A/N: Much love and appreciation for my beta-readers lupwned and hunnyfresh – both phenomenal writers and dear friends. Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and favorited! You make me smile every time, I love you all! Please continue to read and review!

Disclaimer: Of course, I own nothing, I just like to play.

As Henry set up the game board for Monopoly in the Living Room, Regina popped a bowl of popcorn for them to share. She pondered the state of her relationship with her son, which had improved dramatically over the last six months. As she had continued to hold to her promise to him not to use magic, they had developed a closer relationship and settled into a comfortable rhythm. He was much more agreeable to spending time with her and cooperative when they had their days together.

Most surprisingly, she had found that settling into this shared custody situation with Emma had been easier than anticipated. After months of scheming and battling for Henry's sole attention, the two women had, at Emma's urging, found an arrangement that suited both of them and gave Henry time to be with both his mothers. Emma had even assumed more of a parental role, no longer requiring Regina to be purely the disciplinarian; they shared responsibility for ensuring that he completed his homework and minded his manners, which had allowed some of the fun to return to Regina's relationship with Henry.

Tonight for example, seeing to it that Regina could have a game night with Henry was such a thoughtful gesture that the mayor wondered, not for the first time, when Emma had become so concerned about and aware of her routine. Emma found little ways to promote a stronger relationship between Regina and Henry. She felt gratitude for the support, not least of which because she would never have anticipated that the blonde was capable of such thoughtfulness.

"Mom, it's all set up, are you coming?"

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm just getting snacks, I'll be right there."

Regina shook herself out of her musings, grabbed the bowl of air-popped popcorn and glasses of cider for each of them before going into the Living Room. Henry beamed at her as she entered and her heart fluttered happily in her chest.

"So did you have a good dinner tonight?"

"Yep. We had pot roast. And Grandma and Grandpa found out that they're having a boy!"

Regina had experienced a pang when she had first learned that Snow was pregnant. Although they had come a long way toward repairing the hatred between them, she found that it still stung to see Snow's every happiness granted her. Regina had longed to have a child all her life and being unable to have one, she felt resentful that in this way, too, Snow had managed a happiness she herself would never have. Still, as her relationship with Henry had grown stronger, she had set aside these feelings and replaced them with gratitude for her son.

"That's wonderful news! So have you chosen your game piece?" she asked as she picked up her own preferred top hat token.

"Of course, I'm going to be the dog. You know how much I love dogs."

This was Henry's newest fascination. He was constantly asking Regina for a dog each time they were together. He felt it would be the perfect addition to their family. Regina had begun to consider the matter seriously, but she would not let on to Henry that she would give in just yet.

"I do," she replied simply. "Well, why don't you roll to see who will go first."

Henry waited until they had already rounded the board several times collecting properties and diminishing their banks before deciding to commence phase two.

"So I heard that everyone's talking about the bachelorette auction. It seems like it's going to be a really big deal."

"Yes, I imagine in this town it will get a great deal of attention."

"Well, who do you suppose is going to participate?"

Regina had not given it a lot of thought, other than deciding that she herself would have to participate. She thought briefly through the roster of single women in Storybrooke before replying.

"Kathryn indicated that she intends to sign up. I imagine that Miss Lucas and of course Belle will participate. Beyond that, I'm not sure. Miss Swan might, I imagine."

"Yeah, she definitely is. I wonder who's going to bid, though. I mean, is everybody going?"

"Most of the town is, yes. I have no idea who will bid, but I imagine that since many of those women are attached though not married, their respective partners will bid."

"Who do you think will bid on you, then?"

Regina paused here. She had not considered the matter in depth. She knew that she was one of the more attractive women in town and that people had seen her genuine attempts at redemption. Still, she felt a moment of insecurity that perhaps her previous misdeeds against the town would result in a lack of popularity in the auction.

"I'm…I'm not sure, Henry. I guess I hadn't thought about it."

Henry could see the uneasiness and doubt creep into her expression and hurried to reassure her. "Well, I bet it will be lots of people. After all, you're the mayor and you're beautiful."

Regina felt her eyes mist as she looked at her son and choked "Thank you, Henry." She wondered that she was able to raise such a considerate, insightful young man despite her own upbringing. She cleared her throat as she looked at the clock on the mantle and said "It's getting late, we'd better get the game cleared away so that you can take your bath and get to bed."

He immediately complied, beginning gathering the pieces and storing them neatly as she picked up the popcorn bowl and glasses and went to the kitchen to wash them. One thing was certain as she allowed her thoughts to drift back to the auction. Henry had raised her awareness that she must begin to give this matter some consideration and the first step would be to ensure that she had a show-stopping dress to wear.

She found herself wondering about her son's other mother. He had said that she was participating. Although Regina was not surprised that Emma would support the town effort, she could only imagine how little this sort of activity would appeal to the more worldly Miss Swan. She was not the type to enjoy donning fancy dresses and participating in a gala. She chuckled a bit in amusement at the thought that her own eye-rolling dislike for such foolishness was likely eclipsed by the loathing the sheriff would feel toward the activity.

She glanced up, realizing that as she had been lost in thought, she had left the water running for several minutes despite the dishes sitting in the drying rack. She turned off the water shaking her head and went up to check on Henry.

