Part Thirty-Four: The One With The Cabin
Emma blinked her eyes once and then twice, her lips parted as she stared at the cabin in front of her.
No, not a cabin.
Not even a house.
It was a fucking mansion right in the heart of the woods with its own private lake.
Emma blinked her eyes again, her brain slowly taking in the beautiful mansion.
The house was made of dark wood and huge glass windows on both the first and second floors.
It was right in front of a lake that pretty much surrounded the whole property and when Emma looked behind her, she saw a deck that went far into the lake.
Emma looked back at the house, tilting her head to the side.
Two bedrooms on the second floor had a freaking balcony overviewing the lake.
"I thought you said it was a cabin," Emma said, her eyes still glued to the property.
"It is a cabin," Regina said lightly.
"Regina, this is a freaking mansion," Emma said, finally tearing her eyes away from the house to look at Regina.
"Oh, don't be ridiculous," Regina brushed it off "It's not that big"
"It's huge," Emma said.
"No don't even bother, Ma," Henry said "Just call it a cabin and move on"
"But this is not a cabin," Emma said pointing at the house.
"Of course, it is," Regina said "Now, are you going to help to take things out of the car, or should Henry and I do the hard work all alone?"
Emma rolled her eyes and Henry chuckled beside her. She walked to Regina, behind the trunk of her Mercedes, and pulled out one of the coolers, following Regina inside the house.
And the second Emma stepped inside, her mouth fell open again.
The interior was a perfect contrast of old and new, modern and vintage.
Or at least as new and modern as Storybrooke had to offer.
The wooden project of the house almost felt like it was sculpted by hand by a talented woodworker. Every line of wood on the ceiling seemed to align perfectly, and every wood frame around the windows seemed to have a purpose.
Even the wooden furniture seemed to be made by an artist with the sole purpose of capturing Regina.
It was fierce and elegant and yet, cozy.
"Regina, this house is beautiful," Emma said mesmerized.
"Yes, it is," Regina said "I quite like this cabin"
"This is not a cabin," Emma said walking to the kitchen.
"Yes, it is," Regina clicked her tongue "And you better get used to it calling it a cabin"
Emma chuckled and put the cooler on top of the kitchen table.
And then she walked to Regina, pulling her into her arms and kissing her lips.
"Seriously?"
Emma grunted pulling away from Regina to look at Henry.
"You have got to get used to it, kid," Emma said pointing at Henry.
"Well, it is not like a have a choice," Henry said "You two hurt my eyes all the time"
"You know, I wonder," Emma turned to look at Regina "Who he got that drama from?"
"You," Regina said "Obviously"
"Hey," Emma protested.
"Ha!" Henry laughed "Thank you, mom"
"You are welcome, sweetie," Regina winked at Henry.
Emma rolled her eyes again before focusing them on Henry.
"Is there anything left in the trunk?" Emma asked.
"Just your bag and mom's suitcase," Henry said "But I can't get it out, it's too heavy"
"Yeah, I'm aware," Emma looked at Regina "Did you really need to bring all that? We are only here for the weekend"
"What are you talking about?" Regina asked opening the cooler on the table "I only brought the basics"
"Regina, you packed a family suitcase," Emma said.
"That's the basic," Regina said lightly.
She picked up the bacon packs from the cooler and walked to the fridge, putting them inside.
"Right," Emma laughed "Well, I'll go get the rest of the stuff out of the car"
"Hurry up, Ma," Henry said "I want to show you my room"
Emma smiled at Henry and kissed the top of his head before leaving the mansion again.
Because yeah, there was no way she was calling that a cabin.
Emma walked to the car, leaning against it for a second to absorb the view in front of her.
The lake view was magnificent.
The waters were so still and clean, with only the tiniest undulations from the wind rippling on the surface.
And on the other side of the lake, there was just a massive wood of pine trees with a white gentle fog on top that moved slowly with the tips of the trees as if this was a dance they made for years.
Above them, the sun was shining brightly, reflecting everything onto the river waters like a mirror.
It almost felt like one of those scenarios that came out of a fairy tale book.
Something that only a God could have created.
Emma took a deep breath, the pure and slightly cold air of the morning filling her lungs.
The days were getting warmer in the city but here, she could still feel the chilly wind kissing her cheeks.
And Emma welcomed the touch on her skin.
She certainly needed that time off with her family.
The week had been rough, to say the least.
She wasn't sure why, but apparently, the whole town had decided to become the seventh hell on the week she moved in with Regina.
Strange things were happening.
Suddenly, Emma had a lot of work to do at the station. She couldn't tell how many times she and Graham had to go out to aid a citizen who was reported lost.
She didn't know what was stranger, the fact that she found them completely disoriented in the woods or the fact that Ruby sniffed the air to find them.
Because she literally just smelled the air and told them to go this or that way and there the person was.
She didn't even know how Ruby got involved.
One minute she was dropping lunch for Emma and Graham at the station and on the second, Graham was putting Ruby inside a car after they had a call.
Emma couldn't say the girl wasn't of help. God knows how long it would take for them to find the missing folks without Ruby's help.
But sniffing the air to find people was another level weird.
And then there was August.
He had come on to Emma one day at the diner, limping in a way she had never seen before.
He was literally dragging his leg.
And then he told Emma that there was a place that he needed to show her because there was something he needed to tell her.
The guy just couldn't take no for an answer.
Except that the way he spoke was so desperate.
He kept telling her that he couldn't fail his mission. That he had to redeem himself. That fate was punishing him for not being worthy.
Of course, Emma had also smelled the heavy whiskey scent on his breath.
When Emma carried him up to his bedroom in the inn, he kept begging her to look at his leg. Just look at my leg, Emma, please just look. So Emma did. And his leg looked perfectly fine.
At least on the outside.
