A/N: Hi all! Thank you for the continued follows and reviews. This is the last chapter of the revised chapters so for all of the previous readers, it's just new chapters after this one and I promise I've been working on chapter 9 so I'm hoping to get that one up soon. There's a time jump in this one and there will be one in the next chapter as well. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: See first couple chapters for general disclaimer. All I own is Maggie. Snow's line of happy endings not being what we think is in this chapter and as I did not come up with her saying it first I am going to acknowledge that here.

The next morning when they had some time alone Regina started to ask Henry questions. Questions she'd been so afraid of before. Questions that opened up thoughts and desires that she dare not hope for all those years before and Henry acting in his true nature offered his honest belief. He explained that he'd suspected something more between his mothers after he'd gotten his memories of Regina back. He recounted years of moments, mostly shared by the three of them in which he thought one of them might be catching on. The most telling was when he confessed that he always thought the reason Regina didn't attend Emma's wedding to Hook was because she'd realized her feelings for Emma as it had happened very close to her split with Robin.

Regina remembered that day and never told Henry the real reason she wasn't there was because Emma asked her not to come.

"Not that I care that much Ms. Swan but I thought we'd become something resembling friends." said Regina trying her hardest to hide the hurt from her voice.

Emma turned toward her with one of the most conflicted expressions Regina'd ever seen. "Regina it's just that if you're there I'll" she shook her head and looked down at her hands.

Regina knitted her eyebrows in confusion and said "You'll what?"

Emma looked up and chuckled a little sadly "We are friends Regina. I need to do this. If you're there I'll see you there and know that I'll have an exit plan. Someone who would drive the escape car if I asked because you've become that friend for me. I need to not have that option tomorrow. I need to try and make this work."

Regina wanted to tell her how ludicrous it was to approach marriage this way. She wanted to tell her that it was one of many reasons this was probably a bad idea but instead she stepped closer and gave Emma's forearm a comforting squeeze. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Regina looked at that moment very differently now and wondered what would have happened if she hadn't honored Emma's request.

Regina didn't say much later that evening when Emma asked what she and Henry discussed. Henry was right, she had to give Emma time and Regina could probably use a little time too.

4 months later…

Regina sat back on her ankles and quietly surveyed her work. She'd just finished planting some new flowers and vegetables in her garden while harvesting some of her summer produce. She was reviewing her outline and needed supplies when she heard the sound of small footsteps running toward her.

"Aunt Regina! Aunt Regina!" shouted Maggie as she ran toward her and almost knocked her over as she hugged her while she was still sitting.

Regina turned and put her arms around her. "Hello darling! I'm so glad you're home. Did you have fun in New York?"

Maggie nodded her head "Yes it was good to see Daddy but I missed you!". Maggie and Emma had been gone for 2 weeks visiting New York. Emma won an award for her work at the youth community center and decided it would be a good time for Maggie to visit with her father since the school year just ended.

Regina smiled at her and said "I missed you too." She then looked up as she heard much slower footsteps approach. She saw Emma a good distance from them with her hands in her pockets. Regina thought she'd never seen her look so much like the woman who'd first come to Storybrooke. Inquisitive but lost and scared as well. Regina stood with her basket in one hand and Maggie's hand in the other. Emma was staring at something in the distance and it took Regina clearing her throat to get her attention.

Emma snapped her head toward Regina and looked confused for a moment before she said "Hi". It was almost a whisper and had a hint of defeat in it.

Regina tilted her head curiously and answered "Hello. How was your trip?"

Emma shifted from one foot to the other and took a deep breath before answering "He found someone else."

Regina raised her eyebrows and almost said something but kept her mouth closed when Emma sensed her intent and gestured toward Maggie. Regina turned to Maggie and handed her the basket saying "Margaret sweetheart, will you take this into the kitchen? You can help me plan what to make for dinner."

Maggie beamed at her and ran into the house.

Regina watched her go then turned back to Emma. "Do you need to stay here tonight?"

Emma looked at her a little surprised. They still had dinner a few nights every week but since she and Maggie moved into their apartment after Henry's visit, they'd spent a lot less time together. Emma noticed Regina stand a little straighter, the tension heightened by her notice of Emma's surprise. Emma shook her head and asked "Actually I think there's someone I need to see first and I was wondering if-"

Regina cut her off and said "I'd love to spend some time with Margaret."

Emma smiled at her appreciatively and said "Thank you Regina. Really, thank you." She stepped a little closer and tentatively took Regina's hand giving it a light squeeze.

Regina offered her a small smile and squeezed back.

Emma turned to leave but was stopped by Regina's hand on her elbow.

"Emma wait." When Emma turned to face her she continued, "You know you can trust me, with anything. I know it's hard sometimes but I would hope that you've learned that you can trust me."

