She wanted to, she really wanted to, but she needed to be in charge of her libido and not the other way around. She was enjoying their intimacy and didn't want it to stop but she was happy with how things were in that moment. "Not yet... is that okay?" She just needed a moment to step back and calm down.

"Of course, whatever you want." Emma says sweetly whilst brushing brunette hair behind her ear.

"Could we maybe take a bath?"

"Together?" She's a little surprised at the suggestion but more than happy to comply.

"Yes." Regina happily answers.

"Hell, yes! I'll hang my leg over the side, all sexy like." Her eyebrows wiggling in a jokey way rather than a sexy way. Regina feels her chest fill with love at the silly smile on the blondes face and the easy way she always agrees with any of her suggestions. "Stay right there, my Queen. I shall be but a moment drawing your bath." She gives Regina a quick kiss and throws her legs over the side of the bed to stand up. "Owww...shit." She grumbles when her injured foot hits the floor with a bit too much pressure.

"Emma, are you okay," the brunette asks with a panicked voice as she moves to sit up.

"It is but a minor bother," she says getting back into character as royal servant, "rest your weary head until I return." With that she limps into the en suite, grumbling in pain, and begins running a bath for them both. She peels her underwear down her legs, her face morphing in disgust at the sticky essence still covering her most intimate of places. She quickly washes herself in the sink, keeping an eye on the door, hoping that Regina won't walk through and catch her doing something so gross. Once she's finished she pours some of Regina's favourite bubble-bath into the large tub then she wraps a towel around her waist, she doesn't walk back into the bedroom wearing nothing but her ankle brace, it wasn't a sexy look. "Your bath awaits, my Queen." She announces as she hobbles over to Regina and offers the brunette her hand.

"I hate to see you limp," Regina says as she intertwines her fingers with Emma's and follows her to the bathroom.

Emma cups herself through the towel, "I'm not usually limp around you." She knows it's a daring joke to make, she doesn't want to be overly sexual but she loves making Regina laugh and she just can't pass up the chance.

Regina does laugh, and gently smacks her shoulder, "That's not what I meant, you idiot."

Once Emma had managed to get herself into the bath, without soaking her ankle brace, Regina delicately steps out of her underwear and gets into the bath, laying between Emma's legs, her back resting against the blondes front and her head cradled between her neck and shoulder.

Emma wraps her arms around Regina, her hands resting on the soft skin of her stomach as kisses the crown of her head, "this is nice."

"Mmm so nice," she agrees as her eyes close and she relaxes fully against the blonde, her own hands covering Emma's, intertwining their fingers together again.

Emma doesn't think she has ever been in such an intimate position before, even during sex she had never experienced this level of intimacy. Looking down at the smaller woman who was laying against her, fitting against her body like a perfectly matched up jigsaw piece. The blissful smile on Regina's face filled Emma with felicity.

They lay like that for a little while, but Regina could still feel the wanton heat between her thighs, her need still calling to be sated. The strong arms around her and muscular thighs cradling her only exacerbate the fire. She's doing her best to fight it but when Emma starts slowly dragging her thumbs backwards and forwards over the sensitive skin of her lower stomach her resolve capsizes. She tilts her head back so she can look at the blonde, "touch me," she quietly begs as she slowly guides Emma's right hand past her wet curls to her stiff clit.

Emma leans down and captures Regina's inviting lips with her own. She lets the brunette guide the kiss just as she lets her guide her hand. Their tongues meet in a gentle dance that entices delicious whimpers from deep within their throats.

Emma slowly but firmly circles Regina's clit with her middle finger as the brunette grips onto her wrist, holding it in place. When Emma doesn't go any quicker, allowing Regina to dictate how much she wants, the brunette starts circling her hips, controlling the speed and pressure in the way she wants.

Emma feels her other hand being dragged up Regina's body until it's on her breast, her hard nipple poking the palm of the blondes hand. She lightly squeezes the weighty breast, Regina's tongue becoming more demanding in her mouth as she does.

Regina's hips quicken as the tight feeling in her lower stomach increases. She hadn't had an orgasm in such a long time, not even by her own hand, and that was very telling in the moment as she sped towards the feeling of bliss.

