The following morning Emma was up extra early, especially as it was Sunday and her day off, she put her ear buds in and hit the play button flooding her ears with music as she jogged towards the diner quietly praying that Regina hadn't changed her mind over night, she would of course respect Regina's decision if she had but she would be lying if she said that she wouldn't be extremely disappointed, she hadn't visited her special place for a long time and she felt a mixture of excitement and anticipation at the prospect of returning for the first time ever with a friend.
She was out of breath and sweaty by the time she arrived at the diner, Ruby was waiting outside looking like hell, bags in hand ready to give to Emma who accepted them gratefully,
"I'm saying this as a friend Em's" Ruby groaned and clutched her head as she wrinkled her nose up, "If you're going on a breakfast date at least make sure you take a shower first, you're gross"
"Thanks Rubes and it's not a date" Emma laughed taking the bags and turning on her heel to head back to her trailer where just as Ruby had advised she did take a quick shower before pulling on fresh joggers, trainers and a black hoodie, then emptying the contents of her trusty rucksack onto her bed she filled it with the bags from the diner instead and a few other useful bits then heaved it onto her back, sent Regina a text forewarning her that she was on her way then left her trailer locking the door securely behind her.
Five minutes later Regina had pulled her own door closed and was walking down her steps towards Emma, to Emma's relief Regina had heeded her warning and donned a similar attire to her own, except that Regina's Hoodie was a deep red colour and she had the addition of a black cap through the back of which she had pulled her ponytail, she greeting Emma with a broad smile then followed her as she led Regina to where the complex backed into the forest.
Emma led Regina into the shelter of the tree's moving forwards until the fence blocked their path then hidden from the view of the complex, she led them along the fence until they reached the point where she knew they could fit through.
Regina watched a little apprehensively as Emma shrugged her bag off her shoulders lowering it to the ground, pushed on the fence then heaved herself through the gap she had just created, once she was through, she reached back for her bag and pulled it through after her swinging it back onto her shoulders before pausing to look expectantly at Regina.
Regina raised a single eyebrow without moving a mixture of emotions seemed to be playing across her face, on the one hand she looked as though she really wanted to follow Emma but on the other she looked extremely anxious at the prospect and Emma couldn't say that she blamed her, after all they were relatively new friends and Regina was a Hollywood superstar, following someone that she hadn't known overly long into a forest that was even more unfamiliar to her would make anyone nervous but for someone of Regina's calibre who however frustrating she found it was used to being flanked by security guards often, this had to feel even more nerve wracking.
Emma felt awful for being the cause of such confliction, this was supposed to be fun, relaxing even, a little get away for Regina and looking at her friends face Emma could see that this was anything but any of those things,
"It's okay" she smiled reassuringly through the fence shrugging her bag off of her shoulders for the second time "We can just stay here, maybe you'd like to join me for breakfast on one of the benches or under the trees in grounds" she smiled brightly and started to push the bag back through the fence,
"No" Regina replied crouching down and decisively placing her own hand on the bag to stop Emma's progress "I want to come" she continued, meeting Emma's eyes through the fence "I just needed a moment to think it through but Emma I know I can trust you" she smiled and Emma blinked rising slowly to her feet taken aback but none the less touched by Regina's words and by the time the bag was back on her back Regina was standing by her side on the same side of the fence as she was.
As she led them further into the forest, Emma remained silent allowing Regina to fully absorb her new surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of work and LA it was unlike anything Regina had ever experienced before, it was so beautiful and peaceful that quite honestly, she could see why Emma liked it out here so much, she just felt free.
Then a sudden loud cracking sound brought her out of her reverie with a start and Emma suddenly found a warm hand inside her own gripping tightly,
"It's ok" Emma smiled giving the hand a gentle squeeze "It's just a deer, look" she pointed through the trees and Regina followed her fingers with her eyes,
"Wow" she whispered hardly daring to breath as she watched the magnificent beast lift its antlered head and look in their direction before he too startled and ran off out of sight, "so beautiful" Regina sighed,
"Sure is" Emma replied gazing at Regina as she watched after the deer in awe their hands still intertwined.
