I'm back! I hate this busy schedule of mine! Makes it hard to find time to write. The writers block didn't help so much either. I sincerely apologize for the stuuuuuupid long wait! So here is a nice long chapter for you all! Please, pretty please, leave a review and let me now what you think :) I'll try my best to get the next chapter up soon!

He woke up to dark brown eyes looking back at him. Soft and warm and so very, very dark. With his own eyes half closed he smiled down at her in greeting and she smiled back, the corners of her eyes creasing with its sincerity. He rubbed his head back in to his pillow with a long, slow blink and a deep breath and found himself smiling all the more when he felt soft lips press a light kiss to the side of his chest.

He pulled her in closer to his side with his arm around her and moved his fingertips softly up and down the smooth cream silk of her nightgown over her side. He let out a quiet happy sigh as she slowly traced her fingertips across his chest and left another kiss a little higher. A different smile pulled at his mouth when he felt her hand venture lower and she stretched up a little higher and kissed the corner of his jaw, her breath warm and soft against his skin.

As her fingers slipped beneath the waist of his pyjama bottoms and took hold of his soft length, his fingers were slowly gathering the soft silk so it climbed up her leg until he could lower his hand and feel the smooth skin of her hip and thigh. As he started to harden at her touch, he turned his head and moved his free hand up and over himself to hold her head as he kissed her softly. Soft and slow as his fingers pushed through her hair above her ear as she rubbed him and he drew invisible patterns on her hip and thigh.

He groaned quietly against her mouth as her warm hand continued working around his length. Up and down, faster and then slower. She rolled over on top of him, her hands moving to the waist of his pyjama bottoms as she dropped her head back down to kiss him. His fingers tangled in through her dark hair as he kissed her back. He loved waking up next to her in the morning.

He aided her in removing his pants as she slunk down, dragging her lips down his neck and chest causing him to shiver at the feel of her hot breath moving across his skin. With his pyjamas and briefs lost somewhere between the bed and the floor, she took him in her hand again. He watched in anticipation as her hand moved and she began to lower her head, a hum of approval leaving his closed lips when her tongue flicked over his tip before she closed her mouth around him.

Her mouth and hand moved in synchronized rhythm and her tongue was warm and smooth. His breaths were audible now and he pushed his fingers through her hair once more, taking a grip with one hand. He pushed his head back with another groan and allowed her to continue for a little while longer before he decided he wanted more. He sat up and as he did he pulled her up as well.

He lifted her up in to his lap as though she weighed nothing, his grip strong around her upper arms as he kissed her hard and she moved to get more comfortable. He still held her arms in a tight grip, refusing to let her wrap her arms around him as he greedily breathed her same breath. Their heads were together, their lips touching, but there was no kiss as Regina pressed herself against him and settled on his lap.

Passion for this woman was bubbling over in him and he wanted to make her aware of it.

She rocked her hips slowly and her heated arousal grew stronger as she felt his hard length against her, her dampening silk panties allowing for easy movement over him. She was growing dizzy with her lack of fresh oxygen but she didn't care for her near lightheadedness made everything all the more enjoyable. His heavy hands moved down her sides and over her hips, taking the hem of her silk nightgown and pulling it up over her head. She obeyed quickly and lifted her arms and pulled back from him only enough for the clothing to come off before she was back pressed up against him.

Her nails dug in to his sides as she rose on her knees a little higher so she was slightly taller than him and he had to tilt his head back. Large rough hands pulled her against him and held her there while he stole her air and she stole his. She kept her hips rocking slowly and she dropped her head just a fraction lower so she could catch his bottom lip between her teeth.

Quickly he gave in to her tease and kissed her hard once more. He flipped them over with ease and pinned her on her back before he all but tore her panties from her legs. She arched her back off the bed as much as she could so her breast pushed harder against his hot toying mouth and his hard cock pressed against her wet centre. A sharp gasp made it from her lungs when he bit down on her breast but it was followed with a low groan as she pushed her head back further in to the bed.

