CHAPTER SUMMARY: Regina, Emma and Henry leave Camp Shooting Star and head back to Storybrooke.
A/N: We have reached the end (nearly) of the story. This was formerly the last chapter but it will be followed by an Epilogue. This was Day 8, the last day, of Swan Queen Week. I hope you've enjoyed the story and that this latest chapter will supply you with even more laughs to begin your weekend!
Chapter 8: Coming Out
Regina had dreamt of limbs entangled beneath smooth cotton sheets with soft laughter and hushed bantering back and forth between kisses that made her toes curl. With a start, she awoke and as she stretched her legs and they encountered another pair, she realized with a smile that she hadn't been dreaming at all and that Emma had been close beside her all night long. She squinted her eyes open, allowing them to adjust to the morning light, and awake warm jade colored eyes looked back upon her. In them was reflected the large dimpling smile that blossomed just underneath.
"Good morning," Regina rasped, readjusting herself and moving a little nearer. She was seeking Emma's lips and the blonde did not keep her waiting and uttered a "Good morning" back before laying a delicate lingering kiss on her mouth.
"Did you sleep well, Regina?" Emma didn't wander far after the kiss was over. Waking up with Regina in her arms had made Emma deliriously happy and she couldn't believe that they had admitted their love for one another the night before. They were finally where they should be and things had never felt this right. She wanted to do something insanely out of character like hop around in joy, grabbing people and shouting how much she loved Regina Mills. Emma Swan didn't have a lot to rejoice about in the past, so this newfound exhilaration made her feel silly, stupid and wonderful. Maybe that's what real love did.
The woman beneath her made a sweet study of her face, staying on her lips for an exorbitant amount of time and stretched her arms over Emma's shoulders, curling them around her. "I slept better than I have in a very, very long time."
Knowing that Regina was implying that Emma was the reason for the good night's sleep, Emma grinned and kidded, "Me too. This bed is amazingly comfortable."
"Idiot."
The accompanying giggle set Emma's heart to pounding fiercely in her chest and as the morning sun warmed them both, they came together for more lip play and innocent petting.
Regina sighed. "I am so tempted to go for second base right now."
"You know the bases? I'm impressed."
"I've been living in Storybrooke for decades. Not a cave."
"Regina, if you touch my bare boob right now, I swear, I'm not responsible for my actions."
"And that's all it would take to turn you on, Emma? A boob graze?"
Emma saw the challenge in Regina's eyes and simpered while allowing her knee to slide up the inside of Regina's thigh and was rewarded with the joy of Regina's eyes glazing over with lust.
"Watching you sleep has turned me the hell on. I know we agreed to wait but my body is already honed and primed to take this to the next level."
"By watching me sleep, Sheriff Swan? Doubtful." Regina's slight shake of the head egged Emma on and she did something that she hoped she wouldn't regret but she wanted to show Regina just how serious she was. Taking Regina's hand she immediately brought it to the outside of her shorts and took a sharp intake of breath as she pressed Regina's fingers firmly over the entrance of her body.
Regina gasped at the feel of Emma's softness and, according to the feel of her, she imagined that Emma was as slippery and hot as liquid sun.
"Okay, enough," Emma managed through gritted teeth and brought Regina's hands up, brushing her lips against the knuckles and faintly smelling herself on the fingertips.
"That was totally unfair."
Pretending to misunderstand, Emma delightfully chuckled at the offended pout on Regina's face and quipped, "Want me to feel you down there to even things up?" She had meant it as a joke but suddenly thinking about being between Regina's legs made Emma dizzy.
"If you touch me down there now, Miss Swan, I will have no other choice but to mount you and ride you until we are both satisfied."
"Holy sweet fuck!"
"Yes. It would be. And then I'd be furious with you for enticing me while our son is asleep in the next room."
The reminder that Henry was sleeping out on the futon was like a hose-down of icy water and it did help to dull her arousal.
"Yeah, yeah. Okay, Regina. But, Jesus Christ! A simple, 'Don't touch me!' would have sufficed.
