Making Exceptions (swanqueen)

Chapter 10: All Night Long

When she pulled away she looked straight into hazel orbs, "You deserve the best, Emma. You do."

"And I've found it."

Regina slid her head down onto the blonde's chest and snuggled in. She could get used to being held, being protected, being loved again.

Emma stared up at the ceiling, letting her mind run rampant. She had so much to think about. The night went perfectly, though it how it went was not as Emma had planned. After the initial panic and embarrassment that was the missing parmesan cheese, everything ran smoothly. Regina loaned her what she needed to finish making dinner, the Mills family actually enjoyed the food (though Henry did mention something about it being shaped like a dinosaur next time), and now she was lying on the most comfortable couch in the entire world, holding one of the most spectacular women of the entire world.

She looked down at said woman and took in her features. If Regina was gorgeous when awake, there was something more to be said when the woman was sleeping peacefully. The worry, the stress, it had all left her, leaving a young, faintly smiling, beautiful woman in it's wake. Emma frowned, wondering what was always tugging at Regina's mind; what horror stories she must have lived and relived, to have such high walls built around her, never planning on letting anyone in.

But she let me in, Emma thought, sort of. She let me meet her wonderful kid that she obviously loves and would protect above all else. She let me into her house. She let me into her workplace. She'll let me into her past when she's ready.

The blonde smiled again. She was right. The brunette would let her in once she realized Emma wasn't planning on going anywhere. At some point, Regina would see how Emma truly felt, and would let her in. Completely.

The blonde was snapped out of her happy thoughts by the sound of small feet pitter-pattering on the hardwood floor and small voice whispering, "Momma?"

Emma unraveled herself from the brunette woman in her arms and stood up, her legs wobbly from inactivity. Nonetheless, she made it around the couch without falling, and crouched down to be at eye level with the child.

"Hey, Henry," she greeted with a smile, then noticed the off look on his face. It was almost as if he was scared, maybe even embarrassed. "What's wrong, buddy?" The blonde asked, placing a comforting arm on his shoulder.

Before she knew it, a small mass hurtled into her, almost sending her spiralling backwards, and tiny arms wrapped around her neck. She heard sniffling in her ears.

"Henry, bud," she prompted, "I can't fix whatever's wrong if you don't tell me about it."

"There's... There's monstas unda my bed," he whispered, trying not to cry. "And I can't sleep with 'em there."

Emma pulled back and looked at the boy, stifling the yawn that threatened to emerge from her mouth, "How 'bout I go slay 'em for ya? Can you sleep then?"

The boy shook his head, pouting, "I just wanna sleep in Momma's bed tanight."

The blonde sat back on her heels, wondering how she was going to make that possible. There was no way she would deny the boy his mother. It wasn't her place to make that decision, and- Emma thought back to her nights in the system when she feared the monsters her foster siblings tormented her with stories of- a mother's protection was just the thing to help a kid sleep at night.

"Alright," Emma finally responded. "Will you help me get Momma to her room?"

The little boy pulled back and looked at the blonde woman. "You want me to wake her up?" he questioned, a devious smile starting to take place of his earlier frown.