Nearly a week after they arrived back from Neverland and Emma was going crazy. Her parents couldn't keep their hands to themselves and Henry was staying with Regina so Emma hardly had reprieve. Most would think that she and Regina wouldn't be able to stay away from each other, but Emma had so much to catch up on at the station since there hadn't been someone officially covering. Regina had been reinstated as Mayor since there really wasn't anyone qualified to do that either, and mostly everyone was warmer toward her than they had been before she left. Granted, she wasn't really friendly with any of them, but they were still nicer to her, she vice versa.

Emma knew she was making excuses not to see the other woman, it was stupid, but she felt like she needed to give Regina space after they got back. Emma was certain of her feelings, but Regina didn't trust easily and really didn't love easily and Emma didn't want to push her in case she changed her mind. It was really unlike Emma not to push, because that was all she had done to Regina since she came to town. She pushed, and pushed and pushed Regina to many different limits, but now, nothing. But as she sat and did paperwork well past what should be her lunch time, or breakfast even, all she could do was think of chocolate eyes and soft dark hair. And full red lips. Those were the most frequent things she saw anytime she closed her eyes.

"Fuck it," she found herself saying out loud. She pulled out her phone and text the brunette.

I miss you.

Only a moment passed before her phone beeped.

Sheriff Swan, shouldn't you be working?

So Regina was back to pre-Neverland feelings. Or she was pissed at Emma for not seeing her. Well, Regina could have come to see her, too, and she hadn't.

I am. I have been, for 14 hours.

You've been working since midnight?

Yup.

Are they giving you meals?

No one to give me any.

I see.

You're mad at me?

What reason would I have, Sheriff Swan?

Regina, please don't be mad at me? Pllleeaassseee?

Was that supposed to come off as a question or as whining?

Sorry to have bothered you. I'll see you later when I drop Henry off from school. What time is good?

Seven is fine.

7 it is.

Emma dropped her phone onto the desk, her head following. She banged her head on the desk slowly, angry with herself. She picked her phone back up and called David.

"Hey dad, can you come to the station as soon as you can? I just need to leave, I've been here far too long and I need out for a little?"

"Yeah, I'll be there soon," he agreed.

She called Granny's and ordered grilled cheese with extra fries and a spinach mandarin salad, telling them she'd be there soon to pick it up. David walked in fifteen minutes later.

"You going home?" he asked when he saw her stand up suddenly, on a mission.

"No, I'm going to make my, I'm going to make Regina happy."

"Too much information, Emma."

"Shut up, that's not what I meant. I've been avoiding her, thinking she needed space and she's pissed and I'm going to go make her happy."

"Good for you, Emma. Why don't you take the rest of the day and tomorrow off? I'll cover for you; I haven't been doing my part as much as I should have anyway."

"That's great, dad, thanks." She gave him a smile and took off.

She grabbed herself a cocoa and Regina a latte when she picked up their food and headed to Regina's office. She asked the secretary if Regina was busy and the secretary shook her head. Emma knocked on the door with no intention of waiting for an answer and entered. She shut the door behind her and turned to see Regina staring at her from her desk. Her eyes were rimmed with red; even so she looked even more beautiful than Emma's thoughts had been remembering. She was wearing high-waist black slacks and a green blouse underneath a black blazer.

"If you keep insisting on not working, I can promote your father to do your job, Miss Swan."

"Come on, Regina, everyone deserves a lunch break."

"Yes, but not everyone can afford to take one. I have a lot of paperwork."

"Regina, are you mad at me?"

"I believe you asked me that already."

"And I believe you didn't answer."

"Emma, I don't have time to play games, can you please leave?"

"Regina, no. I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

"Oh, so when I want you to leave, you won't, it's only when I desire you to stay that you leave?"

"I wanted to give you space, in case you needed it."

"I didn't ask for space, Emma. We announce to everyone that we're in love and then we get back here and you disappear. I understand there is work to catch up on, trust me, I have months and months of work to catch up on from your mother doing nothing that is required of a mayor, but I would have made time for you."

"You didn't try to see me, either!"

"Emma, I didn't request your presence, you may go."

Emma set down the tray that had the drinks and their food onto Regina's desk. She then walked around the desk and turned Regina's chair so she was facing her. She pulled the brunette's hands into her own and pulled her out of the chair.

"Regina, damn it, look at me!" When the brunette turned her head to look into Emma's eyes, Emma saw the brown eyes fill with water. Regina tried to blink the tears away but a couple rolled down her cheeks. She lifted her hand to wipe them away. "Regina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have disappeared. I just thought maybe you would change your mind."

"You told me you would always stay, always, you said. You told me you wouldn't leave, that I was all you wanted, and then you disappeared."

"Regina, please believe that I never meant to hurt you. I figured you'd want time with Henry, and that maybe you wanted some space to breathe since we'd been around each other constantly in Neverland. I don't want you to get sick of me before we even get to have a real relationship. I love you, Regina. I love you so much that all I have thought about since we've been back is you. I'm hardly sleeping, I can't concentrate, my paperwork is shit and I've doodled almost an entire notebook like a twelve-year-old with Emma Swan-Mills all over it."

