Part Twenty-Four: The One With the Savior
Emma was gripping the sheets, her back arching from the bed while her lungs burned for air.
She tried to steady her breathing, but every intake came with a wave of pleasure that spread from her center to every inch of her body, leaving her throat dry and limbs boneless.
Regina was torturing her between her legs, every stroke of her tongue was both a divine pleasure and merciless punishment.
Emma was ready to come.
The pleasure had built in the pit of her stomach, ready to explode inside of her, but Regina wouldn't give Emma what she wanted.
Wouldn't add enough pressure to let Emma come.
"Regina, please," Emma begged breathlessly as another wave of pleasure ran through her body, making her toes curl on the sheets "Please, please, let me come"
Regina smiled against her cunt and licked Emma flatly from the entrance to clit.
"I'm not done tasting you yet," Regina said, sucking Emma's clit inside her mouth.
Emma rolled her eyes as the fire ran through her veins barely recognizing the vulgar moan that escaped her lips.
"You have to be quiet, dear," Regina's hot breath teased her oversensitive center "You don't want to scar Henry for life, do you?"
"Oh, God, Regina, please," Emma whispered, her throat dry "I'll do anything you want," Emma gasped for air "I'll give you anything you want, please, please, please just let me come"
Regina smiled again, her teeth scrapping Emma's clit making her whole body shiver.
"Not yet,"
Regina moved her lips to Emma's inner thigh, sucking, licking, and biting her flash, Emma's leg twitching involuntarily.
"God, I love your smell," Regina said, rubbing her nose over Emma's clit "You are intoxicating"
"I swear," Emma said between gasps "I'm going to lick you torturously until you forget your name"
Regina smiled against Emma's pussy again, sucking her clit and then releasing it with a soft pop.
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing," Regina said.
"Regina, please," Emma moaned, rubbing her center against Regina "Fuck me, make me come"
Regina entered Emma, her fingers sliding easily inside of her.
Emma's back arched from the bed again, her hands fisting the sheets so tightly that she could feel her nails breaking her skin from over the fabric as she moaned Regina's name desperately like a soft prayer.
"Yes, yes, oh God, don't stop," Emma bagged moving her body with Regina's fingers "Oh God, Regina, dont stop"
"I hate to ask you this," Regina said, moving inside of Emma "But you have to keep your voice down"
"I don't think I can," Emma said moaning, biting her lower lip.
Regina stopped moving, sliding her fingers out of her.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked, her voice cracking.
Regina crawled on top of Emma, depositing soft kisses on her stomach, breasts, neck, and then her chin, the warmth of her skin rubbing on Emma making her hot and shivering at the same time.
Regina smiled down at Emma lustful, desire burning shameless behind her eyes.
Emma felt her own breath get caught in her throat at the sight, her stomach flexing as she closed her legs for the so-needed pressure between her legs.
Regina lifted her fingers to Emma's lips, spreading her own essence around her lips, slowly tracing the flash with her fingertips.
"Suck them," Regina purred.
Emma opened her mouth, taking Regina's fingers inside, rolling her tongue around them.
Regina bit her lower lip, watching Emma intensely, her breathing getting heavier, a selvage smile of anticipation adorning her lips.
"You are so fucking beautiful," Regina said.
She pulled her fingers from Emma's mouth slowly and then ran them down her body, entering Emma all at once.
Emma gasped for air when Regina was inside of her, moaning Regina's name when she mercifully started to move inside of her again.
Regina bent down capturing Emma's lips in a kiss, swallowing every single one of her indecent moans, finally fucking her like she mean it.
Regina bumped in and out of Emma easily, the heel of her hand brushing against Emma's clit.
Emma felt that intensity accumulates in the pit of her stomach again, her body losing control, unable to do anything but to feel Regina inside of her, on top of her, kissing her.
Emma could hardly remember her own name, her lips only seemed to produce one sound, Regina, Regina, Regina, over and over and over again inside the brunette woman's mouth.
"Come for me," Regina husked against Emma's lips, moving faster inside of her now.
Emma moaned, hardly breathing, and moved her hands to Regina's back, scratching her short nails down Regina's back.
Regina bumped the heel of her hand against Emma's clit, applying pressure and rubbing the sensitive bundle of nerves.
Emma was on the verge of coming.
The feeling of her pleasure on the pit of her stomach moved down and up at the same time, spreading through every pore of her skin, her whole body tensing up in anticipation.
Regina moved her lips to Emma's neck, sucking the flesh there and making Emma gasp for air, air that never seemed to fulfill her lungs, but always sent a delicious sensation all over her body.
Emma sank her nails into Regina's back, moaning when Regina's erect nipple brushed against hers.
She wanted her breast in her mouth.
Regina moved her lips to Emma's ear, pressing her lips there, and whispered:
"Come for me, Emma,"
And Emma did.
Emma exploded blissfully at Regina's command, her juices pouring out of her a primal sound leaving her lips, one that Regina swallowed by kissing her lips, tongue, and teeth, Emma's moans becoming the very air Regina was sucking.
Her whole body was spent.
Boneless.
She couldn't think. Only feel.
Feel her orgasm washing over her body.
Feel her juices still running down her thighs.
And Regina's soft, delicate kisses over her cheek, nose, corner of her lips, and chin.
Emma moaned softly, taking a sharp breath of air, finally feeling her lungs fill and then exhale slowly.
"Are you okay?" Regina asked, softly kissing Emma's cheek.
Emma smiled, blinking her eyes slowly, and feeling her heart warm at Regina's tender care.
Her soft touches were awakening something else inside Emma, something deeper in her soul, something she wanted to give entirely to Regina.
Something Emma knew would only belong to one woman, this woman here in bed with her.
Emma turned around in bed, facing Regina, and pressed her lips against hers.
"Hi," Emma's voice cracked.
Regina smiled at Emma and turned around in bed, stretching her limbs away from Emma to fetch the water bottle on the bedside table.
One second apart and Emma's fingers were already searching for Regina, itching for contact, lightly brushing her fingertips over Regina's lower back.
"Here," Regina said turning around to Emma again "Have some water"
Emma took the water bottle from Regina's hand, gulping the content all at once, some dripping down her chin.
