Chapter 8
Regina had slept well for the first time since the curse broke. She wasn't sure if it was from having Emma and Henry there or if it was from her painkillers. Either way she didn't want to get up the next morning. She grumbled when she felt a hand shake her from her sleep and when reluctantly opened her eyes she saw another face close to her's staring back.
The immediate shock made her scream and jump back. When she came to her senses she realised it was the Sheriff. Emma had her hands raised in a don't-shoot stance. "Woah, I am not here to hurt you."
"Why would you wake someone like that!" The mayor yelled trying to calm her rapid heartbeat by placing her hand over it, just below her bandages. "That wasn't funny."
Emma glared back at her with her arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be, I had been trying to wake you for the last five minutes. God, you are a heavy sleeper." She explained not exactly delighted with how it went.
"Was that a scream?!" Henry burst into the room with a tray in his hands looking worried.
"It seems your mom got a fright when I woke her." Emma smirked as she went to take the tray off him.
"How would you react when you opened your eyes and saw a face grinning back at you." The brunette huffed as she sat up in the bed noticing the tray, her heart going back to it's regular beat.
"Henry woke up early to make you breakfast in bed." Emma informed making Regina grin at him. He had never done that for her. Not that she would have allowed having him cook unsupervised so she didn't see it as something against him but having him be so thoughtful made her heart flutter.
Emma placed the tray on a bedside table and Henry climbed up onto the other side of the bed and got comfortable.
"Miss Swan would you mind getting me my painkillers." Regina asked in a husky morning voice. Emma took in the woman in front of her in her shirt with her hair sticking up in places. She wondered how she could make something look as sexy as she did. After about 30 seconds of staring she realised she hadn't moved. "Pills, yes. I'll be two seconds."
When she left down the hall Regina ran a hand through her messed hair, trying to smooth some of it down. "I made you pancakes and coffee." Henry told her catching her off guard as he handed her a cup. "I didn't know how much coffee you are meant to add. I hope it's okay." Regina took a sip and spit some of it back in the cup. It was the strongest coffee that had ever passed her lips. She tried to hold back a grimace as she swallowed the small amount still in her mouth.
Henry gave her a hopeful look and she found herself given him a weak smile. "Too hot...Out of curiousity how many spoonfuls did you put in?" He looked up trying to remember as Regina put the cup down. "Well when I make hot chocolate I put in 4 and a half spoonfuls. So I figured you do the same..."
He gave her a big grin and she smiled back. 'I cannot drink that. Ugh I need to wash my mouth out. But look at his little face.'
"Did you sleep okay? You fell asleep on the film last night." He informed her as he plumped a pillow and put it behind his head. She just looked at him confused, if that was true then it didn't make sense why she was sitting in her bed. "How did I get up here?"
"Emma carried you up." He rolled his eyes as if it was the most obvious explanation.
'She carried me to bed...and I was asleep for it. Damnit!'
"Here have some pancakes." He placed the tray on her lap. "Emma helped me make them." As if waiting for a cue Emma came in the door with a glass of water and two painkillers.
"Mom already has a drink." Henry pointed out. Emma looked over at the coffee and suppressed a smirk. "Kid, she needs to take these with water."
She sat down on the foot of the bed watching the two of them interact. She began to wonder if her and Henry would ever have that sort of relationship feeling that lately she was more like a friend to him.
She was lost in her train of thoughts until she heard one of them talk to her. "These are really good." Regina pointed her fork down to the pancakes on the plate. Emma gave her a sheepish smile. "Nothing really."
She finished two and saw Henry look at her plate. "Sweetheart, why don't you have the other one." She handed him the plate and he looked at her skeptically not wanting to steal her dinner. "You sure?"
"Yes go ahead." He wolfed it down as Regina took her painkillers. "Mom, are you coming today?" He asked after he finished. Emma hit him in the shoulder and glared at him.
"Coming where?"
