Running Out Of Time
Chapter 34
"Say that again" Regina requested with a voice suddenly hoarse with emotion.
She'd heard it. She knew she knew she had heard it but she just needed the blond to say it again just to make sure she meant it and it wasn't said in the heat of emotion.
Emma's eyes bore into her own with so much warmth and emotion that Regina felt like she was drowning. It wasn't the bad kind of drowning where you feel the need to fight against it and swim towards the surface. On the contrary Regina just wanted to sink into Emma further.
"I love you" the blond repeated the three words passionately.
Before Regina could respond Emma closed the small distance between them and crashed her lips against the older woman's.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Storybrooke – Emma's POV
Their kiss was instantly deep and passionate. Emma ran her tongue against Regina's lower lip before delving it into the brunette's mouth; enjoying the unique flavour of Regina mixed with alcohol.
She hadn't planned on declaring her love for the brunette yet. She had been planning to play it cool and hold off on the revelation for a while but her mouth had run away from her when Regina had started to beat upon herself and her parentage. Now the three words had been spoken out loud she felt lighter. A feeling aided by the almost desperate way Regina was kissing and holding her.
They broke apart for oxygen briefly, their lips remaining millimetres apart so they were breathing the same air. The blonde's head was spinning with the amount of emotion she was feeling and she knew she needed to let it all out and share it with Regina.
"I love you" Emma repeated in a whisper.
The brunette's lips closed the miniscule distance between them again in another raging hot and passionate kiss. This time Emma manoeuvred her lover backwards so she had her pressed against one of the kitchen counters, never breaking the kiss. Regina gasped into her mouth as the brunette's back collided with the counter but there was no other sign of discomfort. In fact Regina encouraged the contact by raising her right leg and hooking it around Emma right thigh effectively jamming their lower bodies together as tightly as possible. Emma used the proximity to begin grinding slowly and rhythmically against the brunette. Even through the layers of Emma's jeans and Regina's slacks the contact was heavenly.
"Oh Emma" Regina gasped into the blonde's mouth before breaking the kiss and throwing her head back. The action left the expanse of Regina's smooth neck exposed to Emma and she immediately latched onto the spot below Regina's pulse point; alternating between nibbling and sucking at the sensitive skin there. She marvelled at the way Regina writhed against her harder in response.
"I love you" Emma mumbled into the brunette's neck once she had finished giving her a faint love bite.
Regina tried to angle her neck to kiss her in response but Emma used her right hand which was buried in the brunette's hair to keep her head tipped back. She wasn't finished lathering attention on Regina's neck just yet. The brunette simply moaned and allowed her to have her own way. So Emma began to pepper kisses from just below Regina's earlobe, occasionally pausing to talk.
"I love your smile and your laugh" she whispered against the shell of Regina's ear, just loud enough for the brunette to hear her. "I love your eyes...god Regina you have amazing eyes."
Regina tightened her grip in response and let out a shaky yet undeniably turned on breath. Emma kissed a little lower down her neck before pausing again.
"I love how strong your heart is and how much love it is capable of holding."
Emma knew her words would have a profound effect on the brunette but she was still surprised to hear the muffled sob. She looked up at Regina so they were eye level again just in time to see two identical tears trail down the older woman's cheeks. Regina's eyes shined with a hope that was matched by her radiant smile. The expression was both dazzling and saddening to Emma because she knew these happy tears were shed due to years and years of hardship. Regina had never expected to hear such sentiment from another living human being again.
Emma stroked her thumbs over wet cheeks, brushing the tears away.
"Emma" the brunette uttered her name reverently, voice thick with emotion. Emma could feel her heart race just that little bit quicker at the sound.
"I love the way you say my name" she admitted before briefly kissing the brunette on the lips again. "I love being here with you and Henry like a real family."
Emma was on the crest of a wave of emotion and it had allowed her to speak her mind openly. However as soon as the words left her lips she was scared she had just pushed that little bit too far. Yes she wanted to stay at Mifflin Street with Regina and Henry permanently but she was aware it may be too soon for Regina and didn't want to make the independent woman feel under pressure.
The blond pulled back from their kisses slightly to gauge her reaction but all she saw in her lovers face was happiness and arousal. Emma had no idea if that meant Regina was happy with the idea of Emma staying or if she just hadn't interpreted Emma's words as a permanent arrangement. The blond wasn't ready to press with the series topic just yet so she stuck with the other emotion that was thick in the air; arousal.
"I also really love the idea of taking you right now against this kitchen counter" she admitted, holding eye contact with Regina as she spoke.
