A/N: Prompt: Trampolines and Moonshine

The rain had recently changed from a light drizzle to big fat drops, but the air was still warm. Regina was slightly worried as she peered through the window at the rapidly darkening sky.

She stepped out into the backyard and watched Emma and Henry silently from under her umbrella. They were jumping and laughing together. The rain only seemed to spur on their excitement. For a moment, Regina's heart clenched in joy as she thought about how much it had taken to get to this point with Emma and Henry and their trust in her. She trusted them as well, and as testament to that was the fact that she allowed Henry to get a trampoline.

In response to the complaint, that Henry didn't spend enough time outside, he said it was boring. So with Emma's insistence and reassurance that it was perfectly safe, Regina let him get a trampoline. Though, as she watched the blonde thirty year old bounce merrily, her golden curls flying in the wind, she couldn't help but wonder if the trampoline was more for Emma than Henry.

"Henry, it's raining, and it's time to go inside and read your history book for an hour," Regina called out to catch her son's attention. He stopped jumping and turned around. His shoulders heaved like he was about to protest, but Emma caught his eye and his shoulder's slumped.

"Okay, coming!" He yelled back as he hopped through the protective netting surrounding the trampoline. Henry smiled at her as he walked past and eagerly ran inside.

That left Emma still standing on the bouncy surface and she appeared to be beckoning Regina to come join her.

"Come on, jump with me," Emma was chuckling as she motioned again for Regina to ditch the umbrella and step out into the rain and onto the now slippery surface of the trampoline. "You haven't even tried it out. How do you know it's dangerous unless you try?"

"What wise works you speak," Regina sassed as she actually contemplated Emma's offer. The poor woman had been having a stressful week as Sheriff, and had been working tirelessly to bust Storybrooke's big illegal liquor operation. A group of peasants had been making moonshine in the foothills and woods. They had been distributing outside of Storybrooke. Calling attention to the existence of the magical town made all of the citizens vulnerable, and Emma had finally busted the operation and hauled off the perps.

Regina realized, as she looked at her big hopeful eyes and damp hair, that Emma needed to blow off some steam. She didn't have the heart to deny her, and she was appreciative of her efforts to keep the town safe.

When Regina stepped out of her slippers and folded up her umbrella, Emma's whole face lit up in surprise and delight. Resolved, Regina stalked forward and tried to gracefully climb the tiny ladder, entering the net surrounded haven of the trampoline.

The surface was bouncy and foreign under Regina's bare feet. It took her a moment to adjust to the balance shift, but Emma both of her hands and steadied her. "Stand wide, and jump carefully, it's slippery cause of the rain, but it's pretty fun."

And then Regina was bouncing. Lightly at first, but pretty soon they were bouncing each other, and laughing all the while. Emma was jump high and as soon as her feet hit, the momentum would send Regina up in the air.

The fear was present of course, but as she got more accustomed to the sensation he more she enjoyed the little bit of reckless freedom. She couldn't help but laugh in spite of herself, and she didn't even care that her feet were slightly numb, the rain was soaking through her shirt, and her hair was humidity frizzed, curling at the ends.

They bounced around each other in a circle, and Emma never let go of her hands until they were both breathless from exertion and laughter. When Regina felt her thighs burning, Emma grasped her hands tighter and pulled her down onto the black vinyl surface where they both collapsed in a heap, looking up at the cloudy sky through the trees. After a moment to catch their breath, Regina turned onto her side the cold felt more pronounced as her body cooled.

"Shall we go inside and check on Henry?" Regina's asked her face tight from smiling so much.

"I bet you that if we busted into his room right now, he wouldn't be studying history. I guarantee he's playing video games up there," Emma commented airily.

"We're not going to bust in on him, we're working on building trust and he's recently asked for more privacy."

Emma quirked an eyebrow, "Speaking of history…have you been monitoring his internet usage?"

"Why? Should I?" Regina frowned, unsure what Emma was implying. "He uses the internet for research purposes only."

"Right…all thirteen year old boys use the internet for research," Emma nodded jokingly. "Has he started hanging a sock on his door handle?"

"Yes…it's odd. I assumed it was a stray dirty one that needed to go in the laundry," Regina spoke slowly, the pieces starting to click in her mind as she shuddered. She suddenly wondered if his interest in spending so much time indoors had less to do with studying and more to do with something else.

"Well, kid said he was tired of playing with balls in the backyard, maybe he's more interested in playing with balls in his room," Emma laughed, but Regina didn't.

"I'm not going to interrupt him in his room. He knows better than to come into my bedroom when the doors closed without knocking. Again, Emma, we're building trust, just as I am with you."

Emma had a vacant look in her eye as if she was contemplating something interesting that she just couldn't wrap her head around. She took in a breath and then agreed. Regina felt faintly embarrassed like she'd admitted something private, but she didn't know what.

"Right, no, I totally get it, and I'm super proud of you two. You're doing a great job with him," Emma affirmed and rolled to her side to pat Regina's arm. "You're freezing, we should go in soon."

"I'm cold and wet, true, but I actually must admit I enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with you," Regina said as the feeling of admission intensified. Emma was stroking her arm and her hand was warm.

Regina watched unmoving as Emma scooted closer, "Come here. If you want to stay out in the rain like a crazy person the least I can do is keep you warm."

Emma wrapped her arms around her torso and pulled her close, their legs tangled together naturally, as Regina melded to the surprisingly warm softness of Emma's chest. She let herself relax when she felt the steady beat of a strong heart and the warm breath ghosting across her forehead as Emma stroked the water laden hair out of her eyes.

The sensation was new, just as the jumping was, but comfortable and natural in a way Regina didn't expect. She felt the vibration of Emma's voice from her chest against hers as she spoke.

"If you want I can talk to Henry about his um…internet stuff," Emma offered kindly.

"If you like," Regina hummed against her, lost in the warmth that was quickly heating her from head to toe despite the inclement weather. "We really should go inside before the lightening starts."

"Yeah, in a minute…" Emma trailed off and pulled her closer against her. Regina didn't protest. "You know I managed to get a jar of that moonshine from evidence. I've never tried any before…it's in my bag inside if you want to take a sample of Storybrooke's finest illegal booze."

Regina raised her eyebrow and smirked, "You do know that it's made with actual shine from the moon. This is a magical town dear, that's how it gets its…rather… intoxicating flavor."

"No kidding?" Emma asked in disbelief. "That's pretty cool…how did the 'Diddle, Diddle Moonshine Distillery' bottle actual moonlight?"

"Magic," Regina murmured, turning her face in towards Emma's chest, and hesitating momentarily, before snaking her arm out around Emma's waist and squeezing softly. She chanced a glance at Emma looking for approval and her features were serene and welcoming. She let her head rest back again her chest.

"I'm glad I finally figured out the code names of the moonshine makers, that's how I busted 'The Spoon' and 'The Cow', but 'The Dish' is still at large," Emma reminisced as she inhaled and Regina felt her solid weight and the expansion of her lungs against her. She was almost dozing off as she took a deep breath of her own and smelled the fresh scent of the rain. "You know, those aren't code names. Those miscreants are quite widely known back in my realm. Watch out, for 'The Dish', he'll probably try to jail break 'The Spoon'.

"Seriously?" Emma asked again, but she trailed off lost in thoughts, and Regina's mind became muddled as she focused on the softness of Emma and the bouncy surface of the trampoline. She thought about how free it felt to indulge in the simple pleasures in life: trampolines and snuggles on a rainy evening.

And perhaps, later, when they were dry and warm inside: a bit of moonshine.