A/N: Alright, so given that I didn't update when I said I would because of school, I made this chapter a little longer than my last two updates. It's a special one. And a little warning ahead... things can't be happy forever, so I'm not sure when but just to prepare you. Things will be going down hill soon. BUT nothing lasts forever. Just remember, no matter what direction their lives take, SQ is always endgame in any of my fics. ;) Happy reading!
Things went smoothly for both Emma and Regina through the months that passed of that year. Of course, not every moment they had was perfect. They had fights like any couple would in a relationship. They had disagreements. But by the end of it, their love grew like none other. Emma would sometimes find herself spending her nights over at Regina and Kathryn's apartment. It was surprisingly closer to her college she was attending.
She would surprise the brunette at work too, sometimes picking her up and driving her home before heading home herself.
They weren't a perfect couple, but they were happier than ever.
Sometimes, Regina felt so happy, it would scare her. Still expecting for something to go terribly wrong, something they wouldn't be able to come back from. But, then Emma would always ease those worries with her love.
And by God, did Regina love the soldier with all her being.
So much so, that she wanted to do something special once the year had reached its end and a new one started. With the blonde's birthday around the corner, Regina wanted everything to be perfect. Just like their first Valentine's day together, just like their first New Years, and Christmas and Thanksgiving. She wanted to give her something, a new experience that no one ever thought of giving her.
"An air balloon ride, Kathryn? That's the best you can come up with?"
"It's romantic."
Regina chuckled, "It's been used way too many times already."
"Well, sure, but not by you. Unless you've secretly been taking women on air balloon rides without telling me." Kathryn teased.
Regina sighed, plopping on the couch next to her best friend, frustrated as can be.
Kathryn wrapped an arm around the brunette, comforting her, "Relax, will you? I'm sure whatever you decide, Emma will love." She chuckled, "You could give that girl a crumpled piece of paper and she will love it, just because it came from you." She shrugged, "Or a horse like your father gifted to you when you turned seventeen."
Regina's eyes shot open, "That's it!" She smiled, "Kathryn, you're a genius!"
Kathryn chuckled, "Well, obviously, honey, but how is a crumpled piece of paper going to top all the romantic things she's done for you over the two years you've been together?" Her brows furrowed in question.
"Not that I'm talking about the horse." Replied the brunette.
Kathryn's brow raised, "You're serious? You're actually buying her a horse?"
Regina smirked, "Better."
Days passed. Emma was now 21. Today was her day, even if the blonde didn't ever like making a big fuss about her birthdays, she certainly was looking forward to this one. Especially when after her small celebration at Granny's diner, she would be leaving Storybrooke with Regina for a birthday weekend.
A knock was heard outside her bedroom door, causing the blonde to turn as she finished packing her bag for the weekend. She smiled at the sight of Ingrid with a cupcake in her hands, with a single candle on top. As was her tradition every year.
"All packed?" She asked.
"Pretty much." Emma chuckled, "I've tried to get her to tell me where we are going, but she absolutely won't tell me."
"Well, I can't say I blame her. If she told you, it wouldn't be called a surprise." Ingrid grinned as the younger blonde rolled her eyes. She had been trying to get Regina to tell her for weeks where she would be taking her, without succeeding, of course. "Come on now, blow out your candle." She held the cupcake before her, "Don't forget to make a wish first."
Emma smiled, blowing out the candle right before she made her wish. Taking it from Ingrid's hands as she took a bite.
"Well, I'll let you get dressed for tonight. Do you know what time Regina will be arriving?"
Emma shrugged, "I have no clue. She won't say a word to me about what she's doing until she gets here today."
"Smart woman." Ingrid smirked, leaving the younger blonde's bedroom to give her some privacy.
Everyone cheered as Emma walked into the diner, followed by Ingrid. The blonde smiling shyly, her hands tucked inside her pockets. A while back, Regina had caught her looking at a flannel shirt and a vest that had captured her interest. Which she bought for her on the spot, even through her protests. That's what she decided to wear for today. And she had to admit, she loved the way she looked in them.
"Happy Birthday, Em!" Ruby threw herself in the blonde's arms, giving her a tight hug.
"Thanks, Rubes." She smiled.
"Here," Ruby handed her friend her gift, grinning happily "Go ahead, open it."
