There were, as Emma discovered, some serious disadvantages to being able to hear someone's thoughts constantly. Some of Regina's were quite disturbing and she was having a hard time getting past the fact that this woman was also capable of loving Henry so well. Death and destruction were often main features in Regina's mind, along with tragedy, heartbreak and her internal struggle between doing the right thing and doing what she damned well pleased. Not using her magic each time it boiled up to the surface was certainly one of her bigger struggles. Emma had learnt a lot over the past two weeks. Regina was nothing if not strong. She could understand now why the mayor was so controlled in her dealings with people and her mannerisms. Half of the town had said and done some absolutely awful things to her. No wonder she had them cursed! Emma couldn't understand why she continued to keep these people in her life. If it were her, she would've left town as soon as she could and never looked back. It was a question that had been bugging her for a while. Why go through all that trouble when the only person who truly seems miserable is Regina?

The click-clicking of heels on the station's floor announced the woman's arrival, although Emma had already known the precise time Regina would appear long before the sound. One of the advantages of having mind-reading skills was that she always had her reports ready and completed for the mayor's arrival. The nit-picking had ceased now her work was satisfactorily done and their meetings were always brief. Emma missed it infact. Their banter had waned and they rarely spent time together at all these days but she felt cheated. She wanted to talk to Regina openly about her worries. She felt connected to her in a way she hadn't done before the wish was granted but it was not satisfying. Emma realised she wanted, no, needed to develop their friendship for her own sanity.

"Sheriff."

"Mayor."

She handed the neatly stacked pile to the brunette with a smile. "Before you ask, alphabetically and numerically orderedcomplete with case file numbers."

Regina nodded curtly. "Thank you. Have a nice weekend Sheriff."

She was about to leave when Emma spoke.

"So, uhm, how are things with you? It's been pretty quiet around here without all the usual Storybrook dramas."

Regina shifted uncomfortably. 'We don't do this Swan.'

"I am great thanks for asking."

She paused not knowing if she should return the polite small talk and ask about Emma.

Emma read the thought and felt her stomach drop. Clearly Regina did not want to waste her time chatting idly to her.

"How are you Emma?"

That caught her off guard. First name usage and an uncalculated genuine response. She smiled.

"I'm okay I guess. I kinda miss adult time and hanging out with normal people."

Regina smiled. "As opposed to fairy tale characters as you refer to us all?" 'What makes us so different?'

"No! As opposed to my charming parents as you refer to them. It's still kinda weird I guess. I miss having a regular drinking buddy who treats me like a regular person and not..."

"...and not the savior." Regina finished.

Emma nodded with a slight blush.

'Where are you going with this dear?'

She wasn't sure herself. "So I was thinking about it and really, you are always so busy running the town and taking care of the kid and stuff and I never see you just, uhm, hanging out."

'I don't hang out!'

"Are you suggesting I need to suddenly try to become everyone's bff and sit around cooing over their true love bull.."

Emma cut in. "Oh God no! I meant, I don't know. I could really use a friend in town who isn't in awe of me and doesn't treat me like a princess or go blabbing to Mary Margaret about my issues."

"Well, I'm sure Dr. Hopper is available for consultations. His confidentiality can be assured."

Emma was getting annoyed.

"Regina. Do you wanna hang out with me sometime. Grab a beer or wine or whatever you drink and just talk about something other than this town?"

Regina was speechless. She had not envisaged the conversation going that way. 'She wants to hang out with me? Why? What is she up to?'

Emma laughed hopelessly. "You know what, forget it. Forget I mentioned it. I thought we were past you hating me." She was honestly crushed and kicking herself for making herself vulnerable once again.

Regina noticed Emma's posture change and started back tracking in her mind. 'You are one of the few people I really don't hate in this town. Strongly annoyed by but not actual hate.'

"Henry and I are having dinner at six if you care to join us."

'What am I doing?'

Emma perked up. "I'd love that. That would be awesome."

Regina felt the unease of doing something nice for someone creep over her. She didn't like it. It felt strange. She'd crushed the dogooder in herself many years ago or at least she thought she had.

She cleared her throat. "Wine."

"What?" Emma startled.

"I'm partial to a glass of good wine." 'Merlot, shiraz, malbec if I'm in the mood.'

Emma stopped herself from grinning like an excited puppy. "Cool. I like malbec, is that ok?"

Regina considered with an amused expression. 'Surprising yet again Miss Swan.'

"That would be satisfactory."

She turned and walked out of the station with a million thoughts racing through her minds too jumbled for Emma to catch fully but one resonated deeply with her and her own panic set in.

'What am I going to wear?'

#

Emma rang the bell at six precisely. Having had an argument with her closet, she'd decided to forego her usual attire and wrestled a jersey dress from the depths of its claws. It wasn't like she was on a date or anything but she wanted to at least look a bit nicer and less sheriffy for their dinner.

