Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Chapter 20

It was about twenty minutes into the movie when Alex was asleep. Lying with her head in her mother's lap and her tiny feet in Regina's. Emma had managed to persuade her to put on her PJs before they had started the movie. Once Emma was sure she was asleep she plucked up Alex and moved to bring her to her room. She laid her down softly and gave her a kiss on the temple wishing her a goodnight as she did so. She apologized to her sleeping daughter for all that had occurred that evening before kissing her again barely holding back the tears as she did so. When she re-entered the living room Regina was sitting where she had left her. She turned when she heard Emma enter the room and seeing the distress and tears in Emma's eyes she stood immediately and gathered her in her arms.

"Oh Emma," Regina says as she hugs her tightly and kisses the side of her head.

"Gina I was so scared," Emma whispers as she cries and grabs Regina tightly.

They stood like that holding one another for a long time.

"Sorry about our date," Emma says as she pulls back to look in those amazing mocha eyes.

"It's not your fault," Regina says using the pad of her thumb to wipe away a tear from Emma's cheek. Emma takes Regina's hand and leads her to the couch.

"Talk to me Emma please," Regina says after a few minutes of them sitting on the couch with Emma huffing and shaking her head every now and then.

"How could I have been so stupid for so long Regina?" Emma says with a groan.

"What do you mean?" Regina says not sure why Emma thinks she is stupid.

"Killian, so blindly doing things for him. Not seeing that he was pulling me away from Alex all the time. She gets so afraid I am leaving now and oh god you should've seen her earlier when he was here banging on the door. I have never seen her like that. It broke my heart," Emma says as she the tears form in her eyes again.

"Hey, don't blame yourself here. You were working to make a good life for you and Alex and that is what you have achieved. Look at this lovely home, and that little girl is wonderful, she stole my heart," Regina says honestly squeezing Emma's hands.

"How could I be so blind?" Emma says again squeezing her eyes closed.

"Stop Emma. You were working your ass off for that little girl. That little girl that you took into your life and loved. That little girl who when she looks at you thinks you can pluck the stars from the sky. Before you came into the kitchen, she told me you were her hero. That you stopped Killian getting in here. Emma, she doesn't think you abandoned her. You are her hero," Regian says honestly squeezing Emma's hands trying to get those words to sink into Emma.

"Really?" Emma says in disbelief.

"Yes really," Regina says with a laugh.

"You are an amazing mother Emma. From the very first moment I met you, you have been showing it. The way you calmed Henry that day. I was so in awe of you," Regina says with a slight blush "and then when I came to do the story on you and hearing all about how you have come through a bad start in life to get to where you are. Emma you are an inspiration."

Emma is speechless after Regina's little speech.

"Listen I know our date got ruined, and it is still early enough how about I order us a pizza and we can talk or watch a movie?" Emma says shyly drawing patters on Regina's hand that rests in her lap now.

"That sounds lovely," Regina says and as Emma gets up to go and order the pizza Regina pulls her back to her and gives her a searing kiss. Emma smiles as Regina pulls back.

"Just wanted to start our date off the way I had intended," Regina says with a smirk.

"Kissing at the start of the date?" Emma says with a quirked eyebrow.

"Just wanted to make my intentions clear," Regina says with a grin. Emma laughs as she kisses Regina's hand and heads to get a takeout menu for the pizza place down the street. They select the pizza and Emma makes the call.

"I just want to check on Alex," Emma says nervously as she indicates towards the bedrooms.

"Sure thing," Regina responds with a smile.

Emma peeks in the door of Alex's room to see her daughter still sound asleep. She takes a deep breath that her daughter is safe and sound. She heads to the kitchen and grabs two glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge.

"Sorry hope you like white wine it is all I have at the minute," Emma says as she leaves the bottle and glasses down.

"It's perfect Emma," Regina says with a smile as Emma pours the wine.

"Did you want to watch a movie?" Emma asks.

"No, I think I would just like to talk and get to know you," Regina says as she takes the glass from Emma and sits back against the couch.

"How about a little music then," Emma says as she presses some buttons on the remote control and some nice jazz music comes on. Emma picks up her glass and curls her legs underneath her.

"I just want to say that I am sorry for tonight and us missing our date," Emma says again looking down.

"Well what do you think we are doing right now?" Regina says with a smile.

"Seems like a date to me. Drinks, food on the way and a beautiful lady for me to talk to," Regina continues.

"Right you are," Emma says with a smile and a slight blush.

"So how are you settling in in Boston?" Emma asks.

"I really like it. I mean it was a huge move for me and Henry, but I had to do it for us," Regina says honestly.

"Do you miss home?" Emma asks.

"Not really, all I had there was my parents and Kathryn. I talk all the time to Kathryn still and as you know my parents still drop around all the time," Regina says with a smile.

"Yes, I remember," Emma says with a laugh.

"Have you decided what you want to do job wise?" Regina asks.

Emma slightly winces at the question given how her evening has gone.

"I am not sure. With everything that happened this evening I just don't know," Emma says with a sigh. Regina reaches over a hand to take Emma's and intertwines their fingers together.

"Sorry I should have laid off that question a bit for this evening," Regina says.

"It's ok," Emma says with a smile and a squeeze of Regina's hand. She is enjoying the feel of Regina's fingers locked in hers.

"How is Henry?" Emma asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"He is good. Was being spoiled and cuddled by my mother when I left," Regina says with a smile.

A smile that Emma loves to see on her. It looks really good on her and she looks forward to seeing a lot more of it.

"How's work?" Emma asks.

"It's good. I am just trying to get to know everyone and remember names," Regina says.

Just then a knock at the door causes Emma to jump slightly. Regina squeezes her hand.

"It's probably just the pizza, I will get it. Was my date anyways," Regina says as she bounds off the couch and to the door. Regina returns with the pizza in her hands and sets it on the table.

Emma is still sitting there and hasn't really moved since Regina got up. She is lost in her thoughts. But not thoughts of Killian but thoughts of Regina. Of how nice this feels right now, of how calm and happy she is when she is in Regina's company. Of the scene in the kitchen with Alex and how Regina had brought her a flower too. A flower that was now currently in a water jar beside Alex's bed.

"Hey," Regina says gently as she places a hand on Emma's knee thinking she is lost in thoughts of Killian.

This breaks Emma from her thoughts, and she takes Regina's hand in hers causing Regina to smile. Emma pulls Regina to her and seals her lips over Regina's. The kiss is slow and soft, but it is sending much more messages between the two women. It's a promise to one another. There is feeling and emotions being expressed in it that really both women think it is way too early for bit it is there.

"Wow," Regina's exclaims as they break for air and keep their foreheads resting together. Their hands together and fingers intertwined. Emma hums in response. Both women just enjoying this moment together.

Author's Note

Apologies for the delay college is really kicking my butt