Moving forward
With Regina gone exhaustion suddenly caught up with Emma so she took herself straight back to bed remembering to set her alarm this time before crawling back into her nest between the sheets and falling straight back into a very sound sleep.
It was the blaring of her alarm that woke her up early the following morning, quickly silencing it she swung her legs out of bed and made her way down the stairs feeling much more refreshed for her long restful sleep, it was only when she was halfway down the stairs and she spotted the empty coffee mugs from the night before still sitting on the table because she had been too tired to bother clearing away after Regina had left that she remembered Regina's visit, a slow smile spread across her lips as she reached the table and picked up the mug with Regina's lipstick on its edge and turned it around in her hand before popping it in the sink to be washed up with her own, It felt good to be on better terms with Regina, she was still horrified by last night's revelations but at least she understood now, she still felt bad about the misplaced anger that she had held onto for all of these years, but at least she could finally let it go now and that made her feel so much lighter.
She headed to work that morning with a huge smile on her face, stopping by grannies to pick up some pastries along the way,
"You're looking much better this morning" David smiled when she walked into work a short while later,
"Thanks, I feel it" Emma replied returning the smile and dumping the bag of pastries onto his desk on the way to her own,
"What's this? He asked glancing into the bag,
"An apology" Emma shrugged "I let some stuff get the better of me, it was unprofessional, and I won't let it happen again" she said,
"No apology needed we're all human Emma" David replied "we all go through stuff and it's okay if things get to us from time to time, just as long we manage to pick ourselves up from it again like you have, but thanks for these anyway" he shrugged taking a pastry from the bag and sinking his teeth into it, chuckling to herself Emma turned her attention to her work.
Emma decided to wait for Regina to reach out to her, she didn't want to intrude on her space especially after the emotional toll that confiding in Emma must have cost her, but as the days went by she was beginning to think that the next time that she would see Regina would be in a professional capacity because she had to pay a visit to mayor's office in the middle of the week following Regina's visit to her apartment when the stations phone rang and David called for her to pick up the phone on her desk because the call was for her,
"Good afternoon sheriff's office, Emma speaking how can I help you?" she asked brightly,
"You sound happy" Regina's voice came back at her the hint of a smile in her tone,
"I am happy" Emma smiled, and Regina continued,
"Good" she laughed "I hate to call you at work about a personal matter, but I don't have your number" she said, "and Henry's been asking to see you again and well I'd quite like to see you to, so I wondered if you might be free for dinner one day this week?"
"Umm let me see" Emma replied pretending to think about it, "After last week's binge, I've reformed from drinking which means I have nowhere else to be" she teased,
"Idiot" Regina chuckled richly making Emma's smile grow broader, "Shall we say tonight at six, I'm cooking my famous lasagne so don't be late"
"Yes ma am" Emma laughed "I'll see you later" she added before hanging up the phone.
Emma finished work at five which didn't leave her long to race home, grab a shower and fresh set of clothes before jumping into her bug long blonde waves still damp against her back,
This time she pulled up behind Regina's Mercedes on the drive and Henry who had evidently been watching at the window for her arrival had thrown the front door open before she'd even managed to switch the engine off, he stood in the doorway barely able to contain himself, only Regina's firm hand on his shoulder as she stood behind him keeping him in place, the second that Emma had stepped out of the car Regina released his shoulder and laughed affectionately as her son flew into Emma's welcoming arms, she watched her two favourite people in the world as the blonde spun the little boy around in the air and shrieks of laughter spilled from his lips, she was so happy to have Emma back in her life again and even more happy that she didn't hate her after all,
the weeks since Emma's arrival in town had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Regina, her initial surprise at suddenly finding Emma in front of her after the worry of losing her son however briefly and the relief of finding him safe again had quickly become hope and happiness at the prospect of finally reuniting with the blonde girl that she hadn't seen for over twelve years, only for that hope to be dashed seconds later replaced by sadness and confusion when Emma wouldn't even pause to talk to her, she had sat at work her thoughts wandering trying to figure out how to make things right with Emma but it had been Henry, her precious boy and his instant connection with Emma that had paved the way, 'it must be in something in the genes' she thought, chuckling to herself as she moved aside to let Emma into the house now balancing a laughing squirming Henry on her hip.
This time when Emma stepped across the threshold the house was familiar to her, she remembered well her way around but still she placed Henry onto the floor following him as he led the way,
"I'll call you when dinners ready" Regina called after them as they went,
"Okay" Emma called back, then followed Henry into his playroom,
"Will you help me build a castle?" he asked eyes wide and imploring looking up at Emma,
"How could I refuse that look" she laughed "What do we have to work with kid?"
