The morning's battle was over but the war was only beginning.

Regina stared at the text message that Emma had just sent her, containing the address of her first love, Daniel. He was actually visiting New York in a couple of days, providing the opportunity for them to go see him. She should've been happy. She should've been excited to see him again. But all she felt at the moment was dread. She was happy, maybe she shouldn't go after Daniel. But the kids wanted to meet him and he deserved to know his children. Still, she had the sense that something bad was going to happen and destroy everything. Something always did. Daniel might not even remember her. He might have a cursed personality or something. Then where would they be?

She decided to call Emma. The blonde's voice would give her all the reassurance she needed.

"Regina? Is something wrong?" Emma asked immediately.

"No, I just...needed to hear your voice for a second." Regina sighed, sitting down at her desk.

"What's wrong? You having second thoughts?"

"A little." She admitted, sighing. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"What are you doing?"

"Just sitting here, pretending to do paperwork. I had to lock myself in my office and close the blinds to get any peace from my dad. You're doing good, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose. Just worried." Regina said. "I keep feeling that something bad is going to happen."

"Well, how about we take an early lunch break and I'll bring the food. We can talk this over and I can give you a nice backrub to calm you down."

"You are a godsend, Emma." Regina smiled.

"Anything for my queen. I'll be there in 10 minutes." Emma hung up and grabbed her jacket to leave. Her dad tried to talk to her but she effectively shut him down as she slammed the door in his face and made her way to Granny's. She wasn't surprised to run into her mother and really wished that Regina had made the town a bit bigger. Briefly, she contemplated finding another restaurant, but eventually shook it off since she was already here.

"Hey Ruby. Can you get me a Caesar salad? You know how Regina likes it. And also a grilled cheese with a side of fries. Thanks. Oh, and two root beers. All of it to go." Ruby nodded and went to place the order. Emma sat down to wait and Snow immediately sat down in the chair across from her.

"So, you're really doing this?" She snapped.

"Doing what?"

"Dating Regina."

"Yes. I thought I made that perfectly clear last night and this morning." Emma sighed.

"You know this is wrong. What about Henry? Look at how upset you've made him. It's tearing this family apart. We were perfect before."

"We were not." The blonde finally turned to face her mother. "Whatever beef you have with Regina, grill it up and eat it. Nothing is going to change my mind. As for Henry, he is a child. I am the adult. He knows what he did today was wrong and I hate it to say it, but he got exactly what he deserved. You don't have to be around Regina, or her children, but you should know that I won't be around you then. Neal and Henry, I'll always take care of them. Even if Henry is being a little brat right now. Other than that, you don't need to speak to me, you don't need to seek me out. You need to leave me alone, until you can accept the fact that for once I'm doing something that makes me happy."

"She's only going to hurt you."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Just leave us alone, okay? Take the hint."

Snow looked almost ready to cry. "You're just going to turn your back on us? Where're your parents."

"And what is that supposed to do? Yes, you're my parents. Is that supposed to change my decision at all?" Emma stood up as Ruby approached with her food. She gave her mother one last look before skipping off to her queen.

Regina smiled as the blonde entered the office with their lunch. She quickly rose to her feet and waited impatiently for Emma to put down the food before kissing her lips, desperately needing the reassurance of her touch. Emma wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close.

"Hey, what's going on? Not that I'm complaining or anything." Emma smiled.

"I just needed you." Regina whispered, hating how vulnerable she was feeling and how badly she seemed to need the blonde now. She hated needing anyone, except her kids. But Emma was still something special that she couldn't quite name yet. She pushed a strand of hair behind Regina's ear and kissed her forehead.

"How about we eat, Sexy Mama? Then we can talk and I can give you that massage."

Regina smiled and nodded as the blond started bringing out the food. Although both of them had a serious amount of work to be doing, neither could find the urge to care as they laughed and talked over their lunch. Once they were finished Emma stood up behind Regina's couch and started her massage while she expressed her concerns about finding Daniel.

