"You look fine, Ma," Henry said.
He passed her and walked into the kitchen, shoving his phone into his pocket to grab something from the fridge. Emma rolled her eyes at him, although she was part of the reason why Regina frequented the grocery store.
"Stop drinking from the bottle, doofus." Emma flicked him on the shoulder and ran her fingers through her hair again. "I can't just look fine."
"Why not? Aren't you already in love with each other?"
"You've clearly not gotten to the stage of trying to romance the person you like."
"Sounds like someone has higher standards than I do."
"You are your mother's son, Henry Daniel," Emma muttered, "Anyway, are you sure about babysitting tonight? There's a pretty lady I'm trying to impress and if you burn the house down-"
"I won't."
"You become my son – mine alone – when you do something to aggravate your mother. Promise me you won't burn the house down and you won't lose your sister." He hummed and Emma sighed. "Henry?"
"Yeah. Don't burn the house down."
"Henry."
"Don't lose Maddox, I know. It goes without saying."
"What happened to the cute little turd who came all the way to Boston for me?" Emma asked, putting her hands on his face. He held back a grimace, all while his mother tried to ignore the fuzz on his chin and the sharpness overtaking his once round feature. "Man, I'm getting old."
"You'll live, Ma." Henry grinned.
Before Emma could mess with her hair again, footsteps came from the stairs. Maddox zoomed around the corner and went back to her cartoons from earlier in the den. She'd spent her day having Henry build Legos with her. Meanwhile, Emma spent the whole day worried about her selection for the night's itinerary. So, she wouldn't mind having five-year-old problems.
All she'd have to do is share a few dino nuggets and hand over her animal crackers and she and Regina would be soulmates. 30 year old problems involved soulmates that were far too refined for twist off root beers let alone animal crackers.
"You look surprised," Regina said, pausing at the threshold of the kitchen. Her expression was bordering uncertainty. "Did I interpret your instructions wrong?"
Emma blinked.
"No. You look wonderful," she said. "You're in jeans and I still feel underdressed."
Regina walked up to her, reaching out to push aside a few fallen curls. "You constantly under dress but that is actually something I like about you," she said, "You always manage to look just as beautiful."
"So, I still compete with Mal the Great with my tank tops and All Stars?" Emma asked.
"Absolutely."
"Ack." Henry made a gagging sound from behind them. He still had the carton of juice in his hand and still drinking from it. Luckily, Emma overstocked the fridge in case Henry devoured all the food.
"Whatever," Emma said. "We should probably get going now."
"Henry-" Regina started.
"I know, Mom. Don't burn the house down. Don't leave the house. Don't let anyone in. No scary movies. No parties. Maddox in bed by eight." Henry shrugged. "I got it."
"If you're sure," Regina said. "Maddox we're leaving."
Maddox was quick to leave the den, launching herself straight into Emma's arms. "Bye Emma." She buried her face into Emma's neck as they hugged. Emma didn't mind the embrace but she was concern about the ferocity of those little arms around her neck. They definitely planned to come back in a few hours.
"I'll see you later," Emma said, "You're in charge, Buttercup. Make sure Henry eats his vegetables and brushes his teeth, okay?"
Henry rolled his eyes but grinned as Maddox nodded in the affirmative.
"Good girl." Emma kissed her cheek and leaned closer to Regina. Maddox reached out to hug her, never leaving Emma's arms and planted a kiss on Regina's nose accidentally. She giggled as Regina kissed the side of her face in retaliation.
"Bye, love bug. Be good for Henry," Regina said as Emma put Maddox down. "Don't give him the run around."
"We'll be fine, Moms," Henry said. He and Maddox followed them to the door as they put on their coats to shield from the winter chill.
Just as Emma opened the door, Regina turned around pulling her hand away, "Henry-"
"I know, Mom. No pizza rolls…or pizza bagels, or whatever."
Emma stopped trying to tug Regina away. "Now wait a minute." Regina put a hand on her back to move her back towards the door. "What is problem with frozen pizza products? You're telling me Hot Pockets are bad, too?"
Henry made a face and Emma couldn't have gotten more exasperated.
"We're not doing this now, darling," Regina said.
"This conversation isn't over," Emma said, finally allowing herself to be pushed out of the doorway.
