"Henry, can you set the table whilst I answer the door please"
"Just a minute Mom, I'm almost at the end of level 16"
Shaking her head at her sons obsession with his game, Emma Swan heads to the front door expecting to see her neighbour Kevin locked out again. Grabbing the spare key she keeps handy for him she opens the door.
"Kevin, you really need too...". Trailing off she sees it's actually her bestfriend stood on her front porch.
"Regina? Sorry I thought you were my neighbour wanting his spare key again. Shouldn't you be on your date still?".
"Didn't work out, yet again"
"Want to come in and have some pizza with me and Henry? Then we can talk about this later?"
"Sure why not"
Stepping through the door and hanging her coat up Regina follows Emma through to the kitchen. Taking a seat at the table she waits for Emma to get Henry.
"So rather then wait in the kitchen after setting the table, you go back to playing your games?" Emma asks.
"Well Duh, I need to finish the game Mom. Hey Regina, good to see you again."
"You too Henry, why don't you tell me all about your game whilst your Mom gets the pizza out of the oven"
Opening the oven door, Emma sees the pizza has in fact started to burn. How many pizzas am I going to burn this week she thinks to herself, before turning the oven off and taking a takeout menu from the cupboard draw.
"Change of plan, how about we order pizza in? That way we can get some sides and desserts delivered too? More food for all of us, that way none of us are left hungry afterwards".
"Mom, you burned the pizza again didn't you?" Asks Henry, knowingly.
"Maybe..." Emma looks down embarrassed.
Laughing Henry goes back to his games.
"Don't worry about it Emma, we can't be good at everything." Regina reassures her.
After they've placed their order, they head to Emma's living room with a glass of wine each. Sitting at opposit ends of the couch Emma turns to her best friend. She really is beautiful, how could she not have found someone yet?
"So what happened on this date then?" She asks.
"He was such an ass! We went to that new Chinease resturant in town, it was pretty booked up so we had to wait to get a table. The staff seated us at the bar and told us they'd get us as soon as a table was free, we ordered some drinks whilst we were waiting. He knocked his beer all down my dress, didn't even say he was sorry just starts patting me down with napkins. Like I'm here for him to man handle?! Then after assuring him I can infact clean myself up without his help, he goes on to complain about how long it's taking us to get a table. When I pointed out that it wouldn't of happened had he booked a table, like he said he was going to he got snappy with me!"
"Man that does sound like a bad date" She agrees.
"That's not even the end of it Emma" She sighs. "When we eventually get seated he starts to have a go at the waitress, then the manager comes along to see what all the huff is about. After the manager calmed him down on the promise of a free meal, we have a look at the menu. By this point we've not even spoken much, he's not asked how I know Mary Margaret who set us up, how my day has been, what I do for a living, nothing. I'm just sat feeling really bored and wondering why I even bothered to go out with him. After he glanced over the menu and realises there is nothing he likes he shouts the manager over again, so I excused myself to the bathroom and crawled out of the window".
Emma splutter her drink out of her mouth laughing.
"Oh my god Regina! You didn't?!"
"I had no other choice Emma"
"In a dress?" Emma asks.
"And high heels". Regina confirms.
Emma nearly falls off the couch laughing so hard. Regina stares at her, frowning.
"I fail to see what's so funny Emma?"
"I'm sorry Gina, really I am. Just the thought of you climbing through a window to escape a bad date, rather then be your usual charming self and put him straight is highly amusing".
After she'd pulled herself together and wiped the tears from her eyes from laughing so hard, Emma scoots up the couch and pulls Regina into her arms. Regina shuffles to rest her head on Emma's shoulder and puts her arm around her waist. Kissing the top of her head, she tells her it will all work out and she'll find someone.
"I've given up Emma, I'm not meant to find someone" Regina sadly admits.
"Hey don't be like that, you just have to go through a few bad dates till you meet your happily ever after. I promise you, I'll make sure you get your happy ending if it's the last thing I do".
Hearing the doorbell, Regina releases her grip on Emma as she gets up to answer the door.
"That will either be the pizza, or Kevin" She laughs. "Don't give up though Regina, we will find your happiness and it starts first thing tomorrow. I know a couple of decent guys at work I can introduce you to and I'm sure Ruby will know someone too. We will just make sure we keep Mary Margaret out of the match making" Emma winks at her, before heading to answer the door.