A/N: Apologies for making everyone wait for this next update. I had been writing constantly and so much these past months, I needed to unwind for a couple of days. But, here is the next chapter of this third installment! :) It's a fun one, and the next one will be even better. ;) Regina might have done something she did not tell Emma about... Happy reading! Thank you for being so patient.
Just a reminder. If you have nothing nice to say about this story, or it isn't to your liking. Don't read it. It's that simple.
They are seated in the British Airways first class lounge at Heathrow outside London, waiting for their connecting flight to New York. Emma is engrossed in the Financial Times. Regina pulls out Emma's camera wanting to take more pictures of her sexy looking wife. Well, she did look incredible in her trademark white linen shirt and jeans, with her aviator specs tucked into the V of her open shirt. The flash distracts the blonde. She blinks up at her wife with a shy smile.
"How are you, Mrs. Swan?" Asks Emma.
"Sad to be going home," Regina murmurs. "I like having you to myself."
Emma clasps her wife's hand, and lifting it to her lips, she places a sweet kiss to her knuckles. "Me, too."
Regina can tell this entire arson issue is still bothering Emma. And why shouldn't it? When it bothered her as well. Both wanted this bastard, whoever it was, caught and out of their lives for good. But, she wasn't about to bring any of that up. There would be plenty of time for it. Right now, she wanted to take these last few hours of peace she had with Emma and snap another picture.
Time zones sucked! Here was Regina, passed out, with her head on her wife's shoulder while their car drove into the parking lot of the apartment's garage.
"We're home," Emma murmured.
"Hm," Regina mumbles, her dream of her and Emma on a picnic blanket at Kew Gardens left behind as the beautiful and unforgettable memory that it was.
Emma leans over her, unbuckling her seat belt, while her door is opened. She doesn't hesitate to scoop her wife into her arms, startling her awake.
"Hey- Emma," Regina's eyes grow wide, her arms cradle around the blonde's neck. "I can walk."
"Yes, I'm aware. But, I need to carry you over the threshold."
"Up all thirty floors?" Regina grins, challenging.
Emma grins. "We'll take the elevators, if you don't mind."
Gold presses the button that summons the elevator, smiling at both women. "Welcome home, Mrs. and Mrs. Swan."
"Thank you, Gold," says Emma.
Regina gives the man a warm smile as she watches him climb back into the vehicle, where Jones is waiting at the wheel.
"Why, Mrs. Swan, I do believe you gained back the weight you lost when you left me." Emma says rather quietly.
Her sudden, surprising anguish tugs at Regina's heart strings. "Hey," she cups the blonde's cheeks, making her look into her eyes. "If I hadn't gone would you be standing here, like this, now?"
Green eyes soften, and thin lips stretched into a shy smile. "No," she says, still holding onto her wife. She leans down, placing a kiss on her lips. "No, Mrs. Swan, I wouldn't. But I would know I could keep you safe, because you wouldn't defy me."
"I like defying you." Regina tests the waters.
"I know. And it's made me so… happy." Emma smiles, bemused.
Of course, Regina knew Emma has been as happy as can be. But, sometimes, it still made her worry.
"Even though I'm fat?" She jokes, which gets a fit of laughter out of her wife.
"Even though you're fat." She laughs again, after earning a light, playful smack on the shoulder. She kisses her wife once more, heated this time. She groans at the feeling of Regina's fingers kneading into her hair. Their tongues twisting, in a slow sensual dance with each other.
Once the elevator dings and the doors part open, both are breathless.
"Very happy," the blonde murmurs. Her eyes are dark and hooded and filled with salacious promise. "Welcome home, Mrs. Swan." She kisses Regina again, more chestly this time, and gives her the all charming-Emma Swan-megawatt smile, green eyes dancing with joy.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Swan." Regina beams, her heart answering her call, brimming with its own joy.
They were heading North on a freeway in the Audi R8. Lunch with the Swan's was scheduled, as Mary Margaret insisted on it in celebration to welcome back the newlyweds. It was a wonderful Sunday and perfect for a family gathering. Everyone would be there, even Ivy and Ella, who Belle kept Regina informed that they were doing just fine. Possibly taking things more slow than either of them did with Ruby and Emma.
