Rating: The first part in italics are light M, but the rest is T.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and make no profit from them.
AN: A big thank you to fledge who took the time to read through the chapter to check for any big mistakes.
They are standing way too close again. She can feel the brunette's warm breath against her own lips and the dark pools staring back at her are almost black with lust. Those eyes break away from her own gaze to look down as she feels soft fingers stroking at the top of her breast.
And with an internal flinch she realizes she's not wearing any clothes as her eyes land on the hand currently stroking her gently. The fingers move lower to graze a nipple that puckers slightly at the contact and when she raises her gaze to stare at the other woman's face she sees that it's full of wonder.
She lets out a moan when hands shift to cup her mounds and thumbs stroke firmly over rapidly hardening nipples.
And then one hand starts moving southward along her stomach and she has to bite her lip to keep silent as she becomes aware of her rapidly building excitement. She really wishes that hand would hurry up to where she really needs it to be. But it seems to take forever. And just as fingers chafe over neatly trimmed curls, the brunette leans sideways so she can breathe into her ear.
"You're beautiful Miss Swan."
Emma Swan wakes with a start, her heart hammering and body tingling. She quickly sits upright and throws off her duvet, the cold floor under her feet as she moves them over the edge of the bed feeling oddly soothing in her panic.
"What the hell?" she says out loud to the dark and empty room. How could she be dreaming that kind of dream about Regina Mills?
Transfixed, she stares into the darkness for long moments before she reaches for her phone on the bedside table.
5:17. Well at least it means she can follow through on her plans to stalk Regina because there's no way she's gonna be able to get back to sleep now.
A long shower first.
Almost 30 minutes later the blonde is shimmying into her jeans feeling decidedly calmer than when she woke up. She has come to the conclusion that her dream doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the uptight woman.
It was just an unfortunate blend of her unconsciousness because most of the previous evening she had been thinking about the former mayor and what would happen today and she hasn't been getting much action since coming to Storybrooke.
Yes that has to be it. So now what to do? It isn't even six yet so she can't count on anyone to be out and about.
Regina Mills wakes up to pain, the magic pulsing around her hands casting a green hue around the room. She grits her teeth and fights the urge to scream but is unable to hold back the groan that escapes past her vocal chords. She's aware of the thin sheet of perspiration coating her skin as she focuses on forcing the foreign magic back inside her.
When the pain finally subsides she releases a breath in both relief and annoyance. She might actually have to let the sheriff in on her current predicament as the pain seems to be growing stronger and the frequencies increasing exponentially the longer she keeps forcing it back inside. She glances at her clock and groans. 5.37.
Well she's certainly not going to be able to go back to sleep so she might as well take a long shower and get an early start on what is sure to be a long day.
When the former Queen walks towards her closet after her shower - already going over her clothing options in her mind - she briefly glances out of her bedroom windows.
What the hell?
She stops abruptly and turns back to stare out properly. That's definitely Emma Swan's ugly yellow bug standing parked not far from her entrance.
What is the blonde doing out there? Has she stayed out there all night stalking her? No, she definitely wasn't there when she went to bed. Then the only explanation would be that she wants to make sure she isn't left out of the loop. God, that woman really is too hard headed for her own good.
But even as the brunette quickly shimmies into a purple dress, she can't hide the slight amusement and intrigue she feels. The polite thing to do would be to invite the poor girl in to warm herself with a cup of coffee while she gets ready. It would be unfortunate if the sheriff ended up with a cold because she's waiting for her. No doubt Henry would find a way to blame her for that too.
Yes, that is definitely the only reason she chooses to forego her make-up and quickly slides into a coat and out the door into the cold morning air.
When she steps out into the chill morning air, Emma doesn't have any particular plans other than driving around in her car for a while. Her subconscious seems to have other ideas though as she finds that she's driven to the mayoral estate.
With nothing better to do since the whole town is asleep anyway, she figures she might as well keep an eye out in case Regina decides to get an early start.
As she turns off the engine and tries to make herself as comfortable as possible, her mind goes back to the previous evening.
Henry was not thrilled when she got back and told him she would be packing some of her stuff and renting at Granny's. He tried to insist on coming with her and she told him off as nicely as she could, explaining that she needed the time alone to think since everything was changing now. He nodded in as much understanding as could be expected from a child who still saw everything as clear as black and white with no shades of grey blurring their vision.
Funny how that gray seemed to take on the form of a certain former mayor.
And then her thoughts unwillingly turn to the dream that so freaked her out that morning – still kind of does if she's being honest. It's not that she minds that she dreamt about a woman, but because that woman was Regina Mills; her son's adoptive mom, uptight Mayor of Storybrooke and apparently also a former Evil Queen.
Fine, so the woman was good looking and had a definite air of sensuality about her. But she was also stubborn and infuriating and sometimes downright mean.
