AN: Here is another chapter, it's a little emotional but I promise we'll get back to the fun stuff very soon.
Much love!
Reviews really really really REALLY appreciated!
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Chapter 25
Snow stood tentatively outside of the door to the Mayor's office Wednesday afternoon, a warm dish of apple crisp underneath a To-Go bag from Granny's diner. She wasn't sure her presence would be welcomed, but didn't let that thought deter her from knocking.
"Come in." came the distant voice of her once arch-nemesis.
The pixie haired woman pulled back her shoulders and raised her chin, bracing herself for a confrontation as she let herself into the office.
Regina peered at her over a document she was reading and immediately her facial expression hardened. Snow wished it wasn't still like that between them, but accepted that it most likely would never be any different. "Good afternoon Regina."
"Snow." Regina greeted coolly, brown eyes leaving green as Regina focused back on her document. "What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday, have lunch with you. Just us." Snow said as confidently as possible as she reached the desk and set down the To-Go bag and her tupperware of dessert. Regina raised narrowed eyes at her, seemingly to decide whether or not to incinerate her on the spot. Snow stood perfectly still and plastered her friendliest smile on her face. "I made apple crisp.." she sang suggestively, lifting the tupperware container.
Regina lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow at her, and Snow was reminded of a simpler time when the older woman sat her down and taught her how to perfect her own eyebrows. Of course, they would never reach that point again, but it didn't stop the pang of longing thrumming through her as the memories of those times faded away.
"Come on Regina, I promise I won't bite." The younger woman quipped lightly as she sat down and began to take out the two salads she'd picked up for them.
The Mayor actually snorted at that, clearly dismissing the implication that Snow was any threat to her and set about clearing off her desk to make room for the food Snow was setting out. "I am hardly concerned for my life, I assure you."
"Great! See? This isn't so bad. I even brought you the kale salad I know you like." Snow tittered in her usual friendly manner, happy to take charge of the conversation and lighten the mood.
Regina remained silent for a few moments as she typed out a message on her phone. When Snow was done setting everything out, the older brunette set her phone aside and spoke up. "Thank you, by the way. For the food and the birthday wishes." Her voice seemed strained, like it the words might get stuck in her throat and the Queen imagined it was pretty hard for Regina to say anything relatively nice to her, so she took a moment to appreciate such words.
"You're very welcome." Snow answered genuinely. "Do you have any plans to celebrate?" The pixie-haired brunette asked as she gave herself a mental pat on the back for not blurting out what she already knew - which was that Emma was going to surprise her tonight with tickets out of state for a week. She had been sworn to secrecy, and was doing her absolute best not to give anything away.
Regina was stabbing her plastic fork into her salad, mixing the italian vinaigrette throughout the bowl. She didn't look up when she answered, choosing to continue the process of preparing her food. "Just dinner tonight with Emma and Henry." she revealed offhandedly.
Snow hummed in acknowledgement as she mixed her caesar salad, picking a couple of lettuce leaves up with her fork absently as she responded. "A small and quiet affair sounds perfect."
The Mayor nodded in agreement, taking a bite of the salad. Silence loomed uncomfortably between them for a few moments, during which Snow casted a sidelong glance at her purse, trying to decide when to present the object inside of it.
"Have you decided on the countertops in your kitchen?"
Snow's eyes snap quickly to her former stepmother in mild surprise at the other woman's attempt at keeping the conversation going. "Um, yeah. Yeah, actually we decided on a dark honed granite. I think it will contrast well with the white cabinets we're putting in."
"I would think so." Regina agreed as she gave Snow a pointed look.
The young Queen blushed slightly at the look she was receiving, recalling Regina's own kitchen at the manor. "Well, you know what they say about great minds thinking alike…" Snow teased lightheartedly as she took another bite of her lunch.
The brunette let out a bark of laughter, clearly finding the idea completely preposterous. "Do not try to compare us Snow, or we'll never leave this room."