Emma smiled at her and said "Regina if there is anything in all of this that I am sure of, it's that I can trust you." She then turned and left.

….

"Emma?" said Snow as she looked at her daughter curiously. "I didn't expect you until tomorrow night."

Emma looked up at her sheepishly and said "Yeah I was wondering if we could maybe talk."

Snow nodded and ushered her into the house, "Of course. I'll fix some cocoa."

Emma almost reminded her mother that she was 41 and perhaps too old for cocoa but then she thought it actually sounded pretty good right now. She followed Snow to the kitchen and nodded to her Dad as she saw him in the living room with her siblings.

She sat down and watched her mother move about the kitchen. Snow was always so at home in the kitchen and it was always such a comfort to Emma to watch her.

"How was New York?" asked Snow as she started to heat the milk.

Emma shook her head and thought I might as well jump in. "It's about the same, our old friends are good, the center is good and Killian's girlfriend Tiffany is good."

Snow dropped the spoon she'd just pulled from the silverware drawer. She open and closed her mouth several times before asking "What?"

Emma laughed sadly and said "Yeah that was my reaction. Pretty quick huh?"

Snow moved to the chair next to Emma and put her hand on Emma's folded ones and said "I'm so sorry sweetie."

Emma seemed a little unsure for a moment before saying "You realize I don't need any of that 'you can make it right' crap because I did not come here for that and if"

Snow squeezed her hands and cut her off and said softly "Emma, my dear Emma". Emma shut her mouth and looked into Snow's eyes, her face, the reflection Emma thought she'd never find and felt the familiar surge of affection for her mother.

Snow smiled when Emma looked at her and continued "Honey I was wrong to do that to you when you came back. I hold onto hope so hard sometimes that I can't see much else. I have said myself that happy endings aren't always what we think. I wish I'd remembered that and truly thought about what you needed. And for that sweetheart I am sorry."

Emma nodded and said "Thank you Mom."

Snow gave her one more squeeze before finishing the cocoa. While she worked Emma decided to talk. She sighed and said "You know it's not that I want him back. I don't. This visit taught me that more than anything. I just hate that he can move on so quickly and I'm still hurt. You would think he was the one that left."

Snow returned to her seat from earlier and placed Emma's drink in front of her. "It's ok to still feel hurt. It's only been a few months into this process and even if you were having problems before, these kind of things make it real." Snow took a sip then asked "You know what you and Henry taught me?"

Emma looked at her confused and answered "That no matter how cool it is that you can talk to birds, you shouldn't really share that with strangers?"

Snow swatted Emma's arm as Emma started chuckling and said "That was one time!" When Emma calmed down she said "That true love has many forms. That your happy ending is bigger than one person. I love your father dearly. I would do anything for him but I wouldn't want to live in a world without you, or Henry or Maggie or Neal or Ava or even Regina surprisingly enough" Emma quirked her eyebrow at the last addition. Snow went on "My WHOLE family is the happy ending I would wish and hope for. So Emma as much as I want you to find that other person to be your partner, remember you also have the rest of us both until that happens and when that happens."

Emma smiled at her and grabbed her mother's hand. "I love you" she said simply. They sat in companionable silence for a while before little Ava walked in and poked Emma in the leg.

"Are you staying for dinner Emma?"

Emma looked at her mother and Snow stated that she was welcome.

Emma picked up her little sister, tickled her a little, and stated "Looks like I am kid."

…..

Emma walked up Regina's driveway feeling a lot better than she did when she and Maggie arrived earlier that afternoon. She noticed that most of the lights were out and figured that Regina and Maggie were probably watching a movie or reading. She used her spare key and entered the house.

She found them on the couch in the living room. Regina's head was titled to the right with her glasses sliding off her nose. Maggie was tucked into her side with her right arm slung over Regina's middle. A book lay forgotten on the floor in front of them. Emma smiled at the image and was reminded of Snow's words, you also have the rest of us. She approached them quietly and bent to move Maggie. When she picked her up, Regina stirred, "Emma" she whispered.

Emma smiled and whispered back "Yeah it's me."

Regina sat up and straightened her hair. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm good. You up for a short nightcap?" asked Emma. She'd intended to leave and talk to Regina tomorrow but she felt they may be overdue for a chat. They hadn't talked much since Henry went back to school after Spring Break. They still had dinner quite frequently but it was usually filled with discussion of the town and Maggie. If Emma thought about it, things were a little awkward since girls' night and she couldn't quite put her finger on why. She did know one thing. She very much missed her friend.

Regina looked at her a little surprised but nodded "Of course. You can put her on the chaise over there. There's a blanket behind it. Ava naps there frequently."

Emma nodded and went to put Maggie down on the chaise in the corner. When she was settled, she found Regina in her study. A beer was waiting for her on the coffee table. Regina was seated on the far end of the couch.

