Emma and Regina made their way down the streets of New York to a quiet café tucked away down a narrow side street. Emma felt out of her element. Those few who were there were dripping with money – gold, diamonds, Prada, Chanel. It was only in the confines of the café that Emma took in Regina's attire. A crimson blouse with a black lace camisole tucked beneath it was accompanied by a pair of elegant yet simple black slacks. Her outfit was completed with a pair of black Jimmy Choo's and a diamond necklace. What had she gotten herself into?

"Are you alright?"

Emma looked down at the soft hand that rested atop of her own and sighed. "Yeah. I was just…thinking…"

"If it's too much to be here, we can go somewhere else," the brunette suggested.

"Why do you care?" she snapped.

Regina's breath hitched in her throat and she quickly retreated her hand. "I-I don't…I don't know…"

Emma sighed and leaned forward in her seat. "What do you want from me?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You give me advice, you humor me with stories and you take me on a date. You have no idea who I am, and I can't help but feel uncomfortable about it. What do you want from me?"

Regina finally pieced together what was bothering the blonde and swallowed thickly. "Emma, I am truly sorry that you feel this way. It was never my intention. I don't understand myself really, you just…you intrigue me. I suppose I just wanted a friend," Regina answered sadly. "I don't want anything in return Emma that I can assure you of. I just thought you wanted to spend time with me in a casual environment, like I did you. I apologise if I've read into things too far and the feeling's not mutual." Although she already knew what she wanted to order, she quickly pulled out the menu and glared at it intently, trying to mask the pain that was projecting in her eyes.

Emma sighed. She did want to spend time with Regina, but she couldn't help but feel like a…like a charity case. She leant over and gently drew the menu from the older woman's tight grasp.

Regina looked up and sighed defeated.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off at you like that. I put my walls up when I feel vulnerable, and I can't help but doubt any relationships I make with people. All my life, people have left. I've never been able to hold onto anyone other than Mary Margaret."

"I understand," Regina assured. "Let's just take it one step at a time."

Emma nodded. "So, what do you like to get from here?" she asked quickly, wanting to change the topic.

"I tend to stick to the salads."

Emma scoffed and giggled.

"What?"

"That's so boring," she whined.

"And what do you like to indulge yourself upon, Miss Swan?" Regina cocked an amused eyebrow as the blonde looked up with a smirk.

"Anything that isn't healthy."

Regina chuckled and shook her head. "I figure as much. How about, I stick to my original plan – a Caesar salad and water, and afterwards I'll share a desert with you?"

"Much better," Emma giggled and begun to scan the menu for something greasy and extremely high in calories.


Regina had quickly snuck off to the bathroom after pecking at her salad, when Henry woke up with a cry. Acting upon motherly instincts she didn't know she had, Emma quickly but gently, pulled the tiny little boy from the stroller and rested him against her chest. She rubbed his back and hummed softly as he nuzzled into her neck. She didn't stop to think twice about what she was doing and who he belonged to. Blissfully unaware of the smile Regina wore upon her face as she watched the scene unfold from afar, she continued to hum to the little boy she carefully cradled.

"I hope you understand why I jumped to conclusions about you being Neal's mother," Regina said quietly as she slipped back into her seat.

Emma startled and looked at the mother with wide eyes. "I'm sorry Regina, I just…he just…" Regina silenced her by placing her hand over Emma's, which was resting tenderly on the small of Henry's back.

"It's okay," she soothed. "I'm grateful you're wanting to look after him, and I'm surprised to see he's taken to you. Usually he cries even louder when someone other than me picks him up. It must be your inner mother that has him drawn to you," she winked.

"He really is quite delightful," Emma admitted.

"Was he not just crying?"

"I was talking about his cuddles," she was quick to correct.

Regina smiled and slowly retreated her hand, "indeed. I get quite lonely some nights, so I'll pull him from his crib just for his cuddles and company."

"I can't say I blame you," Emma said softly as she felt the little boy squirm in her arms at the sound of his mommy's voice. "I suppose I should hand him back," she chuckled awkwardly as she stood from her seat and laid him in his mother's arms.

"Thank you, Miss Swan."

"For what?"

"For caring," she showed a brief smile before looking down at her song and stroking his cheek with the pint of her thumb.

Emma took a moment to watch her now assumed friend interact with her son. There was nothing but pure love and admiration in her eyes.

"I believe I owe you desert, Miss Swan."

"Please, just call me Emma. And yes, I believe you do."


After devouring their halves of a chocolate and caramel brownie, the two decided to take a walk. They walked side by side and both took occasional glances under the fleece blanket over Henry's stroller as he slept.

"If you don't mind me asking, where is it that you live?"

Emma shrugged and continued walking alongside the brunette. "I live in an apartment with Mary Margaret. Why do you ask?"

Regina stopped in the middle of the walkway to peak under the blanket as her son had let out at a faint cry. She lifted the blanket and noticed that his pacifier had fallen from his mouth and was lying astray next to his curled fist. She returned the pacifier to his mouth before standing and continuing the conversation. "I was going to ask if you'd like me to walk you home."

"Oh no, that's okay. It's quite a walk anyway."

"How about this instead. Why don't we walk back to my car and I'll drop you off home?" Regina had no idea why she was offering the woman her services. There was something about Emma, about who she was, that just left Regina craving more.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to put you out…"

"Emma," they stopped walking once more, however this time Regina's attention was on Emma. She placed her soft hand on the blonde's forearm before smiling, "it honestly is no problem."

"Okay then," Emma smiled.

As Regina turned to begin the walk back towards her car, her caramel brown orbs met with green ones. They held each other's gaze for quite some time, before Regina let go of Emma's arm and began to push the stroller.

They walked in a comfortable yet deafening silence. Both had the urge to say something, but both resisted it. As Regina began giving Emma directions to where her car was parked, Henry began to fuss in his stroller. Frustrated and flustered, Regina halted and collected him in her arms.

"What is with you today young man? You're usually such a good boy for mommy," she looked down upon him with a frown.

Naturally, much to Regina's surprise, Emma stepped up and took over from the job and pushed the stroller the rest of the way. Upon their arrival to the Mercedes, Emma let out a loud laugh, startling both Henry and his mother.

"Is everything okay, Emma?"

"For me, yes. For you, not quite so much," she giggled and collapsed the stroller.

"Whatever do you mean?" Regina unlocked the car and watched as Emma hauled the stroller into the trunk.

"My guess is that as we were walking that little prince of yours bought up some wind and some, well, milk as well. You might want to consider changing your blouse as soon as you can before it sets and stains it," she explained.

Cursing out loud, in a language Emma assumed was Spanish, Regina opened the back door and buckled Henry into his seat. "Thanks son," she huffed aggravated.

Emma continued to giggle as she sat in the front seat and waited for Regina to join her.

"Change of plans," the brunette said, slipping into the driver's seat and starting the engine. "We're going to take a detour to my house so I can change my blouse. Whilst I do that, I want you to consider staying for dinner. If you wish to, I'll feed Henry and put him down and bring out the wine. If you don't wish to, I'll drive you straight to the apartment," she explained, pulling out onto the highway. "You'll have time to think it over and make a decision, as the drive to my house usually takes around forty minutes."

Emma nodded and smiled. She didn't need the forty minutes to think it over, she already knew what she wanted to do.