Hi all! I know it's been a very long time, but I have an update for you and I'm definitely planning on finishing this within the next few weeks. I have the next chapter mostly done, and then, there will be an epilogue for anyone who's still interested in this fic. If you are, thank you so much for continuing to read.
Where we are in the story reminder: this is the final part of Emma and Regina's first date. They went to the caves and saw the anemones, came back to the beach and skipped rocks, then, ate dinner. Warning that the first half of this chapter is all sexy times and rated M, just so you know and the second half is fluffy SQ . Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 11: Show You Love Part 3
Orange and pink hues streaked the sky, gradually fading into a smoky purple as the sun dipped lower and lower behind the trees that now hid the gleaming fiery ball from Regina's view. Her eyes followed the purplish tones above her until they met the darkening blue sky over the azure water that tumbled and crashed in little waves against the shore. Regina hummed a sigh of contentment as she walked over to Emma, who was still seated at the picnic table, but was now facing the water with her back leaning against the smooth wood.
The sight of the other woman brought Regina back to the days and months before Emma had first appeared on the beach—secret and hidden away from the rest of the town. She recalled the quiet aloneness she'd felt then that was sometimes more lonely than comforting, but still had always been a desired and needed escape. It amazed her how that had changed so suddenly. How Emma's presence and company had become the thing she wanted and needed here, and in her life in general. How there was now a sinking feeling within her when she imagined what her life would be like without the beautiful, challenging, bemusing, frustrating, compassionate woman sitting a few feet away. And how that small taste of uncomfortable emptiness that rose sourly to meet the back of her tongue was all she needed in order to know that she never wanted Emma to not be in her life, if she could help it.
As she continued to observe the woman in front her, taking in the little things, from the way the wind was gently playing with the wisps of her blonde hair, to the way she shifted her back against the edge of the table to find a more comfortable position, Regina's heart swelled and a warm feeling radiated throughout her body, curling in her fingers and toes and deep within her stomach. It rushed over the lurking doubts and waves of dread that had arisen with the hypothetical situation in her mind, and wiped all of it away. Gratitude and a feeling of happy disbelief took its place instead, joining the realization that right now Emma was there, and more importantly, she wanted to be there. She wanted to share treasures with Regina like recently discovered anemone caves; and hints for successful rock skipping; and tickle or water balloon fights; and family dinners with Henry where they'd laugh and take pictures.
It all felt so scary and intimidating.
It all felt so simple and right.
It really was time to stop questioning how it had happened, and instead, believe that for once her good fortune wouldn't end with the rug being pulled out from under her or the other shoe dropping. Perhaps, this love would actually be the one she and Emma could always depend on and hold on to.
Regina's stomach flipped with the happiness dancing through her. As she slowly approached Emma, the other woman lifted her gaze from the water that was darkening with the contrast of the pink sunset, meeting the yearning and desire in the warm brown eyes staring down at her.
Emma's lips parted a bit with the need for Regina suddenly rushing through her again as she took in the silent but distinct intimation Regina looked to her with. No words were spoken as Regina stepped forward, softly caressing Emma's cheek before curling a finger under her chin and tilting Emma's head up to meet her descending lips. The kiss was soft and lingering; a whisper of longing and the intimacy Regina craved, which Emma echoed as she reciprocated. Eventually, Regina pulled back slowly, their lips coming away from each other little by little, the unhurried separation reverberating—almost tickling, throughout their skin.
"We never made us official," Regina reminded in a low voice, staring intensely into deep green eyes.
"Nope," Emma replied almost hypnotically, her voice breathier than usual.
"And we never picked up where we left off yesterday," Regina continued in a sultry voice, tipping her head, so that their noses and lips were just about brushing.
Emma reached out to find the curve of Regina's waist and brought her closer, the black hem of Regina's dress grazing the edge of the bench. "And where was that, exactly?"
