Chapter 7
True to her word, Emma started packing the moment she arrived back at her apartment, spending all her free time during the week packing things into boxes, making a plan to sell most of her furniture, as most of her things were not nearly as nice as Regina's. By the time she went back to Storybrooke the following Friday evening, her car was already full of boxes, stacking them neatly in one of the empty rooms upstairs, waiting to find a permanent place for them.
Before they knew it, the moving van Emma had hired to move the few pieces of furniture she decided to keep was pulling into the driveway, the movers jumping out and quickly unpacking the truck, Emma instructing them where to put the few pieces she took with her, as she carried the last of her boxes to their respective rooms. In the end, Emma decided to take her dresser and bookcase from her bedroom, as well as her desk, claiming a small corner of Regina's home office as her own. She also decided to keep her bed frame, leaving it in pieces in one of the empty rooms they used for storage, hoping it would one day be used for their future child. In the end, it took Emma around three weeks to completely pack up what little belongings she had and move to Storybrooke. It was cheaper for her to run out her lease instead of breaking her contract, which gave her a little while to sell the rest of her belongings she wouldn't need, and make sure to give the small apartment a thorough cleaning before she turned over the keys to her landlord.
Life was absolutely perfect. Nothing seemed to get them down. Every night Emma came home to Regina, and every morning they woke up in each other's arms. Emma had finally found her place in the world. She finally found the family she had been searching for her entire life, and nothing could take that away from her. Everything was perfect.
"Hey. Something came up at work. I'm going to be home late tonight. I don't want you to worry." Emma texted around three o'clock, startling Regina slightly. They usually text a few times during the day, but usually kept pretty quiet, trying not to distract each other while they were working.
"Thanks for the heads up. I can wait to have dinner with you if you want." Regina texted back, staring at her phone, waiting for Emma's response.
"No, it's ok. I probably won't be home until much later. I'll grab something here before I leave the city. I'm hoping to make it home before you go to bed though. If not, I'll sneak in quietly." Emma texted back a few minutes later.
"Ok. Be safe. I'll see you later. I love you." Regina responded, a little disappointed to not see Emma until much later.
"I will. Love You, too!" Emma responded, ending their brief conversation. Regina tossed her phone to the side of her desk, returning her attention to her computer, completing the email she was working on when Emma texted her.
Regina didn't rush home like she usually did, knowing Emma wasn't on her way home. Instead she stopped by Granny's for dinner, not feeling like cooking for just herself. Over the last few months since Emma moved in, they had taken to cooking dinner together every night. She ate slowly, not in any rush to get home, as Ruby chatted about her day, spilling the recent gossip she overheard. She finally made it home around seven, changing her clothes quickly, settling into the couch to watch some mindless television, as she waited for Emma to come home.
By ten o'clock, she was officially worried, and started pacing in the den, debating whether she should text Emma to make sure everything was alright. She still didn't know much about Emma's job, and Emma didn't talk much about it either. Still, she always had a feeling there was an aspect of danger in what she did for a living. By ten-thirty, she was beside herself with worry, and finally broke down and texted her.
"I'm sorry to bother you, My Love, but I'm getting quite worried. I just want to make sure you're alright." Regina texted, pacing in front of the fireplace that Emma has grown to love so much, waiting for Emma's response.
"Hi! It's ok, you can text me whenever! I'm alright! I'm walking out to my car now, I should be home in about a half hour. I miss you so much! I'll be home soon." Emma texted back a few minutes later. Even though Emma has been living with her for a few months already, Regina still loved when she called her house "home".
"Drive safe. I'll see you soon." Regina texted back, turning off the lights in the den, making her way upstairs to settle in bed while she waited for Emma, leaving the lights on by the front door for Emma.
At exactly eleven o'clock, Regina saw the flash of headlights through the window, followed by the distinct slam of Emma's car door, her old Bug squeaking as the door opened and closed. A few moments later she heard the front door open and close, and she released a worried breath, knowing Emma was finally home and she didn't have to worry any longer. She turned her attention back to the book she was reading, trying to make it look like she wasn't a complete wreck waiting for Emma to come home. She smiled as she heard the doorknob turn on their bedroom door, as Emma peeked the top of her head around the door.
