Sorry for the lack of update but I struggled with this chapter and I'm not currently happy with this story however I will continue to at least get somewhere with it if you are enjoying it!

Chapter 4

Staring back at the glaring young blonde with a slight fear creeping to the surface, Regina turns away then begins to pace while ringing her hands together. She was on the verge of telling Emma everything before Henry's sudden interruption and now it had all gone down hill and the brunette was currently losing her nerve and feeling the need to lie, well partly anyway. "I...I knew of you before I visited the prison.."

Wanting to know more, the blonde demands. "Go on.."

Biting her lip, Regina internally curses herself before speaking. "I was informed as part of my role as Mayor that it would look..good to the people if I were to get involved within the criminal service in some way and so I done some research and found...you. So-"

"So I'm a charity case?!" Emma states offended before placing Henry over in his makeshift pen.

Holding her hands out in surrender knowing that she is digging herself an even bigger hole if the truth is to ever come out, the brunette sighs. "No! I..I was suppose to help in some way yes but then.. At first I had my doubts when i read your file because we were so similar and then when I saw you with Henry..I just..I didn't know what to do"

Calming down, the younger woman gestures over to the kitchen counter and sits on a stool while waiting for the older woman to do the same. "What do you mean?"

"I felt it was too personal. I had this plan to meet you, get to know you..because I get you. You're an orphan and well I can sort of relate to that as I was never actually wanted by my mother. Just for some form of control. Without being offensive you're alone, as am I. People find it hard to understand us so they don't even try. You say you don't have friends? Neither do I..if anything I'm despised in my own town. As for Henry..I saw the way you reacted to seeing him as you came out of that gate and it was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time because..because I can't have children.." Taking a deep breath, the former mayor looks across the counter warily for just spilling out all her information to someone she hardly knows. "Now I sound like an idiot..for just blurting all that out.."

"You know all about me and you really think we are alike?"

Noticing Emma's sad expression, Regina purses her lip, unsure how to answer without making the whole situation worse. "Well..I..I guess I just I was intrigued by you as you understood..you need help..and truth be told, I need help..I'm sorry if this is sounding all wrong I just couldn't believe that I found someone who I could relate to which is why I showed up at the prison..to get to know you but then you looked at me and I bottled it.."

"So you stalked me at the park?" Raising an eyebrow, Emma finally gives a small smile to reassure the brunette.

Hearing her teasing tone, the brunette cringes and covers her face within her hands while resting her elbows against the counter top. "Oh my god it sounds so pathetic.."

"Just a bit..but..I'm not mad" hesitantly, the blonde tugs the older woman's hands down gently off her face to look at her properly. "I guess..I'll admit I wouldn't have gone about it the same way but..I understand too. Since we met, I kept thinking how easy it is to talk to you and I've never been like that with anyone.."

Giving a small, regretful smile, Regina fiddles with her hands as she clasps them together. "Neither have I..and I do really want to help you"

Trying to hide a smile, Emma crosses her arms. "..maybe you can but first..I want to know exactly what it is that you know about me"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After a lengthy conversation that went on until early evening, both women ended up sat side by side on the couch having shared numerous stories, one of which was currently making the pair laugh as Regina informed the blonde about her obsessed reporter who doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'no'.

"Honestly if I didn't dislike him, I would have felt sorry for him, he actually thought I wanted to go out on a date. He showed up at my office all suited, flowers in hand and didn't even knock, just announced himself by barging through with a smug smile to then be met by not only me but the entire staff team for the town's paper"

Chuckling, Emma peers over briefly at her son playing as he glances over with a confused expression as to what is going on, before questioning. "What did he do?"

Rolling her eyes, the brunette looks unimpressed. "He was too much of an idiot to still not get the fact I wouldn't date him, he said he would wait for me outside so I could finish my meeting. A meeting which he was also suppose to be in. I suggested he took a seat as some of the others began turning away to hide their smiling faces and the penny finally dropped..and so did the flowers"

Laughing, the younger woman then grins at her, grateful for the company and talk. Clearing her throat, Emma's eyes widen slightly as she spots the time and jumps up. "Wow I didn't realise the time..I need to sort out a dinner for me and the little guy over there"

Turning her attention to Henry who matches his mother's grin while holding onto the fencing of his own pen and shuffling on his feet, the former Mayor winks at him then follows the blonde by standing. "What have you got? I could cook for you? It's the least I can do after our little debate earlier"

Glancing over slightly embarrassed, the young woman bites her lip. "Well I have porridge for him and beans and some bread so I was going to have beans on toast.."

"That won't fill you up dear. I tell you what, give me 20 minutes and I'll cook you a dinner but I just need to pop out for the ingredients.." Watching as Emma goes to open her mouth on a protest, Regina holds her hand up. "And no I am not doing this out of charity but as a thank you on our new found friendship..or at least I hope there is one. Please?" Staring at the younger woman, the brunette pouts.

Looking back at Regina, the blonde inhales subtly at taking the woman stood before her in. Actually realising how beautiful she is and currently how adorable she is at trying to give her puppy eyes.

