Emma awoke the next morning the same way she awoke most mornings; tangled in Regina. She disengaged herself from the slumbering brunette who murmured something and rolled over grumpily. The blonde felt a smile tug at her lips and turned away to get dressed.
Snow and David had been true to their word; though Emma could tell it was difficult for them, they managed to stay out of her business. The blonde suspected that they had adopted a don't ask, don't tell mentality and in this case, that was fine with her. Henry was safe and sound and ecstatic that his two mothers had reconciled their differences. He had detected the shift in their relationship, but had uncharacteristically decided not to comment on it. They had become accustomed to their little family routine and though they received curious and judgmental stares from many in town, they were happy with their little unit.
It was Saturday, which meant family breakfast, swordplay lessons for Henry and Emma with David, and then magic lessons for Emma with Regina while the boy learned the bow from Snow. Henry had found a natural talent in both areas and was excelling rapidly. The blonde was learning the finer points of sword play and found that her father was an excellent teacher. Regina's lessons on the other hand were exhausting. Totally worth it, but exhausting.
Just as the blonde was putting on the coffee, she heard her name being called. Knitting her brows together and pivoting in a circle, she realized the voice was coming from the living room.
"Hello?" She heard the voice call. "Emma…Regina…"
The blonde suddenly realized who was speaking and she snatched up the mirror. "Hey, Alice."
"There you are!" The other blonde beamed. "My affairs are all in order here." She announced. "I'll be arriving tomorrow if that fits with you?"
"It certainly does, we'll have to alert everyone." Emma nodded. "Um…where exactly will you be appearing?"
"I don't know," Alice shrugged, "but I'm sure that I'll be able to find the town easy enough." Emma smiled at her friend's confident grin.
"Right. See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
XXX
Emma threw her sword down and slumped down on the grass beside her son. "Done." She announced and took the sports drink from his hand to take a massive swig as he protested. Her father sheathed his weapon and knelt in front of them gracefully.
"You've both done well today. Henry-" He directed his gaze at the boy who met his grandfather's eyes with respect and admiration. "You need to remain vigilant; focus on the task at hand." The boy nodded and then the swordsman turned to Emma who regarded him with less admiration, but still with the same amount of respect as her son had for the man.
"Stop attacking so aggressively? Play better defense." She said for him and he smiled affectionately.
"Yes." He then held out his large hands to pull his family to their feet.
Once boots were back on the ground, Henry turned to his mother. "Can we go for ice cream?"
"What? Didn't have enough breakfast candy this morning?" she poked him in the belly.
"Cheerios aren't candy." He pointed out.
"They are in comparison to what your mother feeds us." She laughed again and took another big gulp of sports drink. Henry grinned in a wicked manner and her father was laughing a bit too loudly as he looked over her shoulder.
"Well, if you have a problem with my cooking, dear, perhaps you should pick up some culinary skills of your own." Came a dry, sultry voice from directly behind the blonde.
Emma turned around abruptly, dribbling neon yellow liquid all down her chin and onto her tank. "Um, I was just explaining to Henry why he couldn't have ice cream." She explained quickly.
Regina smiled wickedly and cocked her head. "It's Saturday. I see no reason that our son can't have an ice cream. He did perform well today, did he not, Charming?" She addressed David who looked startled for a moment but quickly recovered.
"Yes, he did. Excellent work so far." He gruffed up his voice a bit to try and cover up the fact that he had been surprised by Regina's query.
"Well, then ice cream it is." She smiled brightly at her son as his other mother grumbled under her breath. Henry fist pumped the air and scampered in as dignified a manner as he could. Regardless of his age, he still got stoked about ice cream.
When he was out of earshot and David had busied himself with picking up their tools and equipment, the blonde turned to the brunette. "You just acquiesced to get back at me."
"Acquiesced?" Regina raised a dark brow questioningly.
"It means to agree." Emma said with a goading grin.
Regina narrowed her dark eyes, "Funny."
"I know."
"Ice cream!" Reminded the boy from beside the black Mercedes. Both women looked at one another and then at Henry.
"Coming, kid." Emma said resignedly then gestured for the woman to traipse ahead of her. "Age before beauty." She commented with a mocking bow.
"For that, you'll be sleeping in the guest room tonight." She sniffed with her nose in the air.
"Nope, Alice will be in there."
Regina whirled around to look at her. "What?"
"Oh," Emma slapped a hand to her forehead. "I totally forgot to mention it! I talked to her this morning. Says she's got everything under control in Oz and she'll be arriving soon."
"How soon?" The woman countered.
Emma shrugged and brushed past her to lead her to the car where Henry was waiting impatiently. "I figured tonight or tomorrow."
"Don't you think it wise that we alert the citizens of Storybrook?"
"Alert them to what?" Henry asked as his mothers slid into the car.
"A friend is coming from another world and Regina thinks it will cause mass panic."
"Cool." Henry said and the brunette pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Alice is not accustomed to Storybrook, Henry. It could spell disaster is she alarms them."
"Like they hurt her?"
"Or she them, in defense." The woman offered as they pulled into town and parked. "All we need is another witch-hunt." Emma grimaced and nodded in agreement.
XXX
The meeting went off without much of a hitch. The towns' people asked a great many questions and gave a great deal of feedback. But the overall air was one of curiosity and excitement tinged with a healthy dose of wariness. Emma couldn't believe it had gone so well, as a matter of fact, many we even joking around now.
Grumpy stood and called. "Is she going to dress like the Evil Queen? Because I'm pretty sure that's not G rated."
Regina smirked and flipped her hair before cackling in a very wicked manner. "Dwarf, no one dresses like I did."
"Thank god." Snow murmured to her husband. David cleared his throat in a non-committal way.
"Let's wrap this up." The blonde waved a hand with a good-natured smile. "One last question…" she scanned the crowd with green eyes. "You, in the back." She pointed to someone standing in the back of the room with a hoodie on.
"Yeah, I've heard she's smoking hot….is that true? Because I totally dig witches." The woman shifted under the hood of her sweatshirt.
Emma opened her mouth to reply to the question, but Regina; recognizing their friend squeezed her lean thigh discretely under the table and the blonde cut a curious glance to her companion.
"As a matter of fact, she's rather plain looking; nothing much to catch your attention."
"A pity." The hooded figure remarked and became quiet once more.