The Second Time
The nightmare was more intense this time. Regina’s chest constricted at the obvious pain on display. Again, Emma was curled in on herself, her face screwed in a twisted ball and her breathing laboured. Her fists tightened like she was working a stress ball. Regina could only wish she knew where Emma’s traitorous brain had taken her. A strained whimper escaped Emma’s lips. Bile rose into Regina’s mouth as her hand shifted across her abdomen to steady herself.
Despite this exact scenario playing at the forefront of her mind over the past twenty-four hours, she found herself frozen when given the opportunity to redo it. Now, Emma was in her bed. Writhing in her sheets in obvious distress. Perhaps she was best to simply send Emma back home again? If she didn’t do the incantation, her brain would be allowed to work through whatever it was dealing with uninterrupted, and Regina could appear none the wiser.
A half-sob choked out of the sleeping woman. Regina’s heart clenched for her. Her eyes flitted to the door, an ear prickling in anticipation of their son. If Emma wouldn’t want Regina seeing her like this, Henry would certainly be worse.
She forced her feet forward. A hand waved to put a silencing spell around the room. It would keep Henry at bay, she hoped. She took in a long breath trying to summon courage. What would Emma think when she woke? Surely, her first thought would be that Regina had done something to her. Still, everyone’s first thought surrounding her was suspicion. Even Emma wasn’t immune to it, though those days were behind her.
Another whimper, and Regina was snatched back to her long years of soothing Henry’s nightmares. He hadn’t been an especially troubled sleeper, but as with all children, there was the odd one that had him up sobbing. She often found that Henry and Emma looked their most alike at times like this, when they were at their most natural, least practiced versions of themselves. She would never admit to anyone – least of all Emma – but it was probably what endeared the blonde to her. There would always be a piece of Henry residing there, and she loved all of her son.
“Emma,” her voice was softer than the Sandman’s hourglass, light enough to comfort but not wake. “You’re alright. You’re safe.”
When Emma didn’t calm, she stepped closer, a little surer now. She was gentler than she would be with Henry, knowing her presence would never be welcome. It was her hope that she could soothe the nightmare and return Emma home without actually having to deal with her. She knew the questions Emma would ask. She didn’t want to answer them.
Soft fingers brushed the hair out of the younger woman’s pained face, allowing them to graze down her arm. A little firmer now, “Emma, you are alright.”
She didn’t appear comforted by Regina’s assertion. Her head thrashed with enough force she to have given herself whiplash, a strangled cry assuring Regina that she had made the right call with the soundproofing spell. Regina released a sharp sigh, shifting to the side of the bed. There was no use being delicate. Emma’s nightmare was beyond the gentle soothing Regina had wanted to commit to.
“Emma.” Her hands gripped Emma’s biceps, firm but not restraining. “Emma, you’re dreaming. Wake up.”
Like an elastic band drawn too far, Emma snapped awake, throwing herself up into sitting position. Her breathing was unnaturally laboured as she doubled over, and for a moment, Regina wondered if she might be sick. Instead, accusing eyes shot up to her.
“What are you doing here? Where…” Green eyes trailed over the room. Never allowed further than Henry’s, she was seeing this place for the first time. “Where am I?”
Regina cleared her throat somewhat awkwardly, shuffling back to maintain a little distance. “My bedroom.”
Emma swallowed down hard. One hand pulled her hair back from her sticky face while the other tested the plush linen she was surrounded by. “Why the hell am I in your bedroom?”
Anger. Regina winced. She knew to expect suspicion. “You brought yourself here.”
“I brought myself here.” Emma scoffed, though there was still a visible tremor to her body. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Well, I certainly didn’t bring you here, Miss Swan.” Regina folded her arms across her chest like armour.
“I didn’t mean…” Her shaking hands rubbed at her face, her expression softening under Regina’s hostility. “I was having the worst dream – I was…” Her distant look snapped back into focus, seeming to register reality properly for the first time. Her eyes grew wide – watery, even – as she took in the situation – the vulnerability on display – and she closed up instantly. “Nothing – it’s nothing. I should…I shouldn’t be here.”
She threw back the bedsheets, dragging herself to her feet.
“Emma – ” Why she was trying to stop her – if she even was trying to stop her – she didn’t know. Regina had nothing comforting to say to her, nor did she particularly want to prolong this uncomfortable scenario they had found themselves in. But she didn’t want Emma leaving in this state either.
They both caught Emma’s state of undress at the same time. Her bare legs seemed to stretch for miles under the soft light of the ensuite, and if it was possible, she was wearing less than she had the day Regina had delivered her a warning with a side of apples to Granny’s Bed and Breakfast. Emma had been so sure of herself then, confident in what had basically amounted to nudity. Today, it made her flush to her ears.
Regina averted her eyes to give her the illusion of privacy, shrugging off her robe. She passed it across the chasm that had grown between them. Emma pulled it on but seemed just as uncomfortable draped in the expensive fabric as she had when she was on display. “I really gotta…not be here right now.”
Emma stalked to the bedroom door. The tremor remained, and her eyes were just as wide and terrified as they had been when she’d woken up. The words Regina had been practicing since she’d sent Emma away yesterday dammed behind her disobedient lips. Instead of the comfort she had wanted to offer her clearly humiliated friend, when Emma’s hand reached the handle all she could muster was, “I recommend leaving the same way you came in, unless you want to be the talk of the town tomorrow.”
If it was possible, Emma’s face bled brighter than it had before. She waved her hand, disappearing in a cloud of white smoke, and leaving Regina to her own self-hatred.