No doubt Mauritius was a warm place. Regina and Laura spend almost all their time lying on the beach, Laura's skin had never been more freckled, and Regina was getting tanned really fast. Her cheeks were positively glowing, and she couldn't remember the last time she had felt this relaxed. The beach was literally right outside, and she didn't need to put on any clothes except for a bathing suit.
Yes, Mauritius was a warm place. So warm, that Laura had declared that she wanted ice cream and was prepared to "search all of Mauritius to find some". Regina had laughed and then wished her girlfriend "happy hunting". Regina hadn't really been in the mood for going out. Not even for ice cream. Her head was still banging after last night's visit to that darned club. It had been a fun night, no doubt, but she had some hangovers that were almost killing her.
Regina had left Laura to venture out in the Mauritian sunshine alone, while she herself were planning to nurse her hangovers. She rubbed her temples in an attempt to get some relief. God, my head is killing me. I'm getting too old for this. When this holiday was over, she wasn't gonna drink alcohol ever again. Nor was she gonna engage in eating the greasy food she had been allowing herself to eat here. No, things were gonna change drastically when she got back home to Storybrooke. Out with the greasy food and in with the salad and treadmill.
God, I'm so hungover. Regina ended up lying down on the unmade bed while she rubbed her head and muttered complaints under her breath. Why did she drink so much last night? Had it really been worth it?
Well... Yes. Last night had been a very fun night. She and Laura had been dancing until three in the morning. But as fun as it had been last night, as much was Regina regretting it now. Her head was banging. She chuckled meekly. At least Laura was feeling just as miserable. Regina suspected that was why her girlfriend suddenly craved ice cream. To cure her hangover. Regina's mouth twisted. She couldn't for the life of her figure out how Laura could even think of eating ice cream. Regina certainly couldn't eat anything. The thought alone...
"Ugh," Regina groaned and rubbed her temples again. It felt like this was potentially gonna kill her. One way or the other.
She had every intention of nursing this hangover by doing the only right thing. Taking a well deserved nap. God knew she needed one.
But before she got the chance to actually doze off, her peace and quiet were disturbed by a sound coming from her laptop. A sound that meant that someone was trying to reach her through Skype
"No!" Regina muttered to herself and rolled over so her face was mashed into the pillow. "No, no, no, no!"
But her laptop didn't stop screeching. Of course it didn't. She couldn't very well will it to stop. Even though she wanted to.
Cursing and grumbling under her breath, Regina slowly got on her feet and staggered over to the table where she had left the phone yesterday. She reminded herself that it could be Henry trying to reach her. Of course she had to see who was trying to reach her.
But as soon as she glanced at the computer screen, she sort of wished that she hadn't gotten out of bed for this. Because it wasn't Henry trying to reach her. It was Snow White.
Why? Regina silently asked herself. Why did Snow White want to Skype with her? I'm hungover. What have I possible done to deserve this?
Easily answered. She got drunk last night, and now the universe was punishing her for it. Great just great.
Regina stared at the "Mary Margaret calling..." on the screen. Then she cursed once more for good measurement, and then she clicked "answer call".
A moment later, Snow White's smiling face appeared on the screen, but she wasn't the only one. Emma and Zelena were there too. And so was Lola. The dog was yapping happily, even though she probably couldn't quite understand what was going on.
"Hi!" Snow said too loudly.
"Hello," Regina answered and tried not to cringe at how loud Snow's voice was. It's your own fault for drinking. Serves you well.
"How is the holiday treating you?" Emma asked.
"Quite well," Regina said and noted that Emma looked a bit peaky. Perhaps she had morning sickness.
"Really?" Zelena asked and raised an eyebrow. "You look a bit tired, to be honest."
"Rude," Regina said and raised her own eyebrow.
Zelena had the decency to look chastened.
"I have a hangover," Regina admitted. "And a banger headache. So I would appreciate it if you could whisper."
As on commando, Lola barked loudly.
Regina grimaced and palmed her forehead once more. "Thank you, Lola. I didn't appreciate that one bit."
Emma, Snow and Zelena all laughed.
"So," Regina said. "To what to I owe the pleasure?"
"Where's your girlfriend?" Zelena asked and completely ignored Regina's question.
