then teach me." Emma said as she kept moving Regina's body with her own.
"Fine. But please do try to keep up." Regina said with a smile as she took Emma's hand and lead her to where everyone else was dancing.
This was the first time in two years that Regina could truly say that she had a good birthday. She didn't need the big party full of people or all the presents she didn't even want. For her it was enough to know that the two people she cared about the most cared enough about her to make sure she had a happy birthday.