Emma leaned against her kitchen counter, newspaper in hand. She circled out a few prospective properties to look at as she chewed on her bearclaw. Snow cradled Neal while Henry and David played video games. "Is Regina not coming around?" Snow asked her daughter.
It's already been about a month since the duo started dating but they haven't shared the news with anyone, including Henry. They've decided to wait until life had settled down a bit more and then share the good news. Yet, everyone knew that it was a strange occurrence to see one without the other.
"She's picking up some things for dinner," Emma said, dragging the pen around another property advert. Snow moved closer towards Emma, "Hold him for a second, would you?" She handed the three month old to her daughter and proceeded to make him formula. Emma was caught off guard, she's only ever carried him twice and never really felt like she's got the hang of it.
Neal began crying. "David, David, David," Emma sped walked to her father and put the child in his arms. David lost his concentration on the game and immediately soothed Neal. "Really mom? We were on our last mission," Henry pouted. "Emma, you don't have to be scared," David chuckled. "Yeah well, I've never had to raise Henry so I don't exactly know what to do." Her eyes started tearing up, becoming emotional over the entire situation. Snow appeared behind Emma with Neal's bottle and handed it to David. "What's wrong?" She reached forward to stroke Emma's back, which seemed to have struck a nerve with Emma. The blonde broke down in tears. She pushed past Snow and headed to her bedroom, locking the door behind her.
Not long after, she heard a knock on the door, "Emma," Snow placed her ear against the door, attempting to hear if Emma was still crying. When she didn't get a response, she tried again, "Emma? Can we talk?" "No," the response was muffled, but there. Snow gave up and returned to a worried David and Henry. "Is she okay?" Henry had his hands clasped together and was sitting at the edge of his seat. "I think she just needs some time."
Regina struggled to carry all the bags in at once so she settled on taking one and asking Henry to grab the rest from the car. She walked in on concerned looks. "Henry? What happened? Where's your mother?" She asked, trying to hide the agitation she felt. "We don't know what exactly happened-" Snow started but Regina cut her off, "What do you mean you 'don't know'? Where is she?" Regina stepped forward, ready to start an argument with Snow. "She was with Snow then when Neal cried, Emma left him with me then took off in tears after saying she didn't raise Henry," David explained before Regina could get into an altercation with Snow. "She's in her room," Henry quietly added.
Regina let out a sigh of relief, "Henry, could you bring in the bags from my car?" She asked. He nodded in compliance and walked towards the open front door. Regina turned on her heel, heading in the direction of Emma's room. Snow stopped her, "I've tried. She wants to be alone."
Regina looked over her shoulder, "Right," she scoffed. Once outside Emma's room door, Regina tapped the door softly. "Honey? It's me. Can I come in?" Her voice was gentle and soft. "No," Emma said, a bit louder this time. Regina folded her arms and knelt her frame against the wall next to the door. She looked towards the stairs when she heard footsteps. Snow gave her a smug 'I-Told-You-So' look. Before she could speak, Regina did. "Why don't you meet Emma and I at Granny's for dinner?" Regina told her more than she was asking. Snow rolled her eyes but nodded, she descended the staircase and five minutes later, Regina heard the door close.
Regina took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Emma, please, just let me in," she said softly, hoping to pierce through Emma's walls. Silence hung in the air, thick with tension, before Emma's voice came back, more defeated than angry. "What's the point, Regina?"
"I want to help you," Regina replied, her voice steady. "I know things feel overwhelming right now."
Emma's footsteps echoed as she paced inside, clearly wrestling with her emotions. Regina leaned against the door, listening intently. "You don't get it," Emma finally said, her voice cracking. "Well, I wouldn't get anything if you don't share it with me dear," Regina responded. Emma paused, contemplating. The seconds felt like hours as Regina waited, hoping for a crack in the door. She could easily magic herself into the room, but chose not to impose or push the blonde.
Finally, the sound of footsteps stopped, and the lock clicked. The door creaked open, and Emma stood there, eyes red and glistening. Regina took a cautious step forward, her heart aching at the sight of Emma's vulnerability. "Hey," she said softly, "Can I come in?"
