A/N: This is the last chapter of the main story. There is a 2 part epilogue to follow. Fun Fact: My editor told me last night she forgot how sweet this chapter was when giving this it's final read through ... so be prepared for some feels.

Summary: Emma and Regina each teach the other something special.

Chapter Song: Just What I Needed - The Cars

Graduation had come and gone and the group was enjoying the free time they had together before Kathryn and Regina started college. Kathryn would be joining Regina at USM. Ruby was now a barback at the Rabbit Hole, she wanted to move up to bartender when she was of age. Hook was helping out part-time at Nolan's Auto Service and at the Marina renting out boats.

Regina walked downstairs and into the kitchen where she found her father. He had been working a lot lately, they were waiting to hire a position and until then Henry was picking up the slack.

She leaned down and pressed a kiss to her father's forehead, "Good morning, Daddy."

Henry smiled up at his pride and joy, "Morning, princess."

Regina poured a cup of coffee and joined him at the table, "How much longer are you going to have to work these hours?"

Henry looked away from the newspaper he was reading, "Hopefully just a few more weeks. The interviews are done and we've offered the position to one of the candidates, so it's just down to salary negotiations."

Regina placed her mug down on the table and placed a gentle hand on her father's wrist, "Good. I worry about you working all of these hours. The stress isn't good for your heart."

Henry chuckled, "The stress isn't good for anything, dear. What are you and the wonderful Emma up to today?"

Regina smiled at the way her father's eyes twinkled when he mentioned Emma they really did have a special bond, "She's working with Hook today, still training him. We'll probably do something lowkey tonight. I do need to ask you something about Emma though, Daddy."

Henry smiled, "Oh?"

Regina tucked a strand of dark hair behind her right ear, "Would it be alright if I took Emma to the stables? I'd really like to teach her how to ride a horse."

Henry was a little shocked by his daughter's question, "Of course. You know there's not much I'd say no to when it comes to Emma. You two have such a special bond, reminds me of your mother and I when we were young and in love."

Regina smiled but the smile faded at the mention of her mother, "Daddy, I never really got to see that side of Mother, what changed?"

Henry sighed and took a large drink of coffee, suddenly wishing for something stronger, "Regina, I loved your mother and still do very deeply. When we got together she was so carefree. We took over the company from her parents and I think it was the grueling training that her mother put her through that changed everything. We were still very much in love, don't get me wrong, but that company became her life everything always needed to be the best and always had to come out on top."

Henry leaned forward and placed his hands over Regina's, "Whatever you do don't lose sight of what's important. I really think you and Emma have a chance but just don't get jaded, either of you, when it comes to your work. If I can pass on any life lessons they would be enjoy each other and always make time for each other. Unfortunately, none of us know how much time we have together."

Regina took her father in her arms and hugged him as if her life depended on it, "I love you, Daddy."

Henry smiled as he pulled away and poked his daughter on the nose, "And I you, princess. How about some pancakes for my favorite daughter?"

Regina nodded as her father got up and started making his special pancakes.

Later that evening Regina was sitting on the couch with Emma's head in her lap. The TV was on but it was really just background noise. Emma was enjoying the feeling of Regina's hands running through her blonde locks.

Emma's eyes were closed when she said, "If you keep doing that I'm going to fall asleep."

Regina chuckled as she looked down at her girlfriend in her lap, "How's Hook's training going?"

Emma yawned, "Really good. I wished I could have convinced Dad to hire a part-time person years ago."

Regina continued running her left hand through Emma's hair but grabbed Emma's left hand with her right so they could hold hands, "You think this means you could take some time off soon?"

Emma opened her eyes and smirked up at Regina, "Did you have something in mind?"

Regina nodded, "Have you ever been horseback riding?"

Emma shook her head, "That would be a negative."

Regina smiled, "How would you like a private lesson from yours truly?"

Emma sat up and looked at Regina as she suggestively wiggled her eyebrows, "I think you know exactly how I feel about private lessons from you, Miss Mills."

Regina rolled her eyes but the smile did not leave her face, "You're ridiculous."

