AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like don't read.
I do not Once Upon a Time.
There are my own Original Characters in this at times.
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Regina stood in front of the fireplace in her living room, arms crossed over her chest as Snow explained what was happening while she and Emma had slept most of the day away. She wouldn't, couldn't, deny that it was the best sleep she'd ever had. Having Emma curl into her chest, feeling safe enough to relax fully, was one of the best moments of her life. She had held the woman even as she slept, having listened to Emma's breathing until it soothed her into sleep. She couldn't explain how her heart seemed to swell with even more love for the blonde, but she wasn't going to try to put it into words.
For once she wasn't going to ruin her own happiness, though that was easier said than done.
Emma stood staring out the window, away from everyone but able to hear every word being said. She had never felt safer than she had in Regina's arms, and the rest had done wonders for her entire body. The woman was confusing as fuck but at least there had been a few moments of peace until she had fallen asleep. She even felt slightly smug that Pinecone Sniffer -she just could not get herself to even think his proper name at the moment- hadn't come and interrupted them or thrown her out of Regina's room.
She should have known that the Darkness would come back to bite her in the ass.
Nimue appeared on her left, gaze out the window but eyes roaming across the immaculate lawn, "I did warn you Swan."
Merlin appeared on her right, his head cocked, and brows furrowed in thought, "Is it possible to finish what we originally started, to end all of it outright?"
Nimue shook her head, "Unless it has a being to attach to, killing that being still wouldn't end the Darkness. It's as old as the Light is."
Emma frowned, keeping her voice to a whisper so they wouldn't be overheard, "Pandora's Box, will it work?"
Nimue remained silent but Merlin sighed, "There's no harm in trying, right? Even if it isn't a permanent solution at least it's something."
Nimue rolled her eyes, "You are so naïve Merlin."
Emma sighed, rubbing her tired eyes, "Would you two stop arguing for five seconds."
Merlin crossed his arms over his chest, "If you haven't forgotten Emma, she's the reason this whole mess is happening. The first Dark One ought to tell you something."
Nimue scoffed, "Yes if I hadn't had you running around as my shadow, constantly professing your love for me, I never would have become the Dark One."
Emma grimaced, glancing sideways at the woman, "How does that even make a lick of sense?"
Merlin snorted, "Don't bother, I've been asking that same question for centuries and have yet to receive an answer."
Nimue glared at Merlin, "Piss off. I gave you an answer."
Emma frowned, "Stop. This is seriously getting off track."
Merlin nodded, "Yes you're right Emma."
Nimue rolled her eyes, "Yes because it's not like we have anything to add to the discussion currently going on around us. Oh, wait what is going on around us again?" Her sarcasm hit Emma in the worst possible way.
Emma turned to the smirking woman and snapped, "Just once can you not be such an asshole?"
Snow's brows furrowed at Emma, shock radiating through her body, "I didn't realize I was being one."
Emma clenched her teeth together for a moment before shaking her head, "Not you Snow." She frowned as Snow stared at her with concern before glancing over at Regina. The woman looked even more concerned than her mother and Emma felt a need to comfort her. She shot one more glare at Nimue before she crossed the room to Regina's side, "I can head out to the forest, check on the portals myself and try to get a feel for the area. See what magical essence is around and if I can figure out who's helping."
Regina shook her head before anyone else could speak, "Not a chance. Emma, you need rest."
She shook her head, "I'm fine Regina."
Cora interrupted the argument she sensed coming, "Emma, Regina is right. Daniel will be here soon and once he is we can start with the potions. You're only going to get weaker the more you exert yourself."
Emma shook her head, already hating the way everyone was treating her, "I'm going and that's final." She stared down Cora, having lost her fear of the woman when they were battling their way out of the Underworld.
"Emma, why can't you ever listen to someone else for once?" The heavily accented voice carried through the room loudly.
