It's been a long day but it wasn't over yet, it's after 8 now and my phone is ringing but Should I answer, I suppose it depends who it is, but again won't 'ow until I pick it up. As soon as I saw the name I answered.

'Henry?' I said hopefully

'Where is she? What have you done with her? Have you hurt her?'

'Henry wait, who are talking about?'

'My mom, David said she left the station in a hurry and we haven't seen her since, what did you do?' He sounds mad,

'Stop, Henry, I would never hurt Emma, she came to the house after work, I gave her a coffee and we talked, she asked my about the day the curse was made, the day she was born, I told her the truth in full, Henry there is a lot of unanswered questions you both have, she probably needs time to think through what she has learned' he is still my son and needs to learn a little respect, but I can't blame him for not having any for me right now.

'I want to be mad at you, did you really tell her the truth?' He said, sounding defeated.

'All of it, more than what's in your book Henry, that's the basics but there is so much that is not in there, where do you think Emma would go? If she needs to talk you and I are the only ones that she can talk to'

'Your right! I'll go find her and talk to her, she's probably at the docks, she told me water calms her that's why she likes the beach' he replied enthusiastically.

'No Henry, you have school tomorrow. You shall stay there! I will find her and talk to her, I know I don't deserve it but please trust me to see her go

Me tonight'

'Fine' and the line clicked off.

The docks it is then, it's getting dark and cold, if she hasn't been home then miss swan only has a tank on, I best wrap up and take an extra coat and jumper. On the short drive from the house to the docks I stopped off at granny's for coffee and bear claws ignoring the look of the patrons inside, only acknowledging Ruby, tipping her generously before I leave.

Just as Henry said Emma was sitting at the end of the docs, her feet dangling over but not quite touching the water below. She looks sad, with the glow of the fading orange sunlight surrounding her I can see the weight of our earlier conversations on her shoulders. This is all my fault, I need to fix it.

I approach her slowly, without the telltale signs of my heels, I'm quiet, I clear my throat to announce my presence in my attempt to not scare her. Fail I think as Emma looks close to a heart attack.

'Before you say anything I come with a peace offering' holding out the take away cup and paper bag.

'Jesus Regina you coulda killed a woman steaming up like that! What's on offer and how did you find me?' She asked neither question being defensive.

'Hot coco, whipped cream and cinnamon, with a bear claw, Henry called, he is worried about you and told me where you might likely be'

'Wow he must have been worried to call you' it wasn't said in a mean way but it still hurt

'shit, Regina I'm sorry, that sounded, I didn't mean, argh I'm an idiot' seeing the instant regret for her poor choice in words put me at ease.

'It's okay, your right. He seemed concerned and so I thought after today I would check in, it's okay if you want me to leave, I understand'

'Are you kidding, you bought cinnamon coco and a bear claw, why would I send you away?' She asked reaching for the cup.

'What's in the bag?' She asked curiously. As a shiver made it's way thought her body I knew I had made the right choice.

'Well I know when you are otherwise engaged you don't often think of yourself, so when Henry called and said he had seen you and where he thought you might be I guessed you had come from the mansion straight here. So before I left I grabbed a spare jumper and coat' I said holding out the bag.

'Wow, thank you Regina' putting on the jumped then the coat 'why did you come looking for me? You didn't have to'

'I know but I said I would be better for you and for Henry so here I am, trying to be better'

'Sit with me?' Emma asked moving over slightly and holding out her hand to help me down, putting my legs over the edge and mirroring the way Emma was sitting, we just stayed there in silence for what felt like eternity, watching the final sunlight fade and give way to a dark but starry sky.

'You know, all my life, I've wondered what they were like, why they gave me up, coming up with all sorts of crazy theories, maybe there were super hero's and were fighting to save the world, they'd come back for me as soon as the world was safe again, or maybe there were high end thieves that got a good last job that they were going to set up abroad and send for me. I knew 5ey were all dreams but the reality that they just dumped me in a box of magic with no way to find me or know where I was going.' She let out a sigh, 'that just hurts so much more. And I just know that when this curse breaks they will try to pin it all on you, like you did, but Regina, honestly I don't blame you at all, not even a little bit, for what happened to me, if anything I blame them, all the shitty homes, nasty kids, dumb adults, the beatings, the bulling, I blame it all on them, at this point we were both shedding tear, neither one acknowledging them.

'For what it's worth I am sorry for my part in your childhood, I hear you but there is a part that I am to blame for. Ultimately my actions bred the fear that pushed your parents to make that choice, but you need to 'know as horrible as this sounds, If I had to go back and don't again, I would, this curse gave me Henry, and no matter how much he hates me I can never want to undo that, he is the best thing that happened to me' I know this will push her away but I promised 5e truth.

'I wouldn't change it either' Emma confessed 'without the curse I would be a princess in a castle, surrounded by douches in suits and probably in some frilly pink number, no thanks not for me' we both chuckled at this 'My childhood made me a great bounty Hunter and yeah I have some things to work out but I don't think I did bad for myself'

'I think you turned out perfectly' shit did that come out loud?

Emma just hummed and leaned her head on my shoulder, 'Is there worse stuff for you to tell me, how bad does it get?'

'So much worse Emma, the basics, I've hurt people, killed people, made people my puppets to no end, there is so much more'

'But it's not who you are now though, I've looked killers in the eyes and I just don't see it in yours'

'Maybe, maybe not, it's been a long time since I have felt threatened enough to take that level of action' she takes my hand in her and turns to look at me.

