A/N: Hello everyone!

It's finally here...the last chapter of "The Bet".

I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this up, but I already posted my reasons for my absence lately - at the beginning of one of my other stories (Run with the wolves).

Anyway...I made it and I hope you'll like it.

Enjoy the last chapter!

Much love to everyone,

Raven

THE BET
Chapter 7

Emma was confused to say the least.
She had thought talking to Regina would make the whole situation less awkward, but the complete opposite was the case.

Regina had went from being this nice, caring hostess to ignoring her whenever possible and Emma did not understand why.
Shouldn't Regina be relieved about the fact that she had no more feelings for her?

She would have expected the mayor to celebrate that she would leave town as soon as she was feeling well enough to stay on her own again, but somehow it did not feel like Regina was anywhere near happy.

And it made no sense to Emma at all.

But after three days of almost deadly silence whenever Henry was not around she could not stand it any longer and since Whale had agreed that she could take off the sling she was good to go, wasn't she?
The point was that Emma could not stand the icy atmosphere any longer, so she probably should be leaving rather sooner than later.

That was how she found herself in front of Regina's study once again, dreading the confrontation ahead, but Henry would not get home from school for another three hours, so if she wanted to check for bus tickets, or even better plane tickets, she needed to use a computer.
She hoped that Regina was not too busy, because disturbing the mayor was bad enough, but disturbing her on a busy day screamed for a whole lot more trouble.

When Emma finally worked up the courage to actually knock she was met with silence.
She waited a few seconds, because she was sure that Regina was working in her study, before she knocked again.
And yet she was met by nothing, but silence.

Although she was aware that it probably would not be a smart idea, Emma entered the study anyway - only to stop dead in her tracks.

She had expected a lot, but clearly not the sight that was greeting her.
Regina was standing at the window, a tumbler of apple cider in hand, completely lost in thought.
What was that supposed to mean?
And what was she supposed to do?

Emma knew she was about to chicken out, but that was when Regina's voice stopped her, "Miss Swan?"

Clearing her throat nervously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and back, Emma tried to come up with a decent opening for a conversation, but in the end she simply blurted her intentions out without much thought, "Regina...hi. I was wondering if...I could use your computer for a few minutes. I just want to get a ticket...so I can go back to Boston. I've bothered you long enough. Thanks for taking care of me...but I'm as good as new...I don't even have to wear the sling anymore...so I might as well leave."

Regina's body tensed visibly and yet she said nothing, which made Emma even more uncomfortable. The brunette's behavior surprised her, especially since it did not make any sense to the blonde and it was right then, when Emma was about to open her mouth again, that Regina surprised her even more, "I want you to stay."

"What?!"
Emma stood there, dumbfounded and pretty sure she had imagined the words.
Probably she was hallucinating or something?

But then Regina said it again, "I want you to stay in Storybrooke."

Emma froze.
Literally.
She felt like somebody had pulled the rug out from under her feet.
Why would Regina ask her to stay?
That woman had moved heaven and hell to get rid of her not long ago and now she wanted her to come back? Seriously?

Emma's thoughts were one big jumble, figuring that had to be a joke.
A cruel joke.
But then she saw the sincerity in Regina's eyes and all of a sudden another feeling washed over her - panic.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I can't stay", Emma shook her head, about to head out of the study.
She could not do this, could not have this conversation, it was simply too hard.
And yet Regina grabbed her wrist, "Miss Swan? What do you mean 'you can't?' Of course you can."

Feeling like a caged animal Emma paniced even more, but Regina would not let go, "No, I can't. You don't understand!"

"Then explain it to me", Regina demanded.

"No. Let me go, Regina. Please...please don't make me stay. Just let me go", Emma's tone was desperate, begging and the brunette finally loosened her grip, but refused to let go of the blonde's wrist still.

"That's what I can't do, Miss Swan. I can't just let you leave...again."

"Henry." It was all Emma was able to say and when Regina did not say anything else the blonde thought she had found the reason, but she shook her head again, staring at the brunette's hand on her arm, "Don't make me do this..."

Regina did not even blink, she just stood there and waited until Emma sighed, heavily, "I can't stay, Regina. It's too hard...to see you every day. To know that you will never love me. Hell, you don't even like me!"

