I apologize for the wait! So sorry twitchy junkie! ;p lol! The end of June is always a chaotic time over here. But I will be camping soon which means I will have lots of free time and should be able to get a bunch written :) there is limited wifi though but I will hike up the damn mountain whenever I have a chapter to post! Happy reading! Please leave a review because you guys are awesomesauce! I will admit there is not as much EC as I would like in this updat but things have to be said. So I promise to make it up to you guys in the next update.
One week. Not even a week. They had been locked in that room together Friday after school and about two hours later she was having the best sex of her life. He did not stay the night though. He then fucked her on her kitchen counter Saturday morning and proceeded to stay the night in her bed. Sunday she asked him not to tell Snow and the queen took it upon herself to help keep their secret a secret by kissing the sheriff in front of Snow. Monday they were caught by Rumple in the library and the imp stayed true to his word and didn't speak of what he saw. Nothing special happened on Tuesday. It was mostly a day of David spending time with Snow to ease her annoying but rightfully suspicious little mind. Wednesday Henry got in a fight at school and she tried to be alright with it but ended up calling David late at night regardless and he came to spend the night with her but she didn't hear him come in.
Now it's Thursday. It hasn't even been a week since their first kiss but it felt like so much had happened between then and now.
Hopefully that clears the timeline up for those who haven't been paying super close attention. I know it seems like it has been longer but it hasn't. So relax ;) Snow will be made aware of the affair at some point in the weekend but the weekend will not be posted for awhile yet. Sorry for tricking you in to reading an author's note ;) l but sometimes I need them to be read! Now enjoy the story!
She woke warm and relaxed. Her whole body felt as though it had melted to the bed and she let it stay that way for awhile before she made herself open her eyes. She just laid there on her side with one arm under her pillow and the other stretched in front of her while David's heavy arm around her middle kept her back pressed against his body. He was warm and is face was nuzzled in to her back right at the base of her neck and his slow and steady breath against her skin was pulling her back to sleep.
She hadn't heard him come in last night which meant she must have fallen asleep shortly after their phone call. It made her smile just a little. Lazy and sleepy as she sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out. His legs were tangled over and between hers, his warm strong body pressed against hers, his heavy arm around her waist, his warm breath blowing softly down her spine. She couldn't recall a time when she felt more content.
She had almost fallen back asleep when she was roused by a gentle kiss on her spine.
His heart swelled with warmth and love at the sound of her quiet sleepy hum, "good morning," he whispered and then kissed her again.
"Good morning," she breathed softly and felt him nuzzle his nose back in to her and then take a deep breath as he wound his arm tighter around her middle. They stayed like that for a little while longer and just simply enjoyed the silence and the presence of one another before she rolled over so she was facing him.
He lifted his arm only enough to permit the movement and as soon as she settled he laid it back down and smiled at those dark eyes looking back at him, "hi."
Regina smiled and laughed softly as she placed a hand on his cheek and jaw, "hi," she breathed softly and he grinned back at her. So she kissed him. She kissed him and she wondered how she had managed to withstand him before. Not that it mattered now. She was too far gone to go back and turn him away again. His mouth was soft and kind and he took his time with her just as she did with him.
It seemed in this past week with him she had been kissed more than all prior kisses totalled in her lifetime.
She was alright with that.
"I want to tell Snow," he whispered with his forehead resting upon hers. She didn't say anything right away. Her thumb moved over his cheek a few times and just when he thought she wasn't going to say anything, she whispered.
"I know."
"I want to be with you."
"I want you here, David. You know that," she argued softly and he turned his head and left a lingering kiss on the palm of her hand.
"I don't want to hide anymore. I know what I feel and I know what I want. I understand that you want to keep this quiet but things will run smoother if we tell her rather than have her finding out on her own."
"I know."
