A/N: And here begins chapter 4. To the guest reviewer who wanted longer chapters, I know this is still kind of short for you, but I hope you're slightly happier with 1,000 or so more words than usual. I hope you ALL enjoy the new *small* addition to the cast. He will be more prominent in the next few chapters but is mentioned in this one as well. As always, you're more than welcome- and even encouraged- to leave a review.
Love you lots! ~R.

A giant mug of coffee, a box of who-knows-what, and a closed envelope addressed to one Regina Mills sat on the floor, staring back up at the wide-eyed brunette.

I don't know who dropped this off, but I think its safe to assume I love them, Regina thought, a wide smile taking over her face. I guess an easy way to figure out is to read the note.

The brunette professor leaned down to pick up the box first, and somehow managed to balance that, the coffee, and the note until she made it back to her desk. She set the box down, noticing for the first time that it read, "DO NOT TIP!" Then she took a long, long, draining drink out of the coffee mug. Whoever had sent this had made sure she wouldn't run out of coffee before the night was over; And they were also probably missing their favorite mug right about now.

Finally, Regina set down the coffee and picked up the note. Eyeing it carefully for any signs of whom it had come from. After finding absolutely no clues, she gingerly opened it, making sure not to rip anything beyond repair.

The writing on the inside was neat. Too neat. Whomever had written it spent time perfecting the grammar and spelling, and making sure it was up to the Creative Writing professor's standards.

Regina,

I know you said you were having a rough day, so I thought I could maybe try to make it better. I'm sure the excessive knocking I'm bound to do will drive you nuts and make your headache worse, but I just want to make sure you come to the door and pick up what I'm leaving. This is me apologizing in advance for that. Normally, I would just come in and tell you myself, but you asked me to leave, and I'm respecting that wish; However, if you ask me to leave tomorrow, also, you can forget it because I'm not leaving. I have to be punished somehow, right?

Anyways, I made you a pot of coffee- as I'm sure you noticed first- and put as much of it as I could into my biggest mug. I even spilled some on my hand, trying to get it all in there.

As far as the box goes, I know it looks suspicious, but I promise there is no hidden bomb. It's actually your supper. I saw that you didn't eat after I entered your lecture hall at noon today, and I noticed that there were no empty containers, so I safely assumed you skipped lunch. I then assumed that you probably were not going to eat until you were done working. You don't have to tell me I'm right, I already know.

Also, if you're extra good and eat all your food, you might even get dessert. Of course you have to text me to come drop it off, but it's still dessert (and it may or may not be another cupcake. Leaning more towards may, though).

I don't know how to sign this letter, so I'm just going to put love,

E.

P.S.- I don't know if you have my number, so I put it on the inside of the box. And I'm incredibly serious about the dessert, woman. Text me if you want it.

Regina set the letter down on her desk and took a minute to think about the sender. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed, full-of-life student was not-so-slowly convincing the brunette professor to let down her guard. There could be such potential there. The blonde was cute, funny, obviously caring, and wasn't one to shy away from Regina even on her worst days. She could even cook, for Christ's sake. It would be nice to have someone cook for her and Henry other than herself.

So why am I so against it? The brunette asked herself. Is it because I want to protect Henry? Is it because I want to protect myself? Is it because she's a student? The age difference? Really, Regina, what is it?

The professor sighed at herself before moving to the box of food and peeking inside. The food looked delicious; A steaming carton of what appeared to be homemade lasagna with a small side of salad and an even smaller container of dressing. Off to one side was breadstick and a set of utensils wrapped specially in a napkin. As promised, the chef's number was printed in big, bold Sharpied letters at the top of the box with a smiley face and a reminder of the dessert that awaited if she were to finish the meal in front of her.

Smiling, the professor dug into her awaiting meal before opening up her cell phone and saving Emma's number. Starting a new text, Regina decided she would thank her student.

Emma-

Thank you so much for the lovely meal. It is absolutely delicious. If only I had someone to share it with. :)

~R

Seconds later her screen lit up with the reply.

Regina-

I know you asked me to leave earlier, but I can always come back… And I can bring dessert. :)

~E

Emma smiled at her response. It seemed she did something incredibly right in this new friendship. Not only did she surprise her uptight teacher, but she seemed to have relaxed the woman as well. That was exactly what she was aiming for.

To be honest, she was also aiming the make the professor smile. Emma sat down in her seat and imagined the grin that lit up Regina's stressed and focused features. It made the blonde feel warm inside.

