I don't own OUAT.
Barely substantial fingers, cold and wet like fog, on her arm. A husky voice felt at her ear. Lips at where her pulse jumps. Her magic warming her hands, only to turn into a slumbering dragon. Her thoughts – first slightly frantic, alarmed- suddenly all becoming 'where are you where are you'. An echo, flashes , the ground moving beneath her and-
"REGINA " warm- shockingly so after the coldness of earlier- skin against her own. Her magic springs to life again, the familiar purple the first thing she notices. The second one is the slight tug in her stomach, then warm breath in her neck.
She tenses. " If you are truly moronic enough to attempt to bite me, I swear I will destroy you"
" That line is getting old, honestly. Don't you have better ones?" it sounds like she is almost laughing. It also sounds very different from the voice she had expected (if she had even expected him to talk, he hadn't during earlier attacks. Had he?)
" Swan". Her voice is sharp, brought on by the realization that she could actually feel Emma's breast pressed into her back, as well as hear (and feel the warmth of ) every breath she took.
" Remove yourself from my person" She commands, hoping that if her voice trembles Emma will think it is because of this whole dreadful vampire hunting her. Which still would be a nuisance- she didn't like anyone thinking she was afraid- but better than Emma knowing the proximity had certain.. effects on her.
" Are you still like under hypnosis or shit?".
"Emma , it is in the middle of the night so – " her impressive growl is interrupted by a furious shiver. She almost presses back into Emma for warmth before catching herself. She breathes in , out in an attempt to calm herself when she realizes why it felt like she was standing in the mud. The moist cold, the grains sticking between her toes, what she dearly hopes isn't worms wriggling beneath her feet.. it is all real.
Now that her head no longer feels like it is filled with cotton and her eyes actually are able to see anything else but red, she notes they were at the graveyard. She could've sworn there was fog, but the night is clear, the moon illuminating the names on the tomb stones around them.
" Regina, are you all right? " Emma exclaims, tearing Regina's thoughts away from what she remembered before hearing Emma's voice. She us just about to say something along the lines of " not only is the part I've spent years fighting roaming around Story Brooke, there is also a thing that can disenable my thinking until I might as well be one of Snow's little friends on the hunt for my blood. And you are asking me whether I am all right?"
Then Emma suddenly pulls away from her , leading to her trembling increasing despite her best attempts, and shrugs off that awful jacket. Before Regina can ay something (probably 'not even if Hell freezes over'), Emma is already pulling the thing around her.
She tries to shrug it off, even if it is warm and smells like Emma's magic and just Emma and- Really? Do not behave like a lovesick fool, and especially not for the woman who is in love with the one-handed STD-ridden pirate with a victim complex.
A hand gentle grabs her arm, just like a wraith and 'Regina talk to me' and – when she looks at Emma, her arm is squeezed one more time before the woman lets go and gives her a quick smile. " Are you going to tell me why you suddenly looked like you wanted to skin- " she glances at one of the tomb stones " Cygnus Lyon" .
"That infernal vampire. I was thinking of the thing that is after me. What else? ".
Emma frowns and Regina moves forward automatically when she looks- sad. "Lie. Why are you lying to me?".
Regina sighs. " Emma-".
" Come on, you can tell me" she presses.
" There is nothing to tell".
"Lie. Come on, if there is anything bothering you – "
" Swan, I know your family has a habit of thinking they're entitled to everyone's secrets as wells as a stubborn belief that they only help , but- ". Her tone is probably a bit too harsh, but even the thought of Emma discovering … she cannot think of anything , but losing everything (again, because of a secret and Snow's family) if that happened.
" Okay, fine " Emma spits. " Don't tell me then".
There is a long, tense silence where Regina contemplates just transporting back to home and sinking into a deep sleep and not caring about vampires that apparently invade her sleep even if there is magic (and garlic). Then she gets a glimpse- she can only see half of Emma's profile, because the woman is turned slightly away- of Emma's eyes and she can practically feel her resolve crumble. This would normally be the moment that she scolds herself for being weak.
" I apologize" it sounds slightly stilted, but not fake – thankfully. " I should not have made that barb about your family"
Emma slowly turns around , her eyes guarded. " You just- you were pushing me" she sighs. " I do not react well to that ".
Emma nods. " Yeah. I am too- sorry I mean. I know that you get angry when you feel threatened or anything. I understand really, I just- ".
She scoffs. " Well, it doesn't matter". She approaches Regina again. " I am taking you home".
Regina rolls her eyes, hoping Emma focuses on that and not her small smile. " You are, are you?".
