One-shot based on the tweet from seli_na_w where the Queen approaches Emma in the forest.
/seli_na_w/status/844288361368051712
The stars provided the only source of light in between large trees. Emma had long given up on using her flashlight. The Queen wasn't going to hide in the bushes or behind a rock. She stopped in a small clearing to take a break. As a heavy sigh left her chest, the hairs on the back of her neck started to stand.
"It's awful dark to be alone out here, isn't it Princess?" The sultry voice of the queen filled the air near Emma's ear. She stiffened, suddenly aware of the proximity of herself and the queen.
"What do you want Queenie?" Emma nearly called her Regina, the separation of the two of them not sitting well with her. Both of the women were Regina but she needed to remember that this one was evil. There was no fear in her eyes when she turned towards the Queen. Those brown eyes were so familiar causing a pang in Emma's chest. The orbs twinkled in the moonlight, matching the smug smile the Queen wore on her face. The Queen reached down, grabbing Emma's left hand in her own.
"I heard congratulations are in order," she scoffed, practically tossing Emma's hand back at her.
"I didn't know you cared," Emma responded, watching the Queen out of the corner of her eye as she circled Emma like prey. The Queen placed a hand on Emma's lower back as she circled.
"You know, love is a curious thing." The hand on Emma's back moved to her arm before settling on her chest. "It can mend or break a heart." The Queen tapped her fingers over the skin covering Emma's heart. "But why is yours still broken?"
Bumps had grown along Emma's skin and her chest flushed a deep shade of red. She didn't know why the Queen's touch was affecting her in such a way. She shook her head. The Queen removed her hand from Emma's chest before leaning in, barely an inch separating their bodies. "Congratulations on the engagement, Princess."
The Queen's smile haunted Emma as she disappeared in a swirl of purple smoke. Emma let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Fuck," she whispered under her breath. She shivered as a phantom feeling of the Queen's hand brushed against her skin again.
"Emma?" She heard her name being shouted through the trees before she saw her father and Hook heading her way. "Was that the Queen?" David asked.
Emma nodded her head slowly. "I'm fine, really." She took one final glance to where the Queen had been standing, not really knowing what she was looking for before following the boys out of the woods.
"Emma, are you sure you're ok?" David asked again. "You looked flushed. What did she say to you?"
"Nothing, I'm fine, she doesn't get to me," Emma lied. She needed to find Regina.
A loud knock on the big white door on Mifflin Street alerted Regina to a visitor. She cracked the door open enough to see Emma standing awkwardly on the porch, one hand scratching the back of her neck.
"Emma, come in," Regina said as she ushered Emma into the foyer. "What's going on?"
"Well, uh, we went searching for the Queen in the forest," Emma stated.
"And? Did you find her?" Regina was growing nervous as she watched the skin on Emma's skin flush as it had earlier.
"Uh, y-yeah, well, she kinda found me?" Emma stuttered.
"Ok? Emma, I don't understand," Regina placed a hand on Emma's upper arm. "Did something happen?"
"No, we just, umm we talked," Emma wasn't sure why she came here anymore. The Queen's words didn't really mean anything, did they?
"What did she say?" Regina was growing restless trying to pull information out of Emma.
"She uh, she congratulated me on, you know. And then she said that love is a curious thing that can mend or break a heart. But then she asked me why my heart was still broken. And th-that doesn't make sense…" Emma trailed off quietly only lifting her eyes that had dropped to the floor when she heard a scoff come from Regina. That scoff sounded just like the Queens.
"Do you hear yourself when you speak Emma?" Regina huffed. "When did you become so dense?"
"Regina, what are you talking about? What is SHE talking about?" Regina shook her head in frustration.
"If you're so happy Emma, why do you always look like someone kicked your puppy?" Regina's brown eyes bore into Emma's green ones just as the Queen had done earlier. Emma felt that same intensity causing a shiver to run down her spine. This time those eyes held something she couldn't name but had seen so many times in the past. Hurt? Anger? Heartbreak? Love? The combination of Regina's emotions gripped at Emma's heart.
Emma opened and closed her mouth several times, words escaping her. Regina closed the distant between them before she looked into Emma's eyes with such passion that Emma's breath caught in her throat.
"Gods! What happened to you Emma?" Regina's finger poked Emma in the center of her chest. "What happened to MY Emma? Where is she?" Neither of them moved for several moments. Finally Regina let out a deep breath and stepped away from Emma. "I think you need to find her. Come see when you do." She opened the front door and waited for her guest to leave. She closed the door after Emma and sank to her knees. Emma heard the lock click and she let her forehead rest heavily on the big white door.
"I'm right here," Emma whispered.