Emma laughed, "Obviously, but you fell for my charms. What does that say about you?"

Regina glared at Emma and picked up a throw pillow from the couch and hit her across the face. Just then Henry walked in and said, "Regina, Emma's had a hard day at work and you reward her by hitting her across the face?"

Emma stuck her tongue out at Regina as Regina quipped, "Oh but, Daddy, she deserved it!"

Henry smiled and gave an 'mmmmmhmmmm'. He walked past the couch and to the door just as his hand reached the doorknob he turned around, "I have a dinner meeting. I trust you'll behave while I'm gone." With that Henry was gone.

Emma looked at Regina, "You heard the man." She got up from the couch to go into the kitchen.

When Emma made it to the archway of the kitchen Regina got up off the couch and chased after Emma, "You're gonna get it!"

Emma and Regina entered the stables. Regina loved being here, before Emma it was the only thing besides her father that made her truly happy. She thought what a better way to show Emma something she loved than by sharing the experience with her.

As the straw crunched beneath her boots Regina took in the smell of the stable, not everyone could take it but it soothed Regina. Everything about this place was therapeutic. It didn't matter if she was cleaning out Rocinante's stall, brushing him or letting the wind flow over her as they galloped throughout the property.

Emma noticed the instant level of peace and relaxation that washed over Regina from the moment they stepped foot out of the Mercedes. She could tell this place was special to Regina and she was honored she got to be a part of it. Emma interlaced her fingers with Regina's. Regina smiled and leaned over to give Emma a chaste kiss on the lips. Regina left their hands interlocked as she guided Emma toward Rocinante's stall.

Emma noticed the beautiful and magnificent creature before her. She was overwhelmed but also immediately smitten. The chestnut brown of his coat went over the expanse of his body except for the white patch in a line down his face.

Regina spoke in a soft voice, "This is Rocinante. I want you to warm up to him first, Emma, before I have you mount him and start with a trot." Regina noticed the slightly hesitant look on Emma's face and continued, "Don't worry I will be with you the entire time."

Emma blushed and toed the ground with her boot, "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

Regina took the hand that wasn't holding Emma's and lifted her chin up and placed a soft peck on her lips and Emma's whole face lit up, "We're going to stroke just above his nose together the first time and then I'll have you do it on your own. He's used to me and he's always been gentle but horses, like people, can be picky so I'm going to ease both of you into this."

Regina took their joined hands and rubbed up and down on the bridge of Rocinante's nose, "Good boy." She softly encouraged him as they stroked him.

Regina lowered their hands, "Try to remember to keep your hands where he can see them, especially when you're feeding him that way he doesn't bite you. He wouldn't do it intentionally but if he can't see your hand it's possible, so when you're feeding him I would recommend petting him with one hand and the other try and flatten the palm of your hand as much as you can so he will only pick up the food."

Emma nodded as she placed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, "Ok sounds easy enough."

Regina smiled, "Are you ready to try on your own?"

Emma took her hands out of the back pockets of her jeans and raised up her right hand to gently stroke his white patch, "Hi Rocinante, I'm Emma it's nice to meet you." Just then Rocinante let out a small snort as if he was greeting Emma in return.

Regina couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. She turned around to grab the treats she kept near Rocinante's stall, "Would you like to try feeding him a treat, Em?"

Emma continued stroking Rocinante and she held out her other hand toward Regina, "Sure."

Regina placed the treat in her hand and Emma laid her palm out flat underneath Rocinante's mouth and he eagerly took the treat. Emma laughed as the whiskers on his nose tickled her palm.

Emma backed away as Rocinante turned toward his water trough. She leaned in close to Regina, "Thank you."

Regina tilted her head in confusion, "What for?"

Emma gestured around the stable, "For bringing me here. I know this is something you really haven't talked to me about but just being here with you I can tell that this place means a lot to you. I'm honored that you would share it with me."

Regina leaned closer into Emma as if she was about to kiss her and then stopped just shy of her lips and winked as she said, "Well you know I want to share all the parts of my life with you."

