It was the next day after their dinner with Henry. He'd been so happy for the two of them and hugged Emma tightly, as well as Regina, before leaving. He promised to not tell Laverne or Esmeralda, who would be back the next morning, where Emma was. He was simply to say that she'd left and he was looking into a replacement.

Emma, on the other hand, was simply going to be spending her time in Regina's chambers for the next two weeks. During dinner, Regina would cast a disillusion charm on Emma so that she looked like someone else each time so that the servers didn't recognise her. The servers didn't really have much to do with the guards, but Regina didn't want to risk anything. Emma didn't really mind if it mean she could join her for dinner.

One evening, Regina had simply ordered different nibbles and the two had cuddled in bed and fed each other in between rounds of passionate love making. It was amazing.

As much as she didn't mind the disillusion spell, the forgetting potion was the only option for the guard situation and Emma wasn't complaining about how long it would take to brew. Two weeks of just her and Regina sounded like perfection. All they had to do now was brew the potion.

They'd been in the Queen's small laboratory room for about an hour and it turned out that working with the Evil Queen on a potion was much like working with the future Regina. All Emma had to do was pay attention, not get in the way and remember everything she was doing. At every stage, Regina would explain what she was doing, why she was doing it and what would happen should something be altered slightly.

"So now you add dandelion root, not the petals, they'll knock the drinker out for several hours, but they'll still remember. Obviously, that's not what we want," she was saying as she added the ingredient into the cauldron on the fire. "What?" She added when she saw Emma smirking at her, trying not to laugh.

"You're just too cute as you explain," Emma replied.

"It's not cute, it's serious," the Queen chastised fondly with a roll of her eyes. So Regina.

Emma stepped forward from where she was perched on the edge of a nearby counter. She took one step towards Regina.

"Nope, don't come any closer. You need to watch, not get in my way," she sassed, turning her back on the blonde.

Instead of listening, Emma closed the gap and wrapped her arms around the Queen's waist and rested her head on her shoulder.

"I'm watching and not in your way," Emma replied. She kissed Regina's temple before allowing her to get on with her work.

Regina smiled fondly and leant into the blonde's embrace before continuing with her work.

Before long, the potion was finished to what it could be and just needed to brew for two weeks before the final two ingredients, a tulip petal and two blades of grass, were added. The potion would then be poured into a bottle of mead that Regina would "gift" to her guards. She knew them well, they'd drink it down in seconds. Emma would then be free to walk around the castle again and just be known as the woman who used to be a maid and was now the Queen's lover. Well perhaps not to that amount of detail for now.

Lover didn't feel like the right word to use. They knew they were True Loves, but Emma was sure the Queen wouldn't want everyone to know that. Girlfriend didn't seem strong enough though and anything further was probably too strong. They would have to come up with another term at some point.

oOoOo

The two weeks seem to pass in a blur. It was the day before the potion was finished and Emma was sitting up in bed, well Regina's bed that seemed now to be their bed. Regina was in a meeting of some kind and had let Emma sleep in. She'd woken up a few moments ago and saw there was a tray on the bedside table to her left. She could see the slight glimmer above the tray, a heat preservation spell so that it would still be warm when she woke up.

Her heart filled with even more love for the Queen at the small touch. With a smile, she reached over and pulled it over her lap. She waved her hand over to remove the charm and breathed in the smell. On the plate was scrambled eggs on toast with sliced avocado on top. Beside that was a steaming cup of tea made to perfection. With a grin, Emma dug in.

As she ate, she pondered her situation. She couldn't remember feeling so content in a relationship. It had been just over two weeks and she just didn't want it to end. She loved waking up next to Regina every morning and going to sleep beside her. They spent every meal together and Henry joined them every few days.

The second dinner he joined, a couple of days ago, he announced he'd found a replacement for Emma. It was a young girl called Megara. Emma tried not to roll her eyes at the name of yet another Disney character. Wow Walt Disney had got things so wrong. However, she seemed to be enjoying herself. Henry had said that both Laverne and Esmeralda were upset at Emma's sudden departure and the blonde was excited to be able to see them after the two weeks were up.

