Chapter 2
The next morning Emma found herself at Granny's eating breakfast with Mary Margaret, David and Henry. She hadn't seen Regina come in and sit at the counter. In fact she hadn't been paying attention to anything that was really going on around her. She was lost in thought and everything kept going back to the night before.
Mary Margaret saw the look on her face, but didn't say anything. She knew that Emma would talk to her when she was ready like she had before. She knew that it was hard for her being back in Storybrooke with her memories of everything that had happened and the fake memories that Regina had given her as well. She knew it was even harder for her because Henry was the only one who didn't remember the past. He was blissfully oblivious to the curse and they had all agreed to keep it that way.
When Regina got up to leave, she noticed the family in the corner and smiled. She caught Mary Margaret's eye and she smiled back. Emma came out of her daze in time to see her mother's smile and turned to see who she was smiling at. When she saw Regina as she was leaving the diner, her heart melted and she quickly stood up.
"I have to go for minute. I'll be right back. I need to ask Regina something about the case," she told them as she quickly left the diner.
Mary Margaret cocked her head in question, but didn't push for answer. She was stunned by Emma's confused daze earlier and now her quick need to talk to Regina. She figured that Emma was looking for answers to questions that only Regina could answer. It hurt her a little bit, but she knew that Regina was on their side this time. She didn't know how she knew that, but she did.
Emma caught up with Regina in the outdoor seating area. She practically ran to keep up with her. She didn't know why but she knew that she had to talk to Regina. She felt compelled to do it.
"Regina, wait," Emma stated, almost catching her by the arm.
"Yes, Miss Swan," she replied, turning around to the see the fierce emotion in Emma's eyes.
"We need to talk."
"We did that last night, dear."
"Rather I would like to talk to you, alone, away from prying eyes, if you will," Emma explained.
"About what, Miss Swan?" Regina asked, keeping her voice even and devoid of emotion.
"Last night."
"Come by my office in an hour. I'll block out some time for you. Also, I'll talk to your father about making you a deputy until you decide to leave. I am sure that it will make it easier for you to deal with this imaginary case you are on for Henry's sake."
"Thanks, I'll talk to David. I'll see you in an hour. And, Regina, thanks."
Regina just shook her head as she walked off to City Hall. Emma walked back into the diner and sat down with her family. David cocked his eyebrow at her and sipped his coffee.
"What was that about?" he asked, setting down his cup.
"She mentioned that there might be enough money in the budget for a deputy," Emma started.
"She did?"
"She figured that if I was going to be here a while, working my case, I could help out if needed. I mean Storybrooke is a small town. How much crime could be committed? Plus, I'll never turn down an easy job. The more money I make on this case and while I am here, the more time I can spend with Henry when we go home," Emma told them.
She noticed the slight wince from both of her parents at the mention of her going home, to New York. To their credit, they didn't say anything about it. David actually smiled at her, happy that they were going to be "working" together again as sheriff.
"Sounds good. Why don't you come by later and I'll swear you in. You can use the cruiser too. That way you don't have to use the Bug for official business, plus the free gas. "
"But, what about you?" Emma asked him.
"I like using the truck more," he answered and took another sip of his coffee.
Henry smiled. He liked Storybrooke, but he missed the City, too. He knew that he could be happy here. He saw that Emma was happy there with her friends and now another job. There was just something about the town that familiar. He knew that he would tell her later that if she wanted to stay, they could.
"Well, I got to go. Got a lead last night I need to check up on. You good with Mary Margaret for a while, Kid? I can call Killian and see if he could you some sailing lessons, but it looks like rain."
"Nah, Ma, I'll stay with Mary Margaret. I told her last night that I would help her decorate the baby's room. I am sure that we can go sailing with your friend, Killian, later," Henry answered.
"Okay, Kid, love you."
"Love you, too, Ma."
Emma made her way to City Hall and into Regina's office. She smiled at Regina's secretary and went on in her office. She didn't wait to be introduced. She didn't wait for Regina to tell her to come in, she just did it.
"Manners as impeccable as ever, I see," Regina replied.
"I need to talk to you."
"So you said. Have a seat, Emma. Tell me what it bothering you," Regina told her.
"I talked to Dad. He agreed that me working with him would be good. I'm to be sworn in, again, later."
"Stop avoiding the subject, Dear."
"How do you do that?"
"How do I do what?"
"Be like that," Emma replied.