She was thirstier than she realized.
"Thanks," Emma said handing the bottle to Regina who sipped the one or two gulps Emma left inside "And yes, I'm okay"
Regina put the bottle back on top of the bedside table before laying in front of Emma again.
Too far away from Emma's liking.
So Emma moved closer and then put her arm over Regina's waist pulling Regina to her body, pulling Regina so close that the tips of their nose were touching and the warmth of Regina's body was pulsating against her skin.
Regina smiled at Emma and ran one hand over Emma's cheek before pressing her lips against hers.
Slowly.
Lazily.
Savoring.
Emma moaned lowly, her lips moving with Regina's, the faint taste of her pleasure still lingering on Regina's tongue.
"You know, you have to be quieter when we are here," Regina whispered "You don't want to risk Henry waking up, do you?"
"Oh God, no," Emma said "Sorry, but I couldn't help"
"Don't be sorry," Regina said and pressed her lips against Emma's "Not many things in the world are as beautiful as the sound of your moans when you are about to come"
Emma felt her cheeks burn hot and wondered how was it possible for Regina to make her blush after everything they shared in bed.
"I swear to God, you are the only person in the world who can make me blush like this" Emma laughed.
"Well, I like that," Regina smiled "I like being the only person"
Regina pressed her lips against Emma again, and Emma felt her heart humming inside her chest because this was real, this was so real, it was more real than any connection Emma ever had in life, it was deeper than any words yet to be spoken, Emma could feel in every bone of her body, in every touch of Regina on her skin.
She wasn't just falling in love with Regina.
She was in love with her.
Emma fought back the tears forming behind her eyes, her lips quivering as they moved with Regina.
Regina broke the kiss, her hand cherishing Emma's cheek gently, but Emma couldn't, wouldn't dare to open her eyes.
The fear was still there, the fear of not being enough, the fear of not seeing what she was feeling inside reflected in Regina's eyes.
Because if Regina didn't feel the same if Emma was alone here…
It would destroy her.
"What is it?" Regina asked softly.
Emma shook her head, her eyes still closed.
"Emma," Regina whispered "Look at me"
Emma swallowed dry and opened her eyes slowly, Regina's beautiful brown eyes staring back at her.
And what Emma saw reflected in there was beautiful.
Emma let the tears fall down from the corners of her eyes, as she stared at Regina's loving gaze as if she could look past her eyes and stare at her soul.
It felt like reading a book, and Emma traced her fingers at every word written in it, absorbing them into her own soul, because there they were her feelings, her same unspoken words, the same connection, the love that was so new and yet so old.
But they weren't her feelings, they were Regina's and they were beautiful, they were perfect in every imperfection because they were the same as Emma's.
And they were imperfectly perfect for each other.
"Emma…" Regina whispered.
"Promise me something," Emma said back, her voice barely a whisper.
"Anything," Regina said, her voice low but firm.
Emma smiled at Regina and pressed her lips against hers, her salty tears mixing with the sweetness of Regina's tongue.
"Promise me you won't let me run," Emma said, her forehead pressed against Regina's.
"What?" Regina asked, pushing away slightly to look into Emma's eyes.
Searching for the demons Emma was trying to chase away from within her.
Emma reached for Regina's cheek, lightly stroking her skin with her palm.
"I have the bad habit of running," Emma said, a knot forming in her throat "You figured out yourself remember?" Emma laughed but Regina's expression didn't change.
She was still staring at Emma, urging her to go on.
"When things get too serious or too complicated, I run away," Emma said "But I don't want to run away this time. I don't want to run away from this," Emma lowered her hand to rest above Regina's heart "I don't want to run away from you"
"Emma…"
"Please don't let me go," Emma whispered, a tear falling down her face.
"I won't," Regina said. She moved her hand above Emma's over her heart and held it between her hand "You are not running away from this. I won't let you run away from us"
"Do you promise?" Emma asked, her eyes searching Regina's.
"I promise," Regina said seriously "I swear to you, I will not let you run away. You are mine. And I'm yours"
"You are mine," Emma whispered pressing her hand harder against Regina's heart "And I'm yours"
"I'm yours," Regina whispered back before Emma's lips crushed against hers.
Emma kissed Regina hard, pouring every single emotion she was feeling into the kiss.
Hers.
Regina was hers.
And she was Regina's.
It wasn't unspoken words anymore, it wasn't feelings running wildly aimlessly inside of her, scared of coming to the surface.
No more second guessings.
She was Regina's.
And Regina was hers.
And they belonged to each other.
Emma moved on top of Regina, dropping her weight slightly on top of her. She moved her leg up, her knee pressing hard against Regina's wet center.
Emma moaned into the kiss at the same time Regina did, their hot breath invading each other's mouths and breaking the kiss.
"You are wet," Emma said pulling on Regina's lower lip.
"You make me wet," Regina said, her hands moving to Emma's back, sinking her fingers into her skin.
"I need to drink you," Emma said, her voice raw.
She captured Regina's lips in a kiss one more time and licked her way down Regina's body, the smell of Regina's pleasure already making her dizzy with desire.
She settled between Regina's legs and licked Regina's flatly, from entrance to clit, savoring the sticky taste of Regina's come with her tongue.
"God, you are so good," Emma said over Regina's cunt before licking her again.
She entered Regina with her tongue, licking and fucking her inner walls, and moved her thumb to Regina's clit, flicking the already sensitive bundle of nerves.
"Emma," Regina moaned desperately, moving her pelvis with Emma.
Emma curled her tongue inside Regina and applied pressure on her movements, her finger finding that particular spot on Regina's clit and pressuring it to the right.
Regina's hand flew to Emma's hair, pulling her face impossibly closer to her center and moving desperately with Emma's movement, spreading her juices on Emma's face.
"Oh, God, Emma," Regina moaned "I'm gonna come again"
She was so close.
Emma hardened her tongue and fucked Regina with her mouth mercilessly, her fingers flicking her clit with pressure, Regina's moans becoming louder above her, her body contorting in the bed until that marvelous second where Regina's body went completely stiff and then a breathless moaned left her lips and her juices came pouring down Emma's tongue.
