Summary: When Henry tricks his moms into a surprise picnic to finally push them towards each other, Emma and Regina are forced to confront long-buried feelings, missteps, and a bear claw to the head.
CW: 18+, Unestablish Swanqueen moving into established, Mild language, Emotional vulnerability, self-doubt, Light angst with happy ending, Soft romantic themes, Brief physical intimacy (kissing), Humor, No explicit sexual content (but tagged 18+ due to account content)
Word Count: 1.6k
A/N: Essay is finsihed. Submitted. Finally completed university and have a history degree?? What the heck. Now to get my masters in Genealogy and Family History. Until then enjoy some love confessions from SwanQueen.
“Henry, she’s not going to go for this, nor will Regina, she hates picnics.” David said, crossing his arms as he watched Henry carefully packing the picnic basket clumsily, very Emma David thought to himself, eyes not leaving his grandson as he packed, Henry’s focus on the food like someone who trying to diffuse a bomb—and in some ways he was.
“She will.” Henry replied stuffing in his favourite snacks, David noticed he hadn’t seemed to pack any of his mothers favourite food. Both of them will. They both think they’re meeting me.”
David raised an eyebrow. “So you lied to them?”
“No, I just, stretched the truth,” Henry said, feeling proud of himself, grinning. “It’s not lying if it works.”
“No, I suppose not, but maybe you should pack some food they will like.”
“Oh, this basket isn’t for them.” Henry pushed the last of the snacks and some how closed the basket lid with effort.
“No?” David frowned “Then who?”
“Us.” Henry stood proud, arms folded, in a very Regina like way.
“Henry, why have we got a basket of our own.”
Henry grinned, holding back a small laugh, and plucking the binoculars from behind his back and holding them up like he had won a prize “Because we’re going to spy on them. They better kiss.”
“Maybe a bit over ambitious kid, but lets do this. Operation SwanQueen here we come.”
——
Emma arrived at the lake, at 1.20pm. Late. She always was, Henry had told her to meet her at 1pm, for a picnic lunch. It was the middle of summer, so the sun was out and it would be nice to spend sometime together, little did Emma know but he sent the same exact text to Regina, who of course was right on time, and had been waiting for over half an hour, and by the look on her wasn’t too happy.
Emma stood in her jeans, tank top, red leather boots, holding two bags of chips and two sodas. Regina on the other hand had already laid out the Cameron tartan blanket, basket on the ground, she was stood tall arms folded, finger tapping on her biceps and heels sinking into the grass, looking hot and uncomfortable in her pant suit.
Emma pressed her lips together, the crinkle of the chips packet sounding as she walked towards the women she had been yearning for since she arrived in Storybrooke, and despite Regina’s sometimes hostile. cold demeanor, the truth was the same for her. Unfortunately, they were both as stubborn as each other, so neither was willing to make the first move, hence the parent trap picnic.
Emma stepped forward, Regina’s death glare coming into focus, and then she was stood in front of her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, nice to see you too.” Emma sighed, rolling her eyes “let me guess, Henry sent you a text, telling you he wanted to have a picnic lunch?”
The look on Regina’s face was a picture “Yes, but I—”
“Just sit down, you’ve put a lot of effort in, unlike me, so lets eat…I’m hungry.”
“Emma you’re always hungry, Regina muttered, huffing a little as she reluctantly sat down on the blanket, her eyes on Emma, her heart practically jumping out her chest as she began bringing everything out the picnic basket.
Behind the trees Henry was munching on a bear claw, binoculours on his eyes watching his moms finally sit, and begin their set up date. “Told you it’d work.” Henry muttered to David.
“Yeah, yeah alright, you did well. Why don’t we leave them to it?”
“No way, I wanna watch this, make sure this happens.”
David simply laughed, he squeezed Henry shoulder “Alright, but your on your own. See you later.”
Back by the lake away from their spying son, Emma was laughing, after she had begun eating the food a little too fast and Regina had responded by saying “If I had known you were going to inhale the prawn cocktail sandwich dear, I’d have bought you a straw.” Emma snorted, and was now trying to breath again after laughter took over her whole body.
Regina raised an eyebrow “Oh come on, it wasn’t that funny.”
“Yes it was! God Regina, you don’t know how funny you are sometimes.”
Regina frowned, taking a bite of her own food, and taking a sip of the lemonade can Emma had picked up by accident from the store. Regina still took it, because Emma’s effort may not look like much compared to Regina’s but it was still effort she made, which Regina always loved and appreciated.
Henry kept watching, and when he realised after an hour that they were almost done, having laughed and smiled, and consistently talked through their ‘date’, but with deceleration of love or even a god damn kiss in sight, Henry knew what he had to do.
He grab a piece of paper, and pen scribbled on it “You fought a dragon once. You can tell one woman you like her. P.S Check your jean pocket for gum, just in case you kiss.” Henry put the pen down and wrapped the paper round the bear claw, sellotaping it down and then launching it Emma’s head. Good aim too.
“OW!” Emma groaned feeling the attack on her skull, her eyes found the bear claw and picked it up, pulling the note free.
“You okay?” Regina smiled, wiping her mouth with a cloth and seeing the crinkle on Emma’s forehead.
