Hello! My usual apologies for the wait between updates. 2020 was shit, my creative ability in 2020 was shit, and I'm hoping 2021 is less shit xD if nothing else, hopefully I will be able to start writing out all of this excess angst I collected within the last year.
Some people asked about the ages with this curse due to Emma being in the foster system/of age etc. When the story started I pictured Emma to be around 12 or 13. In the preteen bratty years but not quite a full blown teen. Regina was 18 when she married David in the start of the story. About two years passed since the start of the story.
This curse aged everyone forward approximately 5 years, which makes Regina around 25ish and Emma around 19ish. So technically, Emma wouldn't be considered of foster age in the real world, but her being a "foster kid" of Albert's was more about controlling her, and keeping her away from David. Also, every aspect of Storybrooke is made up by Zelena in this story (mentioned in the scene with Henry and David about the way Emma's file and overall placement was suspicious) so she (and me, because this is fanfic) basically did whatever the hell she (and me) wanted.
I apologize for not being good at remembering to include details like that and any confusion it caused. It is definitely a fault of mine as a writer to get so caught up in the emotional aspect of the story that I sometimes glaze over the rest and even mix shit up at times. I'll try to fix it if I see it.
Anyways, here's a loooong update that I hope isn't total SHIT ;) xxx
"Funny things, aren't they? These little magical devices," Zelena looked up from the cellphone she held, sitting in a chair near the counter when Rumple entered his shop.
"Zelena, what a pleasant suprise," he smiled sarcastically and made his way across the shop floor, "Did I forget to turn my sign around to Closed?" he made a mockery of looking at the window where the sign hung and feigned confusion, "-well that can't be it-"
"Oh, no, I let myself in. I have a key to everywhere in this town," she shrugged frankly and stood, stepping up to the opposite side of the counter and laying the cellphone down on it, "I want to know what you're up to."
"Me? Up to something?" he put a hand against his chest, pretending to be insulted before rolling his eyes, "Forgive me, but you'll have to be more specific."
"I want to know why you're not trying to keep this curse from unraveling-" she eyed him intensely but he remained stoic, knowing it threw her off when she couldn't read him. "You don't seem to be bothered at all by the idea of the little Savior mucking this whole thing up for us."
"I think you're forgetting my part in this, Zelena. I simply wanted to get to a Land Without Magic. The rest of the curse? The false memories, torn apart families, and making everyone miserable? Well, that was your pet project. If you wish to keep it going then perhaps you need to put in some extra hours," he gave her a smug smile and she slammed her hand on the counter.
"Albert was right-" she glared, face flushing with anger, "You wanted a fail-safe. You wanted a way to wake up and break the curse if this land didn't bring you to your end goal. You blamed me that this child was born at all, yet you claim her entire existence and the fact that her name woke you up is fate. I'm not buying it, Rumple."
"How else would you explain it but fate? How else would a child's name that I'd never met wake me from the curse?" Rumple played dumb and kept a bored expression, shrugging his shoulders once, "You were with your sister when she went into labor with the Savior and then we enacted the curse when you returned shortly after. I hardly had time to pop in to wish the happy parents congrats and coo over the child's name."
"Then HOW would her name wake you if you didn't know it?!" her voice became louder in frustration.
Rumple gave a chuckle and shook his head as if the question were so stupid that he pitied her. Zelena's childhood had made her critically insecure and her self esteem desperately low. Making her doubt her own intelligence and ability was an easy tool he'd always used to his advantage. "As flattering as it is that you would ask me, I don't have the answer for everything, Dearie. Even I am not powerful enough to understand or control fate. Let alone what happens when it collides with a magical curse that alters the past, present and future."
He was careful to keep his bored expression as she eyed him, knowing she was deciding whether or not she wanted to believe him. "Prove it."
"Prove what?" he gave an exasperated sigh.
"Your behavior as of late has done nothing to prove your loyalty," she squinted contemplatively and Rumple could see she didn't entirely buy what he was selling, "Find a way to help me put an end to this curse unraveling. Before I put an end to you."
He raised an eyebrow casually at the threat, watching her make way around the counter and start for the door of the pawn shop, "Zelena, your phone-" he glanced at the device still lying on the glass counter.
"Oh, feel free to pawn it. It's been wiped clean by this neat little thing called a factory reset," she tilted her head to the side, clearly amused with herself over the phone for whatever reason that Rumple did not care to know, "The technology in this world really is something."
He watched her make her way out the door as he leaned an elbow on the counter, contemplating the conversation and what his next step should be. He could barely tolerate her or wasting time on this nonsense when he had truly important tasks ahead. Bae was not in this world and he needed magic back to continue the search for his son.
He had no real intention of stopping this curse from breaking now that he knew there was nothing for him here, but he would have to do something. Something to make her think he was still an ally and deflect her suspicion. He thought back on how easy she'd been to manipulate in the Enchanted Forest and hoped that trend would continue. He smiled in satisfaction at the memories and recalled how the day the curse was cast went so seamlessly...
"Nice try, Dearie, but you never could lie to me..."
Rumple watched Cora wince as he gave her dark heart a firm squeeze with slimy fingers, making her speak up against the curse, "You can't cast-not yet. The child-Regina's child, it hasn't been born yet-you can't-" she struggled to get the words out through the pain.
He loosened his grip so that she could breathe enough to communicate and hummed, "Now we're getting somewhere...I believe what you're concerned about is that if the curse is cast before the child is born, then the child will never exist. Especially since Zelena has set the curse in the future to ensure that. Unless..." he gave a long pause and giggled manically, "-someone were to make sure it wasn't cast until Regina gives birth..."
