DISCLAIMER:: do not own. just borrowing for purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.
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-Chapter 45: You're Heading Straight For Love-
Emma snapped awake. She glanced over to the hospital bed; Henry was still fast asleep, looking peaceful despite his injuries. Her weary eyes slid to the chair beside hers. Regina was curled up small in the chair, her legs tucked under her and her arms wrapped around her torso to ward off the chill in the air generated by the hospital's central cooling system, which had obviously been going full force all night. Emma had stopped by Mary Margaret's before grabbing dinner last night at Granny's and had showered and thought to dress warmly in jeans, a light sweater, and her red leather jacket. Emma pulled the jacket off and got up, walking over to Regina's sleeping form. She draped the red leather jacket across the brunette's upper body, tucking it snug around her, and instantly the other woman relaxed and stopped shivering. Emma leaned down and kissed her forehead softly.
She walked over to the hospital bed and stared down at their son as he slept. She ruffled his hair. "I'll be back kid." She walked away from the bed and, with one final glance at Regina, exited the room.
She checked in with Dr. Whale for any updates, pleased to find out Henry would be going home just after noon. Considering she still felt it was her fault the kid had even been attempting to sneak out the window, she was greatly relieved to find out he was doing so well. She knew she would never have been able to forgive herself if his injuries had been more severe.
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Granny's was packed with the weekday morning usuals. She'd missed Graham already, but August was sitting at the counter, nursing a cup of coffee and jotting notes in a notebook. He grinned at her as she entered, holding up his coffee mug in a greeting salute before taking a big sip, wincing at the bitterness of the brew as he set it back down.
"Emma!" Ruby caught sight of her and came out from around the counter, pulling the blonde into a hug.
Emma's lips turned down in the slightest of frowns and she tapped the waitress on the back lightly in lieu of any better ideas. She'd never been very good with unsolicited affection. "Hey Rubes."
The girl kept firm hands on her shoulders, but pulled away, holding her out at arms length and seemingly looking her over for any visible injuries. "How are you doing? I heard how you got on yesterday. Everybody's been worried."
Emma looked over the young woman's shoulder to glare at August, her eyes alight with accusation.
He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, shrugging back from her fury. "Hey, don't give me that look; it wasn't me."
Ruby grinned and shook her head as she finally broke away and made her way back behind the counter. "Actually it was Graham when he returned Granny's car yesterday. He stopped in to drop off the keys and told us both you and Henry had been in separate accidents and were in the hospital. Mary Margaret came in later and confirmed the story." She made a move to get Emma a fresh mug of cocoa.
Emma stepped up to the counter. "Actually Rubes, can I get that cocoa to go? A couple bear claws and an apple turnover too please? I have to get back to the hospital as soon as possible. I want to be there when Henry wakes up."
Ruby blinked at her, uncomprehending for a moment, her hand wrapped firmly around the mug meant for her cocoa, before finally nodding. "Sure. Just give me a second to get all that together."
Emma nodded. "And a coffee also please. You know how Regina takes it right?" She didn't wait for an answer, knowing the waitress would just answer in the affirmative anyway. Ruby's shock and awe moment threw her off. She got breakfast to go most mornings for her and Graham. What was the big deal? She turned and rested her right hip against the counter, crossing her arms as she regarded her best friend as he drank his java in silence.
As his skin prickled, finally registering the eyes on him, he turned his head from his notes to look at her. "What? Coffee mustache or something?" He wiped at his upper lip before waiting for her answer.
"What's with her?" She gestured over her shoulder with a thumb.
August shrugged. "She's just surprised the mayor's allowing you around Henry after the accident. They all are. It's not really her normal line of behaviour."
Emma frowned. "Well maybe she's such a bitch all the time because it's what everyone expects of her." She couldn't contain the bitter edge to her voice.
A gasp, followed instantly by a splash made her stand up straight and turn.
