Things did get exciting around the prison after that. It was the beginning of September and it was Fall so there was a bit of a chill to the air. The lowest it got at night was about mid to low 40s and it would only start getting colder outside so everyone was preparing for the upcoming winter.

Emma did get up that next morning, after feeding Henry, she and the toddler got dressed before going to visit her big brother. Walking into the room, Emma saw August and she immediately smiled. He had his color back and he wasn't strapped to the table any longer.

"Ah! Good Morning, Ms. Emma." Doc walked up behind her and she jumped. "Your brother is just resting, he was up all night battling the last of that nasty fever but now it is gone."

Emma smiled brightly and walked over to him, Henry right on her hip. She ran her hand through his hair and starred down at his sleeping face.

"Once he is strong enough we will transfer him to a bed. Then from there I will administer more of the antibiotics to fight off the infection and monitor him throughout his days." Doc told her.

August only got better after that, in like no time at all. He still had issues with his leg and has been doing therapy in his cell but he is getting stronger day by day.

Emma finally introduced herself to Regina's father Henry and he seemed to take a liking to her right away. On that second day he showed her the greenhouse he and a few elderly's had cleaned out. Emma told them that they had basically hit the jackpot!

Emma was kneeling on the ground examining everything they had to work with. Emma told them all the seeds August had found and brought back.

"The trick is only growing the hearty vegetables so that they can withstand the cold temperatures." Emma explained. "We can try a few fruits but it would be best to wait until it gets warmer."

Over the next few days Emma and Big Henry, worked on setting up pots and making plant beds on the tables and even in old recycled jugs on the ground. They went about planting potted peppers, tomatoes, and squash. Then they planted onions, spinach, and carrots. Emma took a chance and even put the strawberry seeds into a pot. They still had potting soil and even liquid fertilizer, which was great.

When Emma was out in the greenhouse, Henry was either with August or toddling behind Regina somewhere. Henry was the youngest child out of all of them so far, so when he walked around with Regina he got tons of attention, that he just ate right up.

Some days when August was feeling well enough, he would get up and walk around the cell block. Then gradually it turned into walking around the courtyard to walking around the gates and paths of the section they were in. Day by day August got stronger, and started to get to know the people around him.

Emma's birthday passed and while she didn't want to make a big deal out of it, August did. They had been in the prison for over a whole month now. On the morning of her birthday, August woke her up singing a botched version of Happy Birthday and she groaned throwing her pillow at him. Emma was 21 years old, if the world wasn't the way it is now, the normal thing to do would be to go out and have an extravagant party, filled with alcohol. Emma had only ever had a few beers before then but other than that nothing else.

August helped Henry draw her a beautiful picture that she hung up on the wall of their cell, and Regina presented her with a box of Annie's cookies that she managed to find out on a run.

"That's the closest I could find to cake." Regina rubbed the back of her neck. "Hopefully they aren't stale."

Emma hugged her tight and thanked her, Regina wrapped her arms around the younger woman, and tried not to think too much on it. But still it was a really good hug.

Regina and her team still left on runs every week and when they did, Emma tried not to think too hard about the older woman not coming back. Over the weeks, they had really gotten to know each other and form a sort of friendship? Emma didn't know what to call it, there was always some harmless flirting but she found herself starting to harbor feelings for the older woman.

The first time she saw that blonde woman Mal, touching Regina's arm and smiling at her. She felt a little pang of dare she say jealousy? Regina told her that she and Mal had known each other before the world ended and then they found each other again one day. Emma didn't bother to ask about the details of their relationship, but for a while she could sense a bit of tension between them. But after a while it was like they were ok, they were friends again.

"Emma!"

Emma jumped and hit her head on the table she had been under, in the greenhouse. Pulling her head back, rubbing the top of it, Emma turned to see Regina standing over her looking amused.

"Are you alright?" Regina laughed.

"Ah...Yeah no I'm good." Emma chuckled too and went stand up. "You're back sooner than I expected."

