"What?" Emma flushed under the stunned attention from the patrons housed within Granny's. To her right, behind the counter with an open jaw was Ruby, eyebrows, and hairline nearly merged into one. Beside her was Granny with an approving smirk. In the family booth, David, Snow White, Henry, and Neal continued to stare.
David's wide-eyed surprise mixed with the horror written on Snow White's face were classic. Henry recovered quickly, giving his Mother a quick thumb up. Meanwhile, Neal had lost his meatball to the floor. As if the pause never happened, Snow and David spoke over each other.
"You look great Honey." David assured
"What happened to your hair?!" Bemoaned Snow in what had to be the most dramatic tone ever.
"Thanks, Dad. I got it cut." Emma bumped Henry to the inside of the booth, taking the seat next to him.
Henry smiled, "I'm glad you're feeling better. I was worried about you."
"Bah! It's my job to worry about you."
"Why were you worried?" Snow asked nonchalantly. "Is everything okay with….?"
There was some minute movement of raven eyebrows as her mother made a passing reference to Killian. All things considered, it was amusing so Emma let it be and grinned.
"Not really." Emma signaled to Ruby she was ready. "We kinda broke up."
"How long?"
"A couple of weeks. Look, it's not a big deal."
Leaning on the table Snow White forwent any semblance of table manners. "Not a big deal?!"
"Here we go," David muttered, sending a pitying look his daughter's way.
"Emma, he was your True Love. You don't get to just throw that away."
"Snow…"
"No David. Things get difficult Emma. I get that…. we, get that. Look at everything we have been through. Could you imagine what would have happened if we just gave up when things got hard?"
"Let me see if I understand you," Emma said, "you think I'm the reason we broke up?"
"Honey, I know that love is scary for you. I know how you react when someone tries to get over the walls you've spent a lifetime building. It's not easy, I've been there."
"The walls I built because my parents abandoned me. Are those the walls we're talking about right now?"
"We didn't…"
"Yes." Emma's hands slammed on the table "you did."
"What happened sweetheart? Let's start there." David stated, shooting Snow an incredulous look.
"Look, I don't want to talk about it in front of the Kids." Emma side-stepped.
"Oh look, the walls that aren't there." Snow muttered.
Rising from the seat, Emma approached the counter and disappeared with her order in a paper bag.
"Jeez, Grandma." Henry shook his head and followed the blonde out of the door. "Hey wait up."
"Sorry Kid," Emma mumbled
"It's okay. For the record, I'm on your side. The new hair suits you."
"Nothing signals a rebirth quite like a new hairstyle."
"Lookout Storybrooke, there's an almost-new sheriff in town."
"Almost." She teased. "What about you? Have you asked Ava out yet?"
Shaking his head, the teen flipped his too long bang out of his face. "I still don't know what to say."
"Maybe you need a fresh look."
"It's just hair." Henry chided. "Besides, I think we need to focus on you."
"I feel better already," Emma assured, reminiscing about the days when she could toss an arm around Henry's shoulder. Her boy was quickly gaining on her where height was concerned, not to mention the whole talk of girls and dating. "What did your Mom say?"
"That I was a Prince and any girl would be lucky to have me in their life."
Chuckling softly Emma grinned from ear to ear, "So I'm taking you to get a haircut, right?"
Finally shrugging, "What can it hurt?"
"That's the spirit!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Judging from the look on Regina's face, the haircut that stopped the world had struck again.
"Oh come on, it doesn't look that bad." Emma sassed.
"Quite the opposite, Miss Swan."
"Regina, we've been through too much for you to ever call me that again."
"I didn't recognize you at first."
"Really?" Emma looked at her reflection in the mirror just inside the doorway. "I knew it was different but I didn't think it was that different."
"You look great."
"Feeling pretty great."
"I couldn't help but overhear the gossiping at the dinner this morning. Did your Mother give you the third degree?"
"She was working on the fourth when I finally had to walk out. I lost my shit in front of Henry."
"He kept your secret."
"It's not much of a secret if you already know. Besides, being someone's quote 'True Love', doesn't mean you belong together. If that were the case, Neal and I would have turned out a whole lot better. Besides, Killian's brother hated me!"
"Hook wasn't good enough for you."
"As you've said before. Are you feeling well? You seem extra complimentary today?"
"Don't flatter yourself."
"I don't have too. Your response is flattering enough."
"I've missed this Emma."
For a second, the blonde stopped messing with her hair and looking at her reflection. Instead, peering at Regina through the mirror due to the foreignness of the words falling from painted lips. Having the decency to look flushed, amber eyes darted away from the jade sea seeking them.
"Hey Mom," Henry said, breezing in between them.
"Henry, you too?" Regina asked with his devilish grin. Doing a slow circle, in place, their teenaged son showed off his freshly acquired fade. The top, he had left longer for future styling purposes.
