Operation Happy Ending: Chapter Five

I don't own Once Upon A Time.

Please enjoy. Oh fair warning – sex. F/F sex (obviously).

Emma had really thought that the day was going to go well. She had a nice bunch of flowers for Regina and had filled a vase with water and they looked really good on the counter. Emma fussed over them for a moment or two before nodding – they looked near about perfect to her – and examined the rest of the kitchen. It was practically spotless, other than the two mugs of steaming coffee. She'd wanted everything to be perfect because really, how often did she wake up before Regina? The answer was rarely – very rarely.

When she heard the very light pad of feet on the stairs, Emma quickly moved the mug with darker coffee within it to Regina's favourite seat, the one she happily sank into every Sunday morning. This morning was no different. Barely a minute after Emma had sat across from the chair, sipping her own coffee, Regina practically dove into her seat and brought the delicious beverage to her lips. Emma watched her, a smile dancing over her face. Regina was so beautiful. She was so—

"What are you looking at?" Regina snapped.

Oh no. Testy morning.

"You?" Emma said weakly, hoping to draw less attention to herself. Attention, when given to one via a testy Regina, was never a good thing. She sunk into the pillows and, in her haste, slopped a few drops of her coffee onto the couch. She watched the traitorous liquid stain the fabric and closed her eyes. Great.

Regina's eyes narrowed and Emma surreptitiously covered the stain with her hand and urged it to disappear. Unfortunately, the magical plea was heard loud and clear and when she took her hand away not only had the stain disappeared, but the colouring of the fabric had as well, leaving an interesting and starkly white imprint of Emma's hand.

"Oh fuck," Emma murmured.

Regina's eyes narrowed further and further still when she saw that Henry was lingering in the doorway. Emma imagined that smoke was seconds away from billowing from her ears. "Language, Miss Swan!" she chastised. Emma's head snapped up and it was her turn to narrow her eyes.

"Emma," she reminded her lover. "You can't just call me Miss Swan whenever the hell you feel like it, Regina."

"I can if I feel that you are in need of being reminded of common courtesy and etiquette, Miss Swan," Regina said stiffly.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Good morning, kid," she said, not bothering to respond to Regina. Henry smiled but eyed the pair warily.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"It's fine," Emma promised, smiling stiffly. She had been so sure that the morning would be perfect! She had that feeling this morning – the one that said everything was going to go well. The one that made you hop out of bed, eager to greet the new day, and everything you saw – old or new didn't matter – was met with a smile and a sense of confidence. And since that moment of leaping out of bed, her morning had just gone downhill.

"It is not fine!" Regina disagreed. "Your mother has ruined my couch with her inability to master drinking and not spilling anything." She glared at the rather conspicuous handprint. Henry leant over to take a peek and stifled a grin. Emma rolled her eyes.

"It's not that bad, Regina. I'll fix it. Don't worry."

"You won't be touching it," the brunette said with a sniff. "You've done quite enough damage, thank you very much. I do not wish to see what damage you are capable of dealing when, heaven forbid, you think you are helping."

And that, Emma thought, was her cue to just be quiet and sit very still. Clearly she couldn't trust her gut – that traitorous gut that told her today would be good, which was telling her to defend herself once again to Regina – and so she just took the abuse silently and tried to ignore it.

Breakfast was eaten separately. Emma was disappointed. She had grown used to the pleasure of eating with her family. A special meal: pancakes, waffles, bacon and eggs, anything other than the cereal she ate six days of the week. A meal that really helped her to settle the end of the week in a pleasant note. Instead, today she was stuck with her dreary cereal, and with eating by herself, and with washing her bowl alone without any form of companionship.

By the time lunch was nearing, Emma was out of distractions. Regina had locked herself in her office. Henry had done the same immediately following his rushed breakfast. Thus, Emma was left to her wanderings. She, bored, had scrubbed every surface she had access to. She didn't clean frequently but when she did – more often than not driven by restlessness – she didn't let up until every speck was gone.

But it wasn't even midday by the time Emma was finished and the day loomed ahead of her, monolithic in its pathetic bleakness, and she found that she didn't want to face it alone. She rapped on Regina's study door but was sent away with a sharp 'not now, Miss Swan!' in Regina's clipped voice.

