A/N: So folks, this is it, the final chapter!I really hope that you guys like it. I am sorry to be saying goodbye to this fic but I really do need to focus on my studies for a while. Please read and review!

I'm sorry if there are mistakes. I'm tired and had intended on finishing a lot earlier so that I had time to proofread but my housemate wouldn't get the hint and leave my room when I claimed tiredness. I didn't want to disappoint anyone by not getting it out though.

Regina gripped the sink as she felt her knees go weak, Henry had given away her secret and the blonde had left. This was the third time that the blonde had left and this time Regina was convinced she wasn't coming back, not for her anyway. She sincerely hoped that she would come back to care for Henry that evening but even that couldn't be guaranteed. Regina covered her mouth as a sob escaped her.

'Mom?' Unwilling to let her son see his mother falling apart Regina didn't turn around. 'Mom? What's wrong? What happened? I heard you crying from upstairs. Where did Emma go?'

Regina turned towards her son and shook her head, more tears streaming down her face. 'She's gone.'

'What!? What do you mean she's gone? This isn't how this was supposed to go.' Henry wrapped his mother in a tight hug.

'I know sweetheart. I know.' Regina sighed as she stroked her son's hair.

'I'm sorry Mom.'

'You have nothing to be sorry for.'

'This is all my fault. I can make it better Mom I promise.' Henry ran out of the room and grabbed the phone from the dining room.

'Ruby, it's Henry, we messed up; we've got to make this right! Huh? What do you mean this is going perfectly to plan? My Mom's in the kitchen crying her eyes out. Well Emma could have told her that rather than leaving the house with barely a word! She's an idiot! I can't not tell Mom; she's really upset. Okay fine, but you'd better not let her mess this up.'

Henry walked back into the kitchen and took his mother by the hand, 'I'm not going to school today Mom, I'm going to stay here and look after you.'

'Henry, you cannot miss school, I'll be fine. I'll take a shower, drop you off, and head to work. I don't need you to look after me. I can't expect my 11 year old to look after me.' Regina didn't want to admit to her son that more than anything she just wanted to spend the day with him tucked up in bed watching films like they did when he was young and home sick from school. She couldn't expect her son to deal with her falling apart over some relationship, particularly a relationship that never even existed.

'No, Mom, we're spending the day together, I don't care what you say. If you really have an issue with me missing school I'll ask Miss Blanchard to teach me on Saturday.'

'You really are a wonderful boy Henry. You'd really give up your Saturday?'

'If it meant that I could make you happy I'd give up all my Saturdays Mom.'

A few more tears spilled down Regina's face as she heard these words, she wrapped her son in a tight hug. 'I won't make you give up any Saturdays but I would really appreciate your company today.'

Henry nodded, 'Today I'm in charge, so go and get your shower and be back down here in 45 minutes, we've got lots to do.'

Regina laughed 'Yes boss.'

SQSQSQ

'Emma, I can't believe you just walked out! Henry's agreed to spend the day cheering his Mom up so that she's not pissed at you when you turn up later, because trust me, if you've upset the mayor there's every chance she'd kick you off the porch this evening. However, luckily for you, there is a little boy heavily invested in this relationship and he would do anything to make it work.'

'I really didn't know that I'd upset her, that wasn't my intention, I found out that she liked me and I knew I had to make everything better, I had to show her that I liked her too and I knew that it was going to take all day to make it perfect. I just… I didn't… Should I go back and apologise?'

'No, Henry's going to sort it out, but you're going to owe him breakfast for a month or something. No kid should ever have to see their mother as distraught as it sounds like Regina was.'

SQSQSQ

As Regina reached the bottom of the stairs her hand was grabbed and she was pulled out of the front door by her son who gave her just seconds to lock the door before he pulled her towards the drive. Henry opened the driver side door and stepped out of the way gesturing for his mother to take her seat before he tossed her the keys, gently closed the door and ran around to the passenger seat.

'Engine on please,' he said as he buckled his seatbelt. Regina smiled and started the engine.

'Where to?'

