The two women stayed in the position of a half embrace, with Regina leaning into her suit clad date and drinking the delicious wine from a paper cup before she finally moved to sit up on her own. "You know this tree doesn't have purely sad memories attached to it," She finally broke their comfortable silence with a fond smile on her face "Underneath it is where my father and I would hide away from the world. When both the tree and I were still quite young my father would play his guitar in it's shade and I would dance while he sang, strumming sweet melodies just for me."
Emma looked thoughtful for a minute, finishing the last of her wine before standing up and holding a hand out to Regina who quirked an eyebrow but set her own empty cup in Emma's and allowed herself to be pulled up onto her feet. "What are we doing now? Other then neglecting the strawberries." She asked, glancing down at the forgotten dessert on the edge of the blanket making a mental note to enjoy them at some point.
"Well we're dancing, mi reina." Emma took one of Regina's hands into her own and her other found a place on the small of her back once more while the free hand of the Mayor rested on her shoulder. The blonde started to move them slowly and Regina followed suit as they began to dance, swaying underneath the night sky and her apple tree.
She chuckled and shook her head "There's no music Miss Swan. What are we even dancing to?" The chuckle died in her throat when Emma pulled her closer still, pale fingers gripping onto the black fabric of her dress and spreading warmth throughout her body. Regina knew that with this new proximity Emma had to feel her heart pounding, the sound almost deafening.
Emma smiled as they continued to move together, finding that they fit so well with one another from their hands to their bodies. "I could serenade you but I think between the two of us you have the better voice. Although that's just based on what the prince has said since I've never been lucky enough to be in the audience when you sing." She looked at the way Regina seemed to be glowing in the moonlight and how her hair seemed to match the dark sky with her earrings acting as stars.
"Close your eyes, Miss Swan," Regina instructed in a soft voice and Emma opened her mouth to ask why but she moved her hand from her shoulder to briefly press two fingers against parted red lips "Just do as I say, no questions." Her hand moved to slide around the back of Emma's neck and the suited woman had to fight the urge to shiver when nails brushed over her skin but she acquiesced, eyes shutting.
Regina smiled and moved another step closer, pressing against the blonde before doing something she never did for anyone other then her son. She started to sing a song she knew by heart softly to the beautiful blonde. "Late at night when all the world is sleeping, I stay up and think of you. And I wish on a star that somewhere you are thinking of me too. Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight, till tomorrow I'll be holding you tight and there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be then here in my room, dreaming about you and me."
It was the most alluring sound to ever come from Regina's lips, second was her laugh, and Emma found herself enraptured by the song as they danced together, not daring to open her eyes yet and break the spell the raven haired woman was casting over her. "Wonder if you ever see me and I wonder if you know I'm there. If you looked in my eyes would you see what's inside? Would you even care? I just wanna hold you close but so far all I have are dreams of you. So I wait for the day and the courage to say how much I love you. Yes I do. I'll be dreaming of you tonight, till tomorrow I'll be holding you tight and there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be then here in my room, dreaming about you and me."
She couldn't help herself any longer and she opened her eyes enough to look at the Mayor, seeing a dazzling smile on her face as she gazed at the Bostonian through half lidded brown eyes. "Late at night when all the world is sleeping I stay up and think of you. And I still can't believe that you came up to me and said I love you. I love you too. Now I'm dreaming with you tonight, till tomorrow and for all of my life. And there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be then here in my room, dreaming with you endlessly." Just hearing the words 'I love you too' being sung by the gorgeous woman made Emma's heart skip a few beats, daring to wish that they were directed at her and not just lyrics in a lovely song.
After finishing the song Regina looked away, ducking her head in a rare moment of shyness but pale fingers left their hold on her hand to curl under her chin and tilt her gaze upwards again. "You have the most wonderful singing voice I have ever heard, Regina, like a siren. It was just breathtaking and I could listen to you sing all night. Thank you." Emma could tell that it wasn't a gift to be taken for granted, something the other woman more then likely shared only with her son or father before now and she felt honored to have heard it.
