Part Twenty-Six: The One With the Awakening
Regina blinked her eyes slowly, soft skin pressing against hers and warm breath tickling her lips.
The room was dark and the rain was still pouring outside but not as fiercely as it was before.
Regina shifted slightly, but fingers dug into her skin, keeping her in place.
Regina opened her eyes fully, focusing on Emma sleeping pressed against her, their lips still touching and legs intertwined.
It took Regina a minute to understand what had happened.
How and why they were here.
Regina closed her eyes again, a soft tear leaving the corner of her eyes as she took a deep breath.
Regina had been so focused on her own sorrow over the idea of losing Emma that she never took a second to consider how Emma would feel if she walked away.
It had devasted her.
The pain of seeing Emma falling apart in front of her eyes was worse than losing her.
Because she could exist in a world with the sadness of not having Emma. But she could never do the same if Emma was hurting because of her.
Regina lifted her hand to Emma's cheek, cherishing her skin.
Emma hummed happily as if something inside of her recognize Regina's touch even in her slumber.
Her true love.
Regina's heart tightened inside her chest, the weight of her past crushing something inside of her.
They were connected for life now.
What existed between them was already far beyond anything Regina had ever had in her life before.
She could feel every bit of Emma's fear and uncertainty tormenting her the night before.
The heart that broke last night, when Regina saw Emma on her knees, wasn't hers.
There was nothing left of her heart to be broken.
It was Emma's.
It was her heart Regina felt breaking inside her chest.
And the despair was worse than any demons Regina had ever faced before.
She felt her own soul screaming in agony, her heart was pierced and tormented with a pain so deep, that Regina could hardly breathe.
She couldn't stand the thought of Emma thinking Regina didn't belong to her. That what they shared was not real.
And even so, she tried.
She tried to tell Emma she wasn't good enough for her.
She wasn't worthy of her.
But when Emma told Regina she didn't want to know, that whatever happened in her past she didn't have to tell her, a light of hope flicked inside Regina's heart.
Because what if Regina didn't have to tell her the truth?
Regina moved closer pressing her lips softly on the corner of Emma's lips.
It was hope, yes, but Regina wasn't a fool.
She knew the odds were against her.
Regina ran her hand over Emma's face again, a vow whispering in her heart.
She would o anything in her power to protect both her curse and Emma.
But if the day came when Regina had to choose between her curse and Emma, the choice was simple.
No matter what she had sacrificed for her curse.
She would choose Emma.
She would choose love over vengeance.
No price was high enough.
Even if she had to pay with her life.
Regina snuggled under Emma's chin, Emma's arms tightening her grip around Regina's body.
Regina smiled against Emma's chest and took a deep breath in, her nose immediately assaulted with Emma's wonderful wildflowers and summer breeze scent.
Home.
Inside Emma's arm, Regina was home.
Regina kissed Emma's skin above her heart and then pressed her ear there, listening to the beautiful music of Emma's heartbeat reverberating through her body before sleep claimed her to the world of unconsciousness…
When Regina opened her eyes again, the room was completely lit by soft sunlight.
She was still inside Emma's arms but had shifted position throughout the night, and she was now facing the wall with Emma's breath tickling the back of her neck.
Regina took a deep breath in, her lungs fulfilling with the sweet aroma of Emma's scent, and smiled.
True Love.
This was what she felt for Emma.
And this was regardless of the magic that linked them together.
Even if they didn't share it, she would still love Emma.
Her heart would always belong to her.
Regina shifted in bed, pulling her leg from under Emma's leg, but before she could move an inch, Emma pulled her back, pressing their bodies together.
"Don't," Emma said behind her "Don't leave me"
Regina closed her eyes, her barely mended heart cracking around the edges.
There was fear in Emma's voice again, her arms were tight around Regina's waist, her fingers sinking into her flesh.
She hated that.
Hate beyond words could ever explain, hate that she was the reason why Emma was scared.
