A/N: Thank you to my readers for all your interest and support in this little story. It has kind of ventured off on it's own path as I listened to my muses as I wrote the chapter. Hope you enjoy this next installment. I look forward to your thoughts and reviews. Thanks again!

Chapter 3

"Well, here goes nothing." Emma mumbled to herself as she pushed the small gate open and began her walk up the pathway to the manor. She thought about the first time she had brought Henry back there. To say she was intimidated was an understatement, but seeing Regina then… she remembered her heart skipping a beat for a whole other reason.

Making her way to the door, she hesitated a moment before reaching out to knock then stepped back, waiting for Regina to answer. She shoved her hands in her back pockets, shifting her gaze around cautiously, feeling paranoid as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. "We're just going to talk. One way or the other, this will all be over with." She spoke aloud to herself as she continued to wait.

Regina was sitting in the living room with a glass of cider, absentmindedly swirling it as she was lost in thought, thinking of what happened between the blonde and her earlier that day. When she heard the knock, her head snapped up toward the direction of the front door. Taking a generous drink of her cider, she set the glass on the table next to her before standing up and straightening out any wrinkles in her clothes. As she walked past the mirror in the foyer she stopped and took in her reflection. The words she spoke to Henry flowed through her mind. 'But the next time a happy ending knocks on my door I'm going to be ready.'

Another knock on the door pulled her attentions away as she shook her head of the thought, quickly checking her hair and makeup before going to answer it. "Miss Sw…. Emma, please, come in." She stated as she opened the door to the blonde. Emma dipped her stance slightly as she stepped inside. "Would you care for some cider?" Regina asked as she made her way into the study. Emma followed close behind as she felt a bit of déja vu to back during their first meeting, she just hoped it wouldn't end quite the same.

"Uh, yeah, that'd be great." Emma stumbled over her words as she tried to keep her nerves steady. She hadn't seen the other woman since earlier in the day, after their kiss, before the brunette had left to speak with that forest dweller. She felt a light shock-wave of anger run through her at the thought of that man again, her magic definitely wanting to take care of that matter. She was anxious, almost wanting to bolt in that instance, fearing her magic would flare again. But instead she fought through it and fixed her gaze on the woman walking ahead of her, feeling the calm almost instantly.

Once they were in the room, Regina went over to pour a glass of cider for Emma. The blonde stood there awkwardly in the middle of the room looking around, not sure if she should sit or continue standing. She shifted slightly from one foot to the other as she contemplated her decision. Her mind was screaming at her with the weight of all that had occurred that day, that she couldn't even concentrate on a simple task as sitting. This is ridiculous.

Regina turned around after pouring the glass of cider for her guest and stopped as she watched Emma contemplating something. She almost looks like a caged animal. She thought to herself as she furrowed her brow slightly, hoping the blonde didn't actually feel that way being there. Sighing, Regina walked over to the other woman and nudged the glass lightly against her arm. "Here, perhaps this will help." She stated as she held it out to Emma.

The blonde jerked out of her thoughts and turned to look at Regina before glancing down at the offered glass and taking it. "Thanks." She noticed her hand shaking as the liquid sloshed around in the glass and quickly brought her other hand to grip it as well to steady it. That's just what she needed to do, drop it, break the glass and make a mess. She'd be kicked out for sure. Taking a sip of her drink to try and calm herself, she watched over the rim of her glass, the brunette's every move as she walked over to her chair to sit. The woman reminded Emma of a majestic alpha lioness, regal but also dangerous.

Again, déja vu hit the blonde as she thought back to the first time she was in that room. But they had come quite a long way since then, hadn't they? Yes, of course they had, Emma decidedly answered her own thought. Both had changed so much in the few years since she had decided to stay in that small town. Regina had changed the most though, and Emma was certain the brunette woman had definitely kissed her back earlier, and that was a far cry from wanting her out of town or trying to kill her.

When her gaze finally fixed upon Regina's intensely dark chocolate brown eyes, she found them watching her as they seemed to burn into her very soul. Was it hot in here, or just…? Emma felt her cheeks flush and lowered her eyes back to her glass in front of her. She took another quick sip of the cider before turning to find a seat across from the brunette. Both women remained quiet, neither one knowing where to start. Regina wasn't exactly the greatest at the emotion thing and Emma… well, Emma was dealing with her own inner demons from her past, and the all too constant reminder of being unwanted.

"So…" The blonde started, tapping the edge of her glass with her finger. Should she make small talk or jump right into everything? Her finger traveled lazily around the rim of the glass as she waited for the words to find their way out of her mouth.

