Chapter 10 – The one where fans ship them in real life and it's not awkward at all.
Regina returns to LA and Emma to Boston, waiting on renewal season while keeping in touch with the occasional text or phone call. Regina films a few commercials locally while Emma flies to Brooklyn to retrieve Henry, eager to take him home and feel his presence in their little apartment again. His bedroom gets redecorated and she spoils him rotten; she'd made good money before, but with Kingdom Come and all the conventions they'd been attending, she can really treat him to whatever he wants without having to worry about money.
"We should treat aunt Mal and Lily out sometime," he says when they're walking through the park, giant greasy pizzas on paper plates clutched in their hands. Emma smiles at the thought.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," she agrees. "Maybe we can stay with them for a weekend."
And they do, traveling back to Brooklyn for a long weekend in which Mal mischievously insists they marathon the full first season of Kingdom Come. Lily is relentless in her teasing, she and Henry ganging up on Emma about the lovey dovey eyes between Kavalan and Queen Reina, and though Emma pretends to be exasperated, her heart feels full at the reminder that despite being an orphan that grew out of the system, she still has this little family she'd found for herself.
LA is starting to feel less like home, especially when Regina returns to a big, empty house in what her sister Zelena is always snobbily referring to as the "rich district," with few friends in town she can call upon to keep her company. Her mother and manager, Cora, is in town, and some of her old co-stars are in town for work, but none are people she'd particularly like to invite over for coffee.
"Please tell me you're in LA," is the first thing she says when she calls up Marian, only for the other woman to burst out laughing.
"You just wrapped on your new TV show, didn't you?"
"Yes, and I miss Vancouver already," Regina sighs, sinking down onto her leather couch. "I have no friends to spend time with here in LA."
"The infamous ice queen made friends in Vancouver?" Marian asks in mock surprise, her voice teasing. Regina can't exactly be annoyed when Marian's right—she'd been friggid on set of Fourth of July, hard to talk to and even harder to befriend. The only reason they became friends was because Marian wanted to befriend the only other woman of color on set and she refused to take 'no' for an answer.
"Do you want to come over for coffee or not?" Regina huffs, rolling her eyes when she can hear the sarcastic grin in Marian's voice.
"Yeah, sure, Mills. I'll just hop the next flight; should be there in six hours."
"Where are you?"
"New York. Been talking with a lawyer friend of mine."
Regina sits up, frowning. "What? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just... I'm filing for divorce. Turns out Robin cheated on me while we were filming Fourth of July. Apparently he thought I was going to leave him for my on-screen romance, so he went ahead and slept with some bimbo from his firm?"
"He did what?" Regina scowls in immediate anger. She never did like Robin, he always had this smug grin on his face and he always hugged her too long whenever they bumped into each other, his hands tending to rest on her hips in a way that made her wary of her friend's husband. "He actually thought you'd leave him for Javier? Your on-screen boyfriend who's gay in real life?"
"Well it explains why he gave poor Javier the stink-eye at the premiere."
"If I ever see him again in real life, I'm going to have to kill him," Regina deadpans, even as Marian cackles in amusement.
"Sure, just wait until my divorce goes through, first. I don't want to be the first suspect."
Sighing, Regina glances around her empty house and says, "I'm sorry, Marian. He's a bastard. Do you want some company?"
"You'd really fly to New York to listen to me bitch and complain about him?" Marian asks, amused.
"Like I said, I'm alone in LA right now."
"Well alright then," Marian says, pleased. "Let me know when you arrive, I'll pick you up and take you for the best pizza you've ever tasted."
Thinking back on her many dinners at Bufala with Emma, Regina smiles to herself. "I highly doubt that, but you're on."
To absolutely no one's surprise, Kingdom Come is renewed early for a second season, and Regina's call comes only minutes after the news spreads all over the internet.
"We could ask for a bigger condo," she offers, voice warm and husky with excitement. "There's a great school in the area and there's no way Gold would say no to us if we brought Henry around on set, I'm sure the crew would love to meet him—"
Suffice to say, Emma is weak to resist her pleas, especially when Henry flushes with excitement at the idea of being on a real life film set of a TV show he'd enjoyed watching (and, to Emma's embarrassment, they really did watch the entire first season with Mal and Lily, though they'd all covered his eyes and ears during the few scenes where explicit sex or violence was happening.)
A few weeks later, they make the temporary move to Vancouver to start filming season two. Henry's transition into a new school is made easier when he brags that he lives with two of the leading actresses of Kingdom Come, and his instant status as a "cool kid" only amplifies when he gets selfies of himself on set with the various cast and crew.
"Regina! Regina, get a photo of me!" She takes his offered cellphone when he rushes up to the iconic throne in the throne room set, aiming the camera and laughing when he sits himself upon Queen Reina's throne and crosses his arms, trying to look serious and intimidating. Snapping a few pictures, she shows him the result and he beams, leaning up against her side like a wriggling puppy. He's extra childlike when he's around her, always vying for her attention and praise, and Emma jokes that he must have a bit of a crush on the older actress.