Regina slip her hand above Emma's arm on her waist and pulled just enough so she could turn around and face Emma.
"I am never leaving you again," Regina said, looking into Emma's eyes.
"Never?" Emma whispered, a silver line shining behind her eyes.
Regina lifted her hand to Emma's cheek, cherishing the skin there before leaning forward to press a kiss on Emma's lips.
"Never," Regina whispered, her lips still pressed against Emma's "I promise"
And Regina meant it.
She would never leave Emma again, she would never put her through that desperate fear she felt the night before.
But the question was, would Emma ever leave her?
When and if she found out the truth?
Would she hate Regina for it?
Would Emma hate Regina for what she did to her family?
And could Regina ever bear Emma looking at her with hate instead of love burning in her eyes?
Regina swallowed dry, feeling the tears prickling behind her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked, pulling Regina out of her thoughts.
"Nothing," Regina said, pushing the thoughts away.
Emma pulled Regina closer, her fingers sinking into her flesh again before pressing her lips against Regina's.
"I don't ever want to feel the way I did yesterday again," Emma said when she pulled away.
"I'm sorry," Regina said sincerely running her hand down Emma's face.
"It's not just about me," Emma said "The pain you were feeling was agonizing, Regina. It was ripping me apart"
"I didn't know," Regina said "I didn't think you would feel"
"I did," Emma pressed her forehead against Regina "It was shattering me every passing minute"
"I'm so sorry, Emma," Regina whispered.
"You should have come to me," Emma said "You should have found me. You are not alone. You and I, we are in this together"
"I'm not sure if you would say that if you knew what…"
Regina didn't have time to finish her sentence because Emma's lips pressed against hers, taking her breath away.
She moved slowly, savoring Regina's lips before parting them with her tongue, deepening the kiss.
Regina brought her hand to Emma's neck, pulling her impossibly closer. Their nipples brushed against one another, a soft moan escaping Regina's lips inside Emma's mouth, heat already pooling between her intertwined legs.
Emma's hand slid from Regina's hip to her thigh, pulling them harder above her own thigh, the warmth of her skin setting Regina's on fire.
It took so little for Regina to lit for Emma.
The flame was always there, and Emma was the fuel that made her burn.
Emma broke the kiss slowly, their breaths ragged as they pressed their foreheads together.
"I don't need to know what this secret in your past is," Emma said "I meant what I said, the past doesn't matter. But if one day, the weight of your past become too heavy, if one day you want to share it with me, I swear to you, I will not run"
"Emma…"
"I am not leaving you, Regina," Emma said firmly "I promise you that too. Whatever it is, we'll face it together"
Regina closed her eyes, pressing her lips softly against Emma's.
She wanted to believe Emma's words so bad, that it hurt.
But she could never believe Emma's promise, simply because it wasn't fair.
If one day, Emma ever found out the truth, as much as Regina wanted to, she would never hold her to that promise.
Regina would never take anything away from Emma anymore.
Not even her right to run.
"How did you sleep?" Regina asked, changing the subject.
"I slept well," Emma smiled "Your naked body is very comfortable to sleep with"
Regina smiled genuinely, her heart finally in peace for one second inside her chest.
"How did you sleep?" Emma asked, her fingers running up and down Regina's thigh and hip.
"I slept well," Regina pressed her lips against Emma's "Your naked body is very comfortable to sleep with"
Emma smirked and pressed her lips against Regina again, the smile never leaving her lips.
"We should do that more often," Emma said casually.
"I supposed we should," Regina said before pressing her lips against Emma again.
Emma deepened the kiss, moaning softly inside Regina's mouth.
Her fingers sank on Regina's hip, pushing her down slowly as the length of Emma's body covered Regina's, her silky warm skin rubbing deliciously against Regina's.
Emma broke the kiss, running her hand up from Regina's hip to her cheek, her eyes never once moving away from Regina's eyes.
