It was shaping up to be three wonderful days.

Regina could feel that as the evening gradually progressed. She and Emma talked about everything. Henry's secret assignment. Emma's work. Emma's friend from work, August, who apparently was pursuing Ivy Belfrey, another colleague of Emma's. Hearing stories from Emma's work was very amusing. Emma was so good at it. A true storyteller.

At some point, Regina managed to send a text to Zelena, telling her that she and Emma had arrived safe and soundly. Zelena texted back that she was happy to hear that. She of course asked how Regina was doing, how she was feeling about being back and all. Regina kept her answer short and precise. She was feeling wonderful about being here. Then she put her phone away and concentrated on Emma. The reason she was here. She wrote Emma a note. Asked her if she was hungry.

Upon reading the note Emma nodded and went "Mmm" while grinning.

Regina chose to take that as a yes, and she headed into the kitchen with Emma in tow. She briefly left Emma to her own devices as she nipped outside to the car to haul out the large cooling bag she packed earlier. Coming back inside, she showed Emma said cooling bag. And revealed that she had packed food for the weekend. Why bother driving to a town to get food when they could enjoy it here instead?

"Wow," Emma said, clearly impressed as Regina began hauling items out of the cooling bag. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

Regina offered a light shrug in response. She liked to think of herself as a very organized person.

Emma snickered. And because that sound simply was so utterly adorable, Regina graciously allowed her to help out in the kitchen tonight. It was nice to have a helper in the kitchen for once, and together they prepared a modest, but nice meal.

Modest. It wasn't exactly a feast that Regina had packed for them. But of course that could easily be rectified with a little bit of….

"Champagne?" Emma asked as she hauled a bottle of just that out of the cooling bag.

Yes, indeed. Regina shrugged lightly. She had made some bitter experiences with champagne the last time she was here. She wanted to make up for that. Wanted to make some new and happier champagne memories with Emma. She had been so good at replacing the bad things with something good, so why not continue that with champagne?

"What are we celebrating?" Emma joked.

Wasn't that obvious? Regina turned around and pointed lightly to Emma. Chest rumbling with laughter as she did so. Emma's glorious presence was definitely one that was worth celebrating. Again and again. And again.

"Oh no, you don't," Emma said firmly. "We are not celebrating me."

Weren't they? That certainly remained to be seen. Regina raised an eyebrow in her sweetest 'fight me'-manner.

Emma abandoned ship as they say and shook her head. Reached within the cooling bag again and happily kept on joking. "you brought champagne. Any chance you also brought strawberries? That would make this the perfect cliché- oh."

Regina felt more amused than ever as Emma digged out just that. A box of strawberries. It was cliché, yes. But one couldn't have champagne without strawberries, right?

"You did bring strawberries," Emma said, voice laced with surprise as she shot Regina a look.

Regina had learned to recognize that look. It was Emma's 'I can't believe you're doing all that'-look. Regina hated that such a look even existed, but she was glad that she was able to identify it so quickly. That way it would be faster for her to convince Emma that she obviously was worthy of champagne and strawberries. And so much more.

They dug into their food, though agreeing to save the champagne and strawberries for tomorrow. A good decision. Regina had already had one glass of wine, and she didn't want to be drunk or anything. She hadn't come here to drink. Not this time.

Emma ate two portions of food, emptied her glass of wine and then leaned back in the chair and puffed out a breath. "Damn. That was good."

Regina smirked slightly. She was happy that Emma liked the food. She wrote down on a message on the silly, pink post-it note. 'That was very impressive to watch. I'm glad you enjoyed the food.' She slid the note towards Emma.

"I eat like it's a sport," Emma chuckled. Then glanced at Regina's empty plate. "And you were pretty hungry too, weren't you?"

Regina smiled and nodded. She sure was. Driving always made her hungry. She tried her very best at convincing Emma to eat some more, but Emma refused, so instead they cleared the table together. There was no dishwasher in the log cabin. Regina's father hadn't wanted one when the cabin belonged to him. He had always found rinsing and drying cozy, and Regina couldn't bear the thought of ruining the kitchen's atmosphere by adding a dishwasher. That was why she and Emma currently was washing and drying together. Regina was rinsing while Emma was drying. Regina found it to be exceptionally nice. She had never rinsed the dishes with a partner before, but she was quickly discovering how much she appreciated it.

