You guys are so amazing! Please keep the reviews coming, they are so helpful, and give me ideas if you want me to write anything in. This chapter has the first M rated scene, and it isn't my best but the next one will be better!
"So, what is this?" Emma asked quietly as they walked.
"I'm not sure. Comfort, for now, I suppose."
"I generally don't like labels, I just like enjoying things as they come, but if we find Henry…"
"…we need something to tell him if this is going to go anywhere. Yes, I have thought about that."
"He doesn't need anything more confusing, especially not from me."
"From you? You're his hero, Emma."
"But now he has two moms and I don't think he understands that he can love us both without feeling disloyal to one of us."
"And clearly, being the evil queen means I'm the bad cop."
"Maybe you're not the evil queen anymore."
"I'm not hopeful. My heart is black."
"It doesn't feel black to me, not anymore."
Regina opened her mouth to speak, but thought again about it and gave Emma a half smile, but didn't say anything.
"What is it, Regina?"
"Nothing, not yet. I need more time before I ask."
"Ok. But, I wish you would see the change in yourself that I see in you."
"Why is that?"
"Because all the changes you've gone through in the past few days are making me feel things that I shouldn't be feeling, especially considering I just lost Neal."
"Your mother used that as a reason for Hook to not kiss you."
"I'm sure she believes that. I loved Neal, and I didn't know I still had feelings for him. But that part of my life ended long ago. Even if these people, my mother, father and Neal, didn't abandon me completely by choice, they still did it. I have abandonment issues, and by that, I wouldn't be able to be with Neal, even if I had the choice now."
"What feelings did you mean?"
Emma hesitated for a moment, but she looked into caramel eyes and melted. "I'm beginning to truly, deeply care for you."
"Ok."
"Ok?"
"I have issues believing in love and the idea that love makes you strong or powerful. I had love and he was taken from me. My mother crushed his heart in front of me. I've always believed in one true love and mine is gone. Then I have Henry, and he has received all of my love since, and now he doesn't want it. That's devastating for me."
"I believe that people have more than one soul mate, though. I always have. I mean, unless everyone was placed to be near their soul mate, why should it be left to chance? But if everyone has more than one true love, it's more likely everyone will be able to have a true love."
"So there's hope, the way you believe it?"
"Completely. I have to believe that. I want that love so much."
"Me too." She paused a beat before continuing, "you don't think that's unfaithful to the memory of Daniel?"
"No. I mean, you didn't get to be with him and that's so sad, it sucks so much. But I think Daniel would probably want you to be happy, even if it couldn't be with him."
"You're a lot like Daniel."
"Am I?"
"You are bright and believing like he was. He didn't have much, but he would have given everything to make me happy." Regina blushed as she realized the way she spoke had made it sound like she assumed the same from Emma. "I see that in you, I mean, like you would give everything if you could, to please who you love."
"I did. I took stolen goods, I went to jail. I gave up Henry."
"Case in point."
"I appreciate hearing that," Emma said quietly. Emma hesitated, looking at Regina wide-eyed. "Why won't you let anyone else see this side of you? This part of you that you've shown me, why not show everyone how beautiful your soul can be?"
"Because before I became evil, the last time I let someone see my soul, the love of my life got his heart ripped out and crushed in front of me, turned to dust. I couldn't bear that again."
"Then you'll just…be alone forever?"
"Maybe, Miss Swan."
"Well, who else could rip out the heart of someone you love? If you fell in love. Your mother—"
"Rumplestiltskin. I had Belle in the asylum in Storybrooke for 28 years. It was my way of keeping her from him. He wants revenge."
"Maybe, but there are too many ways it would harm him if he did it."
"How do you mean?"
"I'm his grandson's mom." Regina raised an eyebrow and it made Emma rethink what she just said. A deep blush worked its way over her cheeks. "I mean… I don't mean… hell, I just mean that everyone is connected somehow in Storybrooke. You deserve happiness. I wouldn't let Gold take it away from you."
