A/N: Apologies for any errors, doing a lot of things at once in preparation of our impending vacation. I hope you enjoy!
In the end, Regina had decided it was best to wait until after Wolf's Time had ended before she would approach both Emma and Robin Hood about the treatment of the girl Nita. Doing so before then would probably be hazardous for their health.
As it was, when she'd spoken to Red about it, the woman's lip had curled every time Robin was mentioned. She knew Red had a spectacular willpower, but she'd rather err on the side of caution. The last thing she needed was Red tearing Robin's throat out because he gave her a soft look.
If she had to speak to Emma about anything involving the young were, she was fairly certain she'd end up harming the blonde woman herself. Emma wasn't a horrible person, she just tended to not think things through. Regina had already seen how the populace reacted to unknown elements – she was aware how quickly the populace had turned on Red with some rhetoric and a well-framed murder.
That had been while Red was well known as Snow White's best friend and ally. The fact that Red had been a steadfast ally who'd fought fiercely against the tyrannical monarchies had been forgotten.
Regina bit her lip as she considered the young girl currently seated at her kitchen table, eyeing the appliances with no small hint of awe. Nita was not evil. Regina had stared evil in the eye every morning for years. Though Nita was no innocent, she had probably done no more than the average person would in a fight for survival.
She smiled as she observed Red speaking lowly to the girl. Nita had woken up a short time before, and she'd nervously asked where Red was. Again, Regina was glad Red had stayed. The anxious girl had immediately calmed upon seeing the taller woman, and Regina couldn't blame her in the least.
Red was an impressive specimen, both as a woman and a wolf.
"Regina?" Red's head tilted as she waited for the petite woman to pull away from her thoughts. "Nita would like to run with us tonight."
The former queen focused on the blushing young girl, and a smile blossomed. "That would be acceptable."
Nita grinned, her white teeth gleaming against her copper skin. "I haven't run with another wolf for months. I'm honored to run with you and your mate."
Regina was flabbergasted, unsure how to respond.
Red easily recognized her discomfort and shifted to Nita's attention. "Actually Nita, w—"
"We're always more than happy to have more company during Wolf's Time. I know it must have been difficult for you all alone." Regina didn't look at Red as she interrupted the woman, instead pretending that Nita had her complete attention.
"Yeah," Nita's smile dimmed. "It's been months seen I've seen my family. I miss my pack."
There was a pull in Regina's chest at the melancholy words, and she found herself walking over to sit on the other side of the girl. She brought a hand hesitantly up to rub at the girl's back, and she was happy when Nita eased into the touch.
"How is it no one found you before? There are a fair number of Merry Men lurking in that part of the forest." She kept her hand moving as she spoke, rubbing light circles in hopes of comforting the child.
"I stayed in my wolf skin as much as I could. That man wasn't the first to patrol that part of the forest, he was just the most alert. The other ones before didn't pay attention to a lone wolf's tracks. I don't think they know this isn't normal wolf territory. I didn't come across even a hint of a wolf my entire time there." Amber eyes were wide as she turned to look at Red and Regina. "I had no idea that you were here."
"We generally avoid that part of the forest because of the Merry Men," Red supplied honestly. She'd been quiet as she tried to figure out what was going on in Regina's mind. She didn't want to reveal that Regina had only been a wolf for one day, and for whatever reason, Regina didn't want the pup to know that they weren't mates.
Regina was about to say more, when her skin began to itch. She glanced out to see the sun beginning to set. "I think that's enough talk for now. The sun is setting, and the moon would very much like our company tonight."
Nita grinned and hopped off her chair excitedly, bouncing and enlivened at the thought of not being alone. Red couldn't help but grin right back, she knew exactly how the girl felt. It hadn't been too long ago that she'd been alone.
Her eyes flicked over to Regina. She wasn't entirely sure she still wasn't alone, but at least her wolf would have company during Wolf's Time.
They walked out of the house together, and as soon as the sky totally darkened they shifted to start their night-long homage to the moon.
