It's been a while since I've posted, but I'm not culpable. *cute face* Blame the strep throat and exams I had this week. I had originally intended there to be more to this chapter, but I wanted to give you all something to keep you interested. Chapter 6 will be more substantive, but I hope you can still enjoy this "appetizer" of a Chapter.
Also, if you want to chat about this story or ever just want to chat about OUAT in general, feel free to find me on the face bxxx dot com slash izzymclean. You understand my code, I'm sure. Please note you're from Fanfiction on your friend request note, though!
I look forward to meeting some of you online!
Chapter 5
Regina woke up enveloped by a black comforter and gray satin sheets. What blanketed her more, though, were the memories of last night's altercation with Emma. Her head throbbed, but her heart didn't.
An unusual but not unwanted reprieve.
She rolled over toward the sunlight and took a deep breath as the warm rays sent tingles over her exposed arms and neck. She would miss the deputy… every day, but she found solace in the memory of their connection, however aggressive its character. She had let herself go when Emma's arms wrapped around her, and in doing so she felt alive, and realized she could feel. The deputy had been her hero and villain all at once. Yes, she had split her lip, but she had also whittled away at some of Regina's hardness last night, and it had saved her from raising a white flag in the battle for her humanity. She could feel, now. And, somehow, at some point, she'd make Storybrooke aware of it. She chuckled slightly, "That's gonna shock the shit out of everyone."
She rose from bed and dressed herself casually. Henry had a soccer game this afternoon and she had every intention of watching him play. She had never before found the time, but today was different. Every day was going to be different from now on.
...
"I am not going into work today," Emma said into her cell phone.
"I figured. On account of an ass-beating, I'll let you slide," laughed Graham on the other end of the phone. "How are you handling everything? Are you going to press charges?" he asked in a more serious tone.
"First of all, I didn't get my ass beat. Secondly, I probably deserved it. And no, I'm not going to press charges. It's actually sorta weird. I'm not… mad… at her for what she did. I actually feel good, which is a little scary. Not really used to it," said Emma.
"You feel good after being punched, quite well if I may add, in the head?" Graham asked, confusion evident.
"Yes. Does that make me a masochist?" asked Emma, jokingly.
"No. It makes you a liability," responded the Sheriff, laughing. "Oh, other line is ringing. Need to let you go. I expect you here tomorrow, Emma, but enjoy your day off."
Emma smiled and dropped her cell phone on the bed. She had two things on her agenda today: Henry's game and figuring out how to fix things with Regina. She smiled confidently. "Let's get to it," she said to herself, jumping out of bed.
…
Regina had managed to sneak out of the office in time to get to the field before Henry's game. There were a handful of parents in the bleachers, each of them gawking at Regina, murmuring among themselves. She decided to walk over and greet her surprised constituents because a little politicking never hurt.
"So who are we playing today?" asked Regina, a sincere smile following the question.
"Um, New Bern, Madame Mayor," responded one father.
"You can call me Regina when I'm in flats," she joked, getting a collective chuckle from the crowd. "I think I'm going to watch the game from over there, but if any of you want to talk or have any concerns, feel free to come over," she offered. She headed toward the sideline where Henry's team was sitting, leaving a shocked but impressed group of Storybrooke residents behind her.
"Hey you," she said to Henry, approaching him from behind.
"Mom?" asked Henry, surprise and excitement obvious.
"Yeah! I wanted to watch you kick a little tail today. Can you do that for me?" she asked, teasingly.
Henry stared at her and narrowed his eyes. "Mom, are you okay? Did you get in a fight? Do you need to go to the hospital? You may have a concussion." He said, noticing her split lip through her makeup.
Regina laughed and bent over. "I promise you I'm fine. I just got some sense knocked into me, that's all. Now, play hard…" her eyes went cold for a second and then she playfully raised one eyebrow, "or else…" she said in a dramatically lowered voice. She immediately grinned, wanting Henry to understand her playful tone.
Henry laughed and hugged Regina. "Another layer gone," she thought through closed eyes. She inhaled deeply and, after a whistle blew, let her son go. Henry darted off toward the team huddle, and Regina stepped back and folded her arms, still oozing the confidence and intimidation she always had.
"You. . . are the last person I expected to see here," said a familiar voice behind Regina. Her breathing increased rapidly. Was Emma Swan there, actually speaking to her?
The Mayor turned around, arms still folded, and took a step toward the Sheriff, her eyes immediately locking with the deputy's.
"And you… are the last person I expected to be speaking to me," Regina responded, her words less steady than normal.
"You know what," said Emma, smiling brilliantly, her voice then lowering to a whisper as she leaned forward and tilted her head slightly to the side, "maybe we should just forget our expectations." The blonde kept her forward tilt slightly longer than was necessary to relay the message.