"You have pretty hands."

What? Regina turned her head and looked at Emma. Was she serious?

"What, you do," Emma said firmly.

Regina was amused as she shook her head. Nobody had ever called her hands pretty before. It was a completely new compliment, and one that Regina wasn't sure it was true. Lately, she had found her hands to look pretty old. But perhaps they weren't after all?

"Prettiest hands ever," Emma continued, almost sing-songing.

Okay, now she was definitely exaggerating. Regina's chest rumbled in silent laughter. Emma was so silly.

Regina turned her attention back to the dishes and the dirty plate she currently was in the middle of scrubbing. There was a particular stubborn stain that refused to budge, and Regina frowned in sheer concentration as she scrubbed and scrubbed to remove the stain. She bit her lip and silently complained that this would make her hands go all pruney.

Emma laughed quietly.

Regina turned her head and shot Emma a quizzing look. Now what?

"Nothing," Emma said quickly with another small chuckle.

Regina raised an eyebrow. She didn't believe Emma one bit. Nobody got amused over nothing.

"God, you look so attractive when you do that eyebrow-thingy."

Regina was first shocked. She had not expected that. Then laughter took over and her chest rumbled once more. God, Emma knew exactly how to deliver her compliments. Regina didn't even know she had a particular 'eyebrow-thingy'.

They finished up rinsing and drying and proceeded to put the things back where they belonged. Regina suggested that Emma made herself comfortable in the living room while she quickly put the things away, but Emma wouldn't hear of it. She insisted on helping Regina out. Again. Bless her. Once the last glass had been put away, their mission had come to an end. Emma carefully closed the cupboard and walked over to her. She gently put her hands on Regina's shoulders, while playfully saying: "that was a really good dinner, babe."

Babe.

Babe.

That word.

Regina's body locked.

Her mind went foggy. Foggy with memories.

A hand placed too firmly on her lower back.

A voice whispering too harshly in her ear.

"Are you having a good night, babe?"

Translation: "you have been talking to your colleague too long. Stop it."

"We should do something nice when we get home, babe."

Translation: "I'm going to want to have sex when we get home, and don't you dare denying me."

"What's the joke, babe?"

Translation: "why are you laughing with him/her? If I get the hint that you're flirting…"

"Well, you've certainly been enjoying our night out, haven't you, babe?"

Translation: "I am not satisfied with how you have been acting tonight, and I'm going to let you know that when we get home."

"I'm sorry, babe. You know how I get when I'm jealous. I can't stand the idea of someone else looking at you. It's just because I love you so much…..."

Come on, babe. You know you want it.

Regina hadn't wanted it. She hadn't wanted any of it.

"What is it?" Emma asked, quickly moving her hands away from Regina's shoulders. "What did I do? Was it something I said?"

Regina breathed out the air she had been holding in. The fog in her brain lifted.

She was okay.

She was safe.

Here.

She shook her head. Flashed Emma a little smile. The flashbacks were gone.

"Please tell me what just happened?" Emma softly pleaded.

Did she really have to? Couldn't they just… accept that it had been there and move on? Regina certainly tried to. She shook her head slightly. Patted Emma's cheek gently and wiped her hands on the dishtowel.

Emma didn't give up, though. She lightly put her hand over Regina's. "Please? I wanna help. I want to make things better."

Regina stalled. She wiped her hands on the dishtowel again. Then grabbed a note from the stack and wrote something that could only qualify as more stalling. 'I don't want to bring the mood down.', she had written. Then she gave Emma the note.

Emma was quick to read the message. And once she was done, she immediately looked up at Regina. "You're not. "Please just tell me what happened so I can make it better. Or at least try to."

