*Without Sara, this story would have sucked bricks at some parts so I thank her for what she's done. She helped me to get in the mood again, drowned me with feels until I found my comfort zone. Now on with the show. Be warned though, just to be on the safe side, I kind of didn't do what you all asked me to as yet. Have no fear, in the right moment it will happen!
- Chapter Six –
"She wants me, She wants me not?"
Regina woke up blinded by an excruciating headache, one that pounded within her head and threatened to self-destruct her mind.
Eyes squeezed shut; she blindly stretched out her right hand, trying to locate the tray that held medications of all kinds. And when the tray was sent crashing to the floor because of her carelessness, she groaned. Even blinking caused her pain.
"Fuck, tray…" she muttered, eyes squeezed shut, "I summon thee." And black nails twitched as she tried to do just that, but failed.
Reaching up to press her fingers lightly against her right cheek, she could still feel the tingle, the after effects from being slapped. Last night had been such a whirlwind of confusion that at first, she really had no idea what had really occurred. Perhaps there had been no slap. Maybe she had dreamt the slap because Emma couldn't have departed her presence just like that after hitting her across the face. That was highly unacceptable.
What had occurred felt tangled, hazy. Most parts felt as if they had been dreamt of, or imagined. And it reached a point in time where she just honestly believed intoxication had led to her escaping into a deep sleep without any other activities preceding that. Getting close to Miss Swan, touching her, tasting her, that had all been a dark fantasy… It could never have been real. Never, ever.
You want her.
No.
You did seek her out and you marked her. You slipped up big time, it wasn't a nightmare.
Lies, all lies, because she would have never…and then like a whip, pain lashed across her body.
Eyes wide, fingernails digging into the red sheets, her entire body was literally on fire. And to top it all off, no matter how hard she tried, Regina just couldn't move. In a matter of seconds, her black corset became soaked in sweat as she struggled. She could move her fingers, could feel every other part of her body, but movement was restricted. So this must be some sort of magic.
"Oh don't move, dearie", and he suddenly could be detected in her line of sight, sitting neatly at her writing desk strategically positioned near the northern window overlooking her garden. "Don't move. Just…lie there." He laughed.
"Rumple…" she growled, her eyes cold now, burning with anger as she glared at him, "I command that you release me from…whatever it is you did to me at once!"
"Don't like the tone, don't take orders from you", he said smiling, waving a finger in front of him. "Now, you must wonder why I'm here."
Regina rolled her eyes as fire lashed across her skin, burning, enveloping her in pain. But of course she could manage just well for pain was not new to her. It was something that had become interwoven in her dangerous life for many years now. And she had grown accustomed to it. That is why she favored bondage and leather, the use of chains and whips. Even this brought a smile to her face.
"I have no interest in whatever the fuck you have to say", she said warily.
He stood up. His smile was maddening, his lined face twisted into an impish expression.
"Miss Swan", he said, and as soon as he did, Regina's eyes found his and stayed there with force, searching, and waiting. "I see that is a topic of interest. Tell me, how has the past week been? The prophecy is suddenly lit in bright colors isn't it?"
The room grew silent as a graveyard. But it wasn't because her recent nightmares had involved the young woman that he mentioned. No, it was something else, something that had been playing in her mind over and over again ever since that night she had met Snow White's daughter for the first time.
Her eyes grew wide, face expression changing from a disgusted look to one of utter shock. "You bastard…" Why wasn't she surprised that he had taken up a dramatic part in all of this?
"Whatever made you refer to me by middle name?" he asked nicely, stepping towards her, eyes round and black.
"That night when I was returning from Maleficent, my carriage took a detour", Regina began, her voice laced with malice, "I noticed because the pathway was different. And upon taking such a trail to get here, I collided with Miss Swan."
Rumple waited, standing there like a bronze figurine. "Wait, are you accusing me of something?" he asked, eyes wide in falsified shock.
"You caused that detour!"
"Perhaps it was the tree?"
"You imbecile! You wanted this to happen, for us to meet! You planned this, all of it. That night at the festivity held at Maleficent's palace, I saw you among the guests." Rumple's grin never faltered. "What were you doing there?"
"Many years ago when you frequented my prison, I blabbered about the prophecy…" he chose to ignore the question blatantly.
"Utter nonsense!" Regina declared in disgust.
"Nonsense? Tell me, how is your attraction towards Miss Swan coming along? Steady? Steamy? Dementing? Uncontrollable?" and when she didn't answer, but continued to stare at him with widened eyes, Rumple's grin stretched across his face. "You cannot fight it, dearie. Whatever is planned out for you shall happen sooner or later and as you know more than anyone, the outcome will be most displeasing."
"You did something to me, didn't you?" she asked in fright.
"Other than glue you to your bed?"
"You fool…"
"Liquid Lust…" was all he said, and the effect was instantaneous for as soon as Regina processed the new information, her dark eyes grew wide, lips parted.
He stood by the hearth with an arm resting upon the stone ledge. And diverting his eyes to scan her collection of ornaments ranging from a black cat in a stretched out position to an intricately designed gold jar, he waited. "I see you still keep your mother's ashes. A reminder that she died by your hands?"
Regina suddenly realized what had occurred that night. "Liquid Lust…unlikely to ever be detected", her eyes were wide now, "forces the drinker to succumb to nerve wrecking desires for the one person close to him or her that finds the person severely attractive."
"When that fire happened twenty years ago, you were the last one seen to leave the house." His eyes were growing darker now, expression changing. "I wasn't fast enough, didn't get to rescue her but I noticed…" she was watching him now, "that the explosion emanated from the stove in the kitchen."
"Rumple, you didn't…"
"Your mother never used that stove. Her aide, that woman who resided next door cooked meals for her."
"Are you accusing me of something?" she asked boldly now, her thoughts also resting on the unnerving fact that her recent attraction for Emma emanated from that potion, one that was so dangerous, it could result in insanity.
"You killed her."
"You slipped Liquid Lust into my drink."
"You were quite aware of my feelings for her, just as you were aware of my relationship with Belle."
"I never killed my mother and I sure as hell didn't ruin an already sour relationship with your precious Belle", Regina sassed, her eyes wild and maddening. "You did that to your hell bent self. That day, when her house caught fire, she was expecting you. Leaving the oven on to bake some ridiculous pie for you, I departed. She was sitting in the kitchen."
"All lies!" he snapped.
"Oh it's a pity she isn't alive to confirm, is she?"
"You turned the stove on and lit that fire!"
"This is ridiculous", Regina declared, lying back and closing her eyes. She smiled. "She's been gone for such a long time, and yet you are still wrecked over her refusal to accept you into her life as anything else but a close friend."
"What you did to Belle…"
"My dear Rumple, turning Belle against you was quite an easy task." Regina laughed hoarsely. "In erasing her memories, I trashed her feelings. And you restoring the life she shared with you only provided her with muted recollections. Kind of like watching a movie without audio, get the drift?" she asked in glee.
His eyes were burning now, wide and lit on fire. And clenching his fists, Rumple stepped closer to her bed, anger welling up inside his mind and body. "You will suffer immensely, Regina", he stated. "I will see to it that you do."
"Oh forcing a potion down my throat wouldn't sway me."
"Lust is a dangerous feeling…"
"That can be taken care of with ease", and with eyes wide, he laughed madly, forcing her to snap out of her false hopes to glare at him with curiosity.
"Lust, attraction, attachment", he said quickly, a finger up in the air, head tilted, "you are at stage one, and you will never reach stage two or three."
"This is absurd", Regina said scowling, "it's ridiculous as it is discussing this with you. What you did to me, that potion, undo it!"
"Undo it? Why? I love seeing you suffer, as you can recall." He smiled. "Introducing you to magic was the one way ticket you took to destroy your life. And voila! You took it!" and there was the wicked laughter.
Regina's dark eyes remained hard, black as coals as she struggled against his magic. "Why are you here?" she asked, never meeting his eyes, "to warn me of my anticipated self-destruction?"
