Summer Vacation
"So tell me about your romantic escape from Storybrooke." Kat's piercing eyes danced. She rubbed her swollen belly. At seven months along, her motherly glow meant an enormous discomfort in the Summer heat. "I know you've never liked sharing much, but I need to live vicariously through everyone. Especially now--distract me from the little peanut's hiccups. I swear he's had them since 2 a.m."
Regina grinned. "Well, Belle arranged for us to attend the AP training at Chapel Hill. The campus is gorgeous. Of course, we spent that week enjoying the city when we weren't in class."
"Uh, huh. Sure, you did. Those love bites suggest you were enjoying something, and it wasn't historical or cultural."
Ignoring Kat's hints, Regina grabbed her phone and opened up her photo gallery to show her friend. "Let's pretend that your hormones aren't making you crazy for a minute, and I'll show you that we did sightsee." She shared a few images from the campus; then the screen changed to a beautiful picture of the two women at the World War II memorial in DC. "From North Carolina, we went to DC for a few days. It was ridiculously hot, and for some reason, someone shut off all the fountains at the Roosevelt Memorial. I will never understand why they spend millions on building these beautiful monuments and then do something stupid like cut off the water to the cascading features to save money."
"That's Washington for you." Kat sipped her cold water then turned back to Regina. The naughty look on the blonde's features told her where the woman's head went. "How did you enjoy my parents' beach house at Cape Hatteras? I bet she looks hot in a bathing suit."
Regina blushed as memories of those days flooded her mind.
The pale yellows and orange streaks filled the horizon as the sun peeked over the water. The cadence of soft footfalls on wet sand filled Regina's ears. Her breath caught in her chest as the burnt orange globe made its appearance. Many mornings since their vacation began, Regina regretted choosing to take up running with Emma, but not this one.
"Do you need to walk for a while, or are you ready to turn back?" Emma asked, not even panting.
The brunette scoffed, slightly breathless. An angry stitch grew in her side. "Why did I let you talk me into this?"
"Because you fell behind when we were power-walking through the National Mall. You said, and I quote, 'Dr. Swan, you must make your girlfriend spend more time on cardio.'"
"This isn't what I meant."
"Uh, huh. Sure it isn't." Emma flirted back, seeing the pink rising in the other woman's cheeks. "Come on. We'll turn around once we get around this bend. Then, we can head back to the beach house, and instead of your cardio, I will see what we can do about your flexibility."
Although the brunette's pace slowed, Emma refused to leave her behind even on this semi-vacant beach. They rounded the bend where the blonde took her by the hand and had them walk for a few minutes.
Appreciating her girlfriend's sweat-soaked half-shirt, Emma pulled their bodies flush. The older woman squealed in horror. "Ick. We both smell horrible. How could you?" Regina sputtered while making faces and playfully, but fruitlessly pushing against Emma's shoulders in an attempt to free herself; she feigned disgust.
"Keep that up, and I will throw you in the surf, shoes and all."
"You wouldn't dare."
Strong arms wrapped around her back and legs, hoisting the English teacher in the air. "Emma, I was kidding. Please, put me down," came her shrill response.
The blonde sensed her discomfort and carefully set both of her feet gently on the sand, but continued to hold the other woman close. In a swift motion, she sealed their lips together. "No matter what you say, you are not too gross for me. Not now. Not ever."
Eventually, the kiss ended, and the blonde took a step back. Spying a megalodon tooth buried in the sand, she snapped it up and held up her treasure. "Finally, I've always wanted one of these." Emma put the sandy fossil in her pocket before calling over to where Regina eyed the horizon. "Let's do this, babe. I'm getting hungry."
Sighing, Regina took off running past Emma, slapping her on the ass as she went. As they took the bend, another woman came from the opposite direction; her eyes wandered over the blonde's skin. The woman turned her head and winked. Ignoring her girlfriend's offended look, Emma continued at a steady pace pretending not to notice the other runner.
"And, who was that?"
"No idea really, but she certainly checked you out. I've seen her a few mornings--ignore it. I do. She's probably some bored trophy wife wanting to take a trip on the wild side. It isn't happening. Or, at least it won't work with me."
Jealous, Regina growled. Emma turned her head, trying to discern the noise she heard. One look made her slow their pace to a walk. "Hey, Regina."
The brunette followed Emma's lead but looked out at the water and chewed her lower lip rather than heap abuse on the woman. A tanned and sun-freckled arm laced their fingers together. Gently squeezing the other woman's fingers, Emma pulled them to a stop and faced her lover.
"I know this has to be hard for you, but I'm not Dani." Cupping Regina's jaw in one hand and teasing her lower lip with a thumb, emerald eyes glistened in the bright morning sun showing her openness. "I don't know anything about that other woman because I'm not interested. I can't guarantee that I'm yours forever, but I can promise that you will be the only person I look at like this as long as we are together. You will be the only person I hold, caress, kiss, or fuck. It's too early to call this love, but it's the closest thing I've ever felt." Mahogany eyes, flecked with gold, glistened with tears. "Okay?"
