In light of this becoming my most popular work, another update before I am forced to go back to my weekly priorities. God, I hate responsibility! Dammit, I just smudged my make up, where's Emma when I need her?

Emma leant into the supple leather seats as they pulled to a stop due to another red light, they'd hit every single one yet without fail. The car was beginning to feel stuffy, so she rolled the window down and inhaled the smoggy city air. Emma had a strange intoxication with the smell of gasoline, and with it hinting in the breeze, she took a deeper breath and let it out rather dramatically. Regina smiled to herself at the girl's adorable behavior, she looked over to her, she was leaning on her crooked elbow out the window with her eyes shut in peaceful content.

Emma could feel eyes on her, but didn't dare peak to see if it was the pair she'd hoped, in fear of either outcome. When she did open her eyes, they were crawling along the asphalt, pedestrians making better time than they, not that Emma was in any hurry to return to the Nolan's. Emma sighed internally as she thought of going back, while she was grateful of them, and didn't know where she'd be without their undeterred kindness, they were suffocating her with all this.. compassion. Emma was unfamiliar with it, and though she was still young and impressionable, she wasn't sure she wanted their loving footprints to stain her virtues.

"Are you okay?" Regina asked, she could feel the girl eating away at herself. Emma took this time to glance at her, she wasn't looking at her now, as traffic was moving quickly, so she kept her eyes on the road. People were truly awful driver's, so Emma didn't take it as disrespect.

"Yeah." She said, leaving it open to further questioning, as she knew she wouldn't have a choice either way.

"Don't say yes unless you mean it, I thought we were past this." Regina laughed, remembering her sob-fest a short time ago. "Tell me." She urged.

"Well, I really don't want to go back there yet." She said, a hint of bitterness laced her words.

"Oh," Regina chirped. "Well I wouldn't feel comfortable taking you anywhere else, not unless I knew you'd be looked after."

"I know, that's why I didn't say anything in the first place." Emma laughed with little depth. "It's okay, I'm just being sour, it just sucks that I'm finally in the world and I can't even enjoy it." She said, taking her place back on her arm as the window whisked through her hair.

Regina breathed in the sight, Emma was truly a wonder, but her eyes were quickly torn back to the slowly moving traffic as another horn sounded. "What would you like to do?"

Emma squinted in thought before a little light appeared in her eyes. "I want to swim." She said whimsically.

Regina grinned, and mulled over her options. "I think we can arrange that." She said, making a sharp turn, not caring about the curses and honks sent her way.

"Really?" Emma asked, perking up.

"Do you take me as the kind of woman to say something I do not mean?" She countered.

Emma grinned, baby-wide, gummy. "I certainly hope not."

Regina smirked right back down at her before heading to Devil's Pool, a natural hole that she frequented when around Emma's age. "I hope you don't mind a chill."

"Not at all." Emma agreed, before turning her head out the window so Regina wouldn't bear witness to her intense smile. "Mind if I turn on the radio?"

"Not at all." Regina repeated, Emma switched it on, but upon finding nothing of intrest, Regina offered her her IPod, decked out with thousands of song.

"Thanks, I hate radio, it used to be my only entertainment, but now that I have a taste of the good life, I can't go back." Emma said, scrolling through the artists. "Oh, yes!" She said. "I heard this song earlier today, it reminds me of you." She said as Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap blasted.

Regina's heart warmed at that, she loved that song, and had been listening to it on thar way over to meet the girl. "I love that song," She said once it faded out.

"Me too." Emma said, taking the device and quickly pressing play on a new tune. "And this one, you have awesome taste!" She said, the song Foxy, Foxy by Rob Zombie was soon music to their ears. The brunette was impressed with the girl's choices, many of what she chose on the way over were of Regina's personal preferences.

"Ready?" Regina asked as they pulled into a lightly forested lot, void of cars as it was too cold for most people, not Emma though.

"Regina. I was born ready." She deadpanned, hopping out of car with little grace as she slammed the door and relished in the fresh environment. Emma squealed when she spotted the rise of about 30 foot, and turned to Regina to beam before running up to it. Regina leant against the hood of her car as Emma made her way to the top. "Come on!" She called.

