Regina woke up before Emma, their limbs tangled together during the night. She so comfortable she didn't want to move, but she had too. Henry had to get up for school, which meant Regina had to go and wake him up and make him breakfast. She delicately unwrapped herself from Emma's embraced. Emma groaned in her sleep and opened her eyes and pulled Regina back into her.

"Stay" Emma mumbled tiredly. Regina chuckled at her as Emma lay her head on Regina's stomach and she had wrapped her arms around Regina's middle. The brunette lay still for a while and cuddled her back. She sighed knowing she had to get up before she made Henry late for school.

"You're going to have to let me go, Sweetie, I need to wake our son up for school" She whispered to Emma. Emma flipped her head on her stomach so she was facing her. She looked up at Regina and pouted.

"I know, but if I don't get him up now, he won't get to the bus in time," Regina said as she brought her hand up to Emma's face and stroked her cheek lightly with her thumb. Emma nuzzled her cheek into Regina's palm.

"Ok but after he's gone we are watching Doctor Who," Emma said as She disentangled herself from Regina and sitting up on her side of the bed " Oh, could I borrow some clothes. I forgot to bring any with me, my stuff from yesterday doesn't smell so fresh. Or maybe it's too fresh" Emma said laughing at her own joke. Regina rolled her eyes, she lent over and went to lightly kiss Emma, who took advantage of the moment and deepened the kiss. She pulled Regina so the brunette was straddling her.

"Emma, I have stuff I need to do," Regina said in protest against Emma's lips. Emma just groaned into her lips and released her from her grasp.

"Spoilsport" Emma said then childishly poked her tongue out at Regina who just chuckled and went to get her son up for school.

She walked into Henry's bedroom to find in fast asleep on his bed his leg and arm dangling off the side. She crept up to him and crouched down beside him, then shook him to wake him.

"Darling, you need to get ready for school now," Regina whispered as Henry's eyes opened. She brushed his hair from his eyes and kissed his forehead before standing up and holding a hand out to him. He grabbed it and stood up. He rubbed his eyes then followed Regina to the kitchen to eat his breakfast. He walked sluggishly to a stool and sat on it. Regina fetched him a bowl and his favorite cereal from the cupboard. She made him a cup of tea whilst making herself and Emma a strong coffee. She placed the milk by his bowl when she had finished with it along with his Mario mug.

"Thank mom," He said smiling at her sleepily. He poured his cereal into his bowl and put a little bit of milk on it. He grabbed his spoon and quickly dug in enthusiastically. Emma walked into the kitchen a few seconds later, dressed in some of Regina's more relaxed clothing.

"Hey kid," Emma said taking a seat next to him.

"Morning Mum," He said with a mouthful of cereal.

"Henry, never talk with your mouth open," Regina said placing Emma's coffee on the table in front of the blond. He swallowed his cereal quickly.

"Yes Mum," He said smiling at her as innocently as he could

"How could you stay mad with that face," Emma said looking at Henry, then back to Regina. Regina just raised an eyebrow and sipped her own coffee. She went to the cupboard and pulled out a box of pop tarts.

"You still have a few left from when you stayed here last," Regina said giving the box to Emma. She took them from Regina with a large grin on her face.

"Hello, my little friends," Emma said putting the box to her face and stroking it with her hand. Regina stared at her like she had grown another head. " Don't judge me?" Emma said holding the pop tart to her chest like they were gold.

"You have a really unhealthy relationship to a cracker with icing on," Regina said not getting at all how much Emma loved pop tarts.

"How dare you speak ill of my pop tarts, I'll have you know they are made with delicious pastry, wrapped around a sugary filling, with icing spread over the top. They are a work of culinary art." Emma said defending her favorite thing to have for breakfast. Regina just rolled her eyes. Emma got up and went to put one in the toaster.

"So Mom's what's your plan for today?" Henry asked he wanted to know if Regina had decided to go and talk to Aldara or not.

"Well you grandparent's might be coming around for dinner, we might think about going to see Aldara, I might just text her to check if it's still ok," Emma said, she wanted Regina and Aldara to get to know each other better but she didn't want to push them both.

"So you want to talk with her Mom?" Henry asked Regina who looked a little uneasy.

"Maybe, I mean I'm not a hundred percent sure that it will make a difference though," Regina said doubting herself again.

