The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 21

It's always been yours. I cannot find another this heart will beat for. ~S.L. Gray.

After work, Regina headed to the Sheriff station to see how Emma was getting on. The town has been incredibly quiet lately and she thought her girlfriend wouldn't mind some company until her shift ends.

It was shortly after seven and the moon was full, giving Storybrooke its usual magical glow.

Regina walked into the station to see Robin talking to Emma. She stood in the doorway and watched them silently. Emma looked like she wanted to slice him in half. She was sitting at her desk, glaring up at the man. Regina closed the door with a soft thud causing her to look towards her.

Emma's eyes locked with hers and a smile crossed her face. She got to her feet and bounced happily over to her. "Hi, Gina," she greeted her before placing a welcoming kiss on her forehead.

Regina stood there awkwardly as she made eye-contact with Robin who shot her a kind smile. She quickly entwined Emma's fingers with hers and held as close as she could. She felt the younger woman's hand on her lower back. Emma looked at her with a slightly worried look in her eyes.

Robin shot them a small smile. "Thank you for the help, Sheriff," he mumbled. "Madame Mayor," he said with a short nod. "Have a good evening." He made his way swiftly out the door.

"What's wrong, Gina?" Emma asked gently. Regina opened her mouth to speak but she was cut off. "Don't you dare say nothing," she snapped.

Regina flinched slightly at her sudden change in tone. It wasn't anything that she had ever heard before and it took her a bit my surprise.

Emma let out a soft sigh and her face softened. She took Regina's hand and led her towards her desk. The blonde sat down on her small, cushioned chair and gently pulled Regina down so she was sitting on her lap. She trailed her fingers gently through her soft raven hair, pushing it out of her face. "There's something up, Gina, I can tell. You can talk to me, you know."

Regina couldn't stop herself from cuddling into her touch, resting her head on the younger woman's shoulder. "I saw him talking to you and I was terrified that he was going to hurt you," she mumbled into her neck. "I know he doesn't have any reason to but the thought still scares me."

Emma's arms wrapped around her waist. "Is this because of the nightmare you had?" she asked gently.

"It's been reoccurring all week," she mumbled nervously.

"Why didn't you tell me? How much sleep have you gotten?" Emma asked in an extremely worried tone.

Regina let out a soft sigh. "Last night was the first night of sleep I've had where I haven't woken up screaming," she told her honestly.

Emma frowned. "Why didn't you talk to me instead of ignoring me?"

"I don't know. It all came up at once and I was trying to wrap my head around it."

There was a soft knock on the door causing the two women to jump. They looked up to see David standing in the doorway.

Emma smiled. "Hey, dad."

"Slow day?" he asked with a soft chuckle.

"The usual these days. Not that I'm complaining," she joked.

Regina smiled as she got to her feet. She was thankful herself that there haven't been any lingering forces of doom trying to destroy the town in recent days. It's been relaxing for everyone to be able to live peacefully for a change.

Emma quickly followed in standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said.

He nodded. "See you tomorrow, Em. Enjoy your night."

Regina slipped her hand in Emma's before engulfing them in her familiar purple smoke.

#

When they landed in the house, Emma immediately scooped her into her arms, holding her bridal style.

"Emma!" she screeched, clinging tightly to the blonde. "What are you doing?"

She chuckled in response. "I'm taking you to bed, Gina." Regina raised her eyebrow suggestively. "Not like that. You need to get some sleep," she muttered.

They quickly reached her bedroom and Emma basically threw her onto the bed. If the blonde hadn't been so insistent on it being for sleeping purposes, she would have let herself act on the excitement that action filled her with. Regina wouldn't think twice about dragging the other woman down on top of her.

Regina smiled. "Well, if you're going to be so insistent on me going to sleep at this time then I'm going to change," she mumbled before heading off to change.

When she came back into the room, her face was clear of makeup and she was dressed in an oversized grey hoodie and her underwear. She climbed into bed next to Emma who was in her tank top and underwear and cuddled into her open arms.

Emma laughed. "Is that my hoodie?"

Regina nodded, letting out a soft hum in response.

Emma rubbed soothing circles on her back. "What is it about this dream that has you so worked up?" she asked gently.

Regina frowned. "It's the same thing over and over. I don't know what it is that causes them. I guess it was because of how torn I was over what to do when I found out that Robin was the man who was said to be my soulmate all those years ago," she mumbled, trying her best to explain.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happens in these dreams?" she asked slowly.

Regina let out a sigh before attempting to describe it.

She and Emma were walking in the forest hand in hand. They stopped and were about to kiss when an arrow flew past them. Robin emerged from the foliage and tries to tell her that her love for Emma is wrong, that it's unnatural. He goes on about what Tinkerbell had said about them being soulmates and that she should be with him, not Emma. He shot another arrow towards Emma that Regina was able to stop with ease to save her from but it was the next one that lodged into her stomach. A few times her magic worked and she was able to heal her, but most of the time Emma died in her arms.

Regina felt a tear run down her cheek as she finished explaining it.

"I'm sorry, Gina," she mumbled softly.

Regina quickly shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Em."

Emma sighed. "I should have been here comforting you, instead of letting you get yourself all worked up and scared," she whispered as she gently trailed her fingers through her raven hair.

Regina leaned into the soft, loving touch. "I was the one who shut you out, I would never have let you in."

She smirked. "Then I would have broken in," she joked. Regina laughed and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Get some sleep, Gina. I promise that everything is going to be okay. You're not going to lose me, not to Robin, not to Hook, no one will ever take me from you," she whispered.

Regina couldn't help but smile as her eyelids grew heavy. "I love you so much, Emma," she mumbled.

"I love you too, Gina." She placed a sweet kiss to her forehead.