"This only works if you two talk." Archie started after a long silence. He understood the need for some quiet time to get comfortable but then they could only waste so much of their session getting nothing accomplished.

"This is insane." Emma sighed, exasperated.

"For once, I concur with the Sheriff." Regina said and Emma rolled her eyes from her spot on the other side of the couch.

They couldn't get any further away on the piece of furniture. Both kept eyeing the other like sitting here was becoming almost physically painful. They were both embarrassed to be caught fighting by their new doctor before the fist session even started, and now, neither were willing to start up again.

"I understand this is all feels like…" Archie lifted his hands to either side as he looked for a neutral word.

"Teeth pulling?" Regina supplied.

"Eye gouging?" Emma added.

"There you go. Something else you agree on."

"We both hate this?" Emma's eye brow lifted.

"Yes well…it's a start." He attempted a smile but it wasn't returned.

"What are we even supposed to talk about?" Emma kept fidgeting, uncomfortable in this kind of setting. She was not one to ever talk to someone about her feelings and did not appreciate being forced into it.

"Your relationship." That immediately got scoffs and disbelieving looks from both women.

"We do not have a relationship, we…"

"Just got beyond hating each other." Emma supplied after Regina tapered off.

"Is that true Regina? Do you no longer hate each other?" His question seemed to stall them both for a moment. Regina blinked a few times before her expression hardened slightly.

"The Charmings are yet again, dictating my life. Snow White is forcing another marriage on me, if that's even possible. Of course I hate them."

"But that's not what I'm asking you Regina. We're talking about Emma. I know you feel about them, and i understand. But here, today, after everything you have been through, do you hate the woman sitting next to you?" He kept his eyes on Regina and the woman looked very uncomfortable under the attention.

Emma kept shifting in her seat, feeling overly awkward. Like she suddenly didn't know what to do with her hands. She glanced at Regina to see the woman fidgeting as well. The Mayor seemed to suck in a breath before speaking.

"I…do not hate…her." The words were practically forced out of her.

"Well then, it seems you two are yet again on the same page." Archie took in their uncomfortable postures and wondered if they could last the entire hour. Or if he could possibly last for six months of this.

"Great…so we don't hate each other. Doesn't mean we should be married or can last half a year in Regina's house without killing each other."

"Well it shows that things are getting better, and no matter your situation, that's a good thing."

"Right." Emma rolled her eyes and Archie looked over to see Regina repeating the same move.

"Well there's another thing in common. You both have terrible attitudes." On purpose, he let his usually very kind and patient tone slip just enough to grab their attention. Emma sighed and leaned forward.

"Look…I don't mean to be rude it's just…you have to see how crazy this is right?"

"It is a very unique situation, I'll give you that. But if you look beyond the surface, I do not believe it's as crazy as you do."

"What do you mean by that?" Regina asked it in less of an accusing way and sounded genuinely curious.

"There are many things with you both we are going to need to work up to. But what I'll say for now is that you two simply are not the polar opposites you think you are. On the outside, yes, you have a great many differences. But I think over the months we will be able to uncover deeper connections you have that you never realized."

Both women paused for a moment to let that sink in. Archie just waited patiently, but by doing that, he could visibly watch them both close up and shut off the thoughts his words encouraged as they shook themselves back into the defensive demeanor they always carried. Yet another similarity.

"Doctor, you do realize we aren't some bickering married couple here to talk through their issues?" Regina raised an eyebrow with her question.

"You aren't?" He asked simply and the two women glanced at each other before looking at him skeptically.

"We're here because my parents are forcing us if we ever want a divorce."

"So you aren't a bickering married couple with issues?" Archie studied them as again, they both hesitated.

"Well…technically but-"

"And because you are going to be living together with your young son, don't you think it would be beneficial to not only you, but your whole family as well to work through some of that? Do you really want Henry to live with the level of fighting you two are capable of? Is that what's best for him?"

"Okay…okay." Emma lifted a hand to stop him from continuing.

"We don't fight as much as we used to." Regina pointed out.

"Yes we do. It's just about different things now."

"No, since Neverland we only fight when you act like a child." She glared over at the blonde.

"Listen to you, we're arguing about arguing." Emma turned towards her, raising her hands to either side.

"Because you are provoking it as usual."

"Oh I provoke fights? Right because you're nothing but a ray of sunshine." Emma deadpanned as she leaned back and crossed her arms.

"At least I act my age!"

"You got that right Grandma." She decided the comment was worth the look on Regina's face alone.

"What. The hell. Did you just call me?" As she ground out her words, the vein on her head stuck out almost impossibly far.

"Sorry it's step-grandma right?" Emma taunted back.

"I am no one's grandmother!"

"Okay okay, let's talk about something else-" Archie tried.

"Well you are my mother's step-mother so…" Emma shrugged.

"That brat is not my step-daughter! I may have been forced into that many, many years ago, but there were never any real familial bonds. We are family through Henry." She was steaming now, leaning in further and further as her anger grew.

Emma started to answer, but before she could, she made a confused face and moved her hand to her chest. She looked down and brushed that same hand over herself. Archie was focusing on Regina but then glanced over and noticed the sheriff.

