A/N I hope this chapter length makes up for my slow updating. I know many of you have been waiting for this moment. Just a warning, I'll be wrapping up this story in the next coming chapters. I know I've said that before but I really mean it this time. I don't know exactly how many more, but it's getting close. Thank you for your constant reviews/favorites/follows.

Leave your love at the end :)

Just as one should have expected, the little confession about Regina and Emma's relationship remained untold for another few weeks. A day had turned into another and then another…until nearly three weeks had passed by like nothing. It wasn't that Emma was afraid, though that still was a lingering emotion pulling at her chest. It was because they couldn't figure out the best way to go about the situation.

Not really paying much attention to the progression of time, it almost slipped Emma's mind that her birthday was right around the corner. Another year. How had it been a year already since she arrived at Storybrooke? Or since Henry had showed up at her doorstep? She remembered very clearly the wish she had made that lonely night she had turned twenty-eight.

She would have never imagined that it would have come true the way it did. In fact, she never expected it to come true at all. But she had been lonely, and when you're stuck in solitude, sharing a one bedroom apartment with just yourself that overlooked the rush of the city, you become probably the loneliest person that ever existed.

Maybe that was going a bit overboard, since she did share her bedroom with a few strangers but it was true right? No one had ever been there for Emma, and if they were, they only were around to cheat her out of something. Suddenly she found herself completely immersed in a world where it was her duty to save people who she didn't even know. It was a world in which she was unfamiliar and it scared her shitless at first, but eventually she found those loving arms around her comforting, although a bit suffocating at times.

Her wish had unfolded in an unremarkable way and now she was surrounded by her family. Her son, whom she thought she'd never see again, her parents, who she had once believed to be terrible people, and Regina, the last person she would have ever considered family.

Now they all stood around the little apartment – along with Ruby, Granny, and Belle –, drink in their hands, as Charming made a toast to his daughter about how far they had come in such little time. Her parents had insisted for a large party, but that ended up in a fight with Emma begging to not make this such a big deal, for it had never been before anyways. Anymore people within the small walls would have led to the blonde suffocating.

Fading back into her own world, the blonde kept a close proximity to Regina, yet not close enough to raise suspicion. The last thing she wanted was another replay from the party at the diner when the mayor slipped away to the lake. Besides, she was a bit afraid that the wolf girl on the other side of the room, chatting away with Belle, would lunge at Regina. The rough patch between the waitress and the sheriff had softened up dramatically since the fire at Gold's shop, but that didn't mean Ruby was fine and dandy with the Evil Queen being here.

A small rumor had started up around town about Emma and Regina, but it was all a different story depending on who you asked. Some had become aware that the two women were close friends, yet others were very keen on thinking that there was more behind the scenes. However, if they had suspicions, no one ever confronted them. They were merely rumors right?

Oh, all Hell is going to break loose tonight, Emma groaned to herself as she rolled over the right words she was going to break soon.

She felt a ghost of a hand on hers for only a split second and she met brown eyes. It was as if Regina knew exactly what Emma was thinking and was providing comfort in the best way that she could at the moment. There were no words passed between, yet she could hear the brunette's words loud and clear. It's going to be alright.

"Emma, honey," the voice of her mom snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked over to see her mother holding up a cake and suddenly her stomach felt empty, disregarding the dinner she just devoured.

Everyone gathered around the table, eyes on Emma but flickering every now and then to the brunette standing beside her. No one dared question her as to why the Queen was here, not after the last party. She was Emma's guest after all.

Green eyes bored into the white cake with cursive etched across in green, the words reading Happy Birthday, Emma. We love you. A strange variety of emotions splayed across her mind, the first being a bit awkward, yet the strongest of them overtaking her. This was the first time she had ever shared a birthday with anyone but herself since she was a teenager, and as much as she willed it away, the tears were slowly making their presence around her eyes.

Staring at the burning candles that read 29, she waited until the song was finished, though it was a surprise she even heard it at all, and blew out the flickering flame. The room cheered.

"Cake!" Henry shouted which had everyone laughing, his sweet tooth definitely an acquired trait from his biological mother.

"Hold on, Henry," Snow said with a chuckle as she slid the first piece of cake onto a plate, "Your mom gets first dibs."

