CHAPTER SUMMARY: Emma copes with being the New Dark One. Regina tries to hide how affected she is by Emma's blatant interest in her and Henry meets his mother for the first time since this has all happened.
Of course, Hook and Robin appear because they have to. really, but there is no CS or OQ kisses. I am trying to make their appearances as minimal as I can.
Emma Swan sat in her leather chair overlooking the town of Storybrooke as the New Dark One. She had an ankle crossed over a knee, tapping the pommel of the dagger against the cushy armrest; her name, which was etched on the side, caught her eye and she stared at it. It had only been a few hours since she had left Regina and her parents. In that time, she had found the perfect location along the mountains to erect her fortress. Okay, maybe fortress was too strong a word, but it made Gold's cabin look like a tool shed. It had high ceilings and windows and a few bedrooms. Her son could take his pick of which ever bedroom he wanted and they could decorate it, with just a flick of her wrist.
Moving back in with Mommy and Daddy Charming was not an option, nor was living at Granny's like she first had when she had arrived in Storybrooke, and she sure as hell wasn't living with Killian on that beat up barnacle rat-trap of his.
Killian. Hook. It was the darndest thing. She remembered telling him that she loved him and on some level she had; had cared for him but the darkness within her made her see him through different eyes. The Dark One knew Hook a lot longer than she did and had been confronted by him many times when it had resided in Gold. Somewhat like memories, she was allowed to see some of the things he had done, and she found him just… lacking. Ignorance was bliss when she chose not to see that particular side of him. She was stupid and instead focused on his more appealing traits that were actually few and far between. He was loving toward her and the hungry orphan in her had always wanted that from someone. He was annoyingly persistent in his pursuit of her and she found that flattering, when she didn't want to punch him in the face. There was also the simple fact that she didn't know what was going to happen the other night when she was going to sacrifice herself for Regina. There was a feeling of finality in the moment and she thought he deserved something from her. It was wrong of her to say what she did because she wasn't ready to. It was what held her back in the loft when she found him alive. She cared for him, yes, but she cared for Neal too and had actually told Neal she loved him as well before she thought she might never see him again. With a sigh, she remembered what she had told Regina. Hook wasn't her true love.
Regina. The blonde let out a tiny laugh on an exhale as she turned the blade upside down in both hands and rubbed the pommel against the tip of her chin in contemplation. She wanted Regina like a blazing hot inferno wanted to consume a whole building and everything in its path. She wanted the woman; all of her. Her desire was staggering and quite unexpected. Mary Margaret would probably try and convince her that it was the new darkness within her and she supposed that to a certain extent that might be true. Dark knew dark, was attracted to it, and the Dark One seemed fascinated by the former Evil Queen. However only Emma knew how long she had really wanted Regina Mills.
Since the Dark One had taken over her body, to make room for the entity living within her, the darkness had pushed buried and oppressed feelings to light and she realized that she had always wanted Regina; from the very first moment they met, before she knew who her parents were, who she was, before she had even met Hook, before Neal had come back into her life… there was Regina. Emma's eyes sparkled with her deep arousal for the woman; Emma wanted the mayor and the Dark One wanted the Queen.
Powerfully vivid Images of them together, writhing naked and entwined permeated her mind and made her hungry for the taste of her son's other mother. Pressing the handle of the dagger into the arm rest again, Emma closed her eyes and wondered what it would feel like to have the mayor rubbing up against her. Tonight, when she was pinning Regina against the bookcase, both of them still clothed, it had taken every bit of her strength not to take the woman in front of her parents, which she realized was extremely inappropriate and morally apprehensible but she wanted to do it anyway. That thought had sensual pleasure spreading through her entire body even now and the Dark One was pleased with the direction her fantasy had taken her. Emma pulled her bottom lip in and thought about kissing Regina and making love to Regina…
The knife clattered to the floor as Emma's hands shot to grasp her head as a loud hissing, almost screaming, went off. Or wait, maybe that was her screaming. She wasn't sure. No. No love. No kissing. The Dark One is displeased with thoughts such as these. She could have Regina, possess Regina, but in no way was she allowed to kiss Regina. But she wanted too. NO! The Dark One forbids it! The pain was tearing her apart again. She must think of ways to claim the queen without the queen claiming her.
Her green eyes opened and sunlight was shining through the window and Emma found herself lying on her side, curled up into a ball with tear stained cheeks. She must have blacked out from the excruciating, shrieking pain that had invaded her head.
Slowly waking, she clumsily grabbed the dagger and fought to get up. The Dark One wanted the dagger hidden. It was the first order of business. Then she would be allowed to have coffee if she so wished.
Once the dagger was successfully concealed away, Emma walked through the house and with a wave of her hand, a coffee machine appeared, already brewing coffee. She opened her refrigerator, found it empty, closed it again, and the next time she swung the door open, the shelves were packed with food. She did the same thing with the cupboards, pulling down a simple black coffee mug.