She spent a lot more time with Regina than she though. Sure, she had many meetings and the odd day trip, but she'd rearranged everything so that she wasn't away from the castle overnight. Something Emma was extremely happy about.

While Regina was away, Emma did tend to get a little bored. One day, she decided to sneak back into Henry's chambers. She cast the disillusion spell on herself, after asking Regina to teach her how to do it, and made her way down. She didn't trust herself to poof again at the moment until she'd figured out how to do it properly. She made it to the east library easily and saw that it was deserted. She crept to the shelves to try and see Henry's storybook again and was stumped after a few minutes of looking. She flicked her wrist along the shelf and cleared it before running through each spine to try and find it.

It wasn't there.

Quickly, she checked on some of the other shelves and still nothing. She heard Esmeralda's voice along with one that she didn't recognise which must belong to Megara and she held her breath, hoping they wouldn't hear her. She frowned slightly as she wished she could say hello but knew she couldn't. Instead, she waited until their voices quietened down before she quickly waved her hand so that every book was how it was before she entered. To say she was confused right now was an understatement. Dejected, she headed back to Regina's room.

During the two weeks, Emma also hadn't gone to see Hook. She didn't want to tell him that she had her magic back as he would want her to start getting them back to Storybrooke as soon as possible. She would see him soon. She had no choice. Before long, he would come looking for her. However, she didn't need to think about that now. Storybrooke was still far away.

Suddenly, Henry's face flashed before her eyes and her heart panged. She adored spending time with Regina, getting to know all her little quirks. Like on a morning, she'd stretch, starting with her right arm and then her left before learning forward to touch her toes and stretch her back. In an evening, she liked to light scented candles, as opposed to the general ones around the castle, so that the room smelt delicious before she slept.

They made love almost every night and Emma adored it. She learnt that Regina practically melted when Emma spent her time worshiping her back, kissing down her spine and trailing patterns with her tongue. She also had dimples in her lower back that tickled whenever she breathed lightly over them.

She would never be able to forget the taste of the Queen on her tongue. She'd never experience such an exquisite taste before and she couldn't get enough. The sounds the Queen made when she came and the face she pulled just made Emma want to coax her to the edge all the time.

With all of that, she couldn't imagine going back to Storybrooke and having to see Regina with Robin, knowing that he was the one to bring out all of those pleasures. That he was the one who got to watch her stretch on the morning. The selfish part of her wanted to stay here and live her life with Regina. She knew she'd be happy.

But she couldn't do that.

Regina would never cast the curse if she stayed. Snow and Charming would never need to put Emma in the wardrobe. Emma would never meet Neal and she'd never have Henry. A world without her son just seemed too horrible to imagine. She had to figure out a way to get back and her heart tore in two just at the thought.

Put off her breakfast that she'd half eaten, she placed it back on the table and slipped out of bed. She headed to Regina's wash room and waved her hand so that the bath was full of steaming hot water and bubbles. She slipped in and couldn't help the moan that slipped out when the heat kissed her sex sore muscles. She leant back and shut her eyes, allowing herself to relax as well as she could.

She didn't know how long she had her eyes shut, just enjoying the heat, until she heard a noise in the room. Her eyes snapped open in panic, her breathing became erratic, until she saw the familiar brown eyes looking back at her from across the room.

Regina was leaning causally against the doorframe. She was wearing a deep purple dress that radiated importance and money. Her hair was tied in a perfect low bun showing that she meant business and her lips were a sultry deep red. She looked phenomenal.

"Room for one more?" Regina asked.

Emma smiled. "Always."

The Queen crossed the room, slipping out of her dress as she went. She flicked her wrist and her face was bare of makeup and her hair fell around her shoulders. She stepped into the bath in front of the blonde before pressing her back gently against her front. Emma's arms automatically wrapped around her as Regina rested her head on her shoulder.

"How was your meeting?" Emma asked softly after pressing a kiss against Regina's temple.

"Dull as usual," Regina replied with a grimace. "They still think I can't rule the kingdom without a man by my side." She rolled her eyes. "I told them I was courting someone of royal descent. They don't need to know yet that she's a princess not a prince."