The young wolf was shy at first, but as the night progressed she grew more comfortable with her new hosts. The loneliness she'd fought against for the last few months was slowly dispelled, and hope burgeoned in her heart that maybe one day she could find her way home.
Wolf's Time passed without further incident, and Regina and Red took turns coaxing information from the young wolf. Their own problems were temporarily forgotten as they tried their best to help settle the adolescent girl in.
Henry had been startled to find a new addition to the house on Mifflin, but as soon as his mother had explained the situation he'd given her a big hug and told her she'd done the right thing in inviting the girl into their home.
It was the first day after Wolf's Time, and Regina was surprised at how different she felt. During the full moon there had been a certain tension that lingered and heightened the intensity of everything she'd experienced. She felt wholly in control of herself again, and the thought brought her comfort. It made her list of things to do more bearable.
She waited as the call connected, and wasn't surprised when it only rang twice before being answered.
"Sheriff Swan speaking, how can I help you?"
Regina smiled when she felt only a fond sort of rancor at the familiar voice. "Emma," she began brusquely. "I have an important matter to discuss with you and would like to speak with you in person about it."
Emma sputtered for a moment, before agreeing to visit Regina at the house on Mifflin.
She didn't have to wait long, and fifteen minutes later she and Emma were ensconced in her den. They were sitting across from each other, and Regina carefully set down her mug of tea before she spoke.
"I wanted to apologize about the other day," Emma spoke hurriedly. "I actually like Red, I was just trying to tease you. I never thought that you actually, really, were in to women and Red of all people. Not that Red's a bad choice, but you guys just seem like total opposites."
Dark umber eyes blinked at the unexpected choice of topic. "That isn't what I called you here to speak about. Your opinion on the subject is irrelevant to me." She flicked a hand in dismissal to emphasize her point.
The blonde woman sighed and rolled her eyes. "I was trying to be supportive Regina."
Regina bit her lip and counted to ten. "In any case, I called you here to speak about a much more concerning topic. I'm not certain that you're aware that Red and I stumbled upon a young girl living alone in the forest recently."
Emma blinked, "I heard a rumor like that, only it involved you luring children to your house or something." Her brow furrowed. "Is she alright? How long was she there?"
"She's fine, Red and I have been speaking with her and making sure she's well taken care of. She was living there for months. Apparently she was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when your mother's curse swept her away." Regina pursed her lips as she stopped speaking. She felt more than partially responsible for the act that had ripped Nita away from her family and pack, and for the umpteenth time she silently swore she would find some way to get the girl back to where she wanted to be.
There was a relieved look on Emma's face. "Good. I know you'll take great care of her, and Red is really good with kids too."
A smile threatened to break out on Regina's face, and she curbed the urge. Emma would always surprise her with whatever aspect of Regina she decided to have faith in on any given day. Of course, her opinion might change a day later, but Regina would accept the positive comment at face value.
She cleared her throat. "There is something else...and I only wish to tell you because I know it will be revealed anyway. It truly wouldn't normally be my place to share such information, but Nita has given me permission to do what I think is best."
She had Emma's full attention, so she continued. "Nita is a Child of the Moon, like Red. She has full control over her wolf, so that's nothing to be concerned about. What I am concerned about is the presence of the Merry Men in the forest."
Emma's brows rose, "What do you mean?"
Regina's lip curled in disdain. "When Red found Nita, the girl was cornered by one of the Merry Men. He had a crossbow pointed at the child, and when Red tried to intervene, he shot at her." She raised a hand to stave off Emma's angry response, somewhat pleased at the woman's righteous indignation. "He didn't really look before he shot, and he did apologize, but if it had been anyone other than me or Red, the result would have been tragic."
"So, let me get this straight – this fully grown man had a little girl cornered with a crossbow in the forest and he shot at Red?" Her face was stormy. "Why didn't you guys call me sooner?" There was a hint of frustration in her voice.
"You have to understand; it was Wolf's Time and it's very difficult to maintain control. The wolf presses close to the surface, and many people find that very intimidating. We hoped to avoid any unfortunate incidents. Also, we wanted to give Nita time to feel safe and comfortable here." She angled her head slightly as she watched the emotions chase over Emma's face.
