Pink Frosting

Storybrooke's two-level Sheriff's Station was adorned with elongated, tinted windows from ceiling to floor in each landing. As soon as Emma stepped through the main, double-glass entryway with the large stars emblazoned on each side, the scent of disinfectant invaded her senses; not at all a bad thing in her book. After all, she had worked in police precincts that wreaked of urine and body odor for the drunks, delinquents and offenders they brought in on a daily basis. However, what she could deduce of her new place of business was that it was clean.

Emma stepped up to the reception counter where a Deputy Sheriff was sitting, typing on a computer. The first thing she noticed was the woman's red hair tucked into a neat bun at the back of her head, which complimented the sparkling blue of her eyes. She glanced up from her work, offered a friendly smile, and released her computer mouse before closing the manila folder she was transcribing information from.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes," Emma affirmed in a friendly manner, leaning closer to read her name tag. "Deputy Aurora…" Immediately she paused, never having seen the surname before. "Le-lie… Le-lee…Leeeverie?"

"Leliévre," Aurora corrected politely. "It's French."

"It's impossible, but nice sounding when you say it. I can't."

An attractive chortle later and the deputy was shaking her head. "No one can say it. You're right. It's impossible. But it's my husband's name." It was then that Emma noticed the single gold band on Aurora's ring finger. "Don't feel bad. I've been married to Phillip for 3 years now and my mom still can't say my name properly."

"Ah, well then, I don't… feel bad, that is."

"You can call me Deputy Aurie. The whole town does."

"Great. Well, Deputy Aurie. I'm Sheriff Emma Swan. Here to check out the new work digs."

Baby blue eyes gawked and Aurie straightened, bustled and began to organize around her work area. "Oh my God, Sheriff!" Emma hid her amusement, though her dimple still appeared with the absence of a wide smile. There was something appealing about catching people off guard; one got to see a glimpse of their true nature.

"Relax there, Deputy. You're not getting written up for anything."

"It's just we weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"Well, I'm getting kind of sick and tired of being at home, really. If I have to watch those women on The View bicker one more time, I may have to shoot someone." A long pause ensued and Emma looked around, peeking into sections of the first floor. "So… Can I get a tour?"

Standing up from her stool and smoothing hands down her polyester khaki uniform blouse and dark brown slacks, Aurie complied. "Absolutely, Sheriff." She turned and hooked her finger at a young officer standing a few feet away. "Fenton, can you watch the counter while I give our new Sheriff a tour?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said and dipped his head in greeting to Emma.

Twenty minutes passed as Aurie led Emma through the departments. The Evidence Room, the Records Room, and other Law Enforcement departments. Emma even met the department's IT guy, who she talked "shop" with proudly for a spell. She was no slouch around a computer and, truth be known, was quite adept at hacking in to people's phones and computers.

"Up here is where your office is, along with the Assistant Sheriff's and the Division Chiefs' offices."

They entered a large room with three desks and two small jail cells at the far end. Besides those, there was nothing that you wouldn't find in a regular office. Office supplies were littered on top of desks. Along the wall, there was a one cup coffeemaker with the coffee pods neatly organized in a rack beside them.

It wasn't until Emma swiveled on a heel, wearing the happiest expression possible, that she realized how excited she was by her new work environment. A bolt of eagerness coursed through her as she stepped into the small office, near the entrance, that had the word "Sheriff" on the door. Her occupational sanctum.

"And this is where my bread and butter is made," Emma joked. Running her forefinger along a shelf, she was pleased to find the top dust free. A coatrack stood tall near the file cabinets, and it was decided within seconds that her red leather jacket would look outstanding hanging from the top peg.

"Yes, ma'am."

Emma inspected the layout of her office. Blinds adorned the glass walls that looked out into the rest of the small area, affording her privacy, if needed. The desk was old, but sturdy, and on it was a flat screen monitor, keyboard and mouse. It was a bright office with light coming in from the small window opposite from the door. Already there was a name plate on her desk that read, "Sheriff Emma Swan", and it brought about a proud grin. Two guest chairs faced where she would be seated and along the wall under the window facing the street was a sofa, perfect for napping, Emma thought. In her mind, she'd already committed herself to some long nights getting caught up on Storybrooke and its residents.

Maybe even look up the address of one resident in particular.

