A faint sound of knocking echoes in the back of her mind, but the warmth surrounding her body is too cozy to even think about caring. So, she snuggles, unconsciously, in closer toward her soft pillow that smells of calming lavender and scoots closer to the heat that's enveloping her body like a velvety heating blanket.
She inhales sharply and sighs as the knock proceeds to thump away, somewhere in her mind, passed the dreams that she wishes she could float back to.
"Emma? Are you up, honey? It's time to start the day. Rocinante is waiting," the gentle voice of a caring man rings in her ears.
Henry.
What a sweet man. And his wife. And his...
Regina!
Her body instantly flings forward in bed like a broken jack in the box, causing her heart to race with panicked adrenaline. "Shit!"
The most enchanting sound of a content moan stirs beside her, placing her under a temporary spell. Her eyes slowly drift down to the most gorgeous woman she has ever seen, and she becomes fixated on all that is Regina. She absorbs the moment of the woman's flawless face, still asleep and unguarded unlike the expressions Regina displayed last night. There's a faint smile ghosting around her plump lips and Emma can only assume she's lost in a dream.
"Emma?"
The knock is more forceful this time, cracking through the enchanting spell that has her eyes mesmerized by the woman beside her.
"Uh, yeah...Henry...I'm up," she shouts through the door, hopelessly praying that her voice sounds calm and in control despite her erratic heart beat and the sheer panic prickling below her skin.
Regina stirs, her body instinctively squirming closer toward the heat to keep her mind asleep, just as Emma's body did moments ago. The woman's nose presses against Emma's bare thigh and suddenly she's all too aware of how naked she is beneath the thin t-shirt.
"Oh good, are you decent? May I come in?" His voice booms through the air and sends her heart into a panic mode that terrifies her very soul.
"I-uh..." her eyes take in the intimate moment between her and Regina and her mind draws completely blank.
Nothing registers. Words would be useful right now. Anything.
Another delicious moan breaks from Regina's lips forcing her warm breath to kiss Emma's bare thigh. Ice cold chills breaks along her flesh and tickle her spine, generating a deep shudder to wrack her body.
What is this woman doing to her?
They just met last night...
Regina's eyes flutter open and for that split second before reality kicks in, she smiles against Emma's thigh. She freezes and watches intently as Regina's mind slowly explains the events that occurred last night and ultimately where she is right now. Those big brown eyes double in size and then Regina's quickly scrambling away.
"Emma," she heartlessly acknowledges causing Emma's blood to run cold.
"Hi," she mutters shyly just as there's another rapid knock against the door that threatens to beat down the damn thing if Emma doesn't answer soon.
"Emma dear, are you feeling alright this morning?" Henry questions, his fatherly tone present and full of compassionate concern.
"Daddy," Regina murmurs under her breath and tugs the sheet higher up to protect her lower region.
Emma's heart races, unsure of what her next move should be. Does she invite the persistent man inside and hope that maybe he will be so enthralled to see his daughter that he will ignore the fact that both are completely naked from the waste down? Or does she pretend she's sick today and pray he just goes away?
The doorknob clicks, drawing her and Regina's attention to that silver handle that's slowly turning like in some creepy horror film. Her and Regina both freeze, utterly immobile as that damn door pops open and reveals a very concerned Cora with Henry hovering right behind her.
Oh god.
"Regina?" Cora breathes out as her mind attempts to comprehend the situation before her.
"It's not what you think," Emma embarrassingly blurts out in sheer panic and she swears she can feel all the blood draining from her face.
A cold sweat breaks along her skin as her stomach turns, but Cora chuckles and waves her hand in the air, quickly dismissing her defense. She rushes toward the bed and sits down on the edge in front of her daughter, pulling her roughly into her loving embrace.
"Oh darling, when did you get in?" The older woman kisses her daughter's forehead and laughs lightly while brushing the inky wild hair aside. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She lightly smacks Regina's upper arm playful while the brunette just chuckles at her mother and Emma observes from the sidelines.
"I'm sorry mother," Regina's voice instantly softening for the kind woman. "Just with everything going on back home...I needed a break."
"Oh, sweetie, I am so happy you decided to come," Cora gushes while pulling her daughter into another overbearing hug.
The sweet moment between mother and daughter tugs at Emma's heartstrings. Except this emotional string was plucked broken and she winces from the pain shooting violently through her heart. She swallows away her emotions and turns away in hopes to find something else more interesting to gaze upon and distract her from the pain.
"Regina," Henry tenderly vocalizes his daughter's name, expressing just how much he adores the young woman. He wraps his daughter up tightly and cradles the back of her head as if she were still a fragile baby, just like Emma's father does with her.
