A.N.: First of all, thank you for all the love and support. This story has only a few chapters left, and I'm so glad I could count on you guys for the ride. Also, I'm planning on three (yes, yes) new fanfiction, and I want your opinion to see what would be something you'd want to read. So, if you haven't yet, please follow me, so you can get the updates! And, as always, let me hear your thoughts! Thanks again, xx

Yes I feel you all the time
You're in my dreams all through the night
If you look down and your hands are tied
Say the words love and I'll be by your side

(Matt Hartke)

It wasn't unknown both women were walking in thin ice since Christmas. They knew very well that any word, any moment, any decision had the power to change their lives completely, therefore they'd refrain from it. Yet, their world just came crashing around them, and they were immediately plunged into sharp freezing water.

Regina didn't know who's the idea was, or even why she'd agreed to it, but she found herself and Emma now sitting on the couch of Dr. Hopper's office. Practice. Something. The blonde was nervous, sweat hands rubbing furiously down her jeans, not meeting anyone's eyes. The brunette, on the other hand, being a psychologist herself, didn't let herself intimidate by the unkempt man.

"I'm glad you could both come," he started, smiling apologetically, "I find it always more practical when I speak with both parts at once."

"Listen, Doc, before anything-" Emma blurted, already getting ahead of herself. The man seemed unfazed, holding his hand up for her to wait before saying anything else.

"Right to the point, I see." He grinned, "Let me tell you something before we can start. Ms. Swan, your mother, she was quite unraveled the last time we spoke. In fact, she made some quite serious statements-"

"About that, I'd just-" Again, the younger woman tried her best to intervene, sensing where this was heading. Soft eyes met hers again, and once again, he pleaded her to stop talking.

"As I was saying, Mary is my patient, and she made some assumptions that didn't really belong to herself. You know, as a therapist, I'm obliged to speak up if some of my clients confess to committing a crime, however, if the person I'm treating is not the author, and her words are based in assumptions only, with no proof whatsoever, I have the right to maintain our secrecy in order to preserve my patient's best interests." Last words were spoken slowly as if to send a message to the couple, albeit kindly enough to make them relax, just a little.

"Now, I don't want you to come here and disclose if your mother's assumptions are real or delusional, nor I want to discuss the veracity of the fact with you. It is simply not my place, and you're not my patient to treat."

Regina was tense from the beginning, however, the doctor's punctuated words made her visibly unwind. He wasn't going to report them, that was a fact, and this was already a relief. Still, they both still had a big predicament to face.

"So, you're saying you're not telling on us?" Emma wanted to make sure she understood right.

"I'm not, because there's nothing to tell, right? Your mother expressed some concerns, surely, but I have no indication that any of this is true." He winked, seemed pleased with herself. "I do have some concerns about myself, if I may express them."

"Go on." The professor spoke, for the first time since they introduced themselves. Secretly, she was still unsure about the therapist's antics, and more the once she thought he could want to get something out of it. If this was the case, she preferred knowing sooner rather than later.

"Let's say if a friend of mine encounters themselves in such position," he spoke softly, making sure both set of eyes were trained on him, "I would advise them to get rid of the causes that would make anyone doubt them in the first place."

"I'm not sure I follow." Dark eyes were skeptical, still trying to figure out what the man wanted from this interaction. "How to get rid of suspicion?"

"Yeah?" Emma was staring too, albeit a bit more hopeful.

"Well, there are a number of reasons why people would be led to commit such a crime. Now, I'm not saying this has anything to do with you particularly, it is very important that is clear we speak… hypothetically." Cleaning the lenses of his glasses, he proceeded to sip a glass of water. "Can I offer you anything to drink?"

Both women shook their heads negatively. "So, where was I?", he continued, unfazed, "Oh yes, right, several reasons why one would do such thing, but the most common reason has to do with a green card." The blonde could feel the hair of her neck prickling. "A green card to pursue a permanent situation here in the U.S."

What was this man thinking? He was stating the obvious, that was given, but where was he going with this, the brunette could not grasp. Despite her nerves and a headache that was threatening to get the best of her, she remained quiet, and let him continue, without interruption. Sensing her discomfort, Emma held her hand, offering a bit of alleviation for a brief moment.

"I don't want to sound like I'm speaking in riddles, so bear with me for a moment, will ya?", he grimaced, sensing the impatience ebbing from both women. "Put it simply, if the visa status is out of the table, there's no reason to doubt the reasoning behind the marriage in the first place, right?"

"So, you're saying-"

"What I am saying is, you two seem great together. No reason to doubt that if no one needs a visa, correct?" He seemed satisfied with himself.

