Chapter Two

More Family

As the weeks wore on, Emma and Regina made an effort to see more of each other, whether in a group, or the occasional blow out drinking together and throwing fireballs at targets in the yard. It wasn't something Regina really felt herself wanting to do anymore, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. It was a reminder of the past that was quite comfortable to slip back into now and then.

Sometimes Zelena would join them and the competitiveness would heat up. It was fun, but they weren't those people anymore. They'd grown up a lot in Hyperion Heights, and Regina would often catch her sister shooting her pained looks. It was on one such night after Emma passed out drunk that she broached the subject.

"What?"

"Not this again, sis."

Huffing, Regina knew exactly what she meant. "It's different. I'm just helping her move on. I have no illusions anymore. I haven't done for a while. They might not have been real memories, but it feels easier having had a different life."

Zelena didn't look entirely convinced. "That may be so, but it's not your job. She doesn't even know how hard she makes it on you, does she? She has to be just about the only person on the entire planet that doesn't know the fucking obvious!"

Regina shrugged but laughed at the irony. "Well, it doesn't surprise me. Come on, she didn't figure out Lucy was her grandchild for over two years! It doesn't matter anymore. I made peace with it a long time ago."

Zelena rolled her eyes. "I know you did, that's why I'm concerned because it seems like the more time you spend together, the more of those old feelings keep bubbling up to the surface. You should put some distance between you."

"You know I can't. We're family, just... a really weird one."

Reluctantly Zelena agreed. "Yeah, I know. I do like her, funnily enough. We get on well. We talk, but it doesn't mean I don't want to wring her scrawny neck every now and then for hurting you."

"Since when do you talk? What do you talk about? Not me, I hope." It unsettled Regina a little to think her sister and Emma had met up without her being there. Did they text? How hadn't she noticed?

"Oh you know, orphan stuff, mommy issues. You'd be proud of me actually, talking about the regular peasant stuff. And no, we don't talk about you. I wouldn't do that."

It was a small relief but not much. "What, do you go for coffee? Since when?"

"Yeah sometimes. It wasn't long after we got back. We just kept bumping into each other and that was it. Not a big deal. I do talk to at least four other people in town who aren't blood relatives." She grimaced seeing the slight jealous pang on her sisters face. "Sorry, am I not supposed to talk to her unless you say so?"

"No! Of course not! Don't be ridiculous," Regina huffed in a thinly veiled sulk. "I'm glad. You are technically family too. Why shouldn't you hang out without me."

"See! You are far from over this, which is why you need to stop making it harder on yourself. Go and get laid, Regina, for fuck's sake!"

"Oh, sure because that's so easy in this town! Who? Grumpy? Hyde? Granny? You forget the dating pool isn't exactly overflowing with options. Besides, there is nobody who hasn't tried to kill or threaten me in this town, and I might have forgiven them, but I certainly don't want to bed any of them."

"Except one."

With a hint of sadness in her eyes, she turned away and glared at the contents of her glass. "Not anymore. I know where I stand with her, and I know she doesn't see me that way. I have some self-worth, Zelena. I need to feel desired, which... I'm not. So I don't dwell on it or make it a thing. I'm old enough to push past the physical."

"God, you've gone so boring, sis. You need to get out of town for a bit. Let's have a road trip and let off some steam. We can meet some eligibles, who knows, maybe bring a few back. Spruce up the place. Inject some new blood into town."

Pondering that it would be nice to get away for a while, she admitted she needed it. "A vacation would be nice, but not yet. See how things are next month. I'm pretty busy at work right now, and it's Lucy's birthday coming up."

"Fine, I'll start looking for flights for next month, but we're going. It's settled."

Getting up to leave, she gave Regina a quick hug then disappeared in a plume of green smoke. She was never one for long-winded goodbyes or outstaying her welcome. Hell, Regina was lucky if she got any sort of warning most days as to whether she was coming over, but she didn't mind. It was her family, after all. Tiptoeing back into the lounge with a blanket, she covered the snoring savior then poofed herself to her bedroom thinking about Zelena's words.

It was different this time. So much had changed and yes, she was still attracted to Emma, but she wouldn't allow herself to ever get caught up in the fairy-tale again.

Before turning in, she sent a quick text to Snow letting her know where Emma was and checking up on Hope. She smiled as the response came back saying she was fast asleep like her momma and probably drooling the same way. It was nice having Snow in her life. After all these years they'd gotten much closer. Like it was in the beginning when they first met. They got a chance to fix things.

