It was the harsh rays of morning light, bathing the room in a golden glow, that had aroused Emma from her slumber. She groaned softly, slapping an arm over her eyes, shielding them from the menacing beams. But, to no avail, she couldn't find comfort in her new position and, instead, popped upright with a whine.
"We need to get something to block that," she complained to her stirring lover.
"Mm, go back to sleep, Emma." Regina's hoarse voice rumbled from beside her. "We've had this discussion before. You broke the blinds."
"We need to get more." Emma huffed before laying back down, admiring the beauty before her, drenched in sunlight. She drew a hand to the brunette's bare back; fingers danced along the olive colored map.
The woman below those fingers hummed in approval before a snore tore through, leaving the blonde to laugh.
"Huh?" Regina popped her head up, eyes sagging with the remnants of her slumber.
"You. Snoring." Emma whispered, pale digits floating down the older woman's back to the small apple just above her rump.
"I'm tired," she complained, her head back on the pillow. "You kept me up late last night with your… shenanigans."
The blonde snorted. "Shenanigans?"
Regina groaned softly, burying her face within the cotton of her pillow. "I had to get up early in the morning for work. I'd been up since seven yesterday morning and you kept me up until almost five last night."
"This morning," Emma pompously corrected, a smirk on her face.
"Don't make me shove a pillow in your face, Emma." Regina threatened, hand already reaching for the blonde's pillow.
The blonde merely grinned. "It's the weekend, now. You can sleep in."
"You aren't letting me sleep in." Regina mumbled, eyes squinted as she peered over her lover to the clock on the other side. "And it's not even nine! I thought you hated mornings?"
"I do." Emma shrugged and continued to trace a path up her lover's spine. "The sun's too bright."
"You broke the blinds," Regina reiterated, her voice a soft growl. "Your fault."
Emma gave her a smug look. "I know."
"Go to sleep, Emma."
"So, I've been thinking, Gina." Emma started, earning another groan from her counterpart. "We should get matching tattoos."
"What?" Regina squinted her eyes, head now poking up to stare at the younger woman.
"We should get match-"
"I heard you the first time. What on Earth brought this on?" Regina's attention was now gathered as she tossed onto her side, facing the smiling blonde.
"Your tattoo. And I kinda want to get one, too. I think it'd be cool." She shrugged.
"They're permanent, you know." Regina's brow quirked. "And they hurt."
"So?"
"So… Emma." The older woman clucked her tongue. "What were you planning on getting?"
"Matching tattoos. You know, where we both get one." Emma shrugged. "Whatever you want to get."
Regina sighed softly. "And where would this be at?"
"I don't know."
"You want to get a tattoo, but you don't know what of, or where to put it?"
"Uh… That sounds about right." The blonde gave her lover a cheeky smile. "I wanted to talk to you about it and see what you thought."
"I'm not sure what would be a good one." Regina murmured, pulling the blankets over her. "It's too early in the morning to be thinking about this."
"Would you get one with me?" Emma inquired anyways, pulling the brunette's body close to her own.
Regina tucked her head under Emma's chin, her voice quiet as she spoke. "I wouldn't be opposed."
The younger of the two grinned, eyes focused on the wall in front of her as she basked in the warmth that her lover had provided. "Good. Just in time for our anniversary."
"Our anniversary was a couple weeks ago, Emma." Regina mumbled, curling further into the blonde, attempting to find slumber once again.
"Yeah, but today is the first anniversary of visiting Boston. And it's my birthday!"
"We need more time than just a few hours to pick out a tattoo, Emma."
The blonde huffed softly. "No we don't."
"Unless you know what you want, yes we do." Emma could feel an arm squeeze her waist.
"I… know what I want."
"Go back to sleep, Emma. We'll talk about this later." Regina murmured, her tone heavier now.
Emma didn't argue any further than that, instead, she settled into the bed with eyes glued to the bare wall. She did have an idea or two of what to get, but she hadn't been exactly certain on them, and she didn't know what Regina would think of her ideas, either.
She would let sleep find her, for now, and worry about it later.
A slap to her ass what felt like not five minutes later had Emma startled from the fading vignettes of a dream. She turned a heated glare to the source, who had now been standing with a smirk, dressed.
"It's two, Emma. Get up."
Emma rubbed the sleep from her eyes. It was two? It hadn't felt like she had been asleep that long. Sitting up, she continued to glare at the brunette. Her ass stung.
"What was that for?"
"To get you up." The brunette smirked, tossing a few articles of clothing at her girlfriend. "I made lunch."
"Lunch…" Emma attempted to shake off her sudden urge to curl back up and fall asleep. She always hated getting up, no matter the time of day. "That's a late lunch."
"We slept in late." Regina continued as Emma stood from the bed to don the clothes provided.
"Are we going somewhere?" Emma had finally noticed she had a pair of jeans in the mix of clothing. She thought that they would be staying home today. They usually did.
"Well, if you wanted a tattoo, yes."
"Wh-what?" The blonde stood frozen for a moment, even as her girlfriend had sauntered out of the room. "Are you serious?" She quickly followed after her.
"I'm not for certain, but you did say you had an idea. I thought to entertain it." Regina shoved a plate with two sandwiches at her. "Eat."
"I'd like to eat something else." Emma smirked, taking her plate to the counter.
"Emma! You eat what I give you or you don't-" The exasperated brunette cut her words short when she turned an eye to the blonde. She narrowed her eyes with a snort. "Don't you go there."
"It was so good last night; I just need seconds." The young woman took a bite from her sandwich, chewing around the smirk on her face. She loved to tease that woman.
Regina merely cleared her throat and took a stool next to Emma, setting a laptop on the counter.
She pulled up the search engine, eyes now on the blonde. "What was it that you had in mind?"
"Huh? Well…" She chuckled softly, eyes downcast. "I was thinking about your name, maybe."
"Okay, I- No, Emma. You're not getting my name permanently written into your skin." Regina stopped her fingers from their typing. Her expression was stone.
"Why?" Emma knew the answer, which was the cause of her hesitance. "It's not like we're ever gonna split up."
Regina was quiet for a moment. "I don't want you to hold any regrets, Emma."
Then Emma's eyes grew wide, her mouth agape. "Did you get someone's name tattooed onto you?"
"No! Where would I have it? You've seen my entire body, Emma." Regina was shocked, if not offended, by the question.
"Then why won't you let me?" Emma gave her a mock pout before taking another bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"You're such a child, Emma." Regina shook her head, but gazed upon her lover with a fond smile. "I love you."
"I love you," she purred. "I was kind of thinking about having a panda, too."
