Emma took a deep breath before entering Granny's Diner. The mornings at the diner were always slow, most people choosing to grab a bagel or coffee to go on their way to work. Leroy sat the counter wearing a pair of sunglasses and sipping at a cup of coffee with a miserable expression. He tilted his head toward the door when she entered, groaning as the bell chimed overhead. Behind the counter, Granny shot him a dirty look. David smiled at her on his way out the door, holding two cups of coffee. Emma shoved the question of who that second coffee was for out of her mind.

The smell of coffee and cooking breakfast wafted over her as she pulled her gloves off her hands and shoved them in her pockets, scanning the room in an old habit to take stock of who was where before seeking out Regina.

Regina sat in their usual booth on the other end the diner drinking from a coffee mug and reading a newspaper spread out on the table in front of her. Emma straightened up, focusing on projecting a confidence she didn't feel. Regina finished off her cup of coffee, and Ruby moved out from behind the counter, holding a full coffee pot, and crossed the room. She poured Regina another cup of coffee, gave her a concerned look and whispered something to Regina who flashed her a warm smile and murmured something in return.

As she watched this exchange, Emma approached the booth, getting close enough to hear Regina say, "Thank you." Regina's voiced contained a warmth Emma had only heard used toward Henry - and occasionally herself.

Covering her surprise, Emma slid into the booth across from Regina and smiled at her. She resisted the urge to shot Ruby a jealous glare as Ruby smiled, said hello and then hurried off to refill Leroy's cup.

"Hey. How are you feeling this morning?" Emma studied Regina's expression, noting the way some of Regina's warmth faded as she turned to look at Emma.

"I'm feeling fine," Regina said. She folded up the newspaper. "Why do you ask?"

Emma shrugged. "I was worried. You were acting weird last night." Henry had come to the station after school the same way he always had for the past two months. At six, she had taken Henry home and waited with him for Regina to get back from work at six thirty, as usual. But Regina hadn't gotten home until eight, and when she had, she rushed Emma out of the house with barely a kiss hello or goodbye and with no explanation.

Regina bristled. "I apologize for being too tired for you, Miss Swan. Some of us have responsibilities to attend to."

Emma hunched her shoulders defensively. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Regina shook her head. "Never mind, Miss Swan." She took a sip of her coffee, and Emma noticed the neat stacks of sugar packets.

"Cut the crap." Emma leaned forward, lowering her voice. "And stop calling me Miss Swan. I'm your girlfriend. And how much coffee have you had today?"

"Three cups, Miss Swan, and I don't think you are in any position - "

Ruby stopped by their table to take their orders. Emma ordered something different every day, but Regina always ate the same thing. Emma noticed the way Regina's body seemed to relax and the small genuine smile that crossed her face.

"The usual for you, Mayor Mills?" Ruby asked.

"Actually, I think I'll try something different today," Regina said. "What would you suggest?"

Emma raised her eyebrows and shoved down the feeling of jealousy that rose up at the sight of the way Regina smiled at Ruby.

"Well, my favorite is scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes," Ruby said.

"I'll have that then."

Once Ruby had scribbled down their orders and left, Emma turned to Regina. "When did you get so friendly with Ruby? I didn't think you liked her that much."

"I don't," Regina said smoothly. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you seemed a lot friendlier for one." Emma leaned forward, resting her elbows on the hard cool table. "Is there something I should know?"

"Yes. Henry will be staying here after school from now on. Miss Lucas offered to help him with his homework during her downtime."

Emma leaned back, shocked. "Why?" Regina raised her eyebrows, and Emma clarified."What was wrong with him coming to the station after school?"

Regina laced her fingers together and leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs. "I noticed that Henry hasn't been getting his school work done lately."

"It's been getting done - "

"Not properly." There was an edge to Regina's voice now. "Henry's grades have been slipping. Your reports have been getting sloppy as well. I can only assume that having Henry at the station has been a distraction for the both of you. I feel it would be better for him to try completing his homework elsewhere."

"So you want to move him to a busy diner?" Emma snapped. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leroy tilt his head in their direction. "You've got to be joking."

"There are predictable lulls during the day when Henry will be able to fully concentrate on his school work." Regina took a sip of her coffee. "Miss Lucas has assured me that during those times she will be able to keep an eye on Henry and ensure that he is doing his school work properly. If this arrangement isn't successful then I will try something else."

Emma clenched her fists. Her nails bit into her palms. "Really, Regina? Don't you think you should have at least talked to me about this? If you had told me his school work was slipping, I could have done something about it."

Regina's eyebrows arched in that condescending way that set Emma on edge. "Really? Perhaps you should have asked Henry about his schoolwork then. You live with his teacher. How difficult would it have been to ask her about Henry's progress?"

Emma grit her teeth. "I assumed he was fine. He was doing great before." She stuffed her hands in her jacket pocket. "Why are you getting on me about this? Why didn't you talk to me about this? He's my son - "

"Henry is my son, Miss Swan."

There was no warmth in Regina's voice or expression now, and it startled Emma. She started at Regina with wide eyes.

"Look, what the hell is your problem?"

Regina didn't answer.

Ruby arrived, set their plates in front of them and smiled at them both. This time, when Regina smiled back at Ruby, Emma rose from her chair.

"I'm not hungry," she mumbled. "See you later, Ruby."