'You'll see,' Henry said with a grin, 'reverse to the right please.'

Regina laughed 'I feel like I'm taking my driving test all over again.'

Henry continued to give Regina directions until they were almost all the way out of town 'Mom, you're gonna have to turn right in a minute, it's down a dirt-track so if you don't want to get the car muddy we can walk it?'

Regina nodded and pulled over just before the dirt track. Henry scrambled out of the car to Regina's door and opened it; Regina went to swing her legs out.

'Hang on Mom, you have to put this on first' Henry said as he handed her a blindfold.

'Why do I have to-'

'No questions, you promised I could be in charge so just trust me, okay?' Regina nodded her head and wrapped the blindfold around her eyes, tying it up at the back. As she did so Henry opened the trunk and pulled out a basket and a red and white chequered blanket. He threw the blanket over his arm and took the basket in one hand before returning to his mother and guiding her out of the car with the other. Henry placed Regina's hand on his shoulder, locked the car and began walking into the woods.

As they got deeper into the woods Regina began to wonder where exactly they were going, she was a little worried about how far they were walking but she had promised her son that he could be in charge and was quite happy to have anything to take her mind off the blonde. As Regina reminded herself of what she was trying to forget a tear came to her eye; she was happy she had the blindfold on to hide her emotions from her son. Regina couldn't quite believe she was getting this upset over the woman leaving. They had only ever been friends. Mayor Regina would have been angry by now, thrown something or yelled at someone but Regina Mills knew that the only person she had to be angry at was herself. The blonde had never shown more than friendly feelings towards her; Regina had got up her own hopes that there might be passion hidden under their friendship. Emma's quick exit that morning had unfortunately proved her very wrong. It was only when Henry's voice broke into her consciousness that Regina realised that they had stopped walking.

'I said you can take your blindfold off now Mom.'

Regina removed her blindfold and smiled widely at the sight before her. Henry had laid out the blanket and placed the basket in the centre; out of the basket he had pulled a bottle of water, 2 plates of sandwiches, a small green leaf salad and a couple of bags of chips. It looked almost exactly like all the picnics that Regina had prepared for them when Henry was younger. Regina grabbed her son and pulled him into a crushing hug.

'This is perfect Henry.'

'I don't want you to be sad. I remembered you saying that when we went on our picnics you were the happiest you'd ever been and we haven't been on one in a while so I just… I thought it might help.'

'Henry you are the perfect little boy, how did I ever deserve someone as caring as you? The child shouldn't have to look after the parent but you're doing a very good job of it, I'll try not to get used to it.' Regina winked at Henry and ruffled his hair.

'This is the only time I've ever felt like you needed looking after Mom. You've always been so strong through everything; I thought it only fair that there was one time that you were allowed to break. When I was a baby and Dad – well you never got the chance to be sad then because you had to look after me and there wasn't really anyone else around. I just want you to know that you have me around now and if no-one else is going to be here that's okay because you and I can get through anything and everything together. We always have and we always will. No matter who else comes in or goes out of our lives you and I will always be constant.'

'I love you baby.'

'I know Mom. I love you too. There is one other thing I need you to know before we have our picnic.'

Regina raised a questioning eyebrow.

'If a certain blonde idiot came to the conclusion that she had been an idiot and came back and made things better again, I would be okay with that. I know that if you found yourself loving someone else it wouldn't mean you loved me any less. And I know it doesn't mean that you're betraying Dad. He's gone and he will always be in our hearts and in your memories but you shouldn't let that stop you from loving again. So if a certain blonde idiot decided to come back then let her in.'

Regina began to wonder when her son had got so wise. 'I don't think it's going to happen sweetheart but thank you. And thank you for being so thoughtful and bringing us out here to such a beautiful picnic spot.'

As Regina and Henry sat down to enjoy their picnic Regina's phone buzzed.

E: Regina I'm sorry, something has come up at work, I'm not going to be able to make it to babysit but I've spoken to Ruby and Granny and they're going to sort something out between them so someone will be over to look after Henry.

Regina sighed quietly and hovered her thumbs over her phone for a moment before tapping her reply.

