A/N: Happy Sunday, peeps!

It had been over an hour since Regina had said a word. Emma hovered in the doorway to the living room unsure whether to try and start a conversation. She'd asked a couple of questions in the Uber back home and, when they weren't answered, tried a few more once they were inside the privacy of the house. But nothing. Regina had simply curled herself up on the sofa and was now sitting, staring into space. She wasn't crying but Emma assumed that the brunette was dealing with some difficult memories which would have surfaced during her time at the police station. And she didn't want to make Regina talk before she was ready, of course. But Emma was desperate to do something, anything to help the brunette.

"Do you want a cup of tea?"

There was a pause and then Regina shook her head. At least she's listening, Emma mused. It had been unclear to her earlier if the younger woman was even registering her questions.

"Coffee?"

Another shake of her head.

"More water?" she asked, gesturing to the half empty glass on the table in front of her.

"I'm fine," Regina murmured.

Two words. Meaningless as an answer in so many millions of conversations every single day all over the UK. A default response which conveyed nothing. But to Emma, those two words meant the world. She stepped further into the room and perched on the edge of the sofa, a little further away than she would normally place herself in an attempt to be respectful of whatever Regina might be dealing with.

"Do you want something else to drink? Or something to eat? You didn't have any breakfast, so you must be hungry."

The head shaking was back, which was disappointing. But two words were better than the silence she'd endured ever since they left the police station.

"Ok, well, let me know, ok?"

This didn't even get a reaction. Well, it was a rhetorical question, she supposed.

"Can I sit here with you for a bit?" Emma asked. She had initially left Regina alone, deciding that the woman may want some space to process her thoughts. And while she knew that was probably still the case, Emma herself felt a need to be nearby.

Regina nodded her consent and Emma settled herself a little more comfortably on the sofa. She had to force herself not to reach out and touch Regina and instead crossed her legs and clasped her hands in her lap. She averted her gaze from the chocolate haired woman and scanned the room, trying to find something to distract her.

A crack which crept from the top of the window frame up to the ceiling and then snaked along to the corner of the room held her attention for a while. It was an old house which creaked every now and then during the changing seasons. The hot weather would have encouraged the elements to expand, splitting the plasterwork and adding a job to Emma's to-do list.

Outside, a siren suddenly screamed. There was a small roundabout at the end of the road and ambulances and other emergency vehicles often flicked on their alarms as they approached to clear the road ahead as they sped through on the way to their destination. Regina's eyes jumped to the window at the sound but turned away when she realised there wasn't a police car outside. At least, that was what Emma assumed she had been looking for.

News. An update. Not that she expected her father to be in touch any time soon, nor to arrive with his sirens on. She knew that these investigations took weeks, months, not hours. Regina had done her part though. Now it was up to the police and she trusted her father to do what was necessary to find and arrest the man responsible for … well, Emma knew the basics but she had become acutely aware that the details of what Regina had been through eluded her. And, more to the point, her father knew more than she did.

It wasn't like she wanted or needed to hear the vile, stomach-churning stories which she was sure Regina had to tell. Knowing in explicit detail what she had suffered through would feel to Emma like being stabbed in the heart. The powerlessness she knew she'd feel; an awareness of Regina's suffering without any way to relieve it. Putting the men responsible behind bars would be justice but it wouldn't take away the pain or the memories. Nothing would do that. Regina would have to live with what happened to her for the rest of her life.

Ok, Emma did want to know, actually. Because those traumas were a part of Regina. A part that would never leave and which would inform her future. If Emma was going to be a part of that future too, she needed to know about her past. But she wouldn't push Regina to tell her anything before she was ready. She'd be patient. She'd wait. All she needed to do was be there when the time came that Regina decided to open up.

And, ok, yes, it did irk Emma that her father was privy to so much intimate information about her girlfriend now. Woah, where did that come from? The word popped unbidden into Emma's mind and she shot a look sideways at Regina. But, due to the fact that the brunette wasn't a mindreader, Regina hadn't reacted to Emma's wayward thought and was still staring straight ahead of her.