Snow tilted her head in thought, brow furrowing as she tried to think of anything between her and Regina that was alike, aside from their shared love for Emma & Henry. 'Ah, that's it'. "We both love with all our heart."
Regina looked up from her salad, clearly not expecting the younger woman to respond to her statement. The pixie-haired brunette offered her former stepmother a small smile when brown eyes bore into her own. After a moment of staring at each other, Regina averted her eyes and cleared her throat, clearly unable to disprove Snow's observation. "Can I offer you something to drink? Water perhaps?"
Before Snow even started to answer, Regina was up and out of her chair, walking towards the small cooler along the far wall. She smiled to herself, knowing her comment had been accepted by the Mayor. "Yes, please." Letting the older woman fuss with getting the bottle of water, Snow quickly grabbed the present from her purse and placed it between them.
The soft click of heels alerted her to the approach of the Mayor and she pretended to busy herself with cleaning up their meal. She had successfully cleared the desk from everything besides the apple crisp and the present by the time Regina rounded the desk and sat down. The brunette handed her a bottle of water, which she took with a 'thank you' and then she waited for Regina to notice the small box in front of her.
She didn't have to wait long, for when Regina retracted her hand it stopped and hovered over the small flat box. "Snow… what is this?" The brunette asked cautiously.
"It's a present." The young Queen stated obviously.
A look of puzzlement and wonder flashed through the brunettes dark eyes before quickly vanishing into a neutral expression. "You got me a birthday present?" Regina asked in disbelief, as if she expected a bear trap to be hidden in the box.
Snow felt her heart tighten at Regina's reaction, feeling guilty for how everyone had treated the royal since the curse broke. Sure, things had greatly improved since Whale led a mob to her doorstep, but there were things that still needed improvement. "I know that things around here could still use improvement - our relationship being one of them. But I wanted to let you know that… I want to be a family again. Well, I want to be a family period, since I don't think the first time counts as it was against your will. I know I screwed up and I hurt you deeply, but I never did it on purpose and I will tell you that as many times as you need until you believe me. All of those years… all of those years that we were at each others throats… and never once did you physically hurt me or I you. I choose to believe that was because there was some deep part of ourselves that still cared for each other and didn't want to see anything horrible happen to the other." she started fidgeting with her hands and cast her eyes to her lap in a very Mary-Margaret type fashion, losing her confidence under Regina's harsh stare. "It's probably a result of my blind ignorance and unrelenting optimism but that is what I choose to believe. And I want you to know that I still care about you, Regina. Very much. You may not have been my mother, but you taught me so many things. Even after my father died."
Silence fell between them for several seconds before green watery eyes lifted to meet chocolate brown, no longer harsh and unrelenting but nowhere near the soft gaze she'd seen Regina use on Henry and now Emma. Still, it boosted her motivation to push forward. "I find it fitting that after being the reason your first love was stolen from you, that I gave birth to the very person you're in love with now." Snow let a small smile form on her lips before casting her eyes to the small box on the desk. "While we were in the Enchanted Forest, in your castle, I stumbled upon something that I don't think you have thought of in years. I kept it with me, waiting for the right time to return it to you." An ivory hand reached forward and pushed the box towards Regina in a gesture that the brunette should take it. "Open it."
Regina looked down at the box, running her tongue along her bottom teeth as she sighed and picked up the box. Carefully unwrapping the paper and staring uncertainly at the square shaped silver box, she cast a fleeting glance at Snow, and lifted the lid.
Both women held their breath.
The pixie-haired brunette hyper-focused on the older woman's facial expression, and thus caught every emotion that flashed through the deep brown eyes. Shock, guilt, anger and disbelief were among the first. Eventually, everything faded until only one remained. Affection.
"My father's ring…" Regina said in a voice barely above a whisper. Slowly, the older woman tipped the box so the ring fell out, careful not to let the cotton it was resting on fall onto the desk.
