"Oh, holy shit," Emma groaned, upon waking the next morning. "What the-"

"Shh. Don't move. My head is splitting."

It was then that Emma became aware of Regina's arms wrapped around her torso and the brunette's head on her chest.

"Mills…"

"Shh."

Heart racing, feeling confused, Emma tried to slow and deepen her breathing, but her breaths continued to be shallowed and forced. After a while, Regina finally sighed and spoke.

"You're anxious."

"Yes…"

"Why?"

"Because I… You… We…"

"Yes."

"But-"

"Do you regret it?"

"N-No."

"Then hush. Go back to sleep. And stop squirming or I'm going to be sick."

"Are you okay?" Emma blurted hurriedly. "Do you need a bucket? Should I walk you to the bathroom?"

"No, Swan. Hush."

Slowly, Regina reached up and covered Emma's mouth with her hand and left it there. Too stunned to move, the blonde froze and simply placed her hands on the girl's back once again, leaving them there as she felt every one of Regina's breaths. A while later – Emma couldn't sleep, no matter how hard she tried – Regina began to whimper softly in her sleep, so her friend rubbed her back gently until she settled again. When Regina nuzzled her cheek against Emma's chest, Emma felt more sure than ever that she was in love.

It was an hour later that Regina finally woke, and when she did, Emma had only just finally fallen asleep herself. Because she was only sleeping lightly, she woke with a start as soon as she felt Regina's weight shifting slightly on top of her.

"You okay?" Emma asked, subconsciously stroking the girl's dark locks of hair away from her face.

Regina simply nodded and smiled, lifting her head slightly to look into Emma's eyes.

"What?" she asked, upon seeing the confusion in her friend's bright eyes.

"I just… I feel like I imagined last night. Like it wasn't real. But you said…"

"It was real."

"But-"

"It was real, Swan."

Emma bit her lip.

"Do you regret it?" Regina asked again, searching Emma's eyes for a lie as she replied.

"No."

"Then what are you so anxious about?"

"N-Nothing. I mean… Everything. I…"

"Everything?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I don't think I've ever actually seen you get nervous before."

Emma grumbled her reply.

"Yeah, well… It's not really my style."

"I like it."

"Well, I certainly don't!"

"You don't have to be shy around me, though. You can tell me what you're thinking. If you didn't like it, just say so."

"No! Mills, no. I-"

"Regina."

"What?"

"Call me Regina."

"Alright… Regina. I don't regret it. I did like it. I…"

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"What does that mean?"

"What do you mean, 'What does that mean?' It means I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I'm glad you don't regret what happened." There was a short pause before Regina added, "I should get up."

"Why? It's still early."

"I feel sick, and I… Oh, fuck-"

Jerking herself out of Emma's arms, Regina leaned over the side of the bed and expelled the contents of her stomach onto the floor. Luckily, the floor was linoleum and not carpeted.

"Oh, God," Emma gasped. "Shit. I never should have let you drink! Fuck!"

"I'm… I'm fine… Just… Just let me clean this-"

"No way. Go to the bathroom. Take a shower, okay? Just try to relax. If you need to throw up again, just let it happen. It'll pass. I'll clean up."

"Ew! No! You're not-"

"Go shower."

"But I-"

"Go!"

Looking surprised at the command, Regina untangled their limbs and wiggled out of the bed, grabbing her towel before leaving the dorm room.

When she returned, the mess was cleaned up, and Emma was sitting on her bed, anxious once again, but this time feeling guilty for having allowed the girl to drink as much as she had (which hadn't even been that much). Apparently, Regina's stomach was just sensitive.

When the girl returned from her shower looking exhausted, Emma stood immediately and put her hands on Regina's shoulders, asking, "Are you okay? Did you throw up again? Let's go get you some ginger ale to settle your stomach."

"Emma, I'm fine."

"But-"

"Shh. I'm fine."

When Regina's careful hand reached up to stroke her cheek, slowly, with tenderness, Emma froze.

"There. That's better. Now calmly and quietly get dressed so we can go eat something greasy and disgusting."

"What?"

"Hurry up, would you? I'm starving."

"How can you be-"

"Are you going to stand here and argue all day while I starve to death, or are you going to take me to get food?"

Emma couldn't help but laugh at this as she gave Regina a playful nudge.

"Alright, alright. I'm going."

