A/N: So, as it turned out, I received my 2nd dose of the COVID vaccine on Sunday, and was not feeling all too well as part of the side effects. But, thank God, all that is over with and I figured, I owed all my lovely readers a much needed update. :) Happy reading! And thank you all for your endless reviews and follows on this series.
This chapter is Rated M.
Emma has been held up in the onboard office for over an hour. She was worried. Which made Regina worry. Which meant, she couldn't put her mind off of the incident at Emma's company. She tried distracting herself by reading, watching a little TV, sunbathing, sunbathing with clothes on, but nothing works! No matter what she does in here, she can't shake off the uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. After changing into one of her t-shirts and a pair of shorts, she goes to find Gold.
"Mrs. Swan," Gold says, startled away from his novel. He is sitting in a small salon outside of Emma's office.
"I'd like to go shopping."
"Yes, ma'am." He stands.
"I'd like to take the jet ski."
Gold shifts nervously on his feet. "Erm." He frowns.
"I don't want to bother Emma with this."
He represses a sigh. "Mrs. Swan… I don't think Mrs. Swan would be very comfortable with that, and I'd like to keep my job."
Oh, for heaven's sake! She wants to roll her eyes at him, but narrows them instead, sighing heavily and expressing. Well, the man has a point. She wouldn't want Emma mad at him either. Or at her. She nods, striding past him with confidence, she knocks on the door and heads into the office.
Emma, who's on the phone, looks up. "Ingrid, hold please," she mutters into her phone, her expression serious. Her gaze is politely expectant. Shit. Why does Regina feel like she's suddenly entered the principal's office? This beautiful woman had her in handcuffs yesterday. She refuses to be intimidated by her! I'm her wife, damn it! She holds her head up high, smiling a broad smile at her.
"I'm going shopping. I'll take security with me."
"Sure, take one of the twins and Gold, too," she says, and Regina knows that whatever is happening is serious because she doesn't question her further.
She stands there for a moment, wondering if she can help her with anything.
"Anything else?" Emma asks.
"Can I get you anything?" Asks Regina, seeing her wife smile her sweet shy smile.
"No, baby, I'm good," she says. "The crew will look after me."
"Okay." She strolls over to Emma, planting a kiss right on her lips, surprising the blonde.
"Ingrid, I'll call you back," she mutters. She puts her phone down on the desk behind her, pulls her wife into her embrace, and kisses her passionately.
Regina is breathless once she is released. Emma's eyes are dark and needy.
"You're distracting me. I need to sort this out, so I can get back to my honeymoon." Emma's hand tucks underneath the brunette's chin, her thumb caressing away at her scar.
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"Please don't apologize, Mrs. Swan. I love your distractions." She kisses the corner of Regina's mouth. "Go spend some money." She releases her.
"Will do." She smirks as she exits the study. She hugs herself, proud that she got away with taking the jet ski. Okay, so she didn't exactly tell her that's how she was getting into town and not taking the car. But, so what? Like Emma said, she was her wife, not her submissive. She was Mrs. Regina Swan.
Gold is patiently waiting.
"All is cleared with high command… Can we go?" She smiles at the man, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
Gold doesn't hide his admiring smile. "Mrs. Swan, after you."
Gold gently takes her through the controls of the jet ski and how to ride it. He has a calm, gentle authority about him. He's a good teacher. They are on the motor launch, bobbing and weaving on the calm waters of the harbor beside the Fair Lady. One of the twins is on another jet ski, ready and waiting, his shades hiding his expression. Another is behind the controls of the yacht, ready and waiting.
All these people with me just because I want to go shopping? I'd be fine with just Gold. Another part of the Emma Swan package.
She gives Gold a beaming grin, after zipping up her life jacket. Gold holds out his hand to help her board a jet ski.
"Fasten the strap of the ignition key around your wrist, Mrs. Swan. If you fall off, the engine will cut out automatically," he explains.
Regina does as she's told. "Okay."
"Ready?"
Regina nods enthusiastically.
