Chapter 7
Henry and Emma walked into Regina's house. Emma hoped that maybe something would spark his memory, but there were no pictures of them together. Emma tried to remember if there ever had been. As they walked through the house, she watched as Henry looked at the rooms devoid of color. He studied the expensive taste in art work and mirrors. She watched as he touched the mural wallpapers in the study and her office. Emma couldn't explain why they wondered on their way to the kitchen, but it just seemed like something they should do.
When they finally got into the kitchen, she pointed to a stool by the counter. Emma easily found the drawer with Regina's pot holders in them. She snagged a pair and turned to the oven. The timer had already gone off and if Emma was being truthful with herself, Henry and she would have joined Regina for dinner, here tonight. But instead, she chickened out and invited Regina to Snow's.
Henry watched his mother. He noted the ease in which she moved around Regina's kitchen. He couldn't understand what was going on, because everyone in town seemed to know Emma, but he couldn't remember her ever talking about Storybrooke before they left New York a week ago.
"Ma?"
"Yes, Henry?"
"How well do you know the Mayor?"
Emma stopped her movements as she quickly placed the lasagna on the stove before she dropped it on the floor. She just knew what Regina would say if she got her immaculate kitchen dirty from her lasagna. She stared at Henry over the steaming baking dish and swallowed, hard.
"It is a long story."
"I like stories," Henry replied, clearly not giving up and the truth.
"We met before, a while ago."
"You know her house pretty well, though."
"I spent many an afternoon in here discussing cases with her."
"Cases? Here? Who would jump bail to come here?"
"You'd be surprised, Kid."
"How come I feel like there is more to this story than you telling me?"
"Because there generally is, Henry. And, sometimes, I don't even know the half of it. Being an adult sucks sometimes and you have to do things that you don't want to do," Emma explained.
"Like move to New York because your apartment burned in Boston?"
"Yeah, just like that, Kid," Emma told him as she tested the baking dishes temperature with her hand.
"Mom?"
"Yeah, Henry?"
"Do you like the mayor?"
"Yeah, she is a good person."
"That isn't exactly what I mean, but okay," Henry replied.
"Then what did you mean?"
"Well, we left New York in such a rush."
"This is a very important case for us, Henry. I am sorry. I didn't know it was going to take so long to solve, but it is. I was hoping to have you back to school by the weekend, but I know that isn't going to happen now. I've emailed your teachers so you can get your assignments. I'll give them to you to work on. That way you won't be behind when you get back," Emma told him.
"Really?"
"I am not going to let your studies suffer because of this. I am not going to let Re…you fall behind. I'll help you with what I can. By the way, this is non-negotiable."
"Fine."
"I'm sorry, Henry. I just didn't know how long we are going to be here. I…I don't want you to suffer by not having a good education like I do. You can be anything, do anything, and I want you to do that."
"You have done fine, Mom. We'll be okay. I know it."
"Thanks, Kid," she replied, testing the dish again.
This time she deemed it suitably cool enough to be put in the refrigerator. She made sure that it was covered properly, because she didn't want to hear Regina bitch about it later, and she set it inside the fridge. She grabbed a bottle of water before closing the doors. She twisted the cap off and took a sip, before she realized that Henry was watching her every move like a hawk.
"I was thirsty," Emma stated.
"I see."
"You want one?"
"I am sure that the Mayor wouldn't like us to be raiding her fridge, Mom," Henry replied.
He was right. She knew it and he knew it. She sighed. She just wished that he would remember who Regina was. It would make things so much easier for them, but he didn't.
"What happened with Walsh?" he asked her, bringing her back.
"What do you mean?" Emma stated as they began to leave the house.
"What happened with Walsh, Ma? It isn't a hard question. I know that he was going to propose. He asked me before he did it. I know he did it. I know that you told him you needed to talk to me before you gave him your answer. So, what happened with Walsh?"
"Umm…"
"Ma, just tell me."
Emma turned and looked at him. How could she tell him that he turned into a flying monkey? Could she explain everything to him with him thinking her crazy? No, she couldn't. He didn't remember and because he didn't remember, he wouldn't understand.
"I told him: 'no'."
"Why? I thought you liked him. Did he do something?"
"You could say that," Emma replied as they got into her Bug and she started it.
She looked at Henry. She really didn't want to have this conversation with him, but he was a smart boy. He would figure out that something was wrong and then he would want to know what happened.
"What did he do?"
"He turned into a monster when I told him that I was taking the case here in Storybrooke," Emma replied, with a weird grin on her face.
Henry regarded her for moment. He knew that she was telling him the truth, but he just couldn't picture it. Walsh had always been a nice guy. He wondered if he had something to do with case or if Walsh wanted her to do something else.
"What do you mean?"
"He didn't want me coming here. He thought it was a fool's errand and it may be, but I needed to do this. He didn't understand. He got mad, said some things that I didn't appreciate and we fought. I decided that we needed to leave. I didn't want to give me the chance to apologize. If he couldn't understand how important this case was for me, then I didn't need to stay with him."
"Oh…I'm sorry."
"I am not, better now than later, right?" Emma asked him.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Henry, what are you pushing at? What is on your mind? Just tell me," Emma told him as she drove.
