Chapter 8

Emma charged out of the station, hoping that Regina was still near. When the empty street greeted her, she began wandering in hopes of bumping into the brunette. After five minutes of avid searching, Emma finally came to the conclusion that Regina went to her comfort zone.

"Her Pup." Emma mumbled gloomily. She jogged to her intended destination with determination shining in her eyes. As she turned the final corner, she was greeted with the sight of Regina stepping out of the diner. An involuntary small smile lit up her face.

"Gina!" The savior called and saw the brunette turn instantly.

"Emma?" Regina questioned, "What's going on?"

"When you were at the station," Emma took a large breath, gasping from the speedy trek to the diner, "It looked like you wanted to talk to me about something. And for the record, nothing was going on. You weren't interrupting anything special. Hook was so rude."

"No, honestly, it's none of my business. Anyway, it wasn't that big of a deal and I've… figured everything out on my own." Regina sighed, flashing an insincere smile at the blonde. The blonde shook her head, chuckling sarcastically.

"Regina," Emma stepped closer, "You weren't interrupting anything… well, except for a breakup."

Regina's head snapped upwards, her eyes making contact. Emma swore she could see an upward tilt of the brunette's lips, "Oh. What a shame."

Emma laughed heartily and took another step closer, "That didn't sound sincere, like at all."

"Sorry. I didn't think he was good enough for you, that's all." Regina smiled brightly this time. Emma couldn't stop staring. Before Emma could retort, the diner door was thrown open and the mutt strutted out.

"Oh!" Ruby chuckled awkwardly, "My bad."

"Ruby, could you give us a minute?" Emma pleaded with the wolf, her eyes widening dramatically before she pointed towards Regina, who was smiling at Ruby. The wolf propped her hands on her hips and sent a glare that could've burned a hole through her forehead.

"Actually, Gina, could you give me and Emma a sec?" Ruby watched Regina look back and forth between her two friends nervously. In an attempt to assuage her worries, the waitress climbed down the steps to place a kiss on the older brunette's forehead. Emma's hands automatically formed a fist, her fingernails digging into her palm.

"Okay." Regina reluctantly agreed. She moved past Emma, making sure to brush their shoulders together and give her hand a quick squeeze. She hoped Ruby gave the blonde a break. Regina slipped into her Mercedes that was parked down the block, closing the door with resounding thud. It sounded like doom to Emma. Once the two younger women were alone, Emma faced Ruby.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ruby whispered with a hard tone. Emma opened her mouth, ready to for a fight, but Ruby lifted her hand, "No, you listen to me now. Stop playing games. If you care for her the way I know you do, tell her. Stop dragging this out! I know you're probably scared shitless because these feelings were pretty much dumped on you, you don't know how your parents or Henry will react, and your dating Captain Douche—"

"I broke up with him," Emma saw Ruby roll her eyes, "Like twenty minutes ago."

"Took you long enough! Emma, I'm so damn serious here. If you love her, do something about it. If you don't, leave her alone. She told me that was ready to try to move on—"

"She already did that." Emma glared at the wolf.

"Oh please, you know nothing. Regina and I broke up a while ago. We realized that we're better off as friends. I did it for her. But I swear, Swan, if she comes running to me heartbroken because you couldn't get your shit together, I'll veto that decision and take her for myself. She's fucking great, okay? I never thought I'd say that about the Evil Queen but it's true. She's kind, loyal to a fault, and loves you so damn deeply. If you hurt her, I'll hurt you. Got it?" Ruby growled. Emma gaped, her fists slackening.

"Rubes… did you just give me the infamous 'dating my daughter' speech?" The wolf smirked before placing a blouse in Emma's hand. The blonde gave Ruby a questioning glimpse.

"I was coming out here to give that to her. I borrowed it like forever ago and I just remembered I had it in the back. Give it to her for me," Ruby reached for the diner door but offered Emma a pleading, undemanding glance, "Please don't hurt her."

"I'll try. You know, I'm kind of an idiot so no guarantee's. But I'll try so hard to be the person she needs." Ruby threw the blonde a small smile before making her way back inside the diner. The blonde paused, evaluating the conversation in her mind. She startled.

"Oh my God." Emma gasped, feeling warmth spread throughout her body as she repeated Ruby's words back, "She's kind, loyal to a fault, and loves you so damn deeply."

Regina tapped her fingers on the steering wheel rapidly. What were they talking about? The brunette turned on the radio, struggling to drown out her thoughts and the butterflies in her stomach. The popular station was playing some obscene rap song that made her slap the radio's power button forcefully. She'd rather listen to her incessant, nerve-wracking thoughts. She sighed theatrically. She twisted her upper body, checking to see if the two most important women in her life were in view. They weren't. She set her body straight again. Her leg started to bounce against the car mat. She checked the clock. 1:22 pm. A loud rap on the driver side window caused Regina to let out a small shriek. She relaxed a bit, still ridiculously nervous, when she saw Emma peering at her… lovingly? Why was she looking at her like that? Emma signaled with her left hand that she wanted Regina to step out of the vehicle.

"Oh no." Regina sighed, cursing Ruby's name to every deity in existence. The blonde woman opened the door for Regina and outstretched a hand. The mayor climbed out of the car apprehensively. Emma threw the blouse into the car before slamming the door shut.

"Emma, I don't know what she did but—" She was interrupted by the softest lips caressing her own. Regina's eyes widened comically, peering at the attacker as if trying to prove to herself that, yes, the woman of her dreams just kissed her. Once confirmed, Regina's eyes slipped closed and she placed her hands on Emma's hips. Emma shuffled closer, pressing their bodies together and feeling the delicious friction of skin. Oh how wonderful it was that it was warm out and the two were not covered completely, allowing for skin-to-skin contact.

The blonde pulled away from the kiss slowly, practically dragging Regina, who was trying to lengthen the lip lock, forward. Once separated, Emma chuckled. Regina joined in, albeit with more confusion mixed in.

"Wow." Emma whispered, her breath stroking Regina's lips.

"Emma?" The older woman whispered, almost afraid that the blonde would say it was a mistake or miscalculation. Oh, I was aiming for the cheek! Ha awkward, right? Regina was about to be pleasantly surprised.

"I love you." Emma's smile was wide, her eyes glistening. Regina felt her knee's give out a bit as she gasped.

"What?" Emma laughed. She gripped the woman's hips in oder to hold her upright.

"I love you Regina Mills."

"Could you repeat that?"

"Regina!" Emma exclaimed happily.

"Oh, Emma, do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?"

"About as long as you're making me wait right now." Regina blushed.

"I love you too." Regina yanked Emma forward by her tank top, minimizing the space between them again. Emma's eye's traveled down, lingering on the other woman's full lips. The former queen smiled, pressing their foreheads together. They leaned in for another kiss but their smiles were so large that they simply bumped teeth.

"It's about damn time." They heard Granny grumble from the diner alleyway where she was dumping garbage.

"It is, isn't it?" Regina whispered as she placed a loving peck on Emma's nose.

Granny snickered, "I thought I'd croak before you two got your shit together."

A/N: AND WE HAVE SWAN QUEEN LIFT OFF! So, the question is: do I continue and write a lot of lovin' and happiness? Some smut perhaps? Or should I end it here?

I want to write more because it is a Swan Queen story and I want some fluff. Also, I'd really like to give Ruby a girlfriend. I'm thinking of an OC (Desdemona Hades) that I used in a story called 'Hellfire Passion' as a launchpad for Regina and Emma. In this story, she would be a love interest for Ruby.

Anyway, let me know!