There were quite a few requests for a continuation of the last chapter, so here it is. I hope this lives up to your expectations. Thanks for all your reviews, favorites, and alerts. It is always very much appreciated!
"We're going to have a Harry Potter marathon," Sam announces walking into the living room with all eight DVDs in her hands.
"I thought you were going to make us watch girly movies," Emma says with a smile. She continues running her fingers through Regina's hair while the former queen rests her head on Emma's shoulder.
"It will be girly when I get the makeup and nail polish," Sam says sticking out her tongue. She knows just how much her blonde mother is not a fan of girly; that's half the fun.
"The real question," Regina says, not moving her head from Emma's shoulder; her wife's hands feel too good, "is what time do you think you're staying up until tonight? Because I see about 20 hours of movies in your hands."
Sam rolls her eyes, drops the DVDs on the coffee table, and runs back up to her room to get makeover supplies.
"You ok?" Regina asks once Sam is out of earshot.
"Yeah," Emma answers quickly. Regina sits up straight and looks at her wife. The glare tells Emma that she has been caught, and Regina isn't letting this conversation end until she has the truth. "I was just thinking."
"I've warned you not to do that too much," Regina teases. She reaches up and cups Emma's cheek. "Talk to me."
"I'm being stupid," Emma says, shaking her head, as though she can shake the melancholy thoughts away. "Just thinking about the past."
"About Neil?" Regina asks, and though she tries not to be jealous, it creeps in sometimes.
Emma leans forward and kisses Regina. "You have nothing to worry about, babe. I'm yours." Regina smiles at this, and continues waiting expectantly for Emma to talk. "I was thinking about the years after I was in prison, the years when you were raising our son. I was thinking about everything that I missed out on while I was busy fucking up my life. Usually I try to forget what it was like to be so alone, but tonight…"
"You're not alone," Regina says patiently. She's said these words countless times, just as Emma has said them to her. "And you will never be alone again. You have Henry and Sam and me, and we all love you so very much." Regina strokes her fingers along her wife's jaw, watching as Emma's eyes soften and a little smile spreads across her face.
"Thank you." For the comfort. For loving her.
"Anytime, my dear," Regina says, tangling her fingers in Emma's hair. "I love you," Regina whispers, before pressing the gentlest of kisses to her wife's lips.
"I love you too." This affection, this intimacy, even after they've been together for years, is still overwhelming to Emma at times. She stares at Regina with a teary smile.
They stay like that, smiling lovingly at each other, until Sam returns carrying a box of makeup. "Who's going first?" she asks, setting the box down and putting the first movie into the DVD player.
"Why don't we do you first," Regina suggests.
"Nice try Mom." Sam sits down next to Regina. "I think Ma and I should do you."
"I like that plan," Emma says, smirking a little at her wife. She leans over and presses a peck to Regina's cheek before picking up the most ridiculous makeup she can find: blue glitter eye shadow and pink, shiny lip-gloss. "I'll do makeup. You do nails?"
"Sounds good," Sam says, smiling widely. "What color do you want Mom?"
Emma fully expects a boring answer like pink or maroon - something that Regina can wear to work. But her wife surprises her. "Green, please." If Regina is getting a ridiculous makeover, she might as well go all out.
Sam takes her mom's hands in her lap and begins painting.
"All right, you ready?" Emma asks, opening up the eye shadow.
"Do your worst, sheriff."
Harry Potter is getting a letter from Hogwarts when Sam declares, "All done!" She grabs the handheld mirror and holds it up for Regina, who lets out a deep, rich chuckle at her appearance. Blue eye shadow up to her brows. Thick mascara. Bright red blush. Hair in pigtails that stick straight out from the sides of her head.
"If I ever get tired of being sheriff, I think I could get a job as a makeup artist. What do you think Sammie?"
Samantha giggles. "I think you're next."
"Do you like your makeup?" Emma asks her wife.
"This is nothing, dear. You should have seen some of the makeup I wore as queen."
"According to Henry's book, your hair was rather impressive too, though I think pigtails are as good as it gets."
"I couldn't agree more," Regina says, leaning forward to grab two pink polka dot scrunchies off the pile of hair accessories. Regina's eyes gleam with the prospect of payback. She smiles playfully at her wife. Game on.