Emma presses her lips harder against the plump ones of her girlfriend and strums her nipple with the pad of her thumb. Without any further warning than the whimpers Emma is swallowing, Regina arches above her as her body experiences the delirious relief she hadn't felt in way too long. Once the orgasm has been drawn out for as long as it could be, Regina pulls Emma's hand away and slumps back against her.

"Are you okay?" The blonde asks as she places small kisses along Regina's temple.

She manages to open her eyes to look at Emma with a smile on her face, "yes," she simply answers before closing her eyes again. A small, contented sigh escapes Regina's lips as the strong body behind her offers her the comfort she has always sought.

They stay like that as the water continues to cool around them and eventually Emma gently rouses her from her relaxed state and suggests they get out before they catch hypothermia.

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The Boston Belles win their game the next day, to the disappointment of the three women in the lounge watching it on the large TV as it unfolds.

"Crap," Emma grumbles when the final whistle is blown.

"So, does this mean they are champions now?" Kathryn asks about the Boston Belles, her knowledge of the game being non-existent.

"No, it just means we have to better their result next week. If they lose or draw we will be champions but all the games are played at the same time so we just need to make sure we win."

"You'll do it, my darling," Regina whispers the words of encouragement as she kisses the blondes cheek.

"As long as I can play by then." She glares at her strapped up foot as if to tell it to get its act together.

"When will you know if you will be able to play?" Kathryn asks.

"They want me to return to the training ground on Tuesday so they can check it out a bit more and see what it's like when the swelling goes down. Then I just have to wait and see how it goes day by day."

"That sucks," Kathryn sympathises with her.

"It's just one of those things. I'm kind of glad that I get to stay at home with you two tomorrow for the start of the trial though. I'd probably be way too distracted if I did have to go to practice."

"It's just going to be loads of waiting around until David or Fred calls." Kathryn grumbles her annoyance at how slow everything seems to be going. She wants it all over with as quick as possible but the agents had tried to prepare them for how lengthy these sorts of trials can be, especially with someone like Gold who holds such power over his criminal associates.

"But at least we'll be together." For once Regina was the most positive one in the group.

"That's right, baby." Emma agrees as she wraps an arm around her shoulder, the sadness at now having been crowned champions because of the Boston Belles win now at the back of her mind.

"You two are so sappy," Kathryn mutters with a smile on her face. She was too happy for her friend for her words to contain any malice, but maybe they did carry just a touch of jealousy.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was early Monday morning when Fred calls Kathryn and informs her there would a delay to the start of the trial, because in a last minute panic, many of the defendants had decided to turn on Gold to save themselves. He didn't have any other details at that moment but he reassured her it was a good thing, he ended the call with a promise to call her when he knew more.

She was so happy to hear that Gold's lackeys were turning on him, even if it might mean a more lenient sentence for them. In her excitement she ran out of her room and across the hallway, barging into her housemates rooms without knocking or even considering whether they were awake or not.

"Regina, Em... ewww, gross." She stops in her tracks but makes no effort to close her eyes or turn away.

"Kathryn, don't you know how to knock?" Regina glares at her as she as she pulls the sheet above her naked chest.

"Don't you know how to keep it in your pants?" She retorts with a snort.

"We weren't... this isn't... what the hell do you want?"

Emma sits there blushing furiously, they were only making out but it wasn't something she wanted anyone watching or barging in on.

"Great news! Fred just called me and said they are delaying the trail."

"How is that great news?"

"Because they are all turning on Gold. Apparently loads of his guys are turning State's evidence."

"That is great," Emma finally joins in, "there's no way Gold will ever see the light of day again. Not with all the evidence and even more testimony against him."

"But what about the guys turning on him? Will they get off scot-free?" Just the thought of any of those heinous men being free sent shivers down Regina's spine.

"Fred didn't know all the details but he said it's a good thing. He said he will call me again later when he knows more. This is good Regina. Emma, keep her negativity in check, will you?"

Emma gives a small smile and pulls Regina closer to her, well aware of the need to keep the sheet around her girlfriends naked torso as she does so.

