"You don't need to defend my honor," Regina protested. "I can-"
"I told you. I wanted to."
"But why, Emma? I'm a grown woman, and I-"
"Because I care about you, okay?" the blonde snapped. "Jesus."
Regina's eyes went wide as she stared at the girl, but she finally managed to reply, "I care about you too."
"Don't say that," Emma muttered.
"Why not?"
"Because that's ridiculous."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know me."
"After all the time we've spent together, you don't think I know you at all?"
"Well, I… I mean… I guess you-"
"Unless you're a completely different person when you're not around me, I'd like to think I know a little something about you."
"I am."
"What?"
"I am a completely different person when I'm not around you."
"How?"
"I'm childish. I'm defiant. I'm lazy. I'm a hood rat."
"You're not a hood rat," Regina snapped. "And you're definitely not lazy. You just don't do school. But you certainly are childish and defiant." When Emma laughed, the brunette grinned and added, "Not to mention a complete and total instigating, teasing, snotty little potty-mouth."
"At least I'm not a Barbie," Emma shot back with a grin.
"At least I'm not a little punk who breaks into houses just for fun."
"It's not just for fun. I turn a profit."
Regina had to laugh at this, but she shook her head as she did and looked down at her lap to try to hide her smile.
"You love it," Emma teased, lifting the girl's chin until their eyes met.
When she realized what she'd done, and that she was being flirtatious, Emma blushed and immediately dropped her hand to her side.
"Sorry," she muttered, then immediately regretted the apology.
She should have played it off like it was nothing and kept her mouth shut, but no. She had to draw attention to what she'd done. Her blush didn't waver.
"It's… It's fine," Regina told her, blushing as well as she continued to feel the ghost of Emma's fingertips on her jaw.
"Anway," Emma said with a cough. "I should get going."
"My parents will be home soon. You should stay for dinner."
"Regina, you can't feed me every night I work."
"Sure I can."
The blonde chucked, "Regina," then shook her head, her blonde locks falling in her face.
Without really thinking about it, Regina reached out and tucked the few loose strands behind her ears.
"Stay."
Biting her lip as she saw the sincerity in the girl's dark eyes, Emma nodded her head and said, "Alright."
After dinner, the girl's parents announced that they had to be up early the next morning for a meeting and that they were turning in early, so the girls decided to grab a few books from Regina's room before setting up downstairs, not wanting to disturb them while they slept.
"Hang out for a bit?" Regina asked, handing Emma a copy of Fight Club.
Emma took it reluctantly, stared down at its cover, and hesitated without replying to the request.
"Please," Regina pressed. "Seeing him really freaked me out, and I'm…"
Lifting her eyes, the blonde offered a small smile and agreed, "Alright. You just wanna read? Or do you wanna talk about it?"
"I… I don't want to talk about it… It just makes me feel sick."
"I understand."
So the two each got comfortable on one end of the couch, opening their books to where they'd left off. After a while, Emma looked up to find Regina engrossed in the pages and smiled to herself. It was beautiful to see the girl so calm. It made her nervous to recognize this, but she couldn't help but notice. Once she'd realized that she was staring, Emma shook herself from her trance and gently pushed the pads of her feet against the tops of Regina's. When the girl looked up, the blonde was grinning.
"Hi," Emma said.
"Hi," Regina laughed. "You getting bored?"
"A little. I don't have a great attention span."
"I noticed."
"Wanna make a snack?"
"You're hungry again already?" the brunette chuckled.
"Kinda. I was thinking something sweet. Got any ice cream? I think that'll probably cheer you up."
"Well… Frozen yogurt."
"That'll work."
Regina got up to retrieve the treat and left the living room.
When she returned with only one bowl, Emma looked confused and asked, "What about you?"
"I really shouldn't have more sweets. Like I said, I'm gonna get cavities if I'm not careful."
Emma laughed at this and took the bowl of frozen yogurt when it was handed to her. Regina sat down beside her and watched as the girl enjoyed the treat. After a few bites, the blonde turned to her and lifted her spoon up to Regina's lips.
"One bite," she encouraged the girl. "It's good."
"Emma, I-"
But the gardener had already positioned the spoon in front of her lips, and with a blush, she opened her mouth and allowed Emma to put a bite of the frozen snack past her lips. When she closed her mouth around the spoon, it was Emma's turn to blush, enticed by the sight. Regina closed her eyes and let out a soft moan, which didn't exactly help the blonde's hormones to relax.
"So good," the girl groaned.
"Want another bite?"
