Their first official we-acknowledge-this-is-a-proper-date date was dinner at Tony's the little Italian place on the edge of town. Because both Emma and Regina realized that this was a proper date, and neither had been on one for a while, it was a little awkward at first, but as the evening went on they relaxed and had a really nice time. Emma was very careful about the amount of wine she drank so she did get a goodnight kiss when she dropped Regina off at her house. Their second date was lunch at the lake, and their third was an afternoon at the stables where Emma got her first riding lesson. They were taking things slowly, getting to know each other, but there was no denying that there was an attraction between them. Emma wasn't sure how much longer she could go before taking Regina to bed, especially in those moments, like having Regina pressed up against the wall of the empty stall kissing her until their lungs burned for air. But they were being very cautious about taking that next step for two very good reasons. One, they were both learning how to embrace all these new and powerful emotions, and two when they touched it was literally magic.

When Emma touched her Regina's magic would spark to life for minutes, even hours, and that gave Regina reason to be leery about going further with Emma. She didn't trust herself to have magic. She was on the brink of becoming something close to the person she would have been if not for her mother and Rumple. For the first time ever Regina was happy, she was content, and so close to having her happy ever after that she didn't want to risk it. Magic had a price and she simply wasn't willing to pay that price anymore.

After falling off her horse Regina had been kept overnight for observation and Emma never once left her side. The following evening when she'd been released Emma drove Regina home and that night they talked to Henry and Lucy about some of the things they'd just spent the last twenty-four hours talking about. Both women had been worried about the children's reactions, especially Henry's, but after he'd given it some thought it all made perfect sense to him. The Evil Queen had become evil because of a broken heart. It made perfect sense that the hero, the Savior, would save everyone from the Evil Queen by healing her heart and making her good again. Plus, if his mothers were together he could stop feeling so torn between them. Lucy had been a little confused at first; Cora had kept her very sheltered so she hadn't known that two women could fall in love with each other, but once it was explained to her she was all for it. She loved Emma, and she could see that she made her mother happy even when she was making her mad.

Laying on her mother's bed watching as Regina got ready for the evening Lucy titled her head, which she held propped up in her hands since she was on her tummy, and asked, "Momma, is a ball here different then a ball in the other land?"

Regina was sitting at her vanity putting the final touches on her hair and make and smiled so Lucy could see it in her reflection. "Yes, they're actually quite different. This dance won't be nearly as formal as a ball would be in one of the castles of the old kingdoms."

"Is that why you're wearing the pretty dress instead of a ball gown?" Lucy asked as she turned to look at the black one shouldered formal dress hanging on the back of the closest door. It was slightly sparkly and long, form fitting, with a slit that went to just above Regina's knee. Lucy thought it was very pretty.

"Ball gowns really aren't worn here sweetheart with two notable exceptions." Regina said as she rose gracefully from her seat to retrieve the dress. "Bridal dresses and prom dresses."

"What's a prom?" Lucy asked as she watched her mother put the pretty black dress on.

Regina chuckled and explained the concept of prom to her ever-inquisitive little girl.

Over at Emma's apartment the blonde was pinning her up and slipping into a very sexy twenty's style, very feminine tuxedo suit. The only reasons she agreed to go to this thing was because she and Regina were finally ready to make a pubic statement about their relationship and because her mother had given her those damn big doe eyes when she'd said, "Oh, please, Emma, it'll be fun!"

After strapping on her hells Emma made her way downstairs where she was greeted by her son's, "Grams is going to hate that."

"Yeah, I know." Emma said with a wicked little grin. "What do you think your Mom will think?"

Henry smiled a huge smile. "She'll love it because Grams will hate it."

Emma rolled her eyes and laughed. "Lets get you to your mother's before Archie gets there and your sister starts asking him a million questions about why he wanted to be a cricket."

When they arrived at Regina's Lucy was waiting on them. She'd been sitting on the entry steps with her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands watching the door. Her mother looked so beautiful all dressed up that she couldn't wait to see Emma. Needless to say she was more than shocked when Emma showed up in her suit. Emma once again found herself explaining a strange new concept to the girl but their little chat was cut short by the sound of heels on the landing.

Looking up Emma's eyes met Regina's for a long moment before she let them trail down Regina's body. "Whoa, Regina, you look amazing."

Regina smiled as she slowly made her way down the stairs. She loved the feeling of Emma's eyes on her so she was making a show of it. "You look rather glamorous yourself, Emma. I must say I am enjoying the Greta Garbo look."

