A/N: Okay, so seems I lied and I was able to squeeze in another chapter (late at night), but another chapter none-the-less. Of course you all know how this chapter in the third-person version of this story ends with Audrey and Emma, so that small part shall be moved and molded into the next upcoming chapter. With that being said, happy Labor Day once again and happy reading! :)

Please, I kindly ask that you do NOT translate this or any of my stories into other languages, and Do Not use them in other fandoms. Thank you.

Chapter 45: Regina

I ponder on how I would start explaining to Daniel that what he saw was exactly how it seemed. I wasn't sure how I was going to excuse myself, painting a different picture of things to how Daniel was probably imagining them as he followed close behind. I was probably the lowest person to him right now. But after today's perfect events with Emma and I, I wasn't about to allow Daniel to come and ruin them all because he was jealous of Emma or of anyone who came near me. Just like Emma is more than willing to stand up for what we were now, I was more than willing to follow in her footsteps.

"What was that back there?" Daniel asks as soon as we step into the privacy of the barn. The horses were here, but they weren't about to speak word of this to anyone. I move over to Pegasus' stable and run my hand along his long neck. "Regina." Daniel calls out to me again when he doesn't get a much needed answer from me.

Standing by Pegasus, I look at Daniel but remain quiet. I just take in the look behind his eyes. It's a look of shock and anger.

"Wha- does Audrey know about this?" He asks.

"No." I replied.

Daniel's lips part, "So-" He scoffs and runs one of his calloused hands through his hair. "Okay." His eyes shut tight as Daniel pinches the bridge of his nose before his hands land along his hips. "So, what? You and Emma are-?"

"Together. Yes." I nod in confirmation, suddenly not feeling very shy or frightened by it.

Daniel's eyes grow wider. To say he was shocked was an understatement. "Wow." He breathes and paces for a minute.

Forgetting what Daniel could possibly be feeling about me right now, I worried more that he was thinking the worst about Emma. Something I could not allow.

"Emma ended things with Audrey so that we could be together, Daniel." I said.

"Except you and Emma are keeping Audrey in the dark about you two being together." Daniel states what I already know, his eyes looking angrier than before. "And what of Leopold? Regina, have you ever considered the consequences if he were to find out that you and Emma are-"

"I've considered every consequence, Daniel." I replied matter-of-factly.

"I just-" Daniel huffs out a sharp breath and shakes his head. "I didn't even know you liked women. Which, okay, Leopold doesn't exactly deserve an award for best husband of the year, because if anyone knows how he's been with you- it's me." He points to his chest. "But Regina, your own daughter's girlfriend? Really?"

"She isn't Audrey's girlfriend anymore." I state that fact to Daniel with such clarity in my voice, I imagine it takes him by surprise as much as it takes me for a whim.

Daniel scoffs, "Oh, I'm sorry. She's just the twenty-four year old girl you're having an affair with."

Suddenly, I'm filled with an anger of my own as I draw in a breath. "Emma's twenty-five and while I appreciate your concern, Daniel, I would appreciate it if you stay out of my business."

I was surprised how prepared I found myself for this conversation with Daniel. And how much I was willing to defend what Emma and I had now. I understand how shocking it is when you reveal that you are in a relationship with someone younger than you. Much less a secret relationship. But as far as Leopold was concerned, I couldn't and wouldn't feel bad for having an affair behind his back with Emma. Call me harsh, but I didn't even see what Emma and I had as an affair. What Emma and I had was so much more than that. Something that I never imagined ever having, and it angered Daniel. Of course, I knew his real reason as to why feel angry.

Emma wasn't exactly Daniel's problem. Daniel's problem was that I could never bring myself to correspond to what he felt for me. I knew that Daniel wouldn't be saying these things to me, or looking at me as if I had just turned my back on him by choosing Emma over him, if he was the one in this situation with me and not Emma.

The fact that I never addressed it to him was a different matter.

Daniel was slightly older than Emma or Audrey. He was in his thirties, which made him younger than I was. Yet, I know that if I had chosen Daniel instead of Emma, he would overlook our age difference in a heartbeat.

"Stay-?" Daniel's brows hit his hairline. "Well, I guess that puts me in my place." He said, with hurt in his voice.

He wasn't used to hearing me talk to him like this. Frankly neither was I, but things were changing. I was surprisingly changing and I wasn't backing away from this. Not when Emma and I were in this too deep.