A weak little voice inside her whispered there was still a chance for her heart to have it's desire. The lights now off, she slipped under the covers with a sigh. She didn't drink as much as Emma and Zelena tonight but now she almost wished she had so sleep would come easier. The nightmares rarely haunted her these days, but the sex dreams certainly did. It was one aspect of her desires that she couldn't control nor hide from. It seemed her subconscious didn't want her to ever forget about the woman currently snoring on her couch.

#

Emma woke up to a bang, some chatter, and footsteps in the hallway. Her head was pounding and it took her a few moments to properly wake up and get her bearings. Obviously she'd passed out at Regina's last night after accepting her lethal weapon of choice for the evening.

"Damn you, you delicious strawberry daiquiris."

She drank most of the jar herself not tasting how much alcohol was in it and her head was definitely paying the price. She stretched lazily and stood up whipping the covers off herself just as Henry and Jacinda walked into the room.

"Woah, Ma, wanna put some pants on?"

"What?" She looked down her body and saw she was indeed pantless and braless under her tank top. Confused, she looked around for the items wondering when exactly she'd taken them off.

"Srrry, jst woke up. Hey, Jacinda. Sorry you're seeing this." At least she wasn't naked, but was pretty ashamed to be caught looking this bad.

Still, motherhood had made her much less prideful and prudish. After having Dr. Whale poking around down there, half of Storybrook witnessing her boobs, and spending at least eighty-percent of her adult conversations over the last two years talking about the various types of poop and other bodily fluids, she couldn't bring herself to care much.

"Why are you half-naked in Mom's lounge, out of interest? No, wait, don't tell me she finally put the moves on you?"

"What even...?" It caught her off guard and she had no quick reaction come back with her current hangover status.

"Ai, amor, deja. Stop teasing your mother. Ella nao sabe." Jacinda interjected with a swift tap to her husband's arm.

"Todo el mundo sabe. ¿Cómo no puede?" Henry responded knowing it would only annoy his Ma more and he figured they had plenty of making up to do for the years of teasing she'd technically missed out on.

Emma shot them both a scowl as she pulled her jeans on. "It's too early for your sass, and you know I don't understand Spanish."

"Exactly. That's why I said in Spanish!" Jacinda laughed. She couldn't help mess with her other mother-in-law on occasion. She made it too easy. Lucy and Hope bound into the room hotly followed by Regina who caught the last few exchanges and laughed at Emma's expense.

"Ma, it's past noon. It's not even early. What did mom do to you?"

"I heard that. All of it. Leave her alone." Regina interjected with an eye roll and scooped Hope up in her arms cooing over her before switching her tone to her baby voice, obviously aimed at Henry.

"Now, who wants lasagne? I don't think Henry wants lasagne, does he? No he doesn't if he's gonna keep teasing his momma, isn't that right, beautiful?"

Emma watched spellbound as Regina swept in saving her from her herself and simultaneously stepping in as responsible mother. She smiled watching the way she interacted with her daughter and Regina continued baby talking.

"Your big brother is so silly, isn't he? Yes he is, not like you, my little cupcake."

Hope was giggling in Regina's arms and squirming with all the kisses being peppered on her cheeks. "Hen big silly!" She chuckled out making everyone laugh and distracting from Emma's previous state. It was only then the scene hit her and a sharp breath filled her lungs. The others were already on their way to the kitchen but Regina heard it and looked up catching Emma's wide eyed panic.

She knew what she'd said and didn't think anything of it, but looked apologetic and handed Hope back to her. "Here, take her. I'll go and dish up, unless you want a shower first?" She didn't mean to overstep any boundaries, but she couldn't help how mushy she got around kids, especially Emma's kids. She produced the finest offspring in all the realms, in her opinion.

Emma was suddenly hyper aware of the fact she was still braless and seeing Regina for what felt like the first time ever. "Yeah, actually, uhm, a shower would be great. If you don't mind babysitting for a few minutes."

Smelling the remnants of last night's alcohol on her and seeing Regina looking so put together made her blush fiercely, unable to meet her eye, she handed Hope back over awkwardly.

Regina was more than happy to take her back and relieved Emma wasn't mad or threatened by her being so mushy over her daughter. She watched Emma dart past her and up the stairs, then settled her attention back on the other irresistible girl in her arms. "Mommy's gonna take a shower, so let's go find you some juice!"