"Stop saying you know. I know you know," he snapped gently and she sighed and sunk the side of her head deeper in to her pillow, "we are making this harder than it needs to be. Snow is paranoid and frustrated, Emma is cold and bitter, and I want to stop lying. I want to be with you and I don't want to have to feel ashamed for doing so. I don't want to have to hide in the shadows or in locked rooms and cover my tracks. I don't want to feel like we are wrong. Because what I feel for you is the furthest thing from wrong."
She wanted to ask him what he felt for her. But she was too afraid to ask. Too nervous and unprepared for the answer she was sure he would give her. So she didn't ask. "It is Henry's birthday tomorrow. I don't want him to spend it watching us all fight over what is wrong and what is right and who should be with who. I cannot stop you from telling Snow. But I do ask that you leave tomorrow for Henry," she asked softly and he nodded and moved his thumb over her shoulder blade.
"Alright."
"Thank you."
...
Emma sat at her desk staring through the glass at David's empty desk. Empty. He was late. He was late and he hadn't come home last night which meant that he had been with Regina doing...well who knows what. It turned her bitter and she crossed her jaw and let out a long breath as she tried to think of something else. But there was nothing else to think about. This whole thing was just...she wanted to be okay with it but she couldn't accept it. Not yet.
It hadn't even been a week since the affair started anyway. How could she accept something so life changing so fast. She imagined that that was part of the reason her father and Regina were keeping it quiet too.
As soon as she saw Regina enter the station she picked up the phone on her desk and took a breath to start up a fake conversation in an attempt to deter the woman from speaking to her. It worked about as well as using an anchor for a flotation device.
"Miss Swan. Put the phone down, you are not talking to anyone. Even if I hadn't just watched you pick it up to make me believe you are busy, there is no light on on the base indicating there is a phone call being made," she deadpanned and Emma thought about it for a moment but then scowled a little and put the phone back down with a click and sat back in her chair.
"What do you want, Regina?" She sighed tiredly as the brunette made herself comfortable by pulling a chair around from he front of her desk to the side of it before she sat down. Emma couldn't decide if she was more comfortable or more insecure about there not being a desk between herself and the mayor.
"It has been brought to my attention," she started as she sat down and let her knees tip to the side as she rested her hands in her lap, "that you are brooding."
"I am not brooding. Nor am I particularly fond of where this conversation is heading or the fact that it's being held in a public building for that matter."
"No one is coming in to this building, I assure you. And the phones won't ring either."
"Oh and I suppose you just snapped your fingers and put the whole station under some clever isolation spell," Emma bit out sarcastically and Regina replied regardless.
"Well it was more of a wave and a push than a snap," she shrugged a little and Emma took a page out of her book and stared back at her entirely unimpressed and silent. It made her want to laugh a little bit but she hid that fact and remained silent as well.
"David spent the night with you."
"Yes. If it makes you feel any better I was asleep when he got there and I proceeded to hurry him out the door this morning after Henry and Hansel to work out the apparent lack of teacher intervention when it comes to school fights."
"It doesn't make me feel that much better. But thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Are you done?"
"No," Regina answered simply and Emma sighed irritably. She waited patiently for Emma to speak but the blonde wasn't going to budge anytime soon. So Regina pushed harder, "what is it exactly that has you so closed off? Granted, you are not the most open person. But 'chilly' is my domain. Not yours."
"I'm not chilly," she bit and Regina shrugged and lazily waved a hand in her direction.
"On edge then."
"Oh I don't know, Regina, perhaps it is because my married father is sleeping with another woman? Maybe that's the reason, but I could be totally speculating here," she snapped in harsh sarcasm but Regina didn't flinch.
"Yes that could be it," she replied smoothly and kindly but Emma only grew more sharp and irritable. But that was good. She needed to talk. "I had gotten the impression you were encouraging David and me together."
"Yeah, well, saying you approve of a potential outcome and actually approving of said controversial outcome when it occurs are two completely different things."
"That is true."