"Look," I sigh, closing my eyes for just a moment to calm myself. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry if this is too much of a shock for you, enough that you are probably disappointed in me. But I don't need you to remind me that I'm probably going to hell for cheating on a man that in fact, I think deserves it, and for hurting my daughter, plus having to lie to her about being with Emma. I'm not proud of that, Daniel. I know it's wrong."

Daniel frowns.

"But if there's something I've learned today, thanks to Emma, is that I am a woman with blood pumping through her veins. And if I'm to die tomorrow at the hands of that monster I was forced to marry, so be it. But my relationship with Emma stands." I rubbed away at my aching temple that was sure to become a headache for later.

"Look, I'm no one to judge you, Regina. I've always thought that if anyone deserved to be happy here, it's you." Daniel nods. "I mean, I've always thought you to be a smart, remarkable woman. I always said you deserved better than Leopold White. But Emma?"

"What's wrong with Emma?" I ask firmly, placing a hand along my hip.

"She's practically your daughter's age, Regina. She could be your own daughter for God's sake!"

"Well, she's not, is she?" I snap back, sharper than the way Daniel just snapped back at me. A reaction that was surprising to us both. But what's far more surprising was how I carried on with, "And yes, I can agree with you that the age gap between us is a little concerning for me. But Emma doesn't care about my age. The only thing she cares about is that I'm happy, and I am. For the first time, Daniel, in my forty-one years of life I am happy. In my forty-one years of life, I finally have something to look forward to. And anytime Emma looks at me," I chuckle. "It's like she doesn't see me as someone she needs to walk around egg-shells for. I'm not Leopold's battered wife, or Audrey's mother- I'm just Regina Mills."

I hadn't realized until that moment what a wonderful sensation that brought me to confess it out loud to someone. Suddenly, I felt more relieved and calm about this whole situation. And I could tell as I looked into Daniel's eyes, that he could finally see how happy I was.

His eyes fill with tears as a few of my own escape me. "I guess I always knew." He wipes away a fallen tear. "I mean, even when she was with Audrey, the way she'd look at you whenever you'd smile. It was obvious she felt something for you. And by the looks of it, you aren't far behind." He shakes his head. "I mean, it's so obvious that you were attracted to her, too. I just didn't want to believe that it could be true." He pauses. "Now I know why you asked me not to be around today."

"Daniel-"

"Why couldn't you trust me with this, Regina? I mean, I thought I was your friend." Said Daniel.

"You are. That has never been in question, Daniel. My trust in you has never been in question. But look at how you're getting over this. I needed time to tell you about Emma and I." I take a step forward, locking eyes with Daniel's. "But be honest with me. You aren't talking to me as a friend. Right now, you are talking to me as a man." I watch as Daniel's gaze drops to the floor in embarrassment. "Daniel."

Daniel looks up at me with a frown to him.

"I'm sorry for hurting you like this, and maybe disappointing you. But I need you to know that the relationship Emma and I have now, I will never be sorry for that." I tuck my hand underneath his chin, forcing him to look me in the eye as his gaze drops again. "And now that you know about us, I'm going to need you to be exactly what you've always been. The bestest friend I can always count on. I have enough worrying about the what-if's if Leopold were to ever find out I'm going to be seeing Emma in secret. Especially Audrey. I don't need a reason to start worrying about you, too."

It takes Daniel a moment to register everything I've just said, of what I'm asking of him, but finally he says, "I can't say I approve of what you're doing. Especially going behind Audrey's back." He shakes his head.

"I'm not particularly proud of that either. And I'm not asking you to approve my choices of who I see, but I do ask that you please, respect them." I said sternly once more, glaring in his direction this time.

Finally, Daniel knows not to argue with me any further. "You know me, Regina," he ruffles his hair. "I'll do whatever makes you happy. And if Emma is the one, well…" He breathes out a sharp breath. "I guess I have no choice but to accept it."

"Thank you." I can still see a flicker of anger in his eyes, but I knew Daniel well, and he would never dare do anything to hurt me.

"But," he holds up a single digit my way. "If she hurts you, too, you know I'll hurt her."

I smile as I reach to grip his arm. This was Daniel, always willing to stand up for me. "I can assure you, that's something you won't have to worry about with her." I said, sparing Daniel a broken nose if he ever dared to go against Emma for any reason.