Henry and Maddox laughed once the door closed behind them. He locked the front door and turned to Maddox when the laughs ran out.
"Legos?" Henry asked.
"Viola." Emma removed her hands from over Regina's eyes. "Surprise."
Regina looked around silently, watching couples and families amble through the brightly lit entrance. Neon, flashing lights and goofy characters. She couldn't say she expected this destination or had any experience there – especially considering there were a lot of younger couples there.
"Wha-" She turned around to Emma standing behind her with an anxious expression on her face. "Where are we?"
"Pirate's Cove Adventure?" Emma said, tucking her hands into her pockets. "Mini golf?"
"Are you asking me?" Regina smirked.
"Do you like it? Or do I suck?"
"Well, you don't suck, dear." Emma relaxed when Regina put and arm around her waist. "I'm certainly feeling my age, however, I'm not opposed to…mini golf."
"Yeah?"
"I won't say no to a new experience." Regina grinned. "So, lead the way, Miss Swan."
"Okay. That's great let's go get tickets."
Regina followed after her to get said tickets, fingers interlocked. Emma seemed so excited to do this, she wondered if this was her first time doing this as well. Emma easily handed over $30 for their admission, trying not to reveal her excitement to the clerk behind the glass.
"First date?" The girl asked as the tickets printed.
"That obvious?" Emma asked, glancing back to Regina who was texting Henry requesting an update.
"She's really, really hot and you're worried mini golf is too childish or cliché. See it all the time."
"Hopefully, those went well."
"Can't speak for personality, but I'm sure they got laid." The girl handed Emma two tickets and two wristbands. "You're much prettier than the other folks I've seen. You'll do fine."
"Thanks." She looked down at the tickets and nodded. "Have a good night."
"You too."
Regina's fingers were moving across the screen of her phone that made Emma concerned for a moment that something was wrong. But Regina would've called Henry at this point.
"Ready for the best night of your life?" Emma asked holding up the tickets. "Stop harassing Henry. They're fine."
The woman stopped typing almost immediately and turned off the screen at being caught. Which meant it clearly wasn't an emergency or anything. She wouldn't judge for her momma bear mode as she was tempted to demand a photo of Henry and Maddox for confirmation that they were okay.
"I don't think I've been away from her this long…" Regina said.
"Well, now you know how I feel when I have to go back to Storybrooke," Emma said, pushing the tickets into her chest pocket and secured the wristband to Regina's arm. She tucked some hair behind her ear and pressed her lips to Regina's cheek. "But I promise you our babies are fine."
"If you say so."
"I do say so. We have several holes to play on Blackbeard's Challenge and one can assume you've never played before. Yes?"
"Golf has never seemed that interesting, no," Regina said, walking in time with Emma holding her arm. "Especially in small form."
Emma chuckled. She grabbed two putters and one orange and one blue ball. "You? Don't like golf? That's weird, seems like a queen's sport."
"I watch it when I can't sleep."
"So refined," Emma said. "Orange or blue?"
Regina grimaced at the orange ball and took the blue one from her hand. "Orange is a terrible color."
"Bad underwear selection for tonight then." Regina rolled her eyes and took the second putter from Emma and walked ahead of her. "Hey, can we go to the volcano first?"
Henry turned up the volume on the tv before tossing the remote back onto the couch behind them. He took another drink from his soda as his phone buzzed again. As he expected, it was his mother. This time from the blonde one.
"Seriously?" He snorted. "Come on, Ma."
Maddox had been glued to the tv ever since he put the DVD in. However, as distracted as she was, she had yet to miss her mouth with the mac and cheese they were having. If she hadn't already been capable of it a few months ago, he was almost certain she'd learned it from Emma. Maddox was just a whole lot better at it.
"Hey, Maddy." Maddox was reluctant to look away from the tv but her eyes floated to him anyway. "The authority wants proof of life."
"What's that?" She asked.
"The Moms want us to take a picture so they know we're not out having fun," Henry said.
Maddox grimaced and tossed her head back with a small groan as Henry paused the tv for her. A pout appeared on her face and Henry picked up his phone to get to the camera app. "But this is the good part," Maddox said.
"I know. Just two seconds."
"One, two," she said.
Henry snorted and shook his head. "Come on. One picture for them."
