23: Central Park

After Jennifer hung up the phone she groaned and scrubbed her hands down her face. "What a day," she mumbled to herself as she checked the time. 1:24. Perfect.

She spotted Regina and Henry right away when she entered the cafe. They were sitting by the window talking about something outside. The early afternoon light fell on them in golden rays. Steam billowed from their mugs, coats draped over their chairs. Regina's ankles were folded, her back as straight as a pin, but she looked happy and content with Henry leaning over the table talking about something or another.

It was so domestic and simple and warm like Jennifer hadn't felt in a long time. For a moment she forgot about all the shit going on around her and smiled, the corner of her lips quirking up. When Regina spotted her standing in the entryway like an idiot she furrowed her brow, her eyes raking Jennifer cautiously. Then she took a deep breath and the smile faded. Regina stood up, frowning. Jennifer ushered her forward. "What's wrong?" she asked once they were away from prying ears.

"Emma just called. They found Gold's son."

"And?" Regina asked, sensing that Jennifer was holding back.

"And...he's Henry's father," she breathed, watching her for a reaction. Regina raised her brow and shifted her weight around. She pressed her lips together, and her jaw twitched.

"He's here?"

"He's coming here with Emma. And probably Gold." Jennifer watched her carefully. Regina looked frazzled, caught off guard but it was too subtle to catch unless you were looking for it. "You okay?" Jennifer inquired gently.

"Of course," Regina replied dismissively. She eyed Jennifer critically as if asking how dare she not be perfectly perfect at every hour of every day.

"Lemme buy you another coffee," Jennifer just offered, placing a hand on her back and leading her to the line. Then Jennifer glanced at her curiously, furrowing her brow in bemusement. "Do you feel threatened? By Neal?" Regina folded her arms over her chest and scoffed. There was a bitter expression on her face, and Jennifer shook her head and chuckled. She rubbed her hand up and down Regina's back for a moment, watching as Regina swayed with her arm. "Regina, I promise you that if you don't try and kill anyone or destroy Storybrooke or do anything crazy, Henry will still love you. You raised him. That's not something people just...forget about."

Regina's shoulders relaxed, if only by her forcing them to, and Jennifer dropped her hand. "I'd hope not. It's just sometimes…"

"I know," she answered softly.

. . .

By the time Emma arrived with Gold and Neal, Henry was bursting with anticipation. Neither Jennifer nor Regina told him what exactly was happening, but they decided not to stay for the introductions. So they said goodbye to Henry and met the three adults just outside.

"Where's Henry?" Emma said with a long exhale as Jennifer and Regina approached.

"Waiting inside," Jennifer answered, her eyes settling on Neal. He was tall and scruffy, and Jennifer could see why an 18 year old Emma might cling to a guy like him. "You must be Neal," Jennifer said, eyeing him critically. She didn't offer her hand to shake. He'd hurt Emma. He didn't deserve her hand. But he did deserve to meet his son. That she was a firm believer in. And she knew Emma would do everything in her power not to let Henry get hurt. So for now she could be cordial. It was the benefit of the doubt or something.

"Jenny, right? I've heard a lot about you," he gestured to her and gave her a lopsided smile.

"Really?" Jennifer inquired casually, glancing at Emma who cleared her throat and shifted around nervously. She hadn't seemed to have noticed Neal's comment. Jennifer quirked her brow at her. Emma shook her head, and it made Jennifer uneasy.

"I think we're going to sit this one out," Regina said to the three of them, Gold watching every single thing Neal did with a critical, curious eye. And Neal was watching Regina with trepidation. To him she was the Evil Queen in sheep's clothing.

"Spend the afternoon with Henry," Jennifer offered distractedly. "I'll take Regina back to the hotel tonight. Just text me the address."

They all agreed to the plan, even Gold who just wanted some quality time with a son who resented him. Before the three of them could walk into the cafe, Jennifer grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her to the side and looked her in the eye. "Hey, I'm sorry about what Neal did to you. And I know you're worried about Henry getting hurt like you were or having to fess up to him or whatever, but you have to do this," she said, holding onto her arms tightly. She was honestly slightly concerned at how passive Emma was being. The Emma Jennifer knew would never let life catch up to her like this. She'd have taken control a long time ago. What the hell had happened between then and now?

