#jcsq writing exercise

[juicecupswanqueen]

The Newsflash That Broke Emma Swan, Update #8

This is a short one.  Sorry.  Been super busy with work and will be traveling back to California this week so I don’t know how much writing I will be doing.

Chapter 1   |   Chapter 2   |   Chapter 3 |   Chapter 4 |   Chapter 5

Chapter 6   |   Chapter 7

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The advantage of magically transporting from one place to another is one did not waste valuable minutes with ignition and transit times.  Instead, in a few blinks of an eye, by a funnel of smoke one could materialize oneself anywhere they desired.

Emma finds it handy, especially when concerned or worried.  She and Regina appear in the foyer and spin on their heels at the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Moms.”  Henry greets them in slight surprise.  He read Regina’s note this morning, but he didn’t expect them to just pop in looking frayed and stressed.  “I was just about to txt you.”

“Henry…”  Emma hugs him as soon as he reaches the bottom, ignoring Hook and the astonished look on her son’s face, who momentarily forgets he is mad at her.

“Hook… Where do you think you are going with my son?”

He seethes for a moment and Regina wishes for him to try something like earlier this morning so she can blast him, but his face quickly changes and he puts a possessive hand on Henry’s  shoulder.  “Down, Regina.  I was phoned and reminded by my stepson that he and I have plans today.”

Emma pales beside them and Henry excitedly finishes, “Yeah.  We were going to spend the day on the Jolly Roger and Hook was going to give me more sailing lessons.”

The thought of Hook taking Henry anywhere off land, riles Regina up.  “Absolutely not!”

“Why?”  Henry’s face contorts in question, bordering on temper and Regina can tell he won’t easily take no for an answer. It is also clear that he still doesn’t know the entire story and she wonders why the pirate hasn’t mentioned her yet in some twisted version of the truth to turn Henry against her.  Manipulation is a card a villain keeps up their sleeve.  The teenager, in upset, addresses his blonde mom with contempt, “Just because you fucked things up, it doesn’t mean I can’t have a relationship with Killian.”

Emma drags on a slow breath and dips her gaze downward, not wanting to see the shocked disapproval on Regina’s face.  Henry has sworn before in front of her when he was really upset but she bet this was a first for Regina and was reaffirmed as such when she heard the other mother’s stern reprimand.

“Henry Daniel Mills, you mind your language!”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

Henry realizes that he’s pushed his dark-haired mother too far and he flinches at Regina’s glower, but he figures he’s already in trouble and he doesn’t understand why life's so unfair all of a sudden.  Things were going so great the day before yesterday.  In frustration, he explodes.

“I’m fifteen years old!  I can decide who I want to spend the day with.  You’ve let me go with Hook by myself before.  Why can’t I go now?”

“You don’t just leave the house without telling anyone...” Regina began, not having a better explanation, but she was cut off with Henry holding his phone out.

“I was just about to send you a message letting you know where I was.”  

Emma placed her hand on Henry’s shoulder, understanding how confused he must be, but he surprised her by shrugging her hand off like her touch was the last thing he wanted.  It pained her.  He spat at her instead, “If this were Nick, you wouldn’t have a problem, would you?”

“Henry...”  Emma’s voice was feeble.  She wasn’t prepared to feel so much hate coming from her son, but she also agreed with Regina that she did not want him to leave with Hook, whom she no longer trusted.  She didn’t think he would hurt Henry, but she didn’t want him taking her son out of Storybrooke in a ship either.

“I don’t want to talk to you.  I can’t believe you’re ruining everything.”

Regina interrupted his tirade.  “Henry, that is enough.  Take your things back upstairs.”

“But Killian said I could go.”

“And I said you can’t.”

“But…”  Henry glanced at all the adults.  Hook gave him a sad shrug and a corner of his mouth raised in sympathy.  “I don’t understand.”

As much as it hurt to see her child’s spirit crushed and remember how much he was looking forward to this, Emma parentally chimed in with finality, “Now, Henry.”

“Ma…”

“Listen to your mother.  Back upstairs now.”  Regina demanded with no room for argument.

Killian puts a supportive arm around the teen’s shoulders and inwardly enjoys the cringe from Regina when he says, “It’s okay, son.  We’ll do it another time.”  

“But I want to go with you.”

“Hey, there’ll be other times.”  Hook plants his hands firmly on Henry’s shoulders turning the boy to look at him.  “I promise.”

Regina scoffs inwardly at that and fights the urge to roll her eyes.  A pirate’s promise is easily made, easily broken.

“You can count on me, Hery. I will always be here for you.  No matter what.”

Regina observes Hook glancing at Emma like a wounded puppy and she recognizes the act when she sees it, but she can also see Henry sopping it all up.  Hook ruffles his hair affectionately and pats him on the back, adding a sad crack to his voice.  “Bye.”

It’s a tense, quiet moment and the click of the door is loud enough to be heard.  Henry walks up two stairs, turns around and glares at both mothers before shouting at them, “This is HORSESHIT,” and before either woman can say anything, he charges furiously up the stairs, disappearing from view before a door slam thunders through the house.

