Lunch time rolled around quickly. It was now half-past twelve and Emma had just entered town hall and was on her way to the mayor's office. She really hoped that Regina gave her the job. It would give them time to get to know each other again.
She wondered just how different this version of Regina was from the Regina she fell in love with, though from what she had seen so far, she already liked this side of her and she supposed she would probably like all versions of the beautiful brunette.
She made her way into the waiting area and her eyes went wide as she spotted someone else that she knew quite well.
'Oriel,' she grinned as she walked over to the secretary's desk. It seemed that no matter what the circumstances, this woman would always be Regina's right hand.
Oriel looked up from where she was typing on her computer and eyed the blonde in front of her curiously. She was beautiful, and she wondered why she hadn't seen her around before.
'Can I help you?' she smirked as she roved her eyes up and down the blonde's body.
Emma smirked right back as she watched the red head check her out. 'Omg, she has a crush on me again,' she thought to herself with a laugh. 'My Regina will be furious when she finds out.'
'I have a meeting with the mayor. My name's Emma, Emma Swan,' she replied as she moved closer to Oriel's desk.
Oriel checked the computer but couldn't see an appointment for Emma in the mayor's planner. 'You're not down on here, and I can't let you in otherwise.'
Emma sighed. 'She only asked me to come in this morning. Maybe she forgot,' she suggested.
Oriel rolled her eyes. 'Mayor Mills never forgets anything.' She sent a quick email to Regina to tell her that Emma was here. 'You're not from round here, are you?' she inquired as she once again looked Emma over.
'No, I'm from Boston. I got here yesterday,' replied Emma as she leaned her arms on Oriel's desk. 'Why? Are you going to offer to show me around?'
Oriel chuckled as she leaned forward into Emma's space and smirked. 'That depends, are you single?'
Emma leaned back a tad. This version of Oriel was not like Sophie. She had expected the woman to blush and turn away. 'I-'.
'If you're quite finished flirting with my secretary, Miss Swan,' spoke Regina from where she was standing at her office door with her arms crossed and her eyebrow raised as she glowered at them both.
The muscles in her jaw clenched tightly as she fought hard to rid herself of the jealousy she had absolutely no right to feel. Emma Swan could flirt with whoever she wanted, and it had nothing to do with her, but that didn't stop her from wanting to rip Oriel's eyes out.
'My office is in here,' she added coldly as she held the door open.
Emma's head instantly whipped round to face Regina. she took in the pinched look on her face and the vein on her head that was pulsing and smirked internally. This version of Regina was apparently also furious, and she completely forgot about Oriel as she moved straight towards Regina's office.
Regina waited for Emma to walk past her before she turned and shut the door. She was just about to turn back around when she felt hot breath in her ear which made her body shiver pleasantly.
'I wasn't flirting with your secretary, Regina. She's cute, but totally not my type. I tend to go more for badass brunettes with bratty attitudes,' whispered Emma hotly as she pressed her front into the brunette's back.
Regina's heart pounded in her chest as her breathing became shallow and heat coiled tightly in her stomach. Her skin tingled from where she could feel Emma's breasts pressed against her back, and she bit down on her lip to hold in the moan she felt trying to escape her throat.
Emma knew she was crossing a line, but it was so hard to have Regina right in front of her, but not actually have her. It was taking all of her self control not to spin the woman around and take her up against her office door, her head span as the sweet scent of apples invaded her nostrils, and she clenched her fists to stop herself from touching the love of her life as she took a deep breath to calm her arousal before she took a step back and put some distance between them.
Regina breathed in deeply as she tried to ignore the feeling of disappointment that had settled in her chest the moment Emma had stepped away from her.
She turned around slowly, coming face to face with a very ashamed looking Emma, whose eyes instantly started darting around the room before they settled on the floor.
'I'm sorry, that was way out of line. I shouldn't have done that,' said Emma quietly as she shook her head. 'You have a fiancée for fuck's sake,' she groaned as she ran a frustrated hand down her face.
She hated this; she hated this whole situation. She just wanted her baby girl back. She wanted her family back, and she wanted to punch Ryder right in his smug face. She clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut as a wave of jealousy rolled through her at the thought of that man putting his filthy, thieving hands all over Regina.
