A/N - Written in collaboration with or with "super-beta" skills of bstix.

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Regina subconsciously gave a soft exacerbated sigh as Henry once again ran heavy footed across their foyer. He was, as always, late to meet his friends. She pondered if this was due to her poor parental skills or just a genetic predisposition of being a teenage boy. She glanced at the clock and perfectly timed the five seconds it would be until he fell into the kitchen, realising he had forgotten to prepare the snack he was asked to bring. Her maternal instincts had kicked in hours previously, therefore, in her hand lay a container full of carbohydrates that only teenage boys could possibly consume. Henry paused from his frantic actions and gave his mother the widest smile she had seen from him in days. It reminded her of his younger days, when he wasn't the independent young man he now was. Her heart warmed knowing that even now, he still needed her. Even if it was to simply provide food.

"You're the best, Mom, thank you," he said as he struggled to fit the container into his already bulging backpack.

"You're welcome. Do you have everything? Toothbrush? Phone charger?" Regina pressed, her need for control evident. Earlier she had needed to physically restrain herself from packing his overnight bag herself. Regina scanned Henry up and down, noting the rucksack swung haphazardly over his shoulder; his hair was ruffled and cheeks flushed from his hasty scramble to get ready. She resisted the urge to flatten some unruly tufts of hair, knowing the act would probably be futile as, much like his blonde mother, it was more than likely he would end up even more dishevelled within minutes. It still baffled her how the two were able to cause such whirlwinds of chaos with the simplest of actions.

"Yes, Mom," Henry breathed as he now removed items from his bag, realising it was far too small to hold everything he had packed. Regina marvelled at the ever-increasing number of comics that fell upon the laptop, followed by twizzlers, a bowling pin and finally a flashlight. What they had planned for the evening she would never guess.

"You seem to have forgotten pyjama's Henry," Regina offered dryly.

"I didn't want to bring anything that had Batman, Spiderman, or anything generally from the Marvel universe," he said sadly, showing that he, like Regina, was trying to cling to the last fragments of his childhood.

"And all your sensible ones?" Regina prodded, her eyebrow being raised, teasing her son.

"All the others apparently congregated in a used state on my floor. Sorry Mom," he added knowing their new arrangement of his teenage privacy wasn't exactly working out.

"There's a clean set in the dryer," Regina offered, enjoying the look of Henry's eyes lighting up once more. He ran excitedly to claim them as Regina turned to choose a bottle of wine for her and Emma to enjoy over their dinner.

"What time should I expect you to grace me with your presence tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure. The weather is supposed to be good tomorrow, think Spring is finally here, so we might go for a hike. Nicolas' dad likes to do that. I might tag along. If that's okay of course?" Henry asked, suddenly realising that he had yet to ask for permission.

"Perfectly fine. Just have your phone charged and on. You know I worry about you being so close to the town line," Regina said, showing her doubt and concern in one expression.

"Mom, it will be fine. I've been there countless times since it started. You and Ma have been nearer the border than anyone," Henry pointed out, easing his mother's concerns instantly.

"Valid point. Emma and I will be working on the spell tomorrow, so I might not be home. Just let me know when you're home safe." Regina requested as she watched Henry expertly finish repacking his backpack. The air in the room suddenly changed as she looked at him. It was as though he was leaving for college based on the look they both shared.

"Okay, I'm late. Thanks for everything Mom, see you tomorrow. Have fun with Ma," Henry said as he turned and hastily jogged to the front door. His head, however, suddenly reappeared in the doorway, "Love you, Mom. Tell Ma I love her too." Regina couldn't stop the swell of warmth that flooded through her at the simple words and gesture. Henry was already halfway out the front door as she softly called back her response.

"I love you too, my prince."

As she contemplated the mixed flavours of black cherry and plums that flowed over her taste buds, her thoughts drifted from Henry to that of the female who owned the voice she could hear fill the mansion. Emma. The voice she would instantly recognise anywhere at any time.

"Back at you Kid, have fun. And don't worry so much, you'll work out what she wants." Regina was instantly awoken from her daydream as she glared at Emma who was sauntering into the kitchen as she finished shouting her smug remarks to Henry. His resulting exit was confirmed with a combined loud groan with a neat click of the front door. Emma was chuckling to herself, a lopsided smirk comfortable on her face.

"I brought pizza," Regina continued to glare as Emma dramatically waved the box around to display her wares, "the posh kind, with leaves and everything."