"I know," Emma answered, nodding. Jennifer gave her an encouraging smile before she pulled away to follow Gold and Neal. Regina noticed.

"Are you and Emma...okay?" Regina asked as the three of them disappeared into the café. Jennifer shrugged hesitantly and told Regina about the phone call and their conversation. "And you think her intentions were good?"

"I think she's not thinking straight right now," Jennifer admitted without telling Regina about her more private concerns. "She just needs a friend."

"Well, you're certainly not the only one butting heads with Miss Swan," she breathed as they strolled down the sidewalk. Jennifer furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean?"

Regina sighed, conflicted. She supposed Jennifer deserved to hear. "She was leveraging Henry so I would cast a protection spell around Hook. Then I called her out on what she did to you, and she brought up my fa...well, I suppose it doesn't matter what she said. The point is, we're not speaking right now. Though it's not like we were before that either," she mused, her voice dipping to a gravelly drawl, her brow furrowed.

Jennifer looked appalled, and she curled her lip like there was a bad taste in her mouth. "I cannot believe...I never thought Emma would stoop to…I mean she's acting like a coward!" she shook her head and took a deep, cleansing breath. "I'm sorry she said that to you." Regina shook her head.

"It's not for you to be sorry about," she paused, glancing at the woman next to her. "Jennifer, I'm not saying this to hurt you. I'm saying it so you can understand that Miss Swan is not as...pure as you want her to be. I know you want her be better, but~"

"She can be," Jennifer insisted. "Look, this isn't her. This isn't my Emma. It's fucking ridiculous, is what it is, but it's not her."

Regina sighed. They had stopped walking. "I think you need to see Emma for the person she is now rather than the one she used to be. People do...change." And Jennifer snapped.

"Every time we talk about Emma I feel like we're talking about the Evil Queen," she burst, turning to face her. "And you changed, Regina. You, of all people, should understand that Emma can do the same!" Not as much as you might think, Regina wanted to say. "She was a completely different person ten years ago. Besides, I...feel like you keep bringing the Evil Queen up to push me away or something."

Regina frowned and took a step forward. "Push you away?" Jennifer couldn't look directly at her, though she sure as hell tried. Her eyes skirted over her cheeks and her forehead and just behind her hair as she clenched her jaw. "Why the hell would I do that?" she scoffed, looking at Jennifer like she was being completely absurd. "Despite my reputation, I don't hate you, dear," Regina nearly laughed, shaking her head. Jennifer flushed and swallowed in nervous relief.

"I don't know. I just really...don't want you to," Jennifer explained helplessly. Regina followed her avoidant eyes closely.

"I just want you to know what you're getting into," she told her softly.

"You make it sound like a contract."

"Well isn't it, in a way?" Regina asked.

"Partnership sounds better," Jennifer protested.

"Partnership, then," Regina agreed casually, and Jennifer was positive she didn't know what she was implying. Regina frowned suddenly. "Were you actually worried that I…" Jennifer smiled painfully and shied away, feeling wholly ridiculous, and Regina did something that Jennifer did not expect at all. She leaned forward and ran the back of her fingers across Jennifer's cheek and slid them up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Her fingers lingered on her ear, and Jennifer froze in place, her neck hot and red.

Jennifer's eyes inched carefully up to Regina's whose gaze was focused on her ear. The mayor's eyes darted to hers but quickly broke away along with her hand. "Don't be," Regina said quietly, the air around them suddenly very thick as her jaw twitched.

. . .

Jennifer walked them to Central Park. Second, of course, to getting another cup of coffee. "There's a little clearing in the park that not many people know about. It's not even paved. People just walked it down into a trail, you know," Jennifer glanced at Regina to make sure she was listening. She was. "It's great for picnics, and the shade in the afternoon is perfect. Are you sure you'll be okay in those shoes?" Jennifer wondered, glancing down at her ridiculous, unsensible heels.

"I'll manage," Regina supplied. Jennifer shrugged.

"Alright."

They walked in silence for a while along the paved part of Central Park where she knew the light trickled through the trees and the most flowers bloomed.

"It's beautiful, here," Regina commented as Jennifer hummed and took a sip of her coffee. It didn't compare to the way the sun fell on Regina's cheeks and made her eyes shine a golden, amber brown. But she didn't say that.

