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If anyone has questions about the story or would like to see something in a chapter just PM me and I will see what I can do.
Italics show peoples thoughts.
All mistakes are mine sorry in advance.
~o~o~o~o represents a break in scene.
Disclaimer in chapter 1.
Thank you to my beta NoSoup395.
Regina takes her homemade mac 'n' cheese out of the oven when there is a knock out the door.
"I'll go" Emma says, wiping soapy water from her hands with a dish towel before heading to answer the door.
When the Sheriff approaches the door she places her hand over her gun, before opening the door, just in case it doesn't turn out to be who she suspects.
"Hey" says Detective Lock once Emma has opened the door.
She sighs in relief and drops her hand from the weapon. "Hi, come in." She says, opening the door wider to allow him in before closing it behind him.
"We just finished making lunch. Do you want to join us while we talk?" She asks, leading him towards the dining room.
"Sure, but I think it's best if we don't discuss this in front of the kids."
"Yeah, me too. Why don't you go sit at the table." She says pointing him towards the dining room. "I'll go convince Regina to let them eat in the family room."
"Good luck." He chuckles, walking in the direction she indicated.
Emma goes into the kitchen where Regina was plating up the mac 'n' cheese.
"Gina, that smells amazing. I bet it will be the best mac 'n' cheese I've ever had." She says, wrapping her arms around the older woman's waist.
"You want something." The brunette says knowingly.
"What?! No! Well yes, that was a little over kill wasn't it? I do want something but it's not for me." She rests her chin on the shorter woman's shoulder. "Lock and I think it's best if we talk without the kids in the room, so can they eat in the family room, please?"
"You know you could've just asked without the sucking up. We have eaten in the family room before. And I think that would be best at the moment, darling."
"No sucking up, I'll keep that in mind." She places a kiss on Regina's neck before pulling away.
"I'll take these in to Lock, you take Sofia and Henry theirs and then meet us in the dining room." Emma says, picking up two plates from the counter and making her way out of the room.
When the blonde enters the dining room she sees Lock in the chair to the left of the head of the table.
Smiling, she sets a plate down in front of him before taking the seat facing the Detective.
"How's the family?" She asks, setting down her own plate.
"They're good. Hayley just got her book published, the twins got accepted to Harvard and Yale, they want to be a doctor and a lawyer, and the boys are the same as always." He lets out a deep chuckle.
"That's great. I didn't know your wife wrote, and the twins are going to college, wow. It seems like they were just little girls the last time I saw them."
"You're telling me. I wish I could go back to when they were just little girls."
Regina joins them, taking her seat at the head of the table, putting down her own plate along with forks for the three of them.
"You forgot the utensils, darling." The Mayor says, looking towards Emma. "Hello, Detective Lock." She nods her head towards him.
"Madame Mayor." He nods his head back at her.
The exchange makes Emma burst out laughing, earning confused stairs from the other two.
"I'm...sorry." The blonde says between laughs. "You...two...really?" She gets her laughter under control before continuing. "You don't have to be so formal." She shakes her head before reaching for a folk to start her lunch.
"What do you suggest then?" Regina questions with a raised eyebrow.
"Regina, this is John, one of my closest friends. John, this is Regina my gir-" She stops when Regina sends her a glare and stamps on her foot, having discussed not liking being referred to as girlfriend at an earlier date as "she is a woman not a girl". "My significant other." She grits out giving the brunette a tight smile for stamping on her foot.
"I thought you told me you weren't together." John questions.
"That was when I came to you for help, we weren't together then." Emma answers flatly, indicating that the subject is not up for discussion. "So, how'd he do it?" She changes the subject.
"How'd who do what?" He's confused by the question.
"Really? One of the reasons you're here. How'd Patrick escape?"
"Ah, that. It hasn't been confirmed yet. I've sent a team to the prison to investigate. I don't trust the prison to do a thorough investigation. If he had help from a guard then it reflects badly on the prison and they may try to cover that up."
"Makes sense. Keep us posted. I've had my deputies start going door to door and to do a search of the area, but I only have four of them so they won't have gotten far. I told them to call right away if they discover anything significant." Emma informs him.
"I'll send my guys to meet up with your deputies and see where they can help. I also have a team surrounding the house here. Nobody will get in or out without being seen."
"Thanks, John. That makes me feel so much better, but I believe he won't leave Drury Lane since that's where he took Sofia, and the description I got from Mrs Matthews, though vague, matches him. Her daughter may have gotten a better look."
"Is that the victim's wife?"
"Yes."
Regina's head whips back and forth between the two, like a spectator at a tennis match.
"This is really good." Lock says, indicating to his plate.
"Thank you." Regina smiles at him. "So what happens now?"
"Well, if Swan says that the daughter may have gotten a better look then I'm gonna send a sketch artist over to talk to her and see if we can confirm it's Harrison. If it's not him we can still get an ID on the guy who did it. Then I think Emma and I should help with the search. The more of us out there the better."
"Do you have a facial recognition artist with you? Because if not I could help."
"Regina, no. you need to stay here with the kids. Besides Lock's second in command is a facial recognition artist."
"She's right. I have my own personal artist plus it would be best for you to stay here. It will make the kids feel safer.
"Okay. Just be careful." Regina says, locking eyes with Emma.
"Always." The Sheriff promises with a look. "We should go now and help." She looks away from hypnotizing brown towards the Detective.
"Yeah. If you need anything flash your porch lights and two of my officers will come to your door." He tells the brunette as he stands.
"Thank you."
"No problem." He says, before walking out the room to leave the two alone together.
"I'll be back as soon as I find something."
"Find him."
"I will."
Emma leans over to give Regina a soft, loving kiss, with the promise of more before following after Lock.
TBC.