CHAPTER FOURTEEN

When Regina arrived at Henry's birthday party – with Marian, Mulan and Roland in tow – the street outside the Nolans' small house was already littered with cars. The little front yard was decorated with streamers and flags, and Roland stared in awe at all the beautiful colours. It seemed like Mary Margaret had gone all out, which Emma had warned Regina that she might.

They knocked on the front door, Roland on Mulan's shoulders, and was greeted by a smiling – though also quite exhausted, it appeared – David. His face lit up though, when his eyes landed on Regina.

"Henry's been complaining about when you'll get here," he said and opened the door fully to let them all pass through, "Come inside please!" He greeted both Marian and Mulan with a handshake and nudged Roland's foot. "And who might you all be?"

Marian and Regina shared a look, both confused as to what to say. When Regina was about to open her mouth to try to explain everyone's relation to each other – goodness, when had her and Emma's lives become so intertwined, and so quickly at that – Roland beat her to it.

"We're Henry's friends!" He cheered from atop Mulan's shoulders, smile beaming and hand clutching the drawing he had made for Henry himself.

Marian chuckled, "AKA Marian," she motioned towards herself, "my son Roland and my girlfriend Mulan." She beamed too, when she said the last part, and Mulan offered them all a sheepish smile.

David clapped his hands together and placed a hand on Regina's back. "Wonderful," he enthusiastically proclaimed as he let them through the small hallway, "The party's in the backyard, so please do keep on your shoes and coats. The weather's good though, Mary Margaret has been nervous about it."

Regina hummed in response and caught sight of Mary Margaret fretting in the small kitchen, joined by a brusque looking older woman, and she heard the distinct sound of children's laughter, a dog's bark and chatter streaming in through the open door to the backyard. Regina wondered just how many of Henry's friends would be attending his birthday party and if perhaps the adults would be outnumbered. She was quite nervous about how other people would view her presence at this celebration, but she honestly just wanted to spend some time with Emma and celebrate Henry. Thankfully she had Marian with her too, and she was always much more of a people-person than Regina had ever been.

She clutched the bag of gifts in her hand as they made their way into the backyard. It was the first time she'd be seeing Emma after their date – thank you, Marian, for your deviousness. Regina rolled her eyes when she thought about it – and even if they had exchanged messages, they hadn't talked about what their shared (and third) kiss meant, because such a conversation was not to be had over the phone. They both seemed to agree on that point, because Emma had not attempted to bring it up either. Regina knew that today would not be a good setting for their conversation either, but she did plan on broaching the possibility of when she'd see Emma again – to talk. She just had to figure out how to act accordingly around the other woman when all she'd been thinking about since Wednesday was kissing her again.

She'd finally come to a decision: She was tired of running, and she was going to take Zelena's advice and reach for her happiness. She was positive Zelena would gloat endlessly when she finally told her, which was why Marian was the only one of her friends who knew exactly how her date with Emma had gone. Kathryn had been awfully curious to know more, probing her with questions on both Thursday and Friday at work, but Marian had promised not to spill before Regina was more certain what all this meant, and the brunette believed her.

The wind was knocked out of her by a solid now six-year-old barreling straight into her arms before she had the possibility of bracing herself for the impact. Henry's squeal of "R'gina," was loud in her ears, but she could not find it in herself to care. She discarded the bag of presents into Marian's hand before reaching down to pick him up in a tight embrace.

"Birthday boy," she cheered as she pressed a kiss to his cheek and smiled at him, "you've grown since Wednesday, little prince," she said, and Henry's eyes shone brightly because to him that was everything, "I might not be able to carry you anymore!"

Henry tumbled out of her arms, laughing gleefully. "You're silly, R'gina, I'm not that big of a boy," he proclaimed proudly, back straight.

Regina's chest expanded at the look on his little face. "Oh well, maybe I've just grown smaller then?"

Henry shook his head and grabbed her hand tightly. "C'mon R'gina, I want you to meet everybody." He tugged at her hand, urging her to follow him, and Regina shot an apologetic smile at Marian as she did – because how could she not? – while she also searched the small yard for Emma who was mysteriously not in sight. "This' my Aunties Ruby and Dorothy," Henry informed her, as they came to a stop in front of two young women who were sitting crosslegged on the grass and playing with a dog, "and that's Toto."

"Hey, I'm Ruby," the tallest of the women offered. She smiled brightly, teeth showing, and she was lanky with streaks of red in her hair. She also wore the skimpiest outfit Regina had ever seen (and she'd been in the basement of Gallium & Yttrium), which was probably not appropriate for a child's birthday party.

