She's exhausted. She feels the heavy weight weighing down her limbs and sinking them further into the mattress, but she knows she has to face the day. She groans, stretching out her stiff legs from all the walking she acquired the previous night and then suddenly her mind is wide awake. The previous night comes floating back to her mind, countless images of the stunning brunette laughing and swooning as they danced through Sicily.

Her eyes spring to life, suddenly self-conscious and well aware that she's sleeping next the most amazing woman she has ever met. She hastily wipes the sleep from her eyes, combs her fingers through her excessively knotty hair from the damn wind blowing off the ocean and swallows thickly when her mind registers the brunette bombshell sleeping heavily beside her.

Her eyes take in the peaceful slumber consuming Regina's face as she proceeds to dream about who knows what. But it's a good dream, Emma concludes, as she memorizes the faint smile that's parting Regina's plump lips. Her new bunk mate is sleeping soundly on her stomach with her hands tucked beneath her pillow. Her raven locks are spread out like a fan across her pillowcase, yet there's still a thick chunk slowly sliding into her face.

Emma's fingers itch to sweep back the silky tresses, but she hardly knows the woman yet and she feels like the action would be inappropriate. Okay, it would be totally creepy and honestly, she shouldn't even be staring at this woman while she sleeps right now.

She quickly scrambles out of bed, putting some much-needed distance between her and her new friend. She glances at the clock and groans when she accepts that it's only five in the morning. She decides to just start her day, Henry will be ecstatic that's she's up with him so early to get a head start on the farm.

She tiptoes into the bathroom undetected and begins her day, vowing to ignore the glorious images in her head of a certain brunette that will inevitably distract her from her job.

XXXXXX

Henry was absolutely over the moon that Emma was up earlier than usual to help with the farm. They worked alongside one another, joking and laughing as if they have known each other for years and it's just what she needs when she's missing her father back home.

Soon, they were finished with their morning duties and trekking into the Mills' home for the breakfast that was so deliciously and teasingly wafting through the morning air.

"Emma, did you wash your hands, dear?" Cora strictly interrogates, causing her to feel like a scolded five-year-old.

"Of course," she scoffs, "I'm not gonna touch those animals all morning and then eat. That's gross," she grimaces as Cora kindly sets down a plate in front of her.

"Just checking," the woman hums to herself while placing her husband's plate down as well.

Henry immediately dives in, munching on a thick piece of bacon. "Is your daughter still sleeping?" He inquires pointedly as his eyes narrow at the back of his wife's head.

Cora waves her hand dismissively in the air as she makes her own plate all while Emma keeps her head low because she feels like she shouldn't be present for this type of conversation. Mrs. Mills sashays elegantly across the small kitchen before she settles down in her chair beside her husband.

"Is it a crime to sleep passed nine in the morning?" Cora rhetorically questions, her fork stabbing into her omelette, but Henry doesn't sense her tone.

"I just think she needs to get out of that room."

Emma remains focused on her own omelette, never once glancing up, not even reaching for her cup of coffee as she aims for invisibility. There's just something thick in the air that whispers in her ear that she shouldn't be listening.

"Leave her alone, Henry," Cora exasperates, setting down her fork to slowly sip her hot tea.

"Now, who is spoiling her?" He retorts, but there's humor dancing smugly in his eyes and his wife is eyeing him over the rim of her mug, hiding away her playfully smirk. "I enjoyed our morning, Emma," he unexpectedly changes the subject, most likely from his wife's gaze and turns the attention back onto their guest.

Emma quickly swallows and wipes her mouth clean with her napkin. "I did as well, I think I'm getting the hang of everything."

"You really are. I'm very proud of how far you've come in such a short time."

"Thanks," she beams with pride and quickly reaches for her coffee to hide the stupid grin consuming her entire face. "And I'm so glad I got to see more of Sicily last night. Regina is really amazing," she babbles while her fork bounces through her fluffy eggs. "I mean, hats off to you two, she's really intelligent and her thirst for more knowledge," she shakes her head, still trying to wrap her head around the sleeping beauty still passed out in their bed, "it's really admirable," she stuffs her mouth and nods along, like her brain is still rambling thoughts of Regina even though her mouth is too busy to actually speak them.