Regina opened the door and immediately noticed the outfit choice. 'Wow! No jeans!' "Good evening Miss Swan. Please, come in." There was absolutely no way Regina was going to verbally comment on the fact that the savior had legs. 'Of course she has legs! Behave Regina!'

Emma followed the mayor inside blushing slightly. It was nice to know that the woman had noticed she'd made an effort, even if she didn't say it out loud. "It smells delicious. And you look really nice."

Regina smiled civilly. She'd opted for a simple black blouse which she reserved for rare occasions, and tonight certainly was one of those, and a pair of navy pants which were slightly less business but not quite casual. "Thank you. As do you Emma. Dinner shouldn't be long. Henry is just finishing his homework." She led Emma through to the kitchen and poured a glass of her own wine for her.

Emma took it gratefully and clinked her glass against Regina's. She took a sip and set her own bottle on the table. "Is this okay? I'm not really that great at picking wine but the guy in the store said it was his best seller."

Regina looked at the bottle. "It is actually one of my favorites from that region. Thank you."

Emma beamed. She lived for the praise. "You are most welcome. Can I help with anything? Need me to set the table or anything?"

Regina sucked her bottom lip in unconsciously trying to cover whatever reaction she was having. "It's all done. Just take a seat for a few minutes."

'This feels so odd.'

"So how was your day?" Emma tried.

"Fine. Nothing too stressful. Just a lot of paperwork."

"I don't know how you do it. I'd be bored out of my skull with all the meetings and reports."

'It is tedious.'

"Well somebody has to do the boring parts if the town is to run as usual. We can't all go gallovanting over town imprisoning layabouts and dwarves."

'Same thing.'

Emma chuckled. "Is that your idea of fun?"

Regina smiled with a shrug. "I do enjoy punishing them."

"Well maybe you should have cursed yourself to be a dominatrix instead." Oh shit, now Emma had the image of Regina donned in leather and latex floating around her mind.

'Hmmm, interesting that that's your alternative career choice for me! I wonder...'

Regina laughed at Emma's obvious regret of word choice and decided to play along with the banter. "Well sadly, when I cast the curse, my leather pants, corsets and riding crops didn't appear in my closet."

Emma almost choked on the wine. Was she being serious?

'Oh she thinks I'm kidding!'

Emma pushed further. "You know there are stores online you can always check out if you missed that look. They even discreetly package everything so nobody need know about your kink."

'Sounds more like your kink, dear. I'm having my doubts about you.'

"Sounds like you have some experience in that department. Should I be worried about our son finding something he shouldn't when he stays at your place?"

'Do you really want to play this game because I always win! I invented this game!'

Emma chuckled. "Nope. I didn't bring much with me to Storybrook. Just the essentials you know, clothes, toothbrush, twelve inch..."

"Hey Ma! Mom didn't tell me you were coming for dinner."

'Twelve inch what Miss Swan!?'

Emma smiled more from Regina's mental shock than anything. "Hey kid. Yeah well, your mom stopped by the station earlier and we got talking, so here I am!"

"Is there some kind of crisis in town? Who is missing? Why are you wearing that?" Henry said without a breath.

Regina's eyes were once again drawn to those legs dangling off the chair.

"What?" Emma heard something mentally that sounded like 'so toned. I bet she has a lot of stamina.' But she couldn't be sure. She turned to look at Regina.

Regina rolled her eyes. "Nobody is missing, Henry. There's no crisis and what haveI told you about commenting on people's appearance? Emma clearly has more in her closet than tight pants and her red leather jacket." 'Who knew.'

Emma rolled her eyes right back at the brunette who'd managed to get in a wardrobe dig as well as completely step in as responsible parent. She forgot at times that Regina had no idea she could hear her thoughts and she often confused spoken and mental chatter if she wasn't looking directly at her lips.

"Yeah kid. Can't two adults just hang out for no other reason than to enjoy each other's company?"

"Not you two. You hate each other!" Henry mumbled.

Emma looked at Regina with a toldyaso expression.

"We don't hate each other Henry. Not anymore at least. Emma and I have learnt to work together quite well lately."

Henry looked thoughtfully at them both and shrugged. He was still quite young but if both his mom's were being cool enough to sit and have dinner together he wasn't going to question it any further. Even after the turnover incident.

"So what's twelve inches?" He asked innocently.

"What?!" Both women screeched.

"I heard Ma saying she didn't bring much with her to Storybrook then I interrupted."

Emma looked at Regina with a shy grin and a blush. "My twelve inch records. I left the player back in Boston but I bought a couple of the records with me." It wasn't a lie. Her Fleetwood Mac Rumors album was indeed in her box of belongings.

"Oh cool. Mom has one of those too don't you Mom?"

Regina grinned at her son's thoughtful nature and also a sneaky, slightly evil smile directed soley at Emma. "I do."