A/n: Hey lovers. It's been awhile, eh? No longer than last time, I guess. Well, just a heads up, I wrote this chapter for cuteness, cuteness, and... sauciness? Anyways, there's an open-ended scene where I'll let your minds make up the rest. Hint: I'm letting your minds ROAM.

Stay Golden, Folks

~R.

When she pulled away she looked straight into hazel orbs, "You deserve the best, Emma. You do."

"And I've found it."

Regina slid her head down onto the blonde's chest and snuggled in. She could get used to being held, being protected, being loved again.

Emma stared up at the ceiling, letting her mind run rampant. She had so much to think about. The night went perfectly, though it how it went was not as Emma had planned. After the initial panic and embarrassment that was the missing parmesan cheese, everything ran smoothly. Regina loaned her what she needed to finish making dinner, the Mills family actually enjoyed the food (though Henry did mention something about it being shaped like a dinosaur next time), and now she was lying on the most comfortable couch in the entire world, holding one of the most spectacular women of the entire world.

She looked down at said woman and took in her features. If Regina was gorgeous when awake, there was something more to be said when the woman was sleeping peacefully. The worry, the stress, it had all left her, leaving a young, faintly smiling, beautiful woman in it's wake. Emma frowned, wondering what was always tugging at Regina's mind; what horror stories she must have lived and relived, to have such high walls built around her, never planning on letting anyone in.

But she let me in, Emma thought, sort of. She let me meet her wonderful kid that she obviously loves and would protect above all else. She let me into her house. She let me into her workplace. She'll let me into her past when she's ready.

The blonde smiled again. She was right. The brunette would let her in once she realized Emma wasn't planning on going anywhere. At some point, Regina would see how Emma truly felt, and would let her in. Completely.

The blonde was snapped out of her happy thoughts by the sound of small feet pitter-pattering on the hardwood floor and small voice whispering, "Momma?"

Emma unraveled herself from the brunette woman in her arms and stood up, her legs wobbly from inactivity. Nonetheless, she made it around the couch without falling, and crouched down to be at eye level with the child.

"Hey, Henry," she greeted with a smile, then noticed the off look on his face. It was almost as if he was scared, maybe even embarrassed. "What's wrong, buddy?" The blonde asked, placing a comforting arm on his shoulder.

Before she knew it, a small mass hurtled into her, almost sending her spiralling backwards, and tiny arms wrapped around her neck. She heard sniffling in her ears.

"Henry, bud," she prompted, "I can't fix whatever's wrong if you don't tell me about it."

"There's… There's monstas unda my bed," he whispered, trying not to cry. "And I can't sleep with 'em there."

Emma pulled back and looked at the boy, stifling the yawn that threatened to emerge from her mouth, "How 'bout I go slay 'em for ya? Can you sleep then?"

The boy shook his head, pouting, "I just wanna sleep in Momma's bed tanight."

The blonde sat back on her heels, wondering how she was going to make that possible. There was no way she would deny the boy his mother. It wasn't her place to make that decision, and- Emma thought back to her nights in the system when she feared the monsters her foster siblings tormented her with stories of- a mother's protection was just the thing to help a kid sleep at night.

"Alright," Emma finally responded. "Will you help me get Momma to her room?"

The little boy pulled back and looked at the blonde woman. "You want me to wake her up?" he questioned, a devious smile starting to take place of his earlier frown.

"No," Emma wagged a finger at him, but couldn't help laughing at the boy. He obviously had some childish form of torture that he liked to use to wake up his mother. "You're gonna show me where Momma's room is, and I'm going to carry her up there."

The boy pouted again, "So I can't ticka her awake?"

"Not tonight, kid," She smiled at his frown. "Maybe if you wake up before her tomorrow," she offered.

"Okay!"

"But you're going to sleep extra well tonight because you're in Momma's bed, right?" Emma reminded him of why he was going to be in Regina's room in the first place, seeing that the boy seemed to take a little too much glee in her suggestion.

"Sí," the boy nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay, then kid," the blonde turned around to study the older woman's position. The brunette had rolled herself onto her back, curling into the back of the couch. She had her knees slightly bent, which would help with what Emma was about to do.

The blonde took light, cautious steps over to the sleeping brunette and bent down. She didn't want Regina waking up when she had been sleeping so peacefully.

Bending down, Emma gently grabbed one of Regina's arms and slipped it around her shoulder. Then she slid her own under the sleeping woman's back. Emma's other arm wrapped under the brunette's legs, and on the count of three, Emma lifted.

Cradling Regina to her chest, Emma looked down and caught the little boy's eyes, "Lead the way, kid." Then, remembering how Henry's footsteps on the stairs had woken her up, she added, "Quietly."

