Double Trouble 61

A/N: So last chapter I broke 3000 reviews which is absolutely AMAZING and I can't believe where my little story has ended up. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed and messaged here or on tumblr and supported the story. I loved the SQ in the latest episode (I won't spoil) and am cautiously optimistic for the return of OUAT. Happy holidays, everyone. Enjoy!

Note: This chapter is rated M for makeup sexytimes. Also (if you squint) it contains very oblique references to Regina's early marriage.

Chapter 61 'Enjoy my shirt'

The next day Emma felt herself waking up face down and loathed it. She was still tired and her eyelids were so heavy she couldn't bear exposing her eyes to any light. Her body was far too warm and comfortable to bother moving. She inhaled deeply and stretched out her arms underneath her pillow. The feel of the sheets on her bare skin and their familiar scent confirmed that she was at home, laid out in what she still called 'Regina's bed' in her mind.

Her brain was slowly coming to terms with the concept of morning. She rubbed a hand over her face and opened her eyes, blinking away the blurriness. Regina was next to her, sitting up in bed with her legs steepled and staring like she was deep in thought. She must not have been awake long as she was still wearing the borrowed flannel and her hair was still mussed from sleep instead of its usual professional appearance.

A bundle of papers rested on the other nightstand. Regina must've been working on her election campaign or preparing for one of her many public appearances and speeches.

"Hey," Emma mumbled, voice husky from sleep and being outside in the cold earlier.

"Hey." Regina's answer was monotone, almost nonchalant. It was difficult to tell whether she was being sarcastic or not. Emma's own anger had dissipated over night, she'd had time to think and calm down. She always had to be the first one ready to mend things after a fight, which was frustrating, but all she wanted now was to make things right again.

"Are you ok?" There was no reply so she tried again. "R'gina?"

"What." Another flat answer.

"Did you manage to get some sleep? You were up half the night."

Regina threw the volley straight back. "So were you. I didn't hear you come in, Sheriff, what time did you return?"

"A few hours ago, not long after you called me. You were asleep when I got home. Didn't want to wake you so I put you to bed."

An image of an ultimatum in the doorway came to Emma's mind. Together with being called by her title rather than her first name, it sounded like a polite invitation to 'get the fuck out of my bed and/or life'. The confusing part was that Regina was certainly no wallflower. If she didn't want her here the former queen would waste no time making her displeasure known. Usually.

"Um, do you want me to go?" said Emma. "To the spare room, or to Granny's. Or off a cliff maybe?"

"No. Why would I want that?" Regina's comment was apparently rhetorical but she provided no further explanation.

The thoughts completed themselves in Emma's mind: Because I left and you told me not to bother coming back? Or maybe because we had a huge fight - arguably the worst we've ever had - and now you're wondering what the hell we're doing together? Because it kills me to think of you being hurt and I was the one who hurt you this time?

I promised Henry I wouldn't leave, no matter what I found out about him. Now I find out that not only has he got magic, he IS magic. Everybody thinks their own child is special, some are even conceived out of love… but our son might be more special than I ever could have imagined.

If that's true it means Regina and I are True Loves. Soulmates. What does that mean for us? What does it mean for Henry?

Emma was very confused and the short answers were putting her off. It was disconcerting to realise that she would've preferred to face the former Evil Queen's wrath than this strange passive aggressive version of Regina. Subtly wasn't Regina's style. It was making her stomach feel tight from the tension of not knowing if she was about to be kissed or killed.

"Are we okay?" ventured Emma.

All Regina said was a simple: "Yes."

The Sheriff inhaled a deep breath and then sighed, rolling over so that her face went into the pillow. Only silence followed so she closed her eyes and went back to dozing. She was so tired and decided not to get out of bed unless there were going to be fireballs in her near future. If Regina wasn't going to talk there was no point trying to make her. Stubborn woman.

After a while she felt the bed shift then heard the rustle of the sheets. It felt and sounded like Regina moving to drape herself over her in order to reach something in the top drawer of the bedside table on Emma's side. That was odd because the only things in that drawer were adult toys (most items in duplicate since their preferences - like them - didn't agree on anything) and lotions, which admittedly should have been better hidden in case Henry came across them.

Emma snap-froze wide awake when she felt herself being touched gently.

Regina had brushed her long blonde hair out of the way and was stroking her sides gently as she started placing a series of kisses high on Emma's bare back. It felt very familiar. The trace of her lips said she wanted something more adventurous than a physical release. A sensual renewal of their connection.

Her eyes widened when Regina dropped a certain item from The Drawer onto the bed right in her line of sight. Not the usual addition to their activities either, this was hers, which came as a surprise.

"I suppose you may have a turn," was all the other woman said.

