If you're reading this story for the second time, I recommend reading chapter 23 and 24 together.

For the next few weeks, Regina tried her best to seem as normal as possible even though, on the inside, she was in a constant state of war. Trying to hold herself together throughout her day was taking every ounce of her energy, but as soon as she had the opportunity to be alone, she welcomed the tears like an old friend.

She had never been in such an intense state of conflict before; meeting with Emma had forced her to confront the fact that she wasn't entirely over her, and she wasn't prepared to deal with the aftermath. With each day, Emma's absence became more insufferable, and the desire to be with her again was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Her former student's appearance had reminded her of how connected she felt to her, and how empty it left her after they had parted ways.

What was even harder, however, was keeping it all from Richard. He was a smart man, and she was almost certain that he had his suspicions. After she had come home from the hotel that night, she had asked him not to inquire about it, and to her relief, he was more than understanding. But she had visibly changed these past weeks; she was almost always on edge, and socializing was something she no longer found interest in. Richard remained as understanding as ever, which only made matters worse.

The guilt was threatening to consume her.

One day, something silly turned into an even sillier argument, and Regina couldn't help but snap. She apologized profusely as soon as it had happened, but Richard didn't say a word, his eyes fixed on the ground. When he looked up, finally meeting her eyes, she could clearly see the sadness in them, and the hatred she felt towards herself in that moment was enough to bring her to tears.

"Regina," the man spoke, his voice soft and bereft of the anger she expected. "Come here." He patted the spot beside him on the couch, and when she hesitantly took a seat, he held her hand in both of his. "I have tried my best to respect your boundaries, and I honestly thought I could continue doing so," he paused, wondering how he should approach this. "Could you please tell me what's going on? Have I done something to upset you?"

It was that question that made Regina finally give into her emotions, placing a hand on her mouth to stifle her sobs. Richard wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in as close as he could. He held her for a moment until he felt she was ready to speak, then sat back, her hand back in his. "I'm sorry, Richard," she murmured. "I'm so sorry."

Taking a deep breath, Regina tried to collect herself—she knew she needed both strength and courage to be honest with Richard. But how in the world could she have this conversation without hurting the man she had promised to marry? Where would she even begin?

When the silence stretched on, Richard decided to speak first, hoping to nudge Regina into finally sharing what she had been struggling with for a while. "Is this about Emma?" A slow nod was all he got in response. At the confirmation, Richard forgot for a moment that he was sitting next to his fiancé. All he saw was the woman he had met several years ago, looking very similar to what she had looked like in the past—broken and in pain. He suddenly recalled much of their earlier conversations about her ex-lover, and he realized that the way he needed to approach this was as her friend. He hated seeing her like this, as though she was being torn apart from the inside right before his eyes. "Do you feel comfortable enough to tell me about what happened that night?" He didn't need to elaborate, he knew Regina would understand.

"Are you sure you want to hear it?" She said hesitantly, not entirely comfortable talking about it. But she was also aware that it was her only option if she didn't want to revert back to the same state she was in 6 years ago. She didn't think she would come out of it alive this time around.

Squeezing her hand for reassurance, Richard gave her a soft smile, "if it will help me figure out how to make you feel better, then yes, I'm quite sure."

That was all the encouragement Regina needed, and trying her best to steady her breathing, she began, "It wasn't an accident, running into Emma that day. She was there to ask me if we could start over."

Richard couldn't say he wasn't expecting that. From what Regina had told him in the past about her relationship with Emma, he knew that it was something that meant a great deal to both of them. He tried his best to stifle the jealousy that was threatening to rise to the surface. This wasn't about him, he tried to remind himself, this was about Regina. "Why 6 years later?" And although he meant to ask it out of curiosity, it sounded a little more defensive than that.

Regina didn't miss the nature of his tone, but she went on nonetheless. It was too late to go back now. "I asked myself that as well. Emma had gone through a few changes in the past few years," she paused, not sure how much she should share. It wasn't that she didn't trust Richard, she did wholeheartedly. But this wasn't just about her, it was about Emma as well. It wasn't only her story to tell. "She had felt abandoned by me and that was something almost impossible for her to forgive."

"So she's decided to forgive you now?"

"Not entirely." When she saw the confused look on his face, she elaborated, "she believes that I am the one that should forgive her, actually."

Although Richard agreed that the blonde should be the one apologizing for hurting Regina, he chose not to voice his opinion. He didn't think that was what Regina needed right now. "And did you? Forgive her, I mean."