R: Okay.

Henry looked into his mother's sad eyes and wanted to tell her everything but he knew that Emma had something special planned and wanted Regina to be surprised. It was hard though; watching the conflicting emotions flashing across her eyes. Henry knew that there was only one way to truly take his mother's mind off everything that was going on around her.

'Once we're done with our picnic we're going to go to the stables. I'd like you to teach me how to ride.'

Despite the pain in her heart Regina's face lit up as she heard what her son had said.

'I'd like that Henry; I'd really, really like that.'

SQSQSQ

Ruby and Emma had already planned out everything that needed to be done to make the evening perfect, the first thing on the list had been a dress. Ruby and Emma had been shopping for a dress for over two hours and Emma was convinced she had tried on every dress in Storybrooke, none of them looked right, none of them fit right, none of them were worthy of going out with the mayor. In all honesty at that moment in time Emma wasn't sure that she was worthy of going out with the mayor, but she was sure as hell going to do all that she could to make herself worthy. Just as Emma was about to give up on yet another shop she heard Ruby yell.

'I've found it! Emma! I've found the dress.'

The dress that Ruby thrust into Emma's hands was perfect, Emma could tell before she had even put it on. It was the exact same shade of green as the shirt that Regina had borrowed when they first met, it had a high neck and a fitted body with a skirt that flowed to the ground. The back was non-existent; it was almost as if the designer had forgotten to finish the dress but in the most perfect way. As Emma stepped out of the changing room and twirled Ruby nearly fell back in shock.

'Emma, it's stunning and kinda hot. I'm pretty sure if Henry and I weren't going to be in the house the mayor would abandon the ball altogether.' Emma slapped her friend on the arm.

'Ruby, I'm not looking for an easy lay. She deserves more respect than that.'

'Oh Emma I know, if you were looking for an easy lay you'd be wearing the cocktail you tried on hours ago and you'd be scouting the streets for the drunkest men. Trust me, I know that you're serious about this woman and she deserves that, more than anyone.'

'So you think she'll like it?'

'She'll love it. You've got to tell her you can't babysit.'

'What!?'

'This whole plan of yours will work far better if I'm already there. Trust me.'

'I've already upset her once by making her think I've walked out; if I tell her I can't babysit she'll think I'm never coming back.'

'Exactly and think about how happy she'll be when you're on her doorstep in that dress with a flower in your hand.'

'Shit flowers!'

'Yes we're on our way there now. Stop avoiding the subject. Text the mayor and tell her that something came up at work and that Granny or I will babysit tonight. Obviously I'm going to do it, Granny owes me a favour so she can work the bar, but she needs to think that you're really not going to be there.'

'Only two hours ago you pretty much guaranteed me that I'd woken the angry version of Regina that everyone keeps telling me about and now you're expecting me to push that further?'

'Yes. If I know Henry as well as I think I know Henry I know exactly what he has planned for today, he knows his mother well enough to choose the right thing to take her mind off something. Chances are he's going to take her horse-riding after the picnic they will just have started in the forest. If you text her before she gets on that horse the riding will mellow her out and she'll have forgotten all about you by the time she gets off.'

'Okay Rubes, I'm placing all of my trust in you right now.'

SQSQSQ

Regina was surprised at how quickly her son had taken to horse riding, he was trotting happily around the training ground while she watched on. Regina jumped as she heard a voice behind her.

'You're a pretty good teacher you know. He's taken to it like a duck to water!' Regina turned to see David Nolan standing behind her.

'Yeah, he's a natural.' Regina smiled and turned proudly back to her son. David placed a hand on her shoulder.

'You seem down Madam Mayor, I'm happy to watch him if you want to get on a horse yourself?' Regina looked back at David, clearly she hadn't quite got her stony face back after all the tears that morning. She waved Henry over.

'Do you mind if David watches you for a while? I'd like to go for a ride across the fields.'

'Sure Mom!' Henry smiled, knowing his plan was working perfectly, the minute she got on that horse all her troubles would melt away.

