“How did you sleep my love?” Graham asked Regina as she sat next to him and his parents.
“I slept wonderfully. Thank you again for letting me come to your home.” The last part was directed towards his mother and father who had looked suspicious as to why her and Emma had come down so late.
David answered, “Don’t be silly! We can’t have our future daughter-in-law not feel welcome in her own home.”
Regina wasn’t sure she heard him correctly, “My home?”
Graham looked from his parents to her, “While you were asleep, my parents and I decided that we would move in here before heading off to my home. We thought it would be best and…” he tried to come up with another excuse for them to stay when he saw Emma eating some of her breakfast, “I thought you and Emma could get to know each other better.” He added a smile to the end.
I just slept with her, how can I get to know her better? She thought to herself. But, she just smiled and looked to Emma who had perked her head up at those words. She smiled and winked at Regina, making sure her parents nor brother saw it. Regina began to blush and slightly smiled.
“Are you alright with that, my love?” Graham asked and held her hand in his.
She nodded, “ I guess it wouldn’t be that bad,” she turned to Emma and smirked, “Besides, I think that Emma and I will turn out to be great friends.” When no one was looking she winked back at Emma.
Emma’s face began to heat up and her stomach was knotting up. She knew what Regina had meant when she said friends.
“Well I’m glad you and Emma are getting along.” Graham smiled and patted her knee.
David changed the topic and looked to Graham and said, “Graham, your mother and I were going to go to your grandfather, King Leopold’s, castle to tell him about the wonderful news.”
Graham looked puzzled, “What about Regina? Why wouldn’t she be coming?”
Snow chimed in, “Well, I figured that Regina could take Emma out riding to the waterfalls. I thought it would be nice sister bonding time and they could get to know each other better.”
Are they serious? They really want to leave me alone with Emma? But, they had no idea about her and Emma. This was just going to be a nice stroll on their horses to the waterfalls. That was it. But Regina knew that it was going to end up being more. Emma was just that way. She never settled for simple.
“ I think that would be a fine idea.” The sound of Graham’s voice made her jump out of her thoughts.
Regina was shocked, “You do? I mean, are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” She tried to make herself sound like she wasn’t hiding anything.
Emma spoke up, “Regina’s right. What if I have plans?”
Regina was curious as to why Emma wanted to avoid this ride to the falls. Did she do something wrong the night? Was her technique off or did Emma just not like her?
David arched his eyebrow, “Well do you have plans?” He crossed his arms and didn’t adjust his eyes from Emma.
She sighed, “No. But why must we go to the falls? Couldn’t we do something more…” she looked at Regina and saw her smiling while biting her lip. “Exhilarating?” Regina was glad she hadn’t said something boring.
Regina nodded in Emma’s direction, “I agree. Why don’t we go riding down to the Queen’s court? We could probably get there before the end of the festival!” Regina’s ideas were swarming through her head but she figured that Emma had meant something dangerous. She smiled at the thought of her and Emma spending the entire day together.
David shook his head once, “I think it would be best if you girls did something a little less exhilarating today.”
Snow nodded, “Yes, I agree. Going to the waterfalls sounds fun enough. And don’t forget, we have that ball later on tonight.” She pointed at Emma and was obviously pointing the last of her sentence towards her as well.
Regina knitted her brows together, “What ball?”
Emma rolled her eyes, “A courting ball. To find the perfect suitor.” She didn’t sound very fond of them. Regina could definitely relate.
“Well at least we don’t have to deal with it until later,” Graham chimed in.
Regina knew that she didn’t like this man but she couldn’t help but be curious, “Why is that dear one?” She smiled and placed a hand on his forearm.
He cleared his throat, “Because I would not like to see men look at my bride to be in perverted ways. Nor would I like them to look at my sister that way.”
Regina smiled. She didn’t love him but maybe she could get to be his friend some day. He was absolutely sweet and he didn’t seem like the kind to harm anything.
“Well, shall we get going son?” David asked and stood from his throne like chair that was placed in the center of the living room.
