"Gina?"
Regina looks her way as she pulls up the blankets to cover the child's small frame, "What is it dear?" She asks.
She'd given Emma two options when they were picking out the chosen book to read. One, they could read together downstairs in front of the fire place, or, they could read together in bed snuggled up under the blankets. It took the girl a few indecisive seconds as she fumbled with the edge of her blanket, but eventually, a tentative in bed filled the woman's ears bringing her to this very moment.
Emma looks up at the woman, "You too?" She asks hopefully, tiny hands patting the space next to her.
Regina's brow wrinkles slightly, but not wanting to upset the child, she, still clad in her red blouse and slacks, climbs into the bed next to the child making sure to stay on top of the covers.
"So," she sighs lightly, "Alice in wonderland." She opens up the book to the first page and lightly clears her throat. Emma leans in slightly to try and get a look at the small picture on top of the page, but finds herself unsuccessful with her intentions when she couldn't quite see over the woman's arm. Pouting, she leans back against the headboard.
Regina only gets through half of the page before she takes note of the small pout adorning the child's face, and with a reluctant sigh she holds up her arm as a silent invitation to move closer. Emma almost balks at the action, but not one to turn down physical affection she scoots closer and allows a comforting arm to be wrapped around her. She even allows her head to rest against the woman's chest, her blanket tucked tightly in between them.
Regina finishes the children's book fairly quickly, and as she closes it up, she chances a look down at Emma only to see the child fast asleep. Little hands were wrapped around her shirt, and Regina knew there was no chance at moving them without waking her. Dropping her head back against the headboard in slight exasperation, she places the now closed book down onto the night stand closest to her before once again looking down at the child.
She was going to have to wake her. There was no other choice and she was not about to spend the night in her with her. She did not do cuddling and she most certainly did not do cuddling with children.
Bottom lip trapped between her teeth, she manoeuvres her pointer finger in between the girls clasped hands in an effort to get her to release her shirt. Soon, little hands were wrapped around her finger instead and with one swift movement she had the child down on the mattress with her head on the pillow. Letting out a relieved sigh, she shifts herself off of the bed completely. With only her fingers still clutched around Emma's, she expertly turns off the light and silently counts to three in her head before pulling her hand completely away.
Emma stirs at this, and a small whimper fills Regina's ears causing her heart to palpitate a little harder in her chest. She goes to give her a soothing touch, to reach out and run a hand through her hair but the moment her hand makes contact with the blonde tresses, she freezes and immediately rips it away with a look of horror on her face.
No.
Squaring her shoulders, she gives Emma one last look before leaving the room completely, not noticing small eyes filled with tears flicker open and a voice filled with fear call her name.
As usual, Regina takes her time getting ready for bed. She takes a hot shower before washing off her makeup, humming lightly underneath her breath as she grasps her face wash with the intention of giving her skin a good clean. She then moves on to blow drying her hair, having good sense not to go to sleep with it wet. That takes about ten minutes, and soon enough she was tightening the towel around her and leaving the bathroom.
She was soon adorned in a pair of her favourite silk pyjamas, and with a small smile of satisfaction at the feeling of the cool material against her skin, she begins to unmake her bed, placing the decorative pillows onto the chase lounge just opposite.
Before she could climb in however, a small cry fills her ears. Head whipping around, she was met with the small blonde child standing in the doorway of her room looking rather upset. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen, wet with tears. Her cheeks didn't fare any better and Regina hated the fact her chest ached a little at the sight of seeing her so distraught.
"Emma," she tries her best to keep her voice as light as possible as she steps closer, falling onto her knees in a manner so unlike herself in front of her, "what ever is the matter?"
Emma all but shudders, breath hitching as more tears fall from her eyes. Regina reaches out and tentatively reaches out to brush her thumb against wet skin, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Emma shakes her head as she shifts anxiously in place.
Regina nods, "Then what is it? What's gotten you so upset?"
The child lets out a small sob, "Wanted you." She chokes out, and the pleading in her tone did not go amiss.
Closing her eyes for a second, Regina carefully rises to her feet and grasps Emma by the underarms bringing the child right up with her. It was then the dam appears to break. Regina purses her lips as she adjusts the child on her front, allowing little hands to cling to her silk shirt as she runs her own up and down Emma's back. The girl sobs bitterly against her shoulder, and never before has Regina felt so out of her league.
She'd never comforted a child before. Heck, before today she'd never even held a child before. So this...this was definitely not something she was good at.
"Shh," she murmurs, not knowing what else to say.
Thankfully, Emma's sobs soon stop and in place came those double hitched breaths. Regina continues to sooth her as best as she could, but when her arms soon begin to ache, she has no choice but to set the child back down onto her feet. Not wanting to upset her again, she once again falls to her knees allowing Emma to lean against her, little arms once again wrapping around her shoulders.
"How are you feeling now?" She questions quietly, one arm around the small waist and the other continuing the gentle ministrations against her back.
Emma sniffles, "Okay." She whispers quietly.
Regina tries not to wince when Emma sniffles again, releases her with one hand to wipe her nose before it returns back to her shirt.
"Okay, then I think it's best we return to bed now." She gently eases Emma away from her and reaches for a tissue from the box on her night stand before attempting to hand it over.
But Emma blinks at her cluelessly, and Regina forces away her impending agitation as she wipes the child's nose for her before immediately disposing of the soiled tissue into the trash. She sanitises her hands quickly before holding one out for Emma to take, and the second she had she leads the child back to her...the room she was staying in and coaxes her back into bed.
But Emma shakes her head, eyes once again filling with tears.
"Please get into bed Emma. It's late and about time you should be asleep." Her voice was the sternest it had been all day with the exception of this morning, and at the sound of it Emma appears to cower away slightly, the hands clutching her blanket turning white.
This time, she doesn't hide the sigh that escapes her lips and she has to push away the urge to leave the room ultimately leaving the child to her own devices.
"Emma, please get into bed." Regina Mills doesn't beg, never has she nor ever will she, but she knew she was getting damned close to it.
"I want to sleep with you." The child whispers, and Regina's eyes widen at the request. No. Absolutely not.
She shakes her head and lifts the child into bed herself, "I'm afraid not Emma."
Emma's bottom lip trembles, "Please?" She begs tearfully.
"No, dear." She coaxes the child to lay down before securing the covers around her, "But I will stay with you until you're asleep." She hopes that was a good compromise.
Letting out a quiet sob, the child turns away from the woman and burrows herself underneath the blankets. Regina watches her for a second, and after silently cursing her mother for getting her into this idiotic mess, she scoops the child up into her arms -blankets and all- and carries her back through to her room.
"You are to go straight to sleep, understand?" She places Emma down onto the right side of the bed and climbs in next to her, turning off both lamps with a simple click of a button.
Emma nods her head and curls up small in the luxurious bed, thumb entering her mouth and green eyes flickering closed. Frowning a little at the unsanitary habit but knowing it would be pointless to even say anything about it, Regina shifts onto her back and closes her eyes with the hope that tomorrow would be better.
Not the best chapter but I hope you enjoyed anyway! Any feedback would be great!