Archive of Our Own

Emma waited downstairs in Regina’s kitchen. She’d already said her goodnights to Henry, but Regina had asked if she’d wanted to stay for a drink or tea, and Emma could tell there was more to the invitation and accepted. Not that she didn’t want to stay and have a drink with Regina, something they’d already done quite a few times since returning from Neverland three weeks ago, but she’d come to know Regina well enough to see that something was on her mind.

It was a few minutes later when she heard Regina’s footsteps as she quietly made her way through the foyer and into the kitchen in her black slippers.

“Thank you for bringing him home,” Regina said appreciatively as she entered the kitchen.

“Thank you for dinner,” Emma replied warmly.

“Henry told me not to keep you waiting,” Regina revealed softly as Emma turned to offer her a small smile from where she was sitting on one of the stools near the island. “That’s the first time he didn’t ask me to stay in his room until he fell asleep since we’ve been back.”

“That’s good, right?” Emma wondered. “How has he been with the nightmares?”

“Better,” Regina nodded with the hint of a relieved smile. “He’s only had four this week. Which, when compared to last week with him still having a couple a night, I’d say he’s making progress.”

“I’m sure seeing Archie a few times a week is helping,” Emma offered optimistically. “And being here with you. Sleeping in his own bed.”

It was a little hard for Emma at first. As soon as they’d gotten back from Neverland, Henry had asked to stay at Regina’s. And obviously, it had made sense. She understood that he’d wanted the comfort of his own home and room and his mom’s presence. And it wasn’t like she didn’t trust Regina or think that she couldn't take care of her own son, who she’d parented for over a decade, but it still felt strange not to have Henry at the loft all the time, even if it was a little cramped with them living in the small space with her parents.

Emma missed him.

“Emma,” Regina began gently after a minute. “I…I know what it’s like. I don’t want you to feel as if I’m taking him away from you. Like I’ve won some sort of competition.”

Emma shook her head to deny it, but Regina gave her a pointed, knowing look that left Emma feeling like Regina could see right through her, and therefore, she shouldn’t argue.

“It’s not—It’s the way it should be,” Emma tried to sound understanding and as supportive as she could. “You’re his mom. This is his home. He should be here.”

Regina smiled genuinely; gratefully, and Emma could feel its warmth radiating within her. For a moment, she didn’t feel any ache or loss or envy. Everything felt right.

“You’re his mom, too,” Regina said tenderly after a beat, and Emma couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as she felt the caress of Regina’s words warm her heart and send the hint of a flush over her skin. “He needs you now, too.”

Emma exhaled the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding and cleared her throat of the emotion that had caught within it. This was still new for them. Being more like friends; co-moms; and perhaps something else, too. It could still be intense and raw and heated, but that was also in a way that felt different. Because now, there was also respect, gentleness, and care. Maybe that’s what happened when you had come to know someone so well; to know their strengths and weaknesses so intimately. And maybe it had been to destroy each other at first, but then, they'd worked as partners to save the town, their somewhat dysfunctional family…to save each other.  And then, they'd needed to save their son and spent moment after moment together in a jungle, worried for his safety. And they'd both done everything to save him. Even moved the moon together.

“I know it’s not easy not being under the same roof. Worrying about him, even if you feel he’s safe,” Regina continued empathetically, interrupting her thoughts. “And I’m sure after Neverland…you have a right to your feelings, Emma. I’ve been trying to think of a solution, but I’ve never done this before. Co-parented.”

“Same,” Emma’s smile was benevolent and understanding. “And thank you. For understanding. I—I was an idiot. An ass. Keeping him from you the way I did.”

“You were,” Regina smirked, her eyes teasing. “But you thought it was best. You were concerned.”

Emma shook her head. “Yeah, but I overstepped. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” Regina murmured, emotion thick in her voice causing her to clear her throat before she turned around and moved to turn off the kettle that was boiling behind her. “Did you still want tea? Or something stronger?”

“Tea is good,” Emma replied, watching Regina open the cabinet to grab two mugs and place them on the counter by the stove, before she went to the tea box and took out two tea bags.

“I’m very fond of this blend. It’s a little strong but soothing. It relaxes me,” Regina divulged to Emma over her shoulder as she allowed the tea bags to begin steeping. “Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it.”

“Good. I could use something relaxing,” Emma muttered, trying to make it sound light with a hint of sarcasm, but failing as the truth of her exhaustion weighed down the words.

“How’ve you been sleeping?” Regina wondered, and Emma felt caught off guard for a moment, not expecting the personal inquiry.

“Uh…okay. Some nights could be better,” Emma responded tacitly after a moment. “You? I mean, aside from Henry waking you up.”

Regina shrugged at that as she handed Emma one of the mugs across the island. “Some nights could be better,” she echoed with a playful glint in her tired eyes, leaning on the counter with her elbows and taking a sip from the mug in her hands. “Our son is never getting kidnapped again.”

“Definitely not,” Emma agreed and took a sip of her own tea, humming appreciatively at the warm, rich, comforting taste. “So, co-parenting…”

“Maybe we should move somewhere more comfortable for this conversation,” Regina proposed, and motioned for Emma to follow her to the back door. “Here,” she took Emma’s mug from her and nodded to a gray cardigan folded on a shelf above the boot tray adjacent to the back door. “Put that on.”

“What about you?” Emma asked but did as Regina told her to.

Once she had the sweater on and the mug back in her hand, Regina flicked her wrist and was suddenly wearing a black pullover. 

“Never mind,” Emma mumbled with amusement, and then, followed Regina through the door and onto the back porch. The air was crisp with the smell of pine and hints of early spring. The snow was almost all melted now, though the birch trees were still bare. Emma could see them reaching towards the dark sky painted with the wisps of the Milky Way and the glow of the waning moon. “Wow. It’s so clear,” she breathed, noticing her breath in the air.

“Magical,” Regina murmured beside her, and Emma couldn’t help but look over at her with a smile that was shy yet fond.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “But not as magical as when we moved the moon together. That was crazy. Epic.”

“Intense,” Regina finished lowly.

“Can two people just do that? With magic? Move the moon?” Emma pondered aloud. It was something she’d been wondering in the back of her mind since they’d done it.

Regina was silent for a long moment. “Not exactly. It isn’t easy. You need a strong…connection.”

“So, you couldn’t do that with just anyone?” 

Regina shook her head. “No,” she uttered softly.

The air suddenly felt thick. Emma felt warm and her skin tingled at the stirring tension she could feel between them: charged and electric. She went to go sit on one of the wooden benches near the house.

After a minute, Regina lightly cleared her throat and joined her on the other end of the bench. Making an unspoken agreement, they moved onto seemingly safer topics like the one they'd relocated out here to discuss. They began talking about their co-parenting: how they might handle certain situations with Henry; if both of them were mostly satisfied with their arrangement for now, considering Henry seemed happy. Somehow, their conversation eventually drifted into murkier waters: How was Neal going to be a part of Henry’s life? Should they all have a meeting together at some point?

It was probably an hour later when their conversation mostly concerning Henry had died down. They sat in silence for a while just enjoying each other’s company and the soft jazz music Regina had playing softly through the Bluetooth speaker on the wicker table beside them.

“I miss dancing,” Regina randomly broke through the quiet at one point. “My mother forced me to learn all the dances, so I could go to balls and dance with royalty and nobleman. It made me hate it. I miss it.”

“I took ballroom dancing with one of my foster siblings. I was pretty good. She was one of those people that trip over their own feet. Can’t tell you how many times she stubbed my foot when we practiced at home," Emma chuckled and she heard Regina laugh with her. "Then, one time she was sick and I still went to class. There was a girl there with dark curly hair and amber eyes. I'd never seen her before. Her name was Amira. The teacher paired us up for that class. She was a natural. I think I was like fourteen. One of my first girl crushes.”

Regina listened attentively as Emma regaled her with the story, smiling fondly at Emma sharing one of her better childhood memories.

“I bought her ice cream one time and we went for a walk through the local park. We sat down on one of those iron benches in front of a pond. I laid down in her lap and she started playing with my hair. I looked up at her and then she kissed me.” Emma smiled faintly at the memory and she knew the reverie could be heard in her words. "We hung out a few more times, but I ended up having to leave that foster home a few weeks later."

"Was she your first kiss?" Regina gently pried.

Emma thought back, trying to remember. "My first real kiss," Emma confided. "Benjamin Blake was my first kiss. One of those seven year old kids on the playground, who like playing together and find themselves inside one of the tunnels of the jungle gym. Innocent, short, kind of tickles." She met the mesmerized look Regina was staring at her with; so full of awe and affection. "You're first kiss was Daniel?"

"My first real kiss, yes," Regina reminisced with a pained but loving smile lifting her lips. "One of our servants had a daughter around my age when I was around nine, I think? She had strawberry blonde hair and the bluest eyes and freckles. My father allowed her to play in my room when Mother was away. He knew how lonely I was. One time, we were playing dress up and fantasizing about the royal dances and the princes we would marry one day. It started as pretend, but we were both just curious about what it would be like, so we kissed. Nothing wild, just a chaste touch of the lips, but luckily my mother never found out. I was afraid for weeks, hoping she didn't have a way to spy on me, while she wasn't there."

"That's cute," Emma grinned. "Aside from your mother being horrible."

Another song began to play as their conversation faded into silence. Emma's eyes drifted over to Regina, and the other woman raised a curious eyebrow at Emma's pondering gaze. “Dance with me?” She invited as she finally stood up, and held out a hand that Regina eyed skeptically for a moment. “Nothing crazy. It’s jazz, Regina.”

After another moment, Regina took her hand. Emma rested one hand on Regina’s waist and held the other with her own, while Regina kept one on her shoulder. Then, they began to sway a little to the music. “Not so bad, right?”

"It's just jazz, Emma," Regina mocked lightly, humor dancing in her eyes. They kept swaying, slowly melting further into each other's hold.

“You might be the best dance partner I’ve ever had,” Regina complimented and it was only half-joking.

"You might be my favorite," Emma sighed contentedly. "You haven't stepped on my feet once."

They danced like that for a while just enjoying each other and making small talk. Neither seemed to think too deeply about what they were doing, only that it was where they wanted to be in that moment.

Regina took her time walking up the stairs to the loft. Emma and Henry were expecting her. She’d rang the doorbell, they’d unlocked the door for her from upstairs, and yet, here she was…nervous. They’d been back from Neverland for five weeks already, and ever since Regina and Emma had had their talk, they'd fallen into an even more comfortable co-parenting routine. Henry stayed most nights at Regina’s, wanting his own bed and the comfort of the home he’d grown up in, but he still visited Emma all the time. And that was why Regina was picking him up at the loft this evening. She’d had to work late, catching up on endless paperwork that she’d missed while they were away…possibly, even before that.