"Is Audrey okay?" Daniel asks.

I frown, "She's heartbroken, but I trust she'll be okay with time."

"Yeah," he breathes out. "Well, if… If Emma really cares for you, I guess it was the best thing to do. Ending things with her." We lock eyes for a moment. "So, you, uh… You really like her?"

As much as I didn't wish to hurt Daniel with my answer, I nod. "I do."

Daniel nods, "Alright, well… I guess I'll let you two be, then." I couldn't help myself in extending my arms to offer him a hug, which Daniel gracefully accepted.

"I'll save you some apple pie." I said, finally breaking apart from our hug. I smiled.

"I'd like that." Daniel's smile is filled with sadness. "I do love your apple pies." He leans in to place a quick kiss along my cheek. "You be careful, Gina."

"I will." I feel a brush of air brought on by Daniel as he walks past me. "Daniel." I whip around and wait until he faces me. "I really am sorry. Under different circumstances… Maybe…"

"Yeah, yeah. You missed your chance." Daniel shrugs and flashes a playful smile my way. "I could have made you really happy, too."

I chuckle. It isn't until Daniel finally leaves the stables that I release a much needed sharp breath as I begin my path toward the house. As I entered through the screen door, I could hear music playing from the kitchen. Ben E King's Stand by Me. Something I did recognize. I remember hearing it playing in the background of one of Robert's parties. Belle was gracious enough to tell me the name of the song. And the fact that Emma appreciated these songs made her all the more special.

I proceeded to enter the house, and am met by not only the lyrics of the song, but Emma's humming, her hips swaying side to side as she danced along on her own while standing in front of the stove. It's then I realize she is stirring something that smells absolutely delicious. The sight of Emma dancing to a song that had become one of my absolute favorites was a sight that would remain inside of my heart forever.

Emma was actually here. With me. We were here together, and she loved me. Emma really, really loved me.

"Hey," Emma smiles as she looks at me over her shoulder. She places a lid on top of the pot and turns down the flames from the stove before making her way to me. "How uh, how'd it go? Is everything okay?" She asked.

I nod, "Everything's fine. We talked and he agreed not to say anything to anyone." I assured her, feeling the same wave of relief I had felt once everything was cleared out with Daniel.

"And you're sure he can be trusted?" Emma asks.

"I'm sure." I give another nod right before looking over Emma's shoulder, straight at the boiling pot. "What are you doing? Are you cooking?" I ask.

"Oh, yeah!" Emma takes my hand without hesitation and walks me over to stand in front of the stove as she lifts the lid for me to get a better smell of whatever was boiling. A white cloud of steam rose up and the scent was even more divine than before. "It's just an instant soup type, nothing fancy. I'm afraid my cooking skills only go so far."

I smile, reaching for the bag where the instant soup was once stored. I study it. "So I see…" I hold the pack before Emma with my brow arched upward. "Alphabet soup? That's so adult of you." I tease Emma, receiving a glare from her that makes me chuckle.

I've discovered just how much I loved teasing Emma.

"Blame stable boy, there was only that to make for a light lunch. I hope you don't mind, I helped myself to a little music." Emma nods toward the radio in the kitchen.

"Not at all. I actually like this." I replied.

"Oldies is always a good choice when you're trying to impress someone." Now it's me that glares in Emma's direction. The thought of her listening to this with anyone else makes me feel a little jealous, something Emma seems to immediately pick up on. "Not that I ever tried impressing anyone else with this song. You're the first." She smiles and as used to it as I should be, I'm surprised when she slowly pulls me into her embrace, leading us into a slow dance that follows every beat of the song. It surprises me how easily and how familiar my hands find their way up to Emma's shoulders as we dance. "David and my mom danced this on their first date. He took her on this walk along a little plaza we have back home. There's a spot, they always play music like this." She tells me.

"It sounds lovely." I smile, leading one of my hands to hold onto Emma's hand as I allow her to continue leading.

"Maybe I'll take you sometime. I'll take you to this drive-in, August knows someone who works there, and they can close up the place just for us. They'll set up this big projector and we can sit in the car and enjoy a nice movie. If you'd like."