"Emma? Are you okay?"

"Not when I get done with her." Regina interrupted again.

"Relax Regina, I was just kidding. I don't think of you like that. I was…damn…what is that?" She moved her hand over her chest again, looking off to the side as she shook her head.

"Emma what's wrong?" Archie looked concerned and Regina pulled back slightly, trying to calm herself.

"I don't know, but I think it's going away…I feel weird." She looked down, taking inventory of herself. Regina eyed her for a moment before realization dawned on her.

"You feel me." She said and Emma narrowed her eyes on her.

"What?"

"You made me angry. That's what you're feeling."

"How the hell am I feeling your anger?" She asked and Regina rolled her eyes.

"How many times do I have to tell you? We are connected now. Bound together."

"That's…kind of crazy. Wait, I have to feel it every time you get angry? You're always angry!"

"You'll only feel it when I'm really upset. Probably when either of us feel very strongly."

"Well you feel way too strongly about that nickname."

"Now Emma, we can't judge people for the way they feel." Archie interjected, hoping not to fall right back into a heated argument again.

"No it's perfectly understandable Dr Hopper. Miss Swan is incapable of feeling." Regina said simply and Emma planted a smile on her face.

"Regina, that is not kind at all-" He started.

"So when you scream and yell, that's you feeling?" Emma asked incredulously, completely ignoring Archie.

"Well at least I don't make immature jokes in every serious situation."

"Oh yes because cursing entire realms is the mature way to handle your problems."

"Oh good, we're back to that." Regina sneered and Emma's eyes widened.

"Um it's kind of a big deal, Regina." She faced her again and now Archie leaned back, deciding to just observe them for a moment.

"Yes because now, you are the savior with a mommy and daddy and a child that loves you. Everyone is getting their happy endings. Oh how miserable things are now." She said sarcastically with an eye roll.

"Again, because of your stupid curse, I got stuck here all alone for twenty-eight years."

Regina opened her mouth once but paused for just a split second. She felt something odd in her own chest, just a brief sensation she was getting from Emma. Regina realized suddenly that though the savior certainly had a very tight lock on her real feelings, there might actually be something under that tough surface.

"If there was no curse, there would be no Henry." Regina said quietly as she leaned back and crossed her arms, knowing she had just pulled out the trump card.

"I know." Emma sighed and leaned back as well.

There were several moment of silence now. Emma pressed her eyes closed and took a few deep breaths. Fighting with Regina was always an exhausting experience. Emma knew she was right. Without the curse, she wouldn't have Henry and no matter what she had endured in her life, she would do it over and over to ensure she had him. Though that didn't stop the sting of knowing all that pain could have been avoided.

"No matter what comes of this marriage, Henry is something you two will always have in common. You can't avoid that or each other. You have to deal with these issues for the sake of your son if nothing more." Archie kept his tone low and luckily, both women were staying calm. "Speaking of Henry, maybe we should focus today on how you're going to tell him and how your first night as a whole family will go."

Archie knew this would both talk about something important and stay away from some heavier issues for the moment. He himself suddenly found this hour very trying. He had only been asked about doing this this morning and realized he wasn't nearly prepared. He shouldn't have expected anything else but he didn't realize just how overwhelming this might be.

"Shit, how are we going to tell him?" Emma looked over at Regina.

"Well without swearing for starters." She eyed the blonde for a second.

"If I may recommend, I really think you both should just tell him the truth."

"You think we should tell our preteen aged son his two mothers got drunk and eloped and his grandparents are forcing us to stay that way to teach us a lesson?" Emma asked in disbelief.

"Maybe not in all those exact words, but you both know how he reacts to lying. Plus most of the town is already privy to your union and I wouldn't think it will take much for them to hear about the deal with your parents as well. Best to come from you two."

"Crap." Emma muttered and Regina resisted pointing out her limited vocabulary again.

"I think we can handle it." Regina nodded confidently at Archie. He didn't look completely convinced but knew that was something they had to figure out for themselves.

"Well have the two of you thought about how you will be living together? Who will have what responsibilities?"

"This just happened, I haven't thought about any of that. I haven't even thought about dinner." Emma frowned.

"I'm genuinely surprised." Regina said honestly and Emma lifted a curious eyebrow. "With the way you eat I'm shocked you don't think your whole week of meals through ahead of time." She smirked and Emma sighed again.

"Of course."

"That is not helpful Regina." Archie pointed out.

"Yeah Regina. Not helpful." Emma nearly stuck her tongue out to go with her juvenile tone.

"Emma." Archie warned, sounding more like the parent in the room.

"Sorry." She muttered. "Okay so like…you mean who makes lunch and who takes him to school?"

"I can drive him to school, it's on my way to work. And I don't trust you to pack a proper lunch, I've seen how you eat." Regina lifted her chin. When Emma went to object, Archie stepped in and beat her to the punch.

"Now Regina, you two have to operate like couples do in a marriage. You have to divide responsibilities."

"For ten years, I divided responsibilities with no one. I don't need help taking care of Henry."

