A/N: Hi! Thanks for reviewing, following and faving. :)

I hate this chapter for multiple reasons. lol

Sorry for mistakes. No warnings I can think of atm for this chapter except maybe language. I own nothing. Enjoy.

Chapter Five

Emma didn't get much sleep the night before. For one thing she arrived home late after her little adventure and for another, she felt incredibly guilty. She was disgusted with herself for the act she had committed. She invaded Regina's privacy. How could she just allow the beast to talk her into something so terrible and unforgivable? She felt as though she violated Regina. She knew for a fact that she would be hurt by this if she knew. Regina would probably even hate her and never speak to her again.

Then again that was exactly what she deserved.

She would understand if Regina stopped speaking to her all together honestly. Especially after the way she had spoken to her the night before. She didn't deserve that treatment. She didn't deserve to be yelled at and accused of not caring about Emma. Emma knew that Regina cared and she quite possibly hurt the woman's feelings. She wanted to call and apologize. She wanted to make things right. She wanted to tell Regina that she didn't mean it but she was afraid.

What if Regina didn't answer her call? What if she sent it straight to voicemail? What If she told Emma that she didn't want to speak to her anymore?

Emma would be heartbroken. But she knew that she deserved it.

Regina had been nice to her and had shown her interest and attraction to Emma in multiple ways. Both physical and emotional. She has made it very clear how she felt about Emma and Emma let the Beast's words get to her and it caused her to doubt this amazing woman.

She knew she was wrong and she could have very well lost Regina forever. This incredible one of a kind woman that she could very much be in love with, who truly cared for her and accepted her for who she was. She basically could have just damn near thrown her only chance at happiness away.

She had to prepare herself for a life of loneliness again. Lonely, rejected and unwanted. Repulsed by her own appearance and her... hidden secret parts. The Beast still had such a powerful hold on her. It would be her only company once again. Poisoning her mind and tearing her apart. Stripping away all of Emma's being and replacing it with parts of a Beast. Emma would eventually turn into the beast, taking its form. Erasing all of who Emma once was until all that was left was that terrible Beast.

That's what she deserved for hurting the only person who cared about her. Maybe she deserved to be unhappy.

This was her fate.

This is what always happened.

It was her punishment.

For the things she's done and the people she's hurt.

Then again, the isolation was for the best. Perhaps she'd be a danger only to herself and no one else. It would be better this way

Emma stared at her reflection as she adjusted her uniform. She frowned when she remembered Regina being so turned on by it. Part of her wanted to call Regina, just to hear her voice but she couldn't handle the rejection right now, so she shook that idea off. She needed to go about her day as it was before Regina crashed into her life with her sexy eyes and sweet words. She needed to go back to her old miserable life. She's already lived twenty-seven years of it. She was pretty sure she could endure a couple more decades.

She adjusted her cap and checked herself over again. She looked fine. Neat and organized. Together. Up to policy. She glanced over at the clock and noticed that it was almost time for work. She headed out of her bedroom and into the living room where she grabbed her jacket and keys and headed for the door. She sighed as she checked to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything.

Satisfied that she had everything, with another nod she slipped out of her apartment and set off to start her day with a lot less enthusiasm than she had a few days ago.

Regina sat on a park bench at the dog park. Her boys were busy running around with Daisy who Regina had agreed to keep until the next day as Monica worked another long shift. At the moment the three of them had spotted a squirrel and were currently chasing it. She watched them run, leaping and barking. She smiled at them having such a good time. They eventually chased it up a tree, losing it. Not willing to give up so easily, the trio stood there and began barking as if that would coerce the creature to come down and be eaten by them.

She shook her head and sipped her tea. This was relaxing or it would have been if she hadn't been so concerned about Emma. She hadn't heard from her and she was worried that she had hurt Emma so badly that she didn't even want to speak to her.

She wished that Emma understood that she was interested in her and only her. It has been a very long time since someone had snagged her attention the way that Emma had. She hasn't been this invested in a while. She wanted Emma. She adored her and really enjoyed her company. She thought Emma was very cute, funny and witty. That and Emma's protective, caring and affectionate nature made her Regina's dream girl.

