Pictures of You

by MadameMayorRM

Henry comes in from school and discovers Regina asleep on the couch clutching a photograph to her chest... of Emma. He confronts her. She doesn't have much to say... at first. But when she starts talking, he learns his mother is in love with his other mother and there is something standing in the way. A wedding. Special story written for prompt by thedivinemissk.

15. Chapter 15

A/N: Ok. I think there is something in this chapter for just about everyone. And it is long for me so, there's that. I hope you love it. I sure do.

Just a housekeeping thing-there is a section entirely in itallics. I am pretty sure you will all know that it because it is meant to be an even that happened in the past but for clarity, I wanted to tell you here.

As always, thank you, thank you, thank you for the love and reviews and PMs. It means the world to me.

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Regina looked up. It was nearly one o'clock. Normally she would have already be on her way back from lunch with Emma. It was Friday and their normal routine. But so far this week, she had been doing as the blonde had asked. No gifts, no visits to the station, no dinners. She was trying hard to give Emma space.

So today, instead of meeting the Sheriff for lunch, Regina had sat at her desk, working until she felt sure Emma would have eaten and returned to her office. Regina's belly growled loudly in protest of the delayed lunch. She had skipped breakfast this morning in order to be safely locked away in her office when she knew Emma would be stopping in Town Hall to drop off some paperwork in the records department.

Avoiding Emma was hard work. And if she was honest with herself, Regina missed the blonde terribly. Did Emma miss her? While the mayor knew that this time of separation could be the last they ever faced—she also knew that it was possible Emma might decide to marry the pirate despite the burgeoning feelings between them.

At five minutes past one, Regina pulled her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk and headed out for Granny's. She felt like she might even have a grilled cheese today. She was certainly hungry enough. Nodding at Barbara as she passed, Regina wondered how long this need for space would go on. Henry had been to the loft to see his other mother, but Regina had been careful not to ask questions. She wanted Emma to feel free and she wasn't going to use their son as a spy.

The sun was bright today, and from the warmth of the office it appeared that it would be warm and pleasant outside as well. Regina knew better. If twenty-eight years in Maine had taught her anything, it was that a sunny day didn't equal a warm day.

She walked gingerly down the street toward the diner, really in no hurry. The crisp air was pleasant and she quite enjoyed it. The cold air of February made her lungs ache and her cheeks sting, but she felt alive. Many days, alone with a bunch of brainwashed people under the curse, it had been the cold air that reminded her that this was her reality and not a dream.

Regina stepped into the diner and began unbuttoning her coat. At this hour, the place was sparsely populated and she could have any booth. But, today she thought she'd sit at the counter in her favorite seat. Regina looked up to see someone was already sitting there. Red leather, long blonde hair and skinny jeans. A knit beanie and gloves laid on the counter beside her.

Emma.

Regina decided to just turn and go back out. Maybe no one had seen her. Ruby was chatting away with the blonde. She could slip out and just go home for lunch.

"Regina?" Emma's voice stopped her, fingers already wrapped around the door handle.

The brunette turned and smiled shyly. "I'm sorry, Emma. I thought you'd already have come and gone. I'll just…"

"Wait. You don't have to leave." Emma stood from the counter and made her way across the room.

"I didn't know you'd be here and I really am trying to honor your wishes. Why are you here? I thought you took lunch at noon?" Regina frowned. She wasn't angry at Emma for being there, she just didn't understand how her plan hadn't worked out.

"No. I take lunch at noon because you do. I was busy with some stuff and just came late. But Regina, please tell me you aren't trying to avoid me." Emma cocked her head and grinned.

"Not avoiding you. I just… I thought this is what you asked for."

"I did ask for space, but I also said let's just be normal. And normal means we can eat lunch. You're my best friend and we share a son. I think it stands to reason we will have to see each other sometimes." Emma turned and picked up her gloves and hat and walked toward their usual booth. She had really missed the brunette and was glad to see her. "Well, come on. Let's do this."

Regina seemed hesitant to sit. She didn't want to do the wrong thing. But Emma was clearly inviting her so she shrugged to herself and took a seat. Ruby brought out Emma's lunch—grilled cheese and root beer but instead of onion rings, today Emma had a dish of steamed broccoli.

Noticing the skeptical look on the brunette's face, Emma laughed. "My friend is the total food police. Always on my case about eating better. So sometimes, even when I don't know I will see her, I eat my vegetables."

Regina smiled and turned to Ruby, still waiting to take her lunch order. "I believe today I will have what Miss Swan is having."

Ruby winked at Emma, nodded at Regina and swished away.

"Grilled cheese? Are you feeling alright?" Emma took a bite of the cheesy sandwich and brushed a few crumbs away from her sweater.

"Actually, my friend is always telling me to live a little. So sometimes, even when I don't know I will see her, I eat something bad for me and pretend that is living on the edge." The sassy smile that accompanied the comment made Emma's stomach flip. She really had missed her, even though it had been just a few days.

As they ate their lunch, the women tried to keep the conversation light. Henry's recent "D" on his math assignment and what suitable punishment should go with that; the new restaurant opening down near the waterfront; the interview Emma had conducted this week for a new deputy. Everything was safe. But, despite the sanitized topics, the women couldn't stop themselves from staring, from smiling shyly, and at one point, from an accidentally on purpose brushing of legs under the table.

