Emma paced back and forth, irritation radiating off of her. She tried to calm her breathing and slow her racing heart, but it was near impossible. There were too many feelings flowing through her. The audacity of Snow White was at the top of the list of contributors to Emma's emotional state. She couldn't outright say to her parents that she never wanted to return to the White Kingdom. She mentioned that Robin Hood would soon stand trial, but her mother rebuffed her reasoning, stating that Regina could handle the proceedings. Emma was grateful for her father who stepped in and made the decision to table the discussion until after dinner. It was clear that they would not come to a conclusion and her magic was nearing uncontrollable when she stormed out of Snow and Charming's chambers.

She closed her hands into fists and fought to contain the raging fire within. The memory clouded her mind. The sheer disapproval on Snow's face was frustrating. As if Snow had the right to judge her. Her desire to stay in the Dark Kingdom should be her choice; she was no longer a child. It was apparent that she would receive no understanding from the matriarch of the family. The mirror in the room shattered and Emma sighed. Her magic fed off of her anger. The flames licked at her insides, wanting to be released.

"Princess, I do believe you summoned me." Regina stepped into the room and was immediately enveloped by Emma's emotions. It was stifling and Regina felt her chest tighten just a bit. She took in the shattered mirror and breathed a slow, deep breath. She waved her hand in its direction, fixing it instantly.

Crossing the room in three steps, she could taste the barrage of emotions wafting off of the blonde: a mixture of innocence and betrayal. She interlaced their fingers and inhaled deeply as Emma's magic poured into her. Her knees wobbled, but she stood her ground, even as her eyes rolled back slightly. Emma's magic moved like wildfire through Regina. The brunette cleared her throat as the onslaught lessened,

"Talk to me, dear." Regina waited, trying to keep the mask in place. She was worried, more worried than she'd felt in a long time. She knew Emma's departure was inevitable, but she dreaded it all the same.

"We couldn't agree. My father said we could revisit the discussion after dinner," Emma sighed as tears slipped from her eyes.

"I will never be ready to leave you." Emma fell against Regina as an uncharacteristic sob escaped her lips. She melted into the Queen, enjoying the feel of strong arms wrapped around her. Emma fisted the loose fabric of Regina's gown as her tears stained it.

Regina held Emma, allowing her to release all the pain she'd been harboring. She placed gentle kisses on her temple but said nothing. Somehow she knew silence was best. Silence and her presence. Though millions of sweet nothings bounced around her mind, she kept them to herself. She kissed the top of the Princess's head and sighed. She decided she could bear to be vulnerable for just a moment.

"If it were up to me, you would never leave."

Emma pulled back and looked into her eyes. She knew Regina meant it, knew that what had transpired between them was real. Everything was clear when she looked into warm, yet haunted brown eyes. Emma leaned in and captured Regina's lips with her own. She snaked her tongue into Regina's mouth as she wound her arms around Regina's neck, and Regina shuddered against her as Emma allowed her magic to flow into the Queen.

Regina gripped Emma's hips and pulled her close. It felt like she was being consumed. Emma's magic moved through Regina as if it belonged; and of course, it did. It nestled into her very cells. It intricately wove itself into Regina's essence, filling empty spaces for what felt like the first time.

The power behind the feeling caused fear to rise in Regina. What if, over time, Emma acclimated to the White Kingdom and forgot her? The thought caused her to break the kiss. She gently disentangled herself and stepped away, countless insecurities taunting her. She was unlovable, it wasn't possible, and though what she had with Emma was legitimate and tangible, she feared it would wither and die.

"Regina….?"

"What's to happen when you return to the White Kingdom and you are approached by suitors?" Regina chastised herself for speaking her fears aloud and allowing her weakness to show. She'd conquered kingdoms, she tamed a dragon, but the mere thought of Emma entertaining a suitor was nauseating.

"No potential suitor can change what I feel for you. We are bound. No Prince or Princess will ever change that." Emma reached for Regina, wanting to soothe the pain she was feeling. It hurt when Regina recoiled away from her. Emma knew Snow would double her efforts once they'd returned home. She would be forced to allow herself to be wooed. The thought made her skin crawl. She would never give herself to another.

"That's easy to say now, Princess, standing before me. But time is not always kind."

"You think I will forget you? That being back there will somehow erase my feelings? Never." Emma tried to hide how much the notion hurt her. The love she felt would not be tarnished by distance nor time. She thought Regina knew that. Moreover, she thought she'd proven that. She took a cleansing breath to calm herself as she felt the magic roar inside of her. "I will never forget you."

