CHAPTER ELEVEN

Emma drove home to the apartment to pack an overnight bag for Henry and herself, as well as her GaY-shirt. She didn't spend much time on it, quickly just throwing all the necessities into the bag as well as whatever she suspected Henry would need to feel comfortable. His favourite teddy bear was one of those things, as well as his firetruck pyjamas he could change into.

She still wasn't entirely sure why it was this solution felt so incredibly natural and perfect to her. In theory, it felt like she and Henry barely knew Regina and that she should be reluctant to put so much trust in her, but when it came down to it, she'd called Regina – not Ruby & Dorothy, or Mary Margaret & David, or even Mulan – no, she'd called Regina when she was in need of help, and the brunette woman had been there in a heartbeat. And she'd also suggested to take care of Henry, which to Emma meant a whole lot, because money was tight as it was, and she'd taken way longer catching that bail-jumper than she probably should have. She needed these two shifts at Gallium & Yttrium, because she still planned on getting Henry on that water park vacation.

Returning to the Bug, she threw the bags into the trunk, before slipping behind the wheel. She fidgeted with her earphones and her iPhone for a second, before pressing Ruby's name on her screen and setting off towards Regina's apartment.

It took Ruby five rings to answer the phone. "Swannie, what's up?" She sounded out of breath, and Emma only had half a mind to imagine what her best friend could be up to at the moment.

"Rubes, there's been a change of plans," Emma said as she bent forward to navigate around a corner. "You don't need to watch Henry tonight or tomorrow."

This confused Ruby. "Uhm, okay yeah, sure," she said, and it sounded like she was fidgeting with something on the other end. "…why?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Alright, so don't freak out, okay?" She knew that that was probably the completely wrong thing to start with, because that would only make Ruby freak out even more. It was a thing she did. "But Henry's kinda… broken his arm." She mumbled the last part, afraid of Ruby's reaction.

She was completely silent on the other end of the phone. "Uhm," she paused, breath held, "there must be something wrong with my ears, because it sure as fuck sounded like you said that Mini Swan broke his arm."

"There's nothing wrong with your ears, Ruby, you have super-scary-good hearing we both know that," Emma bit her lip to keep back a chuckle, "and Henry broke his arm."

"Oh my God," Ruby screeched, and it sounded like she just dropped something on the floor, "are you at the ER? Do you need me to come? Should I bring snacks? Should I bring Dorothy? Are you going to work later?"

Momentarily taken aback by all the questions fired in her direction, Emma wasn't sure what to address first. She figured she'd better just let Ruby know everything, which was the point with the phone call in the first place, because she was going to be at Regina's soon, and then Henry would need her full attention before work. She should probably question this deep trust she had in Regina, but she simply couldn't find it in herself to do so. She trusted the other woman, completely, and she knew that Henry would be well taken care of when she wasn't there to do it herself.

"Relax Rubes, he already has a cast on, and he can't wait to show it to you at some point," Emma promised her friend. The first thing Henry had said, when he'd seen the pink cast, was that Aunt Ruby was going go love it.

Ruby seemed to calm down at this information. "But not tonight?" It seemed like she already knew where this conversation was going.

Emma stopped at a red light, waiting for the other cars to pass. "It seemed like a lot to dump on you," she carefully explained. It wasn't that she didn't think Ruby could take on the responsibility, because she knew that she could, and she trusted Ruby with Henry's life, otherwise she wouldn't be Emma's go-to babysitter and Henry's favourite aunt, but it was for Ruby's own sake. She knew that Ruby would not tell Emma that she was asking too much (which Dorothy had also been pretty clear about with Emma that day that seemed so long ago, when they last went to the ER), and this simply was too much to ask, because Ruby had work all weekend, and she couldn't afford to be up all night, checking on Henry.

"Emma, you know I would do it for you," Ruby softly replied. "If you're missing work tonight because of it, then I think you should reconsider. Dorothy and I can take turns or something…" she trailed off.

Emma's hands clutched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. "I'm not missing work, and you guys shouldn't have to bend over backwards for me."

Ruby sounded confused when she answered. "You're not?"

With a sigh, Emma continued to explain, "No," she firmly said, taking a right down Mifflin, looking out the window to find building number 108, "Regina's… Regina's going to watch him. I'm heading there right now with his stuff."

