Author's Note – Well, we're continuing it! We appreciated the positive reviews and followers/favs which encouraged this decision too. We set up the dynamic of Henry/Emma/Regina in this chapter because Henry's involvement is paramount to how the story unfolds, and how the curse will be unraveled. There will be Graham in the future as well, because, how couldn't there be since Regina is still sleeping with him! But to be fair to you lovely readers, any smut content will be Emma and Regina centered. Wanted to make sure that was stated up front as neither of us have any desire for that pairing except for moving the story along.

We'll be going back and forth writing chapters for this fic and our other one. Which means for those that follow Where Your Treasure Is, There Will Your Heart Be, we'll be working on the next chapter and posting that next.

Thank you!

Regina had had a theory about all of this. She had expected that, with their intimacy, the spell would break and Emma would flee her bed in horror and revulsion. Giving herself to the blonde would be a small price to pay to get her the hell out of Storybrooke and her son's life.

Regina's theory had been wrong.

They both lay spent with Emma curled against her side, holding her. Regina stared up at the ceiling, wide eyed and shocked. She felt shocked with her own reaction to their having sex. She felt betrayed by her magic that this had gone so thoroughly wrong.

I'll never get rid of her now, not if she's snuggly and smitten by this! Regina thought.

But, she was a former evil queen, and now she was a talented mayor. Regina hadn't come to be where she was by being an idiot. She'd still find a way to deal with this Miss Swan problem. Somehow.

As Regina picked away at her brain for a solution to her Emma Swan problem, that particular problem was sliding higher along the mayor to nestle against her properly. The blonde tugged her closer and placed a gentle kiss against the other woman's temple, afraid to say anything and inadvertently ruin the moment. Regina's silence was worrisome despite the amazing intimacy that they shared, and the last thing that Emma wanted to do was say something moronic and get kicked out of bed.

Now she's silent? Of course… when I could've used anything she'd say against her as an excuse to get her to leave! Regina closed her eyes, working on this puzzle under the guise of recovering from their pleasure. Will I have to…? Is that what undoing this spell will require? Dammit, serves me right for trying to use magic in this world.

Swallowing her pride because this went against how Regina saw her station, she caressed her fingers up and down Emma's side gently. She opened her eyes and tilted her head toward the blonde, smiling.

Emma immediately smiled back, soaking up the small displays of affection that Regina bestowed upon her. She felt euphoric that the smile on the mayor's face was all for her. It made her bolder and brushed the back of her fingers along Regina's cheek softly. "Hey there."

Regina bit her lower lip as her smile turned shy. "Hey."

"You …" but Emma paused there and smiled fondly because her ability to form anything meaningful out of her mouth was still impossible! She was still on a high because the woman that had fascinated her so was now timid in her arms. A side that Emma never believed she would have the honor of seeing as she moved to kiss Regina softly, unable to hold back the surge of passion she felt for her.

Regina kissed her back, turning onto her side so they faced each other. She deepened the kiss almost immediately, committing to her plan. Emma moaned in soft approval and shifted her weight to make a move in bringing their bodies flushed together. The mayor rolled them, putting Emma on her back just as she'd been minutes earlier.

"Do you want me to…?" she whispered, dark eyes full of curiosity.

Clearly touched that Regina asked her, Emma bit her lower lip and failed to stop the endearing smile that lit up her face. She brought both hands up to cupped the mayor's face. "Only if you want to."

Regina smiled back and blew her an air kiss. Inwardly, she recognized that she'd never done this before, but had best do her damnedest to do it all right, if she wanted to release Emma from the spell! Regina slid down her body, hands gliding over sweat-slick pale skin as she explored the feel of lean muscles underneath. She bent her head down, kissing her stomach, leaving a light trail down toward the musky scent of her arousal. Emma propped herself on the backs of her elbows, enthralled in watching plump lips caress her skin as her abdomen flexed in approval.

I can't believe this. Regina Mills is going to go down on me. I … I thought she was going to make me leave. But … if she wanted me to leave, she wouldn't be doing this. Not if it was all about her pleasure.

If Emma only knew the real reason, but the spell was keeping her blissfully ignorant of Regina's insidious intentions. Regina caressed her fingertips over the blonde's inner thighs, her pulse quickening. She glanced up at Emma, a devious and hungry look on her face as her tongue darted out to taste her quick and fleetingly who immediately gasped from the contact.

"Regina…" she panted softly, her body aching for more.

Licking her lips, the brunette positioned a pair of fingers against her slick folds and again glanced up at Emma for confirmation before making the move. Relaxing her legs and widening them to give Regina better access, she gave a curt nod of approval, eyes completely fixated upon the brown ones hovering just over her mound. It made her core clench in anticipatory want, knowing that the mayor wanted her this badly to forgo any pretense and just take her now.

Nodding back, she closed her eyes and swirled her tongue over Emma's clit as she plunged her fingers into her slick core, burying them inside her. Regina actually moaned with pleasure at doing this, surprising herself at the reaction while Emma's eyes rolled into the back of her head. She clenched around probing fingers as she fell against the bed, squeezing them tight as each bat of her lover's tongue sent a pulse of intense pleasure deep inside her. Within seconds, the mayor had Emma writhing under her spell.

