A/N: Hello my darlings! I hope you are ready for the second act of our story. I tried to allude to it briefly in the previous chapter without taking away from the sexy times vibe. Please don't hate me but this is what the story wanted me to tell...
I really appreciate all the love in the reviews, the PMs and on twitter. You guys rock! Over 500 comments and of 700 followers. I am just in awe.
Another big thank you to the always wonderful Jenn who drops everything to read for me. Even if she has to disappear into the bathroom at work... she's got my back. You are a gem. And Bre, if you are reading these notes, look for your cover pic in this story. I think you will see it. Inspiration works both ways I guess.
Henry Mills sat on a pillow from the sofa, a bag of Cheetos on one side and a can of soda on the other, concentrating on his video game. He had been fighting this same monster all afternoon and he wasn't making any progress. He would inevitably die, restart the level and try again. There was something he was missing, he just didn't know what.
"Henry?" He heard his mother call and paused the game.
"Yeah?" He called in response.
"Yeah?" Regina's voice questioned.
Henry grinned and shook his head before correcting himself. "Yes, ma'am."
"That's better." His brunette mother said, stepping into the doorway. "I know this is prime video game time, but could you come help me for a minute?"
"Sure, Mom. What's up?"
Perhaps the reason Henry had not yet been able to conquer the beast of level 23 was because of the constant sound of tapping coming from the stairs. His mother was hammering all along the wall and the noise was quite distracting. He stood and made his way to the front hall. He was a little curious as to what exactly she was up to.
"I've been trying to arrange these photos along the wall here but I just don't like the way they look. What do you think?" Regina stood midway up the first section of stairs, before the landing and huge window, studying a set of five framed images.
The frames fit well into the clean aesthetic of the house, but they were all different from each other. Henry smiled at that. His mother was always so meticulous and particular, but in the last two weeks, she had been loosening up in some ways. Mismatched frames was just one example.
The teen knew the change was because of Emma's influence. Regina seemed more relaxed, more open to new things. She'd even laid aside her crossword puzzle on Sunday afternoon and played video games with them instead. She had done surprisingly well for her first try at the game.
Henry wondered if she had secretly played before but it seemed unlikely. She'd played other games with him when he first discovered them, before Emma, before the curse had been broken. Sadness squeezed Henry's heart. So many things his anger toward her had put a stop to. But that had been so long ago. Things were different—better—now.
Looking at the frames, Henry felt a warmth replace the sadness in his chest. He recognized many of the photos as snapshots from his mother's shoe box of memories. She had apparently had them blown up to a size better suited for displaying them. They were also all in black and white now, giving them a more artistic and unified feeling.
He examined them closely. Strange as it seemed, the snap shots looked very nice framed and hung. His mother apparently had an eye for what was just an awkward selfie and what was a photograph. There was a shot of him and Emma from several years ago. Her hair was braided down across her shoulder. Henry wondered how Regina had even come to possess such a shot of them.
There was one of his two mothers, heads close together, smiling for the camera. Henry recognized it as the one his mom had been holding that night he had first learned she was in love with Emma. The two women were hugging and smiling and happy.
The third picture made Henry's eye's go wide. It was of his whole family. Regina, Emma and he were sitting in Granny's, eating with his grandparents and his uncle, who was just a baby then. Ruby had taken this photo, asking them all to smile for the camera.
"I have to capture this moment on film. Never know when I might see you all together like this again." Ruby laughed.
"Really Miss Lucas, we are capable of being civil." Regina had winked to take the edge out of her words.
"I think I need a copy of that shot sent to me, Rubes. Regina Mills being civil." Emma laughed and hid behind Henry when Regina turned a mock-angry glare at her.
Had they been in love even then? Henry smiled at the memory. Everything seemed so much better these days. Emma would spend the night several times a week. She had dinner with them even more frequently than before. Family movie night had prepared the way for family game night and they'd spent last Saturday, while Emma was off duty, wandering around an old book store two towns over. Regina had purchased a dusty copy of Pride and Prejudice for Emma. They'd both stood there, making heart eyes until Henry gagged and fell into them like he'd been shot. He was glad his mothers were in love and happy, but he was still a teenage boy. He had not signed up for mushy stuff.
