AU: SUPER CUTE PICTURE for your enjoyment. You're welcome. It's my new home screen lmao.

Emma wakes with the sunlight streaming through sheer curtains. The pillow that was between them is now bunched up between her thighs and where Regina was sleeping is now cold and empty. Emma sighs, and rubs her palms into her tired eyes. She probably should have warned Regina that she moves around in her sleep, and, she notes with a little blush, is a bit cuddly. She hopes that for the sake of them and their vacation that she didn't just eff up everything they built during their many years in each other lives. Whatever it was they built, anyway, some sort of friendship with random almost-flirting at times, and fights thrown in. She glances at the clock. 9:32. How long had Regina been up? She yawns, a huge yawn that she can't even open her mouth wide enough for, grabs a sweatshirt, and pads to the kitchen in her bare feet. She'd been planning to eat maybe some grapes that they'd picked up on their way to the apartment among other things, but what she sees stops her in her tracks.

Regina is half-scrambling eggs in the pan, half-dancing to the soft radio playing with Henry by her side, who is buttering three slices of toast. Both of them are whacking each other with their hips, both singing along to the song, and Emma is shocked at how amazing Henry's voice is. It's rich, deep, melodic, perfectly on pitch, and he even riffs a little at parts. Regina isn't bad either, and together they sound perfect. On the high note, Regina even takes the spatula and sings into it like a microphone, tilting her head back, while Henry carries a slightly different note in perfect harmony, voice wavering only slightly due to his laughing at his mother. Emma doesn't realize her mouth is hanging open until she closes it. She doesn't know how long she'd been planning on hiding around the corner, but Henry catches her eye in the middle of belting out the bridge of the song, and without faltering, he smiles, and waves her into the kitchen. Emma smiles a little, and enters the room.

Regina stops as soon as she sees her, which leads to Henry stopping, and Emma feels like she's just spoiled something very special. "Morning," she says weakly, voice nearly nonexistent due to the morning. She clears her throat a few times and looks at them from behind her curtain of hair.

"Good morning, Miss Swan," Regina says, all business, and finishes up the eggs.

In a vain attempt to break the tension, she addresses Henry. "So, Kid, you're handling this morning pretty well,"

He frowns. "What do you mean?"

"Er...hangover?" She says, suddenly feeling very awkward and very much like she wants to leave the room.

"Oh," he laughs easily, nudges Emma. "I'm used to it."

A thick silence fills the room, and Regina looks like she's going to drop the pan on her foot. Henry's eyes go wide.

"I mean-" he breaks off, looks at Regina, who is suspiciously calmly dishing eggs into the plates, one with a larger amount which Emma assumes is for Henry. They both wait for her to lash out, but she's silent. She brings the plates to the table.

"Sorry," Henry blurts, looking at Emma for help or support or both, and all she can do is pull a grimace. Finally, Regina speaks, and she does so suddenly that it makes both Emma and Henry jump.

"I recall a conversation where you said you did not drink much at college," Regina states, her tone giving nothing away besides the fact that Henry messed up.

"I was-it's the truth," he stumbles. "Really. By 'used to them' I meant that it was obviously not the only one I'd experienced, and this one is really mild."

"Mild? As opposed to..." Regina trails off, crossing her arms, prompting him to elaborate. Emma wants to melt and slide through the cracks in the floor.

"I got super smashed once." Henry says, and his tone doesn't really convey any apologies or regretfulness, just stating the facts.

Emma's heart rises to her throat. "You did? Oh..Kid..." She croaks out, feels like she's going to cry or yell or leave or all three.

Regina looks like she feels the same way, but has enough strength to take a jab at Emma. "Look. Even your irresponsible other mother feels the same way as I do. You should be ashamed."

Emma can't believe her ears. "Can you stop acting like I have no idea how to be a mother? I just don't-I just don't want him to turn out like me!" The room almost rings with her confession, and it even shuts Regina up.

Henry sighs, places one broad hand on one of each of his mother's shoulders. "Moms, I'm sorry. It hasn't happened since. I'm sorry that I ruined the entire atmosphere of this. Be mad at me, but please don't fight with each other," he pleads.

Regina falters. Emma still marvels at how easily Henry can get her to change her tune. "You're right, Henry. I'm sorry I..." She looks away from Emma and instead just stares up at Henry. "..let my temper interfere. You are old enough to make your own decisions, but that doesn't mean I will always support them."

Henry's face falls at that last part, and he pulls her close into a quick embrace. "I'm sorry," he tries again. Regina smiles at him then, a smile that very barely reaches her eyes but it's there. He relaxes a bit, and tries pointedly not to look at Emma.

"I agree with your mom, Kid." She sighs, crossing her arms around her too-large sweatshirt. Henry's mouth twitches, looks very much like he wants to make a wisecrack about how much Emma sounded like the supportive dad, but she shoots him a look just in time. "Don't even think about it." But she cracks and gives a tiny smile.