Concentrating on her and the effect she had on her, Regina set a steady pace with her thrusts, shuddering as she felt Emma clench around her. Her tongue continued to work her clit and swollen folds, pausing here and there to kiss her inner thighs before resume her efforts at driving Emma to climax. Her efforts didn't take long in achieving her goal as Emma gradually unraveled. The deep pull within her groin ached hungrily with each flick of Regina's tongue or thrusting fingers. It hung on the very precipice, climax dangling just out of reach until everything turn white hot. Emma's body was flushed with fresh perspiration as her body undulated atop the queen mattress, her core milking the mayor's fingers in the wake of her release.

Regina worked her through the release and then slid up alongside Emma, hand resting against her stomach as she met her gaze. She was curious to what she'd seen there. Was that enough to break the spell? Was Emma going to look at her with horror now for what had happened between them?

Coming down from climaxing, Emma stretched deliciously sore limbs as her heavy panting turned quieter. "Fuck!" she exclaimed, completely taken aback by how intense that was. Maybe it was just how quick and needy Regina was in wanting to reciprocate that was such a turn on, but regardless - Emma laying limp from pleasure. It took effort to turn her head and smile at the mayor. "You …! Fuck, you were amazing."

No change. Shit!

Regina managed a quick wink, and then settled in against Emma, resting her head against her shoulder as she tried to re-gather scattered wits for another approach. But, she quickly realized that she was out of options! If what had just happened between them had not diminished the spell's effect, what could?!

"You're quite amazing yourself, dear," she whispered, closing her eyes for a moment.

Emma lazily managed to get an arm around Regina and hold her, placing a soft kiss against her forehead. "More that I could ever imagine … being with you …"

The mayor blushed. It was surely truth to reply, "Likewise, dear."

"Sucks this has to end. Well, at least for tonight?" asked the blonde in a hopeful tone. "I know you have to get Henry at some point …"

It was the last person she wanted to bring up in bed with Regina, but Emma was also a realist. Whatever relationship was burgeoning between them, they had to tread carefully with Henry. His operation on breaking this pretend curse, proving his mother was some evil queen, and that Emma was some savior showed that he was afraid of something. Or covering something up that was bothering him that he needed to live out this fantasy. Insert birth mother sleeping with adoptive mother and Henry might as well live at Dr. Hopper's office.

Relieved that Emma had been the one to bring up the need to part, because she was sure it would've gone poorly if she'd said it first, Regina sighed and sat up. "Yes, you're right. I'll have to freshen up and go pick him up."

"Wait."

Emma quickly sat up and kissed Regina deep and longingly, wanting to imprint the taste and feel of the mayor upon her lips. She returned the kiss, cupping the back of Emma's head in her hand as she worked her mouth against hers. But then, Regina drew back, looking serious.

"This has been… really something. But, you do have to go now. Just in case Henry gets a ride home. Sleeping with the enemy is surely not in his plan to prove the existence of my evil curse. We can't let him know what happened between us."

"Yeah … that would bad," she agreed and cupped Regina's cheek. "I don't want to hurt your relationship with him any further, so we have to be careful."

It was clear that Emma was looking for more than this one night together, but even the blonde wasn't sure how to work out the logistics of sneaking around. Regina smiled softly at her, relieved that - with the issues surrounding the spell - Emma was that rational and understood. She breathed a little easier and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Thank you for being so understanding."

Regina climbed off the bed and slid into her robe. She efficiently dressed, conscious of Emma's presence. This was just like being with Graham, she told herself. Pleasure, and then a swift departure to protect Henry's innocence. Except…

Except this was also nothing like being with Graham, Regina admitted to herself, disconcerted by that.

"Where the hell are my ...Oh! Found them!" Somehow Emma's boots got partially kicked under the bed and for the life of her, couldn't recall how. She dressed haphazardly, trying to be quick but her head was still reliving what just happened tonight. Tangled limbs and writhing bodies that cried out in ecstasy. The images made the blonde halt as she slipped her jacket on, lost in her thoughts. She suddenly felt insecure, like this would be the last time she would see Regina.

"Think we could, I don't know, maybe do lunch or something sometime?" she asked tentatively, pulling her hair free from under the red leather jacket.

Sometime soon even. Like, tomorrow?

Her back to Emma at the moment, Regina bugged her eyes out as she tried to imagine what that would be like, and how this was possibly going to work. A muscle twitching in her jaw, she turned and looked at Emma.

"Perhaps. We… we have to be careful. For Henry. He sees you as some magical curse-breaker. I don't know how well he'd take you fraternizing with his evil queen."

"Oh I realize we have to be careful until the kid can accept an us." Green eyes widen, hoping she didn't sound too presumptuous. "I mean, a chance for an us. I don't want a chance for an us to upset him.. But, only if you want a chance for an us."

Wincing, she clamped her mouth shut and sighed. Stop while you're ahead and shut up!

Regina had been mayor long enough to have a good, polite, political mask expression. She employed it now with Emma as she slid her fingers through her relatively short, brown hair.

"Let's take things one step at a time," she replied smoothly, in a tone that would hopefully not jar the spellbound woman too badly. "Alright?"

