Regina asks Emma to take their relationship from dating to the next step, living together. (in two parts)

A/N: if you guys have any ideas that I can attempt, send them my way! :)

The Next Step

As relationships go, this one had gone pretty well so far and considering it was between Snow White's daughter and the former Evil Queen, it was a good thing. The town had accepted their status as Regina was now..well Regina in the good form and she had also buried the hatchet with Snow White herself. Something Emma had demanded between her new found girlfriend and mother. Both obliged to make the blonde happy, but if we were being honest, the former enemies had already forgiven each other a while ago and were on a friendly talking basis.

The mayor and sheriff had known each other sometime before either one cared to take the plunge in asking the other out. This of course was Emma and to her surprise, Regina accepted straight away with the biggest smile that the blonde had ever seen to have graced the brunette's lips. Despite only then being in the dating stage, Emma had found herself spending more time and nights at Regina's house than her parents loft.

Two months had gone by and soon enough it was Granny's birthday which meant a surprise party held by Ruby and taking place at...well Granny's.
As the long night ended and everyone started to trail off home, Snow and Emma insisted on helping Ruby to clear the diner. Finishing off the last table and saying bye to Grumpy who refused to leave until he had finished his drink, Emma turned to watch Regina reappear from the back of the diner having gone to the bathroom. Smiling to herself, the blonde blinked at someone touching her arm. Looking over she saw her mother standing there putting her jacket on.

"Emma are you coming home? Or are you staying at Regina's?"

The blonde looks stuck for words not wanting to say yes to going home and upsetting Regina but also didn't want to say yes to going with the brunette and assuming the mayor would want the blonde to. "Well..I..-"

"Emma is coming with me" Regina having eavesdropped on their conversation smiles and places her hands on the blonde's shoulders reassuringly from behind making the woman immediately relax from her awkwardness.

Snow smiles with a nod. "Okay, I will see you tomorrow then"

Emma merely nods and watches her mother leave the diner before she takes her own jacket that is now being held out by Regina.

Both women exit the diner and stroll along main street linking their hands together. The sheriff bites her lip then looks over to her girlfriend. "Thanks for...back there..and I'm glad that you said I was going with you. I like staying with you"

Regina nods listening then stops their walk turning herself to face the blonde properly. "Emma I need to talk to you..because I want to be honest with you and not tiptoe around anything like we used to"

Emma looks nervous but tries to keep calm. "...okay..what is it?"

The brunette takes a breath before answering. "When...when you stay tonight..I..I don't want you to leave.."

The blonde looks directly at her to see if she can read from the mayor's eyes on what she meant and can only see sincerity and hope. "Regina...I-"

"I want you to move in" Regina blurts out quickly in fear of backing out but doesn't break eye contact in waiting for a reply.

Emma's eyes widen slightly but give off a sparkle. "I..I would love to live with you..you know I love you"

The brunette lets out a smile. "I know and I love you which is why I thought we should take the next step because I for one hate it when you have to leave the next morning"

The blonde squeezes her hand smiling back. "I know the feeling..when do you want me to move in?"

The mayor bites her lip. "Tomorrow?"

Emma gives a chuckle at the quickness of her answer. "Okay tomorrow it is"

The pair then continue to walk back to the mansion with smiles on their faces and head straight up to bed, both exhausted from the nights events but also wanting to snuggle into each other's arms.

Turning over to rest her head into the crook of the brunette's neck, Emma hugs Regina's waist while the mayor strokes her bare arm for a moment before pulling the covers up. The blonde gives a little laugh to herself as she squeezes the woman snuggling more. The mayor glances at her curiously. "Miss Swan what is so funny?"

The sheriff smiles and looks back. "I just thought when I was on my own and I got cold, I would reach for the extra blanket..and now..well I can reach for a Regina"

The brunette chuckles then places a kids on top of the blonde's curls as they both fall asleep.