Monday mornings were the worst Emma thought as she tried to stretch out and face the day. Her stretching, however, was interrupted when she bumped into a very solid lump in the bed. Confused, Emma rolled over and pulled the body closer to her. "Gina? You ok?" She asked softly. It was a rarity on the weekends that she found Regina still asleep beside her. It had never happened on a weekday.

"No."

"Are you sick?"

"No."

"Ok, you're worrying me a little bit. What's wrong?" Emma kissed the back of the neck she was snuggled into, relishing in the feeling of having Regina so close.

"Nothing."

"Alright. I'm going to go start some coffee, bring it up here, and then you're maybe you'll be ready to talk?" Emma pulled herself away from the embrace and grabbed a robe off the back of the bathroom door. All she got for a response was a grunting noise as Regina's head disappeared from view when she pulled the covers up higher.

When she returned a few minutes later, coffee in hand, she found the brunette in the same position. As she set the coffee on Regina's nightstand she felt eyes tracking her every move. "So you're awake. You want to tell me what's going on?" Emma leaned down and kissed the exposed part of Regina's forehead before heading around to her side of the bed and sliding back in under the covers.

"Nothing, I just wanted to stay in bed with you a little longer this morning." Regina answered quietly.

"Come here." Emma said as she rolled the brunette over towards her and pulled her tightly against herself. "Is this because you have PMS?"

"I resent that. Just because I want to spend a little extra time with you this morning doesn't mean you have to blame it on something."

"Ok, it's just that despite a valiant effort on your part to hide the fact that you get some wicked PMS that makes you all kinds of extra-emotional-I've noticed. And I think it's cute." As soon as the last words were out of her mouth Emma realized it wasn't the time for compliments like that.

"Excuse me?" Regina pulled back to glare at the blonde.

"I didn't mean you being emotional, I meant that you tried to hide it." Emma knew she was not digging herself out of this one easily.

"Fine. You caught me. I have PMS. Happy?" Regina rolled herself completely out of Emma's embrace and flung back the covers, intent on making a fast getaway.

"Whoa, whoa! Hold up there." Emma said as she lunged across the bed and snaked her arms around Regina's waist, stopping her progress. "Just slow your roll. Listen, this may come as a news flash to you but I am aware of the fact that you are not perfect."

"You're not helping your case Miss Swan." Regina grumbled, still fighting to get away from the strong arms holding her hostage.

"Miss Swan? Really?" Emma sighed and let her head fall onto Regina's back for a moment, gathering herself. "You are not perfect. You can have PMS and not have to hide it from me. You can have a bad day and not feel like cooking when you get home. You can get irritated with me and need some time alone. All of those things are normal, healthy things and you can embrace them. You just have to trust me that I'm not going anywhere. You are not perfect, but that's what makes you perfect for me."

"This is ridiculous. How do you always seem to reduce me to tears?" Regina said, sobbing slightly.

"Talent? Ow. No hitting." Emma said when she got a slap she probably deserved. "Just tell me what helps and we'll do it."

"I don't know…I either hide in the house or take it out on some unsuspecting soul." Regina said, her tears gone as quickly as they came on.

"Ok, well we'll figure it out together then. Obviously snuggling with me is on the list."

"I don't snuggle." Regina said as she scooted herself back, melding her body into the one behind her.

"Right. No snuggling. Got it. Anything else that you don't do?"

"I don't eat ice-cream. Or french fries." Regina hesitated. She couldn't imagine that it could be this easy, just talking about it. She had tried so hard the last few months to hide all the sharper edges of her personality and once again Emma was surprising her with the ease in which she was handling her.

"Check and check. I've got this babe. Just trust me. We are going to pass this with flying colors. You're going to be wondering why you didn't just let it all hang out months ago in a few days."

"All hang out? You're confusing me with Ruby I think."

"Speaking of Rubes. You've got that appointment with Belle today to discuss all the flowers for the wedding. Do you need me to rearrange my day so I can go with you?" Emma was actually more concerned with Belle's safety but Regina didn't need to know that.

"No. I think I can handle ordering a few flowers Emma. Enough of this wallowing. I want to get up now, let go of me."

Despite the situation Emma couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. She was in a real relationship with Regina and every time they hit a new milestone she couldn't help but relish in how suited they were for each other. Not able to resist Emma pulled away slightly, only to roll Regina on her back, trapping her underneath her. "I love you." Emma kissed her solidly and was elated when it was returned.

"I may need some practice at letting you take care of me." Regina admitted.

"I know, I'm just glad that you're trying." Emma said.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

The ringing phone shattered the silence Emma had found herself in since arriving at work that morning. She had been able to plow through weeks of over due paperwork in just a few short hours since it seemed all of Storybrooke had decided to behave themselves.

"Sheriff's office. Your problem is my job security." Emma answered brightly.

"Emma? It's Belle." Belle's voice sounded tentative.

Fearing the worst, Emma took a deep breath before responding. "What'd she do?"

