My Sweet Doves! Bless you all for your kind reviews and follows. I'm having such a wonderful time writing this story. The words just keep flying out of my fingertips, and I love your commentary so very much. I love the idea of Regina pursuing and taking care of Emma even though she is the one who is in danger and the most emotionally compromised at this point. Thanks once again, and enjoy!
Warnings: Alas, the time for fluff has passed. Some angst, some torture, some sexual violence.
Songs: I'm Not and Angel by Halestorm, Monster You Made Me by Pop Evil, Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson
Emma returned to the back room of the diner to find Regina and Henry snuggled on the couch. Regina had turned to the side and leaned against the arm and Henry reclined against her, intently watching some cartoon flashing on the old television across the room. He glanced up at her and pressed his finger to his mouth in a shushing gesture and then pointed to Regina's head lulled against the back of the sofa at an uncomfortable angle. Dark hair fell over her face, obscuring her features, and Emma smiled. Neither of them had gotten much sleep in the past few days, and the comfort of Henry's return had prompted her into a nap.
She curled into the arm chair and held her shaking hands against her chest. She truly feared that Regina would not make good on her promise, and the relief tore through her system as the adrenaline faded, leaving her anxious and trembling and a little sick to her stomach… maybe that was hunger. She ignored her clenching stomach and laid her head against the arm rest, eyes on the t.v. without actually seeing the moving pictures.
Henry watched cartoon after cartoon and eventually Regina groaned and rubbed her neck. The sound roused Emma from her semi-catatonic state, and Henry leapt off the couch in an ungraceful flourish.
"Finally! I gotta pee!" He rushed from the room, and Emma snorted in amusement, as she pulled herself upright. Her legs had gone numb about an hour ago, but she hadn't the energy to move.
Regina jerked at the sudden jostling and clutched at her leg, unbeknownst to Henry. He must have wriggled across her bad leg in his rush to relieve his bursting bladder. Emma watched her carefully and stretched out, wiggling her feet to and fro in an attempt to restore blood flow. She frowned at the painful tingling but tried her best to ignore it, lest Regina need her assistance. Finally, after a long moment of rubbing her leg gently, Regina sat up and rolled her neck.
"Did you find Belle?" Regina's voice was harsh and raspy, and it rolled down Emma's spine with a pleasant shiver.
"Yeah, turns out Gold was right. Her father had kidnapped her and took her to the mines to bypass the dwarves. He was going to send her underneath the town line to erase her memories of Rumpelstiltskin. We got there just in time." Emma explained succinctly, leaving out the part about Gold's magic having returned with no problem. She'd leave that for a later discussion when Henry wasn't lurking about.
"How was she?" Regina's voice was hesitant, like she really didn't want to know.
"She's a wreck," Emma answered honestly but gently. "She and Gold had some sort of argument about him using magic and making deals, burst into tears and begged me to bring her with me. Ruby gave her a room at the inn for now, but we need to figure out a more permanent solution." Emma watched the different emotions playing across Regina's pale face… anger, pain, guilt, surprise. Emma felt bad, but she refused to lie to Regina. She maintained this shaky truce and budding friendship only if she stayed honest with former royal.
"Did you eat?" Regina asked suddenly, waving a hand towards the empty plate on the table.
"Henry had a grilled cheese. He refused to move because he didn't want to wake you, so I had to hand it to him." Emma grinned at their son's gentleness and concern about waking his slumbering mother. Regina smiled sadly.
"I need you to go to my office," Regina abruptly turned a corner on the conversation, and Emma scrambled to keep up.
"Now?" Regina nodded. "For what?" Emma's voice rose an octave in disbelief. What could be so important to Regina that she needed Emma to leave her side again?
"Yes, Miss Swan, I need it now. In the bureau on the right side of my office, there is a drawer full of master keys. I need you to bring me the one marked 'library.'" Regina nodded as she came to some sort of decision that she hadn't spoken aloud yet, and her tone left little room for negotiation.
"Oh, and please send Miss Lucas back for our lunch orders. I'd go myself, but I promised you I'd remain out of sight." Regina raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at Emma's surprise, and then flicked her wrist as if dismissing a servant. "Step to it, Sheriff."
Emma shook her head at Regina's entitled tone but followed her instruction anyway. Old habits died hard for former queens. Henry bumbled clumsily into the room at that moment and stared up at her in concern. She ran her fingers straight through his hair, making it stand on end in some places.
