"Something like that," Neal muttered to himself quietly enough so that Frederick couldn't hear him. "I think it's just a friend."
"Hi," they heard Emma through the soft murmurings of the crowd, and both looked in time to see the beaming smile and bright eyes of the blonde's face.
"Yeah, I really doubt that's a friend," Frederick said and leaned back enjoying the show.
Regina had told her about her council, how she had had to stay later at work because of it, and how Tina had offered to stay later with Henry so Regina could pick him up from daycare. Emma had exaggerated her amazement that Regina was allowing Tina to babysit again, and Regina simply scoffed and muttered to herself why on earth she thought leaving Henry with Emma was a better idea.
"Because I'm loveable," Emma had claimed, and Regina hummed her agreement because she couldn't argue the truth. The blonde smirked, a smug tease on her lips before she caught the eye of Sergeant Major Calhoun behind her, waiting none too patiently for Emma to wrap up her call. She coughed and turned her back to him, lowering her voice and muttering "thought so" when Regina didn't have a proper retort.
Regina's line muffled and faint voices were heard over the mic before the brunette returned, sighing apologetically. "I'm sorry, I've got to go."
"Work?"
"I really wish it wasn't."
"Don't worry, I'm getting the evil eye over here too," Emma said loud enough for the Calhoun to hear. "I'll call you soon."
"I can't wait," Regina said earnestly.
"And tell Henry I say hi."
"He's going to be so upset he didn't get to speak with you."
"I know," the younger woman frowned just imagining Henry's pout and watery eyes. "Break it to him gently."
"Oh, you're leaving me to be the bad guy, are you?"
"Hey, every hero's gotta have a villain."
She could hear the faint groan coming from Regina's end at Emma's joke that only made the blonde grin wider. She gave one final look around and tucked in closer to the pay phone so that she was nearly embracing it. "Hey, uh," Emma stammered, running a hand through her hair. "I really miss you."
Regina's line was faint, but Emma could hear the fond sigh coming from the brunette. She could see it now: Regina sitting behind her desk, one hand clutching the phone to her ear as she shut her eyes and smiled softly. "I miss you too," Regina replied.
The weight in Emma's chest seemed to be pulling her lungs into her stomach. She didn't want to get off the phone. Hell, she really just wanted to see Regina and Henry right now. Pushing down the lump in her throat and trying not to get annoyed with the impatient cough behind her, Emma cleared her throat and composed herself. "I'll call you soon?" She repeated.
"I hope so."
"Bye."
"Bye, Emma. Be safe, please."
"Always."
A soft, affectionate scoff sounded from Regina's end, and for a moment, Emma thought they were about to embark in a game of you-hang-up-first, but the murmurings on Regina's end grew louder, and with another apologetic sigh, Regina hung up the phone with a low click.
She replaced her own phone on the receiver, throwing a glare at Mr. 6'5 behind her as if he was the sole reason Regina's call was cut short and made her way over to Neal and Fred.
"Work okay?" Neal asked, motioning to the card as the trio walked down the hall returning to the common room.
"Yeah, yeah it did." She looked back toward the pay phone, now occupied by Calhoun, as if Regina would be standing there waving her off.
"You meet someone back home, Swan?" Frederick asked.
The faintest hint of a smirk donned Emma's lips, but she remained quiet, entering the common room just as the red team scored the winning goal in their fooseball match.
Chapter 11
Chapter Notes
Disclaimer in Chapter One
AN: There will be some time jumps in this chapter which is why I've dated most of the segments. I hope you guys enjoy this extra long update!
TW: warfare
See the end of the chapter for more notes
June 22, 2004 - Fort Benning, Georgia
Emma swung her legs up onto the windowsill and sat against the ledge. The cord of the good phone was just shy of being taut as it stretched to reach the window where Emma leaned with her back against the pane. A wide grin spread across her face as she nodded enthusiastically at Henry who rambled on about his day.
To no one's surprise, Henry had thrown a fit when Regina regrettably told him that Emma had called and said hi. The boy's tantrum was a mixture of anger and sadness as he threw himself on the ground, stomping his feet and sputtering nonsensical words through his cries. Regina had allowed the behaviour for half a minute because in all honesty, she understood the reaction, but as soon as her internal clock hit the thirty second mark, she picked up Henry off the ground and spoke to him firmly and directly that his behaviour was not acceptable and that if he wanted to speak with Emma he would have behave politely. No sooner did the threat of not speaking to his favourite blonde leave his mother's lips did Henry stop his stomps and cries, only succumbing to small whimpers which his mother soothed away with cuddles. It broke Regina's heart to see Henry sit by the phone that night, waiting oh so patiently for it to ring, but Regina knew it wouldn't, and when she put him to bed that night, she promised he would be able to speak to Emma soon.
Emma had called the next day, this time when Henry was home, and Regina was so thankful that she wouldn't have to be made a liar to her son. For five minutes, Henry was enamoured by the blonde on the phone, asking her questions of who she had saved that day and when she was coming home. The last five, though given up with great reluctance on Henry's part, was with Regina and Emma as the younger woman supported her through stubborn council men and Regina wished her safety.
Ever since then the trio had gotten into a routine of sorts where Emma would call (from the good phone this time earning herself an extra ten minutes of Mills family time) at least once a week if she could manage. Some nights if Emma timed it correctly, she'd be able to catch them just before Henry's bedtime and after his bath. She had done it often enough that Henry began asking Emma for bedtime stories.
At first she simply listened to Regina's voice while she read Henry a part of The Paper Bag Princess where the boy would fall asleep less than halfway through, but one night Henry had been insistent, so Emma had done her best to retell The White Knight and the Evil Queen. The tale had stuck with her during her time in Storybrooke, and since it was the first one that came to mind, she had leaned herself against the wall and began telling Henry a bedtime story. She was pretty good most times to get the gist of the tale, but whenever she forgot a part, she'd exaggerate how big the dragon was or how long the Queen's heart was frozen for, and Henry – and even Regina, Emma could tell by the soft giggle – was eating it up.
Now, over a month later since they had begun their weekly phone sessions, Emma was listening as Henry sang for her the song Ms. Bell had taught the class that day. Apparently the daycare was having a summer concert at the end of August. Along with "My Little Yellow Bus" which Henry was currently belting out at the moment, they were also set to sing "You Are My Sunshine."
Emma had basically begged Regina to record that, but Henry had provided the blonde to an exclusive sneak peek of song number one.
". . .hop on board to my little yellow bus!" Henry finished. Emma laughed as Regina clapped in the background, and judging from the wet smack, she had given him a kiss on the cheek.