Thank you for reading and your kind reviews! please enjoy.
Yours (Ella Henderson)
The moment had come. Neither Emma nor Regina had spoken of the events that led them to separate weeks prior; they had fought ardently, cried within their frailty, savored the stillness of an honest desire to forgive… not for the sake of moving on or succumbing to any craving, but for the simple and genuine sentiment of love. Yet the upcoming instant would ignite the perfect opportunity for them to have the conversation that needed to be had.
The night had fallen and within the intimate warmth of their home Emma and Regina sat next to each of their daughter's sides. The beautiful teenager knew that she was about to drop a bomb on her mothers but this needed to be done; deep down she was almost afraid to open a door that should stay closed and undisturbed… but the girl knew she had to do this, she also saw the potential this photo held… this could be the beginning of finding truth, and finally moving on.
"Ok…" Emily sighed and looked to her left and saw her brunette mother… to the right and there was the other.
Regina widened her eyes in expectancy. "Well?"
Emily's shoulders plummeted as she armed herself with valor and opened the air book that lay on the coffee table. Soon after the brunette woman would be the first to react to the photo silently.
Regina's eyes caught sight of Emma kissing her deeply, hands entwined deliciously on the brunette's figure. A deep breath caught in her throat when she noticed their familiar surroundings. The stunning woman's eyes shifted to Emma instantly.
Emily bit her lip and turned her right only to see the blonde with furrowed brows faithfully staring at the photo. The teenager's insides were shaking as her mothers silence was driving her crazy. She turned to look to her other shoulder and this time found Regina's tears at bay.
"Mom… Are you ok?"
Regina swallowed her cry as she composed herself quickly. "I am honey"
The instant the brunette had seen the photo in close detail, fully taking in its background she knew when it was taken. She knew.
Emily turned her head once more "Are you ok ma?" The girl asked with furrowed brows. Emma nodded peacefully.
The teens heart felt heavy for her mom, but she simply ached with her beloved ma... Emily had struggled with Emma in her efforts to get her wife to forgive her; she had been her only confidant; the young girl had been the only shoulder the blonde had decided to turn to.
"Where did you get this Em?" Emma finally spoke.
"Finn took it, that… night" The teenager said with gentleness, avidly trying to protect her mother's feelings.
For an instant Emma saw Regina harden a little; her brown eyes froze in space for a moment.
"This has to be some sort of forgery" The woman turned to Emma "This never happened"
Emma could see the pain in her eyes and in turn poured her heart in one tender and profound look; in vivid detail, her irises expanded and just like magic her lover's eyes brought Regina back down to earth gently. In many ways the blonde had forgotten about herself; ever since that fatidic morning the woman had been focused on her wife's emotions completely numbing her very own ability to feel compassion for herself. Emma never saw the acts she was being blamed for as a reality, her mind was blank and her wife quick to blame with all reason; but inside she knew... She could not let that small light burn out, that glimpse of something that held her together... She never gave the fear of not knowing what had been done with her oblivious mind and body that night a chance.
"Mom… Finn wouldn't do that, I know him… he can be trusted" Em reassured honestly.
"I don't understand" Regina said.
"Mom this proves ma was right! She was with you that night"
"No she wasn't" Regina replied quickly.
"Regina…"
"Or at least this is what she remembers... Ma says she was with you, that the last thing she saw was you, but you know for a fact you weren't there… mom that's freaking weird! It makes no sense"
"Emily" Regina looked at her daughter with a gentle scolding tone.
"She's right Regina"
Regina quickly stood and paced around with wondering eyes "This is ridiculous Emma"
"No mom it isn't! this is exactly what I talked to you about the other day… This is what you needed to find; this is your proof" Emily's eyes began to water "Fallow it…" Her long brown locks fell down the side of her face as the teenager faithfully pleaded looking into her mother's eyes. "Please"
The instant was real… and raw; Regina gave her daughter a small simile. The woman took her daughter's hand and squeezed it gently.
Regina was an exceptionally smart woman, she was a coarse survivor who had had to claw her way through life to find happiness and hang on to it; for the past fifteen years she had no need to remember those parts of her, but deep down she knew they were there, in thriving existence like a unique organism. This was part of what made her beautiful, it made her… her.