Cora smirks, her eyes finding her husband's and they share a knowing look, but Emma's too enthralled with her delicious food and her happy buzzing mind to notice anything.

"I learned so much last night," Emma quickly holds her hand in front of her mouth to keep any contents from flying out, "seriously, fresh eggs are the best. If I go back to America and that's a big if now because you've spoiled me rotten," she laughs lightly, "I'm going to have to get my own chicken coop."

"If you go back?" Cora shockingly repeats.

"I'll go back eventually," Emma laughs off the implication, even though her body is thrumming with defiance. "I'm just kidding!"

Cora pauses with her coffee mug lingering near her mouth while her and her husband share another glance, both silently understanding whatever they are mutely communicating.

"Well, we do love your company," Cora reassures her and the gently tone is enough to settle Emma's worries about everything that's tormenting her mind this morning.

XXXXXX

Much to Emma's disappointment, her new roommate slept the entire day away. She did spot the brunette sneaking out of the cabin sometime in the afternoon, but Emma was busy working in the barn with Henry. She assumes Regina was eating a very late breakfast or maybe just skipping right to lunch, but when Emma was ready to take her lunch break, Regina was already back in their area, sleeping once again.

She didn't actually speak to Regina until dinner was served. When Emma finished her work in the barn, she went to shower and Regina was already in her parent's cabin, spending time with them. Despite knowing her own foolishness, Emma was more than eager to see Regina this evening.

"Emma, just in time, darling," Cora greets her happily the moment she steps inside the warm home.

She inhales sharply, loving the fresh cooked dinner that reminds her of home and for a split second her heart aches, but she quickly recovers. Especially when her eyes lands upon Regina in a cute little, sun dress, the red shade conflicting beautifully against her dark features. Her eyes travel up the expanse of those perfectly toned thighs that look like Michelangelo himself sculpted with his bare hands.

She shudders and wipes those inappropriate thoughts away.

"Everything smells delicious, what are we having tonight?" She curiously questions, following her nose toward the stove to sneak a peek.

"We are having steak, mashed potatoes and asparagus, Henry's favorite," she winks, and Emma thinks she's supposed to understand what the woman is hinting at, but she misses the secret entirely.

"Well, fine by me. I'm starving. What can I do to help?"

Regina's eyes slide in her direction, and she just knows this woman is assessing, but she is absolutely ignorant as to why. Regina offers her a small smile, one that doesn't quite reach her eyes and also reveals a tiny hint that there's some pain in them. So, Emma returns the gesture as Cora shoves a plate, rather roughly, into her chest.

"Everything is ready, just take a seat, dear."

Emma quickly slides into the seat that she has somehow managed to claim as her own since she has started living with the Mills. Cora gently places Henry's dish down in front of him, but before she can escape, he pulls her down for a tender kiss that has Emma eyeing them suspiciously because tonight they seem more affectionate than ever. Regina then takes the seat across from Emma, those brown eyes trailing down her body for brief moment, lighting a match deep in the pit of Emma's gut, before she focuses on her food.

When everyone is finally settled, Henry begins a prayer that somewhat startles Emma and causes her fork to clink against her dish. She knows the Mills are religious, but she hasn't heard either one pray before. She, herself, wasn't really raised with religion, but from the turn of events lately...maybe she won't exactly write off the idea so she can sleep better at night. Either way, she politely bows her head and waits for Henry to finish because in the end, she respects the couple.

"Mangiare!" Cora enthusiastically shouts at the end and Emma has come to learn that word means, eat.

Emma quickly cuts into her steak, her mouth salivating from the strenuous day on the barn, but she can't complain, her body has never been in better shape.

"Regina, darling," Cora gently says and her tone is enough for Emma to know that she is not going to want to be present for this topic of conversation. "Maybe you can show Emma around more? Maybe a little less educational and a little more fun."

Regina hums in response, mindlessly pushing around her food and not actually eating while Emma intently watches her. "Yes, I suppose."