"I know that you don't have much of him left, nothing physical at least. When I came across this and a few other things in a box in the room we were in... I decided to take for safe keeping. When we came back, we had to deal with Zelena and then the Ice Queen and I sort of forgot I had it. Then when I was thinking about what to get you for your birthday and I remembered. Do you like it?"
Regina didn't answer, still staring at the ring with a wistful look in her eyes. Snow frowned and stood, quietly making her way around the desk and kneeling in front of her former stepmother. "Regina?"
The brunette started, too lost in her memories to notice the movement of the young Queen. "I'm sorry, what did you say dear?"
Snow nearly burst into the other woman's lap at the term of endearment but was able to swallow down the swell of emotions and merely smiled softly at the brunette. "I asked you if you liked it."
Regina looked down at her kneeling beside her chair and both women were brought back to the Enchanted Forest when Snow would find Regina in the throne room and insist on crawling into the former Queen's lap when she was having a bad day. Regina barely tolerated her then, but still accepted her small form into her lap where she would hold her while dutifully supporting Leopold as he conducted business with the towns people. If Snow thought about it really hard, she could still feel Regina's hand stroking her arm soothingly as she pouted about whatever it was that had upset her that day.
"Very much. Thank you Snow."
Although the answer was short, the emotion that filled them made Snow's heart swell like a balloon. "You're very welcome."
They stared at each other for a moment, Regina letting down her guard enough for Snow to see a glimpse of her Regina, the one she remembered when she thought about her childhood. Smiling broadly, she bravely put her hand on the older woman's knee and leaned up to place a chaste kiss to Regina's cheek as she stood up.
Immediately, she turned her body away, giving the brunette a moment alone to process. "Happy Birthday Regina. I hope you enjoy the apple crisp, I used your apples for it." And, grinning ear to ear, she left office and walked back to her classroom.
After Snow had left, Regina tossed the ring into her desk drawer and called her secretary to tell him she was taking the rest of the day off. Leaving her phone and keys on the desk, she then teleported directly to the stables.
Flicking her wrist over her body, she quickly changed out of the pant suit she'd donned for work that morning and into a pair of old worn out jeans she kept for home repair projects, a black tank top and boots. Striding purposefully into the barn, she passed Olivia without a word and made her way down a familiar aisle. Reaching Romerito's stall, she grabbed his halter and lead before slipping them over his head and pulling him out. Without any desire to go through the process of tacking him up, she used a nearby hay bale as a stool and climbed up onto his bare back.
When Olivia started to question her, she flung the end of the lead onto the chestnuts flank, sending him bolting out the door and into the afternoon sun. She needed to run. She couldn't deal with the emotions flowing through her. She was losing control. Snow's gift had caused a flux of grief to seize her heart like a vice and she desperately needed release. She felt a longing she couldn't quell, knowing she was the reason her father wasn't here to reassure her. Much like the day she had to kill Daniel, Regina felt like she was falling apart.
She galloped through the woods as fast as her steed would go, not stopping until she came to the creek where she finally allowed herself to break down. There, leaning over Romerito's withers, she gripped his neck tightly and let her sobs break through the silence of the forest. She cried for the loss of her father, and because she was the reason he was dead. She cried for all the people she'd hurt in her quest for vengeance against Snow; she cried for so many reasons that she lost sight of most of them. She had no idea how long she sat there as Romerito faithfully stood guard while she purged her pain down his sleek neck and into his red mane.
The red stallion shifted to the left as his sensitive hearing picked up on the sound of hoofbeats coming down the path, causing the brunette to turn her face in the intruders direction, knowing all too well who'd she find standing there.
