A/N: I am almost positive most of you are going to hate me because of this chapter. Shout-outs to FallingStar134 for giving me the idea for the Brothers 13 and then promptly forgot that he gave me the idea. Wolf Stevens for looking over this chapter. And Pipex-Vauseman who gave me a shout-out on their tumblr. Love you! I hope you don't hate me forever for this chapter.
Overall Rating: NSFW (As some chapters contain explicit content)
Chapter Rating: NSFW (For Violence, Strong Language, Adult Themes, and 4,000 words of Girl Love)
Warnings: Non-Magical AU, Criminal AU, Mentions of predatory behavior, NSFW, Violence, Character Death
Full Summary: See Chapter One
Chapter Summary: Safehouse - (n.) a dwelling place or hideout unknown to the adversary where an operative can hide.
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
― Helen Keller
Emma doesn't remember falling asleep. But she must have because when she picks up her head the scenery has changed dramatically.
The sprawling, noisy, chaotic metropolis has been traded for the quiet serenity of dense forests awash in the colors of summer. It is peaceful. It's supposed to be peaceful. But the cold sinking feeling in her stomach tells a different a story.
The blonde focuses on her breathing; deep intakes of air through her nose, exhaling slowly through her mouth. But the back of Emma's throat tenses as she feels bile bubbling up.
"Snowflake," Tiana calls from the driver seat. "You okay?"
Emma shakes her head. "Pull over."
"But we're like-"
"Now."
There's no further conversation as Tiana pulls off the road. As soon as the car stops, Emma jumps out of the car, putting some distance between herself and the two people calling her name. The blonde's pride won't allow her to let someone see her vulnerable like this. So she dashes away and when she's confident that no one can hear her, Emma finally doubles over, and begins dry heaving.
Pain pulls on an empty stomach, not her brightest idea. But it also isn't the dumbest thing Emma's done in the last day and a half. That thought doesn't make her feel any better, as her stomach continues to contract and expand in an attempt to expel meds her body has long since metabolized. And relief doesn't come with the empty heaves of her gut, but with a warm, soothing hand on her back.
"Hey…" Emma whispers, not trusting herself to speak any louder.
"You should have eaten something," Regina says, handing the blonde a bottle of vitamin water.
Emma begrudgingly accepts it and slowly straighten herself up. "Thanks."
"Slow sips," the assassin instructs. "You'll make yourself sick again."
For once, the blonde doesn't argue and do as she's told. The effects of the opiates are starting to wear off and her body feels like one giant bruise, like she's been ran over by a fleet of Volkswagen Beetles. Even lifting the water bottle to her lips seems like a herculean feat of strength as every muscle in her body protests the tiny movement.
"Pills never sit well with me," Emma confess, between sips. "Especially when I don't eat."
"Why did you take them then?"
The blonde shrugs. "I knew I needed to sleep."
"Why Miss Swan that's the least idiotic thing you've said to me since we've met," Regina teases.
"Pfft," Emma scoffs. "I've said things. Smart things. Things that allude to a certain kind of intellectual prowess, because I'm smart… Kind of… I have my moments." She fishes her cigarettes out of her jacket and lights one of them, only noticing then how her hands are shaking. Just a mild tremor, a slight twitch, that tells her she's on the verge of having a panic attack. "None really come to mind right now, but…"
"Are you always this self-deprecating?"
"Only when I'm nervous… or upset… or in pain… It's complicated," Emma says, hoping it'll end there.
It doesn't.
"It's my guess that it's all of the above."
Taking a drag from her cigarette, the blonde offers a small nod. "I didn't exactly leave New York on a good note the last time I was here. Me and Granny - uh - Virginia had a disagreement about it."
"But she takes Henry."
"Oh yeah, she loves the kid. That's not going to change. Even if I am a giant sack of shit."
"You're not a…" Regina frowns, taking the cigarette and stamps it out. "… giant sack of shit. But you are stalling, dear. It's time to pull off the bandaid, Miss Swan."
Emma smirks. "Are you going employ anymore of for your distraction techniques, your Majesty?"
The assassin rolls her eyes. "No. At least not until you brush your teeth."
The blonde chuckles. "Then I guess we better get going."
The cabin is actually a large colonial style home that sits one about an acre of land. There was once a small farm here but it's been torn down and parts of the plot sold off. All that remains is the original house and the huge oak tree out front.
"You ready for this, Snowflake?" Tiana asks as everyone piles out of the car.
"No."
Tiana shakes her head at the blonde. "It can't be as bad as you think it'll be."
"You're right," Emma agrees, adding, "it could be worse."
Tiana looks down at her phone and smiles down at her screen. "Come on, Snowflake. Our favorite boys are are around back."
Emma's lips curl into a grin. She can't admit it out loud just yet, but she's missed the kid. She can't wait to see his little face light up when he sees her, or him squeal "Mom!" before he rushes over for a hug. And she realizes the longer she has him, the harder it'll become to pull herself away from him for business.
Sensing tension buzzing at her side, the blonde turns and sees Regina worrying her bottom lips between her teeth, a hand pressed against her stomach, fingers splayed as if that was the only thing keeping her anxiety from bleeding out.
Emma smiles at the nervous glint in the assassin's eyes, and offer her hand. "Come on, your Majesty, don't tell me you're scared," the blonde says, cheekily.
Regina blinks like speaking brought you into focus and she's seeing the blonde for the first time. She processes Emma's words a moment later, and rolls her eyes, swatting the blonde's hand away.
"I'm not scared," Regina states.
Emma chuckles. "Then why are you stalling?"
"I'm not stalling," the assassin insists. "I'm delaying venturing forward for your benefit."
"Well, then. I appreciate your help, your Majesty," the blonde says, offering her hand again. "But I think I've st- delayed long enough."
Regina's lips twitch, fighting a smile, Emma supposes. However, the assassin takes her hand anyway and Emma leads her to the back of the house as Emma follows behind Tiana. And every time the blonde feel a twinge of hesitation from the assassin, she gives Regina's hand a reassuring squeeze, until they round the corner, finding Emma's aforementioned favorite boys.
Henry is being spun around by a tall, but stocky man with dark skin, striking hazel-green eyes, and black hair buzzed short to his head. He's laughing with Emma's son and the sight makes the blonde's stomach twist in knots. Because David and Mary should be here. Henry deserves that.
"Mom!" Henry calls out when he notices Emma. "Put me down, Uncle Billy!"
"Okay, little man," Billy says putting her boy down.
As soon as his feet touch the ground, Henry's running toward Emma at full speed and latches onto her legs.
The kid starts talking a mile a minute going on and on about what the last few hours were like for him. Somewhere in the middle of it he realizes Regina is with Emma and he greets her enthusiastically, before barreling forward with his story. The blonde listens to him, handing on his every word; even if it's not as exciting as her last few hours, Emma gives him her undivided attention.
"Sounds like you've been having fun, kid," she comments.
"Yeah, I did," he replies. "And Mom! Uncle Billy surprised us!"
Emma catches the big man's gaze. "I can see that. But speaking of surprises…"
The kid's eyes light up. "You didn't!"
"I did, kiddo," the blonde tells him, producing the video game he's been pestering her about for weeks.
"YES!" he yells. "YES! Mom, can I…?"
"Yes, but no running in the house and you got an hour. Then you wash up for dinner." Emma glances at Billy, questioningly. "Granny's cooking, right?"
The big man nods. "Course."
"Alright, kid," the blonde begins, looking at her phone. "Your hour starts now."
Henry hugs her, quickly and then Regina, whose eyes widen in surprise. Truth be told, Emma didn't expect the kid to warm up to her this quickly. Though it doesn't come as a shock. Henry's a loving kid; he's got a big heart. Regina, however is jaded just like everyone else in the game, so it does surprise the blonde that she smiles and returns his embrace.
"Have fun, Little Prince," she tells the kid before he runs off.
"You spoil that boy," Billy observes watching him go.
With a grin, Emma nods. "He's earned it. So, I didn't think you were coming back for another day and a half."
"I wasn't," he replies. "But got a call that said you had gotten into some trouble."
Tiana barks out laughter and points to the assassin. "Yeah, Billy meet Trouble."
The blonde shoots her a glare. "Her name is Regina, actually. And the trouble is Albert Nolan."
"He knows you're alive?" Billy asks and when Emma answers in the affirmative he shakes his head. "Shit…"
"Yeah."
Shoving that to the side, for now, Billy offers a hand to the assassin. "Hello, Regina. I'm Billy or Mouse. Whichever you prefer."
She arches an eyebrow at that. "Mouse?"
The big man chuckles. "Childhood nickname that I haven't been able to shake. Like Snowflake. Did she tell you that story yet?"
Emma's eyes widen in abject horror. "No! No, we are not telling that story. Ever. I'm fucking serious. No."
