A/N: Thank you all for being so patient with me in updating this sequel. I had a busy weekend and that's why I couldn't update sooner, but I do have three chapters to share with you all, plus a fourth that I am currently still writing. For now, enjoy and Happy reading! :)
This chapter is Rated M.
For the second time today Regina's world stops. Marriage? She's proposing marriage? She blinks.
"Emma, I think you might be sleep walking." She chuckles, because it's the only thing she can think to do.
Emma's brow raises, "You find my proposal amusing, Ms. Mills?"
Regina rolls her eyes, her hand cupping away at the blonde's cheek. "Emma, your sense of timing is without a doubt…" She tries again to find the perfect words to use.
Luckily for Regina, Emma smirks, but Regina could see she is also pained. She can notice that due to the shape the wrinkles around her eyes take when she smiles. She's gotten to know this woman that well, and yet not well enough. Dear God, she loved her.
"You're cutting me to the quick here, Gina." Emma's hand comes up, wrapping around Regina's wrist, her eyes sparkling like diamonds, even in the darkness of the great room. "Will you marry me?"
Regina moves in, straddling the blonde's lap, feeling her arms snake around her frame. "Look, Emma, I've known you for about three minutes, and there's so much more I need to know. I've had too much to drink, I'm tired, and I want to go to bed. I need to consider your proposal just as I considered that contract you gave me."
The blonde's head tilts to one side and her lips quirk up in a smile. "Fair point well made, as ever, Ms. Mills," she breathes, her voice laced with relief. "So, that's not a no?"
Regina sighs. "No, Ms. Swan, it's not a no, but it's not a yes, either. I still think you may be sleep walking-" She smirks, trying to lighten the mood- "And that you're doing this because you're scared."
"No, I'm doing this because I've finally met someone I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Regina's mouth drops open. How is it that in the midst of the most bizarre of events in a day, can Emma find the most sweetest and romantic things to say to her?
"Can I think about it?" Regina asks, her hand caressing along blonde hair, "You once asked me for patience and faith. Now, I ask the same of you, Swan. Please?"
Emma smiles. "I can live with that."
"Can I ask you something now?" Regina asks.
"Anything."
"What happened with Lily?"
"You really want to know?"
Do I? Regina nods, her heart already clenching. "Yes."
Emma's mouth flattens into a thin line, and she hesitates. "We talked, and I gave her a bath." Her voice is horse and she continues as Regina gives her no response. "I had Gold buy her some new clothes. I hope you don't mind, but she was filthy."
She bathed her? Her stomach twists, she begins to fume. She knew she shouldn't be mad, especially since Lily is very sick. She witnessed it herself- but the fact was- she was raging mad. The image of Emma bathing her, naked or not with her, just makes her sick.
"Hey," Emma's arms tighten around the brunette's frame as she tries to pull away, "It was all I could do, Gina," she says softly.
"You still have feelings for her?"
"No!" She says, appalled, and her eyes close. "To see her like that- so different- so broken. I care about her, one human being to another." Her expression fills with anguish as Regina will no longer look at her. "Gina, look at me."
She can't. Regina knows that if she so much as looks at her, at those beautiful, diamond sparkling eyes, she will burst into tears. And right now, her jealousy was like a fuel of gasoline, waiting to be lit, spilling everywhere around them. Emma caring for her ex-sub in an intimate way. It was just too much.
"Gina." Emma calls again.
"What?"
"Don't. It doesn't mean anything. It was like caring for a child, a broken, shattered child," she murmurs.
What the hell would she know about caring for a child? Maybe caring for Lily was like caring for herself, since she was the broken child once. She's been that broken child ever since they met with a masquerade of a cool, collected, smart CEO.
Regina shakes her head, pulls away from her form and stands to her feet.
"Gina?" Emma stands. Don't leave. "Gina, please." She begs.
The brunette turns, her eyes on fire, "Just stop, Emma! Just stop with the 'Gina, please'!" She's shouting now, her tears start to run down her cheeks. "I am going to bed. I am sleeping alone tonight, up in my room. I need to be away from you."
Emma's lips part, "No, Gina- listen to me, I know what you're thinking- nothing happened!"
"I am tired and emotional, Emma! Now, give me space, please." She races for Emma's bedroom, fishes through her drawers and pulls out one of Emma's old t-shirts, changes out of her clothes and pulls the shirt over her body.