"Alright," the sheriff grunted in reluctant acceptance. "You want me to arrest the guy?"
"I would actually like you to accompany me to have a discussion with Robin Hood," she relayed after a few moments of hesitation. "I would hate to think that someone would be hurt simply trying to enjoy a hike in the forest." Left unspoken was the fact that she didn't want to be alone with Robin Hood.
Normally, she might like to ask Red along to assist with such a discussion, but Red's ire for Robin Hood hadn't dimmed as Wolf's Time ended. Red had admitted it might have more to do with the baby and the looming assumption people would surely have about the father of Regina's child. She'd felt inordinately pleased at Red's admission, though she hadn't voiced her thoughts.
"That sounds like a good idea." Emma nodded and eyed Regina expectantly. "You wanna go now?"
"The sooner the better," Regina agreed as she smoothed her hands over the grey fabric of her skirt. She stood and eyed Emma for a moment. "I hope you came in your cruiser rather than that pathetic piece of metal you insist is a car."
Emma snorted and rolled her eyes. "We can stop by the station to swap them."
"Oh, no. I'm not getting back in to that contraption. You can drive back and I'll meet you there." Regina adjusted her blazer and raised a brow, daring Emma to say something.
The blonde gave her a flat look and shrugged as she stood. "Whatever, Regina. See you there." She turned and walked off without further delay.
Regina sighed in relief. She was fairly certain Emma's car was filthy as always, and her nose was making her far too sensitive to certain smells. On some days she was alright, but on others it was difficult to keep anything down. She hadn't been looking forward to the stale food smells of all the nasty wrappers Emma had a tendency of leaving in her car.
The cruiser was generally better since Charming also used the vehicle from time to time, and he generally made a point to keep the official cruiser in good condition.
She collected her phone to send Red a quick text letting her know that she was on her way to visit the Merry Men with Emma as they'd discussed, and also gently reminded her that Nita wasn't the only one she expected at home on time for dinner.
Her phone was tucked away in a blazer pocket, and she flicked her arms up in a familiar gesture as purple smoke curled around her.
The drive was quiet and relatively pleasant, and Regina was relieved that she had been right about the official car being cleaner. By the time they pulled up to the rural parking area Regina was confident that the day would go well enough.
It was still a bit of a walk from the camping ground parking and where the Merry Men had actually set up their own area, but Regina wasn't phased as they made the trek.
Emma eyed the other woman's heels and shook her head. "I don't know why the hell you didn't change your shoes."
Regina hummed in response. "As you can see, I'm doing just fine."
A scowl darkened Emma's face as she realized Regina was correct. How the woman could look graceful in three inch heels while traversing an uneven forest path littered with debris was a complete mystery. She idly considered that magic might be involved in some way.
A sharp whistle drew both their attentions and neither were surprised when various men began popping up behind trees, most of whom were armed with bows. A few crossbows were mixed in, and Emma glared at them all.
Upon seeing who approached in addition to the angry look, each man lowered their weapons.
Regina was unimpressed. She spared a glance over at Emma and noticed the woman actually looked furious. The blonde stormed up the nearest man, jerking him toward her by the fabric of his jacket. "We want to speak with Robin Hood. Now."
The young man gave her a bewildered look and scratched his head, shrugging and turning to go find his leader.
The brunette felt amused as she watched Emma huff around glaring at the lingering men. Part of her expected the blonde to beat on her chest at some point and start using simple sentences like 'Emma angry.'
Her amusement didn't last as her stomach started to roil in discomfort. The scents of the the camp were beginning to upset her delicate senses, and she had to swallow hard as the first feeling of rising bile started. She groaned internally. Not now.
The feeling started to grow more intense as the scents grew stronger, and it was with complete surprise that she realized the source of the smell was getting closer. Her hand settled over her stomach, wishing she could use magic to calm it.
