"Seriously, you really need to stop staring."

David laughed, "Well it's not everyday your baby girl gets shrunk."

Emma swallowed the wince bravely as David asked, "You're still not picking up Snow's calls?"

"I- maybe I'll just talk to her when I see her. Thanks for not bringing her here by the way."

"Yeah, and had to use the 'woke you up from eternal sleep' card. Now I can't use it again for another month."

Emma snorted before wagging her index finger at him, "You know, I'm not sure you didn't get Snow because of me."

David's eyes pinched shut as he bit his tongue, "Never again."

Emma chuckled, partly in relief and partly in amusement, shaking her head at her father. She stopped to inhale the delicious aroma filing the room, "What do you think Regina is making?"

"I don't know. Whatever it is, it smells delicious. I don't know why she was so keen on making dinner, she didn't have to."

Emma rolled her eyes, "She is just trying to be funny because she thinks I get a little edgy if I don't eat every two hours."

David nodded in agreement but stopped instantly when Emma shot him a dirty look.

"So Emma, Blue said she will be able to deliver the remedy tomorrow. So after we have dinner, you can come back home with me and we can meet Regina tomorrow with the potion."

Emma glanced at the kitchen before getting up, "That's cool and all, but you know I-I mean I already have a room at Cas- upstairs. If I come you'll have to move things around and explain to Henry why I'm small, plus the kid is so anti-magic as it is. I mean I could hardly get him to talk to me when I'd call these last few days."

"Yes, he was already moping for Regina and suddenly we had to tell him that you left town. It didn't sit well with him. He's been hanging out with Neal, a lot. Neal told me he has been asking him to talk to Regina because you chickened out."

"Hey! What could I have told him, your other mother sort of magically minimized me; the kid would have gone back to hating Regina."

David nodded slowly, cursing himself on being so blind, "You are always playing the knight for her, aren't you?"

"Night? What?"

"I was the same way for your mother." David smiled.

"What are you even talking about, what does that have to do with Henry?"

"Nothing", he sighed seeing Emma jitter over her son.

"God, I am really dreading going back."

"Hey, everything will be fine once you to talk to him. Trust me."

"I hope you're right." Emma said, her hands combing through her hair.

"So, I'll inform Regina you're staying the night."

"Sure."

David knocked the cabinet near him, making Regina pause from dicing the vegetables and turn, "Yes?"

"Hey, so will it be ok if Emma stays one more night here?"

"Of course, she has already claimed a room in my dol- upstairs. On top of which she would have to explain to Henry why she is small. Henry is already very sensitive when it comes to magic, it's a conversation she should have when she is back to her usual self."

David rolled his eyes slowly, "O-kay. Shouldn't you also be present when she speaks to Henry?"

"I've already discussed it with Emma." Regina said with finality but with less bite than David expected.

David handed Regina the tomato she was reaching for, "Um, I also wanted to apologise."

"This again?" Regina arched her eyebrow as her knife sliced into the ripe produce making David chuckle.

"No, this apology comes with no expectation of umm", David scratched his stubble, "Seriously I had no clue where I was going with it. Firstly it wasn't even my fault, it was Archie's and let's not forget you, I mean they used to call you the fairest of them all, and your voice-"

"Focus Charming focus."

"Yes well, I think Archie brought back a lot of memories. I always repressed the time I spent during the curse because as much as I despised it, on some level I preferred being David Nolan, and that made me feel very guilty. It felt like I was validating the curse if I thought back to the life of plain old David, taking care of the animal kingdom and not the entire Enchanted Forest. Maybe it's the grass on the other side effect but he did have it better in some ways."

"Because he had three women fawning over him?" Regina smirked making David laugh.

"That was all your doing. How did you even know I was engaged to Abigail, I mean Kathryn, in Enchanted Forest?"

"I didn't", Regina replied as her hands slowed down.

"You know, I don't know if you are aware but Kathryn really cherished your friendship. She would always tell me you had a different side than to what you show everyone."

"Kathryn… she didn't deserve to be put in between our feud. I-" Regina stopped, checking herself. She didn't really know how to be a friend. Maybe that's why she had cursed someone to be hers.

"Well, I think my daughter agrees with her, I think you do have a different side when you're not acting in vengeance." David thought back to Emma, "I don't know about friendship but, well, I'd prefer to be on better terms with, with both mothers of our little prince."