They watched Rise of the Guardians excessively in between Iron Man and Spider-Man movies. Truthfully, Henry felt he'd seen it a hundred times too many already but he was sure he'd continued to watch it as many times as Maddox required. And he wasn't too mad about that.
But still Maddox pouted as he arranged the camera to get a selfie. In that instance, Emma was the almighty in getting a laugh out of someone. Henry was sure he'd inherited the skill since he was her kid after all.
He angled the camera to frame the both of them and then stuck his tongue out, facing Maddox. At first she didn't noticed until he started getting closer to her face with a very serious gaze. He took the photo right when she realized he might just be about touch his tongue to her cheek. She was both amused and eager to get away at the same time.
Her face was scrunched up even though she was giggling and that's what Henry sent off to his mothers. Proof of life. They were fine and had another round of fantasy movies to get through before it was time to pretend they went to be on time and didn't have any ice cream at all.
And Maddox was five. A big difference in age between them but neither of them really noticed. Not even while watching princess movies or reading heavy novels – even if she didn't quite get the words. Henry realized this was an epic friendship he'd been missing out on.
So, Emma's plan was to be cheesy and cute and romantic with the whole mini golf date. Regina wouldn't know what she was doing and Emma could show her with little experience she had with golf and it'd be great. And it was great…
Except, somehow she completely forgot that she'd fallen for a goddess who seemed to be a natural at everything. Blackbeard's challenge was a light game of several pirate themed courses and the first two went exactly as Emma had planned. Regina wasn't very familiar with any of it and so Emma got to show her.
And then well, Regina happened.
It was the 8th hole and Regina went first. Emma rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed with the sudden turn of events. But Regina did make golf a whole lot sexier than it ever could be otherwise.
She glanced around at everyone else struggling to get through holes but having fun regardless. Emma was competitive but it was still fun. And it had nice views.
Her eyes flickered to small curves in Regina's bicep, a bit more defined as she lined up her shot. She had soft muscle tone that Emma had heart eyes for.
"You got this, babe," she said. Emma averted her eyes down from her arms, enjoying the rare occurrence of Regina voluntarily wearing. "Maybe arch a little…"
"Stop looking at my ass, Emma," Regina said.
"Why? Is it making you nervous?" Emma questioned.
"Just stop it. I can feel you staring."
Emma smirked. Perfect.
"Emma." Regina warned.
"Can I not appreciate that I'm on a date with the perfect person?"
Regina felt her cheeks grew a bit warm. She'd seen the glint in Emma's eye back at the third hole and they were entering competition territory. She could appreciate Emma's competitiveness – especially since she was provoking it.
"That's not going to work on me."
Regina adjusted before she hit the ball with only enough force for it to tap against the windmill. She watched the ball travel, landing off to the right just near the hole. She stifled a grin at the strangled sound Emma let out as she left to tap the ball in so Emma could have her turn.
Emma grimaced as Regina came back to stand beside her with satisfied grin. She took note of the numbers on the scorecard and scribbled in Regina's results for the new total.
Regina peered at the card as Emma wrote and asked, "So, who's winning?"
The other woman pushed the card and pencil into Regina's hands, muttering as she turned to take her shot. "Who's winning?" Emma murmured mockingly. "You know who's winning."
She gripped her putter and took a deep breath. Regina wasn't winning this on her first go around of mini golf – ever. Emma had been twice and that was enough for her to win this. And Regina was so smug, she doubted any friendly competition would hurt their good time. Right as she was about to take her swing a pair of hands slipped into her back pockets, causing her to jump. It was pure luck that she missed.
"Maybe you should arch a little," Regina said into her shoulder. Even through her jacket, Emma could feel her grinning.
"You're cheating. I was just looking. You're touching me," Emma said.
"You like it." Her hands moved out of her pockets and moved her arms up around Emma's waist under her jacket.
"This is tampering…and interference."
"Is it?" Regina pecked her cheek, leaning into her further before finally stepping away. "My apologies, Miss Swan. Continue."
Emma looked back at her, beginning to line up her shot again her lips pursed in suspicion. She took her swing without interruption. Her shoulder slumped when it began obvious that she would have at least two more times before it could actually go into the hole.
It took three tries.
"It's the stupid grass," Emma complained as they walked to the next hole. She ignored the fact that Regina was still winning. Regina knew she was winning. And Regina was laughing.
