I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.

8: Climb to the Top

Regina had not paid much attention to Shang Li when they came over in the second Curse and he somehow got the job of fire chief, but it suited him. He had an air of protectiveness and authority, which might have just been his alpha hormones trying to push into her omega brain, but it worked to a small degree. He was also handsome enough for her to understand why the omega population and beta women might be upset with him being attracted to alpha and beta males. As long as he did his job, she could not care less who he took to bed, but others were not as practical as she was.

Emma was less than impressed if her expression meant anything as they sat on their sofa across from Shang. Regina took Emma's hand and held it tight, but it did nothing for her frown. It could be because Shang was an alpha grinning at Emma's marked mate or it could because he dumped her good friend and deputy. Either way, Regina was not sure if she might have to restrain her lover.

"Thank you both for meeting with me," Shang practically gushed as he settled in the armchair in the living room.

They decided to do the interview at home to avoid any distractions. Zelena was out with Robbie and Henry. They had the house to themselves for the next couple of hours. Regina made sure there was hot tea and cake, as well iced tea, lemonade, and cookies. It was impossible for her not to have something to serve guests at this point. It put her at ease when Shang decided to try to a cookie.

"Delicious," he said with a small smile.

"Eat as much as you like," Regina replied. She reached for a cookie and shoved it in Emma's mouth to keep a growl at bay.

Shang nodded and gave Emma a bit of a smile, as if to set her at ease. It did not work, as Emma was tense enough for Regina to feel it hum in her own muscles. Shang shrugged, possibly conceding to Emma, which might help. He was sort of acknowledging she was in charge and while Emma's conscious mind might rebel against this sort of alpha behavior, her subconscious might accept it. Emma's shoulders dropped a little, so maybe it worked.

Shang took a second to eye Emma and then moved a cup of hot tea toward himself, and took one more cookie. He plucked out his notepad from his book bag and also put his phone down, probably to record the conversation. "I can't tell you how excited the small queer community was to hear you were family!"

"Okay, calm down. We're not…" Emma sighed and held up her hands. "Wait, lemme start over before I say something offensive. We're not exactly queer."

"You are two female alphas in a relationship. That's pretty queer," Shang replied, his eyes bright with excitement.

Regina shook her head. "You have it wrong."

Shang's smooth features scrunched up as he studied them through narrowed eyes. "You contacted me to tell your coming out story."

"Yes, but not the one you thought. I'm actually not an alpha. I'm an omega," Regina replied.

Shang's brow furrowed even more, but then his mouth dropped open. "The fabled Evil Queen is an omega? But…"

"Yes, magic." Regina made a nonsense hand gesture. "It makes sense if people bother to remember when I was only Queen Regina. Are you still interested in telling our coming out story?"

Shang took a moment, staring at them as if they were out of their minds. "I think I would still like to tell your coming out story. It sounds like while you're not the queer couple I hoped, you're also not an ordinary couple well beyond being the Savior and Evil Queen. After all, until yesterday, it was agreed you were an alpha and Emma was a beta. How did we get there?"

"Shame," Emma said.

"Stereotypes," Regina added.

"Life bullshit in general," Emma said.

Regina frowned. "Just when I thought some elegance might be rubbing off on you."

"Look, we're coming out or whatever. Isn't that good enough?" Emma rolled her eyes.

"Not something you want to do?" Shang asked. "You feel forced out?" He leaned in, moved his arm like he might touch Emma, but thought better of it. Instead, he sat back again and took a sip of his tea.

Emma sighed, running her hand through her hair. "We're doing this, aren't we?"

Regina nodded and took her hand, holding it tight. "We are. So you might as well start."

Emma twisted her mouth up. "Why do I gotta start it?"

"Because this started with you."

Emma did not argue that and they proceeded to tell Shang their story, a coming out story for an almost straight couple considering their statuses, even if their genders were the same. Genders generally were not a big deal if the couple were an alpha and an omega. Regina always assumed they got a pass on this because Emma was the savior, even though she was perceived as a beta.

