A/N- Sorry for the short chapter, but I felt that writing more would have been too much for this chapter. There appears to have been some confusion when I said this was the BIG one... what I meant was that we get to find out Regina's decision :) Hope you like it! And as always, I love you all for your follows, favorites and reviews! Reviews greatly help me write the story, so thanks in advance for any of those you may leave! Hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think!

When morning came, the two women found themselves wrapped around each other. Regina was lying on the couch on her back, one hand entangled in blonde waves and the other on Emma's bare back where her shirt had slid up. Emma was on her side, nestled between the back of the couch and Regina. Blonde tresses covered the brunette's chest, where Emma's head laid. Her face was pressed to the protruding stomach beneath her and her arms were encircling the swell, almost as if she was hugging it. Regina woke first, shaking Emma gently, causing the blonde to stir. When she lifted her head and sea-green eyes met chocolate brown ones she almost cried. The night before had been wonderful. They had ended up making out on the couch like a pair of virginal teenagers, grasping and holding onto each other like it was against the rules but also the greatest thing they had ever done. The feelings that reached the surface of her soul were tearing her apart. She was terrified that Regina would make her leave, that the brunette had only been giving in to kissing her so they could have some sort of a goodbye. She couldn't live with that if it really was goodbye.

Emma knew that the choices she had been making were bad ones, terrible even, but still she couldn't help but feel all of her memories of being abandoned swirling around in her mind and taking over her thoughts. She didn't cry though, she wanted to, but she didn't. It wouldn't be fair to Regina if she cried in front of her, it wouldn't be fair to make her feel bad for wanting out of a relationship that caused her such pain. Regina deserved someone who would love her unconditionally, which Emma knew she did, but the brunette also deserved someone who hadn't caused her such pain and suffering. She deserved someone who would only spend his or her time making her happy, not splitting the happiness with misery. Regina's voice shook Emma out of her thoughts and her eyes latched onto her wife's again before she pushed herself off the brunette.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to zone out," Emma apologized.

"It's quite alright, dear. Did you want to shower first or may I?"

"No, uh, you go ahead. I'll get Henry."

The two women went about their separate tasks, and a short while later Emma had breakfast, in the form of omelets, on the island. As she and Henry ate, waiting for Regina to come down, she reminded Henry that she loves him and was always here for him if he needed her. She apologized to her son for hurting him and Regina and told him that she would always love them no matter what happened. He just nodded and asked if he could leave for school early and she inclined her head and watched him walk away. Regina found her way into the kitchen and cleared her throat to pull Emma out of her thoughts. Green eyes shot up and looked over her beautifully pregnant wife. Regina had chosen to wear a deep red maternity dress that had short sleeves and flowed over her belly flawlessly. Her hair was hanging around her face and over her shoulders, making Emma think about the night before and running her fingers through the longer length and thickness.

"Uh…I made you a green pepper and onion omelet, light on the cheese and pepper—no salt."

Regina offered her a warm smile. "Thank you, dear. That was kind."

"Sure. I'm gonna just go take my shower…Henry already left for school. I'll be down in a few and I'll take you to work so I can pick you up for our session with Archie. That ok?"

"Yes, thank you, Emma."

Emma checked the clock every ten minutes at work, anxious for their session time to near so she could pick up her wife and go talk about what was going to happen with them. Anxious as she was, equally was she nervous. This was, quite literally, the day she had been waiting for, for weeks upon weeks. This was when Regina would decide if she could forgive her for her stupid choice of nearly sleeping with Neal. Or if she couldn't. Noon rolled around and David walked into the station. Emma was practically staring at the clock and didn't notice him for fifteen minutes. Finally, he walked into her office and called her name until she snapped out of it.

"Big day, huh?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm a little scared."

"A little?"

"Ok, I'm terrified."

"Emma, just breathe. And remember, no matter what decision she makes, you have to respect it, but you can always show her how much you love her, remind her and be there for her as the other mother of her children and as her friend. Got it?"

"Yes. I know."

"Why don't you head out, grab some drinks for the two of you before your session. I'm sure she'd appreciate that."

