*Okay, new chapter is finally happening. I know you guys have been waiting (not so) patiently, and I really hope the wait is worth it. Sometimes, even when I'm inspired, I just can't get the words to come out right. Anyway, happy reading!

(Graham)

The second time, he really does mean to say, "I love you." What comes out instead is, "Thank you." He cups her face tentatively, and the smile she gives him lights up the room. He realizes she understands what he meant. There's gratitude in her eyes too. For the unspoken words that she understands, but isn't quite ready to hear.

He kisses her again, soft and slow this time. He wants to prove that he can love her without saying it, that he can take things slow. That plan goes out the window when she fists her hands in his shirt and pulls him as close as humanly possible. When the kiss deepens, he understands. Just because she isn't ready doesn't mean the feelings aren't mutual.

He's got her backed up against the desk when it happens. A sharp pain in his chest. A tingling in his fingers, which are now tangled in her hair, her ponytail long gone. The fleeting thought that it would be easy, so easy to slip his hands down around her throat, to tighten his grip, to crush the life out of her.

He doesn't have time to react before the feelings are all gone and he has control of himself again. It's only a brief moment, but Regina's made her point. She's still in control, and her revenge is coming.

He pulls back from Emma, breaking the kiss. She frowns up at him, moving into his space again. He steps back, wanting as much distance between them as possible if Regina exerts her control again. Her frown deepens, little creases forming between her eyebrows.

"Graham?" Her voice is concerned, laced with confusion. "What's wrong?"

He looks up, but can't quite meet her eyes. "Emma, we…we can't do this."

"What?" Her voice is so small, the hurt so evident, that he can't not look at her. The suddenness must have caught her off guard, because this is the most emotion he's ever seen her show. Her bottom lip is quivering, her eyes shiny with unshed tears, and he can see her struggling to understand the sudden 180. "Is this," she starts, clearing her throat and starting over when her voice breaks. "Is this because of what you remembered?"

Graham shakes his head, because it's not, not exactly anyway. "It's because of Regina," he admits. "She doesn't need another reason to go after you."

Emma actually smiles. "That's all this is about?" she asks, laughing incredulously. "Graham, I couldn't care less about Regina than I do right now." She steps forward and takes his hand, squeezing it lightly.

"But she's already attacked you, Emma," he protests, unconvinced, running his thumb over the cut on her forehead. "I just don't want to see you hurt." I don't want to be the one that hurts you.

Emma just shrugs. "I'm not afraid of her. We're happy, and that's all that matters." She pushes up on her toes to kiss him again. "Regina can't touch us. Not now. Not ever."

He wants to tell her just how wrong she is, wants to warn her, make her run away from him as fast and far as possible. But her eyes are full of conviction, her smile so earnest, that he can't. Not without breaking her heart.

"Okay," he whispers, nodding. She absolutely beams at him, triumphant, and he thinks that this might just work. If he can hide the fact that he remembers from Regina, maybe she'll leave them alone. Maybe.

*Okay, not entirely sure about the ending, but overall, I'm happy with this chapter. Hope you liked it too.