I know it's been like ages but something happened that was sort of tied to this story and everytime I tried to write for it, things would just come back and I would get really sad and... well never mind. All is fine now so I was finally able to properly complete this story. Thank you all for sticking with me.

10 hours later.

For once in my life I wake up knowing that we're both still here. No time has passed, at least… not years, or weeks. I smell something like eggs mixed with coffee and suddenly I feel so peaceful. I have no idea what's going to happen now, I don't even know what Regina wants but right now, I'm just going to enjoy waking up and not having lost her again.

When I walk out onto the hallway I peek into Henry's room. He's still fast asleep which doesn't surprise me, he had a long day yesterday. Slowly I walk downstairs and into the kitchen. I stand in the door opening and watch Regina move through the kitchen. It's amazing to see her so engrossed into what she's doing and it's even more amazing to see with how much ease she does it. But then again… she has been cooking for just herself everyday for the last five years. The smile disappears from my face.

"Why did you never call?" I say suddenly, startling her as she visibly tenses and her hand clutches her chest.

"Emma. You scared me."

I smiled sadly, still standing in the doorway.

"Why did you never call?" I repeat myself.

She frowned but didn't look at me. "What do you mean?"

I sigh deeply, gathering my courage. "You divorced five years ago, why didn't you never call me?"

Regina was silent why I knew to be a bad sign and when she finally looked up after two whole minutes my thoughts were confirmed. Her eyes were shining with tears. "Because…" she started, shocked by her own hoarse voice, "because I couldn't break another promise. I had to keep this one. For you."

Now I feel my own eyes watering and this is not at all how I had planned this morning going. It's way too early for such deep thoughts. "Thank you." I say instead, which surprises her. I sit down on one of the bar stools and eagerly eat the food she has on a plate for me.

"Henry is really amazing." She says, which I'm sure she is only saying to keep the situation from being awkward.

"He is." I answer with a smile.

The tension is floating around us and neither of us has the courage to break it. Finally, after ten minutes of silence, she is the one who breaks it.

"Emma-" she starts but I interrupt quickly.

"I know. We have to talk, but please, can we just enjoy today? Show me and Henry around town. Let's not talk about all the shit that we went through today and let's not talk about where I'll be tomorrow? What do you say?"

Regina's smile is the absolute most beautiful thing in the world.

"And, here's the school." Regina says, pointing at a rather large building. Henry immediately starts bouncing up and down, he's always eager to learn; which is something that he certainly didn't got from me.

"Can we go in?" He asks and I shoot him a warning glare but Regina notices and nudges my side.

"Ignore your mom Henry, we can go in."

Henry and Regina walk ahead of me and as she places a hand on his shoulder to stop him from running away, I can't help but let myself enjoy the moment. We promised each other we wouldn't because we haven't talked yet but I can't stop thinking that that's my family I'm looking at. That I finally have both people that I love – and yes, I've come to the conclusion that I still love her and that it will never go away – around me.

I'm so lost in thought that I completely miss the person I bump into.

"Oh god, I'm sorry." I say, helping the shorter woman back onto her feet.

"Don't worry! That's okay." The short woman says as she brushes some of the imaginary dust of her skirt. She looks at me and narrows her eyes. "I don't think I remember seeing you before?"

I shake my head. "No I don't live here, me and my son are visiting."

She smiles as she follows my gaze towards Henry and Regina who are looking into a classroom. "That's your son?" She asks and I nod proudly.

"Yeah, his name is Henry."

Suddenly she holds her hand out for me and I notice the ring on her hand. She must be married. "I'm Mary Margaret. Mary Margaret Blanchard or well.. actually Nolan now but in school I still go by Blanchard. I'm a teacher here."

I'm a bit surprised but still shake her hand. "I'm Emma Swan."

"So, are you thinking of moving here too or is it really just a visit?" She must have seen it on my face I realizes.

"I don't know yet." It's the truth.

Later that evening, during dinner, it's Henry who decides we need to cut our crap.

