Here's the dancing. I hope you enjoy. Happy holidays. ~ LZ
Prom 2
After the fourth camera flash and the sixth thumbs up - from Granny Lucas of all people - Emma swept Regina into her arms on the dance floor of the school auditorium with only one question on her mind: "Why does everyone look like they expected this to happen?"
"Perhaps they just wish their princess happy memories," Regina replied, stepping in closer, until their hips moved in an intimate tandem to the jukebox music. "Are you?" she murmured, lifting her lips to an ear and stroking a soft hand on the rise of Emma's throat.
"I'm ecstatic, but I'm still confused. I thought you wouldn't be coming to the dance." Emma's hand cupped Regina's hips, the fabric of the dress so delicate and thin she felt like she was holding onto a cloud. She was certainly dancing on one. Moving with Regina like this felt like finding a piece of heaven.
"I didn't want to chaperone, dear."
"But you did want to keep an eye on Henry?"
"Absolutely not. I trust my son implicitly. He's a marvelous young man."
"So, then, why are you here? You burned up Snow's invitation."
"I do not need Snow White's permission to attend a ball. But I do need.. a date." Regina flipped up the end of the Emma's tie sliding her fingers beneath the fabric until it rested over Emma's left shoulder and Emma's heart thudded heavily, and rapidly, under Regina's palm.
"A date?"
"Well," Regina's tone sounded surprisingly light and teasing. "Not just any date. The date. With you."
"But you told me you wouldn't come."
"I didn't want it to be a responsibility… or just an excuse. Emma," Regina paused then plunged forward, "I wanted you to ask me because you want it. Not for Henry. Not to deter miscreants. Not to even bury my feud with your parents, but because you want me."
Emma's eyes widened. "I… uh, Regina…"
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Regina huffed and started to pull away. Emma grabbed her hand, not letting her leave. "Let me go," Regina said, her voice sharp.
"No. You just said you wanted to be here with me as much as I wanted you here with me."
"I did no such thing."
"You did." Emma tugged; Regina turned back. "Regina Mills, I have never wanted something so much as I have and do want you." Emma took both of Regina's hands in hers, watching her own thumbs moving in circles on the dark skin. "But to risk… my heart… to risk you rejecting me." She lifted her gaze to Regina's again. "You know how scary that is." She exhaled. "You're the only one who could."
"Emm-"
"Shh. You need me to say it. So let me get it out, okay?" She inhaled long and slow, then spoke again. "I wanted to bring you here. I want you in my life. I want to be a family with you. And Henry. All the things we never had with anyone else, either of us, I want those things with you. I want to love you, Regina Mills."
Emma's words slowed to a halt as Regina's eyes filled with tears.
"Oh god, no, I'm sorry, I —"
Regina's fingers pressed to Emma's lips. She blinked and gave a sheepish shrug of her shoulders. Regina gave her a slow smile and tilted her head.
"I think I'd like you to kiss me now, Miss Swan," Regina said.
Emma took the fingers from her lips. "Yeah?"
"Yes." Before Regina finished the single syllable, Emma covered her lips with her own. The sound blurred in their mouths, blending and buzzing. Emma felt her lips smile in the kiss as she pressed closer. Regina's hands slid into her hair, tugging, urgent, pulling them impossibly closer together.
Music filled her ears and then, she realized, it wasn't just the music she heard. It was flesh smacking together, hands clapping, whistles — that had to be Ruby, she thought. She wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and spun her a half-turn. When she released the sweet lips they both gasped and laughed.
Past Regina as she put her face into the woman's bare shoulder, Emma saw her parents standing with Henry and Grace, all four of them putting their hands together, over and over again. She smiled and hugged Regina more tightly, allowing the music's beat, and the heart thudding against her own, to move her feet.
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