Chapter 7
"Hey."
Regina turned swiftly around from her place in the kithcen, caught by surprise. "Ms Swan? What are you doing here?"
"I should say the same for you." Emma replied, her socked feet padding over to the other woman, peering over her shoulder. "It's four in the morning."
"I noticed since the house had run out of frozen pancakes yesterday morning, I might as well whip up something lest everyone starves at breakfast. It's been a while since I've last made cinnamon cupcakes too. Did I wake you?" Regina replied, still placing her full concentration on hand mixing her batter in familiar ease.
Emma said nothing, only leaning against the kitchen island, silently observing Regina's movements through half lidded eyelids, still not quite awake. Over the past few days, it had been considered a norm that she had been sleeping back on her own bed even if it was with Regina. Although she knew Mary Margaret was not fond of it, she secretly liked it.
Regina might have been the well feared Evil Queen and ex-Mayor in her time, but to Emma's pleasant surprise, the woman was a sucker for snuggling. She remembered the second night they slept on the same bed. Emma had woken up in the middle of the night due to an uncomfortable jab in her ribs.
When she looked down, she realized that Regina Mills had turned on her side somewhere during sleep and curled up into her, causing the other woman's elbow to jab into Emma's ribs. Initially annoyed, the blonde had tried to get the other woman away.
"Regina, wake up! You're poking me."
"I… I hate your body…" Regina mumbled, obviously drunk on sleep.
"Huh?"
"You're too tall, Em… Emma. I can't reach my knees…"
And although Emma was baffled, she was equally amused as she watched Regina in her own body, blonde tresses sprawled behind her fanning the pillow until she herself fell asleep.
When she confronted the other woman the next morning about the night before, Regina being Regina, denied it.
"What? Oh please Ms Swan, I do not do cuddling."
"But you were literally curled into this ball of soft plush beside me." Emma protested. "And you called me 'Emma'!"
Regina only proceeded to glare at her, then stalked up to her and hissed. "You will not tell anyone about this, Ms Swan."
Emma leaned back and smirked. At least she knew she didn't dream about the previous night. "Or what?"
Returning the smirk, Regina just coolly shrugged. "Or I don't know, none of the double fudge brownies I'm going to bake for Henry later?"
Emma's eyes widened. Regina Mills was many things but one damn fine good baker she was. "Whaaaaaaat? Okay I promise! I won't tell!" She whined and pouted.
Even Regina could not resist that, as she shook her head in what Emma perceived was as endearment. "Sometimes, I question your real age."
And that ended the conversation. It became almost a routine how every night, Emma would let Regina snuggle up to her and the next morning they will end up tangled in each other. Many a times there will be nights where Regina whimpered in her sleep, memories that came back to haunt her as nightmares. Emma tried her best to soothe the other woman, even placing a kiss on her forehead like one of her nicer foster parents did when she had a nightmare. Regina's silent cries would eventually stop and she would return the favour, pulling Emma closer to her which the blonde secretly loved.
Like she promised, Emma never told because damn, those brownies were fucking worth it. Through their secret nights (as Emma liked to call it), Regina and Emma had somehow settled into a comfortable camaraderie and not even Mary Margaret was complaining anymore.
Watching as Regina carefully poured the mixed batter in the cupcake pan, Emma did not tell the other woman that it was the feeling of something missing that urged her awake, and how her heart sunk when she opened her eyes to find herself in an empty bed. When she draped her arm over the sheets to Regina's side of the bed, she had found it cold and God knows she cannot fall back to sleep without knowledge of where the brunette had went to.
"No," Emma answered in Regina's sleep laden voice. "I just needed to use the toilet and you weren't there."
Regina looked up. "Nice to know you remembered to answer."
Emma grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I spaced out."
"Remind me again why am I not surprised." Regina said, turning her back to place the cupcake pan in the oven and missing the fond smile Emma shot.
