A/N: My dear readers, I deeply apologize - I know this wait has been far too long. I lost both an old and dear friend and my dog last week. Both hit me pretty hard and I found it hard to write. However, I feel recuperated and ready to roll again.

Thanks as always to my beta-reader Hunnyfresh for your support – it means the world.

"Good morning."

Emma's nose wrinkled as she brushed golden curls back from where they were tickling her nose and grudgingly blinked her eyes open. When they landed on olive skin beneath her, she smiled and raised her eyes to Regina's face. Regina smiled down at her and traced patterns on Emma's back with her fingertips, awakening her skin in a much more pleasant way.

"Mmmm…morning," Emma sighed contentedly and nuzzled her head into Regina's neck, closing her eyes once again.

"Come on, Emma. You're supposed to pick up Henry soon. It's time to get up."

Emma groaned and scrunched her eyes together, wrapping her arms more firmly around the silky skin beneath her. She felt Regina's chuckle against her cheek as it rumbled in her chest.

"I'll make you a deal."

Emma grunted noncommittally.

"You go pick him up and I'll make breakfast for the three of us."

Emma opened one eye. "What kind of breakfast?"

"I was thinking of making waffles. They are Henry's favorite."

"Hmmm…with peanut butter and jelly?"

"That sounds revolting."

Emma sat up, indignant. "No way, that's the best way to eat waffles."

Regina smiled, triumphant that she had gotten Emma roused enough to sit up and discuss Breakfast. "You may have whatever you like on your waffles. But you need to go take a shower and pick up Henry. And if you want peanut butter and jelly, you'd better get that too."

Emma gaped at her, "You don't have peanut butter?"

"No."

"But that's the worst curse imaginable." Emma's mock horror was oddly endearing.

Regina rolled her eyes and stood up from bed, walking over to her closet to find clothes for them both to wear. They had been together for nearly a month and Emma and Henry spent most nights with the mayor, although they had not officially moved in together. Emma enjoyed being at the mansion with Regina and Henry but was worried that she might push things too quickly, so she maintained the apartment she and Henry shared and studiously avoided becoming too comfortable. She had not moved in any of her belongings and she made sure that she and Henry made the token gesture to go back to the apartment a few nights a week.

Henry had gone for a weekend campout with David, who was teaching him to fish. They were to arrive back this morning and Emma could hardly wait to see her son. Although grateful to have time alone with Regina, she was eager for him to return. This was the longest she'd gone without at least speaking to Henry since she met him.

"I think we should have a Henry day." Emma said as she stepped into the bedroom wearing borrowed capri pants and button-down shirt. She was still wringing out water from golden locks.

"Henry day?"

"Yeah, you know. Like, let's just spoil him rotten. Go buy comic books and take him to Iron Man 3 and just do all the stuff he likes."

Regina gave a soft smile, "I miss him, too."

"So are you in, Madame Mayor? Henry day?"

Regina walked over and gave her a brief kiss before sighing happily and wrapping her arms around Emma's neck. "I'm in."

Emma squeezed her arms around Regina's waist and kissed her neck before pulling away to hang up her towel calling back, "Ok, lady. You've got approximately thirty minutes to shower, change and get waffle-making. I'm going to get the boy."

"And you always say that I'm bossy."

"But that's why I love you."

Emma froze. It was the first time either of them had said those words. She slowly brought her eyes up to Regina's as her heart thundered in her chest. "I mean, like…you know…just that I love you."

Regina stared at her, wide-eyed.

Emma's stomach plummeted, this was not going well. She hadn't intended to just drop it in conversation so casually. She meant the words - she'd known it all along. But she wasn't sure if Regina was ready for her to say it. And she had wanted to do it in some devastatingly romantic way, not slipped in to a casual conversation.

"I mean," she chuckled desperately, "It's not like I'm in love with you."

Regina's face had now completely closed off. She forced on a smile and said, "I understood that, dear. You'd better go, Henry's waiting."

Emma shuffled her feet for a moment, her face beet red. She walked over without meeting Regina's gaze and gave her a nervous kiss on the cheek. Regina smiled at her and squeezed her arm before turning and going into the bathroom. Emma watched her go before turning and walking out the door and downstairs, furious with herself. She could not believe she'd been so foolish as to let that slip. Now Regina was acting all distant and it was all her fault.

