A/N: All I'll say is ENJOY and of course, I love comments and reviews!
Chapter Ten
"The system is porous," the lead cop explained gently. He didn't want to be here, not because he didn't want to be helpful, but he knew how this story went more often than not. Actually, this young woman was actually lucky; if you could call someone, who was struck in the head by some young punk and subsequently stolen from, lucky. She was lucky because she had a girlfriend; a girlfriend who couldn't sleep until she was home safely, and when the clocked rolled from four to five, and then five to six, she went out in search for her lover. "Ms. Lucas…"
"Call me, Ruby," Ruby sighed, her eyes swollen from crying. She watched as a nurse took Dorothy's vitals again and seemed satisfied.
"You likely saved her life," the cop explained what the doctor had already done a few hours earlier. "Hits like that on the head cause brain bleeds, and from my understanding..."
"Porous how?" when the cop didn't speak, Ruby turned to face him finally. "How is the system porous?"
He took a deep breath. "I won't lie…people…men in particular, have a way of sliding through the cracks on things like this. Even though he took the car, he'll have that chopped and sold in no time and there are no camera systems back there; even though the bar owner is torn up about this…he said they served together in Iraq?"
"Two tours," Ruby only mumbled. Dorothy's eyes were opening for the first time in hours and Ruby wanted to be by her side.
"Go, be with your friend, Ruby," he couldn't bring himself to call the two girlfriends, but he saw the compassion and worry in the woman's eyes when she looked inside the room at her ailing "friend."
Ruby was going to comment, but Dorothy was waking up. "Fine," she mumbled, entering the hospital room. "Baby," she said softly.
Dorothy let out a small breath. "What …what happened?" she struggled to focus for a minute, before her eyes settled on Ruby. "I barely remember closing up …" when the cop entered the room, Dorothy focused on him for a moment. She looked back to Ruby for clarification.
"I'm Officer Lee," he introduced himself. "Do you remember anything after you locked up last night, Ms. Gale?"
"I can barely remember even having to close up last night," Dorothy said trying to sit up now.
"That's not surprising, you have a pretty severe concussion," the officer nodded.
"Did I have a car accident or…"
"So, you don't remember anything really from last night?" Lee realized sadly.
Dorothy looked at Ruby and saw the troublesome looked etched on her face. "Not a car accident?"
"You should get some rest, Ms. Gale," he pulled out his card and handed it to Ruby. "I'll be in touch with any news and in a couple of days I'd like to speak with you again, Ms. Gale, if you feel better."
"Sure," Dorothy agreed. It wasn't until the cop had left that she began to question Ruby about what was going on.
"They are going to keep you today and overnight, to see how your concussion is going…"
"So, I was carjacked?" Dorothy tried to remember, but it made her head spin and throb. "And why do I need to stay overnight? Ruby, with my insurance, we can't afford a hospital stay…"
Ruby kissed Dorothy's forehead and then her lips. "Don't you worry about that. We just have to get you well," Ruby said lovingly.
"Did you find me?" Dorothy asked after a minute.
"You weren't home by six…I can't sleep without you," Ruby smiled at her. "Get some rest…I have to run a few errands…"
"Ruby…don't leave me," Dorothy said taking her girlfriend's hand. She knew Ruby all too well and Ruby's instincts were to hunt down her car and probably try to kill the bastard that did this to her girlfriend. Dorothy couldn't remember what had happened, but she definitely didn't want Ruby putting herself in danger.
"I need a couple of hours, Kansas," Ruby whispered. "You just sleep and when you wake up, I'll be here…I swear, baby."
Dorothy resigned to lie back in the hospital bed. "I can't stop you…not feeling like this…"
Ruby broke their hands apart. "If it were me in the bed, would you do any less than what I'm about to do?"
Dorothy tried her hand at smiling, but failed and resigned to just closing her eyes. "When I wake up, I'll expect you here."
"I love you, Kansas," Ruby said seriously, which was why Dorothy knew what Ruby was going after the bastard.
The system is porous, which was why Killian had easily made it into Alabama in a stolen car with no trouble. A bit after noon, he pulled down to his brother's garage, and exited the car. He entered the garage, looked around at where he grew up and tried to hold back the flood of shame that entered his body. He hated living in Alabama, he hated his family, and he absolutely detested his brother, Liam. He turned to go back outside, when a heavy fist connected squarely with the side of his face.
"I see you still drop like a bag of potatoes, you bitch," Liam sputtered, wringing out his wrist. He stood over Killian and as soon as he tried to scramble to his feet, Liam found his fist slamming into his brother's chest again. "I should kill you…"
"Then you won't get that car out there," he coughed, feeling like he was dying.
Liam slammed his massive fist into Killian's face one last time before backing off. "2015 Chevy Cruze… I'll chop it, get five thousand, maybe…"
"Then I'll get two…" Killian said hopefully.
