A/N: Smol note; edited Emma's birthday to match with canon and did something a lil different in November.

Emma was gently brought back to reality by something poking her in the ribs. She grumbled a complaint, not quite ready to leave her dream world, and shifted more comfortably in her spot. Which, currently, she had no clue where the hell she was.

It wasn't until another prod did she finally give in and open her eyes, momentarily confused by her surroundings and the looping title screen of a horror flick on the television. A much, much larger television than she had been used to at home.

"Welcome back, Emma." That husky voice sounding from beside her had Emma alert and awake in no time.

It was then that she finally remembered where the hell she had been and that none of what had happened was part of a dream. This was real, and very much so. She turned to look at the source through bleary eyes to be met with an equally as tired brunette. She looked twice as adorable with puffy eyes.

"I could say the same for you," she mumbled softly and yawned. "You were out for most of the movie."

"I do apologize, dear. I hadn't slept well."

"I kinda got that." Emma smiled. "Did you nap well, though?"

"I slept like a baby." Regina beamed, folding her hands onto her lap. "And I must thank you for that."

"You were so… adorable," she whispered the last word before it had completely died on her tongue. "I mean, you just cuddled me… well, after you nailed me with your elbow. Have you ever noticed how goddamn bony that thing is?"

That had caused Regina to lift her arm to eye the offending elbow. "Well, I suppose that they are. They make for a great weapon?"

"Yeah, but not to your cuddle buddy." Emma's lips quirked.

"Cuddle buddy?" Regina blinked.

The blonde had nodded at the question and wrapped her arms around Regina's own. "Yes. You literally cuddled me in your sleep. I'm not sure what position you woke up in, but you turned around and wrapped your arms around me, and just… snuggled."

This new information had Regina staring at the younger woman, her body slightly rigid and a gentle blush blooming across her face. "Well…"

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. I liked it." Emma reassured with a cheesy smile. "Although, I've never been much of an affectionate person."

"I'll try not to-"

"But… I like the cuddly Regina," Emma whispered softly. "You didn't let me finish. I'm not much of an affectionate person, but I wouldn't complain if given to me… by you, at least." She offered a sheepish smile before finally releasing the English teacher's arm, then tried to scoot even closer against the brunette. "I don't know what it is, but whenever I'm with you, I feel… comfortable."

"You do?" Regina's arm slowly found its way around Emma's waist, the warmest of smiles forming onto her face.

Emma only nodded as she leaned into the older woman's arms, one of her own awkwardly wrapping around her abdomen and thought of how strange it felt – these feelings that developed.

"It's almost nine-thirty, honey. Do you know when you have to be back?" Regina's husky voice broke the silence, which had been so very comfortable for Emma since she was easily lost in thought.

"Mary Margaret usually wants me home before ten. So, I suppose I should get going." Emma frowned.

"I'll take you back," Regina stated, pulling Emma close against her side and the blonde had assumed this was a hug, for she squeezed right back.

"Thank you, Regina, but I don't want to inconvenience you."

Regina quirked a brow and eyed her wryly before standing. "I'm taking you home and that's final, Emma. I do not want you to walk around the streets alone at this time of night. It can be dangerous, even if this is a small town."

"I know." Emma mock pouted. "I'll go with you, Ms. Mills."

Both of her eyebrows rose this time in perfectly manicured arches. "I thought you've taken habit of addressing me by my first name, Miss Swan." Although her voice was monotonous, the amused smile on her face had given away her perspective.

Emma smirked. "Well, you are my teacher after all."

"Don't remind me." Regina mumbled, flicking a blonde lock away from Emma's face. "I'd really rather not think about such details for a while."

"I'm sorry. I-" Emma frowned; her brows knitted together.

Why would she say that? Of course, Regina wouldn't like the thought. Every day would be a reminder to the two of them that they were in a forbidden relationship; that they were a teacher and a student.

