Part Three: True Love's Kiss
Chapter 10
"Emma?" Regina whispered, confusion clearly written on her face. Emma froze for a second, her eyes fixed on Regina, her eyes staring back at her for the first time ever. When Regina moved to sit up after a few moments, Emma panicked and ran out of the room, tripping over her chair on the way out. She stopped right outside the door, slamming her back into the wall, as she slowly slid down until she was sitting on the cold floor.
Regina was awake. She kissed her, and now Regina was awake. The woman Emma had been dreaming about since she was sixteen years old was finally awake, and Emma couldn't grasp why. All she could think about was Regina's voice. The same voice she heard in her dreams every time Regina spoke to her, whether she was screaming at her and calling her an idiot, or a soft whisper of the hope speech she gave Emma shortly before she sacrificed herself. Emma closed her eyes, trying to calm her pounding heart, and all she could see behind her closed eyelids was Regina's eyes. They were the same brown eyes that had been looking back at her every night for the last twelve years. The very same eyes that spoke more than her words ever could. The most beautiful brown eyes Emma had ever seen. She tried to calm her racing heart but nothing was working. She was convinced she was going to die of a heart attack right then and there.
A loud THUD in the room behind her pulled her out of her own thoughts.
She quickly jumped off the floor and rushed back into the room to see what happened, and found Regina sitting on the floor beside the previously occupied glass coffin. Her head was hanging low, her long brown hair covering her face as she struggled to stand up.
"Hey, are you alright?" Emma asked, as she rushed over to Regina.
"Yeah…" Regina said, brushing her hair out of her face. "I guess I've been asleep for too long. My legs don't seem to want to work just yet. I think I'm going to need a minute." Regina said, her face showing embarrassment.
"It's ok. Take your time." Emma said, staring into the familiar brown eyes. "I'm sorry I ran away. I kinda freaked out when you suddenly woke up. I didn't expect that…" Emma said, trailing off as her gaze moved to the floor, feeling just as embarrassed as Regina had been.
"It's ok." Regina smiled, shifting her legs into a more comfortable position under her.
"Ummm…can I ask you something?" Emma asked, taking a moment to find her words. "Why did you suddenly wake up? Not that I'm not extremely happy you did, I just don't understand why."
"You kissed me." Regina said, a shy smile forming on her face.
"Yeah…" Emma said, her face instantly turning red. "I hope you're not mad…"
"Of course I'm not mad." Regina said, her eyes twinkling as she smiled. "Do you know how to wake someone who is under a sleeping curse?" Regina asked.
"True Love's Kiss…" Emma said, her eyes opening wide when she finally understood. "I…I woke you with True Love's Kiss?" Emma asked, her voice cracking.
"Yes." Regina said, her eyes locking with Emma's.
"So that means that…" Emma started to say.
"I Love You, Emma." Regina whispered.
"But how? You've never met me before. How can you Love someone you've never met?" Emma asked.
"We've never met in this life, but this isn't the first time we've met." Regina said, her voice soft.
"What do you mean, this life ?" Emma asked, her mind trying to grasp this information.
"In another life, in another world, we met and lived in a small town called…" Regina started to explain.
"Storybrooke?" Emma asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes. We lived in Storybrooke. How do you know about Storybrooke?" Regina asked, her face matching Emma's.
"I've been dreaming of a place called Storybrooke since I was sixteen. You were there, but you looked different. Your hair was shorter and your clothes were different, but it was you. And my parents were there too. You were kind of a bitch though. At least in the beginning." Emma laughed.
"Yeah, I was a major bitch when you first moved to Storybrooke. But the more I got to know you, the more I changed and shed that part of myself."
"You literally did. At one point there were two of you." Emma said, talking as if she believed all this to be real.
"That's right. I split from The Evil Queen." Regina laughed.
"So wait. You're telling me that place, and those people. That was all real? That all that really happened?" Emma asked, trying to process everything.
"Yes. It all happened. Your dreams weren't dreams. They were memories. Memories of another life." Regina explained.
"I was in Love with you, Regina. From the moment I saw you, outside your house. From the moment I met you I was in Love with you. And I never told you." Emma said.
"And I never told you either." Regina said, reaching to lightly touch Emma's hand. "It took me a really long time to realize I was in Love with you. And by the time I figured it out, it was too late."
"I'm still in Love with you, Regina. I think I've been in Love with you from the first time my mother told me the story of The Sleeping Lady when I was a little kid." Emma said, sliding closer to Regina.
"I never stopped Loving you, Emma. And I don't think I ever will." Regina said, tears forming in her eyes.
Emma reached up to cup Regina's face softly. Their eyes met for a moment before Emma leaned in and kissed Regina again, this time Regina kissed back. Their kiss was soft and slow, and so full of love they were both crying within a few moments of their kiss.
"My dreams were real!" Emma said suddenly, breaking apart from Regina's lips.
"Yes. They all really happened." Regina said.
"Regina. Last night…my dream…" Emma said, more tears falling from her eyes, this time because of sadness. "Regina…I died…in my last dream, I died…" Emma said.
"I know…" Regina said, her voice low, as she remembered Emma's final moments.
"How am I still alive?" Emma asked.
"Because of me." Regina said, causing Emma's face to crunch with confusion. "I tried for months to bring you back. I was obsessed for months and it got me nowhere. Until the night of the six month anniversary of your death. Your mother gave me an idea. I went back in time to try to save you. The first two times I tried to keep you from coming to Storybrooke, but each time you still found your way home. I thought if you were never in Storybrooke, then you would never have to fulfill the prophecy. But each time I failed." Regina explained, waiting for Emma to process before continuing. "The last time I decided to go back to the beginning. To a time before you were born. To stop myself from casting the Dark Curse that created Storybrooke. And the only way I could think to stop myself was to place myself under a sleeping curse. To protect you. To keep you safe from me."
