The Sherriff of Storybrooke exhaled deeply through her nose. Her palms were sweaty as she wiped them on the front of her jeans. Emma felt like an idiot. Her green eyes glanced at the large door of the mayor's home.
Who the hell falls head over ass in love with their born nemesis anyway?
Emma shook her head at the thought. The brunette was no longer her enemy. Yes, she did take a chainsaw to her prized apple tree and she's screamed in her face before, but things have changed since then. The two realized they were more alike than different, and that caused something beautiful to finally bloom.
Or at least, something beautiful on Emma's part. Gaining feelings for Regina was inevitable and the blonde just gave into it. Which was why it was now or never.
Emma raised her hand and knocked hard on the door. The door creaked open on its own, almost eerily. The blonde quirked an eyebrow in curiosity as she pushed the door the rest of the way open. Regina was nowhere to be seen.
"Regina?" Emma called out.
After no response, the blonde quickly closed the door behind her as she stepped inside. She cautiously checked both the living room and the kitchen, staying out of direct sight just incase another Walsh decided to make a grand entrance. However, the brunette was nowhere to be found in the quiet house.
She crossed the foyer and slowly climbed the steps, the wood creaking under her weight. As she got closer to the master bedroom, an uneasy feeling built in her stomach. Emma had been all over this house, mainly because of Henry and partly because she had previously wanted dirt on the mayor, but that was beside the point of her current situation.
The blonde softly grabbed the doorknob and twisted, opening the door.
The bedroom was pitch black. From the little that Emma could see, the mayor's back was facing her. She seemed to let out a long sigh.
"Henry, dear, I told you—" Regina began without turning to face the door. Emma hadn't processed that the brunette had begun talking so she cut her off.
"Regina?"
The feminine voice bounced off the walls. If Regina was a wolf, her fur would stick up and her ears would turn. Not curiously, but out of fear. One thing she could muster whether being human or wolf was a growl.
A low and deep humming emitted from her chest.
Suddenly, the brunette sat up and turned. She spun on her knees and held a flaming ball in her palm. Regina pulled her arm back, ready to catapult it directly at the sheriff.
"Woah, woah! It's just me, Regina," Emma put her hands up in defence. She noticed how messy the short dark hair was on the other woman. She was shaking as if she was desperately trying to hold together all her pieces. Regina looked like she was falling apart.
The ex-Queen wasn't fazed what-so-ever and didn't falter. In fact, she strengthened the flame.
"Don't move, Sheriff," Regina threatened. "Unless you'd prefer Henry one mother instead of two."
Emma's eyes went wide, keeping her hands raised. She kept quiet until Regina let out a shaky breath.
"Are you alright, Madam Mayor?"
Regina kept trembling, unable to answer. If she was in a right state of mind she would have been angry at the blonde for speaking without being spoken to, but right now, she couldn't care less. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her chest heaved unevenly. The flame in her hand flickered and sparked.
"Look into my eyes, Regina," Emma looked softly at the former Queen. She kept her arms raised in the air, not provoking Regina in any way. The use of her name caused the brunette's watery eyes to quickly flick over to Emma's.
"If you can tell me everything's okay and I have nothing to worry about with one hundred percent certainty, I'll leave."
Emma's raised hand moved and pointed to the door. Regina's eyes darted to the door and then quickly back to Emma. A strangled breath emitted from her mouth. Emma knew she wasn't going to be able to tell her that she was okay without lying. Even then, the blonde's superpower would step in. Whether Regina wanted to admit it or not, she was falling to pieces. Emma's eyes searched the shaking woman for any sign to leave. Regina's eyes pleaded for the Savior to stay.
The flame in her hand disappeared and the room once again fell dark. The regal woman sat down on her bottom and drew her knees as close to her chest as they would come, trying to make herself appear as small as possible. Even though the woman was filled to the brim with magic, her conscious refused to let her leave.
After a few moments of unregistered shock, the blonde snapped out of it and rushed to the side of the bed, kicking her shoes off in the process.
"I'm turning the lights on, Regina," Emma closed her eyes momentarily as her hand reached out to find the other woman. Her head jerked to the side quickly and the lights were on. The brunette flinched as if she was going to be hit and tried holding herself closer to appear smaller but to no avail.
