Regina squinted her eyes and noticed that she wasn't in her room. Or her bed. Also someone was holding onto her. Then she remembered, Henry! The conversation that they had the day before. Apparently Emma had defended her, she sort of felt obligated to do something nice. But it didn't mean her heart was in it. However, it was, she felt like she got a bit of the old Henry back. And the blonde was responsible for it. She gritted her teeth and carefully got out of Henry's bed. She freshened up and got dressed in her room, before going downstairs to make them both breakfast.
By the time Henry needed to get up, she headed upstairs to wake him. Only to notice that he was already awake and just got dressed for school. "I could smell the food" he grinned. Regina arched an eyebrow in response and they both went downstairs, to have breakfast together.
"Mom? Can I ask you a question?" Henry said while eying her. By the look Henry gave her, she braced herself mentally, knowing that it wouldn't be an easy one to answer. Looking him in the eyes, she dragged out "You may". All of a sudden, Henry got shy, realizing that his mom somehow was aware that his question might be a bit intrusive. So with reddened cheeks he blurted out, "Are you currently seeing someone? Like in dating someone?". Regina flustered a bit, almost choked on her coffee and took a breath in and then she breathed out again. That question, she didn't saw it coming, she breathed in again, flaring her nostrils and answered Henry, "No, I'm not". Henry seemed to be relieved by that, but decided to have some follow- up questions. "So you're not seeing sheriff Graham?" Regina seemed to be appalled, but answered in all honesty, "I'm not. I did, but that's been a long time ago. Not to mention, it's in the past."
Henry nodded, adding another question, his face scrunched like he just ate something bad, "And Sidney?" Regina's mouth fell open, wondering why he seemed to be interested in that. But she decided that if it took his mind of the book, she would humor him and just answer, "No, never him!". The relief that appeared on Henry's face made her ask, "Why this sudden interest in my clearly not existing dating life?" Henry turned towards her, "I just want to see you happy. Are you happy?" The brunette was touched, however she suspected ulterior motives, "Are you sure that's the only reason?" He smirked, "Well", he drawled, "If you're working, taking care of me and also dating, you don't have time for any mischief". He finished his coco with a gulp and got up as fast as he can, to go to the bus stop, "I'm ready, I'll see myself out! Bye mom, love you!"
Regina stayed behind in her kitchen, appalled, but also impressed. She felt the anger inside her, but knew that what just happened between her and Henry, didn't had any bad intentions in it. But her mind drifted off towards his birth mother, deciding that his stunt must have been her genes or her influence. However, she wanted to talk to the woman, she needed to know more about her and needed to know if she intended to stay or not. Her being here jeopardized everything she had build up here. So, deciding not to show up empty handed, she picked some apples.
Shortly after, she arrived at the B&B, knocking Emma's door. When that door opened, she was glad that she had brought something to hold in her hands. Her hands where shaking, the blonde woman had just opened the door half- naked! Regina started to blabber "Did you know the Honey crisp tree is the most vigorous and hearty of all apple trees?" Emma frowned, but Regina continued,"It can survive temperatures as low as 40 below and keep growing. It can weather any storm". Emma wondered if the woman was trying to flirt with her or just being that nervous. The brunette kept talking, "I have one that I tended to, since I was a little girl. And to this day I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers", she added sultry while taking one of the apples out of the basket and holding it up, handing it to Emma. "Thanks!", Emma said while she reached for the apple, lightly touching the other woman's fingers. Regina swallowed, "I'm sure you will enjoy them on your drive home!". Emma looked up, "Actually, I'm gonna stay for a while!". This seemed to surprise Regina, anger her even, but she decided that if she was going to stay, they needed to talk. Emma agreed and she invited her to come in.
Regina dropped the basket on a closet and crossed her arms "What are your intentions towards Henry?". Emma mirrored her move and when she didn't answer fast enough, Regina added "Henry has enough issues, he doesn't need you confusing him!". Emma felt attacked, so she stepped towards the woman, almost being nose to nose with her, "With all due respect Madam Mayor, but I just got to know my son. And after the day we had yesterday, how dare you assume that I'm the one confusing him? I just want to make sure Henry's okay!". Regina sneered back, "He's fine, dear! Any problems he has are being taken care of!". Emma frowned, "What does that mean?". Regina closed her eyes, breathed out, "It means I have him in therapy, it's all under control". She sighed, "It's time for me to go!".
The Mayor stepped towards the door, took the door handle but before she could even open it, Emma's hand was on the door, slamming it shut. Regina turned around, seeing eye to eye with Emma, "You have no idea what I'm capable of!", she muttered. Emma got closer, they where nose to nose again, she whispered, "I don't mind finding that out.". Emma's eyes dropped to Regina's lips, seeing the mayor visibly swallow. No words where uttered, their lips got closer, like if there was an invisible pull between them. And when their lips brushed, a kiss was initiated and their arms closed in on each other. Neither of them knew who started the kiss, but they both sighed into it. It was soft, tender and long.
After a while Regina leaned her head forward, breaking the connection between their lips, "I should go!", she whispered against Emma's lips, while closing her eyes, she swallowed. Emma sighed, tenderly taking the other woman's chin in her hands so they could look each other in the eyes, "Don't...", she said. Regina leaned her head against Emma's, "I have to! And I don't mind you staying!", the brunette admitted. Her own words surprising her, she swallowed again, "I really should go, there's a town that I'm responsible for...". Emma's hand dropped and now held the door handle, "We'll talk about this, right?" The mayor nodded, "Yes, we will". Emma then let go of the door and took a step back, so Regina could open it and leave if she wanted to. Before the brunette closed the door, she uttered, "Enjoy the apples, Miss Swan!". Emma looked at her tenderly and sniggered, "I most certainly will! And it's Emma!". After seeing the brunette frown, she added, "Call me Emma, definitely after what just happened!". Regina glanced towards the hallway, but then looked back towards the blonde, "Very well, Emma..." she said softly and smiled, before she turned away and left the B&B.
Later that morning, Emma headed to the diner, to have breakfast. While she was in the middle of sipping her coco, Graham came in. When he noticed her, he took a seat on the opposite side of the table. But before he could utter a word towards her, Ruby was there, taking his order and handing Emma a bear claw. He asked if she had any intentions in staying and if she did, he might have the perfect job for her. Emma sniggered, "And what might that be?". Before he could answer, though, Ruby was there, handing him his order and repeating the question, "Yeah, what might that be, sheriff?" Graham smiled, "Deputy, you know I need the help!". Emma said she'd think about it and Ruby returned to the kitchen, being called by Granny to continue her work instead of chatting with the customers and keep other's waiting.
Meanwhile in the Mayor's office, there was also a visitor. The town's reporter showing the mayor all the information he found out about the Swan- woman. Regina frowned, "Why do you show me this?". Sidney shuffled, "I thought you should know, for Henry's sake! You do want her gone, don't you? You could use this!". Regina sighed, "No, I won't! Just get rid of it!". The reporter frowned, he noticed that she was behaving in another way then she usually did. Something was wrong about that blonde woman staying in town, he decided. And he would do what needed to be done to get rid of her, maybe the mayor might not realize it now, but she would be grateful, he was sure! "Fine, Madam Mayor! I'll see to it!" he said before he turned and left the mayor's office.