Regina almost choked with what she saw there.
Love.
Love tinged with fear.
"Not leaving?" Emma whispered, eyes darting watching Regina.
"Not leaving," Regina said, running her hand on Emma's face.
Emma smiled and captured Regina's lips in a kiss, sucking Regina's tongue inside her mouth.
Regina held Emma's face between her hands, and deepened the kiss, her toes already curling at every brush of Emma's nipples against her own.
True love.
Regina moaned inside Emma's mouth, desire rippling through every pore of her body.
But not just that, never just that.
It was love.
It was love first, dyeing every other emotion, every desire, every lust, every craving she had for Emma would forever be tinged with love.
Emma sucked Regina's bottom lip, taking Regina's breath away with her, before claiming her lips again.
Her hand moved to Regina's breast, squeezing the flesh before rolling her nipple between her fingers.
Regina was already wet.
Regina moved her own hands from Emma's face down to her collarbone and then breast, squeezing both of them inside her palms.
"Regina," Emma moaned desperately, breaking the kiss.
Regina smiled and just squeezed Emma's breast again, the sound of Emma's out-of-breath gasps awakening something deep inside of her.
"How is it possible that I crave you more than I crave my next breath?" Emma asked.
Regina lifted her head and captured Emma's lips in a kiss.
"Take me," Regina moaned inside Emma's mouth.
So Emma deepened the kiss, claiming all of Regina in one single gesture.
Emma moved her lips to Regina's chin and then her neck, her lips sucking and tongue licking her flesh.
Regina was vaguely aware of footsteps outside her bedroom and a soft knock on the door as Emma's tongue moved lower until she suddenly stop.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked, fear already creeping into her voice.
"Mom?" Mom, are you awake?"
Regina looked at Emma, eyes widened and lips slightly parted as Emma looked back at Regina with the exact same expression.
"Henry's outside," Emma stated the obvious.
"Yes," Regina nodded slowly.
"Regina, I'm naked," Emma whispered.
"Yes, I'm aware of that" Regina whispered back.
"Mom?" Another knock "Mom, can I come in?"
"Is the door locked?" Emma asked.
"I have no idea," Regina said.
"Shit!"
"Mom?" Henry called again.
Regina looked in the direction of the door, horror consuming her whole body as she saw the doorknob twisting as if it was happening in slow motion.
"Henry, don't come in," Regina shouted, Emma already pulling the sheets to cover their bodies.
"Why not?" Henry asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, I'm just…" Regina felt her cheeks burn as the only valid excuse that came to mind poped on the tip of her tongue "I'm naked"
"Ew, mom," Henry said from the other side "Can you put some clothes on?"
"Yes, I will do that right now,"
Emma moved out from Regina's body and rose from the bed, walking in the direction of the pile of clothes Regina left on the floor the night before.
Regina did the same, but walked to her closet instead and quickly put on some underwear and a silky black camisole before tying the robe around her waist.
By the time she left the closet, Emma was already fully dressed.
"What are we going to do?" Emma whispered when Regina walked closer.
"You have to use the window," Regina said apologetically.
"Seriously?" Emma asked.
"Mom, are you dressed yet?" Henry's voice echoed in the room.
"Almost, honey," Regina shouted before looking back at Emma "I'm sorry"
"I'm gonna break my neck you know?" Emma smirked, already walking to the window.
"You don't even joke about that," Regina said seriously.
Emma walked to the window, pulling it open.
The sun was bright and clear outside, the wind blowing a soft cold morning breeze the water still drenching everything outside.
Regina walked closer to Emma, putting her hands on her hips.
"Be careful," Regina said softly.
"Always am," Emma said.
Emma leaned forward, capturing Regina's lips in a soft kiss, her lips moving lazily as the morning rose outside.
"This part never gets easy you know," Emma said when they broke apart.
"I know," Regina said back, her fingers sinking on Emma's shirt.