The other woman – Dorothy – smiled at Regina too, but her smile wasn't quite as bright. "I'm Dorothy." She had brown hair too, a bit more wild and untameable, and she had it in a loose braid down her back. "And who's this, Henry, my man!"

Henry tugged Regina's hand again. "It's R'gina, and she's my bestest friend in the whole world!"

Regina could not help the smile that came onto her face at that revelation, and she was pretty sure it was not unnoticed by the other two women either. Dorothy raised an eyebrow questioningly, and Ruby threw a ball to the other end of the yard – sending Toto flying after it – before glancing briefly a Regina with a fiery gaze and then nudging Henry on the arm.

"Hey Kiddo, don't you think your Ma would be sad about that? I think she wants to be best friends with Regina, hm?" She looked to Regina then and wriggled her eyebrows, the intent not lost on the older woman.

Henry seemed to ponder about that for a second or two, eyebrows knit together in such an Emma-expression Regina could hardly help the bubbling feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Guess she's allowed to then. Mammas need friends too!" He pumped his little fist into the air and accepted the ball from Toto, who'd come back to place it in front of his feet.

Dorothy ruffled his hair. "Why don't you show your friends from school some of the tricks I taught ya'?" She pulled herself off the ground as Henry nodded eagerly and went running towards three kids playing on a swing set, and Ruby followed her example. "So you're the famous R'gina, huh?" She gave her a once-over, pronouncing Regina's name like Henry always did; with the missing 'e' and a throaty 'r'. "Nice to finally meet you."

Regina could not help the feeling that she was being judged silently, but she guessed that was unavoidable seeing as these were Emma's friends and she had not officially met them yet. She'd heard a lot though, and she could see how these two women would be in Emma's taste. "Likewise," she said, awkwardly placing her hand in front of her stomach. "Emma's told me a lot about you two."

"Yeah, you too," Ruby agreed, her long hair blowing in the slight wind. She had sunglasses perched on top of her head and she was wearing heavy make-up. Regina really liked her lipstick though. "It's always Regina this, Regina that, Ruby help me what to wear," she said mockingly, changing her voice in a faint mimic of Emma as her eyes shone mischievously.

Regina felt Emma's hand on her back before she heard her voice. "I do not sound like that," the blonde hastily said as she stepped closer to their little group and her eyes immediately met Regina's. "And hi," she added, a shy smile blooming on her lips.

Not able to hide her own happiness at seeing Emma, Regina felt her cheeks warm with colour. "Hi yourself."

Ruby sighed over-exaggeratedly and rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, just fucking bang already," she hissed and staggered off in her high heels towards Mulan and Marian, who – it appeared- were trying to persuade Roland to join the other kids on the swings.

Regina felt her face flush even more, and she lowered her gaze, not wanting to look at either Dorothy or Emma. Especially not Emma. She felt a warm hand on her arm and looked up again to find Dorothy smiling toothily at her.

"Ignore Rubes," she said with a little wink, "she likes to yank Emma's chain."

"She really does," Emma grinned, just as Dorothy followed her girlfriend's path to their friends.

Regina turned to Emma next, not sure what else to say, and instead of saying anything, she reached a hand out an tentatively interlocked just the tips of two fingers with two of Emma's fingers. She felt the contact immediately; never before had she had such strong reactions to skin on skin as she had with Emma, and it was delightfully dangerous. "Your friends seem nice," she offered.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Ruby's… Ruby. Her Granny's here too, you'll see why she's the way she is," she quickly explained, and there was something so awkward about the way she stood there, in her red jacket with a grey beanie, and Regina just wanted to kiss those blushing cheeks.

"Who else is here?" Regina wanted to know, as they turned around to look at the gathering party.

"Just friends, really," Emma explained, hooking a thumb over her shoulder, "the twins over there are Ava and Nicholas, Henry's best friends from preschool. Their father dropped them off earlier." Next, she pointed towards two men who were sitting closely together on a bench near the table where Mary Margaret was busy putting plates and bowls of food. "And that's my best and only guy friend August and his boyfriend Jefferson," she continued, "who has a kid, the last girl on the swings, Grace. Henry goes to school with her, too."

Regina could feel herself grin as she looked up at Emma, "Well then I shall thank you even more for having me," she said, "it seems like everyone else is someone you've known for a long time." Regina could not lie; she felt slightly out of place in the company of all these people that both Emma and Henry considered family. It was strange to be lumped into that, but she supposed there was a first time for it, if she wanted to be close to Emma and Henry. And goodness, did she want that.

