"Thank you," Regina murmured.
Emma arched an eyebrow. "For what? We haven't done anything yet."
"You saw how quick this town was to blame me. But you, you believe that I didn't cast that curse. I know that wasn't easy for you."
"Sure it was. I knew you were telling the truth."
"Even though everything that has happened has put me right next to Henry? Maybe this was some super-complicated, ingenious plan."
"It wasn't. My super power may not be perfect, but with you Regina, I can always tell when you're lying. This time, you're not. You didn't do it."
Regina smiles at the younger woman. How could she possibly support someone like me?
"Even though you know I can't live without him?"
Emma smiled up at her wildly. "There you go again, telling the truth."
The grin covering Regina's face was surreal. It looked genuinely happy- like she might be an actual human being. Emma stood up from her chair, walking over to Regina's bubbling potion set.
"I think that soon enough, this town will be loyal to you, and trusting." Emma confessed, watching Regina try to conceal her growing smile.
"Right. That won't happen, and we all know it."
Emma frowned. "I think you're changing, and you're trying, and if you're willing to do something like that, so is this town. I bet money."
She stuck out her pale hand, smiling brightly at Regina. The older woman shook her head and took the hand, shaking it gruffly. "I suppose I will bet you, just this once. What do you say, ten dollars?"
Emma pouted. "You aren't very good at bets. What if… It was something like a date?"