The Gateway

by IrishBella

They are walking down the passageway, Henry between them. He is clinging to both of their hands so tightly Emma and Regina wonder if he will rip them right off. "There is no need to be frightened, Henry." Regina whispers as she places her free hand on his cheek. "Your mom is right, Kid," Emma says as they stop walking, "we'll be alright, we can do anything."

5. Natsukashii

A/N: So sorry I did not post yesterday but I had some adulting to do (and it was horrible-every. single. minute.) But I do not have classes tomorrow so I will hopefully be able to get some serious writing done tonight and tomorrow *fingers crossed*
And here's some more background:

So, Season 1 happens totally the way it did in the show (with some secretive Swan Queen loving going on) and when Emma kisses Henry awake everyone is sent back to the Enchanted Forest. From there Emma and Regina fight-"I can't believe you're the Evil Queen, I almost loved you" blah blah-Emma has a total meltdown because she can't figure out her feelings ;) Emma and Henry go exploring one day and find the "tunnels" and when they bring Regina down to check them out they realize that these tunnels/passageways lead to every realm. So, if you find "The Gateway" you can go anywhere. Super cool, right? Right ;) So they (Emma and Henry-and probably David because he's all about the adventures, too) were going to go on an adventure to a new realm (against Regina's wishes) when Cora shows up. Emma and Regina have to work together in order to stop her, but they aren't working together because Emma is acting like a child, so Snow still does the whole thing with the candle and has Regina kill her own mother. This messes her up and she is trying to cope (and failing) when Emma steps in and helps. They have a heart to heart and BAM! They decide to give this relationship another go (YAY!) They're all living at Regina's castle because Snow and Charming's is in ruins and they are rebuilding it. Henry is kidnapped by the shadow and taken to Neverland and they all rush to rescue him. When they get him back they realize that a Wicked Witch has taken over Regina's castle and that she is trying to kill Regina/take away the life she knows-which is as dramatic as it sounds ;) Zelena tries to create the portal, and then we have the flashback scene that is in Chapter 4. After they get back and check out if they can get their memories back, Regina and Emma decide the Enchanted Forest isn't where they want to be. Emma was staying because Henry loved it so much and she thought Regina felt more at home there but Regina was still the Evil Queen to everyone and she hated it. Once Emma realized this they decided they were going to leave the Enchanted Forest and so they decide to leave for the World Without Magic, the only catch is that since there's no magic, they cannot remember anything (so says the rules of "The Passageways") so when they leave they are given false memories (similar to Regina giving Emma and Henry happy memories after 3b).

The entire time between Henry bringing Emma to Storybrooke and them coming back to this world is about a year.

This story is *technically* AU after season 1. Some of the same things that happened in the show happen in here but it all occurs at a different pace and in a bit of a different way. So, Pan's Curse doesn't happen here-there's not a missing year. They come back from Neverland and BOOM there's the Wicked Witch plotting to kill Regina and the curse Zelena casts to send them into the past happens right after that.

Thank you guys so much for all the love I've been getting for this story, it really motivates me to keep writing :)

And now onto the next chapter:

natsukashii:

(adj.) of some small thing that brings you suddenly, joyously back to fond memories, not with the wistful longing for what's past, but with an appreciation of the good times.

