Chapter one - Picnic with reasons
Emma decided that she was going to try and mend her relationship with Regina for once and for all. She wanted to do this because she could see that Henry still very much loved Regina as anyone would love the person that has brought you up and she decided that if Henry could love her that much then she was worth trying to save even if it seemed like an impossible mission. Her first attempt was going to be a picnic in Regina's backyard together with Henry.

'Why do you want to do a picnic with my mom Emma? It doesn't really seem like something you would do.'

'I'm doing this Henry because it's a nice day out and you and Regina should spend some time together, but in a way that I can keep an eye on you.'

This wasn't a complete lie, but she couldn't tell him the real reason just yet since he was still mad at Regina even though he loved her and she also still questioned her own reasons besides wanting Henry to be happy. They went to Regina's mansion and knocked on the door with picnic basket and blanket in hand. Only a mere 30 seconds after they rang the doorbell Regina opened the door.

'Henry! And Emma… to what do I owe this pleasure?'

'Ehm…well it's a nice day and I figured that it would be nice to have a little picnic in your backyard since you and Henry haven't done anything together in a while now…'

'And whose fault is that may I ask?'

'Can we mom? Please? I mean the sun is shining and the apple tree must smell amazing right now.'

'It does… Okay then. I guess it won't hurt anyone. Come on in.'

Regina took Henry by his hand and just before it truly seemed like she had forgotten that Emma was there too she turned her head and motioned Emma forward. Emma went in and closed the door behind her quickly following Henry and Regina to the back of the house and into the garden. Henry and Regina spread out the blanket and Emma put the basket on top of it and sat down immediately feeling a little awkward when she looked at the apple tree that she had ravaged when she first came to Storybrooke.

'…Are you going to actually share with us what you've brought or are you just going to stare a whole into the blanket?' Regina asked a manner of sassiness that she's perfected over the years.

'Oh! Uhm, yeah. So we've got some sandwiches with peanut butter, jam and also some with fresh strawberries. To drink we have iced tea with lemon and for dessert some brownies.'

'I do hope those brownies are the child friendly version Emma since I don't particularly care for the biologically enhanced version of the recipe with which you are probably all too familiar.'

This was probably going to be even harder than she already figured Emma thought to herself. She would just have to suck it up if she was going to break through the thousands of walls that Regina had carefully installed around her most wounded part of herself.

'Henry made them himself. He's much better at these things than I am. I suppose he got that from you.'

'Most likely, yes.'

'So you'll eat them? I know you don't always want chocolate, but I really wanted some.'

Regina softened immediately and replied kindly to Henry 'Of course I will Henry, but let's start on the sandwiches first okay?'

'Okay. Which kind do you want first?'

'I'll have a strawberry one first please. Can you hand me a napkin to go with it?'

'Uhm… we didn't pack those, but I'll get some out of the kitchen. I'll be right back.'

While Henry went to go look for some napkins back inside the house Emma saw this as a chance to try and strike up a conversation and she started rattling her brain for a good starting topic.

'It's nice out here I have to say. I mean I never took a good look, but it is.'

'Well it's hard to take a good look when you're chain sawing an apple tree isn't it?'

'…I do regret pushing you like that you know.'

'Why would you? It got you what you wanted. It's not that I don't like having Henry over, but let's not forget that if it wasn't for Henry you and I wouldn't be spending any time together at all.'

'Regina…I…'

'I what Emma? It's true and you know it.'

'I've got the napkins mom!'

'Thanks Henry. Mmmm this sandwich IS delicious.'

I guess I need to try a different approach maybe without Henry. Show her that I am serious about this… For now though I'll let Henry have this because he really needs it.

'Mom…? Emma?!' Regina's eyes widened at the first term, but she quickly put her mask back on as to not let Emma have anything to hold over her.

'Oh! Uh…yeah sorry ehm yeah these are really nice it was a good choice to buy these at the store.'

After a couple of hours when almost all of the food was finished Henry dozed off on the blanket that was directly sitting in the sun. Emma brought him inside and Regina cleaned up outside and took the basket and blanket inside.

'Here's your blanket and basket back Emma.'

'Thanks. Look ehm…'

'I know I need to wake him up in a couple of minutes so you can go back to the Charmings for dinner right?'

'No, that's not what I wanted to suggest actually.'

'Then what is your amazing suggestion going to be?'

'How about I order us some pizza and we can have a movie night? Henry was dying to see some zombie survival movie and you have a way bigger TV anyways.'

'Well you're really showering me with compliments about my house today aren't you? Any particular reason you're trying to be so nice?'

'No, I just…I'm trying to create a better situation for Henry that's all.'

'Well, I suppose we can have a movie night. Beats having Henry ruin his eyes while watching it on that miniature thing Snow and Charming call a TV. I'll wake Henry up so can you call the pizza courier? I would like to have a pizza margarita just so you know.'

'Okay! I'll get right on it.'

'Henry, sweety, wake up please it is almost time for dinner.'

'Dinner…? What time is it then?'

'It's almost six. Emma is ordering us some pizza and we planned on doing a movie night since you wanted to see that ehm zombie movie I believe it was?'

'Oh! Zombieland! Yeah! My friends said that it's super cool! Thanks mom.' He gave her a tentative hug and even though Regina noticed his hesitation, which pained her, she welcomed any attention she could get from Henry.

'Well before we can do any of that you have to wash your hands first okay?'

'Okay mom.'

Regina decided to go back to the kitchen where she left Emma to make sure that the kitchen wasn't going to burn down just by her presence.

'Did you manage to order us our pizza's Miss…Emma?'

'Yeah 'course I did. I might not be able to cook, but I sure know how to order food!'

