"Meet Figaro," Emma introduced as she turned the key into the lock and opened the door wide. As soon as the smallest sliver opened, Figaro raced into the apartment and perched possessively on the living room chair which had a blanket draped over it. Even from her distance at the door, Regina could see the cat hair that littered the blanket and deduced that this cat certainly was a regular among the Booth household. "He's pretty good, if not a bit of a fatty," Emma explained. "Don't let his size fool you. That thing will devour your cereal the second you leave to get the milk."

"Cats shouldn't eat cereal."

Emma turned suddenly, an absolutely serious expression on her face despite the sleeping boy in her arm. "I know." She disappeared into the single bedroom briefly and returned empty handed before motioning to a spot on the rug in the middle of the living area. In the pale shades of brown fabric, a harsh orange stain stood out like a beacon. "He did that."

The brunette wrinkled her nose again. "Why is it orange?"

"I have no idea," the younger woman said gravely. "I tried everything. I can't get it out."

"Sit it in baking soda."

Emma smirked. "After making me wait two days to call you, I'll consider it payback."

Regina chuckled and commended with a nod. "I like the way you think, soldier."

Regina rolled her suitcase to what she assumed was the closet door and removed her peacoat, opening it to find her suspicions correct. A small smile graced her lips when she found Emma's uniform, newly laundered and worse for wear. Her fingers trailed over the rank stitched onto the bicep then over the jacket completely. The elbows, despite the thicker padding there, was worn and torn in places, and there were some stains over the body which Regina didn't even want to know what the cause was.

An arm weaved around her waist, and soon her back was pressed hotly against Emma's firm body as the blonde sighed contently, her warm breath tickling Regina's neck and ear enough to make her giggle. "I've really missed you."

Quickly hanging up her coat, Regina placed a hand over Emma's wrapped arms, allowed her head to fall back onto Emma's shoulder where the blonde began grazing her lips and nose against Regina's smooth neck. She used her free arm to find the back of Emma's head, fingers tangling in loose locks as she pulled the blonde closer. "I missed you too."

In the quiet of the room with cars honking below them, the wind bristling slightly through the partially opened window, and muffled conversations happening one floor above them, the ladies began to instinctively sway together, hips moving against hips, and their breaths mingling in the minute space between them. The white noise was their symphony, and their hearts orchestrated each movement.

They had danced away from the closet, swaying to and fro into the living room, their bodies never once separating. When Emma stepped, Regina followed, and when Regina squeezed her hand in yellow curls, Emma held her waist tighter, her fingers of her free hand tickling the small sliver of exposed skin at Regina's hip.

Regina sighed contently, letting her head fall back completely onto Emma's shoulder, and to Emma, that was all the invitation she needed to press soft lips against the juncture of Regina's neck, feeling her pulse jump in heated anticipation against her skin. Up and down, Emma's lips traced Regina's neck, following the contours of the veins there, kissing a path from her shoulder right under her ear. As soon as the whisper of her breathing tickled Regina's ear, the brunette giggled again, attempting to move away and push closer all at the same time. When she pressed a kiss right on Regina's ear, the quiet giggling turned into a humming before a breathy little moan escaped painted lips, and Emma darted her tongue out, tracing the shell of her lobe to make the pleased sound continue longer.

"I've missed this too," Emma whispered, placing one parting kiss on the shell of her ear before peppering the length of Regina's arm draped around her head.

"We never did this," Regina sighed breathily.

Reaching just shy of Regina's wrist, Emma pulled back enough to disentangle Regina's fingers from her hair, and in one fluid motion, had the brunette facing her. Emma latched onto the hand she had removed, weaving their fingers together before guiding Regina's free arm over her shoulder lazily and taking hold of the older woman's waist, not once faltering in their swaying movements.

"We should make a habit of this," Emma said as they both stepped in closer, the foreheads connecting like magnets.

"Of what?"

"Dancing."

"There's no music."

"That hasn't been a problem for the last twenty minutes."

