Last night had been like a dream…

It was as if time had never separated them.

They talked for hours.

Emma shared everything and anything that Regina questioned. Where she'd runaway to, how she'd found shelter, how she stole, how she educated herself, her friendship with Neal, and even her first kiss with Lily.

And now, now she couldn't get it out of her head; the way Regina had flinched when she'd mentioned it. When she mentioned that kissing Lily just confirmed what she'd always known; she liked women.

But as quickly as Regina had that wounded expression, she'd quickly tried to brush it off. And Emma knew far to well what that was like.

Emma really did have a super power, especially with the woman that lay next to her, she wasn't hiding anything.

Regina had tried to lighten the mood and joke that wherever this Lily was, that she sure as hell wasn't good enough for her. That made Emma smile and pull the sheets over them both, making sure Regina felt warm and secure with her in her room and in her bed. She wanted to remind Regina that this whole journey was all because she's never loved anyone like she's loved her.

It got emotional, and it got intense explaining what had happened with Noah. But she remained strong and honest. She knew Regina needed to know, but she also knew she wasn't the only one that needed comfort that night. Regina needed it too.

When they'd finally both dosed off, Regina whispered that she'd always find Emma wherever she'd be, not letting anyone harm her ever again.

She then shut her eyes thinking the exact same thing about Regina; but still holding onto one last question… was the once mayor also a virgin? Did the king she'd read about in the book ever…

Her thoughts are suddenly cut short, her mother cutting them as she walked into Granny's Diner and right past her, Regina's heels surely making the ground as nervous as she made her.

….

She walked straight through the diner's door and past anyone who'd dare look at her, she would ignore these people for her safety and their own; something they both obviously wanted either way.

"Hello, Ruby." She avoids taking a seat and goes straight to takeout.

"Hey Regina, it's always fancy seeing you here." Ruby smiles; her pen and notebook always ready.

"Kale Salad please." Regina quickly orders. Her eyebrows arching when she notices Ruby had already written her order down.

"So where is-" Ruby asks arching an eyebrow in return.

"I know it's a miracle, I've come without the towns sheriff." She shyly adds. She hadn't stepped inside this place without Emma by her side since before the curse had been broken.

Emma had made sure she didn't go out of their home without her, and after day one Regina didn't want it any other way, she'd loved the company, even though she knew they had to separate at some point. After all Emma wasn't a child any longer, and people would surely think Emma was in some kind of spell or worse….

But last night before their talk she'd insisted that Emma start making a good reputation for herself. The town's people had always loved Emma, but these "new" towns people would surely want to see what their savior had to offer.

"Pff, what miracle? Look behind you child." Granny spoke, walking past them both, plates in hand and ready to serve.

But As soon as she'd turned, Emma's hot cocoa made a loud thud and splash, immediately staining the shirt Regina had let her borrow earlier that morning.

"Shit." The badged woman cursed, her cheeks red.

She could not help but walk towards her, napkins in hand.

"Language Sheriff." She smiles reassuring.

"I, Regina, I…"

She can't help but cover her mouth; still not comfortable in letting these people hear her chuckle.

"Aren't you suppose to be at the office, ready to fight crime and what not?" She walks closer a hand now helping Emma wipe the table.

"If you call searching for Pongo and saving Figaro from a tree a crime, then done!"

"Emma…" She warns, impatiently tapping her heeled foot on the floor.

"What?" Emma looks down, but then back up, surely realizing that the stain on her shirt was still very present.

She could see Emma's cheeks burn brighter then before.

"Are you following me?" Regina asks casually.

"I, I may have considered you'd be here and hoped I'd catch you, yes." Emma responds, standing up and unbuttoning her blouse to reveal a white tank top.

Her eyes grow wide momentarily and back to a serious glare.

"How, how about you go home Sherriff, I'll excuse you for the day." She erases all thoughts and quickly says whatever is at the tip of her tongue.

"Actually Mayor, I really needed to ask you something important." Emma places her hands in her jeans back pockets, a nervous tick Regina had noticed recently.

"Off course Emma, You may ask what you'd like." She responds warmly, not being able to see the strong woman in front of her nervous any longer.

But as soon as Emma was ready to respond a uniformed dressed David walks into the diner, badge and all.

"Uh, so the people had a meeting last night without our knowledge and…"

"Sweetheart." David reaches them both, forcing her look anywhere but at the newly badged prince.

"David hey, so umm, I was telling Regina here about…"

Regina had nothing to say, this wasn't her call to make. Because; this town may have been built by her but these people, they made the calls now.

This man, he was Emma's real father and she had no say in what Emma felt for him and Mary Margaret both.

And although it pained her, she knew she was defeated as soon as Emma had attached her lips to hers, the day the curse was broken.

"There is no need to explain dear, I'd prefer it anyway, someone having your back in the field." Regina says, her hands searching for her car keys in her purse.

….

"Yeah, who's going to protect me from Pongo's slobber?" Emma jokes, trying her best to make the tension between the two more bearable.

David remains silent, his attention on anything but Regina.

Emma knew they all weren't going to be best friends after only a few days, but she still wasn't sure how to feel or function around any of them when they were around each other. When Mary Margaret and him were together she could see the longing they felt to be with her, but when they were around Regina, The Mayor was almost non-existent to them, forcing her to make Regina her priority around them, just the way they are forcing them selves to smile around the woman Emma knew no one really trusted yet.

