Hey guys, I'm sorry for updating so late but I had a cold. I was out of it for three whole days and it wasn't the nice kind of cold where your throat hurts a little and your nose is itchy but the kind where adding to that your brain functions a bit slower because it feels like you have to think through fog... Writing really wasn't an option...
But I'm good now and I want to make it up to you with an extra long chapter :)
Again thank you all for your kind reviews, favoriting and following and even just reading. I'm honestly still a little overwhelmed by your kind reactions...
All mistakes are mine, I still don't have a beta (any volunteers?) to thank...
And now, enjoy!
Disclaimer: not mine...
Chapter 9
"You're happy?"
"I am."
She answered in earnest. When she was really being honest with herself, Emma knew that she had never been this happy in her entire life.
A single tear made its way across Snow's cheek as she slowly nodded. Emma let out a huge breath she hadn't even known she had been holding, when Snow took one of her hands in her own.
"What's going on?"
Unfortunately David had finally caught up to the tension in the room.
Chapter 10
But even his wife refused to look at him, her eyes still on her daughter.
"Snow?"
Snow let out a huge breath and met Regina's eyes.
Emma couldn't make sense of her mother's expression, but Regina knew Snow better than she had ever wanted to. So she recognized the flash of guilt that washed over Snow's features all too well, no matter how much she wished she didn't.
"I guess it is poetic justice."
"What is?"
Charming demanded to know. He sounded fed up with not knowing and stood up, apparently trying to give his question more force. Snow shrugged her shoulders almost apologetically while she waited for either Emma or Regina to fess up.
"Er, David…"
Before Emma could get on with a sentence she had no idea how to continue, Regina cut in looking at her son, who was watching them out of huge eyes.
"Henry, could you do us a favor and wait in your room for a minute? We need to talk about something between adults."
"Why? Is Emma still hurt? She looks fine to me. And you promised I'd get talk to her today!"
Suddenly David looked furious.
"You promised him to be able to talk to his mother? Of course he'll talk to his mother! That's where he'll be living. You no longer have the right to allow or deny him anything!"
Although she really wanted to keep calm, his blatant idiocy was too much for Regina to tolerate.
"No matter what you might think he is my son! I raised him for eleven years and I'll always be his mother and I'll take care of him as long as he wants me to!"
"He will be taken care of by his real mother and his grandparents. He sure as hell doesn't need you!"
"He sure as hell doesn't need a prejudiced imbecile as a grandfather!"
"Well, too bad that you killed your father!"
"Charming!"
Snow shouted at the same time as Emma screamed at him to stop while Regina shrunk back, visibly hurt and Emma wanted nothing more than to take Regina into her arms. Meanwhile Snow seemed to be taken aback by the open look of regret on Regina's face though it lasted only for a second before she was ready to strike back.
"At least I didn't kill a parent by voluntarily putting them in danger of King George."
"Okay, that's enough!"
Again it was Snow who raised her voice just before Emma could cut in. Nevertheless Emma moved to stand closer to Regina, wanting to shield her from any other insults David might through her way.
"I can't believe you both would bring this up. James, Regina, we're all trying to be civil here."
Then Snow looked at her grandson.
"Henry, please do as your mother said."
"No."
Immediately Charming protested again and Henry stopped short in the door way.
"He and Emma are going to come home with us now. I don't want to put up with that witch and I don't have to!"
Emma had balled her hands into fists and was currently losing the fight for self-control. But before she exploded she knew that both Regina and Snow were right in sending Henry away.
"Henry, please go to your room."
Now that three of the adults had told him the same thing Henry realized he couldn't stay anymore. But that didn't mean that he would go up to his room. He simply left the kitchen and hid himself just outside of the entrance so that he was out of sight but well in hearing distance.
Charming called after him, but when the boy stayed hidden he angrily faced his daughter.
"Emma! I understand that you had to stay yesterday. Snow explained that you were still healing but that's done now. We can start to arrange a trial for her now."
"A trial? Really, Charming? And what makes you think that I will submit myself to a trial? I could easily…"
"Enough!"