"Regina, huh," Ruby pointedly commented, and Emma could just see her face in her mind; how that perfectly plucked eyebrow rose to her forehead in thought. "How did that happen?"

Emma said, "She offered."

Humming, it was clear that Ruby was now in a teasing mood, knowing that the immediate danger was over and that Henry was okay. "The girlfriend's watching the kid, huh? Big steps, big steps."

"You're an idiot," Emma retorted, coming to a stop in front of number 120; the closest free spot on the street.

"State the obvious, why don't you," Ruby retorted right back, and there was their easy banter, the characteristic way they'd always communicated with each other. "Where does Regina live though? It's gotta be somewhere fancy."

Emma stared through the side-mirror, eyes searching for the white building with the number 108 on top of the door. As far as she could see, there was a frigging doorman in the lobby. "Mifflin," she commented. There was a weird sense of nerves taking over her body right then, at the idea of entering the building and going upstairs to Regina's apartment, to her private space. She knew Henry was up there already and Regina had invited them – quite insisted actually – but she still felt on edge, nervous. She had to calm down.

Ruby whistled lowly into the phone. "That's a rich people street."

Nodding, even if Ruby couldn't see her, Emma agreed. "Yeah, but uh… I'm there now, so…"

"So you gotta go," Ruby guessed, sighing heavily, "Alright, kiss the kid from me, and please Ems, just…" she trailed off, probably not sure how to phrase the next part of her sentence. Knowing Ruby, Emma would probably much prefer not to hear it anyway.

Still, she prodded her friend on, "Just?"

Ruby cackled into the phone, "Just bang that woman already and be sure to tell me all about it after, m'kay? Love you and kisses." She smacked her lips together a couple of times as she made crude kissing noises, before rudely hanging up the phone.

Emma glared at the piece of electronics in her hand, and she took a minute to gather herself for what was going to happen - not only the next four hours before she had to go to work, but also the next couple of days when she'd return here rather than to her own home. She and Regina had quickly agreed that it would be better for Henry to have a base at her place this weekend, when the accident was still so fresh, before Emma took him back home on Sunday evening. This arrangement essentially meant that Emma would also be spending all of her time at Regina's place when she wasn't working.

When she was pretty certain that she could not feel calmer, Emma grabbed the bags from the trunk and locked up – momentarily cringing when she realised just how out of place the Bug looked on this street – before making her way to number 108. She entered the bright lobby and gave her name to the doorman, who had been informed that she was expected, before she made her way to the elevator and pressed the sixth floor. Of course Regina would be on the top floor in this fancy old building, and Emma had high expectations of what the insides of her home might look like.

She took the time in the elevator to make sure that her hair wasn't too disheveled, which was tough since it had been in a messy bun for hours. She pulled the scrunchie out and combed her fingers through her blonde locks to tame them slightly. As the elevator dinged, she stepped into the hallway and made her way straight to apartment 6B. She paused in front of the door, fisted hand raised to knock, when she heard the tell-tale signs of Henry's loud singing coming from the apartment. She could hear music too, and the sounds of someone moving around inside.

Knocking on the door, it took only few seconds before it was pulled open, and she was face to face with a smiling Regina who had… tomato sauce? on her cheek. Henry was grinning toothily from behind her.

"Emma," the older woman breathed, opening the door to let the blonde pass easily inside.

Emma dropped their bags on the floor with a loud thud and kicked off her boots. The door opened pretty much into an open-floor space, and she could see the living room, a dining table and the open kitchen from where she stood. Something delicious appeared to be cooking in the oven, and the radio was on. "What's going on? Something smells good in here," she tentatively commented.

Regina chuckled. "We are cooking and having a dance party."

"Yeah!" Henry cheered on, before he started signing again and wriggling his little butt around while doing these weird side-step thingies. The boy did not have much rhythm.

Emma couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face then, when she closed the door behind her and turned to Regina. "I sure hope his cooking is better than his dancing, eh?"

Making a tsk-tsk sound, Regina led Emma further into the apartment. "We're having lasagne, I hope that's okay? It's my own personal recipe with a secret ingredient," she explained, high heels clicking against the floor as she moved. Of course she'd be someone to wear high heels inside, because how could she not.