Robin Hood came in to view, and Regina had to scoff when she realized that he was the origin of her discomfort. She just barely managed to avoid rolling her eyes, and she spared a small glare to her stomach. The smell wasn't wholly unpleasant, but for whatever reason the normally inoffensive odor was making her feel like she was about to lose a week's worth of meals.
She couldn't help but feel baby Lucas-Mills didn't like Robin Hood much. You get that from your other mother, she thought grumpily.
"Sheriff Swan!" the accented voice exclaimed in a cheerful greeting. He paused as he regarded the second woman. "Regina," his voice was careful as he acknowledged her presence.
Emma stepped to the side so that his line of sight to Regina was broken, and he refocused on her.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, ladies?" His hands settled on his hips as he waited.
It was Emma who responded first, the expression on her face far from amiable. "We need to talk about your setup here, and how your men need to stop terrorizing the people who simply wish to walk through the forest."
Robin gave her a surprised look. "I'm sorry, I honestly don't know what you mean."
Regina stepped forward, ignoring the way her stomach rioted against the movement. "You are not in the Enchanted Forest, or Sherwood Forest any more. This area," she raised her arms to indicate the land around her, "Is part of a public forest meant for all the citizens of Storybrooke to enjoy. You cannot threaten to shoot arrows at everyone that approaches." Her voice was sharp as she enunciated each word carefully.
The man shifted uncomfortably where he stood, one hand rubbing at the back of his head.
Emma stepped forward and took an aggressive stance. "Did you know one of your men cornered a young girl the other day? Did you know that he shot an arrow at a woman who was jogging through the forest and just happened upon that little scene?
Again he shifted uncomfortably, "Cesaire did mention that there was a bit of a mishap and a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Regina sneered at the term. "He shot an arrow at an unarmed woman! If Red wasn't who she is, she could have died! What if it had been someone whose reflexes weren't as sharp? And what the hell kind of operation are you running here that your men see a child as some kind of threat?"
"Now Regina," Robin began in a soothing tone, his hands raising in a placating gesture.
Emma stepped forward again, one hand coming out to shove at Robin lightly. "No. Regina is one hundred percent correct. This may be where you guys chose to live, but you do NOT own this forest. You do NOT get to decide who comes or goes. You do NOT get to threaten people."
Robin looked indignant. "It is rather unfortunate that a child was involved in this, but I can't wholly blame Cesaire. While I do not condone his treatment of the child, he was concerned about the presence of someone who could change into a beast."
"If you think something is wrong, you do not take matters in to your own hands. In this world, you get the sheriff, and that would be me. You do not get to be the judge and jury! That girl isn't a beast. She just happens to have a unique ability. You haven't mentioned the bit about him shooting at my friend Red, either." Emma seethed as she watched Robin try to think things through.
"I understand what you're trying to say Emma, but you have to understand that in this curse we weren't given separate lives like those that lived through the first. We were given a basic knowledge of how this world works, but everything in our heads comes from the other world! I apologize for Cesaire, but it is rather difficult for us to adjust." Her gave her a pleading look, and seeing a lack of sympathy, he moved around Emma to approach Regina.
Regina's eyes widened as he drew closer and the churning of her stomach grew more intense. She tried breathing through her mouth, but it was as if she could then taste the very smell that was making her sick.
Before Robin could get too close, she scurried off and to the side. She only just barely managed to translocate a safe distance away before she lost her lunch...and breakfast if the length of heaving she had to endure was anything to go by.
She panted as the heaving seemed to finally ceased, and took a few steps away to slide down back against a tree. She took a deep breath, and then another. Her head felt a little funny, and she focused for a moment as she tried to summon a bottle of water from her house.
The cool bottle appeared in her hand, and she eyed it gratefully as she rinsed her mouth out a few times before carefully swallowing a small amount of water. Her stomach was still a little tight, but she felt a little better.
Her phone let out a low tone to let her know she'd received a message, and she sighed as she pulled the device free of her pocket.
'Is everything alright? You kind of just randomly disappeared.'
She could understand Emma's befuddlement, and she carefully thought about a response before tapping it in.
'I apologize, it seems something I ate disagreed with me, and Robin's unfortunate cologne seems to have triggered it.'
