AN: Thank you to everyone for reading, following & favoring. A slightly fluffy chapter. Next one will be tough.

TRIGGER WARNING: Mild mentions of abuse.

After a very messy lesson in the fine art of pancake making, Emma and Regina were cleaning up. They were watching Henry play in the back yard through the window over the sink. The brunette washed and the blonde dried. Their hands keep unconsciously brushing as they passed the utensils back and forth. As the sheriff pressed the side of her body, from shoulder to hip, into the mayor she let out a content sigh.

"What are you thinking dear?" asked Regina.

"That this is exactly what I hoped Henry would have. He's loved unconditionally. I mean, let's face it he was pretty terrible to you during his whole 'my mom is the evil queen' phase. He has a roof over his head. He eats home cooked meals every single day. He has never wanted for anything. Henry has no idea how lucky he is. And I am so happy about that." she took a deep breath, "'cuz I do know how lucky he is, and I wouldn't wish that one anyone. Thank you Regina, for loving my son, for caring for him even when he was a brat. You are exactly what I asked for when I made the decision to give him up for adoption."

Tears silently made their way down the queens regal face. "Emma, no words have ever made me happier. The last time Leopold touched me, and stole my child, he also took my ability to bear any future children. Henry was my only shot at being a mother, and I did everything in my power to do it right. I just wish someone had done right by you as well."

"The funny thing is Gina, you are the only person to do right by me. You've never lied to me. You've never used me. You've never abandoned or given up on me. You and Henry, you're all the family I've ever had. All the family I'll ever need." She gave the brunette's hand a gentle squeeze. "Now, let's go play with our son."

After several failed attempts at getting Regina to climb her apple tree with them, Emma and Henry decided they would catch a movie and eat dinner at Granny's instead. The sight of the trio together in public no longer garnered incredulous stares from the towns people. They made it though their movie and ordering their dinners peacefully. It was only as Ruby walked away from their booth, smiling like the cat that ate the canary, that the peace was disrupted by the appearance of the Charming's.

Their arrival was brought to Regina's attention by the twin tensing of mother and son. Since the announcement of Snow's pregnancy Henry had seen how hurt his blonde mother was. He also saw how his grandparents didn't see it. His feelings towards the couple had cooled considerably. It was his hand that found Emma's. "Do you want to get dinner to go Ma? We can go home and make Mom watch more movies!"

Emma's answer was interrupted by the appearance of the royal's at their booth. "Hi guys! Good to see you, it's been a while. Snow was having a craving for Granny's french fries." Charming said as he gently cupped Snow's baby bump.

"Hey Grandpa. We're actually getting our food to go. Having a family night in." Henry said, while pulling Emma from the booth and shooting Regina a look that clearly said "play along".

"That's right farmer boy, we were just leaving," Regina snarked at him as she gathered their things. Snow and Charming could only look on in disbelief as their family was led from the restaurant by their not so former nemesis.

Once they had cleared the building some of the color returned to Emma's face, and the tenseness began to leak from her body. "So, what movie do you want to watch Gina? It's only fair you should pick since Henry and I made you sit through Transformers."

Regina smiled at her lover, who was still clutching the hand of their growing son. "How about The Princess Bride?"

"Yes! I totally love that movie. I got to watch it a few times in one of my foster homes since they had it on tape. It was a good escape."

Regina couldn't help but be surprised at how easily Emma spoke about her childhood, even if it was over something as trivial as a movie. She could see her feelings reflected in the look on Henry's face. She knew he wanted to get to know his other mother better, and it warmed her heart to see that beginning to happen.

Later that evening, several bags of popcorn into their movie night Henry had fallen asleep with his head on Emma's shoulder and his feet in Regina's lap. Emma knew she had to get going soon, and began to quietly dislodge the sleeping teenager. "Ma, can you sleep here again tonight? I really like getting to wake up with both of you." She locked onto Regina's chocolate gaze in search of the right answer. "Yeah Emma, can we have another sleep over?" the smirking brunette asked.

"Well, since you both want me here I guess I don't have any choice but to stay. However, it's way past your bed time young man. Get some sleep so that you have energy for pancake lessons round two in the morning!"

Henry clambered to his feet and began to make his way upstairs. He looked back over his shoulder to see his mothers sliding closer to each other on the couch. He shook his head and smiled. "It's about time," he mumbled under his breath.

Regina was leaning against Emma's side. She had slipped her slender hand under her shirt and was drawing lazy patterns on the smooth skin of the blonde's toned stomach. Emma leaned over and began placing gentle kisses in Regina's hair, inhaling deeply to pull the brunette's delectable scent deep within her nostrils. As Regina's hand wandered she found one of the relatively few scars on Emma's front. Her fingers stopped their traveling, to gently trace the roughened skin.

The sheriff took a shuddering breath. "I only lived with that family for a few months. They weren't terrible at first, but the woman had a drinking problem. As she spiraled out of control I became her punching bag, and her ash tray. One of the burns became infected and a teacher noticed the pus leaking through my shirt. I was pulled from the home and given medical treatment. Within a few weeks I was sent to a different foster family. I wish they had left me with the drunk."

Regina looked into Emma's green eyes as she slowly lifted the shirt. She only broke eye contact to look at the scar briefly, then she bent down and placed a chaste kiss over the puckered skin. "When Henry was little I would kiss all of his injuries better, much like this. I wish someone had been there to kiss yours Em."

"Well, it's pretty nice to have you here kissing them now." Emma waggled her eyebrows at the queen to try and break some of the tension that had filled the room with her admission. Regina couldn't help but laugh and playfully slap the blonde on her arm. She quickly leaned in, erasing any space that had been between them, and connected their lips.

AN: Next chapter some smut and more of Emma's story.