"That's why my mother always told me you were protecting me. I never understood why you would protect someone you've never met." Emma said, pausing for a moment. "You went back in time three times to save me?" Emma asked, as her mind finally processed the information.
"I did." Regina said. "And I'll do it all again if I had to." Regina said, as she reached out for Emma.
Emma laced their fingers as she leaned in for another kiss, her tongue slowly slipping past Regina's lips.
"I'm getting married!" Emma said suddenly, once again ending their kiss.
"What? Right now?" Regina asked, her face just as shocked as Emma's
"No. In a few weeks." Emma said. "I choose you! Not him! You! I choose you!" Emma said, her voice high with excitement.
"You choose me? Choose me for what?" Regina asked.
"To marry!" Emma said, noticing the confused look on Regina's face. "My father told me I had to choose someone to marry, or he would choose for me. I ran out of time and he's making me marry this sleazy pirate Killian Jones. But now that you're awake, I don't have to! I choose you, Regina!" Emma explained.
"Oh…" Regina blushed, her face showing no more emotion.
"We have to tell them. Do you think you can walk?" Emma said, jumping to her feet, extending a hand to help Regina up.
"Yes, I think I can." Regina said, taking Emma's offered hand and stood shaky on her feet. "But Emma, I don't think that's such a good idea. Your parents and I, we weren't exactly on the best terms when I went to sleep." Regina said, taking a slow step.
"That was ages ago." Emma said, wrapping her arms around Regina to help stabilize her. "And once they know that we share True Love, they can't say anything. They, of all people, should understand True Love." Emma laughed, as she slowly led Regina out of the room where she had been sleeping for over twenty-eight years.
They slowly walked down the halls, making their way towards the throne room, where Emma was sure her parents would be, Regina's bare feet accidentally stepping on Emma's as her legs slowly began to wake up. By the time they reached the grand doors that led to the royal throne room, Regina was able to walk on her own, but still clutched to Emma to keep her close.
Emma pushed the doors open with ease, as she led Regina by the hand into the room, walking directly towards the King and Queen already seated on their thrones.
"Mom! Dad! I need to talk to you!" Emma said, as she approached them, her hand still clutching Regina's tightly.
"Emma…" Snow said suddenly, as her eyes fell upon Regina. "Emma, get away from her."
"No, it's ok. Mom…" Emma started to say.
"Emma, get away from her right now! That woman is evil." David said, standing and grabbing the handle of his sword. "Get away from my daughter this instant." He growled.
"No, Dad. It's fine." Emma tried to say.
"Emma, this woman. She's The Evil Queen. She's dangerous." Snow said, reaching for her bow and quiver of arrows.
"She's not going to hurt me." Emma said, holding Regina's hand harder.
"Snow, please. I would never hurt Emma or anyone. Please, just let me explain." Regina said, taking a small step towards Snow and David.
"Don't come any closer!" David growled, the tip of his sword pointed at Regina's throat. "Take her away! Lock her in the tower until we can decide her fate." David said.
"And don't forget the magic dampening cuff. Who knows what she is capable of with her magic." Snow added, her eyes dark with rage.
"NO!" Emma screamed, as the guards surrounded them, two of them grabbing Regina by the arms, pulling her away from Emma. "REGINA!" Emma screamed, as she lunged toward Regina, attempting to pull her from the guards arms. Two more guards had to hold Emma back, as she refused to give up.
"Emma, it's alright. I'll be fine." Regina said, her voice soothing as the guards continued to pull her away from Emma.
"I'll make this right. I promise." Emma said, as they dragged Regina out of the side door and away from Emma completely. She could feel her blood boiling as she looked over at her parents. "We need to talk." Emma growled, as soon as the guards eventually let her go.
"There will be no discussion." Snow said, her eyes still dark with anger. "You are never to see that woman again, do you hear me? You are to stay away from her!"
"You can't keep me from seeing her! And you know it." Emma spat.
"Yes we can." David said, motioning towards the guards. "Take her to her bedchambers, and make sure she doesn't leave until instructed to do so." David said, as the guards took hold of Emma and escorted her out of the room.
"This is not over." Emma said, as she looked over her shoulder at her parents.
Emma was sequestered in her bedchambers for a full three days before the guards were instructed to let her leave, under the condition that she would resume her royal duties and not attempt to search and find the woman called The Evil Queen.
Emma, of course, did not listen to these demands, and ran off at the first opportunity, knowing exactly where to find Regina.
Regina sat alone in her cell for three days, the magic dampening cuff cutting into the flesh on her left wrist. She knew she deserved to be punished for the crimes she committed thirty years ago. She knew she deserved to be put to death for those crimes, so she wasn't surprised when Queen Snow and King David visited her the first day to inform her of their decision. She knew they were doing it to protect their daughter. She understood why they were doing it, and she accepted her fate, even if it meant she would never see Emma again. Tears fell from her eyes, as she sat on her lumpy and uncomfortable bed, waiting to hear when she would be put to death, when a familiar voice echoed in the hallway outside the door.
"Let me pass!" Emma screamed at the guard that stood watch at the door to the tower.
"Your Highness, I have been given strict instructions to not allow you anywhere near the prisoner." The guard answered.
"I don't care what your orders are. I'm telling you to move, so MOVE!" Emma screamed.
"Your Highness…" The guard simply said.
"That's right, I am still your Princess! Now, I am ordering you to move out of my way or I WILL MOVE YOU MYSELF!" Emma screamed, her anger resonating through the stone walls. In this reality, Emma still had magic. Unrefined magic, that was unpredictable and slightly unstable, but it was still there. A moment later, the door that led to the tower opened, and in stormed Princess Emma, a familiar fierceness in her eyes.
