Chapter Eleven

For three days after, Regina was swept into meetings about rebuilding the town after damages done prior. The destruction was terrible, and the upcoming rainy season wasn't to be disregarded due to the weakening dams that allowed water to seep through.

At times, she would find herself sitting in a meeting and paying no attention to anything said. Simply because her mind was elsewhere and entirely focused on Emma. The way she would greet her every morning with a text. If not a text, then a call. They would begin their conversation with light words, and eventually both of them would settle down whilst engaging in a deep connection that curled their toes.

So far, as based on their talk that night about getting to know each other more, they were digging in deeper as the days went by. But it was just the lack of not seeing each other that dampened her mood. That made her somewhat cranky in those same meetings that lasted the entire day about discussions on accounts and preparations and plans.

All Regina wished for was one day set aside to spend some time alone with the woman she had fallen deeply in love with. Not only that, but getting to see her more than often. Getting to touch her. To hold her hand. That's all she wanted.

Thursday came and went without a word being exchanged during the day between them. Nothing. Because Emma was buried deep in filing away complaints and she was once again…in a meeting. This time, Snow was present due to her involvement in the school system again as a teacher. And the matters arising focused on the expansion of the school to accommodate the growing number of children that were enrolling.

It was three o'clock when they finally concluded the conference discussion. She was tired from just sitting in one attitude for over five hours, only breaking shortly for lunch. All Regina wanted was to tumble onto her bed and take a long nap. Until Snow approached her and suggested that they share a cup of cocoa since it was a rainy day and as promised, the younger woman had lots to talk about.

"My place," Snow welcomed the thought with a smile. "If you don't mind?"

Regina accepted with a stiff smile and accompanied the other woman to the small and cozy apartment that she had often frequented. It seemed as if the only thing that had changed was the addition of a new piece of furniture. A small table made of wood with birds carved into the surface, obviously for baby Neal.

Snow allowed her to hold him as she prepared the cups of cocoa. So Regina gently took the small child into her arms and rocked him back and forth, immediately feeling overwhelmed and reminiscing on Henry's days when he was a baby.

"You look so good with him," Snow said after a while, as she observed the older woman with Neal. Her eyes softened. Stirring the cup of cocoa, she suddenly had a thought. "Wouldn't you like to experience that again?"

"Experience what?" Regina turned to face her, frowning a bit.

The other woman shrugged. "Having a baby of your own. Raising a baby. That sort of thing."

Regina couldn't help it. She chuckled. "Snow, you're quite aware of my inability to complete such a thing."

"I know that," the younger woman noted. She carried the cups of cocoa into the small living room and rested Regina's own upon the table gently. "I'm talking about, and don't hate me for jumping the gun, you and Emma."

When the older woman didn't say anything but she simply continued soothing the baby with soft kisses, Snow sighed. Settling herself onto the chair, she wondered what was happening between the two. Knowing somewhat that Emma appeared contented a little. Although she had been saying little to nothing.

"It's going to work, Regina," she said softly, her face upturned as she considered the other woman. "You and Emma. You're going to last. So you shouldn't be afraid of what's to come. For some odd reason, I could never feel her click with anyone, even Neal. Well obviously I'll ignore the most recent one."

Snow scowled. "But with you, it seems like something that was a long time coming. And I can feel how strong the connection between the two of you is. Something that strong doesn't die."

"I think he's asleep," Regina didn't contribute to the conversation.

Snow gestured to the cradle. "She's seriously in love with you, you do know that, right?" She watched the older woman walk slowly to the cradle and she settled the baby into the depths. "We don't talk much about it. But from what I can see, she hasn't been this caught up in Killian or Neal."

"Is it okay if I cover him?" Regina wanted to know, and her voice was unsteady. "With the green blanket?"

Snow sighed. "Yes. You can cover him up. Are you even listening to me? Come sit over here before I explode."

Sighing, the older woman took her time in covering up Neal. She fixed his yellow teddy bear just where he could reach it, and smiling after remembering that Emma had given him that toy. She had such a soft side, Emma. The softest side ever. But then again, she could be such a warrior when things developed darts to throw at her.

Her Emma.

"Yes, Snow," she slowly made her way to the couch and sat down. Taking her cup of cocoa, Regina folded her feet under and soaked up the fuzzy feeling of being in love and having the rain pour around them heavily. "What is it you wish to talk about?"