'Of course…'

The pizza shortly arrived and Emma paid for the pizza and also gave the guy a tip since delivering something to the house of Mayor Mills must´ve been a scary prospect she thought.

´Thanks Sherriff Swan! See you around!´

´Bye!´

She walked back into the kitchen where she saw Regina and Henry hugging each other and Regina even had a tear running down her face. Emma decided to wait a little before interrupting them. When Henry pulled back from the embrace and Regina wiped her eyes Emma acted as if she just came in.

´Let´s dig in shall we?'

'Pizza for the win! Thanks Ma!'

Emma and Henry were already violently attacking their pizza's when Regina came back with cutlery for her own pizza. When it came to things like this you could see the biological connection between the two of them even if you were blind Regina thought to herself. Sometimes she wished in that sense Henry would take a little more after her, but that would mean Henry would be a different boy and she loved him just the way he was.

'Do you guys really have to eat like cavemen? At least use a napkin!'

'It's jusht so goowd mom.'

'It really ish I have toh say Ruhginah.'

'Please swallow your food before talking or you might end up choking and I can't put two people in a Heimlich hold at the time dear. And you know I wouldn't help you first.'

Emma almost choked on her food as Regina said that instantly picturing the hilarious scene and the thought of Regina's arms around her waist wandering if it would feel as soft and warm as she imagined it to be. The last part shocked her a little. She has to keep these thoughts in check she thought to herself otherwise her whole plan would crumble under her very eyes. I mean she was doing this for Henry after all wasn't she?

'…good thing Emma came up with an awesome topic and I managed to write the whole thing in one afternoon!'.

'And what was this amazing topic Emma came up with for you?' She said this looking at Emma instead of Henry.

'Well the assignment was that Henry should write what makes a leader a leader and I told him he should write about you since you're the mayor of this town and mayors are always leaders.'

'You…you really suggested that?'

'Yeah, I did.'

For some reason Emma smiled the biggest of smiles at her own statement which took Regina aback since it looked downright adorable. 'Wait, what? Adorable?! That's ridiculous!' she thought to herself. She quickly dismissed it, but found herself smiling back nonetheless.

'Can I…read it sometime Henry?'

'You…you can ehm I can give it to you tomorrow? I don't have it with me right now.'

'Sounds great dear. I'm looking forward to it.'

Henry went a little shy which isn't something she got to see that often anymore, but she loved it. He quickly changed his demeanor trying to keep Regina mentally at arm's length because he was still unsure about some things when it came to her. He hadn't admitted that to anyone, but Emma had noticed it and the internal struggle is what compelled her to do something about it.

'Can we go watch the movie now guys? And can we have some popcorn mom? Emma and I can put the DVD in the DVD player and start everything up in the living room.'

Regina noticed that there was something off, but she wasn't going to make a big deal out of it even though Henry's look did sting a little. She figured that it would take quite some time before she would be off the hook and she suddenly found herself dreading every step that took her relationship with Henry in this direction.

'Sure Henry I'll go make some. It'll be done in like five minutes or so okay?'

'Thanks mom.'

Just before the movie ended Henry had fallen asleep on the couch in between Emma and Regina. Both women looked at each other and then at Henry contemplating what they should say or do. Emma picked him up and took him to his bedroom and tucked him in. When she got downstairs she finally cut right through her own nerves and was the first to speak.

'I think Henry did enjoy today Regina. I really hope you guys can work out all your issues. That's actually kind of the reason I brought him here even though people keep telling me not to give you any more chances. I mean…it's just…Henry struggles with how things are now. He loves you, but he has a hard time trusting you with his heart again. He's just…sensitive.'

That cut Regina deep and tears started forming in her eyes. This in turn made Emma feel really guilty for laying it on her like that, but she figured honesty would be the best way forward.

'Don't you think I know he's sensitive? There is not a day that goes by that I don't hate hurting him and putting him in harm's way. And here you are coming at me with your self-proclaimed righteousness telling me what kind of boy Henry is?'

At this point Regina almost couldn't keep the tears from spilling from her eyes and she swallowed hard. Emma made a bold move which she figured could possible earn her a punch from Regina and she didn't like that idea, but she felt like she needed to do it anyway so she moved up the couch and hugged Regina softly yet firmly. Regina tensed at first and then gave in because there were too many emotions going through her to keep herself in check. At least that is what she told herself.

'I… I know you care for Henry very deeply and want nothing more than to be the person that can always make him smile. I mean kids are forever right? At least that's what I think separates caretakers from real parents. You'll love him no matter what and I wish I would've had someone like you when I was young even if you can be a bit of a hardass and even if you make mistakes.'

'I'm a hardass because I know what dangers lie ahead. I…I just…'

Regina couldn't get herself to coherently speak anymore so she just held on to Emma tighter and Emma returned the favor by holding on tighter to Regina. After 10 minutes or so when both women felt their eyes starting to droop they came apart both immediately hyper aware of what just happened, but trying not to freak out.

'Can you bring him to school tomorrow? I have to go in a little early to catch up on some paperwork at the station.'

'Sure. I can do that… Anything special at school tomorrow that I need to know about?'

'Not that I know of. I'll make sure Henry gets you that essay tomorrow okay?'

Regina let Emma out and went upstairs. Before she went to her own room however she took a peak at Henry and smiled at the sight of his peaceful slumber. She thanked the heavens that Emma gave her this wonderful little bundle of life. Her thoughts then wandered back to the embrace she and Emma shared earlier while smelling her own sweater which still smelled a little like her. As quickly as she did that she shook her head and quickly headed to her own room. Her conscious attempt to keep Emma out of her thoughts didn't however keep Emma out of her dreams.