A forth photograph was the three of them together. It was relatively recent. In fact, Henry was sure as he examined it closer that it had been taken on their excursion last weekend. They had all huddled together in the car before heading into a restaurant for lunch and Emma had snapped the selfie. Henry smiled at the memory. This photograph was the blonde's wallpaper on her phone.
The last photo in the set was an unusual choice. It was a selfie from what looked like the hallway outside Regina's office at Town Hall. Emma was mostly grinning and holding out the camera. Regina was almost smiling, almost smirking and pointing toward Emma. It was playful. It was almost silly, especially for Regina. It was perfect.
"I think these are great, Mom. What don't you like?" Henry glanced at her, still staring at the display with a critical eye, her hands on her hips.
"I don't know. I suppose I've been looking at them for so long, I can't see them objectively. Do you think they look alright?" His mother sounded unsure.
"I think they are great. And Ma's gonna love it. It's nice… having our pictures up like this." Henry reached to hug his mom from the side. She was a step higher than him and the lift made them more equal in height. Henry was getting very tall.
"Yes. It is nice. I wish she didn't have to work today. Maybe I should find money for a third deputy." Regina picked up her hammer and started down the stairs.
"Well, if you do I guess I'll have to go vandalize Granny's or get Nick to help me knock over some mail boxes." Henry grinned, walking after his mom.
"What?! Why on earth would you—" Regina stopped suddenly and turned to him.
"I'm kidding, Mom. It's just that there isn't enough going on in this town to mean Ma needs two deputies, let alone three. I thought adults always said time apart was good for a relationship." He nudged her then and she smiled brightly.
"Well, alright then. No third deputy. I just… miss her when she isn't here. I don't know how else to explain it except to say I can… feel her—in here," Regina indicated her heart. "And when we are apart even while we are working… I feel this ache there, like I need to be near her. Ever since the first time we kissed, it's been there… this connection. Like the one with our magic but… more somehow." Regina blushed then, having confessed more than she intended to her teenage son. "But I am sure you are not interested in hearing that. I'm sorry, dear. I—"
"It's ok, Mom. Really. I may gag and act disgusted but," Henry hesitated a beat. He wasn't a fan of this sort of talk with his parents. "The fact is, I'm happy that you have each other, that you both seem so happy together. Even when you do that bickering thing, you still have this smile in your eyes and I think that is pretty awesome."
Henry shrugged awkwardly. His mother smiled, and touched his arm. "So, are you interested in my beating you in a game of 'Beasts of the Netherworld' or are you still afraid from the last time?"
Henry was so thankful for his mother changing the subject. She always seemed to know when he'd had enough. "Yeah, right Mom. Like you could beat me."
"I believe just last weekend I destroyed you and your mother. Rematch?" She headed into the living room with a smirk.
"Oh, it is so on. You are going down, Mom." He bounded past her and started setting up the game for two players. He didn't notice the naughty grin on his mother's face at his words. Sometimes being oblivious was good for his mental health.
~ (SQ) ~
In a van across the street, Killian Jones sat watching the largest house on Mifflin Street. Today was to have been his wedding day. If not for Regina Mills, he would be whisking Emma off on a honeymoon mere hours from now.
Instead, he would settle for the mayor. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb. There was much left to do.
Just a few more hours…
~ (SQ) ~
"I'm sorry, dear. I'm just good at war. I am a queen after all." Regina tried not to gloat at having beaten her son at his game.
"Yeah, yeah. I hear you. But I bet you'd suck at any of my race games." Henry began winding up the cords to his game and putting it away. Regina was going to start their dinner and he needed to finish up some homework so their Sunday Funday wouldn't be cut short.
This was the first weekend Emma had worked in a while and it had left the house quiet. Today was supposed to be her wedding to Hook so she had happily agreed to work instead of Sean. She wanted this day to be normal. Nothing special. And working weekends was her normal most of the time. She was supposed to work right on until after midnight and then David would relive her.
But tomorrow was Sunday Funday. They had agreed to spend the day together, as a family. There would be a big pancake breakfast and then a trip to the riding stables. Emma had never ridden a horse, but both Henry and Regina were eager to teach her.
Later, they had planned to have lunch at Granny's before taking in an afternoon movie. The Beaumont Theater was showing a classics series and Sunday was an Alfred Hitchcock double feature—Dial M for Murder and then The Birds. All three of them were stoked about it.
