A/N: So, third chapter in I feel like I should finally explain what I'm doing. This is going to be an ongoing story that will have eventual SwanQueen as well as multiple character studies. I do plan to have a lot of conflicts but also a lot of buildup, as you can tell by reading. So it will be slow going but I like to think it will be worth it. Feel free to stick around if that suits you and I hope you enjoy : )

Saturdays

The woman known as Belle was lying on her side in the hospital bed she had come to call home. If only she had enough memory to remember the fact that this would be ironic. But as it was, she had no memory of who she was or who she had been with. Absently she danced her fingers along the railing of her bed, giving a soft smile when they did the splits.

Rumpel smiled too, even from out in the hall. He was out of her sight, hands resting on the cane in front of him as he watched the love of his life experience a brief moment of happiness. And just like that, the moment, and Belle's smile fell as she looked at the large clock on the wall and pulled her blankets tighter to her chest. Rumpel gripped the cane in his hands. He could see the sadness in her eyes, the loneliness, and longed to surge forward and break her from it.

But it was futile. She had no memory of him, and in fact feared him. Rumpel pushed the thought from his mind. This was a momentary insignificance, nothing more. Belle would get her memory back. Of that, he was certain. He just had to get his magic back. Yet another momentary insignificance. The dark one sighed as Belle closed her eyes attempting to drift into a sleep that would be anything but peaceful. He took a step forward, his hand outstretched, but stopped when a white lab coat flashed in his peripheral.

"You know you're not supposed to be here," the not so good doctor stated matter-of-factly, clasping his hands in front of him as he neared Rumpel.

"She can't even see me," he breathed, gesturing to the sleeping woman.

"She doesn't want you here," Whale countered.

"And what are you going to do about it?" Rumpel seethed, his cane lifting as a weapon. "Are you going to escort me off the premises?"

"If it comes to that."

Whale was unusually calm and for a brief moment Rumpel had the fear that he knew he was without magic. His eyes widened at the thought and Whale's eyebrow rose slightly in confusion. It was all Rumpel needed to regain his composure and he lowered his cane, giving a short bow. "We wouldn't want to ruin that nice white coat of yours, now would we?" he said before turning and making his way slowly out of the hospital.

Rumpel made his way out into the dark night and took a deep breath of chilled air, letting it fill his lungs and surround his heart. In a way, all of this was a welcome surprise. It had been so long since he was truly surprised and without an immediate fix for something. Perhaps there was a silver lining to be found in all of this darkness. Smirking to himself, he trudged down to his shop to begin his long night of research.

0-0-0-0-0

When morning filtered warm light into Emma's room, she was awake to greet it. This marked the third night of little to no sleep and at this point she was too tired to even be frustrated with it. So, she slowly rose from the bed and pulled yesterday's jeans on. It had been three days since she'd gotten the book from Regina. Three days since her outbreak and three days since Emma saw the torn look in the queen's eyes. Emma eyed the book that was sitting on her dresser and puffed her cheeks out in an exhale.

To be fair, she wasn't sure why she felt so guilty about what happened. It was Neal's appearance and Regina's rush to a conclusion that caused all of the problems. But it still happened. Emma felt her gut twisting as she touched the book again, the magic buzzing through her fingers like a small current. It felt good, but not good enough to crazy over. Then again, she was new to this magic business. In fact, she really wanted nothing to do with it. Emma dropped the book and grabbed her jacket before making her way down the stairs of Snow's apartment.

It was still dark downstairs and Emma caught sight of Snow and Charming still asleep. Snow was curled into as tight of a ball she could manage. Charming was at her back, both of his arms wrapped around her, his nose buried in her neck. Emma gave a soft smile at the sight before she saw movement in her peripheral. Henry was in the kitchen, looking up at her happily, half a piece of toast in between his fingers.

"Hey, kid," Emma whispered as she sat down on the bar and took an orange. "How'd you sleep?"

Henry shrugged and swallowed his bite. "I stayed up thinking for a while."

"Oh yeah? What about?"