"And just what was that about?" Regina was still pondering Emma's words to Henry, not caring about the takeout which had been placed on the island as Emma turned to delve into cupboards; retrieving plates. Regina didn't even notice how comfortably at home Emma had made herself, quite content to rummage around Regina's kitchen as though it were her own. This wasn't the first time they had enjoyed a meal together, without Henry. It was now standard behaviour between the two.

"I'm all about the carbs, but I know you're far too refined." Emma continued her spiel about pizza, seemingly oblivious to Regina even having spoken.

"Miss Swan," Emma's head bolted up at these words from where she was bent over a drawer; a single knife and fork grasped in her hands.

"What?" Emma asked, startled. They were far beyond the 'Miss Swan' days. Regina had to stifle a laugh at the blonde's wide-eyed expression, reminiscent of a deer caught in the headlights. She could almost see the cogs whirring in Emma's head as she tried to work out why she had been 'last-named'.

"What exactly were you talking about to Henry? What who wants exactly? Please tell me this isn't as bad as it sounds." She saw Emma visibly relax as the words confirmed that she, herself, wasn't in trouble. All too soon, Emma's calm turned to uncontrolled laughter as she processed how Regina must have heard, thus, interpreted their conversation. Regina scowled; she had never appreciated being laughed at, regardless of the circumstances.

"Stop laughing and start talking Miss Swan," Regina said forcefully as she tried to look intimidating as possible. It was a tactic that had minimal effect on Emma these days. However, Emma easily read the brunette was becoming irritated and relented so she too, could see the hilarity she could.

"Sorry, but really, you honestly think I was giving Henry some kind of sex pep talk?" Emma exclaimed, her chuckling increasing once more. As Regina raised her eyebrows in response, Emma confirmed where Regina's mind had gone. "It's Violet's birthday next week, he's freaking out trying to think of what to get her." Emma confirmed with a playful shake of her head as she closed the cutlery drawer. She had learned long ago that Regina Mills did not consider pizza as a food group to be eaten with fingers.

"He didn't tell me that," Regina murmured as she poured Emma her wine, realising she had been somewhat foolish and hot-headed. Of course Emma and Henry weren't going to have the sex talk on their front porch in passing.

"Regina, please don't read anything into it," Emma said hopefully as she gratefully accepted the wine glass. "He technically didn't tell me either, I kind of overheard him on the phone yesterday. He would have told you, but I think we're both the embarrassing parents right now," She added thoughtfully as she took a sip of the red wine.

"Perhaps," Regina said with a tinge of sadness as her actions mirrored that of Emma's; the wine igniting her taste buds.

"He just wants to look cool in front of his friends, without prompting leading questions from either of us. It's why he doesn't tell us everything anymore. If you asked him, I'm sure he'd tell you anything, though. He may be a teenager..." Emma ensured they made eye contact before adding, "but he's Henry, he's a good kid."

"So, what exactly possessed you to think I'd agree to consuming that grease laden monstrosity?" Regina asked indicating the pizza. She's had to break eye-contact after letting her's linger on Emma's a little longer than seemed natural for friends.

"I'm personally offended by that one!" Emma said as she opened the pizza box to show Regina the nutrition that she had managed to introduce to bread and cheese, "I'll have you know this is a gourmet, stone baked, practically greaseless. Quite the compromise wouldn't you say?"

"Compromise?" Regina said, raising her eyebrows as she peered at the contents. She didn't allow Emma to see that she was indeed impressed by her choice.

"Yeah, you get green gourmet nonsense and I still get something half edible." Emma jested as she plopped the pizza onto the serving plate Regina handed her. This representation only emphasized Emma's point.

"Is that a slight on my cooking?" Regina quipped as she began to follow the other woman making her way into the dining room She inwardly chuckled at the sight of Emma's juggling everything; pizza in one hand, cutlery in the other and their plates wedged against her chest. Regina had kindly gathered the blonde's forgotten wine glass.

"What?! No, you know I'd marry your lasagne in a second." Emma said with certainty as she set the items on the table. Regina finalized the look of civility as she placed and filled both glasses before settling herself into her usual seat; unable to keep her satisfaction at the blonde's response hidden as a smile adorned her face.

"Oh, I'll be sure to tell your precious Captain that he's been beaten to the post by sauce and cheese," Regina teased, proud of her slight against the ridiculous pirate. Emma barked a laugh in return.

