Hearing movement around the prison as everyone started their day, Emma started to pull herself from the peaceful rest. With her eyes still shut, yawning and stretching out her legs and toes as much as she could, Emma released a deep breath through her nose. Turned on her side, she felt the weight of Regina's arm draped over her and felt the in and out of Henry's breath against her chest. Rubbing his back gently, Emma slowly but surely managed to get her eyes to open.
The back of a tiny light brown wavy head greeted her when she did. Robyn was sitting at the edge of their mattresses with her back turned to them. Sitting with her legs crossed and a book in her lap, if she got up before them Robyn would always come up and wait for her aunts and new little cousin to rise.
It was finally the beginning of Spring now, the snow had fully melted outside. Zelena and Robyn and all the other new members of the prison had officially been there for about 6 weeks now. Waking up in the mornings, Zelena had to remind herself that they were safe and stop herself from having mini heart attacks when she woke up to find Robyn gone.
Turning to the next page of the book she was so engrossed in, Robyn heard the slightest sweep of the sheets moving behind her and turned to look over her shoulder. Emma's green eyes were looking back at her and she smiled, shutting her book and placing it down.
Emma grinned back at her and beckoned her over with her free hand. There was enough space on the mattresses for someone small and Robyn fit perfectly. Crawling over and laying right behind Henry on top of the covers, Robyn laid against the pillow and took Emma's hand.
"Good morning, Em." Robyn whispered and gave her a cheeky grin.
Emma ran her free hand through the girl's waves and gently cupped the side of her face.
"Good morning, sweet pea." She smiled and whispered. "How long have you been up this time?"
Robyn pursed her lips to think about it before she answered. "Ummm. Right before the sun was up."
Scrunching up her nose a little, Emma shook her head. That was entirely too early for her. But she could understand why Robyn was so eager to start the day.
"You must be excited if you woke up that early." Emma chuckled lightly and saw how the six year olds face lit up.
"Yes! I can't wait to go out with Auntie Gina and the other hunters today! She said we would go first thing in the morning." Robyn smiled.
Emma smirked and tried to keep herself from laughing because she could tell Regina was already awake and listening to their conversation.
"I know for sure that your Aunt is very excited to go out there with you today. I'm surprised she's still in bed right now usually she's such an early riser." Emma teased and chuckled as she felt Regina's hold on her tighten and fingers poke at her thigh under the sheets.
"I'm just waiting on her to wake up so we can go already." Robyn huffed.
"Did you eat breakfast yet, sweet pea?" Emma asked.
"No not yet. I was gonna wait for Auntie." Robyn shrugged.
"Well how about you go and eat something. I will make sure your Aunt wakes up and she will come find you, sound good?" Emma grinned.
"Yeah, alright." She shrugged after thinking about it and got up from her spot, picking up her book. "Oh! And make sure Auntie Gina is wearing the right clothes for our hunt today please." Robyn said seriously.
"Don't worry I will. She'll be out in a little bit." Emma chuckled.
Robyn nodded her head satisfied and walked up to the curtain and pulled it back, taking her leave. Watching amused as she left, Emma sighed as she looked at Henry and gently pushed his hair behind his ear.
"Regina."
"Shhh. Sleeping."
"You can't avoid that hunt by staying in bed for much longer." Emma chuckled lightly.
"Pretty sure I can, if I never leave this cell."
"I don't think your niece nor your son would ever allow that to happen."
"Just tell them I've been put under a sleeping curse."
"Like from Snow White?"
"Mhmmm."
"You've been reading too many stories with Henry." Emma replied amused.
Chuckling and maneuvering herself out of Henry's grip without waking him up, Emma turned over to face Regina chuckling more as she was pulled halfway on top of her. The brunette had turned onto her back but kept one of her arms wrapped around Emma's waist.
"I thought you were always the Queen in these stories." Emma teased.
"I am." Regina peaked one eye open to look at the blonde before she closed it back.
"Ah. But in this story, you've been put under a sleeping curse before your adventure has even begun."
"You catch on quite well, bebita."
"Well...I'll just wake you with true loves kiss, that's what they do right?" Emma giggled at Regina's scowl. "Then you'll have no choice but to get up and be able to embark on your adventure."
"If you truly loved me you wouldn't wake me at all."
"Regina Mills." Emma laughed more and reached over to grab her hand and wrapped that arm around her as well.
