hunnyfresh - Letters from War

"Why—you were moving on." Emma stood up suddenly as dread filled her. "You were moving on, and I came back, and I fucked up all your progress. I should go. I should—"

She took two steps to leave the room before Regina tugged on her wrist and pulled her back so they were flush against one another. Emma could barely keep eye contact with the older woman. How could she when she had never felt more selfish than in that moment? Emma was a runner. That's what she was good at. But of course, she even messed that up too by coming back a broken mess and—Regina's lips were on hers, pressing firmly as if to physically stop the voices in Emma's mind from filling her with doubt.

"Yes, we were trying to," Regina admitted quietly, still pressed against Emma's pliant body. "But your family has been waiting for you, and if you honestly believe that we would prefer a phantom image than the real Emma Swan, then I will accompany you to the doctor to have a further look at your brain."

Emma had always prepared for the worst case scenario. She was used to fighting through storms and armies and trudging through life like she was waist-deep in a trench of molasses. But Regina, with her wide, wonderful eyes accepting her home, promising to be there every step of the way was too overwhelming to be real. But it was, and even though the hard part wasn't over — hell, it was just beginning — nothing in the world felt easier.

"We tried to let go," Regina continued. "Actually, Dr. Hopper tried to pry open my grip on you, and I may have lashed out on him a handful of times. But you never once stopped being a part of this family."

Emma laughed, hysterically so, as her shoulders shook in Regina's arms. It was too much, too overwhelming. But it was everything she needed to hear. Her laughter bordered on madness as she finally choked out the first coherent thought that came to mind. "You—you're awesome."

Regina matched her absurd laughter because she felt anything but, yet coming from Emma, she had to admit: this was awesome.

They talked for hours, moving through various rooms in the house as if christening every room with their togetherness because though it was so familiar it was all so new. Emma revealed most of what she had been through as best as she could, answering Regina's questions and accepting her kisses as if that alone could take away the memories. Twice Emma had to take a break when she felt a phantom pain in her head and hand, but Regina had been patient, filling the gap with trips she and Henry had taken and how much had happened over the years.

When Regina woke this morning to drop Henry off at his overnight retreat, never would she have thought that today of all days every wish and prayer she had made over the years would be answered. But there Emma was, fingers forever clasped with hers, alive . The realization, though not new yet still amazing, would strike Regina at odd points throughout the day and halfway through a story or as they walked from room to room, Regina would stop them and kiss Emma. Emma shared the same sentiment as she would continuously tug Regina closer to her, as if their bodies just couldn't get enough.

Daylight gave way to evening, and the emotional exhaustion of the day finally caught up to both women as they sat in the living room, combing through the box of Emma's belongings Regina had kept in her room. Emma shared the pictures she had drawn in rehab. Regina presented the entire collection of her letters. As their words shook and their bodies tingled with every minuscule yet promising touch, their minds gave way to sleep as they curled together on the couch.

Emma couldn't remember the last time she had fallen asleep so soundly with no haunting memories or waking every hour just to grab her bearings, but with a throw pillow tossed over her face, and Regina nestled against her body like she was the comfiest mattress in the world, Emma felt safe, secure, carefree. A touch of a smile graced her lips as she gripped Regina tighter, breathing in slowly and exhaling deeply as not to wake her.

Their talk today just only skimmed the surface, but to know that they had another chance lifted the burden off their shoulders. Emma was nowhere near perfect when it came to her rehab, and Regina's progress had been flipped on its head completely, but they were never one for normal circumstances, and if this was one more obstacle in their course, then at least they had the chance to do it together.

Together.

They were finally together again. That touch of a smile bloomed across her face as she shimmied her head from the pillow and pressed a kiss to the top of Regina's head.

"Go to sleep," Regina muttered groggily, fisting Emma's shirt in a tight grip and buried her head into Emma's neck.

"Okay." She closed her eyes, her palm drawing lazy circles on Regina's back under her shirt, and let her mind relax. She'd wake again because this was no dream.

She woke less than an hour later with a start when she heard the latch of the front door unlock and open and heavy boots shuffle at the bottom of the foyer. By the time her senses fully kicked in, a voice boomed overhead.

" What the hell, Regina?! "

Both women sat up sharply, the pillow sliding off of Emma's face and bopping the top of Regina's head before falling to the floor. August, standing paralyzed above them, gawked at Emma like he had seen a ghost.

"No way."

Emma squinted up at him as Regina, still sleep-ridden, shook her head and pushed them back flat on the couch. "Go away," the brunette muttered.

"Emma!" August screamed in joy. Being physically pulled from sleep was not something Regina had anticipated as she yelped when August grabbed her arm and pulled her off Emma, all but tossing her to the other side of the couch before swooping in and grabbing Emma by the waist. She almost evaded his attempts, but seeing the grin on his face, she let him lift her up like a rag doll and swing her onto her feet in a bone-crushing hug. "Are you freaking kidding me?! Emma!"

"You're suffocating me," she groaned.

"Good!" He squeezed tighter before finally setting her down on her feet. Regina grinned, smiling fondly at them as she repositioned herself into the crook of the couch. August beamed at her, holding her face between his palms as he scanned her with wild eyes. Then he flicked her temple hard. "Where the hell were you?"

"Ow!" She pressed a hand against her temple and used her free one to push him back.

He ignored that and moved to hug her again. "Jesus Christ, you're back. I knew it. I knew it. I told you, Regina!"

"You did," Regina agreed quietly as she stood.

All Emma could do was laugh as she hugged her brother back, and when he finally released her just an inch, Regina pressed an arm to her shoulder and motioned to the entrance of the room. Leaving them alone, August held Emma at arm's length and gave her another examination. Then he smacked her shoulder. "Idiot!"

"Dude!" She rubbed her right shoulder as a low hum of pain shot through to her elbow and phantom hand.

"Shit." August finally took in her state and leaned in to help massage the muscle there. When she hissed and stretched out her arm, his voice softened. "Jesus, Em."

"Just a scratch," she offered lamely with a shrug before squinting at him again. "Where's your beard?"

"Where's your hand?"

"Probably in a landfill by now," she answered smartly.

"Why are you wearing a cosmesis?" August examined her harness and the flesh-like covering of her hand. "You can't do shit with this."

"My other one's upstairs."

"Upstairs?" He waggled his eyebrows knowingly, earning a blush and eyeroll from the blonde. He shook his head unable to keep his eyes off her. "You gave us a scare."

Her smile wavered. "I was pretty scared myself."