Teacher's Pet

by RegalChromaggia

Emma Swan just wants to get through her final year of Storybrooke High to start a life in Boston. Then she meets her new Creative Writing teacher, Ms. Mills, who turns her plans inside out. SwanQueen. Student/Teacher. M for Smut/Lang. Completed 12/28/2014. SEQUEL ON MY PROFILE

23. Testing Waters

A/N: I do apologize for this chapter being so late! No! I haven't given up on writing this fic. I've ran into so many problems it was horrible.

The main reason why it's so late is because my computer broke. It did this thing and it has a black screen. I don't know how to fix it (after trying every possible solution) and I currently do not have any money to get it fixed. I had a big chunk of this chapter actually written out on it, but when all that happened, I ended up losing my progress. I'm not necessarily smart when it comes to backing up my files often, and I know I should have done that in this sort of event.

But aside from my utter stupidity, I had been able to find a way to get this chapter up and ready for those of you still following! I appreciate your patience, dears, and I am very thankful for all of your lovely reviews and concerned messages. This chapter would not be possible if not for my step-sister, who so kindly let me borrow her laptop while she was out of town. Without that, I wouldn't have been able to write this chapter up. (I had tried doing it on my phone but that hadn't worked so well and wouldn't open anything up).

With that being said, I would like to thank you all very much for reading and I hope you enjoy the latest chapter! Please, leave a review and tell me what you think. I very much appreciate it, and I hope that you have a fantabulous day!

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"Emma!" The brunette teacher blinked with surprise as Emma had found herself inside the English classroom during the second half of fourth period.

It was English III as Emma had noticed when she glanced to the slideshow that glowed in the otherwise darkened classroom. She was late to the class- the one that wasn't exactly on her schedule- it being about halfway through the period. It was getting rather boring just sitting in the desolate foyer by herself with nothing to do. She had long finished forging her foster mother's signature onto the schedule-change slip.

It was rather stupid that there had to be a parent's signature on that thing. She was a legal adult, but it was whatever floated Mr. Hopper's goat. She wasn't about to argue with whatever illogical thing they had going on. It would only stir up more drama and probably a phone call to Mary Margaret.

"I'm sorry that I'm late. I got caught up in the counselor's office." Emma gave Regina a sheepish smile as she handed over her schedule. "I thought your class was so fun, that I decided to become a teacher's aide." She smiled cheekily and Ms. Mills just shook her head, giving her a disbelieving look.

"I've got a pass," she lied, handing over a plain, white sheet of paper that held a note for the English teacher to read over.

In the note, Emma had explained in short of her dilemma, hoping to pose as a teacher's aid for whatever class this was going to be. She had begged for Ms. Mills to let her stay in the classroom for the rest of the period and that she would explain everything else in detail after class ended.

Emma stood there and watched as the brunette quickly read over the scrawled words on the paper. The blonde bit her lower lip when mocha eyes narrowed.

"Have a seat." Regina nodded, her lips twitching as she tried to muffle the smile itching to break out.

The blonde grinned and retrieved her schedule from the brunette before turning towards the classroom. Her jaw nearly hit the floor as she noticed the room to be rather full. There was only one seat left available, which was of her luck.

Quietly, Emma made her way over to the empty desk, which was coincidentally placed in front of Regina's desk. Once she had settled into the desk, she glanced around the room once again. Since it was English III, the students in this classroom were all a grade below her. And that being said, she didn't know any of them. It wasn't like she would mind, anyways. She wouldn't care to associate herself with any of them.

Emma watched as the teacher headed back to the front of the room, her huskily voice filling the otherwise quiet space and all of the blonde's immediate senses. It made her feel warm.

Green eyes sated over the older woman's physique. She still wore the black skirt and red blouse that Emma had woken to that morning. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of said attire askew as they had made love.

The way that her skirt had been bunched at her waist, showing off the soft, olive skin on her taut, muscular thighs. Or the way that her shirt had been unbuttoned to show off her lacy bra and the exposed breast that Emma had managed to pull out in haste to pleasure her.

Emma shifted uncomfortably in her desk, sinking incredibly low in the chair as her womanhood had started to ache with need.

Oh, god, why was she doing this to herself? The two of them were closer than ever now and here she was, sitting in a class that wasn't even her own just to have that woman close. And as a teacher's aid at that, whatever the hell they were supposed to do.

Emma nearly groaned to herself at that thought and pressed her legs tightly together. Perhaps she shouldn't do this. Why did she even come in here in the first place? She was only teasing herself, really. And if she were to get into the Creative Writing II class, what was the point of coming in here fourth period?

Regina and she wouldn't be able to do anything together. It wouldn't be like their usual lunch where they would be alone, just the two of them to talk about whatever they wished. No. They would forever be apart in here. She would be so close, yet so far away and that was something she couldn't live through for two whole hours of the day.

And what about lunch? Neither of them would be able to eat anything. The blonde crinkled her nose at the mention of food. Her stomach was gnawing with hunger already. They hadn't really gotten much for breakfast this morning and she was quite hungry.

Maybe she could make use of her open lunch and go to Granny's to get something to eat, or perhaps she could go back to Regina's to make something. Hell, she could even bring something back for the brunette if need be.

Whatever that may be, it would sure as hell beat sitting here for an hour- and a torturous one at that- watching Regina walk around the room with her seductive attitude and incredible assets.

Emma was quickly ripped from her thoughts when the door opened, light from the hallway pooling into the room and covering said teacher. The blonde watched the scene in front of her as Ms. Mills, once again, left her post to greet the newest arrival. From what it appeared, it seemed to be another student.

A short, shy-looking redhead with a meek smile and thick-rimmed glasses.

Emma would immediately flag her as a teacher's pet if she didn't know any better.

Sorry, Ms. Teacher's Pet, but this one's mine.

"Emma, if you could so kindly give Ariel that desk, it would be much appreciated." Regina smiled towards the blonde who had stared right back at her.

"Where am I suppose to sit, then?" Emma squawked rebelliously, but the brunette cast her a look that could kill and nearly had the blonde on the floor.

"You can sit in my desk if you wish." Regina gave the younger woman a heated glare as she had nearly been laying on the floor after squirming so far down in her seat.

Emma's entire face had turned red and she nodded, sliding back up in the desk before gathering her things to move to the teacher's desk.

She slunk down into the comfortable rolling chair, subconsciously grabbing the paper cup off the corner of the larger desk as the redheaded student made her way to occupy the desk she had bailed from. Emma played with the cup, blinking for a moment after realizing that Regina had coffee. The brunette must have gotten if from the teacher's lounge. She could distinctly remember her not making any stops on their way to school this morning, nor did she have enough time to make any at the house this morning.

With her eyes on the brunette to make sure she wasn't watching, Emma took a sip of the lukewarm liquid. It was plain, with sugar and cream. No cinnamon was added this time.

Then she paused when one of the students had caught her, or more so stared at her with an infallible expression.

The cup was still against her lips as she froze in the position, green eyes locked with skyblue.

Slowly, she brought the cup back down and set it back on the desk just before that student erupted in a tattle.

"Ms. Mills, she was drinking your coffee."

The brunette's attention snapped to the blonde and she flushed with embarrassment, her cheeks aflame.

"Emma," Ms. Mills stressed her name, an annoyed look on her face.
Emma bit back a snarky smirk. She knew how annoyed Regina got when she stole a sip or two of her coffee. Who wouldn't really? It was coffee after all. The liquid life force of the two.

"Habit. Sorry…" Emma shrank against the office chair when thirty pairs of eyes fell on her.
The blonde's own orbs fell on the class, half of which looked as if they expected bloodshed of some sort. Emma gave an internal grin, and a rather snidey one at that.

What they didn't know was that their relationship was more than that of a teacher and a student. What they didn't know was that she and Regina stole each other's coffee quite often and that's the habit to which she was referring.

"You should be careful of your habits." Ms. Mills warned, giving her one last look before addressing the class on this semester's gameplan.

In translation, that meant Regina was going to punish her later for stealing a drink of her coffee. Emma smirked to herself. That wasn't really a bad thing. Regina's punishments were far more enjoyable than punishable.

Emma leaned back in the chair, her body easing from its mortified state as the students slowly drew their attention to the teacher. Emma's own gaze landed on the brunette, a simple smile on her face as emerald orbs roved over said teacher's body once again, lingering on her perfect face.

The scar from the car accident still remained on her forehead, a soft pink under the coat of foundation that she used in an attempt to cover it up. The bruise on her nose had been indiscernible with the powder that she had used to cover it, as well.

If one would take a step back and look at her, they would never know that she had been in an accident.

The blonde absentmindedly began to twirl around in the office chair, her eyes falling on Regina's possessions that she had kept on the desk. It was neat and organized, not exactly a surprise. Ms. Mills, after all, as known for her affinity to e neat. And, boy, did Emma ever know that.
er house was absolutely spotless, and she would chew the blonde's head off just for leaving her shoes by the door.

Picky woman.

Emma wrinkled her nose fondly at the brunette, who had made eye contact with her in just that moment.

And she smiled, sweet and heart-warming. Emma had no doubt that she could melt as she had every time she saw that woman smile.

It was beautiful.

She was beautiful.

"And with that," the teacher announced to the class, breaking contact. "I will have Emma pass out your assignment. Its short and only deals with the vocabulary for this upcoming chapter. You may use your books."

Regina gracefully made her way to the back of the room where the blonde waited with wide eyes. She had started to frantically search through the stacks of papers on the desk for said assignment, almost immediately regretting her decision to act as a teacher's aid.

"They're right here, dear." Ms. Mills' lips quirked as she pointed to a particular stack that Emma had glossed over.

"I know that…" The blonde muttered, quickly retrieving the papers so she could pass them out to the awaiting class.

How the hell did she get stuck in this position again?

Emma quickly headed to the first row by the door and counted out the students, then did the same with the papers and handed them to the first person. This was something she didn't want to do. This was the reason why she didn't want to become a teacher. She didn't want to have to deal with any of this. Though, in her current position, there wasn't much to deal with.

Finishing up with the last row, Emma headed back to Ms. Mills' desk to take her spot, only, it was occupied by the woman herself.

"Must I sit on you?" Emma slapped the extra papers on her desk, drawing the teacher's attention to her. She smiled wryly.

"I apologize to inform you that I am, in fact, a human being and not a chair."

"Smart ass," Emma found herself replying before she could stop the words from spilling out of her mouth.

But instead of screaming at her about using such profane language, Regina smirked and snarked right back.

"Better than being a dumb one."

The students in the class, who had apparently been eavesdropping on the conversation, suddenly erupted with laughter at the comment. It wasn't until then did the blonde realize they had been holding their breaths in silence as they had awaited the their teacher's reply just as she had.

