I apologise for the last chapter as I had forgotten to mark off the sections that had sexual content. I know that not everyone likes to read the smut. This chapter doesn't have any though.

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"That was one hell of a drive. How did you manage it every weekend, Swan?" Ruby asks when she enters the mansion, stretching out her back from the hours of sitting down. It was almost two and Ruby had left Boston much earlier this morning than she was used to getting up on her day off.

"Hey, Rubes. I really appreciate you coming all this way." Emma hugs her friend and shuts the door behind them.

"No worries. From what I've seen of this town as I drove through it looks pretty nice. I can't wait to explore it a bit more later on. Are we still on for going out tonight?"

"Yeah, we are going to drop Henry off with his grandma at six and then we'll head out."

"Awesome. Where's the missus and the kiddo, anyway?" She asks because she can't see or hear them.

"They are in the back garden. Come on, let's go and say hello before we unload the van." She leads Ruby through the house, the brunette takes in her surroundings- awed by the beautiful mansion, to the patio doors that lead out to the back garden.

"Hey guys, look who I found loitering in front of the house," she throws a friendly wink at her friend.

"Hello, Ruby. It's nice to see you again." Regina greets as she walks over from where she is playing bat and ball with Henry, to hug the taller woman.

"And you too." She replies, hugging Regina in return.

"Ruby!" Henry shouts as he runs up to hug around her legs. He remembers her as one of the fun workers from Emma's work.

"Hey, little man. How are you doing?" She asks as she squats so she's closer to his height.

"I'm playing bat and ball with my mommy and I'm winning." He was only winning because he was making up his own rules as he went along, rules only he understood. "Do you want to play with me?"

"Maybe later, Buddy, We have to get my stuff from the van. Your bed is in there." Emma interjects.

"My bed! Mommy, can I help them get it?" He excitedly shouts as he jumps up and down.

Regina looks over to Emma for permission, she didn't want to risk Henry getting in the way and getting himself hurt. A nod and a smile from the blonde lets her pass on permission to Henry. "Yes, my prince. Just don't get in their way, okay?"

"I won't, mommy." He reaches up for Emma's hand, "come on, Emma. Let's go."

"Have you eaten, Ruby? I can make you some lunch if you'd like, a sandwich perhaps?"

"That's sounds great. I'm starving." She beams at the offer of food.

Emma gives Regina what she hopes is a pleading look, her eyes asking for a sandwich as well.

"You've already had lunch," Regina says to Emma as if reading her mind.

"I didn't say anything," she feigns innocence as she defends herself.

"You didn't have to." Regina says with a smile as she goes on her tiptoes, because she is wearing flats, to kiss Emma's cheek. Of course she would make her a sandwich as well, Emma had a ferocious appetite but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun messing with her girlfriend.

"Come On, Henry." Emma reaches down to grab the little boy and places him on her shoulders, he loves sitting on her shoulders and getting to see the world from that high up.

The three of them set off down the garden path to unload the few boxes from Emma's car that she still hadn't brought in from the night before, as well as the stuff in the van Ruby had driven up.

Emma made sure to give Henry lighter things to carry. She opens one of her boxes that is marked 'clothes' and for every trip where Ruby would carry a box and she would carry a kayak or some other piece of sports equipment, she would give him individual items of clothing to carry. It took a lot longer than it would have taken if Henry wasn't there but she made sure to make him feel included and would walk back and forth with him at his own pace.

Ruby watches how Emma is with him, she would never in a million years thought that this was the same person she made the deal with so that her friend could get out of having to teach the children's sessions only a few months ago.

Regina comes out into the front garden when she has finished in the kitchen. She stands next to Ruby as they both watch Emma storing her stuff in the garage as she patiently answers all of Henry's questions about the different pieces of equipment. He knows what some of the items are, like the paddleboard, kayak, canoe, mountain bike and camping equipment but he hadn't seen her rock climbing gear or her snowboard before.