Emma nodded slowly, stepping aside. Regina entered the room, the familiar warmth now mixed with tension. The space felt too small, charged with unspoken words. Emma sank onto the edge of her bed, her posture slumped. Regina sat beside her, close but not too close. "I just don't know what I'm doing," Emma admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "One minute I'm fine, and the next, it all feels like too much."
Regina reached out, placing a comforting hand on Emma's back. "You don't have to have it all figured out. No one does."
"Neal freaks me out. Having him around is a constant reminder of what I gave up. I missed out on so much of Henry's life because of being selfish and irresponsible. Neal started crying and I didn't know what to do. I have no 'motherly' instincts," Emma sniffled. She didn't want to face Regina, afraid that she'd burst into tears and embarrass herself in front of her girlfriend, again. Ever since she got closer to the woman, her guard slowly dropped. She felt like a delicate flower that depended on Regina for its life. Emma used to have control over her emotions. But now? The smallest things made her curl up and cry.
"Neal is sick, when babies are sick they are fussier than usual," Regina countered. "Do you see my point? I didn't even know that."
"Parenting is messy and chaotic, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. I don't think you should consider yourself entirely irresponsible. That small decision with Mr. Cassidy had a ripple effect. One that changed the course of everyone's lives for the better," Regina rubbed small circles on Emma's back.
Emma glanced at Regina, her expression softening. "I didn't expect this to hit me so hard. I thought I'd be excited about having a baby brother, but instead…"
"Instead, it's a lot of pressure," Regina finished for her. "You're a great mom, Emma. It's normal to feel scared, especially when you're trying to balance everything." Emma let out a shaky breath. "I just wish I could shake off this fear. I feel like I'm letting everyone down."
Regina shook her head firmly. "You're not. You're learning, just like the rest of us. We all stumble. But you have people who care about you. You have me."
Emma's eyes met Regina's, vulnerability giving way to something deeper. "I'm scared to lean on anyone," she admitted. "What if I mess up?"
"That's part of the journey," Regina replied, her voice bringing Emma to the present moment instead of wherever the blonde was. "We'll figure it out together. You don't have to carry this weight alone."
Emma hesitated, then finally spoke. "I want to believe that."
"Then let's start by taking one small step," Regina suggested, a gentle smile forming. "How about we head to Granny's for dinner? Henry would be pleased that you're doing better."
Emma's lips twitched into a small smile as she laid her head on Regina's shoulder. "Can I have a milkshake?"
"Of course. Anything you want, sweetheart," Regina laughed, relief washing over her as they stood up together. The air felt lighter now, the first signs of a path forward. As they headed toward the door, Emma paused, glancing back at Regina with a mix of gratitude and uncertainty.
"Thank you for being here," she said, sincerity evident in her voice. Regina cupped Emma's face in her hands and looked into the blondes eyes, "Always." She gently dipped Emma's head and placed a kiss on the girls forehead.
The women walked hand in hand into the diner. After the realization hitting the both of them at once, they parted hands and ways. Regina went to the counter, ordering food for herself and Emma, "Oh and Ruby," she stopped the girl before she could turn her back on Regina to place the order. "One chocolate milkshake and a glass of orange juice," she added.
Emma ruffled Henry's hair and took a seat next to him in the booth. "You okay, ma?" He asked. Emma's lips curled into a sad smile as she nodded a response. "That was quite the outburst, Emma. What was that about?" Snow pried. Emma's mouth opened, unable to speak about how hurt she was that Snow called it an outburst. "If she didn't want to talk about it then, she would appreciate you backing off for a bit until she's ready," Regina caught the pixie haired girls question and responded harshly. Emma's eyes widened. Regina sat beside Emma and Emma took hold of her hand under the table – hidden from the sight of her family. Regina instantly calmed, "I've ordered you a glass of orange juice," she peered beside Emma to speak to Henry. "Thanks mom, grandma and I already had two milkshakes and chocolate pudding," he gave her a toothy grin. Regina's eyes narrowed at Snow, "What? Snow? What in fresh hell is wrong with you?"