"Be back soon, Kid," assured Emma and dutifully tromped to Town Hall after directing Ruby with her eyes to the back room.
Emma had to pick the lock of Regina's office when she arrived. Thankfully, no one had broken in and trashed the place. She found the key easily and then dropped it when she turned to find Archie standing in the doorway. The man grinned sheepishly and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Sorry, Sheriff. I saw you come in, and I wanted to talk with you about Regina." He explained in his soothing, slightly effeminate voice.
"What about her?" Emma groused as she knelt to retrieve the key. She was fully prepared to blow off the therapist if he even hinted to any type of punishment for the former evil queen.
"I want to help her,' he admitted quietly.
"I didn't realize it before, but Regina never suffered from any sort of amnesia from the curse. She'd been seeing me for a few months before the curse broke. She said a lot of things that didn't make sense at the time, but they do now. She was trying to change, even before the curse was broken, Emma." He fixed her with a serious expression, it was sincere and troubled all at the same time.
"Archie, I…" Emma wasn't sure how to respond to the offer or the knowledge that Regina had begun therapy even before everyone knew what she'd done.
"Look, I know that you are concerned for her safety as you should be," he validated her concerns gently. "I'm angry about what happened because it caused a lot of pain and suffering for a lot of people, but I'm not upset about my new life. I've spent most of this past week thinking about it, and I love my new life. I get to help people, and I get to live in human form while doing what I love. Being a cricket was fun for about a day." He laughed at his previous predicament, and Emma felt her heart lighten at his quiet admission.
"I'll talk to Regina. If she agrees, I have no problem with it." Emma agreed tentatively.
"Do you always call her Regina?" He asked suddenly. Emma's brows pulled together in confusion, but she humored the docile man.
"Uhh, at least in the past three days, yes," she answered, the question obvious in her voice.
"That's good. You should keep that up." When Emma pinned him with an irritated look, he continued, "Regina needs someone to see her as a person, not the evil queen, not the mayor, just Regina. Using her first name only will reaffirm that you see her without her titles, and in a way that you see her humanity."
Emma nodded as the explanation made sense. She felt the same way when people called her "Savior." It stripped her of her identity and forced her into a role that she never wanted. Dr. Hopper saw the understanding in her green eyes and offered her a parting smile before slipping quietly down the hall. To Emma, she'd always just been Regina, even when she was a raging bitch in mayor's clothing.
Emma shook away her reverie and locked the office as she left. She picked her way through the cots spread down the hall, knowing she really needed to organize a group to repair the homes that had been damaged by the wraith. She needed to talk with Marco. No time like the present to flex her Savior muscle. She entered the large meeting room and found Stacy bustling about, restocking bottled water in several large refrigerators that had been moved into the space. She returned the redhead's enthusiastic wave from across the room and slowly picked her way through the cots and bags and running children strewn about. It wasn't the utter chaos she'd anticipated and was relieved that she'd left Stacy in charge.
"Sheriff Swan," the woman greeted warmly, just like she always had when Emma had shown up at the mayor's office.
"Stacy, how's everything?" She waved her hand around the room.
"As good as can be expected. Dr. Hopper has been an absolute angel. He's really worked hard to make sure everyone is adjusting properly. Poor guy is here at dawn and doesn't leave until everyone who wants to talk with him has had the chance. I have a cot set up for him in the corner, just in case he ever wants to stay, but he always goes home every evening." Stacy gushed, clearly taken with the gentle man's work ethic, and perhaps him as a person.
"That's great. We'll have to do something special for him when things calm down a bit." Emma suggested, and Stacy's eyes sparkled with the thought, already planning some sort of surprise for the therapist. Huh. She'd never imagined Archie in a relationship, but if he played his cards right, he'd have this woman eating out of the palm of his hand.
"Oh yes, that would be wonderful! He's so humble, though, so he'd probably only be comfortable with a small get together at Granny's."
Scratch that. He already had Stacy completely enthralled. Good, he deserved a happy ending, too.
"Stacy," Emma pulled the flighty woman back on track. "Can you get in touch with Marco for me and start getting volunteers together? We need to get people back in their homes soon. I need Marco to draw up the plans and oversee the construction. I'd do it myself, but I know nothing about carpentry."
