A/N: Thank you to all who continue to be here for this new story. I'm glad to have some time and write this next chapter out that honestly turned out way better than I expected. Yes, chapter 13 is on the way, and will be posted as soon as it's done being written. I will leave this author's note here, as many of you don't review anymore anyway, and frankly I don't think a lot of people read author's notes much lol. But, please, continue to enjoy this journey. Happy reading! :)
On a quick note: Thank you to all of you who do continue to drop a review.
Chapter 12: Eternally Yours
"Finally introducing her to your dad, huh? That's a pretty big step." Mary Margaret grinned as she moved about her kitchen, stirring into cake batter.
"Yeah," Emma breathes, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I'm very nervous." Her fingers drummed along the edge.
"Why?" Mary Margaret looked over her shoulder, reaching for some sugar. "I know for a fact that your dad will like her. There's no need to be nervous, Emma. You talk about her enough that he technically already knows her at this point."
Emma grows quiet, her lips thinned out in worry.
A sign of worry that made Mary Margaret place down her bowl and face her directly. "Tell me. What's really on your mind? This isn't just about your dad, is it?"
Emma shifted on both feet, her hands tucked inside of her pockets. "Well, no."
"Are you afraid he's going to embarrass you?"
"No. No, he- he could never do that." Emma smiled.
"Is it Ruby and Graham? Because if it is, I will tie them up and keep them both locked up in here until you and Regina leave."
Emma chuckled, "No, it's not Ruby and it's not Graham. Ruby loves Regina, and Graham, he's actually come around with her now that he's given himself a chance to get to know her."
"They'd better." Mary Margaret gave a slight nod. "Emma…" Her eyes narrowed toward Emma.
"What?"
Her eyes grew wide, "Is it sex?" She whispered. "Are you and Regina-?"
"Mary Margaret!" Emma took a step back, her eyes as wide as Mary Margaret's.
"Well, I'm sorry, you gotta give me something to work with here, Emma. I can't always read your mind, you know. And if in case, you two did have sex, so what? You're both consenting adults, and it's a perfectly normal thing." She lifts her hands in front of Emma to keep her from protesting. "I know, I know, you said it has nothing to do with that."
Emma's cheeks grew hot at the thought of intimacy with Regina. It's not that neither of them wanted it to happen. Both have thought about it plenty, but she supposed both have been waiting for the right moment. A right setting to things. Call her a damn romantic! She was. And when things finally progressed in that department with Regina, Emma wanted to be ready. They already made out like a couple of teenagers. But they would also be each other's firsts and they weren't ashamed to admit it.
"Well," Emma shifts on her feet a little more. "She wants me to meet her father, too."
"And? Sounds logical to me that you meet her father after she's meeting yours."
"I know," Emma looks to her worn out converse.
"Oh…" Mary Margaret nods. "I see what this is about." She takes a step forward, her hands landing along Emma's shoulders. "Emma Swan. You have nothing to be intimidated about."
Emma chuckled, "Yeah. Just the fact that they'll never approve of me once they get to know me."
"So what?" Mary Margaret shrugs.
"So what?" Emma blinked. "Mary Margaret. Regina comes from a different background. I mean, you should see their house! Their backyard is so massive, you could fit a billion people in it. If Regina is with me, she won't have those things."
"She won't have them yet." Mary Margaret gave Emma a sharp look. Her hands squeezed along the blonde's shoulders. "Emma, you are capable of great things. And I know for a fact that you will accomplish beyond your wildest dreams. You may not have anything to offer now, but it doesn't mean you never will. And when that day comes, that family-" she points over Emma's shoulder. "Will be eating their words. I promise you that. Besides, Regina seems serious enough about you to wait until that moment arrives. And she's demonstrated to you time and time again that she isn't the slightest bit intimidated by your way of living. Don't sell yourself short."
Emma's shoulders relax a little as she smiles. "That's what Regina tells me."
