A/N: I can't quite believe this has finally come to an end. I've loved writing these two versions of our favourite characters but I'll gush more about that at the bottom. All you need to know now is that the rating for this chapter has finally increased to M/E (fanfic/AO3 respectively) and therefore it is a NSFW chapter!

Was it always so bright outside? Had the sky always been so blue? Was the small yard at the prison somehow filtering the sunlight and the colours? Emma stood, taking in the sensations, sights and the feeling of being free once more. Around her, the few other women who were being released strolled off towards the parking lot where friends and family were waiting to greet them. Only the clanging of the prison door behind her jolted Emma from her reverie.

Picking up a small duffel bag, containing all her possessions in the world, she swung it over her shoulder and headed after her fellows. With every step she took, the nerves grew. Regina had promised to be there to pick her up and Emma couldn't wait to see her again. But this was the first time the two of them would be together, completely alone, completely free, since the day they met. She had always been a prisoner, a convict. Regina had always been the victim. What now? How would their dynamic change?

Regina saw Emma before the blonde spotted her. She pushed herself off the bonnet of the car on which she was leaning and began to walk towards the younger teen. The moment Emma saw her, she broke into a run. Regina did the same, her feet carrying her faster almost automatically. They collided heavily, arms thrown around one another, Emma's bag dropping to the floor.

"You're out!" Regina exclaimed, the reality finally hitting her.

"I'm out," Emma breathed, the same emotion flowing through her body. It was true; she was free. "You're here."

"Of course I'm here," Regina said, pulling back and placing a searing kiss on Emma's lips. "I'll always be here."

Emma smiled and kissed her again, threading her fingers through Regina's hair and angling her head gently backwards, taking control of the kiss. Regina melted into the contact, her body pressed hotly against Emma as their tongues danced.

"Come on," Regina said when the kiss finally ended. "Let's go home."

Emma balked. "Your home?" The idea of seeing Henry and Cora Mills on her first day of freedom was not a welcome one. She was grateful for their financing her legal representation and of course she was eternally grateful for the creation of their daughter. She also knew she would need to face them sooner or later. But not yet, not today.

"No, our home," Regina replied. "New Haven. Ruby sorted the parole board stuff, right?"

"Yes," Emma nodded. "She's got a mate in the department who agreed to transfer me directly to Connecticut if I have a permanent address there but not in New York. I have to check in with them on Monday."

"Well, it's Saturday today so we can stay in the city if you wanted but I figured you'd rather see the house and get settled."

"I … yeah, I do want that but, I mean, are you sure?"

Regina reached down and curled her pinkie finger around Emma's. "Honey, I love you. Come home with me."

The drive took almost two hours and the girls didn't stop talking for a moment. It was refreshing to be speaking without anyone overhearing, free to say what they wished without adults monitoring them or Emma's fellow inmates eavesdropping. It was just them, no one else.

Emma relaxed steadily further into her new reality as they left the city and sped up the freeway. She took in the passing scenery as she listened to Regina and told her own stories of being inside. The two months she had spent in Queensboro had been mercifully uneventful and her parole granted at the first hearing. She suspected that good fortune had been heavily influenced by character references from both Ruby and August. And now, just twelve months after she had been arrested, she was free. A part of her still felt like she didn't deserve it but slowly, with Regina's help, she was coming to terms with her guilt.

"Hey, happy anniversary," Emma said, suddenly remembering what that timeline must mean.

"Happy anniversary," Regina smiled. "Although I'm not sure we can consider ourselves as having been together for a year even if we did meet a year ago today."

"True," Emma mused. "When is our official anniversary? Actually, are we even official?"

"Well, I've not been sleeping around with anyone else," Regina replied arching an eyebrow teasingly.

"Me neither," Emma hurriedly clarified. "I mean, I just assumed we were exclusive, right?"

"I assumed the same thing but we never discussed it. I suppose we've never had the space to discuss what we are. I know we were given a great deal of latitude in the RJP meetings, but I reckon Ruby and August probably would have stopped us if we'd started talking about the fact that we were dating so blatantly."

"So, we're dating?"

Regina glanced over at the blonde who was smirking at her. "Sweetheart, I think we're doing a lot more than dating."

"Oh yeah? How much more?"

