Disclaimer in Chapter 1
Chapter 25
The weeks had flown by after Regina's visit. She couldn't make it back for Neal's next game after the had won the last one. Now they were in the championship game the next morning and she was rushing to make a flight to make sure she would be there. She was happy to be finished to get home to her girlfriend. She was also incredible proud of the work they had all done on the film. Currently she was avoiding texts from her cast mates about coming to the wrap party but right now getting to Emma and Neal was her priority. It had been a month since she has seen them in person. She had just managed to get on a flight tonight so that she would be there in the tonight.
Emma was busy trying to get all of Neal's stuff ready for the morning. It was a pity Regina was missing it. She would have been back only for the reshoot. She had spoken to Regina the evening before and Regina told her some of the shots had been bad for sound so they had to redo them this morning meaning she wouldn't make the game. She was however hoping to be off shooting at the time of the game so that Emma could face time her and she could see that way. Little did Emma know it was all part of Regina's secret plan. Tomorrow was also their 6-month anniversary. How it had all flown by. She couldn't wait to see the two people who have squirmed their way into her heart and she couldn't be happier about it. She settles herself in for the flight getting ready to sleep unsure at the minute if she will go home to her own house or go to Emma's when she lands. She is turning her phone to airplane mode when her mind is made up for her as she spots the screen saver picture of her and Emma that they took when they went on a date the last time, she saw Emma. She is going to Emma's house as soon as this plane lands.
Emma settled Neal a while ago. He was disappointed Regina wouldn't be there, but he understood. He had spoken to her himself earlier on the phone when she rang Emma. She had told him to again kick ass! Emma now set with a glass of wine and a book. She had spent the day running errands and was quite tired. Belle had given her some of her chapters back to work on so she had been busy in the past couple of weeks as well. She was really happy with how the book was working out and was really happy to have Belle pushing her further with her writing. She knew the book was getting better and better the more she worked on it. She was happily reading when she heard a noise from outside. She thought it was probably the neighbour's dog at the trashcans again, so she continued reading. Then she thinks she hears music. She stands up and heads to the door. She peers through the peep hole and gasps at what she sees. She swings the door open and there standing in her front garden with her favourite song playing on her phone was Regina. Regina had also placed flowers around her standing there she looked amazing. Tears welled in Emma's eyes for two reasons. One she was so happy to see Regina and two no one had ever done something so romantic as this for her. She ran to her girlfriend who caught her and kissed her passionately.
"Babe, I thought you couldn't make it?" Emma asks when they pull apart.
"Surprise," Regina says "I was going to go to mine and see you at the game in the morning as the surprise, but I couldn't wait to see you. I missed you so much." Regina was now crying. She hadn't realised how much she missed Emma until she had the delectable blonde in her arms again. She pulls Emma in for another hug.
"Come on," Emma says picking up as many of the flowers as she could, Regina gathered the rest. Regina followed Emma into the house and into the kitchen. When Regina gets there Emma is smiling and placing the flowers into a vase. She takes the remaining flowers from Regina and places them with the rest. She turns to Regina and cups her cheek and gives her a delicate kiss on the lips.
"Thank you for those, they are beautiful," Emma says looking lovingly into Regina's eyes.
"You're most welcome. If I had known flowers would get such a reaction, I would've got them sooner," Regina jokes.
"No one has ever done anything like that for me," Emma says as she blushes and looks at her feet.
"Well get used to it. I am planning on spending a long-time doing things like that for you," Regina says as she kisses Emma deeply. They are kissing and it is getting hotter. Emma pulls back pupils dilated and looking and Regina with pure lust. Regina loves those green eyes when they are like this. Emma pulls Regina to her again and picks her up. Regina laughs as Emma does so.
"So, my love, to the bedroom?" Emma questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Please," Regina whispers as she places delicate kisses on Emma's lips. Emma begins to move to the bedroom. She places Regina on the bed gently. She holds herself over Regina just gazing down at her. the look now of pure love. She runs her fingers down Regina's cheek. Regina places a hand on Emma's cheek.
"Make love to me Emma, please?" Regina asks.
"With pleasure," Emma says as she takes Regina's lips to her. And they do make love, for long and into the night until the both fall asleep in the arms of the woman, they love happy that they are for now back together again.
Emma is awake early the next morning and decides to let Regina sleep in seeing as she had been travelling all the way to them to be here. Emma slips from the room and begins to make breakfast. She is working on the eggs and bacon when Neal wanders into the kitchen.
"Morning Neal," Emma says cheerfully.
"Morning Em," Neal replies. Emma can't help but notice a change in her brother since she had started dating Regina. Ingrid had even said it to her the last day. Neal was more outgoing then he had been. Like he was finding himself a bit more. Emma was very proud of him, but she had seen this change and thought that maybe it was because someone else who was not in his mind obligated to show interest in him was. Regina was always so engaged and willing when it came to Neal. It made Emma love her even more. Neal takes to setting the table for himself and his sister, not knowing that Regina was in the house also. He is just placing some glasses on the table when Regina sneaks into the kitchen behind him. She places her two hands around his eyes causing him to jump slightly.
"Guess who?" Regina teases.
