Chapter 14

The kissing that had started at the museum hadn't slowed down, even when they entered the taxi. Regina was practically in the blonde's lap as their tongues dueled inside the brunettes mouth. Emma ran her hands up and down the executive's back as the neared her apartment. She would tell her tonight. Tell her before they went any further, and if Regina was ok with it, they would cement their love.

"Oh god," the brunette moaned as the Emma found a sensitive spot on her neck. She felt the confusion with the pictures she saw at the museum come up into her mind, but she pushed it down. She'd ask about it when she returned to the Enchanted Forest with her bride. She continued her assault on Regina's neck, kissing and sucking down to the woman's shoulders, moving the collar of her dress down to increase her access.

A cough and clearing of the throat caused them both to look up. The driver had stopped outside of Emma's apartment building.

"W-we're here," the man said huskily. Emma nodded and reached into her back pocket to pay the driver. She left him a carelessly large tip as she rehearsed what she was going to say to Regina once they entered the apartment. Killian was supposed to be gone for the evening, and it would be just the two of them. She knew Regina would not be happy about the deception but surely she would understand why the princess had lied about where she had come from.

They continued their kisses as they made their way up the concrete stairs and into the building. Emma was definitely glad that they had moved to the first floor. There was no way they would have made it up to the fourth level. She stopped briefly, pulling Regina along toward the apartment, squirming as the woman kissed at the back of her neck.

"What the…" Emma trailed off, seeing the note stuck to her door.

Emma,

I am at the Waldorf Towers. We've been rescued!

Your mother and father have set us up in our own suite.

Come as soon as possible

-Killian

"Fuck…" the blonde muttered under her breath.

"Soon," Regina laughed, continuing to kiss at her neck.

"Regina, I...we need to stop," she had waited forever for this moment, and now it was being ruined. There was no way she could tell Regina tonight. She had to see her parents first. They could show up here at any moment. There was no way she could let them ruin her first time with her love.

"Why?"

"We just...we just can't."

"Emma, I don't care about your apartment." the brunette said, sliding her hands up the princess' hip. "I just want you."

"I...I feel as though I am rushing you. We have only been seeing each other a short while."

"Trust me, you aren't rushing me."

"It's better if we take our time. I - I want to do this right." she pressed a kiss to the full red lips and led her back out to the taxi, who had surprisingly not pulled off yet. "I'll take you home."

"Chivalry should have died," Regina muttered as they got back into the taxi.

[SQ]

"Emma!" Cora practically screamed as the two women walked into the house. She pulled the blonde into a hug, "It is great to see you."

"Great to see you too, ma'am." she rubbed Regina on the arm and prepared to turn around, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Come, have a seat and let me get you a drink, " Cora said ushering the woman over to formal living room.

"I have to get going…"

"Nonsense dear, one drink. I feel as though I hardly know you" the older woman said. "We must get to know each other since you are courting my daughter." Regina frowned as her mother walked off toward the great room. Her mother was not this fond of Emma.

Cora ran to the bar, pulling out her cell phone she quickly dialed the hotel.

"Queen Mary Margaret please….Cora Mills." she asked. She could feel the excited welling in her as she waited for the woman to answer.

"This is Jefferson, advisor to Queen Mary Margaret."

"Cora Mills here," she smiled. "Both the girls are here." she rattled off her address and went to go put some snacks in the oven for the arrival of the Queen and her party.

"Did you want ice in that drink dear," Cora asked asked as she came back to the formal living area.

"Honestly Ms. Mills, I really have to be going."

"No, not yet . I just put some delicious hors devours in the oven, daughter. she winked at the blonde, causing Emma to gasp and Regina to frown. She rushed off again leaving the two women alone.

"Regina, I have to go, tell your mother bye for me."

"Emma, what is going on," the brunette asked. "You seem terrified and I'm afraid my mother might be stoned."

"I am not sure what's going on with Cora, but I will tell you all in due time my love," she kissed the executive briefly before heading out the front door.

"Where's Emma?" Cora same back carrying a tray of fresh fruits.

"She had to go. She told you several times."

"She can't leave," Cora was nearly whining, something Regina had never seen in her over 30 years of life.

"What is going on? And why are you being nice to Emma all of a sudden?"

"She's grown on me," Cora muttered while putting a strawberry into her mouth.

"Mother…"

"What? I can't change my mind?"

"Mother…."

"I just realized that you two make a lovely couple. She's a fine young woman…"

"MOTHER!" Regina yelled.

"Okay fine," Cora put the tray onto the coffee table a reached into her jacket pocket. "She is rich!"

"What? She's herds sheep for a living."

"No, she has her own money...and when I mean she has her own money," she put the folded Cantania bill into Regina's hand, "I mean she has her own money." Regina couldn't share in her mother's obvious glee as she unfolded the bill and took in the likeness of her girlfriend.

"A princess, Regina!" Cora chuckled, practically dancing on the hardwood. "You did it this time dear. You hit the jackpot! Your little shepherdess makes Robin Locksley look like a welfare case!" Regina could feel tears beginning to well up in her eyes as she walked away from her celebrating mother. Why would Emma lie to her? The apparent princess had a lot explain.

[SQ]

Emma had exited her cab two blocks back and was now running through the rain to the hotel. She couldn't believe this. She was this close to asking Regina to be her wife, and now she had to contend with her parents. No worries. She would explain things...and her father was more open minded than her mother. Surely he would understand.

She entered the massive suite and noticed that it was surprisingly quiet.

"Hello!" she called out.

"Oh Emma," Killian came exiting another room in nothing but a bathrobe. It looked rather comfortable and she found herself briefly missing the finer things. "Good news, we've been rescued"

"Where are my parents?"

"They left a while ago," he said rubbing a small towel through his wet hair. "They were headed to the Mills' house to find you."

"Fairy damn it," she muttered. Of course they would know about Regina. Her mother was never without information. Even in another realm. "Where are my official clothes? We need to change and get there as soon as possible."