"He's a child, Regina. And my grandson, might I add. He isn't gonna magically disappear from eating a little sugar. If you don't like it, well, you should've been here earlier to stop me," Snow snapped back. "I wasn't out playing hopscotch, I was consoling Emma-" Regina started but Ruby interrupted the argument, placing fries in the middle of the table and a large burger in front of David. Henry sank back into his seat, feeling guilty for getting his grandmother into a heated argument with his adoptive mother. "Ruby, dear," Regina smiled, not breaking eye contact with Snow, "I'd like to take mine to go."
Emma felt guilty, too. If she wasn't an emotional mess, none of this would have happened. "Regina," she spoke softly, "Please don't."
David sat across Regina and eyed both the women, picking up on the non-verbal signs they've been giving each other. "Sorry, Ruby," David called the woman, she almost got to the kitchen but turned around and walked back. "I think we'd like to take this home too," he said. He handed her the plate with the burger and the basket of fries. Once Ruby was out of sight, Emma spoke, "Will this family ever know peace?" She pulled her hand out from Regina's grasp and placed her elbows on the table, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You don't have a problem with me feeding him, I don't see why Regina's opinion matters," Snow was treading on thin ice. "Kid, wait for us in the car," Emma instructed her son. She nodded to Regina and they got out of the booth to allow him to move. "Us?" Snow questioned, eyebrows furrowed. "Regina is Henry's mother, you have to respect that. What she says, goes. We're talking about junk food here, not merely feeding him. I may not show that I have a problem with it – but it doesn't mean I'm okay with some of the things you do."
"We always have him over to help you and give you a break, why is it a problem now?" David asked, emphasizing on their part in giving Emma and Regina a break – which was never the case. The only reason they've asked the Charming's to have Henry over was so that they could have a date night, and the one time they had been tracking Graham. Other than that, Henry would occasionally visit without them asking for a favour.
"Really? Is that what you're going with? Because if 'giving me a break' is the only reason you'd have your grandson over, then I don't think you deserve to call him your grandson at all," Emma stepped forward, standing her ground. "Still doesn't answer our question, Emma. Ever since Killian left, you've become a slave to Regina. You would never complain about us doing anything wrong until now," Snow shrugged. Emma felt the tension radiating off of Regina as the brunette stepped back. "You think I'm Regina's slave? For putting my son first and respecting her? I'd hardly call that slavery," Emma was fuming, she could feel her hands heating up, like it did in her house before she threw fireballs at Killian. Then she remembered the lessons Regina thought her. She took a deep breath in and steadied herself.
Flowers. Lavender.
She let out a breath, calmer now, "I'm not Regina's slave. I'm her girlfriend." Regina froze. They talked about having the family over to make things official and was now caught off guard at Emma's confession. Snow and David's expressions were unreadable. They stared at the couple for a moment before Snow spoke, "What about Killian? Are you sure about dating Regina? There are so many other guys in this town Emma," she pulled out her cell phone and located Archie's number, "I'm making an appointment with Archie. Talk to him, you're going through something and Regina isn't the answer," she spoke as if Regina wasn't standing right beside Emma. Regina bit the insides of her cheek, trying to hold back the punches and prove that she's better than that. Emma had done her little calming down ritual again, also holding back on burning a hole through her mother's skull. "Snow White," Emma scoffed. All those stories she read about as a kid was just that, stories. "Make an appointment for yourself," Emma finally said.
Emma grabbed Regina's hand and the food packet placed on the bar counter, gave Ruby cash for their meals and walked out.
David ran after them, leaving his wife with Neal. "Emma, wait." The air outside was cold, when Emma spoke, she felt her nose freezing up. "No, David. This is suffocating. You and Snow aren't the perfect parents. Infact, you've only been parents for the last couple of months. We don't need your support," Emma turned away from him and walked towards the car. Regina was already in the drivers seat, ready to go. "Henry can't have two mothers. He needs a fatherly figure," Snow called out from behind David, Neal on her hip, playing quietly with her necklace. "Great, homophobes. Let me know how Neal turns out with parents like you," Emma smirked the brightest fake smile she could muster and got into the car.