"Well of course he does," Regina jokes back, teasing Emma with an elbow to the side as Henry scampers off to explore the rest of the stage. "I'm the star of the show."
He builds an easy rapport with the rest of the cast and crew, too, always eager to talk to everyone and ask questions about their jobs, learning about what the different departments do and watching as they set up equipment for each and every shot. When he's not at school, he willingly spends every minute at the studio with them, flitting between every department like a little chameleon.
"Where's the little beastie at today?" Ruby asks one day, only to laugh out loud at the sight of Henry huffing and puffing as he carries a heavy metal light stand while trailing after a man in the Grips department. He hasn't exactly hit his growth spurt yet, even as he turns fifteen during filming (and their Craft Services person, a homely woman named Granny, makes sure to bring a giant cake to set with his name on it, because apparently he's got the entire crew wrapped around his little finger.) Despite all that crafty and the lunch caterers feed him, though, he's still short and as scrawny as a beanpole.
Eventually, the season one finale airs, and they're all on set filming that evening when their phones start blowing up with social media alerts. Ruby and Henry, the most tech savvy of the group, are the first to get to their phones, eyebrows disappearing into their hairlines as they scroll through the mess of tags including #KingdomCome, #KavaReina, and #KavalanDeservedBetter.
"Ooohhh, that's not good," Henry says with a sympathetic grimace, at the same time Ruby flags Belle over from across the room. Soon enough, the entire cast is crowded together along with Belle and Neal, everyone reading on their phones with hungry eyes.
"The overall rating from general audiences is excellent," Belle says diplomatically, even as she glances around to make sure Gold hasn't decided to visit the set today.
"Yeah, but the LGBTQ fanbase is upset," Ruby sighs. "They're complaining that all the chemistry and eye se—" she glances at Henry and amends, "—oogling was queerbaiting."
"And Kavalan's death is being added to the "Bury Your Gays" trope list," Mary Margaret reads, wincing. "Fans think that the whisper to Reina before she fell must have been a love confession."
"They're really mad," Henry adds, blinking as he's spammed with text messages and incoming phone calls. "Uhh, my friends from school are freaking out. They watch the show too."
"Relax, guys, everything will be fine," Belle says, smiling winningly. "Look, the finale's got the highest numbers yet. They'll be chomping at the bit for season two."
And they are. Chomping at the bit, that is. Social media raves about the show and the fandoms are starting to speculate that Kavalan will return in a shellshocking way. Which... has Emma wincing, because she still sometimes sits down for panels with the cast at the occasional convention and tries hard not to give anything away to fans, not wanting to give them false hope but not wanting to break their hearts, either. It doesn't help that Reina starts up a physical relationship with Troy, Graham's character, and Emma is definitely not looking forward to when that episode airs.
Ivy Belfrey, a young TV actress quickly rising in popularity, is cast as the wicked Queen Drizella, and though her character presents a new and dangerous challenge in the show, Ivy herself is sassy and fun in person, and she is quick to latch onto Emma and Regina like a younger sister. She delights in teasing Henry, too, and from the way Henry turns into a bumbling mess around her, Emma and Regina are never at a loss for entertainment.
"Oh, sweet boy, he's got a crush on Ivy," Regina murmurs one evening, watching as Henry trails after Ivy onto set to watch her scenes. He's like a wide-eyed puppy, really.
"Kid's shit out of luck," Emma laughs, because Ivy's twenty one—six years older than he is—and she's in that stage in life where she's starry eyed over her older, more mature and dignified co-stars. Henry and his awkward teenage limbs aren't going to make the cut.
They finish filming season two, and Regina casually mentions wanting to see Boston, which of course prompts Emma to stutter out an invitation to stay with them during her visit (and Regina might just be a sneaky mastermind but Emma willingly falls into her trap.) Emma offers to take the couch so that Regina can have the master bedroom but the brunette is persistent in not putting her out, and they're not about to pull any trope shenanigans (because really, they work in the film and television industry and know all about that,) so Regina stretches out on the couch like a contented cat and Emma doesn't get a proper night's rest that entire week, too distracted by the thought of Regina sleeping just a short distance away.
Henry insists that they show Regina everything Boston has to offer, and so Emma pulls out all the stops as bodyguard, making sure to keep an eye on anyone and everyone who recognizes them out in public. They both get asked for photos and autographs every so often, but mostly they're left alone whenever they venture out in big sunglasses and hats, their hair pulled back into nondescript ponytails or left loose and casual, as far from their glamorous on-screen personas as possible.
"Incoming," Henry says when they're out walking through the park one day and he notices a small crowd heading towards them, and Emma is a vision when she steps protectively in front of her son and her... Regina. Her shoulders are squared and she's in dark jeans and a plain white dress shirt today, sleeves tight around her biceps and rolled up to her elbows, dark sunglasses perched on her nose. Most of the crowd are fangirls who surround them in excitement, but there are photographers and paparazzi in the mix and they're the ones that Emma frowns at. Regina, naturally protective of Henry since day one of meeting him, whips her hat off and pulls it down over his head while nudging him behind her, trying to hide his face from the cameras as much as possible.
