A/N: WHAT IS UP, FRIENDS? I almost named this chapter "Shit Goes Down" "Waffles and Broken Toes" or "Wandering Hands", but decided to stick with "Hands Up" because it's better this way (PS- You're welcome for all the hints I just gave you). Anywho, I would love to thank all of you who take the time to read and review because you all make me smile. Sometimes reviews from guests make me sad because I can't answer them, but if you can't help it, you can't help it. I understand and thank you for reviewing anyways.
ONWARDS INTO THE DARK FOREST, MY KNIGHTS!
(I'm silly when I'm tired)
~R.
Dark lashes fluttered as mocha eyes opened to the dark room around her. Regina blinked once, twice, and looked towards the curtains in attempt to guess the time. Though they remained closed from the previous day, there was a glow along the edges of the fabric, indicating morning had come.
Regina's eyes rose to the clock on the bedside and confirmed her suspicions. 10:11 AM. Surprised at how long she had slept in, Regina smiled. She hadn't slept in since before she could remember. She always woke up with the sun- sometimes even before. The last time she slept like this was after Daniel died.
Daniel.
The thoughts of the night before rushed into her head, but Regina couldn't force herself to do anything but smile. Sure, the pain of remembering her past was crippling, but the memory of Emma wrapping her up in her arms and holding the brunette woman as she let out all she had been holding in for years was nothing short of heartwarming and amazing.
Emma.
The brunette woman took in the heat of another body pressed against her back and struggled not to burrow deeper into it. It had been so long since she felt this sort of comfort in the morning.
The sheets behind her ruffled, announcing the blonde was also waking up. Emma's body shifted as the blonde started stretching her limbs. The blonde started wiggling her toes, making sure that every single body part was awake and functioning properly. When they were done, she moved to her fingers.
Regina stiffened and fought off a shocked yelp when she felt Emma moving her fingers. Apparently Emma's arm had shifted positions during the night, and though Regina didn't exactly dislike this new turn of events, she sure as hell was not prepared for fingers wiggling over her sex.
She heard a faint, "What the hell?" and felt Emma lift her own body before hearing a shocked, "Oh my fuck!" and a loud thump of the blonde's body hitting the ground. The next sound was a whispered, "Reggie?"
Relaxing her body and trying to fight off the silent giggles that were taking over her, the brunette crawled to the side of the bed and looked over the edge.
"Yes, dear?" she asked once she had composed herself.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked, an almost painfully hopeful look highlighted her face.
"I woke a few minutes before yourself," Regina answered honestly.
A hand flew to cover Emma's face. The blonde drug it down her face slowly, distorting her features and making Regina giggle even more.
"And I suppose you were conscious enough to feel everything that happened since I've woken up?" the question was asked in dread, the blonde already knowing the answer.
"Yes, dear," the brunette watched Emma flip onto her stomach and lightly beat her head on the floor. Slightly worried the woman would damage her brain, Regina reached a hand out towards her and swatted at her butt. "Emma Swan, you knock that off right now. I don't need to waste my day taking you to the hospital for a concussion."
Emma moved her body until she was staring up at her professor once again, her hair fanning out around her abused head. "Yes, Professor Mills," she joked, before suddenly turning serious. "I'm sorry, Regina?"
"Sorry?" two dark brows knitted as Regina stared down at the blonde. "For what?"
"For what? Seriously?" Emma almost shouted in her shock, popping up to stare at the brunette with wide eyes. "Regina, I was basically groping you in your sleep. My hands were in places they weren't when I went to sleep!" The blonde let her head drop, smacking it on the ground once again.
"Emma, I'm serious," Regina warned in a no-nonsense tone. "I'm not taking you to the hospital today. If you're going to continue to hit your head on things you can join me in this bed and beat your head on a pillow. I promise they are very soft. Until then, we will not finish this conversation."
"Are you sure you even want me up there?" Emma questioned shyly, not sure of Regina's thoughts on the situation.
"I wouldn't suggest it if I didn't want it."
"Alright. Give me a second. I haven't done this in a few years," the woman closed her eyes and continued to lie still for seconds.
"Are planning on teleporting into my bed or what?" Regina joked from between the sheets.