“Yeah, yeah, totally fine, totally, umm, well, I—” The panic clearly rising in her voice.
The moment Regina’s hand touched Emma’s arm, she felt like she was going to melt into the grass.
“Emma, take a breath, it’s just me.” Regina smiled softly, worrying about how fast Emma was talking and not making sense.
“Yes, that’s the problem though.” Emma said, voice low and nervous.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Regina’s voice sank, removing her hand, her body weight shifting.
“No, wait, no that’s not what I meant Regina, I didn’t mean—god damn it, what the hell is wrong with me? How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Every time I’m near you, I feel fourteen years old with the a crush on the most beautiful, hottest girl there is and I can’t do anything about it because she would never give me a second glance, and I would never be what she wanted and I—”
“Whoa, Emma, slow down.” Regina pushed herself onto her knees, bum sitting on her heels “Are you…are you telling me that you, have a—that you like me? As…well, as more than a friend?”
“Yes,” Emma could barely get the words out, they were so unusually quiet that Regina only just managed to hear them with Emma’s head bowed.
“Emma Swan. Look at me.” Regina curled her fingers, her knuckle reaching under Emma’s chin and tilting her head up until she was looking at her again. “You know if anyone else had turned up instead of Henry, I would have left, but I didn’t, why do you think you are?”
“Pity?”
“Oh god, Emma, do you really think that of me? No, I stayed because I care about you, not just as Henry’s other mother, not just as the Sheriff, or Savior,” Regina pulled her hand away and watched as Emma picked up the bear claw wrapping her mouth round it, teeth biting down, still listening to Regina, her own heart fluttering inside her chest “no, it’s because you’re you, and I let you get away with eating a bear claw that has just been launched at your head,” they both chuckled “and because you make me laugh. I see you and I want to run towards you not away, I don’t want to be closed of with you Emma. God damn it—I want you to see every part of me, even the darkness, which we both know is a lot, and I want to see every part of you too, even the dorky side. Emma, you never have to be anyone but yourself with me. Not for one single second.”
Emma’s heart was in her throat, eyes still on Regina, her face kind and soft, not the usual companding, cold, icy Mayor the the town knew her as, in fact Emma realised, she hadn’t been that with her at all. But with Emma’s mind racing, the next thing she says wasn’t mean to slip out, it was meant to stay in her brain—but in usual Emma Swan style her mouth opened before her brain was able to catch up.
“You’re just saying that because Henry set us up Regina. You don’t mean it.”
Regina’s face dropped, her body shifting back onto the ground crossing her legs, the hurt very clear. “Wow. Okay. I mean that’s not the case what so ever, Emma, but thank you so very much for reminding me why I keep walls up. God, maybe this was a bad—”
“NO! Wait, no I’m sorry, Regina, I panicked, I just sometimes I get in my own head, and instead of trusting, which by the way I do trust you, my brain sort of convinces me that no one would be that good to me and—oh you know what I’m done talking.” and before Regina even had a second to react, Emma’s hands where pressed tight on her cheeks, Emma’s lips pressed hard against hers, mouths both moving in a messy, heated rhythm, neither one wanted to pull away, but in the end the had to if they want to actually breath again.
Regina’s icy exterior melted away.
Emma’s overthinking gone.
And a pack of gum unused still in Emma’s pocket, knowing she would definitely be using them properly next time.
Now just two women, who knew they loved each other, and would certainly be kissing, and so much more again.
Aaaaaa I love those cooking prompts! I'd like to make an addition to it. Imagine person B and C want to do something special for person A, so they work together to try to make something. But despite their best efforts it still doesn't turn out right and person A comes home to a big mess. But person A still loves what they made anyway (even if it is barely edible)
^ this is from an account called @ot3-promptz
“how did you fail a survey?”
“this is the opposite of what i told you to do.”
^ some prompts from the fluff list in my requests page.
@rdlesbiantrash i am SO sorry i took this long to write something, i was experiencing writer's block and i also changed the plot several times before settling on this prompt. i hope your moving day went smoothly even tho it's been a while!
You had one job.
Synopsis: Emma and Y/N try making Regina a birthday cake and it goes badly.
Warnings: kinda ooc Emma bc she can cook a little but in this fic she is just as hopeless as the reader, not my best work because I had ridiculously bad writer's block.
A strand of Emma's hair fell in front of her face as she mixed the batter.
"This is the opposite of what I told you to do." You sighed, making her smile. "No seriously, Emma, what if it fell in the batter?"
You both wanted to make Regina's birthday perfect, but you were definitely more stressed about it than Emma. She put the fun in baking with you today, while you brought the rigorous organisation to the table. A perfect balance.
You dusted your hands on your apron and took the hair tie out of her hair. She let you make a much tighter ponytail, pulling the loose strand in it so it wouldn't fall out.
"Regina won't mind." Emma shrugged, making you raise an eyebrow.
"Won't mind? Regina won't mind hairs in her food?" You questioned aloud, making her laugh.
"I'm just messing with you, Y/N," Emma smiled again, taking you arms behind her and bringing them forward, making you hug her.
You stood there for a while, humming contentedly while she held your hands around her stomach. You had all been busy with your work recently, but you made a point to prioritise birthdays, so this was the first time you and Emma had spent all day together in a while.
