Woo! Two updates, one day. I hope you're enjoying the fluff that I'm dishing out, with more to come. Just kidding, I'm just making sure everything is set so this doesn't end in catastrophe! xo

The consequences of her sleepless night hit her during her 11:00 lesson with Grace. As she was setting up a course for the girl to ride, a wave of drowsiness smacked her between the eyes. Her body immediately felt heavy, as if she were about to faint. She attempted to right herself but her body had other ideas, so she listened, not wanting to risk injury. She tried to sit slowly but hit hard once the rest of her realized what was happening.

"Grace," She said wearily. The girl heard her and turned shocked to see her regal instructor sitting in a heap of bad posture. She plodded Bunny over to where Regina sat.

"Are you alright, Miss Mills?" The girl asked her with fear in her eyes, but not her voice.

"Yes, dear, I'm so tired. I cannot continue this lesson in a manner that would be acceptable. Please dismount and untack. We can continue on Friday." Regardless of her state the girl still respected her enough to do as she said without argument. She swung off her mount and reached out a gloved hand to Regina, who stared at it confused for a moment, then took it graciously. "Thank you." She said.

"Of course, Miss Mills. Thank you for what lesson you could do, I still learned new things." The girl said and gave Regina a shy smile. Regina watched as the girl left and made sure she was out of sight so she could let her guard down again. Slumped against the standard she closed her eyes and did a few breathing exercises, until she felt awake enough to walk to her office. The walk took longer than she would have liked, having stopped to throw discarded jolly balls back into their given stalls. She rolled her eyes as she saw Rocinante bobbing his head back and forth, smacking his face and chin with the ball he held between strong teeth. Giving him a loving pat as she passed, she burst in to her office to find an unexpected visitor sitting at her desk.

"Gold." She seethed, her weariness overtook by hatred.

"In the flesh, dearie." He replied in his sly tone.

"What do you want, imp." She threw out a nickname she had made for him, given his obvious imp-like appearance. "Or are you just enjoying the scenery?" She added when he didn't answer.

"Quite the opposite, actually. I find the smell of horses revolting, I find the beasts themselves even more so." He retorted, clearly trying to get under her skin. Regina had played enough of his games to know how to win, or at least give him a run for his money.

"I could guarantee the feeling is mutual." She said, immediately disappointed by her childish remark. She let is pass, she was too tired for games. "I have business to attend to so if you would." She took her seat and ignored the unmoving man.

"I want you to do me a favor." He said finally, taking his cane in his lap and leaning back. He was answered with a sour laugh.

"Why on Earth would you think I'd do anything for you." She replied with as much venom in her tone as she could muster.

"Well, it would, of course, be mutually beneficial." He answered as if it were as simple. Gold was in no mood for a brawl with the mayor so he cut to the chase. "I want you to step down."

"Now that, is funny." The gall of this man. Though she would never agree, she wanted to know what he was dishing out, so she took the bait. "And what do I get in return?"

"You get this place." He replied, baffling her. He took her unamused exterior as cue to continue. "You see," He began digging through his blazer, and pulled out a rolled piece of paper. He passed it to her. "I own this land, always have."

"This is impossible, I have the deed!" She felt anger bubble up inside of her. All of her emotions raved, except the one she needed.

"Yes, to the house, but not the ranch. This," He motioned around him. "Was built at your mother's request. I agreed to let her use the land, because I thought it better than letting as this space go to waste. Pity she never thought to ask for ownership." He sat back again with a winning smirk on his sly little face.

Regina could not even process. For the first time, she was at a loss for words. My term is up next year anyway, what trouble could come. "Why would you want me to step down as mayor? So you can run yourself?That's laughable, Gold." Her nervousness showed through the dull response.

"That, dearie," He said and twirled his finger around. "Is not for you to know." He paused and studied her with a chuckle. "Better say something, or we'll be seeing what's in that vein of yours."

"I need to think it through." She replied as cooly as possible. "Get back to me in two weeks."

"You have a week before I bring this place to the ground." He replied weighing himself on his cane.

"If I disagree to this, I'm going to need more than a week's notice to remove everything from the premises." She retorted faulting his logic.

"You know what to do, dearie. You're no fool." And with that he hobbled away leaving Regina seething through her skin. What am I going to do? Was the last thing she thought before her anger turned to sobs. She slammed her office door and was only able to turn around before she couldn't handle it. For the second time in two hours, Regina Mills fell to the floor as an emotional wreck.

After she watched Regina leave the arena, Emma stayed put and allowed her mind to drift off while studying the life around her. As she was pulled into the realm of sleep she thought about her favorite tree, a weeping willow. She had just enough time to let the brunette slip into her train of thought. I wonder what Regina's favorite tree is. She fell asleep with a smile on her face. Honey-crisp.