"Are you two in a relationship?" The other woman studied Regina's face intently. "Because she hasn't said anything to me. And I feel somewhat offended that neither of you have talked to me about this."

"Yes," Regina nodded once, lowering her eyes to meet the cup of cocoa. "We are. But it's just begun. I think that you should give her time to…come around and talk to you about it. What we've been through. It's been quite…unsettling."

"Should I be worrying?" Snow frowned, leaning in a little as the blinds flapped from the heavy winds. "About the two of you I mean."

"Not really."

"Sometimes things will be a little unsettling at the beginning. It's what happens, you know? Look at how David and I began. Many ups and downs. But we…we pulled through and look where we are."

Regina sipped on her cocoa. Her throat ached, due to literally feeling the pain of being away from Emma.

"It was so sudden, I can tell," Snow continued in a gentle manner. "One moment you two were with someone and then both of those commitments ended. Then here you are. It hasn't been long since…well…" she didn't want to mention Killian's departure nor Robin's demise. Snow felt a little unsettled herself. "But you're here. And that's all that matters."

"I just feel…" Regina began in a rush, but she quickly placed a lid on her emotions and tried to breathe. Her eyes fluttered close. "I just feel as if every time this happens, I'm going to lose. I'm not going to get what I want. In other words, it's not going to last."

"But if you keep thinking that way, then that's just what will happen," Snow assured her. "I'm not saying that you wanted things to end between Daniel or Robin but life has a strange way of handling things for us. Maybe this is where your happiness begins, Regina."

"Sometimes we may never know that for sure but we have to keep believing that eventually, we will settle and things will fall into place. And if you consider what you can have with Emma, look how many things have settled already."

She lightly touched the other woman's hand. Their eyes met.

"You both share a son already. You've known each other for quite some time. Been through many ups and downs. You both know each other. You've believed in each other above anyone else. Emma has always been on your side, regardless of what has happened."

"She's…saved you. She sacrificed her soul to save you. Apart from that, neither of you have the kind of issue where you now have to come out and tell the family about how you feel, fearing if they will accept it. Both of you belong to the same family and honestly, all David and I have ever wanted is for the two of you to be happy." There were tears in her eyes.

Regina's lips quivered a little.

"I don't care and I never cared about how that would happen. For neither of you. But when I found out that the two of you were becoming more than friends, I welcomed it because this is possibly the best way for both of you to be comfortable and happy. With each other."

"I don't know how you're going to do it. But I can promise you that Emma will never give up on you. So you have to decide now if you'll keep her. Or if you'll let her go. I don't think fate wants you to let her go."

She could have sat there and cried. She could have. But what would happen when all that amount of weakness was displayed? Breaking down? No. She had to be strong. She had to show that whatever composure remained, that much was promising. Not to Snow alone. But to herself.

"I haven't seen her since Monday," Regina confessed, just as Snow was reaching for the remote. "It pains me to say it and I'll probably sound rather childish but my heart hurts when we're apart. That happens between you and David, doesn't it?" Her eyes glistened with tears.

"You're going to ask?" Snow's voice was soft. "Of course! One of the reasons why we've always found each other is because the pain of being away from each other fuels us to get back together. You might find our tagline really annoying but now I think that you understand how important that is to us."

Regina nodded. Her chest heaved. "We're in the same town, and I feel as if she's a million miles away."

"Then don't you think that you should do everything in your will to find her and be with her?" Snow suggested. "Don't you think that you should do that? You're both waiting on each other to close the distance but what if you actually step up and do something about it?"

Brown eyes stared at nothing. She was drowning in those words.

"Right now, I can tell you where she is," Snow said. "She's just wrapping up at work, after a long and tiresome day of filing paperwork. And then she's going to head home alone and she's going to wish that you're there with her but she's going to stop herself from calling you because why? Because she's going to think that you're tired from your meeting all day and you wouldn't be able to be with her."

That's exactly what she had in mind. It was miraculous how Snow could delve in so deep and sift out the truth.

"Surprise her," the other woman said. "She didn't drive to work today. She walked. Get into your car. Get over there just in time and pick her up. Then you can get creative after that because I know that you're a hopeless romantic, Regina. I've known you for years. And if it's one thing you can do to wow Emma, it's showing her how deeply you can care about someone you love. Because you go the extra mile and you really and truly love with your entire heart and then some more."