"Regina," Neal cries as Regina removes her hands and the young boy turns in amazement to see her standing there. He wraps his arms around her waist, and she pulls him in tight. She places a kiss on the top of his head all the while Emma is smiling at the interaction.
"You better set another place for our guest Neal," Emma says with a beaming smile. And so, the little family sit down at the table to their breakfast. Emma looks from on as Regina and Neal chat and catch up smiling as she realised, she had now what she always wanted… a family. And that is what they had become in such a short time.
A short while later they are headed to Neal's game. He is happily chatting away to both Regina and Emma. When they get there, he jumps out of the car waits for the two ladies to be out before her grabs them both into a hug at the same time.
"Love you guys," he says as he turns and heads off to his team mates.
"Wow," Emma says as she watches him got in astonishment.
"What?" Regina asks.
"He is like a different child. You have had such a positive impact on him," Emma says as she wraps her arm around Regina's shoulders and pulls her tight to her side. Regina smiles at the action.
"I didn't do anything," Regina responds. Emma just laughs.
"Hey look there is Ingrid," Emma says as she points to the bleachers where her foster mother is sitting waving over at them.
"Hey Ing," Emma says as the reach the older woman.
"Hey sweetie," Ingrid responds, "Regina I thought you weren't getting in until tonight."
"Hi Ingrid, I surprised them I couldn't miss Neal's big game," she responds with a smile. Ingrid smiles at the response thinking to herself that Emma sure has found a wonderful person to be with and she couldn't be happier for both Neal and Emma that they had found someone like Regina to add to their family. Emma heads to the concession stand and gets them all coffee as Regina and Ingrid chat. Regina has got on with Ingrid right from the beginning. Emma gets back just as the game begins.
The game is tight with neither side really on top. Neal is playing well for his team though. He had hit the post once and had just missed another chance. Emma felt it was only a matter of time before he did score. All three woman were being vocal shouting their encouragement for him and his teammates. Emma was now making fun of Regina as she had the very first time she had come to a game with Emma. Regina was now shouting and getting into it just as much as Emma. And while Emma was making fun of her girlfriend it also warmed her heart to know that it meant this much to Regina now. Half time came and Ingrid headed to get the coffees refilled. Regina snuggled into Emma for some warmth. Emma smiled and wrapped an arm around her girlfriend.
"I love you," Regina says as Emma squeezes her close. She looks at Regina but the she sees something in Regina's eyes after she said that.
"Are you ok?" Emma asks seeing something flash on Regina's face. The game has just started back but Emma's attention is all on Regina right now.
"I want to ask you something, but it is the wrong time, but I don't want to wait anymore," Regina says with varying looks and emotion crossing her face. Emma is beginning to worry now. Neal gets the ball and is sprinting towards the goal. Ingrid is shouting encouragement to him from just at the bottom of the bleachers as she had begun to climb when Neal got the ball, so she stopped to cheer for him. Emma is totally in this little bubble with Regina right now not liking one bit what is going on her girlfriend's face.
"Regina what is it? Please tell me," Emma begs. Regina is glad that the closest people to them are a few rows away.
"Will you and Neal pleasemoveinwithme?" Regina mumbles out.
"What?" Emma says not understanding what the brunette had said. Neal passed the ball to a teammate and stayed running. His teammate sends the ball back to him and he is now one on one with the goalkeeper.
"I want you and Neal to move in with me." Regina says tears in her eyes afraid of rejection, afraid that she has jumped at this too soon, but this morning as she sat at the kitchen table with the two of them, she realised that is how she wanted to spend every morning. Being away from them had really affected her. Emma gasps as her brain catches up with what her brain just heard. Neal rounds the goal keeper and finishes the ball to the net. The parents in the bleachers jump up celebrating but they're in the back-row Emma and Regina are seated staring at one another. Regina holding her breath thinking she had just ruined the best relationship that she had been in and Emma about to burst with happiness as she hadn't even realised that she had not responded to Regina. Regina takes the silence as rejection as she gets up to leave. How could she have been so stupid. She is down off the bleachers and running away before Emma realises what the hell is going on. Emma takes off running after Regina.
"Regina wait," she calls as she swings past Ingrid who is really confused as to what happened in the few minutes that she went to get coffee. Regina keeps moving as fast as she can in tears as she can't believe how stupid she has been. Finally, Emma catches the brunette. Luckily for both the game has resumed and Neal hadn't noticed the two ladies running away. Emma catches Regina and turns her back to face her very confused as to the brunette's sudden departure and why she is crying.
"Emma, I get it ok, go back to Neal and the game," Regina sobs as she cannot look into those green eyes that have given her such love, confidence and safety in the last six months.
"Can I answer your question?" Emma pleads trying to get Regina to look at her. Finally, teary brown orbs meet green sea ones.
"Yes," Emma says as she pulls the brunette into a searing kiss. Her lips salty from the tears.
"Yes," Regina gasps as they pull back.
"We would love to live with you," Emma says as she seals their lips again. Both of their hearts bursting and the thoughts of finally finding what they had always been looking for.
Author's note - hope you are all enjoying this. Will have a small time jump in the next chapter hoping to have this all finished out in 30 chapters. Happy reading