Oh my goodness! So, I have awoken from the dead. Or rather, life is finally less messy and I actually found the inspiration to sit down and continue this story. I can't express how sorry I am for the awfully and unacceptably long wait. I hope I haven't lost all of you, because I am still interested in continuing this story! I haven't forgotten it, quite the opposite actually! I promise I will do my best to update more frequently. SO - I present to you, the much too late, chapter 6. I hope you'll still read it and enjoy it, just as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around, who has faved, followed and reviewed this story so far. Please keep telling me what you think, your words mean the world to me. Much love, xo.

May 30th, Thursday

Emma had been starring at her phone for the past 20 minutes. She had read over the messages again and again. The faint taste of blood suddenly played on her taste buds. She removed her nails from the grip between her teeth. She'd hadn't noticed just how hard she had been biting them, but two of her fingers were definitely bleeding. The sight made her stomach turn over. She made a gagging sound but bit down on her guts. I am not going to puke. She felt surprisingly fine actually. A little headache, but not as bad as it would usually be after a night of heavy drinking. Her conscious was an entirely different matter though. When it came to that, she felt like shit. She buried her face in her hands. Regina. What the hell did I do last night. I've probably screwed everything up big time. As usual.

She had been trying to find words to express how sorry she was, how guilty she felt. But no matter what she tried, she felt like nothing really sufficed. Regina was probably scarred for life. Poor, amazingly beautiful Regina. Shit. She felt her throat tighten. No. I'm not going to cry either. She took her phone in her hands again. She had to apologize. It was early morning at Regina's now, so she wouldn't see the messages for some time anyway. It gave Emma the time to think while she wrote. She sighed and took a big sip of the glass of water she'd gotten herself earlier. Here goes.

"I'm sorry for yesterday. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have started writing shit. You never hurt me. You actually made me feel better. I read through the texts again and again and I've realized that I'm a complete idiot. You don't deserve me throwing accusations at you that don't even concern you. I'm just trying to do the right thing and I terribly suck at it but I'm better than I used to be."

"You didn't step over any line. And there is actually nothing you have to apologize for... I'm often just really angry at myself and that only strengthens when I'm drunk so I lash out... to kinda hurt someone else instead of me, to find someone who's responsible for me feeling sad or shit. Thus, I'm really the one who needs to be sorry because you didn't do anything wrong."

"And about the whole… hot and wet and stuff. Well, I don't really know what to say other than I'm sorry I was so rash. If I had been sober, I would have handled it better… hopefully. But what do I know. The truth is – this is how I feel. I really do miss you. I really do want to be with you. All these thoughts have been roaming around inside my head for the last few days, and I don't understand them. It scares the shit out of me because I don't know what it is or how it happened. I don't know you. And you don't know me. But I feel like I'm have to know you, you know? I can't stop now. I don't know how to explain it and I seriously hope I'm not freaking you out even more. I'm just trying to explain myself, which I terribly suck at, too. But just know that, I really like you, Regina. I really do. And I hope you will continue to write with me, because I want to get to know you. And I want you to get to know me."

Emma took a final look at her messages before tossing her phone on her bed and getting up. She was quite satisfied. This was it, this was the truth. If she had truly screwed everything up last night, at least Regina would know the truth about her actions. Maybe she'll even forgive me. Hell, maybe she even feels the same. Emma shook her head. It was probably all in her own mind. Her crazy obsession with finding someone who truly cared for her always made her fall for whoever showed her the slightest interest. But maybe this time it's different… She kicked at something on the floor. No. It's not. Stop it. She made her way to the bathroom. A shower might help clear her head. And it would keep her occupied while she waited for Regina to answer. For Regina to dump your ass. She puffed out a frustrated breath while turning on the water. Why do I always screw up the good things in my life. She stepped under the steaming cascades of water, starting what would become the longest shower of her life.

Regina read Emma's messages carefully and thoroughly, several times. Not because she didn't understand them, but because every time her eyes scanned the bundle of words, her heart fluttered inside her chest and she felt tears spring to her eyes. Emma had delivered what was possibly the best apology Regina had ever received. And to top it off, she'd sprinkled it with how much she liked her and wanted to get to know her. Regina couldn't stop smiling, even if her entire face hurt from the tension by now. She was on the bus on her way to the University, so she had plenty of time to answer Emma. And so, she started typing an awfully long message:

"It's okay Emma. Don't beat yourself up about it, really. At first it made me feel bad, only because I could see that what I wrote was pretty "I know you like I know the back of my hand" and how that must have been really annoying when really, I've known you for a less than a week. And I am really sorry if I made you feel like that. The only thing I was concerned about, that made me feel bad, was if I'd hurt you. If you were angry with me. So you didn't hurt me exactly. And I'm glad that apparently I didn't hurt you either. I really was just trying to help, and even though I don't know you, I still want the best for you. I hope it's okay... If you don't want me psychoanalyzing you then I'll stop. It's just something I always do, but really, I'm sorry if it was just annoying. I want to just get over this whole thing. I don't think it should let either one of us down. Even if you feel like you don't know me and I don't know you, I want you to know that you can always come to me. I want to help if you'll let me, if it's with how you make pancakes or if you have something that's letting you down. But please, please, tell me if I'm stepping over the line. I don't want to do that."