"Regina? Are you still awake?" She asked through the door.
"Yes, My Love. Come in." Regina said, closing her book, and placing it on the nightstand next to her, turning her attention away from the door for a moment.
"Ok, but don't freak out, ok?" Emma said, as she pushed the door open. Even with her hair in her face, Regina could clearly see what she was attempting to hide.
"OH MY GOD, EMMA! YOUR FACE!" Regina screamed, rushing over to Emma. "Are you ok?" She asked frantically, softly cupping Emma's face.
"I'm ok. It looks worse than it is." Emma said, Regina's eyes filled with tears, as she softly caressed Emma's battered face. Emma's nose was clearly broken, a hard cast taped to the bridge of it, dark bruises already settling underneath both of her eyes. There was a bandage above her right eyebrow, no doubt covering up stitches, and the front of her polo shirt was covered in blood. "This is the worst of it." She laughed, holding up her right hand, her middle finger surrounded in a metal brace, held in place by thick medical tape.
"What happened?" Regina cried, as she led Emma over to the bed, sitting next to her, as tears fell from her eyes.
"I was chasing after this scumbag who skipped out on bail and left his family. When I finally caught up to him, he resisted, started fighting back. He clocked me right in the face, broke my nose and sent me flying to the ground. I cut my head when I hit the pavement. I hit him back, which is how I did this." She said, raising her right hand. "Dislocated my finger pretty badly. Doctor said I have to keep the brace on for a couple weeks." Emma said.
"Oh, Emma. I have had such a bad feeling since you texted me this afternoon." Regina said, kissing Emma's hand gently. "Why didn't you tell me what happened?"
"I was already in the waiting room of the emergency room when I texted you. I didn't want you to worry, because there was nothing you could have done." Emma answered, looking over at Regina, tears continuing to fall from her eyes. "Please don't cry, My Love. I'm ok. I really am. This isn't the first time some deadbeat has taken a swing at me. This isn't even the worst injury I've had." Emma said.
"Don't tell me that." Regina cried.
"Unfortunately it comes with the job." Emma frowned. "I'm ok. I promise." Emma said, running her injured hand against Regina's face, wiping the tears away.
"Do you need anything?" Regina asked, trying to hold it together.
"No. I think I just want to go to bed and hold you." Emma said, the day finally wearing down on her.
"Of course." Regina said, climbing back into bed, as Emma quickly and carefully changed and got ready for bed, sighing as she looked down at her bloody shirt, tossing it in the bathroom garbage. Regina made a mental note to try and remove the blood stains from Emma's shirt in the morning.
Emma turned off the lights and slowly climbed into bed, carefully pulling Regina towards her, so Regina was laying on her chest.
"Can you try to make sure I don't roll over in my sleep? The doctor said I should avoid sleeping on my side until my nose heals." Emma said, running her fingers lazily through Regina's hair.
"I'll do my best." Regina whispered, as she grazed her hand under the hem of Emma's shirt, brushing the warm skin underneath.
"My boss gave me the rest of the week off, so I don't have to get up early tomorrow." Emma said, yawning loudly.
"That's the least he could do, after you got hurt on the job." Regina scoffed, holding Emma tighter. They fell into a comfortable silence, neither one ready to go to sleep just yet.
"Hey Regina…" Emma whispered after a few minutes, not sure if Regina was asleep yet.
"Yes?" Regina whispered, shifting slightly to see Emma in the dark.
"I think I need a different job." Emma said, still running her fingers through Regina's Mayoral hair. "This job is too dangerous, and I can't keep running around the country, chasing these guys." Emma said, taking a deep breath. "Especially when we have kids. I can't chase these deadbeats around the country when I'm eight months pregnant." She laughed.
"I agree." Regina said.
"It was a great job when I moved around all the time. But now I have a home. A family. Someone is waiting for me at home." Emma said, shifting to try to kiss Regina's head without smashing her nose. "I'm going to start looking for something less risky tomorrow."
