Thank you for all of your wonderful reviews, I'm ecstatic you're enjoying the story. Also thanks to my Beta Reader.

Also to the guest review who suggested a closer relationship with Mary-Margaret? We must have been on the same page. Happy reading :)

Chapter 7

Hidden Desires

Regina let go of Emma's soft,delicate hand and sat back in her seat, sighing in resignation. She had no idea how long she had been there, or even what time she had arrived. The seconds had rolled into minutes and the minutes into hours but all she knew was that she had to be there, touching the youngster, palm to palm, taking her in and keeping watch.

The night was rolling in, dark clouds encasing Storybrooke like a dome, and the last rays of warm light left her cheeks as the sun went down. Regina leant forward and tucked the blanket around Emma, wanting her to be as comfortable as she could be, and all too aware that the cold came with the night. She briefly touched her hand again, but swiftly released it at the sound of the door, creaking open. Blushing, and feeling like she had been caught doing something naughty, she gazed across the dark room to the figure in the doorway.

'Here again Regina,' the voice hissed in amusement, 'I'm not surprised. One of the nurses mentioned you visit quite frequently.' The man stepped forward, bunch of white daisy flowers in one hand, and leaning against his stick with the other, as slimy as always.

'Mr Gold, what brings you here?' She watched the black eyes flash, calculating.

'Odd,' said Mr Gold, gently coming to pull up a chair beside Regina and setting the flowers down at the bottom of the bed.

'What is?' Regina asked.

'That you are here, so late. I would hate for people to talk about this my dear,' he said, 'you know Storybrooke as well as I.'

Regina's stomach whooped uncomfortably. What on earth was he getting at? Surely he was not aware of her feelings? Was she that obvious?

'I'm here for Mary-Margaret's sake,' she told him, almost too anxious to look at him and knowing that he was the only person in the world who could unnerve her so wretchedly. 'she is my friend and in this awful time, I feel she needs me.'

'My my deary, friends? I haven't heard Mary-Margaret mention you two being friends?'

'I think Emma's ordeal has brought us closer together.'

'Well I would prefer you be here with Mary-Margaret and not alone.'

'I can imagine so,' snarled Regina, 'but what business is it of yours, Mr Gold, what I do or how I conduct my time?'

Mr Gold smiled, a hard forced sort of smile that he clearly meant to be sincere. His words were to comfort but his voice was laced with poison. 'Come Regina, I am merely looking out for you. I understand only too deeply how...attached...we can get to our students,' he looked down on Emma and crooned as though admiring a puppy in play, 'and she really is a rather pretty thing I must say.'

Regina stood and busied herself with the flowers he had brought. She took them to the vase on the other side of the room, preparing them in the desire to be as far away from the Principle as physically possible.

'What brings you here?' she demanded.

'I'm here on behalf of the school,' he said, patting down the creases at the bottom of the bed,' colleague of Mary-Margaret, and most importantly for Emma.'

Regina eyed him as she popped the last flower into the vase, loathing every inch of him to her deepest core.

'I apologise for the intrusion,' he murmured softly, pulling himself out of his chair, looking frail, 'I do pray for Miss Swan's well being. I am sure with you she is in good hands. Yes, very very good hands.'

Regina ignored the baiting. 'Goodnight Mr Gold.'

'Goodnight Miss Mills.' He tipped his head to her, opened the door and hobbled out but his footsteps, slow and deliberate echoed down the hallway for quite some time after, making her feel as though he were still there, watching her, despite her solitude.

It was just past 9:00PM when Regina finally left the hospital. She wanted so desperately to stay beside Emma every night, watch over her while she recovered, but knew it would be against her best interest, especially now that Gold was aware of the situation.

Leaning down, she kissed the smooth temple of the young girl, feeling an instant tingle rush through her body. She couldn't help it, she craved for more, for the part of Emma that she was not allowed to have. Shame followed the wave of self-loathing that she could be so perverted that she could want Emma so much and in a not-so-innocent way. Slight tears welled in her eyes and she fought desperately to hold them back, daring herself to be tough.

