Chapter 55

Emma beat Regina to the bathing room, but stopped halfway through her undressing when two women stood from a bench along the wall. One woman began messing with the taps on the tub, the other made like she was going to help Emma strip. Emma pulled her shirt back down and fended off the womans hands, "woah, hey! No no. I don't know what you think you're doing but if it involves you taking my clothes off, I'm officially informing you of a change of plans lady!"

The servant frowned deeply at Emma, confusion being very plain on her face. "Lady Emma… I have been helping you bathe for nearly ten years… have I displeased you in some way?"

Emma stared at her, "Lady Emma? How about just Emma? Oh, wait. You think I'm… " Emma finally put the pieces together and tried to explain the situation but she couldn't seem to form actual words.

Regina had been watching the exchange from the doorway, finding it amusing, but she decided to interrupt before Emma hurt herself. "Excuse me ladies…" The two servant women went wide eyed with shock and immediately hit the floor hastily apologizing to 'the queen'. Regina sighed and rolled her eyes, "I am not the evil queen. The queen you knew is no more. She has been turned into a baby. If you don't believe me, go ask Cora." The servants looked outright panicked. "Seriously, I am Regina Mills and this is Emma Swan… from another world…" The servants only looked more stressed as she tried to explain. Looking at the steaming bathtub and desperately wanting to be in it, Regina gave up. "Okay, get out. Do not disturb us again unless it is an emergency." The two women looked at her, terrified and confused. So Regina held her hand out and a fireball appeared in her palm, "out. Now." The two women ran out the chambers at record speed.

Emma laughed as she finished stripping off her filthy clothes. "How very diplomatic of you."

Regina sighed again and removed her own ruined clothing. "Well, I did try to speak to them. Unfortunately, the servants here are too terrified of the evil queen to listen to actual words. Power and strength are the language they have been taught to understand."

Emma sat back in the massive tub, making room for Regina to sit in front of her, between her legs. They both moaned and sighed for awhile, enjoying the hot water. Eventually, Emma grabbed the sponge and soaps and started washing Regina's backside. She massaged her shoulders with the perfumed suds and then carefully washed her hair as well. After Regina was squeaky clean, they switched positions and Regina returned the washing massage for Emma.

Emma tried repeatedly to turn their bath into far more, but Regina managed to hold her off. "Regina, seriously started to take this personal."

Regina smirked at her and removed herself from the bath tub. She grabbed a towel and held one out for Emma to take. "I am not trying to offend you, but I have to be the adult here it seems. It has been far too long since we have bathed and slept, not to mention eaten properly. Plenty of time remains to have our fill of each other, for now however, we need to take care of ourselves."

Emma frowned at her and dried off quickly, following Regina out to the main chamber. Emma eyed the clothing laid out for them. There was an elegant and over decorated gown that came with about a hundred different pieces, and was obviously meant for the brunette. The breeches and tunic of heavy dark material must be for her. Regina reached for some piece of her gown, but all the clothing vanished in a puff of Emma's magic. Smiling triumphantly as Regina pursed her lips in disapproval, Emma dropped her towel and assisted the other woman to the bed, kissing her deeply.

Unable to control her own breathing at this point, Regina finally smiled as she was persuaded onto the bedspread. "I just told you…"

Emma cut her off with a nip to her neck, just below the ear, causing the woman to gasp instead of reprimand. "If you really don't want to… I will stop." Emma soothed her bite with a kiss and started to pull away as if she would stop now.

Regina grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and whispered in her dangerous tone, "don't you dare stop now, Miss Swan."

Grinning widely, Emma didn't stop. It wasn't until they heard the dinner bell ring out that they finally washed up in the bathing room before rushing into clothes to go find dinner.

Henry and Belle arrived at the dining hall as Snow and Red walked in with little Emma happily cooing in Red's arms. They all sat and talked about the worldly differences for a few minutes until Cora stormed into the hall looking like she had just been through a hurricane. She flopped into a chair and proceeded to drain a goblet of wine before looking around at everyone.

"Uhm, Cora… where's Regina?" Snow asked quietly.

Cora rolled her eyes, "probably tangled up with her blonde lover."

Henry snorted and blushed as Snow use more precise language, "I meant the baby Regina. I know where the grown one is. The whole castle heard what they are up to…"

"Jealous?" Snow snapped her mouth shut with a click and Regina gave her a smug glare. Taking her seat with Emma next to her, Regina finally smiled, "sorry, old habits and all that dear."

Cora had finished another glass of wine but seemed to collect herself enough to answer, "oh, my Regina is with Rory."

Everyone looked at each other, obviously confused. Henry asked, "who is Rory?"