Regina pivots to Emma, shooting sarcasm as an arm extends up the staircase.  “Well… that went well.”

[juicecupswanqueen]

“The Newsflash That Broke Emma Swan”. 7th Update!

The story continues with Regina magically poofing herself and Emma somewhere private so they can talk.  They have skirted around their feelings long enough.  Will they finally talk about what is happening (has been happening) between them?

Chapter 1   |   Chapter 2   |   Chapter 3 |   Chapter 4  |   Chapter 5

Chapter 6

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“Nothing ever bores me in here,” Emma says as she peruses the jars on the shelves in Regina’s vault.  “I’ve seen these things many times and it’s fascinating how average most of these ingredients are.”

 Regina leans against a wall with a quirked eye brow.  “Oh?  Sorry to disappoint you.”

 Emma runs a finger across the labels of a few bottles, reading them aloud, “Anise, mustard seeds, rosemary... You could cook with these.”  Emma looks over her shoulder just to say, “But potion making is kind of like cooking.  At least that’s what I remember when I was the Dark One.  Always brewing something up.”

 “I shudder to think,” Regina sarcastically quips and smirks. Though she has been doing magic decades longer than Emma Swan, she is always surprised at how being the Dark One put the blonde through a crash course in dark sorcery.

 “Snake skin, hog’s toe, crickets’ wings... less pleasant ingredients.”

 Regina kicks off the wall and ambles slowly over, placing a hand on the rim of the large black cauldron.  “Agreed.  It is always a nuisance collecting these kinds of things. Luckily, these all came over with the first curse.  I had my guards collect these things for me.  You can imagine, I don’t like to get my hands dirty.”

 Emma scoffs while still examining the bottles.  “One thing you don’t have, that I know is essential, is dragon’s blood.”  Emma says that in a pensive way, like a thought is occurring to her.  “Was your bestie not accommodating in giving you some?”

 “Who?”

 “Maleficent.”

 Regina observes how Emma turns and side-eyes her and there is more that the woman is implying.

 “Are we still talking about potion ingredients?”

 Quickly, Emma shoves her hands into the hoodie’s center pocket and shrugs.

 Regina has an underlying suspicion but inquires anyway, “Just what are you asking me, Emma?”

 Those green eyes tilt upward and then close as if uncertain to hear the answer.  “Did… you and Maleficent… ever…”  Regina crosses her arms, points her chin downward and fixes Emma with an amused stare. “Were you two ever… a thing?”

 Regina narrows her eyes feigning ignorance, “A thing.”

 Emma sighs, “Yeah, you know.”

 Regina straightens, folding her hands behind her back and smiles coyly and Emma rolls her eyes.  “I do?”

 “You’re doing this on purpose.”

 Regina chuckles.  “Doing what?”

 “Being facetious.”

 “Why would I do that?”

 “Because you get some sick pleasure out of torturing me.”

 “Hmmm,” Regina answers in a maybe sort of way.  “Though ‘sick’ is not the word I would use for the torture I normally have in mind for pleasure.”

 Emma pales, her eyes round and she mutters, “What?”  And Regina wants to laugh in delight at the reaction, knowing she rarely ever talks of anything overtly sexual with the woman. Things are changing between them and Regina fights the urge to flirt.

 “You are asking me if Mal and I were ever in a relationship.”

 “Yes.”

 “Were we involved?”

 “Yes!”

 “No.”

 “No?”

 “No.”  But there is teasing in Regina’s tone.  “It was just sex.  Lots of casual, no-strings-attached-sex.”

 Color flushes bright red on her cheeks and Emma clenches her jaw, feeling the center of a joke.  “I hate you,” she replies without any real meaning because it is obvious that she doesn’t, and she can’t help but slowly grin, then, at Regina’s bewitching laughter.

 “Seriously, you’re evil, you know that?”

 “So, I’ve been told.”  Regina wipes a mirthful tear from her eye.  

 As it becomes quiet and Emma lightly scratches at the other side of the cauldron, honesty grabs Regina and she admits, “In truth, Mal was my very first sexual experience with a woman.  She was so impressive and experienced, knowing a lot more than me about nearly everything.”

 “The appeal of the older woman.”

 “Perhaps.  Yes.  It was never emotional.  I think her heart had always belonged elsewhere.”

 “Lilly’s Dad?”

 “Or King Stefan.  We never spoke of it, but she was usually sad in matters of the heart.  I was young and what we had was more enjoyable than anything I had to endure in my marriage bed, so…”  Regina stops when she sees Emma cringe.  She slaps herself inwardly at forgetting the association there.  

 “Anyway, getting back to your question, it was only sex. Nothing more.”  She watches Emma slide her fingers absently back and forth along the cauldron’s rim and reassures her.  “Really, Emma.”

 “Yeah, ok.”

 It’s as if Regina can hear Emma compartmentalize all this new information, though she can still sense the jealousy lingering and knowing that Emma is jealous thrills her, but she tries to put a stopper on it.