"It will be fine Mom, Aldara actually isn't as bad as she lets on. It's more of a defense mechanism." Henry said. Both his moms looked at him taken back by the boy's insight.

"So she act's angry with Regina because she is trying to protect herself, I guess that makes sense, Regina would do the same thing." Emma agreed and so did Regina, even if she didn't want to admit it.

"Exactly, Mom you just need to prove you won't hurt her again," Henry said to Regina who was listening to her son intently. Regina nodded thoughtfully.

"Perhaps your right, I mean I let my guard down with Emma after I realized she was just trying to help me be a better person. It took you being taken from me to realize who I wanted to be." Regina admitted, she hoped Aldara would be more easily convinced.

"See, You can do it, Mom, you just need to be yourself with her and she will soon warm up to you," Henry said, Know that his Mom may doubt herself sometimes, but at heart, she was a passionate, strong and resilient woman. He knew those were quality's that made Regina who she was, it also made her a good friend and mother.

" Ok, I will go see her today. Emma and I will pick you up from school in my car and we will go to Aldara's." Regina said defeatedly, knowing the both of them where right, if she wanted any kind of relationship with her daughter, she needed to talk to her sooner rather than later. Emma and Henry just grinned at her in unison. "Henry you need to go get dressed for school," Regina said trying to act like she hadn't noticed the two goons beaming at her.

"Ok Mom," He said getting up quickly drinking the milk from his bowl and placing it and his cup in the sink, still grinning at her.

"For god's sake closed your mouths you look like fools," Regina said getting embarrassed. " It's not like we are going to be best friends straight away. I can guarantee you this is going to be anything but fun" Regina said, Emma, frowned at her.

"Always the pessimistic, good thing you got me and Henry, we have enough optimism it's almost reckless. In fact, it has proven it's self to be so." Emma said to her she took her pop tart that had just popped up out of the toaster, she took a bite. Her face contorted in pain but she carried on chewing. Regina noticed her discomfort.

"Spit it out you idiot," She said to Emma laughing at the weird faces she was pulling as she battled to finish the bite. Emma shook her head rebuffing her suggestion. She swallowed hard and gasped.

"I would never waste a pop tart!" Emma said offended. Regina just shook her head and walked into her front room. She collected the rubbish from the night before, She was about to throw a pizza box away when Emma took it from her.

"It's still got pizza in it," Emma said opening the box and showing Regina three slices. She took a slice out and took a bite.

"Why Swan, are you eating cold pizza for breakfast?" Regina said a little disgusted by Emma's habits.

"Why are you not eating pizza for breakfast" Emma countered "Go on Mills," Emma said taking another bite and offered her a bite of her own. Regina just shut the box and took it off her to put it in the bin.

"It's for the best Emma" Regina said. Emma's mouth fell open. Regina, who had already cleaned up the front room without magic, walked over to Emma and patted her shoulder.

"So unfair!"Emma said to herself then pouted. She went to ask Regina if she could use her shower, it was better than the one in the spare room. Regina was already doing the washing up when she came in.

"How come you are always busy?" Emma said picking up a tea towel and a plate and drying it and putting it away. Regina looked at her.

"I like to keep to some kind of routine. You aren't going to throw me off it." Regina said placing a glass on the drying rack.

"Aren't I?" Emma said putting down her tea towel and stepping close to Regina who had turned around to face her. Emma kissed her deeply. "Seem's to me I'm somewhat of a distraction to you," Emma said and started to kiss her again. Regina pulled away turned around.

"Nope just mean's I have to be a little bit faster" Regina tried to say in a determined voice, but it came out as a whisper. Emma chuckled under her breath.

"Oh really?" Emma said and walked away. Regina watched her leave, suspicious of what she was up to. She just turned back around and carried on washing up. A few minutes later when she had finished her task she went to see if Henry was ready to leave. He wasn't he was sat playing a video game with Emma.

"Seriously?" Regina said to Emma who was engrossed in the game. Her son was also sat there watching the screen intensely.

"Well, you set the challenge, Gina?" Emma said still making her character on the screen shooting at weird looking plants in outfit's, holding guns.

"No, I'm just trying to get my son ready for school, he's already missed the school bus." Regina pointed out. Henry glanced at his watch.

"NO!" He said noticing he had meant to leave ten minutes ago. He only had fifteen minutes to get to school before classes started. There was no way he could make it halfway across town in that time if he walked. Regina watched her son stand up, clearly panicking.

