Emma kept her promise to text Regina as soon as she got home. She wanted to do that as soon as she left, but she wanted to keep her cool and text her only when she promised. It had never been so hard to keep her hands off her phone.

Picking up the car and driving home happened quickly as the city had calmed down significantly during the course of the early evening of a Thursday. She parked the car on her mothers usual spot in the driveway and locked the doors. Her father was also home already, which was rather unusual but maybe they had asked someone else to close for today since her mother was away as well.

Emma entered the house, all smiles and just a serene feeling of contentment. Her day with Regina had been amazing and she had really learned a lot about the brunette woman. She had been mesmerized by her since the beginning but she was even more now.

Mary-Margaret and David were clearly in the kitchen and Emma swooped in to greet them. They raised their heads from their salad preparations to look at their daughter. Both of them instantly smiled and Emma came closer to press a kiss on both of their cheeks in greeting.

"Hello sweetheart. How did it go?" Mary-Margaret smiled, seeing full well how happy her daughter seemed to be.

"It was okay." the answer was vague but the blinding smile was telling an entire different story. It was clear to the parents though; Emma had had an amazing time.

"Oh, just okay?" David smirked and Emma rolled her eyes, a smile still on her lips.

"Yes, dad." Emma said. "We were in the coffee shop for hours, just talking and talking."

"That sounds sweet, honey." Mary-Margaret smiled and added all the ingredients into a bowl and started mixing them all together. At the same time David started cleaning up their mess. Emma wished she would one day find someone who would complete her like her parents completed each other.

"It was." she toyed with her phone for a few seconds. "I will go and wash up. What time do we eat?"

"Be down in half an hour to set the table." her mother said and as soon as the words registered in Emma's brain she shot out of her chair, into the stairs and up into her own room. She closed the door behind her and leaned her back against it. The giddy smile she had been sporting while talking with her parents was still very much in place as she jumped down on her bed and opened her phone lockscreen.

She quickly opened her message field but then she stopped. How would she even begin to text Regina? She knew there were some kind of rules but she had no idea what those were.

Hi.

Emma typed before staring at the message for a while. She added a smiley emoji after a minute of thinking about it and send it out. Emma had barely put the phone down when it vibrated to alert her of a new message.

Hey :)

It was only a greeting but Emma could feel how her heart was bounding in her chest. She knew she texted to give Regina the info but she felt like she didn't want to go straight to that and have the conversation possibly die there. But before she could think of a good thing to type, the phone vibrated in her hand and another talk bubble appeared under Regina's earlier message.

Did you make it home safe?

Emma felt warm that Regina felt the need to ask, that she was maybe a bit concerned on her well being. That she knew how the respond to as well.

I did, just came in. Did you?

The answer was instant.

I did. Just sat down on my bed, wishing you'd text me soon.

Emma actually sat up as her eyes bulging from her head. That was bold, and flirtatious and amazing and she was sure she was having a heart attack if her mad heartbeat was anything to go by. She knew what she was gonna answer.

E: Well, if I am being honest I wanted to text you as soon as I left.

R: Why didn't you?

E: I didn't want you to think I was too eager.

R: I kinda like that on you so...

E: And there you go again.

R: Go again?

E: Being amazing.

Flirting via text message was way more easier than Emma had ever known it to be. She didn't feel half as awkward and Regina couldn't see how she blushed so this was definitely perfect.

Oh stop it!

Emma wasn't going to.

Well, when you stop being amazing I will stop saying stuff like this but tbh I don't think its possible for you not to be amazing.

There was a pause in replying. Emma was back to laying on her bed and she was getting nervous. Regina's responses had been instant ever since her first message, but now suddenly she was quiet. Emma quickly started to second guess herself as she thought she might have been too bold in her statement. She tried to form an apology in her brain but then her phone vibrated again.

I will deny this if you ever mention it to anyone, but I might have squealed slightly.

Emma felt suddenly proud and then her mind was filled with a picture of Regina squealing. After baby lions, that must be the cutest thing on earth.

E: You, Regina Mills, actually squealed? Seems fake but okay

R: I will have you know, Emma, that my squeal is the most regal squeal ever.

That made Emma laugh out loud. Of course Regina had to disagree in her own way, trying to make herself seem totally badass. She was though but Emma found her to be so sweet and sensitive and funny. She was unsure how often Regina showed those sides of herself to anyone in her life but what she got from their today's conversation, Regina didn't really have friends except for her sister.

So maybe this was her only time to show all these hidden sides of her. And Emma loved the fact that she was the one she was opening up to.

I'm sure it was. So, do you wanna know more about tomorrow?

Emma realised she had to go down to eat soon but the conversation was something too good to walk away from. She had to share the information about tomorrow as soon as possible though because otherwise she would forget and she really wanted Regina to be there.

Yes please.

So, Ruby asked me to meet them at the bar called Roni's at 7 pm. I have bad habit of always being way earlier than the rest so I will probably already be there when you arrive. The bar is apparently casual, so casual clothes will be okay. There was gonna be some live music that night as well, if I remember Ruby mentioning correctly!

