After Emma's words were spoken out loud, after she told Archie her fears about The Evil Queen or Regina, or whomever, she felt everything crash in on her at once. The second she brought that last wall down for Archie she wasn't able to keep any of it back anymore. She had felt an odd sense of numbness since their return to Storybrooke, or more so since she stopped being The Dark One, but suddenly that numbness was gone to be replaced by everything she had not let herself feel.

Unbidden, her eyes started to brim with unshed tears, tears she had been holding back for so long. However, as the first tear escaped, running down her cheek, she felt Archie put a comforting hand on her elbow, his other hand going out to the side to ask silent permission to comfort her. She didn't even bother to answer because to both of their surprise she took that last step forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his tie clad chest as more tears started to escape. As she started to sob she felt him wrap his own arms around her in a tight embrace, his hand making comforting circles on her back. As he rested his cheek on the side of her head he started whispering comforting nothings, words she wasn't even registering, but it helped nonetheless, his voice being soothing enough on its own.

It was a while that they stayed like that, standing in his office, Emma holding on for dear life. It was only when she heard a hitch in his voice as he soothed her that she realised he was holding back tears of his own. She pulled back just enough to look up at the man and despite his best efforts to hide his own pain she saw it, even after he managed to make his face show only his concern she could still see it in his eyes, like she always did, the hurt, and like always she felt she was on some level causing it.

He knew she saw past it, that she could see what no one else ever seemed to, she saw the pain he tried so hard to keep from everyone, from her. Seeing her breakdown though was too much, it felt like a dagger to the heart. He doubted many people had ever seen her like this and it gave him a conflicting sense of pride and guilt. On one hand he was immensely honored and happy she trusted him enough to be vulnerable like this, with him, but he also felt a pang of guilt because it meant she was hurting deeply and he should not be feeling happy about seeing her that way, though he knew he'd do anything to make that hurt disappear.

Despite his best efforts he felt as he lost his battle of self-control and the tears won out. He also felt his heart stop and his breath catch as Emma gave him a look, her head going to the side slightly, before she slowly brought one of her hands up and brushed away the tears from his cheek. It took every ounce of his will power not to lean his head into that gentle touch.

She gave him a small watery smile as she whispered, "Thank you, Archie. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone I could talk to about this." Then she hugged him again, though this time it wasn't out of a desperate need to be comforted but rather a need to comfort. She didn't quite understand his pain but she knew it was there nonetheless, so she was more than happy to return the favor, to comfort the person who had been there for her, for Henry and her family, more than once.

Taking a moment to gather himself, her arms still wrapped around him, Archie breathed out, "You can always talk to me, Emma." He managed a smile of his own as he told her, "I'll always be here if you need me."

He felt his heart glow warm when she pulled back to look at him and her smile strengthened as she quietly said, "I know." Those two simple words spoke far more than that, they spoke of trust, a faith she had in him he was afraid he didn't deserve. They also made him more determined than ever to make it so he did. If it was the last thing he ever did he would make sure her faith in him was well placed, that he never did anything to lose that faith and that she never grew to regret it.

They stared into each others eyes for a long moment, neither feeling the need to speak or move away until they were interrupted by a knock on the door followed by Henry's voice asking, "Archie, Mom, are you in there?" A moment later the door opened and Henry stepped through, both of them taking a quick step back from each other as he appeared. Henry, of course, didn't miss a thing as he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Am I interrupting something?" Both adults found they couldn't find their words as Henry looked them both over before a look of concern overtook his amused curiosity and he also asked, "Is everything okay?"

Emma was the first to find her words as she put on a weak smile and reassured him, "Of course, Henry, everything's fine." She took the few steps toward him before ruffling his hair as she joked, "Just showing the good doctor here how great I'm getting at this therapy thing."

As Henry returned her smile Archie felt his own smile returning, only to be strengthened when Henry turned his smile on him. He also stepped forward, putting his hand on Henry's shoulder, as he assured the young man, "You're Mother and I were just talking, nothing to be worried about." When he looked back up to Emma he was struck by the gratitude on her face. He knew she didn't want Henry worrying about her.

Henry knew there was something he was missing, there was evidence enough on the two adult's faces, in the fact he could tell they had both been crying recently, but he was too happy to see genuine smiles on their faces again so he decided to let it slide, at least for now. In a cheery voice he asked the other two, "How about we all go get some pie at Grannie's?"

Both adults laughed as they agreed, Archie grabbing his coat and umbrella as they left the office to go across the street for some much needed comfort food.