They were probably the least queer thing Shang could have wanted, but he hung on their every word. Regina wondered if he would have even believed them if they shared all of the gory details, even though he looked ready to swallow his tongue when Emma explained her traumatic encounter with her alpha foster mother right after she presented along with the why and how she ended up pretending to be a beta. Regina squeezed Emma's hand through the whole thing, more for herself than for Emma.

"This sounds very much like a coming out story to me, for both of you," Shang said.

Emma frowned and shook her head. "Kinda feels like it's cheating. I mean, queer folks go through so much for being the way they are and we're damn near normal."

"First off, queer people are normal, too. Second off, you hid being an alpha because you think alphas are evil and you had so much anecdotal evidence to back it up, I can't see how you couldn't think that for a long time. You tried to change who you were because you didn't want to be that. Do you know how many queer people hid being queer because they think it's evil or they think something's wrong with them? Do you know how many queer people try to be something they're not? Do you know how many queer people are threatened with violence for being the way they are?" Shang asked.

Emma looked away. "I know more than I like, which is why I feel kinda bad about this." Regina did not expect that, but it made sense.

Shang shook his head. "Then you should know your story is something we can relate to. Your coming out is lot harsher than mine. I never had to worry about hiding from anyone other than myself."

"You broke Mulan's heart."

Shang nodded. "Yes, but she discovered some things about herself because of that. Perhaps we're better for it."

Emma's expression did not change, but it was possibly true. Mulan seemed very attracted to the female form, lately anyway. Emma suspected Mulan went for any type of female, but before that, she knew Mulan had been attracted to Philip. Philip was similar to Shang in the sense that he was an adventurous male, but as far as Emma knew, Philip was a beta. It was possible Mulan was pansexual, which she never would have learned if she mourned Shang's rejection of her for long.

"Your family just accepted you?" Emma asked.

Shang sighed. "My family died in a land too often at war."

"Oh. Sorry." Emma tensed up. Regina patted her thigh.

"The Old World was brutal in many ways," Regina offered by way of an apology. With luck, she was not the one who killed his family. She had never waged war against his country, but somehow murder always linked back to her.

"And this world should be freeing," Shang replied.

"Or so is the hope." Regina did not have much faith in not facing a backlash for this, but there was a hope. Maybe most of the town would be evolved enough to simply accept the relationship, their statuses, and what they were doing with their own private lives. You know that's not going to happen.

"Like I said, should. I've read about the strides queer folks have made here, especially with the passage of Marriage Equality. Still, there are so many horror stories, some like yours," Shang said.

"Being scared of who they are because society has deemed them wrong," Regina said. Well, that was more for Emma. Regina just wanted to be in charge of herself for once in her life.

"Exactly. Being forced into roles they didn't want out of fear." Shang nodded. "Even with what you were talking about, how you made yourself an alpha because you needed to have control, to stop being afraid. Members of the LGBTQ community know so much fear."

Regina sighed. "It is a sad fact, even though I understand their fear is different than what I experienced."

"We all want autonomy, Madam Mayor."

Regina nodded. For as long as she remembered, she wanted to control her own destiny. Her status did not define her as a person, but no one would accept that. The world made it seem like "omega" was all there was to her, all she was.

"Even this thing you're talking about, being seen as just one thing, this is something we worry about. I always think when I go into a room, people are going to see a gay man and nothing more," Shang said.

Emma frowned. "That's dumb."

"Yes, it is, but it's something we all worry about. I worry about only being seen for my attraction and you two worry about being seen only as your status. We don't want to be seen as one thing because we're so much more." Shang's eyes lit up as he made a tight fist.

"This still feels like cheating. I don't want people to think I'm taking away from their struggle," Emma said.

"First off, you're icons around here anyway. So, regardless of you being members of the LGBTQ community, a lot of people still look up to you. The readers will want to know about you and they will relate to you. Well, most of them. Of course there will be a few nay-sayers, who will think you're taking advantage and making a false equivalency, but I think you're both brave for this, as we all know this is going to change things. Hopefully, it'll be for the better."

"Thank you," Regina said. She did not feel brave, only tired. It would be nice to get this behind them.

Emma grinned. "Yeah, now there's some omega out there who knows he or she can be a kick ass mayor." She took Regina's hand and kissed her knuckles.

