Hey guys, this is my most recent story. If you haven't yet, feel free to check out my other fic, Another Sleeping Curse. Enjoy both!

She gripped the receiver firmly in her hand, but her fingers were too stiff to dial. She found herself in this position many times over the passed year—body and mind divided on the decision to reach out. But now, for the first time, she didn't have much of a choice.

"Regina, just call her. It's not that hard," Kathryn prompted her.

Regina began to dial, but then quickly jammed the switch hook and paused. "You're sure you can't watch Henry this weekend?"

Kathryn groaned. "No, I can't." She placed her hand on Regina's. "This is about more than that though. You need Emma to know what's going on."

"I told you, I'm not ready for that."

Kathryn grew frustrated with her friend's avoidance. "Well, at least start by asking her to take Henry this weekend. It's not a huge request."

Regina knew Kathryn was right. It wasn't a major thing to ask Henry's other mother to watch him. It was more about why she needed her. For the first time in her life, she felt weak. She had vowed never to rely on another human being. But now, she didn't really have many options.

"Fine, but I'm just asking about the weekend."

After several months of tracking him down, Emma had found her latest bounty. Charles Dobson, also known as Dave Marist, also known as Connor Lynch, and most recently, Paul Bradley. Dobson was a con artist of the usual variety. He was born a natural charmer and was incredibly skilled at getting girls to fall for some sob story so that he would get their money—a loan, of course. He'd skip town shortly after, changing his name and number. That was is routine. It had worked so far for him. But little did he know that Emma, his latest victim, also had a routine. Date them, reel them in, collect her paycheck.

"So Paul," she said as he sipped his wine, "you said you wanted to ask me something?"

Dobson cleared his throat and then put his hands on the table. "It's hard for me to even ask."

What a fake. She read through his bullshit. He began tearing up a bit. He had probably put in eye drops when he used the bathroom. "No, Paul, you can ask me anything," Emma said, putting her hand on his.

"Well," he began, wiping a tear from his eye, "it's my brother. He's got kidney failure."

"That's terrible," Emma acted right along too.

"Yeah," he nodded. "He needs a new one. I'd give him mine, but I'm not a match."

"So what can I do?"

Paul sighed. "I know this sounds crazy, but you know how bad those waiting lists are. People die before they get even close to the top. There is a donor we found that's a match. But it's fairly expensive."

"You need some help?" Emma asked, practically feeding him his own sob story.

"Emma, you know it'd just be a loan. I'd pay you back as soon as my commission check comes in next month."

Emma nodded and reached for her check book. She saw Paul crack his lips into a small smile for a second, as he thought he had her. She opened up and began filling out the check.

"One thing," she said.

"What is it?"

"Who should I make it out to?" When Emma saw the confusion grow on his face, she continued. "Connor Lynch? No, maybe David Marist?"

"Fuck."

"Yeah, Dobson, you son of a bitch. I got you."

When they arrived at the police station, Dobson seemed confused. He had expected her to bring him down to New York, where he was wanted. That was generally the procedure for bounty. But Emma opened up the back door and told him to get out.

"Why are we here?"

"You're being taken by another officer," she answered as she brought him inside. As they passed through the station, several other officers stood up and clapped. Emma just kept walking him back further.

"Hey Neal," she hollered over to her ex-lover turned best friend and fellow cop, "he's all yours."

"No way," he said as Emma took the bear claw from his hands.

"I got him," she took a bite. "You bring him in."

"Why can't you?"

She smiled. "Gotta get home to the lady."

Neal couldn't deny her grin. She was stupid happy and there was no reasoning with her in that state of mind. He shooed her away. Thanking him, Emma grabbed her leather jacket from her desk and headed out.

As she opened the door to her apartment, Emma saw the beat up pair of converse thrown on the mat. Her girlfriend must have let herself in. She took her jacket off and hung it on the chair closest to the door.

"Kate," she called, "you up?"

"In the bedroom!" a voice hollered out. "Lasagna's in the fridge. I know it's your favorite."

Emma groaned. Yes, she loved lasagna, but only made by one person—someone who once rocked her taste buds with red pepper flakes. Nothing else compared. Emma opened the fridge to see the corning ware dish full of the meal her girlfriend had created. She winced at the mixed up noodles that were drenched in that familiar orange sauce overpowered by garlic. Shaking her head, she shut the fridge.

Instead, Emma headed into the bedroom to see her lover already in bed, studying her textbook. The notes were sprawled all over the bed. Kate looked up at Emma, a pen tucked behind her pierced ear, brushing the wisps of jagged black hair back to the side.

"Big test tomorrow?" Emma asked.

"Anatomy midterm."

Emma pushed some of the notes to aside as she climbed up on the bed. "You'll be fine. You always ace them." Emma tried to distract her with kisses, but Kate pulled back.

"I ace them because I study," she answered, "and I still have to review four chapters."

"Hmm… I can help," Emma leaned in closer, "I know all about the female body."

Kate let out a laugh as Emma moved her spaghetti strap away and kissed her tattooed shoulder. "Em!" She dropped her notebook and wrapped her arms around Emma's neck. As the two began their own anatomy lesson, Emma paused to ask routine questions.

"Anyone call while I was at work?"

They continued kissing. In between embraces, Kate answered. "Cable man. And some sales calls. Nothing important."

"Good." Emma proceeded to kiss down Kate's neck.

"Oh, I forgot. Regina called."

Instantly Emma stopped kissing. "Regina? What did she want?"

"I dunno. I didn't ask."

"Kate," Emma sighed, jumping off the bed to check her cell phone for messages. "It could have been important. It could have been about Henry."

"Sorry," she apologized, "but you know I don't like being on the phone with her. She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," Emma said, knowing full well it was a lie. Regina was always good for a snarky remark about Kate's youth, but these were mostly snaps at Emma. Still, there was no love between them.

"I should call her back though, it might be important."

Kate sighed. "Can't it wait?"

"Says the person who insisted she had to study."

Kate gave her that look. Emma couldn't resist her as she held her gaze, a strand of black hair covering one eye. She leaned forward, putting her weight on her forearms, allowing the other strap of her shirt to fall. She slowly moved forward, taking the phone from Emma's hands and tossed it to the nightstand. Emma smiled, shaking her head at her young lover. Kate pulled her in closer and made her forget all about it.