The Other Swan Sister: The Sequel

Chapter 4

You awake to a sharp ringing in your ear.
Squinting at the source, you soon recognise it to be your phone ringing.
"Hello?" You croakily answer.
"Mom wanted me to check on you." Emma's voice deadpans.
"You woke me up." You groan.
"She wants me to bring you breakfast before my shift."
"You don't have to-"
"Be ready at 9."

It's 8:30.
Doable.
Immediately you get up and shower, scrubbing off all the remnants of the previous day.
You moisturise and prep your face for some make up, applying your usual amount.
You dry your hair, only half-dressed in your tank top and underwear.
Just as you finish you hear Emma's knock through the door.
You swing it open to see Regina.
Fuck.
Suddenly your underwear feels very vulnerable and you might as well be standing naked in the doorway.
"Regina! I mean- Madame Mayor." You hide your astonishment, trying your best to sound nonchalant and polite.
"Good morning, Miss Swan." Her low voice drawls.
She doesn't even flinch at the display, despite her eyes drifting up and back.
"I'm sorry- I was expecting my sister..."
"It's quite alright, dear." She smiles politely, though she steps into your room. "Granny let me know you were staying here... and well- I just wanted to drop off this welcome basket of apples." She outstretches them to you. "I remembered how you had admired them in my kitchen."
"That's very kind of you... thank you." You smile at the woman, your brain still unable to focus on anything but the fact that you are stood in your underwear.
You wait for something to say, willing your brain to break this awkward silence so hopefully she'll forget you're stood in your underwear.
"Um-" you break it before knowing what to say. "I know you said last night that my family makes your life hard and well- I just wanted to say that I hope I don't do that for you." You're simping!!!!! Already...
"I can only hope the same, Miss Swan."
"Please, call me Ivy." You add.
She pauses for a moment, her eyes drifting once again before the acknowledges the request.
"Ivy."
She really is very attractive, you observe.
You start to feel weak next to this woman and sense that she is enjoying the power, so you step it up.
"Do you want a coffee? I'm sure the Mayor needs one." You step a little closer.
She's flustered for a brief moment before re-composing herself.
"Is this your idea of a peace offering, dear?" A slight smirk appears.
"You call it whatever you like, Madame Mayor." You keep the tone flirtatious.
It's not what she was expecting.
"Well, I think you'd have to finish putting your clothes on to fulfil that promise, Miss Swan." She taunts.
"Bet that's the first time you heard that one, huh, sis?" Emma barges in, coffee in hand. "Regina." She nods, before throwing you your trousers from the bed.
You smack her arm, hard.
"It's Mada-"
"Ow." She frowns at you. "Am I late for a meeting or something?" She looks between the two of you.
"I was just welcoming your sister to Storybrooke with a basket of my apples." Regina bristles.
"Right." Emma doesn't hide her sarcasm.
"Thank you for the apples, Regina." You smile at her, though she's too busy snarling at your sister.
"You're welcome, dear." She finally turns back to you. "Have a pleasant day."
"Bye, Regina." Emma can't hide her eye roll as she shuts the door behind the woman.
"Emma!" You scold her, finally buttoning up your pants. "You are so rude."
"Oh, and she isn't?" She scoffs, biting into a pastry she's picked up for her breakfast.
"She's just a little harsh. She seems like she's trying..."
"Hmm..." Emma collapses on the bed. "'Seems like' is the key phrase here."
"Why do you hate each other so much?" You finally get around to asking.
"She doesn't like me because Henry likes me more." She shrugs.
"And?" You get her to continue.
"And... I don't think she's a nice person. That's all."
"Well, in all fairness, Em. You don't come across as all sunshine and rainbows."
"We can't all be Mom." She groans.
"Where do you stand with this?" You blurt. Emma gives you a look as if to ask what you mean. "Like- with Henry. And Regina... it seems to be distressing her-" Emma interrupts you with a groan. "I know you don't like her but she's still his mother!" You defend. "I just don't wanna be caught in the middle and I certainly don't want you stringing this little boy along until you get bored or scared and runaway. You can't do that to little kids."
"Who ever said I would do that?" She challenges.
"Please, Emma." You scoff. "I know you just as well as you do."
"I would never do that to Henry."
"I'm not saying you would. I'm saying don't."
"What did he say to you?"
"When?"
"When he showed up at your door."
"He said about some curse... and that I was supposed to not remember." You frown as you try to remember the whirlwind of crazy he hit you with.
"What else?"
"He..." you think harder. "He said that I was supposed to meet his mother."
"Why?"
"It's stupid."
"Ivy."
"He said and I quote, roughly... "the other Swan Sister will look into the eyes of the evil queen and remember a lifetime of memories.' It was something like that..."
"Did you?"
"Em, are you kidding?" You chuckle at your sister's seriousness. "No." You smile. "Not that I'm aware of anyway."
"Well, Regina practically strangled us both on the spot... it doesn't leave much room for deep romance."
"She is pretty, though." You mutter.
"What?" Emma goes stoic.
"Oh, come on." You attempt lighten her reaction. "She is beautiful... you have to give her that."
"That. Is. Gross." Emma frowns like a toddler.
"Emma. Your taste in guys is literally foul..." you comeback. "So you wouldn't know a hot woman if she slapped you in the face."
"...Literally."
"She slapped you?!" You gawk.
"Once!" She defends. "And I hit her back, harder."
"Jesus Christ!" You let out a carefree laugh. "It's like high school in this town." You finish the remnants of your coffee. "No wonder you haven't got bored yet."