Regina grins. "Well now I'd really like to know."
"Find us later," Tiana tells her. "We'll give you all of the dirt on Snowflake."
"Fuck each and every one of you," Emma deadpans, then quickly nods to Billy. "Where's Ruby?"
"In the house," he tells her. "With Dorothy, I think."
"Do my eyes deceive me?" Someone called out to them from the back door, before a man of average height but above and beyond average beauty comes out. "I must be seeing things. This can't be our little Snowflake."
Emma blushes, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, Naveen it's me in the flesh… the slightly bruised flesh."
"Too bruised for a hug?"
The blonde shakes her head. "No, but you better hug your wife first."
"That's our Snowflake, always making sure I don't wind up in divorce court," Naveen says, pulling Tiana into an embrace.
And she chuckles, falling into his arms but still manages to threaten him with, "Divorce court? Too expensive. I'd just kill you. Much easier."
Naveen throws his head back and laughs. "I find myself falling more and more in love with you with each passing day."
"I love you too," Tiana says, kissing his cheek. "But I'm serious. I will kill you."
"Oh, I know," he replies unphased, brushing his lips against her forehead. "I wouldn't it have it anyother way."
The happy couple detaches themselves from the other and that's when Naveen turns to Emma and the assassin. "And this would be…?"
"Naveen, this Regina. She's helping out with Operation: Albert-Nolan-Can-Eat-A- Giant-Bag-Of-Dicks."
He notes her hand in yours. "Seems she's doing more than that." Tiana swats his chest and he offers everyone a sheepish, "Sorry."
The blonde sighs. "Regina, this is Naveen. Tiana's lesser half."
The assassin extends a hand toward him. "Pleasure to meet you, Naveen."
They shake and Naveen replies with a, "Charmed, Regina."
Pleasantries are exchanged. Everyone starts making small talk. Emma hates small talk. But the focus seems to be on Regina. Everyone trying figure out how she and Emma happened. The blonde would have been annoyed by it however this is how they've always acted like her romantic life. When it was her and Lily; it was a constant interrogation. Everyone wanting to know about a woman that Emma had refused to bring into this side of her life. And if she and Regina had met under different circumstances, she doesn't have to wonder, she knows it would have been the same with her.
Emma's never believed that the two halves of her life could coexist peacefully. But with the way Regina is carrying on with her people, she wonders if August had been right; is it just as simple as making a choice and asking a question: Could she ever have what he and Lily have? Could she have that with Regina when this was all over?
As much as she told herself not to think about the future, she is. And she wonders if she asked, would the assassin stay, would she choose Emma, too? Because as much as the blonde lies to herself and says that she doesn't want it; the idea of a future, one with her, the kid, and the dark-haired assassin is getting more and more appealing. So what if Regina doesn't like Star Wars.
We can make it work.
"Dear?"
Shit. Emma must have been staring. Hopefully, she didn't have some stupid goofy, lovestruck grin on her face. "Hmm?"
"Nothing, it's just…"
"You had this dopey smile and we were all wondering what the hell that was about, Snowflake."
Thanks, Tiana. Good looking out. "I… um… well…"
"Look who's awake."
Perfect timing Ruby.
Emma's best friend comes out with a toddler in her arms. If Emma didn't think Henry had been the cutest baby to ever be born, this little guy would have come in a close second. He's got dark tan skin, a light umber complexion, with a head of soft curls that are a rich nut brown. His eyes are a brilliant amber. The middle ground between his parents, the blonde supposes.
"He was asking for his mama," Ruby says, before she passes him to Tiana.
"It seems I was poor substitute, amore," Naveen adds.
Tiana nuzzles her groggy son. "Of course. He knows who's his favorite is."
Naveen nods to Derek. "Just you wait. When you finally have a kid, they'll love Ruby more than you."
Derek chuckles and pulls Ruby close him. "That won't be us."
Emma's best friend shakes her head and puts her arms around the big man. "Nope. But I wouldn't mind putting in some practice tonight. Because I've missed you."
"I ain't going anywhere, anytime soon," he whispers before they kiss, sweetly.
"Hey so where's Merida and Mulan?" Emma asks, noticing that two of her people are absent.
"They're taking a nap," Ruby replies. "Merida said she had a headache and she was going to rest for a bit before dinner. I'm assuming that headache is lesbian for horny. Right, Emma?"
"My best friend everyone," the blonde snarks. "I hate your face."
"I think you mean to say that you love my face, bitch. Because I bring literal magic into your world," Ruby shoots back. "You're welcome."
Emma laughs. "If by literal magic, you mean an ever flowing source of grief, then yes."
"Hey, don't talk about your girl like that, Emma," Ruby says. "She's standing right there." Emma opens her mouth to say something but she cuts her off, detaching from her husband. "Come on, she's been asking about you."
Emma feigns ignorance. "Who?"
Her best friend's eyes narrow. "Who do you think, dumbass?"
Shaking her head, the blonde turn to the assassin. "Regina, why don't you-"
But Ruby cuts her off. "No, Granny said bring her with you."
"Oh, good," Emma quips. "And I thought this was going to be awkward."
When they move inside the blonde is hit with the distinct smell of burning marijuana. There's only one that smells like that. And that's weed. And sometimes skunks. But that's a whole other tragic joke that nature has played on the world.
Ruby smells it too because as they move into the house, she sniffs at the air and then sighs. "Baby, what did I tell you about smoking in my granny's house?"
A tall, stocky woman with an athletic build meets them into the dining room, with wavy brown hair and a sun kissed complexion. She had a joint hanging from her mouth and she smiles when her gaze sets on Emma's best friend.
"Don't forget to give your grandmother some," she replies.
"And don't start without me," Ruby adds.
She laughs. "I'm sorry. I forgot."
"160 I.Q. Cal Tech graduate, and you're telling me you forgot? Is that how you want to play it?" Ruby asks.
"No?" The woman takes a hit of the joint, holds it, and waves Ruby over. "Come here."
With a sigh Ruby closes the distances between them and she presses her lips against Ruby's, blowing smoke into her mouth as she inhales. When they part, Ruby puffs out a tiny cloud of white smoke.
"Why do you always do that?" Ruby asks.
She shrugs. "I just like to. You don't like it."
"Baby, if that's what you're into you know I'm game," Ruby replies.
Emma catches Regina's expression - it's one of complete and utter perplexment, and she laughs. When the assassin's eyes narrow, the blonde's laughter grows louder, so loud in fact that Ruby and the other woman breakaway from the each other to give Emma a look.
"Regina, this is Dorothy," the information broker says, a little too pleased with the situation. "Ruby's other spouse."
Ruby rolls her eyes. "You're such a child."
Dorothy ignores Emma and offers her hand to the assassin. "Good to meet you, Regina."
"Likewise, Dorothy," Regina says as they shake hands. She looks like she has so many questions.
And Dot sees it. "It's a group marriage. Ruby isn't my sister-wife. She's my wife, and Billy is my husband."
"Oh, I didn't-"
Ruby cuts her off. "It's fine. We're used to way worse." Then she looks at you. "You need me to go with?"
"No," Emma replies. "But if you hear gunshots, don't let the kid see my dead body."
"Got it." Her best friend nods, and then passes the blonde the joint. "For Granny."
Emma shakes her head and walks toward the kitchen with Regina behind her. It's been years since she's been in this house but it's just like she remembers. Every detail down to the plastic coverings on the all of the furniture. The blonde smiles, despite everything that's happened, it's good to be back.
When Emma and Regina enter the kitchen Granny's pulling what looks and smells to be pies out of the oven. The blonde's stomach growls audibly which draws the old woman's attention to her. Granny's just as intimidating as she has always been. Even grey-haired, even in a shawl she probably crocheted herself, wearing thick glasses, her gaze pins Emma to the floor.
"Hey, Granny."
"Mm-Hmm…"
"Thanks for taking the kid. He loves it up here."
"Mm-Hmm…"
"You still mad at me for I did eight years ago?"
"Mm-Hmm…"
"Um…" you pause, taking a breath. "Can I still hug you?"
"Mm-Hmm…"
Emma walks over to her with a big smile, wrap her arms around the old woman, and mutter, "I missed you, Granny."
"Welcome home, child," she whispers, then steps away from Emma, studying her features for a moment before she smacks the blonde on the side of her head and takes the joints from her hand. "That's for calling me old."
"Ow!" Emma exclaims. "But you are old."
"Who raised you?"
"You did!"
"Well I didn't do a good job, then!"
"That's what I keep saying!" The look Granny gives Emma is enough to make the blonde cower, albeit mockingly. "Please don't hurt me."
Granny frowns and relights the joints. "Mm-Hmm…" She pauses finally taking in Regina's presence. "Well, step forward, child. Lemme get a look at you."
