Disclaimer: I have been informed by the Evil Queen herself that neither I nor anyone else "owns" her but rather that she owns everyone and everything and has allowed the creators of Once Upon a Time and people at ABC to call her and her subjects theirs.

A/N: I never intended for this to be more than a drabble but well... I was asked to extend it on tumblr so I did.

This takes place at some point in season 3B, so anything that's happened in canon may appear in this fic, it's basically writing itself so yeah, you've been warned.

Enjoy!

"I'm just —" she stares down at the three people seated at the table; her son, her old roommate — no, her mother — and her… well, her father. She pulls her phone out of her pocket then and waves it in front of them with a sigh. "I'll be right back, I'm just gonna call Regina." She receives a few strange looks and simply plasters on a fake smile while she grits out "see if she has any new information… about the case." That seems to be enough for them, and they return to their lunch.

She makes her way out of the diner, scrolling through her phone for the number. She hears a soft laugh then, and… isn't that? It sounds so familiar and yet so strange… but isn't that… That's Regina, isn't it? She looks up then, because the sound is strange, but quite nice, and she was about to call Regina anyways, having found the number in her contacts. And yeah, it would be pretty pointless to call her if she really was already here. And she is. Right there. But… she's not alone…

There's a man in front of her, and no, she can't really tell who it is, but he's there and she's there. And she's got this ridiculously beautiful smile on her face. Not one of those fake ones she uses all the time, but a real genuine smile and her eyes are doing that weird sparkly thing like she's on the verge of tears. But there's no sadness in them and that's just wow, kind of beautiful. And she realizes she's been staring for a while, and of course Regina and… whoever that is that's putting that smile on her face, are completely oblivious to her presence. But still, it's kinda weird, and she does need to talk to Regina, right?

So she takes a few steps forward and she's about to call out for her when suddenly he — whoever he is — leans in towards Regina and he's not — is he about to kiss her? What the hell? No. He wouldn't be that stupid right? Surely Regina would lash out against anyone who dared do such a thing. And she smiles a bit because oh yeah, she's definitely going to flick her wrist and send him flying if he truly is that dumb.

But of course… as always, Regina does what she least expects. Instead of lashing out, her smile seems to widen a bit and there's a strange girly sound coming out of her mouth, not unlike those love-struck school girls and it's just so wrong, but also, kind of beautiful.

And then this strange man's arms are open wide and Regina allows it, even reciprocates, as he wraps his arms around her. And then she's smiling as she rests her chin on his shoulder and her eyes are closed like she's breathing it all in. She's acting like this… this hug with this… this jackass — wait, why is she calling him a jackass? She doesn't even know who he is… ugh — is one of the most precious things in the world. And it reminds her of the way she seems to soak in every sweet moment with Henry. The way even a simple touch of the hand from a son who now no longer remembers her, is treated like the greatest gift in the world. She can't argue with that, Henry is an amazing kid — he's their kid. But but… this man… he doesn't deserve that. Who the hell does he even think he is?

No seriously, who the hell is he? And why the hell does she care? And more importantly, why does her heart hurt so damn much? That's when her eyes open wide in fear and she looks down because maybe there's a reason for it. Maybe Cora isn't really dead. And maybe her hand is inside her chest again. And maybe she's squeezing it, tugging it. And maybe this time she'll manage to rip it right out of her chest.

It sure as hell feels like it.

But Cora is definitely not there, no one is. She's just looking down at her own chest as her heart beat quickens but it really does feel like hands are wrapped around it, squeezing and tugging and it really does hurt a whole hell of a lot.

Now tears are stinging her eyes and she has no idea why. She looks back up and as if on cue, Regina opens her eyes, she finally sees her staring. At first she smiles, and it's weird but it almost quells the pain, but the smile is quickly replaced by curious confusion and a touch of… is that concern? And it tugs at her heart in a different way, in a good way, because it looks like Regina actually cares about her. But she doesn't pull out of the hug, and the realization just completely devastates her and she still has no idea why.

So she lifts the corner of her lips in a half-hearted smile, or at least she hopes she is, because she really has very little control of her emotions at this moment. Emotions that really make absolutely no sense. And then she turns away because she feels the moisture fall down her face and she really doesn't need Regina to see that.

She wipes at her eyes furiously because she has no reason to cry. And she hates that Regina saw her that way. And she hates herself even though she's not entirely sure why. And she's walking back towards the diner and she feels a change like the pain is slowly being replaced by anger. Anger because she actually kind of wishes she was the one holding the mayor like that. She has no idea why but she really wishes she was the one putting that beautiful smile on her face, lighting up her eyes and making her giggle — because yes, that's what that sound was, she finally realizes — like a love-struck teenager. And holy hell she's just so damn angry because whoever the hell that was that had his arms wrapped around the queen, certainly doesn't deserve her.

