Chapter 5
Emma's Therapy Session:
"It's actually going great.
Regina's Therapy Session:
"I can't believe I'm about to say this but it feels like things are going great."
Emma's Therapy Session:
"She's finally opening up to me."
Regina's Therapy Session:
"I feel like I can be honest with her."
Emma's Therapy Session:
"I mean, don't get me wrong, she still scares the crap out of me sometimes with all that darkness she's got bubbling beneath the surface."
Regina's Therapy Session:
"She's either incredibly brave or supremely stupid; I still haven't figured out which."
Emma's Therapy Session:
"This is the first time in a long time that I've felt this way and haven't wanted to just run away."
Regina's Therapy Session:
"I think I actually believe, for once, that I have something that won't be taken away."
Dr. Hopper looked over his notes and reveled at the striking similarities in each woman's statements. It certainly wasn't a perfect relationship, and it was so volatile that it could explode at any moment, but at least they were both on the same page. Over a month had passed since he'd first found out about the escalation of their physical contact and looked to be going well.
It even seemed like it could be healthy for both of them if one thing continued to happen: Regina had to keep her faith in Emma. If she started to doubt her things could get incredibly messy. And that would be catastrophic if Henry became involved.
Luckily it seemed as though they were both playing things safe on that count as well. They were keeping their relationship a secret until it was truly defined. This made Archie chuckle a bit. He wondered how long that would last given the abundant chemistry the two women displayed even before they'd changed the structure of their interactions. They'd only be able to hide that connection behind closed doors for so long.
"So, as far as the fourth quarter budget goes it looks like I'm coming in under last year's expenditures by..."
As Emma paced before the mayor's desk and droned on about accounting figures, Regina couldn't help but thank the gods for well crafted denim. Those dark blue hues that hugged the sheriff's every curve were distracting far past the point of any kind of modesty. The mayor had often wondered how the blonde was able to maneuver so well in her low-rider attire until she'd finally gotten her hands on the material and found it to be soft and pliable; something she'd like to reacquaint herself at that very moment.
"Perhaps we should talk about increasing your budget for the fourth quarter, Sheriff," she cut Emma off mid-sentence and moved around to draw nearer to the blonde. "I'd imagine it would allow room for new uniforms."
"Wait, what's wrong with the old ones?" Emma asked, stopping in her tracks to look at Regina.
"Nothing," the mayor answered as she hooked a finger through one of the belt loops that had been torturing her for the last five minutes, and pulled the woman flush against her, "except that you refuse to wear them. And though I'm a rather large fan of your current attire, I'm not sure I want everyone else in the town constantly taking stock of your... assets."
She then pulled her in for a deep and luxurious kiss as her hands roamed exactly where her eyes had surveyed seconds before. Emma hissed into the kiss and returned it with equal passion; pushing the mayor atop of the desk and settling between her thighs.
"But then you wouldn't be able to enjoy the view either," the blonde said, raking a hand through Regina's hair. "And maybe I like the way you look at me in my clothes."
"It's more your jeans," Regina's voice rasped as she clutched at the denim covered ass and pulled Emma closer to her center with a growl, "and your tops," her hands then made their way across a taught abdomen and perky breasts before settling on her shoulders and pushing her jacket off. "Your odd choice in the signature look of tiny motorcycle jackets, I could do without."
Emma chuckled and shrugged the jacket off and moved into kiss Regina's neck, her words sending shivers up the woman's spine, "Shut up, Madame Mayor."
Cradling the blonde head against her, Regina let out a deep chuckle of her own before she spoke, "Actually, I don't think you want me to do that, my dear. Do you think I haven't noticed the effect my voice has on you?" she moved her mouth closer to Emma's ear. "I've seen the way your jaw clenches when I start to purr from your touch; the way you shiver when I call out your name."
Emma moaned in agreement, wishing she weren't so obvious in her reactions and deciding to turn the tides.
"It's not like I can help noticing the fact that your lips are so vocal, Mayor Mills," she emphasized her point by tweaking a nipple and thrusting her hips; rewarded by a sharp gasp from the brunette. "Sometimes it feels like I have to put them to a different use just so I can get some peace and quiet."
Regina let out a hearty laugh at this remark and yanked the blonde head back as she replied, "Peace and quiet is hardly the terminology I'd use when describing your state of being when my mouth is on you."