"Emma!" Regina said, rushing forward, reaching for Emma through the bars of her cell. "You came. You shouldn't have come."
"Of course I came. I came to get you out of here." Emma said, gesturing to the guards to unlock the cell. Her eyes were almost red when the guard refused to unlock the door.
"Emma, you should go. There's nothing we can do at this point. I've been sentenced to death." Regina said softly, tears once again falling from her face.
"I'm not going to let that happen, I promise." Emma whispered, cupping Regina's face softly, as she gazed into her eyes. "I'm not going to lose you. Not again."
"Mom? Can I come in yet?" A soft voice asked just beyond the door frame. Regina's eyes went wide when she recognized the voice.
"Yeah, Kid. Come in. There's someone I want you to meet." Emma said, with a huge grin on her face. Regina's tears never stopped falling as she watched the young boy step into the room.
"Henry?" She whispered, her eyes fixed on the boy that had at one point called her Mom.
"Henry, I would like you to meet Regina. She's The Sleeping Lady from the story I used to tell you when you were little." Emma explained, as Henry stepped closer to the cell.
"Did you wake her up with True Love's Kiss?" Henry asked, stepping even closer to the cell.
"Yup. You were right. All I needed to do was kiss her and she woke up." Emma laughed, ruffling Henry's hair.
"But…how?" Regina asked, still in shock, as she stared at her son.
"Baelfire made his way back to the Enchanted Forest about ten years ago. I guess some things are always meant to be." Emma smiled.
"I know you…" Henry said, his voice soft, as he stared up at Regina. "I've seen you before, in my dreams…"
"You dreamed of me too?" Regina asked, shocked.
"Yeah. For the past couple of years, I've dreamed about you." Henry said, reaching out for Regina's hand. "We lived in a really weird town, but it had a really cool clocktower. We all looked different." Henry said, pausing for a moment. "You were my mom…"
"That's right, I was…" Regina said, her tears falling onto her plain dress.
"Those dreams were real, weren't they?" Henry asked. Regina just nodded, speech no longer available to her.
"We'll explain it all one day. But first, we need to get Regina out of the cell and stop her execution." Emma said, turning towards the guard in the doorway. "Open this cell immediately." She said, anger in her voice.
"I'm not going to do that, Your Highness." The guard said. Regina could feel the anger rise inside of Emma.
"I said, open this door…NOW!" Emma screamed, the flames on the torches hanging on the wall flickered. The guard didn't move. "If you don't open this door…" Emma started to say, stepping closer to the guard.
"Emma! That's enough!" A familiar voice called from the stairwell behind the guard. The guard stepped aside as King David walked into the room, followed by Queen Snow close behind.
"Henry, get away from her." Snow said, her voice just above a whisper so as to not alarm the ten year old boy.
"Grandma, Grandpa, it's ok…" Henry started to say, his voice not being heard by the angry adults around him.
"Emma, we strictly forbade you from seeing this woman, and yet, here you are demanding she be let out. This ends, NOW!" David screamed, his voice harsh.
"No! It's not! I'm not leaving until you release her and call off this ridiculous execution." Emma screamed, her eyes filled with anger.
"Emma…" Regina whispered, as she reached her hand through the bars, instantly calming the blonde with her touch.
"Mom…Dad…just listen to me. Let's talk about this." Emma said, her voice instantly calmer.
"There's nothing to talk about." Snow said. "Regina has done unspeakable things, and needs to be punished for them."
"You're right, Snow. I did horrible things for years. Killed countless innocent people, all in the name of vengeance." Regina said. "But I have lived an entire lifetime since those things happened. I've changed. I'm not the same person I once was. And although you can't possibly understand why, the truth is, Emma and Henry were the ones who helped me grow to become the person I am today. The good person I am now." Regina said, trying to persuade Queen Snow to believe her.
"I don't believe you." Snow said. Regina wasn't surprised she didn't believe her. If she were in Snow's position, she wouldn't believe her either.
"The execution is as scheduled. Regina will be put to death for her crimes in two hours." Snow said. Emma's heart stopped when she heard those words.
"Mom, please! I'm begging you. Please! Don't do this." Emma begged, tears filling her eyes. "Please…"
"I'm sorry. It's done." David said. "Now come along." David added, motioning for Emma and Henry to follow him.
"Wait!" Henry yelled, his voice heard for the first time. "She's awake! Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Henry asked. Emma perked up, realizing where Henry was going with his question.
"What are you talking about, Henry?" Snow asked.
"Regina. She's awake. She was under a sleeping curse, and now she's not. Did you guys stop and think why she suddenly woke up a few days ago?" Henry asked again.
"Yeah, that's a good point. How are you awake, Regina?" David asked, his mood changing after Henry stepped into the conversation.
"How do you wake someone from a sleeping curse?" Emma asked, a smile forming on her face.
"True Love's Kiss." David answered, not quite connecting the dots.
"Emma…you…" Snow asked, her voice low.
"I did." Emma said, her smile even wider. "I woke her with True Love's Kiss."
"What? That can't be!" David said, his mood shifting again. "You've been asleep for Emma's entire life."
"Think about it. Why was I obsessed with the story of The Sleeping Lady my entire life?" Emma asked, as she watched her parents' faces contort. "I was always drawn to her, because she's my True Love." Emma said, her eyes finding Regina's.
"It's true." Regina said, her eyes fixed on Emma's.
"You two, of all people should understand the pull of True Love." Emma said, turning back towards her parents. "Please don't take my True Love away." Emma begged, tears falling from her eyes.
"Unlock the cell." Snow said, her voice soft.
