Hello friends! I am so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. Life stuff gets in the way of writing sometimes. This chapter is not as polished as I normally prefer, but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting any longer. So, here it is. Enjoy!
She can't sit still. Regina feels she might jump out of her skin if Emma doesn't reach her soon. No longer can she bear to be apart from the woman she loves for another second. She rushes downstairs and begins to pace outside the hotel, as she eagerly watches for the familiar yellow of Emma's bug. She doesn't have to wait long.
Emma hardly has a chance to put the car in park before it is ambushed by a hysterical Regina Mills.
"Emma!" Regina yells as she runs to the yellow bug.
Emma opens the door, but remains seated. Regina swears she can feel the force of the blow that caused Emma's developing bruise and split lip. She extends her hand, offering to help Emma out. In an instant, the brunette woman feels her stomach turn inside-out at the sight of blood on Emma's sweater, as she guides her out of the car. She gently embraces the fragile woman in front of her. She holds Emma delicately, allowing her to squeeze as tightly as she needs. They just hold each other and cry, until Regina breaks the silence first by whispering, "My love. My heart. You're safe. I've got you, sweetheart. You're safe now."
That was all that needed to be said and all that Emma needed to hear. The reality of the attack finally hits her. She had managed to keep it together for her daughter's sake. But, now that she is in her lover's protective embrace she allows herself to feel the impact of what occurred less than an hour earlier. She falls apart. She grips Regina tightly, knowing that this woman's love will anchor her.
"I know, my love. I know. You're safe now. I will never let anyone hurt you again. I swear, Emma. Stay with me, my darling."
Emma just cries harder and fights to get air into her lungs.
"Alright. It's alright. I'm right here. I've got you. You're safe. I promise, Emma. You're safe."
"'Gina," a tiny voice whines from inside the vehicle.
"Char-r-r-lie," the broken woman cries.
"Hang on, my love." Regina kisses her girl gently and pets her face before retrieving her child.
"'Gina," Charlie cries and reaches for her brunette mother.
"Oh, baby," she says, unbuckling the child. Regina lifts the reaching girl out of her car-seat. "I'm sorry, baby." She holds her tiny child close to her body and kisses her.
The tiny girl is immediately comforted by her mother's touch. "Gina."
The emotional brunette begins to cry. "Alright. It's alright, baby. I've got you my girl. Mommy's got you. Okay. It's alright. Shhhhhh. I've got you, sweetheart. It's alright. I'll never let you go again."
"Mommy."
Just that one word, strikes Regina's core. She is immediately hit with a rush of guilt for not being there to protect the most important person in her life, besides her children. "Mommy's okay." She knows, deep down, that this is a lie, but she has to say it anyway. Without a doubt, Regina states this truth, "She's safe now." She is determined to protect Emma with her life. She vows to herself in this moment that she will never break this promise to her daughter, as she confirms, "You're both safe now."
"Mommy," the little girl continues to cry.
Regina hands the tiny child to the love of her life. Emma has no words. She only holds Charlie close to her body. Regina kisses Emma's forehead and wraps her arms protectively around her very distressed family. She cries with them and promises, with every fiber of her being, "I will always protect you."
The family remains like this for several minutes, comforted by the shared closeness.
Once Regina notices that Emma has calmed enough, she makes a suggestion. "Come my love, let's get you upstairs. We'll go home tomorrow."
Once inside the safety of Regina's hotel room, Emma breaks down again.
"Shhhhh…alright. It's alright." Regina holds the crying woman in her arms and begins to rock her as she soothes with her voice. "Alright, shhhhhh…Emma…it's alright, it's alright…we're together now…you're safe." Emma's eyes remain closed. Regina is instantly concerned that Emma is dehydrated, which is extraordinarily dangerous, especially in her fragile state.
"Here, my love. Sit here," Regina says as she guides the woman she loves to sit on the bathroom counter.
She immediately unwraps one of the plastic cups by the sink, provide by the hotel; fills it with tepid water and offers it to Emma. "Here my love, drink."
Emma's hands are still shaking profusely, she cannot grip the cup. Regina helps Emma by guiding the cup to the blonde woman's mouth.