Regina sighed. She couldn't let Emma beat herself up about it when she wasn't exactly innocent, and for some reason, the visual of seeing Emma so distraught over this made her immediately want to make things better.
'It isn't entirely your fault. I've flirted with you too, and I still don't know why, as you said I have a fiancée and I've never been attracted to women before, but -'. she was cut off when she was pushed backwards into her office door as pale pink lips crashed in to her own, making her gasp into Emma's mouth.
Emma let out a low moan as she felt Regina instantly start kissing her back. She couldn't help herself. She had gone far too long without tasting Regina's lips or feeling her body pressed against her own.
She threaded her fingers through soft brown hair and she pulled Regina closer as she pushed her tongue past soft, plump lips that she had missed far too much. The kiss felt like coming home and she never wanted it to end.
As soon as Emma's lips made contact with her own, Regina's brain short circuited. She had kissed people before, of course, but none of them had ever felt like this. It was deep and passionate, but also soft and gentle. It was like a cold breeze on a warm summer's day. It was a kiss that Regina just knew she would remember for the rest of her life.
Emma tasted of chocolate and cinnamon, and she smelled like vanilla and coconut. She moaned as she felt the blonde suck gently on her lower lip, and she moved her hands to her hips, pulling her closer, needing to feel more, to touch more, to taste more, she would take whatever Emma was willing to give her.
She had never felt this strongly about another person. She had never felt this connected or in the moment. It was like nothing else mattered, she could only concentrate on the feel of Emma's hands on her body, the taste of her tongue that was tangled with her own, her intoxicating scent that made her dizzy with arousal, and the delicious sounds that she was pulling from the brunette's own throat.
Emma felt Regina's hips buck as she moved her lips teasingly across her jaw and down her neck, stopping at her pulse point that she could see hammering rapidly against olive toned skin.
She pushed her leg in-between thick thighs so her knee pressed against Regina's slacks covered core before she bit down on her neck and sucked harshly at the skin, making the hand that was in her hair tighten painfully as a loud moan was ripped from Regina's throat and her hips rolled feverishly into Emma's jean clad thigh.
'Fuck, Emma, God, fuck,' cried Regina as her body trembled in pleasure as her clit throbbed needily, her nipples were stiff and straining against her bra while Emma sucked, bit and licked every bit of skin she could get her talented mouth on.
'You're wet for me, aren't you, Regina?' panted Emma into her ear as she pushed her leg further into Regina's heated core. She could feel the dampness soaking through her pants. 'You're dripping, and I bet your pretty little cunt is just aching to be filled by my fingers, my tongue, and my cock.' She heard Regina gasp, and she chuckled darkly. 'That's right, I have a cock, a big fat cock that will stretch and fill you so fucking good.'
She was crossing a line, she knew that but she couldn't stop, she needed to claim back what was hers, she needed to show Regina that she was the only one that could fuck her the way she needed, the way she wanted and the way she craved it.
'Do you want daddy to show you, Gina? Do you want daddy to show you how she owns her little girl?' She growled as the hand that was on Regina's face moved to her neck and squeezed gently while her knee rocked teasingly into Regina's desperate grinding.
Regina whimpered as the ache between her legs became almost unbearable. Emma calling herself daddy and Regina her little girl had ignited something inside her that she didn't fully understand. She was still turned on. In fact, the words had only heightened her arousal, but she also felt small and vulnerable and all her feelings were scary and overwhelming and she didn't know how to handle them.
Emma noticed the change in Regina almost instantly, and she backed off. The brunette's eyes were wide and watery and she was nibbling on her lip nervously as her hands were clenched tightly by her side.
'Shit,' she rushed out as she pulled Regina into her arms and hugged her tightly. She felt the woman stiffen before she relaxed and melted into her as she buried her face in her neck. 'I'm sorry, Gina, I went too far, I should never have done that,' she apologised softly as she rubbed her hand soothingly up and down her back.