Neither of them seemed to notice the last of the lunch crowd leaving, or that the lunch hour was stretching into another hour while they talked. The sound of the bell above the door and the new arrival caught Emma's eye first. It was Lily.

"Hey, Emma. Mayor Mills. What's good for lunch today?" Lily stopped by their table.

"Hey, Lil. Same old, same old. Grilled cheese." Emma smiled up at the other woman.

"Some things never change. I prefer a burger but hey, to each her own, right. Broccoli? Dude." Lily frowned spying the remnants of the veggie on Emma's plate.

"Broccoli happens to be very good for you, Lily. And Emma has a son to set an example for." Regina didn't like Lily talking to Emma. She wasn't jealous. No. Not at all.

Lily smirked at Emma and made a quiet whip sound as she walked away. "Well, you ladies enjoy the rest of your lunch. And Regina, mom said if I saw you in town today to have you call her about lunch next week."

The young dragon leaned across the counter where Ruby was filling salt and pepper shakers and whispered something that struck the werewolf as funny because the two laughed conspiratorially and soon enough, Lily wandered into the back room, disappearing from sight.

"Well, if that is all you ladies will need for a few minutes, I'm going to take my break. Yell if you need me." Ruby laid their ticket down and quickly followed Lily's path out of the dining room.

"What on earth is that about?" Emma turned and looked toward the place the two women had gone.

"Oh. I thought you knew? Apparently they met up at the Rabbit Hole a while back and struck up a friendship but as you can see, it looks like more than friends to me. Mal says they spend a lot of alone time together." Regina shrugged and added, "I think it is unusual but not totally ridiculous."

"Wow. Well, good for them. I'm glad they found somebody who understands." Emma looked back toward the door they'd slipped through another moment before turning back to Regina. "I'm sorta glad about it for Ruby especially."

"Why? What do you mean?" Regina may be the mayor, but she seldom got the good gossip around town unless Emma filled her in.

"Well, you know since Belle announced she and Rumple were expecting a baby—Ruby took that pretty hard." Emma had felt so bad for her friend and had hoped that something good would happen for her.

"Belle? Ruby… was interested in Belle?" Regina was genuinely shocked.

Emma shook her head solemnly. "No, not interested in. She's pretty much been in love with her for years. But she never said anything to her about it. She was afraid I guess. Plus, despite their issues, everyone knows the Belle's heart belongs to Rumple. So Ruby had more of an unrequited love for her. But the pregnancy ended her dreams. It's pretty hard loving a woman with a husband and a baby. Plus true love trumps it all, right?"

Regina's face fell and a palpable sadness settled over her. Emma noticed immediately and thought she knew why. "Hey. Don't be sad. We aren't like them. You aren't Ruby and I'm not Belle and Hook sure as hell isn't Rumple. This isn't a story of unrequited love, Regina."

Regina smiled and shook her head. "I know that. That isn't it. It's… it's stupid. Just forget it."

Emma reached a hand out and placed it on top of Regina's. "No. Let's talk about it. What is it? You can tell me anything, Regina."

Brown eyes shone with tears and searched Emma's face. "I just think, since we are supposed to be taking a step back from our emotional connection it may be wise to just let it go, ok?"

Now the curious mind behind green eyes was stirred up. "No. Tell me. It's ok. I promise."

Regina let out a long sigh. "Very well. I'm not sad because I think I will be like Miss Lucas and left behind. I long ago made my peace with that possibility. I have had months to realize that you are getting married and that my place with you may change. So, that isn't it."

Emma nodded, and squeezed Regina's hand, encouraging her to go on.

"It's silly, really. I just never considered that if you chose him that you would someday have a child. But of course you would want to. He already made mention of wanting a son. I just never thought of it." Raw emotion made itself known in Regina's eyes, her voice, the tremble of her hand.

"Regina…" the blonde whispered sadly.

"It's ok. I can't expect that you wouldn't at least try to have a baby. I always thought I'd like to adopt again but by the time I was ready… Henry had already begun to turn against me and I was afraid another baby would just make it worse." Regina looked out the window by them into the bright afternoon sun. "I can't have any children of my own."

If Emma hadn't been so intently listening, she may have missed Regina's words, they were whispered so softly. "You can't?"

Regina drew in a long breath. "No. I was angry with my mother once, she was trying to get me pregnant by sending a man in to pretend to be my soul mate… she had already controlled so much of my life and I was enraged that this—even a child—wasn't something off limits in her mind. So, on impulse I… I drank a potion that made it so I would never be pregnant."

Emma reached out now and held both of Regina's hands in hers. "I didn't know that. God, I'm so sorry. Can the spell be…?"

"Broken? No. I haven't found a way in any of my books. That's why I adopted Henry. He made my life so full of hope and happiness. And except for that brief time when he hated me, he continues to make me happy. He is a special young man." Regina smiled warmly thinking of their son.

"Would you…" Emma hesitated to go on.

"Would I what?" Regina looked directly into questioning green eyes.

"Would you ever want another child now? I mean, one of your own or one you adopted if the opportunity came up." The blonde found she was rubbing soothing circles on the backs of Regina's hands absentmindedly and it was nice.