"What are those?" He points to the snowboard and surfboard.

"This," she taps the surfboard, "is for surfing. You go into the sea with it and stand up on it to ride the waves. And this," she taps the snowboard, "is basically the same thing but you ride it down snowy mountains."

"Wow. Can I do those things with you?" He eyes go big at the thought of doing these activities with Emma.

"Of course, buddy, when you are a little bit older." She picks him up and holds him against her hip.

"I'm five soon," he holds up one hand to for emphasis, "we go then?"

"As long as your mom says it's okay."

Regina wasn't sure about letting her little boy partake it what she considered to be dangerous activities, she trusted Emma implicitly but accidents happen. "I'll think about it," she calls from where she and Ruby are watching them.

Henry and Emma both turn around, seeing Regina and Ruby for the first time. "That means I can," he says to Emma, making all the women laugh. "We finished now, mommy," Henry shouts back from the garage. They all walk back into the house, Henry still in Emma's arms.

"Is this everything?" Regina asks when all she sees is a few boxes, a pile of clothes and Henry's dismantled bed in her foyer.

"All my sports gear is in the garage so yep, this is everything," Emma answers as she wipes her slightly sweaty forehead with the back of her wrist. It was the middle of Summer and she had carried all the heavier items on her own, leaving a slight sheen of sweat over all the skin that was on view.

Henry looks at Emma and copies her when she wipes her forehead, eliciting smiles from both Ruby and Regina.

"Well, you all seem to have worked up a thirst," she clears her throat as she spies her girlfriends glistening arms, "I've made a pitcher of ice tea in the kitchen." Emma puts his down so he can go get some.

"Awesome," Ruby exclaims as she and Henry make their way to the kitchen.

Regina blocks Emma's way when the blonde tries to follow them through to the kitchen. "What are the chances Ruby will take Henry out for a couple of hours so I can take you to bed?" She jokes as she wraps her arms around the blondes neck.

"We could try and sneak away," Emma jokes back.

"Mommy, can I have one of these sandwiches?" Henry shouts from the kitchen.

"I guess sneaking away is out of the question then," Emma surmises after the interruption.

Regina sighs before shouting back to Henry, she normally didn't allow him to shout and she definitely never shouted back but she didn't want to part from Emma, "the sandwiches are for Ruby and Emma, you've already had lunch."

"You made me a sandwich after all? Woohoo!" The blonde cheers before escaping Regina's arms and walking around her to the kitchen, leaving her bemused girlfriend to follow her.

"Can I have a cookie, then?" He asks sadly when she enters the kitchen.

Emma's eyes go wide. She didn't want a repeat of last night so she takes half of her sandwich and pushes the plate with the other half towards him, earning a shake of her head from Regina. She would rather face Regina's wrath for giving him half a sandwich after he had already had lunch than face seeing him have another nightmare.

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"Are you ready, buddy?" Emma asks Henry when he appears with his overnight backpack strapped to his back.

"Do I have to go? I want to stay with you," he sighs sadly. He always loved going to his Grandma's but Emma had just moved in with them and they had a visitor, so he just wanted to stay with them.

"It's only for tonight. I'll pick you up first thing in the morning and we'll go to the park and then get some breakfast, okay?" She didn't really want to go out. She would have preferred to stay in with him and Regina but Ruby had done her a huge favour by bringing all her belongings all the way from Boston and the least she could do was take her out for a few drinks.

"Okay," he reluctantly agrees.

"Have you got everything?" Regina had packed his bag so she knew he would have everything he needed but she wanted to make sure he had his toys as well. She worried about him more than Regina did.

"Yep. I got Lightning McQueen and Mater," he holds up each car, happiness now on his face because of his toys.

"Good Boy. Let's go say goodbye to your mom."

After a kiss and a hug from his mom Emma drives him to his Grandma's. She had gotten ready way before Regina and Ruby were even half-way done so she took him so they could finish getting ready.