I could make her smile in so many different ways. If she weren't my teacher, I'd take her out to the most romantic restaurants, or I'd cook her a meal and we could eat it by candle light. Maybe she would like a picnic. Whatever she would want, I would deliver.

Before she could finish her thoughts, she was interrupted with another text.

Emma-

You really are pushing that dessert, aren't you, dear? If you must know, I would love a cupcake. Actually make that two, I have someone at home who would die to try food made by a pro. You know where to find me, dear.

And there it was...the bomb dropped in Emma's heart like a thousand pound weight.

She's seeing someone else. You never even thought about that one, did you, Swan? She taunted herself. Now what are you going to do? You already said you were going to bring her dessert, and even after Ruby and Mary Margaret, you still have three thousand, six hundred and seventy-three cupcakes. Only one thing you can do.

Regina-

I'll be there in five, Professor.

Professor? Regina questioned. After all this time, and all this hard work she's been putting into us being on a first name basis, she's calling me professor?

Deciding not to dwell on what she deemed a slip in Emma's memory, the professor dug back into her work and didn't even stop when she heard a light rap on her door.

"Come in, dear," she said, face still buried in her papers.

After hearing the door creak open and closed- something she was still trying to get maintenance to fix- she heard the voice she had been craving all night.

"Ummm… hey," the blonde gave a small wave as soon as the professor lifted her head to see the newcomer. She took no more than three small steps into the room, trying not to get too close to the professor. "I have your cupcakes. Three of them, in case whoever's at home likes them."

"Thank you, Emma," the brunette said in response. "If they taste anything like the one I had this afternoon, I'm sure Henry will love them."

Shit. Emma thought, watching as her professor's eyes lit up at Henry's name, I have no chance in hell with this woman when she's that in love with that man.

"I'll just set them on the corner of your desk, then, and be on my way, huh?" the blonde asked setting down the newbox.

Regina jumped up from her seat and wrapped her hand around Emma's wrist as she was heading towards the door.

"Emma, wait," she said, brows furrowed in confusion. "What has you in such a hurry? I thought you were going to keep me company while I ate."

"Well, you're almost done, and I'm sure you want to hurry up so you can get back home to your man friend or whatever, so I think I'll just leave you be. It'll be quicker for you that way," the student ran her fingers through her hair and sighed turning around again.

"Emma, I think you've misunderstood," Regina began.

"No, I think I get it."

"No, Emma, I don't think you do," the brunette reached out and spun her student around again. "Henry is not my 'guy friend.' He is my son and he's only four and a half. right now he's at home with my mother because I knew I'd be staying extremely late. So, yes, I would like to finish this in a timely manner, but no, I would not like you to leave," the teacher locked eyes with her student. "You've done so much for me tonight, and you've completely turned my mood around, and now I think it's fair if you enjoy the happier side of me for a while. It was you who brought it out tonight."

"Oh."

At that one mumbled word from the blonde, Regina burst out into laughter. "Oh?" She questioned. "After that long slew of rambles all I get is an 'oh?'"

"Hey, give me some time to recover, woman," the blonde joked. "You just told me you had a son and not a guy friend at home."

Regina raised an eyebrow and smirked at her new company, "And would it bother you if I, in fact, had a guy friend waiting for me at home?"

"Well… I mean…" Emma trailed off, trying to think of the proper words for such a situation. Would it bother her? Hell yes. Could she tell that to her new professor whom she had only known for less than twelve hours? Hell no.

"Miss Swan, do I have to remind you that though we are now friends, I am still your professor above everything else?" the brunette questioned, raising an eyebrow. Do I have to remind myself, is a better question.

"No." Emma answered aloud, then mumbled, "That fact is disappointingly clear enough as it is."

The room became quiet for a minute, Regina's hold on Emma's wrist still staying firm. Finally the brunette chose to break the silence.

"So. Will you stay and keep me company, then?" she questioned hopefully. "You can even help a little if you'd like."

"If that's what you'd like, Professor," Emma answered, gently pulling her wrist out of the brunette's grasp and dropping her hand at her side, "then I would love to." She strode over and sat in the chair opposite of the teacher's own and straightened her posture.

Regina sat in her chair and smiled at the other woman before taking the last bite of her lasagna, "This really was delicious, Emma. You really have a gift for foods."

For the first time since had arrived, the younger woman gave a real smile, "Thank you. It's an old recipe I learned from one of the homes I stayed in when I was finishing high school."

"So one of your mothers taught you?" Regina asked, genuinely curious about the student's past.

"No. The cook at the group home taught me while I was trying to earn my GED," She explained.

"I thought you said you were in foster care?"

