Chapter Text
"I can’t believe that Henry has convinced me to come with you." the woman muttered, sitting on the back of the large car they had rented, next to the blonde woman. Looking through the window of the car, Regina could already see the white sand beach and the bright blue sea. She had missed travelling, even if it wasn’t in this world. Because truth was, she had never been outside Storybrooke. And the fact that they had decided to go to the coast made her feel butterflies on her stomach. Because this beachis beach wasn’t like the one in Storybrooke.
The town's beach was crammed with ships and waste from the industries. The sea had a strange shade of green, there was almost no space to swim. There was no privacy, you could see people walk down the pier, and they could see you. When Regina went for a swim, the onlookers made her feel a strange sense of embarrassment. Not that she was ashamed of her body, not at all. But she never dared to dive into the water to forget they were there, that she was not alone. And so, she kept feeling like she was being watched.
But this, this was completely different. So pure, so far from civilisation despite being next to the hotels and resorts placed there. It was as if it was another world, one further than Neverland or the Land Without Color. Seagulls cruised through the blue sky, crossing the fading white clouds in the horizon. She could see families everywhere, playing with inflatable boats, fishing or walking around. Old and young couples enjoying their love in the paradise that surrounded them. No one seemed to be disappointed to be there.
The Charmings had been the ones to choose the way of travelling once they landed in the exotic country. Arguing that road trips were amusing, the Charmings had convinced Regina rent a car. A large family car, to be exact. Snow had argued that a large family car would be better than two smaller ones. But the mayor did not mind, she was too focused on the views of the beach. And of the luxury resort she had booked two bungalows in, of course.
The reason for which she hadn't chosen suites was not obvious at first for the others. But as they approached the resort, the cabins emerged from between the jungle and palm trees. They all could see the swimming pools, the beach, the paths and the entrance to what was paradise for them. There was a large hotel in the middle of the resort, with white walls and blue decorations. It seemed to be the most exquisite place in the area. It was an amazing sight, and the reactions of the other occupants of the car seconded her thoughts.
"Woah, mom, this is enormous!"
"Yeah, how did you even pay this, Regina?"
"I am not stupid enough to put a curse on the Enchanted Forest and not to grant myself a wealthy life after it."
"I could get used to this." the blonde laughed, sitting in the outdoor chaise lounge chair and stretching. Her arms moved behind her head as she let out a sigh. She liked the idea of the whole family going on vacation together. And that came from her, a person who knew her parents were not the best company she could have had.
At least Hook is not here, the blonde thought, not wanting her now ex boyfriend to be around her for a while. Their last fight had been too much, he had said things she did not like. Things that hurt, and still stung. But at least now she could get over him, and in one of the most beautiful places she had ever been to. Not that she had ever been able to travel for pleasure anyway. "Can we stay here forever?"
"I’m not that wealthy, Miss Swan." Regina laughed, taking the suitcases she had brought from the trunk of the car. She walked towards the bungalow’s door, opening it with the key that had been given to her. Snow, David and Neal drove away to the next bungalow, hidden at a certain distance from theirs. Both women entered the house with a smile, a nice living room with an open kitchen welcoming them. One of the doors, narrower than the others, seemed to be the bathroom. Which made the other two be the bedrooms.
Regina did not love the idea of sharing a room with Emma at first. But it would be more bearable than sharing it with any of the two idiots. And Henry was old enough to not to be sharing a room with any of his mothers, so Emma was the only option. While Henry walked through the right door, they entered the larger bedroom.
"Regina, what's wrong?" the saviour asked when the other let out a gasp and dropped the suitcases. The loud thud of the luggage against the floor had alerted the blonde, who now stood behind her with wide eyes. She gave one step forward, then another, until she saw what had surprised the brunette. "Oh, crap." she muttered, staring at the king-sized bed that was in the middle of the room. There was just one double bed, where there should be two single ones. Now she understood why Regina was mad, even if she herself wasn't. “At least it’s big…”
“Size does not matter to me, Miss Swan. I am not sleeping with you.” the other snapped, annoyed at the situation. Taking the suitcases from the floor and walking towards the bed, she threw them on it. She then turned around, looking infuriated to towards the blonde. Her rage grew when she noticed Emma's smirk, that soon turned into laughter. "You're a child." the woman said as she rolled her eyes and walked away towards the exit.
"Hey, Regina, come on!" the savior shouted, following the former queen outside. The woman only seemed to get more infuriated, her uptight manners becoming quite obvious. But as the queen she had been in the past, she understood the woman liked things to be done right. "Regina, where are you going? You're not going to complain, right?" she babbled, following the other like a lost puppy. "There is no need to complain, you know?"
"Yes there is, Miss Swan. I asked expressively for a room with two beds, since you insisted it was useless to get a bungalow for myself. And now this. So yes, I am complaining, and they will change that bed for two single ones." Regina hissed. She was almost running, and soon they were to the hall of the hotel. "Good morning. I'm Regina Mills from the bungalow 4B. We asked for a bungalow with two bedrooms. They were supposed to both have separate beds, but guess what... We've just found out we have a king-sized one instead."