Almost as soon as they sat down at a table in the dining hall, Emma was unlucky enough to find Ruby approaching the table. At first, she swallowed hard, her bright and cheerful laughter abruptly ending as she looked up at the girl, who was staring at the two seated at the table.

"Uh… Hey, Rubes," she said, her voice slightly shaky.

Then, Emma realized that she was nervous and internally scolded herself. Why should she be embarrassed? Why should she deny or avoid talking about the one thing that had made her truly happy? Hook-ups, partying, and drugs could only give her so much satisfaction. This girl… Regina… She'd given Emma everything, and it was nothing to be ashamed for.

"You're totally fucking her, aren't you?" Ruby blurted, immediately noticing the glow surrounding both of them and the increased chemistry that flowed between them.

"What?" Emma gaped.

"You heard me."

"Actually, we-" Regina started, but Emma set her fork down and interrupted right away.

"So what if we are?"

"So you fucking lied to me!" Ruby screamed, causing several heads to turn in their general direction.

"I didn't lie to you."

"So, what, it just started? You didn't mean for it to happen? It just kind of… did? You slipped, tripped, and landed on top of her, naked?"

"What's it to you?"

"You're a liar, Emma. You fucking other women like the slut you are doesn't bother me. Being lied to does."

That was all Regina needed to hear for her rope to snap, and she stood up instantly, shoving Ruby backwards as hard as she could, until the girl stumbled against a large trash can. Emma stood up and immediately moved to grab a hold of Regina, but the girl had already advanced on Ruby again, this time swinging her arm back and bringing it in contact with her jaw before the blonde could stop her hand.

"Regina!" Emma screamed, scrambling to pull her away.

Finally, she managed to hold her back, just before she swung again, as Ruby covered her jaw, which was already swelling.

"You fucking bitch," Ruby cursed, taking several steps forward as she glared at Regina.

In response, Emma stepped backwards, pulling Regina back with her, then stepping forward between them once Regina was out of the way.

"Enough!" Emma shouted. "You're going to get us kicked out! Now, stop it!"

Quickly, Ruby responded, "Fuck you, Emma," and took another step forward.

"Let's go, Regina."

"No fucking way," Regina hissed. "I'm going to teach her a lesson. I'm going to-"

"No you're not. We're leaving. Now."

Despite Regina's best efforts, she was weaker than Emma, and the blonde was easily able to gently drag her out of the dining hall.

On the way out, Regina turned to look back at Emma's former partner and warned her, "You call her a slut again, and I'll fucking kill you."

Once they were outside, behind the building, Emma looked her dead in the eyes and asked, "What the hell was that? Are you insane?"

"She called you… I…"

"I heard what she called me. She was just hurt, Regina. And jealous. And upset. She didn't mean it."

"I don't care!" the brunette cried, throwing her arms up. "She can't fucking talk to you like that!"

"It's fine. Really. It's not personal, and I know that. Besides, she's right. I told her nothing was going on."

"Well, it wasn't, when you told her that!"

"That's not the point. She feels betrayed by me, and she kind of was."

"I don't care. She can't call you that and get away with it!"

Distracted by the vibration of the cell phone in her pocket, Emma looked down and opened the message she'd just received.

'Slut.'

Of course, it was from Ruby.

When Emma sighed, Regina asked, "What?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

"Emma."

With another sigh, Emma handed the girl the phone.

"I'm going to fucking-"

"No. No, you're not. You're going to take a walk with me, and you're going to cool off, and then we're going to go back to the dorm and watch a movie."

"I don't want to watch a fucking movie! I want to slit her fucking throat!"

Eyes wide, Emma took both of her hands and said, "I've never seen you this upset."

"I've never been this upset."

After a short moment of silence, Emma let go of the girl's hands and put her own on Regina's waist, slowly walking her backwards until her back was against the brick wall of the building. When Regina's breath hitched, Emma stepped closer and stroked her hair back.

"Emma…"

"It's okay."

"Emma."

"Regina, it's okay. Relax, alright? Just… relax."

When the girl opened her mouth to protest, Emma pressed their lips together and kissed her slowly, tangling her fingers in Regina's soft locks of hair.

"Come on," she said, once she'd finally broken the kiss. "Let's go for a walk."

They walked in the woods for an hour or so, joking and laughing the whole way, until finally, they returned to the edge of the woods.

"So…" Emma started, looking out at the campus.

"Wait."

But before Emma could question this, Regina backed her against the nearest tree and kissed her hard.

Shortly after they walked in door to their room, Emma's phone rang.

