She's distant. It's alluring, intoxicating and she finds herself addicted to the constant mystery of Allison Cameron. The unknown little gems that this woman keeps securely hidden from the world is riveting and it strums an urgency deep within Regina to discover each and every one.
In the deepest of her heart, she knows this woman is holding back. She can practically feel how thin the air is whenever her lips are ghosting over the dainty, pale mouth before her, like Allison is holding her breath, petrified she might spill her secrets. Those piercing eyes, swirling in a mix of sea green and honey yellow, are constantly darting anxiously around, so she doesn't feel compelled to expose her truth if she makes direct eye contact.
Whatever Allison refuses to share with her, she knows it's heavy, she can feel the weight upon their shoulders every time they are alone and it only seems to grow with each day that passes. The burden upon their shoulders is aching and they are both slowly crumbling beneath the pressure, she just hopes the blonde will come clean before they both collapse.
Yet, despite all of that, Regina is still willing to turn her cheek and pretend that those secrets don't bother her. Allison did come clean and share something she had been keeping locked away, something intimate and far too personal about her parents. So, Regina takes that as a win in her book, because the woman wouldn't have shared something so deep if she wasn't invested in the future of their relationship.
At first, Regina summed up her attraction to her new neighbor as just mere infatuation with someone who bonded with her son. There's something sexy and attractive in a person who clicks with her child and showers him with attention. Of course, Allison Cameron is gorgeous, with her long golden mane of sunshine and her stunning eyes that are rare and seem to change depending on her mood or the color of her clothing. Sometimes in the day when the sun strikes at just the right angle, they are a pale blue, with an undertone of green. Her favorite is when it's late at night, and Allison is struggling to keep her composure, but their lips seem addicted to each other, that's when her eyes morph into this beautiful green with little flecks of golden specks that match her hair color. Not to mention her physique.
Regina's not entirely sure if she should be jealous, or absolutely in love with the woman's body for how fit she truly is. She seems to have the perfect balance, toned and strong, but not too bulky and over worked. The one and only time she was granted permission to see the woman naked was in the shower, and Regina couldn't stop her hands from roaming over every inch of her body.
However, the woman's looks do not compare with the way she makes her feel. The amount of compassion oozing from Allison is overwhelming, especially because it comes so naturally, like maybe sometimes she doesn't even realize how sincere and kind she truly is being. She knows it's in Allison's nature to be protective and empathetic, it's so clear in her eyes, but Regina also knows that there's a soft spot reserved for she and her son in the woman's heart.
It's almost unfair, because it's impossible not to fall for someone who walked into a mess and willingly agreed to clean it all up without batting an eye. She listens to every one of Regina's stories without an ounce of judgement and most importantly she has vowed to help her pick up the pieces of her broken family. Any other human would have jumped the next plane out of town with Henry's circumstances, but Allison stuck around and somehow managed to open her son up again.
He's talking.
Finally, speaking and that alone grants this woman a free pass to whatever she is withholding.
"So, this is really appealing to you and the kid?" Allison inquires skeptically, leaning into her side and lowering her voice, so Henry doesn't hear their private conversation.
"Yes," she wholeheartedly admits, her hand gently running down the black patch upon the horse's nose. "I hope you consider riding with us one day, when Gold finally has this place up and running again."
"Maybe," the blonde noncommittally shrugs, stuffing her hands into her red leather jacket. A jacket in which Regina has not fantasized about late at night with a very naked blonde inside, writhing and groaning in ecstasy. "Can I ask you something?"
Regina blinks away her inappropriate thoughts and mindlessly nods her approval. She quickly glances to her left to check on Henry, but he's perfectly safe, running a brush against the horse's back.
"So, you sold this place, correct?"
"Yes."
"And you're the mayor."
"Obviously."
"And your father passed away..."
"I'm not quite sure what you are reaching for," she deadpans, eyeing the twitchy woman beside her.