"How long will you be staying, sweetie?" Cora asks as she fiddles with taming Regina's unruly hair from sleeping on a wet-head.
"One week," Regina confirms, but pauses, her eyes drifting to meet Emma's in which she offers the brunette a weak smile. Regina ignores the gesture and turns back toward her parents. "Things...should be settled in a week," she awkwardly states and something in Emma's gut is telling her that there's a piece of information Regina is trying to keep hidden from just her.
"I'm sure you were a little freaked out when you found someone sleeping in your bed," Cora chuckles to herself, "but I'm glad you two worked everything out and shared the bed last night." The older woman smiles sweetly, but there's a hint of smugness before she turns her attention toward Emma. "See darling, I told you, you two would get along fabulously."
Emma's cheeks ignite with heat as Regina snaps her head in her direction and she honestly has no idea why she's blushing so profusely. "I..." Regina's eyes are assessing her intently and something tells her that now would be a good time to tease the other woman to take the attention off herself. "Yes, well she's not a total brat, she shared her bed and horse with me."
Regina's nose scrunches in distaste while Cora and Henry understand the humor behind the statement and easily laugh along.
"How could you two allow someone to tend to Rocinante who is terrified of horses?" Regina quickly investigates breaking through the laughter.
"Hey!" Emma whines dramatically. "I pet your horse last night," she hastily defends while Regina simply rolls her eyes in return.
"You're right, Cora," Henry laughs lightly and clasps his hand upon his wife's shoulder. "Let's leave these two so they can get ready. Emma, ten minutes and I expect you in the barn."
"Twenty?" She quickly counters and makes sure she flashes her most innocent puppy dog eyes. "I really need to shower after work yesterday and the storm last night."
"Okay, twenty minutes," he grants her proposal and leads the way out the door with Cora right behind him.
When the door softly clicks shut, Emma releases a long breath she truly didn't know she was holding to begin with. However, her relaxation is cut short when she feels a set of cold eyes staring pointedly at her.
"What?" She snaps as she whips her head to meet Regina's glare.
"I'm a brat?" She scoffs, clearly unamused by the comment a few moments ago.
"Relax," Emma tosses the sheet from her very naked legs and swings her feet to the cold floor below. "It was a joke between your parents and I."
"So, my parents said I was brat as well?" She challenges, but there's a thick rope of worry lacing her words.
"No," she quickly replies, hoping to settle her new roommate's nerves. She yanks open the dresser drawer and begins rummaging for clothes for the day, when a pillow smacks the back of her head. "Ow, what the hell was that for?" She angrily howls, whipping back around to face the brunette.
"What did my parents say about me?" She interrogates with irritation clearly rolling off her body.
"Nothing! It was a joke. They were talking about how your dad bought you a horse and as a joke," she slowly drawls to make sure Regina understands it was all in good fun, "...I said you must be a brat, because anyone who gets a horse as a present is usually stereotyped into the rich snob category."
"Well I'm not," Regina hastily defends while nervously tucking a chunk of curling hair behind her ear.
"I know that," she confidently assures her before tossing the pillow right back at Regina's face to break the tension. "But it's not nice to throw things at people."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic, it was a pillow. It didn't hurt you," Regina huffs and places the pillow back in its rightful spot while Emma smirks knowing the brunette isn't watching the smile creeping along her face.
"I need to shower, before your parents barge in here again."
"Yes, they have no boundaries," she admits, slowly sliding back into the warmth of the bed.
"Aren't you going to get ready?"
"I'm on vacation, I'm going back to bed."
XXXXX
"Rocinante," she cheerfully greets the larger animal with a smile upon her face.
She still feels a small twinge of unsettling nerves when it comes to the beast, but after last night, she does feel more confident approaching him this morning. She believes he also feels a little bit more at ease around her since she was there to help chase away his fear from the storm or at least she hopes he remembers.
She hops onto the wooden gate, just like Regina did the night before and holds her hand out, waiting patiently for him to make the next move. Slowly, his white nose encloses the gap between them and brushes softly beneath her palm.
"Hey bud," she gently glides her palm against his nose and peers deeply into those big black eyes. "Regina's still sleeping so you're stuck with me for now."
"Since when have you two become friends?" Henry chuckles as the horse gazes up at her with curious eyes.
"Uh, since last night, I guess," she shrugs noncommittally and hops down from the gate. "We sort of left the barn door open last night and with the storm, it was banging pretty hard, kinda freaked Rocinante out. Luckily, Regina was here to help me, and she showed me how to approach him," she explains while the older gentleman watches her with amusement twinkling in his eyes.
