"Hey Emma, where's your shadow today?"

"Don't call her that." Emma frowned at Ruby as she entered the diner and sat down at a table by the window, facing out.

"Sorry. I meant deputy."

Emma glanced outside, her gaze wandering across the street to the door for Archie's offices. 10.05am. Regina was probably already inside. She'd wanted to go with her. Regina had reminded her that no-one was supposed to know about them and she didn't think Sheriff's usually attended their deputy's counselling sessions.

"Then we'll say I'm there as your friend. To lend support."

"And who'll be taking care of the town? What if there's a major emergency, or…"

"We have these tiny devices called cell phones. They let people contact us 24/7."

"Emma…"

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. You want some privacy."

Ruby placed a mug of hot chocolate in front of Emma as an apology. She'd put extra cinnamon on for her. Emma didn't notice, she was still staring at the street outside. If only she could see Regina standing at Archie's window. Just to be sure she was there.

Regina had turned up to Archie's office ten minutes early. She had been afraid of chickening out and made herself get ready with plenty of time to spare. Now though, she hovered outside the door to his office trying to find the courage to knock. She wished she hadn't agreed to come here. Why had she said she'd come? She'd told Emma she didn't mind, but that was just to make it seem like she was okay with it. What was she supposed to say to the cricket? Did he have a list of questions from Snow White that she had to get right in order to be allowed to keep her job? As long as he didn't want to talk about her mother. Or her father. She was hoping he still didn't know about her and Emma.

One of the floorboards creaked as she paced up and down. After the third time, the door to Archie's office opened and he looked out at her with a smile.

"Ready to come in?" He asked.

"Is the floorboard there on purpose?" She countered.

He laughed, stepping aside to let her in. "No, but it's handy. If it suddenly goes quiet I know the person has left and if it keeps making that noise I know they're waiting to come in."

Regina looked around his office as she entered. It wasn't the first time she had been there, but it had been a while. When everyone was under the curse she had been here with Henry. After, she had come twice, but neither time made her comfortable so she kept the visits short, confirming that she was trying to give up magic and struggling to do so. Trying to talk about Henry was harder. Emotions weren't something she dealt with easily and sharing her thoughts and feelings was too much like weakness, letting herself show a vulnerable side.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Archie offered as he headed towards his comfy chair.

"No, thank you." She had never accepted a tea or coffee before; there was no reason to start now. "How long do you think this will take?"

Archie watched her take a seat and settled the writing pad on his lap. "I've got another appointment in an hour, but if you need more time…"

"That should be plenty. You said Snow White wants you to evaluate me. Why don't you start with your questions."

"It's not that simple."

"Of course not. Well, go ahead, you said we've only got an hour."

Archie adjusted his glasses. "Ah, yes…"

Regina waited patiently, allowing her eyes to wander over the room. She wanted to suggest changes to his décor, now the curse was lifted he had no reason to keep it the same as it had been for the last few decades. The filing cabinet needed to be updated, it didn't look very secure and if he was going to keep a file on her then she wanted something with a better lock. She missed what Archie was saying to her at first, only catching her name half-way through a sentence.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" She asked.

"I was suggesting that we begin by discussing something that would make you feel more comfortable, before we move on to the past."

"Like…?"

"How you felt during the curse, how you handled being the only one able to remember and watching time pass while everyone else was ignorant of it."

"Okay."

Emma checked her watch again. If Regina was in there, the hour was nearly up. At least, she assumed the appointment would be an hour. What if it was less, to give Archie ten minutes between patients to read the next file? Or what if they were only half an hour and his next appointment was late? No-one had gone in or out of the main entrance since she had been sitting there.

She crossed her legs, desperate for the toilet but wanting to wait just another five minutes. The pressure on her bladder increased.

"Another drink?" Ruby asked, reaching for her half-empty cup.

"No." Emma tried to keep watch on the window, her voice a little strained. "Thank you."

Her heel tapped against the foot of the chair. That was it. She couldn't wait any longer. Emma jumped up off her chair and headed to the restroom.

When she came back out, Regina was standing at the counter waiting to order. Trying to look casual, Emma headed over to the tills.

"A little late to be ordering breakfast." Ruby noted as she saw Regina staring at the menu.

"I thought I'd put in a lunch order to save time later."

"Emma, where'd you go?" Ruby looked around Regina to ask the question. "You left half your drink I wasn't sure if you still wanted it."

Emma blushed as Regina turned her gaze round to look knowingly at her. "I have to get back to work. Perhaps I could put in a lunch order while I'm here too?"

"Sure. Regina? You were here first."

"My usual. Ready for 12.30 if that's all right?"

"Of course. Emma?"

"Same… er, my usual that is. Not Regina's usual, but the same time then just one of us has to come and pick it up."

"No problem." Ruby noted it down and headed into the kitchen to leave a note with Granny.

Regina began walking out of the diner and Emma followed. "Are we going to take it in turns to collect lunches? Or is that another 'deputy-only' duty?" She asked.

"No, I'll get them today."

They walked back to the station in silence.