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Suddenly, Emma is back in Storybrooke. She's laying face down in the barn where she and Zelena had left through the portal. She cracks open an eye to see Zelena lying farther away in a similar state.
That's when she hears it. Someone is crying. She tries to move her body but everything hurts. So, she lets out an involuntary groan instead.
The crying stops and suddenly Regina is in front of her, "Emma?" she asks.
"Mmmmnnn," is the only response Emma can give.
"Emma!" she screams and suddenly she 's lying on top of her. Emma groans again. "Oh no, you're hurt!" Regina exclaims as she leans back to look her girlfriend over. Emma tries to smile but ends up grimacing instead, "Don't you ever do that again, alright? I was so worried," Regina whispers as she finds Emma does not have any wounds that need to be tended to, at least no physical ones.
"Mmmmkay, Gina," Emma whispers. "I love you," she tries to grin.
Regina chokes out something between a laugh and a sob and says, "I love you too, idiot."
"You know," Emma grimaces as she shifts into a sitting position, leaning against the wall of the barn, "you make that sound like an insult, but I know better."
Regina rolls her eyes, "you just tried to stop my crazy half-sister from traveling back in the past and killing me. Only an idiot would continuously jump into danger like you do."
"Yes, but you find it charming," Emma smirks.
"Do not start that," Regina says giving Emma a stern look.
"Come here," Emma says, opening her arms. Regina takes only a second to wrap herself into her girlfriend's arms, resting her head over Emma's heart. "I'm your idiot," Emma says into Regina's hair.
"Yes, you are," Regina chuckles.
"Oh my god, make it stop," Zelena groans as she rolls onto her back.
Emma laughs until she realizes that Regina has froze and is trying to pull away. "Don't," Emma whispers as she pulls Regina back to her.
"Don't? She tried to kill us all!" Regina exclaimed as she tried to pull away again.
Emma just holds her tighter and says, "How long were we gone?"
"Gone?" Regina asks as she stops fighting to look perplexingly at her girlfriend, "you did not go anywhere. You pushed Zelena and instead of flying into the portal you both collapsed on the ground and neither of you has moved in 10 minutes."
"Ten minutes?" Emma asks in disbelief. She turns to look at Zelena who has a similar look. Well at least I didn't imagine it, Emma thinks.
"Yes, you were not moving," Regina says. She looks down and whispers, "I thought you had died."
"Hey. I'm fine," Emma says wrapping Regina in a tight hug. She rests her chin on Regina's head, "we actually did go back in time, and we-"
"You what?!" Regina exclaims, "That is not possible."
"Neither is magic, but it's still here," Emma mutters.
"Time travel defies the laws of magic, dear."
"And yet there should be no laws of magic to begin with, babe." Emma grins triumphantly.
"Do not call me that again," Regina glares but Emma simply smirks and kisses Regina's nose.
"It may not be possible, but we did it. And we found out-"
"That it is impossible to kill you," Zelena jumps in as she sits up, "we were invisible the entire time."
Emma looks over to Zelena who is glaring at her. Why can't I tell Regina, Emma wonders silently. Of course, Zelena would never admit to caring for Regina, even seeing the proof for herself. Crazy Bitch. "How terribly fortunate for you, Sis," Zelena drawls and then freezes.
Aha! Emma thinks, She does remember. She called Regina that lovingly in the past. I wonder how we can get their real memories back. Who took them? Why? This is too many questions, Swan, listen to what they're saying before they kill each other.
Regina looks like she is ready to maim Zelena where she sits so Emma jumps in, "Hey Gina?" Now Regina is turning her maim-look onto Emma who simply grins and continues, "how would someone go about removing memories?"
"I beg your pardon?" Regina asks. Why would Emma want to know this? "Did Zelena try to steal your memories?" she asks glaring at her supposed half-sister.
"No," Emma says looking at Zelena who is shaking her head, "but someone took yours."
"I'm sorry?" Regina cannot believe what she is hearing. What the hell happened when Emma hit her head? "Did you hit your head? You probably have a concussion. We need to get you to the hospital, or at the very least someplace where you can properly rest until your brain heals."
"Regina, I'm fine. I did not hit my head. I think." Emma pauses to see if there's any pain. Nope. No pain. She turns back to Regina, "when we went back in time we saw you. Little you-and you were adorable by the way," she says with a smirk that turns into a full-blown smile when Regina glares at her. Why she hates being called adorable, I will never understand. Emma internally shakes her head. "Anyways, we saw you as a child, playing with Little Zelena. You guys grew up together but Cora made you forget because Zelena tried to help you run away."
"Emma, what are you talking about? Zelena was sent to Oz before I was even born. I never knew she existed until we returned to the Enchanted Forest after Neverland."
"No, those are false memories! You guys were best friends-Zelena even protected you! I couldn't even make that up if I tried! You've got to believe me, Gina. I saw it."
"You hit your head, dear. We need to get you to the hospital to make sure you do not lose additional brain cells. I know you cannot spare to lose any more."
"Don't try to joke, Regina, I'm being serious."
"She is correct, Regina," Zelena says from across the barn.
Regina turns her head so fast Emma swears she can hear the bones cracking. If Regina is being completely honest, she completely forgot that Zelena was even there. But why is she agreeing with Emma? This doesn't make any sense.
"When we were sent into the past we saw us, together, over the course of our childhoods. We started out as toddlers, then into adolescence, and finally the beginning of our adult lives. That is when Mother changed our memories."
"You are not making any sense. I do not believe you."
"If this did not actually happen, then how would I know that when the King proposed to you, you were wearing a blue dress and you cried at your balcony because you wished to run away with Daniel?"
Regina pauses, she hadn't even told Emma about the balcony. What is going on here?
"We need to speak to Rumple," she says as she helps Emma to her feet. She turns to Zelena and waits for her. When Zelena does not move she asks, "Well? Are you coming?"
"Oh." Zelena stumbles as she hurries to her feet, "I did not realize you wished for me to accompany you."
Regina rolls her eyes, "of course. I cannot regain my supposed 'lost memories' by myself. If our memories were tampered with together, it will be easier to return them if we are together as well."
Of course, Zelena thinks, why didn't I think of that? Perhaps Regina deserves more credit than I give her. No, that is just the stupid illusion talking. It never actually happened-I just want to mess with Regina's head so her perfect 'happy ending' never happens.