"Well, the Sheriff's department still has the budget for a Deputy. Sheriff Graham runs the department alone, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind the help." Regina said, sitting up to look at Emma.
"Really?" Emma asked. "Isn't that considered nepotism?" She asked.
"Like I care." Regina laughed. "Plus, I'm the Mayor, I can hire whomever I choose." Regina smiled, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "Storybrooke is a small town, so the workload would be significantly less, plus it'll keep you on the move, instead of making you sit behind a desk all day. And eventually, once Graham retires, you would be promoted to Sheriff." Regina explained.
"That sounds perfect, actually." Emma said. "But wait, wouldn't you be my boss?" She asked.
"Yes, technically, but I don't think we would allow that to become a problem. As long as we remain Mayor Mills and Deputy Swan out there, and Regina and Emma in here, we should be fine." Regina said.
"I'll take it!" Emma said, a happy smile on her face. "I'll put in my resignation in the morning."
"And I'll make sure to draw up all the necessary paperwork for you first thing in the morning. I'll bring them home tomorrow to go over and sign." Regina said, excited to have Emma working so much closer to home than before.
"Well, this certainly turned into a good day." Emma said, as she yawned wide.
"Let's go to sleep. You need to rest." Regina said, as she gently and carefully kissed Emma goodnight, before settling back down on her chest, wrapping her arms around her torso, holding her tight.
It took two weeks for Emma to be officially sworn in as the newest deputy of the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department. Emma returned to Portland one last time to officially turn in her resignation to her boss, which was effective immediately, and to clean out her desk. She never looked back, as she left the city and drove back to Storybrooke one last time. On Monday morning, Regina personally escorted Emma to the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department.
"Good morning, Sheriff Graham." Regina said, knocking on the office door. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."
"Not at all." Sheriff Graham said, tossing the pen on the desk, standing to meet the women in the hallway. "What do I owe this pleasure, Mayor Mills?"
"Sheriff, I would like to introduce you to Miss Emma Swan. Emma has just been sworn in as your newest Deputy." Regina said, motioning towards a suddenly shy Emma behind her.
"Well this is a surprise!" Sheriff Graham said, smiling as he extended his hand to Emma. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Deputy." He said, extending his hand to Emma. "Please, call me Graham."
"Hi." Emma said, shaking Graham's hand. "Call me Emma."
"Welcome to the Storybrooke Sheriff's Department, Deputy Emma." Graham laughed.
"Well, I will leave you both to do your job. I would like to introduce Emma to the counsel during the weekly meeting this afternoon, so please make sure you are both in attendance." Regina said, smiling. "I will see you both at three this afternoon." Regina added, turning on her heels and making her way out of the Sheriff's station, resisting the strong urge to kiss Emma goodbye before she left.
"Well then, I guess we should start with the grand tour, then we'll get you settled in with a desk and your badge. The state of Maine requires that you complete an extensive firearm safety course and pass a series of tests before we can issue you a firearm, so we'll set you up with that as well, before the Town Council meeting at three." Graham said.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Emma smiled, following Graham through the building.
A few hours later, Emma followed Graham into the board room located in the Town Hall, down the hall from Regina's office. The room was filled with a bunch of middle aged men, talking quietly among themselves. Emma scanned the room frantically, looking for Regina, before taking a seat next to Graham, pulling out her pen and legal pad, getting ready to take notes during her first Counsel Meeting, wondering where Regina was. She heard the familiar click of Regina's heels down the hall as the Love of her life swept into the room, her presence demanding immediate attention.
"Good afternoon, everyone. If you all will take your seats, we can begin the meeting." She said, in a tone Emma had never heard before, taking her seat at the head of the table, placing a pile of folders in front of her.
Emma sat in awe of Regina, the way she ran the meeting with strength and leadership, with a harshness behind her voice that intimidated most of the men sitting in front of her. She quickly went through the town affairs, as Emma took notes on her notepad, not entirely sure what she expected to do during these meetings.