Sighing, Emma told her roommate, "It's Belle."

"Answer it."

"What?"

"Just answer it."

"Why are you fine with Belle and not Ruby?"

"Just talk to her."

With a nod, Emma answered the call on the fourth ring.

"Hey."

"So you really pissed Ruby off today."

"Yeah, I know."

"I heard your girl knocked her out."

"Well, that's horseshit. It was one punch. And if Ruby can't take a punch, then-"

"Really?"

"What do you mean? Yes. One punch. I was there."

"Oh. Wow."

"What?"

"She…"

"She's a drama queen, Belle. I'm telling you, it was one punch in the jaw. I mean, she got her pretty good, but she definitely wasn't knocked out."

"Jeez. What a baby."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"How come she likes it rough in the bedroom and can't even take one punch from a sissy little-"

"Hey! Enough!"

"Just saying."

"Yeah, well, don't."

"A little snippy today?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I'm sorry," Belle told her. After a pause, she added, "You didn't deny it when I called her your girl."

Emma froze.

Given the silence in the room, and the volume of the phone, Regina could hear the entire conversation, and was watching intently for Emma's response.

"No, I didn't," she finally answered.

"Oh."

"I mean… It's not… We're not… official or anything…"

Regina raised her eyebrows and stared. Was Emma really confessing that something had happened between them? And to Belle, of all people?

"No?"

"We kissed, okay?"

"Mhmm. Sure."

"Jesus, Belle, come on. I'm not going to give details."

"You fucked her pretty brains out, didn't you?"

"Belle, stop it!"

"Why? Is she there?"

"Oh, my God. Stop."

"You're right. I'm sorry. It's none of my business. We both agreed that whatever was happening between us was open. I shouldn't even be asking. I guess I just wanted to know what was going on with Ruby. Sorry."

"It's alright. Listen, I gotta go, but… We can talk tomorrow, if you want."

"Yeah. Okay. Night, bitch," Belle joked, forcing a laugh.

"Night, brat."

As soon as Emma was putting the phone away, it buzzed. The text message was from Belle.

'Does this mean we have to stop?'

Emma bit her lip and raised the phone, showing Regina the screen.

"What?" the brunette asked. "What do you want me to say to that?"

"N-Nothing. I just… wanted you to know what she said."

"Why?"

"Well… I don't know. I mean… I guess I just… don't really know… what… we… are…"

When Regina sat down on the bed, Emma felt her palms begin to sweat.

"What do you want us to be?"

"That's up to you."

"Well, I don't want to be your fuck buddy. I already told you that."

"Then what's this all been about? I mean, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Kissing me. Touching me. Flirting with me."

"Because I love you. Because I couldn't wait any longer to find out what it would feel like."

"What what would feel like?"

"What it would feel like to kiss you."

"Was… Was it okay?"

Laughing, Regina stood up and kissed Emma's forehead, telling her, "Yes. It was good. Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept doing it sober."

"So… So what is this, then?"

"I don't know. Like I said, I don't want to be your fuck buddy. But… I'm glad I found out what it was like. I'm glad I got a taste of loving you. Now I know why the girls fall all over you."

"Regina…"

"What? It's true."

"I don't want us to stop."

"No?"

"No, I don't. And I don't want other girls."

Involuntarily, Regina raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"You… You don't?"

"No, I don't. I want you."

"Are you… like… sure? Because if you-"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Emma-"

But Emma was distracted by typing a short reply to her friend.

'Yes. I'm sorry. You're still my best friend.'

Before hitting send, she raised the screen again so that Regina could read it, but the girl looked away quickly, before she could read the words.

"What?" Emma asked, confused by the gesture.

"You don't need to show me that. I don't need proof that you-"

"I just told her we have to stop, but that she's still my best friend."

"Emma, you didn't have to-"

"I'm done with other girls. All I want is you."

The next day, Emma decided to have breakfast with Belle. After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Emma sensed how artificial the conversation was and interrupted Belle's comments about the weather.

"What are you really thinking?"

"What?"

"What are you thinking?"

"I… I just… I'm going to miss it, that's all."

"Miss what?"

"Us."

"Belle, we're friends. We've always been friends. And we always will be."

"I know, Em. But… It won't be like it used to."

"No, it won't," Emma said plainly, looking deeply into Belle's eyes.

She could see pain there, and although she didn't quite understand it, she saw it, and it made her feel guilty.

