A/N: And here's the next chapter for tonight, which I equally hope you will enjoy as much as I did writing it. Don't worry, there will be a kiss in the next chapter between our two favorite ladies. ;) For now, prepare to be swoon. Happy reading!
More shall be posted tomorrow. The first part in this series is closer and closer to ending, which means... Be prepared for part 2!
"Good morning, dad." Regina entered the kitchen, wearing her best pair of jeans, a white buttoned up shirt tucked inside of her waistline, with her denim jacket to complete her look. She wanted to look her best today, not only for Emma, but for her family.
"Hey," Henry smiled, his eyes scanning through his daughter's look. "Looking sharp, got a date?"
Regina's cheeks turned crimson as she brushed back a strand of hair. "No. I just wanted, you know, to look nice."
Henry served his eggs onto a plate, taking a seat at the breakfast table. "There's eggs there, if you want. That's one thing I can make." He chuckled, stabbing his eggs with his fork and popping into his mouth.
Given where Regina was going, she decided to join her father for some eggs, serving herself a plate.
"So…" Henry began, stabbing more of his eggs. "What's the status on the girl situation?"
Regina looks up from her eggs with an arched brow, "What?"
"You know…" Henry shrugs, "Anybody interests you?"
"Um…" Regina chuckles, "Are you seriously wanting to talk about girls that I might be romantically involved with?"
Henry suppressed a shy smile, "Yeah, I guess not."
Regina laughs a little, taking a bite of her eggs.
"I just thought, you know…" Henry shrugs, "Maybe someone like Ruby might've caught your eye."
"Ruby?" Regina's fork clanks along her plate. She shakes her head, "Definitely not. Ruby's just a friend."
Henry nods, "Well, it would be okay if you did like her, you know. She seems to like you. That Robin Locksley kid seems to have a big smile for you, too." He rolls his eyes.
"Okay, dad- let's don't and say we did with this conversation, okay?" Regina chuckled.
"Perfect. Yeah." Henry continues to eat through his eggs, feeling a sense of relief.
"Are you sure your family will like me, Emma? I mean won't they… Freak out over you bringing someone like me home?" Regina asks, strapped into the passenger seat of Emma's car.
"Don't worry." Emma smiles. "I'll protect you."
Regina rolls her eyes and smiles. "To clarify, I'm not afraid of them. But, do they know that I know about them?"
"They know everything." Emma's smile widens, "They have bets going on whether I will bring you back. Although, why would anyone want to bet against Lily, I can't imagine. My family has no secrets from one another. With my mind reading, and Lily seeing the future there's really no point to secrecy."
Regina smiles, fascinated by every word that came out of Emma's mouth. Emma wore her black jeans today, with a light blue shirt, tucked into the waistline, the two first buttons undone. She looked like some type of ancient Greek-goddess that had no business looking this good.
Paramore's Decode began playing at low volume on the radio, and Regina was surprised when Emma turned it up, singing every word perfectly. Of course she can sing, Regina almost rolled her eyes at that.
"I'm surprised you like this kind of music." Said Regina.
Emma's teeth flash in a charming smile. "I try to adapt to what kids are into these days. Although, I must admit, some of it is quite horrid." She scrunches up her nose.
Regina laughs. A sound that is like pure gold to Emma's ears. "It must have been amazing, being around the sixties and seventies. I can imagine you in bell bottoms and a headband."
Emma grins, exposing her teeth again. "I take pride in my love for music of the thirties and forties. That is the best kind for me. The sixties and seventies weren't my favorite. Eighties were tolerable."
"You would get along with my mother. She loves oldies music just like you." Said Regina.
Emma is silent for a moment until her eyes leave the road and are on Regina. "You should introduce me to your father."
This caught Regina off guard as she blinked, "He already knows you, Emma."
"As your girlfriend, I mean."
"Why?" Regina's heart stops, and she knows Emma can hear it.
"Isn't that costumery?" Emma asks innocently.
"I suppose so," Regina shrugs. She didn't exactly have a dating record to know how it all works with parents and girlfriends and all that. "You don't have to do that, you know. You don't have to pretend around him for my sake."
Another smile emerges from Emma's lips. "I'm not pretending."
Regina brushes back a strand of hair, covering up a blush with her hand. Just this morning her father was attempting to engrave in a conversation with her about girls- very awkwardly- she might add. And now Emma wanted Regina to stand her next to a man who carries a gun for a living. Not that a gun could hurt Emma, but still.
"Is that what you are?" Regina asks, wanting to hear the answer for herself.
"It's a loose interpretation of the word girl, I'll admit."
