A/N: Decided to do another quick chapter of this story before moving back over to work on my other fic again. I hope you enjoy. And as always... Reviews = love. Thanks!
Chapter 04
Regina began to stir but frowned when she found she was unable to move as freely as she wished; something, or more like someone, was wrapped around her and kept her from moving. As she slowly pulled herself from slumber, her eyes fluttering open, she turned her head slightly to find Emma nestled against her, her one arm wrapped securely around the brunette woman as her head rested peacefully on her shoulder. Regina gingerly moved her hand to run a finger featherlight along the woman's brow as she moved a wisp of hair from Emma's face. The blonde scrunched her nose at the touch as it tickled her skin, but continued to sleep as she nestled closer.
The room was still filled with darkness, the sun not even making it's presence known yet through the slits in the curtains. Regina knew she had to get up before Henry but it was far too early still, and resigned that she wouldn't be getting up anytime soon due to Emma's claim on her anyway. She tried to find sleep once again but her attempts seemed futile. Giving a sigh of defeat, she used her time instead to think as she lay there staring up at the ceiling.
She realized she had not shared her bed with anyone since Graham, until now. However, with Graham it had been solely of physical need. While sexually satisfying, to an extent, she had still craved for someone to love her. If she were honest with herself, perhaps she had hoped in time he would love her, but that would have required returning his heart and she knew if she had, he would have left. There was no emotion there. But this, with Emma… She absentmindedly stroked the blonde's arm with her thumb as she rested her own upon it. Is this what it is like to be loved in return?
Regina was pulled from her thoughts as she felt Emma grip her tighter and mumbled something within her sleep. She turned her head to look at the blonde just as she began to mumble again. "Regina's mine." The brunette arched her brow at the claiming words used but she quickly noticed the worried look upon Emma's face as her own brow furrowed and she gripped tighter still. Concerned, Regina found herself moving to gently bring her lips to the woman's forehead and placed a lingering kiss there. Feeling the woman gradually relax, she eventually pulled back to witness the calm peacefulness return to Emma's face once more.
For the next hour, Regina lay there watching the blonde slumber, as she herself dozed in and out of sleep here and there. When she woke at one point, she found Emma had shifted, finally no longer clinging so desperately and she took that opportunity to slip out of bed to get up for the day. Finding an outfit, she quickly moved down the hall to check on Henry before heading to the bathroom to shower and change.
Once she was finished, Regina looked in on Emma to make sure she was okay, and found her snuggled under the covers since the brunette was no longer there for warmth. Satisfied that no nightmares seemed to be present, Regina gingerly shut the door and made her way downstairs. She stopped first in the study to pick up the dirty glasses from the previous evening then headed into the kitchen, placing them in the sink before starting a pot of coffee.
While she waited for it to warm up, she stood there resting her hands on the counter as her thoughts drifted once again. How had the woman, that still laid in her bed upstairs, become so intricately woven into her life that she had been able to steal her heart without Regina knowing, until now; it scared her. A thief, indeed. She mused to herself, her lip twitching up faintly. Less than twenty-four hours ago she would have thought of none of this. But the kiss... It was after that kiss in the car that everything seemed to erupt in chaos within her mind, yet pieces falling into place at the same time. How was that even possible? Was that what they meant by organized chaos? She felt like she was constantly warring within herself for control of her emotions. It was as if something had awakened within her when Emma had kissed her, and she in turn kissed back. It was something she realized now, that she had not felt since Daniel. And even when comparing, to help her understand, it was stronger than even that.
Sighing, she slowly pulled herself back to the present and moved over to the sink to turn the water on so it could heat up to wash the few glasses that were there. Perhaps getting lost in a mundane task such as cleaning would help her. With her back turned she didn't notice her son as he came padding into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes as he yawned and stretched.
"Morning, mom." Henry commented as he walked over to the island and folded his arms on it before resting his chin on them, his eyes still blinking away the sleep.
Regina looked up and glanced over her shoulder when she heard her son's voice. "Henry, you're up quite early, I usually have to wake you." She gave a soft smile at him before turning back around to finish up the last glass. Regina released the water from the sink, then moved to grab a mug and pour a cup of coffee for herself. Fixing it to her liking, she soon turned around to lean against the counter and took a careful sip of the hot liquid as she watched over her son; he seemed to be thinking of something himself, but what?
"So…" Henry started as he slowly glanced up at her through his lashes, his chin remaining nestled on his arms. "I went into your room to look for something." Regina paused a moment as she regarded her son, knowing what, or in this case who, he found and waited for his questions to arise. "Why's Emma in your room? And in your bed?"