Upon Snow, David, and Emma’s recommendation to the council, it had been decided that Regina would be reinstated as Storybrooke’s mayor. After all, she had the most experience and had done an excellent job of running the town, even if the curse had been her doing to begin with. She was still a competent mayor, and arguably, the most qualified at the present time. They needed her leadership and guidance. Especially now, when everyone was still adjusting to their memories of their cursed and fairy tale identities.

And so, Regina was working to keep the town running efficiently, sharing her knowledge, and helping to manage the small, hidden seaside town. But that also meant that she’d had to work late some nights. Fortunately, David had taken the position as Emma's deputy at the sheriff's station, and they were able to figure out a good schedule for their shifts. Things had been mostly calm in town, anyway, since they'd been back, which was a relief. And that meant, that it was easy for Emma to pick up Henry from school and hang out with him when Regina needed her to. 

“Mom!” Henry waved to her over the railing from the top floor of the building. “Hurry! We have an announcement to make.”

Regina grinned up at him, his excitement contagious and quelling her nerves as she climbed the flight of stairs as fast as she could in her heels. He pulled her inside as soon as she reached the top. “Mom’s here!” He announced to Snow and Emma, who were in the kitchen area.

“Kid, we heard the doorbell,” Emma chuckled, greeting Regina with a welcoming smile as she moved around the kitchen and made her way closer to them. “Hey, you hungry? I made pasta.”

The look in Emma’s eyes that communicated care, concern, and comfort let Regina know that she could tell it had been a long day and she knew Regina was starving. “Pasta sounds wonderful,” she smiled appreciatively. “Thank you.”

“Wine?” Emma reached across the counter and lifted a half empty bottle up that she and Snow had obviously been sharing, based on the two almost empty glasses Regina perceived sitting near Emma’s arm.

“Why not?” Regina accepted, and pulled out a chair near the table. She tugged her coat off, draping it on one of the other empty chairs and sat down.

“Henry, help Snow with the dishes," Emma designated to their son as she walked past him from the kitchen and over to Regina. He began to object, eager to fill Regina in on whatever his news was but Emma was determined to let Regina relax for a few minutes. "Your mom is exhausted from work. We’ll fill her in after she eats something and has a few sips of this. Here you go, Your Majesty.” Emma handed her the glass of red that she’d poured and a plate with a delicious-looking piece of savory garlic bread on it.

“I didn’t know you cooked.” Regina raised an eyebrow.

“Sharing my secrets with you one month at a time," Emma revealed, alluding to their discussion about first kisses on Regina's porch. "Tonight's dinner is one of my few specialties. Pasta, meatballs, sauce, and garlic bread. One of my foster moms was Italian. She helped me perfect the basics. It’s your lucky night. Usually, Snow cooks,” Emma said, pulling out a chair and sitting next to Regina. “You sounded a little off on the phone. Nervous, maybe?” Emma lowered her voice, so only Regina could hear her as Henry dried the dishes Snow was washing. “It’s just us you know?”

“Your mother isn’t my biggest fan,” Regina whispered back, taking a bite of the bread and couldn’t help but moan appreciatively. “This may be better than mine.”

“Told you I perfected it,” Emma leaned back in her chair, her gaze warm as it lingered on Regina, while she ate. “I don’t know,” Emma lowered her voice again, continuing their private conversation. “I think you’d be surprised. Maybe it’s time to make amends.”

“The way we have?” Regina wondered with a hint of sarcasm.

“I’d say we mostly have,” Emma took a sip of her own wine that now sat in front of her. “Feel like once you destroy a failsafe together and learn how to compromise to save your son, among several other things that we’ve been through, you’re already almost there. And you danced with me that one night.”

“Mmm,” Regina hummed, thinking it over. “You make a good argument.”

“With you, I usually do,” Emma smiled slyly.

Regina snorted at that, a laugh escaping her. “I’m biting my tongue.”

“As you should.” She took a long sip of wine, peering at Regina from over the rim of her glass, and Regina felt her cheeks grow warm at the suggestive, flirty look in Emma’s eyes.

“So, friends?” Emma raised her wine glass towards Regina.

Regina considered it for a second, pondering what they really were; what they’d come to be after all this time. Perhaps, it was friends. On top of the mayor and the sheriff; the Savior and the Evil Queen; co-parents; family. But then, there was the intensity, the unintentional flirting that sometimes turned intentional. There was the power they had when they joined their magic together. The intimacy of that; of moving the moon together; of knowing each other so well. But friends was fitting and almost comfortable at the moment. It didn’t seem like too much or too little. Especially, now that they’d been spending more time together and enjoying it…with, and sometimes without, Henry.

Regina nodded. “Friends,” she agreed and clinked her glass against Emma’s. "I think you might be a little tipsy," Regina remarked, trying to keep up with Emma's overly cheerful and bolder than usual mood.

“Definitely, tipsy," Emma acknowledged with a short laugh. "But my pirate non-boyfriend wouldn't leave me alone when I went to Granny's for lunch. And my non-boyfriend, ex-lover, and baby daddy wants to talk and I don't even know what to tell him. So, it's been a day." Emma's cheeks puffed up and she blew out a deep breath. "Well, now that that’s settled, let me get your pasta. The sauce should be warm enough now.”

“So, Mom, before Emma had two glasses of wine," Henry tossed a worried yet slightly judgmental look over his shoulder as Emma went to the kitchen. "We were thinking about something but we need your help,” he approached her, once he’d finished drying the last dish. “The kids from Neverland…the Lost Boys, they need help. Homes, school supplies, food, clothes…”

Regina agreed silently as Emma set a plate of spaghetti and meatballs in front of her.

“Hope you don’t mind, I added some cheese. Henry said you like it,” Emma elaborated as she sat back down.

“Thank you. It’s perfect." Regina sat up straighter in her chair, and began to twist some spaghetti around her fork. After taking her first bite and humming in appreciation, she looked back over at Henry, eyeing him suspiciously. “If this is your way of finally getting me to adopt several siblings for you…” 

“No,” he shook his head adamantly. “Not that.”

“Henry asked for siblings?” Emma interjected from her spot beside Regina.

She nodded in reply as she chewed the meatball she’d taken a bite of. “Well, not exactly. First, he wanted me to date, fall in love, marry someone, and then, would come the sibling part. But for obvious reasons, that was impossible. And adopting another child…” Regina trailed off, her face suddenly melancholy. “Anyway, the curse wouldn’t even allow that, so I had to gently break it to him that it was out of the question. I suppose that’s when the adoption questions started.”

“You seemed lonely in a grown-up way," Henry offered in explanation. "And I just wanted a brother and a sister,” Henry almost pouted. “Still kind of do.”

“Well, your mother has two men trying to court her, so you might be in luck,” Regina caught Emma’s eyes mischievously and Emma glared at her.

“Unfortunately for them, the only person I’m interested in raising a kid with is you,” Emma retorted loudly without thinking, and Regina practically choked on the piece of meatball in her mouth, while some silverware clattered into the kitchen sink.

“Sorry, the forks slipped out of my hand,” Snow called in apology from across the loft.

Emma sighed exasperatedly, pressing her fingers into her forehead. Regina caught the tinge of pink in her cheeks but she was caught too off-guard to press Emma on what she’d said.

“I was referring to right now. And I meant Henry,” Emma offered in explanation to all of them, while silently apologizing to Regina.

Regina felt her heart rate slowly fall back to normal, yet she couldn’t deny a small part of her ached with inexplicable disappointment.

“Moving on,” Henry interrupted, much to Regina’s relief. “Emma thinks we need a better orphanage. And I was thinking of that abandoned mansion on Oak Street. What if we added onto that? Then, the mayor—Mom could figure out how to adjust the budget, so we can fund the orphanage, get the kids into my school, and raise money for some more clothes for them. Plus, the cabins that they’re staying in now won't work out, once the weather gets warmer and I feel like they're so far away from the center of town.”

“That’s a big proposal, Henry,” Regina told him carefully, but there was pride evident in her eyes.

“Emma helped come up with it. And Grams.”

“I think we can make it happen,” Snow joined in from the kitchen, her usual optimistic self.

“Of course, you do,” Regina rolled her eyes but there was no bite to it. “And you think it’ll work?” she asked Emma. 

“I think we need to provide them with a better place to stay. We can have Blue and the fairies oversee their care.”

Regina found it difficult to hide her distaste at that idea, and she knew Emma picked up on it.

“For now, Regina. Obviously, we would also oversee a lot of it. I’m sure other people would be willing to help out, too,” Emma attempted to quell her worries.

“We’ll definitely need to fundraise. And maybe provide an opportunity for these kids to meet with the townspeople. I’m sure there are people looking to foster or adopt,” Regina began to think it over outloud.

“Exactly,” Emma agreed.

“We’ll have to have a meeting with the council, once we have a more tangible plan,” Regina continued her thought process. “And once we have that, Snow, planning the fundraiser is all yours. Though, I feel like Granny’s or Town Hall might be too small and…quaint…for some of the wealthier nobles.”

“Fancy banquet hall. Got it!” She called from the kitchen.

“We can do this,” Henry said with so much belief and optimism, it almost had Regina convinced.

“We should create a fund that we can start right away, so we can get the bare minimum provided to these children,” Regina suggested.

“You and I can start it together, Regina,” Snow offered, as she finally came over from the kitchen.

“On your teacher salary?” Regina wondered genuinely.

“The curse broke. I’m a princess,” Snow reminded as if it made all the sense in the world. When no one else was catching on to what she was referring to, she added, “David and I have trust funds in the bank. A bunch of our wealth transferred magically. We couldn’t access the trust funds until we knew our fathers’ names.”

“How'd you even figure that out?” Regina wondered, sounding slightly impressed. “Never mind. That curse had way too many intricacies to it.”

"You're being critical of your curse?" Snow teased her.

"As its caster, yes," Regina blotted her lips with her napkin, sitting back in her chair. “That was delicious,” she complimented Emma’s cooking again.

“I’d say they’re the best meatballs ever, but my other mom might ground me,” Henry taunted Regina, and she sent him a playful glare.

“The Ugly Ducklings Foundation,” Emma suggested quietly, all of them turning towards her at the sudden interruption. “That’s what it should be,” and then, she stood up with Regina’s plate and went over to the kitchen.