"Touche." Emma winked at her, thanking whatever higher deity that her back was to the class. "Seriously though, where do you want me to sit, Ms. I'm-Not-A-Chair-Mills?"

"If you are finished trying to come up with a witty quip, I can snag an extra chair for you tomorrow. At best, for now, you can sit on the floor."

"The floor?" Emma squawked. She narrowed her eyes at the brunette, an expression that told her shew as going to pay later.

"Or stand. Whatever suits you." Regina smirked impishly.

Emma grumbled something under her breath and moved to the wall behind Regina, her eyes immediately dalling on the little piece of art that she had given her towards the beginning of the year. It was still tacked beside the calendar, standing stark proud on the otherwise barren wall.

The blonde absently smiled to herself and pulled her phone out.

You're going to pay for that comment later.

She messaged the brunette and turned around just in time to see Regina's phone light up. Ms. Mills grabbed the small decide to check it, immediately whirling around to stare at the blonde.

Emma gave her a mischievous smile.

Regina wrinkled her nose and turned back around with her phone still in hand.

Moments later, Emma's phone lit up to life and checked the newest message.

Oh, dear, don't get so hurt over it. I was only trying to help.

Not my current situation, clearly.

There is not much time left for this class. You will live.

"No," Emma muttered at the brunette's last message. Regina lifted her head and turned to look at her, a soft smile on her lips. The blonde nibbled on her lower lip as she watched the brunette type at her phone.

Another message.

I'm sorry, Emma dear. I'll be sure to make it up to you when we return home.

I'm just being a wuss. Don't worry about it.

Emma returned the smile, though the brunette hadn't been looking as she typed another message. The younger woman looked down to her phone, blinking slightly when she had read the newest text.

I want to kiss you.

A soft blush crept on her cheeks at the thought. She wanted to kiss Regina as well. In fact, if they were alone, she would be doing it right now.

I wish we were alone.

Unfortunately your wish cannot be granted.

You're so agonizing to be around when we aren't alone.

How so, dear?

Emma could laugh. Just looking at her was agonizing enough. She just wanted to touch her, and hold her. She wanted to kiss her and do so much more than that. She was trapped in her memories of the times that they had made love and all she could see was the bits of Regina that was hidden during class.

I can imagine everything that I can do to you and remember all of the things that I have done. Maybe I got a little too hot earlier thinking about this morning.

Ms. Mills gasped softly, catching the blonde's attention. Emma smirked and looked down at the older woman who stared up at her with the most devious of smirks. Oh no. She was thinking something up in that pretty head of hers.

I would ask for you to go into further detail, but class is nearing its end.

Damn class…

Emma huffed and checked the time on her phone. Sure enough, there was only a few minutes left of it. Most of the students were already packed up, eager to get on with the day. She knew how that felt. She was a senior, after all. Life before that were just days merged together, hoping for the next to come and for the current to end.

Emma pushed herself away from the wall she had been leaning against and checked the time on her phone once again. One minute left. The students were standing up now, anxiously moving as they anticipated going to the door.

"I would like to see you after class, Emma," Ms. Mills suddenly said, drawing a few of the students' attention towards the two.
Emma blushed. She was quite sure they were suspecting she was in trouble for her earlier acts, though she knew that wasn't quite the truth. She couldn't hide the grin on her face as she walked the few steps to Regina's desk and stood there, the bell ringing.

"Regina?" Emma leaned against the brunette teacher's desk. The blonde had waited until the final of the students had filtered out to speak to the raven haired beauty.

The English teacher looked readily up at her, one of those perfectly plucked brows arching in question. "Yes?" She queried, setting her pencil down on top of the stack of syllabus papers.

"I probably won't be staying in here. You know, during this period."

"Alright?" She gazed at the blonde through expectant mocha irises, that damn brow still quirked. "Then why did you come in here today? And rather late, might I add?"

Emma puffed out the breath she hadn't known she had been holding. She pushed herself from the brunette's desk and found herself in her old desk soon enough. She sighed, "I was rather bored just sitting in the foyer. But I got to thinking over the fact of sitting in here for a period doing literally nothing but being hungry. I wanted to make up for our missing lunches but I know that won't really do much good and I changed my schedule to take your Creative Writing II class..."

"Emma, I understand. You do not need to explain yourself. Besides, I had already figured you wouldn't want to bother sitting in here for that time if we cannot talk. Frankly, I hadn't expected you to come in at all. Although, it was a pleasant surprise." Regina smiled slightly before scooting her chair towards the blonde. She reached for her hands, olive soon mixing with porcelain as she continued. "I'll give you money for lunch if you wish to grab something from Granny's."

"And I can get you something and drop it off before I go to fifth." Emma offered, the idea of it popping into her head at the mention. She felt terrible enough that the brunette would give her money to pay for her lunch, but the blonde knew she couldn't do it herself. Although, she could always walk to Regina's to make herself something, but that would still be using the brunette's resources. But by concluding this, grabbing something for Regina as well, she wouldn't feel as bad. Regina could pay her with food for walking to get her lunch.

"Oh, dear, you don't have to do that..."

"But I want to. Besides, I feel free-loaderish if I just mooch the money for food off you. It's the least I can do and I'll be there anyways." Emma simply nodded. She felt a squeeze on her hands and looked down for a moment, even though she knew the source.

When she gazed back up, she was met with a warm smile and her heart melted. Why did it always seem that Regina could do that to her? She made her feel warm and gooey on the inside like a freshly baked chocolate brownie.

Normally, thinking that type of thing would sicken her. She was never much for the sappy romance, especially when it didn't involve her. But… thinking about it now set off those little butterflies in her stomach. They danced to the rhythm of her heart, their wings fluttering at a rapid pace that tickled her insides and made her nearly want to giggle with joy. The feelings that she had so long resented and suppressed were now at their utmost peak when she was with Regina.

Emma loved that woman more than she thought she was ever capable. Love was a foreign thing to the blonde, making it seem as if she would never be able to get a taste of what it felt like. She never thought she would ever get the chance to let her feelings pour from her as they did with Regina. She never thought she'd be lucky enough to get those feelings in return and know what it had felt like to be loved.

It was something wonderful.

And she never wanted to let it go.

But that was getting off the topic on hand. The blonde internally sighed. She seemed to be doing that quite a lot lately. It appeared to be rather easy anymore. One moment she could be talking about lunch, or even thinking about it, and the next, a certain brunette teacher would be clouding her mind. Anything out in that world could always manage to bring Emma's mind right back to to Regina, she was quite certain of it. Thoughts of that woman buzzed wherever she went. Lest it be on the streets, at the school, at the library, looking at a box of cereal, being in her room...

"Emma?" Regina's quirked brow and questioning voice shook the blonde from her thoughts. "Did you hear me, or are you off in La-La Land?"

"I-I'm sorry…" The blonde sheepishly muttered, a soft pink tinting her cheeks. She could feel them buzz with heat. She had been so busy in thought about Regina, she didn't hear the woman herself speak.

"What did you say?"

"Hm, I thought so." Regina gave her a wry smile before giving her head a slight shake and repeated herself. "I said that I would very much appreciate if you would do that for me. If our mornings start out anything like they had today, we might not have enough time to even think about lunch. And this way, all I have to do is give you some money before we part, or even the previous night.

"Though today was a miss. I'll have to make us something when we return home."

And then she paused, catching herself on the slip.

Though, Emma hadn't realized what she said as she was nodding throughout the entire thing, soaking up whatever the teacher had said. She had barely noticed that Regina called her house "home."

Normally the brunette would refer to her house as, well, her house. Of course, Emma sometimes caught Regina saying "home" when referring that they would go there, but it wasn't much of a big deal. The brunette made a slip-up from time to time, and the blonde didn't mind it. She'd have done the same.

But when she said it this time, it struck at her heartstrings. The fact that they were virtually living together, though for no certain amount of time, had brought a whole new meaning to the word "home."
Of course, Emma had considered the abode her second home for quite some time. But that was just it, it was her second home. Her main one lie with the Nolans, but now that that was broken by the off-chance of their fight, she didn't have it any longer. Regina's house had adapted to something of her own home now, though it still felt as if something had been missing.

And she knew exactly what that was and it was currently inaccessible.

"Home?" Emma found herself asking, her voice soft- a mere whisper.

Regina lifted her gaze to the blonde, a sheepish smile on her lips as she had realized that Emma had caught her slip. She opened her mouth to speak, but it took a moment before anything had come out. Her eyes sparkling with an emotion that the blonde couldn't distinguish and it left the eighteen-year-old rather curious now. What was going on through the older woman's head?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No… It's fine." Emma made sure to make her smile reassuring as she gazed back at the brunette through softened eyes. "It's perfectly fine. It's… somewhat of my home now. It has been my second home for quit some time, though I may have just popped that one up in my head. But it had been. Anywhere with you, really,is something like home. You are home."

"I am home?" Regina's visage softened incredibly as she tossed the thought in her mind.

"I always feel… You know what it feels like to be at home? Safe. Secure. Away from the bustling world outside. A place where your heart lies- or at least should. That's…" The blonde pursed her lips for a moment and swallowed. "That's how I feel when I'm with you."

Emma was embraced, drowning in a sea of spicy perfume as a part of the brunette's reaction. She was stunned, unable to respond as she sat there awkwardly, trying her best to return the hug, but her arms were trapped under Regina's. So she sat like a canned sardine and smiled against raven locks.

"Emma," she whispered softly into golden strands, the reverberation sending chills down Emma's spine. "Is that true? Do you really feel that way?"

"Why would I lie?" The blonde inquired meekly, suddenly feeling like a miniscule spot under a microscope.

"I don't know. You tell me." The brunette tilted her head slightly as she kept her gaze on the blonde in front of her.

Emma blinked slightly, eyes meeting with the older woman's for a moment before shrugging. "I wouldn't.

"So, yes, I really do feel that way about you, Regina. It's strange for me… I've never thought I would ever feel like this, but allowing you into my life- and my heart- I'm able to have knowledge of what it really feels like to love and be loved.

"And what it feels like to have a home anywhere I go, so long as I'm with you. I feel this… security when we're together, no matter where we're at. It's strange, but nice."

"Do you feel like you can face the world?" Regina whispered, her lips forming into a watery smile that told Emma she had struck a nerve.

"Yes," she nodded in response to the question.

"And that you can do anything?"

"Anything and everything." Emma smiled softly.

Regina didn't ask a third question, instead, she had brought one of her hands from the blonde's grasp and cupped an ivory cheek instead. Emma tilted her head into the gentle caress of the brunette's thumb and hummed. Her eyes drooped to half-mast as she enjoyed the tender sensation.

"Then we're on the same page." The teacher murmured softly. "I feel quite similar to how you do, Emma dear."

