Hello everyone! I'm not sure why this chapter came so easily, but I cranked it out much quicker than usual. It's also quite long, so I hope you enjoy it. I don't normally squeal when writing, but this chapter is just too much. As always, reviews are really appreciated so it me up here or on tumblr! Enjoy :)
Upon returning to the campground, Emma and Regina parted ways for the remainder of the afternoon. With a light squeeze of her hand and a quick wink, Emma left Henry and Regina to take care of her camp host duties for the evening. Regina watched as the blonde walked towards her campsite, eyes transfixed on her swaying hips. She was constantly taken aback by how effortlessly sexy Emma was, and despite her reservations about pursuing something further with the blonde, her body reacted to Emma's regardless of what her mind was telling her.
Henry grabbed his mother's hand, pulling her from her daze, and the pair walked back to campground 108 where they decided to take a snack break and read for awhile. After digging through the snack bag and unfolding his chair, Henry munched contentedly on his granola bar as he stretched out in his red camping chair beside Regina. She smiled down at her son and sipped on the sun tea she'd placed out to brew that morning, grateful for the content peace that had settled around her little boy.
"Did you have fun this afternoon Henry?" Regina asked as she peered down at her happily snacking son.
"So much!" Henry exclaimed, mouth completely full of chocolate and oats.
"You are an excellent fisherman, Henry. Your father would be very, very proud of you," Regina replied with a sigh.
"Yeah I think he would. But you know, he watches over me all the time, so I know that he saw me catch all those fish," Henry offered rather matter of factly. "I can feel him sometimes, and he keeps me safe and helps me be brave when I'm scared, so I bet he watches me do good stuff too."
Regina drew in a sharp breath at Henry's admission, something he had never shared with her before. Quiet tears streamed down her cheeks at the mention of her husband, and a pang of guilt settled in her stomach as she thought of Daniel missing out on the extraordinary little man Henry was turning into. She was incredibly grateful that he still held a presence in Henry's life, but it was times like these that reminded her of all the experiences that her son would never have with the man she so loved. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes before Henry could notice, but her ever perceptive son was all too quick to notice her damp cheeks.
"Don't be sad, Mom. Remember what Dad used to always say? 'Why waste all your energy being sad when you can use it to be happy?' I don't think he'd want you to be sad, Mom, even though it's hard not to be sometimes," Henry peered up at his mother, eyes full of innocence and sincerity.
Regina chuckled through her tears, remembering the comical way Daniel used to spout his one and only piece of wisdom any time she was upset or down on herself. She knew Henry was right, Daniel wouldn't want her to be unhappy, but it was still tough to move past the deep longing she felt when thinking of her beloved husband. However, that longing was softened by green eyes and delicate hands and toned curves that set her previously lifeless heart fluttering. After talking with Emma that afternoon, Regina knew that she had a shot at something special with the blonde. The trick would be to open up, allow herself the possibility of happiness once more, and overcome the feeling of guilt she felt when thinking about moving forward after Daniel. She knew it would be a challenge, but Emma was worth every risk she would have to take. Sitting with her son, Regina felt a weight that had settled in her heart begin to melt away at the thought of all the possibilities that lay within Emma's enchantingly green eyes, and she smiled through the tears that were still streaming down her cheeks.
Drawing a shaky breath, Regina reached down and retrieved Henry's storybook, hoping that a story would help them both enjoy the remainder of their afternoon rather than dwelling on what ifs and have beens. "Well," she began as she cleared the final tears from her cheeks. "How about a story, my dear?"
"Yes please!" Henry replied, rotating his chair so that he was sitting directly in front of his mother at her feet.
"Which story would you like today?" she asked as she flipped to the table of contents in Henry's favorite book of fairy tales, the gold leaf paper flashing in the afternoon sunshine.
"Hmmm…. How about 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.' We haven't read that one in a long time," Henry offered.
"Sounds good to me," Regina said as she flipped to the story.
Ever since his father died, Henry had grown extremely attached to his book of fairy tales. The child psychologist said they offered hope in a time when Henry felt hopeless, and Regina believed they fueled his vivid imagination. Either way, they spent many hours reading the dozens of stories that resided in the leather bound book Henry so adored, and the times they spent reading together were some of Regina's most precious and healing memories from the past two years.
The pair sat together for the better part of an hour, reading fairy tales and discussing the characters, the plot, and why everything happened the way that it did. Henry asserted that the Snow White's evil stepmother wasn't truly as bad as the story painted her to be, for he believed no one was inherently evil and that there must have been something that caused her to become so angry. The consummate optimist, Regina always loved to listen to her son defend the seemingly unredeemable characters, smiling at how thoughtful his ideas always were.
