The First Real Kiss

Days had turned into weeks and Henry was nearing the end of his two-week sentence for leaving Zelena's custody. His punishment was no television or video games for 3 weeks, and he had the added chore of helping his Aunt Zelena sweep up the shop's backroom twice a week, which wasn't a real hardship because he liked sweeping. Zelena would mutter under her breath that he was certainly Regina's son.

Emma and Regina had spent more time together and had agreed to take things slow. There were shared meals allowing them to become more familiar with each other. Emma had driven out to the Elementary school twice to have lunch with Regina in her office. Some dinner were with Henry, others were just the two of them. The three of them took a trip to the movies one weekend to watch the new Avengers movie.

A picnic in the park had proven fruitful when, while Henry was off playing with a friend, Emma had complained about a sore neck muscle and Regina offered to work the knot out. What had started with Regina kneeling behind Emma, massaging her shoulders, resulted in an intimate moment when they had almost kissed. Though Emma had wanted to, at the time, she detected mixed feelings from Regina. There was longing but also a lack of confidence too. Emma supposed it was natural, after all that Regina had been though with Mal, that she might be a little hesitant. Her decision was not to push. Emma could be patient. She wasn't going anywhere, and she knew the wait for Regina would be worth it.

On one particular afternoon, a month later, the whirling sound of a chainsaw could be heard in Regina's backyard.

"Emma! EMMA!"

Emma held the powerful saw against the tree not hearing that Regina and Henry were home.

When she saw them, she drew her goggles down, allowing them to hang around her neck. She wasn't sure what was more enticing: seeing Regina in a grey dress that wrapped around her body, accentuating all the right curves or the hungry look Regina wore while perusing Emma's perspiring body.

Emma turned the chainsaw off, donned a full-fledged smile to welcome them home, and ran a gloved hand down her white tank and black jeans.

"Hi."

"Hello." Fascinated, Regina's eyes fixated on Emma's chest and biceps, causing a ripple through Emma's lower middle. Oh yeah. She likes what she sees. As a test, Emma squeezed the saw's handle, flexing her arm muscles and Regina's eyes widened and she gulped.

Emma wanted to dance in victory because the brunette had to close her eyes to tear her avid gaze away. When Regina opened them again, she was looking at Emma's face blankly like maybe she forgot what she had wanted to say.

"Um…" Regina began and she zeroed in on Emma's lips. Testing again, Emma slowly dragged her tongue across her upper lip and was pleased when Regina's mouth hung open. It looked like the principal had stopped breathing.

Regina's focus was snagged by mischievous green eyes. A perfectly groomed, dark eyebrow knowingly curved followed by an eye roll. "Okay. Yes," she acknowledged her gawking, "Anyway… you are here earlier than expected."

"Oh, yeah. I hope it's okay. I wanted to get this fallen tree all taken care of for you. Since I had the afternoon off, I wanted to get a good head-start so that we could have more time together… for other things…" Emma gave Regina a meaningful look. Desire flashed in Regina's eyes and the movement beside her brought both their attentions to Henry, wearing his backpack while holding the straps against his chest. "How are you doing, Sir Henry? How was school?"

"It was good. Michelle Herrera shoved a bead up her nose and the teacher panicked and called 911. Deputy Blanchard came out with the ambulance and she talked to Vice Principal Nolan and now everyone thinks they're in love."

Emma's eyes goggled at that. "Really? Wow, that sounds like quite a day. I'll have to get the 411 from Deputy Blanchard." Bringing her gaze up to Regina, she said through tightened lips, "In love?"

Regina lifted a shrugging shoulder and Henry insisted, "Yes. They're in love. Robyn says he always acts weird when he's around her and Mary Margaret smiles down at her feet a lot."

"Interesting," Emma thought aloud.

"Yes, well. Henry, I thought you wanted to help Emma? You had better get changed."

"Oh yeah!" He ran into the house to get changed into appropriate yard work clothes. Emma bent over, reaching into her bag a short distance away and pulled out a folded clump of leather hide.

"Check these out. I got him the cutest set of work gloves. Adorable." Emma stopped because Regina was ogling her again.

"You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I am not responsible for my actions."

"Hmmm? What?" Regina straightened, losing the dazed, dreamy look on her face and was a little embarrassed to be caught staring.

"I know we agreed to take it slow, but you're pushing it, lady. You're looking at me like you're in the mood for chocolate and I'm a Hostess Cupcake."

"Those things are gross."

