One Year Later

"This place is amazing!"

Emma and Regina smile as they watch Henry gape around at the hotel suite.

"Yeah, it is really nice," Regina nods her head, looking around thoughtfully. "Much bigger than the one we stayed in before."

"Well, we couldn't very well just have a one bedroom place, could we?" Emma says softly, throwing in a cheeky wink which has the brunette grinning. "What do you want to do first, kid?"

"I can't wait to order room service!" he exclaims, and both women give him a surprised look. "Wait, no. That's not what I meant to say. I didn't really listen to the question-I was just excited about the fancy room." He rubs the back of his neck, cheeks flushed red. "I want to go to the beach first, I guess."

Regina chuckles at him. "Well, why don't you go ahead and get a head start with that? Your mother and I will unpack and settle in here before we join you."

"Sounds awesome." He scrambles into his room across the suite for that of his mothers and changes quickly into his favorite pair of board shorts and a T-shirt. Slipping on a pair of sandals, he starts for the door. "See you guys in a bit!"

"Hang on there, young man." He halts at the uncharacteristically stern voice of his blonde mother before turning to face her. She digs through a bag for a moment before tossing a bottle at him.

He grimaces down at it. "Ma, come on. I'll be fine."

"Sun's a lot hotter here than it is in Maine, kid," she informs him sharply. "This trip is too damn expensive for you to spend it miserable in bed popping Aspirins and lathering on Aloe." She smiles at him. "Use the sun block."

"She's right," Regina nods. "It's very easy to get burnt here, and I'd hate for you to spend the trip that you've been so looking forward to ill."

Henry sighs. "Fine. I'll put it on, I promise."

"You'll thank us later," Emma says. "Go on. Have some fun."

"See you out there, Moms!" He flees the suite before he can be stopped again and made to do anything else.

Regina smiles fondly. "Moms. I love it when he says that."

"Well, why wouldn't he?" Emma moves behind her and wraps her arms around her waist tenderly. "You're his other mom, after all." She kisses her cheek. "You made it very clear how much you loved him early on, and I already knew before we ever came to Storybrooke how crazy he is about you. Although, I'll admit that I was kind of surprised by just how quickly and easily he took to you. He used to be pretty shy around anyone but me. It took him a while to form the relationship he has with August. But with you it was like nothing at all." She grins. "Kind of like this was all meant to be, huh?"

"Yeah, it is," Regina smiles. "So... we have some time before we need to get back to Henry." Her hands slipped down to Emma's hips, pinning the blonde's front to her back.

Emma laughs softly. "Yeah, we do, and I agree wholeheartedly with how you seem to want to spend it. Let me run to the bathroom real quick, okay? And then I'm right back here with you."

Turning, Regina presses her lips to her girlfriend's earlobe, wetting the skin with her tongue. "Do hurry, dear."

Emma gulps. "Yes ma'am."

Regina smiles to herself as the blonde scurries off to the en suite bathroom of their room before stepping up to their bed. Moving the luggage off of it, she removes her earrings and slips her shoes off by the door, smiling contentedly to herself. The past year has been the happiest of her life, all thanks to Emma and Henry. After moving, they settled into life in Storybrooke with surprising ease. In the small town, Henry found it much easier to make friends than at his large school back in Boston, and he became something of a novelty towards the other kids in a town where no one knew ever arrived. Emma also found her place in the town easily, much to Regina's relief. Part of her had feared she wouldn't be able to acclimate to the domestic, small-town life. After all, most of her time before was spent drifting from city to city, though she had learned a bit about settling down when she had Henry. Still, the blonde was rootless most of her life, and she had never left the excitement and chaos of a large city before. Regina, though she tried to suppress such thoughts, had worried Storybrooke would bore Emma after long. That she would bore her.

That didn't happen, though. Taking a job as deputy to the sheriff, Emma had slipped into the lifestyle seamlessly and had even made friends with the other town inhabitants, something that Regina had never quite been able to do herself. Sure, she had one friend in Katherine Nolan, but it was still a tentative relationship. Regina didn't do friendship very well. She never had. But Emma, ever the social butterfly, had flourished in Storybrooke. She formed a friendship with Ruby Lucas fairly quickly, which Regina had not been thrilled with due to the waitress's scant wardrobe and habit of flirting shamelessly with any half-attractive pair of pants that walked by. Emma assured her that they were strictly friends, though, and Regina knew she could believe her. She didn't have to trust the waitress-she only needed to trust Emma, and she did. With her life.

