Author's Notes: Hi everyone! I know I know, I need to update more often. But I'm doing the best I can with my schedule. I'll try to do better. :) I can't believe this story has gotten over 200 reviews! That is awesome! I am so grateful and honored! I hope you enjoy this chapter. All feedback is welcomes.

Chapter 7: Rise and Shine and Share


With hazy vision, Regina Mills opened her eyes. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes again as the dull ache of a headache started to set in. She moved to rub her forehead, but noticed that her left arm wasn't working as she commanded. It was then that she noticed a faint, warm, and steady heat against her neck. She pried her eyes open again, peaking down to see a blonde hair splattered across her shoulder.

"Emma?" Regina asked softly, even though it wasn't a doubt in her mind that it was in fact Emma Swan cuddled up to her side, her face buried in her neck. And….her hand resting on the bare skin of Regina's stomach. Quickly, Regina used her free arm to clutch at her chest. A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she realized that she in fact had on a shirt that must have ridden up in her sleep.

Her mind replayed the events of the night before her weary eyes as if on fast-forward. Margaritas. Emma in a bathing suit. Hot tub and chess. Emma looking really good in a bathing suit. Margaritas. Some silly television show with zombies. More margaritas. Video games. Tequila shots. Ice Cream. Wait, Emma had fed her ice cream?

Emma stirred beside her, and despite her headache Regina almost smirked. She'd had her fair share of what she liked to call Coyote Morning moments. She'd change the name from Coyote Ugly, because Regina Mills never went to bed with someone not attractive. The only thing physically undesirable about her bed mate would be that they were physically still in her bed.

In spite of her bed mate being her stalker, Regina had no desire to chew off her arm. One reason being she liked her arm very much. The second reason being, like it or not she was stuck in Storybrooke until her deal with Emma was done and she couldn't just disappear. Thirdly, if Regina was correct, she and Emma hadn't actually had sex, but instead had simply shared a bed. And lastly, Emma was definitely not physically undesirable and even Regina's hung over body could feel that.

It had been a couple weeks since Regina's last relationship, and her response to Emma's closeness was surely partly to do to that fact. There was a hitch in her breathe, as Emma's thigh moved over hers…alerting Regina to the fact that their legs were intertwined.

"Why must everyone be a cuddler." She muttered and looked up at the ceiling. But when Emma nuzzled Regina's neck, and her mouth slightly grazed her skin, it all became a little too much. She quickly rolled from under Emma, but with a little too much gusto and ended up falling off the bed.

All the movement and the loud thud roused a sleeping Emma. Sleepily, she lifted her head and blue-green eyes grew wide when she recognized her surroundings. She sat up. "Oh, shit…"

"Indeed…" She heard a voice respond.

Emma clamored to the side of the bed to see Regina lying flat on her back. Her forearm was resting over her eyes.

"Did you fall off the bed?"

"Of course not, I'm simply doing a set of sit-ups. It's part of my morning routine."

Emma yawned with a half-smile. "I don't believe you."

"It's the story I'm sticking with."

"Then I guess that's what happened." The blonde teased. "After you fell off the bed."

Regina groaned in response, too tired to argue.

"Hung over?"

"I'm not a frat boy, despite the adolescent activities of last night."

"I can see that." Emma eyes roamed over the tight t-shirt that clung to a very bra-less Regina. "And I can see that you're hung over too."

"Call it whatever you want." She moved her arm to reveal dark brown eyes tinged with red.

Emma laughed. "Hung over. I told you I make the best margaritas."

"I demand a toxicology report."

"Are you insinuating that I slipped something into your drink?"

"I wouldn't put it pass you."

"Figures…" Emma swung her legs over the side of the bed and then pushed to her shaky feet. Her head was pounding.

"It was a joke, Ms. Swan."

"A bad one."

"Perhaps." She extended her hand to Emma. "A little help?"

"You're done with your sit-ups?"

"Ha ha." Regina retorted. Emma grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet as well. A bit unsteady, Regina fell into Emma, who caught her around the waist.

Emma pushed back thick hair out of the other woman's face. "Ok?" Regina just nodded with their continued eye contact. Even first thing in the morning with a hangover, she's still beautiful.

