Emma dried off her hair and leaned over the sink, double-checking her reflection. She tugged uselessly at the strands, wishing her hair didn't grow so fast, and she brushed it back with her hands. The last time she was able to wash it without using sea water was…far too long for her to remember. Emma picked up the toothbrush Henry provided and pursed her lips. It'd been even longer since Angelica shoved a toothbrush in her hand and pushed her into the bathroom, claiming that Emma's teeth would rot before she was twenty. She grinned and searched for the toothpaste, wondering if not for the first time if she'd get accustomed to how efficient the new realm was. She rinsed it off before going through the motions, humming her father's song under her breath twice until she was finished. It wasn't until she had finished wiping her mouth did she realize she was being watched, and Emma found Regina's gaze through the mirror. Her eyes, while still brown, glowed almost in the shadows.
"Is this what your enemies used to see before you killed them?"
Regina blinked, and the glow was gone. She stepped further into the bathroom and stopped next to the sinking, turning her back to the mirror. Emma huffed when a piece of hair fell in front of her face, and Regina held up her finger. She moved toward a closet and pulled out a black bag, and she gestured toward the toilet.
"Sit."
Emma sat down, and Regina took out a pair of scissors. She nudged Emma's legs until they opened, and she slid between them. Emma closed her eyes and let Regina do what she pleased, trusting whatever the woman came up with. She settled her hands on the back of Regina's thighs, feeling the muscles tense before relaxing under her grip. The duo descended into silence, broken by the sound of the scissors, and Emma had nearly fallen asleep when Regina called her name.
"I'm finished," she said softly.
"Thank you. It looks great."
"You haven't even seen it."
"I don't need to."
Emma smiled and pulled back, getting to her feet. Her hands slid up to Regina's waist and stayed there, and Regina toyed with the hem of Emma's - Henry's - shirt. It was a little small, so that meant Regina's fingers brushed against Emma's stomach sporadically.
"Stop that," she said.
"Why?"
"You know why."
Regina hummed and moved her hands under Emma's shirt, resting them on her back.
"Is this better?"
"Not in the least."
"Good. Your men have their blankets and pillows, but they refused to move out of my living room and den."
"They will not ask for more luxury than they are accustomed to," Emma said.
"And what of you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you planning on joining them downstairs?"
"I was unaware I had another choice."
Regina sighed as if it pained her and said, "You are more than welcome to sleep up here."
"With you?"
"If you wish."
"Do you believe that is wise?"
"Not in the least," she said, smiling. "But it is what I want."
"And do you often get what you want?"
"More than I don't, yes, but you are under no obligation to do anything other than sleep."
Emma grinned and squeezed Regina's waist before saying, "I have already agreed to it, your Majesty. There is no need to talk me into it."
"Good. Now, get out. I need to get ready for bed."
"Wait, is this -
"My bathroom? Yes. You even went through my bedroom to get here."
Emma scrunched her face and looked around, finally noticing all the small things that pointed to it being Regina's bathroom. She scratched the back of her neck at all the lotions and creams, and she puffed out her cheeks.
"Was I supposed to use any of that stuff?"
"God, no. I would have killed you."
Emma dropped her head and placed a soft kiss on the side of Regina's neck. Regina draped her arms around Emma's neck and allowed herself to be pulled flush to Emma's body, happily surrendering to the warmth spreading through her veins.
"All that I am is yours, my Queen."
Regina's stomach flipped at the words whispered against her skin, and she asked, "Do you even know what that vow means? Truly?"
"Aye." Emma turned her head and brushed her lips against Regina's jaw. "I am aware of what it entails, yes. I am yours in every way you desire. My sword is yours to use as you command. Ask me for anything, and you shall have it. Take from me what you need, as I give it freely. You are my Queen, and my loyalty to you shall never falter."
"Even if I asked you to kill Snow White?"
"Tell me when, and I will bring you her head. She means nothing to me."
"Prove it. Announce who you are tomorrow. Tell her who you are, and show her who you belong to."
"Is that all?" Emma murmured, moving her lips to Regina's. "I can do it tonight, if you want."
Regina could practically taste the mint from Emma's toothpaste, yet she didn't move. There was only an inch separating them, neither one eager or in a rush to close the distance. Regina finally registered Emma's words and shook her head.
"No. Tomorrow. It will spread faster."
"Territorial."
"You have no idea."
