A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry that it has been so long since the last update. I will try to get back on track this month! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and I am currently working on the next. Please feel free to comment and review! Here's to getting back on track :)
Chapter Twelve
"We don't have to go," Regina said looking over her glasses diplomatically. She reached for the glass of wine that was on the nightstand and almost toppled it over. Growling with frustration, she removed her glasses and blinked her eyes. "We don't have to go," she repeated.
Emma drained the rest of her beer and sighed. "We both know that's not true," she sat on the end of the bed and groaned also. "We don't have to stay long though…right?"
Regina managed to handle the glass this time, and took a long luxurious gulp. Henry was asleep, although he was completely beaming about his birthday party on Saturday. It wasn't going to be a large event, but Regina had rented the community center and invited all the kids from the neighborhood, and Crimson and Sierra at Henry's request. The girls were being good sports and had agreed to attend, but Regina wasn't sure about the other kids. Henry was new, she hadn't met any of the parents really and even more, it was Memorial Day weekend and a lot of people would be on vacations.
But right now, she was dealing with a more befuddling issue; the unexplainable tension between Emma and Kathryn. "We don't have to go…"
"It is essentially your birthday party," Emma sighed.
"It's a Memorial Day Weekend party," Regina corrected her.
"A party she moved just so you can attend…"
Regina rubbed her temple with some force. "What do you want me to say, Emma? I want to go, I always go, but if you don't want to go…"
"We'll go," Emma said moving higher on the bed now. She settled beside Regina and lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling. "What should I wear? Tee shirts and jeans would seem inappropriate…"
"I love you in anything." It was a half admission, but a powerful one, no matter. Emma had been wracking her brain as of late, about the amount of care Regina had been taking with her words. Never giving too much away, Regina had made it her mission to steer away from the words, love, commitment and anything that gave the idea of permeance. Whether it was on purpose or not, it was driving Emma completely nuts. "How about a black dress…something cool, minimum…"
Emma didn't respond, lost in her own mounting thoughts.
"Something black…." Regina tried again. This time her words were met with the look of cognizance. "Something cool and light," she tried again.
Emma shook her head. "I don't have anything like that; and buying dresses are not in the budget."
Regina looked at her blankly. "I think we can afford a dress, Emma," she frowned.
Emma turned onto her side. "Regina, I don't have the money," she said again.
Regina bent down and kissed her forehead. "Allow me to buy you a dress, Emma," she requested gently. "Something I can take off with my teeth, preferably." When Emma finally smiled at the proposal, Regina continued her kisses until she found Emma's lips. Hoovering over Emma, Regina took her time to explore Emma's lips. "You are beautiful," she whispered quietly. "I've missed you all day..."
"I've missed you too," Emma sighed. "Wednesdays and Thursdays are hard…"
Regina continued to kiss her through her next question. "Why is that?"
Emma sat up some, causing Regina to move from over her. "It's difficult to explain," Emma shrugged, "I guess it's because I know Fridays and Saturdays I can stay with you and it won't look suspicious."
"It won't look suspicious if we just tell Henry the truth," Regina suggested again.
They had been caught nearly ten times in the last week. Various states of touching, almost kissing and just being "parents weird" had given Henry the suspicious that something was going on between his moms. He had asked them both, with varying levels of answers, but didn't seem worried or bothered that his mothers were getting closer.
Regina said, quite frankly. "Everyone knows Emma…besides Henry; who knows too…"
"You're right," Emma couldn't fight that fact. She rolled to the edge of Regina's bed and sat up. "Tomorrow…at dinner, we can explain it to him?"
Regina kissed her shoulder, and fell back onto the bed. "And then you can start spending your nights in my bed?"
"And vice versa," Emma challenged playfully. "But that's going to take some time too…for us all to get used to it."
Regina sat up and looked at Emma slowly. "I want to ask you something and I don't want you to get angry," Regina prompted. Emma stiffened, automatically and knew this would be about Killian.
"Henry was a lot younger," Emma explained, not even needing to hear the question. She had lived in one room space with Henry and Killian, but this situation was wholly different in her mind.
"He thought of Killian as his father…"
"No…" Emma said weakly.