"I think so," she said slowly. "I didn't think I could ever, after what happened. But seeing her after so long and hearing her side of the story, so to speak, made me reconsider. Ultimately, I think we both needed to forgive ourselves and each other."

Despite the fact that he was sitting there with the woman he loved talking about the woman she once loved, Richard couldn't help but feel a little happy to hear that. He knew how much Regina had struggled with that break-up and how long it had taken her to feel like herself again. Perhaps this was the very thing she needed for closure. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't telling him everything. If they had forgiven each other, then why did she seem so troubled? So despondent? Should he just let it go, or should he push further? He went with the latter. "Did something else happen?"

"I…" Regina stuttered, her struggle to find the words very much evident. She wished she could just disappear on the spot so she could avoid having this conversation altogether. She wished the guilt that had manifested as a result of her brief meeting with Emma did not exist. She had believed that the feelings she had for the woman had all but vanished after years of no contact. She had hoped to God that they did. It didn't make sense to her, how a single encounter years later would be enough to set everything ablaze and awaken emotions that had not faded completely as she had thought, but simply lay dormant. How then, was she supposed to explain it to someone else? To her soon-to-be husband, no less? "Nothing happened, Richard. I promise."

"I believe you," he said without hesitation, making it clear he didn't need any further assurances. "But you have been unhappy. Why is that?"

Regina took a deep breath and exhaled, then finally admitted, "Seeing Emma made me realize that…I may still have feelings for her." When Richard remained silent, she quickly added, "but Richard, you needn't worry. I told her that I choose you."

As she said that, Richard pulled his hands away from hers and stood up. He turned around and took a few steps away from her, hoping she wouldn't see the hurt that was very visible on his face. Shouldn't he be elated that Regina had chosen him over Emma? That despite the feelings she had for her, she favored him? He supposed the answer was simple. Even though Regina had chosen him, the decision hadn't made her happy. At that, he was suddenly hit with a realization so powerful that it shook him to his very core. Looking back at Regina, he couldn't help the pained smile that appeared. "Are you happy with me, Regina?" he asked, his voice but a whisper.

"What? Of course I am! How could you—"

"Are you as happy with me as you were with her?" He cut her off, but his tone was neither aggressive nor angry. He just wanted her to really think about this, about them, because while she had made the decision to stay with him, he suspected she didn't quite grasp what it was doing to her.

Regina was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, and she hoped to God that it wouldn't turn into a full-blown anxiety attack. Why was he asking her such questions? Was it not enough that she had refused Emma? She couldn't bring herself to answer him, and instead said, "I made a commitment to you, Richard. Nothing else matters."

Making his way back to her, he reached out once more and held her hand in his. He wondered if she realized how that sounded, as though she felt imprisoned by her commitment to him. "It matters to me," he said softly. When she remained silent, he continued, "Regina, I believe I owe you an apology."

She couldn't hide the look of surprise and confusion on her face when she heard that. She had just told him that she still had feelings for her ex-girlfriend, why was he apologizing? "I don't understand…what for?"

"That night I proposed to you…" he hesitated, finding it difficult not to get lost in the memory of it. "I didn't give you much of a choice, did I?"

"Richard, what are you saying?" She couldn't quite follow where he was going with this.

"My whole family was there, our friends, so many people… Regina, I need you to be honest with me. Did you feel pressured into saying yes that night?"

The question had Regina completely stunned. She wanted to speak out, to reassure him that accepting his proposal was what she wanted to do, but to her disbelief, no words were coming out. She briefly recalled the events of that night, a Christmas party hosted at his parents' villa. The utter shock she had felt at seeing him down on one knee should have been normal—proposals were meant to be surprises, after all. But thinking about it now, she supposed the shock could have been for another reason entirely: she never imagined marrying Richard.

As that epiphany made its way to the forefront of her mind, Regina tried to hide the sheer impact it had on her. I never imagined marrying him. This thought disturbed her more than she could have imagined. When she was with Emma, their future together had seemed…inevitable. She didn't need to have superpowers or magic to know that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.

But with Richard, things were very different. She wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that they were friends before they started dating. She had come to care for him, but not once had she thought about what lay ahead for them.

Not once had she thought about sharing the rest of her life with him.

So, had she felt pressured into becoming his fiancé that night? It wouldn't have been entirely surprising if she had. Being asked such an important question in front of such a large crowd, saying 'no' would have been near impossible. The more Regina thought about it, the more it made her struggle. She had been feeling many emotions during that Christmas party, but when she tried to remember one in particular, happiness, she found herself unable to.