Regina and Snow communicated silently, listening to Emma wash Regina’s dish. Suddenly, there was a loud clatter and the sound of ceramic breaking, before Emma cursed and roughly turned the water off.

“Emma?!” Regina and Snow hurried over to her at the same time, Henry not far behind them.

Regina got to her first and saw the red blood streaming down her finger. Snow ran to the bathroom and got a cold washcloth that she handed to Regina, who gently took Emma’s hand and wrapped it tightly around the cut.

“I’m fine,” Emma grumbled, but she didn’t push Regina away.

Regina sighed, “Like hell you are.” Then, she glanced up from Snow to Henry. “Give us a minute.”

She led Emma across the loft and to the small bathroom, closing the door behind them. “Emma,” Regina murmured, unraveling the cloth and seeing how much it was stained. “Hold it for me,” Regina instructed Emma as she moved to the sink to wash her hands. Then, she gently examined the fresh wound, careful to make her touch feather-light against Emma’s skin. “It’s pretty deep. I can use magic to heal it if you don’t want stitches.”

“I’m so stupid,” Emma leaned back against the sink, looking up at the ceiling as Regina continued to hold her injured hand.

“Don’t tell anyone else I said this, but you’re not,” Regina offered her a comforting smile, but she knew her face revealed how concerned she was.

“Those kids deserve so much better,” Emma exhaled sadly. “But I didn’t have a plan. I just brought them here.”

“We…we brought them here. Together,” Regina reminded gently. “And we’re going to help them. They will be better off, Emma. We already have a plan thanks to you and Henry getting the ball rolling.”

Emma nodded, releasing a shaky breath and visibly fighting back the tears in her eyes. She sniffled and Regina’s heart ached for her. “I’m sorry,” Regina offered sincerely. “For everything. For—I was empty, blinded by my vengeance. You shouldn't have been separated from your family.”

Emma’s teary, red-rimmed eyes met hers. They were practically emerald as they stared deeply into Regina’s. “We’re here now. That’s what matters. We survived,” Emma squeezed her arm, letting her know how sincere she was. “They sent me through the wardrobe. You adopted Henry. This whole thing has never been black and white.”

Regina bowed her head, using the sleeve of her magenta blazer to wipe away the tear that slipped down her cheek. She sniffled and cleared her throat, finding Emma’s eyes again. “Should I use magic?”

“Yeah, heal me,” Emma told her.

“This may burn or sting a little,” Regina warned softly.

“Maybe we need to start our magic lessons again, so I can do this, too,” Emma suggested.

“I think that could be arranged...when you aren't tipsy and emotional,” Regina agreed. “Ready?”

Emma nodded, and then, Regina’s hand was glowing purple with hints of white as she hovered it over Emma’s cut. Her eyes met Emma’s as she winced, and then, it was over. “All better,” she soothed, inspecting Emma’s hand and lifting it, so the other woman could see.

“Thank you,” Emma whispered, placing her other hand on top of the one Regina still held her hand with.

Regina felt her heart flutter at Emma’s touch. The air between them becoming heavy and charged as they stood there, lost in each other’s aura, their eyes focused on their hands.

“Don’t worry, your proof,” Regina broke the silence. "Ugly ducklings…become beautiful swans,” she smiled, unable to look up at Emma because of the corniness of her comment. “We’ll make sure they get their best chances.”

She could feel Emma’s smile radiating through the space between them. “Thank you,” Emma breathed, her head tentatively coming to rest against Regina’s.

Regina stiffened at the unexpected contact, but then, her eyes fluttered shut and she fell into the moment with Emma, accepting her warmth, her comfort, her gratitude; hoping she was giving her the same.

“Emma,” she breathed after it felt like they’d been like that for too long.

Green eyes met hers as Emma slowly pulled back. They were unsure, but also full of emotion; still stormy but there was happiness there, too, as well as something profound that Regina tried not to think about. Because they were just co-parents and friends. And Emma had Hook pining over her and Neal trying to win her back.

Clearing her throat, Regina suddenly sobered and put more space between them. She’d never felt such clarity in a moment of such confusion.

A flicker of something that looked pained or like hurt flickered through Emma’s eyes, and Regina’s heart sank. She hadn't intended to hurt Emma and she’d needed that intimacy as much as Emma did.

“You did nothing wrong.” She reached out to rest her hand over Emma’s arm, a reassuring smile tugging at her lips, and Emma relaxed. “But Henry’s about to unlock this door from the outside if we don’t get back out there to plan all of this with him.”

“Yeah, yeah, he is,” Emma concurred with a light laugh, composing herself as Regina opened the door.

Henry and Regina were waiting outside the banquet hall for Emma as Storybrooke’s residents were arriving and entering through the main doors in their cocktail dresses, pantsuits, and collared shirts (with or without a necktie). The air was crisp with the hint of winter still lingering in the late April air. And even though the sun was still out at the moment, it wasn't doing much to warm them. Emma could see the puff of her breath as she exhaled and called to Henry and Regina from a few feet away.

“Ma!” Henry’s eyes lit up and he smiled widely, running to her and throwing his arms around her middle.

“Hey, Kid,” she hugged him back, resting her cold cheek on his warm head. “Ready to do this?”

“So ready!” he said excitedly. It had been three weeks since they'd come up with their grand plan to expand the orphanage and raise money for the Lost Boys and Storybrooke children, who didn't have parents or other family. With Regina's help and Snow's valuable connections, they'd managed to start the Ugly Ducklings Foundation, gotten a new budget going, and planned a whole evening of fundraising. There was going to be food and drinks, raffles, silent auctions, and so much more. “Wendy’s already inside with Hansel and Gretel. David’s supposed to be getting here any minute with the Lost Boys. The dwarves were helping him hand out clothes to the boys and helping them clean up a bit. Mom let me donate some of my old clothes to the younger ones.”

Emma’s eyes lifted from Henry’s to seek out Regina, who was still standing near the building, her arms hugging her middle as she rocked on her heels a bit. Her hair looked perfect, her makeup was impeccable, and Emma felt her smile grow as a calm washed over her at Regina’s presence.

Henry tugged at her arm and she lowered her head closer to his, so he could whisper something to her. “I think Hook’s looking for you. I heard him asking my dad if he knew when you’d be here. Mom looked like she was about to launch a fireball at him and Dad looked like he was going to let her.”

Emma shook her head in a mix of befuddlement and amusement.

“Well, at least the two of them can agree on something,” she muttered, and Henry snorted. “The Evil Queen and Rumpelstiltskin’s son think dating a pirate is below me.”

Henry looked up at her, his eyes suddenly wise and serious. “They are kind of right. And they both know him from what I’ve heard. But, I guess if Hook makes you happy, I’m okay with it,” Henry smiled with a small shrug. “I want you with whoever makes you happy.”

“Even if it’s not your dad?” Emma decided to ask, though she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer but knew she needed to consider it at least a little bit.

She watched Henry think it over. “Whoever makes you happy,” he repeated confidently.

Emma placed her cheek on his head once more, breathing him in and pressing her lips to his hair.  “Well, right now, I’m not totally sure. But I think your mom is freezing, so we should probably stop the heart-to-heart and head inside,” Emma nodded her head towards Regina, getting Henry to follow her gaze. Then, she let go of him and they started walking over to Regina.

“You didn’t need to wait out here for me,” Emma said, offering her a grateful smile as she stopped next to Regina. “You’re freezing,” she observed, her hand reaching out to slide along the sleeve of Regina’s black pea coat.

“It’s fine,” Regina assured with a smile. “We haven’t been here too long. Henry wanted to wait.”

Emma nodded and used the hand that she had resting on Regina’s arm to guide her toward the door, Henry following closely behind them. The warm air from inside embraced them as soon as they made it through the large glass doors of the hall. The sound of everyone happily chattering mixed with the clinking of glasses and serving of hors d'oeuvres traveled down the small set of stairs and to the entrance hall. Everything from the warm peach tones of the marble to the smell of the food was inviting. Hopefully, it would be perfect for receiving as much support for Storybrooke’s new orphanage as possible.

Emma followed Regina over to the coat check and watched as the other woman slipped gracefully out of her coat, revealing the sleeveless black dress that fell to her mid-thigh. Emma was powerless as her gaze drifted over the other woman, taking in the expensive fabric that dipped down Regina’s chest in a deep V-neck, exposing smooth, glowing skin in a flattering yet enticing way. Her eyes wandered over the other woman’s curves that the dress hugged perfectly, then down Regina’s legs, and to the black stilettos on her feet. Emma’s mouth felt dry and her entire body grew hot as she forced her eyes back up to find Regina staring at her knowingly, as if she’d felt Emma silently taking in every inch of her from a few feet away. But even though she felt a little guilty and embarrassed, Emma didn’t lower her eyes bashfully or give Regina a wordless apology. She only held Regina’s deep brown eyes, letting her catch every bit of attraction, desire, and appreciation that flickered through Emma’s hungry gaze. Unpredictably, it was Regina’s eyes that fluttered down after another moment, and Emma could see the hint of an uncharacteristically shy smile and pink tinge coloring her cheeks.

“Ma,” Henry nudged her with his elbow, holding out his own coat, his hazel eyes a mix of confusion, suspicion, and amusement. “Uh…time to check our coats?”

“Oh. Yeah. Right,” Emma said dumbly, and saw Regina’s silent chuckle as she stepped away from the coat check counter, so Henry and Emma could hand theirs to the woman on the other side. Emma took her own coat off, and took the ticket from the woman, placing it in the pocket of her black dress pants.

“Not sure, huh?” Henry mumbled under his breath but clearly loud enough so that Emma could hear him. "I don't think it's Hook or my dad."

“What?” Emma questioned, dumbfounded but also self-conscious at Henry having caught her spellbound by Regina.

Henry rolled his eyes in exasperation, and Emma was amazed by how much he reminded her of Regina in that moment. “What we were just talking about outside. I think you do know,” Henry said matter-of-factly, gently calling her out. “Either that or this love triangle or whatever is way more complicated than actual Geometry at this point.”

Emma eyed him quizzically but also felt her heart beating anxiously in her chest. “You haven’t even taken Geometry yet.”

“Not the point,” he retorted lightly. “But seems easy enough to me.”

“Henry—” Emma started to object but he stopped her.

“Mom always told me not to overthink it when I was struggling with homework,” he confided with a shrug. “Don’t think too much.”

And then, he caught sight of Grace, Gretel, and Hansel at one of the tables with a large charcuterie board and hurried toward them.

