I'm so sorry for the late update. I've just been dealing with lots of family stuff and work. I lost a family member recently so that was kind of hard, (not your problem, I know) though I hope you guys like it. Reviews would really mean a lot to me. They are a great motivator. Enjoy!

"Hey Emma!" a petite looking woman called as she approached her boss' desk.

"Yeah", the blond replied without looking up.

"What happened?" the younger woman asked,

"What happened when?" Emma asked finally looking up to meet the woman's face.

"On Saturday. Why didn't you come in? All I got was a text saying you were taking the day off, nothing more" she replied.

"Oh, yeah, I went out with Henry and ...a friend" Emma stopped, not sure what to call Regina.

"What freind?"

"No one, just someone Henry met" Emma said

"Henry has a girlfriend?"

"What?! No!" Emma laughed. "Her name is Regina and she's not Henry's girlfriend. Just a friend. Now, can we go back to you telling me what I missed Andy?"

"Well boss lady, you didn't miss much, just a couple of appointments that I rebooked for today and tomorrow. The rest I took care of" Andrea smiled.

Emma had owned the bail bond's person company for years now, she didn't go out on the field as much anymore because of Henry but she had been lucky enough to find herself an amazing and competent team that respected and treated each other like family. Andrea had been her assistant and secretary for a year now and she knew she could trust her completely with her work and her personal life. She just wasn't sure where her personal life stood at the moment, not with the thoughts of a certain brunette lurking.

After her appointment later that afternoon, Emma got into her yellow bug and drove home, Regina and her perfection dominating her mind. She hadn't seen or heard from the her since their day at the stables and for some reason she didn't understand, she couldn't figure out why that bothered her considering the fact that she'd only met the woman twice.

Emma let herself into her apartment and headed for her liquor cabinet in the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of scotch and sat on her couch, phone in hand. She had for some reason saved/kept the woman's number with her and before she knew it she was typing a message on it.

Regina sat on her bed in her hotel room trying to concentrate on the book she was reading when her phone vibrated from her dresser. She reached out for it and immediately smiled when she saw who the text message was from :

"Miss Mills..." the text read.

Emma sat there wondering whether the other woman would even see her message in the first place. She didn't know her well enough to understand her schedule yet here she was, half drunk and texting a woman who was no more than a stranger to her.

The vibrating of her phone jolted Emma from her thoughts and to her surprise, the woman's name appeared on the screen with a reply under it :

"Yes Miss Swan, How may I help you?" Emma couldn't help but imagine Regina's voice saying those words to her and she smiled, typing her response immediately.

"I just wanted to apologise for what I asked that day at the stables. I didn't mean to pry or make you uncomfortable in any way, that was never my intention"

Regina's phone vibrated a few seconds later with the newest response from the blonde. A mixture of emotions ran through her face and thoughts through her mind. She had no idea her reaction had caused the other woman so much distress and a part of her felt genuinely awful about it. She immediately texted Emma ,

"I'm sorry if I made you feel like I was mad or anything of that sort. Its just not a subject I like discussing at all. But I'm okay, you don't have to feel guilty about the issue" Regina assured her.

A minute later :

"Well in that case, let me make it up to you either way. Come have dinner at the apartment with me and Henry. It'd be nice to eat a home cooked meal once in a while. I'm sure you haven't done that since you arrived in town and started staying at the hotel"

"Ok" Regina found herself replying. "I could use the fresh air"

A couple hours later Emma's door bell rang. She tensed as she made her way to her to the door. Regina Mills stood on Emma's front stoop, looking a tad frazzled. Emma's brow furrowed as she pulled the door open. The other woman wore a black suit with very subtle pinstripes and big silver buttons on the jacket. Emma figured that it was a traditional jacket and a skirt with black stockings underneath the short skirt. Her creamy blouse was unbuttoned enough to show off a tan expanse of collarbone and the tiniest tease of cleavage. Emma bit her lip when she recalled the short exchange they'd had that morning before they'd left for the ranch and she almost gasped. Did anybody have the right to be that damn good looking? That sexy? Wasn't it dangerous? Shouldn't there be a law of some kind? When she glanced up, Regina was looking right at her, those deep melted-chocolate eyes sparkling even as the silence between them ensued. Then she cleared her throat.