Regina was not the type of person to fall head over heels for anyone. She's learned that lesson the hard way. She was not exactly over that particular lesson or the teacher though. One does not simply get over a heartbreak that devastating but she was making progress. Moving on. It took her a while but she has had a few relationships after the initial heartache. But she kept all of her partners at arm's length. She didn't want their heart and she sure as hell was not going to give them hers. But then she met Emma. Emma was different. Her spirit was pure and honest. She could see straight into her soul. Emma was an open book with her and Regina could learn so much about her from just staring into her eyes. She trusted her.

She opened her heart to the cop. She was prepared to fall deeply in love with her and she was not afraid. She wanted Emma's heart and she wanted to give her hers.

She sighed heavily. She wanted to call Emma. She needed to speak to her. She needed to tell her all of this. Emma needed to know where she stood so that she wouldn't feel so insecure. She needed Emma to know that she could not be replaced so easily in her life.

Regina felt more of a connection with Emma in the few days she had known her than some of the people she had known her entire life. They could have something good. Something special. If only Emma would just overcome her fears of rejection. Regina vowed to help her. She wanted to show Emma the kind of confident woman she could be.

She wanted Emma to see herself the way that Regina saw her. Beautiful.

Special.

Amazing.

She intended to tell her how wonderful she found her.

Regina looked down at her phone sitting in her lap. She wanted to call Emma but she realized that it was too late, she was most likely at work. Protecting and serving their community. Her frown turned into a smile. Emma was a hero. A police officer. Emma was just too precious. She hated how people have treated her and made her feel like she was not worthy of anyone's attention or affection. Regina was going to reverse all of the damage they had caused. She was going to save Emma. She knew that for sure. She was never going to give up on her.

When she looked up to check on the dogs again, a patch of white and yellow flowers caught her eye. Her brows rose and she grinned. She knew exactly what to do. She stood abruptly. She put two fingers into her mouth and whistled. The trio looked over at her. "Come on, kids. Mommy and aunty has to stop at the flower shop."

The dogs hung their heads and headed her way. She shook her head with an amused smile. They obviously didn't want to leave just yet and she'd probably have to make it up to them but this was important. She got their leashes ready.

Maybe some flowers would make it okay or at least show Emma that Regina is thinking of her. Now the only question was should she send it to her job? Can they even receive flowers there? Should she just send it to her apartment?

She sighed. She'd decide when she got there. The most important part was getting the message to Emma.

She just hope it worked.

Emma shut her front door and leaned against it. She's never been so glad to be home. It has been a long agonizing day. Her head was not exactly in the game. Good thing that she had a mostly uneventful day. She would have probably gotten both herself and her partner killed if any danger had arisen. She just could not get her thoughts together. Her thoughts were everywhere. She kept thinking about Regina. What was she doing? Was she thinking about her? Did she miss her as much as Emma missed her? Then she would berate herself for thinking about Regina after she said she wouldn't. She just couldn't get those eyes or that smile off her mind.

She needed her.

She had half a mind to drive by Regina's place just to get a small glimpse of her but she stopped herself. Last time she left feeling like a disgusting peeping Tom so she decided to leave Regina alone for now and just stick to missing her.

She pushed off of the door and removed her hat. She began wandering through the apartment. She tossed her hat onto the couch on her way to the bedroom. She went and changed into a tank and sweatpants just to lounge around and do nothing.

Probably eat dinner, watch television then pass out. She didn't have much planned. Wallowing in self pity was about it. She didn't want to do anything else. She wanted to be miserable. Maybe that will teach her a lesson.

She entered her living room, leapt onto her couch and stretched out, not exactly caring that her hat was underneath her. She reached over and grabbed the remote from the coffee table, turned on her television and began flicking though the channels. She of course couldn't focus anyway. She turned the volume up high and searched for an action movie or horror. Something she couldn't help from getting lost in to give her mind a break.