"A panda tattoo?" The brunette quirked a brow, but questioned no further as she typed it into the search engine. Several images popped up, taking Emma's attention. "Where would you like it?"
"Where does it hurt the least?" Emma eyed a few on the page.
"Don't do it on your lower back," she warned, scrolling away from an image that showed just that. "It hit a really bad nerve there. On me, anyways."
"No. I want to see it." Emma gave the brunette a charming grin. "It'll remind me of you because you like pandas."
"Is that why you want a panda?" The expression that she wore melted the blonde's heart.
"Yeah. I wanted your name somewhere around there, too. You're, like, my fuzzy little panda, you know?"
"Fuzzy little panda…" Regina's cheeks heated at the endearment, her chocolate orbs glued to the screen of her computer.
"The one on the balloons! That's so fuckin' cute!" Emma squealed for a moment, finger pointed to a particular tattoo of a small, cartoon panda attached to several colorful balloons.
Regina chuckled at the sight, clicking the image to enlarge it. "Is this the one that you want?"
"Uh… no. It's cute, but it's not really calling my name." The blonde gave her girlfriend a playful grin.
"What are you exactly looking for?"
"Something… cute. Fuzzy. Like you!"
Regina grunted something inaudible before scrolling back up to the top of the page, clicking on a particular photo that had the blonde's eyes wide.
"Yes," she whispered, a finger petting the screen. "That one."
It was an image of a cartoon panda with a large head and sparkling eyes, holding a stalk of bamboo. It appeared "fuzzy," as Emma had desired and she instantly fell in love with it.
"There's a lot of detail in that one, love." Regina murmured softly, clicking away from the image to scroll down further.
"What are you-" Emma stopped when the brunette paused on an image of the same bear, though it had less detail than the last.
"It requires more work." The brunette finally elaborated. "It would hurt a lot more. If you wish for this to be your first one, I recommend one not too complicated. This one is still on the detailed side, but not as bad."
"I liked that other one." She couldn't help but to complain. Her heart desired the other, but the one in front of her still held the same element of cuteness.
"I won't stop you if that's the one you want, sweetheart. You can always customize it to how you wish."
"I can?" Emma blinked, staring at the images before her. Of course she could. What was she thinking? She was still planning to have Regina's name written in, if at all possible. How, she wasn't so sure.
"Of course. Color or no color, shading or no shading. You can always speak to the artist and ask of their opinion." Regina quickly saved both images to her computer. "This is the one that you are certain on, though, correct?"
"Yeah, definitely. It reminds me of you." Emma chirped happily.
"Where would you want it?"
She hadn't thought about that.
"Maybe my arm or my leg."
"Emma, you need to decide this." Regina clucked, deleting the words in the search engine box before typing a fresh set.
"Where do you want yours?" Emma asked, eyeing the fresh batch of photos on the screen. "You're looking at swan tattoos?"
"Why, of course." Regina smirked.
"There aren't any cute, fluffy ones." Emma quickly found, much to her dismay. Most were displayed in intricate patterns or designs; elegant, just like Regina.
"Unfortunately," the brunette murmured softly. "There are a few nice ones."
"You should get one on your ass, like that chick." The blonde seized her lover's hand, using her other to point out a specific image.
"I would like to sit down for the next few days, thank you." Regina continued to scroll through, shaking her head. "As for where I would like it, I'm not sure. Just… not my ass or anywhere that requires other people to see intimate parts of my body."
"Right, because that's reserved for me." Emma smirked, earning her a look. "Hey, what about the two swans forming a heart?"
"That's quite adorable," the brunette rumbled, but continued to search. "But I don't want that. Not right now, at least."
"Ooh, but in the future?"
"I'm not sure." Regina shrugged, pausing once again to click on another image. "How about this one?"
Emma leaned her head on the brunette's shoulder, examining the black swan floating in the water, its wings extended above its body. She tilted her head. It was simple. There was little detail to it.
"It's pretty. I like it." She nodded, a smile on her face.
"I may try to manipulate it some." The brunette saved the image to her computer, then turned her body, forcing Emma to move from her current position. "Are you sure you want to do this today? Perhaps you would like to have some more time to think it over?"
"No. I want that one." Emma grinned, snatching up her girlfriend's laptop to locate the saved pictures. "I was thinking about putting it on my upper forearm."
"Are you sure you want it there?" Regina frowned, watching as Emma extended her arm to look at said spot. "How big?"
The blonde shrugged, imagining that little fuzzy panda on her arm. "Not too big. Maybe as long as my finger, maybe a little smaller."
"Okay." She nodded simply, standing from her spot. "I will get mine there, as well."
"Oh… Did you want yours there?" This had Emma frowning as she, too, stood with her empty plate.
"I don't mind." Regina offered a smile. "I will print these off so we can bring them with."
Emma nodded, but stopped as if she hit a brick wall. She forced all this on Regina and she didn't even know if the woman wanted a tattoo herself. Or if she wanted to go today without waiting, in case she changed her mind.
The blonde frowned at this, even as Regina headed back to their room to print the images off. She stayed behind in the kitchen and cleaned up the dishes from lunch, her mind swirling with thought.
"Alright, I've got them here." Regina returned several minutes later, a few papers in her hand.
"Do you want to do it today?" Emma voiced her concern, eyes falling to the brunette whose smile quickly disappeared.
"Of course I do, Emma." She merely shrugged, stuffing those papers into her purse.
Emma found herself engulfed in a musky aroma and warm arms, squeezing her tight.
"I was thinking about getting a swan for quite some time, to be honest. I found that one a while back." Regina pulled away, one of her hands falling to connect with Emma's.
"Really?" She murmured, catching onto what her lover had stated.
"Here and there," the brunette continued, leading the blonde out the door.
Emma quietly followed her, stomach knotting up at the thought of what they were about to do. It was both excitement and fear. She hated pain. She knew that tattoos caused pain.
"Are you excited, dear?" Regina chuckled softly upon spotting the other woman's expression.
Emma nodded before ducking to get into the car. "How bad is it going to hurt?"
"Where we're getting it, I'm not sure."
Regina started up the Mercedes and pulled out of the parking spot. Before Emma knew it, they were on the road to their destination.
"Where are we going?"
"The tattoo shop?"
"I know; I mean…"
The brunette nodded, a soft chuckle falling from her lips. "I looked up the one with the best reviews. My magic phone will tell us."
"Your magic phone…" Emma couldn't help but to grin. She hadn't noticed that Regina had her phone set up on the dashboard.
"Fortunately, it's close to several restaurants." Regina grinned over to the blonde. "I can take you out for a birthday dinner."
