Emma shook with a familiar tingle, one that lingered and twisted through every limb and every pore of her body. Her nerves had her pacing back and forth in the crowded Orlando International Airport. It was Thanksgiving and one of the busier days of the year for travelers, including her gorgeous girlfriend. She shook out her nervous, shaky hands and chuckled to herself. She knew that familiar feeling was similar to when she first laid eyes on Regina.

Except this time, she knew it was going to be different. It wasn't going to be one of those awkward 'weak at the knees' type moments like before. This time, Emma felt more confident and it empowered her. Ever since she told Regina that she was transgender, the weight of the world lifted off of her shoulders. It finally made her feel at peace with herself and made her feel comfortable in her skin knowing Regina was still there.

However, unlike the weeks prior, they'd spent minimal time together. The past few days Regina was busy with work finalizing all the loose ends to her business arrangement with SMC. Emma felt the need to inform Regina that she did pass her findings along to her boss, Maurice. To Emma's shock, it didn't bother Regina. At that stage in the business arrangement with SMC, there wasn't much Spencer could do to halt the transaction. Further, Regina may have told

Spencer, she wouldn't say anything, but that didn't mean Emma couldn't.

While Emma was incredibly proud of Regina's success, she deeply missed talking to her. Especially in light of recent events. The distance was hard on any given day, but add in that Regina was too busy bugged Emma to wits end. She was eternally grateful that despite her busy schedule, Regina was able to break away from work for a few days. Her family was a big slice of her life and to be given an opportunity to share them with Regina and vice versa meant everything to her.

The excitement that flowed through her made her want to lift her girlfriend up in her arms and breathlessly kiss for all to see. Though, Emma knew that Regina probably wouldn't like that grand gesture very much. They were adults and Regina would probably tense under the eyes of others and Emma didn't want to waste their moment like that, or ever make her uncomfortable.

Instead, Emma would kiss her softly and take her home to where all of her family waited, including August. Dinner was nearly ready and her parents were filled with joy over getting to meet Regina. Her mother, in particular, was a little too excited.

Knots twisted in her stomach when a flood of commuters poured from the escalator to baggage claim. Emma checked the board behind her out of nervousness again to ensure she was at the correct location, which she was.

The passengers from flight Delta 2469 all collected around the carousel, but Regina was nowhere to be found.

Panic flared in Emma's chest. She looked around the different faces and squinted to see if her person was there, but to her dismay, she wasn't. The empty escalator made Emma tense.

Trying her best to remain calm she walked over to where the escalator was and waited. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer beneath her chest. If Regina missed her flight, she would have told her, or so she tried to soothe her worries.

She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and noticed there hadn't been any missed calls or texts. Worry seeped into the depths of her mind as she debated on calling Regina. She looked down at her phone and her finger hovered over the contact icon to call her. Emma felt her cheeks burn and tears well up in her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to be ditched, but the rational side of her brain begged her to realize that wasn't the case. In Emma's vulnerable state, that thought, however, was disregarded.

With her attention shifted to her phone, she pressed the call button and waited. It started ringing and as it rang, she felt her body ache. She knew it was all too good to be true. Regina had been distant all week long and made Emma believe it was because of work. Emma thought now, that was likely some evil ploy of making Emma feel bad for everything.

She bit her nails down to the point of them bleeding, but the numbness she felt instead of pain frustrated her. It wouldn't take a psychologist to figure out that she was seething with vexation. Everything around her kept spinning and her complete concentration was on the dial tone that rang in her ear. Her blood rushed from her face and she felt too overwhelmed to notice the ringing of someone else's phone off in the distance.

It was the cocktail party effect that pulled her out of her exasperated state with just her name.

"Emma?"

She looked up and the panic she felt dripped off of her like a layer of thin wet paint. When Emma gasped out for air, it was to her shock when a sudden rush of turbulent tears of joy streamed down her face.

Her heart swelled with warmth when she was met with the most loving smile she could ever imagine. Regina reached out and wrapped Emma in a tight hug.

Emma spoke over her shoulder, "I thought you weren't coming when you didn't show up at baggage claim. I thought you'd stood me up and I got so upset all of a sudden. I'm going to blame the hormones." She said. "But here you are and I'm sorry I'm crying, I'm just so relieved and happy to see you. I've missed you so much."