There's another moment of silence, before Henry decides to sit down and dig into his eggs, a slight pink showing at the very tips of his ears giving away his discomfort with the situation he admittedly ruined. When his mothers look at him, he shrugs. "What? Didn't want the eggs going cold," he says through a mouthful. Emma and Regina smile and sit down simultaneously.

"So," he says after they're settled, and Emma's ravenous stomach has allowed her to finish most of her plate, "Are you guys still on board for sightseeing?"

Regina smiles at him, with those beautifully pale and slightly dry lips, ones that have not yet been painted for the day, "Most definitely."

---

Emma had been right about Henry's ridiculously long strides and it's even more apparent in the fast-moving streets of New York City, combined with his excitement. At first, Emma had been impressed by Regina's ability to keep up with them in her impractical heels, but she had figured that the brunette is more than used to walking on her toes from her Queen and Mayor days, but before too long, she's begun to slow.

Henry looks behind him, and sees his mother more than a few paces behind, and Emma lagging a bit as well. He slows his pace and walks backwards a few steps until he's next to Regina. "What did I tell you, Mom?" He asks, unable to keep the slightly smug smile from his face.

"It's not just her, Kid," Emma says, taking exaggerated deep breaths. "Slow down,"

"Sorry," he says, the little shit-eating grin still on his face.

Regina sniffs, and looks away, pretending to be exceedingly interested in a random abstract sculpture, but Henry can detect the slightest bit of a limp in her step. "Mom," he says, using a tone that can only be described as a parent scolding a child, although Emma can totally tell he's just mocking it. "It's the shoes, isn't it?"

"I'm perfectly fine, dear," she says, giving him her little deigning smile that worked much better when he was ten and nowhere near as tall. Emma rolls her eyes and steps next to Regina where her bag is slung on her shoulder. With no thought of personal space, the blonde reaches in and takes out a pair of black flats.

"Here, Regina," she says, trying extremely hard not to laugh. "I packed some flats for you when you weren't looking because I knew this was inevitable." Henry's bent over laughing, and Regina looks like she can't possibly believe that Emma just did that. "Oh, come on. You know you want them." Regina sighs, and sits down on a nearby bench to swap her shoes.

"Only for you, dear," she says mockingly, but closes her eyes in relief when she stands in the much more comfortable footwear.

"Yeah, sure it's for me," she says to the Kid, but loud enough for Regina to hear. She finally lets herself laugh when Regina stands and her true height is shown right next to their son.

"He's like a skyscraper next to you," she wheezes, using the city surrounding them as inspiration.

"You say this like it's not the same for you, dear." She says, but she's undoubtably pouting.

"Yeah, but with you it's funnier."

---

After a long day of walking across the busy streets of New York, where Regina surprised Emma by indulging in a pizza slice per Henry's request and seemed to genuinely enjoy it, Emma is standing in the shower, water turned ice cold. She's been battling with something today-hell, nearly her entire time in Storybrooke-and this vacation is bringing out something in her much stronger than she thought possible. Her mind sifts through moments. Regina, swinging open the door for the very first time, looking stunning even in her distress. Slamming Regina up against the wall in fury at the hospital, "That apple turnover you gave me, he ate it!" Looking at Regina, her face looking something very much like genuine concern, after she saved her and Mary Margaret at the well, then absorbing the power of the diamond with Regina to save the town, battling countless villains together, inviting her to the party and watching her enter the diner, adorably shy-"Sorry I'm late," Working together to save Henry in Neverland, and a thousand others until she settles on her favorite: at the town line right before Pan's curse hit. "My gift to you, is good memories." She remembers that moment, crystal clear, of Regina doing the most selfless thing Emma has ever witnessed another human do. Regina, giving away her son to her, to the very woman who she vowed would leave the town the very first year. That memory, Regina's ultimate sacrifice, the exact reason they're even in this damn apartment, on this damn vacation, and the reason that Emma is standing shivering in the shower, partly from the water temperature but mostly from the sudden realization. Holy shit, I'm in love with Regina Mills. Emma's heart races, and turns off the water with shaking fingers. She tests it out on her tongue. "I'm in love with Regina," she whispers, and in that moment every single emotion she's ever felt ever since Henry dragged her here, babbling about magic, has become clear. She knows she's in love with the very woman who was her enemy, the very woman whom Emma actually believed did not love Henry. The very woman who Emma, thinking back on it now with shame, she tried to take her son from so many times. And, Emma thinks, tucking a rough towel around her body, she's known it for a long time. Much longer than she cares to admit. I'm in love with Regina-fucking-Mills.

---

Both women are sitting on the tattered couch, watching some stupid housewives show that neither seems to be paying attention to. Regina's staring at the screen just so that she doesn't have to look at Emma, but when she can't take any more white women screaming at each other, she allows herself a glance. Emma has a funny expression on her face, and Regina's brow furrows. She turns off the television, and Emma doesn't even flinch or seem to notice. Regina lays a hesitant hand on Emma's shoulder, and Emma starts.

