Henry was tapping his foot in impatience, making it known to his grandparents that he just wanted to go to the meeting already. He shared a secret smile with Emma, who had told him it would be best to keep her coming a secret. That's why Henry, Mary Margaret and James would go first, and Emma and Regina would follow in Regina's car.
He still had no idea what the meeting was about, but for some reason, he was really excited about it. Ruby had been really mysterious with him, so he knew it must be important, at least important enough that people had weekly meetings about it.
"Are you guys ready yet?" Henry asked, looking at Snow White buttoning up her beige pea coat.
"Yes, Henry. Don't wait up for us, Emma, we'll see you later."
And then they were gone. Emma wasted no time. She called Regina.
"They're leaving, Miss Swan, do hurry and get down here," Regina's bit through the phone, not bothering with a hello.
"Yes, mother," Emma growled and hung up, realizing the joke is pretty much in poor taste, given how fucked up her family tree is.
SQSA MEETING—2-2-2013
Granny: Hello, everyone! This is our fourth meeting, and I think we are making great leaps in accomplishing our goal. And we also have a guest! Henry, how are you?
Henry: I'm good, Granny, thanks. I still don't know what this meeting is about though.
Granny: *frowns at Snow and Charming* You didn't tell him?
Mary Margaret: We figured if we did, he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret from Emma or Regina.
Henry: *blushes and fidgets a little*Um...actually...
August: Henry, this is a group of people that want your two moms to be together...romantically...I know it might seem kind of weird, thinking of your moms like that, but-
Henry: A little bit. I really haven't thought about it. Honestly, if you guys are trying to get them together, all I have to say is, good luck with that.
Ruby: Thanks. We'll need it.
A voice: Damn right you will.
*Emma and Regina both storm into the gym, scaring the shit out of everyone, except for Ruby, who for some reason is totally composed*
Regina: What is the meaning of this?
James: N-nothing, we're just discussing...recipes. And how did you even know we were here?
Emma: Henry told us.
*everyone glares at Henry*
Henry: No one told me it was a secret!
Ruby: Can everyone just calm the f-I mean calm down so we can talk about this like mature adults?
Regina: Okay, Miss Lucas. *sits down on a chair in the circle next to Archie* I'm sorry that all of you feel the need to build a support group around me and Miss Swan, who are NOT dating, and never will. I find it sad that none of you have enough of a life of your own.
Archie: There's no need to be hostile, Regina. We just want you to be happy.
Emma: *scoffs* Please. Like I could make her happy. I snore, I can't cook, and I watch football. We're total opposites.
Archie: I thought you might say that. Which is why I prepared a power point presentation listing all the reasons why I think you two are meant to be.
Ruby:...
Granny:...
James:...
Mary Margaret:...
Leroy:...
Henry:...
Emma:...
Regina: You're not my therapist anymore.
Leroy: So that's what you were doing last week. I wondered why you weren't here.
Archie: Please direct your attention to the far wall. *clicks on his lap top, which is connected to a projector* Now, this is the moment at the mines, when you were asking Emma to bring Henry back to you, Regina. Notice how you step in so close to her, that you look like you're going to plant one on her right there.
Henry: I am kind of uncomfortable right now.
Emma: Please, that...doesn't prove anything.
Archie: This next slide is a picture taken by the newspaper, the night of the fire. Emma saved your life, Regina.
Ruby: And a gazillion other times.
Regina: What point are you trying to make? Besides the fact that you are all sad, delusional idiots, who take delight in creating drama when there is none?
Belle: You kissed her. I saw it with my own eyes.
Ruby: Yeah, suck on that, Regina. Way to go, Belle! *beams at her*
Emma: You know what? I need to go.
Archie: Is there something you'd like to share with the group, Emma?
Emma: Not really-
Regina: No, why don't you stay, Miss Swan, and tell them all how you kissed me and then practically sprinted in the opposite direction?
Mary Margaret: I totally called that one.
Regina: *turns to Snow and James* Why are you two even here? I hardly think you want me to be with Emma...I assumed that you don't really want me in your family.
Mary Margaret: We were family...once. I wouldn't mind being that again. But this time I'd be your mother in law. *smirks evilly*
James: Woah, you are thinking way too far ahead.
