A/N: SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! Okay, from now on, I'm trying to update once a week at least because I'm really busy with university and life. I hope that's okay? :)

Mistakes are my own as always.

I hope you're all still with me and like this chapter. Please tell me what you think. :)

ENJOY!

Chapter 25

The brunette instantly stared into green-brown eyes that were filled with hope and happiness. A broad grin grazed the boy's face as he happily and loudly exclaimed.

"Gina!"

Regina smiled back at him and chuckled before she spoke up with a slightly shivering voice. Her weakness drooled from her every word.

"Hello, my little prince."

Henry quickly moved forward and engulfed the brunette in a tight hug. Regina started to cough a little; the sudden weight of the little boy on her lugs seemingly affected her.

In that very moment, Emma seemed to remember that she was still in this very room. She wasn't in the Enchanted Forest but her mind suddenly was. A few tears slipped from emerald eyes as they took in the dark-haired beauty on the hospital bed. Their gazes met and soft chuckles filled the silent air around them. And still, this one look was filled with more feelings than anyone would ever want to admit. Both of them remembered everything, every little sentiment, every single moment they had spent together or without the other.

Emma's sorrow and regret immediately clung to her body as she stared into those very beloved chocolate brown orbs. The brunette had spent years without her wife and had never even had the chance to see her son. And yet, here he was, that beautiful boy, hugging Regina so tightly. Emma didn't even know how much she had betrayed her wife. She had completely forgotten about her, lived her own life apparently happily while Regina had been mourning over losing the blonde. Emma didn't know the whole truth yet. There was so much more to the story. In this moment though, all that mattered was seeing those dark eyes again that suddenly were much lighter than ever before.

The blonde smiled broadly at her lover and took a deep breath before she spoke up silently.

"Hi."

Regina chuckled full-heartedly and shook her head a little in disbelief. She grinned wickedly at Emma and replied with a husky voice.

"You're still as eloquent as ever, dear."

Emma laughed a little and rolled her eyes in a sarcastic manner. After a second, she countered, "You've never seemed to notice back then. Or maybe you were just too polite to say it."

"No, that wasn't it. I loved you and I wanted you to love me back." Regina admitted, smiling at the other woman.

Right then, Cora cleared her threat a little too loud and interrupted them.

"Don't get me wrong. I still don't approve of this but I suppose you deserve a moment. Come on, Henry. We shall leave them alone for a second."

Once Henry and Cora had left the room, Emma stepped closer to the bed and took the brunette's hands in her own. She smiled at her wife while she felt magic, crackling between their fingers. No words in the world could describe how much she had missed that feeling, how much she had missed loving the brunette.

"Loved?" Emma asked with uncertainty.

Regina gave an apologetic look before she rushed to clear up the situation.

"I still love you. I have never stopped loving you. I suppose… I don't know where we are at in this specific moment. I'm not who I used to be. I've done some terrible things."

The blonde nodded weakly and her smile vanished a little. However, when she spoke up, a warm feeling surrounded her heart.

"I love you, too and I'm not who I used to be either. I just… I just want to hug you right now and kiss you."

Emma chuckled awkwardly after she had said that. She was somehow still the pregnant girl who was head over heels for Regina. The blonde was older now but her heart was beating like it had been when they had first met.

The brunette had been waiting for this moment for about six years. And all she had ever done was meant to bring her to this blonde-haired woman. One way or another, there was uncertainty inside of her, telling her that Emma might not love her back anymore. She was different, she wasn't purely good. Her heart had blackened.

"I am not who you think I am." Regina whispered as a few tears slipped from her eyes.

Emma smiled weakly at her before she reached forward and softly wiped those tears away. She leaned forward slowly as she whispered, "That's a bad excuse."

When she felt the brunette's warm breathing on her skin, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips on swollen ones. Once Regina felt the gentle touch of the blonde's lips on her own, the brunette felt shockwaves taking over her. Emma shuddered as well as her heart warmed up all of a sudden. There was an immediate heat settling within her body, which she had missed more than she even knew.

The brunette's heart felt like it would burst into a million pieces at this simple touch alone and she couldn't help but smile into the kiss. The undying love she had for Emma was enough for her to redeem herself one day. And she knew now that the struggle, which she had put herself through for six whole years, had been more than worth it.

A grin started to settle on Emma's face as well when she kissed Regina lovingly. She retreated a bit because she was overwhelmed with feelings, trying to catch her breath again. When she seemed to have gained her senses, she spoke up softly.

"I love you so much."

Regina smiled back at her with teary eyes but her following questions were a little unexpected.

"How do you know? Why do you even love me?"

Emma raised one eyebrow as she looked at the older woman incredulously. When she replied with a voice filled with compassion and love, she looked straight into dark orbs.

"I don't know… I just know that I love you. I can't shake you. You're always with me, no matter what I do. You touch something deep inside of me, sometimes even without touching me physically. I don't know why it is that way… but I feel more for you than I have ever felt before."

The blonde shook her head a little and cupped Regina's face softly. Her fingers brushed over the brunette's cheek before she whispered.

"Do I really need a reason? Can't I just love you?"

A broad grin instantly grazed Regina's face as she looked at the blonde and she replied silently. "Yes, please, love me."

"Um, yeah sure, once you're better." Emma winked at the brunette when saying that.

Her wife laughed breathily at the dorky statement. The blonde's heart welled up right then, taking in Regina's laugh and voice. She definitely needed to make Regina smile and laugh more once again like she had six years ago. Yes, both of them thought about that time, when their world had collapsed and their lives had separated.

Thanks for reading! :D