"Yeah. Fair enough. A lot's already happened," agreed the blonde.

Stepping closer to Regina, she gave her a soft goodbye kiss. "I hope I get to see you soon."

She kissed Emma back and touched her cheek. "This was lovely, Emma. Truly."

Leaning into her touch, Emma had to force herself to step back because she could feel that tug, wanting to pull Regina into her arms and start this all over again. But Henry. She would not hurt the kid or Regina by causing undo strife. She needed to walk away right now.

"Goodnight, Regina," Emma simply said before reluctantly taking her leave. Once she reached the stairs, her feet swiftly took her to the bottom and towards the door. But there she paused, resting a hand against the polished handle.

"Why do I have a bad feeling this isn't going to turn out well for either of us?" she mused quietly, hearing Regina moving around upstairs.

She glanced up the staircase and wondered if, perhaps, slowing things down wouldn't be a bad idea after all. They went from threats to sex in less than 24 hours. That immediate attraction was there since their eyes met, despite the awkward situation, but this couldn't be healthy at all to keep pursuing it.

"Damn it!" Suddenly, Emma winced and steadied herself against the door when another dizzy spell suddenly hit her. It wasn't nearly as intense as before but it was getting tiresome. Chalking it up to an unexpected exhausting night, she opened the door to allow the fresh air to help ease the sudden illness and headed back to her room at Granny's to get some much needed sleep.

Next morning, Emma came down to the diner for breakfast like the day before, except with an apple in hand to accompany her. She tossed it lightly in the air to catch with a hint of a smile before sliding in to claim an unoccupied booth. And unlike yesterday, there was no Sheriff to bother her. She could enjoy her morning and relive the memories of last night in peace, while figuring out what to get Regina for a gift. It had to be subtle, yet elegant. Which meant what and how without the entire town knowing?

"Hey, Emma." Ruby sauntered up, leaning against the opposite booth. "What can I get ya today?"

"How about that meat omelette and some toast. Oh! And hot cocoa too."

"Whipped cream with the cinnamon on top again?

"Yep. Thanks."

"Not a problem," Ruby said, giving the blonde a wink before filling her order.

The bell over the door chimed as Henry marched in, making a beeline for Emma's booth. Without invitation, he threw his backpack onto the seat and slid in with the same gusto, staring at his birth mother.

"Hey!" he said cheerfully.

Green eyes looked impatient as Emma leaned back. "Kid! Once again, aren't you supposed to be in school?"

"I'll get there eventually," he said with a cheeky grin. "I left early in case you were here."

"Well, mission accomplished. I'm here. Now, head on to school. I don't need your mother worrying about you," she replied seriously. Emma had a decent chance with the mayor as long as Regina didn't feel threatened by her birth parent status with Henry. "Which, by the way, she does a lot. Worry."

He made a face. Why should I believe the Evil Queen worries a lot?

"How would you know what the Evil Queen worries about?" Henry asked in challenge.

"Because your mother and I talked and buried the hatchet about you. Oh thanks, Ruby," said the blonde when the redhead came back with not one, but two, hot cocoas with whip cream and cinnamon.

"Saw you had a guest again," Ruby said with a bright smile towards the mayor's son. "On the house too."

"Can you make that two on the house?" The blonde tried, giving the woman a grin that would normally have given her a free drink at any bar.

Ruby laughed. "Nice try, hon, but Granny likes the kid more than you."

"Thanks, Ruby!" he said eagerly, taking a slurp. Henry looked at Emma dubiously. "What's that supposed to mean? She's not giving you the evil eye anymore and wishing she had her magic so she could zap you away?"

She slammed her hand down on the tabletop, looking aghast that Henry continued on like this. She would have thought that the kid would've been happy to hear that Emma and his mother weren't fighting. "Hey! That's unnecessary and cruel. Your mother loves you a lot and would do everything for you. Unlike me who gave you up for your best chance. Which is here, kid."

Henry jumped, spilling some of his cocoa. He frowned and wiped it up with a napkin. "What'd she do to you, Emma?"

"She didn't do a thing to me. And you need to stop this crusade of yours that she wants to hurt me because it's getting old," she stated firmly before taking a bite out of the apple that Henry had yet to see.

"Again? How many did she give you?!" Henry exclaimed. He reached across the table, nearly knocking his cocoa over as he tried to snatch the apple from Emma's hand but this time, she was much faster.

"You need to learn personal space. And also, none of your business!" she said, swatting his hand away. "Your mother's not the evil queen, and she's not poisoning me with apples."

Henry looked incredulous. "She's gotten to you somehow! It's probably the apples! Just great!"

"Enough!" Emma's voice cut through the diner, immediately silencing the kid. "Look. I know you're hurting kid. I get that you wanted to know where you came from. But that doesn't change the fact that Regina Mills raised you and loves you so fiercely. She would do anything for you. I was never that lucky to get adopted. Let alone have any foster family that gave a damn about me. I'm not going to let you ruin this because you think I'm supposed to be here and break some curse of hers."