The brunette chuckled at the salacious comment but ignored the obvious sexual implications. There would be time to talk about that later. "We're in a relationship, Emma. You are my girlfriend."

"And you're mine," Emma said, reaching over and linking her pinkie finger into Regina's where it rested on the steering wheel.

"Well, my girlfriend, are you ready to see your new home?" Regina asked, pulling the car into a wide driveway and putting it in park.

Emma peered up through the windshield at the large building, jaw hanging open. Regina smirked at the dumbstruck look and climbed out of the car. She pulled Emma's small bag from the back seat and waited for the other woman to join her on the sunlit porch. The blonde walked up the steps in a stupor, taking in the property. Although it was much smaller than Regina's family home, she too had taken some time to get used to the size of it, especially considering how small her college room was in the Yale residential halls.

"Welcome home," Regina said quietly, pulling the newly cut key from her pocket and handing it to the blonde.

"Regina, this is … thank you," Emma breathed, taking the tiny piece of metal which symbolised so much.

There was nothing more which needed to be said. Regina stepped out of the way and allowed Emma to open the door herself. It swung open, revealing the wide, bright entrance hall. A side table with a colourful bloom caught Emma's eye, a card stuck out of the top of it. She stepped over the threshold and plucked the card from the top, upon which her name was elegantly written. Flicking it over, she read the simple words.

I can't wait to start our lives together. I love you. R

Green eyes sparkled with tears as she turned to see Regina who was standing quietly behind her. "Thank you," she whispered. "I love you too."

"Come on," Regina said. "Let me give you the tour."

They moved through the house, Regina pointing out each room and mentioning her interior design plans. They had only closed on the house sale a month before, so she was yet to fully furnish the space. She had prioritised two rooms however; the master bedroom and a second bedroom. Although they had known each other for a year, Regina didn't want to make any assumptions about where their relationship may head now Emma was free.

"This is the guest room," Regina explained, opening the door. "And the master bedroom is at the front of the house with the en suite. The other bathroom is right down the hall and there's a water closet downstairs."

"It's beautiful," Emma said, her fingers tracing the wrought iron bedspread.

"You're welcome to whichever room you prefer," Regina offered.

At that, Emma turned around. "And what about you?"

"Well, I still have my room in the halls of residence," she reminded the blonde. She had been at college for three weeks and in that short time, she had spent just a couple of night in the townhouse, although that was only to test out each bedroom.

"Oh," Emma said, looking a little crestfallen. "So, you're not going to stay here?"

Regina smiled and walked over to the blonde. Reaching up, she looped her arms around the taller woman's neck, letting her wrists flop behind and her fingers play with the loose blonde curls. "Emma, I would love to stay here. Sometimes. We can talk about it. But for me, it's really important that I have my time with my classmates too. I want to form friendships with these guys whom I'm going to be studying with and while I want to spend every second with you, I need to make sure I don't miss out on that early bonding."

"I know, I'm sorry," Emma said, her hands drifting up to clutch Regina's waist. "You're right, you can go. I'll be fine."

A perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. "Are you kicking me out?"

Emma frowned. "Did you not just say you wanted to leave?"

The throaty chuckle which the brunette released made Emma's insides burn hot. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart. Just because I'm not going to be living here all the time, doesn't mean we can't have regular sleepovers."

"So … if we have sleepovers, does that mean I have to choose a room and you'll take the other one?"

"If that's what you want," Regina nodded. "No pressure. You're the one living here so you pick whichever room you like best and then I'm happy to sleep in the other one when I stay here."

"So, we wouldn't sleep in the same bed?"

Regina shrugged. "Do you want to?"

"Yes," Emma replied, almost before the question was asked before realising how overeager she sounded. "I mean … do you want to?"

"Yes," Regina nodded, rocking up onto her toes to place a gentle kiss to the blonde's lips.

Emma's brain short-circuited at the sensation of the brunette pressed up against her, their bodies reacting stronger than ever to one another. Perhaps it was because for the first time in a year, there was nothing to stop their kiss developing into something more. Except…

She pulled back, flushed and panting but needing to say what was on her mind. "You know there's no pressure, right? I mean, we can sleep in the same bed and not do anything. I'll wait, until you're ready, I mean."