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"When did you remember?" Regina asks.
"I have always remembered some things," Zelena says turning to look at her sister, "I remembered growing up and protecting you from Mother. I remembered you trying to run away and being punished. I remembered trying to kill you. Repeatedly."
"Ah. Good times," Emma says with a grin.
Zelena rolls her eyes, "I also remembered having to leave someplace, but not knowing why. I did not remember that I was forced to leave Storybrooke specifically, or that I was the Wicked Witch per say, or that I possess magic. However, I knew that I had a special connection to the Wizard of Oz when Henry played the Wizard our first year in this world. From there I started digging into my memories until I started remembering more."
Zelena gets to her feet and walks over to her sleeping nieces. She leans over and kisses Evelyn and then Charlotte, "goodbye, my little munchkins."
"You know," Emma starts, "I always thought it was a little weird that you called Tommy your little flying monkey and the twins you little munchkins, but it's a lot weirder now that I remember you're the Wicked Witch."
Zelena turns towards Emma and gives her a wicked grin, "I always enjoyed watching you squirm when I called them that."
"Of course you did," Emma says with an eye roll.
Regina shakes her head and asks, "Will you, Robin, and the children be joining us for dinner tonight?"
"Yes, Mei Mei." Zelena says with a shake of her head.
Regina startles, Zelena has not called her that since-no, Regina thinks, my original memories?
Zelena looks just as perplexed, "it seems we were finally able to regain our original memories in this new world. I actually remember liking you," she says with a sneer.
Emma laughs out loud, startling both sisters. It seems they forgot that she was in the room. "You guys are so stinking cute when you bicker and pretend not to like each other. Glad to see that hasn't changed, even with these false memories," she says clapping her hands together and grinning.
"I am not cute," they say simultaneously. Emma just laughs again, Sister like Sister, she thinks.
Zelena looks from Emma to Regina, she not only remembers going back in time to witness them together, now she actually remembers caring for Regina, protecting Regina, loving Regina. She shakes her head and says, "I will have to check with Robin, but regardless of his plans, Roland, Kelly, and I will be here."
"Wonderful. See you tonight, Lena," Regina says with a grin.
Zelena merely rolls her eyes and leaves.
Emma sits back on the couch and Regina remembers why Zelena was here in the first place, "how is your head?" Regina asks moving to sit next to her wife.
"It's okay," Emma shrugs, "I think I slept most of it off."
"You cannot sleep off a concussion, darling," Regina says with a shake of her head and a smile.
"Well, you can take your logic and get it away from me," Emma says defiantly, "I'll just be over here sleeping off the rest of my concussion."
Regina rolls her eyes, "you're impossible. I am going to go change and then start preparing dinner." She stands to leave.
"Wait!" Emma says as she grabs Regina's wrist.
"Yes?"
"You forgot something," Emma says pulling Regina back onto the couch.
"I did?" Regina asks.
"Mhmm," Emma voices as she points to her lips.
Regina rolls her eyes, "you are a child."
Emma just stares at her.
Regina raises an eyebrow and stares back.
This staring contest continues until Evelyn shifts in her swing and Regina turns to check on her. Emma uses this distraction to push Regina to lie back on the couch below her. Straddling her wife, Emma smiles down at Regina and raises a hand to tap her chin in thought. "Hmmmm, I wonder what it could be," she says as she looks at the wall in front of her. "Oh right, I know. I always kiss my wife when I get home and usually she does as well but it seems today she needs to be reminded."
Regina smiles and shakes her head, "just shut up and kiss me." And Emma does not need to be told twice.

