I apologize for the wait you guys! A combination of procrastination and being stupid busy kept me from writing this :p But now it's up! So yay! Lol I'm ready to read your reviews and very much excited for them :)
"Regina, Regina, Regina."
She stopped fumbling through her keys and turned only her head to look at him, "Hook," she acknowledged him with a curt nod and then returned her attention to her keys so she could unlock the front door.
"Why don't you use magic?" He pushed off the side of her house, keeping his arms crossed.
"Why would I use magic when I have a key?" She deadpanned and continued flicking through her keys. She didn't have that many she was just stalling, she didn't want to go in there with her mother, "what do you want?"
"Oh I just wanted a little chat," he smiled at her but his unique sort of charm never phased her, it never had and likely never would.
"I am in no mood to talk."
"No I'd imagine not, not after that little confrontation between your step daughter and yourself. Amazing how quickly news travels in such a place as this," he waved his hand up in the air.
Regina dropped the unwanted keys to hang from the keychain and held the one that opened the door between her fingers, "news tends to lose its quality and sense of truth along the road."
"Couldn't agree more, love," he shot her another smile and she rolled her eyes as she moved to put the key in the lock, "luckily I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to watch the aftermath play out on the street."
"I do not know what you mean," she sighed quietly as though to show disinterest when inside she was screaming and she turned the key, unlocking the door but not opening it.
He was impressed at how her demeanor and expression remained indifferent on the topic. If he hadn't have seen it himself he would have never been lead to believe there was something between her and the prince. The people only talked about the murderous outburst between the two women and that James had to drag Regina out of the diner. A seemingly harmless story when you didn't know what words were spoken between them, "where exactly did you take him when you vanished in your purple cloud?"
Regina shrugged nonchalantly and put her keys back in her pocket, "somewhere we could scream at each other without an audience."
"I imagine you would have plenty to say what given his answer to your question."
"What question?" she closed her eyes and sighed as she pivoted to face him with her hands in her pocket, irritated and wishing he would get to the point or stop talking.
"Why he cared," he cocked his head and grinned, not missing the way her jaw clenched in the night light, "now I will say that his answer caught me completely by surprise. I mean 'I lo-'" he was cut off by an invisible grip around his throat.
"I suggest you stop talking pirate," she tilted her head in a threat as her eyes looked right at him, hard and deadly. She released her magic with a snarl pulling on her lips, "I also suggest you do not tell Cora," she spat.
"There she is!" His voice was low and strained from the hard pressure that had closed his throat, "the notorious Evil Queen," the complexity of this woman never ceased to amaze him. Underneath the threat and cold stare a flash of hurt appeared in her eyes at the title he gave her but it was gone almost instantly, "no need to worry love," he walked up to her slowly, "I very much enjoy knowing something that Cora does not," he was right in front of her now, invading her personal space but the queen didn't even bat an eye, "I just had to see if it was in fact what it seemed to be," he whispered and grinned at her.
Regina cocked her head slowly and her mouth pulled in to a threatening smile, "are you satisfied?"
"With the love interest of the queen?" He raised his eyebrows and she stared at him with striking eyes, "you sure it isn't me?" He grinned and leaned in closer, testing his boundaries.
Regina rolled her eyes, "always the arrogant pirate," she scoffed and without taking a step back she turned to open the door, her shoulder pushing across his chest as she did.
"Always," he grinned and backed off.
...
It was very late or very early depending on your point of view. Either way it was dark in the home that was so bright durning the day. She couldn't sleep, the bed was comfortable enough but she suddenly had a lot on her mind. Growing tired of waiting for sleep to take her she stood up and silently walked to her daughter's room down the hall.
The light from the moon came in through the window and softly lit up her daughter's features. She really was a beautiful woman, even with her hair cut short. With that in mind her thoughts traveled next to this lover in her life that she had kept secret from her. Regina had told her that it was blatantly obvious when she had first arrived but now her daughter had taken extra precaution in keeping him hidden.
She couldn't say she blamed her really but she would find this man and if need be she would use him against her. Such weakness love was. To put your own life at risk to save another and who's to say that person you were trying to save wouldn't die anyway. And that was only one explanation, she had many more. She loved Regina, she did, but she didn't want her to make the same mistakes she had. She wanted her daughter to be strong and hard and powerful.
She felt a sudden need to be closer to Regina. Regina had told her that morning she loved her and Cora had seen the hurt in her daughter's eyes. Slowly and silently Cora made her way to the side of the bed. It couldn't hurt right? Just to lay next to her daughter and let herself relax just for a little while? It wouldn't alter any steps in her plan. If anything it would bring her daughter closer to her. If she were to be honest with herself however, she was just as starved for Regina's love as Regina was of hers.