Pushing off the counter, Regina walked over to the island where her son was and set her coffee mug down on it. She knew any misstep in her reaction to his questions would be quickly picked up on by him and she'd have that many more to answer. "Well, darling, it was late when we were done talking so I offered her the guest room for the night. However, she was having nightmares and didn't trust herself being alone with her magic still unstable, so she came to find me when she saw my light was on." She paused to gauge his reaction before reaching out to brush some hair from his face. "She was afraid of hurting you, with you so close across the hall. And I promised her I would make sure nothing happened."
Henry looked up at her and nodded as he yawned and leaned against her side sleepily. "You know you can tell me if you guys want to be together, right?" He mumbled, eyes half-lidded. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
Regina ran her fingers through her son's hair as he spoke. She didn't want to say anything without Emma there as well. They hadn't exactly talked about anything truly yet, and to be honest, she still didn't know what they were or would become. "I know, dear. I'm quite aware you are no longer a little kid, but you are still my little prince." She stood there continuing her motions as she thought. "Why don't you go finish getting ready, I'll wake Emma and we can all go down to the diner for breakfast this morning before you have to go to school?" That would give her time to perhaps have a word with the blonde before they left.
Henry perked up a bit at the mention of going to the diner with his moms. When it's just the two of them, they usually had breakfast at home. Slipping from his chair, he went to leave the kitchen but stopped and pivoted to look back at Regina. "I just meant it would be cool with me, you and mom being together. Don't get me wrong. Killian and Robin are cool and all but… you're my moms and we're already a family. Aren't we?" He arched his brow a moment as he paused, then letting out a sigh he continued. "I'm just saying, if you do love each other… it'd just make it a lot easier not to have to always choose between you two." He ended softly, lowering his eyes and turned back around to head upstairs to get ready.
Regina watched her son until he disappeared upstairs. She then moved to fill another cup of coffee before grabbing her own off the counter and headed back up to her room. Opening the door she went over and set the two mugs on the nightstand, taking a sit on the bed next to Emma. The blonde was laying there on her stomach, hair fanned out along her pillow, her arm outstretched in Regina's empty spot on the bed where she had been searching for the missing woman in her sleep. Regina watched her a minute or two before reaching out and running her fingers along the blonde's arm in a featherlight caress.
Emma hummed contently as she slowly began to stir from the sensation. She moved her arm up under Regina's pillow as she stretched slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she looked up to find mesmerizingly, silken brown eyes watching her. "What?" She asked in a voice that came out in an almost whisper.
Regina didn't respond right away, instead letting her eyes drift over the contours of Emma's body where the sheets clung to it. When her eyes came upon the blonde's face once more, she found the woman's cheeks quite flushed. "Simply admiring, dear." She purred, a slight smirk coming upon her lips, which caused the pink in Emma's cheeks to intensify. "By the way, did you know you're clingy in your sleep?" Regina asked, flicking the end of her brow up to emphasize the question. She grabbed the two coffee mugs she had brought in and handed one over to Emma as she moved to sit up.
"Uh, I wouldn't know. I'm used to sleeping alone." Emma stated a bit flustered, taking a sip of the dark hot liquid.
"Well, you also mumble in your sleep." Regina added casually, taking a sip of her own coffee before setting it back down. "Things like, 'Regina's mine'." She commented as she looked down and brushed a non-existent piece of lint from her pants. "I have refused to ever be considered 'claimed', Miss Swan. I have had many throughout my life try to do such."
Emma was frozen in her spot, she wasn't even sure if she could remember how to breathe. Did I actually say that in my sleep? Shit! And here I thought it was my out of control magic that I had to worry about. Out of control mouth more like it. Ugh. "I'm sorry, Regina. I didn't mean it. I… I was asleep and must have been having a nightmare or something." Emma groaned inwardly to herself. That lame excuse didn't even make sense.
Emma was so busy internalizing and berating herself she didn't notice the amused expression etching upon the brunette's face. Regina took hold of Emma's chin gently so that she would look at her. "You didn't mean it? Are you sure?" She asked as she moved an inch closer, dropping her gaze to the blonde's lips and smirked as she watched them part, waiting for a kiss that would not come. "Shame… I was going to say, for you, I might make an exception. Only if you accept my claim in return." Her smirk grew as she watched the blush rise from the blonde's neck to her face.
What was she to even say to that? Emma's mind swirled with the intoxication that was all Regina, only getting slight relief as the brunette moved back to her previous position. It took all Emma had, not to let out the faintest whimper. She tried to steady her breathing, taking a sip of her coffee in hopes of it helping; she was surprised she hadn't dropped it.