As passionate as their private time tended to get, there were always instances when their eyes would lock and a tenderness would seep into the energy. So, when they came back together their movements were tempered with tenderness.
Their lips locked softly and Emma moved her hand to the mayor's core, feeling the warmth there.
"You feel so good, Regina," she whispered softly.
The brunette inhaled hard and caressed the sheriff's face softly, "You make me feel so alive, Emma."
The words served to both endear and arouse the sheriff more as her hand moved under Regina's skirt and pushed her underwear to the side, allowing her fingertips to meet warm, wet heat. The action elicited another moan from the wanton mayor.
But before they had a chance to take things further, a knock at the mayor's office door startled them both away from each other.
"Jesus! Are you expecting someone?" Emma asked, exasperated.
"No," Regina answered, agitated at whomever was on the other side of that door, "but I can assure you they're going to be sorry they didn't call to make an appointment."
The mayor moved from the top of the desk to sit in her seat, straightening her clothes and nodding at Emma to open the door. The sheriff nodded back and did as she bade, revealing a sharply dressed Mr. Gold on the other side.
"Sheriff Swan," he addressed her, "how nice to see that the different branches of our legal system can work so closely together."
"Mr. Gold," Emma sighed, "Won't you come in."
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he paused before entering.
"Nothing that can't be continued later in the day," Regina said, more to the sheriff than the shopkeeper. "Though I would advise you make an appointment next time you decide to stop by my office. Had the sheriff and I been any deeper in our conversation I'd have been much more annoyed with the rudeness of your unannounced visit."
She looked to Emma who was trying to suppress the smirk on her face, "Ms. Swan, we will adjourn for now but rest assured I will finish going over everything with you this evening."
"Guess I'll plan on working late," she moved to exit the office and the man stepped inside, "Goodbye, Mr. Gold."
As soon as the door closed behind the sheriff, Regina's nostrils flared. She was none too happy with the shopkeeper's interruption.
"Would you like to tell me what you're doing here?" she asked, shuffling papers on her desk to give herself something to do with her hands.
Gold noticed her fidgeting as well as the air of mischief that seemed to hang in the room. Regina was hiding something, and he was starting to develop a pretty good idea of what that something might be.
"Well, a funny thing happened as I was walking past your office building," he explained as he took a seat. "Marco was on a ladder, replacing the bulb in one of your light fixtures, when he nearly toppled off to the ground. Now, luckily I was there to catch him and help break his fall but that didn't help the shocked expression on his face. Seems he wondered if he'd fallen asleep on the ladder and experienced some odd dream about befriending a cricket. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"
Regina sighed audibly in frustration, "Rest assured Mr. Gold, I am on the case. I've had Sydney on Mary Margaret's tail for the past few weeks. She hasn't been seeing Mr. Nolan which means that the curse is being tampered with by a different happy couple. I've got my eyes and ears open in an attempt to figure out who they might be."
He sat forward, leaning into his cane, "Pardon the bluntness of my next statement dearie, but it's possible that, to find the culprit, you need only look in a mirror."
Her eyes narrowed at him in anger, "What exactly are you insinuating."
"Just that you obviously need a little freshening up given that your lipstick seems to be smudged and for once in your perfectly constructed life you have quite a few hairs out of place," he accused, his tone matching hers in venom.
Pulling a mirror from her desk, she took inventory of her appearance and realized that he was correct.
"What I do in the confines of my private office is none of your business," she fired back.
"Oh, but it is when it seems your overactive libido might be the exact thing that ends up breaking the curse," his statement was made through gritted teeth.
Finally the insinuation he was making dawned on the mayor. It would never have occurred to her in a million years that the time she spent with Emma was anywhere near the realm of true love.
"Are you saying that..." she couldn't even finish the sentence but Gold was just fine with waiting on her to complete the sentence. "But that's not possible, I'm not... Even if I was starting to... I've already lost my true love; Daniel died in another world."
"Well, it's not as if either of us are experts on the subject but something is obviously amiss," he stood to lean on her desk. "Now, either Daniel was not your true love or it's possible that we are allowed more than one true love in our lifetime, but given the evidence I've just happened upon I'd say you're well on your way to finding it again no matter what the circumstance. And though I'd love to congratulate you on this very special new way you've found to complicate your life, I'm a little more worried about everyone in Storybrooke figuring out exactly what's been going on for the last twenty-eight years."
