Epilogue

3 years later

The sun was shining through the not fully closed curtains into the master bedroom.

Regina opened her eyes with a sigh. A look out the window confirmed that the day had already begun.

A day she dreaded.

She turned her head and couldn't help the smile that settled on her face at the sight of a mass of golden locks, partially buried in the covers. Emma almost never woke up before the alarm. They were both light sleepers, but Regina liked to get up early while Emma seldom woke up before an alarm.

Regina still sometimes thought she was dreaming the last three years. She didn't even know why she'd been afraid.

Being with Emma was – amazing.

They brought out the best in each other. Sure, they fought – a lot- because they were two equally strong-willed, stubborn, passionate women. But they came around each time.

It was almost laughable how easy it had been. After their nightly declarations, Emma just took hold of Regina's hand when they left the house for a breakfast at Granny's. Henry had smiled but said nothing. And Emma didn't let go of her hand until Ruby set a gigantic plate of pancakes in front of her. One of the townspeople dared to question Emma's sanity on their way out, while saying some not-so-kind- words about both of them, but the blonde had merely clogged him out with her hand that was not attached to Regina's.

To her surprise, even Snow and David didn't freak out. Snow shared a smug grin with Charming before engulfing both women in a bear hug.

And that had been that.

The brunette turned her head when she heard the bedroom door creak open.

Big brown eyes stared at her through a curtain of blonde hair that looked so much like Emma's it was almost scary. Regina laid a finger on her lips. The child nodded, grinned and tip toed to the bed. When she was a few steps away the girl started running and with one jump she landed on the bed, directly on top of Emma who jerked awake.

"Good morning, Mommy!"

"You scared me to death, little one!" Emma breathed.

She turned to her girlfriend.

"And you? You didn't even warn me!"

Regina knew Emma wasn't really mad. She smiled and gave the blonde a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Sorry, darling"

"Hmm, apology accepted. And now to you-"

The girl screamed with glee as Emma grabbed her and started tickling her relentlessly.

"Mommy, stop I have to pee!"

Emma laughed and let her daughter go. The little blonde gave Emma a peck on the check and rolled out of bed.

"Hey, what about my good morning kiss?" Regina pouted.

The girl quickly turned around and fell into her waiting arms before soundly kissing her check, too.

"Sorry, Momma!"

Regina squeezed her tight. "Are you excited for your first day of school, honey?"

"Yes! I'm gonna learn lots of things and become smart like Henry. And then I'm gonna go to col-college with him!"

"Sounds like an amazing plan, munchkin. You have to get ready for your big day first, though."

Emma leaned over and tussled her hair. The child grinned up at them and then made a beeline for the bathroom.

Emma sighed and let herself be held by the brunette.

"I can't believe she's already going to school."

"Me neither. Maybe we should have given her an extra year, you know, just in case she gets overwhelmed?"

"Gina, we already did that. She's ready. Come on momma-bear we'll be late."

Regina laughed while standing up, untangling herself from the blonde.

"Oh, so I'm the over protective one? Need I remind you that you were the one who brought the boy to tears who wouldn't let her on the swings last week?"

"Hey! They're supposed to share, right?"

"Right" Regina chuckled.

Emma made no move to get out of bed; instead she put her arms behind her head and asked:

"So we're still picking her up together right? I traded shifts with Ruby. Have to be at the station after family dinner with my parents and take her night shift, though."

Regina nodded while walking over to her closet to select her outfit for the day.

"That works. I'll take an extended lunch break and Belle offered she'd meet me at home to revise the blueprints."

Regina said, already halfway in her closet, searching through her extensive blouse collection.

"That's nice. So the library reconstruction thing did work out, huh?"

The blonde asked while checking out her girlfriend's behind, which was barely covered with her silk nightshirt.

"Yes. And stop ogling my ass, dear." Regina grinned, without having to turn around. She could almost always feel Emma's gaze on her.

The sheriff laughed, not in the least sorry to have been caught.

"Can't help it. You're gorgeous."

Regina walked back to the bed and bent over to give Emma a kiss.

"So are you, my darling."

"You're still in bed?!" Their daughter squealed, having just returned from the bathroom.

"I don't wanna be late! Come on!"

Groaning Emma hauled herself out of the bed. She looked at Regina. "She's even worse than you are."

Regina laughed. "Not possible. Now, hurry up!"

As they walked to school together a little while later Emma remembered a rainy day a little under two years ago.

She and Regina had been together for more than a year then. For some of the people in town it seemed odd that the two of them wanted another kid and that so early in their relationship. But her mother had been their biggest cheerleader and constant supporter in everything. Henry was ecstatic to get a little sibling, he was just sad that soon he wouldn't be around as much when he'd leave for college.

Originally they had both wanted to adopt a baby girl, but when the blonde saw a little four-year-old girl sitting in a corner of the orphanage she had her mind set. Of course, Regina agreed with her and the social worker did, too. They visited the girl with Regina's eyes and Emma's hair -Gillian- every weekend with Henry after that. And when all the paperwork had been filled out many weeks later, the women drove up to Boston on a rainy day to bring their daughter home. Regina had asked then.

Why her? - Because, Emma had said, She looked at me the same way you -little you- looked at me from under that table. And that girl deserves a family, too.

"I hope she will be alright" Regina said, prompting Emma to focus on the present again.

She watched their daughter. Gillian was two steps ahead of them, skipping along the sidewalk without a care in the world. Just happy and excited for a new adventure.

"No one would dare to mess with her." The blonde said with conviction.

"You mean with us as her parents? The Savior slash Dark One slash Sheriff and the More or less redeemed Evil Queen slash mayor?"

"No." Emma said, laying an arm around the brunette. "Much scarier. Just Regina and Emma, two moms who'd walk through hell and back for their children."

"Much scarier. Just Regina and Emma, two moms who'd walk through hell and back for their children."

-Fin

Aaaand that's it folks! Thank you so much for reading this story and all your feedback.

If you like, I'll see you again on my next story!

Mwah!