"You feel the same?" Emma opened her eyes, emerald orbs twinkling with the echos of her thoughts. She hadn't thought the brunette would feel the same as she had. Of course, that was the younger foster kid in her, accusing her that no one could ever love such a screwed up, broken kid. No one could ever feel like she is their everything, and she still finds it hard to believe, herself, that anyone would ever feel this way about her.

Most of all, no the person that she felt those feelings for. Regina was her everything, or so she believed. The older woman was her entire world and she couldn't imagine a day without her. It was like surviving without oxygen. Utterly impossible.

And to think that this woman felt the same as she did? Well, that as something of a dream come true. She would have never fathomed, in all of her years, that another could feel so strongly about her. But it was true and she felt an elation in her heart nothing could bring down.

"More than you'd ever think possible, Emma." Regina drew the blonde away from her thoughts, that same watery smile on her lips. "I find it so odd… so crazy that I could ever feel this way about someone. I haven't felt so strongly for another like this before. To say I've never been in love would be a lie. But to say I've never been so in love that I'd feel like my heart would get ripped out of my chest as my world came crashing down around me until I've met you, now that would be the absolute, immaculate truth."

Emma's heart seemed to still in her chest as she heard those words release from the brunette's mouth. She couldn't believe she was hearing it. She was actually hearing something that was meant to be heartfelt. Something that was meant to tell of the emotion that she had wanted to hear from Regina, and that she knew, though indirectly, from what the older woman had said to her before.

The blonde couldn't exactly believe what was being said, her heart thundering in her ears as the blood rushed to her head. Tears welled in her sparkling, forest eyes.

"Wow…" she whispered, almost inaudibly. The word that had rolled from her tongue was one that she wished she could stuff right back in her mouth. But she couldn't and the look on the brunette's face was one that of humor, instead of the hurt that would once flash through her eyes.

Rejection.

It always hurt the blonde to see such pain in her lover's whisky orbs. She wished that she could take that away, to take back what had fallen from her lips to cause such a reaction. But, thankfully, her verbal diarrhea didn't cause upset this time.

Regina accepted the small slip-up and was even laughing about it.

"Wow, indeed, Emma." She said with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry!" The blonde immediately blurted, her cheeks flushing an incredible shade of rose. "I just… It's something almost unbelievable to me that you would feel this way… about me. I mean, I have known it before… but hearing you say the words. Hearing the confirmation actually coming from your mouth so blatantly… It's nice."

The brunette teacher dropped her hand from the blonde's cheek, a darling smile etching itself onto her features. "That's how I feel sometimes, dear. It can be just unbelievable, but I have come to grow used to what you say to me. I've let myself accept them. Embrace them."

Regina released the blonde's hand, the smile still on her face, and turned towards her desk. She pulled out a small pad of papers that had Emma momentarily confused. It wasn't until she had noticed that the stack of papers were those lime green passes did she realize what time it was.

It as fifth period, currently, and she didn't have lunch. She had an actual class, which brought the reality of her semester's schedule back to thought. How Emma absolutely hated the fact that they had switched her lunch. And for what? Some stupid class that she was going to drop, unless it was her aerobics class that would be screwing her up.

Whatever it may be, she would survive this semester anyways, right? She was taking a class with Regina, or would be by tomorrow, and she was also living with the woman so to speak.

That little fact still had her brain buzzing. She literally just threw herself onto the brunette and forced her to take her in those days ago. She only hoped that Regina didn't mind, or Emma was going to feel a pit of guilt in the lower of her stomach.

Emma closed her eyes for a hot moment, embracing the darkness that it provided. Though she caught a draft of fatigue blowing its way through her mind like a tumbleweed. She tried to dispel the feeling as she reopened her eyes to watch the brunette scribble on the paper.

"And, Emma?" Regina glanced up, catching the younger woman's immediate attention.

"Yeah?"

"I feel truly blessed that we had ever met. What do they say? 'You find love in the places you never expected'? Or something of the ilk." She grinned once again, her crimson painted lips spreading wide across her face to show off her pearly white teeth. "I was never one to believe such silly phrases, but I do now. Perhaps it sounds cliche to say… But I can certainly exclaim that I have never once expected to find someone, least of all love, here in this school… This town. But, you came along into my classroom and you were different.

"You weren't like the other students. You treated me with a respect that they never dared to give. Of course, I had never had such thoughts of love upon first being of your acquaintance. You were my student after all.

"But time had run its course and passed. I couldn't help nor stop myself from falling for you. I felt dirty for it. I felt sick. You're so much younger. You're so young." She chuckled, though Emma suspected it was mostly to herself.

"But 'love knows no boundaries,' right?" Regina sighed softly, signing her name at the bottom of the pass. Her eyes were averted, leaving Emma unknown to her current emotion. So she remained silent, brilliant green eyes focused on the pen held between olive fingers.

"I have ultimately given up on caring. I just hope that you don't mind being with an old lady."

"You're not old!" Emma squawked in disbelief. How could she ever say that?

"I will be, dear. Just you wait, I promise you that."

"I won't care." The blonde mumbled in response.

Emma honestly wouldn't care at this point if Regina were shriveled and grey. She would still love her all the same. She wouldn't leave her. Sure, what drew the blonde in at first was the brunette's looks, but what drew her in deeper was the older woman's spunky and sensitive personality.

"That's how you feel now." Regina smiled sadly and ripped the pass off the pad to hand to the blonde. "You'll be singing a different tune when the time comes. And I'll understand."

"When the time comes, I'll love you even more."

The English teacher sighed and shook her head, humming a disbelieving tune. "You'll see, dear. Now you better get going along. I already kept you too long from your class."

Emma frowned and stood, not willing to worsen the brunette's mood if it were already. She grabbed her backpack and obliged, taking a step away.

"Have a good day, alright?" Regina spoke before the blonde could take another step, her husky voice causing Emma to turn around. Perhaps she wasn't in a sour mood after all.

"You too. I'll see you after school." Emma kept her gaze on the brunette's bobbing head before turning back towards the door.

Without another word to stop her again, she filtered off into the hallway and went straight to the gym for her next class. Luckily they don't do anything on the first day, or so she had hoped they wouldn't. It was a shiny new class, after all.

---

"I hope no one's going to notice…" Emma murmured as she and Regina headed out of the school. Mostly everyone was gone by now. The two of them had wasted enough time in order for the halls to clear out.

And by wasting time, that meant the brunette teacher had to pack up everything in order to get ready to go home as Emma just sat in one of the desks and watched her with a smirk. She could never imagine being a teacher or fathom why one would desire to be an educator. They had quite a bit of paperwork and so many students in one day because of the different class periods.

It was really the students that had turned the blonde away from ever wanting to become a teacher. She wasn't fond of teenagers as they are today. Why would she want to tolerate them all over again later in life? And for much longer than the high school career's initial four years?

It wasn't a career exactly on her bucket list. Twelve years in the school system was enough as a kid, it wasn't something she was willing to revisit after she got out.

Emma shuddered at the thought as they proceeded down the hallway towards one of the doors that emptied out into the faculty parking lot. She would much rather pursue her dream career in law enforcement. She wouldn't have to deal with papers and pencils. No. She would get a gun instead and some handcuffs to lock up those very teenagers her girlfriend taught.

Yes.

"I doubt they will." The brunette reassured the blonde's earlier worry as she opened the outside door and filtered through. Emma followed soon after, though she looked behind her as the glass door closed.

The hallway behind them was completely empty.

Sighing softly in relief, she followed Regina to her Benz parked across the lot. Her eyes were scanning the area around them the entire time. There wasn't another soul in sight.

Though, there was a car in her pelvis.

She groaned as she ran into the back of the Benz, Regina chuckling from the side of the vehicle.

"Is your head somewhere up in the clouds, dear?" She quipped as the blonde pushed herself away from the rear of the vehicle and made her way towards the passenger's side door.

Forest eyes, sparkling with a hint of annoyance, glanced up to the raven-haired woman unlocking the door. She narrowed those greens when she heard a stifled chuckle.

"I was just looking to see if anyone else was here." Emma opened her door once it had unlocked and got in.

"Most of the staff don't leave until later on the first day back." Regina answered the unasked question as she got her seat belt on and prepared the car to leave. "There's usually quite a bit of paperwork and preparing to do for the week to come."

"Why don't they do it before?" The blonde asked with a quirked brow. Apparently teachers were just as lazy as the students when it came to break.

"It's not only the students' break, dear." Regina flashed her a smile before pulling out of the parking spot. "You were with me for most of the vacation. I hadn't necessarily worked, as you had so blatantly discovered."

"Oh, yeah. Sometimes I just forget that teachers are people, too." Emma chuckled thoughtlessly as she looked out the window. "I get so busy with wanting to get the hell away from school and the teachers…"

She was met by the sound of the car engine as they made their way down the streets of Storybrooke, heading towards that large house that Emma could almost call her home. The blonde didn't think much of the silence, for it was peaceful just listening to the gentle hum filling the air. The scenery outside was an eyeful with the sparkling white snow twinkling in the afternoon sun and the Christmas decorations that still clutter many yards.

She was almost so caught up in the sights outside, that she hadn't thought as to why it was so quiet. The teen whirled back to what she had said just moments ago and could nearly hit herself. Here she was talking about teachers and how they weren't exactly people in her mind, or most of the time that was the case, and she was telling this to one of those very teachers. A teacher that so happened to double as her partner-though how strange that still sounded in her mind- and she hadn't bothered to filter herself before those words came out.

What was the use of her brain if she wouldn't use the damn thing?
"I'm sorry," she quickly muttered, glancing towards the brunette. Regina didn't pay any mind to the blonde, her eyes locking on the road ahead of them.

"It's alright, dear." Regina husked, her voice breaking the momentary silence held between their words.

Emma frowned and studied the older woman's face after she spoke. Her words seemed rather monotonous and those sparkling brown hues never left the road. But as the blonde tried to search her face for any hidden emotion, she came up empty. She didn't looked pissed nor offended.

The blonde would rather leave it like that, of course. She wouldn't have wanted to tick her girlfriend off in any way. That wouldn't be good. She's upset the woman enough throughout their relationship. She'd dealt enough damage to last a lifetime.

"Are you sure?" Emma inquired as Regina pulled into the driveway.

"Of course," The brunette shut off the car and unbuckled her belt. She turned for a moment to give the blonde a reassuring smile, who in return had looked rather skeptical.

Emma's brows rose at her words as she searched the brunette's face once again. When she saw no emotion in the creases of her face, she met with mocha eyes. Immediately, she was flushed with a sense of soothing warmth that had her mind set at ease.

"You don't have to apologize, Emma. You know this." Regina chuckled after a moment of silence. The eye contact between the two had broke for a moment as the brunette sought out Emma's hand to take between her own. She hummed softly, olive fingers delicately playing with much paler ones as she thought out her next words.