Emma stuck her hands into her pockets and swayed awkwardly on her feet as she tried to take in everything of the apartment that she could. Her and Henry's place could easily fit into just the common area of this place, and to think that Regina lived there all alone. It had to be kind of lonely sometimes. "So uh, anything I can do to help?"

Regina raised an eyebrow. "I have it from a very reliable source that you are no talent in a kitchen, Miss Swan," she said, and Emma swore for a second, that it sounded like she was flirting with her; just the way the words slipped across her lips and the look she offered in Emma's direction. It gave the blonde a strange sensation in her body. "And by reliable source I mean Henry, of course," Regina added, for good measure.

"Of course," Emma replied with a serious nod. She was finding it kind of hard not to smile goofily at the beautiful brunette in front of her, and all the thoughts she'd had in the car were evaporating into thin air. "I feel bad about not helping though. Can't I chop something?"

"And risk another trip to the emergency room?" Regina shook her head fondly. "I think not, Emma. Besides, you're going to work later, so I suggest you rest up. Henry might need to rest up as well, he's been running around, checking everything out, but I suspect the events of this afternoon will soon catch up to him."

Emma suspected that as well. She was reluctant though, to leave Regina in the semi-privacy of the open kitchen and join Henry in the living room. He was still dancing around and singing on the top of his lungs, but she should probably get him settled on the couch or something. She reached a hand out to grasp Regina's, needing some sort of personal contact, a way to show her how much this meant to not only Henry, but also Emma herself. She clutched the other woman's hand tightly, and Regina's brown eyes met hers in a fond gaze. "Thank you," Emma whispered, her thumb stroking absentmindedly across the back of Regina's warm hand, "you're… you're the best, Regina. Seriously. Thank you for this."

Regina squeezed Emma's hand back, her eyes twinkling slightly in the natural light streaming into the kitchen from the huge windows. "Don't mention it," she whispered, tongue darting out to wet her dark red lips, "I wanted to do all of this for you."

Emma swallowed a lump in her throat, eyes fixated on the way Regina's darker skin contrasted her own pale hand, "Henry is so happy. We really appreciate it," she flatly replied, not sure what else to say to Regina's kind words and the sudden openness of her admission.

"Mostly for you," Regina replied next, forcing Emma to look up at her with an extra tight squeeze, "I wanted to help you. That Henry is happy is just a nice addition for both of us. But I meant you, helping you."

Staring at the older woman, Emma wasn't sure what to say to that. She could feel how her heart was suddenly beating wildly inside her chest, like it was trying to find its way out of there and break away, and all she could do was just stare at Regina. She just stared; stared at her kind, brown eyes that held so incredibly much emotion it was ineffable, and the way her red lips quirked into a little smile, and mostly the way she just looked so damn beautiful all the fucking time. Emma was a loss for words. "Regina, I-"

"Don't say anything," Regina interrupted, their hands still linked together, even though it had been entirely too long to be platonic, which Emma was starting to realise that it never really had been with them. "Just," she paused, "go be with Henry. Let me cook for you, and we'll figure everything out."

Emma knew this was the final say in the matter for right now, because Regina said it in a way which left no room for discussion, and it was fine anyway, because Henry was there, and he needed attention before work, and she wasn't even sure what it was that she wanted to say, what this matter even was. So she dropped her hand from Regina's and retreated back into the adjacent living room. She turned off the radio and grabbed Henry mid-dance move before squeezing him tightly for a hug.

"You okay, Kiddo? Everything good?"

"Can I have ice cream?" Henry cheekily asked, green eyes round and serious. "I saw some in Regina's freezer, she has so much ice cream, Ma."

Emma arched an eyebrow and shot a teasing look in Regina's direction. "Oh, does she now?"

Regina was busy chopping vegetables, but she heard them anyway. "Hush now you two."

Henry let out a long yawn. "So, can I have some or what, Ma?"

"Definitely not before dinner," Emma told him as she pressed a kiss to Henry's forehead. "If you're good, maybe Regina will let you have some after dinner, but you've gotta ask her about that, because she lives here, you know?"

Nodding dutifully, Henry said, "Well, can I have my pyjamas and a movie then?"

Pushing him towards the bags, Emma gave his butt a light pad, "That we can do, Mister, you find your stuff and we'll get you settled, hm."