The brunette had looked thoroughly ready and aroused before but on hearing her words Regina's breathing hitched and her pupils dilated so wide her eyes were almost completely black. Regina's breathing became more and more ragged and the uneven breaths played across Emma's lips and chin as the older woman simultaneously grasped Emma's hair with one hand and the back of her vest top with the other before pressing Emma impossibly tighter against her.
"Then stay here and take me Emma" Regina practically demanded before enveloping the blond in a heated kiss.
Emma responded earnestly with her mouth as her hands set to work removing the barrier between her and Regina's skin. First to go was the blazer the brunette was wearing and then the camisole she wore underneath. Both were haphazardly tossed onto the floor to the side of them. Regina's heels were kicked off in the same direction followed swiftly by her pants. The brunette's underwear followed just as quickly as their mouths and tongues worked against each other. Emma's plain vest top was flung onto one of the other counters at this point but it was the only item of Emma's to be removed as she was completely focused and determined on pleasuring the woman pressed between her and the kitchen counter.
As soon as Regina was completely undressed Emma broke the kiss and lifted the brunette so she was sitting on the edge of the counter. If the action or Emma's strength surprised the older woman she didn't let it show. Placing Regina on the counter brought Emma's face in line with the brunette's cleavage. There was nothing to fault about the brunette's anatomy full stop, she was absolutely gorgeous, but her breasts were perfect. There was ample amount of them covered by smooth olive skin and perfectly formed and perky nipples. Emma's mouth was on them in a flash, determined to taste and lather them with affection until the brunette squirmed with need.
After two minutes of constant attention with her mouth and hand Regina was so aroused Emma had to use her spare hand to hold the brunette down against the counter. The thrusting of hips and the moans emanating from the brunette finally became too much for Emma to stand and she began to trail a line of kisses and light bites lower.
"Yessssss Emma" Regina hissed out as the blond nipped slightly at the skin on the underside of the older woman's breast.
The way her name sounded on Regina lips was so delicious that Emma's mouth raced down the plane of the older woman's stomach far faster than previously planned until she reached the patch of neat hair above the brunette's sex. Regina's frantically hand pushed Emma's head lower as the blond came to a temporary halt so she could manoeuvre the other woman's legs so they hung over Emma's shoulders. Regina grasped at the counter with one hand and the cabinet behind her head with the other.
"Oh god Regina" Emma groaned when she came level to the brunette's core. Regina was dripping and incredibly ready for her.
Thoughts of teasing flew out of the window and Emma dived straight in, gathering the wetness on her tongue and tasting the brunette several times before thrusting her tongue inside of Regina. The brunette was so aroused by her previous ministrations that Emma had to wrap bother her arms around the other woman's hips so she could hold her at the best angle for penetration. The moaning sound Regina made with every thrust of Emma's tongue was raspy and possibly the sexiest sound Emma had ever heard. She knew she wanted to hear it again and again for the rest of her life.
There was only so long Emma could use her tongue to penetrate Regina before the muscle started to ache and she ran seriously short of air. So the blond refocused her attention on the brunette's swollen and sensitive bud. She began by slowly and firmly circling it, one way and then the other, allowing the tension to build up inside the brunette to the point of breaking but never quite over the edge. After a couple of minutes of steady pleasure Emma decided to allow her lover her release and instead of the constant circling actions she switched to long firm licks from every direction. Her tongue flicked up and down, side to side, diagonal to diagonal as Emma held the brunette's rising hips down as much as physically possible.
"Emma!" Regina called out as her whole body jerked up off the counter before slamming back down as her release came.
"Emma" she moaned out again as the blond continued to slowly massage her through the waves of pleasure with her tongue. She didn't stop completely until Regina had stilled and slumped her weight back against the cabinet.
Emma raised her head from between the brunette's legs and rested her forehead against Regina's flat stomach. As Regina recovered from her high the blond caught her breath. One of the older woman's hands settled on Emma's head and began haphazardly running through her blond hair. It felt relaxing which was enjoyable in itself but Emma also loved the way her lover liked to be in contact with her. She'd have never pegged the brunette as a cuddly or affectionate kind of person nor had Emma ever presumed herself to be quite so hands on. Emma was glad that on both accounts she had been wrong.
Regina's breathing finally evened out after nearly a minute and before Emma could raise her head the brunette spoke for the first time since calling out the blonde's name.
"Clothes."
Emma wasn't sure what she had expected but 'clothes' certainly wouldn't have made any list she would have made. She was aiming for something along the lines of 'wow', 'that was amazing' or even 'round two'. Apparently she was an open book because Regina noticed her confusion and chuckled.
"Help me pick up all the clothes in case our son returns home early again Emma" Regina instructed more clearly; "and then take me to bed."
