Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Twenty-One

They ran all the way to Regina's house to make sure she was safe against the wild mob ready to burn her at the stake, but this was the real world and Emma would be damned if she ever allowed such an atrocious situation to occur. At least that's what she told her heart to reason with why it was beating so fiercely.

She couldn't see much of anything as they charged closer, except for a brick wall of people blocking the front entrance to Regina's mansion. As the violent screams of the revengeful crowd grew louder, so did the thumping in Emma's chest. She desperately tried to fight her way through the raging townsfolk, which only caused her panic to increase. She could hear her own blood pounding in her ears as her body propelled her forward from adrenaline alone.

She was horrified at the idea of Regina being tortured for her sins and she told herself the fear was solely driven for Henry's sake. Her frantic eyes scanned the area just as she finally broke through the wall of people. That's when she discovered the horrific sight of Whale pinning Regina against her own house. The moment she witnessed his disgusting hands reaching up toward her neck, she went into full-blown panic mode.

"Let her go! Let her go! Let. Her. Go!" She hysterically shouted, hopelessly reaching out to save Regina.

"Emma, wake up. Wake up!" Killian's voice tears away the haunting dream and slams her back to reality.

She blinks furiously, searching for a clear-cut answer as to where the hell she is. Her heart aches as it rages against sternum and she gasps hysterically for her next breath. She fights for a split second, her body flailing about because she needs to save Regina, but then his voice is calling to her again. 

"Relax, Emma, I'm here for you, love. It was only a dream," he tenderly whispers before his lips brush against her damp forehead.

A dream? She blinks again, her eyes drifting around the dark room to assess the world around her. Was it only a dream? It just...felt so real...but why would their town attack Regina? Why would anyone want to harm that sweet woman?

That's what she's been asking herself every damn night for the last four weeks. Regina and her family moved in six weeks ago and at least once a week, Emma dreams about that woman in the most peculiar ways. She would accept the dreams if they were some dirty little fantasies that she refuses to ever tell another soul about, but it's not like that at all. Every time it's like they are in another world, needing to save and protect one another and she has no idea even where to begin sorting these dreams out.

"What was the dream about this time?" Killian mumbles against her shoulder, peppering the slick flesh with soothing kisses to remind her where she truly is.

"No-nothing...just my childhood again," she vaguely replies, attempting to sound aloof.

She inhales sharply, slithering back down in bed and hoping to catch up on some sleep, but, like most nights where her mind is fogged by Regina's presence, she spends the rest of the night blinking up at the ceiling and failing to piece the puzzle back together again.

~~~~~

She has to google what certain dreams are supposed to symbolize in a person's life because she cannot possibly explain this to Regina. The woman will think she is bat-shit crazy, she concludes as she swipes mayonnaise across Henry's sandwich for his lunch. That's as far as her mind wanders off to before someone is snaking their arms around her waist.

"Jeez," she screeches, peeking over her shoulder to find her husband pouting at her. "You scared me. Don't ever approach a girl from behind when she has a knife in her hand," she teases, holding the knife up against his throat, but he chuckles and slaps a hard kiss to her cheek. And just as he always does, his wet kiss trails down her neck while his sneaky fingers push her shirt off her shoulder and his lips continue their attack. "Don't forget, I have parent-teacher conferences tonight after work, so make sure you're home at four o'clock when Henry gets home from school."