Henry trotted towards the bags, humming lightly as he started searching through the contents one-handed; he managed to spill most of it on the floor next to the bags, but Emma would clean it up later. She found the bathroom with Henry as her tour guide (he'd already checked everything out, it was no lie), and she helped him get changed and ready for a night in. Then she got him settled on the couch, nestled in three different blankets Regina told her she could find in a closet in the hallway, and he got a juice and his teddy bear, and Emma put Brave into the dvd, before settling down next to him. She was pretty sure that he'd be so consumed in the movie that she could catch a catnap without him noticing, which she really needed if she was going to last until the morning, dealing with drunken patrons.

She couldn't be entirely sure, but it felt like Regina was watching them carefully from her place in the kitchen as she moved around, and even as Henry fell asleep on top of her, Emma joining him soon after, she was pretty sure she heard someone pause the movie and wrap the blankets tighter around them. She couldn't be entirely certain, because she was very tired, but she did wake up comfortable and warm, so that had to mean something.

—-

They ate around the massive dining table; Regina was seated at the end, with Henry and Emma on either side of her. The lasagne was piping hot from the oven, and there was a mixed salad and some bread in front of them, too. Henry had a juice box and Emma and Regina were nursing each a glass of wine – Emma couldn't indulge too much, because she had work after all.

"Dig in," Regina happily told them, motioning towards the meal in front of them. Emma could tell that she was anxious about the food, so she immediately reached forward and started scooping out servings with gusto.

Henry dug his fork into the steaming lasagne, blowing exaggeratedly on the food before trying a tentative bite. Regina was watching him in anticipation, and it became very clear to Emma that their reactions were important to the brunette.

Emma dug into her own food eagerly. "Remember to eat your veggies too," she told Henry, who was busy picking around the salad on his plate.

Regina scooped some salad onto Emma's plate and said, "You need your vegetables too, Miss Swan," before serving herself.

Chewing her food, Emma felt hotness burn in her mouth. "'Is really good," she informed, before gulping down some water.

There was a smirk on Regina's face when she said, "The red pepper flakes gives it an extra kick, I think."

"Sure does," Emma managed to reply, before stuffing a piece of bread into her mouth.

Henry seemed entirely unbothered by the hot spice and kept eating his food. Regina reached over to cut the lasagne into smaller pieces for him since Emma had troubles reaching and it was even more difficult for him since his arm was now in a cast. "Can I have the juice?"

Regina handed him the juice box, and she had a completely contend look on her face as she watched him suck on the straw.

Emma had already demolished all her lasagne and was reaching forward for seconds. "You're an awesome cook, Regina. Damn," she said as she scooped up cheesy goodness. She sneakily avoided the bowl with salad and sipped her wine.

"I'm glad you like it," Regina replied as she daintily lifted her fork and ate slowly. "I never really get to cook for anyone, since it's just me."

"Well, you can cook for us anytime," Emma said seriously, "I'm not complaining."

It appeared to be the completely right thing to say, because Regina smiled happily as she continued to eat her food. Emma couldn't for the life of her figure out why Regina did not have a family of her own to feed and care for, because it came so naturally to her. It seemed like she was born to play hostess, mother, to care in the way she was caring for them right now. Emma was perhaps a bit reluctant to admit it, but she could really get used to this.

They talked happily while they finished their dinner; Henry spoke about his school and what they were currently doing, while Regina listened carefully and Emma munched away on her food. When Henry was full, he was excused, and he trotted back to the couch and turned Brave back on. Emma and Regina finished eating, Regina asking timid questions about Emma's mark – whom she'd finally managed to catch yesterday - and what Emma was supposed to do whenever she worked at GaY.

After dinner, Emma insisted on cleaning up, and Regina ventured into her bedroom to change into something more comfortable. It was only 7:30, so there was a while yet before Emma had to go to work, and she figured that she'd let Henry finish the rest of his movie before getting him tucked into the guest bedroom

Emma sat back at the table, nursing the rest of her wine, and smiled happily when Regina returned; barefooted and wearing yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. Of course she could make such an outfit look absolutely beautiful.

"I poured some more wine for you," Emma told her as the other woman reclaimed her seat by the end of the table.

Regina tittered, "Thank you."

Emma ran a finger over the side of her glass. "You're too good to Henry and I," she said then, the words slipping pass her lips effortlessly.

