Two text messages sent her out on another excursion into the night.
Could you come over tonight?
Please.
Her cell phone chimed in quick succession, the blue glow of the screen like a beacon on her nightstand. The hour was late but Emma had already been awake, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. Her thoughts were back on the merry-go-round of spinning emotions; her anger for Regina smoldered like an ember in her chest. But she also liked to think she knew the mayor well at this point and could conjecture her words, while rash and mean, came from a place of fear. It had Emma regretting her own heated phrases that she tossed at Regina. With intimate closeness, came the knowledge of the others weakness. It had been easy to revert back to what they excelled at: hurting each other.
Henry sensed that something had been wrong when Emma showed up at Granny's with red eyes and a sour mood. She tried her best hide it, and managed to rally a little when sharing steaming mugs of hot cocoa with him. Her son didn't push for answers though, for which she was grateful. She caught a little bit more luck when they headed home for dinner and Mary Margret had been non-confrontational verging on desperately bubbly as they all sat down and had a meal together.
While she preferred not to argue with her parents, this new coping mechanism of persistent, on-the-precipice of manic cheerfulness was unnerving. Even David had seemed unsure of her eerie Stepford wives' attitude, glancing at his wife warily from time to time over the extravagant roast she cooked. Emma and Henry unanimously elected to retire as early as possible to escape the weirdness of the downstairs. The young boy read comics, occasionally showing her some of his favorite panels, until his eyelids began to droop and sleep claimed him easily so that she was a little jealous. Emma tidied his comics so they wouldn't be ruined; stacking them neatly back in the suitcase Regina had packed for him and left in her car that afternoon.
She had bought some clothes for Henry but Emma knew he was glad to have some of his normal things with him. The soft snuffling sounds of his sleep only provided her comfort for so long until her mind delved into playing back her fight with Regina on repeat. Then the messages came. Stubbornly, part of her wanted to ignore them and hold onto the hurt for a bit longer but her heart protest vehemently. For all the pain that had been inflicted, Emma knew that the only remedy would be talking with Regina, like using a snake's own poison in the antidote.
She was out of bed and leaving the apartment quickly without a second thought. If her slumbering parents woke up this time to her departure she was unaware of it. Emma tried not to think too much as she navigated to the manor, walked up the moonlight cobblestones, and started up the grand staircase; the gravitational pull that seemed to dictate all her interactions with Regina led her to the other woman's bedroom like she were a planet that didn't know any other path to travel. As she stepped into the open doorway, Emma saw Regina sitting on the edge of her bed facing the window. The room was unlit, the shear, white curtains illuminated by the moon, the brunette's form silhouetted against them.
Emma slowly entered but Regina didn't turn to look at her even as she sat at the bottom of the bed, the mattress dipping under her weight. She could just make out the other woman's profile, highlighted silver and sad. It took her breath away how beautiful she was. Finally, Regina spoke, her voice low and smoky, "The moon was so much bigger in the Enchanted Forest, closer like you could reach it from the treetops."
"Sounds lovely."
"It was."
"Do you miss it at all? The Enchanted Forest?"
"A little yes. But mostly no." Regina looked at her lap. "This is my home now. All my memories with Henry are here. And you. And… I don't want to lose it."
"Who says you will?"
Regina finally turned to look at her with tears threatening to spill from her eyes, "Let's be realistic Emma. When they find me guilty-"
Emma interjected obstinately, "If they find you guilty."
"If. When. It's doesn't matter. The point is the most likely outcome of a guilty verdict is exile. And that is a fact you need to face."
"I know it's a possibility." Emma's voice rose with false anger. "But I can't think about it right now because the idea of you leaving… it breaks my heart. It just can't happen. I won't let it happen."
"You might not have a choice." Regina nearly whispered.
"If they force you out, I'll go with you. We'll take Henry and start someplace new." She declared.
"Henry wouldn't want to go. And your parents are here. I know you're still upset with them but in leaving you'd never have the chance to mend that relationship." Regina said. "And if not your parents, your life is here. You're good at being sheriff and helping people and killing dragons. You belong here in Storybrooke."
"You belong here too." She put her hand over top of Regina's. The brunette made a little noise of disbelief. Emma went on, "I'm serious. You built this town, maybe not with the best intentions, but you made it. And whether people realize or not you've taken care of everyone all these years."