"It was Ma's suggestion. What do you think?"
Affectionately touching his cheek, Regina smiled, "You look handsome. The girls will love it."
"Girls?"
"A man that takes pride in his appearance is important. Now they can see your Charming-like jawline, and the stubble you call a beard."
"I'm telling you, a couple more shaves and it's going to be the fullest beard you've ever seen."
"Of course, it is."
Tossing a famous re-imagining of a Regina Mills eye roll towards his mother's Henry, made his way up the stairs toward his room.
"Moments like that I see so much of you in him." Emma teased.
"You're welcome," Regina stated to a light chuckle.
"Oh, I'm welcome, huh?"
"Yes, Dear. Who else would teach him sarcasm with a dash of sass to keep things interesting?"
"If that was a dash, we clearly need to review measurements. He went for a dash and the lid fell off."
"It's a Mills trait." Regina was still watching her with immense concentration.
"Go big or go home, right?"
"Indeed."
"You'll feel better if you just say what you are thinking right now."
"Will I? Or will you?"
"I will."
"You've never been more beautiful."
Imported heels were only in competition with the beating of the Blonde's racing heart as they turned and proceeded deeper into the mansion.
XOXOXOXOXO
Surprised to see that Emma had not followed her to the kitchen, Regina took a minute to compose herself. That wasn't what she had intended to say by a longshot. Emma had looked so at home toying with her hair in the mirror, taking in the perfect framing of her face, the edgy tousles of the shortened length. A haircut more befitting of the feisty blonde than her long curls had been.
"They've been broken up for weeks, what are you waiting for?" Henry asked, appearing beside her.
"Healing takes time."
"Oh Dear God. You and Emma are perfect for each other."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"I will not be a booty call to get over a filthy pirate."
"What's there to get over? She was just avoiding Grandma and Grandpa."
"They had some…."
"It's over Mom. Now go get her."
Stepping into the kitchen, Emma took an appreciative breath at the scent of coffee wafting on the air. Pouring herself some before asking," Go get who?"
Jesus, did Emma really have to make a face such as that when her head was tilted back and her eyes were closed. It was distracting Regina from the tasks at hand.
"No one." Henry and Regina said in tandem.
"Uh huh." She palmed an apple, taking an unladylike bite. "Wanna try that again?"
"Not particularly." Regina responded, turning away to gather ingredients for her Carmel apple empanadas.
"Moving on." Henry said
"We are going to come back to whatever it was that I just walked into."
"Mom just wants to know if you're staying for dinner."
Emma leaned against the cabinets behind her, taking another calculated bite of the apple. "Oh, sure."
"Perfect." Regina gritted, giving her son a disapproving expression. Clearly, he had learned many manipulative tactics in his formative years from her.
Deep inside a pocket one of their phones beeped. Henry happily glanced at his and shot Regina a not-so-apologetic grin. "Gotta go, Ava's outside."
"You aren't going to eat dinner with us?" Regina asked, a touch shrill.
"Bye Mom's." He kissed her cheek for good measure and clapped Emma on the shoulder. "Good luck."
Shrugging off the quick exit, Emma scoffed. "Our kid is so weird sometimes."
"Still staying for dinner?" Regina asked, ignoring the question, and avoiding Emma's general direction as she worked.
"I can try Granny's again. I could eat grilled cheeses every day but I'm really kind of avoiding my Mom."
"You should talk with her."
"She's taking the whole Hook thing harder than anyone."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I get that she wants me to be happy but, you can't force happiness."
Amber eyes finally met jade. "No, you can't."
"Does everything always have to be True Love to be a happy ending? She was literally the person who said Happy Endings aren't always what we think they will be."
"She's your Mother, and as much as it pains me to say this, we always want what is best for our children. However, what we want for them and what they want are not always similar. I don't think she is fully aware of how she comes across."
"Was that painful for you?" Emma's face painted with mirth.
"I'll deny it to my dying breath."
"That's my Regina." Looking around Emma pondered aloud "Need any help?"
"Absolutely not! The last time you helped me, you nearly ruined dinner."
"Nearly."
"Go in the living room and make yourself at home."
Taking a bite right next to Regina, Emma was clearly caught between wanting to say something and thinking better of it. Standing still, they only took a quick glance before both women averted their eyes. When the blonde finally walked away, Regina trembled at the implication.
They were just having dinner, her inner voice commented.
Together.
Alone.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
After the first bottle of wine both brunette and blonde were happily laughing as they concocted random ways to torment Hook.
"We should call him and hang up." Emma suggested, swirling the remaining slosh of wine in her glass.
"What next? Braid each other's hair?" Regina asked, turning her head and feeling the warmth from Emma's arm that draped across the spine of the couch.