It will be strange to be surrounded by people once again, when neither of them had come down from their high of their honeymoon, wrapped up in their own little bubble of happiness and all alone. And Regina hadn't had time to see much of Emma, given that the blonde was in her study attending to calls and emails she missed while away, while Regina unpacked her suitcase. Of course, Mrs. Lucas offered to do it on her own, but Regina wouldn't be Regina if she allowed someone else to do it for her.
"Would you let me drive this car now?" Regina asks, grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course," Emma replies, smiling. "What's mine is yours, if you dent it, though, I will take you into the playroom." She glances over at the brunette with a malicious grin.
Regina gapes at her. "You're serious. You'd punish me for denting your car? You love your car more than you love me?" She teases.
"It's close," Emma chuckles, her hand reaching over to place itself on her wife's knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. "But she doesn't keep me warm at night."
"I'm sure it could be arranged. You could sleep in her," Regina snaps.
Emma laughs. "We haven't been home one day and you're kicking me out already?"
Regina keeps her focus on her wife. Emma looked so carefree, so young, without a worry in the world. She looked more relaxed ever since she walked out of her office this morning. She hoped this mood of hers was here to stay.
"Why are you so pleased?" She asks.
Emma flashes another grin. "Because this conversation is so… normal."
"Normal!" Regina snorts. "Not after three weeks of marriage! Surely."
She frowns.
"I'm kidding, Emma," Regina tends to forget how unsure her wife is of herself sometimes. She then suspects that Emma has always been like this, even as a young teenager. She never had a chance to experience an actual childhood and was older in spirit, plus growing up with the Swan's, always had a tremendous amount of pressure on her to push herself to be the best at everything. Successful in the business world, even at such a young age. Also, it dawned on her that she would hide her uncertainty beneath an intimidating exterior. She was so easy to tease too, probably because it had never been done to her before. "Don't worry, I'll only drive my car." She looks out the window and out into the city.
"Hey. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're so frustrating sometimes, Gina. Tell me."
She turns and smirks at the blonde. "Back at you, Swan."
Emma frowns, but that frown immediately turns into a smirk of her own. "I'm trying."
"I know. Me, too." Regina smiles.
It is strange to be back. Everyone greeted them with such delight, tons of hugs and kisses from Mary Margaret, and a big bear hug from David, who looked like any typical normal father would in his chef hat and cooking apron, with tongs in one hand. It was a Sunday brunch and the house smelled divinely. They all sat outside on the terrace, enjoying the late summer sun. Belle and Mary Margaret are setting salads down on the table, while Ruby and Emma trade friendly insults and discuss plans for the new house, while Ella and Ivy pester Regina with thousands of questions about their honeymoon. Emma keeps hold of her wife's hand, her fingers swiftly toying with her wedding ring.
"So if you can get the plans finalized with Zelena, I have a window September through to mid-November and can get the whole crew on it," Ruby says, as she stretches and drops an arm around Belle's shoulder, making her smile.
"Zelena is due to come over to discuss the plans tomorrow evening," replies Emma. "I hope we can finalize everything then." She turns to look expectantly at her wife.
So, Zelena is due for a visit tomorrow? Hm. That's new.
"Sure." Regina smiles, more for the family's sake, because truth be told she could not stand that woman. She might be smiling on the outside, but on the inside, she was fuming. Why did Emma make these decisions and not tell her about them? Or was it the fact that Zelena Greene would be stopping by, all perfect shoes, perfect, expensive clothes, perfect hair, and eyes, smiling provocatively at her wife that angered her more?
Don't be stupid. Emma has given you no reason to be jealous of this woman. She mentally rolls her eyes at herself. What was wrong with her lately? Her moods have been going left and right lately.
"Gina," Belle exclaims, snapping her friend out of her thoughts. "Are you still in the South of France?"
"Yes," Regina replies with a smile.
"You look so well," she says.
"You both do." Mary Margaret beams while Ruby refills everyone's glasses.