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"So she said she doesn't know who's going to bid on her?"

"Yep. She actually looked really worried about it. I think she doesn't know whether anyone will bid because of the whole Evil Queen thing."

"Well, that's silly. It's all in the past and everyone knows that."

"I know. So what's the next phase?"

"I'm not sure exactly. After I drop you off tonight, I'm heading over to Mary Margaret's to work on my dress with her. I think other than that, there's nothing really to do but wait. Well, and I need to actually go sign up at the library for the auction. I need to write up a statement for them to read about me."

"Easy! We can do that right now."

Emma and Henry had been walking through town enjoying an after school cocoa together, but at these words, Henry took her hand and pulled her off toward the library. When they arrived, Belle and Ruby were talking quietly over the desk, hand in hand. Emma smiled at the sight before clearing her throat. The two women blushed as they turned to see mother and son approaching.

"Hello Emma! Hello Henry! What can we do for you today?"

"Emma wants to sign up for the bachelorette auction."

Ruby gave a wide grin as she looked at Emma's reddening cheeks and teased "Yeah, I know that Snow and Charming have high hopes. They want you to make a love connection."

"Well, uh…I don't know about all that. Just thought I should support the town. You know, as the sheriff and all."

"That's wonderful, Emma," said Belle. "We appreciate the support and certainly would expect you to be very popular at the auction."

Ruby's head turned quickly toward the librarian at this, eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah?"

Belle reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly "Well, of course, silly. She is a public figure and she is unattached. You will get bids, too, but everyone knows you're…involved."

Ruby looked placated at that, but she still pretended to pout a bit.

Belle rolled her eyes saying, "You know you'll get my bid, Rubes." Ruby's grin returned full force at this as Emma simply shook her head at the couple.

"So is there anything else I need to do?"

"Do you have a description you'd like us to read about you?"

"I dunno…I'm not really good at that kind of thing."

"Don't worry, I've got this covered," said Ruby, her grin taking on a decidedly mischievous gleam now.

"Great! Just don't embarrass me too much, ok Ruby? I still have to be seen as an authority figure after this."

"Hey! You just leave this to me. I will have you the hottest ticket in town before we're done."

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Emma kicked her boot against the bottom of the door to announce her presence, her arms full of clothes when she arrived at her mother's home. Snow opened the door with a broad smile and relieved Emma of her burdens.

"I've reheated the pot roast already. Why don't we have dinner first and then talk about the dress after."

"Perfect, I'm starving."

Snow chuckled at the predictability of that statement before setting down Emma's dresses on the coach ushering her over to the table, set for two.

"Is it just us tonight?"

"Yes, your father is having a poker night with Thomas tonight, so I thought maybe we could just have some mother-daughter time." In truth, Snow had requested the evening alone with Emma to discuss her suspicion as to the object of her daughter's affection. She was sure that Charming would not be ready to discuss that matter now. He had been only too happy to avoid an evening discussing dress design.

"Great. So how are you feeling? I remember with Henry by three months the morning sickness was getting better but I felt exhausted."

"I feel wonderful. I am a bit tired, but nothing extreme."

Emma merely nodded as she had already begun to wolf down her dinner.

"Actually, Emma, there was something I wanted to discuss with you without your father or Henry around."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I know that your father is hoping that you're going to fall in love with a prince and even thinks that this auction may be an opportunity for that connection to happen."

"Oh, um…"

"I just had a feeling that maybe that might not be what you were hoping for in getting involved in this. It seemed to me that perhaps you might already have feelings for someone."

Emma's ears had become the color of the wine in her glass and she was looking steadily into her plate as she mumbled "I guess maybe I sort-of do."

Snow took pity on her daughter, who looked absolutely miserable and said, "She really has changed."

Emma's head shot up at this, her eyes wide. How had her mother known? She met her mother's watery eyes with her jaw hanging open, unable to speak.

"I don't think your father is quite ready for this, but I understand better than anyone how charismatic Regina is. I just want you to be happy, sweetheart. And despite what she might think, I want her to be happy, too."

"So you don't mind that she's…well…"

"Older than you? An Evil Queen from another realm?"

"Well, I was going to say a woman, but…"

Snow just laughed, "Honestly, out of the list of all of the concerns, I think the fact that she's a woman is the least troubling one. Sweetheart, think about who my best friend is. The whole idea of same-sex relationships being wrong is definitely a concept of this realm, and not the Enchanted Forest."

"Ok, fine. Well, what about the other stuff?"

Snow sighed, "I won't say that when I started to notice your feelings I was not a little uncomfortable with our past. And I won't pretend that I don't still have concerns. Emma, I loved her a long time and she hurt me. We can't be sure of her feelings, nor can we be guaranteed that she would not hurt you. But in the time that I've gotten to know you, I've learned enough to knowthat you are the kind of person who would rather charge in headfirst and damn the consequences. And I feel reassured to know that if she breaks your heart, your father still has his sword handy."

This last she said with a wry grin which allowed the tension of the conversation to break. Emma stood and went to hug her mother, finally feeling that she had the support of her family in the tangible way she had always longed for as a child. She mostly held back the tears that flooded her eyes at the thought.

"Now let's finish dinner so we can get going on a dress to knock her socks off."