Emma stared at her in confusion, "Well duh," she said as she brushed a piece of blonde hair out of her face, "you were like the most important person to invite. Henry told me so himself." She tugged at Regina's hand, "Come on, Mary Margaret really wants to get to know you better."

The afternoon went by so quickly; there was cake and snacks, and lots of coffee for the grown-ups, and the children played together – even Roland conjured up enough courage to join the older kids – and Mulan and Ruby ran around with them, playing catch, and then hide-and-seek, and Regina had a great time. She got to talk a lot to David – who was actually a very nice man, and she could see why Emma got along with him so well – and also a little with Mary Margaret who was busy with everything, but did try to ask her a few questions. However, Regina felt that the older woman was a little on the fence about her, but wouldn't any mother be? Especially one who had such a strained relationship with her daughter. Regina suspected that it wasn't easy for her to be Emma's foster parent, because they appeared to be so very different, but she could also see that the other woman had most definitely figured out that Regina and Emma's feelings for each other were more than just friendly.

It was kind of difficult to navigate that, but she complimented her on the cake and on her decor – even though it was absolutely hideous – and it somehow felt okay. She was thankful for Marian who was by her side most of the time, even though she, of course, got along wonderfully with Mary Margaret instantly, because Emma was busy, too. She ran to and from the kitchen and tried to set up games for the kids, and when the cake first came out, she carried it out to an off-tuned Happy Birthday, dear Henry and six lit candles, and Henry clutched Regina's hand as he watched the cake in awe.

It was shaped like a firetruck, and apparently it had taken forever for Mary Margaret and Granny to make it (especially because – David revealed this to her through mouthfuls of cake – Emma had managed to ruin the dough, twice). The smile on Henry's face though, had to be worth, and Regina saw Mary Margaret's eyes tear up a little. She was a proud grandmother, it appeared, and she seemed to spoil Henry rotten.

When they were all eating cake – the children finally sitting still for the first time in what felt like all day – Emma was next to her, and Regina felt herself lean into her side, Henry squeezed on her other side, refusing to leave his R'gina for too long a time. She loved the feeling; they were sitting on a two-person bench, and it was so wonderful and much like family. Emma smelled familiar, of deodorant and something different, like cake, and even though Marian looked at Regina pointedly with a raised eyebrow at the very couple-y display, she could not find it in herself to care.

"This is the bestest birthday ever," Henry claimed next to her with a wistful sigh.

Emma glanced at him, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, Kid? And why's that?" She seemed happy too, contend even, and Regina loved that look on her.

Henry swallowed a piece of cake. "'Cuz the cake's a firetruck, and I've got my Mamma and my R'gina, and it's just the best, and I'm a big boy now."

Regina's heart did that thing again where it was like it swelled up to double size inside of her chest. Had she not become so familiar with its unfamiliarity every time she spent time with either Henry or Emma or both, she would probably have freaked out and gone to the hospital, but she didn't do that – because she knew. She knew now what the feeling meant, she just hadn't known before, because it had been entirely too long since she'd felt it. Not since Daddy and apple trees and Rocinante in the stables.

Happiness.

"Yeah, you really are, Kid," Emma said as she reached behind Regina's back and ruffled his hair, "I can't believe you came out of me six years ago! You were so red and squishy and I just wanted to hold you forever."

Henry's eyes were round as he looked at her, "You can hold me forever, Ma! Just make sure to leave some for R'gina too!"

Emma laughed, and Regina heard David chuckle too, from where he was sitting nearby, just as she was pretty sure that Dorothy and Mulan's attention was pointed firmly in their direction as well. They'd grown suspiciously quiet suddenly, and she felt certain that Marian and Mary Margaret were also looking at them from where they were standing by the table, still cutting up cake.

"That's very sweet of you, Henry," Regina said to him, humouring him and his thoughtfulness. "Of course I'd love to hug you very much, but you're a big boy now, right? There's enough of your hugs to go around."

Henry shook his head at her with big, round eyes. "You're being silly, R'gina, I didn't mean from me, I meant from Ma," he made a point to roll his eyes – which looked both ridiculous and awfully cute at the same time – before bending his head to scoop in another piece of cake.

Brows knit in confusion, Emma said, "Well yeah, Kid," she paused, "of course there's hugs for Regina too. Why would you even think about that?"

Regina could feel eyes on her once more, and she shuddered slightly in her jacket and squeezed herself closer to Emma's side (which come to think of it, did nothing to further ensure anyone looking that Henry was not on to something). Emma didn't seem to mind though, she shuffled closer too, the hand previously ruffling Henry's hair, now loosely draped around Regina's shoulders.

