"But you're not in love with me, are you?" Emma asked softly.

"I don't know," Regina answered. "I don't know what being in love is supposed to feel like. I know that I love my parents, but that isn't the same thing as being in love with another person. And I don't know what that means, to be in love with someone."

Emma faced her. "What do you mean you don't know? It's a feeling, Regina. It's not something you should have to think about or analyze. It's a connection that goes beyond explanation. You either feel it or you don't and clearly, you don't."

Pushing the covers off of her, Emma got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" Regina asked, sitting up.

Emma looked back at her and shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just need some time to myself."

She began to walk to the door when Regina hurried from the bed. "No, please, don't go," Regina said, as she rushed over to Emma. She stopped just short of her. The only illumination in the room came from the outside, but it was enough for Emma and Regina to make out each other's features and Regina saw the sadness and resignation on Emma's face.

"I'm sorry," Regina said.

"You don't have to apologize," Emma said. "I shouldn't have asked the question. Just a couple of days ago I tell you it's fine if you don't feel the same way, and here I am pressuring you to say something when you don't feel it."

"But you don't understand," Regina said. "I don't know that I don't feel it. I don't know if what I feel for you is love because I've never been in love before. All I know is that I wake up every morning and I immediately look at you because you are the only one I want to see when I first wake up. I know that it's your lips and only yours that I want to kiss. I know that when we touch that I don't want anyone else's touch. I know that when we go to bed at night that I want your arms around me or just want to be able to feel your presence there because it's not our bed unless you are in it with me. I know that if I'm ever in trouble or feeling overwhelmed like I am right now that you are the one I want to turn to because you always seem to know what to say or what not to say to me to give me focus. You are everything that is good about my life here and I don't know if that is me being in love with you or what it is because I don't what it's like to be in love because I never expected it would happen for me. It's like everything in my life that's been important has come with uncertainty and I hate how that makes me feel. I hate it and you're the one that makes that uncertainty go away. You give me clarity and I need that. I need you, Emma."

She kissed Emma as soon as she was done talking, pouring all her emotions into that action. Emma responded in kind, wrapping her arms around Regina and pulling her in close. Her lips dragged across Emma's, pulled at them, and enveloped them. She needed Emma to feel the things she couldn't figure out how to say.

Emma began to direct her back toward the bed and when Regina felt the back of her legs hit it, they finally broke off the kissing. Both women stood there, breathing hard and staring at the other. Regina was the first to move, taking a seat on the bed looking up at Emma, who immediately came in for more kisses – forcing Regina to back up onto the bed where her wife joined her.

Lying side by side, Emma continued to kiss her as she took her hand and placed it on Regina's leg. She let it slide up slowly, pulling the nightgown up with it until she came to rest on Regina's hip. This time when she broke off the kissing, she looked down at where her hand rested. She paused a moment before moving it up even further as Regina resumed kissing her.

Her hand moved up Regina's side and drifted over to her breast. It was a light touch, letting her fingers ghost over the nipple, which immediately stiffened. She gave it a light pinch.

As soon as she did Regina stopped kissing her and sat up.
Emma was about to apologize when Regina reached down and gripped the bottom of her nightgown and pulled it up and off. Emma's mouth which was already partly open to say she was sorry, hung there as she took in this sight. Although she had seen Regina naked before, this was a completely different experience.

She scrambled up, kissing Regina and wrapping her arms around her.

When she felt Regina tugging at her nightwear, Emma stopped their kissing just long enough to pull it off and then pull Regina back down on the bed with her. Again, she reached for one of Regina's breasts, kneading the flesh, causing Regina to make a muffled noise through the kiss.

Emma began to kiss along her jawline and then her neck. There wasn't a single part of Regina that she didn't want to touch. She could hear Regina's breaths increase and the sound spurred her on.

Regina's hand was on her back, her nails barely scratching her flesh as they moved up and down.

Emma worked her kisses down Regina's neck to her breast, flicking her tongue out to the nipple. Again, it elicited a moan from Regina that was almost sexier than seeing her wife naked.

It was her who was caught off guard though when she felt Regina's hand slide between her legs and brush along her panties. Regina's fingers played along the edges of her panties, circling – it was enough to almost make Emma lose her concentration completely.

Things had quickly escalated and Emma pulled back a moment, looking into Regina's eyes.

"Are you sure?"

She didn't need to explain any further. They both knew that if they continued doing what they were doing where it was leading.