She had no idea why he was limping.
But August just laughed before going for another gulp of whiskey, straight from the bottle on his bedside table.
You are in deeper denial than I thought you were.
Which was kinda funny considering he was the one drinking whiskey straight from the bottle at eight in the morning.
And then to top all of that, there was Mary Margaret. And the scene she made when Emma told her she was moving in with Regina.
She did not take it lightly.
Told Emma she was making a terrible mistake, that Regina wasn't either a good or a kind person.
That she would break her heart.
Emma tried to ignore her words because she could understand the woman was heartbreaking over David.
But each time she said something negative about Regina, it felt like a stab in her heart.
And Emma took as much as she could before putting Mary Margaret in her place.
For a brief second, Emma could see why Regina detested Mary Margaret so much.
She was a hypocrite.
She condemned Regina for the same things she absorbed herself for.
She said Regina was cold and incapable of love.
That Regina was a liar and manipulative person.
And yet, she was the one having an affair with a married man.
Emma was glad when she left that loft. Glad she didn't have a whole bunch of things to carry out. Glad she wouldn't have to look at Mary Margaret any time soon.
Because her words cut her deep.
Emma thought she was her friend.
But how could she be friends with a person who said those things about the woman she loved?
The only moment of peace Emma found was when she was with Regina. When it was just them alone in their room, on their bed, moving naked on top of each other.
That was where her heart was anchored.
Where her soul found solace.
Emma looked to the side and smiled when Regina's soft touch squeezed her hand.
She didn't hear Regina approaching her, and her scent had been with her almost like a constant presence ever since they started living together.
But her touch…
Emma recognized it instantly.
"Is everything okay?" Regina asked "You've been out here for a while"
Emma turned her body fully to Regina, pressing her lips against hers.
"Yeah, everything is fine," Emma said "I just stopped to look at the view and ended up lost in thoughts"
"Henry was asking for you," Regina said.
Emma nodded before tilting her head to the side.
"Help me with the bags?" Emma asked.
"Of course," Regina smiled.
And Emma just wrapped her arms around Regina's waist pulling her closer to her body before claiming her lips in a kiss, unable to resist her smile.
Because that smile lit something in the pit of her stomach and spread its warmth through her whole body.
And then nested in her heart.
Emma broke the kiss slowly, smiling against Regina's lips at the protest moan she made.
"Come on," Emma pulled on Regina's hand "Let's go get the bags before Henry shows up and protests about us kissing"
Regina chuckled, following Emma to the trunk.
"He does like to complain about that," Regina said.
"Well, he is better to get used to it," Emma said. They stopped in front of the trunk where Emma pressed her lips against Regina's again "Because I am never going to stop kissing you"
"Oh great," Henry said "So now I'll have to grow up watching this?"
Emma clicked her tongue and looked behind her, Regina laughing in front of her.
"How is it even possible that you always manage to snick in when we are making out?" Emma asked.
"Do you think I like that?" Henry asked "You are always kissing my mom"
"I'm not always kissing you, mom," Emma rolled her eyes "Believe me, I wish I was" Emma murmured to Regina.
"What did you say?" Henry asked.
"Nothing," Emma winked at Regina "Alright, let's get these things out"
Emma pulled Regina's suitcase from the trunk, the material dropping heavily on the floor.
"Jesus, Regina," Emma said "What the hell did you even pack in here?"
"I told you, the basics," Regina gestured with her hand.
Emma picked up her duffle bag from the trunk and then closed it, the three of them walking back inside the house.
"Ma, let me show you my room," Henry said, running to the stairs.
"Explain to me, how are you going to carry that suitcase upstairs?" Emma asked.
Regina clicked her tongue looking at the stairs and then at her suitcase.
"Perhaps I did pack too much," Regina said.
"Thank you," Emma said back laughing lightly at the look Regina gave her "Here, take my bag, I'll go up with your suitcase"
"I'll help you," Regina said.
"Nah, I got it," Emma kissed her.
They walked together to the stairs, Regina with Emma's duffle bag hanging over her shoulder and Emma pulling on the suitcase handle, step by step.
When Emma finished the last step, both her hands and back were grateful for it.
"Henry's bedroom is that way," Regina pointed to the right.
"Alright," Emma said.
Regina put the duffle bag on top of her suitcase and then intertwined her fingers with Emma, pulling her to Henry's bedroom.
Down the hall to the right.
Regina knocked gently on the open door, announcing their presence.
And Henry smiled when he saw them, from his place in the middle of the bed.
"Wow, kid," Emma said entering the bedroom "Nice room"
"I have my own balcony," Henry said.
And indeed he had.
The bedroom was big, bigger than his room in the mansion.
The Storybrooke mansion.
The ceiling was high, with wood frames crossing each other like a chessboard.
He also had a bigger bed in the middle of the room, and a fireplace in the corner, and again, the woodwork on the furniture almost felt like it was handmade for him.
Not to mention, the balcony with the view of the lake.
Emma looked around the room, completely mesmerized by its beauty.
And deeply grateful that he had been adopted by Regina and had the opportunity of calling a place like this home.
Regina snaked her arms around Emma's waist, resting her chin, on Emma's shoulder.
"Do you like it?" Regina asked.
"It's beautiful," Emma said back, her eyes still looking at the details of the bedroom.
Regina pulled her closer, pushing their bodies together.
She kissed Emma's cheek gently and then pressed her lips on her ear.
"Would you like to see our bedroom now?" Regina whispered.
Emma covered Regina's arms with her own, smiling.
"Yes, please,"
Regina kissed her cheek again, before letting go of Emma's waist.
And the lack of contact made the need for Regina echo through her body.
"Henry, unpack your backpack," Regina said "And do not leave your clothes hanging on top of every piece of furniture"
"I don't do that," Henry said and then laughed when Regina arched an eyebrow "Much!"