The blonde smiled absently as she let Regina play with her fingers, despite being in such an uncomfortable position. As soon as the teacher had spoke, she had turned to get full view of the older woman. One of her legs had been folded up under her as her back pressed painfully against the door, the handle and its bits digging into her spine.

Regina, on the other hand, didn't seem to quite notice the blonde's position as she brought her eyes back up to meet with emerald pools.

"You've proven to me how much of a person I am, dear."

"I hope so." Emma chuckled softly, her cheeks tingling slightly in her sheepish manner.

Suddenly, Regina's entire visage had melted into something sticky sweet. The smile she wore could rot Emma's teeth and the sparkling look in her eyes could put her into a diabetic coma. She'd have to look away if she ever wanted to survive this sudden sugary attack, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Nor could Regina avert her gaze from Emma. So the two of them had ended up quietly staring at each other, unaware of the cooling air around them.

It wasn't until Emma had shivered from the sudden lack of heat did Regina break their contact and the silence.

"We should get inside before we become frozen meat."

"Right."

Emma nodded and shifted back into a normal position, hissing softly as she did so. The door surely left an indent on her back. She could feel the pain there, and the sudden stiffness that had taken over her body.

Just walk it off.

She tried to ignore it as she grabbed her messenger bag and opened the door. Unfortunately, since her mind had been so focused on the stiffness of her body, she hadn't paid any mind to the freezing temperatures outside. In that case, she hadn't been ready for the sudden rush of bitter cold wind that hit her in the face upon opening the car door.

"Holy mother of cold…" The blonde murmured, opening the door all the way so she could quickly get out. Once standing fully outside, she shut the door and shrunk into herself, arms crossed and teeth chattering.

"It is rather cold out here, isn't it?" Regina chuckled from the other side of the car as Emma quickly made her way over to the older woman. The two of them hastily made their way to the front door as the teenager's only response was a string profanities to the weather.

"I really hate winter," she finalized her profane speech and pushed through the door as soon as it had been unlocked. Shivering dramatically, she quickly made her way inside and up the stairs, hoping to get as far away from the cold as possible.

Behind her, she could hear the teacher continue her chuckles, clearly enjoying the show as she followed behind at a far leisurely pace.

By the time the brunette had joined her, sans her coat and purse, Emma was in the middle of the room with her shirt on the floor and her arms crossed over her chest.

"I swear, your bear is watching me." She eyed the little stuffed panda sitting on the bureau.

Regina chuckled and stride towards the blonde, eyes everywhere but the bear. She licked her lips, forcing her eyes to meet with Emma's.

The blonde blushed as she had noticed her current state. She wore no top, not even a brassiere. She had shed that just a moment earlier to get ready for a warm bath to thaw her frozen flesh. How she had managed to get rid of that, her shirt, her coat, and the messenger bag before the brunette had made it to join her, she would never know.

But, then again, she questioned little anymore.

She was dating her teacher after all.

The brunette finally tore her gaze away from the blonde as if she had just remembered the blonde's initial exclamation and looked at the little raggedy toy in question.

"You're just silly, dear." Regina grinned with amusement. "It cannot see."

It cannot see, my ass.

Emma wrinkled her nose, shot the bear a glare and turned towards the en suite bathroom. "It's not my favorite thing in the world."

"It's a toy, Emma." The brunette kicked her heels off and placed them in her closet as Emma had flicked on the light to the bathroom.

Sighing, she entered the lavatory and headed towards the tub to draw herself the much-needed bath. Normally, she hated taking them. Showers were much faster and efficient and an overall easier way to bathe. Personally, Emma thought baths were rather disgusting. You were sitting in a pool of your own filth, after all. How could you get clean when you're sitting in what you're supposed to be getting off?

She also never understood the concept of just drawing a bath to sit in and relax, either. To her, it was the most boring concept. Sit in warm water. Maybe have some petals in there. A candle or two. Some music. Fall asleep. Drown.

Dangerous.

It was Regina that brought taking baths to light. Or at least drawing baths to soak in for relaxation. She had taken a few with Regina over time when she had stayed with her. The two of them would relax and chat a bit. Sometimes they would make love. Other times they would just listen to music and enjoy the bath salts and aromas.

Also, Emma had discovered warm baths to help quite a bit when it came to warming up. It was her initial thought upon getting inside. She was still chilled and just wanted to crawl under a blanket and warm up.

She could have always done that, but taking a hot, steamy bath seemed more appealing. And perhaps she could get Regina to join her.

Smirking to herself, Emma turned on the taps and stood up once again as the steaming water began to fill the already plugged porcelain. She quickly left the bathroom to collect a fresh outfit for after the bath and a fluffy towel from the hallway linen closet.

But when she exited the bathroom, Regina was standing there wearing nothing but her lace undergarments and a delicious smirk on her face.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" she asked, her voice like pure silk.

Emma could moan just hearing those words slide off the older woman's tongue.

"You're always welcome to." The blonde responded, her eyes wide as she took in her lover's physique. There was nothing but tanned flesh in her view. Perfect, taut skin covering tantalizing curves.

She drank the teacher in, a wave of heat suddenly bubbling in her lower belly as her eyes moved from Regina's smiling face down to her flexing, slender neck and the kissable collarbone that lie underneath. Emma pressed her legs together and groaned in protest when her eyes landed on the black lace covered breasts. Each perfect globes that she wished were uncovered by that skimpy material.

"Emma?" The blonde could hear Regina's smirk twisted within those words, but she didn't look up. Instead, she tortured herself as she let emerald slide down the brunette's perfect, soft abdomen to the sheer material of her panties that covered the forbidden flesh she so suddenly desired.

"Oh, god," she found herself mumbling, eyes traveling further down the older woman's muscular thighs. Oh, thighs she could imagine being wrapped around her waist, holding her close as she would…

A fluffy, beige towel was shoved in front of her face and she blinked. Finally snapping her attention back up to meet coffee orbs, she smiled sheepishly and took the terrycloth.

"Before the tub overflows, dear." Regina smiled sweetly, and oh, she had a teasing twinkle in her eyes that just ate the blonde up.

"Right…" Emma quickly nodded, a blush blooming on her cheeks as she headed back into the bathroom. She made haste with setting the towel on the rack next to the tub and removed the rest of her clothes. As she did so, she could hear a soft gasp behind her, which had only made her face heat even more.

"Would you like some salts for the bath, dear?" The blonde nodded at her lover's words and moved to switch the tap off. She sighed blissfully as the steam from the tub hit her face, already warming her very core.

Or that was from Regina.

Either way, she wasn't complaining. She wasn't cold any longer.

The soft sound of something hitting water roused the blonde from her momentary space out as she enjoyed the warmth seeping into her. She glanced up to notice Regina pouring little purple rock-like things into the bath. The pellets hit and broke the surface with gentle splashes, little drops of water showered her face.

"Now we're ready. Unless you would like a few candles?" Regina set the little jar of bath salts aside on the counter and grinned down at the blonde.

Emma stood from her spot and shrugged, looking to the candles that lay lined up along the outside of the tub. They were rather soothing for soaking in the tub, especially when the lights would be off. She bit her lower lip in momentary contemplation before swiftly turning around to flick the lightswitch off behind her.

The only source of light now was what little sunlight spilled through the curtains on the small window. Emma used that to find her way back to the bathtub where Regina was already lighting the few candles around it. With the last one lit, the brunette set the lighter down and slowly slipped into the tub.

It was then that Emma had finally noticed she had lost the final few scraps of clothing. She must have done that when she had turned off the light.

Or maybe beforehand, but she hadn't exactly been paying attention when thinking about the warmth of the tub. She wasn't going to question it. The older woman was nude now, as was she, and the tub was ready.

The blonde stood at the edge of it, her eyes adjusting to the soft candlelight. It looked absolutely peaceful. Romantic, even. Shit.

"Are you going to just stand there, dear, or join me in this… lonely bath?" Regina's smirk met Emma's wide, doe-eyes.

"Oh, uh, yeah," she mumbled softly and lifted a leg over the tub's edge, careful not to step on the brunette as she slowly got in.

Emma stood there for a moment, awkwardly looking behind her at the expectant brunette. Everything logical immediately fled her mind. They had done this countless times before, but suddenly the tub just seemed too small. Too awkward.

Logically, she knew it wasn't. She could nestle comfortably between Regina's legs and then still have quite a bit of room. But in this moment, she felt as if her brain had checked out. The bath salts must have been getting to her brain because she just stared at Regina as if she had the information that she needed.

Emma was completely tranced by her. Everything about the brunette was absolutely stunning. Her chocolate, brown eyes sparkled and danced in the candlelight. Her tawny skin glowed with a soft sheen of moisture. The steam from the tub rose up around her, leaving her in a haze that made it seem like they were in a romantic love scene.

The blonde blushed and finally broke her gaze to settle herself down into the tub. She moaned softly as she submerged herself into the steamy, hot water. It felt a million times better than she'd ever dreamed and the lavender scent that permeated her senses only made it that much better.

After settling fully into the water, she felt arms wrap around her abdomen. Emma smiled, sighing contentedly as she relaxed and leaned back into Regina. She knew that she could stay like this forever. It was so peaceful and spending eternity in Regina's arms seemed to be a plus on the list.

"There you are, dear." Regina chuckled softly against her ear, chin setting itself on the blonde's shoulder.

"I got distracted."

"You seem to have the distraction bug today." The brunette commented, smoothing a lock of blonde curls away from Emma's face.

"I don't know what's up today. It's just…" Emma shrugged and allowed Regina to play with her hair. She shivered slightly as the older woman's fingers slid through her blonde locks, which had caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. It was always her favorite thing when Regina played with her hair. She couldn't describe why, but she loved it.

"Oh, my." Regina kissed the top of her head. "Perhaps you need this bath to relax."

"I know." Emma sighed blissfully.

The brunette teacher chuckled softly, sending vibrations through her body that tickled the blonde's back. Emma grinned and pressed herself back some more, trying to stop the little tickles before she would burst into laughter.

After a few moments, Regina had quieted down, leaving the room void of anything but their breathing. Emma had taken this time to close her eyes, body completely melting as she allowed for herself to eat up the silence. This was definitely what she needed.

Oh, yes indeed.

She hummed softly when she felt Regina's fingers skate across her belly, causing the muscles to tighten. An aching heat once again settled in her lower belly the more the older woman had danced those digits over her stomach, moving up as they traveled.

"How was your day?" The brunette queried, slowing sliding her hand up to the swell of her chest, soon covering one of the delicate mounds.

Emma's breath hitched at this and she shifted, the thrum between her thighs only intensifying. "It wasn't anything special. In fact, it was boring. Like any other first day back, I guess."

Regina hummed, her head bobbing up and down in response. "These days tend to be rather mundane. But think of it this way, Emma, you're halfway through senior year and after that,, you're done."

'I'll still have to go to school, though," the blonde sighed unhappily. "But I suppose it'll be better with college people than these immature kids."

