A/N: So, I've been writing all day and wasn't going to update until I wrote in more chapters, but this was one of my personal favorites to work on and needed to share it with you all. :) I will continue working on the next chapter, in hopes that I can provide all my lovely readers with one or two more updates before the day is done. Given that school starts back up for me tomorrow. With that being said, Happy reading! Lots of fluff in this one!
Regina's nerves sat right at the pit of her stomach as they entered the soldier's small town. Her eyes drank in every colorful detail of it. The day agreeing with them as the sun was beaming out on that day, the trees were greener than ever. The sky so blue it hurt her eyes almost to look towards it. It truly was something out of a fairy tale. There wasn't much population, it shocked her. She never imagined a town this small. And everyone seemed to know who Emma was, as heads turned to the sight of her new companion that they had never laid eyes on before today.
Regina could already sense herself being the topic of the town.
She focused on the buildings around her as Emma pointed them out, telling her endless stories of each and every one. How the old clock tower seemed to have frozen in time ever since she could remember to the spot behind Granny's diner, where she fell after playing with Ruby and scraped her knee so badly it left a scar that with age became faint. Some of the buildings were old, but stood up right. The houses were big enough for an entire family to live in.
As Emma drove further in, she pointed to the mansion at the very end of the road, "It's always been empty." She explained, her dimples never failing due to the smile across her face, "Not even the mayor wants it. I'm not sure why."
Regina paid close attention to the mansion on 108 Mifflin St. She couldn't phantom why anyone wouldn't want to live in it. Just by the sight alone, it had become her favorite among all the homes she had seen in this town.
"So, where does the mayor live?" She asked curiously.
Emma shrugged, chuckling, "That's a mystery. I don't even think he or she is interested in living anywhere in this town."
Regina chuckled, looking out the window towards the town and its people, "I can't imagine why. It's peaceful here. Just like you said it was. If I were this town's mayor I would surely live there."
Emma's smile grew, her hand giving the brunette's a light squeeze. She loved it when Regina would dream as big or even bigger dreams than hers, "Then I am officially appointing you as the new town mayor."
The brunette let out a chuckle mixed in with laughter, "Emma, I would ruin this town. I wouldn't know the first thing about running it."
"I don't believe that. It's already more beautiful with you here." Her green eyes looked over to the brunette's. Which Regina knew that look well by now. It was that look that could make her heart burst. A look of love but desire mixed into one. By the life of her, she couldn't yet understand how Emma could make her feel the same with just one simple stare.
As they pulled into what Regina believed was Ingrid's home, Regina drank in every detail of it. The house looked to be old, but the outside of it was well kempt and cared for the white paint looked brand new. Everything to the deck to rooftop had a very homey feeling.
"Are you alright?" Emma asked, as Regina's eyes met hers by the sound of her soft voice, "If this is too much-"
"No." Regina's brows furrowed, her smile appearing before the blonde, "It's never too much."
Emma smiled, kissing the brunette's knuckles, "Don't worry. She's going to love you. She already does."
Regina chuckled, her cheeks filled with pink, "What makes you so sure?"
"Because I love you. And that's all that really matters."
Regina's stomach was in nervous knots as Emma got out of the car. Her eyes followed the blonde's quick movements as she pulled open the passenger door for her to exit the vehicle. Which, after a sharp intake of breath, she did. She stepped out as she reached to take Emma's hand again. As they walked up the porch, the brunette's knots had turned into butterflies. For Ingrid was already pulling open the door, smiling brightly at them both.
"This must be Regina." Ingrid's smile was brighter than before, her arms circling around the brunette in the most welcoming hug she had ever received. She could definitely see where Emma got her hugs from. "Oh, welcome! I've heard many stories about you. You're practically famous around here. Emma hasn't stopped talked about you since you two met."
Emma's cheeks turned pink as Regina looked over at her, she shook her head.
"It's so nice to finally meet you." Said Ingrid.
Regina smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms.-"
"Oh, none of that. I'm not old now." Ingrid teased, "Please, call me Ingrid. I prefer it."
