Sorry for the late update. I had a few ideas as to where I could take this chapter but most of them clashed so this is what I've come up with – I hope it's okay.
I have finally written some Swan Queen fluff but I will warn you that it does not last very long.
There may be a few mistakes throughout this chapter and I take full responsibilities for them.
Enjoy
They were positioned in the far corner of the restaurant. Candles were aglow in the center of their table which was situated upon strewn rose petals. Regina sat crossed legged across from her glowing fiancé. She had a glass of wine in close reach of her right hand and Emma had a martini in close reach of her own. No words had been exchanged between the couple since their entry, they both just wanted to ravel in the moments and the time that they had to themselves.
"Regina?" Regina's head shot up from the menu she had been thoroughly examining at the mention of her name and she slipped her glasses off. "Hmmm?" was the only response she gave when brown orbs met those of green.
"What would you like?"
She looked back down at the menu and went to slide her glasses back on to the bridge of her nose when a hand wrapped firmly around the base of her wrist, preventing her from continuing her actions. Her face met Emma's and her eyes were filled with confusion. "That's not what I meant, Gina." She eased up on her grip and settled back down.
"You asked what I would like," Regina paused, "I assumed you were asking me what I would like to order from the menu."
Emma chuckled and attempted to reword the sentence that was misunderstood. "If you could have anything tonight, what would you like?"
Regina took time to contemplate the question before replying honestly, "you."
Emma smiled and reached across the table, intertwining her hands and fingers with that of her one true love. "Then that is what you shall have."
Despite Regina thoroughly enjoying her alone time with Emma, she couldn't help but worry for her son. What if something went wrong, they were hours away from him. What if he woke up in the middle of the night crying for one of mommies? What if –
"Regina, he's okay."
"What?" Regina looked up from the now empty plate that once held home to her strawberry swirl cheesecake.
"I know you're worr –" she paused and corrected herself when Regina's eyebrows shot up towards her hairline, "thinking about Henry, but he's okay." She held up her phone in Regina's provisional line of vision showing her the photo and accompanying message that Mary Margaret had just sent. Henry was curled up in Charming's arms, his thumb wedged in his mouth, and his beloved Dusty was hugged tightly against his chest. The accompanying message read;
He's been fed, bathed, medicated and cuddled. He asked for the both of you once or twice during the period of medicine time requesting "Mommy oo airpain," after much questioning and explaining we were informed that the only way the medicine would make it past his locked lips was if it was accompanied by airplane noises. No need to worry, he's been an absolute angel. Enjoy your evening.
Regina didn't realize the smile that had crept across her features until she noticed the cheesy grin Emma was giving her. After rereading that message multiple times, she felt herself relax. She'd never admit it to the school teacher in fear of inflating her ego, but she knew her son was in good hands. He'd be okay, at least for now.
Emma locked her phone and placed it back in her purse, before leaning over and capturing Regina's hand in her own, intertwining their fingers together.
"Before morning approaches and we have to return, where would you like to go tonight?"
"Do you mean right now?" her question was answered with a firm nod. She contemplated what she was going to say before smiling. "May we take a walk?"
"You would like to take a walk?" Regina chuckled at the confusion that came through in the tone of voice Emma chose to display. She smiled and nodded in confirmation.
"Okay," despite being confused, if this is what Regina wanted, then this is what they'd do, "allow me to pay and then we can be on our way." She gave Regina a smile and rose from her, but a gentle hand wrapped around her arm, refusing to release until she positioned herself back in her seat.
"Let me." Despite Emma's refusal she ended up begrudgingly allowing her fiancé to be to pay for their meal.
Hand in hand, the couple walked the length of the pier to the end. What they were greeted with brought a surprised and confused look to Emma's face, but not that of Regina's. Emma had planned their dinner and their night; despite Emma unknowing what was happening it was obvious that Regina had planned their evening.
"Regin – " she was shortly cut off by Regina hushing her with a soft kiss.
"Sit down," Regina gestured towards the seat that was positioned underneath an arch of roses. Emma hesitantly applied and slowly sat herself on the seat.
Regina approached her fiancé with a smile and placed her purse on the ground, following its movements to retrieve something from within it.
When nervous, Emma would often be found spinning her engagement ring around her finger before positioning it perfectly after three spins, repeating this action over and over. She hadn't realized she had been doing it until she felt a hand placed upon her own.
Regina crouched down to be eye level with her fiancé and smiled before placing a small box in her lap so she could take her lovers hands in her own and straightened the ring for her.
"I know this is going to come as," she paused to take in a deep breath, "a surprise to you, but it's something that is long overdue."