“What was that about?” Regina wondered in Henry’s direction as they watched him go, her expression confused but interested as Emma moved closer to her.

She let out a long sigh. “Our son is very perceptive. And nosey. And caring.”

Regina’s lips lifted in a smile that was knowing and fond. “That he is.”

“Has he made any comments about your love life, lately?” Emma inquired with a grimace.

“Not exactly,” Regina chuckled. “But I don’t have multiple suitors constantly pining over me and seeking my attention.”

“Which is very strange, by the way,” Emma half-joked with a playful glint in her eyes, before they purposely drifted up and down Regina’s body in a way that was far from subtle about her implications.

“Mm,” Regina hummed. “But I’m also relieved that our son isn’t comparing my situation to the complications of mathematics.”

“You heard that?” Emma frowned with the rhetorical question. “According to Henry, it seems like you and Neal are starting to bond over your shared disapproval of Hook.”

Regina’s eyes widened but she huffed disdainfully. “Neal and I finally agree on something. It’s a small, silent start.”

Emma chuckled amusedly. “I feel like you two will get along at some point.”

“I’m not so sure,” Regina said pensively, her eyes fixated intensely on Emma, but there was unmistakable longing and sadness in her gaze.

“Regina, I—”

The other woman shook her head stopping her.

“Tonight is your night,” Regina forced a weighted smile. “We need to raise money with the Ugly Ducklings Foundation and make the Emma Swan Home for Children a reality,” Regina said brightly.

Following Regina’s lead, Emma nodded and offered a grateful smile. “I couldn’t do this without you. Or Henry. So, thank you.”

“Of course,” Regina murmured, her eyes holding Emma’s warmly and for a moment that was probably too long. “And by the way,” Regina began lowly. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Ms. Swan,” she finished in what was almost a purr, her look sly and as flirtatious as her voice, as Emma stood in front of her, feeling her skin heat up as Regina’s eyes raked over her, taking in her make up, the silky tresses of her straightened hair, the white satin blouse tucked into her dress pants that were snugger around her hips, and the red heels on her feet that added a certain spark to her look.

Emma was about to respond when Snow came up to them holding two glasses of champagne, handing one to each of them. “Emma!” she extended her arm, giving her a quick hug. Then, she turned to Regina a little awkwardly and unsure, causing Emma to stifle a small chuckle as Regina’s eyes flicked to hers for help. But all Emma could do was shake her head as she took a sip from the champagne flute in her hand, letting Regina and her mother figure out where they stood with each other.

It wasn’t long before Regina rolled her eyes and gave a small nod, giving Snow permission to reach her arms around her in a hug as well. It only slightly surprised Emma when the hand that wasn’t holding Regina’s champagne, lifted to Snow’s back, offering a hug in return. Emma smiled at that, feeling her heart swell, knowing some of the other two women's complicated, turbulent history. This was another step in the right direction for the two women. And for their family, too.

Snow cleared her throat as she released Regina, and Emma could see how both of their eyes were somewhat glassy. “We should head to the stage and the podium at the front of the room. There are speeches to make and fundraising to do.”

Regina ran a finger under her eye as she nodded, obviously trying to keep her make up intact.

“We’ll be right there,” Emma told her mother.

“Okay,” Snow squeezed Emma’s hand. “Your father should be here any minute with the boys.”

Then, Emma focused her attention back on Regina. “You’re good,” Emma reassured with a smile, a tentative hand settling briefly on Regina’s back. “But if you need a minute, I can stall them.”

Regina shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said lowly, giving Emma a thankful smile. “Let’s go share your story and raise the money for your orphanage and the kids, Emma.”

Once everyone had heard from Emma, Mayor Mills, Snow White and David, the members of the town council, others who were to be on the planning board of the orphanage, Henry and his friends, and most importantly, the Lost Boys and a few other orphaned children in town, the silent auction began, the townspeople mingled, drinks flowed, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. From time to time, Emma and Regina went to check how much money was being raised. But other than that, they were rarely together as one woman would be pulled into a conversation with some people, while the other would be swept away to another group usually across the room. Still, Regina was doing most of the work to make sure everything was going smoothly, while Emma was the one truly trying to charm nobles and wealthier residents into opening their purses, checkbooks, and wallets.

At one point, during one of the rare moments when they were standing side by side, taking a moment to discuss the auction and drink some water, they caught sight of Henry and some of his friends. The group of kids went up to two older couples and began having a conversation. By the end, Henry was smiling, shaking each person’s hand, and thanking them for their time and generosity. He glanced over in time to catch sight of his moms watching him and proudly marched over to them. Regina reached an arm out for him and he sunk against her, his arm slipping around her as he cuddled into her.

“Well, Mrs. Peacock and her husband and Colonel Mustard and Mr. Green are all about to donate a few thousand dollars each, so I think I’m headed over to the Build Your Own Sundae table.”

Emma’s jaw dropped at that and Regina tilted her head to grin proudly down at him.

“Nice job, Henry,” Emma held out her hand for a high five.

“That’s wonderful sweetheart,” Regina tightened her arm around him in a hug.

“Gotta go build my sundae and raise some more funds,” he announced after a moment, getting another burst of energy, and taking off in the direction of his friends and the ice cream.

“Our son is a future politician,” Emma nudged Regina. “Wonder who he gets that from,” she teased lightly.

“I seem to recall his other mother running and winning the election for sheriff when she hadn’t even been in town for that long,” Regina reminded with a quirk of her lips.

Emma was about to respond, when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and turned away from Regina to find Neal beside her. “Hey, Em, think we can talk for a second?”

“Uh yeah, sure,” Emma exhaled, her eyes flicking over to Regina to make sure there wasn’t anything else she needed her for at the moment.

“Go ahead,” Regina nodded, appearing a bit confused by Emma actually looking to her for permission.

And Emma didn’t miss the bit of tension that rose with Neal’s presence or the way Regina had put a little more space between them.

“Oh, thank god!" Emma exclaimed  with relief as she found Regina on the other side of the crowd, standing next to one of the tall round tables toward the back of the banquet hall in front of the huge glass windows overlooking the terrace and the harbor. She put her sweating glass of gin and tonic down across from Regina’s cocktail, watching as the skinny, red straw inside shifted against the rim.

“I don’t think anyone has ever been so grateful to find me,” Regina commented, eyeing Emma with amusement from across the table.

“That might have more to do with the whole Evil Queen thing than anything else,” Emma tossed back playfully, relaxing some more.

“Who or what are you trying to avoid?” Regina wondered conspiratorially.

“Uh…everyone?”

“Except me.”

Emma couldn’t help the way her lips crept into a smile and felt her cheeks flare with the heat of her blush at the truth. “Yeah, except you,” she murmured with a sigh, feeling herself calm down. “I’m so tired of small talk,” she lifted her drink to her lips and took a sip. “But we don’t really do that, so…seems like I’m safe here.”

Regina smiled tiredly but fondly at that. “I can’t do any more small talk either.”

Regina raised her glass and took a generous sip of her drink.

“So, which one is it? The pirate or the idiot I can’t hate because he’s partially responsible for our son’s existence?” Regina asked pointedly. “You’re too out of breath to only be running from some random conversations.”

“You’re as perceptive as Henry.” Emma rolled her eyes, then gave Regina a scolding look, before her shoulders sagged underneath her sleeveless white blouse. “Both. I’m so done with men.”

“And here I thought the Savior with her red leather jacket, yellow Bug, and charming smile liked such attention,” Regina teased.

“Regina,” Emma whined warningly, but there was no bite to it. “I just need a moment to catch my breath before one of them finds me again. Especially, Hook. Neal’s…it’s not actually him that’s annoying. I just need space.”

“So, you came to the Evil Queen for protection?” Regina gave her a wry smirk.

“You can be ruthless and intimidating.” Emma pointed out and sipped her drink. “And I know you’d love an excuse to launch a fireball at Hook.”

“Touche,” Regina raised her glass to Emma’s, clinking them together, before they both took another sip.

“Have you seen Henry?” Emma wondered, suddenly realizing it had been a while since the last time she’d seen him hanging out with his friends.

“About ten minutes ago talking with some of the Neverland kids and Grace,” Regina replied. “You really have been busy.”

“Told you I needed a break,” Emma muttered. “I don’t even know what my kid is up to. Or my parents.”

“The last I saw, Snow and David were sitting together on a bench on the terrace, cuddling and looking out at the harbor as you’d expect at this point of the evening,” Regina told her.

“Define cuddling in as few details as possible.”

Regina chuckled at that. “I think it was mostly G-rated. But that was twenty minutes ago, so it could be PG-13 now that they’ve been sitting out there and need to start warming up.”

Emma winced. “What are the chances I shouldn’t sleep at the loft tonight?”

“I told you, my guest room is always open,” Regina reminded Emma of the offer she'd made a few weeks ago, after Emma had shown up to see Henry one Saturday morning looking exhausting and traumatized. “I know Henry would love it.”

“And here I thought you’d be the one not trying to get me to go home with you,” Emma tried to tease, but couldn't stop the hint of a smirk on her lips from twisting into something bittersweet.

Regina frowned at that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

Emma held up a hand to stop her, her eyes sincere. “You’re fine, Regina. I made a bad joke. I’m just tired of…” she waved a hand through the air as she trailed off, looking up at the ceiling. 

Regina set her drink down and stepped around the table, so she was closer to Emma. She reached a tentative hand out and squeezed Emma’s comfortingly. “Things are winding down. We could leave, if you want to. Go wherever you want to. With Henry," she offered soothingly.

Emma's eyes lifted from their hands to look up at Regina, seeing the concern, compassion, and tenderness in the softness of her face. No ulterior motives or wanting anything more than to be there for Emma. It made something inside her flutter as warmth rose within her.

“I—” Emma was about to answer, but the familiar thump of Hook’s leather boots and his voice in the distance, greeting people and asking if they’d seen her, interrupted her. She saw Regina’s eyes widen as they caught hers, and Emma could feel Hook getting closer to their hidden spot. “We need to go,” she felt a sudden burst of energy and grabbed Regina’s hand. Then, she pulled her away from the table and toward the back wall, ducking behind a plant. She put her finger over her lips, directing Regina to be quiet. Then, Emma guided her conspicuously toward the front of the banquet hall. When they were almost safely on the other side of the crowded room, she noticed his voice getting impossibly closer again, and she gasped. “He must have turned around,” Emma grumbled under her breath with annoyance.

“You could tell him you’re not interested and be done with it,” Regina suggested with a bit of impatience.