"Well, that's why I'm calling. She hasn't done anything. She's just been sitting in her car out front for over half an hour. At first I thought maybe she was on the phone or something, but she still hasn't come in. I thought maybe you would want to know." Belle rushed through the explanation. She didn't want Regina to know she called Emma, but she also didn't want Emma to find out she hadn't called after noticing Regina's odd behavior. She wasn't sure which one of the woman scared her the most, but as time had creeped by she knew with growing certainty that something wasn't right and there was only one person that could fix it.

"Ok, thanks for letting me know Belle. I'll cruise by and see what's going on." Emma grabbed her keys and headed out the door as quick as she could. She wasn't sure what she was going to find, but she decided that she wasn't going to show up empty handed to try and coax Regina out of the car. She sent a quick text to Ruby and headed off towards the diner.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

When Emma knocked on the passenger's side window she saw Regina jump slightly. Feeling bad for startling the brunette she held up the white bag in her hand as a peace offering. "You want to unlock this door so I can get in?" Emma asked as Regina just continued to stare at her.

Regina leaned over, pulled up on the lock and tugged the door handle popping it open. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I just thought I would bring you a snack. Everything ok?" Emma smiled at the brunette as she pulled out the fries she'd picked up from Granny's on her way over. She placed them on a napkin on the middle console and pulled out a container of ketchup to go with them.

"I don't need a snack." Regina said as she snagged three fries, dunked them in ketchup, and shoved them in her mouth.

Knowing better then to comment on the decidedly un-ladylike behavior she was witnessing Emma just waited in silence as Regina plowed through over half the order before speaking.

"I couldn't go in." Regina looked at Emma with wide eyes as though her confession would somehow shatter something between them.

"I see that. Why not?" Emma asked, finally drumming up the courage to steal a few fries for herself.

"I didn't want to have Belle see me cry and I knew the second I started telling her what flowers I wanted I was going to. I've been sitting here trying to get my emotions under control and it's proving more difficult than I thought." Regina answered between bites.

"You want me to do it? You've got it all written down right?" Emma was glad that Regina didn't make getting the explanation too difficult.

"You aren't going to make fun of me?" Regina asked.

"Hey, give me a little credit. I may like to give you crap but I'm not stupid. Besides, I seem to remember another time you got all emotional over the notes and stuff that I sent you. I get it and I kind of like that you're just that way around me." Emma said as she scooped up the last few fries and held them out for Regina to take.

"Ok. You can do it." Regina said as she leaned forward to snag the fries out of Emma's hand with her teeth.

"Damn, I've got to remember this french fry trick. It's like…"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence Swan." Regina pulled out the list of flowers for Emma. "Here. Just call me if she has any questions you can't answer."

"Yes ma'am. I'll be right back." Emma said as she leaned over and gave Regina a quick peck on the cheek, before jumping out of the car.

When she walked into the shop Belle just looked at her questioningly.

"Everything's fine. Don't ask. Here's the list of flowers that we want. It's mostly just the same ones that I had you order for her in the beginning. We thought it would be nice to be surrounded by them all at the wedding."

"That might be the sweetest, most romantic thing I've ever heard." Belle squealed. She refrained herself from hugging the Sheriff since she could feel Regina's eyes on them from the car.

"Yeah, yeah. What else do you need to know?" Emma asked as she felt her phone vibrate from her pocket. She pulled it out to check it.

Don't forget that I want her to actually make up the bouquet for me to see before the wedding day. A description won't suffice.

Emma's only response was to glare through the window at Regina.

"Well, I'll look over the list and see. Would it be better if I just emailed my questions to Regina?" Belle asked.

"That would be perfect." Emma's phone buzzed again and she rolled her eyes.

Also, make sure she understands that I won't tolerate any of the flowers not coming in on time.

"Does she have something to add to the list?" Belle asked when Emma's phone went off again.

"Sorry Belle." Emma glanced down at her phone again and this time she really rolled her eyes.

Are you telling her all this? I don't see you saying much.

"Ok Belle I have to go. Just email Regina with any questions and thanks for calling me. I appreciate it." Emma said with a smile. It was nice to have friends who looked out for you and your better half.

"I'm happy for you Emma. She's good for you." Belle smiled as Emma just tucked her head into her chest, before turning and leaving the shop a little embarrassed.

Regina didn't even wait until Emma was fully back into the car before starting in. "Did you tell her everything? I think that maybe I should go in and talk to…"

"Nope. I took care of it. Stop. Just take a breath. She is the only florist in town so you can't alienate her. She's going to email you with any questions about your list and we see her all the time anyway, okay?" Emma said, interrupting the brunette before she really got going.

"Fine. Do you think you could work from my office the rest of the day? I realize that seems clingy and ridiculous but you told me to tell you things like that." Regina said, rolling her eyes as though Emma had forced the confession from her.

"I think I can do that. I'll meet you over there. And it doesn't seem clingy and ridiculous. I am the Sheriff and it's my job to protect the town…." Emma laughed and quickly got out of the car before Regina could retaliate. "I love you and I'll see you in a little bit." She said as she shut the door, smiling at her fuming girlfriend.

Regina's only shook her head in response, still not able to believe that she willingly let that woman come to her rescue once again. Making sure that Emma was out of sight she allowed herself to smile just a little at the thought that she finally had someone that she knew without a doubt wasn't going anywhere. Even if she drove her insane sometimes.