"My mom," Henry answered almost guiltily, looking like he was going to be punished.

To his surprise, Emma just smiled and gave a soft nod. "Me too."

Henry's face scrunched up like it often did when he was confused. "You? What were you thinking about her for?"

"You first," Emma responded, pointing at his nose.

Henry sighed and took the time to eat another bite of toast before answering. "I was just thinking about how confusing she is. I mean, she's the Evil Queen, and she's done really bad things. But she gave you the book. So I guess…I guess I was wondering why she did it."

"Maybe she's turning around," Emma offered, watching as Henry shrugged again.

"She always tries to turn around, but then it turns out to be a lie."

"I wouldn't say it was a 'lie.' It's more like she just doesn't know how to be good. And when she fails she goes back to what she knows." Emma's brow furrowed as she struggled to peel the skin from the orange.

"What were you thinking about her for?" Henry asked quietly.

Emma didn't answer as she was too busy trying to get through the peel. Henry watched her patiently for a moment before he asked, a little louder, "Do you miss her too?"

Emma looked up quickly and pierced her thumb all the way through the orange. Henry laughed as she gave him the thumbs up with the orange still attached and put her finger to her lips, gesturing to her parents. Henry covered his mouth with his hands and Emma pulled her thumb out, sticking it in her mouth and wincing at the orange's bitter taste.

"Hey, want to go to Granny's for breakfast?"

Henry's eyes lit up for a moment before falling as he looked at the clock. "I can't. I'll be late for school."

Emma frowned at the clock as well and tapped her nails on the counter for a moment. "You're not going to school today."

Henry looked at her sideways in a manner that looked unsurprisingly like Regina's and Emma smiled as she nodded. "Yup, we're on a mission today. And it starts with breakfast at Granny's. You in?"

Her son nodded vigorously and she hopped off of the counter and made her way to the door, Henry scrambling eagerly behind her. When they stepped out of the building Emma immediately turned left and started walking. It took Henry—who had turned right— a few moments to notice that she wasn't walking alongside him and he turned and raced back to her, puffing when he reached her side.

"Hey, I thought we were going to Granny's?"

"We are. But we have to pick someone up first."

"Neal?"

The excitement in Henry's voice was barely contained and Emma sighed as she looked down at him and shook her head. Before his expression could fall too much, she said, "We're going to pick up your mother."

Henry stopped in his tracks and Emma turned to look at him. He looked at her suspiciously and she shrugged. "What?"

"You want Regina to come with us?" he asked skeptically.

"Why was she your mother in the apartment and now she's Regina?" Emma asked. "She's always your mother, Henry. And she loves you. You just said that you missed her."

"Yeah…but…" he turned and looked up at the apartment where the Charmings were currently still sleeping.

Emma placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him forward down the block. They walked in silence for a few blocks before Henry looked up at her. "What if she tries to take me from you?"

"I don't think she's going to do that," Emma countered.

"But what if—

"Henry," Emma chastised, "this world is full of 'what ifs.' And people who only think of the 'what ifs' instead of actually going out and finding out what will happen are the ones with the biggest regrets. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

He shook his head slowly and licked her lips before crouching down to his level. "Your mother wants more than anything to be good. If we don't give her a chance to try, then what reason does she have to try? This is what good people do."

Henry pursed his lips for a moment before meeting her eyes and giving a nod along with a short smile. "I do have a lot that I want to tell her," he said before falling into step beside Emma.

0-0-0-0-0

Regina had just finished applying her makeup when she heard the knock at the door. The past few days had been a welcome reprieve from visitors and she was finally able to get up and make herself look presentable again. Her mother's death was still fresh, as was Emma's betrayal, but Regina had long since learned how to cope with such things. She had given up on guessing who could be behind it and decided it didn't matter in the end. So she ran a thumb along her lips to catch the stray lipstick and made her way downstairs, pulling the door open without flourish.