Emma had it. Apparently they wouldn't stop being at each other's throats on their own so she would have to make that happen. She put a hand on Regina's shoulder to push her behind her and glared at her father.
"I've already told you that she's changed. I won't let you talk like that to my son's mother. If you can't control yourself, you need to leave."
The anger inside of her was swirling, making it hard for her to concentrate on her own words. So she threw them out through clenched teeth.
"I won't let you talk to me like that, young lady!"
When David proved his incapability to listen, Regina tried to walk around her. She obviously wanted to get into David's personal space again, but Emma held on to her upper arm. When she looked at Charming's angry red face and Regina's tightly controlled white one something in her just snapped. That wasn't how it was supposed to be.
Her father was supposed to be kind and loving. He was supposed to be that person Snow had talked about during the last couple of days, not this… dickhead that reminded her of one of her meaner foster fathers. And he definitely wasn't supposed to hurt the woman she loved.
"Emma!"
There was just enough time for Emma to notice the alarm on her mother's face before a blinding white light exploded taking away everyone's eyesight.
"Emma."
She felt Regina taking her hands into her own.
"Emma, you need to calm down. Let it go. It's okay."
Slowly the veil lifted and Regina pulled Emma into her arms, stroking her back to help with the uncontrolled shivers that shook her body.
"It's okay. Nothing happened."
"What did you do?"
Charming tried to shove Snow behind him, but she resisted and went to Emma instead.
"Are you okay?"
"Snow, don't get too near. We need to go. You see how dangerous she is. She doesn't even have herself under control."
"It wasn't me."
Regina uttered softly which almost made the angry red blots on Charming's face even redder, especially since Snow put a comforting hand on Emma's back instead of taking her out of Regina's grasp.
"Who else should have done it?"
"I did that?"
Emma mumbled into Regina's neck, feeling the other woman nodding. She sighed as she extricated herself from her.
"Me."
"You don't even have magic."
"God, Charming! Emma is our child. She originated from the most powerful magic there is. Of course she has magic inside of her. How do you think we were able to create the portal on the other side? And why do you think it took Regina so long to heal her?"
He looked completely baffled.
"But I thought people who have magic, couldn't be healed by it."
Both Emma and Regina looked slightly guilty while Snow furrowed her forehead. It didn't take her longer than a moment to connect the missing pieces.
"Oh god. You haven't just fallen for each other? It's more, isn't it?"
With a crooked grin Emma nodded.
"Fallen for each other?"
Charming repeated dumbfounded.
"Like in love?"
Regina glared at him, her newly found patience wearing extremely thin. So she reached for Emma's hand, using the contact to ground her.
"Yes, exactly that is what it means."
When she turned to Snow Regina looked almost apologetic.
"You're right though."
Before Charming could explode again, Snow fainted into his arms.
Immediately Emma took a washcloth from the sink, soaked it with cold water and placed in on Snow's forehead.
David had lowered her to the ground and stroked her cheek in a caring gesture. For a second Emma saw a glimpse of the man her mother loved.
"Snow?"
After half a minute Snow blinked and opened her eyes again. At once she fixed her gaze on Emma.
"So you're each other's true love?"
Emma answered with a sheepish grin. She tried to read Snow's expression, but couldn't discern more than shock. Distracted she didn't notice that Charming had once again gripped her wrist and was trying to pull her towards the door.
"Snow, surely our daughter is delusional. Regina probably put a spell on her. We need to take her home."
"What?"
Emma looked at her father in pure confusion. She freed her hand with an abrupt tug and pointedly ignored him.
"Mom, could you please take him outside until he knows how to behave himself?"
Snow's eyebrows disappeared under her bangs but after a moment she nodded defeated and began to push her husband backwards.
"Let's go, James."
Emma gave a pleading look to Regina.
"I'm gonna walk them out. Would you… Could you make sure Henry's okay?"
Unknowingly Emma used the magic word that snapped Regina out of her emotional turmoil. She nodded grateful. Quite relieved to leave the Charming's behind she made her way towards the stairs.