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She hears them before she sees them. I should have known better than to call them for dinner when they were upstairs, Regina thinks with a shake of her head, they sound like a herd of elephants coming down my stairs like that. She huffs a little but does not say anything.
"Rookie mistake, babe," Emma says coming up behind her, knowing full well that her wife was upset at all the ruckus their family was making.
"I am anything but a rookie, darling," she says putting the finishing touches on the table.
Emma laughs as the kids start filing into the dining room. "Hands!" she yells and all of them slump their shoulders and head back out the door towards the bathroom.
"There was no need to yell," Regina says with a disappointed frown.
"Nope. But I happen to know you like it when I scream," she says as she wraps her arms around Regina.
"Emma!" Regina exclaims in a whisper.
"And I love it when you say my name," Emma says as she nuzzles her nose into Regina's neck.
"Stop it." Regina smacks her shoulder and tries to push her away.
"I love you," Emma says as she kisses Regina's neck before pulling away to look her in the eye. She keeps her arms securely around her wife's waist and smiles.
"I love you too," Regina says with a smile.
"Oh god, do you two need a minute? Because if you're going to have sex I would hope you'd move the food, I still would like to eat tonight." Zelena says walking into the dining room with Robin.
Emma rolls her eyes and walks into the kitchen, "I need a drink."
Regina shakes her head, "Really, Zelena, was that necessary?"
She shrugs, "Probably not, but I was concerned that you would not be able to stop yourselves so I was simply helping you. We wouldn't want you to scar your sons had they walked in on that, or even worse-my children."
Now it's Regina's turn to roll her eyes.
Henry, Roland, Kelly, and Tommy all come back in the dining room with clean hands and big smiles as they see all of the food on the table. Everyone sits and food is passed around. Regina helps Tommy while Emma keeps the twins entertained. There's a lot of laughing and even more scathing remarks with no real bite behind them.
This is what it's all about. Family. Laughter. Love. You can feel the love in the room. For one night there are no Evil Queens, no Saviors, no Wicked Witches. They were just 3 women and their children (and a random husband that is just starting to remember his past life).

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They had never done this in the Enchanted Forest. Once everyone returned from Neverland they were surprised to see that the Wicked Witch had taken control of Regina's castle, and was apparently plotting Regina's doom. Has a sense of foreboding to it, Regina thinks as she remembers what happened before they forgot everything. We were too busy trying to keep her away from Snow and the baby and making sure she didn't kill everyone-there really wasn't time to sit down for family dinner, she thinks sarcastically. She looks around at her family. Her wife making faces at their daughters whose laughs always bring a smile to her face. She looks to her sons who are trying to conspicuously hide their Beets so they can eat dessert. She simple raises an eyebrow when she catches Henry's eye and he hangs his head before saying, "here Little T, check this out, they're really good," he puts one in his mouth and does his best to not spit it back out. Regina chuckles, quite the actor, she muses as she looks at her younger son and her niece who are laughing at him-both near hysterics. Regina cannot believe how much Kelly looks and acts like Zelena, except the eyes, she thinks as she looks to her niece who has her dark eyes. She remembers going to the hospital when Zelena had had Kelly. Seeing her niece with dark chocolate eyes. Zelena and Robin both have blue eyes, and out pops Baby Kelly with eyes as dark as night.
During the years in this world when they did not have their true memories there was never a question that they were sisters. They always knew they were related, they knew they did not have a good relationship with their mother and they knew Regina's father was dead and Zelena never knew her father. That was never a problem for them though; being sisters was effortless for them. They teased each other, they mocked each other, and they loved each other-hard. They were best friends and sisters wrapped together in a perfect little package.
We truly are sisters, Regina thinks as she remembers the day they met Kelly.