The assassin's hand seizes around Emma's as she steps forward. And the blonde supposes this wouldn't be as awkward if Regina wasn't A: an killer for money, and B: the first person she's ever brought home to effectively "meet the folks" so to speak. And Granny isn't making this any easier with the way she's "inspecting" the other woman, like she doesn't quite believe she's real.
"Your name?" the old woman asks.
"Regina," the assassin supplies, nervously.
"Hmm…" Granny pauses. "And you're a hired gun by trade?"
"I kill people for a living if that's what you're asking," Regina replies. "There's rarely a gun involved." She casts a knowing grin Emma's way. "Unless I'm forced to improvise."
The older woman barks out a laugh. "I like her."
"Hooray?" the blonde offers, sarcastically.
Granny swats her arm. "Don't be shitty."
"Fine," Emma sighs, heavily, immediately perking up. "You need any help?"
"Actually, yes," the old woman replies. "You can help me in here. And if you can manage to separate yourselves for a few, your girlfriend can open up a bottle of wine and set the table."
"She not…" Emma stammers. "We're… Yeah, it's… we're not…"
"Ah," Granny puts her out of her misery, or so the blonde thinks. "You two are just screwing then. That takes me back. I didn't know that was still going on. I thought the free-love-sleep-with-someone-who-tried-to-kill-you bit was only something we did in the 60s and 70s. Well, good for you guys."
"Yup…" Emma says with a firm nod. "That was the most horrific thing you could have said."
"Oh, hush up and put the cornbread in the oven," Granny orders, before she points to Regina. "And you, you gonna keep gawking at me, or are you gonna open that bottle of wine, like I asked?"
Food is up an hour later and an hour after that almost everyone is staring at an empty plate, hating themselves for eating so much. And Emma can't admit it out loud but she's missed days like these. Having a crew again. Sundays with Granny. It wasn't something she could share with Lily. And not because Emma ever thought she wouldn't accept this part of her, but more so that the blonde feared being this exposed. She still does. Only a select handful of people know both sides of her. A most of them are sitting around this table. A few others are dead or elsewhere.
Emma's never been one to trust easily. And that has always been one of her greatest strengths and also greatest weaknesses. As she looks into the assassin's eyes, watching her as her lips curl when she catches the blonde staring, she wonders - truly wonders - if Regina has her trust like the rest of Emma's crew does. The blonde wants to say without a doubt, yes, she has her trust. However the honest answer is, Emma just doesn't know. But, she wants to trust her. God, does she want to.
"Seconds?" Granny asks the crew.
And everyone gives a resounding and emphatic no, save for the kid who only wants to know if he can have a second helping of dessert.
"Yeah, no way, kiddo," Emma says.
But Granny trumps her. "'Course you can. Never you mind what your mom is talking about. You want more pie, you get more pie, child."
"You're paying for his dental bills, then," the blonde tells her, knowing she's not going to win this one.
But again all the old woman does is scoff at Emma's assertion. "With all of the money you've got? No. 'Sides just doing my job. Or am I not supposed to spoil my grandbabies rotten?"
The blonde chuckles. "Count yourself lucky, kid."
Henry grins. "I do, because I get more pie."
"Sound logic," she agrees.
And then Billy raising his glass. "I think a toast is in order."
"Or we could go around and share our favorite Emma stories," Naveen suggests.
"No reason we can't to do both," Ruby adds.
Merida joins in. "To the whole crew being at the table and to embarrassing the boss. Because you know that never gets old."
Emma frowns when the whole table toasts with Billy and she has to begrudgingly do the same. "If anyone says a single word about JV me, I will murder you."
Ruby meets the blonde's gaze, grinning at her warning before she turns to Regina. "Did you know that once upon a time Emma wanted to be a rapper?"
Everyone starts laughing, even the assassin who can scarcely believe it. "You're joking."
"Often times, yes," Ruby admits, proudly. "But not about this. She wasn't any good at writing lyrics. But she did have Will Smith's entire discography memorized."
Emma stands, and start stacking empty plates. "Everyone done? Great. Time for bed. See ya in the morning."
"I'm sorry," Regina says. "I'm just having a hard time picturing it."
"Watch…" Ruby instructs. "Tiana… if you'd be so kind."
"I'd be delighted," Tiana says and starts humming the melody to "Wild, Wild West." Then Naveen joins in, with his baby boy on his lap as he beat boxes. Emma fights the urge to join in. But it's hard. Everyone has their guilty pleasures and this is one of hers. And her crew knows it. They're slowly pulling Emma in, Ruby joining in singing backup; even Billy, and the kid, too. And then there's Regina, who's looking at her, her dark brown eyes alit with silent laughter, hoping for a show. So with a heavy sigh Emma relents and throws herself into it with reckless abandon.
"Wild, wild west. Jim West: desperado. Roughrider; no you don't want nada. None of this. Six-Gunin' this. Brotha runnin' this; Buffalo Soldier. Look, it's like I told ya.
"Any damsel that's in distress, be outta of that dress when she meet Jim West." The blonde throws a wink the assassin's way. "Roughneck; so go check the law and abide. Watch your step with flex and get a hold of your side.
"Swallow your pride; don't like your lip react. You don't wanna see my hand where my hip be at." Emma draws her hand and mock-fires at Henry, who plays dead. She goes on, clamping on Ruby's shoulder maybe a little too hard. But she made the blonde do this so she'll have deal with the consequences.
"With Artemus, from the start of this; running the game. James West, taming the West, so remember the name!
Emma points to Billy. "Now, who you gonna call?"
And he replies, "Not the GBs!"
The blonde points to Belle. "Now, who you gonna call?"
She answers, "D-Double-E, G."
"If you have a riff with people that wanna bust, breakout, before you get bumrushed!" Emma ends, strongly. "And that's how it's done, people. Mic drop. Emma out." Regina's eyes are shining with laughter and the blonde grin. "I know. I'm just that good. Try keep your admiration for me under control, your Majesty."
The assassin rolls her eyes and Emma knows what's coming next. "Idiot."
The blonde nods. "Yup."
To clear the table and put the leftovers away is a group effort. But after about a half hour, the kitchen is looking pristine and the telltale whirl of a dishwasher that was almost as old as Granny, meant that their work was done. And with the kidlets yawning and rubbing their eyes, sleepily, it's good timing.
"Alright my boys. Time for bed," Naveen announces, picking up his son and musses up Henry's hair. When the kids whine he adds. "Come on. The sooner you both are in bed and asleep, the sooner you'll wake up and we'll have some real fun, tomorrow."
"Fine," Emma's boy huffs. "But mom? Will you tuck me in?"
"Sure thing, kid," the blonde says with a nod. "Just get washed up and ready for bed. I'll be up in a minute."
"Ok. 'Night, Miss Regina. 'Night, Granny. 'Night, everyone else." the kid says, having only given the assassin and the old woman hugs, before he's rushing up the stairs, holding Naveen's free hand pulling him along.
"It looks like the boy has found himself a new favorite person," Merida says, nodding toward Regina. "You jealous, Boss?"
"Maybe a little... " Emma replies. "Well, gotta do the mom thing." She glances at the assassin. "Don't go far. And don't believe a single thing these asshats says about me. It's all lies."
"Don't worry, child," Granny says. "I'll just show her my photo albums. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?" When Emma didn't move, she urged her on. "Well, go on and parent and stop acting like I'm going to skin the poor child alive when you leave the room."
"Mom?"
"Yeah, kiddo?"
"I'm scared…"
Emma just about has him tucked in when he lays that bomb on her. Her chest tightens. She's never wanted him to know the kind of fear she did as kid. But at the same time, him being afraid in general is something she's tried to avoid.
"Nightmares?" Emma asks.
And he nods. "I dream about…"
She already knows. "Me too. But I've got something special I use when the nightmares get too bad."
"You do?"
"Yup," Emma tells him, shrugging off her jacket and wrapping him in it. "This jacket kid, is my special armor. It stops all of the bad things that we can't see from hurting me. I'm going to let you borrow it tonight. See if it works okay? If it doesn't, you probably just need some special armor of your own. And I'll get you a jacket like this one. But for now, use mine."
"Won't you need it?" he asks.
Again she shrugs. "I can handle a bad dream or two for a night, kiddo. Now do you want me to read you a story?"
"Yes, please."
And fifteen minutes later Emma is reading the last lines of the book to a snoozing seven year old.
"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be," she recites as she closes the book and places a soft kiss on Henry's forehead. "Good night, kid. Sweet dreams."
The climb back down the stairs is quiet, save for the soft murmurs of two women.
"And that was her in middle school," Granny says. "During that first year after I took her in."
"She was an orphan?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"Miss Swan… Emma… We don't share those parts of our past with each other."
"Oh… well that's a damn shame."
"Pardon?"
"I was just hoping she would have softened enough to let someone in. She's a good person. She's got a big heart. I just wished she'd show that side of herself more often."
