When Regina opened her eyes the next morning she was confused to hear the sounds of movement downstairs in the kitchen. After a moment it all came back, the date with Emma, and Henry staying the night. A huge smile spread across her face as she slipped out of bed and fastened a silk dressing gown around her waist.
As she walked into the kitchen she saw Henry rifling through the cupboards and silently took a seat at the island in the centre of the room waiting for him to notice her.
He jumped as she turned around, only just noticing her sudden appearance.
"Aww mom! I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed, it was going to be perfect."
She smiled warmly, "Henry just having you here makes things perfect."
He walked around the counter and wrapped his arms around her, "Did you have fun last night mom?" He asked as he pulled away and handed her a mug of coffee.
"I did Henry, actually I really did, it was nice not to be..." She trailed off, unable to place her finger on what exactly had made the night feel so special, so right.
"Judged?" Regina smiled at him.
"I know after this last year things have gotten a lot better but still sometimes people look at me and I can just tell that they're waiting for me to slip. But you're right Henry, like always," She laughed, "Last night I just felt normal, like we were any other family."
Before she could even register what she had said Henry had jumped on her words, "Family? After one date? Is Emma going to be moving in with us as well?"
She went red faced at his teasing but laughed anyway, "This is what you wanted isn't it Henry? If you keep laughing I might just have to start avoiding Emma purely to teach you a lesson about mocking your mother." Regina teased poking at his ribs.
Henry grinned smugly, "Not gonna work mom, I know you too well. Once you consider someone family you fight for them, no matter what. I mean you travelled blindly across worlds for me, twice technically."
"Oh you think so?" Regina smirked, "Maybe I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about never-land."
The teasing banter stopped with Henry as he just looked down at his mom's hands clasped around her mug and smiled gently.
"You know, I never realised how much I missed this mum, I got so caught up in the curse that I never stopped to think that never once had you ever done anything horrible to me or anything that deserved the way I treated you, so I'm sorry mom. I really am, especially because I don't think I've ever actually said it."
Regina sighed and tapped him under the chin so he met her eyes, "Henry, you don't have to apologize, my biggest regret is that I lied to you. If I could do it all over I would tell you about the curse when you noticed it and help you break it myself."
"Really?" His eyes widened disbelievingly.
She burst out laughing when she saw how his eyes were popping out of their sockets. "Yes I would! Although that would have been absolutely hilarious when everyone realised that the one who cast the curse had had a hand in breaking it. But yes, you deserved to know who you are and where you come from, and I should never have tried to keep you from that Henry, I love you and that means trusting you to make the right decisions and to have the maturity to understand things aren't always so black and white."
They sat for a long time in comfortable silence, both quietly contemplating the others words and how they had gotten to here.
"I think that should be the last round of apologies don't you mom? I've long forgiven you, and now? Well now we can work on being a family properly."
"With Emma?"
He grinned at her and winked mischievously, "Well you said it not me."
"Very funny, but Henry, you need to understand that if we continue with this there is going to be a fallout, Emma is Snow's daughter and somehow I don't think she is going to react well to news of us dating."
Henry's face fell, he's never actually thought about how other people would react to the news of both of his mothers going out together, although now he was he couldn't imagine it going well. At least not at first.
Regina watched his face carefully, seeing the doubt and trepidation cross his features.
"Listen Henry, at the end of the day this effects you just as much as us so if you don't feel like this is a good idea I'm sure Emma will understand, but of course we can still have her over to dinner sometimes and-"
"No mom," He cut in, arriving at a decision, "Grandma might not be too happy about it at first but I don't care, she'll learn to accept it. You and ma would be great together and I'd love it if Emma could be part of our family properly."
Regina smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you Henry, if I'm honest I really want to see what happens with Emma as well."
"Then it's decided mom, your gonna date my ma."