"So…" Regina repeated back softly, her eyes never wavering from the woman in front of her.

Emma shifted a little in her spot, trying to find a comfortable spot but her nerves wouldn't let her. "So...um, how did Robin take it?" The question finally slipped from her lips, her heart trembling within her chest. Regina sat there thinking of how to properly answer the question, but her lack of response only seemed to fill the blonde with doubt. "I mean, unless you…" Emma swallowed hard, feeling as though if she didn't her heart would simply fly right out, along with her stomach. "You know what, nevermind." She set her drink down on the table. "I'm sure he swept you off your feet all over again and… maybe this was a bad idea." She pushed herself up and turned to leave, Regina remaining calm as she watched everything unfold.

Emma made it as far as the doorway before stopping and whirling around to glare at the brunette. "Why aren't you going to say anything?" Her heart threatening to beat the last bit of life out of her.

Regina casually reached for her glass and took a sip before setting it down and fixing her gaze back upon the irritated blonde. "Because clearly you have already made up my mind for me in that head of yours. Just as you did in the car earlier today."

Emma went to open her mouth to argue but Regina arched her brow in challenge and she realized then that she had done exactly what the brunette had said and immediately shut it. Way to go, Emma. "Sorry." She sighed and walked back to sit down where she had been. "Maybe this cider wasn't a good idea afterall." She pushed the glass a little further away from her. "I already had quite a bit at the diner before I came here. Maybe that wasn't the greatest idea either."

"Yes, perhaps not." Regina commented, her brow creasing a bit as she regarded the blonde. "But I believe I told you in the car that this new turn of events between us is a lot to take in, so excuse me if I didn't wish to rush right into an answer that could be misconstrued by you. I guess that backfired on me." She stood up and picked up her glass, finishing the last sip before going to pour some more for herself. "So, will you let me answer your question? Or would you prefer to try your mind reading skills again, since they worked so well for you the first time?" She asked as she walked back to her seat.

Emma rolled her eyes and sighed a bit in irritation. Regina was a damn good wordsmith, the blonde would give her that; she knew just the right way to say things to piss her off sometimes. The woman was infuriating but somehow Emma was in love with her all the same. She reached and grabbed her glass again to finish off the drink, just in case the answer was not what she was hoping for.

Regina raised her brow as she watched the blonde finish her drink. "I thought you said that was a bad idea, drinking more. But I guess you're quite incorrigible. Aren't you, Miss Swan? I do hope this isn't a sign of how you will take things with our relationship, so indecisively, saying one thing and doing another." Emma was in the midst of swallowing when the word relationship clicked in her head and she choked on the last bit, covering her mouth as she coughed. "Perhaps you would like some water instead?" Regina asked, lip curling in the faintest of smirks.

Emma coughed once more before moving her hand away and wiping her mouth with her finger as she looked to the other woman. "Yeah, well... you're quite infuriating. But you said 'our relationship'? So does that mean…"

Regina's face softened toward the blonde, the defensive banter taking a backseat as she moved to get up and come sit next to Emma. "All in good time, dear." She reached out and touched the other woman's cheek, brushing it with her thumb as Emma leaned into the touch. Things always seemed to be that way with them; they both had defenses that rose on instinct due to their pasts, but they always found their way through the storm and when they did, it was always the other who was there waiting on the other side.

"As for Robin, at first he was… confused, because I told him we needed to end what we had. I explained to him that someone made me realize I deserve to be more than someone's second choice." Emma looked up into her eyes as she continued to listen, Regina giving a gentle smile. "I told him that perhaps I wasn't truly in love with him but instead with the idea of being loved again, that I accepted him without much thought; I was blinded by pixie dust from long ago, but I'm seeing quite clearly now."

"And what are you seeing?" Emma dared ask, as she tried to remind herself to breathe.

Regina leaned in and kissed her instead of answering right away. "You." She whispered as she eventually released the kiss and rested her forehead against the blonde's. "I refuse to let the past now dictate my happiness." She slowly pulled back to search for warm hazel eyes, the eyes that understood her more than others ever had. "Robin fought my decision at first, but in the end… in the end, he said I deserved happiness." She reached out and moved a piece of hair away from Emma's face. "And he said if I had found that person, the one to make me see that I deserve that, then she's truly special." Regina finished and sat there, letting the blonde take in those last few words.