Emma rested her head on the cool wood of the door and sighed. She reached for the handle but she was shocked by the mild locking spell that Regina had placed on the metal. She could, of course, break the spell. But she didn't. Instead, she snatched up her i-Pod, stalked out of the house in her trainers, and began to run.

Quite literally.

She'd always been a runner. It was her sport of choice in high school and she enjoyed it. She liked early morning jogs and she had always liked chasing down the runners in her line of work. She was good at it. Of course, there was the side effect of her being too good at it. And, therefore, running from most opportunities that had presented themselves with a frightening amount of want within her chest.

But that wasn't what she was doing today. She felt the pound of her feet on the pavement and heard the music in her ears and migrating into her head and into the rhythm of her blood and ran until her legs felt like jelly and her stomach protested. Only then did she look up from the concrete pavement and look around, not recognising the buildings or the streets. She pulled out her music and it was then, with great relief, that she heard Ruby's voice calling to her.

"Emma!" she shouted. "What the actual fuck?"

The vulgarity of her best friend made Emma grin. "Hey. What's up?" The red-streaked waitress glowered at Emma and punched her in the arm at half-strength. Which was, of course, enough to knock a heavy bruise into her flesh. Emma flinched and brought up a hand to cover the sore area. "Ow! Shit Ruby, what was that for?"

"You didn't hear me or something?" Ruby said. "I've been calling to you for like four streets."

Emma grinned sheepishly, still rubbing at her arm. "Sorry. I had my music on pretty loud." Ruby looked down at the earphones. Emma could hear them from where they dangled around her neck, which meant that Ruby certainly could. They really were quite loud.

"Everything okay?" Ruby queried. She knew her friend liked to run but…running was one thing and running until near exhaustion and then even further was a little out of character for the normally laidback sheriff.

Emma shrugged. "Just one of those days, you know?" Ruby nodded but didn't look convinced. Emma shook her head. "Don't even worry about it."

"Oh you know I will," Ruby corrected her. "Why don't we sit down," she said, eyeing Emma's still trembling legs, "and you tell Auntie Ruby all about it."

Emma wrinkled her nose. "You know, it's weird that you kind of are my aunt," she commented.

"Shut it. Now tell me everything."

Emma sighed. "It really is nothing." She obligingly sat, however, and stared at the paint peeling from the walls of the house opposite. She frowned. Ruby waited, staring at Emma, waiting and waiting. Emma opened her mouth. "It's just, you know those days where everything can't help but go well?" Ruby nodded. "I thought today was going to be like that. I was sure of it," she said forcefully.

"And it hasn't been?" Emma shrugged again and Ruby wanted to shake her. So she did, just a little. "I don't want your apathy, woman! Give me a proper answer."

"Alright, alright. Hands off!" Ruby let her go and Emma mimed dusting off her shoulders. Then she relaxed into her friend's side. "It hasn't gone well. I mean, I had flowers out and everything and I made coffee." Emma wrinkled her nose. "But then Regina wasn't in a good mood and I spilt my coffee and I ruined the couch and I swore in front of Henry and," Emma rubbed her forehead, "Jesus. I don't know. I don't know how to fix something that isn't directly my fault, you know? Regina was just cranky. And I was antsy and I cleaned the whole house and then I was still too worked up so I went on a run and here we are."

Ruby nodded. And she kept nodding for a full minute until she shook her head. "I've got nothing."

Emma's mouth dropped open. "What? No. Don't give me that bullshit – you always have an answer for this kind of shit!"

"Well, sorry Em, not this time. I mean, what can I say when you're trying to hard and Regina is in a bad mood? There's nothing you can do. Just go home, have dinner, and tomorrow will be better." Ruby shrugged. "Everyday is a new day. Maybe everything will go exactly as you want it to tomorrow."

Emma sighed. "I guess."

"Now, want me to walk you back?" Ruby looked her friend up and down. "Because you look a little pale and I don't want you fainting."

"I'm fine." Emma stood and swayed a little bit. Ruby raised her brows in an 'I told you so' movement and Emma blushed. "But I wouldn't mind some company?"

"Mhmm sure. Okay, let's go."

The walk back was longer than Emma realised. Much longer. Thankfully, they just walked to Ruby's car – who had pulled over to talk to Emma but then had been forced to chase after the blonde woman – and Ruby drove her home.