She stopped on some vampire movie. She remembered seeing it before. Some vampires attacking a small Alaskan town. Quite violent and easy to get lost in. She stuck with that.

There was about five minutes left of the movie when there was a knock at her door. Her eyes widened at the sound and her ears perked up. Shocked was not the word for what she was feeling. Nervous, freaked out or uncomfortable was pretty close. She doesn't get visitors ever. No family. No friends. So that door never gets knocked on. There was another knock causing her to sit up abruptly. She stood and began heading for the door. She took a deep calming breath to relax her nerves. This is so strange.

She looked through the peephole and saw a young man in a green and yellow uniform. He was wearing a matching hat. She furrowed her brow. He was holding something in his hands but she was not quite sure what. She unlocked the door, pulled it open slightly and peeked through the small crack.

The boy smiled. "Hey there." He said cheerfully. "I have a delivery for Emma Swan." He held up a white vase filled with flowers. Emma was even more confused. "This is actually the last delivery of the night."

No one sends her flowers. Ever. If he hadn't said her name she would have thought he had the wrong door.

"Are you sure?" She asked unable ro hide her surprise. She pulled the door open more.

"Yep." The boy said. Smile still present. He held the arrangement out towards her. The arrangement was beautiful. Yellow and pink roses with white carnations. It looked very expensive. There had to be at least a dozen of each. It was breathtaking though. She admired them a moment longer until the boy handed her a clipboard with a slip of paper attached to it and a pen. "Please, sign."

She took it. She quickly signed her name and handed it back. The boy took it and handed her the vase. Emma almost dropped it. Damn that was heavy but she was so entranced by the beauty of it.

"Thank you." She said politely. The boy nodded and tipped his head.

"Not a problem. Have a great night "

"You too, kid."

"Thank you, miss." He turned on his heel and headed back down the hall. She was pretty sure that she was supposed to tip him or something. She shrugged. Oh well

Emma stepped back into her house and eyed the vase again. It had little swans engraved into it. It was just as beautiful as the flowers. A lot of thought went into this. It made her smile for the first time that day. Someone had actually thought of her. Wow.

She carefully carried the arrangement to the kitchen. She sat it onto the kitchen counter and admired it some more. She leaned in and smelled them. The flowers smelled as good as they looked. They made her feel light and almost happy. Like Regina had made her feel. She frowned then. Regina... Her almost happy ending until she went and ruined it.

Successfully shaken out of her daze, Emma began looking through the flowers for a card. She immediately felt butterflies in her stomach when she located it and plucked it from the bouquet.

She opened the little pink card. Her eyes widened and her heart almost leapt out of her chest when she saw it. There scrawled in an elegant cursive was a cute little message: 'My beautiful Swan, I hope these make you smile just as the mere thought of you does for me. Missing you and thinking of you. Kisses and forever yours, Regina."

Emma's jaw dropped and her heart started racing. Regina. Regina sent her those flowers. She looked down at the card again. 'Missing you', 'forever yours'. Emma didn't exactly know much about love because no one has ever loved her but that's certainly something you send someone you're in love with. Someone you want to be with. Someone that holds your heart. Emma got the message loud and clear. It immediately alleviated the painful weight on her heart and things indeed did seem brighter.

Regina wasn't mad at her. She didn't want to end whatever it was they had. She missed Emma. She said as much. She wanted Emma to call her. She wanted to speak to Emma. No one sends expensive flowers and a romantic card to anyone that they never wanted to see again.

Emma's heart finally did a somersault. Regina still wanted her. She still wanted to be with her. She couldn't help but smile wider.

Okay, great. Now what?

"Call her, idiot." The Beast's raspy voice growled. "Tell her you received her flowers and invite her over so we can fuck her."

"Shut up." Emma muttered, fishing her phone out of her back pocket.

"It's the least she could do after rejecting us twice."

"She didn't reject me. There is no us. She didn't reject me. She told me next time we went out on a date, she'd come upstairs and I respect that. I respect her."