Yes, she wanted to get to know them, they were after all her blood and although resistant and uncomfortable, they both really tried their best to keep Regina safe, and that to her counted for something.

But could she help putting Regina first? No. She could never. Regina has always and would always be before them, Regina never would have abandoned her, she would have found a way… but also, she didn't feel quite the same way about her parents and Regina. It was after all altogether another kind of love.

"Kale Salad and a bottled water?!" Granny called out.

Regina turned around abruptly, and quickly walked away to grab her takeout.

"So I guess it's settled?" David spoke, trying to make Emma smile but unable to make her remove her eyes away from the object that made him uneasy in the first place.

"Yeah uh, I'm actually heading home now so I'll see you Saturday Sherriff Nolan?" Emma pats him hard on the shoulder, not giving him time to protest.

"See you Saturday Emma." She could hear him say behind her as she walked behind Regina grabbing the take out bag for her.

"I'll walk you to the Benz." She insists.

"But David…" Regina questions, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Weren't you the one who told me I am officially off duty and should head home?" She mumbles in Regina's ear, causing her to walk faster and straight out of the diner.

"I'll take that Sherriff." Regina snatches the takeout bag back and provokingly grins and winks, letting Emma know that was so obviously teasing.

She opens her cars door and before Emma can protest Regina gets inside and shuts the heavy black door.

"Hey!" She almost pouts but instead folds her arms mocking anger.

Regina rolls down her tinted window and pulls Emma's arm towards her, sending Emma directly in front of her.

"Whoa." She cannot help but suddenly feel nervous by her mother's assertiveness.

"I'll see you at home in a few yes? Maybe we can have a lovely dinner and…"

"And another sleepover?" Emma whispers more to herself then Regina, almost as if to make a wish.

"That sounds lovely, yes." Regina whispers back, letting go of Emma's sweated hand.

And just like that, Emma's world freezes, her wish coming true, but before she can ask what time, the black Mercedes is already out of view.

"I guess we are having Pizza." She says to no one, the biggest smile now present.

(At The Charming's loft.)

"It was as if she was in a spell." David chews his dinner thoughtfully.

"I know you think I may be wrong and maybe I am David, but…" Snow responds.

"I see it too." David says, putting his fork down and pushing his plate aside.

"That was lovely Snow." He smiles sweetly, trying to ease their incoming headache.

"But we can also be very wrong, I mean she was acting fine at the station… I mean as fine as you can act when you are trying to bond with the man you suddenly found out was your father." She can see David contemplating as much as she was now.

"The truth is- the truth is Emma had always been like that as a child David." She looks down shamefully.

"I was able to see her grow up, something you didn't get to have… and if I'm honest with myself, and I hate to admit that it may be true… Emma has always loved Regina very strongly." Snow cannot help but grab her aching chest.

"But weren't you the one that said she ran away and just never came back until just recent, and for what? To break the curse?" David asked confused.

"I don't know that part of Emma's story my love, I want to… I want to connect with our daughter and ask, I don't want to go behind her back anymore, what we did recently was far more then enough." She whispers, pushing aside her plate now.

"I know." He looks down, defeated.

"Rumple surely found a way to wake up Neal and we can at least give our daughter that." She finds a reason to make them both look forward to a possible smile.

"We have the spell, we have Emma… all we need is time to talk to her and-"

"Saturday! She told me she'd see us here for dinner." He stands up quickly, all sadness replaced.

He picks up the dishes and heads to the sink.

"At least we will have her then." They both smile their backs turned away from each other but surely connected.

(At the mansion)

As soon as she'd walked into their home she'd smelled the Italian aroma that was pizza. Emma could never resist, unless it was a salad. She chuckles to herself.

"Where are you, Swan?" She calls her by the last name given to her when they'd found her. It was always the name Emma preferred, even though she used to pretend to feel otherwise.

Regina had brought Emma's favorite, a homemade apple pie. She'd cooked it earlier in the day, after Emma had left the house for the station.

She'd brought it to the office with her, in hopes that Emma wouldn't stumble on it before surprising her.

Before Regina could remove her coat, she was already running up the stairs with the pie in hand.

"Emma!" She called into the seemingly empty house.

"She's going to drool." She mumbled happily.

She'd gone into Emma's old room, and the guestroom but she was nowhere to be seen, until she got closer to her own. She could hear a ruckus, a few drawers shutting and closing.

"Emma?' She knocked on the door, making sure she didn't find Emma in another … situation.

But before Regina could think any further the door swung open revealing a disheveled Emma in a white tank top and underwear.

"Oh my gosh Regina I'm so sorry, I was trying to get ready before you got up here and…"

She tries her best to compose herself, not having expected Emma to be in just her underwear.

"It's, it's okay dear, and I didn't give you the time I'd be home, it's quite understandable." She responds apologetically, as if she'd done something horribly wrong.

She practically shoves the wrapped up apple pie into Emma's hands.

"Is this your famous? Oh gosh it's my favorite!" Emma is as she expected, practically drooling.

Regina's eyes quickly look down one last time, making a cough like sound in the process.

"I see you weren't done getting ready."