Shaking her head, Regina dismissed her, "No Emma, that's where you're wrong," she lowly hummed, brown eyes following the movement of Emma's finger the stem of the glass. "You and Henry deserve the absolute best," her breath hitched, "especially you."

Feeling a faint blush rise up her cheeks, Emma bashfully stared down at the table. She wasn't sure what it was with Regina tonight, but she felt like something had shifted between them. The energy was different, charged. "You really think so," she breathed, eyes still downcast, "I don't."

"I do," Regina replied, and she reached her hand forward to clasp it gently over Emma's, thus stilling her movement.

The blonde raised her eyes, surprised by the sudden touch of the other woman, and she met Regina's sizzling gaze; there was so much emotion looming in those brown eyes, and their gazes locked, green meeting brown. Her fingers felt hot to the touch, and suddenly her throat felt dry like parchment.

Regina's red lips curled into a little smile. "You deserve everything, Emma," she said, and there was a seriousness to her voice that Emma couldn't really pinpoint.

"Yeah?"

"Mh," Regina lowly hummed, and she tugged Emma's hand down, trailing her fingers closer, so their hands intertwined on top of the table. She seemed hesitant, her other hand curled around her own wine glass, and Emma wondered what was going through her mind. "Emma, I-"

"Mamma," Henry interrupted them, stepping in between their two chairs. He was tiredly rubbing his eyes, teddy bear hugged beneath his armpit. "I wanna sleep now. Tired."

Emma dropped Regina's hand and immediately pushed her chair back. "Sure thing. Let's get you to bed, Mister!" She picked Henry up, and he immediately wrapped his legs around her midsection.

"Can both you and R'gina read me bedtime?"

Regina stood up as well, smiling fondly at them both. "Sure thing, little prince," she promised, "you can choose whichever story you want. I'm sure Montgomery and Anniston won't mind you borrowing one of their books."

Henry smiled sleepily against Emma's neck, and she suspected that it wouldn't take many pages before he was snoring away in Regina's guest bedroom bed. She felt bad that Regina would have to wake him every hour when he was this tired, but such were the doctor's orders.

They made quick work of tucking him in after his teeth were brushed and his face washed. He looked utterly comfortable in the bed Montgomery usually occupied whenever he and Anniston slept over at Regina's, and he stared happily up at them, covers wrapped tightly around him. They sat on either side of his bed, and Emma held his chosen book – one of the books about Narnia – open so both she and Regina could read to him. She started, reading down the page, and as one of the characters was supposed to say something, Henry interrupted her.

"R'gina, you do the voices!"

And so Regina obliged, every time there was a line, she took over, differentiating her voice with each character, and it took no more than ten minutes, before Henry was snoring lightly between them. Emma and Regina carefully excited the room, leaving only the night light on, before closing the door behind him. They'd have to return in an hour or so, but for now he could sleep peacefully. Emma didn't really believe him to have a concussion, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

She cleaned up their mess of things by the door, dragging them into the guest bedroom she would be staying in, while Regina busied herself with some tea. She returned after, dressed for work, placing her warm clothes on the back of the chair, before settling herself next to Regina on the couch.

"Ready for work?" Regina questioned, her brown eyes following Emma's movement as she nestled into the couch with a happy sigh. This day seemed to be never-ending.

"As ready as can be," Emma replied as she lifted her cup to her mouth and carefully blew on the hot liquid.

Regina seemed hesitant as she herself settled back further in the comfortable cushion. "I've got something to talk to you about," she offered, running a nervous hand through her short hair, "Regardless of what happens with… us," she paused, fidgeting, "it's something I want you to think carefully about."

Emma felt her forehead furrow in confusion. "Sure…" she trailed off, urging Regina on with her eyes. It sounded serious, if Regina's demeanour was anything to go by. But what did she mean by what happened with them? Did that mean that she had made a decision already? Did it mean it was a decision that Emma wouldn't like? But what about everything that had happened today? It had pointed so clearly in one direction — oh shit, what if she's going to tell me that this weekend will be the last she wants to do with us? What was she going to tell Henry?

"I think you should start working at The Hills," Regina said next, and for a second Emma just stared at her, not sure what it was that had just slipped past her lips. The Hills? What? She must have looked very confused, because Regina simply continued on, "Hear me out, okay? I know it's a lot different from the things you do now, but I think you could really resonate with the kids, and Marian agrees! They need someone like you, someone who's been there," Regina finished, looked at Emma with such expressive brown eyes.

