A/N: I really like this chapter ... Is it just me? Reviews are love!
Also, over 200 followers? Thank you to each and every one of you! Kisses from the author!
Regina checked her cell for what felt like the millionth time. No new messages. She had heard nothing from the blonde since her impulsive text an hour ago. Why did she have to be so blatant? Regina cursed herself. She didn't have any evidence Emma even liked her and now she's offering to heal her head wound with her lips? God, I really am out of practice, Regina mused.
Groaning to herself, Regina threw her phone on her bed before walking into her ensuite to take a shower, hoping the water would wash away the embarrassment she felt at having sent the selfie as well as the grime and faint smell of smoke she was now accustomed to after each shift.
Clad only in her underwear as she stepped back into her newly painted bedroom twenty minutes, Regina wrapped her hair up into a towel turban as she looked around. She had loved her decoration decisions and was really pleased with how the room had turned out but now all she saw was Emma. After her stupid text earlier, Regina decided she had better start looking at some new colour samples.
Pulling on a simple, black cotton dress, Regina looked at herself in the mirror briefly before heading into her kitchen to start preparing some lunch. It was only 10am but cooking always soothed her and she decided today was the day she would use the premium beef fillets she had bought to make carne guisada puertorriqueña. She didn't hear her phone beep, announcing a new message, as she left her bedroom.
Ladling the last of the stew into a tupperware, Regina left the extra food on the side to cool before carrying her bowl and a slice of fresh bread into the living room and flicking on the television. As she sat down, she remembered her promise to call Kathryn during the lawyer's lunch break. Placing her lunch on the coffee table, she stood to retrieve her cell from her bedroom. As soon as she saw the screen however, her food was forgotten.
Four new messages.
Emma Swan (3)
Kathryn Midas (1)
Hand shaking, Regina slid her finger across the phone screen and quickly typed in the passcode. Kathryn's message opened first.
Swamped with work today so will have to postpone life update. But Jim says four year old boys like dinosaurs and trains. Go get your hot mamma. Kat xx
Regina's heart beat faster as she returned to her inbox and opened her conversation with Emma Swan.
Don't tempt me. I can't imagine how good those lips would feel healing me. E
P.S. Sorry about the delay, Henry demanded we go to the park for a swing session.
The third text had been sent only five minutes earlier but almost two hours after the first and second.
Regina? Are you ok? I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your last text. Emma.
Hurriedly typing out a response, Regina grinned as she watched the words appear on the screen.
You didn't misinterpret, I was cooking carne guisada puertorriqueña in an attempt to distract myself from what I thought was a stupid decision. Turns out, swings just got in the way. R
Emma's response chimed as Regina sat back down in front of her rapidly cooling food.
Carne guisada puertorriqueña? Isn't that what you wanted to cook your first day at work as my official mentor? E
Yes. I found some good beef and it's rather tasty, even if I do say so myself. R
You're making me hungry. Henry and I just had grilled cheese but I didn't have enough cheese left so I had ... toast. E
Emma, you have to take better care of yourself. You're recovering from a serious head injury. Do you want me to bring some carne guisada puertorriqueña over? R
I can't ask you to do that, Regina. E
You didn't, I offered. R
Are you sure? E
I made enough to feed a firehouse. I'll come over for dinner. What's your address? R
It was just past 5:30pm when Regina smoothed down her black dress before raising her hand and ringing the doorbell. She fidgeted nervously as she waited. What was happening to her? Regina Mills didn't fidget. Before she had time to analyse her new behaviour, the door swung open and revealed Emma Swan, dressed in grey slacks and an old Metallica t-shirt, smiling widely despite the head bandage.
"Hi," she said. "Come in!"
The blonde stepped back to allow Regina to pass her and enter the hallway.
"Follow me," she said to the seemingly mute woman.
Regina walked behind Emma and soon found herself in a large kitchen diner. There were several toy cars scattered over the floor by the doorway and Emma bent to pick them up, causing Regina to walk into her. She moved backwards quickly, a blush on her cheeks
"Sorry," the blonde said, straightening up. "I told Henry to tidy these up. I wonder where he's got to. Henry?" she called.
There was silence.
"He's probably still hiding. We were playing hide and seek before you arrived. Henry? Mommy's friend Regina is here. Can you come out now and we can play more later."
A scuffling could be heard and seconds later a bundle of four year old raced out of the larder.
"Mommy, why did you stop looking?" Henry asked, a little indignant.