Okay. Regina quietly caved. Okay, they were going to communicate about this. Once again, she was going to let Emma in and give her another little slice of her past. Opening up and explaining the issue to Emma had helped before. Regina chose to believe that it would help now too. She nodded to acknowledge Emma's words. Then tore off another post-it note and began writing. She could have given fifty reasons why she had just been uncomfortable, but she chose to keep it simple. 'He would always call me "babe", and as things got worse and worse, it sounded more like a threat than anything else. A way to let me know that I was "really in trouble.', she ended up writing. As simple as it was, it still looked incredibly brutal. But it was too late to change it now. She gave the note to Emma before she could regret it.

She took a long time to read it. But once she finally was done, Emma looked at her again. And immediately started spilling apologies. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Regina! I won't call you that again."

Regina was oddly disappointed at that. Behind all the flashbacks there had been a part of her that actually liked when Emma called her 'babe'. Sure, the word held some gruesome memories for her, but perhaps that could change? The way Emma had said it had sounded so sweet and affectionate. 'I'd actually like for you to call me that again.', she wrote on a new message and gave it to Emma.

Emma did not take long to read that. Her gaze snapped back to Regina. She searched her eyes thoroughly. Came closer. "Like with the touches? You want to connect it with something nice?"

Yes. Exactly. Regina knew that Emma would understand her. She always did. Emma had been so wonderful with replacing bad touches with good ones. Terrible, forced kisses with gentle, willing ones. Emma had changed so many bad experiences into good ones.

"Okay. I get it." Emma licked her lips. "Would be okay if I touch you while I say it?"

Yes, that would be more than okay. Regina nodded again.

Emma started out slowly. She took Regina's right hand, lifted it to her lips and brushed the lightest of kisses against her knuckles. "Babe," she said softly.

The tensing was a knee-jerk reaction. One that Regina wished she did not have. She felt a hint of panic. But she also felt determined as ever. She didn't want to keep connecting that word with something bad.

"Do you want me to say it again?" Emma asked softly.

Regina nodded. Very much so.

Emma took her other hand and kissed her knuckles. "Babe."

Regina released a soft breath. Was she imagining things, or did the word already feel less sharp?

Emma came closer and touched the top of her right shoulder. "Babe."

Regina swallowed. Now Emma was palming the top of her other shoulder. "Babe." Her touches did something to Regina. She became less tense. Less stressed. There wasn't room for dark thoughts in her mind. There was only room for Emma.

Emma touched the top of her back, and Regina was sure that her muscles had turned into cooked spaghetti. Even more so when Emma touched her right hip. "Babe.". her left hip. "Babe.". she cupped Regina's cheek. "Babe."

Regina's breathing had evened out. Had it even been rapid at some point? She certainly could not remember.

Emma lifted her other hand. Now she was cupping both of Regina's cheeks. "Babe. You are so beautiful, babe. So, so beautiful. And smart. And wonderful."

Having so many wonderful words bestowed upon her affected Regina. She bit her lip. But not for long. Emma moved her right hand from her cheek and gently pried Regina's bottom lip away from Regina's teeth. The reason behind the tender gesture did not escape Regina, but her focus shifted the moment Emma started tracing her lips with a fingertip. She touched the scar. Regina did not flinch. She had told Emma a little about how Killian's ring had sliced through her skin on the night of the attack. Emma moved her finger away from the scar and traced the rest of Regina's upper lip. "You are so perfect, babe. You're stunning. In every way. God, I'm crazy about you. Do you have any idea just how much, babe?"

Regina stupidly shook her head. She DID in fact have some idea of how 'crazy' Emma was about her, but she could not focus. The way Emma was touching her lip was very distracting. The touch send unexpected tingles straight to her gut. Regina had no idea that having her lips touched could feel like THIS.

"I think you do," Emma said softly as she traced her finger along Regina's cheekbone.

Regina relaxed into the touch. She knew that Emma could feel the difference where the bone had been broken. She knew because Emma spend a little extra time on caressing that particular spot.

"And I also think that you know how fucking proud I am of you every single day," Emma continued, voice soft and full of that tenderness that always made Regina's heart beat faster.

"The fact that you trust me so much, babe, it's just... It's amazing. Knowing that you trust me so much with... Well, everything... It baffles me, babe." Emma leaned in and kissed Regina's cheek.

Then the corner of her mouth. "Babe."

She pecked Regina's cheek again. "Babe."