"To the happy couple." avid grins and raises his glass, and everyone around the table echoes the sentiment.
"And a congratulations to Ella for getting into the psych program in Seattle," Ivy says proudly. She gives Ella an adoring smile, and Ella smirks back at her.
Everyone engraved in conversation, about different topics throughout brunch. Regina was well and listening, until she found herself lost in thought again. Only, this time, she wondered about her life with Emma, their future in their new home. With kids… kids… despite the fact she knew Emma was not particularly crazy with the idea of having them, she had touched the subject once days before they began to actually plant everything for their wedding.
Regina remembers it well. Her and Emma were laying in bed after having made sweet, passionate love.
"Can we get married tomorrow?" Emma smiled, gaining a chuckle from her soon-to-be-wife.
"And what will we do with this baby inside me? It will surely disrupt our honeymoon." Regina joked, taking quick notice in her wife's wide-eyed, frightened expression. "You really don't see yourself as a mother, do you?" She asks softly, her hand caressing away at her cheek.
"Maybe." Emma replied after a moment of hesitation. "You've changed a lot of me in just a matter of days. But, I don't think now would be the time to add any kids to our plants."
Regina laid on her side, her hand caressed along golden hair. "What if I wanted to be a mother?"
Emma blinked. "Are you saying you want to have one now?"
The brunette shrugged.
Thin lips pressed into a hard line. "Well, as I said, now would not be the perfect time to add a kid to our plans."
"If not now, then when?"
That was a question that was still unanswered. Which is why, Regina decided to make a plan of her own. She could see Emma didn't want a baby or two, or any for that matter, but she wanted to try and be a mother. That's when it dawned on her that she, too, could make plans without consulting Emma. Which is why, without her consent, on one of her visits to see Dr. Belfry, she discussed the possible treatments she could try to have a baby. And she did. But, of course, to her bad luck and Emma's fortune… the good doctor discovered that Regina was unable to get pregnant, therefore- the whole process done to her wouldn't work at all.
She had been sad about it, but she figured it was worth a try. And in case Emma ever did change her mind. There was always adoption.
What startles her awake from her thoughts is Ruby accidentally knocking down her glass of wine, which makes everyone scatter like ants in a hurry to clean up the stain.
"I am going to take you to the pool house and finally spank you in there if you don't snap out of this mood," Emma whispers over to Regina.
Regina gasps, turns in shock to stare at her. "You wouldn't dare!" She growls at her wife, yet from deep inside her stomach, she feels a familiar welcomed excitement. Emma raises a single eyebrow at her, which let's her know she isn't in any way joking. She turns to Belle, who is watching them intently. She turns back to Emma, narrowing her eyes at her. "You'd have to catch me first- and I'm wearing flats," she hisses.
"I'd have fun trying," Emma whispers with a licentious grin.
Regina flushes and confusingly, she feels better.
After everyone finishes their dessert of strawberries and cream, everyone clears their plates and glasses, heading into the kitchen. David is all smiles, as the weather predicted rain for that day, but thankfully it didn't happen until everyone had eaten and found themselves inside.
As they all head into the back room, Emma takes a seat in front of the grand piano and begins playing a familiar tune that Regina can't quite place in that moment. David and Mary Margaret ask Regina about her thoughts on her visit to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The Swan's had gone years ago during their honeymoon and recall wonderful sights. Ruby and Belle are cuddled up together on the couch, listening attentively. Until suddenly a voice that Regina recognizes well starts pouring out into the room, while everyone turns in shock to look at Emma.
Emma was singing softly to herself at the piano. Silence lingered within the room, surrounding them all, everyone went quiet to be able to hear Emma's sweet, musical voice singing to the lyrics of Wherever You Will Go.
There's a smile tugging at Regina's lips, when she takes notice of everyone's shock around her.
Was it her playing? Surely they have heard her play before.
"Surely you must have heard her play before, right?" She asked Ruby, who's jaw hit the floor.
"Play, yes." Answered Mary Margaret.
"But we've never heard her sing." Ruby smiled, her shocking expression matching Belle's.