"All I want is to be with you, Emma." My eyes lock onto Emma's as I speak volumes of truth. And the smile that spreads along Emma's lips tells me that's all she wants, too. Her arms circle along my waist, pulling me closer and welcoming me into a loving embrace that I can't absolutely refuse to give her. My hands find comfort along Emma's back as we continue our way through our dance.

And that was true. That's all I ever wanted. Emma has been all I've ever wanted. Everything she told me we could do together, I wanted to do it with her and only her. Why, Emma could tell me that she wanted to remain here forever and I would be more than happy with that. Although, to be frank, I couldn't imagine a more wonderful place to be in than Emma's embrace.

We continued to dance, never parting from one another, until the song reached its end. After the song finished, we then proceeded to get started in baking that apple pie I had promised her. Emma watched me ever so carefully, how I laid out all nine apples along the kitchen counter, and how one by one I began peeling them with a knife, with such elegant practice, thanks to my own father.

"You're really good at that." Said Emma.

"Years of practice." I smiled, dumping the peeled apple I had been holding in my hand into a bowl I had Emma reach from a higher cabinet for me. I reach for the next apple and proceed to peel. "My father used to let me peel them whenever I would help him." I said.

"How did he die?" Emma asks, and I freeze over. So much that my hand stops moving.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of-" Emma quickly regrets her question.

"No." I interject, shaking my head and giving her a sad but reassuring smile. I wanted her to know that she could ask me whatever she wanted and not feel sorry about it. "You can ask me anything," I said as I continued to peel. "He died of heart failure. He was undergoing open heart surgery and it was just too much for him."

"I'm sorry." Emma frowns.

"Here," I nod to the bowl of already peeled apples. "Grab a cutting board from underneath that cabinet, and start slicing those for me, will you?"

I continue to peel as Emma does what I've instructed her to do, and it isn't until she stations beside me with her cutting board before her, her hand reaching for one of the peeled apples, placing it over the cutting board that I look over to her, watching her as she hovers her knife over the apple before turning back to me and asking, "How should I slice them?"

"Anyway you want, it doesn't make a difference. Just… Be sure you don't cut your finger off." I smirk teasingly, earning myself another glare from Emma.

"Ha-ha." Emma mocks laughter as she begins slicing the apple.

Another song ends, and what plays next is a more bluesy/jazzy tune. It's nice. I immediately recognized it from hearing it from another one of Robert's parties. The song is called I Put A Spell On You, however this was a woman singing with a feeling I had never heard before. When I heard the song, a man was singing it then. I liked this song better, especially the way Emma's hips began swaying from side to side, slowly dancing along to herself, following the exact slow rhythm of the song. I never imagined myself ever daring to look at anyone the way I was constantly staring at the sway from Emma's hips, but here I was. With the world's most beautiful girl, helping me slice up some apples with plans of baking a pie, and dancing while at it. Emma was truly a woman of many talents.

I wondered if Emma realized she was dancing, or if it was just an automatic response for whenever she heard good music. I could ask, but I didn't dare. Me asking her this question would make Emma stop, something I didn't want happening anytime soon. Not when Emma moved this well every single time she danced.

Who knew dancing could be so hypnotic?

And as I continued to watch Emma dance her way through the song, I allowed my mind to wander to that erotic dream I once had with Emma. How she kissed me, how she wanted me. Of course, the reality of Emma's kisses were so much better in real life while I was awake to feel them. But seeing her dance like this, so sensually, once again proved to make me feel things I never imagined I would ever feel over anyone. My stomach knotted but in a good way. A sensation settled along my legs that threatened to turn them weak. And the scenarios that were previously playing in my mind of the many forbidden things we could experience right inside this kitchen were beyond anything one could ever imagine. Only they weren't forbidden anymore, now that we were together. I realize that sex was something that could happen between Emma and I so easily if I wasn't so afraid of intimacy. And scariest thing was… I knew Emma would make me enjoy every bit of it.

Damn you, Leopold. I cursed the man in my mind, so much that my hand holding the knife jerked back without me realizing it, so hard and so fast that the sharp end of the blade actually bit along my thumb, slicing the skin. "Ow! Shi-" I hear the knife clutter along the counter as I let it drop.

"Are you alright?" Emma's eyes grow wide as she abandons her knife and sliced apple to rush over to me, instantly grabbing hold of my hand, seeing the blood ooze out of my skin, but not enough for it to drip along my arm.