"But it's three?" Emma's eyes widened.
"It will take some time," she responded, turning onto a new street.
Emma pressed her lips together as she gazed out the window. "How long are we talking?"
"Hours," Regina simply replied.
"Oh…" The blonde shrunk against her seat.
"We can always turn back, Emma."
"No, no… It's fine." She attempted to give her girlfriend a smile, but it came up weak and didn't last long.
Her stomach was doing flips once again, more in fear now than excitement. She felt as if she were about to vomit by the time they pulled up in front of the building. With trembling fingers, she undid her seat belt and hopped out to be greeted by Regina.
"Are you nervous, sweetheart?" She queried, taking the blonde's hand in her own. "Your hands are clammy."
"Heh, just a little bit." Emma mumbled softly, following her lover into the building.
The two were soon greeted by a bald man covered like a canvas in colorful art. Emma looked over the series of images on his arms. She couldn't imagine the pain that must have inflicted. Though, she did have to admit, it looked amazing.
"Hey! My name's Rob. What can I do for you ladies today?" The man asked as the two made their way up to the desk he stood behind.
Emma's eyes fell away from the man to an open binder that displayed a few of the parlor's previous works. She mentally gawked at the few she saw. Dragons and skulls in black and flesh tone, dolphins and birds in vibrant colors…
Her attention was drawn away when her lover's voice rumbled from beside her.
"We have a few ideas for a couple of tattoos we wish to get." Regina shuffled through her purse to pull out the pieces of paper that she had printed off earlier.
"Of course, lemme see, here…" Rob took the papers and looked over the images. "Cute. Where are these going?"
Emma's eyes fell to the pictures he splayed out on the glass desk, noticing there to be a different swan in the mix. She blinked, but didn't ask.
"I will be getting the swan." Regina elaborated.
Emma tuned the conversation out as she let her eyes drift around the shop once again. She had to admit, this place was pretty hardcore, and she felt like a wuss for wanting to get that little fuzzy panda.
"Emma, he needs your driver's license." Regina pulled Emma from her stupor once again.
The blonde absently nodded and pulled out the wallet she kept in her jeans. She passed over her license to the bald man, a smile on her face.
"Thank you, sweetheart." He flashed her a genial grin before dropping his gaze to look at the identification card. "Is this a birthday present?"
Emma blinked, turning her gaze to Regina. Did she tell him that it was her birthday when she wasn't paying attention?
Regina, though, chuckled. "I suppose you could say that."
"Happy birthday, by the way… Emma." He squinted at the license before handing it back. "I swear I'm no creep. It was on your driver's license."
"Oh." Emma let out a relived giggle.
"Alright. Everything's all set. Just give me a couple'a minutes to get these sketched out and I'll tat you right up." Rob flashed the two women a grin. "My buddy is currently in the back with another client. He'll do one of you when he's done."
"Thank you." Regina gave the man a grin before he left the two. "How are you feeling, honey?"
"I don't know." Emma shrugged, pacing away from the desk to look up at the photos on the wall. "Anxious, I guess. I have a low pain tolerance."
"I know." The brunette chuckled softly, coming up behind the blonde. "I thought you broke something when you cut yourself on whatever it was."
"I was bleeding because of a stupid tin can!"
"Barely, Emma. It was a small surface wound." Regina gave her a pointed look. "You screamed for me as if you got stabbed, instead."
"I needed my Gina." Emma feigned a pout. She could still feel that small cut on her finger to this day.
"Mhm." She merely shook her head and wrapped her arms around the blonde, chin setting on her shoulder. "I can't be there when you get your tattoo."
"Yes you can!"
"If you go first, perhaps for a few minutes." Regina squeezed Emma's middle and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Unless we are able to be in the same area."
"I'll go first, then." Emma jutted out her lower lip, leaning against the brunette. "This place is pretty cool."
"It is, indeed."
"I feel like a wuss for getting that little panda. I mean, have you seen some of this stuff?" She could feel the arms around her constrict once again.
"You're not a 'wuss', love." Regina chuckled softly. Emma could feel the vibrations against her backside. "You're far from it. Well… unless you get a paper cut, of course."
"Shut up. I took a punch." The blonde could hear herself whine and immediately stopped.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm dating a child."
Emma stayed silent, even as Regina pulled away from her to roam the area. She suddenly felt the loss of heat, though, and blinked out of her silence. She whined softly before turning to find Regina nose deep in the binder of tattoos, flipping the page every so often.
"Here's a cute one." Regina raised her gaze to meet the blonde's, summoning Emma to join her.
"Okay, so I'm not the only one." Emma could feel herself relax. She didn't know why she was so self-conscious about it.
It all seemed so intimidating, regardless.
The two continued to look through the binders providing previous works until Rob had joined them once again, papers in his hand.
"I have 'em all sketched out. Who's goin' first?" His eyes landed on Regina for a hot second.
Emma bristled.
"Emma will be." Regina offered him a polite smile as if she hadn't noticed his hungry eyes.
Perhaps Emma was just seeing things.
"Perfect. You can follow me and I'll show you to your torture chair." He smirked, leading the two into a makeshift room made from long drapes.
Rob pointed out the chair and Emma took it, Regina settling next to her.
"I heard you wanted this on your forearm, right?"
"Yeah." Emma nodded, her gut clenching anxiously.
"Perfect." He grinned, moving over a rollaway table. "Can I have you put your arm up here, please?"
"Yeah," she murmured.
"Thank you." He gave her a polite grin before spraying a paper towel with what smelled like alcohol and wiped down her arm. She winced at the cool feeling it left behind.
"And now," he started, picking up the sketch of the panda and spraying it with something Emma couldn't decipher before asking, "where would you like this?"
Emma pointed to the upper half of her forearm, swallowing thickly around the lump forming in her throat. The man placed the paper on the spot, patting it down gently before peeling it away, leaving the design on Emma's arm.
She blinked, but didn't say a word.
"If only it were that easy," he chuckled, noticing her expression.
"Yeah." The blonde swallowed with a nervous laugh. She could feel Regina's presence next to her.
"Are you nervous, my swan?" A husky voice asked and Emma nodded.
Nervous was putting it lightly.
"It's going to be alright," Regina continued, an olive hand sliding into Emma's free one.
Emma squeezed her hand when Rob had started up the machine; the sound of the needle punching back and forth had the blonde closing her eyes.
"Now it's time for the hard part. Ready?" He asked, the needle just above her arm.
Emma nodded.
But then she winced, the hand in her own getting crushed when she felt that needle dig into her flesh.
