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@astillsmallvoicewithin
what if instead of updating any of my 50000 wips, I instead write a special bonus chapter for Fragile Lives?
And what if I'm already 1000 words into it and there's no turning back now???
I realize I completed that fic 7 years ago, but I just finished editing the whole thing for spelling and grammar, and along the way I was struck with an idea for the perfect epilogue and now I've gotta do it lol
I need this like air
Everyone SAYS they want a fairytale wedding but when I show up and curse their firstborn suddenly I’m a jerk.
#ok who invited regina
apparently the firstborn did….
reblogging again. REBLOGGING AGAIN
I rarely reblog things, but cOME ON THIS IS GENIUS.
I will reblog this until I’m dead
I’m so glad this is back, haven’t seen it in years - forever reblog
God could they be more gorgeous
If any of the Swan Queen elders are still around, can one of y’all remind me which fic involved Regina and Emma keeping their relationship a secret, going to a cabin to get away and being spied on by Gold, who takes photos of them together to bribe them into a deal?? I know I’m speaking of the ancient texts here, but someone has to know!
EDIT: I found it - it’s from Of Love and Loathing and its sequel Transgressions of the Heart. Unfortunately the latter was abandoned 760 pages in, but from what I remember there is a decent amount of closure where it was left I think. Both stories are excellent but very dark.
maybe someday...
Uhh for the swan queen prompt, how about something involving Emma finding and ke building a home with Regina and struggling with her flight instincts and her abandonment issues and all that. And Regina being patient with her, understanding that Emma needs to know she can leave to be able to stay, needs some part of her to be just hers so she doesn’t have to lose everything when it “inevitably” goes wrong (it won’t, they’re gonna grow old together).
Wow that was a ramble haha!! Happy to see someone still putting Swanqueen stuff out there :)
"Is that the last one?" Emma asked as her son rushed past her, two boxes piled one atop the other in his arms, the top one propped beneath his chin.
"Yeah!" Henry called from somewhere out front of the house. He returned a few moments later, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. "Ready to go, Ma?"
Emma surveyed the empty living room, turning slowly, completely unaware of Henry's departure. Her eyes reached the staircase just as Regina began a remarkably quick descent for a woman in four inch heels.
"Upstairs is clear," the brunette announced and joined her girlfriend in the living room. One look at Emma's face told her all she needed to know. "Hey," she said softly and wrapped her arms around the other woman. "Are you okay?"
Emma smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Sure. I just have a weird history with leaving houses, y'know?"
Regina hugged her more tightly. "I know. But this time you're coming home, to two people who love you very much."
This time Regina could see the blonde's eyes light up when she grinned. "That does sound pretty great," she said and planted a kiss on the crown of her love's head.
"Are we getting out of here or what? Some of us are starving!" Henry called from the driveway.
Regina rolled her eyes and took Emma's hand, walking her out of a house that had never really been home - a house that had never quite fit Emma. It had always seemed too large and empty, foreboding and strangely drafty. Not to mention grey. Emma really hated grey.
Emma didn't look back once the door had closed behind them; her gaze fixed firmly in front of her, she walked down the cobbled pathway and got into Regina's car. She did not peer up from her lap until they had rounded the corner at the end of the street.
* * *
She awoke at 4am, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. A quick glance to her left confirmed that Regina was still asleep. Emma pulled back the sheets and climbed out of bed, still panting and overwhelmed by a very tangible sensation of the bedroom walls closing in on her. She grabbed the balcony door handles and flung both doors open, before throwing herself out into the cold night air.
Once the icy breeze hit her face, Emma found herself able to slow her breathing gradually. she leaned her hands on the balcony railing and started running through the grounding exercises Archie had taught her. Eventually, the walls seemed to resume their usual positions and the sheriff's heart rate slowed. But when she returned to bedroom, Emma was overcome with an urge to get out of the house; she decided to go for a run and dressed quietly in the dark.
With her breath appearing in icy clouds before her and her feet hitting the pavement rhythmically, things made more sense. Emma was able to recall the dream that woke her - a nightmare, really. In it, she had messed up, badly. Regina was yelling at her, with tears on her face. Emma had never seen her look so hurt. Regina had told her to leave and just like that, her forever home had been no more.
Simply recalling the details of the dream caused saltwater to well up in Emma's eyes. She stopped running and swallowed heavily, a lone tear escaping onto her cold, red cheek. The memories hit her suddenly and without warning: every home she had been invited into and then forced to leave; every person who had ultimately rejected and abandoned her; every disappointment that had left her alone with no one to count on. She slid down onto her knees on the sidewalk, just as a plume of purple smoke appeared before her.
For a moment, Regina appeared wide eyed and terrified in her silk pyjamas, followed by a moment of heavy scowling and palpable anger, which gave way to knitted brows and confusion. "Emma? What are you doing here?" She knelt down in front of the blonde and reached for her hands. "What's going on?"
Emma gazed at her for a moment until her face crumpled and she folded into Regina's arms. "I'm sorry," she sobbed.
Regina rubbed her back in slow circles, like Emma had seen her do with Henry when he was sick. "It's okay," she whispered soothingly, for several minutes, until the blonde's sniffling calmed. "Talk to me, Emma," she said. "You haven't been yourself all day and then I wake up to find you gone in the middle of the night..."
"I'm sorry," Emma said again. "I just- I had this shitty dream and you were so upset and you asked me to leave and I woke up having a panic attack," she blurted.
Regina watched her with shining eyes, a soft look of understanding taking over her features. "I imagine that dream must have felt very real," she said quietly.
Emma nodded.
"And I'm guessing it brought up some difficult memories too?"
She nodded again.
Regina took the woman's face gently in her hands. "Are you afraid that this isn't going to last?"
The sheriff nodded and looked down, but felt warm fingers beneath her chin, lifting it back up.
"You don't have to be ashamed of your fears, Emma. Having such fears, after the life experiences you've survived, is completely valid. I understand why those fears exist and I know that when they come up, you have a tendency to get a little... flighty," Regina said, smiling softly.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Understatement of the century," she sniffled.
Regina chuckled. "Perhaps. So, what do you think it is you need, my love? How can I help you to assuage these fears?"
Emma sighed. "I'm not sure. I guess... I guess if I freak out and need to leave suddenly, just for awhile like this, knowing that I can might help a bit?"
"Okay," Regina said, nodding thoughtfully. "How about we make a compromise: if that happens, you wake me up first and tell me. I will promise not to try and talk you out of it, I will just remind you that you're very loved and ask that you send a pin with your location so I know that you're okay."
Emma nibbled on her bottom lip, considering this offer. “How did you find me this time?” She asked.
“Locator spell,” Regina explained. “I’d rather not have to deal with using magic while having a heart attack next time,” she smirked.
