5 Days Later
"You're seriously getting the hang of this, Emma." Regina says to Emma pleasantly, as they glide across their living room floor. Even though, Regina was reluctant at first to start their dance lessons again, she knew that they'd have to put in the practice sooner or later. And in their case, the sooner Emma got this dance down, the better. Archibald and Alexander gave word to the girls that they will be attending a ball held in the Mills Kingdom. They were given the news 4 days ago; the ball is 2 days from now. Given what happened last time they had their dance lesson, Emma was scared to ask for Regina's help, scared that the brunette would freak out on her and undo all of the progress they had made. But surprisingly, Regina was only slightly hesitant, but eventually agreed. Now here the two girls are, dancing around the living room, their bodies pushed closely together, perhaps too closely for a dance such as this. If either girl is uncomfortable with the close proximity, they certainly aren't showing it.
"You're dancing like a champ. I think you'll be ready to lead the dance just in time for the ball. You're quite the natural, Miss White." Regina praises Emma with a genuine smile. Emma blushes at the compliment and smiles at the brunette bashfully. Regina giggles at the girl's shy behavior and tightens her hold on the blonde's waist, pulling the other girl's front, flush against her own. They continue gliding across the living room smoothly, no toe stubbing or faltering on either girl's part, just a swift and smooth dance. Regina extends her arm out, twirling Emma in the process, pulling her arm back a few seconds later to pull the girl's body back into hers. Emma lands back into Regina's grasp with a soft thump and quickly replaces her left hand on the other girl's shoulder, her right hand placed upright into Regina's palm. They smile bashfully at each other as they continue to dance.
As the moments pass by, the air gets thicker and their breaths grow heavier. They stare deeply into each other's eyes as they continue to dance, their eyes darkening with lust as their heavy breathing turns into rapid panting. Neither girl realizes that their bodies have stopped moving on their own accord, or that they have stopped dancing altogether. Emma reaches out a hand towards Regina's face, gently brushing a loose strand of brown hair behind the girl's ear. Regina's breath hitches at the contact, unable to do much else, but stare. Emma's hand moves down to the girl's cheek, caressing it softly as she stares into unsure brown eyes. Regina's eyes dart from the deep green eyes to the inviting pink lips, wanting desperately to close the gap…but can't. Just as Emma begins to lean in, Regina snaps into action, placing her hand on the blonde's sternum, gently pushing her away. Emma snaps out of her daze, her eyes widening in alarm as she realizes what almost just occurred…again.
"I'm so sorry, Regina! I didn't mean for that to-"Emma doesn't get to finish her apology. Regina raises her hand up in a silencing manner and Emma snaps her mouth shut, eyeing the brunette warily.
"It's okay. You aren't the only one at fault here…I'm pretty sure I wanted it too…" Regina admits quietly, taking a deep breath to slow her racing heart. Emma looks at the girl in shock, the brunette's confession being the last thing she was expecting to hear.
"You wanted to kiss me?" Emma asks slowly. Regina looks into hopeful green eyes and slowly nods her head, not trusting her voice. Emma's eyes widen at that, her jaw dropping open. "Wow…" Emma whispers out. Despite the heaviness of the situation, Regina finds herself cracking a smile at the blonde's stunned expression. Emma always manages to look so damn adorable. It's as infuriating as it is lovable.
"Look, Emma…I don't know what this is between us… I don't know how I feel…or how I'm supposed to feel. All I know is that I feel safe with you and yes, I admit, I wanted to kiss you very much just now… but I'm not sure I'm ready to explore whatever it is we have just yet. I hope you understand…" Regina says self-consciously, hoping that the blonde would understand. The last thing she wants is for the other girl to be upset with her. Emma looks at the girl with an understanding expression, a soft smile forming on her lips to assuage the brunette's worries.
"I understand, Regina. Take your time. I just want you to know, that when you're ready to explore whatever this is between us, I'll still be here." Emma says sincerely. Regina's heart begins palpitating at that confession. Just when I manage to get my heart under control, Regina thinks to herself. She lets out a shaky breath and gulps audibly. The brunette offers Emma a small smile, trying to break the obvious tension in the room.
"Well, it's not like you have a choice in the matter. I mean, we are married and we do live together…" Regina jokes lightly. Emma cracks a smile at that and quirks an eyebrow at the girl.
"Well, even if I had a choice, I'd still wait for you." Emma says truthfully, causing Regina's heart to stop beating completely. The two girls stare at each other silently, neither girl making an attempt to move closer, and neither girl making an attempt to speak. They just stare. Their gazes never wavering from one another.
A knock on the door shatters the moment and Regina is the first to spring into action. She moves to the door and swings it open to reveal Archibald and Alexander standing on the front porch. The two men offer kind smiles to the girls and bow in greeting. Regina and Emma quickly follow suit and curtsy at the men.
"Good morning, your highnesses. Are you two ready for your lessons?" Alexander asks. Both girls nod and grab their bow and quivers from atop the couch, following after the two men as soon as they grab their belongings. As Regina mounts her horse, she releases a shaky breath. What are you doing to me, Emma White? Regina thinks to herself as she glances at the blonde to her left. With that last fleeting thought, the horse's spring into action and they are on their way to the training field.
"Alright, Regina. Impress me." Alexander says to Regina, smirking challengingly at the girl. Regina rolls her eyes at the man and reaches her hand back to remove an arrow from her quiver. She places the arrow into the bow and pulls back until the fletching is lined up with her chin. She focuses on her target and releases the arrow, watching as it tears through the air, and lands right onto the bulls-eye. Regina's eyes widen in shock, her jaw dropping in astonishment. "You did it!" Alexander says in amazement, clasping a hand over the girl's shoulder in congratulations. Regina blinks rapidly and stares at the arrow piercing the bulls-eye. A smile forms on her mouth and soon after, an incredulous laugh escapes her throat. She looks towards Emma's side of the field and sees the blonde eyeing her with a wide smile on her lips. Emma winks at the brunette before turning back to her own target board, bow and arrow already raised. Regina watches as the girl lines up the fletching with her chin and releases the arrow, watching as it tears through the air and pierces the bulls-eye, as well. Its official, Emma is an amazing teacher.