"Yeah. Thanks."

When they arrived at Archie's office, Emma was still sipping on her coffee, Regina on her herbal tea. He looked between both women, sitting closer on the couch than they had been as of late, but still far enough apart that he couldn't be sure what either one was thinking or feeling. Finally, bored of the silence, he spoke.

"Emma, how do you feel today about our last session on Thursday?"

"I…well, for one I talked to my dad and I kind of feel like a jerk for freezing him out because I assumed he'd automatically be on Regina's side. He actually made some really good points and I feel a little more confident in how to correct the wrongs I've made."

"Good. Anything else?"

"I've thought about Regina's side a little more, and we talked about a few things Thursday at home, and I guess I can really see where she's coming from now. And I really kind of feel like an even bigger idiot than I already was."

Archie chuckled lightly at Emma's self-deprecation before correcting her. "Emma, don't describe yourself in ways like that. They aren't true."

"Then why did you laugh?"

"Because I was thinking about much it sounded like something Regina would have said about you 5 years ago." Both women let out light and awkward laughs at the truth of his statement. When the room had calmed again, he looked at Regina.

"Have you given thought to Thursday's session, Regina? And what you and I discussed after Emma left?"

"Every moment since."

"And have you shared your decision with anyone?"

"Just Henry…and I suppose David sort of guessed it, I didn't completely confirm it for him, though."

"And, what is your decision?"

She turned her body slightly so she was facing Emma. Then she took each of Emma's hands into her own, making sure she had the blonde's full attention before speaking.

"Emma, what you did and what you almost did with Neal really hurt me. I felt like I had been punched in the gut a hundred times over, right before having my lungs ripped out and I can't think of any other way to explain it, but know that that doesn't even begin to explain the pain I've been going through. No matter what we do, few people will ever accept us together, and that never bothered me because I felt how perfect we were for each other. But Emma, I deserve someone who isn't going to break my heart. I've been through too much pain in my life; I have loved too many people who couldn't love me back properly. I can't go through that again." Emma opened her mouth like she was going to speak, to promise something maybe, but Regina put her finger to Emma's lips to signify that she wasn't done. All Emma could think was that the end of them was coming and her eyes filled with the tears that she didn't want to shed.

"But, Emma, I also know that all I want is you. Every touch, every kiss, every intimate moment we've ever had…every time we've said 'I love you' and every time we've made love, all of my thoughts of those times just keep flashing in my mind anytime that I thought I could make you leave, because the truth is, I can't. Even if I wanted to, I would never be able to ask you to go. I love you like you're my air. So, Emma, I forgive you. I forgive you for Neal and for the times that you disappeared and made me feel like you didn't care if I ended it or if I forgave you. But, I give you this forgiveness and I'm telling you that it, by no means, signifies that I can just forget. You have to earn my trust back, do you think that's too much to ask?" she finished in a whisper.

Emma was sobbing. Open, wracking, ugly sobs. Regina leaned forward and pulled the blonde's legs so both her feet were flat on the floor. She reached her right hand to hover over Emma's heart and her left hand to stroke her back. She knew how to calm her wife; she had done it many times. Sure enough after several minutes Emma calmed and looked to Regina.

"Oh my god, I really thought you were going to kick me out."

"You did?" Regina asked, her eyebrows lifting.

"Yeah. I thought that last night was some sort of goodbye. Oh, god, Regina, thank you." Emma launched herself into Regina's arms and they held each other for a long time as the room stayed silent. One tan hand was running soothing patterns along Emma's back as they tried to take as much comfort in their embrace as possible. "I promise," Emma breathed into Regina's hair. "I promise I will earn your trust back. I will do everything I can, anything at all, and I will do it, I will prove to you that I am someone you can rely on." Regina nodded against her.

"Alright," Archie broke in. "Why don't you two take the rest of your session to go home and talk between yourselves and we'll discuss the rest on Thursday."

"Thank you, Archie," Regina offered. Emma just gave the man a nod and they drove home together, ready to openly speak between themselves and finally, truly touch on the hard stuff.