Regina let out an audible groan as a loud knock resonated through her house and more annoyingly through her head. Blinking her eyes she realised that it was again the unpleasantness she had hoped of avoiding by oversleeping: morning. She stumbled down the stairs to reach the infernal door which didn't seem to pause for even a moment.
On seeing the culprit as she opened the door, Regina blinked once, and then again as her senses kick-started. She looked back to the house and then to the front again, her raspy voice finally bubbling out her confusion.
"How?"
On the other side of the threshold, Emma Swan, with her hands dug so deep in her pockets that she actually appeared shorter than Regina, gave her a nervous smile before bobbing her head thinking what to say.
"How what? How am I up at 7 am? How did I get here?"
On seeing Regina's unmoving stare Emma sighed, "Or how did I shrink myself again?"
Regina's shoulder slumped and she leaned on the frame of the door suddenly remembering how tired she was. Closing her eyes she said, "All of the above."
Too many questions to process this early in the morning.
Emma took in Regina's state, she was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, though a bit dishevelled. Her foot seemed well enough by how she was not favouring her right one instead. But clearly something else was hurting since she could see the red rims around her puffed eyes which were decorated with wet lashes. Her hair were doing that adorable thing from yesterday morning where they stuck out in every direction. Emma's hand made an appearance and brushed them away before tucking in the more errant ones, "What happened here Miss Mills?"
Regina actually snorted, seeming least bothered by the surprise it evoked in Emma, before swatting away the pale hands from her hair.
"I think I opened a gate yesterday, these silly waterworks don't seem to stop."
Her hand reached up her collar, lightly tracing the inside hem of her shirt from where she took out a chain with a pendant dangling at the bottom.
"After David called yesterday to tell me, to inform me why you both weren't coming today", Regina sighed, "I was feeling a little… I visited my mausoleum to see mother and, and I found this."
Emma's hand slid along the chain to take it from hers, opening it using her thumb. She gasped as she saw the two photographs inside: one was undoubtedly of a younger Regina Mills, most probably in her later teen years; the other was of her deceased mother, Cora Mills.
"She always wore this and I had no idea." Regina said softly as fresh tears made way through closed eyes.
Emma's hands caressed the photo inside the locket as she leaned in to see one picture closely, "You know she could have chosen a photo that made your hair look less poofy."
Regina wiped her eyes before saying, "Shut up."
Emma's nose crinkled as she jerked back, "What did you do Regina, rob the town brewery or something? Remind me to buy you mints, it's something that I've been meaning to do since day one here."
"God Emma, please shut up."
Regina heard Emma chuckle. She opened her eyes slowly at first, then blinking rapidly till she could keep them open. Pushing herself away from the frame Regina tried to stand taller to look at Emma properly. Her critical eyes travelled slowly across Emma's body, "And you, how did this happen? Again I might add."
"I - well you already know how Henry got a teensy bit angry when I told him what the H-Team, now renamed to the Wizard's council, were up to the last few days. Long story short, we got into our first proper fight today because he wanted to go away with Neal to New York."
Regina felt all the alcohol in her body evaporate, "And you let him go out of Storybrooke with Neal?"
"No! Of course not." Emma instantly replied but her hand kept fiddling with her sleeve."But, he then wanted to go camping with him. I get the feeling it wasn't Storybrooke he wanted to get away from huh?" Emma let out a nervous chuckle as she looked down, "I'm sorry I tried calling you but I think you were pretty out of it. Neal said it'll help him cool off a bit, our absence will make him appreciate us and something something you know."
Regina shook her head, "And of course you had to assent. I told you that you need to step up if you want to be a parent and what do you do, you listen to an eleven year old and his hundred year old father who you wanted me to turn into a rat just yesterday."
Emma took a step back, "Hey hey! I'm sorry ok but it was hard. He's only a kid you know and I think he's just acting out because he was not here with you and I was, so I thought, yeah maybe camping - not so bad. But I still made David go along with them, and, and", Emma huffed, "Really Regina, you thought what? That I was going to turn into some new and improved person after a two-day vacation."
Regina let out a tired breath as all her anger faded away, "Especially if it was with the queen of relapse."
