A/N: more family time! I love writing scenes like this but don't worry, we'll get back to firehouse action soon enough! Also, if you don't know what Devonshire cream tea is, google it and then go and eat one asap. Trust me!
"So, Emma, have you every been to England?" Zelena asked as she settled herself on the couch beside the blonde who was eating a scone topped with clotted cream and jam. Regina and Henry were sat on the rug in the middle of the brunette's living room, playing a game of go fish.
"Does a fourteen hour layover between flights count?" Emma asked, looking away from her son and girlfriend and towards the redhead.
"Depends, did you leave the airport?"
"Yes," Emma nodded. "We took the subway, no sorry, the tube into London and looked around for a few hours."
"What did you think?" Zelena asked.
"It rained the whole time," Emma replied.
Zelena laughed. "Yes, it does tend to do that. But St James Park on a sunny day is just delightful."
"Did you live in London?" Emma asked.
"I grew up in the countryside about an hour away London, near Oxford, but I studied in the city. I've always loved London, ever since I was a child, so as soon as I was able to get away from the endless trees and fields and animals, I did."
Emma grinned. "Not an outdoors person then?"
"Most definitely not," Zelena shook her head. "Unlike my dear sister over there, I get no pleasure in sitting astride gigantic animals and charging through woodland."
"You ride?" Emma asked, turning to Regina.
"Used to," the brunette said, without turning away from her cards.
"You never told me," Emma said.
"You never asked," Regina pointed out.
"True but 'do you horse ride?' is quite a specific question this early on in a relationship."
Regina flashed a smile at Emma before turning to Henry and asking if he had any queens.
"So you learned to cook in London?" Emma asked Zelena, making a mental note to ask her girlfriend more about her childhood on horseback later.
"Yes," Zelena nodded. "I went to culinary school but soon discovered my talent and my heart lay in baking. I worked in a high end cake shop in London and then when I moved to Maine a few years ago, I decided to set up my own. Which is now expanding to Boston."
"Yeah, Regina told me. Congratulations," Emma said.
"Thanks. I'm looking forward to being near my sister again actually. Plus Boston is a cool city."
"That it is," Emma nodded. "Where are the properties -,"
"No! You cheated!" Henry shouted, standing up from the floor and throwing his cards on the floor.
"Henry?" Emma asked, sliding off the couch and kneeling beside her son. "What's wrong?"
"Gina cheated," Henry declared, glowering at the brunette.
"Was I meant to let him win?" the paramedic whispered, worry etched on her face as she watched the tantrum bubble before her. Emma silently shook her head and turned back to the small boy.
"Henry," Emma said gently, sitting down and pulling her son into her lap. "Games are not about winning, remember. They're fun to play if we win or lose. Last weekend you beat Uncle August and today Regina beat you. But they were both fair games. You need to learn that you won't always win in games or in life."
Henry sniffed, his eyes a little watery but the tears yet to fall.
"But I wanted to win," he said in a small voice.
"Well of course you wanted to win," Emma said. "That's a good thing. It means you play as well as you can and you try your best. But sometimes, other people are a little bit better. Maybe next time you play, you will win."
"Can we play again now?" Henry asked.
"What do you think Regina?" Emma said, raising her eyes to look at the brunette who was watching the exchange with a warm smile. "Rematch?"
"Sure," Regina said, gathering the cards and shuffling them thoroughly before dealing. Henry climbed out of Emma's lap and picked up his cards, already forgetting his disappointment and focusing on the new game.
"You're a great mother," Zelena commented as Emma took her seat and reached for the second half of her scone. The blonde had never had a cream tea before but had to admit that Regina was right. They were quite delicious.
"Thanks," Emma smiled. "I have lots of help but Henry is a fantastic little kid. And he seems to really like Regina."
"She really likes him too, both of you actually," Zelena said.
"She told you that?" Emma asked, her face lighting up.
"Oh come on, Emma. As if you don't know my sister is crazy about you. Just do me a favour will you. Don't break her heart."
"I can hear you two by the way," Regina called out from the floor.