"Press the ignition when you're drifted about four feet away from the boat. We'll follow you."
"Okay."
Gold pushes the jet ski away from the launch, and it floats gently into the main harbor. When he gives her the okay sign, Regina presses the ignition button and the engine roars into life.
"Okay, Mrs. Swan, easy does it! Gold shouts.
Regina squeezes the accelerator and the jet ski lurches forward, then stalls. Shit! How does Emma make this look so easy?
"It's okay, ma'am. Just steady on the gas," Gold calls out.
She tires again, gently squeezing the lever and the jet ski lurches forward- but this time it keeps going. Yes! It goes some more. Finally, Regina cruises gently away from the yacht into the main harbor. Behind her, she can hear the throaty roar of the motor launch. When she squeezes the gas further, the jet ski leaps forward, skating across the water. With the warm breeze in her hair and sea spray on either side of her, she feels free. No wonder Emma never lets her drive it. It is a very liberating experience and so much fun!
Rather than going straight for town she veers a little, taking a cruise around the Fair Lady and again a second time. The water splashing so fast around her. A huge smile spread across her lips. Her new life with Emma was definitely never dull. Off in the distance she can see the outside balcony of Emma's office, and like a speck, there's her wife's figure, gaping at her. She lifts her hand from the bar of the jet ski and waves very enthusiastically at her. Emma looks like she's made of stone, but finally after a while of just gaping, she waves a stiff wave in the air.
At the dock, she waits and allows Gold to pull up ahead of her. His expression is bleak, but also with a mixture of amusement.
Regina eases the jet ski beside the yacht, right behind Gold, and his expression relaxes.
"Just switch off the ignition, Mrs. Swan," he says calmly, reaching for the handlebars and holding out a hand to help her into the motorboat.
Regina reaches for the offered hand, climbing right in. "Thank you, Gold."
"Gina," Gold says nervously, his cheeks slightly pink once more. "Mrs. Swan is not entirely comfortable with you riding on the jet ski." He's practically squirming with embarrassment, and Regina immediately realizes he's had a call from Emma.
Oh, my poor, pathologically overprotective wife, what am I going to do with you?
Regina smiles serenely at Gold. "I see. Well, Gold, Mrs. Swan is not here, and if she's not entirely comfortable, I'm sure she'll give me the courtesy of telling me herself when I'm back on board."
Gold winces. "Very good, ma'am," he says quietly, handing her her purse.
Once they arrive near the shops, Regina climbs down. She looks over at Gold who smiles fondly at her, and she smiles back. Yes, she's fond of the man- she's grown to love him like a father- but she doesn't appreciate being scolded by him.
As she's waiting on the dock for Gold to climb out, she feels her phone vibrate inside her purse, and reaches for it. Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do is her ringtone for Emma- only for Emma.
"Hi," she murmurs.
"Hi," Emma replies back.
"I'll come back on the boat. Don't be mad." She smirks. "It was fun, though."
Emma sighs. "Well, far be it for me to curtail your fun, Mrs. Swan. Just be careful. Please."
"I will." Her grin broadens. "Anything you need from town?"
"Just you, back in one piece."
"I'll do my best to comply, Mrs. Swan."
"I'm glad to hear it, Mrs. Swan."
"We aim to please," Regina smirks, hearing a smile from Emma's voice.
"I have another call. Have fun- laters, baby."
"Laters, Emma."
And that's how you do it! Regina smiles proudly, placing her phone back inside her purse. She walks toward the vehicle waiting for her, where Gold holds open the door for her to climb right in. Regina smiles and winks at him, and he shakes his head in amusement.
Inside the car, she quickly types up an email to her lovely wife.
Thank you for not being too grumpy.
Your loving wife.
Xxx
Three minutes later, a reply comes through.
You're welcome.
Come back in one piece.
This is not a request.
X
Emma Swan
CEO and Overprotective Wife,
Swan Enterprises Inc.
Emma's response makes the brunette smile. My control freak.
