Chapter Text
Emma was going insane. She had to be. She still wasn't sleeping, but had cut back on the drinking. Still, her perpetual lack of rest continued to make life difficult, and it seemed everyone close to her was in on making things worse.
Since her attempt to end things with Killian, he'd been curiously absent, which both relieved and exhausted Emma. The sooner a divorce was underway, the sooner she could start living the life she desired.
Emma was of course still avoiding her parents due to their inability to stay out of her personal life.
Ruby and Mulan always seemed to be in whispered conversation that abruptly ended whenever she entered the room. Emma had threatened to fire them if they didn't let her in on their gossip, only to be shrugged off with yeah right.
Henry can't make eye contact with her without looking extremely guilty, and Emma dares to dream that her angelic son has finally been breaking some rules like a normal teenager. Was Henry finally smoking cigarettes, sneaking out the house, or getting a bad grade? Emma thought of her son's other mother and shook her head. Regina had literally raised the perfect kid.
Regina, the only person Emma has been seeking out the past few days, seemed to also be avoiding her. It had to be the almost kiss, she resolved. She'd freaked her best friend out by making a move on her and now she was paying the price. Calls went unanswered and texts unread. Anytime she stopped by the mayor's office, Regina was either busy or absent.
Emma was truly going insane.
In her many hours of brooding, she came to the conclusion that she'd tell Regina she was divorcing Killian and that she was in love with her. But before such a grand proclamation could be made, she'd first need to get Regina in the same room--a task easier said than done. Regina had blocked her magically, not allowing Emma to sense her energy anymore. Their connective magic had been a constant pillar of warmth and strength, and without it Emma felt incomplete.
Gold had been Emma's first choice in helping her sense Regina's magic once again, but the retired imp simply smiled and spoke in riddles. He--like everyone else in Emma's life--knew something, yet said nothing.
Tinkerbell had been her second choice. Of course Tink went on a spiel about how her friendship with Regina was still fragile. Emma couldn't blame the red-headed ball of energy for not wanting to rock the boat.
In the end, her failure to secure magical assistance led her to the one person she loathes most.
On the night before the festival, Emma paces through the park, barely admiring the tasteful decorations, the lights from the carousel and Ferris-wheel illuminating her path. She notices a figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a dark trench coat sitting on a bench. Emma huffs out an irritated breath and sits beside Zelena.
"Was the outfit really necessary?"
The red-haired witch lowers her glasses slightly, further annoying Emma. "Really, Sheriff? I thought it rather fitting from the cloak and dagger meet me in the park after dark text I received from you earlier this evening," Zelena responds.
Emma sighs, twisting her fingers in her lap. "This was a mistake."
"Probably," Zelena agrees. "However, seeing as you're already here, shall we discuss what's on that frazzled mind of yours?" She knows, and Emma knows she knows, but Zelena likes torturing Emma too much to let her off easy. "Tick-tock."
"I-uh need to see Regina."
"How deliciously curious," Zelena prods. "Why can't you get in touch with my sister on your own? I mean you two are best friends, are you not?"
"Oh, cut the shit! You know she's blocking me. She won't let me poof anywhere near her," Emma seethes. "Even when I showed up yesterday at the house with Henry, she suddenly had to run to her office." Emma turns to face Zelena, her face twisted with dejection. "I have to talk to her before its too late."
"It's already too late for --"
"I'm in love with her," Emma whispers. "I don't know how or-or when it happened. All these years, all her pain, all of her sacrifices, all the battles, a-all the goddamned portals..." She exhales a tired breath and shakes her head. "All these years, Regina has been my rock. Even when we were enemies, she was always the force that drove me to win, ya know. Shit..." She releases a tearful chuckle. "How big of an idiot am I to not realize I was in love with my best friend?"
"Took you long enough," Zelena sing-songs. "And to answer your question, a rather monumental idiot, dear Savior."
"The question was rhetorical."
"Excuse me for not understanding one of your self-righteously, self-loathing Charming rants." Emma rolls her eyes at Zelena's assessment. "Regan arrived today for the festival. After dinner, she and Henry began playing video games while Regina has locked herself away in her office. She's been doing that an awful lot lately. Needless to say I can't simply send you to her house with my magic with the wards up. However, I could arrange a meeting by sending you both to the same place at the same time." Zelena takes off her sunglasses to give Emma a chilling stare. "I may come off as a bit of a joker, but make no mistake Savior, I will hunt you down if you cause my sister any additional heartache."
Emma returns the threat with a curt nod. "I won't hurt her."
"See that you don't." Zelena stands and flexes her fingers. "You have have fifteen minutes."
"For what it's worth, thank y-" Emma begins, only to be cut off by green mist surrounding her.
"Yeah, yeah," Zelena comments with a wave of her hand.
----
When Zelena's essence clears, Emma stands in a tastefully decorated bedroom. She turns to inspect the space and sees someone standing behind her in the full length mirror. Not someone. Regina.
A half-naked Regina.
Emma's eyes widen. She can't stop herself from staring at the white silk blouse hanging open to reveal an expensive black lace bra and smooth olive skin. Her gaze lowers to matching lace panties and lean legs. She sees Regina shudder under her scrutiny and tries to speak.
Then, Regina's closing her blouse, efficiently halting Emma's unabashed staring.
"Miss Swan--" Regina warns.
"I don't know what happened!" Emma panics. "I mean...uh...where are we?"
"We're in my sister's recently completed guest room I helped her decorate," the former evil queen answers without missing a beat. "Though, why we're here I can't explain. Can you?" Her eyes narrow at Emma.