"Princess, how can you make such a proclamation? You cannot see what the future holds..." Regina wanted nothing more than to end the petty squabble, but she was scared and fear made her irrational. There were far better things they could be doing with the limited time they had left together.

Emma sighed and looked away, "You know how I was raised, what I was taught." She paused to look Regina in the eyes, "None of that changes the fact that I love you."

Regina turned away from her, feeling like those words were a curse. Daniel loved her and was taken from her, she couldn't bear to lose Emma too. Regina would have to remove her heart to go on without the infuriating Princess in her life. She would rather lose Emma and know the blonde was alive somewhere in the realm than for Emma to suffer the same fate as Daniel.

Emma gently grabbed Regina's forearm and turned the Queen, so they were face to face, "You're scared, but I mean it, Regina. Being bound to you should've been terrible, but it wasn't. I was confused and maybe a little hesitant, but I wouldn't change it. I love you and I want to build a family with you. I know that we are not a traditional pair, but there are tales of children being born with magic. We are bound, surely our bond is strong enough to create life."

Tears filled Regina's eyes, "I cannot give that to you Emma. I cursed myself years ago." Regina smiled sadly at Emma, "I was young and angry. I wanted to hurt him. He so badly wanted a son, an heir. He wanted a Prince. I refused to carry her seed. I would not bear his child. A potion made it so."

Emma wanted to cry. Regina suffered so much in her life, lost so much, and to think, Emma's own flesh and blood was responsible for much of the Queen's pain was sickening. Leopold was a monster, he stole Regina's youth, her innocence and her ability to have children. Her mother praised the old king as a saint as if he were the best man in all the realms, but he was an animal, who preyed on an innocent. One who saved his daughter's life.

"We can still be a family."

Regina sighed, closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, it was too much: too many promises, too much hope. She'd lost so much and didn't see her luck changing, but then Emma came along and though it had not been easy, she'd found love. Though it was terrifying and she'd fought it. She knew her truth. She also knew that she was hiding something from Emma that would ruin her. The thought of how heartbroken Emma would be when she found out about the Lost Decade was harrowing. Would she be forgiven? Could she be forgiven? What if they never recovered from it? What's to happen to two souls that are bound but refuse to be together?

"Hey," Emma caressed Regina's cheek and smiled at her sweetly. "We can have a family and one day we will."

Emma leaned in and kissed Regina sweetly. Their lips brushing softly and Emma wanted to melt. She knew that Regina was what she wanted in life, the Queen was who she was destined to be with and no amount of time or distance would change that.

"You can't give up on this. We are….you are so important to me, I can't leave knowing that you have any doubts in us. We are destined for one another and that can't change. You can't send me away with any doubt."

Regina nodded, the words warming her battered heart. Maybe they would survive it, Emma could forgive her omission, she could love Regina through it. Though Regina knew the pain would be crippling and the betrayal would be infuriating, she would be there. Like she told the Charming King, she would put the pieces back together.

"Take me to bed Princess."

"As you wish my Queen."

Regina allowed Emma to lead her to the bed set in the center of the room. They held one another's eye and Regina knew that in the end, no matter where Emma went, she would always come back for her. It was evident in beautiful emerald that they would never stray from one another. It gave Regina hope.

They fell into bed as if they'd done it countless times. The first kiss of many kisses was initiated by Emma and nothing else in the world matter. Their tongues caressed one another as if they'd been made for one another; they had.

Regina had little patience for conventionally undressing, she flicked her wrist and both women moaned at the feel of their skin touching. Their bodies were warm and without the dampening spell for their collective magic, it was as if their magic wrapped them in a cocoon of their love and lust for each other. Every touch was heightened, Emma felt light headed as Regina trailed kisses from behind her ear to her clavicle. The subtle brush of supple lips was nearly a religious experience. How she would survive without Regina's touch was unthinkable.

"Stay with me, Princess." It held so many meanings. Stay in the moment. Stay in bed. Stay in her heart. Stay in her Kingdom. Stay with her, because she couldn't imagine life without the warmth of Emma's love.

"I'm here." Emma captured full lips with her own and poured her soul into the kiss. She felt her magic cling to Regina as if it knew departure would soon happen. She could feel Regina's heart beat as if it were her own.

"Touch me, please."

Regina sighed at the gentle plea and acquiesced, she didn't want to tease her. She didn't want her to beg, she just wanted to feel. Regina slid her hand between their bodies and nestled herself in Emma's warmth. She was immediately surrounded and held prisoner, though this was time she would happily serve. The room seemed to melt away as she stroked in and out, her lips pressed against Emma's racing pulse. Soft mewling sounds from Emma caressed her ear and seemed to flow towards her core.

