AN: Thanks again you guys! Especially for the song suggestions I requested on Facebook. I was asked about Henry's reactions to Regina so I'm going to explain why he's like that really quickly. What happened with Regina and Daniel was not Regina's fault. You'll get that story later. As someone that came from a broken home myself, I used that as my model for Henry. He lashes out at Regina when Daniel doesn't show up, because that's what I did to my mother. He will eventually learn the error of his ways. Sorry for the damper, but I felt I should explain since I was asked. Hope that helps shed some light on that.

Rubes, what should I wear?" Emma asked as she paced the apartment.

"Why does it matter? Thought you two were just friends." Ruby teased.

"We are!" Emma exclaimed. "I just don't know what to do. I'm not used to hanging out with anyone else, and especially not a kid."

"Em, calm down. Your pacing screams more than friends. A child doesn't make a difference in what you wear. Be comfortable and be yourself. A kid would see right through you if you weren't." Ruby stated.

"Right. Right. You're absolutely right. I'd have seen through it. I want this kid to like me."

Ruby came up and hugged her best friend. "He'll love you. Everyone does."

Emma relaxed after that and set to getting ready. Twenty minutes later she let out a breath as she pulled into the parking lot of the park. She saw Regina chasing a young boy around the park and smiled. They might be just friends, but she could think the woman was adorable, right? She was in knee high black boots, black pants and a black leather jacket with red gloves and a black and red scarf. (Outfits from 3x17)

As she stepped out of the car Regina noticed her and waved her over to them.

"Hey there!" she said speaking directly to Henry, before turning to Regina with a semi-shy, "Hi."

"Hi Emma!" Henry said excitedly. "My mom told me you're a singer! Are you really as good as she says?"

"She says I'm good?" Emma laughed. "Well in that case, I hope so. What's your favorite song?"

"Um, from now or of all time?" he asked.

"All time," she responded grinning. She liked this kid already.

"I bet you don't know it," he challenged.

"Try me," she smirked.

"Cool Kids by Echosmith," he grinned back.

Her grin widened. "Just for you, I'll start with the second verse." Everyone nearby turned to watch as she started singing, but she didn't notice. She was singing only to Henry.

"He sees them talking with a big smile, but they haven't got a clue.
Yeah, they're living the good life, can't see what he is going through.
They're driving fast cars, but they don't know where they're going.
In the fast lane, living life without knowing.
And he says,

I wish that I could be like the cool kids,
'Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids,
'Cause all the cool kids they seem to get it.
I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids."

He looked her up and down, appraising her. She smiled again. "Well, whatcha think kid? Am I at least okay?"

He waited another minute before responding, making her squirm a little.

"Henry…" Regina began to warn.

He finally looked back up and into Emma's eyes as a slow smile spread across his face. "Yeah. You're really good actually."

"Thanks kid. You guys wanna go get some lunch? I haven't been awake very long. If you already ate, it's cool."

"I'm hungry," Henry almost yelled. "Can we go?"

"Of course," she nodded. "I'm a little hungry as well."

Emma's face lit up. "Awesome! Granny's Diner is just around the corner. Have you guys ever been?"

"We haven't," Regina replied.

"Yeah, Mom doesn't like to eat out when she can cook at home," Henry grinned up at his mother.

"I figured you hadn't. I'm there almost as much as I'm at home. I'd have remembered seeing you. Do you mind going there?" she asked Regina.

"Not at all, but we are taking my car. I am not getting into that death trap of yours," she stated.

Emma laughed at that, while Henry turned to his mother. "Can Emma ride with us? It doesn't make much sense to take two cars."

Emma answered before Regina could, "Actually it's close enough to walk. Like I said, right around the corner." With that she started walking toward the sidewalk, Regina motioned for Henry to follow and they soon caught up with the blonde who was making her way toward the diner.

"So, Emma, now that you know my favorite song, what's yours?" Henry inquired.

"Hakuna Matata," she grinned over at him as they walked.

Regina chuckled as Henry looked up at her with a slight glare. "I'm being serious. Don't give me kid answers."

"Okay, okay," she raised her hands in defense joking with the boy. "Seriously it is one of my favorites, but my absolute favorite would have to be 'Feels Like Home.'"

Henry surveyed her as they walked into the diner and Emma made her way to a booth in the back.

"Hey Em!" Mary Margaret called to her from the counter. "I'll be over in a minute!"

"Hey Mary Margaret!" Emma called back. "No hurry!"