"We should probably get back to work." You admitted, after some peaceful silence.
"Right!" Emma agreed, turning around in your arms to kiss your nose, before you let go of her and both went back to your respective stations.
You were on icing, and you were very pleased with how it was going. It wasn't difficult, but you pretended it was a science to boost your own ego. You had perfected your formula and knew every detail down to the exact number of drops of food colouring needed to dye the mixture a deep purple. You kept that number in your mind now so you could write it down later. You didn't want to forget this.
You looked in the corner of your eye, the sight of your girlfriend pouring cake batter directly into the pan in your peripheral vision. Sighing with relief, you put your icing in the fridge and waiting for the cake to bake. You were going to make it in time.
"Presents?" Emma asked,
"on the couch in the living room." You responded, then quizzed her yourself. "Decorations?"
She wrapped an arm around your waist.
"I've got the balloons and streamers all around the hall and on the stairs, and I've drawn the curtains so she doesn't see anything until she comes in herself." She affirmed.
You exchanged a look, observing one another's serious faces. It made you laugh, and Emma pulled you closer to her.
"Can't believe we did it." She grinned, taking a hold of your chin.
"Yeah, we deserve a girlfriend award." You agreed, letting her pull you into a kiss.
It was soft and slow, a stark contrast to the hectic morning the two of you had trying to get everything together. It was like time had paused, and you recovered on one another's lips.
A soft click at the front door pulled Emma out her trance. She grabbed your arm and grinned.
"Come on!"
The two of you rushed to the front of the house to meet Regina, who was currently taking off her coat. The decorations were making her smile already, you couldn't wait to show her what else was coming.
"Happy birthday!" The two of you exclaimed in unison, pulling Regina in a massive hug.
You kissed her left cheek and Emma kissed her right. You snuck a kiss on her lips and Emma shoved your shoulder playfully.
Emma took her hand and led her to the living room, where she saw a bunch of store bought streamers and balloons, along with a handmade banner saying "happy birthday!!", that Henry had helped make before he went off to school. Emma gave you a wink and you slipped into the kitchen, walking over to the oven.
You switched it off and grabbed your oven mitts, swinging the door open, only to be greeted with a very strong burning stench.
"Oh no..." you whispered to yourself.
"Emma!" You called, running out into the living room, immediately faking calmness when Regina's eyes met yours. "A little help, please?"
Emma glanced from Regina to you. Regina wasn't stupid. She could tell something was wrong, but it amused her, so she smiled and let Emma follow you into the kitchen.
"You had one job, Emma." You hissed, showing her the burnt cake you had now put on the stove top. "Did you even read the instructions?"
"Yeah, I did everything right! I just put it on double the heat because Regina was coming earlier than we planned. I thought it would be done in half the time." She explained, her voice low as she glanced back at the door.
Your jaw dropped. Even you knew that wasn't how it worked. The feeling of instant regret flushed across your face, and you felt it heating up.
"Is everything okay in there?" Regina asked, and you heard footsteps making their way to the kitchen.
"Fix this!" You whispered desperately, pecking Emma's cheek then hurriedly slipping out the door.
You came face to face with Regina and forced a very dramatic smile. She took in the sight of you, then sniffed the air. Her nose crinkled slightly and she reached for the door knob.
You gasped, planting your body against the door and blocking her path. With your mouth hanging open, you faked a yawn and stretched your arms dramatically.
"Be honest with me, Y/N." Regina said firmly, putting a hand on the door, effectively pinning you in place, "do you need any help?"
"Me?" You laughed nervously, pausing before practically shouting. "Yes, yes I do, actually!"
You took Regina's arm and placed it around your waist, maneuvering so you were leading her out of the place.
"It's about this survey. I think I did it wron-"
"How do you fail a survey?" She demanded, taking both of your wrists and holding you in place.
The two of you paused as you heard it. Emma coughed a little from the other side of the door. You don't know what she was reaching for, but her behind ended up hitting the door and it flew open. Regina let go of one of your wrists and with the swish of her fingers, there was a purple glow holding the door open. Emma froze in her tracks, not daring to look behind her. Regina raised an eyebrow, then the smell of the burning cake hit her senses and she hummed understandingly.
"Come here, Emma, it's okay." She said lowly, watching her approach the two of you.
She pulled the two of you into another hug and chuckled before speaking again.
"I appreciate the effort." She insisted.
You and Emma shared a melancholy look. You both glanced at the kitchen door in mourning. Perhaps you were being dramatic, but you two had been excited about finishing the cake in the nick of time.
"I even made purple icing, you know because your powers are purple," you trailed.
"And I got you this really pretty candle. It was shaped like a flower." Emma added.
You felt a kiss press against your cheek and glanced over to see Emma receive the same treatment, a red lipstick mark on her flesh.
"Thank you, loves, I'm so lucky to have two such caring girlfriends planning my birthday." Regina reassured the two of you, taking you both to sit down on the couch.
There was silence for a moment before Emma spoke up.
"We're lucky you're in charge of cake duties for our birthdays." She commented, making Regina and you smile.
