"Hi," Emma softly mutters, mostly to herself from the side of the house, motivating the young girl to perk up from her dolls dancing in the vibrant blades of green grass.

Emma's breath hitches in her throat when those rich, chestnut irises sparkle from curiosity as she meets her gaze. The little girl tilts her head to the side, uncertain, yet intrigued by the stranger lingering by the side of the house and refusing to fully commit to stepping into the backyard.

She examines the three-year-old, comparing her immediately to her mother and father. She's identical to Regina's coloring, but Emma can very clearly see Graham from the eyes up and Regina from the nose down. She's a perfect mixture of both and the acknowledgment squeezes Emma's heart painfully tight and whirls her back in time.

Five days ago to be exact...

"Seriously, I'll fire Thirteen...or Cutner, if you think Thirteen is hot," Dr. House proposes, and she can't help but roll her eyes, because he's always adding those sly comments in about her maybe being into women.

She never confirms or denies, she just stares at him unimpressed, maybe even a little bored, an attribute she picked up from a certain sassy brunette from her past. House has always claimed that she's different, that nobody as beautiful as her would want to be a doctor, unless they are damaged or broken in some way, and always neglecting the fact that she's just genuinely a good person.

Maybe she is damaged though, because what twenty-two year old dives blindly into a relationship with a married couple?

She shakes that off, that was eight years ago now.

"I miss the rush and excitement from the job, but I don't miss you," she coldly remarks, glaring him down before she struts out of the room, with her head held high and her pride intact.

House handpicked her, plucked her straight out of her internship at Mayo Clinic to come work for him, and be a part of his team as a diagnostician. It was an amazing opportunity that she couldn't possibly pass up, however, she learned all too quickly that the job consumed every waking moment of her life and left her impossibly lonely.

She was surrounded by three arrogant men, all damn day and well, there was still that nagging in the back of her head that craved those sexual desires that Regina had awakened. She needed something to break up the monotony of her days, so she proposed the idea of friends with benefits with one of her colleagues...after she got really high and fucked him anyways.

Except, he fell hard and she didn't not like him, per say. And after time, she found herself in a relationship that she didn't truly want, but she didn't want to hurt him and she was lonely. And he kept pursuing her and telling her how much he loved her (every Tuesday to be exact), and rubbing it in her face that she hated commitment and so maybe she caved. And maybe she ended up marrying the guy after only one year of dating because he gave her an ultimatum and she didn't necessarily want to breakup. It's just that she hates committing, she always has.

When she left for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, she had every intention of leaving behind the couple she fell madly in love with. Every waking moment was dedicated to school, pouring her heart into becoming the best doctor out there and she simply didn't have time to stay connected with the couple. She didn't want to come home for Christmas, but her parents insisted, and she couldn't be that close to the couple and not indulge.

After that, school became even more consuming and Regina always checked in on her, but as time went on, they drifted apart. She was hopelessly devoted to medicine, refusing to even come home to see her parents, so they always came to visit her. When she finally graduated, she hadn't spoken to the couple in three and a half years. She thought about popping in and saying hi, but then her mom dropped the bomb on her that Regina was pregnant.

There was no way she could rudely barge into their happy life if they were bringing a baby into the world.

"Swan, paging Doctor Swan," she hears over the intercom as she makes her way down toward the emergency room.

An emergency room that she is now happily in charge of.

The elevator bings as the heavy doors slide open and she steps into the bright white lights of the emergency room. That tingling sensation of thrills and anticipation of what's to come wracks her body and pumps adrenaline through her veins. It's one of her most favorite feelings whenever she steps inside the unit.

Maybe she should admit that she's addicted to the rush of adrenaline.

The blaring sirens assault her ears within seconds and forces her head to snap toward the glass doors sliding open. She rushes toward the receptionist, who is just hanging up with a call that has the woman's face striking with sheer panic.

"What's going on?" Emma tentatively asks, her eyes darting from the woman back toward the door, where an ambulance is backing up to.

"There was a reunion party for some police academy," the woman swallows thickly, slowly rising from her chair, "someone opened fire, there was an attack."

Emma's eyes blow wide as her heart sinks to the pit of her stomach. "How many are we looking at?" She investigates.

"There are five on their way now in critical condition, twelve others injured as well, two dead at the scene," she sadly explains.

Emma nods firmly, checking her emotions so she can focus on the critical victims and later on when she's alone in her apartment, then she can allow herself to feel and sympathize. That's when the doors slide open and three paramedics are rushing the first victim inside.

"Male, forty, gunshot wound," the female medic dutifully bellows, encouraging Emma to jump into action.