It was a mixed bag of emotions in the room, there was excitement and happiness but also worry and concern. They all tried their best to get through the day as if nothing was happening outside of the four walls of the mansion. Emma kept a close eye on Regina and did her best to keep the brunettes natural inclination for pessimism at bay.

Kathryn kept her phone on her at all times but it still startled her when it started to ring. "Hello," she quickly answers, Emma and Regina both stop with the diner they were preparing side by side, and rush to Kathryn as she sits at the kitchen table with the phone to her ear.

After what felt like an eternity of "ums" and "uh huhs," Kathryn hangs up and finally turns to the impatient women with a smile on her face.

"Was that Fred?" Regina asks before Emma could.

"Yes, he said that everyone of the fuckers that are on trial with Gold have asked for a plea bargain. The FBI have been taking statements all day and he said they are discovering crimes that they didn't even know he was involved in, the case is getting bigger and bigger. The trial has been delayed for the foreseeable future, until all the statements have been completed and they decide on what they offer each of them for their testimony. He thinks it might be a while."

Emma doesn't say anything, she knows Regina will be processing it all and probably worrying about any of them being a plea deal that will release them anytime soon. She knows all she can do is be there for Regina, for both of them, until it is all over and that's what she will do.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The week had passed in increasing excitement about the court case and Emma's last game of the season. With every day that passed it looked more and more likely that Gold would never breathe fresh air ever again and all his associates would still be put away for a very long time. Emma's ankle was heeling well, the swelling had almost completely gone down and she could put her weight on the foot but it was still a little tender. All in all, things were looking positive for her at least getting a place on the subs bench for the game.

Emma had even participated in part of the training session on Friday, as well as receiving physio and an ice bath like she had every day since Tuesday. Her mood is elevated when she enters her home that day after scoring in her first training session since her injury.

"Sweetheart," She shouts as she hangs up her jacket and grabs her mail from the side cupboard in the hallway.

"Hello, darling," the brunette replies as rushes down the stairs to greet her girlfriend with a hug, "how's your ankle?"

"I managed to train for a little, so things are looking up," Emma says as she kisses Regina on the cheek., "they gave me another injection and it's feeling pretty good, just got to keep the brace on for support."

"That's great. Come on, I've made lunch." Regina says and takes her hand, leading her through to the kitchen.

Emma chucks her mail on the kitchen table and grabs them both a bottle of water from the fridge whilst Regina plates up some chicken salad.

Once they are sitting down and eating, Regina fills her in on the call she received from David a littler earlier on. Gold was still pleading not guilty, despite the advice from his own lawyer. His arrogance wouldn't let him back down, even though it meant that if he was convicted, his punishment would be much harsher than if he admitted his guilt. The state had accepted the plea bargains from all his drug associates but they had refused those from his goons that were part of the sex trafficking trade. The written testimony from all of the women had negated the need for them to accept any from his henchmen. Plus, David had told Regina that the FBI wanted those men, the ones that shipped them around and raped them, to feel the full force of the law. Regina even smiles when she recounts to her girlfriend how David had told her that Robin had cried like a baby when he was told his plea bargain wouldn't be accepted.

Emma was relieved to know that Robin wouldn't be shown any leniency but she couldn't even smile. Any mention of his name sent anger pulsing through her veins. Regina had told her all about him, usually when she woke up crying in the night after a horrible nightmare where she relived the times he would wake her at night or corner her in some dank room at Gold's and force himself upon her. He wasn't the only one that had done that to her girlfriend but he did seem to have particular delight in not just using her, but humiliating and scaring her. Emma truly believed that if she was ever face to face with him she would break every bone in his body.

Regina was aware that Emma's shoulders had tensed up and her spine went rigid as soon as she uttered Robin's name. She reaches over and places her hand on Emma's, "it's okay, he won't get away with it."

"Prison isn't enough for that lowlife piece of scum," she grinds out through her clenched teeth.

"Agreed, but at least none of them will be able to hurt anyone else ever again."

Emma nods her head but she doesn't think that even if they are convicted, no punishment could ever be enough. Death was too good for all of them. The pain and anger she felt at being abandoned, abused, neglected, betrayed and every other bad thing that had happened to her throughout her entire life, paled in comparison to what she felt when she thought about all the people that had hurt her Regina. She pushes her food away, her anger tying her stomach up in knots. To distract herself she picks up the mail she had earlier discarded and starts working through the bundle of envelopes. Her fan mail address was the Slayers stadium, just like the rest of the players on her team. Which is why it was odd to have a hand written envelope addressed to her home.

