A/N: again guys, such a great response. I will try to answer your reviews in time but I'm so busy with work at the moment and I suspect you'd rather I spend my free time typing out a chapter than messaging you back …

Emma never thought she'd be going to a four year old for advice. But there she was, sitting cross-legged on the living room floor about to ask for Henry's help. It was Thursday afternoon and she was still at a loss for what to do with Regina that coming Saturday night. The date had been set, literally. The only problem was, Emma didn't have the faintest idea where she was going to take the beautiful brunette. She had no doubt that Regina was used to being wined and dined in fancy restaurants but Emma didn't want to do that. Not just because she couldn't afford to but because she wanted their date to be slightly more personal, less cliché. Which meant she needed Henry's help. The two of them had spent the past three days together and were getting on better than ever. She had even managed to successfully cook two dinners for him, although she was nervous about their plans for that evening's dinner. It involved cooking the chicken breasts Regina had stuffed that morning. In the oven. Emma hadn't opened the oven since she had cleaned it after the pizza incident. She really hoped she didn't give any of them food poisoning or burn the penthouse down.

"It's your go, Emma," Henry prompted, picking up the dice and putting them into her hands.

"Right, sorry kid," Emma said, rattling the two cubes in her hand and tipping them out onto the game.

She waited until Henry had added the dots together himself before reaching to move her piece around the board. It was all good practice for him.

"Nine," he announced, already counting ahead to see where Emma's move would take her to.

"Henry," she said as she tapped out her spaces. "What does your mom like to do?"

Henry was momentarily distracted by the fact that Emma seemed to be suddenly winning and it took him a few seconds to answer.

"She likes the zoo," he said. "And making snow-monkeys. And building pillow forts."

a"Does your mom like those things or do you?"

Henry considered this. "Me," he decided.

Emma couldn't help but laugh. Henry was completely adorable but just as self-involved as any other four year old.

"Ok, so what does your mom like that maybe you don't?" Emma suggested.

"Wine," Henry said. "And talking lots. And reading big books."

Emma knew Regina loved to read. Her snooping the previous weekend had led her to discover Regina's study. It was a beautiful room, panelled in dark wood with a large mahogany desk in the centre. The walls were covered in shelves, groaning under the weight of countless tomes. Emma had run her finger along the spines, taking in the incredible collection which ranged from eighteenth century British literature to the newest titles available. She had even borrowed one, after asking of course, and was already lost in the world created by Charles Dickens. Regina had recommended it. She tried not to wince when she first read the title; Hard Times.

"It's not what you think," Regina had assured as she pressed the book into Emma's hands. "But it is a good book."

And it was. Emma felt like she herself was trudging her way down a sooty street, deep in the north of England. Some of the prose was a little too dense for her liking but she couldn't deny that Dickens was weaving quite the tale.

"And she likes horses," Henry added.

"Horses?"

"Yes," Henry nodded. "She used to have a horse when she was younger but now we live in the city and there are no fields here. Except for Central Park and Mama says you're not allowed to keep horses there."

Emma nodded her agreement at that. Turning a horse out to pasteur there wouldn't be the best move. But at least Henry had given her a few clues to go on. Books and horses.

"If you won't tell me where we're going tomorrow then can you at least tell me what I need to wear?" Regina asked on Friday night.

She was snuggled up against Emma's side, the blonde's arm around her shoulders as they sat watching television. Henry had insisted they all watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarves together and once he was in bed, the two women had returned to the couch to watch something a little less … animated.

"Just something you feel comfortable in," Emma said. "We're not going anywhere fancy so diamonds and pearls are unnecessary."

"Because I always wear so many diamonds and pearls," Regina chuckled.

"I bet you'd have some amazing pieces to put on if I said we were going to the Four Seasons," Emma remarked.

"Perhaps," Regina laughed, tilting her head up and kissing Emma lightly on the lips. "But I assume we're not going there."

"No," Emma said. "I hope you're not too disappointed."

Regina twisted herself around so she could look fully up into Emma's face. "Honey, I don't care where we go. As long as I'm with you and we're spending time together, I know it's going to be great."

"No pressure," Emma breathed out.

"Well, you were the one who wanted the job of organising our first date," Regina pointed out. "If you don't feel up to the challenge -,"

Emma smothered her teasing lips with a hot kiss. Regina's laughter died in her throat as Emma's tongue begged her mouth for entrance at once. It was granted and soon the two women were lost in each other, as had happened every evening that week.

Unusually, it was Emma who broke the connection, her eyes dark and breathing ragged.

"I have to go somewhere tomorrow morning. I assume you'll be here to watch Henry though?"