"You want us to move abroad?" Regina was speechless, looking towards Emma in order to see what thoughts crossed her mind. Their lives, their jobs, Henry. Their family was here, and not anywhere else in the world. "Just like that, pack up and leave everything behind?"

"Listen, I'm not the one to suggest such a thing. I'm honestly just stating the facts. And it wouldn't have to be forever, also. Just until one's situation is… sorted."

It was so simple, really. So conspicuous. It has hard go ignore, and even harder to not have thought of it in the first place. The U.S. Government and ICE would hardly go after them in another country to investigate if their union was legit, let along prosecute them if someone says it isn't. They could live in Europe, for a year or so, until their situation was sorted according to other country's laws, and no one there would doubt their motivation.

Regina could take a sabbatical year from the university, Emma could learn Italian. Henry could be enrolled in an English speaking school and have the experience of a year abroad. For a second, they felt like the weight pressing heavy on their shoulders had been lifted, for the first time in months.

"So, simple as that?" The blonde declared, feeling giddy. "No harm, no fault?"

"Well, it depends on you, really. I don't make the rules. However, by experience, I can say that problems are usually as big as we let them be, for us."

It was particularly hard for Regina to admit that a good outcome had come from Mary's spilling the beans. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but rejoice in the fact that she felt a way out of this mess for the first time since they'd got into it. They drove back to their parents, hand in hand, and decided not to say anything yet, and just enjoy the New Year's eve with their family.

Later, they decided, they would bring up the news. Later, they would tell something that would bring a lot of disruption to their family, and they knew it wasn't fair to make another holiday together just about them. Henry would have to wait too since he was too young to know it all so suddenly, and then being asked not to tell. Tonight, they thought, tonight we are just us, here, and nothing else matters.

The ball dropped on the television announcing the start of a new year, and the happy couples all over the living room lined up for a kiss. Music blasted from the speakers and the blonde laughed, thinking how ridiculous it all had been, the craziest year of her life, the best and the worst she experienced, and now it was officially behind them. Over. Gone.

Henry grinned between them, being squished in a hug from both his moms, and even though his face scrunched when he was being kissed on the cheek, his eyes betrayed his fake disgust with love, purely. He was beaming. Velvety locks were falling on hazel eyes, and pale hands couldn't help but brush them off. The gesture, so natural, and yet so intimate, spoke volumes about how they were feeling.

They toasted, glasses being emptied at the same speed they were filled. Regina's eyes were watering from laughing, Abby making a snarky comment about something she couldn't even remember anymore, David's mock-up impersonation of Emma, the way Beatrice held Henry tight, and even the way Mary sighed, upon seeing her family so happy. For a night, they decided to push all of their problems aside and just enjoy themselves. This is what families are for, right?

They stumbled into the guest room, both women slightly tipsy. It was past 2 am when they finally were able to retire for the night, and sore feet and calves were struggling to keep up with the wobbly steps they both were taking, especially in heels. They had a lot of fun, they thought, but now they needed to talk.

Since leaving Dr. Hopper's office, they didn't have a chance to actually talk about what he had just said. Arriving home, they were swamped with last-minute preparations for dinner and Emma had to run to the liquor store along with Fred to make sure they had enough wine and prosecco. Even getting ready for the party, they were constantly interrupted by Henry's desperate attempt to put up a tie and Beatrice's need for beauty advice from Regina's, apparently because of her ability to make 'perfect' smokey eyes.

They silently decided they would speak later on, once they were finally alone. But now, they were a tad woozy, and they weren't sure if they were in their best faculties.

"Faculties," the blonde giggled, "God, sometimes I worry you're way smarter than me. This seems to be straight out of a dictionary."

"Miss Swan!" Regina spatted, with no charge whatsoever. "I swear, you'll not cross me."

"Okay, okay, wifey," handing both her hands high, she backed down. "I was just saying that there are other things we could do right now…"

"Such as?" The brunette knew very well where this was heading, still loving the fact that they could tease each other like this. "Enlighten me." Sharp white teeth flashed a dashing smile.

"Well, for starts," Emma initiated, kissing her neck, nipping it lightly, "we could remove our dirty, dirty clothes-"

"Emma! My clothes are hardly even dirty-", slapping her love on her shoulders lightly, she tried to get away from Emma's possessive grip.

"Okay, so, we could remove our clothing so they don't get filthy," the blonde grinned, amused by her own words, "and then we could go ahead and get dirty."

"And how is it again that we will get so sully?" Regina drawled, clearly entertaining the idea.

"I have a few thoughts in mind," the younger woman pressed again, not able to get her hands off the brunette, "that is, if you're willing to diversify a bit."

"You know I'm no prude." Manicure nails dug hard on the exposed skin of her ribs, causing Emma to gasp, but not caving in. Yet.

"Oh yeah? This is still yet to be discovered."