SQSQSQ

Regina raced across the fields feeling the wind in her hair she let out a roar of laughter as she remembered how good it felt to ride without a care in the world. She encouraged the horse to pick up more speed until she felt that both she and the horse were exerting all their energy then held her arms out wide and threw her head back. She smiled up to the skies and rejoiced in how whole she felt.

SQSQSQ

Regina returned her horse to the stables and joined Henry at the car.

'Are you ready to go home Mom?'

'Yes my love. Thank you for such a wonderful day.' Regina smiled down at her son and pulled him into yet another rib-crushing hug. 'It has been perfect.' Henry smiled and thought not quite perfect, but soon it will be.

The two sat in a comfortable silence as they made their way back to the mansion. As they walked into the house Henry turned to his mother and asked quietly 'Are you gonna be okay tonight Mom? You know you don't have to go.' He knew full well what his mother's response would be.

'I've had such a perfect day Henry and because of that I will be okay tonight. I'd love to skip the ball' Henry's heart stopped 'but as mayor I have to be there. Ruby or Granny will be over to babysit soon, I have to go and get ready.' Henry let out a sigh of relief as Regina disappeared up the stairs.

Moments later there was a knock at the door.

'Henry, that's probably Ruby, could you let her in please? I need to take a shower' Regina called down the stairs. Henry nodded up at her and rushed to the front door flinging it open and jumping up and down excitedly as he saw Ruby standing on the porch.

'Hey bud, how's your Mom?'

'She's doing really well, I took her to the stables, she rode for about an hour and came back laughing. I'm pretty sure she's going to be alright, as long as Emma gets this right.'

'I promise you kid, Emma has got this spot on. Your Mom deserves this more than anyone and she's so lucky to have a kid like you to help it happen!' Henry wrapped his arms round Ruby in a tight hug.

'Thanks for helping Ruby.' Her grinned up at her as she fluffed his hair.

'It's cool kid! You know what's not so cool?' Ruby pulled a folder out of the bag that was swung over her shoulder 'Mary Margaret gave me this, it's all the word you missed today,' Henry shook his head and groaned 'I guess we'd better get started buddy.'

'Wait, we?'

'Yeah bud,' Ruby wrapped an arm around Henry's shoulder 'Emma's the reason you missed school so Emma was going to help you with your work to make up for it. Emma however is shocking at anything that doesn't involve chasing criminals so she sent me here to help you with this and she owes me drinks for a month. So basically me doing your homework works in my favour.' She winked at the boy in her grip.

'You're the best Ruby!'

'I know kid, I know.'

An hour later Ruby and Henry were poring over a Math problem when there was another knock at the door. Henry and Ruby grinned at one another.