Emma grinned and dug her fingers into Regina's jaw.
"Make no mistake, your Majesty. I allow you to own me," she said. She dropped her voice into a whisper and added, "But as much as I am yours, you are mine, and I do not share in any capacity. No one will have you but me."
"Prove it."
Emma used her grip to turn Regina's head to the side, giving no warning before she bit down on the junction between her neck and shoulder. Regina gasped and threw her head back, hitting it against the wall. Emma pulled away and licked at the blood until it was gone. Then, she breathed her magic on it, and the wound healed, leaving behind a scar in the shape of a skull with an E in the middle.
"Did - did you just mark me?"
"Yes." Emma glanced at the mark and added, "Damn, that looks good on you."
Regina scowled and gripped the back of Emma's neck with one hand. The other made a quick gesture, and Emma bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. On her neck, in the same spot as the mark she left on Regina, an image was being etched into her skin by magic. Emma breathed sharply out her nose and never took her eyes away from Regina's. When it was done, the Queen's crest rested proudly on Emma's skin, and Emma clicked her teeth.
"Must you have done it so violently?"
"Excuse me? You bit me!"
"I'm a pirate, love. Vicious creatures, we are."
Regina rolled her eyes hard and pushed Emma until she was out of the bathroom. The pirate laughed and walked backward until she hit the bed, and she sat down, leaning back on her hands.
"Can I trust you not to go through my things?"
"Not in the least."
Regina sighed, and suddenly, her face softened, and she smiled.
"Thank you, by the way," she said.
"For what?"
"My magic. I feel…freer."
"Always."
Emma waved her hand. A sunflower appeared on the bathroom counter. Regina winked and closed the door, and Emma was quick to hurry over to the vanity. She looked into the mirror, taking in her hair and the mark, and she smiled widely. In all her wildest dreams, she had never imagined having both marks, one from her father, and the other from her love.
"Finally," she whispered.
Henry stopped short in the kitchen, and he shot his mother a blank stare.
"I didn't know your soulmate was a rabid dog."
"You should see hers," Regina snorted.
"If this is some weird kinky -
"Henry!"
"Come on, Mom. I already know what you guys did in the dungeons. Lots of whips and chains and -
Regina flicked her wrist at him, and Henry laughed silently, even though his voice was gone. Ruby pranced into the kitchen but stopped when Regina glared at her.
"Uh, what did I do?"
"Stop telling my son about your dungeon days," she hissed.
Ruby grimaced and said, "I may or may not have gotten a little drunk when I watched him last weekend. But in my defense, he's like an adult now. He even went potty by himself."
Henry stopped laughing and glared at her, and Ruby pinched his cheek.
"Such a good boy," she teased.
Henry smacked at her, and she giggled. Regina gave Henry his voice back, but their conversation paused when Gregory poked his head into the room.
"My apologies, your Majesty, but where would you like us to put our things?"
"There is a door on your left side when you go down the hall. Please put them in there."
"Yes, ma'am."
Gregory bowed and went back to the living room, and Ruby whistled.
"If I weren't gay, I'd hit."
"Ruby."
"What?"
Regina rubbed her temples and said, "I have far too much to worry about this morning, including how I am going to feed everyone."
"Don't you have magic?" Henry asked.
"When have you ever seen me use magic to cook?"
"Fair point."
"Just go to Granny's." Henry and Regina turned to Ruby, who folded her arms and shrugged. "Plenty of space, and Granny would love the chance to feed all of them. Just give her a few minutes to shut the place down."
"No need. We will go as is. There is no need for special treatment, Miss Lucas."
"Dude, you know you can just call me…"
Ruby trailed off when she looked back, and Henry's eyes widened. Regina, having already seen Emma that morning, wasn't caught off guard, but her body still reacted in Emma's presence. She was so happy she decided to 'give' Emma a new coat. The old one was fine, but it was faded and looked ratty. The new one, black with purple accents, fit better and highlighted all the good things about the pirate.
Like her arms and shoulders.
And the boots…Regina didn't appreciate how a good pair of shined boots made an outfit, but Emma screamed power and status without even trying. The mark on her neck was dark against her skin, and it left no question to whom she stood with. Emma adjusted her sleeves and placed her hands behind her back.
"I believe there was an agreement made last night that I must uphold."