"And he's my father, Regina! My whole life I have been alone! In and out of homes who considered me a paycheque! And then I finally found my family and they were great! They were perfect! They love me and they accept me and we work! And then there is you! This psychotic bitch with the most ill temper known to man who actually turns out to be not so bad! You are my friend, Regina! And you are screwing my father and I am apparently not alright with that! Surprise!" She ranted and flung her hands up in the air but as soon as her hands smacked limply back in her lap and when she looked at Regina's kind and quiet expression, her anger gave way to the pain aching in her heart.
"They are all I have," she pushed out as her shoulders slumped and tears burned in her eyes, "and you and him are taking that away from me. You are taking it apart and I just...I feel like I am losing everything all over again."
Regina nodded and watched quietly as Emma dropped her eyes to hide her tears and began picking at what seemed to be a piece of tape stuck on the edge of her desk with her thumb. It was a lot of information to balance, a lot of insecurities and fears and vulnerabilities to address and prioritize. She was not exactly the person people came to to discuss such fragile and explosive emotions but she had come to Emma with the intention of getting her to open up. So she was going to work with what she was given.
"Emma, I am not exactly the most skilled person when it comes to these sort of interactions," she started and Emma offered a small teary laugh as if to say 'no shit', "so I do hope you offer me some leniency if I overstep...You know that I tried to prevent this from happening but now that it is happening...I am not about to stop it. I know that it is upsetting to hear," she nodded and Emma kept her teary eyes down and Regina felt her throat tightening ever so slightly as her own emotions started to bubble up to the surface, "but I care very much for David. He is important to me and I can no longer ignore or bury what I feel for him. Being me, I haven't exactly had many people really try to be in my life unless they were trying to hurt me or kill me. It took everything I had to stop this in the first place and now that I have it? Now that I have a person who wants to be with me no matter what? No matter what I have done or will do to them? I am not about to let that go. It is too precious to me and I am far too selfish.
Hurting you and hurting Snow was not my intention and it is certainly not David's. He loves you more than anything, Emma. You have him wrapped around your finger and he would have it no other way. He adores you like a father should and just because he has decided to stray from Snow does not mean he is straying from you. If he knew how much this was bothering you it would kill him."
"I don't want it to bother me. I want to be okay with it because I knew this was going to happen and I am glad it was with you."
"What do you mean?"
"He and Snow were distant as soon as Henry fell through that portal. It only sped up the process when you lost your mind and he decided to help you. I felt like it was bound to happen. That he was bound to leave. But I just didn't want to think too much on it because I didn't want to be right. But out of everyone he could have chosen I am glad it was you."
"...Why?"
"Because you are not going to take this for granted," she told her quietly and lifted her gaze so she could look her in the eye, "you know exactly what is going on and you know exactly how much this is going to hurt when it comes out and you are not going to walk away from it. Of all the people in this town I believe you know how valuable and how mortal love is and despite everything I respect that about you. I admire that about you. You do not take the people you care about for granted. You put everything in to them to assure they are safe and happy even if it kills you and I love that David has that and I really do want to be okay with you and him because I know it will be better in the long run but right now it just doesn't feel like it will. Right now it feels like lies and secrets and pain and it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel," she frowned tiredly and sniffed as she wiped away a rogue tear and let her eyes fall again.
"Thank you..." Regina replied softly, unsure of what else to say. It wasn't exactly everyday that people gave her such heartfelt compliments. People aside from David anyway. Emma merely nodded in return and sniffed again. "As for the light at the end of the tunnel, that is something you needn't worry about. It's simply been shut off due to budget cuts," she joked smoothly with a small and playful smile to lift the heavy atmosphere and Emma broke in to quiet laughter through her tears, "I'm sure I can get something sorted out."
"Yeah. You do that," she laughed and wiped away a few more tears while Regina hummed a soft laugh.
"Will you be coming to Henry's birthday party tomorrow? I would have asked sooner but you have been avoiding me like I'm the plague."
"Yes of course I will be there."
"Good. And I do recommend you talk to David. Perhaps take him up on that father daughter time."
"Will do..."
...
