Emma and Regina both just about fell off of the couch as they were sleeping when Regina's phone started ringing. Emma almost had a little mini heart attack. It was still dark outside. They both sat up on the couch very nakedly as Regina then grabbed her phone and looked to see who was calling her.

"I gotta take this!" said Regina as she then got up off the couch and ran into her room for a more private conversation. Emma felt a little worried about Regina running off to talk privately because she was always a little insecure, but she figured it must have been important. She decided to look at her own phone to check the time and the time read 6:00 AM. "Holy shit! It's 6 AM?? I have work training today." Emma thought to herself. She didn't have her Project Looking Glass uniform and she had to get home somehow so she could get ready.

Just as Emma was trying to figure out how she was going to get home on time to get ready, Regina came walking back into the living room, still naked. Emma's breathe got caught in her throat for a few seconds. The sight of Regina really took her breath away. She was so beautiful. Regina sat down on the couch next to Emma again smiling all happily.

"Why are you so happy?"

"Well, I just found out that my car is ready. I can go pick it up from the shop right now and the good news is, the shop is just walking distance from here. We can both walk to go get my car!"

"Oh my goodness that's amazing! I'm happy for you. Though, if you haven't realized it yet, today is Monday. I'm supposed to be at job training today and the Project Looking Glass class today around 8. Is there anyway possible that maybe you could drive me back to my place to get ready for the job training? I kinda need my actual uniform."

"Oh right, I almost forgot today was Monday. I will gladly take you back to your place to get ready. Although, would you maybe wanna shower together right now? You can always put on clean panties and a bra when you get home, or wear one of mine. Your choice!"

Emma thought to herself for a moment. The thought of even wearing any of Regina's clothing made Emma smile so wide.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind borrowing one of your panties and bra! I'd love to shower with you!"

Regina just laughed lustily at Emma and Emma found it quite sexy. They both stumbled and laughed in their way to the bathroom and got the hot water running before stepping into the shower. Of course, as expected, they had a little fun in the shower as well.

Once they were finally done showering, Emma put on one of Regina's black bras and black panties, as well as putting on her black dress from the night before. She put her worn panties and bra in Regina's dirty laundry basket since Regina told Emma to do so; she could wash them for her afterwards. Emma felt that was pretty nice knowing she didn't have to do that. Regina put on the usual work clothes Emma always saw her in. Only this time, her choice was pink. Emma had never seen Regina in a pink chef coat and black chef pants before. Let alone a pink hat to go along with it once she got to work. She also carried the big huge bag that she always had with her on the bus.

"What is that bag? You always have it?" asked Emma

"Well dear, it's my chef knifes and it's where I put all my chef things. I thought you knew that after you found out I was a chef."

Emma now felt pretty dumb and embarrassed.

"I should have known that. God I am so fucking dumb!"

Regina then grabbed Emma's chin with her hand and made Emma face her.

"You are NOT dumb. Do you hear me? You are so smart and so beautiful! Never ever put yourself down like that again! Especially not around me. Do I make myself clear?"

Emma just stared into Regina's eyes for a second and that's when she realized that Regina never saw her as slow, like she is usually labeled by others and that's when Emma almost broke down crying in disbelief. Emma couldn't really get any words formed and just before she could try, Regina started kissing her and Emma kissed back. It was a moment of weakness for Emma, but also a moment of love. Something she'd always hoped to find and she finally did with Regina. As they both broke the kiss, Emma then started to smile and Regina smiled back.

"I promise to never call myself dumb again!"

"Good!"

As Emma and Regina both started walking down the street to the car shop to get Regina's car, they small talked and kept smiling and laughing. Regina kept flirting with Emma and Emma liked it. She tried flirting back but she probably wasn't very good at it. For the first time in forever, Emma felt genuinely happy. She hoped that this happiness didn't fade away or else she'd feel like she died inside with no way to come back to life.

As they both arrived to the car shop, Regina paid the car dealer what she needed to for fixing her car and once they both got in her car and started driving off, Emma looked at Regina as she was driving and just smiled. She felt so much love for this woman. It was unbearable. Regina drove Emma back to her place and once parked, Regina looked at Emma.

"I'll wait right here until you're done. There is no way in hell I'm letting you go on that bus when we're going to the same destination. Try to be fast! It's 7:30AM. I know you need to be at your class soon."

"Thank you. I won't be long. I promise!"

Emma then got out of the car and went into her place to get changed and ready. It only took her about 10 minutes. She was pretty fast at getting ready for things. She always had been. Once Emma took one last look at herself in the mirror to make sure she looked good for her job training today, she then left with her stuff and walked back to Regina's car. They drove off on their way and they small talked the whole way there. It was pretty great for Emma. She had never felt like she had a connection with someone before until now.

Once they both got to the hotel, Regina went straight into the kitchen and Emma went to her Project Looking Glass Class.Emma of course watched Regina walk into the kitchen until she came out of view, like she always did. It was kinda her thing now.

As the week went on, Regina kept picking up Emma for work every morning although, Emma had to take the bus back home every day knowing Regina had to stay at work later than Emma had to. Emma didn't seem to mind it though, because every morning she was with Regina. She wasn't alone on the bus. She was happy about that.

The weekend finally came around and now it was finally time for Emma to meet up with her friend Hope. She couldn't wait to see her. She hadn't seen her for almost 2 years. Emma figured that if Regina was gonna stay in her life, she should meet her friends, starting with Hope. Emma had asked Regina the day before if she would like to go with her to meet her friend,knowing Hope would really love to meet her. Regina agreed she'd love to go and today was the day. Regina implied that she'd pick Emma up and they would drive to the restaurant that Hope and her mother agreed meeting at together. Emma didn't argue with that. It was so much better than taking the bus and meeting Regina there.