Regina kept hold of Emma's hand as the blonde led her further into the woods and Emma didn't seem inclined to let go either enjoying the soft warmth as they walked in companiable silence together listening to the birds singing in tree's all around them.
"I just need to grab something" Emma finally broke the silence, smiled at Regina giving her hand a final squeeze before she dropped it and headed off the path that they were on quickly getting swallowed by the thick foliage in this area, feeling a little alarmed at having lost sight of Emma in the middle of the forest Regina pushed through the shrubbery following Emma off the beaten path.
Luckily, she hadn't gone far, in fact almost as soon as she had squeezed through the other side of the greenery Regina spotted Emma squatted next to a huge tree nearby seemingly feeling around for something at its roots, Regina watched intrigued as Emma's arm disappeared through a gap between the tree's roots, felt around for a moment then pulled back slowly a long thin package wrapped in plastic followed it out,
Once it was free from its hiding place Emma reached into her pocket and pulled out a little multitool flicking up a little knife and gently running across the tape binding the plastic together and protecting whatever was inside from the outdoor elements, from her position a short distance away Regina couldn't see what Emma had unwrapped until the blonde placed it at her side,
"What's that for?" Regina asked eyeing the rifle on the ground suspiciously the merest hint of doubt creeping in as Emma placed a little box of bullets alongside it then proceeded to fold the plastic up and slip into the front pocket of her bag,
"Shit, sorry" Emma exclaimed mentally kicking herself for not thinking to pre warn Regina of this part, she probably looked like a right psycho sitting on the floor in the middle of the forest loading a great big gun,
"it's just a precaution in case we bump to any wildlife that feels inclined to come after us" Emma explained,
"You're going to use that to shoot the bears?" Regina asked eyebrow arched
"I very much doubt we'll bump into anything" Emma assured her "In all the years I've been coming here I've never actually needed the gun yet but if we did the noise alone is usually sufficient enough to scare them off or so Granny tells me, she started taking me to the range and teaching me to shoot not long after I arrived, she said it was a skill I should master before I explored too far into the forest, she gave me this on my eighteenth birthday" she explained hooking the guns strap over her shoulder "shooting anything would be the very last resort but if it came to us or them be assured that I'm an excellent shot"
Regina nodded slowly as she absorbed everything that Emma had said,
"What is it?" Emma asked when a gentle frown creased Regina's brow,
"I was just wondering why you chose to stuff your gun under tree roots as opposed to securing it in a gun safe like most people do" Regina replied,
"Ah that" Emma laughed, "honestly I'm not the biggest fan of guns and I don't need one in the loft, I only ever carry one when I go to my special place in the forest, nobody knows about it and nobody ventures this far into the trees so I figured this was as good a place as any to store it, I just pick it up when I need it and put it back when I come back, and it's a good job I did really because we wouldn't be here today if I hadn't" she shrugged
"Oh?" Regina replied
"It's almost impossible to get here on any path other than the one that we used and with the fencing how it is, the only current way on to that path is through that gap" she explained "and there's no way I was getting a rifle passed security on the main gate" she chuckled at the thought and Regina nodded slipping her hand back into Emma's as she led them further still into the forest and Regina had to admit that despite her initial apprehension at seeing the gun appear it made her feel safer knowing that they had It with them.
They walked for another twenty minutes then they came upon a small green clearing,
"Breakfast time Miss Mills" Emma grinned gently pulling her to its centre,
"This is beautiful Emma" Regina sighed happily lowering herself onto the checked blanket that Emma had lain out a light blush gracing her cheeks as Emma called her Miss Mills, Emma thought she had never seen anything more beautiful than Regina in that moment she looked more content than Emma had ever seen her as she looked around drinking in her surroundings and it was with some reluctance that Emma tore her eyes away from the sight to start laying out the spread that she had brought with her,
"This just keeps getting better and better" Regina grinned picking up one of Grannies freshly baked bear claws and taking a bite "mmm these are so good" she moaned into the pastry as she sunk her teeth into it and Emma taking a bite of her own tried her best to ignore the butterflies that had appeared in her stomach the second that she had heard the sound.