Emma nodded. "Okay. I think it’s a good plan. Thank you," she said and kissed Regina softly.
"Secondly," the brunette continued, "And I will keep reminding you of this: I am in this all the way, Emma. To the end. You and Henry are my everything; there is nothing you could do that would make me want to give up on us. I know there will be bad times and I'm okay with that - because it's us, together. Do you understand what I'm saying?" She swiped her thumbs beneath the Sheriff's eyes as another two tears escaped.
"Yes," Emma whispered. "How are you so amazing? I don't know how I got this damned lucky, but I love you so much, do you know that?"
Regina smiled, bright and open, in that way that made Emma's heart clench in her chest. "I do know and I love you too," she said. "Can we go home now?"
Emma nodded. "Yes please."
They disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.
* * *
A screeching sound pulled Emma from her slumber and she felt Regina moving to get out of bed. She reached out an arm to grab the brunette and pulled her close. "Noooo," she murmured. "Not yet."
Regina kissed the tip of her nose softly. "Some of us have to get up, Sheriff Swan."
"But..." Emma opened her eyes. "It's been three months today," she grinned.
Regina frowned. "Three months?"
"Since I moved in. And since..." Emma trailed off.
Regina's face lit up with sudden understanding. "Oh! And you haven't?"
Emma shook her head, biting her lip. "Not once."
Suddenly Regina was rolling onto her and smothering her face in kisses while Emma laughed.
"Good morning to you too," she chuckled.
"I'm not even sorry," Regina said gleefully. "Is it strange to say I feel proud of you?"
Emma felt her cheeks begin to redden. "No, not at all. I think three months without a freakout and 3am run is... unheard of for me."
Regina kissed her lips softly before settling alongside her, head propped up on her hand. "What do you think changed?" She asked.
"You," Emma smiled. "You were so understanding and patient with me. You made it okay for me to have a reaction and to act on it if needed. Being given that permission somehow calmed a lot of those fears."
Regina reached out and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind the blonde's ear. "I'm so glad for you. I'd like to show you how glad," she smirked.
Emma grinned. "What happened to having to get up for work?"
"It can wait," Regina said and pulled her love close once more.
Uhh for the swan queen prompt, how about something involving Emma finding and ke building a home with Regina and struggling with her flight instincts and her abandonment issues and all that. And Regina being patient with her, understanding that Emma needs to know she can leave to be able to stay, needs some part of her to be just hers so she doesn’t have to lose everything when it “inevitably” goes wrong (it won’t, they’re gonna grow old together).
Wow that was a ramble haha!! Happy to see someone still putting Swanqueen stuff out there :)
"Is that the last one?" Emma asked as her son rushed past her, two boxes piled one atop the other in his arms, the top one propped beneath his chin.
"Yeah!" Henry called from somewhere out front of the house. He returned a few moments later, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. "Ready to go, Ma?"
Emma surveyed the empty living room, turning slowly, completely unaware of Henry's departure. Her eyes reached the staircase just as Regina began a remarkably quick descent for a woman in four inch heels.
"Upstairs is clear," the brunette announced and joined her girlfriend in the living room. One look at Emma's face told her all she needed to know. "Hey," she said softly and wrapped her arms around the other woman. "Are you okay?"
Emma smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Sure. I just have a weird history with leaving houses, y'know?"
Regina hugged her more tightly. "I know. But this time you're coming home, to two people who love you very much."
This time Regina could see the blonde's eyes light up when she grinned. "That does sound pretty great," she said and planted a kiss on the crown of her love's head.
"Are we getting out of here or what? Some of us are starving!" Henry called from the driveway.
Regina rolled her eyes and took Emma's hand, walking her out of a house that had never really been home - a house that had never quite fit Emma. It had always seemed too large and empty, foreboding and strangely drafty. Not to mention grey. Emma really hated grey.
Emma didn't look back once the door had closed behind them; her gaze fixed firmly in front of her, she walked down the cobbled pathway and got into Regina's car. She did not peer up from her lap until they had rounded the corner at the end of the street.
* * *
She awoke at 4am, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. A quick glance to her left confirmed that Regina was still asleep. Emma pulled back the sheets and climbed out of bed, still panting and overwhelmed by a very tangible sensation of the bedroom walls closing in on her. She grabbed the balcony door handles and flung both doors open, before throwing herself out into the cold night air.
Once the icy breeze hit her face, Emma found herself able to slow her breathing gradually. she leaned her hands on the balcony railing and started running through the grounding exercises Archie had taught her. Eventually, the walls seemed to resume their usual positions and the sheriff's heart rate slowed. But when she returned to bedroom, Emma was overcome with an urge to get out of the house; she decided to go for a run and dressed quietly in the dark.
With her breath appearing in icy clouds before her and her feet hitting the pavement rhythmically, things made more sense. Emma was able to recall the dream that woke her - a nightmare, really. In it, she had messed up, badly. Regina was yelling at her, with tears on her face. Emma had never seen her look so hurt. Regina had told her to leave and just like that, her forever home had been no more.
Simply recalling the details of the dream caused saltwater to well up in Emma's eyes. She stopped running and swallowed heavily, a lone tear escaping onto her cold, red cheek. The memories hit her suddenly and without warning: every home she had been invited into and then forced to leave; every person who had ultimately rejected and abandoned her; every disappointment that had left her alone with no one to count on. She slid down onto her knees on the sidewalk, just as a plume of purple smoke appeared before her.
For a moment, Regina appeared wide eyed and terrified in her silk pyjamas, followed by a moment of heavy scowling and palpable anger, which gave way to knitted brows and confusion. "Emma? What are you doing here?" She knelt down in front of the blonde and reached for her hands. "What's going on?"
Emma gazed at her for a moment until her face crumpled and she folded into Regina's arms. "I'm sorry," she sobbed.
Regina rubbed her back in slow circles, like Emma had seen her do with Henry when he was sick. "It's okay," she whispered soothingly, for several minutes, until the blonde's sniffling calmed. "Talk to me, Emma," she said. "You haven't been yourself all day and then I wake up to find you gone in the middle of the night..."
"I'm sorry," Emma said again. "I just- I had this shitty dream and you were so upset and you asked me to leave and I woke up having a panic attack," she blurted.
Regina watched her with shining eyes, a soft look of understanding taking over her features. "I imagine that dream must have felt very real," she said quietly.
Emma nodded.
"And I'm guessing it brought up some difficult memories too?"
She nodded again.
Regina took the woman's face gently in her hands. "Are you afraid that this isn't going to last?"
The sheriff nodded and looked down, but felt warm fingers beneath her chin, lifting it back up.