Her skin is pricking with all types of nervous energy and there's this nausea attacking her gut that she normally doesn't feel in this circumstance, but she jogs toward the gurney despite it all and leans over the victim. Her stomach bottoms out completely and she has to swallow down the acidic bile tingling the back of her throat.

"He's barely hanging on," she faintly hears someone say as everything else falls dead to her ears.

There's deafening silence, no more squeaking shoes against the linoleum tiles, no screeching from the wheels of the gurney as they race down the hall, no more blaring sirens in the distance as another ambulance arrives. Her heart is free falling into the pit of her stomach and she feels her entire body trembling violently.

It's Graham. It's her, Graham. Long gone is his scruffy beard, just a clean shave and smooth cheeks, but she knows it's him. There are a few grey strands hidden away in his dark locks, but those thick curls are no longer there, just a very short trim instead and she can't help but think how handsome he is entering his forties. Somehow, he's even more attractive after all this time.

"Emma?"

In the exact moment she hears his strangled voice calling her by name, all those sounds come flooding back to her ears, assaulting her eardrums and attacking all her senses like a ton of bricks. She steals her emotions though, even if her eyes are watering and stinging.

"Don't talk, Graham, save your energy, okay? You're going to be just fine," she vows with an urgency that she's not entirely sure is for him or herself.

"No," he chokes on his cry, his hand coming up to find hers and she immediately clenches his strong hand, provoking a thousand memories to come back and demand that she remembers every single one.

Every time that strong hand gripped her hips with determination or cupped her cheek with a tenderness that was the counter opposite. She remembers exactly how that hand feels, warm and assertive upon her chest. She will never forget those broad fingers that danced down her arms and back to soothe her while she slept.

"Swan-"

"I want him prepped for O.R. in five minutes. Page Doctor Chase, I want him leading the surgery," she firmly delegates to two nurses that are now running alongside of them.

"Emma," Graham's dry throat rasps out and it shatters her heart into a million tiny little shards to hear how he's fighting just to say her little name. "Please...tell Regina..."

"No," she firmly cuts him off before turning to her colleagues. "Excuse me. Please give me one minute with the patient," she instructs, dismissing the medics and nurses around. She leans down hovering above those lips, remembering all too clearly how gentle they always were against hers. "You listen to me, you and Regina didn't spend all that time studying with me for nothing. It was all for this moment. So, don't you dare try and say your goodbyes. You will tell Regina whatever you need to when you see her next," she states with conviction, even though her vision is blurred from the tears of uncertainty.

"Tell her I love her...okay," he gasps, hopelessly seeking the oxygen that just won't fill his lungs properly.

"No, I..." she's vehemently declining the request, refusing to just give up so carelessly. She graduated top in her class, and this hospital is teamed with the best doctors imaginable.

"Emma, I loved you. I know," she's still viciously shaking her head and pleading for the tears not to fall, but the pain etched in his face is too much for her. "I love you."

"Stop, you will be fine, okay? But I love you, I loved you both," she promises before she calls the nurses back. "I will see you in the O.R., okay?"

And just as she turns to leave, he desperately clings to her arm and yanks her back down, whispering into her ear and pleading that she accepts until she has no choice but to say two little words.

"I promise."

XXXX

"Swan, this patient isn't strong enough," Chase sighs as they scrub away the germs and dirt beside each other. "There are four other critical victims that stand a chance, I don't understand why-"

"Is that what we do now? Throw in the towel just because they are on the cusp of death? When has that ever stopped us before?" She bitterly bites out, but he rolls his eyes at her, he was always good at rolling those damn eyes at her.

"That's not what I'm saying, but you seem-"

"Let's go. We don't have time to chitchat when this man's life is on the line," she firmly demands, brushing passed him, but then House is there, blocking her way.

"What are you doing? You should be in the emergency room delegating, not scrubbing in on an emergency gunshot wound," he sternly scolds, stepping into her personal space to challenge her, just like he always does and maybe that's why she was first attracted to him, he's assertive, domineering, like her brunette.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have missed the memo stating your take over for Cuddy," she coldly quips, moving to step around him. "You aren't my boss anymore, House," she angrily snarks over her shoulder.

"Do you honestly think childish sarcasm is going to distract me? Bitter sarcasm is my game," he mocks, her green eyes flaring and darting all across his smug unkempt face as he inches closer and Chase is watching them intently like he always does from his juvenile jealousy. "Why this man? As he inches his way closer to death he's becoming more attractive to you, right? Or is it your constant need to be needed, but not actually loved, just another charity case," he taunts her, egging her on to snap at him and reveal her truth. "Face the facts, Swan, the bullet is too damn close to his heart."

"I don't have time for your games, this man is dying," she urges, but he blocks her again.

"And so are the other four coming in right now," he snaps, raising his voice. "But why this man? Is he a family member?"