Graham stood from the couch, “I suppose so. Mother?” He held out his hand for his mom to grab it. Definitely a gentleman. Regina noted.
After Graham and his parents were in the carriage and on their way, Regina found herself staring at Emma and smirking.
“What?” Emma asked. “See something you like?” She stood up and leaned down in front of Regina so that her face was inches away from hers.
Regina nodded, “Absolutely.” She leaned in for a kiss but Emma stood up straighter and pulled Regina’s arm towards her.
“Let’s find somewhere more comfortable, shall we?” Emma dragged her towards her chambers without response.
“But aren’t we supposed to go out riding?” Regina asked in between kisses. Emma opened her bedroom door and began untying Regina’s dress from the back.
“Oh shush, we can do that later. Right now, I just wanna get you in my bed.” Emma’s tongue explored the inside of Regina’s mouth while her hands began to pull at her sleeves.
“Emma,” Regina let out as her hands touched her bare skin. Regina didn’t want to wait longer, she pulled Emma off of her and shoved her backwards onto the bed. When Emma’s face looked confused, she said, “My turn.”
She began to peck at Emma’s lips and started unzipping her dress. Once it was off, Regina playfully nipped at Emma’s bare shoulders. She dragged her hands down the crease between her breast, down to her navel. Then she stopped and smirked up at Emma. “Don’t be a tease,” Emma demanded as she yanked Regina’s hair and pulled her face closer to hers. Then she forcefully kissed her.
“As you wish princess.” Regina answered, only to be rolled over and to have Emma place herself on top of her. Regina just shook her head as Emma leaned down to kiss her again.
SQSQSQSQ
They had spent hours tangled up in bed. It wasn’t until after lunch, had they gotten around to go riding to the falls. “It’s beautiful Regina,” Emma had said when they arrived.
“It’s why it’s my favorite place.” Regina looked from the falling water to the beautiful woman beside her. She was so lucky to have her next to her, let alone be this close to her.
“What?” Emma asked when she saw that Regina was looking at her.
“I was just taking in how absolutely gorgeous you are,” Regina replied and Emma rolled her eyes but there was a hint of blush appearing on her cheeks.
Emma reached her arm out for Regina to take her hand. Regina took it, tangling her fingers with Emma’s. She moved her thumb in a circling motion around Emma’s hand, making Emma lock eyes with her. “Regina, I love doing this kind of stuff with you.”
Regina blushed, “I also love doing these fun things with you too.” Emma sighed and lost her smile, looking at the ground. “What’s wrong? Was it something I said?”
She shook her head, “No. I just… We aren’t going to be able to be together. You’re to marry my brother and I’m… well,” She looked Regina in the eyes, “going to be forgotten.” She sighed and looked down at the ground.
She was surprised when Regina hopped off her horse and dragged her off of hers. She dragged Emma to the ground and laid on top of her. Emma gasped. Regina looked her dead in the eyes, “You will never be forgotten. I will always be with you, no matter what the consequences are. It’s gonna be me and you, you and me.” She leaned down and kissed her softly, “Nothing’s gonna change that, alright?”
Emma nodded and leaned forward to catch Regina’s lips. She smiled and opened up so Emma could explore her mouth. She leaned back down to the grass, away from Regina’s lips. “Thank you,” she whispered. Regina nodded. Then, Emma said something she wasn’t expecting to hear, “I love you, Regina.”
Regina sat agape. She had never heard those words from someone other than her father. Not even her own mother had said them to her. A tear strolled down her face. Emma was going to say something but Regina interrupted her, “I love you, too.”
Emma wiped a tear from her cheek and kissed where the tear was at. “Mmm. You taste a little salty.” Regina laughed at the joke Emma had just tried to make.
She rolled her eyes and kissed her. The smile disappeared from her face and they gazed into each other’s eyes. Regina’s voice was barely above a whisper, “What’s going to happen to us, Em?”
Emma moved a piece of Regina’s hair behind her ear and rubbed her thumb against her soft skin, “I don’t know, my love.” Regina side eyed the waterfall and smirked, the seriousness gone from her demeanor. Emma looked confused, “What?”
