Regina sat behind her desk, surveying the classroom full of students who were currently working on a test she had passed out. It was in the middle of first period and all ending thoughts from last night had slowly melted into full-blown panic.

Upon arriving at the high school and coming to terms with the reality of what had happened, she felt guilty and nerve wracked. She felt as if she couldn't even look at her students without thinking about that kiss with Emma last night. The thoughts that came to mind weren't pleasant, nor repulsed, but a complete mass of panicked voices blaring in her head like an auditorium full of chattering students.

And I kissed one of them.

Because she just could not get that single thought from quieting down. She was sure that her students thought she was about to get sick when she nearly stumbled over her own feet and paled upon realizing that.

Regina would have vowed to avoid Emma like the plague if she could, but the fact that the blonde was one of her students had ruled that option out. Then her mind soon began to reel over the fact that that very blonde would be in this very room in approximately two and a half hours.

Her mind began to race once again, trying to recall what she had thought last night before falling asleep. She needed to logically think this through, because she couldn't skip around this forever. Emma deserved better than some half-assed attempt to make things seem peachy keen when they really weren't. They needed to talk about what they had done, but for some reason, that had made Regina's stomach do somersaults. She wouldn't even know how to start such a conversation.

Plus, her ever doubtful mind had come up with the idea that Emma might not even want to talk about it. She might even regret kissing Regina in the first place, especially after she would have gloated over the fact that she got what she wanted. But, of course, that was Regina's own warped mind. She was her own bully and she didn't believe in happy endings because they never showed the slightest bit of interest in her.

She was startled out of her thoughts when a pair of feet shuffled up to her desk. Well, startled was a term used loosely. Regina had jumped in her seat, eyes wide as she looked up to the student that wore an identical expression, their test in hand.

"Sorry," the student mumbled, handing the brunette the small pack of papers.

"Just put it on the pile." Regina's bewildered stare soon began to dissipate, although her frantically beating heart pounded against her chest.

That was why she usually preferred picking tests up from their desks, or at least having them bring the paper to the podium. She must have been too distracted to inform the students to do so and they must have assumed to bring the tests to her. Regina would have to remember to tell the next two English classes.

It wasn't too long until first period had ended. Then second had come and gone as Regina had distracted herself with tests to correct. Third had gone without a cinch, since her mind had to focus on teaching the class for most of the period without room for other thoughts.

Come fourth period, her anxiety was back when Emma had sauntered into the room with an emotionless expression. Her insecurity got the better of her and she figured that Emma really had gotten what she wanted and was satisfied. It was for the better, anyways, that they wouldn't dwell on such a thing.

With a newly added weight, the English teacher faced the class full of expectant students whose not-so-eager eyes were focused on her. She zeroed in on a certain blonde in the back with smiling green eyes. Even though her expression had remained stoic, Regina couldn't help her singing heart.

This was going to be a long period.

After the lesson was finished and the homework handed out, Regina had replaced herself in front of her desk to continue correcting the tests from second period. She was halfway through the stack when she heard a soft noise from beside her.

Emma.

Regina looked up from the paper, gazing at the blonde through the top of her glasses. Emma was nonchalantly playing with her pencil, eyes focused in front of her, but the smile on her face had given her away. The brunette sighed internally and attracted her attention toward the tests once again, trying hard to ignore the piercing pain in her skull.

Then she heard it again. This time it was a slightly louder cough cough.

Regina's head snapped up to glare at the side of the blonde's head, only to be met with a pair of sparkling green eyes and an airy smile. Her breath had escaped her then and she remained motionless. How the hell could Emma do that to her? She had literally stolen the breath right from Regina's lungs. And here she thought that that had been just a cheesy cliché.

"Get back to work," she mouthed to the blonde before glancing back down to the tests that were in front of her. Regina heard a soft groan, which she couldn't help but to smile at and it had only widened upon lifting her gaze up to where the blonde seemed to have obliged, and reluctantly so.

When the bell had finally sounded and Emma moved her chair over to Regina as soon as the last student had left, she gave the brunette an entirely different grin. This was one like the one that she had flashed last night, beaming and easily reaching her eyes. That was another that had taken Regina's breath and had earned an identical grin from her.

"Hi," the blonde greeted lamely.

"Hi," Regina chuckled, playing with the pen that she still had in her hand. She hadn't felt as nervous as she had this morning about having to talk with Emma. There was something about the blonde that had brought a calm aura to Regina with her presence.

"How was your day?"

"I've had better." She smiled sadly at the expression that had found its way upon Emma's face. "I've had a migraine," Regina quickly mended.

"You haven't taken anything for it?" Emma frowned.

The teacher shook her head and set the pen down, turning her body to face her. "I don't have any medication with me. Now, Emma." She reached forward to grab her hands, cupping them lightly in her own. "We really do need to talk about last night."

"Yeah…" Emma's smile was quickly wiped from her face.

"Are you gay, Emma?" The brunette tilted her head slightly.

"I… uh… yeah. Kinda thought that was obvious." She shrugged nonchalantly. "I know that I didn't… tell you, but… I didn't know if that really mattered then, and I didn't want to freak you out. I know that there are some people that… that they tend to back away from people like me. They're scared, I guess, that I would hit on them."