Emma sprung to life and bent down to gather Regina's possessions of the floor as quickly as possible. Round two was indeed on the cards and Emma was so aroused that she was in a rush to get upstairs and started. Regina was quickly becoming like a religion and Emma was more than content to worship her for hours.
As Emma gathered the last of the items of clothing she heard the soft thud of the brunette hopping down from the counter just behind her.
"Emma" Regina called out softly.
Emma turned to look at her lover. The brunette was stood just a foot away, wearing nothing but a warm smile.
"I love you too."
Emma thought she had felt complete thirty seconds ago but nothing had prepared her for the joy she soaring within her at those three words being repeated back at her. It was a feeling unlike any other she had ever experienced. No wonder her parents were always going on about how amazing true love was.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Storybrooke – Charmings's POV
David ambled down the main street towards Mr Gold's Pawn Shop. He had been sent on a couple of errands by his wife before lunch, the first of which he had already completed. He was happy to be out of the house for a little while as Aurora was visiting with her little baby girl. The two women were avidly making decorations the party at Granny's tomorrow and it had been slowly blowing his mind with boredom. As a Sheppard, then a Prince and then a long term coma patient he'd never had the impetus to take up arts and crafts and he wasn't about to start now.
David reached the pawn show and swung the door open, the bells above the door signalling his entrance. Charming was momentarily surprised to find Henry looking back at him over the counter and not Rumpelstiltskin even though his grandson had told him he was working in the shop this morning whilst they had been at dinner last night.
"Hi Gramps" Henry cheerfully greeted.
"Hey Henry how is your first day of work going?" David enquired as he made his way over to the counter his grandson was stood behind.
"Good thanks" the boy replied animatedly. "Granddad has just been teaching me how to recognise latent magic in an item using an ingenious system of magnets and ball bearings. It's something to do with vibrations and energy."
As he spoke Henry gestured to the side of him were the equipment he spoke of was set up. Charming was glad his grandson was enjoying himself but he was weary of Henry being around so much magic, especially dark magic. At least Gold was teaching him a scientific method of recognising magic though and not teaching him actual magic. He doubted Regina would stand for that. The former Evil Queen may be on a path of redemption but David was very sure she would strangle Rumpelstiltskin with her bare hands if she thought he was corrupting her adopted son.
As Henry finished talking, David caught a glimpse of Rumpelstiltskin through the doorway to the back room. The older man appeared to be lurking in the background which was a little out of character.
"Is he okay?" David enquired quietly, nodding his head in the Dark One's direction.
Henry glanced back in the direction of his other granddad before leaning over the counter towards David. Henry dropped his voice to barely more than a whisper as he replied.
"It's a long story but the short version is that he has just told my mom that he is her father and she didn't react too well to the news" the boy explained.
David had no idea what Henry was going to tell him but that caught him totally off guard. He nearly choked in surprise.
"RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS Regina's father?!" He exclaimed, lowering his tone half way through when Henry glared at him. "How? What? When?"
The questions poured out of his mouth before he had a chance to think them through. They were dumb questions really because the answer was obvious. Around nine months before Regina was born Cora and Rumpelstiltskin...it didn't bare thinking about.
"Well not how obviously I mean I have two kids so I know how..." David corrected, earning a small giggle from his grandson. David couldn't imagine how Snow was going to react to the news when he told her because if the news shocked him then she would be flabbergasted surely.
"I'm sure my mom's will fill you in when they are ready" Henry said a little louder as he stood upright again.
"I'm sure they will" David agreed. It would be a lot for Regina to take in but he hoped they were all suitably close now for his daughter and her girlfriend to confide in them sooner rather than later.
As David shuffled awkwardly his head hit the mobile dangling down from the ceiling rafter next to the counter. It jangled lightly reminding him of why he had called into the shop in the first place.
"Can you get Gold for me please Henry?" he asked his grandson.
Henry nodded and headed into the back room. David could just about see the boys other granddad hand Henry the book he was holding before making his way to the shop front. David mused at the nervous expression the man wore as he appeared behind the counter. Did Gold really think he was going to lecture him about Regina? As far as he was concerned that unless asked for help Regina and Gold's familiar relationship was theirs to work out and nothing to do with him.
"Charming" Gold greeted politely, "what can I do for you?"
"Emma's mobile" David replied, pointing up at the glass unicorns hanging by his head. "Snow wants it for the new baby."
Gold glanced up at the decorative item thoughtfully. David was expecting some sort of hassle about the request, he was half expecting the pawn shop owner to try and make him pay for it. His wife was so determined it should hang above Charming Juniors crib that he was willing to pay for the damn thing to cut out any problems.