Ruby was busy cleaning up a spilled to go cup of coffee, the insulated paper cup rolling lazily in an arch as the brown liquid stretched out in tendrils in all directions. The bitter smell of coffee permeated the air.
Emma grabbed a spare rag off the counter and crouched down to help her clean the mess up, especially since she was responsible for its creation.
Ruby looked up at her apologetically. "You've been good for her, everyone thinks so, really. We're just shocked is all. It's been…well, it's been a long time since someone broke through to her, since someone's had any effect whatsoever really. We're just not used to that here."
Emma sopped up the last of the spilled coffee and stood, nodding. "I get it. I'm just… protective of her and Henry. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Ruby held up the drink carrier, the bag of pastries balanced between the two cups. She used it to gesture towards the coffee soaked rag Emma still held in her hand. "I'll trade you."
Emma handed over the rag and grabbed her order. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet, placing a note on the counter. "Keep the change. Thanks Rubes."
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Regina smiled as her dream dissipated, the memory of Emma holding her as they danced around the great room at the manor fading back into the void of her subconscious as she became aware of the room around her. Her eyes blinked open, adjusting to the light in the room, muted though it was by the curtains. She was warm and cozy despite the obvious chill in the air. She couldn't feel the cold against her face. The air conditioner always seemed to be running in hospitals. She looked down to find a red leather jacket draped over her like a makeshift blanket. The sight of it brought an unexpected but not unwelcome smile to her face. It meant Emma Swan was near, that she had stayed and that she cared. She couldn't recall the moment when the idea of Emma staying changed from filling her with dread to infusing her with a permeating warmth. Could it be true? Could true love happen twice in a lifetime? Is that even possible? Maybe her chance at a happy ending to her story wasn't over yet.
The door quietly opened and Emma stuck her head in. A smile lit up her face as she caught sight of Regina fully awake. The blonde mouthed 'good morning' and slipped silently in, closing the door softly with her hip. She held up the drink carrier with the bag of pastries balanced on it.
"Really Miss Swan, all this extra diner food is going to clog my arteries." There was no malice in the jape; it was more of a preprogrammed response than an actual admonishment.
Emma rolled her eyes. "If I haven't keeled over from over-exposure yet, I'm pretty sure you'll live to see another day." She set the bag down on the small table between their chairs and then handed Regina her coffee.
"Thank you baby." Regina took the proffered cup, oblivious to the term of endearment that had slipped from between her own lips.
Emma felt her heart stutter, a joyous skip, but she chose not to acknowledge the slip up, not wanting to freak out the brunette. "I figured you'd need a little pick me up after sleeping in that chair. It couldn't have been comfortable. I spoke with Dr. Whale. He said Henry had a good enough night and he'll be good to go later today."
Regina took a deep breath of relief, relaxing. "Thank God."
"Did my jacket keep you warm enough?" Emma sunk down into her seat, reaching for the bag and pulling out a bear claw.
Regina looked down at the jacket in question as if she had forgotten its presence. She had slipped her arms into the sleeves and was wearing it backwards. "Oh, yes, thank you." She set down her coffee so she could remove it. She held it out to the blonde.
"No, you keep it for now. It's still cold in here and besides, red looks good on you." Emma smirked at her.
"Are you trying to seduce me, Deputy?" The corner of Regina's mouth quirked up into a smile.
"That depends… is it working?" Emma raised an eyebrow in challenge. She's easily off put by straightforward kindness. She doesn't expect it. It disarms her, and the second she feels as if she's starting to lose control, she'll withdraw and you'll be left grasping after her. So, do something sweet for her, and if she starts to back away, come back with something flirtatious. Put her back in an element she understands, make her feel like she has the upper hand again, even if she doesn't. She'll respond to your gesture and no ground will be lost. Daniela's words rang in her head.
Regina smiled, that predatory gleam returning to her eyes for the first time in days and she slipped the jacket back on the correct way. "Miss Swan, the things I could do to…"
Whatever she was going to say was cut off by a hoarse voice. "Mom?"
