'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.'

The blonde let out a huff as she plopped herself on the ground dejectedly.

'Why can't I get this spell right?'

It had been four days since her last magic lesson with Regina and she was craving to learn the levitation spell she's seen Regina do. She had used the excuse to learn it 'in case of an emergency', but in reality the blonde only wanted to use it so she could get herself food without having to get off the couch.

Regina had made her a deal saying that once she masters the teleportation spell, she'd teach it to her, but it was easier said than done. This teleportation shit is hard.

Emma got herself up off of the ground and brushed the dirt from her jeans. She was not going to sit in the woods and pout all day. No, she was determined to successfully perform the spell.

The savior raised her hands, once again, and attempted to summon her magic. Nothing happened.

Sure she wasn't the best magic-wielder, but she had never failed at that before. 'Damn it.'

She decided to give up for the day. 'So much for the determination,' she could practically hear Regina mocking her. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Who cares? She was tired…and the thought of food made her stomach growl.

Emma walked the short distance from the woods to Granny's diner. When she entered, she was surprised to see her friend, Ruby, with a red streak in her hair. She chuckled to herself, remembering the brunette before the curse was broken.

Ruby sat her at a booth and she placed her order. Emma had made a joke about her red streak, but the woman just responded in confusion. 'What's her problem?' Emma thought that the joke was hilarious. 'Oh well, must be that time of the month…you know, full moon and all.'

Damn, she was hungry.

Just then, the diner's door opened to reveal Regina and a younger-looking Henry in tow. They made their way to a booth near Emma's and the blonde was too preoccupied with her hunger to notice. That is, until Henry blurted out her name.

Her head instantly snapped to the young boy and her eyes went wide. 'Is that…Henry? Of course it is, he's your son. He just looks so…young.'

"Henry," she questioned, more to herself than aloud. The boy instantly jumped from his seat and ran to the blonde, despite his mother's protests.

Emma's eyes instantly were drawn to the boy standing in front of her. Henry didn't look like his teenage self. No, this Henry was younger…much younger. He'd have to be ten, maybe twelve at most.

"What are you doing here," the young boy questioned. "I thought you were on patrol tonight."

Emma's brows furrowed in confusion. "No, kid. David's got patrol duty."

Henry giggled at Emma's word choice and Regina rolled her eyes. 'Regina.' The blonde whipped her head toward the woman, still sitting at the neighboring booth, and stared at her questioningly.

Regina just stared back, as if challenging her and Emma quickly averted her eyes back to her son.

'Alright, something's up with Regina, too. Great. Just my luck.'

In that moment, Ruby arrived delivering Emma's meal of a grilled cheese and fries. Emma caught Regina's look of disgust, then turned her attention back to Henry. She still didn't know what to make of his instant youth, but she decided that questioning it could wait…at least until after she's devoured her food.

"Henry, I've got to eat now…so how about you go back and sit with your mother and I'll talk to you later, okay?"

This time, it was Henry's turn to be confused. 'Why is Emma being so nice to my mom? Is this part of Operation Cobra?' He decided to play along for now, but made a mental note to bring it up with Emma again later.

Regina was also surprised by the blonde's statement, but she convinced herself that the blonde had something up her sleeve and to not think too much into it. She would ask Sidney to do some more digging on the woman tomorrow.

Henry returned to his booth and Emma finished her meal.


The next day, Emma woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. 'God, I love Mary Margaret.'

Emma hopped from her bed and made her way down the stairs, still wearing her flannel pajama pants and navy tank top.

"Good morning, Emma," her mother cheerfully greeted while pouring orange juice into a glass.

Emma winced at her perkiness, then managed a smile as she inhaled the intoxicating bacon scent. Food is definitely the savior's weakness.

The blonde made her way to the dining table as Mary Margaret placed two plates of food down and they both took their seats. Emma instantly went to the bacon first, moaning at the taste.

"I'm glad you like it," chuckled Mary Margaret. "So, what's your schedule for today looking like?"

Emma scrunched her face then replied, "I don't really know. I'm off today so maybe I'll go catch a movie with the kid. I'm sure Regina won't mind."

Fortunately for Emma, Mary Margaret hadn't been drinking anything. If she had, she would've been covered in juice.

"I'm sorry, we're talking about the same Regina, right?"

"Please don't tell me you're still not over the whole 'Evil Queen' thing," came Emma's annoyed response.

Mary Margaret pulled a face. "Evil Queen? You mean from Henry's storybook?"

Emma rolled her eyes at her mother's antics. 'Obviously she's not over it. Geez, Mom…she's changed. She's different now.'

At her mother's continued gaze, Emma forced herself to look up.

"What?"

"You don't actually believe him, do you?" 'Okay, what? Did I miss something?'

"Okay, what are you talking about," she questioned. Whatever it was, Emma was going to get to the bottom of it.

"I'm talking about Henry's belief that this town's full of storybook characters," Mary Margaret explained, wondering how the blonde could've misinterpreted that. "Do you really believe that the mayor is…that would mean that I am…"

"Snow White, right." 'What the hell? First it was Ruby, the young Henry, then Regina…now my own mother?! What is wrong with this place?'

Then it hit Emma like a punch in the gut. 'Damn it.'

"I've got to go," Emma said, not bothering looking back at the confused woman as she grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.