Emma's POV

I wake up to Killian's hand in the waistband of my pajama pants. I knock his hand away. "Not now Killian. Im trying to sleep. Leave me alone." I turn over facing away from him. "Oh come on Emma. You never want to do anything anymore. We haven't made love in ages. Its been months Emma." I groan and mutter. "Its because you dont want to 'make love' you want to fuck. And i dont like that. Ive never liked that. And honestly Killian. Im about tired of it. I think we need some space." I grab my pillow and blanket and move to the guest room. I dont know what i ever saw in that man. Hes not the same guy he was in Neverland. He's controlling and hes ruining my life. I dont want to be with him anymore. Hes ruined my relationship with my best friend. Strained my relationship with my parents and my son. I just feel like i owe him because he saved my dad. But i think im going to get out of this. Im going to ask my parents if i can move back home when i see them tomorrow at Reginas. Maybe i can fix things with her too. I miss my best friend. And im worried about her. Shes seemed so closed off and quiet lately. It's Saturday morning and i just want to sleep in. So i let my body relax into the guest bed and doze off.

I finally wake up around noon and grab my phone. I decide to text Regina. Maybe she could hang out today if shes not busy. Go to Aesops and get a couple drinks.

E- Hey Regina. You free today? Do you wanna meet me at Aesops around 3 for drinks and a late lunch?

I wait 15 minutes and finally get a reply.

R- Uh, yea that sounds good. Ill see you at 3 i guess. Do you want a ride since im going past your place to get there anyway?

E-yea actually. That sounds great. Ill see you at 3!

R- ok. See you then.

I jump out of bed with more energy than ive had for months. Finally getting to be me again. I shower and brush my teeth. Then i do my hair in light waves down my shoulders. Light makeup with dark eyeliner and mascara and my face is done. Now i just have to find clothes to wear. I go with a plain black tee shirt and some ripped skinny jeans with my boots and my red leather jacket. I grab my house keys and wallet and i sit on the porch steps waiting for Regina. To my surprise im only waiting 10 minutes before she pulls up. Shes early. I don't mind tho. Maybe she is just as excited as i am for a girls night.