Henry exhaled heavily, trying to make sense of this. Emma had been doubtful about the curse when he'd explained it on the ride to Storybrooke. But, he'd expected that. The hero always doubted their cause at first. That's how stories worked. This, however… was beyond ridiculous. She was taking the enemy's side?

A slow grin crossed his lips and he dropped his voice to a whisper. "This is… your way of being in Operation Cobra in public, right? So none of her spies catch on to what we're talking about! Emma, that's brilliant! Okay, right. I get it! You have to pretend to be on her side so you can get closer and figure out the curse!"

"What? No! That's not at all what I'm doing!" she corrected right as Ruby brought her order. The waitress gave the two of them a bemused look before heading to another table. "You have to get this straight kid," Emma said, picking up right where she left off, "Not part of your operation. There is no curse, and I'm not pretending anything with Regina!"

Henry's face crumpled. He didn't know what had happened, but Emma had become as much of a drone as everyone else in Storybrooke! What did my Mom DO to her?! Angry and confused by this, he snatched his backpack off the bench and slid out of the booth. His birth mother frowned, seeing the look on his face that was caused by her being inconsiderate to his feelings.

"Kid?" She realized that wasn't going to cut, nor did it sound sincere and started again. "Henry …I'm sorry for losing my temper. Please sit back down and finish your drink with me? Maybe share some toast?"

I'm in this all alone. I've gotta figure out how to get her to believe, and undo whatever Mom did to her, Henry thought. He shook his head no at Emma.

"Sorry. You're right. I gotta get to school," he said.

Looking exasperated, Emma stood up. "No. I mean, yeah you do, but hear me out. I'm sorry I said I wasn't in on your operation. That was really mean of me to say. But if you want, I can be, if you understand that I'm doing this to figure out why you believe this stuff so passionately. Is that alright?"

In the moment, Emma failed to realize that she was discounting Henry's perceptions about this curse, his mother, and everything going on in Storybrooke. If she were to help bring mother and son together, she couldn't get so frustrated and ignore his feelings. She didn't want to become the people that she hated when growing up, the people that supposedly took care of her and just wanted a quick government paycheck. The people that ignored her. It wasn't fair to the kid. He believed this was going on for whatever reason, and Emma needed to understand why.

"No. You need to bring the happy endings back!" he exclaimed. Henry saw an opportunity and made another grab for the apple, snatching it off Emma's napkin. "Come find me when you come back to your senses!"

And with that, he bolted out of the diner.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me! Hey! Come back!" shouted the blonde, slamming the diner's door wide open in hot pursuit.

"What the hell's that all about?" grumbled the owner, Granny, behind the counter in shock at what happened.

"Got no idea," answered her granddaughter, smacking her gum before wiping down the counter again. "But seems like blondie and the mayor are on good terms. Henry's not liking it."

Granny chortled. "Oh please. No one's ever on good terms with the mayor. That's the equivalent of Mr. Gold being out of loans."

Rolling her eyes, Ruby shrugged. "Whatever, Granny."

This wasn't about Henry taking her apple. This was all about tug of war going on between belief and fact. Nevermind the fact it looked ridiculous to the citizens of Storybrooke that the strange woman in town was chasing after the mayor's son down Main Street.

Henry looked back over his shoulder and saw Emma in hot pursuit. Sliding the other strap over his backpack onto his shoulder, he shook his head at her.

"No. I need to think," he told her firmly, mimicking his mother's tone unconsciously. "And so do you. You can't be in Operation Cobra and be on her side. It doesn't work that way."

The school bus drifted to a stop at the curb, waiting for the kids of Storybrooke Elementary, including Henry.

"I'm not taking anyone's side, kid! I'm just trying to …HEY!" she cried out when a hand grab her arm and turned her into the bemused face of Sheriff Graham.

"Now we're chasing after Mayor Mills' son? I might as well lock you up now before Regina gets a hold of you."

She jerked her arm away and rolled her eyes. "Technically, he stole my apple."

Raising a brow, he chuckled and rested his hands on his gun belt. "That's what you're going with?"

"Well, it's the truth." She motioned to where Henry was getting onto the bus.

Henry held up the apple, then tossed it into the city trash can defiantly. Staring hard at Emma, he climbed aboard the bus and took a seat on the opposite side so she couldn't even see him as it pulled away.

"Fair enough." He chuckled. "At least the lad didn't litter."

"Not helpful, Sheriff," sulked the blonde.

"He's just a kid. Probably just trying to get your attention is all. Considering everything he did to find you," he offered.

"Wish you were right, but now it's the exact opposite." Her statement left Graham puzzled since the boy had clearly worshiped the ground that Emma walked on since she brought him home to Storybrooke.

Completely fucked that up with Henry. Now how am I supposed to help Henry and Regina fix their relationship? she wondered grimly as the bus pulled away.

Going to work and busying herself throughout the day in Town Hall eased Regina's mind. She could pretend that all was normal and that Henry had not brought his birth mother to Storybrooke. She could focus on the day-to-day of running the small town, enjoying it more than she ever had ruling Leopold's kingdom.

