"So," Mary Margaret began, leaning against the door frame to Emma's bedroom, sipping her tea. "You're packing. Are you going to Regina's again?"
Emma froze as she reached into her closet. She'd been dodging her roommate from the moment she'd gotten home, which was no easy feat given how tiny the house was. She hadn't expected Mary Margaret to be home. At all. She'd been at David's every single weekend for weeks now, or was it months? The truth was, Emma was home so infrequently that she didn't even know anymore. But Mary Margaret was home, for whatever reason, on this Friday night and Emma had been trying to hurry up and pack, something she was normally good at, but she hadn't been home long enough to do laundry and she was having trouble finding clean clothes. Ones that she liked, anyway.
Mary Margaret had been following her around, at first asking innocuous questions, but they'd still set Emma on edge. She figured this line of questioning was coming, and she was right. Emma had just hoped she could be packed quickly enough to avoid it entirely. She'd been doing a good job of keeping the conversation firmly away from their relationships, but it seemed Mary Margaret was done dancing around the subject.
"So, you and David," Emma countered, after she recovered. "When did that happen?"
"You first."
"Nuh-uh. You and David."
Mary Margaret smiled into her tea. Good. Keep talking while I finish up here.
"I don't know. It just… did. I didn't mean for it to, and I wanted to be sure before we made it official."
"Is it even official?"
Mary Margaret shrugged.
"We haven't announced it but we're not hiding it. I don't want anyone thinking I'm going to give him special treatment at work just because we're sleeping together."
Emma had to fight very hard not to make a face. Those words provoked unnecessary visuals.
"And you and Regina?"
Emma hesitated. Only a few people knew about their relationship, but they were their friends. They were people that Regina felt were safe.
Emma, for her part, didn't care who knew. She was ready to shout it from the rooftops, but Regina was private. She was different. And this was Mary Margaret. She was Emma's friend, but she was far from Regina's, and Emma wasn't sure what she was allowed to tell Mary Margaret. The safest bet was to not say anything at all. Emma respected the hell out of Regina, and that included her privacy. She knew that Regina didn't want Mary Margaret to know anything about her. Their relationship was about them both, but Emma wasn't sure if that fell into the category of "things to definitely to tell Mary Margaret". She wasn't sure, but she highly suspected it was off limits, so she kept her mouth shut.
"Emma?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Mary Margaret frowned.
"Is everything okay?"
Emma was really regretting the fact that she and Regina hadn't had a conversation about this. They talked about so much. How had they never ironed out exactly what she should say to Mary Margaret? They had been a little distracted lately though.
"Everything's fine. I just don't want to talk about it."
"Are you sure? You seem upset," Mary Margaret said with concern, taking a step into Emma's bedroom. "Emma, are you being mistreated?"
"What? No, of course not."
"Then why are you avoiding the question?"
Emma was scrambling for how to respond. She didn't want to give away that they were together, but she feared that by not answering, that's exactly what she was doing.
"It's just… you're very defensive all of a sudden. And you've been kinda jumpy since you got home. I don't know why you're like that and you're dodging the question, unless you have something to hide."
Emma decided then that what she'd packed would have to make do because she was done with this conversation. She exited her bedroom, bypassing a stuttering Mary Margaret. She grabbed her coat as she approached the door, pausing only to say goodbye.
"I won't be back tonight."
"Emma-"
Emma didn't bother responding; she simply left. She felt guilty just abandoning her friend, but she'd needed to get out of there. She decided to walk to Regina's, letting the cool night air calm her down. She walked quickly at first, her mind racing as she replayed her conversation with Mary Margaret. Maybe she should have denied that she and Regina were together, but that felt wrong. She was proud to be with Regina. And Emma didn't like lying. But by not denying that they were together, she had basically admitted that they were. But, Mary Margaret had to know that already. David must have told her. Or she had to have figured it out by the amount of time Emma spent at Regina's. She obviously suspected, if she didn't outright know, because she had been the one to bring it up to Emma at the house.