"Oh of course. I'll give him a call this evening, and ask him to come see you. I'm sure the prince could help. He's quite knowledgeable about such things. Where is he anyway?" Stacy queried innocently, not realizing the can of worms she could unknowingly open if she pressed the issue.
"Uhh, he and Snow White disappeared together after they helped get rid of the wraith.," Emma skimmed around the truth. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"Oh," Stacy giggled and blushed. "I suppose true love needed some alone time." She winked at Emma a moment before a horrified expression crossed her mousey features.
"Oh God! I'm so sorry, Sheriff. They are your parents after all. Probably not an image you want in your head, is it?" Emma held a hand up to stop the young woman's anxious tangent.
"It's okay, Stacy. I'm sure they'll return soon," Emma assured her, hoping that her words weren't false. Perhaps if she could keep the secret long enough to get the town put back together, the backlash of her deceit wouldn't be quite as harsh for her as well as Regina.
"How wonderful that they allowed their princess to lead us," Stacy gushed and clapped her hands in front of her. Her intentions were well-placed but Emma still bristled at the blatant use of her title.
"Yes," Emma cleared her throat. "I'm doing my best." She smiled at the girl in what she hoped was a reassuring and politically correct way. "I need to get back, but please pass along the message to Marco and thank you so much for taking care of everyone here. It's helping me so much just knowing that everyone is safe and fed."
Stacy beamed at the compliment even as her cheeks and neck filled with red coloring. She was such an odd girl. How had she ended up as Regina's personal secretary? Surely her bubbly personality had grated against Regina's nerves. Who had she been in the Enchanted Forest?
"Stacy, out of curiosity, who were you back in the Enchanted Forest?" Emma voiced her question, and Stacy raised her chin in pride.
"I was head chambermaid to Queen Regina." She leaned in conspiratorially and whispered the next part. "You're not going to let them hurt her, are you, Sheriff Swan? I know she hurt a lot of people, but they didn't see her pain. My room was connected with hers at the castle. She cried nearly every night, and sometimes her nightmares would be so fierce that I woke her out of fear she'd accidentally harm herself while thrashing about. I'd forego sleep those nights and keep watch over her. She'd always rewarded loyalty, so she never treated me with anything but kindness." Stacy shook her head sadly as she remembered her former mistress' torment but then smiled up at Emma hopefully.
"I'm doing my best," Emma assured the conflicted girl and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "I need to get back to her."
"Of course! I'll work on that list of volunteers like you asked. Should I call the station?"
"Yeah, I have it forwarded to the department cell phone, so you should be able to reach me anytime." Emma confirmed and then turned on her heel.
She cared not if the abruptness of her departure seemed rude to Stacy. Her mind overflowed with all of the new information about Regina being flung at her, and she simply wanted the woman to kiss her again. It certainly wasn't love, but it hadn't sucked either. Emma knew, however, that traipsing down that path would only lead to more confusion and heartbreak for both women. Best if they stuck to the much less complicated hand holding and head scratches.
Emma's stomach grumbled loudly when she stepped through the door of the diner. The bell dinged, prompting Ruby to glance towards the door before returning her full attention to Belle who sat across from her in a booth. Three empty glasses of what looked like tea sat between them. Belle smiled shyly at the sheriff as she passed, and Emma nodded her head and squeezed her shoulder. She made a note to ask Ruby later what exactly her motives with the traumatized woman were.
"Hey Emma?" Ruby called, and the sheriff stopped. "When Henry and I leave tonight, do you think it would be okay for Belle to come with us?" Her large hopeful eyes nearly melted Emma's heart with their pathetic pleading. Emma no longer needed to ask Ruby about her intentions. The young wolf was absolutely smitten with the new girl in town.
"I'm sure that's not a problem," Emma smiled, anxious to return to Regina and Henry. Ruby smiled and giggled at the response as her eyes slid back to Belle's.
"See, I told you she'd be cool with it," Ruby bragged triumphantly.
Emma rolled her eyes and moved through the empty dining to the backroom that held the remainder of her family. Her stomach growled and grumbled at the sight of a gigantic double bacon cheese burger and a double order of fries sitting at the end of the table near the arm chair. Regina glanced between Emma's ravenous eyes and the ridiculous amount of food waiting for the sheriff.