"What do you want, Rumple?" Cora glared, neck strained and back hunched over at the pressure he put on her heart to keep her under control.
"The name of the child-"
"How would I know? Th-that will be David and Regina's decision-"
"Do not insult me Cora," his anger flared and he squeezed her heart fiercely, causing her to cry out before he gentled his hold once more and smirked, "All of these years you've known me and you don't think I've done my homework? I have been watching the two of you. I overheard your little conversation in the nursery when you asked her about the name. She said they had not decided but that she would share it with you when they did. That was months ago-"
"You snake-" she snarled at him.
"Tell me what the child's name will be and I will make sure that this curse is not cast until it is born-" he grit out through clenched teeth, tired of her delaying the inevitable. "Or would you rather Regina lose her child to a curse that has no Savior to break it?"
She stared daggers at him, visibly aware that this was her only option to protect Regina and her family as it was clear she would not be making it back to warn them.
"Violet if it is a g-girl, H-Henry if it is a boy-"
"There, that wasn't that hard, was it?" he purred, committing the names to memory with satisfaction. Soon he would be bringing Cora's heart to Zelena's castle where he would incite her hysteria and plant the seed that she should confront her sister. He would work her into a rage, reminding her of how she had been wronged and then simply imply that it was a shame Regina did not know what was coming. Zelena would be so crazed and high on the power of winning that she would be off to confront her sister in a heartbeat.
A heartbeat. He smirked to himself as he looked down at Cora's heart thumping wildly in his hand.
Regina had put her phone down on the kitchen island in an attempt to stop thinking about him, but still found herself staring at the unanswered texts. It had been nearly three days since that night with David and she hadn't heard from him since. She sat at the counter, feeling sick to her stomach at how stupid she'd been for getting caught up and letting it go so far. She forced herself to stop reaching out after the second unanswered text so that she might have a shred of pride left the next time she ran into him. It still hurt, though, and she was having trouble pretending that nothing was wrong around everyone in hopes that they wouldn't notice her mood or his absence.
"Hey, Ruby on her way yet?" Emma asked as she came down the loft stairs, nodding towards Regina's phone when she snapped her head up quickly.
"Uh, yeah," Regina picked up the phone to insinuate that she'd just been reading Ruby's text. Instead of staring at David's contact and willing him to reply. She locked it as casually as she could manage and put it in her back pocket, "She should be here anytime."
"Well, your kid is out like a light-" Emma laughed and made her way to the fridge, "So girls night can officially begin."
Regina forced a smile and gave a nod, pretending to be looking forward to it when all she really wanted was to go to bed. Ruby and Emma had suggested the night after realizing how long it had been since they did something fun together and Regina knew she had to play along. If she started acting like how she felt it would only draw attention and make them start questioning her mood.
"What's up, bitches?" Ruby came through the door then, arms full of takeout bags from Granny's.
"Language-" Regina sighed and raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"It's past your kid's bedtime, is she not asleep?"
"Yeah she is-" Emma laughed.
"Then I can talk however the hell I want," the taller brunette said playfully as she made her way to set the bags on the counter.
"Charming," Regina rolled her eyes at Ruby's defiance like she normally would, "If you two don't mind, I'm just going to get a quick shower and change into pajamas-" she excused herself, standing up and going for her room before either of them could question it.
"I take it he still hasn't called?" Ruby asked once they heard the shower start running, looking at Emma with a frown.
"No, I don't even think he's text her and he hasn't stopped by the stables for lunch or came for dinner at all this week-" Emma smiled weakly and started helping Ruby unpack the takeout boxes from the bags, "She's been trying to hide it from me."
"That fucking bastard," Ruby glared and shook her head irritatedly, pulling a six pack of beer out of the last bag and popping the top off of one impatiently, "Have you seen him around anywhere?"
"No. If I had, we'd have a lot more answers than we do right now-" Emma grumbled.
"He hasn't been in to Granny's diner, either. And I haven't seen him going in and out of his room at the motel lately. So he's either working weird hours, or he's back home with his wife."
"I'll kill him," the blonde grit out.
"You'll have to stand in line," Ruby nodded and took a gulp of her beer before letting out a frustrated sigh, "I just hope this isn't what it looks like. I mean, I'm usually a decent judge of character. He really didn't seem like the type that would take advantage of a single mom for some fun and then go home to his wife. I thought he was serious about leaving that nightmare of a woman."
"Don't feel bad," Emma frowned, "I never would've guessed it out of him, either. He looked at Regina like he really liked her. Maybe even more than liked her. If it was all for show then he's a hell of an actor."
"I'm gonna talk to her," Ruby nodded after noticing the shower had been off for a few minutes.
"Good luck, she's not exactly an open book."
"Trust me kid, you're not telling me anything I don't know," Ruby chuckled and sat her beer down in front of Emma with a smirk before going around the brick partition and knocking on Regina's bathroom door. "Hey, you okay in there?"
"Did you need the bathroom?" Regina opened the door after a moment, dressed in her pajamas already with her hair in a messy bun. "I was just finishing up."
"I'm good," Ruby nodded and plopped down on the edge of Regina's bed, "I just wanted to check on you."
"How come?" Regina avoided her gaze as she hung her damp towell on the hook near her bathroom door. She hated how intuitive Ruby was when something was going on with her. She could never successfully hide something that bothered her without the woman sniffing it out.