. . .

While the Sheriff's station was quiet and lonely, Emma had to admit that Regina was right: without Henry around, she noticed a huge improvement in her concentration. Comparing that week's reports with the ones from the previous week, she understood why Regina had been so angry.

"Where are you going?" Mary Margaret asked Emma on Friday night as Emma shrugged on her leather jacket.

"I'm going to Granny's," Emma said. She shook her shoulders, settling her jacket on her body. "I'm going to talk to Regina."

"Good luck," Mary Margaret said.

Emma arrived at the diner and stopped outside the glass doors. Henry stood on a stool behind the counter with Granny hovering over his shoulder while he counted change from the cash register. Grinning, Henry handed David Nolan his change. Sitting at the counter with Ruby leaning against the countertop in front of her was Regina. She and Ruby exchanged a look, smiling. Regina's pride, Emma understood. Ruby's, not so much. She frowned when Ruby reached out and ruffled Henry's hair.

She pushed open the door, the glass freezing cold under her fingertips, and entered. The bell chimed overhead. Ruby and Granny looked up. A cold gust of wind swept over Regina; she shivered, tucking her arms close to her chest.

"Hey, Emma," Ruby said, smiling. Regina looked over her shoulder; she didn't look pleased. Emma pulled her gloves off her hands and stuffed them into the pockets of her jacket. "How was your day?"

"Fine," Emma said. She turned to Regina. "Can we talk?"

"What do you wish to discuss, Miss Swan?" Regina watched Ruby and Henry intently but with affection.

Trying to ignore her jealousy, Emma took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." Regina turned to look at her, one eyebrow cocked. "You were right. My reports were sloppy, and I let Henry's homework slip. You made the right decision."

"Of course I did." Regina stepped forward, invading Emma's personal space. Emma knew she shouldn't enjoy Regina's closeness, her breath becoming shallow and her heart pounding, when everything about Regina's body language screamed danger. But then, she reasoned, everything about Regina contained at least a hint of danger. Regina's breath caressed Emma's face as she continued, "I'm his mother."

"Yeah, well. I'm his mom too. I know you're mad about his homework, but come on, Regina. I apologized. Mary Margaret said Henry's homework improved so he can stay here, and I can pick the kid up and bring him home."

"Of course you can," Regina said. "I just wasn't sure you'd want to do anything parental."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

Regina's eyes slid over Emma's shoulder. Emma turned, following her gaze. Henry stood on tip toes behind the counter, watching them with a worried expression. Ruby draped an arm over his shoulders and pulled him against her side in a strangely protective gesture, and Emma's jealousy felt like bile in the back of her throat.

Regina stepped back. She straightened her shoulders, glanced down for a moment in a gesture that Emma recognized as collecting herself, and cleared her throat.

"Perhaps you'd be willing to pick him up tomorrow night?" Regina said in her most diplomatic tones. This wasn't over, Emma knew. Not even close.

"Yes," Emma said. She hated the edge to her tone. Without answering, Regina swept past her, telling Henry to gather his things.

Henry grabbed his backpack and jogged out from behind the counter, waving at Ruby and Granny. "Bye, Ruby! Bye, Granny!" He paused long enough for Emma to see the hesitation on his face as she looked at her. Regina touched his shoulder lightly, and he said, "Bye, Emma. I'll see you tomorrow." Then he hurried out the door.

Without a word to Emma, Regina strode after him.

Emma watched them go.

. . .

The next few days were calm, if a bit strained. Regina and Emma met for breakfast each morning at Granny's Diner as usual, but in an attempt to help smooth things over, Regina had Henry join them. Henry eagerly recounted everything he learned about working the cash register and helping Granny make a few hamburgers and about how Ruby was a genius at math and he wished she had helped him with his math homework sooner.

After about ten minutes of this, he picked up his cup of cocoa and scurried across the room. He scrambled onto a stool.

"Why is he so fascinated with her, anyway?" Emma muttered before taking a sip of her cocoa.

"I would imagine it's because they get along well together," Regina said. "Henry doesn't have any friends, if you recall."

Emma frowned. "Yeah, I remember that. I'm his mother too."

Regina's eyebrows arched ever-so-slightly while her gaze dropped to her plate of food. "Of course, dear."

"Okay, seriously, what's your problem?" Emma leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "I know you've got something you want to say about my parenting skills. Just say it already."

"Well," Regina said, "they're lackluster, to put it mildly." A gleam entered Regina's eyes. "Even Ruby's noticed."

Emma scowled at Regina. "And since when have you two been such great friends?"

Regina didn't reply. Emma looked over at Henry to see him trying to convince Ruby to try a cocoa with cinnamon. Emma glared.

"There's more to it than you're telling me, isn't there?" Emma remembered the night Regina had come home late - the night before Regina decided that Henry would start coming to the diner. Emma's eyes widened. "Are you having an affair with Ruby?"

"Don't be absurd."

"I'm not." Emma clenched her fists. "Are you sleeping with Ruby?"

Regina glared at her. "No."

"No, or not yet?"

Regina studied her for a moment before saying coolly, "That, my dear, depends entirely on you."

Emma shot Ruby a glare while she took a sip from Henry's cup and scrunched her nose slightly. She stood up, struggling not to march across the room and punch Ruby in the face.

"I need to go."