He took some time before he replied, circling the room as his dark eyes scrutinized her living area. And picking up this and that, a smile would tug at his lips, puzzling Regina, unnerving her. The imp even pulled open her drawer filled with her toys: handcuffs and lotions, her two way strap on and other pleasure enhancing objects. Studying them, he turned to consider her then returned to his little impish game, his scavenger hunt.
"My oh my, look where this has taken you, to a point in time where you cannot live a second without craving Miss Swan…" with one wave of his hand, Regina realized that she could move again, but the pain, it was all still there inside of her, "and what you want is something you've been getting from other people easily, sex. Yet with her, it's different. Admit your feelings or suffer from your ignorance."
"Then I'll prepare for my death", she said sarcastically, her head dancing with attitude as she sat on her bed, "because never will I ever kiss Snow White's daughter with passion." Hoarse laughter escaped from within her. "How disgusting."
"Now, now, therein is where your problem lies", Rumple said shaking his head, "Miss Swan isn't her mother. She's completely different! Look past that and you will find so much more. Since you can't do that one simple thing: give the young woman a chance, then I will indeed leave you to prepare for your demise."
"And why on earth should I give her a chance?" Regina asked as she stood, fists clenched. Twisting the cap on a white bottle, she shook it, four tablets tumbling into her right palm. Four was overmedicating herself because only two were required. But she needed to be calm for the tension inside her head was too much to take. What her mind needed was serenity, a sense of calmness that would overwrite the anger and erase the fury raging inside of her based on recent events.
"Because she's your true love, dearie! And if you refuse to let go of the darkness, it wouldn't just destroy you, it will destroy her as well", the man with greying curls said, and after a continuous cackle, he waved a hand then disappeared on the spot.
For a moment Regina just stood there absolutely astonished by what had just been said until it reached a point where she just felt rooted to the spot. Then after throwing the tablets into her dry mouth, after chewing them and allowing the bitterness to choke her, she swallowed. And her eyes suddenly began to burn, threatened with tears.
Of course, those sudden declarations, that fresh news clearly clouded her mind for the next hour or so. It succeeded in dementing her thoughts. She sat within her bathtub trying to relax because Rumple would have never uttered such a thing without knowing something. No, he had seen a glimpse of some sort, he knew something more. He always was one step ahead because of his ability to see into the future, whispers in time. But he could be playing with her mind. All of this could just be one devious plot to destroy her for he had already made a move to do just that.
True love…
"No way", Regina said to herself as she played with floating bubbles, popping them with black fingernails. "Emma Swan, my true love. How…ridiculous. Rumple your old age is catching up on your mind."
But everything had occurred ever since the child was born. From the very first day when Snow had pushed Emma into this world consumed with danger and darkness, Regina had felt the sudden change within her. It had felt like a sudden chill that change was coming, something that electrified the air occasionally and puzzled her. That was why she had done what had proved unsuccessful many years ago when Emma was but a small girl, trying to eliminate the threat. It was all because of the fact that she knew deep down inside that someday, she would meet Emma and then those words that had been uttered years ago would come to light.
The child of the Charmings will be the Evil Queen's undoing, uniting the two kingdoms.
And as the medication worked in, relaxing her so suddenly that she completely let go of her anger, the headache raging inside her head disappearing in minutes, Regina closed her eyes. All she could see was Emma inside her mind: the high ponytail, a tumble of blonde hair and bright emerald eyes behind huge black spectacles. The manly stance and her rebelling way of dressing herself in anything but gowns, choosing to wear pants with shirts: all of it captured her thoughts for almost an hour.
Once again she overmedicated herself into calmness. But never would she regret it at all.
"Okay, so how does this work?" Emma asked with a serious face, legs parted, the heels of her boots hooked on the chair legs, blonde hair tied up high in a ponytail.
Other than waking up with a pounding headache, everything else was fine. But speaking about sleeping on the most uncomfortable kind of furniture… Aches all over, she felt so edgy also, and all of it stemmed from that ridiculous cot. Ugh! Reaching up, she pressed her fingers into her neck and groaned. The bruise on her right shoulder still tingled, but that was it. The faster it disappeared, the better because any reminder of last night only made her grow angrier and angrier. And the fact of the matter was that every single time she replayed the encounter last night, Emma just saw red.
"Just choose three cards", the guard said smiling.
"Alright then", and she rubbed her palms together as emerald eyes met grey ones, "Eileen, I've never done this before. Wait, did I pronounce it right?"
One out of the five female guards working for Regina smiled. "Yeah, now choose quickly whilst your energy is strong."
There was the sound of footfalls as two other guards were approaching in deep conversation. And when they saw the scene before then, chairs were pulled in a flash, them joining the party with wild fascination. Situations like these Emma craved for, the chance to socialize and have conversations for she had never really been a conserved girl, the type who'd sit by herself and read all day. At some point whilst reading, the book would be rested upon a table as company was sought out. And then when she was tired from speaking, or running like a lunatic among the children in the kingdom, Emma would retreat back to her book, trying to find some peace again.
"So are you the Queen's lover or what?" one of the guards asked warily, his hazel eyes focused on Emma.
The blonde's face changed immediately. "No…" Three cards were chosen quickly. "Not one of her whores."
"Seems like any woman we see here most times turns out to be the Queen's next bed buddy", Eileen said frowning.
"Doesn't surprise me", was all Emma had to offer, her eyes lowered.
"So who exactly are you to her?"
She waited a bit before answering. "I'm just a friend of Tinkerbell's. Also Ruby's friend."
"You do know Tinkerbell is her bed buddy right?" Eileen asked Emma, "farfetched and all, I call that fucked up."
"Just don't jump in her bed, is all", hazel eyes warned Eileen first then Emma, "you're too young to be used then discarded."
"I told you, she's just here on a visit, nothing else", the other one said as he took off his helmet to scratch his head, "don't mean to bad mouth the boss, but she's a snake. What she did to Angus was brutal, man. We were just talking about it up front." And Eileen noticed Emma's sudden interest in what was being said, her hand hovering above the first card to be upturned. "The dude just was relating what he heard about her at some party with Snow White's daughter. And in she walks, sticks her hand in his chest and squeezes his heart."
"In front of all of us", hazel eyes said, and he swallowed. "I'm new here, and when I saw that I was like, damn."
"What did the guard say?" Emma asked, her insides becoming chilled even though the sunshine was warmer where they sat.
Hazel eyes frowned. "Something about Regina giving the girl the looks, like she has the hots for her, which isn't surprising, because the Princess from what I've heard is beautiful." Emma couldn't help but smile. "The thing is, the feud that raged on years ago between the Charmings and the boss was quite…something. The lives lost and all that and to fall for the daughter of your enemy…damn."
"But she had no right to hurt the guard", was all she said, eyes lowered as she played with her fingers.
"She does it all the time", Eileen said warily, "nothing new around here. Most times, that's how she leaves a warning, reaches in there and squeezes, not fully to kill but the pain is horrible. Ask Maximus."
"Maximus is a wussy, he was looking for it. So clumsy, that one. If he was watching where he walked then bumping into the Queen wouldn't have been achieved, eh? I mean…" they all laughed. Emma smiled. "When she fell in the mud, and he landed on her, that was…" Eileen snorted and even Emma laughed.
"Her dresses alone cost good money, try ruining her hair and you're probably die a slow, painful death."
Another guard came running towards them, his eyes wide. And immediately, the other two men stood up. "You're needed in front, your turn to take up post."
"Well…" and hazel eyes winked at Emma, offering a hand, "nice to meet ya. And remember my warning; don't let the spider catch you in her web."
"I'll remember that for sure", she returned, taking his hand. The other guard just waved.
"Now for the cards", Eileen said quickly, "before I have to go." And she upturned the first as Emma watched. "Ah, first one says CHANGE which is basically self-explanatory. Your life's about to change drastically, love!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. Emma only smiled weakly.