Emma is standing in that same spot, rooted to the ground like a tree. Very still, not trying to stop her, not trying to plead. Just watching her as Regina storms back out, past her, and heads upstairs without so much as looking at her.
It's… what time is it? When Regina wakes up in a jolt from her bed in a sweat, breathing quite heavily. Her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. Damn, idiot. Even when she is raging mad she still has erotic dreams with Emma that make her insides clench. Shaking her head, she peels the covers off of her and rushes downstairs.
It's thundering now and raining heavily. She heads down the stairs quietly, looking around to find an empty room. Regina heads into the kitchen, reaches for a glass, fills it with water and takes a long needed drink. Her eyes take a good look around the kitchen, the great room, where the piano is, that giant window providing her with a beautiful, breathtaking view of the rainy city. Could she really marry Emma and accept to live here with her? Could she get used to all this baggage that came with her?
Well, at least Lily was being taken care of now. And she was happy about that, at the cost of her jealousy. But, there was still Mal. And then there was Emma. Sweet, broken, fucked up Emma. She loved her, yes. But right now she was still mad at her.
Could this be enough? More than enough?
Suddenly her thoughts are shattered by a blood curdling scream. It startles her, making her shatter the glass on the floor, right below her feet. Emma! She quickly rushes toward the blonde's bedroom, and sees Emma's sleeping body breathing heavily, her head digging into its pillow. "No! No! Please! No!"
Regina quickly climbs into the bed, straddling Emma's waist, her hands cupping the sides of her face, "Hey, hey, Emma," she whispers. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm right here." She sees Emma's green eyes open, looking up at her. "I'm here."
"Gina," she whispers, breathing heavily, beads of sweat coated her forehead. Her body shifts them both in a turn, placing the brunette underneath her own body. Her lips press down on her own, kissing her with a passion and a fever Regina had never felt from her before. The kiss is so intense, it makes the brunette melt, molding into Emma's body like a perfect piece of a clay.
Emma's hands were quick to begin exploring the brunette's body, and Regina's hands were quick to begin tugging on her black tank top, and the blonde quickly broke their kiss to peel off the shirt from her body. And just like that, Emma's lips are back on her own, releasing a soft moan inside her mouth that caused her insides to tighten with a need Regina had never felt before either.
And as Regina's hands begin to explore the blonde's bare back, she is overcome by this need to flip them both over, shifting herself so that she now is straddling Emma again. They are both panting for breath, wanting, needing from each other. Their eyes locked in place, and she can see that Emma is at her will. She is waiting for her to do with her whatever she wants to do. Somehow, Regina knows by the look and need in her eye, that if she were to stop this, Emma would stop. But if she wanted her, Emma was there.
Brown eyes fell on the scars against Emma's chest, her hand slowly moving towards them, placing itself against them. Emma holds her breath, but doesn't move.
"I'm all yours, Gina," she whispers.
Regina moves her thumb, lightly caressing at one of the scars, her eyes not moving from Emma's. She stills, feeling Emma's hand wrap around her wrist, but to her surprise the blonde moves her hand toward one of her breasts.
Emma gasps, her eyes closing shut as if she were in pain, but this time Regina doesn't move her hand.
"No, stay." Emma's hands land on the brunette's thighs as she feels she wants to move. She sits up, wrapping her arms around her form, her lips hungrily possessing Regina's in a kiss so passionate, both women groan. And while Regina's hands tangle in Emma's hair, Emma's hands begin to strip the brunette out of her underwear, ripping it once more and tossing it aside.
Regina lets out a soft moan, shifting her body off of Emma's for a short minute, while helping the blonde remove herself from her underwear. And to her surprise, Emma pulls her back onto her lap, making her straddle her.
"Touch me, Gina, please. Make love to me." Emma softly implores. "I'm the same, Gina. I love you and I need you." She whispers.
Oh my… That's all it takes for Regina to melt away. Her anger no longer visible, her jealousy ceased.
Regina bent down, over the blonde, capturing her lips in a kiss so fierce, it made Emma's head spin. She groaned, feeling Emma's tongue possessively enter her mouth. Her hips bucked, her own soaked sex grinds against Emma's very own, causing the blonde to release a moan inside her mouth.
"Oh, Gina," Emma moaned, her hips rhythmically moving to the same speed as the brunette's. She hissed, her eyes shutting tight as she felt two pairs of hands cup around her breasts.