Sure enough, watery brown eyes met soft blue-gray as the brunette acknowledged Olivia's presence. It appeared that as soon as Regina had bolted from the barn, the girl stopped grooming the little black pinto she had been working with and followed her down the path, bareback and in only a halter in her rush to follow the Mayor. The two stared at each other, Regina knowing full well that she looked atrocious with her dark hair plastered to her tear-stricken face and her make-up smeared. But she couldn't find it in herself to care at the moment, nor did she raise her mask, unable to gather the energy it required.
Olivia watched her with a calm expression, her features soft and eyes full of understanding. No judgment, just a fierce sense of serenity that Regina found reassuring. Without a word, the brunette turned Romerito towards the creek and pressed onward, the gentle splash of water behind her signalling the girl followed. Once they reached the other side, Regina heeled her horse into a lazy lope, finding comfort in the beast beneath her and the girl beside her.
Regina stopped them in the meadow and slid off her horse and let him graze nearby. Collapsing under the tree in the same spot her and Emma shared not so long ago, she brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around herself in a protective manner, placing her chin atop her hands. The brunette stared blankly at the tall grass blowing in the gentle breeze as she thought about all of her regrets.
"It won't change anything." Olivia reasoned in a gentle tone as she sat down beside her. The older woman lifted an eyebrow at the girl, silently asking her to elaborate. "Beating yourself up over the past." Olivia continued matter-of-factly as she dropped her steel coloured eyes to a hole in her jeans, absently playing with the strings.
"Why would you think…?" Regina started, letting her question drop off as she watched the young girl sitting next to her.
Pink lips turned up in a soft smile as Olivia lifted her gaze to watch the horses grazing nearby. Without looking at the former Queen, she said, "I am extremely empathetic. My mom says it's a gift." The sandy-haired girl popped her shoulders up in a casual shrug. "I can feel your remorse, and your guilt. It didn't take long to piece together why."
The older woman continued to watch the girl for a few moments longer before averting her gaze to watch the horses. It certainly explained how Olivia always seemed to know how to act around her. It also explained how easily Regina trusted her. Surprisingly, it didn't bother the usually private royal that someone was able to see through her masks. In this moment, the knowledge was almost liberating. She felt a great wave of serenity pass through her knowing she didn't need to hide from her friend, and a moment later she relaxed her posture but lying her legs out in front of her and leaning her head back against the tree.
A few moments later she felt Olivia shift, and then flinched when the girls head came to rest on her shoulder. After a second or two she relaxed, allowing for the action of comfort as they watched the horses.
"You can never regret anything you do in life. You kind of have to learn the lesson from whatever the experience is and take it with you on your journey forward." The steely eyed girl said in a rehearsed tone that made Regina aware that it must be a quote from somewhere.
"And who said that?" The older woman prompted curiously.
Olivia chuckled softly, "I have no idea, I seen it on Facebook a couple of days ago. Just thought it fit the situation." The riding instructor turned her head away from the horses and looked pointedly at the former Queen. "You know Regina, you may have done some pretty horrible things… but look at where it got you. You can't say that you regret how happy you are now, or that you have a son and a promising relationship with a beautiful princess."
"Of course not." Regina answered as if the idea of regretting her son or his birth mother was preposterous. "I just wish... that I could've reached this point without the cost of so many lives." The brunette said honestly.
"But if you take away all the bad that you have done and all the cruel things that made you do them, would you be the same person you are today? Would Henry exist? Would Emma be the Savior and Sheriff your people need? That you need?"
Regina thought about that for a moment, considering the young woman's wise words before answering. "I… I don't know. I suppose not." she said finally.
"Everything happens for a reason, Regina. Live and let live. It is the first step in being truly happy."
The brunette ribbed Olivia while chuckling darkly, finding some of her previous good mood coming back to her. "That hasn't worked out so well for me in the past, dear."
Steel blue-gray eyes turned upwards to catch her gaze, a strength in them that Regina found empowering, "I didn't see you for the kind to give up so easily."
"I'm not." The sorceress said with finality, feeling a bit of fire come back in her voice.
