So I couldn't wait to get this chapter up. It's a long one, but I really didn't want to split any of it up. I hope you all like it. Let me know what you think.


Emma raced down the steps, yelling at herself in silence so she wouldn't wake Henry who was already asleep. Where the hell did all of that come from? She was surprised Regina didn't poof herself into another room, or town, or planet for that matter, which was exactly what Emma wished she could do at the moment. Was everything she was feeling for Regina legit, or was it the guilt of her getting hurt, along with the adrenaline rush these last few days floored into her and refusing to let up, controlling her every thought.

Emma walked into Regina's study and poured herself a drink, knowing that it was justifiable in these circumstances. She needed to calm herself and her heart down. She was supposed to keep guard of Regina. In fact, she insisted on being the one to do it, but now with her emotions going haywire, was that wise? She could put Regina's life in more danger if she wasn't thinking clearly, and if Regina were to get hurt again, Emma knew she wouldn't be able to handle it, and with that thought in her head, Emma downed the entire glass of Jameson in hand.

"I guess that answers the question about me feelings being legit?"


As soon as Emma closed the door Regina wanted her to come back, but how did this all even happen? One minute she was making Emma an apple turnover to put the Savior to sleep for eternity so she would have Henry all to herself. Next they teamed up to save their son, which led to Emma breaking the curse and turning her whole world upside down, but as the mob came to take her away to torture and kill her, there the Savior was again. Maybe Emma was right, maybe there was always a connection between them, they just let their hate for one another overpower it all as their loving connection continued to build with neither one of their knowledge or consent. Then, without so much of a warning, bam, it was all brought to the surface.

Regina did her best to process it all, and although she knew there was a lot more to it, Emma was wrong about the one thing though, magic had a very big part in it. It was only because of Emma discovering her magical ability that all of this had come to be. It was magic that had darkened Regina's life, that over flooded her with power, hate, and the never-ending lust for revenge, and now it was magic correcting all of that within her. A new type of magic, that of good, the type of magic Henry would approve of, and who was it that brought in this new light, the Savior.

Regina flung the covers off her and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was still light-headed, but between the massive head wound she received, the significant amount of blood loss, and the fact that she couldn't remember the last time she ate, all of this pain and weakness was to be expected, whether she approved of it or not. But she was tired of being in bed, especially now that Emma was no longer by the side. The thought of her missing the Savior still was able to make Regina laugh at herself though.

Regina watched her step as she slowly made her way to the bedroom door, finally looking down and noticing that she was in different sleeping attire than she was in at the Hospital.

"Tricky Savior," she said out loud with an even larger smile, then continued out the door. Regina couldn't believe how weak she was as each new step became heavier like she was traveling through quick sand.

"Emma," she called out weakly at the top of the stairs, but only silence answered. Regina took a deep breath as she grasped the railing tightly taking each step as it was her first ever. After the first set of stairs, Regina even had to pause and regroup herself. She was partly out of breath, and her eye sight was fuzzy with stars shimmering in and out of focus.

Regina frustrated, shook her head of everything and made her way toward the last group of stairs, not taking the proper precautions as she slid halfway down. Regina went to bring her free hand around to grip the railing, but it was too late, her other hand had already slipped.

"Regina!" Emma cried as she came running from the dining room just in time to catch her. She couldn't believe it, once again, when she needed her most, the Savior was there to save her. It took a minute for Regina to bring herself upright, not realizing that her hand had landed straight on Emma's chest. Now it was her turn to blush, but luckily her little walk provided her with a bit of camouflage, so hopefully Emma wouldn't be able to tell. That was until Regina stood all the way up, their faces inches apart, but unlike all the other times they had come face to face like this, there was no fight for dominance, or hate in each others eyes. Emma held her tightly, finally letting a small smirk shine through as she brushed a few of Regina's hairs away from her face.

"Care to tell me what you were doing?" Regina was still trying to catch her breath, which now she realized was not from her little journey down the stairs, but the fact that she was in Emma's arms, with the Savior's fingers that were now tingling the back of her neck. After Emma had pushed her hairs back behind her ears, she left her hand there, refusing to bring them back.

"I didn't want to be in bed anymore. There's too much to do." Regina finally let out, hoping the words came out coherently, but Emma smiled and shook her head, signaling that she understood her.