This part may not be so bad, she thought. Her magic had improved 100 times over since she had become the Dark One. Before, she had to concentrate so carefully because she was a fledgling to magic. Now, she could will things to happen simply with a thought. Like divesting a certain mayor of her clothes.
She nearly slammed her half-filled coffee cup down with that thought. Was she to be plagued with sexual fantasies about Regina all day?
She looked down at her attire. The outfit really made her boobs look bigger than they actually were. Waving a hand at herself, she changed immediately into an outfit that was less "Zorro meets Catwoman" and more fitting for the town sheriff. Her cleavage was still on display but not as lifted and exposed; though still all dressed in black.
Emma had magically summoned all her things from her parents' apartment, which was rather timely and easy. Again she admitted how awesome having magic was and understood a little better now why Regina would be reluctant to give this kind of power up. Reaching down, she snatched her badge off the dresser in her enormous bedroom and clipping the metal star to her belt she glanced at the rather large bed. It was the biggest bed she had ever seen, taking up a good portion of the room. She was sure at least ten people could sleep on it. A daydream of her and Regina tangled in the sheets invaded her mind and she shook it out of her head insistently.
She was nearly about ready to go. The sheriff picked up her gun and weighed it in her hand, scoffed and placed it back in her bedside drawer. What would the Dark One need a gun for?
[X]
"So, she's my mom, but she's not my mom?" Regina watched her son try to grasp the severity of their new circumstances.
"Yes, dear. It's a little complicated to explain." They sat in their usual booth at Granny's and she was glad that Henry was at least eating and though she did not consider French fries appropriate breakfast food, it was the only food he was interested in eating so she had asked Granny to make Henry a plateful and the old werewolf happily agreed to. Just this once, she thought.
"But you said that you could still see Emma in there right? I mean she's not all dark and evil?"
"No, Henry, she's not." When Regina finally had some free time to think last night, alone in her bedroom, she remembered seeing more of Emma than the Dark One in mannerisms and endearing facial expressions; when she wasn't thinking about all the ways Emma was essentially coming on to her. The astounding part was that Regina got the distinct impression that, while Emma was in fact suffused with the Dark One, the interest in her sexually was all coming from Emma, which was shocking; as if the darkness gave her courage to make her desire known and Regina had to wonder just how long Emma had felt that way.
Suddenly the entire restaurant went silent and Regina caught her son staring at the front door, so she knew who she would find when she swiveled her head around. Standing in the doorway was Emma Swan, dressed from head to toe in black; a black blouse, opened generously near the top to expose smooth fair skin, tucked into black tight jeans with black leather boots laced up to mid-calf, and over the blouse, a short tight black leather jacket.
Looking around the establishment, the new customer smirked and pulled aside her jacket to reveal the glinting metal of her badge, just in case anyone wondered what she was doing in town.
"Well, good morning to you too, citizens of Storybrooke. Your sheriff has arrived."
At that, every head in the place turned towards Regina for guidance, which she found completely ironic. On a sigh, Regina lifted her gaze to Emma and found the sheriff's eyes boring into hers with a deeply pleased grin on her face and those sparkling green eyes were less than subtle as sexual interest danced in them.
Regina turned back around and gulped as Emma made her way over to the booth. Standing at their table, the blonde mother bent and placed an affectionate palm on Henry's cheek then let it slid to the back of his head to ruffle his hair playfully, like she had done numerous times before, "Hey, Henry."
"Mom?"
"Yeah, it's me."
Regina watched her teenage son look the woman over and impulsively slide out of the booth hurriedly and hug his mother, clutching her around the waist.
She noticed Emma's arms, hesitant at first, but then wrap around Henry's shoulders tightly gripping him to her and rocking ever so gently and Regina pursed her lips in an attempt to keep her emotions at bay. There was still love there and that meant there was hope.
When her son and his mother split apart and Emma held his chin momentarily so they could share a meaningful smile, Henry got into his side of the booth, sliding all the way in so his mom could slide in after him, like she normally would have. However Regina could feel the blonde's eyes perusing her again before Emma bent and unusually slid in beside Regina, nudging the mayor's body with her own, encouraging her to make room for the younger woman.
Regina cleared her throat as Emma purposefully touched their thighs together underneath the table. The brunette tried to keep her face normal for her son who was studying them, his eyes darting from one mother to the other and then his brow furrowed when Emma's arm stretched out on the seat back behind Regina, almost as if taking his older mother into an embrace.
There was nothing usual about this and diner patrons were whispering to each other already about how if they hadn't known any better it would almost seem as if Emma Swan was staking her claim on Regina Mills. It was bizarre, Regina thought, and very exciting at the same time, damn it.
"Good morning, Your Majesty." Regina couldn't help the intake of breath at her title dropping again from Emma's lips like an illicitly spoken caress.
"Good morning…" Suddenly, Regina was uncertain what to call her. This whole situation was damn confusing.
