A/N: Surprise! Despite working 12 hours, I managed to write this chapter anyway. And it is my longest yet :)
Chapter 4
Emma and Henry were both leaning back into the chairs at the dining table with their hands on their stomachs and very satisfied looks on their faces. Regina noticed, not for the first time, that the son she loved so much and his birth mother sometimes looked and behaved so a like. The sight of the two of them having enjoyed her cooking so much made her smile.
She enjoys having Emma over, hence why she secretly used magic to quickly prepare a meal she was sure Emma would gladly stay for.
During their meal Emma and Henry told her all about what they did the last couple of days, which Henry had spent with his birth mother and the rest of her family.
From shopping for a new pair of sneakers for Henry, to going to the park with little Neal, and of course Henry had to tell Regina all about the snowball fight competition they started when winter gifted the town with it's thick white cloak.
All this family time that did not include her made her a little sad, she wished she could be a part of that piece of Henry's live too, and Emma's…..she had wished this for some time now "being part of Emma's live, with Henry would also mean spending time with the Charmings…*ugh*…. " But the more Regina thought about it the more she realized she would gladly put up with that if it ment she could finally be happy. But she quickly realized it was a dream she had to put out of her mind. Who would want to be with the Evil Queen, okay ex-Evil Queen, but her past would haunt her forever and surely cause complications if she and Emma would ever be together. Not to mention how the Charmings would feel about such a thing and they fact that they were both women…
She didn't even know she could develop such feelings for another woman. When she realized a few months ago that she had she was quite shocked and eventually told herself it was just a small infatuation that would go away soon, but then it didn't. And now here she was, pining over someone who could not and would not now or ever love her back.
When Henry arrived at the story of today's match between him teamed up with Charming and Emma with Snow, she tried to act like her normal self and couldn't help but say "Miss Swan, really? Cheating with magic to win a match of snowball fighting, cheating our son. I would have thought you'd be better than that, her dismissive tone of voice exactly on point."
Emma retorted with "Well, your majesty, we can't all be so fair as yourself" and added a wink to that.
This comment had not only caused a little blush to form on Regina's face but also on the blondes, because she definitely didn't intend for that wink to accompany the comment and they were both aware that 'fair' also means beautiful, though obviously in different context. And then there was both their minds that were kind of starting to drive them insane with thinking of the other woman.
The conversation stopped there and they all went to finish the last bites of their dinner.
"Regina, I have to say, no one can beat you in the kitchen. Dinner was amazing and I couldn't eat more if I wanted to. I'm so full, Emma said with a little sigh, followed by a "please don't tell my mother I said that."
"Well, that is too bad Emma, because I also made dessert." This caused Henry to pay attention to the conversation and fuelled by his curiosity he asked "Really, mom, you made dessert? What kind of dessert?"
Smirking slightly before answering "I made Tiramisu". Then Regina stood from her seat a went to clear the table while adding "But since you're both full I don't see how that matters", as she walked towards the kitchen with the empty plates in her hands.
"Hey, I never said I was full!", Henry retorted. "You didn't have to say it, you showed all the signs, just like your mother". To this Emma smiled while seeing Regina leaving the dining room and turning towards her son "Well, she got you there, we just look too much alike sometimes". Henry placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands, put on frown on his face and just began sulking while muttering "Yeah, thanks for that ma".
"Regina?" Emma walked into the kitchen with some empty glasses, when Regina turned around to face the woman who just called her name. "Yes, dear?"
"Well, I was wondering if I could help you with the dishes?" "I would appreciate that, thank you. You dry, I'll wash, you can find the dishtowel in that cabinet over there, she said and extended her arm to point her finger to the third cabinet on her left.
"Allright", Emma walked over to the cabinet, opened the door and took a dishtowel from the shelf.
Regina already started to wash some plates, so Emma could begin drying right away.
While Emma and Regina were doing the dishes there was a comfortable silence around them.
After ten minutes of working seamlessly together on the task, Regina put down the last clean, wet glass that was covered with foam from the soap she used.
Emma noticed Regina's hands were covered in foam as well. Without hesitation she grabbed Regina's hands carefully and dried them of by gently wiping the dishtowel over the soft hands she was holding and looking at.
When her hands were dry again Regina, who had a blush on her face cleared her throat. This made Emma look up at Regina meeting her eyes. She noticed Regina's blush and the shy look on the woman's face. At that moment she realized what she had done and felt heat coursing thought her veins straight to her own face making her match Regina's blush without any effort.