Emma smirked just before closing the distance between them. This kiss was different than the few pecks they had shared so far in the stable it wasn't heated but it was confirmation of the weight of Regina's last statement and what they had come to mean to each other. Suddenly their kiss was interrupted when Rocinante started nudging Emma begging for the attention he wanted to receive again.

Regina let out a low sultry chuckle as she and Emma separated, "I think someone likes you."

Emma turned around and started stroking the bridge of his nose again, "I'm sorry, buddy. I didn't know you were done with your water." Rocinante again gave a snort of acknowledgment as he had done with her earlier.

Regina walked into the stall, "Let's get him saddled up and we'll go out into the paddock and start with a slow trot."

Regina had mounted Rocinante along with Emma. Regina sat toward the rear of the saddle while Emma was at the front near the saddle horn. Emma had her hands on the reins and Regina had one hand on the reins the other on Emma's hip as she instructed her. Regina had Emma worked up to a trot around the paddock.

Regina husked into Emma's ear, "You're doing well."

Emma kept her concentration on her leg pressure and not pulling the reins too hard but responded, "It's because I have a great teacher but if you keep talking in my ear like that I can't guarantee our safety."

Regina squeezed Emma hip in reassurance, "We'll be just fine."

Emma guided the horse away from the paddock fence just narrowly missing, "Are you sure about that?"

Regina laughed, "Are you kidding? Rocinante can hold his own, it's really you we're training."

Regina felt Emma relax a bit as Emma joked, "Oh I see this is how you're going to finally claim you have me trained."

Regina pressed a light kiss to Emma's cheek, "Don't worry this is just horse training, you're pretty good at everything else."

Emma didn't respond but Regina saw the slight shake of her head.

Regina asked, "How would you feel about leaving the paddock and going out further into the property? I packed a picnic for us."

Emma nodded, "Just tell me what to do and your wish is my command, your Majesty."

Regina spoke up, "Just guide Rocinante over toward the gate, you see Graham is there waiting to open the gate. Once we're out we'll pick up the pace."

Emma guided Rocinante through the gate without issue. Regina nodded to Graham and told him they would be back later in the afternoon. Graham nodded and headed back up toward the stables.

Emma had been trotting along the trail Regina was navigating her through for a while when Regina asked, "You think you are ready for a gallop?"

Emma responded more confidently than she had in the beginning, "Let's do this!"

Regina smiled behind Emma as she instructed her to nudge Rocinante with her heels. Rocinante immediately knew that Emma wanted him to speed up. As Rocinante got to a full gallop Emma was smiling and laughing it was truly a freeing experience being up on this horse with Regina. The wind flowed over both of them and Emma felt like she was on top of the world. She understood why Regina loved this place and could see the appeal of coming here when you wanted to get away for awhile.

The rest of the afternoon played out with Regina and Emma cuddling and exchanging kisses on the picnic blanket that Regina had packed. As Regina had her head laid on Emma's chest Emma looked up at the perfect sky and decided on how to repay Regina for the horseback riding lesson.

A few days after the horseback riding lesson Emma pulled up in Regina's driveway on her bike.

Regina had been waiting for Emma outside and curiously walked over to Emma's bike, "We haven't ridden this in a long time."

Emma stayed on the bike and handed Regina her helmet, "It's been far too long and we need it for your surprise."

Regina took the helmet she was offered and put it on as she got on the bike behind Emma, "Well, Nolan, I did miss holding onto you on this bike."

Emma chuckled and took off toward the pier. Emma knew it would be a nice spot for Regina's surprise and a lot of people usually weren't on the pier around this time.

As Emma pulled onto the pier she found a long stretch and turned the bike off and put the kickstand down and got off the bike.

Regina looked around, "Ok, what's going on and why did you park the bike in the middle of the pier?"

Regina started to get off but Emma held out her hands, "Hold on there, Regina." Regina squinted in confusion up at Emma. With a smile, Emma announced, "Miss Mills, it is time for your first motorcycle riding lesson."

Regina shook her head in shock, "What?"

