DISCLAIMER:: do not own. just borrowing for purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.
A/N:: i don't claim to be an expert on flowers. i know absolutely nothing about them, so if i got the name wrong, i apologize. i had to search the english wikipedia for it and i'm not the best with it. i'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter but it serves its purpose. it gives you a little teensy bit of insight into what emma was told about the prophecy, but more will be revealed about it later. hope everyone enjoys. please review.
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-Chapter 33: Fuck Your Pain Away-
"Wow, you're up…" Mary Margaret glanced at the wall clock to confirm that it was indeed as early as she thought it was and that she herself hadn't overslept. She didn't even bother using an alarm clock, her routine was so pre-programmed that her body just woke her up at dawn automatically. "Really early."
Emma dropped her spoon back into the cereal bowl and glared at her roommate through the gloom. "Couldn't sleep." It wasn't entirely untrue. She hadn't been able to bear to be in that world another minute. Regina wouldn't say it, wouldn't admit to it, but she knew Rumpelstiltskin's words had left her heart in tatters. All they'd been working towards, everything, was utterly pointless now. There was nothing Emma had been able to say, able to promise, that would ease her pain. And it hurt. It hurt to see the damage that Rumpelstiltskin's truth had caused.
"It's because of Regina, isn't it?"
Emma snapped out of her thoughts and stared at Mary Margaret, incredulous. "What… what do you mean?"
Mary Margaret shrugged and set about making herself a hot cup of tea. "Well, you've been spending so much time with her and Henry lately. I figured it was only a matter of time before she did or said something to ruin everything."
Emma schooled her expression the moment she realized Mary had been referring to the mayor and not the queen. It had thrown her off guard when Mary had referred to the mayor by her first name; she wasn't sure she had ever heard the schoolteacher speak of her so informally. "Mayor Mills can be… frustrating, but she's not my problem at the moment. I have to drop in and see Mr. Gold today."
"Is that why you're up before six in the morning?" Mary Margaret pulled the kettle off the heat as it whistled shrilly, reaching up to grab a mug from the cabinet.
"Sort of. I'm not planning on seeing him until this afternoon, but it's just weighing heavily on my mind."
Mary Margaret frowned. "Why are you going to see Mr. Gold?"
Emma pursed her lips. "There's a matter I have to discuss with him, about the town. Nothing major."
Mary raised an eyebrow as she took a sip of tea. "Yet it's keeping you up?"
Emma frowned. She stuck another spoonful of cereal into her mouth to have an excuse not to talk. She couldn't exactly admit that she was going to him to talk about a curse that all the residents of Storybrooke were under. Gold was Rumpelstiltskin's other half, that much was obvious, despite the fact that he was decidedly more handsome in this world than the imp could ever hope to be, though still shady. He may not have the answers she needed, but he was her best bet. The only person, besides August, who knew about the curse and where they'd all come from was Regina and she wasn't quite ready to share the truth with the mayor yet, especially when she knew the cold woman wouldn't be able to accept it. But Rumpelstiltskin had hinted that his Earthly counterpart might know more than he let on. It was her only hope, her only shot.
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Emma sat in her car, waiting as the clock ticked down to seven fifteen and she could go up to the door of the white house. She hadn't been able to stay at the apartment, Mary's curious gaze and questions seemed to follow her everywhere she went and she was running out of vague excuses to supply the woman with. She had thought about showing up to work early, but then she'd miss the opportunity to take Henry to school and she had to admit she was becoming fond of the twenty minutes they spent together every morning. She was finally getting to know her son, little by little. But she couldn't very well waltz up to the mayor's front door, unannounced, at six twenty in the morning. So, here she was, leaning back in the driver's seat of her worn out little car, watching as her phone made minutes seem the length of lifetimes. Six thirty four. She groaned.