"Save that icing, Y/N, because I am teaching both of you how to bake. There is no reason two grown adults should not know how to bake a basic sponge cake." Regina said.
You put your head on her shoulder and burrowed into her arm, and Emma wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Okay, it's on." She said cockily, secretly excited to eat an edible cake today.
Regina came home from work and she was exhausted. She had been irritated at the things building up throughout the day and she’d accidentally snapped at Henry when she got home. He hadn’t put his washing in the basket at the top of the stairs.
She knew it was stupid and irrational but she couldn’t help herslef. She’d apologised soon after though. It was a healthy part of their relationship. No argument ever went without being resolved.
She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. Fuck the stress. She needed to calm down. She could hear Henry speaking to someone on the phone in another room but she couldn’t hear what he was saying.
Regina thought it would be best to stay away from Henry for the time being to avoid any more conflicts. Thankfully, he was understanding about these kinds of things.
———
Regina had just finished the glass of wine she poured when there was a knock on the door. She groaned but got up to answer it anyway.
“What are you doing here?” On the other side was Emma Swan, with her long blonde curly hair and her beautiful smile. Wait, Regina couldn’t think like that.
“Henry called me. He said you had a bad day. I thought I’d come around and offer help in any way you need”. Regina sighed and opened the door for Emma to come in.
“Yeah. I was going to go to bed and watch some TV but I could use the company. Thank you for coming over”. Regina watched as Emma took off her coat and shoes and then she guided them both in the living room.
Emma flopped onto the couch ever so gracefully and Regina bit back a smile. It was the little things about Emma that allowed her crush to develop in the first place.
Regina sat on the other end of the couch. She didn’t want to risk getting too close to Emma and blushing when they inevitably touched each other whether that be just by their fingertips when they both reached for the TV remote.
“Are you just going to sit there Sheriff Swan?” Regina watched as Emma’s leg bounced up and down with nerves. She clearly didn’t know what to say and it was amusing to Regina. Emma had come over to help her after her bad day at work but she didn’t know what to say, or do.
“Sorry. I’m trying to think what I can do to help you. I didn’t think about it. I just kind of left my house and came over as soon as Henry said”. Emma’s hand moved to her mouth and she started biting her nails.
“I’ll put a movie on and then we can talk. I like some background noise. Is that okay?” Emma nodded and Regina put the movie on. “I guess a lot happened. Everyone was asking me to do something and my work load, you should have seen it Emma. I barely had time to breathe. I don’t think I’ve eaten today. Wait, I should eat”. She went to stand up but Emma reached for her hand to stop her.
“Slow down Regina. I can order a pizza. Take a moment to breathe. Let yourself relax”. Regina nodded and sat back down. She watched as Emma pulled her phone out to call the pizza place and then settled back onto the couch to concentrate on the movie she had put on. Despite having seen it several times, it still enthralled her.
“I feel like I should be doing something to take all this off you Emma. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself”. Emma nodded. She knew that but sometimes it was nice to take care of others.
“I know but I want to do this. Please let me Regina”. With the way Emma was looking at her, Regina had no choice but to agree. She trusted Emma and she’d let her do whatever she wanted to do as a way of helping Regina.
“Okay. If you insist. What do you want me to do? Sit here and look pretty?” Regina scoffed at the thought of not doing anything. She couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. It was probably before she had Henry.
“That is exactly what I want you to do, Mayor Mills”. Regina’s jaw dropped open. She had been joking when she said that but clearly Emma wasn’t messing around.
“But I have so much to do Emma. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. It feels wrong”. Regina started to protest. There was no way she could just relax. That wasn’t possible.
“So choose a film and tell me your pizza order. I can do whatever you need me to do. Take a break and stop stressing out”. Emma raised her eyebrow and Regina who rolled her eyes.
“Fine. Okay. I’ll have a pepperoni pizza please”. Regina relented and let Emma order her food as well as doing a few bits of housework for her.
———
Regina managed to tune out her surroundings and just focus on the movie she had chosen to watch. It was nice to just concentrate on something that had no relevance to her day to day life. She allowed herself to indulge in some ‘me’ time while Emma tidied her kitchen.
When the doorbell rang, Regina went to stand up but the sharp “stay there” from Emma made her chuckle and she stayed exactly where she was.
“Thank you Emma”. As Emma set the pizza box on her coffee table Regina sat forward and kissed Emma’s cheek lightly to show her gratefulness. Emma’s cheeks flushed at the show of affection and Regina smirked at the reaction she had provoked.
They ate their pizza while continuing to watch the movie. There wasn’t any need for conversation between the two women. They were content to just enjoy each other’s company.
Once they finished the pizza Regina cleared up the box. She insisted that Emma had done enough and she had convinced herself that she was being lazy by sitting on the couch for more than 10 minutes.
Emma followed Regina into the kitchen and leaned against the counter as she watched Regina tidy up a little more.
“How are you feeling now Regina? Have you relaxed a little?” Regina was caught off guard a little by the question.
“I feel a lot better thank you Emma. I haven’t really thought about anything for a while”. Regina pulled the pizza box apart so it was flat and could fit into the trash easily.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to happen”. Her elbows rested on the counter as her eyes followed Regina’s footsteps towards her.