Henry nodded and started tiptoeing towards the staircase. Once he got there, he starting going faster up steps and walked off into one of the bedrooms. Emma tried following, but couldn't quite keep up with the child without the fear of waking the woman in her arms. Then she heard it.

"Emma?" a sleep laden voice questioned.

She looked down at the woman who had unconsciously curled even more into her chest.

"What're you doing?"

The blonde smiled at the sleepy mumbles coming from the woman, "Shhh… Everything's alright, Reggie."

"But-"

"Go back to sleep," Emma ordered quietly.

That was all it took. The brunette snuggled more into Emma's arms and closed her eyes again. Emma smiled at how right it all felt. Holding Regina like this, bridal style… maybe someday, she thought.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she looked around for the little boy with the mop of brown hair sticking out everywhere from his fitful sleep. Seeing him nowhere, she walked to the closest and only open door, figuring that was where he was. Stepping inside, she finally saw his little form standing on the bed. She walked to the side of the California King mattress and laid down the woman in her arms.

"Okay, kid," she whispered, "Can you go find me a piece of paper and pen?"

Henry sat down on the bed before hopping to the floor, never answering the blonde woman's question. He walked to the table next to the bed and opened the drawer.

"Henry, you shouldn't go through your mother's stuff like that," Emma warned.

"But it's where Momma keeps the paper pad," he defended, bringing a small rectangular pad of papers and a black ink pen out of the nightstand. He handed both to the blonde, who set both down next to the brunette's alarm clock.

"Okay, Hen, does Momma sleep on top of covers or under 'em?"

"Unda 'em," he answered, "so she can snugga with me."

"Alrighty, then," Emma huffed, leaning back down to the woman. "When I pick her up, you move the covers, alright, kid?"

Henry nodded and did as he was told. Once his mother was tucked in, he scrambled around the other side of the bed and snuggled up to her, as Emma turned back to the pad of papers and pen.

She thought for a moment on what to say, but then just put what came to mind. Hoping it would make Regina smile the next morning, she set the pad of papers back down next to the clock and turned around.

The sight before her was adorable, to say the least. Regina was sprawled out on her back, while her son had his arm wrapped around her middle and his head resting on her chest. Both had small, lazy smiles across their faces, obvious signs that they were peaceful.

Emma reached in her pocket and grabbed her cell phone. Exiting out of the missed text messages, she opened her camera and snapped a photo of the two. Then she leaned down and placed a light kiss on the brunette woman's brow.

"Goodnight," she whispered quietly, tiptoeing out of the bedroom and down the stairs. She slipped her boots and coat on and snuck out the door, making sure to lock the handle before she stepped out.

She walked to her car and sat in it, a goofy smile crossing her features, and a feeling of inexplicable joy in her heart.

"Best. Night. Ever." She said to the darkness before turning on her car and heading back to her apartment.

When she finally got home, she thanked the heavens Ruby was asleep. She did not thank the heavens, though, that Ruby was asleep on the couch, naked, and wrapped around a smaller, and also very much naked brunette that Emma assumed was Mary Margaret.

"Gross," the blonde whined to no one in particular. "Now we have to burn the couch…. I really liked that couch."

Whining and naked people set aside, Emma was exhausted. She trudged to her bedroom door and swung it open, flinging herself onto the bed. Once she was there, though, all thoughts of sleep left her mind, replaced by giddiness and thoughts of Regina. The night truly had gone great, and though Emma wouldn't have minded spending the whole night wrapped around Regina, she was content with how it ended.

Rolling over, Emma squeezed her pillow to her chest. She looked at her clock. 2AM. Office hours stated at eleven on Sundays, which meant nine hours until Emma got to see that gorgeous face again. Maybe she could wait that long.

"Momma," a small voice whispered in her ear. "Momma get up!"

Regina rolled over and hugged her pillow tighter to her. "Shhh…" She mumbled to the intruder.

"Momma!" the little voice shouted, more urgent this time. "Get up! The ticka monsta's comin!"

And just like that, the older brunette felt little hands on her, tickling her everywhere. Oh, how she wished Daniel had never taught Henry about the tickle monster because, even at such a young age, the smart little boy had caught on, and now used it against Regina whenever he could.

The brunette jumped as shock ran through her body, falling off the edge of the bed and onto the floor.

She heard a little gasp of shock from above, and finally opened her eyes to meet a two small brown ones. Her son was lying on his stomach, eyes peeked over the edge of the bed as he stared at his fallen momma.

"Momma?" he questioned quietly.