"I ordered you lunch," Regina explained simply.
Emma tossed her the key to the library and plopped in front of her food. She moaned into the burger as she shoved the first bite into her mouth. She squished it to make it fit. Regina eyed her wearily, praying that Emma actually finished this meal before losing her temper or being called away by another frantic citizen.
"Where's Henry?" Emma asked around her food. Regina sighed but failed to muster the heart to berate the woman for her lack of manners, not when Emma was clearly enjoying the desperately needed calories in her mouth.
"He's in the kitchen with Granny spying on Ruby and Belle, something about his storybook being ruined." Regina shrugged, unsure what he meant.
"Oh, yeah, Ruby totally has the hots for Belle," Emma said casually and popped a fry into her mouth.
"Indeed?" Regina's surprise amused Emma, but she said nothing as she tore off another hunk of the huge burger in her mouth.
Regina's gaze fell to the key in her hands. She turned it over and over, her hands trembling harder with each passing second. She only looked up again when Emma's hand covered her own. Concerned green eyes asked her why the key was so important, and she sighed.
"Belle," she answered as if it explained everything.
"What about her?" Emma asked and brushed her thumb over Regina's knuckles.
Regina stayed quiet, and Emma figured that she'd get no further explanation, so she returned to her lunch, an eye on her food and an eye on Regina. She was down to only a handful of fries before Regina spoke again.
"She likes books. The library has an apartment above. I thought perhaps she could live there and open the library when she was ready." Regina explained with a strained voice. The conversation with Archie played over in Emma's mind. Regina was making amends the best way she knew how.
"Would you fetch her for me? I'd like to give it to her. I can wait until you finish your lunch if you'd prefer." Regina's wide eyes pleaded with Emma.
Emma nodded and scrambled towards the dining room, fries forgotten, before Regina changed her mind. She'd been full 10 fries ago anyway. This conversation was going to suck in the worst way, but she wanted Regina to have it. Emma waved Ruby over to her and quickly explained the situation. The girl listened intently with wide eyes and then nodded. Belle had taken an instant liking to Ruby, and Regina's former prisoner would need her support after coming face to face with her tormentor.
"Belle, would you come with me please?" Emma asked gently. Belle nodded even if her eyes were wild with confusion.
"I think we found a permanent solution to your living situation." Emma soothed the girl's fears, and Belle's eyes brightened.
She took two steps before glancing over her shoulder to ensure Ruby followed and then walked at Emma's side to probably the hardest conversation of her life. Regina stood beside the sofa, smoothing the wrinkles in her clothes as they rounded the corner. Belle stopped abruptly and simply stared at the older woman.
"You," she said in a disturbingly low and calm voice.
"Hello Belle," Regina responded, unaffected by Belle's outburst.
"What kind of trick is this?" She whirled on Emma, but Ruby stepped between them and grabbed Belle's shoulders.
"It's not what you think, Belle. Mayor… Regina is trying to help you. Will you at least hear her out?" The effect of Ruby's voice on the distraught woman was visible. She trusted Ruby even if she no longer trusted Emma.
"Do you know what she did to me?" Belle seethed, tears of rage spilling onto her cheeks.
"I know enough to know that it was awful, and when you're ready, I'd like to hear the rest of your story. When you're ready," Ruby emphasized. "Will you at least listen to what she has to say?"
Belle nodded and then turned towards Regina. She pressed back into Ruby who rubbed her shoulders and arms soothingly, just enough to reassure the other woman that she was still there and supporting her.
"Belle, I… I'm sorry. That doesn't mean anything to you, I know, and I won't make a pretty speech about redemption and forgiveness because I know that is probably not possible. Of all the things I've done, your punishment was probably the worst of them all." Regina took a shaky breath and extended the key towards Belle.
"It doesn't come close to repaying the debt I owe you for my cruelty, but I hope you will accept it all the same." Regina stayed perfectly still so as not to spook the girl as she took two steps forward to claim the key in the mayor's hand.
Belle flinched when her fingertips touched Regina's hand, and she snatched the key away quickly and retreated to Ruby. Emma held her breath as Belle turned the key over and read the label.
"A key to the library?" Belle asked a little breathlessly. Regina nodded.
"It's been closed for years. The town can't pay you much, but it will be enough to live comfortably. There is a modest living space on the second floor. It's yours." Regina finished without further explanation.
