Regina crept into her apartment lifting up on the door handle to ensure it didn't squeak and stepped lightly onto the hardwood floors. She slipped her shoes off and hung her coat on the rack above them before locking the door and making her way down the hall and into the living room. The house was quiet and she sighed in relief that Henry must have went to sleep for Zelena. She headed into the kitchen looking for something to eat when she saw an envelope sitting on the counter addressed to her. She saw the return address and sighed before shaking her head and tossing it into the trash.

"You made it home," Zelena's voice startled her as she came around the corner into the kitchen, "I was worried about you in this weather."

"Yeah, I'm okay. How was Henry tonight?"

"He was an angel as always. Except for dinner, I couldn't get him to sit down and eat for anything. Little bugger."

Regina laughed, "Yeah, he's not a fan of meal times lately. Thanks for trying though." Regina frowned and closed the refrigerator unable to find anything that looked appealing.

"Like mother like son I guess huh? Have you eaten anything today?"

"I'm just tired. I think I'm going to get to bed. Good night sis." Regina squeezed her sister's arm on her way out of the room and headed to her bedroom. She was quiet to enter the room as she didn't want to disturb her sleeping boy. The apartment was only a two bedroom so they had to share. Regina never complained though as she was eternally grateful for Zelena letting them move in two weeks ago when they had nowhere else to go.

Regina slipped out of her uniform before stepping into a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top and then slowly climbed into bed next to her son. He looked like an angel; hands folded under his cheek and his little legs curled up against his tummy. She smiled at his chubby face in the light that was coming in from the glow of the street light. These last two weeks have been some of the hardest days of her life but she would do them all over again to protect that face.

…

Emma was staring at the ceiling in her dorm room. She was sure she had the cracks in the plaster memorized at this point. You wouldn't think one would be able to see a ceiling so well at three am but with a roommate like Emma's the room was hardly ever dark, or quiet for that matter. Emma sighed after Gabby's cell phone went off again and rolled over to face the wall. She understands that not everyone lives a life of solitude, as she does, but she also finds it extremely rude that Gabby is up at all hours of the night. You would think she would be considerate enough to put her phone on silent or at the very least vibrate.

That is why Emma began going to the diner in the first place. Gabby would come and go from the dorm whenever she pleased and when she was there she was loud and inconsiderate. Emma needed somewhere to escape and the diner was close and had a decent cup of cheap coffee. She didn't mind not returning until after 2 am most mornings because Gabby usually wasn't there and if she was, she was usually awake anyways.

Emma's thoughts began to drift back to her car ride with Regina. The woman must have been extremely exhausted being a mother to a young boy and working such late hours as a waitress. She wondered what her story was and hoped that one day she would have a chance to find out.

…..

"Mama I go with you?" Henry asked climbing onto the woman's lap as she tried to put her shoes on.

"No sweetie I'm afraid you can't. You have to stay here with Auntie Z but I promise you are going to have fun okay?" Regina kissed her son's sweet face and squeezed him tight before setting him back down on the ground. "I have to get going baby or I'm going to be late okay? So why don't you go and get your trains and Auntie Z will start making you dinner."

"No food. No food. No food!" Henry started chanting as he ran off to the bedroom. Regina shook her head half in frustration, half adoration and gathered her phone and purse. "Okay, I will be home same time as always. Thanks again sis!"

"No problem, be careful!" Zelena called out from the kitchen as she heard the front door close.

Regina felt the chill hit her face as soon as she stepped outside but she didn't mind. Her walks to work were a peaceful part of her day. It was a time to collect her thoughts before chaos began. It was a time to remember why she was doing what she was doing. She kept her head down as she walked, as most people do when snow was blowing in their faces, but for Regina it was for different reasons. Every man in a hood reminded her of him; him and his angry eyes and his unforgiving fist.

She arrived at the diner and shook the snow from her coat and kicked her shoes at the doorway. The smell of grease in the kitchen made her stomach turn and she grabbed a mint from her pocket and popped it in her mouth.

"You're working the counter tonight doll," Bobby said to her as she clocked in.

"Okay, easy enough." Regina replied and wrapped an apron around her waist. She didn't mind the counter, it wasn't as much walking and she was able to interact with the customers more. However, she didn't make nearly as much tips on counter nights so that was a downside.

…..

It was halfway through Regina's shift and she felt like she was numb from boredom. The diner was unusually slow and she had only had three customers at the counter her entire shift. She had already cleaned and done every other minuscule task there was to do.

Regina glared at the clock once again, four hours to go, she thought. Just as she was about to organize the sugar packets for the fourth time the door opened and along with a gust of wind Emma walked in. Regina smiled up at the blonde and waved.

"Hey Emma!"

"Hi," Emma replied softly. She had a book in hand and was stomping the snow from her boots. She began to walk to her normal table when she heard Regina call her name out once again.

"Emma! Sit at the counter tonight and keep me company!" Regina smiled.

"Um…" Emma looked around and noticed that there was only three other people in the whole place. Two guys in a corner booth and one older woman sitting at a table doing a crossword puzzle. "Okay…yeah I guess I can do that." The blonde walked to the counter and sat down on the black stool setting her book in front of her.

"Coffee?"

"Yes, please."

Regina turned around to the drink station and poured the woman a fresh cup and spun around setting it down.

"Thank you," Emma smiled and took a sip.

"You're welcome. So, how are you tonight?"

Emma looked around as if she was surprised that Regina was asking her. "Oh, um, I'm good I guess."

"That's good." Regina smiled. "I'm good too by the way…I mean in case you were wondering…" Regina smiled coyly at the blonde.

"Oh, yeah, that's good." Emma smiled back.

"So, you come in here a lot. Do you not have a coffee pot at home?"

"No, I don't have a coffee pot in my dorm room."

"Oh you're a college kid huh?"

"I'm hardly a kid." Emma chuckled. "I graduate this spring with my Masters."

"Wow, can I ask what in?"

"Architecture."

"That's amazing!" Regina exclaimed as she bent down on the counter resting her chin in her hands. "Have you always wanted to be an architect?"

"Pretty much, I mean I always had a fascination with buildings and designs. Growing up my dad and I would go on trips and spend hours looking at the buildings, taking pictures of them, and learning their history. I loved to draw, I loved math…it just all fell into place."

"I'm jealous; I never had anything I was so passionate about."

"Everyone has something…"

"Regina, I'm not paying you to stand around and talk to your little friends all night. If you're looking for something to do, go pick up a mop doll face." Bobby called out as he walked by. "I'm leaving for the night. I trust that you will work the rest of your shift."

"Yes Bobby, I'm sorry, I will go get that mop!" Regina smiled and headed towards the supply closet.