Chapter Text
She was awoken by the repetitive dinging of her notifications. Regina sighed as she remembered her dream. It was a wonderful dream filled with fire, red leather, and blonde hair. The red leather may have been on fire?. The dream was fleeting as she rolled over to look at who would dare text at 3 am on a Tuesday.
“Somebody better be on fire”, she muttered to herself.
Blonde hair and red leather smiled back at her when she unlocked the phone to a text of, How YOU doin'?
“Swaaan!” The mayor groaned while rolling onto her back, phone in hand.
Why was Emma texting her? It's not as though the two women ever chatted on a normal basis, much less in the middle of the night. She must be mistaken.
R: Do you know who you are speaking to?
E: Um, yeah. My girlfriend.
Regina's eyebrows shot to the ceiling. As far as she knew, she was definitely not dating the blonde woman. Definitely not.
R: Oh, is that right?
E: She goes by Gina.
R: Hmm. I had no idea.
E: Yup. She's hot.
At that, Regina’s jaw dropped and she laid there shocked for a few moments. What was Emma talking about? She must be inebriated judging by her comments.
Regina would never admit it aloud, but she was actually enjoying this random mistake of a conversation. It was different than the regular stilted exchanges with the citizens of this town.
She and the Sheriff were hardly on speaking terms most days. It was quite refreshing to see a different side of the blonde. As tired as Regina was she decided to see where this went. The blonde might not even remember in the morning anyway.
R: Are you out having fun dear?
E: Yup. Shutting the place down. Ruby passed out on the bar.
R: Should your girlfriend be jealous that you’re out with another woman?
E: Um. No. My Gina is the most gorgeous woman on the planet.
R: Quite eloquent for a drunk woman.
E: Not drunk. Tipsy maybe. I feel free. Good.
R: I'd actually like to see that, Sheriff
E: Mm. I'd like for you to see me. You could feel me a little bit too.
R: Are you sure you know who you are talking to?
E: Yes, Gina. I know. Meet me?
R: Would you remember it in the morning?
E: I would never forget you. You're special.
R: If you say so dear.
E: I solemnly swear.
R: dork.
E: rude
R: it's late, Emma. Go home.
E: aw… you called me Emma. My heart melts. Can I see you?
At that last request, Regina sat up with her head against the headboard. Emma really seemed as though she wanted to see her. And tonight? That was definitely new.
“What is she playing at?”, the mayor voiced into her dark bedroom. If they did meet up, what would happen? Would they just talk? Emma did not seem as tipsy as she was letting on. Was this her excuse to finally express her feelings toward the brunette? Through a so-called tipsy text conversation? Why couldn't she just admit these things any other time? And when did they become girlfriends?!
Not that Regina wasn't enjoying speaking with Emma, random and out-of-character as it was.
The brunette still did not fully trust that she was not being played with. Rolling her eyes once again, Regina pulled her knees up and rested her hands atop them. Her fingers typing away while the questions continued to pile up in her mind.
R: Don't push it, Miss Swan.
E: Damn. We're back to normal.
E: I’m sorry, Gina. I wanna see u.
R: When did you start calling me Gina? Better yet. When did we start dating?
E: Um. I always call you that. In my head.
E: Aren’t we dating? We have a kid.
R: Right. Co-parents = lovers. I forgot.
E: Mm-hmm.
R: I've been missing out apparently.
E: You're silly.
R: You're tipsy. Go home dear. I must be at work in a few hours.
E: I have tomorrow off. Today off? I'm off.
R: You are a bit off. No argument from me.
E: Lunch? With me?
R: No thanks.
E: Ginaaaa.
E: I know you want to.
R: Lies you tell.
E: I'm not feeling the love Gina.
Regina simultaneously scoffed and rolled her eyes this time. She wondered why she was even entertaining the frustrating woman to begin with. She pondered silencing the phone and returning to sleep, leaving the tipsy woman guessing. It was now almost 4 in the morning and the mayor needed to get at least some rest. Besides, Emma knew nothing of her true harbored feelings. She didn't know that her lower stomach flipped whenever the blonde gave her that annoying smirk when Mary Margaret did or said something cliché and outright idiotic. She didn’t know that her brown eyes softened whenever Emma asked about their son's well-being on her off-weeks when he stayed at the mansion.
The blonde knew nothing. Right? If she knew, she had never said anything while sober. Regina decided to let the blonde have it. The jig was up.
R: Love?? WE BARELY SPEAK!
E: I can fix that.
R: Somehow I doubt that, Miss Swan. I don't think you have it in you.
E: Oh, I got it babe. Just wait.
R: Go home. You're delusional.
E: Nope. Just staking a claim.
R: I cannot be claimed. I refuse to be swayed by these half-assed advances and proclamations.
E: I meant everything. You ARE gorgeous! You are special to me, Gina.
R: Where is this coming from?
E: From me. Don’t you believe me?
R: Goodnight. You’re drunk Swan.
E: Ew. Don't call me that.
R: I thought you didn't mind it.
E: Not from you. Please Gina.
E: And you are a billion times better than him. Soooo….
R: Mm-hmm.
E: And I'm not drunk. I’m soberer than earlier actually..
R: Soberer? You sure about that, Sheriff?
E: Yep. I like talking to you. You know that?
R: Is that why you annoy me every chance you get? How very elementary of you.
E: I’ll make you believe me. Trust me.
R: I don't trust easily. You’ll need to earn it, dear.
E: I will. Can't wait.
R: We'll see. Goodnight.
Across town at Granny's Diner, Emma sighed. She glanced at Ruby snoring with her head against the bar. The two had been drinking and gossiping since the diner closed last night. Ruby had listened to Emma's wining about “Mayor Hot Pants” as she called her until she passed out. Emma had become rather loose-lipped as the night wore on. Before tonight, she thought she had been keeping up appearances pretty well.
Ruby proved otherwise since she started things off by telling the Sheriff to finally admit her feelings about the mayor of Storybrooke. Emma decided to just let it all out and vent to her best friend. She wasn't quite sure why she decided to text the mayor at 3 am, but after she received her first response from Regina, she couldn't stop. Maybe it was the few shots- she was only tipsy after all- maybe she just was curious and needed that last bit of courage. Either way, Emma was glad she started the chat.
She was very surprised that Regina continued messaging for as long as she did. Did that mean she was interested too?
With that final thought, Emma sent: See you tomorrow Gina. Sleep tight.