"That wasn't the point." A rosy glow spread, while Regina seemed at a loss for words, and it was so endearing, Emma found herself leaning in, in a tempting manner. It would be so easy to just claim those ruby-red lips and satisfy both their curiosities. They had shared a lingering cheek kiss, since their picnic, the night before last. One kiss, and it felt more than friends, at least to Emma, who now suddenly felt a need to discuss where they were going because she was falling fast.

Emma had never moved so slowly with a woman before. This was the real deal for her and she had been willing to allow Regina to call the shots. She reminded herself, daily, that Regina had just gotten out of a bad relationship and she was also a single mother who had a child to think about. Under no circumstances was she going to rush Regina into anything the woman wasn't ready for. It was important to give her the time and space she needed. But damned if Emma wasn't slowly going crazy.

So, she flirted, but not overtly, and expressed romantic interest in the woman because she needed Regina to know that she wanted her.

This time, Regina moved a little closer too. Emma's face lit up and she wanted to jump for joy, but suddenly realized that she was all gross and sweaty. This was not how first real kisses should be, smelling like a mule. She shook her head with a half-suppressed laugh, and said, "You're gorgeous, Regina," then bent forward quickly placing the hottest of cheek kisses close to the corner of Regina's mouth. Realizing she lingered for way longer than was platonic, she eased back slowly, watching the smolder in Regina's eyes.

"I think I like this kind of welcome home." Regina's simper was charming and sexy.

"We're getting closer."

The toothy grin that spread across Regina's lips warmed Emma to the core and when the brunette brought loving fingertips up caressing her chin, Emma dipped and kissed Regina's thumb.

"Soon, Emma." Taking a few steps back, Regina looked suddenly shy but no less enchanting. "I'm going to start dinner. I hope you like chicken fajitas."

She didn't wait for Emma's answer. They both knew Emma would probably eat sawdust just so they could spend more time together.

[- ]

Regina was trying her best to prepare dinner. She had the tortillas ready, most of the vegetables chopped and the food warming in the oven. However, she was distracted by Emma, who had come into the house thirty minutes ago with Henry, in his blue Thomas the Tank Engine t-shirt, jeans and converses. She had asked whether she could take a shower before dinner and, now, all Regina could think about was a very naked Emma Swan upstairs in her shower. She had the option of letting the woman use the guest bathroom, but Henry used that one, and she was sure the bathtub/shower was filled with toys. So instead, Emma was using her private bathroom, getting dressed and undressed in her bedroom and Regina suddenly wanted to lock the woman in there and never let her out.

Henry came in and Regina was grateful to have her attention grabbed away from the blonde. "Did you wash up for dinner, young man?"

"Uh-huh." The six-year-old, leaned on the counter opposite her and drummed his fingers impatiently. Regina glanced up at him knowingly. Adorably, his mouth twisted and he sighed.

"Did you set the table, Henry?"

"Yep!"

"That's my boy." She smiled at him as he climbed to sit on the nearby stool and watched her chop tomatoes.

"Can I go see if Emma's ready?"

"No, sweetheart. Leave Emma alone."

"She's been up there for a long time." Henry was so eager to have his hero join him again. Regina didn't think it had been that long. "Maybe she's sleeping."

"I don't think she's sleeping."

"I can't hear the shower anymore, so she's not taking a shower."

She's naked in your bedroom.

"Maybe she was so tired she took a nap, Mom. It's a good thing your bed is in there."

Oh geez.

The thought of Emma Swan sleeping naked in her bed was enough to have her pull at the thin red v-neck t-shirt, alleviating the sudden hot flash she was experiencing.

"Mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"You look funny."

"Oh?"

"You look a little like you got a sunburn."

She was burning on the inside, that was for sure. She was hot for a chainsaw wielding, tank-top wearing, blonde whose cheek kisses alone could melt her insides and have her heart palpitating a mile a minute. And those dimples, she thought, should be considered concealed weapons. Regina was never prepared for them to come out and mesmerize her.

"Mmmm, something smells amazing!"

Emma, in a pair of faded tight jeans and a sinfully snug-fitting, black, tank top, startled Regina out of her musing that she almost dropped the spoon she was making guacamole with onto the floor.

Oh my! How many tank tops did the woman own?

She watched Emma curl sexy arms up, newly-washed muscles rippling as she pulled her wet, golden hair back into a ponytail. The woman made putting one's hair up breath-taking.

Needing to be hosed down, Regina snatched the glass of ice water on the counter. She began to drink, hoping to extinguish the bourgeoning desire in her abdomen.

"We thought you might have been sleeping in Mom's bed."

Regina's eyes bugged-out at Henry momentarily, and she caught the humor in Emma's face. Gulping down the ice water held in her cheeks, she nonchalantly shook her fark curls and clarified, "No, we didn't. Henry thought that maybe you were tired and had fallen asleep."

