Disclaimer: Usual. Unfortunately, I don't own any of it.
A/N: Thanks again to all of the reviews and the subscriptions and readers of my story! So excited to continue! Still don't have a beta, so all mistakes are mine.
Emma followed Regina down the long hallway in silence, trying her hardest not to look at her butt. My goodness Emma. You are fantasizing about the mother of your kid. Not to mention she's your arch-nemesis! Snap out of it!
"Here is the guest bedroom where you'll be staying," Regina stopped suddenly, and Emma, who was preoccupied with her thoughts, ran straight into the back of her. She grabbed Regina's arm, steadying herself before quickly dropping it like it burned her. Well it did. Just not in the literal sense...Regina felt a shock run up her arm where Emma had gripped it and tried to calm her racing heart. Emma flushed before she turned away and muttered a hasty 'sorry' before peeking into the room. Everything was white. The plush carpet. The huge king-sized bed on the far left wall. The pale rug under the ivory bureau. The two snow-colored lamps sitting proudly on the two tables beside the bed; one on each side. Emma stood there a while, taking in the feel of the setting.
"It certainly is...sterile?" Emma struggled for a word to use, looking around. Secretly, she liked the cleanliness of the space, even if the color was a bit... harsh and cold. She noticed that Regina wasn't in the room anymore but before she could call her name, Regina beat her to it.
"Bathroom's over here dear," Regina called. Emma shook her head, too tired to even care if she called her 'dear.' She walked over to the adjoining room that she hadn't noticed before and found Regina wiping off the white granite countertop. Emma gaped. It was huge. A bathtub sat in one corner while a shower resided in the opposite corner. Big fluffy towels hung on racks, and it took a substantial amount of effort on Emma's part not to grab one and wrap herself in it.
"Wow," Emma said softly, looking around in wonder, "This is actually pretty cool!"
"Thank you Em-Ms. Swan," Regina smiled, hoping Emma didn't catch her slip-up, "You can take a bath or shower if you want to before turning in for the night."
She turned to leave before Emma grabbed her arm again, more gently this time, and uttered a sincere thank you. Regina smiled a genuine smile that took Emma's breath away before turning and sweeping out of the room, adding a little extra bounce in her step. Emma grinned before gently tugging her clothes off, unaware of the dark brown eyes watching her every move. They followed the sweater as it dropped to the ground, and the jeans as they pooled to her feet. They widened when they saw the creamy skin being exposed before hastily returning their gaze to the ground and turning away. Regina was appalled at herself. Shaking her head, she gently pulled the door shut, willing the door to close softly. It obeyed her wishes, and she headed across the hallway to Henry's room. After saying goodnight to the most important person (other than Emma) in her life, she went to her spacious bedroom and got ready for bed.
Emma tied her hair up in a loose bun and ran the water in the bath, adding a couple squirts of bubbles in it, grinning. Couldn't hurt right? She sunk deep into the bubbles, enjoying the warmth that spread over her entire body. She leaned back and closed her eyes, happy that she didn't have to walk back home. Why did Regina let her stay? Surely it wasn't because of the cold... She could have driven her home. In fact, why did she even care? Emma shot open her eyes and sat up, frowning slightly. It was truly vexing and she rubbed her exhausted eyes. Whatever. She was too tired to ponder it anymore, and sunk back under the bubbles.
Before she got too pruny, she got out and hurriedly grabbed the fluffiest towel she could find. Emma gasped slightly before snuggling into the softest thing she'd ever felt in her life. After thoroughly drying herself off, she looked at the heap of clothes on the floor. She couldn't wear her dirty jeans and sweater to bed! Sighing, she leaned down and folded all of her articles of clothing before setting them on the counter. Emma wrapped the towel around her midsection and walked out of the now-steamy bathroom. She walked into the hall, and peered in the darkness. Damn it. Which room is hers? Why the hell does she have so many doors anyway? Oh duh. It's the one with the light emanating from the bottom. Padding softly down the carpeted hallway, she knocked gently on the door before it swung upon and revealed a fresh-faced, pajama-clad Regina.
"Yes Ms. Swan?" Regina asked, swallowing as her eyes roamed over Emma's scantily clad body. Emma swallowed as well as she took in Regina's appearance. Both of their hearts beat faster; both of them unaware of the effect that they were having on the other.
"Uh. I was just wondering if I could borrow something to wear for tonight since I don't have anything," Emma choked out, mentally cursing herself for being so distracted.
"Of course. Just a minute," Regina replied, "Come in."
