Emma's POV
It's my second night here at Regina's home, my home? Anyway, it's different to what I expected, she's different to what I expected. I mean, she was the 'Evil Queen', she is the Mayor, and that's exactly what I expected. I expected this uptight woman, who has a million rules, and she would be insufferable to live with. It's almost the exact opposite. She's sweet, and kind, and really funny. She has this sassiness about her that is adorable and funny at the same time. She bakes, and cooks! She is unbelievably talented in the kitchen, I honestly have never had food that tastes this good! However, at the same time, I think she is ignoring me, or at least hiding from me. I don't know, I just get this impression whenever I am with her that she's uncomfortable, and she wants to leave. It's nothing she's said, or even done really, it's just a feeling.
Right now though I am sitting on the edge of the bathtub. I feel like an idiot, I feel embarrassed, but I can't keep sitting here. I thought I could manage this by myself, obviously I was wrong. So now I am sitting here, wet and naked, not being able to dress myself due to my stupid broken arm. At the hospital there was a nurse to help me with this sort of thing, and I was fine with that.. I mean it's their job to help me, but here, what am I supposed to do? Obviously I can't ask Henry.. Uhhhh.. I hate this! Stupid arm! Maybe I can just shake myself dry.
I stand and begin shaking myself, effectively dropping the towel on the floor and into a puddle that has formed. How I manage to get so much water outside of the shower I'll never know. Well that didn't work. I am still wet, and now also have a dripping wet towel. The shaking isn't working.. if anything it's just making my arm hurt from the movement. Slowly I poke my head out of the bathroom door, looking around the hallway.
"Regina?" I quietly yell. I wait for a response. Nothing. "Regina!" I yell a little louder. Still nothing. Uh.. what am I gonna do…? Oh! My phone! I go over to the bathroom side and pick up my phone, finding Regina's number. Two rings later she answers.
"Emma?" I can hear confusion in her voice. "What's wrong, why are you calling me from upstairs? You are upstairs still aren't you?" Panic arising in her voice.
"Yes I'm still upstairs.. um.. I need your help.." I admit.
"My help?" She questions. I can sense the smirk in her tone. Obviously, twelve years later, I still don't like to ask for it.
"Yeh.. I was trying to take a shower, and once I got out I realised I can't get dressed again.. you know.. cause of my arm."
"Of course Emma. I'll be right up." She responds happily. Obviously she has some weird form of enjoyment seeing me so incapable of even getting dressed myself.
"Oh and can you bring another towel, please?" I ask quickly before she hangs up. I grab the towel from the floor and try to cover myself to allow at least a little bit of dignity when Regina enters the room. Realising this task is pointless I sit back down on the edge of the tub and lay the towel over my front. That will have to do for now.
Regina's POV
Knocking quietly, I wait for a response before I enter the bathroom. There, sitting on the edge of the tub was Emma. Towel sprawled across her front, hair wet and falling down across her bare shoulders. She looked beautiful. I could see in her face that she was uncomfortable and embarrassed, so I kept a straight face, trying not to show my true feelings. I look to my left and see her bandage and clothes messily on the floor. Of course.
"How did you manage to get undressed by yourself?" I ask curiously. How did she manage to do that? As well as unbandage her arm too? Emma's arm had almost fully healed, so the doctor allowed for a bandage and sling instead of a cast, to try and make things a little easier, like showering for example.
"With great difficulty," she states, "and about an hour." She laughs slightly. I smile at her, taking a few steps forward. I watch as she tenses, knowing that the time for small talk has stopped. I hand her the towel in my hands and watch as she very awkwardly swaps it with the one on her lap, trying hard to expose as little of herself as possible.
"Okay. " I say calmly. "How do you want to do this?" She looks at me, unsure. I know from experience that Emma doesn't know how to make decisions easily when it comes to something that she doesn't want to do. She is always so conflicted. I can see in her eyes that she doesn't want this, that she wishing she didn't need the help, but I can also see the resignation of trying to do this alone.
Slowly I bring my hands to her shoulders, I feel her tense beneath my hands, so I squeeze them reassuringly. I wrap the towel around her a little more tightly, being cautious of her sore arm. I begin rubbing my hands down the towel, slowly drying her, never breaking eye contact. I give her another reassuring smile and walk towards her pile of clothes. Picking up her underwear I kneel down so she can step into them. Slowly I start pulling them up until I'm halfway up her thighs. I glance at her questioningly, silently asking if she wants me to continue. She nods, knowing there really isn't any other option. Finally her pants are on, and we both release a breath we didn't know we were holding, laughing at each other. Next are her jeans. We have a little more trouble with these as Emma likes them tight. Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints, they look amazing on her, they are however hard to get on and off, I know this from experience. With a little struggle, and Emma awkwardly leaning onto my shoulder for support, I manage to get the jeans on. I look up at her, knowing that the hardest part is now.
"Okay, so we need to put on your bra and shirt, and then we'll bandage your arm." I state matter of factly. I carefully lift her sore arm and try to place it through the strap of the bra. All of a sudden she winces and lifts her other arm instinctively to the pain. Shock and embarrassment courses through her as she realises in doing so she has effectively dropped her towel, exposing her naked chest.
"Oh my God!" she screams, quickly turning around, and immediately turning a dark shade of red. I laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "It's not funny! I'm horrified!"
"Why? It's not like I haven't.." Uh oh
"What?!" she responds quickly, turning her head to question me. "You've seen me naked before?"
"NO!.. well sorta, I mean..um.. you were sick?" I ramble on, trying to think of some explanation as to why I would have seen her naked other than the obvious.
"I was sick?" She questions again, slowly calming down.
"Yes, dear. You were sick. About a couple of months ago you had the flu really bad, you couldn't do anything for yourself, so I had to help you. That included helping you shower." I smile, trying to sound convincing.
"Oh. Well, thanks, you know, for doing that and all, and for now." She replies shyly, ever so slightly turning back around, her good arm covering as much of her chest as possible.
"You are welcome Emma." Once again I begin lifting her arm to put on her bra. This time though she helps me, not worrying so much about being exposed since learning I have already seen her anyway. While this way was a lot easier to get Emma dressed, it was not easier for my state of mind. Seeing her, touching her, it was driving me crazy. I was so close I could smell her scent. I could feel my knees go weak.
"What are you doing?" Emma questions me. I look at her before realising what I had been doing. Unconsciously my fingers had been drawn to the new scars that now formed on her stomach.
"Do they hurt?" I ask genuinely.
"No." She smiles. I withdraw my hands feeling a little embarrassed at my actions, but immediately missing the touch.
Ten minutes later we both make our way downstairs, Emma dressed and bandaged.
"Well, I am going to go and make a start on dinner. You are welcome to do whatever. I believe Henry wanted to watch the new Avengers movie again. I've seen it seven times with him now, it'll be nice to have someone else to take the reins this time." I smile at her. "I think he is in the lounge room watching cartoons at the moment. If you put it on now it should be finished in time for dinner."
"Okay." She responds walking down the hallway towards the lounge room. I stand still, watching her go. Just before she enters the lounge room she turns to me. I smile at her, and she instantly grins back, then we both turn and head our opposite ways.
Thankyou always for the reviews. I will try and get another chapter out soon, the next few days look pretty hectic for me, but i'll try!
