(A/N: There's sex in this chapter. So. There's that.)

Laura insisted upon buying lunch. Regina tried to protest, to interject that she wanted to buy, but Laura was hellbent. There was nothing to it. She even had the nerve to ask Regina to "shut up and enjoy it", a comment Regina warned her to never repeat ever again.

And Laura had laughed cheekily at that and asked what she could say then?

Regina had rolled her eyes at that and thanked Laura for the chicken salad.

"No worries," Laura brushed her off. "It was my pleasure."

Regina smiled and reached across the table and took the younger woman's hand. Laura instantly squeezed Regina's hand lightly, and Regina caught herself thinking that she could get used to this. How very dangerous.

She was already half-addicted to Laura's sweet smile and they had been on four dates. I am definitely rushing into this.

"What's going on?" Laura inquired and squeezed Regina's hand again.

"Nothing." Regina quickly squeezed back.

But Laura's eyebrows rose ever so slightly. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, of course. Everything is fine," Regina said and did her best to smile reassuringly.

"Okay. You just looked like you were miles away. I thought I lost you for a moment," Laura half-joked.

"No, no. I'm right here."

"Good."

But the truth was, that Regina's thoughts had been drifting a little. She was very quickly getting very fond of Laura, and what had started as an innocent chat, now felt like it was blossoming into something bigger.

And that was exactly what worried Regina. It had been so easy to introduce herself as "Regina from Portland", but now…

Now she felt awful about lying to Laura. Lying had been a part of her old life and lying definitely shouldn't be a part of this "happy beginning".

But was telling the truth really an option?

No, of course not. Laura would most likely think Regina was some sort of insane person, and with good right too. Why should she believe a word Regina told her? It was insane. "You see, I actually live in a magically concealed town filled with dragons and dwarves. Oh, and did I mention we're all fairytale characters, too?"

Yeah, no. Regina couldn't tell her that. She couldn't tell her anything. And least of all the truth. The truth was too complicated. Too unbelievable.

Am I a complete fool for letting myself fall for someone who's "normal"? Am I really just exposing her to bad things?

Regina tried to keep an open mind, but honestly, her track record with relationship was horrible.

"Hey."

Regina blinked and looked up when Laura squeezed her hand again.

"Sorry. I'm here," Regina assured.

"You weren't five seconds ago," Laura observed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, absolutely. I'm fine."

"Okay." Laura bit her lip and shot Regina a sideway glance. "Seconds thoughts?"

"About what?"

Laura shrugged and was careful to make the movement seem nonchalant. Casual. "Well… This I guess," she said and gestured to herself.

"About you?"

"Yeah, I mean…." Laura paused and took a breath. "I know you haven't been dating for a while, which I completely understand after what you went through, so I thought perhaps you felt like I've been pressuring you or it's been going too fast, or…"

"No." Regina interrupted and pecked Laura's hand lightly. "Just… No. I like you. Very much."

"But?"

"No buts," Regina said and smiled when she saw how Laura visibly relaxed again.

"Okay. Good. Sorry. That probably seemed real clingy, didn't it?"

"No. Not at all."

Laura sniggered quietly in sheer relief as she squeezed Regina's hand again. "For the record, I really like you too. Very much."

"And that is a very good thing, dear," Regina chuckled. "Because you're becoming quite important to me."

"Likewise," Laura smiled widely.

The brunette smirked as she looked down at Laura's half-empty cup of coffee. "I have a suggestion."

"Suggest away, Ms. Mills."

"Why don't you finish that cup of coffee in a hurry, so we can… resume what was happening in the back of your store?"

Regina had never in her life seen anyone drink half a cup of hot coffee so fucking fast. It was actually a bit impressive, the way Laura simply chugged the warm liquid down her throat. Without choking.

"Coming?" Laura asked nonchalantly and smirked at the slightly shell-shocked expression on Regina's face.

"I… Yes. Coming."

Laura grinned, and her eyes were full of mischief as she took Regina's hand and lead her out of the coffee shop.

Thinking about something as dangerous as the future was not an option when they returned to Laura's apartment. In fact, thinking happened to be quite unnecessary.

It was all about searing kisses, hands exploring and rucking up tanktops. Or unbuttoning flannel shirts. Regina had some issues with said task, and she found it ever so tempting to simply rip the buttons off.

"Don't," Laura warned breathlessly. "That's my favorite shirt."

"In that case, I better treat it with respect." Regina answered silkily as she began to unbutton the shirt very, very slowly.

Laura groaned and shifted on her feet. "Seriously, Regina?"

"Yes. Seriously," Regina purred as she popped the next button open agonizingly slowly.

"I swear, you'll be the death of me, woman…" Laura grumbled.