"Harsh", Emma frowned as she lightly swatted Regina's arm, "but when I saw him leave today, I guess I was…" Emma air quoted the words, "feeling strongly", she shrugged, "next thing I know I was standing here."
Regina kept eyeing her from head to toe. Emma kept shuffling under her gaze.
"So, can I come in?" Emma finally asked, seeing no end to Regina's scrutiny.
"Why?"
"I - I could use some company. And I guess so could you."
Regina sighed as she looked away from Emma, "I don't think that's a good idea for you to hide here every time you think you're screwing up. And I think I'd fare better if you were not here every time I'm feeling mournful."
"But-"
"It'll be hard to be alone the next time." Regina completed in a small voice as her hand massaged her temples.
"There doesn't have to be a next time." Emma said lightly kicking the table underneath her, "I mean I kinda like spending time here, I-" she released short successive puffs of breath like she was preparing for a run, "I like spending time with yo-"
"No."
"Excuse me?" Emma tilted her head in confusion. Had she asked a dichotomous question, she wondered, if so then this foot-in-mouth disease was getting sneaky.
"No." Regina pushed Emma away from the door and started closing it, "I'm sorry but this hotel can't accommodate you any further."
Emma's eyes widened as she stopped the door with her foot, "Hey hey, hold your horses lady? What's wrong?"
"I", Regina scowled slightly as she leaned on the door, "Do you not see the two of us right now?" she gestured between them, "I already have a lot baggage here, I-I don't think I have space for yours as well."
Emma pinched shut her eyes before letting it out fast like ripping a band-aid, "We don't have to live with it always you know."
"What?"
"I am saying", Emma removed her foot and this time spoke evenly, stressing every word, "we have a better chance sorting it together instead of carrying it alone."
"It's not easy to bear, mine is so heavy it sometimes threatens to crush the thin wires keeping together my sanity."
Emma gave her a lopsided smile and pointed to herself as she mouthed the word, 'Saviour.'
When Regina huffed and attempted to close the door again, Emma pressed her full weight as she held the door open with her shoulder, "Ok ok, let's leave the fucking title aside. This is one responsibility I want to take no matter how scary it feels. And you said it's not a bad thing to trust someone with your problems. You already know I trust you, so why not give me a chance with this... baggage of yours."
Regina opened the door cautiously, Emma widening it further with her hand. Regina stepped back to let Emma in, allowing her to cross the door. When she made a move to turn Emma caught her wrist with her hand.
"Wait listen, I want you to know I am not being metaphorical about mine. I actually have lots of trolleys, suitcases and duffel bags-" Regina's sweet laugh cut her off.
"Well, my hotel is in dire need of a bellboy." She smirked.
"Oh Casa de Mills certainly won't regret it." Emma said, gaining confidence on making Regina smile again. She slowly walked towards Regina, her other hand landing on her hip. Regina hummed, too distracted by Emma's fingers tracing her pulse to notice their proximity.
"I", Emma started saying something but trailed off in the middle, her eyes glazing over. She shook her head as she brought her other hand up to Regina's cheek, her thumb reaching out to the hypnotic distraction, "Sorry but has anyone told you this thing is incredibly beautiful?"
Regina's breath hitched, suddenly aware of their position when she felt a light pressure on her lip, the cold finger caressing the skin above so gently, almost reverently, "I don't think anyone has noticed it so closely."
"Yeah? Took me a while too." Emma smiled as she leaned in but Regina's eyes widened and she frantically stilled her with her palms on her chest, "Wait, stop!"
"Shit shit, did I read it wrong? Fuck, see that's why I don't try talking in fancy cryptic shit. I thought I was being smart and sweet and here you don't even like me when I thought maybe, I don't know it felt like you did. God I'm going to kick David's as-" Emma got shushed with a finger on her lips.
"Emma", Regina bit her lip as she suppressed her smile, "I just haven't brushed yet."
"So", Emma exhaled around the finger, "it's ok if I, uh", she smiled tentatively, "when you're not smelling like Leroy?"
Regina glared at her skittishly as she tried shrugging out of her hold. Emma held on to her, pulling her further in.