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"She's going to perfect all of her aunt's looks early on" Emma had said when they went to visit Zelena in the hospital. She leans close to the baby in her wife's arms-looking into the eyes this baby already shares with her wife-and says, "It'll be fun seeing how long it takes for you to develop the attitude, too." Regina huffs and turns her arms so Kelly is farther away from Emma. She leans closer and in a mock whisper says, "It's a blessing and a curse, Baby Girl." Everyone smiles as she continues, "but I'll teach you all of my tricks," she adds with a wink.
"Should I be concerned?" Robin asks with only a slight tremor in his voice.
Emma laughs at his expression, "Well you married one sister and work for the other, you tell us."
Regina just smiles and says, "You should really be concerned if she picks up any of your trades, Robin."

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Regina smiles at the memory and moves on to look at her sister who is talking animatedly with Roland. Regina cannot believe how good she is with him. She really does have a niche for kids, Regina thinks, must be genetic, she adds with a grin as she looks back at her own children. She's not sure who they got that from-because it certainly wasn't their mother. Perhaps, it was on her father's side and he was able to instill it in Zelena when they were younger. Regina remembers just how good Zelena was with Roland the first time they met him back in the Enchanted Forest.

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"Are you sure about this?" Zelena asks as they ride along in the carriage.
"No, but this is the only way to get our memories back," Regina says as she looks out the window.
"I do not wish to see him again."
Regina looks at Zelena but decides not to push Zelena on this. Zelena has not tried to kill her since she and Emma returned from the past, but it has been less than a day, and already it's a new record.
The carriage is silent and Regina can hear Emma speaking with the driver, always the white knight, Regina thinks dryly. Before Regina can decide whether to keep up conversation with Zelena or call her girlfriend back to her the carriage abruptly stops moving.
"What the-" Regina hears Emma start before there is a thump.
Regina rushes out of the carriage to see Emma and the driver on the ground surrounded by 5 men. "Emma!" she exclaims as she rushes to her side. She doesn't pay the men any attention when suddenly they are flying backwards and are tangled in tree limbs. Regina shudders, knowing exactly what it feels like.
She turns to see Zelena stepping out of the carriage with a careless flip of her hand. Regina smiles tentatively and starts to say, "thank you" before turning back to Emma laying in front of her but she is stopped when she feels a presence to her side. She turns her head in time to see him approach Zelena but before she can warn her sister, Zelena turns and looks into his eyes-into his soul. Suddenly, there's a blinding white light leaping out of both of their chests and connecting them to each other. Soulmates, Regina thinks as she watches the lights dance around each other. Recognizing it's other half and welcoming it home. It's beautiful, she thinks as she watches the magical light show. There are sparks flying-literally-and some are hitting Emma and Regina, but it is not painful. It's like a warm rain that seeps under the skin and warms the heart-the soul. Regina smiles at the feeling.
"Whoa," she hears Emma say, but she cannot tear her eyes away from Zelena and the man from the forest. They have not taken their eyes off of each other. Both of their eyes are blown wide in both fear and anticipation.
The magic hooks together and pulls them together until they are standing barely a foot away from each other.
"Hi" the forest man says with a smile.
"Hello" Zelena says shyly. Did her sister just blush? An actual blush?
"Who knew the Wicked Witch actually had blood running through her veins." Emma says with a chuckle, but silences it when she receives a glare from Regina.
"I'm Robin," the forest man says as he puts his hand out towards Zelena.
"Zelena," she says shaking his hand.
They are completely oblivious to everyone around them. The men are still stuck in the trees and Emma is stuck on the ground because Regina is kneeling next her, pushing her shoulder into the ground. "Holy Shit!" Emma says as she finally breaks free from Regina's hold and sits up, "Robin Hood? THE Robin Hood?"
This seems to break them from their trance as they both turn to look at Emma with slightly dazed expressions.
"You have heard of me?" he asks.
"Only every night of my childhood! You were always my favorite story, a thief giving to those in need? That's all I've ever wanted. I would have killed to be a part of your troupe."
He laughs, "Well you certainly wouldn't have been the first Merry Woman," he states with a smile. He turns back to Zelena and says, "Where might you be headed?"
Zelena stares, completely entranced by his eyes. Regina clears her throat and says, "to the Dark One's castle."
"That's dangerous territory," Robin states-his eyes never leaving Zelena's.
"We can handle it," Emma says standing up tall.
Regina rolls her eyes but takes the proffered hand and lets herself be helped up.
"Perhaps you would like the accompaniment of some Merry Men?" he questions.
"Perhaps," Zelena says with a shrug.
Before Emma or Regina can say anything they hear a squeal. "PAPA!" A young boy comes running into the clearing where they stand.
Zelena jumps at the sound and all of the Merry Men are dropped from their tree prisons.
"Roland," Robin chastises as he bends over to pick up the boy, "you know you must stay hidden until we return."
"I know, Papa, but Friar Tuck said there was magic and I just had to see it!" he exclaims as he looks around everyone in the clearing. Everyone is stunned into silence so Roland says, "so? Where's the magic?"
Zelena is the first to break out of the trance and smiles lightly at the boy, "right here," she says as she holds her hand out and green sparks fly into the air.
"Wow," Roland says as he watches the sparks.
"Roland," Robin says pulling the boy's attention back to him, "how would you like to accompany these fine ladies on an adventure?"
"Of course, Papa!" he says with a grin at Zelena, Emma, and Regina.
"Well then it's settled," Robin says as he smiles at Zelena.
"It's settled," she replies with the same smile.

