A/N: It's date night time! And a new storyline is going to be hinted at here. Don't worry, we'll see more of the three cronies soon enough too.

Regina smiled as she read the note she had found resting on her pillow. Emma's handwriting was far neater than the brunette would have imagined and the swirling letters made her heart clench in anticipation.

R

Meet me outside the laundry room at 8pm tonight.

Skip dinner.

E x

Folding the note up, Regina placed it in her pocket and headed for lunch.

"Mills?"

Regina turned around at the sound of her name and stopped walking, waiting for Officer Hunter to catch up with her.

"Yes?" she asked as he drew level to her.

"There's someone waiting to see you in visitation."

Regina frowned. "But I never get visitors, and I wasn't notified anyone was scheduled to meet me. Who is it?"

"They turned up this morning without an appointment but she somehow talked her way in. Are you coming?"

"Who is here to see me?" Regina repeated.

"I don't know," Hunter shrugged. "Nolan just told me to come and get you but he didn't give me the visitor's name."

Confused, Regina followed the guard back down the corridor towards the visitation area. She had been to this end of the prison only a few times. When she was first starting up her drug dealing business, it had been necessary to meet a couple of her old contacts in person because all the internal phone conversations were recorded. Since then however, she had never received notice that someone was due to visit her.

As they approached the door leading through to the visitation room, Regina peered past Hunter, trying to spot someone she recognised. There were lots of inmates sat opposite family and friends, talking animatedly and enjoying one another's company. After a few seconds, the brunette spotted someone sat alone at a table. Her back was to Regina but she would know that hairstyle and posture anywhere.

"No," she exclaimed, stopping dead.

Hunter turned around. "What do you mean, no?"

"I'm not going in there. I'm not talking to her," she said before turning and hurrying away down the corridor.

Hunter frowned at Regina's retreating back before shrugging and continuing up to the visitation area.

"Hey Nolan. Mills wouldn't come inside. I think she saw who was visiting as she literally ran in the opposite direction."

"OK," the blonde guard sighed, getting up to tell Mills' visitor she'd had a wasted trip.

"Who is it, anyway?" Hunter asked, glancing at the list on the desk.

"Cora Mills," Nolan said. "The inmate's mother."

Emma tucked the last corner in place and stood back, admiring her work. Satisfied with the layout, she smiled and put away the unused supplies before turning out the light and leaving the room. Hurrying back to her bunk, she checked Regina was nowhere to be seen before pulling what she needed out of her cabinet.

"Everything ready?" Red asked from behind her, making Emma jump.

"Jeez, you scared me!" Emma said, standing up and placing the last of the things on the bed. "But yes, I managed to get hold of everything, even glasses."

"How?" Red asked, picking up the champagne flutes and admiring them.

"I have mad skills," the blonde joked.

"Seriously though," Red said.

"Let's just say I have some abilities I was able to swap for what I needed."

"That makes it sounds like your prostituted yourself for glassware," Red remarked.

"And food," Emma added. "But I didn't, not sexually anyway."

Red laughed. "Well I'm very impressed Swanny. You've really pulled out all the stops for this one. Mills is a lucky girl. You think when you're done wooing her you can help me plan something like this for Belle?"

"Sure," Emma grinned. "You came up with the idea for this one anyway."

"It was a joke though," Red pointed out. "I never thought you were actually going to pull it off!"

"What can I say, I'm a woman of many talents," Emma laughed. "Are you free now to help me take all this stuff down?"

"Of course," Red smiled picking up a couple of items and slipping them under her prison issue top so no guard would get suspicious as they walked through the corridor.

Regina arrived five minutes past 8 o'clock, wanting to be fashionably late. The corridor was deserted and the laundry room appeared in darkness. As it would be, Regina mused, since it was locked up for the weekend. She glanced around, wondering why Emma had told her to meet in such a strange place. The brunette spun around in surprise as she heard the door behind her open.

A gasp escaped Emma as she raked her eyes over the older woman. Regina had styled her hair, coiling it into an elaborate up-do, twisted tendrils falling gracefully around her face. Her eye makeup was a little more defined than usual and her lips were adorned with immaculate lipstick. She was still wearing her prison issue clothes but Emma thought the woman had never looked more beautiful.

"Wow Regina," Emma grinned stepping out into the corridor and placing a tender kiss to the red lips. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you, dear," Regina smiled. "So do you."

Emma's long blonde hair had been pulled into a complicated looking plait, her lips shining with gloss and her light eyelashes covered with a small amount of mascara.

"You ready for our third date?" the blonde asked, winking at Regina.

The brunette laughed, rolled her eyes and nodded. Emma grinned and took hold of the brunette's hand. With one more glance up and down the still empty corridor, Emma closed the door quietly behind them.

