*Flashback*
After confessing their feelings for each other, Emma and Regina were going on their first date. Emma wanted to surprise Regina with a picnic in the woods. She'd spent hours setting it up with candles and wine. She hoped Regina would like it.
Emma shows up the mansion practically shaking from her nerves. She'd never been like this before a date before. But there was just something about Regina. All she could think about was making this woman smile.
"Hey," Emma smiles when Regina opens the door. "I brought you daisies, roses seemed too cliche."
"Thank you." Regina smiles before she lets out a small sneeze. "They're lov-" she sneezes again.
"Oh gosh you're allergic." Emma groans, mentally facepalming herself. "I-I should have gone with the-"
"It's fine." Regina says. "I'll just set these inside and we can go."
Once they leave, things seem to go smooth. There was none of that awkward silence that typically comes with first dates. It was one of the pros to being friends first. Emma drives them to the entrance of the woods and then they walk the rest of the way.
"Emma." Regina gasps when she sees the scene Emma had set up for them. "This...is perfect."
"Here, let me light the candles." Emma smiles as Regina sits on the soft blanket Emma had laid out.
Once the candles are lit and the wine is poured Emma and Regina begin to eat the sandwiches Emma had packed. Emma winces when she suddenly realizes she'd handed Regina the tuna instead of the chicken. Regina hated tuna.
"Wait don't eat that!" Emma exclaims reaching for Regina's wrist. In the process she manages to knock Regina's red wine into her lap. "Oh no! I'm so sorry!"
"It-it's fine." Regina stutters reaching for a napkin.
"Here let me help you." Emma leans across but manages to knock over the candle. Regina manages to jump right in time and stop the candle from landing on her or anything else flammable. "Oh my….I-I'm ruining everything."
She can feel the hot tears on her cheeks. This was supposed to be a perfect night, but she'd seemed to screw everything up. Regina was going to run now and never date her again. To Emma's surprise Regina giggles.
"This isn't funny!" Emma cries. "I wanted to make a good impression."
"Emma, you already have." Regina says softly as she moves to sit next to the blonde. "I love what you did for me, but Em, you don't have to be nervous. You're trying too hard. You already have my heart."
"I just…" Emma huffs. "I wanted this to be perfect."
"Emma, being here with you is perfect." Regina assures the blonde.
"I'm sorry about your dress." Emma says. "I hope the stain comes out."
"It will." Regina lies, knowing that it never would. "Emma, thank you for tonight."
"Maybe next time it won't be such a disaster." Emma replies hopefully. Regina chuckles,
"Maybe next time we should leave the planning to me." Regina teases. Emma smiles, finally feeling a little relief. Regina still wanted to be with her. She hadn't ruined her chances.
Regina leans over and cups Emma's cheek. She gives her a gentle smile before leaning in and kissing her softly.
9:
Emma and Regina were still trying to understand what all this meant. David and Snow were clearly still worried. Not only was Emma magical, but now she was bound to Regina. They connected in a way no one else could be. It was suddenly obvious that Fate had a sense of humor.
"What does this mean?" Emma finally asks on the walk home.
"I don't know." Regina admits. She reaches out and takes Emma's hand. "But I don't think this is a bad thing."
"It could be." Snow says quietly. "Magic can make good people do very bad things."
Regina suddenly understands Snow's fear. This wasn't just about Emma. Snow had seen what dark magic could do to someone. She watched it turn Regina into the Evil Queen. Snow didn't want to lose her daughter the way she'd lost her stepmother. It was like Regina was looking at that naive little ten year old again.
"I won't let that happen." Regina states. "I went dark because of the choices I made and the people I let influenced me."
"Gold helped turn you into a monster." Snow's voice is so frightened and quiet that Regina has to strain to hear her.
"Snow, I will not let Emma turn into what I did." Regina promises. "I know my word doesn't mean much to you, but I swear on my life that Emma will be safe with me."
"I know." Snow admits. "You were always good at protecting the people you love."
They'd reached some sort of understanding. Not a truce exactly, but a common ground. Things were by no means perfect, but they were both willing to work together. Emma was someone who meant the world to both of them. So, for the first time in a very long time, Snow White and The Evil Queen were on the same side.
Regina had been apprehensive about teaching Emma magic. She was so afraid of magic hurting Emma or damaging her. But, Regina also knew that Emma had to at least know how to control it. They'd found a spot in the woods where they could safely practice.
"You have to feel it." Regina explains. "Find what drives you."
"You and Henry." Emma smiles. "That's what happened at dinner. I was so angry at-"
"No." Regina says quietly. She speaks up and tries to sound calm. "You cannot let the anger be your guide, no matter how easy it is. Trust me, Emma." The blonde huffs in frustration.
