Chapter 37

Regina moaned softly. She wasn't sure if she was dreaming or not. She could feel soft lips placing kisses down her stomach. She moved her hand downward, finding long think hair. Regina smiled, this had to be a dream, and she was finding she didn't want to wake up.

She felt fingers at the waistband of her panties. Slowly they were sliding down. Regina swallowed. Her mouth was dry as she lifted her hip to allow her panties to be removed. Smooth hands pressed gently on her thighs signaling for her to spread her legs apart.

Regina had to admit that she had never had a dream this real before. Yes, she had dreams about her sexual fantasies, but never this vivid. She could feel lips on her hip bones and then her pubic bone. A hand slid up her body finding her hardened nipple and tweaked it lightly.

Brown eyes shot open as she felt the hot, wet swipe of tongue through her folds and she gasped. Emma was going down on her and it felt amazing. She let her fingers lace through the thick locks of blonde hair. She gently tugged the blonde closer to her center.

As if she was waking from a fog she pulled up on the hair, causing Emma to stop and look at her, "We can't-do this now. What about the boys?"

The sexy blonde smirked, "Your dad picked them up a few minutes ago to go get breakfast."

Regina stared at her for a moment. Her hand slowly released its grip on the blonde's hair and Emma softly kissed her inner thigh. Regina bit the edge of her lip. Her eyes danced around the bare, but freshly painted walls of their new bedroom. She swallowed again. She knew without a doubt that she was awake now, but yet everything felt surreal. Not just what Emma was doing at this moment, but everything. The house, horse, relationship. She didn't even know where to begin.

Sleeping on the floor had been a bit uncomfortable at first, but once she fell asleep in Emma's arms, she didn't seem to notice. Another moan escaped her throat when Emma sucked her clit into her mouth. All thoughts were gone except for what the blonde's mouth was doing.

Regina rolled her hips forward, trying to feel more of the blonde. Emma's tongue licked her leisurely and even though it felt great, she needed more. She needed the tongue to move faster she needed much more. As if reading her mind, Emma re-positioned herself, sliding two fingers inside her and increased the tempo of her tongue.

Regina tightened her grip on the blonde locks again as she rocked her hips faster. "OH God, Emma," she panted.

Emma sucked her into her mouth again, continuing to flick her tongue over the swollen bud. Regina felt as though she were about to explode. Her hips rocked back and forth against Emma's mouth and Regina couldn't hold back her loud moans of pleasure. Now that she knew the boys weren't here, she had no reason to suppress them.

The fingers inside her curled upwards as they pumped faster and she rocked her hips to match each thrust. Before she knew it, her legs were starting to tremble and with one final cry, she came hard.

Emma slowly pulled her mouth away but she left her fingers in place. As Regina lay with her eyes closed and breathing hard, Emma made her way back up the brunette's body. With her fingers still inside Regina, she kissed the brunette softly.

"Good morning," Emma whispered.

Regina let out a satisfied hum and gave a smile, but didn't speak. Her mind was on the fingers still inside her. They were unmoving, but she could feel them all the same. Before she could say anything, Emma was kissing her neck and jawline while whispering in her ear.

"You are so incredibly beautiful."

The finger began working in and out of her slowly and she found herself moving her hips to their slow rhythm. Emma curled them again but kept the speed at a snail's pace. Regina was surprised that she was so close to another orgasm this soon.

Emma claimed her mouth while her emerald eyes watched Regina's face. The brunette broke the kiss as she moaned loudly. Her nails dug into the soft flesh of Emma's shoulders, but the blonde didn't seem to mind. Again, Regina's legs began to tremble and she quickly grabbed Emma's lips with her own. Her cry was muffled by the blonde's mouth.

Regina held tight to Emma as she rode out her orgasm. Not that she wanted to think about sex with Robin, but she had had a few orgasms in their relationship. However, it was never like this. Not at this level of intimacy or care. Most times with Robin, he only cared about his own needs. Emma seemed to get pleasure from giving Regina pleasure. She smiled to herself, she too got pleasure from pleasuring the blonde.