'Ruby would you see who's at the door please?' Regina's voice called down the stairs.
'Umm... Madam Mayor I think you should see for yourself.'
'Ruby, I haven't got time to be dealing with whoever is at my door, I need to get ready.'
'Regina I know but seriously I think you should open the door.'
Regina huffed and walked down the stairs wrapped in a silk robe, her make-up perfect and her hair positioned perfectly on her head.
'Why is it so important that I open-' as Regina opened the door she saw the blonde she had thought she would never see again. She was standing on her doorstep wearing an beautiful green floor-length dress with a high neck and long sleeves. Her hair fell in messy curls around her shoulders 'Emma?'
'Hi,' Emma smiled sheepishly.
'What are you doing here?' Regina tried a tone of annoyance but simply couldn't keep the happiness out of her voice.
'I thought it was about time someone found the courage to ask the mayor to the ball. So, Mayor Regina Mills, will you do me the honour of attending the ball with me?' Emma held a lavender rose out to the mayor and curtsied slightly, looking deep into the brown eyes that were filling with tears.
Regina nodded, unable to speak. She took the rose from Emma's hand and smiled before looking down at her feet, hoping to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. Once she had composed herself Regina stepped back and allowed Emma into the house.
'As you can see,' Regina said gesturing at the silk robe that was threatening to fall open and absorb more of Emma's gaze than it already had 'I'm not quite ready, but Miss Lucas is in the dining room with Henry if you want to go through?'
'Sure, take your time Madam Mayor.' Emma grinned goofily at the beautiful woman before her and then disappeared to join the homework buddies in the dining room. Emma walked through to the to the sound of ruby's wolf-whistling and Henry's cheers. Henry rushed round the table and Emma just managed to brace herself in time for the body that ran into her.
'Damn Emma, you scrub up.' Ruby laughed.
'Yeah Emma, you look great.' Henry mumbled into her stomach.
Emma blushed. 'Thanks guys, but I'm sure I don't look as good as Regina will.'
As they waited for Regina to get ready Henry gave Emma a play by play of Regina's day
'Was she really that upset? I can't believe I did that to her, I didn't even think, I knew what I needed to do and I just... left. I never thought she'd jump to that sort of conclusion. Oh God I'm such an idiot'
'Emma it's fine you'll just have to remember to think from now on. You've both been hurt in the past and you can heal each other but only if you listen and if you think before you act!' Ruby placed a calming hand on her friend's shoulder.
'You're right. I still feel awful though. As she said the words they heard Regina coming down the stairs. Emma walked out into the hallway and looked up the stairs. It felt like all the air had left her lungs. Regina was walking carefully down the stairs, one hand on the banister the other holding up the length of the deep red dress she wore so she wouldn't trip.
'Wow' was all Emma could say.
'Mom you look amazing.'
'Henry's right Regina you look stunning!' added Ruby.
Finally Emma found her voice again. 'Perfect.'
Regina smiled that beautiful smile that Emma had brought to her face the night before, but this time there were three people there to witness it.
'Are we ready to go?' Emma asked as she held her arm out to Regina.
'Yes,' Regina nodded and wrapped her hand gently around Emma's bicep.
As the two approached the door Regina released Emma's arm to allow Emma to open the door. In the time Regina had known Emma the woman had taken her breath away more times than she could count but this time it was a very different feeling. Her breath left her and a warmth settled in her stomach, her eyelashes fluttered and her heartbeat increased tenfold; all of this because, as Emma stepped forward, Regina saw that the back of the blonde's dress left very little to the imagination. The material fell from one shoulder to the small of her back and climbed back up to the other shoulder leaving an expanse of alabaster skin in its wake. The blonde really was beautiful. As Regina and Emma walked arm in arm down the path Ruby wrapped an arm around Henry's shoulder and looked down at him, 'You did good kid.' She then pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the two women.
As Emma walked down the path with Regina on her arm she felt like the happiest girl in the world. She knew it was clichéd but that's how she felt. Regina seemed to be one giant cliché but in such a non-cliché way. She couldn't comprehend it nor could she explain it. But she knew that at this moment in time she was so much better off than the quarterback who got to take the cheer captain to prom. She was better off than the prince who found Cinderella's lost shoe. She was better off than everyone who had ever taken anyone anywhere because she, Emma Swan, was taking the perfect Regina Mills to the ball.

Regina smiled at Emma who was clearly lost in her thoughts. She coughed quietly.

'Whose car are we taking?' Regina asked once she'd managed to get Emma's attention by gently squeezing her arm.

'Umm…' Emma's tongue felt too big for her mouth 'I thought that I'd drive because you have to be there and it doesn't seem very fair that you can't drink at an event you have to attend.' Regina smiled at Emma's thoughtfulness and then remembered just how many times she'd smiled in the last few weeks in comparison to normal, this thought made her smile again and she laughed at herself.

'What?' Emma asked confused by Regina's sudden outburst of laughter.

'I'm sorry, I wasn't laughing at you. I'm just… so happy that you came back and that you're here and that we're going to this together and I'd love it if you'd drive but not for the reason you suggested. There is no way that I'll need a drink if I have you on my arm all night. Plus if the deputy needed to… leave early… she'd have to drop me off at home first.' Regina winked, Emma grinned and kissed Regina on the cheek as she opened the car door for her watching the woman with a smile as she climbed carefully into the car.

Emma got into the driver's seat and started the engine. 'So how does tonight work?'