"Next time. I'm not sure I have enough."
"We aren't talking an Elsa braid."
"True, My Queen." Emma hiccupped into her glass, causing a half-hearted laugh.
The raven-haired woman beside her felt warmth flood her center at Emma's final words. Dinner had come and gone with only minimal moments of awkwardness. Most of which, had centered around Emma's appreciative moans of approval. The earlier look on her face matching the sounds Regina had only dared to imagine to this point.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave Miss Swan."
Emma blew her side-bang out of her face and grinned. "Oh, you can't?"
"That would be irresponsible of me."
"Very irresponsible." She said, tilting the glass and consuming what had been left.
"Are you mocking me?"
"I'm just a girl, waiting on her Queen to make up her mind."
There was that rush of heat again. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I believe you've had too much wine."
"No, you don't." Emma grinned "You've been leaning into my arm for some time now and I may be wrong but tell me you don't feel what I feel."
"How would I know what you're feeling Emma?"
"You feel it too."
For the longest time, they remained at the impasse. Neither speaking, neither moving. Both gauging every aspect of the other woman before them, or trying like hell to anyway. Just when Emma believed Regina was going to give in to the chase, as she had closed the distance somewhat she abruptly stood and turned.
"I think we need another bottle of wine." And left Emma sitting on the couch with her eyes closed, but an amused grin as any on her face.
XOXOXOXOXO
"Emma's still here." Henry and Ava marveled. They had taken a hike through the woods and stopped for a quick bite at Any Given Sundae.
"Or she's being held captive in the dungeon." Ava commented, laughing when Henry was horrified. "I'm kidding."
"I know…but there is a dungeon below Storybrooke. Maybe my Mom hasn't moved the body yet." He played along.
"She could have forgotten to hide the car."
"Too obvious."
Ava's hand brushed his. "I had fun tonight, on our it's-not-a-date."
"What?"
"I've been waiting on you to ask me out for ages." Leaning in to kiss his cheek she smiled at the profuse shade of red he turned. "I like you too Henry."
"You knew?"
She laughed, "Your Mom's aren't the only people oblivious to what's right in front of them."
"You just called me an idiot."
"I did nothing of the sort."
He started towards the mansion, "Wanna go see if they've killed each other yet?"
"Lets." Grabbing his hand, and pulling him along, Ava led the way.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"It's not what it looks like." Regina breathed, climbing off Emma's lap and straightening her skirt.
"Emma, you might wanna…" Ava motioned to her own shirt, directing the blondes to the unbuttoned blouse. Working at warp speed her fingers flew over them
"When two adults,"
"Mom, gross. Stop!" Henry said, turning on his heel. "We'll leave you to it."
The sound of the front door shutting reverberated in the silent house.
"When two adults, what Regina?" Emma asked, pulling the brunette back onto her lap.
"I need to go talk to my son."
"Our son needs some space right now. He saw nothing abnormal."
"Besides his Mother on his other Mother's lap."
"Fully clothed."
"Your shirt was unbuttoned."
"They are boobs Regina. I think he'll live, especially after how many cleavage bearing shirts you've worn." Emma tilted her chin up, capturing crimson lips.
"What if he comes back?"
Bringing them to a stand, Emma smiled into their kiss. Regina's skirt was bunched at her waist leaving her voluptuous ass for the perfect grips. "Where shall I take you, My Queen?"
"To my room."
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Hook wanted to teach me how to woo women. Turns out I could have just asked my Mom's." Henry joked.
"Why wouldn't you ask your Mom's anyway? They are women."
"Being a woman and wooing a woman…"
"They understand what it takes to be wooed. Have they been acting differently?"
"My Mom has been taking Ma a bear claw and coffee. The good kind that Ma would never pay for because she is a scrooge with money."
"How could Emma miss that clue?"
"She probably just thought my Mom was being nice."
Shooting him an incredulous look, Ava began walking backwards, holding both of his hands. "Emma's insecurity makes her wonder if she's misreading the signs. And then there was the whole Hook thing."
"Judging by what we just saw, I'd say we are past the Hook thing. My innocence just died a little."
"Only a little." She bumped her shoulder into his. "Are you going to use it to torture them?"
"Absolutely."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
You've never been more beautiful.
Emma should have said something. Anything, but she had been entirely too dumbstruck to form any kind of speech. If Regina deemed something beautiful, then it was. It had to be. And she had declared Emma beautiful.
Falling into bed with Regina had been one of Emma's more prosperous adventures. The two of them had felt so natural with nothing between them. No secrets, no hidden motivations. Kissing a trail up the brunette's back as she recovered from the high of reaching their passions.
"You are an insatiable lover, aren't you?"
She could feel Emma smile into her shoulder. "Ravenous."
