A/N: If only you guys knew how I came about to writing this chapter...over a course of a month and every day in English with 10-15 of free writing. Hope you like it and tell me what you think.

Regina had walked back to her dorm, after spending the entirety of her day, nose buried in her Calc&Stats textbook while inhaling the intoxicating smell of coffee. She felt the energy slowly drain from her body but grateful she finally understood this one theorem. The brunette kicks her sneakers under her bed and lazily rolls into it. A wave of exhaustion floods over her and within minutes, she's lulled into a deep and tranquil sleep. Approximately forty minutes later, her slumber is interrupted by the sound of her ringtone. Regina groans and stretches her arm to her back pocket and sees it's from the Nolan Residence.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Regina groggily answers, "Regina, speaking."

"Regina! Glad, I reached you. Sorry if I woke you up but I have an important request of you. Can you babysit Henry tomorrow?"

Regina straightens up on the bed. "Tomorrow? Oh, I assumed…" She trails off, hoping Mary Margaret would understand her thoughts.

"That we wouldn't need you any more? Nonsense! Emma…She'll be home but I don't want to stick Henry on her when she's just come back." Mary Margaret leaves an awkward pause before her next thought. "So you'll do it?"

Regina perks up, feeling better, that as of now, she would not be left out of young Henry Nolan's life. "Yes, of course. What time do you need me?"

"Around six-thirty. We'll be back at twelve, the latest."

The brunette furrows her eyebrows, never knowing the Nolans to stay out so late, especially with classes the next day. "Sounds perfect. I'll see you then."

"Thank you. Bye, Regina."

"Bye, Mrs. Nolan," and with that note, Regina hangs up. She shifts herself and opens her laptop, checking her email and is slightly dismayed when nothing but her tutorees have emailed. As she's about to close her computer, Elizabeth barges through the door. The blonde peeks Regina's pout and plops next to her.

"No response, huh?"

Regina taps a manicured nail below the space bar and slowly nods. "It's been over a week now.

Elizabeth simply nods and reaches over to close the computer on Regina's lap. She inhales deeply before mumbling a coherent thought. "You're a million times better than this email. I know sometimes a wave of low self-esteem can hit the best of us, you included, but you can't let it get to you. Continue living your life, doll face."

That nickname causes Regina to scrunch her nose but responds with a sigh. "I hate to say you're right but…a lot is riding on this one response. Living in this…limbo is going to kill me."

"I know. I know. But think about all the other shit you got going on or even something you're excited for. Live your life, Regina. Don't stop it." She produces a small but pure smile for her best friend, which is returned with one of the same magnitude.

"Again…you're right." She chews on her lip, contemplating whether to disclose the information she's about to share. "I got a phone call today." She spits out as Elizabeth kicks her dirty, white, converse off.

"From whom? A booty call?" Elizabeth responds with a tone of mischief.

"No. From Mary Margaret."

"And? What'd she say, Mills? Does she want you to tutor her daughter? Oh, maybe you'll fall in love with her and finally get laid and release some of that tension in your neck."

Regina crosses her arms defiantly, as would a child. "Elizabeth, be serious, please. She wants me to babysit." This seems to catch Elizabeth's interests, so Regina continues. "She responded that, even though, Emma might be around she does not want to burden her with Henry." The blonde nods, encouraging Regina to continue. "Which I mean, makes sense, in a way but that's her little brother and Henry wants nothing more than to become her friend but…"

Her best friend quickly interrupts her. "But you want to continue being apart of his life, even if that means shutting out the one person, he needs right now."

Regina bashfully nods. "Am I a horrible person for feeling this way?"

"No, you're just an overprotective human being who loves with all her heart."

"I suppose."

Elizabeth reclines on the bed, now lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling. "Just…if Emma is there, don't entirely shut her out or prevent her from taking care of Henry. She is his sister."

Regina sighs dramatically. "Whatever."

Elizabeth chuckles and suddenly remembers, why she ran over to their room. "Guess what, love?"

The brunette quirks an eyebrow, "What? Slept with your psych professor?"

Elizabeth narrows her eyes and sticks out her tongue. "No! But the thought has been entertained before."

"What is it, Eliz?"

"Remember that red head you drooled over in Spanish class?"

Regina rolls her eyes but nods. "Yes. I don't recall drooling but yes.

Elizabeth chuckles. "Well, she's in my Psych 101 class and surprisingly enough, we got paired together for this big project."

Regina pretends not to be interested by stealing her computer back and opening a new tab. Elizabeth pays her no mind and continues. "Well, as we left class, she rushes up to me and confesses why we got paired. First, she asked the professor to, and I was beyond flattered but Little Miss Red bruised my ego, by stating, she wanted to get an in, well because… she had been crushing on you since Spanish. Obviously her clichéd plan was to become friends with me and then I'd talk her up to you."