"You don't have to be ashamed of your fears, Emma. Having such fears, after the life experiences you've survived, is completely valid. I understand why those fears exist and I know that when they come up, you have a tendency to get a little... flighty," Regina said, smiling softly.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Understatement of the century," she sniffled.
Regina chuckled. "Perhaps. So, what do you think it is you need, my love? How can I help you to assuage these fears?"
Emma sighed. "I'm not sure. I guess... I guess if I freak out and need to leave suddenly, just for awhile like this, knowing that I can might help a bit?"
"Okay," Regina said, nodding thoughtfully. "How about we make a compromise: if that happens, you wake me up first and tell me. I will promise not to try and talk you out of it, I will just remind you that you're very loved and ask that you send a pin with your location so I know that you're okay."
Emma nibbled on her bottom lip, considering this offer. “How did you find me this time?” She asked.
“Locator spell,” Regina explained. “I’d rather not have to deal with using magic while having a heart attack next time,” she smirked.
Emma nodded. "Okay. I think it’s a good plan. Thank you," she said and kissed Regina softly.
"Secondly," the brunette continued, "And I will keep reminding you of this: I am in this all the way, Emma. To the end. You and Henry are my everything; there is nothing you could do that would make me want to give up on us. I know there will be bad times and I'm okay with that - because it's us, together. Do you understand what I'm saying?" She swiped her thumbs beneath the Sheriff's eyes as another two tears escaped.
"Yes," Emma whispered. "How are you so amazing? I don't know how I got this damned lucky, but I love you so much, do you know that?"
Regina smiled, bright and open, in that way that made Emma's heart clench in her chest. "I do know and I love you too," she said. "Can we go home now?"
Emma nodded. "Yes please."
They disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.
* * *
A screeching sound pulled Emma from her slumber and she felt Regina moving to get out of bed. She reached out an arm to grab the brunette and pulled her close. "Noooo," she murmured. "Not yet."
Regina kissed the tip of her nose softly. "Some of us have to get up, Sheriff Swan."
"But..." Emma opened her eyes. "It's been three months today," she grinned.
Regina frowned. "Three months?"
"Since I moved in. And since..." Emma trailed off.
Regina's face lit up with sudden understanding. "Oh! And you haven't?"
Emma shook her head, biting her lip. "Not once."
Suddenly Regina was rolling onto her and smothering her face in kisses while Emma laughed.
"Good morning to you too," she chuckled.
"I'm not even sorry," Regina said gleefully. "Is it strange to say I feel proud of you?"
Emma felt her cheeks begin to redden. "No, not at all. I think three months without a freakout and 3am run is... unheard of for me."
Regina kissed her lips softly before settling alongside her, head propped up on her hand. "What do you think changed?" She asked.
"You," Emma smiled. "You were so understanding and patient with me. You made it okay for me to have a reaction and to act on it if needed. Being given that permission somehow calmed a lot of those fears."
Regina reached out and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind the blonde's ear. "I'm so glad for you. I'd like to show you how glad," she smirked.
Emma grinned. "What happened to having to get up for work?"
"It can wait," Regina said and pulled her love close once more.
Maybe you could write something swen to retcon the whole robin as regina's soulmate thing? Either tinkerbell was lying for some reason or she was misled, but since we all know who Regina's soulmate is, you could fix that if you feel like it <3 it's so cool you're gonna write us some swen!
“Moms! Check this out!” Henry came running into the kitchen, his current storybook in hand.
“Slow down kid,” Emma laughed, coffee in hand, as she leaned against the kitchen island.
Regina looked up from where she was flipping a pancake at the stove. “What is it Henry?”
“Here, mom,” he shoved the book at her and Emma stepped closer to peer at the page it was open to.
Regina frowned. “What is this?”
“I don’t know!” Henry replied breathlessly. “I opened the book to write and these pages were already filled in. But look, mom, that’s you and there’s Tink and the writing says she lied to you about your soulmate.”
Regina’s mouth was agape but she didn’t respond.
Emma looked at her and stepped in. “Okay kid, that’s… a lot. Do you wanna sit down and eat, give your mom time to process?”
Henry shook his head. “I’m meeting Violet at Granny’s, I’ve gotta go. Love you both,” he said before hugging Emma. He turned to Regina. “Mom, it’ll be okay, you’ll work it out,” he said before kissing her on the cheek and running out the door.
Regina continued to stare at the book, open mouthed and wordless. Emma eventually nudged her aside to rescue the burning pancake.
“Regina? Are you okay?” Emma gently removed the book from her hands.
Regina swallowed. “What does this mean?” She whispered, staring somewhere past Emma’s head.
Emma took her hand and led her slowly over to a chair. When Regina didn’t sit herself down, she was pushed into her seat.
“I don’t know what it means, Regina, but one person does and we know where to find her. I can come with you if you want to go?”
Regina met Emma’s eyes for the first time since Henry had entered the kitchen. She clenched her jaw and a wave of purple swirled in the depths of her eyes. “Yes. I want to go. Now.”
* * *
Tinkerbell was with the other fairy nuns, though Emma noticed that they no longer wore habits, nor did they wear the fairy outfits from their Enchanted Forest days. Mostly, they just dressed like Mary Margaret. Emma had to work hard to wipe the smile from her face at that thought.
“Regina!” Tinkabell said cheerfully, not yet reading the Mayor’s vibe. It didn’t take long.
Regina thrust the book at Tinkerbell without so much as a hello. “What the hell is this?” She demanded.
Tinkerbell frowned and looked down at it. As she began to read, her eyes widened and she swallowed audibly. “Where did you get this?” She whispered.
“That’s hardly relevant - what does it mean?” Regina demanded.
Tinkerbell eventually lowered the book and raised her eyes to meet Regina’s. “I know this looks bad-”
“Bad? It looks worse than bad. Start explaining yourself,” Regina snapped.
Emma stood next to her, a silent supporter, ready to assist if need be.
“You were so depressed,” Tinkerbell started. “I said I would help you meet your soulmate and I gave you my word. I could see how hopeful you were, after having no hope. The dust always shows me, it’s never wrong, but for some reason there was just... nothing. I didn’t know what to do, Regina.”
Regina shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense; I was there, I saw it working.”
“No, that was a manipulation,” Tinkabell hung her head. “I knew how much was riding on the revelation of your soulmate, so I took something of yours when I last saw you, to use magic on, before I gave you the dust. I needed to know everything was going to work out... but nothing happened. When we flew with the fairy dust, it was fake. I made it look like there was someone but there wasn’t.”
“So Robin... he was never my soulmate?” Regina breathed, eyes wide and shining.
Emma averted her gaze, unable to look at the brunette’s tear filled eyes.
Tinkabell shook her head slowly. “No, he isn’t. I’m so sorry Regina.”