She opens it, curious as to what it could be. Offers of endorsements and modelling were always sent directly to Cruella so she really wasn't sure what to expect. What it turned out to be, was definitely not what she expected.

"What is that?" Regina asks when she notices the look on Emma's face. At first Emma doesn't even register that Regina has asked her a question. "Emma, darling, what is that?" The brunette tries again.

"We need to call David," she eventually answers, her voice is shaky and her eyes are wide as she passes the letter and photograph to Regina.

As Regina reads through the letter her hands start shaking and by the end she has tears rolling down her cheeks. "You can't call him, Emma. You can't tell anyone."

"I have to, I don't care about the threats." Emma says with a firm voice as she goes to get her phone from her jacket pocket. She was sick to death with the shit they had to continually face and this felt like the last straw to her, she wasn't going to give into this and back down.

David answers on the first ring, "Hi, Emma, is everything okay? I'm waiting for a call from the district attorney." He didn't want to not answer a call from her but he really needed his line to be free for the call her was expecting.

"Sorry, I won't keep you long. I've received a letter, to my home address. Some is trying to blackmail me, we need your help."

David let's out a long breath, he didn't need any more crap thrown into the mix of what was already a complex case. "I've got a few things I need to finish up and then I'll come over. Sit tight, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you." Emma says before hanging up and slumping back into her seat and pulling Regina onto her lap. "It will be okay," she whispers into her hair as Regina cries on her shoulder.

"I'm starving," Kathryn announces when she walks into the kitchen a few minutes later. "Who died?" She laughs until she sees the tear stained cheeks of her best friend. "Regina, what's happened?" She rushes over to them and kneels in front of Regina. Emma hands her the letter and picture that had brought a new misery to them.

"For fuck sake, does that shit never end?" She drops the letter and photo onto the table and balls her hands into angry fists. "It will be okay, Regina," she reassures her and then places a hand on the brunettes slumped shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. "Have you let anyone know?"

"Yes, David is coming around later," Emma answers solemnly.

"Good. They will be able to find out who sent it. I hope it's just empty threats."

"I think it's Sidney, I recognise his writing," Regina murmurs as she wipes away her tears.

"That psychotic, stalking bastard," Kathryn all but shouts.

"Sidney? The one that you had to stop seeing because he tried to keep you?" Regina had already filled Emma in on the time the little creep had refused to hand her over to Peter when his hour with her was up one night. Peter had known he couldn't make a move on the client for fear of Gold's wrath. So he called Gold, who in turn called Sidney. Sidney had threatened to expose Gold if he didn't agree to his terms of letting him keep Regina. Gold didn't take kindly to being blackmailed so he gave Peter the go ahead to take Regina back with force and to send Sidney a message in the form of a broken nose and several cracked ribs. It seemed to do the trick because he never heard from the sad little man again.

"That's the prick." Kathryn answers for Regina.

"So you know where he lives?" She directs the question to her girlfriend. "Tell me where he lives, I'll go around there and give him worse than Gold ever did." Emma had never been a violent person, she always though it was the last bastion of a coward but she could understand why some people turned to it when she watched her girlfriend cry.

Regina looks at her in shock, "you would sink to Gold's level?" The thought of any more violence sent her reeling. "Hasn't there been enough violence already?"

"I just want to protect you, Regina. You have been through so much and it just keeps on coming. I want to take it all away from you. I don't care about any of his threats, he will never lay a finger on you." Her eyes started to cloud with tears and she speaks with loving sincerity. All she wanted to do was take away all of Regina's pain.

When David knocks on the door early that evening, Emma thrusts the picture and letter into his hand before he's even stepped through the threshold. He can see from the look on her face that it's something very serious. He glances at the photo, which shows Emma greeting Regina, who is wearing much more revealing clothes than she does these days, at the very doorway he just stepped through. He then reads through the letter in the hallway and Emma hovers around him, chewing on her thumbnail.

