AN: Hey guys. I meant to get this posted no later than Friday, but as you can see, life got in the way. One of my childhood friends passed away last week and then on Thursday night my Godmother had a heart attack. It's been a hell of a time. Thank you so much for sticking with me and this story. I know you've been waiting a long time if you've been with me from the start. Just know that you are appreciated and loved. Xoxo

Emma awoke the next morning with her arms ensnaring Regina once more. She had protested sleeping in the same bed again, and had won initially. She should have known that it wouldn't last. Regina woke her with a call, and she'd moved back into Regina's room to sing her back to sleep.

She gently untangled herself from the brunette, wanting to let her sleep as long as possible. She should probably want to wake her since she knew she'd be returning to LA, but she looked so peaceful and there was something she needed to do first. She quickly grabbed Regina's phone and got what she needed before she picked up her own and dialed. The phone was answered on the third ring.

"Hello," answered a groggy voice.

"Tink? Hey. It's Emma. Sorry I'm calling so early."

"Hey, Emma. Shouldn't you be in a studio or sleeping or something?"

"What? Oh, shit. Regina hasn't talked to you in the last few days, has she?"

"Clearly not. What's going on?"

"Hang on," she said as she tiptoed across the room. "I'm trying not to wake her."

"Wake her? You're at her house? And in her bedroom?! What the hell did I miss?" Tink was definitely wide awake after that.

"Yeah. She called me the other day when you guys ran into Robin and his wife on your little shopping trip. I took the first flight out."

"Of course you did." Emma didn't have to see the other woman to know that she was smirking.

"Anyway, listen. I have to go back to LA today, and I don't want to just leave her. Will you and Mel look out for her?"

"You mean like we did before you came along?" She giggled to take the sting out of her words. "Relax, Emma. We've got her."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Hey?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't hurt her, okay? She's been through a lot."

"I know. I won't. You have my word. Honestly though, I'm more worried about the reverse happening."

"Give her some time. She really cares about you, but you have to understand that this is all new to her."

"Yeah. Thanks, Tink."

"No problem. Take care, Emma."

"You too."

Click

The rest of the day passed quietly, but all too quickly in the Mills house. They could almost feel the heaviness of Emma's departure hanging over them like a fog. Regina woke a little while after Emma's early morning chat and the two talked for a while. Once Henry joined them they ate breakfast, and then got ready to take Emma to the airport. They arrived a little too early since she had no luggage to check.

Emma was the first to break the silence that had settled over them. "You guys don't have to wait, ya know? It's going to be hard enough to step onto that plane without you two here, looking at me like that."

Henry crashed into her and sqeezed her tightly. "Do you have to go?"

She hugged him back, just a fiercely and forces herself not to cry. "You know I do, kid." She bends to his eye level. "Don't think for a second that I want to leave you. If I wasn't obligated now by my contract, they'd have to drag me away from you, and I'd put up one hell of a fight."

He sighed and gave her a small smile. "I know."

Regina walked over and placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Any idea when you'll be able to come back?" she asked.

"Not a clue. I don't even know how much trouble I'll be in for leaving like that," she admitted.

"Well, if you're out there too long, maybe Henry and I could make the next trip?" She sounded so shy that Emma nearly melted where she stood.

She offered one of her gigantic smiles instead. "I'd really love that."

"Me too!" Henry piped up.

Emma turned back to him at that point and handed him some some money from her back pocket. "Why don't you go try your luck with that claw machine over there?"

"You just want to talk to my mom, but okay." He took her money and ran off.

As soon as he was out of earshot, she turned back to Regina. "Look, I know we agreed to take this slow, b-"

She was cut off by Regina's lips on her own. It was soft and sweet and everything that Emma had ever imagined it would be. They broke apart much too soon, and Emma rested her forehead against Regina's.

"How did you know that's what I was going to ask for?" she grinned and tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind Regina's ear.

"I didn't," Regina whispered, making her blush and grin even more.

"God. I missed you guys before this. It's going to be so much worse now."

Flight 633 to Denver now boarding

"That's me." Emma frowned. "Have I mentioned how much I hate layovers?"

"Henry!" his mom called. "Come say good-bye to Emma."

The boy rushed back over to the two women, and wrapped Emma into a hug. "Bye, Emma."

"Bye, kid."

Regina hugged her as well and as she did so, she softly whispered, "Be safe, Emma." Then she planted a light kiss to her cheek, causing the blonde to blush once more.

"I will." With that, she turned quickly and walked toward the gate. She didn't dare look back. She knew if she did it would only make it harder to leave and there were already pools of tears forming in her eyes.

When she got to her seat, the woman sitting next to her leaned over. "I don't mean to bother you, but I just wanted to let you know that you have a beautiful family." Emma offered a watery smile, but she had no idea what to say so she just thanked her.

She arrived back to her hotel later that evening and was immediately attacked by her other favorite brunette. "Emma Elizabeth Swan!" she screamed as she smacked her with the closest object she could reach. Thankfully, that object was a pillow. "Do you have any idea how furious Gold is?! I tried to tell him that you've just been sick for the last couple of days, but then he said that he knew you bought a plane ticket. He's obvioiusly keeping tabs on all of us."

"Great," Emma sighed. "Guess I'll deal with that tomorrow."

"So, how is she?" Ruby prodded when she saw her friend check her phone.

"She's surprisingly alright considering how upset she was at first. She's more concerned about Roland and his wife than she is about Robin."

"Oh yeah? Wonder why that is Miss Blush-a-Lot over there? Care to tell me what happened while you were gone?"

"The short version or the long?" Emma smirked.

"Ugh." She hit Emma with the pillow again. "I'm offended you even asked. As your best friend I demand every single detail."

"Okay, okay. Fine." Emma then launched into telling of the events of the last couple of days.

"Woooow," Ruby exhaled when she had finished. "I'm happy for you, Em. Really. I know I was kinda harsh on you when you first started crushing on her, but she's good for you. They're good for you, I should say."

"Well, it's still unofficial. We're gonna give it some time and make sure it's not a rebound thing. But I'm happy. I'm really, really happy."