"I got these for my birthday" Henry smiled proudly leading her over to a pile of poles, plastic squares, material and two short slide pieces, "They are to make a den, but I want to make a castle" he added chin jutted out in determination as he held out an instruction manual for Emma to look at,
"I think we can make these work" Emma nodded casting her eyes over the den kits contents list and doubling them in her head as going by this list two slides meant that Henry had received two kits, mental math done she moved to the small table on the other side of the room, selecting some blank paper and some colouring pencils while Henry watched on with bewilderment written all over his face,
"What you doing Emma? I thought we were making my castle" he whined
"We are" Emma smiled across the room at him "but first I need you to help me design it"
"Cool" Henry beamed eyes as wide as saucers promptly bouncing across the room to pull one of tables little chairs as close to Emma's as he could get,
"How many turrets do you want?" she asked drawing one for the boy to see,
"Four" Henry answered instantly eyes wide with excitement as he watched Emma add the other three to her picture before drawing walls in between them,
"Like this?" she asked, and Henry nodded eagerly in response,
"And" she followed on continuing to sketch as she spoke "How about we put the slide pieces here and here?" she asked drawing them coming down from the front two turrets determined to incorporate all the elements included with Henrys den kits to make him the best castle ever,
"Yes please" Henry squealed looking like he might burst with excitement at any second
"Let's get building then" Emma smiled getting to her feet sketch in hand and moving back to the clear space where their castle would stand, with Henry hot on her heels.
She spied a white board easel with lots of magnetic letters and numbers stuck all over it and with Henry's blessing she moved it into place near enough to their building site to be seen but far enough away for it not to be in the way and using the little magnets stuck their design into place.
It didn't take long to build within twenty minutes Emma had the four turrets constructed complete with a little platform inside of each one which served to both help strengthen the little structures and provided higher ground for Henry to stand on when he played in them, then she added more squares around the outside leaving gaps for Henry to climb up, where the slides would be attached and at head height all around the back two for Henry to look out of, then she moved them into their places and added the poles for the four walls creating a door at the back and front, then she clicked the slides into place and secured the fabrics over the walls while Henry pulled on his knights outfit, he turned and viewed the completed structure in awe when he was ready and wasted no time racing inside of it, Emma chuckled as she stood back to admire her work while Henry whizzed first down one slide and then down the second, she watched him play for a few minutes feeling that something was still missing though the kid seemed to love everything about his castle but Emma wanted to add something more, then in flash of inspiration she picked up a nearby pop up tent shaped like a small turret with an entrance in both sides and placed it in front of the front door that she had fashioned on the castle, Henry was ecstatic by this new improvement and Emma felt it almost made it look complete,
"Now it really looks a castle" Henry beamed walking through the tent and into the structure brandishing his sword as he went, for the final finishing touch Emma returned to the drawing table and created Henry a Mills coat of arms, with a little crown on it, she drew several and attached them to the turrets and the tent,
"Well, I can see that you two have been busy" Regina's voice sounded from the door as Emma finished securing the final coat of arms before turning to face the brunette who was leaning against the door frame arms crossed across her chest with a huge smile on her face,
"That's pretty impressive" she said nodding towards the newly built structure,
"Thanks" Emma beamed walking towards Regina "Is it dinner time now?" she asked her stomach growled and Regina laughed,
"It's on the table" she smiled "I've been calling but nobody came and now I can see why"
"Sorry mom, we didn't hear you" Henry ran up to his mother red in the face, "Do you like my castle?" he asked eagerly,
"I certainly do, now off to the table with you my little prince and don't forget to wash your hands" she called after him as he ran off down the hallway leaving her and Emma to follow behind.
Dinner was probably the best lasagne that Emma had ever tasted, she already knew that Regina could cook because even at sixteen she had cooked one of Emma's all-time favourite Christmas dinners but with a little more time and practice it seemed that Regina had honed her skills, the perfect blend of creamy cheese and tomato danced on her tongue exquisitely with the edition of chilli flakes giving it that extra kick that had Emma groaning into every mouthful until she realised that she was attracting a strange look from Regina and she worked hard to reign it in with a small apologetic smile.
