Mary Margaret started, "Emma…"

Emma took a deep breath before responding, "I gave Henry up so that he could have his best chance, and he has that with Regina. She is his mother, and the only reason I can see him at all is because she lets me. She puts Henry first, even helping me break her own curse just to save him, and that's more than I can say for any of my foster families."

"If she hadn't cursed everyone, you wouldn't have given Henry up in the first place," Mary Margaret fought back.

Henry cautiously entered the room and stood beside Emma. He didn't like it when adults fought, especially the ones who were supposed to be his heroes.

Oblivious to Henry's presence, Emma shot back, "We could play 'what ifs' all day, but I live in the real world. Fact is, I signed a closed adoption, and if I had to do it all over again, I would."

At that moment, Emma heard the cry next to her followed by small feet running up the stairs and realized that Henry had overheard their argument. She paled at how he must have interpreted her words. She truly was an idiot, and she couldn't even make things right because she needed Regina's help to go up the stairs. Cursing her lack of mobility, she called into the kitchen, "Regina!"

Regina was halfway up the stairs before Emma could give her any explanation, muttering about imbecilic blondes and their moronic parents and how they had better hope dinner wasn't cold by the time they got to eat. She knocked on her son's door, and when there was no response other than muffled tears, she entered anyway. She found Henry sprawled face down on the bed listening to music via his ipod and headphones.

Sitting next to him on the bed, she began to gently rub his back like she used to when he was little. She was half expecting him to flinch in protest, but he didn't. After a few moments, she popped the headphone out of his right ear and said his name softly, "Henry."

Henry started, "She said…"

"I know," Regina answered, cursing the blonde's lack of tact, even if it was a roundabout attempt at giving her a compliment.

"Doesn't she love me?" Henry asked in a small voice, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Of course she does. She stayed in Storybrooke for you. Heck, she's even staying in the same house as the Evil Queen just to be near you," Regina joked, trying to lighten the mood a little. What was wrong with her? She should be reveling in the Savior's mistake, not actively defending her to their son, and yet, here she was, doing exactly that.

Henry pouted, "Then why would she…"

"Sometimes what people say and what they mean aren't the same thing. Especially when they are angry," Regina reminded her son.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You're biased," Henry continued to sulk.

Regina grinned, "Of course I am. I can't imagine anyone in the world not loving my smart, handsome, wonderful son."

"Mom!" Henry complained out loud, but was secretly happy to hear his mother's words. Maybe his mom was right, and Emma didn't really mean what she'd said. He'd said lots of things to his mom that he regretted, and that wasn't even including all the 'I found my real mom' comments he had thrown at her, and she loved him anyway.

"Are you ready to come downstairs and join us for dinner? I really want you there, but I won't push," Regina asked, ruffling his hair.

Henry contemplated his response briefly, "I guess. Someone needs to be there to keep you from killing my grandparents."

"There's my son. Always convinced he can do the impossible," Regina laughed, pulling him close. She took his hand and led him to the top of the stairs, "Ready?"

Nodding, Henry held his head up and walked down the stairs slightly ahead of his mother, bracing himself for more arguing. He needn't have worried, as the room was completely silent upon his return. In that moment, he knew his mom was right-the concern in Emma's eyes wouldn't be there if she didn't love him. He didn't know what to say so he just bounded up to her and wrapped her up in a bear hug.

Emma put her arms around him protectively, "I'm sorry, Henry."

Mary Margaret joined them with tears in their eyes, "I'm sorry too, Henry."

"While this is all very touching, Snow, you were invited to dinner on condition that you did not add to Emma's stress. Consider this your one and only warning," Regina said tight-lipped.

"My interactions with my daughter are none of your business," Mary Margaret countered.

Emma looked up at each of them in turn and let her eyes settle on Regina's, "Please, let's not fight."

Regina gave her an imperceptible nod, "Henry, would you please set the table? The lasagna is going to get cold."

The rest of the meal went without incident as everyone did their best to keep the conversation light for Emma and Henry's sake. Regina blushed at Emma's compliments of her lasagna and her cobbler, and Mary Margaret smiled at the interest Emma took in hearing about the day-to-day events at school. When Regina walked the Charmings out so she could get Emma ready for bed, none of them noticed the raven perched at the window.


Flying behind a bush to turn back into her regular form, Cora took in the interactions she had witnessed with some confusion. Her daughter had always had a soft spot for children, but the way Regina spoke to the Savior and defended her went beyond mere politeness.

Regina couldn't possibly have feelings for Snow's daughter-Cora's eyes widened as she realized what the Savior's words in the Enchanted Forest had meant. 'We kind of share Henry; it's complicated.' Surely she had taught Regina better than this? She needed a little time to process how she was best going to use her daughter's weakness to her advantage before someone like the Dark One beat her to it, someone without her daughter's best interests at heart.