Regina oversaw the preparation of the complex spell, making sure the fairies that Blue had brought along didn't make any mistakes. They couldn't afford to make any mistakes and if the spell went wrong or didn't work at all, Emma would be extremely reluctant to try again.
After their moment in the kitchen, they didn't speak much at all, their lips otherwise preoccupied up until the doorbell rang, signaling the fairies arrival. Emma had retreated upstairs quickly before Regina had let them in and she still had yet to return downstairs. The clock was ticking and Emma's absence had Regina's already frazzled nerves on edge.
"We're nearly ready," Astrid said as she clapped her hands together lightly. "Where is Emma?"
"Upstairs," Regina replied. "I'll go and retrieve her. Where shall we set this up?"
"You'll be seated on the floor, facing one another," Blue said and gave Astrid a look that put her in her place and reminded her just who was in charge. "Perhaps not in here," she said as she looked down at the marble tiles. "It looks to be a rather uncomfortable place to sit."
"We can use the study," Regina replied as she backed up towards the doorway. "It's just down the hall. Tink, you know where it is. Show them and I'll be just a few moments."
Regina headed up the stairs quickly, finding Emma in her bedroom sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed and staring blankly down at her hands. Fear gripped Regina for a moment, wondering if Emma was trapped in a flashback, much like one she had experienced when she had harmed herself trying to get out of the cuffs. She approached her with careful caution and let out a relieved sigh when Emma looked up at her with a small smile curling over her lips.
Emma reached out for her, startling her as she pulled Regina down to straddle her lap. Regina was about to protest when Emma's lips captured her own in a heated kiss. She kissed her back with just as much hunger, moaning softly into Emma's mouth as Emma's hands roamed over her back. She knew she had to put a stop to things because she recognized the urgency in the way that Emma kissed her and knew that if they didn't stop, things would just continue to escalate between them. She gently pushed at Emma's shoulders as she pulled back with a soft sigh.
"The fairies are waiting downstairs."
"I know."
"Emma—"
"I just need you to kiss me for a few minutes, Regina. Please," Emma murmured, her lips ghosting over Regina's as her hands swept the length of her back, pulling her closer. "I need to be able to focus on something good, like this, like you. I don't want to feel so afraid."
"I trust you, Emma, and I know you are capable of doing this and I know that you will not fail."
"I hope you're right."
Regina hoped she was too, but she didn't voice those words, knowing she had to keep it together long enough for Emma to hold herself together emotionally to perform the spell the fairies were finishing the preparations for. She moved to rise from Emma's lap only to find Emma's hands grip on to her hips firmly, keeping her in place. Regina rolled her eyes and placed a single finger over Emma's lips.
"One more kiss and then we must go downstairs."
"Okay."
"I am quite serious, Emma."
"I know," Emma replied with a smirk and she playfully wiggled her eyebrows before leaning in for another kiss.
In the days they had spent holed up in bed together, Emma had learned each and every one of Regina's weaknesses, and she had found each spot that past lovers could never quite find that rendered her into a very aroused state of mind. One of those spots was the small of her back, a simple caress of soft fingers against skin. She could barely stop Emma as she pulled her tucked blouse free and ran her fingers over that very spot and elicited a deep moan past Regina's lips.
The way Emma switched from being so unsure and shy, to determined and forthcoming, taking exactly what she wanted without hesitation, no longer caught Regina by surprise. She was more than willing to take whatever Emma was willing to give and if that meant stealing a few minutes to indulge in one another, she wasn't going to deny Emma or those delectable lips of hers.
"Emma," Regina sighed as she pulled back. "You've had your kiss. Let's go downstairs."
With a frown, Emma let her go and Regina stood up and reached behind her to tuck her blouse back into her pants. She held a hand out towards Emma and watched as she almost reluctantly reached out for it and allowed to be pulled up from the bed. She gripped on to Regina's hand a little tighter, stopping her from heading towards the door.
"Do you really think I can do this, Regina?"
