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Regina's fingers irritatedly drummed against the steering wheel of her Benz as she passed the Leaving Storybrooke sign on the road out of town. After Emma had left, all Regina wanted to do was curl up in a ball and drink herself to sleep for her own foolishness. I almost kissed her, she thought for the hundredth time, angry that she had let the situation go so far. She almost kissed you back, a soft voice reminded her. Her own mind was playing devil's advocate as she remembered how Emma had leaned into her. God, her lips looked so good. She glanced in her rear view and sighed at herself. It had been a second text from Kathryn that had brought her to sitting in her car, dressed in a knee length black dress, driving to a date she didn't care about. I'm on my way over was all it read and before Regina could compose herself from that almost kiss, Kathryn was walking through the door with a huge grin and a bottle of wine. It seemed her best friend had not trusted Regina to pick a scandalous outfit for what she called 'a long over due lady loving' and was completely oblivious the entire time to Regina's internal dilemma. She loved Kathryn Midas like a sister, having grown up with her and sharing their college adventure together, but she had always been a little shallow and self centred. Mary Margaret had been the one she turned to when she needed emotional support, being the balance to their little group. It had worked so well when they were younger and now, as the trees flew past her, Regina wished that things were the way they used to be. Because you could really tell her that you are falling for her seventeen year old foster daughter. The thought burned in her mind, the fact that it was inappropriate in so many way yet felt so right in others. She definitely hadn't imagined the way Emma had leaned in, the way her eyes flicked to her lips so briefly and the way she had bolted out the door after Kathryn's ill timed interruption. Regina was sure she had seen a flicker of jealousy in Emma's eyes and her stomach churned with guilt that she had possibly ruined whatever had been growing between them. The trees began to thin out as she neared the freeway that would take her to what felt like her impending doom. A little before the turn she needed to take, Regina spotted a large trailer by the side of the road with a neon sign reading Flynn's Diner and felt her heart stop for a moment. She looked at her dashboard clock and realised she had been driving for a little under an hour. Black heels slammed on the brakes, bringing her to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road. It can't be she thought as her mind raced. She had taken this route many times over the years and had only ever glanced at the roadside diner as she passed. Now, however, she stared at the brightly lit trailer as if it held the secrets to the universe. Her date forgotten, Regina pulled into the small gravel parking lot and turned off the engine. Grabbing her coat from the passenger seat, she exited her car and walked inside.

'Hi there.' A short man with thin grey hair greeted her as she entered. 'Take a seat anywhere you like and I will be right with you.' He smiled warmly at her before disappearing into what looked like the kitchen. She glanced around and noted the three other people within. A couple talking quietly in the far corner and a middle aged mad nursing a coffee a the counter. Her eyes landed on a framed newspaper article at the end of the counter closest to her and moved closer to read.

Diner owners saves abandoned baby. The headline read. Regina's hand gripped the counter as she scanned the rest of the article. A newborn, only hours old, was left in the parking lot of Flynn's Diner two nights ago and the heroic actions of the owner, Flynn Rider and his wife, Anna, ensured that the little girl was able to be taken safely into the care of Child Services. The baby girl was found at just after nine pm when a patron heard a strange noise when getting out of his car. 'I honestly thought it was an animal in distress at first, we get a lot of the local wildlife attracted to the diner due to the light and smell of food. You can imagine my shock when I found this little angel wrapped in a blanket and all alone.' Rider's wife immediately checked the baby girl for any sign of injury or obvious distress before calling 911.

'She was crying when Flynn called me out of the kitchen and my immediate reaction was to check that she was unharmed.' The mother of three fed the little girl with baby formula they keep at the diner for customers who need it and told us of her heartache at discovering she had been abandoned. 'As a mother, I could not imagine how anyone could simply leave their child. We asked if anyone had seen what happened and it broke my heart to hold her and know that she alone in the world.'

The girl, who's name is Emma (known by the name being stitched onto her blanket), has been taken into the care of Child Services and their spokeswoman, Heather Manning, has asked for anyone with any information about her parents to contact their office in Portland.

'I hope that her parents come forward. Even if their circumstances are less than ideal, Emma needs them.' Anna commented before ending our interview, too overcome to continue.

'Heartbreaking isn't it?' The man, who Regina assumed was Flynn Rider from the picture next to the headline, said quietly.

Quickly wiping the wetness from her eyes, Regina gave a sad nod. 'Yes it is. Did anyone ever come forward?' Although she knew the answer, she reasoned it wouldn't be right to let him know she knew Emma.

'Not that I know of.' Flynn sighed. 'A week or so after we found her, my wife Anna phoned to ask if Emma was okay and they told us she was healthy and safe with a family.' He gave a sad smile. 'We thought about taking her in ourselves but we already had three young children and decided it wouldn't be fair to Emma if we couldn't give her everything she deserved.' Regina looked to the man and saw the way his eyes glistened in the artificial light as he gazed at the article. 'I hope where ever she is now, Emma is safe and happy. She was such a beautiful baby.' He gave a wistful smile before turning back to Regina. 'What can I get you?'

Emma arrived home a few minutes before her foster family after having wandered around town for the last few hours. She was just pouring herself a large coffee when Henry bounded through the door. 'Emma!' He ran to her legs and flung his arms around them. 'I missed you.'

'I missed you too buddy.' Emma bent to kiss his head when she grimaced and stood back up. 'Eww, you stink!'

'No you stink!' Henry grinned, thinking that Emma was playing a game with him.

'No really, kid, you stink of fish.' She chuckled. Seeing Henry momentarily pushed her heartache over Regina from her mind. 'Stinky.' She poked his belly and made him giggle. 'You stinky.'

Henry poked her side in kind. 'You stinky.' They laughed together as Mary Margaret and David shrugged off their coats and moved towards the kitchen.

David sniffed the top of Henry's head and pulled a disgusted face. 'Emma's right, Henry, you do stink.' He grinned at his foster children and kissed Emma lightly on the cheek before swinging the boy into his arms. 'A bath for you my boy.' Emma watch them walk into the bathroom with a warm smile.

'How was your day sweetie?' Mary Margaret asked as she also gave Emma a kiss. When Emma's smile faded and a slight frown marred her brow, Mary Margaret frowned also.

'Was okay I guess.' Emma sipped at her coffee, her eyes fixed on the counter.

'Did you struggle with any of your homework? Perhaps David and I can help you?'

'No, the homework was fine. I think I just burned myself out a little, that's all.' There was no way she could tell Mary Margaret about what happened with Ms Mills.

Mary Margaret nodded, though the way her eyes searched her foster daughters face told Emma that she didn't quite believe the lie. 'Okay.' She knew that pushing Emma would only cause her defences to kick in and that would not help either of them. 'Well how about some dinner? I was thinking of whipping up some hot dogs for us all.' Her brows shot up when Emma shook her head, declining one of her favourite meals.

'I ate at the diner earlier.' When it looked like Mary Margaret was going to ask her something, Emma gave a tight smile. 'I think I'm just going to go lie down for a bit.' She walked past her foster mother and slowly trudged up the stairs, leaning against her bedroom door after shutting it. She felt tears roll down her cheeks and let her head hit the wood. Damn it Swan, stop being so soft. She curled up on her bed, hands cradling her coffee as she silently cried over a kiss that never was. She felt embarrassed and more than a little stupid for thinking a woman like Ms Mills would ever be interested in her. Of course she would have dates, the woman was gorgeous, intelligent and funny. She could have her pick of any woman in the state if she wanted. Except me, Emma thought pathetically. She placed her coffee on her side table and lay down, covers pulled all the way over her head.

'Emma?' Mary Margaret called softly to her barely lit room. They had eaten dinner without Emma and now Henry was ready for bed, he was requesting his favourite story teller to read to him. 'Emma?' She called again as she noticed the lumpy form on the bed. Sitting lightly on the mattress, she pulled the covers down to find Emma sleeping, tear stains still fresh on her cheeks. Mary Margaret reached out and brushed stray blonde locks behind Emma's ear and wondered what could have caused her upset. After a few moments, Emma stirred and green eyes cracked open. 'Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?'

'Like crap.' Emma mumbled, her sleepy state preventing her from thinking about her response fully.

'Oh Emma. Have you been crying?'

Emma wiped her face and felt the salty tracks on her cheeks. With a bright blush, she shrugged and sank further into her pillow. 'I'm fine.'

'Obviously you aren't.' Mary Margaret said sadly. She shifted and pulled Emma's head into her lap, running her hand through her hair in comfort. 'Please, Emma, talk to me. I just want to make sure you're okay.'

Emma closed her eyes again and enjoyed the feeling of fingers running over her scalp. She knew she couldn't mention Ms Mills but she also could not ignore the sadness in her foster mother's voice. She took a few more moments to consider her next words before turning to look up at Mary Margaret. 'I-' she tried to clear the lump rising in her throat. 'I like girls.' She whispered softly.

Mary Margaret took a few seconds to process the admission before speaking. 'You're gay?' She asked in a calm, neutral voice. Emma nodded with wide, unsure eyes that threatened to spill heavy tears at any second. Mary Margaret gave her a warm smile before kissing Emma's forehead which creased under her lips. 'It's okay Emma. Thank you for telling me.'

Emma's mouth opened a little in confusion. Ms Mills had told her that she would understand, but seeing only love in Mary Margaret's eyes was something she hadn't quite expected. 'You're okay with it?' She hated that her voice trembled as she spoke.

'Emma, you are who you are and I love you because and in spite of that.' Mary Margaret smiled. 'Being gay doesn't change the way I, or David, feel about you sweetheart. We just want you to be happy.' Emma's tears spilled from her eyes as she flung her arms around her and held tightly. They stayed that way for sometime until Emma finally broke away a little.

'I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was afraid you would send me back if you found out.'

Mary Margaret took Emma's face in her hands and held her gaze with a fierceness that Emma had never seen in her eyes before. 'We would never, ever send you away for being gay. In fact, there is no reason David and I wouldn't want you as our daughter. We love you and only wish we had found you sooner because it has been our privilege and pleasure to have you in our family.'

Emma gave a watery smile and found herself saying five words that she never thought she would ever say. 'I love you too Mom.' Tears fell from Mary Margaret's eyes as her mega watt smile practically lit up the room. She pulled Emma into a crushing hug and peppered her head with kisses. They broke apart several minutes later, when a knock at the door caught their attention.

David stood in the doorway with a warm smile for his two favourite women. 'I have a very sleepy six year old who refuses to go to bed without a story.' He said quietly as his blue eyes flickered between Emma and Mary Margaret.

'I'll read to him tonight.' Mary Margaret said as she turned to Emma. 'Do you want to talk to David?' Emma nodded and smiled at the kiss pressed to her temple before Mary Margaret stood. She walked past David and gave him a beaming smile as he looked at her in confusion. Once alone, Emma patted the bed next to her and waited for David to sit before speaking.

Half an hour later, David sat next to Mary Margaret on the sofa, fresh tears on his cheeks and a smile on his lips. 'She called me dad.' He said in awe. 'She actually called me dad.' Mary Margaret pulled her husband into her arms and they shared a happy, quiet moment as their children dreamed upstairs.