The blonde placed her still hot tea on the coffee table and turned her body fully to face the other woman. "Uhm… sure? But like – what? I'm confused." I'm hella fucking confused.

Regina's lips curled into a fond smile. "My eloquent darling," she mused as she reached a hand out and carefully cupped Emma's cheek. "You should go talk with Marian on Wednesday when I'm at The Hills too, she'd love to meet with you there, see how you do with the kids. It's only part time for now, but who knows what will happen in the future."

Emma was still gaping at her. "You want … me … to work with the kids?"

"Yes Emma," Regina breathed, carefully reaching for her own cup of tea. "You'll be perfect. I understand if you need to think about it, which is why I'm telling you this now."

"I could do outreach?" Emma dumbly questioned, and when Regina nodded encouragingly, Emma couldn't help but let the thought settle into her mind. I could work with kids – kids like me. It was a pleasant thought, something she'd never thought she would be grown-up enough or educated enough for. Something that she had thought would never be a possibility because of her delinquent past and her small stint in juvie. But maybe Marian could see past all that – see what unique insight she had to offer these kids. She'd be lying if she didn't say that this was something she could very much see herself doing. And even better – she'd be able to work better hours, not endangering herself every time she had to catch a bad guy. That'd make Mary Margaret very happy as well.

Regina chuckled hoarsely. "Think about it, Emma, okay?" She sipped her tea. "No pressure, it's just a suggestion because I care immensely about you."

Emma couldn't ignore the heat that soared through her chest at that admission. "You do?" She smiled widely at Regina and hoped her cheeks weren't burning hot pink.

Sipping her tea yet again, Regina assured her. "Yes I do, you fool. Now rest your eyes before work, I'll make sure to wake you up by 9:30."

Smiling cheekily at Regina, Emma discarded her tea and let her head rest back against the arm rest. Oh how she wished she didn't have to go to work soon. Then she and Regina could have stayed on the couch all night, drinking tea and watching bad television while checking in on Henry. It was a very appealing thought, something that – scarily enough – felt very natural and comfortable.

Emma had never fully had the experience of family, but she suddenly felt like this might be just that.

—-

Regina was good about checking in with Emma all through her shift. She sent a small update – always with good news – every time she had checked on Henry, and around twelve there was even a photo of a bleary-eyed Henry to prove it. Emma appreciated the gesture, small as it was, because even if she was supposed to be working, she'd left her brain and heart back at Mifflin when she drove off in her Bug at 9:45.

Thankfully she was working with Tink tonight, and Mulan had gotten in at twelve. By this point she'd already heard what had happened to Henry, so she went easy on Emma, sending her to the basement to stand in a corner and make sure that nothing bad happened. There was a lot happening tonight, because there was a famous queer DJ, and the entire place was filled to the brim with people. Emma had discarded her jacket and beanie behind the bar and was just spotting her t-shirt, because it was crazy hot in the basement. So many people her own age were dancing and making out in the corners, but she was pleased, because nothing bad seemed to be under way. She leaned herself against the wall not far from the DJ and tried not to look too bored while she discreetly checked her phone for an update from Regina. It had only been twenty minutes since the last one.

"Here."

Emma looked up from the phone, quickly blackening it, to come face to face with a beautiful brown-skinned girl. She was holding out a bottle of coke and watching Emma with kind, black eyes. Her long dark hair was twisted over her shoulder, landing mid-thigh even in her elaborate braid, and Emma's first thought was that she looked incredibly beautiful. And that she was holding out a soda expectantly.

"You look thirsty," she explained, stepping closer and smiling brightly at Emma.

The blonde dumbly took the offered bottle. "Uh… thanks?"

"I'm Jasmine," Jasmine said, propping herself against the wall next to Emma. She wasn't as tall as her, even in heels, and she was dressed in a beautiful pink dress and no apparent make up. She looked tired though, and slightly bored of the scene in the basement. "And you are…"

"Emma," Emma quickly cleared her throat and took a gulp of the soda – damn, she actually was quite thirsty, she'd just been so consumed in thoughts of Henry and Regina that she had forgotten all about it. "I'm uh, Emma," she repeated, as she let the bottle slip from her lips.