Emma nodded, "Scoot forward on the bike and I'll get on behind you and we'll start with some basics."

Regina sighed in disbelief and made no effort to move, "Em, this is crazy!"

Emma gestured toward her bike, "Regina, you shared something amazing with me when you taught me how to ride Rocinante. It's time for me to share something equally amazing with you. Now scoot!"

Regina scooted forward and Emma settled on the bike behind her, "First, balance is key. I want you to move the kickstand up with your left foot."

Regina looked down at her left side and moved the kickstand into the up position. Emma and Regina were supporting the bike themselves.

Emma instructed Regina to grab onto the handlebars and Emma did the same as well, "I just want you to get a feel for the balance. I'll be here the whole time in case something goes awry."

Regina settled into the seat and held onto the handlebars, "This is heavy, Emma, are you sure I can do this?"

Emma smirked, "You're one of the smartest and strongest women I know, this is going to be easy for you. Make sure the key is in the on position. On your left handlebar that's the clutch, the right handlebar is the brake, on your left side by the kickstand are the gears. Hold the clutch in, click the gear in once to put it in neutral." Regina followed the steps Emma was giving her but was still a little nervous about when this thing would start to move. Emma started again, "Ok now that you're in neutral, press that red button on the right handlebar down towards you. Good, the ignition switch is right under that give that a push."

Regina smiled as the bike roared to life. It was an exciting experience when she rode on this with Emma but learning this on her own was going to be something spectacular.

Emma leaned in closer to Regina's ear, "It's all about give and go. Put the bike in gear, give a little on the clutch and go a little on the gas. Just twist the right handlebar for the gas. Easy does it."

Regina followed Emma's instructions as best as she could, her heart was thumping rapidly in her chest and ears. Regina twisted the right handlebar slightly not wanting to give it too much gas and the bike gently took off. Emma kept her hands on the handlebars so Regina wasn't on her own just yet.

They got a little down the pier and Emma told Regina, "Give it a little more gas."

Regina gave it a little more gas and the bike sped up. Regina was surprised that they were still on the bike and she noticed Emma had removed her hands from the handlebars and she was actually controlling and steering everything on her own. It was scary and exhilarating all at the same time. Regina could see why Emma chose to teach her this, riding a bike was Emma's version of riding a horse. They spent the afternoon and into the evening riding the bike up and down the pier.

Emma and Regina were sat on the bike facing each other talking and watching the sunset over the water.

"Thank you, Emma, this was a fantastic experience."

Emma smirked and looked down at the seat on her bike, "Eh it was nothing. Besides, I felt like teaching you something since you were patient with me on Rocinante."

Regina smiled, "Sweetheart, there was a little more involved than with horseback riding."

Emma looked up and met Regina's eyes, "Well, you know me and grand gestures."

Regina leaned forward and captured Emma's lips with hers as she pulled back she said, "Yes, you've made your fair share of them."

Emma turned her head and looked out over the water, "I can't believe you start school next week. Where has this summer gone?"

Regina moved closer to Emma, "Anytime with you goes too fast."

Emma wrapped her arms around Regina, "I've been saving up money. I want to get us our own place before you graduate. One, you're gonna need a quiet place to study and we need a place I can ravish you without getting interrupted."

Regina let out a low sexy chuckle as Emma started kissing her neck and chest, "I knew it was really about you wanting to ravish me uninterrupted and to be honest that sounds like something I'd be interested in doing to you as well."

Emma lifted her head up and smiled at Regina, "We should start looking soon. Maybe even before you start school. We can talk about budgets and what we really want."

Regina smiled at Emma and was truly happy in this moment. She never would've guessed Emma was going to be the one she ended up with but she was glad she let herself love and be loved. Meeting Emma was the best thing that had happened to Regina in her life so far and she couldn't wait to start the rest of their lives together. She didn't care if people thought they were too young she knew Emma Nolan was it for her.

A/N: The 2 part epilogue will be posted soon. I will post each part of the epilogue separately because each part really stands on it's own. Thank you for all of the kind words so far, I can't wait to here your thoughts on how this wraps up!