Although, the thought did thrill Emma to a certain extent. She entertained the fact that she was dating her teacher. She could see behind the usual professional mask and know more about the teacher than anyone else would ever dream. But Regina, on the other hand, didn't have that fantasy.

"It's fine, dear. We have to face the reality of it at some point." Her voice had now taken a solemn tone and the spark in those whisky eyes had died.

"I wish we could live obliviously and not have to worry." Emma nibbled on her lower lip. The two of them had started moving toward the front door now and it wasn't until they had reached the Mercedes did Emma realize she had left her bag in the car. "But then that would mean that everyone else would have to be blind, too."

"Indeed, it does." Regina agreed as she slid into the driver's seat of the vehicle. Within moments, the two were slipping on their seat belts and pulling out of the driveway and onto the paved street.

"Do you regret it?" Emma finally asked after a few moments of silence.

"Regret what?"

"Agreeing to all this," she answered quietly. "I know it's been like, what, one day? Well, since we, uh… kissed. But-… What I mean is that… do you regret it because you could be having a relationship with someone else that wouldn't be so off limits to you? You could be with someone that you could go on real dates with to real places instead of having to hide. You could actually have a chance if- I don't want to take your happiness away by forcing you to hide your feelings."

"Emma, please." The brunette's words were nearly caught in her throat.

She didn't know where that came from. Emma seriously should never speak again. Her words were nothing but a lovely mix of verbal diarrhea and a foot that just would not come out, no matter how hard she had willed it to leave.

"No," Regina finally said again, finding new strength in her voice. "I do not regret my decision. And I don't think I ever will. For the kindness and consideration that you have given me throughout these months and the patience that you have. Everything that you've given me is special and I would not take back a single moment." The older woman glanced over to Emma, tears in her dark eyes. "I don't know how to feel about the harsh details of what we have here. But what I do know is that I will never regret a single moment spent with you."

Now, Emma usually never got emotional – especially over such simple words – but here she was now with tears in her own eyes. And it was right then, in that moment that Emma knew what love had felt like. It was quite strange to say that, and perhaps it wasn't a romantic love that she was feeling, but the feelings and emotions welling up inside of the blonde were just too much to handle.

It wasn't until they had pulled over at the side of the road in front of the Nolan's apartment building did Emma lean over and do that very thing that she so rarely expressed; she hugged Regina as tightly as she could, raw emotion falling at a rapid pace down her cheeks. When she felt arms take her petite form into them, a sob had wracked her body, sending it into minor convulsions.

"Oh, honey." She heard a soft whisper above her, but she was unable to talk.

Instead, Emma tilted her head up from the position on Regina's shoulder and moved to kiss the older woman. It was nothing but light and sweet, all but a mere form of gratitude. And, perhaps, it had been more, but Emma didn't want to travel down whatever path that was. Instead, she basked in the moment, enjoying the tiny sparks causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up and the way that Regina had so tenderly returned the kiss, her soft lips moving slowly against the blonde's pale ones as if she were trying to freeze time.

Emma knew that was something that she very well wanted. She didn't want to pull away, and she showed just that by clutching tighter onto the brunette's arms. But then she was shoved back, not forcefully, but enough to pierce the blonde's heart.

Did she not want this?

Hurt and confused green eyes met with brown.

"I saw someone pull back the curtains in your apartment," she quickly explained, pointing to the window on the second floor of the apartment building. Emma followed the finger and squint, noticing the small silhouette of Mary Margaret. "You might want to go, dear."

And for the first time, Emma had noticed that the brunette teacher was breathless. Her words were airy, and her chest was slightly heaving in the inky space of the car. The blonde nodded, dumbfounded for the sudden interruption. Everything had gone by so quickly and that kiss had left her dizzy yet yearning for more.

"It's Mary Margaret. I have to go." Emma sighed softly and began to unlock the passenger's door. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yes." Regina nodded with a pleasant smile on her face. "Have a good night, Emma."

