A/N: As promised, and a much longer chapter to make up for the last one being a little on the short side. And with a perfect ending, until chapter 10 is updated tomorrow! ;) I hope you all enjoy the changes I made, and it goes without saying that I expect a lot of reviews after this chapter lol Happy reading!

"They're late." Said Jefferson, unbuttoning the last button of his black vest before proceeding to roll up the sleeves to his long sleeve shirt.

"They'll be here." Emma assured them, taking Regina's hand into her own.

They all turn to Graham, who stands front and center, followed by Ruby, Paul, Quil, and even Embry, all in their wolf forms.

"Emma," Mal calls out to her daughter. "Can you translate?"

"They will be observing us train. That will be enough for them. They don't trust us enough to be in their human forms." Said Emma.

"They came. That's what matters." Said Mal, nodding in gratitude to the wolves.

Emma turns to Graham, "They want to know how the newborns differ from us."

"They're a great deal stronger than us," Mal explains. "Because their own human blood lingers in their tissues. My son, Jefferson-" She gestures to where Jefferson stands tense and ready, "has experience in this area. He will teach us how they fight, how they are to be defeated. I'm sure you can apply this to your own hunting style."

"They want to know how many newborns are to be expected." Emma translated.

"Right now there are twenty. Ten for us, ten for you. It shouldn't prove difficulty." Mal answered, "Newborns don't have a strategy when fighting. They use their brute strength, which makes them unpredictable."

"They will take down their fair share if necessary," Emma translates again, her voice easy.

Mal smiles, "We'll see how it plays out."

"Graham wants to know where they will arrive from." Said Emma.

"They'll come across the mountains in four days, in the late morning. As they arrive, my daughter, Lily, will help us intercept their path." She gestures to Lily, who nods.

Jefferson shares a knowing look with Emma and waits for her to give a slight nod his way before he steps forward, standing in the empty field between vampires and werewolves. His eyes glare in the wolves' direction, clearly uncomfortable. Watching him now, standing tall, with his sleeves rolled up and ready to fight, Regina could see the strength in Jefferson that he never once showed around her. His well marked jaw made his features look even more handsome.

"One thing you must know about newborns is that they'll fight like children. But make no mistake…" Jefferson continues, "a newborn army is thousand times stronger than a human army. There are two important things that you'll need to remember, first, don't let them get their arms around you- they'll crush instantly. And second, never go for the obvious kill. They'll be expecting that. And you will lose. As long as you come at them from the side and keep moving, they'll be too confused to respond effectively." He turns to his brother, "August."

August steps out of line, front and center with a huge grin.

Jefferson stepped back toward the wolves' side, "August here is the perfect example to newborn strength, because like them August relies on it. He attacks straight forward."

August cracks his knuckles, followed by his neck. Even the hoodie he wore for practice looked too small for his muscular form.

Jefferson beckons August, a tiny smirk tilting at the corner of his lip. "Don't hold back."

"Not in my nature." August charged at his brother with force, snarling and grinning.

Regina gasped, squeezing Emma's hand in response as Jefferson disappeared before August could even grab a hold of him. He resembled a ghost that would disappear and reappear where you least expected him to. August was fast, no doubt about that, but Jefferson proved to be much faster, clearly anticipating all of his brother's moves. Every single time August's hands reached out, inches away from catching Jefferson; Jefferson had him beat by the second.

August charged once more, startled by Jefferson's quick action to disappear and reappear right behind him. Jefferson's hand squeezed along August's shoulder, while his foot delivered a direct kick right behind his knee, making him kneel. His teeth an inch away from his throat.

Regina could pick up a rumble of approved growling coming from within the pack of werewolves as they watched attentively. She found Ruby's eyes staring at her from across the field, and Regina smiled.

"Again!" August stood at the ready.

"Hold on a second," Jefferson held out his hand, his eyes turning on Lily as he smiled and nodded toward her. "Lily. You're next."

Lily smiled with herself, her tiny feet carried her across the way to the middle of the field. Regina gasped for Lily as she watched her slowly close her eyes. She watched in awe as Jefferson crouched in position and appeared before Lily. Lily, who never moved her feet from their position along the ground, simply swayed faster than Jefferson reached out to attempt to grab her. A tiny smile playing along her lips the entire time.

As Jefferson attempted to grab Lily again, Lily moved this time, performing a perfect cartwheel, her legs stretched out into the air. Jefferson then crouched down and launched in Lily's direction, ending in the same position behind her while Lily smiled, keeping her eyes closed the entire time.

