When Belle came back up to the room, it was a few hours later. Emma had tried texting her phone, but found that the girl had left it sitting on the desk under a pile of paperwork. When Emma heard it vibrate, she sighed and held her head in her hands after throwing her phone to the other side of the bed, letting it land in the pile of pillows. As soon as the girl walked into the room, Emma stood up.

"Dude, what the Hell? I thought you were dead."

"Well, I'm not."

"Belle."

"What?"

Emma sighed, then said, "Do you want to meet her?"

"What?"

"Do you want to meet her?"

"I... I don't know. I guess it would give me some closure. These boundaries are hard, you know? I just want to... to..."

With a sigh, Emma pulled the girl into a tight hug and said, "I'm so sorry."

"I think I need to meet her, Emma. I think I need to see what makes you so happy."

"She does make me happy, Belle. She really does."

Emma looked sad, but serious. Sympathetic, really. She understood. Another sigh was followed by a phone call to her lover.

"Regina? Hey. Listen, can you come over? Belle wants to meet you, and..."

"And?" the woman pressed, not letting Emma off the hook.

"And I miss you."

Emma blushed and looked away from Belle, squeezing the phone tightly in her hand.

"I'll be there in 15 minutes."

Regina abruptly hung up the phone, leaving Emma a little surprised. Belle sat on the bed nervously while they waited, and Emma put her arm around her.

"She'll like you. Don't worry. This doesn't have to be weird."

"She knows I like you?" Belle asked shyly, biting her lip.

With a nod, Emma looked sternly into the girl's eyes.

"Regina is a good person. She's not going to judge you or hurt you. She understands."

"She does?"

"Yeah. She-"

The faint sound of a knock at the front door interrupted her. Belle followed her downstairs, her hands starting to shake as the door was pulled open.

"Come on in," Emma invited the doctor. "They're all asleep."

The three of them went up the stairs to Emma's room, Regina sitting in the chair by the desk, with Emma and Belle sitting beside each other on the bed.

"Belle, this is Regina. Regina, this is my friend Belle."

Friend, Belle was thinking. The word stung.

Regina held out her hand and waited for Belle to shake it. When she did, the therapist could feel the thin layer of sweat that had built up on the girl's palm.

"Don't be nervous," Regina told her. "I don't bite hard."

Emma did look nervous, not sure how the girl would take the flirtatious comment from her lover, but she was surprised to find that, without wanting to, Belle smiled.

"She's pretty, Emma," Belle said bravely. "You've done well."

Blushing, Emma nodded her head in agreement and said, "I know."

Regina shook her head and laughed, then stood up, turned the chair around, and faced them with the back of the chair now in front of her.

"So what do you ladies want to do tonight?"

"Huh?" Emma asked, tilting her head.

"Don't tell me we're just going to sit here. Let's play a game or something."

"Like what?" Emma asked, looking around the room.

"Truth or dare," Regina suggested with a mischievous grin.

When Emma saw a flash of wickedness in Regina's eyes, something she'd never encountered, she felt her heart begin to race.

"Isn't that kind of juvenile?" Emma protested.

Belle shook her head and smiled.

"I think it's a great idea."

"Who goes first?" Regina asked, still grinning as she leaned in against the back of the chair.

Emma looked back and forth between them, dreading the potential mess that was about to be made.

"I'll go!" Belle said, finally relaxing.

"Alright, dear," Regina said softly. "You're up."

"Truth or dare, Regina?"

"Truth."

"What's the best thing that's ever happened to you?"

Regina smiled and shook her head.

"This girl," the woman answered, reaching out and giving Emma's shoulder a gentle push. "I was in a pretty bad place before I met her. Anyway, Emma, you go."

"Belle, truth or dare?"

"Truth.

"What's your best childhood memory?"

"You guys are asking lame questions," Regina whined. "When do we get into the good stuff?"

"Regina, hush," Emma snapped. "My turn."

"Fine," the woman pouted, crossing her arms.

"Anyway," Belle interrupted, then laughed, thinking of her answer. "Easter egg hunting with my dad when I was little. I guess that's more than one memory, but whatever. We used to do it every year. He'd put quarters in some of the eggs and I'd always go out and buy more candy with them. I'd eat chocolate until I almost puked. Mom used to get mad that he let me, but I loved it. I think secretly he liked when I got sugar high. I was like a wind-up toy when I was little."

"That's cute!" Emma said, smiling at Belle. "Regina. You go."

"Emma," Regina said, grinning wickedly, "truth or dare?"

"Oh, shit. How can I tell this is gonna be awful?"

"Just answer."

"Fine! Dare."

"Oooh, goodie! I dare you to go downstairs and take two shots from the first liquor bottle you find."

"Oh, my God. Are you kidding me? They'll shoot me dead."

"As opposed to shooting you alive?" Belle laughed, shoving the blonde until she had to catch herself before slipping off the bed.

"Don't be a wimp. You're a big kid now. Or are you too scared?"

"You want me to get in trouble?"

"Cut it with water. They won't know. Two shots is nothing."

Hesitantly, Emma stood up and walked over to the doorway, looking back at the girls.

"I'll be right back."

She came back upstairs with the bottle and a shot glass, her hands slightly shaking.

"I'm in so much shit," Emma mumbled, pouring herself the first shot.

When she knocked it back, she gagged as it went down, nearly spitting up the liquid. But she kept it down. The whiskey burned her throat, but she braved another shot anyway.

"Have you never had alcohol before?" Regina laughed, grabbing the bottle from her hands.

"Of course I have!" Emma yelled, then quieted herself when she realized that she might wake the rest of the people in the house. "I just hate whiskey, okay? I'm more of a vodka girl."

"Oh, I'm sure."

"How about you, Belle?" Emma asked, looking at the girl. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

But Belle didn't look sure. She was trying to be brave.

"Three shots."

With some hesitation, Belle took the bottle and the shot glass, facing the challenge boldly as she poured the glass' contents between her lips.