Underneath The Surface

Chapter 7

Sinking Truths

**Author's notes: I don't normally like to clutter a chapter with a bunch of ramble from me. I'd rather leave you in peace to enjoy the story. At least I hope you enjoy it. I wanted to apologize though for the short previous chapter. This one will be longer. Regina and Emma will eventually have to start dealing with questions, but right now they're trying to start over, and trying to figure out how to get home. In this chapter, Regina comes to some realizations. I enjoy hearing what you think. Did you like it? What do you think about their predicament? I welcome your thoughts. On with the story!**

When Regina had regained control, she complimented Callie on her drawing skill. "It's very lifelike, right down to the light in her eyes."

"It's like I could reach out and touch her." Emma added.

Callie had glowed with the praise, and by the time she was back from putting the sketchbook away, thick slices of chocolate cake were being served for dessert.

Thankfully, there were no questions during dessert. Regina kept Callie talking. About art, about life in a small town, about anything that the teenager would discuss. She was unlike most teenaged girls Emma had come across. Most of them had been sullen and uncooperative. But Callie seemed to be engaged and interested in the world around her, if perhaps a little lonely.

After dessert, Regina offered to help with the dishes, but Patty would hear none of it.

"No, no, tonight is Callie's turn. It's part of her chores for the week. You ladies don't worry about a thing. I'm sure you want to replace your belongings. It's not a long walk."

"I'll go get our jackets, Regina."

"I'll meet you out front then."

Regina sat on the swing on the porch to wait. The air had a bit of a nip in it, and she was glad Emma was getting their jackets. There was a bit of a breeze, and she could see the shadows slanting into their evening places. She closed her eyes and breathed the scent of pine, and honeysuckle, and thought this was a nice place to be stranded.

Much nicer than the woods anyway.

She heard the creak of the screen door and turned her head to see Emma step onto the porch. She expected her jacket to just be handed over, so she was surprised when Emma graciously held it open for her.

"Thank you."

Emma slid her arms into her leather jacket, checked that she had her wallet and said, "Well, let's go get something else to wear, shall we?"

They had walked for a minute or two, both studying their surroundings carefully when Regina broke the silence.

"How much are you prepared to tell Patty? Because you know eventually, she'll ask about us."

"Not sure what you mean."

"You're being evasive, dear. Sooner or later, she's going to ask if we're a couple."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because we're behaving like one."

Emma glanced at Regina quickly.

"You've taken care of me since we got pulled through that portal. You let me finish your water in the the truck, you gave me a glass of iced tea first, you hold my jacket for me, and as far as Patty is concerned, we're sleeping together ..." Regina let the truth sink in for a moment. "Admit it, Emma, we're attracted to each other, and it's seeping through into our interactions."

Emma said nothing at first. After thinking about it for a minute, she nodded. "I can see your point. Are you ashamed of where we seem to be headed?"

"No. Are you?"

"Not at all. Not here, and not back home in Storybrooke."

"Are you willing to face down your parents over wherever we end up? They aren't going to like us even being friends."

"I know. They're going to have to suck it up, aren't they?"

"I'm sorry?" Regina was confused by the expression.

"Everyone's going to have to adapt. Even you. We've been treating each other differently over a period of time, and eventually, you and my parents are either going to have let a lot of pain go or you're all going to have to talk about it." Emma shot Regina an unfathomable look. "Or we don't let ourselves get any closer."

"I don't want to do that."

"Which part?" Emma asked.

"I don't want to not get closer to you. I like where we're headed."

"Me too." Emma nodded. "So when people around here ask if we're a couple, what do we tell them?"

"What are you comfortable with?"

"I'm not sure how they feel about that around here. They might be open minded or they might lynch us."

"Do people still do that?" Regina asked.

Emma shrugged with her hands in her jacket pockets. "I dunno, but let's not push it until we find out. In the meantime, we can say it's complicated."

Regina smiled. "You make a good politician."

"Well, I am a Sheriff."

Regina chuckled.

Soon they were at the store Callie had directed them to. Regina had a sinking feeling her wardrobe might not recover until they got home, and her feeling was made no better by the pedestrian, mass-made feel of the store and the clothes in it. She took a deep breath and bit down on what she really wanted to say.

Emma saw how much effort Regina was putting into not falling back on her old safety net of biting sarcasm. She wanted to laugh but knew it would help nothing.

"You look really good in jeans, they're even Levi's." Emma said quietly.

"Thank you, I think you do too." They walked slowly together through the racks of clothing. "Do you need a special kind of shampoo or anything?" Regina suddenly felt as though she knew very little about Emma.

The blonde shook her head. "No, I'm pretty easy to please with all of it, shampoo, toothpaste, soft toothbrush, standard deodorant."

"Do you trust me to get a few things for us then?"