"The last item on today's agenda concerns our Sheriff's Department." Regina said, looking over at Graham and Emma seated a few seats away, a smile reaching across her previously hard face when she made eye contact with Emma. "I would like to welcome Miss Emma Swan, as the new Deputy Sheriff, sworn in this morning." Regina said, trying in vain to remove the smile that formed on her face. A wave of welcomes came from the other members of the Counsel, the gentleman sitting next to her extending his hand for a greeting.
"Thank you. I look forward to working with everyone." Emma said, not sure what else to say.
"I would also like to add, in an air of full disclosure, and to avoid feeding the rumors that tend to spread in a small town such as Storybrooke, in addition to being the newest member of our Sheriff's Department, Emma is also my Partner and she and I cohabitate in my residence." Regina said, pausing when the stunned whispers filled the room. Emma panicked, not realizing Regina was going to announce their relationship. "If anyone has an issue with my personal or professional decisions, please make sure to schedule an appointment with my secretary on the way out, and we can discuss your concerns privately." Regina added, reclaiming everyone's attention.
"These weekly meetings are all yours from now on." Graham whispered to her, winking and smiling, nudging her slightly with his elbow.
"Fine with me." Emma smiled back, before turning their attention back to Mayor Mills.
"If there are no more topics to cover, I will declare this meeting adjourned. Enjoy the rest of your days. See everyone next week." Regina said, standing from her chair, shifting her folders into a pile, as the Counsel members began to file out of the room, whispering to each other as they passed Emma. "Miss Swan, a word before you leave?" Regina said, as Emma and Graham made their way to the door.
"I'll meet you outside." Graham said, walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"How's your day going, My Love?" Regina asked, rushing towards Emma, wrapping her arms around Emma's neck, kissing her quickly, her personality shifting dramatically.
"So far so good." Emma smiled back. "You know, you're kinda scary." Emma laughed.
"I know. I don't like being this way." Regina said, her eyes sad. "I have to. People don't take me seriously otherwise."
"It's their loss." Emma said, pulling Regina close. "You're the most amazing person I've ever met, when you're not scaring the crap out of me." Emma laughed.
"This person, Mayor Mills, isn't me at all." Regina said, her face serious. "I've never been more true to myself than when I'm with you."
"I know." Emma smiled. "And I love all of you, even scary Mayor Mills." Emma added, pulling Regina in for a deep kiss.
"Graham said these weekly meetings are my responsibility now." Emma said, as she pulled away from Regina. "I'm excited to see more of Mayor Mills in action."
"That just might make these meetings bearable." Regina smiled, excited to have Emma with her for the weekly Counsel meetings. "I also made sure that setting up the on-call schedule is part of your responsibilities, that way you can ensure you are not on call during Wolf's Time." Regina added.
"Good call." Emma smiled. "I should get going though. Graham is waiting for me. He's probably thinking we are doing something naughty in here." Emma laughed.
"Yes, knowing that man, he already thinks we're being naughty." Regina said, gathering up her files, making her way towards the door. "I'll see you at home." She said, as she reached for the doorknob, Emma's hand stopping her suddenly.
"I love you." Emma said, kissing Regina one last time. "I'll see you at home."
"I love you, too." Regina smiled, before shaking her head slightly, putting her Mayor Mills mask back on before exiting the room, walking the opposite direction down the hall from Emma, looking back after a few moments, to take one final look at Emma, as she made her way towards the stairwell.
"Can I ask you something?" Emma asked later that night, their naked bodies tangled together, Emma curled up on Regina's chest, Regina's fingers twisting Emma's hair mindlessly.
"You can ask me anything, My Love." Regina said, her eyes drooping.
"Have you ever been with a man?" Emma asked, suddenly regretting asking the question. "Sorry! I…you don't have to answer that. We don't need to talk about past sexual encounters." Emma said, backpedaling immediately.
"No, it's quite alright. We can talk about it." Regina said, smiling, continuing to twist Emma's hair. "I have been with both men and women sexually. However, for me, it was always a matter of research rather than pleasure." Regina answered.
"What? Research?" Emma asked, confused, as she shifted to lay next to Regina, bringing them face to face.