Emma sat in the back of the booth facing the door, while Regina and Henry sat across from her. Henry was still watching Emma as his mother began to look over the menu. "You ok kid?" she asked finally taking notice of his eyes on her.

"Yeah. I'm good. I'm just thinking about your song choice. I mean, it's a good song, but why is it your favorite?" he wondered.

Emma shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She was wondering if maybe she had revealed too much with her song choice. She was spared a few moments when Mary Margaret walked up to their table with a smile. "Hello again, Regina," she greeted. "Nice to see you again, and who is this little man?"

"Nice to see you too," Regina responded. "This is my son, Henry."

"Hi!" Henry chimed in.

"Hello Henry. Nice to meet you," Mary Margaret smiled. "What would you all like to drink? Emma, let me guess. Cocoa with cinnamon?"

"You know me so well," the blonde replied.

"May I have some pop, Mom?"

"One glass, when your food comes," Regina told him. "May we both have a glass of water until then?"

"Sure thing. Be right back."

Henry turned his attention back to Emma. "So?"

Emma knew there was no other way out of this than to be honest with the kid. "Well, I'm an orphan," she started. "I like that song because that's what I've always wanted. I want to find a place that feels like home."

They both looked at Emma rather sadly and Regina told her, "You didn't have to answer that."

Emma shrugged. "It's alright. If the kid is old enough to ask a question, then I feel like he's old enough for an honest answer."

Henry's saddened face quickly turned to awe at that. "I like her Mom. Can we keep her?"

Both women laughed heartily at that. Mary Margaret returned with their drinks and took their order, sneaking in a wink at Emma.

When she walked away Regina acknowledged Henry's remark. "Miss Swan may stick around as long as she wishes."

"Oh, I'm Miss Swan now?" Emma feigned offense. "Be careful what you wish for Regina. You might end up stuck with me."

Regina smirked, "I can think of worse fates."

They chatted amiably throughout lunch on a variety of topics, but it was mostly Henry questioning Emma's knowledge of music. When they returned to the park to retrieve their cars, Henry shocked Emma by hugging her tightly around the waist. "Will you hang out with us again?" he asked.

"Sure kid," she grinned. Leaving the park Emma was in a jovial mood. She felt really great about this blossoming friendship.

Over the course of the next couple of months she hung out with Regina and Henry several more times and the brunette had only missed two of The Charmings' (who had renamed themselves The Poisoned Apples) shows, because Daniel had bailed on Henry some more.

On a Friday night in December Emma's phone rang and grinned looking down to see that it was Regina calling. "Hey you," she answered.

"Hey Emma," Regina smiled into the phone despite the fact that this was not a happy phone call.

"What's up?" Emma asked. "You said you had to work late tonight."

"I do," Regina sighed. "I need a huge favor. Daniel has backed out on Henry again."

"Bastard," Emma grit her teeth. "How can I help?"

"My parents are out of town again. I've tried Mel and Tink, but they both have dates tonight. Henry is at the office with me, but he's bored. Would you want to spend some time with him?"

Emma could almost hear the pleading in her friend's voice. Henry was probably in a mood as he seemed to be every time Daniel did this. "Of course. I'll come get him. I have just the thing to distract him."

She heard a breath of relief on the other end of line. "Thank you Emma. See you soon."

As Emma clicked off the phone she turned to see Ruby giving her a look. "What?" she shrugged.

"You're a babysitter now?" she asked. "Em, we have practice tonight."

"I know. I'm gonna bring him with me. He's been begging me to meet you guys for weeks."

"Sister, you've got it bad." Ruby laughed

"What?" Emma stiffened.

"You like that woman, a lot," her friend responded.

"First of all, for the love of God, will you learn that her name is Regina? Say it slowly, Reginaaaaa," Emma said demonstrating.

Ruby barked out a laugh. "You so like her."

"I do not," Emma huffed.

"Then why are you babysitting?" she countered.

"I like this kid. He's having a hard time. He loves music like I do, and I know first hand how therapeutic music can be to kids like us."

"What do you mean, 'kids like us?'" Ruby asked stopping her teasing.

"His dad bails on him all the time. I can sort of imagine what that's like. It's hard for him in a different way. I know that my parents didn't want me, but I'm glad they were never wishy washy about it. I never had the false hope of them sometimes caring and then letting me down. I learned not to have expectations. Henry doesn't have that. The poor kid doesn't know when or if one day his dad will come around. He lashes out and blames Regina even though it's not her fault. Daniel just sucks. Henry will see that one day, but right now he's a kid and he's hurting because of this." Emma was almost in tears.