"Your cards are different, not your everyday Reading cards", Emma noted as she smiled.
"Yeah, it's simple and basic. Just words on cards to most people. But it all has to do with the chooser's energy." The second card was upturned now, and Eileen's eyes grew wide. "The other…oh, this is…PAIN, aw this is not nice at all because you see, it can mean anything here. It might not be you but it definitely will be someone you love."
"Not my parents", Emma said with a frown, "I hope not."
"Well, stemming from the other cards, since the first one was change, I'd figure that something happens and then there is pain and sickness, probably something bad or…"
"I really don't like where this is going", Emma said quickly. "Let's cut the reading. My skin's getting kind of itchy from all the bad readings and I figure maybe because I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I have all this negative energy."
"Ah, sure but wait! We must upturn the other card or else you might get bad luck", Eileen said.
Emma sighed. "More than what I already have? Alright…" and she did, lazily reaching across the table to turn it over herself.
When it was upturned, Eileen's eyes grew wide and she smiled. "Ha, see? Check this out, TRUE LOVE…there you go. After all the bad stuff, comes true love. You'll find your true love!"
"Well that was nice", Emma said warily, and she sighed.
"I mean come on! Don't be all glum about it! I bet you've met the person already? I mean…"
"Oh I'm not that lucky. There was a moment I thought there was someone. But then, I guess I'm not that lucky to have my true love show up at the first try." And she smiled, tilting her head sideways as she did.
And leaving Eileen with her pack of horrible misleading cards, Emma dragged her feet towards the kitchen where her main aim was to get acquainted with the kitchen staff. First it was the guards, now the kitchen staff must be blessed with her presence because you see, that's exactly how she was. If you'd call it overly social, then you might just be right. The beautiful thing about the young woman was that she loved to familiarize with everyone, she savored making friends and speaking to people. And probably that was what pissed her off the most about Regina.
She could familiarize and be friendly, offer a smile to any other person, even a stranger on the street. Most times she'd even get a return smile. But when it came to Regina: epic fail. It was like falling in love with a cold stone statue that had this frozen smirk on its face.
It wasn't long before the cook familiarized with her, and realized that she knew exactly who Emma was. This was all based on the fact that Betsy had also lent her services a few times in the Charmings' kitchen, even helping them cater for their wedding many years ago. And this really amused Emma, especially after the gray hair lady with sausage arms sat her down and fetched the tray of apple buns fresh from the oven. Emma couldn't complain, but merely sat there with this huge grin on her face as she chewed whilst listening to the kitchen gossip.
Of course when the topic suddenly switched to the lady who they all called 'Reginal' because she was so 'regal' and 'anal', Emma couldn't stop the fit of muffled giggles behind her hand.
"Oh don't go heavy on the butter because her Reginal is always watching her weight, Denise!" one of the kitchen cooks warned sarcastically and laughter ensued.
And when the head footman boldly asked if they all thought Regina liked it both ways, back and front, Betsy sent a pot flying, barely missing his head by an inch.
"Get upstairs! Oh the nerve of the lads these days, pushing it!" she said with a crossed expression on her chubby face, "suppose her Majesty is to walk in the kitchen now as you ask whether she likes it both ways?"
"I really think she'd arrange to answer that question for him in her bed chamber", a giggly kitchen maid said, and Emma snorted around a mouthful of her bun. "Why don't I show yer how it's done, Patrick. Tonight come to me bed chamber and knock two times, once for one way, twice for both ways."
Emma couldn't take the fit of laughter and jokes anymore. Everyone was erupting like volcanoes, and snatching another bun from the tray, she wrapped her fingers around her mug and stood up. Ducking out the kitchen quarters, through a passageway she went, one that supposedly should lead somewhere of importance, maybe a destination where mischief could be done.
This part of the castle was much warmer than the other parts, she noticed. And even with the lack of firesides, or lamps, just the coziness of the servants provided such a warming effect on her as she moved past them. Most of them actually smiled at her. It was somewhat unnerving to ponder on the identity of their 'boss', the 'boss woman' because you'd expect a Queen such as she was to have these cold droids working for her, these people who appeared ghostlike with haunted eyes. That wasn't the case at all. Everyone appeared to be quite entertaining and comforting, friendly, except for the woman in charge.
She was just shaking her head with a smile, rounding a corner when bumping into someone sent Emma's mug flying in slow motion. To be honest, her emerald eyes froze in time as the hot tea splashed from within, and unto the most beautiful dark green dress she had ever seen in her entire freaking life. Have you ever flipped the switch on your lungs, or had some form of activity do that for you? Like something happened and you just forgot how to breathe. That was exactly what occurred when Emma's eyes were lifted and she stared into those of the woman she had slapped the night before.
Regina gasped in shock from the sudden scalding she received from the hot liquid, gloved hands lifted in disbelief as she gazed down at the mess Emma had made on her. The front of her bodice was soaked, and so was her corset, a greying stain slowly widening as the tea dripped from her and unto her polished marble floor.
She was a quick thinker, and fast enough to assess a situation and make a decision. Emma realized that today was not the day to die, for she was still young and had the rest of her life to live.
"Oops, shit, sorry!" she said quickly, and before Regina could even explode on her, the young woman did the unexpected. She stepped around the Queen and started to walk away from the scene of her mess.
Tinkerbell stood right in front of her, this huge smile plastered on her face, and as Emma tried to move past her as quickly as she could, the mischievous older woman blocked the doorway. Moving this way and that, they fought with each other, arms snatching, a growl then a snort.
"Move!"
"No."
"Oh shit, Tink, just move!"
"Noo."
Emma could already feel the dramatic effect of her Majesty making that turn on her heels, and when Tinkerbell still blocked the doorway, emerald eyes darted around frantically for an escape. There was but one. And making a dash for it, the door to further right of the room, she moved fast towards the exit.
The chase that never existed, that was what she madly imagined. Into the warm sunshine outside she went, her brown knee high boots leaving imprints in the freshly wet green grass, her fingers whispering against concrete railings, down some more steps and then she was surrounded by flowers. Chest heaving, Emma pressed her back against a fencelike structure interwoven with purple vines and she smiled widely.
"That was close", she breathed, and lifting a hand to check her heart rate, the galloping pulse only excited her more.
There was a polished bench made from a blood red rock that caught her attention for it was divinely beautiful in its sculpted form. With handles that were carved to appear like cat claws, she found it quite fascinating. And it wasn't long before the seat was sought after and there Emma sat, trailing pathways along the smooth surface of the bench beneath her as eyes grew wide from the cool feel of the stone.
After a while, her attention was so focused upon the masterpiece that she didn't detect the presence of someone standing behind her with burning dark eyes. The scene would have appeared almost unusually different to an outsider had they frequented that area of the castle on such a warm morning. But no one would even dare to since the garden was Regina's private dwelling space, the guards never daring to step between the flowers as given from strict orders. And there the Queen stood, kerchief in her right gloved hand, the other hand lifted to press against her midsection as she gazed upon Emma sitting like a mischievous student whilst she studied the bench beneath her.
Even a smile tugged at Regina's lips when she continued to watch the young woman's amusing moves as she caressed the stone, the way fingers moved across the surface, almost too sensual like a lover's touch. And it was too intriguing to interrupt by making her presence known so she chose to stand there watching, and waiting. Although she was angered by the hot splash of tea across the front of her dress, such things appeared to diminish as her eyes danced over the glints in Emma's blonde hair. The way the sun played with highlighted strands, it was quite beautiful to Regina. But it was also shocking to realize just how different her eyes were cast upon her choice of study, this girl who she claimed to despise.
And as Emma turned sideways to scrutinize Regina's sunflowers not far from where she sat, the latter approached the bench. Without making a sound, she sat down neatly next to her.