Henry looked around, his green eyes shining mischievously, and he beckoned them both closer with a little finger, wanting to tell them a secret. They both leaned in, and he whispered – quite too loudly to even be considered a whisper, though he absolutely tried his best – to them. "Ma, it's because," he breathed, "I speaked to R'gina, OK? And she told me she's gonna marry a woman someday." He turned his eyes to Regina's then, as if asking her if he was still right about the piece of information she had told him.

Nodding, Regina urged him on silently.

"And so," Henry said, his voice raising as he gained more confidence, "I thought she could just marry you, 'cuz you said, you wasn't gonna marry a man, right? But a woman, and so instead of me having a daddy and mamma, I could have a mom and mamma, you see?" He nodded his head to himself, thoroughly pleased, as he turned back to his cake and tried to get another piece onto his spoon.

Regina could feel her heartbeat in her throat and tears stinging behind closed eyelids as she breathed in; not because Henry had said something he shouldn't – they had had that conversation, and it was hardly any surprise to Emma that he'd think those things – but because he'd said the absolutely right thing. He'd said that if they got married – and Regina dared not even hope for that, because it was way in the future, and they weren't even dating – he'd have a mamma and a mom. Which could only mean — he'd want her as his other mom.

"Yeah Emma," David teased from where he was sitting, watching their exchange with curious eyes, "don't you see? That's just logic."

Regina drew in a shaky breath and opened her eyes, only to find Emma's green eyes pointed at her in wonderment. She didn't pull back or say anything, but she was pretty sure that Emma could see the wetness and the emotion that Henry had ignited inside of her, because she squeezed her shoulder in support before drawing her hand back. Regina knew Emma had to be worried – it was exactly this kind of attachment she had been concerned about for Henry's sake, and now there they were, thoroughly attached. But then Regina had to remind herself of her promise to Emma last Wednesday, a promise of talks and of not running, which she intended to keep, so hopefully Emma reminded herself of that as well.

Emma bit her lip, "Henry-" she begun, but Mary Margaret cut her off.

"Time for presents," she loudly announced, which definitely caught Henry's attention and saved Emma from having to explain anything to her son that she wasn't prepared for. Regina had probably also been right in suspecting that both Mary Margaret and Marian had heard their entire exchange as well. Emma's foster mother was watching her with a knowing look as she picked Henry off the ground and allowed him to pick out his first present.

Warm breath ghosted across Regina's ear. "Are you okay?" Emma asked her.

Nodding, Regina said, "Yeah, your son just…" she paused, eyes flirting between Emma's intense gaze and her upturned lips as she felt her mouth go dry, "knows what to say, I guess."

Emma barked out a laugh. "He's so different from me then. I always run my mouth."

"You do okay," Regina whispered, before their attention was pulled towards Henry, who was tearing the wrapping paper off the gift from Ruby and Dorothy (and Toto) which was a stuffed animal shaped like a dog (Henry immediately named it Lord Toto the Second) and a piggy bank with quarters in it. Next to go was the present from Granny, which was a sweater with Henry written across the chest of it, and it was obviously homemade. Henry tackled David and Mary Margaret's gift after – what appeared to be the biggest, and it was a cardboard box filled with new clothes. It was such a grandparent-y gift, and Regina saw Emma mouth a silent 'thank you' to her foster mother for all the clothes; Regina suspected that she probably couldn't afford to give Henry a lot of things, so this gift was also considerate for her.

Henry chose the gift from the twins next – a new colouring book and crayons – before eagerly opening the present from August, Jefferson and Grace. It was a wooden bow and arrow, just like Henry had wished for, and Emma whispered into Regina's ear that August had probably had his father make it, since he was very skilled with a knife and wood. Henry immediately ran to show Regina his new bow and she cooed at him, because his happiness was just so pure and real.

"You gonna open my gift next, Kid?" Emma asked him, and she was obviously very excited about what she had purchased for him. Regina actually didn't know; she hadn't had half a mind to ask.

Nodding, Henry picked up the present from his mother, wrapped in yellow with stars on it, and when he tore it off, goggles and swimming trunks fell out – along with a piece of paper. He immediately put the goggles onto his head and looked at his new trunks in awe. "Thank you, Mamma," he smiled brightly at her.

Emma chuckled. "Have you looked at the picture yet?"

Henry's eyes turned wide and he bent down to pick up the paper from the ground, and his face lit up even further when he looked at the picture – then at Emma – then back at the picture.

Finally, Ruby broke the silence, as impatient as a child. "Well, slowpoke, what is it?"

"Are we going to the water park!?" Henry's excited yell took them all by surprise, and by Emma's enthusiastic nod, he crunched the paper in his fist and ran towards her, jumped straight into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Mamma, thank you, thank you, thank you," he whispered as he pressed a sloppy, wet kiss to her cheek.