She drank every drop before making her way up to Regina, her body panting and lightly sweating between her breast.
"Fuck," Regina smiled when Emma lay on her elbow beside Regina.
"What were you saying again about making loud noises?" Emma teased her.
"That you should refrain from making them," Regina smirked, turning to Emma.
"Ah," Emma clicked her tongue "Cheeky"
"I wasn't too loud, was I?" Regina asked worriedly.
"A little," Emma smiled proudly "But I don't hear footsteps so I think we are good"
"Maybe I should move Henry to the guest bedroom downstairs," Regina said lightly.
"I'm sure that will not raise any suspicious at all," Emma laughed before leaning forward to kiss Regina.
And when they broke apart, her eyes focused on the alarm clock, flashing a bright red light with the time.
"Shit," Emma said "Is that clock right?"
Regina moved her head, looking behind her at the alarm clock.
"Unfortunately, yes," Regina sighed.
"It's four in the morning?" Emma asked "How is it four in the morning already? I came here at ten-ish"
"Time has the annoying habit of passing by when we are together," Regina said.
Emma grunted and lay down in bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I have to go home," Emma said "My shift starts at seven today"
"And I have to be at the Mayor's Office at eight," Regina said, laying her head on Emma's shoulder.
"I hate this part," Emma whispered, biting her lower lip.
"Me too," Regina said, her fingers running lazily up and down Emma's ribs.
Emma turned her head to the side, kissing Regina's hair.
"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" Emma asked, her body protesting at the perspective of leaving.
"Of course, I don't," Regina said, gently pressing her lips on Emma's shoulder "But I don't want you to go"
"I don't want to go either," Emma sighed "But I should try and sleep for a couple of hours or I'll end up sleeping on my desk"
"I can call Graham saying I need you," Regina smiled and lifted her head to look up at Emma "There is a perfectly nice couch in my office"
"I swear to God," Emma laughed "You are insatiable"
"For you, my dear," Regina said "Always"
Emma smiled down at Regna before moving on the bed, pushing Regina's body down on the bed. Emma hovered on top of her and bent down to claim Regina's lips in a kiss, moving her lips slowly against Regina's.
"I'm insatiable for you too," Emma said her lips still brushing Regina's.
"Maybe we should put that theory to test," Regina smiled, looking lustfully at Emma.
"If we start this again, I will never leave this bedroom," Emma said, rubbing her nose against Regina's.
"And what's wrong with that?" Regina asked.
"I think our son doesn't need another reason to go to therapy," Emma laughed.
"Oh God," Regina turned her head in the direction of the alarm clock "Henry is going to wake up in two and a half hours"
"How is it four thirty in the morning already?" Emma asked looking at the same alarm clock "It was literally four one minute ago"
"I don't know," Regina said, running her hands along Emma's side "But you should get going, we can't risk Henry waking up"
"I know," Emma sighed.
She lowered her head to kiss Regina one last time before moving out of bed.
While every bone in her body screamed obscenely at her to go back to Regina.
Because there was where she belonged.
Emma walked to the suite, and turn on the faucet, washing her hands and face before walking back inside the bedroom to change.
"I hate watching you dress," Regina said from between the sheets.
"And I hate leaving you naked in bed," Emma said, her eyes running over Regina's form.
Regina smiled at Emma, biting her lower lips, eyes glowing.
And Emma could swear this was when Regina looked most beautiful.
Bare of everything but her emotions.
You could see everything she was feeling in her eyes.
Emma sat down on the edge of the bed, zipping up her boot.
Regina moved behind her, one arm snaking around Emma's waist, her lips softly kissing her neck, and her bare breast pressed against the fabric of her blouse.
Emma could feel her panties drenching all over again.
"Regina, you are not making this any easy," Emma half said half moaned, tilting her head to the side.
"I'm finding it difficult to reason with the fact that you are not naked in my bed" Regina purred.
Emma turned around looking into Regina's eyes, seeing that familiar fire fueled by desire burning there.
She leaned forward and captured Regina's lips in a kiss, slowly turning her whole body and then laying Regina on the bed, her covered body pressed above Regina's naked form.
Emma sucked Regina's lower lip, a soft moan escaping her lips, before invading her mouth with her tongue again. Her fingers traced Regina's ribs, moving to her stomach lower and lower until she found her center, parting her folds and then entering her.
"Emma," Regina moaned breathlessly.
Emma moved inside of her, slowly at first, watching Regina's parted lips, eyes closed, and features beaming with pleasure.
Regina moved her hands to Emma's back, her fingers lifting the hem of her shirt before her fingers sank into her skin.
"Do you think this will ever pass?" Emma whispered in Regina's ear "Wanting you every second, with every fiber of my being?"
"No," Regina whispered between moans "It won't because I want you every second too with every fiber of my being"
"You are mine," Emma whispered again, her fingers moving faster now, the heel of her hand brushing against Regina's clit "And I'm yours"
"You are mine and I'm yours," Regina moaned breathless, tilting her head to the side.
Emma moved her lips to Regina's neck, sucking the flesh with force inside her mouth, savoring the saltness of Regina's skin after their night between the sheets.
She pumped in and out of Regina, applying more pressure every time the heel of her hand brushed against Regina's clit, smiling at every little moan Regina so deliciously let escape her lips.
"Emma," Regina sobbed, her nails sinking into Emma's skin "Faster"
Emma moved faster inside of her, feeling Regina's inner walls clenched around her fingers and her body start to stiff under her, barely breathing.
Emma pumped and pumped and pumped, teasing Regina's clit with the heel of her hand, licking and sucking the flesh of her neck until that glorious moment when Regina carved her nails deep into her skin and closed her eyes throwing her head back seconds before a rush of wetness ran down Emma's fingers and her name was moaned from between Regina's lips like a prayer.
Emma stood on top of Regina, fingers buried deep inside of her, but lips gently kissing her face, showing Regina the same tender care she had shown her earlier.
Regina smiled when Emma's lips kissed the corner of her mouth and Emma could hardly contain her own smile when she pressed her lips against Regina's.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you look after an orgasm?" Emma asked.
