It was Sunday afternoon and Emma was busy in the kitchen cooking up dinner and Henry wanted to help but she wanted it to be a surprise and wouldn't let him in. Deciding he had enough of her nutty behaviour, he packed up some things into his backpack and went over to his mom's. When he arrived, he could smell baked goods and went inside quickly hoping for a treat before dinner.

"Hey Mom!" Henry called out before the door slammed shut.

"Henry? What are you doing here?" Regina asked as she came out of the kitchen wearing her apple apron, wiping her hands in a towel.

"Emma is a nightmare in the kitchen when she doesn't want you in it so I came over here."

"A nightmare is she? What is she making?"

"I don't know! She wouldn't tell me. And I tried to go in the kitchen just for a snack and she wouldn't let me do that. I'm almost afraid of what she's making." Henry told her.

"I'm sure it will be great, I did give her my memories of how to cook, and thankfully she's kept those memories so far."

"True, thanks for that by the way. So what are you baking? It smells really good in here." Henry said with a smile.

"Well I made a turtle cheesecake as well as banana parfaits and there's an apple pie in the oven now but that's for here."

"Wow the cheesecake is Emma's favourite and the parfait is mine, thanks Mom!" Henry exclaimed and hugged his mother, "If whatever Emma is making flops we'll at least have dessert."

"Henry!" Regina admonished her son, shaking her head at his sarcasm.

"Just joking Mom, I'm sure whatever she's making will be good too."

"Henry, why do you call her Emma again instead of Ma? It's been a long time since you called her by her name." Regina asked hoping she wouldn't upset her son but she could see it in the woman's eyes how it hurt her to hear him call her Emma again.

"Um, I changed when she hurt your feelings. I was and still am a little mad at her about that. Why, did she say something to you?" Henry asked wondering if it bothered his other mom.

"No darling, she hasn't I just wondered that's all. Though, she and I seem to have move past that moment in time. Maybe when you're ready you could start calling her Ma again."

"Yeah I will, like you said, when I'm ready. I will Mom." He told her.

"Oh Emma, dinner was amazing, stuffed Cornish hen is my favourite but the grocer never has them in stock here." Regina praised after eating the last bite of her dinner. "Mmm so good."

Emma was proud of herself hearing Regina's comments but when she moaned, it made her stomach feel like there were a thousand butterflies taking flight. Drawing a deep breath to calm herself she put down her fork and got up. "I'm so glad you liked it, it was the first time I have ever had Cornish hens. They're actually pretty good."

"Did you know this was my favourite meal?" Regina asked wondering why Emma would try this if she'd never cooked it before.

"Um yes, I asked Granny and she told me and as you said, Mr. Hanlon didn't have any in stock so I went a few towns away and picked up some supplies."

"That was very sweet of you Emma; no one has gone to so much trouble for me, thank you." Regina said shyly looking down at her plate.

"Well just be glad that I went to Granny after hearing what Snow thought was your favourite meal." Emma replied as she took the dinner plates out to the kitchen. When she had first seen this house the kitchen and dining room was what sold it for her. It was nice to have a separate room to eat in and not just in front of the couch.

"Oh do tell what Snow thought was my favourite dish." Regina called out from the dining room.

"Roasted crane stuffed with fruits and nuts." Emma called out.

The laugh that came from Regina startled Emma and the butterflies in her stomach decided they needed to fly around again. It had been a long time since she heard the woman laugh like that, if ever like that and she was glad that it was her that brought it on.

Gathering herself once again, Emma brought out the cheesecake and parfaits, "Henry can you bring the dessert plates please?"

Henry had been quiet through most of the dinner; he was watching his moms and seeing the old spark that was once there before. "Sure, I'll be right back." Once he went into the kitchen, he took out his phone and texted, 'SQ getting along, laughter and smiles.'

Since he was taking a little more time than normal, Emma came out to see if he needed help, "What's up Kid? You've been quiet all night. Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm good. It's just that tonight was like old times. You did really well tonight with dinner."

"Thanks, I sure tried my best and you're right it kinda feels like it did. I hope it stays this way."

"Well I don't, I want it to be even better with you and Mom together."

"Henry, I know you want that, and I want that but your Mom needs to want that too and I'm not sure she's there yet." Emma tried to explain to him.

"I know, I know just keep doing things like this and she will. Now I'm going to eat my dessert in the family room to watch TV and to give you some alone time."

After rolling her eyes at her son, they made their way out to the dining room where Regina was still seated and enjoying another glass of wine. "Was it something I said? You both left to get plates, I was about to call in your parents to find you."

This time it was both mother and son who rolled their eyes at Regina and Henry continued on with two desserts in hand to go watch TV in the other room.