Then, Belle said, "I just really enjoy your company. In every sense. It will be hard for me to change the way I act around you. Even when I'm pissed at you, I want you."

"Belle…"

"It's not like that. I'm not saying… It's not… I just… You're a good fuck, okay? It's just going to be hard getting used to you being exclusive with someone else."

Raising her eyebrows, Emma watched as Belle looked away and started to blush.

"I love you, Belle," Emma finally confessed. "I just… romantically… and sexually… I want something deeper. I want something that isn't just for 'fun,' you know? I'm ready to stop playing around. I want to settle down. You understand, don't you?"

"I never thought I'd hear you say that," Belle chuckled, looking up. "I want you to be happy, Em. Whatever makes you really, truly happy… I want that for you."

"Wow… Jesus, Belle…"

"What?"

"I'm just… Thank you. Thank you for saying that. I want that for you too, Belle."

Pushing through the ache in her stomach, Belle reached out and squeezed Emma's hand, assuring her, "I love you, too, you know. You're my best friend."

With a sigh and a smile, Emma told her friend, "You're so amazing. Even though you can be a total bitch sometimes."

"Alright. Enough mushy shit. Are we going out tonight, or what?"

Emma paused, her hand tensing beneath Belle's as she tried to conjure up an appropriate answer. Should she go out? Was that even a good idea? What would Regina say?

"I, um… I don't know. Maybe?"

"Maybe…?"

"Yeah. I'll let you know later, okay? I gotta get to class."

"Your class isn't for another forty minutes, and-"

"Bye, hun. I'll talk to you later."

After placing a quick kiss on Belle's cheek, Emma rose from the table and nearly bolted out of the dining hall.

Back in the dorm room that night, Emma sat on her bed as Regina sat on her own.

"So… Belle wants me to go out tonight…" Emma started.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." When Regina didn't reply, the blonde added, "So…"

"So what?"

Starting to sound slightly exasperated, Emma whined, "So what should I do?"

"What do you mean? Why are you asking me? Do what you want to do."

But Emma could see that Regina was uncomfortable, and that the prospect of her going out. Emma was sure that Regina knew it meant using drugs, and that in the past, it had also meant hooking up with other women, including Belle.

"I want… I mean…"

"What is it, Em? Just tell me."

"I don't really know how to have fun without hooking up or being wasted."

Looking slightly surprised, Regina asked, "So all the time we spent together… watching movies… going bowling. That was… what?"

Emma thought about this and considered the question carefully. Regina was right. She'd had fun with her, numerous times, and she'd done it without help from drugs or sex. She had been buzzed when they went bowling, but she wasn't high, and to be fair, the night had been more than 'fun.' It had been wonderful. And it was all because of Regina.

"Hey… Um… Listen… I… I've never been able to do things, except artsy stuff, without getting high. But with you, things were just… easy. But those things… bowling, watching movies, relaxing together, just talking… that was special because of you."

Regina raised an eyebrow and watched Emma's expression.

"You mean that?"

"Of course. I'd never lie to you, Regina," Emma told her, then reached for her phone and started to type.. "I'm telling Belle no."

"I wouldn't lie to you either…"

After a pause, the blonde said, "Then tell me a secret."

"What?"

"A secret. You know… something most people don't know about you that you normally keep private."

"It wouldn't be much of a secret if I told you, now would it?"

"I can keep a secret."

"Why do you want to know one?"

"Because I think people are defined by their secrets. I think it says a lot about person, what they decide to withhold from others. What they choose to keep private. And I want to get to know you better. I want…"

"Yes?"

"I want to know you better than anyone."

"Okay. Come here, then."

"Huh?"

"Just come here. Sit with me."

So Emma stood and walked over to Regina's bed, sitting down beside her. As soon as she was there, the brunette pushed her down gently and curled against her side, sliding the palm of her hand over Emma's stomach.

"What… What are you-"

"You want to know a secret?"

"Yes…"

"That night I got a little drunk?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to fuck you."

Swallowing hard, Emma turned her head to face Regina and stared into her eyes, checking them for any sign of a joke. She found none. She was being serious.

"Is that weird?" Regina blurted suddenly, breaking the awkward silence.

"What? No! I mean… No. I just. I…"

"It was totally weird, wasn't it? I shouldn't have told you that."

"Regina, wait. Listen." Slowly, Emma reached up and stroked the girl's cheek, explaining, "I wanted that too."