Finally, they had planned on Chinese take-out and a quiet time at home. Regina had insisted that they all put on their pajamas, get their cocoas and pile into her bed with a good book—or in Henry's case, a few new comic books. Emma had expected Henry to resist, but in truth, he was looking forward to that part maybe most of all. He loved to read and the growing bond of family between them all was unique… special. He finally felt like everything was right with the world.
"Well, I imagine so. But so long as you insist on these games with battling monsters… I'm afraid you will lose." She smirked and ruffled her son's hair. Good natured teasing was becoming the norm in their house since Emma practically lived there.
Regina smiled. She had a surprise for Emma and she could hardly wait for the blonde to come home.
Home.
"Well, I think I will start on something for dinner. Any requests?" Regina made her way across the room, carrying glasses and plates from their video game snack time.
"Hmmm, maybe tacos. You haven't made that in a while."
Regina smiled brightly and stifled a laugh. "Alright then, tacos it is."
It was about fifteen minutes later that Regina was standing at the stove, stirring spices into her ground beef when she heard the front door open. It was Emma. The blonde wandered into the kitchen and looped her arms around Regina while she cooked, kissing her neck from behind.
"Well, hello Sheriff. I didn't expect you for dinner." Regina's voice automatically deepened. Since the night they'd made love the first time, they had struggled to keep their hands off each other.
"Actually I'm on patrol. Someone reported a strange vehicle out on the street in front of the house and driving up and down the street today. I didn't see it. Probably some poor repairman looking for a house and running late." Emma's arms tightened around the brunette and one hand palmed Regina's breast and squeezed gently.
"Now, Emma… don't start something you can't finish." Regina's head fell back against the other woman who was already kissing her neck again.
Emma's lips grazed across the shell of Regina's ear making goose bumps appear along her skin. "I don't recall hearing any complaints on my ability to finish…" Her voice trailed off even as her hand squeezed lightly again. Even through the fabric of her apron, blouse and bra, Emma felt Regina's nipple harden in response.
Now Regina's mouth met Emma's and they kissed deeply, the brunette turning in her arms. There was something happening between them that Regina was not able to name. There was love. There was respect. There was a need to see each other, to be close, to talk and hold each other close. There was a need for physical contact and sexual release. It was overwhelming and intoxicating.
"Oh, come on! In the kitchen? Is nothing sacred to you two?" Henry's voice was a curious mix of teenage disgust and humor. He walked past them and pulled open the fridge. The kissing stopped, but the women didn't separate. They'd given up that ruse the third time he'd caught them kissing during movie night last Monday.
"Get used to it, Kid. If I'm gonna be with your mom, I'm gonna kiss her whenever I want. That's like, in the handbook." Emma grinned at their son and pulled Regina even closer.
The brunette swatted the blonde gently. "Don't tease him, Emma. He's going to need more therapy than even a queen can afford." Even Henry had to smile at that.
Emma kissed Regina once more for good measure and released her with a pop. "So, what's for dinner? I'm starving."
"Me too. How much longer, Mom?"
"Starving? I can't imagine. Both of you eat so little most of the time." Regina's voice was thick with sarcasm as she turned back to her task on the stove.
"Ha ha, funny lady. Henry is a growing boy, he can't help it." Emma pulled herself up onto the island, swinging her feet and banging them against the stool.
"He's growing but what about you, darling? You eat like a child." Regina smirked over her shoulder at the blonde.
"That's not what you said last night." Emma sassed back. Regina and Henry seemed to be in a battle for whose face could become the reddest the fastest.
"Emma!" Regina cried, turning with wide eyes to face her.
"Wow. Just wow. I did not need to hear that. I really am going to need therapy." Henry dismissed himself from the room.
"Oh, Kid. Come back. I promise not to…" Emma paused, thinking.
"Not to what, Miss Swan? Tell our teenage son about our sex life before dinner?" Regina's tone was hard to read. Emma was sure that she was in trouble though.
"Right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'll go talk to him." Emma slipped from the counter and headed after Henry. She stopped in the door way and jogged the few steps back to the stove and kissed Regina on the cheek. "I'm sorry. But in my defense, you're sexy Mayor-in-apron look made my brain short circuit."