"I don't know. I never thought about it, not after Henry started rebelling. And since you have been in town, life has been sort of busy for me." Regina smirked. It was true. Since Emma's arrival life had been one battle after one monster after one murderous distant cousin after another. Indeed the past year had been the calmest Storybrooke had been since before the curse broke.

Emma laughed at the truth in Regina's words. But in a moment, she was serious again, thinking about what Regina had told her.

"Do you want another child, Emma?"

"Oh, Regina, that's—"

"No, it's a relevant question. It's ok if you do. But it is something for you to consider. I can't have any children. And no matter how magical we both are, I have never heard of a magic pregnancy so I can't give you a baby the usual way…" Regina's voice trailed off. "I just think that is something you should be thinking about. Killian can give you that. But I never will."

Emma studied her companion a moment before speaking. "Listen to me and pay attention because it is important. Giving birth is wonderful and I am glad I did. But giving birth isn't all that makes a mother. You are a wonderful mother to Henry. And if we wanted another child, there is nothing to stop us from adopting. In fact, I might prefer that. I was in the system and it wasn't pleasant for me. Bringing some little girl out of that and into our lives would be wonderful." Emma smiled, thinking of a sassy little tomboy, refusing to wear the dresses Regina picked out for her. "It's true, Killian could give me a baby. But you already have. And if I never have another kid of my own, we will always have Henry. He is our son and I for one think we have done a damn good job raising him."

A giant tear traveled slowly down Regina's cheek and she sniffed, reaching up to wipe it away. "Yes, we have raised a fine, young man."

Emma squeezed the hand she was still holding. The time she had spent so far thinking about what she wanted kept coming back to Regina. She loved Killian. It was true. They had been through a lot together. But even now, sitting in the empty diner, holding the brunette's hand, Emma saw forever with her—not with the pirate.

She hadn't really needed time to think, not after the way Killian had grabbed her wrist and jerked her around. She wasn't exactly afraid of him, but she had felt something close to fear on the deck of the Jolly Roger. He was so angry. He had hurt her.

Emma had taken great care to hide the bruises on her wrist from her parents. Make-up covered it to a point, but finally Emma had opted to use magic to disguise it. How had she never seen the signs of abuse before? She had been a victim, suffered at the hands of men she dated. She had even suffered under the iron fist of a foster father. And yet, with Killian she had chosen to ignore the signs.

He was controlling. He was easily angered. He raged and often turned physical. And every time it happened he would calm down and come with sweet words or flowers or somehow make her believe she owed him an apology. The time apart had been good for her clarity on that.

And the time apart had also shone a spotlight on how much she missed Regina. She wanted to stop by her office, wanted to swing by the mansion, wanted to call her every night. Time to think had reminded her of all the sweet ways Regina showed her love. It had opened her eyes to the tenderness and the care. Every moment she spent away from the brunette made her long for her all the more.

And now, sitting here in Granny's holding her hand and talking about children they might someday have, Emma realized she had taken all the time she needed to think. She didn't want to think anymore. She wanted to act. She wanted Regina.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Regina raised her eyebrows. "No, but I am pretty sure we are supposed to be taking some time apart."

"Yeah, we are. But since I made that rule, I can break it, can't I?" There was a lightness in Emma that had been missing for days. This was what being in love felt like.

"I suppose so." Regina winked, feeling something shifting in the air. "What did you have in mind?"

"You let me worry about that. I'll be by for you at… let's say nine o'clock. And wear something casual."

"Nine? Why so late?" Regina scrunched up her nose in that adorable way she had.

"I will be at work until about six tonight and then I have an errand I need to run. So, nine will have to do. What's the matter? Is that past your bedtime?" Emma's voice teased. She didn't feel the need to mention that her errand was to see Killian. She had made her decision and he deserved to hear it in person.

"No, but it is getting close to our son's. I suppose I could have him stay with your mother if she wouldn't mind." Regina's mind drifted to what exactly Emma meant by casual.

"Yeah. I think sending him to mom would be a good plan. We may be out late." Emma felt a tremor of excitement roll through her. "Oh, and before you ask, when I say casual I don't mean your less dressy pantsuit. I mean jeans, boots, sweater and a warm coat and hat."

Regina grinned. Somehow Emma always knew what she was thinking. "I'm intrigued. I've never been asked on a mystery d—" Regina stopped short.

"Date. It's ok. You can say it. I'm asking you on a date."

"A date." Regina felt warmth spreading inside her chest. "I like the sound of that."

~ (SQ) ~

At exactly nine o'clock that night, Regina Mills stepped to the foyer and smoothed her hair behind her ears, wondering how she would look when she took off her hat. She was expecting a knock at the door any second so she lingered there on the landing above the entryway. She wanted to be nearby so Emma wouldn't have to wait but not so close by as to appear like she was waiting excitedly like a girl going on her first date.

But in fact, she was waiting excitedly. And although this wasn't her first date, it was certainly one she had never imagined she'd be going on. The brunette was trying hard not to get her hopes up because she didn't want to get hurt, but in the back of her mind she knew it was far too late for that.

