The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 22

You have a place in my heart no one else could ever have. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Regina woke up with her arm draped over Emma's torso, cuddled against the other woman who held her tight in her arms. She had been waking up like this almost every day for the past week and she was loving it.

The nightmare was completely gone. There's something about being wrapped in Emma's strong, protective grasp and being held close to her at night that made her feel safe and loved.

She looked up, running her fingertips softly across the woman's jaw.

She felt Emma shift slightly as a small smile crept across her face. "You're staring," she accused, her morning voice soft and raspy.

"I was admiring," Regina snapped back, correcting her.

Emma chuckled as her grip tightened. "It's creepy," she complained as she went to place a kiss on her neck.

Regina quickly dodged her advance and threw her leg across the blonde's stomach so she was straddling her waist. "I'm sorry that you're beautiful and distracting, Swan," she quipped playfully.

Emma chuckled, running her hands along her waist. "Clearly you haven't seen yourself recently," she responded as she fiddled with the end of the black nightdress Regina was wearing.

Regina leaned forward and placed a loving kiss on her lips to make up for the one that she deprived her of. The blonde returned it happily, slipping her hands under the nightdress to trail her fingertips over her soft stomach. Regina bit down lightly on her lower lip in response to the advance, earning a soft moan. She pulled away, releasing Emma's lip with a soft pop, and laid back down next to her.

Emma smiled, wrapping her arms around her waist again, pulling her back in to her side.

Regina stared up at her beautiful sea-green eyes. "Em?"

She looked down at her with a slightly worried expression on her face. "What's wrong, Gina?" she asked as she gently tucked a loose strand of her raven hair behind her ear.

Regina felt her mouth go dry.

Come on, Regina! Don't be a coward! It's just a simple question!

She fiddled with the hem of Emma's tank top absentmindedly. "How would you feel if I asked you to stay her? Um... Permanently. With Henry and me?" she mumbled slowly. Regina bit the inside of her cheek nervously as she waited for her to respond.

Emma's gaze softened slightly. "You want me to move in?" she asked slowly.

Regina nodded. "You're here all the time anyway and I sleep better with you holding me," she mumbled biting her lower lip. She dropped her gaze. "Never mind, I just thought-"

Emma cut her off, cupping her cheek and guiding her face up to look at her again. "Calm down, Gina," she whispered. "I would love to."

Regina's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"

"Of course. You and Henry mean everything to me and I would love to be here all the time with you both."

She pressed their lips together. "I love you," Regina mumbled softly.

#

They eventually pried themselves from the bed and headed down to the kitchen hand in hand to find Henry sitting at the island eating a bowl of cereal while fiddling with his phone.

He looked up at them and smiled. "Hey, moms," he greeted. He put his phone down and looked at his brunette mother. "Did you ask her mom?" he asked, his eyes widening with excitement.

Regina chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I did," she mumbled, wrapping my arm around Emma's waist, pulling her close to her side.

He shifted in his seat. "And..." he trailed off waiting for the answer.

"I'm staying, kid," Emma told him with a short laugh.

A wide smile crossed the young boy's face as he leapt to his feet and tackled them into a hug.

They wrapped their arms firmly around him. "We can finally be a proper family now," he mumbled.

His words made Regina's heart clench from inside her chest. A real family.

"Yeah, kid. We will be," Emma whispered.