"Thanks for the ride," Emma said. She hesitated and Ruby gave her a kind smile.

"No worries. Just go in, Emma. What is there to worry about?"

"Nothing."

Ruby sped off but Emma still loitered outside for a few minutes feeling sorry for herself. Finally she ran and hand through her hair and strode up to the door. She pushed it open and was halfway up to the room she shared with Regina when said woman came out of the bedroom, eyes wild.

"Emma?" she gasped.

The sheriff was at her side in seconds. Her hands moved over Regina, checking that she was whole and hale, terrified by the red-rimmed eyes and streaks that told her that the darker woman had been crying.

"What's wrong, love?" she murmured, crouching slightly and tilting Regina's face up. She cupped her cheeks and stroked the soft skin with her thumbs. "Regina, what's wrong?"

But the brunette just shook her head and moved, excruciatingly slowly, to press her head into the crook of Emma's neck. Emma hesitated for a moment, feeling sweaty and gross, but Regina clearly didn't mind so she obediently wrapped her arms around the woman and held her close for as long as she needed her to. Though, admittedly, she shifted them so that Regina was effectively holding her up against the wall because she was exhausted.

Emma closed her eyes and kissed Regina's head softly, happy to have the woman close. She was content to just rest there and her heart was full with the thought that Regina was with her…until she felt a little nip on her collarbone and a wet trail being licked from her neck up to her ear.

"Regina," she moaned, feeling her body warming under Regina's ministrations. "What are you doing?"

"You smell so good," Regina murmured. She bit a little harder into the flesh of Emma's neck and pressed her body closer and closer. She slipped a thigh between Emma's legs and the sensation coupled with her already wavering legs caused the sheriff to collapse against Regina's body, bringing her deliciously under Regina's control. Regina flexed her leg and relished in the wanton growl it caused and the feeling of Emma's abdomen tightening.

"What – ah – what are you doing, Regina?" Emma gasped again. Not that she wasn't enjoyed Regina's ministrations because, really, who wouldn't? But she was confused at the abrupt change in pace and mood.

Regina didn't answer. In fact, she felt like punishing Emma in the most delicious way possible for her interruption and began to suck almost violently at Emma's neck. It felt like Regina was attempting to draw any objections out right through Emma's pores and damn if it didn't feel good. The blonde's head thumped back against the wall and arched her neck, letting Regina have her way. A rumble from deep in Regina's throat crackled out and Emma felt her arms move out and away from Regina until they were shackled against the wall.

"Regina?" Emma asked. Her eyes were wide. The other woman had never before used magic in their lovemaking and Emma was a little wary. Particularly since, now that she had a modicum of cognitive function returning to her brain, Regina was still clearly upset.

The darker woman avoided eye contact and set to work in a brisk fashion. Still predatory and desirous, but also as if she had a point she had to prove. Emma's heart sank.

"Jefferson," she said clearly and loudly, even though the man's name gave her the shivers – technically, that was the reason they had selected it as their safe word as he unerringly put an end to any sexual ideas at all. Regina jumped backwards away from Emma as if stung and then, seeing Emma watching her cautiously, scurried into their bedroom without a word. "Oh god dammit it," Emma grumbled, struggling against the bonds. "Regina!" she shouted. "Come back here!"

The bedroom door slammed and Emma sighed. She closed her eyes and focused on untangling the binds she could feel curled around her wrists. One by one, they slipped away and she pulled free with a nod of 'yeah, I'm a badass' before striding into the bedroom. She blew the door out of the way, splintering it, when she noticed that Regina had put another locking charm on this door as well. Pfft. As if that would stop her.

"Emma! My door!" Regina shrieked.

Emma shrugged. "I'll fix it later. Or buy you a new one. Don't worry about it." She stepped close and ran her hands up from Regina's elbows to her shoulders. Regina stiffened and Emma drew her hands back, trailing her fingertips lightly over her skin. Then she sat on their bed and looked up at the darker woman, somehow knowing that she needed to feel stronger, feel independent and…just not small. So Emma tried her best to make herself smaller and waited for Regina to speak.

"What are you doing?" Regina asked, frowning, when Emma drew her knees up to her chest.

"Waiting." Emma blinked lazily. She yawned.