Emma ran her thumb over an apple red bottom lip and realized they had stopped dancing, coming to a halt underneath the tree and just looking at one another. She was about to ask if she could kiss the Mayor when she stole the thought from her with the soft command of "Kiss me, Em-ma." It was an order she would gladly comply with, leaning forward to brush her lips against Regina's, hesitant at first as if Regina would change her mind only to be pulled by the hand on the back of her neck into a deeper kiss.
The feeling of kissing Regina Mills was explosive, as if a light shot outward and covered all of Storybrooke, the Earth felt like it was shifting underneath her bare feet as she moved her hand into black locks that felt even softer then they looked. Emma could find herself getting addicted to those perfect lips with the little scar on them, they were pure poison that infected her and made her feel like she was floating.
Regina broke away first and the action drew a little whimper of disappointment from the blonde which made her smirk. "I would love to keep kissing you, Miss Swan but I have a suitable home where we could continue in private. I don't want to run the risk of Sidney hiding around some shrubbery with his camera and making you and I his newest headline." She had to bite down on her bottom lip not to laugh when Emma's eyes went wide with excitement over the chance to kiss her again.
There was sound logic in what the Mayor was saying and she would do anything asked of her if it meant she got to kiss Regina again so she packed up the faux picnic and grabbed both pairs of high heels before nodding to the door. "Shall we then?" She asked and started forward, grateful when the door was held open for her since she didn't have a hand free to get it. Emma set the heels near the stairs and hurried into the kitchen to put the wine, strawberries, and chocolate into the fridge.
Once Regina was alone she set down her purse and touched her fingers to her lips with a small smile, it had felt amazing to finally kiss Emma and she was still buzzing over it as she walked aimlessly. She was too wrapped up in flashes of dancing and kissing to realize she'd wandered into her den, blinking at the change of scenery before letting out a soft gasp when arms slid around her stomach. Looking down she noticed the rolled up sleeves but was distracted by the warmth of Emma holding her from behind, sliding a hand over one of the arms around her and shivering when a voice whispered in her ear "I think I forgot to mention that you might just be the best kisser in the world."
Regina turned her head and was about to tease the blonde on her choice of words when she was kissed yet again, it was an effective method to shutting her up and she smiled into the kiss before using her free hand to cup a pale cheek. She couldn't help herself and bit down on Emma's bottom lip, things couldn't be sweet all of the time she reasoned but felt her face heat up when it elicited a small moan from her companion. She pulled back to smirk "I see my cooking isn't the only thing that will bring those sounds out of you. I just wanted to remind you that I am the evil queen, dear." She slipped out of Emma's arms to move over to the crystal glasses and her decanter of apple cider.
Emma rolled her eyes before dropping onto the loveseat, watching as Regina poured one glass before turning to look over her shoulder "Are you joining me or do I have to drink alone?" She smiled and shook her head, feeling a little drunk on euphoria from kissing the gorgeous woman but she wouldn't make her enjoy the cider all alone.
"I'll take one if you tell me something," Regina nodded her head, pouring a second glass and Emma took it as an agreement to continue, "Where did that nickname come from? I can't stand hearing people call you that when you aren't evil, not in the slightest." She took the offered glass and was pleased when she was joined on the loveseat, the Mayor sitting quite close but with a frown on her face.
Regina was well aware of her reputation around Storybrooke and that she wasn't anyone's favorite person, not in the slightest. "Well, I've done some things as mayor that the rest of the town frowns upon. For example I shut down the mines and put people out of work, like Leroy our town drunk who wasn't such a heavy drinker when he had gainful employment," She sighed and took a healthy swig of her apple cider "I have been called the evil queen for as long as I can remember, Em-ma and after so long of hearing people call me the title I just became what they saw in me. I pushed people away, built up walls, and turned into someone I never wanted to be. I was my mother's daughter when I just wanted to be my father's. I think the only person in this town who has never looked at me as the evil queen is Henry."