"No."

"A past boyfriend?"

"No."

"I'm telling you right now, Swan, if you know that man on a personal level, you better remove yourself from the case, right now," he growls so low, but she doesn't care, because all she can truly think about is Regina and the gut wrenching idea of saying that she didn't try her all to save her husband.

"Move, House."

"You are too close, you cannot possibly make competent decisions in there.

"Move."

"Swan!"

"Try and stop me," she confidently declares and brushes right passed him and into the operating room.

And then everything happens in a rush. She hears the anesthesiologist checking to make sure Graham is under while machines beep as white noise and she is quickly dressed properly.

"He's lost a lot of blood," some other nurse informs Chase as he steps to his side and dutifully jumps into action.

And again, everything falls dead to her hears. She smells the sterile tools. She sees Graham's mouth slightly agape to accommodate his breathing tube. She feels her heart constricting painfully in her chest making it almost impossible to breathe, but she moves in sync with Chase, following his commands dutifully.

He's the best surgeon the hospital has to offer and she wouldn't allow Graham's life in any other hands, just Chase. If anyone can pull Graham from the brink of death it's this man, except...

Except...the machines are beeping their protest and she knows Chase well enough to know that look in his eyes.

"BP is dropping."

Fight Graham!

"Heart rate is plummeting."

Please Graham, please don't leave Regina behind.

The eerie ringing of the machine registers in her ears, forcing her eyes to snap up to meet her reality, Graham's flatlining.

"Clear!" She hears Chase yell, prompting her to blink away her fear and watch as he places the paddles against Graham's chest, right above the small incision that he just created. "Again! Clear!"

Emma watches as her world unravels around her and she knows this is it and there's not a damn thing she can do to make the world stop spinning so viciously around her. She's pleading for the world to stop and spin back in reverse. Please fucking take her back eight years ago when she was securely trapped between Regina's silky skin and Graham's heavy weight. Take her back to when she was perched on this man's counter, swinging her feet and listening to his deep chuckle accompanied by his wife's sinful smirk. Regina asked him that day to shave, he finally shaved...

And that's when she completely loses it.

"Try again!" She bellows, causing Chase to flinch, his wide eyes shining in confusion over his mask.

"Swan, he can't take any more, his heart...it's not strong enough," Chase sadly explains, but she's not having it.

"No, give me the paddles," she demands, leaning over Graham's immobile body, still avoiding the blood and his wound like the plague, because she cannot possible stain her memory with the image.

"Swan, no. I'm calling it-"

"Don't you dare!" She steps around Graham with determination. "Don't you dare!"

The room is painfully silent and bitterly cold and she feels the chill seeping into her skin and spreading through her blood. She shivers, her hands trembling as she reaches for the paddles, but Chase tosses them aside.

"Swan, stop," he firmly commands, stepping forward to soothe her, even though his eyes are expressing his perplexity. "He's gone, his heart wasn't strong enough and the wound hit his artery and-"

"Stop!" She bellows, causing every person in the operating room to wince. She notices two nurses rushing out of the room, most likely on their way to rat her out to her boss, Cuddy, but she's too lost in the moment. "He's not gone, we can do this! Open him up, we will get that heart going again. We can't-she can't lose him-I can't-" She's hyperventilating now, she knows the symptoms all too well, but she's spiraling so viciously out of control that she cannot possibly stop herself.

"Swan! Enough! The man is gone," Chase yells, quickly moving to wrap her up in a hug, but she shoves him away and throws herself hazardously across Graham's chest.

"Please, Graham, please wake up. She can't lose you, I can't...I can't..." she's gasping for her breath, attempting to start his heart again by CPR even though she knows she's being utterly ridiculous.

"Emma," Chase finally says her first name to steal her attention back, but she's recklessly shaking her head, the tears spilling over her cheeks.

"What the hell is going on?" House screams, but she is just focusing on Graham.

"Swan," she hears a calm, gentle plea from a woman and she knows Cuddy is standing beside her, but she can't see anything but Graham.

She sees his face draining from all blood, the white ashy color taking over his cheeks. She sees that damn tube resting in his mouth and all she wants to do is rip it from his mouth and kiss him once again. She's at a point in her life that she is willing to abandon all her beliefs and put all her trust solely into magic. Maybe this is all a fairytale and she could kiss him awake with her love.

"Graham please," she wobbly cries out, her fingers brushing through his short hair and wishing she could feel those curls once again. "Please, I can't tell...I can't break Regina like this," she sobs heavily, pressing her forehead against his, hopelessly trying to remember the feel of this kind man one last time.

"Emma," Cuddy softly whispers and they never use her first name, so she knows how bad this all is. "How do you know this man?"