Regina smiled tenderly. "Emma, I am ready. I know we've not spent much time physically together but over the past twelve months, we got to know one another on a much deeper level. We've talked through some really tough subjects in those meetings and addressed lots of emotions. I'm in love with you, Emma Swan, and I want to be with you."

Her heart fluttered at the genuine declaration, but she reminded herself that whatever happened that night, their acts of physical intimacy were going to be Regina's first time. That was a lot of responsibility and she wanted to make sure the brunette was completely comfortable and happy, with no regrets about taking this important step with Emma. "Ok but we take it slow. As slow as you want. You set the pace."

"Ok," Regina nodded. "But this isn't just about me. I might not have slept with anyone before, but this is big for both of us, right?"

"Huge," Emma nodded. "And, on that note, can you give me an hour or two?"

Regina hesitated before nodding and uncurling her arms. "Of course. Take as long as you need."

"Thanks. Um, is there a store near here?"

"Corner store at the end of the block is pretty good. Drug store two streets down. And there's a Walmart in town. Can I drive you? What do you need?"

"Just some stuff but I'll walk, thanks," Emma shrugged. "Um, can I maybe borrow twenty bucks? I'll pay you back as soon as I get a job. My parole officer will have some prospects lined up for me on Monday. I don't wanna be borrowing money off you."

"Not a problem at all," Regina reassured her, gesturing for the blonde to follow her back downstairs where she had left her purse. Snapping it open, she pulled out a wad of several hundreds and peeled two off to hand to Emma. The younger woman gawped before handing one back. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "Thanks."

"Are you hungry? I can cook us some lunch for when you're back."

"That would be great, thank you."

"Anything in particular?" she asked. Emma shook her head. "Really? After a year inside? Come on, what have you missed most?"

"Food that tastes," Emma deadpanned. "Really, Regina, you can cook whatever you want. I'll love it just because you made it."

"You're grossly overestimating my cooking skills but ok," Regina smiled. "I'll get started. Oh, take this." She picked up an iPhone which had been charging on the side table in the hall, unplugged it, and handed it to Emma.

"Why?" Emma asked.

"It's yours. My number's in there so if you need anything, you can call me and I'll come and meet you. I've also set your home up on Google Maps in case you get lost."

"You bought me a phone?"

"It's no big deal," Regina shrugged. "Daddy gets loads of deals on them because of the business he's in. And I need to be able to contact you, right?"

"I guess but this is a lot. I don't know if I can accept this."

"Sweetheart, I have money and I like to spend it on the people I love. I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to it."

"I mean, it's super generous and I don't want you to think I'm not grateful," Emma replied hurriedly. "I'm just … yeah, I guess I'm not used to it. For so long, it's always just been me, providing for myself. I don't like to feel dependent on someone else or indebted. Already I feel both by living here rent free. I like to earn my own money and be able to pay my way."

"I respect that," Regina assured. "And you can buy the groceries and do all of that stuff once you have a job. But you did just get released from prison three hours ago so how about you cut yourself some slack, ok? Just while you're finding your feet, let me help you."

"Ok," Emma said, recognising the logic of that, even if she still felt a little uncomfortable. "I'm gonna head out. I'll be back in an hour or so."

Regina nodded and kissed Emma lightly before turning and heading towards the kitchen to see what ingredients she had to whip up something for lunch. Emma watched her go then slid the new iPhone into her pocket, picked up the key which lay on the side table and headed out of the house.

"Zelena, no, you cannot show up here tonight," Regina huffed, the phone on loud speaker as she stirred the tomato sauce she had made from the limited ingredients which she had found in the cupboards. Her mother had ordered some tins and other long lasting groceries to be delivered the first week Regina arrived at Yale.

"But I wanna meet Emma," her friend whined. "You've talked about her pretty much non stop for a whole year and I need to find out what's so special about your little rebel girlfriend for myself. Plus I have to give her the best friend speech and tell her I'll kill her if she hurts you."

"Zelena, I swear to god if you show up on my doorstep I will be the one committing murder. I want tonight to be special and my nosey best friend is not a part of that. No offence."

"Offence taken," Zelena shot back. "But I am willing to forgive you if you tell me every single teeny tiny detail tomorrow."

Regina scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"That's so unfair. I told you everything about when I lost my virginity."

"I know," Regina grimaced. "In way too much detail."