She didn't appear to even be moving, but as Regina watched Lily more carefully, she was moving. She just proved to be much faster, clearly anticipating every one of Jefferson's moves inside of her mind.

As Jefferson sprinted toward Lily; Lily took a step forward, smiling, each time he would make the attempt to grab her, she would avoid it in some way or form. It was beautiful to the human eye, such as Regina's, they looked like two partners performing a well rehearsed dance. Regina wondered how many times they have done this together before.

Jefferson lunged forward once again, and somehow- Regina missed how- distracted from Jefferson's attacks, Lily was mounted up along his shoulders, laughing and grinning while she planted a kiss along his lips. "Gotcha," she whispered, sliding off of his body swiftly.

"Emma," Jefferson beckoned her next.

Regina turned to Emma, feeling her hand deliver a squeeze along hers before releasing it and walking up to the field. She pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail, smirking at her brother knowingly.

Lily was quick to stand beside Regina, grinning the entire time, "Cool, huh?"

"Very," Regina chuckled, truly impressed. Is this how she would be when it was her turn to join them? She hoped so. She watched with anticipation, never looking away from Emma and Jefferson.

Like Lily, Emma used her gift to anticipate every one of Jefferson's movements. Every time Jefferson would lunge forward to try and grab her, Emma would move a step back, swaying from side to side, her feet dancing along the ground like a cat. Regina had never seen her fight before, except when taking down Hyde, but even that moment wasn't quite like this. Emma clearly had more skill on her than she let on.

Ruby's snout lifted as she gave a low growl, her eyes focused on Emma.

Jefferson lunged, reaching for Emma, and Emma ducked, avoiding his grasp before it even came at her. They were both so fast, but Emma proved to be faster, just like Mal had once told Regina. Emma avoided a few more lunges from Jefferson before her hand slammed along his chest and crushed him into the ground. While Emma smirked victoriously, Jefferson laughed.

"Alright," Jefferson stood up. "Back to work." His eyes land on his mother. "Mal," he nods.

Mal stepped up next and Regina couldn't imagine her ever being violent toward anyone. For as long as she's known her, Mal has always been the most kindest of all. It was hard to imagine her in battle, but if it came down to it, she knew she could defend herself.

"Don't you hold back," Mal's brow lifts.

"Never," Jefferson smirks, lunging forward he reached out for Mal, his fingertips an inch out of reach as Mal took quick steps back every single time. There was a moment where Jefferson had disappeared, leaving Mal to look around, but she anticipated early, blocking his attack, holding onto his arm with all of her strength. Both their strengths combined lifted the dirt up the ground behind their feet.

Regina gasped as Jefferson was able to attack Mal for a moment, but she came back fighting, knocking into the ground beside her and standing on her feet. Recovering just as quickly.

Kathryn was next, and she surprised Regina just as Mal had done.

"Always remember," Jefferson explained, standing in the middle of what had turned into their training field. "Come from them at their sides and keep moving. Never turn your back on your enemy." Jefferson nods toward the wolves, seeing a nod emerging from Graham. "Same time tomorrow."

"We'll be here," Emma translates.

As the wolves departed, each going their own way, Ruby's wolf form stood beside Regina, her eyes trained on her. And as Regina stared hard enough, he swore she could see a small smile along her snout. "Hey, Ruby," she said, scratching the fur along Ruby's head.

A low rumble came from Ruby's throat, her eyes closing in appreciation.

Emma stood still as a statue, observing Ruby closely.

Ruby looked to Emma and stared.

"No, we haven't figured that out yet. Jefferson," Emma turns to her brother.

"What's going on?" Regina asks.

"Discussing strategy," Emma said, looking at Ruby. "Meet us South, in an open field five miles from here. We need you in your human form, can you do that?"

Ruby sprints off deep into the woods.

"Where is she going?" Regina asks, watching Ruby.

"She left some clothes nearby. She'll be back." Said Emma.

Sure enough, three minutes later, Ruby was walking back on two human legs, meeting them where they had told her. "Alright, what's the plan?"

Jefferson who is already at their side speaks, "This field will give us an advantage to battle. Regina's scent will lure them to us if done right, but it needs to end here."

"Emma and I are going to a campsite up the mountains. If she carries me, they'll still be able to track me along with her scent alone." Said Regina. "We both thought-" she looks at Emma's grim frown. "I thought that it would be less noticeable if you carry me."

"I'm in." Ruby steps forward, ready and willing.