"Yes, I do," Regina said softly and she stepped closer to her and raised her other hand to gently cup her cheek. "I trust you. I believe in you. I—I love you."
Emma's mouth gaped open in surprise and Regina's eyes filled with tears from a mix of different emotions she was now feeling swirling inside of her. Her heart was racing and she anticipated Emma reacting the way she had been since the first time they landed in bed together, but she was pleasantly surprised when Emma moved to take her other hand in her own and smiled.
"You love me?"
"As if it hasn't been quite obvious for some time now, dear."
"You've only told me that you care for me," Emma said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "I wasn't sure what that meant because you're you. I know you don't love easily, you told me that before. I know that you once feared love because you had been told your whole life that love is weakness and I—"
"It is weakness," Regina said, taking one step closer to Emma until she could feel Emma's breath fall upon her lips. "Because when I am near you, I grow weak and my heart starts racing in ways it never has before. If love is weakness, it is strength as well," she said softly and she licked her lips as a single tear fell, one that Emma leaned forward and quickly kissed away. "We're at a very hard point in our lives right now, but in some ways I am almost grateful because we have each other and we will get through whatever life hands our way because we have always been and always will be stronger together."
Emma was speechless and she inhaled sharply before she pulled Regina in for a tender, lingering kiss. They let themselves fall away from the rest of the world as they lived in the moment that had evolved between them in just a handful of minutes. Regina hadn't meant to say those words, not yet, not even if she knew they rang true deep in her head, but they had come out without hesitation, without her even thinking of it. She definitely didn't expect for Emma to say those words back, yet she could feel that she felt the same way in just the way she kissed her.
"Come," Regina murmured against her lips before pulling back completely. "Let's go downstairs before one of the fairies come to search for us."
"Okay."
They shared a small smile before Emma pulled her hands away first and led the way downstairs. Blue and the rest of the fairies were waiting in the study and Regina just gave Emma a small, encouraging nod before they entered the study together.
Blue took Emma aside almost immediate and quietly explained to her what she would need to do in order for the transferring spell to work. Regina just mentally crossed her fingers that this wouldn't take too much time or become too frustrating for all parties involved. She recalled the many magic lessons she'd had with Emma, many of those ending with them arguing and in certain cases, not speaking to one another for days on an end.
Tink motioned for Regina to step aside from the other fairies and further away from Emma that the room would allow them. "Are you okay, Regina?"
"I'm worried about her."
"I know. I am too, but I have no doubt that everything will be fine."
"I hope so."
"Can I ask you something?" Tink asked tentatively. "Are you and Emma—there is something more than friendship between you two now, isn't there?"
"This is something I wish not to discuss at the moment—"
"I'm just curious, Regina."
Regina clenched her jaw, but she relaxed as she looked over at Emma still talking quietly with Blue, a look of concentrated concern on her face. After a moment, Emma looked over Blue's shoulder at Regina and she saw how apprehensive Emma truly was about doing this spell to restore her magic. She offered a small, encouraging smile before turning her attention back to Tink. The look on Tink's face wasn't lost on her and she rolled her eyes.
"Don't say a word," Regina warned quietly. "Let's just get on with this spell. The longer we wait, the more nervous she is going to become and when she becomes nervous, she looses all control of her emotions and we cannot risk that."
"Okay," Tink smiled softly and motioned at Blue with a nod. "You'll both sit on the floor facing one another," she said and Blue gave Emma a slight nudge.
Regina reached out and took Emma's hands in her own and they both moved to sit down cross-legged and facing one another. Regina didn't let go of Emma's hands, feeling just how tense she was growing with every passing second. She licked over her lips and closed her eyes as Blue spoke quietly from behind Emma, whispering the incantation that Emma slowly repeated in a shaky voice.
Regina tried to focus on the feel of Emma's hands in her own and on her voice. She started to feel a slight vibration coursing through their joined hands and it was subtle at first, warm and smooth. She inhaled deeply, tasting the miniscule amounts of magic beginning to flow into her body through their joined hands. The moment she felt Emma start to pull back, she instinctively tightened her grip on her hands to keep her from pulling back in the middle of the spell.