As she began clearing up, Emma stepped beside her. "Let me help," Emma said.
"It's not necessary I-"
"I want to."
Slightly taken aback by the determination in Emma's voice, Regina slowly nodded. "… Thank you then, if you must."
They worked in a comfortable silence, Emma doing the dishes while Regina wiped the kitchen counter. It felt oddly domestic, but both women reveled in the simplicity of it. By the time they were done with each of their respective jobs it was half past four in the morning. They sat side by side by the kitchen island, the hot mugs of instant coffee that Emma made accompanying them.
After a moment of silence, Regina spoke. "Thank you."
"It's fine, instant coffee is easy."
"No I mean… for that night."
Emma furrowed her brows and looked toward Regina in confusion. "That night…?" They had shared so many nights of late it was difficult to decipher which one she was referring to. But Regina was currently giving her a look she knew all too well. Henry. Then it dawned on her.
"That first night… During the storm, it was you… wasn't it?"
"Yes…" Regina admitted. "I was so shocked I knocked something over."
Emma continued to survey the other woman. "Why were you shocked?"
Regina hesitated, before she spoke. "After everything I've done to you before the curse broke, constantly pitting myself against you, threatening you, giving you the poisoned apple turnover, I never expected you to… say I was not as evil."
Emma watched as Regina looked at her with raw emotion in her eyes. "You're not as bad as you think you are, Regina."
"You don't know the people I've killed just by the flick of a wrist back in the Enchanted Forest, Ms Swan."
"So?" Emma countered. "Like Henry said, that's all in the past. Why do you still brood over it?"
Regina turned towards her with a hardened gaze. "Why do you still brood over yours, then?"
Emma stared slack-jawed at her, unable to come up with a reply for the longest time. "It's… It's difficult to forget something that is the start of your life."
"Childhood." Regina agreed, remembering the times with Cora when she was a young girl. "And you blame me."
It wasn't a question but a statement.
"No." Emma confirmed. "I don't. Now that I'm living with my parents, it's just really confusing. Everything might look okay on the outside, heck they might even think it's okay now, but it's not. There are still so many unspoken words that are dying to be said, but the thing is, nobody wants to hear it. Ignorance is bliss, right?"
"But if I didn't cast the curse, you wouldn't be sent to this world and facing hardship." Regina replied, not daring to look up at the other woman. It might be her own chocolate eyes she will be looking at, but it was Emma's soul she was looking into.
"Correction: if my parents didn't decide to put me in the wardrobe, I wouldn't be in this world. But because I was here and because I faced what I had to overcome, I am here right now. I am me." Emma stressed.
Regina took in this revelation, as she finally dared to lift Emma's hazel eyes and look into her own dark brown ones. "I don't understand…"
"Stop berating yourself," Emma silently shushed her. "We're all not who we were anymore. This Regina, the Regina I know, she's nothing compared to the infamous Evil Queen I've heard complaints about. The Regina I see cares a lot about her son. She hides behind this hard exterior but inside she's actually this big ol' softie. And she bakes the best goddamn double fudge brownies. They're even better than the concept of Heaven, if there is a heaven. "
Regina smiled through tears at that, chuckling softly. Emma smiled back, continuing.
"This Regina I know, she might be harbouring old devils, but to me she's still so fucking beautiful. To be honest, I'm really glad you're Henry's mother. There is no better parent I can ask for."
And then it happened, slowly but surely, Regina's lips found its way to hers in one movement and lightly pressed against Emma's. And God, it was surreal. It was like all the sappy romantic comedies Mary Margaret forced her to watch with in the days of the curse. Emma felt herself responding eagerly to the kiss, her thudding heartbeat the only thing rushing in her eardrums. She felt more than heard Regina hum contentedly as she swiped a tongue along Regina's lower lip, asking for entrance which was granted almost immediately.