The blonde offered up a sassy grin and of course Regina gave in. "Well, that may be, but try to control yourself in the future. Now, go talk to your son. The tacos will be ready in about five minutes."
"Tacos? Oh god. You're killing me, Smalls." Emma swatted Regina on her ass and headed after Henry again. This talk needed to be had like yesterday.
~ (SQ) ~
The figure from the woods climbed into the van with the pirate. They'd agreed to meet in the woods again so no one would see them together. For the last two weeks they had worked together secretly, plotting and planning for this day.
"It appears this may be easier than we originally thought, Killian."
"Aye? And what brings on this stroke of good fortune, love?" Killian turned in his seat to look at his guest.
"Well, I have it on good authority that Emma will be working tonight until late. It seems Deputy Sean needed the night off. His young wife came down with a terrible stomach bug and couldn't manage alone." There was something sinister in the explanation that made Hook pause.
"And I assume that sickness was your doing? You are one cold-hearted—"
"It would be wise for you not to finish that sentence, pirate."
"Alright. So, that means no worry of her spending the night. Good. One less thing to worry with. You promise this won't hurt the boy?" Killian held up a bottle with glittering blue powder in it.
"No. It's harmless. It merely induces a deep sleep. He will wake up refreshed tomorrow like always. He just won't wake up until then, no matter how things go with the Queen."
Hook studied the powder intently. He wanted to punish Regina. He wanted Emma back. But he wasn't sure this was the way to go about it. His partner must have sensed his new reluctance.
"If you want to back out, now is the time, Killian."
The pirate rubbed the arch of his hook hand against his chin, thinking. "No. I'm not backing out. Let's go over the plan once more."
~ (SQ) ~
Emma knocked lightly on her son's bedroom door before pushing it open and going in, not waiting for an invitation. "Hey."
"Hey." Henry was laying on his back in his bed, tossing a small ball into the air and catching it over and over.
"Can we talk?"
"I guess we can do anything you want since you just walked in here without waiting for me to say come in." The Kid kept tossing the ball up but his face was marred with a frown.
"Oh. Sorry. I…" Emma grew impatient with the ball and caught it before it hit Henry's hands again on its descent. "There, that's better. Now, I want you to sit up and let's talk."
Henry sat up and his mother sat down beside him. There was a tension between them that had never been there before.
"Listen Kid, I'm sorry for what I said in the kitchen. I didn't think. That wasn't cool."
"No, it wasn't. I don't mind that you are together with mom and I'm not a baby. I know what being together means. I just… don't want to hear about it. Or see it. Or hear it." Henry blushed and so did Emma. Perhaps she and Regina weren't as quiet as they thought.
"I know. And I'm sorry that what I said was embarrassing. Really. I am. But I'm not sorry for kissing your mom, and I am not going to stop that. We love each other and… well, kissing and other things are a natural expression of that. We aren't going to hide it, Henry." Emma's voice was thoughtful but carried authority.
"Mom already had the talk with me a long time ago, so I get it. Kissing and stuff is just part of it. I'm just not used to that, you know? It'll just take time, I guess. But I need you guys to try harder not to make it so… crazy. Does that make me a jerk?" Henry looked at his mother then. Sure, he had made some comments here and there, but the look in his eyes told Emma he was struggling more than he let on.
"Of course you're not a jerk. There are real assholes in this world who wouldn't accept your mother and me together no matter what we kept for private moments. You aren't like them. I get it. It's hard being your age, and feeling things and looking at girls differently… just to have your moms making out on the couch. So, while I stand by what I said, we will continue to kiss and cuddle and hold hands, I can try not to be so…"
"Loud? Handsy? Mushy?" Henry supplied.
"No. I was going to say I'll try not to be so obvious but I can work on the others. And I'm sure your mom knows a silencing spell we can put on her room so we won't disturb you." Emma nudged her son with her shoulder.
"See, this is a prime example of something I don't need to know."
Emma laughed outright then. "Ok, I see what you mean. I'm too open with my thoughts. Right. So, I'll do better. But you have to do better too. Tell us when it's weird. We might not change it but give us the option. And go ahead and prepare to see PDAs because… that's the new normal."
Emma nudged the boy again and he finally nudged her back. They kept nudging back and forth, each time with more force until Henry nudged his mom completely off the bed.