"Well, you always want that," Regina chuckled, gently pushing Emma's hand away. "You're constantly horny."

"No. Regina."

"What?"

"There's something about you I can't resist. I've never wanted anyone the way I want you."

Startled by this, Regina said nothing. Instead, she simply stared at Emma and tried to breathe slowly in order to slow her heartbeat.

"Is that weird?"

"No… I just… I'm surprised. I'm really nothing special, Emma. I'm just… me."

"You're perfect, Regina. There's nothing about you that I don't like."

This earned a blush from the brunette, who turned her face away, but Emma turned it back and looked into her eyes before softly kissing her lips. The slow-burning kiss lasted a long time, and the longer it went on, the more desperate they became for increased contact, until Emma's hands were wandering beneath the hem of Regina's soft fitted T-shirt.

"I don't know what to do," Emma finally breathed, breaking away. "I fell so hard for you."

Stroking her thumbs over Regina's hip bones made the girl twitch beneath her fingertips, and when Emma felt it, she smiled.

"I love that," she said, pressing her forehead lightly against Regina's. "I love feeling you react, or making you blush."

"I don't blush!" Regina cried, starting to push Emma away.

Quickly, grinning, the blonde teased, "You do!" and covered her companion's face with kisses, causing Regina to squirm beneath her as she began to laugh brightly.

"Emma!" she shouted. "Stop it!"

But Emma refused, continuing to kiss her, but her pace slowed as her mouth wandered south, landing on the pulse point of her neck. After a few chaste pecks, Emma parted her lips slightly and sucked on the skin there. When the sound of Regina's quiet whimper filled her ears, she bit down lightly and flicked her tongue over the playful bite.

"Emma," Regina gasped. "Fuck."

"Alright. Alright," the blonde sighed. "We should stop."

"What?"

"This is moving too fast. You're new to all this, and I don't want to take advantage of you. We should take it easy until you're really comfortable with everything that's happening. If you even want it to happen. I'm never going to pressure you into doing anything you're not ready for."

"Who said I'm not ready for it?"

"What exactly is it you think you're ready for?"

"You. I want you."

With another sigh, Emma stroked Regina's hair back and kissed her forehead, saying, "I know you think you want it now, because your body is reacting, but I think that if you really thought about it… you'd want to wait too. And the last thing I want is for us to do something and have you regret it later. The last thing I want is… is to lose you…"

Voice lowered, Regina replied, "You're not going to lose me. I'm crazy about you, Emma."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Good… Because I'm crazy about you too."

"Good morning, Princess," Emma whispered, kissing Regina's temple and stroking her cheek to wake her. In response, Regina simply grumbled and tried to roll over onto her side, away from Emma, but the blonde gave her torso a gentle squeeze and held her close, telling her, "Rise and shine, buttercup."

"Nooo," Regina moaned, trying to push herself away from Emma, but she found the embrace so warm and comforting that she melted back into the girl's arms in submission and rested her head back on Emma's chest. "Not awake yet."

"Breakfast time."

"I'm not hungry."

"You will be, once you're up and showered."

"Yeah, but-"

"Shh. Up and at 'em."

"Emmaaaaa."

"Yes, love."

"Can't you just stay in bed with me and hold me all day?"

"No, babe. We've got class, and it's uppy time."

With a huff, Regina replied, "Fine," and finally wiggled out of the girl's embrace, slowly slipping out of the bed.

Once she was showered and ready for the day, she found that she was, in fact, hungry.

"You coming with me to eat?" the brunette asked her companion, unable to hide the hopefulness in her voice.

"Yeah, babe. I'll escort you anywhere you want to go."

"Good. Then you can walk me to class after."

The girl's bright smile and shimmering dark eyes made Emma's stomach flip.

In the dining hall that morning, once the two were sitting at a table, laughing at Emma's horrible, corny jokes, Emma saw Ruby out of the corner of her eye. She was in the back of the dining hall, enthusiastically kissing the neck of a girl Emma didn't know.

"Gross," Emma laughed, nodding in Ruby's direction. When Regina started to stand, though, Emma grabbed her hand and pulled her back into her seat, saying, "Sit. You're fine. It's fine."

"Doesn't that bother you? It's fucking gross."

"Honestly? No. Ruby deserves to be happy. I don't think she'll find it like that, but she has the right to try."

"She's obviously trying to make you jealous."

"She probably didn't even see me."

"She just looked right at you."