There is a pause before Regina says, "Yes, me too."
Emma's footsteps grow heavier as she make her presence known. It works as it has the desired effect of the two women stopping their conversation before she enters the den.
"The boys are turned in for the night," the blonde reports. "So is Tiana and Naveen. Belle, Merida and Mulan, too. But where's Ruby, Billy, and Dorothy?"
"In the basement," Granny replies. "Doing Lord only knows what."
Emma smiles knowingly but still manages to offer, "They're probably sleeping."
"The old woman shrugs. "Which is what I should be doing. You're going to check the perimeter?"
The blonde nods. "Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you. Now, good night, children." Granny then disappears upstairs to her room.
Leaving Emma alone with Regina.
"Walk with me?" the blonde asks.
"I suppose I could."
It's quiet.
Their walk around the grounds proves that everything is in order. Emma checks Granny's gates and then arms the perimeter security system. Which cause Regina to ask about the old woman's past, to which the blonde just smiles.
"Granny taught most of us here everything we know."
To give the other woman any more than that wouldn't be right. Granny doesn't like to talk about her past. And Emma wouldn't do anything to betray the trust she has in her. Regina seems to understand.
"Ok," she replies. "What's that?"
Emma follows her gaze to the large treehouse built between two apple trees that had grown close enough together that their branches intertwined. The branches are barren as apple harvest wouldn't be until October. But it is still a beautiful picture.
"Oh, um it's something that me, Tiana, Ruby, and… Mary - Henry's biological mother - built when we were kids," Emma reveals.
"Really?"
The blonde chuckles, shaking her head. "Always with a tone of surprise." And then offers her hand to the other woman. "Come on, I'll show you."
"I don't know," Regina says. "I mean-"
"Do you trust me?" Emma interjects.
She holds the blonde's gaze for a moment, what she's thinking Emma hasn't a clue, but she looks so… caught for lack of a better word. Maybe Regina doesn't trust her. She's known Emma for two days. Maybe the assassin isn't some idiot that falls as quickly as she does.
"I trust you," Regina confesses, easing the blonde's doubts somewhat.
It's not a high climb. Only about 15 feet. And it appears that most of the wood has been replaced over the last decade or so. Emma used to be the one to keep up with this but when she left, she just assumed no one cared enough about this to take care of it. She was wrong. Someone took the time to keep it up structurally sound. Which is good. Because Henry comes here often enough that it's good this isn't a big scary deathtrap made of black mold and tetanus.
Emma opens the hatch at the floor of the treehouse and climbs inside, holding out her hand when it's time for Regina do the same. She helps the other woman to her feet and kicks the hatch close.
"You built this?" Regina asks.
"Yeah. I was like 15 or so. Granny told us that it'd bring us closer," Emma confesses. "Spent a whole summer putting it together. But when it was done… It made us sisters."
Green eyes light up when she remembers something and pulls out her zippo and ignites it. "Check this out." The blonde points out little carvings in one of only the original wooden beams. "That's all of our initials. And the year we finished it."
Regina joins Emma by the wall and studies the carvings. She reaches out and traces the E.S. in the wood. "You?"
"Yeah," the blonde breaths, suddenly feeling so exposed for reasons she can't explain. "Um… Granny took me in when I was 13. Before that I bounced around in the System. Because… Well…"
The assassin silences Emma with a finger to her lips. "She told me you were an orphan."
"Yeah, but what she didn't say was that I was left at a fire station when I was about a week old, and was in the System until she found me," the blonde confesses. "Just a snot-nosed kid that had run away from every home that I ever went to. Then I got to Granny. And the first thing she said to me was, 'Listen here, child. I don't care where you came from. Until you're 18, you run away from me there ain't a place you can go where I won't be able to find your little bony ass.'"
Regina chuckles and Emma smiles, remembering those days fondly.
"She was the first person," the blonde continues. "The only person, really, that believed I could be something more than just an orphan. She taught me how to be more than just a bagman or a thief."
"You're saying she trained you?" the assassin asks.
Emma shrugs. "More or less. But it was more than that. She gave me a purpose. If that makes any sense."
"I think I understand," Regina says. "People like us often feel lost. Without the proper guidance we usually get ourselves killed early on."
"Yeah," the blonde agrees, fishing into her pocket to pull out her pack of cigarettes. She lights one, taking a drag before she continues. "Granny made sure I lived to see 30."
Regina nods to the carving again. "You don't really talk about Mary. Henry's birth mother. I've heard you speak about his father, David. But not Mary. And yet it sounds like you grew up with her."
Emma can feel her throat close. Talking about David is hard enough. And that's still fresh. But losing Henry's birth mother? That will always be impossibly hard on her. "Mary was an orphan like me," she explains, smoking her cigarette. "But Granny picked her up early. So she wasn't in the System long. A year, maybe two. People use to say that we looked like sisters. We used to pretend that we were sometimes. Like our parents were in trouble and had to make sure we were safe so they gave us up.
"Anyway, she met David our senior year. And even though he was older and his dad was a gangster… You'll never meet two people more perfect for each other. And David loved her with all of his heart, there was no doubt. They were meant to be. By 20 she was pregnant and they were looking for a way out. Away from this life but especially from David's father. Because as much as I hate that man, David despised him. He wanted nothing to do with him. But he knew that his father wouldn't let him walk away now that his other son had been killed.
"Back then, if it had been David that asked me for help I would have told him to go fuck himself. But he didn't ask. Mary did. She didn't beg either. Mary was too proud for that. But she was teary eyed when she asked me for the cash and quickly. For her son." Emma blink away tears, with a sad smile. "That's how she told me she was having a boy."
"What happened to her?" Regina asked.
"She died…" the blonde whispered, flicking the cigarette out of the treehouse window. "An Amniotic Fluid Embolism. Henry was a difficult birth. She stayed alive long enough to name him. And then she was just gone."
The assassin's hand closed around Emma's as another tear rolls down her cheek. "I'm sorry."
"She would have been a good mom," the blonde says, her lips trembling. "Better than me."
With the pad of her thumb Regina wipes the tracks of tears from Emma's cheeks, and cups her face. "You're a good mother."
"The last 36 hours has given me some reasons to doubt that," the blonde replies.
The assassin almost smiles at that. "The last 36 hours for me has more than proven my assertion a dozen times over. And Henry loves you. More importantly, you love him. Are you a perfect parent? No. But you're loving parent. And I'd say that has to account for something."
"But-"
"No. Stop doubting yourself. You're all he has now."
When the woman was right… Damn.
Emma nods. "Fair point, your Majesty."
"Thank you for seeing things my way, dear." Regina leans in and brushes her lips against the blonde's. "You've never brought anyone up here have you?"
Emma chuckle. "No."
"No stories about your wild and rebellious youth where you broke little girls' hearts all summer?" Regina asks.
And again the blonde laughs. "As someone who wasn't there for my wild and rebellious youth, you're making me sound way more awesome than I actually was."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not a lot people were coming around for a little bit of JV Emma. That was only a thing in my imagination."
The assassin raises an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly would happen in your imagination, dear?"
The blonde grins, playfully. "It'd be better if I showed you. What do you say, your Majesty? Will you allow me to paint you a picture with my imagination brush?"
"As long as you never call it that again."
"Deal."
Emma's arms encircle the brunette's hips and she presses pale lips to to wine color ones. It's slow and sensual. She has time to truly relish this. And drown in a sea of sensation as the ardour builds between them. Regina's hands are warm against the blonde's cheeks. Her lips are soft and wet; Emma swipes her tongue along them just to hear the assassin gasp. She don't dare to say it but she loves the way Regina tastes. She loves the way her body feels pressed against the blonde's. The other woman moans when Emma's hands dip and squeeze her ass. The information broker is already dizzy on her scent. And she fights with herself, torn from keeping this pace and speeding things up.
The assassin (of course) decides for her.
Regina's nails scrape along her scalp, up the base of her skull, hands fisting in blonde curls, as she pulls, gently. The move exposes Emma's neck to insistent lips. The playful nips along the sensitive planes of skin, draws needy sounds from the back of her throat. Then the blonde's earlobe is drawn between the brunette's teeth, and she bites down which causes Emma to become a little unsteady on her feet.
"Don't tease me, Miss Swan…" the assassin purrs.
"Emma…" she corrects, her voice hoarse, her mind struggling to form coherent thought. She manages to add, "We've passed the point the causal business partners, don't you think, your Majesty?"
Regina chuckles, and it is pure sex. It raises the hairs on the back of Emma's neck; her nipples harden, and she clenches her legs together as the sound of the assassin's laugh shoots straight to the blonde's core.
"I suppose you're right… Em-ma…"
The information broker grins wolfishly. Something about the way the other woman says her name will always get to her. "Did you just admit I was right?"