"Bored of me already?" Regina snarked, eyes narrowing at Emma's yawn. The blonde tilted her head to the side, confused.

"I could never be bored of you," she said quietly. "If this is about what happened outside," Emma continued, thinking about the magic Regina had used, "I think I'm okay with it but we should probably talk about it first. I mean, using magic could only make our totally awesome sex even more awesome," she said lightly.

Regina managed a tiny smirk – thinking, no doubt, of their 'totally awesome' sexual encounters – but her shoulders looked like they desperately wished to slump and her eyes were still rimmed with red. "Perhaps another time," she said, turning away from Emma.

"Regina," Emma said sternly. "Look at me." Regina's eyes moved slowly to Emma's. Emma softened, looking entreatingly instead at her lover. "Tell me what's wrong. Please?"

Regina swallowed and, with considerable effort, lowered her walls. Suddenly, her hands interlocked and she fiddled with her fingers. It was a habit she had when she was feeling particularly out of sorts. Emma witnessed the abrupt change, seeing in Regina vulnerability, sadness and no small amount of fear. "The problem…" she began. Her words stuck in her throat and she swallowed, drawing saliva into her mouth. "I love you."

Emma smiled. "We've had that discussion, Regina. There's nothing wrong with love or loving me." There was a little flicker in her eyes. She couldn't help, as she always had, but think that perhaps there was something wrong with loving her. She rejected the thought. Regina was hers and she was Regina's.

"There is when you insist on leaving!" Regina snapped. The way she lifted her hand to her mouth, though, as if trying to catch the words that had been released told Emma that she hadn't meant to say it. Which meant that it was an undiluted truth.

Emma eased to her feet and, quite deliberately, toed off her running shoes and kicked them to the door of their wardrobe. She wiggled her toes in her socks and dug her hands into her pockets, unsure of what her next action should be. "I didn't mean to scare you," she murmured quietly.

"I'm angry, not scared."

"Right, which is why you were crying," Emma nodded. Regina glowered at her.

"I was furious."

"Mhmm. Why were you so scared?"

"Because you left me!" Regina snapped. Her hands moved into their intimidating position on her hips and the air seemed to crackle around her. "You left me!"

"What was I supposed to do, Regina? Yell at you?" Emma held out her hands widely to the sides.

"Yes!" Regina wheeled away and then rounded back on Emma, unsure whether she wanted to be further away or closer, closer. "I don't know," she admitted. "I just," she blinked back tears again. "I came out of the study and I called your name and you weren't here. You've never left on a Sunday," she said quietly.

Emma looked to the ground. "I put flowers in the kitchen," she said after a few minutes of silence. "And I made you coffee. I cleaned the house when you locked yourself in the study." Regina blinked. "I love you Regina but we can't be the perfect couple all the time. You're going to be cranky and I'm going to try too hard." She said exactly what Ruby had told her, hoping that it would speak to Regina as well. "But don't you ever doubt that I love you with everything that I am."

"Why are you always the one fixing us?" Regina laughed sadly, sniffling. Emma grinned and pulled her woman into her arms.

"Don't worry. I'm sure I'll have my moments." She rested her chin on Regina's forehead. "You want to know my secret?" she asked Regina softly. Her answer was a little nod. "You and me? Us? All of this doesn't scare me. I feel like I'm finally home." She smiled. "And I might take a break or two and go for a run but I'm never leaving you."

"This petrifies me," Regina whispered. "All morning I could see I was hurting you but I…I couldn't stop myself."

"Madame Mayor," Emma scolded lightly, "were you testing me?"

"I," Regina pulled back and frowned thoughtfully. "I, yes. I might have been. I'm sorry," she apologised honestly. "I didn't realise I'd been doing that."

Emma shrugged. "It's okay. Sometimes I do things that will annoy you just to get you worked up." The admission, which Emma had thought was cute, caused Regina's dark eyes to flash purple.

"Really." Regina stated flatly.

"Um… no? Did I say that?" Emma backtracked wildly. "I mean that I do things only that will make you happy." Regina hummed and shoved Emma forcefully backwards so she fell awkwardly across the bed.

"Now that we've fixed all of these emotional troubles," Regina said, only mildly disgusted at the idea of emotions, "can we have a little fun?" She grinned wickedly and, with a small flick of her wrist, fixed and closed and locked the door to their bedroom.