Emma stops, suddenly aware of the deathly hush surrounding the room and all of the pair of eyes that have fallen on her, making her the center of attention. She turns on the stool and frowns, embarrassed.
"Go on," Mary Margaret urges softly, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I've never heard you sing, Emma. Ever."
"So far, I've only done it for my wife." Emma stands from the stool at the piano, her cheeks slightly pink. Her eyes looking into her wife's brown orbs, as they stare right back at her with adoration and love.
Suddenly, Mary Margaret startles Regina by pulling her into a hug, her arms folding tightly around her frame. "Oh, my darling girl! Thank you," she whispers, so only she can hear.
Regina blinks, but smiles. Suddenly understanding that even with her own family, Emma was always very secretive and closed off about certain aspects of her life. Not just Mal or her playroom.
"I am going to make us some tea," she says, wiping away at her tears and heading with everyone back into the kitchen.
Regina moves over to Emma, who is now standing and staring out of the one of the French windows of the house.
"Hi," she murmurs.
"Hi." Emma puts an arm around her wife, pulling her toward her own body. She feels Regina's hand casually slip into the pocket on the back of her jeans, as they both casually gaze out into the rain. "Feeling better?" She asks.
Regina nods.
"Good."
"You certainly know how to silence a room." Says Regina.
"I do it all the time," she says, and grins at her wife.
"At work, yes, but not here."
"True, not here."
"No one's ever heard you sing? Ever?"
"It appears not," she says dryly. "Shall we go?"
Regina glances up into her wife's eyes, which are soft and warm and slightly bemused. "Are you going to spank me?" She whispers, suddenly feeling butterflies inside her stomach. Her mood has been so funny lately, perhaps this is what she needed. This is what she has been missing.
Green eyes stare down at her, hooded and dark. "I don't want to hurt you, but I'm more than happy to play."
Regina glances around the large room, happy to see that they are still left alone.
"Only if you misbehave, Mrs. Swan." She bends over and whispers those fine words into her wife's ear, making the brunette weak at the knees.
"I'll see what I can do." Regina grins.
Once they've said their goodbyes, they walk over to the yellow R8 hand in hand.
"Here." Emma tosses the keys to the R8. "Not a scratch on it-" she adds in all seriousness- "or I will be fucking pissed."
Regina's mouth goes dry. She's actually letting me drive her favorite car? "Are you sure?" Her voice sounds as stunned as she looks.
"Yes, before I change my mind." Emma pulls open the driver's side door so that her wife can climb in first. The engine to the vehicle roars to life even before Emma is hopped into the passenger side seat.
Regina has never grinned so wide or so much before in her life as she was at this very moment.
"Eager, are we, Mrs. Swan?" Emma smiles.
"Very."
Slowly Regina eases out of the driveway and into the road, she notices one of their SUV's following them, with Jones and Fa following right behind them. Along with Gold. They had been out of sight all through brunch, she had forgotten they were even near.
This car drives so smoothly, and it is so quiet from the inside, it's surprising. Regina's eyes look through her rear view mirror, seeing the SUV with Jones, Fa and Gold inside. She smirks and steps on the accelerator once the road ahead of her has been cleared enough for her to speed on through, and watch them try to keep up.
"Whoa! Gina!" Emma shouts. "Slow down- you'll kill us both."
Her foot immediately eases off the gas pedal. Wow this car can really move!
"Sorry," she murmurs, but can't help to grin.
To her surprise, Emma smirks at her, to hide her relief maybe, but she smirks. "Well, that counts as misbehaving," she adds casually.
Regina smirks, her eyes glancing back through the rear view mirror, spotting a black car with tinted windows right behind them.
Emma groaned, reaching for her phone, she placed it by her ear. "Yeah?" Her eyes looked through the side mirror, her eyes focused on the vehicle behind them. "I see it." She turned to her wife. "I don't want you to panic, but we're being followed."
"You mean that vehicle behind us?" Regina asked, her heart accelerating a thousand miles per hour inside her chest.
Emma nodded, "Yeah, Jones ran the licence plates. They're fake. Lose them."
Regina's eyes lock on serious green ones. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. Lose them."
