A/N: I know it's been a while since I updated this one and the other ones but I will try my best to be more consistent especially since the show started again and I don't want people getting confused. Though I kind of like that when fics merge with the show lol anyway, the next few chapters of this one have been brewing for a while, I have already started mapping out the ending scene where they finally get together in my head slowly. Hope you enjoy and as always please review!

Chapter 6

She had ended up spending the rest of her night at the diner, followed by returning to her parents house where she offered to look after Neal for a little while to give her parents some much needed sleep while she debated on her plan of action. Finally as the first few rays of morning graced the aged living room of the loft that they currently shared was it that she had a first move to what would be an ultimate goal of achieving the brunette's forgiveness.

Her mother had greeted her with an almost glowing smile, signifying that one nights sleep had been indeed what she had needed, taking her son gracefully from long limbs as Emma bid them a farewell, snatching up her jacket as she departed quickly through the door.

Her first stop had been to the diner to grab a strong cup of coffee, the second was to the French's flower shop, ever since the whole fiasco with Gold, Belle and Mr. French, she had noted more production of some pretty impressive bouquets glorifying the once dying corner store of Game of Thorns and after her brief visit had come to the conclusion that Mr. French had thrown himself into his work as a distraction for one of the missing and most important parts of his life.

He had half smiled when he saw her as he gathered up in his arms the outside displays and without thinking Emma grabbed a couple of pot plants, following him out the open door and placing on a nearby table as she followed him back in to grab a couple more, he had given her a strange look but accepted the extra help with a small thank you.

"What can I do for you, Sheriff?"

"I'd like to place an order... well..." She paused and smiled at him with a small shrug, "Several orders actually."

"Okay," He replied, "What can I do you for?"

"I'd like..." she paused, "A dozen individual deliveries of your biggest, brightest, lilies sent to several different places," She felt her face flush slightly as his eyebrows knitted.

"Well that's a rather unique order but that will be extra for the amount of running around that will entail," He said before wandering back inside to grab more of his stock and again Emma followed him adding a helping hand.

"That's not a problem," She exhaled and they worked in silence for a few minutes as she watched how he laid out one side and proceeded to do the same on the other side of the giant store front windows.

"Thanks for the help," Mr. French commented as they brought out the last of the flowers, "I've not really had the same sort of help since... well... you know," He nodded awkwardly and Emma smiled softly with a small incline of her head unwilling to broach the subject, she understood where he was coming from to an extent but kidnapping and trying to ruin your daughter's happiness all in one day was something that she couldn't condone, but that didn't mean she couldn't genuinely see the loss in his eyes, even if it was something he had brought on himself.

"No problem," she pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to him, "These are the addresses I'd like them sent to and if we could be discreet about it I would appreciate it."

"No problem, Sheriff," He answered before a frown appeared across his face as dark eyes scanned the addresses he sent, "Am I reading this right?"

"Yes," Emma stated harshly, almost defensively, "You are and as I said discreet."

"I understand... but I can't leave the shop and my delivery driver will not deliver to this first address..." He added hastily.

"I will take the first one then and how much will I owe you for the rest?" The blonde asked, shifting her stance to pull her wallet from her back pocket.

"That's fifty altogether, including the extra delivery fee," Mr. French responded just as Emma handed him a wad of notes, "You gave me too much..."

"The extra is an added incentive to keep things quiet, if you catch my drift," The blonde replied and raised her eyebrows to emphasize her point.

"Okay, thank you," He nodded as he entered his shop, adding the lilies on the front desk and Emma noted bumping his other orders for the day back slightly before he returned to Emma with a single, wrapped up lily.

"Thank you," She whispered and in seconds she was gone, leaving only a plume of dark smoke from the exhaust of her car in her wake leaving the shocked florist simply shaking his head and returning to fulfill his orders in a haze as to what he had just witnessed.

"Morning Mom," Henry greeted as he walked into the ornate kitchen that he had grown up in, the one with the stronger memories of having grown up in at least, he kissed his brunette mother on the cheek as he glanced over her shoulder at the breakfast she was cooking, "Ohhh yum."

"There is toast in the toaster, get your plate ready," Regina answered, the only thing that had got her up that morning had been her son, the only reason that she had gotten up most mornings as he was growing up and now again when she found herself in an ever descending state of despair and grief... he was her reason for living... there were other things as well but her one priority at that moment was her son. Without even conjuring it an image of his blonde mother popped into her head and she shook it rapidly from her mind, she wasn't in the mood and nor did she have the inclination to exercise anything other than her anger towards the woman right now.

"You got it," He responded as he set about his task until his phone beeped loudly, twice, he glanced over his shoulder at his mother and offered her a brief but brilliant smile before he looked at the message.

"Make sure your Mom gets the door E x."

"Why?" He quickly typed out his response and his expression didn't go unnoticed by his adoptive mother.

"Is something wrong?" Regina asked, coming over and attempting to glance at the screen only to have it turned away and an almost disarming smile thrown her way.

"No, just Travis from school in New York wondering where I'd gotten to as he needed help with his homework," Henry quickly spouted off before wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her yet another hug.

"Oh," She breathed, "Do they often ask you for help with their homework?"

"All the time..." He paused, "Well, they did. But that's okay, the other Henry will help them."

"Oh, good," Regina smiled just as there came another notification and a knock at the front door, "Can you..."

"You get the door, I'll finish breakfast..." Henry smiled again and watched as his mother hesitated, she may have put on a little bit of make up today but she was still very much in what Henry would have considered more casual wear, denim jeans and a black t-shirt and a dark blue blazer jacket, she looked almost nervous, an emotion brewing in dark eyes he had never seen there, "You've got this, Mom and I'm right here."

She didn't answer him, instead returned a more awkward half smile as she turned bare footed towards the front entrance way just as Henry darted his gaze back to his phone.

"Trust me, kid, you know I wouldn't do anything on purpose to hurt your Mom, it's the start of making things up to her. E x."

"Operation Happiness?"

"Sure, we can call it that but I don't think it is that simple."

She glanced briefly through the side windows, anticipating almost seeing a figure stood there but when there wasn't one, she slowly opened the door, to find a single large lily bloom sitting on the door step with a small envelope underneath it.

Carefully she knelt down, lifting the blossom up with a small frown as she looked around, there was nobody to be seen, no figures or shadows, she pulled the small card from the tiny envelope, unfolding the crisp white sheet of paper that was unexpected and read the message.

The Unfading Beauty by Thomas Carew

He that loves a rosy cheek,
Or a coral lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires:
As old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts and calm desires,
Hearts with equal love combined,
Kindle never-dying fires.
Where these are not, I despise
Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.

The frown that had been present moments before slowly morphed into a confused expression, followed by the slight up turn of full lips and softening of dark eyes.

Carefully she returned to a standing position, bloom and note clutched within dark fingers as chocolate eyes scanned the area once more but still no one came forward, she felt a flush creep up her neck at the thought of the person, drifting mentally to the only person who she would consider who knew what those words meant, she sighed softly, refusing to let her mind dwell on it further as she returned to the kitchen and her gaze softened as it rested on her son, he smiled brilliantly when he saw the flower in question.

"Wow that's nice, your favourite right?" Henry asked trying to act casual, "I fixed your breakfast for you."

"Thank you," She pressed her lips to his forehead as she set about finding a vase to put the ornate flower into.

Moments later she joined him in the dining room, placed the flower in the center before seating herself beside Henry, who took in the complete demeanor change and underneath the table shot off a quick text to his other mother with a single hand.

"Good job, Ma, she's smiling."