"There's a memorial for the people who were shot. David called about it this morning." Henry explained. Emma sighed not wanting to worry the woman about it. "Your mom should be resting Kid. I don't think she should."
"I would like to pay my respects." The mayor told them definitely her tone leaving little room for argument on the subject. "It is on in a few hours." Emma informed her. "Speaking of, Kid you need to get ready and you promised you would empty the dishwasher."
"Can't it wait?" He moaned. Emma crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. He trounced off the bed muttering something under his breath. Regina stared at the blonde. "Since when did you become strict?"
"I just didn't want to empty it." Emma smirked at her. "Well you should rest for a little bit. I will be up later to help you get dressed."
She took the tray and the disgusting cup of coffee off the bed and the bedside table and was heading out the door when Regina stopped her by getting out of the bed and reaching out to touch her elbow.
"Did you carry me to bed last night?"
Emma whirled around. "Huh. Oh well couldn't have you falling off the couch and hurting your shoulder." The mayor nodded in agreement. "Thanks...for you know...carrying me."
"It was nothing. You are actually quite tiny." The blonde teased causing Regina to cross her arms. "I am not."
Emma just laughed and brought the tray downstairs.
Regina went downstairs a short while later to find it empty. She assumed the others were in their rooms so she made herself a proper cup of coffee, using 1 and a half tea spoons and sat in her kitchen she began reading the paper.
It was one from Portland. There was zero mention of the shootings. She should have known there wouldn't be. No one outside the town knew it existed. She wondered if that was still the case since the curse was lifted she knew people could leave. Hadn't Mr Gold left the second the curse broke. Said he was planning a world trip before Emma broke the curse.
She continued reading and when she finished all but the sports section she headed upstairs to use the bathroom. She could hear the shower going from the main bathroom and assumed Emma was in there. When she got to her room she made a bee line for her en suite and jumped for the second time that morning when she saw a very naked Emma in her shower.
She stood frozen in place, unable to stop staring at the blonde's body. The Sheriff was lathering her hair with shampoo unaware that she was being watched. Regina heard Henry call out for her and quickly backed out of the room.
He needed help deciding on what to wear to a memorial. She took out a shirt and tie and slacks and quickly used the bathroom before heading back to her room. She walked in to find Emma Swan with a towel wrapped around her body barely covering it, standing at the door of her walk in closet. The blonde craned her head back when she saw her.
"I don't have anything black in the clothes I brought. I figured I could just borrow one of your dresses."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "You figured? Did you even bother to ask if you could?" Emma turned back towards the closet. "I knew if I did you would say something like 'I don't think they would fit you.'"
Regina walked closer looking her up and down and pulling at the concert tee she had on her own body. "Well this shirt is very loose."
"It is loose on me too!" Emma argued and took down a grey dress, the same one Regina first wore when she came to Storybrooke so many years ago. She held it up to her body. "This one will do. What do you want to wear? Maybe something strapless..."
Regina smirked and raised an eyebrow making the blonde blush. "So it isn't painful to get in and out of." She explained but it seemed to have gone on deaf ears.
"There should be a strapless dress in the back." The mayor pointed out. She had remembered buying one but never wearing it. Emma peered out from the closet door. "I'll get it, you just relax."
"I am actually going to wash up." Regina told her before heading into the ensuite to brush away her coffee breath.
Emma ran her fingers over the other dresses and wondered what was in the drawers. Her curiousity got the better of her and she opened one and saw it was filled with necklaces. Another had silk scarves. She wondered what else could be in them and opened one noticing blue silk and pulled it out holding it up by the straps.
'She would look so good in this, her in this standing by the doorway curling a finger to get me to come closer and then...'
Regina walked up behind her and saw Emma holding up a blue silk teddy and blanched of color. "What are you doing?"
Emma dropped it immediately and hurried to pick it up. "I uh, I was seeing what it was...looks nice. I could uh, it's um...I'll just put it back." She quickly folded it and threw it in the drawer. "The dress was in the back, right?"
