Chapter 9
Turning inwards as she begins to wake, Emma blinks slowly then lets out a small smile as she watches the two sleeping beside her. While Regina was rested on her back, Grace had found a way in the night to lay down on top of the woman with her head tucked under the brunette's chin as the older woman had wrapped her arms securely around the girl. Deciding to leave them be, the blonde carefully slides herself out of the covers and rises from the bed before making her way quietly out of the room to go and make a start on breakfast.
Half an hour later, Regina inhales deeply as she wakes then clears her throat before looking down to find blonde hair tickling her chin. Smiling at the memory of what had happened, the brunette gives Grace a gentle squeeze prompting the small blonde to stir and lift her head while revealing a screwed up nose at the light. "Good morning sweetheart"
Pouting slightly, the girl shakes her head then rests it back down gaining a chuckle from the Mayor. "Someone not ready to get up?"
Muttering quietly, Grace tightens her grip. "No Gina..."
"But I can smell breakfast..." Frowning slightly, Regina purses her lips. "Or at least I hope it's breakfast and that your mother is not burning down my kitchen..."
Giggling at the thought, the small blonde looks up again and kisses the woman's cheek. "Sorry Gina...last night.."
Tapping the girl's nose, the brunette smiles. "Not a problem besides I liked having a snuggle buddy.."
Grinning widely, Grace then rolls off and sits up rubbing her eyes with her fists. Also moving to sit up, Regina pushes her pillow up against the headboard then leans back. "Grace dear, can I ask you a question?"
Simply nodding, the small blonde shuffles back, copying the older woman's actions of leaning against the headboard before glancing up. Taking a deep breath, the brunette begins. "I know that I can talk to you about this as you are a big girl" seeing the girl smile proudly at the praise, the Mayor continues. "You know that your mother and I are friends and...that we like each other..would you like us to be a family?"
Grace frowns slightly trying to understand what is being asked. "Family?"
"Yes as in..you, your mother and I being together..for a very long time"
Biting her lip, the girl questions herself. "Forever and ever?"
Nodding, Regina looks apprehensive as she waits for Grace to actually respond to what was being asked. "Yes"
Falling against the woman, Grace smiles as she hugs her. "I love you Gina..forever and ever"
Taking that as a yes, the brunette wraps her arms around the girl before the pair look up at seeing the door open revealing the blonde carrying a tray of breakfast for them both.
Raising an eyebrow at them, Emma walks over and sets the tray on the side table. "Why do I get the feeling you're keeping something from me?"
"Us dear? No" Regina shakes her head as Grace does the same.
"No mommy" the girl responds with a giggle seeing the brunette give a wink.
"Hm...okay..so what's the plan for today?" Taking a slice of toast, the blonde sits at the edge of the bed.
"Can we go to park?" The small blonde questions while looking between both women before grinning. "Then Granny's!"
"You better get ready then bug!" Emma announces with a smile before watching the girl crawl off to the end of the bed and walk out to go and get changed.
Removing herself from the bed, Regina walks up to the blonde who immediately makes space for the woman to fit in between her legs while taking hold of her waist. Smiling the brunette rests her hands upon the woman's shoulders then leans in close. "Hi.."
Grinning, Emma looks up at her. "Hi.." Leaning up slightly, the blonde kisses the Mayor on the lips as the woman begins to slide her hands up and wrap around Emma's neck. Deepening the kiss, Regina then pulls back at hearing a giggle then turns her head towards the door to see Grace stood covering her mouth at the noise she is making.
"Something funny dear?" Glaring playfully as the small blonde shakes her head while attempting to stop her giggles, the brunette moves out of the older blonde's grip then heads over towards the door before lifting the girl up without warning and kissing both her cheeks before passing her to her mother. "Let her have it.."
Emma chuckles then begins smothering the giggling girl in kisses.
"No mommy!" Wriggling the best she can, Grace reaches out for Regina to help her while laughing hysterically. "Mama help me!"
As the older blonde stops tickling her daughter, she looks at the brunette stood in shock. Eyes widened, the Mayor opens her mouth to speak then changes her mind on what was to be said. "Lets..lets go to the park shall we?"
Screwing her nose up confused, the small blonde pouts to her mother as Regina heads out the room towards the bathroom. "Did I make Gina sad?"
Giving the girl a tight squeeze with a kiss to her head, Emma replies while also concerned for the other woman. "No baby..come on I need to get ready and you need some trousers on monkey"
Nodding, Grace hops off her mother's lap and goes back to her temporary room.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Strolling along the pathway within the park, Emma releases her daughter's hand as they reach the playground while glancing across to the silent brunette beside her. "Regina?.."
"Hm?" Briefly looking back and noticing the blonde's sad expression, Regina makes her way over to the bench and sits down.
Sitting beside her, Emma questions. "Are you okay? You've been really quiet since we left the house..well..since Grace said.."
Deciding to be honest, the brunette stares ahead. "No, I'm not. It's one thing being given a nickname but for her to call me..that. When you were downstairs this morning I asked Grace if she was okay with us liking each other and..she was really happy at the prospect of us being a family. I guess...hearing her call me...it made it more real. These past few weeks I have felt as though I was in some dream because it's been amazing, meeting you both and..getting to where we were but now..now I've woken up" taking a breath, Regina gulps down a lump. "We can't be a family...I can't give Grace what she wants and-"
"Why not? Regina please don't say that.." The blonde looking desperate grabs hold of the woman's hand. "I want us to be a family..just us three..I wasn't expecting to fall for you but I have.."
"But we live four hours apart Emma. You have your life in Boston and I have mine here..this has to stop before Grace gets really hurt.."
"I know my daughter and I think it's safe to say it's too late for that. She loves you and hates when we have to go our separate ways..I mean look at her.." Turning towards the swings, Emma's eyes widen as she looks around the empty space feeling a panic begin to rise. "Where's Grace?.." Standing up quickly, the blonde runs up to the swings to check around while Regina also scans around in the distance while calling the sheriff immediately. Running to check all the possible hide outs, the blonde gets teary. "Grace?!"
Both women look to one another lost before heading out of the playground to search the rest of the park.
A/N: so I literally came up with this idea as I was writing Regina's speech! Love random ones that come to you! Sorry to leave it there...
P.S. Two new stories coming up. One posting now called, 'A Different Kind of Life. Based on if Emma broke the curse earlier at 18 and her and Regina fall for each other but snow is determined to keep them apart. Another coming soon called, 'What Should Be' based on a SwanQueen version of the results of Pan's curse and Regina sends Emma away to live happy life while pregnant with their baby and surprisingly hook goes to bring the blonde back as Storybrooke is back but no memories. What do you guys think?