Emma slowly removed her hand and kissed her again. It was a sensual kiss, slow and steady. Regina looked into the emerald eyes that peered back at her and her breath caught. A tear slipped down the blonde's cheek.

"Emma," she whispered.

Emma placed a finger over her lips and smiled, "I love you."

Regina rolled over, pushing the blonde down on her back, "I love you too." She reclaimed the younger woman's lips. She wanted to show her appreciation, for her surprise wake-up call. She planned to make the blonde feel just as loved and desired as she had made her feel only moments ago. If she didn't succeed she would just have to keep practicing.

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Emma straightened the chairs and moved the music stands back into the correct positions. The kids had long gone for the day and Henry rode home with Felix and Peter to work on a project for chemistry. She fought to stifle a yawn, but lost in the last second.

"Tough day," A voice called from the doorway?

Emma glanced up and frowned, it was Lily, "Mrs. Hatter, what can I do for you?"

The woman shrugged walking into the class. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she looked around the room, "I thought I'd swing by and see how you were fairing? I mean, to be honest, I'm surprised you've lasted for a full six weeks. Your little girlfriend must be so proud of you."

The blonde clenched her jaw, "What's your deal?"

The darker haired woman ignored her as she continued to tour the large room. Emma sighed sitting against the edge of her desk. She just wanted to go home to Regina. They had finally moved into the Ranch house and things were just getting back to normal.

"There's a rumor floating around that you are now Henry Locksley's step-mother," It wasn't a question, so Emma didn't respond. "He seems to be a good kid."

Emma flexed her jaw muscle again. She didn't like this woman even speaking Henry's name let alone complimenting him, "What do you want Lily?"

The woman circled the room, stopping just in front of the blonde perched on the desk, "Isn't it obvious," she asked, her voice dropping to a more husky tone?

Emma crossed her arms, "No, it's not. I don't know what it is you think you're doing, but let it go. It was over ten years ago."

The woman stared at her with curiosity for a moment, "So it's that easy for you?"

"What's that easy for me," Emma asked, her annoyance growing?

"Forgetting about us," the woman asked nonchalantly.

Emma let out a humorless laugh, "What is wrong with you? You ripped my heart out and you're asking if it was easy for me?" She ran a hand through her locks as she snorted, "You are a real piece of work Lily Page."

"So, you actually believe a straight woman wants to play house with you," Lily smirked.

Emma stiffened at her words, "Regina and Henry are none of your business. And if I remember correctly so did you at one time."

"Ooh, defensive, are we," she taunted?

Lily stepped closer, her thighs touching Emma's, "Does she touch you like I used to?"

The blonde stood up, bumping the woman back slightly, but didn't say anything.

"I let you have my virginity, Emma," She said whispering as she moved closer. "That has to mean something."

"It did once, but not anymore," Emma growled.

Lily raised her hand to brush a piece of the blonde's hair away from her forehead. Just before her finger made contact, Emma grabbed her wrist. A sly smile played at Lily's lips, "She can't-do for you what I can."

Emma was confused. First, the woman hated her, now she was hitting on her. Aggressively she might add, "Stop it."

"Don't you miss this? Don't you miss making love to me," Lily asked as Emma still held her wrist?

"No. You hung me out to dry. You treated me like I was the sick freak when we got caught. As if I made you be with me," Emma licked her lips as she pushed herself away from the desk.

"I was scared. If my parents would have found out they would have disowned me," Lily explained.

Emma laughed and shook her head, "Oh, you poor baby. What the fuck do you think happened to me? And don't give me that shit, you were nice and cozy wrapped in the arms of Neal. And let us not forget you did marry Jefferson Hatter."

Lily jerked hand arm free of Emma grasp, "I had a reputation to uphold. You were the one who couldn't control your anger. I wonder whatever happened to the Dean's daughter after you put her in ICU." She pretended to think, "Let's see, oh that's right, she's died."