Though they could have easily spent the remainder of their evening reading and discussing stories together, both their stomachs growled rather loudly, signaling that dinner was in need of preparation. Regina tucked the book away for another time, and Henry set off to gather firewood. As he darted in and out of the forest collecting sticks and tinder, she arranged their dinner, wrapping potatoes in tin foil and laying out all the toppings they would fill them with once roasted. It only took about half an hour for the pair to get a roaring fire going, and soon Henry was burying the potatoes in the coals to roast. They munched on carrots and celery and grapes while their potatoes cooked, and once they were roasted all the way through, each inhaled their share, hungry from the day of adventuring. Regina only had to remind Henry once not to overload his potato with cheese so as to avoid a bellyache, and the pair sat cozily by the fire after their dinner dishes had been cleared away, full and content from a full day and a delicious meal.
Only able to relax for so long, Henry began to grow restless, much to the chagrin of his very tired mother. Leaping from his boulder and climbing his favorite tree, Henry fidgeted around their campground like a jumping bean. Wracking her brain for an idea to concentrate her son's boundless energy, she removed the portable speaker they packed and put some music on. She cued up Henry's favorite song and turned the volume up just high enough so that he'd hear it from his perch in the trees, hoping that a little dancing would burn some energy and keep him within her line of sight.
As the first few measures of "The Hampster Dance" filtered through the forest, Henry shot down the tree like a bullet and ran towards the music.
"I love this song!" he squealed as he began to wiggle and jump around his mother.
"I know you do!" Regina laughed as she watched her son shake his butt in time to the music.
"Dance with me, Mom!" Henry cried as she grabbed her hands and jumped up and down, wiggling her arms to the beat.
Never able to turn down a chance to dance with her little boy, she jumped and wiggled around the campsite with him. Shaking their hips and taking turns freestyling, the pair giggled through the whole song. By the time the final few measures filtered through the evening air, both were breathless and sweating. But, before they could catch their breath, Henry's other favorite song, "Funky Town," started to play. For someone so small, he had exceptionally good rhythm, pointing his small index finger to the sky and back down across his body like a disco king. Regina swung him around to the beat of the music, occasionally picking him up for a grand dip or two and doing the other disco moves she'd taught him in time with the music. Dancing was another ritual they'd picked up since Daniel's death, and it was one of the few things that got them both unfailingly happy, even just for a few minutes.
As the song died down and Regina placed Henry back on the ground, she heard a slow round of applause coming from behind her. Henry shrieked with delight as he ran towards Emma, throwing himself into her stomach for a massive hug. He quickly pulled away and looked up at her smiling face which mirrored his own toothy grin.
"Come join our dance party, Emma!"
Emma was unsure of what she expected when she walked over to campsite 108 for the evening, but a dance party certainly wasn't the first thing to cross her mind. However, as someone who loved to dance, she couldn't resist and knelt down before Henry.
"Only if I get to pick the next song. Deal?" Emma offered with a raised eyebrow and extended hand.
Henry thought for a moment before clasping Emma's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Deal."
He trotted back over to his mother who watched the entire exchanged from afar and grabbed her cellphone.
"Pick away, Emma!" he said as he handed over the device.
Emma looked up at Regina and grinned before focusing her attention on the task at hand. Flipping through Regina's music was like getting a glimpse into her soul, and she was pleased to see that the brunette liked the same eclectic variety of contemporary, classic rock, pop, and acoustic music that she did.
As she scrolled, Regina surveyed the blonde. Wearing skin tight skinny jeans and an emerald green and black flannel shirt, it took all Regina's willpower not to go and grab Emma right then and there. Her hair fell freely around her shoulders and down to her waist, and the golden waves shimmered as she mindlessly tossed them over her shoulder. It was quite the sight to behold, and it ignited parts of Regina that had been cold for many years. Emma finally found the perfect song for the trio to dance to, and she hit play, watching as Henry and Regina reacted to her choice, "The Way You Look Tonight," by Frank Sinatra.
One of her foster brothers was a massive Sinatra fan, so she began her love affair with The Voice at a very young age. His voice and music were timeless, and her selection was fun to dance to and rather appropriate to display a small fraction of her affections for Regina. She watched the brunette's features, and her stomach fluttered as a small smile and something that she resembled desire flashed across brown eyes.
However, before she could sweep Regina into her arms, a very eager little boy waited to be danced with. Emma strode forward and placed the phone on the picnic table before bowing in front of Henry and extending her hand to the little boy. "Good sir, may I have this dance?" she asked, getting into character as the song's opening measures filled the air.
Henry was no stranger to dancing etiquette, growing up with a Puerto Rican abuelo who loved to salsa and merengue, and so he bowed to Emma and took her hands, allowing her to swing and twirl him around.
Regina's heart nearly burst as she watched Emma dance around the campsite with her son who was as captivated by the blonde as she was. Emma would occasionally pick him up for a grand dip, and Henry attempted to twirl her out several times despite his small stature. The two swayed together, but after a verse and a chorus had passed, Henry realized that his mother was not dancing at all and called out to her.