Emma paused with the door open, her feet planted on the ground as she twisted her body to look at the brunette. "You too, Regina. Goodnight." And with that, she got fully out of the car and closed the door, taking one last glance back before lightly jogging up to the entrance of the apartment building.

Emma heard the roar of the engine as Regina took off by the time the door had shut. It wasn't long before she was up the flight of stairs and turning to knock onto apartment number three's door. Soon enough, Mary Margaret was there with a smile on her face.

"Hey, Emma," she greeted, tugging the blonde inside. "You're cutting it quite close, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I sort of lost track of time," she muttered, looking to her feet.

"Did you eat?"

"Yeah."

"So, where did you go?" The pixie-haired brunette probed, dragging Emma toward the couch.

"Somewhere."

"Who was that that dropped you off?" She pressed, tilting her head. "That didn't look like Ruby's car."

"That's because it wasn't." Emma hadn't exactly told Mary Margaret where she was going after school, and she had never asked. She more than likely assumed she was hanging out with either Belle or Ruby.

"Whose was it?" She continued, forcing the guilt to rapidly eat at Emma's gut. "Did you make a new friend?"

"No, Mary Margaret. You know I don't like people."

"Well, who was it, then? Was it-" Then she gasped and went wide-eyed. "Did you get a boyfriend?"

Emma grit her teeth and suppressed an eye roll. For some reason, her mother was ever persistent upon her getting a boyfriend. Of course, it was her default assumption seeing as to how Emma had never revealed her preference for girls, but she still wished Mary Margaret would lay off pressuring her about finding a significant other.

"No. It was actually my tutor." And those words were out before she gained control of her mouth. Tutor? Well, she supposed that worked, seeing that Regina was her teacher after all. But there was one problem and that was…

"But you have good grades?"

"Not in Government class." Emma found herself clarifying, and that was true, enough. "I needed help studying for tests."

"Oh. Who is tutoring you?"

"Ms. Mills," the blonde smoothly answered.

"Isn't she your English teacher?"

"Yes, but she's much better at it than Mr. Glass." Emma shrugged and offered a smile. So far, she was telling the truth although around a white lie. White lie? It didn't hurt Mary Margaret any, really, that she wasn't exactly tutoring with Ms. Mills.

"Oh…" Her mother looked thoughtful. "She must be very nice to help you with that."

"She is. No one else thinks so, though." She wrinkled her nose and sighed softly. "Or at least they think that because her class is challenging to them."

"Why would that class be hard? Aren't you just writing in that class?"

"Pretty much, yeah. I mean, she teaches it pretty well, but I guess they don't like the way she grades assignments or how she, you know, actually does her job. People say no one gets good grades." Thinking back on it now from the beginning of the school year and how she had been warned the very same, Emma thought it was quite silly. She had feared stepping into Ms. Mills' classroom, but she was certainly glad that she hadn't skipped that class, because by staying, she had discovered that that was the best thing that has ever happened to her.

"But you have an A in that class?"

"Exactly. The rumors must have just been started by a couple of students that didn't like her. I mean, I can see how they would want to hurt her reputation." Emma nibbled on her lower lip, going back to the previous day when the boys had been reprimanded by Ms. Mills, resulting in their repulsive insults.

"I suppose that's true. As a teacher, it's hard to get all of the children to like you because there's always that one bad apple." Mary Margaret eyed Emma suspiciously, but soon shrugged and smiled.

"Right." The blonde nodded, fiddling with the strap on her book bag.

"Are you going to see her again?" The brunette's question threw Emma off, for she whipped her head around and stared incredulously at her adoptive mother. It took a few heartbeats for her to register what Mary Margaret had asked and veer away from the lingering thoughts about their date, because surely the pixie-haired woman didn't know?

"Wh-what?" Emma finally managed to stammer, green eyes blinking rapidly.

