" But it's important."
" Make that tongue move or you'll regret that mine stopped, Red!"
Regina had to stifle a laugh. Shaya had to be really annoyed to talk that way. She was too, actually. It seemed that they couldn't enjoy more than five minutes together without someone running at her place to warn them for something. She missed the times when they feared her.
" Y-yes, sorry, uhm... It's about Pan. And Emma. More about Emma than Pan, actually."
Regina stepped forward. " She's fine." she said, absolutely sure about it. It was an awareness. As she knew that it was morning, she knew that Emma was absolutely fine. So what was Ruby talking about?
" Oh, yes, didn't mean she isn't. But I think she's in troubles."
Regina shared a glance with Shaya. " Why?" she then asked, locking gaze with the waitress. Ruby swallowed hard.
" Well, I just thought... She's powerful, right? Pan wanted her to open a portal, and it's okay, I got it, but... Really? Peter Pan, the one who didn't even wanted to grow up, dies for a portal to the Enchanted Forest? " Ruby's lips became two thin lines. " I don't think so. "
Regina thought about it. What the girl was saying didn't totally lack of logic. But it was even possible that the fake munchkin was simply out of his mind. " So what are you suggesting, Miss Lucas? That Pan wanted Emma to open a portal and for... something else? Something he didn't want us to know? "
Red nodded rapidly with her eyes wide open. " Yes! I think that there's something about Emma that we don't know, but somehow he got to know it. And if he did, someone else could."
The former Queen clenched her jaw, thinking. How could have Pan possibly known something about the Savior when she didn't? A prophecy? Pixie dust? A seer? She looked at Shaya, trying to find the answers in her eyes.
" What do you think?" she asked her with soft voice. Shaya sighed.
" I think that I'm a dullard, and that you're right, Red. Pan wasn't one to risk his life for a new camp in the Enchanted Forest. Maybe the fairy told him something. You know, they know much about magic, more than us. And it mustn't be easy to keep a secret when Pan wants to know something, or so they said. Maybe he didn't torture them only for fun, perhaps he wanted an information. Heard you guys call her the Savior. What does it means? "
Regina gave a loud sigh. She should have given her some explanations before, egoistic dolt of her!
" I cast the Dark Curse over all of them, but Snow and Charming managed to ship the newborn Emma here before that, so she was not affected by it. She was the one who could break the curse after twenty-eight years, and she did it. The prophecy named her as "the Savior"." Regina said quickly. She ignored the hint of regret that poked her heart. What had happened to Emma, her life, had been a collateral damage. She had never stopped despising the two idiots for having abandoned her only to save themselves. She would have kept her away from them with the curse, yes, but she would have never hurt an innocent child. Regina innerly smiled when the memory of her idea of adopting the Savior crossed her thoughts.
" How?" Shaya softly asked.
Regina gazed at her. The blonde was frowning, a slight worry narrowing her eyes. The Gaze. The brunette repressed a smile.
" True Love's kiss. To Henry."
Shaya sneered. " I read that it was always a problem to you."
Regina had to stifle a laughter. " Yeah, it was." she said, smiling at her. She saw Shaya's eyes brighten before that the warrior glanced down. The blonde cleared her throat, then gazed at the perplexed waitress.
" So, I might assume that Emma's power comes from love, which makes me quite uncomfortable seen what she did when she protected you from Finnegan, but it's fine, I'll just take it as friendly love. " she said smirking at her, making her snort. Regina opened her mouth to protest, but Shaya raised a finger and continued. " And this is quite a rare quality. Aren't many the casters whose power doesn't come from rage. So, her own being might be Pan's reason to will to have her so much. Seen how interested in fairies he was, and their magic is quite love-based too, maybe he needed that kind of power to do something. Fairies are powerful, but not as True Love. Perhaps they failed, and he needed someone stronger. Still I could be wrong. Perhaps he... What if Neverland wasn't enough for him? What if he wanted to rule the Enchanted Forest through Emma's power?"
Regina frowned at her. " How? He could never convince her..."
" Really? He mistook thinking that he could defeat us, but what if he did? We would be dead, all of us, but Emma and the children."
Regina opened wide her eyes. " Henry."
Shaya nodded once. " Indeed."
Ruby filled the brief silence that followed. " No, wait, this is senseless. He could kill you all in Neverland, and threat Emma there. Why wait?"
