A/N- Yes, dear readers I have neglected my literature (epic sigh), but here is a small, fluffy, family oriented chapter to appease you. More is coming...if you catch my drift :)

Emma helped her parents load up the last of the random grab bags into the Uhaul. She wedged the duffle bag containing the coffee maker, shampoo, and toothpaste into the back of the van as Snow turned to her with wetness in her eyes. Emma's stomach lurched as it always did when it came to intense emotion. She looked down and became quickly interested in her fingernails.

"Emma, I just don't want you to feel…abandoned." She said quietly, picking the trail up on a conversation they had had several times over the past week once Emma had come home from the mayoral manor.

"Mom." She said in a tone reminiscent of her son. "I found the house for you. It's a few minutes across town. I'm sure we'll survive." She smiled at the brunette who folded her into a tight hug. Emma had somewhat been expecting this and had just enough time to relax the stiffness in her body and hug her back awkwardly.

"I know…it's just that I can't help but to feel that we have just found each other and settled in together and now James and I are moving-"

"No offense or anything, but it was getting a little crowded anyway. It will be more normal if we don't live in the apartment all packed together. It will make spending time together more special." Emma smiled.

She really had no qualms about James and Snow moving out. It meant more room for her and Henry. It meant more hot water in the morning. It meant not walking in to find her parents doing the mattress mumbo. Yep, Emma could only see positive attributes to this arrangement.

Henry sidled up and leaned in on her a bit. She looked down and ruffled his hair in her characteristic way. He grinned up and then looked at Snow. "It's not like we'll be a million miles away, Grandma. We'll be close."

"You're right, Henry. It's just that we got so used to all living together."

The boy shrugged. "Yeah, but it's not like Mom's five or something."

"Henry-" Emma said with a warning note in her voice. She had recently cracked down on his penchant to say whatever the hell he wanted. He looked up with chagrin but Snow smiled.

"You're right again, Henry. She's an adult. She doesn't need us as parents. She needs us as friends." Snow looked back up at her and smiled warmly. "And friends have no problem living across town from one another."

Emma sighed a breath of relief. She was glad that had finally been resolved with very little work on her part. For once she was thankful for Henry's impulsive mouth. She looked down at him and ruffled his hair again. "Is your overnight bag packed?"

"Yep."

"Go get it." She patted his shoulder and he took off to the house. Emma turned to her mother. "Thanks for taking him; I really just need a night to unwind myself. This week has been exhausting." She tucked a hair behind her ear.

"No problem, he can help us unpack." Snow smiled.

"I don't know how much help he'll actually be." Emma grinned. "But he'll do anything for a chocolate milkshake."

Snow laughed and then looked at her daughter. "How are you feeling? I know that last week you were really sick according to Henry. I know that…." She trailed off a moment and regarded the blonde seriously. "I know that Regina took care of you."

"She did."

"Going to the doctor didn't cross your mind?"

Emma cocked a grin. "I don't do the doctor."

"But you do…" Snow stopped and frowned, considering what it was that she was about to say. "I mean to say, Regina was a better option?"

"In this case, she was." Emma shrugged. "No one looked for me at her house. She canceled all her work for two days to tend to me."

"But why?"

"Henry."

"That's a lot of work to simply make Henry happy."

Emma turned to her mother. "I think she was trying to repay me." She shrugged again. "I did save her life more than once and I think she was trying to pay me back for it. She's trying to change." The last sentence was softer and Snow regarded her curiously.

"I've noticed. I want to trust this…"

"But you've been burned by her far too many times."

"It's different this time though." Snow said thoughtfully as Henry trotted down the steps with his bag and his grandfather. "She seems…softer than before. Raising Henry has softened her heart; as black as it still may be." She added as an afterthought and then turned to her daughter with more knowing in her eyes than Emma was comfortable with. She shifted her feet nervously. "But she's definitely going to need someone with a great deal of patience and will to help her along."

"Right, well, I'll post a sign up and we can have open auditions." She smirked and Snow rolled her eyes with a broad smile.

"I'm sure we will be turning people away at the door."

"For what?" Henry asked as he came strolling up.

Snow and Emma exchanged a brief glance. "For helping us move in." Snow jumped forward and tickled him mercilessly as James took his bag and swung him up into the Uhaul.

The man stepped forward and squeezed his daughter's arm. "See you tomorrow? House warming party, remember?"

"Wouldn't miss it for anything."

"See ya, Mom." Henry called.

"Bye, Henry." Emma waved and turned to Snow. "Bye, Mom."

"See you tomorrow."