A warm smile lifted Regina's lips and lit up her eyes, causing the heavy shadow of lust that had been present a moment ago to kindle with the love that briefly engulfed it. That emotion she saw in Regina made Emma's heart swell, and she ended up smiling back with the same feelings glowing in her eyes.
Steadying herself with the hand she placed on Emma's shoulder, Regina lifted one leg over the bench, and then, the other, lowering herself onto Emma's lap as the other woman's hands lightly guided Regina's hips as they came to straddle her. Leaning forward, Regina's lips met Emma's in another slow kiss that was more suggestive this time as their mouths parted just enough, so that Regina could take Emma's bottom lip between hers, sucking purposefully, before she pulled away with a gentle nip.
"I think I'll show you," She whispered into the barely existent space between them, feeling Emma shift slightly beneath her as her hands held Regina's hips more securely, anchoring her to her lap for the moment.
"Yeah," Emma encouraged in a quiet but eager voice, persuading Regina to continue with a kiss that made it easy for the former queen to slip her tongue teasingly into her girlfriend's mouth and take back control, causing Emma to moan with the sensual strokes and flicks Regina enticed her with. Instinctively, the blonde also tugged Regina's hips forward, bringing her further against her, and causing Regina to gasp against Emma's mouth at the unexpected sensation and even closer proximity.
When she finally decided to break free of Emma's lips, Regina nuzzled her nose with affection and tender appreciation, which earned her a look of question and protest, before it melted into a lazy smile. With a grin that mirrored Emma's, Regina conveyed the pure amount of joy and happiness Emma ignited within her, then, lowered her head to press her lips to Emma's neck, descending in a tedious trail to the curve at the end, where her tongue met the soft skin that rose with the other woman's collarbone. Emma shivered at the contact, and Regina took it as her cue to sweep her fingers across the goose bumps that dotted the shoulder they'd been sitting on.
Smiling in a way that was both mischievous and satisfied at Emma's body's reactions to her ministrations, Regina then dipped her head to kiss the rest of the skin that wasn't hidden underneath Emma's shirt. The familiar taste of Emma met her tongue again and she breathed her in, feeling the unique warmth, comfort, and scent of her lover, filling her and quickening her heartbeat's steady rhythm.
Her fingers traveled to find the hem of Emma's tank top and she pulled it up and over her head, leaving the navy blue bikini top in place. Their lips found each other again, while Regina's fingers traced down Emma's sides and skimmed across the place where denim and skin came together.
Emma inhaled and shifted at her touch, groaning softly into Regina's mouth as the brunette's hips slid back a little.
Taking the sound Emma made as encouragement, Regina undid the button of Emma's shorts and pulled down the zipper, her hand finding its way inside the parted denim, and coming in contact with the top of Emma's bikini bottoms. She played with the elastic hem, ghosting her fingers beneath it, which caused Emma to wriggle her hips and arch her neck.
Lowering her head eagerly to Emma's breasts, Regina kissed around her bathing suit, sucking lightly on the soft skin here and there, before using her free hand to play with one breast as her mouth attended to the other. Emma whimpered when Regina impatiently pushed aside the material that was in her way, and lowered her mouth over one nipple as her thumb caressed the other one poking through the navy fabric.
The warmth and slickness of Regina's mouth and tongue sucking and swirling over Emma's skin that was already sensitive and thrumming with anticipation, drove Emma even crazier and clouded over everything in her mind, except the electric feelings Regina was eliciting with her ministrations. With her eyes still closed, Emma ran a hand desperately through the waves of Regina's hair, sliding her fingers into the thick layers before curling them around the back of Regina's head. She then, gently lifted it up to hers, their mouths instinctively joining together in a kiss that had them both parting their lips—their tongues meeting and the heat of their breaths colliding. Keeping one hand tangled in the locks of Regina's hair, she rested the other against the curve of Regina's neck. Their kisses became more languid, but were still filled with need as pleasure rippled through their bodies and set their skin on fire.