Emma arched up into Regina's touch, enjoying the fullness that came with it. Her head swam as her pulse drummed in her ears. She held tightly to silk sheets as her body was loved. Regina's magic seemed to inhabit her. Much like when they were in the dining hall, but stronger. Deeper. Emma felt Regina everywhere as if the woman had a dozen hands and they were all working to drive Emma to the brink. This was an edge the Princess would happily fall off of because she knew her Queen would be there to catch her.

"Look at me." Regina watched emerald eyes flutter before focusing on her. She smiled softly as she curled her fingers and felt Emma's body tense. It was a sight she would never tire of. The Princess was stunning as she reached the precipice of her pleasure. Regina's name tumbled from pale lips in a reverenced whisper.

Emma lay beneath Regina and tried to calm her beating heart, along with her incessant magic. She tried to push little spurts into Regina to alleviate the overwhelming amount she felt. It wasn't helping, she would implode if she didn't get a handle on it.

"It's alright." Regina cooed and exhaled deeply when she felt the rush of Emma's magic. Raw, unmitigated power coursed through her. Her eyes flashed golden as she watched the Princess crest towards a monumental orgasm. She kept her rhythm steady and her eyes locked on the emerald ones beneath her. Regina mapped pale features and committed them all to memory. Needing to be able to call upon such a sight in the dead of night when her rampant thoughts were too cruel to ignore. Seeing the Princess with a delicious mixture of lust and love in her eyes would sate Regina's growing insecurities.

Regina closed the space between them, kissing Emma tenderly and knowingly pushing her over the edge. The room exploded with Emma's essence and magic. Regina found herself near completion without being properly touched. She groaned into the kiss as her body thrummed with a need that was near insatiable.

Emma fell back against silk sheets in a haze. Everything felt so far away, except for Regina. Nothing mattered while they were nestled in the magical cocoon created by their bond. Emma took in the sensations, feeling nearly every nerve-ending ablaze. She was aware of her body in a way she'd never been before. It was as if she could feel the blood flowing through her veins and the rapid beats of her heart.

"Regina, let me…."

The Queen arched an eyebrow and waited for Emma to finish her thought but the Princess didn't. She just sat up slowly and in doing so, caused Regina to roll off of her. Regina watched Emma, intrigued by the slow and near reverent movements of the Princess. Regina sighed as Emma placed feather-light kisses across her sternum and began to venture lower. She could sense where Emma would soon head and wanted to tell her young lover it wasn't necessary. Regina was content to hold Emma and sleep, but it was clear the younger woman had different plans. There was something appealing about how determined Emma was. Regina could taste it in the air.

Her back bowed as Emma swirled her tongue around a taut nipple, scraping her teeth gently before moving to the other. The blonde's destination was made more apparent when her kisses moved south and she tongued Regina's belly button. Regina caught Emma's chin in her hand, a rebuttal ready to slide from her tongue but the blown pupils and parted lips that looked up at her had the words melting from her tongue. She stared down at Emma, a roll of anticipation moving swiftly to her core. She caressed a flushed cheek and then gently pushed Emma's head where she needed her most.

Regina had heard whispers whilst she walked the halls of how it could feel when you bedded someone you loved. How it was something otherworldly when your partner wanted to please you for more reasons than mere duty. She'd ignore the silly words of the young handmaidens, sure that they knew nothing due to their youth and inexperience. She'd been wrong.

Having Emma between her thighs for no other reason than the blonde's willingness to be there and her strong desire to please her Queen was like nothing the brunette had ever experienced. She wove her fingers into golden tresses and was lost in the moment, in Emma's willful exuberance and strong desire to please. Regina felt as if she were out of her body, her mind fogged over and she couldn't think. Nothing mattered but what Emma was doing to her. Treaties. Trials. Departures. Enemies. All a distant memory, so far, in fact, she couldn't discern if they were ever real. She felt as if she could implode and be perfectly content to do so. She was unconscious of the sounds that fell from her mouth. She was weightless and the only thing tethering her to the earth, the realm, the moment, was Emma's inexperienced yet talented tongue.

She felt herself coasting towards a glorious end. If she were to take her last breath, she was content for it to be with Emma bringing her the most beautiful, satisfying, loving orgasm of her entire existence. The corners of her vision started to blur and she stood at the edge ready to be pushed over, Emma's magic enveloped her like a warm blanket and as her pleasure crescendoed, everything went black.