The brunette interrupts at this moment. "Obviously. Why did you not stick with the plan?"

Elizabeth sighs exasperatedly. "Because what fun would that be? I mean, I know you already like her or, at least, like her physical appearance. So why bother with all the games?

Regina only shrugs her response. The blonde props herself up on her elbows and stares at Regina's profile. "So will you go on a date now that the other party is interested?"

Her roommate/best friend chews on her lip, weighing the pros and cons. "I don't know, Eliz. I have so much…"

Elizabeth instantly shoots up and grabs Regina by the shoulders. "Are you mad, woman? This hot chick thinks you're hot. Someone you've had a not-so-secret crush on since last year. And you are going to past the opportunity because you have too much stuff happening?" She shakes her head in disbelief.

Regina attempts to say something but is then again interrupted by her best friend. "Seriously, Regina? Seize the moment! Carpe Diem. All that bull crap. You're always locked away doing work or babysitting. For Christ's Sake, live a fucking little. Or you know, hit it and quite it." Elizabeth adds with a devilish smile.

The brunette sighs and starts to play with her hair. A defense mechanism, when she needed more time to think. "Elizabeth…this isn't my thing. I don't go out on dates. Or do one-night stands. Not after…"

Elizabeth nods understandingly and comforts Regina by rubbing her shoulder. "I know, love. But it's over ten months and well time to move on. You'll never know what you're missing out, if you keep hiding in fear."

Regina drops her head on the blonde's shoulder and thinks about this whole situation. "I guess…" She mumbles quietly to herself.

Elizabeth quirks an eyebrow and pokes Regina in her side. "Couldn't hear you."

Trying to escape from her torture, Regina repeats herself. "I guess."

Knowing this means, yes, Elizabeth continues to poke and tickle Regina to receive a proper answer. "You guess? I'm gonna need a decent answer."

The brunette screws her face in, no doubt, pain from her assaults. "Elizabeth! Yes, yes, I'll go on a date with your lab partner."

"Yay! Okay, I'll text her you said yes." Elizabeth claps her hands with excitement before she digs in her pocket for her phone. Regina witnesses her thumbs move at a rate of a million miles per hour and wonders, if she's actually making the right decision. Elizabeth, after what seemed like five minutes, locks her phone and smiles childishly at Regina. The brunette narrows her eyes and purses her lips, knowing her best friend is up to something again. Neither woman says anything, until Regina's ringtone starts blaring from under the sheets. It happened to be Regina's ringtone for unknown numbers and she quirks an eyebrow, wondering who could have possibly attained her number? Elizabeth nudges her, in the side, prompting her to pick up. Wary about this, she slowly presses the answer and puts it on speaker. "Regina Mills, speaking."

Immediately the other end responds. "Wow, you sound so professional, like one of my professors."

Elizabeth giggles and Regina smacks her arm. "I'm afraid, I don't know who this is."

Regina can hear the girl take a pause. "I'm sorry, Regina. This is Alex. Alex from Spanish class or Elizabeth's new partner, Alex."

The brunette's eyes grow wider and she mouths a few inappropriate words to Elizabeth. "Oh, Alex, I did not expect a phone call so soon."

"Really? Elizabeth texted me you number and said to call you as soon as possible."

Elizabeth attempts to stifle her laughs as Regina rubs her temple. "Seems our friend cannot stay out of other people's affairs."

The girl, on the other end, produces a half-genuine chuckle and leaves the line dead for a few seconds. "What did you call for, dear?" Regina sensed the girl's nervousness and attempted to soothe her with a calming and reassuring tone.

"Right…umm…it's different when you have to actually ask the person. But would you do me the honors and let me take you on a date?"

Regina's entire face turns red and she lowers her head to hide it, though Elizabeth already caught it and Alex cannot see her. "It would be my pleasure."

Elizabeth giggles with excitement, covering her mouth with her hand, not wanting Alex to overhear her. Regina rolls her eyes and touches her own cheeks to see if they were still heated…indeed they were. Over the phone, Alex releases the loudest exhale which is followed by a smile. "It means a lot to my ego that you said yes."

Regina smirks. "Hopefully, you impress my enough on our date, so that I can boost it even more."

Elizabeth and Alex's jaws drop and the redhead fumbles to think of a decent response. "T-the stakes are high, I see."

"Indeed they are, my dear."

Alex nervously chews on the inner of her cheek. "I should not be surprised. Quite frankly, I believe flying you out to Paris, for a candlelight dinner would not be enough for a lady of your grace and beauty."