When Regina looked hesitant but interested, Emma grinned and lifted another spoonful to her lips. The brunette welcomed it, and her companion continued to stare. There was something sensual about the way the girl removed the frozen treat from the spoon, and it gave Emma goose bumps. The third bite left chocolate residue on Regina's bottom lip, and poor, tortured Emma found herself unable to stop looking at it. Before she could stop herself, she was imagining her tongue passing over the small mess to clean it. She dropped her spoon into the bowl and finally tore her eyes away.
"What?" Regina asked anxiously.
"N-Nothing," Emma said quickly, lifting her head. "I… You've… got…"
"Ahh! Where?!"
"Your lip… It's…"
Regina licked her top lip slowly, and her companion's heart stopped. Oh, fuck, she was thinking. God, that's hot.
When she realized that the girl hadn't removed the chocolate, though, Emma blurted, "You, uh… You missed it."
"Well, get it," the brunette whined.
Looking shocked, Emma's eyes widened as she stammered, "I… Um…"
When Regina looked serious, though, her face full of embarrassed concern, the blonde reached out and slowly wiped away the chocolate with her thumb, her fingertips once again brushing the girl's jawline.
"Thanks," Regina said, blushing as a tingle ran down her spin, causing her to shiver.
Emma noticed and asked, "You cold?"
If possible, the brunette turned even redder as she shook her head, quickly replying, "No. I'm good."
There was a long moment of silence before either of them spoke again as they both avoided each other's gaze.
Finally, the blonde said, "So, uh… I should probably go… It's getting late, and my parents-"
"Send them a text and tell them you're staying late," Regina offered. "Let's go upstairs and chill."
"But I-"
"C'mon, Em. Don't be a party-pooper. We were relaxing. It's good just to have you here."
It's good just to have you here, Emma repeated silently, her head spinning. Seriously? She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts that followed, then pulled out her phone to send her parents the text. Once they'd messaged back that this was fine – they loved Regina enough to let Emma stay out part curfew – Emma nodded her head.
"Okay. I'll stay for a bit longer."
Regina smiled triumphantly, grabbed the empty bowl, and brought it into the kitchen. When she returned to the living room, she tugged Emma off the couch and pulled her up the stairs all the way to her bedroom where she sat down on the bed with her book. Emma joined her, and the two read quietly for another hour before Emma looked up from the pages.
"I gotta go, Gina."
The girl sighed and looked out the window into the darkness of the night. Emma was right. It was well past midnight.
When the blonde noticed how melancholy the girl looked, though, she asked, "What's the matter, doll? Why the long face?"
"I don't want you to go, and I'm scared to sleep."
"Hey… Regina…"
"Well, I'm not scared to sleep. I'm scared to dream."
Emma nodded her head and put her hand on the girl's bare thigh. The softness of her skin sent a shock through her palm, all the way down to her ankles.
"It's alright, hun. They're just dreams. They end, and you'll wake up and be okay."
"I know, but while I'm in them…"
Again, Emma nodded her understanding. She knew all too well what it was like to have reoccurring nightmares.
"I'm sorry, Regina. I wish I could help."
"You do help, Emma," the brunette sighed. "You being around me helps keep me calm."
"I thought I made your blood boil," the girl teased.
Regina returned her playful smile and answered, "You do. But that's only sometimes."
"I have an idea," Emma said suddenly, standing up. "Get up."
Looking confused, Regina stood up, then looked shocked as Emma tore the sheets and comforter from her bed. Working quickly, she weighed down the corners of the comforter on the edge of the bed with a small pile of books, then draped it until the other corner reached the girl's desk. There, she put another stack of books to hold it up. Once the sheets and an extra blanket were spread over the floor, the brunette watched, eyes wide, as Emma then grabbed all of the pillows and crawled beneath the makeshift canopy, propping several of them all around the perimeter of the fort.
After that, she stumbled out from underneath and grabbed the small nightlight off Regina's desk and brought it into the homemade tent. Once she'd crawled back out one more time to shut off the room's overhead light, she grabbed her companion's hand and dragged her under the canopy until they were both laying on the floor on top of the sheets.
"What the hell?" Regina finally laughed, looking around the dimly lit tent.
"It's a blanket fort, duh."
"Yeah, but why would anyone want to sleep on the floor?"
"Oh, don't be such a spoil-sport. It's fun! Pretend-camping is the best."
"We don't even have s'mores," the brunette joked.
Emma smiled at her and said, "But we have books."
"That we do."