 Reading Emma’s eyes, there are new thoughts arising in the woman already and Regina is enchanted by the blonde bending over the cauldron and wiggling her fingers, pretending to cast a spell.

 “Eye of newt, and toe of frog.  Wool of bat, and tongue of dog. Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet’s wing.  For a charm of powerful trouble.  Like a hell-broth boil and bubble!". Emma rears back with a wicked cackle and Regina is shaking her head at the woman’s silliness, but still tickled by it. Being with Emma Swan is never dull and she’ll never admit it, but she often finds the ridiculous side of the woman charming.  “What? Didn’t you ever read Shakespeare?”

 “Not like that.”

 “It’s one of the few things I remember from high school. Macbeth.”  Emma rounded the large metal pot drawing hesitantly near her.  “Besides, I’ve got to think of something else besides how insanely jealous it makes me to think about you and Maleficent.”

 “Emma.”

 “What about Ruby?”  The question wasn’t thrown out accusingly, but in soft curiosity.  “Did you ever sleep with Ruby?”

 “Emma.”

 “Were there countless chamber maids? Peasant girls?  Other princesses?”

 “You’re being absurd.  Besides, it’s irrelevant to what is going on now, don’t you think?”

 “What about Tina at the fish market? Or Lesley at the book store or Maggie at the pharmacy?”

 The jealousy that was once waning is now radiating off the woman and Regina struggles with what to do about it. There has only been one woman in Storybrooke that she has ever wanted.

 “Emma…”

 “Charisse at the bank is pretty cute.”

 Grudgingly, Regina stirs. “Oh?  Is that so?”  It quickly dawns on her that all these attractive women mentioned might have caught the sheriff’s fancy at one point and the mayor must drag in a long breath to calm her temper.

 Emma stops in front of Regina and rests her arm on the rim now and it’s the daring in the woman’s eyes that is the older woman’s undoing.

 Springing into action, Regina defies her rational mind and grabs Emma’s head, holding it steady for her kiss’ assault, wanting to alleviate any jealousy that either one of them is feeling.  

 The younger woman is caught off guard but as soon as their lips touch, Emma’s head angles and her free arm wraps around Regina’s waist, keeping their bodies pressed together firmly.  Regina’s tongue invades, demanding surrender and when Emma gives it via a lusty moan, Regina pushes off and takes two steps back, putting a safe distance between them.

 They stare at each other, desire still evident and their chests heave with their ragged breathing.

 “You kissed me that time.”

 “Yes,” Regina rasps in a breathy tone. “I’m…”  Not sorry.  “I should not have done that.”

 “No.  Probably not.  But I’m not complaining.”

 Regina covers her mouth, her lips still tingling from that amazing kiss and she turns and walks further away, ashamed at her lack of control.

 “You don’t have to move away, Regina. I like being close to you.”

 “Yes.  I like it too which is why we need some space between us.  You are a married woman.  I brought us to my vault to talk.”

 Emma’s jaw works in a determined fashion and she nods in agreement.  “Right.”

 To Regina’s impressed amazement, Emma waves her hand, just bending it at the wrist twice and two chairs slide over from their odd and different places in the room, one to each woman.  “Let’s talk. Honestly and openly.”

 “Alright.”

 They both sit and fold their hands in their laps.  When more quiet moments than necessary go by, Regina smirks, “Truth.”

 “Yes.  Should I cast a binding truth spell?”

 “Do you think I would lie?”

 “I just want us to talk and get it all out.”

 “I don’t think a binding spell is needed.”

 “Okay.”

 Regina ponders a question and moistens her lips before asking, “What do you want, Emma?”

 “You.”  The quick simplicity of the answer sends a pleasant vibration through Regina and she catches her lips between her teeth to keep from grinning. “Next question.”

 “This isn’t an interrogation.”

 “No.  It’s a revelation long overdue.”

 “How long?”

 “Since I got here.  To Storybrooke.”

 “That’s a long time.”

 “Well, I wanted you from the beginning, Regina.  Even though I was trying to tell myself that love-at-first-sight was stupid and didn’t exist.”

 Blinking wide eyes at her, Regina gasps. “You were in love with me?”

 “Yes.  No.  I don’t know. I just know that when I met you there was an instant attraction, connection and in that moment an overwhelming sensation to want to protect you and make everything alright for you came over me. I have never felt like that for anyone before, so it was the closest thing I had to believing that love-at-first-sight exists.”

 Comfortable warmth envelopes the brunette and she feels as if her heart is throbbing to a larger size for her guest sitting five feet away from her.

 “My turn.  How do you feel about me?”

 “Besides being irritated at and annoyed by you at times?”

 Sighing, Emma rolls her eyes. “This is why I suggested the truth-binding spell.”

 “That wouldn’t have been right. We can’t force people to expose their most hidden thoughts.”

 “Agreed but I need you to be honest with me.  Please, Regina.  I just upturned my life and I need some answers.”

 “But I didn’t make you upturn your life.”

 “No.  No, you didn’t.”

 “And all of this has become my problem as well now.”

 Emma stands up abruptly and wipes her brow, perturbed.  “I’m sorry for causing problems.  I’ll go.”