However, for all that she accomplished, Regina was no closer to solving the twist in her "Emma Swan Problem." One way or another, Emma was a threat to her peaceful existence, her happy ending as the mayor. At the same time, she couldn't deny how the blonde challenged her and reinvigorated her existence. She was vexed with how to undo the spell and send the woman on her way, because she thought that was what she still wanted as the final outcome.

"Mayor Mills?" Her assistant's voice cut through her musings. "Your son is here to see you. He says it can't wait."

Blinked out of her musings, Regina glanced at the clock and realized it was late enough for Henry to come by. But, with Emma Swan roaming town (which she knew about, thanks to Sheriff Graham), Regina expected that Henry would be chumming around with her.

"Please send him in."

She rose and smoothed her dress, a smile coming to her face as she came around the desk as he door opened. A disappointed scowl that would remind Regina of herself, greeted her as Henry came storming in.

"What did you do to her?!" he asked, hands flailing in exasperation.

The attitude pricked Regina's defensive nature. She cocked her head to the side, giving him a warning look. "What did I do to who, Henry?"

"To Emma!" he exclaimed. "You did something to her. I know it. And I know it had to do with the apples you gave her. The Evil Queen always does that!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Henry. What did I do to you that you could possibly keep thinking of me as an 'evil queen.'" She made air quotes around the title, looking dismayed that he was still going on with this.

"Because Emma's not acting like herself. I saw it at the diner this morning and she acted like nothing I said mattered. Before she would at least listen to me. Now she brushed me off, and she never did that before until you gave her those apples!" he screeched.

"Henry Mills, we use those apples for cooking and baking all the time. Nothing's happened to us, unless I can point to them as the reason for you failing to listen to me," Regina countered because she could use his logic against him perfectly.

"I'm not stupid. You could've done something to the ones you only gave Emma," he retorted in that know-it-all tone. "And you wouldn't do anything to hurt yourself anyway. Only her, because you're upset I brought her back to end your curse!"

"And now she's hurting you," Regina said, softening her tone to seize a different opportunity in this. "Perhaps it is time to ask her to leave town. I don't like that she's upsetting you so, Henry."

"She's not upsetting me. You are," he said with such conviction that it was difficult to believe he was only ten. "I know you want her gone and are twisting the situation to your needs like you always do. I'm not falling for it or anything you have to say."

Regina sighed. "Well, you're the resident expert on magic. If I had put some spell on Miss Swan, how would I take it off?"

She didn't normally indulge this talk at all, but Regina was fresh out of ideas on how to solve the situation anyway. With Henry's obsession, she wondered what valid ideas he might have!

Henry took a step back, fingers tucked between the straps of his backpack, looking cautious. "You … want to take the spell off of Emma?"

"There is no spell," she insisted, lying through her teeth. "But, if there was, how would I remove it?"

"If there was no spell, you wouldn't keep asking me how to fix it! Which means you did do something!" Henry was so sure of it now!

Regina rolled her eyes and walked back to her desk, popping a pair of aspirin into her mouth. She dry-swallowed them with practiced ease, and stared at her son. What did I ever do to him to make him distrust me so much? What did I do to my prince that would convince him I could be… the woman I used to be?

"Henry, I am not going to tolerate this any longer. You ran away and found your birth mother? Fine. She brought you back, and I'm grateful for that. But, I refuse to listen to you insisting that I've poisoned Miss Swan as part of some complicated plot. Do we need to move up your appointment with Dr. Hopper to talk about this?"

He sighed in frustration and glared at Regina. "You can keep pushing this all you want, but it won't change how I feel. And nothing Dr. Hopper says or does is going to help."

He didn't wait for a response from his adoptive mother as he turned on his heel and left the mayor's office. The Evil Queen could do whatever she wanted - more therapy, ground him, threaten him - but he would never rest until Operation Cobra was fulfilled, and Emma Swan brought back the happy endings to Storybrooke.

Unsurprisingly, Henry had made himself scarce when they'd returned to the mansion after work. He'd retreated to do his homework and only reluctantly joined Regina for dinner, much to her continued frustration. And, while her son did not have many friends in town, he insisted that he had sleepover plans since it was a Friday night. So aggravated by everything, Regina actually let him go, but drove him to the friend's house herself to ensure that's actually where he was going.

She returned home and sighed heavily, leaning her back against the front door as she closed it.

"I don't know how much longer I can take any of this," Regina sighed.

Frowning at that, her mother's statements about love being a weakness came to mind, and she shook that off. She loved Henry with all her heart. He was the only reason she kept up this farce of a life in Storybrooke now. And that meant she had to deal with his birth mother and settle this nonsense once and for all.

Regina strode into the kitchen and dialed the B&B, hoping that Emma was in her rented room and not drinking away at the diner, or worse - The Rabbit Hole - or whatever the blonde did in her spare time. The mayor was in luck. Emma was in her room having some rocky road ice cream from a parlor she found earlier in the day. It was obvious, at least to Regina, that she had caught the blonde in the middle of eating with the muffled, confused, 'hello' that came through the receiver, obviously not expecting anyone to call her tonight.

"Miss Swan, it's Mayor Mills," she said sternly, reverting to formal titles as agitated as she was. "I need to speak with you immediately."

Swallowing her delicious treat, Emma answered smartly. "Aren't we doing that now?"