Despite that, she knew Richard meant a lot to her, and the thought of hurting him made her feel even worse. "Perhaps I was," she began slowly. "But Richard, believe me when I say that I care about you."

"But you do not love me," he said matter-of-factly. When Regina made to speak, he shook his head. "Not the way you loved Emma—the way you still do." Richard knew her well enough to know she couldn't argue with that. "As much as it pains me to admit it, you and I both know it's the truth."

Regina couldn't help her heart breaking at hearing those words. She wanted so much to disagree, to assure him that everything he had said was not true at all, but she was unable to do so. She had no idea how to respond, all she could do was echo what she had said at the beginning of this conversation, "I'm so sorry, Richard."

The thought of what would happen after this left Regina feeling anxious and insecure. Would they be able to move past this, or was it over between them? She could not predict a single outcome, so when Richard spoke these words next, she felt her heart stop for a moment.

"I think you should go to her, Regina."

Not in a million years would she have expected that. "Richard…"

He gave her a smile, and although it was bittersweet, he hoped it would be enough to comfort her. "I'll be okay, I promise. You were my friend long before you became my fiancé. I know you, I care about you, and I want you to be happy."

At that point, Regina couldn't stop the tears that had been threatening to fall all evening. Instead, she welcomed them as her heart rose and sank all at once. How could she have gotten so lucky as to meet such a man? The sea of emotions battling within her had drained her, and when she could no longer find her voice to speak, she chose instead to embrace him.

She didn't know how long they stayed in that position, each one silently supporting the other. And when she finally pulled away from him, he whispered, "Go be with the woman you love."

Despite the busy life of the city, the sound of her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked towards the apartment building was thundering in her ears. Stepping into the elevator, she prayed the woman she had come to see hadn't moved somewhere else. Her plan was largely based on speculation and hope, something she wasn't accustomed to, and quite frankly, not entirely comfortable with. But this was Regina's only chance, and she refused to give it up simply because she was afraid or uncertain.

It had been two months since their last meeting, and a lot had changed since then. Regina was no longer engaged to Richard; their conversation that night was as arduous as it was emotional, and after many tears were shed by both parties, their relationship had ended.

Regina couldn't help feeling guilty, the notion that she had wronged the man ever present in her mind, but those sentiments were quickly overpowered by the anguish she felt for being so far away from Emma. Alongside that, their friends' and colleagues' obtrusive curiosity was tiring to deal with, and rumor that Regina had some sort of affair had quickly spread. She was shunned by many she once called friends, despite Richard insisting that their choice to break the engagement off was mutual, and that they had parted on good terms.

She was unfazed, however, and could honestly care less what anyone thought of her. So, as soon as she had the chance, she took a few days off and booked a ticket to Boston. The nostalgia that hit as soon as she had landed was overwhelming, and she found herself reveling in the irony of it all—the reason she had left was the same one that brought her back: Emma Swan.

As she made her way down the hallway and towards the blonde's loft, Regina hesitated, the anxiety that was all too familiar making her hands tremble and sweat. Finally finding the strength to get to Emma's door, she took a deep breath and knocked.

When the door slid open, the shock and confusion on the blonde's face was all too clear, and Regina found herself once again captivated by the woman before her. Seeing her made everything around her fade away, and any doubts she thought she had immediately dissipated. Nothing else seemed to matter; the guilt, the uncertainty, the fear, it was all almost instantly replaced with love. So much love.

Richard was perfect, he was perfect in every way but one: he was not Emma.

It seemed almost absurd, really—Emma and her had only been together a few months, but in those brief months, Regina had shared with her more than she had shared with anyone else before, and she was more than certain Emma felt the same way. The love they had for one another was powerful and deep and passionate; in fact, it was Emma that had made her realize she had the capacity to love someone to such an extent.

That's why, as she gazed into the younger woman's eyes, she found that there were no words to be said, not anymore. She took a step forward, and another, slowly but surely closing the gap between them until their faces were inches apart. Regina parted her lips, a sigh of relief escaping when she wasn't pushed away, and pressed them against Emma's. Something about the kiss was…magical, and as their lips fit together perfectly, their hearts seemed to beat as one.