She gazed at Snow for a long time.

It was true. No one knew her as well as Snow did. No one. That part of her that Snow had seen many years ago. That innocent part. That…mushy side of her. She had returned to being that person once again. Well, not the innocent bit but the softened persona.

After finishing her cup of cocoa, Regina thanked Snow for the enlightening talk and she made her way down to the car. Then gracefully getting into her Mercedes Benz, the brunette turned the key and drove away with one purpose in mind.

She didn't realize how long she had been parked out front of the Sheriff's station until Storybrooke's clock chimed for five. Playing Suduko on her phone could really pass the time.

Regina eyed the front of the building and waited, tapping her fingers upon the steering wheel. It wasn't in her nature to grow impatient these days. Not when she had calmed down.

Just when the door to the Sheriff's station opened up, her heart gave a leap. She leaned forward and remained hopeful. Just as Snow had suggested. More room for optimism.

Lo and behold, Emma showed herself, wearing her red leather jacket, a blue tank top and black jeans. She had on her knee high brown boots with a yellow backpack. Just like a big kid, the brunette smiled, especially with her black beanie.

She was already fitting her earphones into one ear so Regina honked twice. At first, the blonde stared in that direction, whilst notably displaying the deer in the headlights look. She was obviously surprised. Then just as the rain turned from a drizzle into a mild downpour, Emma jogged out towards the car.

Her heart was pounding as she unlocked the door so that the younger woman could slip in. Regina was breathless already. Collecting Emma's bag, she deposited it into the backseat and her fingers brushed red leather. The smooth, soft feel, reminding her of those times when she used to despise that particular article of clothing. Now, all she wanted to do was to steal it to sleep with at nights.

Emerald eyes turned upon her. "What are you doing here?" Emma whispered.

Regina reached out without thinking and began to fix tangled blonde tendrils that were caught under the beanie. "To pick you up, silly." She guiltily ran her fingers like a comb through Emma's blonde hair and felt how her chest fluttered. "How was your day?"

"It was…" the younger woman still seemed surprised from the sudden appearance, "long, boring and painful. Yours?"

"Same," Regina's cupped fingers travelled to the blonde's fair cheek and she caressed there slowly.

"Talk about us expecting a freaking storm," emerald eyes considered the sky just outside the window. "My bed seems so much more inviting now but I don't want to sleep alone."

Her words had such a massive impact on the brunette, it was evident as the younger woman's smile faltered.

"I…" Regina quickly turned her eyes forward and gripped the steering wheel tighter, "think that we might experience a mild flood due to the crack in the dam."

Emma said nothing. She merely gazed.

"Spent all week thus far debating on repairs," Regina nervously laughed. "Ranging from the school to the bridge to the dams. I'm beat. Talk about long, boring meetings. I've had my share. And it's not like -"

"I want to kiss you so hard right now," Emma said. Just like that.

The brunette stopped, her lips remaining parted as she stared at the younger woman in awe.

"Like…all over. I've been dying to know how you taste. Every part of you," the blonde's voice was husky. Fire danced in her eyes. "And the most painful part is, every damn time I think of my bed, I think of you in it. And you're not wearing any clothes. Because I just have been aching to rip those off of you all damn week."

The gaze that was enacted lasted for such a long time, the rain came down harder, pounding on the roof of the car. Yet, neither of them made any move to close the distance. What was being said silently through their eyes meeting was far more than either of them expected. For Emma was very open about what she wanted until Regina found that breathing was not easily achieved.

She was suffocating.

The heat inside the car was becoming unbearable and nervously, she flipped on the AC.

It was then and only then when the brunette turned the key and the engine roared to life. Then without wasting any more time, she swung the car out of the parking lot and into the road.

"I can see that you have not been at work mentally today," she said, her voice trembling a little as she tried to keep her eyes on the clouded road ahead.

"Thanks to you, I'm sex deprived for crying out loud," Emma folded her arms and stared ahead.

"Hey!" Regina seemed offended. "Just so you know, so am I. And it's been longer for me than it has been for you. Apparently."