"No," Regina opened her eyes, smiling at Emma. She lifted her hand to Emma's face, gently cherishing the skin.
"You are a stunning woman," Emma said "But there is just something about you after an orgasm…"
"Kiss me,"
Emma smiled at Regina and lowered her head, capturing her lips in a skin. She pulled her fingers slowly from inside Regina, delighted at the sound of protest she was making inside the kiss.
"I should really get going now," Emma said after breaking the kiss, nuzzling her nose against Regina's.
"I know," Regina said back, unconvincingly.
Emma smiled and pressed her lips against Regina's before pulling away from her and standing up from the bed.
She looked at the alarm clock, the bright red numbers shining five forty-five in the morning now.
"Seriously?" Emma asked, pointing at the watch.
"What?" Regina asked.
"It's nearly six in the morning," Emma rolled her eyes "This watch ought to be broken"
"I wish," Regina teased, smiling beautifully at Emma.
"I really hate this part," Emma sighed.
She walked to where Regina was laying on the bed facing her and pressed her lips deeply against Regina's before walking to the window.
"I'll see you later," Emma said, half her body already out the window "Madam Mayor"
She winked at Regina before jumping off the window, the sun already starting to rise on the horizon when she drove away in her bug, heart lighter of fears and heavier with love.
Regina couldn't stop smiling when she entered the Mayor's office, only a few hours after Emma left her bedroom.
She was aching everywhere, and all she wanted was Emma's lips on every inch of her sore muscles.
To soothe them or make them worse, she wasn't sure.
Regina sat on the chair behind the desk, closing her eyes, smiling softly as images of Emma flashed behind her eyes.
The words they had shared the night before echoed inside her mind, like the sweet melody of their lovemaking, humming inside Regina's heart.
I'm yours and you are mine.
She belonged to Emma. And Emma belonged to her.
Not a single bone in her body recoiled at the thought of belonging to someone else.
Because she knew Emma would never own her just like Regina would never own Emma.
It was their choice.
They chose to belong to one another.
And Regina couldn't wait to share her whole life with the woman she was so desperately in love with.
Not falling in love.
She loved Emma.
Every inch of her, every smile, every darkness of her past.
She loved Emma entirely.
And she should have told her last night.
"Regina?"
Regina opened her eyes, turning her head in the direction of the door.
"Katheryn," Regina smiled "Come in"
Katheryn closed the door behind her and walked inside the office, sitting in front of Regina.
"I need your help," Katheryn said, her features apprehensive.
"Of course," Regina blinked her eyes "What do you need?"
"Do you think you can go to the pharmacy with me?" Katheryn asked "I need to buy a pregnancy test"
"What?" Regina asked surprised.
"My period is late and…" Katheryn bit her lower lip "I could really use a friend right now because I don't think I can do this alone"
"Of course, Katheryn," Regina rose from the chair and walked to Katheryn, kneeling in front of her "Whatever you need, I'm here for you"
"Thank you," Katheryn nodded "Do you think we can go now? I really need to take this test"
"Of course," Regina rose from the floor "Come on, let's go"
Inside the pharmacy, Katheryn and Regina walked between the aisles, Katheryn gripping the shopping basket as she put this and that inside.
They approached the pregnancy test shelf, Katheryn staring blankly at the tests without reaching for any.
"Katheryn?" Regina called gently beside her.
"I dont know which one to choose," Katheryn said.
"Why don't we just pick one of each?" Regina asked.
"Isn't that too much?" Katheryn asked, looking at Regina.
"At least we'll know for sure," Regina said.
Regina reached for the tests, picking up one of each of the three different brands Storybrooke pharmacy had to offer and putting them inside the basket.
"Thank you," Katheryn said softly, smiling at Regina.
"Do you need anything else?" Regina asked.
"No, I should just pay for these," Katheryn said "Then we can go back to mine while I take the tests"
"You want me there with you?" Regina asked surprised.
"Of course, I want you there with me," Katheryn smiled "I need my best friend there with me while I wait for the result"
"Your best friend?" Regina asked shyly.
"Well, yeah," Katheryn said back "You are kinda my only friend, to be honest. You are the only one I trust"
Regina smiled at Katheryn, her heart warming as she stared at the woman in front of her.
Katheryn was a good person, a good friend, and Regina was surprised to realize that she trusted Katheryn too.
"Then let's go back to your place and take the tests," Regina said "I'll even hold your hand if you need me to" Regina joked.
"Oh, I'm sure Emma will love to see that," Katheryn laughed, walking in front of Regina.
Regina smirked and then smiled softly, memories of Emma creeping inside her mind.
Her beautiful blonde woman with whom Regina was completely and undoubtedly in love.
Regina walked behind Katheryn, thinking of how good it felt having her best friend know about Emma, how easily they could talk about her, and how comfortable Regina felt.
It made her heart lighter, a strange but beautifully welcomed kind of love washing over her body.
Katheryn was just about to turn into another aisle when suddenly she bumped against another person, dropping her basket on the floor.
"I am so sorry"
Regina looked over Katheryn's shoulder, rolling her eyes when she saw the hateful woman looking surprised back at Katheryn.
"It's fine, don't worry about it," Katheryn said lightly.
"I wasn't looking," Mary Margaret said before crouching on the floor.
"Really?" Regina said, suppressing the familiar urge to lash out at the inconvenient woman.
Katheryn crouched on the floor as well, picking up a gigantic chocolate bar and holding it towards Mary Margaret.
"Is this yours?" Katheryn asked.
"Yes, thank you," Mary Margaret said putting the chocolate bar inside her basket before reaching for a box on the floor "And this must be…"
Mary Margaret stopped talking, staring at the box in her hands.
And Regina could hardly contain the venous smile that spread on her lips at the sight of the obviously shaken woman.
She looked devasted.
And Regina enjoyed every second of it.
Mary Margaret handled the test back to Katheryn a fake smile tugging on her lips.
"Good luck," Mary Margaret said.
"Thank you," Katheryn smiled at her, collecting the rest of the tests from the floor and getting up "Regina," Kathery said looking at Regina, tilting her head in the direction of the cashier.
Regina nodded at Katheryn and let her walk ahead.