"Were you respecting her when you were watching her undress then jacked off?" The Beast asked menacingly. "Because I think that's invasion of privacy and I'm pretty sure it's illegal."

Emma felt the white hot anger she feels every time the Beast is near. Every time that monster rears its head. It's presence brings nothing but dark energy. She refused to let it replace her good mood with darkness.

"Go ahead. Call your little cum bucket." The Beast snarled. Emma ignored it. "Fine, you'll learn to listen to me."

The beast faded away and only Emma remained. For now...

Emma sighed and shook off the Beast's energy. She was really glad that Regina was not upset with her. Emma had gotten used to having a friend. Someone that cared for her. She really did not want to go back into isolation after that. She wanted Regina and all she had to offer. She was so relieved that she hadn't lost her.

Emma's life has always been lonely. She never had friends. She was one of those people who just couldn't make connections. She was invisible through elementary school and most of junior high before the bullying started. She learned to get used to it. Besides she knew how to entertain herself. She was an only child with parents who liked to pretend that they had no children. Being alone wasn't much of a problem.

Besides she had the Beast. At the time she saw it as an imaginary friend. It wasn't until she was much older that she found out that it was not normal to hear voices. Especially one that tells her to do bad things. It was damn well abnormal to see a whole new person when staring at herself in the mirror.

She remembered being a little girl and seeing it. She would stare at her reflection and see herself staring back but except it wasn't her. It was a little girl with almost blue skin, black eyes and stringy pale almost white hair. It wasn't her. It looked like one of the ghosts from those horror films. She was afraid to tell her parents for fear of their reactions. So she learned to deal with it herself. She would close her eyes for a while, cover her ears and not remove them until she felt the presence leave and she could no longer feel the darkness. It wasn't until Emma was much older that it stopped working or when the Beast began taking over. The first time was when Emma was eighteen and she murdered her first 'girlfriend'. After that it kept coming back and wouldn't leave.

Giving into the darkness gave it power.

It always has.

She sighed deeply. Releasing all of her nervousness. Regina wanted to speak to her. The least she could do was call her after the way she's treated her. She also deserved a thank you the insanely sweet and thoughtful gift. They needed to talk. That's what it was. They needed a good chat. This wasn't about the Beast. This was about them and whatever it was they had.

Emma's thumb hovered above the call button. With one last deep breath, she pressed call and pressed the phone to hear ear.

It began to ring...

Regina sat at her long black dinning room table, with her legs crossed underneath her. Her face was devoid of all make up and her hair was pulled into a thick braid coming down her shoulder. She stared at her laptop screen and her sister stared back.

Zelena, Regina's older sister, was more like her twin. Given their closeness in age they ended up being something like best friends. Even though they fought more than they got along they were always there for one another. They protected one another and were always the others partner in crime. When they were teenagers and Regina wanted to sneak out to see a guy or a girl late at night, Zelena was always the look out and vice versa.

Regina moving away was the worst thing for both of them. They missed each other too much. Her sister ended up moving back to her home land of England not long after Regina left. Even though they lived on opposite sides of the world they always tried to talk twice a week but they ended up talking every other day which was even better.

Zelena was born in London. Their shared mother was there on vacation and love it so much that she decided to move there. A few years later she met Zelena's father. She met the man at a bar and things moved quickly. She ended up pregnant. When he found out, he jumped town and disappeared. He didn't want a child. So Cora, the girls' mother was stuck raising Zelena alone. Well, that was until she met Regina's father, Henry when he was on vacation two years later, once again at a bar. It was a whirlwind romance. But this ended differently. Soon the man was bringing Cora back to Puerto Rico where they were married. Then they had Regina right after.

So Zelena and Regina are half sisters but they've never seen each other as such. Even though the physical appearance of the two was like night and day, Zelena being very fair with deep red hair and bright blue eyes while Regina was given equally beautiful dark features. Regina took more after her father and Zelena took after hers.