"We could always stop…"
Emma shakes her head. "No. No. It's cool. I'll be good."
"I hope not." Regina locks her arms around the blonde's neck and raises up on her tiptoes, her breath ghosting across pale lips. "I prefer your wicked side."
Closing the small distance between them, Emma kisses her softly. Her hand snakes up the other woman's body, as Regina's tongue slips past her lips. The blonde moans, her fingers threading through raven hair, slowly balling her hand into a fist. The action pulls the other woman's head back and Emma mirrors her move from earlier, taking the assassin's earlobe into her mouth.
"Well then…" the blonde whispers, pulling away, to trail her lips along the cords of Regina's neck. "Let's be bad."
"Yes," the brunette hisses, as Emma backs her toward the nearest wall, where her leg slots between Regina's.
The assassin's hands are working to undo Emma's shirt buttons, and hers, are sliding under the other woman's skirt, only to discover there's no barrier between the blonde's touch and Regina's softness.
"Fuck…" Emma breathes. "You're going to give me a heart attack. Did you just forget to pack panties or…?"
The assassin cups the blonde's breasts, running her thumbs over Emma's bra cladded nipples, causing her breath to hitch. "I took them off while you checked the gate." Regina reaches into her jacket pocket and pulls out a pair of black silk panties. "See."
"Seriously, it's like I legit made you in a computer," Emma jests and then notices her frown. "What?"
"If I'm Kelly LeBrock, then who are you?"
The blonde grins. "I'm Ilan Mitchell-Smith, obviously. And how is it you've seen Weird Science but not Star Wars?"
"I used have a thing about John Hughes movies," Regina confesses. "I even wanted to take a trip to the States so I could visit Shermer, Illinois. But I discovered…"
"There's no Shermer, Illinois." Emma says her fingers gliding along hot, slick folds.
"Yes!" Regina gasps, gripping the blonde's shoulders tightly to steady herself.
Emma's touch is still feather light, fingertips brushing against warm, soft skin, like she's trying to commit everything to memory. Every frustrated whimper, the way the other woman's skin dampens to the touch. Emma's mesmerized by her. Captivated. Regina's a goddamn goddess.
"Your Majesty…" Emma whispers, her fingers, reverently circling the other woman's opening. "Can I, please…?"
The assassin response is to grab the blonde's wrist, and sink Regina's wet heat onto her fingers with a content sigh. Emma's watching her as her hips begin to move, while finding a rhythm that works for them. The brunette's hands grip her shirt by the collar, as there assassin pants and moans, moving in counterpoint to Emma's ministrations. And Regina captures pale lips in a searing kiss, grinding against the blonde's hand.
Emma can feel Regina grow wetter, softer, warmer (if that is even possible) as she drives her fingers in and out of the assassin. And the brunette's moans, and pleas for more grow louder and more insistent.
"Fuck! Nhn… Shit!… Oh my!… Fuck! Faster, please… Harder… Fuck me…"
A low growl escapes Emma, as she adds her other hand, fingers rubbing around the assassin's hardened nub. Regina shouts wordlessly before she captures the blonde's lips in a sloppy open-mouthed kiss. The position is awkward. And Emma's fingers are starting to cramp. She almost stops to change angles but the assassin tightens her grip on her collar, and breaks away.
"Stop and I'll kill you!"
So the blonde doesn't stop. Not even when the cramps in her wrist border on painful. Regina's close, her inner walls clenching around Emma's fingers, her breathing, broken and ragged, on the edge, ready to fall. And God, does the blonde want to see her let go.
"Rub… directly…" Emma can only guess that she wants more direct attention on her clit so she begins to rub it in tight circles. "YES! Fuck! Don't… Close…"
The blonde nips at her lips as Regina makes little helpless sounds. Emma keeps driving her fingers into the brunette, curling them ever so often, until the assassin throws her head back. The blonde latches onto her exposed neck. And when her cries reach a crescendo Emma sinks blunted teeth into the flesh just above her collarbone, where her neck meets her shoulder. That's what does it, and the assassin comes with a throaty cry.
"Emma!"
The blonde slows her thrusts, riding out Regina's orgasm as it ebbs away.
"Fuck…" Emma breathes, kissing her sweetly. "You're incredible."
The assassin easing away with a sharp inhale. "I think that's supposed to be my line, dear."
The blonde smiles, bringing her fingers to her lips. "You can say it back if I earned it, but it doesn't make what I said any less true." She hum at the taste, licking the arousal from her digits. "You're fucking incredible, your Majesty."
The other woman chuckles as she pulls Emma into a slow, languid kiss. And the blonde opens herself up to Regina, her tongue sliding against the brunette's. She's warm to the touch, soft; she's smells… amazing. And Emma gets lost again. Which is why she's cut off guard when the assassin spins her around.
Emma laughs, try to close the distance between them but Regina shoves her into the wall. The blonde takes another step but again the assassin pushes her back and holds her there.
Brown eyes blaze in the moonlight, fiery, and mischievous.
"Wha-" Emma's question is muffled by silk being shoved into her mouth. It tastes like the assassin, sweet, and spicy, and she groan, her eyes practically rolling back into her skull when her knees buckle.
The other woman takes hold of Emma's chin, her gaze boring into her.
"Unbutton your pants…"
The order makes the blonde's core slicken and her clit throb, arching to be touched. But her defiant streak has her hesitating with the button of her jeans.
Regina knows what she's playing at, and the brunette starts to undress, opening her shirt, one button at a time. Green eyes are fixed on every inch of newly exposed skin. However, after the second button Regina stops.
"The pants or I get dressed."
Fuck… the thought comes out as a muffled groan and Emma does as she is told.
"Push them down to your mid thighs, dear," Regina purrs. And then the blonde feels a slight tickle on her neck, traveling along her collarbone. The assassin jumps back and points. "Spider."
Emma lets out a shout and swats at her shoulder like she on fire.
The spider, just a tiny wolf spider, hits the far wall with a soft thud. And Emma can breathe, well once the panties fall from her mouth with a sheepish chuckle.
"If that wasn't a mood killer, maybe we should go back inside," she suggests.
The assassin laughs. "Yes that's probably best. Wouldn't want you to be nearly eaten by another, big scary spider."
Emma frowns. "That was giant. I could have been killed."
Regina rolls her eyes. "Idiot."
"Yup."
There's a trail of clothes leading from the door to the bed. Shoes, shirts, pants, and undergarments litter the bedroom floor in their rush to remove every barrier between them, until Emma's back hits the mattress and soft heated skin slides against hers. It's intoxicating to the assassin moving above the blonde, straddling her waist. The information broker can feel how wet she is every time she rocks her hips and Emma bites back a moan as they've had to be quiet. Despite being given every reason not to be.
"Next time," the assassin whispers, against pale lips. "We get a hotel suite. I want to hear you."
"Next time…" Emma promises, lightly kissing the woman above her. One hand in her hair. The other gripping her hips and she grinds down on the blonde, making small breathy sounds as she does. "Just us…"
Regina nips at Emma's lips, humming her approval. "Just us…"
The blonde likes the sound of that. Just the two of them. Somewhere quiet, peaceful. Somewhere safe. She wouldn't mind more nights like this. More mornings being curled around this woman. More pancake breakfasts. More Regina. More of this.
They kiss like it's the end of the world, both of them, hungry and needy. Their movements growing more persistent, unrelenting, and demanding. No matter how hard they both try, neither of them are the type of people that take half-steps. If Emma throws herself into something, it's with everything she has. It's like that with work. And with sex. After Lily, Emma never thought she'd find someone that could keep up. However it seems she's found a like minded partner in the beautiful assassin.
"Come away with me," Emma says suddenly. The blonde's not even sure she's spoken out loud until Regina's pulling away from her with a quizzical look.
"We just got here, dear," the brunette teases.
The blonde laughs. "Not now. Later. After, I mean. A vacation. You, me, the kid… Somewhere warm, with clear blue waters, and drinks with little umbrellas. No guns. No contracts. No complications. Just us."
The assassin cups her face in her hands and searches Emma's expression for any sign of subterfuge. But she's being sincere. She wants more moments like this without the looming threat of violence. And once Albert Nolan is out of the way, Emma can have that. If Regina will have her.
"A vacation?" the assassin finally asks. "You want to take a trip with me?"
"Always with the tone of surprise," the blonde jests. "But yes. Is that so hard to believe?"
"No," Regina replies. "I suppose not. But I'm curious what would we do on this vacation of ours?"