"Don't worry Henry, I will drive you there since it was Emma's fault you are late for the bus," Regina said stroking henry's hair then shot a glare at the smirking blond. "Go get your thing's ready." She said looking back to Henry who nodded and ran off to get his school bag. Regina went to fetch her car keys but when she got there they were missing.

"Emma!" Regina said loud enough for Emma to hear. Emma confidently strolled out from the front room.

"Yes, my love?" She said playing innocent. She had hidden them well.

"Where are my car keys?" Regina asked annoyed knowing the blond had moved them.

" Aren't they where you usually put them?" Emma asked keeping a straight face. Regina raised an eyebrow.

"No Swan, they're not," Regina said not falling for Emma charade.

"Well, we better take the Bug before Henry is late for class," Emma said taking her own keys from her trouser pocket.

"Oh brilliant, the death trap," Regina said. "Henry come on we have to make time in case Emma's car breaks down." She shouted up to her son, who came pelting down the stairs a few seconds later.

"Why are we taking the Bug?" Henry asked them. Regina glared at Emma, waiting for her to talk.

"You Mom's misplaced her car key," Emma said trying her hardest not to smirk when Regina huffed and walked out the door. " You got to love the bug," Emma said to Henry before they to also walked to the car. Emma let Henry into the back seat then got into the driver's seat and buckled in then started the car and made her way toward Henry's school. Regina was sat there with a stony face and had crossed her arms, to make it evident to Emma she wasn't pleased with taking the Bug.

"Ah c'mon Gina, where did your beautiful smile go?" Emma said knowing that she couldn't be too angry with her because she would have just shouted at her. She could also see the side of Regina's mouth twitch up before she quickly corrected it.

"I left it in my car," Regina said turning to Emma and staring at her knowing full well the woman knew where her keys were, but Henry only had ten minutes to get to school. " Please just drive before you make our son late for school. What kind of example would we be to the town if Henry is late for school?"

"Um, a normal one. Regina, kids are late to school all the time." Emma said. She knew Regina like to be punctual but Henry being a few minutes late really wasn't that bad considering he was early every other day.

" Not my son, I won't let people think they can just drop their kids off willy-nilly," Regina said to them heatedly.

"Willy-nilly, Regina seriously I think you're overthinking this," Emma said to her.

"Swan I have my routine it keeps me from forgetting the many important things I need to do, If I don't follow it, all hell will break loose in Storybrooke, do you want to help me with the town tax forms?" Regina asked Emma, knowing the blond definitely wouldn't. They pulled up in front of the school.

"Bye Mom's, love you," Henry said then grabbed his school bag and quickly got out the car and rushed to class.

"See we got here in time, Grannies?" Emma said hoping a delicious apple pie would help to cool Regina down.

" This time Swan, next time you won't make us late will you, Yes a coffee sounds good," Regina said trying not to be so abrupt with Emma but she couldn't help feeling panicky about seeing Aldara later.

" No Regina I won't, not now I know how much it effects you, sorry it was just a joke, I wanted to cheer you up. I didn't think it through" Emma said genuinely sorry she had upset her. Regina just smiled at her sadly.

"I'm sorry Emma, It's just what if I mess it up today with Aldara and she want's nothing more to do with me?" Regina asked her scared that she would ruin whatever progress they had made.

"Regina, I can honestly tell you, you both want the same thing, to be in each other's lives. Aldara hadn't known you forgot her and she thought you had left her because you didn't want her. We explained to her that you wouldn't have done it if you had any other choice. She is ready for you to talk, now you just need to be ready to open yourself up to her." Emma said taking Regina's and stroking the back of it with her thumb. She lifted Regina's hand up to her mouth and placed a sweet kiss on it.

"Thank you, Emma, If it wasn't for you I think this would have been an entirely different situation right now," Regina admitted knowing that the stress would have gotten to her and made her act hostile to Aldara, even if she did want to get to know her. Between Emma and Henry, she had been able to keep afloat. "I love you," She said freeing her hand from Emma's and placing it on the blonds cheek. She lent in rested her forehead on Emmas. "I'd be lost without you"

"The feeling's are mutual. I don't think I have ever fallen in love with someone so effortlessly. Usually, I fight against it because I don't want someone to get close and just end up leaving me, broken" Emma said remembering how she felt when Neil left her to the cops.

