And then there was you

Part 1

Nervous was an understatement. Her heart wouldn't allow her to back out, even though Emma was sure she was going to have burn marks once she knocked on the door. Ever since she remembered it was Regina's birthday, all she could think of was Regina sitting in her study, drinking the best apple cider in the world, spending the night in self-loathing. Emma couldn't allow it.

She tried to convince Henry to join her because she knew that would be the best gift for Regina, but Henry refused very firmly. Emma wasn't sure Regina would want to spend her birthday with her. Still, the blonde wouldn't allow Regina to hate herself on her birthday; at least this way she could spend the evening hating Emma instead.

Emma knew birthdays were important for Regina. Last year, while Storybrooke was still cursed, Emma learned Regina's birthday a day too late. She immediately sent her a bouquet of daisies and saw the smile on her face even though it was only there for a second.

After the curse broke, Regina left the first edition of The Price of Salt on Emma's desk at the station along with a bouquet of lilies and sunflowers and a cupcake on the side plus a hand-written note that said 'Happy Birthday'. Even though she didn't sign the card, Emma knew it was all Regina.

At the time, Emma wasn't sure what to make of the gifts but appreciated the gesture and planned to do something for Regina's birthday in return. However, over time she forgot about Regina's birthday until last night before bed when Henry mentioned it. Emma barely slept and all night and all day she thought about what she could give to Regina. The best gift she knew was time with Henry, but he refused. Everytime Emma asked him about it he said he wouldn't be spending any time with his adoptive mother. So, Emma came up empty-handed as far as getting Regina something she would actually want.

In the meantime, when she wasn't begging Henry to join her, Emma did what she could. She called the baker's wife—yes, the baker's wife from Into The Woods, Emily—and asked her to make a cake. She ordered a blueberry chocolate cake since Emma knew the Queen loved blueberries and chocolate, and figured she couldn't go wrong there.

There weren't many options for last minute gifts in Storybrooke, so she decided to give something exceptional from her own collection: a signed copy of Madwomen: the Locas Mujeres Poems by Gabriela Mistral. The blonde smiled as she wrapped it, hoping she chose a great gift for the complicated brunette.

Emma left work an hour early and went by the loft to take a shower and get ready. She wore her best skinny jeans, the one that makes her butt look fabulous, and a nice teal shirt to make her eyes pop. Her natural curls decided to behave today and she ended her look with light makeup.

She snuck off before Mary Margaret came and started an interrogation, luckily her father was at the station and Henry had a school project so he was at Nick's after school. Emma's first stop was Game of Thorns. The bell on the door rang when she stepped inside.

"Welcome, Sheriff." Moe French smiled politely. "What can I do for you?"

"Hello, Mr. French. I'm not sure what to get actually," Emma stated, looking around.

"Do you want me to help?" Emma nodded, the man took a step from behind the counter and joined Emma, he picked up yellow tulips. "What do you think about these?"

"No, those won't do." Emma never liked tulips, she never knew why. She looked at the other beautiful flowers. Red roses screamed Regina but their meaning would be too romantic. "I'm thinking violets are a must," Emma gestured to the flowers in the back of the row, and Moe picked them up. "Are these irises?" she asked, showing another one.

"Yes, but I only have purple," Moe answered while holding a handful of violets.

"I want purple," Emma requested. "Also, let's add some purple carnations and lavender," Emma smiled proudly.