The Date

The chiming of the doorbell sent Henry flying from the couch toward the foyer.

"EMMA'S HERE, MOM! EMMA'S HERE! IMMA OPEN THE DOOR, MOM! OKAY, MOM?"

He was working on the deadbolt when Regina sounded from upstairs. "Henry! You know you are not allowed to open the door by yourself!"

"BUT IT'S EMMA, MOM!"

"It could be someone else!"

"BUT I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT HER!"

It was true. Henry, held the thin white curtain at the window beside the door back, and he and Emma were make funny faces at one another. He laughed at her sticking her tongue out at him.

"She's so cool," He muttered quietly to himself, then twisted his head to shout over his shoulder, "COME ON MOM! AREN'T YOU DONE PUTTING THAT MAKE-GLOP ON YOUR FACE ALREADY?"

Emma laughed outside on the stoop. Obviously, the six-year-old did not realize that his shouts could be heard through the door.

"YOU DON'T EVEN NEED IT! YOU'RE PRETTY WITHOUT IT!"

Emma was inclined to agree, though she had never seen it for herself, but if she was lucky, perhaps she would be given the experience of it one day.

"MOM!"

"Henry Daniel Mills!" Regina peeked her head over the banister as she descended the stairs. "Please, use your indoor voice!" A heavy sigh dropped from her lips when she spied Emma waving through the glass and realized, without a doubt, Emma had heard Henry's excitement. "Really, Henry."

Unremorseful, Henry had his hand on the lock. "May I let her in now, Mom?" When Regina's shoulder sagged he just beamed at her in barely restrained eagerness.

"Yes, you may…" He was already turning the lock and shuffling to open the door. "… let Sheriff Swan in…" was said quietly as the door opened widely and there standing in black jeans, a soft buttoned-up denim shirt with a thin red leather jacket over it, was Emma Swan. A pizza was propped up on one hand and a glass bottle in the other.

"I hope someone is hungry for pizza!" Emma walked through the door and was the recipient of an enthusiastic hug that could have very nearly knocked her off balance, had she not been prepared for it. The boy was clutching to Emma's hip. The blonde held him to her, the glass bottle at his back.

"He has been eager all day, not just for pepperoni, but to show you his toys. Of course, he could have waited a few seconds for you to come in and get settled before attacking you," Regina commented of the hug, but her expression belied the terse meaning of her words as she only gave Henry a fixed look. The boy just flashed a smile of his own, his arms still wrapped around their new guest's waist.

"That's okay. I kind of like a welcome like this."

Henry reached for the pizza and Emma gave it to him. "Careful kid."

"I got it. You're turn to hug her 'hi', mom."

Regina cleared her throat and Emma bit down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing. She spread her arms wide at Regina and joked, "Bring it in if you'd like to. I certainly won't complain."

Her mouth fell open, then snapped closed as Regina regained her composure. "I think I had better grab our dinner before it ends up on the floor." Without another word, she grabbed the large pizza box from a disgruntled Henry, who was showing he could handle it all on his own, and delivered over her shoulder, "Welcome, Sheriff Swan. Please come in."

"Emma," both she and Henry reminded in unison as Regina disappeared into the kitchen.

He shrugged and said, "I think she's a little miffed at me for yelling about her make-glop. I call it that instead of make-up because in the jars, that's what it looks like. Glop."

Ruffling his hair, she responded, "Yep, I got that."

"She doesn't need it. My mom's the prettiest woman in the world."

"Yep, I got that too."

"You did?" The kid's beam charmed her again and Emma knelt down in front of him.

"Yeah. I think that your mom is beautiful."

He enchanted her by taking her hand, then surprised her more when he uttered, "Good."

[- ]

They ate outside on the back patio, which was close to the house and consisted of a slab of stone bordered by red brick. There was a small out door kitchen to entertain guests and Regina got the impression that Emma was impressed by the amenities. She had asked whether Regina prepared meals outside often, to which she replied that she hosted a summer barbeque and pool party every July. That got her thinking about Emma being invited to the next one and she caught her mind wandering to whether the blonde wore a one-piece bathing suit or two.

Transferring a black olive off her pizza slice past her lips, she now watched Emma and Henry talk enthusiastically about their favorite super heroes. The blonde's connection with her son had astonished her from the moment the woman had arrived.

First, Regina had been completely caught off guard when she had set the pizza box down on the kitchen counter, turned around, and saw Henry carrying a bottle into the kitchen. All while Emma was removing her leather jacket and revealing that the denim shirt underneath was sleeveless. On impressive display where the sheriff's arms which were toned and quite perfect. Now, the cut of muscle rippled in the sun as her son gave Emma a forceful high-five when they agreed that Captain America was slightly better than Iron Man.