Emma smiled into the Queen's hair. "Clever."

Regina smirked. "I thought so." She laughed before becoming serious. "You didn't finish your breakfast, why?"

At the question, Emma's smile faltered. She didn't know what to say. She didn't expect the Queen to pick up on it, but she supposed it was the first time she'd left her food.

"Em?"

Emma sighed. "I was thinking about my son," she said reluctantly and heard the Queen draw in a deep breath. "It put me off my food."

"You must miss him," Regina muttered quietly.

"More than anything," Emma replied quietly. "I don't want to leave you, not in the slightest, but one day…" she trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

"You'll have to."

"Yes."

The acknowledgment of it rang loud and clear in the small wash room. Neither wanted to accept it but they both knew that one day, Emma would have to leave.

The rest of their bath was quite solemn until Regina suggested they went and checked the potion. She had to stir it once counter clockwise and twice clockwise before leaving it to the next day. Emma went with her, but they still didn't really say much.

However, when they went to bed that evening, the two cuddled up as usual, the blonde's protective arms wrapped around the Queen. Regina turned her head and settled into Emma's neck, breathing in her scent. She pressed a kiss on her pulse point and relished Emma's content sigh. She pressed another one there, this time a little harder, opening her mouth a little. Emma's sigh was louder. Then, she grazed her teeth over the same spot and suddenly felt herself being pulled atop of the blonde who was smiling up with her, her eyes slightly glazed over.

"I love you," Emma breathed before closing the gap and kissing the Queen passionately.

The two made love, slowly and tenderly, that night. Emma worshiped every inch of Queen's skin with light stokes of her fingers, soft caresses with her tongue and gentle nips with her teeth. Regina almost cried with how beautiful it was and how loved and safe Emma made her feel. She vowed that as long as Emma was there, she'd appreciate her and love her as long as she could.

oOoOo

When Emma woke up the next morning, she couldn't remember feeling more rested. The room was warm from the fire and there was a soft glow glinting in through the balcony doors that were slightly open. She looked down and saw Regina was snuggled into her chest, the gentle, even rise and fall of her chest proved that she was still asleep.

Reaching up, she started running her fingers gently through Regina's hair. She loved how long the ebony locks were. The Regina she knew kept it short, just around her shoulders, which suited her, but she loved running her fingers through her long, thick locks.

Regina hummed in contentment and snuggled closer into Emma making her smile. The two had nothing to do today except finish and serve the potion. Emma was looking forward to it.

Soon enough, the Queen started to stir from the soft caresses through her hair. Her eyes fluttered open. "Good morning," she greeted and kissed Emma sweetly.

Emma practically purred and deepened the kiss. "Good morning to you too, my Queen."

Regina accepted the kiss before pulling back. "We have a potion to finish," she stated when Emma started to pout. "Then you can finally get out of this room."

At that, Emma couldn't help but nod in agreement. "That's true."

"Then come, my love, let's get dressed and finish our work."

Emma didn't add that it was really all Regina's work. She'd just kept her company. Reluctantly, the two got out of bed and Regina dressed them with a wave of her hand. She had provided Emma space in her enormous closet. Emma had been also been able to retrieve her own clothes from her wardrobe.

Regina's reaction to Emma's red leather jacket was much like the reaction she would have in the future. The words hideous and ghastly were used and Emma couldn't find it in herself to be offended because the face the Queen pulled of utter disgust was too funny and the blonde struggled to stop laughing. She'd yet to reveal her jeans, that would be another day.

Despite enjoying not having to choose her outfits every day, Emma was starting to get fed up of dresses. She just wanted her jeans and a jumper now the weather was starting to turn but alas no, it wasn't to be. The only trousers Regina owned were her leather pants and they didn't look desirable either. Dresses it was.

Once they were both dressed, Emma in light blue and Regina in burgundy, they headed back to the Queen's laboratory.

"So?" Emma asked motioning to the potion. "Is it done?"