Sounding familiar? her own mind mocks her, and she mentally smacks it. She is nothing like the other woman.
Even entertaining the idea of Regina and herself as ever being more than acquaintances who tolerate each other for the sake of others is ridiculous and not unlike asking for trouble.
The rapping on her window causes the half slumbering woman to jump and she groans when she sees the annoyed and disbelieving face of the former mayor as she bends slightly to be able to look at her through the glass.
"Morning," she offers sheepishly as she rolls down the window slightly.
"Am I correct in assuming you're gonna stay out here until I leave?"
"Pretty much," Emma confirms with an innocent smile, taking note of the apparently make-up free face and slightly wet hair of the other woman. She's clearly fresh from the shower. It's amazing how different she looks without the red lipstick and the perfect hair. It makes her look younger and softer and not any less pleasing to the eye.
Oh my God stop thinking things like that.
"In that case I really think it would be better if you came inside while I finished," Regina states as she straightens.
"Huh?" the blonde replies stupidly, not quite managing to believe what she's hearing. Before the curse broke the former mayor would have been delighted to let her freeze her ass off while waiting for her.
"Hurry along Miss Swan," the brunette throws over her shoulder as she starts walking back to her house.
Emma sits gaping for all of two seconds before she scrambles to open the door and runs to catch up with the woman who's almost at the entrance when she falls into step behind her.
It takes almost half an hour before the former mayor comes back downstairs after having provided Emma with coffee. The make-up is back on and her hair once again pristine.
"I need to eat before we get going. Do you want some breakfast?"
The blonde's stomach rumbles in reply and she grins embarrassed as Regina's lips curve slightly in amusement.
When Emma gets into her car to meet the former Queen at Rumpelstiltskin's shop, the clock is roughly a quarter to eight. It seems awfully early to visit him, but Regina has assured her the man will be up.
It feels like a waste of time and gas to drive separately, but she knows better than to suggest they share a car. At least this way she can listen to loud music to try and keep herself alert, her body not surprisingly feeling drowsy when she got some food in her, probably because of the little sleep and rude awakening this morning.
And she definitely did not find herself stealing glances at the other woman's lips when they were eating. Nope, absolutely not.
"Your Majesty," Rumpelstiltskin says with his always sarcastic bow as she enters his shop, not at all surprised at her early hour visit.
"Ah, I see you brought company," he adds when he straightens and sees Emma following, her expression half confused, half disgusted at his obvious mockery of the former Queen.
"Not voluntarily I assure you," Regina replies snidely and the blonde rolls her eyes.
"So you haven't let Miss Swan in on your little…problem then?" he says with a sly smile, delighted of the possibility to create ever more chaos and tension.
"What problem?" the sheriff pipes in immediately, her gaze flitting curiously between the man and woman.
"Nothing," the brunette replies firmly, staring daggers at the shorter man.
"Now, now Your Majesty, we both know she's the only one who can help you."
"Help with what?" the blonde queries, getting annoyed at how they both seem to ignore her and her questions.
"Nothing Miss Swan," Regina tosses back, barely sparing a glance her way.
"Tell me," Emma demands, moving her gaze and request to the man grinning in amusement.
"Don't!" the former Queen warns as Rumpel gives her a calculating look, weighing what she could do if he continues.
"I won't ruin all the fun and tell you the details. You'll have to wrestle that from our esteemed Mayor, but let's just say our lovely Evil Queen is suffering some after effects of ensuring your safe return back to this world. And the only one who can help her is the Savior."
Emma's brows furrow in confusion as she turns to look at the other woman scowling at the man who's looking entirely too pleased with the whole thing.
"Regina?" she questions, forcing brown eyes to meet green.
"Later" the brunette states firmly as she sighs in defeat. "We need to discuss the most urgent matters first."
Emma nods in agreement, but gives her a look that tells the other woman they will talk about it later.
"What have you found out?" Regina asks as politely as she can manage in her vast annoyance with the ever meddling man.
"Bad news I'm afraid," he answers as he suddenly turns serious. "I put out some feelers last night, but it proved quite unnecessary."
Suddenly, the mood inside the shop has shifted, the air feeling thicker and the darkness of the room greater.
"What does that mean?" the sheriff asks confused, obviously having no idea what they're talking about when it comes to magic. She looks imploringly from Gold to the suddenly grave face of the other woman.
"It means-" Regina croaks out, clearing her throat and trying to pull herself together. "It means she's already here."
"What?" Emma exclaims with a gasp, her stomach knotting painfully with dread. If she's reacting this way to the news, she can only imagine how mortified the brunette must be.
"What do we do?" she pleads to the room when no one says anything for long moments, everyone savoring the heavy truth and all it entails.
"We discuss tactics and protective measurements and try to form some sort of plan," Regina responds after a moment, her stance shifting to one of sudden determination as she turns to the sheriff.
"But first things first, take me to the apartment. Now!"