I'm sorry this chapter is late. I kind of hit a wall with it and didn't know what to write. But here you go. Thank you all for your lovely reviews they are greatly appreciated.

CHAPTER 7

Emma pulled back from the hug and wiped her tears.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to have a break down in the middle of your home. Wow this is really embarrassing. I'm just going to go grab Charlotte and let…" Regina interrupted her before she could finish.

"What are you talking about? You don't have to be sorry or embarrassed. And don't you even think about going and waking Charlotte up. I said she can nap here and that you guys can have lunch with me. What just happened doesn't change that. I have enjoyed spending today with you and Charlotte. And it had been a very long time since I have had any sort of company that I actually enjoyed." Regina blushed once she finished her rambling.

But Emma couldn't help but grin. Regina genuinely enjoyed spending time with her. Well and Charlotte.

"I haven't had any enjoyable company in a long time too. Well with someone my own age. Hanging out with a four year old all the time gets a little much sometimes." Regina giggled at that. Actually giggled. Regina Mills never giggles. But Emma immediately fell in love with the sound. She wanted to hear it every day for the rest of her life.

"Okay then. So no running off. I'm going to go check on the lasagna." Regina gave the blonde a beautiful smile as she turned and walked over to the oven. Emma couldn't help but look at Regina's back side as she bent down to look inside the oven.

As Regina checked the lasagna she could feel eyes watching her. She smirked and stuck her ass out further as she bent over. She heard Emma gasp and smirked even more. When she turned back around she got Emma looking at her ass. Emma looked back up at Regina's eyes and knew she had been caught. She immediately turned red. Her entire face was red all the way down to her neck.

Regina chuckled at Emma's expression.

"Like what you see Miss Swan?" Regina asked with a smirk. Emma couldn't look Regina in the eye. She immediately changed the subject.

"So how's the lasagna looking?" Emma asked while still blushing

"It should be ready in a couple minutes. Would you like anything else to go with it?"

Emma just shook her head no. While they were waiting for the lasagna to finish they sat in a comfortable silence. Finally the oven timer went off and Regina went to grab the lasagna out of the oven. She was cutting it and dishing out slices on to plates when they hurt little feet shuffle across the kitchen floor. Regina and Emma looked towards the door way and saw a little Charlotte rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Mama?" Charlottes little eyes looked up looking around for her blonde mother.

"Over here munchkin." As soon as Charlotte saw her mother ran to her and latched herself to Emma's legs. Emma picked her up and put Charlotte on her lap. She pushed the curls that were just like her own out of the little girls face and kissed her forehead.

"How was your nap, munchkin?"

Charlotte continued to rub her eyes, groaned, and hid her face in her mothers neck. Emma chuckled at her. She knew this was always how Charlotte was after finishing a nap. That and…

"Are you hungry, Char?" As soon as the words were out of her mouth Charlotte started nodding her head intensly.

"Well then I guess you're just in time because I just pulled the lasagna out of the oven. Would you like some lasagna, Charlotte?" Regina asked making her presence known to the little girl. Once Charlotte heard Regina's voice she turned to look at her and had a big smile on her face.

"GIIIIINNNAAAA!" Charlotte immediately started to wiggle out of her mothers grasp. She started running towards Regina. Luckily for her Regina was prepared and scooped the girl up. Regina and Charlotte were giggling.

On the other side of the kitchen was Emma watching the interaction between her daughter and the woman who is quickly joining their life. Emma had the biggest grin on her face. She hasn't been this happy in a long time.

"Did you sleep well, Charlotte?"

"I did Gina. It was very comfy." Charlotte held on tight to Regina's neck.

"Good, I'm glad. Now I have the lasagna ready at the dining room table. It's all set up all we have to do is eat it."

Once everyone was finished and everything was put away the three headed back out to town. They decided to go to the local park so that Charlotte can play a little bit especially since she has a lot of energy after her nap.

When they got to the park, Regina and Emma sat on a bench where they could see Charlotte playing.

"So how long had you lived in Boston?" Regina asked trying to start conversation with the blonde.

"Well almost my whole life. I was moved around a lot around the Boston area. I was found on the side of the road not far from here actually." Emma said surprising herself with how much she just opened up with this woman who is practically a stranger. But Emma seems to find herself oddly comfortable around the brunette that has caught her full attention.

"What do you mean found on the side of the road?" Regina had a puzzled look on her face.

"I grew up in the foster system. My parents abandoned me on the side of a freeway in Maine. That's what my social worker told me at least." Regina's eyes immediately softened.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Regina asked confused. She wasn't aware she was making any sort of face.

"Pity. I don't need any ones pity."

"Oh Emma I'm sorry but I wasn't pitying you. I was thinking about how amazing you are. First you grew up without your parents and seemed to have made it out of the foster system unscathed and now you're grown and have an amazing daughter that loves you so much. I think you've done pretty well on your own."

Emma immediately felt guilty for snapping at Regina. This woman has only showed them kindness and this is how Emma repays them?

"I'm sorry Regina. I didn't mean to snap at you. My upbringing has always been a sore topic for me. Most people don't understand what I've been through and why I am the way I am."

Regina grabbed her hands and gave Emma a soft smile.

"Well if you let me I'm willing to learn and understand who Emma Swan is."