Maybe the spell has weakened if she isn't immediately jumping at this as a chance to see me? Regina wondered hopefully. Fine. We'll do this over the phone then.

"I thought your goal in life was repairing my relationship with my son," she growled.

Almost dropping the phone out of her own embarrassment, Emma sat up in bed and sighed. "I'm sorry, Regina. I really am. He came on strong about you being evil and this operation to prove that the curse was real, and I lost my cool. I was angry that he was taking you for granted. He also thought I was only speaking on your behalf because I was pretending to do so. It was when he realized I was being serious that he got upset."

"If this is your idea of helping the situation, you can go back to Boston now, Miss Swan," Regina ranted. "I have enough trouble with my son. Your emotions muddying the water further does not help. Why would you even think that was a good tactic as convinced as he is that I'm evil?"

"I said I'm sorry," she stammered, running a hand through her hair nervously. "I didn't mean to make things worse."

She wanted to go on about the kid always blindsiding her but it would come off as excuses. Regina wouldn't accept that. "I'll fix this," she looked at the few apples that were left in the gift basket, "I know what he wants me to do and I just need to embrace it."

The brunette narrowed her eyes even though Emma couldn't see her reaction. "Embrace his plans to break my nefarious curse?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Yes. It was wrong of me to react as I did. I should've listened to him, not shot him down. If he can trust me enough to help him with this operation of his, then I can find out what's really going on and steer him back to you." She bit her lip nervously, hoping Regina would approve of this approach and mend any friction she had caused between them. "Would that be acceptable?"

Regina fell silent, thinking this through. Emma would be, ironically, her double agent. But to what end? She already knew it was Henry's damned book that was causing this fixation. And, when it came down to it, the fairy tale obsession was accurate: the stories the book told were true. If Emma encouraged him, it might only deepen his determination. But, what alternative was there since trying to rationalize it out of him had already failed?

"On a trial basis. Fine," she said at last, sounding unhappy about it.

Emma took a silent breath of relief and nodded to no one in particular. It was just her nerves coming through, glad that this conversation wasn't a total disaster. "Thank you. I'll update you everyday that we have contact. And again … I'm sorry this happened. It wasn't my intent to hurt you Regina. I'll do better this time."

Oh, she's just as besotted as before. Lovely. Her mind flashed to the previous late afternoon spent with Emma, though, and Regina flushed with warmth. Oh, and do you have feelings too, Regina dear?

Anger at herself came into her tone. "You'd better."

Flinching as if the mayor had physically slapped her, Emma gripped the receiver tighter in determination. "I will." She paused, licking her lips and called upon her courage to go one step further. "Regina … let me make this up to you. Can … can I come and see you? Or if Henry's home, can we meet somewhere?"

Regina closed her eyes, wishing she'd come off more forceful and had just hung up on the Swan woman. She was thinking about Emma in ways that she shouldn't. Taking advantage with the spell once was bad enough. Encouraging Emma at all while under the influence of the backfired magic was just courting disaster.

"Henry insisted on sleepover plans with a friend. I'm here alone," she said despite everything she'd just been thinking.

This was the invitation that Emma desperately wanted to hear. She felt terrible for how things ended up with Henry but it pained her to know how it impacted Regina. The need to be there in person with her was prevailing all of her actions. She had to make this right.

She quickly started to get her boots on while still on the phone. "I'll be over in a few," said the blonde in obvious rush.

"I… I mean, you don't… oh fine," Regina almost snapped because she was so flustered by the entire situation.

Sighing, Emma could hear the mayor's voice with thick with frustration - frustration that was caused solely by her poor choices in dealing with Henry. Prying her hand away from her boot, Emma grabbed the edge of the bed and squeezed.

"Thank you, Regina," she said in quiet determination. "See you soon."

And before the mayor could offer a response, Emma had hung up, grabbed her jacket and was out the door. But then she came right back inside and grabbed the white box on the table, almost forgetting it in her rush.

Emma made the same presumption that she had done last night - not driving the Bug over to the mayor's house. The town loved to talk and if anyone wandered by and saw Henry's birth mother's car parked outside the place, this boring town will have a ton of gossip material to work with. She needed to do this right if there were a chance with Regina. It meant apologizing to her and showing the other woman how serious she was in seeking forgiveness tonight. That what happened last night was no accident.

It meant something. I know it did. To her too. Or she wouldn't let me come over.

Coming up the walkway, she glanced down at the box in her hands nervously. The gift was nothing special, like the rose, but Emma hoped her thoughtfulness would come through once again as she rang the doorbell.

Regina had been pacing the mansion's main floor, questioning her sanity at giving Emma a reason and permission to come over. What was I thinking? What the hell am I doing? She sighed when the doorbell rang and made her way to the front door.

"Hello, Emma," Regina said primly. She stepped back to allow the blonde admittance even though she ought to have left her on the porch for aggravating Henry so much. "It's been a long time. Almost twenty-four hours now?"

The blonde smiled at the invitation because part of Emma's worse case scenario was Regina outright ignoring her and leaving her hanging outside. Thankfully, that was just her anxiety pressuring such negative thoughts. The humor was appreciate to lighten the mood.

