Holy Shit! I have NEVER had so many reviews for a single chapter EVER. I couldn't answer a lot of them because people weren't logged on but it still took me almost all of Breakfast Club to answer the reviews I could. Thank you all so much for your interest. I enjoyed writing this chapter and I really hope you enjoy reading it. Thank you to everyone who followed, favorited and/or reviewed!

Also, gonna be keeping this story T rated ;) sorry… Enjoy!


It might not hurt that bad…just a few scrapes and bruises…

Emma couldn't decide which would be more painful. Continuing this conversation with her parents…or throwing herself out of the moving vehicle. It was a tough one. She wanted to go back to Regina's and couldn't help wish she knew what would have happened if her parents hadn't shown up.

Regina had kissed her. Actually kissed her. Without any liquid courage, Regina had the balls to do that not ten feet from her parents. In fact, the more she thought on it, the more she was dying to get back there.

The gesture of leaving the coffee and aspirin had been the only indication that Regina might not regret the previous night, but still Emma had been nervous. The second the brunette caught her eyes as she came down the steps though, all worries had vanished. The woman had looked so…hopeful. Immediately, Emma had sighed in relief and smiled warmly at the woman, thrilled when it was returned.

Now though, she wished maybe they had been just a bit more discreet in front of her parents. It was her mother's voice that pulled her out of her thoughts again.

"Emma? Are you even listening?" Emma blinked to see Mary Margaret turned completely in the passenger seat to face her.

"Yes. But this is ridiculous. Regina wasn't manipulating anything. She was just trying to be nice." Mary Margaret looked at Emma like she had grown two heads.

"Emma I know you have been giving her the benefit of the doubt but honey, we know her better than you. There is always something up her sleeve. She wasn't just being nice. Obviously she was just trying to manipulate you to see Henry more." Emma actually wanted to slap her.

"Why would she do that when I had already told her we would start parenting him together?" Emma was the only one who kept her composure as Mary Margaret gaped and David stopped the car in the middle of the road.

"Emma?! Why would you do that when you finally have him? How could you trust her with him?"

"You're kidding me right? She's still his mom. We both are. It was wrong to just take him away." She felt a sudden load of guilt weigh on her. The more she was thinking about all the decisions made by both of them since her arrival, the more she was realizing how many mistakes were made on both sides. This was one of hers.

"Emma." Mary Margaret had really found her angry mother voice now and Emma actually flinched a little. "This is not okay. We may have allowed her to come yesterday but you can't just go to her house in the middle of the night and you can't let Henry go back to her unsupervised-"

"Stop." Emma held up a hand before unbuckling and getting out of the stopped car, glad she didn't actually have to go through with throwing herself out now. Though at this point she would have. She turned and spoke through David's opened window. "We're not doing this. Did you even notice that I was already drunk when you left last night?" At their silence she gave a small nod. "Well Regina did and instead of leaving me to fend for myself, she stepped in. Even while drinking I know whether someone is being sincere and she was. And regardless of anything, we, Regina and I, are Henry's parents. Not you. You don't get to make the decisions for him. But don't worry, looks like you'll get your chance at your own child soon, and you can control them."

She turned away before the stunned parents had a chance to speak. They spent several moments in silence, trying to absorb the words of their suddenly angry daughter and understand her abrupt departure.

"Okay what the hell just happened?" Was David's last intelligent thought.


Part of Emma felt a little childish, yelling her parents and storming away like that. Then again, the bigger part of her was happy with herself for standing up even just a little. They couldn't choose when and if they wanted to parent her and especially not Henry. They were so stuck thinking everything was black and white. Right or wrong.

Suddenly she laughed out loud. Regina had ignored her and Emma's past to help her last night. She couldn't help be amused that the Evil Queen was being more opened minded then the "good" Snow White and Prince Charming. She still had an easy smile on her face as she entered the station for work.

That smiled disappeared immediately though when she saw the mountain load of paperwork that needed to be completed before lunch. She got moving quickly though because there was no way in hell she was gonna be late to Granny's.


I can't believe I did that!

Regina was pacing the length of her foyer, her fingers lightly grazing her lips. She had watched the family drive away before going inside and closing the door, but that was when the shock set in.

She just kissed Emma! Without a single thought or drop of alcohol she had kissed Emma Swan. The Savior. The White Knight. The daughter of her number one nemesis. That last thought actually made a small smile pull at her mouth.

Oh the look on her face if she would have seen…

Regina laughed out loud at the thought. Turning, she caught her reflection in the hall mirror. It was new, replaced after breaking the last one. She paused at the foreign look on her own face. How long it had been since she had a real smile on her face. How long since she had laughed. Well it had been awhile.

She couldn't wipe it off either. Emma's clumsy nature usually annoyed her to no end, but the way the blonde had stumbled out of the door so awkwardly, bumping into the pillar and trying to shrug it off coolly was suddenly amusing, if not endearing. Knowing she had been the cause of her disorientation brought a smug grin to her face.

She moved outside to her apple tree, intent on occupying herself for the next few hours.


Shit!

She was actually running now. She was done with all the paper work right on time but of course just as she was steeping out, the phone rang and although she ended the conversation quickly, the moment she placed it back on the receiver, it rang again. She felt like the office itself had been trying to hold her there. After the last call she had sprinted out of there as fast as she could.

She couldn't find a parking spot close enough, so she left the car where she could and ran the rest of the way to the diner. Reaching the door, she glanced down at her watch. Twelve noon on the dot.

"Nice!" She said proudly with a large grin.

"I am shocked Sheriff, I had no clue you could keep time." Emma whipped around to see a very amused smirk on Regina's face. The brunette was just casually sitting in one of the outside chairs, one exposed slender leg resting over the other.

The blonde immediately recognized the dress from the first day they met. Emma swallowed hard at the sight, wondering how she could so effortlessly look that sexy. She had no idea Regina had gone through every outfit in her closet to find the perfect one that would keep the blonde's focus solely on her. She stood with a smirk walking right into Emma's space.

"Cat got your tongue dear?" It was practically purred in Emma's ear and she shivered when Regina brushed by her and into the diner. Emma rolled her eyes. Two can play this game. She smirked.

Emma followed Regina to the booth placed as far back as possible and offering the most privacy. They sat opposite each other and immediately their eyes locked. This certainly wasn't their first stare down, but it was the first time the atmosphere was somewhat playful. Emma subtly moved one foot towards Regina's part of the table and without warning, slid the toe of her boot up Regina's bare calf.

Regina gasped slightly as her whole body flinched at the unexpected contact. She looked at Emma to see a small, subtle smirk on her face. Emma just picked up her menu casually, studying the options. Whatever game they were playing, Emma just won this round and they both knew it.

The next few minutes were in compete silence though words simply were not needed. They communicated through every flick of eyes, twitch of lips or tap of fingers. They were used to this kind of exchange but now there was a new thrill to it. An excitement both could feel in the space between them. For those moments, it was like they were the only two in the world. Until-

"Is everything okay here?" Ruby's sudden presence completely grounded the electricity in the air and Regina turned her dark eyes slowly to the young woman.

"Everything is fine dear." She didn't hide her sneer and Ruby looked over to Emma for confirmation.

"We're fine Ruby. Can we just get our usuals?" The younger brunette didn't look completely convinced, but after another suspicious look at Regina, she left. The former queen rolled her eyes before meeting Emma's again.

"That's getting old." She mumbled and Emma looked a little sympathetic but didn't respond to that. She felt bad but at the same time, she couldn't really blame people for being a little apprehensive around the woman who cursed them.

"Alright so, about Henry." She started and Regina immediately forgot everything else.


Less than an hour later, the two had finished eating and Regina sipped her coffee, staring as Emma licked the whipped cream from her cocoa. They had come to a simple agreement of trading every other week with Henry, acknowledging the fact that they could resolve individual situations as they presented. They kept in easy conversation after that, something both of them were equally surprised and pleased with.

"So is this all going to cause problems with the rest of your family?" She was curious as to what happened after the blonde's departure with her shocked parents that morning, but wasn't sure how much Emma would want to share in the light of day.

"Oh I'm sure it will. We already got into it this morning actually."

"Oh? I didn't realize you were still drunk when you left." She smirked and Emma glared though there was no malice behind it.

"I wasn't. They just decided to have a parenting moment that included you and Henry and I had enough." Emma didn't meet Regina's gaze, so she missed the small subtle look of pride in her eyes.

"Well I'm glad you can actually be honest without the aid of alcohol." She brought the smirk back and Emma rolled her eyes.

"Hey. We all have our thing. How do you act when you drink?"

"I always stay in control of my mind and body." She lifted her chin confidently but now it was Emma's turn to smirk.

"Yeah okay. We'll see about that." She leaned back casually and Regina lifted an eyebrow.

"We will?"

"Yup." Regina cocked her head, waiting for more, but Emma was still just relaxing casually, sipping her drink.

"When and how exactly are we going to "see about that"?" She questioned the suddenly aloof sheriff.

"Tonight. I'll bring Henry over. The three of us can have dinner together." Regina's interest peaked and there was a weird feeling that temporarily overcame her at the thought of the three of them together. It had never even been considered in the past but the thought of it…of them acting like some sort of makeshift family. It was…thrilling.

"Together?"

"Yes. It will give Henry a chance to adjust a bit. See us parenting him together…as a team." She spoke with only confidence and that shifted Regina's attitude back into place.

"You just want me to make you my lasagna." Regina smirked smugly and Emma laughed genuinely. Neither woman noticed the several sets of eyes straining to see them, all showing varying degrees of confusion.

"Well there's that as well." She winked.

"But that still doesn't answer my question."

"Well after Henry goes to bed I'm sure you'll offer me a cup on your famous cider and I guess from there…we'll see." Emma laid her arms on the table while locking eyes with Regina.

"You know you are awfully cocky Miss Swan. I'm not sure where you get off speaking like this." Emma grinned at her.

"Well it's easy now that I know you like me."

"Do I? I don't remember ever saying such a thing."

"Oh please Regina. You took me home, put me in bed and cured my hangover this morning. Plus you've been playing footsies with me under the table for the last hour and you haven't moved your arm yet."

Regina glanced down at the table to where Emma had reached over and started grazing her fingertips lightly over Regina's forearm. She looked up, relieved their spot kept that hidden. But…she still didn't move. She was however, getting tired of Emma gaining all the points here.

She lifted her free hand and slowly traced her own fingers up Emma's arm all the way to her collar. She curled her fingers around the leather, pulling her closer. Regina matched the movement until they were only a few centimeters apart. Both sets of eyes darkened a bit as they breathed each other in.

"Seven pm Miss Swan. I will expect you on time again tonight." She leaned in a little closer, inhaling deeply. Chocolate and cinnamon. Of course.

Emma moved forward again in an attempt at closing the distance, but just as the barest hint of the skin touched, Regina pulled back with a smirk and stood. She kept eye contact with the slack jawed and now very frustrated blonde as she stood before walking with her head held high straight out of the diner.

"So bossy." Emma muttered irritatingly.


"Okay so let me get this straight. You are just taking him back to her and leaving him for an entire week?" When Emma nodded, Neal looked to the rest of the room where Mary Margaret and David matched his disbelieving expression. They however, were a little weary of jumping in again. "I don't know if I'm okay with this."

Emma rolled her eyes. She had known what he would say so she wasn't shocked. Just annoyed that everyone felt they had the right to make her decisions. She knew there was a little hypocrisy in leaving him out of parenting when she herself was included. However, being abandoned by him when she needed him most did a number on her that she couldn't overlook.

"Sorry but the decision has been made. Even Henry is interested in giving this a try." She was actually really proud and relieved that it hadn't taken much convincing to get him to agree to dinner and a week. That was all she was asking right now. That he spend the evening with both of them and stay in his old room with Regina for the next week. If he was truly unhappy, they could look at other options. Yet again, she was amazed at who was being open minded and who wasn't.

"I'm his father. I want a vote here." Emma felt her irritation rise now. She had been repressing her anger about him, but the man had only known Henry for a matter of days and actually thought he had the right to be a father all the sudden.

Even though she had taken Henry, the final decisions were not on a whim. She had spent months learning about Henry and Regina. With the way Regina had treated her and everyone, she still believes she had every reason to be concerned at the time. But things were different now that everything was being laid out. She was seeing Regina for who she really was. Henry's mother. That fact could not be ignored anymore.

"You know what? If you hadn't left me completely alone so I had no chance of raising a baby, I might not have had to give him up and then just maybe, you would get a vote in how he's raised. But you made that decision and so now, you don't get any more." She turned around and jogged up the stairs, deciding it was time for her and Henry to leave.

Damn maybe Regina was right. Maybe I am drunk. I'm never this honest on purpose.

"Hey kid, ready to go?" She leaned into the room to see the boy combing his hair down into place. "You look nice." He was dressed in a button shirt with a sweater over it. She realized it was just how he'd always dressed before.

"Thanks. I know Mom always complains when I look messy." He shrugged nonchalantly but Emma saw a small blush. She walked behind him in the mirror and placed her hands on his shoulders, squeezing comfortingly.

"Kid you could walk in there caked with mud and she would still be thrilled to see you. Trust me on that." She smiled at him and he returned it.

"I heard everyone arguing again. They're mad I'm going to stay with her aren't they?"

"Yes. But that's just because everyone loves you and wants to make sure you're safe."

"But she wouldn't hurt me."

"You don't have to convince me." She laughed but Henry furrowed his brow as he turned to face her.

"Why?"

"What?" She asked confused.

"I thought you didn't trust her. What changed?" She stopped for a moment, carefully choosing her words.

"She did. She has been trying so hard. And I'm really starting to see that "Evil" was just a label added to her name. She did do some evil things." She paused, putting her hands on his shoulders again. "But she did some really good things too." She lifted a finger to tap Henry's chin. He smiled, understanding. The pair headed out and both choose to ignore the disapproving looks on everyone's faces.


Perfect

Regina smiled as she pulled the lasagna from the oven before moving it onto the perfectly set dining room table. She looked at her watch for the hundredth time and seeing that it was just about seven, she moved quickly to the front door. Using the hall mirror, she ran her fingers through her hair several times nervously.

A huge smile overtook her face as she heard a car pull up. She had the door opened before the two had even exited the car. When Henry came into view, his backpack slung easily over his shoulder, she could have cried on the spot. Instead she kept calm and smiled warmly at her son and his birth mother.

"Hey Mom." He spoke like everything was completely normal which was surprising enough, but when he leaned in for a quick hug, Regina almost lost it again.

The dinner went more smoothly than anyone predicted. Henry was happy that his brunette mother was, for the first time, not so defensive or uptight. He was confused but pleased at the interactions between her and Emma. There were no angry or offensive comments. Just casual conversations about school and work. He decided that if they were both willing to try, he could to. He was also starting to realize he missed his mother, though he wouldn't admit that out loud.


After dinner, Henry did his homework while both mothers handled the dishes together. Regina poured them both a glass of cider but Emma was sure to pace herself tonight. By the time Henry had gone to bed, Emma was just starting her second drink.

When Regina came back down the stairs, obviously in a good mood, she moved right back to the living room where Emma had made herself at home and poured another drink. Afterwards, she walked to the blonde and sat down right next to her.

Regina laid her hand on Emma's thigh, squeezing lightly. Immediately Emma felt an electric like pulse of energy shoot through her whole body. Regina smiled lazily as she started brushing her thumb back and forth in a consistent pattern.

So she's handsy when she drinks

Emma smiled at the knowledge. She could certainly get used to Regina's hands on her. No one hand ever caused such an immediate reaction as this women and Emma didn't want it to stop.

"Miss Swan, you're behind." Regina looked pointedly at Emma's glass, still halfway full. Regina took one long swig to finish hers, putting her one and a half drinks ahead. Emma smiled before lifting her own, and downing it all at once. She didn't want to feel like she was just getting Regina drunk.

"Better?" She said and Regina nodded. Emma stood, reluctantly moving from Regina's grasp, and took both glasses for refills. She actually had to concentrate on her steps, already feeling the buzz from just a few of Regina's drinks. They were certainly strong. She shook her head like she could actually shake away the slight haze.

"Already feeling it are we?" Emma jumped a little, startled when Regina's voice was suddenly right at her ear. Emma laughed nervously, causing an immediate smirk on Regina's face.

The blonde shivered as she felt Regina's warm breath on her ear. She unconsciously leaned back towards the source and was rewarded when gentle fingers grazed over her neck before trailing down her back leaving goose bumps in their wake. She bit her lip as Regina's hand came to a rest over the curve of her ass.

"Seems I'm not the only one." Emma's voice wavered just a bit, but not from the alcohol.

"Well I am feeling something." She punctuated the words with a firm squeeze of her hand and mentally congratulated herself when Emma gasped lightly.

Damn it I think she's winning

The smirk on Regina's face said she was thinking the exact same thing. Well Emma was never one to give up so easily.

"You still smell so good Regina." She turned in the tight space between the brunette and the table and without any preamble, leaned forward and kissed the side of Regina's neck, bringing out her tongue to lightly graze the warm flesh. She moved all the way until she could whisper directly in Regina's ear. "But you taste even better." Emma felt the shiver run through the older woman and grinned smugly before turning and walking casually back to the couch.

Regina remained motionless for a few seconds before taking a deep breath. She picked up her newly filled glass Emma had left on the table and took a nice long sip, enjoying the burning sensation and regaining any lost confidence almost immediately.

"Miss Swan what am I going to do with you?" She carried her glass as she sauntered over to the blonde, adding an extra sway to her step that, according to the look on Emma's face, did not go unappreciated.

Lots of things I hope

Emma stared up at Regina who was smiling devilishly over her. Regina raked her eyes over the sheriff and Emma had to swallow hard, her mouth suddenly watering at this image. Regina took another long sip before turning and placing the cup on the coffee table. Spinning back around, it was then that she pounced.

