"What was your favorite birthday?" Emma asks. She and Regina are passing the time until Henry wakes with inconsequential questions.

Favorite food, the game had begun an hour ago. Apple pie. Emma had rolled her eyes. Predictable.

Regina smiles as a birthday memory comes to mind. "When Henry was five he decided to make me a cake for my birthday. He knew that he wasn't allowed to use the oven, so he made a cake out of bread, peanut butter, jelly, chocolate sauce, Oreos, and whipped cream"

Emma scrunches up her nose. She can't quite imagine how those ingredients become a cake. Regina chuckles and tells Emma, "It was disgusting. But Henry was so proud of his creation." Regina looks down at Henry fondly. She promises herself that she will make him smile today like he had all those years ago. "We ate two pieces each. After that I convinced Henry that we should bake my birthday cakes together."

Regina stares at Henry, lets herself get lost in her little boy for a moment. Gratefulness for the fact that they found him washes over her, and she squeezes him a little tighter to her chest before asking Emma, "What about you?"

"Favorite birthday?"

Regina nods.

"My birthday when I was 12 wasn't too bad. I was with a good foster family. We had cake, and they gave me presents."

Regina tries to ignore the sorrow that settles itself in her chest at Emma's response.

"I suppose," Emma continues, gazing at Henry while she talks, "in a way the best birthday I ever had was when Henry found me. I mean the day itself kind of sucked. I worked, lit a candle on a cupcake by myself, and then freaked out when Henry showed up. But that day changed my life, and as crazy as it is, I'm happy it did." The rest she isn't sure of, but having Henry in her life is enough to make everything worth it.

"You probably wish that day never happened, huh?"

Regina thinks of her son cuddling against her chest. She thinks of him going to her side down in the mines when they thought all hope was lost. She thinks of him telling her that he loves her.

Regina remembers the way her body had begun counting out the days once again when the curse broke. The pain that first month she had bled again had been a reminder that she was human and destructible. But now, each month feels like the promise that change is possible, even for her.

"I don't wish that," Regina whispers.

Emma waits, hoping for more. Regina simply smiles softly, and Emma no longer feels the need for words.

"When did you get all of these?" Henry asks looking at the pile of presents.

"We already had some hidden away," Regina says. "And Mary Margaret helped us by picking up the rest."

We. Emma doesn't know what to make of the word.

We takes them until Henry unwraps a present that is unquestionably from Regina. Henry pulls off colorful wrapping paper to find a cardboard box, just like he does every year. He looks at Regina uncertainly before he opens the box to find six months worth of all his favorite comics.

Henry turns back to Regina, and she thinks she can see tears in his eyes.

"You got them for me," he whispers.

"Of course sweetheart." Regina watches Henry beside her as he struggles with his feelings. "I always give you comics for your birthday."

"But this year…" Henry looks down sadly, maybe a little ashamed. "You collected them for me anyway."

Regina's fingers lift up Henry's chin so that he's looking at her when she tells him: "Always." She offers him a reassuring smile.

Henry maintains his mother's gaze for a moment longer before wrapping his arms around her. "I love you Mom."

"I love you too Henry."

"I don't think I can eat another bite," Emma declares when Regina offers her a second slice of cheesecake.

"Lightweight," Henry tells her as he digs his fork into the second piece that he and Regina are sharing.

"What do you want to do after cake?" Regina asks. She knows that Henry is still anxious about going outside, but she doesn't want him to spend his birthday cooped up in the house.

"I don't know," he replies with a shrug.

"How about we go to our beach," Regina suggests. "It'll just be the three of us."

"Do you own your own beach?" Emma asks. It's a beautiful day, and the town beach will most definitely be crowded.

"No," Henry tells Emma. "We found it. It's kind of hidden away behind some rocks, so you have to climb to get there. It's our secret beach."

It's a glimpse of a life that Emma knows nothing of, a time when mother and son were happy and needed no one else. She tries not to be jealous, instead telling Henry in her most enthusiastic voice, "Well, I want to see this beach!" This she can do, fun and games and encouraging Henry to try to live again. She can do this. She can give this to him.

"Do you even have a bathing suit here?" Henry asks.

"She can borrow one of mine," Regina tells Henry. "Why don't you go put your suit on?" When he still looks nervous, she adds, "If we get there and you don't want to get out of the car, we can turn right around and spend the day trying out your new video games. Ok?"

Henry nods and runs off to his room.

"Come on dear," Regina tells Emma. "Let's see if we can find you something to wear."

Emma doesn't understand how Regina manages to look so graceful climbing over rocks in a bathing suit and sarong. Emma herself feels awkward and out of her element wearing one of Regina's elegant one-piece swim suits. Emma has only ever worn bikinis and cut off jean shorts, and while Regina pulls the look off perfectly, Emma is not so sure she plans to make a habit of borrowing Regina's clothes.

"We're here!" Henry declares as they come over the last ledge of rocks to find themselves on a small sandy beach.

"This is awesome kid!" And it is. The beach looks like something out of a movie. Rock caves and foam capped waves. "Last one in's a rotten egg," Emma calls as she begins running for the water. Henry and his imagination have made Emma remember a part of herself that loved games and adventure, a part of her that had disappeared far too early in life.

"Not so fast you two." Regina reaches into her large bag of supplies. "Sunscreen."

They set out a beach blanket before Regina begins applying sunblock to Henry's back while he rubs it on his arms and legs.

"Would you like me to do your back Emma?" Regina asks once Henry is covered in lotion.

"Yeah, thanks."