Regina tugged at her sweater and turned to see how her rear end looked in her jeans. The mirror was too high but she already knew how she looked. She'd been standing in front of the full length mirror all afternoon. Regina tugged at the back pockets of the jeans, adjusting where the waist line sat. She seldom wore jeans, but they certainly made her ass look amazing. No wonder Emma wore them all the time. Smiling at the thought, she glanced at her watch. Five after nine. Well, maybe she was just running late.

By nine-thirty Regina was beginning to worry. Emma was late for a lot of things, but she always let Regina know. She had no text messages, no voicemails… nothing. Regina was sitting now on the bottom step leading from the entryway to the main part of the house, her coat across her lap. She was starting to think she may have been stood up.

Five more minutes and I am going to call her.

There was a knock on the door and Regina sprang up and pulled it open before it was even finished. She was already speaking as the blonde came into view.

"Emma? I was beginning to worry about—Oh! Emma!? What happened?" Regina pulled the other woman into the house and shut the door.

Emma smiled carefully. A cut on her lip was held together with a butterfly bandage but it was swollen. Regina reached out gently to touch a reddening place across her cheek, but Emma preemptively leaned away.

"Easy now. That's tender." She tried to smile again.

"Emma, what happened to you? Are you alright? Who did this?" Regina was firing questions too quickly for Emma to offer an answer to any of them.

"I'm fine. And this—" Emma gestured to her face—"this is nothing for you to worry about. I'm alright. Just a little swore. But I don't want to talk about it tonight, ok? I came here to take you on a date and that is—"

Regina interrupted her. "On a date? Are you insane? What happened to you? Who did this? Oh my poor darling. I'll kill—"

"No, you won't kill anybody. Just stop." Emma put her hands on Regina's shoulders and steadied her. "Please. I really just want to drop it for now. I promise we can talk about it later. I'm sorry I am late and I'm sorry that I worried you. But this is very important to me. I want to take you out on our date and I don't want anything to mess that up. Please."

Regina took in the pleading in Emma's eyes, the begging quality to her voice and decided to let it go for the moment and trust Emma. "Ok. For now, I will drop it. Shall we go?"

Another careful smile from Emma and she lead Regina into the chilly night air. Regina buttoned up her coat and looked toward the street expecting to see the bug. "Where's the metal coffin on wheels?"

"Don't worry. She's safe. I just borrowed dad's truck for tonight." Emma took Regina's hand and led her down the walk. In a chivalrous gesture, she opened the door and let Regina slide in before jogging around to the driver's side. "Now, buckle up. I can't have the queen getting injured on our first date."

Regina smiled warmly and bit her bottom lip. She would temporarily put aside her worries if only for the sake of seeing such excitement in green eyes. Emma was as thrilled about this as Regina was. She wanted to ask about the pirate, about what this date meant, but she decided not to go there and ruin the mood.

They drove along, neither saying anything for a few minutes. Regina's curiosity got the better of her. "So, where are you taking me? We seem to be getting further and further away from town."

"Don't worry. I'm not taking you to some cabin in the woods to have my depraved way with you." Emma smirked.

"Pity." Regina purred, laying a hand on the seat between them. It was an invitation for Emma to take it. Regina didn't know the rules and didn't want to overstep.

The sheriff chuckled at Regina's quip and looked at her passenger. Seeing her hand laid out as an offering, Emma smiled and reached to take it. Both women smiled into the darkness.

"You didn't answer my question, Emma. Where are we going?" Regina filled the silence with her questions. She was nervous.

"No, I didn't answer and I am not going to. Just trust me. And no more questions." Emma squeezed Regina's hand.

Regina huffed. She wanted to know. "I'm sorry. Call me a control freak if you must, but I just like to know where I am going."

Emma laughed. "Well, too bad. Tonight you are with me and you will have to relinquish a little of that control. Sometimes it is good to let someone else lead."

The brunette found the words held a deeper meaning that about where they may have a date. She suddenly found herself hungry to let someone else carry part of the load. Sometimes the worst part of being alone was not having someone to share with.

"Well, then. Are all questions off limits or just those pertaining to where we are going?" Regina sassed and Emma laughed again.

"Not all questions. Just ones about this date and about my lip. Everything else is fair game."

Regina examined the blonde across from her for a moment and finally spoke. "Do you like animals?"

Emma looked at her, surprised. "What?"

"Animals. Do you like them? Your mother always had a way with them. Do you like them?" Regina looked out the window. They hadn't passed a house in several minutes and Emma had just turned on a road leading deeper into the woods.

"Um… yeah, I guess so. I had a dog once when I was in foster care. His name was Patches. He was a mutt and didn't like me very much. But I really liked him." Emma grinned remembering.

"I never had a dog. I was more into horses. I loved my horse more than most human beings." Regina giggled at the confession. "Henry wants me to buy him a dog. I'm not sure though. What do you think?"

The blonde thought for a moment. "Well, they are a big responsibility. And they can tear up your house if you don't train them right. Although, I don't see that being a problem for you." Emma grinned, teasing her companion. Regina swatted her arm. "But, Henry is old enough—more than old enough—for that kind of responsibility. But, if we get him a dog, I think he should be the one who takes care of it. I don't want to see you out in your robe in the middle of the night letting the thing potty."