Emma's face was blank with confusion, but she longed for Regina to continue.
"We have been through, well, a lot is one way to put it," she chuckled nervously, "but never have I loved you more than I do in this moment."
That was all it took for Emma's eyes to pool with tears.
"We have already promised to one another, on many occasions, to spend the rest of our lives together, but it's time we vowed it." She paused and breathed heavily as she felt her emotions overtake her body as she reached for the silver box from her lap and removed its contents, revealing a beautiful eloquent diamond.
"Regi –" she was instantly quietened by Regina's hand rising to her lips to hush her. She dropped her hand back to accompany the other.
"I'm ashamed to admit that I have had this for quite some time, and to be completely honest with you, I'm surprised you didn't find it." She chuckled and looked up to see Emma teary eyed and smiling back at her. "I was just waiting for the right time."
She looked up and dark orbs met bright green ones, both as teary as the other. "I don't know when, or even if, Henry will ever be well enough for us to have a proper wedding, but we can wait for that, for this," she looked down at the ring, "we can't. Emma, I want to vow to you that I will protect you, cherish you and love you for all eternity."
"Regina…" it was merely a whisper, but it was enough for a tear to fall from Regina's eyes and trickle down her face.
Regina reached for Emma's left hand and took it in her own. She slid the ring up and over her knuckle and it snugged nicely against the engagement ring. Regina bought her hand to her lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand before dropping it to Emma's lap.
"I love you Emma Swan –" she paused when she noticed Emma's head shaking left to right.
"Swan-Mills, its Swan-Mills." Regina's eyes shone bright and she leant up, cupping Emma's face in her hands and crashing their lips together in a passionate and lustful kiss. Neither wanted it to end, but Emma pulled back, breaking the contact to stand and help Regina up off her knees.
"Sit baby," she gestured towards the seat she had just risen from and waited for Regina to be seated before trading places.
"I have a little something for you too." She walked over to her purse that lay on the rough wood of the pier next to Regina's and opened the latch, pulling a black box fixed with a turquoise bow from within the silk walls. She walked back and crouched down in front of Regina.
Regina didn't hesitate letting a tear fall from her eye and stream down her face.
"Why are you crying baby?" Regina chuckled embarrassingly and wiped the tear away.
"I just never thought this'd happen. That I'd ever love someone as much as I do you to wed them." She looked down as a blush ran to her cheeks.
"Hey, look at me," Emma gently shook her hands and Regina lifted her head, "There is no one else in this world that I would rather spend the rest of my life with. I want to be your rock, your confidant, your best friend and your loving wife. I want to hold you in the time of sadness, support you in the time of confusion and doubt. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our ever so beautiful son in my arms," she was completely oblivious to the tears that ran down her already tear stained cheeks as her eyes were fixated on the dark brown ones. "I love you Regina."
She lifted the lid of the box and pulled the diamond covered ring from its polystyrene confines and held it up to Regina's hand. She took the shaky tanned hand into her own and slid the ring on ever so gently. She was just about to pull back when hands were on her face pulling her upwards. Lips crushed together in a well-deserved kiss. It slowly broke apart when both women desperately required air. Regina leant down and placed her forehead against her now wife's and placed a kiss to the tip of her nose.
"Did I tell you how much I love you?" Regina asked innocently, only to have her questions answered with a light chuckle dispersing from the younger woman's lips.
"Maybe once or twice, but it doesn't hurt to hear it again."
"Well, Emma Swan-Mills, I love you. I love you and your ridiculous yellow bug, your plastic jacket and your skin tight jeans that show off your arse quite nicely," she paused when she noticed a smirk creeping along Emma's features.
"Has Madame Mayor been checking out my arse?" Regina dipped her head in embarrassment for throwing her head up, a comeback prepared. "Technically speaking, that arse is now mine," she smirked and leant down capturing the younger woman's lips in her own.
As Emma stood from her crouched position, she felt Regina stand with her, wrapping her arms around her neck as neither woman wanted to break the kiss. Emma lifted the brunette and felt her arms wrap tighter around her neck as legs toned tanned legs wrapped snuggly around her waist. She turned and sat on the seat with Regina in her lap. Their kiss only broke when they heard someone clear their throat. They shot apart and looked in the direction the disturbance had come from.
"It may be late ladies, but it's still a crime to show deep affection at the rate you were in public."
It was only when Emma heard the woman speak that she dared to open her eyes.
"Lily?"
"Good evening, Emma." You could hear the jealousy in her voice and her face was a mix of emotions. It was only when Regina cleared her throat, much alike the younger woman had done earlier, to remind Emma that she was still here.
