Regina has never really had friends as an adult, but observed that other peoples' friendships appeared to be easy; drinking wine in trendy bars talking about work and which actors are attractive, sitting on a bench chatting whilst their children play in the park together, in-jokes and a casual affection and mutual understanding that comes after getting to know someone well.
With Emma there are some of these things. They drink wine, although this tends to be at Regina's house once Henry is bed, and one time after sufficient alcohol had been consumed Regina named female as well as male actors she found attractive, a big admission for Regina to which Emma just comments that her taste in women is only slightly better than her taste in men. They sit on benches in parks watching Henry play, although sometimes Regina will find herself sitting alone after Henry demands that Emma participate in some fantasy game he has invented. Occasionally Regina even lets the two of them coerce her into taking part.
Sometimes being friends with Emma is easy, but they are both too abrasive for things to be all plain sailing. Regina's way of demonstrating affection is through sarcasm and jibes, which for the most part Emma is fine with but now and then Regina hits a spot that Emma is sensitive about. Emma is a combination of bold impulsive actions and shy insecurities. She is unnervingly open with her thoughts and emotions, she says what is on her mind and shares deeply personal information in a way that Regina doesn't know how to respond to. Regina anticipates a day when Emma realizes that Regina is not worth the effort it takes to be friends with her.
One time when Emma returns to the kitchen after Henry had asked her to put him to bed she is fuming.
"Henry says you've told him that one day I might not be here to play with him," Emma says, glaring across the breakfast bar at her.
"You told him I might leave or make different friends."
"I don't want Henry to get too upset if you are no longer part of his life. You might get bored of us and you've said yourself you weren't planning on staying in town forever." Regina fires back.
"No, I said I hadn't been planning on staying here forever, but things change. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not going to abandon Henry. Growing up I was constantly deserted by adults who had been part of my life. I won't do that do the kid."
"Good," replies Regina, hoping Emma means it. Henry clearly idolizes Emma and it is good for him to have another person who cares about him in his life.
Another time they are in the park with Emma and Regina sitting on a bench chatting, watching as Henry methodically climbs the steps of the slide, pauses at the top to make sure they are watching him before sliding down happily and then walking back to the steps to repeat the process. As he does this some teenagers start picking on him, making comments about him having a young mother. Regina walks over and gets Henry and tells him they're leaving; as they're walking away one of the boys calls out,
"Your mother is a slut. I bet you were a mistake and she didn't want to have you!"
Before Regina realizes what is happening Emma has the boy by his collar and is pulling him up so he has to stand on his toes.
"You have no idea what you are talking about, how dare you call anyone names like that. People who don't want their children dump them in care and they get passed from one foster home to another. That kid is wanted and well cared for. He couldn't ask for a better mother who loved him more!"
She lets go of the boy and storms over to Regina and Henry. Regina can see another mother staring at them in disapproval. She walks briskly out of the park. When they are a safe distance away Regina hisses,
"Do you think this is the first time I've heard those comments?! Henry knows I love him. I don't need you to fight my battles, you're not Henry's mother." Regina regrets her words the moment they have left her mouth. Emma looks stung.
"I know I'm not Henry's mother. I'd be a lousy mother, I'm unreliable, eat junk food and lose my temper with stupid teenagers. But even if I have no right to do so, I care about Henry," she says fiercely.
"I know you do. I'm glad you care and I don't think you'd make an entirely terrible mother," replies Regina and Emma looks slightly less hurt.
"I think you'd be a good Mommy" says Henry, taking Emma's hand, so he is in the middle of Emma and Regina, holding hands with them both.
"What's a slut?" he then asks, dramatically shifting topic.
"It's a bad word that people use to be mean to certain types of women," Regina replies, hoping this is a sufficient answer. "You must never use that word, Henry."
Emma crouches down and faces Henry.
"Slut is a word people use to try to make women feel that it is wrong for them to behave in certain ways, like if they want to date people before they meet their soulmate or to have a child when they are young and don't yet have a soulmate. Those boys were being rude just because your Mom had you at a younger than normal age. But I think your Mom was very lucky to have you when she was younger. It means she's already had you to love for five years now."
Later, when Henry is in bed, Regina tries to make up for her earlier comment by opening up a bit. She talks about Leo, and how even though she hated being married to him she wouldn't change her past because Leo gave her Henry. She tells Emma she's grateful to have a soulmate who accepts Henry, because not many people would have wanted to be with a thirty year old woman who is a single mother to a boy of five. Then she finds herself blurting out,
"It's my fault Henry doesn't have a father anymore."
"It's not your fault Leo died."
"It is….. I came in from the garden one day to get drink and Leo was having a heart attack and suddenly I saw the glimmer of possibility of a happier future. I went back into the garden as if I hadn't seen him and continued pruning my apple tree. Twenty minutes later I came back in and called an ambulance when I knew it was too late.
"So now Henry has no father. And the worst thing about it is I know if I could go back in time I'd make the same decision again. I would choose to leave Henry fatherless in order to escape from my marriage."
Regina realizes she is crying and she hates it. Hates this display of weakness, hates that she has confessed to Emma and placed this burden on her in a pathetic attempt to try and cope with the guilt.
Emma says nothing and looks at her like she is trying to decide what to say or how to act. In the end Emma awkwardly puts her arms around her. Regina is stiff and Emma is stiff too at first, but as Regina, to her chagrin, continues to cry Emma relaxes into the hug. She doesn't tell Regina that what she did was okay, she doesn't tell her it was wrong, she just holds her.