Mary Margaret grins, "Well, that's because Regina is a smart woman. She's capable of handling herself in a rough situation. Believe you me, I know the type. I was her when I was her age."
Emma's brows furrowed quizzically. "What do you mean by that?" She asked.
Mary Margaret shook her head, "Let's not make this about me. This is not about me. This is about you." She pats her shoulders. "Now, don't be nervous tonight. I'm sure everything will be great."
"You really think so?"
"I know so. In fact," Mary Margaret moves further into her apartment, coming back with a set of keys that she tosses over to Emma. "Take my car tonight. She's rusty, but she'll get you to Regina's house so that you can pick her up and drive her over here yourself."
Emma looks down at the keys in her hand to Mary Margaret's car before her eyes meet with the woman across the room again. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well," Emma chuckled. "For starters, you never let anyone borrow your car."
Mary Margaret's hand lands along her waist. "Not to those I don't trust. And you aren't just anyone to me, Emma. You know that." She smiled.
Emma took the necessary steps across the kitchen and embraced Mary Margaret into a tight hug. "I love you, too, Mary Margaret."
Mary Margaret smiled, her eyes slowly closing as she inhaled their embrace before parting from it. Her hands rested along Emma's shoulders. "Go, now." She blinked a couple of times, fighting back tears that she was sure glossed her eyes over. "I won't be held responsible for your tardiness in picking up your girlfriend. That's not polite."
Emma chuckled, "Alright." She held up the keys. "I'll take great care of her, don't worry."
"I trust you. Now, go." She watched as Emma waved, exiting it out of her apartment. It wasn't until she was alone that she allowed herself to sigh heavily, feeling it brush its way up to her soul.
"Looking sharp, sis. Got a date?" Zelena grinned, standing by the doorway to Regina's bedroom.
"I'm just going over to Kathryn's for a while. I might miss dinner, so please, let our parents know." Regina continues to apply last minute details to her make-up, checking herself in her vanity mirror.
"You've been spending a little too much time with Kathryn lately." Zelena pushes herself off the door frame to enter further into the bedroom.
"So?" Regina pays no mind, spraying some of her favorite perfume along her neck.
"So…" Zelena sits along her sister's bed, her eyes watching her carefully through the mirror. "With how urgently you seem to be exiting out of here these past couple of months, and how," her eyes dance along Regina's body, taking in her black pencil skirt, and white sleeveless blouse with the two first buttons undone. "Great you're always dressing, one would even come to think that there's something a little more… personal happening between you and Kathryn."
Regina's eyes find Zelena's along the mirror before she turns directly. "Kathryn and I?" She chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't be ridiculous, Zelena. You are clearly making up stories just to amuse yourself."
"Am I?" Zelena's brow lifts.
"Yes. You are."
Zelena's teeth flash before her sister. "If that's true, then why are you becoming so defensive? It's simply an observation, Regina. Besides, aren't you the one who came out," her fingers curl in air quotes, "of the closet years ago, insisting on putting our family to shame?"
Regina frowns. "If anyone continues to place this family in shame- it's you. And you know it better than anyone. Or did you forget the time you were in jail and our father had to bail you out?"
Zelena whipped up, taking a step toward her sister. "That is none of your business! You know nothing about that!" She points a finger.
"Why are you becoming so defensive, Zelena? It's simply an observation." Regina grins.
"Don't ever repeat that. Ever." Zelena glares.
"Then stay out of my life and worry more about yours. We were close once upon a time ago, but you're the one who decided to change our relationship. Don't come in here, acting interested all of a sudden, when I know that what you want the most is to have something to report back to our mother." Regina reaches for her purse, she pulls out her phone which gives off an alert. Her hardened expression changes as she sees a message from Emma pop up on the screen asking her to come outside. Quickly, she inserts her phone back into her purse before she looks back at her sister. "Please give my message to our parents. And don't come into my room again."