"Mom, it's your turn to dance with Emma! She's a great dancer!" he exclaimed as he jogged over and grabbed his mother's hand, dragging her to within inches of Emma.
"Alright, alright," Regina replied, suddenly all too aware of the emotions that were likely flitting across her eyes like a neon sign.
She awkwardly extended her hand and laid it on Emma's waist, choosing to lead as they began to dance. Emma inhaled sharply as she felt Regina's hand settle on the crest of her hip, and a flicker of concern crossed the brunette's features. Emma gently squeezed her shoulder to reassure her that her touch was welcome, and, with that small assurance, the pair were off. Both women were proficient dancers so within a few measures, they were dancing together like they'd been doing it for years. Regina twirled Emma out and then back in so that the blonde's back was pressed firmly to Regina's front, hips fitted snugly together. They swayed in time to the music for a few moments before Emma swung herself out again and twirled Regina before dipping her gracefully in her strong arms. Gaining confidence, each pushed and pulled the other around the campsite, smiling at the ease with which they were able to move together.
Henry clapped as his mother swung Emma in a particularly intricate twist, and both women giggled at his reaction. The song began to wind down, both in volume and tempo, and they naturally drifted closer to one another until hips were once more pressed tightly together and chins were tucked behind slender shoulders. They swayed in time to the music, but the tune was long forgotten, each content to hold the other. The music no longer mattered as they just existed for a quiet perfect moment together.
Of course those moments were few and far between with a bouncing nine year old around, and Henry quickly selected another series of fast tempo songs that prevented Emma from getting any closer to Regina. The trio laughed and danced for nearly an hour before Regina realized it was far past Henry's bedtime. It took several bribes and an additional dance number to get the squirmy little boy into his pajamas, but he finally relented and crawled reluctantly into his sleeping bag. Emma watched from afar as Regina and Henry went through the nightly ritual that they likely completed hundreds of times before, smiling at the ease with which they bantered back and forth before Regina finally cajoled her son into bed.
Emma sat on the picnic table, waiting for Regina to finish Henry's bedtime routine, when the brunette's head popped out of the tent.
"So if you're not comfortable with this I totally understand and it's no big deal, but Henry would like you to read him his bedtime story."
Emma balked for a moment, and Regina could tell she was a bit unsure of herself.
"It's just one story from his book and that's it. Promise. If you're not comfortable just say the word and I will talk him down, but he is insisting that you're the one who needs to read to him tonight," Regina said apologetically.
Emma shook her head, feeling silly for being intimidated by reading a goodnight story to a nine year old, and replied with only the slightest hint of insecurity, "Yeah. I mean... of course. I would love to read to him."
Regina smiled as Emma walked towards the tent, quickly kissing Henry goodnight before handing his storybook over to Emma.
"One story, young man, and then it's off to sleep. Capiche?" she said with a raised eyebrow.
"Capiche," Henry replied grudgingly.
Regina climbed out of the tent to allow room for Emma and grabbed her hand. She pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for doing this," before giving her hand a light squeeze and allowing the blonde to proceed with story time.
Outside the tent, Regina could see Emma's silhouette on the tent canvas and smiled at how truly wonderful the blonde was with her son. She had never pursued a relationship with someone who was so willing to include Henry, and it made Emma all the more attractive. Realizing that they would have some true alone time after Henry was asleep, Regina's mind began to race at what might happen. She hadn't kissed Emma yet but boy did she want to, and, now that she knew where they stood, she needed to start being more vulnerable and trust that Emma would be there to catch her no matter what happened.
Deciding that more dancing might help set the mood, she scrolled through her music to find the perfect song. Once she selected the perfect melody, Regina dashed over to her car and checked her appearance in the side mirror before popping several mints into her mouth. With a quick fluff of her dark waves and a deep breath, she headed back towards the picnic table to wait for Emma to finish reading to Henry.
It only took 10 minutes for the exhausted little boy to finally pass out, and Emma smiled softly as she gazed at his sleeping form, completely taken by his angelic features. She pressed a small kiss to his forehead before slowly backing out of the tent and back into the night where Regina awaited her. Perched on the picnic table with her slim legs crossed, the brunette took Emma's breath away. Her black pullover clung to her slim torso perfectly, and her ripped jeans allowed glimpses of tanned thigh to peek through. The sight was nearly enough to completely undo Emma, but she pressed forward until she was standing in front of Regina.
"How'd it go," she asked, her voice and eyes darker than usual.
"Good. He fell asleep without any trouble," Emma replied before taking a deep breath.
"He really liked dancing with you, Emma," Regina offered with a small smile. "And so did I…."
"Me too…" Emma replied, hands itching to reach out and touch the woman before her.
