Hello, my lovlies. I've had to restart this chapter like three times due to computer malfunctions. But, fall semester is finally over! So, let's see how our women are doing.
After a week and a half at the hospital Regina was taken home. Belle had agreed to act as her home nurse; Regina had been silently exctatic. It seemed to the former Evil Queen that perhaps she could be cared for, even loved. She was starting to bring down her walls out of choice. Regina had clung to the image of Belle and her goodness to fill the endless hours of idleness endured while she was infirmed. Belle had noticed the warmth, and had returned many an affectionate gesture. Belle was certainly nervous, at least as far as Regina could tell, but she was open. Shy glances were turning to caring looks. Quick pecks were becoming lip locks. Regina was excited indeed. When they arrived at the grand, old house Belle settled into the guest room, and Regina was left with all of her monitors in her room. Belle hardly left her side and Ruby often visited. Suddenly, in Regina's life, there was something there that wasn't there before. It seemed that there was something new in the way Belle looked at Regina after she brought her home. Both of them noticed, though neither one said anything. It was Ruby who was the first one to bring "it" up.
"I think there's something going on that totally wasn't before." Ruby huffed, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the winter evening. Belle shifted from one foot to the other, knowing full well what the other girl meant.
"Ruby, I'm just helping Regina because she saved me. It's the right thing to do."
"What about the tea?" Ruby said, cocking her head to the side.
"The tea?" Belle squeaked.
"Yeah, the fact that you make it special, just for her?"
"Well, she's been through a lot. I think she deserves to have a good cup of tea." Belle said finally, crossing her arms. Ruby reached out with her free hand and smoothed the hair out of Belle's eyes.
"Admit it, Belle. You like her a lot more than you let on. I'm not stupid. I can see that even without my wolf senses...Though they make it sort of awkward sometimes." Ruby blushed. Belle furrowed an eyebrow.
"Meaning?"
"Honey, I can smell when you two get...excited."
"Oh my God." Belle breathed horrified for just a moment. Ruby was right and she knew it. She just wasn't ready to commit to the idea of well, commiting. Her previous lover had turned out to be a real monster and she saw the similarities between them. It was daunting, but it was so thrilling. Belle was often thinking about what she and Regina could do once her arms were healed, and her thoughts were not always of the most PG nature...
"That's so embarassing." Belle said, starting to laugh into her hand. Ruby shrugged. It seemed whatever had sprung up between Regina and Belle wasn't nessesarily getting in the way of Ruby's friendship with the latter. She hadn't seen Belle so pleased, so comforted...It was nice. It was nicer than being selfish.
"Dude, Whale is so much worse." Ruby laughed back. They smiled at one another.
"Ruby, I'm not sure what's going on between Regina and me, but I want to thank you for letting it be...whatever it is." Belle said quietly. Ruby tossed the butt of her cigarette into a can she had set up on Regina's front porch and pulled Belle into a close embrace.
"Of course, sweetie. I'm your best friend. I want you to be happy."
"Thank you." Belle said softly.
"Weeeeell, we should probably get going on that lunch thing so we can get back to Regina." Ruby said, breaking the tension. Belle nodded.
"Sure, let me go ask her what she wants."
"I tell you what she wants, what she really really wants..." Ruby called after her in a sing-song voice. Belle rolled her eyes as she ascended the stairs. She couldn't have asked for a better friend.
"Hey, Regina." Belle began gently as she opened the door to the master bedroom. The older woman stirred in the bed in the center of the room.
"I was coming to ask you what you wanted to eat. Ruby and I are going to run to Granny's for lunch." Belle spoke as she adjusted Regina's bedding. Regina sighed, not looking forward to another half-hour alone.
"Surprise me." Regina said flatly. Belle leaned onto the side of the bed and hovered her face a few inches away from her elder. The Evil Queen's eyes flared to life, awakened by the sudden closeness. Belle leaned in slowly and placed her lips gently against Regina's. It was not the first time, but things were different now. This kiss was tender. When Belle finally pulled away Regina was smiling.