"Emma," Regina says quietly, "what's going on?"

Emma sighs. "I just...actually, you know what?" She puts her hands on her knees and pushes herself up. "I'm gonna need a drink."

Regina gives her a small smile and settles back into the cushions.

"Want some?"

"Get the good stuff," Regina sighs, shifts, still wearing her uncomfortable day clothes.

"Scotch?" Emma asks, but she's already taking it out.

"Please."

Emma smiles at Regina's comfortable language with her, and takes out two wine glasses. She rinses them out briefly before pouring a good amount into both glasses. As an afterthought she brings the rest of the bottle with her.

She sets the bottle down, hands Regina her glass, and sits down carefully with hers. She would never hear the end of it if she spilled on herself. Regina takes a sip and smiles contentedly. "Now, tell me what's going on, Miss Swan," she says, but a smirk is curling on her lips at the use of the nickname.

Emma takes a long gulp, and flinches as the alcohol burns down her throat.

"Should we have started with something lighter?" Regina teases, and Emma pulls a face and takes another more controlled sip before answering.

"It's just...this is so nice. This entire vacation. The Kid, me, you..." She breaks off, looks away. "I just never thought I would have this."

Regina's heart slams in her chest. "Miss-"

"No, stop. I know what you're doing. You put up walls of your own, Regina. I hope I'll be able to see past them someday," Emma says quietly.

Regina's mind is racing. What is she trying to say? But she remains calm on the outside and swirls her drink before swallowing. "You...deserve happiness. I'm happy you've found some..form of it on this vacation." She coughs lightly, and makes herself drag her eyes up to the blonde.

Emma smiles, a close-mouthed, sweet smile that lets Regina know how happy her statement made her without overdoing it. "Well, what about you? How are you holding up with all this?"

Regina raises her eyebrows, swirls her glass again. "It's actually something I think I can enjoy. I really came for the benefit of Henry...but now I see how much he really wanted to share with me. It's sweet," she admits, trying to bring the conversation back to their son, their safe ground, to avoid the warmness that's already spreading across her cheeks. This is getting far too intimate, and Regina's on the edge of something terrible or something amazing, something she could deny herself a thousand times over.

"Yeah, he's a really great kid." Emma frowns. "Although, he's really not as much of a kid anymore as I think he is."

"My thoughts exactly," Regina sighs. She shamelessly refills her glass, and Emma follows suit, the liquor giving her all the liquid courage she needs.

"You know what? Let's try to have an evening where we don't talk about Henry. I want to know about you." Emma says, immediately retreating behind her glass.

This catches the other woman by surprise, and as she glances at Emma she could swear the blonde is a few inches closer. "I uh-" Regina begins, clears her throat when her voice comes out altogether too scratchy. "What would you like to know?"

"Anything." Emma says, giving the brunette that intoxicating smile, and Regina nearly melts into the couch. "Tell me something I don't know about you."

Regina thinks for a moment, then dives back into a memory, taking Emma with her without even realizing the vulnerability involved. "When my mother would....hurt me, verbally or with her magic, I would get locked in my room as punishment for whatever I did wrong that day. I would...cry, into a pillow so she couldn't hear, lest she get even more angry. But some days..." She trails off, a glassy faraway look in her eyes. "Some days, my father would intervene. He had the key, and would unlock my room, and tell me, 'come on, let's go for a ride'. I can still hear him say it...I would dry my tears, a real smile on my face for the first time in days, and we would gallop out to a field with my favorite flowers and I would laugh, flying next to him on my horse, the sweet smell and the sunshine washing away my troubles and sadness, erasing my mother from my memory even for the shortest of minutes. It's still the best feeling I can imagine," she whispers, closing her eyes, completely lost in the memory.

Emma can't swallow past the lump she feels in her throat. "Regina..." She moves closer until she's sitting right next to the gorgeous woman beside her. "That's all I want for you, that kind of happiness. If I could grow a thousand fields of those flowers right there in Storybrooke I would," Regina looks at her, eyes warm and glassy. A watery smile breaks through and Emma grins, nearly in tears herself. "I would give you all that...and more," she murmurs, and Regina closes her eyes, face turned towards her. Emma's heart pounds and she decides to do the very thing she's wanted to for years. Emma reaches forward, tucks a lock of dark hair behind the brunette's ear and slides her hand gently down her cheek, bringing her even closer, and then.....

Emma leans in, and gently pushes her lips onto those perfect plump lips. Her heart stops for a moment, thinking she's ruined everything as Regina goes rigid against her. Then, as a tear falls from her closed lashes, Emma feels Regina kiss back.

Okay everyone..IT HAPPENED!!!! Thoughts? And oh, if you think this is going great and smoothly....think again. Hehehehe. We're just getting started. Chapter 5 will be a continuation of this scene.

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