Since meeting them, Emma could not stop thinking about Henry Mills and his mother, Regina. She released a short exhale of amusement at the memory of the little boy launching himself at a 250-lb security guard to protect her, and within seconds her smile widened from ear to ear. He was a charmer, for sure. The light smattering of freckles along his nose and cheeks reminded Emma of her own as a child. Though she didn't remember Regina having any, the woman did have a scar on her upper lip. As if the brunette mom wasn't intriguing enough, Emma had found herself curious as to how Ms. Mills got the marking in the first place.

Lowering herself onto the plush office chair, she skimmed her fingers along her keyboard and then opened drawers that were sufficiently stacked with more supplies.

"Well, if you need anything, just pick up the phone and give me a ring. There's a button there, you see, that goes directly to the front desk."

"Thanks, Aurie," Emma said, not looking up to catch the already relaxed smile from the redhead who seemed pleased that the Sheriff forwent any formalities in addressing her. She thought, as she departed, that Emma Swan was going to be a cool boss to work for.

When Emma was alone, she sat back, folding her hands over her tummy and glanced around. Truth be told, she did want to log in to the computer and start working, but really wasn't scheduled to until tomorrow and, therefore, still needed her new login information. Now, what to do before then.

"Groceries." She could do with some.

[ -]

"Mom, can we bake cupcakes?" Henry Mills hung on to the end of the grocery cart, the plastic edge of it tucked underneath his arms. He had been bouncing his bottom up and down to a theme song, in his head, to one of his favorite Saturday Morning cartoons while Regina hunted for the perfect bunch of bananas.

As she replaced one bunch for another, she answered, placing them in a plastic bag, "Yes, that sounds like fun. We can definitely do that." When she looked at him her eyes twinkled. "We can even make our own frosting. What do you think? Chocolate or strawberry?"

Henry thought it over. "I like strawberry." He jumped off the cart and dashed around to her by way of going around the small fruit section. He picked up a clementine and started switching it from one hand to the other, like a ball. "But Spencer, my friend from school…" Regina's grin broadened in size as they moved on to the vegetables. She knew exactly who Spencer was, not only because he had been to their house numerous times in the last few months, but because she was the Principal of Storybrooke Elementary. She knew who all her students were. "He says that pink is for girls."

Scoffing, tired of hearing that argument, Regina expressed her opinion directly. "Pink is for everyone, Henry. It's just another color."

"That's what I told him," Henry declared, throwing his arms up. "But he's being a wanker about it."

That stopped Regina's study of the fresh greens as she swiveled her head toward him quickly, fixing him with a raised eyebrow.

"What did you call him?"

"A wanker."

"Where did you…" Regina halted as the logical answer to her question jumped into her head. "Aunt Z?"

"Yeah. I heard her call him that under her breath when he and Robyn were arguing that one day, and he called Robyn a Big Ugly Monster."

Regina gave a brief hum of understanding. She was surprised her sister hadn't said the word aloud. Spencer Hill could be a little monster himself. Regardless, Henry's little friend wasn't the one teaching him British slang, so she continued, "I don't really care for that word, Henry. Do you know what it means?"

"Um… a wrong person?" His adorable face scrunched in question so that Regina cracked a small grin, but then transformed back into a straight, disapproving line.

"Not quite. And you would do well to not use words when you don't know what they mean. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Good boy."

She went back to her shopping while Henry frowned pensively beside her. "Mommy?" When he successfully gained her attention again, he asked, "What is a wanker?"

Regina made a sort of a hiccup sound and moved her lips but she couldn't find a suitable child-safe definition, which was unusual for an educator such as herself. Sometimes all rhyme and reason flew out the window when one was dealing with one's own children, so she did the next best thing she could. She diverted his attention with vegetables.

"Here. Put this broccoli in the cart."

"What? Broccoli?" His disgust was evident from his hung mouth and goggled eyes as she handed him the offensive vegetable. She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing, and then followed with, "Yes. And these brussel sprouts." It was fun being a mom.

Instantly, Henry became distracted as he held both food items away from himself as he might a skunk.

"Yuck."

They continued their stroll down aisles as Henry enthusiastically asked for junk food. Twizzlers were a no. Popcorn was a yes, as long as it was organic. Pop-Tarts were a big fat no, even though Henry had begged and pleaded. Regina allowed chocolate pudding cups as a trade-off because, secretly, she liked them too.

Wheeling around the bread aisle, Henry spied a familiar form inspecting the eggs and then slowly enter their aisle, not paying attention to them.