"Don't worry, Regina. Everything is going to work out. You have to believe that." Emma soothed as she worked away the kinks from her girlfriend's back. She grinned to herself. Regina was her girlfriend. She had no idea why, but that felt good to say. "Regina, babe? You're my girlfriend right?"

"I would think so, yes."

Emma grinned. "Cool." She went around to sit around next to Regina and took her hand, looking her in the eye. "You are an exceptionally beautiful woman, Regina Mills." She said with a very serious face. "You have a wonderful heart and a gorgeous mind. But there is one thing I must make sure to make you completely aware of. It is very important."

"What's that?" Regina asked, looking at her rapt interest.

Emma stroked her hand, all without breaking eye contact. "You have...the greatest...ass...in the world." She grinned when Regina started laughing.

"And the greatest girlfriend too."

"Seriously though, it's a work of art." Emma said.

"Well, thank you." Regina smiled.

"It's really not fair. I have never seen you work out a day in my life. How do you do it?"

Regina shrugged. "Good genes I suppose."

"Really good ones." Emma muttered. "Do you feel better about this?"

"Yes, thank you, Emma." Regina kissed her lips and buried her face in the blonde's neck. Emma pulled her close and kissed her head.

"You know, regardless of what happens with Daniel, I'm with you 100%."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I'm yours Emma. Completely and utterly yours. No one has ever made me feel the way you make me feel."

"How's that?"

"Warm, safe, protected. Special."

"Good, then I'm doing something right." Emma smiled.

Regina leaned away after a few minutes. "We should probably get back to work."

"Yeah, although I doubt I'll actually get anything done." Emma sighed and stood up to throw away the trash before coming back and pulling the brunette to her feet and into her arms. "Guess I'll see you when you pick up the kids." Regina nodded. "Doubt Henry will let me pick him up. I wish he would come around to the idea of us." Regina said nothing, just raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I just wish you didn't have to go through this because of me. I'm used to it, I can handle it. But you don't deserve it."

Emma kissed her lips, hard and passionately, quelling any fears she may have had and igniting a fire deep within her. "Anything is worth it if I get to be with you. So, before I rip your clothes off and bend you over that desk, I should go."

"Okay." Regina gave a final kiss before the blonde turned to leave. She turned back to her desk and jumped when she felt a hard smack on her butt. She turned to catch a fleeting peek at the blonde as she skipped out the door. "Childish."

Emma peeked back in. "Worth it." She blew the brunette a kiss before finally leaving.

Regina rolled her eyes.

xxxxxxxx

Theo and Dany quickly ran to their mother when they got off the bus, demanding to know if anyone had tried to mess with her while they were in school.

"I am fine, besides who the hell would be dumb to tangle with me?" Regina replied.

"The Sheriff's son apparently. Anyways, Mom, can we go to Granny's?" Theo asked excitedly.

"Of course, but we have to wait for Emma." She looked up at the blonde, trying to talk to Henry, but the boy just refused to cooperate in any way possible. Emma finally threw up her hands, said something else and walked back over to the Mills family, putting an arm around Regina.

"Let's go. He's waiting for Dad." She steered the brunette towards the diner and Theo and Dany happily skipped along ahead of them.

"Hey Mom, have you fought with a sword before?" Theo asked over his shoulder.

"Yes."

"Were you good?" Dany asked.

"Well enough. Why?" Regina said, smiling at their curiosity. The fact that Emma refused to let go of her felt good as well. It was the first time that they'd done anything remotely public with their relationship and she could feel the confused eyes of most of the people they passed. Some of them were filled with hate of course, but who would be stupid enough to piss off the Evil Queen and the Savior?

"Could you show us when we get home?" Dany asked.

"Ooh." Theo said excitedly, walking backwards. "You and the Sheriff should spar when we get home. The Savior vs the Great and Powerful Evil Queen! Fight of the ages!"

"Why does she get to be the great and powerful?" Emma asked, pretending to be hurt.