"Homophobes?" Henry asked softly from the back seat, "Are you and Ma dating?" He clicked the seat belt to release himself and sat forward. Henry placed his elbows on the seats on front of him and looked between his mother's. "Henry, seatbelt," Regina warned. Once Henry was clipped back in, Emma responded, "We are dating but didn't want you finding out over a silly fight with your grandparents," she turned to face him. "We will talk about this over dinner, okay?" She gave him her signature dimpled smile.
Regina was silent for the rest of the ride to Emma's house. Henry marched into the house and switched on the lights, Emma followed closely behind. Regina set their take away boxes in the living room and the three sat to eat.
She barely even said a word when they ate out of their take out boxes, so Emma took the lead.
"Kid, we love you. You know that, right?" She asked. Emma wasn't sure how to tell him, even though he knew. Henry nodded. "Your mom and I have come to the realization that, not only do we love you, but we find comfort with each other," she chose her words carefully. Not knowing if saying the word 'love' so early would scare Regina off. Regina swallowed her food and still hadn't looked up at them. "So what? Are we one big happy family now?" Henry grinned. Emma hesitated and Regina snapped out of her thought, "Yes. We are," Regina finally spoke. "I love your mother, Henry." Set her food on the coffee table and tapped the empty seat on the left of her. Henry was seated cross legged on the floor, opposite his mother's. He stood and sat beside her. "Come here," She wrapped her arms around the boy and kissed his head.
"Forget what your grandmother said about needing a fatherly figure. Sometimes families are different but that doesn't make them any less of a family. Your grandparents just don't seem to understand that."
"Yeah, Kid. I think I'd like to set some boundaries though," she looked at Regina for confirmation on her statement. "Of course, dear."
"When things have settled down and everyone is a lot less emotional, I will speak to them. That being said, I cannot keep you from seeing your grandparents. They love you – have a weird way of showing it – but they do."
Regina pulled Henry onto her lap, "Mommm," he squealed, "I'm way too old for this," he secretly loved the attention and rested his head on his mother's chest. She smiled into his hair and placed her chin on his head. Emma let her head softly fall against Henry's back as she rubbed on his arm.
Henry and Emma fell asleep against the queen. She nudged Emma with her arm, waking the blonde, "Babe," Regina whispered, "Let's get to bed."
She didn't have to ask Emma permission to stay, their dynamic has changed drastically. They would just sleep at whoever's house they were in when night fell.
Emma yawned and lazily rubbed her eyes, "What time is it?" She took a while to adjust to her surroundings. The lights were dimmed and she could see her reflection on the windows, indicating that it was dark outside. Regina stretched her hand over to reach her phone and clicked the unlock button, directing the screen to Emma. "10! Okay, bed it is," Emma attempted to carry Henry without waking him but failed dismally. "I'm no longer a kid," he knitted his eyebrows together in frustration and removed himself from Regina's embrace. "Henry, tone." Regina's voice was stern, Henry apologized and hugged his mother's, dismissing himself to his bedroom.
"He says one thing and does another," Regina laughed to herself, thinking of how he loved being smothered but only pretended to complain.
"Emma? Did you do this?" Regina stood at the entrance to Emma's room. "Did what?" Emma was only about a minute behind the brunette, she peered around her to see that the room was filled with lavender flowers. "I guess that explains why you didn't burn down Granny's," Regina chuckled at the blondes magical mishap. "I really need to work on my magic, any chance you're free tomorrow?" Emma asked as Regina twirled her fingers, enveloping the room in purple smoke and removing the flowers. "Emma, I have a meeting with the sheriff department tomorrow," Regina pinched Emma's cheeks, "That means you, dear," she reminded the girl. "Right."
Emma got to the room and kicked off her shoes, "Regina?" She asked after removing her clothes. Emma slipped on a pair of grey sleeping shorts and a tank top. "Hmm?" Regina hummed in response, doing the same but with a red longer pair instead. "You've been withdrawn since the diner," Emma stated, it's not that she hadn't noticed but she didn't want to bring it up in front of Henry. She knows that Regina's mood has changed when she laughed off the flowers, but was still curious.