"It's not too far now" Emma assured Regina when they resumed their journey a short while later and I know these woods like the back of my hands, if some solitude is what you're after then this where you'll find it" she held her hand out to the brunette who though still a little hesitant consented to take it and allowed Emma to lead her deeper into the trees,
They walked hand in hand in comfortable silence together for a little longer, then Emma suddenly turned off the path, only to be pulled up short when she felt some resistance behind her, looking back she saw that Regina had stopped and was now sporting a worried look edged with fear,
"We don't have to go if you don't want to" Emma smiled reading the brunettes concern "But I promise you that you'll be fine if we do and it'll be worth it, I wouldn't ever let any harm come to you Regina you know that don't you?" she finished in a whisper subconsciously stroking the back of Regina's hand with her thumb as she waited for her response, after a few seconds Regina nodded and allowed her herself to be led deeper into the woods until just as her legs began to grow weary, the mouth of a cave came into view,
"We're not going in there are we" Regina asked sounding uncertain again,
Emma nodded eagerly in response, as she guided the hesitant brunette closer to the dark entrance.
"I don't know Emma" Regina ventured "is it safe?"
"Very" Emma smiled "I told you that I'd never allow any harm to come to you, didn't I?" Regina nodded eyeing the cave suspiciously "do you believe me Regina?" Emma asked green eyes meeting brown once more "do you trust me?" she all but whispered,
Regina cast glance at the dark cave entrance then moved her eyes back to meet Emma's earnest green ones and nodded resolutely,
"I do" she replied
At first it was really dark in the cave, Regina clung onto Emma's hand as she guided them by the light of the torch on her phone, then all at once the tunnel gave way to large open space flooded with golden light, in the centre of the space a fire pit surrounded by a circle of stones stood waiting for kindling, and against the back wall sat a large wooden chest, Emma smiled as she watched the Regina taking it all in, then feeling her shiver she dropped her hand heading towards some logs piled neatly in a natural alcove well away from the centre and began to pile some in the centre of the fire pit,
"I suppose you're going to tell me that there is pirate treasure in there" Regina nodded towards the chest as she hugged herself for warmth,
"If only" Emma laughed as she headed over to it a curious Regina hot on her heels, she watched as Emma placed her bag on the floor nearby and produced a small bunch of keys from her hoodie pocket inserting one into the lock on the front of the chest and turning it with a satisfying click before pushing it open,
An inflatable of some description appeared to be filling most of it, but when Emma pulled it out followed by the blanket folded beneath it, she revealed a number of items littering the bottom, including a few tatty books, a much more powerful torch, a selection of batteries, a small collection of lighters, a foot pump, a small copper kettle with a cup and a small pile of sketch books with a tin of pencils and some erasers resting on top.
Emma pocketed a lighter and placed the pump on top of the blanket which was on top of the inflatable then picked up the whole pile carrying it to spot near the firepit, then proceeded to pump up what transpired to be an inflatable settee,
"Make yourself comfortable" she smiled at Regina when she was done, as she sat down Emma wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and Regina pulled it tightly around her shivering body grateful for the warmth it brought her.