The blonde handed over Regina's book, then watched as the girl yawned before opening its pages.
"Sleepy?" she asked with a smirk.
Regina shook her head, saying, "Nuh-uh," but Emma knew better. It was obvious that the girl was falling asleep, so she said, "Just try passing out in here. It's relaxing, and it'll make you feel safe. It's like a cocoon."
After looking around again, Regina nodded slowly and replied, "Yeah, I guess you're right. It is pretty cozy."
With a nod in reply, Emma leaned back against the pillows and folded her hands behind her head, looking triumphant.
Sitting back beside her, probably a little closer than was necessary, Regina shut her eyes and sighed softly. After a while of silence, Emma looked over at her and watched as her breathing slowed. Once she was sure that the girl had fallen asleep, Emma made a move to get up, knowing that she had to be home soon, but just as she sat up, Regina muttered something in her sleep, and her head dropped to the blonde's shoulder.
Oh, fuck, Emma sighed to herself. I'm in so much shit right now.
But she couldn't bring herself to pull away. Regina's soft snoring kept her frozen in place. It was only when Regina slumped down, her head finally falling to the pillow, that Emma was able to wiggle away and gather her things. She was reluctant to leave, but knowing that her parents would probably skin her alive if she broke her already extended curfew, she was forced to head home.
Around three in the morning, she got a text from Regina that woke her from an uneasy sleep.
'Did you have to go?'
The blonde sighed and texted back, 'Yeah. Parents woulda killed me.'
'Why are you awake?'
'Your text woke me haha.'
'Oh, my Gosh! I'm so sorry, Emma. I didn't mean to wake you! :('
'It's fine, love. How's the fort?'
'The fort's a little less safe without my knight to reinforce it and defend my honor.'
Emma's face went white. What the hell? she was thinking. She's definitely flirting with me. Her knight?
She wasn't sure how to respond, but she managed, 'I'm sorry. I'm a shitty member of the round table, I guess.'
'No, Em. You're perfect. A valiant knight, to say the least. Worthy of all the glory of the Holy Grail.'
Oh, God. Oh, God. She's flirting with me. She's flirting with me!
'Oh, I don't think so. But your honor is worth defending, m'lady.' When a few minutes had passed without a reply, Emma added, 'Get some sleep, buddy. I'm working all day tomorrow, but I'll text you.'
'Stay the night tomorrow night? I'll leave the fort up. We can eat popcorn and read and stuff.'
'I'll ask Mom and Dad.'
'Sweet dreams.'
'Sweet dreams, m'lady.'
But something in her stomach turned as she thought of the way Regina had leaned against her while she slept, and it kept her awake for most of the night. Eventually, though, she did fall asleep.
As promised, she texted Regina throughout the following day, until she was finally out of work around nine-thirty that evening. She went straight to Regina's house, having already packed a bag after her parents had approved the sleepover.
Regina had told her not to knock, given the time of night she would be showing up, so Emma let herself into the large residence and slipped quietly inside. When she didn't find Regina in the living room, she made her way up the stairs, being careful not to step on the one creaky stair near the top. When she opened the door to the girl's bedroom, the brunette lept off the bed and threw her arms around her.
"Emma!" she cried happily, burying her face in the blonde's neck. "I'm so glad you came."
"I said I would, didn't I?" Emma asked lightly, trying to hide her surprise at the enthusiastic embrace.
"You did," Regina said with a grin. "And just like a white knight, you were true to your word."
"Always will be."
The two shared a smile before Regina tugged her into their tent once more, then pushed her own book into Emma's hands.
"Huh?" the girl asked, looking down and noticing that the book cover read The Catcher in the Rye.
"You should read to me."
"What?"
"I'm tired already, but my brain is too frazzled to relax."
"I… I stutter when I read out loud."
"I don't care," Regina told her. "Just read?"
Without waiting for her reply, the brunette leaned back against the pillows and shut her eyes. She knows me too well, Emma was thinking. She knows I can't say no to her. So the blonde began to read, starting where the girl's pink bookmark was placed between the pages. After a few pages, she looked over at the girl beside her and listened for her breathing. It was slow and heavy.
"You awake?" she whispered.
Regina nodded her head, a smile spreading over her lips as she replied, "Mhmm. Keep reading."
"What am I, your nanny?" Emma joked.
The girl's eyes shot open.
"No. But you're not really stuttering, so you should keep going."
"But I-"
"It makes me feel better."
Emma couldn't argue with this, so she nodded her head and picked up where she left off, a lump rising to her throat. Every now and then, she glanced over at Regina to make sure she was still awake.