 “What?  No.”

 “I shouldn’t have asked you over, but I needed you.  I shouldn’t have let you bring me over here, but I wanted to be with you.”

 “Emma.”

 “But maybe I just need to be alone. Ultimately, I guess it doesn’t matter how you feel because what I learned and how it made me feel, makes me realize that Hook and I don’t have the kind of love that married couples should have.  Not if a newsflash such as this could change everything so suddenly.”  Emma fidgets. then tries to walk past Regina.  “I should go.”

 “No!”  Fearfully. Regina clutches a hand around Emma’s wrist, stands up and gathers the woman in a tight embrace, one that offer unwavering support and unspoken love.  “I am here for you, Emma.”  She is relieved that the woman relaxes in her arms, but they still held on to one another.

 When they part, Regina shakes Emma meaningfully while keeping her at arm’s length.  “Emma, I’m not good at speaking about my feelings.  I rarely admit them to myself, let alone to anyone else.  If I have ever been as truthful as possible where they are concerned, it’s been with Henry, you and, as of late, your mother.”

 “What about Zelena?”

 Regina drops her hands at her side and jokes, humor a necessity, “Oh, Zelena too, with some things, but she just laughs at me.”

 Emma snorts.  “Siblings.”  They both share a chuckle before Regina ventures with, “I care deeply for you, Emma.  I think I even love you, though…” a sad look passes over, “I doubt that I really know how to love well.  I’m still learning to be open and vulnerable.”

 Emma’s eyes are full nearly to bursting but they smile when she does.  “That’s where you’re wrong, Regina.  You love so intensely that the people you care about consider it such a tremendous gift.”  She takes Regina’s hands in hers.  “I’ve come to value your friendship so much.”

 Teary eyes of her own crinkling, Regina promises.  “We’ll get through this, Emma.”  She wants to say more, needs to say more but alarm bells go off in her head and she frowns with the dread that fills her middle.

 Henry.

 “What is it Regina?”  Emma senses something happening.  She and Regina were always in sync about this and she knows something is wrong.

 “I left a note for Henry, telling him where I would be, and I put an added protection spell around the house before I left.  The kind that monitors the house for security.”

 “Okay.  So… what’s happened?  Is Henry okay?”

 “I… think he is, but…”. Regina squints and then her eyes widen as huge as saucers as she says, “Hook.  Hook is in my house.”

[juicecupswanqueen]

“The Newsflash That Broke Emma Swan”, New Update! Chapter 6.

In this new update, which I suppose we can call Chapter 6, the story continues with what happens after Emma and Regina “poof” into the Charmings’ loft apartment.  The discussion that takes place and some real cuteness with little Neal.

Chapter 1   |   Chapter 2   |   Chapter 3  |   Chapter 4   |   Chapter 5

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The atmosphere is strained in the Charmings living room/dining room. Baby Neal gurgles and laughs while sitting in his baby-bouncer in front of the television with the Sesame Street episode muted.

 Emma thinks it’s a wonder that a plate of usually-tasty waffles, lands like heavy rocks in her stomach.  Cheeks filled with breakfast, she lifts her eyes, finding both parents quizzically gazing at her over their coffee cup rims.

 Regina is in the kitchen section of the large open room, throwing a glance over her shoulder into the dining area before turning back to the waffle-iron she is watching.

 “Emma, sweetheart,” Snow tests, hoping that she won’t make her daughter uncomfortable, but she is letting her curiosity and concern get the better of her.  “Is everything alright?  What’s happened?”

 David sort of barges in with a raised, fatherly eyebrow, “And why were you with Regina in your underwear?”  His forehead smooths out as he shrugs at his wife who gives him a pointed look.  “What?”

 Emma no longer wears her mother’s coat but a borrowed pair of grey sweat pants and a royal blue Storybrooke High Knights pullover hoodie.

 An answer from Regina is delivered before she can say anything. “Will you two please let her eat first? You know how your daughter’s appetite is first thing in the morning.”  When Emma glances at her, she receives a small smile of support and encouragement.  It hits her how often she has actually gotten the good gesture from the woman who was once an adversary.  She grins back gratefully, and for a second, there is a fleeting look of adoration on Regina’s face, probably at Emma’s chipmunked, waffle-packed cheeks.  However, the mayor seems to catch herself, gives an amused, half-suppressed titter and rolls her eyes, returning her attention back to making breakfast.

 “We know how she is first thing in the morning.  Do you?” softly murmurs Snow, smirking into her coffee, to which David’s eyes bulge and then he frowns at her in confusion.  Clearing her throat, she asks, “Where’s my handsome grandson?”

 Emma freezes, brow crinkling and just stares at her plate. Snow doesn’t understand the sadness emanating from Emma and begins to worry again.

 The brunette in the kitchen doesn’t miss a beat though and replies, “He’s at home sleeping,” as if her son hadn’t had a rough night.  Before Emma lets her fork clatter, indicating the struggle with her appetite, Regina reminds her encouragingly, “Eat, Emma.”

