[Disclaimer] I don't own OUAT

A/N: My first Swanqueen story is coming to an end. Thank you to all of you who

decided to give it a try. Especially those who have supported me from the very beginning. You rock!

Leave me some review love, if you feel like it. These always encourage me to keep going.

I don't have as much time for writing as I wish to, but I seem to be unable to let go of it. I need my happy place I can go to take breaks from reality, if that makes sense.

Chapter 35

"We need another cup of brown sugar." Regina stated with her nose buried in the scratchpad. "Then we need to add the Cinnamon."

Emma pulled the requested ingredients out of the cupboards and added them into the bowl on the counter.

"Now, we have to peel the vanilla bean and stir it into the dough."

"We should have bought the crust mix from the store. This here is starting to feel like science or witchcraft."

Regina laughed. She put the scratchpad down and blew a kiss on Emma's upper lip.

"Real pie needs to be made from scratch. It's an old family recipe from my Dad's side. You never tasted apple pie before, until you had this."

Emma dipped her fingertip into the plastic bowl next to her. She hummed when she licked the sweet dough from it.

"Eating raw dough can give you salmonella poisening. We have to act like responsible adults for Henry's sake. He has a sensitive stomach."

Emma grabbed the spoon to eat some more of the dough. This was delicious!

"Henry is still at school for a whole hour. So, let's be wild and take a risk."

Regina placed her hands on Emma's hips to lift her up on the kitchen counter.

"I am not going to take care of you when you get sick."

"Oh yes, you will, better than any nurse. I know you will, because you love me."

She fisted her fingers through Regina's hair, opening the messy bun in her neck. Emma smiled against soft lips when her mouth touched her lover's in a tender kiss.

"We have to put the crust in the form into the preheated oven." Regina said, running her hand down Emma's collarbone. There was still a purplish red mark on her throat from last night. The memory of their love making made Regina instantly press her thighs a little closer together.

"I love you." Emma whispered. She kissed Regina's mouth another time.

Regina stepped back and grabbed the pie form from the counter. She added the dough into it and put it in the oven.

"Good girl. You didn't move." She mumbled, rubbing her nose down Emma's throat to plant a row of kisses on the velvety skin. "I love you in this position."

Emma wrapped her legs around Regina's waist and pulled her closer. "55 minutes until the kid comes back from school."

"Make them count." Regina moaned. She tugged down Emma's top and reached for the bowl next to them. A smile washed over her face when she dipped her finger into the remainder of dough. She painted a big R on Emma's chest.

"See? All mine."

Emma groaned when Regina licked off the dough a few seconds later. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the tingles running through her veins as Regina caressed her.

Her hand moved between slender thighs.

"You are all mine for forever."

The crust of the apple pie tasted burned. Henry shoved it back and forth on his plate before he slurped loudly on his chocolate milk. He was getting bored. The baby was boring, because it was way too small to play with him. What was all the fuss about?

"Isn't she a true beauty? Look at her lashes! Killian says she looks a bit like me with her blonde curls."

Regina placed her arm on Emma's shoulder and smiled kindly at her best friend. Tinkerbelle's cheeks were glowing. Her eyes looked tired but happy.

"She is very cute." Emma stated. "You must love her so much."

Tinkerbelle nodded her head and rocked the baby girl gently back and forth against her chest.

"Killian and I are lucky that they letting us adopt her. Little Faith is all I ever wished for."

Regina reached out her hands. "May I hold my goddaughter for a minute before we have to leave? I don't want to be late on my first day."

Emma smiled as she watched her girlfriend lifting the tiny baby up. Regina was good with kids. She had done an incredible job with winning Henry's heart. He had started calling her his mom Gina a few weeks ago.

It hadn't been easy after Regina's release from jail. Yes, she was officially innocent now. But being innocent on paper means very little.

The school board had refused to give Regina back her headmistress job and no other school was willing to hire her for a teaching position.

For a while she was upset and Emma had trouble helping her to hold her chin up. She reminded Regina constantly that nothing that happened was her fault. What was done was done though.

"Henry, say bye to Tinkerbelle and Faith now. We are leaving."

He jumped from the chair and waved his hand in the air.

"Bye Tinks! Bye little Faith! When you get bigger you can come riding with us. Right, Mom Gina?"

Regina agreed and handed Faith back to her mother.

The drive to the stables was quiet. Emma kept her hand on Regina's, knowing she was a bit on the nervous side about the new job.

Emma knew it was perfect for Regina. Working at the riding school combined teaching passion with her love for horses.

Regina hugged Emma and Henry and walked off to the office building behind the stables. Emma couldn't help but think that she just loved her Regina's legs in these tight riding breeches.

She went to help Henry get changed into his own riding boots. Nova waved her hand at them when she saw Emma.

