She runs her fingers over her smooth, flawless face, as if in utter disbelief.

It's so hard to believe that Emma is here in front of her now, after everything that they've been through.

Which, in the grand scheme of things, isn't much really.

They've had sex, or fucked if you asked Emma, for 6 six months. And sometimes hung out in groups.

That was it. And yet, it had felt like nothing short of an uphill battle for Regina.

Getting here had taken so much work and so much of her energy.

But...where are they now anyway?

Sure, Emma had come over.

Sure, Emma had told her she missed her.

Sure, she told her she wanted to try. To take things slowly.

But what did that even mean?

Sex? No sex? Same amount of sex, slightly more talking? Less sex, more talking?

She felt like, though she wanted to agree to whatever Emma could offer, she needed to know more.

She needed to know exactly what she was agreeing to.

She watches as Emma breathes in and out slowly and cannot tear her eyes away.

This is what I'm agreeing to, she thinks to herself.

She runs her fingers across Emma's face and she stirs.

"Mghhh," Emma groans as she begins to awaken.

She's instantly met with green eyes that flash open and dart around the room quickly to take in all of their surroundings before she settles on Regina's soft smile and visibly allows herself to relax.

Regina can't help herself. She reaches out to cup Emma's face and has to ask, "Who made you like this? So guarded? So on edge all the time?"

Emma squints, first as if she doesn't understand the question, but then her eyebrow lifts in surprise.

"Wow, that's what you start with?", her voice is still husky from sleep. "I wake up from a nap and you're just ready to dive right into my insecurities?! Who starts there?" Emma's tone is sharp enough to tell her that the question is inappropriate, but she follows it up with laughter. "Who does that?!"

Regina has to laugh as well, realizing how inappropriate the question is.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I just…" she stares into her eyes, heart rate speeding up just looking at her, "I just want to know you."

Emma sighs and rolls onto her back. And just as she fears she's ruined things between them, Emma speaks.

"I get it. I want to know you too."

"Great, so then," she scoots a little closer, cuddling into Emma's body, "Let's get to know each other a little. I'll go first and you can respond with whatever information you're comfortable giving me."

"And if I don't want to answer something?"

She kisses her sleeved shoulder gently. "Then you don't have to. I'm not trying to push you, I agree with you. We should take things slowly. There's no need to rush."

"Yeah, there's no need to rush," Emma repeats as if reassuring herself.

"Exactly. So…let's see here. Uhh, we'll start slow and simple. My favorite food is enchiladas. What's yours?"

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed that!" Emma laughs at little as she turns towards Regina, resting her head on her hands.

"Yeah, my mother is Italian, but my father was half Hispanic and he made the best enchiladas."

She smiles wistfully as the smells and sounds of her father cooking in the kitchen come back to her as if it was just yesterday.

"Was?" Emma interrupts the memory quietly.

"Yeah, was…he died the year before I graduated college."

Emma sits unmoving for a moment, completely still.

"I want to hug you. I want to tell you how sorry I am. Can…can I do that?"

Despite the intense sadness she still feels over the loss of her father, she can't help but laugh at Emma's adorable hesitation.

"You can if you want to."

Emma surges forward and awkwardly wraps her up in a tight hug. And Regina holds back. Tightly.

She has never really hugged Emma before and so she takes a moment to appreciate the strong arms holding her fiercely and the gentle whispers near her ear, apologizing for something she had no control over. And yet…it comforts her in a way she has never experienced.

They continue holding on until Emma pulls away and apologizes again, this time for getting carried away.

"It's fine. I liked it."

"Me too. Hugging you is so nice. Even better standing, I bet."

Regina can't help but throw her head back a little in laughter, "Yeah, probably!"

They sit staring at each other for a few more minutes before Emma falls back onto her back and laughs.

"What?" Regina wonders aloud. "What's so funny?"

"I love hugging you!" she shouts so loudly and so randomly that it almost scares her.

She sounds crazy, as if she's on drugs, and Regina would swear she was if she wasn't feeling the exact same way.

"I know, it's nice."

"It's so much more than nice. It's awesome!" Emma exclaims again excitedly and sits up suddenly.

"Okay, okay. Let's keep going! What's your favorite flower?"

Regina can't keep the smile off of her face as she pushes her pillows up a little higher so she can lay sitting up a little.

"Wait wait, you haven't told me your favorite food yet! This is a trade-off remember?"

"Oh," Emma lights up again, "Right! Uh, pizza, for sure! Any kind of pizza!"