"Oh," Emma broke her gaze with Lily and looked at her wife's confused face. "Regina, this is Lily. Lily, this is Regina."
Regina turned her head and looked at the woman who had disturbed them and rolled her eyes. "And who might you be?"
Lily smirked and Emma buried her head in the back of Regina's shoulder, knowing what Lily was about to say.
"Emma's first love," she crossed her arms over her chest and kinked and eyebrow in mimic to her smirk.
"Well, Lily," Regina nudged her shoulder and Emma slowly peeked her head out, "unfortunately for you," she held up her left hand, "Emma is a married woman. Next time you rudely interrupt someone's intimacy, make sure you know why they're kissing so feverishly." She turned her head and pulled Emma's face to hers, crashing their lips in a burning kiss.
"You can be on your way now." She turned back to look at Lily who's mouth had dropped to the floor.
She continued her glare, staring her up and down. Lily's face was stone cold and her eyes pooled with tears, before she turned and ran off the dock and into the night.
"That was a little mean, don't you think?"
"No."
"I know that we're marri –"
"Dear, it's not a matter of us being married; it's a matter of her being rude and obnoxious and needing to be taught a lesson," she answered honestly. "Now, where were we?"
They decided it'd be best to stop their intimacy as they knew that heated kisses would turn into strewn clothing and messy orgasms. They had just entered the bug and gotten onto the highway when Emma's phone rang.
"I'll get it dear," Regina removed the hand that she had rested on her wife's knee and leant down to unlatch the clasp of Emma's purse to retrieve her phone.
"Who is it?" Emma leant over trying to catch a glance at the name at the same time as keeping her eyes on the road.
There was no response.
"Regina?"
"It's your mother," her voice was shaky and her hands were trembling.
"I'll answer it," she leant over and took the phone from Regina's grasp and swiftly slid her thumb across the screen, answering the call.
"Mom, is everything okay?"
She looked over and noticed Regina was looking out the window. Despite her facing the opposite way looking out into the dark of the night, Emma could see in the reflection of the window that her bottom lip was trembling. Emma pulled off the highway to the side of the road and parked the car – her wife needed comforting right now, their drive would have to wait. She leant over and took Regina's hand into her own, tracing lazy circles over the back of her hand with the print of her thumb.
"We're just driving to our hotel for the night, why? What's wrong?"
"Put him on."
Regina refused to make eye contact with Emma and kept her teary eyes fixated on the tree they were parked next to.
There was a pause and she heard shuffling at the end of the phone and the faint cry that could be heard previously in the back ground loudened as her mother approached her son.
"Henry?" her voice was smooth and calm, "its mommy darling," she continued to speak in a soothing tone, "what's the matter munchkin?" She couldn't make out what he was saying due to his continuous sobs. She was about to ask if he wanted to talk to his mama when the line went dead silent.
"Henry?"
No response.
"Munchkin?"
Still, no response.
All of a sudden she heard Snow and David at the other end shuffling around what must've been Henry when she heard, wait, was that crying?
"Mom? Mom!"
The line fell dead and she was answered by the dial tone.
"Shit!" she cursed smashing her hand on the steering wheel and throwing her phone into the compartment beneath her car radio.
"He's sick, isn't he," there was no question in her voice, she knew. Her voice cracked and she strained her neck, a sure sign that she was trying to remain composed.
"I don't know baby," she turned the car back on and pulled off from the side of the road and turned the car around, heading south towards Maine, "I don't know."
A silent fell around them and it was broken only moments later by Regina's fragile frame shaking violently from her sobs.
Emma knew there was nothing she'd be able to do to comfort her wife until Regina knew her son was okay, so when they began the straight to Maine, Emma leaned over and kissed Regina's temple.
"He'll be okay Gina, he's a fighter."
"What if he's not? The one time that we go away, he gets sick," she turned to look at her wife but thought against it. Even though the pair had been together for approaching 5 years, Regina still refused to show how weak she was in times like this. "It was destined to happen." She turned back and looked out the window. "It's my fault," she snapped, "it's all my fault," her voice broke, her shoulders slumped and her head fell into her hand as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Baby, hey," Emma rubbed her back in comfort at the same time as keeping control of the car, "don't say that, it's not your fa-"
"It is Emma!" she snapped, "We shouldn't have left him! He needs us and we're not there! What if he di-" she was cut off yet again when her sobs overtook her body. That was enough. Emma put her foot to the floor and they sped off, leaving nothing but a cloud of dirt and dust behind them.
I was asked to write Lily in somewhere hence why the sudden appearance, hope I doesn't affect the chapter, my apologies if it did.
Please review, it fuels my writing.
Mwah! xx
