Regina checked her present was well wrapped and her new scarf was in place for the tenth time before she knocked on Emma's apartment door. She waited and took a deep breath, not really sure if she was ready to face Emma after what had happened, and less in front of Henry.
The door flung open and she met green eyes looking at her. Both of them opened their mouths to speak, but their son cut in, jumping in front of Emma. "Mom, I got a bike!"
Regina smiled at him, "You did?" She raised an eyebrow at Emma; a bike didn't seem a gift he would want but he seemed quite excited about it.
The Sheriff shrugged and moved her hand, as if to say she would explain her later. Then, the Mayor looked back down to Henry, whose focus was now on the package she was holding, eyeing it curiously.
"Well, Santa also paid me a quick visit and left this for you." He took it when she handed it to him and ran inside to open it on the sofa.
Emma laughed and let Regina in, following him and sitting with him in the middle. The Sheriff noticed she was wearing the red scarf and smiled to herself, happy to have nailed her present. While Henry opened his present, Regina raised her gaze and met Emma's. They shared a look and Emma grinned at her, making Regina smile back, a little more relaxed.
Henry raised the lid of the box and saw a game console with a game. "Whoa!" he exclaimed before pulling it out of the box. He immediately inserted the game and turned it on. "This is so cool!"
"Santa knows you well it seems," Regina smiled down at him as she put her hand on his shoulder. He nodded and looked down to the screen, starting the game.
Emma waited until Regina looked at her to motion her to the kitchen with her head. The Mayor squeezed his shoulder and stood, following Emma to the other room. The Sheriff opened a beer and offered one to Regina, who gently reclined. "I don't think we have anything else," she said looking into the fridge.
"It's okay," the Mayor shrugged and eyed the apartment.
Emma read her mind before she could ask, "Mary Margaret and David went out." Regina nodded and then just stood in the middle of the kitchen, while Emma was leaning on the counter, drinking the beer.
"So, a bike?" she decided to start, raising an eyebrow; at least that was a neutral topic.
Emma swallowed and nodded, "He has been asking for a bike for weeks. I don't know where he got that idea from but it was either that or the puppy, and until I find a place I don't think a puppy is going to happen."
"Your parenting skills keep surprising me, I must say" Regina admitted.
"Thanks," Emma almost murmured, blushing. "Nice scarf you're wearing by the way."
Regina smiled and instinctively she brought a hand to the piece of cloth, "Someone gave me the advice to wear it if I didn't want to catch a cold."
Emma raised the beer bottle, "What a wise someone." That made Regina laugh and the Sheriff smiled at her, happy to see her laughing. The Mayor looked over at Henry, who was deep into the game.
"Regina?" Emma asked, bringing back her attention. Once they were staring into each other's eyes, her brows furrowed when she asked, "Do you regret it?"
She didn't mention what she was referring to, but Regina didn't need her to. When she spoke, there wasn't any doubt in her voice, "No, I don't."
Emma smiled and let out her breath, "Cool. I don't either."
She looked over at Henry to check he was distracted before leaving the beer on the counter and taking a step forward. She raised her hand and pushed a dark strand of hair off Regina's face, ""We should talk about it, later. Now you enjoy your time with Henry."
The Mayor smiled at the woman in front of her, and suddenly felt the urge to hug her. She hesitated; she didn't know exactly what was going between them, and she didn't want to do anything that would put Emma in an uncomfortable situation. So, instead, she nodded, "Thanks."
She didn't say it out loud, but she still needed some time to process everything before they actually talked about it. Emma seemed to understand her though, and her grin only grew wider. After another peak at their son, her eyes flickered to red lips and then up to brown eyes. Regina took the hint and leaned in, giving her a quick kiss. It left both of them wanting more, but they still smiled at each other and walked towards Henry.
"Hey kid, wanna go try that bike?"
He looked up at her ready to protest, but then he looked to Regina and turned off the console. It wasn't fair that she had gone to spend time with him and he was playing that on his own.
The three of them exited the building, and despite the cold of the day, they went to the park with the bike. Regina didn't know how to ride it, so it was Emma's turn to teach Henry how to do it. When he got it, quite quickly to the Sheriff's surprise, he started to ride around the park. Emma and Regina followed behind, both checking he didn't fall or ran over anyone.