Regina gulped. It was time to touch the subject that scared her the most. The one that made her insides twist and her heartbeat rise uncomfortably. Hush. Don't panic. Listen to your heart.

"Emma… I miss you too. I do. Even if I don't understand it or know how to handle it, I want to be with you. But if I have to be completely honest with you, it kind of scares me. Just because… We've known each other for six days. But I can't help feeling that I have to know you, too. It's just an odd feeling I'm not that familiar with, and I guess that's what scares me. I'm interested in getting to know you, Emma… Because I really like you. I'm sorry I'm so bad at this. I feel I'm just repeating what you said. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel the same. So of course I will continue to write with you."

Regina sighed. Letting people in and expressing her feelings had never been her strong side, and frankly, she felt like she was going to faint. She couldn't determine why she felt this numbing panic, one that wouldn't cease to make her palms sweat and her mind race. She knew Emma wouldn't hurt her, or at least she felt rather confident about that. So why was she this scared?

Regina rubbed at her throbbing temples. She was unable to read the true meaning of her messy feelings, as everything was fogged over by panic. More than anything, she wished she was able to calm down and stop being so scared. But that seemed like a luxury she would never have, no matter how hard she cried for it.

Emma's hair was still wet and it dampened her t-shirt as she had rushed out of the shower at the sound of her received messages. She didn't care though, as she read through Regina's words. She had trouble believing that this was actually happening, that this was Regina's answer to Emma's major fuck up and pathetic attempt of apology. How could she be so… forgiving. She didn't even seem to think that what Emma had done was a mistake, and that seemed too good to be true for the blonde. Maybe that was simply because no one had ever forgiven Emma for anything throughout her entire life, except for the Nolans'. Everyone else had just tossed her away as soon as she'd stepped even slightly out of line and she'd grown so used to it that receiving acceptance and forgiveness like this seemed like a foreign language to Emma. She had no clue as to what to answer Regina now. Mostly she just wanted to smile at her. Or maybe even hug her.

She typed in her answer quickly, without really thinking. Truth was she had nothing more to say, since she'd spilled everything in her first long message. Now it was just about moving on, away from the awkward silence she feared would stretch between them if she didn't start another conversation. So she decided to ask a very simple, rather boring question.

"So, what are you up to?"

Emma could almost sense how Regina was relieved at Emma's change of subject. In an odd way, she felt it through the brunette's words.

"Not much, simply on my way to University. Almost there by now. What about you?"

Emma smiled. Maybe they could get back to normal after all. Whatever normal was.

"Haha okay! I just took a shower, now about to do laundry."

"How can you function? Aren't you even slightly hungover?"

Emma laughed out loud.

"Surprisingly, no. I have a tiny headache, but other than that I feel pretty fine."

"I hate you very much right now."

Emma's face fell and her palms started to sweat nervously before Regina continued, calming the blonde down.

"This is so not fair! If I don't get to sleep long enough, the first four hours after I wake up I always feel like I'm about to vomit. I'm always convinced I'm going to die."

Emma laughed but had to bite down on her guts when her stomach flipped uncomfortably.

"Fuck. Don't mention that word. I'm not that fine."

"I'm terribly sorry."

"Sure you are. Anyway, have fun at Uni."

"Why thank you, dear."

"I'm sorry, you know I love writing with you. But I just thought I better not, otherwise you'll think of me the whole time, and we can't have that."

"I guess you're doing me a favor then."

"Exactly."

Emma couldn't help but smirk. She loved this more than she probably should.

"But can I just mention that you're beautiful and hot and that I adore your face."

"Well now I'll be able to concentrate."

Emma had to laugh again. Regina was simply too cute for words.

"I'm so immensely sorry."

"Sure you are."

"Okay, I'm not."

"Didn't think so."

"You know me too well."

"Maybe in this area I do."

Regina went through the entire day focusing on anything but her lectures. In fact she wasn't focusing on anything but Emma. As the blonde had so nicely predicted, Regina was simply unable to keep her out of her mind. Even when she tried to focus on the scribbles on the board or the dull voice of her teachers, shimmering emerald eyes kept gnawing their way back to her thoughts, followed by beautiful blonde locks and dumb jokes. At one point she'd found herself wondering what Emma's voice sounded like. Not singing, since she knew that all too well, but when she spoke. That thought alone had taken her through an entire lecture, and by the time her last school hour ended, she was desperate to hear Emma talk. Even if it was but a simple sentence, a few words, she found an odd longing to hear the blonde's voice.

When Regina finally arrived home, she had a ton of homework to do and her mother made no exception as to remind her the second she sat foot inside their home. She had answered with a dull "Yes, mother" as usual, but in reality she was headed for her room only to check on her messages from Emma. She felt the bitter sting of disappointment when she found that there was none. She debated with herself whether to text the blonde herself, or get started on the homework she had previously decided not to bother herself with at all. Now it was a choice between playing hard to get or not.

