A/N: As always, I unfortunately do not own OuaT or the characters portrayed in this story (though I truly wish I did) just the story. I hope you lovelies enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts! Also, please recognize that I'm not always able to update this as fast as I'd like to, but that I will see it through to the end, regardless.
XX
A gentle breathing awoke Regina from her slumber, and she immediately noticed two things: one, she was almost completely naked, and two, an also almost completely naked Emma was holding onto her for dear life. She gently caressed the blonde strands of hair and leaned down, planting a light kiss on Emma's temple, which instantly brought a smile to her face. Emma wasn't normally one for being happy first thing in the morning, but the knowledge of just who was holding her so tightly made it the best day of her life thus far, and she refused to let anything ruin the moment. She yawned, sleepily stretching and mumbling a barely recognizable good morning before she leaned up and kissed Regina gently on the cheek.
"We have to get up, Miss Swan."
Emma groaned, propping her head up on her elbow.
"I know, I know...but I don't wanna..."
"Nor do I, my dear, but unfortunately it is almost nine o'clock and-"
"Shit!"
Emma jumped up from the bed and looked wildly at the clock; eight forty two, she had exactly eighteen minutes before she was supposed to go shopping with Mary Margaret.
"Language, Miss Swan!"
"I know, I'm sorry, I have to go, I'm running late!"
Emma grinned sheepishly, taking one last, longing look at the beautiful woman who was thankfully almost completely uncovered before she started wildly pulling her clothes on.
"I'm sorry I'm leaving you with this mess.."
"Don't worry dear, I'll take care of it. I'll see you later, I suppose?"
Quickly pulling on her shoes, Emma nodded in affirmation.
"I'm sure. Bye Miss Mills."
Emma waltzed out the door, giving a half hand wave. The door stopped just short of closing, however, and she quickly waltzed back in. Regina gave her a look of mixed amusement and confusion as the girl briskly made her way over to the bed before bending down and kissing Regina gently on the forehead. Regina's eyes closed and her smile was radiant; Emma almost stayed, but she knew better.
"Ok, bye for real this time."
"Goodbye, Miss Swan."
XX
Ruby met Emma at the entrance to the hallway with a sly grin, a steaming cup in her hand which Emma accepted gratefully.
"How'd it go?'
Emma merely blushed and Ruby all but howled with laughter.
"I have to go Rubes. I'll talk to you later. Thanks, for everything."
Ruby gave her friend a quick hug and watched as she walked away, shouting behind her.
"You bet your ass we'll talk later, Swan!"
XX
At two minutes until nine Emma pulled into the parking lot of her small home. She finished the cup of coffee before walking through the front door, where she was very nearly assaulted by Mary Margaret, sporting a pale yellow dress with a matching straw hat adorned with sunflowers. If she wasn't so adorable and so clearly excited about the day, Emma would have gagged, but she simply let it be. Her mind was too full of questions, anyway, about the evening before to focus on her foster mother's buzzing. Her foster mother who just so happened to be rapidly firing questions off at her.
"Did you have fun at the party? Who all was there? Did you sleep well? You had dinner, right? Are you hungry? Have you had breakfast? Do you want-"
Mary Margaret's verbal expulsion was stopped by Emma, who simply held up a hand.
"Yes, mom, I had fun. Everyone was there, I slept wonderfully, dinner consisted mostly of junk food but that's ok, no I haven't had breakfast, yes, I'm starving, and I would love to grab something to eat before we go shopping."
Mary Margaret's bemused expression caused Emma to laugh quietly, and she beamed again.
"Well, alright then, let's go!"
"Just a sec, let me go change really fast, ok?"
Mary Margaret nodded, and Emma raced up the stairs. She quickly stripped of all the clothing from the night before, noticing a lingering spicy scent that was decidedly Regina, before donning an entirely new outfit. She quickly brushed her hair and teeth and put on deodorant. Emma grabbed the list of clothing she would be required to bring and shuffled back down stairs, where her mother waited patiently for her, although Emma could tell that she could barely contain her excitement. The two made their way out the front door and Emma climbed into her bug.
"Oh, are you driving?"
Emma hesitated.
"Well, is that okay?"
Mary Margaret's eyes glistened as she nodded and walked around to climb into the passenger's seat. Emma adjusted her mirror, putting on her seatbelt and waiting for Mary Margaret to do the same before pulling out of the driveway and making her way back to Granny's. The two entered the diner, where Ruby called out some joke about having just seen Emma, causing both women to roll their eyes while Mary Margaret stifled a giggle. The two sat in a corner booth, making small talk as Ruby arrived with a menu. They both scoffed and Ruby immediately withdrew from the table, menus in hand. As the pair waited for their breakfast, Mary Margaret piped up.
"Oh, Miss Mills, good morning!"
Emma froze instantly, her heart racing at the mere mention of Regina. She looked up to see an equally frozen Regina smiling tightly at her and her foster mother, who, of course, gestured for Regina to sit down with them. Emma said nothing as Regina attempted to protest and merely scooted over, making room in the booth for Regina, bristling when their skin touched. They snapped apart as if electrified, and Regina quickly made small talk with Mary Margaret so she wouldn't notice. While the two talked about the clothing Emma would need to bring with her, Mary Margaret protesting the use of Regina's funds and insisting that she and David pay, which Regina immediately shut down, Emma fidgeted with her hands under the table, finally making her mind up and placing her right hand on Regina's thigh. The brunette seemed startled, but Ruby arrived just in time with plates for all three.
Emma smiled gratefully up at Ruby and made a mental note that she would definitely owe Ruby before loudly proclaiming that she was starving and they should eat. Mary Margaret and Regina both gave her skeptical looks, but obliged nevertheless, and before too long the trio had finished eating and were parting ways.
"Goodbye Mary Margaret, Miss Swan."
The smile Regina gave Mary Margaret was nothing in comparison to the one she gave Emma, and the blonde felt truly blessed to know that that particular smile was hers and hers alone. She smiled warmly back and responded in kind before heading out to a 'fun' day of shopping with her foster mother.
XX
Emma sat down gingerly on her bed, exhausted. She and Mary Margaret had been shopping for hours; she'd find something she actually liked, and Mary Margaret would insist on trying on every outfit of a similar style. Emma ran her hands across the nearest item of clothing; oxford blue, tight fitting trousers, a matching two-button blazer, and a crisp ghost white collared shirt. She loved the outfit, she realized. She loved all of the clothes she had purchased, and she made a mental note to thank Mary Margaret once again for being so helpful. She was a little worried, however, about the presence of the shoes she had been forced to purchase; a pair of strappy three inch heels, black and pointy toed, perfect for all four of the outfits she would be bringing but daunting nonetheless. She carefully put them on and practiced walking around the room, finding it to be about as difficult as she had expected, although with any luck she might avoid breaking her neck. She hung the three suits up, followed by the dress, and stared at them with awe. This was so different for her, yet she was so excited; but she couldn't decide if she was more excited about being in a hotel room with Regina for four days or possibly having finally figured her life out. She knew that no matter what happened, or what career she eventually decided on, her future would always be Regina. Emma closed her eyes, beaming at the ceiling as she drifted softly to sleep.