She loved the laugh as rare as it was, but it could've come at a better time. A time when the scorecard in the chest pocket of her jacket didn't say she was losing badly to her rookie girlfriend. Her brow stayed furrowed while she formulated a plan, but she still put her arm around Regina as the other woman did the same with her.
Her plan was interrupted by her phone vibrating in the pocket of her jeans. She fished it out and opened the text from Henry. Her instinct to panic did have time to catch a flame when a photo took over her screen. She snorted.
Regina looked over at her. "What?"
"The kids," Emma said, showing her the photo. "Proof of life."
Regina smiled at the photo. She chuckled at Maddox's expression of distaste.
"They're just like us. I would so try that. And you'd have the same look on your face."
"You wouldn't."
"Oh?"
Emma stuck her tongue out and leaned closer to Regina. The older woman was quick to move out of her grip to avoid her. "Don't you dare," Regina warned.
"Come back here." Emma gestured to her, tucking her phone away after texting Henry back. "I know you'd set my ass on fire if I tried. However, I don't see how that's any different than tongues being other places."
"It is different," Regina said.
Emma rolled her eyes as they came up on the next hole. She didn't have a game plan for a moat and a windmill. Regina looked around them at the small ponds upping the difficulty for them.
"Oh, fuck,"
"You can go first, love," Regina said taking a step back.
With a shrug, Emma accepted and lined up her shot. It'd be an accomplishment to get it pass the windmill. She raised an eyebrow at the moving blades and the water separating them from the rest of the path to the hole. She straightened her stance and then took her swing when she felt the timing was right to get it by the windmill. Emma took a sharp swing at the ball and it soared over the moat. There was only a moment of hopefulness before it appeared to go very wrong.
The ball, still going fast, clipped part of the blade. It diverted to the right into a fake palm tree and bounced hard off of it. Unfortunately, it moved far too fast for Emma to react. The ball smacked into her hard enough to force her off balance. Emma went tumbling into the pond behind them before Regina could grab her.
"Emma!"
Regina dropped her putter and quickly plunged her hands into the water, nearly climbing in herself to help. Emma's arms weren't flailing at all and Regina grabbed her shirt, pulling her forward. There had been a few snickers from the other guests in the distance when she fell in but concern grew when it was obvious Emma wasn't scrambling to get out herself.
"Emma?" Regina cupped the back of her neck to hold her upright. The other woman appeared completely unconscious, her clothes were soaked through. The scorecard was wet and crumpled, peeking out of her pocket and stained with a few specks of blood. "Emma?"
A groan passed through Emma's lips and her eyes fluttered open. Her eyes were distant but confused.
"Regina?" Emma whispered. "It's so loud. Why am I wet?"
"You fell and you're bleeding. I need to get you to the hospital," Regina said pulling her further up and giving her full support so she could stay on her feet.
"You're strong," Emma murmured, touching her chin when she felt the tickle of blood sliding down from her top lip.
Putting Maddox to bed now.
Regina sighed. She felt relief knowing she didn't have to worry about Henry and Maddox. There was currently already enough to worry about. Her fingers tightened around her phone just as a familiar doctor appeared.
"Are you Regina?" The woman asked walking towards her.
"Yes." She frowned, not having given her name to anyone except the man at the nurses' station.
"I figured I couldn't be wrong. Your wife was very detailed in describing you." She held her hand out and Regina took it, too worried to correct her. "I'm Dr. Cabrera, Emma is my patient."
"How is she?"
"Her nose is fine. No fracture but it'll be sore." Dr. Cabrera said. "You told the paramedics she fell into a small pond, correct?"
"Yes. We went to play mini golf at um…Pirate's Cove."
"The windmill?"
Regina frowned but nodded.
"She's not the first person I've treated for injuries acquired at a mini golf course. It looks like she's obtained a grade 2 concussion."
"But is she okay?" Regina asked.
"Yes. Her memory doesn't seem affected and she wants to see you. Right this way."
Regina followed behind Dr. Cabrera passing by lots of occupied doctors and nurses. It was too busy for her liking. As if Emma was a patient who needed critical, emergency treatment. Surgery even. That was a terrifying thought. Like law enforcement no one should really desire busy surgeons. Emma shouldn't have been in this situation in the first place. Not if she hadn't provoked a competition out of a relaxing date night.
