AN: This is the last chapter. I hope you like it!


Emma still didn't know what to say or how to feel. The book had made her hope. Hope for something that she hadn't seriously dared hope before. She was currently staring at nothing in particular in Regina's kitchen as her mind was racing a thousand miles per minute. She finally moved from her frozen state, though, and started cleaning up the kitchen, deciding it was better for her to do something than just to sit alone with her thoughts, waiting for Regina to arrive in her study. Even though Regina had said she would come down after putting Henry to bed, Emma now suspected she had wanted to talk to Henry in private about what had happened. The kid hardly needed to be tucked into bed anymore.

Emma wasn't sure what Regina talking to Henry first meant. Was Regina upset the book had said something like that? Did she want to make sure that Henry had no false hope for his parents getting together before breaking the news to Emma, too? Or… maybe... What if Regina wanted to make sure that Henry was okay with everything before starting to pursue something with Emma?

No, that couldn't have been it. There was no reason to take that book's version of Regina's story as the absolute truth. None.

Would Regina think the whole thing was ridiculous? Probably. That had to be it. She just wanted to tell Henry first.

Emma sighed. She had finished loading the dishwasher and cleaning the kitchen, but there was still no sign of Regina. Maybe this was her cue to leave.

Just as she started to contemplate whether she should stay waiting a little while longer or not, she heard familiar steps descending the stairs in distance. Emma gulped. She didn't have any idea what to say to Regina.

Regina emerged in the doorway, not looking at Emma in the eye first, and then finally raising her gaze as she spoke.

"Henry's asleep."

"Oh, good, the kid's had a long day," she answered. Her mouth was dry, and she really hoped Regina would say something because she honestly had no idea what–

"Apple cider?" Regina asked.

"You got anything stronger?" Emma responded, unable to help herself. Regina let out a small laugh and her lips curved into a smile. Emma relaxed a little bit. Regina wasn't upset with her, at least, nor was she pushing her away either.

"I think you know I do. Come," Regina beckoned at her, and she followed the brunette into her study once again.

"So, Henry told me I should have a talk with you," Regina mentioned as she poured the remains of the wine bottle from that night into two glasses, telling her they ought to finish the wine first. Emma took the glass Regina handed her. She didn't need to think more thoroughly what Henry had said: It had most likely been him talking about true love and everything making so much sense now.

She took a big gulp of the wine she was holding. Regina looked so relaxed. Or maybe she didn't; the woman was uncharacteristically playing with the glass in her hands, but compared to how Emma was feeling, Regina looked extremely calm.

"So, any thoughts on the book, Emma?" Regina asked, her voice so awfully neutral that Emma couldn't get a clue what she would say next. For a person who had been making her living reading people, she really sucked at it tonight. Her own emotions were getting in the way, and she didn't dare hope for something that wouldn't happen.

"Unexpected," she responded and took another gulp. The glass was almost empty again. She should've really gotten her act together; she must look like a nervous mess, but the alcohol was starting to have an effect on her and she didn't care about her appearance that much anymore. She just wanted to run and avoid rejection. That was what she was good at, anyway.

"Henry doesn't think so," Regina said and sipped her wine.

"Well, he's always had a really vivid imagination," Emma replied, trying to hide the fact that the book had shown her exactly what she really wanted. She felt like her feelings were out in the open without her consent, and she didn't like it.

"He pointed out that you possess all the qualities I said I was looking for in a partner," Regina continued so nonchalantly that it really started to irk Emma. "And that we share a child already. Not to mention," Regina paused as if to remember how Henry had expressed his thoughts, "us smiling at each other like his grandparents do."

Suddenly her overwhelming feelings and those few glasses of wine got to Emma, and she hid her face behind her hands as she groaned and fought tears. She couldn't look at Regina.

"You know what, Regina, just say how ridiculous all of this is and get it over with, because I can't take this anymore. After that, I can go home and we can forget this ever happened and maybe laugh about it twenty years later." She let her hands drop, but she still kept her eyes closed. She could feel a tear on her cheek, but she couldn't bring herself to care anymore. She was tired and slightly drunk and felt humiliated.

