I dare you to Love me
By Googelkins
Chapter 1
Rated M (For later chapters)
A/N: I watched "Imagine Me & You" this afternoon. Such was my inspiration.
Characters are NOT mine, though I wish they where. PLEASE REVIEW! I take any and all suggestions about/for further chapters.
She smelled them before she saw them. A delicate sweet aroma caressing her senses. Lilies. She knew the fragrance well. earlier that morning, she found one laying across her door mat, almost stepping on it. Thinking nothing of it, she'd set it just inside the door, quickly leaving and not bothering to even venture the thought of where it'd come from.
Later, she'd found another laying on the hood of her car when she'd come out of Granny's Diner after rushing through a painfully boring breakfast meeting with Mr. Gold about the town festival to be held that evening. That time, she'd gracefully plucked it up and lifted it to her nose. Inhaling deeply, her eyes fluttered closed as the sweet smell tickled her nose. It pedals dancing on her breath. After a moment, she'd climbed into her car, placing the delicate flower on the passenger seat next to her. She had wondered, however briefly where this one had come from. Not yet finding it anything more than coincidental that two lilies had found their way to her.
A few hours later, her secretary had interrupted her during a phone call to bring her another, lily. Just one, as had happened each time since. Staring thoughtfully at the white, star-shaped flower in her hand, a thin pink ribbon tied around its stem. Her secretary had not known who sent it; only that it was delivered with special instructions to be handed directly to her, and not left anywhere to be found randomly.
Shrugging her shoulders, she'd set it in her pen holder, idly beginning to wonder why someone was obviously going out of their way to send her lilies.
After lunch, two more lilies had miraculously joined the one in her pen holder.
Around three o'clock, she looked out her window and saw one laying on the sill, outside.
Now, as she gathered her things to leave her office and head to the festivities she was required to make an appearance at, she was almost overwhelmed by that same scent wafting into her office from the open door. Her secretary had left over half an hour ago, so any delivery would have come directly to her. Setting her purse down, she cautiously moved into view of the lobby just outside her office. There was at least thirty lilies, beautifully arranged into a large purple vase in the middle of the floor. A note, folded unevenly tucked underneath. Walking slowly towards it, she knelt down, retrieving the note. Kneeling on the floor beside the flowers, she unfolded it. An unrecognizable writing scribed across the purple paper.
Dear Regina,
Life is short. Be happy NOW. Follow your heart. Don't hide anymore.
I dare you.
Turning the small piece of paper over in her hand, searching for a signature. She found none. Her eyes falling back onto the plethora of lilies on the floor in front of her. Wrapping her arms around them as she stood, carrying them back into her office, and placing them in the center of her desk. Quickly, she grabbed her purse and strutted out of the office once more. Idly slipping the purple note into the breast pocket of her jacket.
She'd figure out who had taken it upon themselves to become her secret admirer.
The Festival went off without a hitch. All of Storybrooke had shown up and a wonderful time was had by all; Even Regina herself found it surprisingly enjoyable. She'd even had what could actually be considered a civil conversation with Mary Margaret Blanchard. Marco had given her some advice on fixing her shudders and Henry actually smiled at her when she allowed him to sleep over at one of his friends houses.
Pulling into her driveway, apprehension washed over her as she spotted Emma Swan's yellow bug parked in front of her house. With a heavy sigh, she parked behind the offensive pile of rust her Sheriff called a vehicle, and walked achingly slow towards her front door. Her heels clicking loudly on the brick surface. Emma was waiting on the porch, at the top of the steps. Legs slightly spread apart and one hand tucked into the pocket of her trademark red leather jacket. Her other arm swung around behind her back. As Regina ascended her front stairs, she noticed the unreadable expression on the blondes face. It was a somewhat of a cross between anxiety and confidence. Conflicting, to say the least.
"What can I do for you Ms. Swan?" Regina said coolly as she came face to face with the woman who could bring out her throw punches at the smallest remark. Emma just looked at her; searching her eyes.
"Ms Swan, I do not have time for this."
Regina tried to side step Emma, but Emma simply stepped in the same direction, cutting off her exit. A smile playing at her lips as she watched Regina becoming slightly agitated.
"Ms. Swan," Regina made a motion, signaling towards her door, "If you please!" Regina's voice was sharp, and exasperated.
"Why don't you ever call me Emma?" Emma finally spoke softly. Her bouncy curls falling to the side as she tilted her head slightly.
"What?" Regina shook her head, perplexed. She knew the reason. Having been kept awake at night numerous time because of said reason. She couldn't tell Emma why. If Emma knew the only reason Regina could call her 'Ms. Swan' was because if she called her 'Emma' her knees would give way, her head would explode and her heart would stop because Emma made her feel things she hadn't felt in over 30 years. Calling her 'Ms. Swan' made it easier to ignore the fire that raced under her skin whenever the blonde was near. Made it easier to ignore the quickening of her heartbeat and the goose bumps that erupted on her skin whenever they happened to briefly touch. She would never tell Emma the reason she could only call her, 'Ms. Swan'.
"you heard me." Emma stepped closer, pulling her hand out of her pocket and letting it hang by her side.
"Ms. Swan, I am very tired." Regina felt her weariness like a blanket.
"Answer the question, and I'll leave you alone." Regina just looked at her. "Scouts honor!" Emma joked and lay her hand over her own heart.
"That's all you want?" Regina asked skeptically.
"No" Emma was quick to reply. Her green eyes watching her with an intensity that made Regina visibly shiver.
