Save Me
AN: So the AU didn't go over so well lol. Hopefully this fares better.
Again I own nothing but the empty bottle on the counter. And I guess that there is a spoiler alert of sorts for episode 8 in here...
If you like it let me know, if you hate it let me know so I can sit this hobby out. Oh and bonus points to whomever finds the word I completely made up in this story.
Chapter 1
"He's a snake Miss Swan, you need to be careful who you get into bed with."
"I'm not getting into bed with anyone," Oh how I wish I was getting into bed with someone... The blonde thought to herself. "I'm just fighting fire with..."
The second the Mayor touched the door knob all I could feel was pain. Blinding hot pain. As the stairwell we were once standing in was engulfed by a wall of fire, consuming us in its wake as it spread burning talons forward into the space we occupied. Great choice of words Swan... don't think about locusts cause god knows this day couldn't get any worse...
Bracing myself as I stand, the air quickly thickening. I can't help but look down making sure she's alright, seeing her legs pined beneath the metal grating and one twisted oddly. Grasping the searing metal and forcing it from off her legs, the heat searing my palms and melting my skin. The layers pulling themselves off as I push it away, finally freeing her. The fire edging closer, licking at our bodies. Taking hold of her arm, "Alright come on lets go, we gotta get out of here..." I say trying to think of another way for us to escape this.
A tug on my arm turns me towards her, our eyes meeting. I can see the panic in her, the fear no longer hidden within their depths."I cant move you have to get me out, help me..."
Help you? I think incredulously, don't you realize that is exactly what I've been trying to do since I got to Storybrooke...
"Your gonna leave me aren't you?".She coughs out, the air quickly poisoning us.
Trying to tell her 'Never' with my eyes as my lungs being to burn intensely from the smoke, the words incapable of leaving my lips. Think Swan...you took that damn boring training day with Graham on fire safety... Dropping to the bottom step I can't help but pray that the extinguisher is still in there against the far wall...Her arm grasping mine as I move towards the flames. God doesn't she get it yet... I can't leave her. I want to save her. I need to save her. Pulling away and running headlong into the fire I make a silent promise to myself. If we get out of this, I'll tell her...everything.
##
"You're gonna leave me aren't you?" Feeling her pull away, watching her disappear in the fire. Why would she stay Regina? Why would she stay? I think to myself, I drive everyone away;.Daniel, with my lack of faith in us, Henry , with my rules and etiquette, my father from greed, why would Emma Swan be any different.
Clawing my way upwards along the stairs, away from the fire. I can't help but think back over all the treachery, all the lies and half truths... I pushed her away. She wanted so little and I wouldn't bend. I pushed the one person who wanted to be there, away, and now I wished I hadn't.
Pulling my way up another step as the smoke billows in around me. No longer burning my lungs but freezing them. Fire isn't cold I realize only to turn around. The whole stair well smothered in a thick cloud of white. Then I see her walking through the doorway, the light of the fire at her back. It's orange glow casting her in light... She came back.
##
The surprise in her eyes causing my heart to break. She really doesn't believe in me... Reaching down and pulling her to her feet with one arm as I quickly grab hold of her waist. Bearing her weight down upon me as I half carry her towards the exit shooting off the extinguisher and clearing us a half hazard path. As we make our way to the door, her coughing getting worse as we go. The heat rising I can feel it embracing our bodies and drawing what strength I have left. All I can think of is how badly I need to get her out of here. Kicking the door out took all I had, breathing in deeply the cool outer air as I stumble, nearly falling as I help her stand.
We stood there for what seemed like hours, staring into each others eyes before the paramedics divided us. They went about their jobs of poking and prodding us while we wore the oxygen masks. Even with the short distance and all the commotion around us, our eyes stayed locked as if somehow searching for the truthful answers to the questions we were both too afraid to ask.
Removing my mask I slowly approach her, fearful of spooking her with any sudden movements. "Madam Mayor I..."
"Regina," she interrupted. "You can call me Regina."