"Alright, well let's test that theory." Jefferson nods at Ruby.

Ruby doesn't waste time in scooping Regina up in her arms and taking off in a sprint, deep into the woods, toward the mountains.

"This isn't a good idea," Emma shakes her head.

"This will work, Emma," Jefferson assured her. "Believe me. Newborns won't want to get anywhere near that wolf's odor."

"I hope you're right." Said Emma, her jaw clenching.

Soon enough, Ruby came back, placing Regina safely on the ground.

Jefferson did a quick run, reappearing back in no time along the field. "All I picked up was wolf stench. No Regina." He smirked victoriously.

"Well, until next time, then," Ruby saluted, turning back into her wolf form and sprinting off into the woods.

"I'll meet you back where we trained," Said Emma, taking off in a sprint.

"Jefferson," Regina called out, walking alongside him. "Are you sure there isn't anything more I can do to help?"

"Your scent alone will distract the newborns. Their hunting instincts will take over and drive them crazy." Jefferson smirked. "You are doing more than you know, Gina."

Regina smiled a little, "How do you know so much about this? About newborns?"

Jefferson chuckled, halting in front of Regina, "I didn't have quite the same… upbringing as my adopted siblings," he exposes his forearms in front of Regina, and laughs as she gasps at the sight of his bite marks. About ten of them. "Our venom is the only thing that leaves a scar."

"Those bites are like mine." Regina said.

"Battle scars," Jefferson grinned. "All the training the confederate army gave me wasn't enough to prepare me for what was coming. Still… I never lost a fight." He winked, walking on.

Regina was soon to follow beside him, "Wait, this happened during the Civil War?" She asked, fascinated.

Jefferson nods, "I was the youngest Major in the Texas cavalry. All without having seen any real battle." He frowned deeply. "Until I met a certain vampire… Maria. I was riding on my horse back from Galveston when I saw them. I immediately offered them my aid. They looked… hungry," he chuckled. "She was my creator. She reveled in my strength, my skill as a soldier. Used it to her advantage to teach those who needed training."

"She was creating an army," Regina stated.

"Mostly for territory. She was smart, careful, and she had me. I was her second in command. My ability to control emotions served her well." His jaw tightened. "I trained her newborns, but she never let them live beyond the first year. It was my job to dispose of them. I could feel everything they felt."

Regina frowned, feeling the pain in Jefferson's voice.

"Maria pulled the strings. I was her puppet." His eyes locked into Regina's, "I didn't know there was another way, until I found Lily." He smiled. "I honestly don't know what I'd become without her."

"You kept me waiting long enough," Said Lily, appearing beside him with a smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

Jefferson's smile grew, "My apologies, ma'am." He leaned in to capture Lily's lips with his.

The next day, Regina was surprised to see Lily coming out of her house with her father walking alongside of her, smiling.

"Hey," Regina greeted as she exited her truck. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Henry shrugged.

"Just visiting. We are all set for camping this weekend!" Lily smiled and just by looking at it, Regina could see the message behind it.

"Great," Regina forces a smile of her own.

"Well, I'm going inside, make myself something to eat," Henry announced, smiling at Lily. "Lily, don't be a stranger."

"I won't." Lily grinned, turning back to Regina once Henry was inside. "Your alibi is all set for this weekend. I told Henry that our whole family is going camping this weekend and that we invited you to come along, so you'll be spending the night at our house until the day of the battle. Actually, we are all going hunting tonight to prepare our strengths, so you and Emma will have the house to yourselves tonight." Her grin widens.

"Just Emma and I?" Regina's heart stops.

Lily nods, "You're welcome."

Regina chuckled nervously, "Well, give me a chance to pack my bags. I have to keep up appearances, right?"

"You have plenty of time. Emma is coming to pick you up tonight." Said Lily, mounting her yellow Porsche and racing her way home.

Alone with Emma, not that her and Regina hadn't had much of that, but this time they would be alone without interruptions, and it made Regina a little nervous, but excited all at the same time. She smiled as she walked inside of her home, meeting her father in the kitchen.

"Hey," Henry smiled, the expression lines showing along his cheek. "You want a sandwich?"

Regina shook her head, "No, thank you." She took a closer look at her father, examining his life before and after she came along. "Hey, dad…"

"Hm?" Henry hummed, concentrating on his sandwich.

"Would you ever… consider… getting married again?"

"Uh…" Henry's brows hit his hairline, obviously taken aback by the question. "I don't know. Maybe?" He chuckled, "Why?"