"Hell yeah, every time." Emma managed to say through her still gentle laughter as she haphazardly threw two slices of pizza onto her plate before grabbing a third which ended up straight in her mouth.

No matter how many dinners, breakfasts, impromptu work lunches the pair had shared over the years, Regina had still not managed to convince Emma that cutlery was even vaguely beneficial when it came to what Emma deemed "finger food". Unfortunately, Henry was often of a similar mind to Emma and Regina felt as though she were constantly thrusting knives and forks into the hands of them both. She laughed internally and yet still winced when the first spot of tomato sauce splattered onto Emma's chest; luckily high enough to land on skin rather than clothing. A pale hand absently wiped it away with a lone finger, which ended up promptly in its owner's mouth. Regina's eyes lingered on the spot it had been for a second before snapping her mind back to normality; grateful that Emma was far too preoccupied with her food to be aware of her inappropriate thoughts.

"So, do you approve then,Madame Mayor?" Emma asked half-heartedly, as she appeared to be distracted with a staring contest with the food in her hand. She had acknowledged the mumbles of satisfaction from the brunette as she'd enjoyed several forkfuls.

Regina was going to be forced to admit that Emma had surpassed all expectations with this inspired selection. This was, for once, a pleasant change to the routine of her cooking for Henry and herself; habitually making extra in case Emma joined them. They had agreed months ago, as they started eating more frequently together while they worked on magic, that Emma would bring take-out once a week. It was supposed to be a reprieve for Regina; instead it turned into a game for Emma in finding something Regina would not only eat, but enjoy. A game Henry had been all too eager to participate in. Regina was touched that Emma thought so intently about what she wanted and took that into account in her choices. The blonde's determination to please them both hadn't gone unnoticed. It was a small gesture but to Regina it was significant.

"Son of a…" Regina had just been considering how to complement Emma when the blonde yelped suddenly; her hand flying to her mouth. She stared at the blonde until her unwavering stare was noticed and Emma sheepishly explained herself. "Bit my lip," Emma muttered, pausing only for a moment to rub her mouth, before going back to her food.

"If you ate like a normal human being instead of inhaling your food, you may be able to go one meal without bodily injury," Regina quipped as she was reminded where all of Henry's clumsiness was inherited from.

"Oh, it's so worth a little pain for something this good," Emma assured with a wry smile.

"Well, I suppose that explains your incomprehensible attraction to the one-handed man child. I'm sure he's more than happy to sate your masochistic leanings," Regina threw back as she returned her focus to delicately portion herself another bite. Regina tried to suppress her own mirth at Emma's wide eyes, who clearly wasn't sure whether to laugh along or defend herself.

Regina thought her comment was justified; she intensely hated that pirate to a level she couldn't explain. Undoubtedly, he'd done awful things; betrayed all of them at one point or another, even Emma. He had unabashedly risked each of their lives; accepting their mortal danger with barely an afterthought. Hell, it had been due to him she'd ended up strapped to a table being electrocuted almost to the point of death. However, she felt the contradiction; how could she hold anger at him for that when she herself had done so much worse? She too had committed atrocities that were so heinous that the brainless oaf would not even comprehend, let alone reproduce. The difference, she felt, was she had remorse, maybe not regret, as everything she had done had led her to Henry. Her remorse was one with who she now was; she felt in torrents every single day. There was just something about the man that unsettled her more than she cared to admit. Regina appreciated that Hook made Emma happy; he was her present and her future. She suppressed many of her objections to him, yet it still seemed that she mocked him at every available opportunity. Coming up with one-liners was far too easy to do, the man just had so many glaring flaws.

"Your mind is obviously in one place today," Emma threw back as she finally found a response. Regina narrowed her eyes, trying to discern her meaning. When she did nothing but glare at the blonde, Emma continued. "Speculating what Killian and I get up to behind closed doors and of course assuming I'm telling Henry to go get some."

"Well, I clearly just know you too well."

"You think that is what I'd tell the kid about sex?" Emma said, so astounded by the accusation that the pizza was tossed on her plate, leaving her hands free to gesticulate dramatically, "Don't be ridiculous. I'd tell him... well I don't need to tell him, I would put money on you having told him how it all works already?" Emma asked, suddenly realising that their co-parenting situation might have overlooked an important element.

"Of course. We had a talk about the... the mechanics of it all when he was much younger," Regina confirmed, shifting in her seat showing her social discomfort. "However, I am starting to think that maybe some more... practical information may need to be discussed."