Regina whimpered but didn't speak as she buried further into the soft, strong arms that made her feel safe and protected. She knew what was happening. It was something she had become a master at repressing, however today her urges were stronger than they had ever been, one part of her, the part that felt almost childlike, it was screaming at her. It wanted her to go home and get into bed with the teddy she had hid under her bed, it wanted her to colour and watch cartoons while she sat snuggled on Emma's lap, it wanted her to call Emma daddy and let her take care of her but more than that it wanted her to tease her daddy until Emma lost control, pinned her down and fucked the attitude right out of her.
The big part of her was fighting against it, it was telling her that none of that could happen, she was a mother, a mayor, a respectable member of the community, she was an adult not a child and if anyone found out about the thoughts, she was having they'd be repulsed, disgusted, and they'd think she was sick, especially Robin he would never understand and he would probably try to take Zaynah away because after all a child couldn't look after child.
She pulled away from Emma but stayed close as the thoughts of her daughter won the battle for the big side and snapped her out of whatever headspace she has been in a few moments ago.
'That should never have happened,' she said coldly as she avoided eye contact, scared that one look into bright green eyes would have her rushing right back into the woman's arms like she so desperately wanted to. 'And I warn you in future to keep your hands to yourself, I have a fiancée Miss Swan as you know, and this behaviour is inappropriate.'
Emma took a step back out of her space as her whole body felt like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over her. She hadn't witnessed this side of Regina since well before the first curse broke. she hated it then, and she hated it now, mainly because she couldn't tell if it was just an act of this version of Regina really felt that way.
She turned and leaned her head against the door as her chest ached painfully while tears welled in her eyes. 'I'm sorry,' she choked out without turning around. She couldn't bear to see the guilt, shame, and disgust in Regina's eyes. It would be a sight that she would never be able to un-see. 'I should never have done that,' she added before she opened the door and rushed out, never once looking back.
Regina stared at the door as her own tears leaked down her face. The pain in Emma's voice had cut right into her heart and now she felt like the biggest monster on the planet, though she didn't understand why.
She didn't know Emma. She knew barely anything about her apart from that she was from Boston. She had children, and she made Regina want to give up all control and let her own her in every way imaginable.
'Damn, Regina, stop it,' she muttered to herself as she made her way over to her couch and took a seat. 'You cannot throw your happy ending away over a beautiful blonde goddess.'
It was then that she remembered Robin, her fiancée, the man that she hadn't thought once about until now. She had cheated on her soulmate and she didn't feel bad about it at all. She felt not one ounce of shame, regret of guilt, and that was probably the most confusing part of all.
If she was destined to be with Robin, then why didn't she feel bad? Why did she know that if Emma walked back through that door, she would take every single word she had just said back and beg her to kiss her again? She would let her strip her bare and take her right there on her desk, and she knew for a fine fact that she wouldn't regret a single moment of it.
She was still sitting on her sofa fifteen minutes later when her office door swung open. 'Reggie, I have returned my niece, and as you can see, she has all of her body parts still intact,' said a tall red-headed woman with bright blue eyes and an overly obnoxious British accent as she gestured to the baby in her arms.
'Zelena,' said Regina through clenched teeth as she rose from the sofa to take Zaynah from her sister's arms. 'You said you wouldn't bring her back until three. It's barely half-past one.'
Zelena rolled her eyes. 'Yes, well, she's just very boring, isn't she? All she's done all day is repeat the words "Mama and wan" I think she's broken. Maybe you should just get a new one,' suggested the redhead as she threw herself down on Regina's sofa.
If it was anyone else, the brunette would have thought they were joking, but because it was her sister, she knew that Zelena was honestly suggesting that she just get a new child.
They had only known they were sisters for just over a year and a half. When Regina and the other heroes had been searching for ways to defeat the villain that was trying to take over the Enchanted Forest, they had ended up in Oz.
Regina had heard of the wicked witch of course, but she had never met her until they had ended up at her Palace in search of the wizard of Oz and it was quite a shock to both of them when Regina had managed to break though Zelena's blood wards and quite easily as well.
The green witch had demanded to know who she was before she demanded she take a blood test. Regina had refused at first and told her that her wards probably just weren't that powerful.