It had been less than a minute and Emma was already feeling light-headed and quite frankly, a little weak in the knees. She had longed for this moment for years, and as she kissed Regina, she could tell that she wasn't the only one. They paused for a moment, resting their foreheads against one another as they attempted to catch their breath. "Regina," she finally managed to say, but she was quickly silenced with another heated kiss, the brunette's arms wrapping around her neck and pulling her even closer.

Regina didn't want to speak, not yet. She latched onto Emma, afraid that she might vanish any second, and brought their lips together, wanting, needing to soak her in. Despite her mind being completely overtaken by the very existence of the younger woman, one sentence seemed to persist: if it is meant to be, it will be. When she had heard it at the time, Regina was more than a little skeptical, but being wrong had never felt so damn good.

She kissed Emma once, twice, each one more urgent than the last. When Emma softly traced her lower lip with the tip of her tongue, clearly asking for permission, Regina didn't hesitate in allowing her entrance. The deep moan that escaped as she did so was salacious, and when they broke the kiss, each one struggling to breathe, she couldn't help but whisper, "You really have ruined me for anyone else."

Emma recalled how hearing that almost two months ago had made her feel—guilty and heartbroken. But hearing it now, uttered in that voice, she was feeling something entirely different. Pride, arousal, and most importantly, absolute love. She didn't need to reiterate those words, she was certain Regina knew that she herself felt just as ruined. Ruined, but in the best possible way. "God, I've missed you," she finally gasped, still very much out of breath.

"And you have no idea how much I've missed you," Regina breathed.

The effect of her raspy voice on Emma was still very much obvious, and as her former professor smirked and raised an eyebrow, she couldn't help the cheeky grin on her face. It had been years since they were together like this, and they had slid back into it like they had never been apart.

Emma hadn't realized how much she craved the woman, needed her in every fabric of her life. She supposed that anyone looking from the outside-in would think it unhealthy, how much she needed her. She couldn't have imagined ever finding someone like Regina; what she felt for her went beyond the physical and into what she had always dreamed of, a sense of belonging.

She wondered if Regina had any idea how much that meant to her, the feeling of belonging with someone, to someone. Growing up with no family, Emma believed she would never know what it felt like to come home. But meeting Regina was exactly that; it was like coming home.

Did it scare her, the possibility that this might not work out and she could get hurt again? Hell, yes. But this time around, she knew better than to let fear dictate her life. She couldn't let the uncertainty of the future force her away from the woman she loved with every atom of her being. No, no matter the circumstances, she would stay and fight, and love with abandon.

Watching the blonde, Regina could tell that she had become lost in her thoughts. She lifted a hand up to caress her cheek, hoping she could redirect Emma's attention to her. "Is everything alright, my love?"

She kissed the palm of Regina's hand and nodded quickly, her eyes starting to water despite her greatest efforts. "I just…" she paused to steady her voice. Her heart was brimming with so much joy that it felt on the verge of bursting. Be still, she pleaded. It's literally the worst time to have a heart-attack.

Finally finding her voice, she murmured, "I love you." There was so much more she wanted to say, but she hoped those three simple words would be enough to portray to Regina everything she couldn't voice aloud.

"I love you too, Emma," she said with another intense kiss, her own tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. All the struggles they had faced, all the reasons why they couldn't be together in the past dissipated entirely in that moment. All she knew was that she adored this woman with everything she was, and that was all that mattered.

It made no sense to her, how she could have ever let her go. But she was also aware that what she had gone through was not an easy thing to deal with. Could she be certain that the two of them would never experience difficult times again? Of course not, but she had changed. So had Emma. Despite the two of them still very much in love with each other, they had become stronger and more emotionally stable.

The changes the two had gone through these past few years, Regina was sure, were paramount to their individual progress. Perhaps the only thing she regretted was the amount of time they had spent apart. Still, she chose to push that thought away. They had their whole lives ahead of them, and she planned on spending every second of it by Emma's side, depending on her and supporting her in return.

Leading her in, Emma reveled in the warmth she felt as she intertwined her fingers with Regina's. She was aware that there was much to discuss, but for now, all she could think of was her desire to show the woman next to her how much she loved her, how she had longed for her. She used her other hand to lift Regina's chin up as she faced her, giving her a look that she hoped was easy to understand.

Regina couldn't help the shiver that traveled down her spine as she gazed into emerald eyes now dark with hunger. The thought of being with Emma again after so long was enough to excite her, and she found that she was more than ready.

