A/N: Happy Sunday! It's time … well, almost.
The front door slammed shut.
"Emma? Ruby?"
Closing her eyes, half in frustration, half to try and get a hold of her emotions, Emma sighed and sat up. "In the living room," she called.
Regina scrambled to sit up too, cheeks burning. What had she just said? What had been about to happen before they had been interrupted?
"It's Belle," Emma said by way of explanation. The elusive housemate that Regina was yet to meet. Emma had know that the relationship with this mysterious older man was getting serious but she had been surprised by the way Belle had disappeared from her life, with the exception of the odd text and passing each other in the corridors of the hospital on the rare occasions when their shifts overlapped.
"Hey," Belle announced, walking into the living room for the first time in two weeks. "Oh, hi," she added, spotting Regina sitting on the sofa beside Emma. "You're Regina, right?"
"Yes, hello," Regina said quietly.
"Bells, where've you been?" Emma asked, getting off the sofa and embracing her housemate. While she was a little miffed at how absent the woman had been, she still missed her and was glad to see her again.
"Oh, Robert's been keeping me busy. I just nipped back to grab some more clothes."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "So, you're not staying?"
Shaking her head, Belle went on. "No, I'm meeting him in a couple of hours, actually. We're going to a show this evening."
"Well, when you get a moment, it'd be great to see you and catch up properly," Emma said, a little curtly.
The tone did not go unnoticed by Belle. "Yeah, I know, I've been a crap friend. What are you doing next weekend?"
"I don't know," Emma replied.
"It's your mother's birthday meal," Regina reminded her.
"Oh yeah, that. But if you're around on Sunday, it'd be nice to see you. Ruby too. I know she misses you."
"Aw, I miss you girls too. I want to fill you in on everything that's been happening with Robert and I want to hear about what's going on with you both." Emma didn't miss how Belle's gaze darted to Regina briefly before landing back on Emma. She wondered briefly if Ruby had told Belle anything about why Regina had moved in. She hoped not. She wanted Belle to hear it from her, not Ruby. Although, given what had happened just a couple of minutes earlier, she would now struggle to explain to Belle exactly what was going on between herself and Regina. Still, she wanted to catch up with her friend.
"Well, if you can squeeze us into your fabulous new life, text us and let us know, ok?"
Belle sighed. "I'm sorry, Ems. I know I've been kinda MIA but Robert is just so -"
"Amazing, sexy, rich. Yeah, I know. And I'm happy for you, I just miss you, is all," Emma shrugged. It was true. She was happy for Belle. Although she would be happier if she'd actually met this man who'd swept her friend off her feet, and out of her life.
"I miss you too. Look, I've got to go but let's catch up next weekend, yeah? Sunday brunch somewhere?"
"Sure," Emma agreed.
Belle beamed. "Awesome, I can't wait. Nice to meet you, Regina," she added before disappearing from the room and heading upstairs.
A silence followed her departure. Emma turned around to see Regina still sitting on the couch where, moments before, they had been inches away from changing the nature of their friendship forever. Now they were alone once more, the elephant in the room was looming large.
"So, um, that's Belle," Emma said, crossing back to the sofa but sitting a little further away from Regina.
"She seems nice," Regina replied.
"She's great. Although perhaps not so good at maintaining friendships when she's wrapped up in a love affair. But hey, if this guy is as perfect as she says he is, then I guess I can't blame her."
Regina smiled softly. "You really miss her."
"Of course. We've lived together for years and then suddenly she disappeared out of our lives. But I want to be happy for her, don't get me wrong. Maybe I'd feel better if I met this guy. Or maybe not. Ruby's met him and says he's a right dick but I think that's more to do with the fact that he's with Belle than anything else. I've only seen photographs and frankly, he looks a little bit like an imp."
A small laugh from Regina made Emma's stomach flip, reminding her of the sensations which had been flowing through her body just before Belle reappeared.
"Um, Regina, can we … talk?" It was time to address the elephant.
"It's fine, Emma. Before was a stupid mistake. Just forget about it, ok?" Regina said at once, waving her hand as if she hoped that would fan away the memory.
"I don't think I can forget about it," Emma replied quietly. "Please, I think talking would be good. I mean, I didn't even know you were into women."
"I'm not," Regina said, scratching the edge of her thumb with her forefinger.
Emma shifted slightly on the sofa, curling her legs beneath her and leaning against the back cushion. "Regina, it's ok. I'm not angry or upset or anything else bad. I'm a bit confused, I'll admit that. But you can talk to me about this. I get the feeling you need to. But, if you really don't want to talk about it, I'll respect that."