"Shit, Emma, try not to break my hand." Regina gasped from beside her. Emma attempted to let up, but she found it harder the more that needle kept digging.
"Sorry, Gina," she squeaked out. "But pain to take your focus away later?"
She heard the older woman chuckle, but it was drowned by the sound of the needle and the pain that it gave.
"Are you doing alright?" A masculine voice queried, though he never stopped.
"Yeah. Just hurts." Emma's toes curled into her shoes as he passed over a particularly tender spot.
"Just let me know if you ever need a break. I won't judge." He offered her a kind smile before going back to his work.
Emma suppressed a whimper.
This was definitely going to be hell. Especially when a second man with a mop of brown hair poked his head into the room, asking for Regina to go with him.
"I've got to go. You're doing fine, sweetheart." Regina leaned forward and gave the blonde a quick kiss.
It almost took away the pain. Almost.
She pulled away, a sympathetic smile on her face before she disappeared, leaving Emma alone.
"She your girlfriend?" Rob asked, pulling Emma's attention to the tattooed man.
"Yeah," she answered, trying to keep the waver out of her voice. "For a little over a year, now."
"That's nice." He nodded, grinning up at her. "I've been goin' out with mine for about a year, too. Met her here at the shop. Came in lookin' to get a sleeve."
Emma smiled, but found it hard to concentrate on the conversation. "That's cool."
The man merely chuckled. "This your first tat?"
"Uh… Oh, yeah." Emma clenched her jaw, hissing her words.
"Your girlfriend got any?"
"Yeah." The blonde nodded. "On her back."
"Neat." He shifted to gather more ink with the needle before going back. "What made you decide to get this panda?"
"Gina likes pandas." Emma's voice was stressed. "And I like swans. She said she didn't want to get names."
"Oh, I see." Rob smirked up at her. "Couple tattoo?"
"Yeah. It was my idea." She couldn't hold the smile she offered.
"Cute," he chuckled. "My girlfriend and I did that. Well, ex, I guess."
"Oh…" Emma frowned slightly.
"Oh, no, I didn't mean nothin' by it." His eyes were slightly wide. "It was a stupid thing. We weren't even goin' out all that long."
Emma nodded quietly, attempting to keep her composure the more that needle dug. Her arm was growing sore now.
"So, what do you do?"
"What do you mean?" Emma blinked slightly at the inquiry, brows furrowed.
"I mean for work. Sorry."
"It's okay. I'm going to college right now, but I'm thinking about getting a part-time job." The blonde couldn't help but to gasp when he went over a particular area by the crook of her arm.
"Ah, I see. What're you goin' for?"
"Just general right now before I'm joining the police force. Might as well broaden my horizons."
"Oh, neat." He smirked. "You get a gun n'shit?"
"Yeah," she chuckled. "I have a friend who is doing the same, right now. He's a year ahead of me, though."
"Ah, I see. Maybe you'll become partners."
"I hope so. That'll be nice." Emma winced instead of grinned.
"Does your girlfriend work, or is she in college, too?"
Emma could have laughed. "No, she's a teacher. Well, a substitute teacher, right now."
"Ooh, hot for teacher, huh?" He laughed once again. "How did you two meet?"
Emma froze, muttering, "school."
He didn't say anything about it, though, which relieved the blonde. "Cool."
It was silent for a moment before he spoke once again.
"So, you from around here?"
"Oh, no." She shook her head, eyes focused on the space in front of her. "We moved from Storybrooke, Maine a couple months ago. I've been around the states, but I can call that home."
"I know what you mean." He nodded, pulling away from her arm for a moment to wipe away some ink. "Been like that my whole life. Settled here some odd years ago. It's closer to a home than anything else I've had."
Emma nodded for a moment. "Yeah. I guess this is my home, too. Gina is my home."
"That's sweet." He let out a soft chuckle and proceeded once again, causing the blonde to wince. "Oh, sorry 'bout that. Should-a warned you."
"It's okay," Emma murmured through gritted teeth.
"You picked a pretty bad place to get one. But it's better than the wrist." He dipped the needle into a small inkwell. "Bony areas hurt the worse. Got 'em all over my bony parts."
"Why did you get so many?" Emma queried, eyes on the arm that worked on her own. There was a skull on his forearm, shrouded in smoke.
"There are too many good ones to pass up," he chuckled humorously. "I designed most of 'em myself. The needle helped my shitty life. My body was a canvas worth covering."
The blonde nodded slightly, taking in his words. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I probably wouldn't get so many, but I wouldn't mind getting a few more."
"I recommend that you should." He smirked. "Come back here and get as many as you want."
"I'll keep that in mind." Emma grinned and leaned back into the chair, letting out a strained breath.
Emma didn't know how much time had passed, but when Rob had pulled the needle away and announced that he was finished, the blonde could have danced; she was so happy.
"You look excited," he chuckled, spraying some alcohol on a paper towel. "This might sting."
A moment later, her arm felt as if it were on fire. But it was finished as soon as it had started. She let out the breath she had been holding.
"Yeah, that hurt like a son of a bitch. All of it, I mean." She looked down at her arm. Her skin was pink around the fuzzy panda bear, but she didn't mind; that thing looked adorable.
"What do you think?" He asked, setting down his phone after taking a picture of his work.
"I love it!" She beamed, looking over to her girlfriend who had joined her some time back. "What do you think?"
Regina returned the grin, her phone out of her pocket as she snapped a picture of the little panda. "I love it, sweetheart."
"Good," Emma purred, watching as Rob coated the tattoo with ointment and covered it with a bandage.
"I recommend you keep that on for the next twenty-four hours. After that," he continued, reaching over to a basket on the table and handed Emma a small tin, "put this on it a couple times a day for the next couple days. It'll help it."
"Okay." She offered him a smile before handing Regina the tin to put into her purse. "Thank you."
"No problem, Emma." He gave her a grin. "You're welcome to come back for that next tattoo, okay?"
Regina quirked a brow at the blonde, but Emma merely nodded with a smile.
"You can count on it."
After receiving some more advice and saying their goodbyes, both Regina and Emma left the shop with wide smiles, discussing their experiences.
"The shading felt like my skin was on fire." Emma mumbled, plugging her seat belt in.
"It's not one needle, it's about four, I think." Regina quirked a brow at the blonde. "It does feel like your skin is on fire. I had it on mine, as well."
"You never showed me yours."
The blonde realized that Regina hadn't showed her a picture of her tattoo. She already had the bandage on by the time she joined Emma.
"Oh, of course." Regina chuckled, pulled her phone out, and handed it to her girlfriend.