In fact, they were both ready, but Emma had no intention of rushing it. When she finally kissed Regina, there was nothing hurried about it. It was slow and sensual, and it communicated what she was planning to do to her for the rest of the night. It was not enough for Emma to have Regina's heart—she yearned for every inch of her, for the softness of her flesh. She had a craving for the taste of her on her needing lips.

She wanted to consume her, and wanted to be consumed by her in return.

Regina couldn't understand how a simple kiss could have such an effect on her, but she supposed she shouldn't have been so surprised. The younger woman had always been able to arouse her so easily; she was putty in her hands and she couldn't bring herself to resist.

Lifting Regina up and wrapping her legs around her waist, their lips never parting, Emma made her way to her room upstairs. After six years of no physical contact, she'd be damned if she didn't make love to her on a comfortable bed. When they finally arrived, she gently lowered her down and took a step back. The sight of her ex-professor, hair disheveled and lips bruised from the force of their kisses, was enough to make her tremble.

Regina didn't know what was going through Emma's mind, but what she knew for certain was that she needed to feel her skin against hers immediately. With that thought occupying her mind, she all but lunged towards the blonde, quickly pulling her tank top over her head and tossing it somewhere far away. To her surprise, Emma was not wearing a bra underneath, and she was not quite prepared for seeing her almost completely bare.

The area between her thighs suddenly felt very wet.

As Emma stepped out of her shorts, now utterly naked, Regina was so very thankful that the younger woman had remained so fit over the years. Her abs were as defined as ever, and her body as a whole still looked like it was sculpted by a God. She couldn't wait to feel every part of her.

Emma watched as her former professor looked at her, her body suddenly feeling very hot under her intense gaze. She couldn't bring herself to look away, though, despite the threat of being swallowed whole. Instead, she committed this moment to memory, and hoped that Regina would continue to look at her like that for the rest of their lives.

Finally snapping out of her daze, she didn't hesitate as she reached around and unzipped Regina's dress. Her movements were slow and deliberate, and she couldn't help but feel incredibly pleased with herself as she sensed the woman shiver beneath her tracing fingers. When Emma caught a glimpse of what lay beneath as the dress fell to the floor, she hoped that she wasn't visibly drooling. Regina was wearing a black lace teddy with garters that covered just enough skin to drive her mad with lust, and Emma wondered if the woman had anticipated that they'd end up here.

Why else would she choose to wear that, looking like the very manifestation of sex and sensuality?

Regina gave Emma a moment to take it in, she had worn this specifically for her after all. But one moment was all she was willing to give. She needed the woman's body pressed against hers. She needed her fingerprints everywhere. As she slowly unbuckled the garter belts and lowered her stockings, she could feel Emma watching her every move. When the lace teddy was discarded next, leaving her body very much on display, she whispered seductively, "Touch me."

Emma groaned as she quickly made her way towards the stunning woman that stood before her. Placing a hand on her lower back, Emma pushed her backwards and onto the bed with her own body. She placed a single kiss on her full lips, long and deep, then began her journey down.

Regina's back arched upwards into Emma's lips, her body aching for more. She knew Emma well enough to know that she wanted to take things slow, to savor every little touch and taste. Under any other circumstances, she would have indulged her, but right now, she required release. So despite the pleasure she was feeling as the blonde licked and sucked on her painfully erect nipples, she needed her elsewhere. "Emma," she moaned, her fingers making their way through blonde tresses and pushing down. "Please."

But Emma was stubborn, and she was determined to make this last a while longer. So her lips remained on her chest, kissing, biting and teasing. It had been so long since she had seen Regina like this, since she had been able to touch her like this. She wanted to explore the woman's skin once again, to outline every curve and contour and to learn everything she was by heart.

"Emma," she moaned again. She loved the woman, but she honestly couldn't bear any more teasing. Every touch was unraveling her, bringing her impossibly closer to the edge but not enough to push her over. "Inside," she gasped, her fingernails digging into her scalp. "I want you inside of me."

"Fuck," she groaned, the Regina's raspy voice echoing around the room and traveling straight to her throbbing core. As much as she would have loved to stick to her plan, she knew that she was incapable of denying Regina anything. So, with a final bite to a taut nipple, Emma made her way down to where the brunette desired her most then spread her legs. Emma couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips as she saw how ready the older woman was, her wetness dripping down her thighs and onto the sheets.

Regina watched closely as Emma, with a single finger, took a long swipe along the length of her sex. The slight pressure was enough to make her clench her thighs, and as the blonde lifted her now coated finger to her lips, wrapping a tongue around it to taste her, Regina felt a new wave of arousal rushing to her center.