" Uh considering Count Dracula might be somewhere around here, just lurking until he can turn you into his mindless slave- yeah. I definitely am"
Regina pretends like she isn't feeling like she has swallowed fire flies, scolding herself for thinking she likes Emma when she is equal parts fiercely protective and awkwardly shy. Scolds herself even more when she cannot help but notice little details about Emma, like the exact colour/brightness of her eyes or the exact shade of her lips or-
Seriously? This is Emma Swan we are talking about, the woman who thinks grilled cheese can be breakfast, lunch and dinner, the same one that grossly oversteps boundaries all the time and risks everything for her no-good boy-
She is also the woman who believed in you even when the entire town turned against you, the one who wouldn't let a wraith suck out your soul -even though she would have likely been better off without you and-
Great. Apparently, she cannot even count on her inner voice to be make sense anymore. That is just what she needs right now. Honestly, there have been these instances where she catches herself thinking certain things about Emma Swan , but it has all changed since she split herself. She used to be able to stop herself, to shove away part of these thoughts. Now, they seem to have multiplied and become stronger than ever ( and seeing Emma Swan curled up on a chair in her room, that certain look in her eyes that she gets whenever someone threatens her family has made it all so much worse)
She shakes herself. She cannot allow herself to think about Emma in this way, she deserves so much better than Regina. She wants so much better for her than a woman that used to destroy happy endings.
" You can take this poor excuse of a jacket back "she says, without any real bite, as she slips the jacket off her shoulders and hands it to Emma. Emma tries to push it back towards her, stubbornly insisting that ' You need to keep warm, Regina, hell I am not going to- " then makes a surprised noise as Regina grabs her hands and focuses
Two seconds later and they're in her bedroom again, where she only gets one a second to start to relax before she is startled by a body throwing itself at her.
She stumbles backwards, almost lights a fireball before recognizing him and instead placing her arms around him and muttering " I am all right, I am fine Henry, it is okay sweetheart".
He still won't stop trembling.
There is a small thuck! As something hits the floor ( what was her little boy going to use as weapon? ) but she is far more intent on soothing an obviously distressed Henry, who gasps and clutches at her. " Henry, sweetheart, do you want a glass of water?".
He pulls back and she almost cries herself when she sees the tear trails on his cheeks, that wobbling lip and worst of all – eyes that still have an echo of terror and pain in them. He usually tries to be strong, strong enough that he can take care of others but now he obviously can't.
" I t-thought he had gotten to you" is all he says and hugs her tightly again.
She hesitates, then says " Your mother was on time Henry. Despite her penchant for lateness, she won't be ever be too late to save anyone".
Emma swallows, then glances at Regina. She looks like she is asking for permission, so Regina just nods and then pointedly glances at Henry- 'he needs you , you idiot' which is when she finally approaches them. Her voice is a little tight when she lays her hand on Henry's shoulder and says " You don't have to worry Henry, I promise I won't ever be too late".
Henry pulls back a little, to properly look at Emma. " You cannot promise that. You cannot know. What if you are asleep or getting something to drink or mom is on the toilet –"
" I am hardly going to fall asleep in the bathroom, darling".
"You don't have to be asleep! He just needs one moment, one opportunity and we will have lost you" Henry's voice cracks on 'lost' and his lip is trembling furiously but she can see her baby boy trying so very hard not to cry. She pulls him back into her arms.
She isn't as strong as him, so the tears are already flowing but he isn't able to see anyways. Her little prince , who is not so little anymore. " You shouldn't worry about me, Henry" she whispers, thinking back to the hungry glance in the queen's eyes for some reason. She tightens the hug.
He pulls back. " that is bullshit!" he spits . She is painfully reminded of ten-year-old him, who was all angry glances and accusations. " Of course I worry, you're my mom". His eyes and voice softens and he wipes at his tears. He is embarrassed , but still says it. "I love you more than, well pretty much anything you know? If you weren't- ".
He shudders and it is unbelievable, the agony on his face at the thought of her dying. Or – becoming undead. Regina desperately want that look to be gone, want him to smile and laugh and tease like he usually does.
" We have survived worse than him, Henry" she reassures him.
He manages a weak grin. " Like the Underworld?".
" I was thinking more of being stuck with your grandparents in Neverland, listening to their confessions of love and seeing them devour each other faces" Henry throws her a look like 'yeah right'. Over his shoulder, Emma rolls her eyes.
" We all know you love them, your majesty" she grimaces. " Though I really could have done without the making out".
" Uh what" Henry slowly pulls away from Regina, though he keeps close, and turns to face Emma.
"Your half-witted granddad decided that he had not properly shown his love for your grandma, so he decided that when trapped on an island with your enemies next to you is the perfect time to kiss your wife in a rather appalling manner".
Henry looks a combination of vague amusement, disgust and slight offence. " What?".
Emma laughs. " You pull the same face Regina did back then".
Henry slowly starts to smile. "Really?".
