A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews and the follows. I'm so enjoying your responses to this story, thank you.
Ruby's here! As usual you can find me on Tumblr as Delirious-Comfort. xDC
Regina slammed her fists on the mattress after she had rolled over in bed for what seemed the fiftieth time, unable to fall asleep. Emma had given her an earful after Regina had apologized profusely. Emma wouldn't have any of it though and kept her responses to Regina to a minimum all evening, until she had announced that she was going to sleep in her own bed and had bid Regina goodnight.
She felt utterly frustrated. Ever since Emma had arrived on Shadow Haven they had been in a tug-of-war fight and every time Regina felt they took a step forward, it was immediately followed by two steps back. Granted, her calling Emma 'my girl' wasn't her smartest move, but she had said it with the best of intentions. It fell from her lips faster than she could process and when Emma had started yelling at her she had just felt incredibly sad.
'Just because we did that doesn't mean you can lay claim me,' Emma had spat out and Regina kept repeating the words over and over in her head as she sighed heavily. It was so much easier with her clients, they didn't fight back like Emma did and they didn't exhaust her like Emma did.
She wondered how Ruby's visit would affect Emma's behavior and she grumbled when only worst-case scenario's flooded her brain. The soft sound of her door being opened caught her attention.
"Are you up?"
"Technically speaking, I'm down," she murmured into the darkness. She tilted her head sideways when Emma sat down on the bed cross legged, facing Regina. "There's no thunder, Emma."
"I know."
Regina hated the silence that fell between them as all these unspoken words only created more barriers. "Why are you here?" She said, her voice a little harsher than she intended to.
"Kathryn sent me," Emma replied stoically.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Why are you in my bed?"
"Just because."
Regina sighed as she rolled over, away from Emma, "You are really starting to piss me off."
Emma smiled, perfectly aware that Regina couldn't see it, "That's what I do best."
"That is horse shit and you know it."
"I think you mean bullshit, but it's not. My entire life I have pissed people off and I've paid the price for it."
"And what price is that," Regina said as she attempted to roll over before Emma's hand on her hip stopped her.
"Don't," she murmured softly. "I'm alone, I have no friends. I push people away when they get too close. I work my ass off for Kathryn and when she sent me on a holiday, I felt relief. It was suppose to be a break for me, instead I'm here with you and while I barely know you, I feel like you know me inside out and I can't stand it."
Regina kept quiet as she listened to Emma's attempt to pour her heart out.
"I don't believe that Kathryn sent me here just because she thought we would get along. People don't do that, it's not realistic and it's not something Kathryn would do without talking to me about it first. I can't stand the fact that I cannot figure out her ulterior motive. I am mad at her and I think part of me is taking it out on you, because I don't know how to deal with it."
"You treated me like shit when I first got here and when Kathryn offered to pay you, you opened your home to me. I know you've said you could give the money back, but that doesn't change the fact that it happened and I don't know how I feel about that."
"Situations change and so do people. I was blindsided when you first got here, I didn't know you, Emma," Regina said.
"Exactly my problem though. You didn't know me, yet when money was offered you took it willingly. When you called me 'my girl' I felt as if you bought me. I'm not one to be bought, Regina."
"How many times do you want me to apologize for saying it?" Regina said angrily. "I made a mistake when I called you that, it was in the spur of the moment and I was wrong."
"I don't want you to apologize, I want you to acknowledge the fact that Kathryn paying you to have me stay here is fucked up."
"I don't see the difference between Kathryn giving me money to have you stay here or giving some hotel owner money to have you stay there."
"Because the hotel owner wouldn't try to tie me up, Regina. An actual holiday would be about me doing .. whatever. Kathryn paying you is no different from the government paying foster families to take in children. It dehumanizes me and it makes me feel worthless," Emma spat out.
Regina sighed. All of Emma's foster families had been paid to take the young girl in and they had all send her back, as if she was an object that could be replaced. "If I had known about that I wouldn't have taken the money, Emma. No amount of money could ever replace you and no amount of money could be given to me to take care of you."
"Those are nice words, but fact is .. that is exactly what happened and it's only going to be a matter of time before you grow tired of me as well." Emma inhaled sharply, "You already know so many things about me, yet I know nothing about you, aside from a few fun childhood stories and what you do for a living. You are guarded, Regina. You don't share your feelings and when you're not in control.. well I don't know what you would do. I don't know how to deal with you wanting to be in control of me, because as soon as I ran away, I was the one who controlled my destiny and I swore to never give that control away again."