"Because she is." Dany said. "And she's our mom and we kinda live with her, so sucking up is good."

Regina rolled her eyes as they arrived at the diner. Theo and Dany rushed inside. The brunette tilted her head slightly as she followed them inside. She stepped across the threshold and heard two sharp clicks. Her hands reacted instinctively to catch the two arrows flying at her face. She looked up with murder in her eyes at her children, Ruby, and Granny who was holding the crossbow. All four were grinning like they were crazy. "So, whose stomach am I ramming theses arrows into?"

"I told you she could do it." Ruby said.

"Mom, you are too awesome!" Theo exclaimed, racing to hug her.

"I'm going to hurt all of you." Regina said, but a smirk was creeping its way across her lips. She handed the arrows back to Granny, who in return for that little experiment, promised her free dinners for them all.

"You can teach us how to do that, right?" Dany asked as they sat down in their usual booth and ordered their food.

"What would you have done if Regina wasn't able to catch the arrows?" Emma asked, smirking.

"We had complete faith that she would." Dany grinned.

Regina smiled. "Well then, for those two arrows I caught, that will be two desserts that you won't be getting. Uh, uh, no arguing. I'm the mother and what I say goes. Some of that sucking up would be good here." Emma grinned.

"That is an abuse of power." Theo said incredulously.

"Yes it is, but I am the Great and Powerful Evil Queen and I can do whatever I want." She shook her head haughtily and smirked at the annoyed faces of her children.

"Yeah, like mess up other people's' happy endings." Henry hissed as he walked past.

"What did you say to my mother?" Dany snapped.

"She's evil. And you're going to be just like her." Snow and Charming looked confused as they stopped behind their grandson.

Dany exchanged looks with her brother before both burst out laughing. "Little Prince, if I look anything close to that when I get older." She gestured to Regina. "Then I cannot complain. Right Theo?"

"Yup." Her brother agreed.

Regina grinned with pride in her children. "Henry, please leave so we can enjoy our lunch in peace."

"Peace? You destroyed the peace!" Henry roared. He took a step towards her but Theo was on his feet in an instant and standing protectively in front of his mother before she could rise from her seat.

"There is no peace because you can't move on." Theo kissed. "You want your perfect family." He motioned to Charming and Snow. "There it is." He glanced at Regina and Emma. "They're happy. Why can't you be? What kind of hero treats their mothers in such a way."

"I only have one mother and the Evil Queen is just using her to toy with. She can't love."

"Sucks for you. You had two great ones. Whatever you're angry with, take it somewhere else please. If not, go sit down and leave us alone."

Henry breathed deeply out of his nose.

Everything else happened all at once. Henry punched Theo hard enough to send him backwards into the table. Dany practically threw herself across the table to get at Henry and Snow and Regina leaped forward to stop her. Emma yelled angrily at her son and Charming tried to calm her down.

"You can't justify that. That was uncalled for!" Emma roared. "What is wrong with you?!" She glared at her son.

"They're destroying everything!" Henry screamed.

"Emma, there's no reason to yell. Just calm down. We can-" Charming tried to soothe the situation.

"What the hell is going on here?" Granny yelled, coming back out with her crossbow.

Regina looked for Theo under the table while at the same time trying to contain her enraged daughter. She couldn't lie and as bad as it sounded, she wanted to punch Henry just as badly as Dany did. She just didn't understand what was wrong with him at all. It hurt her when someone put their hands on her children and she was unable to do anything about it. It hurt just as badly when Henry kept calling her the Evil Queen. He was goading Dany and Theo with the one thing that would set them off. They didn't mind when someone talked about them, but they absolutely did not tolerate anyone disrespecting Regina, not after finding out what she'd been through. What happened next, shocked them all.

They all turned at the sound of running footsteps before Theo suddenly launched himself off the bar, landing a resounding kick that made everyone flinch at the sound, to Charming's jaw. The prince crumpled to the ground, clutching his face.

