A/N- Don't worry, I didn't forget about this story. Hope you like this next chapter!
This new Regina only hesitates a little bit before agreeing to go back to Arizona over winter break with Emma. This Regina lets Emma pack their things in one suitcase, she smiles on the way to the airport, and lets herself curl into Emma's side as the plane takes off.
When they meet Emma's parents at the airport, this new Regina looks exactly like the old Regina in the perfect smile, polite tilt of the head, appropriate greetings she offers to the Swans. The only crack in her armour is when David unabashedly hugs her in greeting and he rubs her back reassuringly, like he knows her secret, like he can see how hard she's trying.
This new Regina does perfectly, passing every test that the Swans throw at her with ease. They have a small dinner that first night, mainly just catching up and questions about safe subjects like the flight and the courses the women are taking.
Neil is (thankfully) absent as he is spending the night at a friend's house, and Emma is glad that there's one less person to overwhelm Regina. David prevents Mary Margaret from saying anything when Emma and Regina go to the blonde's bedroom at the end of the night. Emma is forever grateful, having gotten used to falling asleep listening to the steady thrum of her girlfriend's heart.
The following day, Mary Margaret and David have some last minute errands to run, leaving Emma and Regina to their own devices for breakfast. As such, Emma and Regina stumble downstairs half awake, both wearing just underwear and t-shirts that Emma had salvaged from her closet. Emma easily sets about making pancakes while Regina did the coffee.
The simplicity of the morning comforts both women to no end, and Emma can't help but stop in her pancake flipping to smile as Regina reaches into a tall cabinet for the coffee mugs.
Regina notices the staring and calls her out on it, "See something you like?"
A slow smile spreads across Emma's face as she steps forwards to invade the brunette's space, "Maybe."
She leans down to connect their lips in a soft kiss that grows needy when Regina turns them around, trapping Emma between the counter and her hips. Emma's hands easily travel down her girlfriend's back and find purchase on her ass. She uses her grip for leverage, squeezing lightly and pulling Regina closer into her with a moan.
This is how Neil finds them, having dropped his bag in the front entrance without either woman noticing his presence. He is so shocked at the sight that he walks straight into the door frame at the entrance of the kitchen with a loud thud.
His noise prompts the women to jump apart, Regina blushing a deep red while Emma merely glares in his direction. Neil is speechless as the silence stretches on between the two siblings. Emma finally breaks it with a cutting look at her brother, "Neil, this is Regina. Regina, my little brother Neil." She says, making the introduction between them.
Regina does her best to hide partially behind Emma as she smiles politely at the teen, "It's lovely to meet you, Neil."
He manages to get his jaw off the floor long enough to return the sentiment shakily.
"Do you want pancakes?" Emma asks.
"Sure." Neil replies, never taking his eyes away from the other brunette.
Emma continues flipping the breakfast, Regina shifts awkwardly for a moment, "I'll just be right back." She decides, turning and strutting quickly from the kitchen.
Once she disappears from sight, Emma turns on her brother, "Stop leering at my girlfriend."
"I wasn't leering!"
"Sure."
When Regina returns, it is with her hair pulled back neatly, and a pair of sleep shorts settled on her hips (much to Neil's disappointment). Thus began the chronicles of Neil longing after Regina.
…
This new Regina cheats blatantly at Monopoly. It's the second night of her staying with the Swans over winter break, and Neil hasn't quite recovered from his morning surprise.
Emma and Regina are sitting along one side of the board, in a scene reminiscent of the one months prior with Maura. But now, Regina sits with perfect straight back posture as she tries to strategize how to win though Emma's already building up hotels. She sips sparingly from her wine glass before coming to the conclusion that there's no way she can win with the conventional rules, so the next time it's her turn, Regina tries a new strategy.
She leans in close to Emma, cupping a hand around her ear and whispering. The rest of the Swans watch on as she makes various gestures at the board, but they can't hear the conversation between the two women. Mary Margaret sees a blush rise on her daughter's cheeks until she is bright red and Regina is smirking triumphantly.
Without another word, Emma scoops her hotels off the board, trading them back in for money which she hands over to Regina before also giving the brunette the two railroads she had collected.
David watches the exchange skeptically, "What was that?"
"We made a trade." Emma replied dismissively.
David and Mary Margaret could read between the lines of what had just gone down, but Neil was still oblivious, "But Regina didn't give you anything."
"She's going to give it to me later." Emma said quickly, "Ma, it's your turn."
Regina ends up losing to David, after which Emma tries to hustle her as quickly as possible up the stairs and to bed. When Mary Margaret and David are left alone on the main floor, the brunette turns to her husband with a frown already etching itself on her lips, "I don't like her."
"You're just mad that her properties made you go bankrupt."
"That's not it." Mary Margaret dismisses, "I don't think she's a good influence on Emma."
David sighs and sits down beside his wife, "Emma is graduating college soon. She can take care of herself, besides, it's so clear how good Emma is for Regina."
"I just don't want her to get hurt."
"It's not going to be easy, loving people like Regina never is, but our Emma is strong. I trust her."
…
The second semester wears on, and everything falls into a pattern of recognition. A push and pull dance that the two of them can handle so long as they're in it together.
Their road to graduation is hallmarked by the 'I'll order in the Lemon Thai, and you pick the movie' the 'is that my shirt that you're wearing' the 'stop kissing me, I've got to finish this paper'. They graduate, simply and unremarkably.
They're both going to be attending grad school in New York at Columbia, and the decision for them to move into an apartment together is as simple as Emma asking "Which do you value more, historic aesthetic or reliable plumbing?"one morning over breakfast.
Regina mulls the question over for a few seconds, she knows exactly what Emma is really asking her . Finally, she answers, putting Emma out of her misery, "I'll take a historic building any day."
The blonde cracks a relieved smile, "Me too."
That's all the conversation it takes for them to decide that they'll be living together. Emily finds them a perfect shoebox of an apartment close to Columbia, right in the heart of the city.
Regina claims the window seat before Emma hardly gets through the door, in her defense, she was carrying two large boxes, and Regina had empty hands. In retaliation, Emma unloads her boxes and boxes of books, taking up nearly all the shelf space.
A/N- Thanks for sticking with this story, drop a review and let me know what you're thinking. I'm seeing like two more chapters and maybe an epilogue.