A/N: time jump. Because … I wanted to! And NSFW because I've not written smut in a while, sorry!
It was a sweeping statement but Emma hated lawyers. With the exception of Regina, of course. She had been sat in James Nolan's office for hours, with him trying to prepare her for the trial which was set to begin the following Monday. It had been six weeks since Killian Jones was arrested and Emma was surprised every morning when she woke up and discovered that the case was still proceeding. But at that moment it time she wished it wasn't. In fact, she wished she had never allowed Regina to talk her into this. James was leaning against his desk, arms crossed, and a scowl on his face.
"So what you're saying is that after months of you providing sexual services to the defendant, he was supposed to believe that you no longer wanted him?"
"I said no," Emma replied, her eyes sparkling with tears.
"Is it true that the pair of you had engaged in fantasy role play in the past?" James asked.
"Yes, but not rape-themed because that's -,"
"And is it also true," James said, cutting Emma off, "that you claim to have been raped by another man whilst you were working as a prostitute and yet you never brought charges against this first assailant?"
Emma bit her lip. "How did you know that?"
"August was in yesterday for his trial prep," James said, breaking character and switching back into Emma's lawyer rather than the man defending a rapist. "He mentioned it to me and I wouldn't be surprised if it comes out at trial."
"And that will stand against me?" Emma asked. "The fact that someone else raped me is, what, going to discredit my story?"
"They can spin it so it looks like you're only going after Killian Jones because of who he is. Or rather who his family is," James said.
"But I didn't know who he was!" Emma protested. "And I would have gone to the police after the first time if I had thought it would have done any good. But what chance does a girl like me have of getting justice?"
"Well when you're dating Regina Mills, pretty good," James joked but seeing the look on Emma's face, he frowned. "I mean, I know everyone deserves justice but I also know the legal system in this country is skewed towards people with money. At least in this case there's a fair fight."
"With Regina throwing money at you and Brennan Jones throwing money at that Hades guy. Aptly named by the way. He literally is the lord of the underworld. He's defending a rapist. He's -,"
A knock on the door made Emma stop talking. James walked over and opened it at once.
"Well, speak of the devil. Literally," he said, standing back so Gregory Hades could walk into his office. "What brings you back here? I told you, we're not taking another one of your pathetic deals."
Because Gregory Hades had indeed turned up at the Nolan brothers' offices on numerous occasions, attempting to settle the case out of court. So far however, every offer had been far too lenient and neither James nor Emma nor Regina, were willing to accept.
"One year jail time, and his name goes on the register for sexual offenders for ten years," Gregory said.
James rolled his eyes. "No thanks," he replied, still standing with his hand on the door, waiting for the other lawyer to leave. "What with the DNA, multiple witnesses and Emma's testimony, I think I'll take my chances in court."
A slow smile spread over Gregory's face. "Oh but you don't have the one thing that we do."
"And what's that? A trust fund?" James quipped back.
"Me."
Gregory stalked back past James and the man slammed the door after him.
"Cocky bastard," James huffed. "Right, where were we?"
"Actually, I'm feeling really tired," Emma said. "Mind if we continue tomorrow morning?"
James nodded his understanding and accompanied Emma outside where Graham was waiting for her. Glancing up at the clouds, she noted the sky looked as dark as she felt. A late spring storm was coming after a month of warm weather. The town car crawled through the New York rush hour traffic towards Henry's daycare centre but Emma was glad of the time alone to think. The last six weeks had been overwhelming and she had barely had the chance to wrap her head around what was happening. The trial started in less than four days and if all went according to plan, she would be telling a court room of strangers what Killian Jones did to her in a week's time. She didn't think she could do it. Not if the questions were as abrupt and hurtful as James' had been today. And knowing Gregory Hades, they'd probably be much worse.
"Ma'am?" came Graham's voice, interrupting her thoughts.
Emma jumped, still not used to being called Ma'am and also at the realisation that they were outside Zelena's brownstone. She hopped out and jogged up the steps to ring the bell. Picking up Henry, she thanked the red-head and made her way back to the car just as the first crack of thunder sounded overhead. By the time they got to the apartment building, raindrops were hammering hard on the windshield and the streets were deserted. Everyone had retreated inside as the water cascaded from the sky. Thanking Graham, Emma threw the door open and she and Henry dashed for the entrance. The sidewalk was mere metres wide but they were both drenched as they passed the doorman, laughing together as they headed towards the lifts. As she lifted Henry up so he could press the button to the penthouse, Emma felt a surge of love for the boy in her arms. She wondered how she could ever had gotten through the past month with him and his mother. She realised as she slid the key into the lock of her home, that she wouldn't have.
Her home. That was another thing she had now, thanks to Regina. They had repeatedly had conversations about their living arrangements, both citing the unusual order in which their relationship had developed but neither woman expressing any desire to change them. Emma certainly wasn't able to afford to find a place of her own with her part time job and Regina didn't want Emma to leave. So they had agreed that, unorthodox as it was, they would continue as they had been: navigating all the trials and difficulties which come with any new relationship whilst living under the same roof. Emma, finally, had a home.
