August Part 2
Regina's stomach knotted. The eerie conversation she held with Fiona Bartlett only created more confusion on top of the worry created by her blonde's reaction. What set her off? She'd only seen Emma panic due to immense stress. She entered the teacher's lounge on her way to the ladies' room when she noticed a new framed gold paper hanging on the wall.
Administrative Directive #1
All staff members must abide by strict morals and values on campus and in our hallways. The community expects us to be above reproach; therefore, we will BE so. This means no one should be dating anyone inappropriate. You should not cohabitate with the opposite sex—no fraternizing with the opposite sex in public.
"She can't be serious." Regina sighed, knowing that this is only the beginning of Mary Margaret's ridiculousness. Before she pushed through the bathroom door, she heard the harsh sound of Emma's retching. The brunette cringed at hearing the door slap against the wall announcing her entry.
"Emma, are you okay in there?" The English teacher regretted the stupid question soon after it left her mouth. A fresh wave of liquid hitting the toilet water's surface answered. The scent of bile hung in the air; she knew her lover was not okay, not even close.
The blonde didn't say anything, but she unlatched the door to the handicapped accessible stall. Ignoring Regina for a moment, she went to the sink and washed her face and hands. The brunette studied her girlfriend in the mirror. The pinched expression in her eyes appeared in the last hour. Who or what could cause this woman's vitality to drain that quickly?
Wrapping both arms around the blonde's muscular frame, she squeezed her tightly against her body. "Don't you want to talk about it? You look like you saw a ghost."
"Not a ghost, a nightmare." Emma buried her nose into Regina's neck and inhaled. "I don't want to talk about her here. The walls might have ears."
"Okay. Do you want to stay at mine tonight?"
The blonde's answer came in the form of a weak nod and then pressing herself to the smaller woman's body.
"I need to swing by my place to pick up clothes for school tomorrow. The only thing the district could have done more annoying than having Open House the night before school starts is having the first day of school on a Friday. I mean, like, who does that?" The blonde's tone differed significantly from her inner turmoil, but Regina recognized the mask the woman needed to wear until they were in a more private space.
Sensing her lover's struggle, Regina kissed her on the cheek and said, "Why don't you run and get your things? I'll fix dinner, then we'll see from there. Does that work for you?"
Emma nodded. "Perfect. I'll see you at yours shortly."
*****
Emma chose to wash the dishes by hand; she needed the distraction provided by practiced and monotonous motions. When she pulled the plug, two hands slipped under the hem of her top and lifted, but Regina's body caged her against the cabinet. Playful lips and teeth nibbled at a pale pink ear.
While red lips and sharp teeth distracted the younger woman, quick fingers shed damp clothes from an incredibly toned body.
"I want to love you," a husky voice whispered into the blonde's ear. Regina's hands mapped and explored; Emma's skin flushed, her arousal growing.
"But I need a shower." Whining, Emma hoped she wouldn't be alone. "I'm stinky."
Spinning the taller woman around, the blonde grinned as she realized Regina only wore a robe. The older woman took the blonde's face between her hands, captured her lips, and used her tongue to wipe out any protest. "I hate to disappoint you, but I've already filled the tub. Do you mind if I join? I could wash your hair, or I could worship every inch of you? Whatever you want?"
Emma surprised Regina by picking her up and sliding tan legs around her waist. Encumbered by the weight, Emma took to the stairs carefully. The two exchanged hungrier kisses as they closed in on their destination, occasionally using the wall to prop the two up when Emma's knees buckled from pleasure.
Minutes later, they slipped into the steaming pool of water; Emma held the other woman close, refusing to allow her heated core to separate from her flesh. "Is it crazy that I love knowing that the wetness coating my stomach is for me?"
"Not at all." Regina hissed the words because the blonde drove her teeth into her clavicle. "Don't mark me anywhere visible!"
Sharp teeth bit into her lower lip, erasing all thought from Regina's mind. Strong hands forced the brunette's shoulders backward toward the side of the tub as pink lips worshipped their goddess; Emma kissed across the woman's chest, pushing the soggy robe apart and latching onto pert breasts. She sucked the velvety skin under a supple breast into her mouth, marking her territory.
"Mine," she mumbled. Her lips and tongue tasted and tormented all the available skin.
Emma's hands continued to roam, growing more hungry as they went. Ignoring the fatigue growing in her lower back, she supported the smaller woman's body with one arm; the other explored the smooth skin of Regina's hips before slipping two fingers where she needed them most.