“Are you telling me my soulmate is someone else or that I have no soulmate?” Regina whispered.
“You have no designated soulmate. I’m sorry, I don’t know why, but there must be others in the same position,” Tinkabell said softly.
Regina’s eyes drifted closed for several moments. When she finally opened them, she was smiling.
“Regina? Are you okay?” Emma asked gently.
The brunette’s smile widened. “Yes, I rather think so,” she mumbled and began walking back to the car.
Emma and Tinkerbell exchanged confused looks briefly, before Emma followed. She got into the car beside Regina and turned to her. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
Regina began to laugh.
“Regina, you’re kind of freaking me out, are you losing it?” Emma asked, frowning.
“Don’t you understand, Emma? I’ve just discovered that for the first time in my entire existence, I am not bound to a man - by magic, destiny, my mother’s rules or anything else. I finally, finally get to choose for myself. Do you have any idea how incredibly freeing that is?” Regina smiled again and Emma’s breath caught in her throat at the sheer beauty in that smile.
Freedom. That was something that Emma certainly connected with. “Freedom I definitely do understand,” she smiled back.
“Good. Because now that I can choose for myself, the only person I want to choose, Sheriff Swan, is you,” Regina said softly.
Emma’s eyebrows disappeared somewhere into her hairline in that moment. “Me?”
“Yes. Is that okay?” Regina asked.
Emma grinned. “It really, really is,” she said and surged forward to kiss her Queen.
Prompt: Emma acknowledging her behaviour to Regina. I'm currently hung up with the adoption-ridiculousness in OUAT🥲😅
“Are those Henry’s hand prints?” Emma asked, sipping her coffee as she gazed at the rectangular piece of clay hanging on the wall in Regina’s home office.
Regina appeared beside her, a wistful smile lighting up her face. “Yes. They seem so small now.”
“How old was he when he made this?” Emma reached out and ran her fingertips over the imprints.
“Four. It was a kindergarten activity - he was so excited when he gave it to me.” Regina sighed. “Things were different then.”
Emma turned toward her. “But they’re good now?” She said, her statement twisted into a question.
“Yes, much better than they have been since…”
“Since I came to town and screwed up your relationship?”
“No, Emma, that’s not what-“
Emma held up her hand to stop the brunette. “I know it’s not what you meant, Regina. But let’s be real, that’s pretty much what I did.”
Regina shook her head emphatically. “You might have been an absolute thorn in my side to begin with, but it was all for the best in the end. Believe it or not, I’m somewhat relieved I’ve had someone to share the responsibility with these last few years.”
Emma grinned. “I’m still a thorn in your side, Mayor Mills,” she said, causing the woman to chuckle.
“And I’m sure you always will be,” Regina retorted with a smirk.
“That aside,” Emma began, as she made her way over to a plush chair and sat down. “We’ve never really talked about the early days and I kinda think we should.” She took a deep breath. “Regina, I’m so sorry.”
A deep crease appeared between Regina’s brows and she sat herself across from Emma. “Sorry for what?”
“Everything.” Emma sighed and rubbed a hand down her face. “Everything I did after I got here. I was so out of line - I really believed I was making the best choices for Henry but I wasn’t and I had no fucking right, not one.”
Regina swallowed, her eyes glassy.
Emma’s heart constricted with the depth of emotion she could see in the brunette’s face. “I gave him up,” she went on. “I asked for a closed adoption. And then I arrived here and started parenting him like I had any right to, and I didn’t exactly discourage his disrespect for you either. He had a wonderful mother who had given him the world - I mean sure, she was a little crazy and overbearing, but the bottom line is, I had no right. And I’m sorry for all the shitty ways I acted and undermined you as his parent.”
Regina looked down at her hands as a tear slipped from one eye and fell from her chin. “Emma,” she started and then swallowed again. The blonde reached out and placed a hand over both of hers. “I don’t know what to say. There was a time I wanted nothing more than an acknowledgment of all the things you just said - ‘crazy and overbearing’ content aside. Yet somehow, the more we progressed as a parenting team for Henry, the less it mattered. And I never really expected it to come up again. I appreciate your words, Emma, I really do - but neither of us were without fault, particularly then. I was lying to him about so much and he was aware of it - that’s ultimately what pushed him away, not you.”
Emma nodded. “We all made mistakes, you’re not wrong there, Regina - I just feel it’s important to own them and realised I never had before, unlike you.” She squeezed her co-parent’s hand lightly.
“Thank you,” Regina smiled, eyes still wet. “It means more than I can say.”
“And if we’re going to get really real here, you’re twice the parent now, since half the time you take care of both of us,” Emma grinned.
Regina rolled her eyes. “I’m well aware, dear,” she said, with a condescending pat to the blonde’s hand. “You do alright though, Sheriff Swan. You didn’t even call me for help last time Henry was sick.”
“Yeah but do you remember the first time I had him when he was sick?” Emma asked and they both laughed.
“I’ll never forget your panicked phone call and the sound of you dry heaving when he vomited,” Regina teased.
Emma shuddered with the memory. “I still get nightmares about it sometimes.”
Regina shook her head. “I suppose we’re both fortunate that he’s old enough to make it to the bathroom in time now,” she said.
“Very fortunate,” Emma agreed. “I do think we kick ass as Team Moms though.”
Regina laughed. “Is that our official name?”
“You know it.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure I like it.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You’ll learn to.”
Are there any Swen left around here? ‘Cause I really feel like writing some Swan Queen fic. If anyone’s out there, send me prompts!
Enter the Dragon (or just the best bits) where Swan Queen is canon please and thank youuuuuuu :D
“When was she supposed to check in?!” Emma demanded for the second time. Her fear and fury rolled off her in waves.
Snow sighed and refused to meet her daughter’s eyes. “Hours ago.”
“Damnit! How the hell could you go along with this and then not even tell me? How could she?!” Emma slammed her fist on the doorframe on her way out, ignoring the incessant calls from her parents to come back. All she knew was that she had to find Regina and fast.
“How could she do this behind my back?” the blonde muttered to herself as she jogged through the edge of the forest. She had gone back to Mifflin, and checked Regina’s office. There was only one other place Emma believed she might find the woman and that was her vault.
When she arrived, panting and clutching at her side, Emma pushed open the door and immediately started shoving at the coffin that she knew obscured the staircase into the vault. Eventually it started to shift and Emma let out a relieved breath. She took the stairs two at a time and gasped when she reached the bottom and saw two Marc Jacobs, heeled boots sticking out from behind the counter.
“Regina!” Emma yelled as she raced over to the other woman, her heart in her throat. “Regina!” She knelt down and gently shook her girlfriend once, twice, three times.
Finally, a low groan escaped the brunette and Regina’s eyes slowly opened. “Emma?” She frowned when her voice came out a whispered croak.