Belle studied Regina with hardened eyes, unsure how to respond to the generous offer.
"Why?" She said finally.
"I'm likely to be dead soon, and I'd like to rectify as many mistakes as possible before then," Regina answered honestly as her shoulders rose in a weak shrug and then fell in defeat. "I'll speak with Stacy as soon as possible and ensure that you are added to the city payroll."
"Thank you," Belle said quietly. "I'll never forgive you, but thank you."
"Forgiveness matters very little when a soul is already damned," Regina responded almost inaudibly.
"Regina." Emma reached for the older woman, but Regina stiffened and stepped away from her hands.
"Miss Lucas, I believe it is time for you to return to the woods with my son," Regina's tone hardened, but the other three women only stared at her with compassion, even Belle. No one feared the evil queen anymore.
"If you're sure," Ruby spoke first. "Do you want to say goodbye?"
"No. You can if you'd like, Miss Swan. I'll wait for you by the door." Regina brushed passed the others in the room.
"Tell Henry that we love him and that we'll see him soon. Keep him safe," Emma tossed at Ruby who nodded and straightened her spine, and then scrambled to catch up to Regina.
As promised, Regina leaned against the back exit, arms crossed over her chest protectively. Her eyes were hollow. Emma said nothing as they exited together. What could you possibly say to a person in a moment like this? They headed towards the station, but Emma grabbed her arm and directed Regina to her cruiser before they reached the doors. Regina allowed Emma to pull her around without so much as a glare or huff.
The drive to the Mills mansion passed quickly, and when the front door closed behind them, Regina seemed to breathe a little easier. Emma was exhausted after their brief but tense meeting with Belle and was done for the day and simply wanted to relax. She'd rescued a damsel in distress, sparked a new and unlikely romance, started the ball rolling on putting the town back together, and facilitated a meeting between Regina and someone she'd wronged terribly. On top of that, she'd been able to spend a few hours with her son. It had been a productive day, and she had nothing left to offer the citizens of Storybrooke, not when the rest of her mental reserves would be focused on Regina the rest of the evening.
"Regina, what happened with Belle?" Emma pressed now that they were tucked away in the safety of Regina's home.
"None of your concern, Miss Swan," Regina seethed and stomped towards the kitchen. Emma followed and watched her struggle with a bottle of red wine.
"It is my concern, Regina. You wanted me to know your damn story, then tell it to me." Emma nearly yelled in frustration.
"I change my mind. Leave me alone," Regina sniped as she retreated towards her study with the entire bottle and a single glass.
"No!" Emma slammed her hands on the counter and ignored the pain reverberating in her joints. "This is my concern. If you keep casually tossing out death wishes like candy in a parade, someone is eventually going to fulfill it. Do you want to die, Regina?" Emma fixed her hard eyes on the woman's back as she paused in the door across the room.
Regina turned slowly, a sneer on her lips but remained quiet. "Do you want to die?" Emma repeated, and Regina smiled that same predatory smile she used when she knew her words would hurt the most. Emma had seen it more than once, and it was usually aimed at her.
"Yes," Regina hissed. "Care to oblige me, Savior?" Emma flinched at the words, knowing that Regina was intentionally pushing her away, but the sting hit its mark in Emma's chest all the same.
"No, but I do want you to get the hell off your cross and talk to me like a normal human being. I know there's one somewhere inside The Evil Queen." Emma bit back, watching Regina carefully for a reaction.
There was none. She simply turned on her heal and stomped into her study. The sound of the door slamming followed a few seconds later. Emma closed her eyes slowly as the reality of what she'd just done washed over her. She stared at her hands, slowly forcing her mind to accept the mess she'd just made. Her confidence shattered, she slunk to the living room and collapsed into one of plushy leather sofas. She knew she should probably have checked on Regina, made sure the older woman wouldn't harm herself, but she had to trust that Regina could be left unattended for ten minutes.
Ten minutes turned into four hours when Emma slipped into a turbulent sleep. She woke suddenly in the darkness to find Regina kneeling beside the sofa. The obviously drunk woman stroked her hand until Emma fully roused and sat up. She expected Regina to move away, but the former queen situated herself between Emma's knees and gripped her legs painfully.