Cora raised her brows at him and smiled brightly, "oh, that's what I named my siren. I think it would get confusing calling them both Lorelei."

Henry nodded, "and she doesn't mind?"

"Well of course I damn well mind. That's the most idiotic thing I have ever heard… Rory. Ridiculous. I told her to call me master, or queen, or Fred. Any damn thing but Rory." The siren practically growled at Cora as she sat next to her, holding the baby close to herself.

Cora gently took the baby from her now named Rory and smiled at her, "well I like it. You can be Lorelei after she leaves."

"And why precisely can't I keep my name and she can be Rory? This is my world after all."

"Because she's stronger and can put you in a choke hold?" Belle said politely, sipping her own wine.

Rolling her eyes, Rory drank her glass in two swallows. "Well, at least I came to dinner."

Henry frowned as he looked around, "I wonder where Ruby and her are anyway? Should I go get them?"

Regina grimaced, "absolutely not. They can last longer without food, let them have their time. I don't need you anymore traumatized than you already are, thank you very much."

Belle leaned closer to Henry and whispered, "why would you even suggest such a thing? You must have knotted your magic connection."

Henry shook his head and whispered back, "I haven't. That's what's weird. She feels calm and, I don't know… just calm and sort of warm?"

Belle smiled at him and patted his leg, "she's fine Henry. In fact, I think what you're feeling is contentment. They've been through a lot, it must be nice to just sort of be with each other and relax."

Shrugging, Henry sat up straight as the servants started bringing out food. Rory and Cora passed Regina back and forth as they ate. Snow held Emma in one arm and ate with the other as Red smiled at them both and ate her own food.

Emma was eating quickly, obviously eager to be done, but Regina was taking her time and enjoying the food. This of course caused Emma to be done and staring at Regina who was making a show of enjoying every bite. Eventually Emma took to chatting with Snow and Red, leaving Regina to finish her meal in peace.

As soon as the chamber door closed, Lorelei was trying to pull Ruby towards her, but Ruby pulled herself free and demanded they wash first. In a pout, Lorelei pretended she wasn't going to follow, until Ruby dropped the last of her clothing and spoke to someone in the bathing chamber. In a flash, the siren was holding a small woman by the arm and pushing her out of the chamber.

Ruby laughed and eased into a nice hot bath. "She is just the servant Lorelei. I'm sure she has seen far more attractive women than me naked here."

Dropping her own clothing to the floor, Lorelei dropped into the tub at the opposite end. "There are no women more attractive than you. Trust me, I have seen many. You are definitely the best."

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, Ruby watched the siren get comfortable in the tub. "I'm going to turn that into just a compliment and not a reminder of how many women you've seen." Lorelei smiled at her and started rubbing soap into a cloth. Ruby was about to ask for the soap for herself, but the siren surprised her again by starting to wash her feet and up her legs, so she just sat back and enjoyed the feeling of being taken care of.

Once she had washed what she could reach, the siren motioned for Ruby to come sit with her. She waited until Ruby was in between her thighs and proceeded to gently wash all that hair. She took her time, admiring the silky tassels in her hands. This was definitely her favorite part of the woman. She rinsed all of the softly scented soap out of her hair and pulled Ruby back to lean against her chest. She smiled as she looked down and saw Ruby breathing easily, with her eyes closed. "Feel better?"

Ruby nodded and turned just enough to give Lorelei a soft kiss. "I do. Thank you. Do I get to wash you now?" The other woman frowned and shook her head. Ruby laughed quietly and relaxed against her chest again. The water was cooling, but it was amazing to just be close to this woman. "I didn't think so."

Lorelei wrapped her arms around Ruby and kissed her head before sighing, "I think it is time to get out. You're taking on the appearance of a prune. A sexy prune, but still… a prune."

Ruby laughed and made her way from the tub, drying off and then laying on the soft blankets of the bed. She watched as Lorelei dried herself off and looked around the room quietly. The nakedness apparently didn't phase her at all as she wandered the room and touched a few books on the shelf. After a few more minutes of observing, Lorelei turned to look at Ruby watching her, "I do love you, Ruby."

Ruby smiled and patted the bed beside her, waiting for the siren to join her on the blankets. She kissed her deeply and pulled her close to her body, feeding her intense need to be close to her. "I love you too Lorelei."

They laid in silence together for quite some time, just feeling one another before Lorelei spoke, "will you marry me then?"

Ruby pulled her head back enough to look at her evenly and nodded lightly, "I would like that."

Lorelei smiled and kissed her forehead. Ruby frowned at her slightly, but Lorelei shook her head, obviously not feeling like a chat. So, even after they heard the dinner bell ring, they simply held each other and didn't say another word.