Regina walks past designer boutiques. She doesn't want to purchase something overly expensive. A little touristy shop captures her eye, as well as a small silver ankle bracelet with hearts and flowers. It cost five euros. Once she purchases it, she places it on her ankle. Immediately she feels more comfortable with herself. Not that she didn't appreciate all Emma has gotten her throughout their vacation, but she doesn't want to lose touch with her true self. Ever. The woman who was comfortable even without billions of dollars at her disposal. The girl who is happy with simple bracelets such as her new ankle bracelet.
Gold and one of the twins follow her dutifully through the crowded shops in the late afternoon. Regina really wants to get something for Emma, something to take her mind off what's happening in New York. But what can she buy the woman who already has everything? She pauses in a small modern square surrounded by stores and she looks through each one.
When she eyes an electronics store, she remembers their visit to the gallery earlier with all the portraits of the naked women. Emma's words came to her mind when she was glancing up at them. 'We can all appreciate the female form. We love to look whether in marble or oils or satin or film.'
Her wife's words give her an idea, a daring idea, and something Regina never wanted at first. But they were married now. Things were different. She smiles, thinking of the only person who can help her and is quite an expert in this department.
She reaches for her phone inside her purse and calls Daniel.
"Gina! You're alive!" He exclaims through the phone.
"Hi, Daniel." It's felt eternal since they last spoke.
"Where are you? You okay?" His voice sounds more on alert now.
"I'm in Cannes in the South of France, and I'm fine."
"South of France, huh? You in some fancy hotel?"
"No. We're staying on a boat."
"A boat?"
"More of a yacht, really."
"I see." His tone chills… it gives Regina second thoughts about calling him. She knows he still had feelings for her, but really. She was a married woman now, a happily married woman- he needed to move on. Poor Daniel.
"Daniel, I need your advice." She decided to break the silence.
"Sure," he says, and this time he's much more friendly.
Regina feels more at ease to tell him her plan to surprise Emma.
Two hours later, Gold helps Regina out of the motor launch and onto the steps, up the deck. He stays behind to help with the jet ski's, and Emma is nowhere to be seen. So, she hurries down to their cabin to wrap up her present, feeling a childish sense of delight.
"You were gone some time." Emma startles her wife just as she's applying the last piece of tape.
Regina turns to find her standing in the doorway to the cabin, watching her intently. "Is everything under control at your office?" She asks.
"More or less," she says, an annoyed frown flattening across her face.
"I did a little shopping," Regina smiles, hoping to lighten Emma's mood.
Emma smiles, and Regina immediately knows they are okay. She still feared the blonde would be pissed over her taking the jet ski.
"What did you buy?" Asks Emma.
"This," the brunette places her foot up on the bed and shows her her new ankle bracelet.
"Beautiful," she says. Emma steps over to her and fondles the tiny charms so that they jingle sweetly around her wife's ankle. She frowns, catching a glimpse of the red faint mark around her ankle.
"And this." She holds out the box, smiling.
"For me?" She asks in surprise.
Regina nods, and Emma takes the box, shaking it gently.
The blonde smiles her dazzling smile and sits down beside her wife on the bed. Leaning over, she grasps her chin and kisses her. "Thank you," she says with shy delight.
"You haven't opened it yet."
"I'll love it, whatever it is." Her eyes gloriously spark. "I don't get many presents."
"Well, it is a little hard to buy you things. You have everything."
"I have you."
"You do," Regina grins.
Emma unwraps her gift, "A Nikon?" She glances up at Regina, puzzled.
"I know you have your compact digital camera but this is for… portraits. It comes with two lenses."
Emma blinks, still not understanding.
"Today in the gallery you liked the Florence D'elle photographs. And I remember what you said in the Louvre. And, of course, there were the other photographs." She swallows, trying her best not to recall the images she found in their closet.
Emma's eyes widen as realization dawns, Regina quickly continued before she quickly lost her nerve on her decision.
"I thought you might… like to take pictures of… me."
"Pictures. Of you?" Emma blinks, ignoring the box on her lap.
