A/N: Another late update, but I hope you all enjoy this POV on Emma for this next chapter. Also, I'd like to say to those who wonder if you can translate my work, or use it in another fandom. My answer is no. You can't. I have plans for this story and this story just like my others are forbidden to be used. Thank you for your patience and love. :) Happy reading!

Chapter 30: Emma

Today certainly took a surprising turn of events that wasn't on my to-do list. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine, I would ever have my hand up a horse's- well, let's not go there again. As horrific as the experience started out to be, I will admit that sharing such an experience with Regina that brought her so much joy was amazing. Not to mention this storm that had us both stuck here until it passed.

I didn't mind. Being here with Regina meant we could spend some time together without worrying about Audrey or Chief Irons. It meant we could possibly talk about what we both mutually felt. I wanted to talk about it. And I loved it here. The more we were here, I could see why Regina loved this place so much.

After stable boy left, the rain only seemed to pick up. I walked around the living room, and my fingers stroked along the piano. Regina was putting our clothes to wash and changing into a clean shirt, so I explored. I helped myself to a quick glance along the hallway, making sure Regina was not yet coming back before taking a quick whiff of Regina's purple flannel that I had chosen to wear to replace my bloody shirt. I smiled. The shirt smelled faintly of Regina and whatever laundry detergent she had here.

I continue to look around until I see Regina, dressed in a clean denim shirt, sleeves rolled up, looking absolutely stunning as always. She always looked stunning. Beautiful. It took my breath away.

"Hey," I breathed, feeling my heart flutter like crazy inside of my chest.

"Clothes are washing now." Said Regina. "Are you hungry?"

I should be, but I realize that even the beautiful sight of Regina restricted my appetite. "Uh, no," I shake my head. "No, thank you." I look elsewhere, so Regina wouldn't catch me staring at her so much, spotting a flat screen in the living room. "You have a tv here?" I ask.

"That's Daniel's. I let him stay here while I'm gone, sometimes."

"Oh, I see." I nod. My heart flutter is instantly replaced by a knot in my stomach. "And, where does he stay when he doesn't stay here?" I'd say my curiosity got the best of me, but it's not that.

"His father lives nearby." I hear Regina say as I move along to where the flat screen is positioned. I bend down to see the movie collection down below a little better. Being a fan of movies myself.

Damn. He has good tastes in films, too. I shut the door to the tv stand and stand up, my eyes on Regina. "I'm surprised you let him drive home in this weather. Figured you would want him to stay here with you." I didn't mean for my tone to sound so bitter, but I can't help it. Regina's shared embrace with stable boy and her kissing his cheek kept playing in my mind.

Regina's brow lifts in that way that makes me go weak at the knees. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Ms. Swan…" Her arms cross over her chest. "But, do I detect jealousy coming from you?" She asks.

"Jeal- Me?" I point at my own chest, my brows hit my hairline as I try acting as innocently as possible. I shake my head, "Why would I be jealous of stable boy?" I turn around with my back to Regina.

Regina chuckled and her teeth caught her bottom lip. "Ms. Swan," She calls out to me, but I don't turn around. "Emma." She calls again and this time, I turn with an already apologetic look in my eye.

"Okay, alright," I roll my eyes, feeling defeated and annoyed with the fact that my jealousy was pretty obvious. I release a sharp sigh. "Maybe. Maybe I was a little jealous." Kill me now. I could feel the heat along my neck settle along my cheeks.

I was surprised however, when Regina simply grinned.

"You're not mad?" I frowned, blinking a couple of times.

"Do you want me to be?" She asks, raising another perfectly arched brow. "There's no reason for you to be jealous of Daniel, Emma."

"I know," I nod. "I know. I shouldn't be jealous when we're not even-" I can't even say it. Instead, I chuckle and shake my head. Yeah, being jealous was pretty ridiculous of me.

"And you're dating my daughter. Not to mention I'm a married woman." Our eyes lock and Regina's lips are pressed into a thin line.

"Yeah." And for the first time in my life, I wished I was single. But even if I was single, Regina would still be married, and that sucked. "I'm sorry, I-" I sighed. "I don't know what's been going on with me lately, I've just been so-"

"Emma." Regina takes a few steps toward me until we are face to face, about two inches apart. Her beautiful brown eyes look right into mine, as if they could see right through me. "I asked Daniel to leave."

She-? "You did?" I blink, resisting the urge to smile.