"This retired life really suits you and I'm glad because you seem happy." Emma said to her.

Regina smiled, "Thank you, I am finally, it's been a long time, but I feel like my old self before all the..."

"Crap that happened to you?" Emma finished for her.

Chuckling she lifted her glass towards Emma and tilted it in agreement and took another sip.

Clearing her throat, Regina put the glass down, placed her elbows on the table, and leaned closer to Emma. "When you said that you left town to get supplies for the meal am I to thank you for getting the parts for my bike? Michael said he wasn't able to get the parts and then he had them. I assume that it was you who did that?"

"Um yeah, Old Mrs. Hubbard told me you had a bike but hadn't ridden it in a long time. And with you retiring and doing fun things, I figured you might bring it out again. It's a very beautiful bike by the way, when I was heading out of town I saw Mike working on it and I stopped by."

"Yes good ol' Mrs. Hubbard, she hated when I would take it out, it being 'too noisy and scandalous that a Mayor would even own something like that let alone ride it.'" Regina imitated the old lady with her best cockney accent.

Emma laughed heartily at that. She could hear the old bird say that and Regina mimicked her voice perfectly. "Oh I almost forgot something I'll be right back."

When Emma came back, there was a slice of cheesecake on her plate and Regina was eating one of the parfaits. Emma placed a beautifully wrapped box in the chair next to Regina. "This is a little something for you."

"Emma, what... you didn't have to get me anything. What is it?" Regina said shocked and surprised.

"You kinda have to open it if you want to know what's in it." Emma replied then took a bite of cheesecake and she was transported to heaven. She closed her eyes and with an ungodly sound, she moaned when she tasted the decadent dessert. "OH MY GOD this is the best cheesecake I have ever had."

Regina swallowed hard after hearing the moan from Emma. Knowing that her face was turning red she looked at the box and started to open it. When she pulled the top off the box, she saw a black and purple helmet for the bike and on it was a silhouette of a horse. "Oh Emma, this is... this is beautiful but it's too much, you shouldn't have." Regina said as she pulled the helmet out and looked at it then put it on. It fit perfectly and she loved it.

"I wanted to get it for you, Mike said your old one was far too gone to use and I saw this and I knew you had to have it."

"I love it, I really do, thank you Emma, thank you so much." Regina smiled and got up from her seat and stood next to Emma's chair and hugged her.

It was an awkward position but Emma would take it. A hug from Regina was everything and she never wanted it to end.

Regina straightened up and went back to her seat putting the helmet back into the box.

"I...um...I also got one for Henry but I didn't tell him, I wasn't sure if you wanted him to ride it or anything." Emma mentioned as she bit her bottom lip hoping she didn't over step with Regina.

"Oh that's great, definitely not for the bike but it will work for the 4-wheeler at the cabin. He's been hinting at driving it when he gets up there."

"The 4-wheeler at the cabin?" Emma asked now knowing where Regina has been spending her time away.

"Yes it's where I've been going to get away so to speak. It's still here in Storybrooke but one cannot get to it by car. The jeep only goes so far then we have to go in by the 4-wheeler. It's an old model, I didn't think Mr. Stillman could get it running again but he did. I think that if I'm going to stay there more often that I'll have to get a new one."

"Wow, I didn't know you had a cabin but it makes sense that's where you've been going. Have you always had it? I mean did you put it in when you created the town?"

"Yes, I wanted somewhere to go to that was more like Regina Mills and not the Queen. If, if Daniel and I would've been able to run away then I imagine this would have been similar to the home we would have lived in. It's small and simple, rustic but I really do enjoy going there."

"Wow, that's great Regina, I'm glad you have that." Emma said sincerely.

"Did you happen to buy another helmet say for you when you bought mine and Henry's?" Regina asked.

Emma turned three shades of red, she had hoped that with their friendship getting close to where it once was, she'd buy one for herself just in case Regina would either let her drive the bike or take her for a ride. She swallowed and tried not to look too embarrassed; Emma smiled sheepishly, nodded, and then put another forkful of cheesecake in her mouth.

"Good, maybe one day we can go for a ride." Regina offered and then ate another spoonful of parfait.

"Yeah that...that would great." Emma stuttered out looking at the brunette who was so beautiful at that moment. The smile Emma had been missing had returned and it was finally directed at her.

Henry had been listening in to the entire conversation and was texting Ruby the play by play and she was relaying it to the patrons of the Diner. With a pump of his hand, he whispered 'YEAH!' when he heard his Mom say she could take Emma out for a ride. With the last text, he quickly put his phone away and went back into the dining room hoping for another slice of cheesecake to celebrate.