I don't own Once, I'm just borrowing their awesome characters.
ShadowClub, you gave me a really great idea, but by the time I finished this chapter, I read your review too late. So as for contacting the lawyer about what Snow did, I'll somehow incorporate into the next chapter I already started writing. Thank you for leaving a review, too. :)
Holyyyyshit, I thought about Ruby too but I already wrote her as Regina's secretary. I don't want to give too much away, but as things get more heated with the Bryant/stalker situation, I want Isla's love interest to be involved in the case somehow. Maybe she'll be a FBI agent. -shrugs- Thanks for leaving a review, means a lot. :)
Bomrin, Thank you for pointing out my spelling errors. There's so many ways to spell Tatiana and honestly, I'm too lazy to re-read the chapters and see which way I spell her name. If I decide to bring Tatiana back, I'll correct the errors. Thank you for reviewing, I always look forward to yours. :)
Wildparyhouse247, (You have to tell me how your name came about) As for the letters, yes, they play into the story. Although not originally planned, I literally thought about it as I was writing chapter 12. Gracias for reviewing! :)
ShipHappens, for you review on Chapter 12. When Emma told Regina something along the lines of why did I ever break up/leave you...in my eyes, it's both of their faults. Even though Regina was the one to physically walk away, Emma didn't put up much of a fight. She never called or followed her to New York. Hope this clears up some of your confusion. Thanks a heaps for reviewing. :)
Previously on Holland, Their Savior :
Emma ran a hand through her sweaty shoulder length blonde hair then placed her head on Regina's color bone, seeking comfort in the fast beating heartbeat. "I'm close, but that was all you baby" she said answering Regina's earlier question. "I made you squirt" she finished in a proud tone.
So that's what that was. "That's never happened before" she said in awe.
Emma lifted up her head. "Really?" she asked. "Not even with past... lovers?"
Regina shook her head no. "Only you"
"It might sound stupid, but you wouldn't believe how happy that just made me. Knowing that I was and will be the only one to make you come like that"
"It's not stupid. Just like how it makes me happy knowing that I'm the only one who got to penetrate this ass of yours?" she said before giving said ass a squeeze.
Emma cocked an eyebrow teasingly. "And you know this how?"
Regina didn't hesitate. "I know you Emma. You'd never allow just anybody to do that to you"
"As scary as it is that you know that, it's true. You're the only one who's allowed to drive my Hershey highway"
"Emma!" Regina scolded.
"Regina!" Emma mocked back.
~oOo~
"Where are you?"
Emma rolled her eyes at the text before placing the phone back on the kitchens island table. Her phone vibrated a few minutes later, but she chose to ignore it again.
A lot of things have happened since the Ellen interview two weeks ago. Emma decided to grow a pair and thanked Cora for her hospitality right before informing the woman that her and her daughter would be moving back into their brownstone condo. Meanwhile, Regina too decided to put her foot down and inform her mother that she was capable of making her own decisions about how much time she can take off of work. Cora tried not to laugh when Regina informed her that in a weeks time, at least until she gets her work affairs in order, she would be taking a leave until the Bryant and stalker situation was handled. Inside, Cora was delighted that her daughter was taking a break from the office. When she offered Regina the position of partner, she knew that the promotion meant putting in more hours at the office, but she didn't want her daughter to live at the office. So while she was happy in the inside, she didn't show it on the outside. She wanted Regina to think that her deciding to take time off of work wasn't Cora's wishes. Plus with them moving out, it meant that she could stop pretending to look the other way when walking on them making out. She would miss the little girl who she now considered to be her granddaughter though. She enjoyed reading to the girl before bed, or taking her shopping so she wouldn't say cooped up in the house.
"Why didn't you answer my text? Are you and Holland okay?" came a frantic voice as soon as Emma picked up her phone.
"God, Regina! Now you've become the stalker!" she shouted before covering her mouth with wide eyes. "Baby, I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean that"
"I'll call you when I'm leaving the office" Regina said in a hoarse monotone voice before hanging up.