Emma smiled. It looked much like the picture Regina had shown her earlier, but with a slightly different position of its head. It had an orange beak.
"Ooh, I love it!"
"I'm glad that you do." The brunette hummed and put her phone away. "Where would you like to eat?"
"Gods, what time is it?" Emma then noticed that it was no longer daylight out. Night flooded the streets of the city; artificial lighting now took the place of the sun.
"I'll say that it's about seven." Regina pulled away from the curb.
"We've been here for three hours."
"Indeed." She chuckled in response. "Where would you like to go, birthday girl?"
"I don't know."
"Emma."
"I know, I know. I don't know isn't an answer." Emma couldn't help but to smirk at her girlfriend's response. She always said that when Emma couldn't make a decision. "But, seriously, I don't know many places."
"Why don't we go to this one?" Regina was already pulling into a parking lot littered with several other cars.
"Okay, we're going to this one." Emma chuckled softly, exiting the vehicle when it was shut off.
When Regina joined her, the two walked into the building. They were greeted immediately by a friendly smile asking for the party size and led them further into the restaurant. The two were soon seated at a small booth in the back with chatter and laughter surrounding them.
Emma sighed softly as she was handed a menu, inhaling the rich aroma of grilled food. Her stomach rumbled.
"I would like a coke, please. No ice." She grinned to the waitress who had asked what they would like to drink. Regina responded with the same before the girl left to fulfill their order.
"I'm so hungry," Emma murmured, eyes roaming over the menu.
"I am, too." The brunette set her menu down. "I already know what I want."
"Wha- How the hell?" Emma blinked, looking up. "How?"
Regina shrugged. "They have steak. I want steak."
"Ooh, steak." She felt her stomach grumble once again. She saw a burger on the menu and decided what she wanted.
"What can I start you out with?" The waitress asked as she returned with their drinks.
"Would you like an appetizer, Emma?" Regina quirked a brow.
Emma gazed down at her menu for a second time. "Do you?"
"It might be too much food," she murmured before gazing back up at the waitress with a genial smile. "I would like the New York strip, please. Medium-rare."
"What would you like for your sides?" The girl gave her a polite smile after writing the order down.
"The side salad and baked potato, please."
The waitress nodded, her sapphire gaze falling to Emma. "And for you, ma'am?"
"Uh, I would like the bacon burger with no tomato, please. And fries."
Regina kicked her foot.
"A-and a side salad." She smiled, the words sputtering out of her mouth. The waitress nodded, asked if they wanted anything else, and took off to put their order in when they had answered negatively.
"Why do you always make me get a salad?" Emma huffed softly, taking a sip from her soda. "You got a coke this time. I get fries."
"You're getting a pig on top of a cow, Emma." Regina narrowed her eyes on the younger woman.
"There's lettuce on there!"
"Barely, Emma."
"You're like my mom, sometimes, Gina." The blonde pouted, earning a quirked brow from her lover.
"Well, if you want to call me your mother, then no more kisses for you."
Emma squawked, "wha… I didn't mean it!"
Regina chuckled, her head shaking. "I thought so."
Emma sulked in her glass of cola.
"Emma?" She heard her name being called by a familiar, masculine voice.
Perking in her spot, she looked up to see Graham heading towards her. There were a couple of people behind him that she didn't recognize and a waiter that showed them to a table next to theirs.
"Hey, Graham! What the hell are you doing here?" She couldn't help but to grin up at the man, standing when he finally joined them. They embraced for a quick moment before the blonde sat back down.
"I'm here with my roommates. We decided to chip in and eat out tonight." He continued to grin and turned, taking the seat closest to Emma's table. "What are you doing here?"
"Birthday dinner with the girlfriend." Emma smirked when Regina gave her a look.
"Oh, shit, it's your birthday." Graham's eyes widened. "I totally forgot."
"It's okay." The blonde shrugged. "I spent, like, three hours getting a tattoo."
"What?" He blinked, eyes falling to the bandage that Emma was showing him. "When did you decide to get one of those?"
"It was our anniversary a couple weeks ago. I wanted to get a tattoo with Gina." Emma turned to her girlfriend. "Can I show him?"
Regina nodded her head with a sigh, digging her phone out of her purse. "And he doesn't even acknowledge me," she playfully muttered.
"Sorry, Regina." The man gave her a cheesy wave. "How have you been?"
"Alright," she answered, handing her girlfriend her cellphone. "Working. Eating. Sleeping. The usual."
"Cuddling with me. How dare you forget?" Emma stuck her tongue out at the brunette.
"I will cut that tongue off, Emma."
"You would cry." Her response had her lover's cheeks sent aflame.
The blonde quickly turned, her own burning up as she realized Graham was still there, watching the two with a chuckle.
"Kinky." He smirked, looking down at the phone when Emma brought up the picture of her tattoo. "Oh, now that's cute."
Emma nodded happily, swiping to the picture of Regina's. "I got the panda because Gina likes them, and she got a swan because I like them."
"They're awesome." Graham turned to the waiter that came back to their table and quickly ordered his meal before going back to the conversation with Emma. "I couldn't get one."
"Why not?"
"The stories I've heard don't sound appealing. People say it hurts like hell and with the tattoo I'd want to get, I wouldn't be able to survive," he laughed.
"It does. At one point, I swore my skin was on fire."
"See? That's what I mean!" He shook his head and took a drink of his water.
Emma shrugged, leaning back against the booth. "It's not all bad. Once it's done, it's pretty cool. They let you take breaks if you need them."
"I would need them." Graham muttered, turning once again when one of his roommates spoke to him.
Emma took the opportunity to hand Regina back her phone. "Did you bleed?"
"Excuse me?" The brunette blinked up from her purse.
"When you got yours done. Did you bleed?"
"A little bit." She played with the utensil set in front of her. "Why?"
"I did, too. I didn't know if that was normal."
"It is."
Emma nodded slightly and reached over to seize her lover's hands, squeezing them in her own. This earned her a warm smile; something that widened Regina's face and expanded Emma's heart.
"Happy birthday, Emma."
"Thanks," she giggled softly. "For everything, really. This day was perfect."
"Even though we spent most of it sleeping and in a tattoo parlor?"
The blonde chuckled once again, this time heartier. "Yes, even though we spent most of it sleeping and in a tattoo parlor. I wouldn't want it any other way. Well, having blinds in our bedroom would have made it better, but, you know."
"You broke the blinds, Emma."
"I didn't mean to!" The blonde narrowed her eyes on the other woman, a frown claiming her lips.