Anyway, where was she? Right, her dad knew more about Regina than she did. Well, parts of her life anyway. And sure, it had been in a professional setting but it still felt a little strange to Emma that her dad had been the person to whom Regina divulged those events which she kept secret from Emma. But if it led to Killian being locked up, then it would be worth it. And she'd have to trust her father to be able to separate Regina as a survivor whom he interviewed for a case and Regina as his daughter's girlfriend. Oh, there's that word again. Should they maybe talk about -

"Emma?"

"Yes?" Emma answered at once, turning to look at Regina and feeling a wave of relief as she saw those deep brown eyes focusing on her for the first time all day.

"I … um … I am a bit hungry."

She sounded almost guilty of the fact, as if she was admitting a weakness or need. But Emma beamed, grateful for a flicker or normalcy.

"Of course. I can make you something. Anything. What do you want?"

"Nothing fancy. A sandwich?" Regina suggested.

Emma nodded and leapt up off the sofa. "I'll be right back."

Disappearing from the room, Emma missed the hint of a smile on Regina's lips at the sight. It had been one of the hardest days of her life but there was some small comfort in knowing that Emma was there for her.

Within five minutes, Emma was back with two cheese and ham sandwiches, cut diagonally. She'd also bought a packet of crisps, an apple, an orange, a chocolate bar and a yoghurt. As she laid them on the coffee table and handed Regina her plate with a sandwich on it, she realised she'd brought every element of the packed lunches she used to take the primary school. Perhaps, subconsciously, she was looking for food which brought her comfort, reminded her of a more innocent time.

"I hope this is ok. I wasn't sure what you wanted and I figured fairly plain would be good."

"It's perfect, thank you," Regina replied as she picked up the first half.

Emma waited until Regina had taken a bite before starting her own lunch. They didn't speak as they ate but sat in a much more companionable silence than the atmosphere before Regina had asked for food. Not that it had been uncomfortable. Just heavy with apprehension, as far as Emma was concerned. Now that Regina had at least talked, she felt a little lighter and more relaxed.

To both women's pleasant surprise, Regina finished her sandwich and placed the empty plate on the coffee table within a few minutes.

"Anything else?" Emma asked, gesturing to the spread of snacks she'd brought in.

Regina shook her head, smiling slightly. "That was nice though, thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm not the best cook but I am very good at slicing cheese."

Regina's smile widened, sending a kernel of warmth to Emma's belly. Their eyes locked once more and, after a moment's hesitation, Emma shuffled a little closer on the sofa.

"You don't have to talk about anything or tell me what you spoke about but I need you to know that I'm so proud of you for what you did today, Regina."

"Thank you," came the quiet response. "I'm sorry, I know you've got questions and you deserve answers but I don't think I can face it today. Is that ok?"

"Of course, of course that's ok," Emma assured. "Take all the time you need. I don't want to rush you into telling me anything you're not ready to share. But when you are ready, I'll be here, ok?"

"Ok," Regina nodded, smiling again.

Emma positively beamed and opened her arms wide, a silent request or perhaps encouragement for Regina to come to her. The brunette came, willingly. She burrowed herself into Emma's warm, familiar embrace, curled up almost in her lap as those strong arms wrapped around her, secure and safe. Emma closed her eyes at the sensation of having the younger woman back in her hold and pressed a kiss to the top of Regina's silky hair. "So proud," she whispered, another kiss following the first.

She eased them back against the sofa cushions, wriggling to get themselves comfortable until they settled into one another. Both of Emma's arms enclosed Regina but rather than feeling trapped, the brunette felt protected and as she relaxed against the blonde's chest, she felt the tension of the day begin to seep away. Within minutes, she was asleep.

The even breaths of the sleeping woman puffed gently against the bare skin of Emma's arm. She was pleased to see that Regina had found peace. The night before had been restless for both of them and she doubted whether Regina had managed to get more than a couple of hours sleep. Perhaps with the statement to the police behind her, she would be able to sleep more soundly.