"We're going in the summer," Emma promised him, and her green eyes were shining when she looked down at him; their foreheads were pressed together, and it was their moment, mother and son, in their little world. "Before you start the next grade. And we'll go together, we'll stay for a few days, and we're going to try all the rides. The goggles and the trunks are for then, okay? So you can look cool and like a big boy."

Henry nuzzled his nose to hers and murmured quietly, "Love you, Mamma."

Emma breathed deeply in, and Regina could not help but feel touched at the moment, and also like she might slightly be intruding. "Love you too, Kid."

"Oh man," Dorothy groaned and broke the awkward silence that had erupted between them all. "How can anyone stand so much fucking sweetness? Henry, hurry, open some presents and act like a spoiled brat."

Sticking her tongue out at her friend, Emma scooted Henry off her lap and urged him to the rest of his presents – there was only three left, along with Roland's drawing which wasn't wrapped. "Hey Kid, you still haven't opened Regina's gift, huh? I think she left two over there for you."

Regina did leave two presents over there for him, and Henry ran to the table yet again and grabbed the smallest one off of it. Not able to hide her worry about her choices, Regina bit her lip and tried not to let it show. It was apparent to Emma though, who responded by placing a warm hand on her knee.

Henry opened the gift to find the small, swimming shark that Regina had gotten him. It was supposed to go in the bathtub, and Henry giggled loudly when he saw it. "That's so cool," he proclaimed as he proudly held it out for them all to see. He made it swim in the air in front of him.

Regina chuckled lowly. "I promised you a shark, didn't I? And see, it goes in the tub," she told him – and she couldn't help herself – she moved over to show him the small handle that one turned over so the shark's fins started moving and it could swim in the water. "So I thought… I thought you could keep it at my place, you know? So when you come visit and you have a bath, you can use your shark."

Suddenly unsure whether or not that had even been an appropriate gift, Regina retreated back to her seat. The smile on Henry's face was giant though, and the look that Emma shot her told her that the gift was certainly not inappropriate. She wasn't so sure what the rest of the company thought though.

Henry reached for her other present. He could hardly carry it off the table – David rushed to help – because it was a gift of several books. Regina hadn't been able to choose, just wanting Henry to have them all, so she might have gone a bit overboard. Henry seemed to like them all though, and he loudly proclaimed which one he'd liked to hear at bedtime tonight. The last present was from Mulan, Marian and Roland and it was a princess dress and a tiara. Henry immediately pressed the tiara on top of his head, before him and his friends rushed towards the swing again, Toto barking loudly as he followed them.

Mary Margaret was watching Regina with questions in her eyes from her seat across from them.

"That was a really sweet gift you got him," Emma whispered into her ear, and Regina was pulled out of her silent stare-off. "You also spent way too much money on him. You shouldn't have."

Biting her lip, Regina replied. "I couldn't help it."

Emma chuckled. "I can see that." She stared at Regina in silence for a few seconds, and the brunette could see that there was something going on inside that head of hers, some kind of silent conflict or debate, and she wondered what had her pondering so hard about things. "Hey, I wanted to show you something," she finally said, seemingly having made up her mind. She pushed off the bench and extended a hand to Regina. "Care to join me inside for a second?"

Regina did not need much time to think about it; she grabbed Emma's hand and let herself be pulled up off the bench. Emma murmured a hasty 'be right back' to her parents, before she tugged Regina with her inside the house, through the sparse living room, down the hall and into her old bedroom. Regina let herself be lead; she had no idea what Emma wanted with her, but she was curious to find out, and when Emma closed the door silently behind them, she found herself almost pressed up against it, Emma's body mere inches from hers. She was suddenly feeling hot. Had there always been this hot? She seemed to remember needing a jacket all day long.

Emma reached a tentative hand out and softly stroked her fingers across Regina's cheek. The brunette shivered, but it wasn't because the touch was cold. She felt her breath hitch and her eyes fall close on their own accord, and before she knew it, she was pressed fully up against the door by Emma's body as the blonde traced a line of soft pecks across her cheekbone, to her chin, before landing on her mouth. Each kiss made her heart pick up speed, and she felt her fingers clutch awkwardly at Emma's sweater.

Their mouths joined together softly; lips brushing against lips, a small swipe of tongues and noses touching gently. It was soft, softer than anything they had shared before, and Emma tasted great, like coffee and cake mixed together, and Regina breathed in through her nose. Emma pulled back then, lips barely leaving hers, foreheads pressed together and eyes meeting in a heated gaze.

