Emma laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of the statement. Not the jealous type? Regina's jealousy was so clear and so dramatic that it was impossible not to notice. For her to deny it was simply comical.

"What?" Regina hissed, glaring at Emma.

"You liar," Emma giggled. "You're so jealous it's making you sick. You've been jealous this whole time. You were jealous of Hook, and you're jealous of Neal. Clearly, you are the jealous type."

"Don't laugh!" Regina scowled. "This isn't funny!"

"It's hilarious!" Emma grinned. "Because it's making you squirm. Look at you! You're seething with rage at the thought of either of them having me. It's so obvious now. I can't believe I didn't see it before."

"I'm going to kill you."

"Not before you kill the two of them to get me alone," Emma teased.

"Stop it," Regina warned, taking a threatening step forward.

"Stop being jealous!" Emma dared. "Oh, wait. You can't."

"I will break every bone in your body."

"But then who would tease you on your way to find Henry?"

"No one. That's exactly the point. Your insolence does you no favors, Miss Swan."

Regina was fuming, and Emma's face was red with joy. It was all too easy to tease the jealous queen.

"Secretly, you're loving this. You wouldn't want your prey to be too easy to catch, would you? Don't you enjoy the chase?" Emma challenged.

Regina had to agree. There was something about Emma that she couldn't let go of, something that drew them together. Though the queen couldn't quite understand it, it kept her coming back. It kept her burning with desire. Emma had always been just out of her reach. Now that she finally had a hold on her, Regina wasn't sure what to do next, except maybe to strangle her for being so impertinent.

"Maybe I do," Regina said. "So what?"

"So I wouldn't want to make it too easy for you."

Emma's smile lit up her face, and Regina started to stare, watching the woman's eyes twinkle.

"You're beautiful," Regina said, the words falling out of her mouth involuntarily.

Emma went quiet and looked at her new lover, seeing the honesty in her face. She meant it. It wasn't something Emma had ever believed about herself, but it made her feel good to know that Regina believed it. Of course, plenty of men had told her the same before, but coming from them, it meant little. Coming from Regina, it held more weight. She wanted to say 'thank you,' to express her gratitude for the compliment, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. Something silenced her.

"Sorry," Regina said. "That was stupid. Let's get going. We need to catch up with the boys before we lose them."

"Don't worry," Emma told her, smiling again. "I won't even look at Neal, if that makes you feel better."

"Oh, my God! Let it go!"

Emma howled with laughter, leaning up against a tree.

"Come here," she said brightly. "Just come here."

Regina obeyed, stubbornly marching over and standing in front of her.

"What?"

"Just kiss me."

Emma slid her arms around the woman and held her close, kissing her lips. They stayed like that until Emma pulled away and smoothed Regina's hair with a smile.

"I promise I'm not interested in him. You don't have to be jealous." She paused, then added, "But I like that you are."