I'm back! I'm so sorry for the delay! Life got so hectic and these two just did not want to co-operate with me so it has taken me forever to finish this chapter. I hope you like it!

The next morning Emma stirred as the sun shone through the windows. She gave a small groan, squeezed her eyes closed tighter and snuggled down. As she slowly came to she became aware of her surroundings and realised that she was curled up against a warm body. The blonde's eyes snapped open and she lifted her head slightly to see a mass of brown curls on the pillow in front of her. Emma's front was pressed into Regina's back and her arm was draped over the brunette's hips. When Emma had reached the room last night with their cups of tea Regina was already asleep on the bed. Emma had covered her with a blanket and then sat out on the balcony to drink her tea and think. She had contemplated calling Ruby but hadn't wanted to disturb Regina. Instead the blonde listened to the waves until she felt soothed enough to sleep. Emma had then stood by the bed for ten minutes debating what to do. They hadn't really decided on sleeping arrangements in the end and Emma wasn't sure how Regina would react when she woke up. In the end Emma realised that there was no other sensible option for her to sleep so she had carefully crawled into the bed as well. She had intended to keep to her side but obviously during the night her body had other ideas.

Emma now found herself slowly trying to ease herself away from the sleeping brunette. She froze as Regina murmured and moved in her sleep. The brunette turned over so they were face to face. Emma watched as brown eyes slowly fluttered open, adjust to the light and then peer at her curiously.

"M...morning," Emma stuttered and felt her face flush.

"Morning." A lazy smile graced Regina lips and she let her eyes fall closed for a few seconds. "Sorry, did I fall asleep?"

"It's okay. It seems you needed the sleep."

"How do you fancy breakfast at a little café down the street?" Regina asked hopefully. She didn't think she could face her mother so early.

"Sure, sounds good to me." Emma smiled and sat up in bed to stretch and give a yawn. She brought her legs up to rest her arms on her knees before she looked over her shoulder at the brunette. "So, where's this café?"

Regina felt her heart swell at the way Emma was looking at her. If Regina didn't know any better she would say it was a look of pure adoration. How could Emma look at her like that after the night before? This was only supposed to be a lie but it didn't feel like that anymore. No, now it all felt very real.

"Regina?" Emma frowned while the brunette just starred at her. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry." Regina shook her head and sat up in bed as well. "The café is about five minutes away. Let's try and get out before anyone sees us."

"Okay, give me fifteen minutes to get ready." The blonde pushed the covers back and stretched as she stood. Regina couldn't help but admire the small area of skin that was exposed at the top of Emma's shorts as she stretched before the blonde disappeared into the bathroom.

xXx

Half an hour later and the couple were walking along the beach towards the cafe. Regina had opted to throw on a pair of jeans and a loose fitting jumper with no make up. Emma slid an arm around the brunette's waist and couldn't help but keep glancing at her as they walked. Regina leaned into Emma's side but kept quiet. She had been quiet since they woke up and Emma was starting to worry slightly.

"It's just here." Regina pointed as they neared a row of buildings on the edge of the beach. Emma was surprised to see a small family run cafe sat there. The two women made their way inside and chose a table in the corner by the window overlooking the beach. They both ordered a coffee to drink while they looked over the menu.

"Regina, about last night," Emma started nervously. She hadn't had chance to tell the brunette about her conversation with Cora and she wasn't sure how she would take it.

"Let's just forget it, please." Regina shook her head. "I really don't want to talk about it. Can we just enjoy breakfast?"

"Okay." Emma agreed as she saw the pleading in Regina's eyes.

"Thank you." Regina gave a small smile before she turned her attention back to the menu. After five minutes a waitress came over to take their order and left them alone.

"So, I thought we could go into the town for the morning?" the brunette suggested as she sipped on her coffee. "Have some lunch there and then come back. It's a beautiful place. So calming."

"Sure that sounds great." Emma couldn't help but grin as she saw Regina's face light up at her agreement. At least they would have a good morning together.

"Regina, is that you?" a voice interrupted the pair before either one had chance to say another word. Both women looked up to a tall blonde walking towards their table.

"Mal?" Regina questioned as she stood up. "Mal, it's been so long!" She grinned and embraced her old friend. Emma felt her heart drop at the contact. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh you know." Mal gave a one shoulder shrug. "Showing my face for a day before I jet off again."

"So you did manage to travel then?" Regina looked at her old friend fondly. Their families had been very close when they were growing up and so the two women had spent a lot of time together. They had grown much closer than either family wanted them to. It broke Regina's heart when Mal turned nineteen and got on a plane to go travelling. She hadn't heard from the blonde since.

"Of course. Did you really expect me to stick around this place for long?" Mal flicked a strand of hair over her shoulder and gave the brunette a lop sided smile. "What about you, Reg? Did you break loose?" Regina gave a small smile and her shoulders sagged in response. "Ah." Mal gave a knowing nod. "Who's this?" she asked in surprise as she caught sight of Emma sat at the table.

"Mal, this is my girlfriend, Emma." Regina introduced the two of them with a big smile. "Emma, this is my old friend Mal. We've know each other since we were little."

"Hi." Emma stood up to shake the other blonde's hand and took the opportunity to take in her appearance.

"Hello, Emma." Mal raised an eyebrow slightly as she turned her gaze back to Regina. "My parents are having one of their 'garden dinner parties' tonight." She rolled her eyes. It was essentially a barbeque but her parents refused to call it that. "You know your family is welcome, if our mothers haven't already been in contact. You too, Emma." Mal reached out and grabbed both of her old friend's hands. "Oh, please come, Reg. It'll be just like old times." She grinned and gave the brunette her puppy dog eyes which caused Regina to laugh.