Regina shot up, all signs of the seductive predator replaced by the concerned mother, and was at the side of the bed in an instant flat. She smoothed down his hair and smiled down at their son.
Emma would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that it hadn't stung just a little when he'd called out for Regina instead of her. It was an irrational little flare of jealousy. Regina had spent his entire life taking care of him. Emma was such a new edition to his life; she probably hadn't even crossed his mind. So she wouldn't lie and say it hadn't hurt a little. It had. But as she watched Regina doing the 'mom' thing, asking how he was feeling, if he had slept well, and if anything hurt overmuch, then following all that up with a gentle scold for trying to climb out his window in the first place… it made her realize she was the intruder here. Regina and Henry had lived a put together life before her. In her absence, Regina had done a bang up job of raising Henry on her own, all while still managing to take care of an entire town at the same time. Emma slid out of the room, unnoticed, and into the corridor, leaving them to their family moment. She rested her forehead on the wall of the corridor and took a deep breath. Was she even doing the right thing? She wasn't so sure anymore. She shook her head as she splayed both hands on the wall, supporting herself. Of course she was. She loved them both and this was the only way to save them both. She needed to get a hold on herself.
She hadn't heard the door open behind her and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt the hand on the small of her back. She turned around to find Regina. The brunette was staring at her with a look of concern.
"Miss Swan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Emma sighed when she realized from the look on the other woman's face that Regina wasn't going to accept that.
"Henry thought I had sent you away yesterday or else he would have been asking for you."
Emma shook her head, truly touched that Regina was trying to reassure her, to protect her feelings. "It's not that." She frowned. "It's just… how come you never had children of your own? Certainly you wanted them?"
Regina frowned. "I did. But after I married Leopold… we just didn't come together that way. Our rooms were separate for a reason. And after him, the opportunity just never seemed to present itself. Besides, who would have feared a bitchy pregnant woman?" She smiled, attempting to inject some humour back into the conversation.
"If I was anything to go by, they can be pretty goddamn scary." Emma chuckled. She'd been an absolute terror on two legs while pregnant with Henry.
Regina chuckled, her fingertips coming up to run down Emma's arms soothingly. "So, what's brought all this on then?"
Emma sighed, ignoring the question. "You really are a great mother, you know that? It's one of the things I love most about you. I see you with Henry and I wish I had half the finesse with him that you do. It's as if you have some secret manual somewhere that explains it all, how to be the perfect mom."
A look of something akin to affection crossed Regina's face. "Emma…"
"Mayor Mills?" Dr. Whale came up the corridor towards them. "We're just getting together the paperwork to discharge Henry. There's some care instructions you'll need to read over and sign."
Regina glanced at Emma as if she wanted to say something.
Emma managed a smile. "Go. I'll stay with Henry. You can update me later." She turned for the door of Henry's room and went in, leaving no space for objections and hoping that Regina would not withdraw from her after she came back from getting Henry's discharge instructions.
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"You doing okay kid?" Emma leaned against the doorframe as the boy adjusted and readjusted on the bed, trying to get comfortable, a look of sheer determination on his face. Regina had jumped in the shower the moment after she'd got him from the car and upstairs, wanting to wash away the dregs of yesterday's emotional roller coaster.
He pouted in her direction. "Mom won't let me have Daniela up here."
Emma sighed. The old go behind one parent's back to the other parent. Good to know he wasn't so firmly on the 'good' side of things to be above parental manipulation. She knew there had to be some evil in there somewhere. "Sorry kid, your mom's right. Daniela's just a puppy and we can't risk her using your cast as a chew toy."
Henry let out a petulant huff.
Emma shook her head with a smile. Ah, the joys of parenthood. How had she ever survived without this in her life? "Do you need anything?"
"A root beer would be nice." He grinned at her hopefully.