Dumbstruck.
Regina Mills was dumbstruck by the sudden outburst. And confused.
"But you said..."

"I know what I said, Regina! I was trying to play this down...my feelings...for you. I could not bear the thought of you laughing at me...of rejecting me. That's why I never said anything...all these months...and then there was this stupid bet...and I was trying so hard to win...by playing fair...I didn't want to win by cheating or something...I just wanted this day...to get a chance to...but then I couldn't. And you sent me away, you let me leave...I was heartbroken...I am still...no matter where I go...you are always on my mind, every hour of every freaking day. I worry about you, I think about you and I can't stop it. I can't help it, Regina...but I love you. I do. I know there is no 'us', there never will be, but it's so hard. Moving on is so hard...even in a place far away from here...it will probably take forever. So please, don't force me to stay...because I can't live in your presence when..."

And right then and there Regina cut her off, "And I can't live in your absence."

"What?!"
Emma glared at Regina, eyes wide, her heart almost beating out of her chest.

"Miss Swan...could you...could you please take a seat?"

Regina knew it was now or never, but she also knew that she might not find the right words to say what she felt.
She never had been good at dealing with emotions and what she had told Henry once was very true - she did not know how to love very well.

Love.
Such a big word.
And yet she was so certain that she was in love with Emma Swan.
She had doubted, dreaded, feared and denied it, but when Emma had told her that it had been nothing, but some crush, she had been devastated.

And in that moment Regina had realized that she wanted Emma to love her, because she did love her.
Why it had taken all of this drama for her to realize it was beyond her, but did not change the truth, did not change what had been right in front of her all this time.

She had spent so much time on fighting Emma, but they had fought with a passion, hadn't they, that she had never noticed the change in her feelings for the blonde. She had been so caught up in her hatred, she had been blinded by it.

She had been blinded by anger and hurt, by fear of losing Henry, that she had almost missed out on her chance to find happiness, to find love - but now that she was finally aware of the precious gift Emma, and only Emma, would be able to give her, she wanted to grab it with both hands and never let go again, but Regina was afraid that she would ruin everything. That's what she always did after all.

Even now that Emma had revealed the true nature of her feelings, that she had been lying the other day, that she in fact did love her - Regina was still scared that she would manage to drive the blonde away.
But wasn't that ridiculous? She had treated Emma so badly in the past and yet she had fallen in love with her. So what could possibly go so wrong that Emma would run for the hills now?

"Regina?"
Emma's insecure voice had her out of her thoughts immediately and when Regina finally managed to look at the blonde she saw the confusion in Emma's eyes. And the blonde's own fear.

"Emma, I..."
Regina really wanted to say something, but for the first time in forever her mind was completely blank.

And then there was this awkward silence again, but Regina's grip on Emma's wrist never faded, simply because she knew if she would let go Emma would run and she was determinded to keep the blonde in her life.
More than ever.

"What's wrong, Regina? Talk to me", Emma's eyes were pleading know, concern written all over her face, "Whatever it is...I'll help you...if I can..."

Truth be told, Regina was stunned by the offer, overwhelmed really, because some minutes ago Emma had practically begged her to let her go and now she was offering her help, no matter how miserable it would probably make her feel.
And it made Regina see that she had to say something, that she had to confess her own feelings, because Emma was so brave and she deserved someone, who could be brave and strong for her as well.
They had been through a lot in their lives - both of them.

It was time for a change.
For a change for the better.

"This is not easy for me", Regina began, sounding shy all of a sudden and she wanted to scold herself, but that would have led nowhere, so she decided to continue, "When Henry told me...that...that you had feelings for me...I was shocked to say the least..."

She caught sight of a flicker of pain in Emma's eyes and realized how that must have sounded. That much for not ruining everything for once.
Regina sighed, frustrated about herself, but she knew she had to try to control the damage her words had caused, "It wasn't because I was digusted or anything like that, Emma. I just couldn't believe that a good hearted person like you...could...you know...like someone like me. All I ever did was hurt you...it still doesn't make sense to me how you can see something in me that could be..."