Because I don't wish to see you alone, Regina shrugged. "It's just… everyone needs someone. Don't they? I mean, I have Emma, and you…"

Henry chuckled, "Yeah, well," he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. "I guess I just haven't met the right woman."

"Would you remarry?"

He thought about it for a second, "Sure," he shrugged. "I guess. If the right woman came along. I mean, marriage is supposed to be sacred- forever."

Regina smiled, able to understand the meaning of that word. "Yeah."

"Why are you so interested in my personal life, anyway?"

"You're my dad," Regina shrugs. "I care. You know, I don't want you to be alone when I have to… leave for college and all that."

Henry chuckled, pulling his daughter into the tightest hug ever. "Like you would ever leave me. You'll still visit, right? You have to, you and… Emma."

Regina chuckled, but didn't give an answer.

Regina looked to the Swan estate and actually began picturing her life here within these walls. She smiled.

"What's wrong?" Emma asks, pulling Regina away from her thoughts.

"Nothing," Regina smiled in response, following Emma inside. "So, if your family is feeding to prepare for battle, how come you aren't with them?"

Emma smiled, "Because I wanted to be alone with you tonight. If that's alright? Just you and me."

Regina looked up into Emma's puzzling eyes, and she couldn't decipher what hid behind them. But something definitely hid behind them. "Of course it's okay. It's always okay."

Emma grinned, guiding Regina further into the house, all the way up to her bedroom, where Regina spotted a queen size bed taking over the rearranged room. Emma actually bought a bed!

"Wow," Regina breathed.

"I was told a bed was in order," Emma said, reaching out for Regina's hand. "Is it too much?"

"No," Regina shakes her head. "It's perfect."

Emma grinned. "I have something for you. A graduation present of sorts."

"Emma," Regina chuckled, "You give me everything just by being in my life."

"Well, it didn't seem justifiable to me that everyone else can give you a gift, and I can't, so…" Emma pulls something from within her jeans pocket, already clipping it around Regina's wrist.

Regina gasps as she looks down at a platinum bracelet, very much like Emma's with the family crest engraved.

"You want to be a part of the family…" Emma smiled, "It seemed only fair that I'd be represented as well. Give you something to remember me by."

Regina smiled so much it hurt her cheeks, "It's beautiful, Emma. But I don't need anything to remember you. I carry you with me everywhere I go."

"Hmm," Emma hummed, "Well, this is a good representation of me. It's hard and cold," she laughs a little. "And it sparkles along the sunlight. And it's still, like my heart, which it too, is yours."

Regina grinned, biting her lower lip before she's pulling Emma in, her lips pressing hard and passionate along her cold ones. She was relieved when Emma's lips responded to each movement hers made. She gasped as she felt Emma's arms sweep her off her feet, her hands holding onto her thighs. A new reaction that Emma would have never done before.

"Emma," Regina breathed along Emma's icy lips, continuing to mold them along with hers. "I'd like to renegotiate my own condition."

Emma breathed heavily, moving over to the bed and sitting Regina down while positioning herself alongside her. Regina almost whimpered at the lost contact. "What is it?" Emma asks.

"Okay… Marriage is the condition for you to change me yourself, right?"

The corner of Emma's lip lifted, "Yes."

"Well…" Regina scoots a little closer toward Emma, "Let's say I accept. I accept every condition you want to place on me. I'll let you pay for a ridiculously expensive college and let you buy me a car-"

Emma can't help but laugh softly.

"I'll marry you. We can go to Vegas right now, elope and be married tonight. I just need you to try something for me…" She whispered. "While I'm still me. While I'm still human."

"Anything your heart desires, it's yours." Emma whispered. She listens to Regina's heart as it's beating faster than ever.

"You promise?"

Emma nods, clueless. "Yes."

Regina's arms and hands cling to Emma's form, holding her closer until their lips meet again. She can feel Emma's hesitance, but is relieved to feel her respond to every movement she makes. Including Emma's cold hand cupping along Regina's face.

"Gina… I can't," Emma murmurs her name against her lips, wanting to pull away.

"You promised," Regina whispered, her fingers tangling themselves in Emma's soft hair. "Try. Please. Just try."

A low growl escaped from within Emma's throat, and to Regina's surprise her hand clasped along Regina's thigh, bringing it up to rest along her waist. An action that she had never done before. That let Regina know that Emma wanted this just as much as she did. At least she hoped that's what it meant, because as soon as her body relaxed and laid along the bed, Emma seemed to quickly tense again, halting Regina's hand from lifting up her shirt.