The first thing she saw were blonde curls and she closed her eyes for a moment to regain her composure. Magic swelled through her veins at her quick emotional change but she swallowed the urge to use it and opened her eyes again. "Miss Swan, what can you possibly require from me this time?" she asked, before her eyes fell on the little boy at her side. Her mouth fell open slightly at the sight of Henry and Emma watched as Regina straightened her composure, looking oddly self-conscious.

"Henry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Henry looked up at Emma proudly, and then smiled at his mom. "We wanted to know if you wanted to come to breakfast with us!" he chirped.

Regina's eyebrows rose and her eyes lifted to Emma, who nodded. "We were thinking about going to Granny's. Coffee's not as good as yours but I'll make do."

The queen ran a hand through her hair and blinked a few times before looking at her watch. "Don't you have school?" she asked, the motherly tone settling in as if it had never left.

Henry looked stricken, as if Regina had just killed Emma in front of him and Emma made a note to herself to talk to the kid about all of the grays in the world. Placing a hand on the doorframe, Emma leaned in a bit to Regina and raised her eyebrows. "I thought this was more important. Are you coming?"

Regina's eyes ran the length of Emma's face a few times before she straightened and looked down at Henry.

"Just let me grab my coat."

As they walked to Granny's Emma stayed a few steps behind the other two, listening as Henry told her about flying and New York City pizza. For the most part Regina remained silent, only offering questions or appropriate responses when necessary. Emma watched the way her shoulders fell from their normal stiff position and her arms swung gently at her sides and couldn't help but smile.

The cheery mood dwindled when they all stepped into Granny's diner. Henry was still chatting and Regina was still completely absorbed in him. Only Emma saw as every patron in the diner stopped and stared as the Evil Queen entered. Soon, the silence made Henry stop his story telling and they both looked around the room. Most of the residents looked ready to snap and Emma watched as Regina's posture straightened, the shine in her face replaced with a cool stoicism.

"Good morning," Emma said to everyone, breaking the silence as she pointed Henry to a booth. He ran over quickly and took a seat square in the middle of it.

No one watched as the boy ran off. They kept their eyes on Regina, gripping their silverware as if they were preparing for battle. Regina's eyebrows rose, a silent acceptance of their challenge and Emma placed a hand on her arm, looking to Granny, who was standing with her hands on her hips. Ruby stood next to her, the only one not looking quite as enraged, though she did look very perplexed.

"Granny," Emma confidently, lifting her head to the older woman. "Are we welcome to eat here?"

Granny seemed taken aback by the question, as did the rest of the patrons as they looked at one another before looking back at the diner's owner. She blinked a few times, her mouth opening and closing not unlike a fish before Ruby rolled her eyes and grabbed three menus. "Take a seat, Emma…Regina," she said, gesturing to Henry.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief and headed over to the booth, unaware of her hand still on Regina's arm as she led her through the tables. When they reached the booth Emma paused for a moment, looking at her son. He was completely unaware of the fact that he had taken up the entire side of the booth and he looked at her quizzically. Shaking her head, Emma slid into the booth, watching as Regina sat gracefully next to her, acting as if she wasn't there at all. The blonde tried to best to shove herself against the wall, but despite all of her efforts their thighs still touched and she silently prayed that it wouldn't be enough to set Regina off and ruin the entire mission.

Ruby set the menus down with a smile and took drink orders before turning and waving her hands at the rest of the diners to go back to their meals. "All right, folks, whoever can keep their eyes on their own meals like big boys and girls gets a free side of bacon."

They did so reluctantly, and Ruby walked triumphantly behind the counter. Emma was certain Ruby's willingness to help stemmed from a desire for attention but she was grateful for it all the same as she stared at the menu.

Emma was silent for most of the meal, but she didn't mind. This breakfast wasn't about her. Henry and Regina were completely absorbed in one another and she was content to watch the happiness that bounced back and forth between them. Emma wasn't sure she had ever seen Regina smile so much. It was still a bit strained, as if she was holding back, but it was more than the blonde had seen in a long time.

When Ruby set the check at the end of the table Regina picked it up and flicked it open.