Emma laughed. "I know, and I won't," she added, turning to look at Zelena with a solemn expression.
"Good. Because if you did, I'd have to kill you and that just wouldn't be fair to Henry."
Emma laughed again. She liked the redhead. She was spunky, funny and clearly loved Regina. Emma thought she had a few things in common with Zelena.
"Mommy," Henry said, looking up at the couch from his seat on the floor a little while later. "I won!"
"Well done, Henry. See, I told you didn't I. You win some games and you lose some games."
"I like winning," Henry declared, smiling widely.
"Everyone does," Emma replied. "But to be a good winner, you need to say well done to the loser."
Henry nodded his understanding and turned to Regina. "Sorry you lost. But I was better."
Regina laughed. "That's ok Henry. You did play better than me. And I'm sure your mother will find some way to make up for me losing."
"Like more cake?" Henry asked.
"Something like that," Emma said. "Are you hungry again little man?"
Henry nodded. "Can we have cake for dinner?"
All three women laughed and Henry frowned, unsure of what he had said that was so funny.
"No, kid. But we can go out for dinner. Would Regina and Zelena like to join us or would they like some sister time alone?" Emma asked, looking between the two women.
Regina glanced up at Zelena. She knew what she wanted to do but didn't want to force her sister to spend time more with Emma and Henry if she didn't want to. Zelena however, nodded her encouragement and Regina mouthed a "thank you" to her.
"We'd love to join you. There's a fantastic Italian place down the street if you're up for that?"
"What's Italian food?" Henry asked.
"Pasta and pizza mostly," Emma informed him. "It's food from Italy and I'm sure there are things you'll like on the menu."
"Pizza isn't from Italy. It's American," Henry declared.
Regina laughed. "Well Italians might agree with you if they ate some of the slices served in this country but actually, this restaurant is run by an Italian family and the food is very similar to what you get in Italy."
"Have you been to Italy?" Henry asked.
"Yes," Regina said. "My father took me when I graduated high school. It was amazing. I loved the food in particular."
"Italy looks like a boot."
Zelena and Regina stared in astonishment at the four year old's knowledge of geography but Emma just looked proudly at her son and ruffled his hair.
"I like maps," she explained. "There's been one the wall of Henry's bedroom since he was born. I think it's important for people to understand the world and their place in it. Things don't start and end in the USA."
"Agreed," Regina said. "Well Henry, maybe one day you'll be able to visit the boot shaped country and have some real Italian pizza but for now, do you think you can make do with a restaurant near here?"
Henry nodded and grinned. "Can you come to Italy with us?" he asked innocently.
Regina's wide eyed gaze shot to Emma who flushed a little at her son's question.
"Erm, maybe. We'll see, OK?"
"OK," Henry said. "Can we go for food now, please. I'm hungry."
Dinner was full of laughter, chatter, dinosaurs, and delicious melted cheese. Regina was right, the pizza really was good. Henry wolfed his child sized pepperoni down and then proceeded to pick at his mother's Hawaiian before moving to snag a corner or Regina's feta and olive pizza. They laughed loudly as Henry made a face at the taste and Emma lunged forward to catch the reemerging, chewed food in a napkin, still giggling. After declaring olives were horrible and he didn't ever want to eat them again, Henry went back to stealing pieces of Emma's food. Once they were all comfortably full, Zelena insisted on paying the bill and four of them left the restaurant. On the walk back to Regina's, Henry tugged on his mother's hand and asked to be carried. She hoisted her son onto her hip and walked with him held close to her chest the rest of the way to their car.
"I'd better get this one into bed," Emma said.
"I'm not sleepy," Henry said, trying and failing to stifle a yawn.
"I'll see you again soon, Henry. At least, I hope I will," Regina added, looking at Emma.
"You sure will. Regina will come over to our house next time Henry, and you can play with her and your dinosaurs again."
"OK," Henry smiled, laying his head on his mother's shoulder as his eyes drooped closed.
"Goodnight Henry," Regina said, stepping forwards to place a kiss to the boy's forehead. "And goodnight Emma," she added, moving to brush her lips lightly against her girlfriend's.