"Mom likes black olives. Do you like olives, Emma?"

The corner of her lips rose, and Regina watched Emma's gaze move from Henry to her. Those green eyes sparkled and zeroed in on the second olive slice between her thumb and forefinger. "As a matter of fact, I do." Into her mouth, the food went, and when Regina innocently sucked pizza sauce off her finger, she was not ready for the visceral impact of the Sheriff's eyes darkening with desire.

Whoa.

"Olives are okay. But, they aren't as good as pepperoni." Henry took a huge bite of pizza, making sure to eat one huge pepperoni slice.

"Yep. Pepperoni is my favorite vegetable," she joked and winked, but Henry corrected Emma with a guffaw immediately.

"Pepperoni's not a vegetable!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! It's a meat."

Winking at Regina again, Emma said before eating, "I stand corrected."

The woman was enchanting. Regina had tried not to be so affected by her, but the Sheriff was surprising her at every turn. How she got along with Henry was already paramount. Then, there was the pizza. It was thoughtful of the blonde to buy an extra-large half pepperoni and half veggie.

"Hey Mom, Emma got your favorite kind!"

Regina whipped her expression to the sheriff. "You did!"

"Eh… you struck me as a veggie pizza kind of woman."

"Yes, but this also has artichoke hearts, jalapenos and arugula on it. That's not standard of the veggie pizza. How did you know which pizza I like?

"I'm the sheriff?" Her cheeks dimpled and Emma side-glanced at her, humor and mischief in her eyes. "It's my job to know everything."

After dinner, Henry asked if he could go play his video games for a bit. When Regina had suggested he take Emma inside to play with him, while she brought their dishes in, he quickly replied, "No, that's okay, Mom. I can do it. You should show Emma our apple trees."

Stupefied, Regina watched as Henry carefully piled one plate onto the other, then stacked his empty glass on the plates, leaving their half-filled ones behind, and focused as he carried them into the house.

"Careful, Henry."

"I know, mom."

When he was gone, Emma complimented, "He's a great kid. Independent."

"He…" Regina faced Emma, still a little gobsmacked that her son volunteered for the chore. It wasn't his first time taking the dishes to the kitchen, but she couldn't remember him offering to do it all by himself before. Another milestone. "He's a good boy." Another eye-lock between them bore a giddy feeling in Regina's stomach, and, if she didn't look away, she feared she would give her interest in being alone with Emma away. Her attention turned to the bottle their visitor had been carrying earlier. What she had initially thought was a bottle of wine had been a rare and delicious Italian Strawberry Soda. "Thank you so much for thinking of Henry and bringing a non-alcoholic beverage with you."

"I'm glad he liked it. It's one of my favorites and the brand is not very common. My aunts raised me on this stuff and it's not your typical store-bought soda, which they preferred I not drink too much of."

"Yes, you spoke so fondly of them at dinner. And you mentioned sisters? You have two?"

"Yeah… I… well, they aren't my biological sisters, but we are sisters all the same."

And yet another intriguing surprise. Regina brought the drink to her lips and the sweet strawberry taste lulled her into comfort as she sat back and enjoyed the soda's fragrant scent. "Now I am interested."

"Aunt Ingrid was my mom's best friend all through childhood and college. When my mother died, in her will, she named Aunt Ingrid my legal guardian."

"And your father?"

A pause had Regina second guessing her question. "I never knew him."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not. I had a good life. I had family."

"And your two sisters. What were their names? Elsa and Anna?"

"They were Gerdie's daughters. Her husband had died when they were very young. They came to live with us and we became very close."

"Wow. That's a Hallmark movie."

Emma laughed delightedly at that. "Yep! How lucky was I to have that? Everything worked out. I'm so glad for that."

They sipped soda and enjoyed the fresh air, though dusk was upon them. It was a comfortable moment and Regina found herself asking, "So really. How did you know about my favorite pizza?"

Emma sat back in her chair, rolled her lips between her teeth and briefly weighed whether she should give her sources away. "Mary Margaret."

"Ah." Regina's head inclined as she thought that of course the answer should have been obvious.

"I must say, I was a little surprised, myself, that she knew something as personal as that. There's a story there, but I didn't get a chance to ask her because we got a call." When Regina didn't answer immediately, Emma's stomach sank at a thought. "Did you two date?"

Regina, who had just sipped her soda nearly choked and began coughing slightly. Emma felt that there was no choice but to scoot closer and lightly slap on Regina's back. "You okay?"

Nodding profusely and trying to catch her breath, Regina shot Emma an incredulous expression. "Mary Margaret and I? Good Heavens no! Oh my God!" Suddenly instead of hacking, Regina started laughing and wiping tears from her eyes.

Bewildered, Emma said, "She seems to know an awful lot about you."