Emma moves to sit in front of Regina. Hands touch Emma's back and she tries not to think about the tingling sensation that spreads through her body. She tries not to think about how this touch makes her feel more than she has in a very long time.

"All set," Regina says a minute later when she finishes with Emma's back and Henry finishes with hers. "You two are free to go."

But Henry doesn't move. He looks at Regina nervously. "You don't have to swim," she says, pulling him into her arms. "You can stay right here." Regina presses Henry's back into her chest and kisses his cheek. "Whatever you want is ok sweetie."

"I want to swim, but what if…"

"What if what?"

"What if there are mermaids?"

"Henry," Regina says, pressing a kiss to his temple. She wonders how to handle this new irrational fear. "There aren't mermaids in Storybrooke."

"But there wasn't magic in Storybrooke, and now there is. What if they come here, and they take me away?" Henry's voice is panicky, and Regina gives him a reassuring squeeze.

"Emma and I are here now, and we will protect you from anything that tries to hurt you."

"That's right," Emma jumps in. "Your mom is pretty powerful, and you know, I'm not too shabby with magic myself it turns out."

Henry fidgets anxiously for a minute before telling Emma, "Ok, let's go."

He stands up from Regina's lap. "You don't want to come Mom?"

"I'd like to warm up before jumping into the icy water myself, but if you want me to come with you, I can."

"It's ok," Henry tells her. "You can stay here. But can you watch us to make sure that we don't get hurt?"

"Of course. You two have fun."

Regina watches them run towards the water. Emma shrieks as the cold Maine water hits her skin, and Henry laughs at her. Emma looks happy and at ease with Henry, like each day she figures out more and more how to be a mother. She lets the joy of Henry's presence consume her, racing him out to a rock, and cheering when he beats her. She takes pleasure in Henry, in the way Regina had in the early years of his life before he had turned away from her, and their relationship began to feel too dangerous for Regina to be open and free with her son. Regina is overcome by the desire to give herself to him completely once again as she had in those days, to let Henry have the mother that he deserves.

"It is officially no longer your birthday," Regina announces. "Now go put your pajamas on!"

"I think I'll try sleeping in my own bed tonight. I am 12 now."

"Henry," Regina says softly, taking one of his hands in her own. "Whether you're 12 or 30 or 100, you're still my baby. So if you need me." She catches herself, her omission. "Or Emma, then we are going to be here."

"Yeah, I know. But I want to try to sleep alone tonight."

"Ok, sweetheart. You just remember that you can come and get us anytime."

"I know."

"Good. Why don't we come tuck you in?"

Henry welcomes the comforting ritual. Even if he is 12 now, Henry needs the old familiar bedtime routine. It's a routine that he hasn't had for a year now, but he's back in his old room with his mother again, and now he needs this.

Regina tucks the blanket around him, making him a snug, cozy cocoon. She leans over and kisses Henry's forehead.

Emma sits down on the other side of the bed. "Did you have a good birthday?" she asks.

Henry smiles, and Emma believes him when he tells her, "Yeah. It was awesome." Emma hears Regina let out a relieved breath beside her. "It was really cool for the three of us to spend the day together."

It's the first year that Emma has spent her son's birthday with him. Her heart aches and feels full of joy at the same time. It's a bit overwhelming.

"I'm really happy that I got to spend my birthday with you, Emma."

"Yeah, me too kid." Emma feels like she could cry, and then she feels a warm hand on her back. Regina holds her gaze for a minute, steady, calming. "I love you Henry." The words are still uncomfortable for Emma to say, but she does love him so much.

"I love you too." He reaches his arms out of the blanket and reaches up to hug Emma. When they part, he reaches for Regina. "I love you," he tells her.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I'm glad you had a good birthday. If you need us, please wake us."

"I will Mom," he insists.

"Good night, Henry," Regina tells him.

"Night kid."

Emma and Regina stand reluctantly and leave the room. They close the door and exchange nervous glances, wondering whether Henry will be all right.

"I'll make up the guest room for you," Regina says. The thought of sleeping alone fills Regina with a sense of loneliness that has haunted her whole life. There had been a respite in this past week, a warm body next to her, a woman who understood what Regina was going through. Their son between them, holding onto Regina. She hadn't been alone.

Regina and Emma make the guest bed in silence. They coordinate their movements easily, working without a word. Regina smoothes the blanket, running her hand over the soft material over and over. "Do you need anything else?"

Emma searches for something to ask for, something to make this moment last longer. Today had been – today had been something that Emma never expected to have in her life. She craves Regina's presence.

"No. I'm ok. Thanks Regina."

Regina nods. Emma thinks that Regina's eyes have the same longing that her own do. "Good night Emma."

An hour passes and Emma still can't sleep. She gets out of bed, walks down the hall to the bathroom. Splashes water on her face. Walks back down the hall to her room. Back to Henry's door. Paces in front of it.

The sound of a door opening startles Emma. "I'm sorry," she says immediately upon seeing Regina standing in the hallway. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't."

They stare at each other for a minute. "Would you like a cup of tea?" Regina asks.

"Yeah."

They settle onto the couch together, grasping steaming mugs. The closeness soothes, calms.

"What was that telenovela we were watching the other night called?" Emma asks.

"La Reina del Sur."

"Yeah that one. Do you think there's an episode on now?"

Regina smiles at Emma. "I happen to have it on my DVR."

"You've been holding out on me." Emma picks up the remote control and wastes no time in beginning the program.

When the episode finishes, Emma and Regina are sleeping side by side.