Ruby looked at Emma in shock at her little speech. "Okay. Go get him. We'll help you cheer him up. I'll have Lily and Aurora pick me up and I'll tell everyone you're bringing him."

"Thanks Rubes. I'm sorry for my rant." Emma said with a tight smile as she got up and left the apartment.

When she knocked on the door to Regina's office the door almost immediately flew open and Henry barreled into her. "Hey Emma!" he yelled, pulling her into the room. "Mom said I get to hang out with you!"

"Yep. I've got a surprise for you," Emma smiled down at him.

"His mood has improved dramatically since I informed him you were coming," Regina noted.

"What's my surprise?" Henry asked excitedly.

"Hmmm," Emma pretended to think. "What was it again? I can't remember. I think it was something you've been begging for," she teased.

"Did you get me a guitar?!" he practically screamed.

Emma chuckled, "Nope. That wasn't it. It's something that you can't exactly carry around," she told him, enjoying their game.

Henry thought for a moment and then realization spread across his features. "You're taking me to meet the band!" he shouted with glee and barreled into her once more. "You're the coolest person ever!"

Regina was smiling fondly at the both of them when Emma turned her attention to her friend, "Yeah, if your mom's okay with it."

"Of course," she replied and it was her turn to have the boy flying into her.

"Thanks Mom!" Henry was already pulling Emma back toward the door almost running in his excitement.

"See you later!" Emma called over her shoulder letting the boy pull her along.

"Behave Henry!" was the response heard from her office as Henry pulled Emma out the door.

As they drove down the street Emma looked over at the kid that had now calmed a bit and was staring out the window in thought. She nudged him with her elbow causing him to look over at her. "You wanna talk about it?" she asked quietly.

Henry sighed and barely whispered, "I just don't understand."

Emma looked at him sadly, but waited for him to continue.

"Why doesn't he want me?" Henry asked.

Emma's heart broke a little at the hurt in his voice. "I can't answer that kid. He's the only one that can. Here's what I can tell you. You are an amazing kid. You are so sweet and smart and there are several people that love you."

Henry pondered her words for a moment. "Do you?" he asked. Emma looked at him confused. "Do you love me?" he clarified his question.

She thought about. What do you say to that? And then suddenly she knew. "I do," she told him honestly, wondering why she didn't realize it before. In just two months this boy had wormed his way into a place in her heart that most people never got in to. "I'm always gonna be here for you kid."

He smiled up at her. "Sorry I put a damper on the mood."

"Hey, it's okay. You can always talk to me, about anything."

"Thanks Emma," he said as they pulled into David and Mary Margaret's driveway. He jumped out of the car and into the open garage. "Whoa…" he said in awe.

"Hey guys," Emma said. "I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Henry. Henry that's Ruby, Lily, Aurora, David, and you remember Mary Margaret?" she said as she pointed each of them out.

"Hi," Henry said kind of shyly.

"Hey Henry!" David said. "Emma tells us that you're really interested in music. Have you heard any of our stuff?"

"Not yet," Henry told him. "I've heard Emma sing though. She randomly bursts into song sometimes."

They all chuckled and Lily gave a dramatic, "We know."

"Hey! You all love it," Emma exclaimed.

"Well, Henry, you want to hear us play?" David turned his attention back to the boy.

"Isn't that why we're here?" he sassed.

David smiled at him. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Henry watched intently throughout their session, but his eyes landed on Ruby and her guitars more often than anyone else. He'd been begging Regina for a guitar for months. He was fascinated. When they finished their practice Emma handed him a copy of their CD. He grinned, having thoroughly enjoyed their music. "Can you guys sign it?" he asked sheepishly. "I think you're going to be big one day and I want an original."

They laughed, but thanked and indulged him. David signed it first and wrote across the top.

For Henry, the official first kid of The Poisoned Apples

Henry's smile widened when he saw the dedication at the top. "Cool! Thanks guys!"

"I'm hungry, how about you kid?" Emma asked.

"I'm starving," he admitted. "Can we go to Granny's? I'd love a cheeseburger."

Emma giggled, knowing fully well that Regina rarely let the kid have them. "Sure."

"Bye guys! Henry said waving back at them. "Thanks again!"

"No problem," Lily responded.

"Yeah, you're welcome to come back any time," David told him.

Emma and Henry left and talked all through their dinner. Just as they were finishing, Emma got a text from Regina.

Hey, sorry it was later than I thought. I'll pick Henry up. Where are you?

We just had dinner. I'll grab you something and bring him home.

Thank you.