The line for The Hulk rollercoaster wasn't overly long. It took some convincing for Regina to secure her fanny pack in a locker and take Emma's hand leading to the back of the line. Regina was shaking lightly, and nervous energy had sprung up around her. She had started the line asking questions about how scary the ride would be, but the further they progressed the quieter she got.
"Hey, are you okay?" Emma gently prodded, lifting her chin with a finger to study her fear glossed eyes.
"Yes…I'm—this is just new for me. I'm sure this unbearable anxiety I have will pass," Regina said, waving her hand nonchalantly. She attempted a brave smile, but it never reached her eyes and it quickly dissipated as she saw how close they were to boarding the coaster.
"If you don't want to ride it, just tell me now and we can leave," Emma whispered quietly. It was always good to try something that seemed scary in hopes of getting over that fear, but she didn't want her lovely lady passing out or puking on her.
"I'm fine," the brunette asserted tersely, even as she began to pant a bit like she was seconds away from hyperventilating.
"Ok, so you want to right in front then?" Emma asked, gauging the almost imperceptible shake of the brunette's head. She felt Regina's clammy palms latch onto her arm, in a clinging manner. If the woman hadn't been so terrified, Emma would have found it more adorable.
They lined up at the gate for the ride, as the coaster swung into the station. The previous occupants vacated the cars looking windblown and happy as they went. Regina was hugging Emma from behind, and burying her face into her back. She coaxed the surprisingly strong arms from around her middle and led the woman through the gate and into the ride. The padded safety bar came down from the top and fit securely over the rider's shoulders and torso.
Regina dutifully took her seat beside Emma. She was staring straight ahead at the ominous dark tunnel. This coaster is unique in that it accelerates straight from the get go and shoots through the tunnel followed immediately by an insanely steep drop. It's supposed to emulate how the Hulk feels when he get s angry and transforms.
"Emma, where's your hand?" Regina sounded desperate, and Emma found Regina's hand, she couldn't see her very well, with the safety bar in the way, but there was no going back now.
"I'm here, just try and relax," she told her. Regina didn't respond as the ride was underway. They ramped up through the tunnel as green lights sped by their periphery and then they were over the edge and flying straight down gathering speed and whooshing. Emma let out a wild scream as the wind stole her breath. She felt Regina's hand squeeze into a death grip onto her, and a heard her let out a more brittle sounding scream from beside her. For the next minute, her world consisted only of sky, ground, and glimpses of green metal track as the coaster ran its course.
The ride coasted into the station and the stopped, a moment later the safety bars were released and Emma pushed hers up, nervous to see how Regina handled it. Her hair was all out of place and she looked shell shocked, but she was smiling. She wasn't even covered in vomit or unconscious. On shaky legs she stood up and exited out the side.
"You made it."
"Indeed I did…do we have time to go again?" Regina laughed freely as Emma rubbed her back. They had to head back to pick Henry up from his Dora tour. "I must confess that I was skeptical, but that was fun!"
Emma knew the feeling as it was the same she had felt about the older woman for so long. Seeing a playful side of Regina out of her comfort zone sparked an even deeper respect and care in her. By the time they retrieved Henry and Regina inspected him for any injury or signs of distress, they were all getting hungry, hot and tired.
Henry talked excitedly about his safari and when Emma told him that she got his mom to ride the Hulk the boy looked at her like she had just performed a miracle, (or cast a difficult spell in Diagon Alley.) the coaster loomed above them, visible from all over the park, "Whoa! You rode that?!"
While Henry didn't quite meet the height requirement for that ride, he did barely make the 40 inch mark and Emma took him on the Amazing Spiderman ride. Which was thankfully air conditioned and included 3D glasses. It was like Spiderman and all the villains were flying right at their faces. Regina had abstained, citing that she had had enough thrill rides for the day and would be waiting with lunch when Emma and Henry finished.
They took a rest at a picnic table that was shaded and enjoyed over priced burgers and chicken tenders from the Jurassic Park themed café. The humidity was ramping up at the same pace that Henry's energy was fading out. After another stop in the Spiderman store for another costume for Henry, and a photo opt with Wolverine, they headed back to the hotel just as thick droplets of rain began to fall.
They wrangled off Henry's Gryffindor cloak, promising they'd all go swimming at the hotel pool in the evening after the rain stopped and the sun went down. He yawned, his eyes shimmering, "Thank you, Mommy and thank you, Emma!"
He fell into a deep sleep within moments.
Crossing to the window and peering out at the park, Emma still couldn't believe she was here with Regina and her son. It felt right and it felt surreal. She noticed the ornate Christmas decorations around the hotel and all over the park. Pulling herself from her thoughts, she turned around just in time to watch Regina as she locked the door to their room and stripped out of her clothes, flinging the fanny pack onto the bed.
She motioned at Emma to get naked with a sharp nod, a sultry stare, and a lick of her lips, "I hope you have some energy left. Henry will be napping for a few hours…I think it's our turn to have some fun. Together."
Regina popped the cork on the bottle of Champagne and leisurely poured them each a glass of cool, sweet bubbling liquid. She crossed the room and headed to the Jacuzzi tub. She started the water, testing the heat with her fingers and turned the whirling jets on. She stared hungrily at Emma. "Care to join me?"
Emma was out of her clothes in seconds, her body already conditioned to Regina's sexy drawl as thoroughly as Pavlov's dog. She took a steadying breath as she bunched her hair on top of her head in a messy bun and followed Regina into the spacious tub. Sinking into the water and settling back into Regina's lap, she felt lips kissing up her neck and fingers stroking and fondling smooth wet skin.
Emma allowed herself to relax into the delightful touch. She had no worries about the future of her career or her future with Regina, because in that moment she had the distinct impression that everything was going to turn out perfectly.