"Oh shit!" Emma practically tosses the pie back into her hands reaching for anything to cover her very naked thighs.

"Emma, it's…. it's okay." Regina nods, her hands waving at Emma not to worry.

"This is your home, I want you to feel comfortable." She adds.

But how could Emma ever be comfortable after what she'd caught her doing in her old bedroom, how could Emma ever feel okay to show herself after everything physical that had already happened between them.

But then Emma had never really been comfortable being remotely naked around her, especially as a teen.

"It's just, it's just embarrassing you know? I'm not a kid anymore and you've never really seen my body like that." Emma quickly responds, her denim pants already on.

It was Regina's turn to blush, something she rarely ever did, but could not deny around the savior.

"Well if you must know Sheriff, you are quite fit and there really is nothing… nothing you should be embarrassed about." She says confidently, not able to show what she was really feeling; Utter nervousness.

….

She'd stopped whatever her heart was feeling at that moment and pretended she felt nothing, because if she did, she wasn't sure what would be said or done.

"How about that Pizza, it has extra cheese! Just the way you pretend to not like." She walks past her, quickly hugging her hello and kissing her cheek like she'd always done when Regina would pick her up from school.

"Emma…" She can hear Regina whisper behind her retreating footsteps.

"Pizza sounds perfect-and as of how you stay so fit, remains a question, dear." Regina says out loud behind her, making them both snicker and sweep off any tension that followed.

(After Dinner)

"I really don't remember these sheets being this soft when Neal and I shared them at our place." Emma hums happily, holding Regina's hand in one hand and a glass of wine in the other.

She can feel Regina's hand squeeze back in response, making her place the glass of wine on the nightstand.

"Hey, are you okay?" Emma asks, pulling Regina closer to herself.

Regina remains silent, placing her glass of wine down as well.

"Maybe if we lay down and talk for a bit…" She says and asks at the same time.

But instead of responding, she'd already had that in mind and grabs the white sheets and pulls them over them both, as if to hide them away from this town that knew them both so well.

"Talk to me." She whispers gently into Regina's ear.

"You and Neal, I know you said it was nothing but…"

And as if a light switch goes off, Emma's mouth asks what she couldn't stop thinking about in the diner earlier.

"Regina are you, are you a virgin?" She could not stop herself, she knew it was sudden and possibly rude, but Emma had told her everything about what she'd been through and what her life had been without her. And now, now she yearned to know more about the wide-eyed woman in front of her.

"Emma I don't think this is something we should…"

"Regina." She tiredly pleads, and that was all it took for her once mother to close her eyes, take a deep breath, and finally confess.

"I've been a 36 year old woman for a very long time Emma, I," she uncomfortably sits back up, removing half the sheets off her upper body and grabbing her glass of wine anew.

"The king, Leopold… Snow White's father, did he?" Regina's eyes grow wider then she'd ever seen, her mouth slightly open and terrified.

"Emma how did you…"

"Regina I'm not a child anymore, I read the book and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that your marriage was not voluntary."

"Well I guess that makes Mary Margaret an elementary school teacher after all." Regina rolls her eyes and takes a bigger sip of her wine then previously.

They are both silent, unable to continue what was to come. But there was no way to go around it, not after Regina practically confirmed what she'd regrettably suspected.

"I was 18 when my mother handed my hand to the king, I was 18 when everyone expected me to be your mother's…. mother." Regina's eyes begin to water, her teeth noticeably gritting.

Her tears threatened to fall, but she did not dare show Regina that it was tearing them both apart.

"Everyone thinks I'm the Evil Queen, that I am and always will be an evil witch with no heart and no emotions, but I… I do believe evil isn't born Emma, it's made." She looks down, her glass now empty. But before she could protest, Emma hands Regina her own glass of wine and sits up as well, her hand touching Regina's shoulder lightly, encouraging her to continue.

"I was to lay with the king the first night of our ceremony, we were husband and wife after all, and it was expected of me to make him happy. He'd lost his wife not long before we'd married and he needed to be pleased and taken care of."

And as soon as she'd said those words, Regina remained silent and unresponsive, as if she were playing a film in her head.

"Regina, come back to me." Emma inaudibly cries, unable to contain any more of it, unable to let Regina know that the truth also affected her.

"He did not force me, but I did not want it." She stops her glass from going towards her lips.

"As a laid there beneath him, his sweaty chest heavily pressing me against the fur covered floors, I silently cried."

And just like that the queen inside the woman she loved throws the glass and shatters it.

"He thrust and thrust into me, not looking at me once, not even acknowledging if I was alive or dead under him, I might as well been… dead that is. My heart had been crushed just as his body crushed my own, and from then on, I'd past the point of no return. Daniel was dead, I had nothing left… my heart had darkened."

Her heart pulled her towards the broken down woman she called her queen. She felt her heart almost darken in Regina's place, but what Regina went through could never be so easily replaced. Emma hated him; she hated the man that her blood called Grandfather. He was no one to her, and if she could she'd ride to his kingdom and defeat him herself…

She knew now, she knew that whatever the book said was just a shortened version of what really happened. Regina had not killed the king out of pure evil, it was vengeance, and it was… They'd taken everything from her; that monstrous woman Regina called a mother forced her too…

And Daniel? She didn't mean for his name to make her glower. She didn't know why but as soon as she'd said it her chest ached and her hands gripped the sheets.

