Thank you to all the positive reviews! I can't believe I've written 20 chapters already! It feels like just yesterday I was planning this story out. This story means the world to me, and you all mean the world to me. I got to be honest with you, this story will end in the next 5-10 chapters. There isn't much more for me to write, unless you'd like me to continue with Emma's life in college? Even then, I would make a sequel that you all could read. Enjoy x

Chapter 21

Emma knew she'd rushed out of Regina's house. She knew that she hadn't given her girlfriend any explanation as to why she'd just did a 180 with her emotions, but she didn't have time. She was racing home now; not that it mattered. She and Regina had just discussed how her mother seemed suspicious of them, and now she knew Emma had lied about sleeping over at Belle's. Shit.

As she ran, Emma thought about what she might say to her mom. Hey mom, yes I'm fucking my English teacher. Why didn't I tell you? I thought you might freak out. Shaking her head, she felt the familiar lump in the back of her throat and sighed as the water began to gather in her eyes, threatening to run past the threshold with one blink. As her feet hit the pavement, she wondered exactly what she'd say to her mother and how she'd say it.

She knew her mother loved her, but how much? If this had happened with a foster family, they wouldn't have hesitated to give her back and let another family deal with her. Angst began to build, and she found herself no longer able to ward off the panic that was now occupying her entire being.

She sprinted the last stretch of the distance to her house and lightly tapped on the door. Usually, she would hear her mother say "Coming!" in an over-zealous manner but this time there was nothing. Upon opening the door, Emma was met with her always-stunning mother, but she could tell she wasn't happy. Emma didn't know whether this mystery emotion was anger, disappointment, or both but she knew that it was a horrible feeling to be on the receiving end of the look.

Stepping around her mother, Emma walked into the house and instantly began to make herself some hot chocolate. If she was going to be chewed out, it might as well be done while she's drinking chocolaty goodness, right? When she was finished, she took a seat by the kitchen island and waited for her mother to walk over to her. After waiting for a good ten minutes, she walked across the room and sat down next to her mother on the couch.

Emma thought she was going to have to initiate the conversation, but her mother turned and simply said, "You lied to me."

Emma should've known that was coming. She couldn't lie to her mother now that she knew she was lying, and both of them knew that. "I know."

Mary Margaret didn't even turn to look at her daughter when she asked, "Why did you lie, Emma? Where were you?" She had a feeling she was right in her suspicions, but she wanted Emma to admit it, not just assume.

Emma gulped. Should I tell my mother? Deciding now was the best time, she cleared her throat. "I was at Regina's." She noticed how her mother didn't even flinch, raise an eyebrow, or turn her head at the admission. "…But I have a feeling you already knew that."

Mary Margaret nodded her head. "I did, I just wanted you to tell me yourself." She turned so that she and Emma were now facing each other. "Emma, is there something else you would like to tell me as well?"

Emma soon began to find the nonexistent carpet very interesting. "I'mdatingRegina."

Mary Margaret put her hand by her ear and said, "What was that? I couldn't quite hear you." Now, she was biting back a smile, but she needed Emma to actually admit it.

"I'm dating Regina, mom. My English teacher." Emma watched as her mother digested the information. Once again, her mom showed no signs of receiving new information. She was right about her mom knowing. When her mother didn't respond, Emma blanched. "Are you going to make me break up with her?"

Mary Margaret looked in Emma's eyes and saw the tears threatening to spill over. Her heart instantly sank, and she felt terrible about even thinking about splitting up her daughter. She was conflicted, though. "Emma, I'm not going to pretend that I'm okay with this, because I'm not."

Emma nodded. She didn't expect her mother to be okay with this. Hell, she didn't think she'd be having this conversation with her mom for a while, but here she was. "I know, mom. I'm sorry I lied to you…" She took a deep breath. This was the moment where she could either choose her mother or her girlfriend. This was the moment before she either had a family or she didn't. "Mom, I love you but…if you make me break up with Regina then I'll never forgive you. Yes, you can force me not to see her or be with her, but the minute I turn eighteen is the minute you'll never hear from me again. You're my mother, but you used to be my best friend and my entire world. Don't make me choose."

Mary Margaret was stunned. Never had Emma acted this way towards her. She felt a sense of pride that her daughter could stand up for what she believed in so vehemently but also sadness that her daughter thought she'd make her choose between someone she obviously loved and herself. "Emma, I'm not going to make you choose. I'm just hurt that you didn't tell me and that you lied. I'm disappointed in you."

Emma hung her head in shame. She knew she had lied, but she had just wanted Regina so badly that she wasn't willing to jeopardize their budding relationship so soon. "I'm sorry mom, and it won't happen again."