"Right." Regina wondered how long Emma had been looking at her lingerie and why she was looking at it. She wondered if Emma had any herself the though making her cheeks tint a light pink.
Emma quickly retrieved the dress and placed it on the bed along with the dress she had chosen. "You will need a strapless bra too." Emma pointed out and walked towards the dresser. She was stopped with a hand on her hip.
"I can get my own underwear out." Regina explained and took out a pair of underwear and bra. Emma approached her fixing her towel as she did. "You are going to need help getting out of that shirt." She reminded her.
"You need to raise your left arm." She stepped closer and the mayor did as she was told. Emma inhaled deeply willing herself not to touch the other woman when she held the bottom of the tee shirt. She raised it above Regina's head exposing her naked breasts. The blonde desperately wanted to touch them but contained herself as she pulled the top gently over her right arm.
When the top was gone Regina rapidly covered herself feeling incredibly exposed. "I need you to turn around." Emma told her and the former queen turned away from her.
Emma took the strapless bra in her hand and noticed that she had a perfect view in the mirror when Regina dropped her arm.
"Can we hurry up." Regina groaned. Emma reluctantly covered her up clicking the hooks of the bra in place. Regina pulled on her shorts and wiggled out of them easily. "Turn around." She told Emma who sighed and looked in the other direction. A full length mirror by the bed showed a view from the other mirror from where she stood. She blushed darkly as she saw Regina change into a pair of purple underwear noticing her naked for a second. The image made Emma squeeze her thighs together. She watched as Regina stepped into the dress and got it up halfway before needing assistance.
"Can you help?" She asked looking over her shoulder. Emma pulled it up and held her hip as she zipped the dress up.
Regina turned around and reached out placing her fingers just above Emma's breasts. The action caused Emma to take a sharp intake of air. Regina fixed her towel for her and looked up into her green eyes with a smirk on her lips. "It was falling down and by the way Miss Swan. I could see you in the mirror."
Emma's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. "I...I should get ready..." She rushed out of the room and almost ran to the guest room.
She got dressed took out her hair dryer and turned on her curler. Once her hair was styled she got dressed. She heard a knock at her door. "Miss Swan?"
Regina came in and sat down on the spare bed. "I um, I need...I was wondering if you could help me with my hair. You look nice by the way." She added. Emma gave her a big smile and patted the chair she had been sitting in. Regina sat down and Emma ran a brush carefully through her hair remembering how painful it could be when someone brushed it harshly.
"Do you want your hair pulled back, like in a ponytail?" She asked and Regina shook her head. "No. I only had my hair that way when I was younger and when I was imprisioned."
"You were in jail too? And you gave me all that crap about me being in juvie?" Emma said playfully as she ran the brush through the mayor's dark brown hair.
"It was a cell in your mother's castle." She informed her making Emma's face fall. "Mary Margaret captured you?"
"She did once...I was set for execution but she stopped it and then let me go." Regina grumbled as she though of Snow. "That was nice of her...to let you go."
"She is not nice. She is evil." Regina growled trying to remain calm. Emma looked down at her. "Mary Margaret is evil?"
"Yes, she is the worst kind because she thinks she can do no wrong at least I knew I was bad. She is the reason my...my fiance was killed. Just so I would become her mother and marry her horrid father. And! She killed dozens of my men. Shot arrows straight through their hearts and others she let her wolf friend eat." She gripped the arms of her chair. Her knuckles going white as she took deep breaths.
"That was 30 years ago...You should give her a second chance. I am sure you wouldn't like it if people still saw you as the Evil Queen. Because you changed...she has too." Regina let go of the chair and groaned. Emma leaned forward almost rested her head on her good shoulder. "It would be good for you to forgive her."
The mayor meerily grumbled something that sounded like agreement and Emma went back to her hair. "And I'm done...looks like your usual style...seemingly flawless."
