Storytime (Part 3)

It was late afternoon. Anette and Snow had decided that they were going to start the journey early in the morning. Some were still a bit shocked over the fact that they had left their lives in Storybrooke behind so quickly. Anette watched as families sat close to each other, trying to keep warm. This is what Anette was afraid of. She and her companions only had supplies that would sustain only themselves for a few days. They could go out hunting, but there were so many people that they would have to catch almost twenty stags to keep them all satisfied.

Just when she was about to ask Tarja to take some people out hunting, Regina suddenly brought up her hands and flicked her wrists.

Tables with food appeared out of purple smoke. Everyone cheered, while Regina slumped slightly backwards, but was caught in the arms of the Savior.

“Regina, are you okay?”

“I am fine, Miss Swan.” Regina said harshly while she straightened herself.

“You know, my name is Emma. I think it would do you good if you started calling me that.”

Regina gave Emma an annoyed look before her eyes softened.

“Of course, Emma” she said sweetly and made Emma’s heart flutter in her chest.

“How are you feeling?” Emma asked with concern in her voice.

Regina was just about to answer, when Henry grabbed his mother’s hand and dragged her towards the tables.

“Henry, wait.” Regina said while she stopped walking, the panic clearly showing in her eyes.

“Are you in pain?” Emma asked while she grabbed Regina’s other hand and squeezed it gently.

“No…I…I…”

Regina’s gaze shifted from the Savior to the group of knights that very slowly making their way towards the tables.

Regina is really scared of them. Whatever happened between them must have been pretty intense.

“I will not let them hurt you.” Emma said while she put a reassuring hand on the former Queen’s arm.

“Is mom okay?” he asked worriedly.

“Henry, you go ahead. Find your grandparents and then we will join you shortly.”

Henry was still a bit unsure what to do, but soon he made his way through the big crowd of people. His mothers watched him, and when they saw that he had found his grandparents, they both turned to each other.

Regina’s hands were shaking badly while Emma reached up and cupped her cheek. The electricity that formed between them during the contact made Emma’s head dizzy.

There were so many things that she wanted to tell Regina, but now was not the right time.

“They all want me dead.” Regina said on a low and indifferent tone.

“Well, they have to go through me first.” Emma said protectively and made the former Queen smile. It was just a slight rise of the corners of her mouth, but to Emma, it was better than nothing.

There were laughter and singing coming from the former Storybrooke citizens as they enjoyed the food.

“We need to talk.” the Savior almost blurted out.

Emma had too much on her mind right now. She was tired, incredibly tired. To witness the death of her loved one had been too much.

Regina leaned in and buried her face between Emma’s shoulder and neck while she wrapped her arms around her waist. Emma was a bit startled at first, but soon hugged her back.

“I am so tired”

Regina’s words trembled slightly, while Emma fought to keep her own tears back. She hated crying, showing even the slightest vulnerability. But something broke inside of her earlier during the day.

Emma had always known that there was something between Regina and herself. Glances now and then, quarrels between the two of them, the constant lifesaving of each other, and now the battle that they had been fighting against Cora. It all came crashing down.

It scared Emma a great deal, but she had to keep it together. For Henry’s and Regina’s sake.

“Let us sleep then.”

“An excellent idea, Miss Swan.”

“Emma, not Miss Swan. Is it really that hard to say?” Emma said while she nudged Regina slightly, so that the brown haired woman would look into her eyes.

“I am sorry dear, old habits you know.”

“It is okay. Now magic us on top of a queen sized bed!”

Regina giggled as she engulfed them in purple smoke.

To Emma’s disappointment, she lay on the ground, far from the festivities, and was covered in blankets while Regina rested in her arms.

“I hate sleeping on the ground.” Emma mumbled while she remembered how sore her back had become during the last time she was in the Enchanted Forest.    

“Well, get used to it Princess. I did not think that a bed would be suitable in the middle of the forest.”

Emma sighed.

“At least this time I feel warm.” the Savior said and moved her hand along Regina’s back. The former Queen placed a hand on Emma’s hip and kissed her collarbone.

They both drifted off to dreamland under the star filled sky, the only sound being their calm breaths.