"You'll get to leave here with some of your teeth," Liam corrected him. "That little stunt you pulled when you left with that cunt and her kid…you lucky I don't kill you now, boy."
Killian curled to the side of the room, getting enough space to sit up now. "You took my fucking hand! Wasn't that enough!" He had lied to Emma, told her that he had lost his hand drunk at the shipyard one afternoon; but in reality, his brother had caught up to him down in Florida. He had stolen nearly five thousand dollars and a car from Liam when he and Emma left Alabama and even though Killian tried to live on the straight and narrow, it never seemed to work. When Liam had showed up at his workplace and it resulted with him losing a hand, Killian knew his fate was sealed. Still, bygones had to be bygones, because Killian needed to get rid of a car and he needed more cash. He had only the two hundred from Dorothy's purse, a gun, and enough crystal to last him to his journey to DC.
"I need it dammit," Killian said tightly. "You get car, and you'll never see me again…"
Liam looked out at the car again and sucked his teeth. "I could just kill you and I'd never see you again…" Killian leaned against a taken apart truck and coughed, his chest on fire. He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small bag of brown crushed up substance. "What the fuck is that boy?" Liam barked.
"This…" Killian laughed. "This is the deal-maker, brother…" he shook the little baggie playfully.
Liam snarled, but seemed to settle a little. He hated his brother, but he loved a taste of drugs more than anything. About two hours later and a thorough meth high, Liam agreed to two thousand dollars for the car and the gun, and dropping his bastard brother off at the bus station. With only the clothes on his back, his pockets full of cash and meth, Killian was heading out of the South by Greyhound, determined to get back what was his; Emma Swan.
One Week Later
"Henry," Regina said tightly. The little boy sat down at the dinner table immediately. After nearly two months together daily, Henry knew what that glint meant in his mother's voice. He had been testing her and Emma all day, mainly because Regina had just turned from a three-day trip to Canada, again, and he had his missed his mother dearly. Still, he was only three and didn't know how to express as much, besides acting out. After nearly two hours of being loud, interrupting his mothers' talking and throwing one pretty tough tantrum, Regina had finally reached her wits-end. "Henry what is going on with you?" Regina questioned, not angrily, but truly concerned. His behavior was never this off-course.
"He missed you," Emma said softly, pushing a tomato from her salad around. She didn't add that she had missed Regina those three short days too.
"I understand that," Regina said levelly, looking at her son. It was only Wednesday and she would have to work the rest of the week, but an idea popped into her head. "Why don't we all go to the bay this weekend? Spend a couple of days there? It's beautiful in early May…"
"I was hoping to get our apartment pulled together this weekend," Emma announced, surprised about how happy her voice sounded with this news.
Regina's eyes brightened some, realizing how happy Emma was to break her this news. "So, you are taking the apartment…?"
"Global Health called me this morning…I got the job," Emma smiled brightly and had to admit that her heart fluttered when Regina shared that smile with her. "It's not a fancy job or anything," she said quickly… mostly data entry or filing, but it's full-time with benefits and they have daycare downstairs for Henry until he starts school next year…"
"I not going to school," Henry broke in, upset that the attention was off of him again. He picked up a piece of lettuce from his plate and placed it on the other side of the plate. Regina closed her eyes to his newest test, but turned back to Emma smiling.
"No…that's great, Emma!" she gushed a bit. "You wanted that job the most…"
"Mainly because eventually I can transfer into the programming division, hopefully," Emma was eating now with some ease. She had been nervous since hearing this morning, because she, Regina and Henry were getting along much better than she could have ever hoped for. She had lived in Regina's home for nearly a month and they had settled into somewhat of a rhythm. Emma had begun looking for jobs first, and when she had some solid leads, she had focused on finding an apartment close enough to Regina that she wouldn't be burden with too much travel to see her son. A reasonably affordable apartment had opened up just ten blocks away from Regina's community and Emma had hopped on the opportunity to put a deposit down on the place. Two bedrooms, two baths, for under sixteen hundred in this area was a real steal.
"So, you want to move this weekend?" Regina didn't realize how a sadness would flow through her at the mention of those words. She had gotten accustomed to Emma and Henry being home when she got there, and now that wouldn't be the case. She would be at home, alone, in this very big house most nights.
"I get the keys tomorrow…oh, is it at all possible that you could be home with Henry around two tomorrow? I have to fill out the paperwork in HR for my new job."
"Of course," Regina agreed. "I don't have anything on my calendar for the afternoon. I'll leave a little after lunch."
It was later, after Henry had finished his dinner and was now watching television in the den, that Emma made sure that everything that was happening was okay with Regina. Regina always had a glass of wine after dinner, mainly because she didn't enjoy drinking in front of her son, and now she was finishing up the evening dishes.