The shrill start of her ringtone made her drop her ringing phone into her lap, where it slipped between her knees and to the floorboard beneath her feet. Cursing, she leaned forward too fast to grab it and slammed her head against the steering wheel, blaring the horn. She sat back, cursing again, and tried a different approach to grabbing for her still ringing phone. She finally got a hold of the device and accepted the call. "Hello?" She sat up breathless.
She could hear the obvious amusement in the mayor's tone as she spoke. "Really Deputy Swan, am I going to have to call the sheriff and inform him I have a stalker or are you going to come in to breakfast?"
Emma frowned. "I… I mean I didn't… I wasn't… that's not what I came for. I'm just… a little early to take Henry to school."
"Regardless of why you are parked in front of my house Miss Swan, you are here. So breakfast, now."
Emma looked at the phone incredulous. Did Regina just hang up on her? After she got over the initial shock, she had to admit that it was exactly the kind of thing the mayor would do. She sighed and unbuckled her seatbelt. She exited the car, slamming the door behind her, and walked to the small front gate. She was unsurprised to see Regina standing on the front stoop before the open door as if she'd known Emma wouldn't refuse her demand. And Emma knew she wouldn't have, though her pride made her want to march back to her car and get back in it just to wipe that smirk off the brunette's face. "Madam Mayor."
The mayor's smirk widened. "Miss Swan."
Emma walked past her and straight to the kitchen, trying to rally her senses before facing any of the many confrontations she could possibly have with the mayor. She never knew how things would go with this half of Regina, all she knew was they generally involved arguing and seduction, neither of which she really needed today. The click of heels following her told her of the mayor's pursuit.
Regina frowned at Emma. She was acting off today. It unsettled her. Normally, the blonde was defiant at every turn. She had expected some quip to get back at her for startling her with the phone call, but the blonde looked… defeated somehow. She closed the front door and immediately followed her into the kitchen. "Are you well, Miss Swan?"
Well, that certainly hadn't been what she'd expected to come out of the woman's mouth. She turned and finally met Regina's eyes. "I'm fine. I just didn't really sleep last night."
Regina studied her, almost suspiciously, for several long moments before nodding. She moved to the other side of the counter. "What do you want for breakfast?"
Emma shook her head. "I had cereal at home; I'll just keep you and Henry company while you eat."
"Henry's sick. He took some medication and is in a drug induced coma, I'm afraid."
"You didn't call me and tell me not to pick him up for school?"
"Actually I did. I called your place, but Miss Blanchard told me you had already left for the morning. Then I saw that sad excuse for a car pull up in front of my house. You really should invest in a replacement."
Emma pointed at the woman. "Hey, respect the car." She sighed. "Guess I have no option but to go into work early."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Or you could keep me company for a while?"
Emma was about to object. She had no doubt that the other woman was intent on breaking her resolve and luring her back into her bed, but the idea of being with Regina and not having to discuss what she had learned about the prophecy lifted a weight off her shoulders. She nodded. "I could do that."
Regina gave her a genuine smile. "Would you like some coffee Miss Swan?"
Emma nodded and watched as the mayor took two mugs from a cupboard and put the coffee on. "Are we friends?"
Regina turned to her startled, one hand holding the creamer from the fridge. "We're certainly not enemies."
It wasn't an answer, not really, but it was all she was likely to get from the mayor, so she just nodded. At least it was something she could work with.
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She stared at the door to the small shop. She'd only been in here that one time to introduce herself. There was something about the shop that she liked, many of the items in the owner's collection were from their world. It reminded her of home. But she couldn't say the same about the man who owned the shop.
She sighed and took a deep breath. Time to get this over with.
The bell over the door jingled as she entered, announcing her presence.
Gold appeared in the doorway from the back room. "Deputy Swan, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We need to talk Rumpelstiltskin."
He smirked, unsurprised and unfazed by his real name. "It would seem we do, Princess."
Emma's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "You know me?"
He waved it off. "It wasn't hard. You are the only person in this town I don't recognize, with the exception of Mr. Booth of course. It was a process of elimination. You will have to tell me how you managed to escape the curse unaffected."