Meanwhile Emma ushered her parents out of the house. She dutifully ignored Charming's attempt to persuade her that she was under a spell until he grew so loud that she forgot her reservation and snarled at him to shut the hell up.
As she closed the door in his face he acted like a two-year-old in a temper tantrum and banged at it.
Emma gave Snow an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry. I could have been a lot more forward but this conversation kind of took me by surprise."
The chuckle escaping Snow's lips sounded a little crazed.
"Yeah, the whole situation took me by surprise, too."
"No kidding."
Insecurity overtook Emma as she looked into her mother's eyes.
"But you're… You're okay with it?"
Snow took a deep breath, shaking her head.
"To be honest, no."
Emma felt like the breath was punched out of her lungs. Before this moment she hadn't known how much she had counted on Snow to accept her. She only managed to stop her rising panic when Snow grasped her hand and gave her a small smile.
"But I will be."
Her smile grew the tiniest bit wider as she shrugged.
"I mean, after all, I am the one who told you everything about true love, right?"
Reaching for the doorknob Snow hesitated.
"But you are sure, aren't you?"
"About what?"
"That it is true love?"
Ignoring her inner-freak-out Emma recalled the feelings she had for Regina. The love she felt deep within her was way too intense to be anything less than that.
"Yes, I am sure."
Snow nodded resigned and turned away. But Emma wasn't ready to let her go like that.
"Why are you not okay with it? Is it because she's a woman or because she's… Regina?"
"God, Emma! I don't have a problem with the fact that you're bisexual. You've already told me as much. Though I doubt you would have been so blasé about if you'd known that I was your mother…"
"Well, you were cursed."
She joked but Snow simply frowned at her.
"Yeah, you know Charming still doesn't buy that excuse."
"He was married to another woman. I think he needs to accept it."
Emma declared in what she called her no-bullshit-voice. Snow sighed and looked at her contemplating.
"Yes, that's not the only thing he has to accept now, is it?"
When Emma cringed Snow patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to him."
"Maybe you should talk to Regina, too."
She wasn't even certain why she suggested it, but to her utter surprise Snow nodded.
"I know. But that has to happen on her terms. I tried to talk to her when I thanked her for saving you. I'm afraid if I approach her once again she'll finally give in to the urge to just throttle me, not even bothering with a curse."
But she delivered the sentence with a forgiving smile before she gestured to the door.
"I'm gonna go, talk to him now."
Emma snorted.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
"Emma."
"No, don't try to reprimand me. I may accept that he is my father, but his behavior really doesn't help me to respect him. He can talk to me again after he apologizes."
"Emma…"
"No, you're always welcome, but please don't make me be nice to him while he's being this pig-headed ass."
"Language, Emma."
"Yeah, yeah."
And for once they actually sounded like mother and daughter. Emma allowed Snow to give her a quick hug before she left. Then she turned to find Regina and Henry.
"Henry?"
Panic came out of nowhere, rising in her chest and settling there. Regina had opened Henry's door only to find the room empty. She was having a very bad flashback to the day he went missing, the day he had fled to Boston.
What if he had listened? What if he was so confused that he had run away again? What if something had happened to him?
"Henry?"
She didn't even realize that the panic was showing in her voice.
"Henry?"
Hearing steps behind her she whirled around. She wasn't even aware that her frantic appearance probably scared the boy half to death.
"Henry!"
She almost stumbled as she rushed towards him engulfing him in a tight hug.
"Okay... Mom?"
Only after she slightly released her hold on him he hugged her back.
"I'm okay, Mom. I'm sorry that I scared you. I didn't go to my room. I was listening just outside the kitchen and you ran right past me."
As the words slowly sunk in Regina let go of him.
"You listened?"
He nodded hesitantly.
"What did you hear?"
She decided to start careful.
"Well, not much. It was all very confusing with the screaming and the curse words and everything. I didn't understand much."
Suddenly the confusion on his face made perfect sense. Regina retreated to Henry's bed and patted the mattress.
"Come and sit with me. I'll try to explain to you what you've heard and I'll answer every question you have."