Zelena watches as Regian turns on her heels and marches out of the bedroom in a hurry. She hurries over to her own bedroom window, where a perfect view over the tall hedges becomes available for her. There she sees Regina being greeted with a kiss along the lips by a blonde woman that doesn't look like Kathryn at all. She watches how she opens the passenger door for her of a rusty looking old yellow bug and how quickly they drive off.
"Where did you get this car, Emma?" Regina asked with enthusiasm in her voice.
"It's Mary Margaret's. She wanted me to pick you up for once, so she allowed me to borrow it." Said Emma. "It's not fancy or anything like your car, but-"
"I like it." Regina smiles, seeing a smile manifest along Emma's own lips. "You want to know why I like it?"
"Why?"
Regina answers her question by scooting over toward Emma, sitting right in the middle, so close that she can lean into Emma's side and instantly feel her arm securely wrap around her. Emma's smile grows as her arm wraps a little more along Regina, feeling their hands and fingers join in the process.
"I think I may have to borrow this car more often." Said Emma, hearing a laugh erupt from Regina. "Hey…"
"What?" Regina lays her head along Emma's shoulder.
"Let's go somewhere."
Regina looks up at Emma, her eyes blinking. "Now?" She asks, seeing her nod in response. "Go where? Emma, we have to meet with your father, he'll be furious if we're late-"
"We're not going to be late." Emma assured her, flashing all of her white teeth in a smile.
"How do you know that?"
"Trust me, my father was so nervous when I told him I was bringing you over to meet him that he literally begged me to give him two more hours until he prepared something worthy of you." She hears Regina chuckle. "He insisted on trying to cook himself. We have plenty of time for what I have in mind."
Regina's brow lifts, "And do tell, just what did you have in mind?"
Regina was surprised when Emma made a stop, parking in front of a small building with a neon sign that read: Riley's Ink. "Have you lost your mind?" Regina turned to Emma with the widest eyes. She expected anything from Emma, but never this.
Emma grinned at the expression on Regina's face. "Affirmative."
"And you admit it?" Regina chuckled.
Emma reaches for Regina's hand as her eyes lock into place, right with Regina's. "Gina, I lost my mind the moment I met you."
Regina's heart stops then. She can't help but lean in and meet Emma's lips in a passionate kiss right inside Mary Margaret's car. Parked in front of that tattoo shop. And after their kiss breaks, Regina ends like she always does after kissing Emma. Completely breathless. "If we do this…" she breathes. "It'll be forever."
Emma nods slowly, "I know."
"It won't ever come off, Emma."
"Eternally sounds good to me." Emma breathes.
Hearing that word out of Emma's own lips relaxed Regina. It gave her hope and a sense of security that a relationship like theirs could and would last forever. However, there was still that little worry in the back of Regina's mind.
"And what happens if one day we decide to end it all? What happens if you get tired of me? Or one day we-" Regina's worries are silenced by Emma's lips pressing into hers. She finds herself so lost in their kiss, and in the way Emma's hand cups along her jawline that she doesn't care to worry about the what-if's.
Once they part, Emma's eyes lock onto Regina's again. Her hand lingering along her jawline in affection. "The only way we'll ever stop existing Gina, is if you decide differently. And even then… with this," her eyes flash along the building in front of them, flashing its neon sign. "I swear to you that we will never stop."
"You swear?" Regina blinks, feeling her eyes sting. Emma and her might only have a few months together, but she could feel it in her soul that if she were to ever lose her, she would be devastated.
Emma took Regina's hand and placed her palm along her chest, directly where her heart beat. "I swear that you're the only one with enough power to either salvage or stop this heart."
Regina could see how serious Emma's words were just by looking in her eyes. "I don't ever want it to stop beating." She whispered.
Emma smiled. She leaned in to place another kiss along Regina's lips, pressing her foreheads together, taking a moment to breathe in her intoxicating perfume.
Regina's hand rested along Emma's warm cheek. "God…" she whispered in a prayer loud enough for Emma to hear. "Please, don't allow us to ever part."
