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Campfire Stories
"I remember the first time when I kissed a girl," Snow confessed, inhaling deeply through her teeth. Those eyes of hers shone, round face appearing even fairer next to the bonfire's glow.
Of course Killian's attention was piqued. He paused in the act of swallowing another mouthful of rum, the bottle frozen in time whilst Ruby laughed around the rim of her glass of Whiskey. Straight up as usual. Just as Whale downed his. But David seemed to absorb the string of words uttered boldly by his wife with nothing but a smile on that handsome face.
Emma was gawking.
"She was sixteen and she was from this village I was passing through. Back in those days," Snow tilted her head, severely lost in the memory, "the rough bandit look made me more appealing, I guess –"
"Mom…" Emma interrupted, her tone suggesting a warning.
"So I was passing through," Snow continued anyway, as Killian's eyes sparkled, "and I ended up staying in this little cottage she lived in. Her name was Aida."
"She even slept in Aida's bed," David interjected, a smile pulling his lips upwards. "They passed the time talking about their families."
"Oh she had a good pair of breasts," Snow smiled up at the darkened velvet coloured sky, her chest rising and falling slowly. "I've always told David that kissing Aida was like kissing a honey coated spoon. And feeling how soft she was was so…so…"
"Mom!" Emma cried, obviously aghast from soaking up the kind of information to make any daughter feel extremely uncomfortable. "Why the hell would you even share something like that?"
"Why?" Snow turned to stare at the blonde as if she was now being observed for the first time. "Because I was asked to. That's why. Does anyone have a problem with me sharing my moment with Aida?"
"No."
"Nope."
Killian, along with Whale and Ruby shook their heads, the latter choosing to suck up as much Whiskey as possible.
"No problem with me," David held up his hands, head bowed. "I've heard all the stories, and I'm very open minded so there we go."
The snap of a twig behind the blonde obviously caught her attention. Immediately muting the conversation drifting around the bonfire, she swiveled her head to pinpoint someone slowly and gracefully threading their way through the sandy path.
Regina's dark hair danced wildly in the wind. The black dress she had slipped into hugged every curve; too many curves. And that black wool sweater as an add-on very soon jolted the blonde's memory. Drifting her mind back to a Christmas, possibly two years ago when that same sweater had been one of her gifts to the older woman. Now she was feeling all mushy inside.
Of course the absence of heels was considered to be something strange to Emma. The highlight of the outfit being the shortness of the actual dress. Reaching midway down those honey coloured thighs. And as she made her way towards them, the brunette kept tugging the fabric downwards, as if feeling quite self-conscious already about the length.
"Great," Whale muttered behind his bottle of beer, "Miss Sophisticated is here. Who invited her again?"
Emma frowned in his direction, the wind whipping around strands of her blonde hair. "I did."
"Why the fuck would you?" He stared at her, entirely pissed off already.
"Because it wasn't a choice," Emma stated with a hint of bitterness in her tone. "It was something as normal to me as anything else."
Ruby raised her glass after the blonde's words had been uttered with complete confidence. Her eyes twinkled.
"Regina, we were just wondering when you'd show up," Snow patted a space next to her whilst David snuggled up on the other side of the log. It was long enough to accommodate four persons, but apparently everyone had chosen to stay away from the True Love pair, as if the actuality of their presence was contagious.
Regardless of where she was directed to sit, the brunette considered her options and decided to strategically place herself opposite Emma. This, of course seemed to provide the younger woman with every opportunity to smile and consider the length of the outfit, wondering why in the world would someone like Regina choose to wear that piece.
She sat with the poise of a Queen. Her back as stiff as a poker, immediately bringing out a scowl in Whale that was evident. Party poopers seriously were offensive to him because when he decided to have a good time, it was supposed to happen all the way or nothing else.
"What did I miss?" her husky voice was deepened by the effect of the chilly wind. Hugging herself, she offered a warm smile although those brown eyes never met emerald ones.
"Well for starters," David signaled for Killian to reach into the red cooler nestled in the sand, "Snow was just telling us about her first girl kiss."
"Which was pretty hot by the way," Lucas added, those mischievous eyes of hers fixated on Regina's cleavage peeking out above the sweater's neck. "I mean spare me no details, because I'd love to hear how far the two of them went."
"Can we…not?" Emma was obviously irritated by the topic, accepting a beer from Killian as he also delved into the cooler and held up one for Regina's consideration.
The brunette's eyes flicked briefly from Emma and then to the dashing pirate who sat there with his legs apart. The bottom of his black leather jacket flapped ever so often from being affected by the wind.
"I think her majesty would prefer my poison," Lucas was already reaching for the bottle of Whiskey. She poured half a glass for Regina and handed it over across the distance whilst the bonfire quite near them burned and flared on.