Zelena giggled. "Yeah, that was a fun night. Terrible sex, mind you. So, are you guys going to talk about it before it happens or just see where the night takes you."

"I don't know," Regina admitted. "Emma's out at the moment and I'm making lunch. I guess we'll just see what happens. We've already talked about the fact that we're going to share a bed so that's the first sign we're both on the same page."

"Are you nervous?"

"A bit," Regina admitted. "Excited mostly. I mean, I love Emma. I want my first time to be with her. So yes, I guess I am nervous, but I also know this is going to be amazing and it's something we've both been thinking about for a long time. We've waited long enough and I'm just looking forward to experiencing it now."

"I'm excited for you. Seriously, though, I'll need details."

Regina was about to open her mouth to reply when she heard the front door close. "Emma's back. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Details!" Zelena shouted before the call disconnected.

Regina turned the heat right down on the sauce and headed out to the hallway. Emma was kicking off her shoes and picking up two discarded shopping bags. "What did you buy?" Regina asked, leaning on the doorframe and watching.

"Just some basic stuff," Emma grinned, taking in the sight of the brunette. "You look sexy in an apron, by the way."

Laughing, the older teen turned back to the kitchen, calling to Emma that food would be ready in fifteen minutes before starting to fill the pan with water for the pasta. Emma headed upstairs to deposit her purchases.

She poked her head around the door to the guest room for a moment before moving down to the master bedroom which she was yet to inspect. It was a larger, brighter room. Was it weird for her to choose that room? It wasn't her house, after all, so why should she get the best room? That said, if she and Regina were to be sharing a bed whenever Regina stayed there, surely this bedroom made sense. Decision made, she placed the shopping bags down on the bed and began to unpack.

Just as Regina was portioning up the food she had prepared, Emma appeared in the doorway, wet hair hanging loosely over her shoulders. She had been desperate the scrub away the last of the prison essence from her skin and had bought some nice body wash and shampoo at the drug store, as well as a razor and deodorant.

"Good shower?" Regina asked.

"The best," Emma nodded. "It is also the first shower I've been in for over a year which either locked or had a door nor a flimsy curtain so that was a novelty." Regina wrinkled her nose and Emma chuckled. "You'd be surprised how quickly you get used to the lack of privacy to be honest."

"I'll take your word for it. Hungry?"

"Starved," Emma said, moving towards the breakfast bar where Regina was standing. "Wow, this looks great."

"Pasta and tomato sauce. I'm a budding chef," Regina chuckled, waving off the compliment. "Cheese?"

"Please," Emma nodded.

Regina grated a generous portion on top of the steaming pasta dishes and then placed each in front of a bar stool. Turning to the fridge, she pulled out two cans of coke and added them to the spread. Hopping up beside Emma, she raised her drink. "To you and the start of the rest of your life."

"Let's hope I don't fuck it up," Emma replied, tapping her own can against the side of Regina's before cracking the ring pull and taking a sip.

The two of them fell silent as they began to eat. Even though she knew any food would taste good after the terrible meals she'd been eating for close to two years, Emma moaned as the first bite hit her tongue. Regina's fork hovered halfway between her plate and her mouth as she watched Emma, eyes closed, savouring the flavour. And then the blonde was swallowing and stabbing several more pieces onto her cutlery, prompting Regina to begin her own meal.

Within ten minutes, both plates were clean. "Thank you, that was amazing," Emma said, patting her full belly.

"You're welcome," Regina smiled. "What do you want to do now?"

"Um, don't take offence but I kinda want to nap. I haven't really been sleeping well the last couple of months and today has been overwhelming. I'm exhausted."

"No offence taken. You can do whatever you want to do. Do you want to borrow some pyjamas?"

"I have some in that bag," Emma replied. "Thanks though."

"Any time," Regina assured. "I've got some school work to do anyway, so this works out well. Then we can enjoy our evening together without me having to do my class reading for next week."

Emma nodded and began to gather the plates and cleared the table. Despite Regina's protests, the blonde finished the washing up. "It's the least I can do after you've cooked," she insisted. Regina gave up telling her not to bother and instead got out her school books and set to work. Already, as expected, the first years were being thrown into Yale's rigorous study program.

"See you in an hour or so," Emma said, bending down to give Regina a quick kiss as she passed.