Regina reluctantly put down her phone and picked up one of her books and started flipping through it. She found the pages she was supposed to read and got started. Every now and then, she glanced at her phone. More so than she took the notes she was supposed to, if she wanted any chance of remembering what she was reading. But she couldn't shake the urge to write Emma and forget everything else entirely. She knew though, that her mother would take away both her phone and laptop if she were to neglect her school. So really, she didn't have much of a choice. She flipped over her phone and slid it under her pillow before burying her nose in the awfully boring history book.

An hour passed before Regina closed the book, finished with the 30 pages. She'd even crammed out five pages of neatly written notes. Her mother would be pleased. She always demanded to see her schoolwork.

Jumping off her bed, Regina collected her papers and threw everything into her bag again. She felt like she was working on autopilot. Her life was really so dull and uneventful. The only thing exciting about it was Emma. The conversations she had with the blonde were what she looked forward to every day. So when she was quiet, it felt like something was missing all of a sudden. Even if that something hadn't even been there a little less than a week ago.

When Cora had checked and approved of her notes, Regina went back up to her room and sat down on her bed. She stared into the air for a few moments before sighing deeply, throwing herself backwards and landing on the mattress with a dull puff. What to do now? She couldn't help but wonder why Emma hadn't written her. Maybe she was just busy… but then again, wasn't she supposed to be off? Regina laughed mockingly at herself. She should just write Emma already. Homework was done and she had nothing else to do with her time. Nothing else she wanted, at least.

She flipped over on her stomach and fished out her phone from under her pillow. She gasped as her screen flashed with a message ticking in just this second. How in the world…

"Okay I've been trying to hold myself back all day thinking you're busy with school, but now I simply can't leave you alone anymore. So hi."

Regina felt unexpected tears prick at her eyes and bit down on her high-pitched giggle. She could have jumped with glee right in this moment. She didn't know what to do other than type in her reply.

"Hi."

"Are you busy? I mean am I intruding anything?"

Regina's smile broadened at Emma's adorable nervous questions.

"Not at all. You could never intrude on anything, Emma."

"Not true. But anyway, great! So how was your day?"

"Boring. But I think it might just have gotten better."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"You know why."

"I do. But I'd like you to say it."

"Don't be cocky, Ms. Swan."

"Can I be booby?"

"Really?"

"I'm sorry. That was a horrible joke. I take it back."

Regina rolled her eyes so hard it made her dizzy. This woman was unbelievable. On one hand Regina felt the urge to smack her for her idiocy, and on the other, it was so damn adorable that she couldn't help but simply smile. It was quite annoying actually. What was Emma doing to her…

"You just can't help yourself, can you?"

"It was just to make you smile and I hoped it would, so…"

"Well it did. So success."

"Okay, now I'm relieved."

Regina chuckled. A light blushed crept over her face as she typed.

"You make me smile all the time, you know that."

"I don't know that, cause I can't see you."

Regina's smile faded. That was the bitter reality of it all, wasn't it. She was about to type back something when an idea struck her. She hit the camera symbol and smiled broadly at her phone before clicking send.

"Can you see me now?"

To be honest, she found her gesture rather cute. And she hoped Emma would, too. Emma's answer caught her off guard though. Regina's smile grew to the point of pain. Her cheeks always ended up hurting whenever she was writing with Emma.

"No, I'm blind."

"That's too bad."

"I know. I wish I could though. I bet you're beautiful."

"Well I guess you'll never know."

"To me you are, even if I can't see you. And I bet you have brown eyes that can take my breath away and an adorable smile. I'm really missing out on a lot."

"You're kind of on to something though."

"Sounds like my type."

There was a little pause in which Regina simply stared at her screen, reveling in how happy she felt. How free she felt. She couldn't remember ever having felt like this. Then Emma wrote something else.

"But there are a lot of things I don't need to see."

Regina quirked an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean traits that aren't visible."

"And why don't you need to see that?"

"Because they aren't visible? I couldn't even see them if I weren't blind."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"I'm just trying to say I like you for what's on the inside. Not just for your looks. Basically, what can't be seen."

Regina caught a stray tear with her thumb as she read Emma's messages. Why did this woman have to be so utterly and ridiculously charming? It was unfair. She was practically impossible to resist. It was like she always knew what to say, even if it often came out cluttered and rash. But she still said it. And it made Regina's heart sing.

"Emma, I… I don't know what to say. I'm adoring you, liking you, much more than I thought I would. Even before I knew who you actually were I liked you. I know that sounds weird, but I hope you get it."

"I do. I liked you even when I thought you were a pretentious and kinda mental person who believed in angels."

"Hey!"

"I'm sorry what were we talking about, I was busy staring at your beautiful face on this picture you sent me."

"I thought you were blind."

"You've opened up my eyes."