Gulping a little at no response as the younger woman just gazes, the former mayor side glances at Henry who waves and grasps out with his hand, wanting someone to come over. Avoiding eye contact, the older woman mutters quietly. "See..Henry wants me too..."

Breaking out in a smile at the former mayor's nerves, Emma sniggers as she bumps Regina's shoulder lightly. "Oh Regina, seriously?"

Letting a smile slip herself, the brunette defends herself. "It's true! Isn't it Henry?"

Getting excited over the attention, the small boy stamps his feet happily then nods. "Mama!"

Crossing her arms with a smirk, Regina then smiles. "Told you"

"Okay, okay. Thank you" Smiling, Emma then lifts her son up to her hip, prompting the boy to rest his head down on her shoulder and reach to hold onto a lock of her hair.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Whatever it is that you are making, it smells incredible"

Turning to look over her shoulder while cooking at the stove, Regina smiles then raises an eyebrow as the blonde rustles through her kitchen cupboard. "Emma, what are you doing?"

Looking back, Emma pulls a box down and shakes it towards the older woman. "Henry's porridge. Its better he eats now otherwise he will be after mine..and he can't eat properly yet..I mean finger stuff yeah but not proper meals"

"Then he can have some of this? I'll blend it for him" the former Mayor states as she stirs the sauce she's making.

"How? I don't have anything to blend with"

Pursing her lips while appearing shifty, the brunette turns away and clears her throat.

"Regina?" Moving to lean against the surface beside the stove, the blonde tilts her head to gain Regina's attention before calling again. "Regina?..."

Biting on the corner of her lip, Regina confesses. "I may have..brought a blender while I was out.."

Trying to hide a smile, Emma questions. "How much?"

Shrugging innocently, the former mayor turns the gas off and begins to dish up. "Call it a house warming present for Henry.."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sticking his tongue out slowly towards the strange looking substance on his spoon, Henry looks up at his mother for reassurance, gaining a nod before allowing the tip of his tongue to try it. Watching from beside the blonde, Regina smiles as the boy begins to smack his lips together before opening his mouth for more. "It seems that he likes it.."

"How could he not?" The younger woman questions as she uses her spare hand to lift her folk and eat some of her own. "It tastes amazing..thank you. Much better than prison food. I just hope I can continue to feed my son this way" abandoning her plate for now, Emma smiles at Henry as the boy grips tight to the table as he is sat on his mother's lap while he eats. Having gone quiet, the blonde then clears her throat. "What you said...earlier about the whole job situation, did you mean it?"

"Of course I did. If there is some way that I could help prevent a child being taken away from his mother, I would"

Looking across to find the brunette smiling sincerely, Emma sighs in relief. "I swear it won't be for long. I want to get a job and make this work but with a record there isn't a lot of people who are willing to give a chance"

"A recommendation from a mayor can go a long way dear. I'll see what I can do..although that may mean contacting Sydney.." Screwing her nose up at the thought, Regina then vanquishes the thought as she witnesses the small boy in front of her reach for his mother's folk eagerly as he is too impatient to wait for the next spoonful considering his mother was currently staring at the brunette. "Emma?"

Blinking out of her thoughts, the blonde looks clueless before following the older woman's gaze to her son trying to bite down on an empty folk.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Having tidied up together, Emma briefly disappears to put her son to bed as a sleepy Henry laid against her shoulder, giving a small, tired wave to the brunette as they go. Glancing around the apartment making sure it was all done, Regina takes a deep breath after today's events and grabs her coat from the couch.

"Are you going?"

Turning towards the somewhat disappointed blonde, the former mayor nods. "Yes otherwise I won't be able to get into my room..I'm currently at a hotel but I've been on the search for an apartment as a safety net while I'm here.."

"Oh.." Looking down, Emma bites her lip at the thought of being alone after a day of enjoying someone else's company besides her own son. "Okay..well thanks for the dinner and I'm sure you have now converted Henry to proper food which is at least one good thing I can provide"

Slipping her coat on, Regina shakes her head. "You offer Henry so much more Emma, I don't think you quite realise it"

Shrugging, the younger woman moves to the door to open it. "Anyway..you know..thanks.."

Placing a hand to the blondes top arm, the brunette smiles. "You're welcome" Turning to head out the door, Regina stops for a moment hearing Emma's voice speak once again.

"Will I be seeing you again?..I mean you don't have to and I know you said you'd help but that's what phones can be for so you don't have to but-"

"I'd like to think we will.." Giving the blonde a playful smile, the brunette then heads out the door. "Goodbye Emma"

Leaning against the doorframe while watching the older woman descend the stairs and make her way towards her car, Emma then shakes her head with a chuckle at how stupid she is for thinking anything could ever remotely happen.

A/N: think someone has a crush...

Also to clear up before anyone questions I have been titling Regina in certain areas as former mayor because we all know she basically gave the town to Gold before she left, however she hasn't told Emma this as she is hoping her time as mayor could help somehow.