"But you know right, I do feel strongly about this, about us. I don't go changing sizes for just about anybody."
When Regina arched her eyebrow in question she smiled sheepishly, "Ok confession, I wasn't looking for a place to hide today. I was just thinking how much I wished to be with you and then", she rolled her eyes, "poof."
"Really?" Regina breathed making Emma pull out a little, "Jesus Christ Regina, good call on the brush thing."
Regina pushed Emma further away, her glare losing its playfulness.
"Seriously, I've always wondered if Philip was grossed out by Aurora's morning stench." Emma spoke more to herself than the scandalised brunette.
"Mor- morning stench", Regina iterated with horror, "I certainly do not have... morning stench!" Regina turned to her side, covering her mouth with the back of her hand to check her breath.
"Hey, no, I didn't-"
Regina silenced her with an angry stare, which didn't look quite as menacing as she now had her mouth covered behind her cupped hands.
"Just so you know, I can kiss the hell out of you even if you don't floss for years. I can be every bit like those prissy princes on horses", Emma said defiantly but still made a face, "Maybe I'll hold my nose when I do it."
Regina forgot to be angry at the moment when Emma's nose crinkled and instead, let out a chuckle inside her loose clasp. Hearing the laugh Emma's ego came into play, "Oh hell, come here and I'll do it right now. No mouth wash or nothing!"
Emma wrapped her arms around the now shaking brunette, who laughed into Emma's neck, "Stop, I don't need you to be a prince."
Emma sighed, nestling her nose in brown hair, "Sure?"
"Extremely. You're better off a knight." Regina's hands tried to find a place on Emma's neck, but feeling a bit conscious about hugging her, she just rested her hands on her shoulders.
"But", Regina said breaking the moment of silence, "I think you seem to fit the role of a jester even better, with your shenanigans and all."
"Yeah", Emma smiled cheekily at the compliment, "well someone has to make you laugh, you look far prettier then than when you cry."
"Gods", Regina said in mock frustration as she inwardly beamed, very thankful for the curtain of blonde hair hiding her blush, "Give your charming ways a break Miss Swan, it's still too early in the morning. I'm actually half-convinced I'm still passed out in the mausoleum and this is a fever dream."
Emma laughed but her hand still came up to check the brunette's forehead, "So what do you want to do?"
"Why don't you shut the door and join me for some breakfast? We can take it slowly from there." And that was about as straight an admission she could get from Regina about being on the same page as hers. She squeezed the tiny brunette once before letting her go, "Fine, your place your rules."
Regina walked into the kitchen but her teasing voice called out to Emma, "And make sure to not trip on your way back."
Emma rolled her eyes and shouted back, "Yes Mrs. Klutz" but had a goofy smile on her face.
She walked over to the door and thought maybe this time she could try making pancakes for Regina, maybe lighten up the morning after her rough night. Emma was not naive enough to think that this would be the last of their rough nights, but never before had she been so optimistic about her future. Never before had she also been so thankful on being the product of true love because she knew she would have gone back home that night if not for her magical happenstance and then, she would have missed seeing Regina from a different vantage point, in every sense there was.
She sprinted the short distance to the door, eager to return to Regina. When she was close enough she kicked the door with her foot and pivoted back to the direction of the kitchen. The brown door swivelled slowly shut as the sound of footsteps lightened till they lulled into serene silence in Regina's desolate bedroom where the small yet big doll-house glowed with warmth.
fin
A/N:
Looky here, skipping and laughing we slowly reached the end. Writing Shrunk has been insanely fun, and more so thanks to the few brave people who stuck out with me till the end. Your words brought me absolute joy and reassurance (esp. you K!) xx I still don't know what most of you silent lot think about it, hopefully nothing bad, but if I made you smile I guess my job was done.
Just in case you would like to read more from me, I am resuming my other fic: The Heart is Just a Muscle. It takes place with the episode 'The Miller's Daughter' with the change that the cursed heart doesn't kill Cora. The fic revolves around the tug of war Regina finds herself in, with Emma and Cora on opposite sides. If this is something that intrigues you I'd love to see you guys there as well.
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Much love and take care x Pancakes for everyone! x