"Hey, I have a great idea for what we can do this weekend," Henry said at breakfast.

"What's that?" Emma asked. Henry always had the best ideas, mainly because he looked forward to the trips out of town.

Ever since things had calmed down for awhile after the whole Underworld fiasco, Emma, Regina, and Henry took a trip once a month out of town for a whole weekend. It allowed them time alone as a family, as well as time away from the town and the craziness of magic and fairytales.

"There's a circus that's going to be in New York City," Henry said excitedly. "We haven't been there in awhile, and I've never been to a circus before. I've heard that they're fun though. At least from books that I've read."

"A circus?" Regina asked. "Of all things to pick, that's what you want to do? I'm sure there are other things in the city that we could attend."

"What's wrong with the circus?" Henry asked. "Violet's been to a few and she said the royalty loves them."

Regina winced. "Not all royalty does." And with that, she picked up her plate and headed to the kitchen.

Henry looked at Emma in confusion. "What's wrong with circuses? Violet said that it's common for royalty to attend them for entertainment."

"And I'm sure they do," Emma said. "But keep in mind that your mom wasn't a royal by choice. Plus, the Enchanted Forest is different than Camelot."

"Not that different," Henry said.

"Regardless of how similar or not they are, your mom doesn't want to go," Emma said. "It doesn't matter why, she just doesn't. I'm going to go talk to her, but in the meantime, think of something else to do."

"Fine," Henry mumbled. It wasn't that he couldn't find something else to do, he just didn't really want to. The circus sounded cool.

Emma smiled before getting up and walking into the kitchen. Regina was standing by the window, looking at her garden outside. Her dirty dishes on the counter were completely forgotten, something that never happened.

"You okay?" Emma asked, putting her and Regina's dishes into the dishwasher.

Regina jumped at the sound of Emma's voice. She hadn't even noticed her walking into the room. "I'm fine."

"You sure?" Emma pressed. "You looked like you're staring out into the garden without really seeing it."

Regina smiled sadly as she continued looking outside. "Back in the Enchanted Forest, I was allowed a small garden when I was queen. Anytime that I felt lonely, or angry, or any negative emotion, I would look out at my garden and just admire the beauty of it. The simplicity of the beauty of plants is captivating."

"What emotion are you feeling that you're staring at the garden?" Emma asked, walking over and standing next to her. She had to agree with Regina, the garden was beautiful.

"Guilt mostly," Regina said. "I would like to always make Henry happy, but sometimes that is not possible."

"Does this have something to do with the circus?" Emma asked.

Regina tensed. "Yes."

Emma shrugged. "I told him to pick something else. It's not that big of a deal. We don't have to do anything that you don't feel comfortable doing."

"I know," Regina said. "But I can tell that this is something that he really wants to do."

They stood in silence for a while before Regina spoke again. "When Henry was little there were several circuses who were around the area. I wanted to take him to one, but never found the courage to. I guess he's never lost his desire to see one."

"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to," Emma said. "But what's wrong with circuses? Why don't you like them?"

Regina sighed. "Have you ever read the stories in which the jester is killed because he didn't make the king laugh?"

Emma winced. She didn't like where this was going. "I've read a few."

"That's what circuses were like in the Enchanted Forest," Regina said. "If the royalty wasn't entertained the whole time, the person doing their act was killed."

"Did anyone ever get killed because of you?" Emma asked.

Regina closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. "Only once. It was the very first one that I attended as queen, and I was still bitter and hurt. I wasn't in the mood to be entertained. The clown was young, most likely doing his first show, and I zoned out during his act. Next thing I know, he's dead."

"And you've never liked a circus ever since," Emma said.

"I attended them with the king until his death," Regina said. "After he died, I banned them from the kingdom so that no one would ever be hurt again. But I still can't get the image out of my head of that young boy who died because of me."

"That's a lot of pressure to put on the royals," Emma argued. "You couldn't have possibly known he would be killed for it."

"Of course I knew," Regina said. "Everyone knew. I just didn't care."

Emma sighed. "I know that you don't want to go to the one in New York, but maybe we should. Circuses aren't like that. They're funny, and the acts are crazy. It's fun."

Regina bit her lip uncertainly. "And no one dies?"

"Nope," Emma said. "No deaths in this circus."

Several beats passed before Regina nodded. "Okay. We can go."

Regina fidgeted in her seat as the circus show started. "Relax," Emma whispered, taking her hand. "You'll enjoy it. Trust me."

Regina nodded and sat back in her chair. If there was one thing she did without a second thought, it was trust Emma Swan.

For the next hour, Regina couldn't stop smiling. Or take her eyes away from the show. Emma was right; this was nothing like the circuses in the Enchanted Forest. Everyone was happy, and there was no threat of death. Just talented performers showing off their skills to a captivated audience.

"Told you," Emma said, nudging her gently.

Regina smiled. "We'll add this to the tally of things that you were right on."

"Yes!" Emma said, throwing up her fist into the air in victory. "I think that takes me up to a total of five!"

Regina just rolled her eyes and laughed.

Prompts anyone?