"I'm sure you have some money...I just, um," she's growing impatient with the writer's stammering and lack of words. "How come your mom isn't in a nicer place? Maybe a facility that specializes with dementia patients," she sheepishly asks, so uncomfortable and out of her element, yet Regina finds the disposition endearing, much like the woman's poor eating habits.
"This is a very small town and there isn't an establishment like that here besides the hospital. There's a nice one, about thirty minutes away, but I need to be close to home, for Henry's sake and I need my mother to be accessible to me."
"Oh, well that makes sense," Allison pauses for a moment in consideration. "I bet that's another reason for you to get the hell out of this small town, huh?"
She smirks, knowing this woman is paying very close attention to all the details of her life. "Indeed it is. The pro's of leaving are really starting to add up, aren't they?" She muses, patting the horse one last time before she steps back. "Henry, I believe it's time for us to leave."
"Awe, come on mom, we just got here," he whines, and as much as she detests his babyish whining, she accepts it with open arms because at least he's speaking again.
One year without her son's precious voice was horrendous and if Allison hadn't come along, she is sure she would have committed herself by now from slowly losing her sanity.
"I promise, once Mr. Gold is ready for this place to open back up, we will be the first in line to ride."
"Promise?" He questions, with his adorable face scrunching up in a way that always has her bending to his every whim.
"I promise," she solemnly concludes, her hand moving from motherly instincts alone to reach for her son.
She holds her breath, waiting for that utter disappointment of rejection again, but much to her surprise, he takes her hand. She chalks up the acceptance to be from the funk he's been in all day. Ever since the previous night, when tensions were high and Henry, Allison and herself found themselves in a screaming match over his biological mother, he's been acting off all day. He's not fighting her like he usually does, but he is awfully quiet again and that worries her more than anything.
"Hey, I got an idea," the crazy neighbor excitedly announces. "What if we have a sleepover at my house tonight? We could watch some Spider-Man movies, make some popcorn, maybe even get your mom to try a root beer float," she playfully teases with her beautiful eyes dancing with glee.
"Mom, can we?" Her son hopefully inquires, and because of the sadness drowning in his eyes, she caves.
"Of course, honey."
XXXX
"Come on," Allison groans.
"Absolutely not."
"Why not?"
"It's disgusting."
"No, it's not," the woman whines.
"You're far worse than my child," she quips, but she cannot contain a straight face to convey annoyance and it's all because she finds this blonde infuriatingly adorable.
She hates the way Allison clams up whenever the past is brought up and she's sure that has everything to do with her parents' untimely death and being raised in a foster system. However, because of her evident struggles growing up, there's a childish mannerism in the woman, that always leaves a smile upon Regina's face. She knows Allison is constantly scarfing down her food in fear, maybe other children would steal her food or maybe she would be left without a meal for days, she's isn't sure because the blonde refuses to share, but Regina finds herself wanting to take care of her and provide for her. She wants to be the reason Allison feels safe. She wants to be the place Allison wants to run to after a long day and feels comfortable with.
She wants to be her home.
"Don't make me tackle you and shove it down your throat," Allison challenges with a very stern expression, yet Henry is giggling, actually giggling.
So, Regina plays along to keep that beautiful song playing in her ears.
"You wouldn't dare," she retorts, glaring at the woman with mischief twinkling in her bright eyes.
"Oh, I would. I'm pretty scrappy. Don't test me," Allison threatens, diving her spoon into the disgusting combination of root beer and ice cream.
Her teeth ache from just looking at the dessert.
"Don't test me," she fires right back, with her hand coming up to enforce some space between them.
And before she can take her next breath, the corky blonde snatches the extended hand and tugs Regina flush against her body. She attempts to squirm and wiggle free of course, but it's half-heartedly because she knows the blonde is stronger than her and also, she really enjoys being in those strong arms. Allison is like a ninja, pinning her between the counter and holding her firmly into place.