Once Emma frees him from his car seat he runs down his grandma's garden path and barges into the house as he calls out for her. Emma knocks on the open door and waits for Cora to invite her in.

"Emma, don't stand on ceremony, come in," Cora kindly greets her.

"Thank you, Ms Mills," Emma acknowledges as she steps inside and closes the door behind her.

"There's no need to be so formal, Emma. Call me Cora. We are practically family."

Emma blushes, she wasn't used to having anyone that would call her family and be so open and welcoming to her. "Sorry Ms… urm Cora."

"That's quite alright. Would you like a drink? I suspect my daughter is still getting ready for your night out? She has always taken a long time to get ready," she muses.

"Yeah, but I don't know why she takes so long. She wakes up looking perfect," Emma replies with a dreamy smile on her face.

Cora gives her a knowing look and Emma clears her throat when she realises what she just said in front of her girlfriends mother. "A water would be nice, thank you," she finally answers.

She stays with Henry and plays with his cars with him for a little bit until he asks his Grandma if he can watch a movie. Emma used that as a good time to take her leave.

"Get your pyjamas on and then we'll watch whatever you like, sweetheart," Cora answers him.

She walks Emma to the door. "I hope you have an enjoyable night."

"Thank you. I'll be around first thing in the morning to pick him up. I've promised to take him for breakfast."

"Don't rush. I have no plans for tomorrow so he can stay with me for as long as you need."

Emma nods her head but doesn't say anything. She knows she will make sure she is up early to get Henry. She was looking forward to taking him for breakfast and going to the park with him just as much as he was.

When she gets back to the mansion both Ruby and Regina are ready and are sharing a bottle of wine in the lounge, she can hear them laughing all the way from the front door.

"As much as I love hearing you laugh, why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like the reason you are laughing?" Emma asks as she leans against the doorframe of the lounge. This just makes Ruby laugh harder.

"Ruby was just telling me about the time you…"

"Oh god. Just stop there. If it hascome from Ruby it can't be good." The woman in question gives her a sly grin.

"It's only fair I have someone on my side seen as you and Henry always gang up on me," Regina teases.

"I'm glad you're leaving tomorrow," Emma smirks at her friend and shoves her when she moves passed her to sit next to Regina on the couch.

"You'll miss me. Who else are you going to get up to drunken shenanigans with?" Ruby throws back.

Regina had never really seen Emma around any of her friends before and it was nice to see this side of her. She was different somehow and it was a joy to see but it also hurt her a little, to see first-hand just what Emma was giving up by moving in with them.

"I will miss you but I will not miss our drunken shenanigans. I'm a grown up now," she says with fake smugness.

"Debateable," Regina jokes, making Ruby laugh and Emma pout. "I'm not serious, darling," she cups Emma's chin and strokes her cheek with her thumb when the pout doesn't leave her face. "Will a kiss make it better?" Emma smiles and nods and when Regina kisses her she hears a scoff from Ruby.

"Am I going to need to bring a water bottle with me so I can spray you two when you start humping?"

"Jealousy isn't a good look for you," Emma retorts, "not that I blame you. Who wouldn't be jealous of my beautiful girlfriend." She says as she tucks a lock of Regina's hair behind her ear.

"What have you done to her, Regina? She's changed… she's all gross." Ruby says with a look on her face like she can smell something bad.

Emma flips her the bird. "Come on, let's go out. I'm going to need alcohol and lot of it if I'm going to have to put up with you all night." She stands up and holds a hand out for Regina who she helps up from the couch. Ruby holds her hand out and Emma takes it, pulling her up but when she's halfway up she lets go of her hand, causing her to fall back onto the couch.

"Asshole," Ruby berates as she gets up by herself.

"And I thought I was going to have a child free night," Regina mumbles as she picks up her purse from a side table.

Fifteen minutes later they are entering the Rabbit Hole, Emma holding the door open so they can both enter. Regina leads the way to a booth at the back of the bar. It was still quite early so it wasn't heaving just, yet but as the night wears on she knows it will get busier and louder, the booth at the back was ideal if they wanted to be able to converse.

