Chapter 21

Emma hit one final button on the keyboard, clicked print and sat back in her chair, smiling.

"Finished," she claimed proudly.

Belle looked up at her friend and smiled, "Sweet. Now all you're caught up!"

Emma grinned, "Yeah, thanks for your help, Belle, you always pick up my weak spots."

Belle smiled, "They're not weak," she rolled her eyes, "But it's all good. Do we get to celebrate?"

Emma bit her lip, "Actually, Regina and I were going to have a night in…"

The brunette nodded, "Okay, that's cool, we can hang out on the weekend," she shrugged.

"You sure?" Emma asked, a little guiltily.

Belle waved a hand, "Of course, Em. She's your girlfriend, go hang out…or whatever," she smiled slyly, "with her. Have fun. You deserve it."

Emma couldn't help giggling, "Hmm, I'll be sure to tell Regina you said so," she replied cheekily.

Belle rolled her eyes but laughed.

"Really, you finished your last essay? With the stamp of approval from Belle?" Regina asked, as they sat down on the couch, Emma crossing her legs and facing her girlfriend.

Emma nodded happily, "Yup! Did you ever doubt me?" she grinned.

Regina shook her head, smiling, "Never," she said honestly, "I'm proud, honey. I know how hard you've worked to catch up, and I know we've sacrificed a thousand nights, but," her eyes begun to shine, "I think we've earned a night to ourselves, don't you?"

Emma giggled giddily, "Yep, definitely," she said confidently.

Regina smiled as she pulled Emma by her shirt closer to her, pressing her lips against the teenagers as she felt arms wrap around her neck.

"Mm, I've missed that," Regina mumbled against soft lips.

Emma merely sighed in agreeance as she lay on her back, pulling the teacher on top of her and letting out a quick, sharp gasp as Regina's knee found her crotch.

"Sorry," Regina apologised, "I – "

Emma squirmed and bit her lip, "Don't be," she said quietly, "It felt nice," she felt her cheeks burn, but it was the truth. She knew she trusted Regina, there was no doubt about that for a moment, but she'd still been reserved with the older woman, physically. Even though a part of her was nervous, she was kind of sick of waiting.

Regina grinned, "Nice," she repeated quietly as she continued kissing the teenager's neck.

Emma ran a hand down on her own body until she found Regina's on her waist, and hesitating only slightly moved it to in between her legs.

Regina stopped sucking on skin, "Are you sure, dear?" she asked, gently; she really hadn't minded taking it slow with the teenager, she wasn't that experienced herself for someone of her age, but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't thought about touching Emma.

Emma nodded, "I'm sure," she whispered.

Regina bit her lip and measured the look in the teenagers eye; she was nervous, but the desire was evident, and so the older woman used two hands to undo her girlfriend's jeans, "Tell me if you want me to stop," she whispered into Emma's ear, before nipping it gently as she slid her fingers over the blonde's wetness, revelling in the way Emma's breath hitched and her back arched, eyes closed as Regina caressed her gently, all the while her own warm breath tickling the blonde's cheek.

Ruby was glad to be finished her shift as she sat opposite Belle with a loud yawn as she stretched her arms.

"Man, am I glad that's over. Last Friday night shift for a while," she stated.

"Really? You're free Friday night's now?" Belle asked.

Ruby shrugged, "Yeah, I'm cutting down until exams are over, so I don't know about 'free' but no waiting on stupid customers."

Belle nodded and giggled, "Don't let Granny hear you say that."

Ruby rolled her eyes, "You know she complains about some of them more than I do," she smiled, "Anyway, once exams are done, she's gonna start teaching me to crunch the numbers, balance the books, all that stuff."

Belle's eyes widened curiously, "Really?"

Ruby nodded, "Yup, then I can help out more."

"Are you still going to community college next year?"

Ruby smiled, "Yes, mom," she teased, "I am, but Granny can't take care of the diner on her own forever," she shrugged, "As much as I complain, I love this place."

Belle grinned at her friend's enthusiasm, "I know you do, I think that's sweet, Rubes. You're a good granddaughter."

Ruby shrugged, smiling nonchalantly, "Hmm," she hummed, "How are things with your mom, anyway?"

Belle bit her lip, sighing, "It's still a little raw, I guess. Dad is good, he's kind of the middle-man at the moment. I don't know what I'm going to do next year. I need to get a job so I can move out," she shrugged.

Ruby nodded slowly, clearly thinking, "Well, hey, we could totally share a place. I mean, I'll be able to afford something pretty small and crap, but that's what being a student is all about, right?"

Belle tilted her head, squinting her eyes, "Really?"

"Totally," Ruby said enthusiastically, "Think about it, how fun would it be?"

Belle smiled, "It would be," she agreed, "I just have to find a job," she groaned.

Ruby thought for a moment, "Hmm, you'll find something. Hey, worst case I can get you a couple shifts here while you look for something else."