"Whatever the fuck we want…" Emma tells her as she flips their positions. The assassin grasps underneath her when the blonde settle on top of the brunette, rolling her hips to meet the information brokers. "I'd get to wake up with you next to me." The blonde presses her lips to Regina's and she kisses Emma back, her hands threading through flaxen waves. "Make you come before breakfast." Emma peppers kisses and playful love bites along the other woman's jaw. And the assassin's legs wrap around her waist as she moans. "Then we'll in enjoy the day. Sunbathing." Emma smirks, latching on the small patch of sensitive skin just below the other woman's ear. "I mentioned the drinks with tiny umbrellas right?"
"Yes…" the assassin pants. "It's come up before…"
"Good… " Emma murmurs against her skin. "'Cause I love those things…" She runs her palm over the brunette's breast causing her gasp and undulate her hips against Emma's. "And then at night when it's just you and me…"
"Long walk on the beach?"
The blonde chuckles, her hand snaking between them, fingers flutter over glistening folds. "I was thinking of a long… slow… fuck, your Majesty."
The assassin smirks. "You're insatiable, my dear."
"So are you…"
The brunette hums her agreement as she pulls the blonde in for another heated kiss. And Emma wants to savor this, Regina's taste, her scent, the little breathy sounds she makes. She feels so good against her; warm, wet. The blonde doesn't want this to end. She wants to take her time. But the moment the other woman's tongue slips past her lips and kiss deepens, Emma finds herself ravenous for the assassin.
Reverently, the information broker makes her descent down the other woman's body, her touch lingering on any part of the assassin that draws out the sounds she's come to love. Like she's making music with Regina's gasps and moans. The blonde worships the assassin's breasts, sucking, licking, rolling the sensitive nubs between her teeth. Pale lips map the olive slopes and plains of the other woman's body. The blonde favors the hollows of her hips. The skin is soft there and responsive to her touch. The closer she get to the brunette's sex, the stronger the smell of her arousal becomes. It fills Emma's nostrils with her heady scent. And the blonde wants nothing more than to taste her. Her mouth waters at thought, settling between Regina's thighs watching the assassin with hooded eyes. The brunette's hands are still in Emma's hair, pulling sometimes, or holding her against Regina's body other times. But just as the information broker is about to claim her gift, the other woman stops her.
"Wait…" Regina pants.
Emma stops, her dark gaze watching the brunette as she hovers so close to her center.
"Get…" the assassin licks her lips before she tries again. "Get on your back."
Normally, the blonde would fight, or question, or vex, but the way Regina's dark, lust blown eyes fall on her, she complies without a second thought. So Emma rolls onto her back in the center of the bed, scooting up so her feet doesn't hang off the mattress. And the assassin rises to her knees and straddles the blonde's head. Emma smirks, running her hands up and down the other woman's thighs.
Above the blonde, the assassin cups her cheek. "Are you ready for me?"
Emma kiss Regina's inner thigh. "Always."
The assassin lowers her slick warmth on pale lips and the blonde groans at the first taste of her arousal on her tongue. Regina moves in counterpoint to Emma's mouth, as the blonde licks and sucks every inch of her pussy.
"Fuck…" the assassin moans when the information broker's tongue enters her. "Yes…"
Regina's shaking, her thighs quivering as they clench Emma's head. Her hands is in the blonde's hair, holding her mouth to the assassin's sex, as she moves against the information broker's lips and tongue.
"God, yes…" the assassin pants. "I love… love your… fuck! Your tongue…"
Emma loves it when Regina gets like this. The prim and proper assassin had an impressively dirty streak. The blonde loves the way she moves, she moans, the way the brunette tells her to pleasure her. Emma can feel her own arousal building as the woman above her spurs her on.
"Yes! Fuck! Don't… don't you fucking stop!"
The blonde wouldn't dream of it. And she doesn't think she could stop even if she wanted to. And she doesn't. Emma wants Regina coming on her lips. Repeatedly. Until neither of them could go on, only to do it all over again.
The assassin is shaking above Emma, trembling with her coming release, that's only just out of reach. So the blonde lathes her clit with attention, drawing tight circles around it with her tongue. And the assassin let's out a noise that sounds like the half step between a moan and a shout, grinding her hips down on pale lips. And Emma knows she's getting close.
The information broker brings a hand to her center, pulling away just far enough to watch her fingers entering the assassin. Regina's practically dipping, coating Emma's fingers in her wet heat, as she lets out a deep moan.
"Yes…" Regina sighs above the blonde as she close her lips around that hardened, throbbing bundle of nerves, alternating between flicking the assassin's clit with her tongue, and her ministrations.
It's the combination of sensation that sends the assassin tumbling over the edge, Emma's name escaping her with a breathy sigh, while the blonde eases through her release with slow, cleansing strokes with her tongue.
When the assassin finally stills, she moves away to lay beside the blonde. Regina drapes a leg over Emma's stomach, her hand lying between the information broker's breasts. It's a possessive move; the assassin has staked her claim. Emma runs her hand along the other woman's thigh, trying to ignore her own need thrumming through her. A difficult feat considering the heat the assassin is giving off is downright maddening. The blonde wants nothing more to flip Regina onto her back and start again.
"Did we enjoy ourselves, your Majesty?"
The assassin lets out a throaty chuckle and picks up her head to kiss the blonde. "Yes, we did…" She hums, running her tongue over pale lips. "I love the way I taste on you."
Emma groans, her hand sliding over the other woman's ass. "It's quickly becoming one of my favorite things, too."
Regina smirks. "You distracted me though."
The information broker cock an eyebrow at her assertion. "Did I?"
The assassin nods. "You did. You do that a lot. I came back here with every intention of making you scream my name. But you turned the tables on me. You tried to do the same thing in the treehouse." When Emma doesn't reply she presses on. "Why do you do that?"
"I find that it's hard for people to leave if their legs don't work." It's meant to be a joke. But the way the blonde's voice drops at the confession, the honesty of her words is hard to ignore.
"You think I'm going to leave?"
Emma shrugs. "Everyone always does."
It's not far from the truth. There hasn't been a person that's seen all of Emma and stayed. They've all left or she's made them leave. Needless to say, the result is the same. She's left alone at the end of it.
The assassin cups her cheek and gently forces Emma to meet her gaze. "I won't leave."
The blonde wants to believe her. But if past is prologue…
"I'm not going to leave," Regina promises, her breath ghosting across pale lips.
The blonde fingers slip through her hair, and pull her in for a chaste kiss. That's all it is supposed to be; a way to end the conversation. Because it's too much. Emma can't deal. All she wants is to lose herself in Regina and not think about the future. But the way she meets Emma's lips, passionate and needy, the information broker can't think of anything but that.
"I won't leave," the assassin whispers, breaking away to lay a trail of kisses along Emma's jaw, down the column of her neck. "I won't leave…" she murmurs against the blonde's skin, taking one of her nipples into her mouth, making Emma bite her lip to keep from crying out. Then the assassin switches breasts and the blonde's grip on her head tightens, keeping her mouth there but Regina lifts her head to once more to vow, "I won't leave…"
When the brunette starts to move down Emma's body she stops her. "Stay…" the blonde gasps. "Please… stay…"
And Regina does, kissing Emma like she can't think of anything else to do, like there is nowhere else she'd rather be. The blonde whimpers as the assassin shifts her weight, straddling one of her thighs. The brunette's hand dips between them, fingers brushes along Emma's sex.
"Please…" the information broker pleads, eyes fluttering shut. "Please… I need you…"
"I'm right here," the assassin whispers, her touch circling around Emma's opening. "Look at me." When the blonde meets her dark, burnt honey eyes, Regina enters her slowly, watching her body react to the brunette's touch. "I won't leave."
"Fuck…" the blonde gasp, her hips rising to meet Regina's fingers. "Pl… please…"
The assassin's hand flexes and she starts off with a steady pace, two fingers slipping in and out of the blonde. "You're so wet…" she observes. "So wet… so ready for me… I think you might need me to fuck you… Is that what you want? Would you like me to fuck you, dear?"
With a moan, Emma nods almost emphatically. "Yes! Yes… please."
Regina kisses her softly. "You have to be quiet or I have to stop, dear. And I don't want to stop. Especially when your pussy is begging to be fucked."
The way the assassin's talking to the blonde in combination with her fingers moving in and out of Emma's center has her so embarrassingly close. Emma closes her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing, instead of the waves of pleasure rolling over her. But it's impossible, especially when Regina presses the heel of her palm on her clit.
The information broker cries out but the assassin kisses her, swallowing her moans as she drives her fingers into the blonde. As Emma's forthcoming release coils within her, she moves her hips to meet Regina's thrusts, and she can feel the other woman slicken against her thigh. Emma's hands grip the brunettes hips, pulling her against her, and she's rewarded with a breathy moan.
"Don't distract me…" Regina warns.
"You can… fuck!"
"Thank you, dear…" The assassin cheated, drilling into the blonde when she tried to speak. She does it again, curling her fingers at the apex of her stroke, and a loud keening moan escapes Emma. "Shh… you wouldn't want anyone to hear us - well, you."
