AN: Thank you to all who've read this story. Hope you enjoy what's to come in this chapter. Let me know what you think.

When she got back home she was greeted by Regina, sitting in the lounge, reading a book. Emma stopped for a second to stare at how beautiful the brunette was. Regina looked up having sensed Emma's presence, not that she was particularly quiet coming in. Emma stopped breathing for a few moments when their eyes made contact.

"How was the run?" Regina lowered the book to look at Emma.

"Good. It was good. Great," all courage left Emma. How could she tell Regina she wanted her? How could she tell Regina she wants much more than what they currently have? Her resolution to say something to Regina starts to crumble. "I'll go have a shower."

"All right," Regina once again grabs her book and starts to read as Emma makes her way to the bathroom.

Once she's in the bathroom and the shower is running, Emma leans her head on the shower wall, letting the water cascade around her. She missed her chance. But she wasn't sure how to bring up the subject. She couldn't just go to Regina and say "do you want to be my girlfriend?" Regina would probably just laugh at her and ask her if she's 12 or something. No she needs a better way and she needs it soon.

Emma's taking her time in the shower thinking over her current predicament with Regina. The problem was they've been friends for a long time now and Regina certainly has been her friend the longest. Emma didn't do friendships and she certainly didn't do romantic relationships, at least not the right, healthy way. At least that's how she was excusing her own blindness to the fact that she's loved Regina all this time and no, friends don't do that for other friends, heck sometimes not even lovers do that for one another. But it was in the nature of her relationship with Regina to just sacrifice everything for one another. Sacrifice so much, sacrifice everything but their son. Friends don't live together raising their child, friends don't act as if they're married in almost all aspects of life.

No it's clear she loves Regina and she's loved her for so long and she doesn't want anyone to come between them. But what can she do? Will Regina accept her once Emma confesses? She knows quite well the town won't see her well. Either of them. Especially Regina. Heck Ruby moved to another realm so she could be free with the one she loves. They'll definitely blame Regina. How can she drag Regina into all of this? The town barely moved on from their blind rage at Regina, they're finally not blaming her for every little thing. She's scared for Regina. She doesn't want Regina to go through this. But if Regina loves her then maybe she'll go there anyway. And if Regina loves her, then she's probably also having a hard time being so near Emma yet so far away.

Emma has no one. Who could Emma run to now? Who could she seek help from on this? The answer was no one; she was on her own. The one person she would run to with her problems is the very person that's at the heart of the matter. She puts her head on the cold tile as she lets the water just run down. She needs Regina, she can't lose Regina. But what can she do how can she approach the subject? This will be monumental for their tiny, tiny family. This will change everything.

A week passed and Emma could not come up with a plan. She was at a loss as to what she could do to bring the subject up. It was a long, torturous week. A week where Emma became all the more aware of the lingering touches, of the lingering gaze, of the tiniest of gestures of attention, of Regina curling up into her side when they were watching a movie. Of Regina reading a book and playing with Emma's hair while Emma leaned across in Regina's lap while playing on her phone. She became more aware of Regina asking her what she wants for diner or desert. These were not things friends did for one another, were they? This was what cute couples did in those romantic or comedy TV series. This is what a relationship, a healthy one, should be like.

Here was Emma's biggest dilemma - how do you tell your best friend you're totally in love with her and you want to build a future with her?

On Friday, Henry asked then if he could go camping with David and Snow over the weekend. Both mothers agreed to let him go on the condition that he listens to his grandparents.

After Henry got picked up by David, Emma went with Regina in the living room and sat down next to her. Instantly Regina curled into Emma's side, as if she always belonged there, and for all Emma knew she might have because their bodies fitted perfectly.

"What do you say we go out tomorrow?"

"Where to?" Regina says not moving an inch away from Emma's side.

"Town nearby."

"Any particular reason?"

"Nah. Just want to be out of here for a bit" Emma's a bit nonchalant about it, but still she hopes Regina will say yes.

"Ok. Let's go"

"Really?"

"Yes. Now shhhh, I want to watch the movie."

"Ok." Emma says smiling.

The night found them at a local bar enjoying a pub meal and a few drinks. They were accustomed to eat at Granny's but this was even more casual. They booked 2 rooms at a local motel not wanting to drive back so late. It was good to let a bit loose. It seemed like a good idea in the beginning. But now not so much. Regina was a very beautiful woman. Drop dead gorgeous even. She was now out in the wide world where no one knew who she was, no one knew her past and suddenly Emma's biggest fears were becoming reality. Regina was the center of attention in that pub. The amounts of men and women Regina had to turn down was staggering. The glimmer of hope was that she turned them down yet it still didn't stop Emma from feeling like shit. What if Regina liked anyone here? What if someone does come in and will disturb their perfect little family? What if Emma will have to leave the life she built with Regina?

She was suddenly not hungry at all and started to simply move the food around her plate. She thought about getting drunk but that meant loosing this precious little time she had with the woman she loved.

"Emma, is something bothering you?" Regina puts her knife and fork down.

"I'm fine."

"You don't seem…" but she doesn't manage to finish her sentence as they get interrupted. Some guy trying to make a pass at Regina. Great. He was good looking too. Even better. Emma's eyes start to water.

"Let me stop you right there. I'm here with my fiancée" Regina lifts her hand that always has the ring on it showing it to the man "and I would appreciate if you left us to enjoy our dinner."

Emma's lifts her head looking shocked for a second but then her face morphs into mild irritation. The guy leaves them alone but not before hurling a homophobic insult their way, though it was mostly annoyance that he was turned down. Emma's hands gripped the cutlery to the point that her knuckles got white.