Regina blew out a breath. "I have a feeling asses will need to be kicked very soon." She was not wrong about that.

-8-8-8-8-

The article was barely out for an hour when the Town Council, a bunch of royals from the Old World, called an emergency meeting. Emma would bet her left arm it had to do with Regina being an omega and the text Regina just sent her would make her go all in with the bet. She rushed into the Town Hall Council center. Several townspeople were there, seated in the gallery, with Regina standing before the Council like it was her execution, but she was smirking. So, while they sat as judge and jury, she was probably the executioner and those idiots had no idea. Emma did not feel bad for them.

"We think it would be best if you stepped down," said a douche bag duchess from King George's kingdom who took his spot when he up and vanished. Emma was almost certain her name was Dawn something or other. She was a small thing, lucky the Council seats literally put them above the others in the room, and she possibly had a Napoleon complex. She sort of reminded Emma of a little dog, always barking and growling, trying to pick a fight with someone so much more dangerous.

Emma was not surprised Dawn was leading the charge, having seen glimpses of her scheming over getting more power in town. Regina tended to suspect Dawn whenever it seemed like the Council was trying to do step out of line. From the look in Dawn's green eyes, Regina probably was not wrong about that.

Regina chuckled. The sound was so dark Emma was not sure how she did not get an erection immediately, but it was good thing she did not since her parents were on the Council. Okay, and there was an audience, which was not her thing. It looked like a good chunk of the town got the memo about this meeting and Town Hall was packed with people and more coming in every second.

"Do you really think you could just fire me on a whim for being an omega? Are you really such fools?" Regina asked, eyes roaming through the group, who looked down their noses at her, like they were in charge of something. They would not even exist if Regina had not decided to create a council to stop actual coup attempts, like they lived in the fourteenth century.

"You have been skating on our good graces since we came back from the Enchanted Forest. We've let you run wild, but no more. You're only mayor because of the Curse," Dawn said, giving a glance down the Council row. Out of the ten people sitting with her, eight of them gave small nods.

"Oh, how soon we forget. Special election, during that little six-week quiet period. I do believe I ran unopposed," Regina said. It happened.

"Yes, people were still celebrating the foolish idea that you actually saved us from your sister. More lies." The douche bag motioned to Zelena, who grinned.

"I am so proud of her for actually trying to destroy me." Zelena blew Regina a kiss.

"Where is Maleficent to wrangle you?" Emma asked as she moved by Zelena. Zelena was childless, but Ruby was nowhere to be found, so she probably had Robbie, Little Guy, and Henry.

Zelena giggled. "She's going to miss all the fireworks, but I'm sure you're fine with that."

Emma groaned and rolled her eyes. "Where are the kids?"

"With your little friend. She didn't want to witness the carnage." Zelena waved the matter off.

Emma nodded, satisfied with that. She moved on from Zelena and went to stand by Regina. Regina did not miss a beat.

"Regardless of the circumstances, I was fairly elected and therefore I am legally mayor, more than I can say for any of you. If you want to challenge that, you can easily call for a recall vote," Regina said and there was that deliciously devilish glint in her eye. The Council looked like they would have backed up if they were not seated.

Dear lord, I wanna fuck her against the damn podium, audience be damned. Emma pictured Regina pressing against her throat as she drove into her and then shook that away. It was hot as hell when Regina did that, but she really did not need that on her mind right now. Focus. It was almost impossible, though, because Regina was so fucking hot when she was dominating space like this.

Emma always knew something was wrong with her, but she had felt like Regina brought out all of the right crazy. Taking a breath, Emma tried to watch the show without thinking about how turned on it made her when Regina got all controlling. Hmm, does that make me a little queer? Alphas shouldn't want to be dominated like omegas, by omegas.

"You think we won't?" Dawn continued with a scowl and a daring arched eyebrow.

Regina scoffed, folding her arms across her stomach. "Oh, I hope you do. Imagine the message it would send. The omegas in town in positions of power or just outside of where you think an omega should be would be in danger of losing their jobs by virtue of being an omega. How many people do you think will stand for that? How many omegas do you think there are in town?"