For dessert Regina had made a mixed berry pie complete with a choice of freshly whipped cream or clotted vanilla ice cream, Emma unable to choose had a little of both while Henry opted for the ice cream and Regina the cream. Emma groaned uncomfortably slouching back in her seat after she had placed her fork on her plate empty of its second helping of pie,
"I've eaten to much" Emma grumbled her stomach hurting,
"I told you not to eat that second piece" Regina laughed,
"I know but it was so good" Emma replied "and who knows when I'll get a meal like that again"
"You can eat with us any time you want" Regina said,
"Oh, I couldn't intrude like that" Emma replied touched by the invitation,
"You wouldn't be intruding, I'm inviting you" Regina shrugged wiping her mouth in her napkin then moving to begin clearing the table,
"No, I'll do that" Emma insisted climbing to her feet with a great deal of difficulty and taking the dishes from Regina, in the kitchen she rinsed everything off before loading it into the dishwasher and turning it on, then she returned to the dining room spray and cleaning cloth in hand,
"What happened to Henry?" she asked when she returned to find Regina sitting at the table alone,
"He's gone back to play in his castle" Regina laughed "You don't have to do all of that you know" she added "you already helped by keeping Henry busy while I cooked tea"
"I know but I like helping" Emma shrugged continuing to wipe the table until she was satisfied that the job was done right after which she and Regina went to find Henry in the playroom.
"You have another half an hour before its time to get ready for bed" Regina informed him,
"Okay" Henry smiled landing on the floor at the bottom of the slide that he was on and running over to the two women standing in the doorway,
"Can Emma read me my bedtime story tonight please mom" Henry pleaded,
"Only if she wants to" Regina smiled,
"Do you want to?" Henry immediately asked Emma,
"I'd love to" Emma replied,
"Yes" Henry shouted joyfully punching the air in celebration as he ran back to his castle leaving Emma and Regina laughing in his wake,
"Remember half an hour" Regina said one last time before heading into the lounge with Emma,
"I thought that maybe we could watch a movie" Regina looked at Emma a little shyly "what do you say?"
"I'd really like that" Emma said accepting the tv remote from Regina and flicking through until she found something that was just starting, they settled to watch the romantic comedy together until Regina announced that it was time to get Henry to bed, she had lost track of time and Henry had, had twice as long as he should have had so Emma paused the movie and they both headed to find him. They both thought that it was a bit too quiet as they ventured down the hallway and they began to worry about what Henry might be getting up to that was keeping him so quiet, but they needn't have worried at all, for he had pulled a blanket into his castle to camp out and fallen fast asleep, Emma stepped over the edge of the castle with some difficulty and scooped Henry up then she followed Regina up the stairs popping him on his bed for Regina to change him after she had pulled the blankets back.
After Henry was comfortably settled Emma and Regina headed back downstairs to finish watching their movie, with Regina turning the lights down before returning to her space next to Emma, As the movie played on Regina began to feel sleepy her head drooping several times jolting her back awake as her chin hit her chest,
"Here" Emma murmured reaching out to invite Regina to snuggle into her side without really thinking about until Regina was pressed into her side and Emma had automatically adjusted herself so that a head of silky dark locks now rested on her chest, Regina's heady aroma filling Emma's senses as Emma's heart thrummed steadily in her ear.
"Regina" Emma regretfully urged her awake gently long after the first movie had ended, "I really have to go now, work in the morning" she smiled as Regina looked up at her sleepily,
"Of course," she yawned sitting up in the darkened room "I'm so sorry for flaking out on you like that" she added,
"It's fine" Emma assured her "I just wish I didn't have to disturb you" she smiled a little wistfully getting to her feet and heading for the front door with Regina following close behind her,
Emma slipped on her shoes pausing by the door to look back at Regina,
"I really enjoyed tonight" she said
"Me to" Regina replied
"And well I was umm wondering" Emma rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly suddenly feeling embarrassed,
"Yes" Regina pressed,
"I was wondering if could maybe take you and Henry out to dinner one day" Emma blurted out before she lost her confidence,
"We'd both love that" Regina grinned pleased that Emma had wanted to include Henry in her plans, "and then maybe the next time we go out" Regina moved closer to Emma as she spoke pleased when she saw the blondes breath hitch "I could get Zelena to babysit so that we can go out alone" she murmured dropping a light kiss on Emma's cheek before stepping back to create a bit of space between them,
"Uhh" Emma gulped her face flushing red suddenly feeling a little hot under the collar and Regina stood back looking a little smug clearly pleased with the affect that she was having on Emma
"That sounds wonderful" Emma finally managed to spit out,
"Then that's a plan" Regina replied "Oh and before you go" she handed Emma her phone who still feeling more than a little flustered just stared at it stupidly until "your number" Regina said,
"Oh yeah" Emma replied tapping her number into the phone her ears now as red as her flushed face, "There" the smiled handing the device back over, she hadn't even made it back to her car when her phone chimed, she stopped and immediately opened the text from an unsaved number that she knew was Regina's,
Goodnight Emma x
It read,
"Goodnight" Emma called back a little sheepishly before she lowered herself into her bug and steering the car back to her loft.