Part 5

Together

Regina woke up beneath the soft weight of warmth surrounding her, automatically snuggling closer and wrapping her arms around the small form. It actually took her a few moments to remember where she was. She glanced at her anxiously, wondering if she should move. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the blonde deeply, feeling warmed by it in a way that few other things could provide. The mayor tilted her head so that she could look right into her face, taking note of the hints of strain and tension that even sleep could not smooth out. She was so mesmerized by her that she reached down and gently brushed her lips over the sheriff's forehead, kissing gently along the hairline. She halted suddenly realizing what she was doing and abruptly flinched back. What the hell am I doing?

Emma stirred, mumbled something inaudible and slightly raised her face, still half asleep she snuggled into the side of the mayor's neck. "Miss Swan?" She murmured softly trying to rein in her rapidly beating heart.

"Mmmmm," the sheriff moaned drowsily, tightening her embrace as she buried her face into the hollow of Regina's shoulder and neck.

The mayor trembled from the feel of her move against her like that, and the butterflies that began to float around in the pit of her stomach told her exactly why. She tried to recall if anyone had ever cuddled into her the way Emma just did. Made her feel exactly like the way she was feeling now. Her mind searched deep, and couldn't think of a single person who ever felt this right in her arms. Not even him…..

The brunette sucked in a breath trying to steady herself, and instead she found she was staring at the blonde tucked nicely in her arms. She always knew she was beautiful, her face so soft, so vulnerable. "Should I trust you?" She whispered silkily.

"Huh," Emma moaned as she shifted in her arms again, sliding her body up, and when she did the blanket fell away. But before the mayor could move she felt the blonde's bare breasts drag tantalizingly against her own. Regina groaned as she tried to wiggle free from her grasp, and as she arched back the blonde's bare leg slipped in between her own. Ah hell could this get any worse? Just as that thought rolled in, she felt the sheriff's hand fall right to her left butt cheek. Regina's eyes widened as that hand slowly drifted up her back under her shirt.

Now she really did have to think that this woman was sent here to drive her completely crazy, and maybe this is all some sort of new curse. She clenched her jaw trying to get a tight hold on any kind of logic and keep her unbidden desire away.

She could do this she was the Evil Queen right? So she remained still, her eyes searching anywhere but on the woman next to her, but yet again her eyes sought her out….. and fell to her face. She began to memorize it, every plane and angle, every curve and dimple, every pore and line of porcelain skin and beautiful features. Her enticing pink lips now so close to her own. She tilted her head, her fingers found their way dancing down Emma's cheek and she moved her own lips closer and…

The blonde's head gingerly stirred and now her mouth was just a mere breath away, when green eyes snapped open. "Regina," Emma mumbled hoarsely, as her confused eyes locked in on the brown ones.

Caught the mayor quickly escaped and jumped up to her feet. Oh my god, I about kissed her. I'm gonna kill Gold when I see him. He did this I know it. She felt a flush go through her and she had to force herself to breathe slowly as she checked on the sheriff's clothing.

"Your clothes are dry Miss Swan." The brunette informed her as she checked her garments.

Emma ran a hand across her face in an effort to shake her grogginess. She cleared her throat as she slowly sat up. "Okay," realizing that the blanket had fallen down she gasped and hastily pulled it back around her. Was she lying next to me like this? Her head was swimming with thoughts and images of the mayor looking at her with desire darkening her eyes. Was she gonna? No way….wait would she?

"Looks like the rain has died down," the mayor said in a stern voice as she gazed out into the distance.

Emma sighed as she tenderly stood up. "I guess I better get dressed." She gazed down at Henry, "Before he wakes up."

The mayor didn't say anything she just kept her eyes fixed out of the cave. She could hear the blonde shuffling around behind her, she knew if she turned she would see a very naked sheriff and there was no way she was going to put herself through that. "I guess you're feeling better." She added but kept her gaze out in the forest in front of her.

"Uh yeah," Emma murmured as she finished putting on her clothes. Then the awkward silence filled the cavern, and it made her hesitant as she stood watching the slumped shoulders on the mayor. She finally got brave and inched her way closer. "Um," she finally breathed when she was right behind the brunette. "So um you all right?"

"I don't know what's going on." Regina responded seriously, but yet never turned to face the other woman.

Emma ran hand through her hair. "With what?" She asked trying to understand what the mayor was referring to. She saw her take in a deep breath.

"Everything," Regina whispered softly.

Finally the sheriff couldn't take it a second longer and gently spun the mayor around to look at her, and what she saw confused her. "Look at me." She demanded.

Regina's eyes were closed and with another breath she finally opened them. "Talk to me." The blonde urged. "Do you know something I don't?"

The brunette narrowed her eyes on her. "Like what?" She glared, "I just know that everything has changed. It's clouding everything in my head, and you make it hard to do anything."

Emma rubbed at her forehead. "Okay, yes my head is a mess as well." She agreed. "But we can try to figure it out…..together." Then like the lightening striking earlier it hit her. "Wait me?" She fumbled.

Regina snarled. "Together? What does that mean?" She paused taking a step back, afraid of standing too close to the blonde for more reasons than she wanted to admit. "For one, I could just reach into your chest and take your heart." She responded harshly. "I need my revenge, and what would be more perfect…." She paused, and Emma noticed her lip quiver. "Than killing you right now." Her eyes glistened. "But like I said I can't do any of that, and it's all because of you."

The blonde's face fell, she knew this moment was coming, and took in a deep breath to settle herself. She was just as confused by her feelings. She smiled to take the edge off. "I'm glad."

The mayor was hesitant, pulling farther back. So Emma took a courageous step closer, and asked again. Her eyes softened. "I can't explain any of it, other than I guess things just happen for a reason."