His teeth grazed over her skin between her breasts and up over her chest, his rough stubble driving her all the more crazy as he nipped at her collarbone and jaw. She opened her mouth with a moan as he slowly pushed himself inside her, the both of them keeping quiet so as not to inform the rest of the household what they were doing. She turned her face to his as he kissed her neck and as he started moving in her he met her mouth with his in a searing kiss.

His thrusts were slow and steady, taking his time to build the growing pressure inside herself and him. The pace allowed for a thick cloud of love and desire to surround them; heavy and intimate. It made her a little uneasy in fact but it was only for a moment and she allowed herself to give in completely when one of his hands moved up her side and over her arm where he could intertwine his fingers with hers. With that added security she let herself feel more than she ever had with him before.

She felt his unbridled passion for her as he stopped their kiss just so they could breathe one another's breath again. It was wild and strong and had her moaning beneath him. With every thrust on his part she felt the desire to go harder and faster lose to the need to savour it and feel. He had her heart pounding with emotions all the while her body writhed beneath his strong muscles with her building orgasm.

She panted against his mouth just as he did hers. Quiet groans laced his breaths while a combination of whimpers and gasps mixed with hers. His free hand moved up to hold her face, his fingers pushing back her hair while his thumb moved along her bottom lip and then her jaw. He felt her face twist in sweet agony as he drew her out and tested her stamina as well as his own. His fingers buried in to her hair while he pushed their held hands up a little higher and closer to her head so he could shift his weight just a little.

Regina lifted her knee so she could hook her leg around the back of his. His love for her flowed so easily from him in to her and she could only hope that he felt the same from her even if she didn't quite trust herself with such a gift. He laid flush on top of her, his full weight nearly suffocating her and their mouths being in such close proximity wasn't helping. But it was perfectly enjoyable. Addicting even.

Her breaths grew shorter and sharper with his and his rhythm faltered subtly as he drew closer to his climax. His grip tightened in her hair but she didn't mind the pull for it was outweighed by the sensation of being so close to her orgasm. She whimpered against him as her body tried to twist away from him and closer to him at the same time and her free hand moved up and her fingers dug in to the back of his neck.

She cried out quietly as she came beneath him, a difficult volume to keep for it was so strong she wanted to scream. But only quiet cries left her mouth as she vibrated beneath him and clawed at the back of his neck while her other hand squeezed his tighter. She lifted her head from the bed and kissed him as he came shortly after her, absorbing his groan with her tongue moving against his.

He pushed her head back in to the bed with his returned kiss as he rode out his orgasm with her. Warm and strong as he proceeded to slow his pace to a halt and pulled himself from her. They slowed their kiss to a rest as well and he stayed on top of her and rested his forehead against her own. He could feel her muscles strain with every heavy breath and that breath left her parted lips in hot pants against his mouth and jaw. His breathing was not any different.

Carefully he detangled his fingers from her hair and gently traced the contours of her face. He dropped his head for one last kiss that lingered on her lips before he pulled away with he beginnings of a smile and rolled off of her. Quiet and happy laughter bouncing low in her throat had him smiling like a fool and that smile only widened when he settled on his back and she immediately nuzzled herself right in close to his side once more.

He watched happily as timid fingers slid up to his chest in search of something and his heart was warmed when he lifted his own hand and lightly touched her fingertips and she carefully slid her small and delicate fingers between his large rough ones. As he moved his thumb over hers he placed a kiss on the top of her head and when he earned a happy hum in response he rested the side of his head against the top of hers and studied their fingers.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered with a wide smile and she breathed out a quiet laugh before whispering her reply.

"Good morning."

...