'Goodnight,' she whispered, 'my darling.'

Silence greeted her. Always silence and she left the room swiftly, fighting the desire to stay, practically running through the wards until she was safely through the carpack and sitting in her car.

She drove to Mary-Margaret's house. She did promise that she would look after her. The poor woman was exhausted, having failed to sleep throughout the week and the stress of Emma and her ex-husband and his new partner arriving and proved to be all too much for the woman.

Mary-Margaret was taking some time off school, which was understandable. Regina could see a yellow light inside the small house as she ascended the steps and felt less guilty about visiting so late, knowing she was up.

She held her breath and tapped the glass pine of the door. It squeaked open, to reveal a washed out Mary-Margaret. Her eyes were blood shot, her face was pale and drawn and she had severe black bags under her eyes.

'Oh hello,' she said, sniffling, 'thank you for coming to visit.'

She went in for a hug, surprising the more wooden Regina. She was always a little stiff when it came to hugs. She awkwardly returned the embrace, squeezing a little awkwardly, patting Mary-Margarets shoulder before retreating back.

'Where are my manners, come on in, it's freezing out here. I'll make some tea,' she said, forcing a smile.

'Don't trouble yourself' Regina said, 'no I couldn't intrude.'

'After everything you have helped me out with? No Regina I insist, actually how do you feel about a bottle of wine instead. Red okay?'

'Uh...well in that case I suppose I could stay for a glass or two.'

A slight smile reached the warn out Mary-Margaret. Popping a bottle open, she poured a glass for Regina and invited her to join.

It was where they sat for the next hour, both on either side of the small pink sofa. This was the first time Regina had stepped inside the house. It was quaint, almost like someone's grandmothers house. Not for her taste, but she could see Mary-Margaret felt right at home and somehow, against her better judgement, she felt comfortable too, snugly set on the sofa, sipping the wine, feeling its heat searing down her chest.

'How are you doing Mary-Margaret?'

She sighed. 'Not so well if I'm honest. David was here yesterday, to update me on Emma's well being and also to slip in that he's staying at Granny's B&B down the road with her.'

'Ah causing tensions then?'

'You can say that. If you excuse my language, he's a right prick!'

Both took a deep long swig of their wine, and the time began to roll by and the empty bottle was soon joined by another and then another until there were at least four, standing in a row.

'Who needs...men?' Regina slurred clinking her glass to Mary-Margaret's.

'HEAR, HEAR!' Mary-Margaret boomed 'they're only good for one thing and you can buy those these days online, much bigger too.'

Giggling like little school girls, Regina glanced at her watch in alarm, 'Shit it's 1.00AM, I should go!'

'No, no, you are staying here tonight,' Mary-Margaret hiccuped, 'Regina, it's late.'

She was too drunk to drive, too late to walk and she couldn't be fucked to get a taxi. One night wouldn't hurt, right?'

Mary-Margaret got up, 'You can have Emma's room tonight. It's much comfier than that sofa.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes, it's fine.'

Both women stumbled up the stairs, heavily drunk, pulling and tugging at each other as they tripped over steps, so loud as they snorted out giggles. It felt as though the stairs never ended, the hallway seemed much larger than it was through their hazy eyes. Reaching the top Mary-Margaret led her to a well kept bedroom, everything in its place, neat, structured. Cocking her head, Regina looked about, puzzled. It had always struck her that Emma was a messy teenager, and this was not the room she was expecting to find.

'I've cleaned it for her,' whispered Mary-Margaret, as if sensing her thoughts, 'when...when she wakes up.'

Regina put a comforting hand on her shoulder. 'She will.'

'Thank you,' she answered, 'for all your support. I'll say goodnight now.'

'Goodnight Mary-Margaret, thanks for letting me stay.'