Emma shifted closer to her on the loveseat and reached for her free hand, lacing their fingers together like it was second nature to her now. "Henry isn't the only one, not anymore. I don't think you're evil. I think you've had a lot of fucked up things happen in your life and you wanted to protect yourself from ever having to endure anymore terrible pain so you did build up those walls. But I remember a wise woman once said she believed in the possibility of redemption for everyone and she needs to feel that way about herself. You're incredible, Regina and if you just let people see what I see they'd love you. They would be crazy not to."
Regina looked at Emma and her eyes were shimmering, her words were dangerously close to saying she loved her and they did make her feel like perhaps she wasn't the terrible person Storybrooke regarded her as. "I don't feel this way around anyone but you, safe to be myself. Accepted for every flaw, every crack and imperfection embraced rather then ridiculed. I have lived most of my life on the defensive, whether it was my mother judging me or the citizens here in Storybrooke but you aren't like that. You do make me feel like a queen just… not an evil one."
Emma beamed with pride over the fact that she made Regina feel good about herself and she leaned over to capture her lips in yet another kiss, tasting apple cider and experiencing the same sensation that the world stopped spinning when their lips met. She broke away but didn't pull back, resting her forehead against Regina's with a smile "I was wrong before. You ARE the best kisser in the world, mi reina and I could end up hooked on you."
It made Regina chuckle and she gave Emma's hand a squeeze before sitting back in the loveseat, not separating their hands as it felt too nice to let go. She drank more of the apple cider as she looked around the den and her eyes landed on an empty place on the wall "I think that would be a great spot for the picture I have of you and Henry from last night." She gestured to the location with her glass and Emma followed the direction of her gaze.
She was going to be on the wall next to other cherished family photos such as the Halloween and Christmas pictures she'd already seen and that struck her. Family photos. It wasn't something she had never been apart of before and her own walls in Boston only had art on them. "You want to put me up on the family photo wall?" Emma asked in quiet awe, swallowing when her voice was thick with emotion.
Regina leaned to rest her head against her shoulder and smiled "Why wouldn't I, Em-ma? I told you before Henry loves you and I find myself growing fonder of you by the minute. We talk to you all of the time and you're on our minds the majority of the day. You have your own room in our home and you're part of the inner circle. Knowing all of this I have to ask you again, why wouldn't I?" She turned to kiss Emma's cheek before finishing off her glass of apple cider.
Emma didn't have the words to express how she was feeling, Henry and Regina wanted her and for the blonde who was so used to rejection or abandonment it meant everything. She sipped on the apple cider and kept her eyes on the spot she would soon occupy in the den, still excited to be included with memories. "I'm gonna need a photo of all three of us to take back to Boston with me." She couldn't bring herself to say home when referring to her apartment; it had never felt warm and inviting. Emma had never felt comforted in every room and now that she'd been in an actual home filled with love and happiness the thought of returning struck her with dread, disappointment, and unease.
Regina didn't like the idea of Emma needing to take a photo with her as she wouldn't physically be with them every day but she couldn't bring herself to say it, nodding with a forced smile "Of course, Miss Swan. We'll make sure to get one before you have to leave us." She got up and refilled her glass, biting her lip as she stared down into the amber liquid. When Emma went back to Boston what would it mean for the two of them? The idea of dating long distance did not sound appealing, she wouldn't be able to hold Emma's hand or kiss her whenever she wanted and then there was Henry to consider. It would be just as crushing for her son when the blonde had to drive out of Maine. She was lost to her worrying thoughts when a hand against her back brought her out of it, turning to find Emma standing near her.
She set her own empty glass down next to Regina's forgotten refill and pulled the Mayor into a hug, she could sense that the topic of her having to leave was weighing on the other woman. "I'm not going anywhere right now, Regina. I'm here with you and we don't have to think about anything but that just yet," She smiled into black hair as she held her close "How about we enjoy those strawberries tomorrow with Henry for dessert? I think a rejuvenating bath might bring your spirits up. I'll run the water for you."
