The following morning, Regina drove Laura back to Boston, and neither of them were too thrilled about it.

Laura claimed that she "couldn't leave now when things were getting interesting", and Regina was sure the referred to their "vault fun" the previous day. Which had been very interesting.

But whether they liked it or not, Laura had to go back home today. There was nothing to it. She had to take care of her customers. And besides, they would be together again very soon. In Paris.

"Well, this sucks." Laura said plainly when the Mercedes pulled up in front of "The Secret Garden".

"Yes, indeed." Regina agreed but never the less laughed at Laura's colorful way of putting things.

"I don't feel like leaving yet."

"I don't feel like that either."

"Stay? Just one night?" Laura asked.

"We both know I can't," Regina scoffed. "You have early deliveries tomorrow."

"So? It would be great coming home to you," Laura grinned.

"You are very sweet," Regina smiled and gave her hand a little squeeze. "But I can't stay. Not this time."

Laura pouted, and Regina found it to look positively adorable. She cupped Laura's cheek lightly. "Three weeks. Just three more weeks and we'll be together in Paris."

Laura smiled broadly. "Oui, mon Cherie," she teased lightly.

Regina chuckled a little.

But Laura sighed. "I guess this is the part where I get out of the car, yeah?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"But first…" Laura didn't finish the sentence. Instead she leaned in and kissed Regina, seatbelt or not.

Regina was more than willing to return the sentiment. In fact, she twisted her entire upper body as she kissed Laura and postponed their goodbye just a little.

But unfortunately, they couldn't stay in the car all day (Regina wouldn't have minded) and much too soon, Laura broke the kiss and pouted as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Just three weeks." Regina reminded her as both of them exited the car.

"Yeah, I know. And right now, that seems like a fucking long time," Laura muttered as she reached into the trunk of the car and grabbed her bag.

Regina chuckled. "I'm sure we'll make it. We have the chat site."

"Mmm. That's true," Laura replied and grinned slightly.

Regina walked Laura up to her apartment, and Laura once again tried to coax her into staying. Just one more night.

But this time, Regina couldn't be coaxed. She claimed that Laura wouldn't go to work tomorrow if she stayed, and that was probably true.

So, after a few more heated kisses, Regina said goodbye to Laura and climbed into the Mercedes.

The drive back to Storybrooke alone was not fun, but Regina had no choice.

Regina wasn't ecstatic when she came home to Storybrooke. Mostly because she suddenly remembered she had a massive clean up job to do in the vault. Their fun had come with a price.

I should have stayed the night in Boston anyway, Regina thought to herself as she poofed straight into the vault.

It really was a mess down here. Quite a few of her old tiaras were lying around and some of her old dresses appeared to be tangled together in the corner. Laura had insisted on what she called a "fashion show", but Regina had barely stepped into the chosen dress before Laura brushed up on her undressing skills and helped her out of it again.

Regina smirked. It had been quite fun, but the result was mess everywhere.

I guess I better get started then. She could postpone it, but the dresses would eventually get damp and end up ruined. Regina wasn't interested in seeing her old dresses waste away. And especially not now when Laura seemed to like them so.

Regina bent down and picked up her leather pants. Stepping into those had been quite the task, but Laura had been most helpful in taking them off Regina again.

The things I do for… Regina froze for a moment with the leather pants dangling loosely in her hand. For what, exactly? The things I do for what?

Did she even dare to delve further into that question?

Was her "fondness" for Laura slipping into something deeper?

That sounds dangerous.

Regina decided not to investigate it further. I'll have that discussion with Laura, and not myself.

She lifted another dress from the vault floor and brushed the dust off of it before she carefully stuffed it back into the closet again.

That would probably keep her busy. At least for an hour so or.

After her vault clear out, Regina decided that she had earned herself a cup of coffee. So, she headed over to Granny's and found an empty spot near the counter.

It didn't take long before Zelena showed up next to her, looked around and asked: "No Laura?"

"Dropped her off earlier." Regina answered and did her best not to sound pathetic.