"Then perseverance, my Queen." Olivia suggested, giving a soft smile as she turned her attention back to the horses.
Regina chose to remain silent after that, her attention also going back to the two faithful steeds that had brought them here as she mulled over the words of her friend. There was much to think about, and luckily, Olivia didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave her and so the two women continued their comfortable silence, both in deep thought but for different reasons.
Emma looked up at the stairs as Henry ran down them in a rush, two small boxes in his hands. "Hey kid, why aren't they wrapped?" she asked in alarm from the stove. Regina was due to arrive for their family dinner any moment, and Henry was supposed to have wrapped the last of her presents by now.
"I couldn't find any tape!" He exclaimed, showing the same amount of panic in his own voice as he scurried around the apartment looking for some.
The blonde ran a hand down her face, clearly flustered at the realization she bought wrapping paper but had forgotten the tape to go with it. With a flick of her wrist she summoned the tape dispenser from her desk at the station and held it out for the boy. "Here." When he thanked her with a smile and took off towards the stairs again, she turned back to the stove. She wasn't a great cook - or really, any form of a cook - but Regina's memories she'd been gifted with for New York had certainly made an improvement on the blonde's culinary skills. So, tonight she prepared a simple Italian dish of… spaghetti.
The timer went off on her phone and she quickly turned off the burner on both the sauce and noodles before pulling the grocery-store garlic bread out of the oven and setting it behind her on a couple of hot pads so it wouldn't destroy the counter-top. Checking the time on her phone and realizing she still needed to plate everything, set the table and get changed, she ran her hands through long blonde hair in a mild tantrum.
She was supposed to have started this an hour earlier, but she had received an urgent call from a local citizen about a small brush fire that had gotten out of control and after dealing with the owner, fire department and the paperwork involved, she'd been late picking Henry up from her parents and thus late on starting dinner. Now, with only minutes to spare she quickly flicked her wrist and sighed with relief when all the dirty dishes magically vanished, the table was set and the food plated. In that moment, she had never been happier to have magic.
Flicking her wrist again, she changed out of her clothes (that no doubt smelled of smoke) and into black dress pants, black heels and a black and white blouse, complete with hair and makeup redone. Henry came back down the stairs and looked at her, startled by everything being finished so suddenly. She chuckled at him and reached out her hand to take the wrapped presents. "Magic my boy, magic. A very useful tool on days like this."
He smirked playfully, "Only if you're lucky enough to have it."
"Or be around someone that has it." Emma pointed out with a waggle of her eyebrows. A knock came from the door, and Emma nervously flattened out her blouse as she gestured to her son to answer. With one last look around the room, she magically cut the lights and added a few lit candles in an attempt to be somewhat romantic. If Henry had a problem with it, he'd have to deal.
When the door was opened and Regina stepped through, the older woman sucked in a breath of air at the sight in front of her. Emma smiled gleefully, both happy with her girlfriend's reaction and thrilled to see the woman who she hadn't seen all day.
"Happy birthday mom!" Henry greeted, wrapping the brunette in a fierce hug that she returned with fervor.
"Thank you Henry." Regina kissed the top of his forehead and then lifted her gaze to see Emma standing by the breakfast bar. "My, my… aren't you a sight for sore eyes." she complimented, eyes roving over the slender woman in appreciation.
Emma smiled again, salaciously this time, as Henry was still in the clutches of a hug and couldn't see her. "I'm glad you like… everything." The blonde strolled forward as the older woman let Henry go with instructions to wash up for dinner. "Man, you look hot as hell." she greeted once she reached destination and they were alone.
Regina smiled warmly at the compliment, standing in front of the sheriff in a form fitting black dress that came to rest just above her knees. "Why thank you darling, you don't look half bad yourself." The brunette returned, leaning in and capturing red lips in a slow but passionate kiss. "Did you do all of this yourself?" Regina asked, nodding her head in the direction of the table when they parted.