Emma's face was slightly flushed from the kiss, or was it the drink? "So does this 'she', the one he referred to, make you see that? That you deserve happiness. That you deserve someone who understands and accepts you for the person you are, infuriating as you can be sometimes." A hint of a smile touched her lips.

Regina's brow quirked at the last statement. "I'm not quite sure. She can be quite irritating herself." She gave the blonde a small smirk. "And she also tried to escape earlier, before I could tell her. So I'm not sure if she wants that."

"Well she must be a complete idiot if she tried to leave you behind. And I am pretty sure she feels like one."

"Yes, well…" Regina moved but a mere breath away from the blonde. "She's my idiot." She whispered and captured Emma's lips once again in a tender kiss. "Now that you have heard my answer, you are more than welcome to up and storm off as you did earlier, if that is still your intentions, of course."

"You know damn well that was never my intentions." Emma glared at her with a playful undertone. "I'm not that big of an idiot."

Regina smirked as she brought her hand up to hold Emma's chin between her fingers. "I don't know. You do have two big idiots as parents." The blonde swatted her hand away playfully as Regina chuckled. "Speaking of, just imagine what those two will do when they find out our little relationship. I'm sure they will have their own issues with your new found 'awakening'." She smirked as Emma closed her eyes and put her head down into her hands, groaning at the thought. "You know, you could always call it a late blooming rebellion."

Emma pulled her hands away from her face and looked up at the brunette. "You're not funny."

"On the contrary, I thought I was being quite witty." Regina retorted back. "Are my one-liners not doing it for you, dear? We could always move on to other things, like how well the pirate took the news of his Swan's departure. I'm quite intrigued to know."

Emma's face fell a little at the mention of Killian. "I… didn't exactly tell him yet." She looked down realizing what a complete hypocrite she had been earlier when she was upset, thinking Regina hadn't told Robin of them. In reality she had and it was Emma herself who hadn't.

"I see." Regina arched her brow as she watched the blonde and her inner battles once more. "So would this be the moment I should get up and storm off?"

"I deserve that." Emma slowly raised her head to look at Regina.

The brunette rolled her eyes and shook her head as she reached out and grabbed Emma's jacket pulling her towards herself. "Idiot." She stated before capturing the blonde's lips in a kiss.

Emma reached up and tangled her fingers in dark locks as the kiss intensified. But it didn't last long as they heard the front door open and close, both women reluctantly pulling from the kiss. "That should be Henry." Regina commented as she moved her finger along the edge of her lip in hopes of wiping away any smeared lipstick.

Emma froze at the mention of their son. "What should we tell him?" She looked to the brunette for an answer. "I don't think we should tell him about..." She paused, not knowing exactly what they were at the moment.

"Us?" Regina questioned, finishing Emma's statement for her. "For now, no. I think you're right. However, he's a clever boy. He'll know something is up before too long."

"Mom?!" The boy called out, interrupting their discussion, as he looked through the different rooms.

"In here, Henry." Regina called out, as she moved away from the blonde a little; they were a bit too close for frienemies to be. She looked to Emma one final time and noticed the slightest hint of her lipstick on the corner of her mouth. Reaching out quickly, she managed to wipe it away with her thumb just before their son came through the door.

"Emma! What are you doing here?" He asked the blonde, a smile beaming on his face at the surprise.

"Hey, kiddo. Regina agreed to help me with my magic some more, so we were just talking on how to do that." Emma answered as she stood up and walked over to him, putting a little more distance between her and Regina.

Henry looked between his two moms as thoughtrying to figure something out before finally dropping his bag on the couch and plopping down next to the brunette. "Cool. So, anything I can do?"

Emma looked over to Regina for an answer, as she shoved her hands in her back pockets. The brunette kept her eyes trained on her for just a moment longer before turning her attention to Henry. "I think we're done for the day, actually. Why don't you go upstairs and wash up for dinner." She reached out and stroked his hair.

"Alright." The boy stated as he got up, but before he left he turned back to look at Regina. "Can mom stay to have dinner with us?"

Regina arched her brow and leaned to look around her son at the woman in question. "Well, Miss Swan? Our son seems to want you to stay for dinner." Henry twisted to look to her as well.

"Uh… sure, kiddo. I'd like that." Emma gave him a crooked grin before he walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. As she hugged the boy back, the blonde's eyes sought out Regina's once more.

When the boy released from the embrace he darted out the door to head upstairs. "Henry!" Regina called after him, seeing his bag still on the couch. The boy was half way up the stairs when he heard his mother's voice and turned back, peeking his head in the door. Regina motioned with a tilt of her head towards his bookbag and he sheepishly stepped back in to grab it before heading back up toward his room.