"Sleep well," Regina murmured, loving the domesticity of their behaviour already.

The next time Regina looked at her cell, she was shocked to see over three hours had passed. Her studies had sent her down a fascinating road and she had become lost in the reading she needed to do for her upcoming class. Outside the kitchen window, the warm evening light was beginning to change the colour of the few clouds which flitted across the sky.

Getting to her feet, Regina made her way upstairs to see if Emma was still sleeping. The door to the guest bedroom stood ajar and the bed beyond empty. A smile spread over her face as she realised Emma had, as she hoped, opted for the master bedroom. It was important to Regina that Emma felt at home in New Haven and this was a great first step.

Pushing the door to the master bedroom open quietly, Regina peered around the edge. The room was dark but she could make out the lump under the covers which was her girlfriend. Unable to resist, she stepped further into the room. The blonde didn't stir. She must be exhausted, Regina mused, stifling a yawn herself. There had been a party in her dorm the previous night and while she had gone back to her room soon after midnight, the music had made her sleep restless.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and when Emma didn't wake, she slowly stretched out to lie beside the younger woman. Taking a deep breath, she settled into the plush mattress her parents had equipped the bed with. She could fall asleep right there and then if she just closed her eyes. But then the sudden realisation of what she was doing, of what Emma might think if she woke up with Regina beside her, made her sit up abruptly.

The movement jolted the mattress, startling Emma awake. "Who's there?"

Regina turned quickly to see Emma sat bolt upright, peering through the darkness at the unknown figure beside her. "It's me," Regina replied at once, sensing the blonde's panic. "It's Regina. It's ok."

"Oh," Emma said, heartbeat returning to normal. "Sorry." She sank back down into the pillow and rubbed her face. "What time is it?"

"After five," Regina replied. "I'm sorry I woke you. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," Emma nodded. "Um, what were you doing?"

Regina blushed, the colour hidden in the dark room. "I just came to check on you but then I realised I was tired and lay down. But then I freaked out and sat up and woke you. Sorry," she repeated.

"Why did you freak out?"

"I don't know," Regina shrugged.

Emma peered up at her from the mattress. "Yes, you do. Something made you freak. What was it?"

"Proximity, I guess."

"Proximity to me?"

"My proximity to you," Regina amended. "I didn't want you to wake up and find me inches from your face. I thought it might be creepy."

Emma chuckled. "You're cute. Come here." She opened her arm out and patted the mattress, encouraging Regina to lie down which, after a moment's hesitation, the brunette did.

"So," Regina began once both she and Emma were lying on their sides.

"So," Emma repeated, pressing a soft kiss to Regina's lips. "See, not creepy. Cute." Another kiss landed on the tip of Regina's nose. The brunette giggled and Emma positively beamed at the sound.

They fell quiet, two sets of eyes scanning familiar faces but somehow seeing them in an entirely new light. Regina's mind was racing. Was this it? Was this the moment? She licked her lips subconsciously, drawing Emma's attention to them; dark and plump and now damp. And then suddenly the blonde was kissing her. Hard and desperate and with a fire they hadn't experienced before. Regina moaned and threw her arm around Emma's waist, wriggling her body closer so they were pressed together. Emma's hands threaded into her hair, fingernails scraping deliciously against her scalp.

Regina moved her hand lower, fingers toying with the elastic of Emma's sleep shorts before drifting further. She allowed her palm to travel slowly over the curve of the blonde's ass, fingers cupping tenderly, exploring how it felt to touch Emma in such a manner. As she did so, Emma's leg lifted up and curled around her hip, pulling the two of them even closer, the blonde's heel digging slightly into her upper calf. She let out a little sigh of contentment as Emma's teeth grazed her lower lip, a gentle bite at once soothed by a loving tongue. At the sound, Emma's hips bucked slightly, the warmth of the young woman's core radiating through their clothes onto Regina's skin.

And then suddenly the blonde was pulling back, panting and wide-eyed but retreating to the far side of the mattress.

"What's wrong?" Regina asked, breathless herself after their steamy kiss.

"I have to stop," Emma replied.

"Why?"

"Because this isn't how this should happen," Emma said. The realisation had hit her before she had fallen asleep that afternoon. Regina deserved everything to be perfect and just like Emma had described all those months ago. Although she had shaved her legs in the shower and scrubbed every inch of her body, now the moment was here, she wasn't sure if it was the right time.