Regina pointed to herself as if there was anyone else the blonde could be talking to, before glancing around to prove the point.

"Yes, you! Get up here!" The girl laughed and tried to use hand motions to call over the woman. "Please!"

"I prefer to remain dry, you go ahead dear!" She called back.

Emma waited a moment, in shock before yelling out. "Pussy!"

Regina placed a hand over her heart feigning hurt. "I am most certainly not!"

"Prove it!" Emma challenged, Regina growled before strutting over, and less gracefully, making her way up the rocks. Cursing when she ripped her hosiery, she made it up with little incident and stood with her arms crossed aside the girl.

"Well, you got your wish, what do expect to do with it?" She asked. Emma grinned impishly before nearing the edge and peering over, dangerously close to falling, Regina instinctively grabbed her wrist. Emma looked back at the hand that grasped her and stared at it a moment before moving her eyes to Regina, who looked down as soon as she did the opposite, and then let go. Emma missed the warmth as soon as it had gone, but stepped back from the edge, taking in her surroundings once more before letting out a large sigh.

"Okay I'm ready." She announced.

"Excellent, hopefully we can make our way down without breaking anything." Regina agreed and began to leave. It was Emma's turn to grab her as she shook her head and looked to the cliff leading down to the water. "No." Regina rejected.

"Yes." Emma deadpanned. "Climbing up here doesn't make you any less of a pussy, jumping will prove the point."

"Who says I have a point to prove?" Regina questioned, crossing her arms and leaning into her hip.

"Would you have came all the way up here if you didn't?" Emma threw. Regina scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know I'm right." Emma said, removing her leggings.

"Woe, what are you doing?" Regina asked, looking away before the article could be completely peeled away.

"Well, obviously I'm not going to jump in with all my clothes on." Emma stated, kicking off her shoes and stripping herself of the material, leaving her in a pair of red and yellow striped boy shorts. Next was her sweater, once it was disregarded she was left in a padded orange bra, her breasts weren't large or small, but had a lovely shape.

"Uh," Regina said as the girl crossed her arms and mimicked her stance.

"Do you want me to look away?" Emma asked, and turned.

"Alright, fuck it." Regina tossed, slapping her thighs before stripping herself over her outerwear, now left in a matching pare of lacy pink garments.

"Even half naked you make me feel sorely underdressed." Emma laughed and extended her hand. "Together?" She asked. Regina regarded her offering and took it willingly.

"Together." She breathed, Emma was grinning up at her, then down at the drop.

"Count to three." The teen stated, "1,2,3" And they jumped. Regina squealed and pinched her eyes shut, Emma kept her eyes on the woman as they descended down into the water, mesmerized. They slapped down into the icy water, both letting out a cry as the first toe dipped. They surfaced, make up ran slowly down each other their slick faces as they faced one another and laughed. After the adrenaline wore off they sat and waded, Emma began to chatter.

"I have a confession," She said. Regina's eyes narrowed for answer. "I can't swim." She chuckled.

The brunette looked alarmed and gripped the blonde's hand a bit tighter, pulling her closer. Emma found herself inches away from the brunette, breath hitched as they searched the opposing pools for a sign that what they felt was wrong, none. Regina took a sharp breath and leaned in slightly, then pulled back, Emma's eyes fell to her lips before quickly leaving the danger zone and gazing back into her gates. The blonde leaned in as Regina pulled back with a gasp.

"We should, go, the sun has set, and I'm afraid there are snakes." She whispered half heartedly. Emma looked dejected but nodded and let Regina pull her to the surface. After traveling back up the incline and back down once dressed, they sat, their hair dripping, back in the sports car.

"Thank you." Emma said once they pulled out into the road. "For not letting me drown."

"That would certainly be bad for business, though I wished you would have mentioned it beforehand." She said offhandedly.

"Would you still have gone?" Emma asked. Regina moved her head to the side in a 'touché' motive. "I'm glad you did."

"Me, too." Regina told her, the truth being she was incredibly afraid of heights, for as long as she could remember, but at the time she felt fearless. Regina realized she'd felt such bravery for Emma. They rode in silence for the majority, only speaking to point out random bird or such things.