"Umm... welcome Miss Mills" Emma said shortly after she realized that she'd been staring the whole time. She blushed as she ushered the older woman into her dining area.

"Regina..." she smiled. "And thank you. You have a lovely home" Regina said as she took a sit.

"Thank you." Emma said, returning the brunette's smile. "So how has your stay in the city been?" she asked, handing her guest a glass of wine and trying her best not to sound too curious or inquisitive.

"Its been okay. I've been keeping busy. That helps a lot" She lied. "What about you? How have you and Henry been? Is he in?"

"Um, no. Not yet, he's still at school, though he should have been here already" Emma said, mostly to herself than the other woman. She then picked up her phone from her pocket. "Looks like I missed this," she continued. "He will be staying with his teacher to help her out with some school stuff. She'll drop him off after he's had dinner" Emma said, returning her phone to her pocket and turning to face the woman sitting comfortably at her dining table.

"I'm sorry. I should have confirmed with him earlier. I'm sure he would have been here in a heartbeat if He knew you were visiting" Emma said, already feeling the tension build at the realization that she might be stuck alone with the gorgeous Miss Mills for the next few hours.

"I was looking forward to seeing him to seeing him too", Regina replied. "and you" she continued.

Emma swallowed at the woman's words. She blushed and averted her gaze to the glass in her hand. She didn't know how to respond to that so she said the next thing that came to mind, "um, food?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll help you set the table" Regina said, smirking at the blonde's blushing face.

Time went by fast when you were having a good time. Before they knew it, it was already getting dark and Regina was shrugging into her coat that had been hanging on her chair, with Emma walking behind her as they made it out the door.

"How did you get here? I'm sorry I forgot to ask" Emma asked.

"I drove myself" Regina responded.

"Really?," Emma asked mockingly. She found that hard to believe.

But to her surprise, Regina's jetta came to view as soon as they stepped out of the building and she slowed to indicate it was hers. Emma followed her to the driver's side door; she could feel her behind her.

"I had such a good time tonight, Emma," Regina said turning to face her. It was all she had before Emma kissed her.

Regina's brain registered everything at once –Emma's gentle hands cradling her face, her body pressing her back against the car, the way their slight height difference made her feel deliciously trapped between Emma's body and her Volkswagen, the softness of her lips on hers, the tang of wine still clinging to her mouth – and she had to focus hard to keep her from being completely overwhelmed. Overwhelmed, but in a good way. She wanted to remember everything she could about her first kiss with Emma because she was certain it wouldn't be her last, she wouldn't let it be.

It wasn't a demanding kiss, but one of promise, of anticipation. One that was equal parts gentle and insistent. Her hands went up to settle on her waist, to pull Emma's hips closer to hers, then to slide up under her leather jacket and feel the smoothly planed muscles of her back beneath the softness of her tank.

She wanted more and she wanted to slow things down, both at the same time, and she somehow knew that Emma felt the same way. She allowed her to deepen their kiss for several long seconds, relishing the taste and feel of Emma's tongue as it touched hers, before she brought her hands around to her chest and pulled their mouths apart as gently as she could. One of them whimpered, but she wasn't sure who, and they stood there in the dark with their foreheads pressed together, each of them raggedly trying to catch their breath.

"My God!" Regina managed.

"I'll say."

"My God" She said again and she chuckled. She could feel Emma playing with the ends of her hair, tickling the side of her neck, and goose bumps of pleasure broke out across her skin. Emma rubbed her thumb across Regina's bottom lip and it took every ounce of strength she had left in her body to keep from sucking it into her mouth. She was certain that, if she pushed just a little, she would willingly and joyously have sex with her right there in front of her apartment, on the hood of her own car, and that knowledge both excited and mortified her. Cliché as it was, she had never felt such sexual compatibility with someone, ever. Not even with Graham. Emma and herself were going to be a bonfire in bed. She knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. And as much as she wanted that more than anything, she was in love with Emma and she wanted it to be more than just sex. She wanted Emma to know who she really was.

Which was exactly why they needed to slow things down. She was afraid such heat would incinerate them both.

Her throat suddenly dry, she swallowed hard and tried to find her voice. And some logic when she spoke.

"Say Hi to Henry for me. Tell him I'll see him soon" she said as she got into her car and drove off.