"Snow, what are you doing?" David asked, as the guard stepped forward, stopping when David questioned her.
"David, she's right. What kind of parents would we be if we kept Emma from her True Love?" Snow answered.
"What about her punishment? What about everything she did before?" David asked.
"That's why the magic dampening cuff will stay on until further notice." Snow said, motioning for the guard to open the cell.
As soon as the cell door was opened, Regina fell into Emma's arms, as they embraced for the first time. The feeling of their arms around each other felt right. As if they were made to fit around each other.
"I guess this means you don't have to marry that stinky pirate." Henry laughed, as he wrapped his short arms around their waists, feeling like a family for the first time.
"No filthy pirates for me." Emma laughed, as she pulled Regina in for a deep kiss.
"You know, in a different lifetime, you actually married that filthy pirate." Regina laughed, as Emma's face contorted with pain.
"Thank goodness we aren't in that lifetime anymore." Emma laughed, as she led Regina and Henry out of the tower, her hand instantly finding Regina's and holding on tight.
If she had it her way, she would never let go of Regina's hand.
Regina sprawled out on the chaise lounge in front of the fire in her new bedchambers, enjoying the warmth, a stark contrast to the jail cell she was living in since she woke up. She stared deep into the fire, the book she had been reading abandoned in her lap when she heard a soft knock on her door.
"Regina? Are you still awake?" Emma asked through the closed door.
"Yes, I'm awake. Come in, Emma." She said, a smile instantly forming on her face at the sound of Emma's voice. "Is Henry finally asleep?" Regina asked, as Emma flopped down next to her on the sofa.
"Yeah. Took forever to convince him to go to bed. He keeps talking about how excited he is to get to know you. He wants to hear all about Storybrooke." Emma laughed.
"I can't wait to tell him all about it." Regina smiled.
"So…" Emma started to say, changing the subject. "We never really got a chance to talk, after you woke up. Talk about…us…and what it all means." Emma said, her voice sounding nervous.
"Yes, well I suppose we should talk." Regina said, setting her book aside, looking at Emma.
"I hope I didn't freak you out the other day, when I told you that I chose you. I know we're not getting married any time soon, because that would be nuts!" Emma said, trying to avoid Regina's eyes.
"You didn't…" Regina started to say.
"I can always tell when you're lying." Emma reminded Regina, as she lifted her head to meet Regina's gaze.
"I think you just startled me, that's all. I was trying to process being awake and suddenly you're telling me you want to marry me. It was all a little overwhelming." Regina answered truthfully.
"I thought so." Emma said, her eyes falling to the floor again. "I'm sorry for that. I didn't mean to freak you out."
"It's alright. No need to apologize." Regina said, reaching her hand to Emma's arm. "I think I just need some time to process everything." Regina said, her fears and insecurities rising to the surface.
"Oh…" Emma said, her voice sounded sad. "I understand."
"Emma. It's not like that." Regina said, sensing the sadness in Emma's voice.
"Here's the thing, Regina." Emma said. She sounded so much like Emma Swan that Regina shuttered. "I've been dreaming about you for the past sixteen years. You've been a constant part of my life, even though you were asleep for all of it. There hasn't been a day that I can remember, that I haven't thought about you. I've had my entire life to process things, and I want you, Regina. I want to make Love to you until we are both too exhausted to move. I want to hold you every night while you fall asleep. I want to grow old with you. I want to be with you, Regina, for the rest of my life. But only if you are absolutely certain you want to be with me. I'll wait for you, Regina. I'll wait as long as it takes. Even if I have to wait another lifetime, I'll wait for you. When you're ready, you know where to find me" Emma said, kissing Regina softly before standing and walking out of the room quickly. Regina tried to grab her hand to make her stay, but Emma was too quick, and before she could do anything, Emma was walking out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Emma knew she was being a bit dramatic when she walked out of Regina's room, but she needed to. She couldn't sit there, after she poured her heart out, and risk Regina rejecting her. A million thoughts ran through her mind as she walked down the hall to her own bedchambers, quickly closing the door behind her. The room was warm and she was relieved for the fire burning in the fireplace, as she stood in front of it for a few moments, warming her suddenly frozen body. She held back the tears as she crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head, the sound of the crackling fire soothing her to sleep.
She was just beginning to finally drift off to sleep when she heard the faint click of the door close behind her. A moment later the mattress dipped slightly as two arms wrapped around her from behind, holding her tight.
"Of course I want to be with you, Emma." Regina whispered, as she kissed Emma's shoulder softly. "I went back in time three times to save you. I gave up being with Henry for you. I put myself under a sleeping curse, which I never expected to wake from, to save you from the Dark Curse." Regina said, as she encouraged Emma to roll over to look at her. "And I would do it all again in a heartbeat, because the pain of being without you is a pain worse than death. Now that I finally have you back, I'm never letting you go."
"You really did all that to save me?" Emma asked, still in shock that Regina risked everything to save her.
"I did. Because a world without you, was not a world I wanted to live in." Regina said.
"I'm not her though…" Emma said, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm not Emma Swan. I'm just Princess Emma, a spoiled princess who doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut." Emma said.
"Yes you are." Regina said, cupping Emma's face softly. "What you did in the tower today. That was Emma Swan talking. No matter what you've experienced in your life, you will always be Emma Swan, even if you're a singing princess who picks wild flowers." Regina said, laughing slightly.
"I didn't sing. That you saw." Emma laughed.
"I'm sorry to say this." Regina said, looking at Emma so seriously. "But I did see you sing."
