A warm breeze caressed Emma's face in the thick of a deep sleep. They drifted off not too long after their magical evening, maybe around midnight. She squeezed her eyes before peeling them open to see where the air was coming from. Her sleepy eyelids were still drooping and struggling to stay unclosed but she managed to make out a door left ajar. The bedroom was conveniently placed along the back porch for access to the shore. Emma almost slipped back off to sleep from the air's soothing warmth, but her eyes jutted open when she realized Regina wasn't by her side.
"Regina?" She lifted up and frantically grabbed at the empty sheets. They were still heated as if someone was just laying there. "Regina?" She asked again a little louder.
"I'm here." A soft voice spoke from outside. Emma's panic was calmed by the response and she shut her eyes in relief. But now her curiousity piqued. What is she doing out there? Emma thought. She rolled out of the bed, still fully unclothed, pulled the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around her body like a sleeveless Greek toga. She then tiptoed toward the open back door careful not to trip over the dangling cloth at her feet.
"Hey." Emma greeted at the doorway with a faint smile on her face. There was still grogginess in her voice and just a hint of confusion.
"Hey." Regina grinned, not shifting her gaze. She was sat on the love seat on the porch, wrapped in a comforter and overlooking the hazily colored horizon. The sunrise was still in its infancy. It poked just above the vast ocean but not enough to light the sky. There were even some stars still twinkling above their heads.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked.
"Nothing. I just wanted to see this."
"See what?"
"The sunrise, silly. I've seen many but certainly none like this."
Emma glanced up at the horizon and realized what glory she almost slept through. The colors were vibrant, yet fuzzy and nebulous. It looked like a watercolor painting was coming to life before her very eyes.
"Wow." Emma whispered.
"Wow is right. You know for a world without magic, it sure does have its wonders."
"Yeah. Or maybe," Emma began as she sat beside Regina, "maybe the magic just isn't what we think it is. We may not be able to make it out of thin air but it's all around. It's in the sunrises, the oceans, the planet itself."
"It makes me jealous." Regina stated blankly, still admiring the steadily rising sun.
"Jealous?"
"Well, of course."
Emma's eyebrows furrowed.
"Sure the people here are dreadfully mundane and boring, but they're real. They're strong. There's no accessible magic to fix all their problems only to create a domino effect of even worse consequences that ruin their lives… that ruin other people's lives." She looked to Emma with sadness in her eyes. "Emma, I'm sorry."
"Regina-"
"Just let me say this."
Emma knew what was coming, but she saw how important this was for Regina to say so she closed her mouth and let her speak. Her eyes went doughy at the sight of Regina being so vulnerable.
"Although I hate what I did in the past, all of it lead to me having Henry. And I always tell myself that it was enough for me to accept what I had done. But it's not… When I think about the life you could have and should have had, it kills me. Seeing you in the Enchanted Forest in your pretty princess clothes and lollygagging with a basket of flowers," she giggled through the tears welling into her eyes "it showed me the life I took from you, the life you deserved. You have half a heart now for Christ's sake. Even Henry was happier there. He was a strapping knight with so much to be proud of and look forward to. Here, he's barely in high school and has five times the stress a normal 14 year old is able to bear. The only person who's better off now is me."
Emma let each word hang in the air unanswered. She wasn't unsure of what to say nor did she agree with Regina's lengthy monologue. She knew her lover simply needed to get that off her chest. It's something she had a feeling Regina was harping on underneath the surface.
"And I don't want your pity, I only ask for your forgiveness." Regina sniffled. Emma cupped Regina's cheek and spoke in as gentle a tone she could without it being inaudible.
"You say you wouldn't change a thing about the past because it brought you our son. I wouldn't change a thing about my past because it brought me him… and you."
Gina nestled into Emma's palm and shut her eyes. A droplet spilled down her cheek but the blonde stroked it away with her thumb.
"I wouldn't change a thing, Regina. Nothing. A better upbringing is not worth losing you."