Regina didn't want to talk about it, but knowing that she needs to work on her communication if she wants to be there for Emma, she let her know what was on her mind. "Snow brings out the worst in me," Regina folded her clothes, neatly setting them into the laundry basket, "But the strangest thing is that her daughter does the complete opposite," she stepped around to Emma's side of the bed. "You stood up for me today, no one's ever done that." Emma focused on Regina, concern etched on the brunettes face.
"Are you okay with that?" Emma asked. Regina gave her a slight nod, "More than okay." "Then why were you so quiet? It's unlike you," Emma pushed.
"I'm just tired of the fighting," Regina admitted, running a hand through her hair. "I want us to be a family without all the drama." Emma stepped closer, her expression softening, "We can be, Regina. We just need to set boundaries." Regina nodded, feeling the weight of Emma's support. Her eyes locked onto Emma's, "We cannot let anyone dictate our relationship."
Emma's heart raced at Regina's fierce protectiveness, "You're right. I want to prioritize us." With a determined look, Regina cupped Emma's face. Their lips met, a fierce, passionate kiss that spoke volumes—commitment, understanding, and a promise to navigate the chaos as one. When they pulled back, Regina's breath hitched, "Good," she replied, a fierce smile on her lips.
Breaking away from her girlfriend, Regina looked down at her shorts, "Babe, it's cold. Put on longer pants," she insisted. Emma reluctantly took off her shorts and replaced them with longer pants. "Happy?" She bopped Regina's nose, a gentle sweet gesture she's been doing to shower small bits of love over Regina. "Thank you, Miss Swan."
Three days have passed and Emma hasn't reached out to Snow and David. She was stubborn and figured that since they haven't spoken to her either, that's the gene she inherited from them. Emma was parked outside Henry's school, waiting for him. She caught a glimpse of her mother through the classroom window and Emma rolled her eyes – even the sight of her infuriated Emma. She started the bug, deciding to move from the spot she was in to avoid making actual eye contact with the woman. Just as she reversed, Henry showed up. "Hi Ma," he grinned widely. "Hey Kid, how was school?" She asked as he sat beside her. Emma checked her blind spots and exited the parking lot. "Okay, I guess. I may need to get extra lessons for math. I did go for a few sessions with Belle and Mr. Gold, but I need more."
When they got to Emma's house, Henry made a beeline to the fridge, "Got anything good?" He asked his mother. Emma nodded and pointed to the table, "Your mom sent that," she moved towards the casserole and uncovered it. Regina was busy with meetings and couldn't pick Henry up from school so Emma jumped at the opportunity, the only condition was that Henry eats the food Regina sends over. It's not that she didn't trust that Emma would give him healthy food, she just wanted to make it easier for the blonde. "Yeah, I saw that. I asked for anything good, not anything healthy," he playfully rolled his eyes.
"Eat up, complete your homework and then I can take you down to the library," Emma instructed. Henry obliged.
While Emma waited for Henry, she sat in the living room, scrolling through her phone.
"Ma?" Henry nudged her awake. "Hm?" She opened her eyes. "You fell asleep, I would let you but I've got to be at the tutoring sessions in about ten minutes." He sat on the couch and zipped his backpack, "Do you want me to call mom and get her to take me?" He asked, not intending on breaking her sleep and feeling bad for doing just that. Besides, when he nudged her awake, he felt that her temperature seemed a bit high. "No, it's okay. Give me a minute."
Emma splashed water on her face, she needed the shock of cold to wake her up. She thought back on her day – Sheriff's office, paperwork, picked up Henry. That didn't seem like a lot for the day and usually she would be up until late at night after a long day, so sleeping at this hour was strange for her.
She met Henry in the car and drove him to the library, "Pick you up at 7?" She bent her head to ask Henry, who stood out the car. He rested his arms on the door, "It's okay. Get some rest, I'll take a walk, home isn't too far from here. Love you," he smiled at her and waved her off.
Once she got home, Emma kicked off her shoes, not caring where they landed for a second. She was almost at her staircase before she decided that shoes thrown around would annoy her in her sleep – she picked them and took them to her room, neatly setting the pair next to her door. She climbed into bed and instantly dozed off.