"Yeah." Regina helped her up. "We couldn't get around a herd so we came back. They're starting to get bigger." she sighed.

"Aw...well that's unfortunate...come let me show you something." Emma grabbed her hand and drug her to the back of the greenhouse.

Regina looked around the room, astonished. There were actual plants growing out of the pots and soil, Emma put them in some recycled bottles and transparent bags to help with the temperature drops. But luckily the sun was still shining through so that made it easier as well.

It was the middle of November now, and it had been officially 75 days since Emma planted the strawberry seeds. The true leaves from the plants started to grow and Emma finally was able to transfer them to containers and separate them. Emma walked over and squatted down, tugging Regina down with her.

"The strawberry seeds finally germinated look." Emma grinned and held one up for Regina to see. "Now they should hopefully start producing fruits."

Regina smiled at her and looked back at the plant.

"Oh! And then look over here...I know I planted the cucumbers a bit later than everything else but these do grow pretty fast." Emma walked over to a large plant and rose up on her tip toes. Taking out a knife snipping the grown fruit.

She twisted it in her hand and then tossed it to Regina. Regina stuttered but caught it, looking at the thing with awe.

"This is an actual cucumber." Regina gaped.

"Yup! I know this weather is going to be a pain in the ass, but I still separated the peppers and the tomatoes. But! The onions have grown and we can start picking them in a few days and the spinach. Maybe if the hunting is good you can snag a rabbit or something. Maybe Granny can make a stew?" Emma suggested.

Regina stared at her just holding the cucumber and moved quickly, picking Emma up and spinning her around. Emma squealed and laughed, holding on so she didn't fall.

"Regina! Put me down!" Emma laughed.

Regina did and laughed too, placing a kiss on Emma's forehead. "You've managed to do this, all of this, in like only two months."

"Yeah if we can maintain it all, there's more where that came from in the spring." Emma shrugged.

"You really do have a gift for this." Regina smiled.

"Just using what we have here and coming up with other ways to accommodate what we didn't. No big deal." Emma shrugged again.

"Have you been in here all day?" Regina asked.

"Just about yeah." Emma nodded.

"Come on, dinner should be starting soon." Regina handed her back the cucumber and Emma took her gloves off. Wrapped her jacket tighter around her and they left.

August and Henry were already in the main hall, sitting down at a table. It was colder now and no one wanted to eat their meals outside. Henry saw them coming and quickly got down from the seat, running over, smiling big with his pacifier still in his mouth.

Emma had been trying to ween him off of the thing for a few days now. During the day he was alright, sometimes, but at night if he didn't get it he would throw himself on the floor and just lay there, completely ignoring Emma.

The young mother picked him up and hugged him tight, when he was done with hugging her. He turned in her arms and reached for Regina, who gladly took him. They walked over to the table and Regina sat where he was sitting next to August.

"Are you holding a cucumber?" August furrowed his brow.

Emma sat across from them and placed the fruit on the table.

"Ew don't put it on the table, we don't know what you've been doing with that thing." August teased and gagged.

Emma just stared at him with her mouth gaped open, before she reached over the table and started swatting playfully at his head.

"Ew Emma. Have you even cleaned your hands?" August swatted back at her.

"Oh you are hilarious." Emma scuffed and rolled her eyes playfully, still swatting at him.

Regina laughed at the siblings and shook her head, it was a pretty nice joke.

"Children." Regina laughed and stopped them. "We are at a table".

Emma huffed and chuckled, sitting back down. Ruby came over, followed by Mulan and Jefferson.

"Umm is that a cucumber?" Mulan asked confused.

Ruby gasped and snatched it up, "They finally grew in Emma? This is great!" Ruby turned it over. "Wow this is pretty big...Wait did August make a dirty joke already?" Ruby cheesed.

Regina snorted and Emma groaned but they all shook their heads yes, and Ruby laughed out loud but high fived him.