"Oh, she got a better offer and took off," Regina quipped.
"I seriously doubt that," Emma said plainly.
"She suddenly wanted ice cream and ventured out to find some," Regina explained.
Zelena's eyebrow rose again. "Without you?"
"Hangover," Regina said plainly.
"Ah," Zelena said, offering a small nod in understanding.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Regina asked again.
"Mom missed you," Emma said and grinned.
"Doubtful," Regina drawled.
Snow didn't seem bothered by Emma's "reveal". "Storybrooke seems very empty without you," the pixie haired woman said and flashed Regina a little smile.
Regina chuckled a little and ignored her banger headache. "Now, now, I'll be home soon, and then you'll wish that I took another trip."
Snow chuckled. "I doubt that. It's weird, walking around in Storybrooke and you're not there."
"Is this a stepdaughter missing her stepmother?" Regina quipped.
Snow laughed heartedly. "Yes, I suppose it is."
"Oh well. You better fill me in on what's going on in Storybrooke then," Regina said and sat down in front of the laptop. She found it to be rather sweet that Snow White had reached a point where she missed Regina.
Snow was more than willing to do that. Everything was going well in Storybrooke, she told Regina. Maleficent was doing a marvelous job at being the "deputy Mayor". Henry and Ella were doing splendidly. Snow claimed that Henry missed Regina "terribly". Regina laughed heartedly at that.
"He does," Snow stated firmly. "He always tells us when he receives an update from you, and when he hasn't, he asks us if we have."
"That's very sweet," Regina said, reminding herself to get better at texting her son and sending him regularly. In fact she would do it right now. Discreetly, while she was still chatting to Snow and the others, she found her phone and send a text to her son, asking how he was doing.
"And the latest news..." Snow said, for some reason dragging it out.
"Yes?" Regina said and raised an eyebrow at Mary Margaret's tone. There was something in it she didn't quite understand.
"Moe French is retiring," Snow revealed.
"Is he now?" Regina said. "Well, I suppose that makes sense. He's not getting any younger."
"He's going back to the Enchanted Forest to live with Rumplestiltskin and Belle," Emma added.
Regina snorted. "I bet Rumple's gonna love that."
"I've heard rumors that it was his idea," Zelena said.
"Seriously?" Regina said, disbelief dripping from her voice. "He really has changed."
"So this means that Game of Thornes will be empty," Snow said.
"Yes, I suppose so," Regina nodded. "But perhaps someone will buy the building and open a different store."
"Or..." Zelena said and snickered.
"Or what?" Regina said, now thoroughly confused.
"Well, I don't know, you wouldn't happen to know any florists who could take over, do you?" Zelena said innocently.
"Oh, so that's what this is about," Regina said and rolled her eyes. "I should have known. As far as I know, Laura is very satisfied with her store in Boston."
"And you don't think she would be satisfied with being closer to you?" Zelena asked drawlingly.
"Thank you for the interest, but we're quite happy with the way things are," Regina said.
"Are you really?" Zelena prodded.
"Yes. Of course we are," Regina said firmly. But that wasn't entirely true. The long distance thing had been a bother for a while now, but Regina wasn't sure how to solve that problem. She couldn't move to Boston. She had Henry and all her friends in Storybrooke. Laura had her grandmother and her flower store in Boston. She couldn't just move to Storybrooke. Her grandmother wouldn't be able to come and visit her. That would only complicate things.
"Regina?" Zelena asked.
Regina quickly snapped out of it. "Alright, so perhaps the long distance isn't very ideal, but I don't really see how else we're supposed to do this thing. I can't exactly move to Boston. And Laura just can't move to Storybrooke. I'm sure you understand that."
Snow nodded. "Of course."
Regina mulled over it for a moment. It would be wonderful if Laura could move to Storybrooke, and they could be together every day instead of just talking over the phone or chat site. It wasn't quite the same. A Skype call didn't beat being together like they were on this holiday. Waking up with Laura everyday... Regina shook her head a little. That would be absolutely wonderful. Waking up and seeing Laura's face as the first thing. God, that would just be...
"Regina?" this time it was Snow who pulled Regina out of her musings.
"Yes. Sorry," Regina said and forced herself to snap out if once more. "I'm a little distracted."