" Magic is too strong in Neverland. He knew that he couldn't defeat us in there. I almost killed him when he attacked us. And Henry was safe in Shaya's hollow, he couldn't take him." Regina answered gloomily. She glanced at Shaya, finding that she was staring at her.
" I think he even wanted to be sure. He wanted a demonstration of Emma's power. I'd wanted it if I had to risk my life to own it." the warrior commented, still staring at her. She had a strange expression that Regina couldn't fathom.
" What is it?" she asked her, worried. Shaya pursued her lips and raised her brows.
" We still don't know how he knew about Emma."
Regina glanced down, thinking. There were too many answers. " I don't know... Neal, August, Greg, Tamara... The book, maybe there's another one. Perhaps there was a seer in Neverland."
Shaya nodded in agreement.
" Fine. Red, please, do me a favor, you're faster: go to Rumplestiltskin and tell him the whole thing. We need his protection. "
Ruby nodded once at her. " Okay. Anything else?"
" Aye: be careful." Shaya smirked at her. The girl gave her a smile and ran away, too fast for her eyes to catch the movement.
" Can you warn Emma, love?"
Regina smirked at her. " Already done. She was listening."
Shaya gave her a loving smile. " Good." she said, exhaling heavily. " Rumple will know what to do. A protective spell may work. And I'll personally kill anyone who dares to bother us again."
Regina chuckled. She grabbed her shirt and pulled her inside the house. " Good, but now come inside. We were talking about something much more interesting than a future enemy."
Shaya let her pull her inside, then close the door behind her. Regina pushed her against the white wood, pressing her body against her, enjoying the contact with her tensed body.
" Morons. We should get a worse reputation, you know? We need to be feared if we want to be left in peace."
Regina laughed softly at the reflection on her same thoughts. " Exactly my point, dear. Even if I don't know how I could get a reputation worse than the one I already have."
Shaya devilishly smile, making her core contract. " Oh, don't worry honey, I can help you out with that... "
Regina chuckled, delighted. She stoop her head forward and gave Shaya's neck a quick lick. Shaya moaned and leaned her head against the door with a soft thump. Regina caught a glimpse of her closed eyes, and gently bit her skin, just as she had done several minutes before. Shaya shuddered.
" Have I ever told you that I love you?" Regina purred. The warrior moved her hands over her buttocks, then rubbed her thighs until she found the hem of her nightgown. Regina gazed at her, and found a couple of bright blue circles staring back at her.
" Not enough times." Shaya grinned, sliding her hands under the silk. A moment after her face disappeared from Regina's sight, leaving only the white door before her. The former Queen didn't have the time to look down that Shaya's mouth pressed against her sex, through the fabric, forcing her to lean a hand against the wood to keep standing. Regina gazed down, meeting Shaya's stare. Her right hand was pulling down her panties while the left one was lifting the nightgown, rubbing against her inner thigh. Regina could barely breath at the sight of the kneeled warrior. She raised a feet from the ground as Shaya's right hand was demanding, then the other one, letting her throw away her black panties. The left hand was still right under her sex, her nightgown still covering it. Shaya's eyes were burning like blazes.
" Lean against the door. Spread your legs." she murmured with a hoarse voice, her breath pushing the fabric against her and passing through it, making her shiver.
Regina had to swallow. Her mouth was dry. She was painfully aware that something else was the opposite, though.
The former Queen obeyed, unable to look away from the warrior's eyes even though she felt her cheeks redden. She wasn't sure that it was embarrass, though.
Shaya's left hand slowly moved upwards, lifting the dark-grey silk. Her eyes fell right before her, and Regina saw her shake and swallow. While her right hand ran over her left leg she moved forward and gently kissed her lower belly, but more than the kisses themselves was their tough sweetness, the delicate touch of love that made Regina close her eyes not to let go the two, light tears hidden beneath her lids. Shaya was touching her with so much attention, as if she was a delicate, beautiful thing to take care of, and she had never, ever felt that way.
The hot lips went down as the hand ran up. The burning tongue suddenly darted over her spot, making her muscles contract. Shaya's hand rubbed against her buttock and pushed, getting her closer, the warrior's mouth pressing against her, suffocating her moan. Regina's breath was faster, heavier, she felt her face burn. The brunette looked down and saw and felt Shaya lick her, eyes shut with an expression of half pleasure, half pain furrowing her brow. Shaya made her tongue ran further, sliding between her labia, soaking it with her wetness, then she retracted it and began again licking her clitoris, no more gentle, no more delicate. Regina opened her mouth leaning further against the door, feeling a growing heat spreading from her core, feeling it clench.