Emma Swan,

You may have the world at your feet but you also have something that doesn't belong to you. Regina belongs to me and I will get her back. Gold may have taken her from me once but he's out of the picture now and I want her back.

I don't think you want it being leaked to the media that you've been fucking a whore. Your career will be ruined and you will lose everything. No other team will touch you once the Slayers cut you loose. You are so close to winning the league, do you really want this to come out now?

Regina knows who I am, she knows we belong together. Do the smart thing and bring her to me and we can forget about all of this nastiness. I have plenty more photographs that can easily be leaked to the press before the game on Sunday. If I get what I want your secret will be safe with me and you can get on with your life and have a great career.

Don't get the police involved because I will know. I'm always watching

"Do you know who this is from?" He asks as he runs a hand through his short hair.

"A man name Sidney Glass. He's an ex-client of Regina's and has had an obsession with for a long time. He's obviously seen the news about Gold's arrest and has come slithering out from under whatever rock he lives under, just in time to throw this our way before the big game. How the hell did he even know she was here with me in the first place? This letter was addressed to me. He must have been keeping tabs on her since before all this happened." Her voice was getting louder and louder and her anger began bubbling under the surface again.

He looks at Emma, unsure of how to say what he is going to say. "You know that if he's been keeping tabs on you and taking pictures, that he might even be keeping watch right now? He might even know I'm here, and if he knows I'm here..."

Emma interrupts him before he can finish his sentence, "then he might leak the pictures. I don't care, I don't care if he leaks the pictures." Her eyes had turned to steel, "I don't care what I lose as long as it isn't Regina. I can handle the rest. I just want that asshole arrested so he's no longer a threat to her safety."

"Can I speak to Regina?" Emma's temper is clouding her normally level mind and he knows she won't be able to fill him in on the details her needs.

Emma takes him through to the lounge where Regina and Kathryn are. After asking her a few questions and getting all the details he needs, he leaves to do a bit more digging into Sidney Glass before he can do anything else.

Before he left he'd said things were looking up in terms of the case against Gold but that he wouldn't have any solid answers until after the weekend and all the offers to the defendants were made..

"You shouldn't have called David. What if Sidney knows who he is and what he does? What if he leaks the picture to the press now?" Regina says after he left and it was just the three of them sitting in the lounge. She was full of guilt, she blamed herself for everything that was happening.

"Let him, I'm not ashamed of being with you and I don't care if the world knows. I'll shout it from the damn rooftop."

"You can't say that Emma, your career and your livelihood are on the line here." Part of her wanted to fall into Emma's arms for saying that those words but more than anything she didn't want to be the reason Emma's life was ruined.

"I have more than enough money for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. I've told you before, some things are more important than a job. YOU are more important than any job, I need you to understand and accept that. Nothing is going to change my mind about wanting to be with you. In fact, why don't you both come to the game on Sunday? I have a VIP box that I've never been able to use because I've never had anyone that cared enough about me to come and watch me. I will show the world that I love you."

Regina wanted to scream 'yes' and tell her she would be there but usual logic and pessimism overruled her heart. "I don't think that is a good idea."

"Why not? Even if Sidney does leak the photographs, so what? I'll release a statement saying you are my girlfriend and he is lying. Which he is, you're not a whore or any other derogatory term anyone can think of. You are a strong, amazing woman who was put into a terrible situation. But putting all that aside, he has no evidence to prove anything, just some pictures of me kissing my girlfriend. I don't want to hide anymore, Regina."

She so wanted to do what she thought was the right thing, which was to lay low until all of this had blown over but she had already lost ten years of her life. Emma's loving words and pleading eyes help her heart in making the decision. "Okay, if you are sure."

"I am so fucking sure. I want to live my life with you right now. No more waiting and worrying. We are together and no one can tear that apart if we don't let them."

"I'm going to a real game," Regina exclaims and throws her arms around Emma's neck in excitement.

"Will there be alcohol?" Kathryn asks with feigned interest.

"Yeah, it's a VIP box. There will be champagne and anything else you could want." Emma answers with a smile.

"Well, I suppose I can make an appearance then." Kathryn says before breaking into a big smile and jumping up and down.