February 14th 2017

Emma woke early the next morning, the thought of her upcoming date with who she believed was the love of her life waking her from dreams of spending the rest of her life with the other woman and their son. She was grinning like a fool before she was even fully awake and she sat up, looking around the spare room she had gone to bed in. Regina had almost suggested that they stay in the same room for the night, but the hidden romantic side of Emma wanted them to spend the night apart so the next day together would be all the more special.

They had spent the previous day together after Emma had been chastised in front of the whole diner by Snow for not telling her about their relationship sooner. She had made them sit at a booth while she called David, and the six of them had shared breakfast, Emma mostly quiet as she watched Regina interact with her little brother. She hadn't seen how her parents seemed to be watching her, too smitten watching the one she loved. When they'd left the diner, Regina was the first one that Snow had embraced, and David had kissed her forehead and whispered to her that he was happy she was happy. Emma had merely blushed at the comment, more shy now about watching Regina, but unable to tear her eyes away as the brunette pressed kisses all over the baby's face. After that, walking around the town was easier. Even though they were not officially in a relationship, they weren't hiding their affection for each other, though Emma often had to stop herself from linking their fingers as they walked together. It was surprising how the acceptance of those they loved was enough to make their concerns wash away.

Emma was surprised at how well she had slept without the other woman, given that she had failed to do so for so long, but it seemed even being near Regina, a room away, with the promise of spending all the next day with her lulled her into a sense of peace and security that had allowed her to drop off. She thought back to the previous evening where Henry had not so subtly informed them he knew what happened after a couple began a relationship and that he knew what came after dating, and he was fine with it, but the look on Regina's face caused Emma to announce that she would be staying in the guest room for as long as she remained in Storybrooke, adding quietly so that Regina didn't hear, that his mother deserved to be treated with the utmost respect, and that she would be doing all she could do to make sure his mother was comfortable. She had never been hugged as tightly from her son than at that time.

After dinner, Emma had gone to Henry's room under the guise of helping him with his homework, and the two had discussed what Emma had planned for the date. She had made lists of possible things that she could do with Regina but she wanted Henry's help to make sure she hadn't planned anything that Regina would hate. She wanted to spoil the older woman and treat her like a queen, partly she hoped to allow for more dates in the future. Henry had suggested a picnic and even helped her create a list of food options that she could collect to take somewhere with Regina. The plan was for Emma to spend the day with Regina, and for Henry to spend the afternoon with Violet, out for pizza and a movie before Emma spent the evening with Regina and Henry before she had to go back to Boston.

Emma looked around at the guest room she was sat in, trying to decide whether she should wake Regina up or let her sleep. She had had two attempts over the past week to make Regina breakfast and they had both failed, so she could try again, but she didn't want to tempt fate. She dressed quickly, donning only a sports bra, tank and running shorts, it being early enough she figured she could go for a run and get back in time to make Regina breakfast at a reasonable time. She tiptoed out of her room, not wanting to disturb the other woman if she was still sleeping, deciding to go down the other staircase to try and avoid making noise and was out the back door in moments. Her run was short but refreshing, the fresh air boosting her mood and energy for the day ahead. She was surprised when she got back to the kitchen that Henry was up, still dressed in his Avengers pyjamas, flipping what appeared to be French toast on the stove. Emma wanted to chastise the teen for cooking before she realised that he was no longer the 10 year old boy that had turned up at her apartment and that he was more than capable of cooking under Regina's tuition. She heard a soft mumbling from the corner and after a few seconds noticed Henry was listening to the audiobook from one of 'The Ranger's Apprentice' collection, a series of books he'd been collecting since he was a kid, and began re-reading when he heard the author was writing another. She wanted to make him aware of her presence, but instead just stood back and watched as he flipped the toast and cracked another egg in the bowl.

"I know you're there, ma, you can't exactly shut the door quietly when you come in…" Emma pouted as she made her way fully into the kitchen pressing the iPod to stop the audiobook.

