"Regina's in a good mood. Perhaps one of us should do a welfare check on Belle." David said thoughtfully as he made eggs. Emma had taken to eating breakfast with her parents as Regina took over her small kitchen each school morning when she came over to eat with Henry and take him to school.

"Or, she could actually just be in a good mood," Snow offered, and David gave her a quizzical look.

Emma looked confused, "Why would we check in on Belle because she's in a good mood."

This time Snow looked slightly embarrassed. "Regina's usually in a good mood if she's hurt someone. And for some reason she likes hurting Belle. One of us should probably check in on her."

"You guys act like Regina's some sort of inhuman monster." Emma shook her head. "She's in a good mood because she's getting to spend more time with Henry."

Snow shrugged. "She can be human and be a monster too. I tend to agree with you, I don't think it's a bad sign."

David shook his head, "Are you forgetting she pulled your heart out of your chest last month, Mary Margaret?"

"I did ask her to."

"That doesn't change anything."

Snow shifted, "Actually it does. I... I've been thinking about it. Do you blame a gun because someone tries to commit suicide with it?"

Emma held up her hand, "Ah, we usually take away the gun from someone who tries to commit suicide with it."

"Still... Regina's done a lot wrong, but I'm not sure you should hold her taking my heart as one of them. She put it back."

"Because she wanted to watch you destroy yourself."

Snow shrugged and shifted a little embarrassed. "I ... think she was trying to save me actually."

David snapped his head around to look at his wife. "She has a funny way of saving you. Didn't she break into this house that day to kill you?"

"Yes... it's just... Regina and I are complicated and I think it's time I stop pretending it's simple," Snow looked up. "We keep asking her to be responsible for her actions but I'm not owning my own. I used her to kill her own mother."

"You did that because you had to," Emma said quietly.

"No... I did it to hurt her." Snow looked down. "Regina and I know each other so well I think we've been hurting each other so long that neither of us knows how to stop."

David got up from his chair and put his arms around her. "I told you, you aren't Regina."

Emma watched the exchange and quietly wondered what Regina would have made of it. "I'm not Regina only because I have my family."

"She doesn't have any family." David observed.

"She had Henry." Emma said.

"And she has me." Snow responded.

"Snow... you pushing it and giving her second chances is what made us all end up here." David shook his head. "I can't let her hurt you more."

Snow gave him a sharp look. "David, I'm not a child."

"With Regina you are."

"Sometimes I wonder if I am with you." She shook her head and walked to the door, grabbing her coat and leaving without comment.

"Was that a fight?" Emma asked quietly. She wasn't used to fights that didn't involve raised voices.

"Yeah. It's the same fight we've been having since the sleeping curse." David sighed. "I'd just hoped we'd finished it after your mother spared her life at execution. Come on, we should probably check on Belle before we go into work."

Emma quietly thought about the kiss she'd shared with Regina the night before, the taste of the apple cider against her lips, and wondered just how badly her parents would take it if they knew.

"My mother wants to make up with you I think." Emma said as she was sitting in Regina's office going over a new anti-vandalism initiative with the mayor.

"And the sun will rise tomorrow. Your mother is your mother." Regina didn't even look up from the work she was doing. "She always thinks she can fix everything with a hug and an I'm sorry."

"That's not usually a bad start." Emma offered.

"Except it's always only a start. And some things you can't fix with an apology." Regina said testily.

"You would know."

"Yes, Emma I would." Her head snapped up.

"Okay, I understand you aren't ever going to be friends with her. But maybe you could try to tone down the dickish behavior towards the general population. Maybe even rule out homicide?"

Regina rolled her eyes, "You knew who you were getting involved with. You take me as I am. I'm not going to start picking flowers and frolicking in the forest talking to animals."

"I hope not. I've already told you how opposed I am to talking to birds in general." Emma said with a goofy smile, trying to defuse things.

"Emma," Regina inhaled and then exhaled. "After my mother, and after the King, I promised myself I wouldn't ever be someone other than who I am."

"So be Henry's mom. She's actually pretty cool."

"Henry's mom is pretty cool." Regina agreed with an uncharacteristically soft smile, and she got up from her chair and walked around the desk, giving Emma a quite lovely view of her legs in that pencil skirt. "Your mother isn't going to be annoying and try to make up with me again."

"I can't say she'll be annoying."

"She is your mother."

"Hey!" Emma complained, but without much behind it. Mostly because her eyes were trailing down the curves of madam mayor's backside. "I was wondering if we could try the second date this weekend? David's working the evening shift on Saturday and I was going to ask Neal to watch Henry."

Regina frowned. "Why your... ex... person."

"Ex-person? I know Neal has been pretty loathsome as a boyfriend but I'm pretty sure he's always been a person." Regina just gave her a look. "I don't want to ask my mother again so soon. I'm worried she'll decide to try and invite my boyfriend over for dinner or some other parenting non-sense as if I'm sixteen and this is a 1970s family sitcom."

"A family dinner with me as your date has a lot of comic potential." Regina observed.

"What it would have is a lot of violent potential, no thanks."

Regina frowned briefly, "While I'm in no hurry, you should probably think about what you are going to tell them. No secret is safe around Snow."

Emma just grunted. She knew Regina was right of course, but she didn't relish the thought of telling either of her parents.

"And Henry finds out first," Regina announced. "Before a second date. I'm not making the same mistakes with him again. New and different mistakes sure, but I'm not lying to him."

Emma wanted to object. She really wanted to figure out what was going on before telling him, but she could see Regina's point.

"Alright. How about dinner tomorrow? I understand you make great lasagna."

"Ah, we're willing to eat my cooking now, Miss. Swan?"

"I'll skip dessert."