Regina chuckled and walked to Henry, kissing the top of his head.
And then she smiled at Emma, winking sinfully at her before intertwining their fingers together and pulling Emma out of Henry's bedroom.
"Where is your bedroom?" Emma asked when they entered the hallway.
"Our," Regina squeezed her hand "It's down the hall on the other side"
"Far away from Henry's bedroom," Emma said "How convenient"
Regina squeezed her hand again, smiling wickedly at her.
That smile could easily put her to her knees.
They stopped to pick up Regina's suitcase, pulling it to the last bedroom in the hallway.
And when Regina opened the door, Emma's mouth fell open.
Because the room was not only beautiful but screamed Regina.
The entire interior was made of blackwood with high-relief rectangular frames on the wall the bed was pressed to.
The ceiling was high too, but unlike Henry's, it had a triangle shape with massive black wood pieces sticking up and in the center of the room, there was a chandelier made of black glass and golden details.
But what caught Emma's attention the most was the huge glass door that led to the balcony.
Emma walked inside the room, opening the door to the balcony.
The balcony was huge, made of the same black wood on the floor. It had a small round table with two chairs tucked inside.
And the most beautiful view of the lake, because from there, Emma could truly see everything.
From the immensity of the lake to the pine woods behind it.
And on the corner of the left side, just to make that space even more perfect, there was a hot tub
"What do you think?"
Emma turned around, watching Regina leaning casually against the door frame.
"I think we should forget Storybrooke and just move in here," Emma said.
Regina smiled and walked to Emma, wrapping her arms around her waist.
And then she just leaned forward kissing Emma's lips gently, taking her breath away.
"I want you to give your personal touch," Regina said "Not just here in the cabin but back in the mansion too. I want you to truly feel like you are home, Emma"
"I am," Emma nodded, emotions already clogging her throat "With you, I am home"
"Good," Regina smiled "So leave your clothes hanging on the armchair, or hang some horrible piece of art on the walls, I don't care. As long as I know that it is you"
Emma smiled at Regina, pressing her lips against hers.
For the first time in her existence, ever since she met Regina, Emma truly felt like she was home.
Regina was lifting a branch, waiting for Emma and Henry to pass under it.
She wanted to show Emma her special place in the woods.
What had truly captured her heart about that particular area.
The cabin had originally been a safe place, in case she ever had to run away from the townfolk's wrath.
She had one place in the city where she could hide, which was her vault.
And then another here, in the heart of the woods.
She had stumbled across the place accidentally one day when she was bored out of her mind of the same days repeating themselves almost like a loop.
It came to a point where Regina actually looked forward to the celebratory days the curse had put on their minds not to make them aware of the repeated days.
Such as the Miners Day.
Her revenge only truly filled her heart on the first year that she arrived in this new land.
After that, everything just became incredibly boring.
So Regina took it upon herself to explore the town, all the nooks, and crooks of the city, and then when there was nothing left to explore there, she ventured into the woods.
It was in one of these explorations that she found this place.
It took her breath away the first time she laid her eyes upon the lake and the pine trees surrounding it.
Sitting on the sand and watching the simple beauty of the lake calmingly running gave her a sense of peace.
It filled the hole she had in her heart.
For a while, anyway.
So, Regina, had Marco build her the cabin.
It was a pain in the ass because when the day reset, he and his crew had no idea what they were doing.
So Regina had to keep them there, with a note trapped in every surface of the cabin, their cars, and the tents she forced them to sleep in so that they were to continue to work on the cabin.
It took five years for the cabin to be finished.
And Regina still remembered how she gasped for air when she saw the place ready.
And that hasn't changed since.
It was her refuge for so many years. There were times when she spent more time in that cabin alone than in town.
It wasn't like she was needed anyway.
For the longest time, the stillness of the place was all Regina needed to keep her mind and soul at peace.
To make that roar of rage stop screaming in her brain and boiling in her blood.
Until the day she felt that hole again, aching deeper inside her heart.
And she made the best decision she could have ever made in her life.
She found Henry.
Had Gold found him for her, anyway.
The day she held Henry in her arms, everything changed in her life.
He was the first spark of love she felt in a very, very long time.
She loved him with everything she had.
And if it wasn't for Henry, she would have never found Emma.
If it wasn't for the love she felt for him she would have never let the love she felt for Emma in.
The anger and thirst for revenge she had would never have allowed her to acknowledge what Emma was to her.
Her true love.
And Regina couldn't imagine a curse worse than never loving Emma.
Because Emma owned her heart.
Emma and Henry were her whole heart.
"Where exactly are you guys taking me?" Emma asked.
Regina intertwined her fingers with Emma, both of them walking behind Henry.
"It's not far," Henry said.
It was nearing the end of the afternoon already and Regina just felt that pull in her heart, to take Emma to her special place in the woods.
A place she had only ever shared with Henry.
"Alright," Emma laughed.
She turned her head to look at Regina, eying her pants again.
"I swear, you are the only person I know who goes hiking in the woods wearing tailoring pants," Emma said.
"I forgot to pack leggings," Regina said through gritted teeth.
"You packed a family-size suitcase to come to the woods and you remembered to put on tailoring pants but not leggings?" Emma asked.
"Well, if I remember correctly, you were distracting me when I was packing," Regina squeezed her hand.
"Oh yeah," Emma laughed.
"Oh, God," Henry said disapprovingly.
Emma laughed again, the sound warming something inside Regina.
"What about jeans?" Emma asked.
"Do I look like the kind of woman who wears jeans?" Regina said slightly offended.
"I don't even know what that means," Emma laughed.
And then she simply stopped walking, nearly making Regina fall when she pulled her by the hand.