"Now that I have your attention." Theo said, with the same calm air of superiority that his mother possessed and carried with deadly results. "And Granny, I am really sorry about this. Please forgive me, but apparently the Little Prince has yet to learn his lesson about messing with my mother. I don't care how angry you are, I don't care why you hate my mom. But if you ever threaten her again in any shape, form or fashion, I will put an ice spike through your head."

"Theo." Regina said sternly. She glanced at Emma.

The blonde sighed. "Let's just go."

"No." Dany said. "We did nothing wrong but defend ourselves. They deserved it. Some heroes." She glared at Snow. "Why is it so hard for you to accept that Emma is happy with my mom? And my mom has clearly become a better version of herself, shown by the fact that you all aren't dead. Nothing pleases you. You all are just hypocrites and self righteous bastards who need to realize that everyone deserves happy endings, even some people who used to be villains. My mom has a good heart. That boy," She pointed at Henry. "That boy that you love to defend because he is oh so perfect, he is the product of her love, and her love alone. Granted, he isn't a good example at the moment, but you know, before he became a complete douche, he was a good kid. Your daughter, the Savior, didn't have a hand in that. Now she's here. Now he has two of the best mothers that he could possibly hope to have and still he remains an ungrateful brat. Because of what?"

"The world isn't black and white. People aren't heroes through and through. Everyone has a bit of darkness in them and everyone makes bad choices. There are no heroes, just villains who win. Such as yourselves." Theo added. He turned to his mother. "Sorry Mom. We can go."

Charming picked himself up, rubbing his jaw and put his arms around his wife and grandson.

"No." Granny said. "Charmings, goodbye. I don't like people causing trouble in my diner. Everything was fine and dandy before you came in, so you can leave." The Charmings looked shocked and were about to argue when she shouldered her crossbow. They knew to quickly leave, as Granny was not adverse to shooting anyone with her crossbow. Ruby could testify to that. "Now, everyone get back to work!"

Regina and Emma sat back down slowly, looking at her kids in wonder as they retook their seats and started talking again as though nothing had just occurred.

"Theo, where did you learn how to do that?" Emma asked. "On the island?"

"That was easy." Theo scoffed. "Didn't exactly have to learn it." He grinned at Dany. "Hit Dany with it a few times."

"Guess who went hungry a few times." Dany countered. "Oh yeah, sorry about the bad words. I'm working on it."

Regina smiled and poofed both children into her lap for a hug. "You two never cease to surprise me. I love you both so much."

"We love you too, Mom."

Emma smiled at the heartwarming sight but her own heart ached for her son. She loved him unconditionally and wanted him to be back with her, but not when he was like this. She made a mental note to go ask Archie if he would talk to him and try and see if he could find out what was wrong with him. She wanted to go to him now, but knew she wouldn't be met with a warm welcome. Here though, with the Mills family, she would. Regina poofed the kids back to their seats as Ruby returned with their orders.

"Thank you, Dany, for what you said."

"No problem Sheriff." Dany grinned before taking a huge bite out of her burger.

Emma looked over at Regina and smirked, watching her eat a burger piled high with two patties and bacon. It was so weird to see her eating anything that wasn't healthy or leafy. Regina glared at her.

"Please, stop staring at me, Emma. It's difficult enough trying to eat this stupid thing without your eyes boring into me the entire time."

Emma smirked and turned to her own food.

xxxxxxxxx

Regina smiled, walking home hand in hand with her Savior. Theo and Dany walked behind them, arguing over who was better at their sport, the usual. She couldn't believe that life would feel this good. The only thing missing was Henry. Despite everything, to her, he would always be her son. However, in this moment, his presence wasn't too desired. The evening was too perfect. Everything felt too right.

That was about to end.

When they arrived at the mansion, she frowned at the sight of an unfamiliar car parked behind the horrid yellow bug. She didn't see anyone inside and exchanged confused looks with Emma as they walked up to the door, finding the owner standing underneath the porchlight. The invisible hand again clamped tightly around her heart and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.

"Daniel?"

Read and review please!