'There is more to tell, you are right, your not that person anymore Regina, you didn't just wake up one day and chose to be a killer, to be the evil queen, there must have been something, a reason that pushed you to be that be version of yourself'

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone and earphones, hand on one to me.

'This is what I would like, if you are willing' the opening cords of Justin bribers company start to play.

'Beiber, really Emma' I scoff, should have known she'd like this Drabble.

'Just shut up and listen to the lyrics Madam Mayor' the way that nickname rolls across her tongue does something to my soul. Snap out of it and listen.

- - - - - - - - -

Leaning against Regina like this feels so right, just sitting here, coco in hand, listening to music that says so much that we just aren't ready to convey. It's perfection, a bit chilly but worth it.

'I know it's not perfect, but it's the truth, together I think we work through this, as long as we promise to be truthful to each other, always, I know it's going to get harder and there will be things that shake me, but please remember, if you give me time, I promise i will always come back to you, we could be each other's company'

'Oh Emma, I would like that, I think I need to start understanding what Henry needs more, I have a lot you need to know because it directly impacts you but Henry knows half truths from the start to the end, maybe you could borrow it from him, it would give you the foundations to start from, like I said it's only half truths, but it's better than nothing?' She's right, I think, it's a good starting point, but I know that book is the reason Henry doesn't trust her.

'Okay, speaking of Henry I should head back to the loft, I bet MM is worried' she says standing up, holding her hand out to help me up, 'OH MY GOD, I live with my mother, how am I going to face her now I know, she abandoned me! Am i supposed to pretend everything is okay after what they did to me' I'm hyperventilating, I can't do this. 'Maybe I could stay with you' I blurt out, hopeful Regina can save me from the situation.

'Emma, you are more than welcome to stay, I have a spare room, but you need to deal with this at some point, you can't spend the next however long with your head in the sand ignoring your roommate and I assume best friend. You will need to deal with this at some point' damn Mayor with her logic and reasoning.

'Your right, don't get used to me saying that, I just don't know how to pretend her actions didn't hurt me, I guess at the moment she really isn't the one to blame, she doesn't remember yet, but this is going to be so difficult'

'I know, but if anyone is strong enough to get through this, it's you Emma, you are the strongest, bravest person I know' She said it with such genuine pride it was hard not to smile.

'Other than you, you mean?' I replied, walking her back to her black Mercedes.

'I'm not brave Emma, or strong, my mother always used to tell me love was weakness, but i think she was wrong, i think maybe love is strength and power, maybe that's why i have never really had either' she said with such sadness i felt it in my heart.

'I think you are both strong and brave, telling the truth when it has the potential to ruin all you have done here is Both a display of strength and bravery' We just stand at the car smiling shyly at each other.

'Would you mind giving me a lift back to the loft, the cold is really starting to get to me?'

'Sure, I'll put the heaters on, I'm glad you are going home, I know I had no right to but Ikind of promised Henry I would get you home safely tonight'

'Well I'm glad i could help in the truth telling, I'll make sure Henry knows it was you who delivered me home tonight, you know I wouldn't have been able to give the kid half as much as you have, you did a great job with him but we should talk to him his attitude, just because he was right about the truth and you dealt with it in a less than desirable way, doesn't mean he gets to treat you the way he does' I have been thinking about this for a while, the kid acts like the world owes him and its not fair, not to her, she has made some mistakes but that doesn't make her a bad person, well maybe it did but that doesn't mean she is one now. Right?

I'm pulled out of my thoughts as Regina pulls up at the loft.

'Thank you Emma, for today, for what you said about talking to Henry, for everything really'

'No worries, see you tomorrow?' I said, as a plan starts to formulate.

'Tomorrow?' She questions

'Yeah, you, me, Henry, dinner, we'll be round at 7 sharp, see you tomorrow' before giving her a chance to say no I closed the door and ran the few steps to the door, turning to wave at Regina as I walked in.

I threw a wave at Mary Margerate not making eye contact, 'just gonna check on the kid and get some kip, night'

Running up the stairs before she could reply, opening the door to my room I see Henry is pretending to be asleep.

'Hey kid' I said as i sat down, 'Hey, I know your not sleeping I can tell a faker'

'I thought it was a good act' he said sitting up.

'Listen your mom found me tonight, we had a really long talk and she opened up and so did I, I know she has lied to you but we are only going to be able to fix this mess if we start talking, all of us, that means no more shouting at her, no more sulking and calling her a liar' Henry huffs at this.

'I'm being serious kid, starting now, she is your mother and you will treat her as such, you know that if she ever does anything I'll protect you, always, by the way you treat her has been unacceptable'

'Sorry mom, its just I don't know what games she is playing'

"Henry, see that's what I'm talking about, can't you just accept that maybe she is trying, look, we are having dinner there tomorrow at 7, and yes you do have to go. Think of something you want to know, questions you can ask her, she is willing to try and so am I, so either you tag along and learn the truth or you don't but either way she is your mother and you will show he some respect'

'Yes mom, sorry'

'I love you and this will be hard, but so does she and its hard for her too, just give her a chance, She didn't lie to you tonight now did she' she told you she would bring me home and she did'

'Your right, dinner tomorrow then, night mom'

'Night kid' and with that he gave in, lay down and tried to sleep, I pulled off my boots and coat and settled on the blanket on the floor, still wearing Regina's jumper. It smells like her, like apples and vanilla, I fell asleep thinking of her.