"What do you mean?"

"I promised you the perfect night, Regina. I promised you moonlight on a deserted beach and candles and music in the most beautiful, romantic location."

Regina sighed and reached for Emma, encouraging her back towards her. After a moment's hesitation, the blonde resumed her position but without her leg hooked over Regina's hip and with much more space between their bodies.

"Emma, sweetheart, I don't need any of that. All I need is to know I am loved and safe and with someone I trust. But this isn't just about me. You need to feel the same way so if you want to wait, we can wait. There's no pressure."

"I do feel those things," Emma said at once. "God, I love you so much Regina and I do trust you and I know I'm safe here. But I wanted to make our first time magical."

"It will be magical," Regina replied. "Because it's you and me."

A dopy smile slid over Emma's face. "Are you sure?"

Instead of replying, Regina stood from the bed and reached for the buttons on her blouse. But before she had even got half of them undone, Emma had scrambled after her, fingers eager to do the job themselves. Regina smiled as the blonde took over, her own hands drifting to the straps of Emma's tank top before sliding down defined biceps.

"I love you," Emma said as the material parted and she found herself face to face with Regina's chest. "I love you," she repeated, eyes now fixed on Regina's own.

"I love you too," Regina said, bending down and kissing Emma. The kiss deepened at once, Emma's hands coming up to Regina's waist and touching her bare skin properly for the first time. Her body was hot and tense, quivering with excitement rather than nerves as the brunette leaned down and encouraged Emma onto her back. The blonde stifled a groan as she felt Regina lie atop her, the fire in her core almost unbearable already. But today wasn't about her; it was about Regina.

She set to work gently undressing the brunette, taking her time to remove each article of clothing. Regina, however, was less patient and had wrestled Emma from her pyjamas before the blonde had even started on the tight denim shorts.

"You're so beautiful," Regina said as her eyes raked over Emma's nude form, sitting on the edge of the bed while she undid the button and fly of Regina's shorts.

"So are you," Emma replied, placing a kiss to the soft skin between Regina's breasts as she began to wriggle the denim down the brunette's legs. Once they were on the floor, Regina stepped out of them, now only wearing a simple black lace pair of panties. The older teen herself reached to hook her thumb into them but Emma stopped her. "Not yet," she said, reaching up and curling her hand around the nape of Regina's neck, pulling their mouths back together.

Lying on the bed once more, Emma let her hands explore Regina's almost bare body as the brunette did the same for her. Their breasts were pressed tightly against one another as their fingers mapped new, burning hot skin. She smiled into the kiss as she felt the two shallow dimples at the base of Regina's back but the smile quickly turned into a groan as Regina's fingers flickered over her earlobe. The brunette pulled back.

"Ears?"

"Mine are kinda sensitive," Emma admitted.

Regina's eyebrows rose cheekily and she dropped her lips to the corner of Emma's mouth, then her jaw, placing featherlight kisses upwards until her breath puffed over Emma's ear.

"Jesus," Emma moaned as Regina's lips brushed her lobe. Interested in this newfound erogenous zone, the brunette opened her mouth, closing it lightly around the soft flesh. Emma's fingers dug into her back, hips bucking uncontrollably forwards. Spurred on, Regina allowed her tongue to flicker over the tender skin. Emma cried out, her insides on fire as Regina's mouth worked, her tongue becoming more confident and exploring the curve and shell of her ear.

And then Regina yelped in surprise as she found herself on her back, Emma above her and their mouths fused together in a passionate kiss, all teeth and tongue and desire.

"I can't wait any more," Emma panted by way of explanation when the kiss ended. "I want you to go first and if you had kept doing that, you wouldn't have."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Emma nodded. "But before anything else happens, are you sure this is what you want?"

"Completely," Regina nodded, reaching up to caress Emma's face.

"Ok," Emma smiled. "Well, if I do anything you don't like or want me to stop at any time, just say. Are you comfortable with me using my mouth?"

Even through the darkness, Regina was sure the blonde would see the reddened cheeks. She wasn't used to talking about sex so blatantly and didn't quite know how to do so. "If you want to."

"Oh, I so want to," Emma insisted. "But I can use my fingers if you'd prefer."

"What would you prefer?" Regina asked.