"Yes, please," she whispered shyly as Regina carried her into the kitchen.

Upstairs in the stream of the shower, Emma gathered her jumbled thoughts trying to make sense of everything.

Henry was of course Hope's big brother. She knew that. She always knew that. But seeing them all together, with Regina holding Hope in her arms and talking about her son Henry, the same Henry as Hope's brother, broke something wide open. She'd never seen it. Never realized until right then. Regina was her family and she wanted her to be a part of Hope's life too. Now she'd seen it, she couldn't unsee it. It felt natural, like that was the piece they were always missing. She always thought Regina was attractive, but never really considered anything like this before. Maybe in passing or a heated argument.

Henry's comment echoed in her brain as more and more comments over the years started to replay:

"So mom finally put the moves on you?"

"I always thought women with weapons were hot."

"To be honest, he's not good enough for you."

"You can lie to your parents, you can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me."

"But maybe I need you."

"My happy ending won't be with a man."

And then the fog cleared as her fuzzy memories from last night came to the front .

"And to think, all this time trying to get you to taste my forbidden fruit. I should have used strawberries."

Woah.. she reeled back from the spray of water feeling a jolt go to her center. How had she not seen it? Had she seen it before? This can't be the first time she's thought about it? "Holy fuck."

More flashbacks came and she was bombarded with the innuendo people, including Hook had made over the years about how much time they spent together, saving each other, raising their son together. It was almost too much and she began crying.

She must have felt something for her before. There's no way she was blind to the potential of their relationship. Her back slipped down the shower wall and she sat on the wet tiles allowing the water to spray her entire body. It was like a light switch going on inside her and she knew she had definitely felt something more for the woman a long time ago. She must have blocked it from her mind.

Emma had a habit of doing that when things were too much to deal with. Blocking and running were two of her signature moves so she must have done either one or both of those because that is the only way she couldn't have seen it. Sure, she was dense, but that was only a convenient cover most of the time. She'd spoken to Archie a few years back when she was prepping for the final battle, and they'd touched on her mental blockages. What did he say? Something about relaxing and allowing things to surface. That sounded about right, so she tried.

A clear memory from her own subconscious surfaced as she remembered the thought that crossed her mind when she handed Regina the dagger in Camelot.

"Oh, God." A blush crept up her neck as the now vivid memory of the dark magic showing her truest desires and all the ways she could get them.

It was definitely not the first time she'd thought of Regina in a sexual context, and certainly wasn't the last, but she'd somehow never fully considered it as plausible and pushed all thoughts and inclinations away, locked them out of her mind, and threw away the key.

Regina was always her family, practically her wife in every sense except the physical. The question now was, could she ever see Emma the same way? Was it too late? Could she possibly see her the like that or was she just jumping to wild conclusions because she realized how much she already loved Regina, and her holding Hope had finally bust the dam open?

She gathered herself and magically dressed, remembering she could do that, then nervously headed downstairs.

They hadn't bothered waiting for her before starting lunch but she didn't mind. If anything, she was grateful they were all too busy stuffing their faces and barely noticed when she took her seat opposite Regina and helped herself to a large portion.

But Regina noticed and looked up with a wink. 'Why is she winking? That's pretty gay. Does she know how gay that is?' Emma's internal dialog was on overtime.

"I told them to save you some, but it was hit and miss there for a while. Count yourself lucky, at least our son still fears me a little." She chuckled lightly and went back to spoon feeding Hope who was impatiently squirming in her lap with her mouth open trying to get to the food faster.

'Yup, my kid for sure! We all love her food way more than is healthy."

Henry interjected, "I don't fear you, Mom. It's Ma and her insatiable appetite. She always gets the last piece. Everybody knows that."

"Alright, I'm a glutton, but I'm also quite hungover so, can I just eat before you all start on me?"

Everyone at the table laughed but shut up. There was no malice, just good old fashioned banter.

"How was the shower?" Regina asked noticing a slight shift in the woman sat opposite her.

What was she supposed to say to that? 'Oh, you know, just a regular meltdown realizing how much better it would have been if you were in it with me, and that I'm kinda in love with you.' Nope. She definitely wasn't about to blurt all that out.

"It was refreshing. Got rid of most of the muck, I think." She found it hard to keep eye contact with Regina now and she swallowed a large lump in her throat watching her feed her daughter. Oh wow, she was so beautiful, what had she done opening this can of worms?

