Author's notes:

Thank you for the feedback on the previous chapters. Because my editor had free time today, she gave us two chapters! Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

The whole week has so far been blissful for Regina. It was Friday, two days after her first trip to the market, when she realized that she had not thought of Daniel for the past two days. She felt guilty. She spent the morning locked in her room, hugging her pillow, until slight scratching and thumping on her door and muffled voices disrupted her crying. She opened the door just in time to see Henry fall on his bottom and grin. Emma crouched behind him.

"He's been crawling and only stopped when he got here," Emma explained. "I'm sorry if we disturbed you but whenever I tried to pick him up, he would wiggle out of my arms."

Regina couldn't stop herself from kneeling in front of Henry. "Did you miss me this morning, sweetie?" She was thankful her voice was steady.

Henry stretched out his arms towards her, and she readily picked him up. He gurgled while he wrapped his arms around her neck and rested his head on her shoulders. When she looked up, Emma was gazing at them fondly.

Suddenly, she heard Daniel whisper in her ear. Be happy, Regina.

"Hey, are you okay?" Emma asked.

Regina was jolted back to the present and saw Emma staring at her with concern. Things clicked into place and her heart felt lighter. She suddenly felt sure that Daniel would have wanted this for her; he had always only wanted her happiness. And she realized that though she might not think of Daniel every minute of every day anymore, it was okay because Daniel would forever be in her heart.

Regina hugged Henry closer then smiled at Emma. "I am now."

Emma's answering smile soothed all lingering doubts.

"I'd like to cook dinner for you tonight, Emma."

Emma beamed. "What's the occasion?"

"To thank you for everything you've done for me."

Emma blushed. Regina thought it made her lovelier.

"Okay," Emma said, smiling shyly

Later that night, when Henry was asleep, they each had a glass of wine while Regina told Emma about Daniel.

Emma had been silent, but when Regina started crying, Emma opened her arms and Regina found herself wrapped in a warm embrace. When her tears subsided and she finished her story, she felt conscious and she sat upright, out of Emma's arms.

"I am such as mess." Regina chuckled as she wiped her eyes and smoothed her hair.

"You're a beautiful mess."

Regina gaped at her but Emma was smiling at her as if she didn't just say something that made Regina's insides flip-flop.

Regina cleared her throat and touched her lightly on the arm. "Thank you, Emma."

Emma squeezed the hand touching her arm. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

They spent more time together over the next few days. Whereas before only Emma would cook, Regina was now also in the kitchen while Henry cooed and played in his cradle. When Wednesday came, Regina was surprised to see Henry dressed to go out.

"Is Henry going somewhere?"

Emma turned around from the kitchen counter where she was pouring a cup of coffee. "Oh, I thought Henry can join us in the market."

Regina said it was a splendid idea. She let out a sigh of relief when Emma loaded a stroller into the back of the jeep because she was wondering how they would manage to carry both the groceries and Henry.

Walsh was thankfully absent from his store when they passed by although they did see Graham, who was perusing something in a stall. He made to approach them but Emma grabbed her hand and pulled her to the opposite direction after waving goodbye to the sheriff.

They came upon the Charmings' stall. David and Charmi were there and Regina finally met their mother. Mrs. Charming was, well, charming. She told Emma that she will make Charmi bring Regina some old recipes she found. David was still a gentleman with a beaming smile while Charmi…well, she had flashed Regina an impish smile. They all fussed over Henry until they had to leave.

The last store they visited was the fruit stall. Regina watched as Emma tried to get Henry to choose the fruits, only for Henry to drool over the ones she didn't hold up. Emma immediately purchased those.

Afterwards, they went to visit August. August played with Henry for a while. Henry sat on his lap while he wheeled back and forth in front of Regina and Emma, who were seated on the couch. Henry clapped the whole time and Regina was content to simply watch. August and Emma talked about what happened over the past few days. They learned that August was going with Marco to the city during the weekend.

"Do you want to go with us?" he asked Emma.

"You know I don't want to go to the city anymore," Emma replied.

Regina wondered why she felt sad at that. She wanted to ask Emma why she doesn't want to go to the city, but forgot about it until dinner. When she finally remembered to ask, Emma stopped eating and stared at her food.

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to pry," Regina said. If she could take her words back, she would.

Emma smiled sadly. "I'll tell you over a glass of wine later."

After dinner, Emma tucked Henry into bed while Regina cleaned up. There was already a bottle of wine and two glasses in the living room table when Regina arrived. She sat on the opposite end of the couch away from Emma.

"When I lost touch with August and Marco, it was because I ended up in bad company," Emma said. She was staring at the glass of wine in her hand. "I was… I ended up in prison. That's where I learned I was pregnant. I was supposed to give Henry away, to a family who can support him so that he won't end up like me. But during the seventh month, when I had a small accident and I thought I was going to lose him, I realized I wanted to keep him. Fortunately for me, Granny found me and offered to take care of Henry while I finish my sentence. When I got out, I decided I had enough of the city."

Emma finally looked at her. "I miss the city—its hustle and bustle and how it's always alive. I visited once, a couple of months after I settled here. I saw my old friends and they to invited me back. I thought that if I went back there with Henry, I might fall back to my old ways, so I stayed away."

"But you don't know that for sure," Regina said.

"You're right. But I found a home in here, and I like it. I want Henry to grow up here. Maybe he'd want to go to college in the city but I'm staying here."

Regina nodded but didn't say anything else. She couldn't say "I want you and Henry to live with me in the city". She didn't have that right, didn't she?

To be continued.