Title: Only when you sleep – chapter 2
Author: thingsabout
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Swan Queen (Regina Mills/Emma Swan)
Rating: T
Author's note: Thank you so much for the reviews! I have to say I am a bit overwhelmed with the reception Chapter 1 got from you guys, so... here is a sequel! As I have said to many of you who requested it, Chapter 1 was intended as a standalone piece. But since you were all so nice, I felt compelled to write a bit more! I feel this was a bit rushed in, but anyway... There could be a Chapter 3 on the making, you never know... since there are still some unresolved requests I got through both reviews and PM's.
All mistakes by me. I own nothing.
Enjoy! (^_^)
Regina was lying awake in her bed, but she dared not to move. A simple movement could ruin the apparent equilibrium she was feeling. The dim sunlight permeated through the windows, finding only small obstacles in the draped curtains that were hanging from the ceiling. A long breath escaped her lungs, as she was certainly reminiscing about past events. She was pulled from her reverie by a soft, unmistakable snort and a slight rustling coming from her right.
Regina slowly turned her head on the pillow, her body soon followed the same motion and now, she was on her side, looking at the sleeping figure of Emma Swan. Emma's usually defined curls were now untamed and covered most of her face, while she was deeply tucked under a mass of sheets, breathing evenly now that her body, too, had shifted its position. Regina truly enjoyed seeing how peacefully Emma was resting, how her golden locks shimmered in the filtered light, how blissful was that moment.
She dared tuck a strand of hair behind Emma's ear, but refrained from doing so, as the younger woman was waking up, rustling under the covers. Emma tried to open her eyes to no avail; her eyelids were still too heavy with slumber. Regina smiled at her cuteness, but quickly hid that smile right before Emma opened her eyes.
Emma rubbed her forehead, as if to chase away an incoming headache and inhaled deeply while stretching her legs. "What time is it?" She groggily inquired, adjusting her eyes to the room lighting.
"Almost 9." Regina replied, tucking her hands under her pillow as Emma gradually woke up.
"Oh crap!" Emma sank her face on her pillow for a brief moment, groaning as she proceeded to get up. On doing so, her already stretched legs met Regina's under the sheets. Voluntarily or not, Regina's legs seemed to tangle themselves quite well with Emma's, preventing the latter from leaving.
Emma smirked, looking at Regina. "Regina... I have to go. Before Henry wakes up."
"He's quite asleep, I checked on him a while ago." Regina said, deepening the web of entanglement between their lower limbs, pulling Emma towards her with her legs and finally tucking that strand of hair away from Emma's face. Emma merely laid there, sheepishly smiling. Regina grazed her thumb over a soft and defined cheekbone in silence, probably fearing that any words would most likely disrupt the moment.
"So, you're asking me to say a little longer, Madam Mayor?" Emma looked at her with an assertive expression.
"Nuh uh." Regina grinned, slightly waved her finger 'no'. "Regina."
"Regina... Are you asking me to stay a little longer?" Emma repeated the question, reaching her hand out, only to grab Regina's and plant a light kiss on the knuckles.
Regina took a moment to reply, but the answer was more than obvious. "Yes." Not more than a whisper as she looked into Emma's eyes, not sure what to expect. Emma leaned in and languidly kissed her cheek. "I can't. I'm sorry." She disentangled herself from Regina and got out of bed. Regina propped herself up and leaned her back against the headboard.
"I understand..." Regina's tone sounded deflated. Emma noticed and turned again to the bed, half crawling on top of it halting in front of her.
"Regina, things can't be rushed. And there is Henry too." Emma offered to a seemingly sulking Regina.
"You don't think I know? I..." She paused for a bit. "It's not it."
"What is it then?" Emma took Regina's hands on to her own. She could see Regina was struggling a bit with her words. And it preoccupied her; Regina Mills was never at fault with words.
"Emma, I've never felt so alive. I feel that I might wake up at any moment and this'll all be gone. I've lost so much; I don't want to lose..." She looked at Emma in earnest. "Anything more."
"Your dreams... are they about that?" Emma asked, not unaware of the underlying tone of Regina's words. Regina half-nodded. Emma smiled at the older woman, dismissing her concerns. Emma's sleep was known to be a heavy one most of the time, but she knew Regina had troubled nights.
"Regina, there is nothing you can lose. I'm here, with you." Emma placed a chaste kiss on Regina's forehead and, as she was rising from bed, she did not resist and leaned in, stealing another one, kissing Regina fully on the lips, quickly retreating while cheekily grinning She turned her back on Regina while taking off one of her borrowed shirts as she stepped into the bathroom, in nothing but her double laced, baby blue cotton boy shorts. Regina chuckled, most likely thinking where had she gotten herself into.