"But mom doesn't mind if you sleep in her bed. Right, mom?"

It was apparent that the six-year old could not pick up on the undercurrents flowing between Emma and Regina. The air suddenly became charged with their undeniable chemistry, and Emma's eyes were filled with unrestrained lust, penetrating into Regina's so much so that the time for awkward virginal blushing was over and the heat in Regina's gaze, all at once, matched Emma's.

Fully intending to make it through dinner without ripping the woman's clothes off, especially in front of her son, Regina pushed the bowl of Tortilla chips toward Emma.

"Chip?" She offered with a pointed glanced at Henry and Emma followed her sights. That seemed to also cool the blonde down a bit and she smiled gratefully.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks."

"Hey, Emma! Want to see what I did in school today? I'll show you, come on."

"Yeah, sure. Okay."

Regina quickly remembered. "Oh here. I poured you a glass of wine. Take it with you. It might take the edge off."

The gesture was friendly, but the moment their fingers brushed, it was a ten-alarm-fire all over again.

Emma gulped and mouthed, "Holy Crap," as Henry dragged her closer to the door.

Regina mirrored the gulp before saying to her, "Tell me about it."

[- ]

"I think this is the best apple crumble I have ever eaten." Emma forked another big bite of warm apple dessert with the cold vanilla ice cream into her mouth. "It's perfect." Not only was Regina amazingly hot, but she was also an exceptional cook. Her aunts would be proud. She could imagine Aunt Ingrid wanting to talk to Regina about some of the scrumptious delights the woman made. She envisioned Regina and Henry sitting in the dining room of her Aunts' restaurant and mentally assessed the logistics involved in taking both mother and son to Virginia Beach for a holiday. Emma knew that alone was huge. She rarely ever brought women home to meet the aunts.

Her feelings for Regina were tripping her up, making her do and think things that were out of character for her. She thought, maybe, she had been in love before, but it had never felt like this.

Whoa! In love?

Emma studied the woman sitting across from her las she laughed into her napkin at one of Henry's jokes before sipping her coffee. Regina focused on Emma, smiled genuinely and the blonde was lost in the power of it. As much as she wanted to keep things light, there was no denying it to herself.

Emma was head over heels in love with Regina Mills, and they still haven't truly shared an relationship-indicating kiss. It was an amazing revelation to her. They had spent time together, just talking about things. Their histories, dreams and goals. She had learned that Henry was adopted and that Regina couldn't have children. Regina didn't care that Henry wasn't biologically hers. "Blood doesn't make a family, love does," Regina had said. Considering Emma's background, hearing that had started the early stages of her fall for her.

Glancing to her left, she watched Henry laugh with his spoon in his mouth and she knew she was in love with him too. The intense wanting she experienced in that moment gave way to fear because she had never felt like this. Like there was so much to lose. The more one loved, the more one hurt when that love was gone. How did Regina really feel about her? Was it possible that she could be feeling just as intensely as Emma was? Had there been enough time for her feeling to develop to that point. They were only just beginning and hadn't known each other that long.

"When you know, you know," Aunt Gerdie often told the girls about love. The youngest of the three sisters had been a hopeless romantic.

Her green eyes dropped to her plate, losing some of their sparkle, and Emma put a hand on her stomach to steady the turbulent emotions rolling within her.

"Emma, Emma! What do you call a cow on a trampoline?" Henry held his spoon up and waited for her, but Regina's smile faded as she took in Emma's look of distress.

"Emma, are you okay?"

"Huh?" She shook her head to try and snap out of it. When Henry's smile started to fade, Emma pasted a brilliant smile on her face, winning his back, "Sorry. I don't know. What do you call a cow on a trampoline?"

"A milk shake!" Henry bent over with such a mirthful expression that Emma chuckled because the kid was just too loveable, and then she laughed louder for his benefit.

"A milk shake. I'm going to have to remember that one."

"Henry," Regina interrupted. "I think it's time for your bath, then bedtime."

"Awww." When he looked up again and saw that his mom meant business, he glanced at Emma, who winked at him. "Okay, mom." He brightened then. "Can I play with my toys?"

A teasing light passed through the depths of Regina's brown eyes. "Of course! What would bath-time be without toys?"

"Yay!" He jumped from the table and ran to his mom, throwing his arms around her and giving her a sticky kiss on her cheek. The brunette's shoulders started shaking with laughter while the little boy made a loud kissing moan against her cheek. "Love you, mom!"

"Love you too."