"Well, I know it hasn't been long. But I do appreciate you letting me stop by," she said gratefully and held out the box. "Hopefully you like deja vu too. Once again, I come with gifts."

Regina tilted her head to the side and looked quizzical. Henry used to love to bring her presents. Everything from dandelion flowers from others' yards to his numerous drawings and run-on stories.

"What is it?"

"Only one way to find out," she said, lightly shaking the box in hopes of enticing the mayor to take it. "I found it while checking out the town today. Reminded me of you."

Regina's brow was arched, looking skeptical as she took the small box from Emma. What on earth could she find in this town that would remind her of me? Standing there in the vestibule, the mayor opened the gift and found a wood-carved brown and white painted horse resting on a bed of cotton.

"Oh, Rociante…" she breathed.

Regina's expression softened as her whole body sagged. The carving was none other than her beloved steed, whom she'd sacrificed needlessly to create the curse. She looked up at Emma, bewildered by this.

Emma watched the mayor carefully open the package and nervously bit her lower lip. She was hoping that her instincts were right in picking out this gift with her limited time spent in the mansion, but there was a theme the blonde had picked up on. Regina's love for horses. Not that the mansion was saturated with nicknacks and paintings of them, but Emma had seen depictions of the animal displayed in a few locations - most noticeably the coloration that the figure depicted. She had no foresight how the gift would deeply affect the mayor, just trusting on her instincts in reading her that the figurine would show that Emma paid attention to Regina. All of Regina. Even in this short time.

"There's this guy. Marco? You probably know him since well, small town. You're the mayor of course …" Emma paused and regrouped, knowing she was rambling. "Well, I went into his shop and looked around. I was amazed at the work he did. A lot of refurbished nice stuff. But it was the handmade from scratch stuff that really caught my eye."

Smiling as the mayor continued to look down at the figure, she touched its painted mane. "When I saw this, I immediately thought of you and of the picture you have hanging up in the den." Canting her head, Emma slipped her hand away and asked the obvious question. "Was Rociante the name of your horse?"

Why would Gepetto... Marco… have carved Rociante? Regina wondered, mind whirling with this tidbit. She wondered what else he had in his woodworking shop then. The damned wardrobe too, in some form?!

"I... " She shook herself out of her reverie, clearing her throat from the flood of emotion that felt lodged there. "Yes. My dear Rociante. Thank you, Miss Swan… this is a very thoughtful gift."

Easily reading between the lines and how the mayor reacted to the gift, Emma smiled compassionately. "You're welcome. And… I'm also sorry you don't have him anymore, but I'm glad you like the gift. Another reminder of him."

Regina's jaw tightened, but of course, Emma had no idea the context for her sorrow. She was touched, and unnerved, just the same. Taking the miniature Rociante out of his box, Regina ascended the stairs to the main floor and settled the little horse in the living room, over the mantle of the fireplace.

"There. A fine place for a sentry, don't you think?"

Lingering in the hallway, feeling that this was a moment that was solely for Regina, Emma nodded with a tight expression of approval. "Yeah. I think you're right." Glancing behind her, she was following the would be line of sight of the figure before capturing Regina's gaze. "Good post. Can see everyone that enters. Right?"

Regina nodded, again unnerved by Emma's insightful instincts. "Yes."

Feeling that her stay was probably being tolerated, despite her thoughtful gift, Emma took a step back and swung her arms as her way of reluctantly wanting to go, but should. She felt that Regina was giving her borrowed time. "Well, I'm glad you liked the gift. I know it doesn't make up for my mistake today, but I really did get it just because. It just … happened to work as an apology too."

Clearing her throat again and zeroing back in on the moment, Regina nodded. She walked back toward Emma when the other woman failed to join her in the living room itself. "Thank you again. As for what happened with Henry… please be careful with him. His belief system is so fragile, and I'm sure I've damaged him badly enough by putting him in therapy about his fairy tale beliefs."

Surprised that Regina joined her, Emma halted her expected need to escape then. She wanted to stay, but she was just uncertain if her host would allow it. Her internal war was prominent with teetering on the heels of her boots, uncertain to move closer to the woman she yearned for or retreat.

"Yes. You're right. I won't make the same mistake again," she said adamantly. "And for the record? It's hard for kids to understand what therapy's supposed to do. Which is to help them. Trust me."

She left that without explaining further, knowing that the mayor would understand the unspoken implications. Regina lifted a brow, then simply nodded.

"Are you hungry? I was going to make myself something light," Regina offered, taking an uncalculated chance in extending the offer. "I could easily cook for two…"

Unable to hide her surprise, Emma smiled appreciatively. "Pretty sure the ice cream I had didn't ruin my appetite. I'm always hungry. So ... yeah. I'd like that. Thank you."

Regina smiled at that and nodded for Emma to follow her. What am I doing? Accepting gifts and apologies, and now treating her to dinner? I've lost my damned mind… maybe I'm the one who's under a spell.

"Tsk tsk, ice cream before dinner," she kidded. "Don't tell Henry or he'll insist that is precedent-setting."