Nodding, Mary Margaret looked her daughter in the eyes and firmly stated, "It'd better not." When she saw Emma glance at the clock on her phone for the umpteenth time she sighed, "Emma is there somewhere you have to be?"

Emma grinned sheepishly at her mother, hoping she'd let her go back to Regina's. "I left Regina's without saying anything, and she is probably crying or dying inside as we speak. She hates it when I don't tell her things."

Mary Margaret could see the despair within Emma's eyes. She honestly felt uncomfortable with the idea of her seventeen year old daughter dating a twenty-eight year old woman, but she couldn't imagine losing Emma had she broken them apart. Part of her also wanted to keep Emma young forever, since she'd missed out on the first sixteen years of her life. Nodding her head, she watched as Emma raced to the door and ran, the slam making her wince.

Emma sighed as the cold wind hit her face. She didn't particularly love running, but she found it helped her to blow off some steam, and now was definitely the time to do it. As she ran to Regina's, she thought about what she would say to her girlfriend. Sorry I ran out, I love you? Shaking her head, she realized that that explanation wasn't nearly good enough.

When she got to the mansion, she wiped her now sweaty hands on her pants and tentatively knocked on the door. She heard a soft, "Just a minute" and then several footsteps until the door opened, revealing Regina Mills. If Emma didn't know her girlfriend as well as she did, she wouldn't have guessed that the woman was upset at all.

Regina watched her girlfriend standing outside her door. When she saw Emma again, her heart leapt, clearly happy to see the girl who she'd been kissing not even two hours prior. Then, her heart sank, thinking Emma had come to break up with her. Regaining her regal posture, she slipped on her usual façade and raised her eyebrow. "Miss Swan, I can assure you whatever it is you thought we had—"

Emma brought a finger up to her girlfriend's lips and quickly side stepped the brunette, now making her way into the large house. She set her bag down by the door and slipped her shoes off, walking into the living room. She didn't even spare a glance at Regina, knowing the older woman had followed her. Emma took a seat on the couch and watched as Regina stood standing, clearly more upset than Emma had anticipated. Emma stewed in her thoughts, thinking of what to say until Regina's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Seriously, Miss Swan? First, you show up unannounced at my home, then you barge your way into my house without my permission, and now you refuse to speak even when the opportunity to do is present? I'm not impressed."

Emma winced at the coldness behind her girlfriend's words. Each sentence was a reminder of how badly she'd fucked up. Shit. "Regina-"

"That's Ms. Mills to you, Miss Swan."

"Ms. Mills", she decided to humor the woman for a moment, "I came to apologize to you. I left earlier without saying anything, and that wasn't fair of me, I'm sorry." She bit back a sigh of relief at the sight of the woman deflating. She swallowed the lump in her throat and continued, "If you'd give me a chance I'd love to explain."

Regina looked indifferent to whether Emma continued to speak or not. Unfolding her arms and bringing them to her side, she sighed. "You have five minutes, Miss Swan and then you need to be out of my house."

Emma fought the urge to smile, knowing she could explain in five minutes. She couldn't shake the discomfort of being called Miss Swan once again, but she ignored it. "My mom knows about us, Regina." When she watched her girlfriend's expression turn into panic, she silently assured her that everything was alright. "She wasn't happy with me for lying at first, but I explained us to her. I just want you to know that I love you, and I'd choose you over anyone and anything. I told her that if she tried to break us up, I wouldn't speak to her after I turned eighteen."

Emma got up and walked the short distance across the room. Green eyes met brown and Regina could see the unwavering sincerity within the green globes before her. "I'm so sorry and I know I hurt you, but I didn't mean to. I'm still not used to having a significant other that cares about me, and I forget that my actions affect the people around me."

When Regina didn't say anything or appear to care about anything Emma had said, Emma swallowed, trying to keep the tears and the lump in the back of her throat at bay. Turning for the door, Emma sighed. "If you didn't get anything out of what I said, I want you to know that you are loved and I was and am willing to fight for you. You deserve so much more than what your parents gave you, and I want to give that to you." She walked towards the door, but stopped when she heard Regina's voice.

"Emma."

Emma spun around quickly on her heels, barely unable to grasp what was happening when she was pressed against the adjacent wall, feeling soft, plump lips against her own. It took a second for her to respond to the urgency of the kiss, but she returned it with vigor. She moaned as she felt Regina lightly nibble her bottom lip, returning the favor with alacrity.

Regina's hands wandered to find Emma's ass, squeezing the flesh. Emma moaned into the kiss, her hands seeking Regina's neck, pulling her into the kiss. She lifted her right leg and brought it up to curl around Regina's hip. She tilted her head back as Regina's lips latched onto the pale flesh that was her neck. She moaned loudly as the brunette bit into her neck, marking her. All thoughts about her mother left her mind.

