Regina awoke to strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist and dirty blonde locks tickling her nose. Turning in his embrace, careful not wake him, Regina observed her love. She counted the barely-there freckles on his crooked, once broken by an abusive foster parent, nose and traced a strong jaw, his trimmed beard tickling her fingertips.

This feeling that she felt, this love for Emmett, felt stronger than any love she ever experienced, except of course the love she felt for Henry and now Rebecca.

Not even her love for Daniel had been this strong. And Robin. Well, she couldn't honestly tell herself that she loved Robin. It was more the idea of Robin, of someone loving her for who she was then and now, both the Evil Queen and Regina. Robin didn't really love her like that.

Only Emmett did. Her Emmett.

He understood her in a way that no one else could. They both shared the same experiences of hurt and lost love and abandonment and together, they made one another whole. Regina sighed happily, causing a puff of air to blow onto the sleeping man's nose, making it flare, twitch slightly, and then sneeze. Regina stifled a giggle into her pillow as she watched Emmett startle awake.

Emmett pulled her closer, burying his nose into her neck, and breathed in her scent,"Mmm. G'morning."

He rumbled, his voice deep and sticky with sleep, the sound causing an involuntary ripple of excitement to thread through Regina's abdomen. Regina chuckled into Emmett's shoulder, "Buenos dias, mi corazon."

"What's funny?"

"You are." At Emmett's confused frown, she continues, "You scared yourself awake when you sneezed...and you talk in your sleep."

Emmett blushed, "No I don't."

"Of course you don't, darling." Regina smiled, untangled herself from Emmett's appendages and sashayed towards the bathroom. She could feel his eyes burning a hole in her silk negligee.

"We need to talk to Gold!" Regina shouted from the bathroom. After breakfast, they drove Henry, who insisted that he didn't need to be dropped to school at 14, to school. Emmett, Regina, and Rebecca found themselves in the pawnshop.

"Ah, the lovebirds… and a new addition." Gold greeted.

"Can it, Gold." Emmett stood protectively in front of Regina, who held Rebecca on her hip. He really didn't like the man. He was always in the mix of trouble.

"We have some questions for you Gold." Regina rested a calming hand on Emmett's shoulder.

"Ah, yes. Dear little Rebecca came in with Zelena's curse as you already know. She doesn't have any parents or relatives, the poor little orphan. So, yes dearie, you two," He pointed to the two of them with his ring and pinky fingers," can adopt dear Rebecca."

Regina huffed in annoyance. She hated when Gold knew everything.

"What's the price Gold?" Emmett said through clenched teeth, looking like he wanted to punch the imp. She wouldn't blame him.

"No price, dearie. Take this one as a favour."The imp smiled grossly, waving them away.

"I expect the adoption papers on my desk first thing tomorrow morning Gold and your absolute silence about the matter." Regina raised a threatening eyebrow.

"Of course, dearie."

Outside, Rebecca tugged on Emmett and Regina's hands, "So can I call you my Momma and Papa now?"

Regina looked at Emmett and then the little girl who had captured their hearts, "Of course, mi dulce."

"Yeah, boo-bear. We're a family now. You, me, Gina and Henry." Emmett said, his voice becoming gruff with unshed tears. Emmett picked up Rebecca and held her tightly to his chest. Yeah, they were a family. The only thing missing was Henry.

"Hey, babe?"

Regina arched a brow amused, "What happened to Gina?"

"I like both. Do you think we could pick Henry up early? Tell him the good news?"

"Definitely."

The family celebrated over homemade lasagna with apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

With the children asleep upstairs and the lovers downstairs, the house sat in happy silence. It finally felt like home to Regina.

"Gina?"

The woman in question looked down at Emmett, where his head lay in her lap, her hands running through his thick curls, "Yes my love ?"

"Uh..."

"Spit it out, dear. You broke the curse so I'm not getting any younger."