She chuckled. "Do you think I have a death wish? Nice try. No soda." She pointed meaningfully at the glass of water on his bedside table. "Call if you need anything." She held up a finger in warning as he opened his mouth to say something. "That you can actually have." She nodded as his mouth fell closed again. "That's what I thought." She turned to go.
"Hey Emma?"
"Hmm?" She turned back.
"Why was my mom wearing your jacket earlier?" He tilted his head.
Emma shrugged. "Because she was cold and I wasn't."
"Are you gonna be living here now? With her?" He didn't seem entirely upset over the thought, but rather just curious.
"Just until you're better. Your mom's job is really important and she shouldn't miss it, not while I'm available to make sure you don't climb out the window again."
He rolled his eyes.
"Does it bother you?" She bit her lip. "That your mom and I are closer?"
He thought on it for a long time, causing her stomach to drop more with each passing second. Finally, he answered with a shake of his head. "No. I like how things are now. She's nicer, and happier."
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"You're back." Regina came into the foyer from the dining room as she heard the front door close.
She seemed… no Emma must be imagining things… did she look relieved? No, that couldn't be it. Not the stoic Mayor Mills. Realizing she hadn't commented yet, and was still standing in the middle of the foyer, she gestured to her duffel with her free hand. "I told you I just had to pick up a couple things." Never just assume with her Emma. Chances are you're right, but Regina is the type who wants to feel as if things are her idea. Defer and she's likely to surprise you with what you wanted in the first place. "I'll just go put them in the spare room and then I can help you with dinner."
Regina smirked. "So quick to escape my bed Miss Swan?" She gestured flippantly up the stairs as she turned to go back to the kitchen. "Just drop the bag in my room, we'll discuss sleeping arrangements later, after we've eaten."
Emma grinned. "As you wish." She went upstairs and dropped her duffel in the mayor's bedroom, stopping to check on Henry (who was out like a light thanks to the strong painkillers) before coming back downstairs and following her nose to the kitchen.
She walked into the pristine space and took a moment, pausing in the door, to watch Regina move about, from chopping, to tasting the sauce on the stove, to checking on the contents of the oven. Her movements were practised and graceful, like a dance. It struck her then how domestic Regina Mills actually was, despite her prickly exterior. Had things actually worked out the way they should have and she'd been able to make the life she'd planned with Daniela, Emma could easily imagine her being the stay at home, domestic-goddess type. Before she was tainted by loss and a broken heart. Now, after all that she'd been through, Emma knew Regina would never be able to relinquish her power-seeking side. Now, her domestic side was confined to these rare moments when she was able to let her guard down and remember the person she was before all the pain. Emma was honoured that Regina let her witness these moments, a testament to her progress in the short time since they'd met in this world.
"You're staring." Regina's back was to the blonde, but she could still feel her eyes.
Emma smiled, resting the side of her face against the doorjamb. "It's an easy pastime where you're concerned."
Regina rolled her eyes and beckoned Emma with a finger. "Come taste this and tell me what you think."
Emma pushed away from the door to come over to Regina's side.
Regina dipped the spoon into the sauce and brought it up, cupping her other hand a few inches under the spoon, just in case some sauce got any funny ideas and decided to take a suicide dive off the end of the spoon. She leaned in and blew softly to cool it down, the action causing desire to rapidly pool between the blonde's thighs. Finally, Regina held the spoon out to Emma's mouth.
Emma kept her gaze locked with Regina's as she used her tongue to pull the spoon into her mouth, sampling Regina's cooking. It was some kind of cream sauce Emma had never tasted before. Needless to say, it was sauce-crack. Her eyes widened. "That's amazing."
Regina smiled. "It's my own recipe. When I first got to this world, I was floored by the culinary difference between it and the other world. There were just so many possibilities, so many ingredients to experiment with. Some things I tried were not so successful, but others, like this sauce, came out quite spectacularly." She set another pot on the stove and measured out some water and jasmine rice.
"When did you stop?"
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Stop what?"
"Being fascinated by this new world."
