A/N - This one is a little shorter but I felt it needed to end there. Please review! Tell me what you like so far or don't like about the story and my writing! Enjoy! :)

—

Regina lays in bed replaying the events of the afternoon over and over in her head, unable to distinguish how she was feeling.

"Regina?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I love you."

Silence from both parties. Fear boiled up in Regina, making her breathing become rapid.

Silence.

"Regina, are you ok?" Emma asked innocently like she hadn't just said those three little words that could change Regina's life forever.

"We should get dressed. I have some work to get done before Henry gets home from school." Regina says coldly. She pulled herself from the bed, suddenly feeling very exposed as she could feel the blonde's green eyes piercing into her flesh.

"Yeah, ok." Emma walked over to where her clothes were placed neatly and she began to dress herself, watching the brunette the entire time with an expression that could only be compared to a kicked puppy.

Regina's head felt jumbled. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Two in the morning.

"She loves me." She mused aloud. "But how could she love someone like me?" The former queen had never truly forgiven herself for the acts that she had committed while she was in the Enchanted Forest. And she doesn't understand how another person, how Emma, could look past that. Hell, she was the reason that Emma grew up without parents, being shipped from foster home to foster home! How can a person love someone who did that to them?

She needed to talk to Emma. Now. Grabbing her phone, she dials Emma's number, holding her breath and praying that the blonde would pick up. She definitely wasn't happy when Regina shooed her hastily from the mansion that afternoon and the brunette wouldn't be surprised if she found herself on the receiving end of the silent treatment.

"Couldn't sleep?" Emma answered on the last ring.

"No."

"Me neither."

Silence.

"Was there a reason you called?" Emma questioned, her tone not warm but not entirely cold either.

"Emma…" Tears threatened to spill over now as she took a shaky breath. "I was the Evil Queen, Emma." She listened as the blonde chuckled on the other end.

"Did you call me to remind me of things I already know?" Sarcasm was dripping off of Emma's tone and Regina fought back the urge to tell her to watch who she was speaking to.

"How can you love me when you know I was the Evil Queen, know of all the horrible things I've done!" She let out a sob, unable to control the tears any longer and they ran down her flawless face like rivers.

"Regina, I love you despite those things. You might have done treacherous things in the past, but that's not who you are now." Emma reasoned.

"But- but I'm the reason you grew up without a family." Regina said quietly, guiltily. The blonde was silent for some time on the other end.

"You think I haven't thought about that? I've shout about it, dwelled on it, was enraged by it. But I also got over it Regina. You aren't the same person you were back then. Hell, you aren't even the same person you were when I got to Storybrooke! I forgave you for that when I saw how you had changed." Regina could hear the sincerity in the blonde's tone. She smiled.

"Thank you, dear. For your forgiveness, your trust, just everything. Thank you, Emma." Regina said as she let the words that the blonde spoke set in. The two ended their conversation, Regina feeling much more relieved and calm. She needed that. Needed to be reminded that her past doesn't have to affect her future anymore.

Regina thought about what Emma had said. She forgave her! A smile crept across ruby lips. It was then that Regina had realized something too as sleep set in.

—

Emma woke the next morning earlier than she should considering the time she had fallen asleep the night before. Squinting in the bright white morning light filtering though her window she glanced at her clock on the nightstand. Seven AM.

"Ugh!" Emma groaned as she threw a pillow over her face to block out the blinding light. Laying there another moment she finally accepted the fact that she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep and her coffee pot was calling her name. Emma angrily threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching her arms in the air, waking stiff muscles beneath her alabaster skin, and then padded lightly to the kitchen.

Once coffee was made and poured, Emma sat at her kitchen island with a mug and a bowl of cereal, pondering what it was that she wanted to do that day. It was the weekend so she didn't have to report to work. Contemplating it for some time, she finally decided and picked up her phone to make a call.

"Emma? Is everything ok?" Regina's voice was laden with worry.

"Yeah, everything's fine babe. Listen, what are you and Henry up to today?" Emma responded. The mayor worries about me. Cute. She chuckles internally.

"I have some work to get done, dear. As for Henry, he isn't up yet. Why do you ask?"

"Lets go on a little road trip!" Emma beams with excitement.

"Emma, I have work-"

"Regina, it is the damned weekend! Your work will be there tomorrow. Please?!" Emma cut Regina off.

"Begging me? Really, Miss Swan?" Regina answered with mock irritation.

"Please, please, please?!" Emma grins. She could almost see Regina's eye roll.

"So childish." Regina sighs. "And just where would you be taking us?"

"Boston! I want to spend the day in Boston with you and Henry. It'll be fun!" Emma answered. Regina was silent for a moment before answering.

"…Fine. I'll go wake Henry." Emma squealed at Regina's acceptance of her offer.

"Thank you, thank you! I'll pick you both up at eight." Emma ended the call, grinning ear to ear. Emma finished the cereal in her bowl and greedily drank down the remaining milk before moving to get ready for the day.

—

Regina walked up to Henry's room to wake him. She threw open the blue and black checkered drapes covering his second story window. Henry winced as the blinding white light engulfed his room.

"Rise and shine, Henry."

"Ugh, mom! You said I could sleep in on the weekends!" The boy whined, rolling over away from the light.

"We have plans with Emma today." Regina stated. The young boy shot up in bed, grinning.

"We do?! What are we doing?" His excitement brimming.

"We are going to Boston, Henry. That is, if you ever decide to get up and dressed. Emma will be here in half an hour." This caused Henry to jump out of bed and run to his dresser. Turning to face the brunette he spoke.

"I'm so excited, mom! Both my moms getting along makes me so happy." He hugged Regina tightly before she told him to dress and be downstairs to eat something quickly and walked out of the room.

Regina stalked to the door at eight AM exactly. The blonde's promptness eliciting a smirk from blood red lips. Opening the door she took in the sight before her. Emma wasn't dressed any differently than her normal day-to-day attire, but standing there on her stoop, the sun's rays falling over her, Emma looked more beautiful than Regina could have imagined.

"Like what you see, Madam Mayor?" Emma smirked, causing Regina to blush.

Blush? The Queen does not blush! Oh, but she does.

"You might want to wear flats babe. We are going to be doing a lot of walking." Emma glanced at the heels the brunette was wearing.

"Miss Swan, I do not wear flats. These are comfortable."

"Suit yourself!" Emma responded with a shrug. "Are you guys ready? I just have to get gas in the bug before we head out."

"HA!" Regina belted. "You think that I am getting in that raggedy old death trap and riding in it to Boston? No. We will take my car." Regina flipped her hair back. She thought about how the bug could barely sputter around their small town. She was not about to chance breaking down on the highway.

"Regina don't be silly. The bug is fine. Plus, I know where I'm going and know my way around the city. We will take the bug." Emma stated, not wanting to budge on her decision.

"We most certainly will not and this is not up for discussion." Regina watched as Emma crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, pouting. "You are such a child, dear."

Henry heard the two women arguing and came out to investigate.

"Moms? What's going on?" He questioned.

"Nothing, kid. Are you ready to go?" Emma answered, perking up from her previous pouting.