Author's note: Emma and Henry pick Regina up for a dinner. Established SQ


Regina is tired so damn tired. Not to mention the stabbing pain between her eyes telling her a migraine is likely to arrive rather soon and she still has to take care of so much paperwork. She glances at her watch a hideous gift from Henry for her last birthday. The watch is sliver and red formed like an apple and really doesn't match any of her clothing but well her little prince gave it to her. And like always her heart bursts from love and pride so there is no way that the watch goes off like ever. Even if it really isn't suitable for a Mayor.

The watch says 5:59 pm still far too early to call it day but Regina has been working since early this morning had already been in her office shortly after the sun rose. Had dragged herself out of the bed still sleepy had kissed Emma's temple softly as the blond next to her moaned in displeasure for the early interruption mumbling still half asleep: "Where 're yu going R'gina? Come back to bed." Regina had only chuckled had tucked a strand of Emma's long blond curls behind her ear. "I gotta go to work Miss Swan. Just close your eyes and go back to sleep dear."

Before Emma got the chance to drag Regina back to bed (she likes to pull her back throwing the covers over her and then hug her so tightly against her like a koala bear that makes escaping impossible) she had left the room and went to work.

Now she is sitting here going over on report after another left by Snow who had a dwarf emergency whatever the hell that means. She only knows that those damn dwarfs where annoying and cost work and time. Time she and therefore Snow don't have. Being responsible for a town full of fairytale characters tents to be a rather crazy and exhausting task. Especially if you are surrounded by idiots all the time.

Regina looks out of the window where the first snowflakes are falling down. Winter is slowly arriving and it looks stunning. However that means even more work for her to do since the people in Storybrook apparently turn into stupid useless fools when the first snow falls.

Regina sights as she rubs circles over her temples trying to focus on the paper in front of her. But maybe she is already too tired for this because her thoughts always wander off.

Wander off to a certain sheriff with green eyes and blond hair and before Regina can stop herself her mind keeps wandering, wandering to less innocent thoughts. She thinks about Emma's lips her soft lips on her neck and to their kisses, gentle and passionate ones, with tongue, without it. Oh Emma Swan has a very talented tongue Regina thinks with a smirk. "Snap out of it Mills you have work to do" Regina tells herself. If she keeps that pace up she won't be out of her office before midnight.

So she grabs her pen and tries to focus to keep her thoughts at bay. She is just about to take a closer look at Granny's ask for a new freezer as her stomach grumbles , loudly. Regina realizes with a frown that she hasn't eaten anything in quite a while. Emma and Henry sometimes accompanied by Snow and Charming usually bring dinner with them so they can eat together.

She even gets Emma to eat something at least remotely healthy from time to time. Which gets her more often than not some whining at Emma's part that human beings "shouldn't be forced to eat rabbit food " but Regina usually can silence her with one of her best evil glares. Well unless Henry joins Emma. If those tow work together to convince her that a burger with fries or their "Mum your lasagna is the best best thing in the world pleaseeee we can eat vegetables tomorrow" mostly followed by Emma grinning and a "and there a tomatoes in it so lasagna is technically a vegetable."

If afterwards her son and her wife give her their best puppy look Regina knows she lost no way she is going to be able to make her strict mum face (which she seriously needs sometimes with Emma too, it not only her eating habit that remembers her of a child sometimes, even though she adores that part of Emma ) so lasagna it is.

But today she hasn't eaten anything and she is hungry but there is still so much work to do. She sights and tries to ignore the hunger as her stomach repeats the noise." It seems we are just on time" Regina looks up in surprise as Emma and her son are standing at her door both holding what seems to be take- out from Granny's in their hands. Also both are covered in snow their noses slightly red. "What are you doing here?" Regina asks but smiling widely at them.

"We brought you dinner Mum we thought you might be hungry." Henry grins at her sitting on her table. Gosh her little prince is almost as tall as her by now if she doesn't wear heels.

"Henry get down from that table now." Regina scolded her boy lightly but firm only earing a cheeky smirk. Yes her little prince isn't just only getting taller he is becoming a young man. Still as long he wasn't really grown up there was no sitting on tables. "Oh kid guess somebody is really hungry. Let's hurry and grab your Mum's things before we both are grounded." Emma shoved Henry gently towards Regina's bag.

"Guys this is really a lovely idea but I'll have to work. Since you mother oh so sneaky disappear with the dwarfs letting me drown in work here."

"Regina you need to eat work can wait. Come move your hot butt and get moving." Emma says already grabbing Regina's hand softly. "Yes Mum get moving. Oh and Ma?" "Yes Henry?" Emma askes as she helps Regina (who is more or less an unwilling part here) into her coat.

" Don't ever please in my entire life talk ever again about my mother's hot butt in front of me alright? That is far more than I ever wanted to hear like really faaaaaaar more."

Regina and Emma look at each other and as Henry's cheeks turn slightly rosy from embarrassment both woman can't stop themselves from laughing. "Just for the record you are both horrible:" Henry mutters punching both of his mother's shoulders gently.

"Emma I really shouldn't…" Regina starts but it's her son who interrupts her this time:" Mum you always say it is very important to eat frequently cause we need to stay healthy, right? You are my Mum you gotta be my role model here." Yes Mum did you hear that? You gotta be our kids role model. Also let's go and get something between our teeth's." Emma adds grinning. Regina rolls her eyes but she barely can suppress a smile at the same time.

It's nice to be cared for , to have people who want to eat with her, who want to make sure she is alright and not because of some duty but because they love her.

So she only sights takes Emma's hand and let her wife and son drag her out of the office. "But it's cold outside," Regina mutters when they reach the exit of the building. "Regina stop whining you aren't out of sugar are you? And look its beautiful." Well Regina has to give Emma that. Storybrook really looks stunning, the landscape which turns slowly white does have its beauty.

Henry walks in front of them leads them to a little bench by the park just five minutes away from her office. In front of the bench there is a little table. Where the hell did that table came from? Regina throws a questioningly glance at Emma who simply answers: "Magic babe." "Come on Moms sit down I'm starving, "Henry shouts. Teenage boys seemed to be hungry all the time, Regina thinks with chuckle as she looks at her son.

Soon they all are sitting on the table warmed by a flame Regina conjured eating mostly typical Granny junk food but today Regina doesn't complain (and notices with a smirk the really really small container filled with salad). She only enjoys sitting her with the woman she loves and their not so little boy anymore. Sitting here joking , laughing , talking, being a family.

Something Regina thought she would never have and still she has to pinch herself every morning to make sure everything is real. That she isn't dreaming all of this, an image made up by her broken mind caused by years of isolation and pain.

But it is real. It is real when Henry jumps up kisses her cheek (it always make her eyes watery) and goes to make a snowball fight with one of his friends, laughing waving at her. Her little prince.

It is real when Emma takes her hand and into hers squeezes it gently so much understanding in those green eyes, Emma knows how much this all means to her. It is also real when she presses her lips onto Emma's and tries to put everything into that kiss. How much she loves Emma, how much she cares for her, how grateful she is for this, for her second chance.

And damn if Emma doesn't return the kiss the same way.

Yes Snow was right (occasionally she indeed was a genius), happy ending aren't always what they seem.