Regina smirked slightly, her thumb lightly stroking the outside of Emma's hand. "I know."
"They fell off by themselves."
"What are you two talking about?" Graham chuckled, dipping into their conversation. "What fell off?"
"Emma broke the blinds in our bedroom." Regina turned her gaze to the man. "She was trying to close them one night and yanked on it too hard. She broke the damned thing in half."
"And Gina told me to suffer," Emma finished on a pout.
"She told you to suffer?" Emma's friend laughed and looked over to Regina. "I like you even more."
"She's sadistic," Emma lamented dramatically.
"Actually, I'm masochistic."
"Okay." Graham pulled away from the conversation with wide eyes, his mouth searching for the straw in his water.
"Always making things awkward, Gina." Emma couldn't help but to laugh, turning her eyes back on her girlfriend. The older woman merely smirked at her.
"He was taking your attention away, my love," she purred.
"Aw, you needy little panda."
Emma's heart squeezed as she reached over, cupping the brunette's face in the palm of her hand. She felt warm; soft. She could feel the muscles tightening when the older woman smiled at her.
But, they were interrupted once again, this time by the waitress as she returned with their meals. They quickly thanked her, declining the offer for anything else, and dug in. Graham had passed a comment saying he would let them eat and continued to converse with his roommates.
"That was good." Emma relaxed against the booth, pushing her plate away from her. "How was your undercooked cow flesh?"
Regina looked up from her own empty plate, still chewing on the final remains of her steak. "It was delicious," she murmured after swallowing the bite.
"I don't know how you can eat it like that." Emma wrinkled her nose at the bloody juices swimming around her lover's dinner plate. "It's raw."
"No it isn't, Emma. It's cooked and perfectly safe." Regina wiped the corners of her mouth with the paper napkin. "And it's far more tender than it is fully cooked."
"I like it a little pink, but yours was red." The blonde shook her head and played with her glass of soda before sipping down the rest of it.
"You would like it if you tried it."
"I'm not touching that thing with a ten-foot pole, Gina." Emma scooted to the edge of the booth, ready to leave.
Regina merely snorted at her, setting a few bills in the billfold before standing. "Come on, Dr. Harmon."
"What?" Emma furrowed her brows at the comment but received no explanation. "Hold up a minute. I gotta say bye to Graham."
"I'll meet you outside." Regina nodded a polite goodbye to Emma's friend before she disappeared behind a crowd of newcomers.
Emma drew her attention back to Graham, leaning against his side of the table. The man was polishing off some fries as he looked up, a smile wide on his face.
"Leaving so soon?"
"Yeah." She nodded, quickly stealing a fry before he could grab it.
Graham gave her a dirty look. "Well, too bad. Happy birthday, I guess. Sorry I didn't get you anything. I completely forgot."
Emma shrugged. "It's alright. You don't need to get me anything, anyways. Seeing you was a good present."
"Aw, Em is getting all sentimental on me." He smirked until Emma smacked his arm. His friends looked up, snickering behind their hands.
"I will take my boot and shove it up your ass."
"Please don't." He hid behind his half-eaten burger.
The blonde laughed, shaking her head, and shifted away from the table. She hooked a finger towards the direction Regina left in. "I gotta get going, G-Cracker. Gina's waiting for me."
"Oh, yeah." He gave her a knowing smirk. "Don't want to keep her waiting for too long."
"Shut up before I really do shove my foot up your ass." She grumbled, heat turning her cheeks a vivid pink.
"Yeah, yeah. Happy birthday, Emma." He smiled and stood, exchanging a quick embrace with Emma before settling back down, burger in hand.
"We gotta hang out some time." Emma nodded, taking a step forward to get out of a server's way. "I've been here since July and we haven't gotten together yet."
"I know. I've been busy, but I can always clear my schedule," Graham offered.
"Me, too," she sighed softly. "I'll give you a call, okay?"
"I'll be waiting." He gave her a pointed look.
Emma lowered her head for a moment before she nodded with a guilt ridden smile. The two quickly said their goodbyes, letting Emma fall away from the group to find her girlfriend. Regina was already in the Mercedes, car turned on with cool air flowing through the vents.
The blonde put on her seat belt, flashing an apologetic smile to the brunette. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine, Emma. He's your friend." Her features were lost to Emma in the night, but the smile was heard. "You don't see him often."
"I'm going to go out with him at some point," she said, eyes on the dimly lit road in front of them. "For future reference."
Regina's laughter soon filled the car, ringing like a sweet melody in the blonde's ears. A smile tugged at her lips. "You can do whatever you want, Emma. I do not control your life."
"I… know. I…" she paused, the words catching on the tip of her tongue. "I just thought I'd let you know."
A moment of silence passed before the brunette spoke once again, turning onto a street foreign to Emma, earning a question from the blonde. "I'm going to pick something up at the store."
"Oh." The younger woman nodded. "What do we need?"
"You need to stay in the car." Regina pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store.
"Why?" Emma frowned. "I like going in stores with you."
"I know, my love." She turned, unbuckling her seat belt, and leaned forward to take the blonde's face in her hands. "But this is something that I need to do without you."
"But-" Emma's protest was cut short by rose lips, stunning the blonde into a quiet submission. "Okay," she breathlessly murmured when Regina pulled away, wearing a smirk on those perfect lips.
"I will be back. Don't get into trouble."
Regina ducked out of the car with Emma's final words following behind her. The blonde's forest gaze was locked on the older woman's back as she sashayed off, disappearing through sliding glass doors.
Emma absently stared at the door, her heart jumping each time they opened and a person stepped out, only to be disappointed when she found them not to be Regina. When they opened once again, she didn't give her hopes up and decided that it would be another stranger until she saw the familiar brunette toting a grocery bag.
The blonde grinned widely and prepared herself to leave, jogging her leg as she awaited the brunette's arrival. The back door of the car opened, greeting Emma with a sweet, warm breeze. She couldn't help but to gaze back just as Regina was pulling her head out of the car.
"What's that?" She queried and Regina mumbled something unintelligible, closing the rear door.
A moment later, she was pulling open her own door and settled into the driver's seat, keys in the ignition. "You'll have to wait and see."
"Oh, no, what did you get?" Emma frowned. She had an inkling that Regina was getting something for her. Why else would she tell the blonde to stay outside in the car?
"Emma." Regina turned her chestnut gaze on Emma, a single brow raising. "Wait."
Emma mulled over what could be inside the bag on their trip back home, coming to an indecisive conclusion by the time they pulled in front of their apartment building. Part of her didn't want to know; she wanted to be surprised when Regina would finally reveal what it was. But curiosity always seemed to get the better of her.