"Hey! Give your dear old mom a break, Kid." She stood up from the floor by his bed, rubbing her rear.
"Going soft in your old age?" Henry's smirk was Regina-level sassy. It made the blonde feel warm in her heart.
"Pay back's a bitch, Henry. You better play nice." Emma stepped toward the door. "And don't tell your mom I said bitch."
The two of them, having made it over the awkwardness, headed down for dinner. It already smelled heavenly. Midway down, Emma stopped.
"What's all this?" She gestured to the photos on the wall.
"I guess I thought the house needed a few pictures of you." Regina's voice was calling from the bottom of the stairs. She had been on her way to call them to dinner.
"Wow." Emma stood, examining each one as Henry went on to set the table. "Where'd you get these?"
"Oh, I have my ways, Emma." The brunette smiled up at the woman as she descended the last few steps. "And after dinner, I have something to show you in our room."
Emma's heart began to pound in her chest. Our room. "And what's that?"
"Just a surprise." Regina glanced back to Henry, laying out plates and glasses and whispered, "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. Everything is good. I'll tell you about it later."
~ (SQ) ~
"Henry, I'm going to show Emma something upstairs so she can get back to work. Will you start clearing the table? Load the dishwasher and leave the pots. I'll put the food away and handle them." Regina stood then and started around the table.
"Yeah, sure. Then I need to finish my homework so we can have our Sunday Funday." Henry smiled at his mothers. Since the chat with Emma, things had evened back out.
Emma trailed behind Regina up the stairs to their bedroom. Their room. That's what Regina had called it. The blonde paused briefly to look at the picture along the wall again. Her heart swelled in her chest. There was something wonderful in being included.
Growing up, Emma hadn't lived with any family long enough to have her photo on the wall in a frame. And since finding her parents, a few snapshots around the loft was all they'd ever gotten around to. But the pictures Regina had chosen, framed and hung… they made Emma feel like she belonged. Like she was finally home.
"Are you coming?" Regina called from the top of the stairs.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry. I just…" Emma didn't know what to say as she joined Regina in the upstairs hall.
Regina took her hand and smiled sadly. "I know."
And Emma knew that she did. If anyone would understand the importance of the photos, of being made a part of this family in even the smallest ways, it was Regina. She understood loneliness. She understood rejection. She knew what it was to be on the outside looking in.
They two slipped into the bedroom and Regina closed the door. Barely a heartbeat of time passed and Emma was kissing her, holding her close. It wasn't even really about sexual desire or physical need. She just had to touch the other woman. It was like some invisible force, pushing them together, making them hunger for even the smallest contact.
After a moment, Emma rested her forehead against Regina's and they smiled at each other. "So, you said I get a surprise?"
Regina pulled away then and her dark eyes danced with delight. "Yes. And I hope it makes you happy. Follow me."
Regina led the way to her closet, fingers still intertwined with Emma's.
"Isn't this backwards? We just got out of the closet."
"Emma."
"Sorry. Go ahead. What's the surprise?"
"This."
Regina stepped into the closet and pushed Emma ahead. The blonde couldn't understand at first, but slowly realization sank in.
"You…"
"I cleared a place for you to keep some clothes here. And a drawer in the bureau too. I know we agreed to take things slow so I assumed asking you to move in after two weeks would be considered fast. But, you can bring some things so you don't have to carry a bag back and forth." The love in Regina's eyes melted Emma where she stood. "Is this ok?"
"Ok? No. This is much better than ok." Emma couldn't help the tears that pooled in her eyes, making them glisten. "This is… this is wonderful."
Regina hugged her love tight and kissed her cheek. "Wonderful. That's what I thought too."
Emma ran a hand along the empty shelves and waved into the void where Regina's clothes had been hanging. "And a drawer too?"
Regina nodded. "And space in the bathroom."
"Wow. Thank you, Regina. I don't know what to say." Emma wiped her cheeks and pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. She felt silly crying.
"Don't say anything. Just bring some stuff over and make yourself at home." A look of mischief crossed her face. "And… for when you aren't able to be here, I have another surprise. For your eyes only."
Reaching onto a shelf on her side of the closet, Regina produced a thin, rectangular gift, neatly wrapped with a beautiful bow. Biting her lip, she handed it gingerly to Emma. "I hope you like it."