The simple sensation of Regina's hands slipping over Emma's breasts and back down her stomach made her whimper, and Regina smiled just after their lips came together again.
Their eyes were closed and faces were flushed when Emma breathily whispered a tickling, "Touch me," against her lover's cheek.
Regina's own desire throbbed harder with Emma's quiet, pleading command, and she became overly conscious of where her hand lay over the toned plain of Emma's stomach and how it became taught when she moved her palm lower, making the blonde suck in a breath.
Shifting off of Emma, Regina moved to straddle the bench beside her, gently guiding Emma's shoulders so she would do the same, but facing away from Regina. Scooting up behind her, Regina ran her hands over Emma's shoulders and down her sides, kissing and grazing her teeth along Emma's left shoulder blade before carefully pulling her back, so that Emma rested against her. Turning her head to face Regina, Emma inched forward, and the brunette bent her head to meet the kiss the blonde was moving in for.
As they pulled apart, their eyes locked—filled with so many emotions that were as undefinable as they were understood by each other. Seeking out Regina's hand, the fingers on Emma's left hand found hers, linking them together and cementing their connection with a gentle squeeze. That alone, had a new burst of desire rushing through them along with the butterflies fluttering from their bellies to their hearts.
Deep green stayed connected with warm brown as Regina's right hand brushed over Emma's hip and dipped into her denim shorts, pushing aside the smooth material of the bathing suit that covered the small patch of Emma's damp curls and the slick heated skin Regina slid two fingers over. A soft cry came from Emma just as she sharply sucked in a shallow breath, her chest rising and falling when Regina stroked her, playing with Emma and teasing her with an ease that came even more naturally than the first time she had done this to Emma a week ago. It surprised her in the warmest and best way that she knew Emma so intimately and could easily sense how she was affecting her. There had been a time when she'd resigned herself to accepting that a connection like that with another person would never be something she'd experience, and such a connection only seemed to become even more lost to her, once hate had come to rule her actions. But now, here she was so many years later, loving and being loved by Emma; and all of that hopelessness and unhappiness was slowly fading, and her heart was being healed by all of the good things that she'd thought were far beyond her reach.
Becoming lost in those thoughts, it wasn't until Regina registered Emma's other hand caressing her cheek, that she felt the heat behind her eyes and the wet trail her girlfriend's thumb wiped away from the lone tear that had trickled past her chin and onto Emma's chest. She might have felt embarrassed or defensive if anyone else had shared this moment with her, but Emma's hazy green eyes didn't look judgmental or concerned, only understanding. And if there was one person who could understand, it was Emma. In so many ways, they were the same. Two people who stopped believing they could ever have something so deep and meaningful with another person, after having been hurt by so many people and having their lives manipulated by so many different forces. And yet here they were, becoming more and more connected to someone who was like a kindred spirit; sharing an unexpected love and building a relationship and family with them, while finally having hope that it could last because of who they were sharing and building all of that with.
Their eyes stayed focused on one other's as Emma's hand fell away from Regina's face, and comfortingly stroked up and down the top of her leg a few times, until she brought it to meet Regina's hand that had stilled at her center. Emma's fingers joined Regina's, beginning the same movement along her folds that Regina had been doing before she'd stopped. The slower tempo Emma started with gradually picked up as the friction had Emma in need of more, and her hips bucked up into their joined hands.
Regina kept Emma's pace even after the other woman's hand fell away. And when Emma arched her head further back with the electrifying sensations flowing through her, Regina slipped a finger inside of her and felt the warm walls contract around her. Approval rumbled inside Emma's throat and tumbled from her mouth in moans and high mewls of pleasure, while she began to gently rock her hips in sync with Regina's movements. After Regina glided her finger in and out a few times, causing Emma to writhe against her with every thrust and curl, she added another, which had Emma crying out and panting harder.