And as for those early relationship difficulties, well, aside from Emma being a former street-rat and the impending rape trial, and the fact that Regina's mother barely spoke to her outside of meetings, and that Henry called Emma 'Mama' once but the brunette didn't hear it and the blonde didn't mention it, everything was great. Emma couldn't remember being happier, despite everything else which was going on in her life. So that evening, as she sat on the couch reading over the notes James Nolan had given her to ensure she was familiar with the court proceedings, Emma grinned widely when she felt two soft, warm hands slip over her eyes.
"Guess who," came the familiar husky voice.
"How did you get in without you hearing me?" Emma asked, turning and pulling Regina in for a long kiss.
"I'm stealthy," she shrugged when they broke apart.
"Isn't that a dwarf?" Emma asked.
Regina thought for a moment. "Don't think so. Not unless there was an eighth no one knew about. What are you so engrossed in anyway?"
Emma held up the document and then tossed it aside. Instead, she patted the couch beside her and Regina gratefully sank onto it, toeing off her heels as she did so. It had been a long day at her office and it was already nearing nine o'clock.
"How was Henry?" she asked as she curled into Emma's side.
"Fine," the blonde answered. "Marlo and his friends built a rope bridge today."
"You know," Regina mused, "you really should write these stories down. Your ideas are great."
Emma shrugged and pulled Regina closer to her. "I'd rather just tell them. It's more natural. Once I start writing them down then they're fixed. I can't change them and they feel too … rigid."
"Ok," Regina replied. "I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do."
"Aside from taking Killian Jones to court."
Regina's frame froze in Emma's arms for a moment before she slowly sat up, turning to face the blonde with wide eyes.
"What?"
Emma rubbed her hands over her face and sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. You're not making me do any of this Regina and I shouldn't have said that."
"Bad meeting?" the brunette asked.
"Yeah," Emma nodded. "This testifying thing is scary as fuck."
"I know, but we've got a great chance of winning. That man is going to go away for a long time." Regina said. Emma shrugged but didn't look convinced.
"Want me to make you forget about it?"
Emma's eyebrows rose at the lowered tone of Regina's voice, accompanied by a salacious wink. She opened her mouth to answer but the practically predatory look in the brown eyes made her close it again. She didn't need to speak, she decided. She'd done enough of that today. This was time for her and Regina. And it had also been three whole days since they had had sex. Which, for their relationship, was a long time.
They stumbled their way into the bedroom, their mouths working furiously against one another. Before the door had even closed behind them, Emma had forgotten her worried and troubles of the day because her head was just too full of Regina. The way the woman's body was pressed against her own. The way perfectly manicured nails were digging slightly into her ass through her pants. The way her tongue swiped across her lips before delving into her mouth. The way she whimpered when Emma palmed her breast roughly before she began to undo the buttons of her shirt.
Emma fumbled the blouse open and quickly pushed it from Regina's shoulders. Her fingers snaked around to unclasp the bra behind and dropped that to the floor too. Her eager hands covered Regina's pert mounds, squeezing softly as her lips captured the moan the movement caused. She guided Regina backwards towards the bed where the brunette lay down, watching with hooded eyes as a still fully clothed Emma unbuttoned her suit pants and tugged them down her legs. She quickly returned, kissing across the top edge of Regina's lace thong before removing that too, leaving the woman gloriously naked. Regina propped herself up on her elbows and watched as Emma quickly divested herself of her t-shirt and jeans.
"You know, I thought I was supposed to be distracting you," Regina remarked, a teasing note in her voice as she watched Emma, clad only in her underwear, kneel between her spread legs.
"You are," Emma replied before her mouth sealed over Regina's sex.
The brunette collapsed back onto the bed, her body spasming at the abrupt sensation. Emma's tongue moved slowly and steadily from her entrance up through her folds to her clit where she circled once before retreating. The hot, slippery muscle slid easily through the wetness already gathered between Regina's thighs and Emma drank her in, relishing the delicious taste of her girlfriend. She wrapped her arms beneath Regina's back and pulled her to the edge of the bed, her ass right on the edge of the mattress and her thighs spread wide so she could feast as deeply as possible on the pussy before her.
Regina moaned as she felt Emma's tongue dip inside her, her walls squeezing around the welcome muscle. Fingers threaded through Emma's hair, pulling her closer, and she swung her legs over Emma's shoulder, her heels encouraging the woman to press harder against her. Emma obliged, naturally. She buried her face in Regina's sex, her tongue flickering as deeply as possible inside the velvety walls and her nose rubbing repeatedly over Regina's clit. Her own sex was throbbing with pleasure and she couldn't wait for Regina to touch her later. But right now, she was focused on the brunette's pleasure and brought her fingers up to tease her clit. Sucking them briefly into her mouth, Emma circled Regina's clit several times as her tongue continued to thrust in and out of her channel. She could feel Regina's walls beginning to flutter with the tell-tale signs of an impending orgasm so she pressed harder against her clit, fast, furious little rubs as her tongue pushed deep and strong, lapping at the essence as it began to flow faster.