Her temple now. Gently. "Babe."

Soft little kisses up to her forehead. "Babe."

Such a tender gesture, that was.

Regina could not remember the last time she had received a forehead kiss.

Down to her left cheek. "Babe." So close to her lips, but ultimately landing on the corner of her mouth again. "Babe."

When had she closed her eyes? When had she started shivering? Regina couldn't give an answer to either question, only feel that it was happening. Having her eyes closed meant that she could only focus on what she was feeling.

Emma's hair against her cheek. It tickled.

Emma's breath on her skin. It was warm.

Emma's voice repeating that one word Regina had felt so triggered by a moment ago. No longer. Now there was only Emma.

Emma saying the word.

Emma turning it into something good.

Emma replacing bad memories with a good one.

Her hand was taken again. The knuckles kissed. The word 'babe' repeated for each kiss Emma bestowed upon her. Her hand was turned. Now her palm kissed. Another 'babe'. Another good memory added to Regina's ever growing collection. Regina shivered.

Her other hand was taken. The action repeated. The now non-threatening word said again and again. A soft, warm kiss to her palm.

There was something about that. Regina's body seemed to react to palm-kisses. She didn't quite understand why, but she was more than happy to go with it.

At last, at last, she felt Emma's hot breath on her lips. Regina wanted to lean in and connect them, but she controlled the urge. Had a feeling that there was a reason Emma was hovering rather than kissing her immediately.

She was right. "Babe," Emma whispered. Then pecking her lips. "Babe." Pecking her lips again. "Babe." Her intention had undoubtedly been to go in for a third peck, but Regina's ability to wait failed utterly. She grasped the back of Emma's head, bringing her in for a proper kiss.

Emma did not appear to be disappointed at the initiation. "Babe!" she chuckled. Then unable to say another word because Regina kissed her. Thoroughly and heartfelt. No more pecking. Emma's hands found her hips. Regina swayed a bit. Tenderness had blended into passion and now she was not searching consolation. She eagerly tapped her tongue against Emma's bottom lip. Was sure she felt Emma smile right before parting her lips for her.

Regina could not get enough of this. Could not get enough of kissing Emma like this. Every kiss felt brand-new, and yet both of them just knew how to kiss each other. Kissing Emma had never been awkward. They had found their melody immediately. Did that happen when you stumbled upon the person you were meant to kiss?

Whether it was Emma who had walked backwards or Regina who had walked her backwards, Regina couldn't quite answer. But either way, Emma was suddenly very much pressed against the wall. Goodness. Regina's hands easily found Emma's hips. It was possible that she even squeezed a bit.

Emma moaned into her mouth. It wasn't the first time she had done that during this kiss, but this moan certainly was just as appreciated as the other moans had been. Every single moan was music to Regina's ears. They fueled her passion and coaxed sounds out of her. Made her abdomen tingle in the most wonderful way imaginable.

She moved her hands from Emma's hips and to her hair. She loved touching Emma's hair, and she particularly enjoyed playing with it when they kissed. Emma had such wonderful hair. Of course it should be appreciated. EVERY part of Emma should be appreciated.

Oh, god.

As soon as the thought had popped into Regina's mind, a billion different scenarios flooded her mind. Most of them involved a bed. Some of them involved this wall. And all of them involved Emma Swan.

They should probably stop kissing. Before she got completely carried away.

She was both relieved and disappointed when Emma let out a funny little sound between a moan and a groan and broke the kiss.

Only now Regina realized that she was trembling. Shivering from head to toe. So still a silly schoolgirl, then. And most likely a bit of a mess, too. She wiped the corners of her mouth. Her lipstick had definitely been smudged.

"You look good like this. You know that?" the question was teasing and raspy and Regina really had to control herself not to kiss Emma again. She shook her head. Smirked a little. Was even bold enough to carefully wipe the corners of Emma's mouth too where her lipstick had left stains.

"Well, I've always wondered how I look in red lipstick."

The goofy remark prompted Regina to roll her eyes. Defense mechanism. It was either that or kissing Emma right then and there. She just looked so goddamn beautiful with ruffled hair and lips that still held traces of Regina's lipstick.

