Chapter 33

Regina glanced in the backseat where Henry sat looking out the window. She wasn't sure how to address the topic. She was proud of her son for standing up to Robin, but she wasn't sure he would want this in the years to come. When her mother passed, she wanted nothing more than to see her one last time. Then again, Henry didn't really have much of a relationship with his father. Not like she had with her mother. She just hoped he didn't regret his decision in a few years.

She bit her lip, "Henry?"

"I did the right thing, mom," he interrupted but kept his eyes out the window.

She met Emma's eyes for a moment then turned back in her seat. She wasn't sure what the right thing was at this time. Getting rid of Robin seemed too good to be true. She just didn't want Henry to ever yearn for his father. Maybe she was looking at this all wrong. If Robin stayed in the picture, he would be no different a father than David Nolan had been to Emma.

His voice pulled her from her thoughts, as if he could read her mind, "I won't regret it. Grandpa has been more of a father to me than him. I have Emma now too." He paused, "No offense, I wasn't trying to call you a guy, but you know what I mean."

Regina looked at the blonde who gave an understanding smile and nod to the rearview mirror. It did warm her heart to know Henry felt that way about her father and Emma. She dreaded to think about what would happen if she and the younger woman didn't work out, "I just don't want-"

He cut her off again, "It sucks not having a dad that loves you, but I have all of you guys. And I do hate him for he did to you. I swear I will pay him back when I get older."

A snicker caused her to look in Emma's direction, "Do you have something you would like to add?"

The blonde fought not to laugh out loud for a second, "The kids a badass, what can I say?"

Regina raised an eyebrow, "Really? I'd almost think he was your kid." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out of her own window. She should be happy, but she was also his mother, "What would you have done if your fa-Robin, had actually lashed out at you? Do you think Zelena would have been able to protect you?"

"I'm sorry mom. I didn't mean to scare you. I just couldn't let him think he scared us. That's what he wants. He wants us to be scared of him so he can push us around. I don't want that. I can't spend another," He paused to count on his fingers, "Another nine years with him using me to hurt you. I meant what I said. He doesn't deserve to be a father, and now he's not. In the end, we all win."

Regina turned to look at the nine-year-old. He was a very grown-up kid and sees the world for what it is. She never wanted that for him. Her mood softened and she smiled, "I am proud of you."

Henry smiled back but didn't say anything. He turned back to the window and Regina turned back to hers. So much had happened in the last few months. It was almost as if she were living her life in a blur. Things were flying past at incredible speeds and she didn't have time to prepare. It was completely out of the norm for her to live her life by the seat of her pants, but it seemed that was just what she was doing. The funny part was she found herself not hating it.

Emma made a right-hand turn when she should have made a left to head towards the Freeway, "Where are you going? Home is that way." She made a gesture with her finger.

The blonde kept her eyes on the street ahead of her, "I think this calls for a celebration."

Regina raised an eyebrow, "A celebration?" She wasn't quite sure a celebration was needed. She still feared Henry would regret his decision in the future and she was dreading that day. Robin would never accept him back.

"I agree," Henry called from the back seat.

The brunette managed a weak smile as she waited for their destination to appear. Before she knew it, Emma was pulling into the parking lot of a park. For a brief moment, she thought it was a weird choice. She glanced around at the handful of children playing on the equipment. A small group of mother's, some holding onto strollers, talked amongst themselves.

She glanced back at Henry and he at her, "Emma, dear, what are we doing here?"

"Come on," She grinned climbing out of the car.

Regina shot her son another look. He smiled and opened his door. She sighed following her son's lead. What were they doing here? This wasn't exactly the ideal place for a celebration.

Emma didn't give an explanation. She didn't even wait for them. Instead, she made her way over to an unoccupied area of the park where a giant jungle gym shaped like a castle stood. She wasted no time in climbing up the stairs leading to the tower of the construction.

Henry paused on the bottom step and looked up at the blonde.

"COME ON," Emma shouted, still grinning! "There's a dual slide, and I bet you a snow cone I can beat you to the bottom."

Regina didn't miss the wide smile her son gave. She watched him hurry up the small stairs and over to where the blonde sat at the top of the slide. The brunette stopped to observe the scene. The two propelled down the slide. Their feet hit the mulch, sending bits of dirt and wood into the air.

"I BEAT YOU," Henry yelled!

"No way dude. I beat you by a mile," Emma argued.

"No, you didn't. Let's do it again and I'll prove it," he laughed running towards the stairs again.