Emma took the plate that was being handed to her, but stealthily slid it into Henry's hands. The action was met with an amused eye roll from her mother who continued to hand out the rest of the cake.

"Come on. Just a bite," Emma begged Regina with the best set of puppy eyes she could muster. This was already her third piece of cake meaning she was definitely going for a run tomorrow morning…unless the mayor had something else planned.

"Miss Swan, I told you—"

Taking the advantage, Emma stuffed a large piece of cake between red lips, laughing when brown eyes urged her to burn into flames, which she could have done if she really wanted. The blonde took a quick look around and when she found no one was looking, she wiped the icing smudge off of the brunette's lips with her thumb, licking it off tantalizingly.

"Ow!" Emma squealed when a point heel slammed down onto her foot and at that point she was insanely happy that she chose to keep her boots on.

There was a warning in brown eyes. Emma knew that she shouldn't risk those kinds of things, even as small as they were, yet she was beginning to not care. She was tired of hiding away their little secret.

The mayor took a step away from the blonde as Henry appeared at their side, informing them that everyone had presents.

Seriously?

But she had to remember that this was technically Emma's first birthday with her parents.

Henry grabbed her hand and pulled her away from her companion, green eyes finding brown with an apology. She was pushed onto the couch where soon she was surrounded by the group, Regina standing awkwardly off to the side, but easily comforted when her son decided to stand by her. Smiling, she placed a hand on Henry's shoulders as if his touch would calm down her nerves.

"You know, you guys didn't have to get me anything."

Disregarding her words, Charming stepped up beside her, holding something behind his back.

"We would like to take this time to remember that just a year ago our daughter walked into our lives. Even though we didn't have any memory of who she was, things began to change that very moment Henry found her."

Such words should have warmed the blonde, yet all she could do was think of Regina. That first moment she saw the mayor and trying to piece together why on Earth her own son would call her evil, and unfortunately she had realized why. The possessive nature of Regina was unlike any other, yet the only reason she knew that the mayor wasn't evil was because deep inside she could see the love she had for Henry. A true mother's love. Emma had been thrown around the system for far too long and knew the difference between cruel possessiveness and carrying possessiveness, although the latter seemed like a funny was to phrase it. It was the kind of possessiveness that was done only for good intentions where Regina was so afraid of losing her son that she would do anything to keep him there. To the outside world, and even to Henry, the suffocation was the cruelest act ever done by a mother, yet such possessiveness could only be understood by a parent.

Emma had a touch of that feeling the moment she gave birth to Henry. She still remembered his first cries and how she couldn't let him go, couldn't give him up to a cruel world that she knew awaited him, yet in the end she did. What life could Emma have given him? Standing in the welfare line as he clung to her side?

It was when a hand touched her arm that she realized the wet pearl slipping down her cheek. She followed the hand up the arm until she saw it was her mother asking her if she was okay. Emma nodded and, to turn away from the memories, she told them to continue with the presents.

As if Ruby sensed the tension in the sheriff's movement, she walked around into the kitchen only to arrive back seconds later with a mixed drink in her hand. Emma took the offered beverage with great appreciation. Words couldn't describe how thankful she was that someone was trying to save her.

There was a hint of disapproval from Charming and Snow, but hell Henry didn't have to know that her drink was spiked with rum. For all he knew she was drinking pink lemonade.

Snapping attention back to what her father was hiding, she raised an eyebrow. Eyes widened when a large, sheathed sword was presented to her. It was strange to hold a sword again, the last time being when her and Hook were dueling.

She examined the scabbard with silent intrigue, intricate swirls of metal wrapping around parts of the leather. Then her eyes fell upon the top of the sword. The familiarity hitting her like a thousand needles when she realized it was her father's.

"I…dad, I can't…" her words trailed off as her fingers ran across the patterns.

"I want you to have it," Charming replied with a soft smile, "if something ever happens and you need it."

She didn't voice that she was more acquainted with a gun, for she knew there was more to his explanation. If we ever go back home. And though it was something she knew she would never agree to, she brushed it aside and stood to her feet wrapping her arms around the blonde haired man tightly.

"Unsheathe it," her mother told her with great warmth and Emma did as told.

As if she couldn't be astounded anymore, her jaw dropped as her eyes followed the delicate, elaborated emboss of her name down the middle of the blade. By now, she was crying, and she felt so completely stupid for it.