Emma laughed for a second, before pulling Regina in for a sweet and loving kiss, one which quickly turned deep and passionate. Something shifted in Emma suddenly, as she slowly rolled Regina onto her back, climbing on top of her. Regina's hands found their way under Emma's night shirt, her fingertips tracing Emma's spine, kissing her passionately. Emma shifted suddenly, pulling away from Regina's lips and sitting up quickly, pulling her shirt over her head. Regina's breath caught in her chest, as she gazed up at Emma's topless form, her eyes filling with tears.
"What?" Emma asked when she saw the expression on Regina's face, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"The last time I saw you, you had a sword through you…" Regina said, running her fingertips lightly over the skin below Emma's ribs, tears spilling out of her eyes.
"There's no sword there now…" Emma whispered, guiding Regina's hand to lay flat against her body, to prove there was no sword wound. Emma reached down to wipe the tears from Regina's eyes, as she leaned down once again to capture her lips in another deep kiss, her bare breasts skimming against Regina's still clothed chest.
Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's waist, before switching positions, Emma flat on her back, their lips never separating, until Regina pulled away after a few moments. Placing a soft kiss against Emma's forehead, Regina reached between their bodies and slowly pulled the drawstring of Emma's pants, pulling the soft material down slowly. Emma lifted her hips slightly to allow Regina to pull her pants off completely, revealing her naked body to Regina for the first time. She shifted quickly over Emma's hips, as she slowly pulled her nightgown over her head, her newly exposed skin shivered slightly with the cool air.
"You're so beautiful…" Emma whispered, as she gazed up at Regina, her hands grazing Regina's thighs.
"It's been so long since someone has said those words to me…" Regina said, as she dipped down to kiss Emma, their naked breasts pressed against each other for the first time.
"Then I promise, you'll never go another day without hearing those words again." Emma smiled.
Regina's hands gently cupped Emma's breasts, as she slowly began to kiss Emma's neck, being mindful not to leave any marks. Love bites were unbecoming of a Princess.
Regina continued to make her way down Emma's neck, stopping only when she took one of Emma's nipples into her mouth. Emma moaned loudly as Regina sucked lightly, before paying the same attention to the other. After a few minutes of nipping, Regina continued her descent down Emma's body, pausing just below her ribcage, the spot that once held Emma's mortal wound, running her hand over the smooth flesh once more, as if to check one last time that Emma was fine.
"I've never done this before…" Emma whispered, as Regina continued lower, reaching the soft skin below her navel.
"It appears Snow has failed to discuss the birds and the bees with you." Regina chuckled. "Which is surprising since you've already given birth to Henry."
"No, not that! Obviously I've had sex before." Emma laughed, swatting Regina's shoulder. "I mean having sex with…someone I Love…" Emma said, suddenly feeling stupid.
"You never Loved Neal…Baelfire?" Regina asked, as Regina propped herself up to see Emma better.
"Hardly. Bae was a brief friend of mine, but that didn't last long. He left before I found out I was pregnant with Henry. And we were only together once."
"I've never done this either." Regina said, kissing Emma's hip bone softly. "Have sex with someone I Loved either."
"What about Daniel? And Robin?" Emma asked.
"I never slept with Daniel." Regina answered, pausing for a moment. "And while I did love Robin, it was nothing compared to how I feel about you. The love I have for you is like no other. I've never felt this way about anyone in my life. In any timeline." Regina said, her eyes filling with tears.
"I know the feeling." Emma whispered, reaching to wipe the tears from Regina's eyes.
Regina wasted no time in exploring Emma's body, her tongue slowly swiping between Emma's soaking wet folds, tasting her True Love for the first time. They both moaned together as Regina ran her tongue over Emma's sensitive clit, sucking softly, feeling it swell slightly against her tongue. She continued to tease for a few more moments before slowly thrusting her tongue deep into Emma's soaking wet vagina, the tip of her tongue searching the sensitive spot deep inside, as Emma moaned louder. Emma's hips moved in rhythm with Regina's thrusting, her walls tightening around Regina's tongue, as she climaxed hard, filling Regina's mouth as she slowly pulled her tongue out. She returned her attention to Emma's swollen and sensitive clit as she slowly inserted a single finger into Emma, fingering her, as Emma continued to moan, her hands holding the headboard behind her for support.
"Regina…" Emma whispered, silently begging for more. "Regina, come here." Emma managed to say.
Regina slowly kissed her way up Emma's body, settling on top of Emma, as she slowly inserted a second finger, increasing the speed of her thrusts. Emma wrapped her arms around Regina, holding her tight, their bodies moving in unison.
It didn't take long before Emma's second orgasm came crashing over her, the sound of her voice screaming Regina's name reverberating against the walls, her body falling limp under Regina. She kissed Emma's neck softly as she slowly removed her fingers, bringing them to her lips to lick them clean, moaning softly at the taste of Emma.
"Hey…" Emma whispered, her eyes slowly fluttering open after a few minutes, as she felt Regina gently brush a strand of hair away from her sweat covered face. "That…I…" Emma stuttered, struggling to find the words.
"Shh…" Regina whispered, pressing her lips against Emma's in a soft kiss. Emma ran her hands down Regina's back slowly, pausing at Regina's waist, pushing her hips against Regina slightly, urging her to lift her hips as well. Regina raised her hips slightly, allowing Emma to move her right hand between their bodies while keeping her left hand around Regina's waist, holding her close as she slowly swiped her fingers through Regina's soaking folds.
"Emma…" Regina whispered, as Emma teased Regina's tight opening with the tip of her finger. "Go slow. It's been a really long time since…" Regina said, her sentence cut short by Emma's lips on her own.
"Anything you need." Emma whispered, as she slowly inserted a single finger, causing Regina's breath to hitch in her throat. She paused for a second to allow Regina to adjust to her, before slowly moving her hand, waiting for Regina to set the pace.
