Reset

Regina didn't let the blonde go and looked at her with heart breaking kindness, "what is it, Darling?"

Emma smiled at the label and sighed, "it's Sidney," she admitted, "I know I shouldn't let him get to me but I can't help it."

Regina nodded with understanding and released her grip slightly and allowed Emma to sit back a little.

"I know it's stupid," Emma admonished herself, "I should just enjoy our time together but I can't help but think he is going to come in and ruin everything. That he is going to break up our family and take away the person I love."

Regina's eyes flew wide open at the admission and Emma closed her eyes as she apologised, "I'm sorry that probably wasn't the best way to say that.."

"I'm just surprised," Regina said quickly as her brain started to take on board the fact that Emma had admitted her love.

"You don't have to say anything back," Emma said quickly as she stared at the wine glass in front of her, mentally cursing it for her slip.

"I.. do care for you," Regina admitted slowly, carefully, "I deeply care for you, Emma, I just don't.."

"Don't say anything else," Emma said quickly as she picked up the wine glass and downed the liquid, "don't say anything either of us might regret, we've had a great evening, the food was amazing, we discovered I'm not Gandalf. Let's just pretend that last bit didn't happen, okay?"

Regina looked at her with sad eyes and Emma pleaded again, "please?"

Regina nodded her agreement and Emma smiled warmly but it didn't quite meet her eyes. The blonde glanced at the clock on the wall, "I better get moving, I need to do my exercises before bed and then I have an early start tomorrow."

"Emma.." Regina said as Emma stood up.

"Dinner was amazing, thank you so much," Emma said as Regina stood up as well, she leaned in and kissed the brunette softly on the lips, "goodnight, Regina," she quickly left the room while attempting to look unaffected by what had happened.

Regina watched her leave and sighed as she flopped back onto the sofa again. She hadn't wanted to tell Emma she loved her because she wasn't sure exactly what her feelings were yet. She knew that saying something so serious prematurely could have disastrous repercussions later down the line, especially considering how sensitive Emma was.

She knew she cared deeply about Emma, she knew she was an essential part of her life these days but she wanted to be absolutely sure what that meant before she stepped over a line. Hurting Emma was incomprehensible and Regina was absolutely determined to not make that mistake. She didn't want to tell Emma she was feeling things she wasn't feeling but now she thought about it, now she realised that Emma loved her she found she was confused.

Regina had always thought that she was unlovable, that explained so much about her life to date. It was just easier to assume that she was never going to have that kind of love in her life, that knowledge had an effect on how she felt towards others. The wall around her heart prevented her from feeling love as she knew it would never be returned. But now that was being brought into question. Emma said she loved her, or she had definitely inferred as much at least. With this new information Regina started to reconsider her own feelings.

She waved her hand and the black cocktail dress disappeared and yoga bottoms and a tank top replaced it. She quickly made her way upstairs to the door to Emma's bedroom and hesitantly knocked on the door and waited for Emma's quiet, "come in, Regina.."

Regina opened the door and popped her head around the door and saw Emma laying on an exercise mat the floor in her exercise clothes. She was looking at Regina with a fake smile, "hi?"

Regina stepped into the room to show Emma her new outfit, "I'm here to help," Regina said, "if you want me?"

A real smile replaced the one on Emma's face and she nodded, "I'd like that."

Regina entered the room and bent down to pick up a piece of paper from the floor beside Emma which had pictures of the exercises she was to perform, "these look horrendous," she commented.

"They aren't that bad," Emma shrugged.

Over the next half an hour Regina helped Emma with her exercises, holding limbs in place and counting seconds remaining in certain positions. Afterwards she stretched out with the blonde even though she hadn't done any of the exercises herself. When they were done they stood facing each other and Regina leaned in and kissed Emma softly and with promise, "goodnight, Emma," she said as she left the room. Emma stood still and watched as the door closed and felt her heart soaring happily again.

Chapter 90