Emma walked into the bedroom with a cup of coffee for her love. Regina was lying on the bed, head in hand, thankful for the support the blonde had showed her.

"Here beautiful, this should help," Emma handed the cup to her as Regina sat up.

"Thank you," Regina smiled and took a sip

Emma began to rub Regina's back and the woman closed her eyes and melted into the blonde's touch.

"So, I have to be honest I do have some questions about all of this."

"Well I owe you. Whatever you want to know just ask."

"You said you have been sober for six years…"

"Yes I have."

"When did you start drinking?"

"When I first moved to Seattle with Mal. She was a drinker; a very heavy one at that. If there was a reason to celebrate we drank. A reason to be upset we drank. If felt ourselves becoming angry we drank. You name an emotion, an occasion, or a problem and the solution was always drinking. I never abused it the way she did though when we were together. I was always the one taking care of her. I would drink enough to take the edge off. She on the other hand would get completely wasted."

Regina paused and took a sip of her coffee.

"When she left I didn't drink because she wasn't there giving it to me. I went through culinary school and began working at La Pomme…then I started going out with co workers. I found myself unable to approach women. Like I told you people say I come across as a bitch," Regina shook her head, "so I would have a few drinks to loosen up. I'd always end up with a woman to go home with. We would spend the night together and the next morning I would realize that there was nothing there."

Emma felt a pang of jealousy at the realization of how many woman Regina probably had slept with but brushed it off because it wasn't about that right now.

"After awhile that scene grew tiring and I found myself staying at home drinking alone. That is when it became dangerous. I would black out and wake up the next day not even remembering the events of the night before. One particular Friday night I drank so much that Sunday morning arrived and I woke up to Hugh, my doorman, in my town home with a police officer. I had been considered a missing person because I hadn't shown up to work on Saturday and nobody had seen or heard from me for over twenty four hours." Emma saw a single tear drop fall down the fragile woman's cheek. "I was taken to the hospital and then I checked into a rehab facility. It was a tough journey but I sobered up and I have been sober since."

"Oh babe…" Emma wrapped her arms around the delicate woman and held her tight. "I am so proud of you. You are so unbelievably strong."

"But I'm not. I have one fight with you and I fall? That isn't strong."

"Yes you are…it's just that our love is stronger. Can't you see that? Our love is so strong that the thought of losing it was so devastating you didn't feel a reason to stay strong anymore."

Regina looked deep into blue green eyes and felt the words that she just heard in her soul. Emma was right. Their love was stronger. It was stronger than anything she had ever felt before.

"I love you Emma. I'm sorry that I didn't you tell in the beginning. I'm sorry that I put us through this."

"Shh. Don't apologize. All I need to know is that you are here with me now. I need to know that you are going to stay strong. I need to know that you are going to keep fighting for us no matter how hard things get because I can promise you that no matter what I will never stop fighting for you."

Regina felt like the world was spinning. She had never felt such raw emotion before. She had never felt anything so real. She pulled Emma into her by the back of her neck and gazed into her eyes, their lips close enough to touch, and breathing as one.

"I promise."

…

Emma had wanted to take a personal day from work the next day but Regina insisted that she was okay and that Emma should go and make sure Henry was okay. Regina promised she would go meet up with her AA peer that she hadn't spoken to in quite awhile and check in.

Emma walked into class about a half hour before school started and was surprised to see Henry there.

"Hey kid, you are early today…" Emma said as she tossed her briefcase on the desk and began to open the shades.

"Yeah, I hope its okay?"

"No problem at all. Any reason?"

"No."

Emma nodded, "Okay cool. Well, while you are here mind helping me set these books out?" She pointed to the stack on the ledge under the windows and Henry got up and walked towards them.

"Why are you here early?" the boy asked as he started setting the books down on the desks.

"I'm the teacher kid it's my job," Emma laughed.

"Right."

"So, want a ride today after school?"

"Sure…since you're obviously so lonely all the time…" Henry laughed.

Yes, finally some kind of interaction!

"You know me I have nothing better to do," Emma smiled at him.