Regina quietly let Emma's simple yet powerful words sink into her skin. She knew Emma was sincere and even knew she felt that way beforehand. But the guilt was still eating at her. Hearing the words assuaged it. Emma considered Regina's slightly relieved face. She didn't imagine that their sharing a heart would be hardest on her. Emma herself was always the more reluctant and worrisome when it came to love. This time, she was fearless and eager to fall even deeper. While Regina was equally in love, she was terrified. At what point will my happiness be destroyed as usual? How long before this fairytale ends in suffering? Regina thought to herself every now and then.
"C'mon. Come with me." Emma offered her hand as she stood up. Regina interlocked their fingers and followed suit, wrapping the blanket around herself as Emma did. The blonde lead them down the few steps outside the cottage and towards the sand.
"Emma, I'm not wearing shoes."
"We don't need them."
Regina squinted a little bit.
"Trust me. Come on." Emma gently tugged her hand. They walked onto the sand towards the shoreline, feet hidden by the dangling fabric. Once to the edge of the tide, they stood hand in hand, side by side, against the morning sea breeze. Their hair blew perfectly behind them.
"Why is it so warm? It's the middle of October." Regina voiced.
"We're not in Maine anymore, Toto."
Regina grinned and shook her head at the corny joke. It was such an Emma thing to say.
The sun was about a third risen but still covered by a thin layer of cloud. The brunette was half-smiling, entranced by the stunning sight she'd never seen before when a hand wrapped around her waist. She dropped her chin to find slender, spread fingers inching across her lower stomach. Emma had let go of Regina's hand and come behind her.
"What are you doing?" Regina smiled and blushed.
"Shh." Emma ran her hands up Regina's duvet dress and undid the top of it from around her breasts. She slipped it down and exposed her entire body by letting it drop to the sand. She quickly did the same to herself and dropped her own blanket. Then, slowly, her naked front pressed against Regina's bare back, draping her arms around the brunette's waist thereafter. It was sensual and intimate. She was as careful as Regina was when she gave such tentative attention to Emma's stomach.
Regina settled into the tender embrace and placed her arms over Emma's. She closed her eyes and deeply inhaled as Emma nestled into her neck. Emma's touch, while gentle, was also firm and secure. With each lingering second, the brunette felt her inhibitions floating away into the crystal sea green ocean. Those arms were indeed the safest place the brunette had ever been. Emma ran one hand up Regina's torso and cupped one breast as her forearm lay on top of the other. Then together they glanced up at the horizon to watch the rest of the sunrise.
"Do you like when I touch you?" Emma whispered.
"I do. I love being this close to you."
"I love it too. But why does it feel like I can never be close enough to you?"
"Because half of you is inside me… as funny as that sounds."
Emma giggled through her nose and lowered her other hand to wrap around Regina's lower stomach again. One hand was on top of her pelvis, the other around her belly button.
"What will life be like when we get back to Storybrooke?" Emma asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Do we just go back to normal?"
"Things can never go back to normal, Emma. Things are too different now."
"So we just throw a gay parade down Main Street and alert the town?"
"I can think of more subtle ways." Regina snickered with a toothless grin. "Is that something you're afraid of? Being open about who you are?"
"Hmm. I mean, yeah… I guess so. I've kept it hidden away my whole life. I wanna show you off but… I'm scared."
"It's okay to be. You won't ever have to be brave all by yourself again."
Emma half smiled. She knew how genuine her words were. "Is it easier for you?"
"I suppose. I've always sort of known and accepted I was very much bisexual. And you're not my first woman, believe it or not."
Emma lifted her chin off Regina's shoulder and darted her eyes toward her. Regina looked back and winked.
"Well, I don't what I am but you're not my first woman either."
"Oh?" Regina teased as they settled back into their cuddle. This time she leaned against Emma's head.
"Just one before you."
"Hmm. Lucky girl."
"Nah. We're the lucky ones."
A few quiet moments passed as most of the sun rose out of the ocean. The haze quelled the now blaring sun rays so the sight was still easy on their eyes. Justly, their bodies were illuminated by a golden tint.
"I think I'm more nervous about Henry than anything else."
Regina swallowed hard and lifted her head off Emma's.
"Umm. About that, Emma." She turned around, still locked in Emma's arms, to face her. "He already knows."
"What?!"
"Shh! Don't yell."
"I-I-I thought everything went fine. I thought you spoke to him and explained."