Emma wondered if Regina had a point. Would this start something for the omegas in town? If it did start something, would the omegas rise to the occasion or cower away? She hoped more omegas were like Regina and willing to stand up for what was theirs.

"This isn't about you being an omega," Dawn replied. Did anyone actually believe that nonsense?

Regina chuckled. "Really? The timing is quite convenient, coming literally hours after an article reminding the world of my status. Now, I'm suddenly unfit for the job. Unless, of course, you were planning to do this yesterday and the wonderful weather stopped you, as it tends to do. Well, wonderful weather and monsters in the street."

Someone other than the duchess finally spoke. A stuffy lord named Kay who cleared his throat, making sure to puff out his big chest while he was at it. Emma rolled her eyes. Alpha posturing never failed to disgust her. "This has nothing to do with your status. It's clear your role as mayor has been compromised."

Emma's brow furrowed. What the hell did that mean? How had Regina been compromised? If anything, she did more than her position required, like pointing out yesterday there were monsters on the street. They had a bunch of chimeras wandering about the town thanks to damn Whale and Regina helped wrangle them. There was no reason for her to do so, but she was out there, like she was whenever things got dangerous. They did not even want to get into when there was a Hell Mouth in the park and freaking Titans tearing up the joint.

"Okay, well, obviously you've done research the rest of us haven't. Care to share with the rest of the class?' Regina asked. Snow quickly hid a smile behind her hand. David outright laughed and earned glares from the rest of the Council. He shrugged.

"Your relationship with the sheriff has compromised both of you," he said.

"Yet you haven't asked for the sheriff's resignation. I imagine it would look very ridiculous for you to do so after she's broken the Curse and being the savior and all. But, really, how has the relationship compromised me? I've gone from a bitch on wheels to downright pleasant," Regina replied.

"Uh, pleasant might be a strong word," David remarked.

"Pleasant enough to face down actual Titans emerging from Tartarus while everyone else hid behind whatever cover they could find not too long ago. Pleasant enough to stop Whale's damn chimeras. But, yes, I've been compromised." Regina pressed her fingertips together. "Maybe that's the problem. I've been downright pleasant."

"Oh, yes!" Zelena giggled and clapped her hands. "Give the word, sister, and we can burn this wretched town to the ground!"

Maleficent appeared right next to Zelena at that very moment. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down. You are way too hyped right now." Her vocabulary seemed to be influenced by Lily now. She put her hands on Zelena's shoulders.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Emma said. "Nothing said here was a suggestion." She turned her attention to her mate. "Right?"

Regina's smile was very Evil Queenesque and Emma was definitely going to have to think unsexy thoughts or embarrass herself here. Give me strength. But, then again, would anyone really blame her for pitching in tent in her pants with her mate looking like she did? The confidence radiating off of Regina kept Emma calm for the most part and made her confident.

Regina stared down the Council, even though they were above her. "I like to think of it as a reminder of when I'm less pleasant. Again, if you want to get rid of me, by all means, I encourage you to hold a recall election. You are well within your Council rights. Just remember, I hold a grudge for a long time and I'm a sore loser."

"You think you can threaten us?" Lord Kay practically bellowed at her, like an alpha scolding a disobedient omega.

No one can talk to my mate like that! Emma growled and moved closer to Regina, but then stopped herself. No, she would not be that sort of alpha. Someone was challenging Regina and Regina could handle it. Taking a breath, Emma stayed where she was. Regina did not even bat an eye.

"What threat? Again, it's only a reminder. Beyond that, common sense. Tell me, what possible motive do I have the next time a Hell Mouth opens up in the park to do anything beyond watch and laugh? It might be a good time to make s'mores with my niece and future brother-in-law. As mayor of the town, I believe I have a duty to protect it. As stay-at-home tía, I think I have a duty to make hot chocolate," Regina said.

"Can I also be a stay-at-home auntie? I want hot chocolate," Emma said. In fact, she would love to hang out with Regina, Robbie, and the Little Guy while having said hot chocolate. That sounded way better than being the savior, especially if Regina would not be by her side for that.

"I also want hot chocolate," Zelena said.

Regina let loose a low growl and glared at Emma from the corner of her eye. "There's hot chocolate at home. You're both sort of ruining my flow."