"Would you care for another?" Regina asked as she slid off the picnic table.
"Of course," Emma replied as she swallowed thickly.
Regina strode over to where her phone sat on the table and pressed play, several measures of soft piano music filling the moonlit campground. Emma immediately recognized it as Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me," and her heart rate increased as Regina walked back towards her, hips already swaying in time to the music. Regina's hand fell once more on Emma's hip, and Emma settled into Regina's hold.
The pair waltzed effortlessly around the campground, never breaking hold or eye contact except for the occasional dip or glance at the other's lips. As the song continued, their movements began to shrink until they were merely swaying in each other's arms in time to the music. It was quiet and intimate and perfect and neither wanted it to end. The music faded away, and the pair were left holding one another as a gentle breeze rustled the trees, and moonlight spilled between swaying branches. They pulled apart just far enough to take in the other's features, and both gazes flicked between plump lips and longing eyes.
Emma ran her hand up Regina's arm to cup her jaw, soaking in every detail of the brunettes stunning features. Regina settled her hands on the small of Emma's back and peered at the blonde through her thick lashes.
"Would it be okay… Could I… May I kiss you, Regina?" Emma asked tentatively as she gazed into dark brown eyes.
Regina smiled and pulled Emma closer, until every part of their bodies were fitted together. She rested her forehead on Emma's and sighed with a smile, gently nudging Emma's nose with her own.
"I thought you'd never ask," she replied before placing a small kiss on Emma's forehead.
Finally receiving permission, Emma worked her way across Regina's face, placing kisses on her forehead, nose, cheeks, and jawline as if mapping a new constellation on the brunette. With each kiss, Regina sighed and her eyes fluttered, fighting the impulse to completely melt into Emma's arms. However, it was the final kiss that completely did her in. Cupping her face with both hands, Emma gazed into brown eyes before closing the distance between the two. Kissing Regina was like nothing Emma had ever experienced in her entire life, and she found herself wanting to simultaneously rush and experience everything at once and go painfully slow so it would never end. Regina fell into Emma's arms, tangling her fingers in irresistible blonde locks as Emma clutched her hips. They started off tentatively, unsure of how fast or slow the other wanted to go, but soon Regina was backed into the picnic table, and they were kissing one another with more passion and tenderness and raw emotion than either had experienced in years. It burned both of them to their very core, and each was desperate to put all of their unspoken feelings into each and every touch.
Acting on instinct and unable to contain herself, Emma quickly picked Regina up and sat her on the picnic table, and the brunette spread her legs so that Emma could stand between them. They kissed like that for what felt like hours, hands mapping every peak and valley, and lips tasting every inch of exposed flesh. Regina could feel the tightening at the base of her spine that signaled the carnal need for something far less innocent than kissing, and though her body begged to be closer to Emma's, her heart was not ready to progress any farther. Regina was unsure of her body's ability to control itself, and so she pulled away from Emma to catch her breath for a moment. Though she knew this was all she could offer her, the sight of Emma's disheveled hair and swollen lips and darkened eyes nearly sent Regina over the edge right then and there.
"I think I need to stop," Regina said breathlessly, trying not to become distracted by Emma's hands running up and down her thighs. "If we keep going, I'm not sure I will be able to stop myself, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet," Regina continued, suddenly becoming a bit bashful in Emma's presence.
Regina lowered her head and stared down at her hands, and the change in her demeanor caused Emma to slow down immediately to better read the situation. Watching the brunette struggle within herself, Emma backed off and cupped Regina's face in her hands so that she could look into her eyes once more. "It's okay."
Regina still couldn't quite look at Emma, and so the blonde pressed on with a bit more emphasis. "Look at me, Regina. It is okay."
The brunette finally looked up and into green eyes, finding only sincere concern.
"I don't want to do anything you aren't ready for, and although kissing you is the best thing that's happened to me in awhile, I know that if I keep kissing you I won't be able to stop, and I don't want to cross any boundaries you're not ready for," Emma said, placing a small kiss on Regina's forehead.
"You're not mad?" Regina asked.
"How could I be mad when I finally got to kiss the painfully sexy woman sitting before me?" Emma quipped, earning a small smile from Regina. "I'm going to go, okay? I'm not sure I can stand here with you looking like that and keep my hands off of you."
Regina blushed at Emma's compliment.
"Thank you, Emma. For today. All of it," Regina offered as she pressed a kiss to Emma's palm.
"It was truly my pleasure," Emma replied.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Regina asked.
"I'm not sure I could stay away, even if I wanted to," Emma winked as she extracted herself from between Regina's legs.
"Goodnight, Emma," Regina whispered.
"Sleep tight," Emma said as she kissed the back of Regina's hand and turned to leave.
Regina watched as the blonde walked away, running her fingers through disheveled hair.
You've got it bad, Mills. You've got it real, real bad….