Disclaimer: In chapter 1.
Author's Notes: Today (15th July) is Lana Parrilla's birthday. To celebrate this gorgeous talented woman's birth I would like offer this update. It may be a little bit before my next one because (1) uni started back up today, and (2) the next section is complex but fun, and will require some more work to make to reader-worthy. If writing a good story were easy everyone would be doing it. Thank you all for reading! I love hearing what you think with each new chapter. Your reviews warm my heart.
As Xena had said the unlikely band of women arrived in the village just as the sun first touched the horizon. The warrior led them to a tavern that let out sounds of music and drunken merriment into the cooling dusk air. As Xena walked in and was recognised by the workers the music changed to something eerily familiar to Emma's ears…
Emma saw the women of the tavern gather around a large cream cake, and Emma's stomach grumbled as if on cue. Her jaw dropped as the top of the cake burst off and a woman appeared from within. Cream covered creamy fresh and Emma wanted nothing more than to lick it off. Where the hell did that come from? Emma wondered briefly before the tall, dark and gorgeous woman approached them in essentially a cream bikini.
"Hey Xena," the woman greeted in a quick playful voice.
"Hello Meg," Xena smiled.
"Where's Joxer?" Meg looked between and behind the women. She smirked at Emma's still agape expression. "I thought he was coming with you?"
"He got a message from his family," Gabrielle explained, "So he went to see them on his way. He should be here tomorrow."
"Great," Meg gestured to the humming women around the cake and they stopped. They picked up the cake all together and carried it out of the main area. "The girls need to work on their harmonising."
"We're going to need an extra room," Gabrielle nodded towards the mothers. "This is Emma and Regina. They're travelling with us for a while."
Emma noticed that the bard didn't explain further. She knew any information that Meg had meant that you might as well have told the whole tavern. She didn't really care at the moment though. "I'm Emma," she smiled at Xena's look-a-like.
"Meg," she grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her towards a staircase. She let go of Emma's hand to lead the group up the stairs and across a landing. They passed several doors before reaching the end. "Xena and Gabs in this one," Meg inserted a key into the lock of the door on the right. "And this one's yours." She winked at Emma and then handed her the key on her way past. "I'll see you later."
Regina snatched the key from Emma's hands, unlocked the door and barged in. She froze when she saw the room. It wasn't that it was in disrepair, or that it was particularly unclean, despite being a Queen she had slept in far worse. No, her problem was a simple one. She stared at the double and only bed in the room for a moment longer before stalking over to it. Regina pulled a single pillow and cover and dumped them unceremoniously on the floor. She glared briefly at Emma as she made her way across to the large bowl of water on the table in the corner. She dipped her hands in the cool water, bent over and then raised overflowing cupped hands to spread water over her face. She sighed louder than she intended but she didn't care. She repeated the motion and rubbed her face a little this time.
With effort, Emma tore her eyes from Regina's hunched back. She looked around the room with a lost expression. No TV, no computer, not even anything to read, she complained, maybe the Xenaverse isn't as cool as I thought it was. Not one to sit still, Emma left the room in search of something interesting to do or see. She thought about having a quick walk through the town, and planned to do just that until she saw it was fully dark outside. She may have been known to be reckless and irresponsible sometimes, but she knew better than to walk around alone at night in the Xenaverse. She huffed and made her way to a table to watch the people filling the rest of the tavern.
Emma was pulled from her scrambled thoughts when the others joined her. Xena put a mug in front of her and took a sip of her own without a word. Gabrielle chatted about when they first met Meg, and how the troubled woman had come to run this tavern until their dinner was brought to them by a busty woman. Regina scowled at her reflexively, and watched her saunter back over to Meg who gestured instructions of some kind.
By the time Regina had gracefully cut a potato into roughly equal portions and chewed said portions, Emma had already finished off her plate and emptied her mug. The blonde nodded at the appropriate times during Gabrielle's rambling, but for the most part watched Meg with an unsuccessful veil of subtlety. After making her way through the meal, with barely restrained glares, Regina's face was flush with anger.
"I see you've found another damsel that needs protecting. Ever the Saviour…" Regina dramatically rolled her eyes.
"Well at least she would thank me. Manners go a long way, you know," Emma looked at her pointedly.
"Manners? You're hardly one to talk about manners," Regina gestured to her own chin, below the lip on the left. Emma wiped gravy off her chin in response. "Besides, I never asked you to save me."
"No, but our son did." Emma ignored the look from Regina at the mention of Henry. "Maybe that's your problem? You probably didn't have anyone to save you from becoming evil. I bet you pushed them all away."
Regina slammed her fist on the table. Her voice was low and dangerous, "I am capable of protecting myself. I don't need you."
"I think you do, and you're just too scared to admit it!"
Regina stood up abruptly, and out of habit quickly made sure her plate and cutlery were neat before she curtly nodded to the other. "Xena, Gabrielle."
Emma huffed at Regina's retreating back. She glared at her plate for a few moments before the silence got too much. "I wish she was like you Xena. I wish she showed that she wanted to change."
Before Xena could answer music started in the corner where Meg and some of the other girls had gathered. She groaned when she heard the tune. "Change takes time, and you need to allow her that," Xena assured Emma, unexpectedly sounding like Gabrielle. "We're going to turn in as well. I would suggest letting Regina cool down before you head up."
Emma nodded, "Yeah, thanks. Night guys."
"Goodnight Emma." Gabrielle smiled before she followed Xena to the staircase.
"Joxer the Mighty. He roams through the country side…" Emma tuned out the words and watched as Meg conducted her girls through the song. They really didn't sound that bad, but the lyrics could do with a bit of work. Besides, she only liked 'The Bitter Suite' version. She wondered if she would ever get to see the TV show again. Damn, that's going to be weird now. Her head tilted to the side, but also cool at the same time. That's even if we get back… her eyes glazed over at the thought. The idea of being stuck in the Xenaverse with Regina scared her.
Why does Regina have to be so frustrating? Emma internally whined. She's so, so… Her cheeks flushed naturally as memories of yesterday and her dream returned. Stupid duck. She zoned back into reality just in time to see Meg wink at her with a very suggestive movement of the hips. Emma gulped. The woman was teasing her, and she knew it, but part of her didn't care and even welcomed the attention. It's not like anyone else is interested, she grumbled.
Her eyes focused on Meg as she watched her move around the tavern, returning regularly to the choir to give notes on their performance. Emma noted the unruly way her hair flowed in the draft created by her quick movements. Her eyes were keen and watched every patron, always looking for trouble or opportunity. She was different than Xena, that much was clear to Emma, but if they both stood still, in the same position and didn't speak than she wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Even Gabrielle's been confused before, she smirked. Xena exuded confidence, but Meg was surer of herself in other ways, like her sexual prowess. Emma couldn't deny she was attracted to the woman. The cream bikini was a great first impression for that.
Maybe it was because Meg looked like the woman she'd idolised for years? Maybe because she was still worked up from her dreams that morning? Or maybe it was because she was so frustrated from fighting with Regina? Emma didn't have an answer. All she knew was that she couldn't deny those crystal blue eyes that twinkled with mischief when Meg approached her later that night, and offered to help release some that obvious tension. Emma hesitantly let through a thought about Regina, but that was quickly suppressed by hungry lips and eager hands that pulled her into a darkened room and took her to oblivion.
EvilRegals please don't kill me. I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel. SwanQueen for the win!