It took Regina a long time to answer. She glanced sideways at Emma and then, hesitantly, settled herself in a similar position on the couch. Reaching for a cushion, she placed it over her thighs, hands resting on the fabric for a moment before she finally met Emma's patient gaze.
"I'm confused too," she admitted, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"What are you confused about?" Emma asked. She was relieved that Regina was talking but wary that too many questions could cause the woman to shut down again.
"Everything, I guess," Regina shrugged. "What almost happened before Belle arrived. What I said. How I …" She trailed off.
Emma cocked her head to one side. "Should I go first?" she offered.
"In what way?"
"I can talk about how I felt about what almost happened if you want. Maybe that would help?"
"Ok," Regina nodded, hugging the cushion in her lap closer to her chest, curling around it as she settled into the sofa.
"Right, well, I guess the first thing to say is that I am queer. I don't think that is something we've talked about although maybe you picked up on something?"
Regina shook her head. "No, I didn't know. I mean, well, maybe I did. But it was subconscious."
"Well, it's not something I hide but I guess the conversations we've had didn't cover sexuality or past relationships. You know Belle is bi because I'd mentioned about her and Ruby. Ruby identifies as a lesbian, by the way. We're three fifths of the LGBTQ movement right here in this house, so if you're at all worried about being judged, please don't."
"I'm not worried," Regina murmured. "I know you wouldn't do that."
Emma smiled. "Good. Ok, so, I guess that's my sexuality covered." Regina let out a little laugh. "And now I suppose I should tell you what I was thinking earlier when we were lying together and then when you were talking about what happened and then you touched my face and -"
"You touched my face first," Regina interrupted.
"I did," Emma agreed. "And it was something I realised I shouldn't have done without permission, so I pulled away because I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, particularly given the subject matter."
"I wasn't uncomfortable," Regina offered.
Although relieved to hear this, Emma still knew she shouldn't have touched Regina like that without asking. Even though Emma firmly believed every woman had the right not to be touched in any way without explicit consent, it was different to the fact that Regina had stoked Emma's face seconds later. Of course it was different. Given Regina's past experiences, it had to be different. And the way Emma knew she had been looking at Regina was likely signal enough to the brunette that she wouldn't pull away. That said, clearly Regina was now doubting what she saw in Emma's eyes.
"Well, I wasn't uncomfortable when you touched my face either," she continued. "There was something between us in that moment. I felt it and I think you felt it too. Maybe that's what we need to talk about?"
"I don't know what to say," Regina admitted.
In truth, Emma wasn't quite sure either. It was clear that Regina was trying to understand her own feelings and Emma didn't want to press too fast or too hard. She didn't want to overwhelm Regina or come on too strong. Because she could feel her own emotions, bubbling beneath the surface, awakened by that spark which had passed between them. She hardly dared hope that Regina might possibly be feeling the way she did, might want what she wanted. And yet, it had been Regina who'd suggested …
"What if we hadn't been interrupted," Emma asked.
"By Belle?"
"Yeah," Emma nodded. "What if she hadn't come home then? What would have happened?"
"I guess only you know the answer to that," Regina admitted. "I was the one who told you what I wanted."
"You did," Emma agreed. "And to be honest, I'm not sure what I would have done. I mean, I know what my body wanted to do but my brain wanted to have this open and honest conversation that we're having right now."
Regina nodded her understanding, her finger now scratching her thumb again. "Ok."
"But."
Brown eyes met green, wide and questioning. "But?"
Emma couldn't help but smile. "But I've never been great at listening to my brain when it comes to these sorts of situations."
A line appeared on Regina's forehead as she frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."
"I don't either. I mean, I don't understand what's happening between us right now but if I'm honest with myself, if I think about what would have happened if Belle hadn't come home right at that moment, maybe some of this confusion about what we feel for each other would have been resolved."
"I … I don't get it," Regina sighed. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm not trying to say anything. Just kiss me."
The echo of Regina's words from ten minutes before made the brunette's eyebrows shoot up her forehead. Emma grinned but nodded in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. This, she figured, would at least settle the one thing that they were both dancing around; their attraction to one another. And, perhaps more importantly, this time, the ball would be in Regina's court. Whatever happened, the next steps needed to be on the younger woman's terms.
"I … this is awkward," Regina replied, turning away.
"Sorry," Emma said hastily. "I didn't mean for it to be. I just figured if we could at least have that moment then maybe the rest of the conversation would be easier."
"But the moment's gone," Regina pointed out.
Emma hesitated before moving to lie down once more, propping herself up on her elbow and patting the sofa in front of her. "Then let's recreate it."
Regina looked like she was going to refuse but to Emma's relief, the brunette uncurled herself from the sofa cushion she had been hugging against her chest and lay down on her back, as she had been before Belle's arrival had interrupted them. Emma smiled softly down at the sight, her stomach flip flopping in excitement. "Better?" she asked.