Emma's eyebrows shot up when Regina moved forward suddenly right onto her lap, placing a knee on either side of the blonde's thighs to straddle her. She took Emma's face in her hands and didn't hesitate at all before placing a firm kiss on her lips. Pulling back, Regina let out a small chuckle at Emma's stunned expression.

"So much for staying in complete control of your mind and body." Emma recovered enough to speak and Regina raised an eye brow.

"Oh trust me Miss Swan." Regina started while leaning up, using a hand to wrap around Emma's chin and tilt her head up to meet her eyes. "I am in complete control." She immediately closed the small distance, pressing her lips hard against Emma's again but this time, slipping her tongue easily into the distracted blonde's mouth.

When Regina pressed her whole body into Emma's while pushing her tongue in as far as possible, the sheriff didn't know if she had ever felt something so erotic. An involuntary moan escaped her much to the brunette's excitement, who was hoping to elicit more sounds like it. She moved her free hand to the back of Emma's head, weaving her fingers though the blonde tresses.

Emma could hardly concentrate but her body was responding automatically. She moved her hands slowly up Regina's thighs until she reached behind and pulled the brunette into her even harder. She couldn't resist letting her hands cup and squeeze the perfectly firm ass she continued holding Regina as close as humanly possible.

They continued like this for several moments. Both getting completely lost in each other. Both giving and taking, molding together, bodies moving in tandem. Neither had felt so close to another in a long time and it wasn't just the physical aspect. Both had been lonely for so long, being this close was an incredible comfort they didn't want to lose.

So you can only imagine the complete irritation when Emma's phone went off loudly in her pocket. Emma recognized the ring tone immediately and reached towards the device with a scowl in place.

"Don't. Just leave it." Regina said and Emma heard a hint of desperation in her tone. She wanted this as badly as Emma did. With that realization, she looked up sympathetically at the brunette.

"I have to answer her. Trust me, if I don't they will probably show up with torches and pitch forks." She gave a sideways smile and Regina rolled her eyes but without any real annoyance. Emma opened the phone.

"Hey Mary Margaret…I'm fine…He's fine…Yes I'm sure…I know…I don't know when I'm gonna be home…"

Regina rolled her eyes again, irritated Mary Margaret was once again there to step on her happiness. She wasn't ready for Emma to leave but didn't know how to say it.

"Because I'm with someone…Yes, like a date..." Regina snapped her eyes to the blonde but Emma didn't meet her gaze. "…Don't wait up, I'll talk to you later." With that Emma hung up. She cleared her throat and reached for her drink before finally looking at Regina.

Regina didn't know what to say. She wanted to know if Emma was just making up a story to cover herself or if this all really meant something to her. She wanted to know if the blonde was feeling any of the things she was. Most of all, she really didn't want Emma to leave. Regina had decided on her own though that she wasn't going to force anyone to be with her ever again. She decided to give Emma an out.

"Need to get home to Mommy and Daddy? I guess it is getting late." Regina casually looked at her watch, not noticing Emma's expression. Just as the Regina shifted to move off her lap though, Emma wrapped her arm around her waist, stopping the move. Regina met her eyes hesitantly.

"I don't wanna go." Emma whispered it before looking away shyly, missing the surprised look on Regina's face. "I don't want to be alone tonight. I don't feel so lonely with you."

Maybe it was the alcohol making her talk again because Emma was surprised she actually said such a thing out loud. She still couldn't look up, feeling embarrassed now. It wasn't until Regina very slowly and carefully lifted Emma's chin again that they finally locked eyes.

"I don't want you to leave. I don't feel so lonely with you either." Her smile was only warm and kind and Emma immediately felt like some physical weight had been lifted off her.

She leaned in and very tenderly pressed her lips to Regina's. This kiss was much more gentle than their last but somehow took their breath even faster. When they separated lips, they kept their foreheads together, just taking a few more seconds to enjoy the closeness and comfort of the other. They were both still breathing deep, inhaling the intoxicating essence of the other and in result, forgetting every negative stress in their lives and living only in this moment.

Eventually Regina stood, but she immediately reached back for Emma. The blonde happily wrapped her hand in Regina's, finding immeasurable comfort when their fingers intertwined, fitting perfectly. As they ascended the steps, both women smiled at the possibility that they might not be faced with another lonely night.

So once again this is a good stopping place. And once again, i see potential for a continuation if you believe it deserves another chapter. So PLEASE review and let me know what you thought about this chapter and if you'd be interested in more. Thanks so much for reading!