"My mother dated her father for a brief time. I should say that she and I were nearly step-sisters."

"Really?"

"Really." Regina smiled brightly. "I'll have to tell Zelena about this. She will laugh her ass off."

"I bet she would. When I met your sister at the mayor's party she seemed to be quite the funny lady. Pretty, good humored. Very tall."

Regina ignored the spike of jealousy at the mere notion that Emma Swan might have checked her sister out. Ridiculous. It would be a natural assessment anyone would make and, again, she marveled at how wayward her impulses had become where the new sheriff was concerned.

"And Cora is your mom? She's intense."

"Oh, for sure."

"So, what's the story then, if you don't mind my asking." Emma pointed to herself. "Cop. Always curious."

"There's not much to tell. My parents went through a separation, and during that time, my mother dated Mary Margaret's father. My parents ended up reconciling and staying married. I suppose it sounds complicated."

"It sounds like a soap opera!"

Snorting, Regina shook her head and replied, "That is probably the best way to describe my mother… as that diva character in a soap opera. The matriarch that provides all the drama."

They shared a laugh that faded as their eyes locked. Awareness shot through them like an electrical current, connecting them until nothing around mattered except a real interest to bond and know one another better.

The faint ringing of the doorbell pulled them both out of their moment, and Cora's voice could be heard throughout the house. Regina sat up straighter and was disappointed when she saw that her mother was not alone.

Stepping out the back door, with Henry in tow, was Zelena, Cora and, to Regina's dismay, Mal, who was taken aback by Emma Swan sitting very close to her.

"What's up, Buttercup?" Zelena asked, her eyes twinkling as they settled on Emma in glee. "Sheriff Swan. It is very good to see you again."

Regina aimed a look at her sister as if to silently plead, "Calm down, Z. Let's not make your pleasure that I am in the company of another woman obvious."

"Sheriff Swan? This is a surprise." Cora smiled, but Emma still found it difficult to read the older woman, whose auburn hair was tastefully coiffed. Emma could sense, however, the less than thrilled attitude coming from her new boss, the mayor.

"Indeed, it is," Mayor Drakeford agreed, though her expression was contrary to that. "Hello, Sheriff Swan." Not waiting for an answer, Mal addressed Regina. "Regina, might I have a word with you?"

"Now is not a good time, Mal. I am entertaining company."

"I am sure Sheriff Swan doesn't mind if I steal you for a moment or two."

Emma quirked a brow at the stressed word, unsure how to respond. This was a delicate subject to be sure. A few days ago, the mayor had subtlety flirted with her, which had made Emma realize she needed to be cautious. Mal Drakeford found her physically appealing and she had discovered that the woman could be a little handsy. Lingering handshakes, the swipe of a finger on the inside of her palm, and undressing Emma with her eyes. Now she looked very territorial over Regina and Emma didn't like it.

"Uh…" Emma began.

"Now really," Zelena began. "We should not disturb Regina and her date."

Everyone paused and Cora scrutinized them carefully. Emma's arm was still resting on the back of Regina's chair. Mal narrowed her eyes at them. Zelena looked like a child in a candy shop. Emma and Regina, both, had waited for the other to make a correction and when neither of them did, they eyed each other in an uncertain manner of how to proceed from here.

The awkwardness was saved when Henry moved from Zelena's tandem embrace and said, "Mom, can you help me get my new Hulk pajamas from the laundry basket.

Scooting her chair back suddenly, Regina acquiesced, "Of course. I forgot, sweetheart. I'm sorry." To everyone else, Regina said, "Excuse me." Her departure was delayed by a soft look that pleaded for Emma to wait for her. The look was not lost on anyone, including the mayor.

"Well," Cora, again, alligator-smiled at all three women and said, "I suppose we had better go."

"Yes." Zelena said, making it a little more obvious when she announced a second time. "Sorry for the intrusion, Emma. Please, enjoy the rest of your date."

The repeated mention of the word date, and the way the mayor clenched her jaw, had confirmed Emma's suspicion and she steeled her expression, not giving any emotion away. She remembered, as a child, her Aunt Helga sitting with her at the kitchen table, her aunt's blonde hair in its usual bun at the back of her head, with a deck of cards. "Remember, Emma. Your poker face is a valuable asset."

"Sheriff," Mal began when they were alone on the porch. "I request your presence in my office, Monday morning."

The impromptu meeting sounded more like a demand than a request. With that, the blonde mayor left, the slow clack of her heels tormenting Emma and leaving her rattled about what Monday's subject of conversation was going to be.

[- ]

In his brand new Incredible Hulk pajamas, Henry listened very carefully through the crack in the living room window leading to the patio.

"So," Emma started. He could hear his mom take her seat at the table.