Jennifer directed Regina off the concrete and onto a beaten trail just as Jennifer's phone rang. "Hello?" She answered.

"I got us into the Guggenheim tonight. Grab a dress, we're going out." It was Val's voice, low and excited, barely containing herself.

"I can't," Jennifer told her.

"You can't? Are you kidding me? I am only in town for a limited time, Birdie," Val warned. Jennifer rolled her eyes right before Regina's ankle buckled. On medical instinct alone, she dropped her phone and reached out to grab Regina's elbow and steady her, both of them stumbling into each other in the grass. Jennifer's hand trailed the length of Regina's forearm almost slow enough to draw attention as they caught their footing.

"Just take off your damn heels," Jennifer chuckled with a shake of her head, shoulders brushing, toe to toe. Regina sighed, her nostrils flaring, and her breath came out on Jennifer's arm before she reluctantly pulled off her shiny black shoes.

"Hello?" Val asked on the other end after Jennifer grabbed her cell from the grass.

"Nothing, sorry. What were you saying?"

"Are you with someone?" Val asked in a low, almost hushed tone. Jennifer immediately turned a dark shade of red.

"No, of course not," she scoffed. "I mean, yes, but not...like that," she hissed into the receiver.

"Someone I know?" Val asked. Jennifer sighed, moving away so Regina wouldn't hear her talking about her.

"It's Regina. She's here visiting with Emma and Henry. It's complicated," she admitted, rubbing her forehead.

Val heaved a pleasant sigh. "I'm in heaven. Where are you?"

"Just Central Park. You know that one clearing."

"Don't move an inch. I'm only a few blocks away."

"Val, no~"

"Birdie, honey, you don't have a choice in the matter. Regina is here from Maine. This is your chance to make a move, and I will not let you waste it because I know you will," Val warned. Jennifer sighed. There was a headache forming behind her eyes.

"If you insist on meeting her, at least bring me a coffee."

. . .

"Everything okay?" Regina asked, her heels dangling from the tips of her fingers. She was so much shorter without them and a lot less intimidating. It was different and softer and disarmingly attractive.

"Yeah," she sighed, shaking her head. "A friend of mine, Val, is in town. She wants to meet you."

Regina looked confused. "How does she…"

"I told her about you guys," Jennifer admitted. "I've known her for ten years, so we talk a lot. I'm sorry if that's~"

"No," Regina assured quickly. "No, it's okay."

Jennifer leaned up against a tree with a sigh, practically using it to hold herself up. She was absolutely fucking exhausted but didn't dare show it. She wanted Regina to have a good time in New York, and that didn't involve her guide sleeping all afternoon. Regina set her shoes down on the grass next to her and glanced around before her eyes settled back on Jennifer.

"Do you think Henry knows?" Jennifer asked suddenly. Regina furrowed her brow and cocked her head. "About the fighting." Regina was silent, and Jennifer had her answer. "Smart kid," Jennifer sighed. A bird chirped. Regina shifted against her tree.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Your tattoos~" Regina trailed off with a strangled question on her lips. Jennifer smiled in amusement.

"Do people in the Enchanted Forest not have tattoos?"

"Not generally, no," Regina admitted. "It's widely seen as~"

"Trashy?"

"I was going to say unacceptable."

"Well, the attitudes are pretty similar here, too. You just push through," Jennifer said, watching as Regina stared at her arms and the tattoos peeking from the collar of her shirt. "See something you like?" Jennifer couldn't help but tease. Regina doesn't blush often, but she did then. "Can I ask you something?" Jennifer asked as she wandered over to Regina's tree. She leaned up against the side of it, next to Regina who was looking at her expectantly.

Regina found this whole experience to be rather eye opening. Standing in the heart of New York among people who knew nothing of who she was or what she's done was surprisingly liberating. And it made her feel unexpectedly shameful of her actions as the Evil Queen. Maybe that was the problem with living in the Enchanted Forest. It was easy to get stuck inside her own little world because it was the only world.

"Why were you so hesitant to come to New York?" Jennifer asked, and it was a question she dreaded answering just because she didn't have an answer. She honestly couldn't articulate what had been holding her back, but when Jennifer shifted on the tree and leaned her head against the bark Regina caught a whiff of her perfume, light and airy like a summer's breeze and lilacs, and that feeling of apprehension bubbled up again.

"I don't like flying," she said instead.