"When I was young, right before my first shift, my father sat me down and explained everything to me. Well, as much as he was capable of explaining. My father was always awkward when discussing the important things in life." Regina said, chuckling as she remembered her father. "He explained to me that, because I was an Alpha, I had an Omega out there, who was destined to be with me. He also explained that my Omega would be a woman. So I knew at a very young age that I would be with another woman. When I was in high school, I decided that I wanted to wait for you. To give you all of me, including my virginity." Regina explained.
"If I had known who I was, I probably would have waited for you, for the same reasons." Emma said, reaching out for Regina.
"I told Ruby about my plans to wait for you, and she talked me out of it." Regina said, pushing a stay hair away from Emma's face, the remnants of her work accident still present. "And she made a good point. If I was still a virgin when we met, how would I be any good when we were together? That's when I decided I wouldn't wait to lose my virginity with you, to ensure that when we are together, I would be experienced and knew exactly how to pleasure you, with every part of my body."
"Really?" Emma whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah. I never found any of it very pleasurable. It didn't hurt or anything, just didn't really do it for me. But I knew it was because none of them were you, so I continued to sleep with people to learn all I could. So I could be ready for you, when our time came." Regina explained.
"It wasn't good for you? Any of it?" Emma asked, curious.
"It was alright. It felt good, but I don't think I ever had an orgasm…until I was with you." Regina said.
"I don't think I had an orgasm until you either." Emma confessed. "I thought there was something wrong with me." Emma said, a tear in her eye.
"There's nothing wrong with you, darling." Regina said, wiping the tears from Emma's face. "You were simply waiting for me."
"Your entire sexual history has been about me hasn't it." Emma whispered, humbled at Regina's life.
"My entire life has been about finding you, Emma." Regina said, her turn to have tears in her eyes. "Ever since I was ten years old, when my father explained to me that you were out there somewhere, waiting to meet me, I've envisioned meeting you. I dreamed about you, I even wrote you letters. There was always a piece of me missing…until I woke up next to you in the forest." Regina said, tears streaming down her face.
"I know the feeling." Emma smiled, wiping Regina's tears away. "I love you so much, Regina." Emma said, pulling Regina in for a soft kiss.
"I love you, too." Regina whispered.
Life in Storybrooke was perfect. It was beyond perfect. It was like living in a fairytale. Emma still couldn't believe how much her life had changed, as the one year anniversary of waking up in the forest next to Regina approached. She shifted slightly, as she laid on the cool ground under their shared blanket, Regina's arms wrapped around her tightly, their legs tangled together as usual. She peeked over the edge of the blanket, seeing Ruby sleeping a few feet away, her face covered to block out the rising sun, one foot sticking out the bottom, snoring slightly. Deciding to take this opportunity to steal a few extra minutes with Regina before Ruby woke up, she rolled over in Regina's arms, kissing her softly to wake her up, pulling their shared blanket over their head for privacy.
"Morning." Emma said, reaching up to cup Regina's face.
"Good morning." Regina smiled, before she opened her eyes. "Is Ruby awake yet?"
"Not yet. You'd know if Ruby was awake." Emma said, causing Regina to laugh. "I have something I want to tell you."
"What is it?" Regina said, opening her eyes to meet Emma's green eyes.
"I think I'm ready…to mate…with you…to start our family…" Emma smiled shyly. "That is, if you're ready too…"
"I'm ready." Regina whispered, a stray tear falling from her eye.
"But, there is one thing I want to do first…" Emma said, wiping the tear from Regina's eye.
"Anything, My Love." Regina answered.
"I want to marry you first." Emma whispered, her green eyes locking with Regina's brown. "I want to be your Wife."
"I'm supposed to be the one to ask you." Regina said.
"Then ask me." Emma said, tears filling her green eyes.
"Emma Swan…" Regina said, cupping Emma's face, wiping her tears off this time. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" Emma said, as Regina pulled her in for a deep kiss.
A/N: Awww a SwanQueen proposal! Their domestic bliss is making me misty eyed, and I wrote it, heehee
I hope you are enjoying the story so far. We've just barely scratched the surface!