Breakfast was silent. No one said so much as a word as they are around the table. Cora had held strong throughout the morning, taking Regina's relentless poking and prodding in stride. She never once took the bait. She had gotten close a few times but had managed to bite her tongue. David had pretended to ignore it but he had been listening carefully, ready to interrupt the pair at any moment but never had to. He was impressed with Cora and quietly amused by Regina's confusion and frustration as to why her mother was suddenly so tolerant of her incessant badgering.

Between Cora and David, Henry didn't really know what to make of it all. His mother sat at the head of the table as per usual, David sat next to her and then Cora sat at the other end of the table leaving Henry across from David and between Cora and Regina. Four people, four sides of the table. Eating in silence.

However just because it was silent save for the soft sounds of utensils knocking against plates, didn't mean that there were not conversations taking place. David was watching curiously as Henry exchanged glances with his mother. He was always asking and threatening while she was always denying and warning with greater threats within an inch of his life he was sure.

Henry was aware of David watching them just as he was of Cora's eyes flicking up to them every so often between curious glances around the room they were in and at the food she was eating. A subtle tilt of his head toward Cora was met with her gentle narrowing of eyes. His slowly growing grin was matched with a threatening glare from her as she lifted a bite of food up to her mouth. He raised his eyebrows and she turned her head ever so slightly. She paused for a moment before cautiously putting her fork in to her mouth and he watched intently as she withdrew the utensil suspiciously from her lips and began chewing.

Knowing that she wouldn't dare speak with food in her mouth in Cora's presence, he opened his mouth and took a quick breath to alert everyone of the bet his mother had lost. Only instead of words, a startled yelp rang through the room and he clawed at the tabletop to keep himself from falling as his chair suddenly tipped over sideways. He hit the ground laughing loudly and he laid there for a few seconds before he moved around only to find two of his chair's legs suddenly missing. "Mo-om!" He whined through his laughter but she didn't reply and instead stood up while David laughed in amusement and confusion.

"Finished?" She asked politely with a smile while Henry got back to his feet and lifted his chair back up. When it was upright she magicked its legs back with a playfully arrogant edge added to her polite smile while David laughed and shook his head as he handed her his empty plate and she took Henry's as well, stacking them neatly over her own. "Mother?" She offered politely but indifferently and Cora nodded and awkwardly handed her her plate. Regina imagined Cora found it difficult to accept that she was doing such peasantry duties as cooking and cleaning.

"Henry," she called and motioned subtly with her head for him to follow her. She couldn't have him opening his mouth without her there. With a laugh under his breath he walked around the table and hurried up behind her with a skip in his step.

David stood up from his place at the table as well and followed Regina and Henry, leaving Cora to sit on her own. He entered the kitchen to find mother and son taking part in a match of quiet bickering but Henry was grinning wildly in amusement so it must not be too harsh an argument. "What's going on with you two this morning?" He chuckled as he walked across the kitchen.

"Mum lost a b-!" He laughed at his mother's disapproving hiss as she lunged forward and clapped a tight hand over his mouth and held him against her before he could finish his sentence.

"What'd you lose?" He asked Regina with a raised eyebrow and an amused smirk when she snarled back at him in distaste and Henry merely laughed in to her hand. When he tried to pull it from his mouth Regina fought back and hugged him tighter against him and whispered a threat in to the boy's ear that only had him laughing more which in turn had Regina smiling just a little.

Henry paused for a moment and smiled in to Regina's palm and laughed a little bit more before he quieted again for a moment and eyed David over. He mused over going limp but his mother was strong and was already holding him tight enough to hold him up. So he waited patiently with a loose grip around her wrist and after a few more seconds he simultaneously rose up on to his tip toes and pulled his mother's hand down, "a bet!"

"Damn it!" She hissed and covered his mouth again, refusing to look up at David who was now stepping closer to them while Henry laughed victoriously in to her hand.

"A bet?" He questioned with a smile and Henry eagerly nodded while Regina growled under her breath, "what do you have to do?" He grinned at Regina but she kept her gaze on Henry while he continued to laugh against her.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Must be something good then," he smirked and Regina shot her eyes up to him completely unimpressed. He had to get in Henry's good books somehow.