Emma's head snapped up, a smile appearing on her face uncontrollably, "Merida!" She crossed the room in two strides as the curly redhead rushed into her arms. Happiness exploded through her chest at seeing her friend, one she thought she had lost long ago.
Nimue grimaced, looking as if she was trying not to vomit, "Oh joy, the Ginger is back…" her lip curled in disgust.
Merlin rolled his eyes, "Merida is a fine Queen and you're just pissed that she bested you one too many times at every turn." Nimue shot him a deadly glare.
Daniel's smirk rested on them, "Cora, I brought back up."
Cora laughed, shaking her head, "I never thought I'd see the day…" She left her sentence unfished, knowing Daniel would understand but not wanting anyone else to know exactly what she was talking about. Emma would kill her if anyone found out.
Daniel nodded, laughter dancing in his eyes, "Same." He held up a large leather bag, "I have everything you asked for," he fished the smaller pouch out of the bag, "including these."
Cora hurried to him, taking the beans from his hand, "Thank you. We've set up the distillery in the basement."
Regina had tuned out of the conversation the moment Merida entered Emma's arms. She felt that same rock of anger quickly grow in the pit of her stomach. While she had other things to think about before, now she was solely focused on the growing jealousy in her body. It coiled around her chest, wrapping around her heart so tightly she thought it would explode. How dare this woman, that she's only met a handful of times, touch her Emma? It was unsettling how strongly she felt, seeing Emma in the arms of someone else, even if it was just a friendly gesture.
She cleared her throat and moved towards the two women, "Merida."
Emma pulled back enough to allow Merida to smile at Regina. The woman's tone was happy, "Good to see you again Regina."
Regina nodded, anger still dancing around the edges of her magic, "Debatable."
Emma frowned, feeling Regina's magic slowly growing more agitated by the second. She released Merida from her hold and stepped closer to Regina, a frown on her face, "Are you alright?"
Regina turned away from Merida, gripping Emma's arm tightly, "Can I speak with you for a moment?"
Emma felt her heart race at Regina's touch, but a sense of dread creeped into her stomach at the look on the woman's face. There was a blazing anger in her eyes, and she couldn't help but be reminded of when they were in the Underworld, when Regina had gotten angry at her for wanting to save Killian. She quickly recoiled from the woman, her heart aching at the thought Killian.
Regina frowned as Emma pulled away, sadness entering her eyes, "Emma?"
Daniel approached slowly knowing Emma needed a reprieve, his smile soft and slightly nervous as he met Regina's eyes, "Hi."
Regina felt her heart twitch slightly, seeing the same boy she had fallen in love with so many years ago. She was distracted enough that she didn't notice Emma quickly duck out of the room. Her eyes scanned his aged face, time having passed between them without warning, her voice slightly breathless, "Daniel."
He nodded, smiling, "I'd say it's been a while but that's an understatement." He chuckled, "I'd like you to meet my wife, Merida, though I know you two have met before."
Merida nodded, her grin turning into a smirk, "That we have, however so much has happened between now and then."
Regina nodded, swallowing thickly as she kept her eyes on Daniel, "It was one of the worst days of my life."
Daniel nodded, shadows appearing in his eyes, "When Emma first approached me, I thought she was insane. I thought she was trying to keep us apart but then Cora…" he glanced at the older woman as she exited the room with Zelena. After a moment he shook his head, "It's a very long story but that's for another time. Right now, we need to contain the Darkness. There are portals opening in Wonderland same as here."
Merida nodded, "Back home isn't faring much better."
Rumple sighed, "It's reaching to every place it can get a foothold. We need to distract it somehow."
Regina nodded, her mind returning to the problem at hand. She was still a Queen after all, even if they weren't in the Enchanted Forest anymore, and she knew how to compartmentalize her old feelings, "Then let's give it a run for its money."
Snow eyed her curiously, "What do you have in mind?"
Regina chuckled, "We can play with it. Make it think there is a possibility here."
Charming smirked, "You want to stage something dark?"