Regina felt a surge of life rising in her chest. Emma had said we. If we get him a dog. "And, should I notify the sheriff or one of her deputies that a strange woman is lurking outside my house in the middle of the night?"

Emma blushed, realizing what she had said. "Who said I'd be outside?"

The brunette couldn't stifle the wide smile from forming. "I see." She said, trying her best to sound mayoral.

"Alright, we are almost there." Emma turned the truck off the road and onto a narrow path between the trees. There was barely room for the vehicle to get through.

"Almost where?" Regina asked, looking around in confusion. She knew every inch of Storybrooke but she wasn't familiar with this part.

"Here." Emma smiled as they pulled through the tree line into a clearing. It was a wide open field with a single oak tree standing at the center. The savior drove her father's beat-up pick-up across the field to a level spot near the tree and turned to Regina. "You stay put for just a second while I get everything ready."

Regina's heart was racing with excitement and wonder. She didn't know what this date was going to be, but she was eager. Watching Emma through the back glass, she saw the blonde let down the tailgate of the truck and pull out a basket. Regina could make out what appeared to be a large thermos and a blanket in the basket as Emma sat it aside.

The blonde looked up and saw Regina watching. They shared a smile and Emma raised her hands over the truck bed. The golden glow of her magic drifted across the surface and, as it faded, dozens of pillows filled the bed. Some were large, some small. They were a variety of colors and shapes. But they all looked soft and inviting.

Emma pulled open Regina's door and held out her hand, helping the woman out of the cab. "Emma, what…?"

The blonde only smiled and lead her around to the back of the vehicle. Regina gasped feeling Emma's hands on her waist and strong arms lifting her to sit on the tailgate. In a moment, Emma was beside her and making her way back into the bevy of pillows. Regina watched as the blonde leaned back into the softness and began spreading out the blanket over her.

"Well?" Green eyes locked on brown in the dim moonlight.

"Well, what?" Regina wasn't sure what was expected of her.

"Come here." Emma patted the place beside her but Regina hesitated, unsure. "We have a blanket. I brought hot chocolate in the thermos. And we have a million stars to keep us entertained. So, come here."

Carefully making her way on hands and knees, Regina crawled to the space by Emma and laid down. The side of their bodies were touching from shoulder to hip and they both stared up into the night sky. Being away from the lights of town, the sky was exquisite.

"Oh. This is so beautiful!" Regina whispered. Her breath was a mist in front of her but the blanket and pillows were warm.

"Like a black ocean filled with diamonds." Emma whispered in reply. "When I first came to town, I sorta needed alone time a lot to think. Everything was weird and I wasn't used to people. Mom was great but, oh my god, she was always right there, you know? So, one night, I went for a run. I was mad at you for something and I ran and ran until I was about to drop. Somehow I wound up here and I just laid in the grass, staring at the sky. I felt so small and insignificant. But somehow, I felt like I mattered because I was the only one the stars were shining for on this spot."

Regina had stopped looking at the sky and was looking at the blonde. She felt overwhelmed with love for this woman beside her. She wanted to lay here, looking at this sky with her forever.

Emma turned and looked at Regina. They stared at each other for a moment, neither saying a word. "I know now I was wrong though."

Regina frowned and started to correct Emma. Of course they were shining for the blonde.

"All the stars in all the worlds are shining for you, Regina. But the only ones I care about are the ones I see in your eyes." Emma's voice was soft and floated on the cold night air, curling around Regina, dancing along her skin, burrowing into her heart.

"Emma…" The word from full lips sounded like a prayer.

The blonde only smiled and pulled the brunette into her arms. Regina's head lay against Emma's chest and she listened intently to the steady rhythm of her heart.

For a long time, this silence went on. The cold night air pressed in, but in the safety of Emma's arms, Regina hardly noticed. But there was a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that wouldn't let go. It was like an itch, just at the base of her brain that demanded to be scratched. So, after some time, Regina took a deep breath and ended the silent moment.

"Emma?"

"Yes?" Emma's voice was sleepy and soft.

"I am really having a good time with you tonight." Regina thought it best to lead with something positive.

"I'm having a good time too. Would you like some hot chocolate? I know you must be getting cold." Emma made to move for the thermos.

"No, not yet. I just wanted to ask you one more thing." Regina held her breath.

"Ok. What is it?" Emma pressed her chin into her chest and tried to see Regina's face, still laying against her.

"Well, I'm happy here with you but…" Regina knew she had to say what was on her mind. "I just wonder if you have made a decision about, well, about the pirate and me and all this that you were taking some time to think about?"

Regina didn't move. She wasn't trying to kill the magic, but she didn't want to be here, curled into Emma, if the woman was still waffling about what to do. If she needed time to think, then she need to be thinking, not further confusing things by taking Regina on a date.

A soft laugh began rumbling beneath Regina's ear. "I'm sorry. I thought that would be inferred by the whole, 'let me take you out on a date under the stars' thing."

Emma laughed loudly now and squeezed Regina tight to her. "But formally, just to be sure there is no doubt, yes, I have made a decision. You are the only one that I want and I didn't really need even the two days I took to think about it. But it seemed like the polite thing to do."