Emma tossed around in bed for a good five minutes before she eventually woke up. She felt uncomfortable and hot then, uncomfortable and cold. She grabbed her phone from the table to check the time. She had 4 missed calls from Regina and 2 texts.
Henry said you're not well. Please call me.
Miss Swan! You're not picking up. I'm coming over in the morning.
Emma groaned and got out of bed, she lazily dragged herself to the kitchen for a glass of water and dialled Regina.
"Miss Swan," Regina answered, the woman didn't sound like she was disturbed from her sleep. "Emma," Emma sighed, not an ounce of energy to argue it, "I'm fine. I've just been exhausted," she explained. "Henry is worried, he thinks you're coming down with the flu. I would be there but can't leave him alone," Regina was, infact, not in bed. She sat at her office at home, completing paperwork that she had for the next day. She decided on completing it now, so that her day would be freed and she could nurse Emma back to health.
"That's alright, I will be fine after a good night's rest," Emma countered, "I'll stop by at the office to see you in the morning, does 8 sound good for you?"
Regina knew the blonde was ill. She could hear it in her voice. "Get some rest, Emma. Sweet dreams."
Emma ended the call, feeling a mix of gratitude and irritation. She wanted to dismiss Regina's concern, but deep down, she knew she wasn't fine. The fatigue clung to her like a heavy blanket, and her throat felt scratchy.
She leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping the cool water, and stared out the window. The night was still, it was a peaceful scene, but all she felt was the weight of her own discomfort.
After a moment, she headed back to her bedroom, the urge to crawl under the covers pulling her in. She lay back down, pulling the quilt up to her chin. Her mind drifted, thoughts swirling between the responsibilities of her job and the worry etched on Henry's face when he last saw her. Just as she was starting to doze off, her phone buzzed again—another text from Regina.
Don't forget to eat something before you sleep, please. I'll be thinking of you.
Emma smiled faintly. Regina was relentless. With a reluctant groan, she decided that maybe a quick snack wouldn't hurt. She shuffled back to the kitchen and rummaged through the pantry, settling on a granola bar. As she chewed, Emma's mind wandered. Was she really coming down with something, or was it just stress? The past few weeks had been particularly chaotic. Emma crawled back into bed and drifted to sleep.
A knock at the door jolted her from her sleep. She glanced at the clock—it was barely 7:30. Confused, she made her way to the door, wondering who could possibly be visiting so early. Peering through the peephole, she saw Regina, looking perfectly composed in her tailored blazer. Emma opened the door, trying to suppress her surprise. "Regina, what are you doing here?" she asked, a mix of annoyance and appreciation in her voice.
Regina stepped inside, her expression softening, "I couldn't just wait until eight. I brought you some soup and tea," she said, holding up a bag from Granny's. Emma's heart warmed despite herself. "You didn't have to—"
"I know," Regina interrupted, moving toward the kitchen, "But you clearly need a little more than just rest." Emma followed her, "I really am okay, you know. Just tired." Regina shot her a look, hands on her hips, "Emma, you're not fooling anyone. Now sit down while I heat this up."
Emma sat at the table, watching as Regina moved around the kitchen with practiced ease. She pulled a pot from the cupboard, filled it with water, and set it on the stove. The rhythmic clinking of utensils and the gentle hum of the kettle were oddly comforting.
"You really didn't have to go to all this trouble," Emma said, her voice softening as she watched Regina's focused movements. Regina turned, a playful smirk on her lips, "And let you suffer alone? Not a chance. Besides, I happen to make the best chicken soup in Storybrooke." Emma chuckled lightly, appreciating the lightness in the air, "I'll be the judge of that."
As the water began to boil, Regina took the soup container and poured it into the pot, filling the kitchen with a warm, savoury aroma. "While that heats up, why don't you tell me about your symptoms? You know, just in case I need to prescribe more than soup." Emma leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Honestly, it's probably just a cold, Regina. A little congestion and fatigue. I promise I'll be fine."