Emma whipped her head around and looked at Ruby, their eyes meeting. When Ruby grinned at her, she turned back around to face Regina.

"Whatever. I don't care. Anyway, it's not really that gross. We used to do that too."

"Seriously? In public?"

"Well, not in the dining hall, but at clubs and stuff. Anyway, it's not big deal. So what if she's trying to get a rise out of me? It's not going to work."

With a weak nod, Regina turned her attention back to her half-finished plate of food. They sat quietly for a while before they both noticed someone approaching the table.

"Um… Hey," the girl said, looking at Emma and Regina.

Both of them raised their gaze and found Belle standing there, staring awkwardly.

"Hey, Belle," Emma said, clearly uneasy about the prospect of having the two girls near each other.

"Can… Can I sit?"

After looking at Regina and receiving a nod, Emma turned back to Belle and said, "Of course you can. If you play nicely."

Belle offered a weak smile and sat down slowly, setting her tray down on the table.

"Thanks. I guess I just… I wanted to say… I wanted…"

Both girls watched as Belle nearly squirmed in agony, clearly struggling to form whatever words she was trying to say.

"It's alright, hun. Just say it," Emma offered. "It's okay."

"I wanted to say that I'm happy for you. Both of you. And that… that you'd better take good care of her, or I'll probably slit your fucking throat."

The last comment was clearly directed at Regina. To Emma's surprise, her companion just laughed and nodded her head.

"I will," she promised.

"Good," Belle said, nodding her head. "Seriously, though. You both deserve to be happy. It's going to be weird to have my relationship with Emma change, but I want her to have what she really wants, and that's you."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Belle tried to look happy, but even through her smile, there was sadness in her eyes.

"Do you… Do you guys want to come out tonight?"

"Um… Both of us?" Regina questioned, clearly surprised at the offer.

Emma looked surprised too as she waited for Belle's next response.

"Yeah. Both of you. I definitely don't want to go out alone, and I don't think you trust me to be with your girl by myself."

"That's only half true, actually," Regina told the girl, glancing over at Emma.

"What do you mean?" Belle asked.

"I don't know you well enough to trust you, but I trust Emma. I don't care if she's alone with you."

"Wow. That's some solid shit right there."

"What?"

"That kind of trust is hard to come by. You guys obviously have a good relationship."

"We're not even… We're not even official, Belle. It's not really a 'relationship.'"

"Well, she's certainly not just hooking up with you. She's in it for the long haul, and she's madly in love with you."

This brought a heavy silence that hovered over the table. Emma was blushing, telling Regina, without words, that this was true. Finally, Belle offered a genuine smile and squeezed Emma's hand.

"You two should stop holding back and make it official," Belle told them. Life is too short to waste time feeding into your inhibitions and worrying about things going wrong. Taking chances is the only way to be happy in this life."

"Wise words, coming from someone who never does their homework," Emma teased her.

"Hey. Wisdom comes from experience, not studying."

"True story," Regina chimed in with a smile.

"So, what do you think?" Belle asked. "Are you guys coming out of what?"

They shared a glance before Regina replied nervously, "I'm… I'm kind of a prude. I don't think I'd be very much fun."

"Oh, we'll show you how to have a good time," Belle said with a grin. "Don't you worry, sweetheart."

The pounding of the music in the club made Regina's head ache almost instantly, but she pushed through it, squeezing Emma's hand. It was obvious to her companion that she was nervous.

As they made their way to the middle of the dance floor, Emma leaned in close to her ear and asked, "You've never been to a club, have you?"

"Nope," Regina confessed. "Never."

"That's okay. We'll show you how it's done."

"Emma… I can't even dance. I don't know what I'm doing. Maybe I should have stayed home… I'm totally going to ruin your-"

"Oy," Belle shouted. "Quit bein' such a pussy. Look, it's simple. DJ plays music, you back ass up onto Emma's crotch and grind on her. Easy peasy."

"What…?" Regina gawked, looking anxiously over at Emma.

Emma blushed and looked down, automatically scanning Regina's body and licking her lips at the prospect of dancing with her.

"Look, if you don't want to do anything, we can just hang out and listen to the music, okay? It's fine," Emma comforted her. "Just relax, alright? We don't have to dance. Do you want to go sit down?"

"Oh, no you don't," Belle interjected "You're not pussying out of this. Time to have some real fun."

To Emma's shock and horror, Belle reached out and pressed a small tablet into her hand, then did the same for Regina. Of course, Regina stared down at the item in her hand, completely confused.