"I'm sure," Regina said without hesitation.

….

Regina woke with Emma's arm wrapped around her, their bodies pressed close together. She could feel Emma's naked flesh against her own and visions of the night before flooded her mind, making her smile.

They had finally consummated the marriage they had started a year ago and despite being nervous in the time leading up to it, Regina couldn't imagine it being any more perfect than it ended up being.

Turning around to see her still sleeping wife she thought about gentle and understanding Emma had been with her.

Not that it had all been gentle exactly.

Leaning in, she kissed Emma's lips. It took two kisses before she heard a slight hum from the blonde as she began to wake. By the fourth kiss, Emma had finally opened her eyes and smiled.

"Good morning," Regina said.

"Yes, it is," Emma said, kissing her. She pulled Regina in close, deciding she at least couldn't wait to experience making love to her wife again.

From the response she was getting from Regina she was guessing she felt the same way.

"We're supposed to be having breakfast with our parents and any of the other royalty that hasn't left yet," Regina said between kisses.

"Let's not mention our parents right now," Emma said.

Regina laughed and rolled Emma flat on her back, getting on top of her. Emma was wowed by the sight even more so now that there was plenty of light in the room. She tried to reach up to cup those glorious breasts that seemed to her to be begging more touches, but Regina intercepted her reach and pushed her hands back onto the bed, bending down to kiss her.

By the time Regina had worked her way down Emma's body all thoughts of anything else but enjoying each other had left their minds.

…

After having breakfast – a breakfast where their daughters didn't join them – the two sets of parents retired to the library to discuss matters. Again Cora erected a silencing spell around the room.

"You left rather abruptly last night," Snow said.

"It couldn't be helped," Cora responded. "I thought I sensed a magic-user down in the crowd and went to investigate but I found no one."

"Are you sure there was one at all?"

"No," Cora answered honestly. While she was sure of what she felt last night she couldn't dismiss the idea that she had been mistaken. She had slept badly thinking many dark thoughts – about how if there was a magic-user of any power perhaps she would be no match for them. It had been too long since she had used magic regularly and she worried that if it came to a point where she would have to use magic to protect those she loved that she would be found lacking the power.

"I didn't find any trace of magic down in the crowd when I went for a closer look," Cora said. "I could have been mistaken, but I also want to be cautious. I must say I was happy that Midas chose to leave so early this morning."

"After you disappeared last night he tried to engage Regina in a conversation," Charming said. "I interrupted them."

"Thank you for that," Henry said. "I don't want him anywhere near my daughter."

"You're welcome. I also noticed Patrick, Midas' grandson has taken an interest in Emma."

"I don't think there is any danger of Emma's affection transferring to him," Cora said. "She's in love with our daughter. What we wished to accomplish by joining our families we have accomplished."

"I noticed you said Emma is in love with Regina, but you didn't say that Regina was in love with Emma," Snow said.

"Regina cares very deeply for Emma," Cora said. "I think that is evident to all of us. She's more reserved in the way she carries herself than Emma is. That is unfortunately on our shoulders for what we have done in keeping her from learning magic. She has learned to hold back because of that and that holding back has seeped into other aspects of her life. What I can tell you is I haven't seen my daughter happy like she is with Emma in a long time. Give her time and I do not doubt she will open herself up to love Emma with all she has."

Snow and Charming shared a look and Snow then nodded. "You are right. We can all see the affection our daughters share for each other. It will only grow stronger in time."

"What I don't understand is why Midas would even bother trying anything. Why now?" Cora said. "If he truly wanted to match Patrick up with Emma why not do something before the marriage took place? It doesn't make any sense."

"Maybe it's just pettiness since he didn't get his way all those years ago," Charming offered up.

"Perhaps," Cora said, although she doubted it.

Henry steered the conversation to the other topic they needed to discuss – ending their stewardship. Snow had no objections to it and they decided to tell their daughters – as soon as they saw them.

…

"You know we could just stay up here all day," Emma said, as she sat soaking in the bathwater with Regina the next tub over. Regina had finally convinced her it was time to get out of bed, but with both of them needing to take a bath, the continued sight of her wife's naked body was enough to convince Emma that any affairs of state could wait.

"We could, but how would we explain that?" Regina said. "Besides, we have probably already missed other members of the royalty leaving this morning. Although I can't say I minded in the least bit not seeing King Midas and his grandson off."

"Patrick seemed nice."