"Are you going to see-..." Then she cut the repeated question off, her mouth forming an O as she stared at her daughter's face. A hand slowly rose, hovering close to Emma's left cheek.

Then she froze in her spot, trying not to react to the hand so close to her still tender flesh. The pain medication that Regina had given her wore off and her eye began to throb once again. It seemed to have gotten worse when her mother decided to hover her hand over the bruise with a finger lightly gracing over the discolored flesh.

"What happened, Emma?"

"I was really hoping that you wouldn't find out." She sighed softly and turned her head away from the hand.

"You know that I would have found out eventually, right, Emma?"

"Yes. I know." Emma played with a blonde lock of hair, tugging on it anxiously. Now she really wanted to get away from Mary Margaret's soon-to-be interrogation. "I was just hoping to stall it. I didn't really want to worry you tonight."

"Why?" Mary Margaret furrowed her brows, her head slightly tilting. "Who hit you?" she asked, leaning forward and giving Emma that stare that she just could not return.

"That kid that I hit yesterday." Emma shrugged and finally returned eye contact with her adoptive mother. "They got payback after we got out of detention. No one was around."

"Did you tell Mr. Gold about this?" Emma quickly shook her head, eyes widening. "Why not? You should have so they could be properly punished."

"Maybe, but if I did, they'd only make my life a living hell. I know how it goes, Mary Margaret. You may have to use authority over people sometimes, but there's such a thing as too much before they start hitting back… and endlessly if you continue," Emma explained.

The pixie-haired brunette was nodding slowly, trying to process the information that Emma had given her. "But-"

"Don't. Just… don't. I'm not going to do anything to piss them off any more than they are. They'll know if I told anyone- or at least a superior that could get them into trouble. They'll just come after me and this punch to the face was enough pain." She stood up, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Mary Margaret watched her through narrowed eyes.

"I'm tired. I think I'm gonna go pass out for the night." Emma mumbled, running her fingers through her honey tendrils. "If you need me, wake me up."

"But you just got home?"

Emma shrugged and proceeded to the stairs that led up to her room. "But I'm super exhausted and my face is killing me. Unless there's something you want me to do first?"

"No, no. There isn't." Mary Margaret frowned. "Goodnight, honey."

"'Night… mom." Emma offered her a warm smile before turning around to head back up the stairs, but not before the wide smile that broke out across Mary Margaret's face.

It was Friday, but that wasn't what excited Emma as she entered Storybrooke High that morning with a smile on her face. Tomorrow was her birthday, or what she liked to call her "re-birthday." She had already turned eighteen a month prior on the 22nd, but that date never meant much to her. The 28th of November marked when the Nolans had adopted her a year prior, and that day meant more to her than anything in the world because it was the day that she finally belonged. And it was a day that she wanted to celebrate because it not only belonged to her, but to Mary Margaret and David as well.

Though, her sentiments were meant for later. She had approached her first period class and took her seat next to Killian. She brought out her needed notebook and a mechanical pencil, tapping it to a beat that didn't exist. Class didn't start until another few minutes, so naturally, that meant he would start talking to her like he always did. And it was just her luck that he was going to continue pestering about the "fight."

Even though it had been roughly three weeks since the incident happened, Emma had clammed up about it, and being the ever-pestilent teenaged boy that he was, Killian continued to ask about it. The day after she had received the blow to the face, Mary Margaret had offered her up some of her makeup to cover up the bruise left behind. It had worked for the most part until she had forgotten one morning to apply the concealer, which had ultimately allowed Killian to see and thus, inquire.

"Why won't you tell me what happened?" He ventured away from their prior idle conversation.

"Because I said it's none of your business." Emma mumbled her reply, making the tapping more furious.

Killian mock pouted. "Why? It can't be that bad."

"Just drop it."

"Why?"

"Because I said so. Now just leave it alone."

"Fine." The brunet boy crossed his arms, but not before petulantly sticking his tongue out.

"Oh, how mature." Emma rolled her eyes.