Regina waited a few moments to make sure Henry was truly upstairs, before standing up to walk over to Emma. "Well, looks like you'll be staying for dinner then. I guess that means you get out of telling that pirate of yours once again." She commented as she trailed a finger down the blonde's leather jacket. "Pity. I was so looking forward to the fireworks." She smirked as she moved around her to leave and head to the kitchen.

Emma rolled her eyes as she turned on her heels to follow. "You're not going to try and kill me with food again are you?" She questioned lightheartedly as they made their way into the kitchen.

"Don't tempt me." Regina looked over her shoulder with narrowed eyes and her signature smirk, as Emma returned it with a mischievous flick of her brow.

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Henry had managed to talk Emma into staying a little while longer after dinner to help him with his homework while Regina cleaned up the kitchen. Emma had offered to help clean up but Regina insisted she liked her kitchen a certain way and shooed her out instead. After everything was done, the boy somehow talked the two of them into watching a movie together before Regina insisted he head to bed due to school the next day. Henry had reluctantly agreed and hugged both his moms goodnight before heading upstairs to his room.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell Killian." Emma stated once she knew their son was out of earshot, looking over to the brunette. Regina sat on the other side of the couch, watching her intently. "I can't, not until I know my magic is under control." The blonde dropped her gaze as she continued. "After what I did today, I don't trust myself if I get upset again."

"It's understandable. I saw first hand your temperament with that. And I'm quite certain Robin won't be forgetting it anytime soon either. You did pack quite a punch, literally." Emma looked back up at her once more and she could have sworn she had seen just a flicker of amusement on Regina's face before it was gone. "But you seemed to have it under control with me, besides the slight flare up in the car." The brunette commented in wonder. "Of all people to upset you to that extent, it's usually me." Her lip curled in a smirk.

"Maybe you're losing your edge." Emma teased back, a soft smile making its way upon her face.

Regina placed her hand down on the middle cushion of the couch to support herself as she leaned over. "Oh, is that so?" She purred as she arched her brow mischievously.

Emma moved toward her and kissed her, bringing her hand up to place it upon Regina's cheek. "No, you're still completely infuriating." She smiled against the brunette's lips, kissing her again before pulling back. "But I don't know how to explain it. You just somehow seem to help control the magic. Maybe it fears you." She caressed the brunette's cheek as she smiled faintly before dropping her hand away.

Regina couldn't help as a small chuckle escaped her at the woman's last statement. "As it should." She teased and winked. "But that settles it then." The brunette commented as she moved to sit back up straight. Emma creased her brow and cocked her head in confusion, wondering what she was talking about. "You'll stay here for the night. You just said it yourself, I help keep you in check. We don't need you off destroying the town." She gave her a teasing smirk.

Emma couldn't deny that the offer was enticing. She would much rather stay at the mansion than have to go deal with the alternative, but there was one concern that weighed on her. "What about Henry? He will ask questions."

"We simply tell him that it was so late by the time we finished talking that I offered you the guest room." Regina answered casually as she went to stand up and stretch her legs. "It is late after all."

Right, the guest room, of course. Emma thought to herself, slightly disappointed but then again, it was still better than turning down the idea and having to head home. "Alright. Settled it is then." She stood as well, stretching as a yawn escaped. "Guess I'm more tired than I thought. I didn't realize how late it actually is."

Regina nodded and lead the blonde up the stairs, showing her to the guest room and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Emma." She place a tender kiss on her lips before heading to her own room.

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Emma lay there staring up into the darkness of the room. She had tried to sleep a few times, each time plagued by nightmares of her magic almost killing someone. First it was Killian, then her family, the last time had shaken her the most. Henry laid there unconscious after an explosion caused by her magic had knocked him out. She knew they were just dreams but the last seemed all too real.

Getting out of bed, she slipped her jeans back on and made her way over to the bedroom door to ease it open. She walked the short distance to Henry's room and peeked in to check on him. Seeing that he was safe and resting soundly, she let out a light sigh of relief. As she turned to head back to the guest room it was then she noticed the light coming from underneath Regina's door. Padding down the hallway, she hesitated a few moments before giving a light rap on the door.

Regina was sitting up in her bed reading a book when she heard the gentle knock. "Come in." She stated as she closed her book and removed her glasses, setting them in her lap.