"I've seen the way she looks at you lately."
"Who?"
"The mayor," Henry replied.
"What about her?"
"She likes you."
"We're friends."
"She likes you more than that."
"Really, Henry?"
"I've seen the way she is around you. She is different. She seems more relaxed than when she is with Mary Margaret. She likes you," Henry told her.
"So, what if she does, Kid?"
"I mean, it's cool, Ma. If you like her, too, that is. I just want you to be happy."
"I have you, Kid, and that makes me happy."
"I know that, Ma, but I know that you want a family. I am just saying that if you liked girls, I wouldn't have a problem with it. You know, if you liked the mayor, too," Henry explained.
"Well, thanks, Kid. But, I can assure you that I don't need your permission to like someone. I would like it if you and whoever I ended up with liked each other, but my relationship with someone isn't based on just my happiness. I have to think about you, too. Plus, I have a feeling that you will have more family than you know what to do with before you know it," Emma told him.
"Funny," Henry mused.
"What's that?" Emma questioned.
"The mayor said the same thing when we took our tour earlier," he replied.
Emma smiled as she pulled into a spot in front of Snow's apartment building. As they went to enter, Emma ruffled his hair and gave him a grin. She shook her head, knowing that he was growing up and too smart for his own good. Mentally, she made a note to talk with Regina about him. They would have to tell him sooner than she thought. That boy missed nothing when it came to his parents, even if they weren't officially together yet. She let out a small chuckle as they approached the apartment door.
Henry turned and smiled. He knocked on the door just below the number 3. He reached out for his mother's hand and took it. He gave her another smile as the very pregnant Snow opened the door.
"You don't have to knock," she told Emma.
"I didn't. He did. And, we don't have a key," Emma stated as she stressed the last part.
"Oh, well, I guess since you are staying with us, I should give you one."
"It might be a good idea," Emma replied as they entered.
Henry went into the living room area. He found David sitting there and challenged him to a video game duel. David agreed and they were immediately enthralled. Snow and Emma smiled at the men in their lives. Both realizing how much David and Henry were alike.
"She's in the kitchen," Snow whispered into Emma's ear.
She turned around and gave Snow a look. Her mother just gave her a knowing smile. When Snow reached out for her hand, she willingly took it and let herself be led into the kitchenette area.
"I trust that the lasagna is in good shape, Miss Swan," Regina said as they entered.
"That it is, Madame Mayor. I wanted to make sure that the dish cooled enough before I put it in the fridge. I wouldn't want your dish to have broken because it was shocked too much by the cooler temperature. Oh, and before Henry tells you anyway, I took a bottle of water. I will replace it or give you some money for it, if you would like," Emma told her.
"That's fine, Dear. One bottle of water will not break me. And, thank you for the consideration of my dish. I remember learning that lesson the hard ways, some years ago."
Snow giggled. Emma smiled. Regina gave a slight grin.
"I'll leave you two alone. If I don't go in there with them, I'll never be able to get David off that thing later. Thanks for the help with dinner. I think another twenty minutes and it'll be ready."
"Yes, that sounds about right," Regina replied as she left.
"You spoke with my mother?"
"We've talked a lot since we got back."
"About?"
"A little of everything."
"Buried the hatchet as it were," Emma stated.
"Something like that. We seem to be getting along much better now. Neither of us remember the last year, but the animosity and the want to destroy her is gone. She said that I remind her of my younger self. I don't know whether I should take that as a compliment or not," Regina replied.
"I would. She loved the younger Regina. I think that is why she gave you so many chances. "
"What do you mean, Dear?"
"She hoped that you would change back. She remembered the woman who loved freely and willingly. She remembered the woman who saved her, the woman who still bore light and happiness. She wanted you to be her again. She hated what you had become, not who you were," Emma explained.
"Well, that is saying a lot for someone who wasn't there."
"I've read the book. I know her and I know you. She gave herself up to try and make you happy."
"I know that, Dear."
"Then admit that she still cares for you."
"I was her step-mother."
"So, that would make you my step-grandmother, are you sure that you want to start that road?"
"No, I don't."
"Then don't worry about that and just be her friend. Goodness knows that would be interesting enough in itself. It would make things easier between the two of you and for the town as well. Imagine if both Queens ruled together. Think about all the good you could do together if you tried," Emma said.
"It could prove to be interesting."
"See. You're already thinking about it. Just give it a try."
"I must, anyway," Regina stated.
"Why?"
"She gave me permission to court you," Regina replied.
"She what?!" Emma questioned a little more loudly than she wanted she noticed when everyone was staring at her. She just mouthed "sorry," in their directions and turned back to Regina. She cocked her eyebrow and waited for further explanation.
"She told me that as long as I made you happy, she was okay with us."
"Wow…that is very forward thinking of her."
"I thought so, myself. Now, we will have to figure out how to tell Henry. He might not take it too well."
"Oh, no, I think he might actually like it," Emma stated, smiling and taking Regina's hand. "I am sure that he would approve. He doesn't care too much as long as I am happy."
"Are you…happy?"
"I am getting there," Emma replied, giving her a big smile.