"Oh. Emma told me she took your little surprise well?"

Regina scoffed a little. So, that slipped out. "Yes, yes she did. Very well."

"So, you and she are all good? I didn't dare ask while she was still here."

"How considerate of you," Regina praised. "Nice to see you are capable of that…"

Zelena shot her a look.

"But yes, she and I are fine. Very fine," Regina amended.

"Good. But you're snapping because you miss her, yes?"

Regina deflated. "The distance might be starting to get to me a little," she admitted.

Zelena, bless her didn't feed Regina with ridiculous comments about Boston not being that far away. She simply nodded, smiled a little and said: "Three weeks and you'll be in Paris with her."

And Regina tried her best to settle for that.

She wouldn't have made it through the next two weeks if it hadn't been for Laura and their ongoing chat.

The reveal of Regina's former identity hadn't changed anything between them. If anything, Laura had been even more flirty towards her when they chatted online. One time, she had begged Regina to come on camera in one of her dresses. And Regina, even though she would never admit it to anyone, had actually complied, and she and Laura had had plenty of fun that particular afternoon.

At the end of the second week, Regina was beginning to very, very slowly plan her journey to Paris. She didn't dare speak too loudly about it. She was scared of jinxing something.

But she had found her old, dusty suitcase, brushed the dust off of it and peeking inside it to see whether it was too worn out to bring. It wasn't, and next step was to very slowly open the closet and ponder about what to bring.

She was still pondering when she was sitting in a booth in Granny's Diner, her paperwork spread over the table. She was supposed to be working and get on top of things before the big getaway, but for some reason, she found herself unable to work.

"Blong."

Regina chuckled a little as she fished her phone out of her pocket. And there's the reason.

[Regina has logged in]

Laura: Hey, Ms. Queen. Wanna help me out? :P

Regina: Yes. Always. Unless it's something sordid. I'm in public.

Laura: It's…..Half sordid, actually. Oops.

Regina: Okay. I can work with half sordid. Go on.

[Laura has sent you an attached file]

Regina swiftly clicked on the attached file with one finger while she used her other hand to balance the coffee cup and take a sip of said hot beverage.

The next moment she was somewhere between either spitting it out or choking profusely.

That was half sordid. Laura had sent her a picture of two nightgowns. One black lace, one red lace, both of them very much see through.

Laura: So, what will it be, Ms. Mills? Red or black?

Regina: Aren't you supposed to attend a competition when we get to Paris?

Laura: Hopefully that's not all I'll be doing :-D Red or black?

Regina: Both.

Laura: Have I ever mentioned how much I like your mind?

Regina: Only a few hundredth times.

Laura: I already miss that vault.

Regina: I have a distinct feeling you will be coming back to it.

Laura: You bet your glorious arse I will.

Regina: Elegantly put as always.

Laura: Thanks! I try my best ;P

Regina: I'm sure you do, dear. I'm absolutely certain.

Laura: Soooo, I take it you like the nightgowns?

Regina: That would be correct. Are those new or haven't I seen everything your closet has to offer?

Laura: They're new. Bought especially for Paris.

Regina: Oh. Perhaps I should acquire new clothes too?

Laura: What's the point in that? I'm gonna rip it right off you anyway.

Regina chuckled out loud despite trying to hold it back. Oh, Laura.

Regina: Is that a promise? Because that sounds fun…

Laura: Careful. Getting hot and bothered here.

Regina: Says the woman who flashed her less than innocent nightwear for me...

Laura: Touché, Ms. Witch. Touché.

Regina: I'll have you know I nearly choked on my coffee...

Laura: I would like to have seen that!

Regina: I'm sure you would. Are you available for Skype tonight?

Laura: I'd cancel anything for you.

Regina: Was that a yes or a no?

Laura: That was a "I shall eagerly be waiting by the laptop with my shirt undone."

Regina: Laura Rose Edwards!

Laura: Come on, we both know how much you like me with my shirt undone.

Regina: …

Laura: Don't ya? :P

Regina: Guilty as charged.