"I don't want to be in control of you, Emma."
"You do though," Emma quietly said. "Your entire life is about having control over others and them submitting to you. It's a power trip, or at least I imagine it is and I am not like that. We said we would take it easy with the D/s stuff. Do you realize how insane that is? Five days ago I was packing my bikini to go on a holiday and two days later I'm in your playroom following your orders."
"Just because it sounds insane, doesn't mean it is. You are not the only one who is struggling with this."
"Really?" Emma huffed, "I haven't seen you struggle one bit. What are you struggling with?"
Regina was quiet for a moment, "I have never had anyone here who I didn't see as a client. When you first arrived I was taken aback because I didn't know you nor was I expecting you, Emma. Part of me wants to break through all your layers and part of me is scared to do so because I have never wanted to do that before."
"And what happens when you get to the core of me?"
"I do-"
Emma cut her off, "I will tell you exactly what happens. You will send me back with Ruby, just like everyone else has so far. I'm not a good person, Regina, I'm not entirely bad either, but my flaws are what helps me sleep at night. They are my comfort zone and you wanting to 'peal away my layers' only makes me want to repel you more. Because every time I open myself up, people push and send me away. It's only a matter of time before you do as well."
"I am not one of your foster families," Regina bitterly said. "I have been nothing but kind to you, welcomed you with open arms."
"Because you were paid to do so."
Regina sat up straight and turned around to face Emma, "If I had known your story, Emma, or if I had known that I would start to feel about you the way that I do now, I wouldn't have taken the money. I understand why it's a sore point for you, but I didn't take the money to buy your company or to take care of you. It was nothing more than business-" Regina's voice trailed off before she quietly murmured, "Oh."
Emma smiled, "Yeah."
"I can't undo what I did, Emma. I can't reverse time and tell Kathryn to go fuck herself."
"I know," Emma said as she bit her lip and sighed deeply. "I don't know how I am going to handle Ruby being here. Sharing is one thing I don't do well and jealousy is something I do really well."
"Why are you jealous of Ruby?" Regina gently asked as she placed her hand on Emma's knee.
"Because she knows a side of you that I don't know. I'm not jealous of your more physical encounters. Well, a little maybe, but I am still trying to come to terms with that, so I'd rather not talk about that."
Regina nodded, "Here's the thing about Ruby. Everyone falls in love with her the moment they see her. She's fun and free, she has no filter whatsoever and she's a little bit crazy, but the good kind of crazy. I understand where Kathryn came from when she said we would get along, because there's no doubt in my mind that you will get along with Ruby. I get that perhaps you are intimidated with the fact that she knows me in a different way, but I have never wanted to get to know her like I want to get to know you."
"What does that even mean?"
Regina sighed, "It means that you intrigue me. Yes, Ruby is my friend and yes we've played. But with you," she paused and squeezed Emma's leg, "I want to know everything about you. It's like you're intoxicating and perhaps that's an odd choice of words, but I really can't think of anything else."
"Well, you know what they say about intoxicating things, you should stay far away from them."
"Perhaps," Regina said. "But I'm not going to stay away from you, nor am I going to send you away. I don't know what this thing between us is, but I'm willing to find out, no matter what. The question is, are you?"
"Is this us acknowledging that there's a thing between us?" Emma teased.
"Emma, aside from me being very interested in tying you up, I am interested in you as a person. You make me laugh and you make me question things I haven't questioned in a long time. I will try to be more open with you but just like you, I have walls and I haven't had to lower them for a long time. You are worth it though, so yes, as far as I am concerned there is a thing between us that goes beyond me just wanting to play with you, but I am not going to lie and say that isn't part of it."
Emma nodded, "And if I want to get to know you and never play with you?"
Regina inhaled sharply, "Like I said, I want to get to know you. That is my priority."
"Okay," Emma murmured as she let herself fall down on the bed and stretched her legs as she yawned.
"So," Regina drawled. "Is there a thing between us?"
"Well, there is definitely something," Emma murmured.
"You need to tell me you're mad at me instead of ignoring me, Emma. If we can't communicate, this isn't going to go anywhere."
"I thought we communicated quite well, just now."
"We did and I'm glad you came to me, I'm just saying, we should try and do that in the actual moment, not afterwards."