"Wait for it," The blonde's body tensed as she pulled her legs into her chest before springing into the air and landing on her feet. After a little stumble, Emma regained her balance and smirked down at the brunette on the bed, "Was that cooler than teleporting, or was that cooler than teleporting?"
"Way cooler than teleporting," the brunette smirked and winked while nodding her head, making it obvious that she teasing the blonde by falsely stroking her ego.
"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week," Emma bowed to her imaginary audience before jumping into the bed and wiggling around until she was comfortable.
"Must you act like a child, Miss Swan? You're worse than when Henry wiggles his way into bed," Regina took in Emma's offended expression and smiled at the blonde before switching topics. "Seriously, though. Where'd you learn how to do that?" Regina questioned. Emma knew a good bit of her past after the previous night, and all she knew in return was that the woman was in foster care as a child and now she was in culinary school. It really wasn't much to know about someone you were seeing let alone sharing a bed with.
"I might've met a few people who taught me a few things," seeing the woman next to her was going to ask another question, Emma rushed to speak. "I'd really like to talk about this morning, though, if that's alright."
Regina stared at the blonde woman. Emma was so… Emma. She liked to tease and use sarcasm, and the brunette had heard more than a few profanities expelled from the blonde's mouth more than once, but when it came down to everything, Emma was the sweetest woman Regina had ever met. She would hold doors for the professor, she made sure Regina found flowers and treats in her office every day, and she listened to everything Regina said with such interest it felt like she was constantly taking notes on what would make the brunette the happiest woman alive- and maybe she was. She definitely had made her more than happy since they started seeing each other.
If you could even call it seeing each other, Regina thought to herself. I've been so busy with work and Henry that I've we've only really been on two dates… and they weren't even real dates. Especially not last night. I'm going to make this all up to her eventually.
A soft hand on her cheek broke Regina from her thoughts.
"Regina?"
"Yes?" the brunette cleared all thoughts from her mind and smiled up at Emma.
"Can we talk about what happened this morning? Because I'd really like nothing more than to apologize," the blonde cast her eyes away from Regina and bit her lip. Regina stared at her, confused as to why the blonde looked so guilty.
"I see nothing to apologize for," Regina replied, watching Emma's head snap up to look her in the eyes.
"But-" the blonde tried to protest.
"But nothing, Emma," Regina placed a finger over the other woman's mouth to keep her from interrupting. "We shifted in our sleep. Your hand ended some place neither of us would've imagined when we fell asleep." Regina shrugged and smiled a sultry smile at the woman in her bed, "You don't see me complaining, do you?"
Emma reached up and removed the finger from her lips, never tearing her eyes from the dark ones before her. "You better stop flirting like this unless you want to be ravished, Professor," she warned.
"I would keep flirting then, but I really have to get dressed before my mother brings Henry home."
Regina stood from the bed and shook her hips, letting the negligé that had ridden up in her sleep fall back to a more modest length, and purposefully enticing the blonde still lying in her bed.
"I think I'll take a shower first," the brunette offered aloud.
"I guess I'll just get my things and head out, then," Emma sat up and ran a hand through her hair. She watched as Regina crossed the room and sat down next to her.
With a hand resting on Emma's thigh, Regina looked into her eyes, "Or you could go downstairs and make breakfast so it'll be ready when I'm done." She watched Hazel eyes for a reaction, and satisfied when she didn't get a look of horror, Regina continued, "Then maybe you can spend the day here with Henry and I?"
The grin that split across Emma's face in that moment was by far the largest Regina had ever seen.
"I'll take that as a yes?" she questioned with a goofy grin of her own.
"I'd love to," Emma responded, leaning into the brunette and gently pushing her onto the bed. She kissed her over and over again. Once on the forehead. Once on the nose. On the cheek, then it's opposite. She finished with a lingering kiss to the brunette's lips before moving off the brunette and standing to leave the room.
"I'll see you in a bit? I'm making waffles, I think," she said after she turned around at the door.
"And how do you expect to make waffles without knowing the whereabouts of the waffle iron, Miss Swan?"
"I'll find it, Professor. I have my ways."
With that, the blonde left the room, gently closing the door behind her and leaving the professor to her thoughts.
She kissed me like that, teased me, and left to make waffles. God, I just ha… love her.
