Why 5
Emma was surprised that Regina planned on letting young Henry ride his own horse, but saw he was quite comfortable up there once Regina helped him into the saddle. Apparently the queen had been taking the lad riding every day since she had met him in the throne room. One more surprising act of kindness from the queen Emma was told was evil.
They found themselves relaxing in a grassy field after a few lazy hours of riding. Emma was smiling like a goon, listening to Regina tell Henry an exciting Fairytale story. She watched as the boy's face contorted with concern, joy and excitement as Regina animatedly wove the story.
"And so the Prince held his shield up high, shielding himself from the scorching fire of the dragon. And just as the dragon sucked in another deep breath, the prince THREW his sword toward the dragon, watching as it tumbled, tumbled through the air and PIERCED the dragons heart!" Regina tickled Henry as she told of the dragon's fate, causing a fury of giggles from both him and Emma. "And so, the prince saved the princess from the curse and the dragon, and they lived happily ever after!"
Henry and Emma clapped furiously as Regina from her sitting position gave a quick bow.
"That was a good one! I'm gonna go find a sword, just like Prince Phillip!" Henry scooted up and ran to the tree line in search of the perfect stick sword.
The two women watched him go, smiling. Emma was propped up on her elbow, Regina with her legs up, arms wrapped around her knees.
Emma looked over at her, admiring how lovingly Regina was looking at the young boy. "You're good with him," she offered.
Regina blushed and glanced at her. "Well, it's easy with such a wonderful child as him."
Emma nodded. "Yeah, he's a good kid."
Regina thought for a moment before looking at Emma curiously. "So, how did you know his name was Henry?"
Emma froze and felt her face turn white. "What?"
"In the stables. You called him Henry before I even introduced you."
Emma swallowed and looked shyly at the queen. "Oh, well, I ah-may have been in the throne room that day he came in to be sentenced."
"Ah huh," Regina narrowed her eyes. "Sneaking in to official government business, aye, Captain?"
Emma blushed. "Well, I wanted to see the Evil Queen in action."
Regina nodded, suddenly understanding. "And?"
Emma looked down as she plucked handfuls of grass in nervousness. She nodded and pursed her lips, looking back at the queen. "Not what I expected."
Regina smiled and nodded. "My, my. Am I wrong or does it seem your opinion of me is changing?"
Emma raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself." She suddenly got curious about something. "Why do you care? Why do you care what I think about you?"
Regina locked eyes and breathed out. "Honestly? I don't know."
Emma blushed and looked down, plucking more grass. "There's one thing I have to ask, though."
Reina suddenly felt nervous. "Okay. Shoot."
"If I'm to believe your story...about your mother and all-you said that she wanted to kill Snow White because you weren't able to get any power...because you weren't having any affect on King Leopold." She paused and let Regina nod. "But-from what I've seen so far, you are anything but the spineless 'yes-woman' you described. You seem to do and say anything you want, and pretty much run this kingdom yourself. That doesn't make any sense to me."
Regina nodded, and turned her body so she was fully facing the captain. "Cora...had me under her thumb. She had me so convinced that in order for me to have any success and happiness in my life I had to bend to her will. I was so afraid to disappoint her, I completely lost sight of myself to please her. Realizing she planned to kill Snow finally snapped me back to reality. How far was I willing to go to please her?" Regina shook her head. "Not that far. When Cora died, it was like...feeling the sun on my face after a long winter. I could finally spread my wings and be Regina for once. Of course, I still had to be queen, and stuck in a loveless marriage. But I decided to use my fate for the betterment of the kingdom. I began to stand up to Leopold and the terrible decisions he was making. He's just as spineless with me as he is with his daughter. It didn't take long for him to realize he should just let me have my way. And once he saw the difference I was making, he finally just stopped questioning me."
Emma furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. "If what you say is true, why has Snow...said such lies about you? What did she have to gain?"
Regina scoffed. "Remember that power I was talking about with Cora? Same thing. But Snow was also fighting for Daddy's reign. She saw how Leopold let me take control of the kingdom and she burned with jealousy. I fought tooth and nail when Snow demanded reign of the White Kingdom, but what daughter wanted, daughter got. She wants both kingdoms. She's power hungry. It's only been five years and she's already run that land into the ground. I won't let her do that to my people as well." Regina sighed and looked down. "I don't know what lengths she will go to to gain power. Every time she visits the castle I double my guards."
Emma's eyes widened. "You think she'll hurt you? Kill you?!"
Regina stared into Emma's eyes. "Without batting an eye."