Getting lost in her ecstasy, Emma lifted her hand to her breast, lazily massaging it and helping herself along. The way she lifted herself up and further into Regina, had the other woman picking up the pace of her fingers, guiding them deeper into Emma before every stroke back down. Emma felt all control slipping from her as the few "fucks" she managed to cry out faded into unintelligible sounds, once Regina began pressing and circling her thumb over her clit. It didn't take long before she stilled at the sensations thrumming within her, and she rode out her orgasm in Regina's arms.
Regina pressed her lips to Emma's damp hairline that was salty with the beads of sweat that had formed there. She held Emma and waited for her to open her eyes, watching her lashes slowly fluttering, before the emeralds hidden beneath their lids were revealed.
"Thank you," Emma said, nuzzling into Regina's neck and bringing both of their arms to hug her torso, after she had done her best to adjust her bikini top back into place.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the waves tumbling onto the sand and the gulls calling out to each other as they prepared to fly home to their nests for the night. There was an innate sense of peace that the two women felt, and it kept them from moving as Emma lazily traced a finger over Regina's arm and Regina placed a kiss every now and then into Emma's hair.
Once Emma felt her back protesting at their position, however, she groaned and sat up, not missing the reluctance that Regina's arms slowly fell away from her with.
"If you wanted to make it impossible for me to stand up, I think you did your job right," Emma chuckled lightly, surprised by how wobbly her legs still felt, even when she was still sitting down.
Regina smirked, "I suppose that makes both of us satisfied."
"More than satisfied," Emma complimented over her shoulder with a grin as she fixed her bikini bottoms and buttoned her shorts. "But-" She paused as she carefully stood up, allowing her feet to adjust to her weight, before reaching out and tugging Regina up, too.
"But?"
Emma's hands rose to where Regina's dress tied behind her neck and undid the knot as Regina watched her with an amused, knowing look. She let the top of the dress fall, so it revealed the purple bathing suit the brunette was wearing, and then, tugged it the rest of the way over Regina's hips, so it fell to the ground. "I think you could be more satisfied," Emma finally finished her thought, hooking her arms behind Regina and resting their foreheads together.
Regina hummed, "I think you might be right."
With a suggestive smirk, Emma slid her hands down, lightly cupping Regina's ass as they met the fabric of Regina's bikini bottoms and she hooked her thumbs under the strings tied at the sides. "These are kind of in my way, though."
"Are they?" Regina teased, reciprocating the smirk Emma still had on her lips.
"For what I have in mind? Yeah."
"And what do you have in mind?" Regina practically whispered.
A smile broke through the look of desire on Emma's face. "I'll show you if you want."
Regina's body was already buzzing with need when she collapsed onto the blanket they'd stumbled over to. Emma followed suit and lowered herself so she was sitting on her knees. The brunette wasted no time in lying back with her legs bent and parted—an invitation that had Emma immediately crawling between them and chuckling as she looked down into Regina's eyes.
"Someone's impatient," Emma observed, receiving a glare that was less threatening and more petulant than usual.
A crouching Emma slid her hand up and down the smooth skin of Regina's leg and raised it onto her shoulder, then pressed a few kisses to the inside of Regina's thigh and to the center of Regina's purple bathing suit, causing Regina to let out a small gasp and subtly shift her body in expectation. Two of Emma's fingers then pulled the material to the side, uncovering Regina, before she slipped her hand under Regina's left hip and brought her up higher to meet her mouth. Emma took time to kiss the sensitive flesh with parted lips, and then, slid her tongue up between Regina's folds, drawing a circle around her clit, only to repeat the action a few more times. A moan erupted from Regina, and Emma could hear her breathing becoming heavier and erratic, before she glided her tongue up Regina's slit again.
"That…can't…uhhn…mm…comfortable," Regina panted out, her heavy eyes still able to register the awkward position Emma was in, so she forced her mind to not become completely foggy with the consuming feelings Emma was evoking in her as her tongue flicked against her opening a few times and swept over her again. "Your. Neck."
