Red escorted Emma for a short walk so that she could stretch her aching muscles with someone to keep an eye on her. At some point Maleficent joined them, laughing and gossiping with Red as they walked, leaving Emma reluctant to admit when she began to tire. She had promised Regina to take it easy, the Queen had wanted her to rest, but she'd felt the need to move. Emma's pace slowed, and although Red and Maleficent slowed too they didn't really look to their companion. Eventually though she had to stop. Coming to a halt and resting her hands on her hips, she took a deep breath. Finally Maleficent noticed her absence, she took hold of Red's arm and walked back the two or three steps to Emma.
"I'm so sorry, my dear. We shall return you to your room so you can rest."
Emma's eyes flicked to Red's arm, which was still in Maleficent's grip, and she tried not to smile at the sight, "no, I'll be fine. Just give me a moment."
"Maleficent's right, you need to rest," Red agreed.
"Allow me to use my magic," Maleficent suggested. "You'll be there instantly."
"I don't know..."
"I'm sure Regina won't mind, and if you hurt yourself trying to walk back we'll be the ones in trouble," Red assured her.
Emma smiled, "well if it'll save you from getting in trouble..."
"I'll place you just outside your door, it's normal to feel a little unsteady when you travel this way the first few times so try to relax now, close your eyes and take a deep breath."
When Emma opened her eyes she found herself outside her room, just as Maleficent had promised. She walked slowly to the door and opened it, taking careful steps inside. She was surprised, but pleased, to see Regina waiting for her.
"I wanted to see how you were feeling, and to check on those bruises," Regina quickly explained.
Emma misread the nervousness in Regina's voice and the reason for her visit, reaching for her shirt with a smile, "of course."
Once the shirt had been removed Emma sat on the edge of the bed to rest while Regina's fingers hovered over the bruises on her skin as if afraid to touch the injuries. Her gaze kept drifting into the blonde's eyes, and the way Emma smiled at her didn't help the feelings of guilt. Her mother had taken the note from Emma's friends, she couldn't tell her the news about her parents without revealing what they had done.
"I think they're healing," Emma told her. "Much faster than they would without your help."
"I should apply some more of the healing potion, and then you need to lie down and rest."
"No, it's so boring and I'm not going to sleep, isn't there something else I can do? Perhaps you could stay here and talk to me, tell me more about your life and this kingdom and… everything. Anything."
"I suppose I could stay and read some of the magic books to you, things you'll need to learn."
"And I could practice magic, right? I can do that sitting down without making the injuries worse."
"We'll start with a little more theory today, then if the bruises have faded enough tomorrow you can practice some magic. I'll have to make a few changes to our usual classroom so that you'll be comfortable…"
"It'll be fine."
"I don't want you getting cold, or sitting for too long on an uncomfortable chair. Cushions might be best, and I can warm the room with magic before we begin, perhaps put something into the stones to hold the heat but without it being in the room where it can react to your magic."
"Back home we have under-floor heating, so the heat isn't in the room but comes into the room from under the floor. Perhaps a spell outside the room that sends the heat into the stones but keeps the magic out?"
Regina raised an eyebrow, looking impressed with the solution, "that might just work. I'll discuss it with Mal, together we should be able to figure something out. Hopefully we won't have to change the stones, some types handle magical heat better than others and…"
Emma grinned at her, "is this going to turn into my theory lesson?"
"I do have books on the magical properties of certain stones, but I thought you might prefer something a little more exciting."
"Like what?"
Regina magically called in a book and read the long title, trying to suppress a smile at the end when she saw Emma's face. "Relax, it's just the author's way of saying it's the study of some of the more unusual magical creatures in the kingdom. The book gives information on different creatures mixed in with the adventures the author experienced to track them down. I know it's not the most exciting book, the author really was more interested in the creatures than the journeys to find them, but I think those short excerpts mean it's less boring than the others on the same subject."
"If you're reading it to me I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but you know what I'd enjoy even more?" Emma bit her bottom lip, and moved her hands to Regina's waist.
"Emma," Regina shook her head as the blonde's fingers tightened and pulled her closer. "You're supposed to be resting."
Emma pouted, "I've barely seen you today and it's been ages since I got to kiss you."
Regina laughed, "ages? I saw you a few hours ago."
"Exactly. In the early stages of a new relationship hours feel like days."
"Oh, and how many relationships have given you this wisdom?"
"Everyone knows, every love story ever written mentions it. Don't you feel the same way?"
Regain stroked a hand through Emma's hair, "sometimes those stories also show one person feeling that way and the other doesn't. I'm already worried because you're hurt, even though I want to kiss you there's always the chance that you didn't feel the same way, or that the pain…"
"Kiss me, Regina."
The Queen obeyed, being careful where she placed her hands, keeping the kiss light. Emma smiled up at her when the kiss ended.
"What?" Regina asked, seeing that smile.
"I'm happy."
"It was just one kiss."
"The kiss was amazing, plus I'm about to have your hands all over me…"
"To apply the healing potion," Regina reminded her.
"I'll take what I can get, unless you want to…"
"You need to rest, Emma. The more you rest, the faster you'll heal." Emma rolled her eyes and Regina smiled, "and the faster you heal the sooner we can do more than kiss. If you still want to."
"Well, duh." Then, realising Regina might not be familiar with that word, she made sure Regina knew exactly how much she wanted more by kissing her again.
By the time Regina had finished applying the potion Emma was asleep. She smiled to herself, laying a light blanket over the blonde to keep her warm and reached into her pocket for the note. Regina frowned as she remembered that her mother had taken it, now would be the perfect time to place it back under Emma's pillow for her to find when she woke.
There was a knock on the door. Regina walked over and opened it, not wanting to wake Emma by calling out. Red was standing in the corridor, waiting for any order Regina wanted to give.
"Just stay here, watch over Emma. She's sleeping and shouldn't be disturbed." Regina instructed.
"What about you?"
"I have some studying to do, I'll be fine. With Mal and my mother here no-one would be foolish enough to try and attack me."
Regina headed to the library. Her mother wouldn't return Emma's letter until the oath had been sworn and her knowledge of Ancient Elvish was rusty. Mal would be able to put something together for her in minutes, but she would also ask questions and Regina wasn't ready to discuss it with her friend. Not yet.