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Emma stood on the back porch staring across the yard at the apple tree that sat in the very center. Was it possible that Regina had been uncomfortable at the interaction between herself and Merida? Had that been jealousy she had seen in the brunette's eyes? Did Regina actually care about her in some way? Was it possible that what Leaf Blower had said might be true?
Nimue appeared in front of her, "As if. Listen to yourself Swan, you're putting ideas in your own head."
Merlin frowned as he began to pace on the porch beside her, "Maybe not Nimue. Regina had been fine until Merida and Daniel appeared."
Nimue nodded, "Yes, Daniel, the love of her life that was killed right in front of her and set her on the path of Darkness. That Daniel, that she's believed dead all this time, just waltzed right into her life once more."
Emma shook her head, hurrying towards the apple tree. She should have known that it was shock, that Daniel being there was going to be hard on Regina. Her heart thundered in her chest as she struggled to breath. The moment was finally here, the moment that she and Regina went from tentative friendship to hatred. The moment that everything she had dreamed might have been, all came crashing down on her. She felt suffocated, not being able to get a full breath into her heaving lungs. She hit her knees beneath the apple tree, begging for someone to deny what she believed was going to happen now.
Nimue knelt beside her, "Face it, there's no one to save you from the wrath that is the Evil Queen. You betrayed Regina by keeping it a secret, by forcing her to turn to the Darkness over his death. No one will fight her on it either. You deserve what you are going to get, and you know it. Killian may have forgiven you, but we all know the Queen holds grudges."
Emma clutched at her chest wanting to claw the pain out, needing some kind of relief.
Warm hands gripped her wrists as Zelena's face suddenly appeared in her line of sight, "Breath Sunshine. In deep and slow. Out slow." Emma tried to do as told but Zelena could see the wild emotions rushing through jade eyes, "Easy pet, everything is going to be fine. Relax," she pulled Emma closer, smiling softly as the woman clutched at her hands, needing something to ground her.
Emma shook her head, "How can I ever make up for what I did?" She searched the bright blue eyes that were watching her, "Everything I ever did was for her." She glanced over at Nimue, who stood smirking down at her, as if daring her to say it out loud. She tried, opening her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. A choked sob ripped from the back of her throat, "You warned me, and I didn't listen."
Zelena frowned at the distant glassy eyes in front of her, watching as jade faded into something darker, something not Emma Swan, "Stay with me Sunshine. Focus on me."
Emma frowned, eyes lowering to the ground beneath her, "How can it be when it's in the past?" Her brows furrowed, "But the past is here. They all are. I'm not alone and yet it feels like that more than ever. Don't you see?" She looked up at Zelena, hoping for an answer.
Zelena swallowed thickly, hating the amount of emotion she could feel welling inside her at the desperate look on Emma's face. She shook her head, cupping the woman's face gently, "Emma, focus on everything around you. Feel me touching you?" At Emma's nod she smiled, "This is real, right here, right now, is all real."
Emma frowned, brows knitted together so tightly she could feel her headache coming back, "Regina?"
Zelena smiled at her, "Killing me with her eyes right now." She glanced over the blonde towards the backdoor, where Regina stood with murder in her eyes and hands clenched in fists, probably to stop her from throwing a fireball.
Emma frowned, shaking her head, "She's going to hate me. What I did, I can never take back. Daniel was her everything and I took that from her."
Zelena frowned, "Emma, you saved him."
Regina crossed the yard quickly, freezing in place as Emma's next words slammed into entire being, "I did but in turn I knew she would turn to the Darkness. I knew she would become the Evil Queen and cast Rumple's curse. I did that to her. I turned her into that." Regina felt her heart reaching out to the woman trying not to sob uncontrollably on the ground. How could Emma think it was her fault?
Zelena stood quickly, allowing Regina to take her place. She cupped Emma's face gently, "Emma, you didn't force me to do anything. I did that on my own and with a little help from Rumple."