The brunette stood from her very comfortable bed and rid herself of her night clothes. "Looks like Miss Swan left a few minutes too early," she joked with herself, moving to the shower.
Emma ran around in the kitchen searching through cabinets and cupboards for all the ingredients she needed. All she had left to find was the iron and the eggs.
Reaching into the fridge, the blonde grabbed the half-full carton of eggs before turning around and placing them on the table. Hazel eyes scanned the kitchen for any cupboards she could've missed during her first trip around the kitchen. There was only one she had left to search, and Emma hoped against all hope that it would be the one that housed the waffle iron.
The blonde skipped across the kitchen and knelt down in front of the cupboard. Closing both eyes, the woman swung the cabinet door open. When she was sure she'd be able to see the contents, Emma slowly opened one eye before the other. Sighing in relief, she grabbed the iron and laughed loudly. There was no reason to act so nervous about not finding a silly iron.
No reason except breaking a promise and upsetting Regina, the blonde reminded herself.
"Turn around and put your hands in the air, you dirty bitch."
Emma jumped from her knees at the voice. It was cold, calculated, scary, and definitely not Regina. The most frightening part: Emma never heard anyone enter the house, let alone the kitchen. The blonde did, however, feel the excruciating pain of the old, metal waffle iron crushing her foot as it fell to the floor.
Momentarily forgetting about the intruder, the blonde collapsed to the floor, clutching at the attachment and trying her best not to shout profanities as Regina had corrected her early that week.
"Sweet baby Jesus and holy shiitake mushrooms," the blonde mumbled.
"I said hands up," the taut voice warned again. "I think saying something twice is good enough, bitch. Don't make me do it again."
"Oh my freaking… shit. I can't," the blonde continued to clutch her foot and watch as a bruise started forming instantly.
"That's it, bitch. I warned you." Emma didn't even have enough time or brain capacity to decipher the message in the threatening voice before a strong body pinned her to the floor. "What are you here for? Is it money?"
"No, I-" the blonde tried between gasps of pain.
"Listen, you low-life scumbag, a family lives here. A family that has been through more than you know, and the last thing they need is some dirty asshole breaking into their house to steal their shit, okay?" The voice, that Emma now knew belonged to a blonde woman, was angry and stood behind the injustice of the life her words portrayed.
"I know, I know. It's just-" Emma tried to wiggle free, but a fist collided with her right eye before she could escape.
"You don't know shit, girl," the woman warned. "I will do anything for these people. Anything. And if that means kicking the shit out of some thieving bitch rooting through their house when no one is home, so be it."
Small footsteps were heard across the kitchen floor before a shocked voice called out, "Aunty Kathryn! You said bad words!"
The woman momentarily turned to the boy, taking slight pressure off of Emma's spine. "Henry, baby, you need to go to the other room right now. Do you hear me?"
As the boy responded, Emma took the opportunity to scurry away from the blonde and into the corner.
"Oh, no you don't-" the other woman started rushing towards the thief, but was cut off by a shout of glee from behind her.
"EMMA!"
"Emma?" The blonde stranger's eyes widened in horror. "Like Emma Emma?"
Suddenly another voice joined the group, "What in the hell is going on in my- Oh, my god, Emma!"
Regina rushed to the woman who was huddled in the corner, both arms raised to protect her head before anything else. She saw the blonde trembling in the corner, bruises starting to mar her pale skin and drops of blood on her shirt.
"Fucking Christ, Kathryn!" she said, her voice dripping with venom, but not raised any. She didn't want to scare the blonde any more than she was already. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"I'm so sorry, Regina," the woman held up her hands in defense. "I thought it was a burglar or murderer or something. I didn't want her getting out to Henry and Mom, so I did what I could to keep her in here."
"It never once occurred to you that my girlfriend that I was supposed to go on a date with last night would be in my house?" Regina sighed. She knew her sister meant well, but Jesus, she never put two and two together before acting. "Just take Henry to the other room and keep Mother out of here, please."
Not waiting to see if Kathryn would heed her commands, the brunette turned back to Emma. The girl had yet to peer out from behind her arms, and she was shaking just as forcefully as before. She had started mumbling something, and Regina had to lean closer to hear.
"No. Please no. Not again."