Emma winked at Regina as she followed the boy, "We'll see about that."

Regina's eyes watered and a mixture of a laugh and a sob escaped her throat. She now got why they were here. Not only was she helping Henry to be a kid, she was showing Regina it wasn't too late.

"HA! I did beat you," Henry called out when his feet hit the ground.

Henry looked around, "Hey look." He pointed towards a set of swings, "Let's go swing. There's enough for all three of us."

Regina never took her eyes off her son. He looked like a happy nine-year-old child. Their trip to the zoo had been one of the rare times she had seen him act his age. Soft fingers intertwined with her's and pulled her from her thoughts.

She glanced over to Emma who was holding her hand, "Come on, Prince Henry requests our presence at the swings." The blonde winked again, pulling the other woman with her as she headed for Henry.

Regina's pinstriped skirt and high heels weren't ideal for traipsing across a playground. The mulch made her stumble. Emma knelt down, taking one of the brunette's feet and slipped the shoe off. She repeated the action with the woman's other foot.

Something fluttered in Regina's stomach. The blonde didn't hesitate. It was as if this was something they did every day. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from tears. She felt nothing but sheer happiness at this moment. It was almost too much for her to take. In nine years, Robin never even took their child to the park, let alone actually played with him. Now she could see everything that had been missing in her life and in her son's. It did seem a little fast to jump to conclusions, but so far, Emma had exceeded her expectations.

"You coming mom," Henry's voice caused her to look up.

Emma placed her shoes to the side and was now seated in a swing next to Henry. A vacant one was on the opposite side of him, "Yeah."

She walked over and sat down. She hadn't sat on a swing since she was a child. Regina was pretty sure that the grin she was wearing was permanent. She hadn't smiled so much in her life as she had in the last week. There seemed to be a lot of things she hadn't done in quite some time, and Emma seemed to be the reason.

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Emma leaned against the sink, "I'm sorry about the slide."

Regina let out a sigh and a small chuckle, "Emma, quit saying that. It's not your fault."

The blonde bit her lip as she stared at the brunette in the tub. Bubbles came almost to the older woman's chin as she relaxed back in the tub. Emma had convinced the brunette to go down the big slide at the other side of the park. The polyester blend material of her skirt was the perfect thing to wear if you wanted to shoot down a metal slide like a rocket. When Regina reached the bottom, she wasn't able to stick the landing and instead, landed hard on her rear.

She watched the brunette close her eyes as she enjoyed the heat and relief the soak was offering. A few moments of silence passed before Emma spoke again, "So, I was thinking, I might go back to Kathryn's place tomorrow night."

Regina rolled her eyes, "It was an accident for God's sake, Emma." She started to laugh but stopped when she saw her girlfriend's expression.

"It's not about that. I mean, I think I've bummed off you for long enough," she gave a humorless laugh, "I just don't want you to think I'm using you or."

"Using me," Regina sat up, wincing slightly as her sore tailbone made contact with the bottom of the tub? "Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?"

"What? No, of course not," Emma said in confusion.

"Do you not like being here," the brunette asked, her eyes tracing every inch of the younger woman's face?

"Regina, that's not it. I love being here. I just know I was here because of my ribs and they're healed. I don't want to wear out my welcome is all," Emma tried to explain. She did love being here. It was everything she could ever wish for and as a child, she had wished for this. She just didn't want to be the stereotypical lesbian that moves in with her new girlfriend in the first week. Most of those relationships were doomed before they even begin. This was all new for Emma. She didn't want to assume it was okay for her to stay, nor did she want the other woman to get tired of her being around all the time. She had no idea what real relationships consisted of fully.

Before she realized it, a naked, soapy brunette was standing in front of her, "Emma, you could never wear out your welcome."

"Oh, you have no idea," Emma laughed, this time it was real.

"I know that I love you and my son loves you," she paused so she could wrap her arms around the blonde's neck. "I want you to move in with us."

Emma's breath caught. The brown eyes looking into her green ones were intense and sincere. She could see fear flash across the older woman's face when she didn't respond immediately, "Maybe we should ask everyone what they think first."

Regina cocked an eyebrow, "Ask everyone? Everyone like whom?"

The blonde licked her lip, "Like, Henry and Kathryn and your father."

The brunette furrowed her brows, "I don't need permission, Emma. This is my house."

"I know that. I just meant that" she sighed. "Regina, they're your family and I respect and care about their opinions. I don't want to ruin my chances," Emma cut her own words short as a lump rose in her throat.

