AN: Basically from here on, there will still be a dream world. Though visits, I believe will be few and far between… I am still working and editing and re-editing, so anything I say now may not be true even tomorrow! But, I hope you enjoy. And, again, the worlds are divided based on scene breaks: ~0~0~0~0~0~, means they are changing between reality and Emma's dream world, and: 0~0~0~0~0~0, means they are staying in the same place.
Regina sat up quickly in her hospital chair. She looked over to Emma. The blonde's eyes fluttered open then closed, blinking a long blink. After a couple more tries, her eyes found Regina's.
"Oh my gods. Emma?" Regina looked to the door, but Emma's voice stopped her.
"Too." Emma grunted out.
"To? To what?"
Emma stared at the brunette, "You tease too."
Regina let out a half sob, half laugh, "I tease too…" She smiled as she nodded, "I do." She got up and rounded the bed to the door, "Get Whale." She made sure to give all the nurses the sassy evil queen look.
Emma watched her round back to her chair. Then their eyes met. Emma couldn't help the relieved, happy smile the brunette was giving her.
Then Emma remembered.
She remembered everything. And she remembered nothing. She remembered that everything that happened to them didn't actually happen—that all her memories of a full-blown courtship and marriage—even all the amazing sex that led to magical twins by the way—wasn't reality; she remembered that the only thing that happened to them was nothing.
It was all completely trippy.
Dr. Whale came in, gave her an initial check up and explained what all they had done (and that she wouldn't be walking for another few months at least). After his talk, when she thought there would be peace, her parents and son came in. Snow and Charming immediately making a big deal about Emma waking up and Regina not calling them; then of course Regina's retaliation.
Emma watched the three argue and started closing her eyes. She felt a dip on the bed and looked, seeing her son take her hand.
"I love you, mom." He smiled sadly, "I'm glad you're awake."
"Me too, kid." She whispered with her own smile. "Do me a favor?"
"Get them out?"
She gave the boy a half nod, and Henry was up before her eyes fully closed. She had to remember what world she was in. She had to remember that Regina didn't love her, they weren't married or even dating, that they didn't have amazing sex all the time and didn't have the girls that she'd found she'd grown wildly attached to. She had to remember that she and Regina barely spoke and were always bickering or flat out yelling at each other. She had to remember to be standoffish.
0~0~0~0~0~0
Regina dropped them off a dinner the night that Emma got to go home. That was also the night that Henry was no longer staying with her but with the Charming's. Again.
Over the years, she'd gotten to see him on the weekends and major holidays. She also got to join in on the major events. But she didn't really get her son back. And now he was gone again.
She knocked on the door of the apartment, hoping that Henry or Emma would answer. But, she was greeted with the annoyed look of Snow White.
"I brought you dinner." Regina spoke softly, trying to peer into the overprotective, domineering mother's home to see either her son or the woman that she… needed.
"Why?" Snow eyed the enchiladas then slowly looked up at her face.
Regina swallowed, "Well, first to apologize for my behavior this afternoon. And second because I know that this is a busy time for you—taking care of Emma and Henry and..Charming—and I figured dinner would be one less thing."
"Is that food?" Emma's voice was heard.
Snow turned, "Regina's brought us dinner."
Henry ran over to the door with a smile for his mother and looked at the dish, "Oh! Enchiladas! Thanks mom!" He hugged her and took the food from her.
Snow stepped between Regina and her house, "Thank you, Regina." She gave the brunette a hard look before shutting the door.
Regina felt her jaw jut to the side. She nodded once to the closed door before she walked away, "You're welcome…" She whispered.
Just as she was nearing her car, her phone buzzed.
Thanks for dinner, Regina. Sorry you couldn't stay…
It was a text from one Emma Swan.
0~0~0~0~0~0
Regina brought them dinner four times a week. She always received a curt thank you from Snow and was dismissed at the door. She never got to see Emma, but her son always hugged her. And that thank you text always came.
She didn't know why she kept doing it. She thought she might be going insane, or becoming a masochist. Those were the only explanations that made sense. That and being able to hear Emma asking if she smelt food; or knowing she did and saying how good it smelled. It seemed that was all the encouragement Regina needed to make more dinners.
This night, she dropped off some empanadas. They were one of her best dishes. She knew Emma loved Mexican food most and that was why she made them. After learning of Emma's love of Mexican food, Regina had made sure to learn all the dishes she possibly could—so as to be able to spend more time with Henry, of course. Empanadas were some of Emma's favorite; she knew that from experience. She just hoped that Emma would say something before she was rejected once again at the door.
