Emma walked in the door as quietly as possible, only opening the door enough to squeeze her thin body through. The house was dark and Emma tried her best to tiptoe up the large staircase of Regina's home. She had worked extremely late tonight. She really could have taken off earlier, but there was a lot of paperwork that needed her attention. Yes, paperwork. That's what she told herself. It certainly wasn't that she was avoiding the other woman in the house. That certainly was not the case. That logic sounded good to Emma and that was all that mattered.

She saw the light to Regina's room was off and sighed heavily at the discovery. She knew that the woman wouldn't still be up, but as she looked at the door, her conversation from today hit her again. Emma had one of two choices. One being that Regina would never remember who she is. Second, would be that Regina would find her true love, the curse would be broken with a kiss and the woman would finally get her happy ending. Somehow the latter of the two hurt Emma.

She took another deep breath and quietly opened her bedroom door. She slipped into the always dark room and removed her shirt as she walked. She unbuttoned her slacks and was just about to help them to the floor, when a soft light from her night stand turned on.

Regina took in the woman standing in front of her wearing only a black bra and matching slacks that were wide open at the top. "I- You were late. I was worried." Regina tried to move her eyes away from the black lace panties that were exposed by Emma's opened pants.

Emma stood there stunned until she realized that she was half naked. She grabbed her shirt and put it back on but didn't button it, leaving it half open. As she tried to close her pants she spoke. "I had a lot of stuff to do at the station. When I looked up it was late and I didn't want to call."

"It's past midnight, Emma."

"Yeah, I know. I am sorry that I worried you. I should have called. That was very selfish of me and I am sorry."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know. Tonight was unlike you."

"Yeah, I'm fine. How are you?"

"Ok. No dreams. No headache."

Emma smiled. "That's good."

Regina started to get out of the bed. "I will leave you alone. I'm sure that you are tired."

Emma spoke quickly. "Nah. You look comfortable." She smiled. "I mean it's not like we haven't slept together multiple times. I will just step in the bathroom and grab a quick shower."

"Are you sure?"

Emma wondered again about her only options. How would she ever let Regina go? "Yeah, I'm sure. " She smiled again. "I'll just be a minute."

Regina watched the bathroom door close and waited. She heard the shower start to run, then a moment later she heard the sound of the water change signaling that Emma was in the shower. She could hear the water falling off the woman. She fell back into the bed with a huff. She looked up at the ceiling and continued to torture herself imagining that water running off Emma's toned body. "What the hell am I doing?"

When Emma re-entered the room she spoke. "Ok. All don-." She looked around the room to find Regina gone. It was a move that Emma hated, but knew that it was probably for the best. She crawled into the bed and lay on the side that Regina had kept warm. Every scent of Regina was still very present. Emma turned her face into the pillow and took a big sniff. Apples and cinnamon were all over the sheets and pillow cases. Regina was all over the sheets and pillow cases.

For the life of her, Emma didn't understand how she had gotten here. A woman that she only tolerated for Henry's sake a few months ago had become the only true desire that Emma could remember in a very long time. She almost chuckled at how insane this all was. The Savior and the Queen? Emma had no idea how she would ever tell Snow about this. That was just another reason to hide whatever this was between them. No one could ever know.

The next thing that Emma remembered was a soft knock at her door and the light coming from her small window. "Yeah?" Emma said groggy.

"Mom?"

"Yeah, Kid."

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Henry opened the door. "Mom and I are leaving. She said that you may need up for work."

"What time is it?"

"7:30."

"Yeah, I need up. I musta forgot to set the alarm. Thanks."

"No biggie. Mom said that you didn't get in till late and you probably needed your sleep. "

"I did. Tell her thank you for the wakeup call."

"You are quiet welcome, Emma." Regina walked up behind her son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tell Emma bye, Henry. We have to get going."

Henry and Emma exchanged goodbyes and Henry left the room.

"Ok. So I will see you this evening." Regina said and started to follow her son.