"Uh…sorry, she managed to get out, releasing Regina's hands ask she spoke softly.
Regina quickly composed herself but not before missing Emma's touch on her and replied "That's okay, thank you for drying my hands. She scolded herself in her mind "thank you for drying my hands, what a thing to say.."
Their little moment of intimacy and awkwardness was interrupted by Henry "Thank God, Emma thought, I just touched Regina and didn't even realize I was doing it until she made a sound…get your act together Emma!".
"Mom, can we have a movie night, the three of us I mean?" Henry tilted his head a little when asking the question and frowned a little. His mother were acting strange, both of their faces looked like tomatoes and they stepped apart a little as he had entered the kitchen.
"Of course we can watch a movie Henry, but I cannot decide for Emma if she will be joining us".
"Ma, will you stay and watch a movie with us?" Emma brought a finger to her lips and lightly tapped it against her mouth while contemplating what she should do. "I don't know if it's best to stay, I really screwed up just now.." "Already picked out the movie ma, it's you favorite, Henry said with a twinkle in his eyes and a pleading look." How could Emma refuse that face, even as a teenager Henry could still be the cutes kid. "Okay kid I'll stay."
Henry made a fist pump in the air "Yes, it's time for Avengers: Age of Ultron".
At half past 10 the movie ended and as Emma looked to her right she saw Henry sleeping on the couch. His head rested against Regina's left shoulder, she noticed Regina had put her head on top of Henry's and made barely audible snoring sounds. Emma sighed as she took in this perfect little family sitting asleep on the couch, she loved this. Spending time with those she cared about very much.
Emma rose up from the couch and walked over to Regina. She didn't exactly knew how she should do it, but it had to be done. She had to wake them up from their sleep so they could say goodbye and get a good rest in their comfortable beds.
She decided to just call out the tall brunettes name and hope for the best. "Regina, she whispered…..nothing…..again "Regina"…..no movement to be detected…. Emma rolled her eyes and said a little louder "Regina"….God this isn't working…. At these failed attempts to wake the woman she went for her second option. Emma put her hand on Regina's shoulder and tried shaking her softly.
This, fortunately, had the desired effect. Regina's eyelids fluttered several times before she slowly opened her eyes. "Hello sleepyhead, Emma said with a light chuckle". Regina was fully awake in an instant when she realized it was Emma who stood hovering over her. She lifted up her head asking "O Emma, is the movie over? Did I fell asleep? I'm sorry."
"Yes Regina, the movie is over and you did fall asleep. Henry fell asleep too, but he had quite an active day with all the snowball fighting, what's your excuse? Did you know you snore just a little while you sleep?" Regina glared at Emma "I most certainly do not snore, miss Swan."
"Yes you do mom, Henry had awoken in the meantime and joined the conversation"
Emma and Henry now both laughed at the annoyed expression that cover Regina's face.
"Fine she said, whatever" She stood from the couch and walked towards a window.
"I should really be heading home kid, it's late, you and your mom are both tired, and your grandparents are probably wondering where I am, Emma said while looking at her watch.
"I don't think you'll be going anywhere tonight Emma" Regina turned away from the window she had been looking through. "What do you mean I'm not going anywhere?" a surprised expression formed on Emma's face.
"Well, it would appear that winter dropped a few more feet of snow outside, it's simply not possible to get to your car without digging through a lot of snow first and you couldn't possibly consider driving in that death trap of yours in this weather." This made Emma walk up to the window as well.
"First, my car is not a deathtrap and second I think you're right. I can't believe so much snow has fallen in the time that I've been here, she said while scratching the top of her head.
"Awesome, we can have a sleepover!" A big smile broke out on Henry's face.
As Emma was laying there in one of Regina's guest bedrooms she played out the whole day in her head. And with that she came to one shocking conclusion for herself, there was just no getting around it as realization dawned on her. "I like Regina, I have feelings for Regina" she said softly to herself.
That night Emma couldn't fall asleep and neither could Regina.
A/N: That was it for today, I hope it was enjoyable :) You got to find out that Regina already has feelings for Emma and that she was aware of it for quite some time already.
I actually have one question for my readers: do you feel like the pace of this story is too slow or do you like the way I've written it so far? I mean, I have used 4 chapter for just one day…?