Bringing their foreheads together and breathing in, Regina's voice cracked when she spoke. "Okay. I'm so--"
Emma kissed her hard and slow. "No apologies. I know that trust has to be earned, but I'm here, and I'm willing to work toward it if you are."
Regina nodded solemnly. Wrapping an arm around Emma's waist, she began their walk toward the beach house. "French toast for breakfast?"
"Sounds good." The corners of Emma's mouth turned upward. "But, we are still working on your flexibility and stamina after breakfast." Her eyebrows wiggled exaggeratedly, causing Regina to giggle.
"It sounds like it was just what you two needed." Intelligent blue eyes observed her old friend.
Regina's blushing cheeks made the woman smile broader. "Yes, it was. It helped me accept some truths that I needed. She sighed. "Will I always second guess every move she makes? Did Dani make me such an emotional wreck that I'm an untrusting harpy? I don't want to be that woman anymore."
"Did something happen?" Concerned, Kat slid closer, placing one hand on her dear friend's leg.
"Not exactly." Regina bit her lip. "Do you remember our spring break trip to Paris when we were in college? All of us went."
"Was that when Ursula's dad lent us his apartment for a few days?"
"Yes, that trip." Regina sighed and pursed her lips. "Dani and I were supposedly seriously together when we went. But, then at the airport, she talked a woman into giving her a phone number." She swallowed harshly. "That trip, she took a lot of shopping trips alone."
Kat sucked her teeth. "We all knew what she was up to, but we played along since you seemed to believe her. We didn't want to destroy our holiday."
"Right." She sighed dramatically. "I swear, every restaurant or bar we went to while we were there, she managed to get a phone number. I watched her do it. Instead of causing a scene, I waited until we returned to school. That was the final straw when we broke it off for the remainder of our undergrad years."
The blonde's gaze traveled all over her friend's sad face. "Emma didn't do the same, did she?"
Mahogany eyes flew open. Thirst pulled Regina from her sunbathing nap. Regina rolled to her side to feast on the warm glow of the blonde's skin. Lying on their blankets soaking up the sun, the roll of the waves had lulled the typically animated woman into a mid-morning slumber.
She sat up and grabbed two water bottles from the cooler.
"I feel you staring again."
Plump lips smirked. "I am admiring." She turned to whisper in the other woman's ear. "Here is water for you too."
She handed over the bottle and appreciated how the errant droplets landed on Emma's skin.
"I believe someone's still thirsty."
Regina smirked. "Don't make me admit to reliving this morning behind my eyelids."
Blonde eyebrows raised. "Well, that explains why you moaned my name a few minutes ago."
"I did not." Indignant, Regina's olive skin darkened under watchful eyes.
"Mhmm. Sure, you didn't." Emma rolled to her back, threw an arm over her eyes to block the sun, and mimicked "Oh, Em-ma" in a low exaggerated moan.
Regina's jaw dropped, and she stuttered. "I'm sorry. Did I really do that?"
"Hah. Gotcha." The blonde laughed as her girlfriend blushed from ear to ear.
With her face on fire, Regina finished her water. She stood, peered around the beach, then purposefully walked toward the water. "I'm going to go cool off."
Ten minutes later, she returned, feeling triumphant with the blank and hungry look on Emma's face. "Whose thirsty now?'
"Uh, what?" Emma side-eyed her girlfriend for a moment. "You are so evil sometimes."
"No, she spent every single day reminding me that she thinks that I'm the most beautiful thing she's ever seen."
"Fred used to do that. Now, I can't help but wonder if he sees a beached whale as I do." Kat patted her belly. "Lord, he's kicking today. I can't wait to be through with this trimester.
Regina shook her head. "You've got that wonderful pregnant glow. I'm sure he knows how gorgeous you are."
Kat turned her head, hiding her facial expressions from her friend.
"Hey. What are you thinking? Just ask. I won't get upset. I promise."
Nervously running a hand through her hair, Kat leaned on an elbow and let her eyes reflect her inner worry. "How did you know Dani was cheating?"
Regina threw her head back and closed her eyes. First, she tried not to let the woman's memories overrun all the happiness from her shared vacation. She thought about the simple joy of watching Emma's hair whipping in the wind as she drove her yellow convertible Mustang with the top down. Although the brunette had protested that their hair would suffer, Regina felt overly pleased as she sang along with the sultry songs coming from the radio. Their eyes met, shining in the murky depths of their sunglasses. Regina squeezed the pale fingers linked with her own. She hated to admit, but Regina found her mind running a comparison of her eighteen days away from home with Emma and her life with Dani.
"Lighten up, Reg. You went to bed early, so I spent some time at the bar. Is it my fault that a gorgeous woman chose to sit next to me?"
Regina slammed the trunk to the car and glared at her girlfriend. "Right! Because you objected and told her that your live-in girlfriend was asleep in your room, you couldn't possibly accept the drink or two or…" her eyebrows lifted, hinting she wanted a number.