Emma’s eyes were shining and she visibly sagged in relief. “Are you okay?” She murmured, running a hand through dark tresses.
Regina nodded slowly, then winced, bringing her hand to her temple.
“Are you hurt?”
“No. Just hungover, I expect,” the brunette sighed and attempted to slowly pull herself into a sitting position.
“Hung over?” Emma pulled back, her eyebrows raised. “Are you serious? I wake up to an empty bed, have no idea where you are and I’m worried sick, all because you decided to go out on a bender? What the hell?”
Regina sighed again. “I wasn’t out getting drunk, Emma... well, not technically. I was undercover with the bitches of darkness.”
“You were what?” Emma said through clenched teeth.
“Emma, we have nothing and they have a lead we don’t. The only way we stand a chance of learning what they know is by gaining their trust. And only I could do that.”
“And you didn’t think it was worth mentioning your plan to me first? Jesus, Regina. Do you have any idea how fucking terrified I was?”
Regina reached for the blonde’s hand. “I’m sorry I frightened you. But I also knew that if I revealed my plan, you would respond exactly as you are now.”
“Well yeah,” Emma scowled. “Because I love you and I don’t want you to be out endangering your life, Regina.” A warm hand reached forward to touch her cheek.
“I know, dear. And perhaps it wasn’t some of my best decision making, it just seemed like the only way at the time.” Regina smiled apologetically and stroked Emma’s cheek with her thumb.
Emma leaned into the warm hand. “You know if you had told me, I wouldn’t have been okay with it, sure - but I also respect that you are your own person. I would have at least been willing to compromise and go with you somehow.”
Regina nodded.
“We’re a team - the way we get through all the crazy shit in this town is together. So please trust me enough next time to tell me the truth?” Emma covered the hand on her cheek with her own.
“You’re right,” Regina brought her other hand to the blonde’s face and pulled her closer. “And for what it’s worth, Emma, I trust you with my life. I hope you know that. And I love you.”
Emma smirked. “I know, dear,” she said in her best Regina voice.
The brunette rolled her eyes. “Come here, idiot.” She kissed Emma softly.
Emma tucked a strand of dark hair behind the woman’s ear. “Wow,” she murmured. “You taste just like vodka.” She laughed as Regina smacked her shoulder lightly.
“Your wit astounds me, Miss Swan,” Regina bit back.
“Uh oh, now I know I’m trouble,” Emma joked and jumped to her feet.
“When are you not, though.”
The blonde laughed and pulled Regina to her feet, kissing her again.
Regina took her hand. “Let’s go.”
Emma nodded. “Yeah, let’s go and find you a toothbrush, ASAP.” She chuckled and made for the stairs.
Regina quirked an eyebrow as they took the stairs up, out of the vault. “Laugh it up, dear, though you may find it less funny when I refuse to kiss you for the rest of the day.”
Emma gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, wouldn’t I?”
“You’re right, you absolutely would.”
Their combined laughter echoed down the staircase as they walked out into the winter sunlight.
hey lovely! here's the ask for that prompt based on Big White House <3
And if we start out slow,
it doesn't matter though
It's where we're headed for.
We'll have a big white door
on our big white house for sure.
The first time it happened was the day Emma pulled Henry from the mines. Regina had shown up while the (then) deputy sheriff was working her way through post-incident paperwork. Emma had rolled her eyes at the appearance of Henry’s other mother, too exhausted to engage in another of their typical arguments.
“Miss Swan, a word, please,” Regina demanded the moment she was through the door.
Emma sighed. “What’s up?”
“Can we speak in the hallway?”
Emma gestured at the empty office. “We’re the only ones here, Regina - what is it?”
Regina looked somewhere beyond Emma’s head and picked at some non-existent lint on her turtleneck.
Emma had never seen her look so uncomfortable before - it was unsettling to behold. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine,” Regina snapped. She swallowed. “I just... need you to come with me.”
Emma clenched her teeth, got out of her chair, and followed Regina out to the hallway. The second the were outside of the office, it happened: the mayor shoved her up against the cool brick wall and kissed her, hard.
Emma was so shocked, she failed to respond for several seconds. She’d had fantasies about Regina, sure - but that had been before the woman turned out to be a colossal bitch. Emma had never truly expected anything like this to happen, though she wasn’t surprised that kissing the mayor in reality far surpassed her wildest dreams. She eventually started kissing Regina back and managed to get her hands around a glorious ass before she was abruptly shoved aside.
Regina sashayed out of the station without a single word, leaving an open-mouthed, breathless deputy behind.
Emma had her hand down her pants the second she got home and she dreamt of shiny hair, dark brown eyes and husky laughter that night.
They never spoke of the kiss and it was a long time before it happened again.
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The second kiss happened in Neverland. They had spoken to Henry through the mirror and for the first time since they’d stepped foot on that hellish island, Regina felt a deep sense of relief. And hope.
Apparently Emma was riding that same wave of optimism, because she all but dragged the brunette through the undergrowth, down onto the beach.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Regina snapped, finally freeing her wrist from the other woman’s death grip.
Emma grabbed her roughly around the waist and pulled Regina’s body flush against her own, before kissing her fiercely.
Regina’s surprise was shortlived and her hands found their way into long, blonde tresses within moments. She kissed Emma with all the energy her newfound hope had ignited within her. When she finally pulled back, breathless and alight with desire, Regina rested her forehead against the other woman’s and closed her eyes, savouring the moment.
“Thank you,” Emma murmured softly.
Regina’s eyes opened, her brows drawn together in a frown. “For what?”
“For making it happen. Knowing he’s okay, that’s... it’s everything,” the blonde whispered and swallowed.
Regina kissed her again, softly. “I know. I feel like I can breathe for the first time since we got here.”
“Me too.”
Regina dreamed vividly that night, of home and warmth - of Henry and Emma, of dinners and movies and video games, of her closet half filled with Emma’s clothes. She’d woken the next morning with an ache in her chest and a sense of desire so overwhelming, it terrified her down to the marrow of her bones.
And then there was Neal and a handsy pirate, and her dream became one more thing to put away in a box at the back of her mind.
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It was two years later when Emma turned up on Mifflin street at 12am, two nights before her wedding. She may have been drunk, but she felt as though she were seeing things clearly for the first time.
Regina answered the door with a frown, wrapped in a navy silk robe. “Emma? What is it?”
“I...” the blonde trailed off as she took in the sight of the other woman, barefaced and barefoot, her hair mussed up and toenails painted a dark plum.
“Are you okay?” Regina asked and stepped forward, a hand outstretched.
Emma nodded dumbly. “Can I come in?”
Regina nodded and led them to the study, where she guided Emma to a chair before taking the one opposite. “Care to tell me why I found you drunk, on my doorstep at midnight?” She teased, an eyebrow raised.