Regina opened her eyes with a start when she felt a pulsing wave flood through her body, nearly knocking her breath from her and she watched as Emma's eyes flew open, her lips trembling as she shook her head slightly and tried to pull back once again.
"Don't break the spell," Blue warned as Emma turned to look at her and snapped her focus back on Regina. "Just let it flow through you, Emma. Don't be afraid of how it feels."
Regina felt her mouth grow dry as she watched Emma struggling to hold herself together. She tried to let go of Regina's hands once more and Regina let go when she saw the fear shining so brightly in Emma's wide eyes.
"I—I can't do this!" Emma gasped as she pulled back and clutched at her heart. "It's too strong."
"What is?" Blue asked gently.
"Everything."
Regina inhaled sharply, feeling the lingering magic inside of her, while miniscule, she could feel it inside of her and it was growing stronger by the second. Her vision swam slightly, the feeling almost overwhelming her, and she watched as Blue whispered something into Emma's ear as she knelt behind her that made that fear in Emma's wide eyes all but completely disappear.
"Let's finish this," Blue said as she rose to her feet. "Emma?"
"Okay. Okay," Emma nodded and held out her hands towards Regina. "Let's finish this. Regina?"
Regina reached out for her hands once more and the instant they touched, she could feel the spell instantly resuming where they had left off, without any incantations having been said. She watched as Emma closed her eyes, focusing all her attention to the spell and it was captivating watching her, seeing and feeling the intensity of the spell flowing through her body, her hands and into her own.
It was nearly as painful as it had been when Lily had extracted all of her magic all at once with just a kiss, it felt different, soothing in some ways, filling in other ways. She was filled with mixed emotions as well, the taste of the magic essence being transferred into her body tasted different, new. The excited chatter coming from the fairies as a mix of red, white, and grey surrounded both her and Emma was quickly drowned out by the sound of her own racing heart.
She feared for a moment that maybe this was all too much all at once and that at any given moment Emma would lose control. Yet, she still trusted her with everything she had and she had faith in her that she would not lose control, not now that the spell was at its strongest point. Regina inhaled deeply, her palms damp against Emma's and she relaxed, their palms now only just lingering, barely touching, but the magic continued to flow between them just as strong as ever. Emma shuddered suddenly, her hands grasping on to Regina's as a strong burst of energy flowed through them both and they both were thrown back a split second later.
"Emma?" Blue rushed over to her limp body on the floor while Tink ran over to where Regina was slumped up against the wall by the window.
"Regina, are you all right?" Tink asked as she knelt in front of her. Tink's voice sounded muddled and Regina lethargically nodded her head. "Regina?"
"Hmm?"
Tink reached for her hands and helped her to her feet. "Regina, say something."
"What?" She asked, her voice husky and slurred. She looked over at Emma, concern gripping her suddenly, and she pushed past Tink and strolled across the room to where Blue was gently shaking Emma, trying to get her to wake. "Emma?"
"She's unconscious," Blue said under her breath. "The end of the spell knocked her out."
"Did you know that would happen?"
"No," Blue said with a shake of her head. "We knew the risks," she said as she watched Regina place a hand tenderly on Emma's flushed cheek. "How are you feeling, Regina? Are you—has your magic been returned?"
"I'm fine," she replied, feeling light headed and dizzy as she gently stroked her fingers over Emma's cheek. "And it's not my magic, Blue. It feels different. It is different."
"Of course it's not your magic," Blue replied. "It's a piece of hers."
[X]
Emma woke with a startled gasp, the room she was in was dark, but the scent of the sheets were all too familiar and as was the softness of the mattress beneath her stiff body. She relaxed, but only for a moment before she sat up on the bed in a panic. The last thing she remembered was a strong burst of magic that had thrown her and Regina apart.
She fumbled for the lamp on the bedside table and switched it on, flooding the dark room with a soft, warm glow of light. She was alone and she hadn't expected that. She was alone and she thought that someone—anyone—would've been there for when she woke up. Her heart was racing as she scrambled to get up from the bed and she rushed towards the closed door, yanking it open to find none other than Tink standing on the other side.