"You might think so," the blonde reached out with one hand and touched the plastic apple upon the dashboard. "Come to think of it, throughout the damn relationship, I was never…I never…" she swallowed, balling her fists up. "You know…"

Regina raised her eyebrows. "Don't tell me you never slept with him. Because I'll never believe that for a second –"

"My alarm never went off, if you know what I mean," Emma spread her legs apart and sat back, which was totally unlike the way the other woman who was upright and composed.

Brown eyes, however, rested on the blonde. Regina sighed. "Mine hasn't gone off in over a decade if we're speaking about the same thing, my darling."

"Really?" it was Emma's turn to stare back in awe. "Shit, he was that bad?"

The older woman rolled her eyes. Her chest heaved. "Well he tried his best. So did Graham and…well," she wasn't about to bring HIM up because he was an awful bout of nothing. "Nothing ever came out of it that would be considered as…like you said, setting my alarm off."

Emma chuckled whilst shaking her head. She honestly couldn't believe that they were on the same boat in that instance. Knowing fully well that she had underestimated that Robin could ever match up to the brunette. However, what was baffling was that Regina suddenly seemed like a woman who was really hard to please in that department. And she suddenly feared that she couldn't ever live up to that doing anything but disappointing.

"Relax," Regina smiled, and she reached out with cupped fingers to caress Emma's cheek. "You'll do just fine." She chuckled.

The other woman sat up. "How in the world is that supposed to make me feel better?" Emma wanted to know. "I mean, if they couldn't, then what do I have that would…you know?"

"Female body parts," Regina smiled back, her cheeks colouring. "Well for starters. And you're not a Robin or a Graham or whoever else. You're Emma. The same Emma who has me feeling this way, as deeply in love and out of control with myself than any other person has ever made me feel. Daniel included. And he was considered to be my soul mate. So go figure."

The car finally swung into the small patch of grass in front of Emma's house and the rain had eased down.

"Listen, I'll be frank with you, okay?" the blonde turned in her seat to grab the bag from the backseat. "I'm literally losing my sanity over you. Waiting for the right time. Afraid of you not wanting to go there with me. Because that's how it feels –"

"Emma, that's not true", Regina began with a frown.

"No, I've been going insane over the past few weeks about this. After Monday when we had lunch, I started thinking some pretty deep things about you. And I reached a point where I said, you know what, fuck this…I'm going to tell her exactly how I feel and what I want. So," Emma slipped her bag on and the beanie was slightly twisted on her head of blonde tendrils. "Here's the thing. I don't want to wait until tomorrow. I don't want to get in there and sulk and fall into bed alone. I want to have you with me for the weekend and when I say that, I mean it."

Regina was gazing at her intently, with the kind of love in her eyes that anyone would wish to see, knowing that they were treasured.

"Okay," the brunette nodded. She bit her lips.

Emma stared back. "That's all you're going to say?"

"I'm saving up my words for when we get inside," Regina tilted her head a little. She smiled. "Then I'm going to tell you my side. Or rather," she narrowed her eyes, "how I feel and what I want you to do to me."

The blonde swallowed hard. She blinked two times too many. "I'm so close to seeing the tattoos, aren't I?"

That was enough to have the older woman laugh hoarsely. She had tears in her eyes. "Well if you indeed wish to see them, then who am I to stop you? I'm yours, aren't I? Your one and only. The Wanda to your Cosmo."

"Don't…" Emma stared back. "Don't you ever. Don't do that. I'm not Cosmo."

"Of course you are."

"I'm not." The blonde scowled. "I'm not some fairy guy whose head is filled with music, okay?"

Regina bit back her laugh.

"Come to me with something like, me being Elizabeth Bennet and you being…I don't know, Miss Darcy or something. But don't call me a Cosmo." She was really growing worked up from the reference.

"Okay, Miss Bennet," Regina pulled the key out of the ignition and unclipped her seatbelt. "Take Miss Darcy inside now before she thinks you're tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt her."

"I'm not handsome," Emma opened her door. "I'm sexy."

"So says the woman who dresses like a kid," Regina got out of the car and their eyes met.

"So says the woman who loves me," the blonde returned, resting her arms up on the top of the Benz. "So says the woman who's dying inside to have me make love to her. Because she knows I'm going to set her alarm off."

Regina merely shook her head, although her cheeks coloured and began to make her way up to the house, keys jingling as she went.

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