"Every night."

Despite her flaming body, overloaded senses, and raging desire, when Regina looked down at Emma, what she felt was more overwhelming than skilled fingers circling her clit. She pressed their foreheads together, noses nearly smushing as she gasped out loud when Emma entered her unexpectedly, her muscles instantly reacting, eagerly squeezing all they could out of the blonde.

They shared one breath. Every inhale became an exhale. The pounding of their hearts synchronized. Emma thrust faster, using her thigh as extra leverage to get in deeper, harder, feel Regina everywhere. Then as if reading each other's mind, they met in the middle in a firm kiss that was all lips and even more passion just as Emma found the spot inside Regina that made her gasp and moan out a hissed 'there.'

Wetness flooded Emma's hand as Regina came hard, gasping against the blonde's mouth but refusing to pull away. Her body tensed and clenched in aftershocks, and Emma removed her hand, bringing Regina down on top of her own still heated sex as they rocked against one another in such synchronized movements it was as if they had done this dance numerous times before. Together they sprinted toward a release building up all over again as they rutted against one another nearly fully clothed like some amorous teenagers not wanting to get caught in their parents' basement. Hands held each other close. Their sex kissed just as desperate as their lips, and soon Regina came again with Emma mere seconds behind. With a few shudders still running through their bodies, Regina fell limp against Emma's hold, the blonde trailing her fingers up and down the back of warm thighs as Regina nuzzled into her neck and played with damp strands of yellow hair.

The air around them was thick and hot, and their bodies were slick with sweat as they lay draped around each other for long moments. It felt like hours before Regina finally regained the strength to sit up on her forearms and grin at Emma below her. Matching her smile, Emma tilted her head up, their noses nuzzling one another as their mouths taunted and teased with the barest of touches before finally kissing leisurely.

Sighing happily against Emma, Regina closed her eyes and fell into her embrace, their lips separating only to find each other again. It was slow, and methodic, and intense, and right, and Regina could see herself doing this for hours, all day every day if she could. There was no need to rush. They had all the time in the world.

Chapter 16

Chapter Notes

Disclaimer in Chapter One

AN: Soo…somehow one chapter turned into three? My outline to fit all this into one chapter was ambitious. That being said, I will be posting the following two chapters within a few days of each other, just to do some final cleaning up. Hope you enjoy!

February 25, 2005 — Boston International Airport

They were here again as they were nine months ago saying goodbye to Emma yet again. It wasn't any easier. There wasn't a how-to on how to bid a loved one goodbye knowing full well it may be the last thing said to them. Instead of that 3AM flight earning them a private departure, Emma was scheduled for a middle of the afternoon flight with planes landing and leaving nearly hourly. A flight to Orlando had just arrived, and the airport was littered with passengers, families and children, college kids, grandparents, all hoping to escape the final frost of winter and bask in some sunlight.

But Emma wasn't off to Orlando, and they weren't taking a much needed family getaway, bringing Henry to Disney World where he could explore Treasure Island and run away from the oversized Goofy who just wanted a hug.

Emma was leaving again.

Already dressed in her uniform, her hair pulled back, and her cap on Henry's head, they waited by an ad boasting a trip to Hawaii on one side and travel insurance on the other. Some children, and even a handful of adults, stared at the United States soldier simply waiting around for her plane, and Emma had to remind herself it was the uniform they were curious about and not how she was there with her girlfriend and son. Regina was just tossing garbage away as Henry galloped within sight distance of Emma who was crouched down by the base of the ad watching him like a hawk.

When Regina returned, her heart swelled when Henry galloped straight into Emma's arms, laughing quietly with the blonde before skipping away. Henry hadn't quite realized why Emma had to wear her work clothes or what they were doing in a mall with no toy store, but as soon as he did, it would just make this endeavour more difficult. Regina almost forgot how hard this was the first time. Then, she and Emma had just newly discovered their feelings for one another, and the odds that they would remain as such were a toss-up. But here they were, stronger than ever, and after last night — Regina nearly blushed at the memory of their flushed flesh pressed hotly against one another — she knew she wanted Emma in her life no matter the cost. If it meant saying goodbye to her every year, seeing her for glimpses at a time, then she would do it. Regina wasn't sure if it was desperation, craziness, or some foolish feeling of the heart her mother always warned her about. It was most likely a combination of all three, yet Regina didn't care. She was happy.

She approached the crouched blonde, placing a hand on her shoulder to indicate her presence, but Emma already knew for she steadied herself against Regina's leg, sighing longingly.

"Are you all right?" Regina asked quietly, her fingers gently kneading Emma's neck under her palm.

Emma rolled a shoulder and rose to her feet in one fluid motion before tilting her chin up to Henry, who was spinning now with his arms outstretched before he paused, a happily nauseous grin on his face, and started all over again. "He's going to be like a teenager the next time I see him."

Regina scoffed lightly. "Hardly." She frowned when Henry, in his dizziness, nearly crashed into a couple pulling their luggage along. She apologized on his behalf and called him over.

He ran to them, wobbling in a dazed zigzag, before taking both women's hands and swinging them. "Mommy, what are we doing?"

Before either woman could answer him, the boarding sign for Baghdad International Airport appeared on the call screen accompanied by the announcer claiming, "Boarding for flight 5628 will begin momentarily."