"What," Emma narrowed her eyes in confusion? "She can't be dead. The doctors said she would be fine."

"Oh, I guess daddy didn't tell you about that, did he? Oh wait, that would depend on which daddy we were talking about wouldn't it," She sneered?

Emma clenched her fist at her side. Everything in her wanted her to hit this woman, but what good would that do? She promised Regina and Archie she would try harder. The blonde didn't respond, she turned and started gathering up the music she needed to look over tonight and put it in her briefcase.

"You would think that it was Daddy Gold who covered your ass, like always, but no it was Daddy Nolan. You think changing your name and shacking up with some bitch and her kid will change who you are," Lily said grabbing the blonde by the elbow?

Emma snapped, grabbing the darker haired woman by the throat and pulling her close to her face, "I will never be able to forget where I come from because of trash like you. You think you have something on me? I've told Regina every dirty little secret I have and she's still here because she loves me for who I am. She doesn't need me to be a Nolan or a Gold. All she wants is Emma."

Lily laughed, "And who is Emma? I bet you don't even know anymore. Are you the poor unloved orphan, or the misunderstood lesbian or perhaps the slutty drunk? Either way, someone like 'straight girl' Regina Locksley will drop you as soon as she's done playing with you."

Emma tightened her grip around Lily's neck and growled. The look in Regina's eyes when she said she loved her popped into her mind and nearly let out a sob. She shoved the other woman away from her causing Lily to stumble into a few of the music stands and they clattered to the floor. The blonde hurried out of the room forgetting her briefcase or the music sheets.

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Regina's day had been longer than she expected. She only planned to be at the clinic for a couple of hours, but like always, that's not how it went. Her father decided to take a contract with a nursing facility. He just so happened to pick today to make the official house call.

The house call was just like any other house call. The only difference was that the doctor goes to the facility and introduces himself to the patients and accesses each patient's needs. The facility houses over 63 residents and for one doctor to do alone, it would take a couple of days to make his rounds. So the nurse's physicians worked the clinic while Regina assisted her father.

Now don't get her wrong. She enjoyed most of the patients at the nursing home. The majority of them were lonely elderly people who were desperate for companionship. However, there were the other ones. There were the ones who weren't quite as nice, let's face it, they were possessed by demons of some sort. She observed as they shouted obscenities at her and on a couple of occasions tried to fling their food or whatever was closest to them. And of course, there were the typical 'dirty old men'.

Regina killed the engine of her Mercedes after she put the car into park outside their house. She glanced up at the window and could see Kathryn moving around the kitchen. Henry sat at the butcher block style island talking animatedly to his Aunt.

The brunette smiled. This is an image she had envisioned when she imagined herself with a family. Only one thing seemed to be missing. Emma wasn't in the window. Her car was in the driveway, and she found herself wondering where she was.

Regina climbed out of her car, closing the door behind her. As she started up the walkway, she heard the distinct sound of wood being split. She'd heard that sound a million times when she was younger. Her father would chop wood for their fire pit in the backyard and they would roast marshmallows.

Instead of continuing into the house, she turned to follow the noise around the house to the backyard. She knew it had to be Emma. The only other person who could have been chopping wood would have been Bobby, the kid who helped at the stables. However, Bobby had long gone for the evening.

Her breath caught at the sight as she rounded the corner of the house. Emma stood with the ax in hand, moving a smaller log onto the giant one to split. A white skin tight tank top hugged her torso. Regina noticed she hadn't changed out of her dress slacks or loafers. The blonde's skin glistened from sweat as she raised the ax above her head, bringing it down in one smooth motion, slicing through the piece of wood with ease.

Regina bit her lip. This woman was indeed sexy. Her mind went back to their previous night of lovemaking and a shiver ran through her and ended at her core. She had never been this sexually attracted to another person in all her life. It was crazy, really. She used to roll her eyes at the young people who couldn't keep their hands off each other, and now here she was.

"Hey," she called.

