Emma throws open the door to the mansion, her eyes immediately darting around. "Regina?" She finds an empty kitchen. "Regina?" An empty dining room. "Regina, where are you?" An empty living room. She moves to the study and opens the door.
Regina looks up from a book, a glass of cider in her hand. She raises her eyebrow at Emma.
"I was calling for you," Emma says, stepping into the room.
"I heard you."
"Then why didn't you answer?"
Regina sets her book down on the table and sips her drink. "I wasn't sure I wanted you to find me."
"This isn't a very good hiding place."
"Can I help you with something?"
Emma moves further into the room. "Can we talk?"
Regina sets down her drink. "The last time we tried that, things did not turn out well."
Emma kneads her hands. "I was kind of a jerk."
"You were seething to the point that you were actually spitting in my face. I'd be inclined to use a more direct term than jerk."
Running her hand down her face, Emma points at the couch, silently asking to sit down. Regina stares back at her. "Do you mind if I sit?"
"I won't stop you."
Emma drops down. "You're being kind of cold."
"Do you deserve anything else?"
Emma falls back on the couch. "I'm sorry. Okay?"
"No." Regina grabs her book again and starts to read.
Emma pulls the book out of her hands and drops it back on the table. The glare she receives almost makes her regret that decision. Instead of running away like her instincts are yelling at her to though, she scoots closer and puts her hand on Regina's knee, surprised when it isn't instantly knocked away.
"I'm sorry. I never should have gotten in your face, and I never should have yelled at you. I didn't even mean what I was saying. I just got so overwhelmed that everything boiled over, and you unfortunately got the brunt of it."
"Where did you go?"
Emma shrugs. "Just walked around aimlessly until I felt like a normal human again."
Regina nods and folds her hands in her lap. "Emma, if we don't start dealing with our issues when they arise, we are going to end up killing each other."
Emma laughs but stops when she sees how serious Regina is. "Oh, alright."
"Tomorrow, we are contacting the HR team at your office and handling the situation with your supervisor." Regina holds up her hand before Emma can speak. "Let me be clear, Emma. I'm not asking you for permission. We are going to do this tomorrow, starting first thing in the morning."
Emma takes a deep breath then nods with her eyes closed. "Even if I don't want to?"
"Yes." Regina rubs her thumb over Emma's hand on her knee. "Tonight, I need you to listen to me. At this rate, if I wait until Saturday, I'm afraid I'm going to lose you."
"I don't know, Regina." Emma swallows and readjusts on the couch, unable to make herself comfortable.
"What are you so afraid of?"
"You, of all people, rejecting me." She pulls her hand away and picks at her jeans.
"Do you honestly think I would be sitting here right now just to reject you? Because let me tell you, Emma, if that were the case, you would not have walked away from that little conversation we had unscathed."
Emma grimaces and leans back a bit.
Regina lifts Emma's chin until she looks at her. "I love you, and more than that, I am in love with you. I understand that you may have a hard time believing that right now. I haven't been the easiest person to deal with."
"Neither have I," Emma adds.
Regina shakes her head. "No, you haven't, but I realize that I have put you through a lot for quite some time. I'm tired of stringing you along. I don't want to run in circles with you anymore."
"What do you want?"
"I want to make a decision, and I want to move forward."
Emma looks back and forth between Regina's eyes, looking for any indicator of false hope. "Do we have to make a decision right now?"
Regina shakes her head. "No, we can talk more tomorrow after we handle other business."
"Will you sleep with me tonight?" Emma asks just over a whisper. "Just sleep, I mean."
Regina smiles. "Yes, but you're sleeping with me. I have no desire to be in that bed of yours."
Emma releases a deep sigh. She looks up at the clock, realizing it's near Henry's curfew. "Is he here?"
"Henry? No, not yet." Regina notes the time as well.
"Kid better hurry up."
Regina props herself against the arm rest and holds her arms out to Emma. "We'll wait up for him. Let me hold you."
Emma hesitates and chews on her lip.
"Emma Swan, get your ass over here." Regina leans forward and grabs Emma's hands to yank her into her arms.
Emma smiles and snuggles into Regina's chest. "Pushy pushy."
Regina pokes Emma in the ribs causing her to squirm and let out a tiny squeal. They both smile and snuggle into each other.
Regina jumps when she hears the front door fly open a few minutes later.
Emma looks up at the clock. "Just made it."
"We're in the study," Regina calls out.
Henry walks in and smiles at them. "You guys good?"
Regina nods. "How are things with Grace?"
Henry runs his hands through his hair and shrugs. "She wasn't exactly pleased with me."
Emma turns in Regina's arms to look at him. "Are you guys good?"
He shrugs again. "She had me take her home after I told her about Amelia. Said she needed to think."
"That makes sense," Emma responds. "Give her some time."
Regina smiles at him. "It's obvious that she cares a lot about you, Henry. She'll call you soon."
Henry nods. "Yeah, I guess."
"What about Amelia?" Emma asks.
"What about her?"
Emma rolls her eyes. "Did you talk to her?"
Henry holds up his hands. "Whoa, one girl at a time, okay? I will talk to her tomorrow."
Regina shakes her head. "Be careful, Henry. The heart is not something to be taken lightly." She looks down at Emma with an apologetic smile.
Emma leans up and kisses her. "It's okay," she whispers.
"Alright then, good night," Henry says, leaving the room.
Regina and Emma chuckle. Regina pushes on Emma to sit up. "Let's go to bed."
Emma pushes her back down though, easily overpowering Regina. "Just a few more minutes."
"Well, I was planning on cuddling with you in bed too."
Emma looks up her. "Okay." She jumps up and yanks Regina to her feet. "To bed," she announces, dragging Regina behind her.