Regina was just bending to retrieve a loaf of whole wheat bread when Henry loudly boomed, "EMMA! Hi!"

The new Sheriff's face lit up and it took everything Regina could muster not to smile back. Instead she returned her attention to the bread, found one with the latest "best before date", and dropped it into the front part of the cart. She bit the inside of her cheek, a reprimand on her tongue, to keep from warning Henry of getting too close to the newcomer. It was too late anyway. He was standing right in front of Emma Swan, looking up at her in adoration. It was ridiculous, and annoyingly charming, when the blonde offered her hand for him to shake.

"Hello, Sir Henry."

He tilted his head to the side. "Why'dja call me that?"

"Because I've decided you're my knight in shining armor."

Regina watched her son beam brightly at that and forgot she was supposed to not find the new sheriff so charismatic.

"Didya hear that mom? I'm a knight!"

She hid her fascination of the blonde's winking dimples behind a polite spread of the lips. "Indeed, I did." Out of self-consciousness, unaware of where it was coming from, Regina stayed behind the cart and leaned against the bar. "Sheriff Swan."

Ever observant, Emma had already noticed Regina's business casual attire, namely the light blue denim colored blouse, gaping open just enough at the neck to be tempting yet tasteful. It was tucked into a pair of jet black chinos that fell to just below mid-calf, displaying an appealing set of ankles above a pair of tawny stiletto pumps. Their color exactly matched the short blazer over the blouse with the sleeves rolled up to mid forearms.

Gulping, Emma greeted, "Ms. Mills." Again, Emma looked at Regina's ankles and found it humorous that she hadn't known she could find ankles so appealing. She never had before. "Nice to see you again."

Regina didn't trust herself to say anything, so, she just sociably nodded. It was the way Emma Swan said, Nice to see you again, and the fluttering, like butterfly wings, in her rib cage, that confounded her. The way the blonde looked at her, had Regina's eyes almost squint in curiosity. She did not want to be curious about anyone, especially Storybrooke's new officer of the law.

"Sheriff."

"Please, call me Emma."

Lips moved already to decline the offer, but words never surfaced, for Henry was excitedly jabbering about his morning. He had started off by what he had for breakfast. "Eggs in a basket, but not a real basket. A basket made of bread, but it doesn't have a handle like an Easter basket. It has a hole cut in the bread so Mom could make eggs in it. Have you heard of that? And we had berries and yogurt too! Do you like berries, Emma? What's your favorite berry? Blueberries or strawberries? I like strawberries! And they make good pink frosting. Do you like strawberry frosting too? Mom says pink is for everyone. I think so too. Do you like the color pink? Like the Pink Panther? I like the Pink Panther. Even when he tricks that Big Nose guy. Do you like cartoons, Emma? What's your favorite cartoon character?"

Regina caught her top lip between her teeth to keep from laughing at Emma's expression. The woman was completely baffled and could not get a word in edgewise, despite the questions being thrown at her. Both women realized a little too late that Henry had slipped his hand into Emma's free one.

Spine becoming ramrod straight, Regina scolded, "Henry. Please allow Ms. Swan to have her own personal space."

Instead of agreed propriety from the blonde, Emma just shrugged a shoulder and dismissed with a head shake. "It's okay. I don't mind," and before she could notice the glare from the brunette, Emma squatted down to align herself as best as she could to Henry's height. Regina found the move to be entirely sweet, and Emma answered all of Henry's questions in amazing order. "Yes, I have heard of Eggs in a Basket only they aren't called Eggs in a Basket where I am from, they are called Eggs in a Hole. I love berries and my favorite is actually raspberry. But strawberries are good too and pink strawberry frosting is delicious! I like pink, but my favorite color is red. And I used to watch the Pink Panther when I was your age too, the first version that came out. But, my favorite character of all time is Bugs Bunny, because he is one clever," Emma imitated the cartoon character Elmer Fudd, "wascally wabbit."

Regina rolled her eyes at the likeness, but could not help the happy shine in her eyes at her son being so captivated by the woman. If she wasn't careful, it could be contagious.

"I like Bugs Bunny too. Especially when he's with Daffy Duck and Daffy says, 'Rabbit Season'."

Emma immediately launched in, "Duck Season."

"Rabbit Season!" Henry jumped.

"Duck Season!" Emma poked him on the tip of his nose with her finger, which only pleased Henry more.

"Rabbit Season."