Regina nods, I can see a little smile wanting to creep up at the corner of her lip, but just like me she holds back. "I asked him to leave, because I wanted to be alone with you."

I really shouldn't be smiling right now, feeling happy to know that Regina wanted to be alone with me, just like I wanted to be alone with her. But I was. I sported the biggest smile I had ever given anyone. So much, it hurt my cheeks. Regina made me smile so much my damn cheeks hurt. I think of what David said on the night of our phone conversation.

"Oh." I breathed out, and as soon as my smile began, it was gone. "This is absolutely wrong, isn't it?" I asked, feeling a sting of guilt just as I imagine Regina was feeling.

"Emma," Regina's lips thin out just as mine do. "This doesn't mean that we-"

"No." I interject, not wanting to hear what I already knew. "Don't say anything." I said, feeling my lungs constricting, finding it difficult to breathe. "You know what? I think I will have something. Maybe some popcorn." I shrug, attempting to lighten the tension that's surrounded us. I just wanted to be with Regina right now, as much as I could. "Daniel does have some good taste in movies, maybe we could compliment that popcorn with a good movie?"

There's a lightness that takes over Regina's shoulders and her eyes. "I would love that." She nods. "Why don't you pick what we'll watch and I'll go make the popcorn?"

I smile. "Okay. Any particular favorites?" I ask.

"I wouldn't know. I've never-" Regina chuckles and her cheeks turn a shade of light pink. "We don't keep any televisions inside of the house, remember? Just Sidney."

I can't believe my ears. "So… You've never seen… Anything?" I ask, seeing Regina shake her head in confirmation. How was this possible? Surely, Audrey had to have taken her to see a movie at the theater at least once in her life? Has Regina really been deprived of so much?

"I'll go make the popcorn. You pick the film." Regina flashes a sad smile my way before making her way into the kitchen.

I watched Regina as she walked into the kitchen. I still couldn't believe it. Sure, there wasn't a single television around the house, except Sidney's bedroom, but surely Audrey had taken her own mom to enjoy a movie with her at the theater before. Either way, this needed to be rectified, and I intended to do just that. I look through the film collection, moving my finger along the spines. I'm in search of the perfect film for us to watch together. Considering this was Regina's first film ever, I wanted it to be memorable. Special, even. Finally, I settled on Casablanca, remembering enjoying it one too many times with my mom. It was one of her favorite movies. I was sure Regina would enjoy it.

We thoroughly enjoyed the film. I enjoyed Regina's company, and was tempted to reach out and hold her hand while we sat side by side with only the bowl of popcorn to separate us. Of course, I placed it there to make Regina feel comfortable enough to sit by me throughout the entire film. Not that she had any reason to feel uncomfortable. Above all, I wanted Regina to know that she could trust me; and I believe she did. I mouthed the words to the film as we watched it, already knowing it by memory from all the times I had enjoyed it along with my mom when I was a little girl.

"What did you think?" I turned to Regina once the credits began rolling along on the screen. I reached for a few popcorn and popped them into my mouth.

"I liked it." She said with honesty in her voice. "Honestly, I'm surprised you liked these types of films."

"Why's that?" My brow slightly lifts.

"I don't mean to offend you, but you are a young girl and-" Regina shrugs. I can see a small blush appear along her cheeks.

"And I was lucky to grow up with a mother who made me watch these films with her." I chuckle, shaking my head.

"What?" Regina asks.

"Nothing. Just that every time you mention how young I am- I don't know." I shake my head again, chewing on another popcorn. I felt as if age was another reason that made Regina worry, when it didn't have to.

"Well, you are twenty-four years old, Emma." Regina's eyes look so beautiful as they study me, I can't look away.

"Yeah, and I'll be twenty-five in a couple of days." I said.

"Right." Said Regina.

"And you're forty years old."

"Exactly."

I rotate my body to face Regina a little more directly. I was determined to get this age-gap-thing out of the way. "And? Being forty doesn't make you ancient, Regina. Anyone can easily fall in love with the woman you are."

Regina scoffs, "Oh, really? And what kind of woman am I, Emma?" She asks.

I couldn't believe what an unexpected turn this conversation took between the two of us. Here we were, together, enjoying a beautiful film, and now this wave of tension finds itself around us once again. Clearly, we had a lot to talk about, and one of these things I would gladly talk about is the type of I see Regina is. How beautiful I think she is. Thing is, where was I to begin? Especially when Regina's beauty was beyond like any other that it was almost indescribable.