"Hey Regina. Its soooo good to finally get to hang out again!" I say as i gather her into a hug as she steps out of the car to get my door for me. "Ive missed you." She hugs back quickly and lets go. "Yea its great we get to do this again. What time do i need to get you home by?" I look at her kind of funny. "I dont need to be home at any time. So we can stay out as long as wed like." She looks almost nervous but smiles hesitantly. "Oh. Thats great. I just know Hook doesnt like it when youre out too late. I didnt want to get you in an argument or anything." I shake my head at her. "No, you are fine. And thats not going to be a worry anymore soon. Im dumping his ass tomorrow. I just cant stand to be with him anymore. I was doing it out of obligation to him for saving dad, but its not worth ruining my joy. He made every relationship i had strained. Including ours. And im so sorry about that Regina. I truly am. I didnt mean to just abandon you." She walks over to the passenger door and opens it for me. I get into the car and she shuts the door. I can see her thinking as she takes a deep breath on the way back to the drivers side. I hope she accepts my apology. "It wasnt your fault Emma. Trust me, I understand being in a domineering relationship more than most. I forgive you. I missed you too, ya know. These past several months have sucked. But it will be better now. Where will you stay though? Or will you find a place of your own?" I wrap her hand in mine and hold it for a moment before releasing it again. "Theyve sucked for me too Regina. Im going to ask my parents tomorrow night at dinner if i could stay with them in the loft. Hopefully they dont mind." Regina looks at me for a moment like shes thinking. I can feel her searching my face for something. Then she says. "Your parents have a 1 bedroom loft to live in with themselves and a baby. Why…. Why dont you come live with me? I have plenty of extra rooms. You can pick one and decorate it however you want to. And Henry would have his own room that he could stay in every night without swapping houses. And i promise i wouldnt get in your way or anything. It would be like you had your own place with a shared kitchen and living room. I wouldnt bother you about anything. And you could…" i cut her rambling off. "Regina that would be amazing. It would give us time to reconnect and we would both get a little more time with Henry. Neither of us really get much anymore between Violet and his friends, hes never around anymore. And i wouldnt have to crowd mom and dad. Thank you so much. Really. I appreciate it." Regina dips her head and smiles a tight smile. "This will hopefully be great fun for all of us. It will be your home too. Get your stuff packed and text me and ill pop over and magic it into whichever room you choose so you dont have to haul it in and out of the car." That sounds like a plan. Ill get my stuff packed by tomorrow before dinner. I dont have much really. "Thanks Regina. You are the best ever. Now lets go get some drinks. I need to celebrate my first night of freedom. Its been a long year. I cant believe its been almost a year since i started dating him. And 6 months since ive properly gotten to spend time with you." I say as she pulls out of my driveway and down the road to Aesops bar. I dont know how i got so lucky to have a friend like her. We pull up to the bar and we both get out. I run to the door to hold it open for her. "After you, your Majesty." I chuckle with a smile. She swats my arm and laughs. "Of course, age before beauty, Miss Swan." She winks. She just called me beautiful? Ok i guess. "Hey, your not that much older than me in actual years. And if we're talking beautiful, have you seen you tonight? You could pick up any guy in this bar tonight and theyd be more than happy." She crinkles her nose. And kind of chuckles lightly. "Yea… any guy. Except thats not what i want. Emma its time i finally spill a secret ive kept from everyone since the enchanted forest days. The only man ive ever been interested in was Daniel. I havent felt anything for men since i was forced to marry the King. I like women." Wow. I never would have guessed. My heart is beating a little faster and my palms feel sweaty all of the sudden. What a weird reaction. "Oh, i had no idea. Why didnt you tell me a long time ago. I wouldnt have kept trying to help you find a man. I would have helped you find a woman instead." I can see her visibly relax when i said that. "Oh thank God. I was so worried you would hate me once you found out i was gay. I didnt know how you felt about gay people and was to scared to tell you before. It wouldnt have mattered either way Emma. Ive had feelings for someone for a really long time. But shes straight and would never be interested in me anyway. So its not worth mentioning. Besides. Ive never even been with anyone since… nevermind. Basically im celibate. Have been for more than 30 years." Howwww? Shes so beautiful and alluring. She gets so intense and sensual how could she be single? "I don't understand that. You are so beautiful and charismatic. You could have girls hanging off of you. But i guess I understand having feelings for someone but not being able to act on them. It sounds so lonely Regina. Im sorry." She looks away and sighs. "Its fine Emma. Ill manage. Im gonna order a drink. Do you know what you want to drink yet?" I look at the menu above the bar. "I will have the, hmmmmm. Ill have the 'wolf and the lamb' what about you?" Regina smirks and says "I think ill have the 'milkmaid and her pail'. That sounds good to me. And for food im going to have the grilled chicken Cesar salad with ranch dressing on the side. That sounds light and pleasant. Are you getting food now or waiting till later? This is my treat by the way. I havent really gotten to see you in so long i want to buy you drinks and dinner." I laugh a little at her choice of drink. The names here are so funny. "Yea im gonna order now. Might as well. Im getting the burger and fries. Since your paying, ill go up and tell Aesop our order. You stay here, ill be right back." She shakes her head and relaxes in her chair at the table. I head up to order our dinner and drinks.