The almost too cheery sound of morning birds rang through her ears. She jerked awake, hitting her head on the open window in her fuss. "Holy fucking cow mistress!" She seethed holding the aching mound. She got up and checked the time 8:48. Perfect, Henry isn't up so I still have a couple of- Her thoughts were interrupted by the boy himself. He must have a super power like her, but more along the lines of knowing whenever he's being brought up, out loud or otherwise. He knocked on her door, which caused a smile to spread across her face, remembering yesterdays wake up call.

"Who is it?" She asked, as if she wasn't aware.

"It's me, silly!" He replied, she could hear the lisp created by rogue teeth, even through the barrier.

"Well, you can come in if you like, Silly! She answered pulling the oldest trick in the book, and annoying him. The door burst open to pouty face.

"I called you, silly! You know I Henry!" He sassed with all the might in his soul.

"And you know I Mom, so I guess we're both silly!" She didn't wait for a reply when she scooped him up into her arms. She carried his giggly self to the kitchen where she sat him on the island that faced the fridge. She opened the two doors and found herself staring into an empty ice box. "Oh." She said simply.

"Why isn't there food, Mommy?" Henry asked.

"Because I didn't buy any. Which doesn't matter anyway, since neither of us can cook." She closed the fridge and they looked at each other at a loss.

"Granny's?" He asked shrugging his shoulders and bringing his hands with them.

"Granny's." She answered, looking down at their sleepwear. "Wait, scratch that. Look less like creatures of the night, then Granny's." She added with a smile that her son matched. She scooped him off the counter he lowered him just off the ground. She counted to three as he began running in the air. She released him and finished the dash to his room. She did the same, looking through her wardrobe and realizing she just has numerous amounts of the same thing with only a little flare. She settled with a black tank top and light wash jeans, top it all off with black Doc Martins. She gave herself a run down and decided she was presentable. Finally, after a brushing of hair and teeth, the two were off on a journey to the diner.

They took the same booth as the previous day, and sat to wait for a certain waitress to come along.

"Back again?" Ruby said, in a mock voice of disgust. "What's your poison?" She asked happily.

"Coffee, please." Emma scanned the menu once more. "I'll take the breakfast special."

"Cool." Ruby replied writing down her order. She beamed down at Henry. "What about you, little man?"

He blushed and gave her a shy smile. "Orange juice and waffles, please." He said in a small voice, which caught Emma off guard.

"Whip cream?" Ruby asked without glancing up from her notepad.

"Yes please!" He replied, more to the liking of his usual hue. Emma mock-scolded him for getting the topping, but laughed with him at her serious face.

"So, what should we do today?" She asked once her coffee had been placed in front of her. She took sip and already felt the droning feeling of sleep being replaced by the slight hum of caffeine.

"Well, we get to go see Miss Mills and Patch!" He said, clearly excited for his upcoming session. Emma was excited to, for him and herself. She got to see Miss Mills. She smirked at the thought.

"Yeah, but thats in like, 8 hours." She reminded him. "After this I'm think grocery shopping, then tour the town." She suggested.

"Did you say tour?" Ruby asked, out of the blue. "Because I'm the best of the best when it comes to touring this place." She put her hand on her hip to show she meant business.

"Not when they're children involved, Ruby." An older woman, who could be none other than Granny herself commented as she brushed passed the scoffing waitress.

"I can totally be kid-friendly, but she's right." Ruby said regarding Emma with a wink. "We'll have to have a girl's night! Ooh!" Ruby exclaimed. "Yes, so much yes. I'll plan it all. Give me your number."

Emma was slightly confused at how so much had just happened, and now she was going to a girl's night. But, she needed friends, so she gave Ruby her number. She watched s Ruby went to get their food and returned. Luckily she didn't have time to chat, so Emma and Henry began to tear through their food like it was the first time they'd ever experienced such sensation. So within a few minutes plates were cleared and belly's were on Satisfaction Ave. They sat for a few minutes to let digestion begin, and then paid their due, with a large tip for her new friend, and they were on their way.

Emma wandered the aisles of the grocery story aimlessly. The only food she'd manages to get was junk, she knew it was bad for her and more so for the kid, but the woman just can't cook. She pushed the car with Henry in it, lost in her own mind until she collided with another.

"I'm sorry!" She said insitnctively as soon as she was jerked from thought. She went to pick up fallen items. Looking up to see a woman aroound her age with a cute face and pixie cut to match.

