'Miss Swan, good even- Are you okay?'

Emma was pouting, shoulders down and looking sad. 'People are teasing me.'

'Teasing you?'

'Well, I could only stay at the house for too long so I went to Doc's to pick up some food and some teenage kids teased me. Plus, David needed help so I had to break up a bar fight with him, Grumpy and his midgets laughed at me. I hate this.' She frowned and looked even more like a kicked puppy.

Regina opened the door wider and stepped aside. 'Come on in, Miss Swan and let's talk about that.'

'I guess we should but right now I just need a...' Emma moved to do the end of her sentence and hugged Regina fiercely. She wrapped both arms around the Mayor's neck and tucked her face next to hers. The presence of the brunette calmed her down and made her feel a lot better instantly. This is what she needed after a day of digs and ribs from everyone.

Regina took pity on the blonde and hugged her back, completely eliminating space between them as she circled her arms around the blonde's back. 'I'm afraid to ask if you're okay.' She whispered softly.

'I'm just a little... upset, I guess and I shouldn't. I'm a thirty year old woman that let the opinion of a merry band of drunkards and juvenile delinquents get me down.'

Regina rubbed her back up and down. 'No, no, you can feel however you want to feel.'

They continued to hug until Emma felt like she was okay enough to separate . Their hands unconsciously linked and no one denied each other the extra gesture of affection.

'Dinner is ready but if you want to delay on it and talk some more, that would be okay.' Regina gave her comforting smile.

'No, no, let's go. I bet Henry's getting really hungry.'

'I am...' Henry popped his head from the kitchen and then disappeared.

Their hands retracted at the sound of their son and the probable aspect of him eavesdropping.

'Did you install super hearing on that kid?'

Regina rolled her eyes. 'C'mon, Miss Swan.'

They both kept a good distance between them, Regina walking first with Emma trailing behind. The kitchen door was pushed open and Henry was sitting on his chair, smiling as big as can manage. 'Hi, moms. Let's eat?' Regina sat on the head of the table and Emma sat across Henry. The teenage boy was a little disappointed of their positioning but keep his spirits up. 'Doesn't Mom look beautiful, Emma?'

The two women looked at each other before they both smiled shyly. 'Uh yeah, she looks great. Smells great too-'

'Let's eat. Henry please pass the greens?'

Everyone dropped the conversation when plied with food. They all stuck to safe topics like Henry's schooling and him edging out his competition for the top stop. Both mothers were proud and they kept singing praises. Emma of course, took credit for his son's success, saying that it was half of her smarts that was running on him. Henry didn't deny it and Regina just let it go, deeming it better to let her delusions win than to die it down.

Seeing as they were using the finer China, Regina took the responsibility of taking the plates away when they all finished. The meal has been amazing, evidenced by the groans and moans of approval from both seated parties. Dessert was next and Regina was on the other side of the kitchen preparing it.

'So, Emma, are we having this dinner to announce you guys engagement?'

Emma stopped mid drink and looked at the door, willing for Regina to come in and save her from answering Henry's questions. They agreed that this issue will be tackled together and it felt like a betrayal to talk about this alone. Also, Emma was afraid she's gonna say the wrong thing and piss off Regina insurmountably.

'Henry, I think we should wait for your mom.'

Henry jumped on his seat. 'Oh, so you are? Oh my god, this is amazing! I'm gonna be a ring bear.'

'No, no, you're not-wait, what?

'A ring bear.' Emma threw him a look of uncertainty. 'What? My grandparents are Snow White and Prince Charming, my mom's the Evil Queen and you're the Saviour. I can't be a bear for your wedding?'

'Kid, you will not be a bear. Please calm down, alright? Your mother's bringing in apple pie, I love that shit.' Sound of heels clicked closer and Emma tensed. 'No mention of a wedding, okay? I want seconds.'

Henry nodded and turned to her other mother. The smell immediately filled the room and Emma closed her eyes, taking in a good whiff. How ironic that the pastry that almost put her in a sleeping curse is now her favorite thing on the world. Emma was a bit wary of course the first few times that Regina served her that but after surviving with no more than a little gut, she's learned to love it.