Regina leaned against the counter, arms crossed, her expression softening, "I know you're strong, Emma, but you don't have to be. You can lean on me sometimes. Let me take care of you." The sincerity in Regina's voice sent a rush of warmth through Emma's chest. She felt the tension in her shoulders begin to ease. "I appreciate that," Emma replied quietly, "It's just hard for me to accept help sometimes."
"Everyone needs help," Regina said, her tone gentle but firm, "Even you. So let me do this." Emma nodded, feeling a flutter of affection for the woman who was always so steadfast. Regina turned back to the stove, stirring the soup and humming softly.
"Okay, Chef Mills," Emma teased, leaning her chin on her hand, "What's your secret ingredient?" Regina glanced back with a playful grin. "Love, of course. And a touch of garlic. Never underestimate garlic." As the soup bubbled away, Regina took a moment to check the tea she had brought. She poured a steaming cup and set it in front of Emma, who inhaled the comforting scent. "Here, drink this. It'll help with your throat." Emma took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her. "This is really good." Regina smiled, her eyes sparkling with pride. "I'll take that as a compliment. You know, it's nice to see you relax a little. I think you needed this more than you realized."
Emma felt a swell of gratitude. "I really do. I hate to admit it, but I've been feeling overwhelmed lately." "Why don't you take a day off tomorrow?" Regina suggested. "You deserve it. I can handle things at the station." Emma raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "You'd do that for me?"
"Of course," Regina said. "You take care of everyone else. It's time someone took care of you." Emma couldn't help but smile, her heart swelling at Regina's kindness. "Alright, you've convinced me. One day off."
As the soup simmered, Regina joined Emma at the table, their knees brushing against each other, "I'll stay as long as you need me," she said softly, reaching out to take Emma's hand. "We can binge-watch your favourite show, and I'll make sure you're taken care of." Emma squeezed Regina's hand, warmth flooding her. "You know what? That sounds perfect."
Regina moved closer, her warmth radiating into Emma's space. Emma felt a gentle flutter in her chest as she watched Regina stir, her focus unwavering, the soft lines of her face illuminated by the morning light. Emma reached out, brushing her fingers against Regina's arm, a silent gesture of appreciation. Regina turned slightly, meeting Emma's gaze, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Emma's heart quickened, drawn to the intimacy of the moment. Regina set the spoon down and leaned in, their foreheads almost touching. The air between them was charged, filled with unspoken words. Emma felt a wave of tenderness wash over her. In that quiet space, Regina brushed a strand of hair behind Emma's ear, her fingers lingering against her skin. Emma leaned into the touch, her breath hitching when Regina's gaze softened.
As kettle whistled, Regina pulled back reluctantly. She poured the soup into two bowls, then returned to the table, her eyes never leaving Emma. "Eat," Regina urged gently, but the warmth in her voice suggested she wanted to do more than just nourish Emma's body.
With each spoonful, Emma felt the comfort of the soup wrapping around her like a warm embrace, but it was Regina's presence that truly warmed her. After finishing the bowl, Emma placed her hand over Regina's, their fingers intertwining effortlessly. "Thank you for this," Emma whispered, her voice soft.
Regina smiled, her eyes sparkling with something deeper. Without a word, she leaned closer, their lips nearly brushing. The air crackled with anticipation, and Emma felt herself leaning in, drawn to the promise of a kiss. In that moment, the world outside faded, leaving just the two of them. As their lips finally met, it was a gentle caress, filled with all the unspoken love and care they had for one another. Emma felt herself melt into Regina, the sweetness of the moment enveloping her. Regina deepened the kiss, her hand moving to Emma's cheek, cradling her face as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Emma's heart raced, the weight of her worries lifting with each tender moment they shared. As they pulled back, breaths mingling in the air, Emma couldn't help but smile, a blissful sense of contentment washing over her. "I didn't know I needed that," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Regina's gaze held hers, "Sometimes, you just need to let someone in." Emma nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her—not just from the soup or the tea, but from the knowledge that Regina was there, unwavering and devoted.
With a quiet sigh of relief, Emma leaned against Regina's shoulder, resting her head against her as they sat together at the table. The comfort of their closeness wrapped around them, and in that moment, Emma knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.