"Daniel?" She asked, uncertain who this character was.

Regina angrily stands up, unable to contain all of her emotions. "They'd never mention him in that one sided book full of all my bad deeds, would they?"

"Regina?" Emma whispers, not able to contain her patience any longer.

"Daniel, Daniel was a stable boy, he was a young man my age who had offered me love and kindness, something my own mother denied me. He was my first love. But Mother would never allow a simple stable boy to court her well mannered daughter; he was my first love…" She quickly looks at Emma and smiles.

"But apparently not my truest." She laughs almost as if to curse whatever she'd meant.

"Your mother was a child who could not keep a secret if her life depended on it, I'd asked her not to tell, and then she did… that night, my mother killed Daniel right before my eyes and arranged for me to marry Leopold."

"Snow White…" Emma whispers, all realization dawning on her, all jealousy gone.

"Yes and although not justified, my hatred for her grew with the rest of the darkness inside of me. And then there was you."

Regina begins to cry, holding herself tight.

"Regina, that does not and will never matter to me." She wraps her arms behind her, enclosing Regina's body with her own.

"I… I wanted everyone around me to suffer, I… I did not care if Snow White's unborn child was part of my wrath, I didn't know…" Regina shamefully turns herself around, digging her head into Emma's chest, hiding from her searching eyes.

Although she knew the things this woman did were disastrous and unforgiving, all she knew was that the Regina she knew now, the Regina she's known always; She was not the woman they all hated, she was so much more then what these people made her out to be, and if they really tried and they really knew the truth… They'd realize that Regina was just as human as the rest of them; she was just surviving.

And even before this curse took away all their homes, before the spell took away all memories and all her wrath with it, Emma still loved the woman that was and the woman that is Regina Mills.

And the things that had been done to her, the things that changed what could have possibly been a free spirited carefree woman in Regina, those things made Emma love her no less and far more. She desired to be by her side as long as this life would let her… she'd protect her from whatever or whoever tried to harm her, she would never let Regina go through any of it ever again.

"It's okay Regina, I will never see you as they see you, as you see yourself." Emma mutters into her fallen face.

"You are no longer that Queen, you are you, and you are beautiful." She adds.

"The moment I held you Emma, the moment I felt you in my arms…" She can feel Regina take a pause as she wipes her eyes gently.

"I never thought, I never thought that I could feel again, I never thought… it all changed." Regina suddenly looks up, gazing deeply into her tear stained cheeks.

"Because of you, I lov-"

She wouldn't let her finish, and she wouldn't let her explain; right now all that mattered was…

"This." Emma whispers, her lips catching Regina's trembling one's.

(The morning after)

After their lips had met for a third time in their lifetime, they both fell into a trance…. She was unable to remove herself from the woman they called The Savior, from the woman who was said to be her undoing.

Emma hummed into her mouth, making her whimper in return. She couldn't push her away; she could barely imagine pulling herself away.

Emma's lips were like nothing she'd ever tasted, like nothing she'd ever felt. And as her lips continued being caressed by Emma's, her mind could barely think or protest… and this time, this time she didn't object.

It was magnetic and impossible to retreat.

They'd fallen asleep before they could stop, the night sky stroking them to into a slumber, the moonlight illuminating what only it could see; that she was undeniably in love with Emma, and although still very cautious and unable to take it all in, her resilient heart wouldn't accept what her mind wanted to reject.

The Evil Queen loved Snow White's daughter.

Regina Mills loved Emma Swan.

Regina Mills had a true love.

She loved a woman she'd raised as her own; she loved a woman who'd grown to be everything the prophecy had foretold. Emma was her undoing; yes, Emma had healed her: yes, and Emma was her Happy En…

"Good morning." the woman who invaded her heart spoke, now awake.

"Good morning Emma." She cannot help but apprehensively put space between them, unsure if she should kiss Emma or keep to herself, it was all so new.

"Please, don't." Emma hums, her strong arms pulling her closer; Emma's nose now buried in her neck.

How foolish of her to think… to think she could hide this, hide this from them both.

"Last night, thank you." Emma mumbles further, her cheek caressing her own.

This child, this woman would be her ultimate demise. Whether it were her caresses or the town's people burning her at some stake if they ever found them out; Emma was surely her weakness.

"Emma." She whispers her name, the only thing she could mutter, the only thing that conquered her endless thoughts.

She begins to nuzzle her cheek against the blondes in return. They were like the moon to the waves, unable to stop the pull.

A few seconds begun to feel like forever, Emma not close enough. Regina wondered how much further into each other they could submerge. Her hand begins to unconsciously extend towards Emma's waist, but before she could place the slow moving limb onto the untouched territory, and before the uncontrollable desire could pull her closer, Emma stops them both.

….

She unburies her face from Regina's neck and cups her face gently.

"I'm sorry, I just…" she was so hypnotized that she'd almost rushed what she always dreamt of taking slow.

Just this, Regina returning a simple caress, it took her breath away. It made her dream awake and although it left her breathless, she had to stop.

Because before she could continue to show any of it, any of the feelings she'd locked away, she'd know everything beyond facts, she'd know what Regina's heart needed, what it felt, truly. She wanted to love all of her, she did not want to be selfish.