"Are you sure you are okay with this, Regina?" Emma asked cautiously, coming back into the kitchen. She went to stand beside Regina and helped load the dishwasher.
"About tomorrow?" Regina shrugged. "It shouldn't be a problem…"
"I mean everything, Regina. Henry and I moving, me going back to work, Henry going to daycare…"
Regina looked thoughtfully at Emma. The transformation in Emma Swan was truly astounding. In just a few weeks, she had become confident and once-again driven. She was enjoying being back in the Maryland/DC area, and it showed. She wanted to work, and she and Henry were adjusting beautifully to their surroundings and the people in the area. "Of course, I'm fine with it, Emma. I'm so impressed with you," Regina stated honestly. That caught Emma by surprised and Regina saw her eyes flash that perfect shade of green that once drove her crazy. Regina cleared her throat. "I mean, not everyone responses to change as well as you," she said, trying to sound less gushing. "It's a great example for Henry to witness."
Emma blushed. "Thank you, Regina."
"I'm not doing anything," Regina said finally closing the dishwasher and starting the cycle.
"That's not true, Regina," Emma corrected her. "Your support means everything to me. I mean, it has been a long time since I've felt like I can do…anything…"
"Mom!" Henry said running into the kitchen, "Can I have a cookie," he moved over to Regina, because she was the easier target.
"You had dessert, honey," she reminded him for the bowl of Jello he had to have after dinner.
"Mom…" he groaned.
"One cookie…" Regina said, pulling down the cookie jar and letting Henry pick out his one treat.
"Thanks!" he bounced back out of the room with his peanut butter cookie.
"It's almost bath time, kid!" Emma reminded him.
"No mom! No bath…"
"Oh, definitely bath!" Emma countered. She looked at Regina, shook her head playfully and decided to wrangle their kid into a bath.
Regina took over after his bath, putting Henry to bed for the first night in four days. "Where'd you go, mommy?" Henry questioned, his little eyes fluttering close. He always called her "mommy" during bedtime, when she was tucking him into bed.
"Canada," she explained. It was the second trip in as many weeks, but she had closed the deal, and even more, the rollout of her new product had gone extremely well.
"Don't go back there," Henry said easily. "I miss you."
"I'll see what I can do, baby," she kissed both his cheeks and watched as he fell into a peaceful slumber. She watched him for another thirty minutes, before going to her room, showering and falling into the center of her bed. It was already ten-thirty and she needed to go to the office early, so she could be home by noon. Still, when a soft tap on her bedroom door happened, she encouraged Emma to come in.
"Is it okay if I take the Volvo tomorrow?" Although Emma had been driving the Volvo since she and Henry arrived and she knew that Regina wouldn't mind, Emma wanted to talk to Regina. She wanted to talk to Regina all the time, but after three days of being apart, she felt desperate to be in Regina's orbit.
Regina sat up, which made the silk, solid nightie she wore, ride to her upper thigh. "Of course, Emma," she laughed. She fell back to the mattress and closed her eyes. "Is that all you wanted to ask?"
Emma replied weakly, "yeah…"
Regina smiled and laughed. "He said he missed me…before he went to sleep…"
"We miss you when you aren't here, Regina…" Emma said as if it should be obvious.
"I know…I just didn't know how quickly we would become major part of each other's lives," she admitted. "That's why I'm glad your apartment will be so close. Sometime, when it's not my night, will it be okay if I stop by?" she sat up again.
"Of course!" Emma said finally coming fully into the room. She stopped just before Regina's bed.
"You can sit Emma. I'm too tired to be a proper host and sit up," Regina joked. After a moment, Emma sat and Regina sighed. "You could have the Volvo, you know. I don't think I've driven it more than twice…"
"You were always a Mercedes, woman," Emma added. She thought it over, but declined politely. "I plan to look for my own car…"
"Well, keep the Volvo until then," Regina offered. She groaned. "I can't ever remember being this tired in my life and I studied for all my finals in three days straight… of course, I wasn't an old woman then," she finally sat up and looked at Emma. She had smiled at the joke, but looked worried. "Don't say it, Emma…"
"You work too hard and too long," Emma said anyways.
"Believe it or not, I've slowed a great bit."
"I do believe it, which makes me even more worried," Emma looked down and stroked Regina's bedspread. Regina's hand found hers and held it still.
"I don't want you worrying about me, Emma," she said firmly.
"Yet, you can worry about me?"
"It's different…it's automatic," she smiled grimly.
"You think my worry isn't automatic?" Emma countered.
"I'm going to hold off on travelling for a while…until it's absolutely necessary…which it will be in about a month or so. I have contracts to sign in Canada, but I'd like to bundle some other things into that trip. But that will make it a longer trip…I'd like you to get settled into your new job before I'm gone that long."
"While I'm settling into my new job…will you learn to rest?" Emma teased.