"Wait, what?" Emma twisted her neck trying to face her. Unfortunately she had to lift her upper body off the bed to do so and all that did was encourage two palms to migrate around to her chest. Of course her body betrayed her and her nipples hardened in response. She managed to roll over and Regina took it for encouragement when arms automatically sought to embrace her.

"What are you doing," asked Emma warily.

"Shh. We're making up." Regina whispered as she hovered over to kiss her under the jawline.

"The hell we are. Not yet."

"Aren't you supposed to be some sort of hero? In case you've forgotten we need to do whatever it takes to save the town. The potion requires True Love's kiss. It's not like you to turn down sex."

"But you're still pissed at me!" Emma spluttered, raising her upper body on her elbows. "Aren't you? I heard it in your voice over the phone. I'm not going to do this thinking that you're angry with me. We need to talk."

"I'm not angry anymore. I forgive you for the asinine things you said. I'm fine."

"You're lying."

An icy glare of annoyance flickered over Regina's face as she pushed herself up and rolled away onto her back. She must have realised that Emma was too stubborn not to argue and too chivalrous to go along with the pretense, unwilling to compromise their relationship even for a noble cause. Their fight had not been one-sided but Emma felt that the guilt was more on her side, she had freaked out first and had been the one to walk out after all. Technically she hadn't really left but Regina hadn't known that at the time. Rejecting her again now was akin to playing with fire.

They were still staring at the ceiling lying side-by-side minutes later until the awkward silence became so heavy it was unbearable.

"Please," Emma softened her tone. "Can we talk?"

"Fine. You start."

"I'm sorry. I know you said not to apologise just to stop feeling guilty but that's not why I'm doing this. I said some shitty things to you last night. I was angry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I still think you don't get how I feel though. About Henry and the thing with Em. If she really is pregnant… I can't deal with it right now. It doesn't matter what you or I think happened. It's different for me than it is for you."

Regina turned her head just enough to express her side-eyed disbelief. "Was that supposed to be an apology? Because after 'I'm sorry' it went rather downhill."

Emma paused and braced herself. Her second attempt was better despite the fact that she struggled with articulating out loud what she'd discovered some time ago in her heart. "Most of all I'm sorry I told you that you weren't a real mother. I hate myself for it. I don't even know why I said it because that's not what I think. At all. You know we're together on this, we're raising Henry together as his parents. We're a team. Please, tell me you know that?"

"You were right yesterday." Regina's flannel-clad shoulders lifted to form a tiny shrug before she crossed her arms. "The truth is I don't know what it's like to conceive and birth a child. I never will. So yes, in that sense I'm not a 'real' mother, whatever the hell that means."

"That doesn't-"

Regina cut her off with a sharp look, her eyes were full. "But you don't know what it's like for me either, Emma. You have never had to convince the world that you are in fact Henry's mother. It was accepted from the day you showed up in Storybrooke even though you'd only known him for a few hours. You want to know why I was so defensive when we first met? I've had ten years of people asking me what happened to his 'real' mother and how I can possibly love a child I never gave birth to and whether I adopted because I couldn't fall pregnant."

"I can't believe people would say stuff like that to your face. It must've really sucked huh."

"Yes, it was hard. Motherhood has been difficult for you too, I imagine, but in a different way. Despite what you think, I do have some idea of what you must have went through in giving him up. At an age when you were barely more than a child yourself."

"It's not a competition."

"Sometimes it feels like it is. Especially when the whole world would support your claim against mine. Like you said last night, you could take him back whenever you wish."

Emma rolled onto her side and scooted closer. She crooked her elbow on her own pillow so she could lean her head on her hand while she continued making amends for her part in last night's row. A year rolled onto Regina's cheek so she took a chance and swiped it away with her thumb. It rallied her hopes when her hand wasn't swatted away.

"Hey," Emma murmured. "I'm not going to take Henry from you, ok? He'd never want to leave you. You're his Mom. It's what I always wanted for him - to be safe and healthy and loved. He has something with you that I'll never have. You got to raise him and see him grow, you were there for him. Always."

"Ever since I adopted him," Regina began her confession with a sad smile. "I've been afraid that you would change your mind and come back for him and then I'd lose him. I couldn't believe my eyes when the day had finally arrived and you turned up on my doorstep. I knew right away. That he'd wiggle his way into your heart as he did mine. I couldn't stand the thought of losing him to you. But by trying to keep the two of you apart I nearly lost him anyway."

"That's all over now. We were different people then."

They kept talking - about what'd happened that first year and the tension between them that had resulted in a fierce competition over Henry. Originally Emma had had little sympathy for the conniving Mayor and even though she found her incredibly attractive and intriguing, she couldn't get over the woman's inexplicable hatred for her closest friend, Mary Margaret. Not to mention the Sheriff knew that Regina had been behind the murder plot conspiracy and being helpless to stop it inflamed her anger.