"Hello," she shyly said, and Regina could get lost in her green eyes forever.

She bit her lip to keep herself from smiling too much, while she mentally told herself to calm down. "How long have you wanted to do that," she teased, but really she understood Emma's desire: She'd wanted to kiss her all day long as well.

Emma nuzzled her nose again. "Since you came here in that skirt. Damn," she licked her lips and pressed another kiss to Regina's mouth. She looked hesitant, before adding, "I hope that's okay."

"It's more than okay," Regina breathed as she untangled one of her hands from Emma's sweater and gently combed her fingers through her blonde hair.

"That's nice," Emma hushed, eyes closing and head tilting slightly to the side to meet Regina's soft caress. She moaned in delight, before popping her eyes open again. "I don't actually have anything to show you," she confessed, and she did have the audacity to look guilty and sheepish at that, "I just really needed a second to do that without an audience."

Regina throatily chuckled. It wasn't like she'd thought Emma had actually had something to show her – not after being pressed against the door and kissed – so it wasn't like she was heartbrokenly disappointed. "Hmm, what a shame," she teased, and she could not hold back her grin.

"When will I see you again?" Emma whispered. She had still not pulled back from her, and Regina did not mind at all. It was nice, having Emma close like this, comforting and familiar, and something Regina really wanted. And in other ways, too, she was starting to realise. Perhaps in one of their bedrooms with preferably less clothes on. They had that talk to have though, and it was important that she said all the things that she needed to say, because she wanted to do this right. It was Emma. Her Em-ma, and it had to be done the right way. After all this time, she could not afford to risk it.

She pressed her lips to Emma's in a chaste peck. "Tomorrow? I can come by tomorrow."

With a nod, Emma confirmed. She pulled her head back slightly, their eyes still locked with an intimacy that Regina had never experienced before, and her hands were tangled in Emma, and Emma had one hand on the door and the other on her cheek, and it was decidedly difficult to accept the fact that they had to return outside to the backyard and the party before someone decided to question their whereabouts.

"Hello, Emma? Regina?"

Too late for that, apparently. Ruby was banging on the door behind them, and she was doing it quite loudly. Emma sighed and Regina bent her head; their two seconds of peace were gone.

"I swear," Ruby continued through the closed door, "if you're banging in your old bed while your son's having a birthday party, I will frigging-"

She was cut off by Emma opening the door widely. Regina stood next to her, cheeks slightly flushed, and Ruby's eyes immediately ran over their forms as her nose crinkled slightly.

She faltered. "Oh, you're not fucking."

Regina thought she sounded slightly disappointed by that fact.

Emma rolled her eyes "Nope, Sherlock, thank you for that assessment," she retorted, but her eyes were playful all the same. Regina hugged her coat closer around herself and carefully ran her fingers over the corner of her lips in search of smeared lipstick.

Ruby stuck her tongue out at her. "Well I had to be sure," she childishly answered, jutting out her hip. "Henry's looking for you," she said, and as Emma moved to brush pass her, she held an arm out to stop her. "You have lipstick," she said as she extended her other hand to point at her own lips in vague reference, "right there."

"Oh," Emma's movement faltered for a second as she brushed the back of her hand over her lips. Regina winced when she realised just how much of her lipstick had actually made it onto Emma's face, even though their kissing had been minimal and chaste.

"Here," she stepped forward and ran her own finger over the corners of Emma's lips, "that's better. Go find your son," she smiled and pushed Emma gently down the hall.

Ruby stared at her quizzically, when Regina turned to look at her. "You better get your act together, lady," she commented, before she sauntered down the hall too, high heels clicking as she went.

Regina stared after her, mouth slightly agape, before she made her way to the bathroom.

—-

The party was coming to an end; Henry was conked out on Emma's old bed, August, Jefferson and Grace had gone home, and the twins had been picked up by their dad awhile ago. Roland was crashing on the couch, snoring loudly, while most of the grown-ups were enjoying a beer in the backyard, huddling close together as it was turning colder outside.

Regina was helping Mary Margaret in the kitchen though. She couldn't drink, because she had the drive back home to do, so she'd opted to help Emma's foster mother clean up instead. Dorothy had promised to drive Emma's Bug back to town, so Emma was on her second beer, and Regina couldn't find it in herself to interrupt the other woman's light-hearted conversation with Marian; they were talking shop, and Emma was just so enthusiastic about it. Instead, Regina found herself moving about in the kitchen silently, putting away leftovers and stacking the dishwasher.

Mary Margaret seemed tense, but Regina wasn't about to question her. She hardly knew the woman after all.

