Disclaimer: In chapter 1.
Author's Notes: I love cider, both to drink and to use as a plot tool. Anyone who play Dragon Age will recognise some names (I've been playing DA2 in preparation for DA:I). Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting and following "Hero".
Also: If you want a Xena or a SwanQueen magnet go to Shipper Haven on Facebook and follow the link to their eBay page. Mine are on my fridge already. They have quite a good selection.
The man watched as the best ripped the life from his lord. When the coin had been delivered in cloth he knew what it was, he had heard the stories. He knew that his lord knew too, and wouldn't touch the coin willingly. And so he had placed it exactly where he knew his lord would put his hand – on the hilt of the blade beneath the table, the blade he had reached for when the man had declared his lord was weak and he would prove it to the others gathered there.
The attack was swift, and everyone but the man turned away from the heinous scene. He watched. He wanted to know the tool that would bring him victory. The weapon he would use to cut a path across Greece. He knew what his enemies were weak against. Point blank annihilation.
A day and a half later Xena led the women into a series of caves in the side of a mountain. They has decided to travel towards Mount Olympus, in the hopes of gaining the help of one of the other Gods. The mood had been light-hearted on the surface, but underneath was a quivering anxiety that needed to be relieved.
Xena stopped in the mouth of a warm cavern and smiled. She sighed happily and made her way off to one side to put down her packs. She had let Argo wander free for the evening while the women made camp. Gabrielle had known the spot from before, and was pleased to return.
When Emma saw where they were she had a series of reactions; she chuckled at the memory of a splash fight scene between her heroes; she grinned at the thought of the heat soothing her muscles; and then she blushed at the thought of being in the hot baths with Regina. Oh Gods…
"Do you really expect us to get in there?" Regina asked sceptically.
Xena refrained from commenting on the 'us' vs 'me' phrasing, and instead said, "The choice is entirely yours." She sorted out her gear and took her armour off without hesitation. She wasn't ashamed of her body, and it was evident in her confident movements to divest herself of all coverings and step forward and into the hot spring.
Gabrielle and Emma followed in her wake, and Regina had to forcibly remove her eyes from her saviour. My saviour? Since when was she mine? Her eyes locked on nimble hands that pulled the shirt up and over blonde locks, and when they popped the button of tight jeans open Regina shivered. She let out a shaky breath. I need some air. She turned around and walked out.
Emma watched her go in disappointment. She had wanted to have her own splash fight with Regina in the bath. She slipped into the hot bath and said heavily. "I guess that would have been a bad idea anyway."
"What idea?"
Emma looked up at Xena, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to say that aloud."
"What idea though?" Gabrielle pried.
"Hot bath with Regina… just too good to be true," she shook her head.
"It's not like you haven't bathed with her before," the bard pointed out helpfully.
Emma nodded absently, memories of Regina's naked body pressed against hers in the cool water. I love ducks now… She lifted her shoulders out of the water a little, suddenly flushed. Regina is not my grandmother, so it's perfectly fine to think about her naked. Emma gulped. Naked and wet. Emma envisioned a sensual shoulder massage, like the one or many she knew had occurred her before. Her fingers traversing the contours of Regina's smooth back…. She cleared her throat. Maybe I should have found my own bath…
A while later, after the three woman had dried and dressed and had finished setting up the camp, Regina returned with wood. She laid her load next to the circle of stones that were blackened from repeated use over the years. She pulled her bedroll from her pack and laid in out near the fireplace before she set about starting it up. It didn't take long with a well-placed fireball. Regina was surprised when Emma didn't scold her for using magic, but instead sat next to her and passed her some bread. They shared a shy smile and ate in silence as Gabrielle prepared a stew for their little band of heroes.
They travelled for three days before they reached another village. A one stable, one tavern, and no temple village. Despite the town being so small, Xena insisted the booze was better than they'd think, so Emma convinced Regina to agree to stay there. Her verbal reasoning was that a bed was better than no bed. But if she was being honest she just wanted to get tipsy and see if she could get away with spooning Regina again. The feel of the brunette in her arms had become a constant niggling thought after their time in the Xenaverse, and the embraces they had shared.
The markets were also much smaller than the others they had seen. There were all of seven venders scattered around the small square. Xena and Gabrielle had gone on ahead to secure a stall for Argo and accommodation for them. That left the two mothers to wander the handful of streets. It was by the herbalist that they overhead the news.
"Did you hear that Varric killed Fenris with the creature?"
