Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Eighteen

As Emma approaches the all too familiar white mansion, a smile instantly blooms like a perky little flower on a shining spring day. She's absolutely giddy and she is not one to do giddy, but the porch light is illuminating over the front door, waiting for her to finally come home. Home. It's so surreal to think this place she once dreaded is now the place she can't wait to run to.

She slowly walks up the steps, vowing to memorize this moment, where her heart is full, and her body is buzzing with excitement for her future. She stops in front of the door, that has been slammed in her face too many times to count and she hesitates, wondering if she should knock, because it's not like she has a key yet. Yet. She decides to take a chance, her fingers curling around the doorknob and when there is no resistance her eyebrows skyrocket in surprise. That's when she is overwhelmed with love, knowing that Regina is waiting for her and left the door unlocked, so she could walk right in and not feel like a stranger still when it comes to this house.

She may need an extra moment to compose herself and swallow back the tears of joy swelling in her eyes. It took thirty-four years, but she finally found her home.

"Regina?" She cheerfully calls out and she's not even slightly embarrassed how ecstatic she sounds.

She kicks off her boots, ready to search the mansion for a certain mayor, but a little voice whispers in the back of her mind and she immediately straightens her shoes by the door. She knows Regina is a neat freak and she definitely doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot.

"Regina?" She hollers again, her socks padding softly against the beautiful hardwood floors as she makes her way toward the kitchen.

"In here!" Regina yells back to her, sounding a little muffled.

Emma follows her voice down the hall that's off the kitchen. She pauses for a moment as the realization washes over her that she has never been in this part of the house before. She discovers another room tucked in the back and when she peeks inside, she finds the most elaborate laundry room she has ever laid eyes on. However, that thought quickly vanishes when she finds Regina pulling clothes out of the washing machine and into the dryer.

She smirks, she really can't help it, as she leans against the doorframe with her hands securely tucked into the back pockets of her jeans. She's absolutely enthralled with the scene unfolding before, because truthfully, she never thought about Regina actually doing laundry.

"It's not polite to stare, Emma..." Regina's seductive tone reprimands her, but it only seems to persuade that sappy grin to spread even wider across Emma's face.

"I'm sorry, but I never expected you to do laundry."

Regina's head snaps up so quickly, Emma worries she may have whiplash. Those dark eyes narrow pointedly as Regina mindlessly shakes her head. "What? How do you expect me to have clean clothes? Or our son for that matter? Where do you think Henry gets his clean clothes from?"

"I don't know?" Emma sheepishly responds, her face scrunching up as she shrugs so innocently. "I guess I just assumed you poofed them clean."

Regina scoffs, turning her attention back to her task at hand. "I think you forget, Miss Swan," and oh how Emma loves the way she purrs that name, "I lived here for twenty-eight years without magic. I had to do laundry, cook, clean-"

"You clean?" She interrupts, her voice scaling high into a pitch that is so unlike her.

"Jeez Emma, you're acting like I'm some helpless fool!"

"I'm sorry," Emma chuckles lightly, pushing off the doorframe. "I just assumed you used your magic for a lot more." She clenches those curvy hips and tugs Regina flush against her body. "It's actually kinda hot, seeing you all domesticated," she teases before she crashes her lips against the scowl leering at her.