A/n: Yes, It's shorter. Yes, I'm late. Yes, I'm aware. AND... Yes, I do apologize. My wi-fi at home is shotty at best and now my computer is fritzing out randomly. Add that to less than two weeks away from opening night of the musical I'm in, and you get a short, cute, fluffy, Swan Queen chapter. Enjoy.

~R

"Emma! Get your ass up or you're gonna miss class," a voice shouted from downstairs.

Emma jumped at the new volume to the otherwise quietness of her sleep and gazed at the clock.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Not again," the blonde jumped from her bed and went running towards the closet. "Reggie's going to kill me!"

The student grabbed a pair of tight jeans and a white tanktop. Looking in her mirror, she deemed the outfit appropriate, and ran from the loft to the downstairs kitchen

"Oh my god, Rubes. I don't know what I'd do without you," she ran to her roommate and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek before turning and racing towards the door. "If you weren't here, Regina would've killed me already!"

"Emma! It's-" the sound of the front door slamming took the urgency out of Ruby's words, but she finished her sentence nevertheless, "Friday. You're missing Basic Intros, not Creative Writing."

The brunette shook her head, what was she going to do about it. She could call Emma and give her a heads up, but what fun would that be when she could leave the blonde alone and get a funny story out of this for later? None.

Shrugging, Ruby picked up her phone and the newest addition to her contacts list. She listened to the ring over and over again until she finally heard a low, soft, frustrated voice.

"Mills."

"Hey Regina, this is Ruby. Y'know, Emma's roommate?" the brunette offered, hoping that her affiliation with the blonde would take a bit of the sting out of the professor's voice.

"Is Miss Swan alright?" Ruby was right. All sense of sting left, leaving nothing but immense care and concern.

They're so sweet I'm gonna be sick. The younger brunette thought to herself.

"Yeah!" she hurried to assure. "Ems is fine, just a little confused."

"Is it over our evening tonight?" the disappointment rang clear in the professor's voice.

"No. Not that at all. I was just calling to give you a heads up. Ems is going to be rushing into your classroom in about-" Ruby pulled her wrist up to her face to check the hands on her new scarlet watch, "eh, five minutes."

"And why would she be doing this?"

"Well, she was about to miss class this morning, so I woke her up."

"And? I don't get how this pertains to me. She has class with me on Tuesdays, Miss Lucas." the impatience that occupied Regina's voice at the beginning of the call was back.

"She thought she was missing creative writing, and she left before I could tell her any different. She's really missing Basic Intro. It's a chef's class."

"I know what it is. I'll inform her when she arrives."

"Okay. I guess that's all I'm calling for then."

"Miss Lucas?" the voice on the other end of the call questioned whether her presence was still lingering.

"Yes, Miss Mills?"

"Thank you for the heads up. Have a great day."

"You too, Regina. Enjoy your date tonight. I know Emma's looking forward to it."

Click.

Those two and their prudishness when it came to public knowledge, Ruby thought with a grin. I guess they have a reason, but really, it's so cute to see Emma's cheeks glowing red, or to hear the embarrassed lilt to Miss Mill's voice when she mentions it.

The brunette sighed. They were so in love.

The brunette looked up as her classroom door slammed against the wall.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry I'm late, Miss Mills. I was up all last night trying to pick out an outfit and I still haven't got one, and my alarm didn't even go off and-"

The blonde was cut off with lips pressing into her own. When the women pulled apart, the blonde stared at the professor with large doe eyes.

"Oh my fucking god, Regina. You just kissed me in front of the entire class. What if you lose your job?" The blonde's body was shaking in fear as she stared into her girlfriend's eyes.

"Look around, dear."

Slowly, the blonde turned and scanned the room. Not a soul sat in any of the desks. There was only her and Regina in the room.

"But… But… I thought-"

Regina wrapped her arms around the blonde, "I know what you thought, Emma. You thought you were late for my class, but it's Friday, not Tuesday. You have Basic Intro today."

The blonde stepped back, effectively loosening Regina's hold on her before interrogating the brunette, "We've been dating a little over a week and you know my schedule?"

"Inside and out, my dear," the brunette noded along with her words, trying to convince the blonde of her lie. She loved watching the girl squirm.

"I don't want to let you down, or embarrass you, or upset you or anything, but that's freaking creepy, Reg."

The brunette chuckled, deep and melodious, "I'm only kidding. Ruby called me about ten minutes ago to inform me of your arrival. She seemed to find humor in your situation."

"She always does," Emma agreed.

Regina lessened her grip on the blonde in her arms, "I suppose I better be letting you go, then. I wouldn't want you to be too incredibly late."

"I can miss it just this once?" Emma offered up, hoping the brunette would jump at the offer. Judging by the way the brunette was backing her date for the evening to the door, it was a no go. "Is that a yes?"

"Emma," the brunette hummed, pressing closer to the door, "oh, how I wish it was. I just refuse to let you miss classes because of me."

"I'm already late," the blonde attempted.