His eyes grew wide.
"Really?"
Smiling at his enthusiasm she nodded.
"First I'm going to explain something to you that hopefully won't confuse you any further. It's about Emma and I."
He interrupted before she could think about all the possibilities she could screw this up. Wasn't there a guide somewhere that explained how to handle telling your child about being in love with his birth mother?
"Oh, you don't have to explain that to me. I know that you love Emma."
"What?"
A simple shrug countered her surprise.
"Well, you saved her. You risked your own life. Why else would you do that?"
At that time she hadn't even realized her feelings for the other woman. Henry however had caught up amazingly fast. He smirked up at her.
"And I know that Emma loves you, too. She's actually liked you for a while, you know?"
That was intriguing.
"How so?"
"She kept defending you, even after the curse was broken. It was weird."
"Defending me?"
Regina found herself repeating Henry's words as confusion crept up on her.
"Yes. She always tells me that I shouldn't be so mean and I'm sorry I didn't see that she was right."
Her heart swelled and she gently put her arm around Henry's shoulders.
"You already apologized, Henry. It's okay."
"No, it's not, but I promise to make it up to you."
He gave her a radiant smile that she found herself returning.
"And I'm okay with it, you know?"
She was so happy to have her son leaning into her embrace that she had completely forgotten the delicate matter of their conversation.
"With what?"
"You and Emma. You're dating, right?"
"Dating?"
Were they dating? It's seemed like a strange concept to her, getting to know people over dinner or watching movies because both resulted in very stilted or none conversation. In her days it had all been about courtship. You were supposed to meet your Prince at a ball, talking while effortlessly dancing, dining under the watchful eyes of your parents and sneaking around until you were sure that he was the right one and he proposed.
Of course she had met her Prince in the stables, gotten to know him while riding the horses, sneaking around for romantic picnics in the forest.
None of which included the classic dating of this new world.
"Yeah, you know. Dinner and a movie, mostly it's tradition to bring a gift like flowers or something like that?"
Henry explained himself as he grew visibly uncomfortable.
"Or have you been doing all this already and not told me about? When I've been at Katherine's?"
"Oh, no, Henry. We haven't been dating."
"But you're going to, right? I mean, I know you guys really like each other and I heard something that you've realized it, too."
Somehow this was going entirely differently than she would have imagined.
"So you're okay with it? The fact that Emma and I might be… dating?"
She finished at a loss for a better expression.
"Sure! I'm happy, if you're happy."
Again he showed a bright grin.
"And you don't think it's unusual because Emma and I are both women?"
Since they were already talking she felt like it was best to get it all out now.
"What? No. Why?"
A big frown overtook his features and she found herself at a loss. Fortunately he quickly understood her predicament.
"You know Sofia from school? She has two Dads, so..."
He brightened up again.
"Oh, and Ruby? She's gay, too. I mean it's not that unusual."
"You think so?"
How did she succeed in raising this smart unprejudiced boy?
"Of course."
After taking a deep breath she faced him again.
"Well Henry, I just wanted to let you know that sometimes other people might find it unusual. When that happens, you should know that there's nothing to be ashamed of and you can always talk to me. And Emma."
"What do you mean?"
"I just want you to be prepared that sometimes people might react badly because we're… dating now."
"Because you were the Evil Queen?"
"Right."
That surely was the bigger problem. She looked at the confidant smile her son was giving her and felt her heart reaching out for him. It had happened so fast. She had really believed that she had lost him forever but now he trusted her again.
It was inconceivable to her.
"Just know that you can talk to us about anything. Whether someone is mean to you or if someone says things to you that you don't understand, you can always talk to us."
"Okay."
He leaned into her to hug her.
"I'm so glad you're happy."
Hesitantly she stroked his back.
"I'm glad, too."
Happy.
Regina belatedly realized that this was what she felt like.
Happy.
She had strived for this feeling her entire life. And when she had entirely given up on it, it had found her.
"Hey, is everything alright here?"
Emma's head peeked around the doorway, a concerned expression in her green eyes. Regina simply nodded and beckoned her with her free hand to join them.