The brunette's hands squeezed away at the two pairs of breasts she had been dying to touch, feeling them harden beneath her touch. Oh, the things she could make Emma feel. Her, not Lily, not Mal. But her. Her hips bucked harder and faster, back and forth, back and forth it made Emma's eyes roll to the back of her head, releasing another loud moan, calling out her name again and again.
"Ahh!" Emma's hands squeezed away at the woman's thighs, cupping her butt cheeks next, feeling her move harder and harder. "Enough," she moaned a heartfelt plea.
"No," she shook her head, her hips never stopping their harsh motion. They wouldn't stop. No way. Because this was Regina's punishment. This was their moment. She was finally allowed to touch her and there was no way she would or could stop.
Emma groaned, abruptly sitting up, her arms tightly wrapped around the brunette's waist. Her hips begin to buck upward in a harsh, and fast motion. She released another moan, hiding her face in between Regina's breasts, while both shared their release.
Both lay tangled up in each other. Emma's head lying on Regina's chest, feeling her hands caress her hair. Both feeling more tranquil after making up like they best knew how.
"What was your nightmare about?" Asked Regina.
"The usual."
"Tell me."
Emma swallows and tenses. "I must be about three, and the prostitute's boyfriend is mad as hell again. He smokes and smokes, one cigarette after another, and he can't find an ashtray." She stops, feeling Regina tense this time.
Regina felt that ache inside her heart. Her eyes closing and her head shaking.
"It hurt," she says, "It's the pain I remember. That's what gives me nightmares. That, and the fact that she did nothing to stop him."
Regina tries to hold it together, her hold tightening around the blonde's form, her legs tangling more around her. How could a bastard do this to a poor defenseless child? How could her mother not do anything to protect her?
Emma looks up, searching Regina's eyes. "You're not like her. Don't ever think that. Please."
Well, that's reassuring to hear. Regina is surprised by that, as well as by her continuing with her nightmare story.
"Sometimes in the dream she's just lying on the floor. And I think she's asleep. But she doesn't move. She never moves. And I'm hungry. Really hungry." Emma sighs. "There's a loud noise and he's back, and he hits me so hard, cursing at my dead mother. His first reaction was always to use his fists or his belt."
"Is that why you don't like to be touched?"
Emma closes her eyes, holding Regina closer, tighter. "That's complicated," she murmurs. She nuzzles in between the brunette's breasts, inhaling deeply as if trying to distract herself and the brunette.
"Tell me," Regina presses.
"She didn't love me. I didn't love me. The only touch I knew was… harsh. It stemmed from there. Dr. Hopper explains it better than I can."
Dr. Archie Hopper. The man who knew Emma's deepest and darkest secrets. The man who could probably help Regina understand her broken girlfriend a little more.
"Could I see Dr. Hopper?" She asks, taking Emma completely by surprise.
Her brow raises, her head raises to look back at her. "All of my shades of fucked-upness rubbing off on you?"
Regina chuckles, "And then some. I like how it's rubbing off on me now."
Emma smirks, "Yes, Ms. Mills, I like it, too." She leans up and kisses her lips. Her eyes studying her for a moment, staring at her adoringly.
"What?"
"You are so precious to me, Gina. I was serious about marrying you. I want you to marry me. We can get to know each other then. I can look after you and you can look after me. I will lay my world at your feet, Regina. I want you, body and soul, forever. Please, just think about it."
"I will think about it, Emma. I will." She assured her. "I'd really like to talk to Dr. Hopper, if you don't mind."
"Anything for you, baby. Anything. When would you like to see him?"
Really? Just like that? "Sooner rather than later."
"Okay. I'll make the arrangements in the morning." Emma's eyes close, her arms tighten more around the warmth of Regina's body. "I love you, Regina Mills, and I want you by my side, always," she murmurs before drifting off into a deep and more peaceful sleep.
Regina's heavy eyelids open to a new morning, finding Emma's body still clinging to her, wrapped up like a vine. She shifts a little, stretching out, feeling Emma move away from her, mumbling something in her sleep that she can't make out. Her head turns to glance over at the clock on the nightstand. Shit! It's eight forty-seven. She's going to be late! Shuffling out of bed, she startles Emma awake as she rushes into the bathroom to shower and be ready.
Emma is already sitting in the bed with a smile on her face, watching the brunette five minutes later as she exits the bathroom in a set of black bra and panties. Regina checks her clothes, and decides on an all black attire. Black skirt, black heels and a black short sleeve shirt with a v-neck line that fit perfectly against her figure.