"Ah, my Regina," he shakes his head and smiles from ear to ear. Just the mention of his daughter's name and this man cannot contain his love. "She always had a way about her."
"Oh yeah?" Emma absentmindedly questions as she begins with her daily chores.
"She always had a way of making everyone around her fall in love. She could probably murder a village and people would still adore her. There's just something about her."
"Well, let's hope she's not a murderer," she playfully teases and continues with her work, desperately trying to seem unaffected and disinterested in the topic because truthfully, she totally understands what this man is talking about. It's been less than twenty-four hours and she feels like a hormonal fifteen-year-old boy around this man's daughter.
XXXXX
Emma and Henry finish their chores around the barn before he began with his lessons, explaining everything she needed to know about Rocinante and how to tend to the creature.
Around lunchtime, she snuck back into her cabin to find Regina still deep asleep. During her slumber, Regina had kicked away the covers, leaving her bare legs exposed. Emma's shirt, that Regina was wearing, just barely covered her full bottom, leaving a small peek of her plump bottom hanging out the hem. Emma quickly averted her eyes, because pervert is not something she would like to add to the list of things she is. She quickly creeped back out of the cabin before she accidentally disturbed Regina.
After an enjoyable lunch with the Mills, that Regina slept through, Emma ran a few errands for Cora and found herself back in the barn to continue bonding with Rocinante.
"Your owner is a real piece of work you know that?" She absentmindedly questions while dutifully brushing his fur. He's quick to respond by exhaling and shaking his long snout, prompting her to laugh lightly to herself. "She's going to drive me mad this week," she confesses, knowing there's nobody else around to hear her little rant. "She's so freaking hot, but then she opens that smart mouth and infuriates me. I just want to slam my lips against hers to shut her up...okay, well, maybe she doesn't infuriate me."
"Who are you talking to?" That thick sultry voice swims deliciously through Emma's eardrums and causes her to jump in her boots.
"Regina," she gasps, clenching her chest in a lame attempt to calm her breathing back down from being startled. "What the hell?" A match ignites in the pit of her stomach and burns through her blood, painting her cheeks and ears a deep shade of red. She can only imagine how much of her embarrassing rant Regina had overheard. "How long have you been lurking like a creep?"
"I am not a creep, nor a brat," the brunette exasperates as she struts confidently toward her. "Are you almost done? I was going to head into town, and I was thinking maybe I could show you around."
Regina completely ignored her question.
"Oh, um...yeah. I'm actually all done for the day, just hanging out with this guy a little bit." She pats her hand against the chestnut colored horse and drops his brush into a tin bucket.
"I'm glad he has finally won your heart," Regina teases as she leads the way out of the barn. "Are you up for a hike? I enjoy walking the streets of Catania, but-"
"No, no, I'm up for it," she quickly defends, feeling much more confident since the first day she arrived and couldn't even keep up with a woman twice her age.
"Good."
XXXXXX
While they climbed down that treacherous hill from the Mills farm toward the beautiful city, her and Regina really didn't say much to one another. They kept their full attention locked onto the breathtaking scenery and soaked up the warm evening sun, but all along Emma's tongue itched to say something the entire way down.
"Have you had a chance to explore yet?" Regina suddenly pipes up to fill the void pulsating between them.
"Um, a little...not much. I really don't know my way around and I was a bit apprehensive that I might get lost," she fully admits even though she's slightly embarrassed about the admission.
"I understand, this is a foreign country and it honestly took me quite some time before I felt comfortable enough to roam alone."
Their feet finally touch the stone path below the hill and Emma's eyes immediately meet the breathtaking city. Almost everything is made up of a gray stone and the historic atmosphere is enough to sweep her off her feet. There's building after building lined up to create this beautiful town and she finds herself a little slack-jawed as her feet stumble behind Regina.
"I, myself, find the Roman remains and the Catholic Cathedral's absolutely stunning. I have seen them dozens of times, but every time always feels like the first time to my eyes. The architecture and the detail is absolutely magnificent," Regina's rich voice explains through a type of joy that expresses her true compassion for history.
"That sounds amazing, are you going to take me to see some?" She hopefully inquires.
"Of course, you can't come to Sicily and not see ancient ruins or Catholic Churches," Regina laughs lightly, unlike the stiff chuckle she faked the night before.
Just the sound of that rich, sultry laugh grants Emma hope that maybe this woman will loosen up a little bit around her. Sure, playful banter comes easily between them, but she can feel the thick wall Regina is building between them, so Emma won't discover her dark secrets. She can almost feel Regina holding her breath around her. The only time she has seen her new roommate actually breathe in the last twenty-four hours was when she was surrounded by her parents in the morning.