Emma goes to the bar to get their drinks, declining Regina's offer to pay because she had promised Ruby a night of free drinks for hauling her belongings from Boston, so she would be paying for them- as promised, as the two brunettes settle into the booth.

"I've never known her to be this happy, you know?" Ruby says in all seriousness when they are alone.

Regina smiles, "really? I feel like I might have rushed her into all of this. It has all happened so quickly."

"No one rushes Emma into anything. Trust me with that. She wants this. Actually, I've never known her to want something so much. Emma has only ever known betrayal and abandonment and it had left her with commitment issues but those just seemed to vanish when she met you. If she wasn't sure about this she wouldn't have agreed to move in with you." She reaches over the table to take Regina's hands, "I hate that I'm not going to see her every day but I know she is truly happy with you and Henry."

"Thank you, Ruby. That certainly helps with some of the concerns I was having."

"Are you having second doubts?" She pulls her hands back, "If you mess my friend around…"

"No, no. I'm not messing her about and I'm not having second doubts. This is what I want. It's just a lot to ask, she's not just accepting me, she's accepting Henry. We are a package deal."

"You asked her to move in with you and she accepted. Have some faith in her. Besides, I'm not taking her back. She's your problem now," she says with a wink.

"I'm guess I'm stuck with her then." Regina shrugs and smiles.

"Just make sure she always knows she is wanted." Ruby turns serious for just a moment.

"I will." Regina sincerely promises. She never usually answered to anyone but this was Emma's friend, someone the blonde cared about dearly so she was willing to concede her usual power.

"Here you go, ladies," Emma says as she places their drinks down, "I mean lady and a Ruby."

"Do you see how horrible she is to me?" Ruby feigns indignation.

"You've put up with a lot worse for a free drink before. Remember what I caught you doing in that club with those biker chicks that kept buying you shots?"

"No, I don't. I guess the shots did their job and wiped my mind clean. And I do not need reminding," she says when Emma is about to open her mouth.

"I'll tell you later," Emma whispers to Regina when Ruby gets distracted by someone over at the pool table.

"I'll be right back," the lanky brunette says as she slips out of the booth. They both follow her with their eyes and share a knowing smile when they see who has caught her eye.

"Is that the librarian?" Emma queries. She thinks she has seen her before when she's taken Henry to the library to pick out some books.

"Yes, that's Belle," Regina confirms. They both continue to watch as Ruby sweet talks her way into a game of pool with the librarian and somehow gets the two short guys that are with her to make themselves scarce.

"I guess we are on our own then," Emma whispers into Regina's ear as she takes the lobe between her teeth and gives it a gentle suck.

"Miss Swan," she says in her Mayoral voice that she knows the blonde loves, "may I remind you that I am the Mayor of this town? I cannot be seen to be making out in a bar, not matter how enticing you are."

Emma shudders at the deep and authorative voice. "Jesus," she whispers as she squirms in her seat, wetness making itself known between her legs as her core throbs with want.

Regina leans in closer to her, even though there isn't anyone in earshot, she didn't want to chance being overheard, "you had your chance to have me on my knees, bound in front of you last week. I was completely at your mercy. That won't be happening again," she places her hand on Emma's muscular thigh, "I am the Mayor and I am always in charge," her hand slips further up her thigh, hidden from view by the table, "so for the rest of the night you will be obey my every word, heed my every wish."

"Shit, Regina. What are you doing?" Emma whimpers when Regina's hand reaches her centre.

Ruby's words from earlier were still rolling around in her head, Emma needed to feel wanted. She knew Emma enjoyed being dominant, it gave her the control she craved but had never had in any way in her life, so Regina decided to offer her something else, the chance to be controlled and to make to feel needed. Sometimes words alone were not enough and actions are louder than words after all, so she would prove just how much she wants Emma. "Making sure you know you are mine."