"Gina, stop," Emma hissed, sitting up at the edge of the bed.

"Emma," Regina groaned, "You've said you wanted me to have every human experience."

"Not one that risks killing you." Emma shakes her head, frowning at the disappointment lingering behind Regina's eyes. "Gina…" Her hand cups Regina's chin, forcing her to look into her eyes. "Believe me. I want to. I do."

"Do you?" Regina scoffs.

"Of course, I do," Emma chuckled, "Doesn't everyone? Regina, you have no idea how desirable you really are to me. It's hard enough… one wrong move- one thrust and I could…" Her jaw clenches hard as she blinks. "I couldn't possibly live with myself if something were to happen to you because of me. You have to understand that."

"I do." Regina adjusts herself along the bed, sitting closer to Emma while reaching for her hand. "Emma, I do. But this is what I want."

Emma smiles, "I want it, too, Regina. So so much. I just want to be married to you first."

Regina chuckled, "Emma, once I'm turned, I will be more focused in wanting to slaughter the whole town than being with you."

"That part doesn't last forever." Emma shakes her head. "And you'll still be my Regina." She smiled, "Just be patient. Please. After you're turned, I promise it will be better. I won't have to worry about being as gentle, I won't have to worry about crushing every bone in your body-"

"After I'm turned I will want to drink the blood of my own father, Emma." Regina challenged, "Or Ruby's."

Emma chuckled, her nose scrunching in disgust, "Please… Even as a newborn I think you'll have better taste than Ruby."

"I trust you, Emma," Regina straddles Emma's lap, holding onto her with all of her human strength, which has proven to not be much around a vampire like her. "You won't hurt me."

"You have too much faith in me, Gina…" Emma smiled a little.

"Is that a bad thing?" Regina leaned in, capturing Emma's lips once again with her own.

Emma's lips molded along with Regina's, but her hands were determined to stop her every movement as she lifted Regina up, standing her up and lifting herself up off the bed. Regina heard a snap coming from within the bed, proof enough of Emma's strength. "This is unbearable, Regina…" Emma turns to face her. "Do you know how hard it is for me that I want to give you everything your heart desires and I can't give you this one thing you demand? I'm not saying no. Just not yet."

Regina's frown deepened.

Emma closed in, pulling Regina into her embrace as delicately as possible. "Gina…" She whispers into her ear, dipping her head along her hair. "I'm not saying no. I want you, more than anything I've ever wanted in my hundred and ten years of immortal life. I just want to marry you. That's my condition."

Regina looked into Emma's eyes, "So I have to marry you first?"

Emma nods, "That's my negotiation. Compromise."

Regina scoffs, brushing her ruffled hair away from her eyes, "Emma, being married before we… that's such an ancient thing to do."

Emma chuckled, "Maybe for you, but… for me… I'm from a different era, remember? In my time, things were a lot less complicated." She takes Regina by the hand and guides her toward the bed again, urging her to sit. "You see, Gina, even at seventeen- in my time- I was already a woman. I was a woman with experience beyond yours at this age, and I knew what I wanted out of life before it was stolen from me. I've always been the type of girl to want marriage and a family."

Regina looks up at Emma as she stands before her now.

"And you became my family even before I knew I wanted you for myself," the corner of Emma's lip lifts slightly. "And had I met you back in my time- even in secret- I would have courted you. I would have invited you to a stroll or two, invited you for ice tea on my father's porch while he was away," he chuckled, her eyes locking intensely onto Regina's now. "I may have stolen a kiss or two. And given that I would have been deprived of asking for your hand in marriage… I would have simply gotten down on one knee…"

Regina gasps as Emma drops to a single knee.

"And I would have presented you with a ring." Emma swallows down the lump in her throat, holding out a small box that reveals a platinum white ring that's shaped like a swan. "This was my mother's." She places the box within Regina's palm.

Regina looks into Emma's golden eyes, her own eye glossing over. She had no words to even fight what was happening right now.

"Regina Marie Mills… I promise to love you every moment of forever," Said Emma. "Will you please do me the extraordinary honor of marrying me?"

Regina couldn't help but smile, quickly wiping away a single tear that trails down her cheek. "Yes," she whispers, nodding her head.

Emma's smile grows and for the first time in her hundred and ten years of life, she feels her heart beat faster than ever before. She can't help herself as she stands and lifts Regina up in her arms, spinning her around in circles, seeking out her lips in a passionate kiss that weighs above the rest.