"Now Regina, it's still me," though the sudden achingly slow circles Emma was drawing with her finger on the back of the queen's shoulders belied her. "I've always liked the way you called me Miss Swan. It was so prim and sexy as hell." Regina's eyes that were focused on the dark liquid in her coffee cup lifted and demurely studied Emma's face and when it was met with a look of sheer longing, with Emma's tongue darting out to wet her lips, Regina looked to her son, wondering whether he was watching their interaction. Sure enough, Henry's eyes darted between Emma and Regina while the French fry in his hand was disappearing slowing into his mouth, chew by chew.
Why it was on the tip of her tongue to flirt back, Regina did not know, so she opted for an ordinary, "Good morning, Emma."
"Even better," Emma leaned in nearly whispering toward her ear, sending a shiver running down her spine, and not in a bad way. Good grief!
Regina lifted her coffee cup to her lips and offered in a normal tone, "Can I interest you in a cup of coffee this morning?" Buying the Dark One coffee was probably a good step in the right direction. She was enjoying Emma touching her shoulder and back far too much, considering that the two women rarely touched at all and when she felt Emma finger her bra's shoulder strap, as if wanting to rid her of it, Regina willed herself to sip her coffee slowly as if not affected at all. The Queen was a good actress when she needed to be.
However, she almost faltered when Emma huskily replied, "For starters," and when she placed her coffee cup down and again eyed Emma she couldn't help the pang of arousal she felt; she was inexplicably drawn to Emma in a way that she had not been since that first year they met. The savior was the same and yet different. She seemed impossibly bolder and more forthcoming in honesty. Regina was bewildered with all this flagrant truthfulness.
"Ma? Are you feeling okay?"
Emma smiled at Regina, while hungrily eying the brunette's lips one last time before facing her son. "Yes, Henry. I've never felt better and more adamant about having what I want." She looked to Regina for that last part of her statement and again the mayor hid how affected she was at the blatant flirtation. "And what I want now is some breakfast."
Flagging down a waitress, Emma rattled off her order, "Morning Kimberly," Emma flashed her usual smile and Kimberly blushed more than usual and Regina frowned a little deeper. "I will have the Eggs Benedict, with a side of pancakes and a hot cup of coffee."
"Sure thing, Sheriff, and may I say that I, for one, am relieved to see you in one piece." Kimberly eyed Emma coquettishly and added, "From what we've heard happened, why, I say you look as fine as ever." Using the back tip of her pen, Kimberly dragged it slowly along the back of Emma's hand and Regina's brown eyes narrowed, but before anything else could happen, Kimberly disappeared with a flash of her pearly white teeth, an obvious open invitation, but Emma just looked at Regina and Henry, eyes only for them. The older woman frowned wondering why she was so relieved that Emma was not interested in Kimberly's forwardness.
A cup of coffee was placed in front of Emma and she sipped it carefully and was content spending time with her family when a shadow crossed over her right shoulder, then two. The table's occupants looked up to find Hook and Robin Hood standing there.
"Gentlemen. Did you enjoy all that the horizon had to offer last night?" Emma smirked into her coffee cup and her eyes glinted mischievously. "Some find it romantic, though, I surely don't."
Regina noticed Hook flinch uncomfortably and wondered what that was all about and then his eyes burned bitterly. "Swan, might I have a word?"
"You can have whatever you like, Killian, except for my time right now because I am having breakfast with my family."
Regina's lips parted in surprise at Emma's inclusive statement and her eyes immediately went to Robin only out of curiosity and she found his narrowed fiercely at the Dark One.
"Regina," Robin started, "We need to…"
"What part of 'my family is having breakfast' do you not understand, Locksley?"
Regina should be livid at Emma behaving so territorially, she knew, but she wasn't. She was more baffled and inquisitive about this side of Emma. She was certain this was not the Dark One. This was all Emma. The darkness was emboldening her to do and say things she might have otherwise kept hidden. Regina knew. It took your inner rage, lust, and emotion and magnified it tenfold.
Emma sighed loudly, "Would you like to speak to your boy toy, My Queen?" Was Regina the only one who heard a slight emphasis on "my"?
Startled, Regina opened her mouth and only a guttural sound came out. She didn't particularly want to speak to Robin but she guessed she'd better. Clearing her throat, she continued, "I suppose I should."
Emma shot her a look of disappointment that touched something deep inside her and Regina was suddenly and strangely annoyed with Robin's presence.
"Oh fine." Emma rolled her eyes and said to Robin. "Don't look at me with that face. It creeps me out." After she slid out of the booth to allow Regina to slide out too, Emma flipped her palm open and there was a small box in it. She handed it to Regina and advised, "Give him one of these, please."
Then, Emma sat back down and Regina read the packet in her palm. Laxative Tablets. Amusedly, the mayor dipped her head and pocketed the item in her palm before anyone else could see it.
When she and Robin cleared the table, Emma waved her hand and a chair slid up quickly catching Hook on the back of the knees and forcing him to sit down at the table.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?"
Robin grabbed Regina's elbow and steered her away while she looked back sad to miss the conversation that would take place at the table. Hopefully Henry would fill her in later.