Emma opened the door sheepishly and slipped inside. "Sorry. I saw your light on and…" She looked down feeling a bit like a child all of a sudden. "I couldn't sleep. I keep having nightmares every time I close my eyes. Then I started thinking what if I get angry in my sleep and something happens?"

Regina thought over the blonde's words carefully. "Your concern is understandable, given the circumstances with all that happened today. And as to the nightmares… well, now perhaps you have a taste of how it can be. I have had far too many myself over the years." Her face softened with a tint of sadness. "It can be unpleasant at times."

The blonde furrowed her brow with heartache in that instant. She had come in, perhaps seeking comfort from the other woman, but now all she wished was to take away the hint of pain she saw dwelling at the edge of Regina's own consciousness.

"Oh, don't look at me like that." Regina scoffed, looking away as her jaw tightened. "You look like someone who just saw a wounded pup." When she looked back at Emma, the regal mask was there once again. She still didn't like the idea of showing weakness. "I can't take away your nightmares if that is why you came to see me."

Emma shook her head. Regina's little mood swings used to set her off but now she knew the depth of the hurt that was laying behind them and they no longer phased her. "No, that's not why I came in. It's just… what if I hurt Henry?" She asked, searching satin brown eyes.

"I'd kill you." Regina answered back with straight certainty. For some reason that caused Emma to let out a soft laugh, not necessarily due to it being funny in nature, for it wasn't, but for the simple fact she knew it was exactly what the woman would do.

Emma's light laughter caused a small smile upon Regina's own face, breaking the small tension that had risen, and she patted the side of the bed. "Come. Sit." The brunette set her book and glasses over on the nightstand as Emma moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Regina reached out and touched the blonde's cheek, stroking it gently with her thumb. "You won't hurt Henry. The magic, it can be frightening yet exhilarating at the same time. That power coursing through you…" She paused and moved her hand to place it over Emma's heart. "It is a part of you, you have the power to take control back."

The blonde blushed as she felt Regina's hand linger over her heart. "Ever since the Snow Queen… it's just… it's unstable and I can't…" She was cut off as Regina leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss.

"You can." Was all Regina said as she broke the kiss. She moved back a little so she could look into her eyes, moving a few blonde locks out of the way. "You can sleep in here. I won't let anything happen." Emma quirked her brow slightly in surprise. "What? There's plenty of room on the floor." Regina commented and sat back, grabbing her book and glasses to begin reading again.

"Right, um...floor." Emma went to get up and look around. "I'll just, uh… grab a blanket." Regina sat there and watched in amusement over the top of her book as the blonde stood there awkwardly trying to figure things out, whether to go back to the guest room to get a blanket or if Regina had an extra one.

Regina set her book down and watched a little longer before finally clearing her throat to get Emma's attention. When Emma turned around she immediately noticed the amused half smirk the brunette had. "I was joking, you idiot." Regina motioned with her hand to the unoccupied side of the bed. Emma gave a sigh of relief and went around to the other side to get in. "Stop. Stop."

The blonde dropped the cover and stood there, startled at Regina's abrupt command. "What? Did you change your mind?"

Regina just rolled her eyes. "You're not seriously going to sleep in those are you?" She asked, pointing to the jeans the woman was wearing.

Emma looked down and shrugged. "Well I didn't exactly come prepared for a sleepover so this is all I have."

"You're not getting into bed with those on. Take them off." Regina made a brush away motion with her hand as she picked her book back up, no longer giving her attention to the blonde

"Uh…" Emma stood there a moment, not really knowing what to do.

"It's not like it's something I haven't already seen, Miss Swan." Regina commented as she flipped the page of her book, beginning to read again. "Or have you forgotten that lovely greeting you gave me at the door when I brought you a basket of my best apples when you first came to town." Her lip twitched upward a moment as she dared a glance sideways at the blonde.

Emma furrowed her brow as she thought to what the woman was referring to when it hit her and she blushed a million shades of red as she remember. She clambered out of her jeans posthaste and flew under the covers, laying down on her side facing away from Regina, the brunette giving a light chuckle as she nestled back against her own pillow and focused on her reading.

Silence lingered, with only the sound of turning pages. Emma laid there fighting sleep for as long as she could, afraid the nightmares would surface once more, but it was a losing battle as her eyes began to flutter shut. "Regina?" She mumbled in a whisper.

"Yes?" The brunette answered her back softly.

"Thank you."

Regina looked over at the other woman turned away from her and reached out to rake her fingers lightly through Emma's hair. "You're welcome. Now get some sleep." She repeated the motion until she felt the blonde relax into the unconsciousness of slumber.