Emma found herself in a room similar to her own. Regina left and went to her closet to dig up some clothes for Emma to wear. As Emma waited, she entertained herself by looking at pictures of Henry that Regina had framed and set on her dresser. The photos were lined up perfectly in a straight line. The first picture was of a baby boy wrapped in a blanket. His brown sparkling eyes seemed to pierce straight to Emma's soul. She blinked and moved on. As Emma progressed down the line, the baby pictures were soon replaced by toddler ones, and then elementary-grade ones. Some of them had Regina in it as well, either holding Henry, or watching him with an expression of love clearly written on her face. Emma felt a slight pain in her chest and blinked back a sudden tingling in her eyes. She had missed out on so much of her son's life. She crossed her left arm over her chest, and brought her right hand up to hastily wipe away a few tears that had escaped when she heard footsteps approaching. She cleared her throat and turned to Regina, who wordlessly handed her a long-sleeved shirt and baggy sweatpants for her to wear. Emma gratefully took them and smirked. Who knew that the uptight mayor owned such clothing?
"Thanks," Emma whispered, clutching the clothes.
Regina seemed to sense the mood Emma was in at that moment, so she directed Emma to her personal bathroom without comment. Emma dressed quickly, trying not to inhale the scent wafting from the clothes that smelled like Regina. She also blushed when she found Regina had tucked a pair of satin underwear in between the sweatpants. Emma emerged from the bathroom, holding the towel in her hand. Regina was sitting on her bed, reading. She looked up with a tiny smile on her face and set her book to the side, momentarily forgetting it.
Emma cleared her throat. "Well, um. Thanks again Regina. I really appreciate it."
"It's nothing dear."
"Why are you being so nice?" Emma blurted out.
Regina took a deep breath. "Well, Ms. Swan, I felt like our relationship," Regina tried not to stress the 'relationship' part too much, "needed to change. For Henry's sake. I would, Ms. Swan, like to uh, be friends."
"Friends?" Emma's eyebrows shot straight up to her hairline.
"Can you not comprehend that word?" Regina raised an eyebrow.
"No. I can. I'm just surprised that's all."
"You don't have to. I just thought it would be best for Henry," Regina said in a rush.
"That actually sounds...nice," Emma felt happiness bubble up inside of her, not knowing that Regina was feeling the exact same way, "Although Madame Mayor, I feel that you should call me Emma, and I should start calling you Regina."
Regina grinned. "Sounds good...Emma."
"And also," Emma paused, shuffling her feet, "Uh, I just wanted to say thanks so much for uh, taking care of Henry when, um. I...couldn't. I can see he had a good, um, childhood."
Regina stood up from the bed and walked over to her, stopping a couple of feet away. Emma looked at the ground.
"I have loved him ever since I first saw him," Regina said softly. Emma's eyes stung again, and she closed them for a moment before composing herself. She looked up at Regina, and into dark orbs that made her heart melt. They leaned in, transfixed on each others eyes. Closer...Closer...BEEP BEEP BEEP.
The sudden noise of the clock made them jump away from each other, both blushing furiously. "Wow! It's already midnight!" Emma exclaimed, looking at the source of the noise resting on Regina's nightstand.
"Gosh. Time flies," Regina was shocked too.
"Er, good night Regina," Emma said, liking the feel of the name rolling around on her tongue. She headed to the door and pulled it open.
"Good night Emma," Regina replied, watching Emma melt into the shadows before closing the door.
Both of them leaned on the opposite sides of the door, trying to calm their racing hearts. What the hell just happened? Emma thought. I almost kissed her. Regina thought. Emma wrestled with the conflicting emotions in her brain as she walked back down the long hallway to her room. Regina's room. She corrected herself. As Emma reached the bedroom, she couldn't help the tiny chuckle of glee that escaped her mouth. Regina and her were now tentative friends! Even though the...weird incident happened and it made her as confused as hell, they had made peace! Milestone in their relationship, Emma thought. Hopefully it wasn't some other ploy to run her out of town. For now though, she would just enjoy it. She went to the bathroom and hung the towel up in its rightful place on the rack before turning and looking at the huge bed that practically begged for her to be in it. Emma couldn't resist running across the length of the room and jumping in the over-sized bed. She buried herself under the heavy blankets, her weary eyes drooping, unable to remain open from the chaos of the evenings events. She was in Dreamland breathing peacefully and evenly when the door quietly swung open. A shadowy figure leaned on the doorframe, simply watching her sleep for a while before closing it like before and leaving.
Hopefully you liked the sleepover chapter and hopefully you don't think Regina was too creepy, watching Emma as she disrobed and when she slept! Thanks so much!