"Yes, I could see how nice he was being with you," Regina commented. "I was almost to the point of reminding him that you are a married woman."

"Jealous?"

"Cautious," Regina replied. "Did you notice our parents were also giving Midas the cold shoulder? While I was grateful for your father rescuing me from having to speak to Midas last night, I also wondered why he did it. Did you say something to him about Midas making me feel uncomfortable?"

"No," Emma said. "But now that you mention it, I guess I did kind of see that no one was that eager to speak to him. I wonder what that is all about. Some past grief between the kingdoms maybe?"

"I don't know. Like I said, I had never been to his kingdom."

"I haven't either."

"I thought you said you had met him before."

"I have but never in his kingdom. He's never been to my parents' kingdom either, that I know of. He probably has, but I don't remember it. I wasn't really big on hanging around when other royalty were there for state functions. He's been at some of the other kingdoms at the same time we were visiting which is how I've met him. When I was speaking with Patrick yesterday I had mentioned that I had never been to his kingdom and he invited me up."

"Oh, did he?"

"Yes, and I told him I would have to speak with my wife about that as we will probably be visiting more of the other kingdoms together in the future."

Regina's expression got more serious. "I guess we will have to talk about doing such things now that it appears our parents are willing to give up the stewardship. Trade agreements will need to be negotiated by us alone and we will have to appoint ambassadors to travel to these other kingdoms before we do. It will mean refreshing our knowledge of their languages and customs. Even though we've been here for a year as rulers, we haven't even begun to be diplomats for our people."

Emma groaned. "You know you don't make being rulers sound like much fun?"

"I'm not sure it is meant to be fun," Regina said. "But we can worry about such things later. Today, today, I want things to be as calm as possible after the way yesterday went."

"I don't know, yesterday wasn't all bad," she said smiling.

"No, it wasn't. Last night was particularly stimulating."

"Which is why I'm lobbying for us to just stay in bed all day."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Regina said standing up in the tub and grabbing a towel to wrap around herself as she got out. "Besides, if we leave the bedroom just think about much you will anticipate getting back there later tonight. Now, are you ready to start your day?"

"No, I want five more minutes of soak time," Emma pouted playfully. Regina got out of her tub and dried off, kissing Emma on the top of her head before leaving.

Once Regina was gone, Emma leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She did want a few more minutes with the hot water. She had found last night's and this morning's activities to be quite a good workout and the water was doing a good job of relaxing her muscles.

It hadn't escaped her attention that Regina had not said she loved her yet. When she was listening to Regina speak of how she was the only one she wanted to kiss or go to bed with, Emma still wasn't sure that Regina loved her. The other words were nice but she wanted to hear Regina say she loved her.

She knew she should probably be content with what Regina had said and the consummating of their marriage, but until she heard Regina say the words 'I love you' Emma was afraid she would doubt Regina's feelings for her.

What Regina had said, while sweet, was full of uncertainty. Regina was such a confident person in most aspects of her life and personality, so that is why it bothered Emma so much. Regina didn't know if she was in love with Emma. For Emma, there was no doubt about her feelings for Regina. She felt it with each breath she took.

Forcing herself to stop thinking about it, and forcing herself to get out of the tub, she began the process of actually starting the day.

When she made it back to their chambers, Regina was still getting dressed in the side room as Emma joined her.

"Should we track down our parents first?" Emma asked.

"We should. They probably wondered why we didn't make it down for breakfast."

"Let's hope they don't ask why because that is not a line of questioning I want to get from my parents."

"Nor do I."

Regina finished dressing but instead of leaving the room, she watched as Emma dressed. She found she was already thinking about getting back to the room that night.

She had no idea that being with Emma like that would feel as wonderful as it did.

She hadn't wanted this marriage but now she couldn't imagine being without it. What she had said last night to her parents about it not being a choice if she had to choose between magic and this had been true. She did believe in what she and Emma were building here and she wanted it to be untainted by the secrets and lies that seemed to have surrounded her own life.

"Regina?"

She looked up and saw Emma was looking at her with concern and she realized she had probably been standing there lost in her thoughts for a while as Emma was now dressed.

"Sorry," Regina said. "I was thinking."

"About what? It looked kind of serious."

Regina paused, considering what her parents had told her about what she must not tell Emma. It was these kinds of secrets that had damaged her relationship with her parents and she didn't want it to be like that with Emma.

"There is something I need to tell you," she said finally.

"What is it?"

"It's about why we had to get married," Regina said. "The real reason why."