"You're supposed to be the mature one Ruby." Emma groaned.

Emma was actually the youngest one at the table, well besides Henry.

Ruby just shrugged and laughed and they all got a helping of tonights dinner. Canned broccoli and rice. Emma will be glad when they can start having some fresh foods, there were seasonings in the prison kitchen so thankfully every dish didn't taste the same.

Everyone ate their dinner and went their separate ways. While Henry was laying down with August, Emma took the opportunity to go shower and get the feeling of dirt and sweat out of her hair.

Walking into the showers, Emma didn't hear the shower turn off but she heard a faint curse and when she turned the corner and looked up, there was a naked Regina rubbing her towel vigorously at her eyes. Emma gasped and turned around as quick as she could.

"I AM SO SORRY!" Emma turned and started to walk away.

Regina quickly dropped her towel and squinted before closing one eye still. She knew that voice.

"Emma? Emma wait!" Regina wrapped her towel around her body and rushed after her but the young blonde was already gone.

Regina groaned and rubbed at her eye, the damn soap got into her eyes and she tried to rinse them out but she just couldn't get them to stop burning.

Emma raced back to her cell and stopped before she crashed into August.

"Woah! Where's the fire, Em?" August stopped.

"Huh? Fire-...I- there's no fire. I just have to...take my shower later." Emma took a breath.

"Are you ok?" August squinted his eyes at her and the weird behavior.

Was she ok? Yeah of course she was. NOT. Regina had a dick! Which is not what Emma expected at all. Never in a million years. Of course Emma has imagined Regina naked. She's imagined kissing the older woman. Them in bed. She had been with a woman before and it was a pretty great experience. Then of course she's been guys before but none of them looked like that...So not only was she beautiful but Regina had a dick...a big one.

Emma heard Regina calling her name but she was so embarrassed her body wouldn't let her stop to turn around. Was it embarrassment? Emma got a pretty good look at the member, it looked like Regina was almost hard. That thought sent a shiver through her body so quick she couldn't stop it.

Oh no! Regina probably thinks I'm like disgusted with her or something. Fuck! I shouldn't have run away like that.

Emma groaned but shook her head yes, realizing August was still waiting for an answer.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm good. I just feel dirty. But I can wait a bit longer." Emma reassured.

After a few minutes Emma, walked back to the showers and this time they were completely empty. Quickly showering and washing her hair, Emma decided she would go talk to Regina after putting her things down.

Back in her cell Regina was pacing, dressed in joggers and a black long sleeve that had two buttons undone.

Emma saw her naked! This is not how she wanted the blonde to find out. She was going to tell her eventually, but she hadn't figured out how though. Well...this just ripped that bandage right off. Just completely opened the door! But she didn't see Emma's face, or her reaction, the blonde just ran away. Did she see it was Regina behind the towel?

Her hair was up and wait ok the towel only covered half of her face. So Emma definitely saw that it was her. And Regina did call her name, so she heard her voice. Regina sat down on her bed and sighed, palming her hands on her face. She didn't know how long she was sat there but she heard the curtain move back on the cell door.

"Regina?" Emma called out to her.

Regina looked up quick and stood up, running her fingers back in her hair.

"Emma!" Regina took a step forward but Emma walked in so she stayed were she was.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry...for earlier. I didn't hear anyone in the showers so I just walked right in. I wasn't trying to like look at you while you were in private." Emma bit her lip.

"I-It's alright. You don't have to apologize. I-...I'm sorry if I-"

"You didn't do anything! I was just so embarrassed I turned and ran."

"Embarrassed?..."

"That I walked in on you! Not because of..." Emma rushed out but stopped this was starting to sound bad. "I don't care about that, really. I'm just sorry that I ran off like that."

"It's alright I get it."

"Seeing you naked period, that's not how I expected it to go." Emma sighed but couldn't stop her word vomit.

Regina smirked and raised her brow, "You've thought about seeing me naked?"