Cora made sure that everyone knew of the beauty of the Mills sisters -she was quick to change Zelena's last name 'legal reasons'- and Cora tried to take advantage of that. Attempting to marry her heiress daughters off to other rich suitors. Neither of them wanted that. Regina packed up and moved to Boston while Zelena went to London. They were done with Cora's controlling ways and across oceans they could live their own lives.

Zelena sighed. "So this girl you met..." She began. Regina smiled. Here we go. "Does she have a name? Stop being so damn secretive. You can't just say you've met a girl and tell me nothing more. Spill."

Regina rolled her eyes. Her sister was so nosey. She knew that the little information she had given her wouldn't be enough. Whenever Regina began dating someone Zelena wanted to know everything from their name to their blood type and it drove Regina nuts. "Her name is Emma. She's a cop here. As far as I know, she lives alone. She's from Maine. Blonde very blonde. Physically fit. I mean, sculpted to perfection and she has the softest green eyes." She smiled a little on the last part.

Zelena whistled. "Wow. You're really into her and you've always liked blondes."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

Zelena laughed then she froze. "Shhh..." She ignored her little sister's raised brow. "Do you hear that?" She cupped a hand behind her ear. Regina frowned and stared at her sister on her screen.

"No. What is it?"

Zelena turned back to her sister and grinned. "Wedding bells." She singsonged.

Regina snorted and laughed. "Oh my god. I wish I could hit you. Shut up."

"Come on, Gina. Marry your dream girl. I really want to go to a wedding."

"Then you get married," Regina said with an eye roll. "Marriage is not in my near future."

Zelena sighed and turned serious. "Regina, you really like this girl and I know how you fall in love. I know what happened last time and I want you to be careful but I don't want you to be scared."

Regina eyed her sister. She wished she would stop bringing that up. Lots of people get their hearts broken. Well it doesn't have the affect it did when it happened to Regina but still. "I'm fine, Lena. I trust her."

"Good." Zelena said with a smile. "I like her already.".

Regina chuckled. "So do I."

Zelena opened her mouth to say something else but the sound of Regina's phone ringing cut her off. Regina glanced down at her phone, she saw it was Emma and smiled wide. She looked up at Zelena with a soft blush. "It's her."

"Okay so go be sickening with your girl. I love you, good night, Gina." Zelena said quickly.

Regina chuckled. "Love you too, Lena. Night." The call was disconnected.

Regina reached over for her phone. She smiled. Emma must have gotten the flowers. She knew they'd be a good icebreaker. There she goes. She answered and pressed it to her ear.

"Hey Emma." She said happily, unable to hold in her excitement for another moment. She missed Emma.

"Um... hi," Emma said awkwardly. "How are you?"

"Much better now." Regina said honestly. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too." Emma said softly.

"Why did you make me miss you?" Regina asked in a playful tone. She heard Emma inhale a sharp breath and she immediately regretted her teasing and before she could retract it Emma began speaking.

"I thought you were mad at me."

Regina frowned. Why the hell would she be mad at Emma? "Why?"

"Because I snapped at you."

"Oh." Regina breathed. That. She hadn't forgotten about it but she wasn't mad at Emma. She understood that Emma was hurt. Some people do or say things they don't mean when they're upset. She knew that better than anyone. "I wasn't upset at you, Emma. I understood that you were upset. I'm sorry for making you feel that way. I hadn't meant to though. I value you, Emma. You mean a lot to me." She said softly. Emma fell silent and she thought for a moment that she had hung up. "Hello?"

"Uh..." Emma said in a dazed voice. "Um... I care about you too. A lot." She sounded awkward almost nervous. Regina smiled at Emma stepping out of her comfort zone and discussing her feelings. "I really like you. I'm sorry."

"I like you too, Emma. It's okay but we have to talk. Communication is key. How can I know what you're feeling if you don't tell me and how can I help?"

"True." Emma admitted. "I'll try to talk more."

"Good." Regina said calmly. More progress.

"Um... I got your flowers. They're beautiful. No one has ever given me flowers before. Thank you." Emma said quietly.

