Summary: Episode tag for "Queen of Hearts" before the events of "The Cricket Game" (season 2)
A lot of people wanted to see the scene where Emma invited Regina to the welcome back party. Here's my take:
Invitation
Emma looks at Henry as she and everyone else are walking down the street. He's grown in just the few months she's been away. She lifts her head to say something to Regina then her brow furrows as she realizes the brunette isn't with them. She faltered her steps, falling out of the lineup, and pulled her cellphone out of her pocket.
She smiled briefly at the relief when she saw, for the first time in weeks, that she had signal. Punching the first quick-dial she put the phone to her ear.
"Miss Swan?"
"Where are you?"
"What does that matter?"
Regina sounds beyond exhausted and Emma wonders exactly what the woman did to get them back from the Enchanted Forest. She's suddenly not feeling all that energized herself. "I'm going to feed Henry and bring him back to your place. Then I'd like to talk."
Emma declines any and all party attempts, just wolfing down the biggest burger Granny can manage in ten minutes. Then she tells David and Mary Margaret she's going to take Henry home.
They nod and Emma accepts a quick hug from Snow before the woman falls back into a never-let-you-go-again embrace with David.
She gets some of the story of Regina's role from Henry in the walk to the mansion. Relief floods her at the silliest things: the fact that the streetlights wash out the stars overhead. The slight smell of gasoline that rises from the asphalt in the street. The yowling that belongs to mating cats instead of pissed off ogres. The barking that suggests Pongo has gotten out again. She's even looking forward to Archie's call in the morning to find his wayward dalmatian.
"Miss Swan, you are late."
Regina is leaning on the door as Emma and Henry approach up the stone path. She's trying not to, trying to pull her armor on, her mouth drawn in a tight light, still in her pantsuit. But Emma knows her, sees the anxiety, the tension trying to stay upright causes in her cheeks and her eyes.
She acknowledges the words with a nod, not bothering to point out that she hadn't given a time. "Henry," she says instead, looking at the kid looking up at her and then between the two of them. "Go on up to bed, all right?"
"Okay." He looks once more at Regina, offering a quick smile. Emma can see the acknowledgement takes Regina's breath briefly as the woman grasps her stomach.
Regina turns away from Emma, probably better to hide her reaction, and calls after him. "Good night, Henry."
His voice floats down from the second floor. "Night, Mom."
Regina turns surprised that Emma is still standing there. Patient. Emma traces the woman's figure from face to feet and then back again. "Something else?"
"I couldn't put them off forever. Parties aren't really my thing and…" Regina's gaze narrows and Emma realizes she's rambling. "Would you come to Granny's tomorrow for this welcome back party they've got planned?"
Regina crosses her arms over her chest. "No one wants me there."
"*I* want you there, Regina. It's potluck, so… bring something Henry likes."
"Why?"
"Because he told me what you did."
"I helped put that spell on the well in the first place," Regina's acknowledgment of her culpability clearly stings her as she winces.
"If it was because you feared your mother coming through, as I said before: I get that. She's a real piece of work."
"I'm not afraid of anything." Regina drew herself up indignantly.
Emma nodded, permitting herself a small victory smile as she got what she wanted. "OK. See you tomorrow. Around seven?"
She waited until she saw the tiniest nod from Regina before turning around and walking back down the stone path to the street.
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