Emma slammed her head on the granite counter top before cursing. "Shit, that hurt" she tried calling Regina back but like she anticipated, it went to voicemail. Ever since she went into detail about the letters, Regina has been taking things a little overboard with checking up on her and Holland. She even went as far as to suggesting using her firm's security as bodyguards. The blonde didn't mean to snap at the older woman, it's just that the constant checking up was getting too much. Slamming the palm of her hand on the counter, she cursed again. "Fuck!"
"Momma, you say bad word" a little voice whispered.
Emma wiped the tears from her eyes before addressing her daughter. "Momma's sorry, baby"
The little girl nodded before lifting up her arms. Placing Holland on her hips, Emma kissed her forehead. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"Uh uh" she said before playing with her mother's blonde hair.
Emma had an idea and began to smile. "Hey, why don't we visit 'Gina at her work?"
"Yes! I want to see mommy" Holland squealed.
Emma nodded her head. "Yes, we get to see mommy. But remember-" she started.
"Don't call her mommy where she is" Holland finished. She knew this already. Her mother explained that when the time was right, she could call Regina mommy, but for now, only in front of her blonde mother.
"Exactly" Emma said with a nod of her head. She placed her daughter down and watched as she made her way to her bedroom so she could change out of her monkey pajamas.
"Are you sure you want to wear this?" Emma asked for the second time. "Momma's wearing a dress"
Holland shook her head yes before she stepped into the camouflage cargo shorts. Emma helped her put on the grey t-shirt that had a black skinny tie printed on the front. "Let's go find some shoes that'll match then"
It's been awhile since Holland has drifted to the tomboy side so the blonde for the life of her didn't even know if the four year old had a pair of shoes to match with Holland's choice of outfit.
Seeing two pairs of low rise sneakers, she picked up the dark grey American Eagle ones. "What about socks?" Holland said once she saw the shoes.
"Pick out a pair then"
Holland came back with pink tube socks with two black rings around the edges. Emma chuckled inside. I've created a monster.
"Do you want your hair down, up, or braided?"
"Bwaided, please"
After braiding Holland's hair into two French braids, she got her situated in the living room playing one game on her cellphone. The blonde went into her room to throw on a simple black halter crop top, and a cream colored lace flowing skirt with a wide brown band around the waist area. She decided to just put her hair in a sloppy bun with a few strands hanging loose.
"Are you ready ladybug?" she asked before slipping on some brown leather braided sandals.
Holland looked up from the phone with a goofy smile. "Uh huh, Momma"
"Alright, let's bounce then"
XoXoXoXoX
"I am sure the third year associates are counting down the minutes until you leave the office tomorrow" Gold responded before twirling a sterling silver pen between his thumb and forefinger.
Regina gave a small smile thinking about what she would do as an associate if one of the partners in the firm took a leave. That'll be her chance to prove to the firm that they are a valuable asset and not crumble under the case loads that doubled.
"I'm sure they are" she said.
Golds eyes hardened a little bit. "Your mother informed me of the reason why you're taking time off. Should I be worried with the situation regarding Miss Swan?"
Regina looked up from her computer and regarded the man before her. "Absolutely not. After all, if it does become a bigger problem than it already is, it will be our problem. Not yours"
Gold nodded. "Very well" He made his way to the glass door before turning around. "Seems you have some visitors" and with that, he left.
Regina peeked around her computer and almost lost her balance. There, stood the last two people who she would have guessed to visit her. Emma had a hand on Holland's head, while the other was under her chin, the front desk supporting her weight. She appeared to be talking to Ruby. Seeing the blonde and her secretary look in her direction, Regina sat back down and pretended to organize the files and pens on her desk, even though they were already stacked in a neat pile.
Five minutes past before she heard a hesitant knock on her door, Regina murmured a 'come in', already knowing who it was. Neither spoke for a minute or two before Emma said something in Spanish.
"Lo siento, mi amor. Perdóname?" (I'm sorry, my love. Forgive me?)
Carmel eyes softened at the words, but she still didn't look up. She wanted Emma to work for it. She hid a smile when a pale hand covered hers on the desk. "Mírame, por favor?" (Look at me, please)
Regina looked up at Emma, she tried to hide any emotions behind a mask, but failed at the puppy dog eyes and small pout she encountered. "You don't play fair" she murmured before she pulled Emma into her lap, causing the blonde to giggle.