As Regina began to slowly quicken the pace, Emma wrapped her legs around her, holding her close as she rolled them both over, Regina landing on her back, their movements never stopping. Emma wasted no time adding a second finger, taking control as she continued to finger Regina, their hearts racing and minds clouding. She took one of Regina's nipples into her mouth as Regina climaxed quickly, her body tensing under Emma's, her voice screaming Emma's name echoing around them. Emma never paused when Regina orgasmed, slowly turning her attention to the other nipple, as Regina's second orgasm began to build.
"Emma…" she moaned, as Emma moved to kiss her neck, the pleasure building rapidly.
"Open your eyes." Emma whispered, as she felt Regina's body close to climax. "Look at me.." Emma said, as Regina's eyes struggled to open, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Emma…" Regina screamed, as she climaxed hard, her eyes closing against her will, as her body shook in Emma's arms. Emma shifted onto her side, allowing her to hold Regina closer, their bodies fitting together like two puzzle pieces, as though they were made to fit together. She closed her eyes and focused on the sound of Regina's breathing, waiting for Regina to recover.
Emma dozed for twenty minutes before she felt Regina stirring in her arms.
"Hey." Emma whispered, as Regina's eyes slowly opened, a smile wide on her face.
"Hey yourself." Regina whispered, shifting to lay next to Emma, their faces close as they once again wrapped their arms around each other. "That was…" She started to say, unsure of what to say.
"Amazing? Incredible? Outstanding?" Emma asked, attempting to finish Regina's sentence.
"All of the above." Regina laughed.
"It feels different when you love someone." Emma said, running her fingers through Regina's long hair.
"It's extraordinary." Regina smiled, her eyes filling with tears.
"Extraordinary." Emma repeated, as she wiped the tears from Regina's eyes.
"Can I ask you something?" Regina asked after a few moments.
"Of course." Emma said, idly running her fingers through Regina's hair.
"How did you know to name him Henry?" Regina asked.
"You told me." Emma smiled at Regina's sudden confused expression. "The night before he was born, was the first night I dreamed of our life in Storybrooke. The first memory was the night we met. The night I brought Henry back from Boston. You called him Henry. And something inside me knew that the little boy inside me was the same Henry from my dream." Emma explained.
"My father's name was Henry." Regina said, adding her own explanation to Henry's name.
"I know. I met your father." Emma smiled.
"You did?" Regina asked, her voice shocked.
"Yeah. I found him a few years ago. He comes to see you every so often, whenever he can make the trip. He lives a few hours ride from here." Emma said, her eyes sparkling. "I was thinking we could go see him tomorrow." She added as more tears welled in Regina's eyes.
"I would like that very much." Regina said.
"Good. Because I've already made arrangements for our horses to be ready and food to be prepared and packed for us first thing in the morning." Emma laughed, as Regina pulled her in for a deep kiss.
"Thank you." Regina whispered.
"You're welcome." Emma smiled, kissing Regina's forehead. "We should get some sleep. We're leaving early in the morning."
Regina nodded, shifting to pull the covers over their naked bodies. She rested her forehead against Emma's on their shared pillow, as they both quickly drifted off to sleep.
Regina woke early the next morning when she felt Emma's body pull away from hers as she climbed out of the bed. She blinked as she watched Emma wrap a spare blanket around her naked body and make her way towards the chamber doors, unlocking them quickly, opening the door to reveal a young woman holding tightly on a silver tray.
"I'm so sorry, Your Highness. The door was locked and I was told to deliver your breakfast to your chambers today and…" The young woman stuttered, clearly uneasy about waking the Princess.
"It's ok, really. I forgot to unlock the door when we went to sleep." Emma explained, opening the door wider to allow the servant to enter the chamber, a deep blush rushing across her face when her eyes landed on a clearly naked Regina laying in Princess Emma's bed. Her hands were visibly shaking as she lowered the tray onto the table in the corner of the room before rushing out of the room, closing the door loudly behind her.
"I think we may have scared her." Regina said, as Emma shrugged off the blanket and quickly climbed back into bed with Regina.
"We definitely did." Emma giggled, before leaning in to kiss Regina softly. "The servants are totally going to gossip about this." Emma laughed again, pulling Regina close.
"Should we speak to her?" Regina asked.
"It's fine. It'll give them something to talk about. Besides, I'm not interested in hiding our relationship. I don't care if anyone disapproves." Emma answered, kissing Regina's forehead lightly. "Well, except maybe Henry. But I'm pretty sure he's already calling you his other mother in his head."
"I'm ok with that!" Regina smiled.
"Good!" Emma said, kissing her once more. "We should probably get up and have some breakfast. We need to leave in a little while if we're going to make it to your father's house before lunch time." Emma said, half whining at the idea of leaving the warmth of Regina's arms.
They emerged from Emma's bedchambers an hour later, dressed in their riding gear, after eating breakfast in bed, the sheets wrapped around their naked bodies. Their hands instinctively met, fingers lacing together, as they made their way through the castle and out to the stables, where their horses were saddled and ready for them, their prearranged food already stored in their saddlebags.
Emma led the way through the forest, taking the pace slow at first to allow Regina muscles time to readjust to riding a horse after many many years. Emma told Regina stories of Henry growing up, and Regina told stories of their lives in Storybrooke together, filling in gaps in Emma's faint memory of the time, adding the story of Regina's quest to save Emma and how it led her to traveling back in time. Before they knew it, they were arriving at a small cabin in the middle of nowhere, smoke rising from the chimney, indicating that whoever dwelled there was home.