The Queen crossed the room and looked at the potion. She stirred it twice before adding the rest of the ingredients. With two final stirs, one clockwise, one counter clockwise, she stepped back, a satisfied smile on her face. The potion went from a light pink to a deep scarlet. Emma didn't know if that was the usual colour the potion was meant to go, or it was simply that colour to look like whatever alcohol it was pretending to be. Either way, Emma was glad she wouldn't be drinking it.

"Yes," Regina replied.

She waved her hand and the flame was extinguished. Another wave and a bottle appeared. Slowly Regina ladled the potion in and corked it off.

"It's done," she announced. She flicked her wrist and the bottle disappeared. "It's now on the guards' table with a note to say drink up, they deserve it."

Emma raised her eyebrow, not looking convinced. "How do you know they'll all drink it?"

Regina shrugged. "Well, I don't, but the fumes from each other's breaths will work too. Then again, Claude is gone, and he was the main one who knew it was you."

Yeah, Claude has gone, Emma thought to herself. The Captain was not happy that he had been dismissed. The next day he had stormed into the castle and to Regina's chambers. Emma had barely been able to hide before he crashed into the room, demanding to know why he had been dismissed.

Regina had simply said that even if Emma was a criminal, she didn't deserve what he did to her. She sent him away with a fireball sent towards him, just missing his ear by a millimetre. A clear warning.

He hadn't come back.

The new Captain of the Queen's guard was a man called Shere Khan. Emma didn't particularly like him either, he seemed rather snakelike and slimy, but it was Regina's decision after all. As long as she didn't have to deal with him, it would be fine.

With a wave of Regina's hand, the laboratory was restored to its pre-potion making set up. The table was pushed back to the wall and the tools flew back to the cupboards they belonged in.

Emma watched the cupboards close before she crossed the space, a smirk on her face. A flash of lust crossed her eyes as she stalked towards the Queen. She didn't know why, but she just found her incredibly sexy when she was in magic mode. However, just as she reached out, Regina back off.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly as she saw the rejection in Emma's eyes. "I just feel a bit, I don't know, weird this morning."

The smirk was quickly replaced with concern. Emma wanted to cup the Queen's face softly but stayed back. "What sort of weird?" She asked.

Regina shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "It's just the only word I can use. I'm sure I'll feel better soon."

She didn't.

The Queen kept floating between feeling okay and feeling just, well, weird for the next couple of weeks.

The potion went down as a success. It was tested by Regina poofing Emma to the gates and her walking through the castle. The guards greeted her as they did before, without any hesitation, to let her see the Queen.

Regina then announced that Emma was a lady in waiting to the Queen and given full access to the Queen's quarters. Emma hadn't been down to see Lavern and Esmeralda yet, but she was meaning to. In actual fact, she just didn't want to leave Regina while she wasn't well.

Two weeks after they'd finished the potion, Regina went from feeling weird to feeling sick. Emma woke up one morning to an empty bed and no note. It was unheard of. When she went in search of her love, she found her in the bathroom with her head in a bucket, retching.

"Regina!" She gasped as she rushed over. She pulled her hair out of the way before conjuring a cloth to wipe her brow and mouth. "You're not getting any better. I'm getting the doctor."

"I'm fine," Regina argued weakly before throwing up once more.

"You're not."

Emma then stood and headed to the door to the chambers. She opened the door and saw one of the guards.

"I need the doctor here, now," she ordered.

The guard nodded and rushed off.

Within ten minutes, Regina was laying back in bed while the doctor ran some tests and asked some questions. They were the typical: when did you start feeling ill? Was this the first time you've been sick? Anything else?

"I've been getting dizzy sometimes too," the Queen admitted quietly. "Feeling a little faint."

Emma watch on the side lines. The more she heard between Regina and the doctor, the more she started to realise what was going on. In fact, she didn't even need the doctor's confirmation. Her heart was already thumping loudly against her ribs in anticipation.

"I believe congratulations are in order, your Majesty," he said cryptically.

"I beg your pardon?" The Queen responded, panic and confusion on her face.

"If I have understood all your symptoms correctly," the doctor said slowly, "then you are pregnant."