"Maybe we should…"
"Mom, who are you talking to?" Henry asked, interrupting Emma.
They both look in the direction of the door, Emma grunting and Regina rolling her eyes.
"Nobody," Regina shouted.
"I can hear a second voice," Henry said "I'm coming in"
"Henry, no" Regina said.
"Maybe I should…" Emma tilted her head in the direction of the window.
"Yes," Regina sighed.
Emma crouched on the window, half her body already out when she stopped to look at Regina.
"We are in this together, right?" Emma asked, "I jump off this window, we are still okay?"
"We are," Regina said firmly "No more running, I promise you"
Regina put her hand on Emma's face, gently pressing her lips with Emma's the sweet aroma of her scent invading her.
"Mom, I'm coming in,"
Regina pulled away from Emma quickly, eyes windering as she turned in the direction of the door just when Henry was pushing the door open.
"Henry, stop," Regina shouted.
But it was too late.
Henry was already in the room looking suspiciously at Regina.
"Who were you talking to?" Henry asked.
"Nobody," Regina said quickly before a loud thud noise came from outside her window.
"What was that?" Henry asked.
Regina swallowed dry and ran to the window, her heart racing inside her chest at the idea of Emma being injured on the ground.
She gripped the window sill and looked down, letting out a puff of air when she saw Emma getting up.
But when she looked back, behind herself, Henry had vanished from the bedroom.
And Regina knew exactly where he was going.
"Henry, come back here," Regina shouted before running away from her bedroom.
She reached the staircase just when Henry was opening the front door.
"Henry, stop," Regina tried again.
But he didn't listen.
As per usual.
Henry threw open the door and ran outside as Regina went down the staircase as fast as she could.
"Emma?" Henry said "What are you doing here?"
Regina swallowed dry, walking behind Henry to the porch.
Emma was almost at the front yard gate and if Regina had held Henry for just one minute Emma would have made it outside instead of being completely frozen in front of the gate looking terrified between Henry and Regina.
"Emma, are you okay?" Henry asked.
"Kid, hey," Emma said awkwardly.
And Regina could feel every bit of Emma's embarrassment.
It would be amusing if Regina wasn't as embarrassed and slightly terrified as Emma was.
"What are you doing here?" Henry asked, "Did you hear that noise too?"
"Yes!" Emma said quickly, jumping to the opportunity "Yes, I did. I was around and I heard a noise, so I came here to investigate"
"Oh! And what did you find?" Henry asked.
"Nothing," Emma said walking closer to them.
"Nothing?" Henry asked "The noise was huge"
"Maybe it was a tree that fell somewhere else, Henry," Regina said hoping her son would believe.
"There is a lot of those after the storm, kid," Emma said right after.
"Yeah, maybe," Henry said, but Regina could tell he was not quite convinced. Henry looked up at Regina, walking closer to her and wrapping his arms around her waist "Are you feeling better now?"
Regina felt like she could cry.
Henry had been so worried about her the day before, always trying to make her feel better while Regina was just a ghost of herself.
He even called Emma in the hopes that she would help even when he didn't know that Emma was truly the only one that could help Regina recover from her heartbreak.
Regina ran her hand over Henry's hair, dropping a gentle kiss on top of his head.
"I'm feeling much better, sweetie," Regina smiled at Henry, a smile she knew would reach her eyes.
"Do you think Emma can stay for breakfast?" Henry asked.
"Well, if Miss Swan is not very busy…"
"I'm not busy," Emma smiled at both of them.
"Well then," Regina smiled back at Emma "Come on in, Miss Swan"
In the kitchen, Henry and Emma sat side by side at the island while Regina moved around, taking this and that from the refrigerator and cabinets.
"Do you need any help?" Emma offered.
"No, I dont," Regina said "But thank you"
Regina cracked a few eggs on the skillet her stomach growling as she moved the eggs around and the smell of toast and coffee brewing invaded the kitchen.
