Chapter 13. The Lines

Meanwhile all Regina could do was watch. Fury was building within her as she thought on what her mother would be doing to her love yet again. She would not stand for this. She would not let this happen. Come hell or high water, Cora Mills would not be taking Emma away from her. There was no way in hell this was going to happen. She would not allow it. She finally had her happy ending and nobody and nothing was going to be taking it away from her.

"You did what now?" Emma asked incredulously.

"I called a family meeting. Snow and Charming need to know about what the future holds, dear. They need to help us organize a plan so that this future is not the one that plays out. I cannot allow this to happen…. not again. My mother took love from me once and I will not allow her to take it again. This time it is different. This time it is real. This time I have found my True Love and Cora Mills will not be taking it from me. Nobody will be taking you from me, Emma. Yes, we are taking this slowly, but love is love. I will spend my entire life protecting you and doing everything in my power to keep you safe. Emma, I love you. I have loved you for some time now and I do not see that changing anytime soon."

"Regina, can you come to the bedroom with me for a minute." Emma asked nervously.

Immediately Regina was met with a mixture of arousal and nerves and intrigue. Surely this was no time for what she was hoping they were going upstairs for. It has been so long…

When Regina entered the bedroom, she saw Emma removing her shirt and unclasping her bra while facing Regina. Her pale skin, her tight abdomen, her long and lean torso. By the Gods Emma Swan was a piece of priceless artwork.

"I need to show you something." The blonde nearly whispered.

"What's that, dear?" Regina whispered in return.

Without another word, Emma dropped her shirt that she had been using to cover herself and turned where she could see Regina in the mirror that had been behind her. Regina took in the sight before her with difficulty but studied the patterns and the marks and the scars regardless. She knew that this was a difficult thing for Emma to do and she felt humbled that she was trusted enough for her Savior to share this with her.

Lines crossing; going this way and that way. Some went up and down. Some went side to side. Some stretched from the tips of Emma's shoulders to the small of her back. Some started at one ribcage and didn't stop until it got to the other. Some marks were deeper than others. Some were shallow and smooth lines. Others were deep. To count them would take such a long time, a lifetime even. Regina didn't know what to say or how to feel. She did not realize until she was standing within an arm reach of her love that she had even been moving closer. She reached out her hand and noticed that Emma tensed her entire body.

"I won't hurt you, my love." The brunette whispered.

Emma merely nodded in response as words had escaped her.

Regina used her finger to trace one scar in particular that was so angry. It started on her right shoulder and ended around her left hip. Her touch was gently; so faint that it could barely be felt. Emma looked to the floor and it held her gaze so intently that she did not notice that Regina had unbuttoned and removed her own shirt and bra. She only looked back into the mirror when she felt the gentle touch of Regina Mills hands on each of her hips.

Regina pulled Emma backwards easily as she took a step forward where their bodies were touching. Regina's bare front against Emma's exposed demons. She held their bodies together by wrapping her arms around Emma and holding her there. They were simply feeling each other. Regina was letting Emma know that she was there, and Emma was allowing Regina to see her completely and most vulnerably.

"Emma Swan, this does not change a single thing for me. Everything in me feels a pull to you that I cannot ignore. I still love you. I still think that you are beautiful. You are mine and I am yours. Together we are stronger than any force this world or any other has ever seen. I see what you are showing me. I have taken that and put it in my heart where I promise to keep it safe. I promise to keep you safe as well. You will never experience the things you had to go trough in life again. I am going to spend the rest of my life loving you and protecting you and making sure you remember that you are both loved and protected and will never ever be alone again."

Emma could not speak. She could not hold in the emotions that she was feeling. Her knees buckled and Regina eased them both to the floor where Emma could let everything out. She held her Savior as the tears fell and the sobs shook her body with all that she had been holding in for her entire life. She had let someone in so completely and she was so glad that she had done so. Regina loves her. She truly loves her. She would never hurt her or leave her. She had found her home. She had found where she belongs. Her home was not walling and windows and doors. Her home was brown eyes, the scent of apples, dark and light magic. Her home was not the Mayor's house on Mifflin Street but rather the Mayor herself.