 The Charmings, as they are often called though their last name is technically Nolan in this world, study their daughter interacting with their once long ago sworn enemy, turned good friend; family even.  The husband and wife don’t need words to communicate and they prove so by locking gazes, both hesitant to push with the wrong questions, so they drink more coffee.  Though they can’t decipher it by the women’s words, they can tell something has changed between Emma and Regina, and it might be the one thing Snow had suspected for years which she has kept it mostly to herself.

 The blonde nibbles another bite and Regina drops into the chair beside her, on the other side of the corner, with a waffle of her own. She pours dark, steaming liquid from the coffee pot into her mug and then, without question, pours more into Emma’s cup.  She adds the perfect amount of cream and sugar that the blonde prefers and Snow is engrossed by how domestic the whole scene is between them.

 David, who is normally calm and patient, blasts impatiently, “Okay, what’s going on?”

 The two women at the opposite head of the long table gape at them and Snow flashes a perturbed look.  “David!”

 “Well, it’s obvious something’s happening!  Look at them!  They’re sitting there, acting weird! My daughter appears out of nowhere, half dressed.  It’s cold out and Regina’s not wearing her signature scarf or gloves.  They poofed in here together!  Only one plume of smoke.  Where were they?  What were they doing?  Why are Emma’s eyes puffy like she’s been crying?  Why is my daughter crying and who do I have to kill for hurting my little girl?!”

 Silence falls on the table while Regina, who is willing to take her cue from Emma, slowly turns to her.  The blonde closes her eyes and if it weren’t for her plate in front of her, she would have banged her head repeatedly in frustration against the table.

 Neal breaks the silence by bouncing even faster and in baby talk, he calls for Emma in his way, “Em-mem-mem.”

 Her chair makes a screeching sound as she pulls away, rising up and walking directly to him.  The way he holds his arms out and scrunches his face, his chin wet from dribbling, warms her heart and she is happy to push her problems aside and just focus on her baby brother.  “Hey little guy.  Come and make Em-mem feel better.”  She whips him up and he chortles loudly as she lifts him high into the air and then brings them both down to the sofa facing the television.

 Regina is left with the Charmings and their astonished expressions. David twists around to see his children cuddling and smiling at one another and he turns back to Snow, open faced palms up as if querying, What the hell is going on?

 Much to Regina’s dismay they focus on her and she is at a loss for words.  It’s not her place to say anything and she is aware that Emma has checked out, momentarily, to save her sanity.

 “Regina!”  The whisper from Snow is demanding, but not rude.  Regina recognizes a mother’s concern and she peers over David’s shoulder. Emma rubs noses with the baby, who has his chubby fingers plastered on Emma’s cheeks.  When Neal sticks his index finger in Emma’s mouth, his sister folds her lips over her teeth and pretends to chomp on his hand.  Neal erupts in a fit of baby giggles.  It is so adorable, Regina feels like bursting with her affection for both Charming children.

 She opens her mouth to speak to Snow but when no words come, she composes herself and regally asks, “Kindly pass the maple syrup, please?”

 Dissatisfied with the answer, David complains to his wife as Snow sends the bottle with the same regal refinement, “Is she serious, right now?”

 “David.”

 “Snow.”

 “Excuse me, but some of us are trying to eat.”

 Snow and David goggle at Regina and she shoots them an inconvenienced glare, in their own home no less.  They keep quiet until David says, “I just want to know why my daughter was crying and who made her upset.”

 “I can still hear you guys, you know,” mentions the blonde while she makes her brother dance and then makes funny faces at him.

 “Good!”  David turns in his chair.  “Honey, tell me what happened?”

 “You can’t beat anyone up for me, Dad.  I’m a big girl.”

 “The hell I can’t.”

 Emma fixes him with a look that says, “Come on, Dad,” but she dulls it a bit with the knowledge that her father has his own issues when it comes to being protective.  Not having been able to be there for her growing up, he tries to make up for it now.

 Regina slices off a piece of waffle, sops it with syrup and widens her eyes sarcastically as she jibes quietly to herself before taking a bite, “I don’t remember making these waffles with a side of testosterone.”

 “Ha-ha!”  David measures Regina up and down.  His hands are palm down on the table and he says.  “You probably won’t tell me because, whoever hurt her, you probably roasted them by now.”

 The brunette at the end of the table pauses, another forked portion halfway to her lips, and she responds with, “Nearly,” and shoves it into her mouth.

 “Aha!  So, there was someone who made Emma cry!”  The man’s chair nearly falls backward with the force he uses to stand up and his wife just shakes her head at his machismo, fingers at her forehead.

 “Emma made herself cry.”  The blonde admits, wandering up from behind them with Neal on her hip.  All attention is aimed at her.  “Hook and I are over.”  

 It is said with such astonishing finality, Snow can’t help but be caught off guard, even though there is some part of her that doubted the marriage would last.  She hoped it would, but if she were honest with herself, there has always been something not quite right with Killian and Emma.  However her daughter had chosen the pirate, so she had stayed quiet for Emma’s happiness.

 Happy endings aren’t always what we expect them to be.