Then, Emma had unfortunately warmed up to Henry's school teacher, Mary Margaret Blanchard. Another tragedy in Regina's opinion. She'd always disliked the woman-she is far too much of a goody-two-shoes. Self-righteous and insufferable. And while Emma agrees that Mary Margaret-or M&M as she insists upon calling her-can be a stick-in-the-mud sometimes, she swears that the pixie-haired woman is one of the nicest people anyone could ask for, and she is a good friend.

The rest of the town came to adore Emma and Henry immediately as well, even Leroy the town drunk. And they had all likewise seen the change in their town's mayor as well since the arrival of the mother and son. Regina, loathed as she is to admit it, visibly softened towards the town she had once ran with an iron fist. She can't help it. She is happier than she ever let herself believe she could be, and that reflects in her mood and attitude, even towards the people she can't stand.

It is a simple and honest truth that Henry and Emma have brought light into her existence, and she has changed for the better because of it. She'd never be able to thank either of them properly for that.

As she leans against the wall of the room, she smiles to herself as she thinks on where she'd been just a few days before their trip. The jeweler had led her through the engagement diamonds and tried desperately to convince her to leave with one that afternoon, but she had declined. As much as she wants to take the next step in their relationship, Regina isn't quite sure yet that Emma is, having never been in that stable of a relationship before, and she doesn't want to push the blonde into anything. She knows that she can hold off until her girlfriend is ready to move forward, even if all she wants to do is call the woman who stole her heart long ago her wife.

The sound of Emma's voice through the bathroom door catches Regina's ear, and she furrows her brow curiously.

"Yeah, Ruby, I know... No, don't worry. I can handle it... I'm just waiting for the right moment... I'm not going to screw it up-Jesus, woman, have some faith... Okay, yeah. I'm a little nervous about talking to her about it, but, y'know, I'll manage... Yeah, I'll call you as soon as it's done... Stop it-you're making me even more nervous... Seriously, though, Rubes, thank you for everything. I appreciate it more than you can imagine... Uh-huh. Love you, too. Bye."

The bathroom door opens, and Emma steps out to find Regina standing in the center of the room with her back facing her. Smiling, she moves up behind the brunette and wraps her arms around her.

"I'm ready now." She goes to kiss her but is halted by the clear tears on Regina's cheeks. "Oh my God, Regina! What's wrong? What happened?" She spins the woman around to face her, but Regina doesn't meet her gaze.

"How long?" she asks in a small voice.

Emma frowns. "What? Regina, what are you talking about? Why are you crying?"

Regina still refuses to look her in the eye. "How long has it been going on?"

"Babe, you're starting to scare me. Please, tell me what you're talking about."

Suddenly, Regina lifts her head, and brown eyes flash with so much anger and pain that it causes Emma to stumble backwards in shock. "How long have you been fucking the waitress behind my back?"

Emma sputters. "W-What? Regina, I don't-"

"I heard you on the phone with her in there," Regina growls. "And don't think I haven't noticed that you've been distracted for the past month. Away from the house more often. Spiriting off for little trips out of town. I wanted to think it was nothing at all, but now I see what a fool I've been. What a fool you've made of me." She runs her fingers through her hair, shaking her head. "So, is that what this trip you planned so suddenly is all about? To tell me that you're leaving me for her." She curls her lip in disgust as more tears tumble from her eyes. "That you love her."

Emma only stares at her in awe. "Regina... I... It's not like that at all."

"Really? Then what was that call about? What has she been doing that you appreciate so much? That's made you fall in love with her? Or do I even want to know?"

The blonde stands before her a moment before blowing out a heavy sigh. She turns her back on Regina and moves to a bag in the corner of the room, rummaging from it a moment.

"What are you doing?" Regina demands. "Emma, I'm speaking to you."

"I know. I just have to get something so you'll understand." Standing, she walks back to Regina with a paper in hand. "Here. Read it. Out loud, please"

"What is this?"

Emma simply smiles back at her. "A contract for a simple agreement."

Regina narrows her eyes. "Emma, I-"

"Regina, please. Just read it." The desperation is clear in her eyes, and Regina hesitantly looks down at the paper in her hands.