But it never came. Emma had been napping.
"Thank you, Regina." Snow shut the door on her face.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Emma woke up to kisses on her neck.
"I've missed you so much, my love. I knew you'd come back…"
Emma knit her brows, "R'gina? Wha—am I back in a coma?"
"No." Regina smiled, "But you are dreaming."
"Dreaming… And I get to come back here in my dreams?"
"Apparently… What do you want to do? Henry and the girls are at school and daycare. We have plenty of time to do…whatever you want." Regina had a dirty look in her eyes.
Emma started sniffing the air. "Do you smell that?"
"Mexican food. Your favorite."
Emma turned for the bedroom door, "Regina…"
The dream world Regina watched as Emma faded. "You'll be back, my love. And I will be here."
~0~0~0~0~0~
Emma woke up just as the door clicked, and just as sore and broken as she was before she fell asleep. Reality, nay, recovery was a bitch. She grumped as she looked at her leg and arm in a cast and a sling, "Was that Regina?" she asked in a sleepy voice.
Snow turned with a platter in her hands, "It was."
"How come she never stays for dinner?"
It was an innocent question. But, Snow stopped moving. She was stalk still as she stared at her daughter. It was like Snow White, the epitome of all things good just sucked the life out of the entire room. Then, she started moving again as if nothing happened.
Snow took a breath as she set the platter down on the counter. "I'm sure she has other things to do. Besides, the Evil Queen sitting at my table like all is hunky dory? No. Just… no."
Emma slid into her wheelchair with the help of her son and wheeled over to the stairs, waiting for her father or her son or her mother to pull her up so she could wheel to the table.
0~0~0~0~0~0
Later that night, Emma stared at her new phone's screen until the light started to fade. She hit send and immediately regretted it.
I liked the empanadas most… Thanks.
It was the stupidest text she had ever sent in her life. The response that came was immediate.
You're welcome…? What did I do to deserve different words from 'Thanks for dinner, Regina'?
Oh shit. Regina knew that something was up. She knew that Emma was in love with her. She knew that Emma was desperately plotting ways to escape the confines of the apartment and go to the mansion to try to woo her! She knew! She knew everything!
Or. She was merely curious why Emma chose that night to start a textersation.
Emma pursed her lips. She tried to look through the make shift 'walls' of her room. 'Walls' which relied on rope tied to hooks in the real walls and sheets draped from the ropes, held together with clothespins. She tried to see if anyone was still up, but when she heard nothing and saw no movement, she assumed it was okay to let her emotions loose. She smiled.
Even if Regina knew she was in love with her, the brunette text her back.
And Emma responded.
I liked the empanadas most because I could use my hands. I didn't have to wait for anything to be cut up for me. I didn't have to be waited on.
I'll bet Snow is enjoying being Mommy Dearest.
Emma laughed. She covered her mouth and waited for any stirring. Nothing.
She won't buy anything I write down on the grocery list. It's been a month and a half being cooped up here, and if I don't get some Count Chocula soon…
She won't by you Count Chocula? What kind of a mother refuses to buy her child sugary cereal that doesn't have any actual health benefits?
Hey lady, I can feel your sarcasm oozing through my phone. And I'll have you know Count Chocula has PLENTY of health benefits. It's got the General Mills check mark on the box. It guarantees whole grain and calcium.
Did you google a box cover?
… yes.
You really want your Count Chocula that bad?
No. I want my Count Chocula, Boo Berries, Frankenberry, Fruit Brute and Fruity Yummy Mummy that bad… All of them are on back on the shelves!
What else does she not let you have?
Um… Gummies. I even asked for the healthy kind and not the Scooby-Doo or Monster's Inc. kind, but she never buys them for me.
The healthy kind?
Mott's.
Ah. Why Mott's?
Because they're way gummier and better than the kid's targeted kinds. Thems are nasty in comparison… I also want some curly fries and/or tater tots to go with my dino-nuggets—those she does buy. And um, I want some powdered donuts and Eggos. And taquitos and burritos. And pizza—sometimes she buys me frozen pizza. But she has yet to buy me Mexican food…
That bitch.
Hey now. That's my mom… Which is still weird to say.
Nothing. No response. Nada.
You still awake?
Yes.
You didn't say anything.