"Open up," Allison commands, provoking Regina's lips to purse to refrain from laughing along with her son. She slowly shakes her head in defiance and holds the woman's gaze in a challenge. "Just one bite." Regina presses her lips together and shakes her head again.
"Awe come on, mom, just try it," Henry whines, but she still declines without a word spoken.
Allison then dips her head forward, her warm breath tickling the shell of Regina's ear and eliciting a wild spread of shivers to run down her spine. Very quietly, so Henry won't be able to hear a sound, she whispers, "if you try a bite, I promise I'll reward you later," and then she just barely kisses her ear and it's so subtle, Regina isn't even confident that it occurred. She gasps from the bold move, and that's when Allison shoves the spoon in her mouth. "I win."
Regina grimaces from the taste, she never was a fan of any type of soda. She quickly swallows while the blonde and her son have a field day, laughing at her expense. Yet, she's a good sport about it all because of the drastic improvement of her life, all thanks to the beautiful woman before her.
"That's awful," she complains, snatching up a napkin and quickly wiping her mouth.
"It's so good, mom," her son mumbles around a straw as he slurps up his treat.
"I don't believe you, I think you really enjoyed it," her friend-maybe girlfriend, taunts, already moving to scoop up another bite.
"Absolutely not," Regina rejects the offer and quickly picks up the bowl of popcorn. "I will stick to this tonight," she sternly declares before she sashays away into the living room, so they can watch their movie.
"Alright kid, grab your float," Allison says, quickly following behind.
Without a second thought in that matter, the blonde settles down next to Regina on the couch. She folds her legs like a kindergarten, with one knee resting on top on Regina's lap and dives right back into her float with a spoon. Regina smirks at her childish ways, but then her eyes notice her son, awkwardly standing in front of the couch. He's eyeing them warily, so unsure of himself and Regina knows something is bothering him.
"Henry, come sit, honey."
"Ummm..."
"You wanna sit on the other side of your mom?" Allison asks around a mouthful of ice cream before she swallows. "Or you want me to set up some pillows on the floor?"
"What's going on?" He blurts out, forcing both women's eyes to blink rapidly in confusion.
"I beg your pardon?" She gently asks her son because truthfully, she has no idea where his little mind is at this evening.
"I don't get why you kissed last night," he exasperates, like the question had been weighing down upon his chest all day and she should have known.
Regina sighs heavily. She knows she should have discussed her new budding relationship with him, but last night he had a panic attack and was coming to terms with reality and then she spent the whole day walking on eggshells around him and she was terrified to bring up the sore subject and cause him more pain. It was selfish on her part to not sit down with him right away, but she really hasn't even had the chance to discuss it with Allison. The woman ran off last night, just like she does every night.
Allison produces some strange gurgling sound like she's choking and that snaps Regina from her wandering thoughts.
"Well, Allison and I were kissing last night because we like each other," she lamely answers, but he obviously knows that.
"So, are you like...dating now?" He very seriously questions, before he narrows his eyes at the blonde. "Are you gonna marry my mom?"
"Oh Jesus, kid," Allison gasps.
Regina gently reaches for her son's hand and guides him closer to the couch. She sweeps her thumb over the back of his hand and holds his gaze with nothing but love in her eyes.
"Please don't worry about that right now, alright? At this moment, Allison and I really like each other, we enjoy spending time together, so we are going to continue doing that and see where that leads, okay?" He's awfully quiet, his concerned eyes darting all across her face for some kind of answer. "Honey, is that aright? Are you comfortable with Allison spending time with us?"
"Well, yeah," he says in a tone that practically screams, duh. In a haste his attention is back on the blonde, who is burning through every shade of red known to mankind. "Is this why you kept saying that my mom needed to kiss someone to break the curse? You wanted to kiss my mom?"
Regina sucks both lips between her teeth to bite back her laughter, because the sight of her son interrogating her new love interest is quite entertaining.