As her orgasm hit her, Regina came with a short cry, her hand clapped over her mouth. She arched off the bed, her body overcome with feelings and desire as Emma worked her over the peak and gradually back down, gently licking and suckling her tender sex until at last the brunette lay quietly and spent on the bed. Emma got to her feet and helped Regina slide up the bed until they were lying side by side on the pillows.
Emma kissed Regina softly, knowing how much the brunette enjoyed the taste of her own come on Emma's lips. She sighed in contentment as she pulled the brunette closer to her and felt Regina's arms intertwine around her waist. She loved the feeling of their bodies pressed against one another, their smooth skin slightly damp after the exertion but warm and soft and comforting nonetheless. She closed her eyes as Regina's head moved to rest on her shoulder and dozed off within minutes.
She was awoken soon after however by Regina's fingers trailing slowly though her wet folds. Blinking her eyes open, she peered through the dim light of the bedroom to see Regina's smiling face beside her.
"You can't sleep yet, darling," Regina cooed. "I believe I owe you an orgasm."
Never one to deny Regina, especially when it meant her own pleasure, Emma lay back against the pillows and watched as Regina crawled down the bed. The brunette paused for a moment and then seemed to make up her mind about something. She straddled one of Emma's thighs and lifted the other one up, encouraging the blonde to rest her calf on her shoulder. Which Emma did, of course. She gasped as she realised what Regina had in mind. Despite their sex life being both frequent and varied, they had yet to try what she believed Regina was about to do.
"Ok?" the brunette asked her as she slid herself a little closer to Emma's core.
"Yes," the younger woman hissed as two fingers deftly slid through her dripping folds.
Regina smirked and dipped the tips of both fingers inside the blonde. She pumped slowly a few times before pulling out and bringing her slick fingers up to rub over Emma's clit. She then shuffled a little further forwards, forcing Emma's leg even straighter, and lowered her own sex against the blonde's.
It felt good at once. The hot, wet, intimate act. And Regina felt her body tremble in delight as she felt the faint sensation of Emma's hard little clit against her core. She moved slightly, gasping as her own clit knocked against Emma's. The blonde groaned too, her hands flying to grip Regina's hips and keep the brunette in place. It was delicate, sweet, and incredibly arousing as they stayed stock-still, their sexes positioned perfectly against one another. Emma knew she had never felt closer to anyone in her life.
"I love you," she blurted out.
Emma didn't like telling her girlfriends she loved them in bed. It seemed to her that the pleasure had forced the words, rather than her heart. But in this instant, she knew that she loved Regina Mills with every fibre of her being, those rubbing intimately against her sex and every other part too.
"I love you," Regina replied. "More than I've ever loved anyone."
Emma's breath hitched but she didn't have time to reply as Regina began to rock against her, tiny movements of her hips which kept their clits pressed closely together. Emma cried out in delight, her fingernails digging into Regina's hips as she felt her body above her. She knew she wasn't going to last long but she also didn't care. So she gave over to the sensations; the way Regina's heat radiated against her own, the way their juices had mingled and formed a slick, heady mix she could smell in the air, the way Regina's hardened bundle of nerves knocked against her own, each collision causing a jolt of arousal which pushed her further to the edge.
She fell blissfully over with Regina mere seconds behind her. Pulling the woman down on top of her, Emma kissed her passionately, trying to convey everything she was feeling but couldn't put into words. Regina understood. Regina always understood Emma.
When the brunette moved to roll off the blonde minutes later, arms tightened around her waist.
"Stay," she mumbled against Regina's throat.
Regina obliged, wrapping her arms beneath Emma's neck and kissing her forehead. She simply lay there, above Emma, listening to the steady beat of their hearts, almost in time, until the grip around her waist loosened and she slid off, quickly snuggling back into Emma's side.
After a while, they sleepily pulled on some pyjamas and brushed their teeth. Once back in bed, Regina switched off the light and Emma rolled into her arms. That was one of the things she loved most about their relationship; they were equals, neither one of them needing to always be the big spoon or the top or even the strong one. Only last week Emma had comforted Regina after a particularly biting comment Cora had shot at her daughter across a meeting room. But the next day it had been Regina assuring Emma that the trial would be worth it after Gregory Hades had offered one of his pathetic deals.
"I meant what I said, you know," Regina whispered into the darkness. "About loving you more than I've ever loved anyone. Aside from Henry."
Emma stiffened slightly in her arms but said nothing. She sensed that Regina needed to say what was on her mind without interruption.
"I loved Dani," she continued. "I still love Dani and will do for the rest of my life. But what I feel when I'm with you is so much … more than I ever had with her. I can't explain it, but I know what we have is on a whole new level. My love for you is stronger than I ever believed possible."
"Mine too," Emma murmured. "It scares me sometimes when I think of how much I love you. I've never needed anyone in my life before, Regina. I've always wanted to be independent and strong without a man or woman by my side. But I need you. Even if I wasn't dealing with this trial at the moment, I know I'd still need you in my life. You … when we're together I feel -,"
"Complete?" Regina supplied.
"Yeah," Emma nodded, craning up to kiss Regina's soft lips. "Complete."