"Stop here." Emma said as they neared the turn off into her round off. Regina did so and the girl pushed open the door, stopping to face Regina before she jumped out. "Will I see you soon?" She asked.

"I would assume so." Regina said as if it were obvious.

"Good," Emma gave a relieved chuckle. "I'd probably lose my mind if you said no." She said and slammed the door, turning back after a few paces to wave shyly. Regina returned it and pulled away, trying not to read too far into what was happening between the two, because once she did, there would be no more denying it. She was falling for Emma Swan, like never before.

Emma opened to door to the garage, which was always open when someone was home, and stepped into the mudroom. Henry walked past, eating a sandwich, but stopping dead when he saw her.

He smirked. "You're in so much trouble. Mom!" He yelled, and Emma felt her pace pick up.

"What, Henry!" Mary Margret said irritably before she appeared in the threshold. "Emma!" She said surprised before her face contorted. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you!" She raised her voice.

Emma stood shocked, her hair still dripping as she was pulled into the den by a surprisingly strong Snow. "Uh,"

"I went to the shop to get you after you did't come home, and they said you left with some woman! Who were you with? Do you think you can just do whatever you want without consulting me? Answer me!" She scolded.

"No, what! Stop yelling at me, Fuck!" Emma said, covering her mouth.

"Language! There are children present," She shot daggers to Henry, who skid into the kitchen before he could be pulled into the conflict somehow. "Emma, you are not an adult, you can not just run off and meet women!" She chided in a lower tone.

"And you're not the boss of me! I'm fine, and I was safe, chill!" Emma huffed.

"I beg to differ, you live under my roof and you will abide by my rules! Who you were with has no meaning to me, you had us thinking that, that you'd been kidnapped or worse!"

"Well, ugh!" Emma groaned, she didn't know how to argue this without getting confrontational, and Mary Margret just seemed concerned, "I'm sorry, okay? I won't do it again." She grumbled.

"Okay, but I'm going to have to ground you, David will make sure it's enforced." Mary Margret said, relaxing, her pale complexion returning. "And you will be starting school Monday, you have meeting with the principal tomorrow."

Emma groaned and nodded. "Okay." She agreed.

"Now," Mary Margret chirped. "Are you hungry?" She asked,

Emma smiled, come to think of it, she was famished. "Yes, starved."

"Then let's eat, I made dumplings!" She said, taking Emma's hand, leading her into the dining room where Henry sat, finishing off his sandwich and tapping away at a GameBoy. Emma took her seat across from him, he glared at her before going back to his game. Emma scrunched her face at his unusual petulance.

"Why's your hair wet?" He asked without looking up again.

"I went swimming." She said, flipping a strand behind her back.

"Cool." He said, uninterested as his mother came and placed plates in front of them. "Thanks."

"Thank you." Emma said and dug in mercilessly, she was asking for seconds within five minutes. Snow happily served her and Henry before watching him run off without even excusing himself. She glared his way then took his plate to the sink. "What's with him?"

With a scoff she shook her head. "Beats me, he must have had a bad day at school. I'm sure he'll be over it tomorrow." Emma nodded. "So, where did you run off to?"

She looked at her resistantly before moving to wash her dish and Henry's. "I ran through some sprinklers on the way over here."

"Huh." Was all she said, Emma knew she wasn't buying it. "And this woman?"

Emma but her tongue, she couldn't tell Mary Margret she was out all day with Regina, not without it raising questions she didn't want to answer. "A friend I met at the coffee shop, we both reached for the same book, got to talking, and then went for a walk to get a bit of fresh air." Emma lied, but it was convincing this time around.

"That's odd." She said.

"What is?"

"The girl on duty told me, you ran up to this woman and pulled her up the stairs to sit with you." Emma swallowed. "Why would she lie?"

"Uh," She stammered. "I should go shower, really smelly, all that walking, thanks for dinner!" Emma tried and started to run off.

"Oh no you don't." David said, appearing in the doorway, she rammed into his chest, but he didn't flinch. "Sit down." Emma choked and did so, the couple following in suit. They sat interrogation style across from each other, which wasn't helping the girl's case one bit.