"I should have texted you. I went to the restroom to refresh myself since it was a long commute with the layover in Atlanta." Regina pulled her out of her arms. Emma's eyes were met with the most simple smile, but one that was still able to sooth all of her worries. "I missed you this week. I'm sorry I was distant." Regina said, her hands caressed up and down Emma's arms to ease her nerves.

She smiled softly in response. "I think the little ounce of doubt in me got a little carried away. I know you've been busy, and rightfully so. Please just forget this happened. I've been a little off my rocker lately and I feel incredibly embarrassed for overreacting."

Regina pulled Emma in close, "You know what I dreamed about on my entire flight here?"

Emma shook her head no. A grin started to take shape across her face.

"Kissing you," Regina said in a whisper. "I've thought about this moment and I just want to take you home and show you how much you mean to me." The tips of Regina's fingers dove into stringy blonde strands of hair. "So, Emma, please kiss me."

Emma closed the short distance between them and captured Regina's lips in a searing desperate kiss. She deepened it, losing herself, in the arms of the woman she ached to please. She brought her hands up to cup Regina's cheeks. Her thumbs softly teased the pale olive flesh. Regina held her close and all Emma wanted was to never let her go. Regina was treasured by Emma more than she could ever put into words. When she pulled back, Emma's eyes were in a love-drunk haze. With much restraint, she held back the three words that her tongue danced around.

Under Emma's meaningful gaze, Regina shyly turned red. Her hands reached out to Emma's to help ground her surprising reaction. They both were helpless at that moment, as the static electricity and imbalance in the air around them drove them closer together. Regina looked at Emma in a way she had never done before, one that was full of adoration. The pull between them was magnetic and Emma didn't fight it as she pulled Regina flush against her. While those words that Emma wanted to say were left unspoken, she knew Regina felt them in her kiss and her tender touches.

Perhaps it was the way Regina's dark eyes soaked in every detail of her skin. Maybe it was the way her hands affectionately teased her. Emma may never know, but in that exact moment, Emma felt like she was truly seen, as her authentic self, for the first time by Regina. No longer would Emma feel the need to crawl back into her shell. No longer would she allow shame to cloud her happiness. She felt relief from the fear of rejection because, in that moment, she felt at peace with who she was. Regina Mills was a sweet dose of medicine that treated every ounce doubt that lived in her.

Emma leaned her head against her gorgeous girlfriend, "Let's get that luggage and get you home. My mother is practically dying to meet you."

The pair turned hand in hand and walked to baggage claim together. Emma had never felt more happy in her entire life. She felt complete and for lack of a better word, loved.

"So my mother is a southern woman. She was born and raised in South Carolina and she is like a sticky bun, she's so sweet." Emma briefed Regina on who she was about to meet.

"Oh great." Regina said with a hint of dread in her voice.

"She's not like one of those southern ladies that says 'Oh bless her heart' kind of ladies. She's just really affectionate." Emma said as she looked over at the woman who sat next to her. Her face had a deep set scowl.

"She's not that bad. Come on, you'll love her." She tried to reason. The woman still looked at her like she had two heads. "Alright, well, just think of it this way, my mother helped make me the way I am, so you should be eternally grateful. Besides, I don't get what your beef is?"

"Did you just seriously ask me what my beef is?" Regina repeated with a hint of distaste.

"It's a figure of speech." Emma defended.

"I don't care what it is, don't ever say that again. It's awful."

Emma felt the hair on her spine prickle. She side eyed the woman next to her. She was tense with worry and then Emma realized what was wrong.

Regina's defense mechanism was snarkiness and meeting the parents definitely warranted her to be nervous. Even though she really shouldn't be. Her parents were the most harmless of the bunch. They weren't going to make Regina uncomfortable, much the opposite. Though, maybe Regina was worried she'd be suffocated.

Emma reached over and grabbed Regina's hand into her own. She squeezed it affectionately, hoping to provide some sort of relief.

"Hey, listen to me. They are good people. They aren't going to go out of their way to do some sort of Floridian inquisition and my mom is just really excited that I have found someone who cares for me. It's just dinner. They'll be out of our hair before you know it." Emma smiled encouragingly at Regina. "You have no reason to be nervous. I'll be right there. Just please, God, be careful with your words. They can cut someone like a knife."

Regina rolled her eyes and laughed with Emma.

"How do you even know that?" Regina asked.

"For one, you slayed Spencer." Emma laughed at the mental image of Regina charging back to his dressing room as she took immediate control over everything.

"And two?" Regina asked.