"He-him and his-he was my best friend," she hysterically cries, clinging so desperately to him before she is forcefully removed from the operating room by Chase and Foreman.

XXXX

She sobs violently, tears streaming down her face and snot running down her nose as she gasps uncontrollably for air. She's curled into the fetal position on House's couch in his office, violently trembling from the involuntary spasming in her muscles.

That's when someone enters, she hears the door and sees the man's dress shoes come into view.

"Cuddy called Mrs. Mills personally for you." She hysterically cries out again, burying her face into the couch and coiling her body even tighter into a ball, from her shame. It should have been her, but she couldn't find the courage to call Regina. "Emma, we need to talk," he urges, but she rather just die here instead. "Emma," he kneels down beside the couch and brushes the hair out of her eyes and she flinches, knowing his touch is nothing like Graham's, it never was. "I've never seen you shed a fraction of emotions quite like this. You are always so stone-cold and distant and now..." She angrily wipes at her cheeks and smushes her face back against the couch to hide away. "There's more, you never looked at me the way you looked at him and I was your husband," he sadly says, coaxing another sob to escape her mouth.

"He-he was my best friend," she stammers, "his wife is my best friend. I love her with all my heart," she reveals her half-truth, inspiring Chase to lean over her body and hold her close.

"Do you want me to go with you to see the wife?" He kindly offers, but she's already shaking her head.

"You're not my husband anymore," she vacantly says.

"That doesn't mean that I don't want to be there for you," he angrily fires back, but she shakes her head again.

"This is something I need to do on my own," she swallows thickly, a new wave of tears swimming to the surface again. "It's been a long time coming," she acknowledges and sobs even harder into the couch.

XXXX

And now she's back at that familiar house, watching the little girl in astonishment.

"Hi," the child softly whispers, so hesitant of Emma's unfamiliar face.

"Are there a lot of grownups?" Emma investigates, as quietly as her voice will allow, earning herself a small nod in return. "Where's your mommy?" The little girl blinks slowly in response, still studying every inch of her face. She swallows thickly. "Is your mommy sad?" She asks, her voice cracking as those painful memories come bubbling up once again.

She distinctly hears Graham's plea against the shell of her ear as he took his last breath. Her eyes immediately fill with tears, her heart squeezing in her chest and she chokes on her breath, desperately trying to keep all those emotions buried and in check, especially in front of his little girl.

The beautiful baby nods slowly.

"I'm so so sorry," she cries, only further confusing the three-year-old. "God, I wish I could have done more," and chokes back a sob threatening to escape her lips and wipes her nose with the back of her hand.

"Emerson?" Emma immediately straightens her posture, frantically wiping below her eyes as that warm voice carries through the air so angelically and resonates all around her shivering body like a warm blanket. "Emmy?"

"Here mommy," the little girl calls out over her shoulder, never once breaking eye contact with Emma.

"Come here baby, it's..." the words fade from existence, swept up in a harsh reality and crushed under the pressure of reuniting with a former lover in the worst of circumstances.

"Hi."

Regina's rigid body is like a robot as she scoops her daughter up into her arms and holds her impossibly close and neither one of those dark eyes leave Emma's face.

"Emma?" And it's a breathless gasp, pleading for her presence not to be some figment of her imagination because she couldn't take that kind of torture after everything.

"Yeah, I'm here, I-" her words are ejected from her mind when Regina barrels into her, baby in hands and all. With one arm she holds her daughter close and the other coils around Emma's neck, burying her face deep into the crook to hide the tears streaming down her face. "Ssshhh," she whispers into her former lover's ear and slowly wraps her arms around the slim waist that hasn't changed one bit, despite the toddler on her hip.

"I can't believe you're here," she cries, the cold tears from her broken heart coating Emma's neck and causing her to shiver again.

"I'm so so sorry, Regina. I wish I could have done more, I am so so sorry," she chants over and over again from the guilt weighing her down, even though she knows there wasn't a damn thing she could do to heal him.

"I spoke to your mother, and I know you blame yourself, but it wasn't your fault," Regina sniffles before reluctantly pulling away, revealing her bloodshot eyes and the tear tracks staining her blotchy cheeks.

"I know," she whines, aggressively palming her cheeks to rid herself from her own dreadful tears. "But I still feel so horrible," she cries even harder as her eyes drift to the little girl clinging to her mother and so confused why all these adults are crying so hard.

"I'm just so glad you are here, I wasn't expecting you. I honestly didn't think you would show," the older woman confesses, cradling her daughter's head and holding her close to her frantic heart to soothe the pain pounding inside.

"I-I thought about not showing, I'll be honest, but...well, it's you," she whispers, her voice cracking from the emotions building far too much pressure between them.