"I think it's time you told us the truth." Snow said. "We're not mad, we just don't want you to get hurt."

Emma groaned. "Okay, I was with Regina." She said, figuring that lying again would get her nowhere fast.

"Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?" Snow asked, her face relaxed, now with the conformation that Emma was in good hands.

"Because, I don't know, I don't want you guys to think I'm messed up and need therapy, but talking to her helps." Emma confided, not lying, but avoiding the direct truth. "She's the only person that makes me feel normal, she makes sense."

"Oh, honey, we don't think you're messed up, it's wonderful that Regina helps you, that's what she's there for, you shouldn't hold shame to wanting her help." Mary Margret took her hands and held them together. Emma stared at the conjoined limbs, anywhere was better than into the pleading and overly caring eyes of the woman who held her.

"Okay, I'm sorry, for lying." Emma said as Snow released her, her hands fell back into her lap where they fidgeted.

"It's okay, you told us the truth in the end, that's all that matters." David said, she gave him a weak uplift of her lips. "Now, we have something else we need to talk to you about." He said, he and Emma shared a knowing look as she sighed.

"Okay," She urged, wanting to get this conversation over with as soon as humanly possible. Mary Margret pulled a file out from, who-knows-where under the table and pushed them toward's the blonde who raised her brow, trying to hide her knowledge.

"Open it." Snow urged. Emma did so, pulling out the adoption papers and reading over them. "So," She said. "What do you say? Do you want to become part of our family?"

"This is, wow, of course." Emma smiled, Snow then stood and hugged her way too tight. "Don't suffocate me before it's even official!" She laughed.

"Right, sorry." Snow clapped. "Yay! Oh, since we knew you'd say yes, we got you something." Emma and David laughed as Snow came back with a box. "Since you're grounded, you can only take it to school for the next two weeks, but I hope you like it." Emma pulled out a new Galaxy S5 in navy and smiled wide at the gift.

"Wow, thank you so much." She turned it in her hands, before placing it on the table and pulling the couple into the hug.

"Now you'll have no excuses but to tell us where you're going." Snow pressed as she placed the device back in it's bag and took it to hide.

Emma rolled her eyes playfully. "I was serious about needing a shower though, do you mind if I retire?" She asked.

"Not at all," David said and she turned to leave. "I'm going to be waking you up early to go to school for scheduling." He called.

"Gross!" Emma called back, he laughed and let her go upstairs.

Emma stepped into the bathroom and stripped herself of sticky clothes, tossing them onto her pile she'd created the days she'd lived here, followed by still damp under garments. Stepping under a piping hot bulleted stream, she finally relaxed and let out a satisfied breath that'd been building up inside of her since she stepped foot into the house. Suddenly it dawned on her, this was her house now, her family, she was caught between tears of joy and fear. This was what she'd always wanted, a real family that loves and treats her right, but why couldn't she toss the overwhelming feeling that all over her freedom was going to be obliterated?

"Just be happy." She told herself, over and over, until the words no longer sounded like such, and she had no choice but to believe it.

The next morning, David burst his way in and opened the window, the bright morning light invading the once dark room. Emma groaned as she smelt the fresh air, it was revolting.

"Wakey, wakey, sunshine!' He clapped and tipped her mattress so she tumbled off of it in a heap of blankets.

"Ouch!" She said as her breath managed to escape a bit, but not all. "I was awake before you so rudely ejected me, thank you very much." She sat up and huffed, her waves blocking her view.

"I know, but this is more fun, and look at that! You're already out of bed!" He smiled, she shot daggers his way, but he couldn't tell through her hair. "Chop, chop, thirty minutes to departure." He said, slapping the wall in between syllables, then exiting the room with a slam of the white wood door.

Emma groveled a moment before standing too quickly, she fell against her dresser lightheaded before taking out a pair of black, four button jeans and a beige tank with silky flowers threaded in before pulling them on with as much poise as a hobble footed duck with scoliosis. After brushing through her matted hair, she pulled it into a tight braid, grabbing a green plaid flannel that hung on her door, she left the room, thumping down the stairs.