"You really are too good sometimes." The mayor said with a touch of awe.
"I think we both know that isn't the case."
"That just makes you all the better."
Emma blushed. "Look, let's get through this trial and we'll figure everything out when as we need to."
"Okay." The other woman agreed with a resigned, tired smile.
"In the meantime, how about we stop lashing out at each other? I'm not saying we'll never fight again because, I mean, we're still us, but we have to stop trying to hurt each other."
Regina twisted to face her fully now and cupped her cheek, her eyes pooled with remorse. "I'm sorry about early. I shouldn't have said those things."
"I'm sorry too. I reacted badly." Emma shifted closer to her. "If you're scared or need space or whatever, just tell me. You don't have to push me away."
"I think I only know how to push people away."
"You asked in what world we could ever be together."
"Emma-" Regina shook her head and started to pull away at her reminder.
She caught her wrist before she could slip away entirely. "No Regina. You were right. By all accounts we shouldn't be together. It should be impossible. And I don't really understand how but we created the world where we are supposed to be together."
"I don't understand it either." Regina rested her forehead against her own. "But I wouldn't want it to be anyone but you."
"Me too." Emma said before she pressed their lips together and whatever lingering doubt faded away. They kissed slowly, lips caressed like leaves rustling in the breeze, gentle and unhurried. They continued their leisurely pace even as Regina unzipped her sweater and removed her tank top. Emma peeled the silky nightdress from the curves in front of her. The brunette urged her to lie down at the head of the bed. She rolled bottoms off her legs so they were both exposed completely. Emma reached to pull the other woman back down but Regina shook her head, "Just let me touch you."
Emma shivered and relaxed into the pillows, watching as Regina knelt upright between her legs and lifted one up to kiss her ankle. She peppered kisses up her calf to her knee that was almost completely covered over with deep red and purple scabs from falling to the pavement. The older woman inspected the rough patches closely, "Does it hurt?"
"Not really. They're a little stiff in the morning."
Regina brushed her lips tenderly against the wounded skin. Then treated her other leg the same. She made a trail of love bites up her thighs but skipped over the heat that was building between them. Her tongue painted delicate patterns across her hipbones and stomach; the attention was divine as the woman moving above her tried to leave no patch of skin untouched. Emma hummed and moaned feeling content to let her arousal simmer. Plush lips pressed against each of her fingertips and teeth scraped softly against her biceps as she mindlessly stroked Regina's back. The brunette sucked a nipple into her mouth, laving her tongue around the bud. Her breathing hitched, arcing her chest out into the sensation. Emma whimpered, "Please, more."
Complying with the request, Regina finally slid her hand to Emma's center, her fingers skating through the thick wetness there, dragging it up to rub circles over her clit. The pleasure vibrated lowly as if a current of electricity circuited through her. Moving her attention from her sensitive bud, two fingers slowly pushed inside of her swollen sex and Emma groaned, her leg hooked around Regina's hip as she thrust steadily. Their lips found each other again as her need for release became more insistent. Regina moved inside her a little quicker, pressed more firmly, and curled more purposefully.
"Oh god, yes. Regina." Emma's orgasm ambled through her decadently like flowing champagne, the bubbles fizzling against her skull. She still felt a little drunk on pleasure when Regina fell off of her, pulling the blonde into her side and wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Emma nestled her face into her neck, lazily lapping the skin there and hand kneading her breast with the intention of returning the favor as soon as she could muster up the energy. But Regina pulled her hand away, sliding it so it rested on her back. "It's late. We should sleep."
"You're sure?" She asked a little disappointed.
"Yes I'm sure. I'm so tired." And she did sound drained. Accepting the answer, she briefly sat up to retrieve the comforter that had been crumpled at the bottom of the bed and settled back against Regina. The quiet of the night folded around them. After a pause, Emma spoke words into Regina's skin, as if trying to brand her with a promise.
"Regina, I'm going to fight for you."
"I've seen you run into fire twice for me. I know you will." The brunette kissed her forehead.
Another small length of silence and Emma's voice ventured out again. "Regina?"
"Yes?""
"Can you turn into a dragon?"
She chuckled lightly, "Go to sleep or you'll find out."