It seemed as if the two had switched their usual roles, Emma being confident and strong and Regina allowing someone else to lead the conversation.
And then the Mayor was over it.
"Agreed," she said in a business-like tone that dripped with allure. "and you know, I think everyone else would be well served to do the same," she added, raising an eyebrow.
Emma found herself back in her normal "captivated by Regina Mills" position. In their previous interactions, Regina would have curtly ended their dialogue and turned on her heel by now, but she remained in front of Emma, looking softly at her. And so the blonde's hands retreated to the pockets of her jeans.
Emma's obvious retreat instilled more confidence in the Mayor.
"What happened to you last night, Deputy Swan? It looks like someone beat the hell out of you," she said with a smirk, hoping it wasn't too soon or too flip of her to reference the incident. She had never dreamed Emma would speak to her again, much less do so in a, dare she say, flirtatious manner. But she sure as hell wasn't going to play it safe at this point. If Emma was here, she was going to feel as much as possible, consequences be damned.
Emma laughed out loud, her eyes wrinkling at the sides. Regina watched, and felt as if her body was an instrument, strummed strings sending vibrations throughout her entire being. Emma's laugh was not only endearing, but contagious. Regina realized she, too, was laughing.
Henry looked at the two women from the field and his heart fluttered. Regina and Emma were laughing together, and it was the first time he had ever seen his adoptive mother truly happy to be with another person. He smiled and returned his attention to the game.
"Well, you should see the other chick," replied Emma, winking.
Regina couldn't hide it. Emma's assertive and unexpected come-on sent a blush up her cheeks, and wave of warmth down to her belly… and lower.
Emma noticed.
Hands retreated from pockets.
A whistle saved Regina from her obvious embarrassment. Both she and Emma looked toward the field and saw Henry getting ready to take a penalty kick.
"Oh shit, we're going to miss a PK," said Regina, and without thought, grabbed Emma's hand, pulling her closer to the field. It was as if the Mayor's fingertips were exposed wires, sending trails of sparks racing up the blonde's arms and into her heart, where they mixed with heat and blood and then traveled to her lower extremities. She glanced down at the brunette's fingers wrapped around her wrist – they were strong and feminine. Her nails were coated in clear polish and trimmed short. Emma's mind immediately went to the gutter.
Regina dropped Emma's hand as they came to a stop. Henry turned back toward them and smiled, before getting set for the kick.
"What's happening? What the hell is a PK?" whispered Emma, realizing a hush had fallen over the field.
Regina tensed up and grabbed the arm of Emma's leather jacket, her fingers squeezing tightly. Emma closed her eyes, overwhelmed with physical sensation. Regina glanced sideways momentarily, and noticed her effect. It empowered her… and aroused her. She then remembered Emma had asked a question.
"Just watch," she said quickly, filled with anticipation, for numerous reasons.
Henry took a few running steps and drilled the soccer ball into the net. The fans in the bleachers cheered loudly and then, to Emma's shock, Regina jumped ever so slightly. If the deputy had been anywhere else, she would have missed the Mayor's excitement. Regina clapped loudly and gave a thumbs up to Henry who jogged back toward center field. Emma smiled, too, realizing something good had happened: Henry had scored, and Regina had touched her… this time without injurious intent. Last night had repeated itself as she'd hoped.
She swallowed hard, remembering how she pressed Regina against the wall. Too bad that part hadn't been repeated.
"I was going to make dinner for Henry after the game," Regina started, her eyes focused forward on the field.
"If you're not on duty, you're welcome to join us. I'm sure he'd love to have you there for his little victory celebration," she said confidently, still avoiding eye contact with Emma.
"Madam Mayor?" Emma said, needing clarification.
"I think you heard me," Regina said, turning to the blonde, "Emma" she finished.
Emma's tongue went to her cheek upon seeing Regina's red lips say her name. This time, it was she who tried to hide a blush. "Um…" she though, searching for words, and then finding the perfect response.
"Depends on what's on the menu," Emma managed to blurt out, picturing Regina alone in her kitchen, yielding to the blonde's aggression as she had the night prior.
"I haven't decided yet. Guess you'll have to take a chance," said Regina coyly, playing this game of brinkmanship in true Mayor fashion.
Emma chuckled, praying to god that the physical longing she felt for the woman to her right wasn't obvious. "Okay, sure. I'll join you," she said, her brain replaying over and over again Regina's obvious innuendo. She wished, at that point, that she had a spare change of clothes in the car. If the Mayor was going to keep up that kind of talk, her current ensemble was going to become extremely uncomfortable very quickly.
Regina smiled and nodded and turned back toward the game. 'Another layer gone," she thought, feeling lighter inside than ever before.