Regina nodded slightly, a frown forming on her face. "I see," she murmured softly. "What happened last night, Emma, it… it shouldn't have."

"I know." Emma resembled a kicked puppy with her head low with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry… That I- That I did that. I couldn't con-"

"It's not all your fault, if at all," Regina reassured, giving Emma's hands a gentle squeeze. "I could have stopped it, but I hadn't. Do not put the blame on yourself. I won't let you do that."

"You could get fired because of me!" Her voice was distressed, guilt etching her features.

But Regina shook her head. She wasn't about to let Emma fret over her and take the blame if something bad were to happen. "I could, but they do not have to know, Emma." The brunette brought their hands closer to her, trying her best at a soothing look. "Unless, of course, you want to tell someone." She silently shook her head.

"It'll only be between you and me." Emma's gaze drifted to their hands, then shot back up to meet curious brown eyes.

"Okay."

"What do we do?"

"What do you mean, dear?" Regina was afraid she knew what Emma was insinuating, and her fears were spoken upon the blonde's next words.

"We kissed. It has to account for something, right? What did… does it mean?" There were unspoken words in those doe-eyes and Regina could echo the same thoughts.

"I… I don't know, Emma." Regina closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. "Instances like this are frowned upon, even if it was just a kiss."

"I know, but… I do know that. I want to know how… know why." Emma bit her lip and blurted with a vague, "I like you."

Regina's lips parted at the sudden outburst, the breath immediately leaving her lungs. She knew that Emma had liked her, of course, she was not blind, but hearing the blonde say those three little words... It brought her to a completely different plane of reality.

"I know, Emma," she said, her voice hoarse.

"Have I really been that obvious?" Her ego deflated.

"No," the English teacher was quick to respond. "But it was quite obvious after yo-... we had kissed."

She nodded slowly; her eyes focused on their hands again. Regina never let go. "What... what about you? Do you-..." The words died on her tongue, but Regina knew what she had meant.

The teacher hesitated for a moment. She was presented with the reality that she hadn't wanted to face, but she knew it was inevitable with what had transpired the night prior and it destroyed her entire world.

"Emma, I…" Regina looked down to their hands before tentatively caressing the top of Emma's with her thumb. "I do like you, too. But, I… I don't see how this is going to work."

The look on Emma's face squeezed the brunette's heart. She looked radiant. Those were the words that she had wanted to hear, and she had finally heard them, but the reality of it all crashed down on the poor blonde student as her expression shifted.

"I know," she finally muttered somberly. "I don't know why I even chose to subject myself to this. I already knew that there was no good to come of this. I mean… I didn't even believe for a second that you were gay. And… really, I don't know."

"I... I… am, though…" She bit her lip, eyes closing. "I've had similar trouble as you when I was younger. I was scared to admit my true self to anyone, including my own mother. But when I did… Let's just say my friends were never truly my friends. That is why I don't say anything to anyone else anymore."

"People are assholes," Emma muttered, daring to give Regina's hand a tender squeeze. "One of my foster parents sent me back after I told them. They were super cool with things, and I didn't exactly think that it had mattered at the time. But I was dead wrong. I've learned to keep it to myself. Belle, Ruby, and Graham are the only other ones that know, and they're perfectly fine with it."

"They are, indeed... assholes." She agreed, a slight smirk on her lips from using the profanity aloud, although she could very well think of much stronger names to call them. "You are very lucky that you have friends who accept you, Emma."

"I know I am." Emma nodded, but then paused her movements. "Uh… Can I ask you a question?"

"It seems as if you already had, my dear." Ms. Mills gave the blonde a wry smile, which in return, had earned her a playful glare. "Go ahead, Emma. Ask me anything."

"You mentioned your mother, did you ever tell her?" It was an honest question, but Regina couldn't help but to recoil. "You don't have to ans-"

"It's fine, Emma." The brunette sighed and brought one of her hands up to rub the bridge of her nose. "And, yes, I did tell her. She wasn't pleased, to say the least. She wanted me to have children and that of my very own so the family name would pass on, since I am an only child." Regina tried to mask the sudden emotion that had choked her up. "Of course, I had wanted children myself. But only when I found the woman that I wanted to have them with. Do you know what she told me when I said that to her?"

When Emma shook her head quietly, the brunette continued. "She told me that I should marry a wealthy man and get pregnant, then divorce him and take the money and the baby. That's when I had decided to go to college and forget about that for a while. Remember when I had told you that I acquired a small job in journalism?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"When that failed and I had lost my job, I had no money. My mother had disowned me. But as soon as she caught wind that I had nothing, she appeared with forgiveness. I was getting out of college by then and she said that she had found me the most perfect job. I had willingly accepted, of course, excited that there was a slim chance that she had found one that had dealt with my personal interest."

"What was it?" Emma quietly asked.