Regina silenced her with a kiss. And before the kiss had ended, she had successfully unbuttoned Laura's flannel shirt. Without yanking any buttons off.

She grinned as she eased the material down Laura's shoulders.

As soon as the shirt landed on the floor, Laura unceremoniously pulled her tanktop up and yanked it over her head. Then she grabbed Regina's hand and guided her over to the bed.

Regina had absolutely no protests against that, and she felt every bit satisfied when Laura lied down on the bed and pulled Regina down on top of her. Within seconds, they kissed each other again and Regina pressed her palms flatly against Laura's back and almost fully exposed tattoo.

"I think you have a tattoo fetish," Laura mumbled as they parted for a moment to catch their breaths.

"Possibly. Are you gonna take my clothes off, or do I have to myself?"

"Oh, I couldn't possibly ask a lady to undress herself, could I?" Laura smirked and sat up as she unzipped Regina's dress and almost gallantly helped her out of it.

Regina pulled the dress the rest of the way and shook her head. Her hair was already messed up.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful," Laura muttered.

Regina kissed her collarbone and tugged at the zipper in Laura's jeans. "Less talking more undressing, I think."

"Have anyone ever told you you're a bit bossy?" Laura asked innocently as she unzipped her jeans and tried to wiggle out of them."

"I really don't know what you're talking about," Regina retorted and licked her lips as Laura's jeans landed on the floor.

"See something you like, Ms. Mills?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Regina purred and pecked Laura's lips. Then she kissed her jaw, her neck, her shoulder and all the million little freckles there. Moved back to Laura's neck and found a spot that made the younger woman moan and tip her head back for better access.

Laura reached behind her to unhook her bra, but Regina gently batted her hand away. "I'll get that, dear. Don't worry."

"I think I'm a bit sweet on you," Laura mumbled vaguely as Regina effortlessly reached behind her and unhooked her bra.

"Just a bit?" Regina echoed as she dropped Laura's bra to the floor.

"A huge bit," Laura amended and threw her head back as Regina pushed her onto her back and began kneading her breasts. "Oh, god…"

"Regina will do just fine, dear," Regina quipped.

"You're too dressed. I want to see you."

Regina quickly unhooked her own bra and dropped it to the floor. "Better?"

"Much," Laura grinned.

But Regina quickly wiped the grin off her face by lowering her mouth to Laura's breast.

Instead of laughing, Laura immediately moaned and squeezed her eyes shot. She was quite the vision like that. Naked and panting and with her hands in Regina's hair.

Heavens knew how much Regina had missed this, and she thoroughly enjoyed teasing Laura. Driving her mad with need.

And mad with need was exactly what Laura was after Regina had spent an un-godly amount of time on teasing her. Peppering her breasts with soft kisses, nipping lightly but never actually giving her what she wanted.

"Did you say something?" Regina asked innocently as she raised her head slightly.

"I said that you're a fucking tease," Laura moaned.

Regina sniggered and placed one last kiss on Laura's nipple, making her squirm again. "Yes, I guess I am."

Laura moaned something again. Something colorfully obscure that Regina chose to ignore. Instead she kissed her way down Laura's stomach. The redhead was practically shaking by the time Regina reached the junction of her hips.

Regina bit back a chuckle as she kissed her inner thigh lightly and brushed her fingers over her panties.

"Regina!" Laura half-groaned, half insisted, and Regina finally took mercy on her and slid the panties down her legs. Laura was most helpful in the way she spread her legs, and Regina was for a moment fascinated by the million of little freckles on her stomach. But then Laura nudged her slightly and brought her back to reality.

This time, Regina actually chuckled. But warmly, with no malice and just a little teasingly. Laura was impatient.

So, Regina gave her exactly what she wanted and trailed her kisses lower and lower until Laura squirmed and yelled about how fucking fantastic Regina was. And to be honest, Regina felt every bit fantastic as Laura unraveled underneath her and yelled her name.

Laura didn't need much time to recover. She was still panting as she shifted in the bed and nudged Regina on to her back. "My turn, I think, Ms. Mills."

Regina chuckled again, but this time it was somewhat more breathless. Laura was on top of her immediately, kissing her neck, suckling at her pulse point and pulling slightly at her skin.

Did I even bring enough makeup to hide hickeys? Regina mused. But she wasn't allowed to think for too long. Laura was quick to trail her kisses lower, to Regina's breast, and Regina immediately hissed, and her back arched.

"You. Are. Fucking. Gorgeous." Laura said earnestly and made her words clear by letting her mouth talk in an entirely different way. A way that didn't requite words.

"Argh!" Regina hissed. Not a very coherent answer, but it was the best she could come up with right now.