Regina blushed and averted her gaze from the mirror in front of her. Emma smiled and bent down again suddenly turning somber. "Are you sure you want to go this memorial."
"Yes, I need to show my respects, besides it would look worse if I didn't show up." Emma patted her knee. "If you are sure. We should probably head out."
They drove to the memorial held in the school's gym and though they were early they stayed at the very back. By 1pm the room was filled by almost every member of Storybrooke except for David and Leroy who were keeping watch at the station.
The Blue Fairy held the proceedings. She lamented on the tragic loss of people who were taken before their time. Henry wanted to point out that Mrs Ginger was past it and was crazy but he kept quiet. Regina shifted nervously in her seat. She hadn't been outside at a town event since the curse. She felt like at any moment someone would finish the job Jefferson tried to start.
As if reading her mind Emma placed her hand over hers and continued looking ahead. Regina let out a sigh and rather than listen to the Mother Superior speak she looked at her former friend. Katheryn was at the front, a handkerchief in her hand and tears flowing freely from her face.
Some townsfolk went up to the podium to say kind things about the deceased. Once all was said the refreshments were broken out and people began to mingle. Emma turned to ask Regina if she wanted to stay and noticed that the brunette was gone.
"Hey Kid, have you seen your mom?" Emma asked getting worried considering how most of the town had a hatred for the woman.
Henry looked around and noticed her. "There she is." He pointed her out walking towards the grief stricken Katheryn. Emma made her way through the crowd but not quick enough she told herself when she heard the sound of a smack reverberate off the gym wall.
She got closer and found Regina holding her face.
"Get away from me!" Katheryn yelled at her in tears. Emma ran to Regina's side. "And shove your apology!" Katheryn stormed off and Emma examined Regina's face. There was a red mark across one side of her face. "Jeez, come on I am taking you home."
She grabbed Henry and took the two of them to the car. "I was just trying to apologize to her." Regina groaned as she held her cheek. "Does it hurt?" Emma asked as she pulled out of the parking lot. "It's not that bad...but it is making me feel bad for hitting you."
"You hit her?" Henry inquired from the backseat. Regina's other cheek went dark red. "Yeah, the day of the shooting, I said something incredibly out of line." Emma informed him in a bored voice.
"Oh." He said and looked out the window. The streets were all empty.
"Forget it. I get Katheryn is upset but she had absolutely no right to strike you. You didn't kill her husband." Emma fumed gripping the steering wheel.
"Technically I did, Jefferson was after me." Regina pouted and Emma hit down on the brake causing the police cruisar to jerk forward. "Don't! That crazy man did all that not you. None of this is on you." Regina looked down and Emma grabbed her chin and turned her head. "None of this is your fault you hear me."
Regina stared back at Emma and nodded making the blonde drop her hand and start the car again. "Good." Henry watched them suspiciously from the backseat.
When they got home Regina claimed she needed a nap and went up to her room. The Sheriff was following after her to help her out of her dress and into pyjamas when Henry pulled on her hand.
"Can we talk?" She agreed and he half dragged her to his room. She took a seat on his bed while he stood across from her. "What's this about Kid?"
Henry let out a large breath of air and fiddled with his hands. "Do you like my mom?"
Emma gave him a sincere smile. "Yeah, she's a good person. Who knows we may be friends before she gets better."
"No, I mean do you like like her...do you have feelings for-" Emma's eyes went wide and she cleared her throat. "You do!" He said shocked that he was right.
Emma covered her mouth. "Um, Kid, I don't...I mean how could...No." She tried, hoping she could in some way deny the truth.
Henry shook his head. "It all makes sense! Why you were so sad when mom got shot and why you slept by her side at the hospital. Are you together?"
"What no?! We aren't."
"But you want to be?" He asked with a knowing smirk reminding Emma of the first night they met. "Well?"