Emma emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in towel, immediately noticing Regina was not there. She gave the room an overlook and collected the rest of her clothes, dressing herself. As she was putting on her boots, a somewhat distressed Regina entered the room and closed the door behind her. She was surprised, as she turned, to see Emma was already ready.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Emma asked.
"Emma... Henry's downstairs. He's watching some cartoon show in the living room."
"Oh!" Emma gasped lightly, acknowledging the fact. "Well, looks like I'll have to sneak out or he'll see me." She finished tying her boot.
Regina gave her an apologetic look. She took a few steps forward, gesturing with her hands open. "I had no idea he'd be up. He usuall..."
"It's fine, Regina. He's a kid." Emma interrupted, smiling as she rose from the edge of the bed and walked towards Regina. "Now, I'd appreciate some help." She rested her hands on Regina's sides, taking a mental note about the satiny fabric that covered her body.
"A little help, Sheriff?" Regina purposely sauntered her hips while closing the remaining distance between them, in a sly manner.
"Yes, Madam Mayor." Emma dug her fingers deeper into the fabric. "A little help. We both know getting in is the easy part." Most likely an allusion to the several times Emma sneaked into the Mayor's house. "Now getting out... that's another story." Emma Swan's gaze travelled from Regina Mills' neckline to her lips, only stopping when she found dark caramel orbs looking back at her, smiling puckishly.
"Henry, what are you doing here?" Regina entered the living room, placing herself between Henry and the television, with her arms folded in front of her. He was sitting on the large armchair that was parallel to the entrance. If Emma tried her luck while he was sitting there, she'd surely be spotted.
"Don't get mad at me right away, but there was a special episode of 'Ben 10' and I already missed it the first time they aired it and they are not airing it ever again after this one." He fully expected Regina to give him some kind of sermon.
"Henry..." Regina sighed. She sat on the large sofa that was exactly opposite to the hallway and with its back facing it. "Come here." She patted the seat next to her. Henry hesitant at first, stood up and occupied the place next to her. "I'm not mad at you."
"You're not?" Henry enquired.
"No, Henry. Contrary to what you always think." She grinned lightly. "I care for you. More than anything in this world."
"And Emma." He said, matter-of-factly, looking at her.
"Emma?" For a moment, Regina's blood almost froze in her veins at the mention of the sheriff's name, given the implications that could emerge from this.
"She cares for me too." Henry completed.
"Ah... Yes. I believe Sheriff Swan also cares for you, Henry." Regina breathed, seemingly relieved.
"So, can she come here more often?" He fidgeted with the remote in his hands, not really paying attention to what he was doing.
"Henry..." She used a slight condescending tone with him.
"I liked last night." He interrupted, looking at the remote he had on his lap. "Us three having dinner." Henry paused. "You two didn't fight." Regina's sensed what was about to come and heart was starting to feel a bit small, under the weight of what her son was stating. "I wasn't scolded for spending time with her and I spent time with you too, Mom." Henry looked at her and lightly shrugged his shoulders. "Why can't it be like this more often?"
Regina had a response in the back of her mind, but the one she gave Henry was both what he wanted to hear and what she'd never hope she'd say. At least, not now.
"Henry, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. If it makes you happy, very well. You can invite Sheriff Swan over to our home whenever you want."
"Really?!" Henry excitedly replied to Regina.
"Yes." She nodded lightly.
"This is the best thing I heard today!" Henry almost lunged at her, which resulted in a very tight embrace. Regina took him in, resting her head slightly over his, her eyes concealing some welled-up tears behind her lids. She opened them shortly, as Henry still held her and she looked in the opposite direction, towards the hallway, finding Emma Swan supporting an endearing expression on her face, smiling seconds before she walked through the door.
Regina gave Henry a final squeeze and a small rub on his back. "Well, now that that's settled, I'll fix us some breakfast." She rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. She was half way through when Henry called her, forcing her to look back
"Mom?" He said, peeking from behind the sofa.
"Yes, dear?"
"I'm glad you had a good night sleep."
Regina's expression somewhat blank, her deliberate blinking indicated so. "I'm sorry dear, what?"
Henry elaborated his answer a bit more. "I know you work a lot and you really don't sleep a lot. When you do, you're always in a better mood." He smiled at her. "Can we have pancakes for breakfast, please?"
Regina really didn't know what to make of that. "Yes Henry, we can have pancakes."
Author's note 2: As always, R&R! Your comments, suggestions are all taken in consideration! Thank you for reading!