"This wasn't your first time with a woman."
"Very perceptive." Emma murmured in her ear, enjoying the delightful shiver it caused.
"Do you touch everyone with such reverence?"
Emma's caresses continued but there was a moment of pause. "No."
"Continue."
"Now who is ravenous?"
"Tread carefully Miss Swan."
Running her hands down Regina's arms, Emma grasped her hand, perching her chin next to Regina's ear "Or what?"
The two words had never excited nor delighted the brunette bombshell. It was a task only the Savior had been able to complete. Taking pride in every pull of her name from Regina's lips. Until the dull ache became a roar of passionate pleas. The new haircut allowing the brunette to twist Emma into obedience with ease as her fingers curled into the beautiful mess of the edgy blonde hair.
And oh, what a mess she was making of it.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccccccck," Emma drawled out when her ringtone fired off. Summoning it to her hand, she groaned again. She was still rather delightfully curled up with Regina and had no interest in breaking that up anytime soon.
"What is it?"
"Hook calling."
Regina held out her hand, accepting the device. Faking a laugh as she answered, "Hello."
"Hello?"
"Captain Guyliner, such an unpleasant surprise."
"Regina…Where is Emma?"
"Emma is…indisposed."
Humming against Regina's hip, Emma mused over her word choice. Indisposed. Only Regina.
"Oh, alright then. Snow told me to meet Emma at Granny's in an hour. I wanted to see if that still stood."
"Granny's in an hour?"
Emma profusely shook her head, making several hand gestures for absolutely not, as well.
"I'll make sure she gets the message." Regina ended the call and grinned. "We have a date with a pirate."
"I'm not going."
"Come along Miss Swan…"
"Regina…"
"Come." She commanded, the sheet they had been wrapped in dropping to her feet. Having no choice Emma trailed her into the walk-in closet. "Do you want to teach your Mother a lesson about meddling in your affairs or not?"
"What did you have in mind?" Her fingertips ran over a dresser sliding it open and jade eyes meeting the sight of silky panties. Shades of crimson, violet, ebony and ivory in assorted designs. Visions of hooking her fingers into them and sliding them down Regina's body filled Emma's core with heat again. The sound had caught the brunette's attention from the dresses she was selecting
There was a Cheshire cat grin, leaving Emma to feel like a child being caught stealing candy.
"You didn't say not to touch anything," the blonde choked out.
"Would you have listened?"
"No." Emma confessed.
"See anything you liked Sherriff?"
Mumbling something unintelligible, Regina turned to the task at hand. Emma just couldn't help herself. She was fidgeting behind the brunette.
"What did you mean when called me beautiful earlier?"
"Exactly what I said."
"But what did it mean?"
Turning to face Emma, Regina approached her, seeing the way breathe became caught in the blonde's throat. The back of her hand caressed Emma's cheek, and she pressed a light kiss upon pale lips. "You are beautiful Emma."
"Says a goddess."
"Now, do exactly as I say and we shall never have a pirate problem again." Regina handed Emma her selections, before moving to the white leather lounger, and taking her position regally.
"Keep saying we, and I'll start thinking you want to keep me around." Emma questioned, drawing nearer. Memorizing the intensity in that amber gaze. No scrutiny, no cutting criticism. The weight of her response, pursing her lips.
"We are going to be late."
"Mmm." Emma hummed. "I better get dressed then."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
The blonde was rocking a deep V-necked, ebony dress with a slit up the leg and long heels with red bottoms. Set against her ivory skin, the dress was even more stunning. Ushering Emma in first, Regina loved the way every head turned. The wolf whistle from Ruby, caused her to flush lightly.
"Swan?" Hook stood, his mouth agape.
"Hook."
"What the hell happened to your hair?"
"It was time for a fresh start." Her eyes coolly fixed on him.
"Your Mother said you wanted to see me."
Coming around to Emma's side, Regina smiled. Her curves were adorned in red, the peak of cleavage perfectly annunciated by the clasp of the dress at her throat. "We thought you would appreciate hearing it from us first."
"This is your doing?" He motioned towards the haircut.
"Emma needed a change after you." Regina stated in a tone ripened with disdain.
"Did she now?" He inquired, stepping to her. "The last time she changed Love, was for me."
"To be accurate she went dark to save me."
"Yet nothing could save her from this atrocity."
"I don't need saving." Emma finally spoke, lacing her fingers with Regina's. "And I certainly do not need you."
He smirked, glancing at their fingers intertwined. "Well that explains the bad hair."
"May I hit him?" Regina asked.
"Don't bother Love. You can have her." His movement to get by the duo ceased when Regina met his step.
"You never will again."
"How could I when she was always yours?" His blue eyes cut to Emma, before pushing past the duo and exiting the dinner.
She was always yours.