Regina was pacing in her study, waiting for the doorbell to ring. It was just after midnight and future Emma wasn't there yet.

She was about to lose her patience and call her to find out where she was at when the other woman merely walked into the study.

"How did you get in here?"

"Backdoor key, which is hidden under the fourth landscaping rock in case of emergencies," she said.

"Did Henry tell you that was there?"

"No," Emma said. "I know because in the future you and I are … we are close."

"Close. As in friends?" she asked skeptically.

"Close as in I live here," Emma said.

"That's ridiculous. I would not have you living here. Did you take the place after I died?"

"No. Maybe you should sit."

"I don't want to sit. I want a straight answer from you about what this is all about."

"I told you it's about preventing your death, but it's more complicated than that. You see your death occurred in an alternate timeline, not the one I am originally from. I am here to try and reset the timeline back to my original one, which is a million times better than the alternate one. My younger self has been less than helpful so far reasons I can't begin to fathom. That leads me to you."

"Perhaps you misunderstand the meaning of a straight answer," Regina said, the annoyance clear in her voice.

Emma hated that annoyed tone that her wife had somehow mastered. She only used it when Emma had gone well past Regina's point of patience. Depending on what kind of mood she was in, she either backed down or confronted Regina directly and she wasn't in a good mood.

"How is this for a straight answer then? You and I are married Regina. You and I have been married for four years in my time. But because dumbass younger me brought Marian back to this time it screwed the future timeline up, placing me in the alternate timeline where you are dead and Henry hates me for it. Is that a straight enough answer for you?"

"I think I need to sit down," Regina said sitting on the couch.

Emma felt somewhat bad laying it all out there for her like that, but Regina wasn't the only one who had lost patience. She went and took a seat next to her.

"You are really happy, you know," Emma said. "In our timeline. You are happy, we both are. We're a family."

"You, me and Henry, we are a family?"

"And Alex."

"Who is Alex?"

"Alexandra. She's our daughter," Emma smiled. "She's two and she's a handful. A bit of a hair puller. I wish I had a photo to show you, but I don't. I don't have anything to prove to you that I am telling the truth because it was all taken from me when I woke in the other timeline."

"Is she adopted like Henry?"

Emma smiled again at the fact Regina wasn't questioning her on the veracity of what she was saying. "No. You gave birth to her."

Regina unconsciously touched her stomach. "How is that possible?"

"Artificial insemination," Emma said. "We picked a donor that most matched me, blonde hair, amazing smile and sense of humor. Alex is perfect. You absolutely adore her. You tend to spoil her too, but I try to keep you in check."

Regina stood suddenly and walked to the other side of the room. Emma was afraid that maybe she had told her too much too fast.

"The Emma from this time, you told her this?" Regina asked.

"Yes,"

"Tell me exactly what you told her?"

Regina sat down again, which didn't last long, as Emma relayed what had happened since she had come to this timeline. For the most part she stayed silent throughout the telling of it. Emma couldn't help but watch her wife as she paced back and forth. Her legs were shapely that Emma for a moment got lost in thought thinking of running her hands up and down them.

"What was your original plan exactly?" Regina asked.

"To get current Emma to flirt with you and get you to see we belong with each other."

"And you expected that to happen easily?"

"I don't know. I guess. We've been married for four years, how was I supposed to know that my younger self wouldn't jump at the chance to hit that?"

"Please tell me I don't allow you to be that crude in the future."

"Sometimes, but usually we are naked when I do. I have to say you are taking this surprisingly well."

"It does make an odd bit of sense. I always found her, you attractive. Marriage though. I admit that it a little hard to believe."

"Because you didn't picture yourself ever getting married again."

Regina gave her a curious look. "You admitted that to me not long after we got engaged."

"Did you ask me or did I ask you?"

"Um no, you didn't get all the details. What would be the fun in that?"

"Well it hardly matters if the timeline is messed up."

"It doesn't have to be, that is why I am here."

"I am afraid the Emma of this time has no intention of dating me. I am rather insulted she would choose that lout Hook over me."

"Don't get me started on the pirate. He has been vocal at times about our relationship. He hasn't been able to get over me breaking up with him for you," Emma said. "When Emma told me she was actually dating him, I could have dropped over dead. I really hope she hasn't had sex with him."

"Had you um had sex with him?" Regina asked as her finger circled the rim of the glass which she had been drinking from.

"No! Oh God no. Believe me there were a few times that I came close because you were dating Robin, who by the way you did sleep with in my timeline so no lectures."

"I hadn't gotten the chance to in this timeline thanks to Emma."

"I am sure you aren't missing much," Emma said.

"You really were jealous of him weren't you?"

"Insanely," she admitted. "The shame is Robin is a good guy. I just didn't like him being a good guy to you. And the fact you wouldn't go out with me when I first asked just added to it. To this day, I swear you wanted to go out with me from the get go, you were purposely drawing it out though."

Regina smiled, "I have no comment on something I haven't actually done."

Emma loved seeing that smile. That was the smile she woke up to, the one that could make Alex laugh, the one that she had smiled back to on their wedding day.

"So now what do we do?" Emma said approaching her. She moved in close and took the glass out of Regina's hand, finishing off the bit of whiskey in it and placing it on the desk.

"I don't know," Regina said unable to tear her eyes away from the intense look Emma was giving her.

Emma leaned in and kissed her. She couldn't resist it any longer. She felt Regina's lips move against hers and relished the feel of it. She needed to feel the comfort of her wife's arms around her and she smiled into the kiss as Regina indeed wrapped her arms around her to pull her closer. It had felt like it had been years since she had been able to do this.

Regina pulled back first, her eyes studying Emma.

"We need to get this timeline fixed," Regina said kissing her again.

"And do you have any idea how to do that?"

"We reverse your original plan," Regina said. "This time I do the flirting with Miss Swan. Between you and I, we should be able to come up with some effective techniques to get her to see I am a much better option than the pirate."

"This is exactly why I love you," Emma said pulling her in and kissing her.