As they walked hand in hand into Emma's apartment, the scent of a home cooked meal took over as soon as they crossed that front door.
"Dad?" Emma called out, walking further with Regina through the living room. Her neck craned a little as they neared the kitchen, where she saw David rushing out wiping his hands along the dirty apron.
"Damn meatloaf!" He hissed under his breath, loud enough to fill the room. "I tried everything to get it right and it sticks to the fucking oven."
"Dad." Emma says sternly, her eyes glaring at David as he looks up in horror.
"Oh." David blinks, beads of sweat clearly build out of frustration glisten his forehead. "Hello."
Regina nods curtly, feeling the nerves in her stomach dance a little. "Hello, Mr. Swan. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She smiles, stretching out her hand.
"Y-yeah," David quickly wipes his hands again with the apron, shaking Regina's hand. "Likewise. Emma here won't shut up about you."
While Regina chuckles, Emma's cheeks color crimson.
"I'm sorry about all this," David motions toward the kitchen, then looks over himself, quickly ripping off the dirty apron. "I'm really sorry. How embarrassing. I guess first impressions didn't go well, huh?"
Regina grinned, "You do look like you could use some help."
David scoffed, "Help wouldn't be the word I would use. More like an exorcist. That… stove has it in for me." He glares in the kitchen's direction.
Regina allowed a laugh, "Well, if you don't mind, Mr. Swan. I would be glad to help you out."
"You cook?" Emma's brow raised as she stood by Regina.
"I'll try not to take offense to that question, thank you." Said Regina, seeing a smile erupt from Emma's lips.
"Well, any help would be good. As long as you don't call me mister or sir or none of that rich nonsense." Said David.
"Dad," Emma muttered, glaring again.
Regina grinned, "That's a deal. Now, let's see what you have available in the kitchen, shall we? Emma can be my assistant." She looks over her shoulder at Emma, nodding her head toward the kitchen.
Emma is quick to follow Regina into the kitchen, reaching for her arm before she enters any further. "You don't have to do this, you know. You're our guest after all." She whispered.
"Are you afraid to eat anything I'll cook for you and your father?" Regina whispered, an amused look masking her face.
Emma's cheeks grow pink. "It's not that. But, this wasn't supposed to happen."
"Things don't always go as planned. And that's okay. If I've learned anything while being with you is that being spontaneous isn't a bad thing." She flashed her left wrist, showing off the small infinity symbol, bold and black, tattooed along her skin.
Emma allowed herself to smile past her embarrassment. She had the same symbol tattooed along her right wrist, so that whenever they would hold hands, their symbols would come together. "You're amazing." She whispered.
"Keep saying it enough and I may just believe it." Said Regina before welcoming herself along the kitchen. "Now," she clapped her hands as her attention turned to David. "What are our choices?"
"Uh…" David ruffled his hair until it stood up more than it previously had been. "I found a box of spaghetti, some ground beef and some tomatoes. I have a few eggs, but not enough." He holds out two eggs. "But I can always get some from Eugenia. She always has more than enough."
"That's perfect. Why don't you go get a couple of more eggs, and some seasonings? Emma and I will take care of the rest."
"On it." David quickly ran out, shutting the front door with a snap.
Emma watched Regina carefully as she dried her hands after having washed them and the tomatoes before slicing them with a kitchen knife. "So, do I get to know what I will be assisting you in making this evening?"
Regina grinned, "You will soon find out. Now, wash your hands, please and help me chop up the rest of these tomatoes." She nods to another group of tomatoes along the kitchen counter.
"Yes, ma'am." Emma grins, rolling up her sleeves all the way to her elbows.
Regina's eyes look to Emma's right wrist, the infinity symbol visible along her pink, irritated skin. She never imagined ever getting a tattoo, especially not something along the lines of a matching tattoo, but here they were. And she regretted nothing, just like she knew Emma didn't either.
David sighed, massaging the side of his belly as he sat back in his chair. "Regina. I may just have you over so that you can cook us another batch of this delicious spaghetti tomorrow."