Regina kicked Emma playfully. "I'll see what I can do…"
It took Emma nearly a week and a half to truly get settled into her new apartment, but the feeling of pride couldn't be wiped from her face. "Is Dorothy doing any better?" she questioned. She was on the phone with Ruby for the first time this week. She had been hard to pin down with Dorothy still being so sick, but it sounded like things were looking up.
"She's been able to stay awake…she still doesn't remember anything from that night. Her headaches are still nightmarish and her car ended up in a chop-shop in Alabama, which was to be expected, I guess. It was only a year old, so whoever took it, probably got about five or seven thousand for it…"
"You tried to track her car?"
"You know it…he was too quick…already had it chopped. I was coming home that night from…a job," the guilt could be heard in Ruby's voice. "I…usually I walk over to the bar around closing, just to hang out with her …make sure she gets home okay…but I was…"
"It's not your fault Ruby," Emma had told her best friend this probably a million times and although Dorothy wasn't able to yet, Emma knew that this is who Ruby needed to hear it from really. "Does she have an appetite yet?"
"Not really," Ruby said sadly. "She's getting a lot of rest and praying that the headaches will slow down some." After a few seconds, Ruby added, "she wants to go back to work soon…I can't let her."
"How are you going to stop her?" Emma wondered out loud.
"The headaches are stopping her right now…I just want to protect her, Em. I love her so much…I've never felt like this about anyone and if something were to happen to her."
"We both know that Dorothy can take care of herself," Emma reminded her friend. She could feel Ruby thinking about this, but her friend would never admit as much. "The apartment is ready," she changed the subject quickly.
"Dammit!" she could hear laughter in Ruby's voice, which was a relief. "It's only Friday and you put in your first week of work last week too…"
"I feel good, Ruby," Emma smiled. "I feel really good…"
"You still love her," Ruby said knowingly. "Love makes you feel fucking excellent…"
"It's not just that…" Emma slipped. She had admitted to her best friend that she was still in love with Regina, which didn't take a nuclear physicist to figure out, but Emma didn't want Ruby to think this was all about Regina. "I feel like more of myself up here…like I have a chance to do something…remember when we were young…"
"We're not old," Ruby reminded her.
"You know what I mean…"
Ruby laughed. "I do. I'm happy you are happy. How is Henry?"
"He did a lot better at daycare than I figured he would. And he's getting used to nights at Regina's and then nights here. I couldn't let him pick out his furniture like she did, but he likes his room…likes his space here."
"Maybe Dorothy and I could visit soon…after we get some shit sorted out…"
"Need a change of scenery?"
"Something…" the sadness had returned to her friend's voice.
"You're welcoming here anytime, Ruby. And if you need anything…"
"I know, Emma. I know. Kiss Henry for me."
"He should be home any minute. Regina picked him up from daycare…they are going to pick out his birthday cake…"
"Dammit…his birthday is in what…two weeks?"
"Two weeks …we'll have his birthday party the weekend before…if you want to come up…that'll be the perfect time," Emma suggested.
"We'll see, Emma. Take care of yourself and your family. I'll talk to you soon."
Thirty minutes after she hung up with Ruby, she heard a knock on the door. Even though she had gladly given Regina a key, Regina still used the doorbell or knocked when she knew Emma would be home. Emma opened the door and smiled down at Henry, who was struggling to carry a drink-carrier. "I brought dinner," Regina tried to get out, but was stopped by a sneezed. Emma took the food bags out of her Regina's hands, and laughed.
"You aren't coming down with something, are you?" Emma teased. Henry had had something last week, but he generally got over colds quickly. It came to Emma that Regina wasn't accustomed to "kid's germs," and she would likely quickly pick something up. She frowned, thinking about it as she unloaded the bags. "Seriously, Regina."
"I don't get sick," Regina sneezed again. "I'm going to wash up," Regina said shedding the powder blue tailored jacket. All through dinner, which was a blessing, because Emma really was too tired to cook, Regina continuously cleared her throat.
"Seriously, Regina," Emma said walking Regina to the door much later. "You may be coming down with something…you may want to vitamin C load."
Regina rubbed her eyes. "Thanks, Emma…but I better not be getting sick…I have a long week ahead of me…"
It was obviously a jinx, Regina later realized, because three days later, she had all the classic symptoms of the flu. Regina could barely sit up in bed, yet her phone rang constantly from work. It seemed like a constant crisis was going on, which in reality, was just shock that Regina was in town, but not present at work. She was finally able to sleep a little after ten in the morning, but sleeping was still uncomfortable and her fever made her a bit miserable. That's why it didn't wake her when Emma called her around lunch time.
"Hey, I was just wondering if you'd be in town this weekend…" Emma stopped. "Regina, you sound terrible…"
"Well thank you, Ms. Swan," Regina said weakly.
Emma ignored Regina's quip and questioned, "Are you home? Are you not feeling well?"
