"So what did you find out love?" Regina asked when Emma walked back in from the backyard Skittles following behind and running to her water dish.

Emma set her phone on the counter and leaned back against it taking a swig from her water bottle.

"Well a few things actually," Emma said as she took a deep breath, "Diane said that they have made contact with Naomi. She is staying at some apartment in Sacramento with a guy named Kevin. She is supposed to be back in town in two days to sign off all rights to Henry."

"Wow, just like that?"

"I guess so. Diane said that she sounded pretty out of it and said she would do whatever she had to do but didn't want to take care of him anymore."

Regina shook her head, "Wow."

"Yeah, so Diane said that that there is quite a process involved but that she doesn't see any reason why we couldn't become Henry's foster parents."

"Really?" Regina smiled wide and stood from her seated position where she had been sketching some potential logo ideas for the restaurant.

Emma nodded, "Yeah so tomorrow I am going to take the day off of work and go down and meet with her to get the process started. I know you are caught up in the restaurant but I need you to be there too if that's okay?"

"Of course I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else!" Regina embraced the blonde. "So where is Henry now?"

"He is with a foster family at the moment who lives on the other side of town. That is why he wasn't at school today. Diane said that she hated having to pull him from my classroom but they were the first available."

"Eh…that makes me sick to my stomach. Why can't he just stay with us?"

"I asked her the same thing babe but he just can't…it's the rules…"

"Screw the rules." Regina pouted and slumped back down into her chair.

"Amen to that."

…

The next morning Regina and Emma were walking up the cement path leading into the Child Protective Services building where Diane's office was located. The brick building was anything but inviting and the dreadful weather was not helping the mood at all.

"Are you as nauseous as I am?" Regina asked holding her hand over her stomach.

"I feel like I'm going to ralph…" Emma replied.

"Well that is one way to put it." Regina laughed raising her eyebrows.

"We'll be okay though. I know we will." Emma smiled over at Regina and grabbed her hand. Regina gave a quick smile back and then felt the chill of her touch leave as Emma reached for the door.

The inside of the building wasn't any more welcoming than the outside. The white tile floors were lush in comparison to the drab grey walls and the woman at the front desk looked as though she was moments away from falling asleep.

"Hello," Regina spoke as they approached the desk.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, we have an appointment with Diane Cole at ten."

"Down the hall and to the right," the woman replied not even looking up from her crossword puzzle.

"Okay then…thank you…" Regina replied and the women began walking down the hall.

As they approached Diane's office the door opened and Killian began walking out.

"Okay so I will get this paperwork filed and your home visit is scheduled for tomorrow night at 6pm so make sure that both you and Belle are there okay?" Diane said as she walked Killian out.

Killian nodded and then he saw Emma and Regina in the hallway.

"Hey guys what are you doing here?" Killian said smiling as he saw the women.

"We have an appointment with Diane." Emma replied.

"Oh…what for?"

"We are signing up to become foster parents for Henry." Regina announced proudly.

"You're doing what?" Killian asked looking offended.

"Killian…" Emma began but she was abruptly cut off.

"I can't believe you Emma…after everything we have talked about…"

"Killian you ran out yesterday before I could explain. We need to talk about this but this isn't the time or the place." She responded glancing at Diane who was trying not to look at anyone directly.

"No, it's okay. I just thought you understood where I was coming from. I get it though." Killian nodded and then looked back at Diane. "I wasn't aware they let drunks be foster parents but hey, good to know. Thanks for everything Diane see you tomorrow."

Regina stood in shock and Emma was furious. She wanted to chase him down but she didn't want to make an even bigger scene in front of Diane so she took a deep breath and grabbed Regina's hand.

"Sorry about that Diane…personal issues…" Emma smiled softly at the woman who had a deep state of confusion on her face.

"It's okay…is this not a good time?"

"Yes, its fine, can we just forget these last few minutes and proceed with the interview?" Regina asked.

"Of course, come on in." Diane responded and they entered the office with the woman closing the door behind them. "Go ahead and take a seat and I will began to gather around the paperwork. Please bear with me this will be quite the lengthy process."

"That's quite alright we have all day." Emma responded as they both took a seat.

"Okay…now what happened just now was none of my business but I do have to say I am quite concerned about one thing that I heard."

Regina took a deep breath knowing exactly what Diane was referring to, "I am a recovering alcoholic. I had a drinking problem several years ago and went to a rehab facility where I sobered up and have been sober since. Unfortunately I relapsed last week. It was only for a day but I sought help immediately and am back with my counselor and on track again."

"Okay…well that just answered what I needed to know about that."

"If it's going to cause a problem I will leave the home. Emma deserves to have Henry…"

"Nobody needs to leave the home," Diane interrupted Regina, "As long as you are not actively drinking now and it is not creating a dangerous environment for Henry then there isn't a problem. I will reach out to your counselor to get whatever information I need and we will complete the home visit and proper paperwork but everything should be okay. From what I saw the other night when I picked Henry up your home seems to be lovely and I think everything will be just fine."

Regina took a deep sigh of relief and smiled at Emma.

"Well actually that is a question that I have," Emma said, "the home that you saw is only a one bedroom…obviously we will need a bedroom for Henry so I want to sell and move…how much time do we have to do this?"

"Well this process takes about 90 days."

"Oh…wow…" Emma felt disappointed.

"I'm sorry is that too soon?"

"Quite the opposite really…it's not soon enough…" Emma slumped back in her chair.

"You really care about Henry don't you?"

"We do…"

"Can I ask why you are becoming foster parents then and not just trying to adopt Henry?"

"I didn't know that was an option?" Emma asked sitting back up hopeful.

"Oh, it most certainly is. The process is very similar; in fact we will actually still go through the foster parent process first and when that is completed Henry will be placed with you. Once Henry is considered a free child, meaning his parental rights are terminated, then we can begin the adoption process."

"Yes, let's do that! If that means that he will become ours for good then by all means let's do that!" Emma practically screamed with excitement.

Diane smiled she could see the love for his boy in Emma's face. "Well, let's get started then."