"It's a long and complicated story, but if my son's story book is to be believed, an enchanted wardrobe was the culprit."
Rumpelstiltskin smiled. "Your parents are more clever than most people give them credit for."
Emma hadn't come here to discuss her parents or even the other world. "I need to know how to break the curse. An acquaintance of mine implied that you know how I can do that."
Gold tilted his head back and forth as if contemplating the question. Finally he nodded. "That I do. But my information is valuable deputy, it does not come cheap."
"I never expected it to. Nothing with you is ever free. What's your deal?"
The man smirked. "Before the Evil Queen enacted the curse, I made a deal with your mother for my freedom and the Evil Queen's castle in exchange for getting rid of her. However, there was an unforeseen complication. She enacted the curse before she laid eyes upon you. It was something I hadn't anticipated. My deal with Snow White is now void. If the curse breaks, I will return to my cell. I wish for the same terms your mother agreed to. My freedom and possession of the lands belonging to the Evil Queen."
Emma felt a small rush. He didn't know that his counterpart retained the deal. She wouldn't be agreeing to give him anything he didn't already have. "Deal."
He smirked as if he'd gotten one over on her. "Very well. There is only one way to break the curse. The Evil Queen must find love, true love. Her hatred started this, her love will end it."
Emma closed her eyes. She had feared as much. There were ten days until her birthday; she had ten days to make someone who claimed to be nothing more than "not her enemy" to fall in love with her. Piece of cake.
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It took one strategic call to the mayor's office to confirm she was working from home for the day due to Henry's illness. As much as Emma wanted to go over there and get right to work on knocking down her walls, she couldn't abandon work. She tapped her pen against the stack of paperwork on her desk that she was supposed to be filling out.
"A little distracted today?"
"Huh?" She snapped out of her musings to look up at Graham. "Did you say something?"
He handed her a cup of coffee. "I think you need that more than I do."
She shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry."
"What's on your mind?" He took a bite off the bear claw he had bought with his coffee.
"Does Regina like flowers, do you think? Like roses? Or that 'dare you to love me' lily crap?"
He raised an eyebrow in confusion, obviously not grasping the pop culture reference. Apparently love stories weren't his thing… go figure. "Don't all women like flowers? Isn't that like your guy's thing?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Thanks for that oh so brilliant summation, meathead." She turned away from him and then turned back, snatched the bear claw out of his hand as it was halfway back to his mouth and waved him off. She took a bite from the pilfered pastry and reached for the phone.
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Regina stared at the budget before her, trying to pay attention to the numbers but she was too distracted. Miss Swan was still refusing to resume their activities and her body seemed to be going through a massive case of withdrawal. Still she was not going to relent. She couldn't agree to let the blonde touch her. The last time she'd entertained any ideas of love it had led to the destruction of her innocence. It was why this town even existed. No, letting Emma Swan in was not an option.
The ringing of the doorbell caused her head to snap up. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and stood, actually grateful for the distraction. She walked downstairs and went across the foyer to the front door, opening it to find Floran, Storybrooke's florist, standing on her stoop.
The pale man, in his mid twenties with jet black hair, shifted uncomfortably. "Good afternoon Madam Mayor."
"Mr. Funk, how can I help you?"
"I have a delivery for you." He glanced meaningfully down to his arms.
She hadn't noticed the huge bouquet he was holding. Flowers? She held out her arms and he handed her the large, and rather heavy, bouquet. She peeked into the wrapping, seeing a flash of white. "What are they?"
"Phalaenopsis Aphrodite."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Orchids." He frowned at having to clarify. "They're a very beautiful type of orchid. If you'll just sign here."
She managed to scrawl her name where he indicated. She handed him back his pen and closed the door without so much as a goodbye. She carried the bouquet into the kitchen, setting it gently on the counter and unwrapping it. She ordered fresh flowers from Floran every week to decorate the foyer and the dining room table but she'd received this weeks order two days prior.
She picked up the card that was wrapped in with the flowers.