"Terrible…I believe the word we are looking for is terrible, Ms. Swan," Regina shivered, even though her body was burning up.
"I'm coming over after work today," Emma said firmly. "Do you think you can make it to the doctor?"
"I think a doctor will come here," Regina sighed, even though she had not even thought about calling a doctor. In her mind, she wasn't sick and she definitely didn't need a doctor.
"Then you should do that," Emma suggested. "If you have the flu…it'll be…"
"I do not have the flu," Regina said quickly. "And if I did…I don't want you and Henry to get it…"
"We've had our flu shots, Regina," Emma announced. "We'll see you around four."
Regina tried to protest, but Emma was already gone. Although she hated to admit it, Emma was likely right. She called a concierge doctor, who showed up nearly immediately, to diagnosis her with the flu, much to Regina's chagrin. "You'll be lucky to be over this in a week, Ms. Mills," the doctor announced after taking her temperature and taking a swab of her throat. "I've seen this flu about ten times this week…lots of fluids, lots of rest and these may help shorten it."
Regina had fallen back asleep by the time Emma and Henry arrived a little after three-thirty. Emma figured that Regina would likely be asleep, so she had prepared to make chicken soup for her friend. The word friend, settled on Emma, as she chopped vegetables, marinated chicken, and tried her hand at making homemade soup. Less than six months ago, this concept would seem completely outrageous, but at least right now, she felt that Regina was her friend.
Emma and Henry hunkered down for a while, until around dinner time, when she went to check on Regina again. "Stay here, kid," she said kissing Henry's forehead. She made her way upstairs and to Regina's bedroom. She had checked on Regina twice, and when she opened the bedroom door this time, Regina was rubbing her eyes into alertness.
"Emma," she said gently, as if she were dreaming.
"Yeah, it's me," Emma said coming over to Regina's bed. She picked up the balled-up Kleenex peppering the bed and disposed of them. "You need more fluids," she picked up the prescription that the doctor had left. "So, it is the flu, huh?"
"Yes, you were right," Regina shivered. She watched as Emma pulled her blanket further up on her body. "Emma…you didn't have to come over…"
"How about I run you a bath," Emma ignored that comment. "And Henry and I will bring you a tray up. I know you have a breakfast-in-bed tray here somewhere…" she teased.
Regina closed her eyes unintentionally, and was shaken lightly after Emma had run her bath. "It'll warm you up," Emma explained, realizing that Regina had the chills. When she had ushered Regina into the bathroom, she quickly changed Regina's bedding, tidied up the bed and then headed back downstairs to Henry, who was watching one of his favorite shows. "Mom is up, kid," she watched as Henry brightened up a bit. When she told him on the way over that Regina may be sick, it had scared the little boy. She hadn't meant to, and she had promised the little boy that they would take care of Regina until she was well again. That was the reason they had stopped, gotten the ingredients for soup, ginger ale, Jello, and a few other things that every sick person needed.
"Can I check on her?" Henry asked brightly.
"She's in the tub right now, kid. But let's make her a tray," Emma encouraged. Henry helped get crackers, ginger ale and Jello on the tray, while Emma got the soup on it. "I'm gonna run up and check and make sure mom is back in the bed, okay?" Henry nodded and waited for Emma to return. When she did, they carried up the tray to Regina, who was back in the bed. Henry stayed with Regina the entire time she ate dinner, and then when Emma ran home to get clothes for work the next day. They both were asleep by the time Emma returned.
Emma dutifully got their son ready and into bed, and went back to check on Regina one last time before she showered and got into bed herself. She knocked quickly and opened the door again to Regina's room. Regina still looked sick, but Emma was positive she had taken her latest dose of medicine, even though she had barely eaten. Emma was backing out of the room when she could barely hear Regina's voice.
"Hey…" Emma came fully back into the room, "I can barely hear you, Regina."
"Thank you for coming," Regina said, only half awake. "I know you don't have to…" she said through her fever, "but that's what makes you so special anyways…it's why I've always loved you," she added before passing out again.
Emma was floored, even though she shouldn't have been. Regina's words stuck with her through the next few days while Regina was on the mend.
"You look better, mom," Henry said coming into Regina's house and immediately found Regina working on her laptop in the den.
"I feel better, sweetheart," she kissed the little boy on the top of the head. "You and Emma took extra good care of me" she said looking over the little boy's head to Emma. Emma could feel herself flush red, but tried to play it off. "I can try to make dinner tonight…"
"No, you are probably still tired…" Emma began.
Regina didn't deny it. "But I have to get over it because I'm headed back to work tomorrow." She noticed Emma's frowned, but explained, "The American University banquet is this Saturday and I have to go, so I may as well make it to work tomorrow."
"I just don't want you pushing yourself."