"A little."
"May I touch your face again?" This time, at least, Emma wanted to get permission.
There was a pause before Regina whispered, "ok."
Gently, tenderly, Emma raised her hand and brushed the very tips of her fingers over Regina's jaw before trailing up to her scarred lip. In the back of her mind, the nurse training kicked in and reminded her that the strips could probably be removed. But her body's overwhelming reaction was a rush of wanton longing.
"You're so beautiful," she whispered, unable to hold back the words any longer.
It had been obvious to her from the moment they met that Regina had no idea how gorgeous she was. Emma silently promised herself that she'd spend the rest of however long their relationship was trying to make Regina see what she saw.
Regina didn't say anything but the brunette did bring her own fingers up to Emma's wrist. The older woman stilled her movement at once, unsure if Regina wanted her to stop. But a minute shake of Regina's head allowed her permission to recommence her touch. Featherlight brushes of her fingertips over the plump lips below. And then Regina's fingers began stroking Emma's wrist in time with her own movement. Emma shivered in delight. She wanted more than anything to bend down and kiss Regina but she forced herself not to do so. She had to wait for Regina.
Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long. Those soft fingers left Emma's wrist and reached higher, curling gently around Emma's neck and pausing for a moment before guiding the blonde's head downwards. Emma watched Regina's eyes flutter closed before allowing her own to do the same.
If Emma had thought that Regina's fingers on her wrists were electric, their lips could power a city. The first touch sent a jolt through her body and the whimper she released was lost in the connection between them. She steadied herself by planting her hand on the sofa beside Regina's head, focusing her whole attention of the feel of Regina's lips beneath her own.
The steri strips were faintly detectable but it didn't bother her. The overwhelming sensations were of warmth and sweetness and unadulterated want. Regina's lips didn't move at first and Emma followed her lead, wanting Regina to feel like she was in control. So the moment Regina's mouth parted, Emma's top lip pulled between Regina's, she kissed her a little harder, silently reassuring the woman below her that she was enjoying it.
The fingers on the nape of her neck tensed a little, fingernails digging lightly into her skin as the heat between them coiled higher. Regina's lips were soft but increasingly sure, as if her confidence was growing with every passing second. The slightest brush of Regina's tongue against her lip made Emma moan in desire which, in turn, made Regina release the back of her neck, pulling away slightly.
Emma didn't open her eyes immediately, not wanting the kiss to really have ended. But she did move a little further away, knowing it was important to give Regina space. When she did eventually open her eyes, she found Regina watching her face, tracking it as if trying to decipher what Emma was thinking.
"Wow," she breathed out. "Regina, you're amazing."
"I … thank you."
Emma grinned. "Seriously, that was the best first kiss I've ever had."
"Really?"
Nodding fervently, Emma brushed a few strands of hair from Regina's forehead. "Without a doubt."
"Oh, ok. I, um, that was my first kiss."
It took a beat for the words to sink in. "What?"
"Yeah," Regina replied, averting her eyes.
"But … how?" Emma's mind was struggling to compute what she had heard.
"I'm only twenty-one and my parents are strict. I wasn't allowed to date at home and Killian," Emma's body bristled at the name, "had a no kissing policy. Apparently men get too attached because it's more intimate or romantic or something. So, yeah, that's how."
"Regina, I … if I'd known, I would never have … I didn't pressure you in any way, did I? I mean, your first kiss is a big deal. I just thought it was, you know, a kiss. Our first kiss, sure, but not your first kiss ever."
"You didn't pressure me," Regina assured her. Emma's heart slowed a little at that. "I wanted to kiss you, Emma." And sped up a little at that. "I was the one who asked first, remember?"
Emma nodded. "I know but then I suggested we recreate it. That felt a little false. It should have been more romantic. Your first kiss should be perfect."
"No one's first kiss is perfect," Regina reasoned.
"I suppose not but -"
"But what we just shared was pretty close. At least, I thought it was."
Emma beamed. "Yeah? Me too."
Regina matched her smile, her face radiating happiness in a way Emma had never seen before. Her body hummed with excitement. She hoped she got to see Regina like this a lot more and was grateful for the fact that it was she who had brought out such joy.
"Can we … do it again?"
"Of course," Emma nodded. "Whatever you want, Regina. Whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready for you, Emma. I didn't know I was waiting for you but I think that's what happened."
"I -"
She didn't know how to finish the sentence. She didn't know what to say. All that made sense to her was to close her eyes once more and seal her lips to Regina's, giving the young woman the second kiss of her life.
A/N: what do you think to this dynamic of Regina's innocence when it comes to romance. I'll be addressing her sexuality in the next chapter by the way.