It took her a while to type, but Regina's answer was yet again almost instant. Emma had no idea how some people typed so fast with their phones when she was really slow with her typing.

Who's Ruby?

Emma couldn't see Regina's face or hear her voice but there was some undertone jealousy easily readable from her message and Emma found that really interesting.

She is my best friend, she works at the zoo as well.

There was another small pause in answering, although Emma could see that Regina had seen her message. She patiently waited, even though she knew she had to go and have dinner soon. Her phone vibrated.

Alright, so I will meet you in front of Roni's at 7 pm tomorrow then. Are you working before that?

Emma's brain jumped into the possibility of seeing Regina twice in the same day and that made her positively giddy.

I will work up an early shift, which means I will be leaving a lot earlier than normally, I think I will be out at 2?

After a second she send another message.

Why, are you coming to see me?

Before reading Regina's message she got up and changed into her comfy outfit and washed her face. That took her only a minute though because she was eager to see how the brunette had answered.

I was thinking of it, but I did promise to have lunch with my sister tomorrow :( So I think you'll be long gone before I would get there...

Emma was disappointed but she understood of course. She couldn't dominate Regina's time and they were already gonna go out tomorrow evening. Which is what she told her.

E: It's okay, we are gonna see each other anyway tomorrow evening. I cannot wait :)

R: Me either :)

That was when Emma could hear Mary-Margaret call her from downstairs. Dinner was ready and she didn't want to keep her parents waiting.

E: I have to go to eat. Talk to you later?

R: I'd love nothing more! :)

Emma dropped her phone and shot down the stairs. She was starving and she wanted to tell her parents all about today.

They had texted some more during the evening after Emma returned to her room. There was more discussion about Roni's and what kinda place it was and they were both searching it on their respective ends. They shared their drinking experiences and Emma told Regina that she wasn't big on going out and that she hadn't really gone out in actual years since she graduated. Regina reassured her that it was gonna be fun but that she was up for leaving sooner with the blonde if she felt like she needed an out.

Emma felt so warm during all the time they were texting. Regina had the ability to create that in her and she felt like she had met someone really special. They sure had their flirting and everything, but there was genuine warmth and care there and that was gold to Emma.

They had to stop because Emma had an early morning and that meant early night as well. She hesitated for a bit before adding a double pink heart at the end of her 'goodnight' and her heart literally burst when Regina did the same only two seconds later. She was really looking forward to tomorrow.

It was another slow day Emma noted sadly. The time didn't seem to go forward at all, even when she had things to do. She didn't have that many paperwork left so late in the week and she was more than happy to spend most of her day in the lion cave cleaning and watching over her animals.

Ruby stopped by at noon to see how she was doing, but as Emma suspected, to make sure she was still coming. She wasn't sure should she tell Ruby about Regina coming but she didn't have to since Ruby brought her up all on her own.

"So, Emma..." she started with a smirk and Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"What do you mean?" Emma knew that Ruby knew but it was their thing so she kept her head.

"Well, I have seen you around this beautiful brunette for more than one time this week and I am your best friend... so... spill the beans." Ruby sat down in Emma's office chair and spun it to face Emma who was sitting next to the cage on the floor.

Emma had wanted to tell Ruby but there had been so much going on that she had felt rather overwhelmed with everything. She was happy Ruby was asking about it now. So she told her everything, about how they had met, about the first failed coffee date, about Regina apologizing, them exchanging numbers and later having that perfect coffee date.

Ruby was uncharacteristically quiet the entire time, listening with rapt attention and hanging onto every word Emma was saying. It was clear to see that the blonde was happy, more so than she ever had been before and that warmed the wolf girl's heart. Emma was her best friend and she only wanted what was best for her, and it seemed that this Regina was someone who could be that to Emma. She was gonna get to the bottom of it tonight though, since she also knew of the rough childhood and the traumas it had left on the blonde. It was her duty as her best friend to check it out and see it safe.

When Emma finished up, ending the story on the 'good morning' message she had received from Regina this morning, she looked expectedly at her best friend, waiting for the comments that she knew were there. Ruby smiled warmly at Emma before getting up, rounding the chair and hugging the blonde tightly.

Emma was slightly surprised but hugged Ruby back just as tightly.

"I'm so happy for you Emma." she said quietly. "You seem so happy and she seems like someone special."

"I feel like she is." Emma smiled as they now sat next to each other on the floor. She looked down at her hands before voicing a fear she hadn't said out loud to anyone before.

"Is it weird how deeply I feel for her and how affected I am by her... I mean we have only known for few days and even when we had great time yesterday, I still don't know her that well..."

Ruby took Emma's hand to make her look at her. The green eyes looked back at her warily, waiting for the worst, but Ruby smiled encouragingly before answering. "No. Feeling things for other people is never wrong. And this thing you have with her... You don't have to have her all figured out yet, that's the beauty of it. You are getting to know her and when you already like her so much, you can only end up liking her more the more you do get to know her. It's really beautiful Emma, and from what you tell me, she seems to be feeling all the same things as you." she paused for a while. "Just don't let your fears hold you back from something so great."