The only free space was next to Henry, who beamed up at her. He leaned into her continuing to hold on to his other mom. Emma embraced him with one arm while laying her other one around Regina's shoulders.
"Yes, everything is good here."
Regina grinned widely at her. She looked happier than Emma had ever seen her and she supposed that in this moment it had not that much to do with her but a lot with the boy who was clinging to her, especially since he was wearing an equally huge grin on his face.
After a moment Henry slowly sat up.
"Can I have pancakes now?"
"Yes, of course you can."
Regina assured him and together they made their way down to the kitchen again, eating pancakes as a family without the drama of the additional Charming's.
During breakfast Emma had the unfortunate task to tell Henry that she hadn't met any unicorns or knights while he told them everything about his lessons in weaponry and his visit to the stables.
It was nice for her to see Regina and Henry connecting over something as trivial as riding a horse.
When Henry went to take a shower afterwards Emma turned to Regina.
"So he really stayed with David the whole time I was gone?"
As Regina nodded, hurt briefly crossed her face and Emma reached out to cover her hand with hers. She squeezed lightly.
"Do you want to tell me what has been happening here while I was gone?"
"Sure. What do you want to know?"
Regina sounded hesitant which farther fueled her fears. But she had no idea how to word her question. So she started easy.
"Why isn't Henry at school? Is it closed or…?"
"It's Saturday. The school is still running and if Charming properly made him go, he has been attending."
Emma decided to let the remark at her father go. After all he deserved it.
"Okay."
"Emma, what do you really want to ask?"
"How have you been? How are they treating you?"
While answering Regina refused to meet her eyes and adopted a more professional tone.
"I've been asked to step down as Mayor. I already cleared my office, but since everyone knows that I have my magic back they're not actually bothering me."
"You haven't been going out much, have you?"
Surprise colored her features and Emma was glad to hear her normal unguarded voice again.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Regina, do you remember my nightmare? These past days I've done nothing but wonder how you could survive a second angry mob. I was terrified that something might have happened to you. And I come here and you and David are sneering at each other and he's talking about a stupid trial, but you seem okay-ish…"
She looked up and tried to convey more of her concern.
"I guess I'm just afraid."
"You don't have to be. It might pain me to say it, but since you've so blatantly shown your support the towns' people have been hesitant to approach me."
Regina countered dryly.
"My support?"
Emma frowned, clearly not remembering what Regina meant.
"Yes. Remember when you've pushed Whale out of the way? When you told them that no one was supposed to hurt me?"
Embarrassed Emma shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, yes. That was for Henry's benefit. He had just asked me to keep you safe so I couldn't just hand you over to an angry mob a few minutes later."
"Funny."
Regina deadpanned.
"And what is this idea about a trial?"
Emma wouldn't allow Regina to divert her. She wanted to know what she was up against when she protected Regina.
"Most people want to see me punished for what I did including your father."
"But Snow won't want that."
Surprise colored Regina's features.
"What makes you say that?"
Emma shrugged.
"A gut feeling. By the way she told me that it isn't the town's decision. It's ours. Well, Charming's, Snow's, the high council's and mine."
"A gut feeling?"
Regina perfectly managed to include both annoyance and disbelief in her voice but Emma just shrugged, unimpressed.
"We had a talk."
She made sure that her reluctance to talk about it was evident. Regina frowned at her but amazingly let it slide.
"So it's going to be your decision?"
"Sure."
Emma nodded in confirmation.
"That means that you don't have to worry. I wouldn't let them do anything to you."
"They will want to see a punishment."
A wide grin spread over Emma's face.
"Don't you think it is punishment enough that you have to put up with the Charming family?"
"Oh, this is public knowledge now?"
Regina smirked at her.
"What?"
Emma was confused.
"No, I mean. Yes. If you want that it can be public knowledge. I was just thinking about Henry. You have to put up with us because we're all Henry's family. Maybe we could sell that as enough punishment."
Regina shook her head.
"I'm amazed by your naiveté."
Instead of being embarrassed Emma just shrugged.