“I’m not sure that would get him to stop,” Emma frowned regretfully. “And who says I’m done?”

“The way you’re cutting off my circulation because you’re afraid he’ll see you.” Regina held up their connected hands to show Emma the iron grip she had on hers.

“Sorry,” Emma apologized sheepishly and let go of Regina’s hand. “He’s just kind of relentless.”

“That must have been some kiss in Neverland,” Regina muttered. “Not that that’s an excuse.”

“Good thing he wasn't the one I moved the moon with, if this is what a kiss does,” Emma commented offhandedly.

Before Regina could say anything, both of their eyebrows rose into their foreheads as they noticed Hook was getting too close.

“What do we do?” Emma asked, starting to panic.

“We? I’m not the one he’s interested in,” Regina reminded in a loud, frustrated whisper.

“So, you’re just going to leave me to fend for myself?” Emma sent her a pointed look, a tinge of hurt at Regina's unintended betrayal lacing her words.

“Emma—” Regina said softly, then sighed. “This is ridiculous. But I suppose not.”

With that reassurance, Emma gave her a grateful smile and instantly led Regina forward, ducking behind people and waiters carrying trays and a few different groups of people talking. Somehow, Hook’s voice was never far enough behind, even as they got closer and closer to the entranceway.

“Swan!” she heard his voice boom from not too far away.

“Crap! Regina!” Emma pleaded, knowing she looked and sounded desperate.

Regina raised her eyebrows and huffed. “What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know. Poof us out of here or something,” Emma suggested meekly.

“He’ll surely notice that,” Regina chided. “And I’m not leaving without our son.”

“Emma!” His voice called again, and Emma pretended not to hear, tugging Regina through another small sea of people until they were across the room. There was a small hallway near them that led to the corridor where the restrooms were, and Emma moved them into it. They were both breathing hard. Regina reached up to run a hand through her disheveled hair.

“Now, what’s the plan?” she asked Emma in a low voice as she adjusted the fabric of her sleeveless black dress, smoothing it out over her midriff.

“Wait here for a bit?” Emma replied, turning her head to face Regina, instead of peaking around the wall to the larger room where everyone was enjoying themselves, unaware of their chaotic predicament. They were side by side, leaning into one another, their faces close now that Emma was looking at her.

Regina rolled her eyes and Emma was about to say something to lighten the mood, but the way a few strands of Regina’s hair fell out of place over her forehead, and towards her eyes with the puff of air Regina exhaled, caught her attention. Emma couldn’t help but take in the light pink flush on her cheeks, the soft glow of her skin, the eyes that were annoyed yet still held affection and something else. Something that was making them fuller and darker. And then, Emma was all too aware of how close they were and how hot the air between them was as they continued to catch their breaths. And then—

“I think she went that way.” Emma heard a clear, unidentifiable voice say before she heard an all too familiar thank you in return. The spell was broken, and Emma turned, quickly reaching out to place her hands on Regina, whose eyes widened as Emma pushed her gently but determinedly down the hall in a hurry. She guided her backwards, her hands resting over the fabric of Regina's dress as she rushed her to the end, and around a corner into the ladies lounge just outside the bathrooms. Once they were tucked safely against the wall and out of the hallway, Emma stopped them.

The dimly lit room was filled with the orange glow of the fading sunset pouring in from the large windows across from them. It illuminated the space between them, shining on them like the beam of a spotlight. They were so close as they stood their catching their breaths that mingled together as their chests rose and fell from the exhilaration they’d just experienced. It was only once Emma began to relax that she became aware of how her hands were rising and falling with Regina's breath, and she realized where they had landed on Regina when she'd reached for her without thinking. Suddenly, she recognized the plump softness beneath them, and shifted her palms ever so slightly against the smooth fabric of Regina’s dress, hearing the small, airy gasp that caught in Regina’s throat as she did so.

Emma's face flushed instantly.

For a moment she couldn’t move; couldn’t think about anything other than the swell of Regina’s breasts beneath her hands. The way they rose and fell in sync with both their heavy breaths. The way she could feel Regina’s nipples become puckered against her hands, hardening at Emma’s touch.

“Emma,” Regina whispered; cautioning, revering, and caressing the two syllables.

The sound of her name caused heat to course through Emma as Regina’s eyes slowly opened. Emma’s met them hesitantly, seeing the mix of emotions in Regina. Catching the uncertainty and confusion; self-consciousness and vulnerability; the lust and desire.  Neither moved for a long moment. Their bodies almost pressed together as they searched each other’s eyes…asking; waiting; pleading; hoping.

Emma could feel her heart pounding steadily in her chest, and felt the way Regina’s echoed it, thundering against her fingertips.

“I—” Emma started and stopped as Regina shook her head, moving her hands up from her sides to cover Emma’s hands on her breasts. Emma watched as she bit her lip, trying to contain a whimper at the added pressure of both of their hands as she pressed them against her, moving them against her sensitive skin.

“Emma—” she breathed roughly, hotly as she kneaded her breasts with their hands again, squeezing, then rubbing Emma's palm over her pert nipples. She bit her lip as a whimper crept up her throat with their ministrations. And it took all of Emma's self control not to kiss her as she felt the pulsing between her legs at the sound Regina had made and the sinful feeling of Regina's nipples pressed into her skin.

“Regina—” Emma exhaled, overwhelmed with desire as she bowed her forehead closer to Regina’s.

Their eyes connected even more intensely, before Regina’s flicked down. Emma’s lips tingled in response, awakening with Regina’s stare, and silently beseeching, begging hers to taste them. But then, Regina’s eyes were drifting up to meet hers again, more molten than they were a moment ago. "I-"

“Oh, here you—what…what are you guys doing?” Ruby’s cheerful-turned-confused voice came from behind them like a cold gust of wind, breaking through their moment and extinguishing it. They shook in reaction to the unexpected intrusion, Regina’s hands snapping back down to her sides.

Emma felt panic wash over her, and her hands fell away from Regina instantly as she cleared her throat.

“I was…umm…hiding from Hook,” Emma stammered, turning to face Ruby, trying not to seem too unsettled.

Ruby eyed her pointedly, obviously trying to assess the situation as she scanned Emma and Regina up and down with suspicion in her eyes.

“And that involves putting your hands on Regina’s boobs?” she wondered skeptically, the sly look in her eyes easy to read.

“They weren’t—” Emma tried to object but stopped because she could even feel Regina’s eyes on her calling her an idiot for denying it. “Okay, fine, they were, but I didn’t mean to. I panicked, and the next thing I know…” Emma trailed off, feeling her face becoming even hotter.

“You were feeling Regina up,” Ruby concluded with a raised eyebrow, her expression the biggest mix of disbelief, amusement, grossed out.

Emma sighed. "Not intentionally!"

"Mmhmm," Ruby hummed smugly. But as silence filled the space between the three of them, she must have picked up on the heavier tension between them, because Emma saw her frown and shifted uncomfortably. "I'll just...let you two...I didn't mean to interrupt-"

Emma shook her head. "No, it's..."

“I should go,” Regina finally said from behind Emma, her voice colder and more distant than Emma had ever heard it.

“Regina, wait.” Emma tried to reach for her, but Regina avoided her hand. “Goodnight, Ms. Lucas,” she said as she walked past Ruby.

And then, she was gone.

"Dammit," Emma punched the wall with her fist.

“Em, I’m sorry,” Ruby stepped closer to her. “I didn’t realize you two…” she trailed off, gesturing over her shoulder in the direction Regina went. “You should go after her.”

“I don’t know,” Emma exhaled defeatedly. “I think I may have actually messed this up.”

Ruby sighed, leaning against the wall. “Maybe. But we all know Regina feels deeply. Whatever that was that I walked in on, it’s not disappearing or fading away because you two unexpectedly crossed a line in your relationship.”

“We’re not—”

“Emma,” Ruby gave her a pointed, knowing stare. “She’s your son’s mom. And you two have always had the thickest tension around you when you’re together, whether it was good or bad. Your energies complement and feed off one another. There’s like a whole force field when it’s the two of you,” Ruby revealed.

“That’s our magic,” Emma tried to wave Ruby’s observations away, but she shook her head.

“It’s part of it but it’s more than that, too,” Ruby smiled understandingly. “You and Regina…it’s crazy with everything that’s ever happened, but that’s something unique with you guys. And no, you don’t have it with the pirate that is insistent on getting into your pants or Henry’s dad, though I get why you might’ve considered getting back with him,” Ruby reached out to stroke Emma’s arm supportively. “And between us,” Ruby leaned in, lowering her voice. “Now, that Regina isn’t trying to kill or curse us all, she’s gorgeous, hot, powerful, crazy smart, funny, a great mom, and I have no doubt that she’s amazing in bed. But don’t tell anyone, especially her, that I admitted that. I like the repartee the two of us are starting to have when she’s not flustered from you groping her.”

“I guess you better wish me luck, then,” Emma swallowed thickly.

“I do,” Ruby smiled as she started heading towards the restroom. “Both of you. Go find her.”

Emma had tried to find her that night, but after she’d left the bathroom, Henry was waiting for her in the front of the hall with his coat on. He told her that Regina was in the car waiting and that he wanted to say goodnight. After that, there was only distance and awkwardness between them. When they were picking Henry up or dropping him off, there was only small talk. Regina never had dinner at the loft again, and Emma only visited the mansion when Henry wanted to have a movie or video game night. And even then, Regina would give the excuse that she had too much work to get done with the orphanage planning or other town business, and she would go to her home office or her room and leave them together, not emerging until Emma left. Henry always eyed them both curiously, and Emma could see it was affecting him, but he just let them be for a couple weeks.

By the third week, the inevitable happened, though. Emma was doing her sheriff duty, chasing a loose goldendoodle down Main Street. and of course, it led her right in front of Town Hall. She barely saw Regina and the stack of papers in her arms, until she was crashing into the other woman and knocking them both to the ground. Fortunately, Emma reacted quickly and cradled Regina’s head just in time to keep it from hitting the pavement behind her. They both groaned as they made contact with the ground, though, and Emma watched the papers fly all over the place.

“Are you alright?” Emma asked with so much worry in her voice that Regina must have forgotten what was going on between them for a moment, because her gaze softened as she met Emma’s.

“Yes, I think so,” she winced as she sat up, Emma’s arm helping to support her behind her neck.

“Thank God,” Emma breathed out the longest sigh of relief, and instinctively reached up to tuck a few strands of Regina’s hair behind her ear. “That damn goldendoodle. I don’t even know who it belongs to for sure.”