"Sure. You do that and I'll get some clothes for us. I guess you'll want to pick out your own..."

Regina slipped her hand into Emma's and give it a light squeeze. "Except for intimates, you can pick out some clothes for me." She smiled then. "You know me well enough by now you can trust I won't bite your head off."

Emma grinned widely. "What if that ever present danger was part of your charm?"

The former Queen chuckled and moved off to find shampoo and toothbrushes.

It wasn't too long later that they left the store. Their choices had been on the limited side so shopping hadn't taken very long. Regina was going to have to make do with clothes she wouldn't normally wear, but at least they weren't too horrible. It was unclear how long they might be stuck here, they needed to work on making magic so that they could get home. She resolved to talk to Emma about it back at their room. They had also gotten some books, since both of them liked to read. A few crime fiction novels for Regina, adventure for Emma, a map of the area, a hardcover on magic that had caught her eye, a notebook and a package of pens. At the register, Emma had raised one eyebrow but when Regina had given a small shake of her head, it was clear an explanation would be coming later.

When they passed the general store, there were a few people gathered on the front porch. Everyone waved to Emma and Regina, even though no one knew them. That was just the small town way, so of course the sheriff and former Queen waved back. When they got back to the B&B, neither Patty nor Callie were around, but there was a note on their door.

Regina and Emma,

Mom asked me to let you know there is a pitcher of iced tea in the fridge, as well as some snacks in case you get hungry. Hope you found everything you needed at the store. Breakfast is at 8:30.

See you then,

Callie

Regina read the note, then passed it to Emma as she unlocked the door.

"I cannot wait to change into something other than these clothes," Emma sighed as she sat on the bed to remove her boots.

"I agree." Regina set their bags on the end of the bed. "Even these flannel pyjamas are beginning to seem like a good idea."

"Once you get used to them, and they've been washed a couple of times, you'll find them very warm and soft."

"Silk is soft." Regina set to work removing tags and handing Emma clothes to put away.

"True, but in a sexy, seductive kind of way. Sometimes, you need comfort, not seduction."

"I admit, I haven't got a lot of experience with comfort, other than Henry of course. Right now, I'm just glad we're not having to sleep out in the forest. I'll be right back." Regina lifted the sleep-wear in question and headed for the bathroom.

Once she had washed as best she could with hot soapy water and a washcloth, something her father referred to as a 'bird bath' when she had been small, and rinsed, Regina changed all her clothes. The flannel pyjamas were printed with various songbirds and likely would have suited Snow White better than herself. But her choices had been limited, and she knew compromises would have to be made in this new place. She brushed her hair and teeth and left the bathroom.

Emma mulled over Regina's admission while she put away their new clothes. She knew the woman hadn't had an easy childhood, and a manipulated adulthood, but it baffled her that Regina had always chosen what was expected of her over her own comfort. She shook her head and marvelled at how different Regina was away from Storybrooke, away from those that knew her as an Evil Queen. But the question was, who would she be when they managed to make their way home?

"It's all yours." Regina came into the room. "Do you have a side preference for sleeping?"

Emma stopped mid-way to the bathroom and turned. "No one has ever asked me that before. I usually sleep on my left side, and I always seem to be on the edge of the bed, no matter if I'm sleeping with someone or not." Emma shrugged.

Regina nodded. "I imagine it's a part of your protection."

Emma raised an eyebrow.

"Part of your flight response. You likely sleep on the edge to either get away easier or face a threat."

"Oh. I never thought of it that way, but it makes sense, yeah." Emma stood lost in her thoughts for a few moments more, then turned on her heel and went into the bathroom. Regina set the stack of books on the dresser, chose the one on magic and climbed into bed with a sigh.

She laid there holding the book, but her eyes were on the closed bathroom door. She and Emma were both damaged, they understood each other, and their defences, and she supposed that was why they were drawn to each other. It was easy to forgive when you understood a person's motivation. Unbidden, Callie's drawing of Snow White came to mind. It had been a perfect likeness of the meddling, maddening mother of Emma Swan. Once Regina had gotten her coughing under control, she had asked how Callie had settled on her subject. It had been difficult to believe that the girl had just let her pencil 'draw whatever', as she claimed. But sometimes, it was better not to ask too many questions. Regina knew that she and Snow had a lot of things to talk about. In her bones, she wanted to forgive the young woman for betraying Regina's secret to Cora all those years ago. She knew she should have decades ago, but it had been easier and safer to let the anger focus on Snow White rather than on Cora. Regina's mother was capable of killing her, and had come close many times in her youth. Knowing now that Cora could not have cared didn't make any of this easier. But Regina knew that if she was going to have any kind of relationship with Emma, her feud with Snow and Charming would need to end. Listening to the sound of the shower and mulling these thoughts over, Regina drifted off.

The book on magic still unopened.