"Indeed." The brunette chimed, the hand that had cupped Emma's breast squeezed the delicate tissue, causing the blonde to let out a soft moan. She arched slightly, trying to press herself further against Regina's hand.

She gasped when Regina offered another squeeze, the sensitive tip of her breast rubbing against the palm of the brunette's hand as she made a rhythm.

"H-How was your day?"

"Quite mundane. You saw how fourth period was, correct? That's how my entire day was." Regina paused her movements for a moment before making her kneading motion counterclockwise. "Except for the the Creative Writing II class and the new composition classes that I had taken on. Since they are new to the semester, I was able to change up my routine. Though, it was still rather bleak."

"Did you make the Creative Writing students write a paper about themselves again like you did in the first class last semester?" Emma asked, her voice a stressed moan as Regina had continued her ministrations.

The brunette's fingers soon moved to pluck the rosy bud, earning another murmur of pleasure from the blonde. Emma squeezed her eyes shut as the attention to her breast had shot a heavy dose of arousal to her aching core. She groaned happily, her brain unable to concentrate on the answer that Regina was giving her as she continued, fingers teasing the nipple between them.

"I was having a few contemplations about that since I had done that last semester, seeing as to how I would know of their writing skills since I had them already." Regina sighed softly, her other hand dropping from the blonde's hair to fall between milky thighs.

The blonde blinked slightly when she saw this and watched the brunette's every movement. Tanned fingers teased her inner thighs into opening, leaving Emma nearly breathless as her other hand had quickened their ministrations with her sore nipple. She could only gasp, emerald eyes focused on the exploring fingers with great interest as they went south, moving to the top of her thigh.

"Though I do have some students that I had acquired from the other creative writing classes." Regina continued to speak even as she moved her hands, bringing the one on Emma's leg back up her thigh. Emma squeezed her eyes shut as the deep ache between those very thighs burned with desire.

It was like the weight of the world had been lifted when those lithe fingers moved between her nether lips. She inhaled sharply at the new pleasure exploding through her body and jerked her hips to gain more contact. A husky chuckle sounded above her as those very fingers found the center of her pleasure and stimulated it with firm, circular rubs.

"Oh, Gina!" Emma cried softly into the thick air, her hips bucking against the brunette's hand. Her mind blanked as she focused it on the pleasure she received. The romantic, cinematical love-scene setting seemed to fade away into what would happen after the screen went black. She didn't care if they had skipped a step in there. Currently her mind was on nothing but the pleasure causing her body to tense up as her body moved to find the release it wanted.

"But I did have them write a paper over their winter break." Regina whispered into the blonde's ear and, despite the subject, she could feel the heat pool even more between her thighs.

Regina's voice was orgasm material. Sometimes she could just explode upon hearing that deep, husky and sensual voice. Sometimes it was the only thing she waited for to tip over the edge.

Unfortunately, it hadn't helped her in this state as she writhed slightly and arched against the older woman behind her, whose hands were still working at a much vigorous pace than before. Emma cried out softly when those digits had left their job at the sensitive bundle of nerves to enter her aching body, pumping at a fantastical pace that had her gripping what she could of the tub.

And just as the blonde was reaching the highest point of her pleasure, her hips bucking and her body tingling, she heard a familiar song echo from the other room. It was the song that she had used for her foster mother when she would call.

For a moment, Emma had completely forgot her situation and panicked as she tumbled back down the mountain, completely losing her glorious position. Regina didn't let up, though she made a noise as if confirming the blonde's fears.

That was Mary Margaret calling, and it was the first time she had contacted since Emma had left the Nolan's. Even though it had only been a couple days since their fight, she had the urge to answer her cellphone. She wasn't sure if it was for her momentary confusion or the need to reconcile.

So she had tensed slightly and prepared to get out, despite her lover's continued movements. She moaned softly, but Regina had dropped her hand from the blonde's breast to wrap around her waist. The brunette had pulled her back and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

"Call her back."

Emma shook her head and grabbed the brunette's arm, pulling it away. "I know that you hate her now… But I need to answer that. She's still my mother." The blonde shifted slightly and seized Regina's other wrist. "Besides, it kind of ruined it."

The older woman sighed softly and completely released her younger lover. Emma nodded gratefully and stood up, her legs slightly shaky as she lifted each over the tub. Her phone had stopped ringing moments ago, perhaps unfortunately, but she could still call Mary Margaret back.

Emma wasn't exactly fond of that woman as of current, but if that was really the schoolteacher calling her, it meant she had thought about what she had said. Or Emma hoped so. She hoped that the woman cared enough to know where she was and if she was safe. She hoped that she had thought about the inane things that she had shouted at her and realize just how damaging those words really were.

The blonde quickly picked up her phone from the floor where it had spilled from her bag earlier and searched for her missed calls. Sure enough, Mary Margaret was on top. The display reading that she had called just minutes ago.

Emma shifted the towel she had wrapped around her before coming out and headed towards the bed to perch on the edge of the mattress. She exhaled deeply and punched the return call button. As she held the phone up to her ear, she saw Regina emerge from the bathroom, donning one of her terrycloth robes. She wore a sheepish smile as she moved to join the blonde on the bed, her coffee eyes apologetic.

Emma sighed softly and returned the smile, telling her that it was alright. The other line was still ringing and she was beginning to worry that her not picking up had alerted the pixie-haired woman that she hadn't wanted to talk to her. Hopefully she would pick up.

Meanwhile, Regina was gazing at her through curious orbs, her brows furrowed as if to silently ask why she wasn't talking. Emma merely shrugged and was about to open her mouth to answer when the other side of the line picked up and Mary Margaret's voice could be heard.

"Emma! Are you alright? Where are you? I'm worried sick!"

Emma closed her eyes and breathed at the sudden berating words.

"I'm alright, Mary Margaret." She reassured, feeling a shift in the bed as the brunette beside her crawled further onto the bed.

The blonde narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched Regina's bum sway in the air as she crawled. She was quickly brought back to reality, though, when she heard her squawking foster mother on the other end.

"Thank God I got a hold of you! I was worried. I tried to call the other day, but I didn't get an answer."

"I don't remember receiving a call." Emma quirked a brow at her foster mother's words. She hadn't remembered ever getting a call from Mary Margaret. This was the first time, though she did receive a few messages from her that she never replied back to. They were stupid little messages that made it feel as if the schoolteacher was more worried about her conscious than Emma's wellbeing.

"I haven't heard back from you, either. I sent you messages." Mary Margaret seemed to completely block out what the blonde had said. Emma rolled her eyes and lay back against the bed. Was she really going to do this?

"What… I wanted to say, Emma," her voice was far quieter than it had been before, which had taken the blonde aback. She narrowed her eyes up at the ceiling, awaiting her foster mother's next words.

"... I'm sorry."

That had struck a nerve. Emma's eyes began to water once she had heard those two simple words. She had rarely ever heard them from anyone, and when she had, they were never sincere enough. But the way that Mary Margaret had said those two simple words to her had been said with an emotion that let Emma know the woman gotten choked up.

There was a soft sniffle on the other side of the line as Emma lay there quietly, her eyes still on the ceiling. A single tear had escaped her eye and slipped down her cheek, which had Regina frowning as she moved to give the blonde a concerned look. Emma tilted her head to look at the brunette, who had taken position on her stomach.

She mouthed, "are you alright?"

Emma nodded, sniffled, and spoke into the phone.

"You're sorry?" Her voice cracked, but she cleared her throat to act as if she wasn't breaking. "Why would you even say those things to me in the first place?"

"Emma, I…"

"Do you realize how much that hurt?" Emma sat back up, anger suddenly washing into her mindset. "I thought you'd be more accepting. You didn't seem so destroyed when I talked about-"

"I know I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, Emma. And I'm sorry that I had reacted that way. It was insensitive of me."

Mary Margaret paused for a moment. Emma could hear an intake of breath and a masculine voice on the other end, sounding as if it were trying to console her.

"I realize that now and I know that there's no changing you. Emma, honey, I love you for you, and who you are, and I don't care who you like just so long as you're happy."

"Do you really mean that?" Emma's throat constricted.

"Of course I do, Emma. Why else would I be telling you this if I didn't? I feel so terrible for what I had done and I realize that it must have hurt you more than I could ever imagine. And I understand if you would never forgive me… and if you never want to come back."

"Mary Margaret…" Emma sighed softly, closing her eyes. "I do forgive you. I don't even know why… but… I just feel the need to. You and David, you two were the only ones that actually cared during my time in the system. You two kept me the longest and gave me a home. You made me feel loved and I really appreciate that. I'd hate to see all of that get thrown away for something so silly. And I'm… I'm glad that you're doing this. I appreciate that you're apologizing to me.

"It honestly means so much, Mary Margaret and thank you." The blonde opened her eyes and smiled. "I love you. I love both you and David very much."

"Emma… I hope you know whatever I said, I hadn't really meant it. I was just… shocked, I guess. I hadn't expected this and it's something different when it's your own daughter. I've had plenty of time to accept this… perhaps not fully, but I will one day. I'd rather not waste the time in between and have you back, not hating me for being so insolent.

"I could never send you back into that system, Emma, and I don't know why I ever said that. I love you too much to ever let you go like that. And I can't let you go now. Please come back home, Emma. We miss you."

Those words had caused Emma's heart to skip a beat. They wanted her back? They missed her?

But what would she do? She was staying here with Regina. Of course, she could always go back to the Nolan's. She knew that Regina wouldn't mind because that was her home after all.

But… this was her home, also. And there was a part of her, and a rather large part at that, that didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay here. She wanted to stay with Regina.

Was that bad?

"I… don't know, Mary Margaret."

"Emma, please… I-Is it too soon?"

"No…" Emma sighed and laid back against the mattress once again. Regina was still on her stomach and had now lifted her head to quirk a brow at the blonde. "I have to think about it. I quite like my current situation… I don't know."

"I understand… You are always welcome back, Emma, I want you to know that."

"I know, Mary Margaret. Just… let me think about it, alright? I'm pretty tired and I had a long day at school…"

"I'm glad to know that you went. But if you would like for me to let you go, I suppose I shall. Talk to you later, alright? And take care… I'm worried about you…"

"Yes, Mary Margaret. And, I know… I've gotta go. Talk to you later."

"Goodbye, sweetheart."

"Bye," the blonde sighed and peeled her phone away from her ear to turn off.

Emma flopped onto her stomach and faced the brunette who offered her a tentative smile.

"I assume that your conversation had went well?"

"Yeah." Emma wriggled further onto the bed and looked into her partner's eyes, lips pursing. "She wants me to go back."

Regina's features melted and the smile she had given to her melted as she slowly nodded.

"Do you want to go back?"

"I don't want to leave you…" she whispered softly, eyes lowering slightly. "You're home."