"It's not your fault," Dr. Cabrera said, stopping at the edge of the observation unit. She gestured forward to Emma laying on a bed. Surprisingly, she was one of three people there. "Most people ask me dozens of questions unless they feel guilty. She told me herself she was trying to impress you."
Dr. Cabrera smiled and Regina shook her head with a chuckle.
"Sounds like her," Regina said. "Thank you, Doctor."
"Gina?"
The doctor turned to leave as Regina walked over to Emma. As much as she wanted to hug her, and she could, Regina didn't want risk a single potential injury for giving too much love. Emma reached out for her hand and she didn't hesitate to take it. She leaned down and pressed her lips to her cheek.
"How do you feel?" Regina asked, brushing her fingers through Emma's hair.
"I'm okay. Are you okay?"
"Of course. I'm fine, darling. I'm worried about you."
"The doctor said I'm okay. I remembered everything she asked me. My nose stopped bleeding and there no more brain matter coming out of my ears."
"What!" Regina's hand moved to her left ear.
Emma pulled her hand down and grinned, "I'm fine. It was a joke."
"That's not funny, Emma."
"I'm sorry. Did I ruin our first date?"
"No, sweetheart, you didn't. I had fun."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
"I was going to take you to dinner after."
"It's the thought that counts," Regina said. She replaced her hand on Emma's head, stroking her hair with light fingers. "I'll have to buy you dinner this time."
"That's okay, I guess. Can I go home now?" Emma questioned.
"Not just yet," Dr. Cabrera said coming up behind Regina, holding a clipboard. "You're looking very good, Emma, but I want to keep you just a little bit longer."
"How much longer?" Regina asked. "Like overnight? Is it serious?"
"It doesn't appear to be serious. I want to make sure her medication is working with her nausea and the Ibuprofen is sufficient for her headache. And I also must know that she can hold down food before I discharge her. So, it'll just be a few hours."
"You can go home, Gina," Emma said, "I'm fine."
"I'm not leaving you here, Emma."
"But Henry and-"
"I will check on them but I'm not going to leave you, okay?" Emma nodded, too tired to argue. "I'm going to call Henry now. I'll be back."
Regina pressed her lips to her forehead again, lingering long enough for Emma to notice she was still very worried. When she pulled away Emma took her hand, kissing her knuckles to assure her.
Regina unlocked the front door with Emma leaning against her side. They didn't give her any hard painkillers but even cough syrup put Emma to sleep fast. She murmured something as they made it through the door with Emma's wet clothes in a bag and her phone completely dead in Regina's purse.
"We're going to the couch," Regina instructed, leading Emma into the living room. Emma stumbled a few times but was placed against the cushions as her drowsiness kicked in further. Regina sat down her purse and the small bag with Emma's damp clothes and ruined phone. "I'm going to check on Henry and Maddox and I'll be back."
Emma lifted her hand before she could move and said, "Hey. Are you sure I don't suck?"
"I'm sure."
"Promise?" Emma asked.
"I promise, my love." Regina turned back and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Emma offered her a tired grin as she sunk further into the couch and watched Regina leave the room. Her eyes fluttered closed the moment Regina left her line of sight. She found it far to easy just to drift off the last couple hours, but it was to be expected according to the doctor.
Regina peeked in at Henry finding him sleeping hard, cheek pressed into his pillow. She could already see the lines that was going to leave of his face in morning. Emma woke up the same way. Every morning. Lines deepened on his face as he shifted in his bed, eyes squinted from the light.
"Mom?" Henry mumbled.
"Hi. I was just checking that you and Maddox got to bed okay," Regina said, "How was it?"
"It was fun. Lots of partying," he said with a gruff tone as he rubbed his eyes. Regina rolled her eyes. "So, I think it's about time we start talking about…driving."
"I don't think so," Regina said starting to move out of his room. "Good night, Henry."
He groaned, having been dodged every when he asked. He sighed and said back, "'Night, Mom."
Regina closed the door behind herself and headed to Maddox's room. Her door was half opened, nightlight flashing into the hallway every so often. She slipped through the doorway, smiling softly as she moved closer to the bed. Mr. Waffles had gotten kicked off the bed along with half of her sheets. Regina picked him and the blankets up to get her tucked back into bed until Maddox turned her head.