"I trust you'll be discreet?" Regina asked, standing tall in front of Mary Margaret "Their lives are their business. Not yours"
Regina gave her back to Mary Margaret, walking to where Katheryn was standing, not even sparing a second glance at the woman she left behind.
After paying for the test, Katheryn and Regina made their way to Katheryn's house.
They were in the kitchen, side by side arms crossed, leaning against the sink while staring at the three tests Katheryn had aligned perfectly on top of the kitchen table.
"Water?" Regina asked.
"Yes, I don't know," Katheryn said turning her head to look at Regina "I'm not sure if I want to take the test now"
"It's okay if you don't want to," Regina said softly.
"Regina, you are supposed to encourage me to take the test, not bail from it," Katheryn laughed.
"I don't want you to do anything you don't want to," Regina said sincerely.
Katheryn turned to Regina, smiling at her before wrapping her arms around Regina.
And Regina held her back, her body already familiar with the feeling of having Katheryn in her arms.
"It will be okay, Katheryn," Regina said, patting her back "Whatever the result is, I'm right here with you"
"Do you think we can exchange the water for wine?" Katheryn asked.
"Maybe later," Regina smirked.
Katheryn let go of Regina, cleaning the tears from her cheek.
"Thank you," Katheryn said "Thank you for being here with me"
"Well, you are my best friend," Regina smiled at Katheryn who smiled back at Regina "I want to be here with you"
Regina walked to the refrigerator and took a bottle of water, opening the lid before handing it to Katheryn.
Katheryn gulped the water, half the liquid gone before she put the bottle on top of the table.
"I keep having these dubious thoughts," Katheryn said looking at the tests "I want so badly to have a child but I'm also terrified of being pregnant right now"
"Why?" Regina asked.
"David and I, we… I don't think we are in a good place right now," Katheryn said "He is so distant lately, just like he was before his accident"
"Maybe he is still adjusting," Regina said, hating her words.
"It's not just him, Regina," Katheryn said, her eyes full of tears "When we are together I feel empty. Like there is only half of me and half him and that's not enough to make a whole"
Regina looked at Katheryn, her heart squeezing inside her chest.
She knew exactly what she was talking about.
Once upon a time, Regina felt the same, perhaps even worse before she took the reins of her own life before she took what was rightly hers.
She close her eyes and shook her head, praying for the guilt to vanish, telling herself this was a small price to pay for her curse, that even though she hated David with all her heart, he ought to be good to Katheryn because that was just in his nature.
But when she opened her eyes and looked at Katheryn again, the guilt didn't lessen, it had only increased because here in front of her was the only true friend Regina have ever had, someone she come to care for without even noticing, someone who offered her friendship freely, without asking anything in return apart from the same consideration.
Katheryn didn't deserve this.
She didn't deserve what Regina did to her.
She deserved to be with the one her heart truly craved, her one true love.
"Do you ever feel like this with Emma?" Katheryn asked softly.
Regina swallowed the guilt, fighting back the tears that formed behind her eyes.
She thought of Emma, a soft smile playing on her lips as images of Emma looking at her flashed behind her eyes, the feel of Emma's touch on her skin, the scent of wildflowers and summer breeze that made Regina's heart dance inside her chest.
She was alive when she was with Emma.
Every cell in her body, every inch of her skin, her very soul craved for her, longed to be with her, to touch her, to feel her lips moving against her lips, against her flesh against her sex.
She desired Emma and desired to give herself to her, for Emma to take as much as Regina took for herself.
In union.
Together, always together because with Emma, Regina didn't feel like a half.
With Emma, she felt like a whole.
"No," Regina shook her head "No, I don't feel like this when I'm with Emma. When I'm with her I feel… I feel like I have finally found my home"
"You are in love with her, aren't you?" Katheryn asked.
"I am," Regina said smiling softly at Katheryn.
"She is in love with you too, you know?" Katheryn said, smiling at Regina.
"I hope so," Regina said, looking at the floor.
"She is," Katheryn said, walking closer to Regina. She put her hands on each of Regina's shoulders, forcing her gaze back into her eyes "That woman is head over heels in love with you"
"She hasn't said it yet," Regina said, almost shyly.
"Have you?" Katheryn arched an eyebrow.
"No," Regina shook her head "But I want to"
"Good," Katheryn smiled at Regina, squeezing her shoulders before letting go.
She walked to the table and collect all three pregnancy tests, before looking back at Regina.
"Wait for me?" Katheryn asked.
"I'll be right here," Regina smiled at Katheryn.
Regina walked around the desk and sat on the chair, pulling the water bottle Katheryn left behind and taking a gulp.
Her stomach was twisting in a knot, regret raising on the back of her throat, nearly suffocating Regina.
But what could she do?
She could feel the cracks in her curse and she just knew it was because of David and Mary Margaret.
The sound of her cell phone echoed inside the house, pulling Regina out of her thoughts.
She rose from the chair and walked to the living room, reaching for her purse she had discarded on the sofa when they first entered the house.
Regina opened the purse and retrieved the phone, smiling softly at the name flashing on the screen.
"Hi," Regina said, the silly smile still tugging on her lips.
"Hey, where are you?" Emma asked "I here in your office and you are not here"
"Should I worry about the fact you just barged in inside my office?" Regina asked playfully.
"The door was open," Emma said and Regina could see her rolling her eyes.
"I'm sure it was," Regina laughed.
"So, where the hell are you?" Emma asked "I came here to steal a kiss or ten"
"None of your kisses are stolen, they all belong to you," Regina said, smiling to herself.
"Are you trying to romance me, Madam Mayor?" Emma asked lightly "Because it's working"
"I'm pretty sure all I have to do is wiggle my ass in front of you, dear" Regina laughed.
"Hey," Emma said outrageously "That is not even… Okay, where are you? I need to test this ass wiggling theory"
Regina laughed wholeheartedly, pressing the phone harder against her ear.
"I'm at Katheryn's house," Regina said "I can't leave right now, she… she needs me here"
"Is everything okay?" Emma asked worriedly "Do you need me there with you?"
"I always need you with me," Regina said lovingly "But you can't come here, this is something personal for Katheryn"
"Okay," Emma said, "Promise me you okay?"