Regina's mother, Snow, Rumple… She couldn't take advantage of Regina any longer; she'd hurt her just as they had. She'd put her through an endless chase, a curse. She'd abandoned her, and she made her feel alone as they had. She couldn't just put her feelings on top of this woman who had just moments ago opened up and bared everything.

She'd be patient, and take her time to bare everything in return. That included all of her questions and insecurities, because Regina deserved so much more then Emma's impulsive behavior.

Besides, knowing the woman she once called mother… She would undeniably regret anything they may have done if she'd been caught in a moment. It was something Emma knew far to well about Regina now. She'd martyr herself.

"Regina, My love, before we completely drop last nights discussion, was he, was Leopold… was that man the only one you've been with in that, in that way?" Emma swallows thickly, not really wanting to know the answer but wanting to know more of the long-lived queen she hadn't known, the one she would show was okay to be just Regina.

…

"I did many things Emma, many things that made me feel in control, and yes… sleeping with other people in power was one of them." She does not try to hide any of who she'd been. She'd never been ashamed; in fact it made her feel more powerful.

"I see." Emma whispers, her head nodding in a sort of trance.

But right now, right now it made Regina feel quite the opposite. Emma did not deserve such a pity excuse for a love-r… Emma didn't deserve what so many called the queen of darkness, a monster.

Emma was far too pure and light… but she couldn't and wouldn't lie, that was behind them both.

"It made me feel as though I could choose, that I could choose and I could control my destiny." She grabs Emma's hand and squeezes it, trying her best to not falter.

"I understand, I do." Emma nods yet again, her voice no longer a murmur.

She can feel Emma squeeze her hand in return, a sad smile suddenly appearing on the sheriff's face.

"I wouldn't let you catch me in New York, It made me feel as though I had control." Emma assures, shrugging her shoulders.

At this, Regina's eyes grow wide but she quickly composes herself.

"I thought my confession was shameful and yet here you are making me feel as though I've done nothing wrong. Emma, only you…"

"You did what anyone in your circumstance would so easily do, you aren't what those people say you are."

She was about to protest but Emma never changed, she could never lose.

"Yes, maybe you were what they say you were, but now… and maybe you'd always just been misunderstood."

And how she loved her for it.

They both remain silent, relaxing their thoughts on the white cushioned bed. And after a few minutes of understanding, she quickly gets out of bed and checks the clock in the room.

"You win for now my little knight." She smiles.

"But you lose at work, you are now late for a second time this week." Her grin turns into a laugh.

"Oh, crap!"

Emma flies out of bed and falls in the process.

"I got to go, I promised David some coffee this morning." Before Emma can make it to the door of the room, she quickly presses her lips on her cheek and runs, her pajama pants halfway down.

She touches her red flushed cheek and whispers to the empty room that once made her so miserable.

"It can't be helped, can it?"

(At The Station)

"I'm so sorry David, Regina and I had to…"

Emma was met with a bottled thermal and a letter placed on her desk. There was no one in the station and a few calls had been missed, most likely he'd been called for assistance.

She lifts the warm container and reads the nice cursive written note.

Emma,

I was called on duty, something about a car without air in its tire? I'm new to this but can surely be of assistance to the people. I hope everything was okay this morning? I called but there was no answer. I figured Regina needed you for something once again, so I did not mention it to your mother. She would surely not take it well. I left you some coffee and what Snow says you would like, a bear claw.

I will see you later today and hopefully you'll love what Snow has planned for tomorrow evening.

- David

This man really was a man she would not mind calling a father one day, she could not help but feel sorry for being late. He had seemed so hopeful when she'd brought up meeting him the next day at the station.

She knew that when it came to Regina everyone else seemed non-existent, but they really weren't. She'd thought about Neal since she last saw him, she would visit as soon as she could. She thought about Snow and David and all the time they'd been asking from her. She just needed time to settle, she needed time with the woman she loved, the woman who till this day some people still wanted dead.

And she knew that as soon as she'd feel Regina was completely out of harms way, although she insisted she'd be fine with her magic, she would not have her being scrutinized over protecting herself.

Being Sheriff was something she dreamt about being for so long, that now that she'd become one, something she knew she could so easily accomplish. It seemed more of a necessity than a dream. It gave her a job, yes but most of all it gave her some authority to put away anyone she thought would harm her queen or any of her friends.

….

The day had ended quickly; she wasn't the Mayor she once was. Although most people refused to consider her anything, some people still looked for her assistance in some of the town's paper work or electrical problems and solutions.

What used to take hours out of her day now only took a few and some of her usual sass.

There just weren't as many people she needed to work for anymore, they now had Snow white, their queen.

She almost laughed at the idea of it all, because she was certain Snow white could never compete with her in such a field, this job wasn't about rainbows and unicorns, it took a lot of work and she sure as hell wouldn't let Snow or David take over just yet. This town needed her, whether they wanted it or not.

"Someone's enjoying that apple cider a little to much." She is suddenly startled, spilling a few drops of the sweet cider on her white blouse.

"Emma!"

She gets up and tries her best to fix her now disheveled buttoned shirt.

"Regina, I'm so sorry… isn't this your favorite blouse?" Emma quickly makes her way in front of her and apologetically shakes her head.