Regina caught Emma's gaze. The green that had been twinkling with mirth for the past few days now looked despondent as the owner of them crouched to the boy still swinging obliviously from their arms. "Hey bud," Emma pre-emptively soothed. "Remember how I work to stop the bad guys?"

He nodded understandingly, the oversized cap on his head falling over his eyes in the process.

The soldier laughed and adjusted it, tucking his bangs under the lip so he could see. "I've gotta go back to work again."

He furrowed his brow and wrinkled his nose in a way so characteristically like Regina one would hardly think he was adopted. "When?"

"Right now. Soon."

He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. "No."

"Henry. . ." Regina warned. His bottom lip was already trembling, and his cheeks were painted red: sure signs of an impending tantrum.

"No," he said firmly, holding his resolve.

"I'm sorry, kid, but I've got to."

He stomped his foot loud enough to draw viewers. "You just got here!"

The words Henry had shouted were the same ones running through Regina's mind, and the tiniest part of her commended her son for holding his ground, but the distress on Emma's face was too much, so Regina, as best as she could in her skirt, bent down to calm Henry. "Sweetheart, what did we say about yelling?"

"But Momma!" This time the water works released and Henry fell limp into Emma's arms, wailing and sobbing and pounding his fists against her chest.

"Hey," Emma soothed, wrapping her arms around him tightly and lifting him off the floor in a big hug. The cap fell to the ground and her rucksack lay at her feet forgotten. She kissed his temple, using her chin to move aside his hair to kiss again on his flesh. "It's gonna be okay, Hen. I'm coming back soon."

He sniffled and refused to look up, even when Regina had stood and rubbed his back. "Two sleeps?"

The soldier frowned. "More than that."

"Five?" He whined.

She pressed her forehead against his and sighed. Huge brown eyes, watery and red-rimmed, stared back at her, and Emma was sure her own would soon match. "More than that," she admitted quietly. "But you gotta promise that you won't grow up too much, okay? I can barely wrap my arms around you, you're such a big boy."

"No more greens?" He hoped.

Regina and Emma let out a watery chuckle before his mother steeled her gaze and looked sternly. "You eat your greens, mister."

Emma was more than a little watery-eyed when she took a deep breath to steady herself, grateful to feel Regina's hand rubbing circles on her back as well.

"Hey, little guy." The trio looked up to see an older man, heading for Orlando if his khaki shorts, flower shirt, and bucket hat were anything to go by. He ducked his head so he could meet Henry's gaze and smiled. "You've got a real brave Mama there, you know that?"

Henry nodded, clinging tighter to Emma's shoulders.

The man smiled then directed it to Emma and nodded reverently. "Thank you."

The soldier nodded him off as he moved toward his terminal, and for a second, his words caught up with Emma when she turned to face Regina who continued to pat Henry's back. Maybe the man hadn't seen Regina, or maybe he didn't care, but having more of a title than just Corporal Swan made her chest tighten in the best way, though it made her duty of leaving impossible.

"Boarding for flight 5628 will now commence."

Emma crouched down again, putting Henry down on his feet and wiped his tears with both thumbs as she cupped his face. "I gotta go now."

He pouted but didn't try to get her to stay.

"Can I have a hug?" She opened her arms wide and expectantly, but all Henry did was cross his own and jut his lip out. "Oh," Emma gasped, slowly bringing her arms around herself. "Hug's closing. Better get in."

He fought to keep his angered composure, but just before Emma's arms wrapped around herself, he pulled them open and dove straight for her chest, hugging her tightly. "Love you, Emma."

This time Emma let the water building up in her eye fall over as a tear slid down her cheek. There was always a stereotype about soldiers and how they were big, muscular men who felt no pain and showed no emotion, but if serving taught Emma anything it wasn't discipline or duty. Soldiers could feel everything, probably more intensely than the average person. Making life or death decisions where a life loss could either be an innocent civilian or a friend leaves a mark like no other. Not feeling, well that just got most soldiers home alive.

And as Emma hugged Henry tightly, her tear falling onto the top of his head and disappearing into a thick thatch of hair, she though of one thing. This was living. "I love you too, Henry." She kissed his cheek and released him quickly, grabbing her cap off the floor and placing it on her head before turning to Regina who held herself around the middle, already anxiety-ridden and worried.

She reached out and squeezed the older woman's elbow affectionately. "Hey," she began softly. "I'll be back before you know it."

Regina nodded. "I know."

"Try not to miss me too much," Emma joked but the grin didn't quite reach her eyes.

Regina nodded. "Be safe."

"I always am."

They held each other's gaze as if memorizing the other's features. So many times had they done this, and so many times could they find new things to commit to memory, wanting to never forget. Then Regina stepped forward, and Emma met her halfway, arms wrapping around one another in tight hug. Regina's face was nestled against the pressed collar of Emma's jacket, and Emma took a second to breathe in Regina's perfume once more. They could have stood there longer, but both women were acutely aware of the crowd around them, judging whether they were holding on for too long. Just a second shy of questionable behaviour, Emma pulled back and kissed Regina's forehead before turning sharply, picking up her bag, and heading toward the terminal.

She got all of four steps before she turned back to Regina and Henry with one final thought in her head. Fuck it. She marched back to the family, her family, ignoring the traveling college students in her path as they ran to catch their plane or the bewildered expression on Regina's face as she advanced. As soon as she returned to them, she dropped her bag at their feet and cupped Regina's face tightly, a crooked smile plastered on pink lips. She kissed her soundly, not giving a damn about anyone around them.