Emma gave her a sheepish grin. “That obvious, huh?”
“You might say that.”
The sheriff sighed and rubbed a hand down her face. “I don’t even know where to start,” she mumbled.
Regina smiled softly. “How about the beginning?”
Emma nodded. “Okay. Yeah I can do that.” She took a deep breath. “Five years ago Henry brought me here and when I met you, I could barely string a sentence together. I mean, you know how hot you are and at that point I had no idea you were going to turn out to be insane, so there’s that.”
Regina raised her other brow this time. “I do hope this is going somewhere, sheriff.”
“It is,” Emma promised. “So we’ve never talked about what happened after I got Henry out of the mines. Or what happened in Neverland.”
“And why would you want to discuss it now of all times?”
“Because I’m an idiot, Regina.”
The brunette huffed and rolled her eyes. “That we can agree on.”
“I’m an idiot because it’s taken me this damned long to realise I’m about to make the dumbest mistake of my life. I don’t know why we never talked about those kisses, Regina - maybe we were scared by how great they were and what that could mean? I don’t know. But I do know that marrying someone out of a sense of obligation or a wish to please your family isn’t right. And that’s exactly what I was about to do. Even though I don’t love Hook - even though two kisses with you have meant more to me than anything ever has with him.”
A soft gasp left Regina’s lips. “What are you saying, Emma?” She whispered. “What do you want?”
Emma was out of her chair and kneeling before Regina’s in a heartbeat. She reached for the woman and tucked a wayward strand of dark hair behind her ear. “You. It’s always been you, I was just too blind to see it,” the blonde murmured.
Regina surged forward and kissed her softly, then pulled back. “Are you sure this isn’t just cold feet?”
“Absolutely,” Emma laughed. “This isn’t some whim, Regina - it’s taken us years to get here. I know it’s been slow going, but you’re it for me. I’m just sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
Their lips met over and over - softly, sweetly, and then with urgency. They worshipped one another’s skin and souls until the sun arose.
Six months later Emma moved into the house on Mifflin, making Regina’s dream of a family with them and Henry a reality. And it was so good, she didn’t even get mad when Emma burned her silk shirts in the dryer, or left her boots on the stairs.
This was a little text fic I wrote for a friend when she was having a bad day. Thought y’all might enjoy it. :)
_________________________________________________
“Emma. EMMA!”
The blonde’s eyes snapped open and automatically closed against the sudden brightness of the bedside lamp.
“You’re flailing around like a fish on land, dear,” Regina said pointedly from next to her.
Emma rolled onto her side, looking at Regina’s adorably sleepy face. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her eyes shining. She frowned and looked down at the tangled sheets.
Regina turned to her side as well, facing her girlfriend and reaching over to tuck a wayward lock of blonde hair behind the woman’s ear. “Were you having a nightmare?”
Shaking her head, Emma sighed. “No, I wasn’t even asleep.”
“Then why the squirming?”
Emma shrugged. “I get restless legs sometimes. Not every month, but when it does happen it’s always before my period and it’s fucking frustrating. They get so achey and I get exhausted and grumpy and pretty much just want to punch Happy in the face every time I see him.”
Regina grinned. “Well there isn’t a sane person in Storybrooke who doesn’t think about inflicting violence on that insipid dwarf.” Her smile faded as quickly as it had come. “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
“I don’t know,” Emma shrugged. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you up too. I think I should go sleep in the guest room.” She started to sit up, but her arm was grabbed in an instant.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Regina said. “You’re in discomfort and I would rather be awake with you than not have you here where you belong.” She kissed the blonde’s cheek and tugged her back down in the giant bed, into her arms.
Emma snuggled down alongside Regina, her face tucked into the other woman’s neck.
“Do you know what causes it?” Regina asked as she ran her fingertips up and down a toned arm.
Emma shook her head. “Not really, but I guess hormones have something to do with it.”
“Have you tried things to improve it?”
“Mostly different sleeping positions but it doesn’t really help.”
Regina reached her other hand over to her nightstand and grabbed her moisturiser. “Get up for a second,” she murmured and sat up.
Emma raised her eyebrows. “What’re you doing?”
“Lay back and get as comfortable as you can,” the brunette instructed and pulled back the covers. She put some moisturiser in her palms and rubbed them together, then reached for one of Emma’s legs. “Maybe a massage will help the muscles to relax,” she said as she worked her palms up and down a shapely calf.
Emma closed her eyes, and started to feel relaxed for the first time since she’d gone to bed. “I don’t know if it’ll help but holy shit that feels amazing.”
“Good, hopefully it’ll get you to sleep.”
Emma sighed doubtfully but within five minutes she started to feel the thick cloud of sleep close in on her.
Regina smiled when soft snores started emanating from her love’s parted lips and carefully climbed back beneath the sheets. She curled up at Emma’s side, grateful that for this night at least, the woman could get some sleep.
SQ prompt! Pre-relationship SQ that involves rainy days and snuggles on the couch. I’m desperately in need of some fluff 💜
“Have you heard of an umbrella, Miss Swan?”
Emma tried not to smile at Regina’s attempt to scold her in a throaty, yet nasal voice. “Have you ever heard of vitamin C? I thought you didn’t get colds,” the blonde smirked.
“I don’t,” Regina huffed through a reddened nose. “This is not a cold, it’s an early death.”
Emma laughed as she stepped inside and dripped onto the doormat, a shopping bag clutched in her fist. “Wow, you’re worse at being sick than Henry - and I thought he was pathetic.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve had a fever for two days and haven’t slept for three. My nose feels like sandpaper and I cough through the night regardless of which suppressant I take. This is hell.” Regina sniffled and then rolled her eyes at the puddle forming at Emma’s feet. “And now you’ll probably get it too.”
Emma shrugged. “Give me some dry clothes, I’ll be fine.”
“Wait here,” Regina said, wagging a warning finger at the woman. She went upstairs and returned a few minutes later with some yoga pants and a grey sweater, as well as a towel.
“Thanks,” Emma smiled and put down the bag. She patted herself down with the towel and toed off her wet boots before walking through to the kitchen and depositing the bag onto the counter.
Regina raised her eyebrows at the bag. “What did you bring me, sheriff?”
“Something you’ll be thanking me for in a few minutes.”
“I somehow doubt that,” the brunette sniffled, her lips pursed.
Emma pulled a large Tupperware container from the bag. “Well, prepare to be shocked, because in here is the best chicken soup you will ever taste.”
“You made this?”
“I did.”
Regina laughed. “You don’t cook.”
“Actually I’m a pretty good cook, if it’s one of my signature dishes,” Emma countered.
“Poptarts aren’t a dish, dear,” Regina smirked.