"What DO you want, then?" Regina felt frozen. Unable to move, not that she wanted to. Being so close in proximity to Emma was intoxicating.
"What do YOU, want, Regina?" Emma countered, never taking her eyes away from the brunettes.
"Me?" Regina breathed out the word. "It doesn't matter what I want."Emma smiled compassionately at her.
"That is ALL that matters, Regina." Emma reached her hand up, laying it on a tense shoulder.
Regina felt a tiny prickling of moisture behind her eyes. She felt like running but the warmth spreading through her from where Emma's hand was laying on her shoulder kept her in place.
Not knowing what to say, Regina looked away, biting her lip as Emma's hand glided down her arm, caressing gently till Emma held her hand soothingly, giving it a light squeeze.
"Regina," Emma brought brown eyes back to her, "Call me Emma."Regina felt her breath hitch in her throat as Emma's hidden arm came around. A single Lily nestled between her thumb and forefinger. Holding it in the miniscule space between them. Regina felt her stomach flip and her chest tighten as she took the offered flower with hand Emma wasn't still holding on to.
"I.. don't understand" Regina looked up, into Emma's Eyes.
"I've been trying to tell you something all day, Silly woman." Emma grinned
Regina felt nausea stinging her throat. She couldn't let this happen. It was one thing to feel the pain of unrequited love. It was a whole new level of hell knowing you are loved back, and don't deserve it. Closing her eyes to cut off the flow of tears threatening to cascade down her face, Regina hung her head heavily.
Without hesitation, Emma hooked a single finger under Regina's chin and lifted it back up.
"Look at me, Regina"
Regina kept her eyes shut tight, unwilling to look at the face she didn't even feel worthy to glimpse for the smallest moment.
"Stop hiding." Emma probed gently, refusing to let go of Regina's hand as she felt it being tugged away.
"I can't do this." Regina choked on an inaudible sob. Emma removed her finger, laying her palm against Regina's cheek. Her thumb stroking back and forth on the brunettes chin, encouragingly.
"Yes." Emma stated matter of factly, "You can."
The unyielding assurance in Emma's voice causing Regina to languidly open her eyes. Glossy Brown eyes peered into soothing pools of green sapphire.
"you don't understand," Regina whispered "What I've done…" Her voice trailed off, unable to voice anything further.
"It doesn't matter." Emma pulled up the hand still holding Regina's to her chest.
"Nothing matters, but your heart." Emma lay Regina's hand on her chest, just above her left breast. Where her heart beat strong. Despite herself, Regina let it rest there, on Emma's chest, feeling the steady thumping. Mesmerized.
Emma reached over, laying her own hand over Regina's Heart. Pressing gently, so Regina could feel it pressing into her.
"Follow your heart, Regina."
Regina's hand remained in place on Emma's chest as she let the tears freely flow down her flushed cheeks.
"I don't have a heart." Regina almost spat the words out, ripped painfully from her soul.
Emma said nothing, but slid her hand back through Regina's short hair and pulled Her face forward till they were inches apart. Their hot breath mingling in the chilly night air.
"Yes," Emma panted. "You do!" Emma's voice was heady and deep.
Emma didn't care what Regina did, or didn't do in her past. It didn't matter now. Nothing mattered now except two hearts beating in sync. Bodies humming in anticipation and a long suppressed need breaking through buriers.
Emma leaned in slightly, pressing her lips to Regina's gently. A slight touch that exploded inside the two women. Standing in the dim porch light, Regina pulled away, her lips tingling still.
"I can't let this happen, not again." Regina yanked her hand out of Emma's and pushed passed her. Desperately trying to get inside before the circumstances escalated and there was no going back.
Emma spun around catching Regina by the wrist as she passed, twirling the brunette like a dervish and pressing her back to the door. Emma lay her body against Regina, pinning her.
"Let me go" Regina squirmed half heartedly, "You don't understand.""I dare you!" Emma cut her off.
Regina stilled. Watching Emma's face.
"What?"
Emma loosened her grip slightly, easing her grip on the brunette.
"Do you know what the meaning of a lily is?" Emma asked, watching Regina shake her head in response.
"It means, I DARE YOU TO LOVE ME."
Regina stared at Emma, her jaw slightly open. Emma brought her hands to Regina's face, cupping it tenderly. A smile tugging encouragingly at the corner of the brunettes lip.
"Kiss me, again." She said sweetly. Emma quirked an eye brow.
"Kiss you?" Emma was now smirking.
"Kiss me," Regina insisted, and for good measure added, "Emma!"
Feeling the blondes name on her lips paled in comparison to the feeling of the lips that came crashing onto hers. Unbridled passion searing through their bodies as their lips danced in perfect unison. Tongues twirling together. Teeth nibbled on supple lips. The sound of the Rain that started to fall, drowning out moans of pleasure. Emma's hands finding the hem of Regina's top, lifting it just enough to slid her hands onto the firm skin of Regina's stomach. A gasp ripping Regina's mouth away.
"Emma." Regina said again as the woman pressing her against the door began kissing down her jaw to her ear lobe. That name now sounding like ecstasy on her tongue.
"would you like to come inside?" Regina's husky voice barely cut through the impassioned haze of Emma's mind. Pulling Away, Emma's predatory grin sending a fire down her legs. Emma reached for the door knob, turning it. Pushing Regina backwards through the door as their lips came together like magnets. Emma lifted Regina up, reeling as she felt the brunette wrap her legs possessively around her waist. Regina hastily shoving her Red jacket off her shoulders as Emma kicked the front door closed.