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Regina was in the kitchen pulling the first waffles out of the waffle iron when Emma returned with Henry. She beamed when Henry ran in and threw his arms around her exclaiming that waffles were his favorite ever. Emma put the peanut butter and jelly into the refrigerator and stood off to the side awkwardly as mother and son shared a moment. Henry had barely paused for breath in describing the fish he had caught and all of the stuff he learned about sword-fighting and dragons. Emma spent the time examining Regina.

Feeling eyes upon her, Regina looked up at Emma and gave a tentative smile. She had spent the time since the blonde had left intensely pondering those three loaded words as she got herself ready for the day. When she'd heard them she'd been stunned. It's not that she'd never considered that her feelings for Emma were rapidly evolving and growing into something incredibly special. She just had been unprepared to hear the words she had heard directed toward her so infrequently so casually thrown into conversation. Never before had anyone offered her their love without any expectation of what they should receive in return and it left her feeling flustered.

When Emma's immediate reaction had been to look terrified of the words she had spoken and then rapidly backpedal, all of Regina's insecurities hit a violent crescendo and she felt her defenses slam back into place. After less than a month of dating, it was unreasonable to be so disappointed that Emma had explicitly stated that she wasn't in love with her. Wasn't it?

Sighing, Regina returned her thoughts to the waffles perfectly browned in the waffle iron in front of her. She piled them on a plate and urged Henry to go wash up before eating breakfast. The moment he left the room, Emma pushed off from the wall and moved closer to Regina.

"Regina, I…about what happened earlier…"

"Emma, really, it's fine. I know you didn't mean it like that. Could you please take the syrup and whatever else you may want on the waffles into the dining room?"

There. She had kept her tone light and casual, maintained her position of strength in the discussion. It was everything she had trained herself to do over 28 years of forced patience. She just needed to make it through breakfast without Emma making everything completely uncomfortable and she could focus today on her son.

Henry returned downstairs at just the right moment to prevent further uncomfortable discussion. His face and hands had clearly been scrubbed. They stood out like he wore flesh-colored gloves and compared to the lingering filth on his arms and neck.

"Now Henry, after breakfast I want you to go and take a fast shower, Miss Swan has a whole day planned for you."

"But you'll be coming, too, right?"

Although their relationship had been repaired for quite some time, Regina never failed to feel intense gratitude when her son expressed a desire to be near her. She gave a genuine smile and brushed his cheek with the backs of her fingers as she replied, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Ok, moms. So what's the plan?"

Regina inclined her head at Emma to speak. She figured that it was only fair for Emma to share her idea with him.

"Well, kid. We thought we could maybe stop by The Shoebox and check out the new Avengers I heard just came in."

"The comic book store?! Really?! That's so awesome!"

"And then we thought maybe we could go see Iron Man 3."

"Seriously? We can spend the whole day together?"

"The whole day."

"Can we have dinner together, too?"

Emma looked to Regina here. They had only discussed the comics and movie earlier and she did not wish to make assumptions about the rest of the day.

"Of course we can, Henry, if Emma would like to join us. What would you like to have?"

"Could you make meatloaf and mashed potatoes?"

Regina smiled and nodded, "Of course, Henry. Anything you want, this is your day. Would you care to join us?" This last part she directed to hopeful green eyes to her left.

Emma nodded eagerly, smiling. Her mouth was full of peanut butter and waffle but she moaned around it and pointed to her plate before giving a thumbs-up.

"Emma, are you eating peanut butter on waffles?"

"Mmph…is da bes."

Regina gave her a disgusted glance for speaking with her mouth full and smiled at Henry, "If you're finished, Henry, you should go get ready." He obliged, sprinting up the stairs, clearly excited about the day.

Regina picked up his plate with hers and moved off to the kitchen. Emma shoved the last three bites of her waffles in her mouth at once and hurried after Regina, who had begun washing the dishes already when she arrived. Emma's cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, she nudged Regina out of the way and assumed the task of washing the dishes. She gave Regina a sticky kiss on the cheek as the brunette walked out of the kitchen to check the mail. Wiping jelly from her cheek, she opted to return to the study to wait for her partner and son, paging through a new catalogue.

