A/N: I'm so sorry such a non-existent update on this fic. I had to wait until I got a new laptop for a few weeks. Updates on this story should resume to be updated regularly. Lucky Ones should be updated sometime this week too. Thank you for your patience, I'm not too happy about this chapter, hence why it's one of the shorter ones, but I hope, as always, you all enjoy.

Chapter 9: Settling In

It didn't take long for them to pack and move all of Emma and Henry's boxes from the apartment into the house. It was the one time David and Mary Margaret's offer to help was actually used. Emma would never voice it, but it made her happy to see her parents and girlfriend actually get along for more than a second.

That evening was spent putting away her things into the space cleared out for her by Regina while dinner was being made. It didn't take long for her to finish emptying the handful of boxes sitting at the foot of the bed. Emma sat down on the bed with a sigh. I finally have a place to call home. She smiled to herself, taking in the surroundings of Regina's bedroom. With a sigh, she got up from the bed and left, coming down the stairs quietly.

Her feet instantly took her in the direction of the kitchen where she knew her girlfriend would be. She tip-toed behind her, covered Regina's eyes and whispered, "Guess who?" into her ear.

Regina grinned, the hairs on her neck rising from the warm breath. "Hmm, the voice is too feminine for Henry and he isn't this tall yet…" she pretended to think as she took the spoon out of the pot and put it on the stove. "It must be Miss Swan."

Emma turned her around, a mock frown displayed on her lips. "Miss Swan? I thought you'd finally gotten that "Miss" isn't my first name."

"I know that Emma." The brunette smirked, kissing away the frown. "Old habits die hard." She murmured against her lips as she wrapped her arms around her neck.

There was no point in arguing with the woman, that Emma knew all too well. The only thing she could do was give in to the kiss. They lingered there for a moment, neither deepening nor pulling away from each other, until the pot behind them started boiling. Emma pulled away with a slight laugh. "I should let you get that. Don't want you burning dinner."

Regina laughed at how similar those words were to the first time they had dinner together. She turned around and stirred the pot, tasting it to make sure that the food was done. After a few more minutes of stirring, Regina turned the pot on low and turned back around to find Emma staring at her.

"What?" An eyebrow arched as a smirk pulled at the corner of her lips.

The blonde shook her head with a grin. "Nothing." She shrugged pulling out the plates and forks from where Regina pulled them from the last time. "You just look…never mind." Her head shook again.

Her arms folded across her chest, both eyebrows raising this time. "I just look what, Miss Swan?"

Emma sighed. "You just look…I don't know, at home, when you cook. I'm not saying you look domestic or anything, but I like seeing you so…happy." A small smile tugged at the right corner of her lips.

To her relief, Regina couldn't do anything but smile. "I…I suppose I am happy when I cook. It's one of my favorite things to do." She shrugged, using the spoon to dip the spaghetti on the plates next to the stove. "Can you go get Henry and make sure he washes up?"

"Of course babe." The younger woman kissed her cheek and headed out of the kitchen in the direction of the stairs calling out, "Kid go wash up!" from the base of it.


After they had finished their dinner and watch a movie in the family room, Regina and Emma put Henry to bed together then went to their own bedroom. The two women settled down in bed, both facing each other.

Regina took Emma's hand in hers and smiled. "It feels like I've been waiting for this day my entire life." She admitted.

"Me too." Emma smiled, looking down at their hands.

Silence fell between them for a while, only their breathing filling the dark room. "Do you think…" The older woman shook her head. "Never mind."

Emma sat up, her eyebrows furrowing. "Do I think what?" She asked curiously.

Regina sighed. "Do you think…since we've enhanced our present day relationship that our dream one will change in some way?"

"I don't know Regina," the blonde shrugged. "But I won't say it wouldn't have at least some effect on it." She shrugged again, snuggling closer into the body heat and closing her eyes. "What I do know is that we should get some rest. We do have to work tomorrow."

With that, Regina closed her eyes shortly after Emma, drifting off to sleep.


The ride to their destination took a full two days instead of the normal day and a half due to the weather postponing them quarter of the way. Emma was growing impatient since the hour they had set forth on their trip. She insisted on Regina telling her where they were going, letting out a huff each time she didn't get an answer eventually resorting to mumbling to herself.

Regina on the other hand wasn't as bad as Emma. She had been upset that they were delayed on her surprise, even let her wrath known to her men, but she didn't let that deter her from keeping the secret from the young princess.

"Can't you just poof us there and skip this entire horse pulled carriage thing already?" Emma asked, her tone bored.

"No, then that would change your reaction." The queen said nonchalantly with a slight shrug.

Emma folded her arms and rolled her eyes, not even bothering to let out a sigh. "Not even a hint?" She pushed.

Regina shook her head again. "Don't waste your time, dear. I'm not going to tell you anything until we get there."

The princess frowned and looked out of the window, her eyes trained on nothing in particular as they rode. "Fine."

"I promise it's going to be worth the wait Emma."


Finally their carriage rolled to a stop at a passageway into the woods. Emma stepped out, her brows furrowed as she looked around. "What the hell is this, Regina?" She turned around, a scowl on her face.

An eyebrow rose. "Didn't I mention we'll be walking the rest of the way?"

"No."

"Well we are walking the rest of the way." The queen walked up to the princess' side, intertwining their hands as she started leading the way down the long, winding path

Emma did think about pulling away from the embrace, but she loved the feeling too much despite her childish anger.

They walked in a comfortable silence before the snowy path broke through to a gravel pathway with three perfectly manicured circular gardens of black bacarra red roses on either side. A castle much larger than one the princess had ever seen in her life rested at the end of the snow laced field. Her eyes widened as she took in the entire scenery. "Regina, this is beautiful…"

Regina watched Emma with a smile. "Was it worth the journey, dear?"

The blonde nodded quickly, kissing the queen all over. "Very worth it."

"I know how much you used to love the winter castle and how much you miss it. It isn't the same, but-"

Emma cut her off with a kiss. "I don't care Regina. This castle is perfect for our winter home."


Both women woke up simultaneously, sienna meeting emerald.

"Did you…"

"I did."

"How-"

"I don't know." Regina sighed. "We obviously need some answers."

Emma furrowed her eyebrows, the sleep haze keeping her from thinking straight. "Do you think we should go to Gold?"

The brunette shrugged. "It's worth a shot. After all, he is the one who gave me the curse. Who knows what else he's done before then."