"I think it would be wonderful, a night out on the town," Cora happily adds on like she's the one who will be spending an evening tossing back shots and forgetting her past.

"Of course," Regina vacantly replies.

"Regina," her father chimes in, quickly wiping his mouth before offering his undivided attention. "You're only here for a short period, enjoy your time. I don't like the sleeping in all the time-"

"Daddy-"

"Henry," Cora tsks, subtly shaking her head at the man while Emma keeps her eyes glued to her plate, wishing she was anywhere but there.

"So," Emma blurts out, a little too loudly and full of panic, but the small family all snap their mouths shut and turn toward the strange blonde. "Regina, are there clubs around here?" She nonchalantly inquires. "I mean, I'm not a big club person, I usually stick to little dive bars," she rambles, bouncing her fork around her plate to gather far too much food for her mouth.

Regina clears her throat and shifts slightly in her chair. "I think I know of a bar that you would enjoy."

"Cool. It's a date-umm-" she chokes, actually chokes on her own breath, "umm, a night on the town. Girl's night...uh like your mom suggested," she continues to just bury herself a deeper grave and dear god, why is it so freaking hot in this kitchen?

"Girl's night out," Regina slowly repeats, and Emma can just feel those rich eyes boring into her, but she refuses to make eye contact and reveal just how deep red her cheeks really are.

"Wonderful," Cora ecstatically concludes.

"Does that mean you two will both be too hungover to help with the barn the next day?" Henry sternly inquires, his forking jabbing pointedly at both women.

"Probably," Emma honestly admits, but she flashes her most cheeky grin that causes the older man to laugh wholeheartedly and shake his head.

"Alright, let's hurry up and finish dinner," Henry says, turning his attention back to his wife. "We have something of importance that needs to be addressed."

XXXXX

"What's the special occasion?" Emma innocently investigates as she dutifully fills four glasses of red wine like she was instructed to do.

"Oh god," Regina groans, burying her reddening face between her palms. "Is it the fourteenth already? I am so sorry, I completely forgot," she shamefully admits.

"It's quite alright, dear," her mother waves her off as Henry dances so smoothly across the kitchen floor before he swoops his wife up in one hand and gently rests a bouquet of the most stunning red roses Emma has ever laid eyes on, against his wife's chest. "Oh Henry, they are beautiful," she breathlessly gasps, her nose dipping down to inhale the delicate aroma.

"Happy anniversary, my darling," he sweetly whispers, inspiring the bashful woman to capture his lips.

And Cora Mills is not one to ever appear bashful.

"Happy anniversary," she murmurs in a dreamy tone against his lips while Emma and Regina both observe the couple with nothing but admiration.

If Emma could just find a love that is half of what this couple possesses, well then, she will consider herself the luckiest girl ever. Her eyes curiously slide over toward her new roommate and just like she anticipates, Regina is swooning at her parents' love for one another, those big eyes glassy with adoration.

"Now," Henry slowly slips away from his wife's embrace, "raise those glasses for a toast," he instructs as he sneaks off into the living room.

Emma hastily passes out the glasses she poured, and they wait for the man to return, with an all too proud grin consuming his features.

"Mom, Dad," Regina happily sighs, "Happy anniversary, twenty-eight marvelous years together." The four of them thrusts their glasses into the air, each smile more cheesy than the next. "You two are all the inspiration I need and the proof that one day I will find the love of my life. You both have taught me how to love and most importantly that it's a necessity to have fun and tease one another in a happy relationship. I hope one day I find someone who looks at me the way you two are constantly looking at one another," she laughs lightly, ignorant to the fact that ironically, Emma can't stop gazing at her. "Here's to another twenty-eight years together. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" They all sing in unison before guzzling down the wine that should really be savored and appreciated.

"Now," Henry firmly says, stealing Cora's glass away before he sets them down on the table. "It's time for our dance," he teasingly whispers, sliding one hand behind her back while her small hand easily slips into his other.

"Our song?"

"Of course," he chuckles, because how could it be any other song?