Regina thought she had better intervene, and pushed the cart forward then grabbed her son's shoulder. "This could go on forever. We appreciate the unusual entertainment, Sheriff Swan, but we must be on our way."

"Mom, can Emma shop with us?"

Before Regina could say anything, Emma enthusiastically copied the six-year-old. "Yes, may I accompany you down the nut aisle, Ma'am?"

"Sure, if it makes you feel more comfortable being surrounded by your peers."

"Ah, I get it." They slowly walked down the aisle, Henry spreading a safe distance between them with his shaggy head swiveling back and forth, recording their words and facial expressions. (He was, after all, excited for any progress between his mom and his on-a-star-wished super hero.) "You're calling me a nut."

The sheriff didn't seem offended. On the contrary, she was amused and smirking. "Sheriff Swan, you engage in physical altercations with body guards outside political events and behave like a child in a supermarket, spouting cartoon dialogue at the top of your lungs. If that's not a tad crazy, I don't know what is."

"First of all, it was not an altercation." They halted and both women, though they were in a debate, smirked at one another, completely absorbed. "It was a demonstration. And Looney Toons is classic children's entertainment. I mean, getting hit in the head with an anvil. How is that not funny? Hello?" Then, as if Emma had figured the brunette out, a gleam of recognition crossed her features. Even if she was wrong, Emma suspected that it would be fun to tease Ms. Mills. "Oh wait. Did your parents not let you watch cartoons when you were little. Were you that kind of kid?"

"Excuse me?"

Emma began strolling again while the dark-haired mother leaned forward, attention completely snared by the blonde's implication. Probably thinking how dare Emma make any assumption on her upbringing.

"I bet you had piano lessons when you were five."

"It was the violin and I fail to see your point."

"Did you ever scrape a knee, Ms. Mills?"

"I scraped my knee lotsa times," Henry interjected.

"How dare you." Regina said, though not loudly. She scoffed a little bit in surprise.

"I was playing in the school yard and I fell and scraped my knee." Henry went on, oblivious to the undercurrent passing between the two women.

"Relax, Madame Principal."

"Both knees actually. And then there was the time I feel off my bike. Remember, Mom?"

"Yes, dear," Regina agreed absently and tilted her head at Emma. "Sheriff Swan, don't assume that you know anything about me just because I don't spout out Porky Pig in public."

Emma was captivated by the woman. She couldn't help it. Regina Mills was appealing when her feathers were ruffled. There was a rosy glow to her cheeks and she took on such an air. The brunette was engaging and those brown eyes flashed and dilated. They were amazing in their deep brown, like polished dark chocolate.

"Principal Mills, I would be delighted to hear your best Porky Pig impression."

Regina's eyes opened widely, matching her dropped jaw. Emma Swan was nuts. Regina shook her head at herself because even knowing that did not dull her attraction to the blonde.

"Tell you what… I'll even settle for your best Tweety Bird imitation. Sylvester the cat? Say 'suffering succotash'."

"I don't know how we got here," Regina muttered to herself incredulously as they turned the corner into another aisle.

"I do. You called me a nut. Which, I might add, is being very assumptive with who you think I am. You don't even know me. But you know what? It's okay. I've been called worse." Emma's grin belied her words, Regina noticed. The blonde was enjoying their exchange. Was she a little crazy for enjoying it too? "So maybe we shouldn't assume," the Sheriff continued, "I'm not entirely crazy and you're not entirely stuck up."

Regina halted with an aghast expression and gaped at Emma who, pointedly, stared right back at her smugly. The one thing that brought them quickly out of it was Henry's sudden burst of genuine laughter, apparently finding them quite entertaining. He earned a continued gawp from his mother and a silent shoulder shaking chuckle from the sheriff when he repeated, thoroughly amused at the phonetics, "Suffering Succotash."

Running the tip of her tongue pensively against her top back molars, Regina stared down the empty aisle. Swallowing, she surprised herself by apologizing. "You are right, Sheriff Swan. I don't know anything about you. Nor do I want to." Not 100% true. "I don't know where you come from."

"Boston."

"I don't know, nor do I care, what you like doing in your free time."

"Reading, working out, building things… I'm pretty handy around the house." Emma informed with a wink, hoping the beautiful woman would absorb these personal details about her. She could see that Regina noticed her wink, which seemed to distract the woman momentarily. Emma was taking that as a compliment. The principal didn't want to find her interesting, but she did.