Regina rolls her eyes, completely unsurprised by that admission.

"Of course it is. Okay, my favorite flower is the lily. Or tulips. That's a very close second."

Emma nods seriously, and she can just tell, she's storing this information for later.

And the very idea of 'later' being a possibility sends a chill down her spine.

"I like roses. But not red. Red is too cliché."

Regina nods, storing the info as well.

"Do you like ice cream or frozen yogurt better?"

"Oh, uh," she has to think about that one. "I guess ice cream because it has so many flavors?"

"I like ice cream better too! We should go sometime!"

"Uh, sure!" She's still not feeling 100% but Emma's enthusiasm is certainly rubbing off on her.

"Okay, it is definitely my turn young lady. Hmm," she hopes that this next question isn't going to ruin things completely. It's just that Emma is in such a good mood and seems to be open to sharing so this does seem like a golden opportunity.

"What's your mom like?"

Emma's eyes soften immediately and it's so obvious that she loves her.

"She's amazing. Like…can't-even-begin-to-tell-you-how-great-she-is great."

"Yeah? What does she do? She sounds like a doctor?"

Emma's face crinkles at that. "Uh, I mean, yeah she is but…I mean…how do you not know who she is? Everyone does."

That information doesn't surprise her at all knowing how Emma herself is so in the public sphere and she seemingly hasn't done anything to warrant such attention.

"Well, I know her name is Ingrid Nolan, but honestly that's about it. I work with kids Emma, not much time to google people."

Only a half lie, she tells herself. Technically she has found the time to google Emma and her mother. She's seen photos of them out and about but she's tried to shy away from articles and tabloids. Knowing how private Emma can be, she's always felt guilty reading up on her. It's always felt like snooping.

"Oh…," Emma shakes her head a little and smiles softly. "Well, in that case, yeah she's a doctor. Uh, kinda. She used to be an actress. That's why I thought you would have known. She used to be on a Grey's Anatomy type show and it was super popular. She even won a couple Emmy's. But after like 6 seasons she quit. She said she wanted to do something more meaningful than just pretending to save people."

Regina smiles at how kind Emma's mother seems to be and imagines briefly all of them out for brunch laughing and drinking mimosas, getting along as if they've known each other for years.

And a part of her allows herself to think that maybe a few years down the road, they could be like that.

"She sounds really great. Would I ever be able to meet her?"

Emma sighs at that. "Well, she's not really here much these days. She's in West Africa right now, building wells and teaching English and stuff."

"How does August feel about that?"

Emma shrugs. "She actually had her epiphany just after he was born. I would…" she lays back down, putting her head down in Regina's lap and settling in before continuing, "I would never tell him this, but he's the reason why she left. She had him and just…wanted to make the world better. She told me the night before she left that she was doing this to make the world better for us. And I'm proud and everything, I am…"

"But you'd also like to have your mom around." Emma nods, glad that she's understood.

"I get that. I'd do anything to see my dad just one more time."

Emma rolls her eyes at that. "Ugh. You can have mine. If you could even call him that."

"You have a dad? You've never mentioned him!"

"Uhh, how does one casually mention their father during sex?"

She nods at that. "Fair point. But seriously…what's he like?"

Emma rolls her eyes again. "First of all, David's not my dad. Not even close. When my mom first adopted me, it was just me and her. He's just a useless piece of shit. The best thing he ever did for any of us was help make August. He basically just sucks. He was an actor on mom's show, honestly some extra that no one even noticed, and he just sort of weaseled his way into her spotlight. But I-I don't want to talk about him."

Regina nods quickly and tangles her fingers in Emma's hair, massaging her scalp.

"Well we don't have to talk then."

"I'm not having sex with you Regina! You're sick!"

"That's not even what I meant!" she laughs. "I realize you're not familiar with the medium between sex and sleeping, but I just meant we could cuddle."

Regina pushes the pillows back down and lays with her arms with open, inviting Emma to be her little spoon. And for a moment, she looks to be mulling it over before she rolls her eyes.

"Nice try Gina."

"The day we stop trying is the day we stop progressing."

"Ugh, you're such a fucking teacher."

Regina goes to laugh again but instead ends up coughing deeply. Emma moves closer to rub her back and when the coughing fit finally subsides, she gets up.

"It's probably time for more medicine."

Regina throws her head back on the pillow in defeat. "It makes me sleepy."

"Well that's true," she starts as she begins pouring the liquid into the small measuring cup, "but I want you to feel better."