"Emma?" Regina moved closer, reaching out a hand. As soon as it skimmed the woman's arm, she shrunk back as if burned.
"No. Please. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. No," the blonde pleaded, and in that moment, Regina finally saw part of Emma's past. A small, scared girl hiding in the corner.
"Emma it's me," the brunette reassured. "It's me. It's Regina. It's Reggie. Come back to me," she pleaded. "Just come back. It's me."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Emma quietly sobbed. "No more. Please."
It took all of Regina's control not to break out in her own tears as she whispered to the girl, "Emma, honey, it's me. Everything is okay. You're safe. I promise you're safe."
Regina sat as close to the blonde as she could without touching her. She didn't want to frighten the blonde. She couldn't stand watching her retreat again. Regina whispered the same reassurances from her spot, not sure what else she could say. Finally, she heard a new whimper escape the woman.
"Reggie?" the name sounded broken and beautiful on the blonde's lips.
"I'm here, Emma," Regina responded. "I'm here and you're safe."
Emma's arms slowly fell away from her face as her terror-filled eyes scanned Regina and the room around them, making sure she wasn't lying. When she was finally sure of her surroundings, Emma sighed and leaned into the brunette, trying to stop her body from shaking with sobs.
Regina wrapped her arms around the blonde and leaned back into the counter. Her fingers slid into the long blonde locks and worked through them slowly, making sure not to pull.
"You're okay, Emma," the woman reassured. "You're safe with me."
Once her breathing leveled out, Emma looked into Regina's eyes, "I'm sorry."
The professor's soft, dulcet chuckle filled the air around them, but the look in her eyes told Emma it was anything but menacing. "Sorry for what, Emma?"
"I'm sorry I'm not as strong as I should be. You deserve better."
Emma's words only made Regina squeeze her tighter, "Better than what? I don't need you to be strong all the time, Emma. I'm plenty strong myself, if you haven't noticed," the brunette chuckled under her breath. "I just need you to be human and to love me. Can you manage that?" When she felt the blonde nod into her chest Regina softly hummed out, "You know I love you right?"
"I know."
"I'm really sorry my sister beat the living hell out of you, but welcome to the family."
Emma pulled back to look into mocha eyes. "Did you just make a joke? Because it was really funny."
"I attempted one, yes," Regina conceded.
"Can I laugh?"
"You're the only one in control of your actions, Emma. Laugh if you choose, cry if you choose. Just know it's your choice," Regina pulled the blonde's face to her own, connecting their lips in a light kiss that Emma gratefully returned.
"I love you, Regina," the seriousness of the blonde's voice was new to Regina. Before last night, there had been nothing but sarcasm and fun between the two women. Even so, Regina smiled hearing the conviction in her girlfriend's voice.
"And I love you, Emma," another small kiss landed on the blonde's lips before Regina wrapped her back up in her arms.
Minutes passed as the two women sat on the floor, neither one daring to move. The moment, though born out of fear and hurt, was a beautiful one between the two of them, and neither wanted to ruin it. Finally, Emma broke the silence.
"Reggie?" she asked, voice still trembling.
"Yes, mi amor?" Regina smiled through her response, loving that she finally had someone to call that. The smile quickly faded, though, as she heard the sharp intake of breath from the woman in her arms, and the tone of trepidation that lined her next words.
"I know you said no trips to the hospital, but when your sister scared me I may or may not have dropped the waffle iron on my foot."
"Did you break the iron?" Regina's eyes widened to epic proportions. "Because waffles are one of Henry's top favorite breakfast foods."
Emma turned in the brunette's arms to look at the damage, but snuggled her back into Regina's chest, not wanting to lose contact. When she saw the iron, there was no doubt it was broken. The pieces were shattered and sprawled across the kitchen floor. Turning back around, the blonde gave her best please-don't-kill-me smile.
"I think the thing has seen better days, but I was really referring to my foot when I mentioned the hospital."
"I know, dear," the brunette answered, starting to laugh. "And I'm not worried about the waffles. We haven't had any in months, honestly."
"You're evil," Emma accused with a smile and a kiss.
"They don't call me the evil queen for nothing," a wink was delivered with another kiss before Regina slid her body from under the blonde's and stood up. She reached a dark hand down to connect with a paler one before pulling Emma to her feet. "Vienes, mi amor. We shall nab Henry and get you to the hospital before this swells up any more than it already has."
