Chapter 3
Emma stretched her arms.
She was finally at her beloved park- sitting on a wooden bench with her book and music player. She even brought a bag of chips and soda. All the elements of complete relaxation. Or so she liked to think.
She closed her eyes and took a long breath…trying to drown out all the sounds around her…the playing kids…the joggers…the cars on the street…
A ball suddenly hit her on the head.
"I'm sorry!" a voice squeaked.
Emma opened her eyes, rubbing her head with her hand. A young boy was standing before her, looking apologetic.
"I-I sort of kicked it really hard and…sorry!" he mumbled.
"Hey no worries, kid. Where is your ball anyway" Emma looked around. Only a few feet away a soccer ball was rolling in a muddy ditch.
The boy ran over to pick it up. Emma followed.
"Awh, kid, you gotta wash it before you t- oh you picked it up already"
The kid looked even more worried as he viewed his muddy hands.
"My mom's gonna kill me" he mumbled
Poor kid
"Hey I've got a water bottle in my back pack, how about you bring it over to my bench and we can wash it, your can wash hands too. How about that?"
He nodded "yeah ok. Maybe just my hands…I don't really wanna play anymore…"
Emma watched the boy as he rubbed his hands, trying to get every speck of mud off of his fingers.
"Thanks!" he smiled brightly moments later, after examining his now clean hands.
"No problem"
"I'm Henry" he held his hand out, Emma shook it "Nice to meet you, Henry. I'm Emma"
"You're always here" It wasn't a question. Emma nodded. Henry spoke again, " I see you on that same bench every other day. You're always reading."
"I am. I love reading" Emma offered. The kid's face really lit up this time.
"Me too! Mom keeps insisting I play outside though. I'd rather read. Playing by myself gets boring"
"Well what about your friends?"
"I don't really have any…" Henry shrugged, looking down at his feet which he swung below the bench.
Seeing his discomfort, Emma tried to change the topic, "How old are you, Henry?"
"Ten. What book were you reading?" he asked.
Oh kid…you really don't wanna know…not yet anyway…
"Umm…" Emma tried to think "some really… boring… school stuff. What do you like to read?"
"Comics. Adventure novels. Fairytales."
"Really. That's fantastic."
He smiled at the little compliment "They really are. I've a huge collection of DC comics and I-
"Henry! What are you do- oh. Emma."
"Hey!"
Regina was striding across the park towards Henry and her. Emma waved at her, surprised. She looked down at the kid beside her and whispered.
"You know her?"
He simply shrugged. "Duh. That's my mom"
Emma simply stared at his face as the sound of the brunette's heels neared.
Urgh. How does that woman keep appearing everywhere? Dealing with her at the shop is enough and now here, with Henry too…Dammit Emma…
"You're son's pretty amazing, Regina" the blonde stood up, helping Henry stand up as well.
Regina nodded politely and turned her attention to her son. "Henry, what have you done to your shirt?"
He mumbled something about a muddy ball.
"What did you say?"
"Sorry…I hit Emma with my ball and it landed on a ditch and she helped me clean my hands"
Regina turned to Emma, "I'm so so sorry"
"Don't worry about it. Happens" she waved off her apologies.
"Thank you for helping him. We'll be leaving now. Henry?"
He mumbled something again.
"You have to speak up, dear"
"I left my back pack under that tree, over at that far corner…I'll go get it!"
With that, Henry took off before Regina had a chance to say anything. She was alone with Emma.
"So…" Emma began
Regina shot her a look "Yes?"
"You've a son."
"I do."
"Is that why you won't have that drink with me?"
Regina eyed the blonde, wondering why the woman was set upon on taking her out
"Maybe. Doesn't matter. I'm not having any drink with you."
"I don't bite you know. Not hard anyway." Emma smirked. Regina rolled her eyes.
Does she ever get tired?
"Emma, look I have a son and I just-
"How does having a son stop you from enjoying yourself, with good company" she pointed at herself "for just a few hours…tonight?"
"No."
"Ok. Bring Henry over at my place then. Around 7. There'll be kids of his age who he can hang out with."
"You have kids?" Now Regina was surprised.
Emma laughed. "No. Not mine. My mom and I run the local tutoring program. It starts around 6, goes on 'till 8. The kids have a little break around seven, to play, have some snack etc. I get some time off too."
"You run a tutoring program."
"I do, yes."
"hmm."
Emma squinted her eyes, "Is that a yes…or…?"
"It's a maybe" Regina smirked, watching henry run back. "I'm waiting by the car Henry, hurry up"
She turned away from Emma and made her way towards the park gates.
Henry stepped into the car moments later.
"Umm…mom?"
"Yes, dear?" Regina started the car.
"Emma said she's really looking forward to seeing us tonight. Are we going to her place?"
Regina smiled. "Most likely. You don't have too much homework do you?"
Henry shook his head then smiled, "Hmm….maybe I'll brink my new story book to show Emma. She really likes to read. I like her."
"That's fantastic, dear"
Wow. They had spent…what…only ten or fifteen minutes together and Henry likes her, that boy hardly ever speaks to new people and with her… that woman is really something…
Regina smiled at the thought of the impossible woman she was dealing with, as she drove herself and her son home.