"Of course, take it" Rumpelstiltskin replied after a moment's hesitancy. His words were followed with a short curt nod. His response caught the Prince off guard.
"Take it?" David repeated, checking he had heard the man correctly.
Just then Henry wandered back into the front of the shop and stood next to Gold by the counter. The older man placed his hand on the boys shoulder and smiled at their Grandson.
"Family" Gold declared, "And it was yours in the first place."
The world was certainly shifting underfoot. Regina was not only on the road to redemption but also dating his daughter and Rumpelstiltskin was on the road to redemption and trying (it appeared rather successfully) to be a good grandfather.
Gold retrieved a small step ladder from the corner of the room and placed it by him and the hanging unicorns. David watched as Rumpel climbed the three steps to the top of the ladder and unhooked the item from the rafter.
"Thanks" David honestly replied as Gold handed him the delicate mobile.
Whilst David had been distracted by Gold retrieving the mobile Henry had appeared by his side. The boy reached out and held one of the unicorns in his hand, stroking over the cool blue glass surface with his thumb.
"Are you going to redecorate my old room and use that as the nursery?" he asked.
Charming baulked at the question. The crib was currently by their bed and neither he nor his wife had considered moving him into one of the other bedrooms because they were Emma and Henry's. It hadn't dawned on him that his daughter and grandson might not be coming back to live with them.
"I didn't realise you had moved out?" he half asked and half stated.
"I..." Henry began confidently before fading off. The boys face crinkled in thought before he spoke up again. "I can't imagine us leaving my mom's house now...we are both really settled there and both mom and ma seem really happy."
David wasn't a fool; he had seen the way the two women looked at each other over dinner the night before. It was hardly a surprise that Emma would want to stay with her true love especially considering the comfortable size of the mansion compared to the cramped apartment. It was obvious Emma and Henry would need their own space now he and Snow had a crying and demanding baby to care for.
"No" David agreed. "Neither can I."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Storybrooke – Regina's POV
There was a faint beeping sound which roused Regina from sleep. She opened her eyes and adjusted to the bright light pouring into the room from the open curtains. At some point after making love for an hour and a half they had curled up and fell asleep. Emma was still out cold with her head on the brunette's shoulder and an arm and leg sprawled across her chest and hip respectively. It meant that Emma was effectively pinning her down so she couldn't see the time on the alarm clock. She carefully reached over the blond, trying not to wake her, but she couldn't quite reach the alarm on the far end of the bedside table. Instead she managed to pick up the blonde's phone which she had deposited there when Regina had removed her skinny jeans. She lifted it just high enough to see over Emma's sleeping form and groaned at the digits she read there. It was two forty in the afternoon and was flashing red which meant the blond had a missed call or message.
Regina placed the blonde's phone on the covers above her own chest and gave Emma a gentle shake with her freed hand. They really needed to get up ASAP as Henry had been due home at two. Hopefully he was running late or he was likely to be traumatised at returning home to realise the two of them were in bed together two days on a row.
"Emma wake up" she instructed. She kept her voice low, now wanting to be cruel and startle the younger woman awake. Emma roused slightly but didn't completely wake up so Regina spoke up a bit louder. "Emma honey wake up its twenty to three."
"Oh god" the blond groaned as she bolted upright, taking the covers with her and flipping the phone precariously close to the edge of the bed. Her dramatic action caused Regina to snicker lightly. Emma got up out of bed and began searching around for her clothes so Regina sat up and retrieved the blonde's phone from the edge of the bed. On closer inspection of the phone she could see that the intermittent flashing light was a text message alert.
"You have a message" she informed Emma.
The blond was in the middle of wrestling her legs into her skinny jeans so made no attempt to remove the offered phone from Regina's grasp.
"Who is it?" Emma asked.
Regina clicked on the text message icon on the screen and their son's name flashed before her eyes. She bit her lip out of nervous habit, hoping their son's messages would be no more loving to his biological mother than to herself. When the message appeared on the screen she was relieved to find there were no extra kisses at the end of the message. The content however...well the content was quite amusing if not a little shameful.
"It's Henry" she informed the blond who had finally succeeded in plastering the jeans up her legs and fastening them. "He is downstairs and he thinks we should get up now or we won't sleep tonight."
Emma froze, green bra dangling from her hand and mouth open.
"Please tell me you are joking?!" the blond asked, her voice increasing an octave at the notion of their son being sat downstairs waiting for them again. Regina wished it was a joke but alas that was the message they had received from their thirteen year old son.
"I'm afraid not dear" she admitted, casually tossing the blond her phone so she could see the message for herself.