Regina leaned up and looked down into Emma's smiling face. She was smiling like she'd won the lottery and been elected president and found out she had eradicated the common cold all on the same day. She leaned down but stopped short.

"I'd like to kiss you but…" Regina lightly touched the cut on Emma's lip.

"I think I can stand the pain. Just be gentle." Both women giggled like school girls and Regina carefully kissed Emma.

Regina laid back down and slid her arm across Emma's middle. They two lay in quiet contemplation, neither feeling a need to speak. There was something about the intimacy of just holding and being held, with no rush, no expectation, just being with each other in the moment. But again, that little itch in Regina's brain demanded relief.

"Emma?"

The blonde chuckled. "Yes, Regina."

"I'm sorry. I just have to ask. What about him? Did you tell him?" Regina tightened her arm about the sheriff and waited for an answer.

"Um…" Emma began. She had hoped not to get into this tonight. "Yeah, I told him."

"When?"

"When? Uh, I told him after work today." Emma closed her eyes. She felt it coming but there wasn't anything she could do about it now.

"Today?" Regina sat up and ran a gentle finger across the bruising section of skin on Emma's otherwise flawless face. "Emma... Did he do this?"

The savior had known the former queen long enough now to recognize that tone of voice. It wasn't exactly anger. It wasn't really rage. It was that calm, even tone that meant you should run for your life. Anyone who didn't know her would be fooled by the gentleness, but someone with Emma's experience just knew. This was Regina before she went in for the kill.

"Regina. Listen to me. It is ok. Everything is ok." Emma tried to soothe the woman but she could already feel the pull of magic rising in the brunette.

"Did. He. Do. This?" Regina's voice had an edge that Emma couldn't remember hearing since she had butchered Regina's tree.

"Yes. Regina, he did. But I'm fine—"

Regina cut her off, inching toward the end of the truck bed. "I will kill him. I will destroy him! He will be a little pile of dust when—"

"Hey." Emma caught her hand and made Regina look at her. "You aren't going to kill anybody. I already said that. Calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down?! How do you expect me to calm down when that imbecile, that… that…"

"Leather clad shit bag?" Emma offered.

Regina looked surprised. "No. That isn't it. That—"

"Misogynistic ass hat?" Emma tried again, furrowing her brow like she was deep in thought. Regina didn't seem to notice that her rage was fading with each of the blonde's interruptions.

"No. Although he is but I was going to say that—"

"Bloated, blubbering, rum-soaked son of a bitch?" Emma smiled.

Regina's frown deepened and became almost a scowl. "How can you make light of this? He hurt you. I will literally kill him where he stands. I'll…. I'll…"

Emma pulled Regina back into her embrace. "You'll do nothing. I know you are mad. I'm mad. But you can't go killing anyone. So just… just stop."

Regina waited a long moment against Emma, thinking and processing her emotions. Finally she spoke in a hushed tone. "What happened?"

~ (SQ) ~

Emma Swan had faced a dragon, an ogre, a giant, witches, bitches and goddamn Peter Pan… but as she stood on the dock about to board the Jolly Roger, she felt afraid. She knew—knew—that no matter what she said or how she phrased it, Killian was going to lose his shit and something about that made her frightened.

After her lunch with Regina and her impromptu invitation to take her on a date, Emma had felt more alive than she had in years. It was like Plato and the men in the cave. She thought she was happy with the reality of shadows on the cave wall, but being freed to see the truth of a world full of vibrant color—well, she felt excited and scared and happy and ready to live. But most of all, she felt free… free to be herself, free to love and be loved in return.

For approximately an hour she had managed to sit still in the station. She was near vibrating with the energy that had appeared with her finally admitting to herself that she loved Regina, that she wanted Regina and that the two days she had been "thinking it over" had been all for show. She hadn't needed time at all. She had known from the moment she stepped into Regina's house that night to ask her for time in the first place that time was the last thing she wanted.

Still, she had agreed with herself to ignore the obvious, to talk to her fiancé about space, to give the world a courtesy moment of self-reflection… when in reality her heart had already set the stage. All that remained was her to embrace her truth. So, today, at Granny's, looking into brown eyes so afraid of doing the wrong thing and messing up this—whatever it is—she stopped trying to pretend that the wedding or the money or anyone's opinions mattered to her anymore.

Hearing the tender ache in the brunette's voice when she talked about Emma having children with anyone else… seeing the longing in her eyes when she thought of children she would never have because of her impulsive mistake to punish Cora… Emma was ashamed for having even asked for time to begin with. Maybe since the first moment she said "hi" on the front lawn of the mansion on Mifflin, maybe since that day whether or not either of them realized it, life—fate—kismet—destiny—whatever, but it had been pushing and pulling them to finally settle them together.

Together.

So, after an hour of this sitting still, the blonde had put on her jacket and headed to the loft. She needed her parents to know. Regina was family, they already loved her and had long ago let go of the past. But Emma still felt she owed it to her parents—Snow especially—to tell them what she was about to do.

Snow had grinned and giggled. "Oh, thank god. I thought you were never going to figure this out."