Henry: I am having a hard time keeping up. Did you two really kiss?
Emma and Regina: *nod slowly*
Henry: Gross. I'm going over to dribble, come get me when this is over. *walks over to other side of gym*
Regina: I'm going to kill you all.
Leroy: Go ahead and try.
Emma: Um, do you know who you're talking to, Leroy?
August:*gets up, standing next to Regina and Emma* Look, you two, we're here because of you. You guys fight like a married couple, and don't get me started on the way that you look at each other. Can you really blame us for thinking there's something there? Not to mention that you sucker-punched me when I kissed Emma. *glares at Regina*
Emma: Look, I get that you guys think that. But really, you're wrong.
Regina: She's right. So you can all leave. And I'd appreciate if you would stop getting together to discuss our lives. I feel like I have no privacy.
Belle: Says the woman who took my flash drive.
Regina: *glares at Belle and clenches her fists*
Granny: *stands up quickly*Okay, I think it's time we wrap it up. We won't have any more meetings like this. We're sorry. I guess we were all just kidding ourselves.
All of the members of the group walk slowly out of the gym, including Snow and Charming. That left just Regina, Emma and Henry together. Henry was still focusing on dribbling, biting his lip in concentration. His hand-eye coordination was getting better, and he hoped to try out for the basketball team next year.
Emma scuffled her feet awkwardly, wanting to just get the kid and go, to get the hell out of whatever conversation she was about to have with the woman who she kissed a little over a week ago.
"That was…weird, right?" Emma asked, hoping that Regina could just agree, so they wouldn't have to talk about what happened between them.
But that was too much to ask for. "Why did you kiss me, Miss Swan?"
Emma snapped her head back, rubbing her neck. "To shut you up. You are one annoying bi—person when you start in on one of your rants. I just…needed to feel like I had some control."
"And now neither of us have any control. You had to go and assault me—"
"Woah—it was just a kiss—"
"And then you left. No explanation, just a stupid apology. What am I supposed to think?"
Emma steps back, exasperated. "This…this is too complicated. We hate each other—that has always been the truth, okay? So whatever is between us is just base hormones, it doesn't mean anything."
Regina pursed her lips together and nodded. "If you say so. I should probably be going. Good evening." The way she said the last two words sounded like she didn't care at all what kind of an evening Emma had.
Emma sighed, watching her leave, surprised when Henry waved at her. At least he was acknowledging her existence, even if their relationship was hardly ideal. That was another reason why being with Regina would be hard. No, there was absolutely no way her and Regina would ever work. She had written down a list one night, just to convince herself. This was the list she came up with:
Regina is a control freak.
She hates me—and I hate her.
We would be constantly fighting over Henry
She and I are so different.
She is too full of herself. So damn arrogant
She'd be too hard to please… though I wouldn't mind trying.
And even with all of these reasons, Emma still felt an overwhelming pull to the brunette, like she was one of those super-sized U shaped magnets, and Emma was a helpless paper clip. The idea that the people in the town—her parents included—picked up on it was not so surprising; she supposed the attraction wasn't as subtle as she thought it was. And trust it to Belle to be walking around late at night, so she can spot them kissing. Weirdo.
Emma pulled her coat on and walked out into the cold air, with Henry by her side. He was pretty quiet, probably still trying to process the fact that his two moms had kissed. It was certainly a lot to take in in one night, so Emma didn't press it. She just hugged his shoulder tighter, walking them home.
She put him to bed before walking down to the living room, where her James—or David, she really didn't know—and Mary Margaret were watching TV. She grabbed the remote forcefully and flicked the TV off, glaring at her parents with a Regina-worthy death look.
"If you wanted me to date, you could have just brought it up, like normal people, instead of going to a fucking support group…" Emma started.
"Would you have listened to us?"
"No, probably not. But that's because you're crazy. Regina and I—are just not compatible."
"Funny. I thought that when I first met David. But things change."
Emma rolled her eyes, sick and tired of all the condescension. "Okay, fine. I'll start being nicer to her—maybe let her see Henry more."
That was a hard enough first step. Given the fact that getting Henry to want to see his other mom would be difficult.