"I really don't think you should go out and face your mother like this." Regina laughed, but again got caught up in Emma's gaze on her, causing her next set of words to stumble out.

"Maybe something to eat first." Emma's smile grew as both their hearts seemed to be pounding into the others. Their bodies obviously well ahead of their minds.

"Ok, there's got to be something in your kitchen for me to whip up." Emma said as she brought her arm down to Regina's waist to help her into the dining room, Regina tripping over the first step after being caught off guard by Emma's new touch that seemed to numb her body, but thankfully the Queen in her was quick to recover.

"Whip up? Do you even know how to work a stove? I always seem to find you at Granny's."

"Paying attention to my whereabouts huh?" Emma joked as she helped Regina into the chair and brought her body down to stare into her.

"See, I told you there was something right below the surface." But Regina wasn't prepared to revisit speaking about their feelings at the moment, their intense body language was enough, and she just lightly shook her head and smiled.

There wasn't much Emma could work with in the kitchen other than some pancake batter and bacon, but Regina was pleased of the little display she made out of everything, even bringing her some apple juice and milk to complete the meal.

"We need to get you all back to normal, and a good hearty meal is a good place to start."

"Thank you Emma." After a few more unspoken minutes, Regina knew the only way she was going to be able to eat was to settle her nerves, and the best way to do that, was to talk about something neutral.

"So, where's Henry?"

"Asleep." Emma responded as Regina took a glance over at the clock.

"It's nine o'clock, impressive." Emma laughed.

"Thank you, but I can't take all the credit. He was a nervous wreck when I told him what had happened to you, but then when I said we were moving you and needed help in doing so, he ran around town with Ruby gathering as many people as he could find. Once we settled you in your bed, Henry helped me and David move the love seat upstairs, then went through your things to tell me which outfits you would find acceptable to wear over the next few days." Regina smiled as her heart melted. Not only was Henry very involved in helping her, but he went out of his way to make sure she was as happy and comfortable as possible. The best part about all of it was that he was home, asleep in his own bed.

Regina finished the rest of her meal with ease and Emma cleaned up the table and dishes as soon as she was finished, even after Regina told her she had done more than enough. Regina knew her mother was still out there and needed to be taken care of, but she couldn't help but soak in and enjoy this moment. She was actually happy, even all banged up and bruised, she didn't care. She had never had a domesticated life, and the thought of that being a possibility brought her peace, regardless if it would ever come true or not.

When Emma came back she helped Regain up the stairs, her head no longer pounding, and her body slowly gaining strength, but she still appreciated and probably needed the Savior's help.

As happy as Regina was feeling though, once they walked into the bedroom, she moaned like a child.

"Everything ok?" Emma asked tilting her head at her.

"I really don't want to lie down again."

"You need to rest so you can regain all of your strength Regina."

"I know, but the idea of doing it in my own filth is really not welcoming." Emma stared at her confused.

"But this is a fresh pajama set."

"Yes, I noticed, and I appreciate that, but I haven't showered in days Emma, I need to at least rinse off before going back to bed." Emma glanced down, eyeing the fact that she still needed her for support.

"I don't know Regina. I don't want you to slip and fall." Regina waited for Emma to look back up at her, not sure where her overflowing courage was coming from.

"Well, if you don't mind helping me, I will owe you more than I already do." Now Emma was the one shaking, making Regina smirk.

"You do realize, you've already changed me a number of times already. Don't tell me you're afraid now that I'm awake and alert." Emma squinted at her, building up her own courage before responding.

"Ok."

Emma helped Regina to the bed, while she made sure the water temperature was alright, then came back to help her into the shower. Regina smiled at Emma's shoes and socks that were placed neatly against the wall of the bathroom, and her jeans and shirt rolled up, ready to take care of her. Regina made sure to keep her back to the Savior, because although this may have been her idea, she knew she wouldn't be able to handle Emma's eyes falling all over her body just yet. Emma helped her remove her top, then stepped back and waited for Regina to give her the ok after she slipped out of her pants to reach out for her hand to help her into the shower.

Emma's hand was delicately placed on Regina's back to give her some support as the Queen inhaled the immediate heat around her. Regina wasn't sure if it was from the cleanliness of the water flowing over her, or from the Savior standing directly behind her that made her feel so relaxed, but she knew it was best not to think about it. As Regina went to lean down to pick up the shower gel, she let out a yelp, and Emma quickly reached down and retrieved it for her.

