AN: I don't own anything but the story.

XX

Emma and Regina looked nervously at one another.

"Why do you seem scared, Miss Mills?"

Regina looked away; she would not allow emotion to betray her. She knew what Emma was going to say, of course. She was, after all, still a child by all accounts, and Regina had been a fool to think anything else could come of their little 'game'. Regina pinched the bridge of her nose before holding up a hand and donning a somewhat colder facade.

"Not scared, Miss Swan. Just..I think I know what you're going to say, and I'm not sure I can handle it."

Emma blinked once, twice, confusion evident on her face. Why wouldn't Regina be able to handle the truth? Did she not feel the same way? Was all the flirting they had done a joke? Emma felt the angst bubble up inside of her, and for the first time since she and Regina had formed their tentative friendship she felt almost regretful. Emma leapt to her feet, leaving an equally confused and hurt Regina Mills on the couch, her head in her hands. Emma almost instantly returned, pacing back and forth in front of Regina, who looked on in continued confusion.

"What is it you think I'm going to say, exactly, Miss Mills?"

Regina sighed heavily, shrugging her shoulders. Her voice was small, when she finally did reply, and Emma had to strain to hear it against the pounding of her own heart.

"That this was all a mistake, that I'm too old for you? That you thought this would be fun, but realized it's a bad idea? No worries, though. It will be ok, I completely understa-"

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Regina, scandalized, scowled at Emma, but before she could reply with 'language, Miss Swan', Emma was standing in front of her and pinning her arms to her side. Regina looked fearfully up at the blonde, and was seconds away from protest when Emma bent down and kissed the brunette desperately. Fireworks erupted in the blonde's heart; for the very first time in her life, she knew with absolute clarity where she belonged. The feel of Regina's supple lips against her sent her thoughts reeling. Emma nonchalantly asked herself how she had managed to survive so long without this new feeling. The electricity between them made breaking apart nearly impossible, but Emma knew it was mandatory for their safety. Regina winced as Emma's hold on her arms deepened, and both women struggled against the invisible chain of necessity that bound them. Emma stepped back rapidly, anxious to keep the pair at the point of decency. Slowly, each woman's eyes open, and it was almost as if they'd seen one another in a different light. Panting heavily for breath, Emma cleared her throat and gently cupped Regina's face in her hand.

"Are you done, Miss Mills?"

Regina could only nod, the goofiest, most uncharacteristic smile adorning her face.

"Right. Now, Miss Mills, about that conversation.."

XX

Regina cleared her throat. Emma, in turn, cleared her throat. All was silent. The clink of the ice as it melted in Regina's glass broke the sound barrier, and both women winced at the unwelcome intrusion upon their thoughts. You could almost hear their eyelashes slice through the air. Emma cleared her throat. Regina, in turn, cleared hers.

XX

"Um-" both women began, instantly growing apologetic and insisting the other speak first. An outsider would have found it comedic, yes; but the anxiety flowing through former student and teacher left no room for humor. The duo sat across from one another, shyly stealing glances of the other's face, trying to figure out where to begin. After a long while, Emma balled up her fist and looked expectantly at Regina.

"Rock, paper, scissors. Best two out of three. Winner talks first. Deal?"

Regina, bemused, had no choice but to go along with the childish game, balling her fist in turn. Sweat dotted Emma's brow, and she groaned at having won the first shoot, paper to rock. Regina let out a quiet giggle, quickly silenced when she won the second round, scissors to paper. Both women shifted a little further out of their respective positions, narrowly closing the gap between them. This would be the game changer, and they both knew it. Whomever threw the dominant hand sign would have to be the first to talk, would have to be the first one to reveal their feelings to the other. Time stood still as Emma quietly counted out the signs.

"Rock...paper...scissors...shoot!"

Both women looked from their hands to one another, letting out a confusing sigh of relief; they had both thrown paper, and the success of not having 'won' allowed them to let out a little breath or two. Regina's turn to count the signs, and as she said 'shoot', she noticed they had once more tied. Feeling frustrated, the game continued for several more minutes, the duo simultaneously throwing paper, than rock, than paper again, than scissors. Growling, Emma roughly ran her hands through the air and gave Regina a serious look. Regina nodded, just as serious, and replied in turn.

"At the same time, then, dear?"

Emma nodded and gulped, looking intently at Regina. Regina lead with 'three', Emma continued with 'two', and at 'one', both women began to speak.

"I think I have," Emma quickly started, to which Regina quietly finished, "feelings for you…"

Both women turned a deep crimson, clearing their throat. Emma wasn't sure what to do; she wanted to cry, she wanted to laugh, she wanted to grasp Regina's hands and praise the heavens that the perfect angel in front of her might be hers. Regina, for her part, looked like she was experiencing the same things, and that made Emma feel so very secure in that moment, that it was a wonder they hadn't admitted to one another sooner than this that they had feelings. Emma cleared her throat and smiled softly at Regina, who looked so perfect in that moment it was all Emma could do not to kiss her once more. Regina reached across the small gap between them, grabbing Emma's hand and rubbing circles with her thumb. The content sigh that escaped from Emma's lips was cut short, however, by the blaring of her cell phone. Emma shot back, almost flipping over the couch, and bolted across the room, out of breath when she answered the phone.

"What?!"

Ruby snorted in response, and Emma could swear she heard the smirk in her voice.

"Wow, Ems, out of breath already? You two didn't waste any time, did you?"

Emma erupted in a string of curses and half-hearted threats, and Regina raised one eyebrow, simultaneously amused and irritated at the blonde's reaction. Feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, Emma glanced back at Regina sheepishly, mouthing the word 'sorry'. Regina half shrugged, glancing at her watch. After having been in the car for most of the day, it was most definitely time for a shower, and she absentmindedly walked to the vanity, removing her jewelry and eavesdropping on the blonde's conversation. Evidently Emma had hung up on Ruby and immediately called Mary Margaret, as she could hear the blonde assuring her foster mother that they had in fact made it to the hotel alright, that the trip had been fine, no they had not died, they would eat soon, yes everything was okay, etc. Regina smiled to herself, wondering if she and Emma would act the same way when they had children. That thought instantly stopped the brunette in her tracks, and she felt the smile fade into a horrified grimace. The blonde seemed to notice the brunette's mood change immediately, ushering her mother off the phone and peering anxiously at Regina. The teacher shook her head of the thoughts; who knew how long the two of them would last, or if anything would come of their mutual feelings? Regardless, she refused to set herself up for failure, so she merely went about peeling her clothes off, smiling wickedly at the color rising in Emma's cheeks.

"Something the matter, Miss Swan?"

Emma's head moved from side to side so quickly Regina could swear she'd have whiplash. It appeared her young friend was attempting to form words, so she simply continued on, moving at an agonizingly slow pace. Emma's groan was quiet, but it did not remain unheard. Regina folded the clothes she had taken off, placing them in the hotel's laundry basket.

"I am going to take a shower now, Miss Swan."

Emma's response was immediate and set Regina's heart on fire.

"I'd love to join you."

"Maybe next time, Miss Swan."

With that, Regina shut the door to the bathroom behind her, and Emma perched atop the couch, awaiting whatever would come.

XX
AN: My update schedule is awful. I know it, and I love you for staying regardless.