"I heard you beat a kid up." He smirked. "Is that who punched you?"

"Didn't I tell you to drop it? Besides, that was like, weeks ago."

"Yeah, but I didn't know about it until Wednesday." He completely ignored her. "I didn't catch the full story, but I heard you popped him one in the jaw for talking shit about Ms. Mills."

"Where the hell did you even hear that from?"

"One of my friends, Will, is in that class. He told me."

"What exactly did he say?" Emma gritted her teeth. "Did he even know why?"

"I don't really think many people did. He said he sat in the front, but he saw you glaring over at Jefferson and Victor. Then you screamed at them after Ms. Mills went back to her desk. He said you punched Jefferson after he said something when Ms. Mills tried to stop you."

"Oh," was all she replied, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

"Why'd you do it, anyways?" Killian asked, his head tilting.

"Why the hell do you want to know?" Emma snapped, dropping her pencil onto the paper.

"There must have been a good reason for it. I've heard people say really cruel shit to you, but you just walk away. So, he must have done something to really piss you off and act like that."

"That's exactly what Belle had said, pretty much." Emma murmured, trying her best to avoid the question. "And I have a valid reason that I don't want to tell you. So… Like… kindly fuck off or something and leave it alone."

"Fine. I'll just ask Jefferson or Victor. I'm sure they'll tell me."

"Go ahead. I don't care. They'll probably just lie or something anyways to make themselves look good." Emma shrugged nonchalantly, trying to keep her composure cool as she relaxed back into her seat.

"Whatever," he responded, which had earned an eye roll from the blonde.

It wasn't too long after did the bell ring and school start. The entirety of the first period class was rather quiet with a few notes and worktime for a piece of writing that they needed to get done. She concentrated on her paper, ignoring the sideways glances from Killian. The period couldn't end fast enough for her, for she was out of there by the end of the bell and on her way to math.

Fourth period arrived shortly thereafter and had ended far too soon. When the class was over and everyone was filing out of the room like they always had, Emma stayed quietly in her seat, waiting for the last of the group to leave before bringing her chair over to her regular spot.

But much to her disdain, a student had stayed, and that student was none other than Victor Whale. He was talking with Ms. Mills, but Emma couldn't quite get what he was saying. Regina's facial expression was easily guarded, but the teenager's was an open book; there was still a flare of anger in his eyes and the lines in his face were creased with impatience as he spoke with the teacher.

Regina handed the blond-haired boy a small stack of papers before seeing him out and heading over to her desk. Emma looked up at her, irritation clear on the brunette's features which had ultimately made the blonde angry.

"What was that about?"

"He was getting the missing assignments for Jefferson and himself." The teacher sighed and heavily sat in her chair. "I can tell that he still despises me."

"Hey, don't worry about him, Regina." Emma frowned, taking a chance as she reached out and gently take Regina's hand in her own. She gave it a reassuring squeeze. "He's not worth the time or effort. If it weren't frowned upon, I'd say fail his ass."

"Oh, don't worry, dear. He's already doing that for himself." Regina softly muttered, gratefully returning the squeeze. There was soon a deep breath as she relaxed and let a smile float across her lips. "Thank you, Emma."

"It's really nothing." Emma tentatively reached up with her free hand and grazed a finger over the curve of her teacher's lips. In those three weeks, her confidence seemed to have grown. "Your smile is really beautiful; do you know that?"

Emma heard Regina inhale sharply, then suddenly she grabbed the blonde's wrist and held it above her mouth. She lightly pressed her lips against the soft skin, leaving her to shiver and abuse her lower lip between her teeth.

"I want to take you out."

"What?" Emma blinked at the brunette.

"I want to take you out," she repeated simply. "To Boston to celebrate. I want to buy you dinner and at a restaurant since I never got to celebrate your birthday with you. And, plus, it's a big day and you deserve something good."