"There is no two, but I'm sure I'll stumble on it soon enough." Emma said. She, at least, hoped she was fortunate to stumble on number two. She never wanted to be left in the dark on

Regina's life. She wanted to be there with her every step of the way.

Emma pulled her bug into the driveway and stepped out of the car to get Regina's luggage.

They were standing at the front door now and Emma felt the nervousness radiating off Regina like a hot furness.

Emma set the luggage down and pulled Regina into her arms. She locked eyes with her and tried to balance whatever internal war that was going on within the woman she loved.

"Hey, it's just dinner. And I'm going to be right here. As is August. It's going to be okay." She brushed a tendril of feathery dark hair behind Regina's ear. Regina smiled and nodded. Emma took that as an affirmation that she was ready to go inside and meet everyone.

"One last thing." Emma said, distracting the other woman's nerves. "I'm really glad you came back, for Thanksgiving. I, uhm, I can't thank you enough for being here and I don't know how someone could be as accepting as you have been."

Regina's fortress faltered, her stoic stance was reduced to be more relaxed. "Emma." She said thickly. "I was upset. I'm not ever going to forgive myself for leaving you like that. The least I can do is be here to show you how much you mean to me."

Emma pulled the other woman into her arms. "You had every right to be upset with me. You will forgive yourself because I never blamed you. I cast blame on myself because I knew I was wrong. I have no idea how I stumbled upon such an amazing person." Emma said, her gaze was directed to a pair of lips that were lust, painted the shade of red.

She brought their lips closer and ever so softly brushed them against Regina's. Emma tugged Regina in further, her hands clenching the fabric of her shirt, and kissed the woman who stood just slightly shorter than she. She felt like her entire existence amounted to this moment, for this person who she fell madly, deeply in love with. Regina made her feel alive and her lips against her soft skin sent shockwaves through her body reminding her that she truly was living. The culmination of their tension and intimacy brought their teeth crashing together, their tongues fighting to dominate on another.

In the worst moment imaginable, the door to the apartment shot open, causing both Emma and Regina to springboarded apart. Emma grinned at her mother, unknowing of the red lipstick that covered her own lips. She was stupefied from her love drunk stupor.

To her right, Regina stood stock still, unable and unwilling to look away from Emma, who clearly was in a hypnotic like state.

However, to everyone's shock, Emma pulled it together.

"Mom." She said slowly. "I'd love for you to meet, Regina." Emma motioned to the woman next to her.

Emma could see her mother fight back the fit of giggles. Never in her life had her mother caught her kissing anyone. Okay, maybe there was that one time she was caught kissing a picture of Britney Spears when she was younger, but that by no means counted.

Emma nervously watched Regina shoot out a hand to formally shake her mother's. It was her mother who pulled Regina into a tight, super tight, hug. "Oh, Emma has told us barely anything aboutchu."

Emma winced at her mother throwing shade at her. "That's because I'm a private person as is Regina."

She tried to defend herself. Her mother was only slightly invasive at times.

"Well, Regina, we're so happy you could make it. Dinner is actually ready." Her mother said as she stepped away from Regina and back into the apartment. Her silver toned hair caught in the rays of the sunset and made her glow like the Virgin Mary in every single historical art piece.

"David, honey, can you come get Regina's luggage and take it into Emma's room." She yelled over her shoulder.

Her father appeared in the doorway.

His piercing baby blue eyes were the first thing that most people noticed. They were shined like sapphires, it softened his features that had long grown deep set with his age. Wrinkles and freckles littered his skin from far too many days in the harsh Floridian sun golfing and fishing, living life to the fullest without much sunscreen. His hair was the color of the sandy gray beaches they visited in Carolina on vacation with her mom as a kid. There were still some hints of blonde in there, but most of that color had long faded. His five o'clock shadow made his face just a little scratchy and when he pulled her close to hug her tight, it reminded her of all the times he'd held her close with a bedtime story growing up.

Emma looked over to her girlfriend to see her initial reaction and it wasn't shocking. She smiled warmly at the older man and Emma took that as her cue to introduce them.

"Dad, this is Regina, my girlfriend." She said as she motioned to the woman next to her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Regina. I'm David. My wife, Mary Margaret, and I are happy to have you here with us." He said with a twinkle in his eye and extended out his hand. Emma watched as Regina placed her dainty, but firm hand back in his own. "Emma sure is lucky to have found such a charmin' lady. Let me grab that bag for ya. Y'all come inside now. August is cuttin' the turkey for us."