The tang of wine hung between them, and Emma wondered just how much Regina had drunk. She really should have checked on her or at least hidden the cork screw. She squinted through the darkness, trying to decipher Regina's facial expressions, but all she saw were shadows and partial profiles.
"I didn't simply lock her away. I tortured her," Regina admitted in the darkness. Her words were thick and sluggish with alcohol, but she hadn't slurred, so Emma assumed she was completely fine. She tipped her face upwards, the vein on her forehead jutting out like a beacon, displaying her upheaval for all to see even if her features remained placid.
"Regina, you don't have to," Emma murmured, completely freaked out by Regina's openness, her calm. Raging Regina was easily dealt with either by fighting or ignoring as she'd done earlier, but calm, quiet Regina was something else entirely.
"I want to, Emma, and if you're still here in the morning, then I'll have my answer." Regina gripped her legs tighter and scooted closer, completely ignoring her stitches which would surely would ache in the morning.
"For the first week, I gave her nothing to eat," Regina continued before Emma could ask exactly what answers she was searching for.
"She's a resourceful brat," Regina seethed. "She ate the straw on the floor and caught rainwater from her window in her blanket. When I realized that she'd outsmarted me, I gave her a feast, told her she earned it by surviving. She was grateful at first… before she realized that I would make her work for her dinner. If she picked up a spoon, I made it burn her skin. The roast turned to ash when she touched it. It was cruel. She'd done nothing to me, but I wanted her to hurt because I knew it would destroy him if he ever found out. Killing her would have been a kindness, but I needed her alive as a bargaining chip against Rumpelstiltskin. She was one of many pawns in our sick power struggle. It went on like for months, tricking her with little things for my amusement, and then… I crossed so many lines, but this one might be the only one I truly regret.
Belle huddled in the corner and hugged her knees to her chest. She'd stopped crying weeks ago, realizing that it would do no good. Her captor had no soul, and therefore felt nothing but pleasure when she saw her tears. The door creaked, but she never bothered to look up, knowing that her only visitor was The Evil Queen.
"Belle?" Rumpel's voice broke through her mind like a balm, and she spared a glance.
"Rumpel? You found me!" She leapt into his arms. He was real, and he had come for her like she prayed he would.
"Of course, Love," he whispered into her hair. "She's gone. She'll not hurt you again," he vowed as he pulled back to gaze into her eyes.
She smiled up at him and accepted his mouth against hers hungrily. She'd missed him, and she felt no hesitation as his hands roamed her body. She'd longed for his touch so desperately, and now that she felt it once more, she never wanted him to stop. He laid her on the blankets that had been used as her bed. She gasped and shuddered against him as he forcefully claimed her lips, nipped at her neck and chest. He'd never been quite so insistent in his physical advances before, but she thought nothing of it. She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted to consummate their love, married or not.
"I'll never let you go again," he whispered against her throat, and she shuddered at the vibration of his voice.
"I'll never leave again," Belle promised and clutched at his back. "Is she truly gone?"
"She is… detained. I'll put her somewhere later, a place where she'll never be able to hurt another soul," he gazed into her eyes and brushed her hair from her face.
"Oh Rumpel," Belle swooned and pulled his lips to hers in a heated kiss.
He pulled her ragged dress up her thighs and brushed his knuckles over the wiry hair between her legs. She groaned deeply and clutched at his shoulders. She was hot and wet for him already, but he decided to take his time despite his growing passion.
"Her guards didn't…" He left the question hanging, and Belle shook her head quickly.
"They never touched me. No one's touched me but you," she smiled up at him.
He grinned at her innocence and kissed her slowly as he slid his thumb over the sensitive nub. She squirmed beneath his hand, and he allowed her to adjust to the new sensations erupting beneath her skin before slipping one finger inside her tight walls. She gasped and bucked against his finger as the sensation of being entered for the first time tore through her body. Again, he paused with his finger buried to the knuckle as she adjusted.
His lips grazed over her chest as he pulled her dress down, and then he captured a nipple in his mouth. She gasped, and he began pumping slowly inside of her, adding another finger before gradually increasing the pace. She moaned and bucked beneath his skilled hands. She was close. He felt it.
"Oh Rumpel. Rumpel, tell me… tell me you love me," Belle panted brokenly. She was pulling apart form the inside out, and she needed to hear his voice. He grunted as her walls clenched around his fingers.
