Regina straightened her jacket over her clothes and set her jaw in her most resolute expression. Yesterday Emma had returned her son after his second disappearing act, and while she was plenty furious at Henry for disobeying her twice, she was more concerned with how comfortable he looked with Emma.

The pair looked thick as thieves walking towards the house, eyes locked and coy smiles playing on their nearly identical mouths as if they were sharing some kind of secret. Henry looked up at Emma like she was his best friend, like she was some kind of hero or role model. He never looked at Regina in that way, and it hurt her deeper than she cared to admit.

Pushing her feelings down in a way that had become second nature, the Mayor cleared her throat and knocked on the door.

"Just a sec!" Emma called from the inside amongst muffled sounds of drawers opening and closing.

Emma opened the door wearing only a white tank-top and boy shorts, her hair dripping and skin glowing, indicating she had just gotten out of the shower. Regina could even smell the coconut body lotion lingering in the steamy bathroom.

"Regina?" Emma greeted her, surprised at her unannounced appearance.

Regina was a bit taken back at the casual, almost intimate appearance of the other woman as she boldly stood in the doorway, making no apologies for such an unkempt appearance. Regina tried not to gawk at the miles of bare skin in front of her. She was suddenly unsure of where to go from here as she was not used to seeing strangers in their underwear.

Emma just stared back at her with those reflector green eyes, seemingly unaware of her inappropriateness. Usually Regina felt in control of the people and situations around her but this newcomer seemed completely immune to Regina's natural dominance and it was insanely aggravating.

"Good afternoon, Miss Swan. I was hoping we could talk about Henry," she said finally, regaining composure.

"Um sure, come on in."

Emma turned to kick a few crumpled articles of clothing under the bed in a half-hearted attempt at propriety. Any other day Regina would had scoffed at the offending invitation into a room with someone's bra hanging on a nearby chair. She wanted to make a belittling remark and suggest that they go somewhere where pants are required, but her gaze floated to Emma's bare feet and slowly made their way upward.

For a moment her intentions were forgotten as brown eyes took in defined calves and thighs, a narrow waist accentuated by broad, toned shoulders. Her youthful, pale skin was flushed slightly and glowed with that just-scrubbed cleanliness. The woman's underwear clung to her sculpted backside in a way that highlighted the soft curvature, which dipped and flowed into shapely hamstrings, suggesting natural athleticism and stamina. Waves of blonde hair dripped water down the back of Emma's tank top making the material stick to the space between her shoulder blades.

Emma moved unassumingly and with a casualness of a person who is completely comfortable with themselves. She emanated confidence and aloofness in a way that made Regina second-guess the control she thought she had over the situation.

Regina's eyes had just finished their appraisal when Emma suddenly turned, catching the appreciative look on Regina's face. Emma smiled smugly, planting her hands on her hips and giving the Mayor an unobstructed view of her figure, knowing her assets were more than pleasing to the eye.

"Like what you see?" Emma asked flirtatiously.

Regina glared back at the blonde, keeping her eyes locked on Emma's. She knew she had been caught, but that didn't mean she would deny it or feel ashamed for looking. Emma was the one prancing around in skimpy clothing - if she didn't want people to look, she should have covered up.

Giving her best sneer Regina responded, trying to maintain the upper hand. "Hardly, dear," she snarked as she stepped through the doorway and gave Emma's body one more blatant once-over, clearly showing she was unfazed by Emma's boldness. "My tastes are a bit more dignified than dollar-store undergarments and transient bounty-hunters. Were you expecting someone, or is this just how to greet all your visitors?" she spat condescendingly.

"Only the ones I like Madam Mayor," Emma shot back, cocking one eyebrow up. She knew how to play the one-up game, but she also knew when to stop. The unamused look on Regina's face signaled an end to this round and Emma reverted to a more appropriate tone.

"What can I do for you?" she asked more serious.

"I'm here to talk about Henry, and your continued presence in this town," the Mayor offered curtly, without the courteous tone she had originally intended on using. "While I appreciate all your help with Henry these past few days, I believe it is time for you to go. Henry is having a hard time adjusting to recent events, and you being here is only making things worse for him."

"You mean worse for you," the blonde smirked. "Let me guess, Henry is giving you the cold shoulder because you won't let him near me, and it's driving you crazy that your son would rather spend his time with a stranger than with his own mother."

Emma witnessed Regina's muscles twitch as she clenched her jaw, and the blonde knew she was right. "Look, Regina, I meant what I said yesterday. I just want to make sure Henry is ok before I leave. I may not be his mother, but I did give birth to him and it is only natural for me to have some amount of concern for him."

"And then what? You can't stay here forever. What happens when you leave? When you abandon Henry again? Your indulgence to his request to stay for the week will only give Henry false hope, and when you leave he will be devastated, and I will have to be the one to put him back together."

Emma did not like the Mayor's choice of words, and took a defiant step towards Regina.

"Whoa! First of all, I didn't abandon Henry, ok. I gave him up for adoption so he would be taken care of. Secondly, this was never my idea. Henry showed up at my apartment. I didn't come here looking for Henry - he came to Boston looking for me. And I wasn't planning on staying, but then Henry started crying at me and I didn't know what else to do."

"You do the adult thing and tell him the truth! You tell him that while you were happy to meet him, it would be inappropriate for you to stay. Your life is back in Boston, while Henry's life is here."

"Well, sorry, I must have missed that day in 'how to react to your long-lost kid showing up on your doorstep' class," Emma shot back.

"Smart-ass remarks are not going to help you here, dear. Trust me, when it comes to Henry, I know what is best for him - I'm his mother."

"And apparently what is best for him is making him so miserable that he runs away from home...twice!"

Regina's eyes shot daggers at Emma and the blonde could almost feel the temperature in the room drop. The Mayor stepped forward, decreasing the distance but increasing the friction between them. Regina's voice was cold and direct, "And what would you know about parenting, Miss Swan? You gave birth to Henry in a prison, when you were a teenager. You're a criminal; hardly the type of person to be giving out advice."

Emma chuckled darkly. "Been doing your research on me, huh?"

"Lets just say I'm a resourceful woman, Miss Swan," she implied in a velvet voice.

"I bet you are," Emma answered back with an uninvited sweep of her eyes up and down the Mayor's body.

Regina shivered slightly at the blonde's hungry gaze, until she remembered what she came here to do. Steeling her nerves the Mayor dropped the bait.

"I have been speaking with Henry's therapist and we both agree that it is Henry's best interest for you to leave town as soon as possible. Your presence is confusing to him, and Dr. Hopper will help Henry deal with his emotions in a healthy way. The longer you stay, the harder it will be for Henry to deal with your absence."

"I'm not going anywhere, Regina," Emma stated defiantly. "I made a promise to Henry to stay for the week and I'm not going to disappoint him just because his mother can't handle a little reality."

"Oh!? You don't think I can handle reality, Miss Swan?" the Mayor asked, exaggerating her words with an incredulous inflection. "Let me tell you what reality is. Reality is coming home every day to a child you love and putting his needs first, no matter how tired your are, or how bad you want to be doing something else. Reality is working hard to maintain a job so that you can provide for someone other than yourself. Reality is late nights, early mornings, and no days-off. I have changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. I have fed, clothed, and sheltered him all of these years that you were absent. You lost your right to Henry when you gave him up. He is my son, and so help me, if you think you can come between us, I will destroy you. You will leave town, today, before you make things any worse for Henry."

Emma stared into the Mayor's face, sensing the resolute authority behind her words, but it was not in Emma's nature to back down.

"I don't want to make things worse for Henry, only better," Emma admitted. Regina began to look relieved, but then Emma cut in again. "Thats why I'm staying for the week. I am in Henry's life now, and not even you can't take that back. I have no intention of coming between you and him, believe me, but I'm not going to let you dictate how I live my life."

Regina glared at the woman, wishing she could flay her alive. Emma stood her ground firmly, enduring the blazing stare with marble-like strength. Though she hated to admit it, Regina saw that Emma could not be intimidated into submission. Not today, anyway.

"Fine," Regina stated flatly. "One week. Then you are gone. Are we clear?"

Emma stared back at Regina, mouth set and arms crossed the same stubborn way Henry does when he doesn't want to go to school, or when he doesn't want to eat his vegetables.

"Are we clear, Miss Swan?" Regina asked again, more firmly this time.

"Yeah. We're clear," Emma consented, though her eyes shone with defiance and suspicion.

Regina turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. If the infuriating woman could not be persuaded to leave town, then perhaps she could be baited into making a mistake or two, and then hopefully the problem would sort itself out.

SQ

As Emma looked out of the window and watched the brunette drive away, she couldn't help but smile mischievously as she had obviously gotten under the Mayor's skin; and it felt good. Emma had known enough control freaks in her life to recognize one a mile away and Regina seemed to be the queen of control freaks. Regina was clearly not used to someone standing up to her and Emma had done just that. Emma was an expert at challenging authority and she always got a sick thrill when she rattled someone's cage.

This Regina Mills was going to be a tough one though, Emma surmised. She was intelligent, well-spoken and poised, not to mention Henry's legal guardian. She was also overbearing, demanding, and impossibly hard to crack.