"By...?" Snow gently prodded.
Regina did her best to shrug and then smile. "It's nothing. Never mind. I'm fine."
That's when she heard the door being opened and then closed downstairs. Regina chuckled when she heard Laura whistle tunelessly to herself, and then the expected "Babe?" floated up the stairs.
"In the bedroom," Regina called back, and hastily added: "I'm Skyping with Mary Margaret and the others." She didn't really expect Laura to say something inappropriate, but one could never be too careful.
"You can call her Snow White," Laura singsong'ed. "I'm not gonna go into shock, you know."
"Right," Regina laughed. "Why don't you come up here and say hi instead of poking around downstairs?"
"Alright, alright. Ms. Bossy," Laura called back. "Gimme a second to put the ice cream away, will ya!"
Regina chuckled, and to her surprise, so did Snow.
"What?" Regina asked and raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, you know," Snow snickered. "Just the fact that she calls you babe."
"And gets away with it," Emma added.
"Oh," Regina mulled over that. She hadn't thought of that. "I suppose I'm just used to it by now."
"It's so sweet," Snow beamed.
"And better than a stupid mantra like "I'll always find you"," Regina added to take the edge of the sweetness.
Zelena laughed at that.
There was a bit of rustle and bustle downstairs, and then the stairs creaked slightly. Two seconds later, Laura appeared in the bedroom. Her freckled face lit up as she smiled and waved at Emma, Snow and Zelena on Regina's laptop screen. "Hi, guys."
"Hey, Laura," Emma smiled. "How's Mauritius treating you?"
"Oh, it's wonderful here," Laura gushed. "We're definitely coming back."
"We are?" Regina asked playfully.
"Yes. We are. I've just decided. You gotta let me take charge for once," Laura joked as she nonchalantly draped an arm around Regina's shoulder.
Zelena laughed again.
And Laura proceeded to gush over Lola who had re-appeared on the screen, and Regina chuckled as she heard her girlfriend vocalize how much she missed Lola, and how soon she would come and visit her.
"I think you love the dog more than you love me," Regina quipped.
"Oops. You got me," Laura said and went along on the joke. "I'm totally exposed now."
Yes, almost, Regina thought to herself as she took in the short denim shirt and crop top Laura was wearing today.
"How's the hangover?" Laura asked, oblivious to where Regina's thoughts were headed.
"Fairly horrible," Regina said truthfully and reminded herself that she was skyping with her family. Right now was not the proper time to ogle Laura. Even though she wanted too.
"Aww," Laura cooed while Zelena and Snow and Emma laughed on the screen.
"I blame you," Regina teased. "There's no way I could have gotten such a bad idea."
"Really?" Laura mocked and frowned. "'Cause I could have sworn that you were the one who ordered those Margaritas."
"Impossible," Regina said and ignored her audience's snickers.
"She's lying," Laura told Emma, Snow and Zelena. "She was totally the one who ordered Margaritas."
"Not true," Regina muttered. Even though it totally was.
"For some reason I believe Laura more than I believe you," Zelena drawled.
"Remind me again why we're Skyping," Regina sassed. She wasn't aware that Zelena saw this as an opportunity to mock her.
"Because we miss you," Snow said and flashed Regina a beaming smile.
"Yes, so you keep saying," Regina said and rolled her eyes.
Laura chuckled.
"So, do you guys have any plans tomorrow?" Emma inquired.
Regina turned to Laura. "Do we have any plans?" right now, her banger headache was preventing her from remembering whether they had made plans or not.
"Weren't we supposed to swim with dolphins tomorrow?" Laura asked and frowned slightly. "Or did we agree to see the Kaylasson Temple tomorrow? And we still need to visit that market at Port Luis? I can't remember."
"I think we decided on the dolphins tomorrow," Regina said. She wasn't completely sure, though. It could very well have been something else. Perhaps we agreed to visit the Martello Towers. Or was it Black River Gorges? God, why can't I remember? Bloody hangover.
"I'm sure we'll think of something," Laura said and gave Regina a very fond look. "Either way, I'm sure it's gonna be amazing. No matter what we decide to do."
"Oh god, I think I'm gonna be sick," Zelena said dramatically. "You two are positively disgusting."