"Are you seriously telling me that you have never worn a piece of jeans in your life?" Emma asked.
"Nope!" Regina said.
"Never?" Emma asked shocked.
"Never," Regina said back.
"Kid?" Emma asked, "Is she telling the truth?"
"I don't know, I don't notice these things," Henry shrugged "Use your lie detector"
Emma looked at Regina for a long time but Regina remained the perfect picture of bored coldness.
She wasn't giving anything away.
"I can't tell," Emma tilted her head to the side.
"Well then," Regina hummed "Shall we continue?"
Regina tugged on Emma's hand, urging her to keep walking.
They didn't have too much time to spend on the trail, otherwise, they would miss what Regina wanted to show her.
"How is that even possible?" Emma asked.
"What, dear?" Regina asked.
"How is it possible that you never wore jeans in your life?" Emma asked, "What about when you were a teen?"
"I don't think they had jeans in the Enchanted Forest, Ma," Henry said.
And Emma just burst out laughing.
Even Regina chuckled.
Although, it was true.
Jeans didn't exist back in her time.
And even if it did, she would never be allowed to wear it.
"I guess that explains everything," Emma said, bits of laughter still escaping her lips "At least you are wearing proper shoes"
"You think I can't walk in these woods with heels?" Regina arched an eyebrow.
"Oh, I am positive that you can," Emma said "And that is definitely witchcraft"
"I don't think mom can do that right now," Henry said, jumping a thick trunk on the ground.
"Of course, she can't," Emma rolled her eyes playfully.
Emma gave a step in front of Regina, crossing the trunk and then gallantly offering Regina her other hand to help her cross it.
Which Regina eagerly took.
Not because she needed help, but because she would never refuse Emma's touch.
"We are here," Henry said.
"Where?" Emma asked, looking around.
"We just have to turn to the right in the clearing," Henry laughed.
And Regina smiled, squeezing Emma's hand between hers as they walked.
Henry knew that pathway so well.
And he treasured it just as much as Regina did.
She could only hope Emma would treasure its beauty too.
Regina gave a step in front of Emma when they entered the clearing, pulling Emma behind her.
And the second they turned to the right, there it was the reason why Regina loved that place so much.
The sunset.
"Wow," Emma said behind her.
Regina pulled Emma with her to the edge of the large rock that was the clearing.
The pathway from the cabin to the clearing was going up inside closed woods and up there, the woods opened to a clearing that led to a rock on top of a moutan.
And from up there, they could oversee the whole woods.
Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's waist, pulling her body closer to hers.
Letting the proximity of their bodies intoxicate her.
"It's beautiful," Emma said, covering Regina's arms with her own.
She wasn't wearing heels but the platform of the boots she was wearing at least made her as tall as Emma.
"Look Ma," Henry said on the edge of the rock "Our cabin is there"
Emma leaned forward in Regina's arms, to look in the direction Henry was pointing.
The cabin looked so small from where they were standing.
"This is the best sunset you will ever see in your life," Henry said and looked up at Regina "Right, mom?"
"Right," Regina smiled at Henry.
Emma leaned on Regina's body, melting her body with hers and tightening Regina's embrace around her waist.
And Regina just kissed her cheek, letting her lips linger in there for a minute too long before pressing her cheek with Emma's.
She watched the dance of colors in the sky, from soft yellow to bright orange and pink, as the sun disappeared slowly in front of their eyes.
It was beautiful the first time she saw it.
Stunning when it was just her and Henry.
But now that her whole family was here, the sight was simply magnificent.
It took her breath away.
But she couldn't say it was just for the sunset.
Having Emma in her arms, swaying softly to the wind as the sunset colors danced in front of her eyes was an experience so unique Regina knew she was going to treasure it for the rest of her life.
"This is so beautiful," Emma whispered.
"It almost makes you believe in a God, doesn't it?" Regina said "I think only something Godly could have created something so beautiful"
"It does, yes," Emma said softly, her fingers lightly running over Regina's skin.
"Look," Henry said pointing at the sky "The moon is out"
Regina smiled when she looked up at the sky.
The sun hadn't set completely yet, but right above them, the moon was already big and full, fighting for its beauty in the still light blue sky.
And the contrast between the silver of the moon and the red of the sun made Regina pull Emma closer to her.
She wanted to remember the feeling of having every inch of Emma pressed against her body.
She wanted to remember every detail of the purest happiness of this moment.
Emma turned her head to Regina, kissing her cheek.
And her heart skipped a beat when Emma pressed her lips against her skin.
Just like her knee gave in for a fraction of a second.
The sun went down and down and down until there was only a tip on the horizon.
"We should get down, mom," Henry said.
Regina nodded at Henry, kissing Emma's shoulder before letting go of her.
And she swore she could hear every bone in her body screaming in protest, whispering she shouldn't dare let go of her.
But Regina never would.
Not by her choice.
Only hers. Only Emma's.
"Did you bring the flashlights?" Regina asked.
"Yep," Henry said, reaching inside his backpack "But we have to change the batteries of the lights in the trees. I noticed some of them weren't lighting up as we were walking"
Henry handed one flashlight to Regina and another to Emma before picking up one for himself.
"You can do that tomorrow morning," Regina smiled.
Regina stretched her arm to Emma, waiting for her to take her hand.
And she smiled when Emma didn't even hesitate in taking her hand and then she smiled brighter when Emma pulled her into her arms, kissing her lips.
"Yeah, I'm definitely walking ahead," Henry said "Ma, try not to kiss mom on our way down. You don't know the land as we do"
"Well," Emma laughed "I'm sure that if I do that your mom won't let me fall on my ass"
Emma winked at her, pulling Regina down with her behind Henry.
And Regina just squeezed her hand between hers, holding her tight as they made their way down.