"Emma…" Regina sighed, hooking a finger under the blonde's chin. She tilted Emma's head up to meet her gaze. "I do not want you to feel obligated to stay here. If you wish to go back to the Nolan's, you can."

"That's the thing, I don't think I want to. Being here… Being here is home." Emma's eyes slid over the brunette's face, her features were everything perfect this close and her dark hues were something dangerous to get lost in. How could she ever want to leave this place. It was something of her home, now, and Regina was here to share it with her. The idea of seeing her everyday, all day was so very appealing.

"I want to be able to go to bed with you and wake up in your arms." Emma whispered, her lips twitching when she saw the teacher's cheeks turn a soft shade of pink. "And I want that every night and every morning. I don't want to see you for just a limited amount of time. That… it doesn't work for me anymore. After I've had a taste of life like this, I don't want to leave it."

Regina's perfect, plump pink lips curved into the sweetest smile Emma had ever seen. She leaned forward and before the blonde could decipher what was happening, those very lips were covering hers in an equally sweet kiss. Emma purred softly and nearly melted as she returned it with a gentle caress of her lips.

Regina pulled away soon after, lips slightly parted as she took a moment to breathe.

"You are always welcome here, Emma." She grinned lightly, her hand moving to cup the blonde's cheek. Gentle, olive fingers caressing silky, porcelain skin.

"Good… I'll have to tell Mary Margaret of my decision, of course, blocking out this little detail…" Emma bit her lower lip, her head turning into the caress as she gazed into muddy pools.

"Before you do that, dear," Regina pulled her hand away much to Emma's protest and sat up. "We should eat."

And at the mention of that very activity, Emma's stomach growled. She had been so busy with everything else, she had completely forgotten that she hadn't eaten. Somehow that had slipped her mind and the gnawing in her stomach had seemed to have disappeared somewhere between bath time and her chat with Mary Margaret.

"I concur." Emma nodded quickly and rolled off the bed. "Let me change first, though."

"While you do that, I will go start lunch. I don't think I can wait another minute." Regina chuckled softly, stood up, and pressed a kiss to the blonde's forehead. "I could eat a horse."

"Let's… not do that…" Emma crinkled her nose and unwrapped the towel.

"We might just have to have dessert afterwards…" Regina murmured, licking her lips as her eyes raked over the blonde's nude body.

Emma blushed and scurried towards her bag to find something to wear. "I thought you were going to make lunch."

"Yes. Right. Lunch." Regina nodded, peeling her eyes away to turn around and go do just that. She paused, though, before leaving the room and spoke.

"What would you like?"

"At this point, anything." Emma shrugged and picked out a particularly large shirt from her bag.

"Anything." Regina nodded and gave her one last smile before leaving the room.

Emma shook her head and laughed. Who knows what the woman was going to make. But she didn't care. In face, her stomach was doing little flips. This seemed so domestic. She was waiting for her girlfriend to make them lunch in their house. It seemed like a dream that she never thought would come true.

Emma grinned softly to herself and quickly donned a pair of undergarments and the overlarge shirt before going downstairs to see just what Regina was whipping up for the two of them.

---

"It's about time you join us." Killian droned upon Emma's entrance to the English classroom. Her new sixth period, and far nicer than the computer class that she was originally set up for. She had her friends in this class, and of course, there was always the added bonus of Regina.

"Mr. Hopper wouldn't let me switch yesterday. I had to get some stupid paper signed." The blonde rolled her eyes as she headed towards her two friends. They were placed in the back of the room, on the other side of the desk that was next to the teacher's. Emma had talked to the brunette the day before about the seating arrangement. It took a bit of string pulling and button pushing for her to make up the chart how she wanted, but she eventually gave in and did it.

Emma had got her old seat back, which meant that she would ultimately be closer to the brunette and her ever teasing presence.

"He does it to everyone," the brunette watched her friend slide into the seat placed next to hers.

Emma shrugged in response, pulling her notebook out of her bag. "It's still stupid."

"They do it to prevent students from switching classes without their parents' knowledge, I think. Just in case a parent wanted their child to take a certain class, but that student doesn't want to-"

"Alright, confusing." Emma held up a hand, shooting Belle a playful stare. "I think I have an understanding of it. I just don't see why they're making the seniors do it. You know, most of us are eighteen and perfectly capable of making adult decisions."

"Apparently the school board doesn't agree." Killian added his two cents, his furry brows raised.

"The school is stupid. It's all stupid. I'm so glad that we're almost done with it." Emma groused, flipping through the notebook on her desk to a new sheet of paper. "Did you guys do something yesterday?"

"Oh, we wrote about our winter break." Belle nodded, pulling out her own notebook. She had soon flipped to a page covered in writing, titled 'My Winter Break.'

"Is there a paper for it?" The blonde glanced to her male friend to see him doing the same, though he had the paper torn out. Or papers. "Holy crap. How long is it supposed to be?"

"The minimum was one page, dear." Ms. Mills slipped a piece of paper on her desk.

Emma glanced up to the brunette's wide smile, showing just a flash of her perfect, white teeth. "Everyone's writing so much, though."

Surely Regina wasn't going to appreciate that later on. Neither would Emma because she knew that she'd have to be the one sitting next to her, waiting as she read and graded each and every one of them. Maybe she should make hers just that one page.

"That's what happens when creativity is unleashed." The brunette teacher gave a nonchalant shrug, but Emma had a feeling she was screaming several profanities on the inside. She should be glad that this was the only Creative Writing II class that she had, though she had other classes that dealt with writing. Of course, she was an English teacher after all. Emma didn't envy her one bit.

"I'll be sure to make mine short for you." Emma grinned slightly, eyes dropping to the paper that Regina had given her moments earlier. It was the basic criteria for writing a paper with the simple prompt and expectations.

"You don't need to, Emma," the brunette continued, moving to take a seat in her desk as the bell finally rang. She picked up a pen and played with it, making the slender object slide between her fingers. "I know just how creative you can get."

Emma could feel the heat rising to the surface of her cheeks when the English teacher had said those words. In context, it was a simple and innocent statement. But out of context, and with that smirk that she was giving the teenager, it was far away from what it was meant to be.

The blonde nearly blinked at the thoughts running through her mind. Even the simplest statement- one that didn't necessarily make sense enough to be naughty in her book- still got her rather hot and a bit bothered.

Alright, a lot bothered. She could die with the tremendous ache between her thighs, demanding for that brunette teacher's attention. Emma made a slight noise, covered by a forced yawn as she tried to pass it off as such.

Regina was long to the front of the room by now, discussing the plan for the day. She paced the floor, each movement causing the beige slacks she wore to tighten incredibly around her plump posterior. Emma couldn't remove her eyes from the ass that she had seen this morning before those slacks had been put on. And she couldn't stop imagining the purple, satin panties that were hidden underneath. Or the way that her ass had hung out of them, and quite incredibly so.

Emma hummed and tried to shoo the thoughts from her mind. She wouldn't be able to concentrate with them right there in the front of her brain. The current Regina image in front of her was far safer. She stood there, wearing a red turtleneck that was not at all attractive. It showed nothing.

That was a lie.

The blonde swallowed thickly and tried to block off all thought from entering her mind. She focused in on listening to what the English teacher was currently addressing to the class. Ms. Mills' liquid voice drenched her like a honey bath.

"I am going to give you today to finish up your assignments from yesterday. If you have already completed them, you may hand them in and do what you wish quietly for the remainder of the class. If you do not have it completed, I would appreciate for you to get them finished, or else they will have a late penalty." Regina's mocha hues traveled over the expanse of the classroom, lingering momentarily on the blonde before she forced a smile on her crimson lips. "If you have any questions, please, do ask without hesitation."

There was a pause as the students all sat, unblinking as they stared at her. She shifted a bit when no one raised their hands and continued. "You may turn in your assignment to me. I will be at my desk. If you have any questions later on, you may ask."

"Awkward," Killian chuckled and slid out of his desk as the brunette teacher had made her way back to her own desk. The teenage boy quickly turned in the assignment, stopped and winked at Emma knowingly before heading back to his desk once again.

The blonde could only stare at him. She knew he knew, since she was here when they had told him. Though, that was a rather stupid idea. She wasn't sure why the hell Regina had blurted out their relationship like that. It was completely out of character and rather dangerous for the knowledge of their relationship to be in the mind of a teenage boy. Besides all of the gross things that he could be doing with such information, it was rather nerve-wracking to know that he could tell someone at any given moment. And if he were to tell someone, another might overhear and tell even more people.

That was a dangerous thing. Emma shuddered at the thought. If they were ever found out before the year's end, they were completely screwed. She wasn't sure if they could up and leave the town to reside somewhere else that would safe for them to live. She wasn't sure if there would be a big news story about it.

Regina could go to prison for something like this and who would only know what would happen to Emma. Sure, she was of legal age, but that didn't really guarantee anything. She was still also legally a student of the school and Regina was her teacher.

Emma leaned back in her desk, eyes closing at the thought. Why did she ever think that it was a good idea to pursue Ms. Mills in the first place? Sometimes she wished the teacher would have rejected her after that kiss so they wouldn't be sneaking around. It was like trying to dodge mines. Sure, they were safe as long as they knew how to go about keeping it a secret, but there could always be that one mine they could accidentally step on. And if they ever stepped on one, everything would backfire and start a domino effect.

She couldn't let that happen. Especially not to Regina. The woman didn't deserve it.

Or did she?

If people were to ever find out, she would be the accused predator for going after Emma. The blonde would be nothing but a victim, though she never really was logically speaking. But in their eyes… Regina was something of a monster. Regina had pursued a relationship with one of her students. With a student that was twenty years younger than her, and still underage when it had all started.

To Emma, none of this seemed to be wrong. It all had felt so normal to her for a reason. After the two of them had broken their professional shell, they were nothing but two vulnerable women who fancied each other. They were humans underneath it all.

But the big guys wouldn't think so.

They would separate the two of them and probably never allow them to be together. And if there would be an off-chance that they would allow for them to stay together, nothing would be the same. Regina would lose her job and she would have trouble finding another. Emma could lose her family, she could lose her friends… And she couldn't blame Mary Margaret for screaming her head off at her about any of it.

The blonde shuddered at the thought. She didn't want to think of that reality, no. She couldn't. It was just too heart-aching. Emma loved Regina more than she could have ever imagined possible and she was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She couldn't lose that woman. Not now. Not ever…

"I cannot fathom how people could write so much about their winter vacation." Belle's accented voice brought the blonde out of her thoughts.

Emma blinked towards her brunette friend, almost thankful that she had. It had scared the living crap out of her, but it had also drug her away from the horrible thoughts. With a shrug, she sat up in her chair and grabbed a pencil.

"I don't know," she murmured to fuel her friend's thought.