"I'm fine," Regina said softly.
"Alright," Emma said "Call me if you or Katheryn need anything"
"I will," Regina said.
She turned off the call, suppressing the urge to say the three words that were dancing on the tip of her tongue.
I love you.
Regina smiled and walked back inside the kitchen, finding Katheryn sitting on the chair she was previously sitting on before going to the living room.
"Hey," Regina said.
"Was that Emma on the phone?" Katheryn asked.
"Yes," Regina smiled softly.
"You know you always smile when I say Emma's name," Katheryn said amusingly.
"Oh God, please, not you too," Regina said rolling her eyes.
"What?" Katheryn laughed.
"On my first date with Emma, Henry called her when we were in her car," Regina said "Her phone was on speaker and he told Emma I smile every time I hear her name, which I don't"
"Sorry to break it to you, bestie," Katheryn laughed "But you do"
"No, I don't," Regina said seriously.
"So, what did Emma want?" Katheryn asked.
And Regina smiled involuntarily and then rolled her eyes at the amused expression on Katheryns's face.
"She went to the Mayor's office and I wasn't there," Regina said.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Katheryn said "Do you need to go? I can…"
"No," Regina shook her head firmly "I'm here with you for as long as you need me"
"Thank you," Katheryn said.
The sound of a loud thunder echoed outside, making both women flinch.
"Are we ready for this storm they say is about to hit us?" Katheryn asked.
"The storm is not supposed to arrive until tomorrow," Regina said "The sky is pretty grey and the wind is blowing like hell but so far, no rain. The Sheriff's Department is taking the necessary precautions to minimize damages but it's best if we all stay indoors tomorrow"
"Well, thanks for letting me know," Katheryn said.
Katheryn's phone vibrated on top of the table, both women staring at it for far too long before Katheryn turn the alarm off.
"Three minutes," Katheryn said, looking at Regina.
Regina nodded at her as Katheryn rose from the chair. She walked to Regina and took her hand between hers before pulling Regina along with her to the bathroom.
"You look," Katheryn said when they reached the door.
Regina let go of Katheryn's hand and walked inside the bathroom, picking up the first pregnancy test from the sink.
One stripe.
Negative!
Regina took the other test and saw the same single pink stripe and then the third.
They were all negative.
"Regina, what is it?" Katheryn asked.
"One stripe," Regina said, holding the test in the air "It's negative, Katheryn"
Katheryn nodded at Regina, a single tear falling down her face, before giving her back to Regina.
Regina put the test on the sink and walk out of the bathroom, following Katheryn to the kitchen.
"Are you okay?" Regina asked.
"When I was in the bathroom, taking the test," Katheryn said "I wanted to be positive"
"Oh?"
"I thought that if the test was positive, if I was pregnant, maybe this abysm between David and I would go away," Katheryn said.
"I am so sorry, Katheryn," Regina said, her stomach twisting again.
"It's not your fault, Regina," Katheryn said softly.
And that pained Regina even more.
"I want to have a child," Katheryn said "I love him. I want us to have a change, a real chance to have a family"
"Katheryn…" Regina breathed out.
"Maybe we should go to therapy," Katheryn said.
"What?" Regina asked.
"Couples therapy," Katheryn said softly "Perhaps that could help fix our marriage"
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Regina swallowed dry, hating herself for what she was doing.
"Well, since my test came out negative," Katheryn smiled, walking to the refrigerator "How about that wine?"
Regina nodded at Katheryn, sitting heavily on the kitchen chair.
She had to find a way to fix this for Katheryn.
It had to be a way to reunite her with her true love while still keeping Prince Charming and Snow White apart.
Emma entered the loft, sliding the jacket off her shoulders.
"Hey,"
Emma looked to the side and saw Mary Margaret sitting on the chair behind the table, a bottle of scotch and a half-empty glass in front of her.
And face as red as one of Regina's apples.
"Hey," Emma said back, hanging her jacket behind the door.
"I know that you are upset with me about what I did to Ava and Nicholas," Mary Margaret sniffed "And I am sorry for what I did. I understand now that my actions were selfish. But if you could find in your heart to forgive me, I could really use a friend right now"
Emma looked softly at Mary Margaret, her heart clenching at the sight of her friend.
Yes, she had betrayed her.
But it wasn't so bad that Emma couldn't forgive her actions and if life had thought her anything was that sometimes, we do the wrong thing for the right reason.
So, Emma walked behind the counter of their kitchen and picked up a glass before sitting down beside Mary Margaret, pouring herself a glass of scotch.
"She's pregnant," Mary Margaret said, tears falling down her face.
"Who?" Emma asked, sipping her drink.
"Katheryn," Mary Margaret whispered.
"What?" Emma asked surprised, blinking her eyes.
"I ran into her and Regina at the pharmacy earlier," Mary Margaret said before taking a long gulp of her drink "They were buying pregnancy tests"
"Shit!" Emma said, drinking her scotch.
So that's why Regina said she couldn't leave Katheryn.
Emma scratched her forehead and looked at Mary Margaret, feeling sorry for the woman devasted in front of her.
"I'm sorry," Emma said sincerely "Did you know he was sleeping with her?"
"No," Mary Margaret shook her head "But why wouldn't he? She is his wife and she is beautiful and…."
Mary Margaret started to sob, the tears running down her face.
Emma reached for her hand over the table, squeezing softly wishing she could do more but also too awkward to offer anything other than the small gesture.
"I thought he loved me, Emma," Mary Margaret said, "I thought we had something"
"Mary Margaret, that man never left his wife, even when he was saying he had feelings for you," Emma said "That tells a lot about him"
"He said he didn't love her," Mary Margaret said.
"Well, he loved her enough to sleep with her," Emma raised her glass as if making a point.
"I'm a fool," Mary Margaret sniffed.
"No, he is," Emma said "You are a good woman, Mary Margaret. You are too good for him. And so is Katheryn, for that matter"
"We are, aren't we?" Mary Margaret asked, looking slightly angry at Emma.
Good!
The sooner she started to feel the anger, the sooner she would get out of that funk.