“Look,” Emma said, “Just shut up and try some, it’ll make you feel better, okay?”
Regina sighed and nodded reluctantly. “Fine, will you be staying for lunch? I’m about to watch a movie.”
“That depends… what movie?” The blonde grinned, knowing she’d be staying either way.
“I was thinking Tomb Raider.”
“Uh, really?”
“Yes, really. Watching Angelina Jolie climb ruins in hotpants might make this illness more bearable,” Regina said.
Emma swallowed. “You think she’s…”
“Attractive? I do. Problem?”
Emma shook her head. “Not at all, Angelina is hot as hell.”
Emma changed into the dry clothes, then dished out two bowls of soup while Regina got the movie ready to play. She started opening cupboards, searching for trays to put the steaming bowls on. She rolled her eyes, knowing it had been a long shot - as if Regina would have ever let Henry eat in front of the tv. It was almost a shock when she opened a corner cupboard to find a four pack of charcoal coloured dinner trays, still sealed in plastic. Emma grinned and unwrapped them.
Regina looked up, remote in hand, as the sheriff came through the door holding two trays. “I forgot I even had those. I’m not surprised you managed to dig them out within two minutes.”
“Shut up and eat, your majesty,” the blonde retorted and handed Regina a tray of soup.
Regina rolled her eyes and pressed play on the remote once Emma was settled. She tasted a spoonful of soup while the opening credits rolled and raised her eyebrows. “This is quite good.”
Emma laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
Once they’d finished lunch, Emma took the trays out to the kitchen and washed up. She returned to the living room with two cups of tea, having added lemon and honey to Regina’s. “This always helps when I have a cold,” she said, handing over a mug.
Regina took a couple of sips and closed her eyes with a sigh. “My throat already feels less scratchy,” she mused and drank the rest.
Half an hour later, Emma realised that Regina was shivering beside her on the couch. “Come here,” she ordered and took the blanket from the back of the couch. She wrapped it tightly around the brunette and put the back of her hand to the woman’s forehead. “You’re hot,” she murmured.
Regina smiled through chattering teeth. “Well thank you, Miss Swan, I didn’t realise my winter robe was so appealing.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll let you have that one. Do you want some Tylenol for the fever?”
Regina went to shake her head, hesitated and then nodded.
Emma got up and returned soon after with the Tylenol and a glass of water. She sat back down next to the shivering mayor and wrapped an arm around her.
Regina tried not to stiffen under the blonde’s arm, not wanting to discourage the woman’s proximity. Instead she shifted closer to Emma and eventually her teeth stopped chattering and her eyes drifted shut.
The end credits started as the front door swung open and Henry stepped into the foyer and dropped his bag by the front door. He heard music coming from the living room and headed in that direction, but halted in the doorway at the scene that greeted him. Emma was slouched down on the couch, her feet planted on the carpet and her eyes closed. Wrapped up like a burrito in her arms lay Regina, also asleep, and softly snuffling with each breath she took.
Henry grinned and pulled his phone from his pocket. One picture couldn’t hurt.
A princess accidentally wrongs a witch and is cursed so that no man shall ever love her. Fortunately, the princess is a lesbian, and is overjoyed. When the witch finds out her spell backfired she is furious, and goes to confront the princess. Except now that she’s a little calmer, the princess is super cute? Sparks fly, and not because of a magic spell.
SQ prompt by @waknatious: Henry falls asleep during movie night and wakes up to see Emma and Regina cuddling for the first time.
__________________________________________________
Usually it’s Ma that falls asleep during movie night. She starts out all gung-ho about watching a “classic” together and then 30 minutes in, she’s snoring on the couch. And the more she’s eaten, the more quickly she seems to crash out. It’s kind of pathetic really.
Last week, though, it was me that crashed out first. Don’t judge me, it was a long day at the end of a week of exams. I more than earned a good nap.
Anyway, the night started off like it usually does on a Friday: Ma turned up with three pizzas - meat lovers for me, half cheese and half bbq chicken for herself, and half vegetarian, half Italian sausage and pepperoni for mom. She also had a stack of DVDs in a bag hanging from her wrist.
Apparently, due to an ongoing dispute with Mom over cars, the first movie for the evening was to be Gone in 60 Seconds. At least, that’s the story they both went with, but I’m pretty sure it had more to do with Angelina Jolie’s presence than anything else.
So we all sat down in the living room eating pizza and watching AJ strut around in leather pants and steal cars. Me, being the intelligent and caring son I am, sat on the floor, knowing the moms would take the couch together. Naturally, I was right.
Somewhere between car boost number 38 and 45, I crashed out hard and didn’t wake up until the end of the film. When I did, I happened to glance up and see something I’m pretty sure wasn’t intended for me: the moms were snuggled up together on the couch, and I’m pretty sure there was kissing. I mean, I didn’t see any kissing but I just know there was some. I could tell.
I decided I’d pretend to still be asleep and then miraculously wake up when they disentangled, which worked like a charm. The thing is, I paid closer attention than I normally do when Ma goes home after movie night. Five minutes after she and mom and had said goodnight and parted ways, I snuck out front the house and saw Ma’s car still parked out front. So I crept around the side of the house and low and behold, there she was, climbing the latticework onto Mom’s balcony! What even.
After careful consideration, it became obvious that the only thing to do was mess with them until they came out of the magical, gay closet. I started mentioning things, like the fact I’d seen Ma’s car out front after she was meant to have gone home. Of course they didn’t admit to anything. I then mentioned how strange it was that I could hear something smacking against the side of the house when I went to bed that night (right around the time Ma happened to be climbing onto the balcony). Again they played dumb.
I ended up putting together a pretty elaborate plan to out them and I was getting really into the whole idea. Then I came home from school one day to see them hugging in the kitchen and I decided enough was enough. I walked straight in and rolled my eyes as they tried to jump a mile apart.
“Moms. Enough. I know,” I said to them.
Ma, ever her eloquent self, stuttered something like “Uhhhh, about what, kid?”
I sighed. “About you two being in the closet of love.”
Mom raised her eyebrows. “And... what would you think about that, if that were the case?”
“I’d think ‘finally’,” I replied. “All my hard work has actually paid off.”
Ma frowned. “What hard work?”
Honestly, I’m sure she’s not as dense as she pretends to be sometimes.
“You know, all the things I did to give you guys a nudge in the right direction. Including laying on the hard floor during movie night so you two could snuggle on the couch. I’m fine, by the way.” Pretty sure I smirked at that point.
Ma grinned. “So, you’re really okay with this?”
I had to hug them both at this point. “Hell yes, I think it’s great. I don’t want to see any gross stuff though.”
Mom laughed. “Noted,” she said.