"Oh no you don't," Emma said, grabbing it and giving it a tug, unsurprised when Regina's grip held firm. "You're our guest. You don't pay."

Regina attempted to pull the bill back, raising her eyebrows when Emma didn't let go. "Miss Swan, let go," she said, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

"You let go."

Regina pulled again, bringing herself closer to the blonde. They were so used to invading personal space at this point that neither seemed to notice the queer look everyone in the diner was giving them. Emma saw that Regina's eyes had darkened, her lip curling up in that trademark snarl, and she smiled as she felt herself rising to the challenge.

"You're about to do something you'll regret, Miss Swan," Regina bit, giving another tug and ripping the bill from Emma's hands.

The snap was the exact opposite of what Emma wanted and in that instant she could see that by her pushing, or simply just by making Regina aware of her presence, the Queen's walls had come back up.

"You're just…," Emma groaned, throwing her eyes to the ceiling. "It's always one step forward and forty steps back," she muttered under her breath.

Henry looked back and forth between the two women before pursing his lips together and scooting out of the booth. Regina stood as well and marched proudly through the onlookers and straight to Ruby. Her face was still hardened and fake, but Emma saw genuine gratitude in the nod she gave to the waitress, slipping a single bill to her.

Ruby's eyes widened and she made her way over to the cash register, only to be stopped by Regina, who merely shook her head and made her way towards the door. Emma tried to catch Ruby's attention on the way out but she seemed too absorbed in her tip so she shrugged and allowed Henry and Regina to exit first. Once they were out in the cool Maine morning they all shared a deep breath.

Regina buried her hands in her pockets and looked out towards the street. Henry looked up at Emma and shifted slowly towards the blonde's side. She smiled down at him and he looked up at her with an expression she couldn't quite read. Having enough of the awkward silence, Emma slapped her hands against her sides and took a deep breath.

"All right. What say we walk to the park now? You'll have the monkey bars all to yourself, kid."

Henry's features lit up and turned and started a brisk walk down the street. "I can practice my flips!"

Emma began to follow him for a few steps before she realized that Regina had not followed. She turned to find the queen standing after them, looking as if she'd just lost Henry again. Emma found herself smiling as she extended her hand towards Regina. "Come on, Regina," she pleaded quietly.

Regina's posture straightened, as if she'd just been caught and she eyed Emma intensely before she slowly moved forward. She ignored Emma's hand, but did continue down the path Henry was currently racing. Putting her hands in her pockets, Emma followed along, picking up the pace until she was beside Regina.

"Thanks for getting the bill," Emma offered after a few moments of silence.

Regina merely nodded, her eyes straight ahead on her son as he looked both ways before crossing the street and racing towards the monkey bars on the park. Emma followed as Regina made her way to bench just a few feet away from her son. The blonde paused for a moment as she watched Regina perch herself on the end of it and cross her feet and legs. Her posture screamed for Emma to get away and she took a deep breath as she sat on the end, turning her focus to Henry as he bounded up the bars and began dangling every which way.

Emma felt her stomach ache in nervousness as she watched him. She was still new to this maternal business and wasn't quite sure how to react to this newfound fear. Every time Henry looped himself over the bar, his head came within centimeters of the next bar. Not to mention he was a few feet above the ground. Chances to get hurt were everywhere and Emma had the brief backward notion of wanting to ban monkey bars and cover all the playground equipment in foam. A raised eyebrow in her peripheral caused a break in her thoughts and she turned her head to see Regina regarding her with an almost condescending confusion.

"I never really knew monkey bars could cause a heart attack," Emma half laughed, feeling her cheeks reddening.

Regina gave a soft nod, though her eyes were still unrelenting. "I never took you for an overly concerned mother."

"Speak for yourself, Miss Iron Fist."

"I'm strict, yes, but not overly concerned."

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Fight the urge to protect him from every sharp corner?"