Regina chuckles at the girl's chivalry and sweetness. "If you were to do that, Alex, you'd have to book a room for us."

"A room?"

"Yes, love, a room. So I may fully express my gratitude for such a lovely, yet clichéd date."

Elizabeth, herself, starts to blush and shakes her head at Regina's lack of boundaries. Alex, however, does not seem fazed by this and quickly responds. "Paris maybe the city of lovers, Regina, but I don't strip until the third date."

Regina faintly smiles and Elizabeth groans loudly, in pain. "That's enough before the talk goes from PG-13 to NR." Alex audibly chokes when she hears Elizabeth's voice over the phone. She interprets Regina and Elizabeth having a faint quarrel and then the audio becomes muffled. Less than a minute passes before the redhead hears, "Get off me!" and a heavy pant close to her ears.

"Sorry about that, Alex. Elizabeth is basically my sister I never wanted." Regina says between breaths.

"I completely understand. I have five sisters."

"Shall we talk later? I still need to get this whale off of me." From the other end, Alex manages to hear Elizabeth squeal, "Hey!" and possibly smack Regina's leg.

"I'd like that. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you sound like how you might, after the stay in Paris."

Regina bites her lip and smirks. "Only if you do your job right." Alex blushes, once more, and bides a farewell to Regina before closing the line. Regina chuckles knowing she won the upper hand on their first conversation, she locks her phone and settles with a sigh. After Elizabeth and Regina's battle, the blonde ended up on stop of Regina, straddling her back. The brunette, at the moment, does not attempt to overthrow Elizabeth and crosses her arms in front of her, creating a makeshift pillow. Elizabeth gently nudges her in the back and Regina groans her response. Elizabeth rolls her eyes and again nudges Regina with more force than first. The woman underneath her does not bother to respond and pretends to be sleeping.

Elizabeth annoyingly whines and pokes Regina. "Stop ignoring me!"

Her arms hide Regina's smile. "I'm not ignoring you."

"Yes, you are. You were pretending to be asleep and won't talk to me about your little conversation."

"That does not equivocate to me ignoring you. And I'm a private person. Can't a woman have her secrets?" She smirks, knowing what Elizabeth's response might be.

Elizabeth loudly scoffs. "A woman can, yes. You cannot. Anyway, your conversation was on speaker for the entire time. Even when things started getting sexual."

"Things were not getting sexual. You're always misinterpreting things. We were having a friendly conversation and talking about our date."

"Regina Mills…I am not in the mood to argue with you. You…intelligent, cunning, beautiful woman." Elizabeth crosses her arms as she breathes out her sentence.

Regina giggles at Elizabeth's attempts at staying mad at her. "Why thank you, Elizabeth. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to take me out on a date."

"Shut up." Elizabeth responds while nudging Regina's back. She releases a small yawn. "If I get off of you…will you cuddle with me?"

Regina rolls her eyes but nods. "Yes. I will cuddle with my twenty year old best friend." Her response laced with a hint of sassiness.

Elizabeth giggles and quickly removes herself from Regina's back. The brunette lets out a moan of comfort and rolls on her back, stretching her legs and arms. "You are a lot heavier than you look."

Her best friend doesn't bother to respond but sticks her tongue out. She lies next to Regina, gently resting her head on the woman's chest and throws an arm over her torso. Regina softly smiles and sets a hand on Elizabeth's back and proceeds to draw soft circles over it, knowing this tended to calm her and easily put her to sleep.

Elizabeth lowly purrs and pulls herself closer to Regina comfort while tightening her arm around the brunette. "Regina?"

"Yes?"

"Don't give up on love. Okay? I know it's easy to overwhelm yourself and make excuses about not having time. But you're an extremely special person and someone should be lucky enough to experience all the love you can give and you need to be treated like a fucking queen. You basically act like one."

Regina chuckles at Elizabeth's last statement but thinks seriously about what she just said. Love is a tricky thing. Relationships go two ways, either you marry them or break up. She never liked those odds because Regina loves love. And she can't imagine giving herself completely over to one person and then maybe a week, month, or year later, that love is gone. The young woman had avoided love for quite some time, she did meet someone, and they did quickly hit it off but Regina could not commit. She cared for the person but such a time of her life, the brunette believed it only to be lust, not love. She believed it to be the right person but the wrong timing. Currently, Regina regrets her decision and wished she could have taken it back and in their arms but as her father says, "Hija, no te preocupes. Todo pasan por una razón."

She faintly smiles and kisses Elizabeth's forehead, responding with the simplest answer, "Okay."