Emma sighed as she approached Regina's. She wasn't looking forward to telling the other woman. She glanced at her phone to check the time. She wasn't supposed to arrive until 7 p.m., and it was just past five. Hopefully Regina didn't mind that she was early.
Emma walked up the steps, pausing to fix her hair before knocking. The door was quickly ripped open by Henry, who beamed up at her.
"Hi, Emma!"
"Hi, kid," she greeted, squeezing his shoulder affectionately as she entered the house. "What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"Are you? Is it a good book?"
"Yep. It's about a boy who discovers a cave full of dragons and he makes friends with the dragons and he rides around on them but the villagers are scared of the dragons and want to kill them but the boy is going to save them."
"Is he?"
"Yep. The dragons were scared of humans so that's why they stayed hidden for years and years."
Emma chuckled.
"Sounds pretty exciting," she responded, kicking off her boots and hanging her coat. She dropped her bag by the steps, peering down the hall. She could hear music.
"Mom is cleaning," Henry explained, seeing Emma's confused expression. "She's playing her music really loud."
"She seems to do that a lot."
Henry nodded.
"It's part of our culture, mom said."
Emma laughed.
"Do you play your music really loudly too?"
"Yep! But not right now because I'm reading."
"Well, don't let me stop you."
Henry took his cue and returned back to the living room. Emma waved him off before following the sound of the music down the hall.
She had no clue what the lyrics were; she couldn't make them out. They were speaking Spanish far too quickly. She recognised it though. Regina clearly liked this song, because this wasn't the first time she'd heard it in the house. The beat was catchy, and she found herself patting the side of her thigh along to the beat. She smiled wider as she got closer to her destination (the main floor bathroom), peering around the door frame.
Emma opened her mouth to greet her girlfriend, but she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her: Regina was wearing tight spandex pants, a form-fitting sleeveless top, her hair was pulled back and covered by a handkerchief. Regina was reaching up to wipe at the tiles in the glass shower, and the bottom of her shirt had ridden up a little at her hip, Emma's eyes narrowing in on the perfectly smooth skin on display. Emma's stomach clenched at the beauty before her. Regina's back was to her, and she was swaying her hips to the music, singing loudly to the music. Emma was captivated.
Her stomach dropped low, her arousal going from zero to outer space at the visual before her. Regina looked sexy as all hell. That outfit left nothing to the imagination, and the way Regina was moving her hips made Emma want to grab them and grind Regina's ass into her pelvis. She could do nothing but stare, watching, entranced, as Regina swayed and sang, scrubbing at the tiles. When Regina reached the corner of the shower and turned, she screamed in surprise, dropping her rag.
"Emma!"
A deep blush immediately spread from Regina's cheeks down to her chest. She hadn't expected to see anyone, let alone her girlfriend, and she was immensely embarrassed at having been caught singing to herself as she cleaned. She also knew she must look a mess: sweaty, hair unkempt, and she was dressed in her old work out clothes. But it didn't seem to matter to Emma because she quickly crossed the distance to the shower and pulled Regina into her arms, kissing her firmly on the lips.
"Emma," Regina squeaked, pulling back from the kiss. "I'm not-"
"Oh, yes you are," Emma countered. She wasn't sure what Regina was going to say, but it didn't matter. She disagreed entirely. "You're so fucking sexy."
Emma kept one hand on Regina's lower back, feeling dampness there, but she hardly noticed. She was far too turned on. Her other hand came up to cup the side of Regina's face, holding her in place. She crushed their lips together, her tongue quickly diving into Regina's mouth. She groaned when she felt Regina grip her biceps, returning the kiss with equal fervor. Emma held her tight for a minute before pulling her up closer, hand moving down to her ass to hold their pelvises together. Regina let out a low noise that shot straight between Emma's legs, her hips rocking forward once in response.
"Jesus fucking Christ, Regina," Emma panted against her lips, kissing her again for good measure. "You are so fucking hot."
Regina shook her head in disbelief.
"I am cleaning a shower. I'm sweaty and feel disgusting and my hands are covered in tub cleaner. I don't have a stitch of make-up on my face. How in the world am I attractive to you right now?"