"Does this go in the dishwasher?" Regina questioned and held out a beautiful glass bowl that had contained chips and nuts.

The older woman nodded, "Yes, that's fine. Thank you."

Regina bent down to make it fit inside the machine – she had to rearrange a few plates; it seemed like it was just about ready to be turned on – and she lifted her head to tell Mary Margaret so, but as she did, the other woman was smiling expectantly down at her and holding out a tab for the dishwasher. Regina offered her a strained smile and put it in, before closing the door and hitting the power button with a curled finger.

"Oh, the kitchen almost looks fine now," Mary Margaret sighed as she slid herself into one of the old kitchen chairs by the small table. "Thanks for all your help, Regina, you didn't have to." She poured herself some coffee from the pot that was still halfway full and motioned for Regina to take a seat on the other chair.

Doing that, Regina folded her hands awkwardly in her lap and looked softly at the other woman; Mary Margaret seemed tired, worn down, and it had probably been a long day for her, preparing and hosting and doing all of this for her daughter and grandson. She seemed like the person who worried a lot – worried about Emma and Henry, and how her daughter wasn't really open with her. Regina felt a pang of sadness inside of her chest for this woman; she didn't know her, and she knew Emma probably had her reasons for staying guarded (abandonment issues will do that to a person), but it really didn't seem fair that Mary Margaret got the short end of the stick in this arrangement. Perhaps her and Emma had just really never learned to communicate with each other. They were different, that much was evident, both probably stubborn and bullheaded, and that could make mutual understanding difficult.

Regina found herself relaxing her shoulders and asking the other woman softly, "Are you OK?"

Mary Margaret sighed and took a sip of her coffee cup – an outrageous blue thing with birds on it. "It's just been tough today, I want to do everything nice for Henry because I know how much it means to Emma," she paused, eyes glazing slightly over, "but I just can't seem to please her really."

"I believe Emma is very pleased with everything," Regina quickly offered, because that had never appeared to be the problem to her. "Perhaps she just doesn't really know how to tell you."

Green eyes turned to her and Mary Margaret placed her cup back on the table. "You seem to be growing closer and closer to my daughter and grandson every time I see them," she commented. It sounded almost innocent, like a thought from the top of her head, but Regina knew there was more to it than that. "That was a very nice gift you gave Henry. A shark. For your bathtub."

Regina felt her back stiffen. "Well he enjoyed the tub when he stayed with me and I figured a real shark might be to stretch it a little," she drily replied.

A soft smile edged its way onto Mary Margaret's face. "Regina, can I be honest with you?"

"I would prefer it if you were," Regina replied. Her gaze was turned studiously on the other woman, watching her movement and the small mimics of her face. She seemed nervous, and Regina felt it too; not exactly nervousness, more like an itching curiosity, wonderment as to what Mary Margaret really wanted to say to her, because it was evident that there was something on her mind.

"I just," her soft, melodic voice carried easily across the small table, and it was intimate in a way that Regina was not entirely comfortable with. "I can't seem to figure you out."

Regina arched an eyebrow. "Me? What do you mean?"

Mary Margaret wiped a tired hand across her face. "You and Emma," she clarified, eyes boring deeply into Regina's.

"Me and Emma," Regina hissed through her lips next, and she felt that her suspicions were turning out to become true. Mary Margaret was going into protective mother mode. This was incredulous.

The grey streaks in the older woman's hair glittered strangely in the faint light streaming in through the open door. There were sounds of laughter and happy voices from outside, not that Regina could make out what they were saying anyway. Mary Margaret's shoulders sagged. "I keep thinking and thinking, and I just can't seem to figure out what a woman like you…" she trailed off, pausing as her eyes shone, "…would want with my Emma."

Brow furrowed, Regina felt herself get protective as well. She knew Mary Margaret meant well (because why wouldn't she, Emma was her daughter after all), but she was not comfortable having her motives questioned this way. Sure, it might look odd from the outside; their age difference, their vastly different backgrounds, their – Regina cringed at the thought, because she heard her mother's voice vividly with them – social statuses. All those things were true, yes, but there was so much more to it than that. There was their insane chemistry and the way that Emma was not afraid to say her piece. They were both damaged, in very different ways, and it just worked for them. Regina wished there was a way that that could be evident to people watching them, but there wasn't. To her, to Emma, to Henry, it was enough that they knew – but Mary Margaret wanted to see it too, and Regina understood that need. Perhaps Emma just really needed to speak with her mother.

