Scratches ran rampant across the once pristine canvas that was Emma's back. A few of them boasted of dried blood. Emma's blood. Regina shuddered. The tequila was meant to ease her nerves, not cause her to revert into that monster. What have I done? Regina's fingers twitched, causing the previous night's outfit to return to its spot in the vault. Having been the cause behind the death of everyone she held dear, directly or indirectly, it was too much to see that person rising in herself again. Regina forced herself to memorize every marking of her own creation and then turned away. In the stillness of the morning she trembled.

"Gina?" Emma stirred with a groan. "Are you alright?"

Regina's skin felt cool to the touch - prompting Emma to pull the blanket over her. She had no idea that the trembling she felt before pulling the comforter higher on Regina was the tremble of awakened terrors. The chill she thought she was fighting was a ghost clawing its way through the depths of Regina's soul. Fighting to make it to the surface. To create distance in this one moment of solace.

Pretending to awaken, Regina made a show of stretching. "I'm fine."

It was unlikely that Emma fell for the lie, but she made no motions to call Regina on it.

"That was…" Emma leaned into Regina with a sigh of lust," ah-mazing."

This was not the reaction Regina had anticipated - despite that they had slept in the same bed. It was unlikely that their relationship would be anything but atypical.

"I didn't think you would remember," Regina softly stated.

"I can't believe you'd think I'd forget. Or that I'd want to. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Are you?"

Unable to hide from the shame of her actions any longer, Regina moved to look Emma in the eye. She owed the woman that much - for the obvious amount of pain endured. With practiced ease, she moved wild blonde locks out of the way while her eyes searched for any sign of distress, no matter how small.

"I hurt you Emma. I never wanted that."

Emma snorted. "You didn't do anything. I met a marvelous Queen on my journey to Firefly Hill. Did you know I got to kneel before a real throne?"

"This isn't a game. The Evil Queen is dangerous - or is that something you are too ignorant to grasp?"

And just like that Emma's mouth snapped shut.

"I'm not under any illusions at all Regina. I got exactly what I wanted. Tell me you didn't."

Yes…. she had. Exactly what she wanted.

"I…."

Emma kissed Regina into silence, effectively shutting her up. "Let me lead okay?"

"Could you lead me to some coffee?"

Dragging themselves from the bed, they relied on each for support to make it to the kitchen. Separately their mental battles raged while they slowly descended the stairs. Already the coffee maker was percolating, leaving them in a state of confusion. Beside it was a note addressed to 'Moms'.

Moms,

You're going to have to do better than that if you wish to be sneaky. I don't know what you were doing. I don't want to know. The coffee maker was set before I left to sleep over at Grandma's. Don't worry - your secret is safe with me.

~Henry

"Weren't you the one that said none the wiser?" Regina questioned a sheepish looking Emma.

"Yep." She answered with a popping sound on the 'P'.

"Well?"

"You were right there with me. Perhaps your hangover is clouding your memory."

"The only thing clouding my memory is the memory of this." Regina's hands gingerly touched a claw mark peeking over Emma's tank top. Not unlike before, she shuddered. "Emma this is what I do to everyone I have ever come across. I destroy everything I put my hands on."

"Regina, I am giving myself to you. I don't have to tell you how major that is in the world of Emma Swan. You know me, but you also understand me. Better than anyone alive. I know this isn't the speech you've read in your books - but I will love you the way that you deserve to be loved."

"Loving me is a death sentence."

"No, not being allowed to love you would be."

Emma was so firm in her belief that Regina ached. Ached for her touch, even a soft kiss. What Regina had allowed to begin was going to force this moment sooner or later. That 'later' actually turned out to be now, along with hangovers from hell.

Without further ado, Emma set out to making toast. She moved as if she had worked in this kitchen before. It was only toast, but in Emma's own way it represented so much more. Damn it all to hell. Regina stopped Emma mid-buttering, meeting her eyes before resting their heads together. The palms of her hand cradled Emma's head. Magic flowed forth from Regina's hands slowly taking away Emma's ailments. Once Regina was unable to feel the magic ebbing into Emma cease she felt the contentment. Emma's hands rose to cover Regina's providing the same assistance.

"I want to try it too. Us." Regina stated, moving away with one hand locked around her coffee mug.

Emma crossed the minutia of space between them - burying both hands in raven tresses and kissing Regina for everything she was worth.

"Say it again." Emma rested her forehead against Regina's, unable to face the hope that swelled within her.

"I want…"

"Not that."

"What?"

It was as if smiling would shatter Emma's face it had become so wide. "Us."

Regina smiled, "Us."