Emma shivered as she recalled the ice that in those dark brown eyes. There was something enticing about the Mayor when she was all worked up, and Emma couldn't deny that she was devastatingly beautiful, even when her eyes were shooting daggers...especially when her eyes were shooting daggers, actually. Emma liked pushing the Mayor's buttons, watching her composed exterior fracture at Emma's provoking; it was a game that Emma was beginning to enjoy.

Though Regina seemed to be cold, Emma was convinced she was still a good person. Emma had known real evil in her life, foster parents who left painful memories and scars in the wake of her past, and targets Emma had tracked down who had been arrested for unspeakable crimes. Regina seemed to genuinely care about Henry, and as far as Emma could tell she was taking pretty good care of the kid. Emma knew she was in no position to judge.

It was obvious that the Mayor tried to hide her insecurities behind threats and accusations. Emma was unaffected by the Mayor's assault because she could see straight through the front that the Mayor tried so hard to put up. Behind those fierce brown eyes that woman was hurting. No one acted this way without a reason. Emma knew how consuming pain and anger could be, and she was afraid that whatever was affecting Regina would leak into Henry as well.

Emma wanted to get a better understanding of the dynamics of their relationship. If there was anyone in this town who could give Emma insight into Henry and Regina's relationship, it would be Henry's therapist.

SQ

Emma hurriedly dressed and bounded down the stairs of the B&B, not looking where she was going. In her haste, the blonde nearly crashed into a body at the bottom of the stairwell.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" Emma reached out to save the person she had just crashed into from falling over.

After steadying himself, the stranger turned around and with a look of surprise, straightened his posture. "Pardon me, dearie, I wasn't looking where I was going," the man said with a thick accent.

Emma took in the sight of the older man. He was middle aged, thin, short in stature with angular features. There was an air of authority in his groomed appearance, tailored suit and sharp eyes. He leaned his weight on a cane due to an obvious bum leg, yet he somehow managed to exuded strength rather than weakness. He looked directly into Emma's eyes and smiled. Emma's instincts tingled.

"Mr. Gold!" Eugenia, the elderly proprietor of the B&B greeted him. "I wasn't expecting you this early in the morning."

"Yes, well the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and I decided to make my rounds on foot today. The old leg is feeling better today than it has in ages, and I fancied some exercise."

"Well I don't have everything in order at the moment, it will take me a few minutes to gather it up," Eugenia explained.

"Take your time, dear. I'm sure Miss…?" the man trailed off, gesturing at Emma.

"Uh, Emma," the blonde replied, suddenly put on the spot.

"I'm sure Miss Emma here can keep me company in the meantime," the man stated as if Emma didn't have a choice.

"Actually, I was just leaving. I have some errands to run," Emma tried to excuse herself.

"Emma. That's a lovely name. Tell me, Emma, what brings you to Storybrooke?" Mr. Gold continued, ignoring Emma's attempt at departure.

Emma looked for Eugenia for support, but the woman had scurried off, leaving her to fend for herself.

Not wanting to be rude, Emma continued the conversation. "Well, it's kind of a long story. I'm just here to…help out a friend, but I'll be leaving at the end of the week."

"Well, we've made quite the impression on you then. A few days in our town and you're already planning your escape," Mr. Gold joked.

"No, it's nothing like that," Emma smiled reassuringly. "I just have a job to get back to in Boston, and I can't really afford to stay much longer than a week."

"Just a job? No family to get back to?" the man pried.

"Nope, nothing like that. It's just me," Emma shrugged.

"Well that's a pity. Everyone needs a family."

"Heh, yeah, I guess so. But that's not just something you can pick up at the store."

Mr. Gold smiled. "No, I suppose you're right."

The two looked at each other, the man smiling warmly and Emma getting a sense of something familiar, when they were interrupted by the returning presence of Eugenia.

"Here you are, Mr. Gold. It's all there," the woman assured, handing the man a wad of rolled-up cash.

"Yes, of course it is dear," he responded, snatching the cash away quickly tucking it into his pocket.

"Well, Emma, it was a pleasure to meet you. I do hope you enjoy your stay here in our town, and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you." Mr. Gold nodded politely at both women before limping out of the building and down the walk.

"Sooooo, who was that?" Emma asked, as soon as the man was out of earshot.

"Mr. Gold owns the pawn store, as well as most of the town; and he loves to remind us of that fact," Eugenia answered with a sneer. Emma got the impression the man was less than favored and dropped the discussion.

"Um, I was wondering if you could tell me where to find the local therapist, a man named Dr. Hopper? I just had a couple of questions for him."

"Of course. His office is just off of Main Street, over on Maple. His sign has a green umbrella on it. You can't miss it."

Emma nodded her thanks and headed out of the door.