For the first time in years, she felt her heart filling with a painful love and yearning. That was likely why she'd blocked it out. It hurt to look at her. She found herself completely awed and hadn't noticed she wasn't eating, just staring, taking her all in, and oblivious to the conversation going on around her. It was only when Regina looked up again and registered the desire in the blondes eyes, then bashfully looked down trying to contain both the smile and the blush, that Emma realized she caught her staring.

"I think you'll have to repeat that, Lucy. Grandma Emma seems to have her head somewhere else today." A half-scolding but playful eyebrow wiggle in their granddaughters direction, plus the use of her grandmother title brought her back to the present.

She smiled openly, grateful that if Regina had noticed, she'd given her an out.

"Thanks, grandma Regina. What was it, Luce?"

"I just thought it would be really cool to go down to the pier tonight. There's gonna be a carnival."

Brows knitted. "Really? In Storybrook?"

"Yeah, really! We should all go. Oh, and aunty Zee, and Alice and Robyn, and Great-grandma and gramps, and great-uncle Neil..."

Regina interrupted before the list got any longer. "Well, if your parents say it's okay, I'd love to go! I haven't been to a carnival in years. I forgot they came over on the last shi... uh..."

She stopped herself realizing Emma probably didn't want to know they'd re-established the trips between Enchanted Forest and Storybrook with a new captain and more heavily armoured ship. Merida was running it and she hadn't had chance to talk to Emma about that yet.

Turning to Lucy, she beamed. "You know what? I love carnivals. I'll be there. I might even let Hope try her first cotton candy." The atmosphere instantly went back to light and breezy as they made their plans for the evening.

Henry and Jacinda took off with Lucy in tow, then Emma made excuses she needed to get Hope back. "If we're having a late one she needs to nap. I need to nap!" She chuckled in the doorway.

"Okay, listen, I meant to talk to you about the new project."

"It's fine, Regina. I can handle it. You can use the word 'ship' without me breaking down. I'm good. Promise. I'm actually ready to move on." Her hopeful eyes caught Regina's who simply nodded feeling relief.

"I'm glad. Okay, I'll see you at seven."

"See you later, and thanks for saving me from humiliation earlier."

"Hmm, make it at least a little harder for them!"

"Noted! I'll wear pants. See you tonight."

As soon as the door closed, Regina had her back against it breathing deeply. Her encounters with Emma were always intense, but that was something she thought she'd never witness again: That look.

The energy she radiated toward her unconsciously acknowledging her once more as a possibility—A someone. It had her heart singing at the dining table and her body buzzing with all those not so dormant feelings washing over her. What had happened in that split second? What had she seen that made her breath hitch and bring back what was lost? Gaining some control back over her heart rate, she shook it off, annoyed at feeling like this again at her age.

There was nothing to do, nothing to hope for until Emma made the decision to put some weight behind it. If she was even capable of doing that. There was no use getting giddy over a few uncensored looks and unchecked energy waves. "You're move, Swan. Make it count for something this time, or so help me God..."

# # #

Back at home and with Hope down sound for a nap, Emma began panicking about her feelings. Sure, they'd flirted a little back at the beginning before Regina tried to run her out of town and poison her, but then they went right into hating each other for the longest time. She rinsed out her coffee mug and set ut on the drainer.

Regina was flirty and suggestive with almost everyone, it didn't mean she meant anything by it. After Neverland, things got slightly easier between them and they came to a kind of truce for Henry's sake. Before they knew what was happening, they were friends, so when exactly did Emma think there could be more?

That was the problem. She never believed there could be anything more. That was why she went after Hook in the first place and started distancing from Regina. And successfully so, she realized now. She always had some sort of feelings for her but she pushed them away and ran in the opposite direction, which is what she'd always done. It was definitely the right thing to do, though. she consoled herself.

She would not have Hope now if she hadn't, but she realized she'd always been a total coward when it came to love. Regina was too real and too big of a threat to her fragile heart. Regina could destroy her and drive her out of town. Hell, the woman could literally remove beating enchanted hearts and crush them in seconds.

So why now? Why did she suddenly not have a handle on this?

Moving around the house on autopilot, picking up laundry and shoving it in the machine, she leant back against the door and sighed. It was seeing her hold Hope, knowing she'd never leave if she was hers.