“Yeah, can’t promise anything, kid,” Ma said, and kissed Mom right in front of me.
Ugh I should have known I’d be subjected to this kind of torment once they got together. It’s a small price to pay though.
SQ Prompt by @percymeihenna: Emma and Regina have to share a bed.
__________________________________________________
“What are we supposed to do now?” Regina huffed as they crossed the parking lot to the bug.
Emma shrugged. “What do you mean? We take our stuff inside and go to bed?”
Regina glared at the blonde. “And how do you propose we do that, what with the three people to two beds situation?”
“I don’t know, Regina,” Emma sighed. “Can we just get our stuff inside and then work it out?”
Regina bit her lip and nodded. She took her bag from the car and told Henry to put his phone away and do the same. The three of them dumped their bags inside the doorway of one of their two rooms.
“Uhhh,” Henry looked around and cleared his throat. “Are we all supposed to fit in there?” He asked, eyeing the queen bed against the wall.
Regina looked pointedly at her co-parent and raised her eyebrows. “Yes, Emma - what exactly is the plan?”
“Why do I have to decide everything,” the blonde grumbled.
“Because you booked the rooms.”
“Okay, well why don’t I stay next door and you guys can stay here?” Emma suggested.
“I’m not sure how I feel about sharing a tiny bed with my 6”4 son, Miss Swan - sorry Henry,” Regina stated.
“None taken - also, I snore,” he smirked. “Guess I’ll have to take the single and you guys will have to share.”
Emma swallowed. “Fine. That works too.”
As she walked toward the en suite, Henry heard her mumble “Harvard had better be worth it” under her breath. He smirked again and picked up his bag. “I’m gonna crash, tell Ma I said goodnight?”
Regina nodded and hugged him. “Sleep well, Henry - don’t forget to lock the door once you’re inside.”
“I won’t. Night, Mom.”
—————————————————————
Emma told herself to open the bathroom door and walk through it. She told herself again and again, but still seemed unable to actually do it. She swallowed and splashed more water on her face. She was red and splotchy across her chest and knew she needed to calm down. “It’s just Regina,” she whispered to herself. “Yeah, like that helps,” she grumbled to herself and rolled her eyes. Emma gave herself one last pep talk and pushed herself away from the basin and out into the bedroom. She tried not to swallow audibly when she caught sight of Regina.
The brunette wore a dark blue satin negligee and was perched on the side of the bed, rubbing a Clinique lotion into her legs. Her hair fell in a curtain around her face, obscuring everything but her nose, chin and lashes. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across her features.
Emma stared at the woman for several moments, greedily drinking in her dark, elegant features, before making her way over to the bed. Once there, she stood awkwardly and cleared her throat.
Regina looked up. “Problem?” She asked.
Emma shook her head. “Nope, just wanted to make sure you were good with that side of the bed.”
“I am - that’s why I sat here,” Regina said, a bemused smile playing about her lips.
“Good. That’s... good. Okay then.” Emma clambered awkwardly beneath the comforter and pulled it up to her chin. Her sleep shorts were twisted but she didn’t dare move.
A few minutes later, Regina pulled back the covers and climbed in beside the blonde, her heart suddenly racing. “Would you like the lamp off?” She mumbled.
“Sure,” Emma quietly replied and the room was abruptly plunged into darkness. The blonde never slept on her back but she felt unable to move, paralysed by the notion of sharing a bed with Regina Mills.
Silence filled the darkened room for several minutes.
“Emma?” Came a soft whisper from nearby.
“Yeah?”
Silence for several more moments.
“Do you ever feel like we’re losing him?”
Emma finally rediscovered her ability to move and rolled onto her side, propping her head up on her hand. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she could just make out Regina’s silhouette beside her. “Sometimes,” she admitted. “But honestly? I know that’s not true. Yeah, he’s gonna be around less for awhile, but you better believe that kid is gonna be home at every given opportunity. And not just because he needs us to do his laundry, y’know?”
A soft laugh rasped through the air and sent tingles down Emma’s spine.
“I do know. I just have trouble believing it some days,” Regina murmured.
Emma smiled. “Me too. I just keep reminding myself he’s got the best moms in the world. Hell, that kid is lucky to have the two of us.”
Regina laughed again, low and melodic. “That he is.”
Emma bit her lip and gathered her courage. “I’m glad too though,” she blurted out in a rush of air.
“About what?”
“About the fact that neither of us is doing this alone. We’re kinda in this together and I know we don’t say this stuff, but I’m really glad it’s you and me, Regina.” Emma’s heart pounded as she waited for something, anything, to happen. Suddenly a hand reach across the comforter and grasped ahold of hers. It felt warm and soft around her own.
“I’m glad too, Emma. More than you know,” Regina whispered.
Emma smiled in the dark, overcome by a fierce desire to be able to see the other woman. She squeezed Regina’s hand and held on to it. “You’ve done so great with him. When I was in that shitty cell, my stomach out to here, I used to wish so hard for good parents for him. I’d imagine these incredible people with high paying jobs, big houses and bigger hearts. But all of that doesn’t even touch the surface of what he actually got. You’re better than any parent I could have dreamed up for him - you’ve raised him right, Regina. He’s so smart and kind and funny and God, he’s sassy as hell. Yet somehow he’s also not spoiled and is such a hard worker. I don’t know how you did that, but it blows me away every time I think about it.” Emma realized she had been rambling for two minutes straight and bit her tongue. Then she heard a small sniffle from the pillow next to hers. “Regina?” She frowned. “Are you crying?”
“No!” Regina snapped in what was most definitely cry-voice.
“Really?”
“Perhaps,” the brunette relented, rolling her eyes. “It’s not like I was expecting you to say all those things. I think they might be the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.”
Emma smiled. “Well they’re all true.”
“I hope you know they’re true about you too, dear. I think you forget that for the last eight years, it’s been both of us doing the parenting, Emma. It seems he’s taken on the best of you too,” Regina said softly, wiping her eyes.
Emma’s smile grew and she felt emboldened. “Come here,” she murmured, and tugged softly on Regina’s arm. Within moments, the brunette was in her arms, closer than ever before. Emma breathed her in: patchouli and jasmine and some kind of spice. She smelled like home.
“Do you ever think about it?” Regina asked suddenly.
Emma frowned. “About what?”
“Us.”
A beat. Then another. “Yeah. All the time.”
Regina sighed. “Me too. There aren’t many things I truly wish I’d done differently, but that night is at the top of my list.”
Emma pulled her closer. “It’s not too late, you know. There’s no time limit on this thing. Not for me anyway.” Her palm found its way to Regina’s warm cheek.
There was a moment of stillness, of forevers and baited breath. And then Regina surged forward and pressed her lips to Emma’s softly. “Good,” she whispered and kissed her again.