As Emma was waiting for Regina to pick her up, she decided to watch some TV to pass the time. She felt so anxious. Emma wondered if Regina had ever met anyone who had Down Syndrome before. If not, this would be her first time. She hoped that Regina would like Hope and vice versa. Sometimes Hope didn't like everyone Emma hung around with and she never fully understood why. She wasn't sure if it was because she was jealous of losing Emma as her best friend or not, but Emma always made sure that Hope never felt left out of anything.

Emma started to feel a little impatient waiting for Regina so she decided to text her and ask her where she was.

"Hey Regina where are you? I know I'm being a little too impatient here but I can't help it. I'm excited for you to meet my friend."

"Well dear, if you would have given me two more seconds to ring your doorbell, you would've known I was here by now!"

Emma sprang up off the couch as fast as she could when she read that text and hurried to open her door.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were already here!"

Regina just smiled as she put both her hands up to cup Emma's face and kissed her passionately and of course, Emma kissed back with just as much passion. As the kiss broke, they both just smiled at each other for a moment.

"I swear those kisses get better each and every single time!" said Emma.

Regina just laughed and kissed her again.

"You two better get going before your gonna be late!" a voice from the living room said. Both women broke the kiss immediately taken by surprise, before realizing it was Melony.

"MOM! We aren't going to be late! The least you can do is give us a little bit of privacy next time!" said Emma.

"Well I'm sorry honey, but I didn't think I had to, given this is also my house! You know I support you two very much. I just don't want you two to be late!"

Emma then just looked at Regina and Regina's cheeks were red but she was also smiling. She seemed happy and that made Emma happy as well.

"We should get going Emma!" said Regina in a rush.

Emma just nodded her head in agreement as they both walked out the door, waving goodbye to Melony on the way out. Their drive to the restaurant was pretty quick knowing that the restaurant wasn't very far out of town. As they finally arrived, they parked and got out of the car. Both women walked inside and immediately Emma was greeted by her friend Hope who had ran up to her from the booth she was sitting at and gave her a tight hug. Emma of course hugged her back. Hope had long blonde hair down to her waist. It was wavy and also straight at the same time. She had on a blue t-shirt with blue pants. You could tell from her facial structures that she had Down Syndrome.

"Hope, meet my girlfriend Regina."

Regina just smiled and put out her hand to shake Hope's hand.

"It's very nice to meet you! Emma has told me that you're her best friend!"

Hope smiled big and then took Regina's hand to shake it.

"I am Emma's best friend! I miss her a lot!"

Regina smiled even wider.

"Well it is a pleasure to meet you Hope!" said Regina

Hope then took Emma's hand and led her to the booth. Regina followed behind. As they all ordered their drinks and food and started eating, Hope wouldn't stop talking Emma's ear off and trying to learn more about Regina. She kept asking all sorts of questions like where Regina lived, what her favorite color was,does she really love Emma with all her heart, and so on. Most questions no normal person would ever truly ask, at least in a first rendezvous. Yet, it never bothered Regina one bit from what Emma could tell. She smiled and laughed and engaged in the conversation the whole time.

After they all finished eating and it was time for Regina and Emma to leave, Hope gave Emma another goodbye hug and this time she also automatically hugged Regina without even asking if she could. Regina didn't seem to mind it though and Emma felt very relieved at that. She had forgotten to warn Regina about the possibility of Hope hugging her without her permission. It didn't even occur to her until now. Emma just felt happy that Regina seemed like she didn't mind it and that she enjoyed the hug.

As Emma and Regina left the restaurant, Emma couldn't help but ask Regina what she truly thought of her friend.

"So, what did you think of Hope?"

"She seemed very well mannered. I can tell she loves you and misses you very much!"

Emma smiled at that, but she had always wondered that if Regina ever met her friends, that were more special needs than her, if she would think of her any differently, so of course Emma thought she'd ask.

"Do you think of me any differently than anyone else? I know I've never really seemed special needs and all but I really would like to know if maybe meeting my friend changed your mind in any way about me?"

Right then, Regina slowly steered the car to the side of the road and parked in an abandoned parking lot to look Emma straight in the face.

"Emma, do you really think that I think so low of you? Like I said before, you are smart and you are beautiful. You may be special needs in the eyes of the law or society, but in my eyes, you're just Emma. My girlfriend. The beautiful blonde woman I met on that bus a few weeks ago. I don't think of you any differently and I hope one day you see that in yourself as well. Stop showing yourself short to everyone. Show all your bright colors including all your smartness. Do I make myself clear, Emma?"

Emma smiled so brightly at that. It made her whole world feel more at ease and her heart beat faster in her chest knowing that her girlfriend loved her the way she is, for who she is and without even thinking, Emma blurted out those three little words.

"I love you!"

They had never entirely shared those three words with each other before. They both never really felt the need to, knowing their actions said it all. Yet, Emma couldn't take it any longer and it just came out. Regina smiled at Emma widely once she heard what Emma blurted out and before Emma could speak, Regina spoke the same three words back to Emma.

"I love you too!"

Emma's breath got caught in her throat again as she smiled at Regina not being able to form any words now. She felt so much happiness in this very moment that she figured nothing could top this. Regina then pulled Emma in for a passionate kiss and Emma kissed back with just as much passion.