The second she had left the hotel she went to Mama and had quit the escort business completely. Mama was gutted but she knew Emma needed to follow her dreams Emma didn't pretend to be something she wasn't anymore. If Regina thought that Emma was pretending with her then Emma would do everything she could to convince her otherwise.

She was unsure about her writing dreams and where to go from here but the one thing Emma was sure of was that she was head over heels in love with Regina Mills. Regina had told her she never wanted to see her again but Emma wasn't giving up without a fight. She would continue to go to the Mayor's house everyday and stand by the bench near the lamppost that could be seen directly from Regina's balcony.

Regina jumped the first time she went to sit on her balcony at 9am the following Monday and there was Emma standing by the lamppost gazing up at the her. Regina got up and slammed the doors in her face. Emma stayed there until it got dark like her normal work hours and went home. Emma wasn't making any money anymore and was given an eviction notice to by out by the end of the month. Her wages from being a maid were running out fast and in the last final weeks before being evicted Emma started to apply for maid jobs in the city but when she'd get to the interview she was told Mr Mills had given her a bad review which would end the interview there and then no matter how hard she pleaded.

Emma grabbed her blankets and the diary Regina had given her and was back on the streets once more. Emma continued to stay outside the Mayor's house. The only place she felt safe was to be near Regina.

Regina peered through her balcony doors as the rain lashed against the window pane. Emma was curled up in a ball on the bench by the lamppost. The stormy weather bellowed through her windows and the rain poured down harder. Robin had left abruptly for the airport and hadn't noticed the blonde outside once. Emma managed to keep herself well hidden when she knew he was around. She would also wait until dark and pick up the fallen apples from Regina's tree. The rain hit her body with force as she lifted the blanket further over her head.

Regina leaned against the wall as the guilt swept over her. She sighed loudly as her heart thumped for Emma. Regina swung open the front door and pulled up a large black umbrella. Emma immediately stirred when she heard the familiar sound of Regina's heels coming closer. The sound stopped and Regina pulled the blanket off the blonde. Emma looked up at the Mayor as she was being dragged inside the mansion.

"Emma this is getting beyond ridiculous. I thought by now you'd get the hint and go home! What in god's name are you doing on that bench outside my house? You're lucky I didn't report you to the police. I told you I didn't want to see you… and here you are doing the exact opposite of what I said. What part of I don't want to see you means be directly in my vision when you know I love to sit on my balcony… and don't think I don't know that you've been stealing my apples!

Emma was so numb with the cold she could barely speak. The water dripped down her face making a giant puddle on Regina's white tiles. Emma sneezed loudly as she tried to word her response. Regina found herself holding the blonde's shaking hand and leading her into her en suite bathroom. She began to draw her a bath.

"Regina… No… I'm fine… I…"

Regina turned to face the shivering blonde.

"Don't be stupid!

Emma frowned. Regina tested the water and added some bubbles. She lit some candles and went to leave.

"If you need anything…."

Regina cut herself off.

Emma smiled at the Mayor as she closed the door. Emma attempted to take off her clothes that were literally stuck to her skin with no success. Her hands were so numb she couldn't grip them. She was extremely weak.

"Regina…

The blonde called out as loud as she could. Regina hadn't left her bedroom she sat on her bed looking at the rain. She opened the door and covered her eyes.

"Yes?

Emma was shivering violently as she sat on the toilet seat with a loud thud. Regina uncovered her eyes. Regina knelt down beside the blonde and that concerned Regina began to reappear.

"Emma…

Emma scrunched her face.

"I… I... "

Emma found herself trying to show Regina that she couldn't physically remove her clothes as she struggled to lift her top over her head. Regina paused and found herself lifting Emma's top over her head. Emma's jeans were also stuck to her as she undid the pants button Regina smirked as Emma lifted her leg like a child as Regina pulled the end of the heavy pants. Emma sat in her underwear and bra as Regina gulped hard looking at Emma's beautiful body. Emma looked at the Mayor watching her and blushed. Regina stood her up to face her as she found herself pushing Emma's wet hair out of the way as she closed the gap.