"Let's all be honest, your flow ruined itself at making s'mores. How are we supposed to feel pressured by that?" Maleficent asked.

Emma put her hand on her chest. "I was completely with you through that moment, but because I want s'mores with my hot chocolate."

Regina snarled. "You three are literally the worst evil wingmen in the world. I'm trying to be intimidating here. It was a lot easier when I didn't have a cheerleader section."

"What? I'm totally cowed here," Emma replied. To the point where she was actively fighting down an erection. Regina turned me into a bottom. How the hell did that happen?

"You don't really expect us to believe you'd leave all that work to the sheriff, would you? Your mate?" Dawn chimed in, glaring down at Regina through her glasses.

Regina scoffed and glanced down at her nails for a moment. "I don't know. I mean, now that the world knows I'm an omega again, I think I need to stay at home. Can't be out there showing up our alpha sheriff now, can I?"

"Does this mean I could go back to being a terror on Main Street?" Zelena asked.

"You wanna get banned from Granny's again?" Emma countered. To this day, Zelena still needed an escort into the diner or else.

Regina waved her hand and Emma found herself outside with Zelena on the sidewalk in front of the Town Hall. Emma threw her hands up. Zelena's face practically hit the sidewalk.

"Did she really just poof us out of the goddamn meeting?" Emma let loose a frustrated groan. "That is so her!"

"I understand getting rid of you, but to remove me? I could help her burn the whole thing down!" Zelena stomped her foot.

"She's not going to burn anything…" Or so Emma hoped.

"How else do you think she'll get those fools to bow down and obey her demands? She's an omega! They're going to try to lord over her until heads roll. It'll be glorious!" Zelena's eyes glimmered.

Emma cocked an eyebrow. "Have you just been pretending to be sane? Or, well, less insane, but equally as annoying?"

With a scoff, Zelena threw her head to the side. "I'm merely trying to support my baby sister as she has been supportive of me. If she wants to burn things down, why not do it together?"

Emma shook her head. "Something's wrong with me, as that almost makes sense." Burning things probably would have been a way for an insane Regina and a mad Zelena to bond.

Zelena smirked. "I guess we're rubbing off on you, Sheriff."

Emma groaned and marched back to the Town Hall building only to find the doors locked. Of course. Of course. Not like her mate to do anything half-assed. You've been thinking about her as your mate a lot. Well, that's what she is. Yeah, but it sounds like alpha bullshit, even in your head.

"Regina, open this damn door!" Emma doubted that would work, but she had to try something.

"Maybe use your magic, sweetie. You do have that," Zelena said. Yes, it was helpful, but it was also to remind Emma she was an idiot.

"Just so you know, I will shoot you out here where she can't see and then just say you were playing with the gun," Emma replied. "One of us is going to be doubly hurt after she believes me." Okay, dude, that was just mean.

It was nice to see Zelena's eyes remained as predatory as always rather than the hurt Emma expected to see from her comment. Zelena was a little more secure in herself and her relationship with Regina. Hopefully, this little moment with Regina coming out as an omega helped, too. Before, they could do any more bantering, the doors to Town Hall blew off. Emma was knocked back and put her arm up to her head to block any flying debris. Just from Zelena's cackling, she knew this was Regina's showboating.

"Really? The doors?" Emma motioned to the splintered wood. And she was halfway on her way to a hard-on again. It was unavoidable.

"Don't tell me how to make an exit when you can barely do your god awful one-liners," Regina replied from the veranda, standing next to Zelena. Emma clutched her chest, properly wounded.

"No fire?" Zelena scoffed.

"You can't please everyone," Regina said and then she vanished in a puff of purple smoke.

"I'm so fucking her tonight," Emma muttered and could not have been more pleased with herself when Zelena groaned in disgust. Nailed it.

-8-8-8-8-

Regina could not help cooking a big meal and, thankfully, more than immediate family showed up to help eat it. They seemed to think she would need the support. She was not sure why that was. She thought things went pretty well.

"Sorry we couldn't get them to not do the recall," Snow said as she eased up to the dining room table. Regina busied herself by putting Little Guy in his high chair. Emma mirrored her actions with Robbie. The toddlers were next to each other and reaching out for each other, probably to slap each other, as that was their new hobby.