Emma slipped her arm over Regina's shoulder and tried not to put too much weight on her as they hobbled around to the exit of the room.
"Wait," Emma paused their journey as they crossed through the door frame. "I want you to know that you're right. What you said before."
"What?"
"You're right, Regina," Emma repeated looking straight into her eyes. "I'm safe with you."
A little voice interrupted the couple as a small child came running towards them, "Momma! Emma!"
"Slow down, baby," Regina warned before he crashed into the pair at breakneck speed.
Emma visibly flinched at the hit, but kept down any other sign of pain as she put enough pressure on her foot to bed down and hug the kid.
"Hey, bud!" she greeted. "What do you say about an adventure with me and momma today?"
"Really?" he questioned with wide eyes.
"Really! Go put on your shoes and we'll leave soon, okay?" even through all the pain, Emma forced herself to sound excited for the kid's sake. Regina's heart swelled in her chest as she took in the scene, before deflating at the sight of her sister standing next to her mother.
"I'm really sorry," Kathryn spit out the second Henry ran to his room for a pair of shoes. "I thought you-"
Emma cut the woman off with a smile, "It's really okay, Kathryn. I understand that you were just protecting Reggie and Henry. I'd do the same if I caught someone in here. I do, however, want to know what self-defense classes you've been taking so I can sign up myself. Damn, woman."
The adults shared a laugh as Henry made his way back down the stairs and held his hands up to Emma. Unsure whether she could balance her weight enough to hold him securely, she figured she'd at least try and bent down to pick up the young boy.
"Emma, you really don't have to do that if you can take it," Regina warned. "I promise Henry will understand."
"I'm fine, Reggie," the blonde reassured with a smile and a light peck on the lips. "I'm just going to take him to the car and strap him in real quick. Then we'll be ready."
Regina stood with her mother and sister as she watched Emma hobble through the front door. It was obvious she was in pain, but she wouldn't show it to Henry. Once they were gone, Kathryn whipped around to face Regina.
"So, Reggie, tell me more about your sleepover with Emma," the smirk Kathryn wore was nothing but devious and the glint in her eyes spoke volumes.
"You need to get a life, Kathryn, and you can start by cleaning up the mess you made in my kitchen," one eyebrow quirked at the command. "Then I expect you to go buy a new waffle iron for the one that was broken this morning. It'd be nice if it were the same, but it's also fine if that isn't the case. And, though I love you both dearly," Regina said sincerely, looking between her mother and sister, "I want you out of my house before I get home from the hospital. I just want a quiet day with my son and hopefully my girlfriend, too."
The brunette turned to the front door and took two strides before turning around and hugging both women. "I truly do love you both. Just try not to cause any more trouble for awhile, okay?"
Once Regina made it out to the car, Emma and Henry were both buckled in, singing along to Henry's new Kindermusic CD. Regina smiled at the two before reversing out of the driveway and heading in the direction of the hospital.
The drive quieted down as soon as Henry fell asleep, and Regina could tell Emma had something to say by the way the blonde squeezed the hand she was holding every few seconds.
"A penny for your thoughts, amor?" Regina questioned after one of the squeezes, making sure she squeezed back this time.
Emma sighed, " I was thinking it was about time we talked about my past. I mean, after this morning, you can see something about me is wrong, it's only fair you know about it. And I trust you."
Regina pulled off onto the side of the road and put the car in park. She grabbed both of the blonde's hands and turned towards the woman.
"Nothing, and I mean nothing, about you is wrong, Emma. Your past may have had wrong things in it, but that doesn't define you. What you do now, in the present, does. My father used to say the present is a funny thing. It only ever lasts a split second but you're in it a lifetime. It's your choice who you are in every moment. It has little to do with the past or future, but it always comes back to what's happening in the present. Your present is the woman I love, and if she wants to tell me about the past, I'll listen. Do you understand?"
The blonde nodded her head as her eyes filled with tears.
"Good. Now, we really need to get you to the hospital because I'm sure you're in pain." The blonde nodded once again. "That's what I thought. Kiss me before we go again."
Emma had never been one to follow commands in the past, but now, in the present, she was more than happy to comply.