Their tongues danced its sensual song, as if they had been doing this for the longest time. Emma's hands found its way to her own blonde locks and pulled Regina flushed against her, another arm wrapping around her waist. She would have thought it be weird, kissing your own physical body like a twelve year old would to a mirror. But no, all she felt was Regina. Regina everywhere. Her smell as she enveloped her, her soft moans as Emma traced circles with her hands on her back, her smile as Emma felt her lips tilt up against her own. Regina's hands were wrapped so tightly around her torso and kissing so fervently, with so much emotion, it was difficult to breathe because Emma's heart felt like it was going to explode.
When air finally drove a wedge between them, they parted breathless, foreheads remaining glued together.
"There is." Regina panted.
"Huh?"
"There is one more better parent," Regina smiled up at her and Emma felt herself melting all over again. "You. You and I, and our son."
Emma felt her heart flutter at the words and smiled, leaning forward to steal another peck. "Nice to know you remembered to answer." She mimicked Regina earlier.
Regina grinned devilishly. "Sorry, I was distracted."
Emma laughed at that, the first genuine laugh she gave in weeks. And as she watched the woman before her laugh back in kind, she cannot help but fall harder.
Our son.
Emma strolled along the docks, deep in thought. It has been approximately two days since the kiss and they had not talked about it. The morning of that day seemed to play out pretty normally but she cannot help but feel that there was something wrong. Regina had been distant, replying her only when needed and giving quick, albeit unsure, smiles to her assuring that she was alright.
That was when Emma knew Regina was afraid. She's retracting back into her shell. She knew about Regina's history with love, Mary Margaret, who had been reluctant at first, had given her a brief outline although not too detailed. Through other sources, although not confirmed, she found out that her own mother had been the reason why Regina's fiancé was dead which made things way too complicated than it already was.
Emma sat down on the bench and leaned back, sighing and staring up at the clear blue sky in the chilly fall weather. How nice would it be if we could control our own fates.
"If we could that, life wouldn't be fun anymore."
The deep voice startled her and she whipped her head to look at the dimpled grinning figure above her, realizing she had spoken her thoughts out loud.
Emma narrowed her eyes. "Daemonic Sparks right?"
Daemon smiled and lightly scratched the back of his neck. "Well, it's actually Daemon."
"Then why'd you introduce yourself to us as Daemonic?" Man, this guy is weird.
Daemon laughed and sat down beside her. "It's just… you sort of remind me of my mom and she always calls me that." Then he turned towards her. "She liked to coif her hair too."
Emma nodded, reminding herself it was Regina's physique Daemon was talking about. "What happened to her?"
"She's dead. And you don't need to apologize, it happened long time ago." Daemon replied, looking out into the horizon.
They sat in silence for a moment before Emma asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Fishing!" The brunet answered brightly, pointing to a fishing rod set up nearby which Emma had not noticed earlier. "I went to the visitor center and they said the docks is a good place for a neat catch."
"Fishing, huh. So that's the reason you came to Storybrooke, I suppose?" Emma replied.
"Sorta. I like travelling, so anywhere pleases me." Then Daemon looked at her, silently surveying her.
"What?" Emma asked suspiciously. "I'm not interested, if that's what you're implying."
Daemon gave a hearty laugh. "Relax, Regina."
"Wait, how do you know my name?" Emma stilled, trying to recall if she or Regina had ever introduced themselves to this stranger.
Daemon smirked. "Well, let's just say I did my homework at the Storybrooke Historical Museum, Mayor."
Ah. Well, guess she had to play along. Emma shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not Mayor anymore."
"I heard. You're the Sheriff now, right?"
It was better to let this stranger who was new to town believe that, so Emma nodded.
"You know," the brunet continued. "All those pictures in the museum back when you were mayor, you looked… unhappy. You look prettier when you smile."
"I know." Emma whispered, more to herself than to Daemon, remembering all the rare moments she caught Regina's smile, back before they had their bodies swapped. Whether it was from reading a book, talking to Kathryn or looking at Henry, Emma always thought the brunette looked exceptionally captivating when she smiled.