With a grimace, Regina forced her arms to open from around Henry and her mood was only improved when he stayed close and leaned back against her.

"She has to give Cora a big hug," he informed him quietly so as to not alert Cora in the neighbouring room.

David's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he breathed out a shocked laugh while Henry grinned proudly, "how on earth did he get you to agree on that?!"

"He cheated. I should have won."

"I did not cheat! I was just quicker and smaller!"

"Well a deal's a deal," David shrugged and bit back his growing smile when Regina scowled at him with her hands resting on Henry's shoulders, "you have to hold up your end."

Regina opened her mouth to spit some unfriendly words back but was stopped when Cora walked in to the room. Her posture was straight and her head was held high, the permanent appearance of her body after years and years of too much pride and power. Regina hated it. Hated how Cora moved and walked.

"Mum has to give you something," Henry informed Cora with a smile and shrunk down a little with his mouth open for a laugh laced with mild pain when Regina dug her fingers in to his shoulders.

"Oh?" She questioned curiously as she stopped a couple strides from the trio, "what is it?"

Regina sighed out her nose in surrender, her jaw clenched tight as she released her laughing son and glared at David, "how long is 'big' considered?" She growled as she walked slowly toward Cora, "I'd hate to get it wrong and have to do it again."

Henry and David hummed in thought as they looked down at one another and Regina stopped in front of Cora who was leaning back fractionally, slightly wary over what they were all talking about. "What do you think?" David asked in mock thought, happy to side with Henry for the time being, "ten seconds?"

"Mmmm...yeah I think ten seconds can qualify as big," he agreed and Regina glared back at both of them with her fingers flexing in displeasure. With a nod at David and a nod from David they both smiled up to Regina who curled her top lip back in distaste for a moment before she turned to face Cora.

"Just hold still," Regina scowled and stepped closer while Cora looked her up and down. With one final sigh she close the shrinking distance between them and reluctantly wrapped her arms around Cora's shoulders and rested her chin on her shoulder as well. Cora tensed at the contact and simply stood there while Regina threw a silent temper tantrum.

One.

She hated it. She hated every part of it. What in the hell had her agreeing to Henry's terms. Never again. She was tense and furious and Cora was as stiff as a board.

Two.

Not once had she ever been more angry at Henry. Not once. She hated this. And David had to go and side with him. Despicable.

Three.

Cora carefully lifted her arms around Regina in return and it had Regina frowning. Stop that. She didn't want her to hug her back. What the hell made her think she should try and hug her back.

Four.

Cora started to relax just a little against her and held her just a little tighter, her hands and arms actually pressing in to her now. Regina found herself following suit and she too began to relax. Despite her better judgement.

Five.

No. Stop it. What are you doing, you fool! Let go. It's not real!

Six.

Regina turned her head in to Cora's neck and adjusted her arms just a little, letting go only to hug her tighter around her neck and shoulder. It felt good to be held by her. Even if it wasn't truly what she had desired. It was close. So very close.

Seven.

Regina allowed her eyes to fall shut as she took a long breath and nuzzled herself a little closer in to Cora. She let herself forget for just a little while. She let herself relax in to her hold, she allowed for Cora to place a gentle hand over the back of her head to hold her in place.

Eight.

She cursed the tears burning behind her eyes as Cora tilted her head to and turned it so the bridge of her nose was against her temple.

Nine.

She accepted it. Even though she knew her mind would travel later through denial and anger and stupidity for giving in to such a thing, she accepted it. And she enjoyed it.

Ten.

With one last breath to compose herself, Regina let go and stepped away. She ignored the way Cora's arms were reluctant to loosen from around her as well as the way her fingertips lingered around her waist as she dropped her hands to her sides and let her step away. At all costs she avoided meeting Cora's eye and turned to face Henry and David as she walked back to the stack of dirty dishes she had been dealing with before. The pair of them were smiling at her. Smug and arrogant. "Satisfied?"