Emma turned her head, looking up at Nimue as she spoke through a smirk, "Yes you did. You forced her hand because if it hadn't been for you, she never would have listened to Rumple in the first place. She never would have been put in that position."
Merlin appeared beside Nimue, "But you heard Regina. Emma, she doesn't blame you."
Nimue scoffed, "She hates you for what you did Emma, she's just better at hiding it than what you're used to."
Emma frowned, "But if she does then why is she still here?"
Regina frowned, sharing a worried glance with Zelena before tugging on Emma's face gently, "Emma I will always be here for you. I will always be with you."
Emma searched Regina's face, not quite believing the woman, while at the same time desperately wanting to believe her. She shook her head and pulled away from Regina now that her breathing had returned to normal, "We should get back inside." Regina frowned as she watched Emma stand and move slowly back towards the house, as if she were dragging her feet. After a moment Emma stopped at the back door and spoke over her shoulder, "You should probably put the barrier up around the house again." With that the blonde disappeared into the house.
Zelena helped Regina up, "We need to find out which Dark One's she's seeing, which one's are playing with her mind."
Regina led the way back into the house, placing the barrier back into place, "What difference does it make?"
Zelena frowned, stopping just inside the kitchen after closing the door, "We both know she's smart, so whoever it is, is someone or someone's that she was close to. Someone she believes she can trust."
Regina shook her head, placing her hands the island counter, feeling the coldness against her skin, "She knows she can't trust the Dark One's."
Zelena nodded but Rumple's voice spoke from the doorway, "Unless she doesn't know they are still Dark One's." Regina and Zelena frowned at him. He crossed to the island counter, "We all thought she had gotten rid of the Darkness, or at least sent it someplace else. Right now, her mind is a battle ground. A war that has been fought since the night she took the Darkness to save you."
Regina felt her heart clench, the pain still as strong as it had been the night Emma had refused to let her lose her happiness. At times, when she closed her eyes, she could still see Emma's hand clutching that dagger as the Darkness encompassed her. Swirling around her as tears fell silently, their eyes connected, never wavering.
Zelena nodded in understanding as she approached the island counter gathering point, "If she believes they are real that would explain why she's so jumpy around everyone except Regina."
Rumple nodded, "Regina is the one constant, not only in her mind but also in her life. You've stood by her, even when she was the Dark One, even when you argued with each other. You were the only one that could pull her back from that edge. You'll have to remain nearby at all times, in the same room as much as possible, in her sight." He hesitated for a moment before he spoke again, his eyes downcast and his tone tinted with slight embarrassment, "Belle refusing to leave my side for a single moment made me realize what was real and what wasn't. Her constant touches, soothing sound of her voice, it showed me the Light. It showed me where the Darkness was and how it was trying to take its control."
Regina eyed the man before her, seeing a different, more hidden side than she was used to seeing in him, "You think if I'm constantly around Emma, she'll figure out that what she's seeing isn't real?"
Rumple nodded, "I know it's confusing and hard to explain but I don't know how to explain it any better. It's painful and emotional. The Darkness…" he frowned shaking his head, "It preys on our weaknesses, our most vulnerable thoughts are bared to it and it rips into it. If you know what her most vulnerable and painful insecurity is, it would be easier to get through to her."
Regina shook her head, "Emma has always been a private person."
Zelena shook her head, "It's obvious Sis." At Regina confused frowned Zelena rolled her eyes, "Wow you both are daft. It's you. You are her most vulnerable and painful insecurity. All she keeps saying to me is that you are going to hate her, that she did everything for you."
Rumple smirked, "Well Dearie, you have your work cut out for you."
Regina grimaced, "You can't be serious."
Zelena leaned in closer to Regina, lowering her voice, "Have you explicitly told her that you and Forest Boy aren't together?"
Regina grimaced at her, "Don't call him that."
Zelena snorted, "Sorry, taking a lesson from Sunshine. Have you?"
Regina frowned, thinking back over her conversations with the blonde, "Sort of… I mean…" She raised an eyebrow at herself.