As Emma scanned over the message Regina got up from her bed too and began to put her underwear on.
"Well that's more than embarrassing" Emma admitted, "but I am glad he is being so accepting about us."
The blond tossed the cell phone back onto the bed and began to put her bra on. Regina watched the muscles of Emma's back ripple as she moved and abandoned her own attempts at re-clothing and crept up behind Emma. She grasped the back of the blonde's bra like she was going to clasp it for her but then when Emma dropped her arms to the side Regina released the straps and slid her hands under the cups of the bra and began to massage her breasts.
"Mmhmmm" Regina agreed as she tugged the younger woman back so her underwear clad body was pressed against Emma's back. Emma moaned at the ministrations and then moaned a bit louder again when Regina began to kiss her neck. The brunette wanted nothing more than to start removing her lover's jeans again but unfortunately Henry was downstairs waiting for them. So Regina slid her hands back around to the blonde's spine and began to fasten the bra strap.
"Tease" Emma grumbled, turning around in Regina's arms so they were nose to nose. Regina smirked in response before pecking the blonde's lips affectionately. She couldn't recall a time she had ever felt so completely content and happy.
"I promise I'll make good on it later when Henry is in bed" she assured the younger woman.
"Well that's okay then" Emma responded with a wink before stepping away to retrieve her vest top.
They finished dressing and headed straight downstairs to see their son. He was in the kitchen making himself a huge door stop sized sandwich out of most of the contents of the fridge. He glanced up when he saw them both enter and graced them with a knowing smile but said nothing. He was wearing different clothes than he had left in this morning. Rather than the jeans and navy jumper he had been dressed in he was now adorned in grey dress pants, a matching waistcoat, black tie and white shirt. The clothes certainly were not his own so Regina only presumed that Rumpelstiltskin had given them to him to wear at work.
"Nice suit kid did Mr Gold give it to you?" Emma asked.
Henry placed the knife he was holding down on the chopping board and lifted his arms, shuffling around on the spot to show his smart clothing off.
"Yeah they were my dad's so he shrunk them down to fit me and gave them to me for work" he explained as he turned.
Regina couldn't remember seeing Neal in anything remotely as smart as the suit Henry was working but then again he had been pretty casually dressed whilst visiting Storybrooke. She had no idea what he had worked as in New York. In fact she knew very little about Henry's biological father other than the fact he was Rumpel's son, he had spent some time in Neverland and he seemed like a decent guy...albeit a bit awkward and boring.
"You look very smart my little Prince" she commented, drawing a warm smile from her son at the use of her old term of endearment for him. He certainly looked like a smart young royal in his best suit.
"Wait until your grandparents see you" Emma added to the conversation. "Mary Margaret will attack you with a camera for sure. You know what she is like about having family pictures lining the apartment!"
Regina chuckled at the blonde's comment. At the meal the night before Snow had made a comment about getting a family picture of them all (including Regina) now they were all together again and the new baby was born. Regina didn't know at the time whether she was touched by the fact Snow was including her or horrified by the fact she may soon be adorning her one time enemies walls. She still wasn't quite sure how she felt about it.
"Gramps was in the shop today but he didn't really notice" Henry began to talk between his first couple of mouthfuls of ham, chicken, salad, cheese and whatever-else-he-had-shoved-in-there sandwich. "I think he was too busy worrying that Granddad wouldn't let him have your old thing...the one that hangs above baby cots. I do wish they wouldn't always presume the worst when dealing with him, he's trying to be part of the family."
Regina was struck by the way Henry championed Gold especially as it reminded her of the way he had until recently had to champion her cause. However after seeing the way Emma's face fell at his comment she refocused on the blond.
"He wanted my mobile from the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked in an uncomfortable tone. Regina realised straight away what the issue was. The blonde's abandonment issues were springing to the surface.
"Yeah" Henry replied after chewing his last mouthful, oblivious to any discomfort his words were causing. "Grandma wanted it for my uncle...your little brother."
"Right yeah" Emma replied, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. The blonde's bright eyes were angled down towards the floor as she tried to mask her emotions.
"I'm going to make a start on that paperwork I picked up from the station this morning" she informed them before turn tailing and heading out of the kitchen.
Regina watched her go but didn't immediately chase after her. If she was to do that then Henry would realise something was up and she didn't want him to feel guilty for something he couldn't help. In many ways Regina was to blame for any abandonment issues her girlfriend possessed and she would be dammed if she was letting him take on that burden again like he had with the curse.
So she casually made her way over to the coffee machine and began making herself and the younger woman a drink. As she had hoped Henry continued to eat his sandwich, oblivious to what was going on.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx