Regina watched Emma walk Henry to the bus stop. She wanted to go over and confront the woman, but she didn't. Everything she did just seemed to push Henry further away and she couldn't understand why. She had considered trying to enforce the closed adoption but she wasn't sure how that legally worked. After all, Storybrooke didn't really exist in this world.

She remembered trying to part Owen from his father, remembered how her mother had tried to keep her from her own father. What she needed was a distraction, so she went to find Sydney. He could be replied upon to try and make her feel better. The newspaperman was busy with his headlines, but invited her to wait in his office while he finished up. Regina gave him a cold look, telling him that she had her own important matter to attend to and left.

She sat in her office, waiting for the time to pass. She wanted to be there to meet Henry at the bus stop. It would remind Emma who his mother really was. If that didn't work, she was going to have to find another way to make her leave. She hadn't been the Evil Queen for nearly three decades. It was getting harder to remember that life, but if she had to go back to being that way, to save Henry, she would.

There was a knock on the door. She recognised the shadow, though it was the first time she had seen it there.

"Come in Miss Swan."

Emma opened the door, looking nervous. "Hi."

"Why don't you take a seat?" Regina's smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Thank you."

"What can I do for you?"

"I thought we should try to talk about this situation with Henry."

"Go on."

Secretly Regina wanted to scream at her to just leave town so that there wouldn't have to be a 'situation'. If she could get Emma to leave voluntarily though, then Henry would see who really loved him.

"I know I asked for a closed adoption, but now that he's found me he won't be happy if I just leave again."

"So you intend to stay in Storybrooke?"

"No. I have a life back in Boston."

"And you want to take Henry with you?"

Emma bit her lip and shook her head. "I know that's what he wants, but I can't do it."

"Really?" This was working out better than she could have planned.

"I want to stay in contact with him, but I can't be his mother. I wouldn't know how and the life I lead isn't suited to having children around. Sometimes I have to travel at a moments notice, if I get a lead on a bail jumper and Henry's too young to be left on his own… We could email and call, maybe I could come out for holidays or his birthday to see him. He could even come to Boston and stay with me, if that's okay with you?"

"Most certainly not. If you try to take Henry from Storybrooke one more time…"

"He chose to leave the last time…"

"I would be willing to allow him access to emails and the occasional phone call, if they are held at a reasonable time during the day and if it doesn't impact his schoolwork."

"And my visits to Storybrooke?"

"Let's take one step at a time, Miss Swan."

"Please, call me Emma. Can I call you…?"

"I am the Mayor, or Miss Mills. Take your pick."

Emma smiled. "Well, Madame Mayor, thank you. I'll tell Henry the good news."

"And then you'll leave town." It wasn't a question.


Emma wasn't sure how she knew which way to go to find Regina's office. She had a strange sense of déjà vu, though there was something off outside the door. She wondered why the mayor didn't have a secretary. It was a small town, she pushed the thought aside, perhaps they didn't have the budget for it. Or perhaps Regina was just too organised and didn't need one.

She wondered if she should be calling her Regina so soon. When she heard the "Miss Swan" from the other side of the door, she felt guilty for thinking the mayors first name.

By end of her meeting with Regina, she wished she had stood up to her more. It was just so hard to disagree with her, when she gave in to Regina's requests – more like demands, if she was honest – the mayor had almost smiled in relief. Emma had liked the look of that smile. It was going to be her second favourite Regina smile. The first was the one she had given Henry.

Favourite smiles? Really, Emma get a grip! She told herself, heading back to the B&B.

Regina hadn't insisted that she leave right away, just that she would have to leave after telling Henry about the new contact arrangements. Perhaps if she didn't mention them right away she could spend an extra day in town. Of course, that would mean checking with Regina that she didn't mind her seeing Henry again.


Regina was not expecting two visits from Emma in one day. When she arrived home, the blonde was sitting on her doorstep, fingers moving across the screen of her cell. She was just glad Henry was at his therapy session with Dr. Hopper.

"Can I help you Miss Swan?"

Emma shot to her feet. "You wanted me to ask permission to see Henry, so here I am."

"To explain to him that you're leaving?"

"Yeah."

Regina took her keys from her handbag. "Then perhaps you should collect him from his appointment with Dr. Hopper."

"That was easy."

"You will take him for dinner at the diner, then when you bring him home you can tell him."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Sort of like a final meal?"

"The diner is a treat. It's part of his routine. You will not upset that by telling him until after the meal is over and you have left the diner. Telling him in a public place where others can overhear would also be cruel."

"I just want what is best for him."

"So do I."