The day passes relatively quickly for Emma. She spends some time with Henry in the early morning and spends the rest of the afternoon aimlessly wandering around the hotel grounds. She resists the urge to visit the theatre, both as a way to prevent distraction for Regina but also to avoid Cora. The older woman's presence had been surprisingly absent in the last couple of days which made Emma feel uneasy. Something was coming, she could feel, but just what she was unsure of. Still, Cora does not seem like a person who likes to trifle and Emma has known many adults like her in her life that she knows to not put her guard down.

Emma tries to distract herself. Think of other things that do not involve something going wrong. She thinks of Regina and the last few days spent with her. How quickly her life has changed for the better since coming here, since meeting Regina. The sound of her favorite song plays in her mind, and suddenly she has a thought.

She stands outside Regina's door at precisely 7. She knocks and just as quickly Regina answers. Her brown curls are immaculately pinned back as she wears a sapphire-colored gown. The color of blue contrasts wonderfully with her olive skin and she wears a string of pearls around her neck. Emma looks down at herself suddenly self-conscious, "Sorry. Should I have dressed up?"

She laughs, "No dear. Sorry, my rehearsal continued longer than I originally thought. I haven't had a moment to change. Give me just a minute." Emma steps into the room and shuts the door just as Regina disappears into another room. She looks around the room that feels familiar yet different. There are fewer items, fewer pictures, fewer memories, no doubt the years to come will gladly occupy the space. Yet, something is off about the room. It feels temporary, fluid, unsettled.

Regina reappears, wearing a light blue colored dress. "I'm glad to see you wearing those new clothes I bought you." Emma is wearing black waist pants, with the grey silk shirt that they picked out the day before.

"Better than from before?"

"Hmm" Regina hums in agreement, "But I will admit you would look lovely in nearly anything you wore." She walks closer to her, pressing a light kiss to her cheek.

Emma blushes, "I bought something for you."

"Oh?"

"It's nothing really." Emma says handing the record over to her, "I just promised to show you that song sometime, and well, here it is." She smiles.

Regina gleams, "Thank you, Emma, I will put it on now. Have a seat." She gestures to the couch, "There's some wine on the table, help yourself." Regina walks to the record player, gently placing the record down before music envelops the air.

"This is the melody from before right? Oh, what a lovely song. Thank you for sharing this with me." She sits on the opposite side of the couch, pouring herself a glass before tucking her feet and glancing at Emma.

"Regina," Emma starts, "Can I ask you something?"

She nods.

"Are you planning to leave anytime soon?" Emma means to make it sound like a normal question but it comes out quietly and insecure.

The words make Emma feel small. Like the words once muttered as a child. Foster parents had come and gone throughout her life. Nothing was permanent, she learned early on. Perhaps that is why Emma had an affinity for taking risks. Seizing the moment at present since it was unsure if the moment would ever happen again. It hurt when the people she wanted to love left her. Sure she may not have loved them but could have learned to. Parent after parent, guardian after guardian, lover after lover. Everyone had left her at one point in her life.

The only person who never did was Ruby, and she was thankful for her presence in her life. Still, even Ruby couldn't change the fact that after so many years of being hurt there comes a moment when it just stops. That Emma may have no longer felt the sting or pain of being left alone once again but that with this came the inability to feel anything, good or bad. She had to sacrifice the opportunities to feel happiness and love to prevent feelings of hurt or pain. That was the cost, the price that before now she had been willing to pay over and over again. Yet since Regina, her heart had seemingly become anew. She felt happy for the first time in years, felt love blossom in her chest, and fill her every fiber of being. Every atom that was within her was filled to the brim with the love she had for Regina.

So walking into her room, sensing the same feeling of temporariness nearly sent her reeling. Her eyes begin to water, despite herself but she manages to hold her lips stiff to prevent from quivering.

"Emma," she says, concern heavily laced in her voice. She puts her glass down and moves closer to the other woman. She takes the glass, now trembling in Emma's hands, and places it next to hers. Both hands slide gently over her shoulders as she nudges the woman to face her. "Emma please, look at me."

Emma resists the urge to continue to stare straight ahead as the tears begin to flow down her face. However, upon hearing the raw emotion and concern in the other woman's voice she manages to turn and face her.

"Oh Emma," she says, taking in the full view of the blonde woman. She wraps her arms around her and brings her close. "Please tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing. Really just I was reminded of something and I—" she stops for a moment, "never mind, it's not important. Can we just pretend that this didn't just happen and go back to what we were doing before?"

"Emma." Her voice is soft and gentle. "I won't force you to talk to me but I wish that you would." She tilts her head down so that their eyes can meet. "Please."

Her eyes are brimming with so much concern and care that Emma finds it difficult to maintain eye contact. She sees in her eyes the possibility of vulnerability without judgment. Without it being held against her later on. Emma is not great at being open, never has been. Although this journey so far has opened her heart up further than what she thought was possible it still doesn't erase her fears and defenses. These have been cemented inside of her with each crushing blow of reality or new experience of pain.