The effect of Regina's perfume capturing Emma's attention was instantaneous for that particular scent was different, it was unique, a fragrance she had never ever sniffed before in her life. It was a somewhat indescribable, a fragrance that was so intoxicating and sweet, heavy though, but from the first time she had smelt it, the lasting impression always remained. And eyes widening, the younger woman gasped.
"Care to explain the tea on my dress?" Emma turned around to hear her ask. "Are you trying to ruin me, Miss Swan?"
"How did you…" And emerald eyes glanced around wildly. "How did you get there?"
"The same way you arrived here", Regina said in a cool manner and she raised an eyebrow. The sudden calmness within her was good. Ever since she had been prescribed medication, close to a week ago, her life had been quite settling at times when she remembered to take them. Now without her anger as she sat there, she could suddenly gaze upon the rebel of a young woman without reaching out to choke her after that slap last night. "The tea…on my dress."
"Oh, about that…look, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to do that." And she tried to appear cute, fully innocent as her head was hung, blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders.
"Are you also apologizing for slapping me last night as well? Because you should be."
Emma swallowed. "See the thing is, I can handle being called a geek and a nerd for that matter. But last night when I was asked to be a whore for the Queen, by the Queen, I kind of took it as the mother of all insults. And then you had to insult my mom, calling her a stuck up bitch."
So what she dreamt did indeed occur, the Queen realized. That meant only one other thing: there had been the closing of distance, the taste of Emma had not been a dream but possible reality. And that suddenly alarmed her for above all, Regina had decided on a prior occasion that she would refrain from showing the young woman any sign of her growing desire to be intimate with her. Now it would appear as if that decision had been shattered last night. She could only hope at least the meeting of her lips upon warm skin was indeed a delusion.
"Did I now?" the brunette asked with a bland expression on her face. "Insulting your mother, I am not sorry in relation to that. But the former, I have no recollections of what transpired. So I can only ask you to blame it all on my intoxicated state of mind."
"You're going to turn me into a toad, aren't you?" Emma asked with frightful eyes because so far along their conversation, Regina appeared too nonchalant. There wasn't the slightest sign of anger or fire in her dark eyes. All that was there appeared to be the effects of a terrible hangover and a heavy mind. Dark eyes were too calm, unlike any other occasion, even last night, even yesterday. And it kind of itched at her nerves.
Regina was amused by this sudden fear. "It would be highly delightful; however I would prefer to scold you otherwise since even your apology will not evaporate this hot tea from my dress."
"Well can't you just poof it away with your magic or something?" Emma asked, quite hopeful for the dress was so beautiful, or maybe it was simply because of the wearer.
"Oh don't be ridiculous, dear. I would have done that already if it could be managed. But…" Regina sighed as her fingers fluttered over green lace sewn into her corset, dark eyes lowered, "I cannot use my own magic on myself."
Emma was flabbergasted by such a thing. "You've got to be kidding me. Really?"
"Yes."
"How?" Emma reached across her lap to pry the green handkerchief from a gloved hand.
"Well aren't you the inquisitive type. But then that should not be a topic of surprise."
"I like finding answers", Regina heard her say boldly, and folding the handkerchief between her fingers, a careful hand reached across the distance between them to dab at the front of her dress.
The sudden move was one that would have warranted an angry reaction from her had she not been as calm as she was. But she surprisingly allowed it, welcoming the assistance. "And what exactly are you hoping to discover where I am concerned, dear?"
"You tell me. I can't tell you about yourself more than you can." And Emma waited, her hand frozen just near the swell of breasts within a tightly laced up corset.
"I should now be punishing you for slapping me last night."
"And I should be…" Emma moved her shirt across her shoulder to reveal the bruise, "kind of reminding you of this, from what happened last night."
"Of course I would only assume that you really enjoyed that part of your evening spent here", Regina said as she barely smile.
"Look, I'll just blame whatever happened after on you swallowing possibly two bottles of alcohol. I'll move past it. But just so you know, I would rather be sucked like a lollipop by a sober mind."
Dark eyes met emerald ones as a gaze was enacted, one that initially began with just the meeting of eyes but quickly escalated into a deep study. And she lifted a gloved hand, wrapping her fingers around a wrist that had belonged to a brazen young woman. Then slowly moving Emma's hand away from her chest, she kept her eyes on her. "Tell me, what am I to do with you?" Regina asked quietly.
Pouting and allowing that cute puppy face to change her face, she tilted her head sideways as emerald eyes considered the brunette. "You can take me upstairs whilst you change."
"And why on earth would I do such a thing? Judging from your definite words, I can only reach a certain conclusion on your intentions."
"If you know what I want then, since you're sober now without alcohol clouding your judgment, then just take me upstairs and let's cuddle." The Queen's eyes widened. Was the young lady actually asking her this so boldly? "You know, like we did last night." And Emma successfully maintained a convincing face, still hanging her head. "Last night when we…"
Regina waited, inclining her head as she did, dark tendrils that were left detached from the clasp of her hair clip fluttered in front of her face. "When we what?"
"When we…oh must I spell it out for you? Geez!" Emma said in a frustrated tone. "I thought we had something special."
Dark eyes widened as a gasp escaped from within. And reaching down to clutch at the edge of the bench, Regina became suddenly consumed by cold fright and worry. "Surely I did not…we did not…"
"Oh yeah you did. Totally…" and Emma smiled widely, nodding as she did. "The Queen was soo in control last night; I even got to see your dark decorations. Totally awesome, which was something I expected from you. Loved them!" The last bit was uttered in a lowered voice, in a tone that expressed mild fascination, falsified of course.
She couldn't breathe, couldn't even swallow for her throat had become parched. "H-how did you see my…" a hand was lifted, and fluttered near her chest, just where the trail of her skin art began, her tattoos that no one had ever seen fully.
Emma couldn't help but allow her eyes to lower, an excited smile tugging at her lips as she suddenly realized her lie had struck gold. The Queen did have tattoos! And that totally drove her ecstatic, so excited that she was bursting with glee, wishing she could see them. She hated the fact that it had been a lie, because her eyes longed to seek out the art on Regina's skin. It was something that amused her, intrigued her fully. It also made her suddenly forget about the Queen's incessant rudeness and ignorance, just because she was so awesome for having tattoos. Tattoos!
"I told you before", she continued the lie, "or are things still not clear because of your…hangover and all?"
But Regina had reached her breaking point, anger suddenly breaking the surface once more, anger her medication had tried to subdue ever since she chewed them this morning.
Grabbing Emma by the collar of her shirt, her head pinched with pain. "I have had enough of your games, Miss Swan", she said through gritted teeth. "Stop playing with my mind." And she guiltily pulled the blonde closer, so that their lips lay inches apart, so close she could taste Emma's breath, feel her rapid breathing. Her intentions were to test Emma, to force her to do the inevitable. But really and truly, she realized that she was pushing herself as well because as soon as she did what she did, Regina couldn't help but feel the desire within her build up.
Emma was unfazed by such a move, so that when she was snatched, not a whisper of fear trickled through her mind. All she could focus on was the closeness of red full lips, and the beauty of dark eyes that were lined black, the smell of Regina's lipstick and hair: it was too much for her.
"Okay, we never slept together. But…" she sucked in air as her dying need to kiss Regina captivated her mind, blinding her, "it's all I keep…dreaming of since the first…time we met."
The sudden confession widened the brunette's eyes so that all she could think about was the fact that Emma possibly was the bravest young woman she had ever met. In fact, having come across other women who had been captivated by her, not one had been as bold as this to her face. Fear had always clouded minds where she was concerned, but somehow Emma appeared unaffected by her capabilities, her past, who she was being Queen and all.
The feel of the woman's gloved hand on her exposed neck, the grip she maintained, so forceful yet so wanting for it did exactly what both of them wanted although one tried to deny her desire. It brought them closer together and that's what was needed. The closeness…
Her heart was pinched with want and feeling, her fingers inside black gloves trembling slightly as lust thickened. And as hard as Regina tried to control herself, to keep at least some distance between them, she was on the brink of failing.
