It had been a year and a half since Emma Swan had left Storybooke and gone away to college. Although she had only lived in Storybooke a matter of three years, being adopted by the charming family at seventeen, the residents of the small town were sad to see her leave for school. However, the town rejoiced whenever she managed to take a trip back. With townsfolk brimming with excitement whenever Mary Margaret even mentioned the possibility.
None more so excited than the kid Emma had often looked after whenever his mother had an mayoral engagement or social event that required her attention. Henry Mills had a habit of distracting the babysitter whenever he could. His imagination was strong and often ensured him and Emma were running around having adventures and generally causing as much chaos as possible under the mayor's watchful eye. The mayor understood why four year old Henry had taken so kindly to the young woman, after all they were both adopted and brought to this sleepy town. She hoped that one day Emma would come in handy. When Henry eventually rebelled she would be able to help her talking him background with tales of what could have been.
If Regina had been honest to herself, she would have admitted that she had taken a shining to the young woman. She was an asset to the town and to the mayor herself. She did often drop a lot in order to look after Henry, usually at last minute. She even engaged in his insane imagination, becoming very involved in operation Cobra, which as far Regina could tell was just a fairy-tale he was taking too far. Emma was often referred to as the saviour, Henry a knight and Regina a queen. Something Regina was actively encouraging.
Which is probably why Regina didn't mind when the blonde showed up one weekend out of the blue. As usual on a Friday night the mayor worked late trying to get as much as the town's business done before she spent the weekend with her son. It must have been three thirty when the slight knock on the door stole her attention. She beckoned the caller into her office, and a second later blond curls peeked round the door. "Hi, Mayor Mills, How's it hanging?" The older woman stood from her seat and walked around to the front of her desk, perching there as Emma moved to come sit in one of the large chairs before her.
"Good Afternoon, Ms. Swan, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Regina smirked watching the young women hitch up her legs and unnaturally balance on her chair. The total disregard for property from anyone else would leave the Mayor's blood boiling, with Emma, though it just made her even more perfect.
"Nothing much, Mills. Just wondered if I could take the kid out for a hot chocolate? I guess you'll be working late, I can grab him from preschool, then drop him off later on? You can say no. Just a terrible week at college y'know!" Emma never did know when to stop talking or pleading as it were. She'd have eventually stopped, the brunette hadn't stopped her, she just didn't know when.
"Of course you can, Emma. If you have him home by seven. Will be staying for dinner? It'd be great to catch up around your school work." Emma nodded towards the older woman before jumping up and heading to leave. Amused the mayor began "If that'll be all Ms. Swan."
"Yep. See you at Seven, Mills. The kid in tow." The blonde shot out of the room and headed home to Mary Margaret and the preschool in which her favourite kid would be waiting for her.
It was a little after seven when Emma and Henry returned to the Mills' home. Henry was riding on Emma's back in a piggyback as she knocked on the door. The mayor came to the door in a more casual get up than the blonde had previously seen in the three years she had lived in the town and she had to admit she liked it. For a second she allowed her jaw to hang slack while her eyes drank in the sight before her. However, the kid held on becoming slowly heavier. "Hey momma." He chimed in from behind Emma's shoulder. "We had a hot chocolate, and we went to the park, and Emma…" he continued as Emma let him slip softly from her grasp.
"Emma is starving. So, you best go put your things in your room and wash your hands before dinner. I'm gonna help your mom okay?" without a second thought Henry ran off to his room. Emma smiled and shook her head following the Mills family inside.
The mayor lead her into the kitchen. As she followed, Emma watched how the older was swaying her hips, as far as the blonde knew Regina had never worn jeans in her life, so why the change. Surely she hadn't been away that long, Emma bemused to herself. "Now Ms. Swan, you don't have help me with dinner in fact it's all under control… were having lasagne. That's okay isn't it, dear?" Regina had interrupted Emma's thoughts once again.
"Lasagne sounds amazing, Regina. Are you sure you don't need help?" Emma smiled to herself. She couldn't help but feel she was one of the only people that had ever seen the domestic side of the Mayor. While people were aware it existed, she was a single mother after all, people didn't often see the comfortable, jean wearing, dinner is almost ready, woman before her. A privilege she felt hard earned.
"I'm sure dear, why don't you go make sure Henry's washed his hands while I plate up." The older woman watched as Emma turned to leave the room before turning her attention back to the meal. She sliced the lasagne into portions and placed each one on to a plate with salad. Henry's being the smallest portion, and Emma's being the largest. Regina had seen Emma eat, she knew the lasagne would all be eaten and if not the young woman would definitely take some home. In fact when Emma had first gone away to college, Regina had sent her away with two lasagnes and a couple of other snacks, she was going to be a student and she needed to eat.