"You're so tight," she exclaimed in ecstasy. The words woke Regina from her lust-fueled haze.
Regina groaned, then she tilted her head to stare into Emma's eyes. "This was supposed to be about you. I want to show you my love," she panted out, but her hips refused to follow her commands.
Arousal soaked jade eyes begged for the brunette to relent, but she couldn't, not after today.
Fighting away disappointment, Emma lowered herself onto her knees in the water, taking Regina's hips and legs with her. She pulled the smaller woman into her lap. In a series of awkward movements, the older woman escaped the wet silk encasing her body. She wrung it out and dropped it to the floor.
Regina noticed the crestfallen expression on Emma's face and knew she needed to make the woman understand her intention. "Hey," she tipped up a pale chine. "I love you."
"And I love you." Emma's eyes shined brighter.
"Together?" Regina asked with a mischievous glint. "Now, where were we?" She slipped from her place in Emma's lap, allowing her knee to glide into the blonde's sensitive fleshy folds.
She was enjoying the action. The blonde bit into her bottom lip, trying to calm her body. Regina surged forward, lavishing attention to all the pale skin on display in an attempt to break through the blonde's self-control. She kissed pouty lips while her hands worked their magic, melting her lover's self-restraint. Her hands and nails traced muscle, soft curves, and found a few ticklish places she would explore later.
Soon, Regina's mouth found a band of muscle running over the blonde's shoulder where her neck connects and bit harshly, soothing the angry teeth marks with her tongue. The pain forced
"Oh! I thought you warned me not to mark you." Emma sounded incredulous but failed to display anger.
"I said me, not you, idiot." Regina's nose tickled the flesh of her neck.
"Your idiot," Emma said fondly.
"Don't worry. No one can see it in the blouse you brought, but I'll know it's there."
Correcting her position astride the younger woman's thigh, the brunette's leg rubbed the blonde's core; once Regina achieved the desired position, she brought their mouths together, saying all the things they couldn't find the words for with velvety soft lips. Their bodies in sync rocked, building to the inevitable.
At the last moment, Regina pulled back. With a simple touch to Emma's face, rich chocolate enveloped mahogany. They fell over the edge together, building a connection neither knew the needed until now.
*****
Hours later, sweaty and sated, Regina carded her hands through Emma's still drying hair. The woman's head lay heavily on the brunette's abdomen where she'd rested after their latest round.
"She's not a secret; I've told you about her before. Not much, but I did. I never thought I'd have to see her again." Emma placed her hands on either side of Regina's ribs, grounding herself with the feel of the other woman's skin. "When I left Vandy, I left as much of that monster behind me as I could. I've had no reason to believe I'd see her again--I hoped I wouldn't. She's a psychic vampire that almost destroyed me, heart and soul." Emma's voice cracked, her insecurity on display without any reservation--a quality Regina appreciated and envied. "She was so many of my firsts, and they all turned out to be a lie. She was the first person I fell in love with and the first person I had a real romantic relationship with, and then I slowly started noticing things. At first, I realized she left me wearing my nice clothes while leaving her cheaper ones for me. Then, every time we met, she had a crisis that I needed to save her from, so she wanted to be alone with me at home, not out someplace. Everything was always about her. I listened to her worries and held her. Then, one day I saw her very real family out for a fun-filled Saturday together. They looked ridiculously happy together, the ultimate WASP family unit."
Revulsion filled the blonde as she explained her reaction at the school. "I don't have nightmares often, but when I do, I'm more likely to dream about her than what Ingrid did to me. At least my adoptive mother had psychological problems; this one, she used my naivete and my lack of family against me. She did it unapologetically. She once told me I was such an easy and sweet little conquest. Imagine telling your lover of two years that they were an easy mark. All I ever wanted was to be loved, to be someone's treasure. Instead, I was another trophy to be admired when she felt like it, and I swell her massive ego on top of it all."
Olive toned hands stilled. In the silence of the dark bedroom, Emma kissed the skin next to her cheek then continued. "She told me her name was Stella Cartwright, but I know it was a fake name; I tried finding her in the white pages so I could send her husband a letter when I moved. But, of course, that wasn't her name." A derisive snort came from the blonde as she wiped away angry tears. "I tried following her home several times, but she always spotted me--I guess my car doesn't exactly scream stealth--she made sure I never found out where she lived. Back then, she had a short but stylish haircut, but the dark blonde woman you spoke tonight with her daughter, that's her, the woman who used me as her personal sex toy for two years while happily married with a family."