In lieu of a response, Emma reached her other hand down to grip Regina's ass and hauled her up into her arms, grinning when the woman wrapped her legs around her waist. She walked Regina to the nearest wall, pinning her in place. She leaned forward and kissed her again, her hands grabbing and massaging Regina's bottom. She proceeded to kiss her until Regina became dizzy, her head falling back as she panted to catch her breath.
"Emma," Regina moaned, shifting her legs so that she could stand on her own feet again. "We need to stop."
Emma grunted in protest, Regina chuckling in response. She kissed her cheek in apology.
"You're early," she observed.
"I am. I hope that's okay."
"It is."
"Good. I'm glad I'm early because otherwise I'd have missed this show," Emma responded, her hands running up and down Regina's hips, glancing down at the little cleavage that she could see.
Regina smirked.
"Who knew that me cleaning a shower would do it for you?"
Emma looked back up in her eyes.
"Regina, it literally doesn't matter what you're doing, it does it for me. You do it for me. In every state."
Regina blushed again.
"What was it about this that you liked so much?" she asked out of curiosity.
"Just seeing you so… in your element. Casual, doing something so domestic. You're just effortlessly attractive, you know? Plus, hearing you sing and seeing you move that way, God damn. It should be illegal. What song is that, by the way?"
"It's called Ginza."
"I've heard you sing it before. I kept forgetting to ask you about it."
Regina nodded, running her hands up and down Emma's chest, over her shoulders, down her arms.
"I like the beat."
"I like the way you like the beat," Emma teased, causing Regina to flush further.
"You weren't supposed to see me dance like that."
"I'm disappointed I didn't see it sooner," Emma responded, leaning down to kiss Regina's neck.
"I need a shower."
"Oh no," Emma argued, encircling Regina in her arms. "You smell fantastic."
"I smell like sweat."
"Exactly."
"You are so strange."
"So you've said."
Emma inhaled deeply, Regina squirming at the way the airflow tickled her neck.
"Oh?" Emma inquired, realising why Regina was moving away from her.
"Emma, do not-"
Her warning was cut off by Emma's exaggerated inhaling and exhaling against her throat, the puffs of air causing Regina to laugh loudly as it tickled her skin. She tried to push against Emma's shoulder to get away, but she was held tight as Emma continued to huff and snort against her.
"Emma, you are such a child!" Regina squealed, giggling as she tried to pull away. "Unhand me."
"No way. I'm addicted. I need more," Emma teased, hauling Regina up as she kissed and licked at her throat. "Mmm."
Regina's giggled morphed into something different, her breath catching as Emma's touches quickly changed. She swallowed hard against the way Emma was now caressing her body, her tongue dragging slowly up and down the side of her neck, coming to a stop behind her ear. Emma began laving and sucking at the spot that made Regina's legs weak, her arousal stirring at Emma's attention.
"Emma," she breathed, attempting to protest but even to her own ears, her voice sounded weak.
"Yeah, baby?" Emma asked, pretending to be confused. "What's wrong?"
Emma's lips roamed over Regina's skin, sucking her earlobe into her mouth before moving to her ear.
"Are you getting a little turned on?"
Emma kept one hand on Regina's hip, holding her steady, while her other hand came down to rub up and down the back of Regina's thigh, teasingly close to her ass.
"Emma."
"Fuck, I love the way you say my name."
Regina closed her eyes and lost herself in the feeling of Emma's hands exploring her body, all thoughts escaping her as she began responding to the way she was being touched. Her hips rocked into thin air, a small whimper of need falling from her lips when Emma's hands skirted her lower back, moved to the back of her thighs, stroked around her hip, but never came into contact with where Regina wanted them. She enjoyed Emma's touches until she couldn't take it anymore, finally breaking and shifting to press their mouths together. She then reached down and grabbed the hand stroking at her thigh, moving it to her ass, both women groaning when Emma grabbed it firmly.
Regina's hand reached up to rest against Emma's cheek for a moment before it moved to the back of her head, digging her fingers in the woman's hair and lightly scratching at her scalp. Emma moaned into her mouth, Regina taking advantage and diving her tongue inside.