Emma has never really been open to anyone before. Ruby was the closest person but even so, they had some things that even they did not, could not, share. Emma hid these fears in the deepest reaches within herself, unwilling to spare them a thought let alone divulge them to another person. Hiding these thoughts behind her fake smiles and bright eyes. Like the dark and impenetrable pit below the unsuspecting red and shiny flesh of a cherry. She never could before, never wanted to. That was before Regina. This woman can, without a doubt, see the fear reflected behind her eyes. See the pain, misery, and darkness that she has buried within herself, burying it deeper and deeper with each passing year. Emma knows that she can see it. She can feel her vulnerability pricking at the edges of her eyes, the slightest quiver of her mouth threatening to betray her. Yet despite all this Regina does not look afraid nor scared. Concerned, yes but she also looks calm, safe. Like a lighthouse in the middle of an ocean storm. She looks like hope.

It is this look alone that gives Emma the additional strength to overcome her urge to stay silent or run away. And for the first time in her life, be open with someone. Fully, candidly, without hesitation or fear.

Emma tells Regina about her past, her time as a foster youth, and all the things she has experienced since then. She goes on for a while and it is surprising to her just how everything seems to spill out of her. When she is done she eyes Regina carefully, awaiting a reaction good or bad.

Regina says nothing for a moment as if processing all the information before finally saying, "Thank you Emma for telling me this. You gave me a rare gift, please do not think that I do not understand this. I feel that it is only fair that I share some things about myself as well."

Regina goes on to share the details of her childhood with her mother. The years filled with acting classes and commands for perfection by her mother. The unexpected death of her father and the discovery of a sister. The nearly forced marriage to an older man to clear her family's debts. Her narrow escape by landing her first show which sold out for weeks.

Emma is speechless when she finishes. Knowing her words would fail her if she tried to speak, Emma reaches out and grabs the woman's hand. Holding it tightly in her own, the gesture conveying all which needed to be said without uttering a word.

Regina understands the meaning completely and gives her a small smile before remarking on the catalyst of a question, "To address the question you asked before," she continues, "our company is scheduled to leave the day after the show. We are to travel to Boston and several other cities in the subsequent days."

"Oh." Emma manages to say before casting her eyes downwards.

Regina shakes her head, her hand tightening around Emma's. "But, I was going to ask you later tonight but now seems like a much more appropriate time to ask as any."

"Ask what?"

"Ask if you would accompany us, or me rather. This is the first time that I get to travel and there is no one else I would rather have at my side." She says, with a smile so full of love and hope that it makes Emma want to cry.

"What about your mother? Won't she, I don't know, completely disapprove," she responds, trying to stabilize her voice.

"That doesn't matter. I won't do the tour without you." Regina looks firm and resolute in her answer. As if stating an indisputable truth, with no room for negotiation.

"But Regina, you can't throw away your opportunity for me."

Regina shakes her head again as if the other woman is missing the point completely, "Emma, please listen to me. From the moment I met you, I knew my life was going to change forever. It had nothing to do with what my mother said and everything to do with the moment our eyes met."

She continues, "When I saw you standing there, so nervous to even be standing close to me I thought that you were just like everyone else. All those others who did not want me so much as they sought to possess me. They were infatuated with the idea of who I am but did not know me nor did they want to since the real me would destroy this illusion. Yet, you looked at me as if you've known me your whole life and despite myself, I felt something that I had never felt before. It was as if something shifted in my gut, a pull towards you now awakened. And when I looked into your eyes I knew you, as much as I knew myself."

Emma looks at her, tears threatening to spill from her green eyes for the third time this evening.

"Emma, I want you with me."

Her body moves before her mind understands what is happening. Her arms reach out to bring their bodies close as their lips crashed together. The kiss is wet and salty and Emma notices that she is not the only one crying. Tears flow from Regina's eyes as well, her heart feeling so full that she's afraid she might just burst from it all.

"Is this a yes?" Regina asks tentatively.

"Oh my god, yes. Of course, I'll go with you!" She brings her into a tight embrace. "I will follow you wherever you go, my only request is please don't go where I can't follow."

Regina breathes deeply, the smell of summer lingers in the blonde's hair. "Same to you Emma." She pulls back so she can look into her eyes, a serious expression on her face, "Don't go where I can't follow."

Emma nods in acknowledgment. A small pang of guilt hits her although she is unsure why. She pushes the feeling away, another day she thinks.

The record has long stopped playing. The needle skips signifying the end of the track. Regina stands up and replaces the record with something else. Sliding the record back into its paper sleeve. "My turn to show you something from my collection," Regina says, putting on a new track. She then walks over to the light switch and lowers the lights to their lowest setting, glancing over at Emma and giving her a wink. "Easier on my eyes, the stage lights are always so bright."

Emma picks up her wine glass off the table and drinks. This is really good wine.

Regina slides back onto the couch, her feet tucked beneath her and face close to Emma's. They spend the rest of the night, talking about everything and anything. The promise of dinner was long forgotten and the sound of their hushed voices and laughter fill the room. Eventually, Regina stands up and ushers them to bed. Unable to see clearly but unwilling to turn on the light, they fumble their way to the bed. They strip in the darkened room, illuminated only slightly by the faintest sliver of moonlight. With their clothes discarded they both climb into bed. They lay close to one another, with their limbs entwined and eyes closed. Regina lays facing the window, and Emma right behind her. Emma waits until she hears the shallow breathing of the other woman's sleep before she leans in and kisses her back. Her lips barely grazing the soft expanse of tanned skin.

"I love you, Regina," she says before closing her eyes and drifting asleep.

Unaware that Regina was awake. Cherry wine on her lips, and the veil of moonlight on her face. She whispers as if saying a prayer to the darkness of the night. "I love you too Emma."