Regina pov

I watch Emma go up to the bar. She looks amazing tonight. Those skinny jeans are hugging her body in all the right places and for some reason she can wear the most basic of tops and look fantastic. Her hair and makeup bring out her eyes and cheekbones. She is so beautiful. I tried to look good way too hard tonight. Im in a red knee length dress that shows off my cleavage nicely. Black pantyhose thigh highs. And black heals. All finished off with some gold jewelry and my black leather jacket. I have my hair curled and placed neatly out of my face on one side by a clip. My eyes are smoked out and i have the deepest red lipstick on. I just really wanted to look great for her on our first night back out. I know this isnt a date or anything but i put in the effort anyway. I see Emma coming back to the table with our drinks. I smile brightly at her as she approaches and sets my drink in front of me. "He said our food would be out soon and that hed bring it out to us personally." She sits with a plop and places her hand on top of mine on the table. "So how have you been Regina? Like really. Is everything going ok?" The sudden seriousness plus the physical contact startles me. Ive had more physical contact in the last hour than i have the last 6 months. I hesitate a bit before i answer and take a sip of my drink with my other hand to stall. I feel her grip on my hand tightening the longer i wait. "Oh, everything is fine. Ive been… great. Really. Never better. I have had enough downtime to remodel the hallway upstairs a bit. Fresh paint and some new decorative items. Not a lot but i like it a bit better. How have you been?" She tilts her head to the side and meets my eyes. Her hand grips even harder for a moment before relaxing again. "Oh Regina. It doesnt matter if we were apart for years. I will always know when you are lying. But i get it, we are in public. We can talk about it later at home. I think im going to grab some stuff for the night and tomorrow when you go to drop me off and we can have a pre move in sleep over tonight. If thats ok with you. I can tell we need to talk about some things. And i have been doing ok. Its been hard being stuck alone most of the time. Killian may have wanted me home, but he was only there when he got home from the rabbit hole. So ill definitely be glad to have company from now on."

Home. She called my place home. I feel so many emotions from that. She is going to be living with me just a couple doors down from my room. Ill get to see her every day. My stomach feels shaky and warm. My heart is beating heavy in my chest and if it had wings it would take flight from going so fast. I feel the blush spread across my face, neck and chest. I quickly remove my hand from hers and distract myself with picking up my drink and pressing down on my injured thigh to quell the anxiety of being caught thinking of her. I only realized last year that i was in love with her. But i think ive loved her from the start. "Mhmm." I take a long drink from my glass and then set it back down. "It will definitely be great getting to talk with each other more. Ive missed you more than you know. Im going to be honest for a minute, since you already called me out. These past 6 months have sucked so much. Its been very lonely and sad. The house has been so empty and quiet and its just been me stuck with my thoughts. Ive been having a hard time just managing to get out of bed and take care of things like i need too. Hopefully, now that i wont be so alone anymore, ill have the energy and motivation to be more social and have fun again. Its been very gray lately. But you always seem to add so much color back into my life Emma. Im a truly lucky lady to have you in my world." Emma wipes at the corner of her eye before a tear finds its way out. "Damn it Regina." She sniffles. "I wish you had come to me. But I understand why you felt you couldn't. I didnt make it easy. I wish i had checked in more. I knew some of what you were going through before Killian came. I just thought you would be ok since you were doing so good. Im sorry. Im so sorry Regina. We need to continue this conversation at home. I think ive lost my appetite for now anyway. Why dont we finish our drinks and get boxes for our food. We can have some tea and chat at home." Just as Emma finishes talking i see Aesop coming with our food. I go ahead and ask for boxes and the check and he quickly returns with the things i asked for. I pay him and leave a hefty tip. Its not normal that we dont stay and eat so i feel bad just leaving a normal tip. I thank him and Emma and i go back out to my car. Once we are in i set off to her house in silence. I feel Emmas hand lay on my arm in comfort. I have a feeling this conversation isnt going to be easy when we get home. I stop at her house long enough for her to grab some things. But instead i follow her in to her room. "Emma, why dont i just magic your things into suitcases and poof em back home along with your car? That would make it to where you didnt have to waste time packing tomorrow and you could just relax until dinner. Are you going to just let Killian realize you left him or are you going to tell him?" I turn around to see her writing a note. "Im leaving him a letter to tell him im done. I like your idea. Lets go ahead and you can poof my stuff to our house. Im ready to be done here." I shake my head and flick my wrist. In a purple puff of smoke all of her items appear in front of us in a pile of suitcases. I then poof them to the upstairs hallway of my house so they are ready for whichever room Emma wants. Any of Henrys stuff i poofed into his room. And then i poof her yellow bug into my driveway. "Alright. All done. Lets go home Emma." Emma brushes past me back out to the car. She tosses her house keys into the bowl by the door and shuts it. She really is over him.