Emma turned and smiled, "Hey yourself."

"There was a time in my life when I laughed at the women who thought lumberjacks were hot." Regina bit her lip, "You have just changed my mind."

Emma chuckled lightly, "I'm glad you approve."

The brunette could see the smile on the younger woman's lips, but it didn't meet her eyes. Regina walked over to her and pulled her in for a kiss. Something wasn't quite right, but she wasn't sure if she should push for information or ease into it.

"How was your day," Emma asked pulling her from her thoughts momentarily.

Regina blew out an exaggerated breath and laughed, "Well, I can tell you which resident at Woodland Manor is safe to be alone with."

"Ahh, did you get felt up by some old dude," Emma's mouth curled at the corner as she mocked.

"Well, there were a couple of attempts, but luckily I'm agiler than they are," Regina smirked. "No need to worry dear, I'm not running off with grandpa."

Emma laughed, but it seemed hollow, "That's good to know."

Regina watched the woman turn back toward the firewood, "Is something wrong?"

The blonde didn't turn around, but her shoulders fell, "Just had a rough day."

The brunette moved toward her letting her hand touch Emma's elbow, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Emma seemed lost in her thoughts for a few minutes. She slowly turned to face Regina, "Do you think I should find another school to work at?"

Regina narrowed her eyebrows, "Why would you do that? You love your job, Emma."

She saw the muscle flex in the blonde's jaw, "I thought I did, but now…" She let her words trail off.

"But now, what," Regina asked, confusion on her face?

Emma walked over to one of the patio benches and plopped down, "I don't know anymore."

"You don't know what? Emma, are you having second thoughts about us," Regina was more than confused. Had she just uprooted her son and moved in with this woman to only have her change her mind. A sick feeling washed over her and for a second she thought she might actually throw up.

Emma's eyes widened and she shrieked, "No, God no." She let out another frustrated breath before speaking, "Lily stopped by my class this afternoon."

Regina took a deep breath to calm herself. This Lily woman was really starting to rub her the wrong way. Instead of expressing her dislike for Mrs. Hatter, she let Emma continue.

"I'm really not sure what she wanted or wants. She keeps bringing up our past. Today, she had to tell me how you were only playing and that you would tire of me."

"You don't believe that do you," Regina held her breath as she waited for the response.

Emma stared down at the ground and then glanced up, her green eyes searching Regina's. She shook her head, "No, I don't. She was just trying to ruffle my feathers, I know, and I tried to not lose control."

Regina walked closer, kneeling down in front of her lover, "What did you do?"

Emma dropped her eyes and licked her lips, "I grabbed her."

"By the throat," Regina asked, remembering Tinker Belle?

Emma nodded, "I tried, I really did, but she wouldn't stop. First, she was trying to hit on me and then she told me that the girl I got into a fight with back in high school died." The blonde swallowed, "She made some reference to me not knowing who my father was and…" Emma stopped when her voice cracked.

Regina put her hand on the other woman's knees, "What happened after you grabbed her?"

Emma blinked back her tears, "She kept talking. She said that you were straight and that you would leave someone like me. But just when I wanted to crush her larynx, I let her go and I left."

"That's a good thing," Regina said as relief rushed her. She had no idea what the English teacher was up to or what she was capable of.

Emma whispered, "I know what I did to Blackwell, and I'm not sorry. I feel he deserved what he got. If I killed the Dean's daughter, she didn't deserve it. She was only a kid, same as me." The blonde couldn't stop the tears that fell.

Regina swiped her thumb over her lover's cheek and wiped the tears away. She hated that there seemed to people at every turn trying to rip them apart. Not to mention how bad she wanted to kick Lily's ass, not only for harassing Emma but for hitting on her. Regina had never been in a fistfight with another girl before, but she was willing to give it a go.

Words were failing her and her girlfriend was clearly distraught, so she did the only thing she could think of. She leaned in and pressed her lips to Emma's. She kissed the younger woman with everything she had. She wanted her to feel just how much she loved her and wanted her. She wanted her to feel how much she was a part of her life, her family's lives.

