Walking back to the camp site, Regina lingered behind the group alongside Emma. She had been touched when the blonde had 'saved' her earlier. Letting their hands brush, she snagged the other girls fingers, entwining their hands and giving Emma a shy smile. It was the first private moment they'd had since that morning, and Regina had found she missed the close contact she had come to enjoy. This morning, she had been sure the blonde had been about to ask to kiss her, and it had been all she had been able to think about since. She had never been kissed, but she desperately wanted Emma Swan to be the one to change that.

"Guys!" she called, bringing the small group ahead of her to a halt. "I'm going to go and find some firewood for when we get back."

Ruby and Katheryn shared a look before bursting out laughing. "You do that, Regina," grinned Ruby. Shaking her head, she nonetheless continued on back to the camp.

"What are they laughing at?" asked Emma as she allowed the brunette to lead her off the main track.

Regina blushed. "Probably the fact that I have never gone to collect firewood in my life."

Between the other girls red cheeks and her hesitant tone, it dawned on Emma she was just fishing for some time alone with her. "Oh." Smiling, she was content to walk alongside Regina in comfortable silence, her gaze taking in the beautiful woods, and often the beautiful girl beside her.

"What were you going to ask me earlier?"

They had been quiet for a while, so the question came out of the blue to Emma. "You mean this morning?" When Regina nodded, she used their joint hands to tug them to a stop. "I…I just…I wanted to ask what we're doing? What this is? Are we friends or…"

Regina could feel her heart pounding. God, why did this have to be so difficult? She felt like she could barely breathe, never mind put together a sentence. What had happened to her these past couple of weeks? Taking a deep breath, she looked up into Emma's gorgeous green eyes. "I was hoping, more the or…"

Emma smiled at the sight of Regina biting her bottom lip, so nervous she could feel her hand shaking in own. "Regina, can I ask you another question?"

The brunette nodded furiously.

"Can I kiss you?"

Again came the furious nodding.

Emma gently cupped the brunette's cheek with her free hand, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to soft lips. The tiny whimper from the back of Regina's throat had her longing for more, but she forced herself to pull back. She watched as Regina's eyelids fluttered open, a wide smile on her face. Slipping her hand from the brunette's face, she let it rest against her hip. She grinned as Regina hesitantly lowered her eyes to her lips, leaning in for another kiss. Bringing her arms around the brunette's slim waist, she gently tugged her against her, bringing their bodies flush. She felt Regina giggle against her lips as they continued to kiss. She forced herself to allow Regina to dictate their pace, Ruby's words about Regina's non-existent dating history coming back to her. She was thankful to the girl for telling her, realizing that had she not, she would not probably be pushing Regina beyond what she was comfortable with and be pinning her to the nearest tree by now. When they finally pulled back, it was with wide smiles on their faces. Caught up in the moment, Emma found herself wrapping her arms even tighter around Regina's waist, lifting her off her feet as she spun them around.

Regina giggled as Emma whirled her around, her arms around the blonde's neck. As they stopped, she felt Emma release her grip a little, allowing her to slide down her slim frame to stand once more.

"You're cute when you giggle," smiled Emma.

Already flushing cheeks blushed a deeper red.

"Don't be embarrassed, I like it," said Emma. Knowing that she would only embarrass the other girl further if she kept her under the same scrutiny, she took Regina's hands in her own, starting them walking back towards the camp site. She couldn't keep the grin off her face when every so often Regina would pull them to a halt to steal further kisses. When Regina dropped their linked hands, she frowned.

"We actually do need some firewood," said Regina with an apologetic shrug.

"Oh, right," chuckled Emma.

"The camp is just five minutes that way," nodded Regina. She watched as Emma quickly started gathering suitable wood, before shaking her head, realizing she should probably help. Turning her back to the blonde so as she didn't have the distraction of gazing at her ass as she worked. Heading in the opposite direction, she squeaked in fright when arms suddenly grabbed her around the waist. Her first thought was Emma, but when she was pulled against a hard body, she knew otherwise.

"See Regina, I told you you'd be in my arms one day."

"Killian, let me go!" snarled Regina, struggling against his tight grip.

"Fiesty, I like it," he grinned.

"Get your fucking hands off me!"

Killian merely tightened his hold, dipping his head to nuzzle at Regina's neck. "Mmm, you smell good. I wonder how you taste."

Regina screamed in pure fury as she felt Killian's lips on her neck. Kicking and struggling she suddenly hit the forest floor with a thud. Looking up, she saw Emma directly before her, clutching her fist. Snapping her head around to look behind her, she found Killian sprawled on the floor, clutching his face. She continued to look between Emma and Killian as though she was watching a tennis match.

"You broke my fucking nose!" shouted Killian as she staggered to his feet.

"I'll break more than your nose if you lay a finger on her again," snarled Emma, her tone leaving him in no doubt that she would.

Killian snorted, shaking his head. "We could have been good together," he leered at her. "I like a girl who likes it rough, and judging from that right hook…"

Emma took a step forward, bloodied fist raised. "Want me to show you it again?" Not arguing further, he turned on his heel, storming away. "Are you okay?" she asked, turning her attention back to Regina the moment he was out of sight.

"You punched him," said Regina in disbelief, amazed that Emma, after knowing her for the sum total of 13 days, was already risking her own safety by protecting her.

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "He had his hands all over you." She held out her non injured hand for the other girl to take. "And while I don't doubt you could have handed him…Well, I really wanted to punch him for touching you."

Regina found herself laughing as she was pulled to her feet, quickly wrapping her arms around Emma's neck. "Thank you." It was true she had taken Killian on before, a slap here, a slightly weak fisted punch, a well aimed kick there, but right then, she had been scared.

Emma wrapped her arms around the smaller girls' waist. "Any time."