Regina frowned at that. “You have magic, Emma. Use it. Instead of barreling the mayor over onto the sidewalk. Now, I have to sort through all of these papers,” Regina complained, raising her voice.

Emma was taken aback by the sudden change that came over her. She felt scolded, humiliated, and dejected. But Regina’s anger also triggered her own fury and everything that she’d been bottling up, since Regina had forced them into completely avoiding each other.

“I would use my magic, but the person who offered to teach me can barely tolerate spending two seconds in my presence! And obviously, I would never want to hurt you on purpose. So, I’m sorry but accidents happen, Your Majesty,” Emma raged, standing up, her eyes piercing Regina’s. “I was just trying to do my job, so you’d have less paperwork at the end of the week,” Emma huffed, her eyes darting from one area of scattered papers to another. “And since I’m not the one forcing us to avoid each other, and have just been following your lead because I was the one who made a mistake and unintentionally violated you, I’m going to clean up this damn mess and put everything back in order for you. I’m sure David and Henry will have more luck catching that fucking dog, anyway!”

Unable to look down at Regina because she knew the tumultuous, blazing storm she would find in her eyes, Emma started collecting all of the papers. It only took a few minutes for her to get them into a large messy pile, and then, she called David and asked him to pick up Henry from school, so they could search for the dog together. In the meantime, Regina had stood up and brushed the dirt from her plum sleeveless dress and black blazer as best as she could.

“Here,” Emma gently shoved the pile of papers back into Regina’s arms. “I’ll be at your office in thirty minutes to deal with this.”

She didn’t look back as she walked away from Regina, needing to cool down a bit first.

For once, Emma was perfectly on time as she knocked on the door of Regina’s office, not waiting for a reply as she pushed the door open and closed it behind her. She scanned the office and saw the papers on the glass table to her left. They reminded her of how badly she’d blown up at Regina, and she felt sheepish as she stepped forward. Regina didn’t look up at her or acknowledge her in any way, remaining focused on whatever she’d been working on on her laptop. Emma could tell she was overly aware of her presence, though, because her fingers had frozen on her computer keys and she seemed to be staring at the screen in front of her; her eyes not moving over the words she was supposed to be reading.

“Hey,” Emma tried softly, wanting to keep both of them calm. But Regina didn’t raise her eyes or look up at her at all. “Don’t do this. Please. We need to talk.”

Regina’s eyes closed tightly and she took a steadying breath, and Emma didn’t miss the quaver as she exhaled.

“What are we doing, Emma?” Regina finally spoke, turning in her chair and covering her face with her hands.

“Well, you’re avoiding me at all costs,” Emma replied lightly, but it was almost too pained to be teasing.

Regina shook her head. “You know what I mean. What am I to you?”

Regina turned and her eyes met Emma’s. They suddenly held so much emotion, exhaustion, and defeat. “Am I just your son’s other mother? Your friend? Someone else who you think is annoyingly pining for you and trying to sleep with you?” Regina paused for a moment, collecting herself after the unmistakable tremble in her voice. “Do you have feelings for me? Do you just want to fuck me? Am I one of three options sitting on different silver platters that you can’t decide between?”

“Regina—” Emma cringed, hearing the hurt that crept into Regina’s voice toward the end of her final question.

“Please, enlighten me. Because one minute we’re acting like friends and co-parents and trying to ignore whatever this is that’s happening between us. Then, we’re talking about things and saying things that it seems like we’ve never shared or said to anyone before. Then, we’re bantering and toeing a line that we don’t seem to actually want to cross. And then, we’re flirting...or almost kissing. And the next thing I know, you’re accidentally holding my boobs. Except, I’m also pretty sure we would have fucked right there in the women’s lounge, if Ruby hadn’t interrupted us.”

“And all that would maybe be fine,” Regina continued. “If not for the fact that you’ve also recently been kissing pirates and considering getting back together with an ex-lover. But you're also not choosing to be with either of them. So, I just want to know where I am in this, Emma. Who I am. I’d hope you respect me enough for that,” Regina stood up suddenly, and Emma’s eyes automatically fell to the white and black chair in front of Regina’s desk.

“I do respect you,” she said smally.

“Well, right now it doesn’t fucking feel like it,” Regina admitted hotly and Emma could hear the tears in her voice. “I know we never expected this. I’m not even sure when I started to feel this way for you.  And I promise you, I tried to fight it. Because you no longer trusted me because of my mother. And then, you seemed to want a chance with Neal. And in Neverland, there was Hook. But sometimes you’d look at me, Emma, and I swear I saw what I was feeling for you reflected back at me. In the beginning, I doubted it. But after we rescued Henry, when we were on the ship...you looked at me when we were holding Henry, and that was when I knew. My feelings weren’t completely one-sided. And then, we got back here, and something shifted. Something that I think we’ve been trying to define this entire time. But even so, you’re basically part of a damn love triangle because you’ve been so unsure, and I don’t want any part of that.”

Emma couldn’t deal with the space between them anymore, and moved to walk around to Regina on the other side of her desk. Regina's eyes searched hers intimately, and it took so much for Emma to keep her hands at her side and not touch or hold her the way she wanted to.

“That’s fair," Emma nodded. "I'd never expect you to be. And I'm sorry. I don't want you to feel that way. This has all been a lot for me. I think I’ve finally just processed the curse breaking, my family, our situation with Henry. And that’s why I wasn’t even looking for a relationship. But then, Neal came back and I knew I still cared for him; that I needed to try and work with him to repair whatever happened for Henry’s sake. And honestly, there’s still a part of me that loves him, no matter how messed up that is. And Hook,” Emma rolled her eyes. “I have no idea. Neal was gone and Hook was there, and I didn’t want him. Not initially. But he was there and I thought I felt at least some attraction to him. Now, I’m confident he’s not right for me. He doesn’t feel safe or good or…”

“But Neal might,” Regina supplied in the tiniest voice Emma had ever heard her use.

Emma shook her head. “He might have. But this...this is real too,” Emma motioned between them. “And you. I don’t just want to fuck you. And you’re not one of three silver platters,” Emma couldn’t help but give a short, derisive laugh at that. “You’re so much more, Regina. We’re already in this together for better or worse; I know you know that. We’ve said as much. But crossing that line we've been toeing with all the baggage I have, and so soon, after all the crap we’ve dealt with in such a short amount of time. I need to process some shit first. I need to let go. Clear my head. Really figure this out. Because I can’t bring that into this with the way it’s all muddled in my head right now, no matter how much I want to be with you. You deserve better."

Regina searched her eyes, seeking and seeming to find the truth that confirmed what Emma was saying.

“You matter too much to me,” Emma whispered with a teary smile, reaching for Regina’s hands and taking them in hers. “If we do this, we need to get the timing right.”

Regina nodded, releasing a ragged breath and letting go of one of Emma’s hands to swipe at a tear that slipped down her cheek.

"But I know," Emma revealed quietly. "I know it's you. Not Hook. Not Neal. You. After I get all my shit together. If you want me."

Regina's eyes were tear-filled and serious yet accepting and hopeful. “Get your shit together, Emma,” she murmured, tilting her head forward to rest it against Emma’s forehead. “And my papers,” Regina ordered a little more lightheartedly, reminding Emma of the other reason she was there.

Emma pulled back slightly after a few moments, meeting Regina’s eyes as her hand rose to cup her face. She ran her thumb along Regina’s cheekbone. “I want to kiss you."

"I know," Regina murmured.

Emma leaned in even closer, so Regina’s breath tickled against her skin.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” Regina warned her breathily, her eyes falling shut.

“Good thing we’re both stubborn as hell,” Emma whispered, her lips brushing against Regina’s as she spoke.

Then, without another thought or comment, Regina’s were slowly capturing hers; holding them almost chastely. There was the spark; the perfectness; the satisfaction. The soft cry that she heard come from Regina as she complemented with her own whimper of need and relief at their lips finally touching. And then, their mouths were moving together desperately--capturing, tasting, and encompassing all the longing and sweetness and yearning. Sharing every bit of fire and electricity and magic that had ever ignited in them because of the other woman. Regina tugged Emma’s hips hard against her, and Emma pushed her against her desk. But almost immediately, Regina turned them and guided Emma back until she had no choice but to sit on it. She wrapped her legs tightly around Regina’s waist, pulling her closer by the lapels of her blazer, until Regina was leaning over her; her tongue in Emma’s mouth: teasing, arousing, and eliciting moans and mewls of pleasure from Emma that Regina echoed as Emma sought more and more of her.

It took every part of Emma to keep her hands on Regina’s face, not allowing them to wander any lower than the top of her blazer.

Eventually, their kisses slowed as their chests rose and lowered together, brushing against each other. And soon, they were forcing themselves upright; delirious with want but content with having given into what they’d needed for a while.

“I better start sorting those papers,” Emma panted, trying to catch her breath, as she took the hand Regina offered and let her pull her up, so she was standing on her rubbery legs.

Emma placed one more chaste kiss to Regina’s lips. It was love and promise and certainty.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you,” Regina smiled affectionately as she pulled back. “But you might want to wipe my lipstick off your lips first,” she advised smugly.

Emma’s tongue darted out to subconsciously wet them, tasting the mix of Regina and herself that lingered on her skin.

“Got a wipe?”

“Top drawer of that cabinet." Regina indicated with a gesture of her finger from where she was already starting to work at the table. 

Henry stared out the window of the Bug for a very long minute, even after it was already in park and Emma had turned off the engine.

“You good?” Emma asked after a moment when he still hadn’t turned to her.

“What exactly did you do?” Henry finally shifted in the front seat to look over at her, a frown on his lips and his eyes critical and searching. “Mom didn’t even wait up for us,” he said, and it was mystified, slightly accusing, and worried.

Emma ducked her head a bit to look out the passenger window of the Bug and saw how all the windows in the mansion were completely dark. Only the front porch light was on and there was a dim light peaking from the foyer. Something in her gut twisted at that and her heart sunk, even though, she knew she was the one who had suggested taking space from each other in the first place.

“We needed some time apart. I needed to figure my crap out,” Emma began to explain. “She wanted me to.”

“Seems more dramatic than that to me,” Henry motioned toward the house.

“Well, your mom is known for being dramatic,” Emma said lightly, and it was fond and the tone of her voice seemed to comfort him and soothe his worries that his moms were done with each other for good.