"Regina is sleeping with someone," Red whispered across the table and Snow's eyes went wide as she paused in the process of bringing her coffee to her lips.
"W-what?!" Snow stuttered quietly and Red smiled and nodded, "h-how do you know that?!"
"I overheard her and the queen talking over coffee a couple days ago. The queen was teasing her and then told her if she wished to go and get laid all she needed to do was tell her," Red chuckled with a wide grin and Snow looked absolutely dumbstruck, "it has been a long time since we've had such juicy gossip around here."
"I-...with who?!" She whispered as she leaned forward and dread started to settle in her heart.
"Not sure. But I'm putting my money on Michael Tillman," Red nodded and Snow furrowed her brow in surprise.
"Wait, what!? Why?" That had not been the name she had been expecting to hear and it certainly distracted her from the assumption of it being David.
"Why do you sound so shocked?" Red laughed and Snow shook her head quickly in dismissal.
"No, nothing, I just...well you know how Regina can be."
"I also know how hot Regina is and I can get a little creative on how good she would be in bed," Red whispered with a laugh and Snow disapproved.
"Really? That's where you're going with this?"
"What?! I'm not wrong. Tillman's a lucky guy, that's all I'm sayin'," Red shrugged and took a swig of her coffee.
"...But what makes you think it's him?"
"Well this past week Henry and Hansel have been getting really close and Tillman and Regina have been incredibly friendly toward one another considering one of them kidnapped the other's children and tried to feed them to a cannibalistic witch," she reasoned with another shrug and Snow nodded slowly, "why? Who came to your mind?"
"Nah I like your choice better. Single dad who's good with his hands and a single mom who adores children and is righting her wrongs. It fits."
"Yes..." Red nodded slowly with a furrow of her brow and Snow avoided all eye contact, "but it is now clearer than ever that you had someone else in mind when picturing Regina in bed with someone. And I want to know who."
"...No, Red, I-"
"Snow what is going on?"
"I just don't want to talk about it right now, okay?" She pleaded and Red was not about to let up. But then she saw the king and queen walking hand in hand as they laughed and walked down the street on the other side of the diner's window.
"Snow," Red called but her friend's focus was stolen by something outside, "Snow!" She snapped quietly but still nothing, "Snow what the hell?" She pressed sharply in concern but she didn't answer the question.
"I've got to go," she shook her head and began pushing herself out of the booth, "I'll talk to you later."
"Snow-"
"Not here, Red. I'll talk to you later. I've got to go," she insisted as she tried not to run out of the diner. She was just relieved that Red didn't try to follow her as she hurried out of the diner to catch the royal couple. To her relief they hadn't gotten far.
"David."
The king paused at the call of his name and his wife stopped a moment later so they were both looking curiously at Snow. She ordinarily avoided the pair of them at all costs, "yes?"
"I was wondering if I could talk with you. Alone," Snow nodded as she tried not to wring her hands too much.
David looked to his wife and she looked up at him for a moment before shrugging one shoulder, "I'll come find you later?"
"It would seem so," the queen agreed and despite her curiosity being peaked, she rose on her toes and kissed his cheek before turning and walking away, "love you."
"I love you too," David replied with a quiet laugh and she gave him a smirk over her shoulder as she walked away from him and Snow. He watched her walk for a moment or two before he straightened his neck and looked at Snow who stood before him unsure of whether or not she was committed to speaking to him, "what did you need?"
"I want to talk to you about...Regina."
"I see. Would you prefer to speak somewhere more private?"
"Yes that may be better."
...
"You know you didn't have to come over here to check on me right?" Henry teased as he pushed his cell phone in his pocket and stopped in front of her.
"I'm not checking on you," she argued with a shake of her head as she settled back against the hood of her car and folded her arms, "I simply had no plans for lunch and decided I wanted your company. Any glances to assure your wellbeing are purely coincidental," she raised her eyebrows but gave in to her smile when he laughed.