"How interesting could they be? All I did was sleep, eat, and hang out with you guys. Not the most exciting thing." Belle shook her head, watching as a few students went to turn their papers into Ms. Mills.

Emma watched as well, blinking when she saw one of the boys hand in a neat, thin stack of papers. How many was that? Was this boy trying to write a novella over his winter break? She felt quite sorry for Regina at this point. She had troubles reading over just one student's work when they had to do peer reviewing.

Perhaps she wasn't giving her girlfriend enough credit for the job she was doing.

Emma would be good and sit with her later, all night if need be, while she read through those stories.

"Did you see that guy's?" Emma queried, turning back to Belle with wide eyes.

"It's like he's trying to publish a novel over there." Killian chuckled, looking up from his doodle. Emma nodded in agreement and rolled her eyes.

"It's ridiculous."

"Emma, shh…" Regina popped her head up to look at the blonde, a brow quirked. "Don't make me send you to the office."

"Sorry…" Emma muttered, wrinkling her nose at the brunette teacher. Shush! She was shushing her.

Belle laughed, their male friend soon joining in.

"You got told by the teacher."

"Oh, shut up." Emma hissed, bringing her attention to the blank sheet of notebook paper that she was supposed to be writing on.

"You're just cranky because you got told to shh." Killian smirked, but he was soon shushed as well by Ms. Mills, who had glared up at the three of them.

"I will place you in the front of the room and well away from me if you are going to continue with your incessant talking."

"Sorry…" Belle and Killian quickly muttered their apology.

"Thank you. Now busy yourselves. Quietly."

"Ha-ha." Emma sneered at the two of them, making a face.

"Oh, shut it." Belle muttered into her book.

"Snooty ass." Killian stuck his tongue out at her.

Emma merely chuckled before going back to her paper. What the hell was she going to write about? Her winter break, of course. But Regina already knew what she did. It'd probably be boring for her to read over once she got to it after thirty more beforehand. Perhaps she could write something more interesting. Something twisty and fictional.

The blonde smirked as an idea popped into her head and she began to quickly jot down what was boiling on the surface of her mind.

---

"Emma, what the hell is this?" Regina held up a notebook, eyes boring holes into the blonde's skull as if to break an answer out of her.

"It's my winter break story." The blonde smiled innocently from beside the brunette and popped a chip into her mouth.

The two of them were stationed in the sitting room, papers were strewn across the coffee table as the brunette read through them, a red pen in hand. She wore her thick, black-framed glasses and a pair of fluffy, panda pajama bottoms with a matching t-shirt. Emma sit beside her wearing something almost similar, though her pants had little skulls wearing santa hats on them and her shirt was plain black, clearly not going with the outfit.

She held onto a few select assignments that she was in the middle of reading when the brunette had interrupted her. Emma had quickly dug out Killian's and Belle's papers to give them a quick read-through before the brunette would check them. She was rather curious as to what her friends had to say, and she was amused thus far with Belle's.

Emma was in it, yes, but so was Ruby. Ah, yes, Belle's newly discovered girlfriend and it was rather adorable what she was saying about the oldest brunette. She was dancing around the subject of their relationship, making it appear as if they were just really good friends. The blonde could laugh.

Apparently she and Regina weren't the only ones keeping their relationship a secret.

Regina hadn't read through their papers yet, though, since Emma had immediately pulled them from the stack to read over first. After reading Belle's, though, she had the urge to blurt out about her and Ruby's little relationship. She wanted to see Regina's reaction over that fact after she will have read the paper.

But Belle's and Ruby's relationship was their own secret. She was sworn not to tell anyone and she would keep it like that. If Regina so happened to make an assumption based off reading and Emma so happened to confirm, that wouldn't be breaking anything, right?

Emma hoped not, because if that situation ever came up, she would no doubt spill the beans. Sometimes it was hard for her to keep a secret when someone so obviously knew what it was beforehand.

"What on earth are you doing with those?" Regina had quickly forgot about the notebook in hand as she finally noticed the papers that Emma had held and was so clearly amused about reading.

The blonde stared at her, a sheepish smile on her lips. "I just wanted to read them."

"Haven't I told you not to do that?" The older woman made a reach to grab the papers, but Emma moved them out of her reach.

"Don't worry. They're only Belle's and Killian's. I'm sure they don't care. They'd let me read them, anyways." Emma shrugged, but the brunette didn't relent as she carefully set the notebook down and crawled across the blonde's lap to reach for the papers. She blinked slightly at the sight, smirking in thought.

As Regina lay awkwardly over her, one hand planted firmly on the couch cushion beside Emma as the other reach for the papers in her hand, the blonde wrapped an arm around her waist. The brunette collapsed, gasping in surprised as she hit Emma's lap with a thump.

"What are you-"

"Usually I'm the one who's frisky." Emma smirked.

Regina let out a puff of air and squirmed to sit up. Emma allowed her to turn onto her back, but she hadn't released her enough to let her get away. Instead, the blonde merely tightened her grip and lowered her head towards Regina's. Her pale, pink lips curled into a devious smile as the brunette stared at her, nose slightly crinkled and brows furrowed.

"I am not being frisky." Regina huffed and struggled against the blonde's grip. "Now, come on, Emma. I need to finish reading through these assignments."

"What do I get?" The blonde cocked her head to the side, eyes still on the struggling brunette.

"I'll let you keep those. Just… let me go."

Emma grinned wryly. "What's the magic word?"

"Please!" Regina paused suddenly, a look on her face that had the blonde immediately release her.

"Thank you," she sniffed and sat up, whatever emotion that had haunted her now gone.

Emma narrowed her eyes slightly, then quickly pulled the brunette against her before she could slide off her lap. She could feel the teacher tense for a moment, but she soon relaxed upon realizing that the blonde didn't have such a tight hold on her this time.

The blonde smiled lightly, her eyes closing as she inhaled Regina's sweet fragrance. She smelled of apples with a light hint of cinnamon. Emma hummed softly and leaned forward, her hand gently stroking Regina's side as her lips met with olive skin.

The teacher sighed blissfully, allowing this moment of weakness as she let the blonde taste her. One of her hands had found itself on the blonde's cotton clad shoulder and squeezed when Emma had made her way up the column of her neck.

"Emma…" she whispered softly, head turning to face the blonde.

Emma pulled away enough to meet coffee eyes, shimmering and dark. With a soft smile, she leaned forward to capture the older woman's lips with her own in a sweet, gentle caress. Regina gasped softly, the hot air teasing the blonde's tingling lips. She smiled even wider and dove back in to kiss the brunette once again, humming when Regina had returned it. Her lips pressed firmly into Emma's, earning a soft moan.

The blonde couldn't be bothered to pull away as she tilted her head and went for another kiss, her lips parted. Regina had eagerly returned it, crimson lips sliding against pink, coating them with her lips stick as they repeatedly smashed against each other.

Emma's breath shallowed, the forgotten papers in her hand had now been dropped onto the couch beside them as she wrapped both her arms firmly around the brunette's petite body. Said brunette had shifted her position, her legs on either side of the blonde's hips and her hands holding both of Emma's cheeks in place. The blonde only groaned more, the once dull ache between her thighs as intensified to something almost insatiable.

She bucked her hips slightly, a needy feeling washing over her. Regina had mewled softly in response, her own hips grinding down against the blonde as her tongue had invaded Emma's mouth. The younger woman could feel her eyes roll back into her head at the added sensation, her own tongue readily massaging her lover's back, earning another mewl.

The sound had her lower belly burning with desire, the day's toll finally breaking down on her. She had been desperate for release since this morning when they had skipped out of the house before doing anything. And now was the time to get it over with before she would explode.

Emma missed Regina's next kiss as she turned her head to the side to speak, the older woman's tongue awkwardly ramming into her cheek.

"Touch me…" she whispered, kissing the brunette's cheek before going back in for another kiss.

And like clockwork, Regina had abided her simple request, hands falling down the blonde's sides in a teasing manner. Emma's breath hitched anxiously, her hips gently bucking forward once again. She could already feel the brunette's fingers touching her, inside and out.

"Unf… please…" Emma murmured against the brunette's lips. She bit Regina's lower lip between her teeth and tugged slightly, the older woman's fingers sliding between them as they found the hem of her fluffy pajamas.

Regina chuckled softly over something unknown to the blonde, but she didn't care. She was so close to her throbbing center, nothing else mattered. Emma hummed anxiously, her legs parting slightly as the brunette's olive fingers disappeared into her pants, finding her moist core through damp panties.

"Nn… Yes!" Emma gasped, her bum slightly rising off the couch as she tried to meet her lover's fingers. Pleasure spiked her body, taking over every nerve as the brunette had fingered her clit, the digit thrumming against the sensitive bud at a pace that had Emma's head almost exploding.

"Mm, like that?" Regina purred against the blonde's cheek, nipping softly at her delicate flesh before licking over it entirely.

"Y-y-yes!" Emma squeaked softly, her hips moving against the hand that pleased her, trying to find a quick release to her pent-up frustration. "More… Please. More. I need to-"

"Anything for you, dear." The brunette's voice had taken an incredibly husky tone as her lips sought out Emma's pale neck. Her fingers had stopped their torment to the bud and slid down the slick flesh to find her entrance. She teased it with a finger that had the blonde squirming, pleading for more. Her cries were an echo in the large room which had only grown louder when Regina had carefully slid two digits into her.

"You're so beautiful when you're in pleasure…" Regina whispered, head raising to capture Emma's lips once again in a heated kiss. Her fingers had pumped deep into her, the pace of them matched the one she had set with each stroke of her tongue, something both teasing and pleasing that had Emma almost on the edge of the couch.

"O-Oh, Gina!" Her cry was muffled by the brunette's mouth, her entire body tensing as she neared the wonderful release she had been yearning for. She craved to find it, her hips matching in time with the brunette's thrusts until she had exploded. Emma gave a short cry, her peak hitting her hard as her fingers dug into the older woman's sides.

"There you go…" Regina smirked, pulling away from the blonde's lips as her fingers slowly moved within the blonde's spasming body.

Emma gasped, still clutching to Regina as she slowly came down from her climax. It was a beautiful thing seeing the brunette's smiling face as she opened her eyes, soft chocolate staring right back at her.

"I hope that was satisfactory." Regina hummed lightly, pulling her fingers from the blonde and her hand out of those fluffy pants. She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Emma's red, swollen lips.

"It was…" The blonde tried to catch her breath and nodded. "We've got to take it slow some day."

"Don't worry, angel, we will." Regina chuckled softly, using the back of her knuckles to caress Emma's cheek. "But, currently, I have to finish up with these assignments. It's getting rather late and I don't think we want to be too tired in the morning."

"Of course not." Emma shook her head and watched as the brunette shifted to sit beside her. Regina fixed her glasses, which had become askew at some point, and snatched up the notebook that she had abandoned before their short session.