"Because Regina rang the doorbell. Did you not hear it?"
Henry shook his head. "I was hiding," he reminded her.
"I know. You're getting rather good at hide and seek. A little too good actually," Emma said, turning to Regina. "I lost him for half an hour last weekend. And where did Mommy find you in the end?"
"Laundry hamper," Henry said, evidently proud of his ingenious hiding place.
"I was close to calling the police," Emma said to Regina. "Anyway, Henry, I want you to meet Regina. Regina, this is my son, Henry."
"Hi," the little boy said, suddenly taking in the presence of another person and moving to wrap his arm around Emma's leg, from behind which he peeked up at Regina.
"Hello, Henry. It's very nice to meet you," Regina said, smiling softly.
"She's pretty," Henry murmured into Emma's leg.
"Yes, she is isn't she," Emma said, ruffling Henry's hair before winking at Regina.
"What's in the bag?" Henry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him and drawing him out from behind the safety of Emma's thigh.
"I made stew," Regina informed, opening the bag so Henry could look at the tupperwares of food.
"What's stew?" Henry asked.
"I do feed him well, honest!" Emma said, taking the bag from Regina and walking over to the counter. "Stew is a bit like soup, kid. But Regina's stews are the best things in the world."
"Better than pizza?" Henry asked, frowning as if he didn't believe such a thing was possible.
"Yep," Emma nodded, pulling the containers out as she did so, followed by a loaf of bread. "Regina, you didn't have to bring all this over."
"It was no problem," Regina insisted. "I made too much anyway and I thought you, August and Henry could make better use of it."
"And Mary Margaret," Emma added. "She's an old friend from high school who lives with us and helps me out with Henry. Although she's out at her work now."
"She can have it for a late dinner then," Regina smiled. "Or not, if she doesn't want it."
"I'm sure she'll be more than happy to not cook. She works in a bar and is always knackered after work. Henry, can you go and put those cars away now and then we can have some stew and bread."
The boy nodded and set about his task, carrying one car at a time from the kitchen to his toy chest in the living room.
"Are you really ok?" Regina asked, her paramedic fingers itching to check Emma's head injury.
"Never better," Emma insisted. "Seriously, I'm fine," she said, turning to face a concerned looking Regina.
"I - I was so scared," Regina said, her voice tiny and her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I can't stop thinking about it."
"Regina," Emma said, crossing the room and wrapping her arms around the brunette, pulling the older woman towards her. "I'm fine. I'm alive. I barely even have a headache any more."
Regina sagged against the strong woman before her, feeling the steady beat of Emma's heart against her own. Her arms encircled the slender figure and the two women just stood, holding each other until Emma felt a light tug on her pants leg.
"Mommy?" Henry asked, confused. "Are you sad?"
"No, Henry," Emma said, letting Regina go and crouching down to look Henry in the eye. "Why did you ask that?"
"Because you always hug me when I'm sad. Does your head hurt?" he asked, reaching out to pat the white bandage.
"No," Emma assured him. "My head is all better now, thanks to Doctor Henry's kisses."
"Is Regina a doctor too?" Henry asked, looking up at his mother's new friend.
"Yes I am," Regina answered.
"Did your kisses help Mommy get better too?" Henry asked, his childhood innocence making him completely ignorant as to the connotations of the question.
"I don't know yet, let's try," Emma said, standing up and turning back towards Regina. "What do you say Doctor Regina. Do you have magic lips?"
Regina looked intently into Emma's eyes before she took a step forwards. Placing her hands on Emma's cheeks, Regina gently turned the blonde's head to the side before leaning in and pressing her lips lightly against the bandage near the nape of Emma's neck. Just before she pulled back, she moved her head a little lower, lightly brushing her lips against the soft skin of Emma's neck. The blonde's breath hitched at the contact and her eyes darkened as she watched Regina move back. Brown orbs full of fear, anticipation and arousal met Emma's gaze.
"Better?" Henry asked, breaking the moment.
"Much," Emma nodded, turning back to her son. "Now, do you want to try some of Regina's stew?"
Henry nodded enthusiastically and raced towards the dining table where he pulled himself into what was evidently his seat.
"Shall we?" Emma asked, turning back to the kitchen where she removed the stew from the stove and Regina picked up the loaf of bread.
A/N: a little shorter than I wanted the chapter to be but it seemed right to finish it here. I hope you're not disappointed by the progress our ladies are making.