"What are you doing kid? I was gonna make your mom breakfast…"

Henry turned to face his blonde mother and grinned. "Ever since I was a little kid my mom made me breakfast on Valentine's. She said that I would always be her special little valentine. I know that that was just because I was a kid, and now I'm older and she has relationships… I just wanted to do something nice for her. And you, I guess." Emma grinned at his embarrassment as he tacked her on to the end of his sentence and grabbed a piece of already cooked French toast, nibbling on the corner. She began to wash some berries to put with the toast. After it was plated, Henry took his breakfast, and made his way upstairs, leaving Emma to go and get Regina up so they could eat breakfast together, making Emma promise to tell the other woman that Henry had been involved in the breakfast making process.

Emma paused outside Regina's door. She'd tried to be quiet again as she'd walked up the stairs, but she figured Henry hadn't been the quietest, and if she wasn't before, the older woman would definitely be awake by now. She knocked carefully, stepping back in shock at how quickly the door sprung open, the other woman wearing a robe, on the other side of the door, a shy smile gracing her features.

Emma smiled awkwardly at the ground, for some reason embarrassed as if she'd caught Regina in a state of undress and she looked down at the floor as she began to rub the back of her neck.

"I Uhhh… Henry made breakfast and I… well its downstairs if you want to join me?" Regina stepped forward as if she could sense Emma's embarrassment, cupping the woman's elbow to take her hand, pulling the door closed behind her as Emma swung her arm back down. Regina took Emma's hand and the pair walked down the stairs together. The blonde didn't notice the look Regina gave her as she squeezed her hand, the thought of their upcoming date distracting her and making her grin widely.

Regina was surprised at the layout in front of her as they got to the kitchen. Emma had set the table with a single rose in a vase between them, and a little wrapped gift at the corner of her mat. She blushed at the arrangement and sat in the seat that Emma gestured to her. Emma had thought at first that it was all a little much for a first date, but having sought relationship advice from her mother she had been told that it was the small gestures that Regina would appreciate.

Regina's smile grew as Emma pulled out her chair for her, and grasped her cup of coffee tightly when it was poured. The blonde sat opposite her sons other mother, and before she could say anything, she poured a small dash of syrup over half the toast, spooning some fresh berries over the other side. The brunette glared at the former sheriff and pushed her plate away, frowning as Emma poured a generous helping of syrup over her own plate, picking up a few strawberries.

The mayor shook her head as Emma shot her the puppy-dog eyes, glaring, though it was not serious. "Come on Gina, just try it with the syrup. Live a little…" With a roll of her eyes, Regina picked up her fork and cut off a tiny piece of toast and syrup. When she tried it, her eyes widened and she cut off a bigger piece, eating that quickly. Emma grinned and dug into her own food, watching Regina as she ate. She paused as Regina licked her lips, catching a drop of syrup and glanced down self-conscious as Regina noticed the blonde watching her.

When they had finished, Emma picked up the plates before Regina could move and quickly began to wash the dishes. She wanted to give the mayor a day she could enjoy, and not have to worry about anything. After the dishes were done, and both of them had gone up to change properly, the couple met downstairs, Henry joining them at the same time. He had planned to stay at home and study for a few hours before going to pick Violet up for their date, and so Regina warned him to behave and Emma warned him to 'treat Violet right' as they left the mansion.

Regina was about to make a sarcastic comment about riding in the 'death trap' when Emma reached for Regina's hand, walking away from the bug that was parked outside the house. They walked in companionable silence until Regina noticed they were heading towards the stables, when she looked towards Emma who was hiding a grin. "You bought me riding? I've not been riding for years!" Emma nodded, squeezing Regina's hand lightly. It was one thing she had been able to plan herself, with no help from anyone.

"Yeah, Henry said you took him when he was young. He said you missed it…" She paused as they neared the entrance, stopping in her tracks. She wasn't sure if Regina knew of her hatred of the beasts, but was determined to give it a go so Regina could enjoy herself. As if she could sense her hesitation, Regina once again took her partners hand. She could sense the hesitation, but she could also see the determination that she was going to do it no matter what. Still, she wanted to give her an opportunity, an out that she could take.