“Oh really, Sheriff?” Regina walked towards the trash can and placed the box there. She spun around to face Emma and walked towards her.
“Yes Madam Mayor”. Regina’s face was only inches from Emma’s now. The blonde woman’s breath caught in her throat at the lack of distance between them. When their lips met, Emma let out a soft moan. She had been waiting for this moment for years.
Emma’s hand fell to rest on Regina’s waist as a hand tangled in her blonde curls. They pulled each other a little closer as the kiss deepened.
“Perhaps we should take this to the bedroom”, Regina suggested as Emma’s lips trailed down her neck.
Emma nodded as Regina held on to her hand and pulled her in the direction of their bedroom.
I know this is late! I am sorry been having interviews etc and been sick so hey! But it’s here enjoy!
AO3
--
Emma took a breath before approaching her wife in her office. She was hoping she’d be agreeable to actually come home at a human time tonight.
“Regina?” Emma knocked three times, before walking in to the office.
The mayor was up to her eyes in paper work, it had been like this for months, she was making herself sick and Emma wasn’t having it anymore.
“What is it Emma? I’m busy. I won’t be home for dinner.”
“You’re never home for dinner.” Emma muttered as she closed the door.
“Excuse me?” Regina snarled, looking up from her work and putting her glasses from her face onto the papers in front of her.
“I said you’re never home for dinner.”
“Emma, I have work, I’m busy.”
“No. Regina, you’re making yourself sick and tonight you are coming home at a normal fucking time.” Emma demanded
“Oh? Are you going to make me?”
“No. Regina I expect you to do as I ask because I love you and I’m worried.”
“And if I don’t?” Regina raised an eyebrow
“Then I’ll drag you out this office myself and I will be sleeping on the couch.”
“What?” Regina gasped, as she stood up slowly and walked towards her wife “You would sleep on the couch over me working? That’s ridiculous!”
“No it’s not ridiculous Regina, you are working way too much, I have hardly seen the past few months, and Henry has hardly seen you. Regina you’re six months fucking pregnant, with twins at that! It’s not just yourself you need to worry about anymore, you can’t be working like this when they’re born, you are making yourself ill...I mean when is the last time you ate something? Or slept?”
“Emma...” Regina sighed
“I’m just worried about you. My wife who works so god damn hard and so much to make this town happy, that she forgets to take care of herself...” Emma paused, as she walked a few steps towards Regina taking a hold of her at the side of her body, rubbing up and down her arms. “Please just come home tonight, Regina please, I’m begging you and this isn’t the place I like to beg.” Emma trembled with worry, as the tears somehow started all on their own
“Okay, darling, okay. I’ll be home, I’m sorry Emma...” Regina wiped the tears from the blonde’s face with her knuckles, holding Emma’s chin in the crook of her other hand “I never meant to worry you so much, I didn’t-“
“I know babe, you didn’t know, I should have said something sooner.”
“Yes. Now what time do you want me home at and I’ll make it my priority.” Regina smiled
“Say no later than six?” Emma asked, hoping Regina wouldn’t actually leave it till the last minute, to come home at.
“Okay, I’ll be there at half past five. What are you planning for dinner anyway?”
“I was going to make my home made burgers and fries, if you’re good with that?”
“Well considering it’s about the only thing you can cook without burning down the house other than grilled cheese and that doesn’t count as proper foof, then yes, but you only do that on special occasions?” Regina frowned, unsure what warranted it to be a special occasion, so to speak.
“Well it is a special occasion. I’m getting my wife back.”
--
Emma already had the food plated up, when Regina walked in the door.
The mayor took off her coat, hanging it up by the door and putting her bag down, Regina walked into the kitchen still in her heels and leaned against the door.
“Something smells good.”
Emma just chuckled “Yeah, it’s ready, come and sit down. Cream soda?”
“Please. Where’s Henry?” Regina frowned seeing only two plates, and then smiling when she noticed the candles “Is this a date night?”
“He’s with Violet, Luna, Alex and Simon, he’ll be back at god knows what time, he’s going out drinking, and yes it is indeed madam mayor.”
“This is beautiful darling.” Regina smiled, walking up behind Emma and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “You were right I needed to not work so hard.” Regina went and sat down at the table and Emma bought the drinks over, a cream soda for Regina and a root beer for herself.
“How are our little munchkins today?” Emma asked as she sat beside her wife
“Kicking. A fucking lot.” Regina sighed as they both started to dig into their food.
Over the next hour, they talked a lot, they spoke about cutting down Regina’s work hours considering she was pregnant and would probably deliver early, Emma wanted Regina to be under as little stress as possible, Regina actually agreed. Then they just laughed and talked until they both finished their food, they just relaxed.
--
Regina sat on the couch waiting for Emma to start the movie “You’ve gone all out tonight, even putting on my favourite movie.” Regina smiled, sitting in her panties and a flannel top with her hands rubbing soothing circles on her pregnant belly.
Emma put on the first film, they had about 10 films set out, so they could watch a few, the first film they chose was ‘Carol’, then they had ‘imagine me and you’ and a whole load of other lesbian films.
The blonde came and sat on the couch that Regina had now magicked to expand, both width and length ways, mainly so they could be more comfy.
