I know it's been some time. My apologies. However, I've spent some time tooling over this chapter, making it the best. For this will be the last. I feel like it will leave you at a spot you will be content with. I am. No I will not be writing a sequel. I sadly don't have the time, and I'd like to gear my writing towards another direction. The separation of the parts of this chapter are different. (I wrote on my kindle.) My apologies about that. I'll adjust when I get to my laptop.

Enjoy!

Emma sat on the couch in Regina's study. She noted all the items and letters she had given her, before they officially started dating each other, spread out on the small table in front of her. It's unlike Regina to have a space cluttered, and it caught Emma's attention during her boring musings today while Regina was at the office and Henry was at school. She took a letter in her hand,

"My dearest,

It's Easter, and the ever present mayor power suit has been hung up for a pair of jeans and mind-numbing white shirt on this rather warm April day. You take my breath away, it's hard not to kiss you when you are looking divinely ravishing and lingering so close. Smiling and laughing with Henry at his colorful antics.

I watch you from afar, and the smile I know I bring to your heart and the happiness that you spend your days in fuels my passion for these letters. Maybe someday I'll make myself known to you. But for now, stay happy.

Your Savior"

It was the only time Emma hinted at who she was. And it took three months for Regina to even consider her as a suspect. She smiled, and grabbed another letter, deciding to re-read what she had written what felt like so long ago. In the process, losing track of time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Regina did not want to be in the office today. Wishing she could go back to the quiet revelry of her home. Mostly because Emma was finally home, but because Emma had stopped sleeping constantly and finally found to energy to start moving around, even when those short bursts of movement tired her. But, Regina started running out of excuses to stay at home, so here she was, back in the mayor's office with a stack of papers she was avoiding reading. Glancing at her clock, she decided she would take an early lunch, grab Emma her ever desired grilled cheese sandwich, and just take the work home. At least she could be close to her favorite blonde and could tolerate suffering through the work at home.

"Forward all my calls to my cell, I'm going to take an early lunch to Emma, and take work with me. If anyone is looking for me, they can find me there." She told her secretary on her way out. "Your welcome to go home as well, this town isn't going anywhere." She finished, smiling.

Smiling, "Have a wonderful day, Regina." her secretary responded back.

She waved, leaving the building for the short drive home to Mifflin street, and her girlfriend.

As she walked inside, she noted the odd silence that encompassed the house. Emma should be up, she mused. But the tv was silent, and there was no noise radiating from the bedroom downstairs where they had been staying.

"Emma?" She called gently, not wanting to wake her if she was sleeping in another walked to the kitchen, and checked the back porch, which was also empty. She quelled the panic bubbling in her mind. Emma had to be here somewhere... checking the bedroom, living room, and dining room again, she was satisfied that Emma wasn't there. Then she heard it, a small chuckle from her study. She walked over and peered through the partially opened door, and noticed Emma sitting there, reading the letters that she had written Regina. Leaning against the door frame, she admired the blonde. She was grinning from ear to ear. She wondered how long she had been reading those, it had completely slipped Regina's mind that she had left them out when Emma was in the hospital.

Smiling, she crept her way to the blonde and stole a kiss on the cheek. Surprising her.

"Hey!" Emma said surprised. "I didn't hear you come in."

"I wasn't loud." Regina replied, grinning. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Sorry..." Emma began.

"Don't be, you wrote them, it's not like it's a secret." Regina interrupted, joining her on the couch, ditching her heels.

"True, but still. I was snooping." Emma sat the letter down, and leaned back into the couch.

"What's mine is yours, dear." Regina snuggled into her gently.

Emma smiled. "If you say so."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the silence.

"I brought lunch."

"Granny's?"

"Your favorite."

"Now I realize that I haven't eaten yet..."

Regina giggled. "Come on, I took the afternoon off." Standing and helping the blonde up.

"I have you all to myself for a bit?" Emma smiled, pulling her into a close embrace.

Regina's breath caught, and she struggled to find words. They hadn't been this close in a while. "Unless someone calls for work, yes. Till Henry gets home."

"Hmm." Emma smiled. "It's been a while." She whispered lowly.

"I thought you were hungry." Regina deflected.

"I am." Emma kissed the corner of her mouth. "I think it could wait, unless your famished."

"Emma..." She whispered, "you're still hurt."

"I'm okay, today's one of the best days I've had." Emma replied. "Ill make you a deal. Lunch, then we cuddle in bed. If I sleep, you win. If it leads where I hope it does, I win. And you stop holding back, unless I tell you I'm not feeling good."

"Okay, and you will tell me if it's too much." Regina added to the deal.

"Scouts honor." Emma swore.

"You were never a scout..." Regina caught the bluff.

Emma laughed, "Busted. Deal then. I promise I will tell you if it's too much, no matter when."

"Deal. Now, lunch." Regina took her hand and led Emma to the kitchen where food awaited.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Emma grinned at the brunette she adored across from her. Emma had finished her sandwich a few moments ago and she knew Regina was stalling. So she stood, placed her empty plate in the sink, walked over to her, while she was rambling about some policy or another with the hospital, and kissed her. She kept it gentle, so Regina could catch up with the surprise factor. She heard the fork Regina had in her hand hit the counter, and felt her hands snake into her hair as Regina stood from her stool.