Right then her daughter gave her enough strength to finish off her pride with one last blow, this time she would look through the ache and make it to the other side, no shortcuts… no running from her pain, no walls. This very plea in her daughter's eyes would ignite a search... The woman had no idea of what lied ahead.
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After leaving her moms to themselves Emily walked up the stairs, one lazy touch of her rooms door handle; two steps forward and she plummeted on the soft bed. Her brown orbs scanning the ceiling and the calming lights behind her magic potion bottles soothed her… she noticed; purple… icy blue, yellow… and green. The cold winter air crackling against her window.
Another sound.
The girl turned her head and heard closely this time… a small object hit her window glass. Emily quickly sat up and took a few steps towards the pane. This time the girl saw the tiny rock hit the glass; she opened it and poked her head out.
Emily smiled.
"What the hell are you doing to my window?"
A pair of blinding eyes devotedly looked up.
Frankie smirked lopsidedly and with avid agility climbed up the leafless tree that led to the other girl's bedroom.
Emily's hand reached out to meet Frankie's cold one. The contrast of her pale skin and eyes juxtaposed stunningly with her flushed cheeks and lips.
"You're freezing" Emily offered chilled to the bone.
Frankie finished entering the warm bedroom and closed the window behind her.
"Bodes well for me that my mother is a wolf" The taller girl said and shrugged as she buried her hands in her pockets.
Frankie's honest simplicity always took Emily's breath easily; the girl radiated effortless kindness… a type of beauty that needed no words.
Emily walked closer never taking her eyes away from hers; the glow in her dark orbs was pure undeniable bliss. The shorter girl's lips formed a somewhat shy smile; she reached for Frankie's hand still confined in her pocket.
With entwined fingers their hands swung loosely as they smitten took in the moment. Frankie took the lead this time and reached for Emily's lips, covering her smile with a short but meaningful kiss.
"What are you doing up so late?" Frankie broke the silence. "I thought you were a powerful sorceress not a vampire"
Emily scoffed and smiled "Says the one throwing tiny rocks at my window in the middle of the night"
Frankie smiled and shrugged "Fair enough… and in my defense, they were tiny because I am not looking to get zapped by one of your mom's for breaking into their little girl's bedroom this late"
Emily rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh "You've been climbing up my window for the last four years; I don't really think they care"
The taller girl widened her stunning orbs "Oh but I think they do" She said matter of factly "Didn't you see their faces when they walked in on us playing this afternoon?"
Emily smiled.
"They must think I am now doing the dirty to their little princess"
The shorter girl continued to smile and placed another short innocent kiss on Frankie's lips.
"I guess things have changed" Emily said as she looped her arms around the taller girl's warm neck.
"They have…" Frankie said returning the soft smile.
In the sweet intimacy of the moment, Emily gently caressed the back of Frankie's neck with her thumb, sending a surplus rush under the taller girl's skin. Every second they spent together seemed become more with each passing day, an awakening of brand new sensations tastes and scents.
"Good… and now that you're here…" Emily mischievously suggested narrowing her eyes.
Frankie furrowed her brows and narrowed hers as she smiled suspiciously "What do you have in mind? You're making that face"
"What face?" Emily asked and smiled with arms still entwined on the other girl's neck.
Frankie dropped her hands to her hips musing "The one you make when you're planning something that's gonna get us in deep shit"
Emily let out a small laugh "You know me so well"
The girl broke the embrace and walked to her night stand to pick up her car keys.
Frankie rolled her eyes knowingly and slouched "Oh my God Em… I just got my no curfew privilege back, why do I have the feeling that I'm going to lose it again?"
Emily smiled and tiptoed to place a kiss on Frankie's flushed lips, she pulled away only mere inches and looked down at them and then back up into clear orbs… she winked.
"No one will find out" Emily said reassuringly and took the other girl's hand "Come on… let's go" She dragged Frankie along and out of her room in stealth silence.
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The warm lights of the study encompassed their surroundings, the burning embers of the fire crackled as they consumed themselves quietly.
Regina had been looking at the insidious photograph for the past few hours, consuming her brain… she was simple exhausted. The woman took a deep breath and blinked annoyed, she had had enough. She closed her daughter's laptop and stood from her desk. Emma had been quietly observing her, offering her company and support… if wrapping her head around this was what Regina needed then she's faithfully stand by her.