"I will try," Emma said.
"That's all I ask," Regina smiled as she laid down next to Emma. "Get some sleep, it's going to be a long day tomorrow."
"I can't wait," Emma said with fake-enthusiasm and Regina chuckled.
They were quiet for a long time and Emma was convinced that Regina had fallen asleep and inched closer to her.
"You're addicted to cuddles," Regina murmured as she opened her arms and smiled when Emma pressed her backside into her front. She put her hand on Emma's stomach and tickled her softly. "So, does this mean you never want to play with me again?"
"I didn't say that," Emma mumbled softly before covering Regina's hand with her own. "Maybe no more playing until you kiss me." She grinned when Regina placed a chaste kiss on the fabric of her shirt. "That doesn't count."
Regina sighed, "I never thought it would, dear. Go to sleep. You've kept me up long enough."
Emma smiled and felt relieved that Regina had been unable to sleep much like herself. The thought that Regina might actually care about her felt strange and she wasn't fully ready to accept it but she was definitely willing to find out what this thing between them was.
"Good night, Regina."
"Good night, independent girl."
Emma rolled her eyes before drifting off to sleep.
"Will you stop fidgeting," Regina snarled. "You're acting as if the queen herself is coming to your birthday party!"
Emma tutted, "You're not suppose to snarl at me, Regina, did you not get enough sleep?"
"I will push you in the lake, if you keep it up," Regina glared at her as she tried to splash water on Emma's legs with her feet. They had been sitting on the dock for the past half hour waiting for Ruby to arrive.
Emma feigned hurt and pouted, "What if I drown?"
"Maybe I would get some sleep at night," Regina smirked as she gave Emma a gentle push, not nearly hard enough to actually push her into the lake.
"Watch it!" Emma squealed. "I have no desire whatsoever to get wet!"
"Would you rather go tree hugging?" Regina teased as Emma blushed slightly.
"You're a terrible human being."
"Fact or fable?"
"Indisputable fact," Emma grinned, her smile dropping immediately when she saw the cruiser heading their way. "Holy shit, that's your cruiser?"
"Yep."
"I wish I had come in on that, it looks way more comfortable than the rowboat I came in on!"
Regina snorted as she stood up and offered her hand to Emma, "Drama queen." She gave Emma a quick hug as the cruiser came closer and whispered in her ear, "Remember, you have nothing to be jealous of, but if at any point you're uncomfortable, talk to me."
Emma nodded when Regina released her and looked at her, "Got it, chief." She watched the cruiser closely as it came nearer. Regina hadn't been lying when she said people fell in love with Ruby immediately, the brunette was tall and absolutely stunning and Emma gulped when a rope was thrown in her direction before grabbing it and tying the cruiser down to the dock.
Regina grinned, "Look at that, you're like a rope expert now!"
"Shut up," Emma murmured when she was done and stood behind Regina.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have arrived," Ruby said as she jumped off the cruiser and scooped Regina up in a hug.
"Put me down, you brat," Regina hissed.
Ruby put her back down on the ground and smiled at Emma, "Hi! You must be Emma!"
Emma nodded before extending her hand, "Hey. It's nice to meet you."
"Where's your friend," Regina asked as she looked around.
"Oh right, I should get Belle. She's inside, apparently she gets seasick. Like, not even a little bit, but full on blowing chunks."
Regina grimaced and gentle slapped Ruby's shoulder, "Did you bring my supplies?"
"Yep, they're on the deck," Ruby said cheerfully as she pointed towards it before disappearing below deck.
Regina stepped aboard and grabbed the bags before handing them to Emma, "Can you put these on the dock?"
"Sure, what's in these," she groaned as she took the heavy bags.
"Well, I had this girl show up on my island and she insisted on lots of chocolate, so I happily obliged."
Emma snorted, "If these bags are all filled with chocolate, you're going to have to roll me home."
A moment later Ruby reappeared with Belle, who looked absolutely horrified and Regina helped her step onto the deck, "It's nice to meet you, Belle."
"And you, Miss Regina," Belle murmured softly as she tried to stay standing upright.
"You'll be okay in a few," Regina chuckled and pointed to Emma. "Belle, meet Emma. Emma, this is Belle."
Emma waved her hand in greeting and offered her a small smile, "Rough ride?"