Regina pulled Emma by her shoulders until she lay encircled in her arms. She kissed the blonde's crown and let her love soak in through the contact. "You know none of what happened is your fault. You were young and desperately deserving of all the love in the world, but you fell victim to a manipulative bitch. I understand why you reacted the way you did, but you will have to deal with her presence. By law, you can request the child's removal from your class, but you will still see them in the building."
Emma huffed, "I'm sure MM will be thrilled to hear that I had an illicit lesbian relationship with a married woman more than a decade ago that is haunting me now by her daughter being in our school. I wonder what she'; think of us' single ladies' then?"
*****
"She can't be fucking serious," Mal tossed the offending document onto the table in the middle of the lounge. "It's archaic. It's ridiculous. It's--it's--" Mal lost her train of thought and paced furiously in front of the faculty bulletin board.
Regina shrugged. "It is what is. You know as well as I do that sooner or later, HR will step in and quash her despotic dreams. In the meantime, let's lay low."
A derisive snort came from behind them. Gaston and Thomas chatted sitting on the godawful plaid sofa from leftover from the 1980s. Turning a scowl toward the two men, the only discernible words she made out were home field advantage and acoustics. Regina shrugged off what may or may not have been a criticism aimed in her direction.
Soon, Emma and her department chair came striding in with empty mugs. "Has anyone read this morning's email?" The blonde asked. Then her brow furrowed, glaring at the document on the table. "Nevermind. She's printed it."
Archie pushed his glasses higher on his nose and skimmed the contents. "Hmm. Such a shame. When they hired her, I was hoping for an Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Thatcher combo, a little liberal-minded, caring and daring with a solid streak of decorum." His lips tensed, turning white before he blew out a breath and began. "I can't decide if she reminds me more of Delores Umbridge or Hitler."
"One thing is coming clear to me." The fiery glint in green eyes worried Regina.
"Oh?"
"We're all going to hell. And, she's going to make sure we all know it." Emma read the directive carefully for the first time. She took her time absorbing it word for word. "If she starts raising an army to lead a crusade, I'm moving to Canada, maybe New Zealand."
Regina rolled her eyes at her lover. "Oh, please. You are allergic to wool."
Thomas's eyes glittered with malicious humor. "She's no Imelda Marcos. She has the fashion sense of the Golden Girls and the political savvy of King Charles I of England--"
Emma snarked, "You do remember his people executed him?"
"History will repeat in this case, and that's for sure. She lacks the intelligence or respect of Voldemort. Hitler was more organized. This one is all pomp and circumstance and yet fails to grasp that she isn't the lord-ruler. The woman wants to rule with a draconian fist when she lives in the land of fairies and unicorns."
All of them pursed the lips and nodded in agreement.
"Does anyone else find it strange that we talk about Harry Potter characters like they're real?" Archie whined. The others glared back at him.
"So, which one of us is willing to tell our boss that this is leaning toward breaking the law? I mean, seriously. What is she going to do to our out and proud kids at school? What about the Gay-Straight Alliance? Are we still going to meet?" Archie asked, looking over at his co-sponsor, Thom.
Emma's jaw fell open, and she leaned toward Regina and Mal, whispering, "Wait a minute, Archie's straight? I thought--" She stared stunned and quiet as he stepped closer to Thomas.
Mal laughed, "The rest of us were shocked too. His wife was beautiful."
Emma's eyes grew bigger. "What? Did she die?"
"No, she ran off with someone more interesting and with money," Regina deadpanned.
Utterly unsure if the English teacher wanted to mislead her, or if she meant it, Emma turned her attention to study her department chair and hoped to figure out the truth from Archie's actions.
The blonde man stood and wiped imaginary wrinkles from his jacket. "I've already sent Genie a copy. She said to keep her informed. Personally, I think this could get very entertaining."
"Why do you say that?" Emma asked, confused by his chipper sound.
"Well, we all know Shepherd is a sleazy player. He's hooked up with Gaston, most of the newbie girls, and a little birdie saw him at a romantic dinner with our principal. This could get comically entertaining before long."
Mal scoffed. "Please! If she gets VD, she's the kind that tries to prove it's a gay conspiracy against her."
"Mal!" Regina exclaimed, shocked at her friend's accusation.
"I bet she's knocked up by Valentine's," Gaston said, leaning over to reread the sign. "James delivers as well as he advertises. She's going to buy into him hard."
Emma's eyes widened comically. "You slept with him!"