"I heard he was going to march on Athens itself!"
"I thought the beast was killing warlords?"
"Was it Varric all along?"
"I hope his army doesn't come this way."
They exchanged a look of concern and moved away. Emma was the first to speak, "Are they talking about the wraith?"
"I believe so," Regina nodded.
"What should we do?"
"Do?" Regina questioned. "We should find a way home."
"But what about the wraith? We brought it here."
"Do you want to risk dying instead of getting back to Henry?" Regina snapped at her.
"No, of course not."
"Then we find a way home." Regina insisted, "That's our only focus."
After unloading their gear in their rooms and washing the group met on the ground floor of the tavern for dinner. Regina was quiet but not unfriendly. She smirked in amusement at Gabrielle's tale of how they first met Joxer. Of course, Emma knew the story of how he'd tried to capture Gabrielle for Callisto and failed miserably, so her attention focused on Regina at her side.
The two sets of women sat opposite with four mugs of cider on the table between them. When she noticed Regina's empty, and the others not far behind she volunteered to collect their second round. When she returned, after depositing the goods, she slid into the booth with a casual grace until her shoulder touched Regina's. Acutely aware, she felt Regina stiffen, but when she didn't pull away Emma grinned into her mug.
Regina held her giddy panic at bay with a swig of her own. This woman will be the death of me! She proudly stood, or sat, her ground. She would not back down from the blonde's touch. Frankly, she didn't want to. She was tired of holding up the walls she had hid behind for so long. She was tired of denying Emma's charm. She was tired of fighting her deep attraction to the mother of her son. It was this weariness that drove Regina to drink cider after cider.
Emma got more amused as the evening went on. She had been the one to touch shoulders, but by the end of the meal and some banter their sides were flush together, and the fact that it had been Regina to have moved closer made her heart soar. The time passed with merriment until Gabrielle tried to give advice about children.
Regina snapped, "You have no knowledge of my son and the care he needs!"
"Our," Emma added absently.
"Our son," Regina corrected, "is very sensitive."
"I'm sure Gabrielle meant…" Xena tried to explain but was cut off.
"…well, yes of course she did. But your concern is unneeded and unwelcome." Regina stood and swayed. "Goodnight," she said in a tone that didn't leave any room for argument. She pushed Emma's shoulder and the blonde obeyed by slipped out of the booth and holding out her hand to hand the Mayor. Surprisingly, Regina took it and moved away from the table. She frowned in concentration, dropped Emma's hand and walked with an air of dignity towards the stairway. The three remaining shared a look of puzzlement. Emma shrugged, waved and followed.
Regina was in their room by the time she caught up. She closed and locked the door and turned to find Regina lift herself backwards to sit on the small table in the room. Regina lifted the pitcher that sat next to her and drank straight from the vessel. Emma stared in shock. And then she laughed.
"You never cease to amaze me, Regina," she smiled warmly and approached the brunette.
Regina put down the pitcher and then looked at Emma. Her eyes roamed unabashedly along her body and then repeated the motion to either side of her. "You… Miss Swan… are multiplying. Like lighting. Grease lightning. Hot Grease lightning."
"I think you really enjoyed that cider."
Regina hugged herself self-consciously, "I like cider. It's made from apples. I like apples."
"And you're drunk," Emma grinned and took another step forward.
"So? I'm an adult. I can drink whomever I please."
Emma raised her eyebrow and smirked.
"Miss Swan, do you think we could ever be friends?"
Emma tried to her hide her amusement. She watched Regina steady herself on the desk. "If you have more nights of purposefully getting yourself drunk then maybe we could…"
Anger swept across Regina's face, "How dare you!"
"Great, what did I do now?" Emma threw her hands up.
"You assume that just because I was once the Evil Queen that I'm not capable of love. Well let me tell you! I am more than capable of love. I have loved before. I love Henry. And you…" Regina hiccupped "… and you have no idea just how loving I can be."
"Oh really?" Emma smirked and braved moving closer to the brunette. "Prove it."
Emma stood in front of Regina, hands on her hips and her smirk just daring Regina to wipe it off.
Well, she did.
Regina grabbed Emma's shirt and tugged her forward. She pressed her lips to Emma's and held her there. After the shock wore off Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's lower back and pulled her forward on the desk, allowing the brunette to wrap her toned legs behind Emma. They deepened the kiss simultaneously and quickly felt and gave in to the heat rising between them.