"It's the end of the wooooorld!"
Henry's charging towards them, couch cushion raised, and Regina and Emma allow themselves to be steamrolled.
Emma's eyes are a little bleary from one too many beers the night before, but it's hard to resist Henry's energy, even hungover. She ignores Regina's quizzical look, just like she ignored the one at the front door, and, after an eye contact check for consent, tickles Henry's ribs. He giggles manically.
"I thought we were supposed to be running our lines," Regina admonishes, but her eyes are twinkling.
Henry snaps to attention all the same, moving away from Emma and straightening his shirt.
"Okay. Can we do the bit in the basement?"
That's where the three of them first meet. Marie's coordinating a food bank, distributing rations to people who've lost their homes. Maria's come in to steal food for her band of rebels, but Marie catches her, and unlike the scene in the country club bathroom, this time Marie definitely has the upper hand.
Emma straightens up, scans the script, and reads her line.
"Thief! This food is for people who need it!"
"I do need it." Regina's Maria is fire and ice, disdainful of obstacles, but burning for justice.
"If you deserve it, why are you stealing it? This is a food bank. Anyone's welcome to eat here. We don't discriminate."
"Are you honestly telling me that if I brought my fighters in here, they'd be served the same as everybody else?"
Sammy lifts his head from slurping a bowl of thin soup. "Sure, but don't get your hopes up, this stuff taste like-"
"Language, Sammy!"
"The world is ending, I don't think she's gonna care."
Maria looks appraisingly at the child. "You're an outspoken one, that's plain. Are your hands as quick as your tongue?"
She reaches for his bowl; he stops her, leaping up and holding the spoon to her throat.
"Impressive. Well, Marie, if nothing else, this child has taught me my lesson. I apologise for trying to take-"
"Steal."
"Commandeer, some food. That said, I'm starving. Could I have my own bowl, rather than risking this spoon fiend again?"
Grudgingly, Marie serves her a bowl of soup, then takes one for herself. They sit together.
"You fight well," Maria says to Sammy. "Why are you cowering underground with these… Pacifists?"
Sammy frowns. "Marie says we shouldn't fight unless we have to. She says a true warrior loves pece, and avoids fighting if at all possible."
Maria addresses her response to Marie. "So you propose we lie down and take it?"
The darkness flickering across Emma's eyes isn't really acting.
"No. But in a fight, lives are always lost. And if there is a way to find a resolution without loss of life, that is the way to take."
Maria narrows her eyes. "At what cost? Living like rats in a basement while your city, your homes are flattened?" She speaks loudly, causing a stir throughout the room. "Do you think the Powers out there would think twice about blowing this place to smithereens if they knew you were down here?"
"These people are women, children! They shouldn't be fighting."
Maria is incensed. "Do you mean to tell me that you think women should not fight? Should not fight, and die for their cause, if it is honorable? I've never liked you, Marie, but now I despise you."
She turns to Sammy. "You, child. Don't listen to her. You may be smaller, you may be weaker, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't stand up for what's right. Forget where you were born, forget what everyone's always told you. What you are, who you are, is down to you, and it's your right and your responsibility to stand firm!"
Sammy grips his spoon. "Marie, I want to go with her."
Marie looks into her soup. "It's your choice to make," she tells him softly.
Maria gets up to leave and Sammy follows without hesitation. Suddenly, quick as lightning, Marie's in front of them, grabbing Maria by the throat.
"He dies, you won't have to wait for the Powers. I'll kill you myself."
Maria places a hand, gently, over Marie's, and her eyes show something like warmth.
"He fights at my side. If he dies, I die with him."
Regina taps on Emma's arm. Blushing, Emma lets go of her neck.
"Sorry. Got carried away."
"Aaaaaand scene!" Henry yells. "That was awesome."
Emma agrees. Regina sizzles when she works, and Henry speaks with a depth beyond his years. She feels lucky just being around them. She thinks about the Gardners, and wonders how long her happiness will last this time. She knows better than to hope it will be for very long.
She orders takeout, is impressed by Regina's willingness to drink a beer, and then they all collapse in front of a movie. Emma watches as Regina absent-mindedly plays with Henry's hair and gets a familiar pang of jealousy. She ignores it, keeps to her side of the couch, and pretends to be so engrossed in Kung Fu Panda that she doesn't turn to look at them until the end credits.
At this point, when she does allow herself a glance, Regina has shifted, and Henry's fast asleep, propped against some pillows. She meets Regina's gaze. Regina gives her such a warm smile, Emma wants to cry.
BREAK
Something is wrong with Emma Swan. Regina is certain of it. She watches as Emma creeps barefoot across the room, takes a folded blanket from an ottoman, and drapes it over Henry's sleeping form. Even as she does this, Regina notices a slump in her shoulders, a shadow across her face. Regina decides enough is enough. She's let it slide since Friday evening, when she let Emma fuck her feelings out against her bathroom sink. She'd hoped that would be enough. then, she'd hoped a day of avoiding them while they went to the museum would be enough. After that, she'd hoped a fun, relaxing family day would be enough. But the relaxing family day is over now, and Emma is still queen of the mopey squad.
