It had been 3 days and 6 hours since Emma had seen or heard from Regina. After that night they had fallen asleep and Regina had left when Emma woke up.

Emma had tried texting and calling and even went to the Mills manor once but Regina was nowhere to be found.

Emma was sitting at her Sheriffs desk flicking through last week's newspaper when her phone vibrated in her pocket, it as Regina.

Sorry I haven't replied or answered lately, I've had to do... some me things.

Emma was a little confused with the message but she smiled because Regina was actually talking to her. Emma replied as quickly as she could

You things? Care to share?

Honestly no

Emma felt a little sad at that

Oh okay :/ you alright?

I meant texting, I want to talk to you face to face. Tonight my place 7 o'clock. Henry will be at Kathryn's.

Okay see you then c:

The rest of the day couldn't go any slower.
Emma had gotten off of work at 5 and went back home. She had dinner with Snow and Charming, mum and dad, then rushed off to get ready. Now she was driving to Regina's.

...

6:57pm and Emma had just pulled up outside the Mills manor.
She got out of the car and walked to the front door, but didn't knock... she waited until her phone said 7 o'clock. Then she knocked.

After about a minute Regina answered the door. She was wearing the most beautiful back dress that went just past her knees and hugged her in all the right places.
Neither Emma nor Regina said anything; Regina just opened the door more and waited for Emma to come in. After Emma stepped inside Regina closed the door and walked towards the back door, Emma followed.

Finally when Emma stepped outside Regina spoke. "Hi" that was it, her smile was too cute to care though. Emma smiled back, then looked around noticing the deck was candle lit and there were two place settings on the table.

"This is beautiful."

Regina just nodded and gestured towards the chair opposite the one she was now sitting in, Emma sat slowly as she looked at Regina.

"You're being really quiet, it's weird."

Regina smiled then sighed. "What I have to say, it's something I've only ever said once before and that didn't end well. It's scary." Emma moved her chair closer to Regina's and took the olive skinned hand in hers "It's okay. Unless you're breaking up with me, in which case... Why?"

Regina smiled at that comment then she looked down to her fingers that were laced with Emma's.
"No not that, this is a good thing." Regina looked back to Emma and smiled.

Regina's voice was almost a whisper. "I love you." Emma's smile reached her ears, maybe even further.

"I love you to, Regina."

Regina darted up to her feet and walked to the door. "Want some dinner?"
Emma shook her head. "I actually ate before I came, but I always up for desert." Emma didn't think about that last part until she saw Regina's smile drop into a scowl.

"No! I meant oh my god, no... I actually meant desert." Regina laughed at that, well no she was laughing at Emma's face. Priceless.

"Ice cream okay?" Regina didn't wait for an answer, she already knew what Emma would say.

Regina finally came back from the kitchen with two bowls of ice cream and a bottle of vodka?

"I see you're eyeing off the vodka, want some?" Regina walked straight past the table, down the steps to the grass then to the apple tree that had a picnic rug and pillows under it, Emma soon followed and sat beside Regina. Regina just smiled and handed her the vodka.

"I thought we could retry that picnic, but this time... Without Henry in the back of your bug." Emma smiled as she opened the vodka

"Good idea."

Emma and Regina talked long into the night, learning things about each other they didn't even think to ask about. Soon they were talking slowly as they were on their backs looking up are the stars... Hands laced together and heads inches apart.

"You know, When I was 14 I got into a fight because another girl said Snow-White was the fairest of them all... I was punching her and telling her she should think about the Queen's feelings."
Regina burst into laughter that lasted a good 5 minutes. Regina finally stopped laughing and spoke

"You did not."

Emma turned on her side and look Regina right in the eyes. "I did, and I meant it."

Regina smiled for a while then moved her hand to stroke Emma's face.
Regina was really lucky, not even Daniel treated her with so much love and care. It kinda scared Regina that after all the years after all this hate; the one person that was going to ruin her life was the one making it worthwhile. "Really?"

Emma chuckled then kissed Regina's forehead. "Really. Turns out though, Disney lied about everything... It was never about who was the fairest of them all." Emma paused for a moment and gave Regina a quick once over. "But I still think you win 'fairest of them all' and I know I'm not your wonderful mirror but it's not a lie." Regina laughed at that

"I think my mirror is a little crazy himself so I'll take your word for it."
And with that Emma rolled back onto her back and took Regina's hand in hers once again.

It wasn't long before both women were asleep.