'Well, I have to go in, make mundane conversation with some grumpy old men and then come up with some kind of excuse to leave early.'

'I can definitely sort out an excuse for you Madam Mayor. At any point, just come and let me know that you want to go home and I'll come up with something.'

'Okay,' Regina gently squeezed Emma's knee.

SQSQSQ

Emma was stunned by the beauty of the ball, it was clear that Regina's input had been most influential, only she could have created something quite so aesthetically pleasing.

'It looks beautiful, Regina!' Emma whispered as she took Regina's hand.

'Not as beautiful as you.' Emma blushed as Regina walked away to mingle with the guests.

Emma watched with awe as Regina floated regally through the building making conversation with anyone she encountered, taking up the offered dances of a few of the older men and politely declining any male who was anywhere near her in age. As the next song ended Emma quickly walked over and tapped the shoulder of the man that Regina was dancing with.

'Mind if I cut in?'

'By all means Deputy Swan' the man bowed out looking slightly confused.

As the music started up again Regina and Emma began a slow waltz around the room, they moved perfectly in time as if they had been dancing together for years. As the music built up the dance floor slowly emptied, all the guests were surrounding the dance floor watching as the mayor and the deputy danced as one. As the piece rose to its final crescendo and fell into a grand ending Regina and Emma heard the applause from the crowd. Each blushed and made a slight curtsey before disappearing into different groups of people to make it seem like they were simply doing their jobs.

Emma joined Mary Margaret and David.

'You looked beautiful out there Emma' Mary Margaret placed a kiss to Emma's cheek.

'Like a duck to water,' David repeated the words he had spoken about Henry hours earlier.

'Well, I'm not called Swan for nothing' Emma winked at the two and immediately the three of them dissolved into fits of laughter.

Regina watched the laughter from the other side of the room and immediately felt jealous that it was not her that had made Emma laugh. She walked over to Emma and placed a hand on the small of her back.
The warm hand on her bare back sent a welcome shiver down Emma's spine. She felt Regina's hot breath against her ear as the woman leaned in and whispered 'I think I'm ready for you to take me home.' Emma cleared her throat and attempted to clear the fog that had entered her brain before quickly excusing herself; 'I'm sorry Mary Margaret, David, something has come up at the mayor's office and Regina needs my help, I really have to go.'

SQSQSQ

Regina laughed as they reached the open air and Emma grabbed her hand pulling her towards the car.

'How long were we there?' Emma asked

'A little over an hour, I think that's long enough for the mayor to show her face don't you?'

Emma laughed again 'Well, since something came up at the mayor's office I suppose the townspeople are going to have to deal with it, whether it was long enough or not.'

As they reached the car Emma placed another kiss to Regina's cheek as she once again opened the door, this time she took Regina's hands as she entered the car and placed a kiss on each set of knuckles. Regina smiled and rubbed her thumbs over where those beautiful lips had been. She thought about how perfect this evening had been and how different it was to the evening she had expected. She was pulled out of her thoughts by Emma slamming the driver door and starting the engine.

'Let's get you home Madam Mayor.'

'It isn't home, not really, no house has ever truly been home since, well, you know. Henry is home but the house isn't, but I really think that could soon change.'

'I hope so,' Emma smiled at Regina and began the drive back to the mayoral mansion.

The journey ended much too soon for Regina's liking, she smiled sadly at Emma, knowing that this is where their perfect evening would end. Not ready for that moment just yet she asked 'Deputy, will you walk me to the door? You just never know what might happen in a neighbourhood such as this.'

'Of course, we couldn't have anything bad happen to the mayor now could we?'

Emma stepped out of the car and walked around to let Regina out, she quickly locked the car before they started walking to the house together.

As they were walking towards the porch Emma wrapped an arm around Regina, Regina returned the gesture. Letting her hand slip under the material of Emma's dress and sit delicately on the woman's waist, Regina traced a gentle line up and down the skin with her thumb until Emma squirmed away from her grip.

'Hey, that tickles!'
Regina turned her head away embarrassed.

