It was easy for things to fall back into place between the two women. Knowing glances and lingering touches and passionate kisses. The routine just came naturally. Emma's sneakers in the foyer next to Henry and Roland's, the bug parked out in the driveway, the spare baseball glove on the kitchen island in the morning. And when the routine was broken, it was felt throughout the entire house. Only one coffee cup on the counter in the morning instead of two, the other side of the bed strikingly cold, the lack of laughs at the dinner table.

The evening found Regina relaxing on the couch, a book in one hand while the other absently stroked through Roland's hair as he rested his head in her lap. He was absorbed in the show that played on the television. Or so she thought.

"Mom?"

"Yes my little prince?" Her eyes stayed focused on the book as she spoke. Multitasking at its finest.

"Why does Ms. Emma have to sleep at her house?"

Her eyes stopped moving over the words as she set the book down, knowing this wouldn't be a short conversation. "What do you mean?"

"Sometimes she sleeps here and then sometimes she sleeps back at her house. Why?"

Regina pondered his question for a moment. "You know how sometimes you sleep here and sometimes you sleep at your dad's? Why do you come back here when you are at your dad's house?"

"Because I miss you," he said instantly, pushing himself up to look at her.

"Well it's the same for her. She misses her house."

"But I miss her when she's not here," he said with a small pout. "I like it because she helps me with my homework and she makes fun pancakes and she makes everyone laugh."

Regina chuckled at that as she took off her reading glasses and placed them on the end table next to her book.

"I miss her when she's not here, too," she admitted. "I'll tell her that you miss her when I talk to her later, alright?"

The grin she received as an answer was all the confirmation she needed.

The night found her sitting up in bed, phone pressed to her ear and eyes staring longingly at the empty place beside her.

"I'm sorry, darling. What did you just say? I got distracted."

The chuckle from the other end of the line warmed her soul. "Why don't we talk about what has you distracted instead?"

"It's nothing. Well…" She trailed off and wet her lips. "Roland asked why you have to sleep at your house sometimes."

"What did you tell him?"

"That sometimes you miss your house and your bed. He said he misses you when you aren't here."

"I miss him, too." The answer came almost instantly.

There was a short pause before Regina continued in a soft voice. "I miss you when you aren't here."

"I miss you, too." She could hear the smile in Emma's voice. "It's definitely not the same when I wake up alone. The only plus side is no one is pushing me out of my bed."

"Emma Swan!" Regina gasped. "I do not push you out of the bed!"

"I never said that you did." A laugh. "You know what they say about a guilty conscience."

"You are a pain in my backside," Regina grumbled.

Her hand absently rubbed over the sheets on Emma's side of the bed as she only half listened to what the blonde was saying. Something about school having just started and baseball workouts. She was interested, truly she was. But her mind was somewhere else.

"Then the next thing I know Nick is hanging by one leg on the monkey bars and -"

"I want you to move in with me."

Regina closed her eyes and held her breath as she waited for an answer. She knew it was rude to cut someone off but she needed to say it before she lost her nerve.

"Well there was a change of topic if I ever heard one," Emma laughed. "I really want to move in with you."

Regina released the breath she was holding with a smile. "Really?"

"Really. I was going to mess around with you for a little while, but this was something I've been wanting for a while now so I figured I shouldn't."

"Again, pain in my backside." She rolled her eyes but nothing could wipe the smile off of her face.

"I love you, too," Emma said sweetly. "I'll see you tomorrow and we can start talking about this some more."

"I love you, too, Emma." The words that scared her so much once upon a time now flowed freely from her lips.

With most of her things already at the house, it didn't take long for Emma to fully move in. Once the last box had been unpacked a calm fell over the house. A new normal.

Henry and Roland soaked up the extra attention they were getting with Emma being in the house full time. There was always that second shoulder when needed, but also a second scolding when warranted.

Regina enjoyed it the most it seemed. Every time she'd walk in after work to see Emma's shoes in the foyer, she'd smile. Every time she'd see Emma helping the boys or making dinner, she'd grin. And every time Emma would look up and give her one of those slow and easy lopsided smiles, her heart would melt. Everything felt right.

Her favorite, thought, was at night when they would get ready for bed. She would come out of the bathroom to put on her lotion as part of her nightly routine and Emma would walk back in the room from telling the boys goodnight. Like clockwork, Emma would shimmy out of her night shorts, leaving her in just her underwear and an over-sized shirt, and crawl into her, her eyes glued to Regina. The brunette would look away under the guise of making sure she hadn't missed any lotion, hiding her smile as she did.

"Gods, you're beautiful."

Regina turned back to see Emma's soft expression, eyes full of innocence and love. It warmed her heart. She placed her lotion back on the vanity before crawling onto the bed, not stopping until she was cupping Emma's cheek.

"It takes one to know one," she said just as softly, afraid anything louder would pop the bubble they were in and ruin the moment.

Emma nuzzled her cheek against Regina's palm before turning her head and kissing it. Then a kiss to her wrist. Then her forearm. And further up until she was kissing Regina's shoulder, neck, cheek, and finally her lips.

"How did I get so lucky to land a woman like you?"

"I'm the lucky one, Emma. You were so kind and patient with me. I'm so glad you gave me another chance." She leaned close to kiss Emma softly, their lips moving together in a perfected rhythm.

"The make up sex was pretty good, too," Emma said with a grin and a wink once they pulled apart.

Regina rolled her eyes and gave Emma a playful push before reaching for the comforter. "Okay, time for bed."

They both snuggled down under the blankets, Regina's back against Emma's side as the blonde tucked her hands behind her head and stared up at the ceiling. Her mind did not calm as it usually did once she got in bed. Tonight, it only grew more active.

"Regina?" she finally asked in the darkness. The soft hum she got let her know Regina was on the verge of drifting off. "Do you remember the day we got back together?"

Her response took a second in her sleep muddled state. "Yes. Like you said, the make up sex was pretty good."

Emma could hear the humor in Regina's voice and grinned. "That's true. Do you remember what you said when you were banging on my door?"

"Yes, I do."

Emma bit her lip, getting up the nerve to ask the next question. She rolled onto her side and propped her head up on her hand. Her eyes roamed over Regina's form in the dark.

"So do you still want to get married or was that just said in the heat of the moment?"

It felt like she waited an eternity for an answer. The world seemed to stop turning. At first she didn't think Regina had heard her, that maybe the woman had already dozed off to sleep. But then the form began to move, turning from her side and onto her stomach, face pressed down into the pillow. Then Regina's body was rising as she pushed herself up from the mattress and she turned her head to look at Emma with the biggest grin imaginable. All of a sudden the world started turning again. That grin was all the answer she needed.

Well guys, this is the end of this story. But it's not the end of our ladies' story. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the sequel, including a wedding, Emma's sobriety getting tested, Will making another appearance, and lots of other twists and turns that I don't want to give away just yet. Also, if there's something you'd like to see me slip into the story, don't be scared to leave it in a comment or a message. I love weaving your ideas into my stories.