" Shaya..." Her throaty whisper tightened the warrior's grab over her buttock and hip, and fastened her tongue. Regina slightly bent as her abdomen had a contraction.
" S-Shaya..." she repeated, louder. Her hand slid down over the door and pressed against Shaya's nape, the thick, silky tress flattened under her palm, between her fingertips.
Two fingers penetrated her firmly, and she stifled a scream. Her legs wouldn't hold her for long. She would tell her, but Shaya sucked her clit and began pumping her fingers inside her, quick, hard, quicker. Regina felt the orgasm grow inside her, so intense to choke her, and when Shaya inserted a third finger inside her it was free, and shook her body in waves of pleasure that made her scream.
She felt on her knees, trembling, her sight fogged. Shaya was no more inside of her. Their foreheads were touching, her hands were caressing her face, her fingers playing with her hair. Regina squeezed her eyes, focusing Shaya's face. It was wet, of her and of tears. Her eyes were utterly close. She was silently weeping. Regina cupped her face with her hands, wiping away the hated tears and kissing her, pining for her smile.
" I love you." she whispered on her lips, willing her eyes to open. But the stream of tears increased, and Shaya squeezed her eyes and leaned forward, trying to hide against her neck. Regina's heart lost a beat.
" What's wrong? " she asked in fear " What have I done now?"
Shaya suddenly straightened her back and regretfully stared at her, frantically caressing her face.
" Nothing! " she exclaimed with hoarse voice. She then gave a smile, the brightest Regina had ever seen. It brought tears to her eyes, it made her heart jump, and she confusedly smiled at her love. " Nothing wrong, I mean! I just..." Shaya paused, snorting, a new wave of tears rushing from her dazzling eyes all over her face. " I've never been this happy." she whispered, staring at her with wonder and love.
Regina smiled and welcomed her kisses and caresses, feeling Shaya's happiness feed her own in her chest, her tears call hers, her smile curve her own lips.
" Me neither. " she said in a whisper, her heart aching at the pain that immediately darkened the warrior's eyes. But then Shaya smiled, her eyes lighted up, and she caught the tear before it could slide another inch down the blonde's cheek.
" Now let me show you how much I'm happy." the brunette purred starting to unbutton the shirt, making the warrior softly laugh. Shaya stopped her by leaning a hand over hers. Regina gazed at her in surprise.
" I wish, but I'm afraid that we'll be soon in three here inside."
Regina frowned. " What do you mean?" she asked just a second before that someone knocked at the door. Regina goggled. " How the hell did you know it?!"
Shaya gave her a tired smirk and raised her brows. " Pure assumption. It was logical for Emma to come back here after our little talk with Red. "
" Regina, open this fucking door or so help me!" Emma's muffled voice hit Regina's ears. She was still staring astonishingly at Shaya.
" Angry. " the warrior added slightly tilting her head to her right.
Regina sighed and shook her head. " You already know her better than I do, isn't it?"
Shaya grinned. " Maybe."
" Regina I don't care what you're doing, I'm braking this fucking door down in three..."
" Better if we move." Shaya suggested, helping her to stand up. Regina calmly began to straighten her nightgown. If Emma wanted to ruin their moment for a useless talk, she had to do it at her rules.
" ... two..."
" Honey, wouldn't it be better if you..."
" Shush. I'm almost done. " she murmured running her fingers through her hair to tidy them.
" ... one..."
Regina suddenly opened the door. " Miss Swan." she glowered at her.
Emma lowered her leg, slightly blushing, yet firmly staring at her. Regina cocked an eyebrow. " You'd better have a proper reason to disturb us."
" I'd better...? Seriously?! You just said that someone wants to use me to rule the world, isn't it a goddamn good reason to come here? And open your fucking mind! I tried to contact you all along!"
" Emma, the one who probably wanted to use you to rule the Enchanted Forest is dead. There is not an immediate danger. You'd think I'd be here instead that running to my... our son if it wasn't so? Do you really think that I'd trust Snow White to keep him safe?"
" No but..."
" Emma..." Regina sighed " If the only thing I did was to inform you about the potential of your power, do you really think that there's something else to worry about?"