"What is this?" she asked nervously, looking up at Belle.

When Belle just grinned at her and said, "Party time," she turned to Emma, who was red in the face and trying not to pass out from embarrassment.

"It's… It's nothing. Give it to me."

But when Emma held out her hand to take the tiny object, Regina closed her hand and looked back at Belle, asking, "What is it?"

Belle answered her with enthusiasm, "It's how I'm going to teach you to have a good time. Just put it in your mouth and swallow like a good girl, yeah? Unless you're too much of a pussy, that is…"

"Regina," Emma cut in. "Give it to me."

As Emma tried to pry the girl's hand open, Regina jerked it away, saying, "I'm not a fucking pussy," and popped the pill quickly into her mouth before Emma could grab it.

"Are you fucking insane?" Emma shouted, glaring at Belle. "She's never done-"

"She'll be fine," Belle laughed, shoving Emma's shoulder. "Relax. When did you get so uptight? Even little Miss Prudey Pants is down to party. Just fucking take yours and have a good time like we always do. Show your girl how to have fun."

"This isn't how-"

"Oh, my God. Seriously? Just take it, Emma. Don't be such a square."

When she looked over at Regina and saw the girl smiling, Emma sighed and popped the pill into her mouth.

As soon as Regina turned to look around the room, Belle subtly pressed another tablet into Emma's hand, knowing it would take her more to reach the high. Looking apprehensive but choosing to ignore her inhibitions, Emma took the pill. Belle disappeared for a while, after saying she'd 'be right back,' content to entertain herself by flirting with women at the bar. After some time of standing awkwardly, wondering with the effects of whatever she'd been given were going to kick in, Regina took a few steps closer to Emma and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Em?"

"Yeah, babe," Emma answered, kissing the girl's cheek.

"I feel weird."

"Bad weird? Good weird?"

"I don't know. I feel… jittery. Like I've had too much caffeine."

Unable to hold back a smile, Emma said, "Yeah. Just wait. It gets better."

Soon, Regina started to relax. Emma's heart skipped a beat when her companion moved closer to her, stepping in front of her and putting her hands on her waist.

"You know something?" she asked with a bright smile.

"No. What?"

"You're fucking beautiful."

"Regina…"

But before Emma could continue her protest, Regina's lips were covering her own, passionately kissing her, until the girl's tongue was in her mouth, searching for more contact.

"You taste amazing," Regina told her, once she'd finally pulled away, leaving their bodies pressed together.

Distracted by staring deeply into each other's eyes, neither noticed when Belle reappeared beside them, until they heard her raise her voice over the music, saying, "Well, well, well. Don't we have the sexiest couple in the club right here?"

"Belle!" Emma cried, intending to pull away from Regina to shove her friend for the comment.

But Regina held her close and continued to stare at her, mostly ignoring Belle.

After a few moments, she said, "I don't know how to dance. Show me."

Heart pounding, Emma stammered, "I… Um…"

Then, Belle jumped in quickly, telling them both, "Oh, I got this," and moving so that she was standing behind Regina. "Turn around," she said in Regina's ear, slowly twisting the girl's hips to move her.

Once her back was to Emma, Belle gently pushed her until she took the final step backwards, leaving her back pressed against Emma's chest.

"Bend forward just a little bit and swing your hips."

"I…"

"Don't you want her?" Belle whispered, gently stroking Regina's hair back.

When Regina nodded enthusiastically, Belle gripped her hips and moved them for her. As soon as Emma felt the friction as she watched Regina move in front of her, her heart raced even faster than before. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

"Emma, come on," Belle laughed. Pull her hips back. You know how to do this."

Cautiously, the blonde put her hands on Regina's hips and pulled them back gently, until the friction against her crotch increased. As Emma pulled her back, Regina became lost in the moment, and Belle removed her hands, no longer needing to encourage either of them as Regina shut her eyes and moved to the music. By the time this happened, her head was spinning, and the drug was taking over, erasing her inhibitions and stopping her nerves from getting in the way.

"Now, that's more like it!" Belle laughed, stepping back. "I'll be back later. You two have fun."

As Regina became more comfortable in her own skin, sweating out most of her anxiety, and grinded more confidently against her companion, Emma lost herself in the sensations.

"Fuck, Regina," she breathed heavily. "You're so fucking hot."

Regina just laughed at this, smiling brightly and continuing to drive Emma wild.