“Look,” Emma started again after a moment, staring out the windshield to gather her thoughts. “I know it’s been awkward and confusing, lately.” A small snort from Henry interrupted her and she turned to him. “Henry, all of us have had to do a lot of adjusting. And that was on top of dealing with all of our own personal Neverland crap…but no matter what, I’m still here, okay? That’s why we’ve been taking space. This is too important to mess up.”

“So, you don’t hate each other?” Henry wondered in a small voice, after taking a moment to process Emma’s words.

Emma shook her head. “You have to ask Regina about her own feelings, but no, we definitely don’t hate each other. And I…” Emma took a deep breath. “Hate is nowhere on the list of things I feel about her.”

“So, you love her,” Henry surmised simply and Emma smiled, feeling lighter now that Henry knew the truth and had said it. And he made it sound so right; so easy. “More than friends, right? Like love love? In love?”

Emma could only nod.

“Does she know?”

“Sort of.”

Henry’s forehead wrinkled at that.

“It’s a long story.”

“I like long stories,” Henry reminded her.

Emma chuckled at that. “A kind of private story. That our son does not need to know.”

“Did you kiss…Or, you know?” Henry wondered straightforwardly and so innocently, and Emma had to force herself to remain calm. She still felt the heat rise in her face at his question implying whether or not they had been intimate.

“Umm maybe. Not that that's any of your business. And no, not yet,” Emma tried to reassure him but saw the grimace on his face.

“You could have just said no.”

“Sorry, I get it, but you did ask,” Emma hurried to apologize. There was a moment of heavy but comfortable silence between them, then Emma continued. “Whatever ends up happening, you both will always be my family, okay? You’re stuck with me,” she promised, and ran a hand through his hair and along his cheek.

“Okay,” Henry smiled, seeming much more at ease. “I think you need to really tell her.”

Emma rolled her eyes lovingly as she brought her hand back to her lap. “I think I really will. When it’s time.”

Henry shrugged. “I don’t know, no time like the present.”

“She’s probably asleep,” Emma shook her head, feeling her nerves bubbling up and fluttering around within her.

“Tomorrow?” Henry tried again.

“Kid,” Emma admonished gently. “You’re really good with this? I know you were kind of hoping your dad and I…”

“I mean, that would have been nice,” Henry admitted with a ambiguous shrug. “But you and Mom…I don’t know, you make sense. You…fit? The Savior and the Evil Queen. Emma and Regina. It actually sounds better than most of my fairytales. And you two are so powerful together. You get each other. And you’ve been so happy around each other…well, until when whatever this is started.”

“Working on it,” Emma chuckled, her eyes glassy and her throat tight.

“And Dad’s still here,” Henry said, but it held the hint of a question.

“Yeah, Kid, he is. We already talked. We’re good.”

“See? So, time to talk to Mom.”

“First, I think it’s time to get you inside to your bed. Otherwise, your mom’s going to break up with me before we even start going out,” Emma joked.

And with that, they both opened their doors in unison and tried not to make too much noise as Henry opened the front door with his key. They quietly made their way up the staircase that was dimly lit by some nightlights and the halfmoon shining through the upstairs window. The house was so quiet except for the two of them.

Emma waited for Henry to change into his pajamas, then she went and sat on the foot of his bed, while he went to the bathroom across the hall to brush his teeth. Once he was back inside his room, he closed the door.

“I’ll tuck you in,” Emma offered in a hushed voice and pulled his blanket back, so he could get into bed. Once he was settled she sat beside him. “How’re the nightmares?”

“Not so bad, anymore,” he smiled, taking her hand.

“Need a bedtime story?”

“I kind of already got one,” Henry reminded with a grin. “It’s to be continued, though.”

“Yeah,” Emma ran a hand through his hair. “Thanks for the talk.”

“Goodnight, Ma.” Henry sat back up and threw his arms around her in the biggest hug, and Emma held him so tight, her eyes closing as she cherished the closeness of her son.

“Love you, Henry,” she murmured against his hair.

“Love you, too,” he whispered back. They held each other for another moment, before he laid back down and got comfortable again. “Don’t forget to lock behind you.”

“I won’t,” she smiled softly, and opened the door, pausing to look at her son one more time, before she closed it behind her.

Then, she was alone in the dark hallway with only a few nightlights lighting the way. Her head instinctively turned to look toward Regina’s room. The door was closed. Emma fidgeted with her hands that were suddenly a little clammy. She wondered if she should do this now. She was so tired of the awkwardness and the giving each other space. Of not being able to have more than a quick casual conversation with Regina. She missed her touch; her laugh; her warmth. She missed them.

And she wasn’t overwhelmed anymore by new and old feelings. She wasn’t confused by Hook or Neal and where she stood with them; what she’d been feeling for them. One of them was annoying but exciting, wrong but there, a relationship she could have had fun with and maybe settled into. And Neal, her first love but not her current one. Sure, they still connected and had history together. They still understood and worked well together. But so many years had passed and she was far from the same person she’d been back then. Her whole life had changed…more than once, since he’d left her. And maybe they could pick up the pieces, fall in love, and be something again…but there was so much time, damage, and complications that she wasn’t sure they could completely overcome. That she wasn’t sure could ever allow them to grow and truly evolve into something more. Something true.

And then, there was Regina. They’d been complex and complicated from the beginning. Passionate and fiery and powerful. They’d always ignited something within each other. She couldn’t deny she’d always felt some kind of attraction to her. She still wondered if things would have been different between them from the start, if Regina hadn’t been so worried and defensive because of Henry. And as toxic as it may have been in the beginning, Emma had always seen her. She’d always wanted to try to understand, even when Regina or their circumstances had made it seemingly impossible. For Henry and what was best for him. But also, because she felt that she’d always gotten Regina on some level and Regina, for better or worse, had gotten her. Especially, once they’d come to know each other so intuitively and intimately. They could read each other. They could understand things others couldn’t. And as time went on, that attraction and passion and chemistry had become more and more noticeable. Undeniable. Except, everything had been so complicated with distance and Cora and Neal and Neverland. Emma wasn’t sure they’d even actually understood what was truly between them until recently. Things had slowed down, communication happened, friendship formed…and Regina made her laugh, she calmed her, she knew her. And she was beautiful and sexy and perfect.

Emma walked as quietly as she could down the hallway to Regina’s door. It seemed mostly quiet. She lifted her hand to knock but her knuckles only hovered close to it. Her stomach was jumping and her mouth was dry. But she wanted this and knew they needed this. Morning was too far away. As she was about to tap her hand against the wood, she heard a muffled cry and she froze. She listened and heard a few more soft cries, but couldn’t tell if Regina was awake or having a nightmare. Her heart sank, and suddenly, every part of her reached out to Regina, needing to comfort her. She knocked softly, not wanting Henry to hear, and attempted to whisper her name. There was no reply but another soft whimper. Emma pushed the door open slowly, stepping into the room that was only lit by moonlight and the soft glow of Regina’s light from her bathroom. It took Emma’s eyes a moment to adjust, and Emma thought she heard a low humming sound, but then, Regina whimpered her name and her heart stopped and her breath caught in her throat.

She gripped the doorknob tighter, closing it behind her, because she was now able to see more clearly through the darkness. She looked toward Regina’s bed and saw the white duvet folded back toward the foot of the bed, and then, she saw Regina’s body closer to the pillows. Her stomach dropped and her face blanched, then heated again as she realized what was going on. But she couldn’t look away. Regina wasn’t crying…not the way she thought she was, anyway. Emma saw the way her legs were parted and bent, her feet resting on top of the mattress. Her head was back against the pillows that propped her slightly up and she could tell her eyes were closed. She could make out the blur of her dark, silky nightgown that was almost completely above her hips and the rough lace that covered her breasts. A closed fist was at her mouth, resting tensely against it. And then, she let her eyes travel to the glowing red light that she was trying to ignore in Regina’s hand that moved between her legs.

“Unh…Emma,” Regina mewed softly, pressing herself further back into the pillows as her hips shifted almost imperceptibly with the sensation of the vibrator that she was moving against her. “Fuck,” she cursed a little too loudly in the quiet of the room, her head moving back more as she pressed her hand harder against her lips.

Emma’s skin was suddenly burning with her need for Regina. She could feel her own pulsing between her legs as she watched her. Needing her so suddenly; so desperately. Her throat felt tight, though, and she didn’t know how to get her voice to work or her legs to move. Besides, she was intruding. She wasn’t supposed to be here.

“Em—” Regina exhaled heavily, but her name got caught in a soft, strangled mewl.

That was all it took for Emma to make her way towards the bed. She wasn’t sure if Regina’s magic sensed hers or if she just felt Emma’s presence and knew it was her, but she stiffened for a moment, once Emma was a few feet away from the side of the bed. Her eyes fluttered opened, though they were still lidded and heavy with her arousal.

“It’s me,” Emma murmured, moving towards her and bending over her to gently caress her heated cheek. “God, you’re so beautiful,” Emma whispered, trailing her hand along Regina’s jawline, along the side of her neck, and stopping just above where the lace of her nightgown met the swell of her breast. She could feel Regina’s heart beating hard in her chest.

Regina swallowed. “Emma—”

“I need you. So badly,” Emma told her in a hushed voice, her eyes wandering down from Regina’s eyes to where Regina’s hand was stilled between her legs. Emma noticed she’d turned the vibrator off at some point. “Let me.” It was an offer and a plea that suddenly sounded a little hesitant as it came from Emma’s lips.

Regina put the vibrator down beside her, then her hand rose to cover the one of Emma’s that was resting on her chest. She intertwined their fingers, questioning Emma silently before bringing their hands to her lips. She placed a kiss to each knuckle, then took Emma’s middle finger into her mouth, gazing deeply into her eyes as she swirled her tongue over it and sucked it gently. She did the same to her ring finger. Emma felt her eyes slip closed as a chill rose up her spine and heat pooled at her tingling center. She heard herself whimper.

Once Regina released her fingers, she lightly grabbed her wrist. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” Regina mumbled frustratedly, as she shifted to the side and pulled Emma down, over her body, between her bent legs. She pulled Emma’s green henley over her head, exposing the black bra cupping her breasts as they hovered over Regina’s. Brown eyes grew darker and hungrier as they took in Emma’s skin, and Emma couldn’t help but duck her head shyly. Regina reached up to tenderly caress her face and bring her gaze back to hers. “You are so beautiful,” she said seriously and with so much love and adoration, Emma felt her eyes becoming glassy. She turned her head to place a kiss to the inside of Regina’s palm. They were quiet for a moment just taking each other in, their eyes searching each other’s for answers and assurances. Until Regina seemed to become impatient. “Your jeans need to go.”