"She does." Emma nodded as Regina looked over at her again with a chuckle.
"Well, Emma don't just have the poor girl standing there. Come in, please!" Ingrid moved away from the door, allowing both women to enter the house Regina had heard so much about. Feeling overwhelmed with disbelief that she was actually in Emma's home town. It was still sinking in, but becoming more and more real by the minute.
Ingrid made Regina feel very welcomed in her home. For that she was grateful, just as the older brunette was grateful to see that Emma had found someone to love and who loved her in return. She easily became entertained by many stories from the brunette about how she got into nursing to her friendship with Kathryn. They enjoyed a nice dinner, giving Emma the feel of a real family. Her own. Not that Ingrid never provided her with that feeling- she did. And she was grateful for that.
Night had soon fallen around them, the lights of the lamps Ingrid had in the living room being their only source of light. Emma came down the stairs to find Ingrid and Regina laughing with each other. It made her smile so, seeing the two women she loved dearly in this world getting along so well. Even if their source of entertainment was Ingrid showing off a photo album with Emma's baby pictures.
"She was a sweet kid. Always getting into trouble, but she always knew what she wanted." Ingrid looked over at Emma as she could see her from the corner of her eye, "How time flies. Just look at her now."
Regina smiled at the sight of the blonde alone standing on the last step of the stairs, "She is certainly a sight to see."
"That she is." Ingrid smiled proudly.
Emma rolled her eyes playfully, a shade of pink overtaking her cheekbones, "Alright. Let's not make this about me."
"Oh, but I haven't gotten to the best story yet." Ingrid looked over at a smiling Regina, "The time I caught her trying a cigarette behind the bed and breakfast with Ruby."
"Really?" Regina raised a brow, looking over at the embarrassed soldier.
Emma's eyes grew wide, "Yeah, let's not. Talk about that."
"How old was she?" Asked Regina, grinning over at Ingrid.
Ingrid chuckled, "Nine. But," She closed the album that rested on her lap, "That's a story for another time, I think I've embarrassed her enough for today." She placed the album back in its rightful place, "Make yourself at home. I'm sure Emma will show you where everything is." She smiled at the brunette, giving her one last hug goodnight.
"Thank you, Ingrid." Regina returned every bit of her hug, "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Likewise. Emma's description of you didn't do you justice." Ingrid looked over at Emma, "Make sure she's comfortable."
"I will." Emma smiled, hugging Ingrid goodnight, as the older blonde gave her a kiss on the temple, "Good night, Ingrid."
"Good night."
"She's amazing." Regina smiled over at the blonde, walking up to her as their hands joined again once they were alone, "I can see why you love her so much. She certainly loves you."
Emma smiled again, her eyes green even through the hint of light in the room, "And she loved you. Just like I said she would. You are every bit as amazing as she is."
Regina chuckled lightly, leaning in, pecking a quick kiss on the blonde's thin lips.
"Come on, I'll show you where everything is upstairs and where you'll be sleeping for the night." Emma headed up the stairs, not letting go the brunette's hand for one second, she pointed to the bathroom, "Bathroom's through here," She pointed to the door right across from the bathroom, to her right, "My bedroom." She pointed to the door beside her bedroom, pushing the door open, "And this is where you'll sleep."
It was a small room, a little smaller than hers was in her old and new apartment building, but it all had a homey feeling, just like the entire house and the people inside it. Despite Regina once feeling she had it all, and her father making sure she had it all- she was never one to need more than what she could have.
Emma was her biggest treasure of all. Because even if what she could provide for her wasn't what her mother would call 'ideal,' she never saw it that way.
The soldier might not have riches, but she sure had a way of giving her the world.
"It's nice." Regina smiled over at Emma, "I'd like to see your room now."
Emma blushed but walked her towards her room, pushing the door open as she allowed Regina to step inside first. Her brown eyes taking in every detail of it. It was as small as the one she would be staying in, her bed big enough for two, well made. Her laundry basket on a chair in a corner, near her closet. Her red leather jacket hung over her desk chair, as per usual. Her desk lamp on, as her laptop rested in its rightful place next to it, in the middle of the desk.