"And I think that's enough Skyping for today," Regina said. She was only partially joking. She was hoping to spend a bit of quality time with her girlfriend now.
Emma, Snow and Zelena all send each other "knowing" glances, and then Snow announced that they could "talk another day".
Regina quickly agreed to that. She actually didn't care what Snow, Zelena and Emma assumed she and Laura was gonna do after this Skype call. She and Laura said goodbye to the three women on the screen, and Regina went as far as blowing Lola a kiss. That made Laura chuckle and squeeze Regina's shoulder slightly. Then they ended the call, and Regina switched off the laptop.
"It's strange receiving Skype calls from someone else than you," Regina muttered.
Laura chuckled and squeezed Regina's shoulder again. "I'd be more than happy to call you on Skype, babe. And give you a striptease."
"Or how about you give me that striptease right now?" Regina suggested.
"Maybe later," Laura said and winked. "Right now, I have an extremely hot date with a tub of ice cream."
"Oh, so now you're choosing ice cream over me?" Regina teased. "Is that what our relationship have come to?"
"Ice cream with chocolate sauce," Laura said, and her blue eyes widened. "I'll admit that it's not as good as you, but almost. And it's not something I want to put off any longer."
"Alright. Then go downstairs and cheat on me with the ice cream," Regina teased.
"Only if you go with me."
"I'm not gonna eat any ice cream," Regina said firmly. "I'm fairly certain my stomach would hate me if I did."
"For the company, then?" Laura sweetly coaxed. "Come on. I hate eating alone."
"Fine," Regina said, surrendering without grace. "But I refuse to eat any ice cream."
"Not intending to force it down your throat," Laura quipped as she pulled Regina up from the chair and then dragged her towards the staircase. "Now come on."
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Regina said.
It was only when they were about to leave the room that Regina finally noticed how messed up the bed was. The duvets had been shoved to the very bottom of the bed, and the sheets were completely crumpled. Regina sighed a little. And I've just been sitting here and having a conversation with my family while they could see that in the background. Nice. Now the knowing glances Emma and Snow and Zelena had exchanged, suddenly made a hell of a lot more sense.
Downstairs in the kitchen, Laura did indeed dig into a large tub of vanilla ice cream. She sprayed the ice cream with chocolate sauce, and Regina silently wondered how on earth she could eat that stuff right now.
"So? Did they want something in particular, or did they just want to chat?" Laura asked as she elegantly hopped up on the kitchen table with the bowl of ice cream and a spoon in hand.
"They just wanted to talk," Regina said as she walked over to stand next to her girlfriend, trying her utmost not to be distracted at the way Laura swung her long, tanned legs back and forward. Her short denim skirt had crawled up some when she hopped up on the kitchen table, and for that Regina was eternally grateful.
"Any news?" Laura asked nonchalantly and shoved a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
"Uhh... Moe French is retiring," Regina said. She couldn't concentrate on having a conversation. Laura's legs were far too distracting.
"The owner of Game of Thorns? No way!" Laura said and lowered the spoon slightly. "What's gonna happen to the flower store then? And the van?"
"I don't know," Regina said and shrugged. "I suppose he's gonna sell the store. And the van for that matter."
"That's such a shame," Laura said and shook her head. "All those flowers."
"I know," Regina said and nodded once. She knew how sensitive Laura was when it came to flowers.
And Laura seemed positively crestfallen. "That store closed. And that awesome van. I can't believe it. I can't believe it's just gonna close. Someone ought to do something about that."
"Let's hope someone will buy the store and make sure the building doesn't decay completely," Regina said.
Laura pursed her lips. "But what if they're not gonna continue to run it as a flower store?"
"At least the building won't decay?" Regina suggested.
"Still not the same," Laura muttered and shook her head once more.
"No, I guess not," Regina agreed. "I'm sorry. I know it makes you upset." She turned so she was facing Laura.
"It's ridiculous," Laura almost scoffed. "But every time I hear of something bad happening to flowers..."
"Hey, don't apologize," Regina half-chuckled. "I get it."
Laura sighed dramatically. "At least I have my ice cream to console me."
"Very fortunate," Regina said somewhat dryly.
