A/N: Hello everyone! I realize I'm not very consistent with my posting, lolfail. I kind of just post chapters as I can, and I hope everyone is okay with that! Sorry this is so late, though, as my wife and I have both been extraordinarily ill D: Thank you again for your kind words and favorites/follows! Love to you all, you make me keep chugging through! I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of the characters, but I do own this little story, and hope you like this chapter!

XX

Several moments passed before the bell rang through the air once more, almost giving Regina and Emma a heart attack as they shot apart. Neither knew how long they had been standing there, simply holding one another, but they both stood awkwardly apart, realizing just how right it had felt. Regina quickly unlocked the door and moved to her desk, Emma to hers, and both women made the appearance of looking busy. Students filed in and even Miss Mills seemed to preoccupied to argue against the buzzing sound of voices happy to be finished with high school. She simply allowed the class to talk, albeit quietly, and as other students gave each other hugs and congratulatory high fives Emma could not help but to let her eyes wander to her teacher. Their eyes met, locking hard, and Emma felt as if the air were sucked completely from her lungs. She blinked once, twice, before looking away, praying that the bell would ring soon, ironic considering how angry she had been when it had caused to have to part from the brunette's arms.

What the hell is going on with me? I mean, I know Miss Mills is hot, and smart, and just all around perfect, but I sound like a love struck preteen.

Emma mentally chastised herself as an embarrassed blush swept across her face and she tentatively looked at Regina once more. The brunette simply gave her a soft smile, her eyes slightly darker then usual with a perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised.

Oh shit, Emma thought to herself, how terrible would it be if she could read my mind right now?

Almost as if on cue, Regina let out a quiet, almost imperceptible snort, and Emma's blush only grew. Steadying herself against her desk, Emma pulled her phone out of her pocket, shooting Ruby a quick text.

Em: Hey, Rubes. Coming by after school, make time?

Almost immediately, Ruby's response, a quick "of course", made Emma's phone vibrate, and she smiled to herself, thankful to have such amazing friends in her life. Fifteen minutes until the bell, Regina Mills did something that had everyone's mouths dropping to the floor. Standing up and clearing her throat, her regality demanded attention, and the class suddenly became so entranced in her words that nothing else could be heard.

"Class, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you all that it has been a pleasure to teach you this semester. Some, more then others," a quiet giggle spread across the room, and Emma swore her teacher had winked at her, "but a pleasure, nonetheless. I am proud that each and every one of you has made in through high school, through this class, and I hope the best for all of you in your future. Now, the bell rings in ten minutes. Let's leave early, shall we?"

Laughter and clapping boomed through the room, followed quickly by the scraping of many chairs and the pounding of feet as her seniors left the room. Emma was the last to go, moving up to Regina's desk.

"Miss Swan, about this summer, I expect you at my house bright and early tomorrow morning."

Emma nodded fervently. Regina's words had not been unkind, but she seemed quite a bit more detached then she had been a mere hour and a half prior, and Emma would be lying if she said she were not confused.

"Yes, ma'am. I will see you tomorrow, then."

Regina looked quickly up at Emma before looking away and nodding once. Emma cleared her throat, grinning, and held out a hand for Miss Mills.

"Shall we go, then?"

Regina could not stop the smile that spread across her face, lighting up the room and dazzling Emma, who had never seen the woman smile so beautifully. She seemed so happy in that moment, and Emma vowed to herself to ensure that no matter what she always brought out that smile in the brunette. After turning off her lights and locking the door, the two women made their way out of the stifling school, out into the fresh summer air, inhaling deeply. Emma, true to form, walked Regina to her car, and almost without thinking, Regina offered her a ride. Somewhat taken aback, Emma smiled gratefully, but declined, informing her teacher that she'd be walking over to Granny's, and it was such a beautiful day that she'd rather walk, but she appreciated it all the same. Regina nodded, an almost miserable expression on her face, and Emma didn't think when she put her hand atop her teacher's, rubbing circles on the back of Regina's hand with her thumb.

"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Eight a.m. Sound like a plan?"

Regina smiled, again, before nodding.

"Yes, Miss Swan, but do not be late."