She hesitated and left her hand hovering just above the duvet as she looked to her sleeping daughter with her brow furrowed and lips parted as she nervously contemplated following through. What if Regina woke up and denied her, pushed her away again? Regina laid sound asleep on her side beneath the blankets, her right arm bent under her pillow and her left hand resting on top of her pillow beside her face while her legs were bent comfortably. She had never looked so peaceful.
Her movements were smooth and quick as she slid beneath the blankets next to her daughter and mirrored her position. She exhaled slowly and relaxed in to the bed as Regina remained unmoving and her breathing remained steady and slow. In an act beyond her control she lifted her hand and gently traced her fingers across her hairline and tucked those strands of dark hair behind her ear.
She panicked for a moment at her body's movement without her consent and it threatened to take hold of her as her daughter began to stir but it was all put at ease. Regina hummed softly and drowsily as she turned her head in to her touch and a small smile softened her features further. Cora couldn't help but smile at the the reaction even though she knew quite well her daughter didn't realize it was her.
"What are you doing here dear?" Regina mumbled tiredly and took a deep breath, "if you get caught we are both going to have a lot to deal with," she whispered through a light laugh and dropped her head heavily in to her pillow as she exhaled, her eyes still closed. As she began to wake up she furrowed her brow slightly, James' hands were larger and rougher than the ones touching her know. She forced her eyes open and waited a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light the moon offered before fear gripped her heart and refused to let go.
She gasped and her arms and legs began to flail in an attempt to get away. Memories of her mother coming in the dead of night to punish her for something she had done earlier that day filled her mind and she forgot where she was, she forgot that she was in fact not a young girl anymore and that she now had the ability to at least defend herself.
"No. No, no, no," Cora propped her self up on her left elbow as she reached out and gently held her right hand on Regina's arm, "you're alright, darling, I'm not going to hurt you, you've done nothing wrong," she soothed and Regina stopped trying to get away and instead sat stiff on the bed. She couldn't help but feel a little hurt that her presence had scared her enough for her to need to run.
Slowly Regina relaxed and her awareness of her current location became more clear, "you scared me," she whispered as she ran her hands over her face and held them in her hair and closed her eyes. After a moment of sitting like that she let go of her hair and dropped her hands in to her lap and looked down at her mother. At first it was unimpressed but soon her expression softened in to sadness and a painful need that made her drop her eyes to the bed between them to try and keep the tears that had suddenly pooled in her eyes from falling.
She opened her mouth to protest but her throat became thick and slowly she crumbled. Her mother's love was one of the very few things that could break her down and she had always hated herself for it. She wished she could just let go and get out of her mother's abusive hold on her but she always fell back to her.
Regina let herself lower down back under the blankets and she wiggled closer to her mother and slipped her arms around her waist not caring about how her right arm would fall asleep uncomfortably. She laid her head heavily against her mother's chest and pushed her eyes closed as a pained frown pulled over her mouth when Cora laid the side of her face against the top of her head and wrapped her arms around her as she ran her fingers through her hair.
This time it wasn't a trick or a play. This time she noticed it was entirely sincere and she started to cry silently and tried to keep her body from shaking. It was the greatest amount of honest love her mother had ever shown her. Ever. She clung to her as though her life depended on it.
"I'm sorry Regina," she whispered slowly and she continued to run her fingers through short hair. She couldn't have missed the way her daughter started to shake against her as her hands balled in to fists behind her back and her arms tightened around her waist, "Regina I'm so sorry," she shook her head and her voiced quieted as she stopped running her fingers through her hair and simply held her crying daughter close and closed her eyes "I'm so sorry."
...
Honestly he was beginning to think that this was a terrible idea. The closer he got to the large white house he had started to call home the more anxious he became. He had to see if she was alright, she had sent him a text about an hour ago telling him she needed to talk to him. She never really asked unless it was something serious and after the day she had before, he didn't want her to be alone. He hesitated before knocking on the door and took a deep breath as he waited for an answer. He was sure she didn't mean at her house but I didn't want to wait.
What was only a matter of seconds had felt like a lifetime and the door opened. It was an older woman and as she opened the door wider her mouth pulled in to a sickly sweet smile that sent shivers down his spine, "you must be Cora," he smiled politely, most certainly not wanting to get off on the wrong foot with this particular woman.
"Yes. To what do I owe the pleasure of the infamous Prince Charming knocking on my door?"
The words came out so smoothly and sweet but they had an undertone of poison very much comparable to a snake. He kept his composure, "I do believe that I was knocking on Regina's door."