When was the last time she even ate?
"So, Emma," Henry said, "What are you doing today?"
"I'm not sure, kid," Emma said.
"You are not working today?" Henry asked.
"I don't know," Emma answered, "I think I am"
"You are not a very good employee, are you?" Henry asked and Regina couldn't help the smirk that escaped her lips.
Or the joy that spread through her whole body, invading every single inch of her with calm happiness.
"Hey, kid!" Emma protested.
"You know that technically, mom is your boss, right?" Henry said just when Regina moved to take two pieces of bread out of the toaster and add two more.
"You have no idea how much of that sentence is true, kid," Emma smirked and Regina smiled fondly back at her.
"What about you, mom?" Henry asked.
"I suppose I should take a walk around town," Regina sighed "I need to evaluate the damage around the town, see what needs to be dealt with urgently"
"I'll go with you," Emma said.
"Me too," Henry said right after.
"Alright," Regina said, splitting the eggs between three plates "I suppose we can all leave after breakfast"
"I need to go check my Castle," Henry said "Can we go there?"
"Sure, kid," Emma said back as Regina put a plate of eggs and toast in front of her.
"Coffee?" Regina asked.
"Yes, please," Emma smiled sweetly up at her.
And Regina knew she could get used to that smile every single morning.
More than get used to actually.
It had been rooted in her heart already.
She wanted Emma, for as long as she walked on this earth.
She wanted Emma with every beat of her heart.
"Why are you looking at Emma like that?" Henry asked.
And Regina imagined the question was directed at her when she cleared her throat.
"What?" Regina asked.
"You two look at each other weird," Henry said looking between Emma and Regina.
"I've no idea what you are talking about, Henry," Regina said and put the other plate of eggs and toast in front of Henry before walking to the coffee machine.
"Why do you want to go to your Castle, Henry?" Emma asked, changing the subject.
"I need to get something from there," Henry said but didn't bother to elaborate.
"Alright," Emma smirked before taking a mouthful of eggs.
And so Regina sat down, next to Henry instead of Emma because she did not want to raise any more suspicions coming from Henry.
Which was not such a good idea because Emma kept on looking at her with longing burning behind her eyes and all Regina wanted to do was take her hand between hers and feel the warmth of her skin rippling up to her.
Perhaps it was this constant need she had for Emma, always burning low in the pit of her stomach.
Perhaps it was Emma's scent that still carried that devasted fear of abandonment, leaving a tart taste on the back of Regina's tongue.
She had been so foolish to think she could ever walk away from Emma, that she was the only one who would hurt with the distance.
True love wasn't a one-way street.
And Regina understood now that what she felt for Emma was just as intense as what Emma felt for her.
This should scare her, and it did.
Not because of the love she felt for Emma.
Never that.
Regina wasn't scared of loving Emma.
Not anymore.
She only wanted to let that love take her whole, feel it in its most complete immensity.
But the lies she would have to keep, those…
"Are you okay?" Emma asked concerned.
Regina blinked her eyes before focusing them on Emma.
That tart taste was slightly stronger on her tongue, Emma's scent tinged with fear.
Regina smiled at Emma, calming her racing heart and clearing her thoughts.
Emma could feel her emotions when they were too deep.
Something else Regina was only now realizing that they shared.
Two hearts. One soul.
"I'm fine," Regina said softly.
"You guys are looking at each other weirdly again!" Henry said.
"And you should stop paying so much attention to the way people are looking at each other," Regina clicked her tongue.
But then Henry just smiled at her before bursting out laughing.
Regina smiled at Henry, the noise of his laughter warming her heart.
But then when she looked at Emma and saw the way she was smiling while looking at Henry, it owned her.
Emma's smile would forever own Regina.
Regina rose from the chair and picked up Henry's plate, suppressing the urge to kiss Emma's lips when she collected her empty plate from the island and walked to the sink.