Regina pulled back and looked around the room as if evidence of Emma's statement could be found in the changes of the atmosphere. The cars below were still honking, the wind had quieted down some, and the neighbours above were laughing. The only thing to back up her claim was the fact that the cat had moved from its spot on the chair to the open window, and the time on the VCR proclaimed it to be nearing 9:30. Having Emma's warmth and her scent and her arms wrapped around Regina again made time stand still, so with a gentle smile, the brunette nodded once, placing a chaste kiss on pink lips before resting their temples together.

"We should," Regina agreed.

It wasn't until Figaro started pawing at a container full of cat kibble did the two women ease apart.

"Duty calls," Emma informed her as she moved across the room to pick up a food bowl from the floor and filled a scoop of kibble in it.

"All that training put to good use," Regina quipped, removing her heeled boots and placing them by the front of the door before excusing herself with her suitcase to change in the bedroom out of her pantsuit for the evening. Ten minutes later, Regina exited the bedroom in a baggy US ARMY shirt and silk pyjama pants, carrying Henry's winter jacket she found draped on the bed and replacing it in the closet.

"Nice shirt," the blonde grinned from her spot on the couch where two glasses were poured and waiting on the coffee table, and a very content Figaro curled in the space between her legs.

"Well I didn't expect to see you here, did I?" Regina asked in a flushed haughtiness as she took a seat as close to Emma as possible.

When the couch dipped, jarring Figaro from his nap, the cat looked up and very nearly glared at the brunette woman before standing and repositioning himself again, this time his butt to Regina and his head draped over Emma's thigh. Regina raised an eyebrow at the quite purposeful behaviour of the feline, but Emma just laughed with the back of her hand to her mouth in barely restrained amusement.

"Nine months apart and you've already replaced me," Regina said in feigned offence as she sat forward on the middle cushion, purposely keeping to herself as she leaned forward to take a sip of wine. "With a cat, I might add."

"I could say the same for you." Emma scooped Figaro in an arm and gently put the cat on the floor where it glared at the blonde woman before finding his spot again at his designated sitting area. "What's this I hear about a New Year's Eve bash and half the town partying at your place?"

"It wasn't half the town," Regina defended, leaning back and pulling Emma's leg into her lap. "Besides, it was August's idea."

"Funny how that guy always gets what he wants."

Regina grinned, tucking in closer so that she was pressed against Emma in the corner of the couch. Pale hands rested along the back where they occupied themselves by playing with the strands of silky brown locks.

"Your hair is longer," Emma commented.

Instinctively Regina reached up to pull at the ends of her hair and agreed with a nod. "I suppose Henry and I are both due for a trip to the barber."

"I like it."

Regina blushed.

Tilting her head to give the blonde better access, Regina's eyes fluttered shut at the soft massaging motion deft fingers were doing to her scalp. Small circles at the crown of her head there and nails raking lightly here. The hypnotic movement was so entrancing Regina didn't even realize she was pressed lengthwise on Emma's body until a content breath fluttered across her cheek and a loud heartbeat drummed in her ear.

Regina sat up, forcing Emma to pause in her massaging as she stared down at the younger woman whose lines on her face showed just how much wear and tear she had been through over the course of her life, but the laugh lines around her eyes and lips proved that she had persevered through it all. "I'm sorry," Regina whispered, her hand sneaking up to play with the collar of Emma's shirt. "For snapping at you on the phone."

Emma rolled a noncommittal shoulder. "Don't worry."

"I do." Regina tried to sit up but found she couldn't since Emma had wrapped an arm around her waist and weaved her leg around Regina's. Resigned, she pressed firmly against Emma again and explained. "I do worry about you, and I trust that you'll make sound judgments. The thought of anything happening to you, of losing you, it's . . .absolutely terrifying."

"Nothing is going to happen, Regina."

Clutching the shirt in her fist tightly in some subconscious way to keep Emma close and to make her understand, Regina furrowed her brow as she searched for the right words. "I know. I know you'll always come home, but I have to be realistic that there are risks. Your life is in danger every day, and I don't even think that's all of it." Biting her lip, Regina continued. "What's happening over there that you have to pretend that Henry is your godson?"