As Regina nods, Emma looks back down at the box, her fingers slowly tracing against the display of the camera on the front with fascinated reverence. She looks back up into her wife's eyes, and Regina would give anything to know what was going through her mind at that moment.
"Why do you think I want this?" she asks, bemused.
"Don't you?" Regina asks, slightly or more confused than Emma appeared to be at the moment.
Emma runs a hand through her hair, her eyes looking so lost, so confused. "For me, photos like those have usually been an insurance policy, Gina. I know I've objectified women for so long," she says and pauses awkwardly.
"And you think taking pictures of your wife is… objectifying me?" All the air leaves the brunette's body, the blood drains from her face.
"I am so confused," Emma whispers, her eyes wide and wary.
"Why do you say that?" Regina whispers. This wasn't the reaction she expected at all. Was it her? Was it the fire in her office that had her so worried? Was it talking about her birth mother earlier? What was it? She was supposed to be happy about this. She doesn't want to confuse her. Of course, there's her not seeing Dr. Hopper in nearly three weeks, too. Was that it? Then there was Charlie Tango being sabotaged, not to mention the red faint marks left on Regina's body due to the handcuffs being too tight. Was it that? Would make sense. Emma had been fussing about them all day, and she did seem tortured by the fact that there were marks left behind by them. It must confuse her to be frightened by inflicting pain for the first time in her life.
She was never used to feeling that way toward any woman. But, Regina wasn't just any woman anymore. She was her wife and the last thing Emma ever wanted to do was cause her wife any pain.
Regina catches Emma's eyes looking down at her wrists again, where the faint marks the cuffs left behind are. Bingo!
"Emma, these don't matter." She holds up her wrist, revealing the fading line. "You gave me a safe word. Yesterday was fun. I enjoyed it. Stop torturing yourself about it- I like rough sex, I've told you that before." All the blush goes to her cheeks. Because even she has come a long way since meeting Emma, let alone marrying her.
Emma remains silent, her eyes looking into deep brown ones, as if searching for an answer.
"Is this about the fire? Do you think it's connected somehow to Charlie Tango? Is this why you're so worried?" Regina waits for a beat, getting no answer. "Talk to me, Emma- please. Part of being married is communicating with one another. That's how this works."
There's silence. In fact, the silence lingers between for so long, it is suffocating. "Fine, I'll objectify you." Regina reaches for the box on the blonde's lap, opens it up, and knowing that the man in the shop already prepared the camera for her, she takes it out and holds it up, presses down on the button and hears at least ten snaps being taken of Emma. She glances at the pictures, smiling, "That's a good one, but how about one with a smile?" She places the camera eye level again and presses the button. And this time she does see a faint smile. Hallelujah!
"I thought it was my present," she murmurs sulkily, but teasingly.
"Well, it was supposed to be fun, but apparently it's a symbol of women's oppression." She snaps away, taking more pictures of her wife, and watches her amusement grow right before the lens's eye. Her eyes darken, and her expression changes to predatory.
"You want to be oppressed?" Emma murmurs silkily.
"Not oppressed. No," Regina murmurs back, snapping another picture again.
"I could oppress you big time, Mrs. Swan," she threatens, her voice husky.
"I know you can, Mrs. Swan. And you do, frequently." She smirks, suddenly feeling Emma's hands grab a hold of her, while one takes the camera away from her, the other pins her down against the bed. "Hey!"
Emma points the Nikon at her wife, snapping a few pictures of her. A smile on her lips. "So, you want me to take pictures of you, Mrs. Swan?" She says, amused. Her grin broadens. "Well, for a start, I think you should be laughing," she says, and starts tickling Regina ruthlessly under her rubs, making her squeal and giggle and squirm beneath her until the brunette grasps her wrists in an attempt to make her stop. But with Emma straddling her, it's almost impossible.
"No! Stop!" Regina screams through fits of laughter.
"Are you kidding?" Emma continues her sweet torment, her grin growing all the more.