"Ms. Swan it's fine I…"

Emma quickly begins to unbutton her collard shirt; this time Regina notices there is no tank top underneath.

"Here I'll use my shirt to..."

Regina's face quickly starts to flush red and stutters her refusal to ruin the sheriff's shirt in return. "Em- Emma it's- it's fine really."

"No it's not, I'm such an idiot sometimes." But before Emma could undo the last three buttons, Regina swishes her hand, and the stain is instantly removed and no longer a problem.

Emma stays still, her eyes unblinking.

She cannot help but look away in embarrassment, because Regina Mills did not stain herself. Emma Swan stained herself and Regina did not fluster over such a meek little gesture.

She did the gesturing.

"I really am an idiot." Emma breaks her thinking trance.

To that, she internally smiles.

All tension is gone, Emma quickly taking away all the embarrassment from her and placing it on herself. She made it to easy and for that reason, the Sheriff made her swoon.

"Must you always take off your shirt to find a solution Sheriff?" She arches her eyebrow.

"I- uh."

But as soon as Emma sees her now very present grin, she quickly buttons her shirt back up and bows her head apologetically.

"Really, Regina… I didn't mean too…"

"All is forgiven Emma, I'm just glad my klutz of a Sheriff is back home."

"HEY!" Emma shouts in return, a pout now present.

"You are the smartest Sheriff I've ever met, now, Lasagna?"

"Thank you." Emma winks, her smile present again.

"And we can-" Emma begins to ask yet for another day.

"Yes, we can have another sleep- you can stay the night with me." Regina corrects. The sleepover really was an excuse now, and she wanted Emma to know it was okay.

….

They hadn't kissed last night. They'd gotten dressed for bed and crept into Regina's bed soon after.

Regina had wrapped her arms around her last night and whispered that this was her bed now, as long as she'd want it that way.

And the last thing she remembers is whispering, "Yes." in return.

They'd woken up and had breakfast at home, and spent the whole day out together. They'd stopped by the hospital to check on Neal, but got the same result as the last time she'd checked. It was now a restricted area for anyone but family. And before she could get into any fights, Regina had calmed her and promised her that they'd find a better solution to getting her friend back.

They'd strolled the woods and enjoyed the views they 'd always go to when she'd been kid.

Regina had taken her to her crypt and showed a few more tricks and confessions; the boxes full of hearts that she vowed weren't all her victims and her promise to return them once she found a spell. She'd taught her how to properly clean her shirt if she ever had another accident with her hot cocoa and how to come up with a better comeback.

As soon as they'd gotten home, they were both exhausted and ready for dinner.

"So, how about I cook for a change?"

But before Emma could hear Regina's quick-witted answer the phone rings and she suddenly realizes it's Saturday and she's forgotten once again.

She curses her heart for always stealing time.

"Mary Margaret, Hi!" She answers the phone, the caller id reminding her of her screw up.

She can see Regina swiftly turn away and begin to make some hot tea and surely hide away any expression she was showing.

"I am actually on my way out, I had a few things I needed to finish up today." She lies, not able to disappoint them yet again.

She walks towards Regina offering her a cup of the brewed tea.

"Yeah I know I'm a bit overdue with some of the stations paperwork, tell David thank you for noticing and quickly making fun of my sluggish work."

Regina smirks as she sips her cup.

"See you in a few, goodbye." She rapidly hangs up and pulls the hem of Regina's blouse towards her.

"The tea is lovely but I have too…"

"You forgot Emma, we forgot. We lost track of time and…"

Emma doesn't allow her to continue, placing a finger against her lips to stop her mouth from moving. This earns a very attractive glare from the Mayor and a very entertaining child like grumble.

"I'm serious dear, If Snow, David or anyone suspects any of it, any of this; they'd surely..."

"They won't." She kisses her cheeks softly, sipping her mug one last time.

"I'll be home soon and I will fix this, between us and between them."

She grabs her red leather jacket; the one Regina had sworn she hated but always left hung ready for Emma to wear to work.

Then she speedily heads out, her car keys in hand. But before she can jump into the bug she grabs her phone and texts what she wanted to say instead, what she would have said if Regina hadn't been worrying already.

I Love You.

….

(Charming's loft)

"Oh wow Mary Margaret, that was fantastic." She hums with content, as she takes the last bite.

"You really think so?" She smiles wide as she collects all the plates.

"I can get that!" Emma notices and suddenly stands up to help.

"No, no, it's fine Emma, really." She smiles warmer then before.

Mary Margaret and David had not let Emma lift a single finger since she got here, she'd also insisted on helping them set up the table, but they quickly refused.

There were some things that were very different between Regina and her parents. Although she knew Snow and David just wanted her to feel at home, she wondered if they'd have spoiled her rotten as a child?

Regina always refused to pick up Emma's messes and pushed her to be independent and clean up after herself. But really Emma always did it to help her around the house, unable to see Regina work all day and get home to more work. That and… She always loved the smile and kiss she'd receive on her forehead anytime Regina acknowledged how hard she'd worked.

She could imagine Snow spoiling her rotten, and possibly making her wear crowns and shiny dresses that were made for kings and queens, the opposite of what she really wanted to wear, she was never fond of royalties. She could imagine David showing her how to sword fight and ride a horse or two…

It wasn't a bad thing, and it didn't sound half bad. But Emma wouldn't trade any of it, not if she'd loose the fairest of them all.

