Chapter 4

"What are friends for?"

"Are we?" Frowning slightly, the professor looks intrigued. "Are we friends?"

"I'd like to think so" Emma confesses while looking away embarrassed.

Placing her mug beside the blonde's on the table, Regina reaches across for the woman's hand, giving it a squeeze between her own. "Then we are"

Turning back to the brunette, the blonde then glances towards their hands and takes a deep breath. "Regina, I need to tell you something..."

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Frowning in concern over the blonde's nervous state, Regina keeps hold of the woman's hand in hope of giving some form of comfort and ease. "Go on.."

"I erm..I..wasn't completely honest before..when I said that i..didn't like you that way" Trying her best to avoid the brunette's gaze, Emma glances towards her lap.

Screwing her nose slightly, something which the blonde tries not to look at finding it cute, the professor comments. "I'm afraid I don't understand.."

"That whole rambling moment in the elevator on Saturday..I lied because you caught me...I was flirting with you and I panicked when you brought it up so I decided to defuse the subject completely..but the truth is I..do like you and the reason I am being honest now is because I don't think I can be friends with you based on a lie"

Raising an eyebrow surprised, Regina replies. "Oh Emma..I..I do like you just..i don't think-"

"It's okay, you don't have to say anymore, I get it. You're not interested but I hope we can still be friends" feeling deflated, the blonde bites her lip to stop a pout.

"No..it's not..that I..I just think with our professional relationship, that this would be..I mean..it would.." Continuing to look towards Emma, the brunette is a loss for words witnessing the blonde's rejected expression. Shaking her head briefly, the professor leans her head forward then lifts the younger woman's chin. Muttering a quick 'forgive me', Regina presses her lips lightly against Emma's then goes to draw back but is prevented as a pair of hands take hold against her waist to bring her closer, deepening the kiss. Moving back once again when air becomes an issue, the brunette looks slightly stunned towards the blonde and gulps. "I..I want to regret that but..I really can't.."

Letting out a small laugh at seeing Regina give a smile at her statement, the blonde clears her throat then stares at the woman. "So..."

"I should leave.." Standing rather quickly not trusting herself around the young woman, the professor glances down to meet Emma's slightly sad gaze. "This place is for you to..study not.."

"Make out with the professor?" Emma completes the older woman's sentence bluntly.

Cringing a little, Regina nods. "I just..I want you to succeed.."

Noticing the cringe and feeling bad for making the brunette feel that way, the blonde reaches out to loosely take her dangling hand. "And I will.." Smiling, the blonde lets go then reaches for the nearest textbook on the coffee table.

Watching briefly, the brunette then leaves with conflicting thoughts on how much she cares for Emma and wishes for more.

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Unfortunately for Emma, Regina was a no show during class on Tuesday and she prayed that everything was okay with the brunette's father. When the evening came around and despite having a very boring substitute professor for the lecture, the blonde had found herself back at the Mills apartment, finishing every piece of work she could find into the early hours before sneaking back home. Something she still found comical, a grown woman having to sneak into her own house in case her father notices she was home late from the library.

After meeting with Ruby for a much needed coffee Wednesday morning, Emma strolled slowly into class in no mood for the boring lecture she was about to endure.

"Oh..looks like it won't be as boring as yesterday after all.."

Snapping out of her tired daze, the blonde looks towards her brunette friend then over towards the desk to find Regina sat behind it sorting out today's plan and moving items on her desk which had been moved yesterday much to her dislike. "Oh.." Following Ruby to their desks, Emma sits down while keeping her eyes trained on the older woman at the front.

Shuffling some papers, the professor lifts her head to begin her lecture and let's out a small subtle smile upon seeing the blonde stare at her. "I must apologise for my absence yesterday as I had to take a personal day but I am now back and I do hope you will all stay focused with me today after your very..interesting lecture yesterday. Having read the notes, even I would have fell asleep.." Hearing the class give a small laugh, the brunette nods then turns to the board. "Okay let's get started...

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As the class collect their belongings, Emma whispers towards her friend to go on ahead then makes her way up to the desk slowly, tilting her head to watch the rest of the students leave.

"Emma?"

Turning back to the brunette stood behind her desk, the blonde questions in concern. "Is everything okay with your father? You weren't in and I thought..are you okay?"

Chuckling lightly at the rush of questions, Regina takes the blondes arm to encourage the young woman to take a deep breath. "I was off because of my father but he is fine. My mother simply needed some support as he will be discharged by the end of the week..as for me? I'm just a little tired"

Visibly relaxing with a sigh of a relief, Emma gives a small smile. "Okay.."

"Okay" smiling back, the professor begins packing up her desk silently. Watching for a moment, the blonde bites her lip then heads towards the door. Pausing, Regina looks across to see what she assumed was Emma leaving the class only to watch the blonde close the door then lock it tight. "Emma what are you doing?"

Heading back to the older woman, the blonde circles the brunette's desk then stands before her. "I just needed to.."

Seeing the young woman move forward, Regina goes to protest. "Emma I don't think that we should-" feeling a pair of arms engulf her into a tight hug, the brunette stops talking and gradually lifts her arms up to hold onto Emma's back.

"I'm glad you're okay, and your father..I just thought..I know I needed this, maybe you did too.."

Clinging slightly, taking a chance by burying her face into the blondes shoulder, the professor nods against her as she takes in a deep breath, gaining the smell of the young woman's natural vanilla scent. Feeling Emma's arms loosen and disappear from her back, Regina looks up at seeing the blonde move away. With no hesitation, the brunette quickly leans forward and kisses her while reaching for the young woman's face.