Emma smiles at her. "I'm always yours, Madame Mayor. Just say the words and I will bow down on my knees," she smirks, "anytime you would like me to."

Regina has to stop herself growling at being stared at so reverently.

"Oi, you two. Come and have a game of doubles with us," Ruby shouts across the bar. "And bring drinks with you," she says as she holds up her empty glass as proof she needs another.

"Maybe if we are lucky, or more to the point- if Ruby is lucky, she might go home with Belle and we can have the house to ourselves tonight. I do so enjoy hearing you in the throes of passion," Regina whispers before getting up and walking over to join the two women at the pool table.

Emma has to swallow hard and takes a moment to calm her excitement before she can get up and get them all a drink. She has no idea what Belle is drinking so she gets her a chardonnay, the same as what the other two are drinking, and another beer for herself. By the time she has been served the other women have set up the balls and are talking amongst themselves as they wait for her.

"Hello, Belle, I didn't know what you were drinking so I hope this is okay?" She passes her the glass of wine.

"That's perfect, thank you." Belle meekly replies.

Both Emma and Ruby were quite handy with a pool cue because of the amount of time they had both spent in bars over the years. Surprisingly, Regina was actually better than both of them.

"Where did you learn to play like this?" Emma asks in complete bewilderment when Regina pots the last two of their reds, followed by the black.

"It's too early in our relationship for me to reveal all of my secrets," Regina winks.

Ruby used Belle's lack of skill at the pool table to take the opportunity to stand closely behind her and help her with her aim to pot their remaining yellow balls that are still on the table.

"That's the oldest trick in the book," Regina whispers to Emma, who nods her head in agreement.

"Hey, hang on, does that mean you've done that?" Emma asks, unable to hide the jealousy in her voice.

Regina gives her a sly smile and hands her empty glass to her, "I need a refill, darling."

Emma dutifully goes to get another round, sulking slightly because of what Regina had just told her. She had a past of her own but thinking of Regina with anyone else was pure torture. She only knew of Mal but obviously there was more women than she was aware of.

She's broken from her negative thoughts when hands wrap around her waist from behind. "I could see the black cloud hanging over you from all the way over there." Emma turns around in her arms as her order is being dealt with. "I was only joking just now, sweetheart."

"Were you?" She looks down, avoiding eye contact with her lover, she knows she is being petty but she couldn't shake it off.

"Yes. Apart from Mal you are the only person I have ever been intimate with."

"I know it's silly but I just didn't like the thought," she solemnly replies as she suddenly takes a great interest in her own hands.

Regina takes her hands. "Is it silly that I like that you didn't like that thought?"

"Yeah, totally dumb," Emma jokes, finally looking at her. "So, how did you learn to play?"

"I did go to university you know. I spent some time in bars just like this one. It just so happens that I turned out to be pretty good at it."

"Well, you are pretty good with your hands," Emma gives her a sly smile.

"Wait until I get you home, I will show you just how good I am with them. Now give me a kiss."

Emma looks around, the bar had filled up over the last few hours and she was unsure if it was such a good idea so she gives her a quick peck on the lips.

Regina grabs her by the collar of her shirt, "I said kiss me, Miss Swan."

Emma couldn't refuse her authorative Mayoral voice so she does as she has been commanded and kisses her like there is no one else in the room. Ruby starts clapping and making a scene when she catches them making out in the middle of the bar but it doesn't hinder either of them as they taste each other.

When they did finally break apart Ruby high-fives Emma when she walks past them. "What? It's a tradition," Emma innocently informs her girlfriend who is trying to glare at her and not smile at the same time.

The four of them spend the rest of the night drinking and chatting and unfortunately for Ruby she ends up going home with Regina and Emma, instead of Belle. She does manage to get the seemingly shy woman to agree to a lunch date with her for the following day before she has to make her way back to Boston. Just another reason for her to keep visiting Storybrooke.

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I think there will only be about 2-3 more chapters to this story.