"Calm down. I did."
"So how does he know? You told him?"
"Of course not." She cupped Emma's cheeks. "I'm sure you already know this but our son is quite smart. Not only did he put two and two together yesterday morning but he read something in one of Gold's books." She rolled her eyes.
"Read what?"
Regina paused and nervously bit her bottom lip. They hadn't used the "L" word yet and Regina didn't know if it was too early to drop that bomb. But this was perfect as perfect could get. There wouldn't be a more fitting time than the morning after a magical night, wrapped in each other's naked bodies on a romantic beach, hearts beating in sync. It was now or never.
"Henry read that sharing a heart isn't exactly meant for everyone." Regina started, a hesitant look on her face. "Sharing a heart only works if..."
"If what?"
"If the two people already have true love."
Emma didn't respond. She just considered the big doting brown eyes before her. Unconsciously, Emma's embrace around the small of Regina's back tightened. In a way it was confirmation of everything she already knew. It wasn't sharing a heart that made them fall in love, it was already there. It was hidden beneath the surface, brewing, waiting, showing itself in times of great sacrifice or magical grandeur. Suddenly, together they realized that perhaps those moments were the universe urging them to recognize who their true love was. Fate was unrelenting in that way.
"A part of me already knew that." Emma's voice shook.
"Me too." A tear welled in Regina's eye as she nodded. "God, how many times have I cried in the past 24 hours?"
Emma smiled wide and giggled, "Uh… three, I think."
"You weren't supposed to answer!"
Emma continued giggling as Regina flicked a tear away before it ran down her cheek. She cupped Emma's face again thereafter. Then they found each other's yearning eyes again.
"I love you, Regina."
"I love you too, Emma."
Regina leaned in first and Emma met her perfectly in the middle. It was a sensual, bottomless kiss. The brunette wrapped her arms around Emma's neck as their mouths fully enveloped the other's. She stroked Emma's tongued with her own up and down the center then flicked the tip of it before swirling them together. Emma pulled Regina's knee up around her waist and pressed her thigh against Regina's naked folds.
Locked in the heat of the moment, they failed to notice the calm waters behind them turn angry and enraged. The waves picked up, the soft breeze turned to strong gusts and the temperature began to rise. A tide came in and swallowed up their feet which broke their kiss.
"Shit!" Emma cursed as they tip toed backward to dry sand.
"What's happening!?" Regina squinted through the wind.
"I don't know! Maybe there's a… storm… coming…" Their shouting over the wind and tides proved unnecessary as they calmed down almost instantaneously. After a few seconds, everything was as tranquil and still as before they starting kissing.
"That was…"
"Weird. I know."
They peered around, hand in hand, waiting for some kind of sign that the stormy conditions would return. But there was nothing. Just the soothing wish-wash sound of the tide coming in and out.
"Hmm. Well, I hope the moment hasn't totally been ruined yet." Emma blushed.
"Don't worry. It hasn't." Gina let go of Emma's hand and yanked her in by the waist. She smiled at her pink mouth then kissed her bottom lip. Again, they fell into another passionate embrace. But moments later, their kiss would be interrupted once more.
"Oh, come on!" Regina shouted at the wind that died down just seconds after they parted.
Emma thought for a long while, staring hard at the sand with her thinking face. "Regina. I think it's us." Emma's eyes were wide.
"What?"
"Whenever we kiss it gets all windy and the waves freak out."
"Emma, that's impossi- wait a minute… maybe that's what broke the curse in Storybrooke. Maybe it's us."
They paused for a moment to weigh the possibilities. It was obvious they were causing some kind of reaction in the world, but they didn't know what exactly nor how. Regina glanced down at her hand and squinted seeming to have an idea.
"I'm going to try something." She turned her palm face up and uncurled her fingers from a fist. Just has they completely straightened out, a ball of hot flames shot up from her palm like a torch. Emma's eyes turned to saucers as she watched Regina effortlessly conjure a fireball in a world without magic.
"Regina, how did you do that..." Emma stated blankly as Regina's palm closed.
"You were right about one thing. This isn't a world without magic." She looked into Emma's anxious eyes. "It's a world with suppressed magic and we're letting it out."
