A/N: When I first posted this chapter, a friend of mine requested an illustration based on the scene below. This can be found on my tumblr which is spookshowbabyx :)
Waving goodbye to Henry as the small brunet makes his way up the path to Archie's office, the Mayor turns around to survey the street pensively. Her dark eyes flicker towards the Diner opposite, but she swiftly looks away as Ruby trots outside to clear tables; not wishing to have anything to do with the young waitress. Glancing up at the clock tower, she muses that eleven in the morning is probably enough time for the Sheriff to have gotten herself up and out of bed despite it being a Saturday, and she sets off in the direction of her apartment. She wishes to see the blonde anyway, but she is anxious to know what became of Gold's visit the night before.
Entering Emma's apartment building, she makes her way up the stairs, wondering if Mary Margaret is still going to be flitting about, but guessing the schoolteacher is probably out with her own love interest.
Let's not use that term again...
Raising her hand to knock on the door, her breath catches in her throat as she notices several large chips gouged out of the wood around the handle. Leaning in to inspect a little closer, she realizes the door isn't completely shut at all; its lock hanging at a curious angle. Eyes flashing with an immediate sense of fear, she raps loudly on the flimsy wood anyway, hoping she's just missing something blindingly obvious about the situation.
"Miss Swan?"
No response. Trying the door again, she beats her knuckles against flaking paint with a little more force, causing the door to creak open of its own accord. Swallowing, she steps hesitantly across the threshold, scanning the room anxiously before letting out a sharp gasp as she spies the blonde lying strewn out on the sofa. Hurrying over, Regina barks out the younger woman's name pleadingly but garners no reaction. Leaning over the Sheriff, the brunette shakes her by the shoulder urgently, letting out a high-pitched cry as the latter jerks with a start and scrambles away in a flurry of flailing limbs; her hand making painful contact with the Mayor's cheek.
"Ah!"
"R-Regina? What the hell are you doing?!"
Emma cries breathlessly, yanking her earphones out and regarding the older woman warily as she strives to ease her rapid heartbeat.
"Me? What on earth are you doing?! What happened to your door?! And turn down your music, you'll go deaf!"
Disdainful anger camouflages her previous fear and she stands with her hands on her hips glaring down at the blonde irritably.
"My door? Oh! Yeah... About that... I kind of locked myself out after going for breakfast with Mary Margaret. I tried calling her for the keys but I think she's in the woods and-"
"-You did that!?"
The brunette points over to the door increadulously and the Sheriff nods with an uneasy shrug.
"It's just the lock that's busted, I'll replace it later... Why are you so pissed?"
"I'm not, I'm just astounded by your stupidity!"
Regina sniffs, but she takes a seat primly beside the blonde and offers her an amiable smirk as the younger woman moves around to face her with a sigh.
"It's fine, Regina, and anyway, I'm the Sheriff. No one's going to break in here!"
"Yes, because you really instil that much fear in the people, dear."
"They have no idea what I'm capable of!"
"Is that so?"
Scarlet lips twitch with amusement and the brunette flicks her hair back coyly.
"What did you want, anyway?"
"I was wondering about your little visit last night."
"... Oh. Well, it was fun..."
Emma replies tersely, not entirely comfortable that the older woman should think it her place to waltz into her apartment to more or less check up on her for time spent with other people. She raises an eyebrow curiously when the brunette proceeds to greet this statement with a frown.
"Fun?"
"Yeah... I mean what do you want me to say? We drank wine, ate food and watched a movie. I like all of those things so-"
"-That's not exactly the visit to which I was referring, dear."
"Oh... Then... What?"
"Gold didn't come up here to talk to you?"
"No... Why would he?"
"When I left he... Never mind..."
"...Okay?"
"I'm glad you had fun though, with the others."
Regina offers a small smile and the Sheriff beams at her brightly, stretching out cattily before padding to the fridge.
"Juice? It's freshly squeezed."
"Please."