"Of course," Regina nodded, trying not to think of how domesticated that exchange had been. "Where are you going?"

Emma's already red cheeks blushed further.

"Sorry," Regina said, sitting up and away from Emma. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I didn't mean to pry."

"No, it's fine. It's just embarrassing," Emma said. Regina's face creased in confusion and Emma sighed. "I'm going to the clinic. I wanted to get … tested. Before anything happens between us I think we should both know just how stupid my decisions on the street were."

"Oh," Regina said.

Well, that was a mood kill. Regina straightened her shirt and reached for her drink, hoping the alcohol would soothe away the feelings bubbling inside her. Emma sat up too, running her fingers through her tangled hair.

"I was careful," she said. "I mean, I know I'm not pregnant or anything like that. I just … I need to know that I'm clean."

"Of course," Regina nodded. "I think it's a very good idea for you to get screened."

"You'd thought about it?" Emma asked.

"I'd tried not to," Regina admitted. "I don't like to think of you being with anyone else, let along a random man in the back of his car."

"It wasn't always that bad," Emma defended. "I'm sorry you ever have to think about the fact that I was doing that but they weren't all fumbled quickies in the back of a car."

"Please don't try to justify it," Regina spat.

Emma recoiled at the harsh tone. Regina was sitting on the edge of the couch, rolling the wine glass stem between her fingers. Her head was hanging downwards and her shoulders were hunched. Emma could practically feel the tension vibrating from the brunette but that didn't mean she was going to let Regina speak to her like that.

"It wasn't a choice," Emma said, her voice low and steady. "I mean it was. But it was a life or death kind of situation. I didn't want to do it, Regina. I regret that I even had to consider it, let alone allow it to become my life for three months. I hate that it happened and I hate that you know about it. But you needed to know. I couldn't keep that from you, not if we were going to try and be together. But you also need to tell me right now if this is something you don't think you can move past. It's happened. I'm over it. Now I need to know if you can do the same. Otherwise, what are we doing here?"

Regina slowly looked up, turning her face back towards the blonde who was now sitting cross-legged on the far end of the couch. Her gaze raked over Emma, taking in every inch of the young woman. There was already more colour in Emma's cheeks, her skin brighter and healthier after a week of good food. Her frame was beginning to fill out and she was no longer so painfully thin. Her hair shone and healthy curls bounced down to her chest. Regina skipped over her breasts and continued; she didn't need to get distracted. She looked relaxed, the brunette realised. Relaxed and at home in the Fifth Avenue penthouse she had found herself in. And, with a jolt, Regina realised the penthouse felt more like a home with the blonde in it.

"Remember when you asked me to be patient with you and I said you'd need to be the same with me?" Emma nodded. "This is one of those times. I don't judge you for what you did Emma. But that doesn't mean I'm ok with it. Even though it's in your past, I can't stop myself thinking about all those men you allowed to touch you. It makes me sick that people in this world can trade something as special and intimate as sex with one another and it is hard for me to think of you doing that."

"I had to," Emma defended.

"I know," Regina assured. "I know why you did it. But that doesn't mean I'm ok with it. Does that make sense?"

Of course it made sense. Emma knew few people could get their head around the concept of prostitution, not understanding how anyone could ever be so desperate. Especially someone like Regina Mills, a woman who had clearly never wanted for anything in her life. Emma didn't resent Regina's privileged upbringing and the woman had undeniably been through some difficult times herself. But Regina was also going to have to come to terms with Emma's past if there was any hope of any kind of future for the two of them.

"Will you ever be ok with it?" Emma asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

"I want to see where this goes," Regina said at once. "I want to see what we could be." Emma smiled at that. At least she wasn't the only one hoping for a future together. "But you know I need time to process this. I want to accept it as a part of you, Emma. I will accept it as a part of you. But it's hard to know someone I care about had to reduce herself to something so meaningless."

"Meaningless?"

"To the men," Regina corrected hastily. "You were meaningless to the men, Emma. Not to me. You will never be meaningless to me and I want whatever happens between us to be … well, meaningful."

"It will be," Emma assured, reaching towards Regina and almost sighing in relief when the brunette immediately fell into her arms. "This does mean something, Regina. You mean so much to me already. As does Henry."

"He knows, you know," Regina said, her face buried in the crook of Emma's neck. "Henry knows about us."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked, ignoring the fact that she could feel the brunette's tears against her skin.

"I've never introduced him to anyone I've dated before. Not that there really have been women to introduce him to. But he knew Dani and I were both women. He's seen Ruby and Dot together. He's a smart enough kid to have cottoned onto the fact that there's something more between us than just friendship."