As the afternoon wore on, Emma started to feel a little uncomfortable beneath the dead weight of Regina's body but she didn't dare move. She couldn't disturb the woman prone on her chest.

Almost two hours later, Regina woke with a start.

"It's ok, you're safe," Emma soothed at once.

"Emma," Regina sighed, relaxing again as she realised she wasn't in any danger. "Sorry, did I fall asleep?"

"Yes but you don't need to apologise. I liked it. Just lying here, with you."

Regina turned her face to look up at Emma. "Me too. I needed that sleep."

"I know," Emma smiled, placing a featherlight kiss to the upturned mouth below her. "Are you feeling better?"

"I am. Much better. Thanks to you."

The next kiss was initiated by Regina and was deeper and quickly became more urgent that any they had shared in the past several days. Emma was taken a little by surprise and it took her a few moments to start to return the fevered kiss. But then she pulled away, causing Regina to let out a whine of protest.

"Sorry, I just … are you sure you're ok?"

Regina sat up but didn't move away, as Emma had feared she would. "I am. I'm good, really. Today has been intense, sure. But I've also had you there right beside me every step of the way. I couldn't have got through today with you, Emma. And I just wanted you to know that."

"By kissing me to death?" Emma asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

Rolling her eyes in response, Regina reached out and cupped Emma's cheek. "I was showing you how I feel, that's all. You've been really patient with me, I know that. I know this hasn't been easy and I know I've got a lot to work through. But I do really like you, Emma. I'm not ready for sex and today reminded me that, yeah, I'm not ready to go there with you yet. But I want to, in the future. And I guess that kiss was my way of asking you to be patient with me. It was my way of asking you to wait."

"Regina, honey, I'm not going anywhere," Emma replied. "I'll wait. I'll be patient. And I'm not waiting for sex. I don't need sex. I mean, sex is great, sure, and I'm sure we'd have awesome sex. I've said the word sex way too much to someone who just told me they weren't ready while trying to convince them I don't need sex, haven't I?"

Chuckling at the goofy grin the blonde was giving her, Regina leaned forwards to plant a firm kiss to Emma's lips.

"I know you're not waiting for sex. I have no doubt that if you wanted to find someone to have sex with today, you could. I know that's not what this is, Emma. And I know I'm new to the whole relationship thing but I think being able to talk about what we do want and need is important, right?"

"Right," Emma nodded. "And you can tell me everything. What you want, or what you don't want, of course. Anything you want or need from me, just say, ok?"

"And the same goes for you," Regina said. "I'm really happy with what we've got right now but when it comes to going further, I just needed you to know I'm not there yet. I've still got things to work through and I wanted to be honest with you about that. I want to be with you, I really do. But -"

"You don't have to explain," Emma interrupted. "You don't have to justify it. I don't need to know the details about your past to know that we have to take this at your pace. I'll wait for you, as long as it takes, but I also need you to know that I'm not waiting for sex. I love what we have already, Regina. These last few weeks have been amazing and I … ok, I wasn't going to say this but earlier in my head, I referred to you as my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend," Emma confirmed.

"I - why?"

Emma offered a sad smile at this display of self-doubt. "Why? Because you're the most incredible person I've ever met, Regina." Fingers interlaced between them, anchoring their bodies closer. "Because when I'm with you I feel happier than I do when we're apart. Because you're strong and brave and funny and smart and so stunningly gorgeous that I can't quite believe you're even real sometimes. Because you make me a better person, or at least you make me want to be a better person. Because I've never felt like this before and I kinda thought that the way I feel when I'm near you only existed in movies or books. But, with you, it's real. And, yeah, you're my romance novel, Regina, that's why. This is real. What we have, whatever it becomes, it's real. So, if you're in agreement, I'd be honoured to call you my girlfriend."

A/N: I'm planning some time jumps to get Regina speeding along her road to recovery a little quicker …