"I was under the impression that you were something more, to be honest." Another blush of crimson settles along Regina's cheeks.
"Well, we don't have to give him all the gory details." Emma reaches across, taking Regina's hand into her own and pressing her lips along the back of Regina's hand. Her cool fingers intertwined with Regina's like fine silk. "But he will need some explanation for why I'm around you so much. I don't want Chief Mills putting a restraining order on me." She chuckled. "Not that an insignificant piece of paper could keep me from you."
Regina loved how Emma spoke about them- about their newfound love- it made her heart flutter. "Does that mean you are staying with me?" She asked anxiously.
"For as long as you want me." Emma replied, her thumb drawing those small, soft circles along her skin.
"I'll always want you," Regina breathed in warning. "Forever."
It took Regina all of her willpower to not jump across this car and settle along Emma's lap until their lips pressed together in a hardened kiss. She wanted so badly for Emma to kiss her. She would have to, had it not been for whatever abruptly startled Emma last night.
Emma drove for miles until there was nothing but a line of trees, leading to acres of forest. There was an opening that exposed a three story home with large windows all around. The entire front lawn looked like a meadow- maybe it was. The trees held a protective shadow over the second floor of the house.
Regina wasn't sure what she expected, but it definitely wasn't this. The house was graceful, elegant and possibly a hundred years old. It was all painted in a dark oak color on the outside. It stood tall and well proportioned. Regina wondered if the windows came with the house or if they had been constructed.
"Wow." Regina breathed, her eyes staring up at the view of the house in amazement.
"You like it?" Emma smiled.
Regina nods, "It's beautiful. It has a certain charm to it."
Emma was at the passenger side door, holding it open while holding her hand out for Regina to take. "Ready?"
"Not in the slightest, but let's go." Regina reached for Emma's hand. She gasped in surprise once she felt Emma pull her in, catching her perfectly by her waist. Her eyes never leaving Emma's as their faces remained inches apart.
"You look perfect." Emma whispered in her alluring voice.
"Next to you, that's impossible." Regina breathed.
Emma grinned, her fingers intertwining with Regina's so easily. She walked her up the steps of the house, held the door open for her, and stepped in after.
In the kitchen, Mal, August and Kathryn were cooking up a feast. A freshly made pasta from scratch that Mal was particularly proud of.
"Is this really necessary for one human?" Kathryn asked, her hands stopping their motion of mixing up a salad along a bowl.
"Kathryn. You promised to play nice." Said Mal.
"Does she even like Italian?" Kathryn seethed.
"Who doesn't?" August innocently asks, watching Kathryn roll her eyes at him.
Their heads stood up, all inhaling at once until their chests puffed out, catching on Regina's scent.
"Oof! Get a whiff of that!" Mal grinned. "Here comes the human." She said this in a sing-songy tone.
Emma guides Regina into the extremely white kitchen with oak wood colored cabinets and black marble counter tops. "Mal."
Mal steps forward but keeps her distance as she smiles. "Hi, Regina. It's very lovely to meet you." She extends her hand.
"It's lovely to meet you, Dr. Swan." Regina shakes Mal's hand. She can't get over how young and beautiful the woman looks.
"Please, call me Mal."
"Mal." Regina smiles, looking up at Emma with a slight blush to her cheeks.
"I hope you're hungry. You've given us an excuse to use the kitchen for the first time. We're making Italiano for you." Said Mal.
"Oh, uh-" Regina frowns.
"She already ate, Mal." Emma whispered.
Kathryn's hands put so much angered pressure along the salad bowl it shatters into a million pieces that fall to the floor and by her feet. "Perfect."
"Well- it's just- I know you don't eat so, I thought-" Regina's color fades from her face, dropping to the tip of her toes.
"That's very considerate of you, Regina." Mal smiles. "I'll pack it up for you to take home, hm?"
"Just ignore Kathryn." Said Emma.
"Yeah," Kathryn breathes out, glaring directly at Emma and at Regina. "Let's just keep pretending that this isn't dangerous for all of us."
"Kat, come on," August nudges the back of his hand against Kathryn's shoulder.
"I would never tell anyone anything about you." Regina assured Kathryn.
"She knows that." Mal assured Regina, throwing a glare directly at Kathryn.
"They've become public, Mal. The entire school sees them holding hands-" Kathryn snarls.
"Kathryn." Mal glares harder.
"You do know that the entire family will become implicated if this ends badly, don't you?" Kathryn's question targets Regina again.
"Badly as in… I would become the meal." Said Regina.
The room filled with soft laughter that even Emma couldn't help but be a part of. Of course, the only one not laughing was Kathryn, and Regina couldn't figure out why she hated her so much.