A mischievous grin appeared before Regina saucily teased under her breath, "But I so enjoy the thought of mounting you." She traced Emma's lips with her index finger and added, "Everywhere." The implication of oral sex was clear causing Emma to groan loudly. The images rushing into Emma's imagination, igniting tingling waves of lust to roll through her lower abdomen. Oh, Emma couldn't wait to show Regina what she could do.
With a proud and eager smile, Emma said, "Stop talking," and shut Regina up the only way she knew how; by kissing her to distraction.
[X}
"Slow down, Henry. Your breakfast is not going to get up and walk away." Regina sat at the table cross-legged, sipping her coffee and eyeballing her son, who continued to shovel his Denver Style Omelet into his mouth. An egg sopped chunk of green pepper fell from his mouth and Regina put her coffee down and scolded sharply, "Henry!"
"Sorry, Mom, but this is so good." He smiled and when Regina shot a reproachful look at him for speaking with his mouth full he chewed faster and swallowed before saying, "This reminds me of Ma's Denver Omelets in New York. Remember Ma."
Smiling over her coffee cup, Emma was taken by Regina's look of surprise. "What?"
"You cooked in New York?"
Wide-eyed, Emma's sight wandered over Henry's head as if baffled as to what to respond with. Just because she didn't cook a lot in Storybrooke, didn't mean she didn't know how to cook. She made a decent omelet, if she said so herself, and she could make pretty mean tacos.
"How do you think I fed the kid?"
"Sometimes, we would even see who could eat our omelets the fastest." Emma's eyes took on a rounder shape again at Henry and she shook her head mildly as if to signal him not to speak any further, but it was too late and Regina's eyes narrowed at her in disapproval. "She'd say, 'Ready, set, go!' and we would time it and see who could clean our plates the fastest!"
"Why am I not surprised?" Even though Regina's tone was tempered and she sent Emma a curious, albeit chastising glance, her grin at the blonde was loving. "An egg slurping contest? That's a stomach ache waiting to happen."
The air around them was flirtatious and electric as Emma peered at Regina's lips and licked her own as if she could taste the woman. "The kid lived."
Henry's eyes darted between them and the slow smile he exhibited was unstoppable. He wasn't sure what his mothers had talked about for the short time they had left the party last night but they had returned holding hands and there was definitely something different between them. Something good and it made Henry ecstatically happy.
"I'm getting more orange juice. Do you guys want some?"
Their eyes never broke contact. "No thank you, dear."
When they were alone, Regina covered Emma's hand with her own. The small quiver she felt go through the blonde fascinated her and Regina was eager to get back to their lives in Storybrooke and begin their future together. The picture painted in her mind of things to come between them was rose-colored and promising.
"So… it looks like I should thank you for taking such good care of Henry in my absence. I never did thank you for that."
"I have a few ideas of how you can show me your gratitude."
"Down, Sheriff. Let's cross the town line before we take up that line of discussion again." Regina's smile vanished and she looked slightly unsettled. "I am just a tad nervous of informing your mother about our new relationship status."
"Want to make it easier? I can update it on Facebook." Emma gestured with her palm in the air from left to right as if the words were appearing before her eyes. "In a relationship with Regina Mills."
Keeping the joke going, Regina chortled and tucked her fingers in her short dark hair beneath her ear. "That would work if only I had a Facebook account."
"Then I could just update my status with, 'Got to 1st base with my baby mama. Hoping to slide into 2nd real soon'." Emma hid her smile in her coffee cup taking a sip and Regina rolled her eyes.
"Funny."
"I keep telling you I am but you never believe me."
[X]
There were vans waiting to take them to the airport and so Emma and Regina stood by one with all its doors open, awaiting to board. Moonbeam was bidding farewell to the Chins before they got on.
"Henry…" Moonie opened her arms to him and he gladly stepped into her embrace, hugging her tightly back, surprising Regina a little. "Thanks for your email address, Henry. I'll try to send you something soon, but honest to goodness, I hate those things." She looked up happily at Emma and Regina and continued. "I've got one of those Google Chrome notebook thingies but it works better as a paper weight than anything else." She grabbed him by the shoulders and looked into his face meaningfully. "You take care of your moms and keep reminding them of what's important." She winked at Henry's moms who stood curiously at that.