##
She stayed...well technically she left and came back... so its like staying right? The minute monologue had been playing on in her head as she couldn't help but stare at the slender blonde before her. She stayed when I gave her every reason to go. Watching her slide the oxygen mask off as I do the same.
"Madam Mayor, I..."
"Regina." I paused, "You can call me Regina." A slight smile reaching her lips and I'm blown away. My name, such a simple affordance I hadn't given her. Yet it brought evident joy to her face, Regina my dear, you truly are an undeserving bitch.
"Regina," she repeated, as if tasting the foreign word on her tongue. "I hope you're going to be alright."
"Thanks to you, I do believe I will be Miss Swan."
"Emma." She said arching an eyebrow in challenge.
"Thanks to you, I do believe I will be Emma." The smile gracing my lips was an honest one. Filled with hope and truthfully more than a little anticipation.
##
The days after the fire were frustrating at best. Regina simply couldn't seem to track down the would be deputy anywhere. She'd show up at Granny's in the mornings, praying to catch a glimpse of the blonde only to find out she'd been there already. She had stopped at Mary Margaret' s, which was dreadfully uncomfortable, only to be told that she'd left for the day and had no idea when she'd return. Out of pure exasperation Regina had finally asked Henry on their commute to school, if he'd spoken to her, which immediately set his guard up.
"Why?" His question full of caution, ever ready to defend and protect his birth mother.
"Well, if you must know Henry I wanted to talk to her. To thank her again for saving my life and yours."
His soulful brown eyes scouring her own looking for any trace of deceit or malice.
Gazing back into hit soulful eyes, "Please Henry."
"She's at my castle near the docks."
"Thank you," She responded, kissing his forehead. "Have a good day at school."
##
To say the sight that greeted her at the miniscule structure had stolen her breath away would have been an understatement. After parking her car and walking the short distance across the parking lot her eyes fell upon the tank top clad body of the blonde. Sweat having caused it to cling to her torso in a completely unholy and sinful manner. She stood there motionless for a few moments just watching Emma repairing the structure. The way her biceps rippled in the sunlight from exertion as she nailed new lumber to the broken would be castle was truly inspiring. The ripples of strength shining through the ever so tight jeans causing the generally composed and confident mayor to question her resolve, her worthiness when faced with the reality of how truly effortless Emma embodied her role as the White Knight.
Sensing someone watching her, Emma turned around. Meeting the eyes of Regina without reservation. Something had changed within the statuesque brunette. A calming of sorts she had all but given up on ever witnessing. "Madam Mayor." She greeted, slightly tilting her head. "What can I do for you?"
"You're a hard woman to track down." She called as she approached her.
"I wasn't aware anyone was looking for me." In truth Emma had been alerted to Regina's sudden quest to find her, which is why she had done everything in her power to not be found. Fearing a run in with the temperamental woman and seriously stumped as to what she had done this time to earn her ire had caused her to change her routine.
Hesitating in her words Regina breathed out, "I wanted to thank you again for..." Trailing off as the words seemed to lodge themselves in her throat. What she truly wanted to say becoming lost in and amongst them. " I mean I wanted to..." Again lacking the linguistic capabilities she usually had. "Would you like to have dinner with Henry and I this evening?"
"Mada...Regina I'd..." Trailing off as she watched the brunettes hopeful eyes dim. Shaking her head and beginning again with a smile on her lips, "I'd love to."
"Excellent, see you at six sharp." Her heart racing at the sheer brilliance of Emma's smile and the knowledge that for once she'd been the one to put it there.
##
The short walk from her shared apartment to the Mayor's home truthfully wasn't a difficult one. However today as the clock inched ever closer towards six, it seemed insufferably long. Between her ravaged nerves and somehow managing to juggle a bottle of wine and flowers and dessert she cursed herself for not knowing if she was meant to bring anything. Swallowing loudly as she made her way up the Mayor's walk way then porch. Breathing in a huge and hopefully calming breath as she knocked.