Facing each other now and laughing as she rubbed her nose against Emma's cheek, Regina held her close and sighed as Emma tangled their legs together and relaxed back into the warm sheets.
Rubbing Regina's back softly, Emma sighed and opened her eyes, instantly she started to admire the beauty that was right in front of her. Bringing her right hand back to gently stroke the side of the older woman's face with her thumb, Emma gently kissed the tip of her nose.
"Regina."
"I know...just...let me lay here a bit longer."
Sighing Regina pulled Emma's body impossibly closer to hers before slowly opening her eyes looking right into the blonde's green eyes.
"I have a good feeling about today." Emma grinned and looked over her face.
"Oh really?"
"Yup. The sun is out and shining bright. That means lots of fresh game, plump and new from hiding out all winter. All the ingredients for a great day."
Regina chuckled lightly but sighed again and ran her hand from Emma's back, down over her shorts and over the thigh draped over her legs. All week Robyn had been excited for this day to finally come. After 6 weeks of being at the prison and training and learning a few new things and skills from the grownups and hunters.
Regina finally agreed that Robyn and a few other kids could come along for one of the first hunts of Spring. A few of the older kids had already been tagging along and helping out more around the prison. But now, after using every excuse and delaying it for as long as she could the day was finally here.
Hunt Day! As Robyn so enthusiastically put it. Regina had gotten better on not worrying so much about the what if's but still she can't help it. If anything were to happen to Robyn while they were out there, she would never forgive herself.
"Hey."
Emma pulled her from her thoughts. Looking back at Emma and taking another deep breath, Regina gave her a small but tight smile.
"Everything is gonna be fine." Emma reassured her.
"I know." Regina sighed.
"You know? Well can you be a bit more excited about it." Emma scoffed before she attacked the brunette's neck and turned her over onto her back again.
Laughing as Emma kept at it, Regina caved and wrapped her arms around the younger woman. Emma let up and kissed up and around Regina's face until she got to her lips. Sighing and melting into the kiss, she laid her body on top of Regina's.
"If you stay in this cell any longer, she's gonna come back." Emma looked down at her.
"I'll just explain how you were holding me hostage." Regina smirked.
"Oh no." Emma chuckled. "I was given strict instructions to see to it you get up and dress in the correct attire for the day that awaits you." She smiled and sat up. "My Queen."
"The one time I ask you to not do what you're told." Regina rolled her eyes and Emma laughed out loud a bit that time.
Next to them, Henry started to wake up, twisting and turning to bury his face into the pillows. Realizing Emma wasn't next to him, his eyes shot open and he looked back over his shoulder to see Emma sitting up holding hands with Regina. Emma grinned and looked back at him, watching him rub his eyes with his tiny hands.
"Good morning, Henry." Emma and Regina both greeted him, looking at his brown bed head.
Laying his head back down on the pillow and rubbing his eyes, Henry stretched and let out tiny squeaks as he wiggled his little toes.
"G'morning..." He stretched some more until he dropped his arms and closed his eyes again. "Hi Mama." Opening his eyes a bit and looking up at Emma.
Picking his head and looking over to Regina, Henry quickly crawled over and threw his leg over her stomach and laid down in front of Emma. With his arms wrapped around her and his face hidden in her neck, Henry sighed.
"Hi Mommy."
As she was wrapping her arm around him, Regina's eyes got big and she looked up to Emma. Did she just hear him right? Looking up at Emma, the blonde was smirking and rubbing Henry's back.
"Henry, tell Mommy it's time to get up." Emma bent over and spoke into his ear but Regina could still hear her. "It's Hunt Day, remember?"
Henry did in fact remember and gasped, popping up he looked down at Regina.
"You hunt today, Mommy?"
Still in a bit a shock and looking up at the toddler, Regina stuttered a bit but finally managed to get her words out.
"Yeah. That's...we hunt today, dear." Regina laughed lightly and smiled.
Hearing footsteps outside the cell, Emma sat up straight but was still straddling Regina and then they heard someone knock.
"Good Morning, is everyone decent?"
Zelena's voice rang out behind the curtain.
"All good, Z. Come on in." Regina chuckled and replied.
Getting up from Regina's lap, Emma crawled to the end of the mattresses and got up to take out her and Henry's outfits for the day. Pulling back the curtain and peeking in Zelena looked down at Henry and Regina, then over to Emma.