The soft soulful music sweeps so delicately through the air, instantly creating a sappy grin across Emma's entire face.

"I, I'm so in love with you..."

She watches closely as Henry effortlessly glides Cora across the floor and the way their eyes sparkle, she would assume they are two young love birds, dancing at their wedding for the very first time.

"Cause you make me feel so brand new..."

The couple gently sways along to the song and every so often Henry will strategically spin Cora around or dip her, allowing her to hang for a brief moment as he sweeps down and gently kisses her lips.

"Let me, be the one you come running to, I'll never be untrue..."

And Emma and Regina are completely enthralled with the joyous couple that everything around them sort of disappears. That is until the teasing couple snaps them back to reality.

"Come join us," Cora requests, sounding a little drunk according to Emma's ears, but maybe she's just over the moon right now, dancing with her husband.

"Oh no no!" Emma blurts out, her cheeks immediately flaring up as if Cora just personally lit her on fire.

"No, that's your song," Regina politely declines as Emma's entire body flushes.

"Nonsense," Henry hums, resting his cheek against his wife's, oblivious to the tension radiation from the two young women.

"Come now, Emma dance with my daughter," Cora strictly orders.

"I-" she chokes on her words, side-eyeing Regina for any sort of clue as to what might be crossing her mind, but of course, the brunette masks her emotions.

"Don't keep my daughter waiting," Henry teasingly chimes in, winking playfully in Emma's direction, which doesn't help at all because all she wants to do is curl up and die from her mortification.

She swallows and seems at a loss for words, so she doesn't say a thing, instead, with a shaky and mostly likely, clammy hand, she extends the invitation. Regina's gaze drops to the hand between them, forcing Emma's heart to stutter in her chest far worse than her damn mouth. Regina carefully sets down her glass of wine and tentatively rests her hand in Emma's.

She swears her entire body buzzes with a tingly sensation the moment her and Regina connect. She bites down hard on her lip as she gently guides Regina's body closer toward her. Regina, uncharacteristically, is suddenly shy, dropping her gaze to the floor as she allows Emma to pull her in close.

Emma has never taken the lead in dancing before, and unexpectedly, she's all too aware that she's never slow danced with a woman before. It's quite obvious that Regina hasn't either, but she easily rests one hand on Emma's shoulder, leaving her no other option, but to gently place her hand at the small of Regina's back. She tenderly pulls Regina in closer and the act is so tentative that it encourages Regina to finally glance up and meet Emma's nervous gaze.

Emma's still biting excessively hard on her bottom lip and Regina is desperately trying to hide her bashful smile, but somehow in the mix of it all, their bodies slowly sway to the rhythm without their consent.

"Why, why some people break up, then turn around and make up..."

Emma produces an audible gulp, maybe from the uncertainty of the situation, maybe because she knows she's feeling a little more for her new roommate, either way it's a sound that tells Regina how unsure she really is. Brown eyes locks intently onto green, their breaths mixing as one with the scent of red wine between them and Emma's heart skips a beat. Regina's eyes float down to Emma's pale lips that are slightly curling down, and Emma forgets how to breathe in that moment.

"Thanks for the dance," Regina mutters, hardly loud enough to even be considered a whisper, but it's for Emma's ears only and her parents are too wrapped up in their own world to even hear her.

Emma's mouth slowly curls into a soft smile. "Anytime," she whispers so delicately, and she doesn't even process the action in her mind, but she does pull the brunette in closer.

The moment is intense, and everything in her body feels heightened. There's this magical connection between them, like a sparkler crackling into the night and Emma wonders if Regina can feel it too?She thinks Regina has to because suddenly, Emma is all too aware of how close this woman actually is. She can practically taste the red wine from Regina's breath and it's impossible to ignore the way her chest is pressed firmly against her own. That's when her knees grow weak and she realizes just how much this brunette is affecting her.

"Loving you whether, whether, times are good or bad, happy or sad..."

