Running, wind in her hair. Flying, catching the wind under his wings. In a years' time Lena had gotten quite the hang on changing places with Elliot. She had learned to control her emotions and use them in a good and helpful way. Lena had gotten quite fast too. At the age of 11, almost 12, she could outrun Ruby easily. At least if she wasn't running as a wolf.
After another good run in the woods Lena and Ruby arrived at Granny's diner for lunch. Regina and Henry were already sitting in a booth they'd chosen out. Lena ran to the booth.
"Hi mom, hi Henry" Lena said happily. When she reached the table she saw Emma sitting in the booth too. "Hi…Emma…" she said surprised.
"Emma is joining us today, is that okay honey?" Regina asked.
"Yeah sure" Lena answered and took place next to the blonde.
After lunch it was time for Regina and Emma to go back to work. Henry was meeting up with a friend so Lena was going to hang out with Belle in the library. She had spent much time over there the past year. Reading had helped Lena a lot with learning how to control her emotions. Now Lena just like hanging out with the books, reading all kinds of stories.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow" Emma said. Before she left Emma gave Henry a kiss on the head, she gave Lena a small hug and Regina…Regina got a soft kiss on the cheek. Lena thought her mom seemed to blush.
"Bye mom" Henry called after Emma. Then he kissed Regina on the cheek and left too: "See ya mom."
"Remember to be home at 8 pm" Regina reminded her son. Henry just waved his hand in understanding.
"What's tomorrow?" Lena asked confused.
"Emma is coming over for diner" Regina explained.
"Oh. Any special reason?"
"Mmmh…No, no special reason" Regina replied: "Now go on. I'll pick you up at the library when I'm finished at the office."
Lena gave her mom a quick kiss and she left.
"Lena...Lena!" Regina called out to her daughter who was sitting outside in the garden: "Can you come help with diner, please?"
Lena ran inside and saw her mom taking all the ingredients for dish she knew all too well: "Lasagna?"
Regina nodded: "Emma and Henry are coming over for dinner."
"Again?" It was Emma's week with Henry but the two of them had been coming over for diner the past four evenings.
"Yes…You don't like them coming over?" Regina asked cautious.
"No, it's not that…It's just…Why is Emma coming over for dinner so often lately?"
Regina felt her stomach turning in knots. She knew she had to tell Lena eventually. Henry already knew and since Lena was asking about it right now… There wouldn't be a better time. Regina took a deep breath. "Lena can you come sit with me for a second?" Regina asked and gestured to one of the stools at the counter.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong honey. I just want to talk to you for a bit."
"About what?" Lena asked, taking a seat. She was the cautiously one right now.
"About…Emma."
"Emma?"
"She…and I…We, we have been spending a lot of time together the past year and…we really enjoy each other's company." Regina took a moment to take another deep breath and collect some courage. "You know that Emma and I are good friends, right?"
Lena nodded.
"Well sometimes friendships can grow into something more."
"Like what?"
"Like…love…" Lena's face wore total confusion right about now. Regina saw that she needed to be more clear about what she wanted to say so she took another deep breath: "I'm dating Emma." Lena's face went blank, not knowing how to react to this knew information. "We've been seeing each other for a couple of weeks now and we thought it was time for you and Henry to know about it."
"Oh…"
"How do you feel about that?"
Lena's mind was racing around. She didn't really know what to do with this information, let alone know how to feel about it. "I…Can I go back outside, please?" Lena asked, staring in front of her.
"Honey, remember to talk to me."
"I just…I wanna go outside…to think." Lena jumped of her stool and walked out of the kitchen door into the garden.
Regina sighed. That could've gone better.
"Hello" Emma called out when she walked into the front door.
"In the kitchen" Regina called back. "Where is Henry" she asked when she saw Emma entering alone.
"He met up with a friend. He'll be here at six" Emma answered: "Something wrong?" Emma saw Regina standing in front of the counter looking outside, a bit sad.
Regina sighed: "I told Lena."
"About us? How did she take it?"
Another sigh.
Emma stepped around the counter to give her girlfriend a supporting hug. She wrapped her arms around Regina from behind. Regina gladly received the hug and let her head rest on the blonde woman's shoulder.
"That good, huh?" Emma asked: "where is she now?"
"In the garden" Regina replied: "I should go try and talk to her again."
"Wait, let me try."
Regina turned around in Emma's arms: "Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Regina laid a soft kiss on Emma's lips to show her girlfriend her gratitude.
Lena was sitting under the apple tree in the middle of the garden. It was one her favorite places in the garden. It was a place where she could think. Lena was staring out in front of her, her mind still racing. It wasn't until Emma was standing a couple feet away from her that she noticed the blonde woman.
"Can I take a seat next to you?" Emma asked.
Lena shrugged: "I guess."
"I heard your mom told you about us."
Lena didn't reply. She just kept staring.
"Can you tell me how you're feeling?"
Lena thinks, then says: "Confused."
"Okay" Emma replied, happy that the young girl was talking to her: "You know, if you have questions you can always ask me or your mom."
A moment silence.
"…How does it work?"
"How does what work?"
"…Falling in love."
Emma had to smile thinking back on the moment she knew she had fallen for the charms of the beautiful 'evil queen'. "It kind of just happens, I guess."
"…And how do you know…that you're in love?..."
"Falling in love is about how someone makes you feel…Your mom makes me feel good about myself, complete…She makes me feel happy."
Again a moment silence while Lena let's that sink in. Then she asks: "Do you make my mom feel happy?"
"I hope so…But that's a question your mom can answer better, don't you think?"
Lena suddenly stood up and walked towards the kitchen door. Emma followed her. Inside Lena called for her mother: "Mom?"
"Yeah" Regina answered. She walked closer to her daughter until they stood right in front of eachother.
"Mom, does Emma make you happy?"
Regina was a bit surprised by the sudden question but quickly recovered and with a soft smile she looked from Lena to Emma and back: "Very much."
Lena sighed, took a deep breath and replied: "Then I'm happy too…for both of you."
Happy tears filled Regina's eyes. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her very tight.
It was time for diner. Regina took place at the head of the table with Emma on one side and Lena on the other. Henry walked inside just when Regina placed the delicious smelling lasagna on the table. He quickly gave a kiss to both his moms and then took place on the chair next to Lena. After the lasagna it was time for apple turn overs. Lena was still eating the last bit while the other were finished and enjoyed their cup of hot cocoa. She saw her mom placing her hand in Emma's and sharing a smile. Although Lena was happy for her mom and Emma, it was still gonna take some time for her to get used to the two holding hands and stuff.
"Well, I think it's time for us to go home" Emma said, standing up from the couch. It was almost nine a clock.
"I guess you're right. It's a school night after all" Regina said, also standing up. She walked her girlfriend and son to the door. Henry gave a quick kiss and already walked to the car. Lena shortly looked away from the movie. She was surprised at what she saw, looking towards the entry hall, Emma and Regina kissing. Lena knew that her mom and Emma were together but still she never had seen her mom kiss anyone…like that. Lena had never even thought about Regina being with someone. When Regina pushed the door behind Emma she was still wearing a goofy smile when she walked back into the living room.
"I'm going to bed" Lena said, jumping from the couch.
"Oh, okay. Goodnight honey" Regina replied. With a quick kiss on the cheek Lena walked up the stairs still a bit confused about what had happened today.