She pressed into the kiss as Regina began to return it. She moved her hands from Regina's face, one she slid down and around her waist while the other brushed gently over her breast. Eliciting a slight moan from Regina and her body responding upwards at the touch. The kiss became heated, and Regina pushed against Emma, forcing her to take a step back. Little by little, Regina gained control and Emma ended up against the counter.

Breaking the kiss, Regina and Emma both were breathing heavily, and turned on.

"Hi." Emma cheesed.

"Hi. That was tactful." Regina smirked.

"It worked, didn't it?" Emma replied.

"Indeed." Regina kissed her again, holding Emma's hands by her side, then leaving her breathless. Then she backed away slowly, leaving Emma against the counter, turned and started sauntering out of the kitchen with a little extra emphasis in her hips. When Emma didn't follow immediately, Regina stopped and turned. "You comin'?" Then continued towards the downstairs room they temporarily took up residence in.

"You have no idea." Emma muttered, then followed.

Regina was waiting for her when she entered. Closing the door, she turned and smiled. Regina held out both of her hands, and interlaced her fingers with Emma's. Holding them, she gently pushed Emma against the door.

"Before this goes any further, I have some ground rules to cover." She kissed Emma, then nipped her jaw. "First, you tell me if you are hurting in anyway in regards to your injuries." She whispered against her neck. Emma hummed in response. "Secondly, you do not do anything to strain yourself, or it ends instantly." She nipped Emma's collarbone. "Are we clear? Regina separated herself and looked at Emma with a serious concern on her face.

"Uhm. Yeah. Tell you if I'm hurting or if I strain myself. Got it." Emma replied, missing the warmth of Regina against her, she tugged her back to her, but quickly changed the roles. Covertly, while she was kissing Regina, she locked the door. One hand holding Regina close while the other sought the skin under her grey silk shirt. Regina gasped at the contact. "Emma..."

She pulled Regina towards the bed. Taking a seat when she reached it, she pulled Regina in between her legs. She looked up, capturing Regina's eyes. "I love you, Regina. More than life itself."

Upon hearing this, Regina bent down and kissed Emma fervently. "I love you too, Emma Swan."

Emma pulled her onto her lap. Regina's knees straddling Emma's thighs,and deft fingers pushing the fabric of her skirt out of the way. Regina pulled at the back of her shirt. Tugging it over her head and tossing it aside without a glance. That's when she paused. The bruising on Emma's ribs hadn't faded completely. "I'm fine, Regina. Honestly."

Regina stood. "Undress." It was a short command, but Emma listened. Regina had only helped on the small cuts. She hadn't seen the extensive bruising on her legs and ribs. Emma stood, and took off the rest of her clothes. The massive book sized purple bruise on her side was the first thing Regina stared at. "It doesn't hurt much anymore." She defended, holding her anger towards her injuries in check. "Regina..."

Regina put her finger up to Emma's lips, silencing her. "Shh. I know. Get in the bed." Emma crawled back so she was sitting in the middle. Regina stripped the rest of her clothes, and then joined her. "Lie back." Crawling towards her, Regina came up and kissed her. Then kissed her collarbone, then in between her breasts, then tenderly on her ribcage in the center of the bruise. The light pressure was almost painless, but Emma still tensed and sucked in a small amount of air.

"I'm fine, it's just tender."

Regina kissed her, silencing her. "Enough talking."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As she suspected, Emma had crashed moments after their high. Regina stretched out next to the sleeping blonde, and admired her soft features. Her eyes kept getting drawn to the bruise on her side, and how much regret came with it. Her fingers gently traced the outline that was yellowing. It upset her that they fought, but it seemed to bring them closer together.

"Gina, if ya don't stop, I'm gonna jump you." Emma mumbled, the light touches clearly woke her.

"Sorry dear." Regina took her hand away.

Emma scooted towards her, grabbed her hand and placed it directly on the center of the bruise. "Its just a color, it'll be gone in a a few weeks."

"I know. I still don't like it though." The unspoken conversation started to rear its ugly head. This conversation they had been dodging for weeks.

"Its not your fault. It's mine, and mine alone." Emma stated. "I should have never gone out that night, and my habits were horrible, and I was, am, terrified of commitment."

"Emma, please, we both did stupid things that day..."

"I'm sure that now you don't trust me, when it comes down to it."

"Emma!" Regina grabbed her face, "shut up."

Emma looked at her, dumbfounded.

"I do trust you, and I forgive you. I love you, and it's in the past. Please, drop it." Regina kissed her. Hoping to effectively silence her.

Emma smiled into the kiss, and rolled Regina onto her back, effectively pinning her to the bed. She pulled out of the kiss, and looked Regina in the eye with the biggest grin and mischievous look in her eye.

"Marry me."

Ill post a short epilogue in a few days.

I hope you enjoyed this story.

Loki