Emma felt herself blush, pulling her hands away from the Mayor's hips where they had found purchase during the kiss. "Yes, with Henry's help of course." she answered as the boy emerged from the bathroom.
"Don't let her lie to you mom, I hardly did anything. Ma cooked the whole meal and set the table." Henry said proudly as he took a seat at the table.
"Really? You cooked dinner?" The older woman asked in mild surprise as they both found their seats, sitting across from each other as Henry had taken the seat at the head of the table.
"Yeah, its nothing big…" Emma tossed out semi-casually as she tried to hide her embarrassment from being put on the spot. Feeling self-conscious under Regina's affectionate gaze, she started dishing food onto her plate. Chancing a glance back into those soulful brown eyes, she saw Regina had opened her mouth to speak but at Emma's silent plea to let the subject drop, she turned her attention to Henry.
"So, Henry, how was your day with your grandparents?"
Henry dived in excitedly about his lessons with the Charming's, and the conversation went on from there as they each talked about the major points of their day. The renovations on the stables was finally complete, and Regina had signed off on a plan for a new section of houses that would be going up before winter. Emma talked animatedly about the brush fire and had everyone laughing when she had tried to explain to the owner why lighting a fire with a leaky bottle of lighter fluid was a bad idea.
Every now and then, Emma caught something in those chocolate eyes that seemed off, and after several pointed looks at the brunette she received a slight shake of a head that told her not to push. Slightly concerned, the blonde put the knowledge to the back of her mind to be brought up later. When dinner was over, Emma and Henry busied themselves with the clean-up while Regina excused herself to the restroom.
"Can we give her the presents now?" The teen whispered with a cautious look at the bathroom door.
Emma chuckled, "After the cake." she lifted the dessert pointedly and walked back over to the table to set it down. "But you can get the smaller two and set them next to the cake."
Henry did as he was told while Emma set down small plates to use for the dessert. The click of heels a moment later alerted her to the brunettes presence once again and she turned to smile warmly at her girlfriend, her heart swelling at the slightly stunned expression on the other woman's face. "Not used to birthday cakes I take it?" Regina shook her head slowly as she came to sit down at the table, but before she could answer Henry placed the two small presents on the table next to his mother.
"She wouldn't let us celebrate her birthday when I was growing up, said it wasn't important because she was a grown up and that birthday's were only meant for kids." Henry explained as he sat back down. "Now though, I think it was because of the curse. Even though the years ticked by, she didn't age. But once the curse broke, I was angry with her. So the first year, we did nothing. Then, the second year the curse happened… and then everything else. So this is the first year we've been able to do anything together."
Emma raised an amused eyebrow at her girlfriend, who gave her a bashful smile after eyeing the presents with a curious expression. "Well, that is way too long to go without a birthday celebration of some kind in my book." she said as she lit a single candle in the middle of the small chocolate cake with her hand and took her seat. "Happy birthday, Regina."
"Happy birthday, mom!" Henry said, smiling from ear to ear as he watched the brunette look to each of them with watery brown eyes, clearly overwhelmed.
"Make a wish, baby." The blonde encouraged, giving the seemingly stunned woman the push she needed.
Leaning forward, Regina narrowed her eyes momentarily at the blonde for the use of the pet name, then let out a breath that took the light away from the birthday candle. Henry let out a "whoop" and Emma smiled broadly, her eyes letting the other woman know how much she was loved. The brunette chuckled at their son's antics, "Henry, it isn't that big of a celebration." she teased lightly, seeming to find her way out of the emotional state she was in.
"Um.. yeah it is. It's the first time in my life I've seen you blow out a birthday candle. And I'm old." Both of his mother's laughed at that and soon they were chatting idly about favorite birthday's they'd had - most of the ones coming from the brunette involving a young Henry - and soon it was time for presents to be opened.
"Mom, you have to open mine first." Henry declared, putting a flat rectangle box wrapped in silver paper in front of the brunette.