Cora raised her eyebrows and gave a small laugh, "so it's safe to assume you're here to talk to her?"
"Indeed it is."
"And what exactly makes you think she wants to talk to you let alone have you in her house?"
James shrugged and looked Cora up and down, he needed to get in that house, "I have an important topic to discuss."
Cora laughed again, amused by this prince, "with Regina? The woman who was out for you and your wife's heart?"
"We have come to an understanding during our time in Storybrooke," he said simply while his instincts screamed at him to run from the empty eyes that reminded him so much of a wild cat playing with its prey before killing it, "if she doesn't wish to talk to me then I will leave but hey," he smiled and cocked his head, "I'm running out of options."
"Clearly," she laughed and nodded quickly, "as a matter of fact I'd say you are verging on absolutely desperate."
James squinted his eyes in a cold smile before straightening his neck and putting his hands on his hips, "are you going to let me in or not?"
Cora chuckled lowly, "she isn't going to want to talk to you," the prince stood unmoving and stubborn. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "don't say I didn't warn you," she stepped aside and held the door open for the prince to enter. She was interested in seeing how this would pan out.
James nodded his thanks stiffly and stepped over the threshold, his stomach flipping uncomfortably as he passed the dark sorceress, "where is she?" He looked around the house as though he'd never been in it before and the woman dressed entirely in black walked up the entryway stairs behind him. He didn't like not being able to see her but he wouldn't show how rather nervous she made him.
"Upstairs," Cora pointed up and then held her hands in front of her below her waist, "do you need me to show you?" She couldn't imagine what could be so pressing that he would come here for help. Cora couldn't help but wonder if dear Snow White knew where he was.
"No I think I'm quite capable, thank you," he nodded and began walking up the stairs and tried not to let the woman's dark eyes get under his skin. As he neared the top of the stairs he could hear the shower running and he had the think on how to approach this now. Surely Cora knew by now what the shower was and he couldn't very well have her thinking he went in there despite knowing her daughter was naked.
When he reached the door to the master bedroom he looked over his shoulder before turning the knob and walking in. He closed the door quietly behind him and quietly moved toward the bathroom, peaking through the door to try and figure out how to approach this he didn't find what he expected to and his heart dropped sadly.
Regina sat on the floor of her shower fully clothed in a bright red blouse, black skirt, and thin black nylon stockings as she hugged her knees and let the water pour over her and soak the expensive clothing. He breathed out a sigh and frowned as he slipped off his shoes and socks and took his phone out of his pocket and put it on the counter before walking toward the shower. Without a word from either of them he opened the large glass door of the shower and dropped himself down to sit next to her under the lukewarm water.
She hadn't moved yet aside from the quick glance she gave to see who he was when he opened the door. He reached behind them and moved the handle to the side a little further causing the lukewarm water to heat up again and then wrapped his arms around her folded frame and rested his head on hers.
Regina took a deep breath and relaxed in to him and closed her eyes. The hot water felt nice and his arms held her together, "you shouldn't be here," she whispered but there was no commitment in the statement and she leaned heavier against him.
"I know," he answered quietly and held her tight. She would talk when she was ready, he wasn't going to push her this time because this time was different. This time she asked him and this time she wasn't in a state of panic.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a long time before Regina's small voice was heard, "why did she do this to me?"
By 'she' he assumed she was talking about her mother and he didn't have an answer for her so he tightened his arms around her, "I don't know sweetheart."
The smallest of smiles tugged at the corner of her mouth for a fraction of a second at the name. He had never called her that before. "I'm so confused," she whimpered and dropped her head on to her knees and pulled her knees in closer.
"What about?"
"My mother," she cried quietly in to her knees as James pulled her in to him without speaking a word. Once again she was grateful that she had allowed him in to her heart so that she had someone to turn to, someone who knew that all she needed was someone to hold her while they truly listened to her. She lifted her head from her knees and brought a hand to her face to wipe away the tears that had fallen, an action she realized later was entirely pointless because the water continued to pour over her.
"She came in to my room last night while I was sleeping a-and I was terrified for a few seconds but then I-I crumbled, just like that I crumbled and she loved me," she looked up in to soft and comforting blue eyes, "she really truly loved me James and it felt so good!" Her voice was all over the map as she fought to breathe, "she has never loved me like that, no matter how badly I wanted her to no matter how hard I worked for her approval or praise she never gave me more than the odd word or forced gesture."
"Hey, hey, hey," he whispered softly to calm her quick and erratic words, "Regina breathe," he soothed and spun her on the white floor of the large shower and turned himself so they faced each other and the water hit their side, "breathe," he reminded softly as her held her face between his hands. She still hugged her knees but now she sat between his legs and his legs were bent slightly at the knee, the shower was large but not that large.