 She remembers her own words that she had said to Emma once.

 Emma places her cheek on the top of Neal’s soft head under her mother’s scrutiny.  The toddler burrows comfortably into her and sucks on his thumb and Snow thinks that her children make such a beautiful pair.  In Emma’s face she reads unwavering resolution and though there is also sadness, there is a hint of relief.

 “Okay.”

 David is surprised by his wife’s response.  “What do you mean, ‘Okay’?”

 “I mean, ‘Okay’.  Our daughter’s mind is made up.”

 David thinks on that and turns to the blonde.  “But you two got married not that long ago.”

 “I know.”  Emma tries hard to keep her gaze from settling on Regina.  “But certain things have been brought to light that… well… it makes me wish I had known about them before.”  She does look to the woman now, but it is not outwardly meaningful to anyone else.  “If I had. Things would have happened very differently.”

 Hands on hips, David shares a look with his wife, one that says, “I still don’t know what’s happening,” and she sympathizes with him in his moment of clueless frustration.  

 Since the original dark curse has ended her husband has become such a wonderful father and grandfather.  He considers himself to be the great protector for his family.  Not knowing how he could help Emma now is a little maddening for him.

 She places a hand over his and glimpses at Emma, seeing all the ways that father and daughter are alike, down to their stubborn determination. “Emma, we are here for you, always. If you want to talk about it we’ll listen and we love you.”

 A smile spreads between two dimples.  “I love you guys too, mom.  Thanks.”  Emma takes a deep breath and hands Neal to her dad.  “But, right now I’m not quite ready to talk about it.”

 Regina is relieved at hearing this because she’s not ready yet to be the reason for all the upheaval.

 “Where is Hook?”

 “Who cares?”

 Four pairs of eyes dart to Regina, after she unwittingly mumbles her apathy for the pirate; three of them in surprise while a fourth pair are crinkling in delight.  Neal seems to applaud Regina before his arms reach out to her, half his body leaning in her direction, demanding that she take him now.

 “Oh, for goodness sakes,” the former evil queen, enchanted by him, forgets her breakfast, unceremoniously pushes out of her chair and approaches them all.  Taking little Neal, she says, “Hello, Sweet Prince.”  Then to the others she says, “You all need to talk.”  Before Emma starts, she amends, “Or not talk.  I was merely an innocent party until yesterday.”

 “What does that mean?” Snow asks.

 “Oh my God, Regina!” David places a hand over his mouth.  “Did… Did you sleep with Hook?”  Three gazes whip to him in stunned incredulity and he immediately feels stupid for asking.

 “David, no.”  His wife rolls her eyes at him.

 “I’m going to be sick.”  Emma places a hand over her middle.

 Regina’s eyes flash to maximum size and she scowls at him in a hard-penetrating way.  “Just for that, I should curse you with a pair of elephant ears!”

 Though he knows it is the dumbest question he has ever uttered, he still tries to defend himself.  “What?!  It’s a logical question.  He’s a man. You’re a woman…”

 “And you’re an idiot.”

 Regina’s comment perishes the ridiculous question entirely.  She lightly bounces little Neal and when he places a loving hand on her cheek now, she genuinely smiles at him.

 Emma breaks the silence.  “Hook thinks I slept with Regina,” and then she adds under her breath ironically, “… though I didn’t want to talk about it yet.”

 David’s form drops down into his seat again and he mumbles, though it’s loud enough that everyone hears, “Yeah. I guess that makes more sense.”

 “But you didn’t.”  The statement sounds just a tad dubious from Snow.  After knowing the two women as well as she did, she had suspected something happening between them a long time ago.

 “Of course not!”  Regina rebukes and she shares a little with little Neal who seemingly wears a cute expression of disbelief.

  “Mom, nothing has happened between Regina and me apart from yesterday.  I know that prompts you to ask more questions, but I really need to speak to Regina before I speak to anyone else.  Regina?”

 The older brunette kisses the baby in her arms and then at everyone else. “Yes, fine.”  She gives Neal one last cuddle and to his parents sarcastically quips, “Thank you for half a waffle,” and pointedly staring at David, “And the slur against my good taste.”

 She positions his son in his lap and then delivers a punch to David’s shoulder.  “Ow! Okay.  Sorry!  For what it’s worth, I thought it was stupid as it was coming out of my mouth.”

 “Thank goodness for that.”

 Snow smirks at him and affectionately strokes the back of his head while Regina steps up to Emma.

 “Now if you don’t mind, I will do the magical transporting this time and take us some place private.”

 Emma fails at hiding back a pleased and eager grin and takes Regina’s hand a little too enthusiastically.

 “To talk, Emma.”

 Neither woman see the Charmings eyes dart at one another quickly and back to them.

 “Yeah, of course.  That’s what I want too.”

 “Alright.  Here we go.”

 Purple begins to tornado around their feet and before it consumes them entirely, Emma raises a hand in departure and softly smiles at her parents to reassure them that she will be okay.

 ...to be continued.