Regina was unsure why but it infuriated her when Emma said that she had never received flowers before. To think that no one has ever appreciated or cherished a sweet, pure soul like Emma and instead hurt her made Regina's blood boil. It made Regina want to lash out at everyone that had ever made Emma feel that way. Emma deserved flowers every day. She deserved everything and more. She hated how this cruel world has tried to chew Emma up and spit her out. But Emma is so strong that she's still standing. Broken but she's standing. She's still here. Fighting. Her beautiful sweet Emma Swan. Her warrior. She pushed down her anger at that thought.

"You're very welcome, sweetheart. Any time. I'm glad that you liked them. It took me a while to select an arrangement that was as beautiful as you are then I realized that was impossible because your beauty is incomparable, so I just chose something pretty."

Emma inhaled sharply. Regina just held her breath hoping that Emma would accept the compliment. "You're too kind, Regina. Kind as you are pretty." Emma eventually whispered.

Regina sighed in relief and hummed. "Thank you, Emma."

"You're welcome." Emma said playfully. Good she's loosening up.

"Emma, I missed you so much " Regina began gently. "Can I see you this weekend? How about Friday?"

Emma hummed. "No. Saturday. I want to plan this date."

Regina smiled wide at that. "Okay. Saturday then."

"I'm going to plan an awesome date, I promise."

"I'm sure I'll love it as long as I'm with you."

Emma let out a sound that was close to a giggle. "I feel the same but I'm going to do something great."

Regina hummed. "I bet."

"I'm going to start planning right away."

"Now I'm really excited." Regina giggled.

"Good. You should be." Emma said and Regina could hear that adorable grin in her voice. "It's going to be epic."

This is what their relationship should be like. Just fun and light. No drama. No fear. No insecurities. Just two people who understand and trust each other. She loved when Emma showed confidence and who she was. She enjoyed that side of Emma. She wanted to hear and see more of it.

Regina chuckled. "So tell me about your day, how was it? What did you do?"

Emma proceeded to tell Regina about her day. What she had done. Regina smiled. Emma sounded so excited as she began speaking about her day. She obviously didn't have many people to speak to and was very lonely. Regina was so annoyed by that. No one should be alone. No one should have to go through this life without anyone.

As long as Regina lived, Emma would never feel alone again. She swore to that.

She listened a while longer. She hadn't much else to do and she was very interested in Emma. She wanted to know every little thing about her Swan.

Ever since she's quit her job as a docent she hadn't done much of anything. Except having lunch with Monica and shopping with her Daddy's money. Regina rolled her eyes. She had become exactly what she and her sister despised. One of those rich spoiled girls who do nothing more than spend their parents' money. She had no desire to go back to work and she hated that about herself. She was too damn comfortable. She needed to come up with a plan and quick. The only problem is that growing up in a wealthy household, her skills were very limited. She always relied on her brain. All she had was that and beauty. Her gifted brain was what she was most proud of. Although it was something that she did not get to show much of under her mother's thumb.

Most mothers brag about their daughters skipping two grades but not Cora Mills. She bragged about her daughters' beauty and elegance. Being smart was not exactly a good quality according to her mother. Neither was only speaking one language since her father wanted Regina to learn Spanish before anything. Cora later pushed Regina to learn English and a bunch of other languages. She had a difficult time with English more than the others and her mother was disappointed. Cora was never proud of Regina. Although she probably is now that Regina is behaving like the spoiled brat she was supposed to be.

Regina mentally sighed. She did not want Emma to think she was bored with their conversation. She was far from it.

"...And he ate two burgers with everything on it and extra large fries from Five Guys." Emma chuckled. "I was like 'dude, I have a healthy appetite too but slow down!'. He literally turned to me and looked at my fries and said 'are you gonna eat those?' I was like 'dude!'." Emma let out a cute little laugh at the end of her story.

Regina chuckled. "Wow. I guess saving lives all day does work up an appetite." She said in a teasing tone.

Emma laughed. She sounded so happy and relaxed. "Nah, the guy is just plain greedy. Then again so am I so that's why we get along, I guess."