"So.. are you two going to get married now?" I immediately spit all my water out of my mouth and Regina chokes on her food.

"Woah kid. Not so fast." I tell him and he looks confused.

"Why not? Mom, you're not married and you love her. Regina, you're not married either and I think that you love my mom too."

Regina looked completely stunned so I quickly turn Henry around to face me. "It's not that easy Henry. We have been through a lot of things, together and alone, and we can't just give dive in right now and say 'you know what let's move in together and raise Henry as ours and oh let's get married', it's not that easy in real life."

I miss the sad look in Regina's eyes as mine stay focused on Henry's.

"But it is." Henry pushes and I roll my eyes. He aggressively lays down his fork and I shoot him a glare. "You won't listen to me. I understand that you have both been through things that I can't understand yet but if you love each other, shouldn't that be enough? Why do you have to talk about what you went through? You always tell me that the past is in the past and it shouldn't affect your future. Besides-"

"Henry." I cut him off with a slight hitch in my voice. Luckily my son seems to understand what's happening and quickly rushed up the stairs, leaving me alone with Regina.

"We really need to talk." She says and I chuckle. She's right, we really need to talk.

She walks me over to the study where she gives me some kind of alcoholic drink. I'm glad because I could use it right now.

"I wonder where your son got that brain from?" Regina said, making me smile.

"Yeah I sometimes wonder too."

"He is right, unfortunately." Regina says shyly and my head snaps towards her. We're both still standing, this whole situation has gotten us way too nervous to sit down. She takes my silence as a push to continue.

"I could tell you about how long I waited for your letters. I could tell you how miserable I felt when they never came. I could tell you how I imagined holding baby Henry into my arms. I could tell you how I imagined him calling me mom and you ma. I could also tell you how much it sucked when my parents forced me to meet this guys. I could tell you scared I was and how Daniel gave me what I needed at that point. I could convince you that I never loved him as much as I loved you, even on that day on the bench. If I'd have been given the ultimate choice of him or you I would've chosen you. Without hesitation. But besides all of that I could also explain to you how messed up my life was, too. That you weren't the only one and that pushing people away was the only way I could protect myself. Because if you never really love, you can't get hurt." Regina took a deep shuddering breath and I took a step closer, tears rushing down my cheeks.

"The thing is Emma, I don't want to tell you, neither do I want to hear your messed up life and all the regrets and mistakes. What I want is to believe Henry's words; that love is enough. We can talk about Henry what he was like when he grew up, we can talk about us and we can talk about where we go from here but I don't want our past to stop up from moving forward."

She's always been better with words than I am. So instead of saying something ridiculous I show her how much I believe her and want this. I push forward, slowly taking her glass from her and place it on the table along with mine. Her eyes are full of emotions, she scared but she's also excited. I curl my hands around her waist and attach my lips onto hers. She immediately kisses me back and her arms curl around my neck. I take this as a sign that I can go so I push my tongue out, seeking entrance into her mouth. She doesn't protest and we kiss slowly, letting our tongues slide against each other deliciously. We can't help but moan. As I taste a bit of salt I realize she is still crying so I break the kiss and look at her.

"It's going to be okay."

"I know dear, these are happy tears."

I smile too and lean in again for another kiss. It lasts several moments before Regina breaks it and we sit down onto the couch, luckily most of the nerves have disappeared. I take hold of her hand as it starts shaking and my thumb rubs over her knuckles.

"What do we do now?" I ask her.

"It's going to be difficult."

I nod against her face. "I know, but I guess we'll have to figure it out. I have to get a job, get Henry applied to that school and I need a place to stay."

"I don't think you need to worry about that last thing, unless of course you and Henry want your own place."

I shake my head, before it had sounded so silly but now it seems like the most important thing. I can't be away from her anymore.

"No. It's perfect. See? We'll all be fine. You, me and Henry."

"You're never leaving me again?" Regina asks, looking up her eyes full of hope.

"No, and neither are you. It seems like the Universe has finally found it's peace with us."

hope you enjoyed this last chapter! x