A/N: Beta work done by Madam Mayor.
Emma woke hours later. She rolled over to check the time, but the clock was blank. Lifting her head, she saw lights flickering outside and faint voices. Getting to her feet, she moved across the room and pushed the door open. Tip toeing down the stairs, the voices seemed to be growing louder from the kitchen.
"We didn't wake you, did we?" Regina asked, looking up as Emma entered.
"No, I was already awake," Emma explained. Grinning, Regina stared at Emma with an 'I'm undressing you with my eyes' look.
"Mum, aren't they yours?" Henry asked, indicating to the light grey silk pyjamas Emma was wearing.
"Do you sleep in your clothes when you go to bed?!" Regina snapped defensively. Henry stared down at his feet dangling from the bench stool. "I'm sorry dear," Regina apologised.
"So, what are you two doing up at this ridiculous time of night?" Emma asked, sitting down next to Henry and across from Regina.
"Henry couldn't sleep. He is afraid of thunder storms. Therefore we are eating ice-cream before it melts as the whole neighbourhood has no power," Regina explained, handing Emma a spoon.
"Thanks," she mumbled as their hands touched.
"Mint chocolate chip or vanilla?" Henry asked, looking over at Emma.
"Mint chocolate chip," Emma replied.
"My favourite," Henry smiled, pushing the tub towards her.
"Mine too," Emma smiled back, digging her spoon into the tub.
"I guess this is one is mine," Regina huffed, grabbing the vanilla tub all to herself. Henry's body went rigid as more thunder crashed in the sky and rain began to pour down.
"I don't like thunder storms either," Emma whispered, placing a hand on Henry's shoulder.
"Why don't we play a board game?" Regina suggested after the three of them had finished all the ice-cream.
"I'll go pick one out!" Henry said excitedly as he jumped down from the stool. He grabbed his Marvel flashlight that was lying on the kitchen bench.
"Will you tone it down!?" Regina hissed as soon as Henry left the room.
"What do you mean?" Emma frowned.
"All the nonsense about having the same favourite ice-cream flavour and saying you are scared of storms as well," Regina snipped.
"I'm just trying to make a connection with my son," Emma replied. Regina was about to answer when Henry called out. "Mum, Emma, are you guys coming?" Emma got up from the stool and went over to the living room. Regina grabbed some candles from the next room and a box of matches. She set them up around the living room so there was enough light to see. Henry was busy setting up the game on the coffee table, and didn't notice Emma and Regina sit around the table. He looked up and smiled at Emma sitting next to him.
"Mum likes to win," he whispered to her but still audible for Regina to hear. Henry passed the dice to Emma to determine who would have the first go. She flicked the dice onto the table and got a one. She the dice to Henry who rolled a six. Regina rolled a four and handed the dice back to Henry.
"Looks like I'm going last," Emma grumbled, winking at Henry.
"You cheated!" Regina yelled. "We are rolling again!" she demanded. Regina snatched the dice from Henry and pushed them into Emma's palm.
Halfway through the game, a few of the candles had burnt out leaving the room semi-dark. Regina rose to her feet, and got a questioning look from Emma.
"I am just going to get some more candles," she said. Minutes later, Regina re-entered the room, and placed a couple of blankets down on the couch. She went around and replaced the candles that had gone out. Moving back to the middle of the room, she picked up a blanket and wrapped it around Emma's shoulders. "Just in case you were cold," Regina said, sitting back down.
"Thanks," Emma muttered, wrapping it tighter around her. "I think we've worn Henry out," Emma whispered, pointing to Henry lying on the floor, asleep. He suddenly bolted upright as the thunder had started up again. Regina smiled faintly, and moved across to the couch. She patted the space next to her. Henry clambered to his feet and quickly moved to his mother's side.
"It's ok," Regina soothed. "Nothing is going to happen," she whispered, pulling Henry into her lap. "Go back to sleep," she said, twirling his hair with her finger tips. Pulling a pillow from the other side of the couch, Henry took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he rested his head on the pillow over Regina's legs. Emma smiled faintly at the sight of mother and son snuggled on the couch. She swiftly moved across and draped the blanket over the both of them. Picking up the spare blanket that hung over the back of the couch, Emma settled onto the edge of the couch and blew Regina a kiss before closing her own eyes.
/ - x - x - x - /
Emma blinked open her eyes, and saw she had slept on the couch all night. Glancing over, Henry was leaning against Regina.
"Morning," Regina moaned, stifling a yawn. Henry began to stir and sat up.