Regina ignored Emma's protest and continued. "If you can sleep beside a man around Henry, but with me…" Regina lost her words; both anger and frustration rising in her, "you diminish us, Emma…" she explained imply.
Emma thought about it long before saying anything. Regina wasn't saying this to be hurtful; to use her past mistakes against her, but Regina felt rightly upset. Eventually, she lay back down. "I'm proud of us, Regina. You and I; I'm proud of us being together, I'm proud of myself when I'm with you. I'm happy when I'm with you…it was different when I was with Killian. I was in survival mode and that's no excuse, but me wanting THIS right, isn't to condemn our relationship."
Regina listened openly, strangely feeling her anger dissipate. It hurt her, not necessarily the actions that Emma had taken four years ago; but to hear that she had been living her life in survival mode again, as she had when she was a child and through her teenage years. Regina vowed she would never have to feel that way again, and it obviously began with not making her feel like shit, or the need to run, because of her past decisions. "I'm sorry I said that," Regina offered, pulling Emma closer. It was nearly eleven, the time when Emma usually left when Henry spent the night in Regina's home.
"Don't be sorry," Emma said nestling against Regina's breast. "We have to say what we are feeling. We have to be honest with one another," she offered, looking up at the woman she loved. "Just don't give up on me…okay?"
"Never," Regina promised, stroking Emma's hair. "We'll talk to Henry tomorrow…together. And you'll pick up something amazing for Kathryn's party on Friday, so we can stay for an hour and then I can peel you out of it," she smiled easily. It was a few minutes before she realized that Emma had already fallen asleep. Kissing her temple, she held her closer. She would wake her up before Henry was up and about, but right now, she just wanted to hold the woman she loved more than anything in the world.
"Do you understand, baby?" Regina asked, rubbing her son's chestnut brown hair. He was sitting in her lap, looking at Emma with big eyes, not really saying anything; which was different for Henry. He looked up at Regina, and then back at Emma.
"But Mommy doesn't live with us…" he said, his voice trembling. Everything he knew about relationships, which totaled seeing Emma with Killian and Ruby with Dorothy, meant that people lived together. "Mommy did live with us, but not now….so you don't love her…"
"I love Mommy very much," Regina explained, slowly. "But she likes her apartment; but that doesn't mean we don't love each other. And sometimes Mommy can stay here with us…"
"And you stay with us at home?" Henry said looking back at Regina.
She kissed his head. "Of course," she kissed him again.
He slid off of her lap. "Okay," he said. "Cameron wants to play cars…can I go play cars with Cameron?" Cameron lived next door and was the first boy who had come to ask Henry to play weeks earlier. He would be leaving tomorrow for vacation with his parents, but he was becoming a staple of Henry's life when he was at Regina's.
"Yeah, I'll walk you over, kid," Emma said offering her hand. Cameron was outside, in the garden with his father and two younger twin sisters. His mother waved from the kitchen window and Emma waved back.
"He can stay for dinner," Cameron's father said. "We feel badly that we'll missed his birthday party. Do you think you and your wife could join us for dinner, and then Henry could spend the night? Cameron has been asking for days now…"
"Regina is…" she had meant to say not her wife, but the words alluded her. "I'll go back and ask…" was what she settled on. When Emma returned, Regina was still sitting in her same position on the couch, yet now she strolled through the channels on the television.
"Why do we have cable?" she asked, watching Emma enter through the patio door.
"Cameron's mother and father want to know if we can join them for dinner tonight and if Henry can stay? They think we're married…"
Regina frowned at the television. "I won't have to cook then," she said as Emma sat beside her. "And if Henry wants to stay, that's fine with me."
"And the fact that they think we're married?"
"I can't change public perception," she tried to tuck away her smile. "I wonder what they'll cook," she laughed.
"It doesn't bother you that they think we're married?" Emma questioned.
Regina laughed at the question. "What do you think the answer to that is, Emma?" When Emma made no move to reply, she continued laughing. "Zelena is sending me a plane for next weekend…"
Emma placed her head on Regina's shoulder. "What does that mean?"
"We should fly somewhere…Chicago or Connecticut …somewhere nice in the summertime."
"Connecticut sounds nice…peaceful for a weekend…"
"Connecticut, it is…" Regina kissed her girlfriend softly. "Now, come on…we have to go to dinner."