Laura: Ha! Maybe I shouldn't be wearing anything at all?

Regina: I'm pretty sure that would give me heart palpations. Save the striptease for Paris.

Laura: Fine. I will. But I assure you, you will get a proper striptease then.

Regina: Looking forward to that, darling.

"Let's see, smiling goofily at your phone, playing with your hair and leaving your coffee to get cold… Who could you possibly be chatting with?"

Regina looked up and saw Snow and Emma approach her. And the cheeky remark had surprisingly enough come from Snow.

"Oh, do shut up," Regina muttered. "Yes, I'm chatting with Laura, okay? Shoot me down."

Emma chuckled. "How's she doing?"

"She appears to be fine."

"Is she excited for Paris?" Snow inquired and smiled broadly.

"Yes, she is." Regina confirmed.

"Are you?" the princess continued.

"Mhmm." Even though the word was casual, Regina couldn't quite keep the smile off her face. Because she was excited for Paris. More than excited. A full week alone with Laura. She could hardly wait.

Emma flashed her another broad smile. "Tell her we're saying hi."

"Fine. I will."

Regina: Emma and Snow sends their warmest regards.

Laura: Aww, how sweet of them. Tell them I'll be back in their magical town before they know it :D :D

Regina: Was that a threat?

Laura: Nope. I don't make threats. Just promises.

Regina: So that thing about ripping off my clothes WAS in fact a promise?

Laura: Do you WANT me to rip off your fine and expensive clothes?! I am shocked!

Regina: Very funny.

Laura: But hey, you'll look hella sophisticated in Paris.

Regina: "hella"?

Laura: It's a word. Opposed to "abselutely".

Regina: Oh god, don't remind me. I still have nightmares about those hangovers.

Laura: Don't be so dramatic. It was a fun night :P

Regina: Mmm. It was.

Laura: And didn't I in fact rip your clothes on that occasion? I have a faint memory of something tearing…

Regina: Right. That was my panties.

Laura: Really? You never told me that!

Regina: You didn't ask.

Laura: Did I seriously rip our panties in drunkenness? Damn…

Regina: Believe me, I was impressed too.

Laura: I'll have to try that again in Paris.

Regina: Is that another promise?

Laura: Yes, definitely.

Regina: Excellent.

Laura: You know what I would like?

Laura: Apart from your naked body within reach, obviously.

Regina: Laura!

Regina: Back to what you would like, I think.

Laura: I would like to continue this conversation all day long.

Regina: But I'm guessing you can't because there's a customer coming in, am I correct?

Laura: Spot on. Gotta go. Talk to you later. Keep your phone close at all times.

Regina: Will do. Sell some flowers for me.

[Laura has logged out]

[Regina has logged out]

Regina finally looked up at Snow and Emma who had sat down on the barstools next to her.

"Sorry about that," the brunette offered a bit sheepishly.

Snow chuckled warmly. "Regina, you don't have to apologize for texting your girlfriend. It's perfectly alright."

"I guess you two can't wait to run off together, can you?" Emma smirked.

"We're not running off together, Miss Swan. It's a planned holiday," Regina said firmly.

"In Paris," Snow added and mock swooned. "I'm not the least bit jealous or anything."

"Well, I'm not about to offer you to come with us," Regina quipped.

Emma laughed. "Is Laura coming to Storybrooke anytime soon then?"

"Yes, I think so."

"And you're meeting her grandmother too?" Snow asked.

"I am," Regina confirmed and nodded. "Once we get back from Paris."

"Nervous?" Emma asked plainly.

Regina nodded again. She couldn't run from that. The prospect of meeting "grandmother Rose" was definitely nerve wracking. She was the most important person in Laura's life, and Regina so wanted to make a good impression. To get the stamp of approval from Laura's grandmother, so to speak.

"You'll be fine," Snow assured. "I'm sure she'll love you."

Regina dared not confirming that. "I'll cross that bridge once I get to it," she settled for. First Paris, then meeting Laura's grandmother. One thing at the time, please.

To Be Continued…..