Regina shook her head. "I actually would like them to do so. It'll help me understand where I stand in this town and what my next steps are." She could decide if the town was worth fighting for or if she should focus all of her energy on her family. She also wanted to see if it would have an impact on how omegas were treated in Storybrooke.

Maleficent waved that off. "I'm sure you'll be fine. After all, no one wants you running around with me and Zelena with nothing but time on your hands."

"Oh, no, you might steal a cop car and other teenage shenanigans," Emma replied with a deadpan expression.

"I love that you think those were my ideas. I'm much more a turn-into-a-dragon and set fire to the streets kinda gal," Maleficent replied.

Lily nodded. "Now that is some alpha level destruction I can get behind. Will we also be eating a few townies?"

Maleficent shrugged. "Why not? It's not like Regina will care, as long as none of them are loyal to her. We'll stop when the sheriff shows up." She gave Emma a wink.

Regina doubted they would do any such thing, but she would have to talk to Emma about it, as she knew Emma was suspicious of both mother and daughter for different reasons. Still, they sat around the table and had dinner like a civilized family, minus a few members. Granny, Ruby, and Dorothy had not arrived yet because of the short notice, but claimed they would be there later tonight.

"Do you think you'll get reelected in the recall?" Henry asked as he piled fried chicken on his plate.

"I should hope so. I've only saved this miserable town three times from certain doom since my curse broke and only cursed it once. I like to think I'm ahead," Regina replied. Those were only major victories. She was not even counting small things, like the Chernabog.

"I hope that's not what you're running on," Emma said with a snicker as she moved and grabbed a plate.

Regina shook her head. "Of course not. Just a reminder I have no obligation to this town or these people if I'm not the mayor. I don't owe them anything." She placed Robbie's food down and then placed Little Guy's food down. They ate for now, but the second one of them was done, the other would be the target of leftover food.

Henry chuckled. "I think we'll clean that up, but still get the basic idea out to people."

Regina knew she already had a campaign manager in Henry, and probably Snow. It did not matter to her. Hopefully, it would distract Snow from trying to plan the wedding. Oh, right, I am getting married. She looked over at Emma and her heart fluttered. Emma would probably always be the best decision she ever made.

The night went rather well for a family gathering, even though Regina noticed Emma watching her whenever she was not close. It was obvious she wanted to talk. Regina did not mind, even though there was nothing to say for her. Life was perfect. Well, hell, I'll probably lose the recall election. And that would be if she was lucky.

Life had never been perfect for Regina. There were hardly perfect moments in her long life. She knew perfection could not last, but she also felt like it was an omen. As she sat at the vanity, going through her nighttime ritual, she watched Emma through the mirror. What if everything came crashing down and Emma was the victim of her folly?

"What are you thinking about over there?" Emma asked.

"How much I love you," Regina replied honestly.

Emma smiled. "I love you, too, but I also know you weren't thinking about that. Come on, babe. Tell me what's wrong." She got up and walked over to Regina with her usually, odd swagger. It was strange for someone so clumsy and often insecure to also be so confident in herself.

"It's nothing for you to worry about."

Emma leaned down and placed a very wet kiss to her mark. Sparks blazed through Regina. Mixed with the smell of Emma, Regina folded like a lawn chair.

"I'm scared," Regina's voice was small, young, trembling.

"Of what? Losing the recall? You'll kick ass in that like everything else. If it's about people treating you different because you're an omega, you'll show them that doesn't mean a damn thing."

"No, I'm not scared of either of those things. It's you. Losing you, this, us. Family."

Emma kissed her again. "You can't lose us, Regina. You know that. And, if you're scared of losing us in the way you lost Daniel, you shouldn't. We both know life sucks a lot of the time and we've got a good thing here, which means life is waiting for the right moment to screw us. Don't worry over it coming. Enjoy what we have." It was amazing how Emma's thought process was similar to her own when it came to good things.

"This is very true."

"But, life can screw anyone at any moment."

That was not a lie, but it did not help all things considered. "We seem to be fan favorites."

