Chapter 14 – Swan and Queen
Emma's classical deer-in-headlights look were staring back at Regina. Emma's face still wet with tears, and eyes red and puffy.
"Regina! You're awake." Snow said.
Regina, so use to Snow's annoying habit of stating the obvious in an awkward situation, didn't bat and eye away from Emma as she tried to move to a seated position.
"You… you what?" Regina's breathing was becoming a bit of an issue. She began hyperventilating. Emma and Snow both realized the woman was about to pass out, and at the same moment, reached out to catch the fainting woman.
"Emma, I think your feelings might be mutual."
Snow and Emma each held one side of Regina's body at a weird angle on the bed. They had begun to shift her limp body around just as the door to the room opened. Ruby walked in followed by Dorothy, Mulan and Blue. All four women cocked their heads to the side at the scene of a mother and daughter wrestling with the limp body of the former Queen.
"Did one of you finally kill her?" joked Ruby.
Emma and Snow rolled their eyes.
Emma motioned them closer, "She tried to get up and fainted. A little help, please."
With Ruby and Dorothy's help, they were able to maneuver Regina back on the bed.
Blue sat next to the mayor, and with Emma's help, delivered a spoonful of the healing elixir.
"She looks like she's been crying. How long had she been awake for?" asked Ruby?
Emma and Snow shared a worried glance. How long had Regina been awake?
It was only a moment later, Regina's eyes opened to see Emma sitting on the bed next to her. A worried expression on her face. She knew more people were now in the room with them, but looked at no one but Emma.
Mulan cleared her throat.
"Oh would you stop that!" Ruby snapped at her friend. "Let them have this moment, for pete's sake." She jokingly shoved Mulan's shoulder with a smile.
"That was more for us." Mulan said and gestured to the door. "Maybe we should give these two a moment."
Everyone began to exit. Including Snow, who first placed a kiss on Emma's forehead, and shot Regina a smile.
When the door closed and it was only Emma and Regina, it felt like neither one was breathing. They simply stared at each other. Emma moved to lay down on the bed next to Regina. Facing her and laying on her side. Regina moved to mirror her.
They both had a hand under their pillow, under their head. Their other hand flat on the bed an inch or so apart.
Emma's eyes took in every inch of Regina's face. She often caught herself staring at the dark haired woman in front of her, but had always turned before being noticed. And never this closely. She could finally get a closer look at the beautiful scar on Regina's lip.
Oh God, her lips. Emma's eyes traveled across Regina's red lips. She never realized that something like a woman's mouth would be so damn beautiful and exciting. She was about to giggle at the thought when she spotted Regina's tongue sneak out to lick dry lips. Emma forgot to breathe.
"Emma." Regina said softly, and Emma's eyes rose to meet hers.
"Sorry?" Emma said with that adorably goofy smile that never failed to melt Regina's insides.
Regina closed her eyes for a moment while she took a deep breath. "Emma. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you and Snow."
"How long where you awake?" Emma asked shyly. Truly wanting to ask, 'How much did you hear.'
"I think we both woke up about the same time." Regina looked down to the hands between them.
"Really?" Emma said, also dropping her gaze to their hands. Their pinkies were nearly touching, so Emma looped hers over Regina's.
Regina did not move away, but smiled at the gesture. "I was comfortable."
"So was I." Emma said as she moved her hand completely over Regina's and moved to intertwine them.
Regina felt Emma's shin near hers, so she moved it closer.
"You snore." Emma said as she shimmied a little closer.
"I was faking it." Regina scooted closer as well.
"I could tell." Emma looped her leg over one of Regina's.
"How?" Regina's eyes were now alternating between Emma's eyes and her lips.
"You're usually much louder."
Regina punched Emma on the arm, then sat up.
"Ow!" Emma said and laughed, laying back to look up at Regina. Her leg still connecting them.
"I don't know if you were purposely trying to be cheeky, or severely cheesy." Regina smiled back down at her.
"You know me, Regina." It was said more seriously than intended, but the look they shared meant they knew what it meant. "More than anyone else in this world or the next. You told me once, do you remember?"
"It took a long time, but I really know you." Regina and Emma had spoken the words together.
Emma reach out for Regina's hand and pulled her back down on the bed to their previous position.
"I think we need to talk." Emma said. "About what you heard…"
"No." Regina looked seriously into Emma's eyes. "No more talking… for now."
Thinking she was being pushed away, Emma started, "But I-"
Emma's protest was cut off by insistent lips on her own. They did not move, but remained connected by their soft lips.
Regina eased closer to Emma and moved a leg slowly between Emma's. Regina moved half over her, and leaned down to continue the gentle exchange of kisses.
The softness was fleeting as Emma's hand shot up to Regina's nape, and pulled her closer to deepen the long awaited kiss.
A wave of magic exploded from their bodies, with a loud boom. The walls shook from the force. Car alarms and barking dogs could be heard outside.
Sound of heavy footsteps from multiple people sounded up the stairs and down the hall to their room, but the two women did not separate. They embraced fuller and held each other tighter. They heard and saw nothing but each other.
"Told you it was them!" Snow exclaimed.
"Yeay!" Ruby exclaimed bouncing and clapping her hands.
The two women on the bed turned toward the group at their door. Emma was blushing but smiling so deep her dimples were on full display.
"You all can leave now." Regina threw them a faux threat and turned back to kissing Emma. Pulling away, "And someone be a dear and please place that 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door."
The group rushed out of the room. When the door closed, they noticed a beam of light surround it.
"What was that?" Mulan asked.
Ruby leaned her ear against the door and laughed. "Silencing spell."