The response came quickly, and she chuckled lightly when she read it.
'Pretty sure the only cologne he uses is a mix of pine cones and berries, with maybe a hint of badly cured leather.'
She bit her lip at the words, fairly certain Red would have gotten a huge kick out of them.
'Precisely. I do hope you were able to come to an understanding with him about the Merry Men.'
Her phone chimed again.
'No worries. I think I got him to understand, and I told him the next time something like that happens the Sheriff's station will be arresting people and confiscating weapons. I'm sure he got it.'
Regina nodded in satisfaction.
'Good.'
The cellphone was tucked back in to her pocket. Her interest in the conversation had waned, and now that her stomach had settled she wanted to get back to the comfort of her home to prepare dinner.
An unconscious smile tugged at her lips when she recalled that she now had to cook for four people.
Regina ended up finishing the preparation for dinner early. She found herself a little restless, so she decided to take a walk to the diner to check on her brood. It was still a little while before she would start cooking dinner, and Henry would probably already be at the diner with Red and Nita.
The walk was pleasant, and she enjoyed the relative peace. Her stomach had settled since her return home, and she hoped that it would stay that way. A hand rubbed absentmindedly at her belly as she considered the illness Robin Hood inspired. Red would probably be thrilled.
She snickered as she entered the diner, blinking once as her eyes adjusted to the change in lighting. Her gaze traveled the room. Red was just finishing up at a table, if the grinning young woman and her friend were any thing to go by.
Her eyes narrowed. She didn't quite like how the blonde woman was looking at Red. She glanced away to try and see what Nita was up to. A chuckle escaped her when she saw the girl tucked away on a stool with Granny opposite; they seemed to be having a serious discussion. Regina turned and focused her hearing.
"-disagree, the meat of a squirrel can never compare to a nice, fat venison steak." Granny looked solemn as she relayed her opinion.
Nita gave her a serious look, "What was that meat I ate earlier?"
Granny's head shook. "That wasn't meat, that was pasta."
Amber eyes were wide. "I very much like pasta."
Regina turned from the conversation with a smile. It widened when she realized Red had walked away from the lingering blonde woman and her giggling friend. The two odious women passed Regina without a word as they headed out.
She kept her stride casual as she moved to walk past the table the two had been seated at, making her way to Red who was at a far booth where Henry was sitting with Emma. Her eyes flicked over the now unoccupied table as she drew closer. She sneered when she saw writing on a napkin, and she swiftly snatched the offending object.
Call Me. - Katrina
Regina didn't bother reading the number, instead crumpling the napkin and tossing it into a glass still half full of what looked to be some kind of soda. Her walk continued as if nothing had happened.
Emma grinned at her a she approached, and the seated woman made a point to flick her eyes in the direction of the table Regina had stopped at.
The brunette woman blinked innocently before giving Emma a coy smile and a shrug.
She ignored the way Emma shook with silent laughter, instead focusing on a curious looking Red and smiling Henry. "Are you about ready to head over to the house for dinner?"
Red looked at her silently for a moment longer and nodded slowly. "Yeah, Granny grumbled about all the time I'm missing though. I think she wants to hire an additional waitress."
Regina bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to suppress her pleasure at the suggestion. She planned on having Red over at her house as often as possible, so she was in complete agreement with Eugenia. Her voice was carefully even. "If that's what she thinks is best, dear."
"Mom?" Henry sounded tentative, and she knew he was about to ask her something she probably wouldn't really like.
"Yes, Henry?" She gave him her full attention, wanting to make sure he really wanted whatever he was about to say.
He cleared his throat. "I was thinking, you know...um." He coughed unconvincingly into a hand. "Ma got into a fight with Hook and she's going to be alone for dinner since Gran and Gramps are going out on a date."
She shot him an odd look and spoke before he could finish. "Who's watching baby Neal?"
"Belle," he quipped. "Anyways, I was thinking that maybe Ma could come to dinner too?" He gave her a hopeful look.