It was more than just a sword. More than just a gift. It was a sign of how much her parents, especially her father, cherished her. If only she could have remembered her father battling through the Queen's guards, her infant self pressed against his chest with one arm, with a sword, this sword, grasped tightly in the other hand.

All of these years she thought her parents had abandoned her, didn't want her, when all they wanted was for her to be safe. As horrible as her past was, she wouldn't have changed a thing if it led up to this exact moment.

"We love you," she heard her father say before he wiped the tears that were running down her cheeks.

After gaining her composure back, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, she took a large swig of her drink to find that it was almost gone. The others then took turns receiving gifts that were nowhere near as grand as the sword, but still something that meant a lot of Emma.

As they reached the end of the line, all eyes fell upon the brunette, waiting to see what she had to offer. Emma could see it in her eyes how much she was fidgeting and so strangely out of place here. Emma wasn't looking for a present; the little tradition was mundane in the sheriff's eyes, but as it always went, the former queen had been singled out, her hands free and bare of any brightly wrapped box.

She looked into Regina's brown eyes for just a split second, silently asking her if it was okay for her to carry on with their plan that, until now, she had remembered. Regina nodded and stepped away from the group, away from the very inevitable oncoming anger, and even away from Henry. The moment that Emma wanted Regina by her side the most, she seemed like a dark sea away.

Emma cleared her throat, eyes shooting back to her.

"Mom…dad?" she reached for her drink, but found it dry, inwardly groaning, "I have to tell you something."

Both of their faces grew with concern and the raven-haired woman glanced over at Regina. Just from looking at her, Emma could see that her mother's heart was sinking down into her stomach. Did she already know?

Emma turned to the other guests, Ruby already looking as if she knew what was coming.

"Thank you guys for coming, but I really need to talk to my parents alone."

"Emma…" her mom's voice was low, a bit disappointed.

"No, mom. This…I need to talk to you guys alone."

"Do you want me to watch Henry?" Ruby asked after she grabbed her jacket.

"No. He needs to hear this too."

Speaking of him, Emma turned to find that he was standing there looking lost. She waited until everyone left and then called him over to sit next to her. That left Regina still standing by the corner where the light was dimmer than the rest of the room. Emma tried to convey with her eyes for her to join them, yet her feet remained glued to the floor, her eyes cast away.

"What's this about?" Charming asked.

"You may want to pull up a chair or two," Regina cut in, her voice cold as ice. When Emma turned her face to look with disbelief, the brunette merely shrugged it off as she took place on the opposite end of the couch, Henry sitting between them.

Snow and Charming opted to remain standing, the latter crossing his arms as if his daughter were a teenager confessing that she got into drugs or something of the sorts.

"As both of you know," Emma started out slow, reaching into the back of her head for the words she rolled around a million times, yet was coming up empty, "Regina has been teaching me how to use magic."

A pale hand raised, her fingers seeming to dance through the air, as she focused on a napkin that said on the coffee table. A very audible gasp escaped Snow's lips as it floated into the air with ease. Emma was definitely beyond these little magic tricks, but this was most likely the safest bet at the moment. Henry, however, wasn't as surprised since the blonde was secretly showing him tricks behind Regina's back.

"But this isn't about magic, is it?" Snow asked cautiously.

"No…"

"What's going on, Emma?" Charming inquired and glared at Regina, "Has she done something?"

Instantly red lips pulled into a snarl, and if it wasn't for Henry sitting right there she would have snapped at him with easy pleasure.

"No, dad. I…Regina and I have been…" the heart within the cage of her chest was threatening to beat out maddeningly. Urgently, she wanted Regina's hand in her own, but reaching across her son wasn't something she wished to do at the moment. She brought her hand up to her face before looking at her parents. Before she could even get the words out Regina spoke up.

"Your daughter and I have been seeing each other."

The prince's face went white as Snow looked away in shame; there was more of shame than shock in the former rogue's face. She had seen it coming all along, piecing things together bit by bit.

"What?" Charming was dumbfounded, "You mean…Emma, is this true?"

The blonde took her lip between her teeth. Her silence was enough to confirm everything. Snow's hands went to her face as if it were a way to hide the pain that was etched across her. Meanwhile, Charming's gaze fell upon the sword he had just given his daughter and Emma followed it, feeling guilty even though that was last emotion she should feel. This was her life. It was her choice.