"Thanks for today guys," Emma said, addressing both sisters. "It was so nice to meet you Zelena and if your cake shop treats taste anything like what I've eaten today, I'm sure it's going to be a roaring success."
"Thanks," Zelena smiled. "It was great to meet the person who's made my sister so happy. Or people, I should say," she added, gesturing to the now sleeping boy on Emma's hip.
"She makes us both happy too," Emma said, smiling dopily at the brunette.
"So I'll see you on Monday," Regina said.
"Can't wait," Emma smiled, reaching to open her car and place Henry in his seat as Regina and Zelena turned towards the brunette's building.
When he was safely buckled in, she closed the door and turned to find Regina watching her. Zelena was nowhere to be seen.
"You OK?"
"I couldn't let you leave without doing this," Regina said, stepping forward and backing Emma against her car, pressing her lips firmly against the blonde's. Emma moaned at the sudden kiss but wrapped her arms around her girlfriend as she opened her mouth and welcomed Regina's tongue. They kissed slowly, enjoying the taste of the other woman as they held each other tightly. Too soon, they broke apart.
"I had a wonderful time today," Regina said, leaning her forehead against Emma's.
"Me too," Emma said. "And so did Henry."
"He's amazing. You're both amazing."
"So are you," Emma said, placing another peck to the plump, red lips. "But I have to get my amazing son home and into bed. I'll text you later."
"I can't wait," Regina said, stealing another kiss before she unwound her arms from Emma's waist and stepped back, allowing the blonde to push herself off her car and open the driver's door.
"Night Regina."
"Night."
Regina watched the car pull away, not stepping into the building until the yellow bug had driven around the corner and out of sight.
Regina's cell phone lit up and buzzed against the wooden side table. She reached over and read the new text message.
Do I have the sister stamp of approval? E xo
Grinning, Regina quickly replied.
Of course. You were both completely adorable today. Zelena loved you guys. R xx
Good. I liked her too. Please tell her thanks again for dinner. E xo
I will. Did Henry go to bed alright? R xo
Didn't even wake up when I carried him in from the car. Your card games clearly wore him out. E xo
He wore me out too. I'm already tucked up in bed. R xo
Seconds later Regina's phone lit up. She chuckled before accepting the call.
"What are you wearing?" Emma said, her voice low.
"My black silk pyjamas, you?"
"I could lie and any something sexy but in reality I'm wearing sweat pants and an old grey hoodie," Emma replied.
Regina laughed. "Anything you wear is sexy, Emma. You're sexy."
"You're sexier," the blonde countered.
Regina giggled again. "You're ridiculous."
"Yeah and you love it."
There was a long pause.
"I'm sorry-,"
"I do-,"
Another pause.
"I wish I could have stayed with you tonight," Emma said at last.
"Me too," Regina replied. "One day maybe both you and Henry could stay over. He can have the spare room."
"How are we going to explain our absence to August and MM?" Emma asked.
"Firstly, you're a grown adult who doesn't have to give your friends excuses for your absence. Secondly, you're going to have to tell them sooner or later, Emma. Do you think they could keep it quiet if we asked them to?"
"Perhaps August. But Mary Margaret is a notoriously bad secret keeper. She told Neal about my collection of dildos."
There was spluttering sound on the other end of the phone.
"Regina, are you ok?"
"Sorry, I was drinking some water and didn't expect you to say, well, that."
"Oh come on, every girl has dildos," Emma laughed.
"I don't," Regina replied, her voice raspy and a little breathless.
"God I wish you were here with me right now," Emma said, squeezing her thighs together.
"Me too. I'm going to hang up now before I jump in my car and drive over to yours."
"Why don't you?" Emma asked, knowing the answer.
"Because I haven't seen Zelena in over a month and we have a whole day of sisterly fun planned tomorrow."
"I know," Emma replied. "I just miss you."
"It's been three hours, Emma," Regina reminded her.
"I know. I still miss you."
"I miss you too."
It's fun to write fluff ...