A/N: Sorry, updates take longer than i want them to. i'm a slacker - you are beautiful and gorgeous and so talented. i love you all... i see maybe three more chapters (but i could be wrong). Enjoy.

Emma was woken by a sweet kiss that was placed just behind her earlobe.

"Mhmm," she made as she felt the warm, naked body behind her move and arms pull her closer into their embrace.

"Morning," came the deep voice of her lover. It send an anticipatory shiver through the sheriff and she turned around to end the anticipation and start the love.

"I thought I'd worn you out last night," she said before she captured Regina's lips in a deep kiss.

"That was last night," the mayor answered when they parted lips for a moment. She pulled Emma's body flush against her own smiling wickedly at her.

"May I remind you that my parents are in the guest bedroom just down the hall."

"It didn't seem to bother you last night," Regina gave back kissing the cleft in Emma's chin.

The blonde giggled.

"If I had known you would make such a ruckus..."

"Excuse me, you were the one who made me make such a ruckus," Regina interrupted and they laughed together but never disentangled. Instead Emma pulled Regina's leg up her thigh and around her waist. "And your parents weren't exactly quiet either," Regina added as Emma started kissing her neck.

The blonde halted her ministrations presently and looked up at Regina.

"I didn't hear anything," she said.

"Really? I'm surprised, Snow is..." but Emma lay a hand over Regina's mouth.

"I don't wanna hear this," Emma pleaded with the brunette who nodded and Emma took her hand away. She exchaned it for her lips and before long they moved against each other in slow sensuality.

Noises from the hall made them both freeze in motion. There were footsteps and voices, they heard David clear his throat just outside their bedroom door.

"It sounds like he has an idea about what we're doing," Regina whispered and giggled.

"That's not funny," Emma said pouting.

"It's a little funny," Regina disagreed. She pushed away from Emma just enough that the blonde could roll onto her back then she snuggled up against her. "At least he didn't barge in here at some point last night and insist I stop dishonoring his daughter."

"He would never have done that. And just for the record, you dishonor really well," she said and grinned at her lover. "David did seem kind of mellowed out when you came back last night. Did you two talk?"

"Well, we did talk but I don't think that was what made him... 'mellow out.' I don't really know what did the trick, though, to be honest. When we set out from the castle, we didn't talk at all. He had this indignant set to his jaw the whole time, you know the one."

Emma nodded.

"We met some people on the road, talked to them. The kingdom seems... well, there was fighting for some time. The few ogres that still live around that area banded together but were defeated... it seems secure now."

"That's good," Emma said.

"It is. It means, everybody who wants to go back can do it - probably really soon. We came to the village, talked to some more people and then we went to the tavern for some dinner. Before the food even arrived, David started talking to this man with whom he started the fight. I think he had only one sip of his beer before it started so he wasn't drunk. But he... seemed exhilarated after the fight and he insisted that we come back here immediately. He said, he wanted to see Snow. I didn't really realize that he was injured at first because he seemed fine. He started talking on our way back," Regina related what had happened in the Enchanted Forest.

"About us?"

"No, about... what we've learned, about how everyone would be able to go home soon. I suggested that we open some more portals around the kingdom and possibly neighboring kingdoms as well. He seemed excited about the idea. And that's pretty much how we came here. I don't know what... made him... it almost seemed like the fight... maybe Henry was right and someone did hit him over the head, though I didn't see it happen," Regina contemplated.

"He didn't hurt anyone in the fight, did he? I mean with his sword?"

"No, he gave it to me and then pushed me into a corner to prevent me from getting hurt. It was... a little strange. Others joined the fight, some on his side but more on his opponent's it seemed..."

"And you helped him," Emma interrupted.

"Yes, a little. A couple of guys may have flown through the air when he hit them, you know. By then the fight was so crazy, no one was really paying that much attention anymore."

Emma smiled at Regina.

"I promised you, I would get him back here in one piece. I'm actually sorry I couldn't keep him from getting hurt but... I didn't even see how he was cut."

"You don't think that it had anything to do with how... cheerful he was, do you?" Emma asked.

"I don't see how. There were only peasants in that tavern, nobody stuck out, nobody could have known that we would be there. And what would be the purpose of poisoning him... it doesn't make sense," Regina argued and Emma nodded.

"Well, I hope whatever it is and for whatever reason he's... not angry anymore it will last."