Dark eyebrows drew together in deep concentration. "Unless you plan on doing the waltz, you can let me go." Regina said, not liking the reaction of her body once again that morning to Emma's nearness.

"Oh, yeah sorry…" Emma barely moved.

"You're still holding me."

"I know."

"So let me go."

"I will."

"When?"

Emma gathered her courage and took a deep breathe. "Did we have sex?"

Regina scowled. "I would laugh in your face, if I didn't think my head would explode from the pressure."

"That's not an answer."

"Ever heard of context clues?"

"Meaning?"

"We're fully clothed."

"But not wearing underwear?"

Regina sighed. "And do I look like I'm basking in the afterglow?"

Emma tilted her head. "I can't say that you do. Maybe I was just that bad." She blushed a bit. "...I hear that alcohol can affect…."

"You really don't remember?"

Emma shook her head. Last night was a blotchy string of memories. The ending flash was looking into Regina's peaceful sleeping face.

"Then there's your answer."

"What?"

"If you'd actually had sex with me there is no way you would have forgotten it."

"I just love your confidence…" Regina smirked at the comment. "I mean I like it…I like your confidence."

"I am very confident in my skills, Emma. Not that you'll ever experience them."

"You know for someone constantly telling me that we'll never sleep together…you bring it up like a lot."

"I did not…you asked…" Regina huffed. "Never mind. Please release me."

"Oh, yeah sure." This time Emma actually moved away. "Thanks for clearing that up you know….I'm relieved."

Regina's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying you're relieved we didn't…"

"Yeah, I am." She whistled and playfully wiped imaginary sweat off her brow.

"I see." Regina took a step back. "I feel the same way."

Emma laughed. "Oh my God, you're totally offended by that. Aren't you?"

"No, of course not." Regina insisted she went in search of her phone. "What time is it?"

"I didn't mean it like that." Emma walked behind her and turned her around.

"Well exactly what did you mean?" Regina tried to pull back the pout that was forcing its way to her lips. Why the hell do I care that she's so relieved that she didn't actually have sex with me! She should be so lucky!

"Look, on some level I am disappointed I suppose. Because well…I would totally welcome the knowledge of knowing that I was with you. I would be an idiot not to. You don't have to explain your skills to me professor…I can only imagine." She gave a shy smile. "But I'm relieved because if I had been with you, it would have felt like shit not to remember such a memorable event." She hunched. "It's something that I want to remember in bold colors and HD or something. No highlights…I want the whole game…even the overtime."

A second or two ticked by, Regina folded her arms. "You talk too much, you know that?"

"I do."

"And for once I'm able to unscramble your words." She cleared her throat and lifted her chin a bit. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."


"Emma did not sleep in her bed." Mary-Margaret whispered as if she and David were not the only ones at the kitchen table.

"Maybe she got up early." David rationalized and glad he hadn't mentioned seeing Emma and Regina in the kitchen in the wee hours of that morning. His wife didn't need any more tidbits to overload her already racing mind.

"No she…" She took a deep breathe. "…slept in Regina's room. I saw them"

"What do you mean you saw them?"

"I went to wake Emma up, and found her bed not slept in. So curiosity got the better of me, and I only meant to walk pass the guest room, but the door was open."

"So you peeked in?"

"There was no peeking David, the door was wide open and there they were sleep in the bed. All cuddled up like Meredith and Derek from Grey's Anatomy."

"Must everything come back to Grey's Anatomy?" David laughed.

"It's a great show David. Granted, not what it is use to be. But wait, maybe I should compare them to Callie and Arizona? You think?"

"Honey, I don't think we should be comparing them to anyone or talking about this. They are both adults."

"But David, this is our house. And they aren't married nor have they had a commitment ceremony. We just met the woman…"

"But Emma hasn't."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, it's their business. We should probably leave it at that."

"We're going to be late." Henry announced as he entered the kitchen.

"No, we're not." David insisted as he watched his son phenomenally not bump into anything as he played his handheld video game.

"Pancake breakfast starts at 9am. Emma and her girlfriend are probably still asleep. They were up late, I heard them."