It had all come out into the open by now. As loathe as Regina was to revisit the past or to justify what she'd done to Snow's alter ego, there was a reason the two of them were still part of each others' lives and would continue to be. Whatever other feelings she had about the "two idiots", the former Evil Queen owned her role in keeping them apart and was no longer vexed to see them happy. Especially since it was key to their daughter's sense of family security finally developing. Emma's happiness had skyrocketed in priority for Regina, now that their lives had become so intertwined.

There was one regret Regina would never let go and as she spoke of it, Emma tried hard to push away her own indignation and listen with an open mind. Regina still agonised over memories of trying to convince Henry he was crazy for his fairytale beliefs and cold-shouldering the topic of his birth mother. Despite her extensive list of immoral actions this was one for which she would never forgive herself. Though perhaps with time and Emma's soft reminders in her ear about moving on and focusing on the future they both might become at peace with it.

Not all of the reminiscing was melancholy however, each of them recounted several occasions where they had found themselves caught staring at the other or thinking less than hateful things. Emma apologised with a teasing smile for deliberately going out of her way to rile the unflappable Mayor at every opportunity. Despite the levity of tone, she was sincere when apologising for driving the wedge deeper between mother and son.

It wasn't long before they were smiling and gazing into each other's eyes, hardly able to resist seeking out and touching that which was no longer far away. They were laying on their sides using the same pillow and facing each other.

Emma grinned. "I see you're still wearing my shirt, you thief. So do you wanna talk about-"

"Enough talking!" Regina let out, exasperated. "I'm done making up. I swear if you do not kiss me right now you will not live long enough to regret it."

Emma licked her lips and fought a groan. She cupped the side of Regina's face and leant in close enough to brush her with the tiniest contact. "Mm I am dying to kiss you. I just want to know one thing first."

"What?" Regina's response was nearly a pained whine.

"Are you really going to let me have a turn?"

"Oh goddd, yes-yes!" Regina hissed. Her eyes shut tight as she clasped at Emma's free hand in hers.

The bedsheets were soaked already. Owing to the rather athletic exertions that left them both breathing hard and covered in a sheen of sweat. Starting the morning with an extended session of make-up sex had been entirely unintentional. One minute they'd been talking over the recent fight and the next they were a tangle of limbs and locked in a fiery kiss.

Each touch caused a spark in the residual agitation and brought back the adrenaline of the recent fight. They were well-used to getting in each other's faces and arguing, even when they'd first met the challenge of it was arousing. Fierce stares, hands on hips, each woman throwing insults as though daring the other to throw her down and fuck her senseless.

On at least one occasion a fight between them had become physical. Anger was an arousal state that transferred easily to sexual desire, especially when coupled with a competitive edge. These two loved to win. Nerves were live wires from exposing feelings that were formerly well-guarded. Each thump of pulse in vein and bead of sweat that formed on skin rang true of the emotion that flowed through them.

Regina came within minutes of the first press of tongue tasting her then sliding over her with loving laps. Emma took advantage of her post-bliss daze and laid close next to her, teasing her ear with soft breath that accused her of being "easy". The former queen's lips drew a smile, the likes of which few had seen and lived to tell of the warning.

"Do not," growled Regina. "Speak to me in that insolent tone, 'princess'."

Recovered, she flipped the blonde upstart over onto her back with surprising strength and showed her who was really the easy one.

Emma's laughter was taken away with her breath, leaving her gasping instead. It turned out that she was very ready to be brought off this morning too. After the tremors stopped she grinned from ear to ear and placed a kiss on Regina's smirking lips. It had no effect on the brunette, who continued to wear the gloating expression even when her eyes flashed with the fake offense at the presumption.

Regina reached out to gather the length of Emma's sweaty blonde curls into a twist to keep it out of the way. It was hardly the first time a certain someone's long locks had caused annoyance during their more passionate activities. Once, she had rolled on it and the Sheriff made a noise that was between a yelp and a shriek, which was amusing in and of itself. Occasionally Regina braided it for her before bed, an act of tenderness that left Emma practically mewling with pleasure because it felt so nice as well as intimate.

Right now the hair was an absolute mess of fuzz and tangles that were going to be a nightmare to get out later. It only bothered one of the couple. The one who would be on the receiving end of the inevitable whining and pouting.

"You ready for more?" Emma asked softly when her chuckles died down. She brushed Regina's temple with the back of her knuckles and kissed her again there. Then kissed her cheek, the tip of her nose, and finally her mouth.

"It depends what you're thinking of," said Regina, maintaining her imperious facade. "I'm not sure you can handle more, dear. You look quite done in. I didn't think your legs were that flexible, which is something I'm sure you'll regret tomorrow."

"You know what I mean."

Regina feigned innocence. "Do I?"