"I hope so, too. For your sake. Your father is... kind of emotional, irrational even. Your mother has a much clearer head than he does."

"Were you just complementing my mother?" Emma asked with a grin.

"I just said that between your parents, your mother is less of an idiot. That's hardly a compliment," Regina gave back wickedly.

"If my parents are idiots, does that mean, I'm one, too?"

"Hmmmm," Regina seemed to think hard about that one and Emma pinched her in the side. "Hey!" Regina protested. "No, I don't think you're an idiot, after all, you love me."

"Falling for you wasn't really a question of intelligence, love. But if it had been, it would have been the wisest decision I've ever made because: happiness," Emma said and Regina leaned over her to kiss her. Emma pulled her closer, deepening the kiss and letting her hands roam over her lover's body. "Also: mind-blowing sex," she added when they parted for air.

"Ain't that the truth!" Regina agreed.

"I think I wanna make you make a ruckus again," Emma told Regina through kisses that left them breathless.

"Let's take this into the shower, though. The boys are probably up by now," Regina suggested.

"Good idea," Emma said before she leaned herself up on her arms and over Regina. She grinned. "I race you," she called out and then jumped up and out of bed.

"Emma Swan, you cheat!" Regina accused as she raced after her love.

David was sitting at the kitchen table in the apartment. He was writing some things down in a notebook, looking up at intervals and then going back to writing. Snow had watched him for some time now. It was probably the first Sunday since Emma had told them that she was in love with Regina that he was spending at home and she was glad about it. She was also glad that the trip to the Enchanted Forest had somehow lifted his mood. Still, there was something restless about him.

Snow got up from the couch where she had attempted to grade some papers and came over to him.

"Hey, honey," she said and he looked up at her smiling. She sighed at the realization that she had missed his smile.

"You okay?" he asked putting his arms around her waist and pulling her close.

Snow pulled his head to her carressing his hair.

"Yes, now I am. I missed you," she told him.

"I'm sorry, I've been so... miserable the last few weeks," he said.

Snow kissed David on the head and then sat down beside him at the table.

"It wasn't easy, I know," she said to console him.

"I wish I could... explain it. Looking back now, it wasn't just about Emma's... choice... or Emma falling in love with Regina, I guess. I was anxious, you know?"

"About what?"

"About us going home," he said and smiled. He took her hands from the table holding them in his bigger ones. "I... I missed home. I know you like it here... I know a lot of people like it here. But for me Storybrooke is a reminder that I failed you and everybody. I wasn't able to keep Regina from cursing us," he explained and sighed.

"It wasn't your fault. She's a powerful... she was... I mean...," Snow started saying but stopped herself.

"Exactly," David said. "It's impossible, isn't it? To say who she was, who she is... I still don't trust her, not entirely, and yet... Emma loves her."

"She's changed," Snow surmised.

"Yes, she has but I didn't wanna see it."

"What made you see it? Did she talk to you?"

"Well, she tried. She's tried weeks ago but I wasn't really listening. I didn't listen much yesterday either. And then I saw her... talking to people, her former people. I thought she would... play the queen, you know, be haughty, be condescending. But she wasn't. She was actually more at ease with these people than I was. When we came to the village there was a wagon with orphans. They tried to find families for them, you know. But there were guards and people, they didn't want them there so they argued with the people in charge of the children. Regina went over to the children and... she entertained them with magic tricks, nothing elaborate, nothing to draw the adults' attention but the children were mesmerized and then... when the village elders had decided that the orphans must leave before sundown because they didn't want them sleeping in the streets, you know... she went over to a vendor and bought the kids apples, a whole sackful. I mean... I wanted to help, too, you know. I tried to intervene with the people from the village but their minds were set. But Regina just went and made the kids smile. They smiled at the Evil Queen," he said with a hint of incredulity in his voice.

"She's not the Evil Queen anymore, David."

"I'm not so sure about that but... I saw something else in her yesterday. I saw something else in myself yesterday. I was fighting with myself. I was sure she would try... to keep everyone here. I think I kind of hoped that she would so it wouldn't be my failure if we didn't find a way home. I... I was a hypocrite. I know that now. I don't trust her completely but I think... I trust myself again. That fight yesterday," he said smiling. "It was like I was fighting for my right to be king, to be a leader again. I know that Regina helped with her magic but... it felt like I was finally taking charge again, of my life, my kingdom. It felt good."

Snow smiled.

"I'm glad for you, honey."