Emma played with one of Regina's diamond stud earrings. "Do you forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive, Emma" Regina said. "I was being too overprotective"
Emma shook her head vehemently, causing some more blonde tendrils to come loose from her bun. "I thought about it on the ride over here, and you weren't. I'm just stressed, so I took it out on you. Yeah, you can call every hour, instead of every half hour, but other than that, I like how you want to protect me"
"And Holland" Regina added.
Emma smiled. "Her too"
The brunette peaked around her girlfriend. "I assume Ruby's watching her?"
"Yup" Emma said, popping the 'p' at the end. "I want to kiss you so bad right now, 'Gina"
Regina blushed a little bit, but still held eye contact. "Whats stopping you?"
"We're in a professional setting, not to mention, your work" the blonde finished in a pout.
"You're sitting in my lap, Emma. Plus, look where my hand is at right now"
Emma glanced down at the couple of inches of skin she had on display because of the crop top and high waist skirt. She didn't even feel when the older woman placed her hand there, let alone start making circular motions with her thumb. She didn't say anything else except close the distance between them. After a few seconds of kissing full lips, Emma spoke. "I missed you last night"
"I asked you if I could stay"
Emma shook her head no before saying the same thing she said last night. "My house is at least an hour drive from your work"
Regina cut her off. "But the day I take my leave, I can move in with your guys for the time being" she said in a half mocking tone, reciting word for word what Emma told her last night.
"Perminaltely. If I have anything to do with it" Emma finished with an innocent smile. "Plus, it's only one more day"
"You and Holland should spend the night by my place tonight then. I mean, since you missed me and all"
"Nice try, sneaky pants" Emma teased. "I'll take you up on the offer though. I already packed a bag for me and Holl. It's in the back trunk. I was kinda hoping after we eat lunch, we could head back to your place"
Regina stared deep into Emma's eyes. "I love you so much"
"I love me too" Emma teased right before she hopped off of Regina's lap and reach.
"We eat now?" A new voice asked behind them.
"Can we eat now, little one" Regina corrected. "Where's my hug?"
Holland giggle before running towards the woman. "Momma and I bring you lunch" she said once she settled herself on Regina's lap, just like her blonde mother did seconds before.
Regina played with a golden brown curl absentmindedly. "What did my girls get me?"
"It's a surpwise, silly"
Emma took out her phone from her purse and snapped a photo of the love of her lives playing with each others hairs, deep in conversation.
"Can I get a hint?"
Holland cocked her head to the side, deep in thought. "We got it from ChinaTown"
Although the hint gave her all the clues she needed, Regina played along. "Is it pizza?"
Holland laughed and shook her head no. "You gets one more hint" she sing songed.
"Oh, I know! You guys got my favorite…..soup!"
The little girl turned to her blonde mother. "Momma, I tell her now?"
"Go ahead, ladybug" she turned to Regina. "I'm going to go ask Ruby if she wants some before we start eating"
The younger woman returned a minute later with a brown paper bag that was encased in a white plastic bag; thank you, come again was written in red.
"I hope you still like pot stickers" Emma said almost shyly.
"I'm still obsessed with them. Did you remember the-"
"Fried noodles?" Emma asked before waving said item in front of the brunette's face. After getting all the food dished out, Emma took a seat in one of the chairs that was seated in front of Regina's large wooden desk. Holland decided to stay seated in Regina's lap while she munched on some sweet and sour chicken.
"Do you think you can take the rest of the day off?" Emma asked around a mouthful of lo mein.
Regina looked at her with adoration in her eyes. "Chew your food first, Miss Swan" Holland giggled in Regina's lap.
Emma opened her mouth showing her daughter and girlfriend her chewed up food. "Momma!" Holland squealed. "That's a nasty!"
Swallowing her food, Emma repeated her earlier question. "Tomorrow's technically my last day until I decide to come back" Regina shrugged. "I have no reason to stay today. All my cases have already been reassigned"
Emma's eyes lit up at the prospect of having Regina all to herself for a day earlier.
