Chapter Text
When Professor Swan, Emma, had made the job offer, Kathryn had thought she was joking about the severity of the interview with Doctor Mills, but sitting here across the intimidating desk in the dean's office, she realized that Emma hadn't been kidding.
Kathryn had arrived five minutes early to the interview. The interview which she had been informed of via a hand delivered memo from one of Doctor Mill's numerous teaching assistants to the blonde while she was studying in the library. Kathryn half expected the memo to say 'the department is watching' like some old Bond thriller.
But no, the personalized stationary demanded her presence here where she sat silently as Doctor Mills grabbed a manila folder out of the top drawer of her desk. From her seat across the mahogany, Kathryn could make out her own name written elegantly along the top of the folder and instantly feared the contents.
"How are you this afternoon, Kathryn?" The brunette asked in a voice that made Kathryn doubt that she actually cared about the answer.
"I'm good, and you, Doctor Mills?"
"Fine." The answer was clipped and to the point. She did not ask Kathryn to call her 'Regina' and the blonde wasn't sure she would be able to if she was asked, "So, what is your major Kathryn?"
"Political Science."
"Really?" That earned her a raised eyebrow and a critical appraisal, "I wasn't aware."
"I just talked to my counselor and officially declared last week."
"And what do you hope to do with such a major?"
"Law school." Kathryn held her chin high and defiant as she prepared to defend the path she had chosen to yet another person, "I intend to become an assistant district attorney."
A small smile tugged at Regina's lips, though she was obviously the type to play her emotions close to the belt, "You don't intend to join your father's firm?"
That took Kathryn off guard, but then she should have expected the dean to do her homework. Of course she would know of the infamous Nolan legal legacy, "No I don't."
Kathryn expected confusion or questioning on why she would make such a pigheaded decision. Instead, the dean sat back in her chair, regarding Kathryn with a new fondness. It would be a while until the blonde discovered why.
"I can't imagine your father was pleased with that decision."
"He still isn't."
Regina looked at the fire in the young blonde's eyes, her rigidly set chin, and knew, had things been different, had she and Kathryn gone to school together, they would more than likely have been good friends. She saw so much of herself in the girl, and it softened her to some extent.
"You've not chosen an easy path."
"I know."
Seemingly satisfied with the girl's character, Doctor Mills focused her attention on her folder, flicking it open and pulling out some documents.
"Your transcript is impressive, your background check flawless, and your credit score surprisingly high given your circumstances in paying tuition." Regina rattled off.
The assessment left Kathryn with her mouth slightly open, staring in bewilderment at the dean. She couldn't help the first thing which fell from her mouth, "You pulled my credit score?"
"Yes." Regina said, her tone indicating she found nothing out of the ordinary with it.
"And what do you mean my 'circumstances'?" Kathryn didn't have many flaws, but she tended to be a bit prideful and it was showing.
"I merely had a conversation with the office of financial aid and with a friend of mine involved with student work- study." The dean knew that she may have toed a line, but she wasn't about to back off, "How many jobs are you working currently, Kathryn?"
"Three." A muscle in the blondes jaw jumped, but she tried to stay placid, "I work with the youth sports department as a referee, I'm a barista in the coffee shop on Worcester street, and I'm a bartender at the Rabbit Hole."
Her research had told Regina that the blonde was a bartender, though she didn't know Kathryn worked at the Rabbit Hole. It was a popular bar among students and locals alike and it had a vibrant LGBT night every Thursday. Regina recalled frequenting the establishment when she herself was a student, years ago.
Rather than dwell on those memories now, Regina steered the conversation back towards easier topics, "Between all those jobs, when do you expect to have time to watch my son?"
Kathryn didn't miss the possessive edge in the dean's question, "Well I expect I would have to drop one of my other jobs. I've been looking for an excuse to hand in notice at the coffee shop and Jefferson, the owner of the Rabbit Hole, is really great working with our schedules."
The brunette nodded, "So was it out of some dense determination to prove your independence or an argument with your father which resulted in your working three jobs to pay your way through college?"
Kathryn saw through the indifferent look on the dean's face and recognized the practiced aloofness of the upper class. As much as Regina may try to hide it, she was of the debutante type. She understood the tepid, loaded environment that Kathryn had grown up in, the blonde recognized it in the first time Regina had called her 'dear'. It was a hallmark of the women they grew up around. Regina understood the plastered on smiles, the formal business dinners, the tightrope of 'acceptable' choices, she too came from a world where status was everything, and where having an 'estranged' child was the worst possible reflection on a family.
"An argument with my father."
Regina inclined her head knowingly, "Is it something I ought to be concerned with?"
A gentle smirk crossed Kathryn's face. She was sure that the argument would crop up at some point, but for now it wasn't important, "No."
Regina shuffled her papers a bit, coming to the final parts of the interview, "What experience do you have in child care?"
"I'm a certified lifeguard and have training in CPR, first aide, and baby sitting."
The dean could sense talking around a mile away, "How many kids have you actually baby sat before?"
"Seven."
"And how many excluding family members?"
Kathryn bit her lip reluctantly, "One."
"And excluding the siblings of your friends?"
"None."
That didn't surprise Regina, and she found herself not minding Kathryn's lack of experience. Not that she wanted to let the blonde off that easily.
"So what makes you feel qualified to care for my son?"
"I'm great with kids, I've worked as a camp counselor for the past two years so I've got experience there. And Henry seems like a great kid, he's clearly tough and extremely bright." When in doubt, Kathryn knew flattery was always an option, and complimenting Henry meant complimenting Doctor Mills.
Regina smiled, she saw what Kathryn was doing and she wasn't objecting to it, "Thank you." She replaced the papers in her folder, and laced her fingers together atop it, "It was a pleasure talking with you today."
Regina rose, signaling the end of the interview, Kathryn scrambled ungracefully to her feet behind her, "You as well."
"I'll be in touch."
"Do you need my phone number, or anything?" Kathryn wasn't looking forward to another surprise letter from a grad student.
"No, I've already got it."
"Of course." Kathryn paused in the doorway of the office, "How did your minion find me last time?"
The woman smiled at her assistant being called a minion, "I have my ways."
With that, Regina shut the office door behind the blonde, leaving Kathryn in the hall with a distinctly concerned feeling in her gut.