"I don't know, Mal, we'll see. Maybe we'll come tonight." Regina gave a small shrug and glanced down towards Emma.

"Okay. I guess I might see you later." Mal gave a one shoulder shrug and leant forward to give Regina a kiss on the cheek before she sauntered away.

"We don't have to go," Regina told Emma as she sat back down at the table.

"No, it's fine. You can see your friend again." Emma shook her head and picked at the seam on her jeans. Regina reached across the table and grasped hold of one of Emma's hands. The blonde managed a small smile in return as their breakfast arrived and they began to tuck in. Emma had lost her appetite at the thought of Regina spending the night with another woman. Even though they said they were old friends Emma couldn't help the feeling that there was something more.

Xxx

That night Emma found herself stood in the garden of Mal's parents' holiday house alone. Regina had introduced her to a few people before her old friend had dragged her away for a reunion with some other people. Emma had found the drinks and got herself a beer. She was now leaning against a tree while she watched everyone around her. Robin had Alfie on his shoulders and they were looking up into a tree for something while Olivia ran around with some other children. Zelena was talking to a group of people but looked bored. Henry was stood with some of the older men by the barbeque. Cora was nowhere to be seen while Regina was still stood with Mal. Emma let her eyes settle on the pair. They were stood with their arms nearly touching and Mal seemed to take every opportunity that she could to touch the brunette. Regina did not seem to mind the touches and laughed at something the blonde said. Emma took another swig of her beet and felt the anger and humiliation build. It seemed that Regina had been acting all along. Emma stood no chance against Mal. She never stood a chance against anyone.

Emma let out a sigh and blinked away the teas that were threatening to fall. She would not cry here. She would not let Regina affect her like this. They would end their fake relationship this weekend and then Emma could carry on with her life. She refused to do this anymore. Regina's laughter floated into Emma's ears again and the blonde downed the rest of her beer and threw the bottle into the make shift bin before she turned and came face to face with Cora. She held her head up high as she waited for Cora to make a comment about how Regina was better suited to Mal than she was to Emma. The blonde was surprised when the older woman said nothing and let her gaze wader to her daughter before back to the blonde in front of her. This felt more intimidating than if Cora had actually said anything. Wanting to get away from it all Emma walked past the other woman and towards the beach to try and stop thinking.

Cora turned and watched the blonde walk away before she let her gaze wander back to her youngest. She had been watching the couple for most of the evening, separately. Emma had sent most of her time alone stood by the tree while Regina spent her time with Mal. When they had all first received the invitation to the barbeque Cora had been delighted in the thought that she could get her daughter back together with the blonde. After all Mal came from a much more respectable family than Emma. However, it had only taken ten minutes of watching the young blonde to see Cora could not try to drive a wedge between the couple. Rather than feeling pleased to see Regina spending time with Mal she felt disappointed in her daughter's behaviour towards Emma. Cora might not be happy about their relationship but they were both family and no one but Cora got to mess with her family.

The older brunette made her way across the garden to her daughter and lightly held onto her arm.

"Hello, Mal," Cora greeted. "Regina dear, have you seen Emma? I wanted to introduce her to someone."

"Oh." Regina frowned and looked around the garden. "I'm not sure. She was here…" the brunette trailed off as she searched the crowd of people.

"Would you be a dear and find her for me?"

Regna gave a small nod and broke away from the group to find the blonde. Cora waited for her daughter to be out of earshot before she turned to Mal.

"Mal, dear, I wanted to talk to you." Cora took hold of the younger woman's hands with her own and gave a smile. "Now, you may still be in love with my daughter or you may just not want to see her with anyone else. Either way, I don't care. You don't get to do this to her. You do not get to come between Regina and Emma."

Mal gave a small laugh. "I thought you would have been happy, Cora. I would have thought you'd want rid of Emma. She doesn't fit in your family." She tried to pull her hands away but found that the other woman had a tight grip.

"My feelings towards Emma are none of your concern. You do not get to come between my family, Mal. I will only say this once. Leave Regina and Emma alone." Cora stared at Mal for a few seconds before she slowly turned and walked away.

xXx

"Emma," Regina called as she spotted the blonde sat at the end of the little pier that lead out to the beach. Emma was sat looking out towards the sea, her feet dangling down towards the beach and her head resting against a post. "Hey, where did you go?" She reached out to place a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Home," Emma snapped and stood up. "I'm going home. This charade is over. Go back to Mal. She can be the reason we broke up. This has gone on long enough, we have to end it." She turned ready to walk away.

"What are you talking about?" Regina asked in surprise and stood in front of the blonde to stop her from going anywhere.

"I'm talking about how stupid I've been, Regina." Emma clenched her hands together to try to stop herself from crying. "We were fools to think this could work. It never could. It's over now. Mal's back now, you can have a girlfriend who is worthy to your family, who you actually want to spend time with. I'll go back to my life and we can forget about each other, okay?" She stepped around Regina and stomped back towards the house.

"Emma, please," Regina begged as she ran after her. "Stop, please. Talk to me."

"Talk to you?" Emma spun around in anger. "You haven't wanted to talk to me all night! You've been off with Mal the whole time. I've been left alone this whole time. You haven't wanted to know me so why should I talk to you now? Tell me, why am I suddenly so important now? Did Mal find someone else? Did she get bored? I'm not going to be second best, Regina. I was a fool to think that this would ever work. I'm going home. Goodbye, Regina." Once again Emma turned and stalked away, leaving Regina stunned behind her.

"Hey, Reg, you okay?" Zelena called as she neared her sister. "Where's Emma going?"

"I think I messed up, Ze." The brunette looked at her sister with tears beginning to form. "I finally found someone who I really wanted to spend my life with and I've lost her. She's gone."