Emma could feel the way Regina's eyes were peering down at her, and she slowly lifted her head to meet the other woman's gaze. "Wha-?"
"Switch," Regina instructed, moving to free herself from Emma hurriedly.
She lifted herself onto her knees and pointed to the pillows. "It's better if you lie down."
Emma's brows furrowed in question, while she watched Regina wriggle out of her bathing suit bottoms, and then, point to the pillow again. With a shrug Emma laid down and within a few seconds Regina was crouching over her, kissing her deeply, before her knees were bent on either side of Emma's head and her hips were hovering over Emma's mouth instead. With no further questions, Emma's hands met Regina's waist and brought her lower, so she could run her tongue up to Regina's clit a few times, exciting her again, before she began to use her mouth expertly—alternating between using her tongue and her lips.
A hand ran through the top of Emma's hair, tugging lightly on the blonde strands as Regina steadied herself, her head automatically falling back when the strong sensations shot through her; rushing through every nerve and setting her skin on fire. She could feel Emma begin to work harder, moving her tongue against her in a way that was rough yet somehow tender, as she seemed to listen to Regina's sounds of pleasure and answered them in ways that resulted in more gasps and hair tugging. Instinctively, Regina began to move her hips to meet Emma's ministrations, creating more friction and helping Emma to access the spots that were most sensitive.
Every now and then, Emma glanced upward, taking in the contorted look on Regina's flushed face, the way she arched more and more backward, and how she swept a hand over her chest with her eyes almost all the way shut, her mouth opening and closing in pleasurable agony—a whimper or cry coming from her throat when it became too much.
Finally, after a strangled sounding "Em" made it past Regina's lips, Emma caught Regina's hips, stopping their movements and increasing the speed of her tongue as it moved against Regina. She glided her mouth over her, sucking harder and with more determination, before her tongue darted out again to swirl and tap quicker and quicker against its target.
At some point, Emma had pulled her legs up so that her knees were bent and supported Regina from where they lightly met the other woman's arched back. Regina's fingers dug into the flesh around one of the knees as she used her grasp on Emma's thigh to continue to keep herself angled above her lover. There were a few times where she had to remind herself not to fall too far backwards, no matter how good or powerful the feelings that rippled through her were, and was relieved when she sensed that Emma had slid her legs up right behind her. But that thought of safety lasted barely a second, since Regina's mind went back to being consumed by every electric pulse that rose from her core. More and more waves rushed through her, and soon, she didn't really know what sounds she was making or how she was going to take her next breath or…she froze as her body finally reached its peak and every part of her tensed, before she was riding out the eruption within her; her heart hammering, sex throbbing, and blood thrumming, until her breaths became deeper and steadier and she was able to focus on the world around her again.
Emma placed a soft kiss to the inside of her thigh, then helped guide Regina onto the blanket, so they were both lying on their sides and facing one another on the shared pillow. Without a word, Regina interlocked their fingers and pulled their hands up to her lips, peppering them with a few sweet, sloppy kisses as she continued to recover.
"Satisfied?" Emma wondered, once Regina looked to her with a flushed, intoxicated smile.
Regina's mouth caught Emma's in a lingering kiss that tasted like a mix of both of them. "For now," the brunette's lips twisted into a devilish smirk as she pulled away. "But I'll always want more of you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Regina smiled and pecked Emma's lips, then, curled into her, resting her head on Emma's chest.
"That's good, because I want more of you, too, and don't really see that changing. Ever," Emma draped her arm over Regina's side, allowing the two of them to remain close and connected for a while longer.