"It was this job. Here in the small and lovely town called Storybrooke." Regina chuckled coldly. "She told me that it would help me, being in this isolated town. There was no temptation and being a teacher, I just could not influence these kids with my, quote unquote, 'homosexuality'. I, of course, had to oblige and remain dormant so my mother would never find out or else I would be out of luck."

"What about now? Aren't you worried?" The blonde frowned.

That's when Regina slowly shook her head, something weighing in her chest. "My mother doesn't call anymore. And besides, I've earned enough to keep on stable ground for a while." She blinked back a few tears before returning her hand to the others that were now on her lap. "I do not want to depend on her ever again."

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be, dear. It's better off if she doesn't contact me. She only wants something when she does." Like if I had found a man yet, she added silently.

Emma gave a silent nod; her eyes glued to their hands on the brunette's lap. When she did speak, it was a very soft whisper, "You haven't answered my question."

"What question was that, dear?" Regina furrowed her brows.

"I suppose you have, slightly… But it's not… I want to know what you think is the best for us. Should… Never mind, y'know? It's stupid a-and like you said, it was only a kiss."

"Emma, honey." The brunette sighed, catching onto what Emma had been trying to say. The younger woman looked as if she had wanted to hit herself and Regina knew that feeling all too well. "I understand what you're asking me. I still do not know the answer to that. But…" Regina nibbled on her lower lip. "Why don't we talk about it over dinner tonight?" The words were out of her mouth before she knew it, spilling out before she could even lay an attempt to stop it. "At Granny's after school, perhaps?"

"I don't know about Granny's," Emma mumbled. "Ruby's there and I really don't want her saying anything."

"How about that little sidewalk cafe?" She honestly did not know why she was digging herself into a deeper hole, it would only be harder to get out if she were to be in peril.

"That sounds like a plan." The blonde now wore a smile that stretched wide across her thin, pale lips. "Wait. It can't be directly after."

"Why not?"

"Detention," Emma grumbled disdainfully. "It runs for about an hour. I can meet you there at about a quarter to five?"

"I'll wait for you here, dear. I planned on taking you anyways." Regina flashed her a radiant grin.

"Thanks." She smiled in return.

"You might not want to do that just yet." The English teacher moved her hand up to cup Emma's cheek, giving it a light caress. Emma nuzzled the hand, moving into it with, what Regina had sworn, was a very faint purr.

"Do you like that?" Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"I do…" Emma let her dazzling green gaze land on Regina's, her head tilted slightly into the cupped hand.

"Good. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable." Regina flipped one of her hands over and laced olive with ivory. "Tell me if you ever do, alright?"

"Are we… really going to do this?" Emma asked tentatively, her eyes sliding down to their hands. A slow smile spread across her lips from the sight.

"We'll discuss that over dinner when we have more time to spare." The brunette leaned forward slightly and whispered, her head jerking toward the far side of the room. "You'll be having to go soon, dear."

"Fuck! I mean shit! No... damn… crap!" Emma used her free hand to fumble with her backpack to pull out a paper bag. "Lunch!"

"It's quite alright, dear." Regina chuckled richly, watching with amused eyes as the blonde struggled to pull a Styrofoam container out with one hand.

"Here, I think it's nachos or something. It smelled really good."

"Thank you, so very much, Emma." The teacher licked her lips, chestnut eyes focused on the container of food. "I do believe that Mr. Glass allows students to eat in his class, and if not, I will see to it that he will allow you."

"Really?"

"Of course! You do need to eat, and I know that you cannot afford to miss that class." One of her brows propped up.

"What? Have you been stalking my grades or something? Can you even do that?"

"I looked once while I was entering in your grade for the last writing assignment. So no, dear, I am not a stalker." She shook her head, a humored smile on her lips. "Now, you've got to get going. The bell is about to ring, and I doubt that you want to be late."

"Eh." Emma shrugged and looked at their hands, giving Regina's a gentle squeeze before she stood, although she never let go. "I wish you could come with me, because it sucks, and Belle isn't here today."

"I'm sorry, dear. But I must stay here and… plan." She chuckled softly. "Have a good rest of the day, Emma, and I shall see you after your punishment."

"Yeah… Punishment. Way to make it sound less shitty." Emma's cheeks, though, were fused bright pink. "But, uh, have a fun time with your planning and enjoy lunch."

"Thank you, Emma." Regina tilted her head up, a smile on her lips.

Emma nodded and turned to start walking away but was pulled back by the hand she still had a tight grasp onto. She laughed and finally untangled their fingers, nervously sliding them through her hair. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright, honey." The teacher shook her head and watched as the sheepish girl had finally left the room, leaving Regina alone with her thoughts.

She opened the container and took the plastic fork taped to the top so she could stab at a soggy chip. Her thoughts wandered as she began eating. She didn't exactly know what was going on or what would happen to her relationship with Emma. They seemed to be moving forward, or so that's exactly what Regina had started doing and she didn't seem to be entirely conscious whilst doing it. Hopefully things would get cleared up over dinner later.

Dinner.

Regina had virtually asked Emma out on a date without even realizing it. She was only digging herself deeper into this hole that she had started. She hoped that she hadn't done it for nothing because it'll be one hell of a thing to get out of.