A.N.: I'm so very glad this is progressing fast, even though I'm hurting like you guys, to see these two in such deep sh*t. Things will get better, though, stay tuned! And, as always, thank you for the lovely comments and the feedback. You guys rock! xx
I wouldn't have it any other way
Heaven knows a sinner needs a saint
Oh but when I've been at my most ugly
I hate the way you love me
(John Paul White)
"Come here." Eyeing the blonde from across the room, Regina dropped her purse on the kitchen counter and closed the space between hopeful faces in one swift move. "I missed you", was all she could manage to say before a torrid and languid kiss.
The brunette was trying very hard to distance herself from Emma in the past few days, however, after the interview, she felt an urgent need to connect with her best friend, her wife, her lover. Green eyes didn't seem to mind, even though they stared at Hazel ones with embedded curiosity, before delving again into dark locks and unsaid promises.
White teeth grazed lightly on olive skin, searching blindly for the pulse point, while avid hands would caress a lean body that was yet to be uncovered. Sensing the living room not a good place to be in those situations, strong arms enveloped delicate frame, carrying her love back to the bedroom.
Pushing the door closed with her heels, Emma proceeded to lower the brunette on the bed, while removing her shoes, and the rest of her clothing. The sight of tanned skin on black lace was tantalizing, making the blonde's mouth water immediately. Hooded eyes, dark with lust, were inviting and tempting at the same time. She knew she would lose herself in it, she was too far gone, yet, she hardly cared.
"Come here", hoarse voice spoke again, almost like a whisper, making the younger woman's skin crawl. "I need you", she tried once more, luring her in with long fingers and manicured nails. "I need to feel you inside of me."
The thought made green eyes roll back. Removing her own pieces of garment, she climbed onto the bed, lowering herself onto the brunette, fingers entwined in short locks pulling her close while kissing her hungrily.
They broke the kiss feeling very breathless. Swollen lips, hooded eyes, and an intense need of release, from both parts. Flipping them over, the brunette regained some sort of control and positioned herself on top of Emma. Bringing pale hands to her core, she silently begged the blonde to touch her, which she did, and they both moaned when skilled fingers entered her so very wet core.
They found a pace, while green eyes enjoyed the view. With the other hand twisting and pulling a nipple, the blonde was soaking wet with the scene of the brunette riding her so throughout.
"Em-ma", she said, breathlessly, "Please."
The blonde knew exactly what she wanted, and how she wanted it. Rubbing her bundle of nerves passionately, the brunette finally came, head lolling backward while she moaned, this time louder.
"Oh god", she finally said, after she came back from her sweet release. "That was… intense." Red swollen lips smirked, detaching herself from pale limbs and laying by the other woman's side. Holding her head with her hand, elbow plopped in bed, she looked deeply into green eyes, for the first time in a long time.
Emma doesn't really know which bug bit her wife, but she wasn't about to complain. Their relationship was strained, to say the least, for the past few days. Since Christmas, to be more precise.
Still, the blonde knew better than to push. Clearly, Regina needed time to sort her thoughts out, and hopefully, she would come back to her when she was ready. Rationally, it made sense, however, as the days went by, it got more and more difficult to withstand her own insecurities and still be supportive of her spouse.
The professor was spending long hours at the University, and Emma tried her best to focus on Henry and the things she needed to get done before their trip to Maine to spend New Years at her parents. Nonetheless, when the boy was asleep and the house was silent, the blonde would inevitably search for more cases online to see if someone could get away with this crime without having to face prison time.
Their prospects were not good, however, what made her more preoccupied was the fact that she and Regina weren't talking about the elephant in the room, and she had no idea what was going on on her mind. The brunette seemed distant even when they were together, often lost in thoughts, mostly quiet.
Eventually, she would have to ask her directly what she was planning on doing, but not today. Not when she was so afraid of losing everything they manage to build.
She closed her eyes for a second, and suddenly, there was a noise coming from the front door. Regina, she thought, and in the same instant, she was standing, moving hastily towards the living room. Her heart was pounding, and she experienced a nervousness she couldn't really explain. Upon looking at hazel eyes, she knew some days were for questions, others were for answers. Today was the latter.
The brunette promptly met her with a passionate kiss, and Emma's mind short-circuited. Kissing her back, she let her mind stop wondering and start wandering, finding comfort, pleasure, and love on her lover's arms. Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow we will talk. Today, I just need her back to me.
Henry was super excited about the prospect of having a trip with both his moms. Well, they had done trips before, but not officially, like this. To spend New Years in Maine was the best thing he could think of, considering the circumstances. Even so, he dreamed of beach days and vacations anytime soon.
He expressed his wishes to do a road trip very early this year, however, both women were not in the mood to drive over a thousand miles. Promising him they would definitely do this when they had more time, they settled on flying on the 30th of December, in the morning, just enough to adjust to the change before the big night.
Truthfully, Emma was not so excited to face her parents after all that happened the last time they were together. She knew, though, she couldn't ruin her family plans just because she was not so much in the mood for it. Regina, albeit thoughtful, genuinely seemed to cherish the opportunity of a family holiday together.
"Are you ready?" Emma chirped, trying to get into the mood.
"Yes", both Regina and Henry replied in unison, which made it all cuter than she anticipated. God, she was so lucky to have them, despite everything.