The Savior was open-mouthed, trying to say something, but she clearly wouldn't. The brunette pursued her lips, annoyed. " Gold is casting a protective spell. We'll be safe, and so we'll have the time to decide what to do. Until then, enjoy the pirate's smug and, Emma, please, do the same as me: close your damn mind." she went closer to the woman, giving her a bleak stare. " I have my reasons to detest Hook. " she said in an angry murmur " I don't enjoy staring at him with dreamy eyes."
The Savior blushed violently and swallowed, stepping back. She looked about to object, but then she changed her mind. " S-sorry." she said glancing down. " Didn't though about... that."
Regina clenched her jaw. " Of course." she spat.
Emma glanced at her. " Hey, really. I'm sorry. I... Just... " Her cheeks reddened again. Regina squeezed her eyes.
" You forgot it."
Emma looked about to run away. An angry smirk tensed Regina's lips. Of course she did. A couple of googly eyes and ruffled hair were enough to make her lose her mind.
" No, Regina, I never... But he helped us! He gave us his ship! He fought for us!"
" He fought for you, Emma. He wants you. He wouldn't hesitate a moment to stab me in my back if it was to save his life..."
" Wouldn't you do the same?"
" Of course I would! But I'm not the one pretending to be his friend just to look nice and get to sleep with you! "
The Savior raised her brows. " Oh, you're talking about honesty, now?"
" Yes! Yes, I am, because I know what manipulation is, Emma, and he's using it making you believe that he's a good man when he's just a selfish beguiler! "
" Not more than you are!" Emma shouted.
Regina couldn't help feeling the betrayal. She swallowed it back, slightly nodding. Here we go again, she thought. I'm the evil one. The most evil of them all. The disappoint burdened her voice. " Good. Run to your white knight, then. He'll surely protect you from whatever could damage his knew doll. I'm sure that your mother will be more than happy to know that I won't corrupt you anymore. Goodbye, Miss Swan. " she harshly said, going in and slamming the door in her face.
Shaya was staring at the brunette with her arms folded. The sweet juice still lingered on her tongue when she passed it under her lower lips, biting it then. She had never meant to do it that way, but she couldn't help it. How many years had she waited before she could finally taste that flavor? She didn't even remember it. She didn't care. All that mattered now were those solid shoulders, wrapped in dark silk, the hair that slightly touched them. Oh, how she could live just staring at her! Her posture was so singular, a beautiful mix between strength and weakness, always aggressive, always defensive. She was tiny, but she looked imposing. She was wearing nothing else than a nightgown, and she seemed to wear the most precious of her dresses. How was it possible? How could she be so beautiful to make her soul ache? She would stand there staring, unnoticed, the whole day, the whole life, just to catch one more glimpse of her before that she'd turn and smile at her, making her stupid, unable to think, unable to see anything else but that smile. She always forgot everything when she did. It was beautiful and terrible at the same time. Now, in that moment, while she wasn't looking at her, she could tell her those things, make her understand what she was feeling exactly, what she had always felt and saw, so that she could see it too, and stop wondering how could someone love her because there wasn't one single thing that Shaya didn't love of her, and so Regina would knew that she loved her only because she was beautiful, inside, outside, in what she did, in how she did it. She loved the way she arched her left eyebrow, the way she could kill a man with a devilish smile on her face, the way she walked, determined and regal, and the way she could use her intelligence to manipulate someone else's. She adored the way she ate, still pretending to be a mannered, perfect Queen, but always taking too large bites and then trying to dissimulate it. She had never really learned to pretend to not care about food. She loved to eat, and Shaya loved how it had shaped her body in smooth curves despite the strong muscles that made her legs look longer than hers. She loved how she had stayed strong despite the abuses she endured from the most powerful witch at the time, and how she had never stopped hoping for the help of the weakest man she knew. She loved how Regina had blamed Snow White for Daniel's death not to blame her mother, whom she loved so much to forgive her everything, even that murder. And she loved how she had spent her life seeking revenge, giving up everything for it, for such bravery, devotion and perseverance, for how despicable her actions had been, deserved all of her respect. And she loved how she had trusted her the first time they had met, and the way she had faced her first, throwing that fireball against her. And how surprised she was to see that someone dared to defend from her attack. And how angry she got for it. That killing look she gave her, Shaya had loved it. Her ability to ignore her own moral, her ability to love more deeply than anybody else, but her, maybe, or maybe not. Shaya had never felt at her height. She had always looked at her from below, watching the light create shadows on her face, but her eyes, the darkest one she had ever seen, those were always bright. Anger, pain, hate, hope. No matter why, they always shined, and even with a million people between them she could see it. And, lately, they shined for love. For her. It was unbearable. Stare at her, help her without her to know it. Maybe smile at her, one day. Make her smile even just one, single time, and die at that light. But just after she's safe, this was her plan. Save her. Do the only thing she could do: make her happy. But this way... she never planned it. And, that day, when she had seen her on that tender, still young and strong, slowly sailing towards her, she had thought that fate wanted to give her a second chance to save her. And the thought that she wasn't safe yet... It had killed her. She was still suffering, she had seen it in her eyes, from between the leaves of the jungle. She had had a crisis, she had crunched in the middle of the jungle, a fist in her mouth not to cry, tears flowing, pain torturing her. She had failed, and Regina had passed all of that time suffering. It was unbearable. But she had had a second chance, and it was the only thing that made her stand up and clean her face with magic, only to step out of the forest a second later, sneering as if nothing could touch her.
