A/N

I'm glad some people worked out that Venustus is Latin for "Charming" even before the reveal!

Also thank you for reviewing the fic, it means a lot!

Short chapter, this one is important.

Enjoy.

Chapter 9 "Unexpected"

Regina and Emma had spent their day exploring Storybrooke. Since Regina had only planned to be here for a short time, she hadn't really taken in any of the scenery besides the pier. She found that the more she looked and explored, the more she fell in love with the little town. But as soon as she allowed herself that, the thought of why she was here in the first place brought her straight back to reality.

"So what are the events exactly?" Emma asked.

Regina looked over to the blonde, brows furrowed in confusion.

"I'm talking about your messages, they always start with an event." Emma explained.

The brunette nodded once, finally understanding what Emma was talking about. She looked down at her feet and offered a shrug of her shoulders, "They're basically just codes that tell us when a new location is being tracked."

"Sounds pretty cool"

Regina smirked, "You're like a child"

"I wouldn't say that if I were you." Emma's brow rose, a wicked smile graced her lips. Regina scoffed and rolled her eyes, her cheeks burning red.

Time seemed to fly by as they spent the day together. They had covered the playground area, the castle, the pier, the library and the forest. Emma told stories of when she was a kid and how she used to run through the forest with a bow and arrow, pretending to shoot bad guys. She joked about how she had hoped that one day it would be of use to her.

Regina hung on every word, completely fascinated by every story. She too shared stories with Emma but they didn't sound nearly as fun. Both women traipsed through the forest, fingers brushed over greenery and brightly coloured plants and flowers.

"For you, my lady"

The brunette's eyes darted over to the blonde stood beside her, holding a bright red tulip in her hand.

"Emma..." Regina started, her eyes flickered from the flower up to the blonde. "This is beautiful."

Emma beamed, feeling very proud of herself for picking such a beautiful flower for such a beautiful woman. She took one step closer to the brunette, chewing her lip nervously, "I know you're here to protect me but you have to admit, there's something here, between us."

"A forest?"

Emma deadpanned. "Very funny, Regina"

The brunette chuckled to herself as she reached out to take Emma's hand. "What are you trying to say?"

"Will you go on a date with me?" Emma asked, hurriedly.

Regina swallowed, her brows drew together. "You want to take me out on a date?"

Not quite the reaction I was looking for, Emma thought. She shifted nervously and then nodded quickly, "Yeah, I do"

"Then, I guess my answer is yes." Regina replied.

Emma's frown was replaced with a triumphant smile and she squeezed Regina's hand before they both continued on along the trail, silence filling the cool, crisp air once more.

"Did you know that a red tulip symbolizes a declaration of love?" Regina stated, nonchalantly.

The blonde peered over at Regina, her face turning pinker by the second, "nope, didn't know that"

Regina glanced over to the blonde, seeing the slightly panicked expression on the woman's face made the whole thing even funnier. She burst out laughing and tugged her closer. "Come on, let's get out of this forest."

"So, Venustus, does your daughter know about your little hideout?" Killian asked, sneering as he attempted to distance himself.

"She doesn't need to know"

"I'm doing you a favor really." Killian started, "If I kill her, she won't really mind that you've been using her as bait, will she?"

"She's not bait, she never was"

"Using your daughter to find The Dark Ones so you can kill them off because of a dodgy deal you made, way back when…" He shook his head, smirking, "She obviously never meant anything to—"

Bang.

Both women made their way down Mifflin Street, the sky was already darkening. Emma looked over to the brunette who was still holding the red tulip she had picked earlier. A smile graced her lips. She hadn't realised that Regina was now looking over at her too.

"I hate this part." Regina half-whispered.

Emma's eyes fell to the ground once more, "Me too"

Regina pushed open the gate to 108 and made her way towards the porch, Emma following behind. Regina stood in front of the front door and then turned to face the blonde. "I had a wonderful day, this morning was pretty intense but other than that…"

"Yeah, well I won't be doing that again." Emma assured.

"I'm glad."

A sad smile graced the blonde's lips, wishing the night didn't need to end but she really did need to get back to reality. Reality being, her parents. "So I will text you with details for our date."

"That's great." Regina beamed, feeling like a teenager all over again. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth, trying to hide her smile. "Sorry, I don't usually get this excited for a date."

Emma's heart melted as she looked at the brunette. She stepped closer to Regina, her hand reached out to wrap around the brunette's waist. "I told you I'd grow on you"

"You did"

They shared a smile before Emma broke the distance and captured Regina's lips in a chaste kiss. It wasn't rushed, it wasn't overtly passionate. It was just right. Regina's hand moved to cup the blonde's cheek, her thumb brushed over fair skin.

It only lasted for a moment but that was all both women needed for now. Emma broke apart from Regina and her arms fell to her sides once more. "I should go" She chewed her lip, anxiously and took a step back. "At least I know you'll be protecting me"

"Always" Regina assured, her face serious.

Emma swallowed, hard. She offered a smile before she turned to walk away.

"By the way," Regina called out, "If you're planning on picking me the right flower for our date, you might want to find out what it means first." She half smiled, her eyes locking onto Emma's as the blonde turned over her shoulder.

"I don't know" Emma shrugged her shoulders and turned back to face the gate, "I think we all know what red roses symbolize, Regina"

Regina's body stilled against her door. Her eyes never left Emma as the blonde walked off down Mifflin street, until she was completely out of view. The brunette replayed Emma's words in her mind.

She finally shifted and opened the front door, slumping against it as soon as it was shut again. "Did she just—" Regina asked herself, her eyes fell to the floor as her mind spun.

A smile finally spread on her lips, her heart beat hard against her chest. "Did she just tell me…she loves me?" She shook her head at the thought.

Regina's eyes darted around the room, replaying Emma's comment over and over again. The smile turned into a laugh. She laughed all the way into the kitchen and that laugh was quick to die down as her eyes caught sight of a large pool of blood on her kitchen floor. She gulped.

The brunette grabbed a knife from the holder and followed the smaller drops of blood, leading in towards her office. The door was shut. Regina crept closer, there were no lights on in there. She took a deep breath as her hand wrapped around the doorknob.

The doorbell rang just as she was about to push the door open. She huffed in annoyance before she rushed into the kitchen and quickly began to throw paper towels onto the pool of blood.

Suddenly her phone began to buzz. She knew exactly who it would be.

DON'T KEEP ME WAITING, REGINA

-VENUSTUS

Regina's brows furrowed in confusion. She re-read the automated text and her eyes shot up to the door as the doorbell rang once more. She threw the extra paper towels down and rushed out to the foyer.

The doorbell rang once more.

"I'm coming!" She practically screeched. Regina skipped the steps and yanked the front door open.

"You have blood on your pants. I'm assuming you found him in your office? Killian?"

Regina froze, her eyes glued to the person before her.

"He found me, so I killed him."

Venustus. This was Venustus.

After all this time, all of the secrecy, the texts and instructions, secret missions, Venustus was stood before her. She took a step forwards, her hand reached over across her chest and she held it there, staring in disbelief. She finally found the words...

"Mary Margaret?"