Tempest – Chapter 11
It was still raining when Emma slowly returned to reality. She was immediately greeted with a pounding headache behind her eyes and an overwhelming desire to vomit. The sheriff kept her eyes shut, mildly afraid to take in her surroundings. The blonde had no recollection of leaving the bar. The last thing she remembered was downing a series of tequila shots. God, I hate tequila. The thought brought on a strong wave of nausea that Emma barely managed to suppress. Emma peeked through the sheet covering her face and was relieved to find herself in her own bed.
The relief only lasted a moment until Emma felt a body shift behind her. Oh God. The blonde thought to herself, who the fuck is in my bed. Panic mixed with her hangover and Emma's head was absolutely swimming. She couldn't make the room stop spinning. The combination was too much and Emma bolted out of the bed straight to her bathroom where she laid against the cold porcelain toilet swearing an oath to never ever drink again.
It was a long time before the sheriff's body stopped heaving and she washed herself up preparing to re-enter her bedroom and greet her mysterious bedfellow. She prayed it wasn't Archie.
Emma poked her head into the room and let out a deep breath when she saw Mary Margaret in her PJs stirring awake in the blonde's bed. At least it wasn't a horrible awkward one-night-stand.
"How are you feeling?" Mary Margaret asked rubbing her eyes and leaning against the headboard.
"Oh you know, like a jackhammer has taken hold of my brain and my guts are trying to flee my body through my throat. No biggie." Emma had crawled back into bed.
"That must have been some night last night." The schoolteacher tried to underplay her concern. Emma stayed quiet and lowered her gaze to the floor. She immediately remembered the mayor's harsh words and a stab of pain penetrated her chest.
"Emma whatever it is you can tell me." Mary Margaret's expression had changed to reflect how worried she was about the blonde. Emma stayed quiet. Trying to think of where she would even begin. Tears welled up in her eyes but she shut her eyes tight to fight them back.
"I. . ." Emma looked away and out her bedroom window. She couldn't find the words. "It really doesn't matter anymore." She finished with a sharp exhale.
Mary Margaret wasn't buying that line again. "You don't have to minimize your feelings Emma. If you don't want to talk that's ok."
"No, it's just. . . I don't even know where to start and I'm really sure whatever it was is over now. So what's the point?" Emma closed her eyes trying not to feel the words she was saying.
"That doesn't mean your feelings aren't still there, you can't just shut those off." Mary Margaret took Emma's hand and gave it a little squeeze. The sheriff let the idea of confiding in her roommate roll around in her mind. Maybe she can help me make sense of it ... Of Regina's erratic behavior ... Of my own feelings. Emma continued to debate the benefit of a third party opinion. She felt that she could trust Mary Margaret, but she just didn't know how to let people in. Emma knew she was good at helping others, but when it came to her own needs it was almost impossible to rely on anyone but herself.
A long sigh escaped her lips and Emma tried to find the words. "If I tell you. You can't breath a word to anyone. Not Ruby. Not your diary. Nothing. Ok?" Mary Margaret motioned with her hand over her lips as if she was closing a zipper and tossing away an imaginary key. "I'm serious M." Emma's eyebrows were scrunched together as if pleading.
"I know! I am being serious! How bad could be Emma. It's not like your having an affair with Mayor Mills." Mary Margaret said with a smile trying to calm down her roommate.
Emma's expression remained the same. Her eyebrows were knitted together and a frown began to pull at the corners of her mouth. Mary Margaret's eyes went wide at the revelation.
"Oh Em... I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in a bad way I just. . . I'm sorry." Mary Margaret's face was red and she wished she could take back her words. She wasn't sure why she had even made the comment. It was an off hand thing and she instantly regretted it.
"It's ok." Emma put her hand on the schoolteacher's shoulder. "It is kind of crazy. I mean I'm living it and I still don't really believe it." The blonde gave her a weak smile. The hangover still making her extremely queasy.
Emma took a few sips of water and lay back under the covers. If she was going to tell this story she might as well get comfortable.
Mary Margaret listened quietly without interjecting as Emma recounted her brief but undeniably intense encounter with the mayor. The sheriff didn't leave any part out, even though the expression on the brunette's face indicated that she would have just as well not heard about Regina Mills' ability to bring her roommate to orgasm in such detail.
"I mean you've known her a long time right? What do you think? Bi Polar Disorder? Schizophrenia? Pure evil?" Emma looked up at the schoolteacher who was deep in thought trying to process everything she had just heard.
"I can hardly say I know her. I mean she isn't really an accessible person - the only "friend" she seems to have is Kathryn." Mary Margaret stayed quiet another several minutes. "She does seem really different around you though."
"Yeah, because I get under her skin." Emma scoffed. "This is probably all some convoluted plan to get rid of me. It's what she has wanted since I got here. That's no secret." The blonde brought her pillow over her head to block the light that was worsening her headache.