Emma sighed out deeply and shook her head, looking back down to the pile of grass she had pulled. "That's not the Snow I know."
Regina nodded silently. "I know. You've seen some things in my kingdom that have perhaps not been what you expected. When you return to the White Kingdom...well, maybe your eyes will be a little more open."
Emma swallowed, trying to process this information that most definitely could change her life. If this were true, did Emma want to protect a queen that would allow her people to live in squalor and suffering? For a queen that would resort to assassination and murder just for the sake of power? The answer was a resounding no. There was no doubt that Queen Regina wasn't the person Queen Snow had made her out to be. But she still didn't buy the foul portrait being painted of the queen she had so loyally served for years.
Emma's thoughts were brought back to the present as she heard a thundering yell as a certain brown haired boy threw himself at her, sending them both rolling to the ground laughing. "Emma, will you teach me to sword fight?! Please?!"
Emma laughed at the excited pleading and pulled them both upright. "Of course. Lets go find me a sword, Sir Henry!"
Regina couldn't help but smile as she watched the captain teach Henry the proper stance and basics of sword play. She let out a boisterous laugh as Emma let Henry playfully stab her in the stomach, falling to the ground in a dramatic, exaggerated death scene. Regina sighed and noticed the warm feeling in her heart. Was it possible? Was she happy?
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Emma finally was able to make progress with the soldiers, although Robin was still reluctant. He participated half heartily, and continued to have an attitude with her. She mostly let it go, knowing when to pick her battles. She became fast friends with Granny and her grand daughter Ruby, who also worked in the castle kitchen. Emma had gone on several more rides with Regina and Henry, and quickly found herself enjoying the queen's company more than she cared to admit to. She had a burning in her belly and an almost dizzy head at many times, especially when they found themselves alone. She felt she could get lost into those chocolate eyes, and on more than one occasion had to force herself to look away. She couldn't afford to let herself fall for this woman. This queen. This bitter enemy of her kingdom. As the days went by, she was starting to realize she didn't have much of a choice in the matter.
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Emma was lounging on the balcony attached to her quarters, lazily sipping a mug of port. It was late in the night, and Emma was enjoying the view of the moonlight splaying across the garden courtyard below. A flash of darkness below caught her attention. She looked closer to see a hooded figure weaving it's way under the fruit trees. Emma squinted and followed as the figure moved toward the back entrance of the garden, cloak flowing behind them. The person paused to look behind them, ensuring they had gone unseen. Emma caught the features of Queen Regina, just as she slipped out the back and into the night.
Emma realized this must be one of the nights the queen ventured into the kingdom, doing whatever it was she did, just like the night Emma had met her for the first time. Suddenly Emma felt sick to her stomach. Was the queen going out to seek companionship? Emma felt a rush of jealousy at the thought, and even a bit of anger. Emma tried to swallow down the dark feelings inside her but it was no use. Emma slammed down her mug and headed for the door.
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Regina slipped into the corner booth with her mug, hood still pulled up over her head. She glanced around and noticed the pub was exceptionally busy tonight, and a very rowdy group of men already appeared two sheets to the wind. She shook her head and laughed at how silly men were when intoxicated and took a healthy swig of ale. Just as she put her mug down, she was startled to find someone slipping into the booth across from her.
"You know, if you were MY queen I wouldn't let you wander out to seedy pubs alone at all hours on the night."
Regina smiled into the mocking eyes of Captain Swan. "Well, YOUR queen has a much better chance of being murdered by her own people than I do."
Emma scoffed and shook her head before looking more serious. "I'm serious, your-" Emma realized she was talking too loudly and lowered her voice. "-your highness, it's too dangerous for you to keep wandering out alone. Royals are targets for all sorts of reasons, even you."
Regina's eyes shined back at the concerned captain. Regina knew Emma had been perched up on her balcony, and had hoped to be followed. "Well, it's a good thing I have a certain Captain following me around then, isn't it?"
Emma leaned back in her chair, shaking her head. "You think you're invincible don't you? Do you really think it's worth risking your life just to come out here and...release some tension?!" Emma spat the last part of the sentence out.
Regina raised her eyebrow and leaned forward. "My, my, Captain. If I didn't know any better I'd say you sounded almost jealous!"
Neither woman noticed the roaring of the drunk men getting louder. Emma bit down a smile and shook her head. "I'm not jealous, it's just-part of my job description is keeping the queen safe, I guess it's not something I can ignore, even here."
"I see," Regina let the words slide off her tongue as she raised her mug and took another swig. She maintained eye contact, noticing the blonde swallow and lick her lips. The electricity was undeniable, and both women felt it.