Regina pulled back slowly, trying to catch her breath, "I can't say that I'm gay. I mean I've never given another woman a second thought before meeting you, but I can say that I only want you. I fell in love with Emma Swan. Not Emma the girl, just you as a person who also happens to be a girl."

Emma smiled, "I'll take it."

Regina needed to figure out a way to get Lily Hatter to leave them alone. How could Emma get 'better' from all her years of abuse and neglect, when they couldn't catch a break from the poisonous people who constantly got in their way.

Someone cleared their throat and Regina turned around. Her father stood in the shadows near the corner of the house, "Don't mean to intrude, but Kathryn said you had pulled in, but you never came inside." His expression was solemn and Regina wondered how much he had heard.

"You didn't interrupt Dr. Mills, we were just getting ready to come inside," Emma said and Regina stood to let the blonde get up.

Regina watched Emma smile at her father and then she went into the house. The brunette glanced over at her father and then back to the door.

"So this Lily is still giving her trouble I see," he said.

Regina only nodded. Obviously, he'd heard the conversation, and there was nothing else she could say about it.

"Please tell me she's still seeing Hopper," her father's voice dropped a couple of octaves.

She looked at him and nodded again, "Yes, she is. She goes with Henry once a week."

"You may want to see if she'll see him twice a week," his eyes were trained on the window of the house.

Regina furrowed her brow, "She's been doing well. Why would she need to see him more?"

When her father's eyes landed on her, the concern made her heart clench, "She has a lot of anger still. Not that she would, but I don't know what I would do if she ever lost her temper like that with you or Henry."

"She would never hurt us, daddy. You know that" She said crossing her arms over her chest.

Dr. Mills pursed his lips as he stared through the window for a long moment. Regina followed his line of sight and could see Emma helping Henry set the table. He sighed, "I know that. In my heart, I know that, but she is a loose cannon and..," He let his words fade.

Regina watched her girlfriend through the window. For a fraction of a second, she let her mind wonder what she would do if Emma lost her temper on her or her son. But just like that, it was gone. There was no way Emma would ever hurt them. She wanted to curse at her father. He had been with her when they had to clean up the bloody mess that Emma had made when she killed Albert Blackwell, but now he was worried about her temper?

"Maybe she and I can go a couple times a month to see Archie as a couple. But our biggest issue right now is Lily Hatter," Regina said turning back to her father.

Dr. Mills slipped his hands into his pants pockets and nodded, "Henry wants me to speak to Mrs. Hatter, but I'm not sure what I can even say that will incise her to leave Emma alone."

Regina bit her lip as she thought. There wasn't really a lot they could do. If she or her father actually went and talked to Lily, she could blow this way out of proportion and make Emma look like the bad guy. And since they both worked at the school, she could chance Emma's name being dragged through the mud any more than it already had been.

"We talk to Mr. Gold," Regina said flatly.

"Emma would never approve of that. She doesn't want to be around him. Not to mention she is planning to go and see David Nolan sometime soon," her father answered.

Regina had been dreading her lover talking to David. She would be trying to get him to confess to his participation in the illegal activities at the club and the murder of his own son. She sighed, "There's no other way. Mr. Gold is the only person who has any kind of influence over Mrs. Hatter. If anyone else tries to deal with the situation, it will be the same thuggish scare tactics they've used in the past. I don't know about you but I don't want a repeat of the warehouse. So I will go as soon as I can and meet with Gold."

"I'll join you. Emma will be upset that we went to Gold. I don't think it would be the best idea for her to know you went alone to see him," Dr. Mills said, not leaving room for arguments.

Emma would be upset, but what else were they supposed to do? Regina couldn't let everything they had built together, no matter how short the time had been, just crumble. She would deal with the blonde's anger later. Right now, she planned to eat dinner with her family and spend the evening trying to show Emma how much she wanted her in her life.