Much to Emma's amusement, Regina never corrected their neighbors' assumptions that night, and it was something to behold how easily they all got along with one another. Too bad that feeling was missing now on Friday night as Regina easily ushered Emma into the foyer of Kathryn's home. It was impressive, her home, the three-story classic brick home in Fairfax, Virginia. Kathryn enjoyed the allusion of a 'lived-in' home, but it was too clean, too sterile to actually be true. She had hired caterers and bartenders and waiters and twenty-five people floated through the rooms of her house.
"This feels more like a business gathering," Emma whispered to Regina. She felt uncomfortable in her dress; the black silhouette that held nothing to the imagination. It was for Regina; no one else even seemed to notice that she was there, but Regina stayed glued to her, passively engaged with everyone else in the room. "She's becoming angry…" Emma said finding Kathryn in the crowd. She had been watching Emma and Regina intensely.
Regina pulled Emma closer, intimately and smiled. "She's happy we came."
"Happy you came," Emma corrected her girlfriend. She felt Regina's hand on her the smalls of her back and tried to prepare herself for the shiver that always came.
"We could get out of here now," Regina's eyes roved Emma mercilessly. The black dress was perfect, because it was so unadulterated. Emma never needed anything special; blonde hair, clear blue eyes, innocence flowing just underneath her tough exterior. "It would be improper to say that I want to fuck you, right here…. right now," Regina admitted, "but…you…are…gorgeous."
Emma blushed. "Mingle with your friends…you have me always…"
Regina searched her eyes; slowly, patiently. "Is that the truth?"
Before Emma could answer, Kathryn was there, whisking Regina away. There was dinner, perfect steaks with appetizers and immaculately prepared side dishes. Wines and cocktails flowed and all the leaders worth knowing in business floated around and still, Kathryn couldn't bring Regina's attention away from Emma.
"You're during it again," Kathryn scowled, having her wine glass topped off. It was after dinner, after the birthday cake and now, when Emma was talking to Mal, Kathryn finally cornered her best friend. "You and she are toxic…"
"About as toxic as you and he," Regina's eyes followed David, who had managed to invite his "assistant" Mary Margaret. "This game is never played for fun," Regina dared.
"You two are fucking again…"
"Does your husband fuck you at all?"
Kathryn gritted her teeth, chiding herself for starting this fight. "I had to pick up the pieces; actually, Mal and Ursula and I …we picked up the pieces."
Regina drained the remains of her wine. "How easy is it for you not to love your husband, Kathryn?"
"I do love my husband…"
"Exactly," Regina's words lingered. She didn't need to confirm that David was likely burning the candle at both ends, metaphorically speaking, but Kathryn got the gist immediately. She folded her arms and sighed. Regina relented a bit. "I don't want there to be things we can't talk about, Kathryn. There have never been secrets between us; so instead of you having to ask or assume, I'll tell you. I love her, Kathryn. I'm not trying to fight it or escape it. So, like I accept you and David; I'll expect the same…"
"Noted," Kathryn nodded easily. They had just needed to clear the air, and now Kathryn would respect Regina's wishes above all else.
"You chose a beautiful birthday cake," Regina complimented her friend. "And it was delicious." Kathryn beamed and it started an easy conversation between the two of them. "You are coming tomorrow, correct?"
"Of course!" Kathryn beamed. "I bought him something called "NERF" balls…they are squishy."
Regina hugged Kathryn tightly. "You're a great aunt, Kathryn," she said softly. "He'll love it. Anything that's throwable or makes lots of noise…"
"That was the criteria I used," Kathryn laughed. One of the caterers was beckoning her over. "You'll have to excuse me," she sighed.
"A host's work is never done," Regina laughed.
Kathryn paused and turned around, "I won't be surprised if you sneak away while I'm gone."
"You know me well," Regina admitted. She and Emma stayed another twenty minutes, before quietly leaving the party.
"It was nice," Emma said, yawning, although she wasn't really sleepy.
"I'm glad you didn't hate it," Regina noted. "I was worried for a while."
"About me?" Emma felt oddly honored. "I'm fine…I'm good," she promised Regina. They were home now, and after checking on both Henry and Crimson, who were both asleep, Regina was pouring them both a glass of wine. "I didn't have a bad time."
"That's because you didn't talk to Kathryn," Regina said knowingly, taking a sip of her wine. "We had a brief conversation," Regina admitted.
"She's not happy about us," Emma said knowingly.
"It's really none of her business," Regina assured Emma. "Let's go upstairs and take a nice hot shower," Regina offered. She was horny, honestly, and just seeing Emma's soapy, hot body, would relieve some of the tension building in her body. She had resigned herself to be patient and understanding with Emma, but truth be told, she wanted the woman so much it hurt.
Emma wasn't ready to agree to a shower right now. "Regina, she's your best friend…I know you care what she thinks and feels about who you are dating."
Regina finished her glass of wine and shook her head; noticing instinctively that the younger woman had changed the subject from the shower. "That's where you are wrong," she said frankly. "I do not care what anyone thinks about us; and that includes Kathryn." After a moment of pause, Regina questioned Emma, "Why haven't you ever told me exactly how fraught you and Kathryn's communications have been?"
"You wouldn't have reacted well," Emma said seriously.
"You are damn right I wouldn't have," Regina said firmly. "Why do you assume you shouldn't be a priority for me, Emma?" she asked bluntly.
Emma had no answer, and instead, downed the rest of her wine. "You said something about a shower…" she said a bit nervously, instead of excitedly.
"We are talking about something important, Emma," Regina said blandly.
Emma moved off of her seat and in front of Regina. "I know that," she said softly. She leaned down to kiss Regina and was happy when she met no resistance. "We are having a good night; let's continue to have a good night."
"This isn't going to impede our good night," Regina said softly, managing to steal another kiss. "But you must understand, Emma, if someone is making you uncomfortable…"
"She doesn't exactly make me uncomfortable," Emma tried to conceal.
"I've seen you tense up when I even mention Kathryn," Regina said sliding off of her seat and around Emma. "Emma, don't lie to me…"
"Okay," Emma sighed heavily. "Kathryn is overprotective of you and I just have to live with that," Emma said reaching out and stopping Regina. Regina stopped and settled into Emma's arms. "I've never wanted to get between the two of you because you've been friends for so long; but no, Kathryn and I are likely never to be friends."
Regina kissed Emma slowly, thoroughly and pulled her into a hug. "You two don't have to be friends; but she will never disrespect you and our relationship," she said firmly. "And that's what I told her tonight. And if there are ever any other problems," she continued, "I would like to know, baby."
Emma softened to the name and nodded her understanding. She allowed Regina to kiss her again fully before sighing. "I'm so tired, Regina. Your friends take everything out of me…"
"Unfortunately, I know the feeling," Regina agreed. "And tomorrow, we have to get up very earlier, because our son is turning four."
It was later, after they had settled into bed that Regina laughed. "He's such a great child, Emma. I feel like I should thank you for that…"
Emma turned onto her side and looked at Regina. "You don't have to thank me for anything, Regina," she said earnestly. "He's an amazing child, because you are amazing and wonderful mother. You can just see how happy he is when you are around. He's finally getting the family he deserves, Regina, and that's all because of you."
Regina moved closer and wrapped her arms around Emma. She kissed the side of Emma's neck. "I'm pretty sure it's all because of you," Regina countered, but Emma had already begun to doze off. She murmured something incoherent, which made Regina smile. She hadn't remembered being this happy in years.
Nearly fifteen tiny humans showed up to Henry's birthday party, and the excitement and energy that radiated from him made it completely worth the hassle most of the day ended up being. This was all new to his moms. Accounting for children's allergies and odd habits, and screaming and entertainment and food was all pretty overwhelming; but it seemed to be coming together. By five that evening, both Emma and Regina were thoroughly exhausted, which was the perfect time for Mal to show up. Crimson had been helping all day and was slowly throwing in the towel; her endurance drained by fifteen four, five and six-year-olds.
"She's very helpful," Mal laughed, watching her youngest daughter try to organize a kickball game.
"She's been wonderful, Mal…really," Regina agreed. "This would be a whole lot less successful if she hadn't helped. She picked out most of the food…. well she picked out the kids' caterer… why are there such things as kids' caterers?"
"Because this shit is HARD and kids have a lot of different taste and needs; but if you can write a check, you can get that look on your kid's face," Mal said pointing to Henry, who was beaming at the moment. Crimson was teaching them all how to kick and play the game, and Henry was up first. "Now, isn't watching him more important than setting up food and drinks …especially if you can afford to pay someone else to do it? Plus, kids are only going to eat cake and ice cream…especially on a beautiful day like this," Mal said, finally sitting on an empty picnic table under the pavilion.
"Sometimes I can't believe he is mine," Regina admitted in total awe of her son in the distance.
"Regina, he looks just like you…you can believe he's yours," Mal smiled.
"Well Crimson acts just like you …so …"
"That's what Ursula says too," Mal said.
"Have you talked to her?" Regina knew it was a sore subject, but had to ask anyways. Ursula had left for six weeks to help some of her artists on tour, much to Mal's ultimate aggravation.
"Every day…several times a day," Mal said bitterly. "One week down and I'm fucking miserable. I want my wife's body beside me."
Regina's eyes searched the park and settled on Emma. "It is different when they are sleeping beside you, isn't it?"
"Seems like you know from experience," Mal noted. Regina tried not to smile, thinking about the delicious warmth she felt waking up to Emma this morning. "So, you are going to marry her soon, aren't you?" Mal asked bluntly.
"We aren't there, Mal," Regina said seriously.
"Maybe she's not; but you…"
"It only matters that she's not," Regina shrugged. She glanced over at Mal, "this doesn't get easier, does it?"
Mal genuinely laughed for the first time in seven days. "Why would it, sweetheart? Why would it?" Mal questioned.
"Regina! Regina…come here," Emma beckoned from across the field.
"I'm being summoned…I think the photographer is here," Regina smiled. "You're staying for cake, right?"
"I'm staying just long enough to get my child in the car," Mal warned, but Regina was already closing in on Emma.
"The photographer is here," Emma bounced closer to Regina when she stopped near her. "Regina, this is the greatest day ever. He is so happy! And so excited!" Emma kissed Regina quickly, before turning back to the game that Henry was playing in.
"Have any of the kids been in the food tent?" Regina question. The 'kiddie caterer' had set up a separate enclosed tent for all of the food, snacks and drinks."
"They run in and out with pizza and gummi bears and drinks…they are having a blast, Regina," Emma said hugging Regina. "And you've made it so we don't have to clean up or do anything, just enjoy."
"What's the point of having money if we can't do nice things," Regina said absently, watching Henry's turn to kick the ball and run the bases. When he had rounded the bases, he ran towards his moms.
Out of breath, flushed and full of energy, Henry hopped into Emma's arms. "Can I have cake now, Mom?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her neck.
Emma turned to look at Regina, who was holding back tears. "Yes, let's have cake now," Emma agreed easily. She let Henry down to round up all the kids, and took Regina's hand. "Come on," she whispered, "let's get ice cream and cake before you cry," she teased, kissing Regina's cheek and led her to the tent.
The kids poured into the tent a short while after, and Henry took his spot in front of the large green Ninja Turtle cake. Out of the corner of her eye, Regina could see Kathryn trying to enter the tent as quietly as possible. The kids were blocking the entrance, but she managed to squeeze through with Henry's gift under her arm.
"Mom," Henry said looking at Regina, "can I blow them out now?" he asked about the big number four at the center of the cake and the candles lined around it.
Regina, still trying to hold back tears, only nodded and her son went about blowing on the cake. The kids cheered and the employees of the catering company began slicing the cake into large square pieces. "I'm sorry I'm late. The contract negotiations with Sherman Incorporated went a lot longer than I expected."
"No," Regina said hugging her best friend. "This is perfect timing. You can have some overly sweet cake and he's just about to open his presents." Regina and Kathryn got a piece of cake and watched as Henry tore into gift after gift. "I've never seen anyone have this much fun," Regina grinned.
"I think my daughter has had all that she can take," Mal announced, polishing off a piece of the green cake. She had stayed for cake, only because Crimson insisted. "She got hit in the lower pelvic region with some brat and lightsaber type thing. It could have been a real nightmare if she had nuts…"
"Apologize to Crimson for me," Regina stifled her smile.