"I-what?" Allison balks, blinking rapidly as her brain attempts to formulate words. "No, kid, remember we talked about it last night. I'm not the Savior, there is no curse."
"No," he states with conviction. "You might not be my mom, but there could still be a curse, you could still be the Savior," he defends, standing tall and squaring his shoulders for a debate.
"I-" green eyes flick to Regina's in an instant for some guidance.
"Honey, I swear there's no curse. Don't you think that things have been changing for the better with our family?" He shrugs noncommittally as his gaze drops to the floor. "I think we have been enjoying ourselves a lot lately. Please, try and see the good in that."
"I guess," he mumbles under his breath.
"I will accept that answer for now," she concludes, smiling brightly at her son to ease his worries. "Now, I need to know, are you alright with Allison and I seeing each other?"
"I guess. It would be nice to have her around more," he shyly admits.
"Thanks, kid," Allison beams, ruffling his hair all around. "Now, Spider-Man and floats?" She questions, clinking their glasses together, generating a playful smile around Henry's lips.
"Okay," he agrees and climbs on the couch beside his mother, leaning into her side, just like a certain blonde.
XXXX
She's awkward and visibly uncomfortable and Regina only assumes it's because of her presence. They have only shared one night together and she's starting to piece together that Allison must have some attachment issues. She watches carefully as the blonde stiffly lifts the comforter to her own bed and climbs in.
"Would you rather I sleep on the couch?" She inquires, her dark eyes following every rigid move the woman beside her makes.
"No, no. That thing is so old and beat up-"
"Speaking of, when are you going to put your own furniture in? Mrs. Callister's style is certainly out of date, not to mention, completely the opposite of your taste."
A small smirk tugs at the corner of pale pink lips before Allison says, "You're right. It's not my style. Maybe some day," she vaguely responds and again, Regina is growing frustrated with all the walls around this young woman's life.
Allison slowly slides into bed, stiff as a board and stares aimlessly up at the ceiling and because Regina hates being ignored, she lowers herself down, on top of the woman. Green eyes expand to their fullest potential, but Regina simply smirks, fully proud of herself.
"Why are you still holding back? Why are you so uncomfortable with the idea of us spending the night together?" She softly asks, tucking a chuck of wavy tresses behind Allison's ear and watching in delight when those green eyes soften and become glossy, just like they always do when she's tender with her.
"Okay," Allison breathes out, wrapping those strong arms around her like she needs Regina's body as an anchor. "I'm going to try and explain as best as I can right now." Regina nods firmly, devoting her undivided attention to this woman who is slowly stealing her heart. "I can't explain the entire truth just yet, and I know that sounds like crap, but I swear it's the truth. I'm still holding back because I don't trust myself around you. I want you, I want to be with you completely, but I can't until I can be truly honest." Regina's expression must exclaim bewilderment because Allison proceeds through a heavy sigh. "Look, obviously I have some issues when it comes to relationships, and I know it has everything to do with my past and growing up. I spent a lot of time indulging in one-night stands because I was terrified of getting too close and hurt again. But with you, I really want to try, and I hope you see that."
"I do, and I'm willing to go slow, because I don't want to rush into something and not only hurt us, but my son as well. But I still feel like you're holding back from something else. There's more, isn't there?"
A very quiet and soft vibration comes from somewhere in the room, breaking through their private moment. Regina glances at the nightstand, where her phone as well as Allison's are resting and neither one is glowing or rattling against the wood.
"Do you hear that?" She curiously investigates, hoping she isn't losing her damn mind now as well as the rest of her family.
"Uh...what?"
She can tell she is lying, but why?
"The vibrating. It sounds like...a phone," she skeptically says, eyeing the nervous woman below her warily.
"Ummm...I...I don't know," she flippantly replies, but it's so painfully obvious that she's worrying about something.