Mary-Margaret nodded in response and pulled shut the door behind her, leaving Regina to the quiet moonlit room. With a sigh, she sank down onto the bed, not bothering to switch on the light and ruin the isolation. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, deeper than she ever had before, letting the space fill her. There was a slight 'Emma' aroma lingering in the air. It was comforting despite how faint it was and Regina knew that this was truly Emma's space, that her body had sunk in the mattress, that her essence was written in the walls.

She couldn't help it. Being there had suddenly stirred something in her, a carnal urge. Her heart quickened, there was a heavy pounding between her legs. With eyes still closed, Regina imagined Emma in the bed beside her, breathing lightly. Slowly the teenager rolled to her side, the bed sheet sliding off of her, revealing her smooth creamy naked flesh. She was sprawled, legs wide open in invitation, eyes twinkling as Regina's salacious thoughts continued to drift.

Emma's hand moved gracefully up and down her inner thigh. Like a kitten rolling over, she teased her way up to cup her own pussy. She hissed, the picture of satisfaction and locked her gaze on Regina, smirking, knowing all to well what she was doing as she began to gently slide her digits up and down her soaked pussy.

Regina swallowed, throat dry. Her arousal pooled in her own pussy, and she imagined herself walking around the edge of the bed, to grip a handful of thick golden hair. She pictured herself climbing on top of Emma, murmuring sweet nothings as she dipped her body down so they joined together, all the while in reality, stripping naked so as to gain better access to her own pleasure.

Regina's hand was already there. At first she only gently caressed her pussy, petting herself but allowing the tantalizing agony of the odd brush at her clit. She could smell Emma all around her, letting her senses enhance the fantasy, imagining that small petite body against her and that mouth hard on her lips. She could feel her skin, the heat, the intimacy. She could feel how Emma's tiny hands touched the swell of her hips, and felt all woman beside the youngster. She wanted to be touched and squeezed and gripped.

It was as though she suddenly couldn't help it. Regina's hand was there, rubbing hard into her pussy. She was pounding at her clit, living in the moment as she fucked herself, dreaming of Emma shoving her tongue into her mouth, claiming her, dominating her.

'Emma,' she moaned quietly.

Her fingers massaged her inner lips, and she began panting, feeling her cheeks flush and her body vibrate in the bed.

'Emma,' she cried again.

A heat began to flood up her body, starting at her toes and breaking through every pore. The tension was building and yet she still imagined the teenager, begging to be fucked and it powered her on. She began to shake, the mattress squeaked and she quickened her pace, going harder as her swollen clit pounded.

There! It was there! She shot up, back arching and finally, after what felt like an eternity, the tension spilled from her body and she came, hard, feeling her cum run gently down her thighs.

Breathing deeply, Regina was satisfied. The alcohol was taking its toll and intermingled with her orgasm, she felt fantastic. She lay back, enjoying the moment, letting Emma finally drift from her thoughts. She drifted to sleep within minutes.

The sun beamed in through the window, directly onto Regina's face. Her head was thumping as she tried to open her eyes, muttering in disgust at the glorious sun. She rolled over holding her head and rubbing her forehead.

She noted that she was still naked and blushed, thinking of what she did last night. She was deeply embarrassed, feeling as though somehow she had violated Emma when all she had done was violate the room. It was wrong, she decided, and yet somewhere in the back of her mind was a voice crying for her to do it again.

She tried to distract herself by searching for her watch on the floor. She felt around, beneath the bed and gripped hold of something, a book? She caught sight of her watch it was just past ten and then focused on the task at hand.

She lifted it up, feeling the front cover and examining the lock. She gazed around the room for a sign of a key, looking inside the odd drawer, scaling bookshelves, searching the desk until on the edge of one lone shelf was a little brown bear with a gold key around his neck.

She hesitated as she popped the lock inside, thinking of the younger girl and how mad she would be if she ever found out, but Emma wasn't here...Regina felt she needed to open it and find out what Emma was thinking. To feel closer to her somehow.

She clicked it open, still hesitating. She opened it slowly scrolling through the dates to a recent post.

It was from her first week of detention,

Today was a shit day again! Miss Mills is a complete bitch. I swear she's got something out against me. Also still have not heard from my father. He's probably busy with little miss perfect, wish things could go back to as it was.