"How can you do this to us?" her mother asked behind an oncoming sob she was trying to hold back.

Eyes of the blonde's father narrowed towards the older woman on the couch, his face turning red. It was a wonder that steam wasn't shooting out of his ears. He jumped forward, but was stopped by the coffee table between them.

"What have you done with our daughter?"

The former queen leaned up, hands pressing onto the table, and sneered.

"I have done nothing with your daughter that she hasn't wanted."

Red lips curled in a wicked smirk, daring the prince to come at her. She could snap him like a twig if she really wanted to. Brown eyes swirled with tantalizing purple haze.

"Liar! I know your deceitful ways!"

"Grampa stop!"

That little voice made every single head snap in his direction, having completely forgotten about him sitting right there in the crossfire. The wicked swirl in the former queen's eyes vanished and her heart sank in her chest. This was not the time for Henry to see this side of her, if there was ever a time at all. She had moved on from that phase of her life; she was a changed person. Not the Evil not. Not the Mayor. Simply Regina. Placing a hand on his knee, Regina leaned over and whispered softly.

"Heny, go wait in Emma's room." He looked at her through terrified, worried eyes. "Please?"

Another hand was placed on his opposite side, but this time from Emma. She nodded at him trying to convey that nothing would happen, but he still fretted. Eventually, he stood to hit feet and they watched silently as he padded up the metal stairs, the door closing softly behind him.

When Emma looked back at her father she watched as her mother opened and closed her mouth several times before she gained thought to speak.

"Can we talk about this alone?"

"No, Snow," the blonde replied, a pang of hurt flashing across her mother's eyes at the choice of words, "whatever you have to say, she can hear it."

"…All we tried to give you," Snow choked out as if Emma had made the biggest mistake of her life; as if she was throwing her life away by choosing this path.

Charming pulled his wife close to his side, yet before he could add on, Emma jumped up from the couch in rage. All of the years of hurt that she had pushed to the back of her mind rolled off of her tongue.

"You left me! You made the decision to abandon me in a world in which you knew nothing about in hopes that I would come galloping in on some white fucking horse. I broke the curse. Fine. But I am not the fucking savior everyone claims me to be. I am a human being who needs to be loved, not smothered. You made the decision to leave me here alone and I lived twenty-eight years of my life by myself just fine, so don't try to come into my life and tell me how I should live it. How to raise my son. Who I should love."

"Emma—"

"No, I'm not done. You cannot judge me nor can you judge her anymore. She's a changed woman. You may not see it, but I have. I've seen her grow from a cold bitch to someone who actually cares, someone who has a heart," green eyes flickered over to the woman sitting beside her, the brunette staring at her in disbelief. If her cheeks weren't already red from anger, they would have been now. "Regina has done nothing but help me in these last few months."

By this time Snow's face was stained with tears as Charming tried to wipe them away. Other than that he was frozen in place, never expecting that from his own daughter.

"She told me everything, mom. What you did and why she cast the curse."

Her father's face screwed up in confusion as he gave his wife a hard look. Her eyes caught his for just a moment, but flickered away. Did she never tell him what actually happened?

"I'm sorry," were the only words to leave Snow's lips, but who they were directed to wasn't known.

Emma's voice turned less volatile as she took a deep breath and sunk back onto the couch. That entire outburst wasn't even planned. In fact everything she had rehearsed flew out the window.

"I know it doesn't justify what Regina did, but at least accept that she is trying to change for the better. I'm not asking you to forgive each other. Hell, I'm not even asking you to like each other. Just try and understand. Try to accept that Regina is the one I want to be with. The one I want to have a family with."

The last sentence slipped off of her tongue before she could catch it. She tensed. That wasn't supposed to come out, she scolded as she inwardly kicked herself. Her face burned deeply now, but suddenly a hand touched hers and she looked to find Regina staring at her, an unreadable look on her face. A few seconds of silence slipped through and for a moment Emma forgot what she had been talking about.

Shaking her head to clear the haze, she stood up once again and walked around to meet her parents. It was a pain to look at them, but things had to be said at some point whether they hurt or not. That was life. In order to be happy you had to feel everything.

"Mom, dad," she bit her lip, "You know I love you and I swear this isn't some cruel way of getting back at you. I already forgave you for that. I do love you guys, you're my parents after all, but I really do love Regina."