Because no, Regina would never let Emma fall.
No matter what happened in their lives, Regina would always catch Emma before she hit the ground.
Emma was laughing lightly, the sound echoing in her heart.
She was sitting on the living room floor, her back pressed against the couch, and Regina sitting between her legs.
Emma pulled Regina closer, pressing her back against her front.
The heat from her skin was warming her body, and it was nearly impossible for Emma to keep her hands to herself.
She wanted to trace every inch of Regina's skin with the tip of her fingers.
And then again with her tongue.
Regina laid her head on Emma's shoulder, smiling lazily up at her.
And Emma's breath got caught in her throat, her heart racing inside her chest.
Regina was so devastatingly beautiful.
Emma leaned down, claiming Regina's lips in a kiss, sucking in the warm air from Regina's breath.
She moved her lips slowly, savoring her tongue, the faint taste of the wine glass she had for dinner still lingering on her breath.
Accentuating her flavor.
Emma swept her tongue over the roof of Regina's mouth, deepening the kiss.
Regina lifted her hand to Emma,'s throat, running her fingers to the back of her neck and then grabbing a handful of hair and pulling it, hard enough to make a rush of wetness soak Emma's panties, but light enough so it wouldn't hurt.
Emma lifted the hem of Regina's blouse, sinking her fingers into the side of her stomach.
And then she moved her fingers up, slowly, letting her fingertips memorize the feel of Regina's soft skin.
She had just reached the crease under her breast when a loud noise made Regina pull away from her abruptly.
"Henry?" Regina shouted worried.
"I'm okay," Henry shouted back.
Emma pulled her hand away from under Regina's shirt, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"You need help, kid?" Emma shouted.
"No, I got it," Henry shouted back.
Regina pulled Emma's hands away from her waist, implying that she was about to rise.
But Emma pulled her back, flushing their bodies together and then kissing her cheek.
"The hell do you think you are doing?" Emma asked.
"I'm getting away from you," Regina seriously.
"Why?" Emma asked confused.
"Because if Henry had walked in here when we were… you know…" Regina blushed "It's best if I sit over there"
Regina pointed at the spot across the coffee table in front of them, but Emma just tightened her embrace around her.
"Not gonna happen," Emma said.
"Emma!" Regina hit her knee lightly.
"I'll behave," Emma kissed her cheek again "I promise"
"Do you?" Regina lifted her head to look at Emma.
"Yes," Emma lowered her head to press her lips against Regina's "Well, sort of"
Regina chuckled, resting her head on Emma's shoulder again.
And Emma closed her eyes and kissed Regina's temple before pressing her cheek against her hair, just letting herself feel the calmness of simply having Regina in her arms.
A moment passed before Henry walked into the living room again.
"I found the game," Henry said.
"What was that noise?" Regina asked.
"Just dropped some board games on the floor," Henry said "But don't worry, I put everything back in place"
"Im not worried about the games," Regina said "I'm worried about you"
"I'm fine, mom," Henry laughed.
"Well, good," Regina smiled "So, what are we playing?"
"WAR," Henry said excitedly.
"War?" Emma frowned.
"Oh, yes," Regina smiled wickedly "Bring it on, Henry"
"You are going down, mom," Henry said back.
"Okay, what's happening?" Emma asked looking between Henry and Regina.
"Let's just say that when mom and I are playing," Henry said "We use every weapon we can to win"
"Excuse me?" Emma asked.
"Don't worry, dear," Regina rubbed her hands "You don't stand a chance tonight"
"Hey," Emma protested "What makes you think I can't win the game?"
Henry looked at Regina and they both laughed wickedly, making the hairs on Emma's arm stand up.
"Henry, can you push the coffee table in our direction?" Regina asked.
"Sure,"
Henry pushed the coffee table in their direction, the tiny balls under the feet of the wood making it slide easily on the floor.
And then Regin leaned forward, helping Henry to set the game on top of the coffee table.
"I'm blue," Henry said taking the blue pieces "Black, mom?"
"Yes, honey," Regina said.
"Ma?" Henry asked.
"Oh," Emma leaned forward, pressing her chin on Regina's shoulder "The white one"
"Alright,"
Henry shuffled the cards, and then each one of the retrieved one from it.
And the way Regina leaned her body away from Emma when she was reading her goal, almost made Emma chuckle.
Almost.
Henry split the territory cards between them before they arranged their armies on the board territories.
And so it began.
"Alright," Emma cleared her throat "Henry, I want three against two right here" Emma tapped at a territory on the board.
"Ma," Henry said in a small voice "You are going to attack me?"
"Don't fall for that, Emma," Regina said, looking seriously at Henry.
"I only have two arms there, Ma," Henry said again, his voice the purity of the age.
"Okay, alright," Emma laughed.
She looked at the board again before pointing at another territory.
"Regina, three against one here," Emma said.
"You are attacking me?" Regina put her hand over her heart "I only have one arm there"
"Well, I have to attack someone," Emma said.
"Yeah, attack her," Henry said.
"No, attack Henry," Regina said "You don't want to see me sad, do you?" Regina blinked her eyes innocently at her.
"Ma, I'm only a child," Henry said, covering his heart.
Emma blinked her eyes, her lips parted as she looked between Henry and Regina.
"You two are evil," Emma said.
And the way Henry and Regina smiled at each other told Emma only one story.
They didn't care.
The rest of the game was brutal.
They crushed Emma to the point she had no army left and neither one of their goals was to destroy the white army.
And then they fought against each other, scheming and pleading to convince the other to surrender.
None of them did.
And in the end, neither one of them won or lost.
Except her.
"Well, that was fun," Emma said sarcastically.
"You've seen nothing," Henry laughed.
"Good game today, Henry," Regina smiled.
"You too, mom," Henry smiled back.
