The argument between the Mayor and the Sheriff was brought to an abrupt halt when their son dropped his schoolbag onto the floor with a deliberate bang. Both women jumped at the sound, spinning on their heels to face him.
A mask immediately slipped over his adoptive mother's face, all signs of anger hidden behind dark chocolatey eyes.
His birth mother, on the other hand, was nowhere near as smooth.
"Hey kid!" she mumbled, pursing her lips and rocking awkwardly onto her heels.
Henry glared at his parents accusingly, "Why are you guys yelling?"
Ever the politician, Regina was ready with an answer first, "We were not yelling Henry, Miss Swan and I were just having a discussion."
She fixed her son with a disapproving look, "And please remove your bag from the floor before someone trips over it and breaks something. We have a perfectly adequate closet, so I see no reason for your belongings to litter my hallway."
Regina looked pointedly down at the backpack, and as Henry bent to pick it up, she took the opportunity to fix Emma with a glare that spoke volumes; undermine me in front of my son and I will end you.
The younger woman fought the urge to roll her eyes at the Mayor's sheer nerve; as if she was ever the one picking fights in front of Henry.
They would probably be paying the kid's therapy bills for the rest of their lives as it was, without adding to the psychological scars their previous attempts at parenting had inflicted.
Emma stuffed her hands into her pockets and finally met the boy's gaze, her chest tightening at the sight of his angry little face, "It wasn't a fight, just a disagreement, kid."
Henry snorted in disbelief and swung his schoolbag over his shoulders.
"Some disagreement. I could hear you from outside!"
The hurt in his voice made his parents wince, although Regina maintained her neutral expression, having had years of practice when it came to Henry.
She placed her hands on the boy's shoulders and steered him gently out of the room, "You don't have to worry, Henry. Miss Swan was just leaving."
She shot the Sheriff a pointed get the Hell out of my house look before continuing, "Now, if you go and start on your homework I will call you when dinner is ready."
Henry spun around to face her, "Are you guys seriously not going to tell me what's going on?" he asked angrily, "Half my school just heard you yelling! This is my house too and I want to know why you're always fighting!"
Both women watched his freckled face redden in frustration. Regina pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.
She took a steadying breath, "Henry! I refuse to be spoken to in this way."
Dark eyes fixed him with a level stare, "I am your mother and what I was discussing with Miss Swan does not concern you."
She pointed one hand authoritatively towards the staircase, "Now, homework!"
The boy stayed put, shooting the Mayor a reproachful look from the corner of his eye. Knowing his mom was unwavering on the issue he glanced helplessly towards Emma for support. It was an action that caused pain to flicker briefly in Regina's eyes.
The Sheriff's stomach flipped as she caught sight of it.
Against all her better judgement, Emma felt a familiar pang of sympathy for the older woman, and her hand twitched; fingers seeking to reach toward her of their own accord.
Regina's head whipped round in surprise at the movement, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Almost immediately Emma yanked her hand back as though she had been burned, instead tucking a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
She watched Regina's brow softly knit together in confusion.
Oh God, not this again, Swan! How much more proof do you need that the woman hates you? The last thing she wants is your pity, or to be manhandled by her 'sworn enemy'.
The thought made Emma's cheeks burn, but Henry was still watching her with his puppy dog eyes, waiting to hear his fate.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, "Your mom is right. Homework, kid."
Henry threw his hands into the air, briefly wondering whether he was too old for tantrums, and then swiftly deciding that he wasn't.
"This isn't fair! I know you are both keeping things from me. Again!"
Feeling hot tears burning behind his eyes, the small brown haired boy turned and stormed out of the front door, slamming it hard behind him.
As the bang echoed off the beautiful marble tiles, Regina rounded on Emma with unconcealed fury, "Well, he certainly gets his manners from you, Sheriff!" she snapped, stalking towards Emma in her intimidating heels and power suit.
As Regina circled her prey, she took great pleasure in the anger flaring behind stormy green eyes. There was a warped sense of satisfaction in inflicting some of her endless pain onto someone else, "Now kindly follow Henry's example and get the Hell out of my house!"
Emma held her breath and tried to keep her composure. The Mayor's face was mere inches from her own. She could smell her fancy perfume, and her vision was filled wall to wall with the brunette's look of utter contempt.
Against her will, Emma's traitorous eyes flicked down to the perfectly painted mouth before her, taking in the small scar above her lip with a pang of longing.
She suddenly felt the urge to push the smaller woman against the wall and crash her lips against that infuriating smirk.
The thought sprung uninvited into Emma's mind, and she immediately recognised it as a huge problem. The Sheriff was well aware that Regina was beautiful – she had eyes, after all – but the woman was clearly an absolute nightmare.
Although, in fairness, complete psychos did seem to be her speciality.
Not to mention that, while Regina was undeniably gorgeous, she was Henry's other mother and that put her strictly off limits.
…Which does sort of make her even hotter…
The blonde found herself snapped out of her daydream by a painful shove to the shoulder.
"Miss Swan! I do not expect to have to tell you to vacate my premises again."
"Hey! That hurt!" Emma yelped, grasping her shoulder and glaring accusingly at the brunette.
She felt her patience suddenly plummet to zero, because now Henry was caught in the cross-fire, so someone needed to be the bigger person.
With an angry shake of her head and a muttered 'Fine!' she strode away from the maddening woman.
"…And don't even think about slamming my d-!"
Regina's parting shot was cut off with a satisfying slam as the door banged shut behind her.
From inside the house Emma heard something smash, and could only assume that Madam Snooty-Bitch had thrown something across her pristine kitchen. Emma hoped that the 'something' had been expensive.