"What did he say?"

"He asked if you were going to be his new mommy."

There was a heavy silence. Regina pulled away from Emma and wiped her eyes. Emma's own were shining with tears. It was way too soon, they both knew that. But when a child was involved, conversations got serious much more quickly.

"We have to be really, really careful," Regina said. "I can't have Henry getting hurt if things don't work out between us."

"I know," Emma nodded furiously. "And we will be. He's a fantastic kid, Regina, and even if things don't end well for us, I hope I'd still be a part of Henry's life."

"I'd like that," Regina smiled. "And he would too. I've never seen him quite so taken with anyone before."

"And a kid has never worked his way into my heart so quickly before," Emma replied. "I never thought I was cut out to be a mother and I'm not saying I am anything like that to him now. But … maybe, with time."

"Maybe," Regina said, a soft smile on her lips.

"Do you think we should get the first date out of the way before we race ahead though?" Emma joked.

"Good point," Regina laughed, remembering how the conversation had started. "So, when you say comfortable clothes, what exactly do you mean?"

Emma took a deep breath before she opened the door.

"Hi," she greeted, smiling shyly.

"Wow!" Ruby replied as she stepped over the threshold into the penthouse. "You look amazing."

"Thanks," Emma said, taking Ruby's coat and hanging it up. "It's great to see you, Ruby."

"You too," the brunette said, hesitating for a moment before pulling Emma into a tight hug. It was the first time they had seen each other since Emma left the apartment above the diner almost three weeks previous. She had felt guilty for leaving in the early hours but she couldn't bear to see Ruby's look of disappointment again. Now however, there was only a genuine smile at seeing her friend once more. Emma was relieved; she'd missed the lanky brunette.

"How's the diner?" Emma asked as she led the way into the kitchen where Henry was finishing his dinner.

"Your replacement is terrible," Ruby said, ruffling Henry's hair and slipping into the chair beside him. "Are you sure you don't want me to ask Granny for your job back?"

"No, thanks," Emma said. "She wouldn't want to employ me again and I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted. Anyway, I'm looking after this little man for the next couple of weeks, aren't I?"

"Yep," Henry nodded, smiling up at Emma with tomato sauce all over his mouth.

Emma reached for a wipe but Ruby took it from her. When the blonde frowned, her friend just pointed to her white sweater by means of explanation. Oh yeah, she thought. Might not be the best colour combination. She had spent some of the money Regina had paid her on a new pair of black skinny jeans and a soft knitted top, both of which she was wearing at that moment.

"Where are you heading tonight?" Ruby asked.

"It's a secret," Henry piped up. "Mama's been really mad all day because Emma won't tell her."

Ruby looked up at the blonde and widened her eyes. Very few people stood up to Regina Mills and denied her anything. The smug grin on Emma's face made Ruby think that perhaps their new blonde friend was a match for the powerhouse lawyer. Both were equally stubborn.

"Well I hope I won't have to wait much longer to find out," came a voice from the doorway.

The three in the kitchen turned towards Regina and all three jaws dropped. Considering Emma had told her to dress comfortably, Regina look stunning.

"Wow," Emma said, moving towards the brunette who was leaning against the doorframe. "You look incredible."

"Thank you," Regina said, smoothing out the flared skirt of her dress. "Is this too much?"

"No, you look perfect," Emma said, leaning in and brushing her lips against Regina's cheek. "Are you ready?"

"Just got to wish the little man goodnight," Regina nodded, moving past Emma and towards her son who had returned to his dinner.

Ruby smiled up at her best friend and saw nothing but pure joy and contentment shining back at her. She hadn't seen Regina look that happy in a long time, not since before Dani had died. Ruby knew what this was. She just wondered whether her friend was quite aware of how deep into this relationship she had already fallen.

"Stop looking at me like that," Regina said, placing a kiss to the top of Henry's head and scowling at her friend.

"I'm not looking at you like anything," Ruby defended. "I was just -,"

The doorbell interrupted them. Frowning, the two women turned towards the hallway but didn't see the blonde. When there was no sound of Emma moving to the entrance, Regina herself walked to the front door. She pulled it opened and her eyes widened at the sight which greeted her.

Blonde hair poked out from above a huge bouquet of red roses, green eyes glinting through the foliage. Regina gasped before accepting the flowers and breathing in their sweet, summery scent. She then turned to Emma, a look of admonishment on her face.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, standing back and waiting for Emma to walk into the apartment.

She didn't.

"Picking you up for our date," Emma said, rocking onto her toes and smiling widely. "Are you ready?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous."