"I don't know. A person like Regina Mills, I'm sure she just doesn't know how to be with other people at this point. It is all about power and control. She has this whole persona of mayor and I'm sure that has alienated her and she has just gotten used to it." Mary Margaret reasoned.
"Well she had no trouble with Graham did she?" Emma asked rhetorically and with obvious disdain.
"I'm sure it wasn't the same. Graham never challenged her. He never questioned her. It was on her terms all the way. That was obvious to everyone." The brunette's words rang true and Emma felt guilty for having brought him up. Graham had been her friend. "But you have always stood your ground and I'm sure she respects that."
"Yeah well I'm not sure about all that. Just because I didn't want to keep being her sex toy . . . Although it was more like she was my sex toy. God, the way that woman can kiss - and her fingers might actually be magical . . . She does this thing where she grabs my-"
"Ok! I get it." Mary Margaret couldn't stand another visual of the pair being intimate. Emma blushed and pushed the thought out of her head. It hurt to remember the heat of Regina's body and scent of her skin. More than anything she missed the feel of the mayor's lips against her own.
"It sounds to be like she is a woman struggling with herself. She seems to want to let you in one minute and then pushes you away the next. I think she is afraid of her own feelings." Mary Margaret regained her composure. "But Emma, what is it that you feel? If you don't sort that out nothing else is worth thinking about."
Emma knew she was right. How could she figure out what happened with Regina if she didn't know what she even wanted. "Well I know I want to be on equal footing. I don't just want to be a fu-" Emma blushed trying to edit herself so her roommate wouldn't be uncomfortable. "I don't want to just be used for what she wants."
"So you want to use her too?" The brunette asked quizzically.
"No. That's not what I mean. I just . . ." Emma trailed off not knowing the words.
"I'm going to ask you something and I don't want you to freak out ok?" Mary Margaret waited for the blonde to nod, which she did. "Do you think you . . . um . . . might . . . love her?" The brunette waited for her roommate to explode. To her surprise the blonde didn't respond, but she could tell her mind was going a thousand miles a minute.
"I..." Emma started. "I..." A look of panic crossed bright green eyes.
"You don't have to tell me. You just need to know it for yourself." Mary Margaret had given Emma's hand another squeeze. "I will just say this. Love is the most magnificent force in existence. If you think you might have a chance at that - then it's worth a try. Just don't live with the regret that you didn't do everything you could to fight for it when you had the chance. Sometimes love means being the first one to take the step and make herself vulnerable. To be the first to admit it." With those words Mary Margaret got up to take a shower. She couldn't help thinking about James and whether it was hypocritical of her to have told Emma those things when she herself was too afraid to fight for love. Too afraid of how it would look, what people would say and what it would do to Kathryn. Mary Margaret took a page out of Emma's book and stood under scalding hot water for as long as she could bear it.
Emma decided to call in sick and stay in bed. She would be available via her cell if an emergency did arise, but was sure Storybrooke would survive a day without her. It wasn't as if she had much choice. Every time her body was in a vertical position she would become so dizzy it was hard to see. Plus the pain in her chest and never ending thoughts in her head wouldn't let her concentrate much today anyway.
Regina slammed down the phone in her office. Sidney had called to report Sheriff Swan was apparently too ill to work today. Probably spent all night cavorting with some slut. Probably with that tramp Ruby. The mayor's lip curled and she let out a low growl.
Not that Regina cared of course, it was none of her business who Emma Swan let into her bed. A surge of bile assaulted the mayor's throat.
"Madam Mayor?" Her assistant's voice caused Regina to jump. The lack of sleep had the mayor's nerves on edge.
"Yes?"
"Your 10:30 is here."
"Will you kindly inform the fire chief that I have an unexpected and urgent situation that requires my immediate attention and will be unable to meet with him today?"
"Yes. Of course. Are you well Madam Mayor?" Rose whispered the last part.
"Yes. I just need to reschedule all of my appointments today. Thank you Rose." Regina sat at her desk with her hands trembling. She couldn't get a hold of herself. She spent the rest of the day sitting at her desk lost in thought.
It was the early evening when Emma finally rolled out of bed and into the shower. The deliciously greasy cheeseburger Mary Margaret had brought her from Granny's and copious amounts of ginger soda had brought the blonde back from the dead.
"Wow! Mary Margaret regarded her roommate who had just stepped out of the bathroom. Emma was dressed in a tight and short strapless black dress. In place of her usual boots were very tall and very pointy black heals. Mary Margaret had seen some of these outfits in the sheriff's closet, which were supposedly for her previous job, but had never actually seen her wear one. Blonde waves fell perfectly around her bare shoulders and her eyes, accentuated by smoky black eye shadow, were striking bright blue-green. She was nothing short of stunning.
"Where are you going? Not out drinking again are you?" Mary Margaret exclaimed with obvious dread.
"No. I'm going to do what you said. If I'm going to turn my back, I have to know I gave it all I have." Emma said resolutely. "Now the only thing is Henry. I don't want him to overhear or be confused by us. Poor kid has enough going on." Emma bit the corner of her dark pink lips. Mary Margaret hadn't yet noticed the much darker gloss her roommate was wearing.