The feeling of having that one person you couldn't stop dreaming about be so near to you, inches away, so close that you could feel the warmth from within them. It was something that felt familiar to one of them but was completely new to the other. And the one that felt the familiarity realized that she had never desired another woman as much as she craved this one. The need wasn't only focused on lust, but she believed that it was. If it had been focused primarily on that alone, then there wouldn't have been a severe interest on her part to capture Emma's sweet scent and savor it forever. The way she shuddered slightly when her eyes rested on parted lips, wishing she could run her thumb over them, read those lips as they said her name: that wasn't just lust.
Regina was desperately becoming attracted to Emma without knowing it. Unlike the latter who had already accepted it. Behind ridiculously large spectacles, her emerald eyes were succeeding in bewitching the mind of the other. The shape of those eyes and the depth of that gaze threatened to weaken her, to drown her in attraction, something she just couldn't allow.
"Love…is weakness", the brunette choked, eyes blinking back desire, as they focused on Emma's parted lips. She absolutely wanted to kiss the young woman, but the fight within her was stronger, trying as hard as she could to conceal her desire to do just that. And she swallowed hard.
"Maybe you're just so tense and upset because…" and shaky hands were lifted to find the feel of dark hair, so that when she did, her fingers went through the strands, "you don't…you're afraid of what you really want."
"Why do you…keep coming back?" and she breathed Emma, her breath catching dangerously from the thin line separating their faces. She watched emerald eyes flutter from desire, felt her swallow hard against her hands clenched near a delicate throat.
"I know you want to kiss me."
Emma tried to wait patiently to see if she would not have to make the first move. She honestly did wait. Her shirt collar was released as their foreheads pressed together, eyes lowered to gaze upon parted lips only wishing to be kissed. And when Regina's grip on her wrists could be felt without her seeing gloved hands, the young woman moved her hands further down the Queen's back. The feel of her dress against Emma's trembling fingers, the softness of the older woman's skin just where her dress dipped low below her neck, it was too much to take. Could she smile at the smell of tea as well? Perhaps that would be too immature and out of context but she did smile. And moving her face closer, she tilted her head to meet red parted lips.
But Regina quickly pulled back.
"I refuse to waste my time with you", she said and watched as Emma's eyes took on a confused look. All of it made Regina laugh a dark laugh, one that was hoarse and terribly sliced through the moment. "Oh don't look shocked, dear girl."
"What?" Emma asked, her heart still racing as she watched the brunette stand up, a hand resting on her midsection as she purposely avoided meeting her eyes.
Breathe, Regina ordered herself within her mind, just breathe and focus. As hard as it is, do not gaze upon her sitting there for you might break completely. You might do the inevitable and lose control once again in those bewitching emerald eyes.
"It is not my fault that you are in love with someone you can never have", she said without emotion, gazing upon everything else other than the young woman sitting in front of her.
Her words were like a splash of ice water across the younger woman's face. And the effect of such a sentence was definitely felt as it should have, deep and hurtful. Emma's heart felt as if it had been poked with a sharp knife as Regina stood there, as if nothing had happened between them.
"Now I must change once more for the day since you ruined a dress I spent a fortune on just to impress Robin Hood." Regina sighed. "Oh and that mark on your shoulder, really I am quite disappointed in slipping up so badly." She considered Emma with dark eyes, a smile on her face, "many might call that a hickey, but I call that a terrible mistake on my part."
"Oh so you do remember last night."
"A night you should try to forget."
"Just a minute ago, you were anything else but the cold hearted whore I'm now gazing at with astonished eyes."
"How dare you insult your Queen in that manner", Regina sassed, her dark eyes stormy, "using such words on me that are unjust and disrespectful? You have no idea who I am or what I am capable of, Miss Swan. This…what you are attempting to enact concerning me is terribly dangerous for you. Being many years your senior, if you dare to use such words on me one more time, I will see to it that you regret your actions."
"Regret my actions? Lady, you deserve being called all those things because it's who you are", Emma said as she stood up, and stepping towards the older woman, she clenched her fists, "stained, damaged, cruel, heartless, cold, conceited, bitchy, a monster, you're alone, you have no one because of who you are. And you wonder why you're single? Have you ever wondered that?"
"It's my choice", Regina said through gritted teeth, stepping closer to the blonde.
"It's not your choice. It's the consequences of being the person you are. And all these years, you've been fooling yourself into believing it's a choice you made when really if you think about it, no one wants you because of who you are. Imagine that, you've become so demented, that you're pushing yourself to be this monster when you are just a woman who is broken and she needs love."
"How dare you speak to me like that?"
"Someone has to do it?"
"And you are in love with this…monster, this cold, conceited, heartless woman", Regina said.
"Yeah, I am. Stupid me, right? Our paths crossed for a reason. And you're the first person I've ever loved for a reason."
"I will not waste my time on you", the brunette repeated.
Regina was suddenly shaking not only from anger but from the intensity of Emma's words.
"Funny, but you are so in love with me that it hurts your black heart even to beat when the desire within you to kiss me increases." The brunette's expression changed on her face, the smirk completely erased. Emma laughed in disbelief. "I'm willing to even fight for you, to prove to you that I'm worth it. But when I try to even be nice to you, all you do is fuck it up. Good luck faking it with Robin Hood because you know deep down inside that it's me you want and not him." After smiling widely, she departed with an infuriated yet insulted Queen standing there still.
She spent a considerable amount of time just standing upon the balcony upstairs, gazing into the sunset that afternoon. And little did she know, just above her, dark hair was fluttering in the late afternoon breeze as gloved hands gripped stone.
Emma could have left that day when Belle arrived. And she could have just done so without looking back. But they had ordered that she remained where she was due to the brewing of a storm coming in that night. Of course Belle had been furious with her reckless move to come here by herself. Neal had told her everything, had explained how Tinkerbell managed to convince him that Emma would be alright where she was for the time being. But Belle never trusted a word of it until she saw her young friend in front of her. And upon seeking her out around midday when she arrived, she was severely astonished to see Emma curled up on the ledge downstairs under the shade of a tree with a thick volume of some sort resting on her lap.
Now after retreating inside to check on Ruby's health, Belle was frightful at first to see that her best friend appeared worse than before. Her forehead was burning up, and not even the aid of a soothing cloth could ease the heat. The doctor was called for immediately and she was advised to take her medication and rest.
"She seems distracted", Belle said quietly as she combed Ruby's hair, the latter sneezing behind a handkerchief. "But so peaceful at the same time. I'm sure she has been in Regina's company, but what transpired, I have no idea."
"Tinkerbell says they just glare each other down", Ruby said hoarsely. "And when one sees the other coming, they both turn and go in the opposite direction."
"Which would stem from what exactly? A recent confrontation?" and Belle's forehead creased in concern. "Ruby, we both know what Regina is like. She's a dangerous woman and even though Emma is trying to hide her true feelings, you and I both know she is attracted to the woman."
"Snow would throw a fucking fit if she only knew."
"Snow thinks Emma is staying by you. You're involving me in your web of lies, and I'm being sucked in deeper and deeper. What if this evolves into a romance, Ruby? What if Regina uses Emma's feelings to get back at Snow then she just ruins her?"
"Then I will get the fuck up and rip some bitches apart", Ruby snarled. And she erupted into a fit of coughing.
"Remember the prophecy that Snow told us about? It's going to happen. Emma will reach a point in her life where she has to somehow become involved in Regina's life and I have no idea how. But based on recent happenings, I fear it's via romance. The Evil Queen's undoing…maybe that's what Snow has been fearing all these years, preventing Emma from meeting Regina. She somehow wonders if the connection is via love. As ridiculous as it sounds, it can either be death or love. And right now, it appears to be the former."
"I don't think Regina would even consider falling in love with Emma because she's too ignorant and self-conceited", Ruby stated.