Emma stood behind her, observing her every movement as she walked over her small bookcase next. Her nails delicately caressing every spine of every read book she owned. It certainly had the feel of an old bedroom, but well kempt by the blonde. She kept a few posters on the wall, about three. One behind her door of the film Saving Private Ryan, the other by her bookshelf, of a video game no doubt. Uncharted 4.
Regina couldn't help but chuckle, pointing towards said poster, "That's something new I've learned about you. I didn't take you for much of a video gamer."
Emma blushed for what seemed like the hundredth time today, shrugging, her hands tucked inside her jean pockets. "I haven't played in a while, really." Her eyes remained focused on the brunette as she nodded with a smirk to her. Moving to the other side of her room, taking in the sight of third poster which was at the head of her bed.
What captured her attention more about that one was that it wasn't about a film, it wasn't about a video game, but it was an enlargement made of a poem. A poem about a first kiss.
Emma stood behind the brunette, knowing what her eyes were focused on. She read out loud, 'There was that moment, where you stole all the air from my atmosphere; when my heart pounded with the might of all the planets. That was when I knew, you were worlds more, than just a first kiss.'
That had become Regina's favorite poem in a matter of seconds. Her favorite being that Emma had read it to her. She turned to face her, discovering that their bodies were closer to one another than she first thought.
"Timothy Joshua." Emma whispered the author's name, her eyes focused on the brown orbs before her. Her hand cupping the brunette's cheek, traveling to her jawline as her thumb caressed the scar above her lip.
Regina's chest moved up and down slowly, from a soft intake of breath. Her eyes locked into the soldier's green ones. Her skin focused on the feel of her soft touch she had missed so much. Her voice a whisper as she spoke, "Someday, you are going to be a hell of a writer, soldier. You'll have him and many others beat."
Emma smirked at the vision going on inside of the older brunette's mind, "You sound so sure."
"I am. Because I'll be first in line with a first copy of a book filled with pages of your marvelous words."
"I'm no poet." Emma whispered.
"You are more than you give yourself credit for, Emma." Said Regina, "You may surprise yourself someday."
Emma smiled, taking the brunette's hand into her own, "Come with me. I want to show you something."
"Now?" The brunette nurse's brow raised in wonder.
Emma nodded, "It's the perfect time."
Without another word, Regina followed Emma out her bedroom door, going down the stairs as slowly as possible as they headed out the front door next with the soldier grabbing her keys off the wall hook in the process. There was no way Regina would have had second thoughts of coming back to Boston. She was right where she needed to be. Loving every minute of Emma's kid like, mysterious side. Making her feel as if she were a teenager herself all over again.
The blonde's famous yellow bug Regina had heard so much about drove them into the night, through a pathway that was covered by nothing but forest. The blonde shut her engine off, placing her keys inside her jean pockets as she looked over to the brunette with a smirk, "Come on. We have to walk the rest of the way."
"Walk? In there?" Regina's brows shot up in surprise. The forest was so dark, it gave her the chills. She could easily get lost in there.
Emma chuckled at the fear that was plastered in the woman's features, "Don't worry, I know my way around well. I'll keep you safe." She made her way out of her car, the creak of her car door from the passenger's side being the only noise they heard. Her pale hand reuniting with the frightened brunette's as she guided her through the woods that already seemed endless to her.
The walk wasn't that long, but it wasn't short either. However, Regina was relieved once they reached a pathway, followed by an opening of trees. In the middle, the famous cabin she had heard Emma talk about so much. The sight of it was dark as night surrounded it, but she could see it well. It was wasting away as Emma had once said, with a hole in the roof and some broken windows but even that had a homey feeling to it.
"This is…?"
Emma nodded, her eyes focused on the cabin before them, "That's it. It's not much now, it needs a lot of work done on her but someday…" She sighed like the dreamer she was, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "Someday, you'll come back here and it'll be restored to its former glory."