Regina:
Because it's Wednesday. Because I love you. Because it'll make you smile.
Emma
And smile is exactly what Regina Mills did.
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Emma shifted uneasily as she knocked on the front door. She was uncertain of how the flowers would have gone over. She herself had never received any and she wasn't particularly fond of them, but she'd noticed the fresh flowers in the vase in the foyer and the one at the center of the dining room table so she'd figured that the mayor at least had a base appreciation for them.
Regina opened the door. "Miss Swan?"
Emma bit her lip. "I came to check on Henry, see how he's getting on and such."
Regina nodded and stepped aside to let her enter.
Emma stepped into the foyer and gave it a cursory glance. The same flowers that had been in the vase of the small table below the mirror were still there. A glance straight back into the dining room proved the same. She tried to ignore the knot that was slowly forming in her stomach. Had it been the wrong move to send flowers? Had her card been a little too much?
"He's been in and out of sleep all day but his fever has gone down. Hopefully he'll be all better tomorrow." Regina closed the door and came up beside her.
Emma nodded. "Can I see him?"
Regina gave a quick nod. "I'm just finishing heating up some tomato soup and I was going to make some grilled cheese to go with it. It's not much but you're welcome to join me."
Emma stopped on the bottom step of the stairs and nodded. "Did you say grilled cheese? Those are the magic words. I'll be down in a bit. I just want to see how he is."
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"Thanks again, for dinner. I know you tolerate me mostly for Henry's benefit; it was nice to be just you and me today." Emma wiped her hands on the dish towel and draped it next to the dry rack where the last of the just washed dishes sat.
Regina nodded. "You aren't the most deplorable company in this town Miss Swan."
Emma put a hand dramatically to her heart and gasped. "You really know how to flatter a girl. Coming from you that's quite a compliment."
Regina rolled her eyes. She swatted at the blonde.
Emma caught her hand as she was withdrawing it.
"Miss Swan?" Regina raised an eyebrow in question but didn't try to pull her hand back.
Emma moved away from the counter. She pulled the mayor with her as she moved to the stairs. She gestured up with her head. "I've changed my mind. You are no longer cut off."
Regina smirked. She leaned in and nipped at Emma's neck. "I'm going to make you pay for denying me these past few days Miss Swan."
Emma's eyes fluttered closed at the hot lips searing her skin. She felt the knot in her stomach ease. This would probably end up hurting her in the end but she couldn't bring herself to care anymore. Rumpelstiltskin had changed the rules of the game when he'd told her the truth of the prophecy, when he'd broke the news that on her twenty eighth birthday the Enchanted Forest was doomed to fade away. Queen Regina, Savya, Daniela, her father, Hadrian… they'd all disappear into the void. Yes, she could definitely use the escape the mayor's lips were promising. She let Regina tug her up the stairs and lead her down the corridor to the master bedroom.
Regina closed and locked the door behind them, turning on Emma with her usual predatory grace. She unbuttoned her blouse and tossed it aside, her slacks soon to follow, and finally her heels joined the pile. She raised an eyebrow pointedly.
Emma, easily catching on, pulled off her own tank top and pushed her jeans down her hips, stepping out of them. Her jacket and boots had already been removed downstairs when they'd had dinner in the den.
Regina reached out and ran a hand over the curve of her hip. She smiled to herself. "I've missed this."
Emma was quite sure she hadn't been meant to hear that and that the brunette hadn't even realized she'd said it out loud. Her assumptions were confirmed when Regina looked up at her with nothing but lust and desire in her gaze.
The brunette pushed Emma down onto the bed, straddling her hips. "Do try not to scream my name too loud Miss Swan. We wouldn't want Henry to overhear."
And Emma let herself get lost in Regina's rough punishment of her body. She was not gentle by any means, but Emma relished the pain; it was what she felt in her soul. However, she found a glimmer of hope as she climaxed, only then noticing the vase on the vanity table, filled to the brim with the orchids.