"Mom, when's dinner- Oh! Oh, gross! Mom!" Henry shouted, immediately covering his eyes and backing out of the bathroom. "Mom! Gross!"
Emma immediately pulled away, horrified. Regina, on the other hand, immediately burst into laughter, though the sound of her son's voice was like a splash of ice cold water on her body. She took a moment to compose herself before she went to the hallway to find her son, who turned away from her, hand still covering his eyes.
"No, it's not safe. I wish I were blind. I think I am blind! Mom, what the heck! People live here!"
Regina, still laughing, pulled her son into her arms. She lowered his hand, assuring him it was safe to look now.
"It'll never be safe again. I take it back. No dating Emma."
He was teasing now, but only partly. He was happy his mom was like, happy with Emma. But gross.
Emma eventually joined them in the hallway, but her blush was still evident on her cheeks.
"Sorry, kid."
"No kissing my mom when I'm in the house."
Regina rolled her eyes.
"This is my house, Henry. And I will kiss whomever I want whenever I please."
"Gross."
"One day you'll kiss someone and you won't think it so gross, mijo."
"Yeah, well. I don't want to kiss anyone right now."
"Good. You're far too young."
"Okay but can we please make a rule that there's no kissing when I'm around?"
Regina chuckled, but she nodded.
"I'm sorry, mijo. You weren't supposed to see that."
She was laughing, but she was also a little mortified. The last thing she had meant for was to be caught making out with Emma by her son. They would certainly have to be more careful in the future.
Henry sighed. The perils of his mother dating. He looked up at Emma, who smiled at him.
"Hi, kid."
"Hands off my mom," Henry said, pointing his finger.
Emma laughed then, pulling him into a hug.
"What about you?" She asked, hauling him up and turning him upside down, causing the boy to giggle loudly. "Hands off you too? Huh, tough guy? What are you gonna do now? You're upside down and looking pretty helpless all of a sudden."
"Emma!" he shrieked, giggling. "Put me down!"
"Not until you say I'm allowed to kiss your mom," she teased.
"No kissing my mom!" he laughed, gripping her wrists. "Don't drop me!"
Emma grinned over at Regina, who rolled her eyes.
"You're an overgrown child."
Emma held Henry with one arm, using her free one to tickle his ribs.
"Do not drop my son, Emma."
"I won't. The kid is so skinny. Don't you eat?"
Henry laughed, his hands dropping down when Emma stopped tickling, enjoying the sensation of being upside down.
"Hey, this is cool."
Emma held him there for a few minutes, gently swinging him back and forth before setting him back down on his feet. She held him up until he gathered his bearings, the boy smiling up at her.
"That was fun."
"Yeah?" Emma asked, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and following Regina to the kitchen.
"Yes! But really, mom, when's dinner ready?"
"Not for a little bit. Here," Regina said, reaching into the fridge for a clementine. "Eat this for now and we'll call you when dinner is ready."
He sighed dramatically before reaching for the fruit and leaving the room. Regina watched him go before turning to Emma with a smile on her face. She walked over to her and wrapped her arms around her, settling into her embrace.
"I love the way you make him laugh."
"He's easy to play with. Plus, he really doesn't weigh very much. I should flip him upside down every time I need to distract him."
Regina chuckled into her neck, tilting her head up and kissing her throat. Emma held her close, glancing at the clock. It was just after six.
"I should put the lasagna in the oven," Regina observed, reluctantly pulling away from Emma's arms and preheating the oven.
"We're having lasagna?"
"Yes. Is that alright?"
"More than alright. You know me, I'm not fussy."
"Yes. It's one of the things I quite enjoy about you. You're easy to please."
"Am I ever," Emma responded, wiggling her eyebrows.
Regina rolled her eyes, pulling the lasagna from the fridge and setting it on the counter.
"Did you make it?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course I made it."
Emma laughed at Regina's snarky response. She walked over and pulled Regina into her arms, kissing her cheek.
"So sassy."
"You love it."
"I do, actually."
"Heaven knows why."