"Loveable?" Emma suggested and got a nod from Regina, who was not able to look the blonde in the eyes.
That was the moment Emma took Regina's other hand into her own and squeezed it encouragingly, "You are an amazing woman, Regina Mills. You might not see it, but I do. Sure, you wear this unapproachable mask to the world...because you have lost dearly in the past...and you don't want to be hurt again...and I get that...I really do.
What I don't get is why nobody ever made an effort to take a look behind the mask, because one only needs to watch you with Henry to see a sparkle of what a kind and caring person you are. You can get am impression of how much love your heart truly holds and how good of a heart it actually is...or could be."

A single tear left Regina's eyes and made it down her cheek, because it was such an overwhelming experience to feel that somebody decently cared for her - especially Emma Swan of all people.

"I know we fought a lot and I also know that it's not only your fault...I guess every mother would freak out if she would be afraid to lose her child...but I never meant to take Henry away from you..."

"I believe you", it was Regina's turn to squeeze Emma's hand reassuringly, "Once you were gone...I realized that I...missed you...more than I ever thought possible."

"You did?" Emma glared at her in disbelief.

"I did. And I got drunk with Ruby and Mary Margaret...just to find out that pretty much everyone in town knew about your feelings...except for me...I'm sorry that I was so blinded by my hatred for such a long time, Emma...when I finally noticed that I had make a big mistake by sending you away...you were gone and as hard as I tried to find you...I didn't succeed...but then Ruby got the phone call that you were shot..." Regina dropped her head in an attempt to stop herself from breaking into tears.

"Perks of being a Bounty Hunter", Emma joked to lighten the mood, but failed.

"My heart skipped at least one beat when I heard that", the brunette admitted, "I was worried sick."

"Why would you worry so much?"

"Because..." Regina took another deep breath, "Because I've noticed...during your absence...that I do like you...and lately I even realized that I...that...that I..."
She felt Emma squeeze her and Regina knew she had to risk it, had to tell it, had to jump - now, "The truth is, Emma...that I'm in love with you."

Emma could not say a word, could not even blink. She had to be dreaming, right?
But then she saw the raw emotions in sincere, brown eyes.
They were sparkling with honesty and warmth, love even and in that moment Emma realized that this was serious, that Regina was not playing her, but telling the truth.

The next thing Emma knew was that she was pulling Regina into her arms, holding her close, praying that she would never have to let go again and when she felt Regina's arms tightening around her shoulders, her head burying in the crook of her neck, Emma also realized that chances were good that she would not have to.

They sat like that for a while, but then Regina pulled back, locking eyes with Emma, determination written all over her face, "Don't leave. Stay...please."

Emma took Regina's face into her hands, softly caressing her tear stained cheeks with her thumbs before she leaned in slowly, giving Regina a chance to pull away, but when she did not, Emma put the softest of kisses onto her lips.
The sensation of it was overwhelming and a smile spread on both of their faces before Regina initiated another kiss, still soft and gentle, but both women could feel the passion between them, making them realize that this was real, that this was it.

"I'll stay as long as you'll have me."

When Henry came home from school he was clearly surprised to find both of his mothers in the kitchen - laughing at each other.
He definitely had missed something, but as soon as he caught sight of Emma wiping some flour from Regina's face in a rather caring gesture he knew exactly what it was and was overjoyed.
The last few days he had feared that his mom would screw up again, that she woud never find the courage to talk to Emma, but obviously she had in the end.

Good for them.
For all of them.

"Does that mean Emma will move in with us now? I mean it's about time", a goofy grin appeared on his face and both women turned to face him.

The smile never leaving Regina's face she answered, without hesitation, "I think that's a great idea, sweartheart. In case Emma wants that too."

"You bet."
There was no doubt in Emma's voice, not at all and she simply stepped forward to pull both, Henry and Regina into her arms, holding them close.

Finally home, finally a family.

THE END.

A/N: I want to thank everyone for their support and for sticking with this story, for the lovely reviews - I wish I would have found more time to answer them, but the puppies are really keeping me busy these days. Please forgive me.

But I really appreciate every word and enjoy everyone's comment - so, thank you all.

If you feel up to it - a few final words would be great :)