Regina started, but stiffly nodded a little surprised at herself, "That's not as horrible a notion as I'd have thought it once to be." She added smirking, "But I'd rather you not showing up at my door with confectionery treats everytime you want to apologise. I hope I am clear enough."

"Crystal. I have already made a complete ass of myself, I don't ever wish to repeat it." David dramatically shook his head earning a small smile from Regina.

"I couldn't agree more. Emma would be so happy to know, you were traumatising your daughter did you know that?"

"I was?" David laughed, "My poor baby girl."

Regina kept her knife by the side at the statement. This time she actually made a conscious effort to hide the annoyance in her tone, "You really have to stop treating her like a child David. Atleast hide it better that you miss the drooling version of her."

"Are you seriously giving me parenting advice?" David asked, his voice losing his earlier playfulness.

"I am and will continue so if it will make you start treating her like the person she is." Regina crossed her arms, determined to not back down.

'Interesting', he thought as he watched Regina curiously, "You mean the saviour?"

"No, Emma, she is Emma Swan. It's unnerving to treat a 30-year-old as a child. Or as some sort of demigod your subjects call saviour. She is capable of greatness, yes, but she is capable of so many other things as well. She is already learning to be a competent parent, though I detest her views on nutrition. And let's not forget her contribution to the town as sheriff, well a clumsy sheriff who has the table manners of a blindfolded monkey, which some... might even find endearing... I mean... Why are you smiling?"

'Blind, Nolan, you're blind as a bat', David thought as he shook his head.

He picked up a tomato to eat only to have Regina snatch it from him with a pointed stare, "I asked you something."

"No, I was just beginning to think you were immune to Charmings. Turns out it takes the right one."

David smiled before patting her hand and turned back. Regina looked at her hand and hastily kept the tomato back on the counter.

"What do you mean by tha-" a shriek ripped through her throat as her foot slipped over the same tomato which had rolled down the counter and on to the floor.

Regina felt herself falling back and in an attempt to save herself, her hand reached to grab the table. Instead it caught the chair making it fall along with her causing a loud crash.

David instantly rushed back, "Regina!"

Regina hissed in pain when David removed the chair which had fallen on top of her, her foot felt like it was on fire, "Regina are you ok?"

Regina didn't have time to respond as a third figure sped into the kitchen, "Regina, what the hell happened, oh shit are you ok?"

Regina's eyes widened as the woman helped her up, securing her tightly around the waist with one hand. Regina clutched the back of Emma's jacket as she tried standing up. Putting the slightest of weight on her left foot made her gasp in pain, her other hand latching itself on the blonde's shoulder who was now carrying half her weight.

Emma's eyes hurriedly raked over her body to check for injuries, "Jesus Christ Regina, can't you be more careful, what if you'd fallen on your head, you could have had a concussion."

"Emma unhand me", Regina said as she shifted closer to Emma, "so that I can slap you, you are lecturing me on carelessness, you oaf."

"I mean there isn't even any blood on you, why would you scream?" Emma cried out accusingly.

Regina narrowed her gaze, "Oh I'm sorry, why don't you go wait till I bludgeon my head on the floor."

"Bludgeon? God woman, who talks like that, do you have an old-timey dictionary hidden somewhere?"

Regina recoiled at the volume, "Why are you shouting at me?"

"Because you fucking scared me!"

"Ladies", David shouted making both women snap at him, "What?"

"You really are going to make me say it?" he laughed in joy on seeing his daughter, wildly gesturing to the woman who was yet to let go of the wounded brunette.

"Oh God", Regina's eyes lit up, "You, you are back to your annoying self again Sheriff."

Emma laughed in total bewilderment as she helped Regina sit down on a nearby stool. David attacked her with a bone crushing hug, "So good to see you at eye level again."

Emma made false choking sounds but her face was as bright as the moon. David chuckled and released her from the hug.

"Emma Swan is back baby!" Emma all but roared before looking down at Regina, "Oi, Shorty! You better steer clear of mason jars in case some tall sheriff decides to take revenge on you."

Regina glared at the term but her eyes went from the blonde's head to toes, "You're really ok?"

"I am", Emma smiled.

David patted her back, delighted, as Regina continued enquiring, "But how?"