"Emma, stop!" Regina is wiggling underneath her, wanting desperately to escape, attempting to hold onto her wife's wrists but failing. "Stop!" She hears Emma breathing with laughter and snapping a few pictures of her sweet smile. That smile that made her fall madly in love with her.
Emma's eyes look down at the brunette with adoration, love, it makes Regina's insides tighten all together.
"You are so beautiful," Emma breathes.
That look. It made Emma appear so young, so carefree. She loved looking into her wife's green eyes as she stared down at her, because it was as if she was seeing her for the first time. She really loved her.
The blonde leaned down, capturing her wife's lips with her own in a kiss so heartfelt, so real, it awoke every bit of Regina's senses. Regina can feel Emma become so lost by their kiss, her hands are released and the blonde's hands hold capture her head, kneeling into her hair, holding her gently in place. And suddenly, what started as a sweet, admiral kiss turns carnal, deep, and devouring- Emma's tongue invades her wife's mouth, taking not giving, her kiss possessing a desperate, needy edge.
As desire courses through Regina's blood, awakening every muscle in its wake, she can really feel that something is alarming Emma, and is trying to relieve her stress the best way she knows how. Which, Regina is more than fine with. But, she really wished she would talk to her, too.
Emma inhales sharply and groans. "Oh, what you do to me," she murmurs, lost and raw. Her body suddenly moves, lying on top of Regina's, pressing her into the mattress- one hand cupping her chin, the other skimming over her body, her breast, her waist, her hip, and around her behind. She kisses her again, pushing her leg between the brunette's thighs, raising her knee and grinding against her, both their sexes grinding against their clothes.
Regina gasps and moans against thin lips, losing herself to Emma's fervent passion. She pushes back the distant alarms going off in the back of her mind, knowing that her wife wants her, that she needs her, and that when it comes to communicating with her, this is her favorite form of self-expression. She kisses her with renewed abandon, running her fingers through her hair, fisting her hands, holding tight. She tastes and smells so good.
Abruptly, Emma stops, sitting up on her knees, she undoes the button on the brunette's jeans, along with her own before finding herself on her wife again, her lips capturing plump ones in a panting kiss. Her hand makes quick work, snaking into the brunette's jeans and panties, her fingers thrusting inside of her wife's wet and tight walls.
Regina cries out, her own fingers making their way inside of Emma's own walls, that she could hear her hiss through her teeth, right next to her ear.
"Yes," Emma hisses, her fingers pulling out slowly and thrusting their way inside, deeper and harder, making her wife groan in pure pleasure. "Fuck me, baby. I need you," she growls, her voice low and husky. She runs her teeth along Regina's jaw, nipping and sucking, and then she's kissing her again, hard.
Regina wraps one leg and her arms around her wife, cradling and holding her hard against herself, determined to wipe out whatever's worrying her, and then, Emma's fingers really start to move… move like she's trying to climb inside of her. Over and over, frantic, primal, desperate, and before she loses herself in the insane rhythm, her own fingers start to move equally hard, primal, frantic, and desperate inside of Emma, climbing their way inside, meeting her thrust for thrust. She listens to Emma's harsh breathing, labored and fierce in her ear. Knowing that her wife is lost completely in her… she groans loudly, panting.
"Oh, Gina," Emma cries out her release and Regina joins her in climax, both their bodies collapsing and exhausted. Emma rolls off the brunette, so that now she is lying on top of her, both panting in a matching rhythm.
"Why won't you talk to me? Please, Emma." Regina looks up at her wife, her eyes closed as if she were in pain. "I vowed I would bring you solace in times of need. Please don't make me break my vows," she pleads.
Emma sighs and opens her eyes, her expression bleak. "It's arson," she says simply, and she looks suddenly so young and vulnerable.
What?
"And my biggest worry is that they are after me. And if they are after me-" She stops, unable to continue.
"They might get me," Regina whispers. She finally realizes that she has uncovered the root of her wife's anxiety. Her hand comes up to caress her face. "Thank you."
Emma frowns. "What for?"
"For telling me."
