Always and Forever

Arguing

After dinner, Regina sent the boys upstairs to get ready while she and Emma clean up the table and kitchen.

Emma's washing up the dishes when she feels a pair of arms snake around her waist and then she feels Regina resting her chin on her shoulder.

"Em.. Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Since at the station you seemed like your mind is somewhere else."

"I'm fine, Regina."

"Well, now I know for sure that you're not."

Emma turns around to look at her. "I just keep feeling like someone's watching us. I felt that way all day today. And now it makes me uneasy knowing that Hook was near our son. I don't know what kind of threat he poses now."

"Why didn't you say anything earlier? Did you think it wise to be by yourself when you feel this way? What if something was to happen to you, how would we have known?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection. I would have preferred for you to tell me what was going on and let me help instead" Regina said walking away.

"Gina, I'm sorry. I just wanted to keep you out of harms way."

"I'm not happy about it, but I used to be the harm that people had to keep away from, Swan. I don't need protecting. Especially when it comes to that imbecile. I'm ready to snap his neck."

"After what happened the last time, I just didn't want you to have to go through anything like that again."

"The only reason that moron got so far was because of the magical cuff. Without it, he's powerless against me. I can hold my own. I've been doing it my whole life without your help. I'm not some weak, pathetic damsel in distress, and I don't need to be treated like one either."

"You're right, I'm sorry I kept It from you. I still hate myself for what happened, because whether or not you'll say it, it is my fault. He was trying to hurt you, because of me. I just didn't want to give him that chance again."

"And how would you have stopped him? He's physically stronger and you still haven't gotten completely comfortable with using your magic. You and I both don't know what he's capable of doing, and I don't believe you would be okay if you ever needed to point a gun to him. It's one thing to threaten to shoot, it's another having to take someone's life. Take it from me, it's haunting. I'm not saying that I would kill him, but at least I could help to apprehend him, and not have your life at risk. It was idiotic of you to walk around this house alone, when he could have kidnapped you at any point in time. I was worried about you, Emma. You left for 20 minutes, without my knowing what the hell you were doing or where you were, and it made me panic. Especially with how weird you were behaving after the noise your heard in the station. Now is not the time for either of us to be wandering around lawlessly and alone."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I won't go wondering around by myself and I'll tell you when I feel like this again."

"Thank you."

"How about we go take a shower together."

"I'll go shower in the guest bathroom. I just want to get into bed quickly."

"Oh, okay. Well, you should shower in your own bathroom. I can go to the guest bathroom."

"Thanks" Regina says as she kisses Emma's cheek and walks away to go shower. She kisses her with hopes that Emma feels normal and doesn't realize that she still is indeed still upset with her. 

Regina finishes up her nightly lotion routine and slides under the comforters on her side of the bed, with her back faced to Emma. 

"Gina?"

"Yes?"

"I love you"

"I love you, too."

Emma shifts closer to Regina and wraps her arm around her, pulling her back into her front, then kisses her temple. "I am sorry."

"I know."

"Then please forgive me."

"I have"

"It doesn't seem like it."

"I guess that's your own guilt making you feel as such."

"Come on, Gina." Emma says softly, leaving soft delicate kisses on Regina's neck knowing this will make her melt."

"Emma, I'm trying to sleep, would you please stop. I told you, you're forgiven."

"Look at me."

"Emma, I'm tired right now."

"Please, just look at me."

Regina turns around to look at her. "What, Em?"

"You are strong. You are beautiful. You are kind. You are passionate. You are loving. You are not weak, heartless, or a damsel in distress. I shouldn't have hid anything from you. I know that. I just wanted to be your savior. Not everyone else's."

"You have saved me Emma. But this is not the way to go about trying to "save" me. You could have gotten hurt, and do you know what that would have done to me?

"I know, I know. I wasn't thinking."

"That's nothing new. You make me feel like you think I'm weak or something. Like I haven't been by your side at every battle and survived. Yes, I went through some terrible things and I can understand why you don't want me to face him, however I am capable. Before you were around, I was the one who took care of myself from every bad villain or situation. I'm not useless. But that's how you made me feel by trying to keep me away instead of us going through this together."

"I'm sorry. I was insensitive for not thinking about your feelings this way. My intentions were pure, I honestly didn't think that far ahead to realize you would feel this way. I just don't want to ever have to wonder what a life without you would be like, and keeping you out of harms way does that."

"And do you think I want to think about what a life without you would be like?"

"I get it now, Gina. and I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

 "I'm sorry. It won't happen again" Emma says and starts attacking her neck with kisses. 

"Stop it, Swan" Regina says between giggles and trying to push Emma off of her.

Emma holds both of her hands up over her head. "I love you, gorgeous."

"I love you, too."

Emma pulls Regina to her side allowing Regina to rest her head on her chest. She kisses the top if Regina's head softly. "I'm going to need you now and forever. No matter how many air head mistakes I make, you're forever stuck with me, because I won't ever let you go, Gina. You're my everything. I don't care how fast we're moving, I know this right here, this is my forever. You are."

"I think it's the other way around. I don't think I'd be able to move forward without you. You're my North Star. You make me want to continue being better. You make me excited to go through life with you. I want everything and more."

"You have nothing to worry about, My Queen. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams, My Swan."