Chapter 9
Emma entered her parents' apartment. Snow didn't say anything as she went straight to her room. Henry was already asleep on their couch. It was late and she knew that Emma didn't want to talk. She wanted to be with Regina and for whatever reason Regina had sent her home. Snow just smiled as her daughter entered the loft that was being transformed into the coming baby's room. Charming came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Snow's middle, pulling her close and snuggling her back.
"What's wrong, Snow?"
"Nothing, Charming."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, everything is good."
"Then why did Emma come home like someone stole her sucker?"
"You can't be that blind, Charming," she told him.
"What do you mean?" he asked as she turned around in his arms, pushing him back with her belly.
"Our daughter is in love, David."
"Love? With who? Who is the lucky guy?" he asked.
"Regina," Snow said with a smile.
"Who?"
"Regina."
"That is what I thought you said."
"What's wrong?"
"She is the Evil Queen."
"She was the Evil Queen."
"I'll have to talk with her, won't I?" Charming asked her, trying to exert his fatherly duties.
"No, you don't."
"Why not? I need to put the fear of something in her. I don't want her to hurt Emma."
"I don't think that you are going to have to worry about that, David. She loves Emma. I can see it in her eyes. She would do anything for Emma if Emma would allow it. But, I know that Emma isn't ever going to let her do that. She is more like her father in that respect."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Emma has taken to being self-reliant, self-sufficient, and chivalrous. She isn't going to let Regina put her on a pedestal and treat her like a princess. However, Emma will do that for Regina. They love each other but they are in two different places in the relationship. Trust me, though, Regina isn't going to hurt Emma. She might make her wait, but she isn't going to hurt her," Snow told him.
"How do you know all this?"
"Well, while you were out playing sheriff and trying to figure out why we came back, I was talking with both our daughter and Regina. Emma confessed that she had feelings for Regina. That is why I had the impromptu dinner tonight. When Emma went to deal with Regina's lasagna and you were playing video games with Henry, Regina and I talked," Snow explained.
"And, how did that go?"
"Well, I did most of the talking. She is still a very private person when it comes to me. I understand that. I expected it, actually. I just wasn't ready for her to confess so easily."
"She confessed to you?" Charming asked, as he walked them back to their room.
"She did."
"What did she confess, anyway?" Charming questioned.
"She admitted that she cared for Emma, a lot."
"Well, that is saying a lot for Regina. I am sure that it was an interesting site. I wish I could have seen her face then. I might actually believe you, if I had."
"You would have. But, that wasn't the best part about it. It was just was the beginning," Snow said.
"Yes, and what was that?"
"When I told her that if she hurt Emma, I would make her life a living Hell. It would be worse than anything I ever did to her in the Enchanted Forest. Besides I knew that I wouldn't be the only one, either. She already knew that. She doesn't plan on hurting Emma. She actually wants to take things slow. She wants to court Emma. She wants to do things right by Emma. She feels like she owes it to her. I was actually very…sweet."
"Don't let Regina hear you call her that," David told her as he shut their door.
Emma caught the tell end of the conversation. She smiled at her father's words. She had come downstairs to get something to drink. She had already taken off her boots, so they hadn't heard her come back down. She gulped down the milk quickly and ran back up the iron spiral staircase.
Once she was back in her room, she grabbed her cell phone. She scrolled through it. She brought up Regina's number and hit the message button.
Hey Beautiful
Hello, Miss Swan. I take it that you made it home okay. I hope that Henry is sleeping.
Out on the couch
He could sleep in his own bed, here, if you'd like.
How would we explain that?
I could take down all my pictures of him.
But, how would I tell him that we were staying with you?
Something about the fact you have taken the deputy position. I am offering you a room in my house until you find something a little more permanent. It wouldn't be that far from the truth.
Didn't tell him yet
Why not?
Emma didn't know how to respond. She hadn't thought about it. She was still in awe that Henry would be okay with her being with another woman. They really hadn't had a chance to talk because of dinner.
Dinner?
What about it, Miss Swan?
No time to talk
To me?
To Henry
Well, don't you think that it would be a good idea if we were to "date" as you say. I mean I don't want him to feel threatened by my sudden presence in your life. I want him to be happy. That is more important than my happiness, Miss Swan. Surely, you know that, by now.
I do.
Then, talk with our son and let me know what he says. I have plenty of room for you here. Of course, it would be better than Granny's Bed and Breakfast. You wouldn't have to pay for the rooms.
But, I would. I am not a free loader. It wouldn't be right, if I didn't. I'll pay you for it.
I won't take your money, Miss Swan. It would be my treat. I would insist.
Regina…
Miss Swan, that is not up for debate. It is my house. If I wish to allow you to stay, then I would not take any payment. Besides you would be helping keeping my lovely town safe. It would be nothing for me to share my overly large and lavish house with you.