"I shall have to ask for surprises more often." She said huskily. Her voice was weak and a little raspy, but the small burst of seductive energy was the most life she had felt in weeks. They were suddenly on the precipace of something. What that something was was still a mystery.
"And I shall try to appease you, but please just tell me what you can eat."
"Fine. Get me some kind of chicken sandwich. No onions." Regina said with a tired smirk. Belle smiled and hopped up, crossing to the door.
"Alright. We'll be back in twenty minutes tops." Then she was gone. Regina was left alone once more with her thoughts.
"Belle..." Regina thought, still grinning. This was exhilarating, whatever it was. This was something magical. This must have been something akin to puppy love, though Regina would never have admitted it. Pleasant images of Belle sitting next to her on the bed and laughing rolled through Regina's mind. She decided the best thing to do was probably to nap, so she closed her eyes and tried to bathe in her beautiful recollections. Then, another feeling pushed up past contentment and shot to the forefront. Regina's skin became uncomfortably tight. She couldn't move. Her eyes shot open.
"Oh, you're awake. That's good, dearie." Rumplestiltskin said haughtily behind his cane. Memories tumbled back to Regina when her eyes laid on the cane. She gasped before she could stop herself and his hand was gripping her face in a flash.
"Easy there, you wouldn't want to startle me. You have no idea what I'm capable of, Your Majesty. But, I'm sure you've gotten a better idea recently." He said, amused and hostile. His hand slipped from her face to her neck. Rumplestiltskin leaned in close. Regina tensed, and glared as hard as she could back at him.
"Kill me if you want, Gold, but don't you dare touch Belle." Regina spat weakly. He laughed.
"You see, dearie, this is funny because you think you can tell me what to do. You think that what you have to say to me matters. There's where you are eternally wrong, Your Majesty, because I. Own. You." He snarled. Regina's eyes widened and a flood of memories rushed to her. His hand on her face, a stolen kiss. The horror washed over Regina's face. She squirmed under his stare, fully aware of how exposed and vulnerable she was.
"Ah, so you do remember...our extra lessons." He said chuckling darkly and running his pointer finger down her neck to rest it between her breasts. Tears welled up in Regina's eyes.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" She whispered. He grabbed her roughly by the ribs.
"Once upon a time there was a miller's daughter who was tired of living in poverty dearie, and as I'm sure you remember she traded away her only child, her daughter, so that she could escape her pathetic life. You belong to me, bound by the deal. You know how I feel about honoring deals, don't you Regina?" He said with a laugh. Suddenly, the front door burst open and footsteps could be heard dashing up the stairs.
"It seems word travels fast in Storybrooke. Lucky you." Gold said, turning to exit out the window. He drew a small pouch from within his pocket, but before he could use the spell inside Belle and Ruby burst through the door.
"Regina!" Belle cried, running to her side. Ruby squared off with Gold, and a moment later David also bounded into the room, his gun in hand.
"Alright, everyone just calm down. Gold, you're coming with me." David shouted. Belle stood still as a stone, but the grip she had on Regina's hand was like a vice. Rumplestiltskin smirked.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Alas, I've got plans of my own." Gold assured, then with a whip of his hand the spell he had prepared in his suit pocket activated and he was gone in a cloud of smoke. David wasted no time in going after him, and Ruby followed soon after. When Belle and Regina were finally alone they both began to cry. Belle rested her head on the older woman's lap, periodically apologizing to her, and stroking her knee. Neither of them knew what to say; there was so inside them both. Belle looked up at Regina, tears still in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry I've brought this on you." She said. Regina tried to smile.
"This is no fault of yours, Belle." Then Belle met her in a kiss. It was gentle and comforting. They stayed there for a moment, wrapped up in the brief safety of their combined warmth.