From the small distance of the love seat Emma looked up and right into Regina's eyes, the blonde smiled peacefully. Regina inhaled deeply and walked towards her wife.
The brunette sat on the other side of the small elegant seat. After looking at her tangled fingers Regina looked up.
"I hate awkward silence and elusive glances" Regina darkly joked as she broke the silence Emma had decided to respect.
The blonde smiled and blinked softly.
"I think we're far too old and domesticated to play girlfriend tag" The brunette laughed and added to the joke.
Emma knew that now more than ever Regina needed reassurance, she saw right through her uncomfortable joke.
The blonde reached for the brunette's eyes and placed her fingers under her cheek to find them.
"I know what it meant… I know what it took for you to do this" Emma said vulnerably.
Regina's eyes broke into intense exposure, this wasn't weakness… on the contrary, it was beauty in its most naked and raw state.
Regina gave Emma a lopsided knowing smile, the blonde obviously had no idea of what was going on inside Regina's heart, she was quick to misunderstand yet the brunette profoundly understood why, she wasn't an easy woman to read; even though her eyes always told her story… sometimes words simply needed to be said.
Regina reached for Emma's hand and took it in hers. The woman pierced her wife with her brown eyes.
"What happened wasn't easy for me to understand" The woman shook her head "I don't think it would be easy for anyone in my shoes"
Emma nodded and squeezed her hand tightly, she didn't know what she would have done had the situation been reversed.
"But… I need you to know that in the midst of any inquisition… or arbitration" The brunette looked down to their entwined fingers then back up "I will always choose you"
Emma let out a small breath and smiled, her eyes gleaming endlessly.
"I didn't choose truth… I chose you."
Emma's eyes reddened and quickly filled with tears, hearing those words felt like she could simply breathe again.
"I want that to be clear" Regina said with a soft reassuring look and genuine smile.
"Thank you" Emma simply said.
The moment was heaviest in its lightness; Regina reached for Emma's face and wiped a couple of tears away.
The woman took a deep breath and gently shook their tangled hands.
"Let's go to bed" Regina finished honestly.
Emma nodded and fallowed her wife out of the now dark study.
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The cold was intense and bone invading, both girls were now standing outside Regina's mausoleum.
"Shit Em, of all the fucked up placed you could have taken me to a tomb wasn't even at the bottom of my list"
"Don't be such a baby, it's just my family mausoleum"
"Yeah of course… just that" The taller girl said sarcastically.
Emily smiled and shook her head "Come on, help me open this"
After successfully opening the over sized door, both girls walked inside, Emily closed it behind them.
Frankie immediately reacted.
"Em are you freaking kidding me?!" The girl said with wide eyes as she looked at the now shut escape way.
As Frankie turned she saw the shorter girl was already trying to push the coffin with all she had.
Frankie's eyes equally wide as she saw the shorter girl so casually push on a coffin… a fucking coffin.
"A little help wouldn't hurt Frankie" Em suggested as she continued to push.
Frankie grimaced as she touched the old coffin "Why the hell are we pushing on a coffin?" The girl took a hand and wiped it on her jeans. "Gross Em I can't believe you're making me do this" Frankie finished as her beautiful yet terrified eyes searched the haunting looking place.
"Because this isn't just a coffin, there's a secret place below here… this is merely a disguised pathway."
"Wouldn't it be easier and a hell of a lot less disgusting to just puff us there then?"
Emily gave one last push and the coffin finally moved, revealing a light that shone on their faces, the shorter brunette smiled.
"I don't know how to do that yet…" Emily smiled "I've always sucked at it... besides, where's the fun in that?" Emily finished as she looked down and began to descend.
Stunned and still a bit grossed out by the coffin ordeal, Frankie fallowed.
"Whoa… this place is so fucking creepy" Frankie added as her curious eyes embraced everything in sight. "And awesome" She finished awkwardly.
Emily smiled "I told you… You should really trust me more often Frances" Emily joked "This place was my mom's safe place a long time ago"
"I've always dug your mom's dark mysterious vibe, but this is a whole other level" The girl added as she eyes all the strange objects.
Emily walked towards the stack of old books, and right next to them was a big wooden trunk. The girl opened it.
"Why are we here again?"
"I thought this would be a perfect place to find something… a clue about the principal…"
"What? How?"
