Emma was dog tired, her eyes heavy with the sleep desperately clawing to claim her. Her legs ached, she was quite literally five minutes away from dropping to the floor and remaining there until she found the energy to move or someone came to claim her.

Her keys were out ready, a keychain containing a picture of both her wife and son on the ground, Regina straddling the young boy as she mercilessly tickled him, his head thrown back in laughter whilst she laughed along with him, her fingers digging into his sides, banged against her knuckle as she walked towards the door of their home.

The sound of the key sliding into the lock was most definitely one of her favourites, she'd never really had that before, a sound of home she kept souvenir to remind her that she was loved, she was wanted, she was relevant.

The next sound to be heard was by far in her top 3, next to her wife's whispered words of 'I love you' and her son's complaints of disgust that were really encouragement for more teasing, more embarrassing kisses, just more of his mother's…it was Regina's laughter ringing loud and clear throughout the house. It really was a melodious sound, when she laughed, really laughed, be it at one of Emma's lame jokes, at Emma's expense or at their son's antics, it truly was a magnificent sound.

She smiled warmly as she made her way towards the living room from where the laughter was coming from. Her mouth opened to announce her return home when the addition of a male voice stopped her cold, his voice.

Instantly her smile was replaced with a scowl, memories of a drunken Tinkerbell recounting the time her fairy dust had indicated him to be Regina's true love, her soulmate. The thought of it left a bitter taste in her mouth, anger boiling in her stomach yet as she slowed outside the door, her footsteps silent, she wondered what if…

What if he was Regina's soul mate…what if she was fated to be with him and Emma was simply holding her back from her happy ending? Could she live with herself knowing that? Knowing that Regina might have been so much happier with Robin Hood?

But surely she couldn't be any happier right? They were happy, they were in love, weren't they?

She peered into the room, the sound of Regina's laughter dying down before becoming louder in response to something else the thief was saying. Her stomach churned, Regina's back was to her where they sat on the couch, her elbow leaning against the back of the furniture whilst her fingers were laced through her dark locks. Her heels lay forgotten on the floor, her legs tucked beneath her as she listened intently to Robin who looked just like the cat that got the canary, her canary.

"I did not!" she finally focused enough to hone in on the actual conversation between the pair.

Robin laughed loudly, one leg bent at the knee to rest on the sofa whilst the other foot remained on the ground. "Yes you did, it took me a week to bring my men out of hiding."

"Well surely that just proves how incompetent they were?" She replied but there was no malice in her voice, only amusement.

Robin shook his head with his low laughter, "no, we were simply at the start of our journeys together, our allegiances still lay with ourselves"

"Now that I can relate to," Regina replied though her voice held some vulnerability that both Emma and Robin easily caught.

Emma inwardly winced as his large hand came to cover the one Regina had resting in her lap, that was comfort reserved for her and her alone…well, Henry too but that wasn't the point right now.
"Love is not something easily given, especially not when the love you have within you is so precious."

"What do you think would have happened if I had entered the tavern that night?" Regina asked, her voice soft as she was returned to the past.

Robin sighed deeply, clearly they'd talked about this before for there was no confusion in his face nor voice when he spoke. "I believe I would have met a beautiful, if broken," he smiled softly to show no harm was meant, only honesty, "woman who I would have done anything to protect."

"That would have been nice," Regina mused.

"But it wouldn't have been right."

Emma's ears perked up at this, as did Regina's head. Her eyes moving from her clenched hands and to his face questioningly.

He smiled softly once more before explaining, "I believe that we were always fated to meet, not to be together but to meet because…well, I'm not your true love, no matter what a batch of fairy dust on the wind may have told you…" Regina's head tilted as she continued to listen to him intently, "I believe it led you to me because I had what you needed most at that time, safety, but we certainly were not fated to be for you have another, one who I truly believe is your soulmate and completely deserving of that precious love you possess."

Emma watched as Regina looked over to the photograph adorning the mantelpiece, it was a picture taken by Henry on Christmas morning after receiving his camera the night before, a tradition the pair had created, each would open one present on Christmas Eve and they had allowed him his camera. He'd snuck into their room in the morning upon waking, the light of a new day had cast a gorgeous glow within the room. Emma lay, lips pressed against Regina's forehead, arms wrapped tightly around her as they had remained through the night, neither moving away from the other. Regina's lips were parted slightly, her face so soft and serene, love was truly a beautiful colour on her.

"She really is…" Regina's voice floated through the room right to Emma's ears, caressing them like only her wife could do.

Robin smiled gently before looking up and over Regina's head to find Emma with her finger to her lips. This was Regina's moment, one to keep for herself and to tell Emma of should she so wish. He gave a small nod of his head before looking back to the brunette so lost in thought of her wife, her Emma, her true love.