After placing the meals on the table, Regina poured a drink for each of them. Henry had a glass of milk and a small glass of water while she poured a small wine for her and Emma. She was aware of the fact Emma enjoyed a small glass of wine with her meal, whether her parents would agree was another matter, one that Regina cared little about. As far as she was concerned Emma was no longer a child and could make her own decisions, something she had had many an argument with Mary Margaret about, but usually won. Regina knew she would not entrust her child with anyone who she did not deem an adult. Once the drinks were poured Regina took a second to look at the table and take a breath. Feeling thankful for the chance to share a Friday night with company rather than her own. Once Henry had gone to bed Fridays were often spent watching the same reruns of TV shows that Regina had seen a thousand or so times.
After a few minutes, she realised that the terrible twosome had still failed to join her for dinner. She took a deep breath and turned towards the stairs. Before she had even taken the first step she was stopped in her tracks. "Why Prince Henry of Mills, let us descend the stairs go to the banquet that awaits us, kind sir." Emma took a knee at the top of the stairs bowing to a giggling four year old carrying a plastic sword that Regina bought him a few weeks before. He had missed the blonde and it was easy to see why. As she rose she took his hand and turned towards the stairs. "Oh look Prince Henry, the queen is awaiting our arrival." Regina laughed softly, admiring how well the young woman dealt with her son.
"Come on you two, dinner… the banquet is getting cold. And I for one, am starving." Suddenly there was a small heard of feet pushing past the Mayor as she continued to laugh softly. Shaking her head she followed to noise to the dining room.
During dinner the conversation flowed between the three of them splendidly, focused mostly on Henry. The adults both knew that they could catch up once Henry was in bed. Henry spoke excitedly about his fairy-tales and his class at pre-school. Explaining that there's some twins called Jack and Jill, but that he doesn't understand why because that's nursery rhymes not fairy-tales. Emma suggested that it could be either based on how it's interpreted while Regina rolled her eyes at the confirmation in his imagination. She may not of understood, but she realised how important it was to not shatter her son's childish fantasy.
After dinner Regina left to clear the plates, not listening to Emma's insistence that she wash them. She returned with an apple pie slice for each of them and a small bowl of ice cream for Henry. As she set the apple pie in front of Emma she saw her son's eyes widen. She smiled at the small boy, "Henry, would you like some apple pie with your ice cream?" she awaited an answer as she heard him whisper 'apple pie' to himself as if confirming his suspicions.
"Emma. Don't eat that… its gotta be poison she's the evil queen. She's going to kill you with the pie." Henry panicked unable to calm himself down.
"Kid, she's not gonna poison me…" Emma spoke calmly talking a first bite of pie. "See, it's fine…"
"You really are the evil queen." Henry spat at his mother, who stare blankly at the child. She was clearly hurt and struggling to say anything in retaliation to the boy. In fairness he had never specified that she was the evil queen before. Before she managed to choke anything out Henry had ran upstairs. The two women heard the door slam before either had fully realised what had gone on. The older woman eventually blinked allowing a few tears to spill.
"Regina… I'm so sorry. I tried to tell him…" she could see the mayor understood. She didn't know what to do, she knew that the older woman would not have wanted her to see any weakness whatsoever, that even a tear would be too much for her to bear. Pretending that she hadn't seen the mayor cry, she stood up and went to leave, resting in the doorway. "I'm gonna go talk to him, see what I can do. I'm truly sorry." She saw the brunette nod softly before she left to talk to boy.
Knocking on the door gently, Emma walked into Henry's room. He was flung over his bed sobbing softly. She took a seat beside the child resting a hand on his back. "Hey kid, it's okay. Your mom didn't poison me. I promise. She wouldn't not in front of you. Listen kid, I trust her, I trust that she loves you and doesn't want to hurt you. Even if it seems like it sometimes. And you've gotta trust me and trust operation Cobra. Yeah?" Henry suddenly turned over to face her. His tears had subdued as he realised that Emma was right. She was safe as long as he was there. "You gotta apologise okay… or your mom might not let me come round no more.' Once again Henry nodded, understanding.
"I'll say it tomorrow. But will you read me a story?" Henry never failed to get what he wanted. Emma smiled softly and lay on Henry's bed. He curled up beside her as she read. He fell asleep quickly beside her. She smiled as she realised that the kid truly had missed her, and was probably only acting out because of that. She must remember to tell Regina that at some point but for now she just wanted to go spend time with the woman who was sat just downstairs.