"Thank you. You can't even answer a simple question." Regina races off the couch, taking the bowl of popcorn with her into the kitchen.

I stand from the couch, leaving the credits playing as I catch up to Regina. I stand by one of the counters while Regina is facing the sink. "If I tell you what I really see in you, will you stop me?" I ask.

Regina says nothing. She faces me, and I can see it in her eyes that she wouldn't stop me. She wanted to know what I really thought, which I was more than happy to provide her with.

"When I first met you, I knew there was more to you than met the eye. I knew you weren't happy, and that all of your smiling I saw in your family pictures around the house, they were just for show. And everything was confirmed upon discovering what was really going on." I walked a little more toward Regina, moving carefully. "And that awful night when I saved you from doing the stupidest thing you could have ever done to yourself, you told me you were broken, but you're not. You have cracks- visible but mendable. But above every one of those cracks, do you want to know what I really see?"

I take a step closer, my eyes never leaving Regina's. "I see a beautiful woman. Beautiful beyond my wildest dreams. A woman who deserves to know the feel of a gentle stroke, or the warmth of a loving kiss. The beauty of a devoted gaze. And above all that, Regina, I see a woman who can do anything she puts her mind to. Who is stronger than anyone I've ever met, and if that weren't true, you wouldn't be finding yourself in this living nightmare of a situation for twenty-four years with a man you don't even love."

"I'm not strong, Emma." Regina shakes her head. "I'm just terrified. There is no way I'll ever be able to be happy. It's just not in the cards for me. And I'm fine with that."

"Are you?" My head tilts as I search for the truth behind Regina's eyes. She has spent years fooling everyone that she's fine with never knowing happiness, but I know for a fact that isn't true. "Because, you know, in a game of cards, one can always get a better hand, you keep trying until you win."

"Life isn't a game, Ms. Swan." Regina chuckles and flashes that dreadful wedding band my way. "This isn't a game. This is very much real."

"Like the kiss you gave me that night during dinner?" My question was direct, we are both quiet for a minute. "Look, Regina, I know you haven't been wanting to talk about what happened, but the truth is it happened. Just like all those other little moments happened between us."

"No," Regina shakes her head, clearly too afraid to accept our reality. "No, Emma, that-"

"Don't say it was just as friends." I interject. I was done pretending it didn't happen anymore. If it were anyone else, I could easily forget it, but it wasn't. This was Regina. "It may have started out that way, but," I closed my eyes for a moment. "Regina, you and I both know there is something more happening here. Bigger than the two of us put together."

"No, nothing is happening, because nothing can ever happen between us." Regina's eyes are wide. "Don't forget you are in a relationship with my daughter."

"Yeah, and you're a married woman, I know. And I know it's wrong, and I'll probably go to hell for it, but…" I feel my eyes tear up and fight so hard against them. But this hurts so much. "Regina, I know you feel it, too. Whatever this is that's happening between us, I know it can go further than-"

"That's just it, Emma." Regina scoffs, jumping right through my words. She shakes her head, and I can see it in her eyes that she wishes it would go further, too. But she's also scared. "It doesn't matter what we feel or don't feel for one another. It can never happen. Audrey or no Audrey. As long as Leopold is around, it can never be."

I hated this. I had never felt this conflicted in my entire life. 'It can never be.' I couldn't believe that. It could be, Regina just needed to see it. I could break up with Audrey, and sure Regina would still be married but come on, it's not like an asshole like Leopold deserved someone like her in his life. And that kiss we shared meant something. Otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Of course, I understand that Regina was scared, but she didn't have to be. Because if she were mine, if we gave this a chance, she wouldn't have to suffer like she did with him. I would never allow anything to happen to her.

However, if Regina didn't want to explore things further, I could also respect that. Even if I wouldn't like it.

I wanted to tell her, however, that she was wrong. That we could explore this. But just as I was about to say something thunder clapped loudly around us causing the power to go out. Regina and I are standing with the dining room table between us. The flat screen is abruptly shut off leaving the room to fall dark.

"Great," Regina huffs out, her shoulders frowning. "Well, looks like we won't be driving back just yet."

"I guess not." I look over to the fireplace before looking back at Regina. "I could help you make a fire?" I suggest.