"I won't," Regina grinned a bit. "I'll even let you make dinner tonight," Regina tickled Henry. The little boy laughed, Regina laughed and eventually Emma laughed; just happy that Regina was feeling better. Regina did manage to do the dishes, and for the first night in three, she had to walk Emma to the door because she was going to her apartment.
"I'm glad you are feeling better, Regina," Emma said almost sadly. Henry was already in his bed asleep, and Regina was really tired, so Emma wasn't going to overstay her welcome. "I'll pick Henry up tomorrow from daycare and keep him this weekend since you have the banquet."
"It's not as if I want to go, but…"
"Oh, I know how you feel about that banquet. It always got us in trouble," Emma reminded Regina of the past. Her heart broke a little when Regina smiled a little too easily at their memories and she realized they could have been making new ones.
"Well, perhaps if you weren't far more interesting than those speakers at the banquet, I wouldn't have been so distracted," Regina joked. A somberness settled between them and Regina tried to break it, "Thank you again, Emma. I'm not accustomed to being taken care of…"
"No one should have to deal with the flu alone; especially not you, Regina," Emma said quickly. "I should be going," she said quickly exiting. Although Regina was obviously confused, Emma needed her space quickly. Regina didn't figure out why until two days later…
"Aren't you supposed to be at least pretending to enjoy yourself?" Emma laughed, looking at the screen of the video chat. Henry and Regina had video chatted for nearly an hour, an hour that Regina was supposed to be mingling with other people at the banquet.
"I'm about to slide out, unnoticed and come spend some time with my son," Regina revealed playfully.
"You are so wrong," Emma laughed, even though her heart danced a little with the thought of seeing Regina that night.
"I've already called my driver," Regina stuck her tongue out at Emma and Henry did the same. "Is it okay?"
"Is what, okay?" Emma questioned, somewhat confused.
"If I came over tonight…"
"You are not leaving that banquet, Regina," her heart was beating faster now.
"Yes," Regina corrected her, "My son and I need to watch the new Ninja Turtle movie."
"You know I don't mind you coming over," Emma said. And it was that easy, an hour later, Regina, in her black crisscross ballgown, was at the front door. "You look…"
"Uncomfortable," Regina sighed, losing her six-inch heels at the door.
"We gonna watch the turtles!" Henry jumped into Regina's arms enthusiastically. He nearly made it through the entire movie, before he was completely clocked out. Regina carried him to bed and returned to the living room with Emma.
"I can't believe you left the banquet…." Emma teased.
"It wasn't my banquet specifically," Regina laughed. "And I much preferred the Ninja Turtles." She looked around for a moment. "I like your place, Emma."
"Do you?" Emma questioned, stretching out a bit on her couch. She was proud of herself. She had a job now, and her own place and although Regina's approval shouldn't have meant so much to her, it did.
They sat on opposite ends of the sectional sofa, so Regina turned to face Emma. "I'm proud of you, Emma."
"What does that mean exactly, Regina?" she asked carefully.
Regina smiled wistfully and gave it a moment of thought. "You're going to be difficult," she challenged softly.
Emma allowed her blue eyes to explore Regina frame with some liberty. Regina didn't shrink from the scrutiny, which emboldened Emma even more. She stood, taking the two steps needed to be standing directly in front of Regina. "Stand up," she requested softly. Regina only raised a brow, but ignored the request. "Please," she sighed, praying that she didn't lose her nerve before Regina complied. Regina's eyes settled on hers and once she saw the seriousness in their depths, Regina stood slightly in front of Emma. She didn't dare say a word, the room's energy had changed; and for a moment, it was messy and strange to her. A knot was forming in the pit of her stomach, just as Emma broke the silence once again. "You aren't making this easy," Emma said weakly, still watching the realization of what she was talking about play out on Regina's face.
"I'm not trying to make this hard," Regina sighed.
"I still love you, Regina," Emma confessed once again. Regina closed her eyes to the words, but no grimace followed the action. Regina licked her lips unconsciously, and Emma lost all self-control. She stepped a fraction of an inch closer and sighed, "I wanna kiss you," she murmured.
Regina opened her eyes defiantly, the way she always did when she was about to kiss or be kissed. When Emma made no move to come closer, she acknowledged, "I wouldn't stop you…"
It still wasn't enough to get over the hump for Emma, her mind flooded with all she blamed herself for screwing up, and she was surprised stiff when she felt Regina's hand in her hair and the gently teasing of Regina's tongue on her lips. She opened her mouth instinctively, welcoming the taste of Regina's mouth against hers. They fell into a familiar rhythm, Regina keeping her eyes wide open and Emma closing her eyes to the tender pleasure of being explored by Regina Mills. Soon, they were back on the couch, Emma leaning back on the cushion, trying not to enjoy this too much.
"You're holding back," Regina said after a while. She was a woman, who had no qualms about what she wanted, and right now, she wanted Emma Swan.