They greeted each other with a kiss, it was chaste because the kids were watching, but lasted long enough for Henry to snap a picture and then look at them with a cheeky smile when they turned towards him with soft glares. He took another of them facing the camera, and then once Archie arrived they were off with reminders of good behavior, bedtimes, and goodnight kisses and hugs.

The community center had been turning into a ballroom. Most of the town was there. The dance really wasn't about celebrating anything specific, Snow, James and a few others on the council had decided that the town needed something for moral, something that would show them that things were alright and that they should go on enjoying their lives here, a sign that they were still a kingdom loved, loyal and true. Snow and James were already there, talking to their friends and greeting everyone else. There was a lively buzz of chatter mixed into the soft music that was already playing. When the doors opened and Emma walked in with Regina on her arm the room went nearly silent. The Savior and the Evil Queen were the biggest gossip story since Mary Margaret and David.

Emma felt everyone watching and her response to their silent how-could-yous and can-this-be-trues was to slide her arm around Regina's waist as they came further into the room. "You alright?"

"I'm fine." Regina replied while smiling. "They're just peasants, dear."

She could tell by the tone of Regina's voice she meant that as a defense. Thinking of these people, as just peasants would allow her to look past the scornful looks and heated glares. "We don't have to stay long."

"I'm through with hiding away in my house, Emma." Regina said firmly. "Wither they like it or not I am a part of this town. My children live in this town. You live in this town. So my life is in this town. They will just have to deal with it."

Emma couldn't help but smile. Leaning close she placed a kiss on Regina's cheek.

"Snow." James said gently as he put his hand on his wife's arm. "Leave them be."

Snow had a look on her face that resemble someone who's just bitten a lemon. "How can you stand there and not want to say something?"

"And what would that lead to?" James asked his wife. "A scene? Emma storming out and refusing to talk to us?"

"This is wrong James." Snow said in a low, hushed voice. "So very wrong on so many levels."

"Why?" He asked her. "Because they are both…"

"No." Snow said, cutting him off. "If that's what Emma wants then, I don't know, there's Red, or that princess from the far northern kingdom the redhead with all that hair and the accent so think no one could understand her."

James rolled his eyes and then took his wife's hands in his. "We can't control who we're fated to love, Snow. If Regina is, and I'm not saying I believe she is, but if she is Emma's true love, than Emma is as powerless against fighting it as I was against loving you."

"So it's true." Ruby said, as she looked Emma and Regina over carefully. "You two are a thing."

Emma nodded with a smile. "Yeap, we are."

Ruby didn't try to hide the fact that she was a little uneasy about it but after taking some time to really think it over, who was she to judge? She'd murdered hundreds of men in her wolf form; she'd eaten Peter for crying out loud. She didn't have the purity to judge Regina. Ruby gave them a reassuring smile and simply said, "Cool."

After Ruby left Emma set down her drink and held out her hand to Regina. "Would you like to dance?"

Regina looked a little stunned. "Dance?"

Emma laughed. "That is what this is, isn't it?"

"Yes, but, I didn't think…" Regina replied as she slipped her hand into Emma's.

The blonde laughed as she pulled Regina close. "What? That I couldn't dance? Well aren't you in for a few surprises."

Regina's brows went up as she let Emma pull her out to the dance floor. She was in fact very surprised. Emma was a great dancer, very graceful and natural. A little pain of guilt twitched inside as she listened to Emma explain that one of the better sets of foster parents she'd had were an older couple with a dance studio. When she opened her mouth to apologize again for taking Emma from her parents Emma put her finger over Regina's mouth and shook her head before replacing her finger with her lips.

Anyone who wasn't so jaded as to be blinding to it could see the difference in Regina. They could see how happy she and Emma were together. It was just going to take more time for people to really move on from everything that had happened. Even Snow, though she would never admit it out loud, could see Regina was different.

It was late when Emma and Regina got back to the house. They thanked Archie for watching the kids and then headed up to check on them. Henry was curled under his blankets, sound a sleep with a burning flashlight and comic book, which Regina very gently pulled out from under his arm. Lucy was sprawl out diagonally on her stomach with one leg dangling off one side of the bed and an arm off the other. She'd some how managed to contort her blankets so they were draped over her behind, around the arm she had tucked under her pillow and then over her head. Emma looked at Regina as if asking how and Regina simply shrugged. The girl was an active sleeper and was hardly ever in the same position twice in one night. Once they got her back into bed properly they left the room and headed for the stairs but Regina suddenly stopped.

"Emma." She said gently. "Wait." When the blonde stopped on the stairs and turned to look up at her she said, "Stay."

"I wasn't running for the door, Regina." Emma replied. "I thought we were going to have a drink?"