Emma looked at the older woman who had went straight back to reading the paper and frowned. She didn't seem to pay any mind to the blonde, nor what they had just done. Or more so what Regina had just done. Emma wasn't able to please her and that was rather bothersome. She always enjoyed giving something back to the older woman.

Shifting slightly, the blonde brought a leg up under herself and leaned closer to the brunette. Regina slid closer to the blonde, allowing Emma's hand to wrap around her shoulders, but made no other move. Emma frowned again.

"Gina-"

"You never answered me on what this was." Regina glanced up, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. "This isn't your vacation. It's… It's porn."

"It's not porn." Emma huffed softly, eyes falling on the paper. She smirked at the scene that Regina was currently reading. The blonde had decided to take a different spin to the winter break story. She had blocked everything else that happened out into vague paragraphs before describing her time at Regina's. She wrote in detail what they had done, to whatever extent that she could remember, though with characters that she had made up to portray the two of them so it would have been less awkward. She figured that the teacher would get a kick out of it, but she looked less than amused at the moment.

"Then what do you call describing sexual activity in writing?" Regina glanced up.

"What happened is true," she shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

"It's quite inappropriate, Emma. That's the deal." The brunette teacher lifted the notebook. "You… you described what happened on Christmas."

"I'm sorry." Emma quickly murmured. "If it makes you feel uncomfortable… I just thought I would do this, using the pseudo names for us. It would be different since you already know how I spent my winter break."

"It's…" Regina nibbled on her lower lip as Emma quirked a brow. "It's very interesting."

"Is it hot?" The blonde smirked, kissing Regina's cheek. "Are you getting, dare I say, aroused?"

"Even more than I already was, dear," the brunette breathed, lips parting.

"Why don't you continue to read it?" Emma whispered, laying her head on the brunette's shoulder. Her hand rest on the brunette's lap, next to the notebook that she still held.

"I can't read this out loud…" Regina mumbled, staring at Emma with incredulous eyes.

"Then read it in your head." A pale hand inched its way under the fluffy panda pants, soon finding- to Emma's suspicions- Regina's soaked folds.

A soft moan tumbled from the brunette's mouth as the blonde teasingly ran her fingers along the slick flesh, dipping occasionally between lips.

"Oh, Emma," Regina's hips shifted, grinding against her hand.

"Read," the blonde quietly instructed and she nodded, whisky eyes focused on the words that Emma had written. The younger woman smirked, head still on the brunette's shoulder as she read along with her, fingers parting her folds to seek out the delicate bud of nerves.

Regina nearly cried out when Emma had found it, breaking her concentration on the reading for but a moment before she went back, two of her digits circling Regina's clitoris in tight motions.

"I-I don't think I can concentrate, dear," Regina moaned, hips bucking up against Emma's and as she continued with her movements.

"That's fine," Emma purred, making her rubs faster until Regina's moans were filling the void air, her breathing hard and ragged.

Emma smiled absently, watching the myriad of pleasured expression cross over her lover's face. She looked absolutely gorgeous when she was in pleasure. Watching Regina was something that the blonde had always fancied. She enjoyed the several expressions that the brunette had made, and not a one of them ever made her look ugly. Regina was all around perfect and Emma was absolutely lucky that she had her. Regina was hers and she was Regina's.

It was so perfect.

"Emma!" Regina's shrill cry echoed through the room and Emma smirked, her pace still going steady as the older woman had achieved orgasm. Her body shook and her hips ceased their movements as she rode it out with the blonde's help. Emma held Regina close to her, fingers slowing their pace now as the brunette had slowly fallen from her high. Her breath was shallow as she laid against Emma, her body shuddering still with the aftermath of her pleasurable flight.

Emma quickly slipped her hand out of the older woman's bottoms and sat there for a moment, holding Regina's shaking frame close to her. She smiled. She was definitely lucky. She brought this perfect woman to a beautiful release. It was something not many people could have the pleasure of doing.

"Recreating porn." Emma whispered, giving the older woman a squeeze.

"We created new porn, dear." Regina chuckled, closing the notebook before she slowly pulled away from Emma. The teacher leaned forward to grab another paper and brought it back with her. "Now, I must get these finished."

"I know," she mumbled, retrieving Belle's and Killina's assignments to continue reading. "At least you can do it more comfortably."

"Indeed," Regina chuckled, shifting into a new position as she began to read through the newest paper in hand.

---

The month of January had been rather mundane. Each day felt the same and all Emma had wished to do was get through each day of school. She was about ready to cry out in frustration. She wanted to get the hell out of high school. She wanted it over with.

Regina and her friends were the only things that were making school the least bit tolerable. But each day blurred together as she neared the end of the school year. Her time with Regina seemed to be the only thing that really made it all better. If she were without that woman, this time would be just as it was last year. It would be a day where she'd wake up only to want to go back to sleep for the next day to come.

That's all she wanted to do. She just wanted to sleep the days away. She wanted the last day of school to come. She wanted to graduate from Storybrooke High and get the hell away. The only things she'd really miss about this little town would be her friends and foster parents.

Regina was coming with her. She would lock that woman up in a suitcase if need be. The only skepticism she had about moving to Boston with the teacher was about living situations. She wasn't sure if what life would have been like if the two of them were to live together. Before the month of January, she had only spent little time with the brunette. She wasn't aware of what it might be like to live in a daily routine with the woman.

But after this month had ended, she was rather sure that she could handle living with Regina in any type of living situation. Hell, she couldn't imagine living anywhere else without her. After the month's end, she wasn't sure what life was like without spending it day in and day out with Regina.

It was impossible to imagine, and that was why she had told Mary Margaret that she was happy in her current living situation. Her foster mother was rather let down at this news when she had told her. Of course, Emma had felt rather guilty about this. The Nolans had taken care of her for three and a half years, after all. Which was why she had agreed to visit them often, to check in and whatnot.

It wasn't exactly a tedious task, but Emma knew that she'd have to remember to do so. That wasn't exactly something in her mindset, though. Keeping in contact with people was her weak point. She had troubles remembering to talk to people when they tell her to keep in contact, especially when she would be getting distracted. Something like Boston.

That's why Emma had told all of this to Regina. The woman had a better sense than she when it came to these type of things. The brunette was supposed to remind her to visit her foster parents from time to time, thought she normally would have just dropped Emma off at the Nolans' apartment after a school day. It was the easiest way for them deal with the situation and it quite helped Emma.

She had visited them at least twice a week and she occasionally had stayed over on the weekends. It was hell for her to get away from Regina, but once she had clicked back into the family life with David and Mary Margaret, it hadn't been so bad. She loved all three of them dearly and would do anything to keep them all happy.

Today was supposed to have been one of those days that she would go visit the Nolans. It was the first of February and normally she would have gone straight over after school, but she had different plans.

Plans that Regina had known since the day had actually evolved around her.

It was Regina's birthday. Her thirty-eighth birthday, to be precise.

Emma wanted to spend the full day with the older woman and that's just how they were going to have it. She had already told her foster parents that she couldn't make it over today since there was special plans for someone's birthday. She was thankful that they didn't argue over the subject, though she had bargained to spend tomorrow with them instead anyways. That made all happy and she had succeeded in her job.

Emma didn't necessarily have too much planned out for Regina's birthday. She was going to play it by ear and wing most of it. Once they would get home, she was going to give Regina her birthday gift, which was rather hard to acquire since the two of them were together almost constantly.

But she had managed to sneak out one day while the brunette was napping and nab a gift from the store that she had seen a while back. It had made her think of Regina, and she hoped that the brunette would enjoy it, or else she would have screwed up big time.

After giving Regina her birthday gift, Emma had planned on making her a special birthday dinner. They had a couple of steaks in the freezer that they hadn't gotten to and she figured, since Regina quite liked steak, that she could use a little technique she had learned from Mary Margaret. It made one delicious, flavorful slab of meat and she wanted to share the juicy meal with her lover.

So, the night before, she had set the meats in the fridge in hopes to thaw them out. For the sides, she had decided to find something stocked up in Regina's cupboards. She wasn't sure what was in there, but she was certain that she could find at least something to make for the brunette.

Emma had bounced out of the car as soon as they had arrived home and ran to the door, leaving a chuckling Regina in her wake. She pulled her copy key to the front door out of her pocket and unlocked it, only to rush inside and upstairs to where the gift await in one of the hall closets.

"Where do you want me, dear?" Regina called out from downstairs as the blonde hurriedly dropped her bag and coat off in the bedroom.

"In the living room is fine!" Emma giggled anxiously, the smile on her face wide as she rushed to the closet in the hallways. She had hoped to hide Regina's gift in one of the closets a while back. She wasn't sure if the brunette would be aware or not of where she had hid it, but Emma had blurted out to the older woman that she had bought her a gift, much to Regina's dismay. She couldn't keep her trap shut long enough to make it a surprise, but so long as Regina hadn't found her gift before today, it still would be somewhat of one.

"I'm coming! Close your eyes!" Emma shouted from the top of the stairs, the bag that held the brunette's gift in hand.

"Alright, dear." She heard Regina's melodical laughter echo from the living room.

Emma had hurriedly made her way down the stairs and to that very room in a matter of moments. Regina was sitting on the couch, eyes closed as she awaited whatever surprise that the blonde had in store for her.

"You can open them!" Emma stood in front of the birthday girl, holding out the bright red gift bag.

"Oh! I've always wanted a bag." Regina smirked, grabbing the bag from her girlfriend.

"Oh, hardy har har." The blonde sneered and sat next to the brunette, watching her through anxious eyes. "Open it!"

"Alright…" Regina chuckled and opened the bag, blinking when she saw nothing but tissue paper. With a soft huff, the brunette picked out a piece of the balled up tissue and tossed it aside, only for the doorbell to ring.

"Seriously?" Emma glared into the foyer. She gave a petulant pout when the brunette stood up, setting the unopened gift down to answer the door.

"I'll be back, dear." She hummed and swiftly left the room, another dingdong from the door sounding.

"Stupid people…" Emma sighed softly, leaning back against the couch. Her eyes slid around the room that she had been in so many times. She wouldn't mind packing up the entire mansion and wheeling it off to Boston. She loved this place. She didn't want to leave it, but that was the price for wanting Regina to come with her.

"Mother? What are you doing here?"

Emma quickly perked up at the sound of Regina's voice. Mother?

Cora was here?

Oh shit.

Emma felt panic begin to rise within her. What was she going to do? Cora couldn't know that she was here and the sound of conversation only grew louder. It was Regina's mother's voice that could be heard the loudest as her daughter seemed to hastily chase after her, begging her not to come into the living room.

Panic had completely seized Emma as she remained frozen in her spot.

She was fucked.

Cora was almost to the sitting room and she couldn't move.

All she could do was sit and watch as the inevitable drew closer.