Chapter Thirty-Five: The Stables Festival

It was three in the afternoon on a Sunday and Emma was driving to the stables to meet Regina. They were holding a function down there since the morning for the staff and students and it was open for everybody in town. Regina was really excited about it when Emma drove her to work that morning and her heart broke a little bit because she couldn't stay. She had to work. When Emma arrived at the station she mopped and sighed at every file she filled in the computer and by two-thirty none of her co-workers could handle her in the station anymore so, when David told her to leave and offered to cover the rest of her shift Emma didn't think twice before putting on her jacket and drive to the stable.

She parked the bug on the parking lot outside and walked to the training area where most of the event was taking place. Everywhere she saw kids running after one another and adults socializing with a plastic cup in their hands. Emma looked everywhere trying to find Regina but didn't spot her anywhere. She kept on her journey down to the training area and it didn't take long for her to spot Regina up on her horse slowly riding Rocinante. Emma walked closer a smile already forming on her lips at the sound of her girlfriend's laugh flying like the wind. Sadly, her joy only lasted until she spotted Robin right next to her, on top of a black horse laughing as well while his hand touched Regina's arm. That fucking asshole! Emma wanted nothing more than to take one of the rocks she saw on the ground and aim for his head.

"Regina" Emma screamed but Regina didn't hear her. She tried again "REGINA!"

No response. In fact, they kept on slowly riding while forest boy kept on telling Regina his story that apparently was funny enough to make her laugh. God, how Emma hated him. He was so brazen, how could Regina not see it? It was so obvious to her. Regina couldn't be that innocent! Her laugh broke Emma's train of thought and suddenly, rage ran freely in her veins like blood and all Emma knew was she needed to get him away from her girlfriend. If Robin thought Emma would ever let him think he had a shot at stealing her girlfriend, he was sorely mistaken.

Emma turned around and walked to the bay where the horses were kept. She looked inside the stalls, her fear for the huge animals replaced now with something else. Luckily, she found Lady, the horse Regina had thought her how to ride inside the last stall and all she had to do now was saddle her and go outside. The only problem was, Regina never thought her how to saddle a horse. Damn it! But it shouldn't be that hard, right? Emma walked inside the stall, patting Lady's head first before going for the saddle hanging in the wall. The thing was heavy, much heavier than Emma had originally anticipated and the wight of it made her fell on the floor with a loud thud.

"Everything okay in here?" Emma heard Big John's voice asking.

"Ye. It's just me" Emma said.

"Emma! What are you doing there?"

"Oh, I was going to saddle Lady," Emma said "But I didn't anticipate how heavy this thing was"

"Oh, yeah" Big John laughed "They are pretty heavy"

"Hey, do you mind saddling Lady for me?" Emma asked.

"Yeah sure, no problem," Big John said "But…Have you ever rode her alone?"

"Not exactly" Emma lied "But I'm just meeting Regina outside in the training area"

"Oh!" Big John said, "And she knows that, right?"

"I'm her girlfriend, Big John. What you think?"

"Of course, Emma" He laughed "I'll saddle Lady for you"

"Thanks"

Emma felt a little be bad about lying to the guy, but she didn't want to give him any reason not to saddle Lady for her. True, she has never ridden Lady without Regina by her side but honestly, at the end of the day, Emma was the one on top of the horse, she was the one controlling the animal. Besides, she was three or four gallops away from where Regina was, it would be fine. And it would also be an incredible surprise, just to think of Regina's face when she saw Emma galloping towards her, it would be worth it.

"She's all done," Big John said.

"Thanks, Big John"

Emma mounted Lady easily and soon she was riding her inside the training area. She found Regina a little more ahead, her laughter taking over the whole place now and Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes. Not at Regina's laugh but at whatever it was that Robin was telling her. Again!

"Regina!" Emma called out and this time, Regina turned her head to her.

"Emma!" Regina smiled at her "What are you doing here? I thought you were working"

"David is covering the rest of my shift," Emma said.

"Hello, Emma" Robin greeted her.

"Robin" Emma said short and thick.

"Did you ride Lady here all by yourself?" Regina asked.

"Yep" Emma smiled "But Big John saddled her for me. You have to teach me how to do that"

"I will" Regina smiled "And I'm really proud of you"

"Thanks, babe" Emma smiled "Shouldn't we go check out the party outside?"

"We are sort of hiding away from the little ones," Robin said making Regina laugh.

"Don't you have one of those?"

"I do," Robin said "Which is exactly why I know what I'm talking about"

Regina laughed again and Emma had to control the urge to roll her eyes. They started to move forward again and Emma squeezed Lady in between them. There was just no way she would let Robin ride next to her girlfriend for a second longer. He told a story about how he pretended to be Robin Hood when he was a kid that for the life of her, Emma could not understand how Regina could possibly be amused. If anything, it just showed Emma how dumb he was when a kid.

After two laps, Regina came to her senses and decided it was time to go back to the party as it was nearing the end. It was past four now and the whole thing was supposed to end at five. They returned the horses to the stalls area where another employee that Emma didn't know took the horses by the reins and walked away with them. Regina finally acknowledged her presence properly and gave her a kiss in front of Robin which made her ego inflate. She is taken and she is mine. Regina held Emma's hand and the three of them walked out of the training area to where the other guests were. A man in the mic started to announce a game for the kids and adults to play.

"Pappa, pappa" Rolland said running in their direction "Pappa, play the game with me?"

"Of course," Robin said messing his hair.