She shakes her head and a ghost of a smile touches her thin lips. "You can be very persuasive, Mrs. Swan."
Regina chuckles. "And you can brood and internalize all your feelings and worry yourself to death. You'll probably die of a heart attack before you're forty, and I would love to keep you around far longer than that."
"You'll be the death of me. The sight of you on the jet ski- I nearly did have a coronary." She shakes her head.
"Emma, it's a jet ski. Even kids ride jet skis. Can you imagine what you'll be like when we visit your place in Aspen and I go skiing for the first time?"
She gasps and turns to face her wife, and Regina wants to laugh at the horror on the blonde's face. "Our place," she says eventually.
'Our place.' Regina smiles. "I'm a grown up, Emma, and much tougher than I look. When are you going to learn this?"
Emma's mouth thins, her hand cups underneath the brunette's chin, her thumb caresses away at her bottom lip. "When will you learn that you are my most valuable and fragile miracle? I lost you once, and I couldn't figure out what to do with myself. If I were to lose you now…" she stops.
Regina could understand that feeling, because it was mutual for her. "Nothing will happen to me, Emma." She quickly decides to change conversation. "Do the police know about the arson?"
"Yes." Her expression is serious.
"Good."
"Security is going to get tighter," she says matter-of-factly.
"I understand." She glances down at their clothes, a smirk stretches out on her lips.
"What?" Emma asks, bemused.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes. You. Still dressed."
"Oh." She glances down at herself, then at her wife, and her face erupts into an enormous smile. "Well, you know how hard it is for me to keep my hands off you, Mrs. Swan- especially when you're giggling like a schoolgirl."
Oh, yes, the tickling…
Regina grins, quickly straddling her wife, and Emma soon understands her attempt as she's grabbing her wrists, stopping her.
"No," she says, and she means it. "Please don't," she whispers. "I couldn't bear it. I was never tickled as a child." She pauses, releasing her wife's hands as they relax.
Regina frowns, finding it a sad discovery.
"I used to watch David with Ruby, tickling her, and it looked like such fun, but I… I…"
Regina places her index finger against Emma's lips. "Hush, I know," she murmurs and places a kiss on her lips right where her finger was placed, then curls up onto her chest. The familiar painful ache swells inside of her, and the profound sadness that she holds in her heart for Emma as a little girl seizes her once more.
Emma's arms wrap around her wife, her nose pressing against her hair and inhaling deeply as she gently strokes away at her back.
"What is the longest you've gone without seeing Dr. Hopper?" Regina finally asks, breaking the silence.
"Two weeks. Why? Do you have an incorrigible urge to tickle me?"
"No." The brunette chuckles. "I think he helps you."
Emma snorts. "He should, I pay him enough." Her hand tucks underneath her wife's chin, tilting her head up to meet her gaze. "Are you concerned for my well-being, Mrs. Swan?" She asks softly.
"Every good wife is concerned for her beloved wife's well-being, Mrs. Swan," she admonishes her teasingly.
"Beloved," Emma whispers, repeating her wife's word.
"Very much beloved." Regina scoots up to kiss her, and her smile matches Emma's shy smile.
"Do you want to go ashore to eat?" Asks the blonde.
"I want to eat wherever you're happiest."
"Good." Emma grins. "Aboard is where I can keep you safe. Thank you for my present." She reaches over and grabs the camera, and holding it at arm's length, she snaps the two of them in their post rickling, postcoital, post confessional embrace.
"The pleasure is all mine." Regina smiles.
Emma sips on her after-dinner coffee, her eyes observing her wife, her elegant profile, her fine jawline, the way her hair dances in the wind. She was indeed a lucky woman. Now she could easily say, she had it all.
"What are you thinking about?" She asks.
Regina smiles. "This. Us, here. It's been lovely. The best honeymoon a woman could want."
"Really?" Says Emma, genuinely surprised. And she smiles her shy smile.
"Of course it is."
"We've got only two more days. Is there anything you'd like to see or do?"