Emma chuckled at the brunette's excitement as she tore open the paper, revealing a leather brown notebook with a stamp imprinted on the leather interior the shape of a swan, with her initials being part of the wing as it formed the letter E, as its neck, chest and belly area formed the S. Her mouth parting open as she looked up at Ruby in surprise, "Ruby…"
"It's real leather."
Emma let out a small laugh, "Yeah, I can see that." She shook her head, "Ruby, I…"
The brunette's brows furrowed, "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"No, of course, I like it. I love it. It's a very beautiful gift. I just…" Her fingers ran across the bird stamp, "This must have cost you a fortune."
Ruby smiled, "Well, I have to confess, it's not just from me. Granny and Kathryn pitched in too." She pointed at the most carved out lines on the leather, "And look, your initials form part of the swan. Pretty fancy, huh?"
Emma let out a small laugh, nodding, "Very. Thank you."
"Just promise me your first book will come out of that notebook and that's thanks enough for me."
Emma smirked, her hands already itching to write in its clean, crisp sheets, "That's a promise."
Leroy came up beside the soldier, placing his arm over her shoulders. The base of a beer bottle hitting the upper part of her chest as her hand automatically grabbed onto the bottle. "Here you go, Swan. My gift to you. Your first beer. Enjoy that."
"Leroy." Ingrid threw a glare at the older man.
"Oh, what? She's 21, give the girl a break, huh? Let her have a beer." He leaned in towards the blonde as Ingrid went about her business with other guests, his breath already reeking of beer. Not needing an excuse of a birthday party to have his drinks. "After this, we'll do shots."
Emma only chuckling, holding onto the cold glass bottle as she took one sip.
"So?" Asked Ruby, who had watched the whole Leroy spectacle.
The blonde paused as the taste of beer lingered inside her mouth, taking over every bit of her taste buds, "Not bad, actually."
The bells above the door of the diner rang as a new guest had arrived. Heads turned to a smiling brunette, making her way inside with an apologetic smile and a platter of freshly made lasagna, "Sorry I'm late."
"Here, let me help you with that." Ingrid quickly took the platter from the brunette's hands, setting on one of the tables with the rest of the food.
Regina's eyes instantly met green ones that stood out across the crowded room. Their smiles a pearly white match. Emma questioned how Regina could manage to look more and more beautiful with each passing day.
Ruby's hand moved underneath the blonde's chin, pretending to close it for her, "You may want to close your mouth, Em. I think I just saw a fly welcome itself inside." As Ruby walked away to give both women some privacy, Regina met up with the soldier soon after. Her eyes taking in the familiar choice of clothing she decided on wearing.
"Looking sharp, soldier." Said Regina.
"Thanks. I have to impress all my girlfriend's." Emma smirked as Regina's brow raised, a smirk of her own appearing on her lips.
"Right. The girlfriend's. I wouldn't worry about them, if I were you. I don't think they'll show."
"Oh, no?" Emma's brow raised, "What makes you so sure?"
The brunette chuckled, closing in on the blonde, "Because I'm the one who owns your heart."
Emma smiled, "There is that." She leaned in to capture the brunette's lips in a quick kiss. She sighed, instantly filled with happiness with the nurse's presence alone, "So, can I know about this mystery surprise you have in store for me now?"
Regina smirked her evil smirk, which had become Emma's favorite by now, "Be patient, soldier." She wiped a smudge of red lipstick off of the corner of her lip, "You will see soon enough."
Soon enough couldn't be soon enough for Emma. They had stick around the diner for a few hours, of course, no matter how eager she was to get out of there and spend her weekend together with Regina.
Once they had taken off towards their destination, Emma was all smiles. Regina was driving this time. That didn't go without saying.
The brunette constantly looked over at the excited and happy look on the blonde's face. Which made her smile so. She was becoming just as eager as Emma by the minute as the hours passed them by on their drive.
"Are we there yet?" Emma asked in the passing of a few hours. To her it had already felt like an eternity.
Regina chuckled, nodding forward with a smile tugging at her lips, "We're here."
Emma looked ahead, her mouth dropping open at the sight of an open space, a ranch with a couple of horses running free and others being exercised by people that kept the place in top shape. But that's not what had the blonde amazed, well part of it. What caught her eye in true amazement was the house.
It was a two story, with fine wooden material, the type Marco could never afford. The house looked like it was made as if it was sitting well on a wall of big garden style rocks. And as far as windows went, if Emma had to guess, she counted about fifteen. Maybe there was more. The house grew bigger before the blonde's eyes as Regina pulled in her Mercedes into the driveway.
