Meet the Sisters

"Henry?"

"Henry is one cute kid!" Anna's voice sounded in her ear, but Emma was only paying half attention as she looked around the empty office area.

Henry pointed at her phone. "Who's that?"

Peeking around the corner, Emma replied absently. "My sisters." Was Regina around? Excitement bubbled in her middle and an upturned curve of the lips appeared.

"Cool. Can I talk to them?"

Still looking for Regina, she handed Henry the phone but forgot to take the earphones out. She ended up pulling the jack out and her sisters' voices filled the room.

"Where is she going," she heard Elsa say.

"Maybe she has to take a leak," Anna replied with a giggle.

"Hi," Henry boomed. "I'm Henry."

Their voices carried as Emma spied around a different corner. No Regina in sight. While her sisters made introductions and cooed over the adorable six year old, Emma returned, not being able to hide the curiosity and a little bit of enthusiasm in her voice.

"Henry, where's your mom?"

"Oh," Henry shifted from one foot to another, "She's in a teacher meeting."

"Who's your mom, Henry?" Elsa asked.

"My mom is Regina Mills. She's the principal."

"Principal, huh?" There was definite humor on her little sister Anna's voice and she could imagine her playing with the ends of her red hair that she liked wearing in braided pigtails. Seriously, the woman was nearing her late twenties and still looked like Pippi Longstocking. Elsa had blonde hair that she loved wearing in a French braid. They always wanted to braid Emma's hair too when she was younger, and sometimes Emma would give in. The three of them would walk to school looking like the Friggin' Waltons. "Tell us more, Henry."

"Emma had dinner with my mom and me the other night and Emma thinks she's beautiful."

Anna was giggling and Elsa fished, "Oh, does she?"

Henry was nodding when Emma grabbed the phone, "I'll take it from here." She could see the inquisitive expressions on their faces. "Hey, you guys. I need to call you back."

"Yes," Anna raised both eyebrows, "You really do."

"Oh geez."

"It's okay," Elsa put her hands up. "We have enough information for the Aunts right now. Go find the Beautiful Regina. I can tell you want to."

Emma shook her head and both women yelled through the phone, "Bye Henry!", "It was lovely to meet you!" and "Hope we get to talk to you again!"

Henry shouted back, "Bye!"

Before Emma hung up, she heard Anna yell, "Don't forget to make an honest woman of her!"

Silence permeated the office. When Emma opened her eyes and looked down at Henry, he flashed her his best winning grin, and she had a feeling he was guilty about something.

"Henry, is your mom really in a meeting?"

"Yes, I swear!"

"And where are you supposed to be?"

He looked down at his sneakers and slipped his hands in his pockets.

Great.

"… Because I don't think it's here, Henry."

He looked up at her desperation clear on his face. "But I just had to talk to you, Emma."

Kneeling down, concernedly, in front of him, Emma grabbed his shoulders. "What's the matter, kid? Is everything alright?" If it wasn't, Emma would make damn sure it would be.

"Mom's sad."

That caught Emma off guard, and the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach implied that maybe she had something to do with it.

"She was having so much fun with you the other night and I think she's sad because she thinks she did something to make you leave."

A weary sigh dropped from Emma's lips.

"Just don't be mad at us, Emma." That did it. She crushed Henry to her and then stood, pulling him back to her chair with her. She sat down and brought him to stand between her legs.

"Hey, listen. I am not mad at you. Not at all."

"But are you angry at Mom?"

"No. I think I'm angry at myself," Emma admitted honestly.

"Why?" Henry propped himself on her knee and Emma smiled a little, loving the feel of him on her lap.

"Well, it's complicated, Henry."

"Because you're a grown up?"

Emma shrugged uncertainly, "Being a grown up is not always easy."

"And being a girl?"

"What?" She gave his question some thought, moving her head pensively from side to side. Of course, being a woman had its hardships too. The little boy punched his fist into his open palm in confirmation, surprising her.

"I knew it! Being an adult and a girl… double confusing."

She snorted at his logic and couldn't help the shoulder-shaking chuckle escaping her. "Oh Henry. We're going to have to talk about all that a little later. I need to get you back where you belong."

As she was putting her jacket on, there was a commotion coming from the stairwell and rounding the corner was Regina, Zelena and Robyn.

"Emma! Emma, help. Henry's missing." Regina's terrified eyes searched her face, pleading for help. Emma felt the little shape behind her burrow closer to her back. The time of reckoning had arrived.

She pulled him out from behind her and presented him to the others, draping a protective arm around his neck for support, to which she could tell he was grateful.

"Looking for this?"

[- ]

A wave of relief washed through Regina and she fell to a crouch on the floor, hugging her son. She had gotten off earlier than expected and was looking forward to taking her family out for sushi. All of them, including Zelena and Robyn. When she arrived at Zelena's flower shop, she found her sister talking about arrangements for Ariel and Erik's wedding. She joined in on small talk, since Zelena was just wrapping up with them, and bid the happy couple farewell.

