Author Note: It's a short chapter I know. There is a smidgen of plot, but I thought Snow and her issues have had enough attention in what is meant to be a purely Swan-Mills fluffmonster fic, so I skipped over pretty much any 'relationship repair' type conversation as it tends to put a downer on things. Feel free to use your imaginations there though, and make sure there's lots of yelling and insults because it's important to keep Emma in character even in your minds ;)

Monday afternoon during the lunch rush, Emma bursts through the door to the diner. She looks around, gaze darting about the room as if searching for something and Regina knows this is the moment as their eyes meet. Hers drops instantly to the table of the booth, a smile threatening her lips as she feels the corners twitch.

The sound of a throat clearing has them snapping back to the blonde and Emma is there to meet them with a wide grin. Regina braces herself as best she can, unable to settle on which emotion she feels strongest. There is love—pure, unadulterated love that has kept her floating for months now, but there is also fear—of the unknown and the reactions this announcement will cause.

Most important of all, there is hope.

Hope for a future, for happiness and for a family she never thought she could have.

"I would like to take this opportunity of unwavering attention to inform you all that I, Emma Swan—of sound mind and in full possession of my heart—am unequivocally, head over heels, madly in love with the most gorgeous creature on the face of this planet…" She pauses, brow furrowing in thought before she amends, "Or any planet actually."

Regina feels her cheeks heat with a blush and Emma continues to grin while the occupants of the diner stare with open mouths. "Regina Mills, mother of my son and love of my life; I hope you are thoroughly embarrassed by this since I warned you not to test me, woman."

Forcing the blank mask that falls over her expression, Regina stands from the booth and brushes a few non-existent creases from her dress. With a glance to confirm their audience is still paying attention, Regina moves until she stands before the blonde and without preamble, she grasps Emma's shirt and pulls her into a kiss that leaves them both breathless.

"Emma Swan, you have no idea what I'm capable of," Regina growls lightly as she takes a step back.

The silence that follows is almost deafening before a low whistle breaks through and Leroy pipes up, "As hot as that was; I doubt anyone would believe you were ever of sound mind, sister."

"I think I'm offended they thought we hadn't figured it out when they disappeared with their son for almost an entire week," Granny says to no one in particular as she passes by the two on her way to clear one of the tables.

"Well I had no choice when it came to finding out about them," Red adds from behind the counter, "but honestly, all that eye sex and tension whenever you two were in the same room together—daaayum."

Emma and Regina are speechless as more of the town throw in their own comments, neither of them able to process what is happening, and wondering if perhaps they were victims of a spell that had sent them to an alternate universe. Granny and Red were the most likely to be in support of their relationship, as the Lucas women were of the rare few Regina had been nice to even before the curse broke, but the rest were a surprise.

When Emma manages to snap out of it, she whispers to Regina, "What the hell is going on?" and the brunette shakes her head in answer. Words continue to elude her and her eyes widen as she spots Snow and David approaching the diner. There isn't time to warn Emma who spins around at the sound of the bell and immediately takes a step back—into Regina whose hands latch onto hips to prevent falling on her ass.

"Emma—Regina," Snow greets politely, neither missing the way her eyes drop to Emma's waist. Both inwardly sigh when she chooses not to comment and merely smiles, waiting for their response.

Knowing Emma still has trouble figuring out what to call the woman; Regina saves her the trouble and is the first to respond. "Charming, Snow—glad you could join us," she says, her politician's smile fixed as she moves back and tugs Emma with her. It's a complete lie and they all know it, but her attention is firmly on the blonde in that moment. "We're over by the window, if you could give us a minute…"

Snow nods as she steps passed them, while Charming leans in to peck Emma on the cheek. Regina can just make out the words, "Relax kid," that he whispers before joining his wife at the booth and she pulls Emma over to the hall outside the restroom.

"We can postpone," she offers once they're alone, not entirely adverse to the idea as she realises she's likely even less ready to face Snow White than Emma is, but Emma shakes her head.

"We need to get it over with," she replies and Regina huffs. Emma smiles, drawing the brunette to her and capturing soft lips with her own—the kiss short but no less sweet before she withdraws. "Have I ever told you how adorable you can be?"

Regina grins, not quite willing to give up so easily as she brushes her lips teasingly across Emma's and murmurs, "Were you to delay this confrontation with your mother, you could be showing me how adorable you think I am."