Regina was so shocked at the possibility that she couldn't even defend herself. All she could do in her head at that very moment was connect the dots of every single instance she'd been with Emma to all of the odd occurrences in the town... And they were beginning to paint a very startling picture.
"But that means," she tried to make herself say it, but she couldn't; so Gold did it for her.
"It means that if you choose to be with her, then sooner or later she'll find out that it was you who ripped her away from her parents and destroyed her life. Which means-"
"I'll lose her anyway," Regina stated, her eyes starting to mist a bit at the absurdity of her karma.
"Along with all the benefits of the curse," he added. "Lucky for you, I already had suspicions about you and Ms. Swan. And since I've seen the great links you'll go to get what you want, I know that asking you to stop seeing her is probably out of the question. Am I right, your majesty?"
Her eyes burned into him with disdain, "You are skating on very thin ice, Gold, but let's assume that it is out of the question. What then?"
He breathed in an air of frustration, "Well, then luckily for both of us, I may have managed to smuggle a few items from our world into this one. One of them being a Possession Bottle."
Her eyes grew wide at the words and he continued in an effort to drive the point home.
"And, unless you've retained the magic required to rip the poor sheriff's heart out of her chest, then I'd say it's your only option."
Regina's eyes saddened as she took in the possibilities. Possession magic was ancient; allowing the owner to bottle up the very life-force of their victim. Emma's life would belong to Regina should she choose to go through with it but, just like in the Enchanted Forest, all magic comes with a price.
"She'd hate me for doing something so vile to her," she said aloud without meaning to.
"She'll hate you when she finds out about the vile things you've already done to her," Gold corrected. "At least this way you'll get to keep her around to do... well, whatever you two are doing together. And, since her life force wouldn't be her own, any feelings you have for each other can't fall under the pretense of true love; for that requires free will."
Regina was experiencing an anxiety that she hadn't felt since Snow had happened upon Daniel and herself. The very idea of looking into Emma's eyes after taking something so precious from her... It was breaking something inside of her that she didn't know she had.
"I don't know if I can do that," again, she stated aloud without intention.
"Oh, I think you can, dearie," Gold explained as he stood up straight, indicating that he soon would be departing, "because if you don't, I'll make sure she finds out about who you are before you even have the chance to ruin this for both of us. There's obviously a time limit on how your actions affect this town and we're getting down to the wire. I'll be kind and give you twenty-four hours to make the decision on your own. After that I'll be making it for you."
"You wretched little worm," she stood behind her desk. "How could you be so cruel?"
Even as the words escaped her throat she felt the absurdity explode in the air. It was a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black. So much so, that he didn't even bother to respond with anything more than an amused chuckle and his back turned to exit.
"The bottle is at my shop," he called back without another glance in her direction. "I'll be waiting for you."
Her chest heaved as she dealt with the weight of the situation. For the first time in such a very long time, Regina was battling with herself to make the right choice; a portion of the art of war in which she was desperately out of practice.
Regina had been allowing Emma to pick up Henry from school for weeks now. It was one of the happiest parts of the sheriff's day. She was allowed to spend time with Henry, one on one; talking about whatever might have been on the boy's mind and bantering back and forth as they were prone to do. Usually the trip ended in an extension of dinner from the mayor, which the sheriff also looked forward to when she had the time.
Today was somewhat different though. Henry seemed downtrodden when he sat down in the police cruiser.
"Hey kid, why the long face?" Emma asked as she started the car.
"No reason," he shrugged.
Emma huffed at his solemn answer, "Right, very convincing. I've got like eight things I can torture you with just in the front seat of this car, don't make me use them to drag an honest answer out of you. Is it the kids at school?"
"No."
"Is it one of the teachers?"
"No."
"Do you have a girlfriend I don't know about?"
He looked at her as if she should know better, "My mom is one of the nosiest parents to ever have existed and you are the town sheriff. How could I possibly have a girlfriend without one of you knowing?"
"Fair enough," she agreed. "So, what's going on?"
He exhaled in frustration and looked down at the floorboard, "It's these dreams everyone is having."
She'd actually been waiting for Henry to bring this up for a while now given his level of interest in the stories from his book. The dreams played perfectly into his theory.
"What about them?"
"I just... I'm worried that they might mean that the curse will be breaking soon."
His answer shocked her quite possibly more than anything he'd ever told her including his initial explanation about the entire town being tied to storybook characters.