Most of Regina wanted to say no, but she knew that Henry had been feeling alienated by all the time Emma had been spending with Killian. Henry didn't hate Emma, he'd just come to resent how very little of the time he'd gotten with her these days. She knew he would love the idea of spending time all together.
She sighed and gave him a look. "Alright Henry." He was lucky her interactions with Emma had been mostly positive that day.
Henry whooped with joy and looked at a slightly embarrassed Emma. "You're gonna come, right Ma?"
Emma's cheeks were still a little pink, but she nodded. "Sure thing kid."
"Well, that's settled then. I'll just go tell Nita so we can head home." She gave each of the trio a pointed look and turned to go collect her ward.
It took a few minutes to get everyone out the door, but Regina was happy when they arrived quite in time for her to have everything ready for her usual dinner time.
She had everyone situated in front of the TV in the living room before she left to return to the kitchen. She hummed as she went about her business. Everything had been cut and and diced, and she only had to actually cook. This was one of the most pleasant parts of her days, especially since she was aware about what smells triggered her stomach. She avoided the use of certain herbs and sauces, and things had been good for the most part.
As she patiently flipped a few things, her hearing picked up steady footsteps headed in her direction. She glanced at the door just in time to see Red come slightly inside to lean against the back wall. She sent the woman a warm smile out of reflex.
"Anything I can help with?" Red sounded a little odd and Regina's brow furrowed as she stirred a pot. She lowered the temperatures on everything and turned to face the lanky brunette.
"No, I prepared everything in advance." She moved so she was on the other side of the kitchen counter, and a lot closer to Red than she'd been before. Her brown eyes carefully searched Red's face. "What's wrong?"
"Regina, I want to respect your feelings, but I wish you would respect mine. I'm not comfortable," she waved her arms around, "playing house with you."
An onyx brow arched. "Playing house? What does that even mean?"
Red snorted in frustration and stepped closer to Regina so she could get a better look at her face. They were only about a foot and a half apart when she spoke again. "It means this...I don't know. Why do you want everyone to think we're a couple?"
"Is it so very hard to imagine? Us as a couple?" Regina watched the emotions shift on the taller woman's face carefully.
"No! No, it's not! That's what makes it so hard on me. You know I have feelings for you, and this is...well it's pretty cruel of you." Red had intended to sound angry, but instead she just sounded rather doleful.
Regina inhaled a sharp breath and pursed her lips. "Red," she paused as she weighed the words she wanted to say in her mind. "Have you ever considered the fact that I'm not pretending?"
Red's lips parted and her eyes widened. "W-what do you mean?"
Nervousness grew in Regina, and she walked over to the stove to check on everything. Noting that everything was pretty much done, she went ahead and flicked everything into the 'off' position.
She ran a hand through her hair before she turned back around and approached the counter that now separated her from Red. She braced her hands against the counter top and brought her eyes up to take in Red's bewildered, hopeful expression.
"I meant exactly what I said, and I'm not going to repeat myself," she replied stiffly before turning away again. She felt far too vulnerable. She'd thought she'd been pretty clear about her feelings, even though she couldn't quite bring herself to verbally say anything.
Did Red honestly think she could stand to be around so many people these days? Did she not realize how much trust it took to invite her into her bed most nights – especially considering that all they did was sleep? Did she not understand that Red was privy to thoughts she normally kept from most people?
Did Red honestly think she was such a cruel person to not notice, and worse take advantage of, the feelings the lanky woman hadn't hidden well at all?
As the Evil Queen she had surely used and abused many people. She hadn't cared in the least about the feelings of the general populace, and at times had reveled in the misery of a few key people. The days of the Evil Queen were long behind her though, and Red had said she knew that, but did she really?
She thought she'd been obvious in how much she actually did care about Red, but apparently inviting someone wholly into her life hadn't been seen for the complete show of trust she'd intended it to be.
Anger burned in her belly when she realized there were tears in her eyes, and she crossed her arms protectively. The kitchen was quiet, and she didn't want to admit that she was scared that Red had left.
She stalked toward the stove instead, pulling some serving dishes out to move the already prepared food into appropriate dishes. She would just ignore that any of this had happened.