"Yes?" she whispered back, finally managing to catch the breath that had been forced out of her upon impact.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine, dear, just a bit shocked," she answered honestly. She was shocked. How had she ended up in her room with her son? She was more than positive she had fallen asleep on the couch with Emma.

...Emma.

Then she remembered the stairs, and the covers, and… but that was a dream, right?

"Henry," she inquired, "did Momma walk herself upstairs last night?"

"Nope," the boy shook his head.

"Then how did Momma get into bed?"

"Emma," he answered, like it was obvious. "She lifted you up and carried you all the way here."

"Did she?" Regina asked, trying to confirm, again, that it wasn't just a dream.

At the nod of the little boy, Regina smiled. She picked herself off the floor and looked at her alarm clock for the time. 9AM. She had two hours to get ready and head to her office.

She began to turn around when she noticed the note. Leaning down, she grabbed it off the nightstand and began to read.

Reggie-

Tonight was wonderful. I had such a great time with you and the kid. Your house… well, mansion… is beautiful. Not as beautiful as you, though.

Regina blushed at the compliment.

Anyways, I thought maybe I should leave a note because you might be slightly confused when you wake up. Henry came downstairs last night, afraid of some monsters under his bed. He wanted to sleep with his Momma, so I helped you up the stairs and tucked you both in.

I also now have the most adorable picture in the world that I can use as blackmail to ruin your evil reputation.

~E.

P.S.- All this hard work and I never got a goodnight kiss. Can we make up for that during office hours? ;)

Regina laughed at how the letter ended and picked up her phone. Opening a new text, she addressed it to Emma and smiled at her own humor.

When you make suggestions like that, you sound like a horny teenager, dear.

~R.

The brunette turned to her son. "Is grandma here yet, Henry?" she queried.

"Yup! She's makin breafast."

"How about you go down there and help her while Momma gets ready," Regina suggested with a smile.

The boy stood up on the bed and smiled at his mother, "Okay, but I need my bye-byes first."

Regina grinned. He wanted his bye-byes, something he almost never forgot to ask for, and she never forgot to give. She walked over to the boy who was now her height as he stood on the bed.

"You want your bye-byes?" She asked, pretending to be shocked.

"Duh, Momma! I always want my bye-byes."

"But I'm not going anywhere right now, sweetheart," she explained.

"But I'm not gonna see you until you're done with the showa and that takes a long time, so I want my bye-byes," the young brunette said, a pout forming on his face.

"Only if you turn that frown upside down, young man," Regina ordered, a faux stern tone playing in her voice.

Henry grinned widely in response, causing the brunette to wrap her son in her arms and swing him around in a circle until she stood him back up on the bed.

"Goodbye, my sweet boy," she said, kissing him on the nose and squeezing him one last time. "I'll see you when I'm done with my shower, alright?"

"Ahright."

The boy let his mother life him off the bed and set him on the floor. One more peck to the crown of his head, and Henry was off, rushing out of the room and down the stairs.

"No running on the stairs, Henry Mills," both his mother and grandmother called out at the same time.

After hearing the child huff in annoyance,the brunette mother chuckled. Henry reminded her so much of herself at that young age; always wanting to go somewhere, to do something, and always being slowed down by the adults in their lives. It seemed so unfair, but as she grew, she realized they were all right. There was no need to rush everything when you had the rest of your life.

She was rushing with Emma, though, wasn't she? It hadn't yet been a week and she was letting the blonde into her home, letting her meet her son. That was rushing, wasn't it?

So why didn't it feel that way. Why did it feel so- dare she say- normal? Why did it not feel wrong to be doing something she knows is considered immoral?

Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, Regina retreated into the bathroom, closing an . The last thing she needed was a certain little boy running in to tell his momma something and leaving scarred for life.

She shed yesterday's clothes slowly, careful to separate them into the right hamper. First went her blouse, now crumpled and wrinkled from sleep. Next, her skinny jeans, which took a few minutes to try to wriggle out of. She reached over and started the shower, adjusting the temperature ever so slightly before peeling off her undergarments.

Checking the temperature one last time, the woman stepped into the shower and let the water cascade down onto her. The heat surrounding her body reminded her of the warm body that held her the night before as she and Emma spoke. It made her thing of the strong arms that carried her to her bed.

Those arms…That strength.

Her hands roamed with her thoughts.

The sound of vibration against wood awoke the blonde. Growling, she leaned blindly smacked her hand around on the nightstand. If only she could get the noise to stop.

"I'm trying to sleep, phone," She mumbled groggily, finally reaching the offending device.