The pie was put in the middle on them and Emma was the first to cut a piece. It was a little bigger than normal but no one was actually surprised. Henry was next and Regina took a modest cut, ever concerned of her intake.

Emma bit generously and moaned shamelessly. 'Oh mm gow, Rgna. Is so good.'

Regina turned to Henry as the blonde continued her food porn. 'Does your mother always talk with her mouth full?'

Henry nodded while he giggled and Emma protested. 'I 'o not!'

'You do, Ma but I have learned to love that about you.'

'Eah, eah, yeah.'

They all continued eating, Regina finishing first and watching the both of them devour the dessert. She's been waiting for this all day long, explaining to Henry what happened and how they knew that the they were true loves. For the span of three days, Regina has been reading everything that she can about the dust and how to take the effects off without using the actual cure for it. Even with the help of Rumple's things, Regina couldn't find anything. All the information that she had from the first two days stayed the same.

Emma was frustrated about not finding a way around it but stayed patient. Regina promised that she wasn't gonna stop finding something. Since there were still at an impasse and couldn't get out of the situation just yet, telling Henry was the next step. It nagged on Regina the made up reactions of Henry as to them breaking the news that his hopes and dreams of what he affectionately called 'Swan Mills Family' isn't gonna materialize just yet. The three of them were in a good place and this might but a crack on their already solid foundation.

Emma reached over again and cut herself another slice when Regina looked at her. 'Oh, sorry, are you saving this for someone else? I kind of want... more...'

'No, Emma, take as much as you'd like. I was just...' Instead of verbalizing, she glanced at Henry and hoped that the blonde would be able to get what she was getting at. When Emma put down her spoon, she got her go signal.

'Henry, are you done eating?' Emma started.

There was just a couple bites left in the plate but Henry pushed it, knowing the time has come. 'Yes, I'm done. What's up?'

The two looked at each other once more before Regina started her story. 'At the beginning of this week, I agreed to help Belle arrange what Mr. Gold has left in his shop. While I was there, I unfortunately opened a box that contained a dust, a dust that has lead to Miss Swan looking like a bug.'

The bushy eyebrows scrunched, this wasn't the direction he thought the conversation would take. 'Okay...'

'I tried looking for the cure all day but I didn't know at the time what it's called so I didn't find anything. Then Belle called me and told me that it was called the Love Bug. I was able to find just one sentence on it and it was that it turns your true love into an adorable human bug.'

Regina took a breathe before she continued.

'I thought it was still Robin and I was faced with a problem of how to tell him he's gonna looking like a bug so I set up a meeting with Tinkerbell. Before I could go to that however, Miss Swan bugged me to-

'Seriously, Regina?'

'Miss Swan forced me to come meet her because she's woken up somewhat differently than how she's slept. When she told me that she woke up as a lady bug, i had a suspicion but I ignored it. I went to Tink after and she confirmed my suspicions. Miss Swan is my true love.'

Henry almost squealed.

'I went to Blue for answers and when Regina came to me that morning, I turned back to what I usually looked. That's what sold me on the fact that Regina is my true love.' Emma shared as well.

'Great story for the kids, now when are you getting married?'

'Kid!'

'What?'

Emma shook her head and glared at Henry. 'I told you kid, none of that.' She grabbed the whole pie and sat it down next to her before she spoke to Regina. 'He thought this was our coming out for a wedding and he wanted to be a ring bear. I was gonna tell him no but I wanted you to be here.'

This just made what Regina was gonna say that much harder. Henry was really looking forward to them being together. It was like disabling a bomb and Regina tried to be extremely cautious. 'Henry, I'm glad that you feel this way about us. I'm thankful for your being understanding but I'm afraid that there isn't gonna be a wedding. There isn't gonna be anything any time soon, dear. I'm not... in... love with Miss Swan and she's not inlove with me.'

'But you're each others true loves... and the way you look at each other, act around each other... I thought-'

Regina reached over and held Henry's hand. Thankfully, he didn't pull back. 'Yes, dear but as you know, love is not that easy. We've been through a lot, yes but if that day comes is yet to be seen.'