Emma gulped. "I, well, that is…" she trailed off when Regina's shirt abruptly fell to the floor. "Oh sweet Jesus." The brunette slowly settled onto the bed, one leg on either side of the prone sheriff, and lowered herself until she was flush against the blonde woman.

"What do you say, Emma?" She said the woman's name with a devastating amount of seductive power, which Emma suspected had been amplified by some magical means. She trailed her fingers down Emma's abdomen and, quickly, darted them beneath the hem of the shirt. Her nails raked suddenly down her stomach and Emma arched up into the sensation.

"Oh my god," she cried. "Give a girl some warning, Regina!"

"Where's the fun in that?" The ex-Queen pouted. Her eyes alighted on the prominent hickeys she'd given Emma and she sighed. "I'm about to devour you," she said darkly and succinctly. "Consider that your warning."

"Wha-?" Emma managed before she was being shoved into the mattress and Regina attached her mouth firmly to the blonde's neck once more. Then, with the barest attention given to the action, Regina ripped Emma's shirt up and over her head and threw it to the side of the room, quickly followed by pants, bra, panties and socks.

When Emma was starkly naked beneath Regina, her hands gripping tightly at the sheets on either side, the dark woman lightly scratched a line down Emma's sternum. Somehow, the action caused pink nipples to harden and it delighted Regina to no end. Emma had her eyes closed. Big mistake. Regina struck fast – her mouth clamped down over a nipple and she sucked hard. A noise somewhere between a moan and a surprised shriek was torn from Emma's mouth before Regina placed her hand over Emma's mouth.

"Be quiet," she commanded. Emma's wide eyes widened even further when Regina rolled the wet nipple between her fingers tips and the younger woman nodded frantically. "Will you be good?" Regina asked lightly, her mouth slightly full with breast, as she traced decreasing circles around both nipples with her tongue and the index finger of her free hand.

Emma nodded but, almost immediately, groaned loudly when Regina pinched her left breast viciously. "Tut tut," the dark woman reprimanded her lover. "You can't even behave for one minute." She sat up and backwards and the movement moved her ass directly against Emma's most sensitive area. The blonde tried to grind up, searching for more pressure, but Regina moved away as soon as she realised what she was doing. "Well," Regina sniffed. "I will admit that I am very looking forward to this." She lowered herself just enough that Emma could feel the incredibly heat radiating from her. "So I suppose I'll have to help you stay quiet, love."

Regina moved slowly, not wanting to scare Emma as she had earlier, and pressed one hand against each of the blonde's wrist. This time, with the tender expression in the brunette's eyes and Emma's own understanding of what was happening, Emma didn't bother to fight against the bonds that Regina conjured. She tested their strength – invisible as they were, they were stronger than any scarves or cuffs could ever attempt to be – and bucked up against Regina. The brunette laughed softly and her fingers caressed Emma's forehead, brushing insolent curls off Emma's skin.

Regina slipped off her lover, ignoring the whine of disappointment that elicited, and shimmied out of her skirt. She thoroughly enjoyed the way that Emma halted all movement, choosing instead to memorise every curve and dimple and all deliciousness that was Regina. She especially enjoyed the little intake of air Emma sucked in when she hooked her thumbs into her panties and slid them down her legs, stepping daintily out of them.

"Oh god," Emma groaned. She closed her eyes and let herself shake with anticipation, knowing that this was only just the beginning. Regina was the master – mistress, technically – of teasing.

Regina traced a high cheekbone with her thumb before urging Emma's mouth open, gagging Emma with a conjured scarf. "Hopefully that will keep you quiet. We don't want the neighbours commenting on our…activities again, now do we?" She eyed her love. "Are you comfortable?" she asked quietly. Emma nodded frantically and then bucked her hips as if to ask what the hell Regina was waiting for. "Wonderful."

If Emma thought that she was going to tease her, she would be correct. But not, Regina thought, right now. Now, she went straight to work. She slithered down to sit contentedly between Emma's legs and flicked out her tongue to graze the sensitive nub there. Emma groaned, surprised, and her hips twitched. Regina glared up to the blonde. She wound her arms under Emma's thighs, pulling them up onto her shoulders, and then laid her hands flat on Emma's abdomen. She delighted in the tensing and clenching stomach muscles of her strong lover and set upon Emma quickly.