"Five."
Regina's features blackened in rage. "What?"
"And, in my defense, I told her my roommate would not be happy."
"So, you didn't tell her you were taken. Were you afraid the free drinks would disappear? I can't believe I bothered to try to create a romantic getaway for you because you've spent this whole time looking at anyone but me."
"I'm not taken. We aren't even engaged yet. And, if you can learn to give me space, we won't." Dani waved at a woman driving past their parked vehicle.
"Get in the fucking car Dani."
Dani stood staring with her jaw jutting forward; her angry eyes flashed. "What if I don't?"
"I have work tomorrow. If you want to stay here, you will do it without me and my car."
In a huff, the blonde slid into the car, arms across her chest glaring out the window. "I don't know when it was that you stopped knowing how to have fun, but you suck all the joy out of living."
Regina wiped a stray tear from her eyes. "You know, the thing is that with Dani, I always knew that she was always looking for someone or something better. There was a time when I tried to stay up until the sun came up to keep her with me. But then I realized that you shouldn't have to guard the ones you love. You should be able to trust them. That old phrase about if you love something, let it go--it's true to a degree. The thing is that if they ever really entertain the thought of leaving, they aren't yours. I hate to admit it, but my budding relationship with Emma makes me realize that I never had Dani. Not ever. She was never mine, to begin with, no even for one day."
Kat's brow furrowed.
"We both know that Fred doesn't look at other women the way he does you. Yes, he's friendly and sometimes a little flirty, but honestly, do you think he would cheat on you?"
"I'm ridiculous, aren't I?"
Regina squeezed her friend's hand. "I suspect that you feel huge and can't imagine that you are the prettiest you've ever been, but you are. When the baby comes, you will finally be able to see what all the rest of us can. You are winning. You and Fred have everything a person could ever hope to find in a strong partnership. I just hope Emma and I can get there."
*****
June faded into early July, and with it, Ursula and Mal invited everyone to dinner at their latest favorite restaurant. Regina sat with her friends on the side patio dining area, enjoying the breeze. She kept a watchful eye on the parking lot for signs of her favorite blonde. After spending the better part of three weeks together, Emma chose to spend her afternoon painting her bedroom since Regina had gone to visit an overly pregnant Kathryn. As much as Regina hated to admit it, she missed being around the blonde. She'd grown used to sleeping in her arms and seeing her at every meal. The last few days at home felt awkward and lonely.
"Earth to Regina, where's your sexy swan? Is she still strapped to a bed somewhere, or is she running late?" Mal's smirk spoke volumes. "I think you've been hiding her from us so that we won't see how many times you marked your territory."
Ursula laughed at the burgundy hue in Regina's skin.
The brunette sighed and wagged an accusing finger at her friends. "Please don't make her uncomfortable. It took a lot of persuasion to get her to agree to come to this, especially once she heard that you invited Christie. I considered ditching you for that one."
The darker woman's hands went in the air, soothingly. "Seriously, Christie has a new man that she's dying for us to meet. She begged, and I do mean that word. She begged us to have a sit-down dinner with them. Kat couldn't come. But, she asked for the rest of us to be here."
"So, does that mean Dani's coming too?"
Mal's look of shock turned back and forth between the two. "I didn't think to ask that. Did you?"
In a panic, Ursula shook her head. "You don't think she'd be that selfish, do you?"
Regina wrung her hands in panic, but the rock growing in her stomach stilled as Emma's car pulled in to park.
Mal grinned. "Wow, she has you grinning like a fool at her 'yellow crayon.'"
The brunette's eyes narrowed. "I'm happy she's here. The car, I tolerate."
"Sure you do, honey. That's why you left the Benz in your parking spot when the two of you left town."
Regina almost retorted, but then a flashy red Porsche flew into the spot next to where Emma exited her car. She watched Emma's face change from happy to shocked. Then, she charged at the man coming out of the vehicle. He wrapped his arms around her, spinning. Puzzled at what she witnessed, Regina gripped the table but refused to interfere.
"Who is he?" Mal asked.
Then, Christie's red hair came into view. She had been the passenger in the unknown man's car.
"Whoever he is, he's why Christie demanded to be here tonight."
"Uh, oh. This could be bad, very bad." Ursula stated what ran through all of their minds. Regina anticipated her old friend attacking her girlfriend, but they all sat floored at the events in front of them.
If I were cruel I would stop here….
Trying to make sense of it, the three at the table watched as Christie shook Emma's hand. From afar, they could see both women smiled and laughed as the three entered the building together. But they knew Christie--she was as lost as they were.
In a few moments, the three from the parking lot stepped through the patio door, and Emma beamed at her girlfriend.
"Regina!" The blonde bounced over to their table with the other two closely following. Shaking and crying, but happily, Emma gripped Regina's hand. "This is August, my brother. I hoped we'd find each other again one day. And, here he is."