The kiss lasted long enough to intoxicate Emma. The rest of the film was a blur of color and light. It was towards the end of the movie when their hands clasped each other. When it was finally over and the room lit back up, neither of them moved. Instead, they watched the credits scroll across the screen until those, too, were finished. Then, at last, Regina turned to her patient.

"Emma," she said softly, waiting for the blonde to look back at her. "We can't do this."

But the doctor didn't let go of her hand. In fact, her grip had subconsciously tightened since the lights had turned back up.

"What did I do?"

"What do you mean, 'What did you do?'"

"What did I do to upset you?"

"Emma," the doctor sighed, releasing her grip on the girl's hand. "This isn't about you. We just... We can't have... We can't..."

"Why?"

"Because it's wrong."

"Why is it wrong? Because I'm younger than you? You're not even that much older than I am. Really, you've just been in school longer."

Regina put her head in her hands and sighed. It wasn't a conversation she'd ever pictured herself having.

"It's not that. It's because I'm your doctor. It's... It's like I'm taking advantage of you and the agreement of confidentiality we have with each other. Therapy is sacred, and this is wrong."

"Am I not pretty enough? Am I not your type?"

"Emma, no. It's not that."

"Is it because I cut?"

"No! God, no. Emma, please, just listen to me..."

"This is bullshit," the blonde said, standing up and gathering her purse and jacket. "I'm out."

"You're acting like a child."

"You're treating me like a child."

Regina looked up, expecting to see Emma turn to leave, but she was still standing there.

"Don't go," Regina said, reaching for Emma's hand, but the blonde pulled away.

"Now you want to touch me?"

As people filed out of the room, Regina looked around. They were the last two in the theatre, so Regina stood up quietly and collected her own things.

"Let me take you to dinner, at least," Regina offered, touching Emma's shoulder as they walked out of the room and back into the theatre hallway.

They made their way to the exit, and it wasn't until they stepped outside that Emma replied.

"No way. Take me back to the house."

"You really want to go back there?"

Emma paused and bit her lip. She stopped walking.

"Come on," Regina urged her. "Let's get something to eat."

With a sigh, Emma followed Regina to the car.

"Where do you wanna go?" Regina asked, looking over at Emma as the girl leaned back in the passenger seat.

"Don't care," Emma mumbled.

With a sigh, Regina leaned over and tilted Emma's head towards her.

"It's not you. It's me. The patient-therapist relationship is sacred. I can't break your trust like that. You don't understand. It could really fuck you up."

"Are you fucking serious right now? You're really going to use that line on me?"

"Emma, you're acting like a child, and you're not helping your case at all."

"How do you want me to act? What do you want me to say? It's fine? Gee, sorry I'm falling for you? Sorry you're the only one I trust? Sorry you're beautiful and I can't swallow my feelings anymore? I'll just stuff it down and ignore it?"

"Just hush. You're being dramatic. We're going to my favorite restaurant."

Emma said nothing until they reached the establishment and were seated.

"Are you kidding me?" she hissed. "This is the most romantic place I've ever been. What are you doing?"

"I'm taking you somewhere nice, for once. You deserve to be treated like the princess you are."

The blonde's jaw dropped open, but the waiter approached before she could speak. It was a short blonde girl - beautiful - whose voice was smooth and soft - a little seductive, even. They both stared for a few seconds before snapping out of their trance.

"What'll you ladies have to drink tonight? We have a few specials tonight as well, and-"

"No, that won't be necessary," the doctor said, cutting her off. "We know what we want."

"We do?" Emma asked, a little surprised at the presumption.

"Yes."

Regina ordered for both of them - fillet mignon, the house specialty - and smiled at Emma when the waitress walked away.

"Who said I wanted steak?"

"Just trust me. You've never had anything like this before. You're going to die."

"I don't like steak."

"Seriously?"

"No," the blonde giggled. "But I gotcha, didn't I?"

"Yep. I panicked for a minute there." They both laughed, and Regina shook her head and added, "You're awful."

"You love it. You need to laugh more. It's beautiful."

When the silence suddenly grew awkward from Emma's unintentional flirtation, she decided to speak again, changing the subject.

"Speaking of beautiful, how hot was that waitress?"

"Emma! She's not a piece of meat!"

"Sure she is. Wanna bet I can get her number?"

"Yeah, right," Regina laughed. "You could, but you wouldn't."

"You're right," Emma conceded. "I'd never play anyone like that. Besides, I have eyes for someone else."

"Emma."

The girl went silent, and just then, the waitress came back with their food.

"Be careful," the 'piece of meat' warned. "It's hot."

With a quick, almost flirtatious smile, she was gone, leaving Emma grinning.

"Dare me?"

"No. It's not funny."

"It is, a little."

"Alright," Regina said with a smile. "Maybe a little. But don't. It's not nice. You know you're not going to call her."

"How the Hell do you know?"

"Because I know you. You're not confident enough to put yourself in a relationship. You'd be laying too much on the line. Besides, you feel like you have things to hide, and as long as you feel that way, you'll never open up to anyone."

"Ouch."

"Wait, don't take it that way. I just meant..."

"I opened up to you."

"I'm sorry."

Regina's eyes dropped to her plate.

"Eat," the doctor urged, nodding towards Emma's plate. "I promise you'll like it."

Emma found that the woman was right, and as soon as she'd taken the first bite, her eyes closed in ecstasy.

"Oh, my God."

"I know, right?"

Regina couldn't stop herself from grinning, and when Emma finally opened her eyes, she couldn't help but swoon.

"Thank you," she mumbled, "for taking me here."

"You deserve this. You deserve to be treated like this."

"You said I deserved to be loved, too."

"I know."

"Then why don't you?"

Emma's gaze found Regina's.

"Emma."

With a moment of hesitation, Regina reached out and took the girl's hand. When Emma pulled away, she grabbed for it again. This time, Emma just stared at their hands, as if something was about to happen to them.

"Please tell me you feel this," the blonde begged. "I feel like a fool."

"You're not a fool."

"Tell me."

"I can't do that."

As Emma dropped her head in her hands, tears formed in her eyes.

"Don't cry, sweetie," Regina whispered, leaning in and touching her shoulder.

"Don't touch me."

"Emma."

When the girl finally opened her eyes and looked at Regina, the doctor grabbed her face, pulled it closer, and kissed her lips.

"I'm sorry," she told Emma. "I just-"

"Can't do this," the blonde interjected. "I know."

"No," Regina said. "I was going to say that I just can't help myself."

She kissed the girl again, this time slipping her hand around the back of Emma's neck to hold her closer.

"I do want this, too," the doctor whispered as she pulled away.

"We should save this for later," Emma said, smiling at last. "We're in public."

"I don't care. I just want you."

"Why do you want me?"

"You bring out feelings in me I've never felt before. Things I can't explain. Things that make me drunk with... with..."

"Love?" Emma asked, desperately hopeful.

"Yes," Regina agreed. "Love."