Shaya blinked, focusing the brunette's back again. She knew the truth. She would never tell her those things. She forgot them every time that she locked gaze with her. Anything mattered when she lost herself in those dark, kind eyes. There was only the present, that moment, the happiness in them.
But when Regina turned, Shaya painfully saw only rage in her eyes. The brunette gave her a glance before trying to pass over her to go upstairs. Shaya reached for her hand.
" Hey..."
Regina hesitated, looking down at their hands. Her silence made the warrior go on. She didn't let go her hand.
" Give her time, she's stubborn. She'll get it, and ask for your pardon. "
The former Queen glared at her, although her rage was mitigated by some kind of sadness.
" No. It won't happen. She sees me as the Evil Queen like anybody else. I'll never be Regina for them. "
Shaya's clenched her jaw. She was still suffering. She wasn't able to protect her from them. Unless... " She's just afraid of the truth. She likes him, she doesn't want to lose him. She's just lost Neal, if I got it right? And when people get afraid, they hurt other people. That's why she said those things. I don't know if Hook only wants to have sex with her, but it's possible, and she knows it. " she paused, looking in her eyes. She listened to her, she was believing her words. But there was still sadness inside her eyes. Shaya sighed and folded her in her arms. Regina stayed still at first, but then seemed to wish to melt with her. " Trust me, my love, it's impossible not to see your nature. When they'll stop looking back while trying to uselessly run from you, they'll see you, at their side, waiting for them to notice your hand behind their back. You were just trying to help Emma, she'll realize it when she'll remember your talk. Give them time. They're afraid and they don't know it. If they keep looking back, sooner or later they'll stumble. "
" Like Snow White?" Regina whispered against her shoulder. Shaya smirked and nodded.
" I would say that she hit a tree, actually. "
Shaya felt her smile move her shirt, and her snort made her chuckle.
" Emma knows she can trust you, Regina. Don't give importance to her words, they can be deceiving, remember her stare. The way she defended you from her own mother, this morning. How cheeky she was then. I believe she saw you for who you really are long ago, my love. She's just afraid now."
Regina distanced a bit from her to be able to lock gaze with her. The sadness was gone. Shaya couldn't describe the immense sense of relief that she felt at the sight of those dark, grateful eyes.
" How can you always make me feel better?" the brunette asked in a murmur, smiling with wonder.
Shaya smiled back at her. How couldn't she do it? " I always insult Snow White." she sneered.
" How clever of you." Regina laughed and kissed her, making her heart stop.
Shaya managed to break the kiss, somehow. " Oh, and... When you want to tell me why you hate Hook, I'm here." she said gazing at her.
Regina swallowed and a hint of worry furrowed her brows. Seeing her hesitate, Shaya leaned her forefinger over Regina's lips and gave her a reassuring smile.
" If you want to." she added, letting Regina's lips distract her, then. She slowly rubbed the upper one with her finger, feeling the scar run deep under her skin. She moved her hand and replaced the index with the thumb, caressing the lower lip with it. Regina kissed it, making her look at her. Shaya drowned in her glassy eyes.
" I love you." Regina murmured with trembling voice. She kissed her again, sealing Shaya's lips before that a word could exit from them. Her fingers tickled her nape. The warrior gave a glance at the clock, hating it.
" Shouldn't you go to teach Belle how to be a Mayor?" she forced herself to ask, gazing then at those gorgeous eyes that narrowed at her words.
" Already tired of me?" Regina asked. Shaya arched an eyebrow.
" Never said I won't come with you. If you like. "
Regina smirked. " Of course I do."