"She will be fine…" Mal said kissing her cheek. "And next weekend is fine. We don't have anything planned…all the girls will be in so he'll be plenty entertained."
"What's next weekend?" Kathryn questioned after Mal exited the tent.
"Emma and I are going away," Regina said easily. "Connecticut maybe…my sister is sending a plane."
"You should take her to your home in Maine," Kathryn suggested. "It's absolutely beautiful this time of year."
"I actually hadn't thought of that," Regina admitted, frowning. "I could have the staff prepare the home. I haven't been there myself in forever…sometime I forget why I purchase that house."
"It was a great investment," Kathryn said levelly.
Regina only smiled. Kathryn, forever pragmatic and level-headed, watched as Henry opened her gift. "It shoots balls, Mom!" Henry held it up to show to Regina and then Emma.
"That'll be fun, kid," Emma smiled.
"Can we go back outside?" Henry asked, finished with his last gift to be opened.
"Sure, kid," Emma encouraged. She finally made her way over to Regina and Kathryn. "He's having a blast," she said, keeping somewhat of a distance from Regina.
Regina narrowed her eyes, but said nothing. "He does appear to be having an awesome day," she agreed.
"So, does the company clean up everything too?" Kathryn questioned.
"Yes," Regina and Emma said in unison, and couldn't help, but laugh at the synchronicity.
They didn't realize how grateful they were at the fact that everything was cleaned up for them until they finally reached bed sometime after ten that night. Henry had an amazing amount of energy for someone who had been awake and running around all day, therefore, he didn't fall asleep until nearly nine. Emma had fallen asleep sometime after him, and although Regina was tired herself, she had only slept about thirty or forty minutes when she finally went to sleep.
She tossed and turned for a while, before giving up and taking her laptop to the living room. She worked through her emails diligently, trying to figure out why she couldn't sleep even though she was tired beyond belief. She worked until nearly three, before she finally fell asleep on the couch.
Four Days Later
"She's been different Ruby," Emma didn't want to sound like she was complaining, but since Henry's birthday party, Regina had been distant to say the least. They hadn't even slept in the same bed for the last couple of nights, and although Emma had been the one pushing separate living spaces, now she was utterly tired with being away from Regina. "I've had Henry since Monday, because she's been working so damn much…"
"Emma, did you tell her about Killian?"
Emma sighed in frustration. "Are you listening to me, at all?" she asked tersely. She didn't want to talk about Killian Jones; as far as she was concerned, he was a nonfactor in her life right now. Instead, she wanted to talk about how Regina had suddenly gone cold on her after they had shared, what she considered to be one of the best days ever of co-parenting. Henry's birthday party was light and fun and perfectly planned out. The kids from the community had a great time and Henry had a blast that he still hadn't stopped talking about it. "I'm so confused…"
Ruby let out a noisy breath. "You do realize that if Killian Jones hurt my girlfriend, he is now looking for you, right?" Emma had ignored this far too long; and even though Emma seemed convinced that ignoring this was the right thing to do, Ruby did not share her feelings. Really, what she wanted to do was hunt down the little bastard and beat him over the head with various objects. The only person keeping her from doing just that was Dorothy. She was level-headed enough to just want this to go away; but Ruby couldn't let this just go away.
"Killian is not looking for anyone!" Emma said firmly in her anger. "He doesn't have a dime to his name and he is a part of my past!"
"Don't be an idiot Emma…"
"Listen Ruby," Emma said ready to hang up, "I'm so sorry about what happened to Dorothy, and I'm sure she thinks Killian has something to do with this, because it's easier that way…but I can promise that he has nothing to do with this…"
"Why would she lie!" Ruby questioned defensively.
"I didn't say lie…she took a pretty nasty hit to the head…she's likely mistaken."
"Are you fucking serious?" Ruby barked. "It wasn't enough that you'd put that bastard above all when you were dating, but even now, when you are free of him, you still defend him? I was just giving you the heads up…because I'm going to find him and I swear, I'm going to leave him with more than a headache and a little forgetfulness." Ruby hung up in a fury.