"They just have to accept that there isn't gonna be a punishment. Snow won't protest much and I'm ignoring David until he comes to his senses."
"Yes, that's likely to happen."
Emma glared at her. Why did she always have to resort to sarcasm?
"I might want to agree with you but it really doesn't help that you're always baiting him. He is my father, you know. You can't always be at each other's throats."
Defensively Regina crossed her arms over her chest.
"I behave if he does."
"What are you, five?"
"No, that's usually your job."
"My job?"
Not understanding how Regina was turning the conversation against her Emma made a face at her.
"My dear, you're just proofing my point. You can't possibly deny that you sometimes act downright immature."
Unfortunately that was somewhat true. She knew that she usually acted before she thought a situation through.
"Well, maybe it's in my genes."
Emma muttered darkly but to her utter surprise Regina laughed out loud at that. Incredulous Emma stared at her.
"Really?"
"If it's true?"
"Regina!"
Too late Emma realized that her whining might just again proof Regina's point. To her astonishment it only caused another laughing fit.
After she calmed down under Emma's glare, Emma tried to get them back to the topic of their conversation. It was too serious to be dismissed in laughter. Though Regina's laughter was something she could get used to.
"Regina, remember what we just talked about? My father? It might become difficult for me to argue on your behalf if you two keep attacking each other."
"Do you want me to just listen to his insults? I'm sorry but I can't do that."
With a sigh Emma put a hand at her temple. She felt a bad headache announcing itself.
"Just let me deal with him. It might be easier if I tell him to shut up."
"Yes, while he's accusing me of putting you under a spell and trying to get you away from me."
"Well, I'm too old to be treated as a child. He's just going to have to accept that I'm an adult."
"Seeing as you're so effectively convincing me that you're an adult, I'm just going to wish you good luck with that."
Emma shook her head deciding that it didn't make any sense to continue this conversation. So she simply used her own brand of irony.
"Thank you."
Regina looked taken aback for a second but seemed decided to change the topic herself.
"Maybe we should talk about you rather than me."
Confusion washed over Emma. What about her?
"What about me?"
"Your magic, Emma. You have magic and it needs to be dealt with. You need to learn to control it."
Frightened Emma lowered her hands back to the table.
"You think so?"
"You're having a headache, aren't you?"
If anything Emma was alerted by the concern in Regina's voice. That didn't sound good at all. So she just nodded.
"How bad is it?"
"It's okay. I can tolerate the pain. I just banish it to the back of my mind. It usually works."
"What do you mean, usually?"
Of course Regina would pick up on a single word like that. Emma could have hit herself. Quickly she went through her options without finding a way out of this. So she stared at the table in front of her and answered quietly.
"Pain is something I can live with."
Suddenly her hands were in Regina's and she found herself being pulled in a tight embrace.
"Emma…"
In that moment she felt that Regina understood. She understood better than Emma wanted her to. The revelation made her sick to the stomach. At least she had been left to strangers, but Regina's hurt originated from her own mother.
For a moment they just clung to one another, light kisses on hair and temples gave promises to keep each other safe.
Neither of them was used to being so open and vulnerable to anyone in well, ever. So when Emma slowly leaned back and cleared her throat they just shared a look of understanding, knowing that someday they would talk about it but now wasn't the time.
Regina cupped Emma's face, slowly tracing circles with her thumb on her cheek. Emma leaned into the touch never letting go of Regina's eyes.
"I'm not going to let them do anything to you."
Their previous banter was entirely gone. The fervor of which she delivered her promise was fully intended. What surprised her was the intensity she felt. She wanted to keep Regina safe. Not just for now or tomorrow, but for ever. She wouldn't let someone hurt her ever again.
Somehow Regina must have noticed at least part of her inner turmoil because she nodded without protesting.
"Okay."
They spend the rest of the day as a family, gradually noticing that Henry was actually overly okay with the two of them being together. When asked he just shrugged his shoulders and explained that it was the ideal solution. The White Knight saved everyone, including the Evil Queen. And he was incredibly happy about it.