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Henry had chosen six new comic books and managed to talk Regina into movie theater popcorn like a master manipulator. Emma watched him with amusement, convinced more than ever that the thieving little jerk was definitely hers. And Neal's. Especially Neal's. Emma needed to take lessons from the kid. Regina indulged him like no other. Emma could certainly use some help with being a bit smoother around the mayor. She had been kicking herself all day for her inability to keep her mouth shut – a problem that had plagued her since birth.

Regina had not been cold to her exactly. She had allowed Emma to sneakily kiss her in the comic book store and to hold her hand at the movie. On the surface, she was acting normal, but Emma could feel the difference. She had been quiet all day and reserved in a way that Emma had not seen since before the bachelorette auction. She participated in all of the day's activities, but held herself slightly apart from them.

They returned to the mansion in the late afternoon and Regina excused herself at once to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner. Henry took Emma into the living room to play Mario Kart until dinner. At least that was what he told his brunette mother the plan was. Once he had closed the door behind them, he rounded on Emma.

"Ok. What's going on with you and mom? I thought you guys were all happy and stuff."

Emma sighed. She had hoped that Henry wouldn't pick up on the tension between Regina and her. Apparently once again, their son was a bit too intuitive for his own good.

"I made a mistake, Henry. I slipped."

"What do you mean? What kind of mistake?"

"I accidentally told her that I love her."

"Wait, what? How is that even possible?"

Emma's ears were already beet red, "Well, I'm pretty sure I have all along."

"No, no. Not how is it possible that you love her, I already knew that. But how do you accidentally tell someone you love them?"

"It just slipped out this morning."

"So does she not feel the same way?"

Emma looked at her feet and shook her head before meeting his eye and saying, "I don't know, Henry. I don't think so."

"Well, what did she say?"

"She really didn't say anything. And I got freaked out and told her I didn't mean it."

"What?!" Emma cringed as he exploded at her.

"How could you do that? You did mean it, didn't you?"

"Of course I did, Henry. You know I did."

"Well, you have to fix this Emma. Today. After dinner."

"Henry, I don't know if it's that easy."

"Look, this is ridiculous. You guys are the grown-ups. I don't want to have to come out of operation retirement because you can't just tell her how you feel."

"Henry, it's too soon. She may not be ready for that and I don't want to mess up what we have." Emma knew that he was right, she needed to fix this. She was just afraid it wouldn't work out as he hoped – as she hoped. She felt suddenly all she had to lose.

"Emma, if you don't say anything, it's going to mess it up just as much."

"How did you get so smart?"

"I get it from my moms." He gave her a hug around the waist as he continued, "I really liked today. I like being with both of you."

"I liked it, too, Henry." She crouched to meet his eyeline, "But Henry, you know that no matter what ever happens with your mom and me, we both love you and we will always be your family. Ok?"

"I know, Emma. But you're both happier like this, too. And I guess I got my hopes up that maybe we would be like a real family. Like we would all live together and stuff."

Emma sighed. "I know, kid. To borrow a phrase from your mother, let's just take this one step at a time."

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Dinner had turned out to be as delicious and comforting a meal Regina had ever prepared. She knew it was Henry's favorite dinner but it was one of hers as well. She enjoyed asparagus with it, although Henry declared it "disgusting" and Emma mainly found it to be useful to give herself "walrus fangs". After finishing his dinner, Henry had given a dramatic yawn and said that the early morning and the exciting day had tuckered him out. Emma thought the kid had better not quit his day job if that was the best performance he could give.

Regina's blind spot for her son allowed her to buy it though and she gave him a kiss on his temple saying, "Go brush your teeth and make sure to do the whole two minutes. I'll be up in a few minutes to tuck you in."

He nodded solemnly and gave Emma a hug, whispering, "Good luck." She gave him a nervous smile and a wink as he turned to walk upstairs.

Regina gathered the dishes and took them into the kitchen. Emma followed her with the leftover food and began storing it in containers and carefully placing them in the fridge. They worked together in silence cleaning up the kitchen. After a few minutes, Emma cleared her throat and said, "I can finish up here, if you want to go tuck him in." Regina nodded and dried her hands on a towel, giving Emma's arm a squeeze as she moved past her and upstairs. Emma gave a deep sigh and resumed cleaning, the butterflies in her stomach rapidly reproducing. It was time to go all in.