"It's no problem, I was even paying attention." She confessed with a small laugh. Emma couldn't explain it but she immediately was drawn the the woman. She was inviting and open, everything Emma couldn't be.

"Me either, so it seems we're both guilty." She said as she picked up the last of the floor food.

"So it would seem." The woman said with a smile. "I'm Mary Margaret, I don't think I 've seen you around town before." The woman held her hand out awaiting a shake.

Emma shook her hand firmly, not surprised by the womans weak grip. "No, that's because I'm new. I'm Emma, this is my son, Henry." Henry gave the brunette a cute smile and wave.

"Isn't he just the cutest." Mary Margaret complimented.

"We like to think so." Emma said smiling.

"Your husband?" Goddamn, why did everyone in this town feel the need to pry, Emma said to herself.

"No, I'm not married, I just meant us." She waved her hand to show she was speaking of herself and Henry.

"We'll you can add me to tht count." The woman said again. "It was nice meeting you two! Maybe one day you'll let me assist you in shopping. Seems like too much junk for such pretty people." She added and pushed her cart away. After a quick wave she was gone.

"Yeah, that'll only work if you cook it for us." She said to Henry, but more to herself. He laughed and continued to fiddle with the hairtie she had given him.

Emma and Henry weren't up for touring the town today, plus they had frozens. She decided to just wait for Girl's Night to sight see. Oh,no. Who's going to watch Henry? I literally have no friends, except the friends that I'll be with. Damn, just have to cancel then. She thought to herself as she shoved bags of chips into a pantry. She put groceries away while Henry searched for a movie to watch before he was due for his lesson. After all was said and done, he had decided on The Adventures Of Mark Twain. Though the movie gave Emma the creeps, she knew the movie was for her while he played away on his Nintendo, so she decided on something she'd enjoy more. She decided on one of the Ice Age movies, but forgot which one because they're all the same to her. She sat back and watched the movie, and the start of a new one. When the clock reached 5:20 Emma was about to tell Henry to get ready, but he was no longer next to her.

"Henry!" She called. "Time to get ready." She told him as he appeared in his bedroom doorway.

"Okay!" He said happily and turned back into the room, pushing the door so that only a fraction of his light spilled through. She smiled and jumped off the couch, vouching to look as attractive as she could.

At 5:45 The pair were off to the stable, looking prepared for their different endeavors. Henry eye'd his mother suspiciously, her appearance had changed.

"Why do you look so fancy." He asked.

"What do you mean, I didn't change?" She replied, knowing he meant the layer of makeup she'd plastered on her face. "Does it look bad?"

"No, you look beautiful. I was just asking since were going to a barn, not an opera." He said, and began laughing and his mother joined him.

"Ha ha. It's a natural layer, so I don't look fancy I just look," She sat and waited for the right word to come to mind. "Enhanced" She added after a few second. He laughed and shook his head, not even realizing that they were feet away from the stable.

"I'm so excited, Mom." He told her in a loud whisper.

"I'm excited for you." She matched his tone and pinched his cheeks and she offed the car. He jumped out and slammed the door, racing for Patch. Emma walked behind him, glacing in Regina's office as she passed. What she saw surprised her; the woman was slumped over her desk in an awkward attempt to sleep. She knocked and recieved no reaction, she then walked in. She looked at the woman, who looked even more beautiful in sleep. The usual lines of stress and worry faded away and left her expression peaceful. She stirred a but, feeling Emma's gaze on her, but did not wake. Emma bent down a couple of feet away from the woman, as not to frighten her.

"Regina." She said quietly, she was given a slight reaction, she louder she said. "Regina." And the woman jerked up. Emma's attmpts not to frighten the woman had backfired as the sudden movement caused Emma to fall back on her heels.

"Miss Swan," She looked at Emma tiredly and confused. "What're you doing here, it's only-" she searched for a clock but couldn't find one.

"I think it's 5:50." Emma answered for her. "If you're too tired, we can just come back Saturday. You should rest." Emma said concern lacing her voice and eyes.

Normally Regina would have snapped at the woman for speaking to her like a child, but coming from Emma, Regina didn't even think of it. "It's quite alright, I only drifted off." She answered stifling a yawn.

"Okay, you're sure?' Emma asked once more just for reassurance.

"Positive, now, I believe Henry and patch are waiting for us." She said with a sleepy grin. Emma outstretched her hand to the woman, and Regina did the uncharacteristic thing for the second time today, and accepted. She smiled warmly at Emma, who blushed profusely, causing Regina to laugh.

"Are you nervous, Miss Swan." She asked, the blush increased. "Do I make you nervous?" She teased seeing Emma's face grow even redder.

"Yes." Emma said quietly as the office door shut behind her. "Since the moment I met you."

