By the morning, Emma had forgotten her small quarrel with Regina. Well, at least... she'd forgotten the feeling of being upset, not forgotten that it had happened. That being the case, she stepped out of the house onto the porch, still wearing her pajama shorts and T-shirt, and dialed her girlfriend's number.

"I'm sorry," she blurted out instantly, as soon as she heard the click of the other line answering the call. "I was a bitch. I should have kissed you goodbye."

"No, you were right," Regina sighed into the receiver. "You shouldn't rub it in her face."

"What?"

"You were right."

"But, I-"

"No, Em. You were honestly right and I shouldn't have gotten all mopey and upset over nothing. I should know better. I should just trust you that nothing's going to happen between you. It's just hard, because I-"

"Regina..."

"What?"

"I... I need to tell you something."

"Emma... What? What is it? N-Nothing... I mean... Nothing happened... Did it?"

"No! I mean... She..."

"Emma?"

"She almost kissed me last night."

"Well... Why didn't she?"

"Because I stopped her."

"You knew she was going to kiss you?"

"She was leaning in and had that look in her eyes. You know... like when we first kissed."

"I..."

"I stopped her, and we talked it out. She wasn't trying to push me, or to disrespect our relationship. She was acting on impulsive feelings, and she apologized. She was worked up after the movie anyway. It kinda freaked us both out."

"That scary, huh? Must've been good."

"Actually, it was pretty corny, but... there were some parts that got to me."

"Yeah?"

"There were spiders."

"I hate spiders," Regina replied.

Emma could immediately hear the smile in her voice, and said, "I can't tell if you're smiling because you understand or because you're making fun of me."

"I understand. I really do hate them."

They both laughed at this, then Emma said, "I gotta go. I'm gonna grab some breakfast. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

"Listen... I know it's too soon now, but when the time's right... invite Belle over for dinner, okay? Just... when the moment happens, you'll know... and I just want you to make the offer."

"Maybe it would be better if you made the offer."

"When the hell am I going to have a chance to do that?"

"I could give you her number."

"I'm not calling her. That's way too awkward and it would put her on the spot and make her uncomfortable, which is the last thing I want. I may not like the shit she pulled before, and I definitely don't like the blurred boundaries she seems to have - or not have - but I care about you, and I care about your friendship with her. She's a part of your life, and since I plan on keeping you in mine, I figure the two of us should at least be civil to each other, for your sake. I mean... It's not like you have someone else lined up to be the Maid of Honor at the wedding, right?"

There was complete silence on the other end of the line as Emma replayed the words in her head. Wedding. Maid of Honor. Wedding. Maid of- Wait, what? Emma blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

"Emma?"

"Uh... Yeah. I mean, no! No, I don't. I just... I wasn't..."

"Ah. I probably should have asked if you even wanted to get married, ever. I guess it sort of never occurred to me for some reason..."

"I'm not really the marrying type..." Emma replied slowly, biting down hard on her lower lip once the words were out.

Nice, Swan. Nice. Way to shoot yourself in the foot there, buddy.

As the blonde sat on her porch blushing, Regina sat on her couch with her legs crossed, trying to stay composed.

"As I recall, you weren't the commitment type either, when we met. Yet... Here we are."

"I..."

"I'm just teasing," the brunette replied cooly, but her lover could tell that she wasn't quite joking; she just didn't want to push the issue.

"Let's, um... Let's..."

"Talk about this later."

"Or, like, never."

"Jeez... I'm sorry. If I'd realized you were going to react that way, I wouldn't have-"

"No, it's... It's not that," Emma told her slowly. "I... I'm embarrassed. It scares me, talking about the future. In any context really."

"Oh. Oh! Gosh, Emma. I wish you'd just said that instead of letting me think-"

"Babe, it's... I mean... Anyone would be crazy not to marry you. I just... have... issues..."

"Issues we can work through together, Em... If you want to."

"Listen, I really gotta go, okay? I'm starving and I-"

"You're trying to avoid this conversation, and that's okay. We don't have to talk about this, ever, if you don't want to."

"I love you, Gina. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

"Okay, babe. I love you too."

Emma returned to her bedroom to find Belle deep in a nightmare, tossing and turning on the bed with her brow furrowed. She woke the girl gently by lightly shaking her shoulders and smiled at her when she opened her eyes.

"Good morning, sweetheart. You were just having a nightmare."

Stirred awake with a gasp, Belle roughly gripped her friend's arm as she shot up in bed.

"Whoa, buddy," Emma said softly. "You're alright."

With a sigh, the girl collapsed back on the bed and shut her eyes, saying, "Man, that sucked."

"Nightmares about the movie?"

"No," the brunette sighed. "About me fucking up and ruining our friendship."

"You love me, right? We're friends?" When her friend nodded in response, Emma added, "Then you won't."

After a long, heartfelt embrace, the two got ready for school.

"How's my hair?" Belle asked, after thirty minutes of messing with it in the mirror on the back of Emma's door.

"Looks great, hun," Emma laughed. "You worry too much."

"Yeah, well, how else am I gonna pick up chicks?"

"Your great personality? Wonderful intellect? Brilliant eyes? Any of your enviable traits. But you don't need to try to attract chicks, anyway. Let the chicks come to you on their own, because they will."

"Certainly doesn't feel like it."

"You'll find the right lady when it's time, hun. Just be you and let it happen."

Offering up a small smile, Belle hugged her friend once more then proceeded to finish applying her makeup while Emma gathered her books for class.