Emma had told Regina of her "re-birthday" when mistakenly slipping up in excitement the week prior. The older woman thought it to be adorable, but Emma never thought she would celebrate it with her.

"Dinner in… Boston?" Her eyes widened, those words dizzying her. Regina wanted to take her on an actual date to an actual restaurant?

"Yes. Tomorrow night. I mean- if you want to come and if you can."

"I-" Emma squeezed Regina's hand tightly, earning a faint noise from the brunette. "I'll have to- I'll have to check with Mary Margaret."

Her mind was scrambled with indeterminate thoughts and her mouth was just as bad. She felt as if she couldn't even form a coherent sentence. Was this really happening? The statement had Emma falling off Rainbow Road and straight into the black abyss below.

"Please, do. I'd- I'd really like to take you on a proper date and since it was your eighteenth birthday…"

"That sounds so fucked up. I mean- With our ages- And I'm- And holy fuck. I know you're only twenty-seven, but…"

Thank you very much, brain, for the vulgar amount of verbal diarrhea.

Regina stared at her with big, brown eyes. "I'm sorry," she finally muttered.

"N-no, no… don't be. I'm just- holy crap, you're going to take me on a date. To Boston. That's, like, the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. You're incredible and I could just kiss you." And thus, she did.

Emma surged forward and planted one right on Regina's awaiting lips, bringing the brunette to a halt before she could say anything more. Even though she had been caught off guard, Regina was already kissing Emma back, her fingers lacing with the blonde's.

Unfortunately, they both had realized where the hell they were and what exactly they were doing, for they quickly pulled away from each other with flushed cheeks.

"Sorry. I just couldn't help myself."

"It's quite alright, dear." Regina breathed, the widest and whitest smile on her lips. Then she began to chuckle, and it was rich and melodic. Emma dubbed it as the sweetest sound that she had ever heard.

"What?"

"You've seemed to have donned a lovely shade of red on your lips, my dear."

"O-oh…" Emma blushed, her tongue subconsciously coming out to lick at her lips.

Regina couldn't help but to chuckle once again before handing over a tissue from her desk. "Here."

"Thanks," she mumbled and gratefully took the tissue to wipe up the borrowed lipstick. "So, uh, Regina?"

"Yes, Emma?" She smiled.

"Ready to eat?" She smiled cutely and pulled out the paper bag from her backpack with her free hand, for the other one was still laced with Regina's. She didn't mind. Honestly, she quite enjoyed the feeling of the older woman's hand in her own.

"Please!" The brunette chimed, brown eyes watching as Emma pulled out two containers. She quickly passed one to Regina and kept the second for herself.

"I dunno what it is today. She never tells me." Emma muttered, mostly to herself, as she opened her to-go box, revealing a tinfoil wrapped something in there. She blinked and picked the food product, suspecting that it was grilled cheese. And she was proven right upon unwrapping the sandwich. "Mm, my favorite."

"You do quite enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches, don't you, dear?" Regina purred, taking a bite of her own already unwrapped sandwich. "They are delicious, but I much prefer pasta."

"Pasta?" Emma quirked a brow, hungrily wolfing down her meal. "You like pasta?"

"Yes. Is it a shame to like pasta?"

"I wouldn't think you would." The blonde teased, a sparkle in her emerald eyes.

"And why is that?"

"Don't they have a lot of carbs or something? Starch? All that unhealthy stuff?"

Regina stared at her. And then continued to do so without a word. That was, until she finally spoke one word, stretching it out by its vowels. "Really."

"What?"

"I am not some sort of health nut, Emma. I really, honestly do not give a damn what I eat."

That took Emma by surprise. But then again, the more she thought about it, it did make sense. She hadn't seen the older woman eat anything particularly healthy besides those salads, which were long gone.

"Holy shit. You're my new hero."

"I'm your new… hero? Pardon?" Regina paused her motions to take another bite from the sandwich.