"Are you sure about this?" Mary Margaret couldn't help but ask. It was one thing to wax poetic about love and quite another to deal with Regina Mills. The brunette couldn't help but fear that Emma would have her heart torn out and handed to her on a plate. Figuratively speaking of course.
"I have never felt my heart break in my life. Not like this. I have never thought about someone every waking moment- even when I want to strangle her. I have never wanted to hold someone in an embrace so long that I feel like we might become bonded. Hell I have never wanted to embrace anyone period, at least not romantically. The woman is insufferable and mean. She can even be cruel," Emma thought about the last conversation with Regina. "But she can also be warm and giving. She is the best mother to the most amazing kid I have ever seen. I am betting its all an act. She isn't crazy. She's just wearing a mask. A mask I know I can get her to remove if she will just see I don't want anything from her. Well, except her. I don't know how it happened, but my heart never truly beat until she kissed me - and I just know that can't be one-sided."
Emma's words brought tears to Mary Margaret's eyes. She knew her roommate was tough but right now she seemed like a valiant and fearless prince determined to rescue her heart's true love. It didn't seem like it was only last night that she had collected this girl from a bar completely broken. She felt an incredible sense of pride. Mary Margaret might not see in Regina what Emma did, but she was willing to help the blonde try to win her if that's what she wanted.
"Leave it to me." In a flash Mary Margaret had called several parents and coordinated a sleep over. It was Friday night and the parents were more than willing to let the boys spend the night in exchange for a date night. One of the moms graciously volunteered to host it and miraculously suggested inviting Henry Mills. "What a great idea!" Mary Margaret had exclaimed in faux surprise.
Emma couldn't help but smile as she watched her friend in action. She had never had anyone in her life like Mary Margaret. A warm feeling settled in her chest and a tear threatened to trickle from her eye. God, I hope I'm not getting my period. The blonde thought to herself.
"Mom! Can I go to Ryan's for a sleepover?" The boy had come thundering into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner. She was still dressed from work in a dark red dress and five-inch matching heals. It was head-to-toe Prada and Regina always wore it to cheer herself up.
"When is it dear?"
"Tonight." The boy answered sheepishly.
"No Henry, you haven't even had dinner yet!" Regina pointed to the vegetables she was chopping.
"They are having pizza! Pleeeease mom, can't I go?" Henry used not only his puppy dog eyes but also clasped his hands under his chin in a plea. Regina hesitated. There was no reason to say no and he had been so happy with her lately she didn't want that to be over just yet. "Fine, but don't stay up too late!" Regina conditioned.
"Thanks mom!" Henry called as he ran upstairs to collect his sleeping bag and PJs.
"Your Welcome." She said to the empty room and started putting away the food she was no longer going to cook.
In less than twenty minutes Henry was packed and out the door. One of the fathers had offered to pick up Henry on his way to drop off his own son. Regina had to smile when Henry had given her a crushing hug and told her she was the "best mom ever." The mayor was grateful that the boy didn't seem to hate her so much anymore.
Regina looked around the house and decided to have a glass of wine, maybe two, and enjoy the evening to herself. The brunette hadn't even been able to kick off her shoes before there was a knock at the door. Henry probably left something. She thought to herself, and was so sure of that fact she didn't even bother to look through the peephole.
The moment Regina opened the door she wished she had thought to check who it was. It was all she could do to keep her jaw from hitting the floor. Before her stood a vision that paled in comparison to the apparition that had visited her dream the night before. Regina couldn't help but stare at the gorgeous figure before her. She followed the curve of Emma's hips down to the short hem of her dress and along smooth toned legs to sexy high heels and back up to her fair chest where the tops of her breasts greeted her and farther still to her delicious neck and plump painted lips and finally her mesmerizing green eyes shining in the moonlight.
"Good Evening Madam Mayor." Emma's voice was low and almost husky.
"Sheriff Swan." Regina managed to say. She fought the urge to lick her lips or reveal the fact that her mouth had watered.
"May I come in?" Emma arched her eyebrow in her best Regina Mills impersonation.
The brunette nodded despite the voice in her head screaming no. Regina took a step back and allowed Emma Swan inside. As Emma stepped in, Regina was instantly intoxicated by the blonde's perfume. She watched the sheriff as she continued inside and unabashedly stared at her ass in the tight dress. The blonde was clearly walking with more sway in her hips than necessary. The flex of Emma's calf muscles in the heels made the mayor's center throb with excitement. She instantly imagined wrapping those toned legs around herself, and running her hands along satin covered hips and thighs.
Regina let out a deep breath and locked the door.
A/N: I am very excited to write badass Emma. I like when they are an even match and I think now she has gotten her wits about her . . . well hopefully.
Thank you all for the reads and follows, and an extra thank you to those who leave your thoughts, comments and reviews! I love to know what you think, so please don't be shy! :)