Sorry updates have been slowing down for this story - I've had a million and one things to sort out for university and my new flatmate moving in. Still, I have the rest of this story planned out, so it shouldn't take me too much longer to flesh out the final 3 updates!
Thanks again to all of you who have read this, and even more to those who have told me how much you've enjoyed it! I must admit, I have become a little bit of a review junkie...
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"Mom!"
Regina barely had time to brace for the impact as her son threw himself at her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Hey to you too kid," smiled Emma, playfully ruffling his hair.
"Did you like your present?" he asked, looking up at them both.
"We loved it sweetheart," said Regina, smiling softly down at her son. "It was very thoughtful."
"Yeah, you little romantic," grinned Emma. "Whatever girl gets you in the future is gonna be soo lucky."
He blushed at the comment, burying his face against his mom's waist, missing the glare she sent the blonde over his head.
"Seriously though kid," said Emma. "It was pretty amazing. Maybe you could help me out with the romantic stuff from here on out, huh?"
He pulled his head back far enough to see Emma's face. "You could use it."
The blonde scoffed in disbelief. "I'm not that bad!"
"Maybe not," smirked Henry. "But with my help, you'll be awesome!"
"Sounds like someone worked up an appetite," grinned Ruby as she arrived at the booth to take the family's order, Emma's stomach growling loudly in greeting. "Looks like it too," she added with a smirk as her eyes landed on the deep purple hickey on Emma's neck.
Henry frowned at Ruby's reaction, looking over at his blonde mother. As she turned to make her retort to the she wolf, her hair fell over her shoulder to flow down her back, making the mark on her neck impossible to miss. Face turning red, his gaze flickered to his adoptive mother, who was intently studying the menu, despite the fact she had the thing memorized after 28 years. He shuddered at the thought of his two mothers together like that, even if he had given them some 'grown up time'.
"Did you have a good night staying with Ruby last night?"
He looked up at his brunette mother, who seemed intent on ignoring the teasing match happening next to her. "Yeah, it was great. You should have seen Grams before she left. She was funny."
"Funnier than when she hugged me?" asked Regina with a smirk.
Henry chuckled. "Grandpa had to carry her out over his shoulder. She just kept saying she wanted to dance the night away."
Regina frowned. "Sorry you had to see that."
He simply shrugged. "It's hardly the weirdest thing I've seen."
"So you won't need any more sessions with Dr Hopper?" she asked with a smirk.
"Not for that."
At his words, Regina frowned, following his gaze to the mark on Emma's neck. "I did ask her to hide it, or allow me to heal it, but she insisted on leaving it as it was." She paused. "Does it bother you, Henry? Me and Emma being together like that?" He had always seemed to supportive up until now.
He sighed, looking back at her. "I think it's great that you guys love each other, Mom. It's just that no kid wants to think of his parents' like that."
"Well you can blame Emma for wanting to flaunt it, dear," said Regina with a sideways smirk at the blonde. For her, as much as it made her cringe, and embarrassed at Henry seemed by it, she was rather touched that Emma wanted to wear it as a badge of honour.
"You look like hell," said Ruby, causing Regina to look up to see who the unfortunate statement was aimed at. She couldn't help but smirk at the sight of Snow, half walking, half stumbling, huge sunglasses covering half of her face.
"I feel like it," replied the pixie haired woman, allowing Charming to lead her forward. "Can I get the heaviest, fattiest, greasiest thing on the menu? Twice?"
"Feeling the effects of last night?" asked Emma with a grin as she turned to look at her mother. She gestured for her parents to join them at their table.
"I'm never drinking again," grumbled Snow, practically falling into the seat Charming pulled out for her.
"Henry, if you ever think about drinking, remember and spare a thought for your Grandmother and the after effects of indulging," smirked Regina. She was amused to note the rest of the table holding back laughter at her comment, everyone choosing to look anywhere but the scowling royal.
Henry screwed up his face. "I don't think I'll want to. Everything you've let me try tastes awful."
"You let him try alcohol?" asked Emma, turning so quickly it was quite possible she would have whiplash.
Regina simply shrugged. "If he asked, I let him try it. I figured if he knew was it was like, he would be less curious, and this, less tempted."
"Plus, it all tastes icky," added Henry. "I don't know how you guys can drink it. I'd much rather have a soda."
"See, it works," smirked Regina, frowning at the open mouthed expression on Snow's face. Surely it wasn't that shocking that she had let Henry try a couple of sips of cider and whiskey.
"One hangover cure," announced Ruby as she reached the table, placing the huge fried breakfast between Snow and David, before reaching over and removing the empty plates of Emma, Regina and Henry. "Snow, you might want to shut that, or at least shovel some food in there," she added as she straightened back up.
The pixie haired woman in question ignored her, instead pulling off her sunglasses and staring even more intently at the bruise on her daughter's neck. "What is that?"
The words brought Charming's eyes to rest on the bruise also. His cheeks immediately reddened, and he quickly excused himself to the bathroom, keen to be out of the way of any awkward explanations.
"What's what?" asked Emma, feigning innocence.
Regina and Henry rolled their eyes, although the former had to admit, she rather wished she could take a picture of the look on Snow's face for future amusement.
"Oh, you mean this?" chuckled Emma, touching a hand to her neck. "Guess she just got a little carried away."
Snow shuddered, her pale facing turning a sickly green. "I think I might need to go to the bathroom."
Emma at least had the good grace to wait until her mother had disappeared into the restroom before bursting into laughter. "I told you her face would be worth it."
"You did dear," smirked Regina. "And I must admit, I have to agree."
"Can I get you anything else?" asked Ruby as Regina approached the counter.
"Just the bill please, Ruby," smiled the older woman. "And if you could add Snow and David's onto it."
The she wolf turned with a raised eyebrow.
"If something akin to the statement 'wonders will never cease' is about to come out of your mouth, let me save you the effort," chuckled Regina. "It's only fair seeing as I was the main cause of them feeling unable to eat."
"Have you changed enough for me to ask if you enjoyed Henry's little present?"
"I'm guessing you were one of his little helpers in putting that together?" asked Regina, perching on her usual stool seeing as she clearly wasn't escaping any time soon. "It was very thoughtful of him, and very much appreciated." She paused before continuing. "It was nice to have some time alone with Emma when I wasn't dying."
"I can imagine," smirked Ruby as she slid the bill across the counter. "You're totally invited to girls' night next time if this is the side of you we all get to see now."
The former Evil Queen chuckled. "Oh, I don't know if the world is ready for that."
"You're not getting to say no!" said Ruby. "You were great fun at that party last night."
"Ah yes," started Regina, laying a few bills down. "About last night. You were looking after Henry. I was wondering exactly how you managed to do that when it was a full moon."
"About that…" started Ruby, her eyes wide with fear. She was frantically trying to come up with an answer that wouldn't cost her her life. "I'll make you a deal," she finally said.
Regina rolled her eyes. "As if I haven't had to make enough deals with Rumple."
"I'll tell you, if you let me be chief bridesmaid when you and Emma finally get hitched," finished Ruby, ready to run if Regina decided to revert back to Evil Queen mode.
The older woman sighed with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Fine."
"Really?" asked Ruby, the fear in her voice replaced with excitement.
"Well who else am I going to ask? Snow?" said Regina. "Now, what exactly did you get up to with my son last night?"