Well, I see that this is going to work.
What isn't going to work?
I wouldn't feel right.
No one is asking you to compromise your morals, Miss Swan. If you insist on paying for the room that I would offer you, then I am sure that I can come up with an arrangement that doesn't consist of money. I have enough that I don't need yours and I won't take it. I would be opening my home to you, free of charge. I have a lavish guest room that is near mine, if you would like to use it.
Emma swallowed hard. She could only guess at Regina's innuendo. She wasn't sure because she wasn't sure that she was reading the right emotions in her texts. She could see Regina's face in her mind, cocking her eyebrow at her, waiting for a response to her underlying sexual offer.
I am sure that we could.
Took you long enough, Miss Swan.
I want to come back over.
You need to stay with Henry.
Why do I have to be so responsible? Snow and David are here. He wouldn't wake up alone.
MISS SWAN! You will not leave my son with those two idiots just to come see me. I wouldn't let you in the door. Now, get some sleep. We will talk in the morning.
I could always climb up the balcony like Romeo.
I am not Juliet, Dear. I know that you have already wooed me in your dreams, but this is different. I don't take well to people inserting themselves into my home without my permission. It doesn't bode well for them if they do.
I remember Graham, don't worry
That was a low blow, even for you, Miss Swan. It is obvious that you are tired. It has been a very trying day. Please go to sleep. If you need me, you can call. Otherwise, I'll see you in the morning at the station. I have a meeting with David to see what he can tell me about the issues in town.
The flying monkeys?
Yes, those too. Goodnight, Emma. Please get some sleep and stop worrying. We will get lunch tomorrow, out of the sights of the town. I'll take you to a special place not on the main strip. I am not sure that you even know that it is here. It is kind of a surprise that I had made just for me.
I'm sure that I'll enjoy it.
We'll see. Goodnight, Emma. Sleep well.
Goodnight, Regina. Dream of me. I know that I will dream of you.
Emma hugged her phone. She didn't want to put it down. It was her line to Regina, and she didn't want to give it up. She wished that she was in bed with Regina. She had dreamt about it so much, she'd begun to wonder what it would really feel like to actually hold her.
She could remember holding Regina in her dreams back in New York. She finally had a name to go with the woman who had been her salvation. She didn't understand why Regina didn't remember, but she figured that it had something to do with the newest Dark Curse that had been cast. No one remembered the last year.
Emma sighed and looked at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. She was still wound up from earlier. Regina was the only one who had ever made her so…horny and kept her there. She didn't know of any way without Regina's help to come down from this high. Just being around Regina made her happy, again. It was a feeling that she had forgotten over the last year. That was until Hook gave her the potion. Then, everything seemed possible as long as she could get to Regina. So, she did.
It hurt to see the questions in Regina's eyes. It really did, but Emma made a vow to make Regina happy. She didn't care how long it would take. She would do it. She owed Regina for the good memories with Henry, the good life in New York, and for her dreams. It always came back to the dreams.
She didn't know how Regina did it. Evidently, Regina didn't either, but that was because she didn't remember. That was something that Emma wanted to remedy first. Sure, she wanted Regina. She understood her want to take things slow. It was enough for Emma that Regina admitted that she had feelings for her. But, Henry needed to remember his other mother, too. They wouldn't be complete until he did. They both knew it. It was why they were working on a new potion.
If Regina could remember, then they could make enough potions for the entire town and Henry. They would know what actually happened. And, Regina and Emma would be stronger together. Henry brought them together once. He was doing it again, even though he didn't know anything about it.
I want to kiss you
Miss Swan, I thought I told you to go to sleep.
Why did you answer, then?
You are insufferable, you know that?
Have you met my parents?
Yes, Dear, I have. I tried to kill them several times, too. It just never…stuck.
Emma couldn't suppress her giggle. She knew that Regina was joking, but also that it was the truth. She was glad that Regina could actually joke with her about it all and know that she wasn't being judged.
LOL but that doesn't change the fact that I want you.
How so, Miss Swan?
How so, what?
How do you want me?
Naked and ready
Miss Swan!?
Well, you asked.
I should have known better with you. Your crassness leaves much to be desired, Miss Swan. But, it can be one of your more endearing qualities.
I have endearing qualities?
Miss Swan, goodnight.
Kiss me.
How?
In my dreams, visit me in my dreams.
Go to sleep, Miss Swan. I will see you soon. Until tomorrow, Emma, goodnight.
Emma smiled. She closed her phone and set it on the bedside table. She settled down into the bed and hoped that she actually did dream of Regina. It would make her night even better. She drifted off with a smile on her face. All she could see behind her eyes was Regina's beautiful face as sleep overtook her.