"What's more passionate than being pissed off at someone?" She asks.
"Love." Regina smiles. "Think of the very first time you and Henry connected."
Emma close her eyes and pictures that moment. It was so significant to her. She and Henry had understood each other so well up there on that wooden castle. He had realized why she gave him up, and she had understood what it was like to feel abandoned. Even know that they both knew the truth of their pasts, they looked at that moment with adoration.
"Emma," Regina is grinning. "Look." White light is surging through Emma's finger tips.
"I did!" Emma exclaims happily.
"Yes, you did." Regina's eyes are full of pride. "Shall we try it together?"
Emma nods eagerly and reaches out to hold Regina's small hands. The two women close their eyes. This time Emma thinks of their first date. As nearly disastrous as it had been, to Emma it meant everything.
Suddenly Emma feels like there is nothing below her feet. Her eyes pop open and she sees that she and Regina are levitating. So this is what a soulmate felt like.
"Gina, this is amazing." Emma whispers as Regina looks to see for herself.
Regina nods in agreement. Cora had been so wrong. Love was never a weakness. It was a strength. And in that moment, holding Emma's hands, Regina had never felt stronger.
Snow and David hadn't said much in regards to the whole soulmate thing. Emma and Regina both knew it was a lot to take in. They also knew how deeply Snow believed in fate and hoped that she would eventually cave in. There was a lot of healing left, but eventually someone had to take that first step.
"Snow?" Regina is shocked to see Emma's mother at the door. "Emma and Henry went to the store."
"Actually….I came to see you." Snow replies nervously. "Uh, can I come in?"
"S-sure." Regina opens the doors wider to let Snow in.
Regina leads Snow into the kitchen. She offers to make tea, but Snow politely declines. Regina felt awkward sitting across from her former step-daughter slash possible-future-mother-in-law. She wasn't sure what to say. Luckily Snow steps up and starts the conversation.
"So...this thing with you and my daughter is real. It's not revenge." Snow doesn't pose this as a question.
"Yes, it's real." Regina confirms. "I didn't plan on it, but I love her."
"It's ironic really." Snow laughs a little. "I-I just don't know how to feel."
"You have a right to be confused, angry even." Regina answers. "But, Emma doesn't want to lose you Snow."
"I know." The princess admits. "Which is why we need to end this blood feud once and for all. It seems like one day, you and I will once again be family, so I'm calling a truce."
Regina isn't sure what to say. For so long they'd been fighting, but, deep down, Regina had always cared for the girl. Was is possible that the once Evil Queen could have a family? A happy ending?
"Thank you." She finally breathes. "You won't regret this."
"I hope not." Snow offers a small smile. "I truly hope you stay on this path of redemption."
"I know it's not enough, but I am so sorry that Emma was taken from you." Regina apologizes for the first time to her former enemy. "I hate how horrible her life was before she came here."
"So did you. I know, even if you'll never admit it to me, how awful it was to be married to my father. You were so young and he was...well we won't get into that. And I know that growing up with Cora was...not ideal. She was cruel and manipulative." Snow says softly. "Even so, I am sorry for her death."
To Snow's great surprise Regina takes Snow's hands in her own. Snow was finally seeing a glimpse of the woman she used to know. The one she thought she'd lost forever.
"I think it's time we stop living in the past." Regina smiles softly. "We could spend all night apologizing, but I want to move forward and stop letting the past haunt me."
Snow nods in agreement. They're both a little teary eyed. Just as Snow opens her mouth to say something, the front door opens. Emma's voice can be heard. She's saying something about Henry going to a friend's house. Her voice gets louder when she enters the kitchen. Emma stops speaking and freezes in the entryway of the room.
"Is everything okay?" She finally asks. Regina and Snow share a smile.
"Everything is great." Snow tells her daughter sincerely. "I actually should be going. Regina, thank you for this. Emma, have a nice night. I'll see you two later."
Snow gives Regina's hand a final squeeze and kisses Emma on the top of the head before leaving. Emma is still in shock. she had not been expecting this to happen so soon. If she was honest, she wasn't sure if she believed this would ever happen. But, it did, apparently.
"W-what just happened?" Emma asks crossing the room and sitting beside her girlfriend.
"Don't worry, dear." Regina smiles happily. "I do believe, your mother just gave us her blessing."
Emma couldn't have been happier to hear those words. It wouldn't have changed how she felt if her parents didn't come around, but she was so glad they did. Now she could make a future with her whole family, The time to start was now.
A/N Warning...some major fluff in the next chapter! :) I can't wait for it to be posted, but unfortunately I'm going to be out of town for a funeral so I'm not sure when I'll get to it. For now...enjoy this chapter! -Kaila