Regina felt a twinge of guilt thinking maybe she was being too harsh on the girl. She scrolled on further,

Ruby and me were talking behind the gym again, smoking. I know my mother would kill me if she found me smoking again. I actually enjoyed my gym class doing track again, Ruby suggested I should take it up again? But I don't know.

Ruby felt a little jealous thinking of Ruby and Emma again, kissing. She slammed the diary shut getting frustrated. As she did, several small pieces of card fell out, and scattered onto the floor. She picked them up and her eyes widened in surprise. It was pictures of her. There were several of her applying lipstick in the car. There was one of Emma's friends in the cafeteria smiling for the camera, but Regina was there in the back, clear as day.

She opened the book to a few others, there was one of her laughing with Robin when they bumped into each other in the car park, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Another of her sipping coffee in their detention with her eyes closed. How didn't she see Emma take a picture for her?

What did it all mean? Did Emma have feelings for her? Did she hate her that much, this was a way of releasing that anger?

She almost felt like she was Emma's prey , feeling like she was being watched and being stalked, as Emma watched, just waiting for the right moment.

Did Emma feel the same way?

Her thoughts were interrupted and she quickly shoved the diary under the bed with the photos as she heard yelling and shouting downstairs. Shoving on her trousers and a shirt over her head, she opened the door and tiptoed into the passageway.

She could hear Mary-Margaret trying to keep her tone steady but it cracked as the discussion got heated.

'Look David, no one asked you to come and, especially to bring her here. There is enough stress going on at the moment, never mind you flaunting your slut about.'

'Don't you dare call Kathryn a slut. Look you and I...we just...grew apart. These things happen!'

'Oh explain it to me then David! How does this just happen? Did you fall into bed with her and it just happened?'

'It wasn't like that,' David shouted, 'we were not getting along, we were barely having sex anymore, you didn't seem interested and with Emma causing so much trouble in her last school...well, it just got more difficult to handle. Kathyrn understood Emma more, and defended her at the school.'

There was a moment silence before...

'I invited her into our home David, our home. I thought she was a friend, she ate at our table, slept in the spare room. For fucksake, she even came on holidays with us and our friends! She was supposed to be my friend and a colleague.'

'This is about Emma, not us! Maybe this wouldn't have happened if she had actually stayed with me instead of having you drag her all this way to the middle of nowhere.'

'So you're blaming me? I'm a better parent than you have ever been,' Mary-Margaret laughed, 'you hardly bother with her. You could have phoned her, you could have written letters, skyped, I don't know. She stopped being important to you since Kathyrn came into your life and she has felt that more than you could ever know. You've not had to see the pain in her eyes every time you don't call. Lets face it, you're still too preoccupied with yourself and what Prince David wants!'

Regina moved forward and the floorboard groaned beneath her weight. She held her breath, and crept down a few more steps, trying to listen to more of the conversation. Both parents stopped the argument, as if aware of someone listening. Regina could hear the blood running through her own ears and waited until they dismissed the unexplained disturbance and continued their discussion.

'Look David, we should just concentrate on Emma, our Emma...getting better.'

'Yea..you're right Snow. I just want us to be pleasant to one another if we can. I want - '

The house phone began to ring somewhere in the background, bringing the conversation to a halt again. Regina was just expecting a dainty framed picture of Emma as a seven year old hanging on the wall when she heard a cry of delight.

'David, David, she's awake, Emma's awake!'

The house was suddenly alive. Mary-Margaret and David embraced, the first honest and open emotion to pass between them for so long. They were already talking in quick hushed tones, looking for their coats, keys, whatever they could find.

Regina sank against the wall. She looked a sight, holding her mouth as tears of relief started to slide down her cheeks. Her Emma was awake.

…...

I thought it was important to see more of Reginas point of view for this chapter, her feeling;s for Emma and the growing relationship of friendship with Mary-Margaret. Click that review button guys I always love to hear your opinions so far on the story.

J