"It's just a cut." I assured her, feeling my cheeks heat with the color pink. How embarrassing if she knew why I cut myself in the first place. Or would it be?

"Come over here," Emma guides me over to the sink, turning on the faucet until a cascade of cool water flows through. "Here we go. Under here." She guides my hand, as gentle as ever, under the running water. "Where's your first aid kit?" She asks.

"Bathroom cabinet." I replied.

I remain standing by the sink, keeping my thumb under the running water, not giving a chance for the blood to pearl up again while Emma, with a power to her steps, quickly rushes her way toward the bathroom, remembering where it was from our past visits to fetch the first aid kit.

I sigh and shake my head to myself, thinking about how pathetic I was around Emma while my eyes fell on the radio as the song continued to play through, as if it wasn't to blame for all this nonsense. I made a mental note not to listen to this song in front of Emma again if I didn't want to end up distracted by her swaying hips and give myself another cut, or maybe worse.

"Got it." I hear Emma's voice, followed by her footsteps as she sets the first aid kit along the counter, pulling out some antibiotic cream. I quickly dry my hand. "Okay, let me see." Emma reaches for my hand, removing the paper towel I had placed along my thumb and replacing it with a bit of cream along the cut, followed by a band-aid.

I watch Emma, how careful and delicate she is with placing the band-aid over my thumb. I watch that crease that forms along her brow every single time she has a concentrated look on her face. Next, I watch as Emma brings my already patched up thumb near her lips, pressing them on where the wound would be and placing a kiss along it.

"Better?" Emma asks with a gentle tone to her voice.

I nod, my eyes locked onto Emma's. "Thank you." I said with an equal gentle tone of my own.

"What was that you said about being careful not to cut myself?" Emma chuckled teasingly, earning herself a glare from me and a playful smack along the arm.

"You're to blame for this, you know." I stick out my thumb before Emma before going back to peeling the rest of these apples.

"Me?" Emma's brow lifts, I can see it from the corner of my eye. "What did I do? I was standing over here, cutting up apples."

"And dancing." I throw another quick glare her way. "You may not know this, but your dancing is proven to be very distracting."

I hear another chuckle from Emma and see a smile reach her eyes. "Is that so?" She asks, moving a little closer to me, her voice low as she says, "So you were too busy watching me and you cut yourself, is that right?" She placed one hand against the counter, blocking my side, while her other hand finished the job at boxing me in. To this I rotate my body so that my back isn't facing her, but we are face to face.

Normally, I would hate having this done to me by Leopold or anyone else who ever took an interest in me. I hated being boxed in like this. It always made me feel so trapped in such a small space, I could swear I was a little claustrophobic. But as everything with Emma proved to be so unbelievably different. I didn't mind being boxed in right now.

"Like I said, you're to blame. You'll be the death of me, Ms. Swan." I see a small smirk emerge from Emma's lips before they close in and press along my own. As my lips soon mold with Emma's in a kiss that makes me feel like my feet rise from the ground, I forget all about the knife incident.

One of Emma's hand unboxed me to find its home right along my hips, while her other one remained trained on the counter. Emma didn't make any further movements unless I deemed it so, and I loved that. The only thing I did notice Emma do, was lose herself in our kiss, as lost as I was once she leaned her body in a little further so that our lips could press more with one another, deepening our kiss. And that's when my arms cradled Emma's neck, pulling her further in, boxing her in with my very hold that it made Emma's other arm finally wrap along my entire waist. As that happened, as our stomachs and chests were pressed together, we both released a grunt of appreciation for one another, followed by a breathy sigh that escaped both our lips.

Kissing Emma could make me lose control of all things and make my head spin. Emma's lips on mine proved to be the most gentle of things that even Leopold could never make me feel. How was this possible? How was this wonderful feeling happening to me, to where I wanted to just explode?

"Emma," I breathed against Emma's lips, placing another kiss there before finally pulling away, panting for a much needed breath. "We should probably-"

"Get cooking." My brow arched at Emma's choice of words, teasing her. Emma quickly fell for it, realizing how they probably sounded as she quickly said, "Not- not that- I'm sorry. Baking, I meant baking. We should bake." She nods.