Emma nodded her head, and the next thing she knew, they were gone.

“Better,” Regina exhaled. “So much better.”

And then, she pulled Emma’s head down to hers kissing her tenderly and fully, before their mouths began to open and they deepened the kiss. Letting go and capturing each other’s lips again and again. Their mouths moving against each other: sucking, tasting, exploring with tongues and teeth; whimpers and sighs and hums of pleasure.

“I need you too,” Regina breathed, once their kisses had slowed down a bit and their hands had gotten braver in their explorations of each other’s bodies. “So much. If you couldn’t tell,” Regina smirked lazily as she referred to what Emma had witnessed as she’d entered the room. But then, she became serious again. “Why are you here, Emma?”

“I think that’s kind of obvious,” Emma teased, but placed a quick kiss to Regina’s lips as she became serious, too. “Henry convinced me it was time to talk with you. I thought you were just asleep or avoiding me bringing him home, so I came to see if we could. And then…I thought you were crying. But then, you obviously weren’t.”

“He’s asleep?”

“I hope so,” Emma laughed softly. “I tucked him in like ten minutes ago.”

“And the talking?” Regina searched her eyes intently, attempting to find exactly what Emma was thinking.

“We can do that tomorrow. If you trust me,” Emma told her, feeling self-conscious as Regina studied her, but she allowed her to see every one of her intentions. “Do you? Trust me?”

Regina traced her jaw lightly; so tenderly. “Of course, I do. With everything I am.”

“Regina.” It was so soft and cherishing, almost worshipping as Emma felt the sincerity of Regina’s words go straight to her soul.

“We saved this town. Our son. We moved the moon. You’ve always made sure no one would harm me…I trust you, Emma.”

“I want you,” she stated quietly but firmly.

“I’m aware,” Regina rolled her eyes teasingly.

Emma shook her head. “Not just sex. Everything. I want it with you. I think I have for a while. But timing and complications and not thinking you’d want me…”

Regina frowned at that, sadness in her eyes at Emma’s doubts. “I think I’ve always wanted you,” Regina told her softly; honestly. “Even when I thought I hated you and you were going to take Henry. You showed up and turned my life upside down. But you awakened me, too. Challenged me. Believed in me…or at least tried to give me a chance. You’ve fought for me…with me. You’ve trusted me.”

Emma chuckled wetly, swiping at the tears collecting at the corners of her eyes. “Now, you tell me I’ve always had a chance.”

“Mmm…perhaps. But I believe this is better timing,” Regina pulled her down to kiss her, deeply, reverently…healing both of them as Emma reciprocated. “Although, you could have shown up before I thought I needed to use a toy tonight…” Regina quipped with a small, playful smile. “For once, you’re really here.”

“For once?” Emma raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve wanted you like this for a long time,” Regina admitted, lust returning to her eyes. “Fast. Rough. Almost unbearable. Until recently.”

“And now?”

“Slow. Tender. Almost unbearable.”

Regina’s voice was low and rough with fierce desire.

“Lucky for you, I can do both,” Emma lowered her head, capturing Regina’s lips again. Kissing her slowly, languidly, hotly. Then, she moved her mouth over her jaw and down her neck. Sucking her pulse point until Regina shook beneath her with a soft whimper. And then, she placed a trail of kisses lower and lower, before running her tongue along the salty skin at the top of her nightgown. She moved the material, so she could free Regina’s breasts. Sucking them and squeezing them; feeling her nipples grow hard at the ministrations. Regina squirmed beneath her. “Emma…” she whimpered.

“Needed to finish what I started weeks ago with those,” Emma grinned up at her coyly and Regina rolled her eyes.

And then, she hiked Regina’s nightgown up further, exposing her belly that she licked and peppered with open mouth kisses. Then, she dipped her head lower, smelling the enticing scent of Regina’s arousal. She ran a couple fingers along the smooth skin above Regina’s center, causing her to squirm at the overwhelming sensation. Then, she placed a kiss to the inside of Regina’s thigh. Before she went any further, she lifted herself back over Regina, meeting her eyes again. “Here. Sit back against the pillows,” she suggested as they adjusted.

“What are you going to do?” Regina breathed out heavily, her chest rising and falling in anticipation.

“Whatever you want me to do.” Emma replied. “What do you want Regina?”

“You to taste me,” Regina breathed out. “Suck me. And fuck me,” she continued, gasping as Emma laid her palm against her center. “S—slow. D—deep.”

At that, Emma licked a long, fiery trail down between her breasts, over her nightgown, then her stomach, and then all the way to her center. Regina widened her hips at Emma’s presence, and Emma lifted her legs to place a pillow beneath her. Then, she draped Regina’s thighs over her shoulder and went to work. Her tongue swept over Regina’s slit, then, swirled over her—licking and tasting the tangy wetness that was waiting for her. She hummed in appreciation, continuing to glide her tongue in a small rhythmic dance over Regina again and again, gracefully. Then, she began to suck her clit and play with it, her tongue pressing against it, flicking it, and toying with it. Regina’s whimpers became louder and louder. Her legs pressing into Emma’s head more and more.

“Mmnhh. Fuck…Emma…don’t stop,” she whimpered and cried and panted out.

“I thought you wanted me to fuck you deep, too?” Emma stopped briefly to wonder with amusement.

“Just keep going,” Regina growled out softly in frustration.

Emma continued to suck, but she shifted herself, so she could fit two fingers into Regina. She pushed them in slowly, Regina biting down on her fist to stifle her cry as Emma began to curl her fingers back toward herself and then pushed them back in again. Over and over. Faster and faster. As Regina’s hips moved slightly to move with their rhythm. Then, Emma started sucking again…tediously...intently.

“Oh god fuck,” she cried out, her head pressing hard into her pillow. Her eyes tightly shut as she mewled and bit down, trying to be quiet.

“Em—Emma…I’m…ohh…”

Emma suddenly felt one of Regina’s hands tangle into the top of her hair, almost yanking it out of her ponytail as she tugged and guided Emma’s head impossibly closer to her. Emma had to stop moving her fingers, and worked to suck Regina off.

“Look at me, Regina,” she pleaded, as she sensed Regina getting closer and closer. “Please.”

Regina’s eyes opened slowly. They were so dark and only half-opened but they met Emma’s.

“Let me see how you come for me.”

It wasn’t long after Emma began to suck again that Regina’s body tensed beneath her, and she fought to hold Emma’s gaze. She arched her back as Emma’s name became a cry that caught in her throat as her center bucked up and pulsed against Emma’s fingers—tightening and letting go, over and over again as she road out her climax…Emma’s thumb moving against her and making it last as long as she could. Finally, Regina’s body relaxed, sinking back into the mattress.

“Holy fuck,” Regina breathed out hoarsely as Emma moved to lay beside her, kissing her shoulder as her fingers danced against Regina’s warm skin.

“That good, huh?” Emma smirked up at her. “I’m glad.” She pressed her lips to Regina’s arm again.

She felt Regina’s arm move to drape over her. “You really are incredible,” she complimented breathlessly, placing a kiss to the top of Emma’s head. “Sorry, I messed up your hair.” Emma closed her eyes as Regina ran her fingers over the bumps that the top of Emma’s hair was now lifted in.

“Take out the ponytail,” Emma directed her lightly and Regina did as she was told, running her fingers through Emma’s hair. “Now, you can really mess it up.”

“I think it’s time to show you how grateful I am to you,” Regina sat up, a wicked glint flashing over her face.

“I think I’d like that.”

“But first,” Regina climbed on top of her, one leg draped over each side as she straddled Emma. “No more clothes.” She flicked her wrist and the next moment they were both naked.

Emma gaze up at Regina above her and couldn’t breathe as she took in the sight of her. Regina ran her hands through her own hair, shaking it out. And then, she was messing Emma’s up as she kissed her senseless. After a minute, and Emma begging for more, Regina descended further—kissing and loving and thanking every part of her.

Once she reached her center, Regina wasted no time lowering her mouth to Emma. It was hot and wet and perfect as she glided her tongue over her, swirling and sucking and teasing. Emma’s fingers played with Regina’s hair, while her other hand pressed against her forehead as the overwhelming sensations took over her. Regina seemed to know just what to do to get Emma to moan and writhe and tug on her hair. Emma could feel her lips smile against her in satisfaction the more Emma shifted beneath her.

“Regina…I need to…more…”

That caused Regina to suck harder and more purposefully; her tongue darting out to add more friction and teasing. Emma felt herself rising further with the waves building and swelling within her. Her whimpers and cries became more desperate and she tried not to say Regina’s name too loudly as she braced herself against Regina’s ministrations.

“Give me your hand,” Regina implored, and Emma obeyed, reaching down to find Regina’s. “I’m adding some magic.”

Emma felt a bit of shock at Regina’s words, but she was so lost in what was happening, she knew to trust Regina. The other woman interlocked their fingers, summoning Emma’s magic with her own. Emma’s fingers tingled with their shared magic, and she felt the hum and purr against her sensitive center as Regina moved them over her clit. The feeling was one like Emma had never known before; it was power and connection and love…so much love that coursed through her as she suddenly tensed and her hips left the bed, riding out the rough rush of waves of total ecstasy that overtook her. “Ohh! F—fuck! Regina!" She cried out unsure of how loud she really was as all she could think of was Regina and all she could feel was their magic pulsing through her core again and again and again, until she collapsed onto the bed. Her chest was heaving, sweat rolled down her body and dotted her brow.

“Regina,” she heaved out, reaching up to stroke the other woman’s face and guide her down to her lips to kiss her deeply, languidly.

Eventually, they pulled apart. “I know we haven’t—we’ve been through a lot in our lives. Maybe it’s too soon for words. But never doubt my feelings for you,” Regina spoke softly. “That magic…my magic…there were no exaggerations, no lies in what you felt.”

Emma cleared the emotion gently from her throat, and caressed Regina’s cheek as Regina’s hand reached up to hold her there. “You’re amazing,” Emma smiled lazily, using her thumb to coax Regina to look at her. “And yeah, I’m a little terrified of you, of this…but I wouldn’t be here with you right now if I hadn’t admitted to myself how in love with you I am. Know that.”

“Show me?” Regina beseeched and it was almost meek.

Emma nodded unable to find words that could adequately respond to the look in Regina’s eyes.

“But first…can I…can we…”

Regina smiled in understanding and reached down to pull the top sheet over them. Then, she settled against Emma, their arms wrapped around each other and legs tangled together.

Peaceful.

Comfortable.

Right.