Emma sat at the top, opening her legs for Regina to sit between at which the brunette did. Regina then leaned back into Emma’s arms, holding onto her wife and Emma kissed the top of Regina’s head “I love you Gina.”
“I love you too, Darling.” Regina smiled, sounding sleepy
“You better not fall asleep on me.” Emma chuckled
“I won’t.”
Emma just shook her head, knowing full well that by the time the sex scene came on the television, Regina would be asleep.
“God Cate is so fucking hot.” Regina smirked
“Excuse me?” Emma teased
“Oh not as hot as you dear, never as hot as you, but you can’t deny the very fact that she is gorgeous.”
Emma just laughed and nodded in agreement.
Emma couldn’t help but laugh softly to herself, when she heard the soft snore for Regina as she cuddled into her and soon enough Emma was fast asleep too, her arms wrapped around her wife, one hand on Regina’s pregnant belly and the other hand tangled up in the brunette’s, wedding rings sitting on top of each other.
--
Henry came home a little earlier than expected, just as the credits of the film started.
He knew to come in quietly, just in case his moms were fighting again, especially with Regina working all the hours she was and her crazy hormones from the pregnancy, however when he walked over towards the couch he saw the credits from the film and then saw how much bigger the couch was than before which made him frown.
Henry then couldn’t help but smile, seeing his Moms cuddled up on the couch; he grabbed a warm blanket and threw it over the two woman, before turning off the television.
He didn’t know how but somehow he knew Emma had convinced his brunette mother to at least come home early tonight and it was a start, for her to cut down her hours properly.
Henry watched for a few minutes before, kissing each mother on the forehead and making his way up to his bed, leaving his Moms to sleep. He loved seeing the both of them cuddled up together, it always reminded him about how lucky he was to have this as his family.
Summary: On a warm June day, Emma tries and fails at folding the sheets, but her effort is all Regina needs to feel loved. With ABBA playing on Vinyl, lemonade shared, and rain falling like a quiet exhale, the two of them find a calm in the neverending chaos including each other.
CW: 18+, Domestic setting, slice-of-life, Light swearing, Mild sexual references (humorous, not explicit), Mentions of mess/anxiety (cleaning stress), Cat-related mischief, Emotionally supportive queer marriage energy, Pure sapphic softness and marital fluff, Pride Month, Open windows, Summers day, SwanQueen, Married SwanQueen.
Word Count: 1.2k
A/N: This drabble contains: ABBA on vinyl, lesbian flag panties, Regina folding love into linen like the high-functioning wife that we all know she is, and one single shared glass of lemonade because romance is not dead. If you ever wondered what it feels like to be loved quietly and completely? This is it, never settle for less.
It was laundry day in the SwanMills household, on a warms summer day in the middle of June, temperatures were beginning to rise and Emma SwanMills was taking advantage of the warm weather by opening all the windows, blinds blowing in the air as she folded the laundry in her bare feet wearing nothing but a tank top and lesbian flag panties.
The air smelt of fresh meadows and burnt toast from where Emma had attempted a batch of toast for herself and Regina that morning—as usual she had managed to almost destroy the toaster and charcoaled bread, ABBA was playing on their old record player, and the smell of the vanilla and apple scented laundry wafted through the air taking over the smell of the burned toast.
Emma stood in their bedroom dancing as she refolded Regina’s blue dress for the tenth time, smelling it again—because it smelled like her wife and that always made her happy. There was a basket of clean clothes tipped over in the corner, the dishwasher from the kitchen was beeping, the noise carrying upstairs to the bedroom. Their new black cat called Midnight had just jumped out the window after knocking books and Regina’s perfume off the shelf, all landing on the pile of clean laundry.
Emma was now onto the sheets, and attempting to fold them—badly. It was not going well, she was shaking them out, trying to grab the corners, and by the time Regina walked in with their breakfast from Granny’s, Emma fell onto her ass with the sheet over her head and a loud grunt.
Regina stood leaning against the door frame placing the bag at her feet and folding her arms. She pressed her lips together, holding back her laugh, watching the disaster—seeing the disaster that had evolved since she’s been out the house.
“Emma.” Regina said, a smirk firmly on her lips.
“Hi…” Emma’s voice was muffled under the sheet, her breath blowing out an exhausted sigh into the sheets.
“Need some help?”
“No.”
Regina could hear the pout underneath the fresh sheet. Emma’s feet poking out as she stayed still, not quite sure what to do from here.
“Mmhh, okay,” Regina walked forward, crouched down still wearing her heels and black dress. She peeled the sheet slowly from Emma’s body and could now see the dishevelled woman that is her wife.
“I had it, you know.” Emma huffed, folding her arms like a child being scolded.
“Is that so?” Regina raised an eyebrow watching her wife sit there with a frown some how crossing her whole face. “Listen, I bought you back the egg and sausage sandwich for breakfast after the disaster from this morning,”
Emma tried to speak, to interrupt—to argue but Regina was quick, placing an index finger over her lips to keep Emma quiet “Did I say you could speak? No? The keep this,” Regina motioned to her lips, zipping them, “shut. Now, darling, if you want your breakfast, these sheets need to be folded which I do not think will happen if you do it on your own, or if you are involved at all,” Regina’s hand cupped just on of Emma’s cheeks, flushed with warmth as a sudden breeze of the hot summer’s day blew through the cool room “let me do them and whilst I am, you can go dish up breakfast.”