"Were you speaking about Fanny?" Regina inquired, searching Snow's eyes.
David's interest was piqued now and Killian observed his face with mild fascination. "Oh?"
"The girl you often had as a playmate in the castle," the older brunette tried to jolt the other woman's memory. "The one you often disappeared with."
"Oh, her!" Snow's cheeks turned crimson. She laughed nervously and waved it off as if the memory was nothing but a frivolous one. "Not at all. Fanny was as cute as a button but she had no ass."
"What am I doing here?" Emma's eyes fluttered close. Elbows resting on her knees, the blonde was swimming in nothing else but memories of her mother chasing a girl. It was too much to process. Her fingertips slowly massaged her temples.
"Alright, well if you're so green in the face from your mom's first kiss story, then tell us yours," Ruby suggested, her words never slurring even after four glasses because she was a woman who could hold her liquor well enough. A blotting paper granny often called her. Soaking up glass after glass without becoming slightly tipsy.
"I can't even remember mine," Emma said decidedly. She sucked in a mouthful of beer and swallowed. "Think it was some guy from high school. Mike. I think."
"Regina, tell us about yours," Snow suddenly interrupted, appearing quite energetic from even considering the fact that the older brunette could contribute a juicy tale. "I know you have plenty to tell."
Even Whale seemed to be awaiting the verdict, whilst Killian leant forward, a bottle of beer clipped between his fingers.
"I only just got here," the brunette reminded them. "Wouldn't be fair for me to steal the spotlight so early."
"No, go ahead," Swan urged, leaning forward as well whilst those emerald eyes never detached from brown ones. "I'm all in for it."
Did she just notice a sparkle in the older woman's eyes? A sparkle that suggested a connection being latched onto and maintained? For even as the seconds slipped by, Regina never diverted her gaze. Instead, she considered Emma with an intense look that suggested more than piqued interest. Something remaining hidden. Concealed behind her fluttering lashes. The way she slowly lifted her glass and took a sip. Barely.
Killian cleared his throat.
"I've kissed a woman before," Regina confessed, the huskiness of her voice deepening as the wind kissed honey coloured cheeks.
"Not surprised, to be honest," Whale said matter-of-factly. He shrugged. "Fact is, there wasn't a woman who wasn't fantasizing about you."
"Why thank you for making that observation and informing me of it," Regina smiled sweetly around the lip of the glass. The whiskey sparkled from the flames of the bonfire. "In fact," she lowered her poison, "that is as far as I'll go. No names. Just me allowing your imagination to wander free."
Emma felt her heart leap when those brown orbs focused on her again. As if the older woman was being suggestive. As if she was directly asking her to fly away with those words and colour the situation however she wished to. Apparently Killian was the only one who seemed to become a little uncomfortable by the intense gazing game. Where Regina all of a sudden took on quite an interest in Emma's presence, more than ever before.
He felt somewhat…prickly from the whole ordeal.
Knowing that the Queen was as open minded as a Queen could ever be. She took only the best to her bed chambers back in those days. When those laced up corsets would be tightened to boost up a hefty cleavage and even women could never not gawk in her direction. Because she was always a woman of power. A woman who was fierce. A woman who knew exactly what she wanted. And confidence could sway most people.
Snow's face appeared to relax even more. She leant onto David's left arm and smiled. Apparently one beer was enough.
"Come on," the blonde encouraged. "Share some more with us."
"Enlighten me on what you would most like to hear," Regina smirked, lightly rubbing the rim of the glass upon her lips. There was a look in those brown eyes that seemed to initiate a firestorm.
"I um," Emma scratched the back of her neck whilst staring at the sand by her brown leather boots, "I actually never kissed a girl. So…so you three," she nervously laughed and tried to avoid eye contact with the brunette who was seated opposite her, "you, Ruby and mom. You kind of have points over me, I guess."
"No shit," Lucas stared back. "For reals?"
Killian rolled his eyes.
Whale was only dreaming of the day Ruby would dump Dorothy and run into his arms.
"Like you never even did a lip on lip with a girl?" Apparently this was a crime. Ruby frowned. Her bewildered look was soaked up by Regina who smirked back, choosing to hug herself as the wind grew colder.
The blonde shook her head. "Seems like I was never really inclined to."
"Bet you've been hit on by a woman though," Lucas was fishing. She was seriously throwing out a line and hoping that Emma would latch on to the bait.
"Well…yeah," the blonde shrugged. She glanced at Killian who suddenly appeared to be studying the dark outline of the shore with deep interest. "A few."
"And?"
Emma swallowed a mouthful of beer and stared at Ruby. "And?"
"What the hell happened?"
Whale sighed, shaking his head in disbelief and it was Killian who decided to step in immediately.