She held the phone in front of her face, squinting at the message. Finally, realizing she wouldn't be able to read it, the blonde turned fully towards her nightstand and opened the top drawer. After digging around for what seemed like hours, the blonde snatched what she had been looking for, and placed the black, thick-rimmed glasses on her face.

Now that she was able to read, she noticed the text was from Regina.

Reggie! The blonde exclaimed internally, joy filling her every being.

Emma never knew why people always talked about "good morning" texts. She never understood the significance and had to force herself not to laugh when the girls in her school gossiped and blushed over a silly text that they woke up to. Now she understood. She hadn't even opened the text yet, and she was already giddy about what it could possibly say.

When she finally did open the text, she laughed. Loudly.

When you make suggestions like that, you sound like a horny teenager, dear.

~R.

That's what she got. A lovely dinner, an amazing nap in snuggly arms, and room service (quite literally), and all she got was horny teenager?

So she may be right, Emma may be thinking the thoughts of a horny teenager in the company of the brunette, but what else did Regina expect? She was gorgeous and she liked Emma back and… and..

And she's more than just a piece of meat, Emma reminded herself. She's sexy, she's flawless, but she also has a brain to match. Emma looked back down at the text message, rereading it. She looked over the screen and read the time. Yes, the brunette was sexy, flawless, and a genius...And she's going to kill me for being late.

"Shit! Shit! SHIT!"

Emma jumped from the bed and towards the closet, grabbing the first articles of clothing she could find. She slipped them on as quickly as she could before jumping onto the bed and reaching across it to grab her favorite pair of boots. As soon as they were in the blonde's hands, she slammed her feet into them and ran down the stairs.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, the blonde sprinted to the door, passing, again, her naked roommate and equally as naked girlfriend.

"Honestly," Emma complained, loudly enough to wake her best friend. "Would it kill you two to put on some freaking clothes!"

"Sorry, babe." the response was lost in the slamming of the door as the blonde ran down more stairs in her attempt to reach the ground floor and get outside. She couldn't believe she had slept so late. Office hours started at eleven, which meant she had approximately seven minutes to make it across town and to the campus.

"Fuck," she hissed under her breath, taking off in a dead sprint. Maybe her early morning workouts would finally pay off.

Thirty minutes later, the blonde stood outside the administrative office with two cups of coffee and a sweat-soaked white tanktop. She looked down at herself, hoping she looked somewhat presentable.

She didn't.

Maybe, she mused, the coffee will make it all better.

She jogged up the remaining stairs, hoping not to spill any of the coffee on herself. When she reached the top, she pushed open the heavy wooden doors and hurried her way down the hall to the door marked Ms. Mills, Administrator.

She nudged the door open with her hip and smiled apologetically at the woman sitting behind the desk.

"Honey, I'm hooooome," she joked, but quickly shut herself up when she realized the brunette was not laughing. In fact, if Emma was correct, the brunette seemed to be upset. "Regina?" She questioned.

The brunette only cleared her throat.

"I brought coffee," the blonde tried to smile again, setting the cup down in front of the professor.

"Thank you, Miss Swan," the tense voice cued to Emma that something was wrong. Something had changed since last night.

"Miss Swan?" the blonde questioned. "Did I miss something?"

"Oh, yes, Miss Swan. You missed something," the brunette's stoney face turned into a bright smile as she stood up and strutted towards the blonde. "You missed something, indeed."

Before Emma could blink, she had one olive-skinned arm wrapped around her waist and another around her neck. Two plush lips collided with hers, leaving the blonde shocked. The painted red lips moved against hers, and no matter how confused Emma was in that moment, she still wasn't stupid. She moved her mouth with the one pressing against it.

She felt a tongue caressing the crevice between her top and bottom lip. Opening her mouth to grant entrance, the blonde heard a moan of satisfaction. She wasn't sure which one of them it came from, but it was soon followed by that of the other, and a hand slipping lower and lower until it gripped her ass. She hears another moan, and this time she knew it was her.

When the two broke apart it was only for air.

"That was…" the blonde trailed off, not able to finish her sentence.

"What I wanted to do before you left last night," the brunette smirked at the blonde's look of shock. "I wanted you to have amazing fantasies… I mean dreams," she corrected herself. "Of me, of course. All. Night. Long."

"Well, then, since I didn't get the dreams," the blonde leaned in for another kiss, only to be met with the brunette's hand, effectively blocking her lips.

Smudging her lips against the intruding hand, Emma mumbled, "What's this?"

"This, my dear," Regina moved the hand and smiled back at the blonde, "Is your punishment. You're almost forty-five minutes late."

Emma pulled the brunette tight against her body and groaned into the brunette's shoulder, "And what a cruel punishment it is."