"I-uh-okay-naked?"
Regina smirks a bit at that response, having really missed Emma's rambling. "Well, before I was summoned here I was in the middle of getting ready for a bath."
"Oh, right." Emma brain conjures up some seriously inappropriate images at that confession. "Right. Okay."
"Miss Swan, why am I here?" Regina waves her hand to summon her magic. "And why is my magic not working."
"I sorta asked Zelena to use her magic to allow us to talk," she admits. "I think your magic should work again in like fifteen minutes." Regina's glares and Emma's stomach tightens at the dark brown orbs . "You refused to talk to me!"
Regina stomps over to the bedroom door and tries to open it. "As is my right, Miss Swan. Dammit! It's locked."
"I'm so sorry, Regina, but I didn't know what else to do," Emma pleads. "I had to speak with you...about the kiss." The mayor continues to check the walls and windows for a way to escape, avoiding Emma completely. "Please talk to me!"
"And say what exactly? Don't worry, Mrs. Jones. I won't tell your husband we almost made out on your couch. You can continue playing happy family." Regina growls through clenched teeth.
Emma's eyebrows furrow. "You think that's why I wanted to see you?" She takes a step closer to the other woman. "To ask you to not tell Killian what happened?"
The brunette straightens her already rigid posture. When she turns to face Emma, her eyes drop to Emma's torso unconsciously. "Then why?" Regina felt a little guilty for avoiding Emma while she was in distress, but the thought of her pregnant with Hook's child made her blood boil. Distancing herself was a safe option, not wanting to rocket Emma's stress levels while she was with child. She berates herself internally for caring.
Emma's approach was slow, but sure. Within arm's reach, she realizes how small Regina's frame truly was. For all her power--and Lord bless those heels--she looked extremely delicate in the low light of the bedroom. Emma wanted nothing more than to hold that petite body closer. "I'm filing for divorce."
She's filing for divorce. Regina tries to respond, but she barely processes the words. Her brain winds with confusion, excitement, worry, and-and the baby. "I'm sorry," she says, her face as stoic as ever.
"Don't be. It was my decision." Emma's heart thuds in her chest. "I wasn't in love with him. Never was actually."
Regina eyes widen slightly as she searches the other woman's face. "Y-you never--"
"No." Emma moves to pull one of Regina's perfectly manicured hand into her own. She allows her thumb to trace a gentle pattern over soft skin. "I could never love him."
"Emma," she whispers attempting to step back. Emma doesn't allow it, intent on pulling Regina even closer.
She leans into Regina to whisper, "Ask me why I could never love him Regina."
Regina feels like she's vibrating and her lips betray her by trembling with every tense breath she takes. "Why?"
"Because I love you, Regina," Emma says with conviction. "I love everything about you. Y-your anger, your passion, your smile, your general bitchiness." They share a small laugh at that. Emma watches as tears gleam in Regina's eyes and knows her own reflect the same. "I've been so afraid of not disappointing everyone else that I lost sight of my own happiness, and that's you Regina."
Regina's eyes close as tears finally escape in a healthy sigh. She revels in the sensation of Emma's thumb stroking her cheek for long moments. When her eyes open again, it's to Emma nervously waiting--waiting as she did for years in foster care, waiting to be held and told she was enough, waiting to be home. Waiting to be loved by Regina.
She's moving forward then, gently cupping Emma's damp cheeks and kissing her softly. Emma lightly gasps as if she can't believe it's happening and well, Regina can't truly believe it either. Emma slides her hands around Regina's neck and deepens the kiss. When their tongues meet, Regina moans in the back of her throat, sending Emma's arousal catapulting with no chance of coming down.
A new urgency emerges in their shared desire. Regina claws beneath Emma's tank top covered back, her nails creating faint tracks on pale skin. Emma moves to nip and suck at her throat, her hands sliding down to Regina's supple bottom and lifting her effortless. Regina gets it, sliding her ankles to lock around Emma's lower back as she's carried to the guest bed and placed gently upon it.
Regina feels as if she's burning up from the inside. She pulls not to gently on blonde locks as Emma marks her chest. She needs to kiss her again, and she needs Emma's clothes gone. It must be their shared connection, because Emma's ripping the tank top over her head, then sucking at Regina's bottom lip in one smooth motion.
Their fingers entwine above Regina's head, devouring each other with tongues and teeth like it's the last chance they'll ever have. Emma pushes Regina's thighs apart, allowing her jean clad hips to fit between them. Regina's pants in time with their movement, the seam of Emma's jeans sliding roughly against her soaked panties.
"I...oh, Emma," Regina groans. She's so close and they've barely begun. She allows one of her hands to venture to Emma's chest then down her tensed abdomen. She stops moving. "Emma? Emma, we have to stop."
Emma halts, rearing back to look Regina in the eye. "I-I'm sorry." She slides off of the bed, and hates the coldness that greets her. She slips her tank top over her head. "You're with Regan and --"
"No," Regina admits, buttoning her shirt. "I mean, yes Regan's still in the picture, but that's not why I stopped. There's the..." She glances to Emma's midsection.
Emma looks down at herself. "My tank top?"
Regina exhales, and unknowingly rubs at her own stomach. "The baby."
"Baby?!" Emma repeats, her eyes frozen. "How did you --" Green mist surrounds them both and Emma reappears alone in the park.
Emma falls onto the bench, her head spinning with a thousand questions or more. It'll no doubt be another sleepless night trying to figure out exactly how Regina became pregnant.