"Look, frankly the situation stands as it is. The past is the past and we're both here," he gestured at Emma and then himself whilst trying to connect his eyes with everyone else. Snow was drifting off. "Nothing else matters. But what Swan and I have."
"I beg to differ," Ruby replied smartly, deciding to sip some whiskey whilst hiding her obvious smirk around the lip of the glass. She considered Regina who was somehow gazing intently at the blonde. "I think you've got competition, Hook."
"With who?" Killian appeared stupefied by the actuality of such words holding any truth.
Brown eyes seemed to swirl a bit. She seemed to be drowning. Regina was captivated by the blonde.
Killian didn't seem to notice. "That is absurd."
"Not absurd," Lucas corrected, as she jerked her chin in the older brunette's direction when David began to study her keen expression. "I think this is nice. Really nice."
"What is?" The pirate frowned.
"The fact that you're about to be mindfucked."
Killian was utterly confused, displaying a look to match that on his face.
Regina had downed her glass of whiskey and was stretching across the distance for the taller brunette to pour another one. David admired the activity before his eyes and smiled. Good. Everyone was loosening up. Well except for Whale who seemed to be oh so inclined to have Ruby all to himself.
If she could have been anywhere else, it would have been between the covers in bed. A warm bed. The blonde's mind drifted off to her warm bedroom where there was a heater and a nice bag of socks to ease the bitter cold seeping into the house. Her house. And very soon, their house. Because she had asked him to move in with her.
Now she regretted it because as quickly as the days came and went, her heart began to drain itself of those intense feelings she had dwelled on in relation to Jones.
"You're a very attractive woman," Regina suddenly said after taking a generous sip from the refill, all attention on Emma. "It would be a crime to have a woman not admire you in some way or the other." Her gaze never seemed to attach onto anything else. Or anyone for that matter.
"Thanks," Emma smiled stiffly. She shrugged. "I guess."
"Don't thank me," Regina said, returning the smile. "I haven't done anything to you as yet."
The silence that ensued was one that contained a seriously tensed up Killian, an obviously interested Whale, and whilst David raised his eyebrows and smiled at the older brunette, Lucas gawked.
"What?" Regina's brown eyes flicked around. She smirked. "I am being honest."
"Too honest," Ruby slowly rested her glass upon the empty space on the log, her gaze never leaving the other woman. "So you've been there, right?"
"You mean with Emma?" Regina arched her eyebrows, those red lips pursed together.
Lucas swallowed hard. Killian was perched on the edge of the log now, eyes wide.
"I mean –"
"My goodness!" Snow was suddenly wide awake, gawking as well. She sat forward and stared into brown eyes belonging to the older woman. "Have you two slept together?"
"No! Geez," Emma stared in bewilderment at the faces focused on her. She returned her attention to the woman seated opposite from her. "Come on, Regina. What the hell…"
"What the hell indeed," the older woman croaked, immediately lifting the glass to her lips, almost empty already. "Why haven't I accomplished that as yet?"
"Bucket list item?" Lucas wondered out loud.
"Oh definitely," Regina drained her glass whilst Emma gawked.
The round, moon had risen high in the velvet sky by then, leaves rustling between the cluster of trees where the forest began. Where the wind chased sounds and swirled around dark hair whilst blonde tendrils kissed Emma's bare shoulders. Of course she could not separate her gaze from Regina. The woman was seriously presenting a confusing countenance, one that had come in like a tidal wave.
Once before Regina had been this bold with her. Back in New York when they had followed Henry's path on a mission to save their son. Hunger had brought on a frustrating migraine on the brunette's part and with Swan's persuasion, both of them ended up delving into a plate of fries along with juicy chicken nuggets. Like two big kids, they sat there together in that booth.
Remembering how Regina reached across the small slice of space between them to dab at the younger woman's right cheek was something Emma never could erase from her memory.
It wasn't just the simple act of bravery. Of showing how unaffected the older woman was by getting into her personal space. But it was also the way she allowed her fingers to linger against Emma's face. Settling and staying. Almost as if a feeling had been captured and held onto and their eyes meeting had suggested something more than a mere connection.
"I used to think that bonfires were overrated," Killian provided after the conversation drifted to nothing Emma could remember through her thick memories arising from New York. "But then a mate of mine invited me to one during a voyage we took to Neverland many years ago. I sat around a huge one whilst the flames licked the sky and all I could fixate my mind on was the way the warmth was soothing and the crackle was relaxing. Scary at first. But the rum softened the night gradually."
"Rum." Lucas stared at him. "Is that all you think about?"
"When I'm not drowning in Swan's eyes." Killian smiled at Emma.
"You mean when you're not chasing after her like a kid after candy on Halloween." The way Regina's words slurred slightly immediately caught Emma's attention. "Is that all you do, Hook?" The brunette tilted her head and offered a sweet smile. "Chase after women until they take you to bed?"