"'This document is presented to Regina Mills by Emma Swan to offer a mutually-beneficial agreement of commitment. If signed, Emma Swan swears to love Regina for the rest of their lives and stand by her always. She promises to be her best friend, shoulder to cry on, and even verbal punching bag when needed. She promises to hold her whenever is necessary and never allow her to feel unloved or unimportant. She can't promise that she won't mess up and be an idiot from time to time, but she does promise that she will always do all that she can to make up for those times. She promises that she will never leave her, and, wherever their life leads them, she promises to be a pillar of support and care. In return, Regina must swear to do the same, as well as one added condition. She must allow Emma to see her boobs whenever she so desires. For the rest of their lives.'"

Regina stands there, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. When she finally manages to pry her gaze up from the page, her breath is stolen away again. Emma kneels before, nervous smile in place, with an open, blue box held up. An emerald-cut black diamond glitters up at her, surrounded in a halo of smaller, white diamonds, inlaid on a silver band. Words surpass Regina as she blinks back tears and looks at last from the ring to Emma's shining green eyes.

"You gave me a contract once that started this whole relationship," the blonde says softly. "I thought it was only suiting that I give you one that will take us to the next step. I love you, Regina Mills. I have for so long, and I always will. I swear that to you. Now and forever, I'm yours. My devotion has no end or bounds. I will always love you, and I would love the honor of spending the rest of our lives together. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

After several seconds of nerve-wracking silence, a choked sound wrenches its way out of Regina's mouth, and Emma worries that it isn't the answer she hopes for. But then Regina is nodding her head emphatically as she sobs "yes" over and over again with a smile on her face, and Emma grins widely. Taking Regina's hand, she slips the ring on her finger and kisses it before the brunette pulls her to her feet in a deep kiss, salty from both their tears.

"As far as the phone call you heard, it was about this," Emma tells her when they finally break apart, her arms locked around Regina's waist. "Ruby did some pre-law before she dropped out of college, so she helped me write up the contract. She also helped me with the ring. I knew I wanted a black diamond-they remind me of you so much-but I wasn't sure about what cut to get. She was a huge help in all this. I had it all planned out that I'd do it on the beach or over dinner or somewhere more romantic than our hotel bedroom." She smiles slyly. "Looks like I'm not the only good at screwing up plans."

"I'm so sorry for accusing you before," Regina says guiltily. "I was just... I was so hurt and scared of losing you... I didn't think."

Leaning forward, Emma kisses the tip of her nose delicately. "It's okay. I understand that the call may have been misleading. Ruby-I do love her but like a sister. I've never had any friends who were girls before, and she's the closest I think I've ever been to any friend. Even August." Reaching forward, she strokes Regina's cheek softly. "You don't have to ever worry about losing me, Regina. I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

"I love you." Regina kisses her again, smiling widely. "I love you so very much."

Emma grins. "Henry's going to be so happy you said yes. He's been pushing me to ask since I showed him the ring."

"You told him about it?"

"Of course. I had to make sure he was alright with me marrying his mom." Regina rests her forehead against Emma's with a sigh. "He's been so excited about it. It's part of the reason he's looked forward to this trip so much. I had to swear him to secrecy so he wouldn't ask you for me." Regina laughs, and Emma hums with satisfaction. "God, I love that sound."

Regina kisses her again, draping her arms around Emma's neck and walking them backwards to the bed. "I believe we've still got some time before Henry will expect us down." Her eyes darken as she slides herself back onto the bed. "I would like to make love to my fiance now."

Emma's face lights up as a shiver travels down her spine. "Don't have to tell me twice." She throws herself onto the bed over Regina eagerly and hurries to unbutton her shirt.

"What are you doing?" Regina smiles as Emma practically rips her shirt open.

"Did you already forget the last condition in the contract?" Emma says with a grin before exposing her fiance's chest. "I wanna see 'em."

Laughing, Regina pulls her down into a kiss while Emma intertwines their hands, rubbing one finger over the new ring on her hand.

"Mm," the blonde says against Regina's lips and looks at the ring. "I could get used to feeling that."

"Me, too," Regina nods. "Forever."

Emma kisses her again. "Forever."

And for two women who have long ago trusted each other with their hearts, it really is a simple agreement to make.

A/N: So, there it is. The end. Thank you guys so much for following along and sending out your support and comments and encouragement. This story has been such a joy to write, and part of me is considering a sequel to pick up where this one leaves off. It'd be nice to write their wedding and a continuation of their lives together. Let me know if you'd like that. Again, thank you all for reading and reviewing. :)