"What?" she spouted, confused. "I thought you wanted the curse to be broken. Then all of the people would get their happy endings."
"Not my mom," his tone grew even graver. "If everyone finds out that she's the Evil Queen they'll want her dead for sure."
Emma held her tongue for a few seconds as she tried to figure out how to delicately address this issue. Henry had no problem with the idea of the townspeople reacting to finding out about Regina before and now there was this shift. It most likely meant that Henry was becoming closer to Regina. Emma didn't want to say anything that might damage that progress.
"And you don't want anything bad to happen to your mom," she stated, waiting for him to agree.
"No, not anymore," she could tell that he was starting to bite back tears. "I didn't really think about what would happen to her before because all I really cared about was everyone else. But now, she's just been so good. She's been nicer to you, to me, to everyone I've seen her with. I don't know what changed in her but something did and now... Just promise me that if it happens; if the curse finally breaks, that you'll protect her."
"Aw, kid," she pulled the car over so that she could look him in the eye and give him her undivided attention. "Hey, look, we don't know what's going on with these dreams but they may be nothing. Plus, not everyone is having them. I'm not having them, you're not having them, and your mom's not having them. It could be a lot of things but I promise you," she said the next part only because she knew that keeping up the facade of the fairytale was essential to Henry's mental wellbeing, "if something does happen; if the curse does break, I will be there to protect your mom. Nobody is going to hurt her."
As the tears fell from his eyes and he lunged to hug her she made a mental note to talk to Dr. Hopper about the legitimacy of his claim that the illusion was helping Henry because right now it certainly didn't seem that way.
"I knew you would," he said into her collar. "You're the Savior. You're going to save everyone."
Dinner at the Mills residence was almost a macabre affair. Neither Henry nor Regina were lending anything more to the conversation than one word answers when Emma asked them questions, and even then they barely looked up from their plates.
"Well, this is certainly a rousing evening," the blonde commented on their behavior. She knew what was wrong with Henry, but she had no idea about what was eating Regina.
"Sorry," the boy said, "guess I'm just not feeling very well."
Regina immediately pulled herself from her dark thoughts and focused in on her son.
"Henry, what's wrong?" she asked. "Is it your stomach? Are you ill?"
"No..." he faltered, not wanting to tell her the truth of the matter. "I'm just kind of tired and not very hungry."
Regina looked to Emma, wondering if she knew something and the blonde looked at her knowingly before addressing the boy.
"Do you maybe want to go lie down and let us check on you later?" she asked, giving him an out.
"Yeah, I think that would probably be best, if it's ok with mom," he looked to Regina, who once again looked to the sheriff for confirmation. To which Emma replied with a nod.
"Of course it's ok, Henry," Regina tried to give him a soft smile. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do for you?"
It tugged at his heart to see her being so kind and caring. Why did she have to do this right as everything seemed as if it would fall apart?
"No," he said solemnly before getting up to give her a hug. "I just think I need some rest."
"Alright dear," she said as she squeezed him tighter.
And then he shocked her with his words as he pulled away, "I love you."
He hadn't said it to her in so long that she nearly forgot to return the sentiment. She scrambled to do so as he moved away, "I love you too, Henry."
He crossed the room and offered Emma a hug as well, whispering in her ear, "Please remember your promise."
"I will kid, don't worry," she whispered back. "Everything is going to be alright."
And as he pulled away he believed her just a bit more than he had before. As he made his way upstairs Emma stood to clear their plates.
"What's going on?" Regina stood as well, her voice full of worry. "Is he alright?"
"He's fine," Emma stated and then thought better of it. "At least, he's going to be fine. I think we need to talk to Dr. Hopper about his therapy."
"Why?" Regina asked, placing a hand on the blonde's bicep. "What's wrong with him?"
Emma gave the mayor a reassuring smile as she placed a hand over the one holding her arm.
"Why don't you go into the study and make us a drink while I clean these up. Then I'll tell you everything."
Regina nodded reluctantly and moved to do as Emma requested; unsure of how much more bad news she could possibly take.
When Emma entered the study, she closed and locked the door behind her to ensure that their conversation wouldn't be heard by the curious ears of a very crafty ten year old. A sizeable fire was roaring in the fireplace and Regina was staring into it ominously as the two glasses of cider on the coffee table remained untouched.