"She is my mother," she whimpered and she fought the next question out quietly through a throat thick with pain, "why can't she just love me," her head fell heavily in to his large hands and she searched his face for any answer.
James swallowed down the lump in his throat, that hard lump that only formed when you tried not to cry. A mother's love should not have to be begged for, it should even have to be asked for. This was a confused and frightened young girl that he was talking to, it was not the wise grown woman, "I don't think she really knows how," he shook his head slowly as dark tear filled eyes looked up at him, "and that is not okay. A mother should love her child and she should make certain that her child knows that without a doubt. I am so sorry you didn't get to live under those circumstances Regina, I wish I could go back and change that for you," even with the warm water streaming over her skin he could tell she was crying.
She had never looked so small to him. It broke his heart.
"I'm slipping James," she cried out quietly and slowly.
He cocked his head and ran his thumbs over her cheeks, "what do you mean?"
"My mother, I love her so much and I hate the grip she has on my heart but I can't get away. I want to but I can't," she closed her eyes and tried to sort the words out in her head before she opened them and looked in to his eyes again, "she knows exactly how much I want her love and she is using that and Henry to get to me. When I'm with her my mind is clouded, it's like I know that it is wrong but I go with her anyway, I follow her around like a beaten dog that hopes that maybe, just maybe, this time I won't get hurt, maybe this time I will receive love instead of pain."
She was angry with herself and she sat still as her mind reeled. She knew it was wrong, she knew her mother was manipulating her, she knew she was going to get hurt, "but then last night," she broke and she started crying frantically and her hands started shaking, "James I'm slipping and I can't stop!"
"No, no, no hey come here," he took her shaking hands in hers and pulled her gently toward him and she practically leapt into him, almost knocking him over as she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into him. Now she sat sideways on his lap, twisted so she could hug him. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what to say, he didn't know how to calm the frantic brunette in his arms. The only thing he knew he could do was hold her and hold her tight.
With one arm around her shoulders and the other around her lower back he gently rocked her under the continuous stream of warm water hoping it could play a part in freeing her of her stress. He didn't really care if Cora were to come in and find them, that was not important. The woman sobbing in his arms was important, "I won't let you slip."
"How?"
He actually didn't know. He couldn't do much if he was to stay away from her, "what if we tell Cora about us?" She went very still and he wondered if she was really thinking about it or if she was stunned by the absurdity of his suggestion. She lifted her head and looked at him straight in the eye, her expression giving nothing away as the water came down.
She moved quickly and quite suddenly, her lips pressed against his in a forceful kiss and her hands holding his head in place. He kissed her back without hesitation but that didn't mean he wasn't confused. Her lips tasted sweet and they were rather cool despite the warm water that had been running over her face.
She pulled away and shook her head, her hands still holding his face, "don't be stupid."
"Seriously though Regina why don't we tell her?" He asked softly and rubbed his thumb over her shoulder blade.
"Because," she shook her head in small quick movements as she tried to come up with an answer. He raised his eye brows expectantly and she opened her mouth to give a reason but once again she couldn't find any more than one, "because she could use you against me, she could hurt you or even kill you without a second thought just to get to me. I can't let that happen."
"Yes that may be so," he nodded and continued gently, "but wouldn't you rather catch her off guard? Give ourselves the upper hand in the sense that we could watch our backs and prepare for anything she might try rather than having her find out without our knowledge and blindsiding us?"
"Well," she hadn't really considered it, it was a valid point, "yes. But I don't want her to know, I don't want to lose you, maybe she will never find out."
"Regina you know that's not true," he gave her a small and sad smile.
"I know," she whispered and didn't even try to smile as her shoulders slumped.
"Think about it?"
"Yeah, alright," she nodded slowly and then dropped herself back down against his wet body and wrapped her arms around his neck again. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his as his arms that had never let her go, tightened around her once more.
"I have a question."
"Yes?"
"I know you're having another rough day and all and I don't mean to add another thing to your pile of things to do but how in the hell am I supposed to get out of this house without your mother seeing me soaking wet?" he asked with a good humored tone and a smile.
Regina smirked and then hummed a sigh for effect, "I have a hair dryer," she laughed lightly as he chuckled in to her neck. She didn't let go of him, she didn't even loosen her grip as she laughed and neither did he and for that she was grateful. She didn't want to let him go and leave her alone with her mother. Perhaps telling her would be the better option. Then she would at least have someone at her side, someone she had a good and healthy relationship with that would support her and keep her from falling in to her mother's hands.