David and Mary-Margaret exchanged an anxious glance. "What do you mean you heard them?"

"I came down last night for some water…"

"Umm Henry." David interrupted

"What?" Henry paused. "They were in the basement…I heard them through the vents. I think they were playing that Michael Jackson game on the Wii. I can't get that stupid song Thriller out of my head. Emma thinks she's the Goddess of that game or something."

"Because I am the Goddess of that game kid." Emma declared as she walked into the kitchen and ruffled Henry's hair. "Morning everyone." She tried to sound chipper, the Midol was kicking in for the headache.

"Sleep good?" Mary-Margaret asked, barely able to meet her daughter's eyes.

"Pretty good. We were up pretty late, so I hope there's plenty of coffee brewing."

"Sure." David got up to fetch the steaming pot. "How was the hot tub Em? I umm saw the light from the patio last night."

Mary Margaret gave him a knowing look that Emma missed. "Awesome. She still heats up good."

Her mother eyes went wide. "Emma!"

"What?"

David shook his head at this wife. "Yeah, I still can't believe that hot tub still works. We got that thing when you were a baby."

"I know right."

"Is Regina coming down soon?" Her mother asked.

"I suppose so. I suspect she's pretty worn out as well."

"Emma!"

"What?"

"Context clues, Emma." A velvety voice said. "You're not very good at getting them or giving them?" Regina Mills stood in the doorway. She wore a snug dark green long sleeved cotton shirt and dark blue high-wasted flare leg jeans. The brunette stood a slight bit taller today, with her leather and tiled pumps. A wide art brown leather braided belt hung with feminine flare around her hips. It reminded Emma little of a gun hustler. She clutched a dark green satchel bag in one hand. Regina's hair was bobby pinned up in an up do, with long side-wept bangs.

"You did remember we were going to a pancake breakfast?" Emma asked noting that Regina had just raised the bar for fabulous.

"How can I forget?" Regina smiled for the benefit of the others. "Your town has so many quaint activities."

"She thinks we're strange." Henry concluded. "I'll be in the car."

"I do not." The professor stammered a bit. What was it about this family that had her off kilter?

"It's OK if you do." David laughed. "I'm sure our small town pales in comparison to some of the places you've been. Emma told us you've traveled quite a bit. "

"You went to school in France, right?" Mary-Margaret asked.

"Yes. I studied two years at the American University."

"I read it in your book."

"I see."

Emma looked between the two women. "Well we better get going. My stomach is growling! I'll grab us a couple of travel mugs for coffee."

"Extra large one for me." Regina requested.

"Coming right up babe." Emma grinned when she saw the familiar dark brow arching of the professor.

"Thanks, honey." Regina almost choked on the term of endearment, but tried to cover it with a slight cough.

"Let me go warm up the car before Henry freezes to death." David grabbed his coat and left.

Mary-Margaret turn to leave, but abruptly turned around. "And a quick reminder that we have room assignments in this house…for this weekend…so let's you know…all just keep those assignments." Emma opened her mouth to respond but before she could, her mother was gone.

"Did she just say what I think she was saying?"

Regina nodded and rubbed her temples. "I suspected she was just a tad more judgmental of me this morning."

"She thinks?" Regina nodded. "In this house?" Regina nodded. Emma covered her mouth. "In the hot tub." Regina nodded again.

"And I promised her I wouldn't do that."

"How nice of you."

Emma moved towards the living room. "I've got to explain to her that nothing happened."

The professor stopped her. "The same way I had to explain it to you?" Regina smirked. "Take it from me, your mother doesn't like discussing what we do or rather don't do in the bedroom. I've been there and done that. Bought the t-shirt, and it was not fun. Just let it be Emma. Being in a sexually active relationship is a part of life. She needs to deal with that I suppose."

"But under her roof?"

"And don't forget in her hot tub." Regina smiled.

Emma laughed. "I'm such a nymphomaniac."

"Really?" Dark eyes swept over her slowly. "I would have never known."

Emma blushed. "I was just joking…you know…"

"I know dear." Regina lifted her empty mug. "Coffee? Today?"

"Uh, yeah."