"The worst," Belle groaned. "I know Ruby likes her rides, but I think she did it in half the time she was supposed to. I am never getting back onto that boat."
Emma laughed, "I don't think you have much of a choice, unless you want to stay here indefinitely."
"Honestly, right now, that sounds like heaven."
"Emma?" Regina asked, "Why don't you take Belle to the car, have her sit down for a bit, Ruby and I will bring the bags over."
Emma nodded before wrapping an arm around Belle's shoulder to support her, "Come on. Land is ahead, it will make you feel better."
Ruby smiled as she watched them walk off and turned to Regina. "So," she drawled, "who's the blonde?"
Regina rolled her eyes, "A friend. You best behave, Red."
"Of course." She wrapped her arms around Regina and hugged her tightly, "I've missed you."
Regina smiled at her when the girl stepped back, "How are things going with Belle?" She grabbed as many bags as she could carry as they walked towards the car.
"Good, I mean aside from the D/s she's just plain hot," Ruby grinned when Regina rolled her eyes at her. "She's really sweet though, loves to read and just has a kind heart. I think I'm falling hard for her."
Regina smiled, "Sounds like you have, indeed."
"The play isn't bad either, she's really responsive and loves the rope. I'm glad that you want to teach me about Shibari, I'm looking forward to it."
"You might want to give her a day to find her land legs before you play with her, Ruby."
"Oh, I know, I wasn't planning on tying her up today or anything," Ruby said as she poked out her tongue.
"I think Belle may need to go lay down on a real bed," Emma said apologetically when Regina and Ruby joined them.
Belle was hunched forward and groaned, she lifted her head and looked at Ruby, "I don't like you very much right now."
Ruby grinned, "That's okay, I'll punish you later for saying that." She winked at Emma who blushed ferociously the entire way back to the house.
"I'm gonna unpack and put Belle in bed for a bit," Ruby announced as she grabbed their bags.
"Feel better soon, Belle," Regina yelled after them and sat down on the couch next to Emma. "How's your head?"
Emma laughed, "Seriously? My head feels fine. I think we may have been overreacting with this concussion thing."
Regina smiled, "I will keep that in mind next time you use your concussion as an excuse to not do something."
Emma brought her fingers together, "Maybe just a tiny one then."
"That's what I thought." She reached out with a hand and brushed Emma's hair behind her ear, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"
Emma chuckled, "Chocolate, please."
Regina smirked, "Maybe I'll only give you chocolate as a reward."
"A reward for what?"
"Good behavior."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Thirty minutes with your friend and you're already deep in Domme mode!"
"That's not Domme mode, dear," Regina grinned. "That's me trying to save my chocolate."
"What! You're saying you want to reward with me chocolate, because you know I'm not good, so you won't have to give me any?" Emma gasped.
"Yes."
"Hmpf, challenge accepted."
"Oh really?" Regina said with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yep," Emma nodded. "I will go through your chocolate supply faster than you can say chocolate."
Regina laughed loudly, "What about when you're bad?"
"I'm never bad, but obviously that's when I don't get chocolate."
"That's not much of a punishment. I think we should find something else. If you show good behavior, you can have chocolate. If it's bad behavior though.." Regina clicked her tongue and squinted her eyes as she looked at Emma. "What should your punishment be?"
Emma snorted and jokingly said, "I'll write you an essay."
"Oh," Regina smirked. "I like that. You have a deal."
"Wait, what?" Emma exclaimed. "You can't be serious! I haven't written an essay in years!"
"Doesn't matter, you just said you're never bad, remember?"
Emma growled but didn't say anything. Getting chocolate was one thing, but writing essays wasn't exactly something she was looking forward to while on a holiday. She looked at Regina, "What if you're bad?"
"Sorry?"
"What's your punishment if you're bad?"
Regina laughed, "That's not how this works, Emma."
"Says who!"
"Says I," Regina said with a wink as she stood up and moved over to the kitchen to unpack the bags of supplies.
Emma followed suit and hoisted herself up onto the counter, "So, what qualifies as good behavior?"
"Let's see," Regina said. "Let's start with these. When you can tell me you need a moment instead of getting angry with me and lashing out. When you ask me if you can help me with something and," she looked at Emma, "when you ask me for permission to do certain things."
Emma swallowed thickly, "What things?"