Regina smiled at Emma. It was a reassuring smile to let her know that she was doing okay as she entered the familiar apartment.

By the time dinner was winding down, Regina sat with a piece of apple pie between her and Emma.

"You have to eat half of this, I'm way too stuffed." Regina told Emma.

"You're stuffed? I'm the one that had three servings." Emma laughed.

"Look atchu both. You're effortlessly adorable." Emma's mother said as she eyed them from across the table nursing her cup of coffee.

"Regina, why don't you tell us about your family? What are they up to?"

Regina set her fork down and regarded the older woman. She finished chewing and then spoke.

"My parents are professors at Brown University up in Providence. They are actually on sabbatical in Ireland doing some research. They'll be back in time for Christmas."

"What are you guys doin' for Christmas? Do y'all have any family traditions?"

Emma watched as Regina carefully answered. "We do actually." She blotted her lips with the white napkin that scrunched in her hand. "My parents are the skiing type and we usually have a cabin we go to up in Maine, where I live."

"That sounds cozy. Emma here hasn't ever skied. I don't even think she's even seen snow."

Emma frowned. "That's not true. I've seen snow."

"Oh?" Her mother said shocked. "When was that?"

"On the youth group trip I went on in high school to West Virginia, it snowed a little."

"Well, I stand corrected." Her mother smiled. "How do you deal with all of that snow?"

Regina smiled. Emma's hand found Regina's upper thigh and squeezed affectionately.

"It's the way of life, I suppose. It's all I have ever known and I'm used to it. Just how you guys are used to the humidity, heat, and hurricanes here. It's something that I'm not acclimated or accustomed to."

"That makes plenty of sense." Emma's father piped in. "So would you ever want to live here, or are you more of a northerner?"

"Okay, guys, seriously, that's-"

"No, let's hear it, Regina." August piped in with a devilish grin. Emma kicked his shin, hoping to shoot some pain up to his groin.

Regina, on the other hand, responded very diplomatically like a beauty queen. "I can't exactly leave right now. I'm a mayor of a small town outside of Portland called Westbrook, but after my term, I would be open to exploring other living arrangements outside of Maine."

Emma sought the moment of silence out to change subjects. "So August, when are you going to make a dating profile?"

The perfect distraction divided and deflected all attention away from Regina and Emma to August. Emma smirked as she watched her best friend squirm under the impending gaze of her parents.

"I'm working on it. It's not like I don't want to find someone. It's complicated."

"Yeah, okay." Emma rolled her eyes as she shoved some apple pie into her mouth.

"Why don't we play a game?" Her mother asked, too chipper.

"No, let's not. I just want to relax. I'm too competitive and all I want is to sulk over eating too much on the couch next to Regina."

"You're so clingy, it's gay." August shot across the table as if a 45mm gun was in his hand.

Emma looked appalled as if she had actually been shot. "Game on. Mom, what are we playing?"

"Oh you know, just a little game me and the ladies play on Sunday evenin' after Bible study."

It was about fifteen minutes into an innocent game of cards when Emma's hand came flying down on top of Regina's. Regina snatched her hand away from the pile of cards and rubbed it as if she'd been honestly hurt.

"Babe, I'm sorry. I told you I was super competitive." Emma tried to defend as she shuffled the cards away from her and towards her girlfriend. While Emma lost that stack of cards, she still felt the adrenaline coursing through her. Regina picked up the cards and stacked them neatly back into her own deck.

"Regina, don't take it personally. She just stabbed me with her finger that might as well been a dagger." August said.

Regina, however, made no snide remarks. Instead, a wolfish grin grew on her face and she pensively responded. "That's okay. I didn't realize we were playing that competitively." She said as she slapped her card down face up, followed by the other four people sitting at the table.

It was Regina's hand that forcefully slammed down on Emma's mother's hand. It was an awkward moment for two reasons. Regina had lost the stack of cards and she honestly hit the older woman's hand pretty hard.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"It's a game, Regina, calm down. I don't take it personally." Emma's mother said with a smile.

By the end of the card game, they had all been worked up, on edge. August had won, which didn't shock anyone at the table. Regina was the first to get up to move around. Emma watched as she made herself at home, hunched over, digging through her fridge for a bottle of wine.

When she emerged from the chilly depths of her fridge, she poured herself a large glass of white wine. The motions of it all gave a very domestic feel to everything. Emma smiled in response because she liked that.