"Yes, ma'am." He moved to leave but then turned back at her. "Got one last good piece of advice for me?"
His spot beside Moonie was replaced by Emma, witnessing the exchange with amusement. Moonie glanced up at the sky pensively and opened her mouth in a smile. "Yes! People who live in glass houses, should change their clothes in the basement. Unless you're a dippy hippy like me and let it all hang out!"
Henry laughed, while Regina shared a bewildered expression with Emma, and then he got into the van behind Slash.
When it was Regina's turn for a goodbye, and all the bags were packed and ready to go, Moonie pulled Regina aside for a confidential word. "That is a wonderful family you have there, Regina."
"Thank you."
"You and Emma love each other very much. Anyone can see that."
The jubilant expression on Regina's face was contagious and Moonie nearly let out a whoop. "Yes. We do."
"I am so glad you found each other."
The way Moonbeam had said that was a little ambiguous and Regina wondered if the amiable free-spirit knew more than she let on. However, there was a bigger question on Regina's mind that she needed an answer to.
"Moonbeam. Can I ask you something, which may sound like a silly question? Why are you always winking at me?"
A bark of laughter sounded and Moonie draped her arm around Regina's shoulders. "Because you remind me so much of my younger self, dearheart."
The younger brunette's jaw dropped and her lips seemed to trip over words that had not been thought through properly yet. Regina's gaze took in Moonie's Stevie Nicks' gypsy looking rainbow colored attire and pink colored Converses. "I remind you of…"
"Regina. Let me give you the short version. I wasn't always Moonbeam Tamblin. Tamblin was my wife's name, which I gladly took. I was born Emily Langford," Moonie made a distasteful face, "… of the Connecticut Langfords. It's a name that carries a lot of weight still on the Eastern seaboard." Moonie waved to Bill to wait one more minute. "My parents were strict, snobbish, and expected more than they should have from me, and my mother… well… you had never met a more overbearing and dictatorial woman in your life."
Regina pursed her lips, doubting that. Moonbeam and her mother had never met Cora Mills.
"Did they do a number on me. I never wanted to disappoint them. I always did what I was told for fear of angering my mother. I was lucky to meet my wife when I did, who was the complete opposite. Opposites attract you know."
Regina turned her head and peered into the van's back as Henry nudged Emma's shoulder. Emma playfully nudged him back and then he shoved her even harder. She attacked his side with tickling fingers, he laughed, put his head on her shoulder and Emma placed a motherly palm on his head. Regina inwardly swooned at them and shook her head in awe. They were hers and she loved them both dearly.
"My wife taught me so much. She taught me that I had to let go. She taught me that I was worth loving while my parents had never shown me that. She showed me what it was like to really truly love someone else. I lost her last year, but I have the fondest memories of her that will last me a lifetime. I'd never trade those years for anything. So go, Regina. Let go and be happy."
The tight smile Regina returned was one of sympathy for Moonbeam. There were moments when she could have lost Emma. Thinking of those moments now were heartbreaking, but her hands were suddenly enveloped in the older woman's who smiled genuinely at her. "Don't feel sorry for me, Sweetness. I've had deep, true, abiding love. Now it's your turn to have the same. Life's gifts are meant to be treasured."
Regina nodded and smiled deeper and after she hugged Moonie tighter. She was ready to head home to start that new life.
As she stepped toward the van's sliding door, Moonie came over and halted her actions. "Oh Regina." She held her arm and whispered just low enough so Regina could hear her last grain of wisdom. "Remember this. A woman who fights all day with her wife, gets no piece at night."
Regina was gobsmacked at the homophonic word as she stood there watching Moonie back away with eyes twinkling and a huge smile on her face, as if to say, you know what I mean. She gave Regina her last wink and turned and walked toward the main lodge.
[X]
"David! Why do you keep staring at me?" Regina complained impatiently as he held the door to Granny's open for them. He'd left their bags in the car and walked them over to the table where his wife and son were.