"Mary Margaret," Regina softly said, her brown eyes scanning the other woman's face carefully, "I'm sorry that… my intentions," she paused at the word with uneasiness, "are not clear, but it's not your place to question them." She stared boldly at her, and it was evident that Mary Margaret was taken aback by her defensive response. She'd probably thought Regina was going to start listing her reasons for liking Emma, but she'd never do that. "I like your daughter. In fact, I care about her and Henry so much. I think that should be all you need to concern yourself with."

Sipping her coffee again, Mary Margaret took her sweet time coming up with a response. She hummed around the porcelain, daintily putting the cup back down on the table. "Excuse me," she lightly said, and there was a fire burning in her green eyes, "but I just don't want my daughter and my grandson to get hurt! I have a hard time imagining that you'll stick around in the long run – why would you, you're eventually going to want things that Emma can't give you."

Jaw clenched, Regina narrowed her eyes. Oh the audacity of that woman. "Pardon me," she hissed, nostrils flaring and hands fisted tightly in her lap, "but you have no idea what I want in the long run. I'm quite certain that Emma can give me everything that I should ever desire. You don't know me." She unfisted her palm with a beating heart. She'd never been questioned on her intentions before, never, and she had to admit that she didn't like it one bit.

Mary Margaret continued, "Well, I just don't want them both to get attached if you're going to leave. You have to see where I'm coming from. Emma – and Henry – has been through so much already."

Regina told herself to breathe in steadily and relax. She wanted badly to turn the table over, demand Mary Margaret to see reason. Her anger always loomed, especially when she felt like she was being unfairly treated, and Regina from two years ago would have been cool and collected and left this argument thriving, but now – no. She had to stay calm, because anger was not the option. She shouldn't close herself off, but try to explain. Mary Margaret meant well, she was sure of it, and Mary Margaret was also the closest thing Emma had to a mother, so Regina wanted her to like her. It was important that she did, because this was Emma's family. "I'm not going to run," she cooly replied.

Studying her, Mary Margaret's eyes swept over her features, and Regina let her, knowing that the older woman was looking for a sign, something to prove her wrong or right. "Hm," she eventually breathed out.

Regina opened her mouth to say more. "Honestly, you needn't concern yourself with this, Mary Margaret," she explained, giving the woman a bit of leeway, something she would have never imagined herself doing. "If you talked to your daughter," she paused, tongue wetting her upper lip, "really talked, without judging her, and just listening…"

Mary Margaret stiffened as Regina trailed off, probably about to disagree with her, to say something in her own defence, to make up excuses, but Regina held a finger up, demanding silence.

"…she'd tell you that we've talked about all that." She looked at the other woman, willing her to understand. "We've talked about attachment, feelings, how to proceed with caution," she offered a vague smile, "We're taking things very slow. For a long time we agreed to just be friends, but it appears that," she paused again and couldn't help the soft smile that came onto her face when she thought about Emma and her stupid, beautiful face. "It appears that your daughter has somehow clawed her way into my heart along with her adorable son, and I… I don't want to let them go."

It appeared that her speech, her rare show of emotion to anyone but her closest friends and family, was doing something to Mary Margaret. The older woman had tears gathered in the corners of her eyes – Regina had never been comfortable with such open show of emotion, but she ignored it – and her shoulders sagged. "Okay," she breathed.

Regina was not done yet though. "You have to understand," she continued, because it was important that she finished her piece and then hopefully they wouldn't have to broach this subject ever again, "that for a very long time, I didn't know how to love, but Emma," she paused, voice cracking slightly, "Emma – oh God, and Henry, too – they showed me how."

The tears were falling freely down Mary Margaret's pale cheeks at this, but she had a smile on her face. Her voice was incredibly soft when she replied to Regina's speech. "Thank you," she whispered, "for telling me that."

Straightening her back, Regina said, "You're welcome."

The two women looked at each other for a few seconds, finding some kind of mutual understanding within the conversation and the truth they'd just shared. Regina felt lighter somehow, even if she scarcely knew the woman, she knew that she had done the right thing by opening up to Emma's foster mother. They were only pulled apart from their silent communication when they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat in the doorway. Mary Margaret looked up, and Regina twisted around in her chair to find Ruby looking at her with an excited smile.

"Get your dancing shoes on, Regina Mills," she said and her eyes were shining with mischief, "we're all going out tonight."

A/N: So perhaps we are a little bit annoyed and displeased with Mary Margaret after this chapter, but honestly, when are we not annoyed and displeased with Mary Margaret/Snow on the show? She means well, she's just… yeah. She means well. Also, I received some questions about Regina and Emma's ages in this fic, and Emma is 23 as stated in a prior chapter, and I'm imagining Regina to be around thirty or so. It's not really that important, other than the fact that there is an age gap of course. So anyway! Thank you for reading.