Regina couldn't help but smirk, her foot stepping on the gas pedal with joy. Now this car was really driving, and boy, could it move! She would glance at the vehicle behind them, speeding up, trying to catch up. She tried to make out the driver, but couldn't see well inside the car due to the black windows. She headed down the road, where an eighteen wheeler was turning to the left, taking claim of the entire road.
"You can make it. Don't stop, step on the gas." Emma encouraged her.
The brunette stepped on the gas, barely squeezing in through the edge of the bridge and the eighteen wheeler. A smile spread across her lips once the truck was left behind for a while.
"Good girl." Emma smiled, clearly impressed with her driving skills. "Get on the freeway." She places her phone in the hands-free compartment of the car. "Gold, I have you on speaker."
"We're right behind him, Mrs. Swan. They are still trying to follow you."
Emma looks back, seeing the car about four cars behind them. "Can you make out the driver?"
"No, not yet, ma'am."
"Go. Step on it." Said Emma, being thrown back in her seat as her wife accelerated 170 miles per hour.
"Come on." Regina groaned at a traffic jam before them, a gray car blocking her way to accelerate anywhere else, given that she was blocked by two more vehicles on each side of her.
"Flash your lights." Emma instructed.
Regina rolled her eyes, "That's an asshole move."
"Then be an asshole."
Regina's brow raised, a smirk slowly stretched out on her lips. Her hand reached for the headlights handle, while her other honked on the horn. Once the vehicle changed lane, she sped ahead, earning a middle finger from the other driver.
"Get off here." Emma pointed to an exit off the freeway.
Regina quickly made her way off, speeding through other cars along the road. She could no longer see the vehicle behind them. Had they lost it? She hoped so.
"There. The parking lot."
The R8 was smoothly placed against an empty parking space of a parking lot. Now, Regina found herself being breathless, and frightened.
"Gold, Regina just entered a parking lot. We've stopped."
"We're still in pursuit of the driver, ma'am. They've passed you. Remain where you are until I say so."
"Are you okay?" Emma turns her attention toward her wife once she hangs up the call.
Regina doesn't say anything. Instead she enjoys her wife's touch so much against her cheek, that she quickly unbuckles herself, and claims her wife's lips with her own in a heated and desperate kiss that sends Emma's head in a spiral.
Without breaking their kiss, Regina's hand quickly unbuckled the blonde, and began working on unbuttoning her jeans.
"Gina, we're in a parking lot," Emma murmured against her wife's soft lips.
"I know." Whispered Regina, hoping over and straddling her wife's lap very quickly.
Both moaned as their fingers began their quick in and out work on one another. It was a bit tricky, but they managed, both their hips moving in sync with their fingers, working their way in… out… in…. Out.
"Come on, baby." Emma hisses, her arm wrapped around her wife's waist.
"Ah!" It doesn't take Regina long to reach her climax, or Emma for that matter. Her hips keep racing back and forth until they finally slow down.
"Oh, Gina," Emma moans, both her arms holding onto her wife, so close to her. Her hand cupping her head, to keep her from banging against the roof of the car. She pulls her down for a hard kiss, her tongue quickly evading her mouth.
"Mmm." Regina wasn't sure what it was. Why was that car chase so erotic that she just had to have her wife right here, right now in the open space of this parking lot? What was going on with her?
Emma's smile matched her wife's as she looked up at her, their eyes locking. "Tension relieved, Mrs. Swan?" Her lips kiss along her throat.
"Yes," she murmurs, her eyes closing.
"Well, aren't you the wanton creature? I had no idea you were such an exhibitionist." She chuckles, feeling as Regina quickly sits back in her seat, her eyes scanning the parking lot.
"No one's watching, are they?" Regina asks in alarm.
"Do you think I'd let anyone watch my wife come?" She strokes her wife's cheek with the back of her hand.
Regina snorts. "You wouldn't be the possessive, control freak you are, if you did Mrs. Swan."