"Auntie Gina, you too"

The boy grabbed both Robin's and Regina's hands and pulled them out with them. Regina didn't even spare a look at Emma, she just went along with the kid and Emma felt her whole heart sink. It was even worse when Robin lifted his son up and Regina came really close to them and poked Rolland's cheek, displaying such a beautiful smile Emma wasn't even sure she ever gave her one of those. They looked fucking perfect together. The perfect picture of the butter propaganda family. Emma closed her eyes and took a big breath. In and out. She shook her head and walked in their direction but by the time she got to them, the guy in the mic was already pulling them to the game area.

There were three plastic polls on the floor full of water. On top of it, there was a board, and right next to it, a target. The couples sat down on it and back-to-back but their hands were tied together. Emma had to remember how to breathe again when she saw Regina's and Robin's hands being tied up together. Basically, they gave away a few balls to the kids and the winning couple would be the last one standing.

"Emma, can you help me throw the balls?" Rolland asked "Please"

"Sure, Kid"

Emma bent down to his level and aimed his first ball at the couple in the pool next to Regina and Robin. But she couldn't take her eyes off of them. Robin was talking again and Regina was laughing and that was just too much for her to handle. Rolland threw his second ball and it didn't even come near the target. He said something but Emma couldn't bring herself to hear him. Not when she saw Robin's finger caressing Regina's and then he curled his pinky with hers as Regina started to laugh. That was it for Emma. She was going to rub his fucking face on the floor.

"Emma, help"

Rolland said looking up at her and at the moment all Emma saw was red. She took the ball from Rolland's hand and aimed at the target where Regina and Robin were in. It was spot on. The ball hit the center of the target and one second later they both fell inside the water. When Emma realized what she had just done, she ran in their direction.

"Emma, what the hell" Regina said "I'm all wet"

"Sorry," Emma said "I was aiming for the target next to you"

"Should I be worried about your aiming skills, Sheriff?" Robin asked.

"Yes!" Emma said in a threatening voice "You should"

She reached inside the water and untied their hands. When Regina rose, her clothes were so wet that was hugging her body like a second skin and she could see her bra through the shirt. She didn't miss the look on Robin's face either and Emma was sure she would end up leaving the stables handcuffed if she didn't take Regina away from Robin soon.

"Do you have any spare clothes?" Emma asked.

"Yes, it's in my office," Regina said back.

"I'll walk you"

"No, don't," Regina said "I'll be right back"

Regina walked away from them and when she looked to her side, Robin was walking away with Rolland too. Emma closed her eyes and shook her head. She shouldn't have done that. Damn it! It was a while still before Emma saw Regina again. She had changed into a dress that didn't exactly match the ambiance they were in. She didn't talk to her much and the ride home had been silent. When they arrived, Regina walked up straight to the bedroom. Emma followed her up but when she entered the bedroom, Emma heard the running water inside the bathroom. She wanted to apologize to Regina and figured an I'm sorry orgasm was in order. But when Emma pulled on the doorknob, it didn't open. Regina had locked the door. Emma bit her lower lip and laid down on the bed, patiently waiting for Regina to finished.

"I'm sorry," Emma said when Regina left the bathroom.

"You did that on purpose," Regina said back.

"He was fucking touching you, Regina" Emma screamed "Again"

"For the love of God, Emma! This jealousy you have of Robin is ridiculous" Regina said back angrily.

"He likes you, Regina"

"He is my employee," Regina said back "And I'm GAY!"

Emma walked to where Regina was standing and wrapped her arms around her. She kissed her neck all the way up to her ear, squeezing Regina's ass on the process.

"Emma, stop!" Regina said with a heavy breath.

"Can we just be okay?" Emma whispered and sucked her earlobe inside her mouth.

"I'm not in the mood," Regina said back.

"Come on" Emma whispered again but this time one of her hand squeezed Regina's breast "Just let me apologize"

"I said I'm not in the mood!"

Regina pushed Emma and lay down on the bed. Emma felt a pang of pain deep inside her heart that cut her in half. Regina had never rejected her before. Never! Seven months and Regina never said no to her, at least not in bed. Not when it came to their physical relationship. Emma wasn't sure how to deal with this now. True be told, she wanted to cry. She felt her eyes filling with water but she refused to let Regina see them. She screwed up, she knew that, but it didn't call for this kind of reaction. Emma cleared her throat and walked to the door.

"I'll be downstairs if you need anything"

Emma left the room and closed the door behind her. She walked to the living room and sat down heavily on the couch, the tears leaving her eyes now. She cleaned them with her hands and turned on the tv, changing from one channel to the other. She couldn't concentrate on watching anything. Her mind wasn't in it. Her phone vibrated inside her pocket and she fished it out of it. There was a text from Ruby saying Granny's had just made a fresh batch of bear claws. She even sent her a picture of it which made Emma's stomach snore from hunger. With all the mess at the stables, she didn't even eat anything. It was still very early only eight at night. Emma texted Ruby back telling her to save four bear claws for her and that she would be right there to pick them up. Emma turned the tv off and walked upstairs to let Regina know she was going to Granny's, but when she opened the door, the room was dark and Emma could hear Regina's heavy breathing. She fell asleep. Emma carefully closed the door and walked to Granny's. She saw Ruby when she stepped inside the diner and the moment Emma sat down on the stool, Ruby placed four huge bear claws in front of her that made her laugh, something she honestly thought would be impossible to happen tonight. She spent the night chatting with Ruby and didn't even notice how late it was when she walked back home.