Emma tossed her phone aside and lay back on her bed unhappily. It was just past ten and she had only talked to Regina once today, sometime during lunch. She had been buried in work, which wasn't anything new, but all through their conversation she had been wholly distracted. She promised to call back, but Emma figured she had just lost track of time. When Regina got into a working zone, she rarely came out until she had completed whatever she was working on. And it didn't matter; soon, two days really, she and Regina would be in Maine for a three-day weekend and that would make everything better. Emma decided she would make it special; super special! Even though Regina's birthday was yesterday and she had worked straight through, she decided that this three-day weekend would be something special; no matter what.
She picked up her phone and dialed Regina's number quickly. It took a few moments, but the voice she always craved to hear picked up. "Hello, sweetheart," Regina sounded happy to hear her, but tired, nevertheless. "I know I was supposed to call, but…"
"Don't worry about it," Emma cooed. "You sound tired."
"I had to take the train into Philadelphia on an emergency conference with one of my marketers. And even though I didn't want to, I came back tonight so I could push a meeting in the morning and pack in the afternoon."
"Where are you now?"
"I just entered the house, I'm headed to the bathroom for a nice long bath, dinner and maybe two hours of sleep before I'm back up."
"I hate when you work this hard," Emma mused.
"I know, but for three days..."
"For three entire days," Emma said becoming happy. "So Mal is sure she is fine with keeping Henry?"
"Of course," Regina laughed. "She's excited; her kids aren't kids anymore and Henry really loves Crimson. They will be fine for three days."
"Good," Emma said. She became quiet enough for Regina to question her silence. "Nothing is wrong per say…Ruby and I just got into a tiny spat."
"About?" Regina's voice changed to concern automatically.
"Nothing important. She's on edge…I've been worried about you… we tend to clash when we feel like that," she admitted.
"Well, you don't have to worry about me…"
"Are you sure?" Emma cut in. "Because since Henry's party, you've felt distant."
Regina didn't try to deny the fact or skirt the issue. "I don't know what it is honestly, Emma. I've been tired and a little behind at work, but it's not that. Something just feels off…like I'm missing something about us," she admitted somberly. "Don't get me wrong; I'm looking forward to be away with you this weekend…I can't wait."
"I can't wait either, Regina. And we'll get a chance to talk; really talk this weekend."
"One more day, sweetheart," Regina said, weariness coloring her voice.
"Okay, Regina," Emma said quickly. "You sound exhausted; so please go to bed soon and get some sleep. I love you, Regina."
"I know baby, and I will. I'll call you and Henry tomorrow morning. And tomorrow night, I'll be home early enough to spend the night at the apartment. If that's okay with you."
"Of course, that sounds wonderful. We've missed you so much."
Emma could hear a smile light up Regina's voice. "Until tomorrow then. Good night, Emma."
"Goodnight Regina,"
Emma felt better when she finally went off to sleep and the next day she was almost as excited as Henry when they finally saw Regina. She made it over at five, just in time to help with dinner, and Henry would barely let his mom out of his sight the entire time he was awake.
"Are you staying?" he continuously questioned.
"Yes, sweetheart," Regina would assure him, brushing his chestnut brown hair back and kissing his forehead.
"You were gone," Henry voiced his frustration. He wrapped his arms around Regina's neck and held on tightly. After dinner, he begged his moms to watch a movie with him until he finally fell asleep.
"Some weeks are hard and suck," Regina said later to Emma, after they had taken Henry up to bed and were now enjoying a glass of wine together. "I know I have to do better, Emma."
"Don't beat yourself up, baby," Emma said moving closer to Regina on the couch. "We can figure this out together."
"I know…I just feel so badly when I'm not around him daily. When I'm not around you daily…"
"Well, we both know that we can't see each other every day," Emma said honestly. "But when we are together, Regina, we have such a great time."
"And that's enough for you?" Regina questioned, her eyes searching Emma's.
"What more can I ask for?" Emma asked playful. She stole a kiss, tasting the wine on Regina's lip and automatically feeling giddier.
Regina smiled tightly; not willing to say that she wanted more. That's what was likely keeping her up at night. She wanted Emma Swan and her son completely; not staying at her house some night and Emma's apartment other nights. But she wasn't willing to push the issue yet. "Would you be upset if we got completely naked…" Regina said with a small pause, "and fell asleep in each other's arms?"