Emma surmised that it had everything to do with the fact that Regina was safe since he had no idea how to cope with any other outcome. He just hadn't been able to admit how much he loved his mom while he thought she was supposed to be evil.
At the end of the day their peace was disrupted by a short phone call. Snow and Charming had scheduled a town meeting for Monday and Snow had asked to talk to both Regina and Emma beforehand. Regina had surprised her by inviting Snow over to coffee tomorrow.
Naturally the invitation was given with the understanding that Charming would be nowhere to be seen.
After cooking dinner (Emma watched Regina and Henry almost magically creating Lasagna together) they all cuddled up on the couch watching some stupid comic Henry insisted on seeing.
Of course he soon fell asleep and Regina turned the TV off. She gently stroked Henry's hair.
"He seemed so happy today. I haven't seen that in a while."
She sounded like it was difficult for her to grasp his change.
Emma leaned over him and placed a soft kiss on Regina's lips.
"He finally allows himself be happy again. Just enjoy it."
"I've put him through so much."
"That's not important anymore. You can blame yourself for letting him think he was crazy and he can blame himself for not believing in you but that won't make it okay. He has forgiven you. You should do the same."
"I have forgiven him. He was right."
Emma shook her head.
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Without giving an answer Regina looked at her.
"There's too much. You shouldn't talk like that without knowing everything."
Trying to sound unimpressed and failing miserably Emma shrugged.
"You'll have plenty of time to tell me everything. For now let's just get him to bed."
She slowly extricated herself from Henry's limbs and pushed him wordlessly into Regina's arms knowing that she needed to bring Henry to bed.
When Regina came back she sighed.
"He's heavy."
Emma just nodded.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Henry being heavy? I think it has nothing to do with his nutrition but more with his age. He's supposed to be heavy."
"You're deflecting."
Regina met her eyes with a challenging gaze.
"Then maybe I don't want to talk."
Though she wasn't ready to let this go, Emma knew when she was met with unbreakable resistance.
"We have to someday."
To her relief Regina nodded albeit hesitantly.
"I know."
Without elaborating any more Regina pulled Emma closer to her, their lips gently moving together. In no time Emma pulled her closer, holding her head with fingers lacing in her hair. Their kisses grew more fervent as they closed the last bit of distance between them.
Regina was once again in awe of how right it felt to have Emma this close. She reveled in it.
Soon they made their way upstairs, Regina pulling Emma behind her.
When they passed Henry's room Emma sobered up a little.
"Won't he hear us?"
"I told you before that he sleeps like a rock. Anyway my room is the last on the floor and his is the first. Don't you think that's enough space?"
Emma nodded as she pushed Regina through the door into her bedroom, carefully closing the door behind them as their bodies collided.
On the short way to the bed Emma managed to get Regina out of her entire clothes except the underwear. When she started to push Regina on the bed Regina smoothly changed their positions, so that Emma was the one landing on the exquisite blankets. Quickly she held both of Emma's wrists over her head with one hand while she pulled at Emma's blouse with the other.
The buttons made little sharp sounds when they sprung free and met the floor. Emma stared at her with wide eyes as she straddled her, bringing their lips together in a passionate kiss. Emma's tongue was fighting for dominance which Regina wasn't having now.
Instead of simply surrendering Emma struggled with her hands, trying to get them out of her grip, but Regina held up the forefinger of her free hand.
"No no no. You might have misunderstood me yesterday, but I'm not the submissive kind."
"Neither am I."
Emma leaned up to capture her lips and Regina allowed it. She even let go of Emma's wrists, if only to get completely rid of the stupid blouse. Emma grinned victoriously into their kiss until Regina pulled the shirt Emma was wearing over her head, effectively capturing her arms in the white cotton.
"Regina!"
A huge grin spread over Regina's lips as she removed Emma's pants while she greeted every part of skin that she could reach with wet kisses. If Emma's moans were anything to go by, she was immensely aroused.
Growing bold Regina sucked lightly at Emma's hipbone, sure she was leaving a mark.