"But it can happen. You and I both know that once Emma sets her heart on something, she fights for it with a passion, no matter what."
"Emma is old enough now to make her own decisions", Ruby said quietly, "and I know you don't think so, but she isn't the type of girl to take shit from anyone. You know that. Regina would never succeed in doing anything stupid to her. She's a lot like Snow. She can hold her own all by herself. She's independent and I think the more Snow keeps Emma locked up in the castle, she's not going to get a chance to open up and become who she is. Coming out here, I've noticed Emma's acting so mature."
"But she is never the type to tell us everything."
"She will…in time, I guess. Being around Robin and Tinkerbell, they'd never allow Regina to do anything stupid to Emma, trust me. Robin especially because he was up here today and he's such a good man."
"Alright, shhh", and Belle caressed Ruby's forehead then her cheeks, gazing at her affectionately. "Rest up now. The sooner you get well, the faster we snatch Emma away from this depressing place."
"I second that", Ruby said and within an hour, both of them fell asleep side by side, wrapped in each other's arms.
The scene was peaceful to Emma when she stepped into the room. And a smile did tug at her lips when she saw them so close. At least they had each other, and that was all that mattered really. Belle never gave up on Ruby and the latter just couldn't realize how much the former cared for her. It would all burst into the open one day though. She could sense it.
But for now, she just needed to walk out her tension. And after leaving them, Emma escaped down the corridor and hoped that she could find a corner to read her book quietly. Upon pushing a door open, she caught a glimpse of Robin Hood sitting handsomely upon a chair with an book opened in his lap, and Henry was rubbing his hands together by the fireplace, his eyes dancing from the flames. At first she had no desire to enter the room, but upon being noticed, her name was called with a smile.
"Dearest Emma", Robin said, and Henry's face turned to gaze upon her with fascination. She pushed the door open further, her book tucked neatly under one arm and as soon as she did, she regretted it. Just in the center of the room sat Regina upon a chair, a writing desk positioned in front of her. She had been writing just before Emma's name was announced, but as soon as it was, her quill froze in midair and with her back to the door, Regina lost all trail of thought on what she had been doing.
"I was just walking", Emma said, and shrugged.
"Do join us for it has become rather boring in here at the moment." She was hesitant.
"Oh come in you must Emma!" Henry said getting up, "come in you must at once, for your company is always most pleasing."
"I think I'd be in your way", she said and waved a hand, "I'll just go upstairs."
"Nonsense!" Robin declared, "I'm reading verses to the room at large, come in and have a listen."
That caught Emma's attention for she loved poems, and upon sucking in her courage, in she stepped. "Alright, I hope I'm not interrupting your opportunity to woo the Queen with your words, being her suitor and all."
Regina was listening, even as she began to write again.
"Well she is presently so occupied, I don't believe even a man as handsome as myself can distract her", said Robin, and he nodded in Regina's direction then mouthed, "bad mood…"
"Ohh…" Emma mouthed, and rolled her eyes because she knew how that mood had originated. "A good evening to you too Henry." And she smiled. "Why are you always so handsome?" she asked, her eyes resting upon the woman she had insulted that morning, had almost kissed.
"Don't make me blush", Henry said smiling, his cheeks colored. "I've had my days of having ladies compliment me. But I guess there is no harm in a beautiful young lady as yourself do the same even as I'm so old now."
"Old? Nonsense!" Emma declared, "you are not old. You're as young as Robin is, trust me."
"And now my heart is contented", he said smiling at Robin who laughed.
Emma was suddenly all eyes for the other woman in the room. Now she was dressed in black, a color she always seemed to love, one that suited her too well. And her hair was down, tumbling over her exposed shoulders that suddenly caught Emma's attention because just where Regina's dress dipped low in the back, she could barely make out the etching of a tattoo on her skin.
"What is she doing?" she asked quietly as her seat was taken on the same chair as Robin.
"Writing poems, I fear, possibly one about either of us."
"Me?" Emma appeared amused, "ha!"
"I dare say, if there is one thing that curls her toes within her boots is the reading of poetry", Robin said in a whisper, inclining his head closer to Emma with a smile on his face.
"Poetry is beautiful", Emma declared with a smile, and she gazed upon Regina, "it's surprising to hear that you write as well, your Majesty." And she chose to refer to her by that title to create a setting of formality and nothing else. This was received by the brunette and acknowledged with surprise for she was expecting an upfront deliberate attempt to cross boundaries.
Regina never replied but she returned her quill to parchment and continued to write feverishly. And not a surprise was expected on Emma's behalf when Tinkerbell stepped into the room, her colored mischievous eyes twinkling at everyone.
"Dear me, it is so dull in here. I have just left upstairs after checking in on Ruby. Must I now be in such a dull setting? Tell me Emma", and she nodded at Robin, crossing the room to sit by Henry's side, "is Belle a favorite of your friend?"
The young woman only considered her with calm eyes as she opened her book. "She is. They have been friends for a long time."
"Oh", Tinkerbell said, reaching up to fix her hair, wicked eyes gazing upon her older friend who sat quite silent at her desk.
"How is Lady Katherine, my Queen?" asked Robin, his eyes scanning the page before him. "I know you two have quite a friendship, one that come and go with the change of the moon."
"Quite fine, she is, Robin", Regina replied.
"Such a fine artist she is. It is amazing to me how ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished, as they all are."
"All ladies accomplished? My dear Robin, what do you mean by such a statement?" Tinkerbell asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes, most of them, I think, especially young ladies since they all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do this these days, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished."
"I suppose being able to write poetry would also add to these qualities", Emma noted, eyeing Regina's hand as it moved across the page. "Isn't that right, your Majesty?"
The sudden inclination to invite Regina into the conversation excited Tinkerbell so much that her eyes considered Emma with wild fascination.
"Every accomplished lady should know how to express herself, Miss Swan", Regina surprised her by replying.
Emma was intrigued. "So you must know how to write poetry to be considered 'accomplished'?
"Among other well respected qualities", said Regina, "fine marks of being well bred…"
"Such as knowing the knowledge of music, singing, drawing, how to read", Robin Hood offered with a smile on his handsome face. He gazed upon Emma then Tinkerbell.
"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments", said Regina, "has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than netting a purse, or the knowledge of music. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."
"Nor I, I am sure", said Henry, and Robin shook his head in agreement.
"Then", Emma said , "you must really not understand exactly what it takes to be an accomplished woman because personally, those qualities alone do not really shine alone as they are! What about the ability to speak her opinions, to be respectful to herself and to others, to have some sort of dignity in the way she treats others?"
Regina stopped what she was doing and listened now.
"Of course! Of course!" Henry piped up, smiling.
"A young lady must also know when to hold her tongue", the Queen stated and Emma directed a smile towards the back of Regina's head.
"Look, this topic as it is upsets me, such an odious way of labeling women. Accomplished or unaccomplished, I daresay that sort of topic is to be discussed when you are alone in the room with her Majesty", Tinkerbell directed at Robin. "I agree with Emma. Talents are just colored words, for the real essence of a woman lies in the way she presents herself among others. In other words, if you can sing and draw but you have a terrible attitude, one that is comprised of ignorance, then fuck off."
"Well put also", Robin agreed. And Emma snorted. Tinkerbell was glaring at Regina.
"What on earth are you doing anyway?" Tinkerbell asked with a cross expression on her face. And she stood up. "Having your back facing everyone is rude, Regina."
"Refer to me as your Majesty among company or divert your presence elsewhere", Regina sassed.
"Regina, are you writing poetry again? It's her form of therapy", Tinkerbell stated boldly, winking at Emma. And the Queen's shoulders grew tense. Glaring at the parchment resting upon the desk, the blonde woman snatched it up quickly. "With one gaze, I melted and lost composure, yet captivation of my heart could not get the worst of me…" and her hand was lashed at, then the parchment snatched from between her fingers.
