Helping Emma

Chapter 14

Regina wakes early the next morning wrapped in Emma's arms, a feeling she had quickly fallen in love with. She smiles contently as she feels Emma snuggling closer to her in her sleep. She looks at the clock on the nightstand and is disappointed to see that it's almost 7:30, which means they have to get their day started soon. She really feels so bad about everything that happened yesterday with Emma so she decides that they deserve some time off so she sends her sister a text asking if she can cover for them for a few hours. Then she falls back to sleep. A few hours later Emma wakes up and gives Regina a kiss on the cheek. She looks at the clock and says. "Shit. Regina wake up. Hurry. We over slept. It's almost noon". She quickly jumps out of bed. "Regina. Come on, wake up".  "Sweetheart, relax. I sent Zelena a text and told her we needed some time off. Come back here to bed it's ok". She says patting Emma's side of the bed. With a confused look on her face Emma gets back in bed. "Why didn't you tell me and why are we taking time off?"  "Well when I woke up this morning I was so comfortable in your arms I didn't want to move and after yesterday I just wanted to stay in your arms and be held by you. I love you Emma". They share a kiss. "I love you too Regina. Yesterday is over, let's just move on ok?"  Regina nods and they share another kiss. "So how much longer do we have?" Emma asks with a smile. "We can take as long as we need my love. Zelena will make sure everything gets done". "Good". Emma says with another kiss as she lays Regina back and she lays down with her. They have another round of love making, then hold each other tight. "Emma?"  "Hmm".  "You don't have to answer this right now if you don't want to, but are you really thinking about not going back to the Sheriff's department?"   Emma lets out a little sigh and rubs her hand up and down Regina's back. "In all honesty babe, I don't see myself as a sheriff anymore. Maybe it's because of what happened, but I think I'm going to take an early retirement. I'll still be getting a pension and medical care because I'm retiring with a medical condition caused by the job".  "I just want you to be happy my love, so if that's what you want to do I'm here for you".  "Being here with you makes me happy and I love working with you and working with the animals. I even like the manual labor. It feels good at the end of the day to know that these animals that can't care for themselves have been fed and loved". Regina looks at Emma and she has a big smile on her face. "You are such a wonderful person Emma Swan. I'm so glad I was able to meet you and fall in love with you". They lean in to give give each other a kiss. The sweet moment is broken by Regina's phone ringing. "That must be my sister" she picks up her phone and looks at the caller ID. She puts the call on speaker. "Hello Zelena, what can I do for you?"  "Regina do plan on having sex all day or are you going to help the rest of us run this farm today?"  "Oh I don't know Zelena, sex all day does sound so much better". Emma tries to laugh quietly. Zelena lets a sigh and just hangs up making the couple laugh. "Regina we really should go help out".  "I know I just like to mess with her. Let's go get something to eat, then we can get to work".  Emma nods and they get up and take a quick shower together then go down to the main kitchen and that's just where Zelena happens to be getting a bottle of water. "Well, well, we'll. Look who decided to get out of bed today. It's about time you two showed up to help the rest of us hard working people". "Zelena stop being so dramatic. It's not like I never had to cover for because you just had to leave town for a few days for that stupid concert".  "Country Fest is not a stupid concert. It was whole weekend of music, fun and games".  "Ya Whatever. So what still needs to be done?"  "Mostly paperwork now. The boys are out there tending to the animals now".  Emma joins the conversation and says. "Why don't I go help out the boys while you two take care of the office stuff".  "Don't you want something to eat dear?"  Emma reaches out for a granola bar. "This should work for a bit. I don't want to ruin my dinner". She says taking a deep sniff in and there is something in the oven that smells delicious. She gives Regina a kiss on the cheek and leaves to see to the animals. Regina just smiles as she watches her walk away. "So, is everything alright with you two?" Zelena asks. "Yes. Why wouldn't we be alright?"  "Well I thought I heard a door slam and then you yelling". "Everything is fine Zelena I don't want to talk about it".  "Oh come on Regina. I'm your sister. What happened?"   "It was just a little argument. That's all. Where are mother and daddy?"  They went into town to go shopping. Now spill it".  "Fine. Emma made a comment to me last night at dinner because I ate two plates. I took it the wrong way and got pissed. Then when she left your party without even saying anything to me, I got pissed off even more. Everything is fine now we talked it out".  "What did she say to get you so angry?"   "It was really nothing big, she just asked if I was hungry. I don't know why I got so angry. I've been a little moody lately I guess".  "And that's  it?"  "Yes Zelena that's it". She also grabs a granola bar and walks away to go to her office. A few hours later while Emma is doing some yard work, she hears something that sounds like an animal whimpering. She looks around and doesn't see anything so she goes back to work. She hears it again and again. She puts her rake against the barn and starts to look around. "What the hell is that sound?"  She walks a few feet closer to the house and she sees something moving under the stairs that leads to her apartment. She carefully walks over and slowly moves the tarp that's covering the firewood. She's not sure what she sees. It's a little dark so she bends down. "Oh my gosh. What are you doing under here?  Where did you come from?"  Emma reaches out and picks up a cute little brown puppy and holds it close to her. It seems scared and shakes as Emma tries to comfort it. "What's wrong little? Hmm what are you?" She looks and sees that it's a male puppy. "It's ok little guy your safe. I got ya". She gently pats the puppy and looks around trying to think of where he may have come from. He's small and she thinks he could only be about a month old. Are you thirsty buddy? Let's take you inside to get a drink ok?"  She carries him inside and quietly past Regina's office. She looks for a plastic bowl and fills it with cool tap water and puts the bowl and the puppy on the floor and he quickly starts to drink. "Good job buddy. Your thirsty aren't ya?"  Regina walks out of her office and she can hear Emma talking in the kitchen, so she goes to see what's going on. She walks in and can't see Emma, but she can hear her. "Your a little cutie pie. Yes you are".  "Emma dear, who are you talking to?"  "Babe, don't get mad". "Oh Emma please don't tell me you brought another baby goat into the house. They are fine out in the pen".  "No babe, it's not a goat". She leans down and picks up the puppy. "Emma, why is there a dog in my house?"   "It's a little puppy Regina and I found him under the back stairs. I don't know where he came from".  "Emma we don't have time for a puppy, we have to many other animals to worry about. Take him back". "Take him back where, under the stairs?  I can't do that. He's to little to fend for himself". "Emma I don't want a dog". Emma is sad, but it is Regina's house. "Can we at least try to find his owners. Can you give some of your neighbors a call. He's small, he couldn't have come from to far away". Regina shakes her head. "Fine Emma, I'll make a few calls. Keep a close eye on that thing. I better not find little puddles all over my hardwood floors".  "I promise babe, I'll clean up after him". Regina nods and walks back to her office to start making phone calls. Emma takes the dog and the water bowl back outside and plays with the puppy in the grass. After about the tenth call, Regina didn't know who else to call. No one was missing a dog or a puppy. Hearing a knock at her door she looked to see Bash and Franky there. "Hey guys what can I do for you".  "Sorry to bother you Regina, but we found something in the woods at the edge of the farm that we think you should know about".