Jasmine laughed. "Hello Emma," she said, kind eyes trailing over Emma's form as they stood there, shoulder to shoulder, "and how are you this evening?"

Emma figured that it wouldn't hurt to talk to this woman, she seemed nice after all, and Emma herself was inexplicably bored, because no one was getting into any trouble; all the patrons seemed adamant about having a wonderful time and dancing the night away. She should probably be pleased about that, but tonight she'd really needed a distraction. "I'm okay. Just working," she shrugged, "And what about you? Why aren't you dancing with your friends?" She looked towards the dance floor where a group of girls were watching them with curious glances, not at all hiding the fact that they were snooping.

"They wanted me to come talk to you, because I told them I think you're cute," Jasmine sheepishly replied, and Emma couldn't help but be happily surprised at the honesty. Jasmine's eyes crinkled hopefully, and Emma so wished that she could give this girl a positive reply – because Jasmine was cute, she really was – and if things had been different, maybe she could have. But not many girls her age were pleased when they learned that she had a five-year-old (soon six-year-old, damn Henry was growing quick), and now there was also the matter of Regina… Regina who was watching over Henry, and whom Emma was thinking entirely too much about, and whose lips were red and kissable, and…

Emma must have shown her hesitation on her face, because Jasmine frowned slightly.

"You're not single, are you?"

Taking another gulp of the soda, Emma let the question linger in the space between them for a beat. "Uhm… I uh," she licked her lips, "it's very sweet of you, and you're also very cute, but."

Jasmine sighed. "You're not gay? You have a girlfriend? You just got out of a bad relationship?" She rattled off the excuses, having probably heard them all too many times before; perhaps she'd even used some of them herself at times.

Emma squinted down at her. "I have a son," was all she could get past her lips, because she couldn't say yes to any of the suggestions that Jasmine shot her way, and at the same time it didn't feel like she was single, even though she was. She just kept seeing Regina's face in her mind, and what was up with that? You know what's up with that. Emma scowled to herself.

Blinking in confusion, Jasmine continued, "A kid? I don't mind that. I just want coffee," she explained, and she looked so utterly adorable that Emma was tempted to say yes and just cancel on her later. It was definitely going to make this interaction easier if she did just that, but there was just something inside of her – Regina, Regina, Regina – that stopped her.

The blonde took another long gulp of the soda, effectively emptying the bottle, before she looked back at Jasmine. "Look, it's just… you're, it's not a good time right now." It was lame, but it was everything she could offer the other woman. Damn, when had her life turned out so complicated? It was easier when it was just her and Henry and she could have said no to Jasmine and honestly added that she just simply did not have time to date, but that they could meet for a fuck if she wanted, and that had been it.

Jasmine's smiled faltered slightly, but she reached into her purse and pulled out a pen and a scrap of paper. "Okay then," she mused, propping the paper against the wall and scribbling her name, followed by digits, "you're not interested. Perhaps you are in the light of day. Call me if you change your mind, eh?" She held the paper out for Emma with a tentative smile.

"I don't want to lead you on, I'm not gonna call," Emma said, even though she was very flattered and she wished she could just take the paper and be done with it.

The black-haired woman took a step closer and boldly placed her hand on Emma's hip. "There," she offered with a cocky arch of the eyebrow, "now you did not accept my number, and you did not lead me on, okay Emma?" She pulled back, paper now disappeared from her hand, and stepped towards the crowded dance floor.

Emma couldn't help but watch her leave. She was very certain that her pocket now held a piece of paper with Jasmine's name and number on it, but she was reluctant to look. Instead she pretended that this interaction hadn't happened, handed the empty bottle back at the bar, and went to relieve either Mulan or Tink by the door. Perhaps she could slip a call to Regina – just to make sure that everything was still going smoothly back at Mifflin.

It wasn't like she was missing the other woman or anything, it was purely to check in on Henry. At least keep telling yourself that, Swan. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and was happy to find a text from the object of her thoughts.

Everything is still good. No sign of any concussion. Henry misses you. /Regina.

A/N. You needn't worry, Jasmine will not mess (much) with the tentative progress that Swan Queen is making here! That said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next up: A bit of Zelena, and some Henry and Regina time.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful support!