Chapter 4: So We're Doing This?

Emma took the diner steps two at a time, and scanned up and down the block for Regina. She easily found her walking away towards the mansion. She immediately called out and ran to catch up to her.

"Regina, hold up! Please slow down!"

Emma caught up, but Regina never did slow down or turn around. They now walked side by side at a very brisk pace.

"Regina, please slow down. Or stop. Stopping would be better. And why didn't you drive?"

She only slowed down, not willing to stop or meet Emma's gaze. "I walked this morning because I thought I needed time to think before I did something rash. Clearly, I didn't do enough walking or thinking."

"Regina, wait. Please look at me." She quickly stepped in front of her, and held her by the arms.

"Emma, please. Just let me go. I feel foolish enough. I just want to go home."

Emma bent down, meeting Regina's eyes and noticing for the first time that she had been crying. Her eyes were red, her cheeks flushed, and her makeup was starting to smear.

"Regina, why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a fool, Emma! I just made a fool of myself back there! Please let me go, and let's forget this morning ever happened."

Emma stepped in closer, and gently wiped the tears away. She softly smiled as Regina finally looked up. She let herself get lost in Regina's warm, brown eyes that now looked painfully sad, and silently hoped she'd never see her cry again, unless they were happy tears. She held Regina's face as she spoke.

"Regina, I can't let you forget this morning."

"Why not?"

"Because this is the morning when I finally make a choice for myself. My choice to be with the woman that I've been in love with for forever."

She felt, more than heard Regina's gasp, and she was back to crying again. Emma chuckled, and pulled her into her arms. She held on until the crying subsided.

She whispered, "Who knew the Queen was such a crier?"

Regina shook a little – was that a giggle? – and slapped at Emma's shoulder as they held each other. When she did pull herself away, she took a deep breath, and with a wave of her hand, her makeup was back to being flawless. "Don't you dare breath a word of this, Miss Swan."

"Not a word, but you forget. I've been around for movie nights at the Mills household. You're a sucker for romantic comedies, Madame Mayor."

She tried to suppress a smile, but lost, as Emma grinned brightly at her. They stared at each other for a few, long minutes, taking each other in, and forgetting about their surroundings. Emma finally shook herself free, and pulled them around the corner and away from the main street in Storybrooke.

They stood close, in each other's space, as they both spoke at the same time.

"So..."

"So…"

"So we're doing this? You and me?" Emma motioned between the two of them.

"This," Regina repeated the hand gesture, "has been going for a while."

Emma nodded, "It has been, and I'm so sorry that I never said anything."

"It wasn't just you Emma, but last night, you broke my heart. I couldn't let you think that Hook was your only option."

Emma pulled her close, "Thank God for that!" She was distracted by having the brunette in her arms again. She breathed in Regina's perfume, admired her flawless skin, the slight scar above her lip, and brown eyes that were getting darker and darker the longer they stood in their impromptu embrace.

Regina gently broke the spell and took a small step back. She cleared her throat.

"So yes, Miss Swan, we can do this just as soon as you say good-bye to that pirate of…"

Emma held up a hand, interrupting her. "Already done." Regina raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

She continued. "I don't think I left much doubt as I ran out of the diner. I believe I said something like, 'She's always been Regina to me, and I love her.' Or something like that."

She wasn't sure what possessed her – maybe it was Emma's confession, or that she could finally act on her feelings – but she pushed Emma hard up against the nearest wall. They landed with a loud thud. Regina's look was unabashedly sexy, and Emma felt her body respond immediately. Her breathing became labored, and she felt a pull deep in her belly that was moving throughout her body.

"Or something like that?" Regina whispered, her voice low and sultry.

"That's what I said," Emma swallowed hard. "I love you, Regina." She held Regina's eyes for a few more minutes. Again, the street noise around them reminded them of where they were. Emma reluctantly pulled Regina away, but she didn't let her go. The air around them remained charged and electric. Both women smiled knowingly. Maybe it was their magic, pent-up emotions, or their recent confessions, but whenever they did get together, it would be wild and powerful, exhilarating and exhausting. They just knew it.

Emma looked around as she spoke, "We should really go somewhere – before we start to blow shit up."

Regina laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Granny's?" she asked, looking down the block from where they had just been. Before Regina could answer, she turned and looked in the opposite direction. "Or your place?"

"I'd like to be alone…with you, Miss Swan." She stepped forward, sliding her hand down Emma's arm, weaving their fingers together. The blonde looked down at their joined hands, admiring how well they fit together, and smiled. How could they have not know? How could they have waited so long?

She brought her gaze up to meet Regina's warm, brown eyes as she spoke. "I'd like that." She stepped back to begin their walk, but Regina held her ground.

"I can think of a quicker way," Regina smiled, as she released her hand and pulled Emma close, her hand resting on the small of Emma's back.

In the brunette's arms, Emma smiled shyly. "I always dreamt of this."

"Of this?" She looked down at their bodies pressed together. "We've used magic to transport ourselves before?"

"I know. But I've fantasized being in your arms, being this close, when we poofed somewhere together."

She smiled at Emma's confession, then looked away with a crooked grin. "Well, this is a first for me too, Miss Swan."

"Really?"

"It's true. It's the first time I've had to practice magic with someone's hand on my ass."

Emma grinned back at Regina's raised eyebrow, and leaned in, whispering in her ear, "Well, you better get used to it, your majesty."

Regina felt herself warm and her heartbeat quicken at the blonde's low, throaty voice in her ear. She smiled and raised her lips to Emma's covering them softly and sweetly. Their kiss deepened and became more urgent as Regina's magic swirled around them.

Yes, she could definitely get used to this.

The End