"We're staying here for the weekend?" Emma's smile grew, remembering this place well from Regina's stories of her spent childhood here.
Regina nodded, looking over at the soldier, "There's more to see."
Emma's brows shot up in surprise, "More?"
Regina smirked as she exited the car, followed by the soldier as they went ahead inside the house.
The inside was just as big as the outside. It was kept clean by the looks of it. No speck of dust seen on the furniture sets of the entryway. The floors were made of a grey colored stone. The walls white with rock style bases all around the bottom.
Emma's eyes landed on a picture of a grey haired man, his arm around a seventeen year old Regina. A black stallion standing by her other side. Her hair was longer. She could tell because she noticed from the style of it, she had it in a braid. She turned as the brunette stood beside her, looking down at the picture that was now in her hand, "Is that your father?"
Regina nodded, taking the picture from Emma's grasp, "Yes." She paused as a sad smile formed on her lips, "That picture was taken days before he went back into service. I won first place in a showjumping competition." Her voice broke, "He was so proud of me then."
The brunette turned as she felt Emma's hand rest upon her shoulder, "He still would be. Because I know I am."
Regina smiled, blinking several times as she fought back the tears that had formed under her eyes. She took the blonde's hand into her own, as she guided her back outside, "Come, I want to introduce you to someone."
Emma dropped her bag, following the brunette's every step as she allowed her to take her wherever she wanted. They went down the steps and around. The land was big, bigger than Emma had imagined. Her eyes took in every bit of the Mills family land- Regina's favorite place in the entire world- as they neared a man who was working inside the stables.
"Hola, Manuel!" Regina waved at the man, who instantly waved back.
"Buenos dias, senora!" The man smiled even brighter as they neared him. Emma staring at them both as they exchanged a few more words in Spanish that she didn't understand one bit, but loved finding out about the nurse. She imagined that by the man going back into the stables, after having said hi to her as well, after the brunette had introduced them, that Regina had told him to retrieve something. She wasn't sure what.
"He'll be back in a few minutes." Regina smiled over at a surprised Emma.
"I never knew you spoke Spanish." Said Emma, a tiny smirk visible on her lips now.
Regina shrugged in a flirtatious manner, "I'm not fluent, dear, but I can understand enough."
"Well, I didn't understand any of it, but I sure would love to hear you speak it a little more."
Regina chuckled as Emma winked, "Behave yourself, Emma." She whispered as the man who attended to the horses was making his way near them again.
"You started it. I'm just trying to finish it." The blonde teased, causing the brunette to jump after she pinched one of her butt cheeks.
"Emma!" Regina's eyes grew wide as did Emma's smile, "You are such a child sometimes, Swan." She smiled then, "Are you sure you're 21 today?"
"Aqui tiene." The man smiled, holding onto the reins of the same black stallion that Emma had seen in the photograph.
Regina smiled a pearly white smile at her stallion, her hands running smoothly across its fur, "Hello, my beauty, it's so good to see you again." She looked over at the man with a kind smile, "Gracias, Manuel." She looked over at Emma as the man walked away without another word, at least not one Emma could understand. "This is Rocinante. My father gifted him to me."
"He's a beauty." Emma smiled but kept her distance, her eyes focused on the older woman as she interacted with the animal.
"I've ridden many horses in my time, but him and I have always had a special kind of bond." Said Regina, her hand still preoccupied with petting the stallion. After a few more seconds of whispering a few words at the horse, she finally looked over to the soldier, "Are you ready?"
"For what?"
"To ride him, of course." Regina chuckled at the blonde's confused expression.
Emma's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Ride him?" Her head shook, "No way. No. I'd rather see you ride him."
Regina's brow raised, "Am I hallucinating or is Emma Swan, a soldier, afraid of a horse?"
"A big horse." Her hands tucked inside her pockets, refusing to move from her spot.
This was a sight of Emma's the brunette couldn't help but laugh at, "It's perfectly alright, Emma. I assure you, nothing bad is going to happen." She smiled, stretching out her hand towards the frightened soldier. "Here, I'll show you. Give me your hand."
Emma hesitated, but took the brunette's hand anyway, allowing her to guide her towards the animal that looked like it could crush her if it wanted to. She was from a small town, therefore she had never seen an actual horse. Except on television and they never looked this big.