Their concerned daughter stands in the doorway of the bathroom and asks, "Is Mommy sick?"
Regina divides her attention momentarily. "Mommy's alright, sweetie. I'm taking care of her."
With each sip Emma takes, she calms slightly. Regina continues to sooth, "Everything's going to be alright, Emma… You're safe now. You're with me. I'm right here."
The blonde starts to calm even more, her breathing begins to steady, she lets herself be comforted by her lover's soft voice and loving touch.
"'Gina?"
Regina steadies Emma before leaving her side. She kisses Emma's forehead and promises, "I'll be right back, my love."
She crouches down to Charlie's level and holds her arms open for the little girl. "Come here, baby." The tiny child melts into her mother's embrace. Regina lifts her precious daughter with ease and carries her into the next room. She sits on the bed and holds her child in her lap as she explains, "Sweetheart, I need you to stay here for a few minutes while I help Mommy."
"Is Mommy sad?"
Regina patiently explains, "She's okay sweetie. She was just a little scared."
The next words to come out of her daughter's mouth are unexpected and heartbreaking, "My daddy scared her."
Regina just holds her daughter and rocks her as she hesitantly makes the painful admission, "Yes, my girl, he did."
Her discerning daughter sincerely states, "You won't let him hurt Mommy."
Regina confidently vows, "I will never let anyone hurt your mother again."
She asks one more time for reassurance, "You promise?"
Regina is sure to look Charlie in the eye this time as she says, "I promise." She kisses her little angel's forehead and changes the subject to something positive. "Here, baby, I'll put on some cartoons for you." She kisses her again after locating the correct channel and re-assures, "I'll be right back, sweetheart."
She pauses outside the bathroom door and takes a deep breath before entering; preparing herself to be strong for the love of her life. Emma is still seated on the bathroom counter; her face is buried in her hands. Regina quietly approaches the emotional woman. She gently places a hand on Emma's trembling shoulder, silently communicating her presence. "Emma, look at me. Please, my love, look at me."
At that, Emma opens her bloodshot eyes to look at Regina for the first time since arriving at the hotel. To Regina, this is the most beautiful sight in the world. "There's my girl."
Emma tries to speak, but it's too difficult to manage at the moment. She settles for whispering. "I was so scared, Regina," Emma tremulously admits.
Regina can no longer fight back her own tears, which now pour freely from her eyes. "I know. Believe me, I know."
Emma takes a minute to register what remains unspoken by Regina. She has experienced something similar before. Of course, she understands.
"Regina."
"What is it, my love?"
Emma hesitantly begins, "I just wanted to make some coffee." She is reliving it. "He wouldn't leave me alone…" Every vivid detail replays in her mind. "I told him to stop…" Everything is magnified by the guilt she feels that Charlie was witness to the horrible attack. "She heard it…she heard me screaming…begging him…not to…"
"Shhhhh…It's over." Regina immediately takes the crying woman into her arms, anchoring her once again. "It's over now. I will never let anyone hurt you again." Regina makes certain to articulate this next promise clearly, hoping to drive away Emma's fear and sorrow with these words. "I swear Emma."
Emma lets these words, of love and promised protection, affect her. Rarely in her life had she ever let herself be open enough to not only believe that she was worthy of love, yet believe that someone was truthful in their love for her. The realization hits her. "I didn't know I was worth it."
Regina, once again, holds the crying woman in her arms. She kisses the top of Emma's beautiful head before resting her cheek there. "My love, you are worth everything…and so much more. You are my heart Emma Swan. I can't lose you again."
"I'm sorry, Regina."
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
"I love you."
"Oh, my love, you have no idea."
Once Emma has calmed, Regina straightens up and meets Emma's bloodshot eyes. "Please don't worry, Emma. I'll take care of everything…starting with coffee."
This earns the former queen a hint of a smile from her beautiful girlfriend.
"Let's get you cleaned up, first."
Regina helps Emma out of her jacket and notices that her shirt is not only stained with blood, but the hem is torn. She imagines the violence that would cause Emma's sweater to tear like that and it makes her sick; she is suddenly pale.
"Regina?"
"I'm alright." Regina states automatically, unable to meet Emma's eye.