"You look good," Emma purrs from the bed. "You can call in sick, you know. You don't have to go to work today." She gives Regina her pearly-white, all charismatic smile.
Regina chuckles, "Tempting, but no, Emma, I can't. I am not a megalomaniac CEO with a beautiful smile who can come and go as she pleases."
"I like to come as I please." She smirks.
"Emma!" Regina scolds, throwing her towel right at her.
Emma chuckles, "Beautiful smile, huh?"
"Yes. You know the effect you have on me." She puts on her watch.
"Do I?" Emma blinks innocently.
Regina glares playfully, "Don't play innocent, Ms. Swan, it really doesn't suit you." She walks over to Emma's side of the bed, leans down to kiss her and squeals as she feels the blonde pull her onto her, rolling them over the sheets so that she is placed on top of her. She's sporting a grin that reaches both of her ears.
Hello, playful Emma.
"What can I do to tempt you to stay?" Emma says softly.
"You can't," She struggles to sit back up, releasing a small laugh, "Emma, let me go." She sees her pout and can't resist the urge to caress her bottom pouty lip. Leaning up to place a kiss on them right after. She feels Emma's lips press more onto her own, kissing her in a passionate and loving manner, long and hard.
Emma swiftly stands the brunette to her feet, and Regina is left with her head spinning and her heart fluttering. "Gold will take you. Quicker than finding somewhere to park. He's waiting outside the building," she says kindly.
"Okay. Thank you." Regina would love to drive her car, but gives Emma this, given that she thinks maybe she wants Gold driving her to make sure she won't leave her. She's pretty sure Emma was still worried and afraid she would leave. And she's right, it would be quicker with Gold driving her. "Enjoy your lazy morning, Ms. Swan. I wish I could stay, but the woman who owns the company I work for would not approve of her staff ditching just for hot sex." She grabs her purse.
"Personally, Ms. Mills, I have no doubt that she would approve. In fact she might insist on it."
"Why are you staying in bed?" Her brow raises. "It's not like you."
"Because I can, Ms. Mills."
Regina shakes her head, smirking. "Laters, baby." She blows her a kiss and is out the door.
Regina climbs out of the car by nine-fifteen. Grateful to be alive due to Gold's race car driving. It seemed he knew she was running late.
"Thank you, Gold." She smiled.
"Gina," Gold nodded, smiling kindly. Ever since he referred to her by her name, the foramlity had dropped between them. Which the brunette was more than happy with.
Kathryn smiles and bids Regina a good morning once she walks through the door.
"Gina!" Robin calls out to her. "Get in here."
Crap. Regina's eyes close before she turns to face her angered boss.
"What time do you call this?" He snaps.
"I'm sorry, Robin. I overslept."
"Don't let it happen again. Fix me some coffee, and then I need you to do some letters. Jump on it." His voice raises an octave, almost shouting.
What on earth is up his ass? Why is he so angry? Regina rushes into the break room to prepare his coffee. Suddenly, she's wishing she had stayed home with Emma. She could be doing… well something more fun than getting yelled at today by Grumpy from Snow White.
She sits at her desk after taking Robin's coffee to him and is handed a piece of paper by Robin to have typed up for him, when she spots an email from Emma.
Please use your phone.
X
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
Regina replies instantly but through her work computer.
My boss is mad.
I blame you for keeping up late with your… mischievous ways.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Regina Mills
Assistant to Robin Locksley, Editor, New York Book Publishers
Emma's brow raises as she replies.
You don't have to work, Regina.
You have no idea how appalled I am at my mischievousness.
But I like keeping you up late. ;)
Please use your phone.
Oh, and marry me, please.
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
The brunette chuckles, typing up her reply.
I know your natural inclination is toward nagging, but just stop.
I need to talk to your shrink.
Only then will I give you my answer.
I am not opposed to living in sin.
Regina Mills
Assistant to Robin Locksley, Editor, New York Book Publishers
Emma shakes her head.
Regina, if you are going to start discussing Dr. Hopper, then USE YOUR PHONE.
This is not a request.
Emma Swan
CEO, Swan Enterprises Inc.
Now, was Emma mad too? Why? Jesus, what was up everyone's ass today?
She glares down at her ringing cell phone, and groans, "What?" She snaps.
"Er- Gina, it's Daniel."