Author's note: Hi! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days, it's been hectic! Here's chapter 3 for y'all! I should include a trigger warning: mentions of sexual assault/domestic violence
Emma and Regina were now publicly together. They both knew it would only last for the next week, but they didn't care. All eyes were on the Mayor and her new mystery lover, and the women both loved it. Regina was usually not the type to love being in the spotlight but, well, here she was. The bell above the door rang as they stepped into Granny's diner.
"Hey, ladies! What can I get you?" asked Ruby, setting down menus. Ruby made eyes at Emma. Regina knew that Ruby had some feelings there– then again, who didn't– but she wasn't going down without a fight. She knew Emma didn't feel for Ruby like that but felt the need to make a point anyways. She reached over and took Emma's hand, gently rubbing her thumb across the blonde's knuckles. "I'll have a chicken salad. What about you, babe?" she asked Emma. "I'll have a grilled cheese. Thanks, Ruby," Emma said, fighting a smile. As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, Emma's face split into a laugh. "Babe?" she asked incredulously. "What's the problem, Emma?" Regina asked, pushing a giggle down herself. Emma gasped for breath. "What am I, a pig?" she said to Regina, before falling prey to another fit of laughter. Regina finally burst out laughing "What the fuck, Emma, that's just silly. 'Babe' is a term of endearment, you know," she said through her laughter. "You're right, I'm sorry. It was just unexpected. And why did you make Ruby hear you say that? I'm starting to detect a hint of jealousy," she said slyly.
"Please," Regina smirked. "Me, jealous? Never,"
Emma smiled. "Right. Never."
Emma only had six days left in Storybrooke. Six precious days left with the mayor of this tiny, perfect town. Six days of amazing sex, romantic dates, and whispers of gossip in her ear. Both women were dreading the upcoming Sunday, when Emma would take the old yellow bug down to Camp Klickitat and pick up Henry. She sincerely hoped he was having as good a time as she was, though hopefully not in the same way. As if she was reading the blonde's mind, Regina rolled over in Emma's hotel room bed. "Tell me about your son. What's he like?" Regina asked. "Oh, he's incredible. Best kid you'll ever meet. He's kind and thoughtful and loving, and we take care of each other. I love him more than anything," Emma responded. The Mayor was quiet, thinking about how amazing their life must be, and how she wasn't a part of it. "And how's New York? I've never been. Hell, I've hardly ever left Storybrooke!"
"It's a beautiful city. Sometimes a little bit nasty, but the pros outweigh the cons. It's our home, I guess, so it's hard not to love," Emma replied, smiling a little. Not to be a cliché, but she really did ❤ NY.
"What about your ex-husband?" Emma asked
"What? Who told you about him? Why was anyone in town talking about Leopold?" Regina demanded.
"Woah, woah! What are you talking about? You told me you were married! Remember, the other night, after we…" Emma trailed off, making an indecorous hand sign as Regina feigned shock. "I remember that, but I don't remember telling you about my ex-husband. What exactly did I say?"
"I don't recall everything, we were both a little wine drunk, but I distinctly remember you saying 'I like fucking you much better than I liked my ex-husband' and laughing a lot. So, will you tell me about him?" Emma asked
"OK, but you have to promise you won't tell anyone in town. They respected him, he was their leader, really. I don't want their memories of him tainted," Regina said with wide eyes. "Sounds good, I swear I won't breathe a word. So he wasn't a good man?" the blonde asked.
"No, no he wasn't," Regina said. "I married him when I was 18, I was sort of forced into the marriage. He was much older than me, in his 60's, and my family had fallen on hard times. He had money, so my mother accepted his proposal to me. He was so kind to the town and all of its residents, but our home life was… not as most people pictured it. I had to be his perfect little queen, which was hard as a teenager. He hurt me whenever I made a mistake, even something as minor as laughing too loud or eating too much. I was on this strict diet that he set for me, and developed a serious eating disorder. He and his late wife had a daughter, Snow, who was only 8 years younger than I. He wanted more children, and raped me at least twice a week, in the hopes that I'd get pregnant. I was terrified of getting pregnant and having a baby to raise all on my own, so I got an IUD without telling him. He thought I was infertile and beat me again. Eventually, Snow and I went to a crisis center and he was sent to jail. Snow lived with her grandparents, I have no idea where she is now, and Leopold's prison sentence isn't up for 5 more years."
Regina turned to Emma. "Sorry, that was… a lot. I've never really told anyone about all this before," she said.
"Wow, Regina, I had no idea. I don't know what to say except that I'm so sorry that happened to you. You and Snow didn't deserve any of that. I hope she's OK, and I hope you know you can talk to me about it whenever. And, of course, if anything I'm ever doing is too much in the bedroom, tell me to stop. It's that easy, and I promise I'd never hurt you. Ever," Emma told her, leaning in for a kiss.
Regina felt her heart melt as she closed the gaps between their lips. So much for not catching feelings, she thought.