"Blondie, sleeping wasn't part of the equation. Let's just say the man is well hung and knows how to use it." The football coach's blunt statement left the group speechless for a few seconds. "What? I sampled. He was fun. I'd be willing to play again, but he's not the kind I want to keep. I'm hoping my man, Tommy over there will help me out as I'm getting tired of playing the field."
Thomas laughed uncomfortably. "It's about time."
Their conversation lulled while they all refilled their coffees.
"Do you think she's that stupid?" Archie asked, still unsure.
"She won't last that long. I say pregnant or VD by Christmas? 50 bucks?" Emma asked, grinning like she'd already won.
Regina poked her in the ribs. "That's not okay, Em."
"What? It's not like we can't have a little fun with this. She's already turning into a psycho bitch. Can' we make it interesting for everyone?"
"I'll take that. Let's see if Flynn wants to play bookie for everyone? Should we open the betting pool to the middle schools or keep it on campus?" Gaston's cheek's dimpled when he flashed his muscle magazine model grin.
Thomas's phone chimed. "Genie says Thanksgiving and is pregnant."
*****
Thankfully, the last student sprinted out of Regina's doorway before the last announcement of the day finished. She plopped gracelessly into her chair, pulled off a shoe, and rubbed the aching ball of her foot.
"Stupid heels. I knew better," Regina whined to herself and then checked her phone for text messages.
Kat: Water broke. Omw to the hospital. Excited. Terrified.
Mal: Eeek! So, excited. Tell us when you want company.
Urs: If you need anything at all, I'm not in court. Call.
RM: Can't wait. Em and I will do anything you need. You know how to find us. Tell Fred to keep us posted.
Bubbling with nervous energy brought on by the news, the English teacher charged across the hall toward Emma's room. She stopped and stared at the closed door; Emma usually left hers open after school. "That's odd," she said to herself. Seeing the lights were off, she used her master key to enter. She found Emma blankly staring out at the parking lot like a trapped animal in a cage.
"Emma, dear, are you alright?"
Blonde curls shook as Emma moved her head side to side. "No. No, I'm not." The younger woman's shoulders trembled; she held in her frustration and pain, but Regina saw it clawing its way back out of her. She gave the blonde a few minutes of silence to collect herself.
"I'd forgotten how exhausting freshmen are. I had to explain every rule three times before they seemed to grasp why many kids still call me the evil queen. One of them was stupid enough to ask me why they called me that."
"I bet that didn't go well."
"No, it didn't. The little shit has lunch detention for the next two weeks to remind him of his insubordination."
Emma's cheeks rounded in a brief smile.
Relief flooded the brunette's veins. "What happened in your classes today? You were fine at lunch." Regina pressed herself against the other woman's back, hooking her chin over Emma's shoulder.
"The inevitable. Daphne Bartlett has been added to my last period." Emma turned slightly, allowing their noses to brush together. She sighed, drinking in the other woman's closeness. Pressing her forehead to Regina's, the words came easily. "She's a nice kid, but I can see her mother in her. I called her Cartwright twice before class ended. I played it off by apologizing and claiming it was a former student." The last sentence came out in little more than a whisper.
Regina sighed, blowing tendrils of blonde hair from her face. "If you want, we can visit counseling and see about having her schedule changed."
"Considering she arrived 10 minutes in with a new schedule, I'm fairly certain her mother had her put in my class intentionally. Yes, I could fight it, but I don't know that I could defend my position in such a way that our superiors would see it as worth their time."
The brunette winced. "You do know we are allowed to change one child per year without explanation."
"True, but I'm sure that it would create a political mess. She's got a flair for the dramatic that one. She's like making people angry and then making them eat crow. Her mother did this to get under my skin. And,--"
"And it's working. You don't have to deal with this all year. You shouldn't have to do this." Anger lowered Regina's voice to a near growl.
Emma smiled at her softly and pressed her lips to Regina's forehead. "I appreciate the thought, but no. I will treat her like every other new freshman. She's sweet and little more than a lost puppy. It'll be fine."
Spinning around in the brunette's arms, Emma wrapped her own firmly around the other woman's waist. "Are you sure?"
"Mhmm," The blonde melded their lips together in a familiar, peaceful give and take.
"What are you doing?" With the disgust apparent in her voice, Principal Blanchard-Nolan's screech pulled them from their private bubble.
"I'm comforting my girlfriend," Regina said with one arched brow letting a little snap bleed into her voice. "She's had a rough day. In case you didn't notice, the door was locked to give us privacy."