"We're here." Emma said, dismounting from her horse and tying the reins to a nearby pole before taking the reins from Regina, holding her horse still while she dismounted. Emma motioned towards the front door, indicating she was going to knock and that Regina should stay back for a moment while Emma broke the news to Henry Sr. Regina nodded and began to pace nervously as she watched Emma knock on the door. She could hear slow movement inside, and a moment later, the door opened, revealing a short old man, clutching a cane with shaky hands.
"Your Highness. What a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect to see you." Henry Sr. said, his face lighting up when he saw Emma standing at the door.
"I know, I'm sorry for showing up unannounced." Emma said, reaching out to hug the old man, as they had grown accustomed to doing.
"You are always welcome here, you know that." Henry Sr. said, stepping back to allow Emma room to enter. "Please come in. I'll put the kettle on for some tea."
"Thank you. Before you do that, there's someone else here to see you." Emma smiled, stepping to the side, giving Regina the cue to step forward.
"Daddy?" Regina asked, her voice filled with emotion, her eyes filling with tears.
"Regina?" Henry Sr. whispered, nearly losing his balance from shock. "Regina, is that really you?" He asked.
"It's me, Daddy." Regina said, rushing to her father's side, pulling his fragile body into a strong hug, kissing his cheek affectionately, tears falling from both their eyes.
"But how? The last I saw you, you were still asleep." Henry Sr. asked, once they finally pulled away from each other.
"I woke up several days ago." Regina said. "We would have come sooner, but my waking did not go over well with the King and Queen at first. But everything is fine now." Regina explained.
"How did you wake up? The only cure for a sleeping curse is True Love's Kiss." Henry Sr. asked.
"Emma woke me." Regina said, glancing over at Emma with a shy smile. "She kissed me."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you." Henry Sr. said to Emma, chuckling.
"And here I thought it was because I brought you chocolate when I came to visit." Emma laughed back.
"Yes, that too." Henry Sr. laughed, turning back to Regina. "Fate has dealt you a fine hand. She is a remarkable woman." Henry Sr. said.
"She truly is." Regina said, her eyes darting back to Emma, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"Come! Let's go inside and have that tea! We have so much to catch up on." Henry Sr. said, leading Regina inside.
"You coming?" Regina asked, as she held the door open for Emma.
"You go. I'll wait out here. You two deserve a little alone time together. I'm going to take a nap against that tree." Emma said, pointing to a cozy tree a few feet away. "I'll be here when you're ready."
"Thank you." Regina whispered, kissing Emma softly, before they parted ways. Emma made her way to her nap destination as soon as the front door was closed and Regina was safely inside with her father.
Emma dozed for the next few hours as Regina spent time with her father, leaving his small house twice to bring Emma some lunch and later a cup of tea. Emma was about to go inside to tell Regina they should begin to head back to the castle if they wanted to make it back before dark when Regina emerged from the house, her head down, her face sad.
"Hey, I was just about to come get you. We should get going soon if we want to make it back before dark." Emma said, her mood changing drastically when she discovered Regina's sad expression. "What's the matter?"
"He's sick." Regina said, a tear falling from her eye. "He doesn't think he has much time left."
"Regina, I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Emma said, wrapping her arms around her True Love. "Is there anything I can do? I can send a healer here to help him."
"No. There's nothing anyone can do. These things happen. He's an old man." Regina said, settling into Emma's embrace. "I'd like to stay with him…until the end… if that's alright." Regina said, her tears falling onto Emma's shoulder.
"Of course!" Emma said, stroking Regina's hair. "I have to go back though. I have duties to the kingdom and to Henry. But I'll send food and supplies every few days, and I'll come as often as I can. Just let the courier know if you need anything, and I'll make sure you get it." Emma said.
"Thank you." Regina whispered.
"Stop saying that. You don't have to thank me." Emma said, pulling away from Regina slightly, so they could see each other. "I would do anything for you and your father. You know that, right?" She asked, as she wiped the tears from Regina's face. Regina nodded, words failing her at the moment. "Good. Let me say goodbye to your father, and I'll make sure your horse is unsaddled and secure in the barn before I leave. Do you guys need anything?" She asked.
"No, I think we'll be alright for a few days." Regina said, going over a list in her head of things they might need.
"Good. I'll arrange the first supply delivery as soon as I return." Emma said, grabbing Regina's hand as she led them back into the house.
A little while later, Emma kissed Regina goodbye, before quickly sliding the magic dampening cuff of Regina's wrist. "I trust you." Emma whispered, before kissing Regina one last time. Regina watched Emma ride away into the dense forest before returning to her father, knowing it would be weeks before she saw the blonde again.
As promised, Emma sent food and supplies to Regina and Henry Sr. every few days, making the trip out to see them every few weeks, when she could spare a day. Everything felt right when she was with Regina, even if it was only for a few hours, before she had to return to the castle. She brought Henry along in the beginning, after he begged her to meet his namesake, but as Henry Sr. continued to get weaker each day, Emma decided to leave him home with his grandparents, even when he continued to beg her.
Emma's heart broke each time she left the cottage in the woods, leaving Regina behind to continue to care for her father. Her heart felt empty when she was away, and even though they had only shared one night together, her bed felt empty every night. They exchanged long letters with the courier when he delivered the supplies a few times a week, letters filled with words of love and longing, of promises of a beautiful future together. Until one day, six months later, Emma received a letter with two words, " come soon" written in Regina's hurried hand.
Emma's heart stopped when she read those words. She literally dropped what she was doing and ran to the stables, demanding her horse be ready immediately. She raced through the forest, her long dress trailing behind her as she pushed the horse faster and faster, trying to get to Regina as fast as she could.
She arrived just as the sun disappeared behind the horizon, the fireflies beginning their nightly dance in the trees that surrounded them. She haphazardly tied her horse before rushing into the cottage without knocking.