"Is the power back?" he asked sleepily. Emma rose from the couch and flicked the light switches a couple of times.
"Doesn't look like it," she said disappointedly.
"Why don't we go see if Granny's has power, so maybe we can get some breakfast there?" Henry suggested.
"Well, that depends on if Emma is up to it," Regina said as both Henry and Regina look over at Emma.
"Sure. I'll just go get changed," Emma nodded, heading to the spare room.
"Yay!" Henry shouted, jumping to his feet. Regina gathered her coat and bag, and stood by the door. She looked around to see Henry walking towards her.
"Henry," she called quietly. "How would you feel if…" but she was interrupted when Emma joined them.
"I'm ready," she said, straightening out her red leather jacket.
"Excellent!" Regina said, opening the front door. Henry raced down the foot path and towards the car. "Back seat, Henry!" she called after him. They all filed into Regina's car, and once she made sure everyone had their seatbelts on; she started the car and drove off.
Regina found a parking spot about a block away from the Diner. After everyone was out of the car, she quickly locked it, and jogged to catch up with Emma and Henry.
"You dropped something," Emma said, looking back. She quickly went to pick up the ring on a gold chain. "Here," Emma muttered, handing it over to Regina. "Thanks," she muttered, barely audible. Tears swelled in her eyes and she smiled faintly, grateful that Emma didn't push the subject. Regina stared down at the ring then hung the chain around her neck. She tucked it under her shirt to prevent it from falling again.
"Are you here for breakfast?" Ruby asked as they stepped through the door.
"Yes we are!" Henry cried cheerily. Ruby smiled down at the boy and led them over to a vacant booth. She placed down three menus and quickly disappeared to get some cutlery.
"What are you going to have kid?" Emma asked, passing a menu over to Henry.
"What I always have," he smiled. Ruby returned and placed the cutlery on the table. She grabbed out her notepad, and she didn't even need to ask Henry but scribbled down his order.
"We come here every Sunday morning," Regina explained in Emma's ear, making her shiver feeling Regina's breathe on her skin. "I'll have the apple pancakes with a coffee, thanks," Regina said.
"I think I'll have the waffles and a coffee as well," Emma smiled, grabbing all the menus before handing them back to Ruby.
"Might be a while. We're wicked busy in here after the storm," Ruby replied.
"We aren't in any hurry," Emma said with a smile. "Are we?" she queried, glancing across to Regina.
"No we aren't," she confirmed.
"Great! I'll be back in a moment with your drinks," Ruby said then disappeared to serve the other customers walking through the door. Moments later, Ruby returned carrying two mugs, and a tall milkshake glass. Emma covered her mouth as she began to cough followed by many sneezes.
"How are you feeling?" Regina asked, rubbing Emma's back.
"A little better," she answered, smiling faintly. Regina smiled back, and looked away from Emma to see Ruby was walking towards them carefully juggling three plates on her arms.
"Enjoy," she muttered after placing them in front of the correct owner.
"Hi guys," Mary Margaret greeted, walking up to the booth after entering into the diner.
"Don't you have any power either?" Emma asked, watching Mary Margaret shake her head. She looked around, and saw David waving her over. Regina followed her gaze then glared at Mary Margaret, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. Mary Margaret noticed the Mayor's stare, and quickly tried to defend her act as innocent.
"With half the town having no power, it's probably best to save on tables," she explained.
"Ah-huh," Emma retorted as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Well, I don't want to keep you from your breakfast," Mary Margaret muttered and quickly left. Regina watched as Emma took her first bite, subsequently getting icing sugar all over her mouth.
"Henry, where are you going?" Regina asked as Henry got to his feet.
"The bathroom," he replied and dashed away. Regina smiled faintly realising he had already drank half his milkshake. Keeping an eye on the bathroom entrance, Regina leaned in close to Emma. The blonde suddenly turned her head and scrambled back.
"What are you doing?! We are out in public!" she hissed.
"You have something on your face," Regina said, leaning back in the seat. She licked her thumb and rubbed it against the corner of Emma's mouth. Emma rested her hand on Regina's thigh under the table; she gave it a light squeeze when Regina touched her face. Emma moved her head to the side so Regina's thumb traced the length of her lips.
"What's going on?" Henry asked making Emma jump in surprise.
"Emma had some food on her face," Regina explained with a smile on her face. Henry shrugged and settled back into eating his breakfast. Emma smiled across at Regina before also getting stuck into her meal.