"Rumpel's not home, Sweetheart," a raspy female voice slithered across her throat, but Belle couldn't stop herself from tumbling over the edge and into oblivion.
Her orgasm crashed into her, and Regina pulled back to stare into her horrified eyes as her body and mind warred for control. Belle's wanted to enjoy what Regina had just given her, but her mind refused to reconcile the pleasure with woman laying next to her. When Belle's tight velvet walls clenched around her again, Regina grinned gleefully.
"No," Belle uttered, tears in her voice. "No! Get away from me!" She shoved at Regina's shoulders, and her fingers pulled free with a slurping pop.
The girl wobbled away on shaking legs while Regina reclined on an elbow and smirked up at her. Belle pulled at her clothes and wiped at her mouth and neck, but Regina's love marked remained against her skin in a dark purple hue.
"Did you honestly think he'd come for you, Dear?" Regina mocked, heart pounding as she watched the destruction she'd just inflicted. If he did come, the woman he'd loved would only be a shell of who she used to be by the time she finished with her.
Emma knew she was breathing heavily but could do nothing to stop it. She'd known that Regina had done terrible things, but she'd never imagine this. Regina still gripped her thighs tightly, head bowed as she waited for Emma to process what she'd just confided. Emma blinked rapidly and tried to take a deep breath. Finally, she covered Regina's hands, and the older woman raised her head to search Emma's darkened face.
Tears dripped from Emma's chin, but neither moved to catch them. They simply stared at each other for the longest time. Regina spoke first.
"I understand if you want to leave," she said quietly, her voice tight with unshed tears of her own.
"I…" Emma started and then bit her bottom lip as more tears spilled onto her cheeks.
"I'm not leaving you, Regina," Emma whispered when her tears subsided, and Regina's hands clenched painfully. "But I do need time to process this. Can you give me that?"
"I'd give you anything, Emma Swan," Regina confessed in a hushed, breathy tone that caught Emma off guard. It was the guilt and the alcohol talking, Emma told herself.
"Okay. I'm… Well, I would say that I'm going back to sleep, but I'm not sure that I could now." Emma admitted. It was the first time she viewed Regina as the monster that everyone kept telling her that she was, and Emma wasn't certain she'd ever sleep peacefully in Regina's presence again.
"Do you want some pie?" Regina asked suddenly, and Emma almost laughed at the off-the-wall question.
"Granny made me one," Regina nodded towards the kitchen, clearly making an effort to abandon the current topic and respect Emma's wish for time.
"Okay," Emma said simply. How could she refuse when Regina was trying so hard?
"Stay here. There's a Golden Girls marathon on channel 54 every night at this time if you want to watch television," Regina pointed at the large flat screen T.V. hanging on the wall and then disappeared from the room.
She might have laughed before upon discovering that Regina was a fan of the sitcom, but the bile in her throat reminded her of the crime that Regina had just confessed. Granny's apple pie was the last thing she wanted right now, but Regina seemed to find comfort in constantly serving her food, so she determined to at least try.
Robotically, she crossed to the T.V. and snagged the remote, illuminating the room in a blue glow as the screen flickered to life. She set it to the right channel just as Regina reentered the room with two plates and forks in her hands. She set them both on the marble coffee table and then disappeared again. Emma plopped in front of a plate but didn't touch it. A few minutes later, Regina returned, hefting an armful of neatly folded blankets and pillows. She sat two pillows and a blanket beside Emma and then tossed the rest onto the other sofa before following them to where she'd set her plate.
Emma wanted to say something, but no words formulated in her hazy mind so she cut into the pie and shoved a piece in her mouth. It might have been delicious if she hadn't have the tangy taste of acid on her tongue. She studied Regina, but the other woman offered her no comfort or guidance for her thoughts. She simply stared at the television and chewed her food. Emma wasn't certain the former royal was actually absorbing the plot of the episode or tasting the food, but she went through the motions, so Emma mimicked them.
Eventually, due to sheer exhaustion or acceptance of Regina's earlier confession, Emma nodded off to the prompted laughter of the live audience on the television. Regina covered the slumbering sheriff carefully and then resumed her perch on the other sofa. She refused sleep that night and instead watched over Emma for any sign of disturbance on the sheriff's face. She'd just relived one nightmare. Sleep would only bring more. Protecting Emma from her thoughts was definitely the best option.