"Do that one more time and I will fucking fry you then blow you away in the wind!" the Queen mouthed back angrily.
"Ooo, I'm soo scared", Tinkerbell dramatized, her eyes wide, "there you go, Robin. Should we discuss the use of obscene language when it comes to an accomplished woman?"
"Perhaps we should", Hood agreed, appearing amused.
"Emma, you are an accomplished woman by all means. You can dance beautifully and such a talent is above all a merit", said Tinkerbell as she stepped away from the desk.
"Dancing is an attribute when done with modesty", Regina said in return.
"Emma is a modest dancer", Robin confirmed.
"If you call such ridiculous flirtatious attempts at dancing modest, then I fear we have nothing in common after all, Hood."
The younger lady in the room suddenly was astonished, her eyes wide. "Me? What the hell? I was dancing with my friends!"
Regina scoffed, never turning to look at her. "Public display of female to female intimacy is hardly considered as accomplished, dear."
"Oh and suddenly you have a problem with female to female bonding?" Emma asked boldly. "You should talk."
"Maleficent's party comes to mind once more", Tinkerbell said with stormy eyes, "when a certain brunette more than publicly displayed her affections in a dark corner with a blonde hair woman who by the looks of it was a whore. Now…" Regina dropped her quill and her dark eyes grew hard, "whilst everyone was watching, I heard that you really heated things up with this distraction."
"Oh shut up", Regina ordered.
"Anyway…so Ruby is such a vixen", Tinkerbell said almost too quickly, ignoring the order, "I bet she has had many suitors."
Emma was eyeing Robin with a smile on her face, and the latter inhaled deeply, considering Tinkerbell with amused eyes. "One even used to write verses to her, and he wasn't an accomplished woman."
Henry laughed at this, pointing at Emma. "Quite a wonderful woman you are going to turn out to be."
"I have been used to consider poetry the food of love all too well", Robin said to Emma, "just as you had noted on a prior occasion."
"Now I might have to disagree because of a fine stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely. You see, to write poetry is one thing, but to be so ignorant, to deny the chance to love, now that is torturous when writing verses."
This indeed did it all for Regina who suddenly stopped what she was doing and upon turning her chair sideways, she sat there glaring at Emma. The latter only briefly considered her move, and then she noticed that Tinkerbell was watching them both. When the sudden intense gaze between the two women: the brunette and the younger woman ensued, Tinkerbell snatched the opportunity as it was fresh.
"Emma, let me persuade you to follow my example and take a turn about the room", she said stepping towards her new friend, "I assure you, it will be very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude."
"Sure…" Putting her book down, she rose up and Tinkerbell linked her arm through hers. Regina never looked away from Emma as she began to walk, roaming her figure from her new blue long sleeve cotton shirt, so manlike in its appearance to her tailored black pants. The way her young figure was quite mature for her age already: all this was considered and glared at.
"Your Majesty", Tinkerbell said as they walked, "do join us."
"I must decline such a ridiculous offer because your intentions are clear and my anticipated answer on your part is no."
The two ladies who were standing met eyes. "Whatever could she mean, Emma? I have no intentions. We're just walking, aren't we?"
"I have no idea either, but she will want us to ask about It. Trust me…" Emerald eyes met dark ones as the former smiled.
"Oh I have no objection in explaining myself, Miss Swan", Regina stated warily, "you either choose to walk around me to be in each other's confidence and discuss secret affairs. Or you are both aware of how advantageous your figures appear in walking…"
"And she just was ridiculing female to female intimacy", Tinkerbell whispered in Emma's ear. "What stupidity…"
"The first…I dare not intervene but it is quite rude and if second then I must cease all writing and admire you both at once, for such an advantageous moment is quite…delightful."
"Oh how shocking!" Tinkerbell said to Emma, her eyes wide yet mischievous, "how brazen, don't you think, Emma? How must we punish her for such a speech?"
Regina smirked as Emma looked at her, dark eyes lowering to rest upon her bare skin just where her shirt was unbuttoned. "If we say anything vulgar then I might never be considered an accomplished young lady so…"
"Such pride and vanity, our Queen has that she would rather insult than be insulted I fear", Robin said, his eyes dancing upon the situation in front of him. He favored it highly. "Wandering eyes, your Majesty, confirms a statement uttered before: that female to female intimacy should not be ridiculed on your part." He met eyes with the Queen who returned a glare.
"Oh are you all here to ridicule me, to make me the one object of your study?" Regina asked and she rolled her eyes.
"You choose to state your opinions rather boldly about me", Emma said to her.
"And if you are as accomplished as you claim to be then such opinions need not affect you", Regina sassed back.
"You were the one who asked me to dance with you", Emma stopped walking to point out, her eyes meeting Regina's. "You said I danced beautifully as I can recall."
"Remembered and noted", Robin said, and Tinkerbell nodded.
"I was caught up in a moment", Regina declared, diverting her eyes as emerald eyes captivated her.
"Oh really? For me to make such an accomplished Queen become so caught up in a moment that she defies all odds", Emma said boldly, "she forgets morality, taboo among intimacy between women, for her to ask me to dance with her…"
"I had no intention of being in a situation where I intimately would dance with you!" Regina exclaimed. "How amusing is this!" and she laughed a hoarse laugh. Yet even Tinkerbell could detect the nervousness in her tone.
"When a Queen dances with a woman, it can only be scrutinized as such", Emma noted, and she sat down once again beside Robin, picking up her book as a smile crossed her face.
"And yet you can dance with your friend upstairs without being scrutinized…so intimately?" Regina asked of Emma, her eyes never leaving the young woman.
But as soon as her page was found once more, emerald eyes met dark ones with severe astonishment as the sudden reality hit home. Closing her book once more, Emma stood up and approached Regina. The latter watched her approach with cat eyes and tried to maintain composure for what was to come. But her eyes could not leave the young woman as she stepped closer, and suddenly her heart began to race within her chest, breathing becoming difficult as she was cornered.
"Why does this bother you so much?" Emma asked, pressing her palms upon the surface of the desk as she leant in closer to Regina. With her shirt unbuttoned, the brunette's eyes lowered to consider it. "Tell me, did I stir up some kind of emotion within you when you saw me dancing so intimately with another woman?" and she smiled. "Jealousy, maybe? Is that why you are holding back on me?"
Tinkerbell was in awe and so was Robin. Henry on the other hand had dozed off in his chair, thankfully. The two former individuals quietly observed the scene before them with widened eyes, and after she realized how the air suddenly buzzed with electricity and sexual tension, Tinkerbell sat down breathless. Robin on the other hand was smiling when he noted how Regina's eyes lowered to study Emma, how she appeared so captivated in this sudden boldness. And he turned to meet the older blonde woman's eyes, both of them sharing a mutual understanding. On a prior occasion to this one, at that very same party, Regina had declared something to her friend that still kept ringing in her ears. And she had related this to Robin too.
I want someone who challenges me, makes me do the inevitable, infuriates me up to a point where desire drives me mad. And I keep going back for more. I want someone to take my dominance away from me, to do things the way I desire them, leaving me satisfied, because all my life I have been leading, since no one can do it for me. In other words, someone must take the reins and accept me for who I am, change me. Good luck in finding someone like that because no one can break me.
And that was exactly what was occurring as they sat there observing.
"You…flatter yourself so much it troubles me", Regina said in her throaty voice, her breath catching in her throat.
"Oh I seem to be troubling you a lot lately, your Majesty."
"Are you so set on your own judgment that your thoughts are thus demented?"
"Shhh", and Emma pressed a finger to her lips, then her eyes gazed around the room, "do you hear that, Regina? That's the sound of denial suddenly flashing across my mind and so is disbelief."
"My good opinion once lost is lost forever, Miss Swan", Regina said as her toes curled in her boots, and she licked her lips.