"Daemon," she spoke. "Have you ever been in love?"
Daemon gave her an amused look, before answering. "Love? That's a tricky question. I must say I haven't… yet. You?"
Emma hesitated. She did not know why she felt like opening herself up him, this man whom she just met, who rolled into town a week ago, and who proved himself not knowing a thing about love. But maybe that is the reason why she decided to talk to him about her burdens, even if he wouldn't care at the end of the day.
Everything felt so simple while talking to Daemon, who knew nothing about the curse, nothing about magic, nothing about True Love's kiss whatsoever. It was so easy to forget and act as if she was just a normal person, coincidentally meeting this guy at the docks, and they will be talking about things they wouldn't tell their closest family and friends about. Which was why Emma opened her mouth and spoke the words she hadn't dared say since the first time she felt them.
"I'm in love. With… Emma." Emma said, hoping she won't make any slip-up about the names.
Daemon raised an eyebrow. "Emma…? You mean the domineering blonde woman you were with at the diner the other day with Henry?"
Domineering indeed. "Yes. But I don't think it's going to work out."
"Why?"
"Love is four letters and a syllable, but it is a big word. There is so much meaning behind it. If you love someone, there has to be commitment and trust and most of all, sharing. I can see she's afraid of all these. Look at us now, I haven't even told her and yet she is pulling away just because she felt that little bit of emotion. Imagine the horrors if I ever told her." Emma answered, sighing.
"Tell me, Regina. Do you believe in something called 'true love'?"
Emma stared shocked at Daemon, suddenly afraid that this guy is not as ordinary as how she perceived him to be. But then Daemon continued.
"My mother used to read me fairytales as bedtime stories when I was little. They always ended with the prince falling in love with the princess and sealing the deal with true love's kiss. I was fixated with the idea of finding true love, but when I asked people, they told me to give up and that true love doesn't exist. I was confused as to why people would reject something so blissful, then I realized why.
You see, as people grow up they find their first love, but then after some time they realize it's not what they're looking for and in the process, they get hurt. Then after some healing, they get back out there and they try to find another love, only to get hurt. Again. So, the cycle repeats until people become discouraged and they give up on the idea entirely, only putting it in books because it's all a hoax. But the problem with people is that, they think the idea of 'true love' is the concept to ensure a happy ending. But no, there is always an after to the happy ending. That's why people gave up, because all this while they have been looking for something that isn't there."
"So…" Emma spoke. "What then, is true love? If it's not 'the happy ending', as people call it."
Daemon flashed his grin. "To me, True Love is the love we finally settle on. We can have countless of lovers before, and the final lover we will ever have will be our true one. Doesn't matter what the other person has done, because we feel full. With them, we feel all the parts that were missing with the lovers before and we feel complete. With them, we can hand over our hearts and bare our souls at the same time, we can sacrifice ourselves for only the promise that they'll be alright. With them, we give. So much.
There is no right or wrong in this world, only agreement and disagreement. Same thing about love, there is no right or wrong person, only the one you choose."
Then Daemon turned to her with a look of all seriousness that she has ever seen him with, and asked. "So Regina, who is your True Love? Who do you choose, and most importantly, is the cost worth it?"
Emma stared into those sky blue orbs, seeing Daemon Sparks in a new light. Who knew that this guy can impart so much yet seem so nonchalant about matters of the heart.
Then she turned to the setting sun before her and murmured, "Have you ever wondered why the sun taunts us with darkness after knowing we can't catch him beyond the horizon?"
When she got no reply, she turned to her side only to find that Daemon had been long gone.
And so was his fishing rod.
A/N: Hey guys! As always, thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites! We're moving on with the story and I know Emma and Regina are kinda slow burning but bear with me. I'll be sort of busy for the next few days but no worries, my late nights will be set aside to write this. All mistakes are mine and I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter.