Stars glittered all across the dark sky. Some sat next to the quarter moon hanging above the water, while others twinkled above the cliffs and the trees. Emma stared up at them from her place on the beach, spinning slowly around to take in how many there were. The way they swept across the sky, creating a sparkling blanket above her with swirls of galaxies blended in, wasn't something she often took the time to notice, but on the beach at night the sky seemed to hang even heavier and glow brighter as if it was begging for someone to notice it. And it was beautiful to her: the mystery and the endlessness and the lights that lived on and on. It was something she could never really appreciate when she was living in cities where the lights drowned out most of the stars. But since she'd move to Storybrooke, the night sky had always caught her eye and she still wasn't completely used to being able to see all of the vast details painted across it. She filled her lungs with a deep breath of air that had more of a chill to it, now that the sun had completely gone down, and continued to gaze up until her neck became tired of the odd angle.
Remembering what she had walked over to the cooler for, before she'd gotten distracted by the sky, she opened it and retrieved the small chocolate cake from inside, along with two forks and two bottles of water. Then, she went back to the blanket that sat beside the bonfire she'd started several minutes ago, after Regina had decided to go for a swim. The fire had really been more of an excuse to get out of joining Regina in the water that was just as cold as it had been yesterday. Not that she hadn't initially wanted to go for a swim, too. Actually, Emma had walked with Regina to the edge of the sand with every intention of going in, until the water met her toes and shocked her with its unpleasant temperature. A shiver had shot through her and that was when she'd quickly fumbled for a reason not to go in, catching sight of the circle of stones on the beach with no fire in the middle. She'd ended up convincing Regina that it was more important for her to stay on the beach and start a fire, so she wouldn't freeze to death when she came out. Of course, it was obvious that Regina had seen right through Emma's panic and the bonfire excuse, even though, she'd ended up playing along and smiled appreciatively at the offer of warmth. The other woman had even brought up the point that it would give them more light as the darkness continued creeping in from the horizon, before she'd waded into the bay and left Emma to start the fire.
Now, Emma watched the shadowy blur that she knew was Regina, swimming and floating in the dark, peaceful water beneath the soft glow from the moon and the stars. All that accompanied the other woman were the gentle waves that Emma could hear lapping at the shore and the boat lights that flickered out in the distance. Every now and then, Emma would hear Regina's feet kicking the water in a few loud splashes, but then, silence would try to take over again, only being defeated by the hum of the crickets chirping in the woods and the crackling of the fire beside her.
The smell of the chocolate cake that she'd been trying to ignore from its spot next to her, traveled up her nose and Emma breathed it in, hoping Regina would join her again soon. She considered eating some of it by herself, but then, she realized Regina wouldn't see the product of all of her hard work (well, mostly Ruby's hard work) and she also didn't want to seem like a little kid with no control over their sweet tooth.
Just as she was eyeing the cake again, she heard Regina making her way out of the water, so she jumped up and hurried over to her with a towel. She could already see the goose bumps forming on Regina's skin as she wrapped it around her shoulders and ran her hands over her girlfriend's arms to warm her up.
"Thanks," Regina leaned into her as Emma curled her arm around the other woman and they walked up the beach together.
"It's warm by the fire," Emma felt Regina shiver and tugged her closer. "I brought an extra hoodie, too, if you want to put it on. Didn't think of sweatpants, though."
"Long sleeves would be nice," Regina nodded and stood close to the dancing orange flames, feeling their warmth flowing toward her, while she waited for Emma to come back with the sweatshirt.
When she returned, Emma was already in the process of unzipping it, before she stopped next to Regina and held it open for her. With a grateful quirk of her lips, Regina finished drying the top half of her body off and tossed the towel onto the sand, so she could remove her soaked bikini top and quickly slide into the warm sweatshirt.
Once she had the hoodie on and zipped up, Emma's arms came to encircle her, hugging Regina from behind and breathing in the fruity smell of Regina's hair, which had become mixed with the smell of the breeze from the ocean.
"Better?" Emma wondered, and Regina turned in her arms.
"Much," She hugged Emma back with a contented smile on her face.
"Too bad I don't have any pants for you," Emma said, as her hands trailed down to Regina's hips and the damp material of Regina's bathing suit. "I didn't expect either of us to go swimming at night."