Emma responds to this by gently taking Regina's hand in hers, silently communicating her understanding. Regina meets Emma's eyes momentarily, before refocusing her attention on the current task. She runs a washcloth under the cold tap; rings it out, and then begins lightly wiping Emma's tear streaked, flushed face. Emma winces when Regina grazes her developing contusion.
Regina mimics Emma's pained facial expression. "Shit, Emma, I'm sorry." Concerned that she just made things worse, Regina asks, "Does that hurt?"
Ashamed to admit, Emma responds, "A little."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." She gently takes Emma's face in her hands and begins softly and lovingly kissing her wounds; silently promising to never take advantage of her and to always respect her.
Emma is not surprised that she doesn't feel pain when Regina kisses her. Actually, and again, not surprisingly she feels instantly better.
Regina asks, "How about now?"
Emma suddenly comes to life. The two women gaze into each other's eyes, falling in love all over again. Emma timidly reaches out for Regina's waist to pull her closer. She parts her legs and guides the brunette woman's waist flush against hers. Regina feels immediate heat course through her entire body. She wraps her arms around the younger woman's neck and proceeds to kiss her with all the passion of a woman in love.
The two women are too caught up in the moment to realize that Emma's lacerated lip is healing, seemingly by magic.
They finally break for air. Regina breathes the question, "Better?"
"Mmmm…I am a little lightheaded now," Emma says with a flirtatious smile.
Overjoyed to see her girlfriend smile again, Regina responds, "I hope that's a good thing."
Emma moves in to kiss Regina again, to which the brunette woman immediately reciprocates. She doesn't give in to the temptation to allow her hands to travel beyond Emma's shoulders, but welcomes Emma's exploratory hands. The blonde woman whispers, "I never want to feel any other way."
Regina feels slender fingers around her lower back as she and Emma continue their increasingly heated make-out session. The slender fingers casually slip beneath the hem of her sweater. The brunette woman is on fire. She is desperate for air and breaks their kiss, allowing Emma access to her waiting neck. The fingers continue their path under the now loosened band of Regina's bra. Regina hears herself moan as Emma's hands graze her bare breasts. "Emma…" she breathlessly starts.
"I missed you," the blonde woman whispers. Regina always loved feeling Emma's heated breath against her neck.
"I love you, Emma Swan."
Both woman have completely transcended time and space, all that matters is that they are together; in this moment.
Seconds before Regina is completely freed of her sweater, the two women are snapped out of their haze by a small voice.
"Mommy?" They break apart, at the sudden shock of discovering that they are not alone. Emma jumps off the counter, despite being weak in the knees.
"Hey, kid." She attempts to act casual, as if she had not been caught making-out with her girlfriend like a horny teenager by her very grown-up three-year-old.
Regina rushes to smooth her bunched up sweater and re-hook her bra.
Charlie sincerely inquires, "You feel better now?"
Emma thinks for a moment that maybe Charlie didn't notice or realize that she was, in fact, fondling Regina's breasts. She attempts to play it cool. "I feel much better now."
"'Gina made you feel better." Obviously, she did notice something. However, her mother recognizes that it is okay for the young girl to observe her mothers being affectionate. She makes a note to self for the future: Under no circumstances, undress Regina in front of Charlie.
She is more than happy to admit, "Regina always makes me feel better." Emma turns to catch her girlfriend's eye. Regina bashfully returns the smile. Charlie rushes to her blonde mother and hugs her around her legs. "Woah!" Emma was not expecting that. She instantly scoops the little girl into her arms and begins peppering her face with kisses. "And, your hugs make me feel better too." Charlie begins to giggle and wraps her arms around her mother's neck. Emma squeezes her gently and says, "You give the best hugs Charlie."
"'Gina." Charlie reaches for Regina to join the family embrace.
Regina wraps one arm around Charlie and the other around her Emma. "You do give the best hugs," Regina says, happily. She gently presses her lips to Charlie's forehead, to kiss her. "You feel a little warm," she says, cupping Charlie's little face in her hand. "It's almost time for more medicine. Have either of you eaten anything today?"
"We haven't," Emma sincerely responds. Something has to be really wrong for her to not make food a priority.
"You must be starving," Regina responds. She wears a concerned expression.