Regina keeps her eyes on Emma, mindlessly grabbing an arrow from her quiver, settling it into the bow. She watches as Emma drops her bow and quiver, pulling her blouse over her head, revealing a white tank top underneath, the blonde's toned arms flexing as she chucks away her blouse. Regina's mouth goes dry at the sight. She continues eyeing the blonde as she reaches down to pick up her quiver, placing the strap across her chest, reaching for the discarded bow next. Emma reaches her arm behind her, her back muscles flexing as she does so, pulling out an arrow to place into her bow. Regina watches closely as the girl pulls back on the arrow, her biceps flexing as she releases the arrow from the string. Regina never noticed how toned the other girl's body was…at least, not until now. Damn that girl is fit. Regina's heart races as Emma lifts up the hem of her tank top, using the hem to wipe the sweat off of her brow, her glistening abs on full display. Mindlessly, Regina pulls her arrow back, releasing it from the string, never taking her eyes off of Emma as she does so. It isn't until she hears a pained scream, that she snaps her attention away from Emma.
As she turns towards her side of the field, Regina's eyes widen in bewilderment, as she takes in the sight of her arrow protruding out of Alexander's thigh.
"Shit! Regina! What the actual hell?!" Alexander yells, his eyes closed tightly as he grips the arrow with his hand. Archibald rushes past Regina and comes to Alexander's aid. Regina closes her eyes and groans in embarrassment, wanting nothing more than to disappear in that moment.
"Whoa. You were doing so well before. What the hell happened?" Emma asks, suddenly appearing at Regina's side, startling the brunette. Regina turns to the girl with a sheepish expression and shrugs.
"I got distracted."
"By what?" Emma asks with an arched eyebrow. Regina swallows nervously and shrugs in embarrassment.
"I don't know." She mumbles. Emma studies the girl for a few moments, until a loud howl of pain snatches her attention. The girls watch in horror as Archibald yanks the arrow out of Alexander's thigh, blood gushing out of the wound as the arrow is released. Regina suddenly feels lightheaded, the sight of blood causing her face to turn pale and her focus to become hazy. Emma notices the brunette's swaying body, her brown eyes rolling back into her head as she falls into Emma's arms, completely unconscious.
"This was a great lesson…" Emma mutters to herself as she holds Regina's slumping form in her arms.
Later that night…
"I still can't believe you shot, Alexander…" Emma says in awe, an amused smirk gracing her lips at Regina's look of embarrassment. Lessons were cut short after that unfortunate accident and luckily, Alexander was going to be fine. Apparently, the guards keep vials of healing potions in their cottage in case of emergencies. Regina's mother made them. A few drops of that potion on Alexander's wound and he was as good as new. The wound had completely closed up, the only evidence of his injury being the blood stains on his trousers.
After Regina's fainting spell, Emma had carried the woman, bridal style, placing her atop of the refreshment table at the sideline of the field. She placed the girl there until she regained consciousness. Once Regina had woken up, she apologized to Alexander profusely, only receiving grunts of acknowledgement from the, once, injured man, and a knowing smirk from Archibald. Emma had been completely confused at Archibald's expression, not quite understanding why the man looked so amused at the situation.
"Can we not talk about this? Like…ever." Regina says with a groan. Emma chuckles at her and shakes her head in the negative.
"Come on, Regina! What the hell happened out there? You were so focused before! You even managed to hit the bulls-eye. What got you so distracted?" Emma asks, pushing for answers. Regina turns on her side, facing away from the blonde. The creak of the bed springs and rustling of the bed sheets tells Regina that the blonde has moved closer to her. She is proved correct when Emma's breath tickles the back of her neck. "Regina…." She drawls teasingly. Regina gulps at the feel of the girl's breath on her skin. "Tell meeee. What distracted you? I promise I won't laugh." Emma says sincerely, though, Regina hears a hint of amusement in the girl's tone.
"Yes, you will."
"Okay, fine. Maybe I will. Just…please tell me. I'm dying of curiosity." Emma pleads. Regina whines and rolls over so that she is now lying on her back.
"No."
Emma smirks at the girl and sits up, bringing a leg over the girl's hip, now, straddling the brunette's waist. Regina's breath hitches at the sight of the blonde hovering over her. "Tell me."
"Get off of me, Emma." Regina says shakily. Emma's smirk deepens as she places both of her palms on either side of Regina's head. Regina inhales and exhales equally shaky breaths.
"Tell me." Emma whispers into her ear, sending a shiver throughout the brunette's body. Regina gulps audibly and closes her eyes, trying to slow down her racing heartbeat. She wonders if this is what having a heart attack feels like. "Regina. Tell me…you know you want to." Emma says huskily into the girl's ear.
"If I tell you, do you promise to get off of me?"
"Yes."
"Blame your abs." Regina tells the girl, grabbing the blonde by the hips, flipping them over so that she is now hovering over Emma. Emma's eyes widen in surprise at the sudden movement, partly impressed, partly turned on. After getting over the initial shock of the sudden movement, what Regina said clicks into her mind.
"Wait…what?!"
"Goodnight, Emma." Regina says, rolling off of the blonde and lying back into her spot, her back turned towards the girl once again.
Emma White will be the death of me, Regina thinks to herself before drifting off into a fitful sleep.