"That is extremely unfair," Emma laughs, feeling the low tug of arousal in the pit of her stomach. She bites her lower lip and raises a hand, tucking a brunette strand behind an ear before pressing their lips together for another brief kiss. "As tempting as you are—and believe me, not even your cooking compares to how enticing I find you—I need to do this."

"That would be far more believable if I hadn't had to bribe you with cupcakes to get in your pants to begin with."

Emma gasps, another laugh betraying the look of mock offense that paints her expression. "I didn't know what I was missing," she defends with a grin. "You spoiled me with all that food, how was I to know there was something better on offer?"

Rolling her eyes, Regina playfully shoves her in the chest and Emma grasps the hand, lacing their fingers together and dropping yet another kiss to curled lips before she leads them back to their booth.

From the moment they sit opposite Snow and David, there is an ease that develops between the four of them and although Regina finds herself in conversation with Charming more often than either Emma or Snow, she starts to think that what they're doing may very well be a good thing. While she doubts the animosity she feels for Snow will ever dissipate entirely, it pains her to think she could have unintentionally caused a rift between Emma and her parents, knowing what she now knows of the blonde's past.

Having been raised by her own parents, she feels a small amount of regret over memories she has where she had sometimes wished she were free of them. As much as she loved her father, she realises that on some level their relationship had been just as toxic as the one with her mother. Regardless of what she feels for parents she no longer has and a childhood long since passed, she is unable to comprehend what her life would have been like without them and can only imagine what Emma went through.

Now that she has the opportunity to know them, Regina feels a semblance of guilt that she almost cost her the chance. The desire to excuse herself is sudden, but when she feels the hand on her thigh squeeze, she glances to the side to see that Emma is smiling, as if she knows her exact thoughts and even the notion that she might causes a smile of Regina's own.

"You okay?" The question is quiet—inaudible if not for the fact they sit so close—yet Regina still looks to the couple across from them and upon realising Snow and Charming are momentarily distracted by each other, she gives a small nod that Emma answers with another squeeze.

Doubt claws at her throat, the well-acquainted desire to commit self-sabotage and convince herself it is for the good of another that she surrenders her happiness. It is familiar but no longer provides the comfort that it used to. Her whole life she has lived for the benefit of another and while she may still have obstacles to manoeuvre, she isn't about to let the greatest thing to happen to her in over sixty years escape.

Regina isn't aware of the woman watching her, piecing together the expressions she lacks control over while lost in thought, so she startles when emerging from them to register the scrutiny.

She raises an eyebrow, a curious challenge perhaps and it takes her a moment, in which she falters, to see the smile. Instinct suggests she scowl because the very idea that she is responsible for even a small portion of Snow White's happiness incenses her but… when has instinct ever helped her? If she is to learn from past mistakes, then anger has always dictated her actions, and the only thing anger has ever caused her is pain.

She doesn't return the smile, as that would be asking far too much of her. However, she does resist her natural reaction of showing disdain for the woman and instead reaches for her lukewarm coffee, bringing it to her mouth as she turns her attention to father and daughter who, at this present point in time, seem to be arguing over desserts.

Regina blinks. "Where in the world did this conversation come from?"

"Well that wasn't so bad," Emma notes as they walk down the street hand in hand.

Regina tugs, stopping the irritating swing of their arms while at the same time pulling Emma closer. "It could have been worse," she admits. "Neither you nor your father were correct though. Peach cobbler and Apple Crumble are certainly decent desserts, but nowhere near the best."

"I'm much more hesitant to disagree with you," Emma laughs. She untangles their hands, giving in to the silent request for more contact as she slips her arm around Regina's waist and questions, "Which is it then?"

"Peanut Butter Pie."

Emma stops, which in turn forces Regina to stop and although she refuses to look at the blonde, she smirks knowingly. "Peanut Butter Pie," Emma repeats and Regina hums, affirming she had heard correctly. "You know you have to make that now, right?"

"Oh I do, do I?" Regina turns her head then, and immediately laughs at the sight of the pout Emma wears. Her heart stutters as the sound forces pale lips to fall into a dreamy smile and, not for the first time, she wonders how it had taken them so long to get to where they are.

Emma is, of course, oblivious to how well she can derail Regina with even the simplest of reactions and, like their son, is capable of thoroughly ruining a moment before it fully blossoms. "If I have to bribe you with sex, I am totally willing to do so," she says and Regina shakes her head with a quiet sigh.