3 months later

Emma whined when she felt soft lips brush against her skin.

"Five more minutes, Gina." She whispered, scrunching her eyes shut.

"Suit yourself my dear, but I'm getting out of here before your charming parents awaken."

Emma smiled lazily and tightened her grip around the brunette to prevent her from escaping. Regina's arms were crossed, resting atop Emma's chest. She was watching the blonde intently; watching the way the other woman's lids fluttered open and her eyes fell down to meet Regina's own. The blanket that had covered them through the night had slipped down, exposing the pale flesh of Regina's back and Emma, now slightly more awake, was using her free hand to brush her fingers through the morning knots of the brunette's hair.

"You're beautiful." Emma whispered, relishing the way her words caused the Mayor's cheeks to tinge pink.

"Trying to earn more brownie points after you spent all yours last night Sheriff?" She teased, a spark in her dark orbs.

"Hey! If anything I would say I earned more points last night, not spent them."

Regina laughed softly, "My modest Emma." She said affectionately, turning her head to nudge at the palm of Emma's hand.

"If you ask me, it was the perfect way to christen my bed." The blonde waggled her eyebrows and grinned as she recalled the previous night. She had promised to spend some 'quality' time with her parents at the apartment but when she creaked open her bedroom door that night after dinner she was met with the most glorious of sights; her girlfriend, perched on the end of her bed clad in nothing but a matching set of red lace underwear.

"Indeed it was. But now it's time for me to make my departure. The last thing we need is that mother of yours barging in and catching an eyeful." Emma didn't get a chance to protest before her girlfriend had untangled herself and climbed off the bed. Emma watched as Regina, in her naked glory, sauntered into the closest.

"May I ask what you're doing rifling through my things?" The blonde asked.

"I'm merely searching for something suitable to wear home."

"Yeah, yeah, this sounds like a sneaky way to steal another one of my hoodies."

The mayor emerged, a guilty look on her face and a grey oversized hoodie in her hands.

"I can return them all, if you wish?" Emma giggled at Regina's offer.

"You know I like it when you wear my things. It's kind of sexy."

"In that case, I'm going to steal a pair of jeans as well." She said as she turned and walked back into the closet.

Emma sighed contentedly. She could get used to this. Her woman, her girlfriend, in her clothes and her bed. She had a sneaking suspicion that Regina wished to rendezvous at the loft the previous night as a secret 'fuck you' to Snow White, who had been overwhelming since discovering the nature of their relationship. Snow had been angry and hurt. And then, to compensate for that she had become clingy. She went from fighting against it to trying too hard to accept it. Regina had turned down dinner invitations, shopping invitations, spa day out invitations, breakfast at granny invitations. The former Evil Queen finally gave in and tried (for the sake of Emma). And that's the point they were at now. Regina begrudgingly enduring the company of Snow and Charming, and Snow begrudgingly enduring the romantic relationship between her daughter and her former nemesis.

Henry, on the other hand, seemed to think that his mother's getting together was an everyday Christmas present. The first morning he caught Emma trying to sneak out of Regina's bedroom, she'd had a million apologies and excuses on the tip of her tongue. But he simply stopped, held his hand up and told her "I'm not five, I know what you guys get up to at night." He then paused thoughtfully and smiled, "and considering you're only sneaking out for my benefit, this now means you can stay! I couldn't sleep, so how about some Xbox and late night junk food." He hadn't even waited for her response before he began dragging her down the hallway. And so it had gone on. Xbox nights and movie nights and days out at the park. Family breakfasts and family dinners. Emma never felt as complete as she did when she was snuggled up next to her son and Regina.

"Emma?" Regina's voice drew the blonde from her thoughts.

"Yeah babe, what's up?" She asked, leaning up on her elbow trying to see the brunette who was hidden behind her clothes.

"Is this my shoe?"

Emma's eyes widened when Regina emerged, now clothed, holding a scuffed and muddy stiletto in her manicured fingers.

"I can explain." Emma rushed, "I found your shoe!"

"I gathered as much dear." Regina's eyebrow was raised and her expression gave little away as to what she was thinking.

Emma climbed from the bed, wrapping the sheet around her torso before she reached out to grab the shoe from Regina. She motioned for the other woman to sit and, with some hesitation, the brunette followed her instructions.

"That night after the fundraiser, after you turned me down, I went looking for it." Emma said, eyes never leaving the piece of footwear in her hand.

"Why?"

"Because I thought, and it's stupid I know, but I thought if I found it I could return it and win you over. Like in Cinderella." She offered, shrugging her shoulders awkwardly.

"Cinderella?" The Mayor's brow creased in confusion. "As in that young girl who had a child not too long ago?"

"No," Emma huffed, "as in the Disney movie."

"I haven't seen it."

"Of course you haven't." The blonde rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself.

"Well, it's about a girl who loses her shoe and her Prince Charming finds the shoe and uses it to find her and then they live happily ever after." She explained in a nervous rush of words.

"It sounds dreadful, my dear."

"It's really not. I'll have to make you watch it one day." Emma said, lifting up her chin and meeting Regina's eyes. The brunette didn't seem angry and Emma supposed that was a good thing. She hadn't meant to keep the shoe a secret for this long, she simply hadn't found a good time to give it back.

"Look Regina, I know I'm no Prince Charming but I'm totally crazy about you-" She cringed as the declaration slipped awkwardly from her lips. Regina's only reaction was a soft intake of breath. There was no yelling and no running away. That's good right? The Sheriff supposed it was okay to go on, there was no turning back now.

"Anyway, I figured we could have our own fairy tale," She lent down on her knees and took her girlfriend's foot in her hands. "Provided the stiletto fits." She slid the shoe on with ease, then looked up to Regina with a smirk. "Which it does."

Regina's tongue darted out to wet her lips and her hand reached forward to brush along Emma's cheek.

"I don't need you to be Prince Charming Emma." She said sincerely, her eyes glassing over and a smile curving up the sides of her lips. "In case you haven't noticed, Fairytales aren't all they've cracked up to be." They both laughed softly. Emma placed her hands on Regina's knees and squeezed gently. "I'm crazy about you too Emma. Just the way you are." Emma's grin threatened to split her face. She leant forward and took Regina's lips hostage whilst silently praying that the sheet wrapped around her wouldn't slip off and ruin the tenderness of the moment.

When she pulled back their eyes met again. Emma couldn't help but wink cheekily and whisper in the other woman's ear: "I guess I'm kind of like a Princess Charming anyway. You know, technically." Regina laughed.

"Darling, I'd rather you not remind me of your relations to those insufferable parents of yours." She said, kicking off her shoe and laying back on the mattress. "How about you just be my Emma." She said, pulling the Sheriff on top of her.

"And you can be my Regina." Emma whispered, touching her lips to the Mayor's briefly.

"I'd like that."

"Me too."