Now that the game was over, their souls had returned to their bodies.
"Do you guys want to watch a movie?" Henry asked "I'm not sleepy yet"
"Of course, honey," Regina said.
So Henry popped a DVD on and then nestled on Regina's lap.
And the three of them sat there, watching the movie, Regina in her arms, and Henry in their arms, Emma felt that bliss of pure love roar in her blood, humming in her heart.
She surrendered completely to her family.
Regina was on the porch, looking at the silver glow the moon was reflecting on the lake, illuminating the night.
The wind was blowing gently, kissing her cheeks with a velvety touch of coldness.
Enough for her to feel its chill, but not enough to freeze her skin.
Regina closed her eyes, smiling softly at the vast darkness in front of her.
She was so happy.
Her heart was humming softly inside her chest, her soul in a divine stillness.
She felt love.
True love.
For Emma and Henry.
Her family.
Regina opened her eyes slowly when she felt Emma's arms snaking around her waist, her lips kissing the spot between Regina's neck and shoulder.
Regina covered Emma's arms with her own, pressing her body closer to Emma's, melting herself in her.
"Was he still asleep when you put him in bed?" Regina asked.
Henry fell asleep on top of her when they were watching the movie and Emma carried him up to his room.
"The kid didn't even move," Emma laughed softly.
Regina turned on Emma's embrace, wrapping her arms around her neck, and pulling her closer for a kiss.
She moved her lips slowly with Emma's, sucking her warm breath and savoring her tongue and lips as she kissed her.
Every inch of her body begged for more.
She wanted Emma's skin on hers.
She wanted to trace her with lips, fingers, and tongue.
Emma broke the kiss, pulling on Regina's lower lip with her teeth.
And her whole skin shivered hotly.
Regina laid her head on Emma's shoulder, needing a minute to calm the savage fire burning in her veins.
The need to consume Emma, inch by inch.
Emma tightened her arms around her waist, swaying with her gently.
The wind was blowing strong now, singing a sinfonia of howls with the trees that were as heavy as it was beautiful.
It was just them.
Nothing else existed to Regina, nothing but Emma, and the feel of her body pressed against hers, and the gentle rock of their bodies, dancing to the music of the night.
"I love you," Emma whispered.
Regina stiffened against Emma's body, the air caught in her throat.
She pulled away from Emma slowly, her heart racing desperately inside her chest, and eyes already burning with tears.
"What did you say?" Regina whispered.
Emma reached for Regina's cheek, smiling gently at her, caressing her cheek.
"I love you," Emma said "I can't hold it back anymore, Regina. I needed to tell you. I wanted to tell you. I'm in love with you. I love you"
Regina closed her eyes, letting the tears fall from her eyes, Emma's words anchoring deeply into her heart.
She knew Emma loved her.
She knew what Emma felt for her was the same as Regina did.
She was her true love.
Emma was the one her heart belonged to.
But just as fast as the words sank into her heart, just as fast as that bliss consumed her soul, it also ripped her apart.
Because Regina could not say it back.
Saying it back would put Emma's life in danger.
Regina opened her eyes and looked at Emma, her heart sinking inside her chest.
She looked so hopeful back at Regina, and that single look cut deeper than any physical pain.
Regina moved her hands from behind Emma's neck, holding her face between her hands.
"Just give me one year," Regina said, tears falling softly down the corner of her eyes "Just one year Emma, and I swear to you, I swear on everything I hold dear, just give me one year, and then I'll spend the rest of life telling these words back to you"
Emma looked at her curiously before pulling one of Regina's hands to her lips, and then the other.
"Why one year?" Emma asked.
Regina shook her head, her heart bleeding inside her chest.
"I just need one year," Regina said softly "And then on your twenty-nine birthday, I will tell you those words back and then… then I will never stop telling you how much I," Regina took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second before looking at Emma again "Then I will never stop telling those words back to you"
Emma looked intensely at Regina, her gaze searching her eyes.
"Is the reason why you need this time because of your secret?" Emma asked.
Regina lowered her eyes, shame shattering her soul.
"Yes," Regina whispered.
Emma reached under her chin, lifting her eyes back to hers.
"Okay," Emma nodded "I will give you one year. But here is the thing, Regina, when this one year is over, when I turn twenty-nine, whatever this date means to you and your secret, I will not wait for a second longer to hear it. I want to spend the rest of my life telling you how much I love you and I want to hear you say it back to me"
"I will," Regina said, pressing her hand against Emma's heart "I swear to you, I will not let a day go by without you knowing how much those words are true"
Emma leaned forward, capturing Regina's lips in a kiss.
And Regina kissed her back fiercely, every stroke of her tongue and brush of her lips against Emma's was a vow of the words that lived in her heart and branded her soul.
She loved her.
She loved Emma.
Her heart belonged to her.
And Regna craved for the year to pass by them, as fast as the wind was stirring the tips of the pine trees.
Because her heart was humming the same melody of love the howls of the wind were.
And she wanted nothing more than to be one with Emma.
Regina broke the kiss, her breath slightly ragged.
"Perhaps I can't tell you these words yet," Regina said "But I can show you how deeply they live in my heart"
Emma smiled softly at Regina, nodding her consent.
Regina intertwined her fingers with Emma's, pulling her inside the house, up the stairs, and then, to their bedroom.
Regina closed the door behind them, pulling Emma to the edge of the bed.
And then she sunk her fingers into Emma's waist, pulling her body against hers and capturing her lips in a kiss.
Regina moved her lips against Emma's, slowly first before growing demanding.
Her tongue invaded Emma's parted lips, moving with hers, teeth scrapping and lips sucking as she brought Emma closer and closer to her body, melting into her.
Emma was worth everything to her.
And Regina vowed she would always keep her safe, no matter what the consequences were.