Stumbling slightly not expecting it, Emma places a hand briefly onto the older woman's desk and kisses back before shifting closer again, locking her hands together around the brunette's waist. Slowing down with a couple of pecks, Regina disconnects their lips then rests her forehead against Emma's with a sigh before confessing in a whisper. "I can't not do this.."

"I don't see why not. We are both consenting adults? It's not illegal" without moving, the blonde locks eyes with the brunette with a smile. "I want this..with you"

"Me too"

Pecking her lips, Emma moves back again but slides her hand into Regina's, linking their fingers tightly together. "Now this is the part where I go all responsible as it's usually you. I guess I have taken a page out of your book because I have all the work you set out completed"

Frowning, the professor looks confused. "I gave you work to last you at least until next week.."

Shrugging, the blonde bites her lip. "I wanted to get it done for you and for me..I just..having that other professor yesterday made me realise how much you are actually helping me with my studies and you make me want to learn. Yes I have this dream to be somebody but I know for a fact that I won't be able to do it without you through my studies and by my side"

Stroking Emma's cheek with her thumb in awe, Regina responses. "And now you have exhausted yourself. I understand your motive but you need to take your time. Did you even sleep last night?"

"About an hour..."

"Emma.."

"I know! But now it's done..so..here" having to take her hand back, the blonde reaches in her bag and passes all the papers, placing them on the desk. "Now I have to go collect my textbooks from the apartment, there is only so many times I can use, I left them at the library as an excuse"

Realising, the brunette looks worried. "Emma your father..I don't think he would be happy if it finds out something is happening between us. He doesn't even like you going to the library without some deadline to be home. I don't want you hurt because of me"

"What?"

"I just..does he?..I need to know and I promise you can tell me anything..does he hurt you?"

"No. I told you..he's just..protective" the young woman explains with a frown. "He always has been..I'm not entirely sure why but..yeah.."

"Okay. Well like I said, anything.." Regina looks serious then takes hold of the blondes papers to put in her case. "Are you going to the apartment now? If so I'll follow you"

Raising an eyebrow, the blonde tries to hide a smirk. "Haven't you got your own place to mark papers?"

"Yes but..maybe we could work together" the professor goes coy as she grabs her jacket and bag.

Making her way towards the door and quickly unlocking it, Emma smiles then holds the door open. "Maybe we can"

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Having parked both cars, the two women head up the elevator towards the apartment.

"Emma, I'm sorry to have to do this but..I'm afraid you're going to have to go back to studying at the library for a little while..now that my parents are in town and my father needs his rest, they need to apartment. I did insist on them staying with me as my house is most certainly big enough but..like i stated before they are stubborn.."

Listening to the older woman, Emma opens the apartment door. "It's fine, I don't want your father's recovery to suffer because I've taken the apartment and I can always use the house..you don't need to worry about me-"

"Regina? is that you dear?"

Sharing a look, the blonde gulps as Cora walks through from the corridor before spotting her textbooks neatly stacked on the table. Looking between the two women, the older woman raises an eyebrow. "I'm clearly missing something, I thought you weren't friends?" Teasing Regina after picking up on her daughter's feelings at the hospital, Cora smirks.

"We are..I mean..it's complicated.." The brunette nervously replies while looking at her mother.

"Complicated enough that you bring her here?" Gesturing towards the books, the older woman smiles towards Emma. "I see you have made yourself at home.."

"It's not- Mrs Mills, your daughter has been giving me some extra help with my studies. I have no where stable enough to do so and she offered the use of the apartment as you were away. I promise I haven't broken anything or moved anything..I just study.."

Seeing the blondes panicked expression, Cora takes her forearm. "Calm yourself child, i was only messing with you. However, I will need the apartment back"

Nodding, the blonde smiles. "Regina was just telling me.."

"Regina is it?"

Biting her lip coyly, Emma glances towards the younger brunette.

Rolling her eyes, understanding, Regina lightly places a hand to the blondes lower back discreetly. "Mother stop tormenting.."

Shrugging innocently, Cora smiles. "I have set up our room for when your father returns and I have just made some dinner which I need to take up to the hospital, you know your father and hospital food. There is extra left in the pot so why don't you two finish it off?"

"Thank you Mrs Mills but I will just take my books and be gone" Emma states while reaching for her books, hugging them to her chest.

"Oh..well maybe we could all have dinner another time?" Taking her coat and bag, Cora reaches for the tupperware box and opens the front door. "I will see you later dear and it was nice to meet you again Emma.." With a nod, the older brunette leaves.

Closing the door behind her mother, Regina turns towards the blonde sadly. "Do you have to go?"

"I don't have to I just..I thought you would want to get started on your marking and get home.." Emma responds while staring back.

Letting out a small scoff, the brunette strolls up to the younger woman slowly and pouts. "Home..to an empty house.." Shaking her head, the professor takes the books from the blondes grasp and settles them back on the table before taking one of Emma's hands. "I think we have both been alone long enough.."

Allowing her free hand to reach out, taking hold of the back of Regina's head and tangling her fingers within the brunette's hair, the blonde leans forward and presses a kiss to the older woman's forehead. "You could be right"

A/N: like it so far? Also apologies for the lack of update just..you know I kinda met Lana and Rebecca this weekend :p most adorable pair of dorks ever!