Regina nods and we both move toward the fireplace, placing logs inside. I allow Regina to light the fire, and before we both know it, we are surrounded by the warmth of the fire. There's a moment of silence between us, that the only sounds heard were the tapping of the rain, the rumbling of the thunder, followed by the crackling of the fire that sat before us as we positioned ourselves in front of the fire. We studied the dancing flames for a minute in silence.

I wished it wouldn't end. I wished it would never stop raining so that Regina and I could remain here forever. Regina could be happy. I just wish she could see that.

"I really wanted to be with you, Emma." I turn to the sound of Regina's sweet voice and am surprised to find her eyes bored into mine. I could see the flames dancing within them, and it was the most peaceful I've felt. "I do." There's truth in Regina's voice as she looks back at the flames again. "And I hate myself for even admitting it out loud for the first time since I met you."

I can't help myself. I reach out and with the tip of my fingers grab onto Regina's fine jaw to turn her head in my direction until our eyes meet again. "Well, I don't hate you." I give her a gentle smile.

Regina scoffs and looks away again. "How can you not hate me? I've not just taken an interest in just anyone. But my daughter's girlfriend." She chuckles and shakes her head.

"And she's taken quite an interest in you, too." My voice is gentle as I word out my truth. "So, if you are going to be hated for that, then I am, too."

There was no way I would let this burden fall on Regina alone. It was ours to carry.

"This is wrong, Emma." Regina whispers. "How could we possibly-?" I take my index finger and press it along her lips to quiet her words. Regina's eyes close to the feel of my touch.

Next, I take my thumb and dare to caress Regina's bottom lip, all the way up to that scar that has long haunted my dreams since I first laid eyes on it. And the fact that Regina wasn't running away from my touch or flinching to it, made me not want to stop. I never wanted to stop. I never wanted this moment to stop. We belonged together, and I wouldn't believe anything different.

"I don't know how this happened, Regina. Or when for that matter." Regina opened her eyes and they stared back into mine, locking. "But, if this feeling that's happening between us is wrong… Then why does it continue to grow?"

I can see tears begging to be released from Regina's eyes as Regina moves my hand away from her lips.

"Last night when I came home with Audrey, and you, under the influence of a couple of drinks," Regina winces at my words. "Told me that I was a 'Forbidden Temptation.'" I smiled at the memory of Regina's words, and felt free to caress the blush along her cheek with my thumb. "Well, that's just it. I am your 'forbidden temptation,' and you are mine."

I loved that title Regina gave me since that night she gave it to me.

"Except I'll never be yours, Emma." Regina's eyes lock in mine and I can tell she can look right through them. "And you can never be mine." Her voice came out almost in a whisper, but I could still hear the pain in it.

I could see tears wanting to spring from Regina's eyes and that made me want to cry. But I held back. Right now, this wasn't the moment to cry. Right now, this was the moment to enjoy however long I had with Regina, where it was just her and I.

I helped myself to scoot up along the floor to be closer to Regina. I dared to brush a strand of jet black hair, tucking it behind Regina's ear. "And what if I could?" I whispered. "What if we could belong to each other just for tonight?"

If tonight was all we had, I would gladly drown in it. Even more so when I felt Regina lean into my touch. She loved it. She loved how I touched her, and I couldn't get enough of touching her as I stroked her cheekbone.

"Regina," I whispered, hearing thunder clap between us. "I could be yours if you-"

"Shh." This time I'm the one that feels Regina's fingers place themselves along my lips. Her eyes are locked into mine. "Let's not talk about what's impossible, Emma." She said.

"It's not impossible." I reach for Regina's hand and caress it with my own, grateful that she doesn't pull away this time. "It can't be impossible. Not when circumstances keep bringing us this close to one another."

"Emma," Regina shook her head, her eyes falling on our immobile fingers.

"Regina." My voice is as firm as my stare. "I don't know what this is, okay? But, I do know that I've never felt anything like this, ever, in my entire life. And I want-"

"It doesn't matter what you want, Emma." Regina's voice breaks and it breaks my heart. I can tell she's fighting back tears as am I because her bottom lip trembles. "It doesn't matter what I want either. Liking you is wrong. You are the same age as my daughter, can't you understand how that makes me look?"

"Probably the same way it makes me look." I shrug, and glance down at our fingers. That's when I dare to brush my index finger along one of hers so softly.

