Emma and Henry had been driving around for just under two hours. When she'd walked into the house she'd been excited at the prospect of an empty house. She loved being with Henry and Regina, she really did, but she needed some time to sort out some things back home. Namely, her on-again-off-again relationship with the father of her child, Neal, and her new beau who just so happened to be happened to be Neal's best friend. She'd spent most of the day avoiding both of their calls and at a shooting range outside of the city just to blow off steam. She'd had more than enough to think of, her conversation with Regina and subsequent conversation with Henry around breakfast time after the aforementioned woman had gone to work was at the forefront for most of the day.

How all that could have gotten her here, sitting in a small yellow bug with her fuming son, was beyond her.

"Do you want to talk about it? We're almost to Frederick and I'm running out of gas," she joked, trying her hardest to lighten the mood.

Henry shook his head and let out a deep breath.

She'd never been in this situation before so she wasn't exactly sure how to handle it. More than anything she wished she'd had the chance to at least touch base with Regina about what exactly had happened between them. Henry was a sweet, genuine boy but he saw the world much differently than both of his mothers. Henry had a habit of romanticizing situations, an idealist. And Regina, of course, was a realist through and through. And then there was Emma who had spent her formative years bouncing from foster home to foster home. She had a tendency to be pessimistic at the best of times but still in all she believed in doing the right thing no matter what.

"Come on, kiddo. Give me a hint or something," she pleaded, exasperated.

"We argued. I said something… I didn't mean it, I swear!" Henry rushed out. Emma looked over at him and frowned at the wetness she saw in his eyes. She nodded her head and pulled over into the shoulder. Once parked, she pulled him into her arms and allowed him to cry, his face pressed against her chest.

Emma closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his short brown hair, wondering how Regina was taking it all. One thing she knew, despite the very cold shoulder the other woman often regarded her with, Regina was just as sensitive as Henry was, if not more so. That sensitivity was what made her such a good mother and such a good woman in general.

"I said-I-I said that sh-she wa-wasn't my m-m-m-mother," Henry hiccupped before telling Emma about the exact happening of their argument. Emma pulled back from him and grimaced at the absolutely shattered look on his face.

"Henry, why would you say something like that? I-I get that you were upset about New York but we could have tried another year. And you know you're always welcomed to visit me," Emma winced, obviously telling him that morning hadn't been a good idea. All that did was leave him time to sit and stew in his anger. She should have waited until they were all under the same roof and able to properly talk things out.

"I just was so angry, mom. I didn't mean it, I swear! But she just… she always does this," Henry grunted as he shrugged her arms off.

Emma cocked her head to the side," What do you mean?"

"When we lived in Maine everything was good, we were happy and then I was getting closer to Grandma and she made us leave. And then when we lived in Boston there was this guy, Sidney, he liked mom a lot. And he was even talking about marrying her and she pulled me out of school and just up and left. I loved Sidney. He was a really good guy, mom. When I told her she moved us," Henry explained. Emma nodded her head and furrowed her brow.

She didn't know much about Regina, on a personal level, but she was aware of the nonexistent relationship between the older woman and her mother. All Regina ever said was that it was toxic and she didn't want that around their son. But she'd never heard anything about her being almost engaged again. She did know that Regina was once married. And that it hadn't ended well.

"Henry, I don't know all the details about those things and I don't think you do either. Instead of just believing whatever you want why don't you ask her? If there's anything I know about your mom, it's that she loves you and she'll do whatever she has to in order to protect you and make you happy. Aren't you happy in DC?" Emma asked, her hands now in her lap.

"I am and I know… I know she loves me. I love her too. I just… why won't she ever let me do what I want sometimes? I know I sound like a brat…"

"Glad you said it instead of me," Emma interjected goodheartedly.

Henry smiled slightly at that before continuing," I just want to be able to make my own choices once in a while. If I want a relationship with Grandma Cora then that should be my choice, or if I want to try studying in that writing academy for a year then that's my choice."

"Listen, kiddo, don't take this the wrong way but… you're young, and smart,and amazing; but really young. Right now you think you know what's best for you but that isn't always the case. I'm sure your mom has her reasons for keeping you in DC and for moving you from Maine and from Boston. You have to trust in her, trust that she's doing her best by you. Trust that no matter what, she has your best interests at heart. Do you trust her, Henry?" Emma questioned.

Henry nodded his head without pause, a frown marring his features as he wondered what her point would be.

"Then you need to apologize to her. And if you still need to know about all those times she had you move then you should ask her. When I was young all I ever wanted was a mother; someone who would yell at me when I did bad, praise me when I did well, someone who'd push me to be my very best. Someone to just loved me, really really loved me, faults and all. Regina is that person for you and one day I want to be that for you too. I know I just came into your life, well maybe it's been three years, but that's still extremely recent. And I don't know what to do or say sometimes, I don't know how you like your bacon. I don't know the name of your first grade teacher that you had a crush on. I don't know all the things you're allergic to, but I want to. And for me to know that it'll take time.

Just the same way that'll it'll take time for your mom to forgive you, because Henry you said something that was really hurtful today, but if you take the steps now then your relationship will definitely improve. Do you trust me?"

"I do."

"Then let's go back and talk with your mother, okay?" Emma asked.

"What about New York?" Henry asked after a short pause. Emma shrugged her shoulders and turned the key in the ignition. After pulling out from the shoulder and back onto the road she turned to him.

"That's up to you now, I guess. Because, technically she gave you her blessing."

Henry nodded his head at this and looked out the window on his side of the car, effectively ending the conversation. Emma hoped he took her words to heart.

So some people said they wanted to see a conversation between Henry and Emma so here it is!

This is a little companion piece and I might keep adding to it depending on how people feel about it. The Art of Letting Go is going be told solely from Regina's POV so I figured that all other POVs could be put here. Let me know what you think and good day.

Remember updates for The Art Of Letting Go are every Tuesday.

Also this is rated M just in case I decide to throw in steamy bits between other characters... namely Emma one of her love interests.