Regina wiped her mouth with a napkin, before doing the same thing to Holland. "What did you have in mind?"
"Shopping!" Holland yelled, drawing the attention of some of the people milling about outside of Regina's corner office. The older woman looked down at Holland and smiled. She might be dressed as a boy today, but she was still a girl. The little four year old loved shopping more than Regina and that's saying something.
"No shopping, Holl. Soon I'm going to have to invest in a storage unit if you continue to have your way" Emma teased.
Holland pouted and went back to her food. "There's a Arts n Crafts Festival downtown?" Regina suggested.
Emma agreed that it sounded cool so 45 minutes later, they were trying to find a parking space. "Baby, just park in that first spot we found" the blonde said referring to the parking spot that was at least a quarter mile from the festival.
"Momma, I don't wants to get in there!" Holland whined.
Emma kneeled so she was level with her daughter. "Holland Lana Swan! What did I say about whining?"
"Not to whine" she said while whining.
"Sweetie, how about I push you?" Regina reasoned.
Holland cast one last glare at her blonde mother before stepping into the three wheel stroller. "You shouldn't baby her" Emma whispered once they started walking in the direction of the festival.
"What difference does it make on whether she's walking or in the stroller?" Regina asked confusedly.
Emma looked around at all the people. "There's hundreds of dozens of people here, I'd rather keep her strapped to me but the stroller will have to do"
Regina placed a comforting hand on a bare shoulder. "You're an excellent mother, Emma. I wasn't trying to-"
Emma cut her off. "I know" she whispered. "I get paranoid when it comes to Holl's safety. It doesn't help that we live in one of the most populated cities in the country either"
"Let's shop" Regina said, changing the depressing subject. Emma leaned towards the older woman and kissed her chastely.
"What was that for?" The brunette asked once they pulled apart.
Emma shrugged before placing her right hand in the back pocket of Regina's slacks. "Never stop being you"
"Momma, I gets out now please?" Holland asked probably for the twelfth time in the last ten minutes.
Regina gave the blonde her best puppy eyes. "She did say please"
Huffing, Emma unstrapped her daughter from the stroller. "Ladybug, I'm not joking around. You stay by us, okay. Either hold me or mommy's hand" Emma literally stopped breathing at that moment. It seemed like all the activity around them paused. The only thing she heard was the sound of her heart beating out of her chest. She was praying to the gods out there that Regina didn't hear, but Holland had other plans.
"Ooooh, mama mia! You say not in fwont of 'Gina!"
Emma chanced a quick glance at her girlfriend who was fighting a smile. "Regina, I-I"
"Emma, I knew"
"Huh?"
"I knew" Regina repeated again. "Since California. I overheard you talking. That, and have you ever heard a four year old keeping a secret?"
Emma looked down at her daughter with a raised eyebrow.
"She let it slip a few times, and I pretended that I didn't hear"
"Oh" was all Emma said.
"That's all you have to say?" Regina teased, finding Emma's usual chatter self quiet at the moment.
"I guess my response depends on yours" Emma explained, glancing around. She really wished she could have this talk in private. Not with all these people around and not with Holland looking up at them with big brown eyes. She wanted to sit Regina down and ask her question after question. Holland calling Regina mommy changes everything.
Almost as if she read Emma's thoughts, Regina said, "Let's talk about this later, alright?" stepping closer, she whispered "I don't want you to think I'm skirting around the topic. The first time we made love and I kissed each and every one of your stretch marks, I considered Holland mine" she pulled back and said in a normal tone, "So her calling me mommy just means that we now share a child" Regina then preceded to tell Holland that she didn't have to just refer to her as mommy in front of Emma. "You can call me Mommy whenever you want, Little One"
Holland looked down shyly all of a sudden. "Okay" she whispered.
"Do you want me to lift you up?" Regina asked. Holland shook her head yes so Regina positioned the girl onto her hip. The three continued to walk around looking at different local artist crafts, never spotting something they thought was worth buying until Regina spotted a stand that sold leather jewelry.