"What do you mean," Regina asked?

Emma looked away. She suddenly felt ashamed or at least felt she should feel ashamed for assuming she had a chance.

Regina gently cupped her cheek, pulling her gaze back to the brunette, "What do you mean, 'ruin your chances'?" Her voice was soft.

Emma could feel the sting of tears but fought to push them back. She cleared her throat, "I don't want to ruin my chances of being part of this family."

Regina must not have been expecting that response as her eyes widened. She quickly recovered, "You could never ruin your chances with them. Emma, they love you." Regina smiled, "My father yelled at me, for the first time in my life, I might add. All because he thought I was being too hard on you."

"When was this," Emma asked?

"When my father had to go get you from that alleyway. I was so angry with Robin for allowing Henry to run around town with you. Then, knowing he saw what they did to you," Regina stopped. She pressed her wet body into the front of Emma's clothed one and kissed her gently on the lips. "The point is, if it hadn't been for my dad or Kathryn consistently telling me to give you a chance, we might not be doing this right now."

Emma couldn't help the smirk that spread over her face, "And what is it that we're doing?"

Regina nipped lightly at Emma's bottom lip. Her fingers slowly unfastening the button on Emma's pants, "Whatever we want to."

The button on her slacks popped open and the zipper was sliding down. Emma was sure there was nothing sexier, than this moment. Regina's eyes had darkened and the blonde had to swallow.

A stealthy hand and nimble fingers made their way beneath the waistband of her underwear. Emma groaned when those same fingers brushed over her most sensitive spot. Regina leaned in, biting the blonde's neck and then kissing away the sting. Emma moved her hips forward, hoping to gain more from Regina's very talented digits. She gasped as Regina slid a finger between her folds.

Emma wanted to take Regina right here, anywhere really. She moved her hand up to touch the other woman's skin, but the brunette pulled back, "Oh no you don't. It's my turn, so no touching."

The blonde blinked in surprise. Just before she could feel the disappointment, Regina's finger slipped inside her. She started to cry out, and Regina covered her mouth with her free hand, "Do you really want everyone to know what we're doing up here before dinner?"

Emma may have blushed or even laughed had the hand between her thighs stopped. Her hips were rocking to meet Regina's rhythm. The seductive smile the brunette was wearing drove her that much closer to the edge. Each time she moaned, Regina moaned into her ear. Emma's hips rocked faster and her moans grew louder. Just as her orgasm hit, Regina claimed her mouth.

The blonde couldn't ever remember allowing another woman this much control over her or her body. But that was the thing. This was the first time Emma wanted another woman to have this much control. Heart, body, mind, and soul.

Regina slowly slipped her hand out of Emma's waistband, and held her finger up, "Oh my God do you get wet?" She smiled as her fingers nearly dripped with Emma's essence.

"It's your fault," Emma panted. "If you weren't so fucking sexy."

Regina laughed and leaned forward to give the blonde a peck on the lips, "That makes two of us then." With that, the brunette turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Emma ran a shaky hand through her hair. She found herself already wishing it was bedtime. She picked up her cell phone off the counter and looked at the display, 5 pm. She let out a heavy breath. At least four hours until she would be able to get the other woman to bed.

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Regina sat sideways on the porch swing, leaning more on one hip in an attempt to avoid her tailbone. After a good 10 minutes of Kathryn laughing at her expense, her best friend offered her more pillows. For a moment, Regina had actually been fooled thinking the woman was trying to be sympathetic. It was short lived. Kathryn couldn't even look at the brunette without fighting off another bout of giggles.

Dr. Mills had gone to take Henry over to Peter and Felix's for their scheduled sleepover. Regina would be lying if she said she wasn't a little nervous about it. Henry had proven to be an exceptional young man, but he still had feelings just like everyone else. She just hopes those boys truly wanted to be Henry's friend.

Regina took a sip of her from her coffee mug and stared in the direction of the driveway. Emma sat on the hood of her car. Her phone to her ear. She was too far away to hear what she was saying or to even try and guess who she was speaking to. From here, it didn't appear to be a pleasant conversation.

"Who do you think she's talking to," Kathryn asked from beside her on the swing?

Regina shrugged, "I don't know." She watched the younger blonde's expression. It went from annoyance to anger very quickly.

Just as fast as the call had come in, it ended. Emma slipped the phone into her pocket and stood. Regina watched her run a hand through her yellow locks, shaking it lightly at the ends. After a moment, she started walking towards the house her eyes to the ground.