Charming let his grip on Snow slacken and for a moment Emma thought they were going to hug her, yet it never happened. She wanted to say she was sorry, but she wasn't. Everything Emma had said was the bittersweet truth. Taking a step away, she closed her eyes for a moment before glancing back at the mayor who had stayed surprisingly silent throughout Emma's entire breakout.

"I'm going to go get Henry."

Emma nodded as Regina stood to her feet.

It was clear that her parents weren't over the little act Emma just pulled and she wasn't quite sure what they would even say.

As Emma stood there, Regina made her way up to Emma's room where Henry was waiting. Just as the blonde was about to follow, her mom called out.

"Emma…"

"It's okay," the blonde told them truthfully, "I know this may be a hard fact to accept and that's why I'm going to go and give you guys some time. Plus by the looks of it, it seems mom has a few skeletons in her closet that need to be brought out.

"So are you and mom dating?" Henry asked Emma from the backseat of the Mercedes, leaning up so he was close to the blonde's head.

"Henry, sit down," Regina mildly scolded as she peered up at him from the rearview mirror, "and yes, sweetheart. I guess you can say we are."

Emma only smirked at both of them, almost throwing her feet up onto the dash, but stopped herself. Instead she laced her fingers together with the brunette beside her.

When they pulled up to the house it was as if the little brunet had the largest epiphany ever. His eyes widened and shot out of the car.

"Wait…so if Emma is coming over does that mean we're having a sleepover?"

At this, the blonde snorted and, after shutting her door and glancing over at the brunette, she messed up his hair. Such an act left the boy whining.

"Yea, kid. I guess we are."

The three of them filed into the house and stopped in the foyer to take off their jackets and shoes.

"Henry, dear," Regina said, "go run upstairs and change into your pajamas."

Getting the cue that they needed to talk, he ran up the stairs like a bolt of lightning, his mother reprimanding him to slow down before he hurt himself. When he finally disappeared, the mayor looked firmly at Emma.

"I never gave you your present."

"Regina, you didn't have to."

Taking a long stride into the blonde's personal space, a manicured finger pressed against her lips.

"Miss Swan, shut up for once."

With that, red lips leaned in and capture the younger woman's for a long, slow kiss. It had been far too long since they had done that. The entire time at the party, all Regina wanted to do was steal Emma away to her bedroom. She wouldn't have been missed for a few minutes, right?

"Please tell me I'll be getting more of those."

Emma whimpered when tormenting, apple-laced lips pulled away.

"That wasn't your present."

"Oh?"

"First tell me something."

"Okay."

"Was what you said to your parents true? About me—"

"Every single bit of it, Regina. Ice cold bitch and all," she chuckled while the mayor rolled her eyes, hands slipping around a slim waist. They kissed once more, but before it could go anywhere, Regina spoke against lips.

"I have a proposal, dear. Your parents don't exactly seem like they'll be accepting us for awhile and I know you're bound to be claustrophobic in that small apartment of theirs. In return for sharing a bed with me, I'll cook you breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day and save you from those dreaded freezer dinners and carryout."

Emma's heart skipped a beat and she pulled her head away slightly, both of her eyebrows shooting up into her hairline.

"Are…are you asking me to move in with you?"

"I know. It's a bit fast and all, but—"

This time Emma pulled her firmly against her and pressed her lips into the others hard. Slender fingers found their way into golden curls and tugged slightly. The sheriff took a few steps forward, pressing the other again the wall, unaware of the small sound descending the stairs.

"Ew, gross!"

Emma froze in her tracks and it took Regina pushing her away to make her mobile again. She stumbled to keep her balanced before scratching at her head in embarrassment.

"Sorry, kid. Uh…why don't we make some popcorn? Movie tonight?"

Both of their eyes moved over to look at Regina for permission and it was as if one were looking at a mirror reflection of mother and son.

"Fine," Regina rolled her eyes, "But I'm picking the movie."

In unison, the blonde and her son groaned knowing that such a movie would most likely empty of good action.

"But it's my birthday!" Emma argued.

"And it's my house, Miss Swan."

Pink lips pulled into a smirk at that, both of them knowing what Emma's answer had been to moving in. Regina smiled at her kindly before venturing into the living room while the popcorn was made.