"I am afraid I don't understand the question."
"Do you not feel anything?"
"I feel plenty, Emma. What are you referring to? My heart breaking every time I see Henry? Or, the fact that I have learned to hide my emotions because in my line of work and position, emotions are dangerous?" Regina asked her.
"Yeah, that."
"It is called years of practice and an intolerant mother."
"About last night…"
"What about it, Miss Swan?"
"I am sorry if I said or did anything out of line."
"Out of line?"
"I believe that I may have kissed you before I ran home to my parents."
"You did indeed kiss me."
"I was afraid of that."
"Why?" Regina asked, putting her pen down and giving Emma her full attention.
"I don't know why I did it. I mean I can guess why I did it. I just hadn't planned on doing it. It was all like a dream and I thought I had dreamed it. I am sorry," Emma told her.
"There is no need to apologize, Emma. You weren't alone last night. Our emotions were running high and you needed the release. Besides, it wasn't a bad kiss."
"I need to tell you something."
"About your dreams that lead you to me?"
"Yes," Emma replied.
"Then, tell me."
"It all started on the way back from Boston. I had a bad break up. Par the course, Henry and I went to Boston for the weekend for me to lick my wounds with some old friends. We took in a Red Sox game. I don't know what happen, but that it weekend that I began to dream about you."
"Because of a baseball game?" Regina asked.
"I have no idea what that had to do with you or the dreams, but yes. I didn't know it was you at the time. But, I couldn't shake the feelings that arose in me from that first dream. It plagued me and I still don't know why. I need to talk to you about that."
"So, tell me more about these dreams, Emma," Regina stated, still sitting stoically in the mayor's chair.
Emma was driving back to New York. Henry was watching her. He didn't know why but something was wrong. It was more than the disappointment of a break up and who Jacob turned out to be. He was glad now that his friends hadn't been able to come with them. It bothered him that his mother wasn't happy and he didn't like it. This was the normal procedure. She would break up, they would go to Boston for the weekend and then they would come home happy and ready to face anything. This time something was horribly different. She looked like she hadn't slept. There was this blank look on her face that he didn't recognize. She was distant.
"Ma?"
"Yes. Henry?" she asked him, not turning her eyes from the road.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, why?"
"Don't lie to mc. I got your 'superpower,' too. Something is wrong. You don't have to hide it from me. I maybe only fourteen but I'm sure that I can handle it. Okay?"
"Okay, but there isn't anything wrong, Henry. I promise. I am fine."
"Ma, come on."
"What, Kid? What is it that you think is so wrong with me? And, don't give me that wicked grin, either. I taught you that. Why do you think something is wrong with me?"
"I can just tell."
Emma actually turned to steal a glance at her son. His explanation was usually all she would need. She thought that she had been able to mask her pain, but she knew now that she was wrong. Henry could see it and he wasn't going to let it go. He wanted her to be happy, always, like she did for him. It was one of their fatal flaws. They were always worried about someone else's happiness more than their own. Emma figured it was the fact she was his mother, because she knew she never felt like that until he came into her life. She did everything for Henry and he knew it.
"Ma?"
"Yes, Henry?"
"Are you still upset about Jacob?"
"No, not really."
"I believe you."
"Thanks, Kid," she replied sarcastically.
"If it isn't Jacob, what is it?"
"You really aren't going to drop this are you?"
"Nope."
"You are too much my Kid," Emma replied, laughing.
"Well?" he pushed.
"I just didn't sleep well," Emma told him.
It was a half-truth. She really hadn't slept well, but it was because of her dreams. She just couldn't shake them. She was glad that Henry took her explanation and didn't push further. He sat back in his seat and stared out his window for a full five minutes before he said anything else.
"Bad dreams?"
She turned and stole another glance at him. She shook her head. She should have known better. She knew that he would try to process the information she gave him before he would try a different approach. She did the same things sometimes when she was hunting a bail jumper. He was definitely her Kid when it came to getting information. He wanted to know the whys of everything.
"Something like that," she told him.
"You aren't going to tell me, are you?"
"I don't know what to tell you. I woke up because of them, but I don't remember any of it now. I just know that they kept me up most of the night. I'll be okay once we're back in New York," she told him.
"You sure?" he asked her.
"Yes, Henry, I'm sure."
