I can't believe how many of you reviewed! That makes me so happy :) Anyway, this chapter is for bstix with the prompt: "Lightning"
Also, I would normally do this via PM, but Guest reviewers don't have accounts to message. Anywho, to the reviewer Guest, the prompt that you gave me is very close to Day 99...so I won't be doing it. Sorry!
On to the chapter!
Regina loved the sound of rain. She found it soothing. However, thunder and lightning left something to be desired. It didn't bother her, but she knew that it bothered Emma.
Regina had come home from work one night to see the light in her bedroom on. It was late at night, so late in fact that Emma should have been sleeping. Opening the door, Regina had seen an Emma shaped lump under her bed. Smiling, Regina had lifted the covers up gently to see Emma fast asleep with a pillow covering her head. When Emma had woken up, they had talked about it.
Emma had been afraid of thunder and lightning for as long as she could remember. At the first sign of a storm, she would hide in a place where she couldn't see the lightning, and the thunder was just a small rumble.
After that first storm, Regina would always drop whatever she was doing to go and try to comfort Emma, even if she was at work. But this time was going to be different. She was going to help Emma conquer her fear.
"Emma?" Regina called, walking in the front door. She didn't expect an answer, but thought that she would try anyway.
The storm was just starting, so Regina knew that Emma had just found a hiding place. If she had to guess, Emma was probably in their bed like the first time that Regina had found her.
Opening the door to their bedroom, Regina's heart clenched as she saw Emma under the covers. Walking over, Regina sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Hi," Emma said through the blanket.
Regina chuckled. "Hi there. Comfy?"
"As much as I can be during a storm," Emma said. "It helps not to be able to see anything though."
Regina bit her lip. She didn't want to force Emma to do anything. But Emma's fear was starting to get worse. Reaching out, Regina gently pulled the covers off until she could see Emma's face.
"What are you doing?" Emma asked.
"Helping you," Regina said. She snapped her fingers, changing into her pajamas before climbing into bed next to Emma.
"Helping me?" Emma asked. She winced as she saw a flash of lightning, before trying to pull the covers back over her head.
Regina reached out her hand and stopped Emma. "Helping you." She reached over with her other hand and shut off the light.
"Regina!" Emma exclaimed. "What are you doing?"
"Helping you," Regina said simply. "Roll over and face the window."
"Are you crazy?" Emma asked. "There's no way that I'm doing that. Turn the light back on."
"No," Regina said. "I know that you hate feeling fear. The only way that your fear is going to go away is if you conquer it. Which we're going to do."
"We are?" Emma whimpered.
Regina smiled gently. "Turn towards the window."
Several beats passed before Emma slowly rolled over to face the window. Her eyes were tightly clenched shut, but she still winced as lightning flashed.
"Open your eyes," Regina commanded gently.
Emma shook her head. "I'm good. I'm really really good."
"Emma," Regina said. "Open up your eyes. I'm right here." She lay down next to Emma and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.
Emma relaxed in the comfort of Regina's embrace. Letting out the breath that she had been holding, Emma opened her eyes. "This isn't so bad."
Regina smiled. "That would be because lightning hasn't flashed yet."
"Not true," Emma argued. Lightning flashed and she winced, shifting deeper into Regina's embrace. "Never mind."
Regina chuckled. "It should pass soon."
"If it was during the day it wouldn't be so bad," Emma mumbled. "It only scares me at night." Lightning flashed again and Emma winced before jumping at the sound of thunder.
Regina glanced over at the clock. "It's getting late. We should try and get some sleep."
"I never sleep during thunderstorms," Emma said. "Not unless the light is on."
"Consider this another part of your conquering," Regina said.
"Do I have to keep facing the window?" Emma asked.
Regina thought about it. "No. You can face me. But the light stays off."
"Fine," Emma grumbled, turning over. She snuggled into Regina's embrace, and fell asleep shortly after. In Regina's arms, any fear could be conquered.
Fun fact, Emma during this chapter is based off of me. I'm terrified of lightning and thunder, but rain doesn't bother me. I'm still scared of them, and I have to sleep with a light on so I can't see the lightning. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!