"You just seem a little down is all," Ruby patted the bed beside of her but Regina just stared back, stubbornly standing in place as she continued to press, "And I can't help but notice that your prince charming isn't hanging around here like always. So, are you going to sit down and tell me what happened or am I going to have to keep nagging you about it?"
Regina narrowed her eyes at Ruby's frank expression, but it didn't seem to intimidate her in the slightest. With nearly everything in their friendship, Regina took the lead. She organized gatherings, she planned the meals, she taught Ruby how to organize her bills and pay her taxes. She bossed her around in nearly every aspect and Ruby gladly let her as it usually meant less work for her. But emotional matters were the one thing Regina did not naturally excel at, so she sat and Ruby take the reins.
"He hasn't called me since the night you and Emma brought home dinner..." Regina admitted, looking down at her hands as she fidgeted with the string of her pajama bottoms.
"You mean the night Emma stayed with me and Dorothy?" Ruby pressed carefully.
"Yes..."
"Did you..." Ruby watched Regina's neck flush slightly and she finally looked up at her with a frown.
"Ruby-"
"Regina, we're both adults here-" she rolled her eyes, "I'm just trying to figure out what happened so that I can help you. Did you have sex with him?"
"Well...sort of, but not really-" Regina admitted, feeling heat tinge her cheeks as she looked back at Ruby. She expected her friend to laugh or start teasing her like she did anytime sex was mentioned, but Ruby just nodded once, so she continued, "...but then he left..."
Ruby's jaw clenched, "So...let me get this straight. This married guy waits until he gets you alone, convinces you to blow him or whatever, and then leaves and doesn't call you again?"
"What? No!" Regina's eyes widened at the protective anger that darkened Ruby's even features, "No...he uhm...well, he did something for me. Then I asked him to stay, but he said he wanted me to be sure before we slept together and that it wasn't just because I was..."
"Thinking with your dick?" The anger had left Ruby's expression once she understood and she let out a grin when Regina frowned at her language.
"Do you always have to be so vulgar?" Regina rolled her eyes and huffed.
Ruby laughed softly and shook her head, "I mean...the first scenario I thought it was made more sense, but this? One would think if he got you off and went home with blue balls that he'd be at your door the next morning asking if you'd made up your mind yet."
"Ruby! What if Emma overheard you?" she scolded her quietly, eyes widening again at the bawdy brunette.
"Oh please, she's a teenage foster kid, you don't think she's heard worse?" Ruby rolled her eyes before seeing Regina's expression flicker with real irritation, knowing she'd have to dial it back before she shut down the conversation completely, "Alright, alright. I'm just saying, maybe something is going on with David. From what you're saying, he didn't stay over because he wanted to make sure you were clear minded when you decided to have sex with him and not just in the heat of the moment."
"That's what he said at the time, but it's going on three days, Ruby. We haven't gone this long without speaking since this started," Regina's expression fell and she smiled weakly, "I think what we did must've made him realize that he doesn't really want to leave her after all and that cheating on her was a mistake. Why else would he not at least reach out to me? I sent him two messages and nothing."
Ruby let out a breath and pulled Regina into her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Let's try not to dwell on it tonight, alright? Like I said, something may be going on in his life and he hasn't been able to reach out. I mean, you know his wife is batshit crazy, she may have him locked in the basement or something-" she joked to lighten the mood, seeing a hint of a smile on Regina's face followed by an eye roll, "-he may surprise you. But if he doesn't, you're better off without him, alright? If he ended up back with her then it's his loss and you've done nothing wrong. You know that, right?"
"But what if it was me? What if I made him realize he actually wanted her? Or what if he wasn't...into it?" she hated how insecure she sounded. She was too old to be acting this weak over a man. A married man, nonetheless.
"Are you kidding?" Ruby raised an eyebrow, "Did he seem into it?"
"Yes..."
"Then why would you think it had anything to do with your desirability?"
"I told him I had only been with Daniel...maybe he decided it was too much responsibility to be the first after so long-" Regina let out a breath, "I mean what man would walk away at the point he did without...you know-"
"Getting off?" Ruby raised an eyebrow and was met with Regina's scolding glare again, "Either a good guy that wanted you to be sure before you took that step, or an asshole that doesn't deserve you."
"Hm.." Regina hummed and let out a breath.
"Come on, I need a beer," Ruby stood, knowing she needed to get her distracted. She reached for her friend's hand with a smirk, pulling her up from the bed. "I brought you some wine, too. From Dorothy's stash, don't tell her."
David stared at the handwritten note while he sat at his desk at the station, finally allowing himself a moment to process everything. The last 72 hours had been a blur thanks to a domestic violence case he'd been called out to the day after he'd left Regina's. He spent most of the first day and evening on the scene taking statements and documenting evidence. Then once he finished there he'd brought the children involved back to the station until Henry Mills could arrive for them on behalf of child services.
Henry would be forced to make the tough call of whether or not the kids should go back to the home and David was angry with the entire system as he already knew the answer. Leo Blanchard was an old sleaze who did not deserve the young wife and children he'd terrorized the night before. However, he had money and connections like Albert Spencer who had already posted his bail and would get him off the hook should Leo's wife decide to press charges.
Henry had came and went for the children in the wee hours of the morning and David had spent the rest of it organizing his evidence from the scene in order to complete a thorough record. By sunrise he'd been up for 24 hours, but was so frustrated that he'd continued working instead of going back to the motel. It would be simple enough for a man like Leo to get away with this and he wasn't about to make it any easier for him by failing to complete an accurate, detailed report. It was near midday before he was finally forced to cave and went across the street for a quick power nap and shower at the motel.
