AN: *gives credit to A&E, ABC,*... Here's ch 4. This took longer because finals and graduation got in the way. Anyway, since i'm done with school, I should be able to update more often. I'm going to try and have another update before Wednesday since I'll be going on a trip without wifi.

Chapter 4, Regina's POV, Slight time lapse

The kissing continued until Henry called us to ask if he could spend the weekend with Snow and Charming, as Charming wanted to take him camping. After telling him to be home by 4 pm on Sunday and hanging up the phone, I glanced down at Emma, who was asleep beneath me. I slowly slid off her lap and back to her side. I decided that even though it was barely 10 pm, both Emma and I had a long day and we probably needed the extra sleep. I leaned closer to her face and quietly whispered.

"Emma. Emma wake up."

Emma did not wake up, just snuggled more into me. I sighed as I realized waking Emma would not be an easy task. I tried again, this time a little louder as I nudged her gently.

"Emma, wake up. The sooner you wake up, the sooner we can go upstairs to bed."

Emma mumbled in her sleep and I knew she was starting to wake up. I began to place light kisses on one cheek and then the other, finally making my way to her lips. I felt her start to move, so I know that she was waking up even more. I placed one final kiss on her lips as I whispered her name, dropping my voice an octave and straddling her lap again.

"Miss Swan, wake up or you're spending the night on the couch."

"Mmm, Gina, as much as I love the fact that you're in my lap and talking like the Queen, I just want to sleep." Emma spoke, her voice still laced with sleep.

"Fine then. I guess you're sleeping by yourself dear." I replied, still sounding like the Queen.

It took a second for her to register what I said, before she sat up quickly, almost causing me to fall off her lap. But her arms were back at my waist, holding me here. I made sure that I wasn't going to fall, before bringing my eyes to meet her slightly darker green ones.

"If you're offering for me to sleep in your bed over sleeping on this couch, then why didn't you wake me up sooner?"

"Because I didn't know that you had fallen asleep until I hung up after speaking with Henry. Now, are we going to discuss this any farther, or are you coming to bed?" I said with a knowing smirk, as I got up and began making my way upstairs.

"I'm coming! I'm right behind you Gina," I hear Emma say as she jumps off the couch and catches up to me on the stairs.

I ignored the nickname, even though it made my heart swell. I decided to continue messing with Emma. As I made my way into my bedroom, I stepped inside my closet and began to change into pajamas, leaving the door slightly open. I heard her come in the bedroom door.

"Do you have anything I can bor- Jesus Regina, are you trying to kill me?" She asks as she noticed my state of undress. I turned around when I heard her voice. I was standing there in my now unbuttoned blouse and I had taken my skirt off and placed it in the hamper.

"I'm not trying to kill you, I was just getting ready for bed." I say with as much innocence as I can gather.

"Well it seems like you're trying to kill me. Talking to me with the Queen voice and then standing here, talking to me with just your shirt barely on. God, you're perfect," Emma trails off as her eyes roam my body once more.

"If I were trying to kill you, you would know it. And thank you Emma, You're quite close to perfection yourself." I tell her as I step closer and place a kiss on her cheek and walk back into my closet to finish getting ready, putting a little more sway into my hips.

"Dear God, how did I get so lucky?" I hear Emma breathe out.

I finish changing and walk out to find Emma standing there, in the process of taking off her t-shirt. I notice that her tank top had ridden up and was revealing her toned stomach. I didn't notice that I had let out a gasp until Emma spoke.

"Regina, is that you?"

I shook my head and responded.

"Yes it's me. Sorry, I got distracted. Um, here are some sleep shorts that you can borrow."

"Thanks babe," Emma said as she put them on.

Her nickname caused me to stand there, frozen on the spot. Emma seemed to have realized what she said as she started stammering, trying to come up with something.

"Regina, I-I-I'm sorry, I don't know how that slipped out. We haven't been together that long but it just felt right and I'm sorry it slipped out. Just tell me if both-".

I cut her off by stepping into her personal space and placing a finger on her lips before speaking,

"Emma. please listen very carefully to what is about to come out of my mouth, It doesn't bother me. It just took me for surprise. The last person to call me that was Daniel. All Robin ever call me was 'Her Majesty'. Hearing you calling me 'babe' makes me feel like I'm truly wanted as Regina, not the queen or the mayor, but me."

I ended my speech by pressing a kiss to her lips before making my over to my side of the bed. I noticed that Emma had yet to walk over to the bed, so I spoke again.

"Dear, are you going to stand there all night or are you going to come join me and get some sleep?"

"Definately the last one," Emma responded as she quickly got into bed and wrapped her arms around me. I intertwined our fingers and fell asleep with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time.