"Don't worry" Emma assured her as she moved to light the fire "It'll soon be so hot in here that you'll be trying to strip your clothes off" she laughed then blushed deeply as she realised exactly what she had just said,
"Why is that what you usually do in here?" Regina husked arching an eyebrow suggestively
"Only when I go swimming" Emma replied with a chuckle
"Swimming?" Regina questioned looking around as though she had missed something "But there's not any water here"
"This cave has its own hot spring a little further in, I'll show you once I've got this going" Emma indicated towards the fire and went to get more wood, once she was happy she took the matches from her pocket and began to strike them, it didn't take her long to get a good fire going glancing up to see where the smoke was headed Regina gasped as she saw the source of the golden glow, dozens of tiny lights littered the cave ceiling like fireflies,
"How?" was all she could manage say,
"With great difficulty" Emma chuckled "I lowered myself down through that hole on a rope" she pointed to where the smoke from the fire was spiralling out "and then I attached strings of lights to arrows and shot them over any rock on the roof that I could, it took a while but it worked a treat they hooked where I wanted them to and the arrows act as anchors to keep them in place" she added pointing at one of the many arrows also hanging from the ceiling "once I was done I climbed back up the rope and secured the solar panels in the rocks above and voila" she held her hands up to the ceiling
"They're beautiful Emma" Regina grinned at the blonde before looking up again, Emma's heart sped up as she watched the light reflect in Regina's awe filled eyes,
"Right" Emma said clearing her throat as Regina dropped the blanket from her shoulders, Emma was right it had warmed up quickly, "would you like coffee?"
"I would but I'd really like to see the spring first" Regina said eagerly jumping up "I mean, if that's okay with you" she added catching herself,
"Of course," Emma smiled,
She led them into a passage that Regina hadn't noticed before, it was pitch black, but the Emma hit a button fastened to the rocky wall and the tunnel flooded with light like the main tavern only these lights were thread along the walls rather than the ceiling,
"These ones are battery powered" Emma explained as she moved down the narrow passageway, Regina close behind her.
It wasn't long before Regina started to hear the tell-tale sounds of a bubbling spring and a gush of water, and a few minutes after that the two women rounded a corner and stepped into cavern that would have been completely pitch black if not for the tiny sliver of sunlight beaming down and reflecting off a shiny surface on the ground, the rushing sound of water was louder in here and the air felt warm, Emma threw her arm out to stop Regina in her tracks,
"Wait here and don't move" she said "I wouldn't want you to fall in"
Regina didn't argue she stayed stock still as Emma edged forwards carefully using her phone torch to guide her then she stopped to look back
"Regina, close your eyes"
"What? Why?" Regina questioned taken aback by Emma's strange request,
"Just trust me and do it" Emma laughed "I promise it'll be worth it; I'll tell you when to open them again"
"Fine" Regina rolled her eyes but complied with Emma's request, eyes closed she listened to Emma shuffling around, pausing once, twice, eight times in total, each time Regina heard the click of a lighter and where they had only been a darkness an orange glow had begun to filter through her closed eyelids,
she waited in anticipation when Emma's movements ceased but true for to her word didn't open her eyes until a whisper in her ear that sent shivers down her spine told her too, how had Emma gotten back to her so silently she wondered as her eyes fluttered open.
All thoughts were forgotten as she caught her first glimpse of this new cavern lit up, she gasped at the beautiful sight that met her, a large pool filled most of the space, flames from the torches that Emma had lit reflecting off of its surface, and the source of the rushing water sounds that she had heard now revealed itself to her in the form of a waterfall cascading from a gap high up in the rocks and splashing down into the waters below,
the only reason that Regina could even see where it started was because of the slither of sunlight that also shone through the crevice evidently there was an even larger spring up above that was leaking into this cavern, the water was a beautiful blue colour and steam rose gently from its surface, Regina suddenly let out a groan of desire that sent shivers straight to Emma's core.