Emma shook her head, "I'm not…"
Regina pulled back frowning. "Perhaps I don't elicit any passion in you anymore," she challenged.
"Don't do that," Emma warned, her body flooded with passion. "I just don't want to start something I can't have…" she muttered, before capturing Regina's mouth again. This time, she took control, laying gently on Regina as they kissed. "Jesus, you still feel amazing," she said once they parted a bit. She found her hand on Regina's thigh, trying to pace herself and her expectation. Yet, Regina never seemed to think about pacing herself or her expectations. Her hands moved fluidly under Emma's shirt and found their way to Emma's ribcage, and then explored higher.
"Let's go to your bedroom," she suggested, hurriedly. Emma could only nod and quickly led Regina down the small hallway and into her bedroom. Her mind was a complete blur and she was just happy that she had actually made her bed this morning. Regina sat on her bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and waited as Emma closed her bedroom door. When Emma didn't move from the door, Regina narrowed her eyes. "Do you not want this, Emma?" she tried to sound strong, but the hurt in her eyes betrayed that.
"You can't be serious," Emma said finally coming into the room fully. She found Regina's mouth again, this time bending over slightly to have the access she needed. She kissed Regina until they were both breathless, and finally took a seat beside her. "Stand up," Emma commanded, and to her surprise, Regina complied quickly. The zipper on Regina's dress was on the side, and Emma slid it down with slow pleasure. She leaned to the side, kissed Regina's ribcage and reveled in the fact that she felt Regina stiffened to the feel of her lips. She wasn't as bold as she was pretending to be right now, much to Emma's relief. She didn't think she could do this if Regina was really this nonchalant about their reunion. Emma was nervous, and excited and already thinking about the repercussions, yet she couldn't stop herself. She sat back a bit as Regina pulled her dress off and stepped out of it. It was nearly painful to watch.
Obviously, Regina took the expression on Emma's face as a criticism of her body, and quickly seemed deflated. She sat back beside Emma, quietly looking to the floor.
"Baby, what's the matter?" Emma asked slowly, wondering why Regina suddenly looked like she had lost her best friend.
"You seem…disappointed," Regina explained carefully. "With me…"
Emma couldn't dignify that with a response; instead she once again began to kiss Regina. She explored her mouth until Regina didn't think she could take anymore. She hadn't thought she would end up in Emma's bed tonight, but she wasn't going to deny herself either. She didn't stop Emma when the woman pulled back and began kissing her neck and then a trail down to her breasts.
"Emma," she squirmed. Emma ignored her and lavished her breasts through the lacy material covering them. Her nipples had already tightened and Regina was having an insanely hard time controlling the desire spiraling through her body. When Emma reached behind her and freed the clasp of her bra, the sharp intake of air by Regina was rewarded with a devious smile from Emma. She ignored her lover's breasts, and pulled Regina back into a fierce and passionate kiss. Feeling Regina surrender under her, Emma almost lost what little control she had. She wedged herself between Regina's thighs, feeling her breasts against the thin material covering her own body, made Emma moan weakly.
She didn't let Regina speak, knowing that words would break her strength and confidence right now. She found Regina's right breast, perky and waiting to enter her mouth. She fingered the nipple for a moment, realizing that it could become harder, more erect, and smiled as she drew a circle around it with her tongue.
"Emma," Regina grated out almost painfully. Most of the blood from her head had pooled between her legs and now her clit was absolutely throbbing. She could barely form words and since her son was in the next room, it took all her self-control not to be grossly loud. Emma didn't seem to care about this fact, because she continued to torture her, one nipple at a time. Finally, Emma kissed her way down Regina's tight abdominal muscles and stopped just above the waistband of her panties.
Pausing, Emma's mind wandered back to the first time she had ever "went down" on Regina. They had been dating for nearly two months, but Regina had never pushed the issue with her new girlfriend. Emma worried that she wouldn't know what to do, or even worse, wouldn't like it, but she was pleasantly surprised at how much she loved the taste and scent of Regina Mills. It was really the first time that she realized that she really enjoyed making love to another person, but she supposed, most of that feeling had been lost over the last couple of years.
"You don't have too…" Regina was sitting up on her elbows, looking down at the emotions play out on Emma's face.
"Shut up," Emma challenged.
Regina pulled Emma's face back to hers and kissed her harshly. She laid back and smiled when Emma gently pinched her top lip between her teeth. She gasped when she felt Emma's hand inside of her panties now, exploring the wetness that she alone had caused. Regina moved against her hand and grunted. "Not fair," she gritted out, right before Emma's fingers grazed her clit. "Em…ma," she arched, trying not to come. "St…op…stop…" she begged. "I don't wanna…"
"You don't wanna what?" Emma tongued kissed and inserted two fingers into her warmth. "Fuck," she sighed, just now remembering how good it felt to be inside of Regina. She explored her lover for a few moments before removing her fingers completely and expertly sliding Regina's panties off. She slid lower on the bed, kissing Regina's body as she went. She settled between Regina's thighs, for a second wondering why Regina bothered maintaining a Brazilian at all times. She didn't have time to really consider, because she was too eager to taste what she had deprived herself of four years earlier.