"Do you require any more of my help?

Emma's eyes flashed.

"No… I think I can manage the rest. Thank you"

Regina grabbed her dressing gown from the door.

"You may use this for afterwards. I have some pajamas you can borrow"

Emma smiled.

"I can stay?

Regina sighed.

"Just tonight…God knows what you were thinking being out there…"

Regina threw her hands up in the air.

"I just wanted to be near you…

Regina winced.

"Emma… please don't do this. I've told you. I'm not falling for your tricks anymore… I can't let myself be hurt by you"

Regina looked down as Emma lifted up her face.

"Regina Mills… If it takes the rest of my life I will make you believe that all the feelings you know I have for you are true"

Regina shook her head.

"Emma look forget it. Take your bath get warmed up and you know what you need to go home"

Emma stood strong but Regina saw the crack in her expression.

"I… I don't have one anymore"

Regina looked at the blonde in bewilderment.

"What do you mean you don't have one… dear if this is a crappy joke to try distract me by making fun of your splendid apartment it's not funny and it's not working"

Emma frowned.

"I got evicted. So I naturally went to the one place I'd rather be. The place that feels like home... To be close to the woman who has my heart in her hand... I spent all my lie on the streets Regina... You know me... I have never lied about who I am... Or who I want to be"

Regina pushed the hair back off her face with her hand grasping Emma's words.

"Why didn't you tell me you needed help?

Emma sighed.

"You said you didn't wanna see me again... I wanted to respect your wishes... as best as I could until I couldn't"

Regina actually chuckled.

"I spoke to Neal before I saw you and he told me how you made him believe you cared about him too... and I... Emma it broke my heart"

Emma paused.

"Regina... I have never ever had feelings for Neal. It was clear that he was growing attached to me and the night of the dinner I had basically made it clear that I had feelings for someone else...

Regina cut her off.

"A woman... Emma it could be any woman. How do I know you mean me and only me?

Emma grabbed Regina's hands tightly.

" I quit the escort business permanently. I can't do it anymore. I just wanna be with one person... You knew when we first met that I wanted to find a new job and then save for my dream… but you know what Regina I have a new dream and I'd do anything to achieve it"

Regina watched as Emma let go of her hands and caressed her cheek. Her touch was as cold as ice and her shivering body was shaking.

"And what is that?

Emma gulped.

"You...

Regina turned abruptly as she went to exit from the bathroom.

"Get in the bath!

Emma reached out and pulled the brunette back into the bathroom making Regina lose her balance and slip on the puddle from Emma's dripping hair. Emma reached to grab her as Regina's hand slipped out of Emma's wet let out a loud yelp.

Regina fell backwards into the bathtub. Emma's hand still lingered in the air as she couldn't hide the smile on her face as Regina sat in the bathtub with bubbles all over her and her hair covering her face. She quickly parted her hair to see the laughing blonde and like a cat pulled Emma straight in on top of her. The hot water hit Emma's skin in an instant as her shaking stretched out to pull herself off the Mayor who just splashed her in the face. There wasn't a hell of a lot of space to adjust herself to and she found herself siting on the Mayor's waist. Regina let out a soft moan and looked deep into Emma's emerald eyes. That's all it took that look. Regina was back.

"You were saying Miss Swan?

Emma pulled the Mayor up towards her face as their lips crashed together in unison. A bolt of lightening shot to Regina's core as Emma kissed her with such gentleness. Regina found herself opening her mouth and caressing her tongue hungrily against Emma's making Emma whimper as the kiss grew deeper. Emma lifted Regina's black polo neck up over her head to reveal a blue satin bra. Emma bucked against Regina causing her to gasp as the water rippled against them. She pulled Emma close to her and Emma put her two hands on her face.

"Madame Mayor…

Regina felt her core clench as she stood up and got out of the bath.

"Wash Emma. Get warm and then come find me"

Emma reached out for her hand as Regina closed the bathroom door. Emma sunk beneath the water.