"Everything okay," Regina watched her girlfriend carefully?

Emma climbed up the steps onto the porch and leaned against a post. She didn't say anything. She glanced up at Regina with a sigh and shook her head. Just as the blonde went to speak, a car pulled into the driveway causing both women to look.

"Who could that be," Kathryn asked?

"You've got to be shitting me," Emma groaned.

Once the car pulled to a stop, Mr. Gold stepped out. He paused, buttoning the top button on his suit jacket before heading towards them. Emma pushed off the post, squaring her shoulders.

"You just can't take a hint, can you," Emma asked sarcastically?

"I'm sorry to intrude. I've been trying for a week to get ahold of you. I really need to speak with you," the Scottish man said almost shyly.

Emma turned to go into the house, "I have nothing to say to you. Hints why I didn't answer your calls."

"Please, Emma," He ran a hand through his hair, much like Emma had done only a few minutes ago, "I'm begging you."

Emma stopped with her back to Gold, "You have five minutes. After that, you go and leave me the hell alone."

Kathryn stood from the swing, "Regina and I will give you two some pri-"

Emma interrupted, "No. You both can stay. Anything he has to say to me, he can say in front of you."

Regina made eye contact with Kathryn who stiffly sat back down. Emma's tone was more of a command rather than a request. The tension in the air was thick.

Emma turned toward the man, her eyes anywhere but on him, "Well?"

"Right," he adjusted his jacket and let out a breath. "I heard you changed your name?"

"It's public records, so it's no secret," She said flatly.

He nodded, "Swan suits you." He gave an attempt at a smile, but it faltered.

"Is this what you wanted to discuss with me? A name change? I really don't give two shits what you think of it," her voice was icy and it caused Regina to shift uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry," he blurted.

A laugh broke the awkward silence. It was a humorless laugh, "You're sorry? For what exactly?"

Gold stayed at the bottom of the steps, "I'm sorry for not being there for you."

Another laugh rolled out of the blonde's mouth, "For not being there for me." She repeated the words softly. A shiver ran up Regina's spine as she witnessed the dark ominous glint in her girlfriend's eye.

"I can think of a hundred more things you should be sorry for," Emma said crossing her arms over her chest. "Your time is almost up."

Gold put his hands up in a show of surrender, "Okay." He ran another hand through his hair, "I met your mother at a dinner party your grandfather threw many years ago."

Emma's jaw flexed when he mentioned her mother, but she allowed him to continue, "I fell in love with her at first sight." He laughed with watery eyes, "Image that, a fairytale romance for someone like me." He gave a sad smile to Emma, but she only stared back at him so again he went on, "Anyways, Mary Margret fell for me too. We dated for a little while and I decided she was the woman I wanted to marry. I went out and bought a ring and planned out the perfect proposal. First I had to have dinner with your grandparents to ask for her hand." He chuckled with a far off look in his eye then cleared his throat, "Took them out to the finest restaurant in town. The dinner seemed to go off without a hitch, until the end. I asked for your mother's hand and Leopold denied me. He said that she had been betrothed to David Nolan since they were children. I too was raised in a family with the same morals and ethics, but I was choosing love over family. I would have walked away from everything for her." Gold rubbed the back of his neck absently.

"Clearly, you didn't marry her, so what happened," Emma's tone was still cold, but Regina could see her curiosity peeked.

"She agreed with Leopold," he bit out. "I knew she loved me as much as I loved her, but she loved and respected her father more." Gold shrugged, "What was I supposed to do?"

Emma narrowed her eyes and threw her hands up, "Oh, I don't know, fought for the woman you loved."

"It's not that simple for people like us," he defended.

"You should have made it simple. If she loved you as much as you say she did you could've persuaded her," Emma said, her voice rising.

"I followed her wishes. I married the woman my parents chose for me, same as her. It's how things were done. I didn't like it. In fact, I hated it with every fiber of my being. But there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it," his voice rose to match the blonde's but it died out at the end.

"Okay, whatever," Emma rolled her eyes. "So instead of being the hero in the story, you continued to cheat on your wife with a married woman."

Gold stared at her for a minute and gently shook his head, "No. I stayed faithful to my wife and her to David. That was until one day I found her crying near the ladies room outside his office. I only did dealings with David Nolan where business was concerned. I stopped going to business parties and banquets for fear I would run into her. Seeing her even after so many years was still hard for me."

Emma rolled her eyes again and waved her hand in a circle, "Anyways."