Regina lunges forward again, her hand burying deep in her golden mane like so many years ago and Emma's heart aches for this woman all over again. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you, too." Emma squeezes her one last time, before Regina finally pulls away.

"Emma, I would like for you to meet my daughter, Emerson. Emmy this is my friend, Emma."

"Hi," she softly whispers with her head resting on her mother's shoulder.

"Hey, kiddo. Your name sounds like my name," Emma playfully says in hopes to lighten up the mood storming depressingly around them.

"I got my name from mommy and daddy's friend."

Emma's curious eyes flick to Regina's in an instant and Regina holds her daughter even closer and presses a kiss to the crown of her head.

"Come inside Em, Graham would want you here with us."

She swallows, a little too hard because Regina doesn't know how true those words are. She follows stiffly behind the brunette carrying the most precious little baby, who reminds her why she stayed away the last four years. The little girl pops her head up, over her mother's shoulder and stares at Emma through those innocent eyes filled with curiosity. All Emma can do though, is offer a small smile, but is it really a smile though? Just one corner of her mouth deepens and she shrugs so hopelessly.

"Emma!" He mother cries, catching her completely off guard, but she should have known Mary Margret would be there. Ever since Regina announced her pregnancy, her mother dropped all assumptions about the couple and her and have become the best of friends with Regina. "You made it," she cheerfully announces, pulling her flush against her tiny frame.

"So glad you came," her father says through a mouthful of food before he tugs her into a hug, and she notices Regina observing them closely, like she's waiting for something, but Emma's not sure what and eventually Regina offers a sad smile before turning toward her daughter. "Did they give you enough time off at the hospital?"

"Actually..." she shoves her hands into the back pockets of her black dress slacks and tries so hard not to rock anxiously. "I-uh...quit."

"You what?" Her mother gasps.

"Yes, I turned in my letter of resignation to Cuddy, but don't worry, I already filled out plenty of applications and I already have an offer for a great hospital in Chicago," she diligently explains to ease their worries.

"But why? You love that hospital and you love working for House," her mother inquires, her worries so clear for everyone in the room to notice.

"It's time for a change," she vaguely responds before turning to Regina hoping the woman will make up some excuse to drag her away.

"Uh, Emma," Regina chirps, a little to lively for a wake, "why don't you come with me downstairs so Emmy can play with her toys while we speak in private."

"Sure," she concedes, offering her parents a smile before she follows the brunette. "Uh, downstairs?" Emma whispers over Regina's shoulder as they descend the basement staircase that she remembers all too well.

"Relax," Regina actually chuckles, but it's dry and doesn't hold the mischievous amusement that she grew to love so many years ago, and her heart aches. "Before Emmy was born, we turned the basement into a playroom, wait, it's not what you think," she hastily defends, provoking a blush to spread wildly across Emma's cheeks and dear god she doesn't remember the last time she actually blushed.

Regina smirks.

"Oh wow," Emma gasps as they make their way into the enormous, one room, play area for a toddler.

Regina and Graham had knocked out all the walls that separated the private bedrooms and created one giant room that truthfully looks like a damn toy store in a movie. There's no bar in the corner anymore, just a play kitchen area that Emerson is quickly running to.

"Yes, I suppose things have changed since you were last here," Regina acknowledges, pressing a hand to her lower abdomen like she's physically trying to keep herself together.

"This is really nice, Regina," she politely says. "This is every kid's dream."

A broad smile blossoms, blooming so beautifully across her entire face and has Emma smiling so happily back at her. "Well, thank you. We wanted the best for Emerson." And then those tears are swelling in those rich eyes again, glistening in the light, so Emma tries to redirect the conversation.

"Emerson, why that name? Who is your friend?" Emma lightly teases, encouraging those wet eyes to slowly crawl in her direction.

"You are, of course," Regina sadly announces, before the room falls silent and both women find themselves trapped in each other's eyes. Regina inhales sharply, expanding her lungs to the fullest potential before she releases a shaky breath. "Graham and I cared about you, a lot. You were very special to us and so we both agreed we wanted a name similar to yours when we found out we were having a girl."

"I-" Emma swallows the boulder of emotions lodged in the back of her throat. "Thank you, that's...that really means a lot to me," she whispers so delicately.

They fall silent again, both their attention finding purpose on the little girl happily pouring some tea and smiling so innocently and so blissfully unaware of what's falling down around her.

"Em," Regina pivots, her hand coming out to grasp onto Emma's forearm for support, "please, please don't blame yourself. His heart just wasn't strong enough," she says, before she completely breaks down.