"I see." Regina smirked. You'd better keep your high opinion of me to yourself, the two idiots won't appreciate it."
"Regina, don't call them that. And I don't care; you're the mother of my son. You raised him while I couldn't. I consider you, oddly, family."
Emma started slowing down, wanting to check the map. Regina gave light in the form of one of her magnificent fireballs. Pan's camp was in the same place it had been all day. It was getting too dark for them to continue as the night furthered on.
"I think we need to stop for a few house. We can take turns sitting watch, keeping an eye on the map. You two," Emma started, looking at Snow and Charming, "you'll sleep first. You too, Hook. Regina and I will take first watch. Then the two of you, then I will again, with Hook."
"I can sit up with you, Emma," Snow said.
"I know, but I'm the only one here who can tolerate Regina enough to not try and kill her. It'll be fine. We'll start by searching for food, and then we'll watch the map.
"Ok."
"Regina, let's search. I want to find water, too."
The two women searched for a source of water first. They found a small stream, not wide, but deep enough to bathe in.
"I'll stand guard, if you want to go in first," Emma told Regina.
Regina rolled her eyes. "Ok, I'll go first." Emma turned away from the water and she heard Regina undressing. When the sound of stillness disappeared from the water, Emma turned her neck just slightly to peek at Regina. Regina's back was exposed to her, the brunette facing away. Emma admired the perfect posture with which Regina stood. Regina held her arms over her chest, her body covered in water up to her navel. The dark haired beauty turned her head and smiled shyly at Emma, jerking her head in a motion that invited Emma to join her in the water.
Emma stripped herself down, Regina respectfully keeping her back turned. Emma walked straight behind the brunette, and when she reached her, she stretched her arms out and placed her hands on Regina's shoulders. Emma found the other woman's skin to be so sensually soft that she couldn't stop herself from running her fingertips down the sexy, bare back in front of her. Regina shivered form the touch and Emma took a step closer, wrapping her arms around Regina's waist, hands flat against the other woman's flat stomach. Emma kissed the nape of Regina's neck, marveling in the feeling of Regina's skin against her own.
"Oh, Emma," Regina whispered. She turned her body to face the blonde, pulling her into a tight embrace. After a moment she pulled away so she could put her full lips against the younger woman's. Their lips parted at the same time, both pushing their tongues against each other's. Regina's hands gripped at Emma's waist, but the blonde's hands roamed all over territory she had never before explored. Her right hand moved to Regina's stomach, her fingers leading down, touching Regina's clitoris. The brunette gasped in surprise and Emma put her foot between Regina's, forcing the brunette's stance to widen. Emma's fingers did to Regina what she had only ever done to herself. Her fingers moved quickly, strong, while Regina grasped at Emma's shoulders, holding her close. Her breaths were sharp and shaking more the closer she got to climax at the hand of the woman who had so long been her enemy.
Emma knew the woman in her hand was getting close and continued moving her fingers quickly and expertly. She placed her lips over Regina's, forcing her tongue between the full lips. After another moment the brunette let out a cry of satisfaction and collapsed against the blonde.
"Why'd you do that?" Regina asked, after they had cleaned themselves in the water.
"I wanted to make you happy."
"Pleased and happy don't always go hand in hand." Regina's response wasn't cold or condescending, she was just stating it.
"Are you happy or pleased?"
"In this exact moment? I am both, Emma."
"I care so much about you, Regina."
"But why? I am the evil queen in your story."
"No, Regina, you're the villain in my parents' story. In my story, you're my queen, no evil attached."
"I don't want to ruin the moment, but Miss Swan, even you must know how fairytale cheesy that sounded." Regina's mouth spread into the most beautiful smile Emma had ever seen. "You're staring, Emma."
"I know. You are just so devastatingly beautiful." She paused before asking, "Can I kiss you again?"
Regina rolled her eyes but placed her hand on the back of Emma's neck and pulled her face to her own, pressing her full lips against Emma's warm ones. The kiss was filled with resolution and comfort, like they were finally coming to the realization that the two of them together could take on the world.