Emmett laughed at Regina's ridiculous humour, "Well I guess you could say that we're kindred spirits right? Like we're meant to be together and hell ... I regret every day I wasn't here and not just to help you raise Henry but to be with you, loving you. I just - I'm sorry, Gina."

Emmett was now facing Regina on the couch with a look of determination, " And I want you to know, even though we may not be ready for rings and ceremonies yet, I'm in it for the long run. This is - you're it for me, even when you don't want me anymore, I'll still be here for you, Henry and Becca."

"Oh Em, I could never not want you. Ever. " She held his face and kissed him with all the tenderness and love in her heart and soul.

"I love you and I'll always love you." Regina groaned, "We sound like your idiot parents."

"Speaking of idiot parents, Snow hasn't called me all day," Emmett said, checking his phone for any missed calls.

"And that's strange dear? Why does your mother have to check up on a grown man like you? I thought that was my job, dear." Regina husked, dragging her eyes across his form playfully. Emmett's phone rang, Snow's name flashing across the screen.

"Well speak of the devil and she shall appear." Regina snarked.

Emmett put the phone on the couch between them and pressed speaker, "Hey Ma."

"Em, is it true?" Snow squealed into the phone. Did she sound excited? Regina raised a questioning eyebrow at Emmett, who shrugged in response.

"Is what true Ma?"

"That you and Regina are together?"

"Oh yeah, that." Regina rolled her eyes, the beginning of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Yeah Ma, Regina's my woman. Ow! Gina, that hurt!" Emmett pouted.

"You deserved it." Both women muttered.

"Oh great, now you guys are teaming up on me." Emmett's pout deepened. Rolling her eyes, Regina leaned over and kissed his pout, nipping at his lower lip before sitting back and leaving the man in a flustered daze.

"Uh hello?" Snow's voice travelled through the speaker, "You still there Em?"

"Uh... um yeah. Yep, still here. So you're cool with this? Not that it matters because I would've been with Regina no matter what but you know."

"Yes, honey. Your father and I are so happy for you and Regina. Make sure you bring Rebecca over, I want to meet her."

"Will do. I love you guys."

"I love you too, honey. Tell Regina I said hi and send her and the children my love."And she hung up.

Regina was a little shocked. Yes, she and Snow were patching up their relationship and were on friendlier terms but she hadn't expected that. Emmett pushed a finger under Regina's plump lower lip, closing her mouth and pressed a kiss there. God, he would never get tired of doing that.

"She always loved you." He stood and stretched, rubbing his belly.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the apartment."

At Regina's hurt and confused expression, he continued, " I thought ..."

Regina cut him off, "This is your home. Our children expect to see you in the morning. I should find you upstairs in our room in the next ten minutes."

And she walked off, making sure to put an extra swing to her hips. Emmett dragged a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. Damn, she'll be the death of me.

Emmett did not see this coming. Regina stood in the middle of the bedroom, wearing a sexy, revealing dark purple negligee.

"Do you like it?" She nervously ran a hand through her recently brushed hair, that now reached just below her shoulder blades, and smoothed a hand down her curves.

"Gina, you look beautiful." Emmett breathed, "But we don't have to. I want to take it slow. I'll wait for you."

"I have waited fourteen years for you to come back to me. Four of those years we wasted pretending to hate each other. I love you and I want to be with you, connected to you in every way possible. Un-unless you don't want ..." Regina wrapped her arms around herself and turned away, suddenly becoming uncertain and very self-conscious.

"No, Regina. It's not that I don't want you. How could I not want you? I mean, look at you." He gestured towards her body, "You're beautiful, sexy, and loving and I just don't want to mess anything up."

Emmett wiped away a stray tear from Regina's cheek.

"I want to be with you completely, to be yours completely and for you to be mine completely. I want to share my love with you." Regina toyed with Emmett's necklace, afraid that if she looked him in the eyes that he would reject her.

