Thank you so much for all the reviews, story alerts, and favorites. Its so nice to hear from so many familiar readers from my last story. I hope you're enjoying this so far and if there is any romance or humor you would like to see let me know and maybe I can find a way to fit it in somewhere.
I'll update soon!
Chapter 2 Don't Mention It
That afternoon Regina sat behind her desk at the office. All day she had occupied herself with paperwork but now that she was done for the day she found herself staring at her unopened laptop. She so badly wanted to open it and find out everything she could about Jason. She wanted to know everything about him… his past… his mistakes…his secrets. She wanted to find his weakness and exploit it to drive him out of town. She wanted him gone forever but she stopped herself. Snow and David gave her this job back with the trust of not abusing her power as she done in the past. Exploiting Jason like this would end that trust and even if they never find out she'll know and honestly she wouldn't be able to live with that secret whereas the old her in the past could. No… that wasn't who she was anymore. She wasn't that scheming heartless Madame Mayor that got a thrill out of hurting people. She'll never go back to that no matter how tempted she was.
Dammit!
Angrily getting up, she grabbed her stuff and stormed out of the office. She needed to distance herself from the internet till she was sure she wouldn't do anything she would regret. For now, she decided to go home and get dinner started.
After a day at the park, Henry was taking a shower before going to Regina's for dinner. When Emma was sure Henry was situated, she snuck out and walked across the hall to her parent's apartment. She wanted to talk to them alone. Henry believed Regina was hiding something that wasn't at all bad but if it was she just didn't want to get his hopes up. She knocked softly on the door and entered when she heard the soft reply to come in sounding from the other side.
"Snow, David can I talk to you two for a minute?" she asked as she walked in to see them getting ready to leave as well. Snow was finishing the potato salad she had made while David was sitting on the couch putting his shoes on. It was a slow transitioned from calling her Mary Margaret to Snow and sadly Snow knew that it would take even longer for Emma to feel comfortable enough to call her mom. She knew because of all her childhood pain Emma might never be comfortable enough to call her mom or David dad so for now she was ok with her calling her Snow. It was still a big step and she was willing to take whatever she can get.
"Of course, what's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her words when she saw the conflict in her eyes. Snow stopped what she was doing and approached her husband and daughter. David had gotten to his feet and stood beside Snow.
"I know she's made a lot of progress this past year and she's still trying her best to redeem herself which is why I desperately want to be wrong about this but…"
"Emma, slow down" Snow said, her voice comforting as she took her arm and led her to the couch to sit. David sat on the arm of the couch, his face full of concern.
"Regina was acting weird today as if she was hiding something and I'm worried she might be reverting." Snow smiled, knowing exactly what was going on.
"Oh honey, she's not reverting."
"She's not?" Emma asked, her voice full of confusion. "Then why was she acting so weird at the diner this morning? Something made her panic."
"No she isn't, in fact she's not even aware herself of what she's hiding." Snow almost laughed out loud at the confused looks on both of David and Emma's faces. They were so alike sometimes.
"What are you talking about?"
"Did something happen this morning?" David's question followed Emma's. All Snow could do was fondly shake her head. Regina obviously liked this guy she met at the park if it still affected her this morning at the diner and she wondered how long it was going to take until Regina would finally allow herself to realize it.
"Yes but nothing bad. You'll just have to wait and see." That answer frustrated Emma to no end. Snow couldn't be any more vague with that answer and she could only hope that her mother was right when she said it wasn't anything bad.
Dinner went well and to Emma's disappointment there was so sign of Regina's strange behavior that morning. It was as if it her panic attack in the diner never happened. Maybe she should just relax and take Snow's word on this. Regina hasn't done anything to lose her trust this year and even though the whole town and David still had trouble trusting her it was hard enough that sometimes Emma found herself unable to trust her as well. Annoyed with all the flowing thoughts in her head she followed Henry to living room to get the board game set up while Regina, David and Snow took care of the dishes. Snow washed while Regina dried and after David brought in all the dirty dishes and cleaned the floor and table, he joined his daughter and grandson in the living room.
"Emma said you were acting kind of odd in the diner this morning," Snow said casually now that they were finally alone. Regina looked at her for a second before turning back to the dish she was drying. Snow almost missed it but she saw the flicker of panic in her eyes before it was gone.
"I had a meeting to get to," she said. It wasn't all a lie. She did have a meeting just a little later then she said it was… like thirty minutes later.
"That was why you panicked?"
"What is this an interrogation?" Regina snapped in frustration. Long ago Snow would have shrunk under that gaze but now that glare had no affect and Regina knew that. "Sorry," she murmured. Snow only smiled fondly.
"Wow, you got it bad."
"Snow, what on earth are you talking about?" she demanded.
"Let me guess, Jason walked into the diner this morning didn't he. That was why you panicked."
"If he did I didn't notice," she deflected, her voice emotionless as she kept her emotions in check.
"Don't deflect Regina. Its ok to like him." Snow obviously said the wrong thing because Regina had suddenly dropped the plate she was drying and it shattered on the floor beneath them.
"I don't like him in fact I feel the exact opposite towards him."
"Uh huh, that explains the broken plate," Snow said as she watched Regina grab a broom and dustpan. Regina rolled her eyes as David rushed in.
"What happened?" he asked, half expecting to see Regina hurting his wife. He stopped to see Regina sweeping up broken glass and could see the annoyance in Snow's eyes for the venomous glare he had shot at Regina.
"Relax Charming," Regina said hostilely. "I dropped a plate. I'm not trying to kill your wife." He nodded though the glare never left his eyes.
"Ok well Henry is eager to start."
"We're almost done honey. Just give us another minute," Snow replied as she washed the last dish. He gave them another nod and when he was sure there was nothing going on he left the room. Regina couldn't help but laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Snow asked as she shut off the water and dried her hands with a towel. She turned to see Regina kneeling on the floor and emptying the glass filled dustpan into the trash.
"Did you see his face? He was ready to murder me."
"I'm sorry," Snow said as she helped Regina up.
"Don't apologize dear. It's not your fault he doesn't trust me, it's mine," she said as she pushed the trash back to its spot before putting away the broom and dustpan.
"I know but I still plan to talk to him. Enough is enough and I'm sorry for pushing you about Jason." Regina's back was turned as she faced the broom closet but Snow could see the way her shoulders stiffened in discomfort. This was definitely a sore subject with her.
"Don't mention it," Regina said before facing her without making eye contact. She grabbed a towel and started wiping down the counters, doing anything to keep herself busy. With a small sigh, Snow approached her stepmother and took her hand. She would talk to Regina about this later but not tonight.
"Come on, Henry's waiting."
