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Chapter 6 Mirror

Regina could barely relax that night. Her ex had no idea where she lived, so she wasn't worried about that. She was more horrified that she went to her new office and of course her boss had to see her like this. 

He had just finished complimenting her work that morning, how could she be so stupid to go there with a cut on her eyebrow after a run in with her ex? She felt so humiliated and didn't even sleep Friday night. 

She called her sister, who was massively protective, and got on the next flight to be there in the morning. "You don't have to come Zelena, I'm fine," Regina insisted. "Nonsense, I'm coming, even if I have to fly on a broom," Zelena said. 

Regina looked at herself in the mirror that morning, she only had a tiny little cut on her eyebrow, it was all fading. She hoped by Monday it would be all gone or at least easily covered with makeup. 

She couldn't even believe she was so stupid to agree to see him. She was having a nice time with just Tiana and Ruby, and a couple other office people, even Graham, who indeed kept his hands off and just made pleasant chit chat. 

It was around 11 and Regina was sitting with a cup of coffee trying to zone herself out, and her phone rang. She expected Zelena, given how insistent she was getting on the next flight. Instead, Regina's phone said 'Killian.'

"Holy shit, oh god, I'm going to be fired," she said out loud, before she hit the green answer button on her screen. "Hello?" She asked anxiously. 

"Regina, Killian," he said. 

Killian's POV- You idiot, of course she knows it's you

"Hi," Regina said softly and nervously. "How are you?" He asked. "I'm ok, thank you for getting me here safely and everything," Regina didn't know what to say. He didn't need someone who would have this kind of issue happen at his hugely successful magazine, she must be getting fired.

"Good, I wanted to make sure you were alright," He said. "Oh, thank you," Regina said. "It was my fault," Regina said. "A man hitting a woman is not the woman's fault, at all," he said. He was quite protective, she had no idea. 

"Right, I shouldn't have met up with him," Regina admitted, "Well, doesn't mean it was your fault that he struck you," Killian said. Regina smiled, it was just comforting to hear his voice. "Is there something else I can do for you?" Regina asked. 

"Uhh, no, I really just wanted to make sure you're alright. I do have a heart, as opposed to what they say," He chuckled. "Well, I know that," Regina said. Of course he did, the way he looked at her the night before was a caring concerned man, and Regina still didn't even know what level Killian went to in her defense. 

"Good, want to make sure my new writer isn't going to be bothered," he said. She smiled, "Thanks, my sister is swooping in, to check on me," Regina said. "Good," he was smiling on his end, and just happy her voice sounded better than it did last night. 

"Well, I'll umm let you go, and see you Monday morning?" He asked. "Uhh, yes yes, of course, maybe I'll run into you at coffee," Regina joked. "Mmm, hope so," he said, and hung up. Regina's mouth just stayed open at his last words, 'Hope so.' 

She sighed, realizing she didn't even breathe during that entire conversation. 

"I want you to carry this," Zelena said handing Regina, "Pepper spray?". "Yes," Zelena said. "He didn't sneak up on me, I went to meet him like an idiot, because he said he wanted to talk," Regina said. "Well I don't like it," Zelena said.

"I can handle myself, this is Seattle, you're in New York, I'm fine," Regina said. "Will you stop being so proud and just take it, once I'm gone I won't know what you do with it," Zelena said. "Fine," Regina agreed.

"So, your boss took care of you hmm?" Zelena smiled. "Don't do that, this guy is hugely successful," Regina said, "And Single," Zelena said. "So?" Regina shrugged. "He took care of you," Zelena said.

"That doesn't mean anything, maybe he's just a nice guy," Regina said. "Mmm, he could be a nice guy, but also like you," Zelena said. "Didn't you say the other girls said you were his type, and he keeps looking at you and even said he was impressed?" Zelena asked.

"He was impressed with my writing," Regina said. "Right, but maybe he's impressed with more," Zelena said. 

Killian had a somewhat relaxing weekend, he went for his runs, and workouts, did some editing on the other completed articles for the next issue, some cooking, and mainly was relaxed. However, Regina was in the back of his mind. 

He kept thinking about her eyes looking up at him, and how they were afraid and hurt. He couldn't stand the idea of a man hitting a woman, but something about Regina, made him even more hysterical inside. 

There wouldn't be any repercussions from the man he went after, given he had no idea who he was, and the bar didn't even have great lighting, but Killian just hated the fact that the scumbag laid a hand on Regina. 

Monday morning 

Regina gets ready, and her little cut looks like nothing more than a scratch on her eyebrow, easily disguised by a little makeup. She heads to the coffee shop near work. 

"You're late," Killian greets her grinning away. "I am?" Regina asks. "Well, I normally am the one coming in here after you, so," he laughed, "I umm took the liberty of getting you a latte, with extra foam," he smiled and handed it to her. 

"Oh... th-thank you," She said. He grinned, "Glad to see you alright," he gestured towards her eyebrow. "Yeah, it probably looked worse Friday than it was," She said. "Right, well, good to see you're alright," he smiled. 

She stood there, looking at him, swooning inside. In her mind, he was her savior, though she didn't even know that he really was. "What happened to your hand?" She asked as she saw red knuckles healing on his right hand. 

"Uhh, just a little accident this weekend," he said with a small smile. "Oh," Regina nodded. "So today is Monday morning meeting, go over all the articles for next issue," he said. "Right, 9:45," Regina said. He smirked at her, "I won't be late," Regina said. 

"I kind of expect you to be, it's kind of your thing," he smiled, and headed out. 

In Killian's office, "Nice hand," Graham observed. "Shut up," Killian said. "What did you do?" Graham asked. "Nothing, not your business," Killian said. "Come on, you clearly hit someone, not many people piss you off to that level," he said.

Killian drank his coffee and stared out the window at Regina who was chatting to the ladies. "Mmmmm, something with her?" Graham asked. "You know Ruby told me her ex hurt her Friday night," Graham said. Killian rolled his eyes, "Oh my god, you went after him," Graham said. 

"Shut up, not a word," Killian said. "You did didn't you? You really like her," Graham said. "Listen, she came here, had a little cut and was crying, I took her home, and in the cab I saw a message from the douche, and he said where he was," Killian said.

"So you went there, and hit him," Graham said. "You know me so damn well?" Killian said. "Yeah, I freaking do Killian, I do," Graham smiled. "Don't look at me like that, she's a woman and my employee, I care.." he said. "Yeah, uh huh," Graham nodded, skeptically. 

"Plus.. how.. could anyone hurt someone so .... sweet, and beautiful, kind.." he rambled. "There it is," Graham said. 

A/N- Graham is our little shipper