Emma's eyes got big and she turned red in a matter of seconds. "I-. I just meant-..." she couldn't get her words out.

Regina bit her lip and just stared at her. "It just a yes or no question Emma." she chuckled.

Emma's shoulders dropped and she looked away, sheepishly. "Yeah."

" A Lot?" Regina took a step closer. She was getting brave.

Emma watched her step closer and looked at her feet. "Yeah." she answered.

"Do you...think about...us?" Regina stepped right up to her.

Emma sighed and trailed her eyes up Regina's body until, she was looking into beautiful brown ones. "Yes."

Regina looked down and inched her finger out and across reaching for Emma's opposite hand. She hooked one finger with Emma's, rubbing her thumb over the back of her hand. She bit her lip again and looked back to Emma's green eyes, as she moved her thumb.

"I think about you too." Regina admitted.

"You do?" Emma slightly gasped.

"I think about us...kissing...naked...in bed...together." Regina smirked. "I think about..." Regina took her whole hand. "Waking up to you...holding you close."

Emma just stared up at her transfixed, she didn't notice she was being pulled in. Regina was right in front of her, if she just reached a little she could kiss her.

"Does it truly not bother you?" Regina whispered.

Emma furrowed her brows and realized. "No. No! Regina I-. I still think you're beautiful."

Regina nodded her head slowly and her hands were on Emma's hips now. Looking over Emma's face she smiled.

"It's really good to know, I wasn't the only one feeling this way...I wanted to tell you. I just didn't really know how to bring it up. And now that you do know...I am so relieved."

"I'm sorry...that you didn't feel comfortable enough to share that with me."

"No...You have nothing to be sorry for, Emma. I'm comfortable with myself I have been for a long time. And I trust you and I am comfortable enough around you...It's just...there's always a 50/50 chance with these kinds of things. If i'm even making sense anymore." Regina sighed.

Emma chuckled lightly and was still looking up at. "I understand."

Regina smiled back and looked into her green eyes then down to her lips again.

"I...really want to kiss you right now." Regina looked up from her lips back to her eyes.

Emma smiled brightly and shook her head looking down at Regina's full lips.

"I really want you to kiss me right now."

Regina nodded her head quickly and did just that. Pulling Emma impossibly closer, she leaned her head down and connected their lips. Emma immediately kissed her and turned her head to the side pushing back against her lips. It started off slow but then Emma brought her arms up to wrap around the taller woman's neck. The kiss took a passionate turn and their lips moved together and Emma sucked on Regina's bottom lip and quickly released.

Regina moaned into her mouth, and wrapped her arms around Emma's waist. Emma pulled herself up and wrapped her legs around Regina's waist, taking one of her hands to cup the woman's face. Regina kept her arms around her waist, her grip tight to make sure Emma didn't fall.

Not even thinking twice about it, Regina kissed Emma back deeply, and turned with the younger woman in her hold and sat them down on her bed. Emma was kissing her with so much passion in her lap, she felt she might be drunk. When air became necessary, Emma slowly pulled back but stayed close.

It had been so long since she felt anything like this, and to make it better Regina felt the exact same way. Emma felt something under her and pressed down on it, making Regina moan and quickly place her hand on Emma's hip. Emma realized that...Regina was hard, Regina was hard because of her.

Silently patting herself on the back, Emma rolled her hips forward and she shivered once her core rubbed just right along Regina's bulge. Regina gripped her hip tight and shut her eyes. When she opened them again she stared right into Emma's green eyes, her brown nearly black. Emma bit her lip, looking her straight in the eye and rubbed her thumb along Regina's cheek.

Pressing her breasts flush against Regina's, she slowly started to roll her hips. She could very much feel how Regina was pulsing against her in those joggers. Regina closed her eyes and let out a breathy moan, she felt Emma's thumb tracing her lip so she tilted her head down and took it between her lips. Emma gasped and pushed down harder making them both gasp and groan.

"Show me what you think about."