Finally she opens the door and she's about to walk in before she feels a light touch on her shoulder. It's a hand, she realizes, and it squeezes ever so gently, almost hesitantly. That's when she hears it, that all too familiar voice, that asks "are you alright?"

And surely enough, when she turns around, it's Regina.

She stares at the mayor then, and she's wondering how exactly she hadn't heard the tell-tale sound of heels before she'd reached her because she certainly didn't expect Regina to come after her. She glances behind the brunette quickly and there's no sign of the man, so she looks back to the mayor. She's pretty sure she looks like an idiot right about now, with her mouth wide open and her eyes crinkling in confusion, but really, what's new about that? Regina already sees her as an idiot, she likes to tease that she really is a Charming and somehow she makes it sound like a bad thing, even when it's clear she's joking. Because they do that now; joke. It's weird, but they do. Her mind wanders off thinking about how much their relationship has changed and she's completely lost in her thoughts until she hears that voice again.

"Em-ma" and yeah, this time she says her name, and God, it never ceases to amaze her how good her name sounds off of those lips, especially when she's saying it in that sing-song voice like she is now.

She doesn't respond, she can't seem to do anything at the moment, she's in a bit of shock and really, it's unwarranted, but the queen doesn't seem to mind. She tilts her head to the side a little and her hair falls down her face but she doesn't brush it away and Emma finds herself fighting really damn hard to not reach out and tuck it behind the brunette's ear.

"Emma, dear, are you alright?" she asks again and she even takes a step closer, as if to ensure that she is heard.

"Huh?" and it's completely pathetic, but that seems to be the only sound the blonde is capable of making right now.

The brunette bites down on her lip then, and she supposes that's where Henry gets it, and damn if it isn't a little adorable coming from the former Evil Queen.

"I said," she begins, slowly, softly, almost hesitantly, "are you alright?"

Emma stares back at her for a short while longer and she knows quite well that she could lie, it would be easier, wouldn't it? She could answer with a curt "I'm fine" and head back inside. The problem, however, is that she's so far from fine she wonders if maybe she's losing her mind a little bit because seeing the other mother of her son (even if he doesn't know it, she is still his mother, too) hug someone should not elicit such a ridiculous reaction. But it did. And it hurts, it really, really hurts. But at least the anger is gone, for now. It seemed to dissipate the moment the brunette's gloved hand squeezed her shoulder. Now she's just a little heartbroken, again, even if she still has no idea why.

She must have been standing there, speechless, lost in these strange thoughts of hers, for quite a while because she suddenly feels a touch of warmth under her eye. She focuses her attention on the woman before her and she notices the outstretched arm and the glove being held in one of her hands. And the touch she feels, she realizes, is Regina's delicate finger. She's wiping under her eyes because apparently the tears had begun to fall again.

Regina smiles at her sadly and retracts her hand and Emma instantly misses the feeling, even if she hadn't noticed it at first. Finally, she decides, she's not going to lie, not right now.

"No." The blonde chokes out, and her voice sounds so bad like she's been crying for hours.

Regina frowns a little before she begins to speak again, and the hesitance is quite clear in her voice, like she isn't sure she has the right to ask, but it doesn't stop her. "Is this about… Emma, is this about…" and she bites her bottom lip again, clearly worried about her own inquiry before she starts again. "This is about… Neal, isn't it?" If Emma weren't so damn upset right now she would probably laugh at the way the brunette says his name. There's that familiar twitch of disgust at the use of it and it's kind of funny that even after he's dead, her disdain for him remains.

"No." She answers a little too quickly, and then, "maybe… I don't… I don't know." And it's true. She really doesn't know why she's so upset but maybe Regina's right, maybe this is about Neal. It would certainly make sense, wouldn't it? Why else would she be so upset about a stupid hug? She did love Neal, she always would, she knew. Regardless of everything he did to her, she loved him. She also once told him she wished he were dead and remembering that now adds a whole new weight to her pain.

A strangled sob escapes her then, and she really, really wishes it hadn't. She feels like she's breaking down piece by piece, like dozens of people are pulling her in all different directions with no care as to the damage they cause. Her heart hurts again, and this time it's more like an anvil has been dropped into her chest, and maybe that doesn't make sense but nothing seems to make much sense these days.

She suddenly finds herself missing the blissful ignorance she had been in for the last year, where fairy tales were just stories and her nights were spent playing video games with her son. That heaven, she remembers not for the first time, was given to her by the woman before her now. The woman who looks so very worried about her, of all people, right this moment. The woman who seems to be taking a step closer. She's clearly unsure and it's so weird, because Regina is one of the most confident people she has ever met, but in strange moments like this, it's clear she's at a loss.

She feels the brunette's fingers wrap themselves around her forearm, and that's when she realizes why the mayor looks so uncertain. She's debating within her mind what she should do, and it looks like she's about to give in and pull her into an embrace. And God, she hopes she's right because she could really, really use that right now. It's strange because she certainly never would have imagined herself desperate for a hug from the Evil Queen.