Regina proved how loyal, loving, and how dependable as a family member she was over the years. She had been there through everything for Henry, herself, even Snow post curse. She never left anyone behind, no matter what and that was something Emma knew she craved. Yes, she'd left to go and help Henry on his mission, but after talking to her that first night a few weeks ago, she couldn't call it abandonment. She was glad Henry had at least one of them during that time and she'd felt terrible for being so angry about it in the first place.

That was why she felt safe revealing her true feelings about her husband's death to the woman. Because like it or not, her and Regina were perfect for each other.

"Now what?"

If she made a move now and was rejected, that would be the end of their friendship and she couldn't lose her forever.

But what if she didn't? What if she felt something too?

It was impossible for her to nap as she'd intended that afternoon so she settled for making herself look the best she had in years, choosing the perfect outfit, curling and styling her hair, even applying nail polish and her favorite scent. Her make-up was flawless and she just finished her mascara when Hope woke up with a cry.

"Coming, honey."

She bathed and dressed her daughter in her sweetest outfit, a white dress with red roses embroidered all over. She brushed her hair through and put it in piggy tails, and made sure she had sparkling clean shoes on, which in itself was a challenge as she was always crawling or falling down and scuffing the toes. Looking at their reflections in the mirror, she smirked and spoke. "I think we look pretty, do you, baby?"

"Yes, mommy, Hope pretty!" She squealed in delight swirling her dress around.

"Good. Let's hope Regina thinks we do too."

And oh boy, did she need this little make-over if she was ever going to get a chance to ping Regina's gaydar. The cringe was firmly engraved on her face for most of the day remembering how for most of their recent meetings, she'd been covered in some sort of food or beverage that may or may not have been her daughter's handiwork. The daiquiri stains were most definitely her own doing.

Since Killian's death, she'd barely brushed her hair other than to shove it in a ponytail for her shifts at work, and make-up? Well, that was the last thing on her list of things to do most days. She knew it shouldn't and probably didn't matter. They'd known each other long enough and had seen each other in worse states, like covered in blood, death and dark-one bullshit, but it mattered to Emma. She wanted to be seen, 'again?'

Was there a time when Regina had seen her or was that a warped self-indulgent memory distorted by curses and her crappy mental-health issues? Who knew at this point. The point was, she wanted to start over.

They left the house and Emma was buckling Hope into the car seat when a horn honked behind her making her jump. She turned around seeing it was Regina in the Benz smiling at her. "Hey, I thought we were meeting there?"

Regina's mouth opened as she took in the full effect she wasn't prepared for. Emma Swan in full glory.

"Damn, you are... dressed!"

She couldn't hide it so she figured she'd go with the friendly, girls complimenting each other's outfit style of recovery. "I, ahem, thought you might not feel up to driving after last night, so I'm picking you up."

Emma beamed back and got a sparkle on her eye noticing how Regina's eyes couldn't stop looking her up and down. Was that a spark of something? She was really friggin' rusty.

"Well, thank you. And please, feel free to pick me up anytime." Before the blush spread to her cheeks she busied herself removing Hope and the car seat from the bug. She knew exactly how that sounded but it had been an awful long time since she'd been so directly flirty and she wasn't sure she'd done it right.

Regina was silent, analyzing the words. Was that what she thought it was? Shrugging and waiting until Emma was behind her fastening the car seat in the Benz, she turned her head back and said, "play your cards right, maybe I will." They used to do this before, she remembered. It was still fairly regular territory.

"Gina see? Hope, Mommy pretty?"

Her smile broadened and she turned her whole focus on the cute bundle currently being strapped in. "Of course I did! You are so, so very pretty, Hope. I love that dress!"

"Mommy too?"

Emma blushed realizing she probably shouldn't have used that exact combination of words just before meeting the woman she was trying to look good for.

Regina cast a cautionary look over the blonde's body and smiled. "Mommy too." It was almost too much for her to compliment so outright and made her slightly uncomfortable. She turned face forward and turned the ignition as Emma gently closed the passenger side door behind her.

"Regina looks pretty too, doesn't she, Hope?" A slight glance down as she saw the woman's legs in skin-tight black jeans and then back up to eye level revealing a less than confident look in her eye.

"Gina Mommy Hope all pretty!"

They both laughed as they drove toward the carnival. It was a cute moment and they both felt the air heavy with something but Hope had given them a chance to diffuse it and an excuse for the goofy smiles.