"I can't believe you don't know how to ride a bike," Emma said. "I mean, you've spent 28 years here, it's plenty of time."
"I guess I didn't have time for it. You know, running a town, taking care of a kid, revenge. Those things take most of your time, you know" she joked.
Emma looked at her and smiled, "I will trust you on that. Maybe I could teach you one day."
"I think I prefer horses."
"You know how to ride horses?" Emma asked surprised, making Regina laugh.
"Why do you sound so surprised?"
The Sheriff shrugged, "I don't know. You were a Queen, wouldn't you, like, go on carriages or something? I don't really know how things worked…well, there."
Regina frowned and her smile faded a little, "It's a long story."
"Oh…well…How about you teach me about the horses and I teach you about the bike?" Emma tried.
Regina laughed again and shook her head, "I think that would be a complete mess."
"That would make it even more fun," she said poking the Mayor's arm.
In front of them Henry's bike took a sharp turn and he fell, interrupting their conversation. They run to him and kneeled, asking him if he was okay. Emma lifted the bike and put it aside as Regina helped him up.
"I'm fine but my arm hurts a little."
Emma placed her hand on his left arm and pressed gently, making him whine. She made a face, "I think it might be broken. We're gonna have to go to the doctor."
"I'll go get my car," Regina said already on her way. She picked them up, bike included, and headed to the hospital, where they didn't almost had to wait to go in. Perks of living in a small town.
They took Henry to make him a bone scan, leaving Emma and Regina alone. The Mayor was moving a leg nervously and absently looking through the window. Emma noticed her brows furrowed in concern and placed a hand on her hand.
"Don't worry. The worse that can happen is he has a broken bone and a few months of wearing a cast," she reassured her.
"I know, I know. I just can't help it."
Emma squeezed her hand and started to draw circles with her thumb. Regina looked down at their hands and tried to focus on those circles and the feeling of safety the motion gave her.
Suddenly the door opened and they yanked their hands away, separating before anyone could see it. Whale came into the room with Henry and motioned him to sit on the stretcher. "Good news it's his arm isn't broken. Bad news is he will have to wear a bandage for 3 weeks."
The doctor pulled a bandage from a drawer and started to put it around his arm carefully while he spoke, "I'll give you some pills for the pain in case it's too much, but I don't think they are necessary. If the arm is swollen, try ice where it hurts."
Both Emma and Regina nodded at the indications, mentally noting them for later. Whale finished and then handed Henry a lollipop, who gladly took it. Regina helped him off the stretch and Whale approached Emma, who rolled her eyes already knowing his intentions.
"No Whale, still not interested."
He shrugged, "I had to try."
On the car, Henry opened the lollipop. "This means that if I keep having this when school starts, I don't have to go, right?"
Emma turned on the passenger's seat and smiled, "You're right handed, so you don't get away with it."
"Oh c'mon, just one day. Please?" he tried, but Emma shook her head, turning back to the front.
"No-huh, your mother would kill me," Emma said. Regina smiled but didn't say anything, seeing Henry sinking in the back seat with a pout.
When they arrived to Emma's apartment, Regina helped them with the bike, or more like the Sheriff carried the bike and the other woman helped Henry out of the car. He said goodbye and entered the house, while Emma took her time to have a moment with Regina. She turned the door so he wouldn't hear, "So, what about the bike-horse teaching?"
The Mayor wasn't expecting that question, but quickly recovered, "I'll think about it."
Emma smiled, "Cool. Do you have plans for lunch tomorrow?"
"Besides work?" she asked raising her eyebrows for a point.
"Yeah…well, I can pass by your office and talk. Maybe over lunch? I'll bring you something."
Regina nodded and smiled, "Sure."
The stared at each other, knowing that was her cue to leave and both thinking about the same thing. It was Emma who finally leaned in and kissed Regina, not long enough as they wanted again, but enough for Regina to feel butterflies in her stomach.
"Tomorrow?"
Regina nodded and smiled before Emma grinned as well and entered her apartment. The Mayor walked to her car, trying to stop the smile from forming on her face, and hoping Emma felt the same way.
A/N: as always, I hope you liked it and I'd love to know what you think :)