##
For her part Regina was in a panic. Everything needed to be perfect; the table was set hours ago, the simple dinner was cooking and would be done shortly, Henry was upstairs doing his homework and she'd just finished getting dressed . Something however was eluding her and she couldn't remember what she'd forgotten. The knock on the door startling her, looking at her clock and realizing with abject horror that Emma was early.
Walking calmly to the door with as much decorum as she could scrounge together, she opened it. The sight before her causing her heart to slow, it would seem that she wasn't the only one who was extremely nervous this evening.
"Miss Swan..." she welcomed as she backed up allowing her entrance. "Need some help with that?" Eying the abundance of packages in her arms.
"That would be great." Emma returned easing the flowers into her grasp. "I wasn't sure what decorum was required so I think I covered all the bases.." Embarrassment flushing her cheeks as she realized how truly different her upbringing was from the surroundings she now found herself in.
"An appetite would have sufficed." Regina countered with a grin as she walked into the dinning room fetching a vase. The older woman throwing caution to the wind and added a slight exaggeration to her swagger knowing that Emma would be watching her.
##
Dinner between the three of them was a truly delightful experience. Henry reveled in the new dynamic between the two women, making a mental note to check the book later at bedtime to see if it had any clues as to what was transpiring. Once they had finished eating, Emma began to clear away the dishes while Regina set to task ensuring Henry's homework was completed correctly and he was getting ready for bed.
The few minutes apart afforded Regina some strategy time. She was out of her element after all and had little to any experience attempting to woe anyone. She had however solidified her stance in regards to her intentions towards the blonde currently playing music in her living room... Doing a double take and ensuring she was hearing correctly Regina kissed Henry goodnight and descended the stairs. Curiosity getting the best of her as crept towards her target, mindful of the squeaky floor boards in the hall. What she walked in on nearly brought her to her knees in laughter. Emma stood shoeless on the hardwood floor, singing into a wooden spatula as the radio belted out 'Billie Jean'. When the pause came in the song Emma effortlessly moonwalked across the room, stopping only when she realized Regina was standing there watching her.
"I think you have a bad habit of staring.." Emma, unable to meet Regina's eyes out of embarrassment. said.
"I'd say it's only a bad habit if you don't like it, otherwise its merely a new habit I seem to have acquired." The brunette walked deeper into the room, lowering the music level as Emma sat sown on one of the couches. Silence filling the air between them as neither woman knew exactly how to go about this.
"I like you, I mean I care about you more than I should and probably more than you want but I promised myself in that fire that I'd tell you so yes I was avoiding you and I will totally leave now thanks for dinner." Quickly rising and racing for the door before Regina could even fathom a response to her lightning fast breathless confession.
Sitting there dazed as she tried to slow down in her mind what Emma had just said, not even realizing that the woman had left till she heard the door close. Bolting for the door, only to crash into Emma on the other side of it with such force that it knocked the wind right out of them. "I thought you left." Regina whispered.
"I did...but I forgot my shoes.." Emma revealed as she cursed her own stupidity.
"Then I'm holding them ransom."
"What do you mean?" Emma eyed her cautiously.
"If you want to leave with your shoes, I want something in return." Coyly looking at the blonde through her lashes.
"What do you want in exchange?"
"A kiss goodnight, that is if you truly want to leave this early at night.." Breathing a sigh of relief as the final word of her request passed her lips, rather proud of herself.
"I can't Regina. I want more than just one night." She uttered.
The brunette's eye brows shot up in surprise at her denial. "I think you misunderstood me Emma. I'm willing to try with you. I want to make up for everything, the words, the pain, my actions. I'm so sorry for..." Before she could continue the sensation of tender lips meeting her own stole all rational thought from her. She knew only this moment and just as briefly as it had started it was over. Brown eyes meeting green as the blonde grinned, before turning and walking away. Regina stood there admiring her body as she brought her fingers to her still tingling and moist lips. "Emma your shoes," she called out.
Turning her head the slender blonde called back, "I'll get them in the morning." Sending a wink towards the suddenly giddy and hopeful brunette. "Goodnight Regina."
##
If you like let me know, if you hate it let me know so I can sit this hobby out.
Thanks a million,
Frigid
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