"You aren't going to hide from me," Emma told her softly. It was a gentle command that didn't sound demanding in any way. Regina only looked at the Savior with wide eyes.
Emma couldn't read what the mayor was thinking, and it was driving her crazy.
"Tonight," Emma started. "For once in your life, Regina, surrender. Let down those walls you have up sky high and let me in. Please."
The brunette's chocolate eyes met Emma's and searched for judgement and disgust. Though, she found none. She saw nothing but raw love. Regina stayed staring, expecting it to go away, but it didn't.
If anything, it got stronger.
Emma was a comfortable distance from the trembling mayor, their bodies only connected by the blonde's hand resting on top of Regina's. Her fingers moved, trying to get under her palm to lace their fingers together. The mayor was still fully able to push Emma away if she wished.
The blonde prayed she didn't.
Regina's eyes fought back tears. She felt completely worthless to everyone around her and here Emma stood, looking at her like she was everything.
Silence fell between the two.
Just as Emma started to think Regina no longer wanted her presence, the brunette reached forward and balled the blonde's shirt in her fist. Emma's forest-green eyes went wide as the space near her neck and clavicle was invaded by Regina's head.
All at once, Emma suddenly was aware of Regina's presence more than ever. The perfume dripped down through Emma's skin and she felt like it was wrapping around her. The combination of the feeling deep down in her stomach and the drowning sensation of the perfume almost made the Savior collapse.
Almost on instinct, Emma's arms wrapped protectively around the woman slightly below her. The blonde brought a hand gently to the base of her neck and rubbed, slowly pushing her head closer to her body.
Slowly but surely, the two manoeuvred so Emma laid on her back and Regina lay practically on top of her, arms draped around her. Their legs moulded together as Regina pressed herself into the younger woman.
With one soft stroke of Emma's hand down her back, the woman who had dams made of steel fell apart.
Regina's eyebrows came together as tears spilt from her eyes. Uncontrolled whimpers and sobs left her throat from deep in her chest. Every painful event in her life flashed before her eyes and she no longer felt grounded.
The brunette gripped hard onto Emma.
Love is weakness.
Cora's words spoke volume in her ears. The brunette whined and snivelled. From Emma's perspective, she could only imagine the mental wars going on in her head.
Before Regina could start thrashing, Emma leaned back and very softly picked up the former Queen's chin in her thumb and index finger.
The brunette's eyes remained closed as she sniffled. Fresh tears burned tracks into her face.
Emma felt tears prick at the corners of her own eyes at the sight.
"Regina," Emma started. Her voice was velvety. "Please look at me."
Regina's eyes fluttered open. The bright lights of the room blinded her momentarily, but she quickly focused on the ivory features in front of her. Unsure of how to continue, Emma started talking.
"You are the most terrifying woman I have ever met."
The blonde admitted it wasn't the best way to start this long-awaited conversation. The mayor's long and shaky intake of breath confirmed this.
"When I went back in time and I stared the Evil Queen in her eyes, I was terrified. That was the first time in a long time I let something scare me to the core."
"If you're insulting me, I promise you that won't help, dear," Regina whined softly between sniffles, a fresh batch of tears flowed down her cheeks. She attempted to remove her chin from Emma's grasp, but the blonde wasn't having it.
"No, I'm not finished," Emma said calmly. They locked eyes and Regina's went wide.
"You are also the bravest and most selfless person to ever walk on all the realms, or at least the ones I've been to. Meeting her made me realize that as well."
The blonde reached down and pressed her palm flat against Regina's beating heart. The contact made the mayor gasp so softly it was almost inaudible.
"The person you are now is nowhere near who she is. You love, you care. Your heart," Emma gingerly raked her trimmed fingernails over Regina's pulsating skin.
"It beats. It beats so strongly. Ever since I showed u on your door dazed and confused, yeah, I knew you'd be a pain in the ass."
Emma mentally sighed of relief when Regina smiled.
"But I also knew more than that."
Regina's smile fell and her eyebrows threaded together. Emma silently cursed herself for the horrible transition. The blonde grabbed the mayor's hand and placed it over her own heart.
"My heart beat," Emma paused as Regina squeezed on her chest like a baby. "And it beat for you."
