THE LION TATTOO

Thirteen

[Emma's POV]

"Regina?" I called out again. The woman is scaring me, she was looking at me slack jawed and I'm sure that she is on the verge of crying. "Okay I was just joking, please don't-" I was about to hold her but stopped as she backs up hurriedly

"I need to go," It was so sudden that I thought I had whiplash. I watched as she hurriedly turned and walked away from. I cannot let her go knowing she had misconstrued my joke, but then I saw Tink and her expression. "Okay, I'm quite sure I'm missing out on something here..." I squinted my eyes, "What did you do?"

The other blonde raised her hands in surrender, "I didn't do anything she didn't approve I swear!" then she smile at me, "We were on an adventure, we wanted to have some fun since this will be our first and last date." I tried to keep the 'ye' smile off my face, but I guess the fairy can still see.

"Oh?"

She laughed, "Yes oh and..." I raise one brow at her, "Thanks," she said and I frown. I really have no idea what she's after.

"For what?"

"As if you don't know," she said rolling her eyes then eyeing me with that mischievous smile on her face once again, "For setting me and Ruby up. And really, I don't think there's any competition at all."

"Competition?"

"Yeah," She shrugged, "I'll let you in a secret and this might convince you to run after Regina sooner than later,"

Alright Tink is getting weirder, "Okay?"

"Me and Regina, we decided to test Fate once again using pixie dust."

"You mean the dust you used for her to find Robin?" She nodded and I shook my head. I can't believe after everything, she would con Regina into doing this again, "That's unfair for her Tink. You know how that dust affected her..."

"Shut up Emma, we agreed to test it but it doesn't mean she needs to do something about it like what she did before, but you know what?" I waited, "Probably this time, she'll be into it more than before."

"And why is that?" I asked and she smiled and her eyes wandered onto my shoulders, "What?" she looked at me and then at my shoulders again so I did the most logical thing and followed her gaze, and my eyes widened at what I saw.

The yellow, glowing pixie dust are clinging on me... the pixie dust... Oh My God it's the pixie dust and it's clinging on me! "It... it's on me Tink! The pixie dust is on me!"

"Yeah I got that," she grinned at me and I looked at her then grinned myself.

"Does that mean..."

"Yes."

"And it's not because I am the savior? I mean..."

"Savior is but a title, it doesn't melts ice Emma."

"What... how..."

"Oh god look at the time, Ruby expects me to be in the diner 15 minutes ago!" and there Tink goes, she high tailed it away from me. But there's more time to deal with how she knows about it, for now, Getting to Regina is important. I just got my mobile out of my pocket when it rang and to my surprise it was my father calling. "Hello dad," I greeted

"Hey I'm getting bored here, your mom got Neal under control so I thought I'd relieve you from your post? Please Emma... I'm going to die of boredom here!"

Hmmmm... how weird that David's request just happens to be now that I am going to ask him? "I really feel something weird is going on dad," I said, one brow raised but smiling, "But okay, I don't want to be one parent less just because I didn't save you from boredom." My dimples are showing, I'm sure of it.

"What would I have done without you Emma, thank you very much I am in your debt,"

I rolled my eyes, something fishy is really going on but there's always tomorrow for that, right now...

-0-

[Regina's POV]

I was pacing in my living room at the moment. It had been fifteen minutes since I arrived home from mine and Tinkerbell's date or whatever it was really. Since the time Emma thawed the ice in my heart, when she once again saved me from death, there is this tiny hope that blossomed in my heart that maybe it really wasn't Robin who is my happy ending, but maybe it is this infuriating woman, who kept on barging into my life and saving me left and right, who would be my happy ending... no... happily ever after.

I am content despite the ache in my chest to ignore the signs. I am a villain and everyone knows a villain doesn't have happy endings... or ever after. Tink's random idea of adventure didn't made me believe that I'll find a new soul mate or true love whatever that blasted dust actually tries to show me. It was just supposed to be a fun time with a friend... and then the dust have to cling to her! Yes there is a part of me that wishes it is her – Emma must know, the mere she had denied, what does that tells me?