Former Evil Queen, she chastises herself.

And then Regina really does pull her forward, and she's so very sure she's about to be held like never before.

That is, until Regina decides to ruin it.

The brunette let's out a quick "watch out, dear." as she pulls her towards her. They're so very close now, dangerously within each other's personal space and her breath catches in her throat. But it's a small quirk of the lips that tells her that no, she's not about to be hugged by the former Evil Queen. It's also in that same moment that she hears the stupid little bell signaling the opening of the diner door.

And damn it, it's such a huge disappointment that she's about ready to turn around and yell at the asshole who dared ruin the moment. It's pathetic, really, and again, she really doesn't understand what the hell is going on with her, but she's feeling that anger rise again.

She just really, really wanted a damn hug from her former nemesis.

It really isn't too much to ask for, is it?

But when she does turn, the words die in her mouth, because the 'asshole' who ruined the moment really isn't an asshole at all. She feels really guilty about ever thinking it, because, as fate would have it, it was none other than her —their son at the door. He's looking at her with a slight tilt of his head and narrowed eyes and wow, that's the exact same look she'd seen on Regina's face a few minutes ago.

"Mom," he asks, "are you okay?"

She feels Regina's grip on her arm — because no, she hadn't released her arm yet — tighten then and she knows, without a doubt, that it's not just seeing him, but the use of the word 'mom' that does it. She feels a pang in her chest, and damn, how much more can her heart take today?

"Yeah, kid, I'm fine." She lies, and she gives him an obviously fake smile, but he doesn't call her out on it.

"Okay." and then he looks at Regina and smiles and Regina's grip tightens just a little more. "Hi, Regina."

"Hello Henry." Her voice is low but she can feel the love pouring out of the words, and she can see their son's smile brighten.

"Is she joining us?" he asks, and although he's clearly asking his blonde mother, his gaze never leaves the brunette. Another pang in her chest because even though he doesn't understand it, he really likes Regina, and there's a clear admiration in the way he looks at her. There's also a magnetism, like he knows she's important but he isn't certain why and it's a little awkward but it's better than nothing.

"I don't know," she responds, her voice forcibly cheer, "maybe you should ask her." She smiles and he smiles and she turns to look at Regina and she's… well, she isn't smiling, it looks more like she's trying not to cry.

Henry's gaze falls down to Regina's hand on Emma's arm and there's an odd glint in his eyes like he knows something but she has no idea what. It's mere seconds later that Regina retracts her hand, like she hadn't noticed it was still there and she moves it so quickly like she's been burned. And damn it, she misses that hand on her arm.

Why? She has no idea, she just does.

"So," he begins, his eyes trailing back to the mayor's face, "would you like to join us, Regina?"

Regina smiles at that and it's so heartbreaking because her eyes are so incredibly wet and it's so obvious that she's trying not to cry, but Henry seems completely oblivious to it. "I'd love to." and her voice is so incredibly quiet when she responds that it's a bit unsettling. That is, until she clears her throat and this time her voice is back to normal, or at least as normal as she can manage "but I can't stay long."

She doesn't say why, but Emma simply assumes it's because it pains her to be so near someone she loves so much when he doesn't remember her at all.

It's really quiet for a while, time seems to have stopped and they're all staring at each other and it's beginning to feel a bit awkward so she breaks the silence.

"Great!" and she slaps her hands against her thighs, her voice louder than she intended but it's enough to pull them out of whatever the hell was happening just now.

So they walk into the diner together and everyone looks at them for a moment, but eventually they return to their meal. Emma can't help but wonder if they had been watching the entire exchange, and maybe that's why Henry had come out. She winces internally at the thought but shrugs it off. She turns to Regina and whispers "I'm sorry" and Regina is clearly confused for a moment until Henry leads them to their table and she sees the other two people waiting and she groans.

Emma can't help but laugh at that, and it feels really good. She doesn't care that people are probably staring at her because well… she deserves a laugh after whatever the hell happened outside just moments ago.

Regina gives her a look and it's a bit intimidating but she simply shrugs it off.

As Regina sits next to Henry, however, and he seems to lean into her a little, she can see the inner battle on the brunette's face. Yeah, she's in as much pain as she is, maybe even more. And maybe she really needed that hug from that jackass — yes, she's calling him a jackass again and for all she knows that could be his actual name so she really doesn't care. He still didn't deserve that hug, even if Regina probably needed it. Even if it seemed to make her quite happy.

Because damn it, she still wishes she were the one making her happy. The fact that she doesn't really know why is completely irrelevant at this point, because as she sits across from the mayor, she can't stop staring at her and their son. And she can't stop thinking that yeah, she's going to get that hug sooner or later. And she's going to make her far happier than that jackass did.

And that's a promise.

A/N: There will definitely be more to come, I'm just not quite certain how much... Reviews would be most appreciated, and if there's anything you'd like to see (well, other than Emma getting that hug at some point) feel free to make suggestions.