Emma smiles back, her eyes glittering. "I believe she also said something along the lines of 'what I wouldn't have done for another sleeping curse " she actually tries to imitate Regina's voice, trying to make her own deeper and huskier
Regina glares at her. " You are a nuisance".
" You really are becoming repetitive" Emma shoots back, smiling.
" My apologies dear, I will immediately devote myself to coming up with better one-liners".
Henry looks a little confused at first, then slowly start to smirk at the looks sent between his two mothers. Regina notes and forces herself to glance away from Emma to send Henry a suspicious look. He merely shrugs and says " You two are being weird" then yawns. Regina cannot be sure whether it is real or fake.
She stops caring when he kisses her on her forehead and hugs her one last time. " So where in this room can I sleep?".
" Henry, I've told you – ".
" Yeah well, you just vanished and nearly got bitten by The vampire". He smiles semi-innocently. " Besides, wouldn't I be far safer around both of my moms instead of all alone in my room?".
Regina frowns. "You might have a point. But you are not sleeping in a chair, I will conjure a bed for you".
Emma snorts. "You have a gargantuan bed Regina, why can he not sleep in that?".
So oblivious sometimes. She arches her eyebrow. " Do you really think a teenaged boy wants to sleep in the same bed as his mom?".
And there is the lightbulb. Emma's slightly sheepish smile is almost endearing. She only gets to watch it for a second, though ; Emma quickly turns to Henry. "So the queen-sized bed is a big no, huh?".
He shrugs. "I don't think I would mind for a night, really. Not if it will keep mom safe".
" Momma's boy" Emma mutters, playfully shoving Henry.
Regina glares fiercely at her. That glare withers as she looks at Henry, giving him a smile. "Do not listen to the idiot Henry. I think you are wonderful".
She turns to face Emma. " Do you honestly think I do not notice you mouthing 'momma's boy' from the corner of my eye".
"… Would I be doing it if I thought you noticed?".
" Most likely. You do seem to enjoy aggravating me" .
There is a moment where they are looking at each other, Regina with a tiny smirk and Emma with a bright smile. Henry looks chagrined when he cannot hold back a yawn, breaking the moment where the two are staring at each other.
Emma looks exactly like a dog shaking water of itself while Regina looks like she has just woken from a coma.
" You really need to go to bed Henry" Regina says, gently pushing him towards the bed.
He struggles a little. " Don't we need to cast spells or anything?".
Regina looks pointedly at the garlic above her window, around her bed's leg, nailed to the door, nailed to all four walls.. then she looks at her nightstand, where there is a giant silver cross ( she really doesn't know where they even got that, but the thought of Emma breaking into Blue's room and stealing it makes her smile, so she tells herself that is what happened). Finally, she looks at 'Emma's ' chair, where there are several stakes littering the ground.
" I am quite certain we have enough protection , sweetheart".
" But what about your dreams?".
" I will try tomorrow, but I have a feeling about this.. Dracula might be able to breach any defences we manage to create".
Henry crawls into the bed, yawning again. " Are you sure? Perhaps- ".
" I am very sure. And you need to go to sleep".
She walks towards him, tugging him in. He grins at her, though he also rolls his eyes a little. She brushes the hair away from his forehead and kisses it. " Sleep well, sweetheart".
He smiles back. " Sleep well".
Regina is just straightening when Emma speaks up behind her, causing some confusion.
" How strong is your headboard?"
Then it becomes a lot more clear, leading to Regina stiffening and whirling around. And giving Emma her iciest, meanest glare.
" I am going to get my handcuffs".
" Miss Swan. Our son is right there" Regina hisses, pointing to Henry, who looks torn between gagging, bolting and laughing.
" Oh gods, the thought of that is gross " he groans, then laughs at the look on Regina's face.
Emma raises her brow a little. " I did not mean it like that Regina" .
She pretends like she doesn't feel her cheeks heating. " You really have to think before you open your mouth , dear. You might have traumatized our son".
Emma snorts. " I wasn't the one who took it the wrong way. But really, how strong is your headboard?".
She rubs at her temples, And I am starting to get a headache as well, how wonderful. " Have you even looked at my headboard? How do you imagine handcuffing a person to it will even work ? ".
" Funny that you didn't say that before insinuating I had– " she glances at Henry, who seems still a little grossed out but mostly exasperated. " … certain ulterior motives".
Henry sighs. " Ma. Will you please stop talking about this? The idea is seriously grossing me out".
" The idea of your moms together?".
" No. The idea of my moms doing that".
Emma chuckles, then glances at Regina. Who crosses her arms and almost feels tempted to light a fireball at the devious glint in the woman's eyes. Eyes that suddenly- glide all over her? , until they pointedly get stuck somewhere around where her heart is beating a little faster.
" Miss Swan" she hisses, yet again.
Emma laughs. Then laughs even harder when a pillow hits her. Regina looks at the thrower : a scowling Henry. "Stop perving on mom, Emma " he says, but his scowl is threatening to turn into a smile.