The growl the blonde let out would have surprised her if she could think about anything but the warmth building within her..
"Are you close?" Regina asks, and Emma nods, not trusting her voice. "Then come for me."
The blonde shakes her head. "Not yet."
"Oh?" The assassin's pace quickens. "But don't you want me to know how good this feels? That you like the way I make you feel? That you love how I fuck you dear?"
"Yes," Emma whimpers.
"Then come for me…" Regina pumps her fingers into the blonde and it's almost like she's about to rip apart at the seams. "Come for me…"
All it takes is a sweet whisper of Emma's name and she finally lets go, her body snaps taut, and she arches her back. The only thing that keeps the blonde quiet is the assassin's lips pressed to hers, as Regina guides her through her orgasm. But as Emma's body stills, the brunette doesn't let up, moving down her body without stopping.
"What are you doing?" Emma asks, as the other woman settles between her legs.
Regina's hooded eyes are locked onto the blonde's center as she lowers herself. "I need to taste you."
The protest catches in Emma's throat the moment her mouth makes contact with your arching sex.
"Oh… God… yes…" the blonde hisses, her hands reaching down to fist themselves in raven locks, as she moves to meet the assassin's eager tongue. "Yes… fuck… yes… don't… fuck! Don't stop."
The brunette doesn't stop, showering Emma's center with attention, as eyes darkened with a lusty hunger watch the blonde as she draws closer and closer to an explosive conclusion. It's almost too much, too intimate. The emotions Regina fills her with overwhelms her already over stimulated senses. And it isn't until Emma's coming does she realize she's been speaking. Mostly broken words and sounds that couldn't be called a language, but just at the crescendo of her climax, she hears herself speak, two words, too quiet to be called a whisper.
"Love you…"
Whether the other woman hears Emma, she doesn't know. Regina doesn't say anything as she curls beside her as the blonde's breathing regulates. The assassin nuzzles her neck and lays a kiss on her pulse point.
"When you can manage it," she tells the blonde. "Go have your cigarette. But come right back. I'm nowhere near done with you, tonight."
Emma chuckles, quietly. "As you wish, your Majesty."
The cigarette smoke that fills Emma's lungs is a welcomed relief. The night air is cooler, less humid from the heat of the last few days. It's nice. Tranquil. She can get used to this; wondering briefly if that's why Lily walked away from this, for this kind of serenity. Emma hopes that once the dust settles, she and the kid can find a little patch of peace all their own..
"What are you doing up?"
The abruptness of Granny's voice startles her. "Jesus fucking Christ. You trying to kill me, you old bat?"
She cuts her eyes at Emma. "I'm getting tired of you calling me old, child. I ain't too old that I can't still break my foot off in your ass. So watch it."
The blonde smile and offer her a cigarette. "Alright. I'll stop."
"You couldn't sleep?" the old woman asks, as Emma lights her cancer stick for her.
"Something like that," she replies. The truth is, while she is tired - exhausted in fact, she's also restless. She can't shake it, like a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. And it's got her worried.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"Just antsy. And that's never happened to me before."
"You've never had anything to lose before," Granny says like that supposed to make sense. "You've got earthy ties to this world. A little boy that expects you to come home every night and tuck him in. And now, maybe even someone to share your life with."
Heat flushes Emma's cheeks. "I don't know. Regina… I'm not going to hold her back. If she wants to go-"
"If I wasn't so tired I'd smack you."
Confusion furrows Emma's brow. "What?"
"You're doing the same thing you did with that girl - what was her name?"
"Lily."
"Yes, her. You convinced yourself that you didn't deserve a partner. Someone that knows all of you and loves all of you. So you pushed her away. And when that didn't work, you stabbed that poor child," Granny explained.
"I had good reasons for doing that," Emma shoots back, taking an angry drag from her cigarette.
"I know what you tell yourself," the old woman says. "But if you think for one second that Lily wouldn't have accepted what you had to become for Henry… Then maybe you are as dumb as you look. And that assassin… The way the two of you carry on; child, if that's not love, I don't know what is."
Emma shuffles nervously on her feet. "Granny… I got Henry now, I've got to-"
"It'll be easier if you had a partner that loves like you do, with all her heart," Granny tells her. "That's all I've ever wanted for you.
"Ruby's like her mother was. She's oddly suited to this life. Same for Merida and Mulan. But you, Tiana, and Mary, always wanted a peaceful home and a loving family. Tiana's got hers. Mary died before she got her chance. What are you waiting for, Emma?"
The blonde smiles softly and looks away for a moment, tears pricking her green eyes. And it's then she sees it in the distance: just a flicker of moonlight catching glass. But she knows exactly what it is. It's a scope. And Emma has less than a second to react, pulling Granny down to the ground just as bullets fly overhead.
The bullets hit the ground around them. Automatic weapons. Kind of overkill if anyone asked Emma. But seeing as people are shooting at her, no one's going to stop and ask for her opinion on the matter.
"Friends of yours?" Granny asks.
"Something like that…" she replies.
The front door to the house swings open and Emma hears Ruby shout, "Heads up," before a gun is tossed within her reach. Cover fire is coming from the house and the blonde's able to move. Her top priority is getting Granny in the house, once she sees Billy grab her and pull her inside, Emma's up on her feet, shooting out toward the incoming gunfire. There's enough of a gap between enemy gunfire that she's able to move into the house with Billy and Ruby laying down some cover fire for her.
Emma dives into the house and kicks the door shut.
"Nolan's people?" the big man asks.
The blonde nods. "Probably. No one else really wants me dead."
"They're after my grandbaby?" Granny inquires.
"Yeah. I won't let that happen though," Emma replies.
"We won't let that happen, child," Granny corrects.
"Lets fuck some shit up!" Ruby agrees.
"I've got something that might help with that." Emma hears Dorothy before she comes into view, holding a shotgun. Ruby's wife passes to Granny, who smiles like she was just handed a newborn.
"Did you miss me?" she asks the gun. "It's been a long time since we took some poor fools to task, huh?"
"You still know how to use that cannon?" Emma asks.
The old woman shoots the blonde a look. "Child, please. I've been killing folks since before you were swimming in your daddy's balls." The group collectively lets out a disgusted groan and Granny, just pumps the shotgun with a shake of her head. "Just stay out of my way."
There's a crash behind them. Someone or someones are coming in through the back. Emma's on her feet without a thought, knowing her people have the front covered. She slides into one of the hallways where the bedrooms are, just in time to see Mulan take one of the intruders to task. She's using a telescopic baton. The man she's fighting, an ugly brute of a man can't get an attack in. And Mulan is going after his vulnerable spots; eyes, ears, throat, stomach, knees, and finally groin. The stunning blow brings the man to his knees and Emma doesn't even see the knife in Mulan's off hand until she notices the blood seeping from the wound at the man's neck. He claws at his throat, trying to stop the blood. But it's too late and the cut is too deep. The man slumps to the ground, choking to death on his own blood.
"Behind you!" Emma shouts just as she sees another assailant appear, reaching out to grab Mulan.
But Merida comes out of nowhere, shoulder checking the attacker into a wall. He grabs the redhead and throws her away from him. But Mulan is on him stabbing him in the back just as Merida recovers to finish him off. She stabs him in the chest, twisting the knife until he goes limp.
"Never a dull moment, eh, boss?" Merida jests. A gunshot echoes in the small hallway and the Scot lets out a yell before Emma notices blood seeping from Merida's right leg. Mulan helps her to the ground as the blonde looks for the shooter.
Emma doesn't have to search long as he jumps through the window, rolling to his feet. She opens fire but he manages to duck into one of the open rooms and returns fire. Emma drops to her knees and hugs the wall, aiming for the door so when he pops out she's ready for him. And when he pokes his head out, Emma lets off a round and it's like playing a game of whack a mole; his head jerks back as the bullet zips through his skull, and blows out the back, bringing bone bits, and brain matter with it.
He's dead before he hits the ground.
"Boss," Mulan calls. "Look."
She exposes one of the dead men's shoulder and you see a big black 13 tattooed on his skin.
"The Brothers 13?" Emma curses. "The fuck? No wonder this has gone tits up."
"I got shot by one of the Brothers 13?" Merida groans. "I'll never be able to live this one down."
"You okay?" the blonde asks Merida.
"Oh, yeah, sure," the Scot replies, as Mulan wraps her wound with a piece of her shirt. "Just took a bullet to me leg. But other than that, I'm right as rain."
"Get her out of here," Emma orders Mulan. But as soon as the words leave her mouth another bedroom door, flies open and she sees Belle being held at gunpoint by another big man.
"Boss lady?" her voice is high and panicked.
"It's okay," Emma assures Belle. "Just keep your eyes on me."
"Where's the kid?" the man asks.
"What kid?" Emma replies.