On his way back to work afterwardshe realized it was going on two days since he'd left Regina's and cursed himself for not checking in with her sooner. He'd reached into his pocket as he walked into the station before realizing his cellphone was no longer in there and tried to remember the last time he'd had it. His sleep deprived brain couldn't pinpoint when that was and he searched the station inside and out but couldn't locate it.
He realized when he finally sat back down at his desk and saw the handwritten note that he could've saved himself some time. The person he was looking for his phone in order to call had already been there in his absence and made it clear she did not want to be reached.
David,
I've given this a lot of thought and I don't think we should see each other again. I hope you understand. Please don't make this harder than it has to be.
Regina
He wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed after that, analyzing their last encounter for a reason behind this until it was dark outside. Finding the note had zapped what little energy he had left and he gave in, getting a bottle of whiskey on his way back to the motel and self medicating until he fell asleep.
The headache he woke up with this morning did nothing to improve his mood but he forced himself up to shower and dress for work. Yet since he'd arrived at the station, the only thing he could do was was stare at the note and obsess over why Regina would end it so suddenly without speaking to him.
He'd drank two cups of coffee in hopes it would at least make him feel better physically as he tortured himself with each possible scenario. Had someone in town noticed them and said something to her? Did Zelena approach her? Surely she would've told him if that were the case, especially with how close they'd gotten recently. Regina was fully aware how much he despised the woman and of his efforts to get a divorce. Besides, if Zelena truly knew what was going on and was trying to put an end to it, she would surely have threatened him by now.
His brain scrambled again to try to pinpoint when and where he lost his phone and if that could've been a factor. He knew he had it on him the day following Regina's because he'd just gotten to work and was preparing to text her good morning when he got called out on the domestic violence case. He'd used his phone multiple times on the scene to make calls and he hadn't seen any messages from Regina. After that his memory failed him between working the scene, arresting Leo and taking care of the kids involved. And by the time he realized he'd lost his phone the next day, he'd gotten her note. Surely she wouldn't have ended it over not hearing from him in that amount of time.
Then he considered that it might not be about him at all. Maybe she wasn't ready to move on from the father of her child? Maybe she already had too much on her plate as a single mother and business owner and didn't feel she could handle a relationship? Especially one with a man who was still legally married to a woman with a lot of power in this town. Power to make Regina's life hell. Maybe she decided it was too much to be involved with him.
That led him back to thinking about the night before and how she hadn't seemed hesitant. If anything, she seemed ready and willing, like she'd come to terms with his situation. He thought she knew that he really intended to leave Zelena and that she believed the feelings between them were worth seeing through it. Did he cross a line with her? Did he take advantage of her desire and fact she'd been alone for so long? But that had been why he left in the first place, to make sure that if she decided to sleep with him that it was because she was ready and not because they were caught up in the heat of the moment.
He was driving himself crazy, thinking in circles about it all and never arriving at an answer. The desire to get in his truck and drive to her and speak with her face to face was overwhelming him at this point. Staring at the note with her clearly outlined request not to do just that was the only thing stopping him.
Please don't make this harder than it has to be.
She didn't want him to try to talk her out of her decision and he was trying to respect that. He had only wanted to make her life easier, to love her and take care of her, not complicate things when she already had so much to handle. He let out a deep breath, leaning back in his desk chair in defeat and looking up at the sound of the station door opening.
"David! Good. I was hoping you'd be here," Henry Mills smiled when he spotted him, though it faded the closer he got to David's desk, "Everything okay?"
"Do I look that rough?" David laughed slightly as he ran a hand over his hair and sat up straighter.
"You seem troubled is all," Henry said, concern lacing his expression as he sat down at the desk opposite him with the files he carried, "Problems at home?"
David chuckled again but there was no humor in it, "Trouble everywhere, it seems," he raised an eyebrow, reaching for his coffee mug, "You want a cup?"
"Sure," Henry nodded, watching the younger man as he got up and made his way over to the coffee pot that sat on the file cabinet. "You want to talk about it?"
"How much time do you have?" he tried to force a smile as he glanced at Henry before carrying the two cups of coffee back over.
"I've got time," he reassured, nodding in thanks as he took the mug from him, "What good is it being an old man if I can't impart some wisdom here and there?" he joked to lighten the mood.
David gave him a grateful smile, feeling thankful that he'd made friends with Henry. His relationship with his own father hadn't been a good one and he appreciated the older man's guidance and interest in his life.
"Uh, well. I guess you could say there's problems at home-" David let out a breath as he began, needing someone he could trust to confide in about his situation, "There's been nothing but trouble where Zelena is concerned, for as long as I can remember. I tried so hard to recall what brought us together in the first place, but it just feels like it's always been this distant and toxic relationship..."
"Zelena? Toxic?" Henry raised an eyebrow with a wry smile before shaking his head, his expression becoming serious once more, "Forgive me if I'm crossing a line here, but I never did understand how a good man like you was married to her."
"I tried to look for her redeeming qualities," he sighed with a frown, "-but I was miserable. So I asked for a divorce and I've been staying at Granny's motel."
"You did?" the older man set his coffee mug down in surprise and leaned back in his chair, "I'm guessing that didn't go over well?"