"But?" he asked.

"Emma and Regina are a couple, they love each other. And you've hurt Emma," she told David and he frowned.

"I know. I think part of my doubts about... myself stemmed from the fact that... I thought we were losing her again. Not just because she's... with Regina but because she doesn't wanna come home with us. I wish she would," he said sadly.

"So do I but... this realm is her home. We never really talked to her about going back, you know. Maybe we should. We should invite them to visit us, all of them, and maybe in time they change their minds. But even if they don't Emma will always be our daughter," Snow told David. "She loves us."

"I haven't given her much reason to lately."

"She still does, though."

"And we love her, we'll always love her," he said with a small smile and she answered it in kind.

"That's right."

"You know what I wanna do when we get back, when we've settled down? I wanna give a ball for our daughter. I want the kingdom to know their princess... and her family," he added.

Snow smiled.

"I think you should talk to Emma about that first. You know how she feels about being called a princess," she told her husband and started laughing at the pout he sported at her words.

"Most girls would be happy to be a princess," he argued.

"Emma's not a girl anymore, she's a woman... a woman who can be just as stubborn as her father," she added.

David rolled his eyes.

"I'm not that stubborn," he said but joined Snow in her laughter after a moment.

"I love you, David."

"I love you, too, Snow. And I can't wait to get back home... to our happy ending."

They had a town meeting on Wednesday where David told everyone the good news of having found a way to get home. He especially thanked Regina which raised more than a few eyebrows.

Regina sat in the front row, her right hand was held by Emma's and there was no mistaking the fact that they were together. Henry sat at Regina's other side, smiling proudly at her.

They made a family picture and David took a long time looking at it that evening. He tried hard not to have his prejudices and opinions color what he saw, he tried not to blink or look away. What he saw was love and happiness and trust. And he saw it in Emma and Regina and Henry. They were a happy family and they were part of his family as well. Seeing it, accepting it - it was hard for David and he didn't feel comfortable talking about his feelings yet. Not to anyone besides Snow anyway. It was easier to talk to a whole room of people about the plans they were making to set up multiple portals in the Enchanted Forest and asking for volunteers to provide space or mirrors or both.

Regina had suggested that they put up the portals in Storybrooke in the abandoned basement of the hospital. This way, nobody had to open their home to people coming and going to and from the Enchanted Forest and possible new residents of the town - if ever there were to be any - wouldn't get suspicious by people entering and exiting a public building. She also thought that the former cells of her evil life could be put to good use - and they could redecorate the whole basement, take out the heavy cell doors, paint the rooms with different scenarios of the Enchanted Forest and maybe other realms the mirrors led to. She only confided as much to Emma but the blonde thought they were good ideas.

Thus the town made plans to turn David's ambitious project into reality and everbody was eager to help. Not everyone was as eager to leave Storybrooke as David had thought, however. Grumpy and Doc were among the first to approach David with the question when everyone would be able to leave and go home but besides them nobody seemed in a hurry. David talked to Granny after the meeting - someone he had thought would be happy to leave as soon as possible - but she told him that she wouldn't leave Storybrooke at all. She liked the work at the diner, she liked that she could live comfortably in her old age and that she was able to have people around all day instead of living somewhere in the woods and be fearful of every person she came across because they could uncover her secret.

The dwarfs seemed devided by the question of leaving or staying. Grumpy, Doc and Happy wanted to be among the first to leave, the others talked of sticking around Storybrooke at least a little longer. Grumpy called them traitors and some other choice words while Doc just shook his head sadly.

Storybrooke saw a radical change in the days to come and Regina felt the change first hand. People approached her, not all at once and not without hesitance but they greeted her on the street, they thanked her for her help, they asked if Storybrooke could still be their home if they decided to stay. Regina was baffled by this reaction and Emma tended to smile at her surprise after yet another citizen who had hated her the week before had approached her with a question or a remark or a simple 'hello.'

Meanwhile, Hook watched the proceedings in town with sharp eyes and an impatient tapping of his right foot. He wanted to leave as well but, so far, nobody had even indicated how he would be able to. While some people left to set up mirrors in the Enchanted Forest, he was left to watch Emma smile at Regina in a way that broke his heart several times a day. And he couldn't wait to leave Storybrooke. And he thought of multiple ways to get that portal-maker and... but there his ideas ended because he had no means to know the spell that made the cube work and he had no magical powers of his own to find out.