"Regina! I came as soon as I could!" Emma said, as she tripped through the threshold, her eyes instantly filling with tears when her eyes fell upon Regina. Her head was hanging low as she sat beside Henry Sr.'s bed, his hand held tightly between both of hers.
"He's gone…" Regina whispered, as she slowly raised her head to meet Emma's, her eyes already red from crying.
"Regina. I'm so sorry." Emma said, slowly making her way to Regina's side, kneeling beside her chair, wrapping her arms around Regina, careful not to force her to drop her father's hand. "When did it happen?" She asked, kissing Regina's cheek.
"About a half hour ago." Regina whispered. "I told him that I loved him, and he drifted off peacefully." Regina said, bringing Henry's hand to her lips, kissing his hand softly.
"He always talked about how much he loved you, and how much he knew you loved him." Emma said, trying to comfort Regina through her grief.
"I don't want to leave him. Not yet." Regina said, her tears falling.
"You don't have to. We can stay as long as you need." Emma whispered, tightening her hold on Regina.
They stayed that way for another thirty minutes. Emma's knees were on fire from kneeling on the hard wooden floor, but she never moved. Never shifted an inch. Instead, she continued to hold Regina as she wept over her father's now cold body. As soon as Regina stepped away from her father's bed, Emma covered him with his blanket, before leading Regina to the mattress on the floor where Regina had been sleeping for the last six months, urging her to rest as she built a fire in the hearth, quickly warming the cold room.
"I'll arrange for someone to collect him tomorrow. We can have a funeral back at the castle and bury him in the cemetery there." Emma said, as she returned to Regina, wrapping her arms around her once again.
"I'd rather bury him here." Regina whispered, her eyes slowly closing from exhaustion. "Under the large tree outside. He loved to sit under that tree on sunny afternoons."
"I think he would like that." Emma whispered, holding Regina tightly.
"You look really pretty…in your dress…" Regina whispered, as she drifted off to sleep in Emma's arms.
The next morning, Regina woke up alone, the room chilly from the long dead fire. Her heart sank when she realized that Emma probably returned to the castle early that morning and didn't want to wake her. She frowned as she stared at the ceiling, until she heard a strange sound outside. She quickly scrambled out of bed to investigate, and what she saw brought instant tears to her eyes. Only the top of Emma's head was visible, as she continued to dig the large hole, shovelfuls of dirt flying into the air every few seconds.
"Emma?" Regina asked, as she made her way towards the hole in the ground.
"Hey, I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Emma asked, her head popping up, her eyes barely visible.
"No. What are you doing?" Regina asked, already knowing the answer.
"I…well…I thought I would get an early start. I didn't want to wait too long to…" Emma started to say, unable to finish the sentence.
"Thank you." Regina said again, receiving a stern look from Emma for thanking her again. "Can I help?" Regina asked.
"I think I'm just about finished." Emma said, tossing the shovel to the side before climbing out of the ground. "I…ummm…I might need help bringing him outside though. I know it might seem a little disrespectful, but I think we could probably wrap him in a blanket and drag him outside. I don't think we'll be able to lift him.
"Let me take care of that part." Regina said, reaching out to help Emma up, revealing that Emma had changed out of her dress, and was wearing her father's clothes.
"Sorry. I…didn't want to ruin my dress. I hope you don't mind that I borrowed some of his clothes to dig." Emma said.
"Of course not. They look good on you." Regina smiled, kissing Emma softly before she closed her eyes, focusing all of her attention on the task at hand. A few seconds later, a cloud of purple smoke appeared inside the freshly dug hole, revealing the body of Henry Sr. Regina silently picked up the shovel carrying a pile of dirt to the grave. "Goodbye, Daddy." Regina whispered, as she tossed the dirt into the hole, covering her father's chest, before turning around to acquire more dirt.
Regina wept as she slowly worked to fill the grave with dirt, until it was about half filled, handing the shovel back to Emma, indicating she was too emotional to continue. Emma finished the task as fast as she could, as Regina watched, the sound of her sobs that could be heard over the sounds of the shovel.
"Let's go home." Regina said as soon as Emma was finished. Emma nodded before quickly changing back into her dress, preparing their horses for their journey home, as Regina prepared things inside for their long absence.
They rode home in silence for most of their journey, their pace slower than usual, as Regina began to process the loss of her father. They stopped by the side of the river about an hour away from the castle to rest and allow the horses to eat.
"Emma, there's something I want to tell you." Regina said, as they sat together under a tree, listening to the soothing sound of the rushing water.
"Sure. You can tell me anything." Emma said, reaching to lace their fingers together, rubbing small circles on the top of Regina's hand with her thumb.
"Remember what you said when I woke up? You chose me to marry." Regina asked. "And how I said I needed time to process things."
"Yeah." Emma responded, her heart pounding in her chest, her stomach in knots.
"I've had time to process everything." Regina said, her eyes fixed on the rushing water.
"Yeah…" Emma said, her voice shaking with fear.
"I'm ready." Regina smiled, turning her attention to a stunned Princess.
"You're ready?" Emma asked, still in shock.
"I'm ready to marry you. I know it seems sudden, and that we're moving fast, but I'm ready, Emma. I've always been ready to be with you. To spend the rest of my life with you." Regina said, as she watched the tears fall from Emma's eyes. "I just needed my father's blessing."
"Did he? Give his blessing?" Emma asked.
"He did. He said he couldn't dream of a better person for me to be with. He loved you, Emma. He was so incredibly happy we have each other." Regina said. "There's only one thing left to do." Regina said, shifting to kneel in front of a still stunned Emma. "Princess Emma, will you marry me?"
"I have literally been dreaming about marrying you my entire life." Emma said, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, Regina! Yes I will marry you!"
A/N: Only one more chapter left.