Warm tears glide down her cheeks and her chin is wobbling recklessly and Emma follows her instincts, gently guiding the woman into her arms and holding her close. Regina tightly wraps both arms around Emma's neck and buries her face deep in the crook of the blonde's neck. Emma treads her fingers through the sleek black hair and gently massages the woman's head like she did so many years ago, while her other hand rubs soothing circles over her back.

"I'm so sorry, I know there was nothing I could do, I knew the facts before I even prepped the O.R, but I couldn't...I couldn't face you knowing I didn't try my all," she sadly cries, hiding away her face as well.

"Thank you," Regina chokes on her words and burrows in even deeper. "I'm glad you are here, Graham would be so happy to know that you came."

"I know," she whines and then takes a deep breath before confessing, "he-he made me promise that I take care of his girls," and then a sob rips through her throat and she actually feels like her chest is about to explode from the pain. "His...last words, he made me promise to take care of his girls," she cries even harder, squeezing Regina as the older woman holds her impossibly close, whispering soothing hushes. "I didn't want to promise because I wanted him to fight to come home, but he made me, he said he didn't trust anyone but me," she hysterically sobs, clinging to Regina in hopes her love will wash away the pain.

"He loved you, Emma. He really did," Regina murmurs into her neck, the warm tears coating her neck and soaking her shirt.

"I know, he told me, but you and that little girl were his life. God, Regina why, why was he even in New York?"

"There was a reunion for the police academy," Regina explains, but Emma knew that, she knew that the moment the call came through to the hospital.

"Momma?"

Emma jumps back from the interruption she completely forgot about while Regina gently eases away and smiles so lovingly down upon her baby.

"Yes, honey," she whispers, sweeping Emerson's hair out of her eyes.

"No more crying, momma," she sadly says, her full bottom lip puckering out.

Regina swoops down and easily lifts her daughter into her arms, holding her close as she peers deep into her daughter's eyes that resemble Graham's. "I know, baby girl. Are you hungry?" She asks, and Emma smiles, remembering how Regina was always asking if she was hungry as well.

Emerson nods eagerly, a mile wide grin consuming every inch of her face and inspiring both women to smile happily back at her, forgetting about their fallen tears.

"I could use some food, too. It was a long drive," Emma sheepishly chimes in, earning herself a coy little smirk in return.

"Of course you could, dear," and with that Regina leads the way back toward the kitchen.

XXXX

"I'm going to stay here with Regina and Emerson tonight," Emma confidently says to her mother as they linger by the front door.

"Your first day back into town and you are already refusing to come home," Mary Margret chuckles, even if there is an underlying layer of bitterness in her tone.

And long gone is the shy, innocent, dorky, blushing and fumbling Emma, and what stands before Regina today is a strong, confident woman, that still manages to steal her breath away. She's been waiting all night to see that awkward girl from so many years ago, holding her breath to see that beautiful pink shade highlighting her high cheekbones, but she's no longer there. Maybe underneath the layers, she's there, Regina just has to dig a little deeper and find her again.

"Emma, honestly, if you would like to go home with your-"

"It's fine, Regina. I would like to stay, tomorrow is a big day and I want to be there for the two of you," Emma sincerely assures her before she pivots to hug both her parents goodbye.

The older couple steps forward to hug Regina and Emerson one last time as well, before they are out the door.

"Momma?"

"Yes, baby?"

"I tired," Emerson admits through a rather large yawn, persuading her and Emma to laugh lightly in return.

"Okay, let's go tuck you in," she announces, and she's not at all surprised when the blonde tags along through their home, like she never left.

Emma doesn't say much though, she watches from a safe distance in Emerson's doorway as she tucks her baby girl into bed. She feels like she's under some damn microscope, the other woman inspecting every move she makes with great interest and it's rather unnerving because she has no idea what Emma could possibly be thinking in a moment like this.

Regina quietly tiptoes out of the room, easing the door shut but still leaving it cracked for some light to shine through. She motions for Emma to follow along before they sneak into the bedroom that holds too many wonderful memories to count. She softly closes the door behind Emma and moves around her room to prepare for bed like they haven't spent eight years apart.

"Do you have everything you need in your bag?" Regina questions while her fingers move effortlessly to unbutton her blouse.

"Yeah, thanks." Emma quickly snatches up her duffel bag and unzips it, rummaging for a pair of shorts for bed. "Would you like me to sleep on the couch?" She mindlessly asks, avoiding Regina's direction knowing this woman is probably stripping down without a second thought.

"No, don't be silly," she hastily rejects the offer, sliding her black slacks down her legs, and out of her peripheral, she sees Emma stepping into a short pair of cotton shorts. She smirks to herself, maybe some things never change and without truly comprehending her lack of clothes, she saunters across the room and opens up the top drawer to her dresser. She smiles so fondly before she retrieves her item and struts straight toward the woman slipping out of her bra. "Would you like these to sleep in?" Regina husks, her tone mildly cocky and teasing.