"Can you sit in the living room for a moment, sweetheart?" Regina was walking towards the kitchen, grocery bag still held firmly in her grip.
Emma watched the bag as she moved. "Yeah," she finally mumbled, prying her eyes away to gaze up to the smiling face before her.
The blonde dropped onto the cream couch, eyes on the blank television screen.
"You can come over now, Emma," Regina's voice called, pulling Emma from the couch as if it controlled the blonde woman.
"Oh, finally," she playfully muttered, eyes falling to a small, circular cake. The candles that bordered the confection, each in a little dollop of frosting, had a small, flickering flame.
Emma let out a soft breath, her eyes catching sight of violet lettering, spelling out, "Happy Birthday, Emma!" There was a small splotch below it of a crudely drawn swan. She laughed.
Emma's eyes drifted toward a small tube of edible gel and grinned, the corners of her mouth digging into her cheeks. "Aw, Gina!"
"Make a wish, love," the older woman's words were said on a breathy giggle.
The blonde nodded and closed her eyes. There wasn't a damned thing that she could think of. She already had everything that she wanted; Regina, Boston, college, family, friends. The only thing that she could wish for was to keep those very things that she had.
Emma blew the candles out, her eyes reopening to be met with those soft, chestnut hues and instantly drowned in them.
"Happy birthday, Emma," the owner of those very eyes whispered and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the blonde's forehead. Her heart was set on fire. "What do you say about cutting into this cake?"
"I would love to." Emma straightened herself out after realizing that she had unconsciously gravitated toward Regina.
"You don't seem too excited," Regina chuckled softly as she plucked out the candles. "You love cake."
Emma watched as she popped one of the candle ends in her mouth, cleaning off the remnants of frosting. "I am, I mean, I do," her voice was strained.
The older woman merely chuckled before taking the knife that she had out and carefully began to slice the cake into even pieces. She grabbed a small saucer, dumped a slice of cake onto it, and handed it off to Emma. The blonde smiled her gratitude and grabbed one of the forks Regina had set out.
"Mm, my favorite part of birthdays." Emma mewled, chewing on said cake with a wide smile. "Especially when it's good frosting."
"You and your sweet things, Emma." The brunette's nose wrinkled fondly as she, too, ate a forkful of the sweet dessert.
"You're my favorite sweet thing." She nonchalantly popped another bite into her mouth.
Regina's cheeks reddened slightly at her lover's comment. Emma smirked when she noticed this and took another bite, letting her words cling to the air. She leaned against the counter and thought for a moment as the silence grew between them.
Emma found herself wondering if Regina had anything planned out for later that night. She wouldn't mind repeating the end of last year's birthday. It was perfect.
The blonde could feel her body buzz at the thought. Excitement gripping her every nerve, she dumped her plate into the sink and turned toward the source of these new sensations. Her breath hitched. The brunette was staring at her, eyes dark, as she slowly pulled the fork from between her lips.
"Yes?" Regina's voice was enough for the blonde to lose all control, but she attempted to maintain stability with dark, emerald eyes focused on the woman before her.
"Nothing," she managed to let out, the word exposed her bubbling desires. "What did you, uh, want to do, now?"
The brunette cracked a wide, knowing smile, but hadn't said a word about the waver in her lover's voice. "That is up for you to decide, Emma. It's your birthday, after all."
Emma found it hard to swallow. "I like spending time with you," she murmured softly, taking a few strides toward the brunette. She could hear the older woman's breath hitch.
"What would you like to do, Emma?"
She reached out, taking the brunette's hand in her own, and pulled the older woman out of the kitchen. Regina hadn't said a word as Emma led her to the couch. The younger of the two curled up into the soft cushions as her girlfriend joined her, an arm immediately wrapping around the blonde's waist. Content, Emma laid her head on the other woman's shoulder, eyes on the winking lights of the busy city.
The end of the night seemed too permanent if she were to travel down the path her mind had initially buzzed on. Of course, she wouldn't mind closing the day off in such a way. It was ideal, was it not? But she felt as if she wanted something more than the physical touch of a lover's.
Emma wanted to wrap herself up in Regina; body and soul. She wanted their breaths to mingle and their bodies to share the warmth of one another; their forms to be curled into one another, dappled in twinkling lights. She slowly regretted not turning the main room's lights off, but she could mind them enough if it meant staying in Regina's arms.
She relished these moments; the two of them staring out the window as they silently enjoyed each other's company. The feeling of Regina's rhythmic breathing always subdued her. Emma's eyes grew heavy the longer they sat. The lights looked like little fireflies, dancing against an inky backdrop.
She sighed.
Emma could feel an arm squeeze her waist and a pair of lips drop onto her head.
"We should head to bed, my swan. You look as if you're about to fall asleep." Regina's voice caressed the blonde's ears, an instant smile wrinkling her face.
"I'm not tired," she whispered, but the weightlessness that she felt behind closed eyes told her otherwise.
"Yes you are." Regina's lips twitched. "Come on, sweetheart, let's head to bed."
Emma didn't protest. She stood with the brunette and followed as the older woman cleaned up the kitchen before turning the lights off. The two were soon engulfed in the night as they made their way to the bedroom. Regina hadn't bothered to turn the light on.
Emma tugged her jeans off before clambering onto the bed, waiting patiently as her lover did the same. She paused, watching the silhouette of the older woman as she removed more than just her casual wear. A blush bloomed on the blonde's cheeks.
Regina occupied the space next to her wearing nothing more than what she was born in. "And for your final birthday present," she purred, reaching into the nightstand on her side of the bed.
Jade hues watched intently, already wiggling out of the rest of her clothes. Her drowsy state had been swept under the rug and replaced with the excitement of earlier that day. The fire burning in her lower belly grew when Regina pulled back with the Christmas present that she had received last year.
"I wonder what you're going to do with that," Emma breathed. Her muscles twitched anxiously.
"You'll just have to wait and see." The brunette's words were a purr.
Regina set the phallus aside and inched closer to her lover, mouth soon covering Emma's own in a fervent kiss. Emma was taken by surprise at the intensity, but didn't protest as she soon returned it.
She was alight with pleasure. Each finger on her body was just another match, leaving a trail of burning nerves that shot straight to the center of her being. She whimpered softly as those lips moved, attaching to crook of her neck, nipping the tender skin.
Emma gasped softly when the older woman shifted on top of her and straddled one of her thighs. The blonde groaned softly at the warmth that covered her, back arching to gain contact with the other form. The woman above her rumbled with laughter, sending vibrations throughout the younger woman's body.