"Don't pretend you didn't start this," said Emma. "You are totally into having a threesome. You, me, and Gertrude."

"Mmgh," the other woman made a noise of complaint. "Not if you keep calling it that. Why do they have such terrible names?"

"Hey, don't hurt Gertie's feelings!"

Emma sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. She leaned over the edge to collect the harness Regina had dropped in front of her earlier. This one was her style and fit. She opened The Drawer to retrieve the crucial part - Regina's seldom-used but favourite strapon model despite the unfortunate name - and a small bottle just in case.

Emma was still fidgeting with getting herself ready when she felt Regina move over the mattress and sit behind her. The Mayor traced circles with her palms on her arms and shoulders and left a blazing trail of wet kisses on her spine. Together with the tight material pressing between her legs she was getting aroused again.

She shifted around so that Regina could straddle her lap, knees indenting the mattress either side of Emma's thighs. The authentic beauty of it as the woman she loved lowered herself onto the length, gradually accommodating the intrusion, took her breath away. Her normally steady pulse was replaced by skipping beats and wild flutterings at the thought that Regina was hers to do this with, that she was entrusted with the privilege of worshipping this beautiful body. The view was stunning.

Their hips joined flush together. The thrill of being so close to her as to be inside her, filling her with pleasure, and each sound drawn out of her was intoxicating. Emma simply held Regina in her arms and let her control the motion as she desired. The wicked gleam in her coal-dark eyes seemed to want ownership of her soul, which in her arousal-sodden state Emma would've freely handed over.

What had been playful and passionate before was now soft and intense. Regina pulled at her shoulders, a strong hint that she was demanding to be laid down. Emma complied, letting Regina's legs butterfly and settling them both into the new position before pushing inside her again, firmer this time.

Regina moaned as the strokes inside her deepened. She grabbed Emma's ass to keep her close at the end of each thrust. Her skin was humming and tingling all over, and she was acutely aware of every inch of surface contact between them especially between her thighs. Emma's skin blazed with heat and her usually pale cheeks were aflame from her physical efforts.

"Oh," she gasped. "More. Emma."

"Emma."

Absorbed in what she was doing, it took a second for the Sheriff to hear that there was a question in her name. Everything was fine when Regina was using her first name, something she never did during the entire first year they knew each other and she also reverted to doing when they argued. Now, Regina wanted her. She was asking for something without words.

Emma stilled for a minute to catch her breath, giving both their aching muscles a break. She pushed up, straightening her arms, into a hover. Her hair hung like a curtain around her, she at blew few strands that clung to her face and swiped them away.

"Y- you ok?" she panted.

Regina cupped her face and claimed a long kiss. When it ended she shifted out from under her and said, "Turn me over."

"What?" A jolt of alarm followed the request. "No, you completely freaked last time-"

"Emma." There was no arguing with Regina's tone. "Do what I'm asking. I want you to."

The two women moved silently, Emma sat back into a kneeling position and kept her hands on Regina's skin at all times to remind her while she was faced away, only half laying on her front side. Emma was apprehensive about repeating this. As sexy as the idea was to them both when they'd discussed it, Regina hadn't coped well last time they'd tried it or in any orientation where she couldn't see her lover's face, that is, when she couldn't verify the identity of the person who was in a position to wrest control and blindside her.

The last thing Emma wanted to do was hurt her or bring back memories that caused her pain.

For Regina though, this choice to give up control was completely hers and she knew she could stop it at any time without consequences. The risk of triggering memories was the only unsafe part, in this way she could feel unsafe and let the anxiety pass without actually being unsafe.

"It's me." Emma's voice whispered in her ear just when she needed to hear it. Emma's touch was perfect and her scent was everywhere. There was no confusing her for anyone else, this was the one person who challenged her and loved her and enraged her all at once. The woman who she'd come to believe was her True Love.

Regina loved everything that the Saviour was and stood for, so different a composition to her own dark and brooding self, as infuriating as it was sometimes. Beautiful, strong Emma who tested her patience and bested her resolve to never love again. This was her happy ending, unfolding in front of her. She burned as though on fire, a desperate need for the tension building within her to hit its peak.

Emma's next words were her last conscious thought before her mind went blank, drowning in waves of ecstasy that hit her hard.

"I love you. I've always got your back."

Not for a second had Emma let her concentration waver, the whole time she'd checked for signs of distress in Regina's face or stiffness in her body's responses. But none ever appeared. It awed her, that they had come so far with their relationship. It must've taken complete trust for the former queen to allow herself to be taken this way. Emma couldn't have imagined a more precious gift than that.

It wasn't only hers though - Regina too felt as though all along that she had been given a gift in bits and pieces. Her Saviour had stood by her side, listened and defended her when needed, and now held her as the former queen finally laid to rest the remaining terrors of her youth. Emma helped her to be free.