"That's a pretty nice fire you've got going there," Emma said as she moved in to grab both glasses. "You trying to romance me?"
"You took forever scrubbing the dishes," the mayor deadpanned. "I had to find some way to occupy myself."
Emma smirked, walking up closer to the woman and handing her the drink, "Come sit down with me and I'll tell you what's going on with Henry. Then maybe you'll fill me in on what's going on with you?"
"How do you know something's going on with me?" Regina asked, finally moving her eyes from the fire to Emma.
"Because as much as you'd probably like to dismiss this fact, Regina, I know you. And quiet isn't your normal state of being," she smiled softly hoping the levity hit the way she meant it.
She knew it did when she saw the sad smile slip over the mayors lips before they both retired to the couch; sitting on opposite ends but facing each other. Much like the first night they'd become physically intimate.
"Henry's been hearing about the dreams," Emma started the conversation. "And I probably don't have to tell you how much that's playing into his delusion about the book. He thinks that the curse may be breaking."
"But that doesn't explain his mood," Regina expressed. "He's wanted this curse broken since he found you; he's hoping for it. Why would he be sad now that he thinks it's breaking?"
Then she thought about his actions earlier that evening and her heart broke for the second time that day.
"Is it me?" she asked. "Is he afraid of me?"
Emma's face fell at the idea Regina thought so little of herself in Henry's eyes.
"No, Regina, no. He's not afraid of you; he's afraid for you," the blonde answered reassuringly.
Confusion crossed the brunette's face, "Afraid for me? Why would he feel that way?"
"Well, you heard him earlier, he loves you," the blonde explained. "In his mind, if the curse breaks the town will come after you because you're supposed to be the Evil Queen. He doesn't want that to happen, Regina; especially now. You two have been getting closer lately and he doesn't want to lose that. He doesn't want to lose you."
Regina's brow furrowed as her eyes welled up with tears, "He told you that?"
As Emma's eyes grew sadder her mouth moved into a hopeful smile, "Yes, Regina. He told me that in the car on the way here. He asked me to protect you if something happened and the curse actually did break."
Regina's mouth gaped at the admission as she tried to pull herself together enough to form words, "What did you say?"
It was Emma's time to feel her heart ache, "I promised him I would."
"Did you mean it?" Regina asked, forgetting that this was all hypothetical to Emma and cursing herself inwardly for the slip. "I mean, you know, if it were real. If the curse, the Queen, the entire fairytale were real, would you protect me?"
Emma aloud herself a small chuckle at the idea, "How many of those drinks did you have before I made it in here, Madame Mayor?"
Regina huffed out a fake laugh and put her drink down on the coffee table before moving closer to the blonde, "Maybe I wanted to do a little Savior/Evil Queen role-playing."
Emma let out a genuine chuckle, "You telling me that Sheriff/Mayor is getting old for you already?"
"Hmm," the brunette moved in closer, "Actually, I somehow prefer Emma/Regina when it comes to down to what really gets me going."
She gave the blonde a passionate kiss on the lips before pulling away and resting her head on her shoulder.
"What do you think we should do?"
When the question escaped the mayor's lips, Emma felt herself falling more and more into a place that she didn't wish to leave. Regina wanted them to work together for Henry; and that very idea made her pull the woman close as if she were precious.
"Well, I'm no expert, but I think that when a belief makes someone happy it's a good thing to allow them to hold on to it. It's when it starts to make them sad that it becomes dangerous," she kissed the mayor's forehead. "This book has given him a lot of happiness but it's also made him do some really reckless things. I mean, he treated you terribly because of it for the longest time and then he made a pretty crazy decision to go across the state line to find his bounty hunter birth mom. Now it's actually causing him emotional pain. I think that maybe the good parts of the delusion have run their course and maybe Dr. Hopper should know that. What do you think?"
Regina thought for a moment and answered honestly, "Things haven't always been easy for me and Henry. It was almost reassuring when he found the book to think that that could all be chalked up to him thinking I was the Evil Queen. If that were taken away and he still felt such disdain for me then I might have to deal with the idea that he really does hate me for who I am and not who I might be in some fairy tale."
"Are you saying that now he believes you've redeemed yourself as the Evil Queen?" Emma asked.