"God, I wish I had a bathing suit with me" she breathed,
"You could always get in without one, that's what I do" Emma replied "I mean I could leave you to it, wait for you by the fire, there are fresh towels over there she said indicating towards a second smaller chest resting against the wall near the caverns entrance, and you'd only have to make your way back down the tunnel after you're done in here, you can't get lost" she stammered quickly, blushing a deep red again,
"I want to but I'd rather you stayed" Regina replied
"Okay" Emma shrugged sitting on the ground with her back to the spring
"What are you doing?" Regina chuckled that deep velvety melodic sound sending shivers down Emma's spine
"Umm" Emma swallowed "giving you some privacy while you swim"
"Get up you daft thing, I meant that we could swim together, I mean if you want to?" Regina asked suddenly coy and uncertain, which Emma found it incredibly cute and endearing,
"Sure" she beamed, leaning forward to remove her shoes, by the time she stood up and turned around Regina had already dropped her trousers and was pulling her top up over her perfect body until she was standing in front of Emma, flawless olive skin bathed in golden flickering light, wearing nothing but a matching set of very sexy red lace underwear that was making the Emma feel altogether very hot under the collar, she had seen Regina in her underwear before, even in nothing but a pair of flesh coloured knickers on set, but this, this felt different somehow, more intimate,
"Are you okay Miss Swan?" Regina smirked at the sight of the flustered woman turning Emma's legs to jelly "only you're looking a little flushed"
"Uh huh" was all Emma could manage the strain evident in her voice and then Regina looking as though she was enjoying herself tremendously turned her back on her speaking as she moved'
"Em ma" she drew the blondes name out as she said it and Emma felt like she might pass out at any second "would you mind getting my bra"
"Sure" Emma squeaked stumbling forwards and fumbling with the bra strap with shaking fingers until it finally became unhooked, Regina let it drop to floor, closely followed by her knickers, try as she might Emma couldn't drag her eyes away from that perfect ass as Regina stepped out of the red knickers that now lay pooled at her feet and walked forward hips swaying way more than necessary until she made to the lip of the wide pathway that stood between the entrance to the tunnel that she had not long followed Emma through and the water's edge.
Emma continued to watch mesmerised as the Regina paused, every inch of her olive skin seemed to be aglow as the torches that stood on either side of her reflected off her, slowly she stretched a leg forward dipping her toes in and letting out an appreciative hum that sent tingles through Emma, then carefully she stepped into the water lowering herself into its heat, releasing a satisfied moan that did all kinds on wonderful things to Emma's insides, as the hot spring swallowed her naked flesh into its depths, she swam a couple of strokes before stopping to turn around toes barely reaching the cave floor,
"Well, are you going to join me" she asked the still fully dressed blonde standing on the shore, breaking Emma's trance,
"Su sure" Emma stammered, I'll just get the towels out ready first, she turned away fumbling with her bunch of keys, dropping them twice much to Regina's amusement though she didn't comment on it, before she finally got the right one into the lock, turned it and opened the lid pulling two large fluffy white towels out from its depth and placing them near the edge of the pool, Regina she saw hadn't moved from her spot and her gaze remained firmly on Emma she began quickly shedding her own clothes
"You know you look really beautiful in this light" Regina purred from the water as Emma approached the edge and lowered herself in "not that you don't always look beautiful dear" she added hastily, then she smiled and Emma was sure that she saw something shining in the brunettes eyes as they roved over her pale skin as she slipped into the water, something like desire, hunger even, was this really happening she thought was Regina really flirting with her? No, she decided, as she swam out to meet her, she couldn't be, Emma was reading far too much into things, this was nothing but a bit of playful banter to Regina.
Emma swam in strong strokes her heart racing as she passed Regina and her fingers grazed against naked skin eliciting shivers unseen by her through Regina's body as she turned to follow.
Emma led them out to water fall, the water was deeper here so they had to tread the water while the water from above flowed down over their heads, Emma watched Regina look up into the fall closing her eyes and allowing the water to flow over her face and then as her head moved back down Emma ducked out of sight popping back up behind an alarmed Regina who was frantically searching the water's surface for the missing blonde who had been treading water beside her before she had closed her eyes and looked up into the falls.
"Looking for anyone I know" Emma suddenly spoke from behind her,
"Oh you idiot" Regina yelled out spinning round in the water to face a now laughing Emma, before Emma knew what was happening Regina had reached out and pushed Emma back under the water, she was feeling pretty victorious when a sudden tug on her foot pulled her under too, both emerged giggling a little distance away from the fall and after swimming a few laps of the pool and some more clowning about they made it back to the edge and heaved themselves out, each grabbing one of the waiting towels.
Once they were dressed Emma took the towels with them to dry by the fire and they headed back down the little passage towards the first cavern where the fire was burning merrily.