Zelena rolled her eyes, "Which means she still thinks you're dating him."
Regina's lips parted in shock, "That explains why she keeps asking about him, like where he is and why he hasn't thrown her out of my room yet."
Zelena grunted, "Figures you never picked up on it."
Regina glared at her, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Zelena raised a thin finger, "You're so busy making everyone else happy, you never think about what you want." She raised another finger, "You compartmentalize your feelings and then ignore them." She raised another finger, but Regina cut her off.
"Alright, I get it, but what about you? It's not like you're any better." Regina snapped angrily.
Rumple held his hands up, "None of us are any better."
"Evil, Wicked, and Dark One all standing in one room, this can't be good for humanity," Maleficent's voice carried throughout the room, amusement clear in her tone, interrupting the argument that was brewing. She shook her head, "If you're all done planning your next Dickel move, we could use some help around here."
Zelena grimaced, "Dickel?"
Maleficent shrugged, her shoulders moving exaggeratingly as she smirked, "Evil, Wicked and Dark combined into one." Regina rolled her eyes with a sigh while Zelena snorted. Zelena followed Mal into the basement to work on the potions sending a teasing wink over her shoulder at her sister.
Rumple frowned, "I've agreed to help Henry and Lily for the time being. If you need me…" He waved his hand dismissively as he limped from the room, the click of his cane quietly echoing in the silence.
Once Regina was alone, she took a deep breath, considering everything that Rumple and Zelena had said. Did Emma really think she was still with Robin after all this time? What about Hook? Wasn't Emma dating him before she became the Dark One? She frowned, needing some information, and made her way through the mansion looking for Emma.
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Emma sat on the chaise in Regina's room, knowing it was the only space she would be left alone. No one would dare enter Regina's room, at least not if they valued their lives. She couldn't stop thinking about what Nimue had said, that she was the reason for Regina turning to the Darkness, the reason for Regina becoming the Evil Queen. She knew that, of course she did, but hearing it from someone else made it more real. She could understand why Regina would hate her, why the woman would try to kill her, but she couldn't understand why Regina was helping her. Why was Regina allowing her in her home? Why was the brunette allowing her to sleep in her bed? Why wasn't Pine-sol Breath here, pushing her out at the end of an arrow? Everything that she had done, everything she had been through weighed heavily on her mind, sitting on the edge of her consciousness. All the reasons that she should disappear, that she should leave Storybrooke and never return.
The bedroom door opened quietly, and Regina entered the room, reminding Emma why she never left in the first place.
Regina felt the relief flood her system, "I have been looking for you all over." She took in Emma's tense posture, the hard set to her jaw, "What's wrong dear?"
Emma turned her attention back to the window, deciding to remain silent. She felt safer the moment Regina had opened the door, a thought she figured best left unsaid. Now that the woman's presence was surrounding her, she couldn't stop herself from relaxing, causing her body to sink into the soft cushions beneath her.
Regina closed the door before crossing the room to Emma, "Emma?"
Emma's eyes drooped heavily, her exhaustion hitting her like a freight train. Her mouth moved without permission, her mind not fully aware of what she was saying, "I miss you."
Regina frowned, easing down beside the sleepy blonde, "I'm right here Dear."
Emma shook her head, shifting her body, rolling to her side to give Regina more room but also to face her, "Before. When you were there, and I was there but then you weren't, and I've never felt so alone."
Regina frowned, wrapping an arm around Emma's body, pulling the blonde against her side, "What do you mean?"
Emma snuggled into Regina's body, a content sigh slipping from her lips as the woman's warmth seeped into her, "Enchanted Forest, here, all around me. When you're here I'm safe." She buried her face against Regina's chest, her words mumbled but clear, "Never been safe before."
Regina felt emotion lodge in her throat as she wrapped both arms tight around the blonde. While she struggled a little to understand what Emma was saying she got the gist of it. Emma admitting that she felt safe with Regina was more than she could ever have hoped for. The feeling of content, of happiness swirled through her soul, a deep-seated love swelling her heart like never before. She couldn't deny it anymore, couldn't push these feelings into a box, couldn't ignore them anymore.