With it in her hands, Emma decided it must be a picture frame from the weight and feel of it. Stepping back into the bedroom and sitting on the chaise, Emma made quick work of ripping back the paper. She was dumbstruck by the photo in the frame. It was another black and white shot. She recognized it right away. She had taken the photo herself.
Several mornings ago, Regina had awakened to the sound of Emma snapping pictures of her with her phone while she slept. At first she was confused, but then, she had played along. She was naked, covered only by the sheet just up to her chest, her hair mussed from sleep and there was a dream-like quality to her expressions as she looked into the camera and at Emma. By the time Emma had showered, Regina had expressed her regret at taking the photos, some of which were less dreamy and more steamy so Emma had handed her the phone and allowed her to delete them.
"I don't need the pictures if I can have the real thing." Emma winked, lacing up her boots.
"I know just what you mean." Regina leaned forward and kissed her before slipping into the bathroom for her own shower.
Now here in a frame in Emma's hand was one of those pictures. Regina was laying back on her pillows, her hair fanned out like a crown on her head. There was a soft and enigmatic smile on her lips and the sheet covered her modestly, though the curves of her body, the swell of her breasts was clearly hidden there. Perhaps the most beautiful thing of all however was the playful and sexy look in her eyes. How a snapshot with a camera on her phone could possibly have captured Regina this way was beyond comprehension. She was soft. She was sensual. She was perfect.
"Oh, Regina. This is incredible. You look…" Emma's voice hitched and she looked up at the other woman standing by the chaise.
Regina smiled shyly and gently stroked Emma's cheek. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. This is… you're flawless. I love you." Emma jumped up and lifted Regina off the floor in a hug.
The brunette made no move to free herself. "Just be sure no one else sees it. That is just for you, dear."
Emma sat the former queen down and clutched the photo to her chest like some sacred scroll filled with the answers to the questions of all time. "I assure you, no one but me will ever see you like this, Regina."
For my eyes only.
~ (SQ) ~
Watching through his spyglass, Hook was witness to a passionate kiss on the porch of the Mayor's mansion as Regina sent the sheriff back to work after dinner. Killian wondered distractedly what the item was that Emma held to her chest but he had to keep his mind focused. He had a job to do.
Yet, try as he might, the pirate was struggling to remain calm. His blood boiled at the sight of the Evil Queen soiling the Savior with her kiss. He had always had a razor's edge relationship to the brunette, but tonight… tonight was pressing all the wrong buttons. He had been on the verge of backing out on this quest, but seeing his Emma in her arms was all the renewed motivation he needed to complete his task.
It was dark out now and getting late. Soon enough Regina and Henry would go to bed and he would make his move. And with the help of his magical friend, the town would finally be rid of their monarch and he would be free to claim Emma once again.
~ (SQ) ~
"Mom?" Henry called to his mother, knocking quietly on the open door to her study.
"Yes? Come in, Henry. Are you headed to bed?" Regina looked up from the last few documents she had promised to read over the weekend. The Parks Department had filed a request for an increased budget in order to buy new equipment for the new youth soccer league. Queen or Mayor, Regina still had to make the tough decisions. At least these were about sports and not famine or war.
"Actually, I am in a few minutes. I was wondering if you could wash these for tomorrow." Henry produced from behind him a pair of jeans and a hoodie that had become his go-to outfit lately.
Regina arched a brow at her son. "And is there a reason you can't wash them?" Henry was a prince and he often got his way but Regina hadn't raised him to be dependent on her. He learned early to separate colors and white, to fold and iron. Appearance was important.
Henry shrugged. "I just like the way you do it better. It's like making a sandwich. They always taste better when you make them."
The brunette closed the file and shut down her computer. "I think I know what you mean about a sandwich but I've never heard of that applying to laundry." She stood and walked toward her son, taking his clothes. "But, I suppose I can do this for you this once."
She poked her growing boy in the side playfully. He was such a gift to her life. Ever since he was just an infant, there had been a special bond between them. Only those most difficult years threatened to destroy it and yet somehow they had survived it.
"Thanks, Mom. You're the best." Henry hugged her with one arm and let her go. Regina eyed him curiously as he reached into the refrigerator for a drink.
"Water, Henry. You've had too many sweets already today."