"I'm going to change," Henry said before storming out of the kitchen.
He had hardly left the kitchen before Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's waist dropping a soft kiss on the side of her neck.
Regina turned on Emma's embrace, wrapping her arms around Emma's neck and pressing a light kiss on her lips.
"Are you hurt?" Regina asked, only now remembering the loud noise she heard outside her window.
"Just my pride," Emma said before pressing her lips with Regina's again "I slipped on my way down and ended up falling. Good thing you have soft grass"
"Are you saying I should tip the gardener for not doing his job?" Regina asked playfully.
"Absolutely," Emma smiled "Do you think Henry suspects anything?"
"I have no idea," Regina sighed "But I supposed we should try and be more careful around him"
"Says the woman who always smiles when she hears my name," Emma said.
"That is so not true," Regina rolled her eyes.
Emma pressed her lips to Regina's ear, soft breath tickling her skin.
"Emma," Emma whispered.
And Regina smiled, regardless of how hard she fought against it.
Emma pressed her lips against hers, barely kissing as they both couldn't contain the smile tugging on their lips.
True love.
Regina ran her hand down Emma's face, her palm resting on Emma's cheek.
"I liked having breakfast with you and Henry this morning," Emma said.
"Me too," Regina said sincerely.
The sound of footsteps echoing inside the kitchen made both Regina and Emma look in the direction of the door before Emma take a step away from Regina one second before Henry entered the kitchen again.
"I'm ready," Henry announced.
"I should go and change too," Regina said tying the robe she didn't even notice it was open.
"I actually need to do the same," Emma said "Do you mind if I use your bathroom? I have spare clothes in my car"
"Of course" Regina nodded "Henry, be a gentleman and show Miss Swan to the bathroom"
"Emma knows where the bathroom is," Henry said back.
"A real gentleman, kid," Emma smirked.
"What?" Henry asked and looked at Emma "You do!"
"Show her anyway," Regina clicked her tongue.
She walked out of the kitchen, the sound of Emma and Henry's laugh reaching her ears just when she was halfway up the staircase.
True love.
Emma and Henry.
Her family.
Emma parked the bug in front of Henry's Castle on the beach.
The three of them had left the mansion together that morning with Henry insisting he needed to come to his castle and that he had something of urgency to check in the area.
So the three of them had hopped inside the bug, with Henry in the backseat and Regina in the passenger seat of the car.
And apart from the fact that Emma couldn't reach for Regina's hand and intertwined their fingers together, the feel of Regina and Henry inside that car with her just felt right.
Like it was always meant to be, all three of them.
Together.
Emma opened the car door, Regina doing the same next to her.
She couldn't quite leave Regina's side just yet, couldn't bear to be distant.
She didn't even care if that sounded too clingy because…
What she felt the day before was agonizing.
Emma could still feel that pain rippling through her body and tearing her heart apart.
She could still feel Regina every now and then submerging into that soul-shattering pain.
Emma had no idea what had happened to cause that kind of reaction, what was it about Regina's past that could bring her so much pain and devastation.
All she knew was that she never wanted Regina to be in that kind of agonizing pain ever again.
She never wanted to feel that kind of pain ever again.
Emma swallowed dry, walking closer to Regina while she pushed the seat forward for Henry to leave the car.
She put her hand on Regina's back, her body vibrating with the need to touch her even in the simplest of ways.
"My Castle," Henry shouted.
Both Emma and Regina looked in the direction of Henry's Castle, or at least where the Castle was supposed to be.
The rain had brought the whole thing down into a pile of wet wood on the sand.
Henry sprinted from between them, running in the direction of the Castle.
"Henry, be careful," Regina shouted.
But Henry didn't even bother to look back.
Emma tilted her head to the side, both women walking after him, Emma's hand on Regina's lower back now.
The morning was colder out there on the beach, the wind blowing strong and the heavy scent of salt and seaweed lingering in the air.