"Where did you go last night?"

"I just assumed that you needed your rest. I didn't want to bother you."

"You aren't a bother. We have talked about this."

"Yes, we talked about how that it was ok for me to sleep in the same bed as you when I am not feeling well. Last night I was fine."

"So, no voices?"

"None. Henry wanted to read that dreadful Little Mermaid. I swear I do not get the obsession with fairytale characters."

Emma laughed and turned onto her side, propping her elbow. "What do you have against fairytale characters. Arial is one of my favorites I have you to know."

"A mermaid? Who brushes her hair with a fork and is best friends with a crab? That is your favorite?"

"That's the one."

"Good Lord I hope our son doesn't get your taste in fictional characters."

Emma smiled widely at Regina. "My taste in fictional characters is just fine, thank you."

Regina had no idea what Emma was talking about, but the smile on her face caused Regina to smile as well. "Have a good day, Emma." Regina said as she was leaving the room.

"You too, Madam Mayor." Emma got one last 'watch it' look from Regina. Once the woman was gone, Emma fell heavily on the bed and sighed. "I am losing my mind."

xxxx

"Good morning, sweetheart." Snow offered with a kiss to her daughter's head.

"Morning, Mom." Emma watched her Mother take the seat across from her desk. She continued to look at her as if to say 'what?'.

"Charming said that you were here late last night?"

"I was, yes."

"Where there several arrests yesterday?"

Emma dropped the pen in her hand. "Ok. I am sure that Dad told you that there wasn't. Apparently he also told you that there was absolutely no reason to be here late last night. So let's just skip all the questions and why don't you tell me why you are here instead of at school."

"Well for one, I took the day off weeks ago. It's just my luck that I would need to check on you."

"You don't need to check on me, Mom. I am fine. Really."

"Why were you here late last night?"

"Wow. Are we making up for lost parenting time or something?"

"What is happening with you and Regina?"

Emma huffed. "Nothing is happening with Regina."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No. We didn-" Emma huffed again. "Look, Regina and I are fine. We aren't fighting. Is there anything else?"

"It's been months Emma. The town has calmed down. They no longer see Regina being dangerous. I can't honestly see anyone being a threat to Regina's safety. I just wondered if you were considering moving back to the apartment?"

"We don't know that Regin-"

"Regina IS safe, Emma."

Emma was still trying to make out her mom's expression. She didn't seem mad. Maybe Ruby had talked to her. "Mom, I just can't leave right now."

"Ok. I can't say that I understand what is happening over there, but I trust you. I trust that you know what you are doing."

"I do." Emma just lied to her Mother. She didn't have a damn clue.

Snow stood and looked at her daughter. "You know. That special power of yours isn't just something that you have." Emma looked guilty. "It is a trait that you inherited. And not from David."

"Mom-"

Snow raised her hand. "Allow me to finish, please." When Emma nodded she continued. "I would hope that you would talk to me if something is wrong, or just troubling. Or maybe confusing. You are my daughter and I love you. I may not understand everything that you do, but I will try and be fair, and honest, and help you in any way that I can."

"Thank you."

Just before Snow left she turned to her daughter. "You know, I loved her once too."

"I don'-"

Snow raised her hand again. "I too have seen how kind and caring that Regina can be. I know what it's like to care for her. Maybe not in the ways that ... maybe...you may, but I do remember caring for her deeply. Just remember Emma, that Regina will get her memory back. I have seen first hand how she can be. Just be careful." Snow smiled and started to walk out.

"She isn't going to remember." Snow stopped again and walked back toward the desk.

"What do you mean she isn't going to remember?"

"Rumple came by yesterday and said that Regina designed the curse this way. Basically, if the knowledge of the curse was in jeopardy, her memory would be wiped clean."

"She was protecting the curse?"

"Not willingly. She wouldn't have done that to Henry. Maybe during the torture they took her further than even she knew. As bad as Regina ever was, he would have never done this to Henry. "

"So now what?" Snow sat back in the chair.