I smirk at how nervous Emma suddenly becomes before slithering from her hold with eased success. I turn back to the bowl of sliced apples. "Could you hand me the sugar, please?" I ask Emma, who hands me the already measured cup of sugar I had filled before starting on the apples. "Thank you." I pour it into the bowl atop of the apples, followed by a pinch of salt, cinnamon, and the rest of the ingredients.

I walked Emma patiently through all the ingredients, in the order I liked to use them and how I made the dough from scratch just like my father taught me. Emma was more than happy to help me knead the dough, standing behind me as her arms were placed underneath mine from behind, and I guided her hands with the kneading motions along with my own.

Next, we begin rolling out the dough with a rolling pin as Emma smirks and says, "This is like that scene in Ghost, minus the pottery."

"What?" My brow furrows as I look at Emma over my shoulder quizzically.

"It's a movie. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are phenomenal in it. There's this scene in the movie where she's working with sculpting clay and he comes up behind her to help. It's one of the most iconic scenes in film history." Said Emma. I always forgot what a huge movie buff she was.

I take a pinch of flower with my fingers and I hear a surprised gasp from Emma when I sprinkle it along her face in a playful manner. I can't hold back from laughing. "Focus, Ms. Swan." I hand Emma a rag for her to wipe her face with before she continues to help me.

The scent of apples lingers in the air and I instantly remember my father, me helping me as a little girl.

Step by step Emma follows the rest of my instructions before the pie is done and ready to be placed in the oven. "Alright, make a few incisions on the top of the pie." I watch Emma grab the knife and stab just the tip of it along the sheet of dough. I nod. "Good. It's always good for the apples to breathe as it bakes." I take a pinch of sugar and sprinkle it on top of the pie before placing it inside of the oven, setting the temperature to three hundred and seventy-five degrees. "And now, we wait." I grin proudly. This pie would be delicious. I could feel it.

"How long does it take to bake?" Emma asks.

"Thirty minutes should do it. In the meantime, we can enjoy some of your alphabet soup." I chuckle, reaching for two bowls and spoons as Emma serves it and we make our way to sit at the breakfast table. I love how in sync Emma and I work, and I suspected she loved it, too. I felt like I could breathe and move so freely around her and I wanted more of it.

We enjoy our delicious soup. I hadn't had alphabet soup in so long, but anything tasted heavenly next to Emma. And this soup proved no different as I had finished it all. I even made sure to leave an E, an M, followed by another M, and an A, spelling out Emma's name along the inside of my bowl. Being around Emma turned me into such a school girl, making me forget how old I actually was.

"Are you okay?" I ask Emma, noticing her eyes had been trained on me for I'm not sure how long.

"Yeah." Said Emma.

"You were staring." I state the obvious.

"Can't get nothing over on you." Emma smirks." I was just thinking about how beautiful you are."

"Emma," I feel the rush of a blush travel up my neck and settle along my cheeks, taking in my last spoonful of soup for mere distraction.

"You are." Emma reaches for my hand and her thumb instantly dances along my knuckles. "This will work, Regina. We'll work because there's no doubt in my mind and in my heart that we belong together."

It was hard not to feel so flustered by Emma's heartfelt words. But as dreamy as I also felt, I wanted so badly to believe that this- us- will work. I wanted more than anything to belong to Emma. And I did. I really did belong to her. Possibly since the first summer day our eyes met and our hands shook one another in greeting. It was my choice to be here with Emma and explore what we could both make out of this relationship that was now ours to live.

But there was still something that troubled me about our newly found relationship…

"I wonder what your parents would say if they knew you were dating an older woman." I chuckle, looking down at a few remaining scattered letters that I stir around with my spoon. "Especially if they know that Audrey is my daughter. I can't imagine your mother being my biggest fan."

"I'll work my way around telling my mom. You let me deal with that." There's a frown to Emma's thin lips and I can't tell if she worries about it too or if something else troubles her. "David…" She proceeds. "He already knows."

My eyes turn wide. "You told him?" I ask.

She nods. "Yeah. He won't say a word to my mom, not until I'm ready to talk to her about us." As soon as Emma pauses, I can somehow tell she is nervous about something else as she then says, "He also knows… About your situation with Leopold."

My spoon clatters loudly along my plate as I drop it and my nerves set in. "You told him that?" I didn't mean to snap at her like I had.

"Don't worry about it." Emma holds up her hand.