The offer sounded so inviting that she couldn't hold back a contented sigh "That sounds perfect," She pulled away from the embrace to pick up her glass and then smiled at Emma "Lead the way, fair knight." Regina followed her up the stairs and continued to drink her apple cider, half tempted to ask the blonde for yet another refill but deciding against it after her intoxicated display the other night. Emma was in the bathroom, her hand underneath the faucet and testing the temperature to make sure it wasn't too scalding or too frigid for the Mayor before adding in bath salts. She remembered Regina said she liked to use them when she took a bath and she nodded at her handiwork, drying her hands off and making her way back into the bedroom.
Regina was at her vanity, removing her earrings and she smiled into the mirror when Emma appeared in it. "Do you think you would be able to help me with just one more thing before I take my bath?" Emma nodded and then tilted her head with curiosity, ever eager to live up to her role as the proper knight. Servitude to the queen knew no bounds after all. "Can you unzip me?" She was well aware that if Regina could get into these dresses she was more than capable of getting them back off but she had offered the night before and wasn't going to shy away from it now.
"Of-of course, your highness." Emma took the few steps separating them and it felt like she was wading through waist level mud to get to Regina, grasping onto the zipper and slowly pulling it downward. Undiscovered skin was exposed, shoulder blades, a black bra, and the small of her back before the zipper had come to its merciful end. Swallowing hard she glanced over Regina's shoulder and could see the Mayor was smirking in her reflection.
"Thank you dear, such a savior," She turned towards her bathroom, sliding out of the dress on her way and calling over her shoulder "I'll see you when I get out, yes?" Emma nodded but her eyes were glued on the next to naked Mayor. Black really was her signature color and she wore it well whether in the dress or just walking away in only the matching lace bra and underwear. Regina turned to flash that signature smirk with her hand on the door "You're starting to drool, Em-ma." She drew out her name with a husky drawl before winking and shutting the door.
Emma stood there feeling like her jaw had to have hit the floor and knowing there was a dumbfounded expression on her face. If she hadn't thought Regina was a goddess before it was a fact now that she'd seen her in nothing but lingerie. "Holy fuck…" She whispered to herself before forcing her feet to work again, grabbing the empty glass that once had Regina's cider in it and starting back down the stairs. While she was washing both of their glasses she remembered something Ruby had requested before she left and she dried one hand to pull out her phone and call her friend, deciding to face time her so she would have hands free to finish up the washing.
"EMMA FUCKING SWAN! You have not called me since you got into Storybrooke and I am very disappointed in you. When you get back to Boston you are so grounded and I can't believe you- Damn, Swan. You look really good. What's the occasion?" Ruby stopped mid lecture to take in her friend's appearance, still wearing the white button up shirt, her black tie, and makeup. "Wait wait. Is that your DATE lipstick?! Did you go out with Mayor Beautiful Gorgeous?! Did you KISS?!"
Emma laughed and rolled her eyes at her friend, drying both glasses before nodding her head. "I took Regina out on a date and we did kiss. I just remembered you wanted me to call you when that happened and Rubes, she's SO AMAZING. Every time I've kissed her its felt like… fate," She left both glasses on the counter before going to sit on the couch with her phone in her hand "She's an incredible dancer and she has the most gorgeous singing voice- I mean she sang for me Ruby! It was the best date I've ever been on."
Ruby was grinning on the screen of her phone, her hands under her chin as she watched Emma gush about the evening before shaking her head. "What are you gonna do when you fall in love with her and have to come back here, Swan? Are you really going to be able to focus on anything in Boston when your heart is in Storybrooke, Maine?" She had never seen her friend so smitten, even over her exes, and she hated to think of how upset Emma would be when she was back home.