Regina stared at her for a long moment before shrugging. "I guess with time the fascination goes away with anything."
Emma shook her head. "See, I don't believe that."
Regina's eyebrow shot up. "No?"
Again Emma shook her head. "I'm still as fascinated by you as the day we met. I don't think I'll ever find you any less breathtaking than I always have."
Regina's eyes widened in shock, the edges tinged with fear.
If you see fear in her eyes Emma, don't chase it. It will do nothing for you, but back her into a corner, where she will either lash out or close herself off from you, neither of which will help us. You don't want her to be scared of you or threatened by your presence. She was pushing it. Time to back off. "I'll go set the table." She moved away, afraid she'd already messed things up.
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Dinner conversation revolved around Henry and what Emma was expected to do while Regina was away at work each day. She wasn't the normal stone façade she gave everyone else, but she was colder than she had been, some of their progress seemed to be lost. Emma washed the dishes, since Regina had cooked. She packed up the leftovers and wiped the counters. Finally, she made her way upstairs, checking on Henry once more before moving towards the master bedroom.
She knocked lightly on the door before she opened it. Regina sat on the edge of the bed, looking as if she'd been sitting there since she'd come upstairs over a half hour prior.
The brunette looked up as Emma closed the door behind her.
Emma walked over to where she'd dropped her duffel before. "I didn't mean to disturb you, just came to grab my stuff."
"Don't."
Emma froze, her hand midway to the bag. She straightened and raised an eyebrow at the brunette. When the other woman didn't move, or even spare her a glance, she walked over to the bed and sat down beside her.
It was only after several minutes of silence that the brunette relented and spoke. "I don't know how to do this."
"Do what?"
"This." She gestured between them. "I've never really been a girlfriend before, here or there. The closest I ever came was stolen moments in a stable or on this hilltop behind Millhaven."
"If it makes you feel better, neither have I. We have a lot more in common than you might think, both forced into marriages beyond our control back in the Enchanted Forest."
Regina's eyes widened as she turned them on her. "You were married? Did I know?"
Emma nodded. "It was common knowledge."
"You didn't love him?"
"No." Emma shook her head. "It was a matter of diplomacy, not love."
"How old were you?"
Emma bit her lip. "Sixteen, just like you."
"You were married when we started our relationship then?"
Emma nodded. "Yes, I was."
"So you were married when I enacted the curse?"
Emma smiled as if at some private joke. "No." She stood. "Listen. How about we get changed and get in bed and I'll answer any more questions you may have?"
Regina nodded and they both changed into their night clothes. Regina went to check once more on Henry before they turned in for the night. When she returned, Emma was already in her bed, looking tired. The blonde held up the duvet so she could slid into bed. She turned off the light and walked over, sliding under the duvet after only a moment's hesitation. Emma never pressed the situation physically when they were in bed. She'd taken care to make Regina comfortable and it occurred to the brunette that maybe she'd at least earned a little cuddle. She slid close to the blonde, draping her arm across the other woman's stomach and laying her head on her shoulder. "You never answered my question on our date."
"Which question was that?" She began to stroke her fingers absentmindedly through short brown locks.
"Was I the one that cursed you?"
"No."
Regina felt a shadow she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying, lift. It wasn't her. She hadn't been the one to hurt Emma. But then, that begged the question, who had?
As if reading her mind, Emma answered. "It was Rumpelstiltskin. A long long time ago." She yawned, the events of the day finally catching up with her. "One more question and then we retire for the night."
Regina thought long and hard about what question she most wanted to ask, knowing she may never get an opportunity to grill Emma like this again. Finally, the perfect question entered her head and she realized it's what she'd been wanting to ask all day. "If you could change one thing about it all, your life, what would it be?"
Emma pondered the question.
Regina's anxiety grew with every passing second. It was only logical that the blonde would answer with the curse. So when Emma actually gave her answer, the brunette was shocked.
"I would have met you sooner. I would wish to have more time with you."