Chapter 6

Henry runs to us the second we're through the door.

"I'm so glad your here." He says as we both bend down to give him a hug.

"Hey kid, is it safe for us to come in?"

"I think so, but she hasn't really said anything."

I run my hand through his hair as I make my way to the kitchen. Mary Margaret is pouring coffee, I push it aside and reach for the Merlot. It's past midday and I think we're going to need it. I feel annoyed that she didn't come over to welcome us. She'll probably make the excuse she was giving us time with Henry but I still can't help but feel it wasn't the best way to start.

"How did things go? Did she run away again?"

"Only to make pancakes."

He looks at me like he doesn't quite understand and asks how they were.

"Don't ask" I say with a smile as we make our way to the couch.

"Henry I want you to know I'm sorry for how I behaved at Granny's."

"It's not me you need to say sorry to."

"I know and I've already apologised to Mary Margaret."

"Good, but seriously mom you need to control your temper."

"I know and I'm trying." I put my hand on his and look at him. "I promise, I'm trying."

I look over to Regina and Henry who seem to be having a heart to heart. Who could possibly see her as evil now? The affection she shows him is heart warming and I feel my expression soften as I watch them.

"I can't believe how different they are together." Mary Margaret says as she pours herself a glass of wine.

"I told you she was changing."

"I'm still not convinced."

"You don't need to be, me and Henry are and that's all that matters."

"So you don't care at all about my opinion?"

"Not really, no."

I head over to Regina and Henry loving how just being sat near them calms me immediately. Mary Margaret's self righteous bullshit was already getting on my last nerve.

Things are awkward. No one really knows where to start or what to say. Regina looks at me and rolls her eyes. I feel the same, I could be at home right now buried face first in my girlfriends delicious pussy instead of sitting here in awkward silence. Referring to Regina's house as home makes me smile and thinking back to breakfast makes my mouth water.

"Henry why don't you take that game I got you into Emma's room? See if you can clear level 3."

Henry is smart enough to take the hint and leaves the grown ups to talk. Mary Margaret would never admit it but I know she's impressed by Regina not wanting to have this out with little ears around. Henry might be a smart kid but he's a kid all the same and doesn't need dragging into our mess.

"Is David not joining us?" Regina asks as she sips her wine.

"He's working" Mary Margaret offers with only a basic level of civility.

I can't spend the entire time looking at Regina and thinking how sexy she looks drinking red wine, so I decide to find out what the purpose of this meeting actually is.

"So, what's this all about?"

Mary Margaret looks down at her glass, like she wasn't prepared for that question. Considering she called us over you'd have thought she'd have known the reason why.

"I want you both to know how sorry I am."

Its a good job she's still looking at her glass, so she doesn't see the shocked expressions on our faces.

"I'm sorry for how I reacted. I'm sorry I wasn't more supportive but I'm most sorry about the fact that I don't think I'll ever be able to except this."

OK so now we are slightly less shocked, this is the part we pretty much saw coming.

I stand up instantly, glass of wine still in hand and down the lot, slamming the empty on the table so hard it's a wonder it didn't smash.

"Come on baby, we're leaving." I say as I grab Regina's hand.

"Wait, you can't leave, we need to talk about this." Mary Margaret's desperation is clear as she tries to hold back tears.

"If you are rejecting Regina and our relationship then you're rejecting me as well. Nothing more to say. Regina go wait in the car."

"I'm staying right here!" Regina growls as she stands next to me, gripping her glass so hard I'm sure I hear it crack.

"Look Emma, look at her reaction, this is who she is. This is what she does, she destroys peoples lives."

"She isn't destroying mine, she's making me happier then I ever knew I could be."

"And what about Henry? He was so miserable he went all the way to Boston to track down the woman who gave him up! Exactly how many years of neglect and abuse do you think he suffered to be driven to that?"

By this point I am seriously worried for Mary Margaret. I would like to think Regina will throw her drink at her and storm out dramatically, but let's not kid ourselves. It is much more likely that she'll down the drink and throw the glass at her! I put my hand on her arm and how much its shaking lets me know how close she is to losing it.

"Don't you ever speak about my son again."

Regina's voice is so deep and commanding only a fool would challenge her further.

"He's not your son! He's Emma's son." At this point I wanted to glass Mary Margaret. Punishment for her sheer stupidity if nothing else.

"Henry is OUR son!" I say hoping that this will finally get the message through her thick head.

The mention of his name alerts us all to the fact this is a small apartment and we've been shouting.

"Hey kid, come on me and your mom are taking you home."