Regina smirked. "I'd like to see that."

"Come to the station, I'll give it to you. That's beside the point, though. I truly have no intention of not being with you. You're it, Regina, can you believe me?"

Regina nodded, but only slightly. "If you ever pull a stunt like that, you're never getting any again."

"Does that mean I'm forgiven?"

"I can't stay mad at you, especially when you're looking at me with that look in your eyes."

"What look is that?"

"Your sex look."

"My sex look?"

"It's a look that tells me you want to pounce on me."

"Oh. Well, yeah I would love to pounce on you, but I won't be doing it. You deserve a date first. Lucky for me, David is covering for me tonight and tomorrow, if you happen to be free, I mean."

"I suppose that could be managed."

"When?"

"Why don't you just count on tonight, and if I feel you've sufficiently made up for you absence then you can stay through tomorrow night."

Emma raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Are you asking me to stay the night, Madame Mayor? What will people think?"

"I've never cared," the brunette replied, moving a step closer to the blonde, but not kissing her. No, Emma would have to make that move. And Emma did. She pushed her lips against Regina's full, red lips and magic exploded through her. Their kiss deepened, and Emma pushed Regina against the wall, her hands squeezing the brunette's waist. She felt Regina's hands all over her, tugging and squeezing in the most delightful way. A moan worked its way out of Emma's throat and Regina felt it against her hand, which was at Emma's throat.

Emma pulled the bottom of Regina's shirt out of her pants and moved one hand underneath, touching the soft skin on the strong muscle of Regina's abdomen. Regina released a pleased sigh and grabbed the blonde's wrist to stop her hand from moving any farther. She broke the kiss.

"I believe you owe me a date first, my dear."

"You suck," Emma whined.

"Well, I can, yes, but we'll see how much you deserve that, later."

"I'll pick you up at 8?"

"Sure, and would you see if your parents want to keep Henry?"

"Of course."

Emma brought Henry to her parent's apartment and changed into black skinny jeans and black ankle boots. She put on the green blouse that always made Regina stare, leaving one less button undone than usual. She pulled on her red leather jacket and left to get her love.

Regina opened the door in a black dress that hugged her exactly the way Emma liked. Her legs were bare of tights and she wore black pumps. She smiled, almost shyly and stepped out onto the porch.

"What's the plan, Emma?"

"Dinner at Granny's, then back here for a movie, I have a couple in my car I think you'd like."

"That's a completely ordinary date, Emma, I thought you were trying to earn something here," Regina teased, one eyebrow raised.

"I fully intend to impress you on this date, I haven't given you all the details. You think I lay all my cards out on the table before I'm ready?"

"No, I suppose you don't."

When they got to the diner, the back room was set up with one table, two candles and a vase of flowers in the center. Emma pulled out a chair for Regina, and sat across from her.

"Are those primrose with the roses?"

"Yes."

"What a strange bouquet."

"Well, I chose them for their meanings."

"Which are?"

"Red and white roses together mean unity, and primrose stands for 'I can't live without you.'"

Regina smiled, touched, but refusing to give the blonde a win so early in the date.

After they ate and the plates were taken from the table, Regina found a white notecard in front of her on the table with a number 1 on it. She flipped it over and written on it was this:

The way you look when I tell you I love you.

"What's this, Emma?"

"Just keep it. Let's go." Emma stood and offered her hand to Regina, who took it. "Don't forget your flowers, sweetie."

Regina took her flowers from the table and let Emma lead her to the door that led to the front of the diner. On the door was a notecard with the number 2. She pulled it off and on the back was written:

How much you love Henry.

She smiled, and they continued walking. When they got to the front door of the diner, there was another card, this one with the number 3 on it. She flipped it over and read:

Your grace and your heart.

Regina shook her head, amazed at the blonde's ability to make her smile so much. Emma led Regina to the car and opened her door for her. They went to Regina's house and on the door was another notecard. Regina pulled off the fourth one and it said:

Your chocolate eyes.

There was a fifth on the door to the family room. Regina's eyes registered the words:

Your snarkiness.

That one made her roll her eyes in amusement. There was one on the DVD remote, one on the player, one on the TV and one in the case for the movie they chose. Each one had something else. Regina lined them up on the coffee table, written on 9 different cards were the words:

The way you look when I tell you I love you.

How much you love Henry.

Your grace and your heart.

Your chocolate eyes.

Your snarkiness.

Your smiles, all the different ones you give.

The way you can't hide anything you feel from me.

How much love you have to give.

The things you'll never say.

"What is this, Emma?"

"I have one more." She pulled one from her pocket and handed it to her. It read:

The perfection of your body and how desirable it is.

"It's ten things I love you about. I know it's not the most comprehensive list, but I plan to tell you everyday for the rest of our lives all the things I love about you, this was just the list of some of my favorite things.

"You are amazing, Emma Swan, and I love you."

"I love you, too."