"I thought you weren't a fan of meeting in dark places?" Regina questioned as the door shut and the laundry room was encompassed in gloom.

"Patience babe," Emma sing songed, taking hold of Regina's hand once more and leading her off through the room, past the industrial machines and into the back area where the linen was stored.

Regina gasped as they rounded the corner. In front of her was a makeshift room, white sheets hanging from the shelves and covering the top to create a sort of tent, a secret, intimate area. Two sheets were parted, forming a doorway in which the two women were now stood. A table was covered in a white cloth too, with a small candle flickering warmly in the middle, casting a soft light over the room. Two chairs were positioned on either side of the table and as Regina stared, open mouthed at the romantic place her date had created for them, Emma moved forward and pulled out one of the chairs, indicating the brunette should sit down.

Regina couldn't think of the words to sum up what she was feeling at that moment so she simply walked inside, took the seat, and shivered in delight as Emma placed a soft kiss to her neck.

"I'll be right back," she whispered before darting out of the opening in the sheets and disappearing into the dark room beyond. Regina looked around her, admiring the effort the blonde must have gone to in order to create this cocoon. Picking up the candle from the table, Regina marvelled at the blonde's ability to source contraband after less than six weeks inside.

Emma reappeared quickly, carrying two champagne flutes filled with a light yellow liquid.

"Before you get excited," Emma said as soon as she entered, "it's not wine. But it is grape juice which was as close as I could get." She handed the glass to Regina and smiled apologetically.

"This is amazing, Emma, thank you," Regina smiled, raising her flute to toast the other woman before taking a sip of the drink. Whilst she admitted she had got her hopes up when she saw the glasses, the grape juice was still a refreshing change from the apple and orange they usually served in the dining hall.

Emma drank a little too before placing her glass down in front of her seat. "OK, I'll go and get the food."

Regina smiled as the blonde scuttled off, wondering how on earth Emma had managed to get two meals down here undetected. The younger woman appeared seconds later, two plates in her hands. Setting one down in front of Regina and the other in front of the empty chair Emma slid into her seat before looking up at the brunette.

Regina's mouth was open in awe as she looked at the dish before her. "How did you know?" she asked in a whisper.

"How did I know that salmon was your favourite fish and new potatoes with butter and chives, peas, and dill sauce were your favourite sides? Lucky guess," Emma grinned, relief washing over her as the information she had been told was confirmed to be true.

Regina laughed again before reaching out and clasping Emma's hand which lay on the table. "Really Emma," she said, "this is all amazing."

"Only the best for the queen," Emma joked, gesturing for Regina to pick up her cutlery.

Regina moaned as the taste of the food exploded in her mouth. It had been two and a half long years since she had eaten something this good. She chewed carefully before swallowing and diving in for another bite. Emma watched with glee as her date enjoyed the meal.

"This food is fantastic Emma," Regina said before sipping her juice. "How did you make this?"

Emma blushed slightly but the weak candlelight covered it up. "If I'm being totally truthful, I didn't." Regina cocked her head, encouraging the blonde to continue. "I knew I couldn't be seen cooking myself so I went to Athena. I know she sucks at most things in here but Red had told me she's good at cooking fish. And it just so happened that when I approached Athena about this, she remembered your favourite meal before you were inside. It seems she's still trying to get into your good books."

Regina smiled slightly. "So the person responsible for putting me inside is also partly behind one of the best evenings of my prison stay," she mused.

"I didn't want to involve her," Emma admitted. "But I really didn't have a choice. I can't cook for shit and I didn't think food poisoning was very romantic."

Regina laughed and took another bite. "Your initiative is impressive, dear. How did you get into the laundry room anyway? Isn't it locked at the weekend?"

"Now that was all me!" Emma said proudly. "I was quite the expert at picking locks when I was enjoying my life as a petty criminal. A skill that proved useful when it came to finding a venue for us to meet."

Regina laughed. "Do you think the guards should be worried if the locks in here are that easy to pick?"

"I think they figured there was no reason for anyone to get into the laundry room out of hours. I mean, who above the age of eight would think to make a tent out of sheets?"

"Well it's the best idea you've ever had Emma, and this is the best prison date I've ever had."

Emma smiled brilliantly at the compliment and the two women continued to eat.

"So, I saw you heading up to visitation earlier. Did someone come and see you?" Emma asked.

When there was no immediate response, Emma looked up and was shocked to see a steely look on Regina's face.

"Hey," Emma said hurriedly, "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that. I didn't mean to pry." She reached out a hand and squeezed one of Regina's, frozen on the table. The touch seemed to bring the brunette back to her.