Laura chuckled as she took another spoonful of ice cream. "It's actually really good," she announced between mouthfuls.
"Yes, I'm sure it is," Regina said.
"You should totally try it."
"No thank you."
"But the chocolate sauce is amazing," Laura half-moaned.
"Mmm, so was the sound you just made," Regina laughed.
Laura snickered at that. "But still doesn't taste as good as you," she concluded after another spoonful of ice cream and chocolate sauce."
"I feel so flattered," Regina said sardonically.
"Hey now, be nice," Laura warned and lifted the spoon to point it at Regina.
"Not a chance," Regina teased. "What are you gonna do about it, my dear Laura?"
Laura answered by dipping her index finger into the bowl of ice cream, and then before Regina could even blink, she had smeared chocolate sauce on the brunette's exposed collarbone.
"You did not." Regina said sharply as she looked down and eyed the sticky stuff on her skin.
"Oops," Laura said and mocked gasped. "Oh no. How clumsy of me!"
"This is not funny, Laura."
"I know," Laura said and sat the bowl of ice cream down on the table. "Don't worry, I'll clean it right away."
"Yes, that would be preferabl- oh." Regina interrupted herself midsentence when Laura put her hands on her hips to draw her closer. The redhead grinned cheekily at Regina, and then she lowered her mouth to Regina's collarbone and slowly licked the chocolate sauce away from Regina's skin.
"Oh," Regina said again. Well, I suppose that's one way of cleaning up.
Laura mock gasped again. "I've found the right combination," she announced as she lifted her head slightly. "You and chocolate sauce. Perfect!"
"You're bad," Regina stated plainly.
"Then you'd be shocked if you knew what I'm thinking 'bout right now..." Laura murmured, and her voice dropped an octave or two.
"Do tell," Regina half-ordered. It certainly felt like her hangover was finally lifting, giving way to... other things.
"Oh, you know... I'm just imagining what it would be like to lick chocolate sauce off every inch of your body," Laura said. As she spoke, she dipped her index finger into the bowl of ice cream again, and soon another smear of chocolate sauce ended up on Regina's skin. This time on the top of her breast.
Regina groaned, and her toes curled slightly as Laura immediately went to work and licked the chocolate sauce off her body.
"I think you'd look really hot covered in this stuff," Laura said, lifting her head once more. "I know we haven't exactly tried it before, but just imagine how it would feel if I licked chocolate sauce off your..." She lowered her hands this time and shamelessly gave Regina's right breast a soft squeeze.
Regina couldn't have cared less whether it was something they had tried or not. She was more than open to the suggestion.
"It sounds very... interesting," she said somewhat strangled. Laura's hand was still on her breast.
"Yeah?" Laura said and squeezed her breast again. "Wanna try it?"
"Absolutely," Regina said breathlessly.
"Such a wild woman," Laura teased as she sat the bowl of ice cream down on the table and then hopped off the table with the bottle of chocolate sauce in hand.
Wordlessly, Regina followed her girlfriend upstairs. Soon they were tumbling down onto the unmade bed. Now it was rather fortunate that neither of them had bothered to make the bed this morning. Clothes were removed and thrown carelessly on the floor, and the bottle of chocolate sauce was put to good use. And so was Laura's warm, wet mouth. Regina groaned slightly as her girlfriend licked the chocolate sauce off her neck.
"What happened to your rule?" Laura teased as she briefly lifted her head.
"Mmmm, fuck! What rule?" Regina breathed back. Her head was spinning, and this time not because of the hangover.
"No food in the bedroom," Laura snickered and echoed the words Regina had said about a million times.
"Shut up," Regina growled. "And kiss me again."
And Laura did. But first she smeared more chocolate sauce onto Regina's skin, and Regina moaned sharply as the sticky stuff was licked off her skin. She would have to re-evaluate that rule about food in the bedroom. And she would have to remember to always agree to every suggestion Laura made. This was another excellent idea. Fuck, I never want to leave Mauritius again. It was very possible that they would have to stay here forever. And right now, Regina wouldn't mind that one bit. She moaned again as Laura followed through with her "evil" plans and licked a bit of chocolate sauce away from her right breast.
Downstairs on the table, the ice cream was slowly melting...