Regina sighs, her eyes remain on our dancing fingers as hers begin to caress along mine. "I can't hurt my daughter this way, Emma. And you shouldn't either. You and Audrey have plans, plans that have absolutely nothing to do with me."

That was true. But, plans changed.

"Regina, plans can always change." I said, seeing the humor build up on Regina's face.

"What are you saying?" I can see the fear build up inside Regina as she looks into my eyes. "Emma," she shakes her head. "You can't hurt her like this."

"So, you'd rather hurt instead?" I ask abruptly.

"It's how my life's always been." I can see Regina's throat bob as she swallows, her eyes fighting back tears from springing free. "And now I have to go through life feeling attracted to the most forbidden woman. And that's okay. I'd rather hurt and see my daughter happy, than hurt because I broke her heart."

Just when I didn't think I could like her more, Regina proves me wrong. I hold up my hand and take the back of my knuckles to caress along her cheek, wiping away a fallen tear that springs free from Regina's eyes. "You are something else, Regina Mills. Just when I think I can't possibly like you more, you prove me wrong."

Regina smiles and I can't help but smile along. "That's not fair, Ms. Swan." She said.

"What's fair anymore?" I shrug, feeling the tension vanish around us. "I never imagined myself crushing on my girlfriend's mom, yet here we are."

I chuckle as I catch Regina cringe a little as she says, "Okay, if I am agreeing to open up while we are stuck in this house for God knows how long, I'm going to need you to not say that term to me."

"Deal." I grin. "As long as you start overlooking our age differences."

"Emma-" Regina rolls her eyes and I can't help but find it endearing.

"No. I'm serious about this, Regina." My brow slightly lifts.

"I am, too. It's crazy enough we are here, admitting this- whatever this thing is between us- but to look at our age differences…"

"Okay." I roll my eyes, sighing deeply. "Let's get this other elephant out of the room. So, you're forty and I'm twenty-four. There. It's out in the open. I am attracted to Audrey's mom, who happens to be sixteen years older than me. All because she is a very beautiful woman, and smart and a total bookworm, which I might add, is attractive in itself." I gasp dramatically, attempting at humor again. "My God, you're right- the horror!"

"Alright, enough," Regina playfully shoves me and I can't help but laugh. "Fine. I guess our age difference isn't that bad. But, can you imagine," Regina actually scoots closer to me this time. "If we had met under different circumstances, do you think we would still be feeling all of this?" She asks.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lip, "I'd like to think so. Why not?" I shrugged one shoulder. "Look at how we met, and yet, look at where we are now, talking about this mutual feeling blooming between us."

Regina smiles and a light blush forms along her cheeks that I can't help but reach for, caressing it softly with my thumb. I am even more surprised that Regina reaches for my hand this time, attempting to pull away almost instantly.

"I'm sorry." She whispers, wanting to pull away but I lock my fingers onto hers. Our eyes lock once more and I so want to kiss her.

"I'm not." My eyes looked down to Regina's lips, those lips that haunted me ever since I had the pleasure of feeling how soft they were. "Because if I told you how much I wanted to kiss you right now, you would probably hate me, and throw me out into the storm."

Regina chuckles and shakes her head. "Does your sense of humor ever know when to stop?" She asks.

"Unfortunately not." I grin from ear to ear. A grin that disappears as soon as I feel my cell phone vibrate within my pocket. As I reached for it, I frowned once I saw who was calling. I twas Audrey.

"It's okay." Said Regina, a sad tone in her voice. "Answer it."

My thumb lingered on the call button, looking back into Regina's sad gaze and I realized that I didn't want to answer. All I wanted was here before me. Audrey could wait. Besides, there was a storm approaching and I had called her beforehand to warn her about the situation. I then chose to ignore the call.

"Emma, what are you-?" Regina's frown deepened as she saw me tuck my phone back inside my pocket. "She's going to worry if you don't-"

That was Regina's problem. She worried too much. "Stop worrying about her so much. We're in the middle of a storm, you and me. Let's pretend for a minute that we are under different circumstances." I said.

"What do you mean?" Regina whispered, her eyes locking once again with mine.

"I mean, you are Regina. And I am Emma." My hand caresses along Regina's hair until it finds the back of her neck, cupping it ever-so gently.

I feel Regina lean in and I can't help but lean in myself until our lips are once again touching in a tender, slow and passionate kiss. It's even more passionate than it had felt before and I wish it would never stop. We were kissing. I was kissing Regina, and that's how I wanted us to remain forever.