Disclaimer: I own nothing of Once Upon a Time.

II

She barely slept that night.

She heard every change in the wind and saw every blue digit pass slowly slip by.

Neal had given her hope.

Not only that, he'd given her permission, permission to be happy.

Now, the one person who could make her happy, was also the one person who could tear her heart into pieces.

She knew Neal meant what he'd said.

But did Emma?

Would she remember?

In the harsh light of day, would she really want to give up her perfect life and be with Regina.

Woman.

Evil Queen.

As the sun peeked over the horizon, Regina dragged herself from her tangled sheets.

She took her time showering, washing her hair twice and using her favorite apple blossom scented body wash.

She dressed casually, as she knew the blonde liked it when she did and she needed all the help she could get. Tight dark jeans hugged her curves, a white blouse showed the perfect amount of skin and black pumps completed the outfit to give herself the height advantage she liked.

With a hot cup of black coffee she busied herself in the kitchen preparing chocolate chip pancakes for Henry.

And Emma.

If she came.

The way to that girls heart was her stomach and she needed all the help she could get.

She was cleaning up later when the doorbell rang.

She removed her apron slowly, folding it and putting it carefully in the drawer.

Step by staccato step made her way to the front door, pausing only to check her hair in the mirror.

When she flung the wide white door open, she couldn't hide the look of hope and terror that swirled in her eyes.

"Hello Emma," Regina said evenly. This is when she appreciated her time on the throne, the ability to dampen all human emotion and move though life.

She shut out the hours of tossing and turning.

She flung her hope as far away as she could.

She was a shell, delicate and impenetrable.

"Hey." The blonde shuffled her feet shyly, looking up through dark eye lashes. "Where's Henry?"

"He's outside. Would you like me to get him?" Regina's heart sank, crumbling at the edges. Emma didn't remember the night before at all, she was here for their son, not her.

"No, it's good. I wanted to talk to you."

"Alright, "She waited patiently, refusing to let her emotions soar freely.

"I'm sorry about last night."

No.

Regina's heart clenched.

She didn't love her.

She was apologizing for saying things she shouldn't have said, that she didn't mean.

It was over.

They didn't even have an "it" to be over.

"It fine," She crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself, holding herself together.

"No, it's not." Emma reached for her arm, her face fresh and bright. "I shouldn't have gotten drunk like that, I'm not good at dealing with my feelings. I'm sorry that you had to see me like that, and thank you for taking care of me."

"Of course," Regina nodded and prepared to dismiss her, "If that's it, I have a busy day ahead of me."

"Wait, I'm not finished," Emma pleaded.

"I think you've said enough." She needed to get away, she couldn't let herself break down in front of the woman she loved so deeply.

"Not today," Emma smirked, "I said a lot last night."

"Yes, you did." A traitorous tear slipped from eye.

"It was all true." Emma's voice rang strong and true.

She couldn't let herself hope again.

She shut her eyes against the pain.

Emma pulled her to her chest, brushing away the tears that fell steadily now.

"I meant it all, all the nice things about you are true and I do, I love you."

"You really do?" Regina's breath hitched, her face still buried in the blonde's shoulder.

"I really do." Emma pulled away, lifting her chin to look into her eyes.

It was true.

She saw it.

She took down the wall around her heart.

She opened all the windows and doors.

She let the sun in.

She let the love out.

"Maybe you could have started with that," The brunette grinned ear to ear and tears of joy flowed down her cheeks.

"Maybe I should have," Emma smirked, smoothing back dark waves, "I'm out on a limb here, I've confessed to you my deepest feelings and I have no idea how you feel about me."

"No idea?"The older woman scoffed, "Then you must be an idiot, I love you Emma Swan."

The blonde tightened an arm around Regina's waist, pulling their hips flush together.

She closed the small space between them, capturing her full red lips in a feverish kiss.

In a dream, Regina's arms came to loop around the other woman's neck as she fell into the kiss.

She was lost.

She was found.

When they pulled back, breathless and drunk on desire, Regina blurted, "Move in here, Henry will love it."

"Henry?" The blonde simpered, using her thumb fix Regina's smudged lipstick.

"I'd love it too."

"Isn't it kind of fast? You might hate me before you could love me," Emma's age old insecurity showed through.

"I already love you and I already know all of your annoying habits," The older woman pointed out.

"What annoying habits?"The younger woman feigned innocence.

"Where do I begin?"Regina kissed the adorable pout before her.

"Oh shut up," Emma rolled her eyes.

"Make me," Regina winked, feeling wild with elation.

The blonde growled, covering her lips in a possessive kiss.

Moments later, she stood on her tip toes, out of the brunette's reach as she reasoned, "I can't move in with my parents again, they drive me insane. I suppose it makes more sense than finding a new place here."

"See, its practical, I like that." Regina grinned, eyes darkening with longing, "And I can kiss you whenever I like."

"It would also fit the stereotype," Emma said, tongue in cheek.

" So it would dear. I guess its settled then." She bounced on her toes, reaching for eagerly for the taller woman.

"I guess it is."

Regina pulled the blonde down for a kiss, her hands tangling in long blonde curls.

She nibbled at Emma's lower lip, soothing it with sweet kisses as she grew pensive.

"Were going to fight," They stood at the front door still, heads bent together. "Were going to say things to each other that will hurt."

"We can't help it," Emma nodded, "Its who we are, both strong, passionate women. A Savior and a Queen. A Sheriff and a Mayor." He voice dropped an octave, "Oh but just think of the makeup sex we'll have... "

"Really dear?" There it was, the hope again that this could work.

"We'll make a promise, never to go to bed angry, " The blonde urged earnestly, "We'll always have something to fight about, we can put it away for a few hours."

"You just want sex."

"Maybe." Emma shrugged unapologetically.

The brunette smiled happily, "I can't argue with that logic." She leaned in devilishly, "I just can't promise to be nice."

The blonde gulped, shifting and squirming in her tight jeans, "That's more than fair."

Regina stepped back with a final kiss, welcoming her into their house for the first time, "Come home Emma."

She'd forgotten about breakfast.

She hadn't needed to bribe the blonde with food.

That was something.

"There's even chocolate chip pancakes staying warm in the oven," Regina mentioned.

"I am sooooo gonna love living here," Emma started to the kitchen. A few steps later, she turned abruptly and pulled Regina into her arms for a sweeping kiss, "I already love you, but god woman I fall more in love with you every single moment."

"I love you so much," Regina murmured breathlessly when she steadied herself.

"Good, now that that's settled, let's eat." Emma pulled the brunette along to the kitchen. She called out to Henry, "Breakfast kid!"

The towheaded boy poked his head in the door, "But I already ate."

" Have a second breakfast then."

"Mom? "He looked in complete bewilderment at Regina.

"Second breakfast Henry, you heard your mother."

He shrugged, "Ok cool."

Halfway though his second pancake, he looked up, a smile crossing his face, "You guys are together now right?"

Emma choked and Regina stared in wonder. "How?"

He shrugged again, "Its the only reason I could think of that I'd get a second breakfast and chocolate chip pancakes, it's cool."

A/N: Thanks for the lovely response to this fic :) I won't be continuing this story as I feel this is the natural end and don't want to force it. I will only perhaps trying to improve it - I welcome any comments and criticism. I do have another SQ story in the works that should be up next week if you're interested. Thanks again for reading!