"Sometimes I wish I never met him," Mary Margaret said.
Emma's phone rang inside her jeans pocket and she lifted her butt from the chair, reaching for the phone.
Graham's name flashed on the screen and Emma excused herself to answer.
Two minutes later, Emma turned off the call and picked up her glass from the table, gulping the rest of the liquid all at once while scrunching her face as the liquid burned her throat.
"I have to go," Emma said "I'm helping Graham secure the town for the storm tomorrow"
"Okay," Mary Margaret nodded.
"Are you going to be okay?" Emma asked.
"No," Mary Margaret said staring blankly at the bottle in front of her "But I have whisky"
"Well, good," Emma laughed "Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"I will," Mary Margaret said "Emma?"
"Yeah?"
"Are we okay?"
Emma smiled softly at Mary Margaret, cleaning a fresh new tear away from her face.
"We are okay," Emma said before walking to the door and putting on her jacket, surprised at the guilt she was feeling for leaving her brokenhearted friend behind.
Regina was in front of her apple three, a basket in hand staring at all the fruits on the ground.
The wind had picked up when she left Katheryn's house, blowing furiously in the air, but the rain they were expecting wasn't pouring down yet.
Regina looked up at the sky colored in a mix of black and grey clouds, the dark night already upon them.
She hoped it wouldn't be too much damage around the town.
She could hardly remember the last time they had such heavy weather.
Regina looked down at the ground again, smiling softly at her beautiful apples, roughly taken down from their branches by the wind.
There were so many of them.
Her tree had been generous to her.
Perhaps a little too generous because Regina had no idea what she was going to do with so many apples now.
Part of them she would use to make a fresh batch of her cider, and perhaps she could bake some pies with the other half.
Henry had always loved her apple pies and now there was also Emma and Regina wondered if her blonde lover would enjoy her apple pies too.
Regina closed her eyes, imagining Emma eating a slice of the pie, a soft moan of approval escaping her lips as the delicate mix of apples, sugar, and buttery crust melted in her mouth.
It was almost sinful the sounds Emma's lips produced and Regina curled her toes inside her heels as the image of the pie faded, replaced with Emma in her bed, gasping on top of her while Regina…
Regina yelped and dropped the basket on the floor as soft arms snaked around her waist her body tensing for one second before relaxing in the next.
The warmth of the body behind her enveloped her, her skin recognizing Emma's instantly as the mix of wildflowers, summer breeze, and apple blossom assaulted her nose.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Emma whispered in her ear.
Regina smiled, throwing her head back, and landing on Emma's right shoulder, her arms covering Emma's over her stomach.
"They are worth way more than that," Regina said.
Emma smiled and tilted her head to the side, kissing Regina's cheek.
"Hi," Emma said softly.
"Hi," Regina said back before turning around in Emma's embrace.
Regina smiled at Emma, wrapping her arms around Emma's neck before moving forward to capture Emma's lips in a kiss.
Her lips moved slowly against Emma's, savoring the warmth of her lips and the faint taste of a whiskey lingering on her tongue.
I love you.
Regina pulled away from Emma, smiling at the soft grunt of protest that escaped Emma's lips when she pulled away.
"More," Emma said, eyes still closed.
Regina leaned forward again, her lips still smiling when she pressed them against Emma's, lightly toying with Emma's hair behind her neck with her fingers.
Emma tightened her embrace around Regina's waist, flushing their bodies impossibly closer to one another.
Her tongue invaded Regina's mouth slowly, cherishing her walls and taking Regina's breath away.
I love you.
Regina deepened the kiss, pulling on Emma's lower lip with her teeth before claiming Emma's mouth with hers.
She kissed Emma until her lungs burned for air until her lips were slightly numb and even so, Regina kept on kissing Emma as if her own existence depended on it.
Emma pulled away slowly, taking in a sharp breath, pressing her forehead against Regina's.
The wind blew from behind Emma, her soft locks tickling Regina's cheek as the wind carried her scent away.
"I didn't feel you come in," Regina whispered.
"Do you mean hear?" Emma asked, lightly pressing her lips against Regina's.
"No," Regina smiled, pulling away slightly to look into Emma's eyes, her fingers lightly tracing the back of Emma's neck "I guess I was too lost in thoughts"
Emma frowned and looked at Regina thoughtfully. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something but then thought better of it, shaking her head.
"What?" Regina asked softly.
"You are going to think it's crazy," Emma laughed.
"Tell me," Regina said softly again.
"Do I…" Emma laughed and shook her head "Do I smell different to you?"
"What do you mean?" Regina asked.
"It's just that when I'm near you, I smell this scent of apple blossom and a winter breeze, and I know it's crazy and I'm probably imagining the whole thing because we are out here under your apple tree with the wind blowing but I swear…"
Regina leaned forward, pressing her lips against Emma, moaning softly when she pulled away and Emma's scent carried by the wind assaulted her.
"Wildflowers and summer breeze," Regina said smiling softly at Emma.
"What?" Emma asked confused.
"Your scent," Regina said looking into Emma's eyes "When you are close I can always smell this scent of wildflowers and summer breeze"
"Oh," Emma blinked her eyes "So, I'm not crazy?"
"No," Regina laughed.
"What is that?" Emma asked "I never felt anything like this before, it's so different"
"Different?" Regina asked.
"But good," Emma smiled.
"I don't know what this is," Regina said "I have never felt anything like this either"
"I guess we are meant to be then," Emma pressed her lips against Regina's "Although now that you said I smell like wildflowers it explains why there is always this flowered scent mixed with yours"
"Yeah," Regina said thoughtfully "Ever since our first night there is this apple blossom scent mixed with yours"
"Guess we are forged now then," Emma smiled.
"We are," Regina smiled back at Emma.
Regina moved one of her hands from Emma's neck and to her face, softly pushing a lock of hair the wind insisted on blowing on her face.
Emma closed her eyes and purred happily at Regina's touch, tilting her head to the side to kiss Regina's palm.
Emma opened her eyes and smiled softly at Regina, her green eyes glowing even under the dark night.
She was so beautiful.
You are mine. And I'm Yours.
I love you.