"Yes..." Emma's face flushed as she admitted to her son and maybe more so to herself that she had feelings for his mother.
"I knew it!" He said triumphantly as he sat down beside her. "You should tell her."
Emma shook her head with a frightened look. "No, I can't and you can't say a word of this outside this room, do you hear me?"
"I won't...Does she like you too?" He asked curiously. Emma twiddled her thumbs. "She seemed to when she kissed me."
"You kissed my mom!" Henry said in disgust making Emma realise she had spoken the last thing out loud. "Uh, during the shooting and she kissed me...she had lost a lot of blood and was probably delirious; delusional."
"But you aren't gay? I mean you had me." Henry told her getting confounded by the whole situation. Emma patted his shoulder. "I was younger then confused with who I was attracted to."
"Is mom gay?" He asked causing Emma to furrow her brows. "I don't know..."
"She did kiss Sheriff Graham I caught them once kissing. And I saw Ruby kiss her once too but that was under mistletoe...Mom, doesn't really date." He added making Emma feel slightly jealous.
They sat in silence for a bit before Henry whispered. "The curse..."
"What about it?" Emma asked confused as to how it fit into it. "Mom, she cast it to stop everyone's happy ending, you are the Savior, think about it who needs the most saving? It's my mom. You are her happy ending."
"I don't know about that Kid." He shook his head. "No it makes sense according to the book you were born early, the day of the curse so you would be sent through the wardrobe alone which caused you to have me and give me up for adoption and Mom adopted me from the Saviour, her Saviour."
Emma rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous."
"No, it's a fairytale." He corrected her with a grin. "Don't you want to be with her?"
"With the 'Madam Mayor'...I..." She wanted to deny it but found herself admitting the truth with a sigh. "Yes, more than anything."
"Wow, okay we just need to work on mom." Henry gave her a giddy grin. Emma patted his shoulder. "Good luck with that. Speaking of I should check on her."
"Oh go ahead." He moved over to his laptop to research some ideas. Emma turned standing in his doorway. "And remember." She mimed zipping her lips shut. He mimicked her and she left in search of the mayor's room.
She knocked once and heard a soft "Come in."
Regina was sitting on her bed in her bra and panties reading a book. Her legs were crossed over each other and her book covered her face leaving just her flawless body in view. Emma stood by the door muttering "Wow" under her breath.
"You look...relaxed." She commented stopping herself from saying hot. "That dress is difficult to iron." Regina told her flippantly secretly happy that she was able to get such a response from the Sheriff.
Emma was about to lie down beside her when Regina stopped her. "And so is that one. I'd appreciate if you hung it up rather than lying in it."
Emma stood at her bedside with her arms on her hips. "Are you for real?"
"Yes, if you want to lie down you can change into the clothes you gave me last night." She pointed to the concert tee hanging over a chair.
"Ugh fine." The blonde agreed wanting nothing more than to be near the half naked goddess in the bed. She went into the closet and removed the dress and hung it back up and came back in pulling the concert tee over her head.
"This smells like you." She commented as she took a quick sniff of the shirt. Regina put down her book and watched her and said to her with a snark. "I'm sorry I smell."
"Shut up, you smell good." Emma climbed into the bed beside her. "Might be a good time for a nap."
"You only got up a few hours ago." The mayor pointed out causing Emma to roll her eyes. "And I am tired. Don't lie, I know you are too, I saw you yawn like five times in car."
"Maybe just a little bit." Regina closed her eyes and let her head roll onto her uninjured shoulder. Emma turned ever so slightly to watch her chest rise and fall as she took deep breaths and roamed down the woman's tanned stomach to her hip bone wanting desperately to reach out and touch it, to make patterns on the other woman's skin with her fingertips.
"I thought you were tired too." She heard Regina say with one eye peeking open and looking at her. Emma flushed. "I am."
"Then go to sleep."
Sorry about the delay.