"Hey, is that an active volcano?" Emma unexpectedly questions when the large mountain comes into view behind the buildings.
Of course, she had seen it when she first arrived in Catania, but she hadn't inquired about it yet, and that's something that's been whispering in the back of her mind ever since.
"Yes, Mount Etna. It has actually erupted seventeen times," Regina so casually educates her, prompting Emma's stomach to drop out completely.
"I guess I should have done my research before setting up camp here," she deadpans, eliciting another beautiful, carefree laugh from Regina's plump lips.
"Probably," she easily replies before redirecting her attention somewhere else. "So, our first stop is Piazzo Duomo, I really think you will fall in love with this," she wistfully says, persuading the little butterflies in Emma's stomach to flutter all around.
"Scusami bella," some random young man with dark hair and even darker eyes stops Regina by a soft touch to her forearm.
And right away, Emma notices that he has that bad boy image oozing from his pores and the way his dark eyes are raking in Regina is sending some uncomfortable sensation deep in her gut.
"Augusto," she smiles politely and glances over his shoulder. "Dov'è il Marco?" Falls beautifully from her tongue, popping Emma's jaw wide open because she honestly didn't expect this woman to speak Italian.
The man begins gesturing dramatically with his hands as the foreign language rolls effortlessly off his tongue, all while Regina smiles and nods politely. It's a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes and Emma knows she is just being polite.
"...Dov'è il Robin?" The man questions with his dark eyebrows pinched firmly together.
Regina visibly stiffens for a brief moment, but she is quick to mask her emotions, she smiles softly and shakes her head as she begins replying. This is one of those times that Emma really wishes she wouldn't have been so lazy in life and took up a hobby, like learning Italian. Regina swiftly points to her during her rant and immediately Emma straightens her posture. The man eyes her up and down, then smirks in a creepy kind of way that makes her stomach twist in disgust.
"Per favore scusaci," Regina says in a sweet tone with a kind smile before she lightly kisses the man upon his cheek and brushes passed him.
Emma's feet scurry across the stone street to catch up with her new friend. "So, uh...who was that?" She casually questions even though her heart is beating just a tad faster while stomach is doing somersaults as though it's competing in the Olympics.
"Oh, just a family friend. My parents and Augusto's father, Marco, have been very close friends since they moved here. He's a sweet old man, his son though...he's a little shady, not to mention that he thinks he's God's gift to women," Regina informs her, smirking that adorable confident grin while strolling along through town without a second thought of Augusto.
"That's nice," she mutters because she honestly doesn't know what else to say.
So, they continue weaving in and out of the townsfolk as Regina leads the way to their destination...pizza something...she thinks that's what her tour guide called the place. All the while her mind races with one name ringing loud and clear. Robin. Her insides are pleading with her mouth to pop open and utter that name just to see the type of reaction she will receive from Regina. She just knows something is happening back at home with the woman and she has a gut feeling it has everything to do with this, Robin.
Suddenly all her thoughts of Regina and her past are washed away as they enter their destination. Her breath hitches as she finds herself surrounded by the most stunning buildings of history.
"Piazza del Duomo," Regina claims as her hands sweep across the evening air to show off the beautiful town. "This was rebuilt in the 1700's after an earthquake. I just admire all the history and architecture that this city has to offer."
"I know what you mean," she breathlessly whispers while her eyes absorb the massive cathedral created in stone. She can't even think of an intelligent thought as she just stands there motionless, gaping at the gorgeous scene before her.
"That's the Cathedral Of Sant'Agata, it's been rebuilt many times from earthquakes and lava from the volcano, but it's one of my favorite buildings. It's a masterpiece and the details and color are magnificent," Regina proceeds to educate her and she listens intently, soaking up every word while her eyes memorize every detail.
Even though she is gushing over this Cathedral, her mind is swooning over Regina. She can't help but adore this beautiful woman and everything she has to offer. Not only is Regina the most stunning woman she has ever laid eyes on, but her thirst for knowledge and the information she already possesses while studying to be a doctor, makes her a masterpiece all on her own.
"This is...I can't even pick a word to describe how amazing this truly is," Emma mindlessly breathes out as her eyes inspect every intricate design before her.
"I know," Regina happily sighs, her body swaying next to Emma's, causing her shoulder to lightly connect them as one. "There's so much more," she enthusiastically enlightens Emma before her fingers wrap around her wrist and Regina pulls her into the crowd.