Emma laughed. Leaned in and pecked Regina's cheek (undoubtedly leaving a trace of red lipstick there) "You are like the goddess of kissing. Did you know that?"

Naturally, Regina shook her head at that. But deep down, she couldn't help but feeling rather proud of herself and her kissing-skills.

Emma shifted a bit. Stretched her arms high above her head. Then yawned.

It didn't take long before Regina ended up doing the same. Yawning was so contagious.

Chuckling slightly, Emma said: "It's been a long day."

Regina agreed with that. She glanced at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall. It wasn't late per say, but she was exhausted. Like she always whenever she had been driving for a long period of time. Perhaps going to bed early wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"I think I'll go upstairs and change into something more appropriate for sleep." Emma clearly agreed with her.

It was bedtime. Regina gave a nod and walked into the living room to switch off the light. While Emma brought her duffel bag upstairs, Regina took a round in the cabin to ensure that all the lights were off and that the windows are doors were shut. But she was not paranoid. Was not afraid of being here tonight. Liam had not ruined anything for her. And certainly not this cabin.

She carried her suitcase upstairs. Spotted Emma in the hallway about to go into her room. She looked ready for sleep in her red and white checkered pajama bottoms and a long t-shirt. Regina flashed her a little smile and then went into the bathroom to do her business.

She changed out of her clothes and into her grey silk pajamas with the high collar that came all the way up to her chin. It had taken a long time to find that pajamas. Zelena was actually the one who had ordered it from an English company who specialized in Victorian nightwear. The high collar was the perfect solution for Regina's reluctance to see her neck. Sometimes she wondered if the red marks would ever fade. They probably wouldn't. Otherwise they would have a long time ago. But at least the purple and blue bruises had faded along with the fingermarks. She supposed that was something.

She took off her makeup and brushed her teeth. Combed her hair. Carefully removed the smear of lipstick from her chin. Well, she supposed this was one way to know whether one's lipstick left stains or not.

In the future, she would make sure not to leave any stains on Emma.

Regina left the bathroom and brought her suitcase into her own room. She could have chosen to go to bed right now, but of course she had to say goodnight to Emma first. She wandered back down the hallway and quietly knocked on the door to Emma's bedroom.

"Come in," came the soft reply.

Regina pushed the door open and stepped inside. And for whatever reason, the sight of her seemed to amuse Emma immensely. She chuckled, and Regina immediately wondered why that was. She tilted her head. She didn't have any more lipstick on her face. She was sure of that. For a brief, ridiculous moment she imagined that Emma was laughing because she was not wearing any makeup, but that thought was immediately scrapped. Emma would never do that. It didn't matter to her whether Regina wore makeup or not. Emma wasn't that shallow.

"Today's been awesome," Emma said warmly. "Thank you so much for asking me to come with you."

Regina nodded but wasn't completely paying attention to what Emma was saying. She was more focused on glancing around in Emma's bedroom. It was a nice bedroom. Obviously. Regina had decorated it herself. The bedroom was not the problem. At least not directly. The problem was that she had discovered that she didn't want Emma to sleep in here.

Regina wondered. Was she ready to cross another barrier? Was she ready for yet another new level in their relationship? She knew that she wanted to, but did Emma feel the same? Would she find it strange? Would she misunderstand it and think that Regina's initiation meant something else.

It always came down to one thing, didn't it?

Always the same dilemma.

Regina bit her lip.

"Is there something wrong?" Emma asked.

Quickly snapping out of it, Regina shook her head. But she realized too late that she was still biting her lip.

"Yes, there is," Emma said, standing from the bed and walking over to her. "What is it?"

Emma was far too good at reading her. There was no point in trying to pretend that nothing was wrong. Emma would sooner or later coax the truth out of her. She might as well fess up already.

Regina pointed lightly to Emma. Then pointed to the hallway. Emma looked confused and Regina could not blame her. Had she been in Emma's position, she wouldn't have understood what the ridiculous pointing meant either.

"I'm sorry," Emma said and actually looked a bit distraught. "I don't understand. Is there another way you can show me what you mean?"