Ruby choked on her mouthful of Whiskey whilst Snow couldn't muffle an obvious snort. David licked his lips and barked out a laugh. Whale on the other hand seemed to find Regina suddenly interesting enough to be smiled at.
"The highlight, of course," Killian focused on the older woman without smiling. "Is you placing yourself into a situation that doesn't involve you."
"I don't do threesomes, dear. So don't bid me an offer," brown eyes were hooded.
"I never…" Jones stared back. He swallowed. Shaking his head, the small glass of rum was tasted again.
"Oh do tell," Regina seemed to loosen up, her shoulders never so rigid as usual. "What makes you two work?"
Emma was completely and utterly awed by the older woman's fastidious responses. Her bold questions. The way she maintained eye contact with Jones and held it, as if trying to kill him with those flames burning in brown orbs.
"I prefer to keep my love life private, my Queen," Killian smiled and reached for the bottle of rum. "Whatever is done behind closed doors is none of your bloody business."
"That's it then." Regina was on her fourth glass of Whiskey. "Sex."
"And that bothers you how exactly?"
"Well it appears as if you have nothing special to offer a woman other than a roll between the sheets. I should know. I was there. With you. Remember?"
Ruby's choking continued whilst Whale smartly clapped her on the back, laughing as hard as he could. Snow on the other hand was exploding with energy and fascination as her eyes darted between the two persons engaged in conversation.
"Regina, that was several eons ago," Killian tried to appear unfazed but his cheeks slightly coloured. He reached for his glass, only to discover that it was empty and his hand opted for the bottle instead. "What Emma and I share is a deeper connection that signifies love and care for each other."
"Yes." Regina nodded. "That's all there is. Since your bedroom manners is nothing to boast about and you pining after her is simply childlike. It is so embarrassing how you run around behind her like a puppy."
"Regina –" Emma was staring.
"It's clear to see who the dominant one is and who the bottom is," the brunette shrugged, "just an obvious objection." She tasted her words whilst frowning. "No wait. An obvious observation. Right."
"Regina's drunk," Snow whispered into David's ear with a definite nod.
"Miss Steal your girl," Lucas whistled, smiling broadly at Regina. "Watch it there, Killian. She's got what it takes."
"And this conversation leads where?" the pirate wanted to know, obviously appearing pissed off.
All Emma could do was sit there and stare at the brunette who wasn't backing down with her gaze either. In fact, she elevated the situation by smirking, her gaze sweeping the other woman's body.
"Definitely on my bucket list," Regina purred, swaying a little. "Something to keep."
It was Killian who rolled his eyes. He stared out into the distance.
"I can't believe it," Ruby was gaping, "see I thought you could hold your liquor but you've had what? Five glasses? And you're sailing?"
"I don't sail like a filthy pirate," Regina informed her sharply. "I prefer the throne where I rule with the poise and composure –"
"…of a Queen," Killian halfheartedly continued, rolling his eyes. "We get the bloody idea."
"Oh fuck you," Regina sassed back, the hoarse quality of her voice obtaining a girly attitude. "You fish."
It was so hilarious, how out of character she was that everyone, including Killian ended up laughing. Even Emma, as she firstly stared back with her mouth agape and then she allowed a smile to come forth.
"I think you've had enough," Emma said to the brunette.
Regina, of course was all in high spirits. "Tell yourself the same thing every single time you cast your pretty eyes on him." She smiled sweetly. "He's nothing but a disappointment."
"And that makes you hero of the year?"
They both stared at each other. Regina sighed.
"What happens when a villain's path crosses with a saviour?" The brunette raised her glass. "The ultimate act of heroism initiates the process of redemption. I've done my share, haven't I?"
Emerald eyes latched onto brown ones as the staring contest began again.
"I can be your hero, baby…" Ruby began to sing, lifting her glass at the other brunette. "Sing to her, Regina. I can kiss away the pain…"
Snow laughed.
After feeling the bluntness of the conversation previously left to linger in her mind, she rose up with purpose. Fists clenched, she strode some distance away from the gathered party and stood in a stiff attitude just near the lapping water's edge. Where the sand was firmer and yet serving as a reminder to memories suddenly being unearthed after the trail of that conversation.
The brush of Regina's fingers on her cheeks.
How her skin felt afterwards. That…tingling sensation.
The way the brunette's brown eyes latched onto her emerald ones and held that intense gaze. Suggesting god knows what, apart from the obvious fact that something had changed between the two of them.
"Emma, is something wrong?" Snow called out, the wind playing with her voice.
"No," she waved it off and stood there deep in thought, hands on her hips, wondering. Pacing.
Of course the approaching brunette's footfalls were muffled in the sand. The younger woman was caught off guard when she felt a warm hand upon her right shoulder. Spinning around immediately, there Regina stood, her eyes glistening.
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