[juicecupswanqueen]

Chapter 2 of “The Newsflash That Broke Emma Swan”

So, I ended up writing a follow-up chapter.  Here’s a “burst”.  This is a writing exercise, really.  You all liked the “Chapter 1″ (kinda)  HERE.

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In the foyer of 108 Mifflin Street, a green cloud swirls in the center, and when it dissipates, springing forth is a red-headed witch bearing a wicked glint in emerald-green colored irises.  She inspects her surroundings and when she fails to find her subject for coming, she heads for the kitchen.

 Quietly peeking through a crack in the kitchen door, she finds her intended target with her back to her, leaning on the kitchen table, seemingly not aware that she is there. With careful steps, she enters the kitchen, sneakily preparing to pounce, until…

 “Zelena.  I know you’re there.”

 The witch rears her head back in surprise and squawks in an English accent, “What?  Impossible.”

 “I can smell you.”

 That has Zelena crossing her arms belligerently, “Oh yeah?  Well, you stink too.”  It’s a lie, of course. Her younger sister, Regina Mills, always smelled nice, even in the hottest depths of the Underworld,

which was pretty unbelievable.  

 “Your magic.  It has a very distinct, yet subtle, scent that is not at all unpleasant.  For what it’s worth, I think we both have it.  It’s just that my nose is trained to pick it up.”

 Zelena narrows her eyes but blinks when a possible explanation pops up.  “Mother?”

 “Yes.”  The corners of her mouth up-tilt just slightly and Regina sighs.  “I was around Cora and her magic too long.”  They hold each other’s gaze while Zelena takes a seat beside her.  “I think our magic smells the same way.”

 A nose wrinkle later, sniffing her surroundings, Zelena replies, “All I smell is friggin’ apples.”

 “It’s only after magic is performed, dear.”

 Zelena hums, bored with the subject and notices the small plate of apple strudel, barely touched, and the cup of coffee.

 A beat passes as she lightly drums her fingers on the table-top, eyes darting from her sister to the dessert, then to the counters and back at Regina.

 “Well?  Aren’t you going to offer me some of that?”

 Regina, who had been picking at the strudel, raises her eyes with an incredulous expression. “What is it with uninvited guests wanting my strudel today?”

 “What?”  Eyes rolling all around in confusion, Zelena fixes the woman with a frown.  “Is that code for something naughty?  I don’t know…”

 “Aren’t I entitled to have a moment of peace?”

 “Um…”

 “Without emotional upheaval?”

 “I don’t know what…”

 “I mean, look at me, Zelena!  Don’t think this has all been easy on me.”

 “No, no.  Of course not.  No.” Blinking confoundedly at a wood marking on the table, Zelena scratched at it.  What in the hell have I walked in to?

 “And the audacity! The sheer gall she has, to come over unannounced!”

 “Who?”

 “Emma.”

 “Oh.”

 “Yes, Miss I’ll-have-a-bear-claw-for-breakfast-thanks thinks she can throw my life into a tail-spin with those bottomless, soulful eyes of hers…”

 “Bottomless?”

 “Yes!  Those eyes that ensnare you so distractingly, you can’t even begin to tell what’s up and what’s down!”

 Zelena considers this, eyelashes, fluttering in bewilderment and she gives herself a shake to clear her head.  Regina sounds weird to her.

 While her sister continues to fume over the sheriff’s eyes, the red-head slowly drags the plate into her possession. Damned if she wasn’t going to have a nibble. Her sister was an excellent cook.

 “You know what also infuriates me about Emma Swan?”

 The fork breaks apart a portion bigger than a nibble and Zelena corrects, with the strudel halfway to her lips, “Jones, you mean.”

 “Shut up!”

 The words are flung like daggers at her and Zelena recoils in surprise.  Such vehemence!

 She makes a catlike howl mockingly.  “Really, Regina, who’s pissed in your ale today?”

 “Emma!”  When Zelena raises her eyebrows, Regina goes on, “Have you ever noticed that constellation of freckles Emma has just under her ear?”

 “No.  Can’t say that I have.”

 “There are three freckles.  Just so.” Regina traces her own skin just under her ear.  “They taunt me.”

 “They… come again?”

 “And the way she parades around like she’s a gift to all of us.  That heroic-holier-than-thou attitude.”

 “Well that’s what heroes do, don’t they?  They prance around with that untouchable air.  Fighting for truth and justice is so annoying.”

 As soon as her lips surround the fork, she knows the strudel is going to be delicious.  She’s just let her teeth sink in when she hears Regina murmur, “She kissed me.”

 At once, the red-head spits out chunks of apple and crumbs back onto her plate.  “Freckled-necked hero did what now?”

 Sitting back, letting her head fall backwards, Regina uncharacteristically covers her face in frustration and growls.

 “She kissed you.”

 “Yes.”

 “With tongue?”

 “Zelena!”

 “It’s a perfectly logical question.”

 “Sure, if you’re fourteen.”

 “REGINA!”

 “WHAT?”

 Quietly, Zelena pushed the half-eaten clump of apples and pastry to the side.  “Did you… hit her with a fireball, or did you…kiss her back?”