Emma spins around to come face to face with a gorgeous brunette standing fully proud of herself in just a matching black lace bra and thong. She gulps, because god it's been so long since she's been with a woman, been with her.

"Hey, are those my Harry Potter socks?" Emma accuses, plucking the folded pair quickly from Regina's clutches.

"They are," she proudly confirms, smiling wildly at the younger woman and her most prized possession.

"You stole my socks?"

"I did no such thing," Regina defends, "you left them here, you and that scatter brain of yours."

"Hey, I swear its gotten better," Emma pouts and there goes Regina's heart, fluttering once again despite her world crashing down all around her, and it's all because her girl is still hidden away in this woman.

"Why did you always wear those things anyways?"

Emma blinks, clearly taken back by the question as her bottom lip pokes out in the most adorable way. "I still wear them, they're...comfy and I feel like pants are too constricting sometimes," she mumbles under her breath, shrugging so innocently.

Maybe this is all a blessing in disguise? Maybe Graham sent Emma back to her knowing he wasn't going to make it? He always trusted Emma, he stated that early on from meeting the young twenty-two year old girl. And she knows in her heart, that Graham would want Emma in her life and Emerson's. Maybe she will find her way out of this miserable darkness without the love of her life around? Maybe this is hope for a better tomorrow and that maybe, just maybe she will find another chance again at love with Emma.

"I really miss him," she finds herself confessing, snapping Emma's attention away from her knee-high's and back toward her sorrowful gaze.

"I know," Emma chokes on the small phrase and produces an audible gulp. "I can't even imagine what you are going through right now," she softly whispers as her watery eyes drift back down to the socks as a distraction and she tries to lighten the mood. "How did you ever get him to shave that scruffy beard you were always complaining about?"

Regina breathes out a wet chuckle. "It was right after Emerson turned one, she whined and said she didn't like his beard, it was scratchy, and he shaved it that night," she sadly explains as the water in her eyes swells and leaks down her cheeks. "Em, I can't stay here. I can't live in this house with all his memories haunting me every day and all our memories," she croaks through her hoarse voice, rapidly shaking her head at the idea.

"I know, I know," Emma mumbles, gently pulling her into that warm embrace that always settles every muscle in Regina's body. "Come on, let's lay down and try and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day," she sadly acknowledges, wishing she could be anywhere but there, because she cannot imagine burying Graham tomorrow morning, but she has to be there for Regina.

Emma ushers Regina toward the bed, sitting her at the edge before she wanders toward the dresser, knowing exactly where the woman's pajamas are. Except, Emma doesn't retrieve the silk negligee that the woman usually sleeps in. Instead, she grabs one of Graham's t-shirts and a pair of his joggers for comfort.

Regina swallows thickly, her eyes swimming in thick tears as she stares at the items Emma picked out. She doesn't move to accept them, she just stares hard at them, so Emma kneels down in front of the bed and guides the sweats up Regina's legs, luckily the woman lifts her bottom and allows Emma to finish her task. Tentatively, Emma reaches behind Regina's back and gently unclasps her bra, sliding the material away but never do her eyes stray from Regina's. Watery green eyes hold on to drowning brown as Emma pulls the shirt over Regina's head and finishes dressing her.

A few tears dribble down Regina's face from the compassion and tenderness of the woman she once loved...still loves, after all this time.

"Lay down," Emma instructs, standing tall from the ground and pulling the comforter back to allow the fragile woman to climb inside.

Regina does as she's told while Emma shuffles across the room to turn off the lights and that's when panic sets in. "You're staying, right? You're not going to leave?" And her voice sounds so foreign and desperate and nothing like the Regina, Emma knows and loves.

Emma frowns, quickly moving back toward the bed and climbing in to console the broken woman, who all day appeared calm and collective for her daughter, but is now breaking and cracking from the weight of heartache.

"I'm not going anywhere," she vows, sliding beneath the sheets and molding perfectly against Regina's back, so she can hold her throughout the night.

Regina's in the fetal position, coiled up tightly to keep her body pieced together and ease the ache pounding throughout every inch of her soul, but she does relax when Emma holds her close.

"Regina," Emma breathlessly whispers against the shell of her ear.

"Yes?"

"I-I want you to know...I...I love you," she confesses, squeezing the woman even closer into her soothing embrace. "I know this is all kinds of crazy right now, but I love you, I always have and I should have said it back then, and I'm so glad I got to tell Graham before..." she trails off, her throat swelling shut from the emotions rising up and from the sniffle coming from the woman in her arms.

