The Wedding Date (SwanQueen)

Acceptance

A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you like the story so far. I'll update it again as soon as I get the time. Until then, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Of course, Emma's sister Kat, the bride-to-be, descended upon them almost immediately when they stopped at the bar, but not before they downed another round of drinks. Emma rolled her eyes as Kat prattled on and on about the wedding and Neal and how everything was "just perfect".

"I'm just so happy Ems. I'm finally getting married!" She giggled, a bouncy ball of blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"Yay," Emma replied unenthusiastically.

She shared a knowing look with Regina who graciously ordered yet another round of scotch.

"So where's your date?" Kat asked cluelessly.

Regina smiled as she handed Emma her drink. "I'm right here."

"Oh," Kat said, almost apologetically, "I didn't see you. I thought Emma—"

"Was interested in men? Well, I can assure you, I'm the only thing she has any interest in now." Regina said confidently and held Emma a little closer.

Kat smiled tightly. "I was going to say single. So, what do you do?"

Just as Regina was about to answer, an older gentleman with silver hair and a broad smile put his hands on Kat's shoulder. "Darling that's a hideous question."

He stepped beside Kat and stuck out his hand to Regina. "I prefer 'Nice to meet you, Professor Victor Ellis at your service'. "

"It's wonderful to meet you sir, and to be in the company of a fellow professor." Regina beamed, shaking Victor's hand.

Victor's eyes lit up. "Finally, another professor in the family! I was beginning to wonder if I was the last of a dying breed. So, how did you two meet?"

"Emma and I met at a Feminism Lecture a few years ago. I presented an essay on intersectionality, and much to my chagrin, a certain attentive blonde student proved to be very distracting." Regina said and winked at Emma.

Victor dived into mindless small talk, but Emma was hung on Regina's words. She did go to a Feminism lecture a few years ago, and a speaker did present an essay on intersectionality. One she found very poignant. Then it clicked. Regina was the speaker.

Emma's eyes snapped to Regina.

"I need to talk to you. Alone." She said flatly.

Regina smiled politely at being interrupted, but something shifted in her gaze. "Now, dear?"

Emma feigned a smile at Victor, then looked back to Regina. "Yes, now."

Regina cleared her throat. "Excuse us, Professor."

He smiled at her. "By all means. Good luck with her, though. She's always been the wild one."

Emma scrunched up her face in Victor's direction as she led Regina to the terrace, away from everyone else.

Regina looked at Emma expectantly and held out her hand. "Well?"

Emma glared at her. "You're really a professor."

"And?" Regina replied.

"And you're just an escort on the side?" Emma asked skeptically.

"Everyone has a hobby." Regina said with a smile.

Emma scoffed. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I don't play head games, dear," Regina replied. "what you see is what you get."

"Would that be a stalker? Cause that's how you're shaping up." Emma replied.

Regina laughed heartily and Emma felt the butterflies stir in her stomach again.

"This isn't funny Regina! Why didn't you tell me you knew me?" Emma asked.

"Darling, I don't know you." Regina explained. "I simply saw you at the lecture and knew I'd never be able to forget you."

"You don't really expect me to believe that, do you?" Emma asked incredulously.

Regina leaned closer and stroked Emma's jaw with a feather-light finger. "Now why would I lie?"

Emma fought the surge of heat bubbling through her veins as Regina titled her chin up and inched forward into her space.

"You're all I've ever wanted, Emma. And now that I have you, I don't plan on letting you get away." Regina said in a husky voice barely above a whisper, her lips curled in a smirk.

Suddenly they were interrupted by Killian tripping over himself in an effort to walk over gracefully.

"Hi Emma," Killian said nervously, his ice rattling in his empty glass.

Emma put on a fake smile and turned in Regina's arms. "Oh, hi Killian. I didn't see you there. Regina, this is Killian, my ex."

Regina extended her hand, but with a much more dignified aire than before.

"Finally a face to match the stories of the man." Regina said and squeezed his hand, not letting go until he grimaced. "I've heard so much about you."

"All good I hope," He said pitifully and Regina grinned.

"You could say that." Regina replied.

"Well, uh, Neal wanted me to ask if you'll be joining the hens or us for the bachelor's party Friday."

"As delightful as that sounds, I'm afraid I'll have to pass on both. I don't particularly care for the tradition of celebrating singularity. It's childish." Regina said, standing tall and rigid like a queen.

"Oh." Killian said simply, looking a little shocked. "Well, I'll tell Neal."

Then he sulked off into the crowd like some rejected teenager.

Emma grinned at Regina. "Oh you're coming to the bachelorette party."

"I beg your pardon?" Regina questioned.

"You heard me, Regina." Emma replied, sipping her drink. "You're coming to the party, and that's that."

"And what makes you think you can make me?" Regina asked, clearly amused.

"This." Emma said and leaned in suddenly, embracing Regina and melding their lips together in a passionate kiss.

Regina pulled away and gave her a sultry look. "Did you just try to persuade me with your sexual prowess Miss Swan?"

"That depends," Emma leveled. "Did it work?"

A sultry smile was Regina's reply, and she kissed Emma again, holding her tightly.

Emma smiled against her lips. "That's what I thought."