Ugh! Two more days and we're back home. To our apartment. As much as Regina missed it, and Mrs. Lucas, and her job, she didn't want to leave.
"Just be with you," she murmurs.
Emma comes around the table, placing a kiss to her wife's forehead. "Well, can you do without me for about an hour? I need to check my emails, find out what's happened at home."
"Sure," she says brightly, trying to hide her disappointment that she will have to be without her for an hour. Is it wrong that she wants to be with her wife all the time? Too clingy?
"Thank you for the camera," Emma murmurs and heads for the study.
Back at their cabin, Regina decides to catch up on her own set of emails that are surely waiting for her to be read through. Surely enough, as she opens her inbox, she comes across an email from Belle.
OMG!
Gina, just heard about the fire at Emma's office.
Do you think it's arson?
B xox
Regina's eyes take notice on the green dot beside Belle's name. She's online! Quickly, she hops on Skype and sends her a message for faster communication.
Gina: Hey Belle.
Belle: Gina! How are you? How's the honeymoon? Did you see my email? Does Emma know about the fire?
Gina: I'm good. Honeymoon's great. Yes, I saw your email. Yes, Emma knows.
Belle: I thought she would. News is sketchy on what happened. And Ruby won't tell me anything.
Gina: Are you fishing for a story?
Belle: You know me too well. ;)
Gina: Emma hasn't told me much.
Belle: Ruby heard it from Mary Margaret!
Regina groans, knowing that Emma won't be too happy with having the arson attempt broadcasted all over the news and being the city's main gossip.
Gina: How are Ruby and Ella?
Belle: Ella has been accepted into the psych course at Seattle for her master's degree. Ruby is adorable.
Gina: Glad to hear it. Tell Ella I am cheering for her!
Belle: Will do! How's our favorite hot-shot billionaire? ;)
Gina: She's fine. More than fine. :)
Belle: Well, as long as you're happy, I'm happy.
Gina: I'm blissfully happy.
Belle: :) I have to run. Can't wait until you're back home to REALLY catch up! Miss you, Gina!
Gina: I miss you, too. Laters. X
Belle: Laters. 3
Regina shuts her laptop, sighing in content. She did miss her best friend, and couldn't wait to get home, but she wanted to fully enjoy their two last days in paradise. She hated seeing Emma so worried. Who would want to come after her? And why? What would be the reason?
She glanced down at her watch, it had already been nearly an hour since Emma went into her office, and truth be told- Regina was missing her wife something awful.
Regina finds herself in the Hall of Mirrors, one of their visiting spots throughout their honeymoon, and a favorite to both. Emma is standing beside her, smiling down at her with love and affection. "You look like an angel," the blonde says, which causes Regina to smile, beaming. But as she looks back into the looking glass, she is now standing on her own and the room is gray and drab. No! Her head whips back to Emma's familiar face, to find her smiling a sad and wistful smile. The blonde tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Then she turns wordlessly and walks away slowly, the sound of her footsteps echoing off the mirrors as she paces the enormous room to the ornate double doors at the end…
She looks back through the looking glass, finding a man… Robin, holding her from behind, closely to him, his sinister cold look glaring through the mirror, as well as his smirk.
Regina wakes, gasping for air, as panic runs through her veins.
"Hey," Emma whispers from beside her in the darkness, her voice filled with concern.
Oh, thank God. She's here, she's safe. Relief courses through the brunette's body.
"Oh, Emma," she mumbles, trying to bring her pounding heartbeat under control. She feels her wife's arms wrap around her, and it's only then that she realizes that tears start streaming down her cheeks.
"Gina, what is it?" Emma strokes her cheek, wiping away all her tears, her voice filled with anguish.
"Nothing." She shakes her head. "A silly nightmare."
The blonde kisses her wife's forehead and tear stained cheeks, comforting her. "Just a bad dream, baby," she murmurs. "I've got you. I'll keep you safe."
Drinking in her wife's scent, she curls around her, trying to ignore the loss and devastation she felt in her nightmare, and in that moment she knows that her deepest, darkest fear would be losing her.