And besides her assumptions and her analysis, Snow and David really were some of the kindest people she'd met. And maybe, just maybe they were just being really good hosts.

However she was pretty certain that the couple that were surely as young as her, really just wanted to feel like the parents they hadn't been able to be.

It was heartwarming, and she could not help but feel something warm for them.

….

After a few board games and a glass of wine or two, the wine David had suggested after a few awkward silences their daughter and they shared, Emma finally started to really talk.

"So, you're each other true love's?" Emma asks. A question that instantly made David and her smile wide.

"Oh Emma, true love…" Snow hums happily, remembering so many of Charming and hers story's.

She could feel David scoot closer to her on the loveseat and place his hand around her and gently on her shoulder, soothing her softly.

"It's magical Emma, literally." He laughs out loud, making their daughter and herself smile in return.

"Magical…" Emma hums to herself.

It did not go unnoticed to her or David, she could see David look at her and nod quietly towards her. To this Snow could not contain herself, she had already missed so much, this wasn't something she'd loose an opportunity at.

"And one day Emma, your prince will come too." She adds, raising her glass of wine reassuringly.

"Unless you've already…" David says, his tone now suspicious.

Snow slaps his leg knowing he meant the man in the hospital, Neal.

Emma's eyes grow wide; she looks around nervously as if to find something in the room. This makes them both snicker to themselves.

"He's just teasing Emma, he wants to know who Neal is and why he's caught the eye of his daughter." Snow smiles warmly and understanding.

"Oh… oh Neal." Emma replies, swigging the remaining wine in her hand.

"Do I have to interrogate this man once he's out?" David teases. They were both trying their best to ease Emma's recurring awkwardness.

"He's my best friend, and you'll love him…" They cannot help but notice Emma's sudden mood change; maybe they shouldn't have brought up the young man currently un-awoken at the moment.

"We know you haven't been able to see him recently, we are sorry to bring him up now." David apologizes.

"No it's okay, you were just curious and besides…" she suddenly smiles, making her and David eager to hear what caused such a grin.

"Regina thought the exact same thing about Neal and I… and you two took it far better then she did." Emma begins to chuckle, the first real laugh they'd heard from her all night.

Snow cannot help but feel a sting, even when Regina wasn't here, Emma still…

Regina still found a way to hurt her.

…

He could see his wife's sudden crestfallen face. So he did whatever he thought Emma wanted to hear, and although it also pained him, he wasn't letting anything stop their progress.

"I'm sure Regina did." He smiles teasingly. Regina was far worse tempered then he ever could be. And although he did mean it to be light hearted, his healing heart still felt a pang of truth; She was far more then short tempered, she split his family apart.

At this Emma smiles wide and nods in a comedic way.

"You should have seen her when she found out Snow was going to be my teacher!" She amusingly sips her newly refilled cup.

To this, Snow finally reacts.

"I can't…" She whispers behind the laughing pair.

"Snow?" David warningly asks.

But before she could muster her thoughts, Emma quickly stands and checks on her watch oblivious to Snow's whisper.

"I'm so sorry you guys, but it's passed 10 and I don't like to leave Regina alone at night for to long, she's so stubborn but…"

"Hey! It's okay Emma, we understand." David nods, quickly standing up and pulling her towards him for a hug.

Snow shakes her anger quickly and wraps her arms around the daughter she reminded herself of, was hers… and she'd wait.

"I hope we can see you again real soon for another…." He begins to add but is cut short by Snow.

"How about I walk you to the car Emma, just a little more time would be lovely." Snow squeezes Emma's hand gently.

"Off course, Mary Margaret." Emma responds happily.

"Goodnight David, see you on Monday." She adds.

"Goodnight honey." He warmly smiles, already eager to see her in a few days.

But before his wife completely walks out the door, she turns around and nods at him reassuringly.

This told him this was it, this was the moment she'd ask Emma why she'd runaway; the question that had been bothering her far longer then it had him.

…

"Emma, before you go…" she gently grabs Emma's hands in hers, as if she were a teacher consoling her once again. It's as if time had stopped and now, now it was her 12-year-old daughter she was looking at instead.

The mother in her, the teacher in her, the friendship they'd had… it was here now or never.

"Yes?" Emma pushes, concern now present.

"There is something that I've been trying to ask you since you came back, there is something I've been dying to know since you ran away." She squeezes Emma's hands reassuringly to comfort whatever she may feel.

Her daughter remains silent, surely expecting many different questions. Because when it involved Regina, or magic, it was never an easy matter.

"Why did you runaway Emma?" She whispered almost desperately.

But Emma, Emma refused to react. Instead she remained as silent as when she'd mentioned talking to her.

"And if Regina was not the reason for you leaving, why leave her? And if she was the reason, why return?" Snow's gaze became hectic, she had so many questions and she hoped to true love that it wouldn't overwhelm Emma. She knew her as a kid and a teen… any mention of Regina or her personal life would send her spiraling.

Yet still, Emma's face remained stoic.

…..

She'd promised Regina she'd fix this, she promised her there would be less scrutiny their way, her way.