Following after Regina, Emma had to chuckle. "Yes, Ma'am. I'll make sure the kid doesn't pick up any of my bad habits. Which you'll probably see at the dinner table now," she added with a wink when she caught the mayor's gaze.

Well, I suppose it's only fair I feed you after I put a spell on you and we spent the night together. Is that how it works in this realm? Regina thought, driving herself insane with the prattle of her musings.

"Do I need to bring out one of Henry's bibs?" she teased.

Laughing good-naturedly, Emma smiled. "I'm not that bad. Honest."

"We'll see," Regina bantered.

She gestured that Emma could take a seat while she owned the kitchen, putting together simple, healthy fare for them as if it was the easiest thing to do. It was, to the blonde, like watching an artist moving around so intimately in their environment. Regina's motions in the kitchen were effortless, opening drawers and cabinets without sparing a glance, chopping vegetables like a master chef with quick precision. She made it look so easy, whereas Emma knew she would slice off a finger or two. It was mesmerizing, but also comfortable watching her. Like they had done this before. It felt as if the core of the tension between them had shifted away.

Maybe Regina's just finally relaxing around me. Knowing my fuck up with the kid was generally me being bad around kids, and that I'm really sorry. Gift was a bullseye too. Who knew?

"I do hope you're as hungry as you've implied," Regina said, bringing a pair of finished and decorated plates to the table. She set one before Emma, then settled her own at her place. "Wine? Or something lighter?"

"This looks amazing," said the blonde as she closed her eyes, enamored by the smells too. When she opened them, Emma smirked up at her host. "Trust me. There won't be anything left on the plate. But uh, wine sounds good. If that's what you're having too."

A bottle, at least, Regina thought.

"Alright," was what she said though, selecting a bottle from the kitchen stock after a moment's thought. She poured for them both, heart pounding again because - even after this short time, Regina was finding herself fighting with Emma being too familiar and comfortable.

Who'd have thought?

Emma waited for Regina to take her seat, having enough common courtesy to remember that rule at the table, before she dug in. She was not a sloppy eater per se, but the blonde did eat as if the plate was going to magically disappear from sight by how voraciously she attacked the food. It was the best home cooked meal she had in a long time, and Regina's talent came through deliciously with each bite.

Regina ate at a more demure pace, of course, pondering her strategy for handling Emma. If she couldn't get the woman safely out of hair, Regina wondered if the spell would finally wear off on its own. Henry might be mollified if - meanwhile - Emma could play off this business of being a double agent on his curse-breaking mission.

This may actually work out, she thought, smiling to herself.

"I'm afraid I don't have much available for dessert. Perhaps a scoop of ice cream from Henry's rare treat stash?" Regina suggested.

"Ice cream?" Emma gave the mayor a cheeky grin. "I already had some before I came over. Remember?"

Winking, she took their dirty dishes and rose from the table to place them in the sink without another word - but her mind was already thinking on a counter idea for dessert. With how hot Regina had gone after her on the phone, she wasn't sure that the intimacy that they shared would ever happen again. Yet her sincere apology and gift had been accepted. Regina had even cooked for her! They were even enjoying each others company once again, their banter as proof they had become comfortable again.

Go for it. Worse she can do is say no and kick you out. At least you'll know for sure if yesterday was a one time thing. Or if there really is something more between you two.

Rinsing off her hands, she dried them off with the towel on the dish rack and finally turned around to approach her hostess. "But, I think I've got a better dessert in mind," she slowly voiced, leaning against the table to just hover over Regina with a coy look.

The brunette looked up at Emma, meeting her gaze. She swallowed and rediscovered her voice, whispering back huskily. "Oh, you do, do you?"

"Couple ideas in fact." She grinned now, her fears in being rejected subsiding as the confidence in her voice surged. "Just depends."

Regina met the implied challenge. "On?"

"How long I get to stay …" immediately answered the blonde.

The mayor smirked at her and shook her head. "How long do you wish to stay?"

Emma offered her hand with a gentle smile. "For as long as you'll have me."

That made Regina smile genuinely for some reason. She gave her hand and rose. "Well then. Shall we move on to whatever ideas you have for dessert, dear?"

"Definitely," replied Emma, tugging Regina closer. Her hand splayed across the mayor's lower back as the other softly cupped her face. "Thank you for letting me come over …"

Regina blinked up at her, noticing that slight difference in their height. Of course, she had heels on that compensated for her. She smiled. "You're welcome… though I doubt you'd have stayed away for long. Am I right?"

Emma blushed at being read so easily and chuckled "Yeah. Probably. But this saves Graham arresting me for stalking."

She smirked at that, then licked her lips. "What do you have in mind then, dear?"

"Well, this for starters." Regina licking her lips might as well have been Emma's cue to lean in and kiss her. Which she did, softly, as another silent apology.

The mayor kissed back, knowing that she was digging herself into a deeper hole with the spell-bound Emma. But, if she was able to be honest, she was enjoying this attention far too much. Especially as the blonde immediately deepened the kiss and felt her hands roaming over her body. The way in which Emma's desire clearly came through, it was evident, to Regina, that their evening was about to begin here, in the kitchen. She was immediately hoisted up and placed onto the countertop, her mind reeling with what else Emma had in mind if this were just starters!