Laura switched to Regina's other breast, and Regina bit her lip and moaned. And then she wondered how the hell she could have gotten this lucky. Seriously, all I did was joining a chat site. I was not looking for… anything. I wasn't. I was just a bit lonely, that's all.

"Laura!" Regina interrupted her own confused train of thoughts when Laura suddenly shoved the panties down Regina's legs.

Said young redhead grinned cheekily and the brush of her fingers she gave Regina was immediately rewarded with a violent leg jerk. Regina reminded herself to not jerk her leg next time. But this time she couldn't quite help her overreaction. It had been too long since she was last touched there.

Unlike Regina, Laura didn't "waste time" on teasing. Not much, at least. Regina gasped sharply when she felt her fingers enter her slowly and gradually.

"Good?" Laura asked and smirked ever so slightly.

"Yes. Don't stop," Regina said plainly and squeezed her eyes shut again.

"Do you honestly think I'm crazy?" Laura asked, and Regina admired that she was capable of sass right now. Regina certainly wasn't. She wasn't terribly keen on talking either at the moment. The only thing she could focus on was Laura's fingers inside her, and how perfectly they touched her.

"Fuck," she cursed. Then Laura's mouth was on her breasts again. That only intensified what was happening in her abdomen, and Regina silently braced herself for what was coming by pressing her palms flatly against the bulgy mattress.

With each steady push of Laura's fingers, Regina got closer and closer to that edge, and a bit of swearing on her behalf, white lights popped behind her eyes, the world fell away momentarily, and shockwaves of pleasure rushed through her body.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK.

"Oh, my god," Regina moaned.

"Laura's fine," Laura chuckled as she settled down next to Regina.

Regina laughed breathlessly. Laura kissed the side of her neck and snuggled into her. Regina automatically wrapped an arm around the younger woman, and as Laura quietly fell asleep next to her, Regina came to a realization.

I'm falling in love with her. I'm actually falling in love with her.

Regina couldn't quite figure out whether that was good or bad. And she decided not to. Not now anyway. She was too exhausted, and not long after, she fell asleep too.

Laura was still fast asleep when Regina woke up later. She quickly checked her watch and chuckled slightly. They had managed to completely turn the day upside down. They had fallen asleep at what, three in the afternoon? And now it was eight at night. Impressive.

Not wanting to wake Laura, Regina quietly slipped out of bed and "borrowed" a fluffy, blue bathrobe she found hanging by the door. Then she fished her phone out of her overnight bag. She might as well spend the time sensible while Laura slept. She decided to give a sign of life to the least annoying resident of Storybrooke.

"How did the school play go?" she texted.

The answer came within ten seconds.

"Great. Neal was a little star. I think mom recorded the whole thing for you." Emma texted back.

"Good. I'm looking forward to see that."

"How's Boston?"

"Fine."

"And how is Laura?"

Regina looked at the still sleeping woman through the open door and sighed a little when she remembered the realization she had before falling asleep. Falling in love with someone she had to lie to was ever so complicated.

"She's fine."

"Okay. And how about you?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not. You've just texted the word "fine" three times in a row. You're not fine."

"What are you talking about? I AM fine."

"And that was the fourth time. What's going on?"

"Nothing." Regina was almost about to write "everything is fine" but stopped herself before screwing up a fifth time.

"Yeah, not buying it, Madam Mayor. What's wrong? Did Laura do something uncool? Do I have to drive to Boston and kick her ass?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

Not her best response, it would seem. A second later, her phone started chiming.

"Hello?"

"Okay, what's going on?" Emma's concerned voice came in the other end. "I'm not above driving to Boston."

"Nothing is going on. Everything is…" Regina bit her tongue not to let that stupid word slip out. "Everything is great, okay? You don't need to worry. And you certainly don't need to drive to Boston."

"Okay…" Emma said doubtfully in the other end. "Is there something you want to talk about, though?"

Regina considered it. Maybe it wouldn't be half-bad, going over this with Emma. She was the most sensible person in Storybrooke. She wouldn't tease Regina endlessly or give her a hope-speech. And more importantly, her voice didn't go squeak-y when she was exited.

"Hmm, maybe when I get back," Regina mused.

"You're sure you're not in some sort of trouble?"

"Yes, absolutely certain."

A sound made Regina look up. It would appear that Laura was awake. She heard the younger woman stretch, mumble a faint "mm!" and then stand from the bed.

"Regina?"

"In the living room," Regina called back.

"Is that Laura?" Emma asked in the other end.

"Yes, I gotta go. See you when I get back."

"Yes, you will. This conversation isn't over."

Regina ended the call and turned her attention back to Laura.

"Hi," the younger redhead said and pecked Regina's lips lightly. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine," Regina assured her, and then she grimaced. She was definitely using that word way too much.

To Be Continued…