The Savior paused to gauge Regina's reaction. She seemed unfazed as if she knew the entire time. Her tear tracks dried completely and only a somber look remained in her eyes. Chocolate eyes stared back.
Emma blinked. "Yeah, this is horrible timing, but I'm in love with you, Regina."
Emma almost choked on the words as they cam from her throat. She realized it was the first time she'd said it out loud, and she said them to Regina.
"I was terrified of her because I am in love with her. I'm in love with you. Every version of you," Emma's voice was shaky and she couldn't care less. She tightened her grip of Regina's chin only slightly, showing she was serious.
"She looked straight int my soul through my eyes and I saw you, Regina. All the evil stripped from her and you stood in her place." The blonde softly stroked her fingers against the brunette's jaw with the hand holding her chin.
By this point, Regina's tears had come to a complete halt. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked exhausted. Her mind was running a marathon and Emma suddenly wished she could read the older woman more than ever.
"You surprise me more and more every day, Miss Swan," Regina hoarsed through chapped lips. All pain of her past subsided, for now, and Emma Swan, the beautiful blonde lying in her bed, was all that mattered.
"I confess my undying love for you and 'Miss Swan' is all I get?" A smile threatened Emma's lips.
"Oh no, dear," The brunette's pearly white teeth flashed a smile.
"I knew since the day you showed up on my front door with our son and your atrocious jacket that were… different." Regina's voice was more clear now. She chose her words carefully and she received an eyebrow raise from Emma that she without a doubt adopted from the mayor.
"I knew I'd love you. Which is why I so desperately ushed you away." The brunette leaned into Emma's hand that still held her jaw. Emma's hand was softer now and it allowed Regina to move closer.
The brunette moved her hand from Emma's chest to the blonde's other hand that still lay over the mayor's heart. She threaded their fingers together.
Emma noticed Regina focus slightly, and suddenly a purple smoke drifted from their intertwined hands. The older woman nodded in Emma's direction and the Savior took the hint.
After a little more focus and time, Emma's white smoke came from her palm.
Instead of the two colors clashing and sparking, they slid smoothly around each other. They combined, swirling in the air. The last of the smoke vanished and Regina turned to look at Emma's eyes, which were plastered in awe.
"I realized it was no use because we both know you don't give up. I fell for you anyway." Regina stated simply.
Emma could no longer hide her growing smile as it exploded on her face.
"Why didn't you ever say something?" Emma questioned.
"Do I look like the type of woman to confess my feelings for my enemy, Sherriff? People get on their knees for me, not the other way around." Regina teased. For a split second, she saw challenge flare-up within Emma.
Emma laughed loudly. "You do now."
"Don't get used to it, Emma," Regina warned with a smile on her face.
"Never with you, Madam Mayor."
Silence fell between the two, but it was the farthest thing from awkward. They shared breaths, just enjoying the company of one another.
Suddenly, Regina's breath went shallow as her mind caught u to her and she realized how Emma seemed to be inching closer and how fast her heart was beating. Her eyes glanced nervously between the blonde's eyes and lips.
Emma, impatient as always, snaked her hand into Regina's soft tresses and placed the lightest of the pressure her with her hand.
Regina came crashing, lips landing directly on Emma's.
Both sets of eyes fluttered shut as they melted into one another. It took all of Regina's self-restraint to not groan and let Emma take all dominance.
They kissed until they felt like they were drowning.
Finally, Emma pulled her head above water, breathing heavily. She placed her forehead on Regina's and smiled.
"Is it too early to say I love you?" Emma blurted out. She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth as a pink flush invaded her cheeks.
"Miss Swan," Regina chuckled. She pulled Emma's hand from her mouth. "Considering we already share a son together, I think that's quite alright."
Emma's shoulders untensed and she relaxed.
Regina let her chin fall through Emma's grasp and hit the blonde's chest softly. Emma smiled to herself as she noticed the exhausted mayor start to fall asleep in her arms. The Savior let her head fall to the side as her eyes closed.
"Emma?" She heard Regina's voice.
All the blonde could muster was a hum, signalling she was still awake.
"I love you too," Regina mumbled before quickly falling into the first good sleep she's had in a while.