Upon seeing them, Snow got up and hugged Henry and then her daughter, Emma. When she moved to embrace Regina she stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh my God! You're wearing jeans!"
"That's what I'm staring at!" David's flummoxed expression came into view.
"I wasn't even aware that you owned jeans," Snow exclaimed, her head inspecting Regina's denim pants as if she'd never seen a pair before.
Piping in while carrying Neal into her arms, Emma said in a soft voice to her little brother, "And I saw her in sneakers too!"
"The hell you say," David put a hand to the top of his head in disbelief as Snow enveloped Regina in her arms, a move that Regina was getting a little used to.
"Your husband is not funny."
Snow laughed against her ear and then let Regina go. "I know. I keep telling him he doesn't have jokes." Snow looked at all three of them, taking her family in, glad that they were all alright and together again. She didn't like it when she couldn't keep tabs on them. "So? How was it?"
"It was…" Hesitation delayed a quick response and Regina and Emma spared a glance at one another. Regina snatched the baby from Emma's hands as if Neal could offer a little protection, however, Emma had been using him as a kind of shield as well so she threw Regina a dirty look.
Henry thankfully spoke up. "It was a lot of fun! We played volleyball, went canoeing, hiking, swimming…"
"Regina canoeing?" David placed his hands on his hips and shook his head in awe at the dark haired mayor. "Well… Wonders never cease."
Regina glowered at him over the head of David's mini-me and decided she wasn't even going to dignify that with a comment. She would just wait until they found out that she and Emma were together and then she could joke about how hotly she was bedding his daughter. A wicked smile graced her lips and she turned and caught Emma smirking at her with a curious eyebrow raise. If Regina hadn't known any better she would think Emma had read her thoughts perfectly.
"Did you see Darkmore Mountain? I read a little about it online." They all sat now and Snow motioned Ruby over, who smiled, grabbed a couple more mugs and a coffee carafe and walked over to the table.
"Greetings Charmings," the long haired waitress greeted Snow, David and Henry. When her eyes settled on Regina and Emma she addressed them playfully, "Magical hotties." Ruby winked at Snow and smiled at the other two women. Ruby's werewolf senses were picking up something different between the two women. She'd have to grill her best friend, Snow White, for information later.
Regina balked at the casualness of the situation, this being the first time anyone in town called her a hottie. Though surprised at Ruby Lucas' informality, a part of her was overjoyed to be considered part of the group. She had noticed that people saw her less and less as the Evil Queen and more the person she really wanted to be. Just Regina.
"Thanks, Ruby." Emma said and she grabbed Regina's hand under the table while the brunette held her brother with the other.
"Snow? Come find me before you leave, ok?"
The look that passed between Snow and Ruby at the waitress' request, lingered as if they were silently communicating. "Sure, Red."
Then the tall brunette promised Henry an iced tea and left.
"What was that all about?" Emma asked her mom and Snow shrugged while David and Regina shared a knowing look.
"It's this bestie thing they do," David explained while Regina nodded and made a funny face at Neal. "Their best friend connection. Half the time I feel like they're talking about me."
"Complaining, David," Regina smirked, readjusting Neal on her lap. "Complaining about you."
David stretched his arm out on the back of Snow's chair. "Naw. Probably talking about what I great behind I have."
Snow nearly spat her coffee out, gave him a feigned look of annoyance and then made light of elbowing him in the stomach.
"There will be no more talk like that," Emma made a disgusted sound, "…ever!"
Regina hid a smile and spoke softly to Neal though loud enough for David's ears. "More likely talking about what a great horse's behindDaddy is."
David snorted, picked up his lemonade and took a deep swig while holding his wife hostage with his other arm.
"So did you see the Darkmore witch?" The young mother with the short cropped hair returned to her line of questioning after wrestling with her husband to claim her elbow back.
"No," Henry said excitedly, "But we heard the story while we were roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores!"
David pretended shock, "Regina? Eating s'mo…"
"Yes, we know," Regina drolly interjected at a joking David, "Regina did a lot of things she doesn't ordinarily do this trip. Wonders never cease."
Emma chuckled beside her and Regina shook her head amusedly at her.