"You still have a few minutes. I know your professor doesn't start the class without a little- or in his case- very long joke first."

"But-"

"Emma Swan," the woman holding her commanded.

"Fine," the blonde relented. "But this isn't over Miss Mills."

"Oh, really?" the brunette asked with a smirk.

"Really." Emma leaned in and kissed her new girlfriend. "Now, as you insist, I am off to class. I love you. Goodbye."

"Emma-" the door slammed as the blonde girl ran off to her next class,silencing the brunette teacher. "I… love you too." she mumbled to herself, walking back over to her chair and sitting at her desk.

She looked down at her paperwork and up at the clock. There was no way she would be getting her work done now. Emma dropped a big bombshell and just rushed off to her class like nothing happened.

Does she even know that she said it? Regina asked herself, worrying at her lip with her teeth. She was in a rush. Maybe it was an accident.

God, she hoped it wasn't.

Emma struggled to pay attention throughout her entire class. Not only was it just a basic review over what Emma already knew, but her mind was on something else. A sexy, brunette something else, who was probably freaking out just as much as Emma herself.

I love you? Where had that come from? Emma had never spoken those words to anyone except for Ruby, but they are practically sisters.

Honestly, thought, Emma thought to herself, I must at least be thinking it if I'm slipping up and saying it aloud.

Maybe Regina felt the same way. She hadn't called to cancel yet, so that had to be a good sign, right?

God, she hoped so.

Before she could waste anymore class time dwelling on her personal life problems, she decided to focus in on what the professor was saying.

"Okay, class," he addressed. "That will be it for today's lecture. You are all free to leave… except for you, Miss Swan. I'd like to see you once everyone has left."

"Yes, sir," the blonde replied, making her way through the crowd of people and up to his desk. When she reached it, she paused and waited for the rest of the students to leave before speaking, "You wanted to see me, Mr. Hood?"

"Please, just call me Robin. I did want to speak with you, yes. I don't know how to put this without being blunt. You need to focus in my class. It's only the second time we've convened, and you deem it necessary to space off. I don't want to come off as a hard ass, but we're learning important things here, and you can't afford to slack."

"I understand, sir. I apologize," Emma responded with a nod. "It won't happen again."

"It better not," the professor flashed a grin as the blonde turned to step away, "and have fun on your date tonight, dear."

"How did you-"

"How did I know?" the man smirked again. "Oh, honey. When you've known Cora Mills as long as I, you aren't left out of much of anything."

"But-" Emma tried, but was cut off by her professor once again.

"Don't think too hard on it, Emma. You'll be late for your date if you do, and I know Regina isn't the kind that likes to be kept waiting."

Emma walked out of the lecture hall, more confused that she could ever remember being in her entire life. She pulled out her cellphone, but instead of calling Regina like she planned, she turned the corner and decided to walk to the woman's office instead.

Regina had told her not to bother coming in for office hours, seeing how Emma had a date to plan and all, but the blonde didn't want to stay away any longer. She was so confused about so many things, and only Regina could sort them all out for her at this time.

The blonde followed her feet around corners, down streets, and up a flight of stairs until she was at Regina's main office. Emma walked inside the building and up the two flights of stairs to Regina's office. When she got there, she saw nothing but darkness.

Worried, Emma pulled out her phone and dialled the brunette's number. The woman was a borderline workaholic, and was not likely to leave until she had finished everything she could for the day, and based on the few times Emma worked with her, it took all day and afternoon to finish that stack of paperwork.

The phone rang once. Twice. A third time before she finally heard the answer she'd been waiting for.

"Emma?" the dulcet voice floated through the receiver.

"Yeah."

A moment of silence stretched before the brunette broke it, "Not that I don't love talking to you, dear, but why are you calling?"

"I just, uh, came by your office to say hello, and you weren't here. I thought it was a little strange, so I decided to give a little call and make sure everything was alright."

Regina sighed at the concern in the younger woman's tone, "Yes, of course. I can assure you that everything is fine, Emma." Except that you told me you love me and I'm not sure you meant it. "I just left a little early to prepare myself for later tonight. I couldn't think in the office." Because you told me you love me and I'm not sure you meant it.

"Oh. You're taking four hours to get ready for a date with me? What a lucky woman I must be," the blonde joked, unsure of what was going through Regina's mind. It could be anything. I DID tell her I loved her. And she has yet to respond.

The silence on the line was almost deafening. Both women chose to break it at the same time.

"You first," Emma suggested shyly.

"Alright, dear," the brunette started. "I think you and I need to have a little talk before we go out tonight." Because you told me you loved me and I'm not sure you meant it.

"I agree." Because I told you I loved you and you haven't responded.

"Stop by an hour early?" the professor hopefully offered.

"Anything for you, Reggie," The blonde pulled the phone away from her ear and was about to hang up when she her name.

"Emma?"

Quickly, the student pressed the phone back to her ear and responded, "Yeah?"

"I…" love you too. "I am really looking forward to tonight.