"I don't envy you trying to have that conversation with him, you know he'll bolt straight away."

"Well luckily you won't have to envy me. This time it's your turn. Since there are no tiny Hook's running around, am I safe in assuming you have in fact learned the usefulness of protection?" Regina was enjoying teasing the blonde. They both knew Regina couldn't have been happier what Emma and Neal's lack of restraint had led to.

"Me? What? I don't even... I mean, you know what he already knows and doesn't know, so you should be the one to carry on and explain all that to him," Emma declared, decisively.

"I think not, Miss Swan. If anyone knows about teenage urges and the dangers of being unprepared, it would be you. Share your expertise," Regina teased as she sipped her wine, relishing the squirming demeanour her observation had induced in her guest.

"No, I stand firm that it would better coming from you, you... you've been there through all his embarrassing moments, so he... that's... less weird," Emma tried to reason.

"It's not weird. He's your son. You've literally been there, he will listen to you," Regina countered. She watched as Emma contemplated her own abilities to be "the sensible parent", noticing all the blonde needed was a little dose of self-confidence. "Really, Emma, he trusts you. He opens up to you about things he's too embarrassed to tell me. I want our son to be prepared, to be responsible."

"How do I even start? What, am I meant to like explain how to use it all? Or just tell him why? Or…He's only fourteen, he can't be doing anything yet," Emma stammered as she took a gulp of wine to calm herself as she contemplated her last thought.

"No, I don't think he is doing anything yet. And hopefully he won't even consider it for at least a couple more years. I would prefer he learned from what we tell him, rather than nonsense he may hear from friends or films." Regina paused, placing her elbows on the table and leaned toward Emma before adding sincerely, "Emma, you know Henry. We know our son and we both want him to be a respectful, caring young man. And we also don't want him to have to face consequences that he is definitely not ready for."

"He just… I know he's dating and of course I know he's going to be doing... that... at some point. But actually talking to him about it, that makes it way too real. He's not little anymore. He really isn't the kid that found me in Boston."

"He's not. And as much as I wish I could keep him as my little prince forever, our job is to prepare him."

"Right. What he does with that is down to him," Emma concluded, with a deliberate nod that showed the brunette she had accepted she was the best one to have the conversation with him. "Am I going to have to do the whole condom, banana thing, because I think that's just a step too far for me," Emma asked as she glared at Regina. She once again took a large swig of her wine as she acted out the scene in her head.

"I think we can both agree that won't be necessary, or ever thought about again," Regina assured as she filled Emma's glass, shaking her head at the blonde's comical expression.

"That's what I think to myself every time I have to do his laundry. Kid gets through way more sheets than I want to know about," Emma added, trying to horrify Regina so she would feel the awkwardness that Emma did.

"I couldn't agree more," Regina replied dryly, showing Emma that about this, she would not get embarrassed.

"He's great with Violet though," Emma began as she finally resumed consuming her meal once more, "He thinks about her; what makes her happy, how he can make her smile. He respects her. He's a good kid, a good man."

"That he is," Regina concurred as she too returned to her meal, their banter, for now, clearly ceased.

"You did a good job, you raised him well," Emma added sincerely as she stared at Regina so the older woman would acknowledge the weight behind her words.

"He is a credit to us both," Regina countered. "Though if he and Violet are already sleeping together, I fully blame your uncontrollable hormones lurking in his genetics. And he'll be grounded for a month."

"Make it two."

The pair continued to eat with companionable conversation; never degenerating to matters concerning magic and the latest crisis it caused. The only thing that interrupted their near domestic bliss was the trilling of Emma's phone as Killian called to find out if Henry had stayed for dinner and how late he could expect her home. The two women lingered longer than either had meant to; long after the pizza was devoured, the wine consumed. It wasn't clear to either if it were because they were enjoying the simple comfort of company, or just putting off the inevitable work they knew was ahead of them. The streetlights had already been glowing for an hour by the time the wine was replaced with cider and the two reluctantly left the dining room. They retreated to the Mayor's study; a small stack of books cradled in Regina's arms.

Regina watched in awe as Emma flopped straight onto the sofa, barely keeping her cider within the glass as she plonked it onto the low table next to the stack of books they would be working through. How Emma managed to look so comfortable within seconds, still baffled her. The slumped posture Emma adorned as she sprawled over the cushions made her look more like she was settling in for a family movie rather than diligently working to save the entire town. It was both endearing and exasperating in equal measure, and Regina was unsure of which conflicting thought to settle on. Instead simply rolled her eyes as she set down a new stack of books neatly beside Emma's drink and sat herself straight backed into her armchair, crossing her legs and preparing for a long evening.