"Where are Lily and Jefferson?" Emma asks Mal.
On queue, Lily came in through one of the balconies, walking perfectly along a large tree branch, Jefferson right behind her. "Hi, Gina!" Her smile was friendly that it took Regina by surprise. But no more than the way she eagerly wrapped her into a hug and placed a kiss along her warm cheek. "Oh. Emma was right. You do smell good."
Emma looks away, clearly feeling a little embarrassed.
"You and I are going to be great friends." Lily grinned a beautiful, pearly white smile.
"This is my brother, Jefferson." Emma introduced him.
"Hi, Jefferson." Regina smiles.
Jefferson kept his distance, not even bothering to shake her hand. "Hi, Regina."
"You have to forgive him, Regina," Said Mal. "It's a little difficult for Jefferson to be around humans such as yourself."
"It's okay, Jefferson. You won't hurt her." Lily assured him.
"Alright, I'm going to take Regina to tour the rest of the house." Said Emma, taking Regina by the hand.
"It was really nice meeting you all." Regina smiled.
"You are welcomed back anytime, Regina." Lily smiled.
Mal glared at Kathryn and pointed a long finger at the mess by her feet. "Clean this up. Now." She walked out of the kitchen and followed Emma and Regina into the large living room.
"Wow." Regina stopped at the sight of the grand piano. Pianos always reminded her of her mother. And Regina always thought that if she won the lottery she would own a grand piano, even though she couldn't for her dear life, play a single note.
"Do you play, Regina?" Mal asked, startling Regina a little bit.
"Me? No." Regina shakes her head. "Is it yours?"
"No." Mal laughs, "Did Emma neglect to tell you she played?"
Regina narrowed her eyes in Emma's direction, taking in the blonde vampire's innocent expression. "No." Of course she can play the piano, too. "I should have guessed."
Mal's brows lift in confusion.
"Well, Emma can do anything, right?" Said Regina.
"Emma," Mal glared playfully at Emma. "I hope you haven't been showing off. It's rude."
Emma can't hold back a laugh, "Just a little."
Regina shares a look between them and she can see the mother-daughter love they had for one another. It was endearing.
"Well, play for her." Mal motioned to the bench in front of the piano.
"Mal, you just explained that showing off is rude." Emma objected.
"There are exceptions to every rule." Mal said, smiling down at Regina. "I'll give you two some privacy." She walks out of the room.
Regina turns to Emma once they are alone, "I'd love to hear you play."
Emma drew a deep breath, her chest puffing out and exhaled through her nose. "It's settled then." She pulled out the bench, reaching for Regina's hand as she welcomed her to sit. Settling herself beside Regina, Emma's hands hovered momentarily over the white keys and she began to play the most beautiful and tranquil melody known to man.
If Regina wasn't in love with Emma yet, she certainly would be now. What couldn't Emma Swan do? But what Regina often wondered was how did she get so lucky?
"Do you like it?" Emma asked, her hands continuing to play.
Regina nods. "It's very beautiful."
"Thank you."
Regina gasps, "You wrote this?"
Emma nods, "You inspired this one out of me." She whispered, sharing a small smile with Regina. "My family liked you, you know. Especially Mal."
"Except for Kathryn, I gathered." Regina frowned.
"Don't worry about her. She'll come around." Said Emma.
"What is her problem with me?" Regina wondered.
"You're human," Emma shrugs. "She wishes she were, too."
"Oh. And you're sure Mal likes me?"
"Mal is ecstatic. She worried about me the most after I turned. There was a time in her life where she thought I was too young and that I would never open myself to meeting anyone to love. She practically glows every time I touch you."
Emma finishes her piece and shuts the lid with care and patience. "Would you like a tour of the rest of the house?"
Regina nods, "Yes."
Emma smiles, reaching for Regina's hand and guiding her up a set of long oak colored stairs.
Regina stops at the sight of a large frame overpowering the wall along the stairs. She points to it, "Graduation caps?" She takes in the endless rows of different colored caps.
"Yeah, it's… It's a private joke in our family."
"That must be miserable. Repeating High School over and over." Said Regina.
Emma's smile grew, pulling Regina along up the steps, she pointed to each room they walked past. "That's Jefferson's room, Mal's office, and Lily's room."
"How old is Mal?" Regina asks, curious to know.
"Human years, Mal is twenty-eight. But in reality, she just celebrated her three hundred and sixty-second birthday." Emma said naturally.
Regina's eyes look widely up at Emma.