They didn't need more doubts, and they sure as hell didn't need more worry. If Snow knew... If David knew…

It was already hard enough for them to protect Regina in the first place; she could see it in their faces. It would be long before they'd trust her again, it'd be long before Mary Margaret could forgive Regina, her once friend.

She could never tell them, at least not now. One day yes, one day she hopes Regina and her can be honest, because if that book had a lesson, it was that true love always prevailed, and if Snow and Charming were really each others true love's, they'd have to come around, and if they came around, so would all the people that followed them.

But right now, they all needed what she stole from Regina and what Regina stole from them, time.

"Mary Margaret, I can't." She looks down; she'd only ever felt ashamed for such things with Regina, especially as a child. But knowing that Snow was her real… that David and Snow were her parents, it made her feel just as bad, and spending this time with them had created further damage to her refusal.

It was Snow's turn to look down, her hands slowly letting go of her own. But she quickly looks up and holds Emma's gaze.

"When you're ready, when you can… I'm here, David and I are here." Snow's eyes

Suddenly water but she smiles instead.

"I… I have to go but I promise I'll be punctual next time." She smiles one last time, and quickly jumps in her bug and starts the engine.

As she drives away, a few blocks down she could still see Mary Margaret watching her through the rear view mirror, she could see her still longing to have more time with her, but Emma knew, she knew that when everything was safe and alright, she'd give those two the time and the answers they desired.

It pained her; it did but if what everyone was saying was true…

She was some kind of Savior, and she wouldn't stop until Regina had, until they had, their happy ending.

…..

She didn't think she'd miss her this much; it'd only been a few hours and she already felt all kinds of emptiness. Maybe sleeping together in the same bed hadn't been Regina's brightest idea, although it made her feel like she'd never truly slept until Emma was by her side, it had caused an instant ache now that she laid here alone.

She'd subconsciously slipped into one of her black silk robes, the one's that showed a little too much for their current situation, but before she knew what she was doing she'd already laid in bed, her sheets covering her legs.

She contemplated yet again on changing but before she could decide the door slammed open.

"Emma! How- how was dinner?"

Her voice quivered, her last thoughts making her regret her choice in clothing. But before she could worry, Emma burst into the room and climbed her way on top of her.

She could see tears in her eyes, an insecure expression.

"Emma, what happened?"

Still, Emma remained silent and suddenly clutched her legs around her body, and moved towards her open mouthed expression. She left no time for her to react as her lips found the way to close her mouth shut. She kissed her fiercely as if whatever was troubling her, her lips were the remedy.

Hey eyes grew wide but her heart pounded like thunder.

Regina's hands quickly find their way to her chest as if to push her off, but when Emma suddenly slides something gentle and wet into her mouth; her hands had a mind of their own; they refused to push Emma away and instead pulled them as deep into each other as possible.

Uncertain if it was okay or not she slips her tongue in in return, earning a sudden moan from the blonde who's body felt like fire on top of hers.

"Emma." She cannot help but call her out. Emma's moan was like nothing she'd ever heard before, it was a song… and it fueled the ever so growing fire that was inside her chest, it was uncontainable. But before her trembling hands could wander further into the sheets, she feels something warm and wet on her cheek.

It was tears, tears that if she hadn't been so caught up, if she had just contained her self; she'd questioned Emma's actions as soon as and before they'd gone this far.

"Emma?" Regina's eyes flutter open, worry and anxiety overpowering her monotone voice.

Emma remained silent, her disheveled hair and swollen lips making Regina catch her breathe and pause. But before she could continue again, the smile she loved so much appeared on the flushed teary-eyed Sheriff.

"I came rushing home…" Emma began, her hands finding their way to Regina's, her legs remaining wrapped around her waist.

"I needed to feel you, I needed to show you…. No matter how bad it hurts, no matter how much I have to fight for you, I will never stop." Her tears begin anew.

"I've loved you since you first held me, and you are undeniably my true love." She leans in and kisses her forehead.

"On my way here, all I could think was how painfully I longed to be by your side, how painful it was to not feel you near me, and how much I desired to feel more of you."

This made them both blush furiously and Regina was so very tired of hiding it.

"I've never done this before…" Emma looks away, her teeth biting her lip in embarrassment.

"And I don't want to force you like I once did…" Emma's lips begin to tremble.

How could she think she was forcing her? She, she pulled them closer, she needed to feel her as well… couldn't she see, that although it scared her, Regina wanted this too.

….

"But I need you my queen, and I want you to…" She suddenly drops her head into the crook of her neck, hiding what her eyes would show.

"You want me to what Emma?" Regina whimpers into the silent room.

"Would you…" Emma lifts her face, her eyes now looking into her dark pools of fire, pleading and revealing her heart. "Would you make love to me Regina?"

"Would you, would you…." Her quivering mouth continues.

….

If this is how cruel fate had been to her, if this was what destiny had planned. The Evil queen's true love was undeniably Emma Swan, the Savior. And right now, right now she didn't give a damn what her head wanted to so badly refuse. Right now, right now she couldn't, she wouldn't…

Everything Emma had felt, everything Emma feels, has always and will always be what she irrevocably feels in return and before she could muster another thought her lips part the words neither of them ever thought they'd hear.

"Yes… if you'll have me, yes…."