Regina laughed, "Well, thank you. I'm glad you liked it. And I packed you a little extra for work tomorrow."
"Did you?" David's brow lifts. His eyes look to Emma. "She's a keeper," he points to Regina. "If you don't marry her- I'll warn you- I will."
"Alright, dad," Emma chuckles, hearing another laugh escape Regina as she turns to her. "Don't mind him. He doesn't eat home cooked meals much. Only when our neighbor cooks for us."
"I could have learned, but I never saw the need." David shrugged. "Emma's mom here did all the cooking, but that all changed once she passed away." He frowned.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Said Regina, turning to reach for Emma's hand along the table.
"It's not your fault, Regina." David shakes his head. "Besides, I should be the one apologizing. Emma brings you here for me to finally meet the girl who has clearly occupied her every thought and here I am telling you sad stories instead of embarrassing ones of Emma here."
Emma grinned, "Alright, I think before you start doing that, I should take Regina home." She squeezes her girlfriend's hand as she stands.
"Oh, come on!' David grins. "This conversation was just about to get good."
"Unfortunately for you, it'll have to wait, dad." Emma turns to Regina. "You ready?" At Regina's nod, she turns back to her father. "I'll be back later."
"Sure, sure." David stands, extending his hand toward Regina. "Regina, thank you for tonight and this delicious, and unexpected meal." He cups her hand in both of his as she reaches for his hand. "Please, come by anytime."
"Thank you for having me over for dinner." Regina leaned in to place a kiss along David's cheek. "It was really lovely meeting you."
David waves. "Emma," he calls out. "Drive carefully, huh?"
"I will."
Regina slid one of her glass doors that would lead to her bedroom once she climbed up to the balcony with Emma's help. "I can't believe I did that!" She whispered out in laughs as she entered her bedroom with Emma in tow.
"I can't believe it either," Emma breathed, looking down at the massive backyard from Regina's balcony.
"I guess I have to agree with you," Regina smiled, finding Emma's green eyes staring into hers. "I think I lost my mind the moment we met. You've turned me into a complete rebel."
Emma smiled, reaching for Regina's hand into hers. "I believe I've created a monster." She mocked. Her lips found Regina's in a kiss that ended soon after. "I don't know what you've done to me, Gina. When I'm with you, I don't seem to want to end my nights."
"Then let's not let it end." Regina murmured. She held onto Emma's hands, walking backwards to guide her past her curtains and sliding door, into her bedroom.
Emma followed like a magnet, keeping her focus on Regina's eyes the entire time. She silently watched her walk over to her bedroom door and lock it. She watched as she walked right back to her, and leaned in for another kiss that like all their shared kisses, started off slow and patient. Emma was no one to turn down any kiss that Regina gave her, she would have to be crazy to do such a thing. Instead she allowed herself to let go. Allowed her hands to rest along Regina's waist until they wrapped along her lower back and pulled her in. Their lips intensified their kiss as soon as Regina's own hands climbed their way off Emma's shoulders and arms, sliding along her ribs until they met her back.
Without breaking their kiss, Regina guided them further into her bedroom until the back of her knees impacted her bed. She held onto Emma as she allowed herself to settle along the edge of the mattress. Holding Emma close by her neck, leaving her no choice but to follow her along the bed, until one of her hands rested along the softest mattress she had ever felt in her life.
Emma's mind had gone blank. She hadn't even realized when their bodies had laid along the soft mattress. She just knew that having Regina beneath her, feeling her arms holding her in place while their lips continued to mold with one another was a feeling unlike any other. That feeling boiling inside of her intensified once she felt how soft Regina's hands felt along her back as they snuck to the inside of her shirt. Emma couldn't help herself but to run one of her own hands down Regina's thigh, feeling fabric followed by nothing but warm, soft skin.
She could swear that her heart was ready to explode as her fingers made contact with even warmer skin as they rode forward and a little further up.