"Hardly-" David scoffed and gave him a knowing look, "She won't give me a divorce and I can't even find an attorney that will take me on because she's threatened them all. She thinks a divorce will ruin her politically and that we have appearances to keep up because of our jobs. Plus, I really think she just enjoys being miserable."
Henry nodded contemplatively, "You know, I have some connections through work with some good lawyers that may agree to represent you."
"Really?" he let out a deep breath, "That would be amazing."
"I'll reach out to them and let you know," he gave him a reassuring smile then before his eyes squinted slightly, "...There's more to what's bothering you, isn't there?"
"How did you-" David's lips parted slightly in surprise, his gaze shifting towards his desk. He didn't know how the man sensed it and he considered denying it, but Henry was probably the only friend in this town that he could trust to know about his relationship with Regina.
"I've been around long enough to know lovesick when I see it. This wouldn't happen to be about Regina would it?"
David smiled weakly and nodded once, "Was it that obvious?"
"Well, you both get a little flustered when the other one is mentioned," Henry chuckled, "And I know you've been spending a lot of time together lately. Not to mention how dedicated you've been to helping her with Emma. I thought it might lead somewhere."
"I'm not sure it's going to. I mean, I thought it was," he leaned his elbows on the desk and ran a hand over the back of his neck at the tension there, "I saw her the day before I got called out to the Blanchard's. At some point I lost my phone and lost track of time between working the scene and bringing those kids back and doing the report. It was the next day before I realized. Then before I could talk to her, I guess she stopped by the station and left me a note."
"What'd it say?" Henry listened intently, brows furrowed.
"That we shouldn't seen each other and she hopes I understand..."
"Did you go find her?"
"No," he frowned.
"Well, why not? What's wrong with you, boy?" Henry scolded gently.
"Because in the note she also asked me not to make this any harder," he exhaled and pressed his lips together in a weak smile, "So I've been trying to respect her boundaries."
"I see," Henry nodded once before his gaze shifted to his files, "Well, you'll still need to take this to her."
"What?" David raised a skeptic brow.
"Some paperwork. We got a court date for Emma about a month from now. That's why I was stopping by, to drop these off so that you could take them to Regina," the older man shrugged and slid the file onto David's desk, looking over his glasses at him, "-I figured you'd be seeing her before I did."
David stared at the file, processing the thought of seeing her and hesitating slightly at what to do. By the time he glanced back up at Henry, the man was staring at him like he had two heads.
"I just gave you a reason to go see her," Henry motioned with his hands as if it were the most obvious decision David could ever make, "Quit stalling and go get your answers!"
Regina glanced at the clock in her kitchen once she'd finished the dishes, letting out a sigh at the fact she was through her chores so soon. She didn't give any riding lessons on Fridays, using the day to get her cleaning done, bills paid and errands run. She'd arranged her schedule like that when Violet was just a baby and Ruby had insisted on watching her at least one day a week to give Regina a break. She had needed the alone time, even though she never admitted it, and even if all she did was laundry or grocery shopping. Now she wondered why she didn't just work.
It was a gloomy day and the dark gray sky made it seem later than it actually was. The rain had already started and she heard distant thunder beginning to rumble. She felt better at the sound, always finding this kind of weather comforting. Through the dark times in her life it was oddly soothing to know that even Mother Nature had her bad days.
She knew she needed to find something to do to keep herself distracted from thinking about David. It was too pathetic of her to continue brooding about a married man she had never really been with. After the initial sting of rejection died down, she decided that she wasn't going to give it any more of her energy. She had a daughter and a business, had been through losing Daniel and finding her independence. She was too strong to let a man make her feel this way. At least that's what she kept reciting anytime she felt the urge to feel sorry for herself.
Maybe she would finally watch that show Ruby wouldn't stop talking about. Or she could read a book by the window and enjoy the sound of the rain. She pushed herself away from the counter and started towards the sofa when a knock sounded on her front door. Emma and Violet were at school until much later and Ruby was working. Who could be showing up at this time?
Hoping they would at least go away easily as she made her way over, she let out a frustrated breath and undid the sliding latch and lock. It took her a second to process when she found him on the other side of the door, her eyes widening before she could school her expression.
David watched her reaction cautiously, giving her a moment so that she wouldn't immediately shut the door when he spoke, "I'm sorry to bother you. I just, uh, Henry stopped by and gave me some stuff for Emma's case-" he held up the folder, cursing himself for his sudden inability to form a proper sentence without stuttering.
Her lips parted as she felt a rush of bitterness hit her in the chest before she shook her head in response, "No, of course, it's no bother," she replied, her tone tight and clipped despite trying to keep her voice even. She felt stupid for thinking that he might've came here to speak to her. Instead he came on business and apologized for bothering her, like they hadn't been anything and he hadn't discarded her.
David watched her step to the side and avert her gaze as she opened the door for him to come in. She clearly didn't want him there and he felt awkward, like he was forcing himself on her against her wishes, "Look, I really didn't mean to intrude. Henry just dropped this off because he thought I'd be seeing you and that I could give it to you..." he felt the need to explain as he stepped in and glanced down, fidgeting with the folder awkwardly.
"Intrude?" Regina scoffed, raising an eyebrow at him as she snatched the folder out of his hands, "You weren't worried about that the last time you were here, were you?" she couldn't help but add, instantly regretting it. She didn't want him to know how much what he'd done bothered her so she opened the folder and pretended to glance over the paperwork, taking a moment to gather herself.