She places one knee on the bed as she leans over to hand Regina the medicine. She takes it hesitantly and with a pout, but doesn't complain. And for that, she rewarded with a kiss on the cheek.

But as Emma is pulling away, she leans in close enough to share breath with Regina, their lips almost touching.

"I want you feeling better because the second you're back to normal, I am going to fuck you so hard. We have so much making up to do."

Regina swallows thickly and falls back on to her pillows. She may be sick, but her whole body reacted to that. She shivers just thinking about all the ways Emma is going to make this up to her.

"Cold?" Emma asks as she makes her way back over to her side of the bed and crawls under the sheets.

Though she's pretty comfortable actually, she simply nods because it's easier than trying to explain the real reason behind her sudden chills. Emma finds a comfortable position and then opens her arms for Regina, who quickly scoots over and cuddles into her side.

"Wanna watch some tv?"

Regina nods against her chest but already the medication kicks in and she knows she'll be out in no time.

"Have you ever seen Bob's Burgers babe?"

Another shake of her head as her eye lids start to droop.

"Well, you're in for a treat," she looks down at Regina, "Ah, just kidding. You're in for a treat whenever you wake up."

She turns on the television anyway just for background noise and pulls Regina in a little closer. She could get used to this. She knows she could.

It would be an adjustment sure, she's not use to the added commitment but the thought of doing more with Regina has her just as excited as knowing her better.

It's kind of cool knowing more than just like sex stuff. I could bring her flowers and ice cream if I wanted. Because I know exactly what kind of stuff she likes.

And that thought makes her giddy. She falls asleep thinking about all of the ways she could surprise Regina with her favorite flowers and ice cream.

###

She's awoken by the doorbell ringing nonstop. The last thing she wants to do is detach herself from Regina but she has to, otherwise she knows the older woman will surely wake up.

She slips out of the bed without any trouble and makes it down the stairs in record time, not even bothering to check the peep hole before swinging the door open like a crazed maniac.

"Jesus, what?!" Instantly she's met with the cold glare of Kathryn Nolan.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing but I don't care so….."

Kathryn rolls her eyes.

"You're a piece of shit, you know that?"

"Excuse me?" Emma's eyes narrow at her outburst.

"Oh, don't act so surprised. We're best friends, she tells me everything. She told me how you fucked her and left."

"I didn't—"

"No, but you did. You tricked her into thinking it was something more than what it was so she'd keep sleeping with you and then when it got too serious, you ran."

"I-"

"Tell me it's not true Emma. Tell me that I'm wrong and that this was all some big misunderstanding."

By now, Kathryn has pushed her way through the threshold and she and Emma are in the entry way, toe to toe.

"It's not true Kat. I do care about her."

But she only scoffs. "Whatever. Save it for someone who actually buys that bullshit."

"It's not bullshit Kat. Trust me, I-"

"You know Emma…that's the thing about trust. Once you've lost it, that's it. Regina did trust you and look where that got her. So how about you just go? Because the last thing she needs is more of your confusion."

She's pissed and utterly offended. Or…at least she wants to be but she knows that Kat is right. She bites the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something that will ruin any chance of getting back into Kat's good graces, but freely rolls her eyes.

"Fine, whatever. I'm going to go. Her medicine is on the side table, she's supposed to take it every couple of hours but like..it's all on the bottle." She explains everything quickly as she slips back on her boots and grabs her keys from the hook.

"Yeah, got it. I'm actually capable of caring about others so I'm sure we'll be fine here."

Emma only rolls her eyes and heads out the door, but just as she's preparing to shut it behind her, she turns back to Kat who's removing her own shoes.

"Look, just so you know, I realized how shitty everything was before and we're working on it. But you're not going to get rid of me. I know you won't believe me but," she takes a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair and refusing to make eye contact. "I like her. A lot. Took me forever to realize it, but she does make me happy. So…yeah."

She quickly turns around and rushes towards her car, not caring to see Kat's expression.

######

Oh my goodness. I know it's been six years, I know it's short, and I know it's not the best but I had to get something out so everyone knows I'm not dead! Like I said, I do plan to finish this story so please don't give up hope. Just…favorite it or something so you can get an email about updates because I know the pain of checking every week and finding nothing! Lol. Anyway, please feel free to leave comments! I'll be back in August! PROMISE! Thanks to everyone who favorited, followed and reviewed in the meantime while I've been MIA! Love you guys!