Emma felt like crying. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her heart and the beautiful, encouraging words of her friends gave her hope and strength. She reached to hug Ruby again and the other girl held her tightly.

"And I'm happy she is coming tonight as well. Gotta roast her, find out her intentions." Ruby smirked and that made Emma smack her lightly. She felt so much lighter and her heart was full.

"Just go easy on her okay? I don't know what this is yet." Emma warned playfully but Ruby knew her well enough to know there was a real warning hidden under there.

"Yes, Emma, I promise." she rolled her eyes before getting up. "I have to go to visit your dear mother. She promised to order some things for my wolfs and I have to go and remind her of that."

"Tell her I said hi." Emma smiled and waved at her friend who closed the door with a bang after her.

Emma busied herself again with her original task - cleaning up the inside cage - before her father radioed her to ask about today since she was leaving early. They went through the normal routine and how Emma wanted Bianca checked before David laughed at her daughters over protectiveness again. It was literally yesterday when they had had the exact same conversation. Emma told him to get lost which he did with another laugh.

Before Emma left for the day she sat down in front of the bars and as soon as she was greeted with some of her lions she whispered. "I'm going out with Regina today... She is something really special." she laughed a little, pressing her hand against the head of her oldest female lions, Elisabeth. "I told you all about her before. She is the really beautiful one. I won't bore you with the details, but there was a bump in the whole plan and we didn't make it to coffee the first time. But the second time was perfect. I'm so excited."

Bianca had made her way to sat down next to the bars, waiting for some kind of contact which Emma happily granted by petting her head. Elisabeth made room for Marie, who came to lay down next to her cub. Emma was quiet for a long time, before she whispered. "I really like her. And when I said I wasn't scared before... I am a little bit now."

A quiet laugh escaped her. "But the dominant feeling in all this is excitement, happiness, the good kinda nervous and the butterflies in my stomach." she pulled her hand away and got a displeased look from her little lion cub. "I have to go now baby, I have to go and get ready, possibly go and buy a new top to go with my jeans... Oh god, I don't know but I have to get going." she leaned her face closer to the bars and whispered. "I love you guys, see you tomorrow."

With that said, she got up and gathered her things. She made quick way to the main building and to the dressing rooms. After a quick change she rushed to the office to greet her mother quickly. They hadn't really talked about how this night was gonna happen as Emma had been too busy to stay at the dinner table for long in order to text Regina faster.

"Hey mom." she greeted and closed the office door behind her.

The office was so very Mary-Margaret, clearly displaying her sense of style and the things she fancied. There were colorful portraits of animals fitted into a collage on one big wall and there were plants around the room. Emma and David had also bought her a big world map where she could mark the places she had visited in her trips to help other zoos. Emma wanted to own her own map someday, she wanted to travel and see the world, it had never been the right time and she was completely devoted to her work.

"Hello sweetheart." Mary-Margaret lifted her eyes from the screen to look at her daughter. As always there was an easy instant smile on her face when she saw her daughter.

"I was about to leave before I remembered that we didn't really talk about tonight." Emma said as she sat down on the comfy visitors chair in front of her mothers desk.

"Well." Mary-Margaret stopped to think for a while. "You are a big girl. You know how we have always talked about being safe and responsible. I trust you, but if you need anything, we are only a phone call away. I will leave my phone on instead of silent tonight, as will your father."

Emma was getting more and more nervous about the night out. Not only because she was gonna spend it with Regina, but she didn't really know what was gonna happen in general. As she wasn't much of a going out person, she was unsure how she was gonna get home and how it was all gonna play out.

"Emma, are you okay?" Mary-Margaret could see how the worries were creeping onto her daughters face as the minutes went by. Emma had been in a very happy and sharing mood when it came to Regina, but that had left every other feeling under it.

"Yeah, yeah." Emma wasn't surprised that her mother didn't look so convinced given that her tone was strained.

"Come on Emma, tell me. I wanna help if you are feeling troubled." Mary-Margaret got up and rounded to stand by Emma's chair. She placed her hand on Emma's shoulder which made Emma turn her eyes towards her mother.

Emma twisted her hands for a bit. "I just haven't been out in a while that's all. I cannot quite remember how to do all this." she laughed awkwardly.

"Just know we are a call or a text away. If something comes up or if you are gonna stay over at someones place, just let us know. You'll have people you know around you there, Ruby's gonna be there, Ariel's gonna be there... Regina's gonna be there." she trailed off a little bit, smiling knowingly which made Emma blush. "You'll be fine."

Emma notted and got up to hug her mother. She wished her farewells before quickly going out and heading for the bus. Any other day she would have walked but today she had things to do. She hadn't lied when she had told her lions that she wanted to buy a new top to go with her black jeans.

On her way to the city she browsed pages of different shops in order to find something she liked. She had an idea but finding something that would fit the idea she had in her head was more difficult than she thought. When finally, she did.