Appreciate the responses! I will keep things the way they are. Hope you all continue to enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it!

Disclaimer: I don't own any OUAT characters.

Chapter 5

Emma sighed and flopped into a corner booth of Granny's. Grimacing, she pulled out her laptop and a folder and placed it on the table. Booting up her laptop, an apartment site was shown on the screen.

Ruby silently placed a black coffee next to her and walked away without a comment. Ruby has seen enough of Emma's moods to know when she wasn't feeling up to company.

Emma mindlessly searched through different apartments while sipping her black coffee. Only certain days called for coffee like this. Usually, she had it with lots of cream and sugar but today she was not in the mood. She wasn't sure what was going on, but lately, living with Mary Margaret and David had been overbearing. They seemed more… loving… than usual. Which Emma didn't think was possible because, seriously, True Love thing? They were all over each other all the time. But, undeniably, it has been worse. The whole thing was putting Emma in such a mood that Henry has even noticed. She probably just needed to get laid. Or to have some romance in her life.

She absentmindedly ran her fingers over the closed folder. It contained all the letters she'd gotten from her secret admirer. More often than not, she found herself rereading the letters. Since it had started a few days ago, she'd gotten a few every day. She found them in the strangest places… the bathroom of the Sheriff Station, stuck in Henry's school report, or underneath her grilled cheese she got at Granny's. That last one would've had her suspicious of Ruby if it hadn't been for the fact that Emma talked to Ruby every time she had gotten a letter. Ruby looked shocked and confused when Emma showed it to her.

The whole thing was bringing out a mix of frustration and yearning in Emma. She was frustrated she had yet to come any closer to finding out who this person was and a yearning to know who it was. Everything she'd been finding out about them had intrigued her more and more. There were also incredibly sweet and thoughtful things said that made Emma feel wanted.

When you scuff your toes on the concrete because you're embarrassed or don't know what to say makes me want to gather you in my arms and tell you I'm not judging.

Or

You hook your thumbs into your jean pockets and give a sheepish look as if you're expected to be scolded and it is absolutely adorable.

Those were just some of what the letters held. Emma had most of these letters memorized with how often she read it. And then there were the ones that sent heat straight to her core. These started only recently. Yesterday to be exact. Perhaps the correspondent was getting bolder.

I saw you today at Granny's doing paperwork. Did you know you bite your lip when you are thinking? It makes me wish that it was me biting that lip… and I'd do so much more than bite there.

Emma felt herself flush as she remembered that particular entry. Her imagination had gone to so many different places just from that line. She chuckled to herself, the person was right. She had her mind in the gutter too often. Emma and her "crass mind", like the secret admirer had said in that first letter.

There was a slight clearing of a throat next to Emma and she jolted out of her thoughts. She glanced over to find a smirking Regina.

"Miss Swan." She acknowledged. In a scramble, Emma attempted to close her tab on apartment searching though she didn't know why she cared.

"Regina," Emma said. "You surprised me."

Regina sniffed. "I realize that. I wasn't exactly being discrete either. I imagine you were daydreaming about your pirate?" She didn't know why she was always making jabs at that rat. Emma had told her that there was nothing between them. Regina still couldn't get that jealousy out.

"No!" Emma declared defiantly. "Not about him," she admitted quietly.

"Oh?" Regina quirked an eyebrow up. "Let me guess. Perhaps the Dark One's son?" She said dryly. He wasn't much better.

Emma opened her mouth again to deny it when she was cut off by a fake gasp from Regina. "Don't tell me. Is it the other person?" Regina emphasized, referring to the night Emma had almost revealed her letters to Regina before bolting out of her mansion. Color rushed up to Emma's cheeks causing Regina to smirk only to find it grow into a genuine smile. Damn her traitorous emotions.

Fire flashed in Emma's eyes and she glared up at Regina. "You know what? This is none of your business." She picked up her folder and tapped it on the table as if straightening it out. "Is there something you need, Madam Mayor?" Emma asked.

Regina scoffed. "Nothing pertaining to your work, Sheriff." She smirked. "For once."

Emma huffed indignantly, "I've been doing my paperwork."

"I know." Regina needlessly brushed phantom lint from her sleeve. "I came to ask about Henry. We had agreed that I could see him more?" She asked.

Emma glanced up at Regina and noted a slight insecurity in the way she had asked the question. As if she would say no. She wouldn't, of course.

"Uh, yea. You want to see him tomorrow or tonight?" Regina looked almost relieved and her shoulders relaxed minutely. Emma grinned. "Actually, how about tonight? He doesn't have school tomorrow," she pointed out.

"I'm well aware of my son's school schedule, Miss Swan."

"Our." She corrected earning an eye roll. "So, what do you say?"

Regina pretended to think for a minute. "That would be permissible." She decided with a nod.

"Six okay?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded. "Fine." She debated asking Emma if she might want to stay for dinner. Would that be allowable? Would she even say yes? Probably not. She didn't have the guts to say it anyways. "On time, please, Sheriff," she drawled out instead.