Regina knows there is darkness in Emma, knows there must be things she doesn't know. But she needs Emma to know that she's there, willing, ready to listen, prepared to watch horrendous animated movies and drink dishwater beer (okay, neither the movie nor the beer had actually been that bad) to demonstrate her availability. Because she, Regina Mills, is available to Emma Swan, not only for sex, but also for…
Regina searches for the word in her mind. She knows the one she stopped herself from thinking. It is far too soon for that. Especially with Emma behaving the way she is now. Especially now that she has Henry to think about. No. Not love, then. But, definitely friendship.
She considers the way she thinks about the three of them, her, Emma, and Henry. Although they haven't known each other all that long, she realises she's been imagining their future. As a family. And it dawns on her that when she pictured Henry's parents evenings and beach vacations and high school graduation, it wasn't just her and Henry. It was her, Henry, and Emma.
She carefully removes her shoes so as not to wake Henry, then heads for the kitchen, where she can hear Emma trying to be quiet as she tidies away their dinner plates. Regina can tolerate chinese takeaway, but only if it's served on a plate, with cutlery.
She fits herself into the clearing up, stacking the plates in the dishwasher then wiping down the counter. Emma takes out the now-full trash bag and Regina locates a fresh liner for the trash can while Emma takes the bag outside. They aren't talking. Their silence isn't unfriendly, but there's a weight to it.
Emma comes back into the kitchen just as Regina is washing her hands. Regina moves aside slightly so Emma can wash hers at the same time. Regina studies their hands under the water. Hers have expertly manicured nails, bright red, but not too long. Emma's nails are clipped short and her hands are slightly rougher - expensive moisturiser hasn't found its way into Emma's routine.
Regina brushes the back of her hand against the back of Emma's. Emma starts, then moves a little closer, gently leaning against Regina's side. Regina leans in, too, and feels Emma turn, suddenly, and grip her waist with warm, wet hands. Emma's eyes are still dark and Regina's determined to unburden them, at least a little.
She tilts her head up - in bare feet, Emma's taller - and parts her lips. Emma's crash down onto her and a skilled, flexing tongue slides its way into her mouth.
Regina lets out a gasp, then dries her own hands on Emma's ass, feeling water soak into the fabric of Emma's jeans.
They kiss slowly, their bodies adjusting for optimum friction. Regina knows her plan, but she almost forgets herself. She blushes as she realises it's only been two days since they did this last, but she's already desperate.
She forces herself to stay on target, and just as Emma's hands begin prying at the hem of her dress, she breaks apart their kiss, takes a deep breath, and pulls back out of Emma's reach.
"That's enough," she whispers.
"Not nearly enough," Emma purrs. "What are you doing over there?"
Regina smooths down her dress, ignores the heat pooling between her legs, and gives Emma a soft, wry smile.
"I want you Emma. I do. But we're not doing," she gestures between them, "this, any more, until you tell me what's going on with you."
Emma feigns confusion.
"What do you mean, what's going on with me?"
She's aiming for nonchalance but it comes out defensive, even hurt.
Regina sighs. She reaches for Emma's hand, but Emma snatches it away.
"If you have a problem with this, just say so," Emma says.
"I don't," Regina promises. "But I think, in a way, you do."
BREAK
Emma weighs up her options. She could lie. She could avoid. She could run. But Regina's right here. Standing there. Caring about her, probably against all of her better judgement. And Emma has this feeling like, maybe, even though she was a bad kid, the worst, maybe she isn't so bad after all. Maybe there's actually something good in her, something worth knowing, worth caring about, worth loving?
She bites her lip.
"If I cross this bridge, there's no going back," she whispers. She feels Regina's arms wrapping tightly around her.
"Emma, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you. Always."
Emma relaxes into the hug. She knows it's not forever. Regina's expecting answers.
"Why don't we go sit on the deck?" Regina suggests.
Emma has a wide deck in back of the house, with doors to it from the kitchen and living room. As well as a table and chairs, there's a large, sturdy hammock, and this is what Emma clambers into when they go outside.
Regina looks a little dubious, but she perches primly on the edge, then slides herself in next to Emma.
The hammock squishes them together, though not uncomfortably. Emma's surprised when Regina takes on what she usually expects to be her role, shuffling up a little and placing her arm around Emma so she's holding her.
"So," Regina says. "Where have you been for the last two days?"
Emma looks out towards the setting sun.
"I've been… In the past a lot, I guess."
In spite of herself, she feels tears begin to dribble down her cheeks. She curses them, for fuck's sake, she hasn't even said anything yet. This only makes her cry harder.
"I… don't… cry," Emma gasps, sobbing.
Regina strokes her hair, then kisses her cheek.
Emma wants to talk. She wants to open up, wants to be mature and talk about her feelings and even everything out between them. But when she opens her mouth, her throat feels dry, and her mind suddenly ceases all operations relating to functional language formation.
She's worried Regina is going to be mad. But Regina just holds her, not saying a word, letting her cry, and not letting go.
A/N: There's a paragraph somewhere in there which pays tribute to one of my favourite (heterosexual - but at least it's in a musical) movie scenes. Let me know if you pick up on it! Also, reviews = motivation = updates.