When the blonde trailed off, Regina muttered, "C'mere a minute."
Slightly confused by the request, Emma scooted a little closer and continued to look down at the brunette.
She shook her head, opened her eyes, and tugged on Emma's arm until the girl was leaning in right next to her. Regina sat up slightly, then looked into the blonde's anxious, piercing green eyes.
"I'm not comfortable."
Raising an eyebrow, Emma just said, "Um…" and continued to stare.
Rolling her eyes as she realized that the girl was incapable of taking a hint, Regina lifted Emma's arm and draped it around her own shoulders, then leaned back against it, allowing her head to fall against the blonde the same way it had the night before. This time, though, it was intentional. As Regina let out a quiet, contented sigh, butterflies erupted in Emma's stomach.
When Regina's companion was silent, she muttered, "What?" and nudged the girl's shoulder.
Emma opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"What?" Regina repeated, keeping her eyes closed.
"N-Nothing," Emma lied. When she realized that she hadn't been telling the whole truth, she started, "I…"
"Come here," the brunette whispered, finally opening her eyes as she pulled the girl closer.
Emma blushed as their faces grew closer together and Regina stated, "You're nervous."
"W-What?" the blonde stuttered dumbly as she fell deeply into Regina's chocolate eyes.
"I said, 'You're nervous.'" When the girl looked horrified and didn't reply, she added, "Are you not?"
"I…"
"Okay. Tell me why then. We've shared a bed several times. You've left your hand on my hip half the night and fallen asleep with your head on my shoulder. I've done the same. What's different?"
Shit! Emma silently cursed. I thought she was asleep for that! But obviously, she hadn't been. But then… if she'd known… she hadn't moved her hand… Emma blushed at the realization, and Regina picked up on it instantly.
"I don't understand you, Emma Swan," she said slowly. "Half the time, you're a cocky, flirtatious tool. The other half, you're this shy, reserved girl who won't tell me how she feels."
How I feel? Fuck! What is she doing to me?
The blonde's palms began to sweat, and she squirmed uncomfortably, but was unable to actually move, given that Regina was still pressed into her side.
"I don't want you to be scared to tell me things," Regina explained. "I hate that you keep so much to yourself. It makes me feel ridiculous about my own emotions."
'My own emotions.' Emma replayed the words in her mind. What emotions? What is she talking about? She started to panic. Surely, she didn't mean…
"I…" the girl managed. "I didn't mean to make you feel… I…"
With a sigh, Regina reached out, cupped Emma's cheek, and whispered once again, "Come here."
When the girl made no move to do so, the brunette's hand slipped behind her neck and pulled her in until their lips were hovering close together. As Emma froze, Regina took the girl's hand, squeezed it gently, then sat up just enough to press their lips together in a slow-burning kiss.
Emma's heart stopped, but thankfully, it didn't keep her lips from moving in time with Regina's. Purely out of nervous impulse, the blonde squeezed her companion's hand tightly as heat flooded her cheeks.
What the hell is this? Emma was thinking as she continued the kiss, completely shocked by Regina's boldness. What is she doing?
When Regina finally broke the seal of their lips, she sighed and looked back into Emma's eyes, which were flashing with anxiety.
"Was it that bad?" the brunette asked sadly, dropping her hand to her side.
"N-No!" Emma quickly sputtered. "No! I…"
"It's okay," Regina told her, pulling away and pushing Emma's arm down. "I get it."
"Wait. Regina…"
"No, it's cool. I just thought… The way you were looking at me… I thought…"
"What?"
"When you were feeding me that frozen yogurt…" the brunette tried to clarify. "I thought… You looked like you wanted to kiss me. I'm sorry. I read it wrong, and I apologize. That was silly of me. I know you said we were different and that our lives would never-"
"No," her companion cut her off sharply. "I was wrong about that. Our lives might not be the same, but that doesn't mean they could never overlap."
"But you said…"
"I know what I said. I was wrong, okay? I'm sorry. You're not who I thought you would be. Not at all. You're a wonderful girl, with an amazing personality, who is incredibly smart. I admire you for that."
"But… you don't…"
"Yes, I do," Emma assured her, finally gathering the bravery to reach up and cup the girl's face. "I do."
"What?"
"Oh, shut up, Barbie," Emma grinned, kissing her firmly on the mouth. When Regina pulled away after a few moments of passion, looking confused and full of disbelief, Emma added, "There's no way I could resist your charms, Regina Mills. No way in Hell."