Swan Queen Week 2017
Day 1: July 9, 2017
Sharing A(nother) Child
The scene before Regina was quite comical. She chuckled to herself as she headed towards a fumbling Emma. Emma and Regina were best friends since high school in Storybrooke, Maine. Emma had been the new girl in school and Regina was quick to befriend her. Regina fell in love with Emma as soon as she got to know her. Of course, she never told her. She just loved her from afar, supporting her in everything she did and being there for her when boys broke her heart. Regina tried to date other boys in school, usually the best friend of whomever Emma was dating at the time. It never worked out because her heart always belonged to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty standing in front of her now, dropping all her bags.
After high school, Regina went to college and got her degree to teach English and Emma went to school to pursue photography. Emma went all the way to New York City for school while Regina headed off to Boston for her undergrad. They stayed in touch, often visiting each other on the weekends and spending all their time together when they went home for the holidays. They texted each other every single day, often ending their nights in a phone call or a FaceTime call depending on how tired they were. They both dated casually but Regina could never stay in a relationship long. There was one boy, Daniel that she thought she might be able to see a future with but that went downhill when she walked in on him fucking his ex in Regina's dorm room. She still wasn't sure how or why that occurred the way it did but she was heartbroken and Emma drove from the city to console her. She tried and tried to get over Emma but it was impossible. Eventually, Regina just stopped dating. Living alone was hard on her though so Regina made the decision to fill her house with a baby boy, one Henry Emie Mills. Yes, she named him after both her father and Emma and yes, Henry knew who he was named after. Henry loved Emma almost as much as Regina did.
Emma on the other hand was constantly dating: boys and girls, mostly casual relationships and one-night-stands. Lately though, Emma seemed to have slowed down on the dating game. Since she told Regina everything, Regina knew that Emma wasn't seeing anyone and was ready to focus on her career. Regina started teaching back home in Storybrooke, Maine when her father fell ill to cancer. Emma had come home for the funeral and stayed for several weeks to be with Regina and Henry before going back to NYC for her job.
Two weeks ago, Regina had gotten a phone call from Emma saying that she found a new job and she was coming home. The warmth that filled Regina's heart at the word 'home' was growing as she took in the sight of Emma Swan. Emma Swan who hadn't been to visit in nearly six months, who was moving in to Regina's mansion 'temporarily.' Regina was secretly hoping she would stay forever but she knew she was being unrealistic. Emma obviously wasn't in love with Regina. The thought of having to tamp down her feelings for Emma had scared Regina but the thought of Emma finding somewhere else to stay scared her even more. She was picking Emma up at the Portland airport and had spotted Emma before she spotted her. She snuck up behind Emma.
"Need some help dear?" Regina purred in Emma's ear and watched the shiver ripple through Emma's body. She spun in a circle and Regina immediately wrapped her arms around Emma's waist, burying her face in Emma's neck.
"Regina, I've missed you so much," Emma sounded choked up and Regina could feel tiny kisses being placed on the top of her head. She was suddenly overwhelmed by how much she missed Emma and hot tears were sliding down her face wetting Emma's white shirt. "Shh, don't cry Gina." Silent tears slipped down her own cheeks as she held on to Regina as hard as she could.
Emma was terrified of making this big move back home. Throughout the years, Emma was determined to shove aside her feelings for the smaller woman. She was head over heels in love with Regina Mills and her son. She tried to get over her by throwing herself into random relationships over the years. Nothing worked. Now she was moving into Regina's house 'temporarily" but deep down she knew she would never leave. Unless of course, Regina asked her too. She squeezed Regina a little tighter before releasing her and planting a kiss on her cheek. Regina reached up and cupped Emma's cheek, pouring as much love and adoration into Emma as she could with just her eyes and smile.
"Well, as much as I would love to stand here in your arms all day, the parking meter is going to run out soon." Regina chuckled before wiping under her eyes and helping Emma carry her bags out to the parking garage. Emma didn't stop talking the entire car ride home, asking Regina questions about Henry and her mom and teaching at their old high school. Regina answered honestly, trying to focus on the road ahead but finding it extremely difficult to keep her eyes off of Emma's bright face. When they arrived at the mansion, Emma and Regina carried the bags through the front door and barely set them down before a tiny brown-haired boy plowed into Emma's legs.