Zelena had retaliated to that insult by challenging her to a duel, but Snow had stepped in at that point because, well, Regina had obviously been pregnant at the time. After a nauseating hope speech from Snow about how Zelena could be a long-lost family member and a lecture from Charming on why she shouldn't threaten to set his wife on fire every single day, because they both knew she didn't really mean it anymore. She had eventually agreed to take the stupid blood test, and as it turned out, Zelena was, in fact, a long-lost family member. Her long-lost sister, to be exact, her long-lost sister that she had no idea existed.
Snow had told Zelena about the villain in the Enchanted Forest and she had begrudgingly agreed to help them but only if she could stay with them because, apparently, she needed a fresh start away from Oz and snotty nosed children named Dorothy.
'They're just new words she learned today,' explained Regina before she kissed her daughter on the head. 'Did you have fun with auntie Zelena?'
Zaynah grinned at her. 'Momma, mama wan,' she babbled as she pointed towards the door.
Regina stilled for a second, thinking Emma had come back, but when she looked over her shoulder, the door it was still closed. She let out a sigh as she moved towards her desk and sat down in her chair with Zaynah in her lap.
She briefly wondered why her daughter was still saying mama when she had heard her say Emma without a problem earlier before she shook it off and concentrated on Zaynah, who had picked up some papers on her desk and was about to rip them in half.
'So, who was the fit blonde that ran past us crying on our way up here? And what did you do to her?' questioned Zelena nosily as she moved to Regina's coffee machine.
Regina's eyes snapped up at her sister's question and she willed herself not to blush. Luckily, Zelena had her back to her.
'No one important,' she lied smoothly as she touched her fingers to her lips, remembering the way Emma's mouth had felt pressed against her own. 'She just came to apply for the sheriff's position, and I didn't do anything to her. She's just very emotional, apparently,'
'Oh? I've never seen her around town before and trust me, I would remember a body like that. Do you know if she's single?' inquired Zelena as she turned back around to face her.
'You sound exactly like Oriel,' huffed Regina as she tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that she had absolutely no right to feel. 'She isn't even that beautiful,' she lied again. Emma was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. 'And she has children,' she added, knowing how much her sister disliked children and hoping that would put her off.
Zelena rolled her eyes as she passed her sister a cup of coffee. 'I don't care if she has children. I want to shag her, not marry her. We're not all disturbingly obsessed with soulmates and true love, like you and little Snow flake are.'
'I'm not obsessed with soulmates and true love,' denied Regina as she shot Zelena a glare.
Her sister had no idea what she and Robin's relationship was really like. Regina was ashamed to admit that the happy ending she had longed for, for so long, wasn't actually that happy at all.
They didn't know she had declined both of Robin's proposals. They just thought that with everything that had gone on in the Enchanted Forest that they just hadn't had time to get married yet.
Zelena snorted. 'Could have bloody fooled me. You literally tried to kill a person for years because they told a secret that got your true love murdered and then you forgive said person because some fairy used some special dust to show you who your soulmate was, and then you fell pregnant basically the same day you met him, and then, you agreed to marry him a few weeks later... should I carry on?'
'Whatever,' muttered Regina, not having a come back. She absolutely hated having a sister sometimes. 'We should have left you in Oz with Dorothy.'
Zelena ignored her. She knew her sister didn't mean it. They loved each other, well most of the time, anyway. 'So, the blonde, where can I find her?'
'She has a wife,' blurted Regina, knowing it was a complete lie, but she didn't want Emma to date her sister. She didn't want Emma to date anyone. 'I've seen them together.'
'That's a shame,' sighed Zelena, before a wicked grin took over her face. 'I wonder if she'd be open to a three some.' But at her sister's disgusted glare, she rolled her eyes. 'I'm joking, kind of.'
Zelena finally left Regina's office an hour later and Regina headed home just in time to make dinner for Robin coming in. He was late as usual, though she could barely look at him even when he did eventually turn up.