"I want to taste you," Emma replied, her tone dripping with desire.

Regina shivered, actually shivered at the words and nodded her head. She wanted Emma to taste her. She had no idea what Emma would taste but she wanted the blonde to be the first person to find out. The fact that Emma wanted to taste her sent a fresh flush of arousal through her already tingling body.

With permission granted, Emma placed a final kiss to Regina's lips and set out on her journey. She took her time, despite the desperation burning within her. She stopped at Regina's breasts and licked and kissed each mound equally before moving south, over the smooth skin of her belly until she reached the lace underwear. Their eyes locked; Regina nodded.

Carefully, slowly, reverently, Emma peeled the final scrap of fabric down Regina's legs. Once discarded, she knelt between the brunette's thighs and placed her palms gently just above her knees. "God, you're beautiful," Emma said, looking up the bare woman before her. Regina felt a little self-conscious at that. It was the first time anyone had seen her naked since she was a small child. Beneath Emma's palms, her thighs tensed. "Beautiful," the blonde insisted, feeling the woman's reaction.

When the muscles relaxed again, Emma wiggled herself backwards and lay on her stomach. The move brought her quite abruptly in front of Regina's core. There, inches from her face, was the woman's centre, glistening in the darkness. The unique scent of it filled Emma's nostrils and she shuffled herself a little closer. Her hands slid slowly up the smooth skin of Regina's inner thighs, encouraging the woman's legs a little wider.

"Are you ok?" Emma asked, heartbeat thudding against her ribcage. She was desperate to dive right in, but she still wanted to make sure Regina was ok.

The brunette had propped herself up on some cushions and was watching intently. "Yes," she breathed. Her heart pounded too but it was more excitement than nerves.

With reassurance once more that Regina wanted this, Emma moved her hands to splay across the brunette's hipbones, gently holding her still. Then, unable to hold off any longer, she lowered her mouth to press a tender kiss to Regina's pubis. Her lips pressed lightly just above her core, not wanting to jump in headfirst. The soft dark curls tickled her nose as she moved her mouth slowly to one side, lips caressing further down towards where thigh met hip and back up towards the waiting centre. Because Regina was waiting too, desperate now to feel Emma against her. And then, almost suddenly, she was.

Emma's lips closed around her clitoris, her mouth soft and warm. "Oh fuck," Regina moaned into the dark room. Emma's eyes looked up the trembling body and met a wanton expression of pure lust. Parting her lips slightly, she allowed the tip of her tongue to poke out, gently caressing over the sensitive bundle of nerves.

Hands flew to Emma's head, fingers gripping her hair. Regina's eyes snapped closed at the sensation, her body overwhelmed in so many ways. Emma slowly slid her tongue, applying only a light pressure over and around the brunette's pearl, each flicker drawing a sound from Regina which made Emma grind her own core into the mattress.

And then she slid her tongue lower, its tip parting Regina's folders and gathering up her essence as she reached her moist centre. Emma's brain short circuited. It was more than just the taste of Regina, tangy yet sweet and just utterly delicious. It was also the way the brunette's hips bucked upwards, her fingernails digging into Emma's scalp as she pulled her closer. It was the way she could feel Regina's body trembling beneath her palms. It was the sounds which spilled from her lips as Regina gave in to the pleasure.

She licked slowly but firmly from Regina's entrance up to her clit, circled the bud twice and returned to source of her juices. Then she did it again. And again. Setting this simple yet steady rhythm, Emma got to work, knowing her mouth was pushing Regina towards her peak. The knowledge that she was going to be the first person to see Regina Mills come made Emma's mind fuzz, but she was determined to stay focused.

"Emma," the brunette moaned as the licks became a little firmer, a little faster.

"Let go," Emma mumbled into the hot, wet flesh. "I've got you, let go. Come for me."

The words made Regina's hips jolt once more, Emma's hands on her hips pressed a little more firmly, not wanting to be dislodged as the woman reached her peak. Her tongue now curled more tightly around her clit and when she circled Regina's entrance, she pushed lightly inside. Regina cried out, the sensation of the hot, wet muscle entering her adding a whole new level of pleasure.