"Emma! Emma, you here! Gammie! Emma's here!" Henry was bouncing up and down, looking between Emma, Regina and his grandmother Cora who had been watching him while Regina went to the airport.
"Emma darling," Cora started. "It is so wonderful to see you. It has been far too long." Cora wrapped Emma in a tight hug and placed a kiss on her cheek. Cora adored Emma and treated her like a second daughter. And Emma loved Cora as if she was her mother.
"Cora, I missed you so much! How have you been?" Emma scooped up Henry and placed him on her hip as she followed Cora into the living room. Regina took the bags upstairs to Emma's new room before meeting them in the living room and taking a seat on the couch next to Emma. Emma immediately wrapped an arm around Regina who scooted over and curled in to Emma's side. Emma subconsciously dropped another kiss on the top of Regina's head as she listened to Henry tell stories about school and his new toys. Cora looked on with a knowing smile. She was hoping the women would finally come to their senses with Emma living with Regina now.
Cora made a delicious dinner and Emma's favorite dessert before heading home for the evening. She gave all three of her favorite people hugs and kisses and smiled all the way home. She wondered how long it would take for them to realize they've been in love forever.
After Cora left, Emma and Regina headed upstairs to put Henry to bed. He wanted Emma to read him his nightly story so they each sat on the sides of Henry while Emma read to him and Regina rubbed his belly softly. When he fell asleep, they both slid out of the bed quietly and headed back downstairs.
"Wanna watch a movie?" Emma asked. She grabbed two clean wine glasses from the kitchen and the rest of the bottle from dinner and sat on the loveseat next to Regina.
"Sure, what do you want to watch?" Regina let Emma choose from her Netflix and they settled on the couch with their wine. When she finished her second glass, Emma laid her head in Regina's lap and hummed softly when she felt thin fingers running through her long hair. "I'm really glad you're here Emma," Regina said quietly. Emma turned just a bit to look up into Regina's eyes.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be." Emma smiled up at Regina before returning her eyes to the movie that was playing. Warmth was spreading through Regina's abdomen. Emma being here and resting in her lap was the best feeling she's had in a while. She couldn't focus on the movie because she was too busy watching Emma's expressions and feeling her soft hair between her fingers. Emma startled her by sitting up when the credits began to roll.
"I have a confession to make Regina," Emma started. She took a deep breath before she took Regina's hands in her own. "I chose this job here in this town because I couldn't stand to be away from you and from Henry any longer. You are the most important person in my life Regina. All these years away from you have been the hardest years of my life. You're my-my everything Regina and I love you. I can't thank you enough for letting me live here with you and Henry and-and I want to stay for long as you'll let me." Regina's eyes were welling with tears. Sure, Emma told her she loved her often but this felt so different. Regina squeezed Emma's hands, rubbing her thumbs back and forth across smooth skin.
"Emma, if we're being honest here, I never want you to leave. Ever. I love you so much and-and probably not the way you think I do. You mean everything to me and you mean everything to Henry. Stay Emma, stay." Regina's voice had dropped to a whisper. Emma was looking at her like she held the moon in the sky and Regina was feeling overwhelmed with the desire to kiss Emma. But Emma beat her to it.
Emma released one of Regina's hand to cup her cheek, rubbing her thumb across a strong cheekbone. Regina's breath hitched as Emma leaned in, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. A moan escaped Regina's lips and she grabbed Emma by the waist and deepened the kiss. Tongues dueled, teeth nipped at plump lips, and hands grabbed at clothing. The kiss was everything and more than either had imagined. They only separated when the need to breath became too strong. Their foreheads rested together, chests heaving as they tried to breath deeply. Both of their faces broke out in wide smiles.
"I love you Emma. I am head over heels in love with you. I have loved you every day of my life since you came into it. And I will love you every day of my life until I die." Happy tears were falling down Regina's face, which Emma brushed away with her lips.
"Oh Regina, I have loved you since the day we met. I never thought you could love someone like me. I tried to get over you but I never could. I want you and I want Henry and I want more children with you in this house. I want to wake up in your arms every day. I am in love with you Regina, so so so in love with you."
That was just the beginning of the next step in their relationship. It was the start of a family that loved and cherished each other.
Only a year had passed before Regina asked Emma to marry her, six months more before they said 'I do' and six months more before they adopted their second child. Elliana Cora Swan-Mills aka Ellie, joined the family at just three weeks old. The day they brought her home was the day they started their 'Happily Ever After.'