Chapter Six
Regina watched as the blonde walked away down her garden path. As soon as she was out of sight Regina turned on her heels and went back inside. She had some things she needed to do. She weNt back into the kitchen and cleaned Emmas and hers glasses away. She looked at the clock and it read 6pm. Emma had said the party would be starting at 7. Regina placed the half done lasagna into the oven and went upstairs to change. She wasn't so sure about going to this party, for fear of what the other town folk might say but somehow Emma's words made her feel wanted.
She changed, after much deliberation on what she would wear and sprayed herself with some perfume before moving to touch up her make up. Before long a timer was sounding and Regina exited her room and went to retrieve the lasagna from the oven. Regina placed it on the side to cool slightly before gathering her keys and her bag.
She approached the mirror in the hallway. Upon looking at her reflection she thought back on all the choices she had made that had brought her to this point. Closing her eyes she vowed there that she would do whatever it took to make everyone see that she had changed. For Henry, she thought to herself.
The grand clock chimed signalling that it was 7 o'clock. Regina would be late arriving to the party but she supposed better late than never. She gathered up her belongings and collected the lasagna dish. It was Henrys favourite after all, perhaps Henry would take some back to Emma's with him.
Regina got in her car and made the short drive across town. She parked up outside of Granny's and coudl see the crowd gathered inside. Taking a deep breath she got out of her car and gathered her bag and the lasagna. Taking a deep breathe she put on foot infant of the other and before she knew it she was at the diner door. Taking a deep breathe she opened it.
The sound of the bell signalled her arrival. "Sorry I'm Late" she said sheepishly.
"What are you doing here?" Charming voice called out, his tone evident that he didn't want her there. Regina opened her mouth to speak but before she could say anything another voice called out.
"I Invited her" Emma said pushing her way through the crowd to the front and where Regina stood. The crowd looked from Emma to Regina and then to the Charmings. Emma looked at her parents.
"She helped bring you back" Emma reminded them her tone leaving no room for discussion. Begrudgingly Charming nodded.
"I made Lasagna" Regina called out, showing the plate.
"Ahh Awesome!" Henry called out diving forward and taking the plate from his mother and taking it to the counter. Regina followed and stood next to Henry helping him serve up a slice.
"Whats the magic ingredient? Poison?" A voice called out beside her. Leroy, or Grumpy was standing there, eyeing the lasagna suspiciously. Regina served him up a slice.
"Red Paper Flakes!" She told him handing him the plate. "gives it a kick" and she left him there standing with the plate. Leroy watched her go and hesitantly took a small bite of the slice. Much to his dismay he found himself rather enjoying it.
Regina took a seat in one of the booths. Like she had predicted, hardly anyone payed her any attention. She had the occasional conversation with Henry and Ruby stopped by when she wasn't working. Archie offered a word here and there, but nobody else bothered. What made Regina beam was that her lasagna had been completely devoured. Regina watched as Emma flitted about the room getting stopped by everyone. If Regina didn't know better she would say that Snow and David had instructed everyone to keep Emma talking so that she wasn't able to make her way over.
Regina stayed for as long as she could bare it. Minutes ticked by and it wasn't long before Regina decided that she had had enough. She waved Henry over and let him know that she was going to leave and that he was to stay and enjoy himself. She watched him as he wandered over to Ruby before gathering up her coat and bag. With a last look around the diner she got out of the booth and made her way to the door. The ring of the bell signalling her exit went unnoticed.
The cold air of the night hit Regina and she hugged her coat closer, trying to say warm. She descended the stairs and started the walk towards her car. She had gotten three paces before the diner door opened behind her.
"Archie made a cake" a voice sounded behind her. Regina turned to find Emma. "Do you not want to stay for a piece?" She asked Regina. Taken aback by the question and not sire wether she anted to spend anymore time alone in the diner, Regina answered.
"Oh I'm, fine thank you" she said and Emma nodded, accepting Reginas answer. As Emma turned away Regina couldn't help but blurt out.
"Thank You!" This stopped Emma in her tracks. She turned around to face Regina.
"You just said that" Emma pointed out.
"I know. I meant thank you for inviting me" Regina explained and Emma just nodded.
"It was nothing. Henry wanted it. It was good to see you spending time together" Emma told her. Reginas face lit up.
"I was wondering if it would be possible to have him stay over at my place more?" Regina asked. Emma contemplated for a moment before answering.
"I'm sure we…" she was interrupted by the diner door opening again.
"Emma there you are" Snows voice sounded through the night air. Regina visibly deflated at the arrival of her nemesis. "Are you going to come back inside?" Snow asked, completely ignoring Reginas presence. Emma closed her eyes and pinched her nose before answering.
"I will come back inside in a minute I'm just talking to Regina" Emma told her, not failing to not how the mention of Reginas name made Snows lip curl upwards. For the first time Snow looked at Regina. "Why are you talking to her for?" She asked.
"We were just discussing Henry staying with Regina for a couple of nights a week" Emma informed Snow.
"Oh" she said. She looked from Emma to Regina and back again. "Well I'm not sure that is best" Snow said. Regina had tried to bite her tongue but this remark made her blood boil.
"Oh because you know so much about being a parent in the five minutes you've been one? What about those ten years I spent raising him? and you think you know what is best?" Regina demanded from Snow. Emma watched as Regina spoke to Snow. She was right one hundred percent, Emma knew that but it didn't stop Snow from visibly seething as Regina spoke to her.
When Regina had finished, Snow turned to Emma.
"You see this is why she cant be trusted" Snow told Emma. Emma had had enough.
"No, Regina is Henry's Mother Snow. And so am I. We will decide what is best for him not you." Emma told her looking over to Regina and offering her a smile. "Cant you see that Regina is trying to change. She's not the Evil Queen anymore!" Emma informed her mother.
Regina took a deep breathe.
"She's right Snow. Im sorry for snapping at you, I shouldn't have done that. Will You accept my apology?" Regina asked. Emma looked from Regina to her mother, waiting for her response. Regina's apology seems to throw Snow because her mouth hung open. When after a moment she still hadn't responded Emma prompted her.
"Mom. Do you accept Regina's apology? She really is trying to change" Emma told her once again and Snow closed her mouth and nodded.
"I guess so. But I still don't approve" Snow informed them before turning around and heading back into the diner.
The pair watched her go and once she was safely back inside Regina turned to Emma.
"Thank you!" She said once more.
"You know thats the third time you've said that this evening. People will start thinking you've gone soft." Emma teased her. Regina gave a small chuckle. "No they won't besides, you didn't have to stick up for me to your mother and I just wanted to say I'm grateful that you did." Regina finished. Emma nodded her head.
"It was nothing really. You are Henrys mother and of course you can have him stay with you. Ill message you tomorrow and we can sort out the details?" Emma suggested and to was worth it to see the smile beam across Regina's face.
"Really!" Regina asked and Emma nodded. "Thank You" Regina told her again and Emma laughed. "I should get going back" Emma said gesturing to the party inside. Regina nodded.
"Yes I should be going too. Thank you for again for inviting me" Regina said before she turned on her heels and headed towards her car.
Emma watched her go before turning around herself and heading back into the diner with a smile on her face. She felt like for the first time she had done the right thing by her son and she couldn't wait to tell him that he would be spending more time with Regina.