Regina watched Emma move across the kitchen in her form fitting jeans and suede knees boots. "Oh, before I forget." She reached in her purse and pulled out a cashmere scarf detailed with a geometric pattern. "For you."

"Me?"

"Yes." Regina moved in front of Emma. "Just a little something to help your outfit." She draped the scarf around Emma's neck and then styled it accordingly against her white shirt. "If you're going to insist on letting everyone think you're my girlfriend…you'll need to dress the part."

"You dress all your girlfriends."

"My lovers usually don't require this type of attention." They are never around long enough for me to care. She ran her fingers through Emma's blonde hair. "Better."

Emma batted her eyes playfully. "Do I look pretty now?"

"Yes." Regina responded simply before she could think of a smart retort.

Emma couldn't suppress a huge toothy grin. "Is that a compliment?"

"Aren't we going to be late?" Regina stepped away. "Not that I care."

"Yeah, just let me grab my keys" Regina was already in the living room. "After I fix your coffee!" Emma called after her.

A few minutes later, hands full Emma found Regina studying a picture on the fireplace mantle. "See something interesting." Emma handed her the coffee.

"Yes, is this you and August at prom?"

"Ah yes, I forgot Mom still had that picture up." Crap!

"You dated August?" Regina tasted the coffee and scrunched up her face. "This is the best you could do?"

"The prom dress or the coffee?" Emma joked.

"Both." She picked up the framed photograph. "You dated August?"

"Yeap."

"And now he's engaged to your other best friend, Ruby?"

"Yeap."

Regina placed the picture back down. "You didn't mention any of this in that long background session you insisted on giving me about this town's citizens."

"Didn't seem important." Emma shrugged on her coat. "Let's go."

"The thing with August…" Regina said out loud.

"What?"

"In between interrogation sessions, your brother Henry mentioned something about you and Ruby being friends despite the thing with August. Is that the reason for the tension last night? I knew something was off."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Emma lied.

"Yes, you do."

"Ruby could care less that I dated August…newsflash Regina I'm gay!"

"If you say so."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Obviously this is something you don't want to share with me." Regina casually flipped her hand. "So be it. For someone who is always asking questions about my personal life, I find it strange that you divulge so little about yours. "

"I've told you everything you need to know."

"If you say so."

"Stop saying that!"

"And you stop yelling at me!"

"I'm not yelling!"

"Yes, you are!"

The floor door opened and David walked in. "Everything ok? I forgot my gloves."

Regina rigidly glanced his way. "Just fine."

Emma sighed. "Yeah, Dad we were just on our way out."

He paused, not believing either woman. "Well don't be too long, ok?"

"We're right behind you."

Once he was gone, Regina stepped towards Emma. "If you ever yell at me again..." Her voice was low and menacing. "I'll walk."

"Regina…"

"I'll walk and leave you to clean up this mess you've created."

"I'm sorry." She reached for her hand. "Maybe we should sit down and we can talk…"

"No need. We're done here, Ms. Swan. Let's go lie to more people."


"It's at a church." Regina rolled her eyes as Emma pulled into the parking lot of St Mark's Chapel.

"Scared you'll turn into a pillar of salt if you enter." Emma joked. Regina hadn't spoken much on the trip over. Then tension between them was still there from the house.

"Not funny." Regina muttered refusing to look at the blonde.

"How can I fix this?" Emma pleaded.

"I'm not kissing you again, if that's what you're thinking."

"I'm sorry."

"You keep saying that."

"Because I mean it."

"Let's just go inside."

"Not before I explain." Emma killed the engine.

"You don't have to explain anything. I could care less."

"Bullshit."

"What?"

"If you cared less, you wouldn't be pissed off at me right now."

"I am not." She finally looked at Emma. "What I am Ms. Swan, is indifferent."

Emma stared at Regina trying to scan her face for some sort of reaction, but she gave her nothing. Her face was unyielding as stone. She sighed and rested her head against the steering wheel. "You were right about the tension between Ruby and me." She said quietly.

"Like I said we don't…"

Emma looked up. "But it has nothing do with her marrying August. It has more to do with her marrying anyone."

Realization settled into Regina's glare, melting the ice. "You and Ruby?"

