I know I just gave you guys a chapter, but I just couldn't wait to put this one up. It's one of my favorites. And I honestly felt a little evil leaving you guys with that cliffhanger lol. I also referenced Owl City's "Vanilla Twilight" in this chapter.I hope you enjoy it! Let me know! :)

Chapter 5: Understanding Puzzles

"Maj reminds me a lot of you Regina. You remind me a lot of Maj. The two of you are so alike it's crazy. See when I first ran across Maj, he was hurt, and weak, and sick. And even though it was obvious he needed help, he didn't want it from me. It took me talking to the horse for about two hours before he let me guide him to the stables. When I went to the stables the next few days after that, he started to trust me a little more. Granted he was still stubborn, but not so much that he didn't let me help him. One day I asked Joe why Maj was so reluctant for me to help him and be near him. Ya know what Joe said? Joe said, "Emma, this horse here has recently been through a lot. And sometimes we forget that animals are just like people. When you've been hurt by something or someone you don't fall back into the way of life so easily. It takes time for you to get back on your bike or to trust others again. Someone has to prove that they love you. That they want what's best for you. Then and only then, will you start to trust them and become comfortable enough to let your walls down. We let our walls down around certain people because we trust them to love us despite what they see." And so I finally understood. I had to prove myself to Maj so he could trust me. And day by day I loved him more and more. And now we have a bond that can't be broken."

Emma finally looked at Regina, only to see tears in the brunette's eyes.

"I know you can understand the comparison now, but I want to tell you anyway. Regina…the moment I met that horse and realized how stubborn it was, the first thought I had was, "Jesus, this horse is just like Regina."" Emma chuckled but kept going, looking Regina deep in her eyes. "But it wasn't until Joe said what he said, that I finally realized the comparison. Just like Maj, you've been hurt and you've been through a lot, so you're not easily trusting and your walls are always up. But also just like I wanted to care for Maj and love him, I want to care for and love you too. I want you to know that I care about you and have your best interest at heart. I want you to know and feel that you deserve to be loved. I want you to feel comfortable with me. I never want you to feel like you have to run away from me or hide how you feel or what you think from me. I want you to know that you can let your walls down with me, because at the end of the day, no matter what I see behind those walls, you'll always be Regina to me, and nothing and no one can change that. And to be honest the same thing goes for me. I've been hurt, and I've been through a lot and my walls literally stay up. But with you Regina, my walls are nonexistent. I love you as if I've never been hurt before. And even though that scares me, it also excites me. You excite me."

Regina pulled Emma by the waist and softly and passionately kissed her. However, this kiss was different. Less lust and want, and more passion and intimacy and understanding, and both women felt the difference. A smile crossed their faces during the kiss and they pulled back, Emma wiping the tears from Regina's eyes.

Regina was just about to say something when the front door opened and their 13 year old son was standing there. Henry cleared his throat and made a spectacle of looking at his watch.

"It's 10:57pm. You have 3 minutes before curfew." And then he closed the door again causing both women to chuckle.

"I don't want this night to end." Regina whispered, so softly that Emma almost missed it.

"Neither do I. But is it completely ridiculous that I already can't wait to see you tomorrow? "

Regina laughed and intertwined her fingers with the blonde's. "If it's completely ridiculous, then I guess that makes both of us completely ridiculous dear."

Emma looked down at their hands and smiled. "Hey can I show you something?" Regina nodded. Emma held up her right hand and spread her fingers apart. "Now intertwine your fingers with mine." Regina hesitantly raised her left hand and intertwined her fingers with Emma's, wondering where this was going.

"See? The spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly. That means every time I look at my hand from now on, I'll think about you. I'll think about us."

Regina tilted her head back and let out a whine. "Emmmmmmmm! I swear if you keep being this romantic and sweet I'll never go in the house!" Regina pulled Emma by her blazer and buried her face in Emma's shoulder.

Emma giggled and played in Regina's hair. So soft!

"Did you just call me "Em"? Or did you just forget the "ma" part?" Emma inquired with a smirk.

Regina pulled back to look at Emma with a lifted eyebrow. "So you can call me "Gina" but I can't call you "Em"?"

Emma laughed. "Oh you can definitely call me "Em". Ginaaa." Emma tickled Regina's sides and the brunette doubled over in laugher, squirming to get free. However, their fun was cut short when Henry opened the door.

"Why do I feel like I just walked into some romantic comedy? Keep it down people are trying to sleep." Henry turned around and headed upstairs, leaving the door open.

"Well I should probably head home." Emma said.

Regina looked at their hands and smiled. "Indeed you should. Goodnight Sheriff, thank you for a wonderful evening." Regina leaned in for one last kiss and then stepped inside the house.

"Goodnight Madam Mayor." Emma smiled and turned to start walking down the path.

"Let me know when you make it home safely." Regina called out.

You are my home. "I will." Emma said, before she turned the corner.

Emma: I made it home :)

Regina: Good to know dear. Did you drop Maj off at the stables?

Emma: Yep I did. So…are you tired?

Regina: I know I probably should be, but I seem to have a lot of energy.

Emma: Can I ask you something?

Regina: Anything.

Emma: Do you feel like we're moving too fast? I mean, if I'm being honest I feel like we did everything backwards. Which I don't mind, it's just weird I guess.

…

Emma: Regina?

Regina looked down at her phone and decided to call Emma. It rang once.

"Hello?" Emma answered hesitantly.

"No I don't think we're moving too fast. I do however, find it unorthodox. The way our relationship is. It's untraditional and messy, and I don't do messy. Ever. But when I'm around you, I feel put together. I think we're like a puzzle Emma. When Henry was younger he would always do puzzles, but he refused to look at the picture. He wanted to be surprised at what he saw at the end. It always took him longer than normal, but he would eventually solve it. And one day he said, "Mom, I know I do puzzles in a weird way, but I think it's cool and I like being different, and doing things in a different way. When something is different and special, you tend to hold on to it longer and cherish it more." He said that to me when he was 7. And I can't help but think that it applies to us. We are puzzle pieces Em. We didn't know what the picture looked like or what we wanted the picture to look like, so we just wandered around hoping maybe we'd fit with someone one day. We've both been paired with pieces that didn't fit, so we just stopped trying. It took us longer, but I think we fit Emma. You, Henry, and I. It's a small picture with only three pieces, but we fit. So no, I don't think we're moving too fast."

Regina let out a breath and waited for Emma to respond.

Silence.

"You…You always make me see things in a different light. I think you're my puzzle piece too Gina. You and the kid. I love you guys."

"We love you too."

They sat on the phone in a comfortable silence before Emma spoke up.

"So in this puzzle, am I a corner piece? Because ya know, that's everyone's favorite part of a puzzle." Emma joked.

Regina rolled her eyes. "If it helps you sleep at night, sure."

Emma fist pumped. "Yes! Ya know, I'm glad you said we're like puzzle pieces. I guess you can say we…found each other."

Click.

Emma looked at her phone and started laughing. "I should have known she would hang up." She said to herself. Emma called her girlfriend back only to get no answer.

Emma: Come on Gina! That was funny! Lol

No response.

Emma: *sigh* I'm sorry I compared us to my parents Regina.

Regina smirked when she read the message.

Regina: Would you like to join Henry and me for breakfast tomorrow at Granny's? 9am?

Emma: :) Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you guys there. Or should I say…I'll find you guys there.

No response.

Emma: That was the last one I swear.

No response.

Emma: Am I still invited to breakfast?

Regina: …Yes.