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"Thank you, Mom. This was a really amazing day."

"Oh Henry, you're most welcome."

"I really like spending time with you and Emma together, you know."

Regina smiled, "I know you do, Henry. I do, too."

"She really cares about you."

Regina felt doubts creep up despite his words. "Henry, I want you to listen to me. I can't know for sure what will happen between Emma and me. Adult relationships are very complicated and Emma and I both have experienced a lot of pain in the past. That can make it more difficult."

Henry sighed, "I know that, Mom. But you seem a lot happier now than you did before Emma came around. And I know that she's happier, too." He paused, seeming to struggle internally over whether his next question could be voiced. It seemed he determined that it was worth the risk as he practically whispered, "Do you love her?"

Regina sighed again but otherwise remained silent for several long moments before responding, "Even if I did, that's not the only factor to consider."

Henry looked confused and said, "What do you mean?"

"Well, even if you love someone, sometimes that's not enough."

"Enough for what? For her to love you back?"

Regina gulped audibly, the pain evident in her eyes as she replied, "That's part of it, Henry. I've not had a lot of good experiences with love. People I love seem to get hurt or leave."

"Daniel, you mean?"

"Yes, Daniel. But my relationship with my parents was also very difficult, and I loved them. I love you more than anything, but our relationship has not always been easy."

Henry looked shamefaced at her words and said, "I'm sorry, Mom."

"Oh sweetheart, you don't need to be sorry. Do you remember when I said I don't know how to love very well?" He nodded. "Well, this is the kind of stuff I meant. I've never been very good at expressing how I feel."

"But you are so much better, now. And I won't go anywhere again. You just need to be honest with her like you are with me. I know that it'll be ok."

Regina was unwilling to diminish his hope so she simply leaned over to kiss his forehead and brush his hair back and said, "I'll try, Henry. I promise."

He truly yawned wide now as he settled more comfortably into his pillow. She stood and turned the light off before opening the door. She stopped when she heard a sleepy, "Mom?"

"Yes, Henry?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Henry. Good night."

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Emma was pacing the study when Regina came downstairs. She had already poured them tumblers of cider and was rehearsing what she planned to say to Regina when she came in the room. She was so engrossed that she didn't see Regina in the doorway. Regina paused on the threshold, reminded strongly of their first "appointment" together and watching Emma pace outside her office window. She wore an affectionate smile as she considered how far they'd come and yet how little some things had changed. Smile fading, she sighed and entered the room.

Looking up as she heard Regina entered, Emma blushed at being caught wearing a track in the floor and found that despite the fifteen minute pep talk she'd given herself, she was completely unprepared for the unguarded and determined expression on Regina's face. She gulped in a breath and took a seat on the couch to stop her restless pacing, although her knee still bounced.

Regina sat beside her and placed an elegant hand on Emma's knee, stilling her movement. She said, "Emma, listen…"

"No, wait! I…can I start?"

Regina inclined her head and took a sip of her cider, sitting back a bit to allow Emma to begin.

"Look, I'm really sorry for this morning. I know that things have been weird all day. I should never have just blurted that out like that. I kind-of have that problem sometimes."

"You? Blurting out words with no thought of the consequences? Never." Regina's mouth twitched and she fell comfortably into her role in their traditional banter.

Emma flushed and said, "Yeah, well. I guess I wasn't exactly raised with courtly airs or whatever. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. I mean it."

Regina sighed and set down her glass. "I know that you're sorry. I'm just not sure if you're sorry for the right reason."

Emma was unsure how to respond, so she gaped silently for a minute, hoping Regina would continue. After several moments and a few more sips of cider, she did. "Emma, I don't ever want you to feel afraid to tell me what's on your mind. I hate that you've been walking on eggshells all day. More than anything because I'm afraid that you have the wrong idea."

Emma's face dropped into a crestfallen expression. She had been preparing herself for disappointment but it still stung. She felt that she really should have known better than to think this could last – when had any relationships in her life lasted?