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"Auntie Em!" Kelly screams later that night as she comes running into the living room to stop in front of Emma who is sitting on the couch with an arm wrapped around Regina.
Oh boy, this is a whole new level of funny, Emma thinks as she smiles down at her niece. "Yes, sweetie?"
"Wanna play a game?" she asks with a smile.
"Oh I don't know Kells, I think I'm just going to sit here with your Auntie Gi for a while," Emma says with a smile. This smile only growing when she sees Regina cringe at the nickname.
Kelly looks at them both, snuggling on the couch, with a critical eye, "she can play too!" Kelly exclaims with a smile.
Regina laughs and looks at Emma, "Yes, dear, I can play too," she raises an eyebrow. A challenge.
Well, two can play at this game, Emma thinks, ugh, but I don't want to play, I just want to snuggle with my wife.
"See?! Come on Auntie Em!" Kelly grabs her hand and starts pulling her up.
Emma doesn't move.
Kelly groans, "Aunt Gina!" she whines, "tell Auntie Em she has to come play!"
Regina smiles at her wife who is trying not to be pulled by her whining 5-year-old niece. She stands and offers a hand to her wife, "Come along, dear, you know she will not stop until she succeeds."
"An obnoxious trait all of the Mills women seem to possess," Emma grumbles as her niece and her wife pull her up.
"Did you just call me obnoxious?" Regina asks, slightly offended.
Emma smiles and kisses her wife's nose as she says, "You're so cute when you pout like that!"
"I am not cute," Regina says with a glare.
Emma leans into Regina and whispers against the shell of her ear, "Don't give me that face, it's so cute I might not be able to hold back."
"You are on your way to sleeping on the couch tonight, Miss Swan," Regina says as she steps back and lets go of Emma's hand.
"Uh-oh" Emma says crouching in front of Kelly-who is staring up at them in confusion. "Auntie Gi is so angry she's calling me Miss Swan." Emma puts both hands on her cheeks and makes a shocked face, Kelly busts into a giggle fit and Emma smiles at her success. She looks up to see her wife glare at her. She smiles bigger and stands back up to step closer to her wife. "I haven't been Miss Swan in years, Gina, but I do like it when you call me that," she adds with a wink.
"Well, dear, I hope you enjoy sleeping on the couch tonight as well," Regina says as she turns away.
Before she can go anywhere, Emma grabs her wrist and pulls her back against her. Emma wraps both of her arms around Regina's waist and pulls her close enough that Regina's back is pressed firmly against Emma's front. "Are we fighting?" Her breath ghosts across Regina's ear, making her shiver. Emma smiles at that knowledge and adds, "You know, when this is over, we should really have angry sex," in a whisper.
"Emma!" Regina says as she pulls away from her wife. Emma stands with a huge grin plastered on her face.
Before Regina can reprimand her for being worse than a horny teenager, she sees her wife turn to their niece and say, "Alright Kells, let's go play that game."

Hope you guys liked it! Let me know what you think! :)