He gawked at her, not expecting her to speak to him in such a way or for her sudden change in behavior to put him on the edge like it did. She looked up from the folder after a moment with her jaw clenched and a bored expression that insinuated he was wasting her time. "I'm sorry, I-" he mumbled.
"Thank you for bringing these-" Regina cut him off, giving him a fake smile, "-but next time you can tell Henry to come to me directly with anything regarding Emma."
David pressed his lips together in a frown, feeling the sting of rejection getting under his skin. His shock at her attitude was quickly shifting to irritation. That jab was especially hurtful, especially when he didn't even know what he'd done wrong in the first place. "So that's it?"
"Excuse me?" her dark brows raised, lips parting like she was surprised he would even dare speak back to her.
"You're just going to speak to me like this when you see me from now on?" his own eyes narrowed at her, taking a step closer to her. "Like we were never even friends?"
"Oh, is that what you considered us, David?" she laughed bitterly and shook her head, "You had me going, I'll give you that," she muttered, talking more at him than to him as she watched him in amazement. The fact that he could do what he had and then act like he was a victim had her furious. It was taking more and more restraint with each passing moment to stop herself from unleashing entirely.
"Had you going? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he frowned deeply, his own temper quickly gaining momentum.
"How are you just going to show up here?!" she snarled, hating the fact that she was barefoot and had to tilt her head up to look into his eyes. She wanted him to feel the full heat of her anger and it was hard to do when she was a good foot shorter than him.
David watched her square her shoulders and shook his head in disbelief, "What the hell is wrong with you? I swear to god, Regina. It's like I don't even know you right now."
"That must be so disappointing for you David," she mocked, heart thundering and blood pumping with rage, "You know, I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt. I wasn't letting myself dwell on it, but I still thought you might eventually show up here with an explanation. Something, anything, to explain this week. I really, really wanted you not to be an asshole, but then I opened the door and..." she paused and gave a sarcastic smile, "-well, lets just say I didn't get what I wanted."
"I'm an asshole?! You know, I shouldn't have come here. I was trying to respect your wishes, I really was-" he shook his head angrily, not fully processing what she had said, "-but that file gave me a reason to drop by and I was hoping that maybe that I'd get some sort of answer!"
"Give you an answer? An answer for what?!" she yelled, throwing her hands into the air frustratedly, "If anyone deserves one, it's me!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" he snapped back, frowning in anger and confusion, "You're not even making any sense right now!"
"An answer as to why I haven't seen you since the night I asked you to stay and you bolted! You led me to believe you had feelings for me, I let you touch me, and then I don't hear from you again?!"
"Jesus, Regina, I lost my fucking phone! Is that really what the note was about?!"
"What note?" she questioned, eyes squinting impatiently like he was talking utter nonsense.
"The note you left at the station! You want to end things with us because I had a bad day at work and lost my phone and couldn't call you? It was one day!"
She frowned as her anger was suddenly replaced with confusion, slowly shaking her head, "David, I didn't leave you any kind of note. I sent you two texts messages and waited three days for a reply."
"What?" he let out a pent up breath, seeing the honesty in her expression. "But I...I got called out the morning after my evening here, to Leo Blanchard's place, and ended up working on the case through the night and part of the next day. I was so exhausted I didn't even realize how much time had passed and when I went to call you I realized I lost my phone and then I found that note-" he explained, his jaw clenching when the puzzle pieces started coming together as he talked through it.
"But I...I didn't leave a note-" she said, her voice sounding softer and slightly defeated.
He realized then that she thought he didn't believe her and he shook his head quickly, "No, Regina, I believe you. I just think we've been played...Zelena must be behind this..."
Regina sucked in a breath and looked him in the eyes then, "So you weren't-"
"Avoiding you? God no-" he replied quickly and without hesitation, "I was getting ready to text you good morning and make lunch plans when I got called out on that job and then I got that note the next day. I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out what I did that would make you cut me off, " he watched her remain silent for a long moment and swallowed hard at the sudden knot forming in his throat, "Do you believe me?"
"...yes," she nodded slowly after a few moments, staring up at him as she felt the energy beginning to shift. Their argument had them high on adrenaline and the revelation that they still wanted one another brought a flood of relief. The mixture of the two felt euphoric and their eye contact only intensified the pent up tension between them.
"Do you still want to-" he asked, holding his breath.
Her lips parted slightly as she nodded once, "Do you-"
"God yes-" he closed the small space between them and cupped her face, eyes flickering to her lips and back up to find hers darkened with lust and it was all he needed to see. He leaned down as she tilted her chin up, their lips meeting in a sound kiss that felt like it sparked on contact.
He moved his fingers into her hair and tilted her head to the side, feeling her let out a shaky breath during the brief parting before he kissed her again slowly but firm with intent. His pulse quickened when their tongues brushed and he hummed into her mouth, hearing her whimper in response, "I have missed you," he whispered against her mouth before pressings his lips firmly once more, not relenting until her lips were flushed and they struggled for air.
Regina felt lightheaded with lust when they broke the kiss to suck in a breath, pressing their foreheads together instead as their hands began to roam. She looked down between them breathlessly, noses brushing and lips grazing as she reached for his flannel and started working it up his torso. Once his shirt was untucked she ran her hands underneath it to his bare back, scratching lightly over the muscles flexing beneath her touch. She felt his hands travel to her lower back, detouring over her hips briefly before continuing their path downward. The moan she let escape her when his sizable hands gripped her ass would've embarrassed her if she weren't past the point of caring already.