"That's rather rude," Emma said, feigning hurt.

"Do you want to come in and wait whilst I put these in water," Regina said. "I just need to find my purse and get my coat."

Emma stepped into the penthouse and leaned against the wall, watching as Regina sashayed away from her and into the kitchen. She reached into the closet and pulled out Regina's coat herself, already eager to get on with the date she had planned.

"I'm sure you've been here a million times but I wanted to bring you here myself," Emma said as they walked up the marble steps to the New York Public Library.

It mercifully not raining and several people were entering and exiting the grand building. Two majestic lions watched the women as they approached, hand in hand. Regina stepped towards the main entrance but Emma tugged her to the side. She led her around to the right hand side where, beneath a grand archway, a fountain was situated.

"Pegasus," Regina breathed out. "I almost forgot this was here."

"Most people do," Emma shrugged. "The lions are what tourists want to see and no one takes the time to walk around to these fountains."

"It's not working though," Regina pointed out.

"Well, no, not now. It's too cold so the pipes would split if it froze," Emma admitted. "But they do. There was no water here for thirty years but last summer they fixed them. I used to come here when I first arrived in New York. I'd read about Beauty and Truth and wanted to see them for myself."

"Beauty," Regina mused. "It seems fitting."

She smiled sideways at Emma and the blonde blushed.

"Actually, I wanted to like Truth more. I mean, the truth is far more important than beauty at the end of the day, right?" Regina nodded her agreement. "But there's something about this carving I just adore. Pegasus is magnificent and compared to Truth, I prefer this feminine figure."

"Me too," Regina mused. "Although I feel we ought to go and pay Truth our respects."

Emma nodded her consent and led the way back across the top of the steps and to the second fountain. They stared up into the grey-white face and then at each other.

"Beauty," they smiled in unison.

They headed into the building at last, eager to be out of the chilly February air. Emma stood back to allow Regina to pass into the cavernous entrance hall first and then led the way, heading straight towards the staircase on the right.

"Did you know that books were first delivered to the library by horse-drawn carriages?" Emma asked as they turned the corner and continued their climb.

"No, but I'm sensing a theme to this date," Regina said with a smile. "You've been talking to Ruby, haven't you."

"Henry, actually," Emma grinned as she consulted a map and entered a room to the left. "And it was just a fact I happened to stumble across whilst researching."

Regina laughed. She didn't think she had ever done research for a date in her life but she was touched that Emma had put so much thought into their time together. She was content for the blonde to lead her through the familiar corridors. She had loved the library as a youngster and remembered hours of studying for her final exams in the grand reading rooms above. Even when she was at college, she would retreat into the familiar, reassuring chairs on the upper levels during her vacation time. She hadn't been for some months however, and made a mental note to bring Henry again soon.

"What are you looking for?" Regina asked, realising that the blonde was scanning the codes on the books they were passing.

"You'll see," Emma assured her, slowing down even more as she neared the right area. "Books have always been really important to me. It took me a little longer than other kids to learn to read because I kept moving schools but when I finally got my head around it, I couldn't stop. It was escapism, I suppose, to delve between the pages and forget my own life. I could hide between other characters and ignore everything which was really happening to me. I don't think I'd have got through my childhood without books."

"I love reading too," Regina said, squeezing Emma's hand. "My father taught me to read when I was really young and I loved sitting in his study in the evenings. Books remind me of him and I think that's why I keep so many in my home. After he died, it was a way I could still feel connected to him."

"I'm sorry to hear you lost your father," Emma offered.

"I'm sorry to hear you didn't have one who loved you the way you deserve," Regina replied.

They shared sad smiles before the younger woman went back to exploring the shelves. Regina was content just to watch and kept a tight grip on Emma's hand as the blonde squinted through the dimly lit room until, at last, her finger landed on a book spine and pulled the novel free.

"Watership Down?" Regina asked, eyebrows raised as the book landed in her hand.

"You were expecting Black Beauty?" Emma asked.

"Kind of," Regina admitted. "I never pegged you for a bunny person."

"Watership Down was the first proper book I read on my own," Emma explained. "I just remember how completely lost in the pages I became. Their world becomes your world and their troubles become your troubles. I reread it as soon as I'd finished and have done so every year since. There's something new to discover every time."

"I did enjoy it," Regina admitted. "I think the characters are wonderfully vivid but the ending is just so sad."

"True," Emma nodded. "Every time I watch the movie, even though it's a bad adaptation, I cry."

"Me too," Regina admitted. "I haven't shown it to Henry yet."