"Regina," came the soft voice from behind her. She stiffened and clutched at the counter.
Red felt like thickest person in the world, certain that she'd even give Snow White and Emma Swan a run for their money for the level of obliviousness she'd been in.
Her hands settled on stiff shoulders. It hadn't been a declaration of love, but Red understood that this was equally as important. All the little things Regina had been doing to include her into a new family unit...the cuddling, the kisses. How could she be so obtuse as to think Regina only wanted comfort? Regina wasn't a robot; in fact it was safe to say that Regina felt on a much deeper level than most people.
She'd known that Regina had felt something for her on their one intimate night, and yet that had somehow just been driven from her mind as time wore on and her insecurities had taken root.
Regina didn't move, and Red sighed. She curled her long body around the stiff one, contouring it so she fit snugly around the woman she loved. "I think I just gave Snow and her entire family a run for their money when it comes to being an idiot."
A strangled laugh came from Regina then, and Red jerked back when she realized the woman had been silently crying. She mentally kicked herself, and gently turned Regina.
The trail of tears was obvious, and Red frowned as her shoulders slumped. "I made you cry." She was ashamed that her insecurity had led to this. Her head shook as she frowned. "I never wanted to be one of the many people that have made you cry."
Her hands moved to cup the soft cheeks. Regina had been keeping her eyes averted as she looked off and to the side. Red let her thumbs wipe away the remnants of moisture. "Regina, I love you."
Regina was surprised by the declaration, and her startled mahogany eyes widened even as they darted to Red's face out of reflex.
Red was warmed by the hope she saw in the entrancing eyes that normally drew her attention, and she began to slowly duck her head down. She paused just a millimeter away from making contact, her breath caressing Regina's face.
"You're a little bit ahead of me," Regina murmured, "but I hope you know what this all means to me."
"I do," she nodded and brought their lips together at last. The contact was everything she remembered, and she was swept away into the heavy emotion of the moment.
A moan sounded, and neither woman was sure who it came from as the kiss deepened and they pulled their bodies in closer. Red had one thigh inserted between Regina's legs, and she groaned at the heat she could feel from the other woman's core.
The kiss became hungry as her tongue slid over to meet Regina's and her hips bucked when the shorter brunette began to gently suck at her tongue. Wetness flooded her own core, and she pulled Regina in tighter. Their hips began to roll together, and Regina panted when Red pulled her mouth away to begin kissing down her neck.
Regina's hands clutched at Red's back, one hand moving up to tangle in the silky strands to pull lightly at them. Red moaned in approval against the skin of her neck, and she grinned at the sound.
They were so lost in each other that they didn't hear approaching footsteps.
"-at's taking so long and, whoa okay. So glad I didn't' let Henry come check on you guys."
Both women froze, and Regina chanced a look over Red's shoulder to see Emma half turned away with crimson staining her cheeks. Her hands rubbed soothingly at Red's back as she decided to take control of the situation.
She cleared her throat, "Well, thank you for your consideration dear. We'll be along with dinner soon. Have Henry begin setting the table in the dining room, you can help him if you're so inclined."
Emma cleared her throat awkwardly, not quite able to look at either woman still wrapped around each other. "Yeah, sure," she squeaked out.
As soon as the other woman walked away, Regina erupted into laughter, a grinning Red joining her a moment later as they hugged each other tightly and delighted in their bond.
Red pulled back after a few moments, reveling in the rapture she could see in Regina's eyes. "Come on, let's get everything ready. Henry will be upset if we ruin his family dinner."
Regina nodded and brushed a chaste kiss to Red's lips as they pulled apart, both working together to move the food to the serving dishes Regina had pulled out.
A warm comfort settled between them, and Red was confident that one day this would become a more permanent arrangement. She glanced over to Regina with a smile only to find the woman already regarding her with a tender look of her own.
The former queen might not have fallen in love with her yet, but Red could tell that it would only be a matter of time. Elation filled her as she carried a few of the dishes out to the dining table, Regina trailing just behind her.
