Words cannot express my gratitude for the follows, favs and awesome reviews I've received. Thank you so much! Here's Ch. 8! It's a bit longer, I just couldn't stop this time.

Her hands went to Emma's face, and she leaned forward, and slightly down because of the heels she hadn't taken off yet, and just barely touched her lips to Emma's.

Time has frozen, or at least slowed down significantly, Emma thought. Is this actually happening? At the contact of Regina's mouth against hers, she felt her heart rate pick up and for a moment, the contact they created was all there was. She was in some kind of dream, and neither woman was sure who made the next move, perhaps they made it together, both innately reaching for more, for all they could receive.

Regina hesitated for only a moment, when Emma stood shocked. And then Regina marveled at the change she felt in Emma, the response. Regina felt Emma's arms move around her waist and pull her closer, not forcing, but guiding. Regina took the action as an approval and blindly reached for counter space, anything, to put the wine and glass she was still holding down. When she finally got rid of them, her hands went to Emma's face, and then to the golden locks that so often caught her attention. It was still like silk between her fingers.

At the sound of Henry's footsteps coming down the stairs, Regina regretfully pulled away, but with Emma still in such close proximity, their foreheads touched and Regina finally opened her eyes and brought them to Emma's. They looked at each other, a variety of emotions across both of their faces, chests lifting from the breathing neither one could really slow down. Suddenly Regina felt incredibly awkward.

I basically just forced myself on her, I don't even know if she likes women. As per usual, Regina's thoughts were interrupted by Emma who clearly wasn't thinking coherently yet, when all she said was, "Whoa…".

At the smile that started to break through Emma's reserve, Regina could tell Emma had felt whatever she had just felt too. And then, Henry entered the kitchen and both women pushed apart at lightning speed. Thankfully, Henry had only been half paying attention and didn't notice Emma staring at the floor or the growing red across Regina's cheeks.

"Ready to play Mario Kart, Emma?" He asked, finally looking up.

Get your head out of the clouds, Swan, Emma told herself. "For sure, let's go!" Emma silently prayed for an ice cold shower and a pint of beer, but since neither were available, she made her way out of the kitchen, but not without a glance at Regina and an absentminded touch at her still-tingling lips. She observed that Regina's colouring seemed to be returning to normal, but Emma could tell her breathing had yet to completely calm down. We should talk about that. We really should, she thought. But, fuck…I want to do it again.

As Emma and Henry left the kitchen, Regina promptly grabbed the wine bottle she had set down, poured a full glass, chugged it, and rubbed the cold glass of the bottle against her still hot chest. That shouldn't have happened, she thought, completely inappropriate, and yet completely irresistible. Damn it.

Regina got to the absentminded task of making dinner, the chopping, dicing, and preparing thoughtless work, which allowed her a lot of time to think about what had just occurred. When she poured herself another glass of wine, this time to enjoy slowly, she remembered that Emma had not actually said if she wanted any. Or if she had, Regina couldn't remember. She had become a little preoccupied. With the burners on low, and most of the prep work finished, Regina took an empty glass and the half-full bottle with her as she walked into the living room where she could hear enthusiastic cries of simultaneous glee and horror from both parties.

Rather than interrupt mid-race, Regina watched from the doorway. She loved the way Henry tried to sit still but as he got excited he would jump up off the couch, and then return to sitting when he needed to focus again. Emma on the other hand, she observed, sat back against the cushions and appeared to easily be holding first place with a relaxed look on her face. Regina rolled her eyes in jest; Of course she's practically a professional, she thought. Why am I not surprised?

She found herself staring at the picture the two of them created, and how she must appear in the doorway. They almost looked like a family. Or at least, more like any family Regina had ever been a part of, except for maybe when her father was alive, though all she had of that relationship were photographed memories. She wondered if the three of them looked as happy as she did in the photographs of her family before she lost her father. She could easily see that Emma and Henry were becoming increasingly comfortable in each other's company. And if the little scene in the kitchen was any depiction, she and Emma were also becoming comfortable with each other. Ugh, the way her arms felt when she pulled me closer…and she didn't grope or anything…it was like all she needed to do was kiss me…it's true all she-

"Regina?...Regina?" Henry called to her from the living room, the 2nd place glaring at him accusingly from the television. She snapped out of it to hear his question. "Is it time for dinner?"

"Just about," she responded. She glanced at Emma, who was looking at her with a smile in her eyes that seemed to say, yeah, I went back there too. "I was just going to get us some drinks. Henry would you mind setting the table?"

They sat for dinner and Regina laughed at Henry, who barely chewed while simultaneously saying how much he was enjoying the food. Regina smiled, but scolded him for eating so impolitely, and spun pasta neatly around her fork. She and Emma had been avoiding eye-contact, but Regina knew from the way they both were engaging Henry in conversation, they both needed to process what had happened, and she was fine with that. Maybe Emma would decide she didn't want anything like that to happen again. Maybe she hadn't enjoyed it, or wasn't really into women and that was why she had been avoiding it.