"Right," he nodded with a laugh and then turned and slid up on to the hood of her car beside her so his feet dangled above the ground and she remained simply leaning against it with a smile.
Regina watched happily as he pulled his lunch out of his bag and on to his lap so he could start eating. She couldn't help but hum in happiness as he took a big bite out of his sandwich and smile up at her, "you alright, sweetheart?"
"Mhm."
"Good," she smiled and ran her fingers through his hair above his ear.
"Yeah. Everybody's a lot nicer to me now," he shrugged with a laugh and his mother rolled her eyes with a quiet laugh, "and a bunch of other kinds thanked me for putting those guys in their place. Even Gretel's stopped being so dismissive."
"Hmm Gretel, hey?"
"No, mom, not like that," Henry laughed with a roll of his eyes and his mother smirked and bumped her shoulder against his, "it's not like that at all."
"Mhm."
"Mo-om," he whined out with a laugh and her smile broke to show her teeth as she laughed low in her throat, "it's not! She's annoying!"
"Perhaps now," she teased with a hopeless grin and Henry laughed and pleaded.
"Can we please change the subject?"
"Sure," she laughed and he thanked her and took another bite of his sandwich, "how many kids are coming tomorrow?"
"Not sure actually. Hansel for sure...is it okay if we just kind of take it as it comes?"
"Yes, sweetheart, of course," she smiled and hugged an arm around his shoulders so she could pull him in to her side and kiss the top of his head, "I am glad you are making friends."
"Me too," he smiled and she hummed and he let her keep him close to her, "how are you and David?"
"We are good," she smiled and kissed his head again.
"Good."
"...I'm sorry for using you as an excuse the other day. It was just the first thing that came to mind and I didn't want to lie to you."
"It's alright, mom," Henry chuckled and shrugged a shoulder, "I pushed you two together. It's only fair I help keep you from getting caught. Plus if it means I get to sword fight with Prince Charming I am totally game," he grinned and she laughed and shook her head.
"If you want a sparring partner all you need to do is ask."
"I know. But it's kind of fun to be undercover sort of," he laughed a little and she gave a gentle roll of her eyes with her smirk and then focused on the school in front of them. "Hey...when are you guys going to tell everyone?"
Regina let out a long sigh and gave a subtle shake of her head, "I don't know..." She breathed and then looked down at Henry who looked up at her patiently, "I kind of like being undercover," she parroted with a weak smile and Henry mirrored it and tipped his head against her shoulder.
"I am pretty sure they aren't going to react as bad as you think they are."
"No..." She shook her head once with her quiet voice, "no, it's not the people I am worried about."
"David's not going anywhere, mom. He's crazy about you and I am pretty sure he loves you more than anything," he nodded and she didn't quite know what to say in reply.
"...I don't want things to change."
"They're not going to, mom," he assured softly and she looked over to him with worried eyes and a slight frown, "and if they do it's only that you and David get to see more of each other."
"Henry, hurting Snow with this...I don't know what that will do to him and I'm not certain he knows either. I have everything I have ever wanted in my life. I have you, my darling son, and I have a man who cares for me and doesn't wish to change me. I have been fighting for so long and I am not willing to risk losing it all again. I don't care how small that risk is. To me it feels enormous," she explained and Henry nodded a little as he soaked it in and formulated a response.
"Well I can promise that I am not going to go anywhere. As for David I'm pretty sure that after how hard he fought to get you, he's not going to turn away just because you finally let him leave Snow," he smiled a little and she stared at him for a moment before she looked ahead of them at the school.
"When you say it like that it makes this whole situation seem ridiculous."
"Isn't that what us kids are for?" Henry chuckled and grinned, "to dumb everything down for the over thinking grow ups?" He teased and she let a smirk pull at her lips as she gave a nod and slowly wrapped an arm around his shoulders to hug him in to her side.
"You are far too wise for an eleven year old sometimes," she smiled and kissed the top of his head as he sunk in to her.
"Well I am twelve tomorrow."
"Don't remind me. You are growing up too fast."