Emma nodded. Her hands reaching for Regina who pulled her up into a standing positioning and then almost combusted from laughter.
“What in gods name are you wearing? You look like—”
“Go on. Say it.”
“You look…hot.” Regina’s lip twitched as she looked her wife up and down, like a wife watching it’s prey.
“We’ve been married for ten years and you’re only now telling me this is what turns you on? Me in my lesbian panties and a tank top with no bra.”
Regina rolled her eyes, taking her jaw clip from the side behind Emma. She twirled her hair and clasped her hair back behind her head, grabbing the sheet from the floor. Regina grumbles about the mess in the corner but Emma, wholly lovingly steps in reassuringly. Emma stepped forward, air circling her bare legs, hands gripping Regina’s shoulders. “Gina breathe. It’s just a little mess, it can be sorted out, anyway this is what open window days are for, let a little air in, and a little mess. Don’t freak out okay?”
“I’m not freaking—it’s just—Emma this is not little.”
“Not to you maybe, but I promise it is.” Emma’s voice was gentle and reassuring ans she leaning in kissing the warm skin of her wife’s forehead.
Emma slowly walked away, picking up the bag of food by the door, pausing, one hand on the door frame, her head turned towards Regina who was folding the sheet with practised ease and like she had done it a thousand times before—she had. Emma was gawping at her like a love sick teenager, and Regina? She was trying not to do the same to Emma and they both knew it.
Emma left the room, smug as hell.
Regina continued folding, humming along to Bumblebee by ABBA that was playing on vinyl. Sunlight on her hands, the summer breeze clinging to the air in the room, the smell of clean sheets, freshly cut grass flowing through the room, keeping Regina at ease as she waited for Emma to bring up the food as she knew she would, despite her saying on countless occasions no eating in the bedroom—but just this once, Regina was going to ignore that rule she had. As long as Emma ate on a plate like a human and not a fucking chimpanzee.
Regina continued, and by the time Emma was back—Regina had folded all the sheets, clothes. She picked up the fallen clean laundry, along with her newly folded sheets, putting put everything neatly away after folding her love into that linen.
She knew Emma had tried her best and despite it ending with a wife on her ass, being strangled by a sheet, she had tried and that was more important to Regina than anything else.
“Hungry?” Emma asked, standing in the doorway, holding one plate and one bowl. The holding the egg and sausage sandwich the bowl with fruit and yogurt in.
“Yes,” Regina smiled, she grabbed the glass of freshly squeezed lemonade from earlier and went and sat in the nook under the window ledge, legs pulled up until Emma sat next to her and she lay her feet over Emma’s lap.
Regina set down her glass and took the bowl and plate from Emma—who then slipped Regina’s shoes off and placed them on the floor as they took in the midday summers air.
Emma took back her plate and the two of them settled. Both eating their food, drinking from the same glass of lemonade and breathing out.
Then the smell of rain came, light droplets followed, the rain it self felt like the exhales they both took—peaceful and the air around them was calm and fresh, just like the laundry that was now tucked away no longer in the chaos—and neither were they.
Summary: When late-night cravings lead Regina to the kitchen at 2 a.m., Emma finds more than just a missing raspberry turnover—she finds the woman she loves unraveling at the seams.
CW: 18+, Emotional vulnerability, discussions of stress and exhaustion, Mentions of strained relationships, past community conflict, Mild language, Humor, innuendo, Non-explicit Physical intimacy, Domestic fluff, No explicit sexual content but sexual themes discussed, established swanqueen, married swanqueen.
Word Count: 1.3k
A/N: I am going to try and post something every day for June, using my prompt list in order, I have one day to catch up on, I hope you enjoy this soft flirty, married swanqueen.
It was late in the SwanMills household, the clock had just chimed two. Regina was standing in nothing but her silk robe because even this time of night the air was still warm. She was standing in the kitchen, back straight, arms folded, finger tapping against her arm, eyes narrowing at the freezer door. The footsteps from behind came in swift but Regina was too moody and focussed on her cravings that she didn’t hear her wife appear in the door way. Emma was wearing a tank top and rainbow panties (she thought they were funny. Regina did not)
“Regina?” Emma asked, seeing her wife’s statue like frame. “You okay? I woke up and you weren’t there.”
“No, obviously not as I’m standing here in the kitchen, what is this? The Spanish inquisition.”
“Okay. Miss moody, what’s going on?”
“I want those Raspberry turnover I made yesterday, but I can’t remember if we have any left over.”
Emma couldn’t help but laugh. Her hands pressed on Regina’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Let me check sweetheart.”
Emma moved forward, opening the freezer door feeling the cool air fall against her bare skin. Emma crouched down, hands digging into the cold drawer, trying to spot the turnover that her wife had made only yesterday, she was sure there was at least two left over but—
“Emma come on! Do we have any or not?” Regina was practically vibrating, bouncing on her toes, waiting for the awaited turnover to settle her craving. “Emma—”
“Would you calm down Regina, I have them.” Emma pulled the wrapped turnover out the freezer, she shut the door as she straightened herself up and pressed the cold turnover to her wife’s cheek making her hiss.