The question caught Regina off guard and looked down to examine her hand as she thought upon it. She remembered those feelings when she first got Henry. Everything was the enemy and everything could him and would if it got the chance. It caused her heart to ache, this connection with Emma and she tried to swallow it down.

"There's always that urge. But you find out very quickly that no matter how hard you try, little boys are always going to hurt themselves and they are always going to get dirty. It's one of the few constants I can rely on in this world."

When Emma's smile fell on her Regina turned away and looked to the sky for a moment, running her hand through her hair. The blonde's smile only widened as she cast a sideways glance at Henry. "He's a really good kid, Regina."

The queen turned to face her again and Emma nodded. "He really is. Thank you."

Regina could feel the sincerity of Emma's words and it caused her chest to tighten at the small joy that threatened to run through her. She placed on shaking hand over the other and tried to reign in her racing thoughts. Experience taught her that compliments came with motives and that any happiness was stripped away as quickly as it came. She wanted to say that Emma was welcome, but knew that instead she had to say, "Yes, well, I want the best for my son."

The blonde's sigh had the intended effect as the brief happiness dissipated and her tightened heart released. She was used to this, understood this, but it never ceased to hurt. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Emma scoot closer and instinctively she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Come on, Regina. We're having a good time," Emma pleaded. She could see the queen was conflicted. It was all over her tense posture and the way she refused to look her way. Regina was a ticking clock and Emma had a feeling her time was almost up. She'd lost her patience too early at the diner, but the woman had a way of getting under her skin. Licking her lips, she tried a different tactic.

"I was thinking we could make this a weekly thing. I mean, not skipping school but spending time with Henry."

Realization struck the queen's face and her arms lowered as she looked over at Emma. The savior felt her stomach turn like it always did when Regina looked at her with walls down and tried to push it to the back of her mind. Regina eyes flickered downward for a moment and self-consciousness seeped into her clasped hands.

"Supervised?"

"At first," she said, watching Regina's knuckles go white as she gripped her hands, "just to keep the locals happy and off our backs."

There was a long pause as Regina considered the idea. She didn't like the idea of being under scrutiny while with her son but there wasn't much of a choice. If she had any chance of getting Henry back, she'd have to suffer one day a week and ignore the fact that Emma and Henry's newfound father would get the rest and best of him.

"Are you sure Neal won't mind?" she asked coldly, immediately regretting it but refusing to show it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Emma straighten, but when she spoke, her tone was surprisingly even.

"Every parent will get their due time with him."

It was the best response she could have given on the matter. Regina knew that. Exhaling a slow breath, the queen looked up and into those green eyes. "I would very much like that, Emma. Saturdays?"

Emma opened her mouth to respond when they both heard the thud of a body hitting the ground. Henry had somehow fallen and was now lying on his back under the equipment. It was almost instinct as Emma shot up, prepared to race over, but a hand on her shoulder paused her movements and she looked over at the queen again. Her eyes were focused on Henry, but she appeared unfazed by the fact her son was sprawled on the ground.

"Miss Swan, racing over there with that," she made a disdained expression and pointed to Emma's face as she stood, "psychotic panic will do nothing but scare him."

With that she strode over and, with the calm and motherly appearance she always maintained around her son, Regina looked down at him. "You alright?" she asked, and Emma watched as the boy shook his head, pointing to his chest.

"Should I call someone?" she asked, panicked, before Regina rolled her eyes at her.

"All the air knocked out of you?" she asked him and he nodded.

Regina then knelt down and picked Henry up by the arms, placing him on his feet and then lifting his arms over his head. He looked at her with the same feared expression Emma possessed and Regina had to look away from the resemblance. "It's okay, Henry. It'll come back. Just try to breathe," she coaxed gently.

A few seconds later, Henry gasped as air finally filled his lungs. His eyes watered as he panted for a moment and Regina reached out to touch his check while Emma placed a relieved hand on his shoulder. He looked back and forth between his moms and gave a soft smile. He wasn't quite sure why he liked this picture, but he wasn't about to question it as Emma turned to Regina and gave a confident nod.

"Saturdays it is."