"Do you remember what I told you about Daniel?"

Emma's heart had joined her stomach roughly in the vicinity of her ankles. She nodded.

"Emma, before I knew you I did a lot of terrible things in vengeance for Daniel's death. Losing him twisted me in a way that made me lose the belief I had previously held in the power of true love. But I was wrong. The true love that I felt for Daniel, although it fueled a lot of terrible choices I made also helped me to survive in circumstances that might otherwise have defeated me. I held firm to my love for him in every moment because it was the only connection I had to my humanity. Until Henry came to me, I thought I'd never truly love again. He changed everything. But still, for many years, I believed my heart to be closed off from romantic love."

Emma nodded again and chugged the remaining cider in her glass.

"It was always my desire, as a monarch, as a mother, in every aspect of my life to be loved. Unfortunately, the only model I had of what love should be, my mother, treated my love for her as a tool. She used it to take what she wanted from me. I did not know another way to love. Henry again changed everything for me. He taught me that love was not about taking what you want from someone, it's about giving them all of yourself and hoping that they will do the same for you. Unfortunately, it wasn't until you came to town that I learned that lesson and it was almost too late. I've never had the timing part of love down."

"Regina, it's ok. You don't have to tell me that you love me. I understand."

"No, Emma, you don't. Daniel was…"

"Your True Love. I understand."

"Emma, stop saying that. You don't understand. Daniel was my first love."

Emma's head snapped up, her gaze fixed intensely on chocolate brown eyes before her.

"I lost Daniel without him ever getting to truly understand the extent of my love for him. I nearly lost Henry before I could show him how much I care. I've wasted every opportunity I've had before to express it, but I don't want to do that this time. Emma, I…"

"No, stop!"

Now it was Regina's turn to look confused and upset, "No, Emma, I need to say this, I…"

"Stop it right there, Madame Mayor!"

"But why?"

Emma took Regina's hands into her own and looked deep into her eyes.

"I love you, Regina Mills."

Regina broke their gaze, looking down at their joined hands. "I know, Emma, but you're not in love with me."

"No, I am."

Regina looked up and Emma's heart clenched at the hope she saw there. "You are?"

Emma gave an eye roll that looked so much like their son that Regina couldn't help but giggle. Emma smiled back at her and said, "I was an idiot this morning. I had not planned to tell you that casually during a discussion of plans for the day. I got all freaked out that you would think it was too soon and I…uh, well, blurting problem."

"Well, if that's true, then why did you stop me saying it?"

"Because, you already stole my thunder at asking you out. I wasn't about to let you say this first, too."

Regina's eyes narrowed, "Seriously, Swan?"

"Hey, what can I say? You've met your match, Mills." Emma gave a roguish wink and a broad grin before leaning closer, her eyes flicking down to ruby lips.

Regina gave a warm smile and murmured "It seems I have" throatily as she too leaned in.

Their kiss was tender and full of promise. Emma pulled back after a moment and said, "Um…so, it would be ok if you wanted to say it now. You know, for good measure."

"Hmm...is that so?"

"Yeah, I mean, if you want."

Regina allowed the pause to drag on, toying with the sheriff in an affectionate way. She raised Emma's hand to her mouth and kissed each knuckle before turning it over and planting a hot kiss on a pale palm. She placed Emma's hand under her own on her chest, her heartbeat quickening beneath long fingers. She raised her gaze to Emma's stormy eyes and took a deep breath.

"I love you, Emma Swan."

Emma's face split into the sunniest smile she'd ever seen and somehow the darkness that had blackened Regina's heart since she was no more than a girl seemed to dissipate the slightest bit. She felt her own smile stretching her cheeks and closed the distance between them again, proving the sincerity behind her words by pouring every ounce of affection and love into the kiss. Unobserved by either woman, a gold and purple aura shone around them with the kiss and as their arms tightened around one another their magic bound them together in love.

From his perch on the stairs above, Henry observed the magical connection and smiled. His work here was done. Operation Happy Ending was a massive success.

A/N: So at last we come to the conclusion, friends. I hope that you've enjoyed the story. There will be an epilogue posted this week.

Thank you for all of your follows, favorites, and reviews! You guys are the best.