“Emma, stop it.”
Emma chuckled, “Sit. I’ll warm it up.” Emma nodded towards the counter where Regina tea was still steaming, and she moved, perching herself up on the seat as Emma warmed up the perfect turnover.
Regina’s leg was still bouncing at the timer went off. Emma plated it up and pushed it in front of her wife before popping herself up on the seat next to her “Eat.”
“Thanks.” Regina smiled warmly, wrapping her fingers lightly around the raspberry turnover and Emma passed her the whipped cream to squirt inside the pastry.
Regina turned the pastry between her fingers, eyeing it up like she was about to try and enter fort Knox. She placed it back on her plate and picked up the whipped cream and slowly took the top pastry layer off and squirted a lot onto of the raspberry jam, and the placed the other part back on top.
Regina, usually so composed turned to her wife and squirted cream on the end of her nose.
“Really?” Emma raised her eyebrow, smiling with here eyes up at Regina.
“What?” Regina asked, picking up the turnover and finally taking a long awaited bite, moaning around it as the raspberries, cream and pastry filled her mouth, in a delicious combination.
Emma just laughed, taking a sip of Regina’s tea like she always did if they were up at this time, watching her devour the turnover like it was a lifeline.
Emma continued with a watchful eye, playful, teasing now “So, I don’t wan to panic you Gina, but the cravings? the mood swings? You haven’t maybe, by any chance at all considered that—”
“Emma SwanMills, if you so much as utter the words pregnant, I will decapitate you right here and turn you into a second raspberry turnover for me to eat.”
“Ir was only a suggestion.” Emma laugh
“Yes a bad one.” Regina mumbled through her food.
Emma finally held her hands up in defeat, she placed one hand on the small of her wife’s back at the bottom of her spine, rubbing in small, soothing circles. “You have been a little off though…I am worried, are you okay?”
Regina stayed silent finishing the rest of her turnover and pushing the plate away when she was done, and she turned her body slightly towards Emma. Then she saw the cream still on the end of her wife’s nose and almost choked on the small laughing that escaped.
“Oh Em,” Regina smiled, swiping her finger into the cream and licking it. She then leaned in and kissed the rest of the cream from her nose, giving one final kiss to her nose when the cream was gone. “that’s better.”
Emma eyed her carefully “Goodness, if the rest of Storybrooke could see you like this—”
“What? You think they wouldn’t hate me? I wouldn’t count on it.” Regina sighed, the heaviness being heard and felt in her chest.
“Sweetheart, what’s going on?”
“Oh it’s nothing, I can’t handle—”
“Regina, you call this handling it? You are sitting in our kitchen at two in the morning, stuffing your face with a raspberry turnover. You never use food for release of stress.”
“Oh and what would you suggest, multiple orgasms?”
“Well….”
“Emma be serious!”
“I am! There is scientific research to such that having sex and or having an orgasm releases stress, improves heart health and—”
“Alright alright I get it.” Regina huffed in defeat, whilst also keeping that in mind for tomorrow. “Look, it’s these town council meetings, then the whole town still holding a grudge against me, okay not the whole town, your mother, Killian, Robin, they all have issues and Leroy too, and I just… Emma I am exhausted, I have barely slept in weeks…I just feel like crying.” Regina let it all out, well almost, not the tears that she was holding back, despite feeling the lump in her throat.
Emma sees the exhaustion, the pain, and something deeper she’s not fully letting herself feel. Emma jumps of the stool like a fairy elephant, giving them both a small chuckle, and she foreseeably turned Regina, still on the stool so she was facing her now. Emma doesn’t say a single word, she just wraps her wife in a tight hug, holding her close, letting her know she’s safe, and loved and not alone. Emma’s hand slowly rubs Regina’s back in an up and down motion keeping her centred, and Regina she lets her head fall gently onto Emma’s shoulder, resting and breathing out.
“You’re don’t have to carry everything yourself Regina, not ever, especially not with me.”
“I know…” Regina whispered “I just, don’t know how not to.” And suddenly the tears she had been holding in, came out, slow and steady, one at a time, falling down her cheek and onto the bare skin of Emma’s shoulder.
“Come on.” Emma pulled away, holding out her hand “Lets get you back to bed, no council, no my mother, no Killian or Robin or stress. Just you and me and tomorrow, we can spend the day just us in the garden or doing whatever you want to do okay?”
Regina stood, taking Emma’s hand and squeezing “You know, you have never once stopped making me happy Emma, even in arguments, you still end up making me laugh.”
Emma nodded in agreement.
Regina paused before the reached the door, Emma turned to her seeing the smile on Regina’s lips, she was okay for now.
Regina grabbed Emma’s chin pulling her towards her in a sudden and swift movement, she pressed her lips onto her wife’s hard and lingering only for a moment before pulling away. “Thank you, for always being here, and never letting me spiral and being the best wife, putting up with my moods and I promise I’ll refrain from turning you into a turnover.”
Emma laughed, shaking her head teasingly, and the two of them headed up to bed to settle back down for the night, and Regina knew she would always without a doubt feel safe in Emma’s arms.