"Don't worry about it? Emma, you told your stepfather, who's a cop! He could-"

"He's not going to say anything to anyone, or do anything, Gina. I promise you that." Emma reaches for my shoulder and massages it slowly. I groan, placing my face in my hands. My mind already building up the worst scenarios. "Hey, come on. Let's not ruin this day by worrying about that." Said Emma.

Emma was right. The last thing I wanted was to ruin this day that, despite Daniel's little tantrum, proved to be the most perfect day in the history of my life. I sigh in defeat, "Are you sure he won't say anything to anyone?" I ask for reassurance.

Emma nods, "I'm positive."

"You swear, Emma?" I ask a little firmly.

"Yes." Emma's eyes lock onto mine so that I can see she is telling me the truth. That she would never lie to me. "I swear on my love for you." She presses her lips along my knuckles in a kiss and I reach for her hand to hold it with my own.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, that was uncalled for." I said with the utmost apology to my voice.

"Forget it." Emma smiles, sweet as ever, "Natural reaction. I would have done the same if I was in your situation. And hey, I could have gone without mentioning it, but now that we're together, the last thing I want to do is lie to you."

"Why are you so understanding?" I ask, amazed as ever by Emma's good heart.

Emma shrugs, "That's just my nature." She smiles.

A small smile finally takes over me, my fear slightly gone as I shake my head.

While I stand to check on the pie, Emma stands to take our bowls over to the kitchen sink. I made her promise not to wash them for me. As I open the oven door, the sweet scent of apple pie covers the room in a wave. It looks absolutely beautiful. The crust is golden to perfection. I don't wait for it to cool before I cut up a few slices and box them up in a container, big enough for three slices, for Emma to take with her.

There's a moment where I look over my shoulder to Emma and I'm surprised to see her looking at me with a knowing smile. That's when I knew she had spotted her name spelled along the inside of my bowl. I returned her knowing smile with one of my own.

"You're never too old to spell something out of your alphabet soup." I said as I am walking up to Emma, handing her a container with three slices of pie inside of it. "Here. I packed you some pie to take home. Share with your parents."

"That's nice of you." Emma smiles. "You know, I was thinking," she places the container down along the kitchen counter and as she does, her arms instantly envelope me into an embrace that I am more than comfortable to return. My arms wrapping firmly along Emma's body. "Next time Chief Irons has to work late, I could pick you up and we could go on a date."

"A date?" A smile stretches at the corners of my lips, and I'm positive my eyes light up. My heart flutters at the thought of enjoying an official date with Emma.

"Yeah, to dinner, maybe a movie, or some dancing. Whatever you're in the mood for." Emma's sea-green eyes are even brighter than before at the idea.

My smile grows at the thought of doing anything with Emma. "I'd absolutely love that." Our eyes lock onto one another for the tenth time today. "Thank you. Thank you for this perfect day, and for being so understanding." Suddenly, a frown, followed by a sigh takes over me. "I only wish Audrey hadn't-"

"Hey," Emma shakes her head, taking her thumb and running it along my bottom lip. "It's not like we didn't know that she was going to get hurt with this. It's no one's fault. This is what we want, and we owe it to ourselves. You deserve this. You deserve something good after years of misery, and I'm more than happy to give you that."

My eyes don't part from Emma's, "How can you be so understanding of my situation, Emma?" I ask, still finding it hard to believe that Emma could be this patient with anything that had to do with me. I reach up to her wrist. "You may not be with Audrey anymore, but I am still a married woman."

Emma looks down to my wedding ring, bringing my hand between us to inspect it better as she says, "It's just a ring, Regina. A ring can always be taken off." Her eyes meet mine. "I would never say cheating is justified, but in your case it is. And after everything he's put you through, why not enjoy someone if they want to be with you?"

She was actually okay with all this? Another thing I found hard to believe. I couldn't possibly have done anything good to ever deserve someone as great as Emma was being with me right now.

"You don't understand. We won't always be able to see each other. Things could eventually complicate themselves." I say as a reminder to Emma, as if she didn't already know this fact well enough. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"Try to stop me." Emma smiles. "Regina, for you, I'd face the devil himself if I had to."

The devil himself… Emma spoke with such bravery to her voice, that I feared she might just have to face off against the devil, eventually. Hopefully no time soon before we actually come to enjoy our relationship a little longer. I wasn't at all sure where this road ahead of us would lead Emma and I to, or if we would even make it to the very end. To our finish line. But I knew I owed it to myself and more so to Emma to try.