"So, did you get some sleep?"

"Not a wink. Hope did, but I had a lot to think about."

"Want to talk about it?" Regina swallowed trying to act casual but she felt Emma's eyes on her. Something had definitely happened. She could feel the charge between them, and the way Emma was not so subtly staring at her.

"Not yet. I will though."

"Okay, whenever you're ready, I'll be there."

Emma smirked. "I know you will. You always are."

Stopping at traffic lights she turned just in time to catch Emma looking at her in a meaningful way. She offered a timid smile back and tried not to get too carried away. They began moving again and the rest of the journey was like any other only with Hope occasionally adding to the commentary whenever she recognized someone's name in the dialog.

"Okay baby, you wanna walk a bit or shall I carry you?" Emma asked as she got Hope out at their destination.

"Walk!"

"Good girl. Then hold my hand and don't run off." Obliging, she took her mom's hand and Regina flanked her the other side.

After a few steps, the brunette felt an insistent tugging on her fingertips and realized she wanted to hold her hand too. Emma's smile widened at the action and she whispered over her head, "any minute now she's gonna want to S.W.I.N.G."

Regina nodded with a broad smile "Henry used to love doing that too at this age."

"Swing!" Hope called on cue and they both laughed as they performed the requested action, repeatedly until the reached the rest of their family.

Zelena observed the easy smiles and by proxy hand-holding and leaned in for a hug whispering, "what did I say last night?"

"Drop it." Regina whispered back before moving to hug her son and the rest of the family. It sometimes felt they were growing in numbers by the day and it was always a party when they came together.

"Ma, you look a hell of a lot better than this afternoon!" Henry laughed and hugged Emma.

"Thank you."

"Hold on, what did she look like this afternoon?" Zelena shot knowing full well they had lunch at Regina's today.

"Like mom had opened her doors to the homeless!"

Everyone laughed except Emma who was wishing for the ground to open up and swallow her when the point of her entire get up was to give Regina a better mental reference than the one she'd walked in on.

Zelena rolled her eyes again and turned to her sister. "I take it she didn't make it off the sofa."

"Not until after midday," Regina chuckled despite not wishing to embarrass Emma farther. Still it was funny.

Zelena leant in to Emma as if to whisper something then shouted, "How's you're head now?" Which caused everyone to howl again and Emma to blush harder before turning to the queen.

"So, uhm, Regina, do you mind if I kill your sister?"

"Be my guest. I've tried but it doesn't seem to stick." They shared another laugh and then Snow and David arrived with Neal bringing the total of the group up to twelve. Four families, all in their individual groups of three.

The carnival was a simple one with mostly wooden attractions like corn hole and the hoopla. There was a carousel and a Ferris wheel, but they mostly wandered around trying all the traditional foods like hotdogs and cotton candy. While they waited for Lucy and Neal to come off the Ferris wheel, Regina appeared offering a candied apple to Emma who took it with a smirk.

"Really? I bit on brand, wouldn't you say?"

Snow came over shouting, "What have I told you about taking apples from her?" They all laughed and Regina gave another one to Snow who took it with a chuckle. "Thank you!"

"Oh, come on! It was funny!" Regina howled and shoulder bumped Emma playfully. "You should taste it. Have you ever had one of these?"

"Yeah, all the time. You?"

"Of course. I never offer anything nowadays if I haven't tested it for myself."

"And, uh... do you like it?" She wasn't sure if they were still talking about candied apples and neither was Regina. It was the type of needless question that people don't ask as it's usually implicit if talking about the object presented.

Snow had wandered back off to talk to Henry who had Hope on his shoulders, leaving them alone and oblivious to everything around them. It felt like the longest time before Regina answered analyzing Emma and wondering what was going through her mind. "I like it, a lot."

Emma smiled and tried to make it about candy apples again losing her confidence to push farther. "I didn't see you eat one!"

Regina shot her a look of utter disbelief. Did she even realize what she'd just implied? Oh, well she did now going by the blush rising on her cheeks.

"Maybe you will, one day." She couldn't hold back the amused and slightly flustered laugh and Emma shook her head mortified that they'd both gone to the same overly suggestive place so readily.

"Oh, shut up! I didn't mean it like that! Regina!"

"Sure you didn't."

"Stop!"

"Stop making it so easy then!"

In a swift move, she quickly took the candied apple and shoved it against Regina's mouth. "Let's see you talk around that! Bite it."