Regina frowned in confusion until she remembered, and she grinned. Emma bowed at the waist, winking at Regina, before she straightened and walked out of the room. There was a low whistle, and Regina could practically hear the sound of Emma's men coming to attention. Henry and Ruby looked at her, and she frowned.
"What?"
"You have to change. Scratch that, we all have to change."
Henry nodded in agreement, and Regina rolled her eyes.
"We're going to Granny's."
"No way, Mom. Emma looks like a badass. We look like the Brady Bunch."
"Ooo, good reference," Ruby said. "But he's right. If we're going out with that, we have to match."
"So snap, snap, magic lady," Henry added.
Regina burst out into laughter, and she waved her hand over her body. She changed into an old outfit, a black leather dress with a deep cut down the middle and a pair of heels, and Ruby nodded in approval. Regina did the same to Henry, putting him in riding pants and a black tunic. He frowned, and she flicked her wrist, giving him a tighter shirt and looser pants. He gave her a thumbs up and bent down to re-tie his boots. Regina tilted her head in concentration before she waved her hand over Ruby, and the wolf's shirt was shortened into a crop-top, and her heels became platforms, giving her a few inches. Ruby reached up and took her hair out of the ponytail, letting it flow down her shoulders.
"I forgot how much I missed this."
"You are the one that let Snow White convince you to deny who you are."
"I apologized for that years ago," Ruby huffed.
"You know I have abandonment issues."
"And a whole host of other ones that I'll save for girl's night."
Regina flipped her off, but she froze when Emma came back. Emma stopped, her eyes on Regina, or more specifically, Regina's hand. Emma crossed the room and grabbed her hand, staring at the ring.
"I thought I lost this a long, long time ago," she whispered, brushing her thumb over the ring. "I found it in the woods, and I used a needle to scrape the letter into the side. Where did you find it?"
"In an antique store. My blacksmith said he could never bring himself to throw it away, believing it belonged to a child who died in the fire."
"He was not wrong," Emma mused. "A child did die in that fire. I was never the same after it."
"Do you want it back?"
"Never. It looks better on you anyway."
Emma kissed the ring and then tapped the mark.
"Plus, now you have a matching set."
"You guys are so cute in a very weird and concerning way," Ruby said, breaking their moment.
"Emphasis on weird," Henry added.
Regina and Emma turned, and Henry held up his hands.
"What? You are."
"You look like one of my men," Emma said.
"Sweet! Can I -
"No," Regina said.
"You don't even know what I was going to ask."
"Was it along the lines of asking for a sword?" Henry didn't answer, and Regina nodded. "That's what I thought," she said. "Are your men ready?"
"On your command, your Majesty. My men are yours."
"Careful, if you keep making these vows, I might fall in love with you."
"And if you keep wearing dresses like this, I know I will."
"Oh, my God," Ruby muttered. "I changed my mind. I hate everything about this."
"Ditto," Henry sighed.
Snow and Charming looked up in unison when the door opened, and the diner fell into silence as a group of men - pirates - walked into the space. They found several empty booths near the back, and the men that didn't find a seat simply went to the bar. But what caught their attention, what caught everyone's attention, were the people who came in afterward. Henry and Ruby came in, talking in hushed whispers and gesturing aimlessly, and they ignored practically everyone except Granny. The older woman clicked her teeth and pointed behind the counter, and Ruby obediently went to do her job. Henry leaned against the counter and took up conversation with one of the pirates. It wasn't until the door opened a third time did Snow lose her composure. Regina - no, the Evil Queen, strolled in as if she owned the place and snapped her fingers. The tables that had people sitting at them were cleared of food and people alike, and she motioned for the pirates at the counter to take the new spots. Satisfied, Regina's eyes lazily went to Snow and Charming, and she arched an eyebrow.
"Move."
"What?" Snow exclaimed.
Regina stalked across the room slowly, hands clasped in front of her stomach, and she said, "Move. You are in our seats."
"Our?" Charming repeated.
"Yes, our. Me, my son, and my Captain."
Henry came over with a cheeky grin, and the door opened for a fourth time. The pirate that walked in wore a hat low over their face, but it did nothing to hide the evil smirk. With a slight tilt of their head, Snow paled. She knew that mark intimately from her nightmares, and she swallowed roughly. Snow and Charming were the only ones left in the diner that didn't come with Regina, and it felt like the entire room was staring at them.
"I believe my Queen asked you to move," the pirate drawled.