Emma grinned and tucked a strand of hair behind the brunette's ear. "Let's head back. I'll drive." She quickly zips up her jeans and holds open the passenger side door for Regina to climb right in, closing it in place. Moving toward the driver's side, she drives out smoothly from the parking lot, withdrawing her phone from the hands free slot. "Where is Jones, where's the Dodge? What?"
"What's wrong?" Regina asks once Emma hangs up the call.
"Our driver appears to be a she."
Brown eyes grow wide. "A female?"
"It would appear so."
"Where is she now?"
"Heading South." She clasps her wife's hand, placing a soft kiss to the back of her knuckles. "Let's get you home."
"I really like this car." Regina grins, once her wife enters the garage of their home, parking in an empty lot.
"Me too. And I like how you handled it- and how you managed not to scratch it."
"You can buy me one for my birthday." She smirks at the blonde.
Emma's mouth falls open as she watches the brunette climb out of the car.
"A white one, I think," Regina adds, leaning down and grinning at her.
Emma smiles. "Regina Swan, you never cease to amaze me."
Regina shuts the door and walks to the end of the car to wait for her. Gracefully Emma climbs out, watching her wife with that look… that look that calls to something deep inside of her. Regina knows this look well.
Emma leans down and whispers, "You like the car. I like the car. I've fucked you in it… perhaps I should fuck you on it."
They move apart once a sleek silver BMW pulls into the garage. Emma glances at it anxiously, then with annoyance and gives her wife a shy smile.
"But it looks like we have company. Come." The blonde grabs her hand and heads for the garage elevator. She pushes the call button and as they wait, the driver of the BMW joins them. He's young, casually dressed, with long, layered, dark hair. He looks like he works in the media.
"Hi," he says, smiling warmly at both of them.
Emma puts her arm around Regina and nods politely.
"I've just moved in. Apartment sixteen."
"Hello." Regina returns the smile. He has kind, soft blue eyes.
The elevator arrives and they all walk in. Emma glances down at her wife, her expression unreadable.
"You're Emma Swan," the young man says.
Emma gives him a tight smile.
"Jefferson Hatter." He holds out his hand. Reluctantly, Emma takes it. "Which floor?" Jefferson asks.
"I have to input a code." Replies Emma.
"Oh."
"Penthouse."
"Oh." Jefferson smiles broadly. "Of course." He presses the button for the eighth floor and the doors close. "Mrs. Swan, I presume."
"Yes." Regina gives him a polite smile and they shake hands. Jefferson flushes a little as he gazes at the brunette a fraction too long. Regina can't help but to mirror his flush and Emma's arm tightens around her wife.
"When did you move in?" Regina asks.
"Last weekend. I love the place."
There's an awkward pause before the elevator stops at Jefferson's floor.
"Great to meet you both," he says, sounding relieved, and steps out. The doors close silently behind him. Emma taps in the entry code and the elevator ascends again.
"He seemed nice," Regina murmurs. "I've never met any of the neighbors before."
Emma growls. "I prefer it that way."
"That's because you're a hermit. I thought he was pleasant enough."
"A hermit?"
"Hermit. Stuck in your ivory tower," Says Regina matter-of-factly, Emma's lips twitch in amusement.
"Our ivory tower. And I think you have another name to add to the list of your admirers, Mrs. Swan."
She rolls her eyes. "Emma, you think everyone is an admirer."
"Did you just roll your eyes at me?"
Her pulse quickens. "I sure did," she whispers, her breath catching inside of her throat.
Emma cocks her head to one side, wearing her smoldering, arrogant, amused expression. "What shall we do about that?"
"Something rough."
The blonde blinks to hide her surprise. "Rough?"
"Please."
"You want more?"
Regina nods slowly. The doors to the elevator open and they're home.
"How rough?" Emma is breathless, her eyes darkening.
Regina gazes into her wife's eyes, saying nothing. Once they enter the foyer, Jones is standing in the hallway, looking expectantly at both of them.
"Jones, I'd like to be debriefed in an hour," Emma says.
"Yes, ma'am." Turning, Jones heads back into Gold's office.
Emma glances down at her insatiable wife. "Rough?"
Regina nods, biting her lip.
"Well, Mrs. Swan, you're in luck. I'm taking requests today."