Emma felt Regina's orgasm crest before the brunette knew what was happening. The woman's entrance quivered around Emma's tongue, the muscles spasming as her pleasure peaked. Regina cried out, a mixture of Emma's name and expletives filling the dark room. Emma's tongue kept working, relentlessly lashing Regina's clit to prolong the experience for both of them. The older woman's back arched off the bed, her mouth wide open as if suspended in a state of animation for several seconds before she collapsed back to the bed, panting hard.

The blonde pulled away, reluctant but pleased with herself. She licked her lips and wiped the rest of the Regina's come from her face before crawling back up the spent teen and flopping down beside her. She didn't say anything, wanting Regina to have some time to recover not just from the orgasm but also the experience of having sex and being with someone so intimately.

"Wow," she said after over a minute.

"You ok?" Emma asked, a cocky grin on her face.

"More than," Regina nodded, rolling over and throwing her leg over Emma's hip this time, her wet core rubbing against the blonde's thigh. "You're good."

"You're delicious," Emma replied.

"Really?" Regina frowned.

"Yep," Emma nodded. Before Regina could say anything, Emma kissed her. The blonde's tongue was granted permission at once and Regina realised the kiss tasted different to before. The tart, sweet addition was herself. "See?"

"Hmm," she said. "I guess it's ok."

"It's delicious," Emma repeated.

"Are you delicious?"

"I don't know," Emma replied. "Want to find out?"

Regina bit her lip. "Um, yes, but I don't really know what I'm doing. I mean … what if I can't make you come?"

"Do you trust me?" Emma asked.

"Of course," Regina nodded.

Emma smiled, kissed the brunette quickly and then reached for her hand. Slowly, giving Regina plenty of time to pull away, she guided the older teen's hand to between her legs. Regina gasped as she felt the wetness which coated the blonde's inner thighs and centre.

"I want you so badly, Regina, and I promise you that I am going to come, regardless of what you do. I don't think I've ever been so turned on in my life."

Regina's fingers curled slightly, cupping Emma's centre. "Really?"

"Truly," Emma replied. "Just do what you think feels right."

The brunette hesitated for a moment before nodding. Her fingers flickered against the blonde's core once more and Emma let out a strangled cry of delight.

Three hours later, as the last of the evening light faded from the August sky, the two women flopped, naked and exhausted, onto the crumpled sheets. Their chests rose and fell, drawing ragged breaths into their burning lungs.

"Oh my God," Emma panted.

"Right back at you," Regina replied.

"I love you."

"Right back at you," Regina chuckled.

"I'm hungry."

"Right back at you."

"Pizza?"

"Yep," Regina nodded. "And then more sex."

Emma laughed. "Oh what have I done? I've woken an insatiable beast."

"I'm sure you can satiate me," Regina said, rolling onto her side and kissing Emma's shoulder, the closest piece of bare skin.

"I'll certainly going to try. For the rest of my life."

Regina sobered at the quiet words. It was intense; it was a lot. They were so young. But it was also a thought which made her heart sing.

"For the rest of our lives," Regina nodded.

Emma turned her head to look at Regina. "Do you ever wonder how differently our lives would have been if we hadn't walked both into the bank that day?"

"Often," Regina nodded. "And I know we've gone through a lot but I wouldn't change any of it because it got me here, with you. Being held hostage, what happened on the airfield. It was all worth it."

"I love you," Emma said, following her words with a kiss. And she did. She would always regret elements of what happened the day they met. The weight of those lives lost would sit upon her shoulders until her dying day. But she was slowly coming to terms with it. And her love for Regina was a vital part of that. She now had something to look forward to, to fight for. The life they were going to build, the future they were going to have, whatever it held, she knew they would get through it together.

"I love you too," Regina replied. "So, what do you want on your pizza?"

A/N: I hope this mammoth chapter made up for the lack of chapter on Wednesday. Sorry, I just didn't have a spare few evenings to write this monster. Thank you for reading yet another of my alliterative stories. This premise has been a really interesting one to explore with Regina and Emma unable to be together for so much of the story. It's reflective of a lot of things happening in my own life at the moment so I guess I've been projecting. Writing is my own personal (free) therapy.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I will be back at some point in the future (I have ideas but prompts are welcome). Please follow me on Twitter (SwanQueenUKFF) and Instagram (swanqueenuk) to stay up to date on all future fics. Big love to each and every one of you and please do let me know what you thought of this story.