"I was, but I…. well, it doesn't really matter does it?" Emma mumbled. "I learned it and now the skill has brought me here," she motioned out to the space in front of her.

"My office?" Regina asked, confused.

"Yeah… but not really, no." Emma explained further, "I meant college, but I guess my cooking also helped me squeeze my way into your good graces, am I right, Reggie?"

In that moment, it was like time stood still. Regina stared across the table at the blonde, face showing no emotion. No anger, no happiness. Nothing. Then, the brunette slowly lifted one of her perfectly sculpted brows.

"You will never call me 'Reggie' again- or any other nicknames for that matter-" she said slowly, making sure Emma had enough time to comprehend what was being spoken, "or you will lose all abilities to speak."

"Anything you say," Emma pretended to listen to the professor before rising out of her chair, moving towards the professor, and adding "Gina."

"Emma Swan!" Regina said, appalled by yet another nickname.

"Yes, dear?" The blonde asked moving even closer to the professor and smirking down from above her.

"I warned you, Emma Swan," Regina replied, rising from her own chair. "I warned you that you would lose all ability to speak should another pet name come forth from those lips."

"To be fair, Genie, you said nickname, not pet name," Emma challenged her, grinning like the cheshire cat.

"That's it, Emma. I promised a punishment, and a punishment you shall get."

Regina reached her hands out and started tickling the blonde. Thankfully, Emma had walked so close to the professor during her teasing that she couldn't pull away from the brunette's form of torture.

"Re….gina," The blonde gasped and giggled, trying to desperately get out her words. "Stop…. please… I.."

"I told you no nicknames, Emma, and you proceeded to use them." Regina smirked and continued, "So, now it is my turn to proceed as I promised. What better way to take away all form of speech than to tickle it out of you?"

"Oh my…. God, Regina… Stop….PLEASE," the blonde continued to beg as she tried to back away from the invading hands, but the brunette kept up with her, not letting up, even as Emma's back hit the wall.

Before she knew it, Regina was laughing along with Emma, but for different reasons. While she wasn't being tickled, the professor was feeling a generous amount of happiness that she usually only felt from spending time with her son. Her son who would love Emma if he ever met her. Who acted so much like the blonde she was currently torturing.

"REGINA!" Emma's voice and her laughter pulled the brunette out of her thoughts, but before she could recover and begin the tickling once again, Emma's hands reached out and caught her professor's wrists. Quickly switching the two's positions, the blonde pinned her teacher against the wall.

Time paused as the blonde's hazel orbs focused solely on her professor's lips, and oh-so-slowly the student leaned in, brushing her own lips with Regina's full ones.

"Emma," the professor meant to warn the girl to stop before she started something they could never finish, but as the breathy whisper escaped, Emma cut her off with her lips.

This time, though, the kiss wasn't as innocent. There was no gentle brushing of lips. There were only dancing tongues, raw emotions, and nibbling teeth. Passion was the only word Regina could think of. Uncontrollable, untamable passion.

Pulling away again, Regina cut the kiss off, "Emma. I need to get home to Henry."

The rejected look flashing across the blonde's face was heartbreaking, but the professor couldn't start a relationship with anyone right now- especially not when said anyone was a student and was probably not ready to handle any baggage Regina may carry.

"It's nothing against you, dear," Regina started, trying to let Emma down easily. "I like you. I see potential in you. But this can never happen again. Thank you for the dinner and the dessert and the help tonight, but I must go home so I can have a chance of tucking Henry in tonight. Goodnight, Emma."

With that being said, Regina rushed out the door and into the hallway, her head a swirl of emotions and thoughts that she wasn't sure she'd experience ever again.

Maybe I'm dreaming, Regina wondered. Maybe the most wonderful woman I've ever met didn't make a pass at me tonight, and if she did, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and go make it right with her. I really hated turning her down when she was so wonderful and so attractive and so… Emma.

Emma stood in the middle of the office, wondering if and where she had made such a crucial mistake. Regina was giving her all the go-ahead signs. Wasn't she? Shaking her head, Emma walked out of the room at a slow pace, eyes never straying from the floor.

Maybe this is all just a dream, she thought. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and realize that I actually didn't make a pass at the most beautiful woman I know. And get rejected. Maybe it can all go back to normal. Maybe.

A/n: So don't hate me totally because I promise to make up for how this ended, but I just couldn't let everything be so easy for our girls. There's no way life is ever that easy, yeah? I at least hope ya'll enjoyed the pre-kiss/kiss scene because I know I enjoyed writing it.
Love always
~R.