Emma felt Regina's hand in her hair as she slowly kissed Regina's inner thigh. She didn't want to tease Regina too long, only wanted to feel her come apart in her mouth. It took very little effort, for which Emma was thankful, her rhythm with Regina was what it had always been, nearly flawless. She heard the panting and shortness of breath coming from her lover, right around the time she circled her clit the third time with her tongue. "Are you coming, baby?" she asked as if she didn't know the answer.
Regina tried to talk, but all form of language had left her body. She was at Emma's mercy now, and although she hated the concept of being at anyone's mercy, trusted Emma completely. She felt the woman's tongue part her pussy lips and finally settle happily on her clit. She could barely raise her hips to meet Emma's mouth before she was losing control. It was quick, passionate and automatic, something she hadn't felt in ages, and Regina allowed her body and mind to disconnect from one another in ecstasy. By the time they met again, Emma had laid her head on her stomach, trying to regain her own equilibrium.
"Emma," Regina said softly, running her fingers along Emma's temple. "Emma," she tried again, but received no response from the blonde. Regina sat up, seeing her belly peppered with Emma's tears. "Sweetheart," she said gently, raising Emma's eyes to hers. She didn't question the tears, only brought Emma's face closer so she could kiss the cheeks on which the tears fell. She held Emma for a while, until the blonde had the desire to speak again.
"I missed you so much…" Emma finally revealed. "I missed…making love to someone I love," she tried to explain. "And I know you no longer love me...but it's all so different with you, Regina." Regina stayed silent, not exactly sure what to say. "It's not your problem," Emma said after a while. "I just…"
"It would sound possessive of me to say that everything about you is my problem," Regina offered up a joke. When Emma smiled, Regina kissed her again. "Sleep in my arms, if only for a few hours…"
"Why only a few hours?" Emma questioned, closing her eyes as she lay her head against Regina's shoulder.
"Because eventually Henry will be awake and I'm not emotionally fit enough to explain why we are naked, in the same bed…Still, I'm selfish and want to hold you," she stroked Emma's spine through her shirt.
"You're the only one naked," Emma quipped.
"I've explained my selfishness," Regina chuckled kissing Emma's forehead. She smiled as Emma circled her ribcage with her finger.
"What did we just do, Regina?" Emma sat up, worry rushing through her.
Regina sat up beside her. "What do you mean?" she asked. She kissed the side of Emma's neck, then her cheek, and finally, she found Emma's swollen lips hungrily. "You didn't want to eat my pussy?"
"Jesus, Regina," Emma blushed profusely.
"I'm beginning to feel like one of those drunk mistakes I used to hear about in college…" Regina said putting some space between the two of them.
"You know it's not that …I just …we aren't together, Regina and that's scary to me," Emma said closing the distance between them again. "And I'm not trying to push you or …"
"I needed you tonight, Emma," Regina admitted slowly. She could be a bitch and pretend like this was a spur of the moment ordeal, but Regina knew that Emma needed to hear the truth in the moment and she planned on telling her. "Being in that room of people from the banquet; the same banquet that four years ago, we would have been in together…it irked me." Emma looked at her blankly, not completely understanding what Regina was talking about. "It all seemed so fake and useless, because all I could think about was watching a movie with our son. And once our son was tucked into bed, safely, behind locked doors with us, all I could think about next was…you…"
It was the first time that Regina was even admitting this to herself, and it felt somewhat relieving, but more than anything terrifying. "This is not going to be perfect Emma, but I give a shit. I don't want you ever feeling like I don't…"
Emma was stunned into silence. She lay back in her bed, just looking at Regina for a moment. "Did it feel good?" she eventually asked. She felt Regina lay back beside her.
"God, yes," Regina closed her eyes. "Like old times…"
"Just like old times," Emma mumbled before falling asleep in Regina's arms.
It was nearly five hours later before she was jostled awake. "You're going?" she rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up.
"He's an early bird, even on Sundays," Regina sighed, putting her bra and panties on.
"Did you sleep?"
"Not really," Regina said honestly.
Emma sat up, watching Regina get back into her black dress. "I love you," she said gently.
Regina smiled, came over and kissed her one last time for the day. "I know…I'll call you a couple of hours; after I get some sleep. Oh, and I'm taking the Volvo…I'll bring it back later…"
"Promise?" Emma smiled.
Regina laughed, zipping up her dress. "Promise," she grinned, kissing Emma again for good measure. A couple of hours couldn't past fast enough.