When she looked up she saw that Emma had stopped struggling with the cloth around her hands. She was biting her lip as small moans came from deep within her throat.
Without hesitating Regina cupped a naked breast, deliberately only lightly meeting the nipple with her palm.
With the barest of contact she breathed on the other nipple, loving the agonized whimper that came from Emma.
"Regina, this… is torture."
"Oh, I know, dear."
Her other hand was ghosting over Emma's abdomen. She was delighted when she elicited a new series of moans as she caressed Emma's side all the while breathing on Emma's breast.
"And I am immensely enjoying myself in the process."
Emma's answer was nothing more than an incoherent mumble as Regina shifted her weight slowly opening Emma's legs to position herself between her thighs.
Only connecting her hip with Emma's thigh she finally licked an upright nipple, enjoying the high Emma's appreciating sighs caused within her. Ignoring her own growing need Regina took her time in exploring every inch of smooth skin she could reach, whether it was with her hands, her lips or her tongue.
She left Emma's breasts to suck lightly at her neck, nibbling on her earlobe while listening intently to every breathy reaction she got.
Contrary to her words Emma didn't try to free her hands. She was obviously enjoying Regina's dominant streak.
Illegible moans drove her back to Emma's breast, finally allowing herself to take an erect bud between her lips, slowly moving her tongue around it in circles of increasing velocity.
At the same time she was working her way with her hand from Emma's sides to her inner thighs.
Like yesterday she was overwhelmed by how wet Emma actually was for her. Losing herself in the smell of Emma's arousal and the feeling of her hardened nipple under her tongue she fully took Emma's nipple in her mouth.
Immediately she was rewarded with another series of moans.
Regina felt her hand moved almost against her own volition. She needed to feel Emma's muscles trapping her fingers.
But Emma had to choose that exact moment to try to liberate her hands, bucking up her hips to get closer to her.
Quickly Regina released Emma's breast and moved her hands up to recapture Emma's.
"Don't you dare!"
She almost melted when Emma responded with a strangled whimper. But instead of relenting Regina met her lips with a passionate kiss again. She lightly sucked Emma's lower lip into her mouth, relishing in yet another whimper before she whispered against Emma's mouth.
"Patience, my dear."
A growl escaped from Emma's lips.
"You're killing me."
"You like it."
Regina retorted while she let her right hand find its way towards Emma's legs again. She stroked Emma's inner thighs, only almost touching the sensitive flesh there while she continued kissing her.
"Re…Gina."
Emma mumbled under her lips.
Painfully slow she entered Emma with one finger, amazed at how wet she was. Almost immediately she could smell the extent of Emma's arousal in the air.
Finally Regina took pity on her, added a second and a third finger and picked up the pace. Emma's hips eagerly met her fingers.
Captivated Regina pulled slightly back from their passionate kisses and watched Emma's face as she moved inside of her. Emma bit her lower lip again as she kept her eyes firmly closed.
"Look at me."
She didn't even know why she asked it but she felt her own growing arousal and she wanted to centre herself. Whatever she had expected it wasn't the way the dark green eyes made her feel.
While there are numerous looks two people can share Regina never believed into the notion that you could see someone's soul in their eyes. Not until this moment when Emma opened her eyes right when she came. Emma looked at her in wonder, in acceptance. Her love for Regina was shining out of her eyes, covering both of them in a silver haze.
Though it seemed like time had stopped they continued moving anyhow.
Regina felt Emma quivering beneath her as a second orgasm hit her.
Suddenly Emma's hands were free and stroking down her sides. Regina could feel her everywhere. It was as if her whole body was on fire. Within seconds she climaxed herself as Emma's fingers slid into her not only one time but three times shortly one after the other before she collapsed on Emma and literally passed out in Emma's arms.
The last thing she imagined seeing was white fog while she felt Emma holding her, not realizing that their energies had connected.
Let me know whether you liked this chapter or not and why *pretty please*
Reviews fuel my writing and keep my muse motivated!
I'll try to update within my weekly limit this time!
...no more staying out in the cold drinking mulled wine at the Christmas market... ;)