"Emma I could never do anything like that to you, it would hurt too much," Regina said, " Come on let's go get some comfort pie." Emma nodded. They both got out the car and walked towards the cafe hand in hand, it felt natural to them to be near to each other. Emma opened the door for Regina who thanked her. The went to the counter and Emma pulled a seat out for Regina, Instead of sitting on it Regina pulled out the seat next to it for Emma. Emma just chuckled and they both sat down. Grannie came up to them to take their orders. She was staring at them a spark in her eyes.

"So how are you, two girls?" She asked as she placed their regular coffees in front of them.

"Busy, We have a lot on our plates today. We are going to see someone later then snow and Charming are coming over for dinner tonight" Regina said. " Oh crap dinner, what am I going to do for dinner."

"Don't stress love, I'll help you. In fact, you can help me." Emma said knowing she could cook one of her favorite meals for Regna. She wasn't an expert cook but she had her dishes."

"I am not letting you loose in my kitchen," Regina said not knowing Emma to be the cooking type.

"Trust me I know what to cook," Emma said. "Grannie could we also have a slice of your famous apple pie please," She asked the woman who was already grabbing a plate for it to go on. She quickly cut a slice and put it in front of Emma. Emma grabbed the both of them a fork each. She gave one to Regina and let her have the first bite. It must have been good because Regina moaned in appreciation.

"Grannie I don't know how you do it, mine is good but yours is ... legendary" Regina said after swallowing. "What do you use?"

"Cinnamon and maple syrup and a whole lot of love," Grannie said flashing them a smile. " So, I 'm just a little curious considering I'm not the only one who has noticed, are you too ...together" She asked tentatively, knowing both women were very private people. Emma looked around them at the eyes watching them intently. She looked to Regina to see if she was ready to let the town know about them. She looked at Emma and smiled shyly but Emma understood.

"Yurp she's ma girl," Emma said and grinned. Regina just blushed; covered her face with her hands, embarrassed, shaking her head a little.

Emma just put her arm around the brunette shoulders. Regina lifted her head and looked at Emma.

"Fine, I let you cook, only if I get the last bit of pie," Regina said not wanting to draw attention to herself. " Before you ask Willow, you will probably get the full story from Snow and David tomorrow anyway."

"I'm glad you two finally found each other," The woman said winking at them and walking off.

"What was that wink about," Regina asked, it had kind of spooked her.

"She clearly ships us?" Emma said and chuckled to herself. Regina just looked confused.

"It's a conversation for another time," Emma said knowing there wasn't enough time, they both had to get to work. They quickly drained the rest of the coffee.

"See you, Grannie, thanks for the pie," Emma said whilst her and Regina got up from their stools.

"Yes Thank you, it was delectable, I think I might buy some more to go please, Henry would be upset he missed pie day, somebody made him miss the bus," Regina said looking at Emma accusingly.

"I just wanted us to drive him to school, I thought it would be fun," Emma said defending herself to. Grannie. Who was just grinning at them?

"Aw, you two are just too cute, here two slices on the house, think of it as a gift from a friend," Grannie said. It was true she had been shipping them together since she saw Emma go after Regina when they were celebrating Emma and Snow's return from the dark forest, after being taken by the hat portal.

"Oookkk...we're going to go now because this is weird. We will see you... later." Emma said as she and Regina left fast.

"What the hell is everyone's obsession with us," Regina said completely astounded by the number of people not even considered to hide the fact that they were staring, the prime suspect being Grumpy, who wasn't smiling at them, at all. clearly, he didn't approve. Not that Regina would ever care about the dwarfs opinion on anything to do with her life.

"Wow, this place just gets more ..." Emma said.

"Freaky" Regina finished her sentence, Emma nodded. They made their way back to the car in silence. Once they were inside Emma switched on the radio.

"I think we need to go for a drive," Emma said putting the key in the ignition and pulled away.

"Why I have thing's I need to do," Regina said remembering the pile of paperwork stacked in her office, which she had been ignoring for far too long.

"Because I don't think we thought about how the town will react to us," Emma said knowing they could come into some problems. "I mean not everyone, mainly Grumpy, thinks you have finished with your evil ways. I would argue my point but... Grumpy" Emma said knowing that was an excuse. The man was the town's head gossip doubling as the town crier when anything bad happened. He would be poisoning people against the relationship. Most people know that he is a fool but some take him seriously, that could be a problem.

