Touch

Author's note: This came to me while I was looking at fan-art. I expect this will be the first of a few parts. Especially since I hated the way the season finale was written.

So this will become my way of re-writing the S3 finale I suppose. I hope you enjoy it.

Regina,

I know it's a little weird to be writing to you when you're asleep on the floor above, but there's some things I wanted to say, and you know it's hard for me to express myself face to face.

Last night was a gift. I know you shared yourself with me, and not just in a physical way. I saw you, the real and un-guarded you, in your eyes. I saw your walls lower for a little while and trust that I wouldn't hurt you.

I want to thank you for that.

Every time you drop the Mayoral-sass, I know you run the risk of being judged. But I see that you care less and less what the others think of you. Every time you do that, you allow Henry and I to love you more.

Yeah, I said it.

I love you. I have for a long time. This thing with Hook, and whatever you have with Robin, it's all just distractions for us. Every time we fight, we open ourselves up, both of us, and last night was no different.

I tried to apologize for bringing Marian back, tried to explain, but you jump to judge, me and others, so quickly, always thinking the worst.

I tried to tell you that I didn't know who she was, that she had never told me her name. I was just saving someone's life.

But you weren't listening.

I don't really remember how we went from arguing to blows to angry sex. But when the sex stopped and became something else, I know you felt it. I could see it in your eyes, your lips and feel it in your hands.

We had finally gotten past ourselves.

Past the expectations, the roles, the judgement, the bullshit everyone else expects of us.

I asked you why you couldn't believe me, and even though you answered me with a slap, I knew the answer.

Just like I know that when you wake up, you'll make me swear last night will never happen again.

But I think it will.

I think there's no going back from this. The only way to go is forward.

After last night, you know I won't hurt you. You know I can be gentle. You know you can trust me.

I know your heart, and you know mine.

I'll give you a couple of days to sort this out, alone if you like. I'll be around if you want to see me, and if not, I'll respect that. But you will come looking for me, Regina. Because we shared something last night that opened a crack in your heart. Because you got to see a glimpse of what the future might hold if you're brave enough to reach out.

To me.

To the love I have for you, to the potential the future holds, reach out to happiness.

Always yours,

Emma