"You're still in bed, Regina?" Zelena questioned as she stepped in. "But it's Hunt Day."
"Hunt Day!" Henry bounced next to Regina on the mattresses. Crawling to the end of them and lifting his arms up for Emma to take his shirt off.
"Don't worry. Your daughter was already in here to ensure that I'm fully prepared for today." Regina sighed and stretched her legs and back before she got up too.
Henry bounced in place as Emma got him dressed and Zelena watched them from the door. Together Emma and Regina moved around the cell with ease, Regina quickly slipped into her pants and grabbed her boots and Henry's shoes. Emma turned around as Regina sat down on the edge of the mattresses with Henry and helped the toddler put his shoes on the right foot and tie up his laces.
Taking up all his concentration, Henry's little fingers mimicked Regina's but didn't quite get on his first try. Releasing a tiny 'grr' from his frustrations, Henry huffed and looked up at Regina.
"Mommy. Help me please." He grunted.
Regina was watching Emma fix her hair in the mirror on wall, but quickly switched her attention back on Henry. She didn't know what made him start calling her mommy this morning but she certainly wasn't complaining.
With a bright smile spread across her face, Regina reach over to grab him. Swinging his legs across her lap, Regina reached her arms around him and took his hands in hers.
"Okay. Remember how we practiced?" Henry nodded his head as he watched her grab each lace. "Pull the laces and then we cross them like that." He nodded as she explained. "Then down to the toe and back up and under."
Henry watched her go through each of the steps until she was done, and then looked up at her nodding.
"You wanna do the other one?" Regina asked him.
"You help?"
"Of course." Regina chuckled and kissed his head. "Come on, we got this."
Emma turned around, leaning against the wall right in front and watched them adoringly. Zelena did the same from her spot near the door and her ears perked up at the sound of tiny heels coming up the stairs.
"Auntie Giiinaaa!"
"Told you she'd be back." Emma smirked.
Munching on an energy bar, Robyn made her way back up the stairs and to their cell. Chuckling but keeping her focus on Henry, Regina finished helping him tie his laces.
"And done!" Regina grinned.
"I did it!" Henry beamed.
"Auntie! We've all eaten breakfast. We're just waiting on you." Robyn huffed.
"Robyn. You have to be patient." Zelena scolded.
"I am! I was just telling-"
"Ro! Look!"
Henry was holding up feet, leaning back on Regina's thighs to balance himself. Turning to look at Henry, Robyn cheesed and walked into sit by them on the mattresses.
"You tied your shoes?" Robyn asked.
"Uh huh! Mommy helped me." He nodded.
"That's awesome, Hen!" Robyn high-fived him before quickly looking at her Aunt. "Auntie Gina, we're ready."
"Yes. I heard you the first time, dear." Regina deadpanned. "I'm dressed. But I haven't even eaten-"
"Here you go!" Robyn handed her a piece of bread and some dried meat. "I grabbed you some stuff from the breakfast table."
Placing it in Regina's hands, Robyn smiled up at her with her hands in her lap. From the door of the cell and wall she was leaning on, Emma and Zelena were trying their hardest not to laugh out loud.
Shaking her head, Regina thanked her niece and they all got up, preparing to walk out of the cell. Zelena went first, followed by Robyn who was holding Henry's hand and telling him how excited she was. Regina fix her hair in the mirror for a second before turning around; seeing Emma standing there holding her hunting knife and hand gun.
Emma had a slightly amused smirk on her lips and Regina arched her eyebrow, watching the blonde step over to her. Handing Regina her hunting knife, Emma carefully placed the handgun in the holster strapped on Regina's thigh.
"And what's that look for?" Regina questioned as she finished securing her knife.
Flipping her blonde curls over her shoulder and looking up at the older woman.
"What look?" Emma smirked again and feigned with amused confusion.
"That look. Right there. Like you know something I don't." Regina challenged and pulled the blonde closer by her hips.
Emma laughed but it was cut off by lips covering her own. Smiling into the kiss and wrapping her arms around strong shoulders, Emma laughed lightly as her feet started to move backwards and her back hit the wall behind her. Tracing kisses down the blonde's, Regina bit down harder as Emma tried to push her away.
"Regina." Emma hissed, bunching up the black fitted t-shirt, the brunette had neatly tucked into her pants. "You don't have time."