"Let's go, then," she rolled her suitcase along the long corridors of the airport. "We have a flight to catch."
In a few hours, they were landing in Maine. Abby was waiting for them in the rental car, snow billowing from all sides, the air crisp. Upon seeing Regina from across the dashboard, she nodded to her friend and smile, acknowledging what they must have been through in the last couple of days.
"Finally", she said, in a playful tone that didn't meet the eyes, "I was starting to worry that you guys weren't coming this year," giving Henry a tight hug and a kiss, she proceeded to hug Emma and Regina all at once.
"Oh, you know how these things are. Airports are always busy in the holiday season." The brunette explained, even though she knew very well that her friend - and now sister-in-law - didn't mind.
"Sorry, Abby." The younger blonde muttered.
"It's alright, no worries." She brushed it off immediately, more interested in the well-being of her family. "So, how is life treating you lately?" The question was very light and carefree, but both women knew the innuendos of it.
"All very fine, thank you. And yourself?" Regina spoke while Emma seemed more interested in looking at the window, the snow falling heavily and the sky very bright. The brunette, as if sensing her detachment, closed her hands around her wrist while rubbing her thumbs on pale skin. "Fred couldn't make it?"
"Oh, he is home with dad. You know how they are. Once they started talking, no one could split them. I think it comes with the perks for being the only son-in-law. Or just another male figure." Right away, she seemed uncomfortable with this fact. "Sorry."
The psychologist didn't take this personally. She knew very well how overwhelming it could be for David to be the only man in the family, cherishing dearly the moments he had with Henry or Frederick. It was nothing to be concerned, except for the fact that her in-laws just discovered that they lied about their marriage. Other than that, no issues, at all.
"Besides, it gives me all the free time to catch up with you guys," Abby said, and the brunette then realized she was talking for quite some time already. Henry was fast asleep while they drove towards the family house, with Emma holding his head on her lap while he dozed off. "Do you want to grab something to drink before heading to the house?"
"Actually, Abby, I think we should head there directly. Henry is tired and I need to freshen up a bit as well, before anything." Hazel eyes still looked for green ones over the reviewing mirror, but the blonde continued to look outside, lost in thoughts. "Right, Em?"
"Uh," she was caught off guard, clearly not having heard anything they said so far, "sure, whatever you say." Their eyes finally met and the older woman silently asked if she was okay, being met with a small nod from the blonde. "Mom and Dad must be anxious already."
"Okay, alright, but don't regret it later, when you'd wish you had faced them with a bit more liquor in your blood system." The lawyer laughed it off, however, still concerned about them. Something is not right with these two.
"Emma! Regina!" The happy couple came to meet them at the door, hugging them tightly. "Henry, my boy, come here," David said, engulfing him in a tight hug as well, followed by some sort of secret handshake.
"I'm so glad you could make it", Mary followed them inside, helping them carrying their belongings, "dinner will be ready soon", she motioned her head to the corridor, "let me show you where you'll sleep."
"Wait, we are not staying in my old room?" Emma questioned, unsure.
"No, silly, you need more space now, for the both of you," The pixie-haired brunette brushed her off, "Henry can stay in your old room, and you two can stay in the guest bedroom. It is a lot more comfortable, and has an en-suite bathroom."
"Uh, okay, I guess…"
"Don't worry, momma always know what is best for you, my baby." Pinching her cheeks like a little girl, the small woman went along, not waiting for them to follow.
Regina couldn't help but smirk at Emma's dumbfounded face.
At dinner, they eat quietly, sometimes chatting about minor subjects, nothing too important. The professor noticed that both her in-laws were awfully silent, and Mary was blushing hard like she couldn't keep up with something. She looked at Emma with longing and regret, and even though the blonde didn't seem to notice, satisfied with listening to Henry talk about school and Beatrice plans for college, her wife had a nagging feeling that something was off.
Emma was doing the dishes while Regina was drying them, in a comfortable way, like they use to do at home, when Mary came to the kitchen, looking around to see if anyone was there, and blurted, "I might have told Mr. Hopper."
"Excuse me?" The older woman gasped, still unsure if she meant what she thought she meant.
"What?" Emma said, at the same time, looking very appalled.
"Yes, I'm so sorry, but I couldn't keep it anymore, it was eating me alive," she started to cry, "please, Emma, Regina, you have to forgive me", wheezing and rubbing her eyes, she tried to reach her daughter, "I never meant to do so!"
"Mom!" Emma cried, stunned, seeing her world crumble around her. The small brunette put her arms around the blonde and tried desperately to hold her, while still sobbing bitterly.
Regina didn't think twice, she was so astonished she went away from the kitchen in two large steps, got her coat and walked out of the house. How could she, she thought. Now that she secret was out, maybe they would already come for her, and her plan to save Emma wouldn't work anymore. Her mind didn't process who was Mr. Hopper and why the hell Mary Swan would tell him that, however, she didn't care. She had to find a way to clear her head and protect her family as soon as possible, if it is the last thing I do.
The blonde barely registered Regina had left, trying her best to keep her anger at bay while her mother tried so hard to justify why she'd done it. Turns out, Mr. Hopper was her therapist, and in one of the late sessions, she was rather nervous about it, and obviously the man asked why. Unfortunately for Mary - and Emma - she couldn't lie to the man, and ended up telling the truth. Mom, what have you done?