Then I heard my doorbell rang.

And I got a hunch who is behind the door.

-0-

[Emma's POV]

Oh come on Regina let me in, I need to talk to you... I need to confess! I screamed inside my head as I stood here in front of Regina's door for like eternity. Checking my watch, it has only been two minutes since I rang for the third time, but can you fault me? She had hidden from me, ignored me and that fucking hurts, because now I know it hurts because she is my happy ending. I had an inkling my feelings for her had grown in abundance and this denial is not really healthy for both of us.

She needs me...

But I need her more.

I really am an idiot! I should have just confessed the very same day I melted that ice on her heart, I should have braved her reaction! And it took a dust to realize that my excuse isn't helping me or anyone any.

I love Regina and if the dust is to be believed she must love me too right?

I was about to knock her door down this time because I am not going to accept another days or weeks of being ignored. No, this will end now. I had my hands poised to knock when the door opened and Regina eyed me, a frown on her beautiful face.

"Miss..."

"I'm an idiot!"

She rolled her eyes, "Finally something we can agree o-" And no, I am not a woman of word but I am a woman of action. So I did not give her the chance to pulverize me with her sass, I just grab and pull then I connect my lips to hers.

Was there a fight from Regina? I have no idea, I am too busy savoring the taste of her lips; the feeling of intense delight and desire coursing my body; the feel of her hands on my waist...

Her hand on my waist... caressing...

I pulled away then grinned when I saw her smiling face, "As I said, I am an idiot..."

"For an idiot you kiss very well." I smiled and then pushed her towards her foyer. "Hiding me already?"

"I'm an idiot but I'm not that kind of an idiot." I think all I can do is grin and watch her and proclaim my idiocy.

"What brought this on?"

"The pixie dust." She frowned and felt her stepping away from me so I stopped her. "I told you, I'm an idiot."

"You can say it a thousand times and it's not gonna change-"

"I kissed you and melted the ice..." She just looked at me and I stilled my heart. A rejection may hurt but I know it's just right to let her-

"I know,"

-know... what? "You... you knew?"

She rolled her eyes, "I was conscious you idiot!"

"But..."

"I fainted from the pain of the ice melting from my heart, I wasn't unconscious from the start."

"You said..."

"I lied."

"Because you don't want to be my..."

"Because I thought you don't want to be mine."

Silence

"For fuck's sake!" I said turning around flailing my hands in the air, "We've been punishing ourselves that long because we are both an assuming women?!"

She smiled that beautiful one she usually reserves for our son, which was luckily out at the diner with his grandmother.

"I do not assume Miss Swan,"

I raise one brow, "I'm sure-"

"Are you going to argue with me or are you going to use that mouth of yours in a more productive way?"

I smiled, "What do you have in mind?"

"I have a large, comfortable couch... for now."

"Ooohhhh... Madam Mayor, you are not suggesting anything kinky are you?"

"Why Sheriff, I didn't know you have such a dirty mind. I think the pirate might have rubbed off on you in more ways than one."

"Argh don't go there... and please, no dirty pirate talk when I'm about to kiss you..." I stepped closer, "...again," then I captured her lips once more.

-0-

[Meanwhile at the diner]

Almost half of the town are gathered in the diner, eating Granny's special. Blue, Mulan, Rapunzel,Elsa and Anna, Kristoff, Ruby who is flirting heavily with her fairy, Tink, Rumplestiltskin, Belle, Henry, Snow and Charming, Henry's friends – Nick and Ava, the newly arrived Merida, Marco, Nova, Grumpy... even Cinderella and Sleeping beauty with their husbands were present. Most of the Merry Men minus Robin and his family are also present. Even the pirate came to partake though a frown mars his face indefinitely.

"Food and drinks are on the house just for today, dinner is not free." Granny shouted.

"Why the sudden treat Granny?" It was Rapunzel who was sitting beside the Asian warrior who asked. The woman beside her just smiled but didn't answer.