"Henry, I'm so sorry," Regina said when they stopped behind him.
Henry kneeled on the ground and started to dig, throwing wet sand and wood pieces to the side.
"The hell are you doing, kid?" Emma asked.
"Henry, I'll build you a new castle," Regina said "I promise"
"It's not just the castle," Henry said still digging.
"What are you looking for?" Emma asked.
"My book," Henry said looking behind his shoulder "I hid the book here so mom wouldn't find"
And then he just went back to digging.
"Ouch!" Regina said quietly.
Emma smiled sympathetically at her and then leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek to which Regina arched an eyebrow at her.
But Emma didn't care.
She wasn't caring a whole lot today when it came to showing Regina affection.
Not when Emma could smell her wonderful scent of blooming apples and winter breeze with a hint of wildflowers so clear.
Not when her heart was lighter inside her chest and her stomach wasn't twisting her insides into a knot.
"No, no, no, no," Henry said over and over again.
"What's wrong, Henry?" Regina asked.
Henry turned around, holding in his hands an open red metal box.
"My book," Henry said "It's gone"
"Sorry, kid," Emma said looking down at Henry.
"Are you sure it's not in the house?" Regina asked.
"No," Henry shook his head "I hid the book here and the pages in the closet so mom wouldn't find them both"
Regina bit her lower lip and looked down, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.
"Hey, kid," Emma said seriously "How about a touch of consideration? Your mom is right here"
"Sorry, mom," Henry said sheepishly.
"I'm sorry about the book," Regina said sincerely.
"Are you?" Henry asked Regina.
"Of course I am," Regina said "I know that book meant something to you"
"Did you take my book?" Henry asked.
"Of course, I didn't," Regina said back.
"You were looking for the missing pages," Henry accused.
"I didn't take your book, Henry!" Regina said firmly.
Henry paused looking at Regina for a second too long, before nodding at her.
And then he looked back at the pile of wood gathering among the sand.
"My Castle is gone," Henry said.
Regina took a step closer to him, hooking one arm around his shoulder.
"I'll make you a new Castle," Regina said "Something stronger. Something Safer"
"You built me this one," Henry said looking up at Regina.
Emma walked closer to them, stopping shoulder to shoulder with Regina before turning her head to her.
"Did you build this Castle for him?" Emma asked.
Regina smiled, nodding before looking at Emma.
"I did," Regina said "Well, not me directly, I had Marco build it"
"That's really cool," Emma said a lump forming in her throat.
Regina built a fucking Castle for Henry.
Would Emma ever do such a thing for him if she had kept him?
Regina's gloved fingers intertwined with Emma's, squeezing her hand gently before letting go.
It was a small gesture, but still, Emma felt it in every fiber of her being, running in her veins, awakening her own existence in this world.
Emma turned her head and smiled softly at Regina, her heart missing a beat at the way Regina was smiling at her.
Whatever it was that had hunted Regina, whatever this secret was, Emma didn't need to know.
Not if it could rip them apart.
Not when it could risk the future she longed to build with Regina and Henry.
Her family.
Emma turned her head to the sea, tears prickling behind her eyes.
It had been so long since she had allowed herself to think about that word, even longer when she gave up having the meaning behind this word.
But not anymore.
When Emma thought she was about to lose Regina, she felt her heart shattered into millions of pieces.
Like everything was crumbling down around her, like part of herself was dying and everything else was vanishing like smoke in the thin air.
But it didn't.
She was still here, Regina and Henry were here and Emma would fight for them because, in the end, nothing else mattered.
Regina and Henry.
They were her family.
"Emma?" Regina called softly behind her.
Emma swallowed dry, blinking her eyes one, two, and then three times to get rid of the tears before looking back at Regina.
"Yeah?" Emma smiled weekly at Regina, the lump still burning her throat.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked softly.
