Author's Note: This story is in response to a prompt over on my tumblr. Thanks to femphoenix to being my lovely beta. Your-loveable-tiger, I really hope this story does your prompt justice.

Prompt: Mary-Margaret and David keep pressuring Emma to get back together with Neal so Emma keeps escaping to Regina's house to get some space from her parent's and ex-boyfriend. All this time alone with Regina causes romance to bloom.

Chapter 1: The First Push

"Emma."

The blonde continued to stare into her bowl of soup as if it could tell her an escape route from this hell. Charming glanced between his wife and full-grown daughter. He told Snow this wasn't a good idea. Unfortunately for him, his wife had certain… ways that always made him see her side of things after awhile.

"Emma." The Sheriff finally glanced up to look at her mother sitting across the table. Snow gave her a pointed look and twitched her head to the man beside her daughter. "Don't you think it would be great if Neal took the job offer?" Neal turned expectantly to his ex-girlfriend with a smile on his face.

"What job offer?" The grin dropped faster than a kite with no wind.

Snow sighed, a sound full of disappointment, and then turned an angry glare on her stubborn daughter. The former Queen finally turned her body to her grandson's father, "Neal, dear. I think that it would be wonderful if you would accept the position. Everyone knows that Michael needs more help in that shop of his."

Oh that's right. Michael asked Neal to help with the cars. Guess learning how to boost them when you are young has its benefits, Emma thought heatedly. The Sheriff quickly stood, her chair clattering against the wood floors of her parents home. "I'm going for a walk."

Neal moved as if to stand and she threw up a hand, "No. Stay. Finish your dinner. I wouldn't want to mess up," she twirled her hand to encompass the table, "this." Emma stalked to her worn red jacket, hung on the coat rack in the front hallway, throwing it over her shoulders before slamming though the old home's front door.

After the curse had broken the former King and Queen had moved to an old, but regal looking house in the town's only residential area. The home stood two stories tall made of a nearly pure white stone. The yard was filled with vivid green grass and beds of remarkable flowers. Surrounding the yard stood a four-foot tall wall with mismatched cobblestone along the length.

As for Emma, Snow had given her the apartment stating it to be the best starter place for the Sheriff and Henry. The boy split his time between his two mothers, even though he argued that Regina wasn't his mom and because of this he shouldn't be forced to return to his adoptive mother. But Emma wouldn't budge, she had made a promise to the mayor and she wasn't about to break it.

The blonde Sheriff walked through the night, just letting her feet take her where they were wont to go. She inwardly cursed her parents for taking what should have been an all right night of dinner for the three royals and turning it into a humiliating experience.

They actually think that after all he has done, that I want to take him back? Emma outwardly scoffed at the idea. They must have taken one too many blows to the head. Snow had offered dinner to Emma earlier and the Sheriff had agreed, Henry unable to make it as he was at a friend's sleepover. Unbeknownst to Emma, the meddling royal had also invited Emma's ex-boyfriend, Neal. Snow had been trying for weeks to get Emma to take back Neal, using every excuse from, "Henry needs his father;" to "If he made you happy once he could make you happy again." Her mother wouldn't take her screeched, "No," and leave it.

Emma jolted as a door slammed open as she passed a little gate. Hearing a muted grunt and the sound of a body hitting concrete, Emma backed up a step to look around the hedge. Surprised at where she was, the Sheriff watched as the Mayor stood over a fallen body.

"You have over stepped your bounds, Mr. Glass," the air crackled with magic, Regina's hair began to lift slightly as she glared down at the reporter. "It would serve you well to remember just who I am. And if you ever think you have a chance with me again you will find yourself wishing you were back in a mirror."

Sydney scrambled to his knees; Emma barely managed to hold in a snort at his show of servitude. "Please, your Majesty. I apologize. I … I don't know what came over me." He continued to plead but the Evil Queen simply raised her hand silencing the man.

Regina sniffed, "You are a disappointment, Mr. Glass. Now leave before I have the Sheriff throw you in a cell for the night." Her eyes cut to the blondes own eyes, which grew as the Savior realized she had been caught. The Sheriff suppressed an embarrassed cough and shuffled her feet, kicking a stray leaf.

Sydney lurched to his feet before making as dignified a walk as he could to the end of the sidewalk. He glared at the Sheriff, feeling angry at the knowledge that of all people it was her that had been witness to his rejection. Emma simply ignored the man in favor of watching the Mayor, prompting him to continue his dejected walk home.

The Mayor's eyes followed the pathetic man until he had walked out of sight, before letting out a near silent breath. She shifted her gaze to that of the Sheriff's, lifting a brow as she did. "Do you make it a habit, Sheriff, to listen in on other people's conversations?"

Emma rolled her eyes at the Mayor's insult which lacked the usual sting. "Oh course not, your Majesty." The Sheriff strolled up the walkway until she stood at the bottom of the brick stairs. She peered up at the stern woman in thought.

Regina set her hands on her hips, and fixed an icy glare on the irritating blonde, "Is there a reason for your presence Ms. Swan?" The Mayor just wanted to forget this whole night and retreat to her room with a glass of cider but, as usual, the Sheriff was here to ruin things again.

The blonde looked the former queen up and down noting the tired eyes and slightly disheveled appearance, "Are you alright, Madame Mayor?" Emma wondered what the sniveling reporter had done now; it could not have been very good if the previous few minutes were anything to go by.

"I am fine, Ms. Swan. There was nothing I couldn't handle."

Emma hummed in response, "I can see that. Well. If you need anything, you know my number."

The Mayor rolled her eyes, "Yes. Thank you, Ms. Swan." Why wouldn't this exasperating woman just leave?

The Savior rocked back on her heels while stuffing her hands in her pockets, "You're welcome." The woman stood there for a second watching as Regina tried, and failed, to keep her annoyance hidden.

"My parents are trying to push me back together with Neal."

Regina visibly rocked back at the Sheriff's verbal outburst, "I'm sorry?"

"They keep throwing these dinners and secretly inviting Neal over in hopes that he will charm me again and they simply won't understand that I do not want to be with him, at all. I mean, the man left me to be picked up for his crime and thrown in prison. All because Pinocchio told him too. Who in their right mind would want to go back to the reason they had their son in jail?" Emma blew out a breath after her mini rant and shook her head sadly.

"The argument could be made your parents have never been in their right minds."

Emma looked back at the Mayor, while realization dawned on her face. "I'm sorry, Madame Mayor. That wasn't … I mean … I got to go." The Sheriff rushed off, all the while feeling piercing eyes on her back.

A.N: If you guys would be so kind as to tell me what you think about this story it would be much appreciated. Hopefully everyone enjoys it. Thanks for reading.