Regina moved over to Emma and pushed Emma's legs apart before standing in between them. "See, I know you sleep next to me, so I know you haven't done anything private." She wiggled her brows when Emma blushed. "But we all have urges, I'm sure the need will come to you, so if you ask whether you can, I will reward you with all the chocolate you could possible eat."
"And if I don't?"
"Your hand will be too sore to do it again after I make you write that essay," Regina smirked.
"How would you even know?"
"I can always tell."
"I have two hands though," Emma retorted, thinking she outsmarted Regina.
"I know, I don't mind some sloppy handwriting. You can write one half with your right hand, and one half with your left hand."
Emma gulped, "That's not fair!"
"Those are my conditions," Regina said as she stepped back and grabbed a bar of chocolate from the cupboard and held it in front of Emma. "So, what do you say, Emma?"
Emma held out her hand, "Fine, let's do it."
"What's that hand for?"
"I've been really good these past few days, so I definitely deserve all the chocolate."
Regina snorted, "That doesn't count. We start right now. So, if you want chocolate, you're going to have to work for it."
Emma growled, "Can I help you with something?"
Regina smiled brightly at that, "No, thank you." She winked at Emma as she handed her a piece of chocolate, "Good girl."
Emma frowned, "I don't even get the whole thing?"
"Nope."
Emma huffed. That just wasn't fair at all. She grumbled again before putting the chocolate into her mouth and almost choked when Ruby came waltzing into the kitchen.
"Do you have anything against seasickness, Regina?"
"No, just let her sleep it off, she will be okay in a while."
"I feel bad for her, I mean the sea wasn't too bad today. Maybe I should have gone slower."
"Slow isn't your thing," Regina smirked. "So, I was asking Emma earlier what she wanted for dinner, but we got a little distracted." She smiled when Emma's cheeks blushed. "What do you want, Ruby?"
"I only ever want you lasagna, you know that," Ruby said as she hopped on the counter next to Emma and pointed to the chocolate in Regina's hand, "Can I have some of that?"
Regina shook her head, "No, this one is all Emma's. Besides, you shouldn't ruin your appetite before dinner."
Ruby looked at Emma and grinned, "So, how long have you and Regina been friends?"
"Eh," Emma stammered as she looked at Regina for help. She growled when Regina leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms while lightly shaking her head. "Four whole days, I guess."
She relayed the story of how they met to Ruby, who laughed loudly. "Oh my god, that is priceless. I bet Regina gave you a good scare when you first got here. She's all kinds of intimidating when she wants to be!"
"Yeah, I might have called her a bitch when she walked away to call Kathryn."
Regina gasped, "Oh really? I didn't know that."
Emma grinned, "You weren't suppose to know that. You have to admit, you were being all kinds of bitchy to me."
"I wasn't. You just took me by surprise. It's not every day a gorgeous blonde lands on my island."
Ruby watched them amusingly as Emma blushed at Regina's comment. "So, are you two .. you know?"
Regina shook her head and smiled, "None of your business, Red."
Ruby nodded her head, Regina only ever called her Red when they were playing and it while it was obvious that they had something going on, she knew Regina well enough to not ask questions about it any further.
"Okay, lasagna is out of the question. We've already had that. Pick something else."
"Chocolate?"
Regina huffed as she pointed to Ruby and Emma, "You two are absolutely disgusting. Chocolate is not an appropriate dinner meal! I'll think of something myself."
Emma laughed, "Do you need help with making it?"
"You're abusing the rules, Miss Swan," Regina growled as she handed her another piece of chocolate.
"You didn't mention the specifics, do you need help with that too?"
Regina laughed at Ruby's confused look and put the chocolate away. "Careful, Emma. Wouldn't want to exhaust that hand of yours, now would you?"
Emma hopped off of the counter and smirked, "I think I'm going to lay down for a while, concussion remember?"
"Mhm," Regina said as Emma started to move in the direction of the bedroom. "Oh Emma?" She moved over to Emma and brought her mouth close to Emma's ear and whispered softly, "If you're going to lay down because you're tired, I'm okay with that. If you're laying down because you're running, I'm not okay with that."
Emma smiled, "Just tired, promise."
"Okay, just remember," Regina said as she grabbed Emma's hand. "You may not belong to me, but these fingers do, should you get any sudden urges while you're alone in my bed." She grinned when saw the flush that crept up Emma's neck as she stepped back. "Sleep well, Emma. I will wake you in an hour."