What was I supposed to say to that? 'I'm sorry. Remember it's my fault that you and your mother are the same age, and it's my fault that you're so jaded about everything yet so obviously still a child in so many ways…' I don't think so.
…Will you bring dinner tomorrow?
Of course.
Will you stay this time?
You want that or are you being polite?
I want it
Then I will stay.
Thanks for dinner, Regina.
0~0~0~0~0~0
The next evening, Regina brought taquitos and burritos made from scratch. She also had a grocery sack for Emma. And, she was wearing a power suit minus the jacket. She'd always felt Emma's eyes on her more when she wore her ass hugging slacks and a vest.
Sassgina was back to play as a smirk formed on her red-painted lips while she rang the bell.
Snow answered and stared at the plate in Regina's hands, "Hello, Regina."
Regina strutted into the apartment as if she owned it and handed the dinner as if it were a courtesy offering of being 'invited'. "Hello, Snow." She gave Snow a classic Evil Queen smile before turning to see her son making his way toward her.
"Hey, Mom!" He hugged her, "What's in the sack?" He tried to peer in.
Regina batted him away, "A present for Emma." She turned and looked around the room, seeing where Emma had to have been hiding.
"Uh, Regina?" Snow called, an anger in her voice only Regina and Charming could hear.
"Yes, dear?" Regina turned unenthused.
"What are you doing?"
Regina smirked, "Emma didn't tell you? I'm invited." The last two words were syrupy sweet and almost evil. She gave dear Snow White a smile then continued her trek to the blonde's cave.
"Emma!" Snow stopped Regina from moving further once more, "Is sleeping."
"No she's not." Emma called from behind the sheet.
Regina gave Snow a superior look the turned pulled a sheet slightly back to see the blonde. Emma was wearing that God-awful tank top that made Regina's heart rate quicken and some cut off flannel pants. She swallowed hard and let her eyes land anywhere but on the blonde.
"I know I look like crap, you don't have to not look at me like your eyes are gonna tell me something I don't know." Emma gave Regina a look then stared at the bag, "What is that?"
Regina smirked as she showed her a box of sugary cereal and her Mott's gummies.
Emma's jaw dropped happily like she was a small child in the know. She then masked her features and looked out of the 'room' to see if Snow was watching them. She waved Regina over and silently asked the brunette to stuff the bag under her bed.
"Thank you." She hugged Regina's neck as best as her one-armed self could after Regina succeeded in doing her job. She pulled away and realized what happened. Her immediate response was, "Sorry. I'm on lots of drugs. Painkillers. I got that rod and screws..and you know, the broken clavicle and the head injury…"
Regina stared into her eyes; she hadn't pulled away from Emma, the blonde merely stopped hugging her, "I don't mind, Emma." She whispered.
Emma stared at Regina's lips as she breathed her next words out, "You just called me by my name…"
"I did."
Emma swallowed and whispered, "Are you looking at me the way I'm looking at you right now?"
Regina continued whispering. Neither woman wanted to be heard. "I might be."
"Hey, Mom!" Henry's voice was close and Regina stood up, crossing her arms just in time for the sheet to fly up, pull from its clothespins and fall to the floor.
"That's my wall, kid!" Emma tried to not sound like her intimate moment with Regina—the real Regina—was not just ruined by their son.
"Sorry…" He gave both of his mothers a sheepish, cheeky smile, "I'm excited that mom's here." He said as he picked up the sheet and started putting it back together, "Dinner's ready."
"What are we having?" Emma looked at the brunette woman across from her.
"Taquitos and burritos."
Emma smirked first before a smile took her features over. She nodded, "That sounds good."
0~0~0~0~0~0
Were you?
Emma texted Regina as soon as she was sure that everyone was settled in for the night and going to sleep.
Was I what?
Were you looking at me like I was looking at you?
How were you looking at me?
Regina was sitting up in her bed now. She had her arms wrapped around her knees and was staring at her phone, waiting for it to light up; she had never been so nervous in her life. Not even when Daniel gave her, her first kiss. Daniel had never made her this nervous in their entire time together.
I was looking at you.
Regina stared at her text with knit brows. Just as she was going to let her thumbs pad over the touch screen to question what that meant, a vibration filled her palms and another text bubble came up.
I was looking at you like I did in my coma dream…
This might have been confusing Regina more than the other text alone would have.
You're not going to give me more than that, are you?
No. Thanks for dinner, Regina.
You're welcome, Emma.
AN: Thoughts and feels? Please read and review!