This inner commentary, and all of the options she could think of, stayed with Regina all through the rest of dinner, and while Emma and Henry did the dishes. She made coffee, and hot chocolate for Henry. After he went upstairs to his room, and she and Emma had returned to their professional relationship which involved discussing the party and when Emma should arrive, Emma left and Regina made her way back into her living room where she sank down onto the couch. This is why I've spent so much time alone, I don't do well with…these situations. The muffled beep of her phone from within her purse made Regina get up and stop her wallowing. What did I forget to do at work? It can't be that pressing-

She was surprised to see a text from Emma.

So…I know we need to talk and be responsible and do all the adult things that go along with what happened between us before dinner…but before we do that I think you should know…that was fucking amazing. Goodnight, Regina, sleep well. I'll see you at the party.

She smiled and found herself responding within the minute.

I'll forgive the profanity for now because I must agree. Goodnight, Emma. See you then.

Emma had gladly taken Henry on the crisp October morning of the party, and with her gift hidden in the glove box, had needed to find things to preoccupy him with while Regina prepared the house and the guests arrived. Emma wasn't surprised at the amount of planning Regina had put into this, and was happy for it. She was sure that had the party been her job, it wouldn't have been nearly as well executed. Since Regina had forbidden locations where Henry would recognize that people were missing, she and Henry had gone to the dog park, and the batting cages, and the pound.

It was 11:58 and they were supposed to be back at the house at 12, so Emma sent a quick text, in the code Regina had dictated, in case Henry sees one of our phones!, and they made their way up the walkway. Though Emma knew she really wanted to talk to Regina and everything since the kiss had been friendly, but formal, she also knew that the conversation could wait. Today was Henry's day. He was talking about how in his third house there had been a dog when he opened the door to a huge gathering of what appeared to be nearly everyone from town, capitalized by the entire group yelling "Surprise!" Emma noted Granny and Ruby smiling at him, Bryce with his family, even the Johnsons and Miss Blanchard from school.

Emma was certain she had never seen such a clear depiction of confusion turned to joy so quickly. She was overjoyed at the welcoming he had received in this town, and she knew that Regina was a huge part of that. And with that, she knew that his influence on her was contributing to the town's acceptance of the quiet woman who lived alone in her huge mansion. Emma could see that the two of them were changing each other for the better, and though they were still starting out, Emma felt a single tear fall at the joyful expression Henry was carrying while shaking everyone's hands. She looked up from Henry and noticed that her eyes met Regina's also watering eyes. Somehow, we always end up doing this. Looking at one another and only seeing one another in a room of so many other people. Emma smiled at her and knew she needed no words, because in this moment, none of the tension from the kiss mattered.

The festivities from the party saw them into the evening, and when eventually all of the guests had left after Regina's insistence that she didn't need help cleaning, Regina had begun to gather the many glasses, plates, and garbage left from the party. Her stomach felt heavy from the various party foods and chocolate cake (naturally) that she had made for him. Days like today are what make this house feel like a home, she thought.

As she gathered, she noticed that Henry had grabbed a garbage bag and was collecting anything that he could to assist in the cleaning, and Emma, who had ignored Regina's insisting, was also helping. She remembered that Henry had yet to go upstairs, and as such, had yet to receive her gift to him for his twelfth birthday.

"Henry, I think you need to put that garbage bag down." She had used her best stern voice.

He looked at her inquisitively. "It will be done faster if I help out," he said.

"You haven't opened all of your gifts yet." She said. She watched the shock come across his face.

"…But you did this whole party. I don't need any more gifts. Honestly I don't." She could tell he was being genuine, which broke her heart a tiny bit. How many twelve year old boys said oh hey, don't worry about it when offered more? Ones like Henry, she thought.

She walked to him and got to his level, which she noted, would soon be at her own level if she wasn't wearing heels.

"This is something I want to give you, and the best response you could give me is a thank you, okay? Please, please come upstairs and see it." With her urging, he went upstairs with her and Emma followed, too curious to wait downstairs.

"Oh!" Emma said, "My gift is in the car. I almost forgot it completely. Let me go get it, okay, kid? I'll give you and Regina a moment." As she sprinted back down the stairs, Regina told Henry to enter his room. He walked in and was completely taken aback.

Before him was an art set in tiers arranged on his desk so he could see everything. It had paints, pencils, canvases, and even a digital pen for technological editing or drawing straight onto a computer (or at least that was what he thought it was for). He had never fathomed anything like this could even exist, never mind be something taking up the entire desk. Regina's speaking brought him back.

"I have a confession to make, Henry. I know you are an artist. I saw some of your work. But I think you should have the proper tools and I think you will be able to do some amazing things. I'm not entirely sure, but I see the way you look at the world, Henry, and I think art makes you happy. And what I want more than anything is for you to be happy. What do you think?"

He finally walked up to some of the tools, and touched them, feeling them beneath his hands. These supplies were opportunities in his fingertips; he could create anything. It was kind of scary. He turned to look at Regina.

"It's too much…it's amazing. Thank you. Thank you so much." he looked like he needed to sit down, so Regina decided to get the rest out as quickly as she could.