Emma leaned forward, placing he forearms on the table. "You may be Queen Snow's bitter enemy, but not mine. Not any more." She saw Regina's breath hitch. "I'd hate to see anything bad happen to you."
Regina felt her eyes flutter, her stomach doing back flips at the sweetness and sincerity of the captain's words. Before Regina could respond, she heard a bottle shatter and a brawl break out with a shout. Suddenly a man was thrown into their booth, landing half on top of Regina.
Emma was so surprised at the sudden intrusion, she froze for a moment. She didn't have time to react as a bottle came down on top of the man in Regina's lap, smashing into pieces. Emma saw a stream of blood coming from Regina's face and she sprang from her seat. She grabbed the now unconscious man and pulled him off Regina, pulling the queen to her feet. She grabbed Regina by the hand and yanked her toward the door. The sea of men were flying everywhere, punches flying and bottles breaking. Emma cleared the way with kicks and pushes, finally busting through the door onto the porch. She pulled Regina through ahead of her and felt a hard shove into her back. She fell forward, pinning Regina to the pillar out front.
Regina let out an oof as Emma's body crashed into hers, bringing their faces inches apart. Regina felt the arousal stir down to her core, eyes meeting green orbs on surprise.
Emma noticed how close their lips were to touching, and felt her grip on Regina tighten slightly. Finally she pulled her eyes from the queen's and reached up to trace her face where a tiny line of blood trailed. "Are you alright?" She husked.
Regina could say nothing just nod. They stayed that way for another moment until the brawl burst out the door and towards the two women.
Emma grabbed Regina's hand and pulled her off the deck. "Lets go." She pulled Regina through the forest quickly and toward the castle. The two moved swiftly and silently, until finally Emma led Regina to the infirmary.
"Captain, I ensure you I am fine!" Reina protested as Emma pushed her onto the very stool she had sat on not too long ago.
Emma ignored her as she gathered up some cotton and medicines. She put them on the table and pulled up a stool of her own, positioning her body between Regina's thighs. She swallowed as she noticed their compromising position, but tried to ignore the fact that her body was screaming with desire. She dipped the cotton in water and finally looked up to Regina's face.
Regina let the hood fall off her head, seeing as the captain reached up to survey the damage. "It's just a scratch," Regina's voice broke.
Emma ignored her again as she gently cleaned the blood away, holding loosely onto her chin. She tried desperately to not get sucked into the brunette's gaze as she brushed the blood away. She dipped the cotton again and dared a look into chocolate eyes, a mischievous smirk meeting her lips.
Regina saw the crooked smile and suddenly caught on. "Don't you dare," she said through her own turned up lips.
Emma raised an eyebrow before pressing the cotton ball onto the tiny scratch, illiciting a sharp hiss from the queen.
Regina reached up and grabbed the captain's wrist, pulling it down to rest on her thigh. She didn't let the wrist go as their smiling eyes met each other. The pain was brief and minimal, but Regina was amused how the captain wasn't shy about getting her revenge.
Emma was quite pleased with herself, but as she saw the grinning face of the queen inches from her own, her heart flittered. Their breaths became short, and as Emma felt the queen's hand come around her waist, she let herself fall into her welcoming lips.
Their lips met softly and tentatively, slowing losing themselves in the moment. When Emma felt the grip at her side tighten, Emma parted her mouth and took in the queen's bottom lip, sighing a bit at how good it felt to finally taste this gorgeous woman. Regina inadvertently squeezed her legs together, trapping the captain's body in the triangle of her legs. When she heard Emma moan at this she reached up to hold her cheek, opening up to deepen the kiss.
Once Emma heard the queen moan as their tongues met, she knew she had made a huge mistake. Now that she knew what it was like to kiss the queen, she would never want to stop. This wasn't her queen. This woman was married. Emma would be leaving soon. She furrowed her eyebrows as the thoughts paraded through her head, at the same time her tongue battling relentlessly with the queen's. Suddenly Emma let her mind take over, even as her body screamed for her to never stop. She pulled out of the kiss and staggered backward away from Regina. She panted and lifted her hand up to touch her lips. She saw Regina reaching for her and about to say something. Emma shook her head and moved toward the door.
"Emma-" the queen tried to stop her from panicking.
Emma shook her head. "No, I can't-this was a mistake. I'm sorry. I-" with one more shake of her head Emma had fled out of the infirmary. Regina sighed out heavily and dropped her head in her hands. This was all so confusing, but there was one thing she was sure about. Slowly but surely, she was falling in love with her enemy's greatest weapon.