Regina Mills is in love with Emma Swan.
The thought alone brought tears to her eyes. All the pain, all the heartache that they had been through over the years. She knew she loved Emma, even when they were arguing all the time, but she didn't believe it was this deep. She couldn't believe it was this strong. Now she couldn't stop feeling it, couldn't stop thinking about all the wasted time, all the missed opportunities.
All the close calls that had almost taken Emma from her.
Well, she refused to let that happen for any longer. She wouldn't let anyone, or anything come between them again. Even if it was their own thoughts trying to sabotage it. She held the woman tighter, kissing the top of her head gently, shushing the blonde when she whimpered and snuggled even tighter against her.
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Emma awoke surrounded by warmth and safety, something she was quickly growing too fond of. Arms were wrapped tight around her, a body shifting slightly tighter against her. Her eyes snapped open at the feeling of lips brushing across her cheek, and she eased back enough to look at a sleeping Regina. The woman's chest rose and fell gently, a small frown on her lips.
She smiled at the relaxed, yet protective posture Regina held around her. Without thinking she gently brushed her fingers across the woman's furrowed brows, smiling as they evened out and her face became relaxed. Everything about Regina screamed beauty personified but never more so than right now. Regina always held herself with the grace of a Queen but this, the relaxed and at ease posture the woman had when it was just the two of them, this was Emma's favorite. She couldn't bring herself to move, to disturb the peaceful slumber the woman seemed to be in. She also couldn't stop herself from trailing her fingers lightly across Regina's lips, across her jaw, up her cheek and back down again.
Regina hummed at the soothing light touch on her face, even angling her face into it. She kept her voice soft and low, "We need to talk." Emma frowned, stopping her movements, and slowly lowering her hands. Regina caught them as she opened her eyes, pulling the slim long fingers back to her face, "Relax Dear."
Emma smiled slightly, resuming her trail across Regina's face, "Talk about what?"
Regina frowned, "Emma, you know I'm not seeing Robin anymore, right?"
Emma's body tensed but she didn't pull away, "But he was at the hospital with you? And when you called, you said us, and I heard…" she shook her head not able to say his name.
Nimue appeared behind her, chin resting on her shoulder and eyes darting across Regina's face, "She's lying to you."
Merlin appeared behind Regina, "Oh get over yourself already Nimue. Why are you always so suspicious of everyone? Why does someone always have to be lying?"
Regina frowned as Emma's eyes went distant, staring at something over her shoulder. She quickly cupped Emma's face, forcing the blonde's eyes back to hers, "Talk to me Emma. Please?"
Emma frowned, searching Regina's face for what Nimue had seen but she couldn't find it. Instead, she blurted out the first thing on her mind, "Can't you see them?"
Regina's heart rate increased, and she carefully chose her words, "See who dear?"
Emma's brows knitted together tightly, "Them. Merlin and Nimue."
Regina's eyes widened slightly. Of all the people she thought Emma would be seeing, these two were not it. She took a deep breath, "No, I don't see them."
Emma's eyes widened slightly but Nimue scoffed, "More lies. Swan you can't honestly believe she doesn't see us when we're clearly standing right here."
Merlin rolled his eyes, "We could be using a glamour, or we may not be here at all. How can you be sure Nimue?" Nimue frowned but stood straight, glaring at Merlin.
Emma focused on the feeling of Regina's hands on her face, letting it ground her, letting it be something that she now knew was real. Was it possible that Nimue and Merlin weren't real? Hadn't she been the one that killed them to begin with? She stared into Regina's worried eyes, "They want me to believe you're lying, or at least Nimue does."
Nimue leaned over, her lips right against Emma's ear, sending a shiver down her spine, "Giving away all our secrets Swan? Pathetic. You've always been stronger on your own and now look at you. Becoming weak all because of love."