"Did you make all of these?" Emma asked the young woman who was positioned behind the stand.
"Yes. My great grandmother taught me all she knew before she past away"
Regina's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, dear"
The auburn haired woman waved Regina off. Trying to change the subject from something that still brought tears to her eyes, she asked if anything caught their eyes.
Regina and Emma both looked around the stand. There were different styles of leather jewelry. All ranging from width, to color, and some even had pearls woven into them.
Emma spotted a Western style anklet. It was a light brown that had a teal color braided into the design. "How much for that one?" she asked.
"$45.00" replied the young woman before she took it down from the stand. "But because you're Emma Swan. It's free"
Green eyes widened while Regina smirked. She would have to get use to people spotting Emma on the streets. It was different with Tatiana because she knew subconsciously knew that they were not going to last. But with Emma it was different. She knew that Emma was her last so she had no choice but to get use to the spotlight.
Emma shook her head. "I can't do that"
"I insist"
The blonde turned to her girlfriend. "Baby, are you buying anything?"
Regina caught on to what the blonde was doing. The sales person wouldn't take any money from Emma, but Regina was a different story. "I actually like that one" she said pointing to the Western looking one.
The auburn haired woman narrowed her eyes playfully. "Touché" was all she said.
Emma purchased the anklet and two bracelets. One that read Forever in silver, and the other read Mine. She passed the Mine one to Regina and placed the other one on her right wrist. Reaching into her purse, the blonde pulled out a crisp $100 bill and passed it to the younger woman behind the counter.
"This is too much" the girl protested. But Emma just waved her off.
"Do you have a business card or something? I might know a few people who would definitely be interested in adding these" Emma waved her hand around all the detailed leather jewelry "to their fashion line"
"Thank you" the girl choked out. "Thank you so much"
"Don't mention it. Just keep up the good work" Emma said before walking away with the business card tucked safely in her hands.
"Does she have sensitive skin?" Regina asked out of the blue fifteen minutes later.
Emma finished paying for a cutting board in the shape of a tree trunk before she turned to Regina. "Who? Holland?"
Regina took the cutting board from Emma before placing it in the basket under the stroller. "Well, dear. I didn't mean you"
Emma decided to get the awkwardness out of the way so she started addressing Regina as mommy every chance she could get. "Ladybug, isn't mommy the meanest?"
Holland was still in the brunette's arms, and that comment caused her to wrap her arms tighter around the brunette's neck. "Mommy not mean" she said with a cute pout before plopping the cotton candy lollipop Regina just purchased for her back in her mouth.
"Of course you would agree with her" Emma murmured good naturally but decided to answer the brunettes earlier question. "No, she doesn't have sensitive skin. Why?"
"I want to have her face painted. If that's alright with you?" Regina finished in an uncharacteristically shy tone.
While Holland was getting a butterfly painted on her left cheek, Emma grabbed Regina's hand and walked a few feet away. But not far enough so she couldn't still keep an eye on the little girl in the directors chair. "I understand that just because Holland calls you mommy doesn't mean that you're going to instantly know how to soothe a nightmare or kiss a boo boo away. If you feel overwhelmed, will you tell me?"
Regina nodded her head. "Alright"
"Also" Emma said. "You don't have to ask my permission if it involves Holland. I trust you. We trust you"
By the end of the blonde's speech, Regina's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "I love you, Emma Kassidy Swan"
"And I love you Regina Ava Mills"
A piercing scream broke their intense stare. "Momma! Mommy!"
Regina turned to Holland with wide eyes, her ears still ringing from the scream. The child was shaking like a leaf with scared eyes. She appeared to be oblivious to the tears running down her face. Emma scooped up the shaking girl into her arms. Practically pushing the artist who was in the middle of painting out of the way.
"The mean man" Holland said between sobs and shuddering breaths. "I see him here"
~oOo~
A/N : Like I said somewhere up there ^^^ I already started writingthe next chapter. Next chapter won't cover the stalker issue but it's leading up to the disappearanceof Bryant the baby daddy. Lol Hint : Emma had enough. She's going into Momma bear mode.
Until next time,
~ S