"Mal was born in London, in the sixteen-forties, she believes. Time wasn't marked as accurately then, for the common people, anyway. It was just before Cromwell's rule, though." Emma stopped in front of a closed bedroom door and stared at Regina. "Too much to take in?"
"A little," Regina admitted.
Emma breathed, exhaling slowly through her nose, "I keep waiting for it to happen."
"What?"
"That I will say something so utterly terrifying and you'll turn and run in the opposite direction. Leaving me forever." It surprised Regina how incredibly sad Emma's tone sounded as she voiced her thoughts aloud.
Regina placed a warm hand along Emma's cheek, feeling her jerk a little to her touch, but she didn't pull away. "That'll never happen, Emma. I'm not running anywhere."
Emma reached for Regina's warm hand along her cheek and opened the closed door, guiding her inside of another bedroom. It was large, and blindingly white. There were large windows, two of them were opened, overlooking out into the forest. Regina could hear the chirps of a few birds along the outside. There were books everywhere, and shelves filled with different types of a massive collection of music. A large white couch was by one of the large windows.
"This is my room." Said Emma, watching Regina carefully as she allowed her to explore the room on her own.
"Wow," Regina breathed. "No bed?" She noticed there wasn't one.
"No. I don't sleep." Said Emma, the corner of her lip curling in a small smile.
"Ever?" Regina asked.
"No, not at all."
Regina continued to explore Emma's bedroom in silence, looking up at the massive music collection before her. "You have so much music. What are you listening to?" She pushes play along the stereo. The piano melody of A Thousand Years begins to softly play, followed by the voice of the artist singing along.
"I like this song." Said Regina, her eyes watching Emma as she slowly moves closer.
Emma's hand rests along Regina's waist, while her other takes her by the hand. Regina is surprised when Emma begins guiding her into a slow dance, spinning her out and pulling her back in.
"You know, I can't dance." Said Regina, suppressing a smile.
"Well, then," Emma spoke softly. "Lucky for you, I am an exceptional dancer." She hears a small gasp escape Regina, followed by a small wave of laughter as Emma easily lifts her up, placing her feet on top of her own and dances away along the massive bedroom space.
"You're still expecting for me to run away, aren't you?" Regina whispered, staring up into Emma's golden gaze.
"Profoundly. I am a predator after all, digging its claws into her fragile yet lovely prey." Emma grins playfully.
Regina chuckled, "Except you won't hurt me."
Emma exhales sharply through her nose, "You really shouldn't believe that." A low growl escapes the back of her throat and her grin grows.
Regina pushes Emma away, escaping her playful clutches. "Don't you dare." She warns, holding up her hand.
Emma has Regina picked up, cradled into her arms before Regina even had a chance to make a run for it. They both laugh as they fall onto the couch, slamming into the window but not hard enough to break it.
"What do you think now?" Emma asks, towering over Regina's body.
"I'm afraid you're right. You're such a monster."
They share another laugh, until their eyes lock into one another. Emma's hand softly cups Regina's cheek. "You're so beautiful," she whispers.
"I love you." Said Regina, staring up into Emma's eyes, hoping that if her words weren't enough proof, that her eyes would be.
"I love you, too." Said Emma. Slowly, Regina could see Emma leaning down, and her eyes closed, preparing for what would be their first kiss.
"Knock, knock," Lily knocked along the door frame, startling them both as they separated.
"Really, Lily?" Emma glared in her sister's direction.
"Sorry." Lily smiled apologetically. "Jefferson and I just heard the loud commotion up here and we came to make sure you hadn't devoured Regina without sharing her with us first." She laughed.
Emma rolled her eyes, while Regina simply chuckled.
"Also, Emma, Mal wants to have a word with you. Privately." Lily gives another apologetic smile. "And also, I wanted to ask Regina if she would like to play baseball with us tomorrow afternoon. The weather is going to bring in a thunderstorm, it's a perfect time to play."
"Oh," Regina looks to Emma, who smiles at her. "Sure, yeah. I'd love to play."
"Great!" Lily grins happily, linking arms with Jefferson. "Emma will pick you up tomorrow."
"Okay." Regina smiles.
Just as Lily and Jefferson walk out of Emma's bedroom, Emma turns to Regina with an apologetic look of her own. "I apologize on their behalf. They are usually not that intrusive."
"It's okay. You did warn me they liked me."
Emma smiles, "I'll be right back. I'm going to have a word with Mal and then I'll drive you home if you'd like."
"Okay."
"Make yourself at home." Emma turned and walked out. While Regina welcomed herself to a seat along the couch, her eyes silently explored the bedroom until she reached for one of Emma's many books.