"More soda?" Regina's voice sounded a little funny to his ears. Was his mom a little nervous?

"Um, no thanks." Now, Emma sounded nervous. Henry frowned and his lips set into a grim line. "Regina? So, you and the Mayor, huh?"

There was a beat of silence until Regina's weary sigh resonated. "Not anymore, but yes."

"For how long were you together?"

"For about a year."

"Sounds serious."

Uh oh. There was something that Henry didn't like in Emma's voice. He could tell she didn't like that his mom and the mayor had dated. He didn't like that the mayor and his mom had dated either.

"It was to one of us."

There was a pause. It was almost as if Henry could hear the wheels in Emma's head turning. "No doubt to which one."

Raising his head, Henry peeped through the open window. They were staring at the table, looking like they maybe wanted to say something more to one another, until Emma scooted her chair back. "Well, it's getting late. I should probably go."

Henry watched Emma rise out of the chair with her back to Regina and his mom dragged a hand through her hair in frustration. Exhibiting one of her fake smiles, Regina rose and matched Emma's formal pose with her own. Emma turned back and said, "Thanks for the company. I had… fun."

"Thank you for the pizza and soda."

They stood there longer, his mom with her hands folded in front of her and Emma with hers in her pockets, glancing around the yard.

"What happened to the apple tree?" Emma pointed and asked of the tree, hanging sadly in the yard, splintered in a few places.

"Storm."

"Ah."

Henry couldn't watch anymore. He laid on the floor staring at the ceiling as he continued to listen to them. Grown-ups were so silly. Even at six, he could tell they weren't eager to end their night. He didn't know why Emma wanted to leave and he didn't know why his mother was acting as if she didn't want Emma to stay. Air collected in his cheeks and he blew out slowly. Not only were they grown-ups but they were also girls, which made them double confusing.

"Well, I guess I should say goodbye to the kid."

Henry's eyes flashed in distress.

"He would love that. He's upstairs in bed."

Like a bullet from a gun, Henry shot from the room, skidding across the floor in his sock-covered feet in front of the staircase, and took the stairs quickly on all fours. Reaching his bedroom, he dove onto the bed, looking around him. He brushed the hair from his eyes and grabbed a comic book, just in time, before Emma and his mother walked in.

"Hey, Henry. I just wanted to say goodnight."

"You're leaving? You should sleep over!"

Why both women blushed and chuckled uncomfortably at each other, he wasn't sure. Sometimes when he stayed late at his cousin's, Aunt Z always offered that he could sleep over. And, Mal had slept over a few times, much to his displeasure.

"Maybe another time. Thanks for the invite though."

"When are you coming again?"

He watched Emma glimpse at Regina, who just stared at the floor with her lips set gloomily.

"Um. I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

He didn't like that answer. He didn't like that Emma looked pained by her lack of response or the disappointment that crossed his mom's face. He hoped that shooting star knew what it was doing.

"Okay." His reply was dubious, but if either woman had sensed it, they didn't say anything.

Emma walked over and gave him a quick hug. He liked the way she smelled. She didn't wear lots of perfume like the mayor did and her hugs felt genuine.

"I'll walk you out," Regina offered.

"Oh, you don't have to. I can let myself out." Emma again looked a little uncertain, especially when his mom inhaled sharply. Why was she in a hurry to leave?

"Ok," Regina said. "Whatever."

"I mean, if you want to…"

"No, that's fine. I'll tuck Henry in before I lock up."

"Do you need any help cleaning up?" Now, it sounded like Emma wanted to stay! Henry was totally confused.

Regina's tone had grown cold, taking him by surprise. "Sheriff Swan, I don't need you for anything. You may leave."

Henry's eyes darted from one woman to the other. He was sure he didn't like the sound of his mother's reply, nor the hurt and then resolve that he saw on Emma's face.

"Good night," the blonde murmured before exiting the room.

When Regina sat down beside him, her smile was in place but there was a sadness in her eyes. Henry wanted to swear with a word he'd heard his aunt use before, but knew his mother wouldn't like it.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's get you all tucked in."

"Tonight was fun, wasn't it, mom?"

The front door was heard closing and Regina's grin faltered.

"Yes."

"And it was really nice of Emma to get your favorite pizza."

"Yes, it was."

"And, maybe next time, you could make your lasagna for her."

"Uh-huh." Henry let his mom tuck the covers under his arm and kiss his forehead. "Goodnight, Henry. Sleep tight."

After she left, Henry stared up at the ceiling, thinking that everything had gone downhill when the mayor and his family had come over. He wondered what they had wanted because they left pretty quickly after that.

One thing was for certain. He knew Regina and Emma were having a good time together. Their laughter was music to his ears. He had to do something.