"Eager…" A husky voice growled into her ear.
"A little bit," the blonde gasped softly when those lips met her own and a hand cupped her core.
Her hips slid forward to gain more contact; more pressure to relieve her itch. She was granted it shortly after as that hand began to move. Her mind blanked.
"Ah, yeah…" Emma groaned softly, her face lost in raven locks as the older woman's lips continued to explore her body. Pale digits dug into the olive flesh of the older woman's backside when a sensitive place was hit.
She cried softly, head tilting to the side. Regina murmured something against her neck but she couldn't hear over her labored breaths. Suddenly the warmth was pulled away from her when Regina moved. Emma was about to protest until she was covered once again, the hand pulling from her core to be replaced with something cool.
The blonde jumped slightly at the new contact. Her body welcomed it, regardless, and arched in response. Her mouth opened, but no sound left. The woman above her smirked and took advantage, her tongue invading the young woman's mouth.
Her cry was lost in Regina's mouth when the phallus moved in slow, rhythmic thrusts, her body attempting to match each one. Then they sped up without warning, leaving the blonde to arch and gasp like a fish out of water.
"Do you like that?" Regina purred, a smirk on her face.
Emma groaned in response, fingers digging into the older woman's rump as if her life depended on it. The brunette chuckled huskily and shifted to bring her free hand between the blonde's thighs. Stars dotted Emma's vision as those slender fingers worked at the sensitive bundle of nerves.
"Oh, Gods, please…" Emma's head was spinning as she sought out the release that was rearing up on her. The phallus hit just right when Regina shifted it and she cried, begging the woman to keep going, yes, right there, until she tensed up and shook as her orgasm washed over her.
Regina's name would be known to their neighbors as the woman helped her ride the celestial cloud she found herself on. The blonde soon fell off that very cloud and back onto the mattress, her body spent and her breath ragged.
Her lover pulled away from her and dropped the phallus off to the side, laying on the blonde with a grin. "You're beautiful in your pleasure," she whispered, fingers tracing Emma's jaw.
Emma's cheeks bloomed, "no."
"Yes," Regina purred, shifting up to press a kiss to her lips.
"You are." The blonde returned the kiss, one of her hands falling away from the brunette's bum to slide between the older woman's thighs and hummed at her findings. "Gods, you're so wet."
The brunette's breath hitched at the contact and ground against the hand, her teeth digging into her lower lip. "I need you, my love. Please."
Emma bit her lip, fingers delving between the folds to tease her lover's entrance. Her lips trailed along the older woman's shoulder, marveling the soft gasps and pleas falling from Regina's mouth as she entered her, dipping the pale digit in the tender heat.
The blonde rocked the two of them until she landed on top of the brunette woman, her finger not lingering long outside her girlfriend's body. She attached her lips back to the older woman's neck, kissing and nipping at her olive flesh.
Regina whimpered, her hips bucking into Emma's. She begged for more. Emma complied.
Emerald orbs fell on the purple phallus that was used on her. She quickly grabbed it and smirked when she noticed Regina watching her. Another whimper fell from the older woman's lips. The blonde claimed her lover's mouth, tongue thrusting between the crease as she fumbled with the toy and pressed it against the brunette's mound.
The older woman's hips rose anxiously to meet it, but Emma merely teased her, sliding the tip of the phallic device against her nether lips.
"Please, Emma," Regina's strained voice groaned around the younger woman's mouth.
The blonde chuckled softly and lowered the toy before slowly pushing it into the awaiting folds. The cry that was received urged Emma on as she set a pace, pumping the phallus into the older woman. Her lips met with Regina's once again in a fervent kiss as her free hand explored the heated skin below her.
The noises from Regina filled Emma's every sense. She always enjoyed hearing the sounds of pleasure that the older woman made. Excitement filled her once again and fueled her to help the brunette reach the release that she was given not long ago.
Emma sunk her teeth into the brunette's shoulder earning a sharp gasp from the brunette.
"Yes," she groaned into the blonde's ear, her back arching the harder the younger woman bit.
The toy pumped harder and faster, milking the moans of pleasure that soon grew louder when Emma tasted blood. Regina stiffened underneath her and Emma knew that she found her release. The thrusts slowed as she helped her along, stopping when the older woman sunk against the mattress.
Emma pulled the purple phallus out and dropped it on the bed beside them, a smile on her face as she stared down at Regina.
"You've got a little bit of blood on your lips, love." Regina's hoarse voice sounded between heavy breaths.
The blonde quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Thanks."
"Thanks, she says," she chuckled softly and turned, forcing the blonde to land next to her. "Happy birthday, Emma."
Emma grinned, pressing a kiss to the older woman's lips. "Thanks."
"She says again." Regina merely shook her head and kissed her again. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she purred in response, licking her lips.
The older woman sat up, now, and looked back at her lover. "We should clean up."
"Yeah." Emma spotted the blood that ran in small streams from Regina's shoulder. She rolled over to the edge of the bed and stood, picking up the purple toy. "Shall we?"
Regina smiled and joined the blonde as she headed toward the bathroom. The two of them quickly cleaned up and returned to the dark bedroom, settling in the middle of the bed. Regina held the blonde in her arms as Emma contentedly rest her head against the other woman's bosom.
Her head rose and fell with the brunette's each breath. She closed her eyes and embraced the warmth, once again. It felt as if the world beneath her was gone and she was floating in the void. Sleep tugged at her, urging her to fall into its grasp and she readily greeted it.
Emma was pulled from her almost slumber by a husky voice, disembodied in the night.
"Does your arm hurt?"
"What?" Emma croaked. She never gave her eyes the satisfaction of opening.
"Your tattoo, darling. Does it hurt?"
"A little bit. Like a cut." The blonde answered.
She hadn't paid much attention to it earlier. Now that Regina had mentioned it, though, she could feel the sting that her skin provided with each movement. It felt like a tender cut. Of course. She was punched with a needle several times over.
"Mine, too," her lover spoke. "It almost matches your bite."
Emma chuckled softly. She felt a hand absently stroke her back.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Regina giggled softly.
"Are you tired?" Emma murmured quietly.
"Yes."
"Me too," she hummed.
The hand on her back slowed. When a moment passed, it stopped, and a light snore could be heard. Emma suppressed the chuckle bubbling in her throat and, instead, settled so she could sleep, as well.
This was one of the best birthdays she had ever had. The thought was absent, but true, nonetheless. It might have even beat out last year's. Hopefully, within the future, she would be having more birthdays to top the one prior, with Regina by her side at each and every one of them. She smiled.
Maybe her wish would come true.