Emma chuckled. "I think I'm rubbing off on you. It's okay. We both know you have to live in the now. You can't worry about the future or you'll be scared or angry the whole time. We both know that."

That was not wrong, but it was not very comforting either. Regina was not sure what would happen if she lost any piece of this. Having been driven insane once, she did not think she would go there. This would be crippling, like when she lost Henry and Emma after Pan's Curse. Before she wandered further down that road, Emma lifted her up, showing off those delicious muscles again.

"Lemme take care of you, write this memory in your heart, and let it keep you if something does happen," Emma said.

"Who's rubbing off on whom?" Regina was not sure where the little romantic side of Emma came from, but she would take it.

Emma only smiled and kissed Regina on the lips as she eased Regina into their bed. The kissing was slow, leisurely, like they had all the time in the world. Doom was not imminent. Love was right now. Their love would last long after they did, through the existence of Henry, and maybe more one day.

Feeling the press of Emma's body to hers kept her in the moment. The warmth of her skin was like being blanketed in affection and safety. Inhaling Emma's scent was like taking her in, holding her close, and filling Regina. It was a rush and made her burn for Emma.

Regina's hands lost themselves in Emma's hair while Emma's hand busied themselves under Regina's nightgown. Emma's hands on her anchored her in time, settled her soul, as only Emma could. And then, Emma's lips went to her mark and Regina was certain she melted into a puddle and flew off into the atmosphere at the same time. Regina starved for Emma like her body needed oxygen.

"Please, Emma. Please," Regina panted, body ablaze with desire, craving Emma well beyond the physical.

Emma continued to caress her sides and breasts. It was so gentle, soft that it brought tears to Regina's eyes. It was like Emma worshipped her with her hands. Regina always felt cared for by Emma, but right now, her touch screamed reverence in ways Regina had never experienced before. She was precious to Emma. Regina could feel the tears slide down her face.

Emma pulled away just enough to look at her. "You okay?"

"More than okay. I love you so much," Regina replied. It felt like the only thing she could say to explain her reaction. She loved Emma like no other and was certain Emma loved her just the same. She never imagined such a thing could be possible after the death of Daniel, but there Emma was.

Emma grinned, eyes shining and dived back into her work, lapping at Regina's mark. Regina cooed as it felt like Emma seeped into her through each touch of her hands, lips, and tongue. If this went on any longer, she thought she might use Emma up and they would become one person. Yet, as it went on, Emma did not seem drained at all. In fact, her lips and tongue seemed to gain energy with each touch to her mark.

"I'll always be with you," Emma said as she flicked Regina's nipple, earning a whine from Regina as pleasure buzzed through her.

Eventually, Emma sat up and tossed off her tank top and wiggled out of her shorts. She did not give Regina much of a chance to take in her beautiful form as she went back in for a kiss, easing her tongue into Regina's mouth.

Regina purred as Emma reached between her legs and caressed her just right. This was not electric, as their intimacy could be, but more an ongoing summer storm, slowly, softly building up inside of her. There were more tears, which turned into a sob when Emma eased inside with one and then two fingers, adding to the storm. Emma swallowed the sound and stroked Regina at a wonderfully slow pace.

Each move felt like it filled Regina in ways she could not imagine, like somehow adding to her, as if she might burst apart at the seams. She could not think straight, only feel and feel and feel, like there was only Emma and nothing more. The ebb and flow of Emma's fingers pumping, pushing, twisting and turning, putting her together only to eventually take her apart.

Despite all of this, or maybe because of this, Regina's orgasm crept up on her. Even though it was massive in a sense that she felt everything about her was torn asunder in the best of ways and come together at the same time, she came with a quiet coo, breaking their mouths apart. It was like the force of Emma took her breath away and she could not make any more noise than she did as her body rocked with pleasure.

Emma did not miss a beat, lips drifting to her mating mark and sucking. Regina's coo became a whine as electricity burst through her, bright lights dancing before her eyes. It was like she had flew from her body, drifted into a star, and might never return. She was now part of the cosmos, part of something vast and beautiful thanks to Emma. Maybe she would not need to return to her body, living the rest of her life as an entity, existing in only their emotions.