Because what she felt for Emma was something true and pure, something that went beyond her existence in the world.
She knew, she could feel with every fiber of her being, every beat of her heart, and every inch of her soul.
Emma was her true love.
On the past, the present, and the future.
Emma was the one her heart would always seek, the soul hers would always be intertwined with.
Regina didn't care about the curse anymore.
At least not in the way she was supposed to care about it.
Keeping the curse safe wasn't about protecting her secret anymore, it was about protecting Emma.
In this world, in this land, in this curse, Gold had no real power.
Whatever he wanted from Emma, whatever the reason was for him to force her to make that deal with him…
Regina knew he was waiting.
She knew he wanted Emma to break the curse and that he wouldn't ask for the favor until that happened.
Regina had no idea what breaking the curse would entitle, if he somehow would get his powers back.
Which was why she wasn't risking.
That man poisoned everything he touched.
But she would never let him poison Emma.
Emma moaned lowly inside Regina's mouth, making her whole body tremble with desire.
Her moans were a sound Regina wanted to spend an eternity listening to, echoing in the room they were in, rippling through every pore of her skin.
Regina broke the kiss, every gasp for air a roar in her blood to have Emma.
She sank to her knees, her eyes locking with Emma's as she unbuttoned her pants and pulled the zipper down.
Emma was the only one Regina would fall to her knees for.
She was the only one Regina would ever submit to.
Regina pulled Emma's pants down, watching every ragged breath Emma took as the material slid down and down her beautiful long legs.
And when her jeans were pooled around her ankles, Regina gently removed the brown leather strapped sandals Emma was wearing, one and then the other before removing the jeans completely.
Regina looked up again, the intensity of Emma's stare pulling on the pit of her stomach, drenching her panties.
She craved to touch Emma, to give her pleasure, to make her feel just how much Regina loved her.
Regina hooked her fingers around the sides of Emma's panties, pulling them down.
And when the material reached her ankles, Emma stepped out of them, tossing it away herself.
Regina traced her fingers around Emma's ankle and slid them slowly up her shin, her smooth skin warming at Regina's touch.
She traced her fingertips behind Emma's knee and smiled when her legs gave way slightly at her touch.
"Regina," Emma whispered.
Regina kissed Emma's inner thigh, right above her knee, one kiss and then another, before licking her way higher.
The scent of Emma's pleasure was thick and delicious, her juices were already soaking her cunt, glistering and inviting, begging Regina to drink her.
It was intoxicating.
Regina could feel her breath accelerating to the proximity, her mouth watering, and craving to taste Emma, to lick her, to devour her until she came hard inside her mouth.
Regina moved her lips to Emma's other leg, kissing and licking and kissing again, until the joint of Emma's pelvis.
She licked her flesh there, Emma's hands closing on top of her hair and tugging it lightly.
"Fuck, Regina," Emma said in a choked voice "Please"
Regina looked up at Emma, locking eyes with her.
She smiled at her and then run the tip of her tongue slowly over her up lip before moving her head to Emma's center.
Regina opened Emma's pussy with her fingers, exposing Emma to her.
And then she licked her flatly, gathering her sticky juices in her tongue and swallowing them.
There was nothing that could ever compare to the taste of Emma.
She was sweet and salty at the same time.
And her smell, fuck, the smell of her pleasure alone, the way she got wet for Regina, the way she was always so ready to be touched by her was shamelessly arousing.
Regina could feel herself drenching just as much.
And that fire fueled by desire consumed her whole with the first taste of Emma's pleasure.
Regina licked Emma again feeling Emma's legs tremble around her.
She moved one hand to Emma's ass, squeezing her flesh tightly and bringing her cunt closer to her mouth.
Emma was hers to consume tonight.
Emma pulled on Regina's hair again, her ragged breaths and moans sounding like a sweet melody.
Regina looked up at her again, locking eyes with Emma before entering her with her tongue.
And then she watched Emma squirm in pleasure as Regina moved her tongue inside of her and rubbed her clit with her thumb.
Emma threw her head back, opening her legs wider and then tugging on Regina's hair closer to her cunt.
Regina watched her every expression, the way she sunk her teeth in her lower lip, the way she rubbed herself on Regina's face the way she held her breath when Regina touched a particularly sensitive spot.
And her moans…
So indecent.
So depraved.
So lustful.
She was stunning.
And she was hers.
Regina moved her tongue deeper inside her, applying pressure to her clit.
Emma tightened her grip on Regina's hair, her fingers sinking on Regina's scalp in wordless command for her not to stop.
Regina moved her tongue from inside Emma to her clit, closing her lips there.
She sucked Emma's clit hard inside her mouth and then teased the bundle of nerves with the tip of her tongue.
She could feel Emma was close.
Her moans were getting louder and the space in between Emma took breaths was shorter.
Regina sucked Emma's clit again and then flicked her tongue around it. She kept the tip of her tongue flicking around Emma's clit and then her thumb rubbing it, applying the pressure Emma so desperately needed.
And then she melted in her tongue.
Emma came shamelessly in her mouth, a silent scream for Regina's name escaping her lips.
Her legs were quivering around Regina, her juices were beautifully drenching her pussy, and every gasp for air she took as the orgasm washed over her made the tips of her breast rub harder against the blouse she was wearing.
And fuck, Regina wanted them in her mouth too.
Emma let go of Regina's hair, looking down at her.
And then she just fell to her knees on top of Regina, her legs unable to keep her standing a second longer.
Regina sat on the floor, pulling Emma to her lap.
Emma buried her face in Regina's shoulder, trying to regain her breath.
Regina ran her hands over Emma's hair softly, dropping gentle kisses over her hair, waiting for Emma to come back to her.
"That was intense," Emma said after a moment.
"You are beautiful when you come," Regina said.