"Mmm, I've wanted this for so long," David groaned at the feeling of her nails on his skin, leaning down to kiss her hungrily again as he started to walk her backwards. He kept one hand on her ass, grabbing and teasing while his other moved up her back. He flattened his hand against her skin as it made its way between her shoulder blades, slipping his fingers under the band of her bra. She moaned again and kissed him rather demandingly, her back arching and body curling towards him on its own accord.
"Me too," Regina mumbled against his lips, smirking briefly at him when she realized how delayed her response had been. He grinned back at her knowingly and it sent a jolt of arousal straight through her core to the apex of her thighs. Her body had never responded like this and she was eager for more, reaching down to his belt and making him grunt when her fingers brushed over the bulge in his jeans.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he mumbled half under his breath, glancing down between them to watch her briefly. He exhaled sharply when her fingers brushed against his abdomen as she gripped the clasp of his belt, making him unable to stand still a second longer. He ran a hand into her hair and gripped it firmly but gently, tilting her head back enough to lean down and kiss her again. They smirked into the kiss when she stumbled slightly into the table and he took the opportunity to swiftly pick her up and sit her up on the edge of it.
She hummed, gripping his belt again and pulling him between her legs before starting on the buttons of his flannel. Her eyes took in his broad chest as she revealed it, continuing button by button, mouth going dry when his impressive abs came into view. His body was the perfect mixture of muscular and lean, his torso solid but sculpted and she suddenly imagined how it would feel underneath her as she rode him. He must've caught onto the nature of the thoughts because when she glanced up his blue eyes were a few shades darker. His jaw twitched as he clenched it and his gaze was glued on her, the expression on his face clearly indicating that he was ready to devour her and she quickly began to throb with urgency.
David picked up the pace after witnessing the way she gazed at his body, more than ready to have her naked and writhing underneath him. He was still in awe of how natural it felt and how much he wanted her, making him even more impatient to have her. "Arms," he demanded gruffly, smirking at the catlike grin she gave him at his order as she lifted her arms and let him pull her sweater over her head. He followed it with another hungry kiss, reaching behind her for the clasp of her bra, "-want to see you," he mumbled against her lips, pulling the bra straps down her arms, "-fuck."
Regina watched him look down at her bare chest, the expression on his face causing her breath to hitch and her nipples harden, "Mmmm-" she breathed out when his hands cupped her breasts, massaging them and thumbing the nipples as he moved his lips to her neck and started peppering kisses over it, "-bed."
David smirked into her skin when she gave her own command. "Impatient," he murmured as he brushed his lips up her neck and bit down on her earlobe gently. The needy moan that came out of her made his dick stiffen painfully against his jeans and he knew then that it was indeed time to quit teasing and take her to the bed. He lifted her then by her thighs, gazing at her intently as she wrapped an arm around his neck and he carried her across the apartment.
Regina grinned at his sudden change of heart, leaning in to kiss and nip at his lips and chin and jaw. She whimpered under her breath, delighting in the much needed friction as her core shifted against the bulge in his jeans with each step. It was so unlike herself to be this bold, but something about him felt familiar and safe, allowing her to let go of all inhibitions. Her hand reached between them as he carried her towards her bedroom area, working his belt and pants undone until she could slip a hand down into his boxers. "Ohhh," she hummed the word in a slight moan when her fingers wrapped around his shaft and she felt the size of him in her grasp.
"Fuck, Regina," he groaned from deep within his throat when her lips pressed against his neck and she started palming his dick. His head spun with lust, forcing him to stop walking and press one hand against the brick partition of her room, holding her waist with his free arm and pinning her against the wall to regain his composure. He exhaled sharply and she lifted her head from his neck to see why he'd stopped, pausing her stroking, "Baby, if you keep going like that-"
Regina chuckled with a nod and hooked her arms around his neck, "Hurry-" she said breathlessly as he pushed off the wall and carried her the rest of the way to the bed. He dropped her down on it but remained standing and she felt herself getting wetter at the sight of him stripping down. She bit down on her bottom lip when she saw his hardness in its entirety, equal parts impatient and nervous to feel him inside of her.
"These need to come off," he said gruffly after he kicked his pants and boxers to the side and reached down to do the same for her. His fingers found the band of her leggings and the lace underneath them, meeting her gaze for a moment to confirm he still had her consent. Her eyes were darker, lips parted and chest flushed as she lifted her hips for him in a clear answer. He brought the remainder of her clothing down her legs in one swift motion, throwing them behind him before taking in the sight of her fully.
"Fucking hell," he growled when she gazed up at him and parted her knees, fully naked and splayed before him. Her lips were flushed from kisses, nipples tight with arousal, skin peppered with goosebumps and sex glistening. When his eyes found hers again he saw a hint of shyness there and he smiled, climbing down on to the bed over her, "You okay?"
"Yes," her voice sounded hoarse with need, her eyes traveling the expanse of his shoulders and chest as she ran her hands up his arms. He pressed his hands on the bed above her head, leaning down to kiss her slowly and firmly as he settled between her legs. She whimpered into his mouth when she felt his hardness pressing against her thigh and bent her knees to his sides.
David shifted onto his left elbow beside of her head so that he lean closer but not crush her with his weight. He continued kissing her languidly, running his hand underneath her head and splaying his fingers through her hair. He was painfully hard at this point and pretty sure she was right there with him, but he wanted to be sure, given how long it had been for her. His hand slipped down, reaching between them to run his fingers over her. He cursed out loud when his fingertips slipped past her lips with almost no pressure at all, finding her swollen clit, "Fuck, Regina, you are so wet," he said, his voice strained with desire at the way she was nearly dripping.