Emma sat down, noticed the distance and said, "You can come a little closer you know."

Regina eyed warily and said "I'm not so sure of that dear."

Emma shook her head missing the warmth of their earlier interaction. "Regina I'm sorry. I know we haven't talked as much and I just"

Regina shook her head and stood up. "Emma if you're going back to him I can't support you this time."

Emma knitted her eyebrows in confusion and said "Wait what?"

"I'm more than an exit plan Emma and I can't just be here every time you decide to wake up and see the mistakes you're making" said Regina with frustration in her voice.

Emma almost walked out at that moment before she noticed that Regina's hands were shaking. "Regina" she tried.

"You can't just come back here promise that it's over and tell us all that it's real this time. Then come back again a few months later and say that you're going back. What is everyone supposed to think? You can't keep putting Margaret through this either. Hasn't she been through enough? She deserves more than this." Regina took a deep breath before continuing "How long before it's too much? How long before you finally stop going back? I realize you're not the brightest woman Ms. Swan but I know that you're smarter than this. Oh please do not look at me like that, I will not stand for"

"Regina!" said Emma as she grabbed Regina's forearms. Regina stopped talking but still looked at Emma angrily. Emma shook her head and said "I'm not going back. I'm really not. I was just upset earlier. Upset more that he's moved on so soon not that I'd rather be in that woman's place." Regina visibly deflated and Emma removed her hands and placed them in her pockets.

Regina looked at her apologetically and said "I didn't know. Margaret made it seem like, she was worried perhaps" Regina sighed and shook her head. She took a deep breath and started again "I'm sorry. The way Margaret talked about it I thought it may be like"

"Like the other times?" Emma offered. Regina nodded. Emma ran her hand through her hair and sighed saying "I don't blame you Regina. I probably didn't help the situation by not talking to you these past few months. You know what's funny though? This is the first time I didn't even consider it. I've felt more like myself these past few months than I have in years really. I won't give that up. Not again."

"You shouldn't have to" said Regina.

Emma smiled softly at her and said "You're right about that. Thank you for tonight by the way. I think I really needed the time with my mom. It was a toss up I think but she came around."

Regina nodded and said "You're welcome dear. To give your mother credit which I'm not always incredibly keen to do, she can learn to change on occasion."

"Like someone else I know" said Emma. Then she squealed as a throw pillow was magically thrown at her head.

"Serves you right" said Regina trying to hide a hint of a smirk.

Emma rolled her eyes then asked "So how have you been?"

Regina shrugged her shoulders and stated "About the same, nothing too exciting to report. I've been trying to convince our son to visit again."

"That would be nice" said Emma. Then she took a small breath and said "So do you want to talk about that dance?"

Regina did a double take. "I'm sorry what?"

Emma sighed and gestured with her hands toward a corner of the room saying "Oh come on Regina. It's like the giant ass elephant in the room."

"What is?" asked Regina.

Emma stepped closer and leaned in so their faces were just inches apart.

Regina sucked in a sharp shallow gasp.

"That you're super intimidated by my mad dance skills!" then she started to dance around Regina in a circle.

Regina let out a breath then rolled her eyes. "Honestly Ms. Swan!". She caught Emma mid circle by her shoulders and turned her so they were face to face. "I realize that maturity is not always your strong point but after avoiding me for months, do you not think I deserve a bit more than this childishness?"

Emma bowed her head slightly in guilt and sighed. She took a moment then looked up and said "Yeah".

Regina released her hold and gestured for them to sit on the couch. When they were both seated, Emma picked up her beer and started to pick at the label. Regina shook her head at her head and said "I suppose I should start?"

"What if we just left it alone?" asked Emma quietly.

"I think we both know that that is not exactly the best option dear." said Regina.

Emma shook her head slightly and said "No I don't mean forever. Look Regina, there's a lot going on for me right now. And you're right, I'm not always the most mature person. I think though that this isn't about maturity. I think I need some time to be alone. I need some time to figure out what that means for me again."

Regina nodded in understanding. Then she quirked her eyebrow with interest and asked "But you agree that there is something we do need to discuss? Something about that dance?"

Emma laughed softly and said "Oh Regina there's a lot we need to discuss and it's not just about that dance."

Regina opened her mouth to respond but before she could, she was interrupted by soft foot steps entering the study.

"Mommy?" asked Maggie.

Emma stood up and walked over to her daughter. "I'm right here sweetheart, I was just talking with Aunt Regina. Go give her a kiss good night and then we'll go home."

Maggie nodded and did as she was told.

As Regina led them to the door she whispered "I suppose I'll wait for your cue when you're ready to discuss this?"

Emma just winked at her and whispered back "Good night Regina".

Regina scoffed lightly at Emma's retreating figure. "Good night Emma" she whispered.