A/N: i'm trying to put this on a schedule... lord help me maybe I can become more regular and guests can follow me better this way. Anyway, I'll let you know when I have that schedule set.- Enjoy!


Chapter Eight - Regina


Regina noticed how her rejection affected her pregnant wife, and she reveled in it. It started that night. She hadn't meant to reject Emma, she just needed to distance herself as her skin was still aflame with desire.

Even though she had turned her back to Regina, the blonde had gravitated to the center of the bed, and effectively pressed her body against that of her wife and wrapped herself around her out of habit. When she awoke the next morning, Regina soaked in the comfort offered by her wife. As the Emma began to stir, however, Regina pushed her away and slid out of bed, not to seem as though she had taken advantage of her while she slept.

Regina made a show of extricating herself from her, readied herself and was off to the great hall without Emma. The two rarely ate separately, as brunette had every intention of wooing her wife, but that morning, she needed her distance. She wanted to let Emma understand that it was she who initiated things. It was she who was confusing things between them and it was hard for Regina not to misunderstand.

Plus she wanted to speak with the queen alone.

"Regina? Where is Emma?" The Queen asked as her daughter in law joined her at the table.

"She is just readying herself, I wanted to talk to you about what we discussed some days ago." Regina started.

"Regina, the two of you are so young!" Snow said.

"Pardon, but I'm not asking for the kingdom, just a place I can call my own." Regina answered, her frustration rising to the surface.

Snow assented with her head. "I have discussed this with the king, and he has agreed with you. The summer palace is yours. It is further from your parents however, at least a month's travel."

Regina nodded, then smiled her relief. "Thank you My Queen... I must thank the King as well."

"The king has gone off to find a detail for you and Emma." Snow said.

"A detail? Why? Are we traveling?" Emma said walking into the dining hall.

"Do you remember we discussed our honeymoon?" Regina asked remembering the conversation with her wife.


"Soon I will grow large with this child, and I cannot keep this from them." Emma said frustrated. She and Regina had just narrowly missed being seen by the Queen. Emma had fallen ill with morning sickness and had retched in the garden as they strolled.

Regina nodded and inclined her head in thought. "I think I might have a solution," she said aloud after some thought.

Emma stopped and looked to her. "Oh, please! I have been unable to think but of this child and how much trouble concealing it would be. I do want it, but I cannot break my parent's heart with how it came to be."

"Maybe you won't ever have to tell them," Regina said stopping and taking Emma's hands. "Not for a long time anyway."

"What are your thoughts?"

"We have not yet gone on our honeymoon, we will go on a long trip. The child will be born while we are away, and we can say he or she is a foundling if you would like, we can say he was magically made by us... Anything you want." Regina said.

"That may work..."


Emma's eyes were alight as she smiled at her wife. "When are we leaving?"

Regina smiled back at her. She couldn't help it. She had forgotten her shameful self-exploration briefly. Emma came closer to Regina and sat at the table beside her waiting to be served. Regina's smile faltered as she remembered the shame of the night before and began to eat.

It was but a few days before all was ready. Regina had their trunks packed and sent ahead of them to the Summer Palace with a contingent of servants who would prepare the palace as a home for the two of them. It was to be a surprise for the princess. The first stop on their trip however was to the Mills' manor.

Upon arrival, the princess and her Regent were settled in Regina's childhood bedroom, which had since become a young lady's bedchamber. Emma smiled at her accommodations. "It's lovely here Regina! I do not know how it is that you would rather stay at our cold palace instead of here."

Regina smiled looking out of her window. "It is lovely," Regina murmured, "But I was in love and would have much rathered be in a cold palace with my love than staying here all alone."

Emma looked at her wife, "You were in love?"

"I am Emma," Regina said exhaling slowly, "The feeling has not changed."

The blonde came closer to the brunette and took her hands. "You have been distant. I miss you as my friend."

"I am here, we talk do we not?" Regina answered pulling her hands from Emma's. Her skin still tingling whenever they touched, and now that Emma's Magic was quite controlled, her own reacted as if reaching out to it.

"There, you see?" Emma pointed out. "I held your hands, a friendly gesture and you pulled away."

"Because I want more Emma!" Regina nearly shouted. "I cannot simply take that and not want to embrace you, kiss you. You have had much more experience in these matters than I have… do you not know how unbearable unattended sexual desire can be?"

Emma sighed, "Okay… But Regina, what can I do?"

"Love me!" Regina shouts her heart clenching, knowing that this weakness for her was her undoing. She tried to put up her walls again as she waited for Emma's response.

"I do!" Emma replies unable to express what it is she needs from Regina. They look at each other for a long moment. Emma rooted to her spot. Regina's walls crumbled painfully yet again, because she knew what Emma meant, but she was unable to close her wife out of her heart.

Regina sobbed and fell upon her bed, her face buried in her hands. Emma finally moved from where she stood, and without a thought wrapped her arms around Regina. "I care for you deeply Regina," she whispered. "I thought you knew that much about me."

Regina pushed away a little. Trying, not too hard, to get out of Emma's arms. "I know I am to be your friend..." She breathes out a sob, then inhales a breath in staccato. "I'm trying, Emma."

Emma stroked Regina's cheek and lifted her chin so that their eyes would meet. Regina looked into Emma's eyes for the first time through the entire conversation, and her breath hitched. "I care for you Regina," She whispered. "Do you not see it?"

Regina was at an impasse. She thought she saw, what she wanted to see there. But she was not sure if it were true. Why should it be true? Emma was a crass boy crazy wild girl. She shook her head and tried to move away from the blonde.

Emma's hands cradled her face to hold it steady. "I care for you," Emma whispered again making sure her green eyes met Regina's brown orbs.

Regina took that chance and leaned forward slightly, and just as she had decided to take the plunge, the door to her bedchamber opened. "Regina, Emma, it is time for…" Cora paused seeing her daughter splotched face and the manner in which she found the two girls in a near kiss. "Pardon, highnesses." She said rocking her daughter out of her entranced state.

Regina breathed out in frustration and stood. "It's quite alright mother." Regina said and took her mother's elbow, and leaving the princess behind. "We have not had a chance to catch up, I have some magical questions if you don't mind…"


So, what did you think? let me know! just put your thoughts in the little box below. Follow the story as it develops or make it your favorite! there are your options! 'Til next time, much love!~~ S.K.