"Relax." Regina instructed her as she could feel her hand go stiff as she brought it up towards the animal's neck, "Despite what you might think, I promise you, he is a very sweet animal." She guided the blonde's hand across the animal's soft fur with ease, working its way towards its back. Her smile grew as she could feel her starting to relax her hand movement, "See. If you trust him, then he'll trust you."
Emma's eyes looked over at the horse as a loud unexpected sound escaped the stallion. It was as if he was responding. As if he knew, she was still scared shitless.
"I don't know, Gina. I don't think he likes me. I'm not much of a fan of anything bigger than me and could crush me." Said Emma.
"Well, I'm older than you and could crush you. Yet, you're still dating me, aren't you?" Regina chuckled at the questionable look on the soldier's face, "Come on, I'll help you. Just put your left foot there." She pointed to the stirrup irons that hung from the edges of the horse's seat, nodding as Emma did as she was told, "Good. Now push yourself up- gently and swing the other leg around. Grab onto here for support," She patted gently on the pommel of the seat.
Emma grunted, following orders to a key, "Whoa." was all she could say as she felt high up. She smiled nervously, looking down at the brunette, who held onto the reins securely.
"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Asked Regina.
"I guess not." Emma's smile grew as did Regina's.
"Alright, watch yourself. I'm coming up." Regina climbed with so much more ease than the blonde. Which Emma didn't mind the sight of, she loved the way the older woman looked on here. Even if she had positioned herself behind her. Nothing was better to her than to feel the brunette's arms make their way around her as she held onto the reins of the animal. "Ready?"
"Hi-ho Silver, away." Said Emma, which made Regina smile as she made the horse start moving slowly at first.
After a while of riding away from the ranch, Regina had made the animal pick up its pace. Allowing him to roam freely throughout the land. She would chuckle anytime she could feel the blonde's body become stiff again, but Emma would soon find herself relaxing again as soon as she could hear Regina's voice whisper into her ear that everything would be alright. That she was safe.
The way the brunette controlled the stallion with such ease and patience was the most thrilling experience of all. She never imagined seeing an actual horse, much less riding one with the brunette's help. It was then she could understand why Regina loved riding so much. Even as the sun was beginning to set, to feel the breeze, the warmth the sun still provided on her face was a magical feeling.
After their ride, once darkness took over the sky, both women walked back into the house hand in hand, .
"This is definitely the best birthday I've ever had."
"I'm glad to hear that. However, I can't imagine any one of your birthday's ever lacking any fun. Especially one in particular." Regina smirked, as Emma's cheeks turned red.
"Alright, it was one cigarette. Ruby stole them, she didn't know any better."
Regina chuckled, remembering every detail of Ingrid's story on how she had caught Ruby and Emma smoking when they were younger. She finally had heard that story while they were at Granny's for the blonde's birthday party earlier.
"Well, dear. Now that you're finally of age, how about you share a drink with me?"
Emma's eyes locked into Regina's, her eyes were mesmerizing, they always had a way of making her forget how to speak and luring her in. Or maybe it was just the tone in her voice that was being so inviting at the moment. Or maybe it was everything, because all she could manage to get out in that moment as she stopped in the middle of the living room was, "I'll share anything with you."
Regina had a smirk to her as she indicated for the soldier to sit by the fire that she had also neglected to notice had been burning before they even walked back into the house. There were blankets laid out on the rug that was placed on the hardwood floor. More than enough blankets, in fact.
"I'll be right back. Make yourself comfortable." There was that purring in her voice again as Emma's eyes followed the brunette's every movement, as she headed into the gigantic kitchen and retrieved whatever else she had planned for this evening. Emma's eyes looked over at the blankets that were laid out in front of the warm fireplace. As she looked for her comfort spot and sat down in front of the fire, the crackling of the flames sounding more distinctively.
Regina twisted the cork of the wine bottle she had reserved for this special occasion, serving it into two wine glasses as her eyes drank in the sight of Emma as she sat in front of the fireplace. Watching her was one of her favorite things to do. Emma was always lost in her own thoughts, she could always read them from afar, as if they were circling her like thought bubbles for her to see. Still, she wondered… exactly what would be on the blonde soldier's mind. Especially right now.
As she moved over towards the fireplace, both glasses in hand with served wine. "Penny for your thoughts?" She asked, handing over a glass of wine, finding her place next to Emma as she took the offered glass from her.
"I was just thinking…" Emma's eyes met with Regina's as a tiny smile let itself be known, "It's been two years." She paused, "Since I opened my eyes and was reborn simply by looking into yours." Her smile grew, as did Regina's, "Two years since I told you that I loved you."