Regina's hands and fingers weren't far behind, riding down Emma's bare back and seeking the hem of her shirt. Once found, she began to slowly lift it up, feeling her own breathing and Emma's hitch just a little as their lips featherly brushed.
"Wait," Emma breathed against Regina's lips, lifting her head enough to look into Regina's dilated pupils. She reached for Regina's wrist, halting it before it could move further.
"What is it?" Regina sat along her bed, once she felt Emma abruptly climb off of her until she was standing. "What's wrong?" Her eyes display fear or maybe having moved too fast as she looked up at Emma. Especially when Emma took a while to respond. "Okay, you really have to give me something here to go on because you're starting to scare me."
"Gina, I…" Emma shook her head. "I have to go."
"Hey." Regina rushes over to Emma as she nears the balcony, reaching for her hand to prevent her from leaving. "No. Don't do that. Don't run away from this." She cups Emma's cheek, so that their eyes meet.
"Please don't misunderstand this," Emma muttered. "I want to. God, do I want to." She chuckled nervously. "But, not here. Not with your parents just steps away from your bedroom like a couple of teenagers."
Regina smiled, "I'll admit this wasn't the most ideal of places for me either. I'm also a little ashamed to admit that this is a first for me so I'm afraid I don't have a lot of experience when it comes to this stuff."
Emma's eyes look widely into Regina's. "Your first…" She pauses. "Do you mean that this… this is your first time?"
Regina's cheeks go crimson as she nods. "What can I say? While the rest of my friends were out partying and having sex, I never really cared about the word sex until…" her eyes lock on Emma's. "Until I met you."
A pale hand cupped along Regina's cheek, a thumb stroking along the blush. Emma's lips locked on Regina's in another passionate kiss that Regina felt like they were standing higher than this balcony. It wasn't until Emma pulled away that she said, "Boy, am I glad to hear you say that." She breathed, grinning from ear to ear. "Not that I thought that you-" she quickly retracted her words, her nerves increasing as she attempted to find the right ones. "I just… well… it'll be my first time, too."
Regina's smile brightened just like that look in her eyes. "Well, then that settles it. We definitely owe it to ourselves for a special moment such as this one to happen somewhere where it can just be the two of us. Somewhere memorable."
"And safe. The last thing I'd want is for your father to come at me with a shotgun after finding me in bed with his daughter. Not to mention before even meeting me." Emma grinned.
Regina laughed, "No, we wouldn't want that. And I would never allow it." She brushed away a long strand of hair that the wind blew across Emma's face.
"Are you saying you would protect me?" Emma's grin grew.
"Emma, I'd jump in front of a bullet for you. We're bound now," she places hers and Emma's wrists together, assuring that their tattoos touched. "I am eternally yours just like you are eternally mine." Said Regina, meeting Emma halfway in another kiss that ended just as quickly as it had started. "Go, before I change my mind and keep you here for the rest of the night."
"Oh, well, now I'm tempted to stay." Emma's arms pulled Regina in, her lips tickling Regina's neck as she planted a kiss along its skin.
Regina giggled and pushed her away playfully. "Not here, remember? Go. I'll pick you up tomorrow to meet my father for lunch."
"About tomorrow," Said Emma. "I'll meet you there. I actually have a job interview tomorrow by phone, and I didn't want my dad snooping around, listening behind a closed door so I'll be at Mary Margaret's using her phone. But I promise I will be done in time to meet you and your father at your favorite restaurant."
"Emma. That's great news!" Regina beamed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Emma grinned through the blush that settled along her cheeks. "I wanted to wait. To surprise you. Plus, it's just an interview. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure if I got the job."
"Of course you'll get the job," Regina's hands squeeze along Emma's. "I know you'll get it. They'd have to be crazy not to take you on as their engineer."
"We'll see." Emma leans in for a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." Regina happily watched as Emma expertly climbed down all the way to the bottom of the backyard and found her way out, having done it a couple of times before already.