He comes running to me and Regina, shooting his grandmother a narrow eyed stare over his shoulder. I was pleased he was still on our side, but knew how much that look had hurt Mary Margaret.

We're almost out the door before Mary Margaret's mind completely fails her and she grabs Regina by the arm.

"I will not let you take away the people I love."

"Neither will I! Do yourself a favour Snow White and think back to what happened the last time you meddled in my love life!"

I see Mary Margaret swallow hard and release her grip, clearly remembering all to well the repercussions of her actions.

Regina slams the door shut behind us. Our eyes meet and we both fear this has escalated to the point

of no return.

Once home we settle Henry, after all the excitement all he wanted was milk, cookies and a nap. I move to Regina hoping my arms will offer comfort, but she moves away.

"Talk to me Regina."

"About what?"

I roll my eyes. I thought I was meant to be the emotionally cut off one. I just look at her giving her all the time she needs to continue.

"All that woman ever talks about is not being able to forgive me, it never enters her head that I can't forgive her. She took everything from me Emma and I won't let her do it again".

I try to stay sympathetic to her ordeal but in some ways she doesn't know how lucky she is. My lack of reaction gets her attention.

"OK your turn." she says as she joins me on the couch and gently holds my hand.

"You don't know how lucky you are." The words are out my mouth before I even realise how they would sound. I feel her grip on my hand tighten. The recent events effecting her reaction.

"I didn't mean that how it sounded."

"Then how did you mean it?"

"I meant the people you loved were taken from you, it was nothing you did. All the people in my life left of there own accord. Do you know what that's like? Having everyone you care about make the choice to leave you."

I know this admission is breaking her heart but I've seen all the baggage she brings with her now its time to see if she can handle mine.

"No, I don't know what that's like. I can't even begin to imagine the damage it does."

"Let's just say a lot. It makes it hard for me to trust people I assume people are going to leave me." I can tell she's about to interrupt and tell me she'll never leave but I continue before she has chance.

"I know you're not going to. I'm just saying others have and that's difficult to get over."

She is now rubbing my back and I've never been so put at ease by such a simple display of affection. We sit on the couch and just hold each other, today's events have opened up a lot of old wounds for us both. We both know there is more to say but not now, now we just want to be close. Neither of us are big on talking about our feelings and sometimes its better to feel someone's support instead of hearing it.

There is something about Emma's strong arms wrapped round me that brings out my inner eye lash fluttering girly girl. I knew now wasn't the time. We were bonding, connecting over abandonment issues and increasing our emotional closeness. This was not the time to be thinking about returning the favour from earlier. Besides, I doubt the kitchen table could withstand much more. But after months of electric sexual tension every time her body was pressed against mine I felt the passion rising inside of me. I decide to chance my arm.

"Why don't we go to bed for an hour or two?" I ask innocently, like I'm suggesting a nap.

"I'm not really tired." The innocent expression on her face is utterly adorable.

"Neither am I." I purr into her ear, even if she wanted to she couldn't deny her reaction. I felt her body tremble. She swallows hard and nods slowly.

"Wait, there's still some tidying to do it the kitchen."

"That's what your thinking of? I'm suggesting hot middle of the day sex and you want to do the dishes?"

"I don't want to but they need doing."

"So do I! They'll still be here later, they're not going anywhere."

My mind immediately flashes back to our recent conversation and I wish I could swallow the words back down. She has made her way to the kitchen and is banging and crashing about, she may not be big on talking but she gets her point across.

I wrap my arms around her from behind and rest my chin on her shoulder as she fills the sink with water. The fact that she hasn't pushed me away is encouraging, maybe all is not lost.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I shouldn't have said that we can take as long as needed cleaning, because I'm not going anywhere either."

"My point was, this will take ten minutes. What I have in store for you will take considerably longer. I would just feel happier knowing this was already done first."

"And quite right to, It just surprised me, I had no idea you were so anal."

She looks at me, dimples just visible as she tries not to burst out laughing. I however am turning a very fetching shade of mortified!

"I was easing you in gently." She says with such a mischievous gleam in her eye it helps take away my embarrassment. I give her a playful nudge anyway and set about helping her.

"It's OK baby, I've got this. Go keep the bed warm, I'll be with you in a few.

I practically skip upstairs, treating myself to a backwards glance and enjoying the sight of my swaggering Sheriff becoming a domestic goddess.

I hear Regina make her way upstairs, the creaking floorboards telling me she had made it to the bedroom. I keep looking over my shoulder, even though I know she's out of sight. I dry my hands and reach for my cell. I feel weak and my hands are shaking as I type out a text.

I still owe you a favour. I can't do this.