Belle chewed her cheek, "Really? I don't know, though… Do I have to dress like you?" she laughed as her friend pretended to glare at her.

"Ha ha," Ruby rolled her eyes, "Tip, Belle, when someone's doing you a favour don't make fun of them," she said light heartedly.

Belle stifled her laughter, "Sorry, Rubes, I just don't think the tiny red shorts would suit me," she snorted at the image.

Ruby had to laugh at her giggling friend, "That's true… Maybe blue?"

That was it and the two were clutching their sides in pain as they laughed loud and hard, earning a glare from Granny and some amused glances from the other patrons.

Regina kissed the blonde's cheek as the teenager curled up against her side.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asked concernedly.

Emma nodded, eyes closed and relaxed, "More than okay," she mumbled, "That was amazing."

Regina smiled, relieved that Emma was comfortable with her and proud that she had made her girlfriend feel that way, "I'm glad," she said, running her hand through the blonde's soft hair, "I love you."

"I love you too," Emma sat up for a moment to place a kiss on Regina's plump lips, "I think you should reward me more often," she said with a cheeky look in her eye.

Regina grinned and giggled, "I think so too," she said softly, caressing her cheek gently, "I'm honoured you trust me," she whispered.

Emma bit down on her bottom lip, "I do," she confirmed, before pausing, "Maybe next time, I can…reward you."

Regina noted the rosy cheeks on the teenager and couldn't help smiling, "Mm, if you like," she kissed Emma's cheek, "No rush, whenever you're ready."

Emma nodded, "Thank you."

Regina blinked, "For what?" she asked.

"You've just been so good with me," Emma shrugged, "So patient and…" she trailed off.

The brunette pursed her lips for a moment, "Of course, honey," she said gently, "There is much more to a relationship than the physical things. I see everything I need in your eyes," she smiled.

Emma blushed, "But it is fun," she mumbled, giggling nervously.

Regina giggled too, "It is," she agreed.

"Yo, Em," Ruby lent against the lockers casually next to her.

"Hey, Rubes, what's up?" Emma replied, looking for a textbook in her locker.

Ruby shrugged, "Not heaps, Belle says you and Regina were celebrating last night," she bounced her eyebrows up and down.

Emma blushed, turning back to her locker, "Uh-huh," she replied.

Ruby nudged her playfully, "Oh come on, Em, give me more than that aye?"

Emma rolled her eyes, "You're such a…"

Ruby laughed, "Still taking it slow?"

Emma sighed heavily, "Yes," she confirmed, "God, not everything is about sex, you know."

Ruby held up her hands in defence, "I know, I know."

Emma yawned and gave up; she must have left her book at home and closed her locker, swinging her bag over her back and turning to her friend and sighed, "Okay," she said quietly, looking around self-consciously, "We might have gone a little further than usual last night," she admitted.

Ruby's eyes lit up, "Oh yeah? Did you guys go all the way?"

Emma blushed deeper, "Ruby," she growled, before sighing, "I don't know, okay? I don't even know what counts as all the way with girls," she admitted.

Ruby thought for a moment, "Good point, everybody kinda has a different opinion on that, I guess," she shrugged, "So, what did you guys do, exactly?"

Emma bit her lip; it wasn't like she didn't want to talk about it, she was a teenager and she'd just gone as far as ever sexually with another person, of course she wanted to talk about it, she just didn't know how.

She leaned over to her friend and whispered in her ear, pulling back and staring at the ground, her cheeks still heated.

Ruby nodded, a wide smile on her face, "Nice going!" she exclaimed, bumping into her friend playfully, "Damn, girl."

"Come on, ten more," Emma pushed her worn out best friend.

Belle glared at her as she kept punching the bag, trying to keep air in her lungs, she counted as she grunted and finished with one final, strong punch just to spite her friend. Ugh, she thought, feeling herself sweating and the hair sticking to her face.

"You're cruel," she wheezed out, removing the gloves from her hands.

Emma smiled; Belle looked super cute when she worked out, "Sorry, but hey, you're getting stronger."

Belle looked at her friend suspiciously, "Really, you think so?"

Emma nodded, "Totally," she replied honestly, "Maybe next time, we'll spar."

Belle shook her head, "No way, you'll kill me, Swan!"

Emma rolled her eyes, "As if, you know I wouldn't hurt you."

The brunette grinned sheepishly, "Yeah, of course. Ugh, I need to shower before class, disgusting."

Emma grinned, "I think it suits you," she claimed.

Belle rolled her eyes, "Nah ah, sweaty is ew."

Emma shrugged, "I think it makes you look cute," she admitted, "Kinda tough, but still in a real sweet way."

Belle blushed, "Shut up," she grumbled, "But thanks. Maybe I'll work out before my next date," she joked.

Emma laughed, "Hey, it'd totally get you laid."

"Em," Belle pushed her playfully, "You've been spending too much time with Ruby."