"I know, I know," Emma replied. "No more getting caught up with stupid men who…"

Before she could finish, an excited voice called out. "Emma! There you are!"

Regina turned and her lip twitched at the sight of Mary Margaret rushing towards them. Such impeccable timing as usual. She was enjoying herself too. She glanced back at Emma and noticed that she didn't look too pleased either. Perhaps there was trouble back at the house.

Mary Margaret stopped in front of Regina, "Regina." She said, eyes narrowing a tiny bit in suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

Regina smirked. "It's my town, Snow. I can be wherever I want to be."

"Not technically your town anymore," Snow muttered almost to herself.

This earned an eye roll from Regina. "I was talking business with the Sheriff. Imagine if you were mayor," she snipped, "nothing would get done with you prancing around doing nothing." She straightened more, threw back her shoulders, and took a step closer. "Now if you'll excuse me, my food is here." She gave Snow a hard glare and she quickly stepped aside. Good to know she could still be as intimidating if she wanted to.

Brushing past, Regina tossed over her shoulder to Emma as she went to the counter to pick up her bag. "Six sharp, Sheriff."

Snow turned to Emma at this comment. "What's at six?"

Emma shrugged and gestured to the empty booth across from her. "Just dropping Henry off."

"But Emma," Snow asked, eyes wide. "Is that wise?"

Emma sighed. "It's fine. He was there a few days ago. Nothing happened, did it?"

"I guess not…" She trailed off uncertainly.

"Look," Emma continued, not wanting to talk to her more then she had to. "What did you come here for? I know it wasn't about Regina because you didn't know she'd be here."

Mary Margaret's face brightened at this. "Oh! Right! I have some exciting news for you!"

Emma glanced warily at her to continue.

"I'm pregnant!" Snow blurted out, unable to keep it in anymore.

From the counter, Regina saw the slight tightening of Emma's lips before it broke out in an all too fake smile. Hiding behind a mask just like Regina would do. Regina wished she could reach out and offer words of comfort, but even if Emma allowed it, she wouldn't know what to say. Grabbing the bag, she turned and left Granny's before hearing Emma's response. Perhaps a letter would help.

"That's so great! Congratulations!" Emma exclaimed with a smile that was way too big. She got up to hug Mary Margaret across the booth and pretended to be overjoyed. Memories of being back with foster parents crept through Emma's mind. Always being given up for one reason or another. And occasionally, that reason was because the foster parents were having kids of their own.

As Mary Margaret gripped Emma tightly and squealed, Emma pursed her lips, bracing herself. No, this time it's different. These were her parents. They wouldn't forget about her. The apartment searching came at a good time, she mused.

The broke apart and Snow continued, excitedly, "We only found out a few days ago! But we went back to the hospital today to make sure everything's fine before telling you! Of course, you needed to be the first person to know. You're going to be a big sister!" Mary Margaret exclaimed, tearing up.

Emma let out a forced laugh, "Yea I am. And Henry is going to have a baby uncle or aunt."

Mary Margaret nodded enthusiastically, wiping her eyes. "Oh, this is going to be so great! We'll get to be together as a family this time."

Emma nodded silently and pondered for a minute. It would be far too crowded once the baby came. She didn't want to be cooped up with a crying baby sister or brother. That was a weird thought… the kid would be younger than her own son.

Emma sat down and absentmindedly played with the edge of her laptop. "By the way," she decided she would tell her. "This was good timing actually."

Mary Margaret looked at her curiously.

"I'd been looking for my own apartment." Emma admitted slowly.

"Why?" Snow asked. "I mean, once the baby comes, I can see why because there's not much space. Besides, as an adult, you probably don't want to live with your parents anymore anyways." There was a pause. "You know we want you to stay if you want to, right?" She implored. "We love you."

Emma nodded. "I know." They told her that all the time and she didn't doubt it, she just hadn't said it back to them yet. Those words came hard to her. They always have. "I just felt like we needed more space. Henry's getting older and should probably have his own room, you know?"

Snow nodded. "Alright. It's your choice, honey. If you need or want any help with any of this, your dad and I would love to help find a place."

"Thanks," Emma half smiled, "Mom." She tagged on the end. Snow's face lit up as it always did the rare time Emma called her that.

"Well that's settled then," she said brightly. "Now," Snow stood up. "I need to go home and start reading up on having a baby! I've never actually raised one." She trailed off and looked at Emma sadly and reached over to cup Emma's cheek.

Emma shifted uncomfortably. "Yea well, I haven't either so I guess I won't be of help there." She said. "Now get going. I have some stuff to do." Emma lied. She still wanted some time to process everything.

Snow smiled. "I'll see you at home then?" She asked.

"Of course," Emma responded.

Content, Snow turned and left the diner.

Emma woke her laptop up from sleep mode and threw herself into apartment searching with even more fervor. No wonder David and Mary Margaret were so loving the last few days. She groaned. There was only so much of that she could stand. It was time to move out.

Thoughts? There will be more SwanQueen goodness and interactions in the next chapter.