"Oh, you know how starting today, I'm hoping to feel the atmosphere around getting back to normal."

"Normal? I do not get it."

"You see dearies, it is a common knowledge here that when the Queen and the Savior is at each others throat, every citizen of this town is at high alert, and throw in that those two women are each others true love and soul mate?" Rumplestiltskin snicker, "We'd like our town standing as it is."

"And my daughter thinking she could actually keep a secret that big to me? Regina was frozen and about to die and suddenly she was not... and there was no one around but her? Does she really thinks we are idiots?" Snow huffed.

"That's the damnedest the fate had ever done," Killian said exasperatedly, "If I didn't know any better, Crocodile here just made up this true love – soul mate pairing..."

"I wouldn't have agreed for Belle to put her father's product in my shop if I have just made it up." The pawnshop owner said trying to keep his anger in check.

"Now now, Mr. Jones be nice." Blue said, "Besides, I wouldn't dare help Nova get that pixie dust to help Green in her assignment if I didn't know Mr. Gold's prophecy was true. Even I can't fight Fate."

Little John cackles, "I haven't seen Robin eye to eye for a long time now, I'm afraid I won't be able to lie to him about how he ended up frozen and being brought to Marco by Queen Elsa! I risked my neck for this, and Granny, this is the best burger I ever had!"

"More for you then!" Granny said laughing.

"Never had pretended to be drunk in my entire life, I've never even drink my self that heavy to let the Sheriff smell my breath!"

"But let's face it, once those two made up, it will be easier to breathe for all of us." Ruby said grinning, "Oh my God... me and Tink's pretend fight is just epic!"

"I have to accompany Elsa all the way or she'll probably blurt out the truth!" Anna said and the sisters laugh.

"Yes good thinking that you ask me to hijack their date!" Tink said to the red head.

"Well aren't I a genius? I got a feeling they are making out like rabbits right now at home." Henry said smiling.

"Henry!" Snow called in reprimand.

"Grandma! I'm not 10 I know what they would be doing by now... oh actually even if I am, I can still feel the tension between my moms even in my sleep."

"Perhaps it is time for boy talk then," David said patting his grandson's shoulder.

"God, if we have to leave everything to those two, our quiet town will probably won't survive the tension." Ruby said.

"I'm just glad I get to be the last date and didn't need to pretend... I have no idea if I can keep it up."

"We know," Tink, Ruby, Elsa and Henry all replied as one.

"Well what are we all waiting, let's all stuff ourselves and proclaim success..." Granny said raising a full glass in the air.

The rest followed... "SUCCESS!"

The End

"Aren't you wondering?" Regina asked Emma who was lying on her back on the comfortable couch while Regina was lying on her stomach above Emma. Her lips just slightly off the younger woman's neck.

"Wondering? Yeah... I'm wondering when are we transferring to your bedroom."

Regina rolled her eyes, "its not what I mean..."

"And what do you mean?"

"Usually at this time Henry would already be barging through the door, and yet his absence is just so timed so we can..."

"...make out like rabbits?"

A slap on the younger woman's toned biceps, "It just feel too much for coincidence."

"Come to think of it..."

"What?"

"Before coming here, I was talking to Tinkerbell, and as she sprints away from me and I decided to come to you, my dad called me just at the exact moment I was about to dial his number."

"Oh... yes, that is too much to be a coincidence too."

"And what's weird? He actually begged me to get off duty so he could replace me."

"Yes weird."

Silence

"And in my experience dear, too many coincidences usually ends up being a conspiracy."

Emma looked at her now grinning girlfriend, "You thinking Henry, Tink and David... probably Snow too conspired to what?"

"Get us together?"

"Okay I may believe Henry but Snow and Charming?"

"Don't doubt Tinkerbell..."

"To the point she's sabotaging her chance with you?" blonde head shook

"Yes, I'm too good to pass up."

"Hah, don't forget Regina, you are mine now."

"Well... maybe we can formally make me yours?"

A grin, "I love the sound of that,"

Once again lips connects and sparks flew.