"I want to know who she is… or well, who she was back in fairytale land" Emily closed the trunk and walked around "Some of these stuff were left to my mom by my grandmother, the one who cast the curse"
Frankie walked to the glowing beating cases and reached to touch one.
"Don't!" Emily said.
Frankie quickly drew her hand back "Shit Em! You scared me!" The girl said relieved.
Emily laughed "Sorry… well you were about to take a heart, that's a no no"
"A What?!"
"A heart"
"Em a fucking heart? That's so gross! And so weird!"
Emily walked closer to where Frankie was standing. "My mom returned as many as she could, but these… she never knew who they belonged to, so she sort of keeps them here… safe"
Frankie's mortified eyes were simply hilarious "Okay….."
The shorter girl grabbed her hand excitedly. "Come on there's something I have to show you"
Emily dragged Frankie to the other side of the vault; the hidden beautiful part that she would have never thought was there.
"Wow" Frankie said as her eyes found a whole new set of objects to look at.
Emily walked to where Regina kept all her dresses.
Emily gently touched the fabric of the infamous purple one with a longing smile on her lips, the moment was small yet meaningful… she loved her mother and always dreaded that she had to suffer so much, in a way it made her admire the woman even more; it reminded her just how strong her mother truly was.
"Nice costume"
Emily rolled her eyes "It is not a costume" She finished with a smile. "These were my mom's… from when she was queen"
Frankie raised her brows "They are beautiful Em"
The other girl turned to Frankie and gave her one of those signature looks.
"Ugh now what? Seriously we're already in a huge lair below a creepy coffin in the middle of the cemetery"
Emily took a black dress and ran away from Frankie's view; the tall girl scratched her head as she looked around awkwardly.
"Em!" Frankie said as she tiptoed and tried to peek towards the place the other girl ran to.
The greenish gray eyed girl was quickly caught choking on her own breath… a more serious look washed her face instantly. Frankie blinked as her blushed lips were merely agape.
Emily had walked out wearing one of her mother's dresses fitting into it almost perfectly; the beautiful girl looked as regal as her mother once did in it. Emily looked down at herself and then to the still taken girl.
"What do you think? Do you like it?" Emily asked sincerely.
Frankie tried her very best to find her words, and more than that… she tried so hard to not let them continue to choke her.
"You look… great" The girl immediately kicked herself as she heard the short lame adjective come out of her lips.
Emily smiled and walked closer to the other girl, she turned around and swiftly brushed her long brown hair to one shoulder leaving her half zipped up dress in complete view for Frankie.
"Can you unzip me please?" The girl genuinely smiled and self deprecatingly added "I don't think I even got it all the way up… definitely not as glamorous as my mom"
A moment of exposure and vulnerability flared up her insecurities.
Frankie swallowed hard and felt a rush of heat creep up to her face, all of the sudden the room was a hundred degrees higher and she felt like she was on fire. She quickly complied and brought her hands to the soft dark fabric, her beautiful eyes intensely and at the same time naively discovering every inch of olive skin her orbs could reach. It looked so soft and warm, she vividly noticed the way Emily's breathing rhythm made her ribs expand and contract, she began to unzip the garment down slowly, eagerly discovering new territory inch by slow inch… a couple of beautifully placed moles and even more smooth olive skin.
Frankie's finger briefly touched Emily's back and immediately the other girl's breath caught in her throat, her smile slowly faded from her lips as she let herself feel. She closed her eyes, by now the taller girl was half way down her back being consumed by a brand new shade to the word she knew as desire.
Emily could feel her legs start to betray her… a double ended sensation, a devouring element that danced around her hips. She turned her head slightly trying to look over her shoulder unsuccessfully.
Frankie was aware of her action, and truth be told she was as nervous as the other girl was. The zipper reached its final destination and Frankie let out a toothless shy smile.
"There…" She said gently.
Emily returned the sentiment and held the front of the dress, the girl tuned to look at Frankie shyly; a beautiful longing dressed their eyes. Emily smiled and the other girl reached for her pockets as she looked down.
Emily walked to the other side of the room to remove the beautiful garment, completely taken by what had just happened.
To be continued.
Thank you to those who have given the story a chance and make their presence felt :) Avidwriter, I will be addressing that in the upcoming chapters, and also yes more swan queen moments ahead.