"Good morning, sunshine!" David cheered.

"Are you doing this to annoy me?" She asked, taking a glass of orange juice that bewaited her on the counter.

"Of course, no one is this cheery." He chuckled and took a long pull of his coffee. "Aah! Ready?" He asked.

"As I'll ever be." She mumbled.

"Chin up, Ems, you'll love it." He told before packing them into his truck, the first time she'd seen it since the first night they'd met, not too long ago. It took a good five minutes before they pulled into the vast and empty lot of a high school, it looked similar to the elementary only with three stories and a tripled area, plus no playground. "Here we are." He offed the engine.

Emma stepped out into the morning that was beginning lose it's bitter chill, and followed him into the double doors, which opened into a large quad area with trees and wooden benches scattered about. They moved to an elevator which took them to the third floor, the halls were lined with dark green and white lockers, which set off the dark cherry wood floors, and matched the doors. David led her to the very last door that read 'Principal Nolan' he didn't even knock and barged right in.

"Davy Jones!" Said a kind looking blonde woman, wearing a beige pantsuit, pastel pink blouse, and heels, though Emma couldn't see them, she heard them when she stood to hug her kin over the desk. "This must be Emma." She smiled and Emma extended her hand, which the woman took and pulled her into a hug. "No formalities, we're family!" Emma smiled wide at her, she liked this woman already. "But not during school, then I'm Big Bad Principal Nolan, sit." She urged, and did so herself. "What grade are you in?"

"Well I haven't gone to school since fifth, but I have books for the years I missed, I'm pretty much up to speed on all subjects up until 1oth grade, which is what I was studying when I.. moved." She said.

"So you're looking to enroll in the sophomore class?" Katherine questioned.

"Yeah, I suppose." She replied.

"Awesome, I have a girl who just enrolled earlier today in tenth grade, maybe you two can show each other around I can place you in classes together." She suggested.

"Uh, is she nice?" Emma asked. "And you can do that?"

"Yes, she's very sweet, her mother is a bit eccentric, but genuine. And of course, dear, I can do whatever I want." She winked and Emma laughed.

"Okay, yeah." She agreed.

"Great," Ms. Nolan did some clacking on her computer before turning to Emma agin. "What electives were you looking to do?"

"I don't know, what is there?" Emma asked, Katherine, as her desk labeled her, handed her a purple packet.

"These are all of them, you get two, I'm assuming you don't want regular physical education, so I'll wave it if you choose one of the outdoor activities."

Emma read through the outdoor activities, but only one sounded appealing to her. "Archery." She said, Katherine smiled and entered it.

"And, you can choose one more from the column on the left." She said and tapped it with a French-tipped nail.

Emma read through the next, some sounded enjoyable, but she decided on something she knew she could do. "Eh, Ill do library aide."

"Awesome, now there will be no excuse for missing homework!"

"You know this is funny, you picked the same classes as the girl from earlier, and I don't even have to adjust your classes, you have all but two classes together." Katherine explained.

"Sounds like fate wants us to be friends." Emma laughed, she couldn't wait to meet this girl, and she clearly would, five times a day.

"Sounds like it!" Katherine said as the printer began to hum and whir with expectance of a new sheet. "Your schedule, milady." She said and placed the purple sheet in her grasp.

"Thanks." Emma smiled and scanned over it.

1. Archery

2. English & Literature

3. Chemistry

4. Geometry

5. U.S. Government

6. Library Aide.

The girl nodded her approval, they sounded fun, fun for school that is, then looked up to her new principal, who gave a thumbs up, which she returned.

"Excellent, should we do lunch? I'm so damn hungry, I've been here forever." She groaned and threw her bag over her shoulder with the flip of her hair.

"It's only 10:00 a.m. Kat." David announced.

"Too long, let's go, my treat, I'll even drive." She threw, the pair following her down to where her Cadillac awaited, as if they had a choice.

I hope my use of tenth grade courses are correct, if not, oh well, don't butcher me! I'll more than likely update within the week, so enjoy until then! I also made up a word in here, because I can, maybe you noticed, maybe not. (;