It wasn't because she felt bad about kissing someone else, no, it was because she couldn't stop thinking about Emma and the devastation in her voice before she had left her office, she felt guilty that she had so clearly hurt the blonde with her cold words, it was guilt that she should have been feeling at the fact that she had gone behind Robins back.
Luckily for her, though, he wasn't really up for conversation either, so their dinner was spent mostly in silence apart from Zaynah babbling to herself.
'What is she saying?' Asked Robin as his daughter repeated the word "wan" for the thousandth time that day.
Regina looked over at her daughter and smiled warmly. 'She's saying Swan,' she informed him as she looked back at the plate of food in front of her that she had hardly touched.
'We bumped into the Swan twins earlier and Zaynah took quite the liking to them,' she explained. She was still rather baffled by the fact that her very clingy daughter had gone willingly and happily to every single one of the Swan clan.
Robin immediately stopped eating and glared at his fiancée. 'You let the little hooligans that assaulted me around my daughter?' He hissed.
Regina rolled her eyes. 'Don't be so dramatic. They're just children and yes, one of them, the one that stomped on your toes, he saved Zaynah's stroller when it blew down the street.'
'I don't care if he saved you from a burning building, Regina. I do not want my daughter around violent children,' he barked back.
'Oh?' said Regina as she raised her eyebrow, unbothered by her fiancée's tantrum. 'Is that why you don't have her around Roland anymore?'
It was a low blow, she knew that, but right now she didn't really care. He couldn't tell her who she could and couldn't have around her daughter when he barely spent time with her himself.
Robin's face instantly turned red with anger as he slammed his cutlery down on the table. 'You keep my son out of this,' he roared as he got up from his seat. 'Roland isn't violent, he just didn't want a little sister.'
Regina stood as well and picked up Zaynah from her high chair. 'Well, that's unlucky for him because he's about to have two, and do you think Mal and Marion are going to stand for his behaviour? Because we both know fine well, they won't.'
Robin didn't have an answer for that. 'I'm going to stay with my merry men. I need some space,' he snapped as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair.
'I think that's for the best, and I think we should take that break I suggested a few weeks ago. Things aren't working between us,' said Regina calmly. She needed time to think.
After her kiss with Emma, her feelings were all over the place, and having Robin throwing tantrums every five minutes wasn't helping.
Robin span around to face her, a snarl on his lips. 'Is this because of that blonde little tramp that came to town yesterday? Because I saw the way you looked at her, Regina, and you've never looked at me that way,' he spat.
Regina scoffed. 'She's hardly a tramp and I would watch your mouth if I were you. That family already hates you and we have no idea who they are,' she replied, avoiding his question.
Robin sneered, but didn't say anything more as he walked out of the dining room.
'Come on, little princess, let's go and get you bathed and then ready for bed,' she said to Zaynah as she moved out of the dining room and up the stairs.
She heard the front door slam shut five minutes later and she let out a sigh. Some happy ending this had turned out to be.
She put Zaynah down for bed forty-five minutes later before she retired to her study for a much-needed hard apple cider.
She had just poured the drink and was about to sit down when she heard a knock on the mansion door. 'Who the hell could that be?' she muttered to herself as she left her study and moved to open it.
Her eyes widened a little in surprise as she saw Emma Swan standing on the other side, dripping wet from where it had been raining. Her mood instantly brightened as she looked into warm green eyes there were shining with hope.
'Hi,' said Emma sheepishly as she gave her a little half smile that Regina thought was adorable.
Regina bit her lip to stifle a smile of her own. 'Miss Swan, what are you doing here?' She asked professionally.
Emma shoved her hand in the back pockets of her jeans as she rocked on her heels. 'I came to apologise again and to hopefully convince you to still give me the sheriff's job,' she answered quietly.
Regina eyed her inquisitively before she raised her eyebrow. 'And how do you propose to do that?'
Emma smirked. 'Wait here,' she said as she ran down the driveway and pulled something out of her car.
Regina shook her head in amusement as she watched her reach in to the car and pulled out a bag that she instantly hid behind her back.
Once she got back to Regina, she smiled. 'Are you going to let me in?'
Regina let out a sigh as she stepped aside so Emma could enter. She was a bit surprised when the woman walked straight past her and into the study. 'How did she know where to go?' She thought before she closed the door and followed her.