"I think that may be exactly what's happened," she answered with more truth than Emma knew; and then she moved up to look into Emma's eyes and proceeded to reveal things that scared her more than anything. "If the stories were true then I would be responsible for some of the most heinous crimes known to man. You read the book; you know what the Evil Queen did. What's more is that I would be responsible for the fact that you grew up without your parents, in terrible system that ruined your childhood. If all of that turned out to be true, would you really save me from an angry mob that has every right to strike me dead? Even if I'm not the Evil Queen, Emma, I've been horrible to you ever since you stepped foot in this town. I doubt even Henry would blame you very long for leaving me to die."
"You're serious, aren't you?" Emma asked as she took in the brunette's features. "Have you been having the dreams and not telling me? Are you starting to question things like everyone else?"
"I... "Regina stumbled, not knowing how to reply. "Just please answer the question. I can't explain why I need to know the answer but the need is there all the same."
Emma shook her head in confusion but answered all the same, "The answer is yes. I would do everything in my power to save you."
"Because that's what good people do?" Regina recalled Emma's words from the time she'd saved her from the fire at the office.
"No, because that's what you do when you care about someone," Emma answered without hesitation. "If, somehow, you were the Evil Queen in a former life, you are not her now. You are one of the bravest, craziest, most beautiful people I've ever met. You're a helicopter parent, a ridiculously conservative dresser and you suck at frame jobs, but you are most definitely not evil. I know his because no matter what you've done to protect Henry, you've still done it for that purpose and the ends do justify the means to me in that book. You may have been wrong about a lot of things," this elicited a hubristic laugh from the brunette, "but your heart was in the right place because in the end you were thinking about your son."
"And what about you, Emma," she asked. "What about all the pain you've had to go through in your life. How could you forgive the cause of all that?"
"Regina can you imagine me growing up in some huge castle with servants and dresses and the obligation to marry some crusty old fart who can better my kingdom?" she asked incredulously. "The first part of my life may have been downright torture but the rest of it seems to be shaping up pretty well. At least I hope it is. Anyway, this is insane; fairytales aren't real."
It was right before the last sentence that she looked away and lost her confidence and looked away, only to have Regina pull her face back. All she could feel in that moment was the blonde's completely irrational blind faith in her. And right then she wondered if maybe it was enough. Maybe there was enough faith for even the dark and tortured queen to believe in something again. She knew Emma was trying to read the emotions that were passing across her face but she wasn't ready to express now the hope she was about to place within the strong hands of the Savior that was meant to destroy her.
She had no idea if what she was feeling at that moment was true love. If the beautiful words of that bumbling sheriff had finally managed to tip the scales and steer them into territory that would break the curse with on simple kiss but she somehow wasn't worried about it anymore. Something deep inside her told her than Emma wasn't lying about how she felt. So, with a staggering sense of bravery and reckless abandon, Regina allowed a shaky hand to caress Emma's soft yet strong cheek as she looked from the endearing green eyes to sweet red lips and moved in.
It felt like every other kiss they'd exchanged. Of course, that didn't actually mean anything because obviously their other exchanges had started the rumblings of an awakening throughout the entire town. Yet it felt like the next step in the very long process of repairing her battered heart.
Emma pulled her in as well, wrapping an arm around her back and holding her tight. As their lips claimed, caressed and anointed each other with understanding she tried to convey to Regina that she was there for her. The fact that the broken mayor had looked so shocked at the very idea that she'd protect her from a murderous mob tore at her heart. It made her recall so many careless statements about her being soulless and cruel. She cringed at the idea that she'd further perpetuated the woman's unending fear of the pain others could inflict upon her.
Regina noticed the change in Emma and pulled back briefly.
"What's wrong?"
The blonde head shook as the woman tried to figure out how to express herself without sounding ridiculous until she finally gave up.
"I'm sorry for so many things I've done, Regina," her brow furrowed as green eyes shown back with humble presence. "I've tried to push your buttons so many times only to condemn you when you'd bite back. I'm sorry if I've ever hurt you."
Regina looked back at her as if she couldn't comprehend what the woman was saying. How could Emma possibly think that she was the one who owed the apologies?
"You have got to be completely insane," she said with flabbergasted huff before moving back into the woman's lips and kissing the apology away. "I will never deserve the words you just said to me, for reasons you can't possibly understand, but I want you to know that I will treasure them forever. Now, shut up so I can show you my appreciation."