The room falls eerily silent, the other mysterious phone ending it's disturbance, allowing brown eyes to challenge green, urging her to lie to her face one more time. Allison swallows thickly and that's when the sound echoes through the bedroom once again.
"Shit," the blonde mutters, frantically leaping from the bed, causing Regina to tumble to the other side of the bed. She's flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events and watches in confusion as Allison dashes to the closet. The closet. She scrambles up in bed, observing as the younger woman digs through a duffel bag. "Shit." And before Regina can even question her, Allison is answering the call in a frenzy. "Hello?" She snaps in a hushed whisper that has Regina's heart skipping a beat or two.
Why the hell does this woman have a secret phone? Her curiosity piques just as her anger spikes and she finds herself crawling across the bed to eavesdrop on the private conversation. She doesn't hear much, except for the number thirteen mumbled by some man. Thirteen, what though? Thirteen hours? Thirteen minutes? Is it an address?
"I-I'm on my way. No, no. I...I'm coming."
Allison pauses, listening to the other person while Regina's heart rages in defiance, because is she honestly going to run out on her again? Where the hell is so important that she needs to run off again? Regina quickly snatches up her phone, her fingers bouncing across the screen as she types out a quick text.
"A couple of hours," the blonde answers as Regina's phone vibrates in her hand.
She immediately responds and tosses her phone onto the nightstand again just before Allison hangs up the phone. And then everything seems to move in a haste like somebody just pressed fast forward on their lives.
Allison jumps to her feet and shoves her basketball shorts down her legs. "I'm so so sorry, but I have to go. It's an emergency," she hysterically explains, already squeezing back into her tight jeans.
"What? What's wrong? What happened?" She sweetly asks, her eyes following every frantic move this woman makes to dress herself.
Her heart is hammering and she thinks she might be sick because she knows the person she is falling for, is lying straight to her face once again and hiding something big from her. She's queasy while her mind compares her first failed relationship with Mal to Allison.
"I-ugh-I just have to go, okay?" She angrily pulls an oversized hoodie down her body and shoves both phones into her pocket.
"Don't go," she hears herself imploring before she even registers the thought, but it's enough to make her lover stop dead in her tracks. "Please, Allison," she's reaching for her and Regina would have to be a damn fool not to notice how she winces. "You said you wanted this, don't run away again," she pleads, encouraging the younger woman to climb onto the bed.
Allison glides her fingers through Regina's hair and cups the back of her neck to hold her firmly into place. She gazes deep into brown eyes, until she knows she has Regina's undivided attention.
"I'm not running," she vows with conviction, "I swear this is an emergency that I need to address."
"But-"
"Please," she begs and then inhales sharply as she crashes their lips together for a powerful kiss that instantly has Regina swooning. Allison whimpers, then rests her forehead against Regina's. "I have to go out of town for a couple of days," Regina opens her mouth to protest but Allison is cutting her right off. "I promise you, if you just give me a couple days, I will explain everything." She presses another firm and deep kiss to Regina's lips, one last time. "I promise I will be back," she vows, before she untangles herself and darts out the door in a state of panic.
Regina gasps, her heart twisting in confusion and pounding in rage with too many taunting voices whispering in the back of her mind. She groans through her frustrations and steals her phone off the nightstand again.
Not only did she ditch her, but she ran away from her own damn house.
Regina bitterly swipes through her contacts and presses the call button immediately. "Sydney," she barks, the last of her patience wearing thin. "She should be passing the diner in just a few short minutes. Follow her."
"Yes, Mayor Mills," he obediently concedes, just as he always does.
"I have a feeling this will be a long drive. Call your friend, the private investigator, I want everything on Allison Cameron he can dig up. I'm tired of her constant games and frankly, I don't have time for them."
"Of course, I will call him and have him email over everything he can find."
"Wonderful."
"Goodbye, Miss Mills."
"Goodbye, Sydney," she clips, bitterly ending the call and tossing her phone down.
"What have you done to me, Miss Cameron?"