My eyes shift from Emma's sea-green eyes down to her lips and I don't hold back in leaning in, meeting Emma halfway until our lips barely brush in what would have been the most perfect kiss, had her cellphone not rung at that very moment, causing us to break apart.

Emma groans and rolls her eyes in frustration as she reaches for her phone, checking the name flashing along her screen before she says, "It's my mom."

"It's okay, talk to her. I'll give you some privacy." I give her a reassuring smile, squeezing her shoulder lightly as I walk past her and into the kitchen. I hear Emma answer the call with a simple, 'Hey, mom,' as I lower the music that still plays on the radio before busying myself by washing the dishes I had told Emma not to wash. It doesn't take me long that I then begin to wipe down the counter tops.

"Yes, mom, I'll be home for dinner." I smile as I hear Emma speak to her mother. I look over my shoulder, finding Emma's eyes trained on me, giving me an apologetic look.

My eyes remain on Emma as she turns her attention back to her phone call, and I can't look away. Emma belonged to me, and I belonged to her. We belonged to each other. We could finally exist together. Maybe not a hundred percent free yet, but I hoped that someday we could. As Emma said, this would work. It had to. Something as beautiful as what Emma and I wished to have couldn't just happen just to happen without a result that benefited both of us in the end. Audrey's heart had to be broken today, while mine was just beginning to be repaired by every kiss, every touch, every smile, look and sweet spoken word of love that Emma would daily say or do. Life has proven to be cruel but it also has proven to be the most beautiful thing we could be gifted with.

And time. Time flew on by when you were with the person you loved and cared for. I wished for nothing more than to have my time spent with Emma never to come to an end. But, eventually, everything came to an end. However, now that there was the promise of a relationship between us, I knew that I would see her again soon. Emma would make it happen again. I trusted in that now.

"I will. I'll see you in a bit." Said Emma as she hangs up her call before she's walking her way back to where I am.

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"Yeah," she stores her phone back in her pocket. "Just my mom wanting to know if I'll make it in time for dinner."

"Well, I'm sure they've missed you. She wants to spend time with you as well, it's understandable." I smile, trying to hide my sadness behind it due to Emma's departure. "Here," I handed her back the container. "Don't forget that."

"I just wish I didn't have to leave." Emma doesn't hide her frown.

"It's not like we won't see each other again, Emma." I chuckle, leaning in and placing a kiss to her lips. "Chin up." I tuck my hand underneath Emma's chin to bring her gaze to mine.

Emma smiles as she reaches for her jacket, which she had removed and placed along a chair before we ate our soup. She reaches for her keys out of one of the pockets as she says, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

"You should drive home from here, it's closer to you than having to drive me home." I said.

"Well, how would you get home?" She asks.

"I'll call Daniel, he can drive me." Emma's lips thin into a frown before me. "It'll give us a chance to talk more about what happened, Emma. I'll be fine." I assured her.

"Fine." Emma nods, "But message me when you're home, so I know you're safe."

I reach for Emma's hand, allowing our fingers to intertwine together. "You have my word." I smile and walk Emma to her car.

"This definitely makes the list as one of my top favorite moments with you." Said Emma.

"You have a list?" I arch my brow as I see Emma nod. "What's number one?"

Emma grins secretively and shakes her head, letting me know that I won't be getting an answer to that anytime soon.

"You are such a child." I chuckle and playfully shove Emma away. "Go now. You'll be late."

Emma pulls open the driver's side door that creaks as it opens. She stops for a moment to turn back to me, her eyes are trained on me until she is quickly rushing back to me, her hands cradling my face as her lips give me a few peppered kisses, which don't fail to make me smile.

"Okay," I shove her away playfully again, although what I really wanted to do was pull her back to me. But we needed to be strong. "Go."

There's a matching grin along Emma's lips as she walks back to her car, stopping by her car door as she says, "I love you." She doesn't wait for me to say it back. Emma simply climbs into her car, starts it up and gives me one last wave as she drives off, which I return back.

I sigh in content and run my hands along my hair. As I am turning back toward the direction of the house, I reach for my phone and dial Daniel, who picks up on the second ring. "Daniel. Could you drive back to the Orchard, please? I need you to drive me back to the house before Leopold arrives."