Emmett hooked a finger under her chin and kissed her deeply. Regina wrapped her arms around Emmett's neck as he walked them over to the bed. Regina sighed in delight when Emmett's warm, slightly calloused hand trailed up and under the flimsy piece of satin that hid her body from view. Emmett brought his lips to Regina's in a soft kiss, still caressing bare hips, silently asking if this was okay. At her nod, he trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her chin, across her jaw, and down her neck. Hands brushed flushed clavicles, pulling down thin straps of satin, exposing beautifully rounded breasts.

"Not as perky as they were fourteen years ago, huh?" Regina chuckled self deprecatingly.

"They're beautiful. You are beautiful." Emmett looked her in the eyes as he placed kisses over the pair, grazing his teeth over pebbled nipples, occasionally leaving a purpling love bite across the soft mounds as he praised them. A moist tongue darted out to lick a languid path down the valley between them. Reaching a smooth expanse of the stomach, he traced and nipped faint stretch marks and placed a kiss to each, smirking when Regina squirmed in anticipation. There were eight in total, four on each side, four running across her stomach and two on each side of her hips. Emmett pulled the forgotten satin down toned legs and flung it behind him, along with his shirt. He settled in between strong thighs, nuzzling his nose against the right.

"What are you doing?" Regina questioned from above him breathily.

"Loving you." He flicked his tongue, tasting her wetness through the cloth separating him from his treasure. God, she tasted good. Regina jumped at the contact, before deciding that she liked it. It felt amazing. No one had done that before. Emmett felt fingers tangle in his hair and tug, prompting him to continue. He laughed, the sound sending vibrations straight to her core.

With the ruined lace gone, Emmett settled back into place. Feeling mischievous he licked a path up Regina's centre, nipping gently at the swollen bundle of nerves before taking it completely in his mouth and sucking. Hips flew off the bed as Regina slammed a hand over her mouth, unsuccessfully swallowing a moan. Placing both hands on those hips, he held her down and continued his loving attack, revelling in Regina's receptiveness. He wanted to hear her. Throwing a hand in the general direction of the room, Emmett threw a soundproofing spell over it. They could hear outside but no one could hear inside. Grabbing Regina's hand from her mouth, he lapped at her folds, putting pressure on her precious pearl, and moaning at the sounds he heard above him.

Just as she was about to release, Emmett stopped. Catching her breath in big gulps, Regina, flushed, sexy, ravished Regina, demanded that he kept going. Emmett smirked down at her and began removing his belt.

Regina eyed him hungrily. Jeans were forgotten in a pile of clothes scattered across the room, Emmett lay Regina back and kissed her deeply, relishing in the feel of their tongues caressing on another. Regina moaned into Emmett's mouth, eyes rolling back in pleasure as he slowly, almost annoyingly so, pushed into her warmth.

Regina sat up, wrapping her legs tightly around his lower back, as they found a slow but sure steady pace. She buried her face into his neck and let go to the waves of ecstasy crashing over her body. Head threw back in pleasure, scarlet painted nails making angry red marks down his back, Regina, his beautiful Gina was a sight to see. He carefully bit down on the softness between her neck and shoulder and watched as she came into release with a shuddering sigh before falling his own.

When they finally came down from their love induced high, Emmett let out a string of profanity. Regina wrinkled her brow, clutching the damp sheet to her bare chest, "Emmett?"

Did he regret their lovemaking so much?

"Shit, Gina. I forgot." He had forgotten a condom. Idiot. Stupid, fucking idiot.

She sighed in relief, "Oh, Em. It's okay."

"But.."

"I can't have children. The king... It's a wonder I had Henry. He's our little miracle baby." She whispered into his shoulder, willing the tears to go away.

"Aw Gina, I'm sorry, way to kill the mood." He held her and kissed away the tears, which led to him trailing kisses down her torso when she whispered for him to make her forget. They made love again and again before collapsing into blissful exhaustion.

"I'll protect and love you forever and always," Emmett whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple as he watched her fall into a blissful slumber.