Here is the second of the day, as promised.
Regina tried to pull her hand away from Emma's but Emma stubbornly laced their fingers tighter. Regina sighed. "Seriously Em, you don't want to see me go the whole day without coffee."
Emma let go and beamed. "Em? I like it!"
Regina winced and put a new filter in her coffee machine. She barely functioned without caffeine as it was and Emma had switched on full hyperactive six year old mode. "You do realise you'll need a nickname now?!"
Regina dumped coffee into the machine and decided on the approach that had helped her through half of Henry's childhood. Silence and food. She put bread in the toaster.
"Like Reg! Maybe Reg? No. Not Reg. It makes you sound like a man."
Regina shot her a look and reached into the fridge. Please say the coffee was done! She turned back to the machine. It was out of water. Regina closed her eyes.
"Or 'Gina. That's it! I'm calling you 'Gina!"
Regina put toast on the table and reached back for her steaming coffee. "That sounds great." She said, dryly. "Should we get back to the villain destroying our town?"
Emma smirked. "You need to learn to live in the moment! Lighten up!"
She poked Regina and accidentally caught her quite hard between two ribs. Regina shrieked and slammed her cup down, narrowly avoiding spilling it. "Oh, you are so dead!"
They ran through the house, Regina only catching up as Emma reached the front door. She pinned the blonde and held her down with her knees and elbows. "What now your majesty?"
Regina smiled wickedly. "You've got no idea what I'm capable of Miss Swan."
Emma arched upwards and kissed Regina, unbalancing her then flipping her over so it was she who had Regina pinned. "Your move."
"Well I don't mean to interrupt."
Both women looked up with a start to see Gold's face peeking around the open front door, wide eyes watching them. Regina flushed deep red and pushed the blonde off her. They untangled themselves and stood awkwardly.
"You can't just walk into my house!" Regina tried a strict tone to cover her embarrassment.
"I did knock. It seems you were a little preoccupied. And the door was unlocked." Regina glared at Emma who looked away guiltily. "Married life treating you well, Miss Swan?"
Emma felt Regina stiffen at the reminder of Emma's wedding and the marriage that was supposed to follow it. She pursed her lips. " I didn't marry Killian."
"It's only a matter of time though." He met Regina's eyes and he wasn't mocking, he was heartfelt which was so much worse. "You won't leave a hero, a good man for half a woman."
Half a woman.
What had Regina lost by separating? Who was she now?
Emma frowned. "You've got no idea what you're talking about. What are you doing here?"
Gold smiled again, relishing that he had got a reaction. "I came to see Regina. I'm nearly finished with my side of the bargain, how are you progressing?"
He was wearing his shark smile. He didn't think she could do it. She remembered coming to him when Henry was under a sleeping curse, desperate for a way to break it. She half smiled. Emma had been by her side then as well. They stood together, united, even then. She felt the heat from Emma standing behind her. She could do this. She could beat them all.
She raised her head. "I can do it. The queen is trying to complicate matters but don't worry. I have things in hand."