"Mhm," Henry nodded with a grin and his arms folded across his chest.

David nodded with his own grin and she let a tight sigh out of her nose and looked away. He knew her better than that though and he was certain Henry had understood exactly what had happened and he was also rather sure that Henry had intended it when he had wagered the hug for the bet. Clever boy.

"You still taking her to get some clothes?" David asked with a small laugh left over and Regina waved him off in response without looking over her shoulder to him which only had him smiling and laughing more, "sounds good," he chuckled and started to walk out of the kitchen. He glanced at Cora on his way past her and found her expression was twisted in deep thought as she wrung her hands together and kept her gaze intently on the floor.

When Cora lifted her eyes she was met by Henry's and the boy studied her for a moment before he smiled up at her happily. He was still cautious and that was fine. It didn't bother her as much anymore. When Henry turned around to help Regina, Cora backed away quietly and turned around in the doorway to watch where she was going as she walked back out in to the dining room and after David.

She found him on the landing between the two staircases and quietly called out for him when she came to the bottom of the first, "David?" He stopped before he started up the last staircase and turned around to meet her when she reached him. He didn't say anything. He simply stood there but his expression was open and patient. Quietly she opened her mouth and forced herself to look him in the eye, her whispered words wounding her pride, "I...I need your help."

Intrigued by her quiet and nervous approach, he shifted his weight a little and inquired gently all the while cautious to keep her from getting wound up, "with what?"

"...with my daughter..." She admitted and continued to swallow down her pride and gave a quiet and miserable laugh with a shake of her head, "I haven't the slightest clue what I am to do next. I cannot make any sense of her, I don't work like that...but you do..." She swallowed and looked down at her fidgeting fingers. Ordinarily she would try harder to compose herself and hold her head high but when talking to David she found she gained more from him if she didn't. She supposed she could adapt in this instance.

David nodded and looked her up and down knowing that she was not a woman to ever surrender and ask for help. "Felt good didn't it?" He questioned the hug softly with a nod toward her and she gave a single miserable laugh at her hands before she whispered.

"So good."

...

"Regina!"

"Yes?" She responded with eyebrows easily raised as she turned to face the call of her name.

"Mind if I take Henry to Emma instead?" He asked as he jogged down the path to her.

"Why?"

"I just want to talk with him. About you and me."

"Oh...you don't have t-"

"Please?" He added his quiet plea and she smiled at him and nodded her head. With a shrug of her shoulders she turned back around and started heading toward her car but he caught her hand and slowly started pulling her back toward him. She leaned away from the pull but he had her grinning like a fool, he knew that much. His grin grew wider when she let herself laugh quietly as she swung slowly back around and in to him.

Her arms hung lazily around his shoulders while his wrapped snuggly around her middle and the two of them smiled happily, "I love you."

"I love you too," she laughed quietly with a nod, giddy and happy. Finally but still cautiously believing he was there to stay and finally letting herself forget even if for only a little while that the world was out to get them.

"Good," he grinned and watched her smile in return. Just watched her. Watched her dark eyes light up with joy and peace while her smile creased their corners. Watched her white teeth reveal themselves from behind soft red lips when they curled into that precious smile. He hummed happily as he let his eyes wander over her features; sharp and yet soft, subtle and bold, gentle and yet so strong.

She loved it when he looked at her like that. Like she was the only thing that mattered to him and he would never tire of studying her. Never in her wildest dreams did she believe she would ever get to be looked at like that again. Let alone have it be David that was looking at her like that. "I'm gonna kiss you," she whispered as she creeped higher.

"Are you now?" He laughed happily and she nodded and came up closer.

"Mhm," she smiled and her nose brushed against the side of his and she spoke at barely a whisper against his smile, "and you're not going to stop me."