"Nothing," Emma shook her head "Nothing is wrong anymore"
Regina smiled softly at Emma, reaching for her hand again and squeezing it softly.
And Emma could easily imagine a life where they did that for the rest of their lives.
"Emma? Regina?"
Both Emma and Regina looked behind them, watching Graham approaching them.
He had parked the Sheriff Cruiser next to Emma's bug and Emma frowned because she didn't even hear a thing.
"Sheriff," Regina said politely.
"What are you two doing here?" Graham asked.
"Henry wanted to check his Castle and Regina wanted to take a look around town, see about the storm damages," Emma answered.
"Oh!" Graham exclaimed and looked at Regina "In that case, you should come with me"
"Excuse me?" Emma asked annoyed.
"Im doing the same thing," Graham said "Perhaps it should be better if the Mayor were already with me assessing the damage"
"That is not a bad idea," Regina said.
"Then I'm coming with you," Emma said looking at Regina.
"I actually need you at the station," Graham said looking at Emma "I need someone in there while I'm riding around town"
"So why don't you go to the station and I take Regina around town?" Emma challenged him.
"Because I'm the Sheriff and you are my deputy," Graham said seriously.
"I don't give a crap…"
"Emma," Regina interrupted her. She put her hand on Emma's elbow gently turning Emma to her "Go to the station and take Henry with you. I don't trust him running around town in the middle of this chaos"
"Regina, I am not leaving you," Emma said seriously.
"You are not leaving me," Regina applied gentle pressure to her touch "You are watching our son"
Emma looked down, a soft smile tugging on her lips before she looked at Regina again.
"No more running, right?" Emma asked in a small voice.
"Never again," Regina smiled softly at Emma.
Emma nodded slowly, her heart beating faster inside her chest.
Regina gave her back to Emma, kissing the top of Henry's head before walking in Graham's direction, both of them disappearing when Graham drove the cruiser away.
Emma hated to let Regina go.
But at least this time, she knew Regina would always come back.
As Emma could always go back to her…
It was seven at night already, and Emma was leaning casually against her bug while texting Regina.
She was gone nearly the whole afternoon with Graham and now she was on her way to the mansion from the Mayor's Office.
Emma was waiting for Henry to return, he had gone inside Granny's to pick up dinner for them.
All three of them.
Regina had texted her earlier demanding her son back and anything with bacon.
When Emma said she was going to stop by Granny's before dropping Henry off, Regina just texted telling Emma to not even dare have her rear elsewhere but her bed tonight.
And so they made dinner planes.
"I got the food," Henry said from across the street.
He lifted the bags in the air and Emma couldn't help the smile while she shoved the phone inside her coat pocket.
Henry crossed the street, and at the same time, a motorcycle entered the street, riding in their direction.
Henry hurried up in Emma's direction, stopping by her side, both of them watching the strange motorcycle park across from them.
The stranger turned off the bike and then removed his helmet before hopping off the bike.
"Hey," The stranger said walking in their direction.
"Hey," Emma said back, frowning.
"Is this Storybrooke?" The stranger asked.
"Yeah," Emma said back.
"Any place to get a room around here?" The Stranger asked.
"Uh, you're staying?" Henry asked confused.
"That's the plan." The stranger said looking at Henry "I'm just looking for a bed"
"Granny's Bed and Breakfast," Emma said looking at the Stranger "It's right behind you"
"Thank you," The Stranger said looking between Henry and Emma.
And Emma wasn't sure why she felt a strange chill creep up her spine.
The Stranger gave his back to them, walking in the direction of his motorcycle.
"Hey, I didn't catch your name!" Emma shouted.
"That's 'cause I didn't give it," The stranger said.
He took a small chest from the back of his motorcycle and then disappeared inside the diner.
"I thought you said strangers don't come to Storybrooke," Emma said looking at Henry.
And that strange chill only grew higher when Henry swallowed dry and then looked at Emma with eyes widened.
"They don't,"