"Legend has it that Severa Darkmore was wronged badly and out of anger interrupted a wedding and created chaos in the midst of it." Snow stated from memory. She glanced at Regina and suddenly realized the irony.
Regina scoffed and quipped at Snow and David. "Imagine that. Evil witch."
David flashed a beaming smile that was very reminiscent of Emma's, and Snow looked at Regina affectionately. That they could even joke about the past now said quite a lot.
Emma read that moment as the perfect segue way to broach their relationship. That there was nothing but good feelings between her parents and Regina, even at the topic of discussion being so similar to their murky pasts, gave Emma the confidence and assurance that everything would be alright. She would see to it because that was how important Regina was to her.
"So, I'm glad we're all here together as we have something important to tell you." She felt Regina stiffen apprehensively and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Ok." David seemed to pick up on the importance of the sudden change and Snow just blinked and waited patiently after only once exchanging a curious glance with her husband.
"Regina and I have decided to date."
Snow stared at them as if waiting for more details and David opened his mouth to say something and then requested clarification, "Date who?"
"Each other," was Regina's cautious reply.
"Oh…" David looked around the table. Snow was the first to break a smile and she put her hands out palms up, which David and Henry immediately slapped with theirs in celebratory congratulations.
Stunned, Emma and Regina shared an agape look. "What just happened?"
Emma's question was answered by Regina narrowing her eyes at the other three occupants at the table. "I don't know." Bouncing Neal on her lap, Regina cocked her head to the side and shook her head. "And I'm not sure I want to know."
Emma assigned her parents and her son's guilty looks with an investigative side squint and said, "You were hoping for this weren't you."
Snow observed both of them with leveling eyes back. "Who do you think actually paid for the whole trip?"
"You?" Regina's aghast expression caused Snow to snicker and nod her head. "You planned all this?" Glancing at Emma, she snorted and said, "I was sure one of us was going to get a hefty credit card bill."
"It wouldn't be the first time the kid has stolen a credit card."
David laughed then and lovingly squeezed both his wife's and grandson's shoulders. "Since Henry had used Snow's credit card to find you, Emma, all those years ago, it seems only fitting that we used it to bring you two together, huh?"
"Only this time grandma knew about it. She helped find the camp and everything."
"Unbelievable."
"Well you two were taking your own sweet time about it. Sheesh!" Snow shook her head at Regina.
"So you're okay with this then?"
David and Snow both answered without hesitation. "Of course. We just want to see you both happy."
"Told ya," Emma whispered in her ear and when Regina turned to look at her she kissed Regina softly on the lips In front of their son and in front of her parents.
Snow White's smile was shining beyond brilliant as she looked at them excitedly. "Oh, I am so happy, I could hug you."
Regina's eyes snapped to hers and with a hint of a grin, she kidded, "Please don't."
"So how serious are you two?"
Henry followed his grandfather's question with one of his own, "Do you think you guys'll get married?" Both women blushed and Emma answered first.
"Whoa. We haven't even had our first date!"
"After that."
"Henry!"
"Mom!"
Emma put her arm across the back of Regina's chair and said, "Let's see what happens."
Henry smiled and leaned over to Snow and uttered, "That wasn't a denial."
"Nope."
"So if you guys do get married," David started, "I'm going to start my father of the bride speech off with, 'I will destroy your happiness…"
Regina shut her wide, slack jawed mouth, thought for a few seconds and then said to a silently giggling Snow, "Okay, that was a little funny."
Snow held her index finger and thumb up close together, "Just a little bit."
"Oh come on! That was great!" David's hand covered his chest as if wounded.
"What am I getting myself into?" Regina asked Neal, but smiled brightly at Emma. She grabbed the collar of Emma's shirt and pulled her in for a longer kiss. "You're lucky you're worth it."
"RED!" Emma's mom yelled, just as Emma slipped the tip of her tongue past Regina's lips. "They're together!"
"I heard! Werewolf hearing!" Ruby yelled and then faced the kitchen. "Granny!"
"I heard," Granny's voice boomed from the kitchen, "And it's about friggin' time too!"