"Would anyone else care to have a glass of wine?" Regina asked as she finished pouring her own.

"I would love one." Emma said. Her eyes admired the curvature of Regina's body.

"I think your father and I are goin' to head to our hotel." Her mother said with ease. "It's been a long day for us and I think I need some sleep."

"It's seven." Emma said, confused.

"We're old." Her father laughed.

"Did you just call me old?" Her mother acted offended.

Emma laughed. Her parents were actually pretty old and that was okay. It was the cycle of life.

"I think I'm going to head out too. Give you ladies some much deserved time together." August said, stretching out of his chair.

Emma stood and watched as her parents grabbed all of their belongings.

"Do you have your purse?" Her father asked her mother.

"Yes."

"Phone?"

"It's in the purse. Y'all really aren't going to let me live down leavin' it that one time, are ya?" Her mother frowned.

"Nope, never." Emma laughed.

A few hugs and suffocating kisses with her parents later, Emma waved goodbye to her family. When she shut the door, she turned and saw Regina standing against the kitchen counter sipping some wine.

"Now that everyone is finally gone, what would you like to do?" Emma asked as she cleaned up around the table that occupied the entryway of her home.

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I want to do." Her voice dripped of desire.

Emma trembled and missed a step from hearing those words.

Her curious eyes met passion-filled ones. Emma spoke cautiously. "Regina, are you sure about that?"

Emma knew how deeply she felt for Regina. She wasn't that by no means. It just was a huge step to take since she was last here.

"I've had this ache between my legs for weeks now. I have wanted you, I have dreamed about you, and I desperately need you." She practically purred as she walked forward and again pushed Emma up against the door of her apartment like the weekend prior.

Her pulse point pounded and Emma felt sweat on her forehead. "I know you want this, but once we go there, we can't go back from there." Emma reasoned. Her hands pulled Regina in flush against her.

She let her fingers dance beneath the brunette's top and she caressed the skin there. "I want you more than anything." She spoke with an even voice. "Do you remember everything we talked about the other night?" Emma asked, slightly hesitant. By no means did she want to ruin the mood, but she needed to know if Regina was on the same page before their clothes went flying all sorts of directions.

Emma was met with a shy smile and a, "Yes."

"Can we take it slow, like really slow. I haven't done this in a while and I'm going to need some encouragement." She said as she winced at her own words. It wasn't shame, but honestly was nerves. She honestly hadn't done this in a while and, it wasn't like she could just do it like muscle memory.

But it was Regina's response that made her relax. Regina's finger pulled her chin up and they locked gazes. "I have no idea what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours, but Emma, I want this and I want you." She said, pushing herself forward capturing Emma's lips in a heated kiss. Emma's body immediately reacted to the heat and friction between them. Her body ached for release that she'd ignored for too long. She felt like putty in Regina's hands as she surrendered herself fully to the other woman.

She pulled back from the kiss that made her lips swell. "Let's take this to the bedroom." Emma said breathlessly. Her vision was shaky as she finally allowed herself to give into the pure pleasure of allowing herself to be loved.

She picked Regina up in her arms. Her legs hooked around her torso as Emma went in the direction of their destination. Regina's lips ravished her neck in heated, but sensual kisses. Emma's steps became harder as she fought to concentrate on walking and not the 'weak at the knees' sensation she far too often felt.

Trying to remain upright, she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears as she gently laid Regina down on her bed. Her eyes were mesmerized for the briefest of moments before Regina pulled her in to kiss her again. Emma felt like it was an out of body experience. Unable to fully believe this was actually happening.

Her voice betrayed her and asked just that, "Is this really happening?" '

Regina chuckled, "Yes, it is."

In like most of those romantic comedy movies, they scampered to get their clothes off. Up until Emma was left in her last garment of clothing, her underwear. It was the last true barrier they could really cross before being intimate and it shot fear through her body.

Her panicked eyes met those of Regina's. Regina lovingly looked into Emma's eyes and asked,

"Do you trust me?"

Emma nodded, "Implicitly."

"Close your eyes." Regina told her. And so Emma did as she was told. "Just feel me, Emma." Her breath caught in her lungs, weighing her down.

Slowly, Regina hooked her fingers beneath the fabric and pulled them down Emma's long, strong legs. When the last barrier between them was removed, Emma was met with a faint gasp.

Anxiety flared in her chest as her eyes shot open.