Regina smiled at an already clear picture in her head as Emma looked over to her.
"Come on. This is what I really wanted to show you." Emma walked away, past the side of the cabin, going through an open road of trees that was behind it.
"You never fail to impress me." Said Regina, holding onto the blonde's hand as tightly as possible, "You certainly know your way around these woods."
Emma smiled, "You'll get to know them too. With time."
Regina chuckled, "You have too high opinion of me, soldier."
Emma held onto Regina's both hands, walking backwards as they came across a small hill of dirt and leaves, "Careful here. It's a bit steep." She moved across a soft river or water that was avoided by a fallen tree trunk as it lay right between it. "Follow my footing." The soldier placed one foot in front of the other as she crossed the trunk backwards, guiding the brunette along the thick trunk with ease. As if it were a dance.
Even though the trunk wasn't huge to where they had to take a big leap off of it, Emma's hands instinctively and protectively made their way towards Regina's hips, carefully helping her off of it.
Once they reached the end of the small river of water, Emma spread open a few tree branches, allowing the brunette to go first. There it was. The river she talked about so much, just like she said. Or rather, more beautiful than she had once described it. The wooden dock covered by a few leaves as the end of it touched the clear, black water. The full moon reflecting right on said water.
And here she thought she could only see a view such as beautiful as this only in films, but she was wrong.
This was better.
"Careful." Emma pulled the brunette back by her hand as she was about to step onto the old wooden dock to get a closer look at the magnificent and peaceful view before them. "It's quite worn out, you might fall in."
Regina stood in place, her eyes drinking in the full moon, the softness look of the water as it moved along with quiet ease. The blue and black lighting of the night's sky. Everything was like a dream. Even Emma as she stood beside her.
"Beautiful." Whispered Regina, not taking notice that Emma's eyes were now focused right on her, a smile on her lips, that cheeky twinkle in her eyes.
"I couldn't agree more." Emma whispered.
Regina turned to face the blonde, her cheeks blushing instantly at the look in Emma's eyes. Her head moving to the feel of her touch again as her hand came up to cup her cheek.
"How many more of your girlfriend's did you share this spot with, soldier?"
Emma chuckled, a smirk on her lips, "You're the first."
"Great answer." Regina smirked, closing in the very little space they had between them as Emma too leaned in for their lips to touch in a long, desired kiss. Both their arms snaking around each other's forms as they pulled their bodies closer to one another.
Thank God Emma's leg had been in sync with her all day and night. The use of her cane never bothered her, but she wanted tonight to be absolutely perfect without it.
And it was. It really was.
Once they arrived back to Ingrid's home, Emma's yellow bug parked in its usual spot. Both women entered the house quietly without making a single sound. Emma stood outside of the guest bedroom's door as she watched Regina head on inside.
"Good night." Regina whispered.
"Regina." Emma called out to her as the brunette held the bedroom door halfway open. She smiled at the thought of what she was about to ask next, "Kids or no kids?"
Regina smiled with a light chuckle, recognizing the blonde soldier's words from the airport, "Kids." She nodded.
"How many?" Asked Emma.
"One." Answered Regina.
"Boy or girl?"
"A boy."
"What's his name?" Emma's eyes locked onto the brunette's.
"Henry." Whispered Regina, pausing for a short moment before speaking again, "Henry Daniel Swan-Mills."
Emma's heart leaped inside her chest. The beating sounding off her ears like a drum. She had only asked her that question once, but this was the first time Regina had ever told her what their future son's name would be. A smile spreading across her face as she was more than happy with the way it sounded. She couldn't of picked a better name herself, in fact.
Regina couldn't help but smile as well, "Sleep well, soldier." And with that, the brunette closed the door to what would be her bedroom for the night. Leaving a grinning and happy Emma leaning outside her door.
Emma released a deep and happy sigh, "Good night, Regina."
She walked towards her bedroom, closing the door in place, feeling happier than ever before. Feeling absolutely complete as she would finally be able to plan a life with the woman who nursed her back to life and stole her heart all in one.