He smiled at her and then turned to look out the side window. She stole another glance at him. He reminded her so much of Neal and herself that it was uncanny. She shook her head to banish the thoughts about Neal. She didn't need to be worrying about what he was doing now. She didn't care. She did care, but she was still mad at him for leaving her in jail to take the fall and pregnant. She also didn't want to deal with Henry if they ran into his father.
She had raised him on her own for fourteen years. She couldn't understand why all of the sudden she was worried about Neal showing back up and complicating things. She figured that if Neal wanted to know how she was doing that he would have found her by now. She shook her head and banished the thoughts of Neal coming back into their lives from her head.
She looked over at Henry and smiled. He truly had saved her life. Yeah, she was scared shitless when she found out that she was pregnant and in jail, but Henry made her change her life. He gave her something that she had been seeking for years...love and family. He was her reason for living and she would do anything for him. She worked insane hours to keep them fed and a roof over their heads. He took it all in stride, because he knew that she did it for him.
He also knew that she did work those insane hours so she could spend more time with him while they were both awake. He was grateful for that. He was also grateful that she made enough for him to go to the private school, even if he did have a partial scholarship. He was thankful that he didn't have to go to an inner-city school. His life was good and he knew it was because she kept it that way. He knew it was also why they were so devoted to each other. They kept each other happy.
"Ma?"
"Yes, Henry?" she asked, wondering what he thought he had figured out now.
"Is work stressing you out more?"
"No, Henry, it isn't. The agency is doing well. We are making good money, enough that I don't have to lake any out of town jobs anymore. I can get another crew to handle it. I want to be home more for you. I am not taking that many cases anymore. I am usually in the office most days just trying to coordinate with my guys, the cops, and the courts," Emma told him.
"That's cool, Ma."
"I thought so, too."
"Thanks for getting the tickets to the game this weekend," he told her for the umpteenth time.
"I figured we deserved at treat."
"It had been a rough week," Henry replied.
"Rough for you? What happened at school, Kid? What could have been so rough about your homework? I saw that you got it all done already. What's eating at you, Kid?" she asked him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" she questioned him, getting worried about what he could have possibly done.
"I am the reason you can't have a real relationship."
Emma pulled the car over into the emergency lane. She had to, because she almost wrecked at his response. She wasn't expecting him to be so worried about her love life. It was non-existent, but that didn't matter because she had him.
"Henry, you aren't at fault. I just have really bad taste in guys. I can't help that the guys that I actually like and can actually deal with me having a teenage Kid all end up being losers. That has nothing to do with you. Frankly, if they can't deal with me being a mom, then they don't deserve my time."
"You're sure?"
"Henry, there is nothing more important to mc than you. I would do anything for you and I know that you know that. I don't want you to ever feel like you arc the reason I can't do anything. So much changed for me when I had your Henry, I wouldn't change a day I have with you for anything. Now, I want you to tell me why you think all the sudden that you are the reason, I'm single."
"Because no one sticks around."
"Then, I don't need them. I'm upfront about being a mom when I actually agree to go out with anyone. I also know that I am not the easiest person to deal with, but you don't have to be worried about my love life, Kid. That isn't your responsibility. I'll find someone worthy, one day."
"What about broadening your scope?" he asked her.
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked him as she pulled back onto the highway.
"Maybe you need to change what you are looking for in a guy, Ma."
"Like what. Henry? Why don't you tell me what I need in a guy then? What do I need?"
"Someone who cares for you unconditionally. Someone who can deal with your sarcasm. Someone who is willing to be my parent but understands that I will still come first in your life."
"That is what I have been looking for, Henry." Emma told him, and giggled a little at his comment.
"Well, I'll keep my eye out, too, then." he answered matter-of-factly.
Emma laughed. She saw him smile. He gave her his biggest smile and then turned to stare ahead out of the windshield. She returned his smile as they continued onward to New York.
Emma sat back and watched Regina's face. She didn't betray anything. She was just smiling at Emma.
"What?"
"Well, I told you to tell me about the dreams and you still haven't. All you have told me is that our son loves you very much and like his mother wants for everyone to be happy. I am proud of him for that."
"I am, too."
"I also find it amusing that he was going to start looking for a suitor for you as well. I like the fact that he wanted someone that made you happy and could deal with you're being a mom. I also like the fact that he hinted just a little that the person didn't have to be male."
"I caught that, too, but I never said anything to him."
"Why not?"
"I didn't want to get my hopes up that you could be real," Emma replied.