"So, any progress today?" Emma asked, grabbing a book at random, finally accepting it was time to focus.

"Nothing I'm afraid. We still know just as much as we have for the last month. The endless dark magic that comes through Storybrooke, mixed with the lingering effects of the Snow Queen's ice wall seems to have weakened the magic around the town line, basically causing the magical barrier to collapse in on itself." Regina glared as Emma waved her hand dismissively, signalling her desire for Regina to speed through the boring bits that she already knew.

Regina continued, hoping to retain the blonde's attention this time, "The spell we put on it a week ago is still holding and shows no sign of breaking but there are still some areas of weakness. I think if we can go to the weak spots and use our combined magic, we can trust it to hold for at least another month without needing us. But that's just a Band-Aid. Stabilising it for good? We're still no closer."

"Where's a good old dark curse when you need it, right? We could just reset the whole thing. Job done," Emma wisecracked.

"Well I'm more than happy to blame your mother's inferior curse if that would help?" Regina replied with her trademark eyebrow-raised stare.

"Hmm," Emma murmured, hoping to not get involved in another conversation where she had to defend her mother.

"Though as much as misfortune usually does seem to originate with her, I think the very fact that the town has been cursed into and out of existence multiple times may just be the very reason for the problem," Regina added as she turned the page on her current musty volume.

"So I can't suggest recursing the town to somewhere warmer? Henry would love Miami," the blonde prompted playfully.

"Are you just trying to hint for time off? Or are you planning your retirement already? Miami is known for the older resident, is it not?"

"Come on, don't tell me you wouldn't love it. Lying by the pool, cocktail in hand, sunshine all day, every day." It was the first time since Emma and Henry had returned from New York with their memories that Regina had heard Emma speak so longingly of being elsewhere. The worry flickered unbidden through Regina's mind. Was Emma becoming restless? The stress of the town border was no doubt difficult for them both but to hear Emma wanting to leave Storybrooke, even in hypothetical meaningless chatter, was frightening. Storybrooke itself would be a lonely, colder place without the exuberant blonde. Henry would have to choose which parent he wanted to live with; losing him, though, wasn't an option. Admittingly, if Emma left it wouldn't just be Henry that would feel a devastating loss; both mother and son would feel destroyed. These thoughts flew through Regina's mind in milliseconds; she wasn't yet ready to examine why.

"Did you speak to Belle?" Feeling too uncomfortable in her own thoughts, Regina was driven to steer Emma back to the job at hand.

"Just a few more days and she should have the first translations done. She said she's going to look through Gold's shop again too. Is he still no more help?" Emma wondered, knowing Regina had a much more successful at getting information from the imp that her.

"He did what he could; he is still using his magic to try to stabilise some areas, but no, he remains adamant that only you and I can restore the barrier," Regina restated with a heavy sigh. They had a similar conversation most days.

"Do you believe him?"

"What's happening now, nothing like this has ever happened before. There's never been a town created like this. So even if we can learn the consequences of the town line failing that would be a step forward. We're assuming the worst, that when it does, the town and everything it in will be destroyed. Erased from existence. However, we may all return to the Enchanted Forest, or left in this land without magic with no memory of their life or even their real identity. He might be protected as he is the Dark One but whatever the price is, Belle will have to pay it too. That should align our interests for now," Regina stated plainly, although Emma could see the desperation hidden within the words.

"We will fix this Regina, we'll find something," Emma implored.

"Please save me the hope speeches. I have every faith in our abilities, dear." Regina spared an indulgent smile for the blonde, as she resolutely lifted the book from her lap, turning the page and jotting down notes on a small notepad.

"Maybe I'll tail him for a few days. Last time I did that we didn't learn anything, but he's had time to plan now," she added, almost excited that she could help without having her nose in a sneeze-inducing book.

Regina's reply was stifled by the piercing ringing of Emma's phone which made the blonde twist energetically before she reached around into her back pocket to answer the device rapidly. Regina didn't even need to ask who was on the other end.

"Killian," Emma said as she placed the phone to her ear. Regina felt her eyes roll of their own volition. The pirate was getting on her nerves already. Emma was still lounging happily across the sofa as she spoke to the man. "We're still working at the moment. Sort of just starting, actually." Emma sent a guilty smile to Regina who returned it with her forced grin before turning back to her book. She had no desire to hear the two swoon like lovesick teenagers.