"It's so cool to know that you guys are friends in real life!" one girl squeals, thrusting out a poster and a sharpie.
"Do you guys hang out a lot?" another asks, snapping pictures of them on her phone without any subtly at all. Emma angles herself between them, annoyed that the girl would blatantly take photos of them without their permission. Another girl looks to be hiding her phone just under her arm at an awkward angle, which is even more irritating, really.
"If you have to hide your phone to take pictures of us, then at least some part of you must realize what you're doing is wrong," Emma points out flatly, her voice hard and her eyes cold. Regina's hand on her bicep is what stops her from going full angry-bodyguard mode.
"Guys, please, we're just trying to have a quiet day out, we'd appreciate some privacy," Regina says, smiling apologetically, which gets a gush of understanding words from her fans as they nod and start to back away. Only Emma and Henry seem to notice the tightness at the corners of her lips, a sign that she's just as irritated but hiding it expertly.
"Hey, come on man," Emma says, moving forward again when one of the paparazzi continues snapping photos of them with his fancy camera. He ducks away, scowling.
"What, don't you want the free publicity shots?" he sneers, shielding his precious camera away when it looks like Emma might just snatch it from him and throw it to the ground (and okay, maybe that's exactly what she wants to do, even if she knows she's not supposed to.)
"No, I don't," she growls. "And I'm a licensed bodyguard, so I suggest you quietly walk away before I think you're a threat to my principal."
He balks at that, shooting Emma a hard glare before storming off. Pulling Regina's hat off his head, Henry clutches it to his chest and peers between Emma and Regina's faces uncertainly.
"Ma? Regina?"
Regina looks apologetic while Emma grits her teeth in frustration.
"I'm sorry, kid. Are you okay?"
"Are you okay? You look so mad."
Unclenching her fists, Emma deflates and grimaces. Henry had never seen her in aggression-mode before and she'd hoped he would never have to. Regina, likewise, looks sorry that they're even in this position.
"I'm so sorry," she murmurs, running a hand soothingly along Emma's back as the blonde slumps in place. "I never meant to put you and Henry in situations like this."
"I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to be in the show." Emma shakes her head, smiling wryly as Henry leans up next to her, understanding and support in his earnest eyes. She puts an arm around him and ruffles his hair, and just this once, the growing teenager allows it.
An image of Emma standing in the way of paparazzi to defend Regina and a brown haired teenage boy are all over the internet by morning, and the headlines are stunning.
'Kingdom Come actress Emma Swan - bodyguard by moonlight?'
'Gal pals Regina Mills and Emma Swan spotted in Boston!'
'Mysterious teenage boy seen hanging out with Kingdom Come's lead actresses.'
'Is the brown haired boy Regina Mills' secret son?'
Twitter is far more interested in the potential romantic side of things.
'Reina and Kavalan in real life - secret family outing with son?'
'Regina Mills and Emma Swan looking cozy during vacation in Boston!'
'Failed TV couple - leading to a real life romance?'
Henry delights in being the "mystery man" of every gossip magazine, and flushes shyly every time someone teases him about being Regina's speculated son. Emma gets equally red, though she laughs it off every time and jokes about Henry being so lucky. Regina's flattered once she's sure Emma doesn't mind, and even goes out of her way to treat Henry as if he were her own little prince, spoiling him rotten (as if Emma doesn't spoil the kid enough.)
"You really don't mind the rumors?" Regina asks early on, smiling tentatively as she brushes the hair back from his forehead. He really does need a haircut soon.
"Course not," he says, and he blushes cutely again, his large ears turning red as he scuffs the toe of his sneaker into the ground. "You'd be an awesome mom."
He thinks the rumors of Regina and Emma are pretty awesome too, but both women keep laughing it off (Emma perhaps a little more manically) and dismiss it as nothing more than a cute joke.
"Hey, you two are being shipped in real life," Ruby says one day, after appearing at the apartment like a stalker and inviting all of them out to lunch ("I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by" my ass, you flew here from Tennessee?!") cackling as she waves her phone around. "The actress and her bodyguard. Hashtag: GuardianQueen!"
"That's cute," Regina offers with a small smile, sipping at her coffee, while Emma groans and hides her face behind her hands. Henry just sits there with the biggest shit-eating grin.
Regina returns to LA after an extended stay with the Swans, and Emma and Henry settle back into their Boston rhythm as if they've never left, though both can admit that they miss what they've left behind.
"I hope they get renewed for season three so we can go back with Regina," he says over breakfast one day, chewing on somewhat overcooked apple cinnamon pancakes. Regina had made them during her stay and Emma still struggles to recreate the fluffy confections. "I kinda miss Vancouver."
"Me too, kid," Emma says with a wry smile. Henry gives her a look that she can't quite decipher, and she's about to get her revenge by teasing him about missing Ivy, but he's up and scampering off for school before she can even open her mouth.