"I was just showing her my tattoo babe," she reached for her girlfriend's hands but the brunette snatched them away from the table before she had the chance, her eyes staring intently at them as she chewed at her lip.

The few moments of silence that followed were tense, she could see Regina's eyes softening with every beat and smiled when she finally looked up with an apology ready on her lips…until the waitress came back, her top pulled even lower than before as she pivoted her chest in Emma's direction non so subtly.

The brunette's scowl returned as she watched Ruby's half ass attempt at wiping an invisible mark from the table, Emma's eyes locked straight onto her girlfriend's. She could see the heat rising behind dark eyes, could almost feel the fury building within her as the charade continued. It would only be a matter of minutes until…

"I think you got it"

The movement in front of the blonde stopped as the waitress turned as if only just realizing Regina was there at all, "I'm sorry?"

"I said" here was the Latina temper that Emma loved yet avoided at all costs, "I think you are done here."

Ruby stayed for a few more moments staring the smaller brunette down as Regina rose slowly from her seat, arms folded across her chest. Emma closed her eyes and prayed that the young waitress was smarter than she looked…apparently, and mercifully, she was for seconds later she had sauntered off, her shoes hitting the floor harshly as she stomped away.

"Regina…"

"Don't" she snapped back without looking at the smirking blonde.

"I was just-"

"You were just what?" then she did look and Emma could see much more than simple jealousy swimming within the eyes she adored, she could see hurt, fear and something she thought a girl with looks like hers should never see, insecurity. "You think I don't see the way people look at me when I'm with you? You think I don't know that they're wondering why you're with a stuck up bitch like me at all? Hmm?" she pushed out, Emma staying quiet and allowing her, "because news flash, I do. I know they think I'm not good enough for you and you know what? I agree with them! But that piece of trash, that tramp laying herself out on the table for you like some piece of meat certainly isn't either and I will be damned if I lost you to someone like her because you are far better than that Emma Swan" she was practically panting by the time she stopped speaking, her eyes shining with tears.

Emma watched her for a moment longer before moving to the other side of the booth in order to slide in beside her, she placed her hands on either side of the brunette's face in an attempt to get her to look up. "Look at me," she didn't budge, "Regina, look at me."

The firm tone seemed to do the trick as the older girl, reluctantly, peered up through slightly red eyes at the blonde before her.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she questioned but continued without giving her girlfriend a chance to answer, "If you actually believe what you just said then you are not the intelligent, funny, sexy, confident, beautiful girl I fell in love with"

Regina gasped at this, they had never said such a thing to one another…they had been dating since Emma had arrived at the school two years ago but they had never said it…notions of puppy love holding them back but now…"you…you love me?"

Emma's response was not verbal but the tongue that slipped past surprised lips and caressed the brunette's own tongue so lovingly and tenderly spoke volumes. As she allowed herself to become lost in the feel of the girl before her, she also allowed herself to let go of the insecurities, if only for now.

They broke apart with beaming smiles as their chocolate shakes were thrown down onto the table with much more force than necessary though neither cared for neither looked away from the other. Brown eyes now shining with the emotion clearly mirrored in green…