"Maybe not, but things are different now Regina." Archie looked at her seriously and Regina sighed, dropping her head. Emma wondered if her calmer demeanor with him had to do with their former meetings. She wondered if maybe he really could help after all. Emma decided she could at least try here as well.

"If you want to make lunch and take him to school, I can pick him up and keep him at the station to do his homework while I finish my shifts." Emma suggested, biting her lip. She really did want an agreement on this, and was hoping Regina would just accept.

"Regina, how does that sound?" Archie asked after a brief silence.

"I guess that's acceptable." She shrugged nonchalantly but both Emma and Archie knew it took some effort on her part to give in. "But his homework needs to be completed. You two don't get to just fool around." She added, back to sounding just like herself.

"I promise, we'll get the work done." Emma gave a soft smile and Regina nodded. Archie looked between the two of then and grinned at them both.

"That was fantastic. You resolved that quickly and easily. Very good job, both of you." Archie kept smiling, easily pleased it seemed.

"Positive reinforcement Archie? Really?" Emma said but couldn't help smiling. Regina's own lip twitched as well, not able to completely hide her amusement.

"Well you went from nearly ripping each others heads off to smiling so I guess it works." He shrugged, suppressing a proud grin that wanted to form.

"Right well, I guess I see why my parents are demanding two times a week."

"I would have recommended daily therapy in order to keep you both alive through this." He saw both of their eyes widen and tried not to laugh. "Stay calm, you only have to come twice a week."

"Thank God." Emma muttered.

"Alright." Archie started again. "Let's talk sleeping arrangements."

"Wha- what?" Emma stammered.

"We are not-"

"Whoa, okay again, both of you can relax. You do realize that you're going to be living together?" He looked at them both pointedly. Emma shrugged.

"Well...yeah but…"

"The more we plan right now, the smoother things can go tonight when Henry is there. No one expects you two to be sleeping in the same room. But you need to know what's going to happen tonight. Regina, what do you think?" He seemed to catch the brunette off guard and she blinked a few times.

"Oh, well…there's a guest room upstairs with it's own bathroom. I'm sure you'll find it suitable for you." She looked down at her hands uncomfortably. She had lived in that house her entire time in Storybrooke but never once had someone stay in one of the guestrooms. It was an odd feeling.

"Sounds good to me." Emma shrugged, covering her own particular feelings.

It was good to know she would have a bed. A room to her own. But it bothered her more than she'd admit that her parents so easily sent her away again. That they didn't for even a second take into account that they were taking away her first real home. It wasn't such a huge deal. She wasn't being abandoned. But again, she was being pushed away in a sense.

Like always though, Emma would get through it. She could and would survive this like everything else. She shook off the brief distraction but when she looked up, she saw Regina studying her.

Regina sensed something was happening. She felt that odd tugging at her chest again that said something was bothering Emma. But again, there was a completely neutral, almost bored looking expression on her face. And again, the sensation was only brief. A quick slip before Emma shook herself out of it again. Regina thought she herself had thick walls. She never realized Emma might possibly have her beat there.

They locked eyes for a moment and Emma could see the curiosity behind the careful gaze. Archie was still scribbling notes and didn't notice the moment as it came and went. Regina finally tore her eyes away as the doctor dropped his notepad again.

"Alright, so to review the plan, you both are going to leave here, pick up Henry from school. You're going to take him home and tell him the truth. You will all sleep in your own rooms tonight. Tomorrow, Regina will take Henry to school and Emma will pick him up… How does that sound to you both?"

"Well…I mean I guess it sounds good." Emma glanced over at Regina. The brunette took a deep breath.

"Sounds…acceptable."

"Okay. Good- great. Really, I'm actually impressed. This went better than I anticipated." Archie nodded encouragingly.

"Seriously?" Emma asked incredulously.

"Honestly, I'm just thrilled we're all in one piece." He laughed a little.

"So we are free to go?" Regina asked as she reached for her purse.

"Almost. Just one more thing. I know you don't feel it's the same thing, but you are in couples counseling. So, what I would like each of you to do before you leave, is give one compliment to each other. It doesn't have to be anything too deep or emotional. Just say one nice thing to the other."

"I feel like we're in elementary school again." Emma wined.

"Well then this should be easy. Emma, why don't you go first?" He smiled but now it was not returned. Emma turned to Regina, narrowing her eyes slightly as the scanned over her.

"Um…Regina. You…look…nice…today." She pulled the words out slowly and carefully. Regina kept her expression completely neutral.

"Excellent Emma. Now Regina, you try." The Mayor glance over Emma and frowned. The blonde rolled her eyes at the reaction.

"Emma…you managed to…create a wonderful child." She also spoke slowly and Emma just shook her head.

"Alright then. So we're good?" Emma turned to Archie and the man nodded.

"Yes. You two are free. Take tomorrow and the weekend off and I'll see you again Monday." He watched them as they both stood and almost jogged out the door. He was shaking his head as he grabbed his notebook again.

Thursday, May 5th

Regina Mills and Emma Swan - Session 1

I am surprised but pleased to note, there have been no physical injuries.

Emotional though…we have a long journey ahead of ourselves.

Hope you all enjoyed the ladies first session with Archie. Please review and thanks for reading!