"More like me and no Ruby."

"I don't understand."

"Once upon a time I kinda sorta told her I was in love with her."

"She didn't feel the same way." It was more of a statement than a question.

Emma shook her head as tears began to well in her eyes. "Not at all."

"I see."

"I guess somehow I got it all mixed up in my head. I knew she was my best friend, but I also knew that I had feelings for her. The feelings I should have had for August. It was graduation night, and we were all tipsy at the bonfire party. She and I went for a walk. And maybe I've seen too many romantic movies, but everything seemed perfect. The moonlight. The sand on our feet. The waves crashing against the shore." She paused and smiled. "We were both laughing about something and she looked so beautiful with those big sparkling blue eyes. Then I kissed her. I freaking kissed her! She kissed me back."

Regina remained silent and just listened.

"Over the next couple of days, things were a little hot and heavy between us. We'd meet and make out every chance we got. One day we were up in her bedroom kissing. It was simultaneously the best and worst moment of my life. Because me being the idiot I am, blabbed that I loved her and how she should come to California with me. Ruby just stared at me like I was some stranger. I'd just poured out my soul to her, and she just stood there gawking at me. She started rambling about how she wasn't gay and that she thought we'd just been experimenting and having fun. Girls did it all the time. It didn't take long for the embarrassment of it all to sink it, I ran off." Emma tried to fight it , but a single tear still managed to escape and run down her cheek.

"Then what happened?"

"I pretended like it never happened. I avoided her most of the summer, and suspected she avoided me as well. I was more than grateful that Santa Clara was across the country. And after I came out, she was very supportive and eventually our friendship got back on tract. Not like it used to be, but better. But those couple of days still linger between us unspoken. She didn't tell anyone and we never talk about it either."

"Are you still in love with her?"

Emma hunched and wiped at her eyes. "I don't know how I feel to be honest. I try not to think about it." She felt very vulnerable and exposed in front of the other woman.

"I see."

"But anyway, that's my sad pathetic story that I would rather not tell again. Once is enough."

"I wouldn't call it pathetic. Wait, once?"

"Yeah, I've never told anyone. Not even Archie. Just you."

Regain looked at her not, quite sure what to say or think of Emma's declaration. "It was not my intention to make you feel uncomfortable or to bring up such an emotional…"

Emma interrupted. "It's ok, really. It feels good to get it out. I just wanted you to know that I didn't mean to get upset with you earlier. I wanted you to understand, that's all."

Regina nodded and then took a deep breathe. "Danielle Stableton."

"Who?"

"She was a woman that worked at one of my family's hotels in Manhattan. I was a visiting for the summer from school and was supposed to meet my father for lunch. Unfortunately, he had to cancel but asked that Danielle to take me to lunch instead. She was gorgeous with auburn hair and a bright smile. Very intelligent and I found her intriguing."

"Is this going where I think?"

"Yes, we began a secret affair that my mother somehow became aware of. And Cora, being Cora wanted the situation to go away. She offered Danielle an upper management position in exchange for her ending the affair. When I found out about it, I being young and naïve told Danielle that I loved her and begged for her to choose me."

"She chose the job?"

Regina looked out the window. "She did. I sometimes wonder if that was her plan all along." She turned back to Emma. "Sometimes we choose the wrong person to say those very important three words to for the first time."

"Do you ever see her?"

"All the time. She's a VP now, married with three kids. And very fat. She didn't bounce back too well after the last baby. A little payback I suppose."

Emma burst out laughing and eventually Regina joined in.

"So all is forgiven?" Emma asked.

"I'm obviously speaking to you again, if that's what you're asking." She reached in her purse and pulled out a handkerchief. "Clean up. We can't have Ruby seeing you like this."

Emma laughed. "I don't think she cares."

"I seriously doubt that. But even if she doesn't, I do." Emma's eyes widen and Regina stammered. "I mean I do care what you look like."

"Sure." Emma looked in the rear-view mirror and dabbed at her eyes. "And for what it's worth, I wouldn't have chosen some job over you. No one in their right mind would."

Regina smiled to herself. Actually, that is worth something.


Author's notes:

Hope you enjoyed.

More to come!