"Don't play with me, bitch."
The blonde make a face. "Ew."
"Where's the kid? I won't ask again."
"Boss!"
"Belle, just look at me, Gorgeous. No one else."
"DOWN!" Ruby's voice booms over them in the small hallway and Emma shouts at Belle to hit the floor. She goes limp and sinks to the ground just as Ruby lets off two shoots. The first one hits the man in the shoulder, the second one hits him in the head, right between the eyes. Emma glances back as her best friend lowers her two .45's.
"Holy shit…" the blonde breathe, amazed. It doesn't matter how many times she's seen Ruby's handiwork, it's true artistry and Emma's always been awestruck by her best friend's skills.
Ruby throws Emma a wink. "It's just like riding a bike."
"It's the Brothers 13," the blonde inform her.
And her best friend lets out a string of swear words. "Christ in heels! What the fuck? Those fuckers? I take this as a personal affront. Artless bitches."
They hear more gunshots coming from the front rooms and Emma shouts for the Belle and Mulan to get Merida to the cars. Even if her crew is able to put down the Brothers 13, none of them can stay here. The first rule of war: "If your enemies know where you are, don't be there." So the cars are the rendezvous point regardless of how this ends.
Ruby's in the living room first, joining Billy and Dorothy by one of the windows. Granny's by the door behind a sofa. Bullets are coming from all sides. Which is why Emma doesn't notice the windows breaking, until she hears the heavied booted steps of more hitmen.
"It's the Brothers 13!" Ruby yells.
"Seriously?" Emma hears Billy's reply.
Then a shot rings out and a bullet hits Dorothy in the shoulder. Ruby yells her name moving toward her wife before she waves Emma's best friend off. "It's a through and through. I'm fine."
Dorothy's taken one in the shoulder but it doesn't look serious. Nonetheless, Ruby's on her feet, firing at the two men near the far wall. The two men manage to get off a shot or two. But Ruby's at a dead run and they are too close to recover and fire again. And since they missed her, Emma knows they're seconds from death. Ruby launches herself at them. And the blonde can't quite describe what happens next. Her best friend runs or jumps onto one of the men's shoulders and fires point blank at the second man, shooting him in the head. She then swings around, using her momentum to flip the first man onto the ground. She kicks him in the face and then fires, his brains splattering on the floor.
The boom of the shotgun brings Emma's attention back to Granny who's fired off a shell at another man rushing toward Billy. He goes down but the last man catches Ruby's husband and they wrestle to the floor. Billy has his gun in one hand so he isn't able to give it his all, trying instead to get a shot off. The two men struggle as Emma tries to take aim. But she can't take the shot though, not without risking Billy. So she doesn't. She waits. And then the gun goes off and everyone stops. Emma doesn't know who was shot until she sees a pool of blood well around Billy as he lays on the floor. When his attacker eases away from him, Emma notices the bullet wound in his chest.
Ruby lets out a painful wail and empties her guns into the shooter. She tosses them away and rushes to Billy's side just as the blonde slides toward them.
"No, no, no, baby," Ruby pleads. "Don't try to talk. We're going to get you fixed up. I promise."
Billy reaches for her, gasping for air. "Baby…" his says through labored breaths. "I love…"
"No, baby… Please… Don't try to talk…"
"Love… you…"
His grip loosens around Ruby's bloodied hand. And Ruby shakes him. "Baby!? Baby, no! No! Please, no!"
Dorothy's next to her and she checks her husband's pulse. "He's gone."
Granny brings her shotgun up. "We're gonna make them pay."
Ruby just nods, tears rolling down her cheeks. Emma can feel the murderous ire raging within her. And she knows that Granny's promise will ring true. They'll make them pay. But not before they make them suffer.
Shots ring out upstairs and Granny tears off for the stairs. For an old bat, she's spry, taking the steps two at a time, while Emma glances between Ruby and Dorothy.
"Go," Ruby orders and the blonde nods, following Granny up the stairs.
A gunshot lifts Emma's gaze to the second floor just as the old woman fires her shotgun.
"Fucker!" Granny curses as she leans against the wall. She's been shot. Blood seeping out of a hole in her chest. Her breathing is shallow, her gaze is already unfocused.
"No…" Emma's throat tightens as she comes to the old woman's side and helps her to the ground. "Granny…"
"Child…" she sighs. "My sweet…"
"Shh… It's okay… We're gonna… we're gonna…"
But Granny puts bloody fingers to Emma's lips. "Don't lie to me, child. I ain't getting up off this floor." Another gunman shows his face, and the old woman even bleeding from her chest lets off a shot and the man falls to the ground with a big gaping hole in his stomach. "Bitch…"
"You should've waited for me…" Tears well in Emma's eyes, as she tries to put pressure on Granny's wound. "Why didn't you wait?"
"Where's… the fun…" The old woman takes a deep breath and coughs. "…in that?"
"You crazy old woman…"
"Hey… what did I tell…" She lets out a deep breath, the tension leaves her body, and that's it. She's gone.
Emma closes Granny's eyes, staining her face with her own blood. Rising to her feet with her gun at her side, the blonde survey the hallway. There's a dead body out front of the first bedroom door where Tiana and her family should be, besides the two that Granny killed. Emma wipes the tears from her cheeks and slowly opens the door.
"It's me," she whispers, keeping away from the door frame just in case her people didn't hear her. When Emma gets no response, she pokes her head inside and finds Tiana holding her baby boy in her arms, with Naveen's dead body next to her. She's armed but her gaze is more focused on her husband's corpse.
"Snowflake?"
"T? Are you hurt?"
She shakes her head. "No. They… I didn't hear them at first. And Naveen…"
"I'm going to get these motherfuckers," Emma vows. "I promise you."
"I got him…" Tiana tells her. "I got the motherfucker that took him from me."
"And I'm going to make the bastard that ordered this hurt for this…"
Tiana nods. "They're after your boy. I heard them asking about Henry. They want to know where is. I didn't… Naveen didn't give them a thing."
"Go back downstairs. Get to the cars…"
"But Naveen…"
"I won't leave him behind. I won't leave anyone behind."
"Who else?" Tiana asks.
Emma averts her gaze when she replies. "Mouse… and Granny."
"No…"
"I'm going to kill them all."
"Save me a piece."
The blonde nods. "Of course. Now go. I got this."
After Emma makes sure that Tiana and her kid get down the stairs, she heads back down the hallway and check her room. Her heart is in her throat when she pushes open the door. She don't see anyone at first and then she sees feet behind the bed. Emma leaps over the mattress and finds a dead man with one of her knives sticking out of his neck. But Regina isn't here. Which means… Emma actually doesn't know what it means. It could be anything.
There's only one room to check. One one more of the Brothers 13 left. The blonde inches toward the kid's room, gun at the ready. She kneels near the door and opens it, keeping herself low and out of the doorway.
Nothing.
Not even a sound.
"Shit…"
Emma makes her way inside and the first thing she notices is Regina lying unconscious in the middle of the room near Henry's bed. At least Emma thinks she's been knocked out. The blonde checks the assassin's pulse just to be sure. It's steady. And Regina doesn't look like she's bleeding, save for a cut on her head. Emma breath a sigh of relief. She's lost too many people today. She couldn't lose Regina too. It'd be too much.
"You came to protect my kid…"
And then crack! Emma catches a boot to the side of her head. The blow scrambles her brain, knocks her to the floor, just as she's kicked again. She groans as she rises to her hands and feet, just as another kick finds her ribs. This time she hears a loud crack and feels sharp pain shoot up her side. Whoever this is, they just broke a few of Emma's ribs. The blonde sits up, her eyes tracking the shadowy figure as he comes into focus.
The man has chestnut brown hair and ridiculous sideburns. His pale green eyes shine as they set upon Emma as he smiles.
"MOM!" Henry's in his arms, struggling to break free. "MOM!"
"Miss Swan… Oh, Miss Swan… Didn't think we'd ever cross paths again…"
"Who…"
"I'm the man who's going to kill you."
Emma doesn't see the gun until the muzzle flash. There's a loud bang. And then another. And then one more.
She doesn't feel anything but cold. Her body is going into shock.
That's never a good sign.
"MOM!" the kid screams after the man fires. "MOM! GET UP!"
She can't. She wants to. But her body isn't cooperating. She can't move. Breathing's becoming a problem. She feels heavy. So impossibly heavy. Her eyes flutter shut, everything fades away, and the whole world goes black.
Okay, so I normally put a sneak peek for the next chapter, but since I left it on a cliffhanger and the next chapter doesn't answer any questions you might have, I decided to leave the sneak peek out of this one. Chapter 11 will be up as soon as I've drafted Chapter 12. I hope you don't hate me forever. But it had to be done. You can follow me on tumblr where I am MurderouslyAdorkable and/or twitter MurderouslyAdorkable.