"Thank you dear," Regina said, then snatched the luffa hanging in front of her. She washed herself the best she could, but knew she wouldn't be able to bend over or squat down. Regina let out another huff, but before she could toss the luffa aside and leave it at that, the Savior stepped in and took it from her, and without saying a word, finished cleaning Regina's body, stopping briefly over the scars on her ankles she received from her mother the other day. Emma taking extra care of Regina's recent wounds with the gentle touch of her hand. The Savior then, brought the luffa up to its spot, but instead of bringing her hands back in to her, they began to trace up and down the Queen's arms.

Regina thought she could control the situation originally, but who was she kidding, they both had been side-stepping the obvious connection that was between them for the longest time, and now, more vulnerable than ever, Emma was about to break through both their steel walls they had up for so long.

Emma continued to rub Regina's arms, any soap that was originally lingering on her body was now circling the drain and without even caring that she was still partially dressed stepped up behind Regina and kissed the side of her neck by the shoulder. Regina's knees almost went out on impact, but Emma must have predicted this as her arm wrapped around Regina's waist to keep her upright. Regina fell back against the Savior, forgetting what it was like to be so close to someone, to feel comfort, and safety in someone elses arms, to believe that everything horrifying in life could be made right just by that special person being there by your side. Regina took a deep breath knowing that although it felt good to be there in Emma's arms, there was still so much they needed to discuss before going any further, but it didn't look like Emma cared about talking as she placed her mouth back down on Regina's neck slowly making her way upward, the Queen now obliging to the Savior's commands as she tilted her neck to the side so Emma could continue her journey, blocking anymore logical thoughts that tried to invade her mind.

Once Emma got to Regina's cheek, she pushed her hand down on Regina's waist, forcing her gently to turn around. Regina's mouth opened as she stared into Emma's eyes. The longing they both shared to finally have someone in front of them that not only understood each others' pain, but would never judge them for all the wrongs from their past gazing into one another. Regina brought her hand up and began to stroke Emma's cheek with her thumb, neither woman moving in yet, both waiting for the other to take charge or obliged to the other's wishes. Then neither one could take the space between them any longer, coming together simultaneously, their mouths connecting, instantly allowing entry. Their kisses slow at first, not because they were feeling each other out though. No, their kisses were like a rehearsed play, knowing exactly what to do and when to do it. They kept it slow to savor the moment, realizing that although it may not have felt like it, was their first kiss.

Emma pulled Regina out from under the shower head and closer to her as she began to deepen their kiss gradually. At first Regina shivered from the sudden chill in the air, but their bodies radiated enough heat to overcome it all. Regina even began to feel her body heal quicker. Emma involuntarily sending magic through her, mending the wounds only her magic could reach. Regina smirked against the Savior's lips realizing this, but before Emma could lean back and ask why she grinned, Regina had pulled her back into her for more. The magic and passion intertwining between them was more erotic than any kiss Regina had ever experience before and it only excited her more that it was with the woman she originally thought was her enemy, but in actuality, was her Savior.

Emma's hand crept up Regina's back and another jolt of shivers spread throughout her body, but these she welcomed, Regina was about to push Emma away to remove her shirt when she thought the heard someone in the house, but the hesitation didn't last as Emma lifted the shirt herself, although not very easily since she was soaked. Regina laughed as she went to help the silly Savior, but this time there was someone calling out for them.

"Emma, Regina, are you in there?" Their eyes instantly locked in terror. It was Mary Margaret and David, and they were entering her bedroom. Of course it was them, Regina thought. Part of her wanted to say screw it and keep going since the chances of her ever actually being able to kill Snow White were plummeting by the second, but at least she could torture the woman a little by being caught in the nude with her daughter.

"No," Emma responded to her thoughts, Regina not being able to conceal her smirk.

"What?"

"Don't what me, help me get my shirt back on." Emma yelled in a whisper.

"And what about me?" Regina asked glancing down at her naked body along with Emma who no longer held in her delight at seeing Regina so open. Both of them having to shake their heads out of their twitter-patted way of thinking, and just as they thought they were in the clear the bathroom door began to turn.

"Shit," They said in unison.