Mary Margaret's lips moved uselessly for a few seconds until she regained control of her faculties. "I thought she was your girl-friend, not your girlfriend. Your relationship is wrong. God abhors all of you gays. "
Looking directly at Regina, she said, "I knew you had tendencies, but I'd hoped you had outgrown this--this--deviant behavior. You will regret this."
Regina sighed. "You do know that you can say hate when that's the word you mean. Changing it out for a lesser-known word doesn't make it less despicable." Then she pulled Emma closer to her body before choosing to explain their relationship. "I will NEVER regret Emma. She started as my mentee, then became my enemy. Then, I realized what a wonderful person she was, and I--"
"She wasted a lot of time with snarky remarks, but when everything collapsed around us at school in April, she was here for me. When no one else in the world gave a damn, she was there, and it made all the difference. We aren't perfect, but we're to me."
Regina's eyes teared up, hearing Emma explain their relationship. "Whether you like it or not, we are in this together."
MM huffed, "Well, you better keep it out of my school. I'm glad I came in when I did. God knows what you two would be doing."
"Leaving. That's what we'd be doing. It's the end of the first day of school. We're tired, and it's a weekend. So, what did you need so badly that you opened a locked door to ask me?" Emma demanded.
The principal shrugged. "A rather influential parent came and said she knew you. She demanded we put her daughter in your classes, and I complied, but now I'm wondering if maybe there is more to this story. Is there something I should know?"
Emma moved her head indecisively, "She's not a friend, and she's not exactly an ex. She's someone who used and abused me as a college student that's at least a decade her junior."
"Why do you people make everything so complicated? Dr. Swan, make sure in the future you leave all of your personal baggage elsewhere. My school has no room for it." MM threw her hands in the air, gesturing. "Everything has to be some sort of drama with you people, doesn't it?"
"You people? Really? Do you realize how homophobic you sound? This is harassment in the workplace. If you continue to make disparaging remarks, I will be forced to report it to HR." Regina knew where this response would lead, but she prepared herself to begin this year-long battle.
"Report me? I'm going to report the two of you for immoral behavior. I will revoke both of your contracts." MM's nostrils flared in righteous indignation. "I'm sure they will agree that the two of you shouldn't be here corrupting our young people. You should begin packing your things. I will have both of you removed from my building before the weekend is over."
She stalked out under the steam of her last statement.
Concerned caramel glittered with golden bands of flame turned their gaze on calm jade. "I suggest we tell Wolf this is coming." Emma stepped over to her desk and searched her drawer for her cell.
"While you're texting Genie, I need to tell you about Kat. She's in labor!"
*****
A few minutes past noon on Saturday, Regina lightly knocked at the door, then pushed through without waiting. Fred smiled and waved at the women greeting the two of them. Kat slept in her hospital bed, still exhausted from the birthing experience.
Much to both women's surprise, Christie held the angelic-looking infant against her shoulder. Rocking her gently, she sang along with Bob Marley playing on a Bluetooth.
Don't worry about a thing
Cause everything's going to be alright
Rise up this morning with the rising sun
Three little birds pitch by my doorstep
Singing Sweet Songs Pure and True
This is my message to you
"Am I seeing this or hallucinating?" Regina whispered to Fred.
"Who knew? I find myself confused by it too," he responded. "I was thankful when none of you showed up last night for the birth. At first, nothing happened, and Kat was grumpy and uncomfortable. Then, everything happened at once. I wouldn't have been able to keep all of you posted on what was happening. Little Gracie was born just before midnight. But then, around six this morning, Christie brought us breakfast and took over diaper and feeding duty so Kat and I could sleep. Did you know when they are this small, they feed every two hours?"
"Do you think maybe August made her grow up?" Regina asked, knowing Emma would be the most likely person to know.
The blonde shrugged. "I can't imagine that dating August would create maturity in anyone. He's a perennial five-year-old looking for a playmate, not a mommy. This isn't his doing. That's for sure."
Christie looked over at her friends and rolled her eyes. "I love babies. They smell so sweet and look adorable," she cooed. Lifting the little girl and looking in Grace's little pink face, she said in a silly voice Regina had never heard. "Yes, you are. You are the cutest little thing."
The baby gurgled and kicked its tiny feet.
Both women's eyes blew wide open in fear. Emma looked over at Kat, who pressed and to her lips trying to prevent laughter from escaping. The younger blonde loved seeing the woman looking happy and healthy.
"Don't worry! I don't want one," she said, smiling at her nervous friends. "But, I will gladly be Auntie Christie any time they need me."