XXXXXX
The sun is slowly setting over the horizon as their feet trek across the enchanting city. Emma and Regina are shoulder to shoulder as this astonishing brunette drags her from one masterpiece to another. Her voice dances with excitement as she thoroughly explains the history and every detail she knows about the talented city and Emma is eating up everything this woman has to offer.
"Is that an elephant?" Emma innocently inquires with pure amusement highlighting her face as they stumble across the large statue in the middle of the city.
Regina nods before their heads fall back in sync, so their eyes can gaze upon the exquisite creation. "The elephant is the symbol that represents Catania, very important to the locals. The elephant dates back to Roman times. There's a legend that states that a magician rode an elephant into town. The people of Catania believe this fountain is magical and the elephant protects the city from Mount Etna."
Dazzling green eyes drift toward the woman next to her as she continues to explain the history of Catania. Regina's lost in the moment and the feel of art enveloping them as she rambles on and on while Emma's eyes are fixated on her, because suddenly she's realizing that this woman is her own artwork and she's just as important to be gazing upon.
She cannot stop her mouth from the next words tumbling so recklessly from her mouth. "You are amazing," she breathes, interrupting Regina's marvelous explanation.
Regina stops, her eyes no longer glued to the statue above, but connecting with the shimmering green orb that are drinking her in. There's a buzz that swarms around them and electrifies her nerves deep inside of them the moment their eyes meet, and Emma just knows that Regina feels it too by the way she's staring so intently at her. Those warm, chocolatey irises are inspecting, assessing and causing Emma's mind to trip on what it's truly thinking. The corner of Regina's mouth slowly curls into a half smile, provoking Emma's lips to break apart, producing a giddy grin that stretches from ear to ear.
Then suddenly, she's shy.
Emma's heart drums furiously in her chest and that's the moment she knows her world is about to be flipped upside down. Regina bows her head and nervously tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear. Emma knows she's blushing and desperately trying to hide it, but she's not entirely sure.
"Let's keep going, it's getting dark and I have so much more to show you."
XXXXX
After Regina lead her around the mesmerizing city and fulfilled her mind with all the knowledge she has learned over the years about Sicily, they decided to enjoy a beach not too far from her parent's farm.
The midnight blue sky is twinkling with stars stretched as far as the eye could see while the moon is a vibrant white with a soft blue radiating down into the ocean. The waves are lazily rolling toward their feet that are buried deep in the sand and it's almost too perfect.
"Thank you for today, that was definitely the highlight of my life," Emma confesses while her hand mindlessly draws a stick into the cool sand below.
"You're very welcome," Regina proudly replies while her eyes are studying the mysterious ocean approaching to greet their feet.
"Can I ask you something?"
Regina stiffens beside her, her legs drawing closer to her chest before she protectively wraps her arms around her knees to shield herself from intrusive question, she knows she won't like.
"I suppose."
"Who's Robin?" Emma tentatively investigates, changing the atmosphere around them from relaxed to utterly awkward. Regina doesn't reply, she just sits there, as still as a statue watching the tide roll in. "It's just...I heard Augusto say the name and you became very anxious. So, that should be a clue not to bring up this topic, but...I'm sorry. I'm just curious," she rambles off because she is awkward, and she knows that Regina is not ready to discuss this topic.
The brunette breathes heavily and rests her chin upon her arms. Very slowly, her head falls to one side, revealing her glistening, big brown eyes. Emma's heart stops dead in its tracks and her breathing seizes because she knows she crossed a line. Whoever this Robin is, caused Regina pain and now she's sitting here like an idiot, picking the wound until this amazing woman bleeds the truth.
"Robin is my ex-fiancé," she murmurs like she doesn't want the world to hear her secret and it causes Emma's heart to slowly cracks right down the middle.
"Can I ask what happened? Or is it too personal?"
Regina huffs out her anxiety about divulging in this information while her eyes scan Emma's face. She's not quite sure what answer she is looking for, but Regina's studying those curious green eyes and Emma can only assume she's wondering if she can trust her.
"We broke up...so I came here to allow him time and space to pack his stuff," she confesses her half-truth, because Emma knows she's not telling her why they broke up on purpose.
"I'm really sorry. I had a fiancé as well," she admits to help ease the sudden tension between them.
"You did?" Regina's head pops up, appearing absolutely delighted for some odd reason that she has an ex as well.
"Yeah. I broke it off though to come here. I needed time and space. I needed to see the world before I settled down. The world has so much to offer and I never want to take one single moment for granted."
Regina smiles in return, but there's a faint of a frown ghosting behind that gorgeous grin. "I'm kind of glad my parents took you in," she says as her shoulder lightly bumps into Emma's teasingly.
"Me too."