"Emma?" Emma looks up at Regina's voice. "I'm sorry I had to use you as an excuse. I didn't mean to… make you uncomfortable. I guess I…" she trails off.

"You guessed ...?"

"Nothing it doesn't matter." a few more seconds pass "I'll ask them if they can put the food in a take away container."

They walk back to the motel in relative silence. Emma doesn't know what to say. Had no idea what Regina was about to say either. It was all very confusing. But she does notice that unlike before Regina keeps her distance and is more guarded.

It gets worse once they get back to Storybrooke. Regina no longer curls into her side when they watch a movie, her touch no longer lingering. There was a constant look of sadness in her eyes, as if she's lost something.

Emma couldn't take it. While it was hard before, when Regina touched her, hard because she couldn't properly enjoy it, it was a hundred times worse now and she missed the other woman like crazy. They still had the routine but the small affectionate details were gone and this was driving Emma mad.

"Have I done something to upset you?" she blurts out one day as they're in the kitchen.

"What? Why would you think that?" Regina stops what she's doing and turns to face Emma.

"Because you're avoiding me"

"I'm not avoiding you. We live in the same house. We've had breakfast and dinner together. Is this because I didn't have lunch with you today?"

"What? No" Emma shakes her head. How does she bring the issue up.

"Then I don't understand"

"Ever since our trip outside, you've been avoiding me."

Regina furrows her brow not really understanding.

"You used to stay close to me during movie nights, you used to read your books on the couch and I could crawl up in your lap and… " she stops because it sounds ridiculous.

"I thought you didn't like that. I thought that maybe I've misread you all this time."

"No. I loved all that. What gave you that idea?"

"Your reaction to me saying you're my fiancee. I thought you hated that. I thought I misread you completely. I'm sorry."

"What? No. I was angry at his homophobic insult. Not at you. Never at you." She pauses for a bit. "Wait a second. What do you mean you thought you read me wrong? Read me wrong for what?"

"Nothing. Emma, please let's just forget it." Regina turns her back to Emma and goes back to buying herself. Emma just stares in confusion. Is Regina saying what she thinks she's saying? She decides to be bold and perhaps for the first time make a step towards a relationship. One that she actually wants. She steps behind Regina and wraps her arms around her. It was so intimate.

"Regina," her breath is close to Regina's ear and she feels a small shiver that passes through Regina. Emma's heart is about to burst out of her chest and for a second she wonders if the brunette feels the same. "When you said you read me wrong, did you mean if I like women?" and Regina stops breathing and stops her movements wondering what Emma was playing at. But she can't help but nod and give a very quiet yes in reply. Her own heart beats a hundred miles a minute and Emma's touch on her middle is so warm yet it feels like hot lava. Every part of her that Emma touches cones alive. Oh how she's missed her. Emma's grip tightens around her middle and it feels so good to be in the blonde's embrace. She wants to spend an eternity there and never let go.

"You didn't read me wrong." and Regina drops the plate she was holding back in the sink. "I grew up an orphan. People don't like gay kids. I learned to adapt. After prison I became a bit more open with who I am. Then I came here and became sheriff. This is a small town. Very white, straight town. I thought that maybe at least you were interested. But then you were just trying to run me out of town. The curse broke and I found my parents. When I fell through the portal my mother shared all her dreams with me. I quickly realized that they wanted me to marry a guy. Henry was no better pushing me and his dad together. My parents pushed a lot of men at me. What I wanted though was totally different."

Regina can't form any thoughts. Here's Emma confessing important things yet Regina can't say a thing. All she knows is that she wants to see Emma's face, and so she turns around in Emma's arms. Emma doesn't loosen her grip on her and now here she is in Emma's arms looking at the woman who stole her heart unable to form a single word.

"Regina," Emma whispers afraid that if she speaks louder she'll end this moment. She looks in Regina's eyes desperately searching for that something that would give her the courage to voice what she feels. Regina puts her arms on her biceps and gives them a gentle squeeze. She would be a liar if she said she didn't have a thing for Emma's well-toned arms. But now was not the time for her to dwell on those dreams, where Emma would pick her up and press her against a wall or perhaps lift her up on the kitchen counter, kissing her senseless.

"Emma, are we… is this… " but she has no idea what to say or ask and she's just stuttering now.

"Regina, I…" Emma takes a deep breath. This is it. "I hope I'm reading this right. Here it goes" a small exhale and she closes her eyes for a moment trying to gather some courage. "I like you. I liked you for a very long time, and, " pause, "… and if you feel the same I would love to give this, us, a try."

"Oh, Emma, I like you too," Regina looks at her with a fond smile on her face.

"As more than friends, right?" Emma asks looking entirely too adorable if one were to ask Regina.

"Yes Emma, much more than friends."

"Good. I'm glad. I've liked you for a very long time and I could never seem to be enough and there's always been something or someone in the way. I tried to move on, but it was an epic failure. No one came close to you. I don't think anyone will," she looks down for a second then back up with a a hint of embarrassment on her face "I'm rambling."

"Yes, you are. But it's ok," Regina looks at her with so much care and love. She's pretty sure they both agreed on like because they were too scared of the word love. Emma looks into her eyes a smile tugging at her lips. Regina likes her, probably even loves her, and they just took a new step in their relationship. But there's one more thing she's being dying to do since she first saw the woman. With one last act of bravery she asks the question.

"May I kiss you?"

Regina lifts a hand to caress Emma's cheek, stopping near Emma's lips, running her thumb over Emma's bottom lip, a smile forming on her own lips.

"Yes, Emma, you may kiss me" and that's all the invitation Emma needs before she leans in and kisses Regina for the first time.

Tbc