Emma was sitting on the sofa with the bag in front of her, praying with everything that this would work, and that she hadn't ruined all chances of getting her baby girl back.
'Sit down,' she commanded gently to Regina, who was still standing in the door way wearing a puzzled expression.
Regina couldn't tell you why, but she instantly followed the soft command and took a seat on the sofa opposite Emma. She was actually quite eager to see what the blonde had in the bag.
Emma opened the bag and pulled out a bunch of flowers. 'I got you these as an apology,' she said as she passed over the flowers.
Regina felt warmth bloom in her chest as she took hold of the bouquet of roses. There was an assortment of colours. Red, Peach, Orange, Yellow, Pink and Blue. She felt a lump form in her throat and she willed her self not to cry.
'Thank you,' she breathed, her voice thick with emotion. Robin had never bought her flowers. She could guarantee that he didn't even know what her favourite flower was.
Emma smiled at her softly. She knew Regina liked roses; although they weren't her favourite. Her favourite were pansies, but the blonde didn't want to come across as creepy. 'You're welcome,' she reached into the bag again and pulled out a to go carton from Granny's. 'I also got you this.'
Regina put the flowers to one side as she reached for the carton before she opened the lid. She looked down at her favourite dessert and then back at Emma. 'A peach melba. How did you know?'
Emma smirked. 'I may have had a little help from Ruby,' she lied. Of course, she already knew Regina's favourite dessert. She used to make a batch for her every Friday when she lived at the mansion.
Regina sensed the lie. Grannies didn't make this dessert. It was something that Alma had made for her in the Enchanted Forest when she was a child, and that just brought up more questions about who the hell Emma Swan was. She didn't say anything, though. She didn't want to scare the woman away again.
'I have one more thing,' said Emma as she reached into the bag again and pulled out the last present she had bought on the way here, hoping that maybe it would show Regina that she didn't have to hide from her.
She knew that the brunette had entered her little space earlier and after she had calmed down and thought about things more she had come to the conclusion that Regina hadn't meant what she had said in her office earlier and she had just been scared of the confusing feeling she had been experiencing so she had lashed out.
Regina looked at the item in Emma's hand and let out a chuckle. 'You got Zaynah a unicorn plushie?' 'Babies get all the cool stuff,' she thought moodily.
Emma looked at Regina's hands that were slowly inching forward and internally smirked. 'Actually, no. I got this for you. It's cute, right?'
Regina felt a blush rise on her cheeks. 'For me? Why? It's a baby toy. I am an adult,' she scoffed as she pushed Emma's hands away. 'I want that stuffie,' she thought in her head.
Emma nodded. She had a feeling this is how it would go. 'Adults can like plushies too. There's no rule against it,' she pointed out as she looked deeply into Regina's eyes. 'I just thought that you might like it, but it's okay if you don't. I can take it back.'
Regina looked at the soft toy in Emma's hands again. It was adorable. It was white with purple hair and it looked so cuddly, and that side of her, the side that she tried her hardest to repress, was begging her to take hold of it. 'What's her name?' She asked quietly.
Emma smiled softly as she got up from the sofa she was on and came to sit beside Regina. She sat the toy in between them, noticing that the brunette's eyes were wide and watching her every move. 'She's called Rarity, she's from of cartoon called my little pony.'
Regina looked at the pony again and then back at Emma. 'I've never seen it,' she admitted. Wow, did Emma like watching cartoons too? Maybe Emma wouldn't be disgusted by the little side of her, after all.
'I hadn't either until someone very special to me told me it was their favourite. I had to leave them not long after that, but I'll always watch an episode when I miss them,' replied Emma, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice. She really did just want her baby girl back.
Regina felt a wave of sadness wash over her at the pain in Emma's voice. She sounded just as hurt as she had earlier. 'You loved them?' She questioned, although she already knew the answer.
Emma smiled sadly. 'I love them very much and I hope one day soon, I'll get them back.'