Why yes, there was. Rather than pointing and gesturing and feeling ridiculous, Regina went for the most direct approach and grasped Emma's hand. She gently led her out of the guest room and back into the hallway. Emma looked a bit confused but also curious.

Regina pointed again. Again to Emma, but this time to the door across the hallway. The door leading into her own bedroom. She hoped that Emma would understand now.

Emma did. "You... You want me to sleep in there?" Emma asked. Every word was laced with confusion.

Yes. And no. Not entirely. Regina shook her head and wished that she could have corrected the wording.

But she didn't have to. Emma figured it out herself and corrected the wording: "You're asking me to sleep in there?"

Yes! Exactly! Delighted over having been understood, Regina nodded.

"With... with you? In your bed?" Emma was clearly struggling to wrap her head around Regina's suggestion. "You're suggesting that we sleep in the same bed?"

Regina gave three quick nods and flushed. Hoped that she hadn't suggested something inappropriate. That had not been her intention. She had only thought that it was silly that Emma was sleeping in the guest room. She wasn't a guest. Well, she WAS, but at the same time not really. She was more than a guest. This wasn't the 18th century. Emma was her girlfriend. Her lover. And Regina wanted to make that clear by having them sleep in the same bed. If Emma wanted to.

"Oh," Emma said softly. "Oh, I see."

Regina couldn't look at her any longer. Now she really feared that she HAD in fact suggested something inappropriate. Her gaze dropped to the floor. Perhaps this was strange. Perhaps it was too soon.

"I can totally do that," Emma said lightly. "Lead the way, Mills."

Oh! Regina looked up again and was sure her eyes were sparkling as she gently took Emma's hand and lead her into the bedroom.

Regina's own bedroom was a bit larger than the guest bedroom. It had a little fireplace for particular cold nights. She had kept it simple. Apart from the chandelier dangling from the ceiling. She had seen it in a thrift store and hadn't been able to control herself. She didn't care that Zelena claimed it was 'tacky'. Regina loved it. And that was the only thing that mattered.

Regina pulled the red bedspread aside. Then the purple bedding. Emma snickered. Perhaps she hadn't expected purple bedding. Regina supposed that it looked a bit odd under the red bedspread, but she happened to love purple.

She climbed into bed, naturally finding one side of it so Emma could have the other. She made herself comfortable as Emma slipped into bed, and once Emma was settled in the bed, Regina carefully searched every little nook of her brain to check if there was any part of her, even the tiniest, that felt uncomfortable over having Emma sleeping in her bed.

She came up empty. Nothing about Emma being in her bed was uncomfortable. This was just plain nice. Better than Regina even had expected. Almost as nice as what they had done earlier had been. When Emma had been laying on top of her. God, that had been amazing. Would it be completely inappropriate to ask Emma to do it again? Was it different now because they were in a bed and not on the couch? Would it be weird? Regina frowned as she considered it.

The covers slipped slightly as Emma turned to face her. Too quickly. Regina didn't get a chance to scold her features. Emma saw her frown.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

Regina helplessly gestured to the top pocket in her pajamas. She was running low on ways to answer.

"Oh. You don't have your post-it notes or phone with you."

Indeed not. Regina couldn't help but feeling frustrated as she shook her head.

Emma propped herself up on one elbow. Her voice was ever so warm and gentle and patient as she said: "well, why don't you try and show me what you want anyway? Maybe I'll be smart enough to understand it."

Well, there was always that. Emma was definitely smart. And she was also very right. Sometimes a simple approach rather than a long-winded message was the best way.

And so Regina did what she have to do in order to get her point across. She shifted until laying flat on her back. Then she pointed again. To Emma. And to herself.

Message received and understood. "You want me to lie on top of you again?"

There were fewer things in life Regina wanted right now (the ability to speak, perhaps?) she nodded.

"You're sure?"

Yes. A nod.

Of course. Another nod. Anticipation as Emma did what she had done earlier. Planted her hands on either side of Regina. Slowly lowered until her body was hovering just above Regina's. Hesitating for a moment like earlier. Looking deep into Regina's eyes. Gently checking: "All good?"

All better than good. Regina quickly wetted her lips before nodding again.