Emma lifted her head from Regina's shoulder, smiling cheekily at her.
"You are so romantic," Emma teased.
Regina smiled sideways at her, sliding her hands to Emma's ass and pulling her closer.
"You are stunning when you are gasping for air while I'm fucking you," Regina said.
Emma swallowed dry, Regina's eyes narrowing in her throat.
She moved her lips to Emma's throat, kissing it softly and then another lower and lower.
"Fuck," Emma said out of breath.
"What?" Regina looked at Emma.
"I'm getting horny again," Emma bit her lower lip.
Regina smiled and capture Emma's lips in a kiss, letting her taste herself on her lips.
She moved her hands to the hem of Emma's blouse and then pulled it up her body, only breaking the kiss to leave Emma completely bare for her.
Regina ran her finger between Emma's breasts, her breath getting shallow.
And eyes burning with lust.
The tips of Emma's breasts were hard and the way she was breathing made them move up and down deliciously.
"Suck them," Emma commanded.
Regina lifted her eyes to Emma, watching the fire burn behind her green eyes.
And then she lowered her head to Emma's right breast, sucking it inside her mouth, the nipple hard against her tongue.
Emma arched her back, sinking her fingers in Regina's thighs.
Regina hooked one arm around Emma's waist to keep her safe and then flicked her tongue around her nipple before sucking her breast again.
"Regina," Emma moaned deliciously.
Regina licked her way to Emma's left breast, sucking and licking and teasing her nipple until it became slightly swollen and was covered in her saliva.
"Kiss me," Emma whispered.
Regina moved her lips to Emma's lips, kissing her desperately and needing.
She ached for Emma, ached for every inch of her, ached to make her fall apart by her touch in the most delicious way.
But most importantly, she ached for her to feel, for her to know even without words how much she loved her.
Because Emma was everything to her.
Emma was her true love.
The only woman Regina would ever love until she took her last breath on this earth.
It would only be her.
Always.
Forever.
Emma.
Regina pressed her forehead against Emma's, both of them breathing heavily.
Emma reached for Regina's face, holding her cheeks between her hands and locking eyes with her.
"I love you," Emma said.
Regina felt her words in her heart.
Branding her forever.
Regina covered Emma's hands with her own, pressing her forehead against hers.
She wanted to say it back so badly.
It was ripping her apart not to.
Shattering everything inside of her.
"I know you love me too," Emma whispered "I can feel it"
Regina looked back at Emma, a silver line shining behind her eyes.
She just nodded.
Nodded what she desperately couldn't put into words.
Not yet.
Emma kissed her lips, moving slowly and gently, her warm breath tickling her lips.
"Fuck me," Emma whispered against Regina's lips.
She kissed her again, her lips moving roughly against hers now, growing demander.
"I need your fingers buried inside of me," Emma whispered again.
Regina looked into Emma's eyes, her entire skin shivering and breathing accelerating at the hunger consuming her eyes.
They were more black than green now, and the scent of Emma combined with the scent of what they were doing was thick in the air.
Devastating her in the most indecent way.
Emma reached for Regina's hand, slowly pushing two fingers inside her mouth.
She rolled her tongue around Regina's fingers, sucking them deep inside her throat, and covering them with her saliva.
Regina watched her mesmerized.
Beautiful didn't cover.
She was stunning.
An embodiment of a fucking Goddess.
Her own clit was aching inside her panties, mercilessly soaking her cunt.
Emma held Regina's wrist, slowly pushing her fingers from inside her mouth.
She hooked her arms around Regina's neck, her eyes never leaving hers as Regina lowered her hand to her pussy and pushed her fingers deliciously and unstoppable inside of her.
Emma arched her back, moaning Regina's name when her fingers entered her.
And then she moved in and out in and out again, riding Regina's fingers, lips parted, hands sinking into her neck, and eyes that never left hers.
Regina watched her every move.
The way her breasts bounced, the droplets of sweat between them, the ragged sobs that escaped her lips.
She rode her fingers deep and desperate, taking pleasure in each trust.
Regina moved her thumb to her clit, circling the nerve before taking her breast in her mouth and sucking her nipple hard and deeply, wanting nothing more than letting Emma lose herself completely in pleasure.
She wanted Emma spent in her arms.
Emma moaned her name, her breathing becoming shallower and shallower.
She rode Regina harder and harder and then screamed her name when she soaked her fingers with her come before falling to Regina's shoulder again.
Buring her head on her neck.
Regina wrapped her arms around Emma, rubbing her back softly.
She was still convulsing in her arms, the aftershocks of her orgasm washing over her.
"Take me to bed," Emma said, her voice thick and wonderfully rough.
She rose from Regina's lap, her legs slightly shaken and pussy beautifully swollen.
And body covered in sweat and red marks.
Regina rose from the ground, intertwining her fingers with Emma's and walking with her to the bed.
She pulled the sheets to the side and let Emma kneel on the mattress and then lay in the middle of the bed.
Brutally beautiful.
"I want you naked," Emma said roughly "Take off your clothes"
Regina stripped herself slowly, letting Emma watch every inch of her skin that was exposed.
And then she laid naked on top of her, letting the heat of her skin warm hers and the scent of her pleasure inebriate her.
She kissed Emma's lips, her fingers lazily tracing up and down her body.
And then she let her tongue run over her flesh, drawing gasps and pleasure from her, over and over and over again, until her touch covered how deeply her feelings for her were.
Love.
I noticed that FF is not notifying you guys by email about the new chapters. From what I've been reading in some groups, you need to enable email notifications in your account by going to "Alerts" and then changing the notification from"No" to "Yes". Let me know if you're having any problems and if I can help in any way.
P.S.: I can not reply to guest comments, unfortunately, FF doesn't give me that option.