'Sorry' she mumbled.
'Hey,' Emma caught Regina's chin and turned her head back to look at her 'It's okay, I didn't mind, I'm just extremely ticklish!'
Regina smiled and blushed as Emma's hand moved from her chin to cup her cheek.
'I had a really lovely time tonight' Emma whispered as she took a step closer to Regina.
'As did I. Thank you for being the first to have the courage to ask the mayor out.'

'Thank you for giving me the courage.'
Emma smiled at Regina and Regina smiled at Emma. Regina took a step towards Emma so that their bodies were flush. As their bodies met Emma's eyes fluttered closed and she leaned her head towards Regina until they were breathing in each other's air. Regina closed her eyes and the gap between them in the same moment, meeting Emma's soft lips with her own. The kiss started gentle and explorative but quickly turned desperate as Regina wrapped her arms around Emma placing one hand on the small of her back pulling the woman impossibly closer while her other hand slid slowly up Emma's bare back to tangle in blonde curls. Emma slipped her hand from Regina's cheek around her neck and gently flicked her tongue across Regina's bottom lip, seeking entrance and taking the opportunity when Regina gasped as Emma tugged gently at her hair. Emma's free hand snaked around Regina's waist to steady her as the brunette's knees went weak with the force of the kiss. Tongues explored mouths and fingers tugged hair and stroked skin as the kiss grew ever more heated. Finally after what felt like an eternity Emma pulled away and rested her forehead against Regina's as the two breathed heavily attempting to come down from the dizzying heights of the kiss. When Emma had recovered enough breath to speak she looked deep into Regina's eyes.

'You were right.'

'About what?'

'Everything really does taste better when it belongs to someone else. You are the best thing I have ever tasted.'

Regina laughed, a beautiful heartfelt laugh that had Emma claiming the plump red lips with her own once more. This time it was Regina who pulled away and looked into those green pools smiling in wonder at all the feelings she could see flashing through them.

'What are you thinking?' Emma asked.

'That I haven't been this happy in a very long time.'

Emma pressed a chaste kiss to Regina's lips. 'I almost forgot, I got you something.' Emma jogged back to her car and opened the trunk; Regina couldn't see what she had pulled out because of the darkness. As Emma came back she had a hand hidden behind her back. Regina looked at her with a curious smile. Emma placed another kiss on Regina's lips and pulled her arm out from behind her. In her hand was a bouquet of 10 lavender roses which perfectly matched the one she had given Regina at the beginning of the evening.

'They're beautiful.'

'They mean… Well, they mean that… I don't really know how to put it into words but they mean…'

'I know what they mean,' Regina smiled and pulled Emma in for another searing kiss.

'I'm just sorry it took me so long to realise.'

'I'm sure I can think of many ways for you to make it up to me.' Emma's breath hitched as she heard Regina's voice drop an octave and as she saw lust darken her eyes. 'For now though, I just want you to hold me.'

Emma nodded and curled her arms around Regina, holding her close. Regina gently twirled her fingers through Emma's curls and nuzzled her face into Emma's neck inhaling deeply and feeling overwhelmed with the scent of the woman in her arms. 'Never let me go?' the brunette murmured into Emma's neck.

Emma shook her head, 'Never.'

Because in Regina's arms Emma knew for the first time that she was home.

A/U: For anyone who isn't quite as knowledgeable on their flowers as Regina, a lavender rose means love at first sight and 11 roses assures the recipient that they are truly and deeply loved. The flowers were Emma's way of saying what she really wanted without having to think about words. I've always considered Emma to be better with actions than with words so that is what this was meant to represent. Also, I know some of you will question the love at first sight thing since it took Emma so long to work out her feelings but I am a believer that you can fall in love with someone the first time you see them but that you won't necessarily fully understand your feelings in that moment and that is certainly true of Emma in this story.

A little word of extraness: if I get enough reviews there is every chance I might have a few tricks up my sleeve and a few more ideas for where this fic could go. Just a little incentive for those of you who come back to read this every time it updates but who don't leave their thoughts ;)