"I am a little hungry." Emma lies a little, not wishing to worry Regina any more today.
"I will get you whatever you want; anything for my girls," Regina says, chastely kissing her girlfriend's lips.
Emma takes a chance. "Breakfast?" Breakfast would be the cherry on top of this perfect sundae, Emma thinks. She has her loving family, they are together; finally. If only she could share her favorite meal with her favorite people.
Regina brightens, "Absolutely. I'm sure they're still serving breakfast somewhere."
"That would be wonderful." Emma was already in love before, but the fact that this beautiful woman would do anything to make her feel better makes her feel a peace and calm that she is sure that she had never experienced in her life before.
Regina gently cups Emma's face in her hands and whispers, "I love you."
Emma holds Regina's waist and whispers back, "I love you."
Regina moves in to kiss her girlfriend, it is not a chaste kiss, but the two women manage to keep it PG for the sake of their child. They reluctantly break apart.
"I'll only be gone for a little while." Regina turns to grab her purse, but Emma lightly holds on to her hand, not ready to lose contact. "My love, I'll be right back," Regina reassures. She kisses Emma again and embraces her in a comforting hug. Emma just lets herself be held and soothed by the love radiating from her girlfriend. "I'll only be gone for a little while," Regina confirms.
"I know," Emma replies confidently.
"I love you," Regina says as she pets Emma's cheek.
"I love you." Emma believes that she could get used to saying that all the time, from now on.
After clutching her purse, Regina begins to walk toward the door leading out to the hallway.
The three-year-old, who had been witness to her mothers' loving interaction, suddenly becomes afraid. She runs after her brunette mother shouting, "'Gina! 'Gina, no!"
Regina feels her heart shatter in her chest at hearing her daughter's desperate cries.
She immediately lifts the crying child into her arms, "What, my sweetheart?"
"'Gina," Charlie continues to cry.
Regina starts to rock her baby in her arms and comforts her with her voice. "It's okay. I won't be gone long. I'm just getting breakfast for you and Mommy."
It becomes apparent to the experienced mother, that her daughter will only be more upset if she lets her go. She catches Emma's eye, silently communicating with her. Emma smiles and nods her understanding. Regina smiles back, then addresses her daughter. "How about I take you with me?"
At that, Charlie sits up in her loving mother's arms and begins to rub her eyes. Regina decides to help, not wanting her daughter to hurt herself. She gently wipes away Charlie's tears with her thumb and softly suggests, "We'll let Mommy rest and come back with breakfast."
Emma interjects, "I could use a shower."
Charlie nods her approval, earning her a kiss on the cheek from her brunette mother.
"Come on, sweetie. We should get going."
"Regina?" Regina turns to look at Emma. "I um…"
At Emma's hesitation, Regina grows concerned, "What is it, love?"
Emma is embarrassed to ask, though she knows she shouldn't be. "Could I…borrow some clothes?"
Just the fact that her beautiful girlfriend and mother of her children felt the need to ask for her permission warms Regina's heart. She takes a few short steps to reach Emma. She gently cups the blonde woman's face in her hand. "Sweetheart, you don't have to ask. Anything that's mine is yours. I mean that, Emma. What's mine is yours." She smiles warmly at her love.
Emma wonders audibly, "What did I do to deserve you?"
Regina scares herself by almost breaking down in front of her child, she fights back the tears.
Luckily, Charlie has a solution, "Kiss Mommy."
The two women laugh at their daughter's observation.
"You heard the kid," Emma playfully states.
Regina re-positions her happy daughter on her hip and kisses the child's other mother goodbye.
"Thanks kiddo," Emma says tickling her precious baby which earns her extra giggles. She kisses Charlie's forehead. "Be a good girl for Regina."
"I'll be right back, my love." Regina chastely kisses Emma again. "Call me if you need anything." She starts to walk out.
As much as Emma hates being separated from Regina for even small periods of time, she enjoys watching that woman's behind as she walks away. She pretends that she's not looking and automatically replies, "I will."
Regina takes a moment to look back before opening the door to leave, catching Emma mid stare. She gives her a flirtatious glance and mouths, "I love you."
Emma mouths back, "I love you too."