"I'll wear my dress as a long skirt. It'll be fine," Regina pecked her lips tenderly.
"And I have chocolate cake to distract you from any uncomfortableness," Emma motioned to the dessert that was just enough for two and still sitting temptingly on the blanket.
Regina raised an eyebrow, "You baked a cake?"
A chortle came from Emma, who shook her head, knowing how surprising it would have been if she had made the cake by herself. "I had a little help from Ruby with this, too. It's called Double Chocolate Dream or something like that on Granny's menu."
A bright smile lit up Regina's face, "My favorite."
"She didn't tell me that," Emma mumbled, following Regina over to their dessert.
"I doubt she knows. I only order it once or twice a year, on the rare occasion when I feel the need to order a piece of cake at Granny's. She does know I like chocolate, however," Regina's expression became smug with the look she cast back at Emma before she sat down on the blanket in front of the fire that jumped and crackled in front of them.
"Oh, really? And how does she know that?" Emma frowned and crossed her arms in expectation, indicating her piquing curiosity that was only half serious. It wasn't easy keeping a straight face as she sat down near Regina, however, since she wasn't really insecure or worried about her girlfriend's answer, and so, she bit her lip to stop herself from ruining wherever their banter was going.
"Do I sense some jealousy, Miss Swan?" Regina quirked an eyebrow, her eyes dancing with the teasing question.
"Should I be?" Emma responded with a question of her own.
A soft chuckle erupted from Regina's throat as she caught sight of the challenge in Emma's eyes. "What do you think?" She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Emma's mouth, not rushing in the way she pulled away.
"I think," Emma licked her lips as she opened her eyes again. "You need to not convince me that you taste better than the cake."
"How can you compare when you haven't even tried it yet?" Regina laughed.
"Some things you just know," Emma shrugged a shoulder and picked up one of the forks.
"Ah, I see," Regina accepted Emma's reasoning that she knew was based solely on instinct and was far from tangible. "And what are some of those things you just know, if you don't mind me asking? Other than my kisses being more enjoyable than cake, that is."
"This sounds like the part of the date where I come up with some romantic answer that takes your breath away."
"Perhaps. Although from you, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that you just knew today was the right day to have grilled cheese for lunch."
With a laugh and shake of her head, Emma handed Regina the fork. "Every day is the right day for grilled cheese. And I can't believe that you doubt my ability to be romantic after this whole date thing."
"I never said you couldn't be romantic, I only said that I wouldn't be surprised to get a response from you that wasn't," Regina clarified.
"That's…"
"Accurate," Regina supplied.
"Yeah," Emma conceded, unabashedly.
Deciding it was time to start eating the cake, Emma brought a forkful of the fudgy dessert to her mouth, but decided to change the fork's direction and pushed it toward Regina instead. There was a small glare mixed with confusion in Regina's eyes, but she gave in and allowed Emma to feed her anyway.
"Mmm," Regina hummed as her senses filled with the cake that was just the right amount of sweet and chocolate. It was light and gooey and perfect. "You and Ruby did a good job. We'll have to get you to practice your baking skills again. Henry likes chocolate cake."
"Henry likes anything that can be found in the desserts section of a menu," Emma chuckled, picturing their son digging into his ice cream sundae during their dinner the night before. "I feel like I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen with you thanks to this date."
"Don't worry, I won't force you," Regina smiled and dug her fork into the cake, lifting it in Emma's direction only to receive a look that was just as questioning and disbelieving as the one Regina had sent her a few moments ago. "Don't stare at me like that. You fed me first."
"I wanted you to have the first bite," Emma grumbled in explanation, eating the cake off of Regina's fork. "I know you're capable of feeding yourself."
"I'm glad to hear that," Regina rolled her eyes, before an amused smile appeared on her face to cover her half-hearted annoyance. After a minute, she interrupted the quiet between them with a soft request that was somewhat shy, "I'd like another bite."