"It's probably a bit scary for him," Emma mused. "Woundwort is terrifying. But maybe he'd enjoy the book? We could always stop once they get to Watership Down and miss out the bit about going to Efrafa."

Regina smiled. "Do you want to check it out?"

"Please," Emma nodded. "But I don't have an membership card here."

"I do," Regina assured her. "But we're getting it on one condition."

"What?"

Emma's back thumped lightly against the bookshelf as a soft mouth covered her own. Her hands flew to Regina's hips, pulling the shorter woman closer to her. A tongue ran teasingly along the seam of her lips, begging for entrance. They parted, a whimper of delight escaping as Regina's teeth nibbled her flesh before the pain was soothed away by an eager tongue.

Someone coughed. Loudly. The two women sprang apart, both wiping Regina's lipstick from their mouths. Emma looked to her right and saw an elderly man looking at them in a very disapproving manner.

"Sorry," Emma said, grabbing Regina's hand and hurrying towards the end of the aisle.

Cheeks flushed, the two of them headed down to the entrance and checked out their book. The dark New York streets beckoned and Emma and Regina walked hand in hand down the marble steps to where the next part of their date was waiting.

"Emma?"

"What?" the blonde asked, turning around to see why Regina had stopped. "You like horses."

"Yes and I also know how much one of these costs to hire for the evening," the brunette said, staring in awe at the beautiful black carriage, harnessed to an equally striking bay horse.

"Don't worry about it," Emma assured. "He's a friend."

"A friend?" Regina frowned, peering up to where the driver was perched, pointedly ignoring the exchange.

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "A friend. From … when I was in the tunnel."

"Oh," Regina said, remembering once more that the woman she was on a date with had called a concrete hole in the ground home for four months. For a moment, she had allowed herself to forget about how she and Emma met.

"So, do you want to get in?" Emma asked, opening the door and holding out her hand.

Regina took it and climbed up. Emma followed, shutting the door behind her. The carriage was dark but Emma could see Regina's eyes glittering with tears. She slid closer to her and kissed her softly.

"It's over now," Emma said. "That part of my life, it's over."

Regina kissed Emma again, desperate and hard. Tears mingled where their mouths met but neither woman cared. Their tongues caressed as the kiss heated up, hands eagerly exploring bodies over their clothes. Regina had never wanted Emma so badly. She wanted her not just to sate her desires but also because she desperately needed to show the blonde just how special and precious she was. Emma deserved that. Emma deserves so much more than what life had handed her so far.

"Hey, we're here," Emma said when she pulled back from their kiss ten minutes later.

Regina looked out of the narrow carriage window and tried to work out where they were. She'd felt the horses turn a corner off Fifth Avenue some time ago but had no idea quite what street they were on.

Emma slid past her, opened the door, and jumped out. She helped Regina down, thanked her friend, and led the way towards a small restaurant. It was nothing much to look at from the outside but as soon as she walked inside, Regina knew exactly why Emma had chosen it. The room was dimly lit, candles flickering on every table top. Couples scattered the room, each in their own booth to offer a modicum of privacy. Crimson drapes at the window added to the romantic atmosphere.

"Good evening," said the maitre'd as he approached them. "Reservation?"

"Swan," Emma nodded.

"Right this way, Miss Swan," the man smiled, leading the two women towards a small table near the back of the restaurant.

Emma hurried past and pulled out Regina's chair, sliding it perfectly beneath her as the brunette took her seat. Sitting opposite, Emma took the offered menus and began to glance at their options. Regina's fingers running over the back of her hand drew her attention and she looked up, a smile on her face.

"This is amazing, Emma," Regina whispered. "Thank you for bringing me here."

You're welcome," Emma said. "I hope you like the food."

"I wouldn't care if we were eating McDonalds, as long as I'm with you."

Emma laughed. "Yes you would. And I wouldn't want to take you to somewhere like that anyway. You deserve far more than a crappy burger and some soggy fries."

"Oh, I don't know," Regina mused. "Sometimes I crave fast food."

"Really?" Emma asked, eyes wide. "Wow, I'm learning more about you every second."

"Let's hope you keep like what you hear," Regina laughed.

"Right back at you," Emma said. "To be honest, I still can't quite work out why you haven't run a mile by now."

Regina's fingers threaded through Emma's and she lifted the blonde's hand to her lips. Kissing each knuckle, she never broke eye contact with the emerald orbs before her.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered.

A/N: I realise these book are actually really British but I urge you to read both. Watership Down is genuinely my favourite book of all time.

Also, practice safe sex guys! Even prostitute!Emma used condoms. Just saying …