Emma had been shocked, and then less so as she thought about it, to learn that her mother and her son had actively been trying to get the two women together. For once in her life though, Snow had kept a secret. David was in complete shock. He had no idea. But, given a moment the think, a cocoa to drink and some space to banish from his mind forever the idea of his little girl marrying a prince, the man had pulled his daughter close and cradled her head with his hand.

"I'm happy for you, Emma. Regina… well, she isn't an easy person most of the time but I think you can handle her."

Emma had beamed. So this was acceptance. This was unconditional love. This was family.

In all her years in the system, Emma had dreamt of this sort of love and acceptance. A few times, she would catch a glimpse of it and think maybe, just maybe, she was going to receive it. But no. It never seemed to happen for her.

For years, she had been living here in this apartment with her growing family. They loved her. She loved them. They didn't pass judgement and neither did she. It wasn't easy. They had to walk a mine field dealing with abandonment issues and rejection and fear and anger and resentment and all the things a frightened child who becomes a broken adult carries along in life, but then they had found their rhythm. They had forgiven and forgotten and lived and loved.

But Emma had never really felt the power of love and acceptance because she had never really revealed herself in full. No, she had kept this part of herself safely cloistered away. She had learned the hard way that nobody likes a little dyke. Maybe fairytale parents like one even less. But now, admitting in full who she was, who she is… Emma felt the potent and consuming weight of love and acceptance and it made her weep into her father's shoulder.

So David stood, cradling her head and encircling his wife with his other arm into a hug not unlike the one outside Granny's the day the curse was broken. But this hug was different. For the first time, it was without walls. This was love. This was acceptance. This was family.

After a long discussion about what would happen next, they had all agreed that Killian needed to be told. Emma owed him the truth. She owed him time to be angry if he wanted it. She owed him time to yell and cry and curse. She was about to tell the man who had proclaimed her his happy ending that she had found out that a happy ending wasn't what she wanted after all. She wanted a happy beginning, middle and end… with Regina.

Emma had gone back to the station then. Some of the energy that had been making her feel like she was equally on the verge of crying, laughing and throwing up seemed to have dissipated after talking to her parents. She was not looking forward to talking to Hook, but she had to.

Putting on her jacket again, Emma pulled out her cell and phoned her father. He had asked her to let him know when she was going to the Jolly Roger. The sheriff guessed her deputy was worried about her going to see him and drop this truth bomb alone, but it that was why he wanted the call, he never said.

Now, standing alone on the dock, Emma wished she had asked him to come along for moral support. Not for protection. She didn't need protection. Regina wasn't the only bad ass in town. Emma could handle herself and she sure as hell could handle the pirate. But still, David's calm strength would have been welcome here just now.

Emma took a deep breath and climbed aboard, calling to him. "Killian?"

"Hello, love." The man poked his head out from behind a high stack of supplies. "What a pleasant surprise. Just couldn't stay away from your dashing fiancé, aye?"

He strode across the deck with wide steps and tugged her to him. When he went in for a kiss, Emma pushed him away gently with one hand to his chest. She noticed the fading bruise on his face. She had punched him not so long ago with the same hand now pushing him away. Yet, against the endless sea of black leather, it didn't seem strong or defiant. The hand was small and pale and trembling.

Emma felt it again. That tiny taste of fear in the back of her throat.

"What's the matter, love? No kisses during our forced separation?" His hook hand brushed away the one pressing him back and tried to pull her to him.

"Killian…" Emma pushed herself from his embrace fully now. "We need to talk."

The pirate eyed her skeptically for a moment and then cocked his head to the side with a smirk. "I've been lead to believe in this world that 'we need to talk' usually means bad news for the one hearing it."

Emma didn't make eye contact. "Well, I think that may be true today. Can we go sit and talk? Please?"

The change in Killian's demeanor was palpable. "No, let's not. If you have something to say, then say it." He was looming over her in a way that she had never noticed before. He was glaring and there was something dangerous in his voice.

"Killian, please. I'm trying to be civil. I don't want to just stand here and…" The savior ran out of words. Stand her and what, exactly? Tell him he is being cast aside? Tell him she loves someone else?

"Civil?" He laughed harshly. "I think I prefer the less civilized bits of you, love." He raked his eyes over her body salaciously and stepped too close. Emma felt dirty under his gaze.

Again, she pushed him away and stepped back. Her body hit the railing of the ship and she was effectively pinned in. Nowhere to go. "Don't be crass. I'm trying to be kind about this, after all we've shared. I thought…"

"Too bad we didn't share the queen like I suggested or perhaps we wouldn't be having this conversation. How is her royal-fucking-highness today… dear?" He mocked the generic pet name Regina used so often.

"God, you are impossible! I don't know why I ever agreed to marry you. I must've been fucking crazy!" Emma pulled the ring from her pocket and pushed it at him. "Here, this is yours. I was going to be sweet and say thank you for giving it to me but you are an asshole who won't let me do this right."

The ring clattered to the wooden floor of the ship's deck. Emma made a move to free herself from where she was hemmed in but a hand on her wrist stopped her.

"You little trollop. Do you think you can just toy with my feelings, fill my bed and accept my ring and then just walk away like nothing happened?" His grip was tight and his breath stank in her face.