Emma nodded and grinned sheepishly before racing off to Granny's, catching up with Belle just as she walked through the room and headed over to their favorite booth. Ruby grinned at both of them, her long dark hair pulled back in a loose ponytail and her trademark bright red lipstick adorning her face. Hollering at Granny that she would be taking fifteen, she narrowly dodged the elderly woman, who snapped a dish towel towards her before rushing over to sit by her girlfriend and pressing a fast kiss to her forehead.

"How are my two favorite graduates," Ruby asked, pride dripping from her voice. Both Belle and Emma blushed, Emma rolling her eyes and Belle stifling a giggle. Ruby grinned wolfishly, enjoying the spectacle of her still-young friends.

"You know how it was, Rubes, just excited to be done. I'd be excited for summer, too, but it appears my entire summer will be taken up as restitution for my crimes against Miss Mills." Emma sighed, putting her head down. She wasn't exactly unhappy that she'd be spending so much time with the teacher; on the contrary, that excited her, which, in turn, terrified her. She just wished she'd be able to spend one more summer before college hanging out with her friends at the diner, going swimming, maybe even visiting the city. She would accept her punishment, however, for she knew it was only fair; after all, Regina Mills could have easily had her suspended, or worse, and she would have had to spend yet another year in high school, perhaps even losing the scholarship she had worked so hard to earn. A poke from Ruby sent her yelping, and Belle broke out into a fit of laughter before Emma glared her way.

"Earth to Emma! I said, I'm throwing a party for you two, is next Friday night good?"

Emma's face lit up like a kid at Christmas. Ruby's parties were famous, and she would easily have enough fun in one night to make up for the summer she had already wasted. Emma nodded before Granny started shrieking at Ruby to get back to work, and the brunette grinned, 'see ya later' ushered in quick success before she ran to the backroom of her grandmother's diner to hand out orders to undoubtedly parched customers.

XX

That Tuesday night was like any other, but also held the promise of a new day. Emma realized quickly that she had to explain to her parents about being Miss Mills' 'assistant', so she spent the entire walk home deciding on a lie. Her mind raced, formulating thought after thought about what to say. She could be honest and tell her parents that she had defaced her teacher's property; however, the look of disappointment on their faces would surely affect her negatively. It had been a long while since she had done something to disappoint them, and the look of pride that they tended to wear around her made her realize that she would do everything in her power to ensure never disappointing them again. She hadn't been in a fight in years, and although her other foster parents never much cared, for it was their abuse that caused her to lash out at others, she somehow knew that Mary Margaret and David Nolan were the parents she was always meant to have. At first, accepting such a difficult truth proved to be a daily struggle, but now the ease with which she allowed them to kiss her forehead or comfort her when she was down was startling. Thus, she decided to lie, and although she felt guilty, she argued with herself that a little white lie would be for the best, as it would ensure no harm would come to the sheriff and the elementary teacher waiting for her at home. However, as soon as she walked in the door, the shout of "SURPRISE" made her feel somewhat guiltier. Mary Margaret had cooked her favorite meal, juicy cheeseburgers, thick cut seasoned french fries, and ice cold sweet tea for dinner, and a large, extraordinarily frosted confection of a cake sat in the middle of the table, surrounded by a few small envelopes. A red and white banner hung above the table, proclaiming "We're So Proud of You, Emma!", and the look on her parents faces made her want to cry. Mary Margaret was first to move, racing across the room and pulling Emma into a tight hug, tears falling freely as she fussed with Emma's hair; David, however, was a little more solemn, and as he understood Emma's mistrust of male figures in her life, stemming from her previous experiences, he cautiously moved to stand beside her, his arms open slightly, his lips parted in question. Emma sighed softly and moved to stand in his arms, wrapping lightly around him and smiling when he gently did the same. She was never the touchy type, and her foster parents knew this, but they did everything in their power to make her feel loved and comfortable, proving that they understood her thoughts by allowing her to make her own decisions. Mary Margaret pulled Emma towards the table and the trio sat down to a nice, quiet dinner, and for a moment Emma forgot all about her promise to Miss Mills.