"No, I mean," She hesitated. Watching Emma just now with the kids, thinking about how it felt to dance all night in the blonde's arms, the warmth of her breath as Emma whispered in her ear. It all stirred something inside her and Regina couldn't fight it anymore. "Stay, tonight, with me."

Emma came back up the stairs, moving into Regina's space but not touching her. "Are you sure?"

Regina smiled a slow seductive smile. Reaching up she cupped Emma's face in her hands before leaning in and kissing her. She was encouraged when she let her tongue glide over Emma's lips and the blonde moaned before opening her mouth, their kiss deepening. When she finally pulled away she said, "I'm more than sure."

"What about your magic?" Emma asked in a soft whisper as she pressed her forehead against Regina's.

Regina was quite for a moment before replying, "I didn't have a reason to fight the darkness that came with the kind of magic my Mother and Rumble gave me. I was broken and in pain and I gave into its dark side, but magic can have a light side too. Magic can be good. And whatever magic sparks up from your touch, it comes from a good place Emma, because it comes from you. Plus, I have reasons now, Emma; I have reasons to fight the darkness. I have three very good reasons."

Emma smiled as she caressed her Regina's cheek. That smile grew as she took Regina's hand and led the brunette to the bedroom. As soon as Emma closed the door behind them Regina was pulling her towards the bed using the lapels of her jacket. Undoing the three buttons on the jacket Regina slid her hands under it, pushing it off of Emma's shoulders, and then tossing it over to a chair. Then she pulled the white shirt from Emma's pants before reaching up to undo a button, and than another, before looking into Emma's eyes. What she saw there was staggering. Love, desire, and most overwhelmingly trust. It was almost to much and Regina nearly took a step back, but then she felt Emma's hands glide over her hips, one resting there and the other snaking up her back to the zipper of her dress. As she felt the form fitting material loosen as the zipper was slowly pulled down, Regina went back to undoing the buttons on Emma's shirt.

After she pushed the white fabric from Emma's shoulders, leaving her standing there in her pants and bra, Regina couldn't help but smile as she drank in the sight of Emma. Reaching up she trailed a finger over the freckles that dotted Emma's breasts. Leaning in Regina placed a kiss on each of those freckles before Emma stepped back just enough to let Regina's dress fall to the floor. Regina looked up to met Emma's eyes as she slowly slide the straps of her slip from her shoulders and letting the silk fall to the floor to pool around her feet before stepping out of the puddle of fabric and moving to stretch out on the bed. Emma didn't even blink; she didn't want to break the eye contact, as she unhooked the clasp and zipper on her pants before pushing them down over her hips. In nothing but bra and panties Emma joined Regina on the bed. She let her hand and her eyes caress Regina's body before finally capturing her lover's lips in a passionate, hungry kiss.

Hours later as they lay entangled in each other and the sheet, their skin flushed and glistening with cooling sweat, Regina reached out to play with the swan pendant around Emma's neck. Her mind flashed to just minutes before when she could feel the pendant caressing her skin as Emma moved up her body, kissing, caressing, and tasting until their lips met once more and it made her smile.

"Can I ask you something?" Emma asked softly as she watched Regina run her thumb over the swan on her necklace. When Regina gave her a nod of permission she asked, "Why were you wearing my necklace while I was gone?"

Regina blushed. "It's silly."

"Tell me anyway?" Emma asked as she titled Regina's head up so they could look into each other's eyes.

"It's a thing that some people do sometimes where I'm from." Regina answered. She bit her lip for a moment and then explained, "Sometimes when someone is sent on a quest, a personal one not one for money or fame, the person sending the other person on the quest gives them a token, a personal item to keep with them, to remind them of who they were doing this for."

"Like a knight who ties a ribbon from the queen to his lance or keeps a handkerchief from the princess in his pocket?" Emma asked.

Regina blushed again as she nodded. "Yes, like that."

The smile on Emma's face was radiant. "Does that make you my knight?"

"I don't do armor." Regina replied. The look on Emma's face said she wasn't taking that as an answer. Regina sighed softly, but there was a hint of smile on her face as she said, "Yes, I suppose, for that moment, I was your knight."

Emma sat up, reached behind her neck and unclasped the chain. She motioned with her head for Regina to sit up and then put the chain around her neck and reclasped it. "Then you should wear this so people will know that, to remind everyone in this town, it was you who brought us back."

Regina reached out and pressed her hand against the pendent now resting on her chest and then turned to Emma and said, "I love you."

"I love you too." Emma replied before leaning in and kissing Regina again.