Feeling her pulse quicken with Emma's hand loosely around her wrist and the sticky sweetness pressed against her lips, she met Emma's intense stare head on. Things were definitely shifting. Without breaking eye-contact, she took a small, slow bite and moaned, quickly chewing and swallowing before deliberately and thoroughly licking her lips.

"Mmmm. Delicious."

They were dangerously close and teetering on the knife edge. They'd been this close before, a long time ago. Regina's body pulsed and she longed to close the gap between them, but it wasn't hers to traverse.

Emma realized a few seconds too late that she still hadn't let go of Regina's wrist, nor made a move to step out of her space. She let go of her and dropped her gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

With a poof, the candy apple was now in Regina's hand and she smirked evilly walking away. "You're loss," and she took another bite before re-joining the others.

Alice and Robyn were wide-eyed and gobsmacked having witnessed the entire exchange and Regina shot them a toothy grin.

"So close!" Robyn whispered to her aunt through sucked teeth.

Regina put an arm around her shoulders and whispered back, "It's not that simple for our generation."

"Okay fine, but to clarify, which generation exactly is your generation, aunty?"

"Smart mouth!"

"No, I'm serious! It's not the same as hers, that's for sure, but you've always been cool about that stuff, so it must be hers."

"Enough. It's not your battle, and that was a little win despite what you didn't see or hear. Don't spoil it for me."

The smile returned as she munched on the rest of the candy apple. This was by far the longest game she'd ever played but definitely the sweetest if it ended up where she hoped it was leading. She hadn't meant for this to be a possibility again. Not consciously, but Emma Swan was her biggest weakness and always held the power to destroy her. She couldn't help it if they kept walking into one another's traps.

Zelena caught up to them brandishing the giant stuffed monkey she just 'won' on the shoot 'em up, though nobody believed for a second she hadn't cheated.

"It doesn't have wings, but I wanted it! It's so cute. Look at that munchable face!"

Emma had caught up too and groaned then shuddered getting flashbacks of the last flying monkey she saw. Henry came and put a protective arm around her remembering it all too vividly. "Aunty Zee, can you not go there."

With a huff realizing why Emma was looking uncomfortable, she poofed it away. "Fine. It's gone. Sorry."

Robyn looked confused. "Why what's wrong?"

"Drop it." Regina warned.

"Doesn't Emma like monkeys?"

"I said, leave it alone."

"Emma, why don't you like monkeys?"

Zelena zapped a bit of tape over her lips and looked at Emma apologetically. "Ignore my daughter, she's a bloody nightmare."

"I wonder where she gets it from?" Emma sassed causing more chuckles as they walked back to the meeting point and found Jacinda and Lucy with Snow, David and Neal, each munching a stick of cotton candy.

"Oh, you laugh now, but may I remind you, you have a daughter of your own who will one day be just as mouthy as mine."

As Henry lifted Hope off his shoulders, she sensed all eyes on her and decided to give a little vocabulary performance. "Mommy Gina Pretty," and she shyly hugged Regina's legs giggling. All eyes shot up with questions.

"Mommy Gina? That's new." Snow looked curiously between her daughter and her friend considering.

Emma cleared her throat feeling the need to explain. "She means, Mommy AND Regina are pretty. She learned it today before we left. We were checking ourselves out in the mirror together." A slight blush crept up her cheeks for the umpteenth time that day both for the fact she admitted to checking herself out, and for how it sounded like Regina was there too.

"Hmm, Did you get ready at Emma's today too?" Snow asked her ex nemesis.

"No, I picked them up."

"It was before Regina got there. I meant, me and Hope. Not me and Regina. We weren't checking each other out... "

Both women spoke in unison but Emma continued babbling causing a few knowing glances around the parking lot. She trailed off realizing she was digging a massive hole and setting herself up for some sass.

God, it seemed everyone already thought they were together and they hadn't so much as kissed in all the years they'd know each other, but nobody would ever believe it. They began dispersing, saying their goodbyes and hugging, leaving only Regina, Emma and Hope by the Benz.

"Well, it's been a fun night." Regina offered as she started buckling Hope in the back. Emma stood back watching her, not staring at her ass as she bent over in those jeans. She was definitely not doing that at all.

"Yeah. Our family is so weird though, right?"