"Let go, Killian. This is fucking ridiculous." Emma tried to break free but he was too strong. "I came here to talk to you like an adult. I wanted to be honest with you and tell you that I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you but I love Regina more. And I want to be with her. I know it isn't fair and I know it sucks that it happened this way. But it did and I'm not going to pretend like it doesn't matter just to please you or my parents or anyone else. So, let go of me. Now."

Emma tried to be strong but she couldn't help the tremble in her hands or the tremor in her voice.

"No, I don't think I will." Hook pulled her along toward the door that led below deck. "You wanted to sit and talk but I can think of a far better way for you to say farewell."

Emma's blood ran cold. She fought against his hold, flailing and pulling and hitting against his chest with her free hand until she created a little space. She felt the sting of his hand across her face and tasted the iron tang of blood in her mouth.

"Killian, please…" Emma cried out, hot tears spilling down her face.

The pirate merely grinned at her. "Yes. Do beg. I so like it when you beg, Swan."

Anger flared in her. He was mocking her on top of everything else. She drew back with all her might and swung out wildly, clipping him across his face in such a way as to draw blood from both his nose and upper lip at once. She smiled triumphantly.

But it was a momentary win. His fist connected with her face along her cheek and she staggered. She was losing her footing. She stumbled and fell against him. She shook her head trying not to black out. His lips pressed roughly against her temple.

Then suddenly she heard a sound behind her. Feet running along the deck and someone crashing into the both of them, knocking her free and sending the pirate flat of his back with the wind knocked out of him. It was David.

Later, when Hook had been cuffed and placed in the cruiser and sent to the station with a crew of angry dwarves and Mother Superior's magic on stand-by, Emma leaned into her dad. The image of the pirate being led away from her, his face bruised and bloodied where he had tripped and fallen repeatedly into her father's fist, filled Emma's mind.

David had come and sat in the cruiser after Emma's call. He was worried how the pirate might react and wanted to be close by in case Emma needed him. He had waited, even when the pirate had held her by the wrist. He'd seen her wrist bruised before but chosen to let Emma share with him when she was ready. He thought Emma could handle the grip on her wrist. But when he struck her, David had come running. His daughter needed her daddy.

Emma was examined then in the back of an ambulance, her lip cleaned and bandaged. She had taken a few minutes to calm herself, sitting in her bug. Maybe she should cancel the date? No. Hook had taken enough. He wouldn't have this too.

So she had made her plans, borrowed the truck and took a deep breath of freedom. She'd been through much worse with less favorable outcomes. Hook was a bump in the road, a blip on the radar. She was late but she was going to Mifflin Street and tell the woman she loved how she felt. That was the only thing that mattered.

~ (SQ) ~

Emma finished her story and tightened her arms around Regina. She wasn't sure exactly how the woman would react. Then she heard it. Regina was crying.

"Hey. No. Don't cry. Why are you crying?" Emma tiled Regina's chin so she could look at her.

"Because Emma… he… he could've… I'm so sorry. I should have been with you when you told him. He would never have dared…" She sniffled and shuddered. "I don't know how to even feel. It's just a million things at once. I'm so happy that we are together. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I'm shocked and overjoyed that the idiots are ok with this. I'm so angry that I could explode. I want to kill that damn pirate. I want to hug your father. I want to—"

Regina suddenly stopped speaking as if she was about to say too much. Her face flushed a very becoming shade a red and her eyes looked away.

"You want to… what?" Emma said, nudging under Regina's chin again so that brown eyes would meet green.

A shy smile appeared and Emma no longer saw the sassy, sexy Mayor in control. She didn't see the vibrant and dangerous Queen. She didn't even see her best friend sharing secrets and smiles in the dim light of a TV screen. This was a woman she hadn't met before. She was soft and bright and hopeful.

"I was going to say…" The brunette hesitated and studied Emma's face for a moment. Finding whatever it was she needed to continue, she went on. "I was going to say I want to… make love to you."

February in Maine, in the back of a pick-up truck lying underneath the stars, their breath visible in the cold and yet Emma's body felt a rush of heat from her head to the ends of her currently curling toes. She stopped breathing for a moment and was unable to respond.

Regina looked away, embarrassed. Emma's silence felt like a rejection of her most sincere and tender admission. The brunette moved nervously to sit.

In an instant, Emma came to herself and awakened from her stupor. She drew Regina back against her. "I'd like that very much, Regina." Emma's voice carried so much emotion along the space between them that it melted away the fear that had claimed Regina already.

Neither of these women were virginal innocents. Deciding to make love to another person was not something foreign or out of their experience. They had both made this decision before. They had both expressed their want and need to lovers in the past without fear. They knew what they liked and weren't afraid to ask for it. But this felt different.

So they lay together, thinking and quiet.

"But," Regina began softly, again taking the lead, "I think tonight I'd just like to fall asleep with you in my bed, in your arms. Can we…" The tenderness in her voice, the light touch of her fingers across Emma's stomach, reached right into the blonde's chest and coiled around her heart, intertwining with her soul. "Can we do that?"

Emma smiled and sat up. She inched toward the tailgate and lifted Regina down to the cold ground.

"I think that is exactly what we should do." The blonde leaned close and kissed Regina gently, wincing a bit at the pain of her lip.

"I love you, Emma."

"And I love you.