"So if I am correct here", Emma said as her eyes lowered to consider the licking of lips, tempting red lips, "I lost your good opinion by dancing with a woman?"
"What are you doing?" Regina asked in a lowered voice so that only the younger woman could hear her.
"I'm trying to show you that your harsh words might scar my feelings for a few seconds, but I'd rather think about a lifetime where I prove to you that I'm worth it and you just give me a chance", Emma whispered back.
Emma smiled. And she pushed herself away from the desk, then she stepped away, still gazing upon the woman in front of her. "Oh beautiful Queen", she began to say to her;
"your eyes so stormy can never sink my ship.
Your beauty is beyond describable by words, your lips,
Are so tempting to kiss that many may seek them to taste,
But on my part I'd never allow your other qualities to waste.
For I know what a powerful woman you are outside,
Somehow though you're just a woman who needs love inside,
Even when your mind declares war, your heart whispers to mine that it wants peaceful love,
Someone to love you,
But you just keep shutting out the light that love can change you,
Because there is something within us all that we cannot deny.
We all need someone to hold unto, we all need love.
Now would you rather waste your time with idle lovers you discard eventually?
Or would you rather choose someone who you know you love deep down inside so desperately?
Regina stopped breathing, her eyes wide. And Emma smiled at her. "That's how I feel about you."
"Oh wow", Tinkerbell said and she gasped. Her eyes were watering, and Robin's eyes were wide as saucers. "I think that deserves an applause, don't you think Robin?"
"Even I…" Robin said in astonishment, "cannot come up by whim with such direct and beautiful words. Of course she deserves an applause." And they both clapped feverishly.
"Emma…" Regina said hoarsely, but she just could not continue.
"What? Maybe your corset is too tightly laced up", Emma said mischievously, "slacken it so you can breathe, your Majesty."
"Why don't you wear one to begin with", Regina asked, her eyes lowered again.
"Like what you see?" and Emma fingered where her shirt was undone.
The brunette stood up abruptly, her eyes still on the young woman in front of her. And then she snatched her parchment up. After folding it neatly, tucking it between a book, she slowly picked it up and her eyes fluttered to meet Robin's.
"Robin…will you accompany me? I am quite exhausted."
"Why has Emma electrified your heart?" Tinkerbell asked smiling.
"One of these days I will sew your lips together, Tinkerbell", Regina sassed, "most times your ignorance sickens me, it is not fit for royalty."
"Ha!" Tinkerbell exclaimed in astonishment, watching as the brunette moved towards the door, "look who's calling the kettle black, the Royal pot!"
"She loves what she sees", Emma said smiling too.
"Oh bravo to you!" and she was snatched into a hug, a tight one that knocked the wind out of her the minute Regina departed the room with Robin. "I think you have just won her heart completely."
"Baby steps, oh mischievous one…baby steps, because trust me, she's a tough nut to crack."
"Oh you can crack that, trust me. You've got what it takes."
"Remind me again how I am so suitable?" Emma asked as Tinkerbell took her hand and they stepped out of the room.
"Because I've known her for many years, since she was around your age. And never before have I ever seen her become so captivated and breathless when it comes to someone. You've really got what it takes to make her love you entirely. See?" and Emma's arm was pinched, "I told you this wouldn't be so bad."
"But I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Just give it time. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, trust me."
And they exited via corridor right.
The situation was this: if she could possibly find someone else to feel this breathless with then maybe Emma could be forgotten of. The young woman was returning home the following day so that would be appropriate. And now to focus on the man with the lion tattoo who was standing before her with hungry eyes.
As she stepped closer to him, reaching behind her to unclasp her hair, allowing it to tumbled freely over her bare shoulders, Regina smiled dangerously. And even though he knew that her mind could possibly have been focused on someone else earlier, Robin never complained.
"She is but a child, Robin", she said quietly, "nothing of interest to me."
"Indeed", he said as she was close enough, reaching up to finger his shirt as buttons were undone. "She leaves tomorrow?"
"Indeed…" Regina confirmed. "Now, if you will not deny me, how about we fuck until our senses are unreachable?"
"Indeed", and Robin smiled.
A few seconds later she was on top of him, her leather pants strewn across a chair in the corner of the room, nothing on but her corset and her knee high boots. And his fingers traveled over the slice of black ink across her midsection, the design appearing dark with the sharp etchings of vines and black flowers interwoven with a delicate hand. A small red butterfly, red as blood was etched near her right breast, the remaining trail hidden from view but continuing just where her corset stopped to reveal naked hips that grinded over him.
"You're so needing", she whispered as he filled her up, just enough but never completely because her passion, no one had ever succeeded in pushing her to her breaking point, ever before.
"But will I ever be enough?" he asked as pleasure consumed him, grabbing her hips as he slowly made love to her. But it wasn't love, because he felt that it was lacking. He knew. What this was ended up to be just for the moment, pleasure as a distraction.
"For now you are", Regina said, and she bent her body to kiss his chest, her fingers driving pathways through light brown hair. And when he was thrown over the edge in pleasure, she was far from meeting that with him side by side.
Just as he gripped her hard, she closed her eyes and immediately felt the presence of Emma under her. And it evolved into one of those nights where she would choose to use her double strap on, when she would ride out her pleasure with the younger woman. Someday would be never perhaps. But right now if imagining Emma was what it took to push her over the edge, then she'd have to live with it until the young woman's memory faded. She'd have to distract herself somehow, maybe find someone else who could be just as bold as the blonde was.
And even before she felt the oncoming orgasm as her toes curled, Regina pushed herself off from Robin and tumbled unto the bed beside him. Turning her face to gaze at the night sky just beyond the terrace, she curled up in a ball and stayed there. But he sensed it. He knew exactly what was occurring. And rising up from the bed, he quietly gathered up his clothes and departed.
Standing outside the door as he buttoned his shirt, the door never fully closed, Robin suddenly heard her sob from within. It wasn't surprising. When she was sure he had fully left her by herself, Regina turned over flat on her stomach and burying her face into her pillow, she cried herself to sleep because of her weakness.
That night somewhere past midnight, Ruby was barely awoken by a sound in the room. And her eyes slowly fluttered open. No disturbance could be detected but Belle sleeping by her side and Emma across the room lying on the cot. So she closed them again. Then just as she was about to slip into sleep again, she cracked her eyes open just barely and what she saw was astonishing in the least.
Regina was approaching where Emma lay sleeping, dressed in just her leather pants and black corset, her bare skin around her midsection exposed. And even in the bright moonlight washing over the room, Ruby noted that her cheeks were stained with tears, her eyes were blackened and her lipstick smeared. She waited. But as she did, the brunette just stood in silent vigil as she gazed upon Ruby's younger friend.
Perhaps that lasted for over a minute, if she counted right. And then stooping in her knee high boots so that she could get herself closer to Emma, the Queen slowly reached out with a hand to caress the young girl's forehead, brushing her hair aside as she did. Black fingernails whispered against soft cheeks and then a thumb barely moved across parted lips as Emma muttered something in her sleep.
"Don't come back", Regina whispered in the stillness of the night, the quietness of the room. "Don't come back because if you do, you'll destroy me."
Ruby froze and watched as the brunette moved her face in closer to Emma. She never did kiss her on the lips but on her forehead, lingering so close for too long. And the woman who saw red purposely made a move, groaning as she stretched against Belle, her eyes closed. When she opened them again, she gasped.
Regina was nowhere to be seen.
A/N – Like what you read? Well then I'm glad you did Perhaps it might have been confusing at first because you were probably wondering 'is Regina in love with Emma or isn't she?' Of course she is! Read back the chapter based on the last scene. Emma moving past the night before was probably the most shocking part ever because many would have confronted Regina and sassed it out. But because she suddenly loves this woman so much, Emma can't help but forgive her no matter what she does. Dark times are ahead, dearies. That bite was written for a reason. Be prepared for distance and severe darkness. Muahaha!
What are your ideas on what happens next?