"Mmmm, David, I-" she tried to tell him she was ready for more but her brain short-circuited with pleasure before the words came out. Her head fell back and her eyes closed momentarily when he began to rub small circles on her aching clit and all thoughts left her mind. A loud moan escaped her, hips moving with his hand and stomach coiling rapidly before a roll of thunder outside brought her back to lucidity, "Q-quit teasing."
David cursed under his breath and watched as her brows furrowed, lips parted, and a gasp escaped her while he probed her with his fingers. It was only meant to be a brief moment to further work her up while he regained his own composure, but her reaction made his cock twitch and throb painfully. He pulled his fingers away from her then, causing her eyes to flutter open and look up at him as he gripped himself and began sliding his tip along her wetness.
"You're sure?" he asked and she nodded without hesitation, running one of her hands around his waist to grip his back as the other made it's way to thread fingers through his hair. Their gazes remained locked as he rocked against her a few times without entering, spreading her arousal over himself before he directed his head against her entrance. Her breath hitched when he began to apply pressure and his tip slowly pushed inside of her.
"Mmmmmph," she let out a long, breathy moan that gave him some relief as he watched her expression intently. He didn't want to hurt her, knowing it had been years since she'd done this, and boy if he couldn't fucking feel it. "You are so tight," he breathed out in awe, biting his bottom lip in restraint as he pushed in a little more, trying to take it slowly, "-you feel so good."
"Yessss-" she practically whined, eyes fluttering at the exquisite feeling of him spreading and stretching her. Her gaze met his again as another hot wave of arousal swept through her and she leaned up, pressing her lips to his desperately. She moaned into his mouth as he pushed himself more before he retreated and then repeated the motion, slowly getting her used to his size. He was long and thick like the rest of him and she was eager to feel his fullness inside of her, pushing her hips up towards him at the thought.
"God," he hissed against her lips at the feeling, more than half of his cock inside of her as her hips canted towards him and her walls clenched around him for more. Her body was practically begging for the rest on it's own accord and he complied, filling her to the hilt and making her cry out. "You okay?" he whispered, stilling to allow her to adjust.
"Mmmhm'feelssogood," she moaned and let her head fall back against the bed again, wrapping her legs around his waist and digging her heels into his lower back as she pressed her hips up, "More."
"Demanding," he smirked breathlessly as he gazed down at her and began to move, pulling out halfway and sinking back in fluidly now that she was fully primed. She gripped him so snugly that he knew this could have been painful for her if she wasn't properly ready, but she appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it now.
Regina's eyes fluttered closed when his lips began to assault her neck, moaning endlessly within just a few moments and realizing rather embarrassingly how quickly she was approaching her orgasm. There was no chance she would last, not with the way he rocked his hips into her, the pace of his thrusts gradually increasing and his mouth remembering every sensitive area of skin she had, "David-"
"Mmm, I feel you," he murmured his acknowledgement of her impending orgasm into her skin, keeping his lips glued to her neck as he reached down with his free hand and slipped it under her lower back. He tilted her hips, opening her up more to him and holding her snugly in place. She was emitting strangled noises with each considerable thrust, mixing with the sound of her wet sex and threatening to make him explode, "That's it," he encouraged when he felt her walls begin to clench and clamp around him, "Come for me."
"David-ohgod-I'm-" she panted and choked on her incoherent words, both hands moving to his back and nails digging in for leverage as her hips moved on their own accord. The tension coiled in her belly as he began to thrust hard and deep, hitting her at an angle that had her rapidly losing control. He bit down on her neck then and gave her a particularly hard thrust, sending her tightly wound body over the edge and her pleasure into motion.
David lifted his head as she tightened around him suddenly and her back arched from the bed, watching her eyes screw shut and her brows furrow and lips part with a sharp cry. Her chest pressed against his, hard nipples grazing his skin as her body rolled and she rode out the pleasure. He'd never seen anything quite like the sight of her coming and he buried himself in her continuously, prolonging the experience as long as he could until her clenching made him finish soon after.
"Mmmmm," she moaned softly as she slowly began to regain her wits. His movements stilled, allowing her body to start coming down from the intense high. Her pulse could be felt in nearly every part of her body, the aftershocks of her orgasm radiating from her core and throughout trembling legs that remained loosely wrapped around his waist. They both panted for breath, gazes finding each other once more as they made their way back to the present.
David grinned breathlessly before they both let out laughs, knowing neither of them needed to voice out loud how good it had been. Their connection felt almost familiar to him and the sex was so naturally in sync. The months of pent up frustration and waiting and wanting had clearly been worth it.
"What are you thinking?" she asked quietly after a few moments, smiling curiously at his expression.
"You really want to know?"
"Mhm."
"I was thinking that was so good it was like we had done it before-" he grinned, leaning down to kiss her once as she let out a soft laugh.
"How romantic," she murmured with a grin when he pulled back to look at her once more.
"You want romantic? You mean like those couples who say they feel like they met in a past life?" he teased as he fell onto the bed beside of her and pulled her on top of him.
"No! Shut up," she laughed and rolled her eyes in good humor, thinking he was poking fun at her.
"No?" he smiled, biting his lips as he watched her rest her head on his chest contentedly, "That's a shame."
"A shame?" she asked, seeing his mischievous expression turn contemplative, "Why is that?"
"Because I'm starting to understand them."