'Sorry, Kid. I know you're rooting for us to be together and maybe we will but, not right now.' Emma jumped in.

Henry looked down on his lap. 'You were hugging earlier.' She said with a small voice.

The brunette side stepped the eavesdropping for the moment. 'Miss Swan was being teased by the town about her appearance. That's all.'

That made the mop head look up. 'They were teasing you?'

'Well, you did too at first. I do make an adorable lady bug but to drunks and teenagers, I look kind of crazy.'

'You do not look crazy Miss Swan, you just look.. different.'

Emma couldn't help but laugh at Regina's attempt. 'Thank you for trying to make me feel better, Regina. Hell, I feel a lot better right now being normal again. It's nice to not have antenna or wings or a hump on my back or six more legs. Sometimes David himself chuckles when he sees me, imagine the common folks reaction. I wonder what your reaction would be though. Too bad, you won't see me in my bug form being my true love and all.'

'I have seen you in bug form, Miss Swan. I have a video of it in fact and I watch it everytime I get lonely. Very, very adorable. The dust was right.'

'That's sweet.' Emma giggled. 'Now, if everyone could just see me like you see me or see me with you, that would solve all the teasing. It's not fun being called names.'

'I know, Emma. Do you want me to a issue a town wide ban on it?'

'Well, you could just stay attached at the hip and everyone will see you as your old self, Emma.' Henry piped up after listening for quite sometime. A plan hatched in his head, already branded Operation Lady Bug and he's taking the first step in play. Both his mother looked at him, Emma looking thoughtful.

'That's... not a bad idea, Henry.'

Henry's life came back. 'Not at all! You can live here until the dust fades! That's gonna be awesome, right mom?'

Regina had reservations of course. She can't have Miss Swan tailing her all the time. How about work? How about her work? Isn't this what they are talking to Henry about? But then those big brown eyes turned to her and all the thoughts tuned out. Plus, she did put this predicament on her. Somewhat. It was the least she could do. Maybe staying with Miss Swan wouldn't be so bad. 'Alright. You're welcome to stay at our home, Emma...'

Henry punched in the air and immediately stood up from his chair and hugged his mother. 'Thank you, Mom. I love you so much.'

A rather sloppy kiss was planted to her cheek. Regina welcomed it however and hugged back. 'You're welcome, dear. But do remember that this doesn't mean anything. Just me trying to reprieve Emma from future teasing. Tell me you understand.'

'I get it, mom.'

'You're really gonna let me stay here, Regina?' I wouldn't want to impose.'

'I have an extra bedroom, you can stay there for the meantime. As for work, I guess you can do it from my office. You will have to explain this to Snow however and I'm not sure if I'm ready to be accused of defiling their precious daughter.'

'Don't be ridiculous, I'm pretty defiled.' Emma covered her slip up with a cough before she continued. 'I'm not ready to come out either so Henry, no telling anyone about this arrangement, alright? This stays between us. I'll deal with Snow and Charming, I can handle them.'

Regina nodded and breathed. What she expected to crash and burn actually turned out okay. Henry's okay and Emma will be saved from teasing. It was a successful night all in all. She smiled at both of them as they continued talking about all the things that they were gonna do once Emma's moved in.

It was the opposite of what they wanted. Now that they all lived under the same room, it seemed like they were a family now than before and although that scared her, she can't help but be happy at the moment. Like she told Emma, together or not, they were already a family and dust or no dust, there's nothing that could change that.

'Regina? Is it okay if I finish the pie here?'

Her haze popped with Emma's question. She looked around and saw that Henry was not in his seat anymore and is probably in the kitchen by the slight swing of the door. 'Why don't you bring it home?'

'Are you kidding me? If Snow sees this and knew this was from you, she's gonna fit and pump my stomach.' They both shared a smile before Emma stood up and handled the pie rather protectively. 'Henry's gonna put in a movie, c'mon, let's watch.'

'What movie?'

'Die Hard.'

'I may not be in tune with Pop Culture Facts but I know that that is a violent movie. Miss Swan-'

'Relax, it will be fine.'

I really hope it will.