Charming shot up from the booth, and in a matter of seconds, swords were drawn and aimed at him. The pirate lifted a hand, and the swords were returned to their sheaths, but the threat remained. Charming scowled and took a small step back.
"All we want is to finish our breakfast," he gritted out.
"You can. But not here."
"Now, I don't know who the hell you are-
"Oh, of course," the pirate said, interrupting Charming. "Forgive my manners."
The pirate removed their hat and dramatically bowed at the waist.
"Captain Emma Swan of the Damnatus, at your service."
Snow froze, and Regina slid her hand up to Emma's neck, purposely caressing the place where her mark lied. Snow took a better look at the pirate, and her biggest secret was staring her back in the face. She started hyperventilating, and Charming dropped down beside her.
"Snow? Snow! What's wrong?" he asked, holding her face.
"Oh, my," Regina said. "Snow White kept a secret from her Prince? How scandalous."
"What? What are you talking about?" Charming asked. "What secret?"
"Regina, please, please don't tell him," Snow begged.
"Surely you are not asking me to keep your most sacred secret," Regina said.
"What secret?" Charming repeated, growing annoyed.
"Allow me." Emma bent down until she was looking Charming in the eyes and grinned. "Hello, Dad," she fake-whispered.
"W-what?"
"Aw, did Mommy not tell you how she spared me from the curse?" Emma mocked. "Did she make up some grand story about how she gave me to merchants who shipped me safely away?"
"You - she said you were in Arendelle -
"Ha! We only stopped there for the wine and the w-" Emma blanched and shook her head. "That isn't important," she said.
"Oh? I would love to know what was so interesting in Arendelle beyond the wine," Regina said.
Emma winced and stood up straight.
"Seeing as I may or may not make it through the morning, I shall keep this short and sweet so I can enjoy my final moments." Emma put her hands on Snow and Charming's shoulders. "I am the child you so carelessly gave away for the sake of a prophecy. I am the daughter you sacrificed for a future that could have never happened had my father dropped me in the ocean with an anchor around my waist. I am the seed of your union, which is disgusting to think about, but let me be clear, I am not here to make amends. I am not anything but a walking reminder of your selfishness. Stay out of my way, and I may consider making your deaths painless and quick."
Snow and Charming vanished in a cloud of dark smoke, and Emma wiped her hands on her pants.
"Where did you send them?" Henry asked.
"To that park we passed."
"You mean the one that's mostly mud and leaves because of the storm we had two days ago?"
"Mud is better than the bottom of the ocean," Emma said pointedly.
Henry shook his head and sat down.
"You're a psychopath," he said.
"Thank you."
"But you're also a dead psychopath," he added. "Why were you in Arendelle so much?"
"I loathe you."
"That may be, Captain, but you have yet to answer the question," Regina said.
Emma looked to Tobias for help, but he pretended not to see her. Emma groaned and threw her head back.
"Arendelle was notorious for its taverns and…companion-oriented activities."
"I see. And how often did you participate in these companion-oriented activities?"
"Once…or twice."
"She was their best customer," Tobias called out.
"Tobias!"
Regina narrowed her eyes, and Emma let out a strangled sound and waved her hand at Henry before saying, "You can hardly be mad at me when you fucked your knights!"
"They fucked me, not the other way around."
"Oh, my gosh, this was years ago!"
"Try eight months," Tobias said.
"Will you shut up!"
"Did you enjoy it?"
"No!"
"She did. She talked about it for days afterward."
"Tobias, I swear to all that is unholy, if you do not stop talking, I will slit your throat," Emma seethed.
Regina hummed and sat down next to Henry, who was watching the entire scene with annoyance because he couldn't hear them.
"For every woman you slept with, that is a day you can go without."
"Without what?" Emma asked.
Regina looked up at her, and Emma balked.
"I haven't even gotten a kiss!"
"And you won't until you tell me how many."
"This is unfair."
"Is it?"
"Yes!"
"Two days, then, for each one."
Emma rubbed her face and said, "Six."
"Six?"
"Yes, six."
Regina looked at Tobias, who nodded, and she smiled.
"Twelve days it is, then."
Emma slumped into the booth, and Regina waved her hand at Henry. He scowled at both of them but didn't say anything, and Ruby made her re-appearance. She placed a shot of whiskey in front of Emma and patted her shoulder.
"Good luck, Captain."
"Piss off."