"You know Miss Swan, if you are not ready to get on a horse then we do not have to go riding today… We can simply get you acquainted with a horse, and go riding another time." Emma shook her head, determined not to look like a coward in front of her crush. She had planned they would go riding, and so they were going riding. They needed to work up an appetite for that picnic, though that was not something Emma was about to share.

"No, I can do this. I just might need you to hold my hand…" She bit her lip, looking shyly towards her date who was shaking her head in mirth, glaring until Emma started to laugh at the situation.

"Well Miss Swan, if you're determined to ride today, I guess you can ride with me. At least I can stop you being trampled by a horse." The petrified look on Emma's face made Regina chuckle and it took the brunette a few minutes to show Emma that she was joking, and that as long as she was careful and treated the horses' right, she was perfectly safe. They spent the next while getting Emma used to the horse which Regina called Artax, and the horse Emma. When Emma was comfortable around him, the couple climbed on to the horse, Regina helping Emma, and set off out of the stables slowly, Emma's arms tight around Regina's waist.

They spent the next few hours riding, slowly at first around the paddock, before increasing speed and then moving out into the wooded area. Before Emma knew it they were galloping through the trees, Emma undoubtedly having the time of her life. She was still holding onto Regina with a death grip, but all the blonde could focus on was the smell of Regina's apple shampoo as tendrils of the brunette's hair tickled her nose, the cold wind blowing against her skin and the intense feeling of freedom she couldn't identify as ever having had before.

When the blonde finally realised what time it was, she leaned her chin on Regina's shoulder whispering into her ear. "You know it's getting late, and I prepared lunch…" She smirked smugly as the mayor shivered in her grasp and released her grip from Regina's shirt, pressing her hands against her flat stomach. She chucked, almost missing Regina's quiet moan as she vibrated against her. Emma was proud of herself that she had managed to spend so much time around the horses, and she was feeling something she wasn't used to, something she could only describe as content, to see how the fresh air, the freedom, being around the horses had affected Regina. She had never seen her so care free as she had in those few hours.

They were soon back at the stables, Emma reluctantly released Regina and slid off the horse, holding out her hand for Regina, helping her down. Regina turned back to the horse to stroke his mane, raising her brow as Emma didn't release her hand. For a few minutes, the couple stood hand in hand, brushing the horse until Emma's stomach rumbled, loudly. Regina laughed, dropping Emma's hand and stepping away from Artax. "Well Miss Swan, I believe you said you prepared lunch. Not that that fills me with much joy but…" Emma took Regina's hand again, the feeling of their linked fingers already too familiar to stop. "Come on Gina… it's a picnic. And I didn't cook any of it myself so there's no risk of food poisoning…"

With their hands still joined, the couple made their way out of the stables, heading in the direction of the town hall. When Regina looked confused towards Emma, the blonde merely grinned and began to swing their linked hands between them. They were soon at the front of the town hall, but instead of walking in the front door like Regina expected, the former sheriff pulled her around the side of the building to the courtyard, where a picnic blanket was laid out under the apple tree. Regina stopped in her tracks, turning to face the blonde with her mouth hanging open.

Emma grinned like an overexcited school girl, and pulled Regina along to the blanket bouncing excitedly on the soles of her feet as the mayor sat and got comfortable. She ran quickly into the town hall, returning moments later with a picnic basket and some chilled sparkling water. She spread the picnic food she'd packed, all Regina's favourites courtesy of Henry and Granny, and poured Regina some water.

The sun beamed down as the two picked at the food, Emma telling Regina stories about Boston, with the other telling stories of the calls she got from idiots as the mayor. More than once did Emma find herself staring at the woman in front of her, as the sun made her hair lighter, as she giggled at something the blonde said, as she ate her waldorf salad more daintily than Emma had ever seen, as she stared wistfully at the miniature tarte tatin's after stating she 'simply could not eat another bite', Emma was entranced.

Once they'd eaten, and the sun became a little too warm, Emma packed up the basket, as Regina went to the bathroom to freshen up, Emma moved the blanket closer to the trunk of the tree, and picked out the other blanket she'd stored in the basket, setting it on the other. When Regina returned, the blonde was sitting against the trunk, legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles, with the basket now inside and only glasses remaining. Beside Emma was a bottle of Regina's own apple cider that had been removed from her house the night before. The mayor stood, hesitant for a moment, unsure where she should sit, until Emma tapped the spot beside her smiling shyly.