Despite knowing that the woman she was straddling couldn't wait much longer, Emma took some time to appreciate this moment as it reminded her of the very first time she had tasted her. It was so very long ago, but she could never forget Regina's distinct flavor even if she wanted to.

It was like no time had passed at all.

Regina was losing patience, so she forcefully grabbed Emma's hand and pulled it back down to her aching core. "Inside," she ordered. "Now." When the blonde finally thrust two fingers in, Regina let out a guttural moan, her back arching off the bed at the much needed intrusion. "More," she rasped, and she was very pleased when Emma complied and added a third finger.

Emma could feel her own wetness drizzling down her thighs, Regina's commands coupled with the feeling of her walls tightening around her fingers making her light-headed with desire. She continued to thrust deeply into her, no longer bothering with taking her time. She went back and forth between slow and quick thrusts, curling and circling her fingers inside to take her impossibly higher. The spot she hit next was exactly where she knew it would be. Emma had committed it to memory and, as her fingers reached it, she used her thumb to roughly rub Regina's clit at the same time.

Regina was already so very close, and with that single thrust, she all but screamed as she was sent soaring over the edge. Her body was quaking with the climax, the feeling so overwhelming that she feared she would lose consciousness. But Emma rode it out with her, her fingers slowing their pace until she came down from her high.

She only took a moment to catch her breath before she pulled Emma towards her and kissed her, her own tongue slipping inside her mouth and deepening the kiss. Then, with one swift movement, she flipped their positions and straddled Emma, very aware that her wetness was coating the woman's abdomen. She gave her one final kiss before making her way down the woman's body. Like Emma, she would have loved to savor every inch of her, but it wasn't the time to be selfish now.

Emma felt Regina's featherlike kisses cascading like a waterfall on her skin. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, allowing herself to get lost in the moment, to revel in it. She had never been loved the way Regina had loved her, the way she was loving her right now, and she wondered how she could have gotten so lucky. It made her feel so…full.

She was so absorbed in this thought that the first touch of lips against her dripping sex caused her to gasp in surprise and pleasure, her hips springing upwards instinctively. The gasp was quickly replaced with a deep moan, and needing more, she tangled her fingers in dark hair and sunk her nails in. "Regina," was all she could manage to whimper, imploring the older woman to go deeper, harder.

Regina allowed her tongue to slip out once again and glide firmly against Emma's opening, loving the sounds she was eliciting from her. She alternated between movements, licking, thrusting, and tracing the outline of the woman's center, knowing very well how close the woman was. So, wrapping a hand around each thigh and lifting them over her shoulders to gain better access, Regina didn't hesitate as she enveloped Emma's pulsating clit with her lips and sucked, hard.

The groan that erupted from Emma's lungs echoed so loudly that, despite her thighs firmly clenching around her head, Regina was still able to hear it. She continued to gently nibble, lick and suck, allowing Emma to ride out her orgasm. By the end of it, Emma's wetness was smeared all over her mouth and dripping down her chin, and she wondered if the younger woman had any idea how rich she tasted.

When Emma's climax subsided, Regina lowered her legs and made her way back up. She didn't bother wiping her mouth as she cupped her cheeks and kissed her, slowly and passionately. She knew what tasting herself on her lips would do to Emma, and as she let out a deep moan, Regina couldn't help but smirk.

"You—" Emma tried to speak, but being almost devoured by possibly the sexiest woman alive had left her quite drained. Taking a few deep breaths, she finally managed to say, "You're incredible."

Laying down next to her and placing an arm over her abdomen to pull her ever closer, Regina chuckled, "Why, thank you, Miss Swan." She buried her face in the crook of Emma's neck and bit down, as if to mark her, then allowed her tongue to gently soothe it. Smirking at the blonde's soft whimpers, she teased, "You're not so bad yourself."

The two laid in comfortable silence for a few minutes, their sweaty chests heaving in synchrony as they struggled to lower their heartrates. Coming down from what could have been best described as euphoria, Emma allowed her mind to wander. She had no idea what was going to happen next; she didn't know if they were going to move in together or take things slow. She didn't know if Regina was planning to move back to Boston or if she was considering staying in New York. She had no idea what the future had in store for them, but in this very moment, everything seemed to fall back into place. The emptiness that had become so familiar to her was nowhere to be found, and there was only one thing she could think to say. Bringing Regina's hand to her lips, she kissed it softly then whispered, "Welcome home."

The End