That devious glint hasn't fully vanished , so when Emma starts to say " I don't know , kid, your mom- ", Regina steps forward and pushes her. "Not another word or I will curse you" she threatens.
Emma grins. " Really getting repetitive there, Regina".
She rolls her eyes. " I couldn't care less, Swan. Now can we all get some sleep?".
" Sure. I really do need my handcuffs though".
" Whatever for?"
" We need to tie you to something, or you are going to try to sleepwalk to the creep again".
" What would you even tie me to?" she has to swallow the urge to clear her throat. Bad thoughts, Henry is in the room – stop thinking about that!
" I could make a couple of holes in your headbo-".
" I am not letting you destroy my property. Again".
Emma just shrugs. "Fine" . She sighs "Well , I am obviously not cuffing you to Henry – that would really traumatize him, probably- but what about.. "
Her eyes glide throughout the room, getting stuck the chair right when Henry pipes up to say "Why do you not just cuff mom to yourself, Emma? That would keep her really safe".
Emma throws him an incredulous look. " Kid, I would have to sleep next to your mom in that case. And even though that bed is pretty gargantuan, it is not going to be comfortable if it is all three of us in it ".
" So? Mom will just conjure another bed, so I can sleep on that and you can sleep in hers".
Emma laughs nervously, her eyes darting towards the door. " Yeah, so not going to happen".
" Why not? You said it yourself, the bed is big enough. There is enough space that you won't touch or anything".
" We would be handcuffed to each other Henry!".
" I am going to bed" she stalks towards her bathrobe, tugs it on and slides beneath the covers.
Emma just stands there awkwardly, then shrugs. " I am going to get my handcuffs then". She waits a heartbeat, studying Regina. "You do that" Regina mumbles.
" Right. Maybe we can cuff you to the chair".
" I am sure you will figure it out Emma" Regina says, just that bit annoyed that makes Emma shut up and go downstairs.
Her footsteps have faded when Henry speaks again. " You should conjure another bed".
" Are you uncomfortable , darling?".
" Nah. I mean, it really is not that big of a deal to sleep here for one night. The bed is big enough and comfortable" He yawns again . " But Emma could sleep there, and she could still be cuffed to you".
" My smart little prince" she mumbles fondly.
"Hm hm " Henry mumbles, obviously already half-asleep.
" Sweet dreams" she whispers as he breath starts to even out.
She turns, feeling ridiculous as her heartbeat picks up at several sounds. This is preposterous. It is just an overgrown bat, who cannot even get here as he needs an invitation to even enter. Still, she cannot keep the cold away from her skin- that is goose bumping at the remembrance of fingers on her arm- nor can she keep herself from seeing that red and remembering what it felt like to be so puppet-like.
Stop it. You are being dim-witted. He won't get to you.
Still, her heart only calms when Emma can be heard. She glances at Henry, but he has always been a deep sleeper so he doesn't hear his mother's rather loud footsteps. Or notices when the door creaks and opens.
" Hey "Emma whispers, carefully threading into the room. She kneels next to Regina, showing her the handcuffs. Oh for- why cannot I stop thinking about THAT . "What is a good idea?".
" Step back " .
Emma looks puzzled, but shrugs and does. Then stares at the bed that Regina conjures with a wave of her hand. Then at Regina's hand, that she holds up . "You have my permission to cuff yourself to me. You can sleep on this bed. It is close enough that it doesn't matter we will be handcuffed, but you won't be in the same bed".
" I am pretty sure that there is less space between us than there would be in your bed" Emma mutters, looking almost longingly at where Henry is sound asleep ( or perhaps at the space that is between him and his mother, more than there will be between her and Regina)
Still, she crawls onto the bed and reaches for Regina's hand. She quickly handcuffs them both, then lays down. Regina stares at her. " Are you not going to change into something more comfortable? " Then frowns. " Or at least get under the covers?".
" Nah, I am fine. And my jacket is warm enough".
" If you are sure".
" Yeah".
" Good night, Emma".
" Good night" .
They stare at each other for a while before Regina closed her eyes and Emma rolls on her back, staring at the ceiling. She listens to Regina's breathing, which is weirdly soothing. Just lets her thoughts go anywhere, from how she is going to kick this vampire's ass to whether Regina's hand that occasionally brushes against her is so soft because she uses some sort of moisturizer
Does my gun even work on vampires?
Is her last thought and then nothing, but vague dreams.
I don't know whether I am a 100% satisfied with this. I will look at it again tomorrow, see whether I have any ideas that might improve it. Hope you enjoyed!
my personal weakness is Regina who knows she likes Emma (but doesn't think she deserves her) so Pining and an oblivious Emma that would go to Hell for her but somehow doesn't realize she is in love. ; )