"The weirdest." Finishing up her task, she straightened up and felt how close Emma was as she bent over her checking she'd get the tri-lock in correctly. Their momentary contact caused a sharp intake of breath in both of them and Regina covered it. "Sorry, I didn't know you were there. Did I do that right?"

"It's okay, it was my fault. Yeah, you nailed it." Emma removed herself from the small space and hurriedly got in the passenger side letting Regina straighten up.

The drive back was quiet realizing Hope had fallen asleep with the movement of the vehicle. "It's been a big day for her. She's out for the count."

Regina smiled and stole a quick glance at her. "It was a big day for you too. That's the first time in a long time I've seen you... ahem... in a crowd." It wasn't quite what she meant but it had been a big day and she wasn't going to push it farther and cause the woman to shut down.

"Yeah, it felt good to get a change of scenery and see all our family so happy. Even if I did end up the butt of so many jokes."

"The fact they're making fun of you means they don't feel like they have to tip-toe around you. It's progress."

"And you? Do you feel like you have to tip-toe around me, Regina?"

Her knuckles tightened around the steering wheel at the surprisingly direct question. She had to really think about the answer.

"Not always. I feel you and I are very honest with each other about everything, except the things we don't know."

"Good answer. I feel the same. You know, a few months back, when I saw you with Lucy outside Granny's, I wondered how you could possibly be that happy."

Regina pulled up outside Emma's place and furrowed her brow waiting for her to continue.

Emma looked ashamed. "I know, it was just a moment of my grief, but I get it now. We have a really amazing family despite how strange it is. Lucy is just adorable. You're sister is not so adorable, but she makes me laugh and I love how she just says whatever comes into her head."

Regina chuckled feeling her heart and cheeks warm as she thought of them all.

Emma continued. "Alice and Robyn are so cool, like effortlessly so, and they aren't wrapped up in all the bull about labels and stuff that used to seem so important and scary to kids like me."

Regina shuddered out a breath understanding Emma was leading somewhere significant. Maybe hinting at things they never really spoke of other than that first night after Hook's death.

"My mom and dad and Neal are just perfect, which kinda sucks and is impossible to live up to, but they're fun. And they just open their arms to pretty much everyone and accept them into the family. You included."

A small huff of amusement and a happy tear slipped from Regina's eye which she quickly wiped away. Hearing it from Emma's perspective was making her all warm and fuzzy. She was a big softy when it came to family.

"And then there's our son and his wife. We raised him. God, I look at him now and I'm just so proud and overwhelmed at the man he turned into. We did that despite everything."

She was feeling a bit emotional now realizing how fucking perfect their family was and how much she'd shyed away from them in recent years refusing to believe she had any right to them.

"Between us, we brought them all together because of Henry. People who under any other circumstances wouldn't even stand in the same room. It works because we make it work. It was always us." Emma was openly letting her tears track down her cheeks now. "I wouldn't do anything to damage that and I'm sorry if I ever did. It's too precious to lose."

"Nor would I, Emma." She was pushing the tears away as quickly as they fell because everything her Swan was saying now was what she'd battled with herself since she first realized her feelings all those years ago.

Tilting her head behind them, she signaled at her sleeping little girl. "She's part of that now."

"Oh, Emma! She was always a part of this! She's one of ours. For life, God help her!" She reached out because she couldn't stand not holding her right now and breathed deeply, just resting their foreheads together. "We are in this together. Us against the world, like always."

"If it means letting go of the thing I want most, I'll do it."

"Me too. A thousand times over."

Feeling self-conscious at her sudden emotional outpour, Emma let go and got out of the car to retrieve her daughter. With a final glance back at the brunette, her heart broke a little. She was completely in love with Regina Mills and terrified she wouldn't love her back or it wouldn't work they way it seemed it should. "Goodnight, Regina. We'll see you soon."

"Goodnight, Swans. Sweet dreams."

The drive home had Regina giddy and tempted to turn around at every stop sign, but she pushed it down. She understood the fear Emma was going through all too well. She was so close tonight to admitting everything and she was sure, if Emma hadn't pulled away when she did, they'd be tangled in each other's arms right now with no care for tomorrow. Maybe they wouldn't be compatible physically. Maybe they would end up resenting each other or it prohibiting them from ever living life fully, but Regina realized she was ready to take that risk if Emma was on board.

They had always been tangled up together. They'd get through it like they always did. Even if it didn't work out between them. They'd proved it with the family they created. Emma just needed time to get there and deal with her issues, just as Regina had.