Regina pushed down that annoying feeling of jealousy that kept rearing its ugly head whenever she thought of Emma with someone other than her and took a hold of the blonde hand before she gave it a gentle squeeze. 'Do you miss them now?'
Emma looked at her curiously. 'A little less than I usually do, but yes, I miss them always,' she replied softly.
Regina smiled at her warmly. 'Show me.'
Emma's heart beat rapidly in her chest. Did Regina remember her? 'Um,' she sputtered as she tried to read the brunette's face. 'What do you mean?'
Regina pointed to Emma's phone. 'Show me the cartoon,' she elaborated. She didn't want Emma to be sad anymore, and she kind of wanted to watch the cartoon.
'Oh,' replied the blonde, trying to keep the disappointment out of her tone. She had really thought that Regina had remembered her for a moment there.
Regina heard it loud and clear and worried that Emma didn't want to share her special cartoon with someone who wasn't the person that she loved and missed. 'Unless you don't want to?'
'No!' Exclaimed Emma loudly before she softened her voice. 'I mean, yes, I do want to show you,' she replied with a light blush.
'OK,' said Regina with a gentle smile as her eyes once again flicked to the pony stuffie. 'I think I'll keep this.' She picked up the toy and brought it to her chest before giving it a sniff. It smelled like Emma and she instantly never wanted to let it go. 'For Zaynah, obviously,' she added. Though they both knew she was lying.
'Of course,' smirked Emma as she pulled up an episode of my little pony on Netflix. 'It would be a shame if it was left without a home.' 'My little girl is adorable,' she thought to herself.
Regina didn't answer, but shifted closer to Emma so she could see the screen as the blonde pressed play and the theme song immediately started to play.
Emma took a deep breath and breathed out slowly; it was hard to have Regina so close and not be able to touch her, hold her the way she so desperately wanted too, but she needed to tread carefully so she didn't scare her away.
She had briefly thought about just coming clean to her about everything, but she knew how overwhelmed her baby girl could get and she knew it would be too much for her to handle, so she had decided to just wait until she found a way to break the curse, and in the meantime, she would take whatever Regina wanted to give her.
About ten minutes later, Regina started wiggling restlessly. 'Your phone screen is tiny. I can barely see Rainbow Dash,' she whined as she pressed closer to Emma's body.
Emma chuckled softly. 'Always such a brat,' she murmured to quiet for the other woman to hear before she looked at Regina and smiled.
'Well,' she said slowly, not sure how her next words would be taken. 'You could sit in my lap?' She offered hesitantly, but as soon as she felt Regina's body stiffen, she quickly added. 'That was dumb-'.
'I want to,' blurted Regina before she hid her face in the sofa cushion, as she blushed a deep shade of red. She really did want to. She wanted to be closer to Emma, and the little side of her really wanted to sit in her lap and watch cartoons like she had imagined doing earlier.
Emma looked to where Regina was hiding from her before she reached out a hand and gripped her chin gently as she turned her face to her own. 'Look at me,' she commanded gently to the brunette who still had her eyes squeezed shut.
Regina opened her eyes slowly as she bit her lip. 'It's okay if you want to sit in my lap and watch cartoons. I promise whatever happens in this room will stay here. You can be whoever you want to be and I won't judge you, I swear,' said Emma, seriously.
Regina suddenly felt dizzy as an image of blonde hair and green eyes flashed in her mind. 'They'll never see this side of you, baby girl. What happens in this room stays in this room and is solely between us. This is a safe space for you to be whoever you want to be, okay? I will never judge you; I promise.'
The words echoed over and over in her head, and the voice, she knew that voice it sounded exactly like Emma's, but she knew that couldn't be right, she had never met her before yesterday and they had certainly never had a conversation like that before.
'Regina,' panicked Emma as she watched the brunette's eyes close as her body swayed. She grabbed the woman's hands and pulled her onto her lap. 'What's wrong?'
Regina kept her eyes closed as a wave of nausea washed over her. She pressed closer to Emma's body as the scent of vanilla and coconut calmed her. She took a deep breath and tried to rid herself of the uncomfortable feeling. 'Nothing, I'm fine. I just felt a bit dizzy. I haven't eaten much today,' she whispered shakily.