"Mmmm I doubt it," he smirked and she breathed out a laugh as her lips closed around his in a slow and lazy kiss through their smiles. Her fingers pushed through his short hair as she pulled back only to kiss him again, completely relaxed and content with her worries and doubts about them pushed aside for later.

"I don't want to leave this property," she whispered with a playful smile.

"You can't hide away forever, Regina," he grinned and she made a small pouting noise against his mouth before a quick chaste kiss, "what kind of message would that send?"

"One of a woman getting a whole lot of what she wants," she grinned madly and leaned into him with a low laugh through her teeth.

"Nice try," he awarded slowly with a laugh to add to the sound of her own. Then he dropped his head a little further so his mouth was against the shell of her ear, "I'll have you screaming my name before the sun goes down. Worry not," he was rewarded with a slow pleased groan resonating deep in her throat and it had a wide smirk playing across his mouth. "Come on," he pushed her gently as he moved around her but kept her right close to his side with one arm around her waist, "can't keep them waiting too long."

"No I suppose not," she sighed regretfully and surprised herself by how easily she allowed herself to relax against him when he tugged her into him. When their vehicles were in sight, they found Henry teaching Cora how to open and get in to the car. He hopped in to the driver seat of the Mercedes while he instructed Cora who stood next to him with her hands held behind her back.

Torn again of course between her love for her son and her conflict with her mother, Regina stood and watched without any one expression blatant on her features. It was only when mischief graced Henry's face that Regina found herself biting back a smile by crossing her jaw and pursing her lips. When Henry whaled on the car horn Regina didn't so much as flinch and neither did David.

She would be absolutely lying though if she said she didn't thoroughly enjoy the sudden yelp that left Cora as she leapt well away from the car and then of course the sound of Henry's hysterical laughter as he clapped his hands and stomped his feet. David was holding back his laughter as best he could but his body was bouncing next to her with the effort and it had her smiling and walking forward.

"What did you do?!"

"It's-it's the horn!" He fought out through breathless laughter as Cora huffed and puffed to try and catch her breath while she pushed any loose strands of hair from her face, "that was the best!"

"Fiend!"

"Mom! Mom did you see that?!"

"I did," Regina nodded as she approached with a smug smile that she knew Cora did not approve of. And yet still her mother did nothing but look her over and then look away. Not even a word as to how Henry was disrespectful. It was infuriating. "Change of plans though, sweetheart. David is going to take you to Emma."

"...why?" He drew out with a tone akin to a whine as he did a quick glance over her shoulder.

"Because," she smiled and bent at the waist so she was at his eye level, "you two have a lot to discuss."

"Well we have a lot to talk about too," he reasoned but he knew it was pointless.

"Yes we do," she nodded and then cocked her head and placed a fingertip under his chin, "but David has asked to go first," she offered a smile and Henry sighed with a frown but held her eye contact, "he's easier I promise," she winked and it earned her half a laugh from her son. She gently poked his nose with her fingertip as she stood up and gave him space to climb out of the car. Before he walked away she ruffled her fingers through his hair, "please try, Henry. At least just listen. I don't expect anything more of you," she smiled and he nodded once in reply before walking up to David who stood there waiting for him.

She waited until David steered Henry away with a hand on his shoulder before she turned back to the car and nodded her head at it without looking at Cora, "get in."

She wanted to snap at her, she wanted to get after her for her tone and unpleasant character, she wanted to tell her to stop glaring at inanimate objects and to look her in the eye when she spoke to her. But she didn't. She took a silent deep breath and walked to the other side of the car as Henry had instructed and then proceeded to copy his movements to open the door, feeling a small victory when she opened the door without incident.

"You aren't going to kill me in this car of yours are you?"

"No. I am too good a driver for that," she retorted hotly but Cora did nothing but look out the window. Aggravating Regina even further. "Besides," she shrugged as she started the engine and Cora jumped just a little at the sound, "I love the car too much to wreck it."

Still no reaction.

Fucking irritating beyond all reason.