"There's one more thing." She pulled the wrapped gift that Henry hadn't noticed among the art supplies and waved him towards her to sit beside her on the edge of his bed. "Open it!" This was the gift she felt most nervous about.

Henry opened it and what he saw before him was a thick leather bound book. He started to flip through it, but was confused when he saw words and almost blank pages. He looked at Regina silently asking now what?

"Henry, one of my favourite things to read growing up was fairy tales. I had one book in particular that I loved. The only problem with it was that it didn't have any pictures. So I took the text from that book," she gestured to the blank pages as Henry started to realize what was going on, "and put them into something new. Henry, you don't have to, but I'm hoping you'll fill these pages with all of the characters you can dream up. I hope you read these stories and are as inspired by them as I was, especially since you have much more artistic talent than I ever did."

Henry looked to Regina and gently flipped through the book and knew that this was not a project he would take lightly. He vowed to cherish and protect this gift with everything he had, it was the best birthday gift he had ever received.

Noticing Emma in the doorway, Regina stood up and invited her in to the room. She held out a flimsy bag with a card. He stroked the leather bound book of fairy tales and set it back on his desk to open Emma's gift.

Inside it was a classic sketch book filled with blank, thick, unlined pages and a charcoal pencil. He looked at the card, which had a funny poem that made him laugh, and the inscription,

Happy 12th Birthday, Henry!

You're still awful at Mario Kart.

-Emma

He smirked at that, and Regina couldn't help but think of how it reminded her of another familiar person's smirk. Then, he was surprised again.

Taped to the bottom of the card was a voucher for the AGOS; the Art Gallery of Storybrooke, which was good for 6 Sessions of Introduction to Drawing, Saturdays 10am.

"It's important for you to meet some more people around town. Regina and I know you are interested in drawing, so I figured, why not get a little bit of professional help? If you hate it, we can see about refunding them, but all you need is that sketchbook and pencil for this class. There's a bunch, and a lot of ages in there too, the instructor said. They teach you a bunch of techniques." Emma sincerely hoped he liked it.

The women looked at him and neither expected to see tears in his eyes.

"Emma…Regina… this is the best birthday I've ever had. I won't let you down, and thank you."

Regina wanted nothing more than to embrace him, but she remembered again that she needed to let Henry initiate that kind of contact. She decided she could let him start experimenting with his new things and forbade him from coming to help her clean up. Once again, Emma was more stubborn than she, and so, Regina had assistance cleaning.

"That art set you got him is really beautiful, Regina. I can't wait to see what he does with it." Emma started.

"Well now, he'll know what to do with it, thanks to your gift. Really, Emma, that was a great idea. I'm almost disappointed I didn't think of it myself." She smiled.

They got into a groove of productive cleaning and neither felt the need to break the comfort by talking about the one thing they didn't want to talk about.

Emma was finding it increasingly difficult to not look at Regina's legs in the dress and heels she was still wearing, and was intently focused on cutlery she was carrying when her avoidance of Regina had her walking straight into something…Regina. Fuck.

"Sorry! Sorry I wasn't paying attention." Neither woman moved from their now close proximity, the proximity they both had been avoiding for days, that reminded them so much of before.

"No, it was my fault, I was distracted," Regina said.

"Regina- I know-… I feel like…"

"You have a way with words, Miss Swan." Regina teased. Emma put down the variety of items she had been struggling to carry and looked directly into the brown eyes that had the simultaneous ability to calm her and make her heart race.

"I can't stop thinking about that kiss Regina. I don't know what it meant, but I know how it made me feel." There, I said it, Emma thought…now what?

"It seems we feel the same way, Emma. To be honest with you it's been just about all I've thought of for days. I want to be honest with you though," Regina started.

And here comes the end, Emma thought, it always starts this way.

"As much as I enjoyed it, and trust me, I really did, I don't want to jeopardize my growing relationship with Henry, or your growing relationship with him."

"I know exactly what you mean." Emma said quickly. I just need to get out of here as soon as possible, keep this quick, (almost) painless, and professional.

"The thing is Emma, I've been thinking a lot. And I don't necessarily see why we can't get to know each other better, as long as we maintain that our relationships with Henry are separate from…this one. We're both mature, consenting adults. As far as I know we're both single. Maybe we'll go out on a date and find that really, we're better suited as friends."

Emma laughed at that internally. She'd been attracted to Regina from the first moment and the more she learned about her the more she liked. But she kept listening.

"I don't know, Emma, and you can feel free to say you hate the idea. I just know I'm the type of person that might find myself wondering 'what if' if I don't pursue this and if I don't at least attempt to pursue…you."

Emma smiled as she looked down and could hardly believe the words coming out of her mouth. It could be simple, it didn't have to be complicated.

"Regina Mills, will you go out with me?"

Regina smiled. "We live in a small town, dear. Unless we want Granny planning our wedding, we should probably stay in."

Emma felt light, and happier than she had in a long time, and so she countered back to Regina, "Regina Mills, will you stay in with me?"