The tempo picks up with the song and Emma uses this as a perfect opportunity to wedge some distance between them before she makes a fool of herself and kisses this woman right here and now. She quickly spins Regina outward and when their fingers swiftly detach, Emma makes some corky disco move that generates the most adorable laugh from Regina that takes them both by surprise. Emma's feet effortlessly wiggle and glide across the floor closer to Regina as she playfully bumps her hip into Regina and coaxes the brunette to dance freely along with her.

"Let's stay, let's stay together, loving you whether, whether times are good or bad."

Emma chuckles under her breath as she watches Regina shake her thick locks all around her face while her hips sway along with the beat. Emma's socks glide along the hardwood floors as she dances all around the brunette and it's absolutely stunning to see Regina let loose and have some fun. Regina slips her hand into Emma's and easily spins herself before Emma pulls her back, slamming their bodies backs together again just in time for the music to fade away.

"Thank you for the lovely dance," Regina mocks, louder this time with giddy grin dancing along her lips.

"Thank you," Emma cheers before spinning Regina out of her arms once again.

And when these two women break apart and finally turn their attention elsewhere, they discover Henry and Cora holding each other closer while staring at them with matching stupid, sappy grins.

Emma bites down on her lip while Regina shyly tucks a chuck of hair behind her ear and they both drop their gazes to the floor.

"More wine?" Regina hopefully suggests as she quickly scurries across the room to replenish their drinks.

XXXXX

"Your parents are the cutest," Emma happily comments as they awkwardly shift into their shared bed and for some reason Emma feels an extra thick wall of tension between them this evening.

"They are something else," Regina sarcastically murmurs under her breath, taking her sweet time with climbing into bed this evening.

"I had fun tonight."

"Even though my scheming parents' guilt-tripped us into dancing together?"

Emma's cheeks flush immediately from the acknowledgment and maybe because her body still feels Regina's warmth pressed firmly against her needy body.

"I-uh-I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable," she stutters, embarrassingly so, because of course Regina is straight.

She just broke up with her fiancé and was searching for some peace and here's this awkward blonde who keeps gaping at her and saying stupid stuff, of course she was uncomfortable.

"Why would you say that? I wasn't uncomfortable," Regina says with conviction and Emma believes her for about a half of a second before the woman turns on her side, offering her backside.

Great.

"Well...that's...good," she mumbles. "Uh, good night, Regina."

"Good night, Emma," Regina replies sounding already like she is half asleep.

A full minute passes by, but to Emma it might have been an entire hour from the tension pulsating between them. Very subtly, she notices Regina squirming beneath the sheets, forcing her green eyes to dart in her direction. She watches the comforter intently, waiting for another movement below and she just barely notices the activity, but she definitely feels the warmth against her thigh. Much to her surprise, she feels Regina's body brush against her own. She stiffens, not entirely sure what to make of the unfamiliar touch.

She stresses about this woman's backside pressing up against her side, wondering if she's simply drifting in her sleep or she's still awake. She listens closely to the woman's breathing, but she honestly can't tell, yet none of that matters because Regina is wiggling closer again. Emma swallows, so freaking torn on what she should do, but she knows if this woman continues scooting along the mattress her own ass is going to end up on the floor.

As slow as her body will allow, Emma turns on her side, facing the slender body before her. She tucks one hand beneath her cheek while her other hand has no idea where to cozy up for the night. She studies the way Regina's shoulder just barely moves as she dreams...or doesn't dream, she still doesn't know. However, Regina shuffles once again, almost slotting herself perfectly into Emma's mold.

This woman can't possibly be sleeping, Emma thinks to herself, but why is she squirming closer? Is she just craving the comfort of human contact this evening? Maybe she is missing her ex and just simply wants to cuddle to ease her heartache? Maybe she really is just asleep?

When Regina's foot brushes against Emma's, she reasons with herself that this beautiful woman is seeking some kind of comforting touch. So, Emma cautiously wraps one arm around the woman's tiny waist. She holds her breath, waiting for some kind of rejection, but instead she hears a soft sigh of contentment.

Regina doesn't scoot away or lash out irrationally at her, but she also doesn't move in closer or try for anything more intimate. So, Emma leaves it at that, with one arm protectively wrapped around the brunette while they both drift to sleep.