"So," she could hear Regina say as she still kept her eyes closed, not ready to face the woman next to her just yet. "Henry told me that what I feel for you is more than obvious, but I don't think you'd agree, judging by the reaction you're having just now. I'm starting to think that you do, in fact, reciprocate my feelings, though, which I didn't believe when Henry first told me about his assumption."

The words finally hit her and she opened her eyes… If what Regina was implying was true, then…

"Welcome back," Regina said and beamed at her just like she had in the woods over a year ago when they had come back to Storybrooke through the portal. Regina raised her hand to Emma's face and brushed away a streak of tears, her brown eyes never leaving Emma's.

But this was too good to be true, really. This just couldn't happen to Emma. The events of that night must've confused Regina and that was why she was acting this way.

"Regina," she said as she could feel the upcoming words break her heart already. "I know that you want a happy ending, but it's okay it's not with me. You saw it in a book. You want to believe in it. But I don't wanna be another lion tattoo and the reason for this to be just because some book said so. You deserve to make your own choices."

Regina looked at her, her hand still on her cheek. "Then why can't I make this choice?" Regina paused and continued after taking a deep breath. "I don't want this just because some book told me. I've wanted this longer than that."

"Why on Earth would you even want me?"

The words left her mouth before she could stop herself. Regina's hand pulled away as her face scrunched in confusion.

"Are you really asking that?" Regina looked genuinely confused, which made Emma want to laugh. Of course she did. She had felt unwanted her entire life, an orphan no one wanted nor needed when something better came along.

"I am at fault of most of the misery in your life, and you think I'm too good for you?" Regina stopped and waited for a response, but since Emma failed to give one, the woman just shook her head. "I can't believe this… Emma, you are worthy and you are more than I could ever ask for. You gave me the greatest thing I've ever had in my life, our son, and I'd gladly spend the rest of my life making up for the things I am guilty of inflicting."

Emma was left speechless. Maybe… just maybe…

"You really mean that?" she finally managed to say. She also wanted to point out that Regina alone was hardly the reason for the things that had happened to her and it was more complicated than that, but no sound came out of her.

"I do," Regina said as she took her hand in hers. Emma still had her doubts, but Regina had been convincing, and the woman's words brought a smile on her lips.

She let go of Regina's hand and brought her arms around the woman to hug her. She felt like this had been long overdue: they had been friends for ages and had never shared a hug. She wrapped her arms around Regina tighter when Regina welcomed the hug and brought her arms around Emma, too.

Emma felt so safe and so right, and she really didn't want to let go, smelling Regina's perfume and feeling her body against hers. Since Regina didn't seem to mind her clinging onto her for a little bit longer, she pulled her closer and heard Regina let out a content sigh. As she finally let go, Regina's nose brushed against her cheek, and she was soon overthrown by the close proximity of their faces.

After a few seconds of estimating the situation, she closed the little distance that was still left between them and brought her lips to Regina's. Regina responded to the kiss by bringing her arms to her neck and pulling her closer, which made Emma's heart jump out of joy. She grinned into the kiss, unable to believe this was actually happening. It all seemed like a dream too good to be true.

Regina broke the kiss and brought a hand to Emma's face, brushing away the leftovers of her now non-existent tears.

"How are you feeling?" Regina asked, her eyes studying her face.

Emma couldn't contain a small laugh. "I'm pretty good. You?"

"Yes, I'm quite happy we finally talked about this," Regina said, showing her that brightest smile that melted her heart.

"Yeah, me too. We should probably thank the kid tomorrow," she thought out loud. Who knew how long it would've taken them to get here without Henry's assistance. Would either of them have even spoken about their feelings? Emma guessed that she might've eventually slipped if their nights as drinking buddies had become a common occurrence.

"Yes, we should," Regina said, still smiling. Emma interlaced their fingers and brought her lips to Regina's once more, feeling happier than she had in a long time.


I was gonna publish this later, but I decided I wanna finish this before going on a weekend trip on my birthday, because I really don't wanna start a new year of my life with this story still unfinished, haha.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it! Leave a review, maybe (reviews make me smile and it's my birthday on the 6th, so please :D)? Constructive criticism is always appreciated, too, especially since this chapter wasn't beta-read and English (still) isn't my first language.

You can find me on tumblr at queenssaviour (don't forget the 'u' there) in case anyone's interested. Have a great weekend! :)