Everyone agreed sushi was a good idea and Robyn had told them Henry was in the bathroom. After another 10 minutes, Regina had become suspicious.

They had searched the entire shop while in distress, and when they couldn't find him, Emma was the first person Regina thought of, so she made a mad dash for the door.

Now that she knew her son was safe, anger started to set in and she pulled back to address him.

"Henry Daniel Mills! What on earth did you think you were doing? You can't go galivanting all over town by yourself. You know that!"

"I know, but…"

"No buts!" She realized that she had raised her voice too sharply when his eyes began to mist. She forced herself to count to five, because ten was too long, and shut her eyes. Being angry was okay, but, she needed to try and control herself right now. He was safe. "You really scared me, Henry. You usually know better and when I couldn't find you, I panicked and worried. I thought the absolute worst had happened to you. Do you understand?"

He nodded and she hugged him again, holding the back of his head.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I just wanted to talk to Emma."

"There are things called phones, you know," Zelena said over Regina's shoulder. She made a face, causing Henry to break into a smile, to which she winked at. "Use one next time. I'm perfectly happy letting you bother Sheriff Swan with mine."

Emma felt compelled to add in, "Besides giving everyone a big scare, he was no bother to me." Their eyes met and held and Emma smiled at Regina, "I like having him around." Under Emma's heated gaze, Regina gulped and stood up.

"Henry, we'll talk about this later." From the way his head fell, he knew there was going to be a punishment and though Regina hated doling them out, this case warranted it. This wasn't like he had wandered a few racks away from her in a store or had hid in a clothes rack, which he had done before. He actually left a building by himself, without permission! "I need to talk to Emma. Go with Zelena and Robyn, please." It was not a question.

Robyn piped up finally with, "We're going to get sushi!"

Henry swiveled and asked, "Can Emma come with us, Mom?"

"Come along, you heard your mother. Let's go, Ferdinand Magellan." Zelena herded the children out, but not before she turned back, in a nosey fashion, to look at the women inside the office one last time.

"Who?" Robyn asked, as they walked further away, their voices fading out.

"He was a world explorer, sweetheart."

"Why was he named after jello?" Henry asked, making Emma crack a smile and Regina catch both lips between her teeth to keep from grinning. She shook her head slightly at her son.

She felt Emma's hands on her arms and Regina just crumbled on the inside, letting herself fall into Emma. They stood there embracing, and her hands came up around Emma's waist under the arms that were now around her. She laid her head on a leather clad shoulder, finding the scent and comfort of it soothing.

"Hey, hey," Emma said softly. "It's okay. He's safe."

"He has never done that before."

"Kids do stupid stuff, Regina. The important thing is he knows it wasn't okay and he'll get disciplined for it."

"It could have been worse."

"But it wasn't. And we'll make sure he doesn't do something that dumb again." The reassuring words calmed Regina and she wasn't sure whether Emma meant to say we. But for the first time, Regina felt a bit lighter about being a parent. It was ridiculous, she thought, but true also. Henry was getting older and this probably wouldn't be the last dumb thing he did. She couldn't keep him in a bubble for the rest of his childhood, so yes, it was nice for a moment to not feel so alone.

Regina continued to let her body calm from the frantic high it had been on. Backing away from Emma's embrace, loathe that she was to do it, she took a cursory glance around, realizing that this was her first time in Emma's office. "You need a painting or something. Over there."

Emma looked to the wall that Regina pointed at. "You're probably right. Maybe you can help me decorate. If you think this is pitiful, you should see my place right now."

The notion that she very much wanted to see where Emma Swan lived was the proverbial banana peel to which she slipped on. She lost her place in the conversation, surprised that she still wanted to spend time with Emma. This was all happening so fast, but a big part of her was okay with that somehow.

"Emma… I…"

"I'm an idiot."

The blonde's confession had Regina blinking under a heavy brow. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm an idiot, Regina."

"Okay… good to know." Regina took a deep breath and said, "Why are you an idiot exactly?"

"Because I let the mayor get into my head."

"Oh." Regina smiled at that. For Mal to bother Emma so, she must have some feelings toward Regina.

"Emma, Mal and I. It really is over between us. She can want whatever she wants, but I'm done." Regina took a step forward. "I understand that it makes things uneasy for you because she is someone you report to."

Emma waved that off and Regina felt hopeful. "So, it really is over between you two? No lingering feelings? You're not on the rebound?"

Snickering, Regina tilted her head to the side and alluringly confirmed, "Yes. And 'no' to the last two questions."

"So, can I buy you dinner?"

The corners of Regina's eyes wrinkled as a happy expression flit across her features. "No." When a blonde eyebrow curved upward and mild alarm showed in Emma's eyes, Regina grabbed Emma's hand, stroking her knuckles. "I believe you have already bought me dinner. Besides, I'm taking you out for sushi tonight."

"Oh, I see." Joy registered fully on Emma and she weaved her fingers through Regina's, who liked the feel of their touch.

This was a good beginning.