“You know what I’ve always wanted to do?” Regina asked, not removing her eyes from the water.
“No. What?” Emma asked.
Regina didn’t answer. Instead, she stood up and began to undress.
“What are you doing?” Emma asked, her mouth agape.
Regina paused and looked down at Emma, smiling. “Having a little fun,” she said it in a husky tone, making Emma shiver. She lowered her head and her face turned from playful and fun to seductive and mesmerizing. Regina continued to remove her blouse and took off her riding pants. She undid her braid and ran her fingers through her wavy curls, caused by the braid. Emma just sat and watched her undress herself. “Care to join me?” Regina asked, holding her hand out for Emma to take.
“How do you have this much control over me?” Emma asked as she let Regina undo her shirt.
Regina sighed and kissed the blonde’s neck, “It’s a hidden talent.” She dragged her hands up Emma’s bare skin, causing her to shiver.
“A talent I hope you don’t share with anyone other than me.” Emma smiled and turned around. She looked deeply into Regina’s eyes. Being with her made her smile and feel dangerously amazing. She unzipped her boots and threw them against a tree, beginning to undo her pants.
“No,” Regina answered. “Just you.” Emma was completely naked and her hair, which had been nicely curled, was draped on each of her shoulders. She’s absolutely too perfect. Regina thought. How had she been so lucky to be with someone as amazing as Emma?
She pulled her in for a kiss. “Good,” she said and began to pull her hand, making their way down to the waterfall. Emma gasped as cold water hit the back of her heels.
“What’s wrong? Too cold?” Regina asked as she saw Emma’s shocked demeanor.
“No.”
“Really? So it wouldn’t be too cold if I did this?” Regina quickly pushed Emma backwards, into the water.
Emma was under the water and all she could hear was the faint noise of Regina laughing. She opened her eyes and took in the scene under the crystal clear water. Looking all around her, she saw nothing but rocks and bubbles. It was as if it were a pool. Emma could feel her lungs about to give out, noticing that she had been under the water for longer than she was able to be. She shot up from the water, Regina still laughing. “That was not very funny,” Emma said, trying to hide the smile as she shivered.
“Really? ‘Cause I thought it was.” Regina stepped back a few steps and took a running start before jumping into the water. She came up a split second later, “You’re right. Maybe it is cold.”
As she was about to push herself back up onto the ledge, Emma grabbed her hand, “No way! You are not leaving me here alone… there could be sharks.” Emma was trying every possible way to keep Regina with her, knowing that if she got out of the water they might leave. And Emma didn’t want to leave, not yet.
Regina rolled her eyes, “Fine. I guess I’ll have to stay in here and protect you.” She swam back over, wrapping her arms around Emma and smiling faintly. She rested her forehead against Emma’s and shut her eyes. This had been the best day of her life. Today, Emma told her that she loved her, she went riding with her to the waterfall, they spent hours tangled up alone at the castle before leaving, but one thing was tugging on Regina’s heart. One thing that she knew Emma had been trying to avoid since it had come out of her mouth. So she looked up at Emma and let a single tear slip out. “What is going to happen to us?” Regina asked.
“Whatever it is we’ll figure it out, together. I promise.” Emma kissed the top of Regina’s head and interlocked their fingers.
Regina began a trail of kisses up Emma’s neck and when she got to her face she just smiled. Emma smiled back and kissed her. It was passionate and a kiss of wanting and desire.
They pulled away and Regina knew that it wasn’t going to last. She didn’t need Emma to say it, she just wanted Emma to deny it. Thinking of them only having this little time, Regina came upon a thought. A dirty, scandalous thought. Just then she sucked in a gust of air and held her breath, making her way under the water. As she was under the water, she opened her eyes. She could see everything, minus the blurriness outlining it all. She blinked and moved her focus to Emma, who had joined her underneath the water. She mouthed hi and watched Emma mouth back, hey .
She swam over to the blonde and pressed her lips against hers. It had been weird since it was under water but Regina didn’t care. She just wanted to love Emma in the moment they were in. Because that’s all that mattered. Emma and her. Her and Emma, always.