The intensity in the way Regina silently implored her to follow through was met with an affectionate eye-roll from Emma, who barely wasted any time in filling her fork with more cake and feeding it to her date, after the hopeful way Regina's bright brown eyes had been staring at her.
"Do you want more?" Regina questioned Emma when there was no more cake in her mouth.
For a long moment, Emma could only stare at Regina with what she guessed had to be the most adoring look in her eyes and the cheesiest grin sitting across her lips, because everything suddenly hit her and she felt so lucky. She and Regina had found each other and become a couple. Their date had been amazing. Whatever this was between them felt as real, but also, as magical as it could possibly get. And now, Regina was offering to feed her another bite of cake in a moment that was filled with just the two of them enjoying each other's company; no expectations, stress, demons, or masks present to overshadow it. All that was there was the woman she had come to love and their dessert that ended up being the perfect addition to the end of their incredible evening together. "Yeah, sure," the blonde finally answered with a scratchiness to her voice, accepting the cake Regina offered her with a warm smile that seemed heavy but not forced.
Regina perceived the emotion present in Emma, her eyes slowly raking up and down Emma's face, trying to read her and figure out what the reason behind it was.
"What?" Emma wondered, once she'd swallowed her cake, unsure of whether she liked the scrutiny she felt from Regina's staring or whether it was intimidating her.
There was a flicker of discomfort in Regina at being called out by Emma for the way she was analyzing her, but it disappeared quickly as her curiosity took over again. "Is everything all right?"
Emma's forehead briefly creased in response to the small hint of worry in Regina's question, but then, a grin lit up her face once more and she covered Regina's hand with hers. "I'm just happy."
Regina relaxed with Emma's explanation, her eyes twinkling with her own happiness and understanding as she squeezed the hand that was holding hers. "Me too."
Starting to pull away from the kiss they shared, Emma asked, "Does that mean chances are good for a second date?"
"I'd say more than good," Regina nuzzled Emma's nose with her own, then decided to tease, "But I believe I'll wait to confirm until after I see the damage from the havoc of that water balloon fight you're planning to have at my house tomorrow."
"Fair enough," Emma went along with it, wrapping her arm around Regina, who easily cuddled into her side.
The fire continued to crackle, the yellow and orange flames leaping and dancing together, tossing a small ember down into the small blue flames inside them every once in a while. It burned on and on, emitting a mesmerizing glow that was full of life at its heart. Sitting there, Emma and Regina lost themselves in it, focused only on the comfortable warmth that radiated from it and each other. Now and then, one of them would say something that would result in small talk or a short conversation, but they were mostly enjoying the comfortable silence.
At some point, they shifted onto the blanket and the pillow, Regina lying in Emma's arms, the two of them facing the fire together. It soothed them almost to the point of sleep. Eventually, the cool breeze and hum of the tumbling waves pushed them further along. It wasn't long before Regina could feel Emma's chest rising and falling against her in deeper breaths. She forced her heavy eyes open.
"Emma?"
"Hmm?" She answered groggily.
"Want me to poof you home?"
"With you," Emma mumbled sleepily, shifting closer to her.
The reply tugged at Regina's heart. She knew Emma had brought up going home with her earlier, but the implied reason behind it had been for sex, not just for sleep. Now, though, it would only be to get ready for bed and fall back into each other's arms for the night. Regina knew that she wouldn't have wanted their date to end any other way, and it touched her that Emma seemed to feel the same way. She turned in Emma's embrace and looked up at the pale features of the younger woman's face. Shadows swept over her but Emma appeared relaxed, happy, and beautiful. Trying not to disturb her, Regina tucked a loose lock of blonde hair behind Emma's ear.
"Alright," She agreed, kissing her cheek lightly.
With a flick of her wrist, Regina put the fire out, as well as, the tikki torches that were still lit. Then, in a swirl of purple, she poofed them both home to her bedroom.