It was the perfect cage, Regina thought, for her. There was no place she would rather be than between the two pale thighs that trembled as she took her quickly to new heights, and with the taste of Emma on her tongue. She deviated from her clit to dance down to her entrance, dipping in teasingly. When Emma groaned loudly, Regina grinned and pulled one of her hands away from the now perpetually tense stomach, and let her fingers orient themselves for a split second.

She let her tongue return to Emma's clit, flicking for a minute before changing to long, hard strokes. The changing pattern confused and kept Emma twisting and turning. Having successfully distracted the blonde, Regina felt it was the perfect moment to introduce her fingers. She slid two fingers into Emma and had to pause for a moment, rubbing her thighs together to ward of the rather persistent arousal between her own legs.

Suddenly, the little mewls and moans that Emma was producing weren't enough and the bucking and pressing of her body against Regina could be more. Regina curled her fingers, searching insistently for that little spot that could make Emma lose control. When she found it, and she knew she had because Emma's left leg twitched and her heel dug almost painfully into Regina's shoulder and the most wanton sound was pulled from Emma's chest, she ran her fingers over it time and again. Coupled with the ministrations on the sensitive nub, Emma found that she was approaching the edge rapidly. And Regina wasn't slowing down. Rather, when Emma began to shake tellingly, Regina began to thrust and curl and lick deeper, harder, faster, intent on flinging Emma over that edge.

Emma came with no sound at all. Her back arched and her muscles contracted painfully, arms pulling oddly at the invisible ties and thighs clamping over Regina's head. Did Regina mind? Not at all. In fact, she just continued to suck and flick and thrust. Emma came back from the black bliss she'd been treated to, only to find that she was well on her way to a second orgasm.

"Mno," she mumbled around her gag.

"Oh yes," Regina husked. Emma dared to roll her green eyes down her own body, only to see that the black, dark eyes were staring desperately up her undulating body, sending fiery lustful shockwaves through Emma's weakened body. She twisted her fingers deep within Emma and pulled away so that this time she could watch with satisfaction as the blonde screamed behind her gag and tensed. She continued to thrust gently, easing Emma down from her high, until her lover went limp. Only then did she remove her fingers and she licked the wet digits lasciviously, loving the way that Emma watched them sink into her mouth.

Regina waved a hand and the gag pulled out of Emma's mouth and disappeared.

"Oh god," Emma gasped. "Please," she begged.

"Please what?" Regina asked. Surely she couldn't be asking for another orgasm – the greedy thing had already had two.

"Please let me touch you," Emma continued to beg, plead, with Regina. The dark woman smirked.

"I don't think so." She trailed her hands down from Emma's wrists, loving the way the tendons strained to touch her. She began, slowly, to grind against Emma's thigh. The blonde immediately tensed her muscles and ground her leg up, making Regina sigh and toss her head back, thrusting further down. "Oh Emma," she murmured.

"Come on Regina," Emma growled. She pushed herself up as far as she could go and nipped at the only part of her love that she could reach, the underside of her right breast. Regina gasped and lowered herself to give Emma more access. The blonde quickly took advantage, suckling and nibbling and, when Regina began to rock in more uncertain patterns, she bit once. Hard. The abrupt sharp pain caused Regina's mouth to flop open and her eyes to widen into a sudden white. She whimpered as the bliss overtook her and shuddered against Emma for a long moment.

Emma's arms came down from their prisons to wrap around Regina, lifting her up and into her side. Emma curled protectively around the smaller woman and nuzzled sleepily into her side. One long arm draped over Regina's waist.

"I love you," she said before she succumbed to sleep. "And I will never leave you."

Regina smiled. "If you ever do leave me," she joked quietly, "I'll never fuck you like that again."

Okay y'all, I hope that was okay. (First time writing smut – sorry if it was not as good as you hoped. Any pointers are appreciated!) I have a bunch of prompts that I'm really excited to write and for you all to read so look forward to them. Please leave a review, tell me something you'd like me to write or just whether you liked this. Oh and feel free to follow me on tumblr – elizadownunder – as I reblog a bunch of Once gifs and things (and Doctor Who and kittens). As always, happy reading, readers :)