Emma's eyes narrowed as she tilted her head slightly in thought, "I don't know, I heard this one right here scream like someone was stabbing her and I remember jumping from the table and… I think I just landed on my feet." Emma scratched her head lightly, "I don't remember poofing or any clouds around me, it just sort of happened."

David beamed for reasons more than one on hearing that, "Oh, this is fantastic. I have to tell Snow, let me just call your mother. This will get her up and about."

Emma nodded looking at David leave the kitchen pushing buttons hurriedly on his phone before looking at Regina's ankle, "Now Mrs. Klutz, are you in pain?"

"Only slightly, I don't think it's broken though, maybe a sprain."

Emma frowned, "Sure? It sounded like a big fall."

"Absolutely."

Emma knelt disregarding Regina's reluctance to inspect the injury, "Are you sure you'll be ok?"

"Yes Emma", Regina said exasperatedly making Emma roll her eyes. Emma eased off her left shoe and gently touched the skin that had reddened, this time though, Regina hardly felt any pain, "This doesn't look good Regina. But that may be because of the suffocating trap you call heels."

Regina narrowed her eyes but there seemed to be a faint smile plastered on her face, "You actually did magic. I can't believe you performed magic successfully."

"Gee, thanks for not sounding so surprised. But really, you need to be more careful. What if we were not here?" Emma thought of how Regina usually stayed alone, the thought of her hitting her head and passing out without anyone knowing scared her.

"Well good thing I had the entire Sheriff department in my house." A small chuckle escaped her, "I'm sorry if I'm unable to mask my shock, I really had very little faith that you'd be able to do magic when I suggested it."

"Yeah, maybe I found something to feel strongly about." Emma said, smiling as her finger tips lightly traced Regina's sole.

A shiver passed through Regina's body at the sensation and she jerked away from the touch. Emma bit her lip apologetically and gently placed her foot on the ground, not getting up herself.

"Now" Regina cleared her throat to get rid of the hitch in her voice, "are you going to get up or are you waiting for me to grant knighthood to you?"

"Knighthood?"

"Well I was the Queen wasn't I?

Emma's eyes widened a bit, "And I'm your knight, not night."

"My knight?" Regina raised her eyebrow.

"No", Emma shook her head, "foot in mouth." Emma shook her head again strongly, making her hair fall over her forehead.

"Charming." Regina said almost teasing.

"It's in my DNA I guess." Emma said absently, not taking her eyes off the floor.

"Yes, charming." Regina looked down too, her eyebrows coming together along with her thoughts.

David came inside, with his phone in hand but stopped when he saw the two women looking down so preoccupied, "Uh, everything ok?"

The both turned to David, the same thought going through their minds, "I can't believe you figured it out before me."

"I think we should celebrate." David declared, clapping his hands into a clasp but his excitement failed to infect the two women.

Emma looked at Regina instinctively, making her speak up before Emma could get a word out, "Oh no, don't mind me, go. You need to go back to your house, maybe take a real shower for once."

Emma nodded, "Yeah, I guess."

"And I may as well rest."

Emma still remained on her knees. She wanted to say something meaningful, something summing up her stay here, something conclusive about what she felt at that moment. But what she really felt had thrown her off massively, so she settled on using her good ol' delaying tactics.

"Hey, it's late now but how about me and Henry, we come over tomorrow?"

"I-" Regina looked unsure, "Do you think that's best…"

"I do, trust me. Plus I can't believe no one told me how amazing your food was, I really need to start making up for lost time." Emma forced the lightness in her tone but her words held an underlying truth.

Regina kept observing Emma, "I, we, I'll see you tomorrow."

Emma got up, finally, with a long exhale and looked at the counter, "I'm sorry we're leaving when you'd already started dinner."

Regina waved her hand trying to dispel her qualms, "Think nothing of it. Now be careful on your way home, don't let my efforts to keep you alive go in vain."

Emma laughed as she rubbed her palm clean on her jeans, checking it once before offering it, "I'll help you upstairs. Least I can do for all the times you carried me around."

Regina's smile was hesitant but her hand reached its destination on its own accord.

David stepped outside shaking his head, 'And Snow thinks I'm slow.'

He strutted towards the door, fishing his keys out of his pocket.

TBC

Next time: Because Emma's plans always work out, right? Final chapter.