For a brief second, Regina could see hurt in the man's eyes, but he was quick to wipe it away, "I found her crying outside the bathroom. I asked her what was wrong, afraid David had done something. She told me she wanted another child, but David said two was more than enough," He explained.

"Ah, so you were doing your civic duty, were you," the blonde deadpanned?

Gold sighed, raising an eyebrow, "I would've done anything for her."

"Except marry her," Emma sneered.

"Damn it, Emma. I'm trying to tell you what you've waited so long to hear," He said, irritated, but calm.

"Emma," Regina said. Both Gold and her girlfriend turned to look at her, "Let him finish." She wasn't trying to boss Emma, nor put her nose where it didn't belong. She just knew if Emma didn't let the man get this off his chest, the blonde would never know the truth.

Green eyes stared into hers. They weren't resentful or angry, they were just sad. Emma turned back to the Scottish man and waited for him to continue.

"She begged me to help give her a child. She told me she wanted a little girl more than anything. Of course, I tried to tell her that she couldn't choose the sex of the baby, but she knew. She knew everything about you. She even had your name picked out right then," he smiled at the memory. "We planned a night when David was overseas and my wife thought I was away on a trip. Afterward, your mother told me I had to promise never to tell David that you were mine. We went our separate ways the next morning. I didn't know if she was pregnant or not. I honestly thought it was a bad idea, but to hold her one more time, I," his voice cracked and he had to swallow. "I didn't know about you until the day you were born. I bumped into David at a conference in Chicago and he told me your mom was expecting. During our lunch, he got a call from Mary Margret saying she was in labor. He basically wished her luck and said he would be back in a couple of days. I hopped on the first flight I could and made it to the hospital. I couldn't go in and see your mom. She forbade me to, but I went down to the maternity ward and there you were. You were exactly how your mother described you nine months before. It was scary, really," he laughed dryly. "I had never been as proud as I was in that moment."

"What about Neal? He deserved a father," she snapped.

"Neal wasn't mine. His mother was pregnant with him when I married her. I should have been more to Neal, but it was hard. My wife hated me, as did her family and in turn, they did everything they could to make Neal hate me. All I wanted was you and your mum," He quickly ran a finger below his eye to ensure he caught a tear before it fell.

Regina could see that Emma was in a silent struggle with the information. For a moment she believed everything was okay, but it changed in an instant. Emma stepped down one step and shoved the man by shoulders, "She's dead because of you."

Gold stumbled back, but made no effort to defend himself, "I know." His words were quiet, but it didn't calm the blonde.

Emma was now off the porch and shoved him again, "Do you have any idea what it was like for me? You wanted us so bad, but you did nothing about it." Her voice cracked, "My mom needed you and you failed her. You let a little girl think that no one on earth loved her. All I had was Will and even he wasn't allowed to be in my life. YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" She shoved the man again, but tears were running down her face and she no longer had the anger and fell to her knees.

Regina was at her girlfriend's side in a flash. She dropped to her own knees, wrapping her arms around the blonde.

"Emma," Gold started.

Regina put up a hand and shook her head, "That's enough for one evening, Mr. Gold. I think you should go."

He looked as though he was going to argue, but then he nodded slowly. He turned to walk back to his car and paused, "I thought you should know, your bank accounts are back in order."

"When are you all going to get it? I don't want your fucking money," Emma hissed.

Gold sighed, "It's your mother's money and she wanted you to have it. David had no right to keep you from it." The man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. He walked up to where the couple was on the ground and passed it to Regina, "This is a check, from me. I know she doesn't want it, but please, convince her to take it. My door is always open if she," he paused, "Anyways, she has my number." Regina watched the man go back to his car, climb in and drive away.

She knew her girlfriend was broken. Now she could see just how much. She blinked back her own tears. If she hadn't been before, she was convinced now that Emma would make sure Henry never felt the way she had as a child. Regina couldn't even imagine Henry feeling that kind of pain.

Emma pulled away from her slowly, "I think I need a shower."

Regina nodded, understanding that was Emma's way of saying she wanted to be alone. She helped the blonde to her feet and watched her head inside. Regina looked over at her friend who sat with her mouth gaped open as if in shock at what she had just been part of.

"Wow, that was," Kathryn began.

Regina swallowed brushing the dirt from the knees of her silk p. j. bottoms, "Yep."

"Why can't those assholes just leave her alone," Kathryn asked?

"She needed to hear it," Regina said climbing back up on the porch. "She deserves to know the truth. I just hope there aren't any more surprises. I don't think she can take much more."