Merlin shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest, "How many times does Emma have to say it for people to finally get it. Love is not-"
"Weakness." Emma spoke, voice strong as she glanced behind her and up at Nimue, "Love has never been weakness and it never will be."
Nimue glared at her, "It will for you. Love has only ever killed everyone around you. Baelfire, Graham, Hook." She smirked at the tears that welled in Emma's eyes, "Everyone you loves dies. Do you really expect Regina to come out alive if that's the case?"
Emma felt her heart quicken as she shook her head, "No." Tears rolled down her face, "I won't let that happen."
Regina felt Emma's turmoil, the woman's body beginning to shake as sobs ripped from her chest. She gathered the blonde into her arms, "Emma, look at me." When she found Jade eyes, she hated the pain blazing in them, "What's wrong?"
Emma shook her head, "I can't lose you. I won't. Everyone I love dies. Nimue is right." She tried to push away from Regina, but the woman's arms only tightened around her.
"That's not going to happen Emma."
"How can you be so sure?" Emma struggled to get away from the older woman.
Regina wrapped a leg around Emma's thighs, tightening her hold even more to prevent to woman from moving, "You won't let it, and neither will I. Don't listen to those voices Emma. I'm here and I will remain right here, right by your side. We will get through this together." She pressed a chaste kiss to Emma's cheek, the blonde's movements finally ceasing, teary forest green eyes darting up to meet her own, "When they appear, come to me. Let me prove to you that they don't exist, that I'm real and they aren't."
Regina watched as Emma mulled the offer over, hoping that the blonde would accept. She didn't know what she would do if Emma turned it down, but she refused to think about that until it happened, if it happened. The silence stretched on, and she continued to hold Emma tightly, not releasing her grip in anyway. She wanted Emma to know that she wasn't going anywhere, that they were in this together.
Finally, Emma spoke softly, "Your touch grounds me. I know you're real when you touch me." She kept her eyes on Regina, refusing to give Nimue any more of her attention for the moment, "Please don't let go."
Regina nodded, resting her forehead gently against Emma's, "I will never let you go, even after all this is done."
Emma chuckled, "When did you and Frog's Tongue break up?"
Regina snorted, tone more amused than chastising, "Emma…" Emma only shrugged, not at all sorry. Regina shook her head, "The night you became the Dark One. That's what he and I were discussing on the way to the diner when the Darkness arrived."
Emma frowned, "Why?"
Regina smiled at the blonde, "Because, while I may love him as a friend, I'm not in love with him."
Emma felt her heartbeat quicken, her mind suddenly swirling with questions. Like if not him then who? Who is she interested in? She wanted to voice the questions, to receive the answers but at the same time she didn't want to ruin whatever this was. She didn't want the mood to change. She didn't want Regina to let go just yet. She glanced behind her, and her eyes widened in shock at finding nothing, Nimue was gone. Her head jerked back around, looking for Merlin, only to find him gone.
Regina studied Emma's face for a moment, "What is it dear?"
Emma settled back into her spot shaking her head, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Regina raised an eyebrow, "You were the Dark One and we had more important things to deal with."
Emma shook her head, "Nothing is more important than you and Henry."
Regina felt her heart swell and a smile pulled at her lips, "Well you are the most important thing to Henry and I." She brushed her fingers gently across Emma's face, pushing a stray strand of hair out of bottle green eyes, eyes that she was finding herself getting lost in more and more. Emma's skin was smooth, the warmth of her cheeks seeping into her fingertips as she slowly brushed her thumb across pale pink lips.
Emma swallowed thickly, the thundering in her chest mounting every second. Regina's eyes held so much warmth, so much emotion that she struggled to keep up with the changing tides that rolled through them. She found herself getting drawn in, a rip current that she couldn't escape, and didn't want to. She refused to fight it anymore, refused to miss out on what she wanted. She deserved happiness just as much as everyone else, and she was finally going to get it.
