Chapter 3

Stirring in her sleep, Emma shifts towards the middle of the bed then blinks her eyes open upon feeling a hand trace lightly up and down her arm. Looking across to see Regina smiling at her with her head rested against her hand while propped up on her elbow, the blonde gives a small smile in return. "Morning already.."

"Not a morning person Miss Swan?"

Chuckling, the younger woman shakes her head as she attempts to disappear under the covers. "Oh and it's Deputy Swan if you don't mind..."

Letting out a laugh, the mayor grabs hold of the duvet and pulls it away completely. Eyes widening, the blonde then takes in how they are dressed or lack of as they were both in their bras and underwear. "..did..we?.."

Shaking her head, the former Queen then sits up against the head board. "No. For a second it looked as though we could have but I didn't want to rush you and at the moment you're in a fragile state plus there was drinking so I didn't want to wake up to find you gone with regret. We simply undressed to be more comfortable sleeping"

"Oh.." Also sitting up in the bed, Emma fiddles with her hands. "..so what now?"

"Now, we go get some breakfast there's a coffee shop that doesn't match up to Granny's but it will do..then we drive back and begin on our search" Reaching over to stop the blondes nerves from getting the best of her, Regina takes hold of her hand.

Pursing her lips as the answer she got wasn't exactly what she meant, the young woman slides out of bed and stands. "Okay then. I'm gonna hit the shower.."

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Sat within the small coffee shop, Emma picks at a muffin she ordered while taking in her scenery out of the window.

"Emma?"

Turning her attention to the brunette opposite, the blonde gives a smile.

"What are you thinking about dear? I lost you for a while.."

Taking a breath, the younger woman pushes her plate away. "What I asked you..earlier wasn't what I..when I said what now, I meant for us if there is an us or maybe it was a one time thing that we both needed for comfort or at least I know you have been a comfort for me but I-"

"Emma stop.." Sliding her hand across the table, Regina takes hold of the blondes hand and automatically links their fingers together. "I'm sorry i didn't give you an answer, I just thought that right now you would want to focus on your son and then we could talk.."

Shaking her head, Emma looks fearful. "No because I'd rather know now if this is nothing than find my son lose him and then lose you too.."

"Even if we wasn't, you wouldn't lose me..I'd still value you as a friend. However, I'm hoping that what we are..what we have, is more.." Stroking the young woman's knuckles with her thumb, the former Queen stares over the table at the blonde sat opposite.

"Me too. I want us to try..but you do realise that..if I succeed in finding my son and if I am able to have him back in some way, you would have to take on the both of us"

Leaning over the table, the mayor quickly pecks Emma's lips with a smile. "I think I can handle that"

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Arriving back on Main Street, the two women make their way up the steps to Granny's before pausing at the closed door. Glancing over towards Emma, Regina squeezes her hand. "Are you sure you want to do this, this way?"

Holding up their joint hands, the blonde nods. "Yes. We are in this together and if anyone has a problem with that then they will just have to deal. Including my parents"

"Okay. I just don't want anyone's hatred of me past onto you because of our relationship"

"Then let them hate me too. I'm not letting anyone else decide what I want to do with my life or who I want to be with"

Smiling nervously, the mayor presses a kiss to the blondes temple then pulls the door open for them. Walking inside, the pair scan the diner for an empty booth then head over, ignoring the current stares they are receiving. Having taken an interest on who has entered the diner, Granny nudges her granddaughter stood beside her then nods towards the women. Ruby follows her gaze then drops her mouth open. "She did it...she told her"

"What?"

Clearing her throat, the brunette waitress looks to her grandmother. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed whenever Emma is here how she acts as soon as Regina steps in the door? She's in love with her"

Looking back over to see the blonde in question smiling brightly at the mayor sat opposite, Granny raises an eyebrow. "I never noticed..God knows how Snow will be about this"

Shrugging, Ruby leans against the counter. "Hopefully she will see that her daughter is happy..and besides Snow and Regina are on good terms now.."

"We shall soon see..Snow and Charming will be here shortly for an early dinner as they do every Saturday afternoon as I'm sure their daughter is aware"

Noticing what her grandmother is referring to, Ruby feels for her friend as she watches the blonde subtly check the door every now and then.

Also noticing the young woman's concerns, Regina slides out of the booth and moves around the table to sit beside the blonde before wrapping her spare arm around Emma's shoulders. "Stop checking the door, they will be here soon. Look at me" Stroking the blondes cheek, the former Queen looks into her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere..we will face this together then we will go to the town hall okay?"

"Okay" running her hand along the brunette's thigh, Emma then looks to the door again with wide eyes hearing the bell.

Entering the diner, Snow stops short of the door with her husband behind her as her eyes meet her daughter's straight away with a look of surprise at seeing Regina sat beside her with her hand caressing the blondes cheek. Dropping her hand at seeing the short haired woman, the mayor twists herself around to compose herself but keeps her arm firmly wrapped around the younger woman's shoulders. Strolling over to the booth, Snow automatically joins them by sitting on the empty seat opposite, followed by David. "I think we all need to talk.."

"I think this is where I need to speak up" the mayor announces as the trio look towards her. "We all know what is going through your mind right now Snow and the questions you would like to ask but the important response I can give you is that I really care for Emma and that has recently moved past just being friends. I know we have had our issues but that is just it, they are or were our issues. It has nothing to do with Emma. I would never try to hurt her and if this was to ever fall apart, I still wouldn't stop caring for her..not that she is now in my life"

Waving her hand half heartedly, the short haired woman replies. "I just wanted to know when..I know all that already." Smirking, Snow turns towards her daughter. "Maybe now you can stop pining.."

"Mom!" Sinking in her seat embarrassed, Emma avoids looking over at Regina who raises an eyebrow with a smile.

"Come on Snow, Emma is right..she wasn't pining.."

"Thanks dad.."

"She was sulking.."

Eyes widening, the young woman sighs then rubs her head gaining another kiss on her temple from the older woman beside her. "Moving on..does that mean you're okay with this? I mean we don't really know yet what we are but we want to find out"

"Of course honey..besides Regina is already family." Snow states with a smile towards the former Queen who offers one in return. "Want to join us for dinner?"