Prompted by ticiatigr on Tumblr, from a sentence starter meme I reblogged: "c'mon, I'll make you some hot chocolate".

I know it has been forever since I put up a one shot in this verse, my brain has been fried and the muses haven't been speaking to me for this verse. Hope to turn that around.


"Are you sure you have everything?" Regina asked Henry, peering into the back of his crowded car.

"I think I have more than most kids need when they start college," he replied, giving her a patient smile. Emma was giving him a look, almost as if she was going to cry. "Mama, not you too."

"Full tank?" Emma replied, instead.

"Mama…"

"Because here, in case you run out before you get there." She put a crisp 50 dollar bill in his hand.

Henry sighed. "You guys know I'll be home soon, it's not that far away."

"You shouldn't drink," Regina cut in.

"But if you do," her wife shot her a quick glance before returning it to her son. "Don't drive. And avoid stairs."

"Stairs?" Henry repeated.

"Yes, stairs."

He rolled his eyes. "Alright, no drinking, get gas, avoid stairs…anything else?"

"You know we love you?"

Henry smiled. "Yeah."

Emma and Regina pulled him into a tight hug, trying not to cry at the reminder that he now towered above them both. They didn't understand when that had happened. It seemed like just yesterday that Emma had brought him home with her, that tiny squishy baby with those big expressive green eyes. He had them wrapped around his fingers from first glance. Over the years, they had watched him grow into a rambunctious kid that was always on the move and talked a mile a minute, spouting out facts from books that he read. He had given them some hell in his teen years-they would never forget the time they caught him tagging-but overall, they were so proud of him. He got good grades for the most part and had gotten into a great college. It was going to be the longest time they'd all been apart since he came into their home.

Despite their younger two children that were inside and had already said goodbyes to their big brother, things were definitely going to be different in their house. Emma and Regina weren't sure if they were ready, but he definitely was.

"I love you too," Henry muttered. "Both of you. I'm really thankful for everything the two of you have done."

Regina pulled off a bit so he could get a good look at his face, touching his chin. "We're your moms, Squish, it's our job."

Henry nodded and kissed her cheek before doing the same with Emma. "Try to make sure Mom doesn't text me all day?"

"Can't make any promises, kid," Emma smirked a bit at her wife. "You know your mother."

Regina rolled her eyes. "You two ganging up on me, that's something I won't miss."

"Oh, you'll get plenty of it at Thanksgiving," Henry teased back.

She shook her head in response, though he could tell she was only doing that so he wouldn't see the tear had escaped down her cheek. "Alright, you should go before I change my mind and send you to the local community college."

Henry smiled. "Right."

"Call us when you get there and text us pictures of your room."

He gave them both one last big squeeze, which neither woman easily let him out of. Eventually, after one final grin, he was in his car and pulling out of the drive.

Regina and Emma watched the used Toyota go down Mifflin Street. There he was, off into the world. There was a mixture of sadness and pride inside of them, but it was more of the latter than anything.

"We did a good job with him," Emma finally spoke up after he was no longer in sight.

Regina smiled a bit. "We did."

"He's going to be okay."

"Of course he is. He's a Swan-Mills, after all." Regina spotted tears falling down Emma's cheeks and reached over squeezing her arm. "C'mon, I'll make you some hot chocolate."

Emma wiped her tears. "That sounds good."

The pair headed into the house and it was no surprise that Penelope and Roland had since gotten distracted and were off doing their own thing. Regina lead her wife into the kitchen and started to make the drink while Emma got the mugs. She ran her fingers over a handmade mug that had somehow survived for 13 years.

"Remember when us these?" Emma pulled it out along with the matching set.

Regina grinned a little. "I can't believe they lasted."

"Well, we never drink out of them," she pointed out, setting them back down before she dropped them and grabbed two proper ones.

"I still remember when he and Roland set up that Valentine's Day dinner for us. He was only what, 6?"

Emma nodded and then snorted at another memory. "Then that time he found my tampons and used them as swords for his action figures."

Regina laughed so hard that she nearly dropped the tea kettle. "He sure was one interesting kid." She was silent for a minute as Emma settled the mugs onto the counter next to her. "Do you think we were ever too hard on him?"

"Were we probably a little stricter than most parents? Maybe?" Emma shrugged. "At the same time, he's got a mayor and sheriff for mothers. He turned out fine, we didn't screw him up nearly as badly as I thought we would. He's a happy, well-adjusted young man."

Regina nodded at that, looking happy once again. She poured out the hot water and put in the hot chocolate mix. Emma grabbed hold of the whipped cream and cinnamon, adding it on top. She knew that Regina was more of a cider person, but this was their family's little tradition. She picked up the mug and held it out to her wife's.

"One down, two to go."

Regina smirked, winking a bit. "I'll drink to that."

Their mugs clinked and they sipped them. Regina stole a kiss from Emma, catching a taste of cinnamon on her lips.


As always, prompts are accepted! Feel free to follow me on Tumblr. I have a main account (just-an-outlaw) where I post random fandoms and then a fanfiction account (justanoutlawfanfiction) where I accept prompts and answer questions about my series. Until next time friends. =)