Immediately Regina thought of the apple tree felled in her backyard during the storm last week. She had made a mental note of calling someone out but had never gotten around to it. She watched as Emma switched the grocery basket from one arm to the other, quickly inspecting its items.

I know she likes Pop-Tarts, root beer and wrapped processed cheese singles.

"Mom, we know she likes Bugs Bunny and strawberries." Suddenly excitement flit across Henry's face. "Emma! We're going to make cupcakes today! Want to come over and make cupcakes with us? Mom's going to make pink frosting!"

Emma squelched the laughter itching to escape her throat at Regina's face. The woman looked horrified.

"Henry… I'm sure Sheriff Swan has other things to do."

"I don't actually."

Regina's attention snapped to her and only Emma caught the death glare.

"I'm free all afternoon."

"You are?" Henry gazed at Regina longingly. "Can Emma come over, Mom, please?"

Regina was at a loss for words. Torn between being upset with the blonde, yet mildly curious and wanting to please her son. Of course, she knew she couldn't always please him but as a mother it was always tempting to try. And darn it, she was taking some unexplained pleasure from Sheriff Swan's company, and that completely puzzled her.

Seeming to sense Regina's ambivalence, Emma's mouth upturned into the most beguiling grin. She took pity on the mother and snapped her fingers, poking her finger to her own temple as if remembering something. "Oh shoot. You know what? I do have something I need to do, Henry." At the six-year-old's disappointment and his mother's relief, Emma counterbalanced declining cupcake-baking this afternoon with a proposal of her own. "But I tell you what. How about I take a raincheck?"

"A raincheck?"

"Yeah. It means I'll do it another time." She, and Henry, looked up at Regina, who seemed a little wary but nodded, displaying acceptance to appease her son, while honestly also being grateful for the reprieve.

That was when Emma struck in the most conniving manner. "Like next Friday."

Henry's eyes lit up at Emma while Regina's smile vanished, replaced with surprise, and she squeaked, "What?"

Straightening, Emma knew inviting herself over was inappropriate, but to see Regina Mills stunned into silence was well worth the err in etiquette.

"I'm not doing anything Friday. We can do it then. I'll even bring pizza over, how about that?"

"Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" The young boy was coming unhinged at one of his favorite meals. "Pepperoni!" He cupped his hands over his mouth confidentially to Emma and whispered, "No vegetables. Especially broccoli."

Not hearing that, Regina was too preoccupied with her nervousness. "I… I'll have to check our schedule." Thinking of sharing a meal with Emma Swan excited her in a way she didn't want to think about. If she let herself contemplate it a moment longer, she'd have to admit that she could actually see the woman sitting fittingly in her kitchen, living room and she stopped herself before thinking of Sheriff Swan anywhere else in her house.

"Please, mom? Please? We're not doing anything."

"Henry, I'm not accustomed to inviting total strangers into our home."

"But Emma's not a stranger! She's from Boston! And she likes raspberries and Bugs Bunny."

It was on the tip of her tongue to murmur, "Oh geez," at her son but Emma rang in with, "Sounds like a winning endorsement, right?"

Regina considered the woman before her and tried to stamp down her own growing wonder. Emma Swan's drawing power was befuddling her senses.

"I'm also the new Town Sheriff. I assure you, I'm not a serial killer."

"Uh huh… that's probably what a serial killer would say."

The brunette only got a huge smile in return to her quip, charming dimples appearing at the corners.

"Very well, Sheriff Swan."

"Awesome! I'll see you both in about a week." She leaned toward Regina and said quietly, "Should be enough time for you to get used to the idea." Ruffling the little boy's hair, Emma turned and started walking in the other direction. "Farewell, Sir Henry."

"Bye, Emma!"

"Wait," Regina vocalized, "Don't you want our address or phone number?"

Emma only threw her response over her shoulder while pointing down at herself. "Sheriff, remember? I can do a background check on you."

Eyebrow quirked and chin dipping downward, Regina stated. "That's an abuse of power."

Emma swiveled and walked backwards with a finger up to her lips, "Shhhh…." and then she winked again, causing Regina to inwardly bristle. The newcomer's winks had a profound effect on her.

Releasing a breath, the enchanted mother looked down at her son and caught him quizzically watching Emma Swan disappear around the corner. "What's the matter with you? You got what you wanted. Emma's coming over."

"I'm thinking about something you and Emma said."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, and it's confusing me." He looked up at her then with a bewildered look in his eyes. "Mommy, why would Emma want to kill our cereal?"