The boy shook a bottle of water in her direction as if to say he was way ahead of her. Now the boy turned and kissed his mother on the cheek. "Good night, Mom. Big day tomorrow so… don't stay up too late."
Regina chuckled. "I'm supposed to tell you that. But I'll take your advice… as soon as I do your laundry."
Henry shrugged again, an apologetic look on his face. "Someday when I'm grown and moved out you will wish for my dirty laundry."
Regina frowned at the thought of her son leaving home but decided not to dwell on it. "I assure you, no one will ever wish for dirty laundry. Now, scoot. I'll get these done and them I'm going to bed too."
"Night."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
Once Henry's clothes had run the wash cycle and were in the dryer, Regina went about locking doors and shutting off the lights. Emma had said she was going to the loft after work but Regina had convinced her to come home instead. It hadn't been a hard sell. So, in about two hours, the blonde would let herself in and sneak upstairs, trying not to wake her.
But she would find a surprise waiting. Regina was going to use the two hours wisely. A hot bath first, then setting the stage in their bedroom for some fun. Sunday Funday didn't have to begin with breakfast. Their goodbye kiss on the porch helped her decide it would begin with a midnight snack.
The former queen stopped at her son's door and looked in on him. He was snoring lightly, his comic book on his chest and still wearing his sneakers. She tiptoed in and slipped the book from his hands, pulled off his shoes and covered him with a throw before clicking off his bedside lamp.
Poor guy must have been exhausted. He's sleeping so hard.
She watched his face, softened by sleep and wondered at how much he looked like Emma. She sent up a thanks to the universe for the two most important people in her life. She was sure she didn't deserve them. Perhaps that was what made them both such a gift. They had made her life—
Regina sneezed violently. Something in the air was tickling her nose.
She slipped from Henry's room back into the dim hall. She was feeling rather sleepy all of a sudden. A yawn caused her to stretch and blink heavy eye lids. What was wrong? Something wasn't right. She wasn't sleepy, she was excited to see Emma and—
She sneezed again. This time rubbing her itchy nose with the side of her index finger. She pulled her hand away to see a trace of blue sparkle and fade away. What was…?
Brown eyes flew wide with realization. Magic!
"Henry!" Regina yelled, trying to rouse her son. She had no way of knowing he had already succumbed to the sleeping powder and wouldn't hear her. "Hen… Henry."
This time her voice was slower, slurred and she felt confused. She tried hard to counteract the magic overtaking her but she couldn't call up her own magic. She couldn't focus. Who was doing this? Why?
She stumbled back across the hall, trying to protect her son but barely got the door to his room open before she fell in a heap on the carpet. She couldn't resist it much longer.
"Henry…" Her voice was just a whisper now. "Emma…"
"Ah, now. Call her all you like, your majesty. No one is coming to rescue you this time."
The voice ricocheted in Regina's mind. Of course. It was that damned pirate. She used every bit of her strength to raise a defiant chin to him.
"Whatever it is you think…" The darkness was closing in. "…you think you are doing, you will regret this. Emma…"
"Dear, sweet Emma. She will return to Killian soon enough. Who better to console her in her time of loss than the man who loves her? Have you learned nothing, your majesty? You never win? I can't allow that. Not this time. Not ever."
The voice was soft and feminine. She wasn't alone with the pirate. But who? Who would help him?
Forcing her eyes open for the last time, Regina gasped to see her standing there, side by side with Hook.
"You? But… why?" She couldn't fight it anymore and her eyes closed in a death-like sleep. The last thing she saw were the matronly shoes of Mother Superior stalking toward her.
~ (SQ) ~
Across town at the Sheriff's Station, Emma made ready to finally end her shift and head home to the mansion. She stepped out of her office, slipping on her jacket and laughing with David who had come to relieve her of duty when suddenly she felt it. A stabbing pain made her stagger back as a pair of giant cosmic scissors once again severed her connection to Regina.
"Emma?" David jumped to his feet, steadying his daughter. "Are you alright?"
With wide eyes, the Savior, the Princess, the Sheriff, the former Dark One… the mother, the lover, the friend… Emma Swan ran down the hall, holding her chest in pain and called back to her dad, "No. Something's wrong. I've got to get to Regina."
End Note: Are we still friends? I told y'all Blue was shady...