But, all too soon, she returned as Emma eased out of her only to feel something more substantial poking her. She knew Emma needed a sign, so she rolled her hips, begging for more. Emma obliged, sliding herself through Regina's passion, nudging her clit. She cried out, clutching onto Emma's shoulders, trying to pull her closer, trying to link them. Emma smiled, kissed her cheek, and lined herself up.

The absolute bliss that shot through Regina as Emma eased inside made Regina croon and it felt like all of her nerves short-circuited. Emma panted against her neck, tongue darting out, tasting Regina, lapping at her mating mark. It might as well had been a pleasure button, as each touch of Emma's tongue poured more and more ecstasy and emotion into Regina.

"Yes, Emma!" Regina sighed, throwing her head back as Emma snapped her hips. Regina's legs fell open wider on their own.

Though the rock of Emma's hips was powerful, her pace was as before, slow and steady. Those damn tears were back, stinging Regina's eyes as she felt something so much more than she thought possible. She clutched Emma around the shoulders, trying to pull her closer. Emma held herself up on her elbows, but lowered herself enough for Regina to kiss her. Being able to kiss Emma's neck and chest sent a spark through Regina, like a burst of fireworks, but working their way to something so much more grandiose.

Emma added a little more to her strokes, going deeper, and Regina moaned. She put a hand to Emma's neck, which got even more from Emma. A little pressure and now Emma was hammering away at her and Regina felt like she was about to tear out of her body again. A finger brushed against her mark and that was more than enough to send her over the edge. If her first orgasm crept up on her, this one swallowed her whole and drowned her in affection and joy. She simply became part of this sea of pleasure, caught in an undertow that was Emma.

Before Regina realized what she was doing, instead of falling back, she launched forward and sank her teeth into Emma. Emma let out a roar and collapsed on top of her. She did not mind the weight at all. She hugged Emma to her.

"Uh… I think you marked me," Emma whispered, face buried in Regina's neck.

Regina could feel a hot blush running through her. "I'm sorry."

"Why should you be sorry? I've wanted you to do it for a while now. What made you do it?"

"The same thing that made you do it. I just felt so much." She still felt a buzz in her blood and down every nerve. Was that this new connection to Emma, already humming to life?

Emma nodded, but did not say anything else. She kissed Regina's neck until Regina turned her head and they spent what felt like hours simply kissing. She was not sure when Emma's knot went down, but was disappointed when Emma pulled out. Emma gave her a sweet peck on the lips.

"It's okay. Can you just make sure the mark stays?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded and shifted, seeing where her mark was for the first time. It was right below Emma's collarbone, close to her heart. Regina kissed around it before kissing it directly. Emma moaned and shivered beneath her.

"Oh, god. I didn't expect it to feel like that," Emma said in a breath.

Regina smiled to herself as she continued giving attention to Emma's mark. She could have sworn she felt peace from Emma seeping into her. It made her drowsy and she was not sure when she fell asleep. She woke up while it was still dark with Emma's arms around her and her head cradled between Emma's breasts. She pulled the sheet over both of them.

"Love you," Emma said.

Regina was not sure if Emma was talking in her sleep or not, but responded anyway. "I love you, too." No matter how things went, they loved each other. They had each other. They had this family. The future was always uncertain, but their feelings were not. They were mates and they were to be married. That was more than enough.

-8-8-8-8-

A month later, right before the recall election day, a harpy escaped from the zoo. Regina and Emma took a while to spring into action, more concerned about a cake tasting appointing. Zoo officials could not wrangle the creature while Regina barely had to snap her fingers when she finally showed up. Regina won by a landslide.

"I like to think my brilliant campaign had something to do with it," Henry said at the celebration dinner. Honestly, he ran a good campaign and almost single-handedly mobilized the omegas in town to not only vote for Regina, but make sure it was understood they would not stand for being fired, replaced, or pushed into the background because of their status. His mothers could not be prouder.

-8-8-8-8-

The End.

Thanks for reading. Come say hi to me on Facebook if you want, under the name S. L. Kassidy. I hope you enjoyed this piece of the Who We Are series. I think there'll be one more story in this universe. Back to my padded cell with me. If you like my work, please go check out my books on Amazon under the name S. L. Kassidy. Thanks again.