"I could very well make time." Regina stated plainly and Emma groaned as she continued her assault. "If you had listened, we could still be in bed right now...and my tongue would be de-."
"Auntie GINA!"
Sighing and laying her head down on Emma's collarbone, it was Regina's turn to groan while Emma tried not to laugh at Robyn's outburst from down stairs.
"You better get down there before she comes back up and drags you away." Emma chuckled but stopped seeing Regina hadn't moved. "Gi?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"And I understand that you're nervous...but everything is going to be fine." Emma kissed the side of her head while rubbing the of her neck.
Releasing another deep sigh and picking her head up, Regina kissed the blonde's jaw up to cheek, over to her nose and finally kissed her lips. Pecking them again and again as she pulled away, Regina grinned stepped back.
"You're right. Everything is going to be fine." Regina took her hand and led them out of the cell, towards the stairs.
"Finally!" Robyn exaggerated.
"Robyn." Zelena scolded her again.
"What? First thing in the morning. That's what she said. And everyone agreed on it." Robyn grumbled.
"I suppose for the next hunt, I'll have to set a proper time. Make sure you don't take things so literal, Bean." Regina smirked.
"She is your niece. Are you honestly surprised she likes to do everything to the letter?" Zelena asked and teased.
Rolling her eyes, Regina opened her arms for Henry to run into and picked him up before they all headed out towards the main hall, and out to the courtyard towards the trucks.
"Mommy, can I come? Pleeeease?!" Henry had his arms wrapped around her neck and was propped on her hip.
Stopping on the driver's side of her truck, Regina turned around so they were facing Emma. Pulling the blonde into her side and wrapping her arm around her shoulder, Regina leaned back against the door of her truck.
"Not this time, baby. When you get bigger, I'll think about it." Regina smirked at Emma.
"But I wanna go." Henry poked out his lip. "I am big!"
"I thought you wanted to stay and help Mama with our garden, Hen." Emma looked up at them, her hands on Regina's hip.
"I do." Henry mumbled, not looking at Emma.
Bringing his little hand up and back to lightly scratch the back of his head, Henry kept his other arm wrapped around Regina's neck playing with the collar of her shirt.
"We won't be gone long. And it'll be fun helping Mama in the garden." Regina smiled at him, reaching up to stop him from tugging his hair.
"Gonna be safe?" Henry asked in a low voice, his little mouth pursed to the side.
Regina thought that by now, Henry had already managed to melt her heart and cause her to feel so much love for him but every day he managed to do it again. It was difficult to really know how all the kids and young adults were, in every aspect, adapting to this new world.
Henry knew there were bad and scary things out there that could hurt them, but he also knew that they were safe. Regina always made sure to remind him that they were safe, and that she would keep him safe. It was only logical that the little boy would want to do the same thing for her.
He wanted to come along to make sure that they were going to be safe, so that he could protect her.
"Mommy?"
Regina was pulled from her thoughts.
"Yes, my love. We're going to be fine."
Smiling at him and kissing his cheek over and over until the little worry line on his forehead went away and he was giggling from the affection. Emma laughed at their antics and gladly accepted the warm bear hug Regina trapped them in.
Tapping on the window behind them, cut the embrace short and Emma looked back over Regina's shoulder to see Robyn waiting anxiously in her seat, beckoning for her Aunt to just get in the damn truck.
"Alright. Don't keep her waiting any longer. She might literally explode." Emma chuckled and kissed Regina on the lips before taking Henry and placing him on her hip.
Kissing Henry's head one more time and running her fingers through his hair. Regina turned, sighed and saw that everyone had piled into their assigned trucks.
"Hey."
Turning back to Emma and Henry, Regina raised her eyebrow, smirked and challenged.
"Hey."
Emma chuckled and went in for a final kiss.
"It's going to be a great day. Stop fretting."
Sighing against her lips, Regina hummed and pecked them again. Tapping from the window started again and both women turned to see Robyn pretending to gag and retch in the back seat. Emma laughed out while Regina rolled her eyes and pulled Emma in for another kiss.
The horn of the truck blared quickly, startling Regina and she turned to see that Robyn had climbed into the front seat and was touching things she shouldn't be. Regina quickly opened the door and Robyn squealed as she tried to rush to the back seat.
"Alright! That's it!"