"I don't think it should affect us though, their opinions aren't of my concern anyway," Regina said not getting why Emma would care what the town was saying about them.

"They don't bother me either. I just think we need to be ready for the backlash. I mean you were THE Evil Queen, Regina, no matter how much you wish it, a reputation like your's doesn't just disappear overnight. I'm always here for you to talk to, you don't need to hide if you are struggling." Emma said. She knew that Regina was holding something back.

"I know," Regina said sadly " I'm just not used to having someone to talk to about this stuff. I usually just..." She drifted off.

"Turn off," Emma said. Regina just looked at her tears in her eyes.

" I just ... I've changed, why can't they accept that?" Regina said a tear falling down her cheek. Emma pulled over. Regina stared at her confused.

"This is the reason we are driving Gina, Let me in. I know I'm not always the most open person, but I'm trying. If you want I'll go first?" Emma said bringing her hand up to wipe away a tear.

"I think that might be the best way, I need to calm down first," Regina said, trying to stifle her tears. Emma smiled at her softly.

" Ok, so what would you like to talk about?" Emma said. Regina thought for a few seconds. She turned in her seat to face Emma and rested her head on the top of the seat.

"Hook, did you like him?" She asked knowing that Emma had chosen her, but still, it made her worry a little.

"Maybe but I think he and I... I didn't feel like myself around him, I felt like I constantly was the one doing the work. He could talk the talk, but I think he still has some growing to do before he's ready to be with someone. You, however, have been... amazing. The way you've changed your life around. I really admire you, Regina, You are so different than the lonely, reserved woman I first met. You've helped me more than I think you realize. You were the person who made me see, anyone can change for the better. It just takes strength and some real friends." Emma said Regina had started to look at her hands. Uncomfortable under Emma's complements.

Emma reached out for Regina's hand. Regina held it on her lap. She ran her thumb over Emma's hand. A tear fell onto their joined fingers. Emma used her free hand to life Regina's chin. Regina smiled at her shyly.

" I think you give me to much credit. I mean look what happened with Robin. I really am sorry for shutting you out back then. I guess I kind of thought with you and Hook, Marion coming back and then everything else that happened with looking for the author, I was contemplating just letting that woman die. The only reason I didn't was Roland, he deserves to have his mother. I can't see another person hurt because of my actions, especially an innocent child like him, just caught up in the drama." Regina said. " I don't think I'm ever going to be rid of that voice in my head that tells me to hurt the ones I love. I was force fed to hate anything to do with the concept. My mother made me detach from anything or anyone who would stop her plans. Anyone who cared about me enough to fight her either ended up having to leave for their own safety or ..."

Emma didn't say anything she knew what Regina was going to say but couldn't say. Emma looked at her with empathetic eyes.

"Regina, being strong, it's not about any of that. In fact, doesn't that prove how strong you are? You were a scared young girl who happened to have the mother from hell. That voice in your head, it shows you how far you have come, how hard you have fought to be the person you wanted to be. Shutting me out is a natural reaction for you. You're not used to having people to talk to, neither was I. Then a little boy came along and change my life forever. Every day I'm thankful he had you to be his Mom, he wouldn't be who he was now if you were scared to love" Emma said.

Her son had been the first person that Regina had taken down her protective wall for. Emma knew the story and the way that Regina had told her had shown her that the moment Regina had met Henry she knew he was her son. It just took a little longer for Henry to work that out.

"Yes I know but the voice makes me feel weak, like a part of me that threatens to ruin everything. It's like living with a devil in my head, sometimes it's screaming so loud all I can do is lock myself away, so no one else can hear it." Regina said, Lately she had been struggling the most, with everything feeling like it was falling apart. Emma had kept her together. Her getting the flu was the best thing that's ever happened to her. As well as Henry of course.

"You know I think I have a song for you," Emma said knowing she could use an uplift. She pulled the cd case out of the glove compartment. She scanned through them and pulled on out. She took popped it in and skipped to Number 13. Warrior blasted through the speakers. Regina listened carefully staring at Emma as she took in the lyrics.

the verse:

There's a part of me I can't get back

A little girl grew up too fast

All it took was once, I'll never be the same

Now I'm taking back my life today

Nothing left that you can say

'Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway

She couldn't help but identify with the song the lyrics turned in her head and made her feel secure in herself.

"That's you, Regina, your my warrior" Emma said smiling at her then pulled her in to kiss her.

"I love you," Regina said as they broke apart.