"You have the perfect body and yet you eat anything you want. I mean, yeah, I do that, too… But seriously. I usually run, though." Emma nodded slowly before finishing off her grilled cheese with a large bite.

"I take jogs in the mornings and sometimes the evenings." The brunette shrugged. "Or walk around town for a while during the spring and summer. I do try to keep in shape, dear."

"You still look perfect." Emma grinned. "And your ass."

"Pardon?" The teacher's eyes widened.

"N-nothing. Went too far. Do not mind me at all." Emma mumbled, shoving the ball-shaped tinfoil into her mouth.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Nuffin'" she mumbled around the ball in her mouth. "I jus' shoul'n'talk."

"You just complimented my ass, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

"Hm…" Regina smirked. "Please do not feel inclined to write an entire story about my ass as you did about my lips."

"Water yew talkn' 'bout?" Emma plucked the tinfoil from her mouth, a blush quite evident on her cheeks. "That could have been about anyone."

"Tell me, who else has 'perfect, red and delicious lips that taste like apples and caramel coffee?'"

"Shut up… and that was only one scene in that story. It was a character."

"Ah, so the blonde and the brunette aren't us?"

"Nope!"

They totally were.

She really should have been far more careful when writing. Sure, she had turned this in today as an assignment and had written it after they kissed in the car, so it hadn't been like she was still crushing on her teacher and had turned it in dumbly as if she were trying to pretend it not to be them. She wasn't that stupid.

"Whatever you say, dear." Regina's lips curled up slightly to reveal perfect, pearly white teeth. "I did quite enjoy your story, though, dear."

"Good. I wrote it for you." Then she winked and leaned back in her chair.

"You're sly, Emma, I must give you that." Playfully, the brunette tossed her crumpled up tinfoil at Emma. The blonde winced, hissing in a breath when a sharp pain radiated from her cheek.

"Fuck! I'm sorry, Emma. I didn't mean to aim so high!" Regina looked absolutely panicked as she leaned forward, fretting over the invisible wound on Emma's cheek. "I didn't hurt you too bad, did I, dear?"

"I-I'm fine, Regina. Please don't worry about it." The blonde leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her teacher's cheek. "It doesn't hurt. Okay?"

The brunette reluctantly nodded. "If you say so. I-I really didn't mean to-"

"Don't worry about it, Regina. Things happen." Emma closed her eyes and wrapped her free arm tightly around the older woman's small frame. "I still like you, and even more so now than ever. Throw away your dead horse beating stick."

"Emma…"

Bleeeeeep!

"Stupid bell!" Emma cursed, glaring at the door. Of course, it had to interrupt them and of course these stupid classes had to end. There was just not enough time in one period – or lunch for that matter – to do anything.

"Sweetheart, you might want to get going." Regina straightened out, her fingers slowly unlacing themselves from Emma's. "I will see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah…" Emma frowned to herself, already missing the warmth of the brunette's hand. But she reluctantly stood and gathered her items to leave for her next class. "Please, have a good day and don't worry about anything. You're still number one, yeah?" She grinned sheepishly at her last words. "And I'll let you know about tomorrow."

"You have my number still?" Regina's fingers ghosted over her own cell phone as dark eyes met with Emma's. "Text me or call me after school, alright?"

"Yeah." Emma nodded and offered her a grin. "I will. And I'll let you know."

"Thank you." The brunette beamed. "I'll talk to you later then, yes?"

"Yeah!"

"Have a good day, Emma."

"You, too, Regina!" And then Emma was out of there, floating down the halls on a cloud. Good gods, they were supposed to go on a date tomorrow night – of course, if Mary Margaret would let her after making up a valid excuse.

Emma groaned with frustration, slamming the door to her government room against the wall as she entered. She needed to figure out what to do, but for now, she needed to clear her mind and focus on class. She was already nearly failing this class, so she couldn't necessarily afford to space out today.

Focus. Government. Politics.

Regina. Boston. Date.

This was going to be a long period.