Regina chuckled, "I still say I went a little high on your dose of morphine that day."
Their glasses clinked with one another as both women enjoyed their first sip together. A sweet and sour after taste hitting the blonde's taste buds as she savored what she drank in. Her eyes never leaving Regina's, even as she placed her glass beside her.
"If you could have one thing today, one wish. What would it be?"
Emma thought long and hard about her answer, her heart already knowing it before her mouth could reproduce the words, "Have? I already have you. I already have your love." She smiled, "Loving you is the greatest gift of all. As for my wish…" She sighed, her gaze never leaving the brunette beside her, "To marry you. And when I ask, because I will. I'll only wish you'll say yes. Because frankly, I wouldn't know how to live without you anymore."
Regina's hand came up to cup the blonde's cheek, her thumb softly caressing her cheekbone, "Nor would I." She whispered, leaning in to capture the blonde's thin lips in a passionate and slow kiss.
A kiss that soon became heated as Emma's hand moved to cup the back of the brunette's head, while Regina's tugged on the blonde's shirt, pulling the blonde to lay on top of her as she lay back on the bed of blankets she had laid out for them. Emma's hand not moving from her head until her hand hit the blankets. Finding refuge on Regina's thigh, her short nails scraping away at the material of her jeans. Her action was too much as Regina let out a small groan. Her olive hands working on the buttons of the blonde's vest as Emma sat up to quickly remove it from her own body, followed by her shirt. Not even bothering to unbutton it, both women just tugged on it in an upward motion until it was off of her body completely.
Her hand finding its place behind the nurse's head again, as Regina remained seated, her tongue traveling down every curve and structure of the blonde's abdominal muscles. Leaving wet trails, along with smudges of lipstick as her lips joined in on the exploration of her well sculpted abs.
The shivers that went up Emma's spine were intensified, her own reaction was to tightened her fist on the brunette's jet black hair, causing her to gasp as she made her look up at her. Their eyes met for a short moment, smiles meeting together as they melted into a kiss. The blonde's lips crashing hard onto the ones that from day one, made her fall deeply in love. Her tongue inviting itself into the brunette's mouth as she caused her to moan this time.
Emma's hands worked on the buttons of the brunette's blouse, along with Regina's in sync. Their lips never breaking apart.
Once her blouse was completely opened, that's when Emma's lips parted from her mouth with a sharp withdrawal of breath that made Regina's toes curl. A moan escaping her as her hand tightened around a fistful of blonde locks, given that her mouth, tongue and teeth were now preoccupied and deeply concentrated on her breasts and hardened peaks. Traveling patiently from one to the other, giving both her undivided attention.
Regina hissed rather loudly, her forehead creased as the next thing she could feel were how easily Emma's fingers had undone her jeans, giving her easy access to the place she wanted to feel and be at the most. Her hips bucking slowly in and upward and down motion as the blonde's index finger didn't waste anymore time in entering her.
"Uhh…" Emma released a moan of her own onto the older woman's lips, capturing them in a kiss more intense this time, as she could feel Regina enter her as well. Causing her to spread her legs a little more out of instinct.
Both women's hips began grinding in sync, their hands never giving up on making one another feel as if they could fly to touch heaven. And they would. Every single time they made love, it always came with that amount of intensity and love, it would make both explode with passion. There wasn't a place on their bodies, their hands, mouths, tongues and teeth wouldn't get to explore when they would make love.
Regina's lips, as well as her teeth locked on the blonde's neck, biting and soothing at all those untouched spots as her movements intensified. Her free hand cupping one of Emma's breasts as all the soldier could do is surrender to her then and there. Her closing tightly shut.
The more Emma moaned out the older woman's name, the more intense her movements. Emma's as well became more and more intense with each moan she let out, that Regina found herself letting go with ease. No words. Just joined hands as they squeezed one another with the same intensity and passion their release came altogether.
Out of breath, their foreheads came together as their bodies slowed down, their hands never breaking that loving contact. As Regina found herself letting her body rest upon the tired soldier, her head resting on her shoulder, as Emma's lips moved up to place a delicate kiss right on her forehead.
Their eyes met in a locked glance with one another, all that surrounded them now were the many blankets and the delicate sounds of the crackling fire. Emma's eye color always intensified and grew brighter each time they would look at each other after making love, Regina prayed then and there for those to be the eyes she would have the pleasure of looking into for the rest of her life.