"I would not at all be opposed to that," Emma said smiling and kissing Regina again.
Once they had settled into bed, Emma questioned again. "So, you aren't working tomorrow?"
"I'm packing tomorrow and spending the day with Henry," she assured Emma.
"And sleeping in…" Emma said kissing Regina's shoulder blade.
"I'll see…" Regina laughed. "I'll try to sleep until at least eight…"
"Nine," Emma said kissing her neck playfully.
"Eight-thirty," Regina said turning to face Emma.
"Eight forty-five," Emma pulled Regina's bottom lip into her mouth. She kissed her soundly, then slowly with as much passion as she could muster. "Nine would be best though," she smiled at Regina's breathlessness.
"Nine…huh," Regina finally opened her eyes. "I think I could manage nine…"
"Great," Emma said brushing her fingertips over her girlfriend's nipple. The sigh of relief told her everything she needed to know.
"Sometimes," Regina started, beginning to lose the rhythm of her breath, "sometime I'd like to sleep all day, but the chance never arises."
Emma's hand ventured lowered, brushing Regina's inner thigh. "We should set aside a day this weekend for just sleep," she found Regina soft, but wet.
"I've set aside a day to do something, but it's definitely not sleeping," Regina promised right before capturing Emma's lips again. She didn't want to up the passion, because she knew her eyes would close at any moment. "Remember, you promised me an entire day," Regina said before laying on her back.
"An entire day of what?" Emma questioned, laughing just a bit, but she received no answer, because Regina was already asleep.
Friday Afternoon
Lily looked at her little sister with open curiosity. Crimson was never quiet, especially not after an afternoon of shopping. Lily was going to be home for the next week or so, and she had offered to take Crimson, Sierra and Regina's son, Henry, to the mall for some retail therapy. They all had enjoyed themselves, but since they had left the mall, Crimson was acting strangely.
"Hey Crimson," Lily said kneeling on the couch beside where her little sister was curled up. "What's the matter?"
Crimson looked at Lily and shook her head quickly. "Nothing," she said quickly, which gave Lily her first real clue that something was wrong.
"Come on…tell me what's wrong," Lily pried gently.
Crimson sat up fully on the couch and pulled her knees to her chest. "At the mall today," she began to open up to her sister. "There was this guy…" she started, but paused when she saw her sister's eyes narrowing. "Maybe it was nothing…"
"Hey…tell me what happened…" Lily said gently.
Her sister's voice was low and shaky, but Crimson recounted going into a clothing store while Lily and Henry had been in Build-A-Bear and how a strange guy had approached her. She had tried to ignore him and get away from him, but when he mentioned something about the little boy who was with her earlier, she stopped and confronted him. He had made a couple comments about the clothes she was thinking about buying, but mostly, he wanted to know about Henry, and when that didn't work, he funneled his energy into making passes at her. She had told a security guard in the store, and the man quickly disappeared, but Crimson couldn't shake her uncomfortable feeling.
"Did you see him anymore?" Lily questioned, her eyes looking much like Mal's when she was upset.
"No…I didn't," Crimson said. "I kept looking for him, but…" Crimson felt her chest tighten for no reason. She was nervous and upset and confused, but she knew something wasn't right.
"What did he look like?"
"I don't know…white dude, mid to late thirties probably…dark hair, dark eyes…umm…he was missing a hand…" Crimson stammered.
"Missing a hand?" Lily made sure she heard her sister correctly. Crimson nodded. "We should talk to Mom about this…"
"Mom will never let me go outside if we talk to her about this," Crimson whined. She was just getting to the point now where Mal and Ursula let her do some things alone, if they thought she would be harassed by dirt bags in the mall, she would be under their thumb forever. "Please, can we just let this go?"
Lily pulled her little sister into a hug. "Sweetheart, you are trembling and you've obviously been frightened into silence. There is no letting this go," Lily said firmly. "We have to tell mom…"
"Can we at least tell her after Henry is gone?" Crimson suggested. "I'd like to try to enjoy myself at least for this weekend."
Lily kissed Crimson's forehead. "You didn't do anything wrong," Lily reminded her. "But I know mom, and I get your point. We'll talk to her after Henry leaves," Lily agreed. She couldn't imagine how bad of a decision that would prove to be.