"And why is that Miss Swan, I've been nothing but kind to you." Regina asked, hoping the blonde wasn't afraid of her like the rest of the town.

"That's not why I'm nervous." Emma let out, happy that Henry came in to view so she was no longer under the mayor's spotlight.

Regina was about to ask Emma another question, she knew why the blonde was acting so strange, but she wanted to hear the words for herself. As Henry came in to view and Emma's pace quickened, she realized that she'd lost her chance.

"Until next time, Emma." Regina whispered as she brushed past the younger woman. For a stanger, it would have been too close for comfort, but with Regina's intentions, it may not have been close enough. Emma shuddered visibly as she breathed in the intoxicating aroma of the woman who had came so near that she had no choice. Arousal hummed in her stomach and burned her inner walls. She tried to act as though she didn't notice, but when she heard what Regina had to say, she realizd it was no accident. Maybe she should bring extra underwear next time.

Emma sat back and watched as her son bonded with Patch and Regina through an extended grooming and saddling session. She smiled internally at the picture that was being painted before her. I could get used to this, she thought to herself, wait get used to what? Getting a little too far ahead of yourself, Swan. She pushed the thought aside and realized how hard she had to try to get the older woman off her mind. Okay I'll just say fuck a bunch of times and I'll be good. Fuck, fuck,fuck...fuck. Act casually, she's coming over here you babbling idiot. Woah, self, now you're just being a dick. Emma was pulled back to reality by Henry who was now wearing a blue helmet and matching gloves.

"I'm so excited." He whispered to her again smiling brightly.

"I am, too." She whispered back matching his smile if not exceeding his happiness.

"And it shows, dear. On both of you." Regina added, hearing every word. The began to walk and Henry sped ahead and asked if he could walk with Patch. Regina agreed, but told him always to walk on the left side of a horse. She gave a run-down of what they' be doing and led Henry to a small block in the center of the ring.

"Just like leading, you are always to mount and dismount on the left side."She instructed him. Emma could see the question in his eyes, but always his excitement turning into slight nervousness, Regina noticed as well. She smiled and looked Henry in the eyes. "Don't be afraid, dear. Be happy! The horse will share and express any emotion you feel." He listened to her and relaxed almost on cue. He got on Patch with confidence and Regina put him on a lunge line. They talked about technique and how Henry felt until she thought he was ready to quicken the pace. Patch bounced up to a trot while Regina and Henry clicked in unison.

"Heels down," She said repeating the same thing she said to Grace.

"Why, I don't feel like it's helping?" Henry compained.

"My, my, Henry. You just broke two of my rules in one sentence. Do you know what you did?" She asked the now pouting boy. "Ah, now it's three. Not an impressive start." Emma was really enjoying Regina's bossy ways, she wished she could make Henry listen so easily.

"I'm sorry for questioning you, and complaining, and pouting." He replied in a sad tone.

"It's alright, my dear. Next time think before you act. To answer your qestion though, when pressing all your weight into your heels, you have the best balance. When you allow your heels to rise upward, it shifts your weight more to the top, which makes falling more probable. You'll see once you've ridden more that my way is the best way." She expained confidently.

The rest of the lesson went well, with minimal breaking of rules. Henry dismounted, and gave his mom thumbs up and toothy grin. She beamed back at him and waited for them outside the gate.

"Nicely done, kid." She told him and gave him a high five. She looked up to Regina who shared her smile. "Thank you, Miss Mills, you're truly incedible."

"Of course, but didn't I tell you to call me Regina?" She asked smile turning to smirk.

"And I asked you to call me Emma. So we both have something to work on." Emma deadpanned jokingly. "Before I forget, here's my number." Regina took the paper and looked suspiciously at the blonde. "In case plans change, or you need anything."

"Thank you, Miss Swan. See you soon. Tell Henry that this time I will care for Patch, but next time it's up to him." Regina and Patch disappeared into the barn and Emma went to the car where Henry awaited her.

The whole way home and hour and a half until he finally went to sleep, were a whirlwind of exciting words and compliments to Patch and Miss Mills. Emma was happy that he was finally interested in something, she had to admit to this being the happiest she's seen him. Though she would have loved to listen to his joyous ramblings all evening, she was happy to be in bed by 10. Just as she shut her eyes, her phone vibrated it. She opened a message from a number she didn't know.

Sweet dreams, Miss Swan.

Emma counldn't contain her smile as she replied.

Goodnight, Regina.

Emma fell asleep with a grin painted across her face, unknowing that the woman in question was doing quite the same.

I just can't stop! Bear with me, it's about to get good! If only you could read my drafts. xo