"Oh hi, Emma. Is Henry doing riding therapy too? Olaf loves it. Don't you, sweetie pie?"

The little boy next to her on the bench digged circles into the dirt on the ground. His sister kneeled down next to him and placed her hand on his knee.

"Nova asked you a question." Elsa whispered. "You love the horses. Right?"

He nodded his head. Life was strange. Policemen had come to their house and taken aunt Ingrid away. Anna had cried for a long time. Then they had packed up their things and moved in with Nova and Leroy.

Leroy was fun. He played with him outside after school, but Nova cooked strange foods that tasted funny.

"I hate peas."

Nova coughed. "All right then. No more peas for you, Olaf. I promise."

She was blossoming in her role as a foster mother. It filled her heart with a true divine happiness.

"Thank you." Elsa said. They went to the indoor riding arena to watch the boys. "I couldn't move to Alaska without knowing my siblings are being taken care of. Olaf can be a handful."

"He is a dear boy." Nova placed her hand on Anna's shoulder. "And Anna here will do fine too. Won't you? The new school isn't too hard for you, is it?"

Anna frowned a bit. She was clever and it embarrassed her that she had failed too many classes in the last school year. It was all because of this moron Hans. Anna didn't want to think about him too much.

"You and Olaf can always come visit me. Once I get things settled and worked out with Belle, Olaf and you can come live with us. The university of Juneau is excellent."

Anna was quick to shake her head no. "Do you know the average temperature there is 42 degrees? It's shitty cold there!"

Elsa run her fingers through her bangs. "I've always been more of a winter person, I guess. Come on, Anna. We get some hot cocoa for us. Nova, would you like to come along?"

When they were out of sight, Leroy stepped closer to Emma. He rubbed the beard on his chin between his fingers like always when he was thinking hard.

"Emma, have you given any thoughts on what we talked about at the reception last saturday?"

"You were drunk. I wasn't sure if you were being serious."

"For the protocol.I wasn't that drunk. Nolan was much worse than me. I bet Mary Margaret didn't get much action on their wedding night."

Emma laughed.

"I was serious about things last week and I still am. You'd be good at the job. You can sense when someone is lying to you."

"True. But don't forget that I don't have the cleanest record. At least I managed to finish school now. Regina helped me a lot with my online courses."

Leroy cleared his throat. The fingers of his right hand fished for the absent pack of cigarettes inside his jacket.

"The FBI would be lucky to have you, Emma. It's up to you though what you want to do."

Emma crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I doubt I'd make it into the program."

Leroy grinned. "I could make some calls."

"Some calls?"

"Or some more calls. I can make as many calls as it takes .Trust me, I know quite a few people in charge."

Emma sighed. "You think I could really do it?"

"I don't think, I know. Just think about it and let me know when you've made up your mind."

She told Leroy goodbye and went for a little walk around the stables. In the distance she could see Regina holding a horse on a rope and guiding it around in a circle. When she walked closer she smiled all over her face and waved her hand at Emma.

"Oh my gosh! She smiled! Mills smiled! It must snow in hell today."

Emma leaned against the fence and gave Ruby a dirty look.

"If you want to keep your position as my maid of honor you need to start being much nicer to my future wife."

Ruby rose her hands in an apologetic gesture. Mills had become a whole new person since she was with Emma. Maybe love could truly change people from deep within?

"I'm sorry, Emma. I really want to be your maid of honor. You're not going to make me wear a pink dress, are you?"

"Pepto-Bismol pink." Emma told her friend, barely able to hold the laughter back. "With white polka dots."

Ruby laughed. "Whatever makes you happy. It's your wedding, not mine. Can I see the ring again?"

Emma lifted her left hand to let Ruby ohhh and ahhh a bit over the pear-shaped diamond.

"It's so pretty. Oh, guess what, Emma? The police academy is taking me! I never thought they'd take me but they did. Soon I will walk around this town in my uniform. Can you believe it?"

Emma gave Ruby a one-armed hug and congratulated her on the job. She would discuss Leroy's bargain with Regina tonight and try to decide if it was the right choice for her future.

Ruby told her that she needed to get back to her grandmother, since the new car she had gotten for graduation was tied to Ruby working at the Diner for the entire summer.

Emma picked up Henry from his riding lesson and soon it was time for Regina's first break.

"How's it going, Mom Gina?" Henry asked. There were stains of dirt and grass on his jeans. "I only fell down twice this time." He stated with pride in his voice.

"That's very good, Henry. I knew you'd be a great rider with more practice."

Henry turned to Emma. "Mom, can I go visit Olaf tonight? Nova is buying ice cream!"

Emma told him yes. She winked at Regina. Having the house to themselves sounded promising. It was giving them an opportunity to christen the new glass table in the dining room.

She had bought some Windex in case possible stains would bother Regina.

Somehow though, Emma had a feeling that they wouldn't.