Regina closed her eyes, her flesh and bones suddenly weak at the overwhelming feeling that washed over her.
She wrapped her hands around Emma's neck, needing the contact to support her body otherwise she felt like she would just melt on the ground.
Regina opened her eyes, Emma watching her intensely.
She moved one of her hands from Regina's waist to Regina's face, gently cherishing her skin.
"You are so beautiful," Emma whispered.
Regina looked at Emma, her heart thumping fast inside her chest.
The wind blew again, Emma's hair flying wild along with her scent and Regina could feel it entering her skin, filling her pores and blending with her blood.
And then realization finally hit her.
Emma was her true love.
Regina gasped for air, as her heart was enveloped by that scent, slowing her heartbeats.
She moved her hand to Emma's face, moving her hair back, her very soul smiling at the woman in front of her.
Regina leaned forward, pressing her lips against Emma's, pulling her as close to her body as she possibly could.
Her love.
Her home.
Not a half, but a whole.
Her true love.
You are mine. And I'm yours.
I love you.
Regina deepened the kiss, tears prickling in the back of her eyes.
Every inch of her body wanted to melt inside of Emma, she wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, she wanted to hold on to Emma and this moment until the world was no more, until there was nothing but herself and Emma, from the beginning to the end.
She wasn't scared.
She loved Emma, she loved Emma with every fiber of her being, she loved Emma with her whole soul, her whole heart belonged to the woman Regina was so desperately clinging to.
I love you.
Emma pulled away from Regina, smiling softly as she nuzzled her nose against hers, her hands softly running down her face.
Regina needed to tell her.
Regina needed to tell Emma she loved her, she needed to tell Emma what she truly meant to her.
How desperately in love with Emma she was.
Regina smiled at Emma, her throat raw and heart full of love.
She wished they were up there on the roof, inside their tent, with the stars and moon glowing above them and bodies intertwined instead of this upcoming storm.
But it didn't matter.
Good or bad, Regina was here for all of it.
You are mine. And I'm yours.
I love you.
Regina cleared her throat, sinking her fingers into the back of Emma's neck, and looking inside her eyes.
"There is something I need to tell you," Regina whispered.
"What is it?" Emma whispered back.
"Emma, I…"
"EMMA!"
Regina looked behind her, looking for the voice that had shouted Emma's name while Emma grunted in front of her.
"It's Graham," Emma said "We are on twenty-four hours duty because of the storm"
Regina looked back at Emma frowning, worry sinking into her features.
"You barely sleep last night," Regina said.
"No regrets," Emma smiled pressing her lips against Regina's "What is it that you wanted to tell me?"
"Right," Regina shook her head "Emma, I…"
"EMMA, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?"
Emma grunted again, rolling her eyes.
She pressed her forehead against Regina's and kissed her lips before taking a step back.
Regina's body felt immediately cold.
"I'M WITH REGINA IN THE BACK," Emma shouted.
One moment later, Graham was entering the back garden, the wind blowing stronger now.
"Regina, you should go home," Graham said when he approached them "This storm will be above us any minute now"
"I just need to collect my apples," Regina said, pointing at her long-forgotten basket as another apple fell from its branch.
"Emma, we have to go," Graham said "There are still a lot of areas to cover and we need to make sure all runoff sewers are clear"
Emma nodded at Graham, walking to stand beside him.
"Don't stay out here too long, okay?" Emma said looking at Regina.
"I won't," Regina nodded "Be careful. Both of you"
Graham nodded at Regina and started to walk away.
Emma lingered a second too long behind, smiling at Regina when Graham was somewhat distant.
"Text me later?" Emma asked.
"Absolutely," Regina smiled at Emma.
Emma walked away, leaving Regina alone in the middle of her falling apples.
She had been so close to telling Emma she loved her.
Now that the feeling had rooted inside her heart, Regina could hardly contain it. Its roots grew deeper and spread through Regina's body like wildfire of branches.
It took her whole before she even realized it.
She loved Emma.
She loved Emma with a force she didn't even knew exist inside of her.
More deeply than she ever knew she was capable of.
Her true love.
Emma was her true love.
Regina smiled, a soft tear falling from the corner of her eyes as she touched her lips with her fingers.
She wanted to run after Emma, pull her inside her arms and finally let the words that were dancing on the tip of her tongue out.
I love you.
"Don't you look positively smitten,"
Regina looked ahead, watching Gold walk in her direction.
Her body stiffened and her features hardened, her skin suddenly feeling colder than normal.
"Mr. Gold," Regina said politely "What can I do for you?"
"I was just in the neighborhood," Gold said "I thought I'd pop by. Lovely to see you in such high spirits"
"You shouldn't be taking walks under this weather," Regina said before pointing at his cane "It can't possibly be good for your leg"
"Your concern is touching, dear," Gold smiled at her.
"All citizens should remain indoors until the storm is over," Regina said, giving her back to the man and walking to her basket.
"Except the storm hasn't started yet," Gold said "I saw you with the new deputy. I suppose congratulations are in order"
"I don't know what you are talking about," Regina said, crouching down to pick up her basket.
"It's quite beautiful how things work out, isn't it?" Gold said "Did you know that Miss Swan was found just outside the Storybrooke area twenty-eight years ago"
"What?" Regina asked eyes widened.
"Imagine if she had just been found by one of our beloved citizens, she could have grown up right here in Storybrooke"
She rose from the floor, giving one and then another step closer to Gold, rage, and fear running freely inside of her veins.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Wasn't this information inside the report I provided for Sidney?" Gold smiled "It must have slipped from inside the folder"
"Gold," Regina said, her voice failing "Who… Who is she?"
Gold smiled at Regina picking up an apple from its branch, and giving it a bite.
"I would say you think you know exactly who she is," Gold said "I really must be going"
Gold gave his back to Regina, walking away from her.
Regina stared at his back, heart beating fast inside her chest and breathing uneven.
"You should take better care of your tree, dearie. This apple is disgustingly bitter"
Gold threw the apple over his shoulder and Regina watched roll over until it stopped right beside her feet.
And then just when her legs gave in, Regina fell to her knees in the middle of her cemetery of apples as the heavy rain started to pour down above her head.