It wasn't a lie. She had hardly touched her dinner, and she had skipped lunch. it wasn't as though she could tell Emma about what had really happened. The woman would probably think she was crazy, and Regina wasn't exactly sure what had happened herself.
Emma nodded, but she wasn't entirely convinced. However, she needed to make sure her baby girl was okay. She picked up her phone and put on another episode of my little pony before she passed it to Regina. 'You watch this, I'll be right back,' she said before she got up, left the den, and made her way to the kitchen.
Regina was still sitting on the sofa forty-five minutes later when Emma re entered the study. She had Rarity clutched to her chest while her eyes were glued to Emma's phone. She didn't even look up as the blonde sat down beside her.
Emma reached over for the phone before she picked it up. 'Emmaaaa,' whined Regina with a pout that made the blonde want to kiss it away. 'I was watching that; The cutie mark crusaders were just about to make friends with Diamond Tiara.'
Emma let out a chuckle as she smiled at her warmly. 'You can watch more of that later, but for now, I want you to eat this soup,' she ordered gently before she placed the tray on Regina's legs.
Regina looked up at her with wide eyes. 'You made me soup?' She asked with a hint of surprise. Robin had never cooked for her, and he probably never would.
Emma smiled sheepishly. 'Well, you said you hadn't eaten, and I thought it would make you feel better. it's red pepper and tomato.' She knew Regina liked it because she had made it for her before.
Regina didn't know what to say, and she felt emotion well up in her chest as she gazed at the blonde adoringly, who was looking back at her with the gentlest smile she has ever seen.
Emma had made her food because she said she hadn't eaten, and she didn't want Regina to feel poorly. 'God,' she thought. 'Who is this woman and why didn't she come into my life before I met Robin?'
'Thank you,' she smiled gratefully. The soup smelled delicious and she let out a soft moan as she took her first mouthful and the flavour exploded on her tongue.
Emma sat back and watched as Regina ate every single bit of the soup she had made. She wished she could do more. She wanted to run her a bath and wash her hair. She wanted to help her into her pyjamas before she brushed and braided her hair and then she wanted them to fall asleep together in each other's arms, but she knew there was a very slim chance that she had probably already pushed her luck enough tonight.
'So,' she said airily as she picked up the tray from Regina's lap and placed it on the table. 'When will Richard be home?'
Regina's eyebrows furrowed before she smirked. 'His name is Robin, and probably tomorrow.' she had no doubts that he would come back tomorrow to apologise and beg her to rethink their time apart, though she wasn't sure that she would give in this time.
'Tomorrow? Is he at work?'
'No, he doesn't have a job.' Regina tried to think of an appropriate excuse that wouldn't raise questions. 'He's camping with some of his friends.' She settled on not really a lie, but not really the truth, either. She didn't want to talk about Robin, especially not with Emma.
Emma nodded. She wanted to ask more, like how they got together, but she didn't know if that would be over stepping. 'Did I get the job?' She asked instead.
Regina thought about it before she answered. 'Well, we didn't really get to talk about it because you kissed me and then I freaked out and then you left,' she murmured while her heart clenched painfully in her chest as the sound of Emma's broken voice played on a loop in her mind.
Emma's expression morphed into one of guilt before she dropped her head. 'Yeah, I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry that I upset you,' she apologised again.
Regina sighed. 'You didn't upset me, not really. I was confused,' she admitted quietly before adding with a hint of curiosity. 'Why did you kiss me, anyway?' she wanted to know if Emma felt the same connection she did.
Emma snapped her eyes back to Regina's face as she gazed at her intensely. 'Honestly?' She asked, making sure that the brunette really wanted an answered to the heavy question.
Regina nodded, so she continued. 'I had been wanting to do it since the very first moment I seat eyes on you, and if it wasn't for the fact that you might slap me, then I would totally do it again,' she admitted sincerely.
Regina's breath hitched in her throat as her heart hammered in her chest. 'Please,' she breathed, her eyes wide and begging. She wanted to feel Emma's lips on hers again, she craved them, she needed them and she refused go another second without feeling them pressed against her own.