"Well, yeah, I know." Emma spoke more quietly, as though trying to keep the conversation between just the two.; she seemed agitated. Regina felt awkward; encroaching on Emma's privacy. But if Emma certainly wasn't going to eject her from her own study. She refused to make her annoyance known, but couldn't quite be certain she had stifled her huff well enough to be silent.

"We have to find as much as we can as soon as we can. I'm not just..." Regina heard the book land back on the table before she even registered Emma moving. She couldn't stop her eyes following the blonde as she rose to stand, turning form the brunette to stand outside the office door.

"Of course I'm still coming home. Not sure when. You don't have to wait up." Regina overheard Emma say in a hushed tone. The privacy she had sought hadn't been obtained. "Okay, I'll see you later then," Emma added, seemingly have calmed. "Yeah, you too." Emma concluded as hung up the phone and seemed to take a deep sigh in relief as she re-entered the study.

"Everything okay?" Regina asked as casually as she could.

"Yeah, he just worries. I've been on nights the last couple of days, so…" Emma assured with a wave of her hand. "Another drink?" She suggested, eager for their evening to erase the interruption.

The fire crackled in the grate and their re-filled glasses of cider slowly emptied as the minutes quickly turned to hours. The only noise disturbing the silence was the flipping of pages and scratching of pens as both women worked.

Regina glanced over at Emma, her face had been scrunched for almost ten minutes, into an expression of such concentration that it looked a little painful. Regina had debated interrupting her to mention it, or at least to distract her just so that she looked less pained, but she had managed to endure twenty minutes of Emma's incessant pen clicking, so she could ignore this as well. The one thing she couldn't ignore, however, was Emma's ringtone once more echoing through the room. If it was the pirate again, she had every mind to incinerate the device with a well-placed fireball.

"If your boyfriend really can't survive one night on his own, you're free to go." Regina's tension was evident through in her voice as much as she tried to keep the statement light. But Emma merely shook her head.

"Sheriff Swan," Emma spoke lazily, her eyes closing. "What?" Emma spoke flatly into her phone, her face once again contorting into confusion. Regina breathed out a laugh, as she left her chair, the expression was clearly Emma's natural state of being. Grasping the glasses from the table, she gently shook Emma's in her eyeline, a distracted nod came as a response to the unspoken offer.

Regina padded stocking footed through the study. There was such a contentment to their evenings together. Whether they were sharing dinner with Henry then watching movies or working to fight for their very safety, there was always a soft reassurance and solace in just sharing their space, their work and their time.

Taking a sip from her refreshed glass, Regina stayed lingering beside the desk, not paying any attention to the pragmatic conversation Emma seemed engaged whilst her hand simultaneously scrabbled around, searching the table for anything to distract her for the sound of Emma's voice. Running her finger around the rim of the glass Regina felt a gentle warmth somewhere in her chest that she didn't quite dare to examine, but that soothed her nonetheless.

"We have to go." Emma's resigned, yet determined tone pulled Regina from her reverie, only to find the blonde standing just feet away from her. She hadn't even noticed her get up, which was impressive, as Miss Swan was never the most graceful with her movements.

"What's going on?" Regina's attention was piqued, knowing that anything requiring both women to leave the sanctity of home at this hour could not be good. After an evening of drinking, the alcohol had made Regina's head lighter than usual and the effects were still buzzing somewhere around her toes. There was little doubt in her mind that Emma would feel the same.

"There's been a collapse in the border," Emma said dismissively. This was not the first time they had been called for something, though urgent, was minor. "It's not a big section, but it's shifted into town. Half a house is just gone."

"Gone? What exactly do you mean?" Regina interrogated. Part of a house missing was new.

"Just that. It's gone. The border shifted, half a house is on the other side of it and it's disappeared. Not destroyed, not outside the line, just gone," Emma relayed. It was clear the Regina that the alcohol had damped Emma's instincts.

"Where?" Regina asked as she mirrored Emma's movements in affixing her previously discarded footwear.

"Up on Beech Street," Emma said, searching her brain to see what else had just been conveyed to her. "The last house on the left," she added with an assured nod.

"That's the Tillman's house. That's where Henry is spending the night."

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A/N -

Hope you liked the first chapter, please review, all feedback is welcomed, good or bad!

Also, please check out the beautiful story written by my co-writer/super-beta Bstix

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