Moments passed and Emma was about to give the mayor some space and wake Henry up when she heard a very faint, "nothing has worked out that I had planned." In fact it was so soft that she almost thought she imagined it, but the tear stained eyes looking at her told her she hadn't.

And now not only her mind felt like it was unraveling, her heart felt like it as well. She so wanted to pull the other woman into her arms and tell her it would be all right, but she had no idea if that were even true. What a mess!

Abruptly Regina rushed forward and Emma found she was now only inches from her. Baffled now the blonde didn't know if she should take a step back or forward, it almost felt like she was going to get hit or maybe kissed, or maybe she wanted her to take the first step. So Emma smiled to cover up her confusion. "Have you even considered that maybe it actually worked out how it's suppose to?"

The blonde thought Regina looked absolutely adorable in that moment and it took all she had to not wrap her up in a tight embrace. "I ….I just…"

Emma held up a hand to halt her ramblings. "Well after waking Henry up, I can see it."

The mayor breathed a breath of disbelief. "I don't know what's happening to me." She rubbed the bridge of her nose slightly. "I have my power back within me, I feel stronger than I can remember, and yet I'm not consumed with hate and revenge. It's been so long for me to only feel that….that I don't know how to do or be anything else." She paused, trying to fight off the tears stinging in her eyes. "In fact I don't know anything right now….except."

Emma quirked an eyebrow. "Except what?"

"Except this, right here with both of you." She blurted.

The blonde smiled. "Good, because I don't want to do this without you."

Regina flew her hands up. "But that doesn't explain any of this, you broke the curse! You are the White Knight you are supposed to destroy me."

Emma rushed her hands out to cover the mayor's. "Can't you see that's not going to happen? Nothing is ever written in stone." She drew in a ragged breath, her voice then softened. "I would never hurt you, just like I would never hurt Henry. Just like you said you will never hurt me."

Regina felt her throat close up. "Why?" She asked tears now falling down her cheeks.

The blonde sighed, "I just can't."

The mayor frowned. "You should."

"Okay that's it I can't take this anymore." The sheriff said moving closer and dared to slide her arm around the back of Regina's waist and pulled the brunette against her. And to the blonde's surprise the mayor didn't resist, surrendering and slipping her arms around Emma. They hugged for a few moments letting themselves feel the comfort in each other's arms.

The blonde gently drew back. "Do you hear that?" She asked in a whisper.

The brunette's brow scrunched turning to look where the sheriff was looking, and as she did she felt warm fingers intertwine with her own. She smiled as she gripped the soft hand when she heard what the blonde did. "Okay I heard that."

They both spun back to Henry, and noticed he was still asleep. "What is that?" Emma wondered softly.

The mayor turned and with a wave of her free hand the noise got loud enough to hear. Emma's eyes grew big. "Okay that was cool." She mentioned as she listened, and now knew that without a doubt it was voices of men.

"Someone knows we are here!" Regina exclaimed, "Wake Henry!" She demanded, and the blonde was already on it.

Henry woke and he and Emma joined the mayor at the entry to the cave. "There are at least ten different voices." Regina explained saying that they must have noticed the glow to the fire, and they will be here within minutes. She turned to face the sheriff and her son. "Take Henry off that way." She pointed where with a steady finger. "And I will drive them off."

"No," Emma said her voice was stern. "We said we do this together."

"Don't be foolish dear." She growled pulling in a powerful breath. "You know I can do this." She glared. "Leave now."

Emma shook her head and took her stand. "I'm not leaving you."

Regina closed the gap between them quickly and softly drew her fingers down her cheek. "I will be fine, trust me please."

"Psssssssssssst." They all turned their heads at the same time.

"This way." A small boy snuck his head from the back of the cave.

Shocked the three of them watched as he moved out of sight, and then quickly ran back in. "Come on!" Then another boy that looked identical to the other boy ran up by him and finished his sentence. He shouted "Hurry."

The blonde gazed at Regina then down at Henry. "Let's go." Her eyes wide and urging them to follow her.

….

As they followed the two young boys another younger boy would join them. Regina spun around slightly walking backwards and noticing three were now following them as they followed the two look a likes. She scratched her head trying to make sense of who they were and where they were taking them. For all she knew they could be walking right into a trap.

She then raced up next to the sheriff. "Uh Miss Swan, do you think this is wise?"

"Better than with the burly guys with the big swords and torches."

The mayor flung a puzzled eyebrow her way. "Wait a second." She grabbed the blonde's wrist to stop her. "I didn't tell you they had that."

"You didn't have to."

"So how did you know?"

Emma's lip thinned. "I sensed it, or I heard them. It's like I could see them as they moved through the forest."

Regina gasped. "Oh my god…. you know what this means? You have it."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at the mayor. "What! No I just put two and two together." She shrugged and began walking again.

"Don't try to deny it Miss Swan." There was a touch of humor in the mayor's tone as she watched her strut ahead, and grinned inwardly.

Emma tried not to roll her eyes.

"I think it's true," Regina said, drawing the sheriff back to the discussion at hand. "After all, you pegged everything about those men."

"It's part of my job…okay." She relayed as they walked, and noticed Henry talking to one of the boys.

"Did you ever wonder why you were good at it?"

Emma blinked. "Did you just give me a compliment?"

Regina curved her eyebrow and her mouth followed it. "Maybe, and damn it admit that you have it." She said watching the blonde's expression from the corner of her eye and then faltered a step when she suddenly stopped and her eyes grew wide. "Where are we?" She gasped.

The brunette followed the sheriff's line of sight and her mouth gaped open. "Wow, never knew this was here."

….