"Gina." Maddox turned on her back and reaching out a lazy hand for Mr. Waffles. Regina handed him back to his owner.
"What are you doing awake?" Regina questioned, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You need to be sleeping, Maddox."
"I'm not tired."
"I don't believe you."
Maddox pouted. She pushed her sheets off and gave Regina some very convincing puppy eyes. Her being five and incredibly adorable had long slipped past Regina's defenses. So she didn't bother to try and get her back into bed after Maddox collected Mr. Waffles and completely moved from under the covers.
"One small cup of milk and then you're going to bed." Regina picked her up and Maddox laid against her collarbone, looking as tired as she claimed she wasn't.
Regina walked them downstairs, Maddox yawning twice during the short journey.
"Do we have a deal, corazón?" Regina asked.
"Yeah."
Regina looked at her for a moment and then nodded, chuckling to herself. Maddox could get away with so much and Regina wouldn't much care. "Okay, love," she said," Sit with Emma for minute." Regina lifted her over the back of the couch and gently settled her into Emma's lap.
Emma startled awake but her hands came up around Maddox to keep her from falling over. It took a moment for her to get her bearings back.
"Hey, Monkey," she greeted, turning Maddox in her lap so they were face to face. Maddox yawned again. "What are you doing up? It's bedtime."
"I'm not tired," Maddox insisted again. Unconvincing. She was firm in her words but she leaned forward resting her head against Emma's chest, fighting to stay away now. The appeal of warm milk was just too good to miss.
"Are you sure?" Emma wrapped an arm around her and used the other to rub her back in soothing circles. "But you look so sleepy…so heavy…"
"No," Maddox murmured into her shirt.
"So sleepy," Emma repeated, feeling her own eyes grow tired again.
"Don't put yourself to sleep before her," Regina said.
She held out a small green cup filled halfway with milk. Emma took it and rearranged their positioning so Maddox could hurry back to bed soon. She settled on Emma's left knee and put Mr. Waffles on the couch at Emma's side.
"I couldn't buy you a nice dinner tonight," Regina said, watching Maddox with an amused grin.
"Thank you," Emma said, accepting the plate with two slices of pizza from earlier that day. She managed to balance it on her right leg perfectly so she could keep Maddox secure and eat with the other hand.
And they sat in a very nice, domestic silence. Maddox slowly getting through her milk because she was certainly tired out from whatever she and Henry got up to while they were gone. Emma convinced Regina to eat the second slice, knowing she hadn't had dinner either – spending her whole night waiting in a hospital.
"Almost there," Regina said. She brushed her fingers through Mr. Waffles' fur, watching with Emma as Maddox finished her milk at an agonizing pace.
Emma felt her start to drift. She rubbed her hand against her stomach to keep her alert. "Get the last bit, Duckie. Then we can go to bed," she said. Maddox tipped the cup back to drain the last of it and Regina slipped the cup from her hand the moment she was done.
"Are you sleepy now?" Emma questioned.
"No," Maddox murmured.
"I'll get her back into bed." Emma moved Maddox onto her hip as she stood up from the couch. She took Mr. Waffles from the couch and tucked him into the very space between herself and the five year old. "Go get some sleep, Regina. You've done enough for the night."
"I need to make sure you're okay," Regina said.
"I'm good…and tired. So, I'll meet you once we take a stop to the bathroom and I get her in her bed. It's okay. I got it."
Regina glanced down at the empty cup in her hand and then back up to Emma, "I love you."
"I love you back." Emma pressed a quick kiss to her lips, grinning proudly as she did so. "Go to bed."
"Okay," Regina said.
Emma stopped just before the hallway and turned back. She adjusted Maddox's finally sleeping body in her arms. "Hey. You're great."
Regina frowned – just a little. It was improvement. "What?"
"You're great at being great. You're a great mother. But remember also the greatest person I'll ever love. You're great."
And she didn't protest. Mal had told her firmly to learn to take a compliment especially from the obvious mother of her children. She'd made it clear to emphasize the plural. Regina didn't feel she had to correct that. Maddox wouldn't allow anyone else but Emma.
"You didn't ruin the date," Regina said, feeling incredibly warm all of a sudden.
Emma smiled – bright as the sun.
"Good."