"I'm sorry, ma'am." the young man sitting behind the desk apologized, turning to check the reservations. "We've had a group of college students who did not want to share a bed.. and since you and, uh, Miss Swan are listed as tutors of your son we assumed that..."
"Oh my god." Regina rolled her eyes and sighed, counting to ten in a whisper before slamming her hand on the wooden table. "Unless you find us a better bungalow with three beds, you better bring two beds to put in the bedroom of the one we are in. If you don't do that right now I will speak to your manager and make sure you get fired before you can even blink."
"Well there is a smaller bungalow in the other side of the resort, but it only has one bedroom, ma'am." the receptionist muttered immediately, fear in his eyes as he kept checking the page. Emma understood him, she still was afraid of the woman sometimes. Other times she was aroused, even if it was just a little. She didn't know why, but she didn't give it much thought.
"Okay, I'll take it. Emma can stay in the one we already have with Henry if she wants. Oh, and you better not charge me anything for this mistake."
"Regina, stop. Stop!" the blonde stopped her, taking the woman's forearm. She knew that if she let the woman keep talking, she would end up throwing a fireball to the poor guy. Regina turned around, looking at Emma with the same piercing look she had directed at him. But, facing the brunette and shaking her head. "Listen, Henry wants to spend these vacations together as a family. And if that includes us having to sleep in the same bed, we will. I know you're not enthused by the idea, but we'll have to do it for Henry. We'll put a pillow barrier in the bed so you don't end up asking me to spoon you in the middle of the night if you want." she spoke with a smirk, letting herself joke before going back to being serious. "Please, for Henry. We are in fucking paradise Regina. Let's enjoy that."
They stared at each other for many seconds, forgetting about the man behind the desk. The older woman pursed her lips and sighed, the now loose grip of Emma's hand letting her move her arm back. She crossed her arms, looking away, avoiding the blonde's green eyes. In the end, she decided to give up. "Okay. But don't you dare to spoon me."
Back in the bungalow, the two women unpacked their suitcases in complete silence. “I’ll go check on Henry.” the blonde sighed in hopes to escape the awkwardness of the situation. Regina nodded with a smile, trying to stay as positive as she could. She left a towel and a swimsuit on a chair, then closed her suitcase and looked through the window. She could see the palm trees right behind the trees next to the bungalow, and if she focused a bit she could hear the sea. It was so close, and she was desperate to go for a swim. Near the shore, though. Even if she didn't dare to go deep into the water, she smirked at the thought of drinking a mojito in the beach. She then started undressing and took the swimsuit in her hands, facing the mirror on the wall. "Regina, Henry says that he wants to go for a swim..."
The woman's words were interrupted when she saw the woman's bare back. Her body was perfectly toned, her olive skin completely exposed. She gasped and turned around, waiting for the woman to start yelling at her as she closed her eyes. She hadn't meant to, but she had taken a peak of the woman's front. And the image seemed to not to leave her mind as seconds passed.
"Next time knock, Emma. I'm almost done." Regina spoke with calm, sighing once more and putting on the swimsuit. "You can turn now." she added, and Emma finally opened her eyes and faced the woman. She had not expected what she saw, though. The brunette wore a black piece of clothing, with a halter neck and a keyhole front detail. She was stunning, and it left the savior speechless. "Is there a problem?" she asked. "You seem feverish, do you want me to turn on the air conditioner?"
"No, don't worry." Emma shook her head and started walking towards the bed, taking her travel bag and opening it. Taking a sports bikini from it, she shrugged and took a towel. "It's kinda hot in here, but it's bearable. Are you coming to the beach with us?"
"Yes. Henry did want to go swimming, didn't he?"
"Yeah." Emma took off her clothes and quickly changed into the bikini. Sitting down, Regina glanced at her for a second, admiring the woman's flat stomach. She shook her head and kept changing her shoes, her stare being unnoticed by the blonde. As the savior put her sunglasses on her head, Regina put on her wedge sandals and tied up a pareo around her hips. "We could go to the beach now, in the pamphlet of the resort it says that the swimming pool is better at night. Less kids."
"That sounds good to me. Are you ready?"
At the question Emma stood up and turned, smiling at the other as she took a tank top and shorts. "Yeah." she muttered. No wonder why people they think we’re together. We look like a lesbian stereotypical couple from TV shows. But she knew that no matter what other people thought Regina just saw her as a friend. "Let's go." she spoke, walking out to the living room and smiling at Henry, already dressed in his beach clothes. "I'll go tell David and Mary Margaret, maybe they want to take Neal for his first swim at the beach." she added before walking out of the bungalow. Henry followed her, and Regina smiled. This is what a family feels like.