"Sorry," she said, giving herself a little shake. "I didn't mean to be rude. I … It's … Look, can we talk about it another day. I don't want to ruin this perfect evening you've created for us and I fear this conversation topic would do exactly that."

"Of course," Emma nodded, taking another bite of her food as she scanned her brain for a neutral question. "So, what's the weirdest place you've ever had sex?"

They finished their meals exchanging funny stories and facts about their past, both women conscious of not mentioning visitation nor family. As Regina dabbed her lips, somehow still perfectly red, with a napkin, Emma stood and took away their plates. Returning, she held her hands behind her back and moved to stand next to Regina.

"Which hand?" she asked.

"Pardon?" Regina questioned, eyebrow raised.

"Pick a hand," Emma repeated.

"Erm, ok, right."

"My right or your right?" Emma teased.

"Your right," Regina giggled.

Emma smiled and revealed her right hand. Sat in her palm was a cupcake. She had bought them from the commissary that afternoon as Athena had been unable to make a dessert as well. Placing the cake in front of Regina, the blonde sat down and placed an identical cake before herself.

Regina laughed again. "What was the point in that?"

Emma shrugged before taking a rather large bite of the cake and then choking slightly on her mouthful as a crumb went down her windpipe. Regina laughed harder as Emma thumped herself on the chest, glowering at the brunette with watery eyes.

They finished the cakes and Emma stood up, holding out her hand and pulling Regina to her feet. Leading the brunette away from the table, Emma gestured to a pile of cushions on the floor Regina had previously not noticed. An eyebrow arched again as she looked at the pillows and then back at the blonde.

"I thought I said you had to take me on five dates, Miss Swan," Regina reminded her.

"You did," Emma nodded, "but there was no mention of not being allowed to have a heavy make out session to conclude date three."

Regina laughed at the blonde's obvious wink which followed the statement before moving to sit gracefully on the cushions. Emma appeared next to her in a flash, leaning forward and caressing one finger down Regina's cheek.

"You look so beautiful tonight Regina," Emma whispered, her face inches from the brunette's.

"Thank you Emma," Regina smiled, moving her hand to cover the palm now resting against her skin. "And thank you for tonight. It was spectacular."

"It's not over yet," Emma smiled before she moved forward and pressed her lips firmly against Regina's.

Their mouths moved slowly, enjoying the increasingly familiar feeling. Emma parted her lips, sucking Regina's lower lip between her own and grazing the plump flesh with her teeth. Regina's arms wrapped around Emma's neck, pulling the blonde down so she was lying half on top of the older woman as Regina relaxed into the soft cushions below her. Emma slid her hands slowly down Regina's body, determined not to let her desire overcome her and kept her fingers above the material and away from the waistband. She nevertheless enjoyed the feel of the other woman's soft curves beneath her, feeling her body rock slightly into the touch as their lips and tongues continued to explore one another.

After about half an hour, they broke apart, breathing heavily. Emma's cheeks were flushed and her hair had escaped from her plait long ago. Regina's carefully styled hair was also a little ragged, her lips now their natural pink colour and the remnants of her lipstick smudged around her own mouth and Emma's.

"We'd better head back," Emma breathed reluctantly, making no effort to move from her position on top of the brunette.

"I don't want to leave," Regina whispered, running her fingers through Emma's tangled hair before bringing them to her lover's lips and wiping the traces of her lipstick away.

"Me neither," Emma admitted, "but the movie will be finishing soon and you were the one who wanted to keep this, us, quiet."

Regina sighed and nodded, immediately missing the weight of the blonde as she clambered off her and extended a chivalrous hand.

They carefully untied the sheets and folded them back up together, placed the chairs and table in the corner for Emma to move the next day, and slipped the dirty plates and glassware into a bag which Emma was to drop off with Athena. Blowing out the candle and stashing it behind a pile of rarely used linen, Emma turned back to her date and took her hand. They walked to the doorway and paused, both making sure the other looked respectable before they stepped outside. As Emma moved to leave, Regina pulled her back.

Emma gasped as her back hit the wall, Regina's mouth pressed hard against hers and her lithe tongue slipping straight into her mouth to battle and dance with her own. Regina ground her hips forcefully against the blonde, the moans swallowed by eager lips as Emma's fingernails dug into Regina's waist, pulling the brunette even closer.

They broke apart, breathing heavily again.

"Thank you for a wonderful date, Emma," Regina said, placing one final soft kiss to Emma's slightly swollen lips.

The two women stepped reluctantly into the corridor, no longer able to pretend they weren't in prison. As they moved back into the main block, Emma lingered at a corner, allowing Regina to walk ahead as inmates began filtering out of the movie room. The blonde watched the older woman walk away, smiling brilliantly as Regina glanced once over her shoulder and their eyes met for a final time.