Leaning towards Regina she felt her breath hitch when Regina's breath brushed across her own lips. Her fingers clenched the front of Regina's blouse, wrapping the fabric in her tight grip, caught between pulling the woman closer and allowing this to happen naturally. If Regina didn't want this, she wanted to allow the woman to pull away, to give her a chance to stop this from happening.
Regina rested her forehead against Emma's, closing her eyes as she breathed in Emma's intoxicating scent, "I'm in love with you Emma Swan."
Emma's eyes closed, silent tears slipping free. She had dreamed of hearing those words, of Regina's voice speaking them in the throws of passion or randomly throughout the day. However, this was so much more emotional than she ever thought it would be. This was more than her dreams, more than she had ever imagined it could ever be. Her heart felt lighter, swelling inside her chest with the happiness. She didn't move, didn't open her eyes just in case this was another one of her dreams.
Her voice was hoarse and raspy from crying when she finally spoke, "I'm in love with you too."
Regina smiled, her sob lodging in her throat as tears burned her closed eyes. She moved forward, intent on kissing the woman.
The door burst open, and Snow's voice broke their trance, sending both women to their feet. Regina's hand held a fireball as her narrowed eyes landed on Snow, anger blazing as powerful as the fireball in her hand. Emma's back was against the wall as she tried to recede into the corner behind the chaise, heart firmly lodge in her throat where she was positive it would remain for a few hours at least.
Snow frowned at them, suddenly realizing she was interrupting something important, "Um… Sorry to interrupt but the first potion is done, and we found something relating to the portals being opened around Storybrooke." She backed out of the room quickly, nearly slamming the door in her hurry to escape Regina's wrath.
Regina took a deep breath, though it didn't help her calm in anyway, before extinguishing the fireball in her hand. She turned back towards Emma and frowned, her magic instantly encompassing the blonde without warning. She could see the fear in Emma's eyes, the tense set to her jaw as the normally strong woman seemed to cower in the corner. She took a slow step towards the blonde, "It's alright dear. You're safe."
Emma's eyes met Regina's and she nodded, releasing the tension in her shoulders. When Regina held her hand out towards her, Emma couldn't get to it fast enough. She rushed into the brunette's arms nearly knocking them both over in her need to be in her safe space, in Regina's arms.
Regina closed her eyes as she held Emma, running her hand across the blonde's back soothingly, "I won't let anyone hurt you, Emma."
Emma nodded, rubbing her cheek against Regina's shoulder, "I know. I'm sorry I'm so jumpy."
Regina shook her head, pulling back to look at Emma's face, "You have nothing to apologize for dear. Now let's go see what your mother found so important that she thought it wise to burst into my room for, hmm."
Emma chuckled, "Is it wrong that I was hoping for sizzling Snow just this once?" Regina's laughter warmed her heart in more ways than one.
Shaking her head Regina nudged Emma towards the door, "You've been spending too much time with Zelena my Darling."
Emma only shrugged as she reached for Regina's hand, a smile coming to her lips when Regina instantly pulled her closer while they walked out of the bedroom, "So I've seen."
Regina frowned turning to Emma at the top of the stairs, "What do you mean?"
Emma smirked, lowering her voice to a whisper, "Your jealousy is showing my love."
Regina's brain short circuited, the only thing she could focus on was that word. Her lips parted in a small quiet gasp which left Emma laughing as she made her way down the stairs. Her heart had never beaten faster, her body filling with a blazing fire that had nothing to do with her magic. Her core throbbed needily, filling her entire being with a primal desire she hadn't known she could ever feel. It took few moments for the lack of Emma's presence to break through her lust induced fog, but when it did, she felt the worry quickly overpowering everything else.
She turned to the stairs, smirk on her face and voice holding a lust filled husk, using her magic to send the words to Emma's mind, You'll pay for that Miss Swan. Emma's laughter met her ears, as it echoed through the house, as she started her decent down the stairs.
