Emma was standing in the backyard with a chain saw in her hands. Regina had agreed to let her pick up Henry from school so that they could cut down a branch of the apple tree "in secret." She eyed the branch that Regina had agreed to let her cut down.
"Ok." Henry said. "When it oozes, you will know that I'm right."
Emma stepped up to the branch and quickly cut right through it. She saw the look of disappointment on Henry's face when the only thing they saw was wood.
"It must not have been big enough. Do that one." Henry said frantically.
"No Henry. I am not destroying your Mom's tree." Emma said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It should have worked." He said sounding so defeated in that moment. She wrapped her arms around him.
"It's ok kid. You can believe in fairy tales. There are knights in shining armor. There is true love. There are good people. There are bad people. It just isn't here." Emma said pulling back to look in his eyes. Her heart broke at the tears. He shook his head a little before walking back towards the house defeat and disappointment written all over his small face. He didn't talk to Emma for the rest of the time until Regina got home. He just sat in the living room reading his story book over and over trying to figure out what went wrong.
Regina walked in after six to see Henry standing in the kitchen. She walked Emma to the front door.
"How'd it go?" Regina asked.
"The tree oozed." Emma said as serious as she could. Emma chalked Regina's completely terrified expression up to the impossibility of that occurrence. Emma couldn't keep a straight face for long before she lost it in giggles. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help it." She said as Regina playfully swatted her arm.
"Is he ok?" Regina asked.
"He is a little disappointed I think. He wants to apologize to you." Regina felt a stab to her heart at Emma's words. Could she let her son apologize for something that she knew was true? It broke her heart for him to think he was wrong when he wasn't. She knew the curse would break eventually. There was only so long that she could hold out. Ruby red lips would eventually find themselves pressed against pale ones, and she knew she was powerless to stop it. We're all powerless to stop true love.
"Thank you for watching him." Regina finally said.
"Can I at least get a hug for it?" Emma asked with a smile. Regina stepped into the open arms and let Emma pull her close. She smiled into the sweet kiss Regina pressed to her cheek before stepping back to let Emma leave.
Morning came quickly for the sheriff. Regina had a task for her that day which consisted of going through a basement full of files. She was shocked when she saw them. She had honestly thought the files upstairs that she'd slaved over to organize were the only ones. There were at least five file cabinets that needed to be sorted through. Regina's instructions were simple. Organize them by things that related to the sheriff's station, things that related to town business, and any other categories Emma deemed necessary. So, Emma did the most logical thing. She went to Granny's to get coffee before starting.
Ruby put the cup in front of her as soon as she sat down.
"So, how's Regina?" Ruby said with a grin.
"Good." Emma said taking a sip of her coffee. "We're taking things slow. Really slow."
"How slow?" Ruby asked.
"I've gotten a peck of the cheek three times." Emma said. She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face at the feeling of Regina's lips on her skin.
"You need to step your game up." Ruby said.
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked.
"Come on Emma. I know your good looks alone haven't worked on every single person you've crossed paths with before." Ruby said looking at Emma like she couldn't believe they were having this conversation.
"I have no idea what you mean." Emma said exchanging looks with the waitress.
"A date Emma. Take her out on a nice date." Ruby said with an incredulous tone to her voice. She couldn't believe that Emma hadn't thought of this.
"I don't usually make it to a date Ruby. I'm more of a meet them in the bar, take them home, and then sneak out of the front door before they wake up kind of girl." Emma said finishing off her coffee.
"Not anymore you aren't. Go get flowers. Send them to Regina, and take her on a damn date." Ruby said giving Emma a sharp look.
"Fine I will. Geez." Emma said putting money down on the counter and leaving.
Thank God that the florist knew Regina's favorite flower. Emma ordered the bouquet and ignored the questioning stares from the florist as she read the note Emma had written. It said simply for Regina to meet Emma at Granny's the next night at eight. Emma knew it wasn't very fancy, but it really was her only option.
She drove to the station then to get to work on organizing the files. She found herself checking her phone every five seconds to see if Regina had sent her a text message. She realized she would never get any work done that way so she stuffed the phone back in her pocket. She'd hear from her eventually.
Ruby walked into the mayor's office just as Regina was placing the card back in the holder.
"Those are pretty." Ruby said with a smile.
"Yes they are." Regina said grinning down at them before she realized who had just walked in the room. The mayor's usual cold stare snapped back in place. "Can I do something for you Miss Lucas?"
"I just want you to know that Emma is really trying. She really does care about you." Ruby said.
"My relationship with Miss Swan is none of your business." Regina snapped.
"I know it isn't." Ruby answered. "Emma's my friend. She really does care about you. She knows she messed up before, and you should just give her this chance."
"I am giving her a chance." Regina said looking up to meet Ruby's eyes only letting her vulnerability shine through for a second before the cold walls were up again.
"You are going to go on the date?" Ruby asked with excitement.
"Yes I am." Regina answered. Ruby didn't say anything initially. "Anything else I can do for you?" Regina asked.
"Nope." Ruby said with a blush forming on her cheeks before she left the mayor's office.
Regina exhaled loudly. She smiled at the flowers and the cute note. Her curse was about to be broken, and she knew it. She knew it wouldn't be long before it happened, and she couldn't help but feel exhilaration wash over her at the thought of it.