"Emma, hey—"
"Where is she?" Emma asked as she placed her hands on Tink's shoulders. "Where is she? Is she okay?"
"Emma, she's fine. She's resting just like you should be right now. The spell, it was a lot more powerful than we thought and you both need to rest—"
"No," Emma said as she stepped past Tink. "I need to see her."
Emma checked all the rooms, finding each of them dark and empty. She shook her head and ignored Tink as she ran down the stairs, her knees growing weak as her body none too subtly reminded her of just how exhausted and drained she truly was. She headed straight for the study and threw open the door, startling Blue who was standing by the lit fireplace.
"Regina?" Emma murmured as she ran to the sofa where Regina laid, her eyes closed, her breathing even yet shallow. She dropped to her knees and took both of her hands in her own. Regina didn't stir and Emma inhaled shakily. "Regina?"
"She's unconscious," Blue said quietly from behind her. "We haven't been able to wake her. She lost consciousness shortly after you did."
Emma shook her head, her attention solely on Regina. Her lower lip quivered as she reached up to trace her fingers lightly over Regina's forehead. "Is this one of the risks?" Emma asked and she sighed as she turned to look back at Blue. "Is it?"
"It is not permanent, Emma," she said quietly. "The magic you transferred inside of her is quite powerful. Her body, her soul, it needs time to adjust. How much time, there is no telling."
"How long was I out for?"
"Almost a day," Blue replied. "You still need to rest. You're weak, exhausted, drained."
Emma shook her head and turned to focus on Regina once more. "I think you should go," she said quietly. "You shouldn't still be here, Blue."
"Emma—"
"Please," she pleaded. "Just go. The spell is done. You're no longer needed here."
Emma didn't move until she heard the front door click shut. She caressed Regina's face once more before she pulled her unconscious body up from the couch, grey smoke swirling all around them until they were no longer in the study, but in Regina's bedroom. She gently laid her down on her bed, watching her for a moment before she flicked off the light and crawled onto the bed beside her. She lay close, not quite touching her yet close enough to feel the warmth of her body. Even in the darkness she could see the soft features of her face and she wanted to lean over, to kiss her awake, but this wasn't something that could be fixed with a kiss.
She'd had to wait and after everything that they had gone through, she would wait for however long it took for the woman who had captivated her heart to gain consciousness once again. She thought of the consequences of doing the spell to transfer magic back inside of Regina and the fact that she had only deftly been explained how the spell would work, not of the risks they were both taking.
Was it all worth it? Just to give Regina her magic back? She traced her fingers over Regina's slightly parted lips, feeling her breath spilling past lightly. Regina had felt empty without her magic, that essence that had been a constant for most of her life, and despite not wording it, she had desperately wanted it back. Why she did, Emma knew maybe it was something she would never quite understand. She had her own magic inside of her, both light and dark, and while the feeling and the taste of it was so very new, she knew how empty she would feel if it were suddenly taken from her as Regina's had just days before.
Anger flared inside of her as she thought of the reason why they were where they were. Lily. It was all Lily's fault. The accident, Henry's death, the darkness and strong grip of grief causing her to spill an innocent man's blood to take his life. It was Lily's fault she'd become this way, it was Lily's fault that her relationship with Regina had become such a mess, one she was still certain they still had a long ways to go to get to where they'd been before. Even then they hadn't really been anywhere, maybe just the start of a relationship, but even then Lily had ruined it before Emma could even fully figure out just how she felt about Regina.
Emma exhaled sharply, struggling to stop the voices in her head from chattering on and pulling her in every other direction except for the one she wanted to go in. She laid her head down on the pillow next to Regina's and let her eyes flutter shut.
Yet her dreams didn't come easily nor did sleep, despite how restless and exhausted she truly was. She was all too hyper aware of the woman next to her and when she gave into the urge to wrap her arms around her, it was only then did she feel herself finally drifting off to sleep.