 Silence, until Regina leans forward against the table, chin dipping downwards and eyes staring guiltily at the corner of the ceiling.

 Zelena jabs her dessert laden fork in her sister’s direction and gloats, before taking another bite, “I fucking knew it.”

 Aghast, the brunette swivels her head, eyebrows knitting tightly together.  

 “Knew what?”

 “That you have a crush on our bold and fearless sheriff.”

 “Preposterous.”

 “Is it? Is it, really?”

 Engaged in a stare down, Regina side-glances at her.  “Just what are you trying to say, Zelena.”

 By this time, Zelena has eaten the strudel, except for the parts she spat out, and she is pushing her rejected morsel back, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

 “Uh, no thank you.” Twisting her face in disgust, Regina pushes the plate further away from her.

 “You forget that I had been watching you.  Way before you met me.  What? Did you think you’re the only one with a magic mirror?  I saw the way you looked at…”. When she almost says Jones, earning her a death glare from the brunette, Zelena quickly amends, “Swan.”

 Because Regina looks doubtful, Zelena gives her examples, ticking them off on her finger.  “You gave her a happy ending before sending her off to New York.  You gave her your son.”

 “I did it for Henry.”

 “Bollocks.  You and I, both, know you could have only modified Henry’s memory.”  That her sister doesn’t argue, pleases the red-head and she continues, “Then how you two banded together to defeat me?  There were a few moments that I suspected that you’d had feelings for her.”

 Regina blushes and nervously tucks a lock of dark hair behind her ear.

 “And then there was Neverland…”

 “Okay, okay!”

 “But nothing ever happened between you two, so I thought…” Zelena gives a resigned shoulder lift to finish her comment.

 There is a long silence. Zelena searches for something to do or say.  When she fails, she gives another carefree shrug, grabs Regina’s coffee cup and begins to drink.  Regina is completely oblivious, staring at the wall.

 “I didn’t think that… that Emma…that she liked…”

 “Women?  Dearheart, I could have told you that.”  To Regina’s astonishment, Zelena dismissively waves her off and takes another sip of coffee. “Walsh would report back to me with how, before he got involved with her, she would frequent the occasional gay bar.”

 “Emma?”  Regina is flabbergasted.

 “Yes!  Of course, she never left with anyone and sometimes she was with friends, but Walsh had a feeling that she swung both ways.”

 Seeing her younger sister so shocked is a delight.  After all, it is a rare occasion that one catches Regina Mills completely off guard.

 “She never slept with Walsh, you know, in case you were wondering.”

 A glower is thrown her way and Regina ends flatly with, “I wasn’t, thank you very much.”

 Zelena giggles delightfully.  Of course, her sister doesn’t care to imagine Emma Swan having sex with anyone else. She said it just to niggle at her.

 “Well, what do you plan to do, Regina?  Don’t keep me in suspense!”

 “Do?  What can I do?  The woman is married!  Not to mention the mother of my son.”  At Zelena’s gawp, she tacks on, “This is a delicate situation.”

 “Delicate, my arse! Go and tell that woman you love her!”

 Panic and fear spread across Regina’s face and Zelena rolls her eyes.  “I know you’re no longer evil, but I can’t believe you gave up your shrewd and savvy spirit.  If only you would go in and take Swan like you had realms.”  A resounding slap on the wood table surface makes Regina jump.

 “I’m thinking of her here, Zelena!  That’s what love is!  Thinking of someone else before yourself.”

 The outside corners of Zelena’s eyes crinkle and Regina knows she played her last card too soon. “So, at least you admit you love her.” All Regina can do at that is cross her arms stubbornly, as if shielding her emotions.  “And for what it’s worth, she kissed you, dove.  There’s interest there.  Definite interest.”

 She knows the moment that her comment sinks in because Regina’s shoulders relax and one corner of her mouth lifts.  It isn’t a full-blown smile, but Zelena will take it.

 Regina gazes down at the table and accuses without any jaggedness to her words.  “You ate my strudel and drank all my coffee.”

 Guffawing, Zelena pushes her chair back with a scraping sound.  “Well, then, my work here is done.”

 As she passes behind the woman, still sitting and staring ahead of her, Zelena gives her a supportive pat on the back.  “If you need any more big sisterly advice, I’m only a poof away.”  On a second thought, she says, “Or if you want me to change that boorish Captain Codfish into a wart on a rhinoceros’ bum, I’m here for that too.”

 A laugh, though half suppressed, comes from the brunette and already she seems in better spirits. “Zelena?”  Regina turns, wearing a grateful gaze.  It is on the tip of her tongue to say “thank you” and although Zelena swoons a little, she stops her before she can say anything else.

 “Oh, we’re not going to be those kinds of sisters, are we? Sappy, sweet, kissy-faces and crap?”

 They share a laugh and Regina jokes, “Hell no.”

 Still, meaningfully their eyes stay locked until Zelena faces the door and magically transports herself out of there.

 Her last thought, though she will never admit it aloud, is that having family is not a bad thing at all.

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Link to Chapter 1.