Regina suddenly spins around to meet her sorrowful gaze. "I love you, too and I have loved you for eight years," she says before curling in close and tucking her head against Emma's chest.

"You're going to be okay, every day the pain will fade a little more and a little more, I promise. And Emmy is going to be just fine, okay? I know it's bad now, but I promise one day, it will be okay," Emma rambles, running her fingers through Regina's hair while her other hand rubs up and down her back and the older woman cries against her chest.

"I know," Regina sobs, balling Emma's tank top between her fist and holding on for dear life.

And Emma stays silent, holding and soothing Regina while she cries and allows every ounce of pain to come pouring out of her. When the heaving subsides and the sniffling has ended, Emma glances at the clock and realizes it's just after midnight, and they have been crying for two hours, yet neither one is sleepy.

"Your mother said you were going through a divorce," Regina unexpectedly says, catching Emma completely off guard.

"Oh," she pauses for a moment trying to catch her bearings about the abrupt subject change. "Yeah, but it's over now. It's all final."

"May I ask what happened?"

"It just wasn't right. I loved him, but not like that. I wasn't in love with him and I never wanted to commit to him, something was off, but I tried to push myself into committing to him. I thought, maybe, just maybe, if I play the part, I will actually get over my fear of commitment and fully love him."

"But you didn't."

"I didn't."

"You were always petrified of commitment," Regina chuckles lightly, but Emma senses a sadness lingering behind those words.

"I know," Emma sadly concedes before they both fall silent again. She stares blankly at the knee-high socks resting on the nightstand beside the bed and that's when a thought occurs to her. "It just wasn't the right timing."

"You and your husband? Ex-husband."

"No," she whispers, pulling Regina flush against her body and squeezing her impossibly tight. "Us. It just wasn't the right time. I had to finish my degree and become a doctor and grow, I was still so young. And you...you needed those years alone with Graham, so you can look back on them and cherish every memory. And more importantly, you needed to bring that little girl into this world, so Graham can live on."

Regina doesn't say a word, she just nods slowly, her fist tightening around Emma's tank top and holding her close.

"The timing just wasn't right," Emma mutters mostly to herself again. "But now..."

Regina slowly pulls back from Emma's chest to meet those stunning green eyes. "But now?"

"But now, I really think we could be happy, Regina. You need to heal, but if you let me...I would like to be there every step of the way...and when you're ready-"

"You just said you're scared of commitment."

"Not with you," she meekly answers, holding the older woman's gaze. "It's always been you, Regina. For the last eight years, I've thought about you constantly, but I knew you were happy with Graham and your baby, and I couldn't ruin that. I didn't fit in that lifestyle like I once had."

"What are you saying, Emma?" Regina inquisitively inquires, her watery eyes searching every inch of the blonde's face for an answer before the words ever come.

"That maybe I take that offer in Chicago, and maybe together, we start a new life there and love each other like we were never able to before," Emma proposes with conviction, her eyes never leaving Regina's concerned gaze.

"Are you sure about that? I have Emmy now and I can't just have people coming and going out of her life and-"

"Regina, I love you with all my heart, I have for eight years now. I know what I want, and I only want you. Nobody else. And that little girl is a part of you and Graham and I know she will steal my heart, just like the two of you did." Regina frowns, but before she can say a word, Emma pokes at her bottom lip and says, "don't pout, dear," in her most condescending tone, inspiring both of them to laugh.

"I do love you," Regina whispers so delicately and presses a gentle kiss to Emma's nose.

"So, does that mean you and Emerson will move to Chicago with me? And we can start all over?"

"Yes."

A/N: Thank you all so much for sticking around and finishing this wild and crazy story! Thanks again for all the lovely support and comments and I truly appreciate everyone supporting this story that was out of the normal for all of us. I started writing this because my brain needed a break from writing the intensity of Illusions, and I needed fluffy and smutty and this is what I came up with. It was intended to be fun and short, but it all just sort of poured out of me and ended up longer than I expected. I know some are still questioning Graham, honestly, I wanted something new and different, but still Swanqueen, the three of them loved each other very much, but I figured the readers would want more of SQ. They were all equals and close, I simply highlighted when Regina and Emma were together to satisfy all the swanqueen fans. I was actually going to end the story at the last chapter but I figured people would want to see a SQ ending. Again, thanks for sticking by me during this story and trying something new. I'm not sure when, but I will be posting Illusions soon.

Illusions- Undercover detective, Emma Swan, is sent from the big city life of New York to small town Storybrooke, Maine to follow a lead on her new case. She's a determined woman, one of the best undercover cops, but can she remain focused when ghosts of her pasts are constantly distracting her? Not to mention, a curious little boy who flips her entire world upside down?