Without a second thought, the once evil regal smoothed out her dress and sat beside Emma, getting comfy quickly. Emma took her hand and linked their fingers as they both looked up to the sky, comfortable in each other's presence. It wasn't long before Emma was pointing out shapes that weren't there in the sky, most of which made Regina giggle. It was almost subconscious the way Emma began to rub circles on the back of Regina's hand with her thumb, but she was drawn out of her Regina-induced daydream as the brunette sighed happily, leaning her head on the blonde's broad shoulder. Emma knew in that moment, that there was no place she'd rather be.

As the sun was beginning to sink in the sky, and Emma was laying on the blanket, her head in Regina's lap, the once evil queen was running her fingers through the blonde locks she could no longer keep herself from playing with. Emma was beginning to doze, her hair being played with was always a weakness when she jolted upwards, ignoring the frown from Regina.

"It's getting late. We should get back, see how Henry is doing. I can't believe you've not talked about how his date might be going all day…" Emma smirked as Regina glared.

"Well I'm sorry Miss Swan, I was having a rather spectacular date myself, and our son is more than capable of looking after himself…" Even as she was saying that, her eyes were betraying just how urgently she wished to go home to her son. The sheriff stood and held out her hand to Regina, who took it gratefully, leaving the blanket there to deal with another time. The two walked together, faster than a dawdle, still keeping a grip on each other's hand.

"Well Gina, I have to be honest, this isn't really the end of our date. Henry and I picked out some movies we know you like, and we bought some of that ridiculously expensive chocolate I know you like and we are going to sit in front of the TV as a family, and watch until we fall asleep…" Emma bit her lip as Regina didn't respond, until she glanced at her and saw the normally composed mayor grinning like a fool.

"That sounds perfect."

Unbeknownst to Emma, Henry had planned his own day, and though his mothers' believed he would be joining the watching sappy movies and eating overpriced chocolate, Henry had planned to go and stay at his grandparents, watching Neal while his ma's mom and dad enjoyed their own little Valentine's date; to give the mayor and former sheriff some alone time. Snow and Charming had been excited at the prospect to spend the day with their youngest, taking him to the park and eating at their favourite spot, Granny's before having their own alone time with a babysitter they trusted willing and able to spend the night with their toddler. Snow had informed Henry that their initial plan had been to take Neal down to Boston to spend some time as a family, and Snow had been pleasantly surprised to see Emma and Regina hand in hand at Granny's, knowing now they'd have some family time before she left.

When Emma and Regina returned to the mansion, they saw a note from Henry resting on the table in the entryway, outlining his plan for their evening and informing them he would be spending the night with his grandparents. He told them his date had gone well and not to contact him. Emma frowned at the note and sighed, stepping away from Regina.

"I guess that means I should be heading out…" She stuffed her hands in her pocket, suddenly shy. "I had a wonderful time today Gina, I hope we can do it again sometime." This time it was Regina who sighed.

"Emma, you can still stay, we'll watch movies, and we'll stuff ourselves with chocolate." Her smile was contagious, as she almost dragged her into the family room where a pile of DVD's were set. While Regina chose one and started the DVD player, Emma grabbed the down blanket from the guest room and quickly changed into her pyjamas. She moved to the kitchen to make some hot chocolates while Regina changed, and soon they were cuddled under the blanket, hot chocolate in hand. This time, it was Emma's head that fell on to Regina's shoulder and they spent the rest of 'Sleepless in Seattle' like that.

The next movie was Emma's choice, and as soon as 'The Proposal' started playing, Regina shifted positions so she was leaning against the broad blonde and soon she was asleep. Emma felt the weight increase against her, and huffed as her arm began to tingle with pins and needles. Slowly she moved it to around Regina's shoulders, and only when she was sure the brunette was in a deep sleep, did she whisper against her hair.

"I love you…"