Deciding she wanted to please her queen, Emma quickly turned them around so Regina was against the wall. Leaning in, she whispered huskily in her girlfriend's ear, "Let me please you, my queen. I need to show you how sorry I am."

Regina moaned loudly and gasped when Emma ripped her shirt open, buttons now scattered everywhere. "Emma that was Armani!" Regina feigned anger. She didn't care what brand her shirt was as long as Emma was inside her within the next thirty seconds. She helped the blonde take her pants off, leaving her in a blue lace bra and matching thongs.

Emma moaned at the sight of her girlfriend half naked all for her. Her mouth latched onto the Latina's neck, her hands simultaneously unclasping the woman's bra. Her fingers slowly ran along the side of the woman's ribcage. She brought her mouth down the lick Regina's nipple, moaning at the feeling of the brunette's fingers becoming tangled in her hair. She lightly nibbled the flesh, and Regina moaned at the sensation of teeth being on her tender breasts.

"Emma, I need you…"

Emma wanted to give her her release so bad, but she couldn't resist making her ask for it. "What do you need me to do, love?" Emma began to slide Regina's panties down her legs, her mouth watering at the sight of her shaven pussy.

Regina was in no mood to beg. "Emma, please. I need you to fuck me. I need you to make me come, right now."

Emma wasted no time as her thumb swirled around Regina's clit.

"Ooh Emma, that feels so good, I need more!" Regina couldn't hide how good Emma made her feel. It was like her nerve endings were on fire and she just couldn't get enough of the flames.

Emma complied and swirled her middle finger in Regina's wetness before entering the woman, instantly curling her finger to find her girlfriend's sweet spot. When she heard Regina moan loudly, she inserted another finger, curling them both.

Once she was fully inside the brunette, she began to thrust rhythmically, faster with each passing second.

"Emma! Right there!" Regina's skin was now covered in a thin, sheen layer of sweat. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as Emma brought her wave after wave of pleasure. Just when she didn't think it could get any better, Emma dropped to her knees and took Regina's erect bud into her mouth, sucking it into her mouth.

"Fuck!" Arching her back, Regina cried out as her powerful orgasm overwhelmed her. She couldn't concentrate or fully focus on anything, it was that good.

Emma continued to thrust in and out of her girlfriend, milking her orgasm for all it was worth. Once Regina came down from her high, she watched in amusement as Regina ran over to the windows and began to shut the blinds, and then quickly redressed.

With one glance at the clock Emma knew that it was time for her to go. She also knew Regina had to pick up her sister and her family from the airport. "Regina…I have to go." She smiled how adorable her girlfriend looked when she pouted.

Regina's bottom lip poked out as she pouted uncharacteristically. If there was one thing she loathed the most it would be Emma leaving. Sometimes she wished she could have her girlfriend to herself all the time. She put on a fake smile and allowed Emma to kiss her on the cheek.

"I can tell you're missing me already, but think about how happy you'll be when you see your sister and her son."

Regina beamed at the thought of her nephew. He always seemed to make her feel better no matter what. She found herself to be quickly enamored with the boy and couldn't wait to see him.

Emma smiled when she realized her tactic had worked. All she wanted was for Regina to smile; genuinely. "There's that smile I love." She chuckled when she saw the blush creep on Regina. She leaned in and pulled Regina into a hug, sighing in contentment. She loved how her girlfriend smelled like sun-kissed apples. Her perfume, clothing, hair—she even tasted like them. She officially decided that her favorite fruit was apples.

Regina smiled and rubbed Emma's back. "Emma, you have to go and I have to go pick up my sister and nephew from the airport."

Knowing it'd just make things more difficult if she didn't acquiesce, Emma decided it was best to leave. When she went to break the hug, the doorbell rang. Regina's eyebrows knit in confusion, she hadn't been expecting anyone.

Emma followed behind Regina and stood next to the stairs going into the house as Regina went to answer the door. She watched as Regina opened the door to reveal a tall woman with a small boy in her arms.

Regina's eyes lit at the sight of her sister and nephew. "Oh goodness, hello! Come on in, where are your bags?"

Zelena looked a bit nervous as she glanced behind her and back to Regina. She knew that this person coming along would make her sister uncomfortable, but they wouldn't take no for an answer. Stepping inside the house, she whispered "They're coming", before handing Regina her son.

Regina didn't even have time to question what her sister meant when the person carrying Zelena's bags walked up to the door and looked at Regina apprehensively. If Regina hadn't been holding her sleeping nephew, she would've dropped whatever she was holding. Emma watched as Regina's skin paled dramatically. Regina looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

Then, she whispered one word, a word so quiet you wouldn't have heard it if the atmosphere wasn't dead silent. "Robin."