"Because I love how fierce you are. How passionate. It's sexy."
"Even when I'm yelling at you?"
"Especially when you're yelling at me."
Regina rolled her eyes. She hadn't yelled at Emma in months, not since they'd become friends and certainly not since they'd begun their relationship. Regina wasn't in the habit of yelling at the people she cared about. She had no intention of ever yelling at Emma again, but she wasn't above teasing her about the past.
"Will you put the lasagna in the oven once it's preheated? I'm going to shower."
"Do you have to?"
Regina eyed her carefully.
"Are you telling me that you genuinely like the way I look right now? Greasy hair and smelly?"
"You smell nice."
"I smell like sweat."
"Like I said earlier: exactly."
Regina debated, then bit her bottom lip.
"If I don't shower, I'll feel self-conscious later, and I won't want to… Unless you'd prefer we didn't-"
"So, I'll put the lasagna in the oven as soon as it beeps," Emma said quickly, cutting her off and directing her towards the bathroom. "Don't worry about a thing. Take your time showering, I got this."
Regina giggled.
"Thought so."
Regina returned to the kitchen after her shower, finding it empty. She walked over to the oven and flicked on the light, seeing the lasagna safely inside. She turned the light back off and began wandering around, ultimately hearing voices drifting down from the direction of the movie room. She quietly entered, hearing Emma's voice as she approached the couch.
Just when she thought her feelings for Emma couldn't grow any more, her heart melted.
Henry was curled up in Emma's lap, staring at the picture book as he held it, Emma's arms flailing around dramatically as she read one of Henry's favourite childhood stories. Regina recognised it immediately, having read it so many times she now knew it by heart. Milk and Cookies.
They weren't far in, having just approached the part where baby bear discovers his grandfather feeding the "dragon".
"Now don't get scared, Henry. It's not a real dragon."
Regina bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. She didn't want to miss this moment.
"I know it's not a real dragon, Emma."
She could hear the way he was rolling his eyes.
"But it would be cool if dragons were real," he added.
Emma nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah. They'd be the one thing that could stand a chance against your mom."
Regina scoffed.
"No dragon would be a match against me."
Emma jumped, surprised. She looked over, smiling sheepishly.
"Regina. How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to hear you speaking ill of me to my son," Regina chastised, joining them on the couch.
"I wasn't speaking ill. You're just, such a force to be reckoned with that only a dragon would be able to hold its own against you."
"I don't know, Emma. I think my mom would even take down a dragon."
Emma seemed to consider this.
"Yeah, you're probably right, kid."
"Do we have to stop the story?" Henry asked, and Regina's heart squeezed.
"No. Let's continue."
Regina curled up with her son and her girlfriend, listening to them chatter in between Emma reading the story. The way this woman treated her son… It made Regina even more attracted to her, if that were even possible.
Regina stayed quiet as she followed along with the story, smiling at them both when the story ended.
"Why don't you go set the table, Henry? Emma and I will join you in a moment."
"Okay," Henry said, getting up from Emma's lap.
"Don't forget to thank Emma for reading to you."
He stopped and quickly turned, throwing himself at Emma.
"Thanks! You're good at reading stories."
"Any time, kid," Emma said softly, her heart melting a little. God, how she loved this child. She watched him leave the room before grinning to herself. "Imagine that? The English teacher is good at reading."
Emma frowned when she finally looked over at her girlfriend, the expression on Regina's face causing her pause.
"Regina?"
She startled when the woman darted forward, pulling her in for a hard kiss. Emma responded in turn, surprised and breathless when Regina pulled away nearly as abruptly.
"You okay?"
"I didn't think it was possible to be any more attracted to you, Emma. But I was very wrong. Tonight cannot come soon enough. And neither can you."
Emma, surprised by the vehemence in Regina's tone, stayed quiet for a few seconds as the meaning of Regina's words settled. Her stomach tightened in arousal. This woman was going to be the death of her.
"Come on. Let's eat dinner first and then I will eat you later."
Emma followed, her brain short-circuiting at Regina's implication for what would be happening later on that night.