Regina chuckled, taking the proffered gift and beginning the most tedious opening procedure Emma had ever witnessed. She couldn't figure out if Regina was cautious about what was underneath the wrapping paper, or if she just enjoying torturing them both. Most likely, it was a combination of the two. After a few agonizing moments, the paper was removed and Regina opened the box, and gasped.
Inside, lay a 14k white gold charm bracelet. There were five charms hanging delicately, each made with the same 14k white gold with diamond inlays. "Henry…" Regina managed breathlessly.
"Do you like it? I had the dwarves make it. There is a charm for each of us. The sword represents David, the arrow represents Snow, the book is for me, the heart represents Emma… and the horse represents you." Henry explained, touching each of the charms in the box as he spoke.
"Oh Henry I love it, thank you." The brunette said in awe as she reached over to kiss his cheek before taking the bracelet out and immediately trying to attach it to her wrist. After a second or two of struggle, Henry leaned over to help her.
When it was secured, watery brown eyes found jade green across the table and smiled warmly, the emotions rolling off of the awestruck woman in waves. Emma returned the smile with one of her own and then dropped her gaze to the second box, then back up as if daring the older woman to open hers. Regina followed her gaze and smiled again, her eyes flitting towards Henry who was encouraging her to open the next gift.
After another tortuously slow unwrapping process, the second box was opened. At first, Emma was worried that Regina didn't like it, as she just sat there in silence as she peered at the 18k white gold diamond hoop earrings. But then…
"Oh Emma… they're beautiful." The brunette whispered, seeming to have lost the ability to fully speak as she took the earrings out and held them in the palm of her hand. They weren't very big, more like half-hoops, but they would basically go with anything the woman chose to wear which was why Emma had chosen them. After placing them back in the box, Regina rose from her chair and came to stand in front of Emma, smiling lovingly as she bent down to kiss the Savior on the lips.
"Ew! Gross, get a room!" Henry jested, trying to act as grossed out as possible, causing both women to giggle girlishly at him.
"Oh believe me, dear, we will. Later." Regina quipped back at her son, eliciting a look of true horror on the teens face that made Emma bust out into a fit of laughter. Smirking devilishly, the brunette made her way back to her seat, taking a sip of wine from her glass.
"Well, it looks like there are only two presents left, right Hen?" Emma said, smiling mischievously in Regina's direction when the woman looked over at her in surprise.
"Two? You have more gifts for me to open?" The Mayor asked in shock.
"Well… not really." The blonde answered cryptically.
At Regina's raised eyebrow, the sheriff flicked her wrist, dispelling the cloaking spell over the last two gifts. Flourishing her hand towards the gift that was sitting behind the brunette, Regina turned to see what was waiting for her. Meanwhile, Henry took out his cell phone and began recording the scene in order to show his grandparents later.
What she saw was a suede Diane Von Furstenberg luggage set. The ensemble exuded elegance with its classy style and leather trimmings, perfectly suited for someone of Regina's status. But as her face was turned away, Emma wasn't sure how the gift was being received, so she cleared her throat and spoke. "This part is actually from Mary-Margaret and David, so if you don't like it, you can blame them." she half-joked, unsure of how to handle the brunette's silence.
Regina turned around and pinned her girlfriend with a curious stare. "I love the set, however, why do I need it?"
Emma smirked devilishly, a twinkle of mischief in her green eyes. "Open the front pocket of the suitcase closest to you and find out." she dared.
With a glance at Henry, who was grinning behind his phone, Regina turned back to the luggage and found the front pocket of the piece closest to her. Opening it, she reached inside and pulled out three airline tickets. With slightly shaky hands, Regina turned back and looked at Emma with a frown. "Plane tickets?" Emma nodded with a smile, "To where?"
"Read it and find out." The blonde challenged.
Regina looked at the tickets and then back up to Emma, then to Henry, then back to Emma, "It says Orlando to Boston."