Emma lowered herself down slowly. The pressure on Regina's body was back. That wonderful pressure. She did not feel pinned down. Not at all. This was only another way for her and Emma to find closeness.

Emma was quick and careful to angle her face away from Regina's neck and for that Regina loved her a little more. God, how she loved this woman! She exhaled softly and when Emma looked at her, she flashed her a little smile. There was no reason for concern. She was okay. Not even worried about her heart which was thud-thud-thudding in her chest. Nothing to do with fear. Just her body reacting to having Emma this close. If these past months had taught her anything, it was that she was a hot-blooded woman. STILL a hot-blooded woman.

"Okay, but this is like... really, really nice," Emma said, letting out a hoarse laughter.

Regina nodded in agreement. It certainly was nice, but… she felt a sliver of concern. Was she dangling a metaphorical carrot in front of Emma without letting her have it? Oh, she hoped not. That had not been the intention behind this. Before she could banish it, she heard his malicious voice whisper in her head.

Nobody likes a tease, Regina. Remember that.

A soft, warm kiss was pressed to the hinge of her jaw and the taunting voice faded just as quickly as it had started whispering.

"You're not leading me on," Emma said softly yet firmly. "I'm not expecting anything from you. It is possible to sleep in the same bed and actually just sleep. And it is entirely possible to ask your girlfriend to lie on top of you without it meaning something else."

Again, how was it possible for someone to be this good and kind and caring and patient? Regina would never be able to fully understand. And she would never be able to put into words how much it meant to her. Not even if she someday regained her voice.

There was intimacy, and then there was this. Intimacy, real intimacy, had absolutely nothing to do with sex. Real intimacy was having your girlfriend lying on top of you and telling you that she didn't expect anything from you. Intimacy was when your girlfriend looked at you and just KNEW. Intimacy was speaking the same language even if one of you was not able to utter a single word.

Regina didn't want to start bawling and potentially make Emma concerned. So instead she spontaneously began skimming her fingers up and down Emma's back. First it was just that. Skimming. But then she discovered that she could in fact write on Emma's back. She had not done that before, but it seemed like a good idea. It was quite fun, actually. Regina was always thrilled at discovering new ways to communicate with Emma. Even if Emma wouldn't be able to figure out what she was writing just yet. She would get it eventually. She was smart after all.

"Mmmm," Emma breathed. She looked down at Regina. "Can I do something?"

Regina nodded.

Emma shifted on top of her. Lifted her upper body slightly. Reached behind her. Regina saw her grab a handful of t-shirt and lift it until her entire back was exposed. Her eyes went wide. What on earth was Emma doing? Surely, she wasn't about to get nak-

Emma's warm chuckle interrupted her stream of thoughts. "I'm not in the middle of stripping for you. I just liked how it felt when you were writing on my back. I figured it would be easier for you this way, yeah?"

Oh. Regina was sure her lips fell open in surprise. Not about to get naked then. That was both good and bad. But mostly good. Obviously. She merely wanted Regina to have a blank canvas to write on. How thoughtful of her.

Emma chuckled as she lowered herself onto Regina again. Not touching her neck in anyway.

But most definitely other…. Things touching. Shouldn't be surprising seeing that they were both women. Regina refused to clear her throat. She didn't want Emma to think that she was uncomfortable. She really, really wasn't!

"Keep writing on my back, will you?"

Of course. Writing on Emma's naked back was very interesting. Regina found dimples and moles she had no idea existed. Undiscovered territory. This was not how Regina had expected to discover them, but she was definitely not unhappy. She drew a straight, vertical line. Then three horizontal ones.

"Was that an 'E'?" Emma guessed and looked at her for confirmation.

Regina nodded. That was indeed an 'E'.

"I'm awesome," Emma chuckled.

Not wrong. Regina rumbled and wrote another letter.

"M," Emma said and smiled triumphantly.

Correct again. Regina wrote another 'M'. Of course Emma easily guessed that too. And the following 'A' as well.

Emma laughed to her. "You know, you should be writing your name instead," she said softly.