Regina hummed with a smirk. "I can imagine. But you're quite a joy to be around so it be that as well."

Emma chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah I guess."

Regina realized that she made Emma feel uncomfortable again. Too many compliments at once. She sighed and decided to push the conversation along. "How long has he been your partner?"

"Since I joined the department. We were just a couple of punk kids who wanted to make a difference, you know?" Emma replied. "I felt obligated to be a cop though." She confessed.

Regina furrowed her brows. She thought she loved being a cop. "Why?"

"Well, my dad is a sheriff and so was his dad." Emma said simply. "So I had no choice."

Regina hummed in understanding. Oh. "Do you like it?"

"Love it." Emma said sincerely. "You can say it's in my blood. I don't know how to do much else and I don't have a desire to do anything else."

Regina knew that feeling too well. She and Emma were more a like than either of them knew. "I get it."

"You do?" Emma sounded very surprised.

"I do." Regina said. "Surprised that a prissy princess could relate to a bad ass cop like you?"

Emma began sputtering. Regina remained silent as Emma tried to apologize. "I didn't mean-"

Regina chuckled. "Sweetie, relax. I'm playing with you. I get you better than you could ever imagine. I see you and hear you, Emma. I understand you."

Emma fell silent for a moment and Regina feared that she had overwhelmed her again. She stood up from her dining room table and headed out of the room, flicking the switch off along the way. It was getting late and she had to let the boys and Daisy inside.

"I know." Emma said eventually. "I know. I believe you. You get me. I think I get you too."

"Mhm..." Regina hummed. "I know you do, dear. That's why we're attracted to one another. Something is pulling us together. It's like magnets and I'm quite enjoying it."

"Fate." Emma muttered. Regina hummed in agreement.

"Perhaps. Whatever it is I'm glad that it brought us together."

Emma inhaled sharply again. "Me too." She just about whispered.

Regina smiled as she headed to the back of the house. Emma was opening up a little and that meant a lot about her confidence. "I'm really happy about that." She opened the door to her backyard and her boys along with Daisy began barking happily.

Emma laughed and it was so cute. "What's happening?" She asked.

"I'm letting the boys and their buddy inside. They were outside playing."

"Nice." Emma said. "They sleep inside?"

"Yes. They're more like house dogs if that's even a thing. They enjoy sleeping or lounging about inside. But I make them go out and get exercise. They whine for a while then end up enjoying themselves."

"Sounds like children." Emma chuckled.

"Indeed." Regina replied playfully. Brock ran inside, his stumpy legs carrying him into the warmth of the house. Brutus followed. He looked up at Regina. "Hello, my love." He wagged his tail when she patted his head then went about his business. She could feel the floor shaking as he took each step. Daisy looked up at her and Regina patted her head then she went along. She saw Brutus' behind turn the corner.

Monica was right. His is a big ass dog.

"What kind of dogs did you say they were again?" Emma asked.

"A corgi. His name is Brock" Regina said as she locked the back door. She headed back towards the front of the house. "And a Tibetan Mastiff. His name is Brutus."

"Hmmm..." Emma hummed. "I've heard of corgis. They're awesome and mastiffs but I've never met one from Tibet."

Regina chuckled. Emma made a joke. "Look them up. I want you to be prepared when you meet him. He's a little... large." She muttered as she reached her staircase. Large isn't exactly the word for her one hundred and forty pound dog. The scary part is that he wasn't even fully grown yet. She glanced at her security system to make sure it was armed. It was.

"Cool. Yeah." Emma said brightly. "I'll do that but you want me to meet them?"

"Of course." Regina chuckled. She headed up the stairs. "And hopefully you'll meet my best friend, Monica. And eventually you'll introduce me to your partner."

"Right..." Emma breathed. Regina knew that Emma wanted to ask something else but was obviously not confident in herself enough to ask it. Regina decided not to push this time.

"Yes " Regina agreed. As she walked down the hall to her bedroom she heard the three dogs following her. When she entered her room she heard Brock right behind her. They must have eaten a little then came right up. She could feel Brutus. "Getting ready for bed?" She asked as she sat at the edge of her king sized bed.