"Yep." Emma affirmed.
"We're going to Orlando?" Regina asked suddenly, as if it just occurred to her.
"We are." The younger woman announced.
The brunette looked from Emma to Henry and then down to the tickets a couple of times, before her face broke out in a broad smile. "When? How?" she asked in quick succession, as if she couldn't decided which she wanted to know more.
"We're driving to Boston and picking up a rental car tomorrow morning, it's about a 20 hour drive down to Orlando, so the first night we will be sleeping in South Carolina at resort in Myrtle Beach." Emma explained. "The next day we'll finish the journey to Florida, spend a few days and then fly back. So you get the full travel experience in one trip."
Regina shook her head, looking down at the tickets, looking suddenly distraught. "Emma, I can't-"
"Don't worry about work mom," Henry interrupted, drawing the attention of both women. "Grandma is going to cover you at City Hall while we're gone."
"She is?" Regina asked looking from Henry to Emma, taken aback for what must have been the tenth time that night.
"Yes, she is." The blonde confirmed. "So you can stop worrying, we have everything covered." she added with a loving smile.
"But.. how did you?" Regina asked, letting the question drop off, the implication of finances hanging in the air.
Emma raised a haughty eyebrow, trying her hardest to not find the implication insulting. "Just because you pay my salary, doesn't mean you know what's in my bank account, dear." she replied, unable to keep the sharpness from her voice.
Luckily, Henry jumped to the rescue before an argument about finances could brew. Taking the brunette's hand, the teen relieved the growing tension between his two mothers. "Mom, relax, Emma took care of everything. All you need to do is just enjoy the fact that you'll be out of Storybrooke for a whole week. Away from everyone who knows you as the Evil Queen and the Mayor. You just get to be you."
Regina let that thought permanate in her mind for a moment before her face broke out into the largest smile Emma had seen on her in a long time. Looking between her son and Emma, the brunette giggled shyly, "I don't even know who Regina is without those other identities hanging over my head."
"Well, I look forward to meeting her." Emma said with a wink, earning another mega-watt smile from her girlfriend. "Now, we should probably clean this mess up and get you two packed."
So, the trio went about getting the apartment clean. Henry was in charge of getting the luggage Regina would need into the Mazda while his mother's cleaned up the mess from the cake. Once he was out of sight, Regina whisked the mess away with her magic and all but leapt into the Savior's arms, kissing her passionately.
Emma was startled by the move and quickly found herself pressed up against her refrigerator kissing the former Queen. It wasn't long before the kiss turned heated, and Emma found her hands roaming over the brunette's luscious curves. Reaching the older woman's rear, she gave it a firm squeeze, eliciting an excited moan from the Mayor. Breaking the kiss, the blonde licked and nipped at Regina's earlobe and was rewarded when the brunette shivered. "I take it someone had a good birthday?" Emma purred seductively.
Regina moaned in response to the sheriff's husky tone, dipping her head so she could nip at the blonde's pulse point. "The best." she assured her lover.
Emma smirked against the shell of Regina's ear, the familiar tendrils of arousal snaking through her lower belly and meeting between her thighs, making her sex ache. Unfortunately, she was still closed for business, but that didn't mean she couldn't worship the magnificent woman pinning her to her kitchen appliance. "And to think… it isn't even over yet."
"Oh?" Regina inquired before continuing to place wet kisses along Emma's neck, nails digging into the blondes hips.
"That's right… you have yet to let me give you my final gift." Emma teased sensually, her center absolutely throbbing now.
"And what is that?" Regina cooed.
"You'll have to wait and find out." Emma purred, the promise of a night full of sexual worship clear in her voice as she gently pushed the brunette away as the door to the apartment opened.
God, Emma couldn't wait to show the amazing woman in front just exactly how much she was loved. Biting her lower lip, Emma pushed off the refrigerator and joined her family in exiting the apartment.