Henry ran unexpectedly to Emma, barreling into her arms, and giving her cheek the same treatment. "Love you, Emma."

Emma's heart wept in joy and she picked him up and kissed his cheek the same way, not seeing how Regina put her fingers to her lips in wonder. "I… love you too, little man."

After he scooted up the stairs, Emma placed her spoon onto her plate and was in the middle of getting out of her chair with her dirty dishes when she heard Regina query, "What's wrong?"

She turned to Regina, who gave her a quizzical head tilt.

"Nothing."

Emma wandered into the kitchen alone, thankful for the few minutes to try and gather her thoughts and get her wariness under control before Regina came in with the rest of the dishes. She realized how comfortable she was becoming in their lives by how routine their after-dinner actions were. If Regina didn't feel the same way about her…

"Emma why do I feel like even though you're with me, you're not really? You're suddenly a million miles away."

Regina put her dishes on the counter, and would have grabbed Emma if Emma had not started rinsing the plates off.

Apparently, her actions were becoming worrisome because Regina was rather direct in addressing her next, "What's going on in your head right now?"

Feeling like maybe things needed to slow down a bit, namely herself, Emma smiled and lied, "I am thinking about this apple crumble and how my Aunts would send a Ninja Task Force after the recipe."

She made small talk about her family back home and Regina's cooking until all the dishes were done and the dishwasher was turned on. The sounds of the machine provided a low rumbling soundtrack for them.

"Thanks for helping with the dishes."

Emma leaned an elbow against the counter top and playfully chided. "After the feast you prepared for me, dishes are the least I can do."

"Well, you are always welcome."

"Thanks."

"Now, tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." Everything is so RIGHT.

"I don't believe you."

"Are we having our first fight?" Emma kidded trying to make it light. But, when Regina inhaled a long draggy breath, Emma questioned the wiseness of the question.

"I hope not. I'll be damned if we have our first fight before our first big kiss." Regina paused. "Though technically, we have sort of fought before?"

Not wanting to talk about fighting, Emma released a puff of held breath. "We are not fighting."

"Well, we're certainly not kissing." Regina propped her hands on her hips, and it was such a turn on, Emma thought that her ovaries might explode. "I thought that would be the next step, but if you're having second thoughts about us..."

What? NO! Wait! Go back!

"No! I'm not having second thoughts."

"I mean, I've been through this, Emma. When I've been fully in and the other person just… wasn't."

No! I'm in! I'm in.

"Regina, this is nothing like that. I am in." Emma made a scoffing laugh."I am so in!"

"Then what is it?"

A frustrated breath was Emma's answer. She was not used to being so vulnerable.

"Emma, I really like you. I thought you were being really patient with me and I appreciate it, but I have Henry to think about and if you don't feel…"

"I'm falling in love with you."

Great, Swan. Hurl it out there like a grenade! Regina's expression was akin to a deer's in the stream of an oncoming car's headlights.

"I know it's happening fast, but I'm in love with you, Regina, and Henry. And, you have the power to completely decimate me."

It took another few seconds for Regina to process what Emma was saying and when she opened her mouth to respond with a look of sympathy for Emma, the blonde's stomach dropped.

"MOM?! YOU CAN WASH MY HAIR NOW!" There was a sigh and Regina moved closer, taking Emma's hands.

This feels like a break up.

"Emma, I…"

"MOOOOOOOM!"

"I'm coming, Henry!" Regina's expression was apologetic and imploring. "Please, don't go anywhere." She briskly ran out the door.

"Great." Emma took a few seconds to hang the dish towel, and became surprised when Regina whisk back in so soon. "Hey, is something…"

She didn't have time to ask about Henry because she was pushed up against the refrigerator, with Regina's lips crashing against hers. A muffled moan elicited from her and when their lips parted, Regina's tongue moved against hers and Emma basked in the feel of warm palms cupping her cheeks. The kiss, though urgent, was fleeting and instantly Emma craved more. She smiled against a slowly retreating mouth and when she opened her eyes fully she saw Regina smiling as well.

Their foreheads pressed together in sweet desperation and they found that they were clutching one another, clothes fisted in shaky hands.

Regina lightly rubbed the tip of her nose affectionately against Emma's and commanded of her, as if she were a border collie. "Stay."

Emma's dry throat muscles worked and though she felt robbed of breath she managed in a raspy voice, "I'm rooted."

This pleased Regina immensely. She walked backward toward the swinging door. Upon getting there, still facing Emma not wanting to lose sight of her, she groaned, "This will be the longest… bath-time… ever."

Knowing that the mother couldn't wait to get back to her, flooded Emma's chest with pure elation.