"I think I'm already on that slippery slope and I haven't been looking forward to leaving Regina or Henry. I only have another week or two before they expect me back at work after being on the mend for so long," She sighed and ran a hand over her face "I'm going to be spending a fortune on plane tickets and gas to come here every single free weekend I have. I love hanging out with Henry, the kid is just awesome and we have so much in common. Not to mention he's our biggest cheerleader- you know he brought up me adopting him today? After I marry Regina, he says."
Ruby's eyes went wide and she smiled "He wants you to adopt him? And marry his mom? Wow, he's gotta love you something fierce already. Maybe run those ideas by Regina but let me know when the wedding is, I want an invite. Do you think she'd take your last name or would you take hers? Ooh, hyphenated! Mills-Swan. No no, Swan Mills. That's perfect and I demand to be your maid of honor. Wait, your best man? Whatever the title will be I want it. I'll help Henry plan the whole day!"
Emma rolled her eyes with a laugh "Jeez, you're just as bad as the kid! But I have to hand it to you Swan Mills sounds pretty good," She shook her head before loosening her tie "I better go hop into something more comfortable but I will keep you updated, Rubes. I'll call you tomorrow err today since it's after midnight. Good night." After her friend wished her a good night in return she hung up and headed up the stairs to her room. She couldn't help but whisper cisne before pushing the door open and stepping inside to change into sweats.
Emma let her hair down and stretched before deciding to see if Regina was done taking a bath yet. She approached the cracked bedroom door but didn't enter, not wanting to invade her privacy and opting to knock. There was no reply and she was about to turn back to her own room when she remembered the password to Regina's room "Manzana." There was a soft chuckle before she was told to enter. Regina was in bed, her makeup removed and she was applying lotion to her shapely legs.
Thankfully she was wearing a nightgown so the distracting lingerie was no longer on display as Emma entered the room. "I just wanted to wish you a good night, your majesty. I'm gonna step into the bathroom to get this makeup off and brush my teeth but then I'll be out of your hair." She moved into the bathroom to do just that.
Regina finished up her legs and arms, setting the lotion back on her vanity before moving to sit back in her bed. She looked over to the untouched side of her mattress and then smiled "I was wondering if you'd like to sleep with me," She heard the sound of Emma sputtering and she realized her poor phrasing "In my BED, Miss Swan and literal sleep. There's no innuendo or ulterior motive here. I really hope you did not just spit all over my mirror!"
She heard the sink running again and then saw the light turn off before the blonde stood in the doorway "First of all it was in the sink and I rinsed! Second are you sure? I am a cuddler and I don't want to invade your personal space but I can't be held responsible for what sleeping Emma does." Regina shook her head and pulled the covers back on the left side of her bed, patting the mattress twice.
Emma didn't bother to argue further, walking around the bed to slip underneath the comforter as the lights were turned off. Regina lay on her side with her back to the blonde before speaking up "Get over here, Em-ma." Another command she couldn't refuse, moving closer and sliding one arm around Regina's waist and nuzzling her nose into sweet smelling curls. "Do you… Do you MAKE apple scented body wash and shampoo too?" She asked when she realized why the scent was so familiar. There was a hum of a yes before Regina slid her arm over Emma's and started to relax into the embrace, she hadn't fallen asleep in someone's arms in so long that she forgot how wonderful it felt.
"Good night, Regina." Emma murmured into her hair with a smile before shutting her eyes, this was yet another thing she could get hooked on and was going to make it even harder to leave. She laid there in the dark of the bedroom; just listening to Regina's even breathing and trying to sleep herself. It was refusing to come easily and she was about to ask if the Mayor had fallen asleep when Regina switched her position, rolling over to wrap her arm around Emma with her face tucking into Emma's pale neck and her right leg resting over her thighs. Clearly she was asleep and it seemed she was quite comfortable with cuddling.
In their new position Emma felt herself relax even more, something about the way Regina fit against her so perfectly put her at ease and she let out a content sigh before sleep pulled her under.