What a brilliant idea. Regina neatly wrote her own name on Emma's back. So much better than writing on a post-it note. Was there any way she could write all her future messages here instead?

"Mmmm, maybe I should get it tattooed."

Regina rumbled again. What a silly idea. Emma Swan was definitely getting sleepy.

"Write something else?" the gentle suggestion was followed by another soft kiss to the hinge of her jaw.

Something else. Emma wanted her to write something else. Once again, Regina thought of those three words she was so yearning to say but couldn't. How she had been wracking her brain to come up with a romantic, heartfelt way to confess her feelings. Perhaps this was it. The romantic, heartfelt moment she had been searching for.

She wrote. Too quickly. Anxiety had gotten the best of her again.

Emma lifted her head. She didn't look sleepy anymore. Her lips puckered as she pouted. "I didn't understand that," she complained. "Could you do it again? Maybe a tad slower?"

Regina flashed her a little smile and hoped that Emma couldn't see how nervous she was. Then she drew a simple, vertical line on Emma's back.

"'I'," Emma guessed. "Right?"

Regina nodded and let her finger dance on Emma's naked back again. Another vertical line with a horizontal one at the bottom.

"'L'."

Correct again. Regina nodded. Silently ordered her finger not to shake as she drew a circle on Emma's back.

"'O'," Emma said and moved her hair out of the way.

Now Regina had more space to write on. And she took advantage of that. Made the 'V' a little bigger. This was her version of shouting her feelings from a rooftop.

"'V'," Emma said, and Regina thought she sounded a little dry-mouthed. Was she onto her?

Probably. Emma was smart.

Regina did not confirm the correct letter. Her instinct told her that she didn't have to. She simple drew another letter. One that Emma should recognize immediately.

"'E-E'," Emma stuttered.

Her heart thudded. Regina could feel it against the beat of her own heart.

She drew again. Made a 'V' shape and then a straight line.

"'Y'", Emma murmured.

Regina shifted slightly. Her fingers slipped a bit as she made a new circle on the canvas that was Emma's back. She was feeling proper nervous. But of course she was not going to regret it now. She had been longing to confess for so long.

"'O'", Emma whispered.

No confirmation needed. Regina's finger trembled uncontrollably as she wrote the last letter on Emma's back. Her emotions threatened to spill over. Apparently, it did not matter how you confessed to loving someone. In words, in writing. The emotions the words awakened was completely the same.

"'U'." Emma's voice broke. She looked down.

Regina willingly met her gaze and saw that Emma's cheeks were wet. She was crying. Of happiness? That had to be happiness, right?

She had done it. She had confessed her feelings. She had been brave. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and she flashed Emma a little smile. Her chin wobbled.

"Regina, I..." Emma's voice was ragged and the words a bit slurred. Her breathing erratic.

She was overwhelmed. Of course. That made perfect sense. This was hardly what she had expected when she asked Regina to write something else.

Regina formed two simple words. 'No rush'. There truly wasn't. Emma was not obliged to return the sentiment right away. It would be perfectly alright if she was not ready yet.

"I love you too!" the words came quickly. Like a withheld breath rushing out.

Regina's chin wobbled worse than ever, and it was a struggle to form the question 'Really?' it wasn't that she doubted Emma's feelings. She merely wanted to be sure that Emma had said 'I love you' because she wanted to. And not because she somehow felt like she HAD to. Again, it was perfectly alright if Emma was not quite ready yet.

"Yes, yes, yes!" another breath rushing out. "I love you! God, I love you! You just... caught me by surprise." Emma bowed her head to press another kiss to Regina's jaw. "I love you. I love you. I. Love. You."

Regina wrapped her arms around the laughing and crying Emma and held her close. Now THAT was a heartfelt confession if there had ever been one.

Emma Swan loved her.

Truly, genuinely loved her.

Regina's heart was full. Now it seemed ridiculous that she had been so anxious about confessing her feelings to Emma. In the end, there had been nothing to be afraid of.

"I love you," Emma whispered softly into her ear.

Regina hadn't wanted to stop holding Emma unless there was a really good reason. Now there WAS a really good reason.

She needed her hands free so she could write 'I love you too' on Emma's back.

To Be Continued…...