Grabbing a bottle of water and second cup from her bag Emma filled the kettle and set it up to boil while Regina made herself comfortable on the inflatable settee,
"I need to get a bit more wood, will you be okay in here if I go outside?" Emma asked
"Sure" Regina replied staring into the flames mesmerised, once Emma was gone however her attention was pulled back to the open chest again and she got up to venture over to it, the temptation to pick up one of Emma's sketch books and look inside was great as her curious fingers grazed over them but she couldn't invade Emma's privacy like that and so she picked up the battered old copy of Alice's adventures in wonderland lying next to them instead,
"What are you doing" Emma suddenly asked in an accusatory tone, startling Regina so much that she nearly dropped the book in her hand,
Regina turned around feeling a little sheepish and holding the book out for Emma to see, the tension left Emma's face and was quickly replaced by relief as she saw that Regina wasn't holding one of her sketch books,
"Did you look at anything else" Emma asked conversationally as she stacked the wood she had collected in the alcove, but Regina could sense that there was more to the line of questioning than just casual chit chat and she was incredibly thankful that she hadn't looked in any of the sketch books,
"Well," Regina replied carefully "I was tempted to take a peek at your artwork" she confessed, Emma's shoulders visibly tensed at that answer "but I thought they might be private, so I didn't" Regina concluded, and Emma visibly relaxed again,
"Thank-you" she whispered so quietly that Regina almost missed it,
"So have you read Alice before?" Emma asked as they settled on the couch together,
"How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail and pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale. How cheerfully he seems to grin and neatly spreads his claws and welcomes little fishes in with gently smiling jaws" Regina recited without even opening the book,
"Alice was my favourite growing up" she explained a little dreamily as she glanced up to meet Emma's surprised eyes "I always remember that particular poem because it reminds me of my mother" she chuckled darkly,
"You have a lovely mother then" Emma laughed handing Regina a freshly brewed coffee and sipping from her own,
"Yes well" Regina sighed eyes downcast,
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you" Emma said putting her arm around Regina's shoulders,
"It's not your fault Emma" Regina murmured leaning her head on Emma's shoulder.
Regina lay her mug on the floor as soon as it was empty and then suddenly feeling very tired from her walk and swim, she lay across the sofa placing her head on Emma's lap,
"Thank-you" she mumbled as her eyes began to close
"For what?" Emma replies,
"For all of this" Regina says "I can't ever remember feeling as at peace as I do right now"
"You're welcome" Emma whispered back with a smile picking up the book that Regina had left on the floor next to the sofa,
"Will you read to me" Regina murmured sleepily
"sure" Emma replied opening the book to the first page of its story
"Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting next to her sister, on the bank and of having nothing to do" she began
"Once or twice, she peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book', thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?'
Emma paused and smiled down at Regina whose breathing had evened out, the occasional gentle snore escaping, she was sound asleep, feeling her heart swell a little Emma returned to reading only in her head now while Regina continued to slumber.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Regina" Emma called quietly a little while later somewhat reluctant to wake the still sleeping Regina. "it's time we were heading back, people will be missing you and we need to get back before it gets dark" she explained,
Regina stretched, nodded and yawned blinking blearily up at Emma and then she finally sat up, Now that her lap was no longer being used as a pillow Emma got up went about tidying the cave as quickly as possible leaving deflating the couch and putting out the fire till last and then she led Regina back to camp re hiding her rifle when they arrived at the correct spot, the journey back had seemed much quicker than the one there and soon they were back in complex under the glare of Sidney and Jefferson who were demanding to know where they been all day.
"Just out walking" Regina rolled her eyes "I'm grown woman and I'm quite capable of taking care of myself" she added storming into her trailer and slamming the door behind her and with nothing else to add Emma gave a small shrug and headed back to her own trailer.
Emma's phone chimed announcing the arrival of a message from Regina as her foot hit the bottom step to her trailer
Thanks for this weekend,
I've had a wonderful time
Next weekend off I'm repaying
The favour and taking you back
To LA with me.
R x
Emma read as she stepped into her trailer and txt back eagerly,
You are so welcome,
Glad you had fun,
I can't wait for LA
Emma x