"I don't know. Rumple said that it was like everything else here. It can only be broken with a true love's kiss."

Snow's mouth was agape. "So- so she has to find true love or stay in this limbo?" Emma nodded. "How are we going to tell her that she will never remember."

"We?" Emma almost chuckled. "So you are volunteering for that job?"

"Absolutely not." Snow smiled. "No, not a conversation that we are having." The smiled fell off Snow's face. "That's why you were here last night."

"Yep."

"You couldn't face her."

"Nope."

"Knowing that someone was going to break this curse." Emma just looked at her Mom. "Annnd you are worried that it isn't you." Emma was still just staring at her. "Am I close?"

"I- I dont-"

"Ok. We don't have to do this now." Snow said. She walked around the desk and placed a very loving kiss on Emma's cheek. "I love you and am here whenever you are ready to talk about it."

Snow stood and turned to see Regina standing in the doorway. "I can come back if I am interrupting something."

Snow smiled at the mayor. "No, we're done her." She sees what anyone would have interpreted as jealousy and decided that she would test things. She ran a hand gently over the crown of Emma's head. "Like I said, honey, the ball is in your court in this conversation. You know where to find me." She smiled at Regina as she passed her in the doorway. Laughing the entire way to the car at the furious look on Regina's face. It was happening and she couldn't stop it so why not have a little fun with it?

"That was quaint." Regina walked toward Emma.

Emma knew actually how that looked and had no way of getting out of it. She wanted to kick her Mother's ass. "She is just worried about me. Apparently David mentioned that I was here late last night."

For a moment it had crossed Regina's mind that maybe Emma was with Snow until late last night. She thought that was crazy. Emma was friends with David. She wouldn't do that to David, right? "Right. I was just checking as well. I couldn't talk to you much this morning about last night. I hope that you aren't wearing yourself thin here. Do we need extra help at the station. I know that Ruby is busy with dinner and David is over the shelter, so if you need help, you need to make me aware of that."

"I don't need help, Regina. I had paperwork to do."

"Can I see the paperwork?"

"What?" Emma panicked.

"The paperwork that kept you here. May I see it?"

"Why? I don't have to show you that."

"I beg your pardon, Sherriff. I am your boss and when I ask for something, you need to produce it."

Emma just stared at Regina. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I want to know where you were last night?"

"I am a grown woman-"

"Who is on my payroll." Regina spat back.

"So that's where we are?" Emma stood up. "At home I am sleeping in your bed and at work you are demanding things from me and calling me Sherriff?" Emma yelled.

Emma and Regina both turned when they heard a noise behind them. They were facing a stunned David, who had dropped one of the two cups of coffee he was holding. "I- I - am sorry. I didn't know that you were having a...meeting. I will just-" David leaned down and picked up the cup. "clean this mess up and be out of your way."

"David." Emma said and rounded her desk.

David had now grabbed the napkins that Ruby had gaven him with Emma's bear claw. "No. It's ok. I will just be back lat-"

"David!" Emma grabbed her dads shaking hand that was cleaning the coffee. "Leave it. I will clean it. "

"I will get out of your way." David said again.

"Regina was just leaving?"

"I was?" Regina crossed her arms and looked at the two leaning over the spilt coffee.

"You were." Emma said firmly.

"I want to see the pap-"

"Fuck the paperwork, Regina!" The minute Emma said it she regretted it. "I'm sorry."

Regina started to walk from the room. "Have a good day, Sherriff."

Emma stood and tried to stop her. "Regina?"

The woman raised her hand and huffed walking out the door.

Emma huffed a 'damn it' under her breath. She turned to see David still looking shell shocked. "How much did you hear?"

David sighed. "Enough to know that my daughter is sharing a bed with the woman that ripped her from my arms."

Emma walked to her desk and sat with a loud thud. "Do me a favor and call Mom back here. I think we all need to talk."