Regina had been so wrapped up in enjoying flustering the blonde - it was one of her favorite pastimes after all - that her original reasoning for coming up there had slipped her mind. But as the silence set in, it was then that she remembered the little issue. "Our son knows you slept in my bed, by the way." She stated nonchalantly, reaching for her mug once more.
Emma had just been taking a sip of her own when Regina's words registered in her mind and she spit out half of her coffee that was in her mouth, while some even managed to escape over the lip of her mug, splashing her. "Shit! Ow, ow." And there goes the coffee. Dammit.
Narrowing her eyes as she watched the other woman's reaction to her statement, Regina took the mug away from Emma and put it down along with her own. "These sheets cost more than your paycheck, I'd rather you not ruin them, thank you." She got up to grab a towel, returning it to toss it at the blonde.
Emma grumbled as she snatched the towel up and began patting at her shirt and the sheet. "Well it's your fault for giving me that kind of news when I'm in the middle of drinking the coffee you made me!"
Regina arched her brow. "Excuse me? Don't go blaming me for your transgressions. I was simply making you aware of the situation at hand." Emma just rolled her eyes at the brunette's chiding, continuing to check for anymore spots. "Take it off." Regina said in an almost command as she stood there at the foot of the bed. Emma's hand stopped with the towel as she looked up at the brunette. "What? I can't very well wash it with you still in it. Take it off so I can throw it in the laundry." Regina stated again, folding her arms as she waited for her demand to be met.
Emma hesitated, still thinking the woman couldn't be serious but the annoyed look upon Regina's face said otherwise. Taking a deep breath, she managed to get the nerve up to grab at the hem of her shirt and lift it over her head. Quickly tossing it to the end of the bed, the blonde gripped the sheet and brought it up to cover herself. Regina made a click of her tongue as she rolled her eyes at Emma's modesty, reaching down to pick up the soiled shirt. "You may borrow one of my shirts for the time being." She offered, walking over to her closet to find one for the blonde. "I told Henry to get ready and we would all go have breakfast at the diner before he has to go to school."
Emma just watched the brunette as she continued to sort through her closet in search of something for her to wear. She gripped the sheet a little tighter as she brought it higher to just under her chin. She felt entirely too exposed, sitting there with nothing on but her underwear, and decided to make a move as she reached one hand out to grab at the comforter as well.
"Ah, here we go." Regina turned back around with a choice shirt in hand, just in time to see Emma pull the comforter into place. The brunette chuckled as she made her way back over and tossed the shirt on the end of the bed, then walked over to Emma's side of it and bent down, taking the woman's chin between her fingers once again. "A bashful swan is so intriguing." She smirked before leaning in and placing a sensuous kiss upon the blonde's lips. "Change and come down when you're ready." She whispered against her lips then kissed her one more time before moving to leave.
"Wait." Emma called out just as Regina went to open the door. "What did you tell him?" She still wondered how much their son actually knew.
Regina glanced over her shoulder and with an arch of her brow. "I told him the truth." She stated plainly, turning back to open the door and leave.
Emma just stared at the empty space where the brunette had just been. What the hell was that supposed to mean? She groaned and fell back in bed. So much for waiting and talking to him together when the time was right. What had she gotten herself into?
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Regina and Henry were sitting in the living room waiting when Emma finally came down the stairs. "Hey, mom." The boy greeted as he looked up from his comic book.
"Hey, kiddo." Emma gave him a small smile and shoved her hands in her back pocket. She stood awkwardly in the doorway, not knowing how much or even what he knew. Sure her and Regina hadn't exactly done anything but were they actually together now? Hell, she didn't even know at this point. All she did know is her brain didn't seem to function when the brunette was close and that made things that much more complicated.
"Well, now that everyone is ready…" Regina started as she stood from the couch, looking Emma over. "I guess we can go. You can finish that when you get home, Henry." She turned to comment to the boy.
Henry closed up his comic and laid it on the coffee table before hopping off the couch to go grab his coat and scarf. Emma watched him walk by then shifted her attention back to Regina, who was now walking towards her. The brunette stopped in front of her and fussed over the shirt Emma was wearing, fixing the collar as she looked past her a moment to see Henry with his back turned. Leaning in Regina placed a chaste kiss upon the blonde's lips and smirked before moving around her to go to their son and help him adjust his coat.
Emma just stood there motionless; she hadn't expected the kiss and it caught her off guard. "Are you coming or not, Miss Swan? We don't have all day." Regina called back to the woman as she grabbed her own coat and slipped it on. "I'd like for our son to have some sort of nourishment before school." That pushed the blonde out of her state and she rolled her eyes, pivoting on her heels to make her way over to them, snatching her jacket as they headed out the front door.