The brunette sits back and watches amiably as the younger woman fetches a large jug thick with chilly condensation from the fridge and pours out two small glasses of orange juice. As she turns to replace the jug, she pauses for a second, her attention lost on the calendar that hangs up on the fridge as a way for the two women living in the flat to have a vague idea whether to expect the other home. The Mayor raises an eyebrow when Emma remains seemingly transfixed and clears her throat. Coming out of her trance, the blonde shakes her long curls abruptly and pads over with the twin glasses of juice in her hands.
"Something wrong?"
Regina nods towards the calendar and frowns when the Sheriff lowers her gaze to appear suddenly engrossed in her jeans.
"Emma?"
"No... It's just... Can I ask what you're planning for next week?"
"Next week?"
"Henry's birthday."
"Henry's birthday isn't next... Oh."
The brunette sighs awkwardly and sips at her juice.
"We celebrate Henry's birthday on the 28th; it's when I was blessed with him."
"Oh."
"It seemed like the most logical date."
"Yeah, no, I get it.
"...Usually he and I will go out for a meal."
"Cool."
"It's tradition."
"Yeah."
Regina watches neutrally as the blonde looks away uncomfortably. Clearing her throat, she raises an eyebrow when Emma turns to look up at her hopefully.
"Do you think maybe-"
"-You can't come... It will look suspicious and... you just... I-"
"-You don't want me to."
"No."
The brunette purses her lips as she nods in agreement; hating this. Hating that despite her feelings for the younger woman, there is the subject of Henry that exists between them, and she just can't quite allow it to be resolved. Nevertheless, she doesn't think she can stand the look that currently graces the Sheriff's face for much longer.
"Miss Swan... Seeing as I am more than aware that Henry pays you visits all the damn time when he's not supposed to... I suppose if he were to do so on the 9th... Well..."
"That would be okay with you?"
"...No... But I'll allow it."
Raising slowly, Emma offers the Mayor a weighted look before moving to slip onto her lap; straddling slim thighs lightly. Brushing her fingers gently through dark tresses, she places as delicate kiss on scarlet lips before leaning forwards and wrapping her arms round the older woman's neck.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Does... Does Henry even know that that's his birthday?"
"...No. He's never actually asked."
"Oh."
"I suppose... I suppose he'll know once you tell him."
"I don't have to..."
The blonde sits back, and the Mayor is slightly alarmed to see that her cheeks glisten wetly with tear tracks. Rubbing them away self consciously, Emma shrugs lightly and offers a small smile.
"I just want to spend time with him on that day... I don't need him to know why if you don't want."
"Miss Swan... Emma... You can tell him whatever you wish to tell him as to why he's there. Just don't spoil him with gifts. Don't... I don't know..."
"I don't even know what to get him..."
"Dear, I'm understanding, but that's taking it a little too far. I'm not helping you pick out a gift."
"I didn't mean... I wasn't-"
"-But, I suppose it does me no harm in telling you Henry is rather partial to homemade chocolate cake. I fear I am not so adept at baking this to his liking... I would think the amount of sugar and junk you might inevitably put into your cooking will be much more to his taste..."
She grins despite herself as soft lips press against her own, and plays with silken curls gently in her hands. Pulling Emma flush, she wraps her arms around the younger woman's small waist and keeps her there, even when salted tears taint sweet lips bitterly.
I can't believe I'm allowing this...
"I... Thank you..."
"Stop saying that; I'll change my mind."
Regina chuckles as she feels the Sheriff tense immediately in her lap and she pushes the younger woman suddenly off of her to sprawl on the sofa. Repositioning herself to lie atop the wide-eyed blonde, she smirks at the way Emma sniffs irritably, trying to hide her emotions now that her face has come back into view.
"Thank you..."
Pink tongue dart out mischievously between white teeth and the Mayor punishes her swiftly with her own, plucking at the material of the Sheriff's cotton shirt; all thoughts of Gold's threat momentarily forgotten as the front door wavers ever so slightly back and forth on its broken latch.