A deep throated giggle escaped the sheriff's throat as she allowed the mayor to do just that. Pulling her more onto the couch, Regina settled between the painted-on jeans that covered Emma's thighs and elicited a moan with her actions. She didn't care that they were on the couch, making out like a couple of teenagers. Regina was about to show the woman that she was special.
More special than the bumbling oaf she'd always treated her like. She'd basically called her a whore, an idiot, an immoral delinquent and a mother undeserving of the love of her son. And though Regina wasn't emotionally mature enough yet to verbally apologize for all of that and more, she expressed it with every kiss, touch and caress.
And her apologies were accepted with every moan, every back arch, and every shudder she evoked within the amazing creature below her. The state in which their coupling happened would have looked downright comical to any onlooker that might so happen upon it. One of Regina's hands worked diligently deep within the confines of Emma's unbuttoned jeans while the other was buried beneath a clingy tank top. Yet as absurd as it looked, emotionally it was the closest they'd felt to each other.
Emma came completely undone with Regina's name softly escaping her lips only to be swallowed by its owner. Then, when the tremors finally passed, the brunette collapsed upon her and they both held tight to each other.
When she'd finally caught her breath, Emma offered up a small quip to break the intensity, "I can safely say I never imagined in even my wildest dreams that I'd ever have that much fun on your couch."
Regina couldn't help the devilish chuckle reverberated from her chest and she kissed the hollow of the throat that lay beneath her.
"I don't think I ever imagined us doing a lot of the things we do together," she remarked, "but right now I'm imagining how much more mobility we might have in the expanse of my bed."
She stood slowly and took the sheriff's hand, leading them out of the office and up the stairs to make her musings a reality. She paused as they approached the room that belonged to Henry and motioned that Emma should go ahead into her bedroom while she checked on the boy.
She thought she might find him asleep, but he was wide awake when she peered in; his eyes moving to her as he noticed the intrusion.
"Can't sleep dear?" Regina asked sadly as she moved to sit next to him.
"Yeah," he confirmed.
"Everything is going to be ok, Henry," she said, even believing herself in that moment. "I promise."
"You don't know that, mom," he shook his head. "Things could get really bad around here if the curse breaks. And I..."
"What?" she asked, concerned.
"I think I may have even made it worse," he answered.
"How could you have possibly done that, Henry?"
"I... I don't want anything to happen to you," he said, tears starting to form in his eyes. "I made Emma promise me that she'd protect you. But what if it isn't enough? Good doesn't always win, you know that. What if Emma tries to protect you and fails and then I lose you both. I didn't think about that before. I don't want to lose either of you."
"Oh darling," she pulled him into a hug and held him close. "That is not going to happen. You aren't going to lose either of us. Everything is going to be ok."
"You can't promise that," he argued into her shoulder and she felt his tears fall harder.
But it wasn't true. She could promise that. Her eyes took on a faraway look as she contemplated the offer Gold made her earlier that day. And though she thought before that everything would be ok, even if the curse broke, she hadn't considered the idea that Emma might not be safe. The sheriff was strong and brave to be sure, but she couldn't possibly defend against the entire town if their anger raged as much as they deserved.
Now, obviously the curse hadn't been broken with their prior engagement because if it had, there would be people with torches and pitchforks at her door by now. But it was only a matter of time. She knew her feelings for Emma were only growing stronger and soon they'd be powerful enough to break the curse. The idea that Emma might die trying to protect her was too much for her to bear.
"What if I could promise you that?" she asked him seriously.
He pulled back, noting her tone and looked at her as if she were finally letting him in on the secret. He kept his words ambiguous, afraid he might spook her otherwise.
"Can you?"
"Yes," she said definitively; knowing that they both understood each other. "I ensure Emma's safety. I can ensure all of our safety if that's what you want me to do."
"How?" he asked.
"I can't tell you that," she answered in a way that he knew there was no negotiating. "But I can do it."
He looked at her with concern, but finally conceded. If she could keep them both safe, then he was willing to accept whatever terms came with it.
"I want you to do it," he said, decidedly. "I want you both to be ok."
She pulled him back into another fierce hug and a darkness grew in her eyes as they once again drifted off into the space of her fear power, "Sleep now, dear. I've got everything under control."
A/N: Thanks so much for the feedback and the follows. I hope you all are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing. I'm sure you can guess that 'Dark and difficult times lie ahead of us, Harry' but I promise they won't last forever. Stick with me on it and I promise you'll get your happy ending. :)