Author's note: Originally this was supposed to be a huge information-laden chapter, but after thinking over how I wanted to proceed with this, I decided that my beloved OTP needs a bit of quiet, happy time together. After all they've been reunited after twenty-eight years apart, so who was I to deny them a little fluff before things get complicated?

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Chapter Nine

"Well, I suppose that answers one of the many questions I have," Regina murmured once she and Aiden were safe within the manor's walls.

"What question is that?" her husband, who had yet to put her down, inquired.

"I wondered whether or not I had to be invited in, since I'm a vampire now."

"Ah," he chuckled from low in his throat and gently set her on her feet. "If it had been any other house, you would have needed an invitation, but as it happens: this is your home. Your name is on the deed right next to mine, so you can come and go as you please from here."

"I see," Regina glanced around the stately entryway. "So anywhere else in town, I need to be invited in?"

"Only when it comes to private residences. If it's a place that's open to the public, then you can go in at will." Aiden explained, watching his wife with a fond smile as she began to explore their home.

She moved slowly down the main hall, eying the paintings that lined the walls. Though she didn't recognize any of the art, it was pleasing to the eye. "Did we pick these out?" she gestured at one of the landscapes.

Smiling, Aiden slid his arms around her waist and rested his chin against her hair. "We spent several weeks decorating when we first got to town."

She relaxed back into his embrace. "I wish I could remember."

He pressed his lips lightly to her temple. "You will. In time."

She twisted so she could face him, their eyes meeting for a lingering moment, and then he leaned in and kissed her deeply.

A pleased moan escaped Regina and she draped her arms over his shoulders in order to deepen the embrace, the pair exchanging playful nips and teases between kisses until he pulled back to breathe.

"Not that I'm minding the affection, but I must look a mess right now," she nuzzled her nose against his. "Is there any place I can freshen up before we have that tea and you explain what's going on to me?"

"You're not a mess," he shook his head, amusement crossing his handsome features.

"I just woke up in a tomb, Aiden," she protested. "I'd like to wash that feeling off, at the very least."

"Very well," he startled her by scooping her up in his arms again. "In that case, the first stop on the tour will be the master bath."

"I can walk you know," Regina muttered.

"Indulge me," he retorted, claiming her mouth in another kiss before carrying her up the staircase that lead to the second level of the house.

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They stopped for a moment in the master bedroom so Regina could grab a change of clothes. She was delighted to find that Aiden had made sure to keep everything ready for her, rather than store it all away, and there was a vast array of clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories for her to choose from.

After debating for a few minutes, she picked out a pair of jeans (it would take some getting used to the clothing names in this world, but they looked comfortable enough) and, to Aiden's amusement, she grabbed one of his shirts from the opposite side of the closet they shared.

He gave her a quick kiss to show his approval of her choices, and then placed his hand on the small of her back in order to guide her towards the bathroom.

Her eyes widened upon seeing that the room was nearly as huge as their bedroom. "Good lord, Aiden, what do you do in that tub, swim in it?" she gestured at the large bathtub that was built up from the floor and took up almost half of the area.

"I don't actually use it that much," Aiden admitted. "I tend to just shower quickly and be done with it," he walked past the tub to show her a smaller area that was encircled with glass, but still looked large enough to accommodate two people. "However, the tub does double as a Jacuzzi, so it's your decision on what you'd like to try tonight."

Regina furrowed her eyebrows. "What's a Jacuzzi?"

Smiling, Aiden walked back to her and drew her over to the tub. "Here, I'll show you," he pressed some buttons on a panel that she guessed were important, and then turned both faucets so that water began pouring into the ceramic tub.

Regina gasped quietly when the water began to froth as it filled up, and, tentatively, she dipped her hand in to feel the sensation.

Aiden couldn't help his grin when she began to laugh and looked back over at him with a joyful expression. "It's like magic!"

"I take it that you'll be trying out the tub then?"

Grinning, she stood to her full height, sauntered over to where he stood, and draped her arms around his neck. "I will, but I have a condition," her gaze turned sultry and her lips curved into an equally seductive smile, "That you join me."

Given the way he swept her into a passionate kiss immediately; it was clear that he had every intention of doing so.

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A content sigh emerged from Regina and she reclined back into Aiden's arms.

Her husband, who was relaxing against the back edge of the tub, tightened his grip around her waist under the water and dropped a soft kiss to her bare shoulder. "Feel better?"

"I feel heavenly," she moaned, tilting her head to grant him better access to the junction between her neck and shoulder, where he nipped playfully. "Though I'm not sure if it's because of the bath or the way you just made love to me."

He smiled against her skin and nuzzled affectionately before bringing his lips to her ear and whispering. "Well, at least I can take credit for one of those."

Chuckling, Regina turned to look at him, her gaze raking appreciatively over his leanly toned chest and arms, which she noticed had more muscle than before. "I'm still getting used to how different you look."

"It took me about three weeks before I stopped mentally picturing scales," Aiden confessed. "But I have to say that it's nice not to have people running in terror from me."

Smiling warmly, she brought her hand up to brush damp strands of hair back from his eyes. "I've always found you handsome…scales or no scales."

Touched, he caught her hand and then leaned in to brush his mouth over hers. "That's sweet of you to say."

Regina's smile grew and she drew him forward to initiate a fervent kiss, to which he responded eagerly: gathering her as close as possible and weaving his fingers into her wet hair as the embrace deepened.

They remained like that for a while, exchanging languid kisses as their hands wandered avidly over naked skin, until finally Aiden pulled back and chuckled dryly. "Well…now I feel guilty."

"Whatever for?" Regina blinked, surprised at his statement.

"I had every intention of helping you remember our past tonight, and to answer all your questions: and yet, the minute we're finally alone, I can't keep my hands off of you long enough to try."

Regina responded with a sharp, amused laugh. "You don't see me complaining, do you?"

"No, of course not, and there's no place I'd rather be right now than here, with you. I just thought I might have better self-control, that's all."

"After 28 years apart, I think we're entitled to a bit of happiness, Aiden." She tugged him forward and rested her forehead against his. "And I know that there's a lot to tell me, but we can focus on that tomorrow."

He sighed softly and nodded. "You're right. Tonight, we have every reason to celebrate you being back."

"Yes, we do…though we might want to move this celebration to a bed soon, otherwise we'll start shriveling up and the water will get cold."

His answer to that was to kiss her senseless yet again and scoop her up in his arms to do as she requested.