"Nah," Emma replied. "Watching tv."

"What are you watching?"

"Um... some medical drama. I forgot the name of it."

Regina hummed. "Must be really interesting then."

"Yeah." Emma chuckled.

"Tell me about it " Regina demanded gently. Emma froze obviously not expecting that. She must have gotten so used to people being disinterested in her that she didn't know how to react to someone being interested.

"Uh..." Emma began. She explained the show to Regina. Regina listened as she undressed. She really wanted to take a bath but she didn't want to cut Emma off so she decided to just take one in the morning. She showered when she got in anyway.

Emma changed the topic sort of abruptly and began telling Regina a story about a person she arrested that had to go to the hospital. The story was amusing actually but the way Emma just jumped topics so quickly pretty much proved Regina's theory about her not having many people to speak to.

She let Emma talk for a while longer as she settled into bed. She helped Brock up into the bed and he snuggled up against her. Brutus took his spot at the foot of it. Daisy chose to sleep in the doggy bed on the floor that both Brutus and Brock refused to use. They were all snuggled in and Regina imagined Emma stretched out on her couch, relaxing with the remote in her hand and the phone pressed to her ear with the other. Looking absolutely adorable.

Emma groaned. "Um... it's late and I have work in the morning." She said sadly.

"Oh," Regina sighed. She really did not want to let Emma go. She missed her too much. "Yeah, that's... okay."

"You in bed?" Emma asked.

"Yes." Regina chuckled.

She could tell that Emma was grinning. "Comfy?" And that she wanted to say something else. Probably something a little flirtatious or dirty but didn't feel comfortable yet.

Regina laughed. "Of course."

"Good." Emma said. "I know your boys will protect you."

Regina smiled at Emma being concerned for her safety. "Well until I can get my brave strong cop into my bed."

She heard Emma gasp and then cough. "Well, tell me when."

Regina smirked at Emma flirting back. "We'll see."

Emma chuckled. "Alright."

"I just wish I didn't have to wait till Saturday to see you."

Emma fell silent again and Regina wondered if she overwhelmed her again but Emma spoke again. "Wanna meet me tomorrow after work? I get off at seven tomorrow. We can go grab food or something. It'll be like the pregame for our date."

"Ooh." Regina giggled. "And will you be in your sexy uniform?"

Emma chuckled softly. "I might change."

Regina smiled. "You'll look incredible in anything. Of course I'll meet you. You choose the place. No donuts."

"Do you think I'm a stereotype or what?"

Regina laughed. "What's your favorite donut?"

"Bearclaw." Emma said immediately. Regina laughed again. She is just too cute. "Damn it."

"See you are." She teased. "It's okay. I like bowties. Anyway, text me the address to the place and what I should wear."

"For sure." Emma answered. "Okay, I'm going to uh... turn in."

"Alright." Regina said. "I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

"Me too." Regina could practically see the smile on Emma's face.

"Sweet dreams, Emma." She said reluctantly. Not wanting Emma to go.

"Night, Gina." Emma replied.

Regina blew Emma a kiss and she heard the blonde chuckle before they both ended the call.

Regina laid in bed staring up at her ceiling. At least she didn't have to wait until the weekend to see Emma. Now the only problem was controlling herself when she saw her and stopping herself from ripping Emma's clothes off. It's been too long since she's been with her.

She smiled to herself. The flowers made Emma happy and she was going to see her the next day. She snuggled closer to Brock and sighed contentedly. Everything was fine between her and Emma and everything was going to only get better.

Her smile remained as she drifted off to sleep.

Thanks for reading.

Next chapter will be way more sq interactions. Now that the air is cleared. I realized at the last minute that this chapter was too long so I had to split it so bear with me.

We should learn more about Regina and the thing that's haunting her that she doesn't want anyone to mention in the up coming chapters.

I'll also talk a little about her brother too. Although he isn't very important

Thanks again!