A/N: 1...2...3 :D

Winter winds gently carried the days with them.

Cora was spotted in town more often now, with her and Regina having regular sessions with Archie. After Emma had learnt that Cora had agreed to attend sessions, she felt more at ease. That had led to a clean schedule where Henry would share time in both his mothers' houses equally. Emma and Cora hadn't met since the dinner and they didn't seem to be in a hurry to do so either.

Cora and Regina were returning from Archie's that had opened a touchy memory for both. It had been quiet for far too long but both had expected it to be broken by the popping of their most re-visited Cabernet Sauvignon bottle and not a loud and boisterous greeting.

"Mo-om", the word stretched out as Henry ran towards her mother standing next to the door, the action making both Cora and Regina laugh.

"Henry, what are you doing here?" Regina's eyes instinctively checked behind him.

"Gramps dropped me off because Emma is sick and sleeping", he parroted in a breath.

Worry lines surfaced on his mother's forehead but before she could inquire further, Henry was tugging her sleeve, "Mom it's an emergency, my school bag was ruined. Please, can you get a new one for me?"

Cora smiled at the boy clinging to his mother, "Well atleast come inside for a while, then you can go with her."

"Oh, mom can go alone. We still have to finish our project right?" Henry beamed at Cora, winking conspiratorially.

"Project", Regina narrowed eyes at the two figures. When both of them refused to even blink back, she sighed, "Fine, I'll fix you something to eat and-"

"No, nana can take care of that, you should leave now", Henry pressed, taking Cora's hand as he walked inside.

"Henry-"

"Make sure it's cool", the boy said with all the seriousness a near eleven year old could muster, waving her off.

Regina gasped in surprise on having the door almost slammed on her face. Brown eyes squinted at the golden letters less than a hair's distance from her, "Well, I guess that means I'm dismissed."

She took out her phone as she walked down the path, half her mind buzzing in concern for Emma and the other half thinking of sitting Henry down for a lesson in manners. She had just about closed the outside gate when she got pulled back, one arm over her waist as a hand covering her eyes.

Ice cold lips pressed themselves to her left ear, releasing a warm whisper.

"Guess who?"

Regina gasped.

She almost allowed herself to sink into the body behind when she realised their position. Eyes, which were still covered, rolled as she elbowed the figure lightly.

"Emma!"

Regina turned around to see the mirth filled green eyes of her girlfriend. Girlfriend: the word still felt foreign to her tongue but left the sweetest after-taste. Emma and Regina had been seeing each other secretly, making sure to stay careful around general public, and more importantly Cora. It had been so long since either of them had been in a relationship, they thought they should try to be comfortable with each other first, without any external pressure. They weren't perfect, but they were the happiest they'd been since a long time.

Emma appeared impressed as she spoke, "That was a really good guess."

"Emma, we've talked about this."

Regina frowned, looking back briefly to confirm that the door was still closed. She noted Emma was either way hidden from the view, as she stood away from the main garden path.

"What", she looked at her innocently before Regina's glare wore down the charade. "Fine! Sorry for making Henry lie. I just wanted to steal you away for a second, maybe take a walk." She added in a softer tone, "You seemed down earlier."

"Earlier?"

"Yea, I saw you getting out of Archie's. So I got us two cups", she pointed to the two steaming coffees sitting on the sidewalk, "Thought you'd want to get some ocean air."

Regina looked at the cups, a tired smile on her lips as she looked back at Emma, "Today was not an easy session."

Emma smiled, resisting the urge to pull the tiny sad brunette in her arms and kissing her till one of them would pass out from breathlessness. Instead she busied her hands in picking up the drinks, "And by the way, you don't need to say it."

"What?"

Emma smirked, "That I'm an awesome girlfriend."

"Oh, and why would I be saying that?"

"Because it's written all over your face."

Regina huffed at the smugness dripping from Emma's words and swiped one cup from her.

"Oh, before I forget, would we be picking you up next week or see you directly at the venue?"

Regina inhaled the rich aroma tantalising before asking, "What's next week?"

"You know", Emma's head whipped around, her hair following a second later splaying on her luminous face, "Miner's day!"

"Does your boy run on pure sugar", Cora asked suddenly, making Regina pause chewing. Swallowing, she looked at her mother with an unamused expression.

"I'm sorry but who was the one who gave him two whole boxes of mint-chocolates."

"Those are after dinner treats, Regina. What I'm concerned about is his daily nutrition."

"Oh", Regina said as she realised her mother was not in a joking mood, "what happened?"

"He told me that woman made him eat fries for breakfast today."

Regina shook her head at 'that woman', like she would somehow be accused of treason if heaven forbid she would say Emma's name aloud.

"I'll speak to her."

"If you must", she played around with the food before looking up, "Killian has returned from his visit to the city, he said he got you a gift."

Regina smiled, hoping her mother would shed more light on her feelings one of these days. She'd tried appearing as supportive as she could but just couldn't bring herself to ask her mother directly.

"That's very sweet of him, maybe you should invite him to dinner. Tomorrow? We can dine and.. talk."

"Yes, he'd like that too."

Mother daughter shared a smile and resumed eating. It wasn't until after dinner when Regina was in the middle of washing the dishes when Cora broke the silence again.

"Dear, who were you with outside our house today?"

The plate almost slipped out of Regina's hand. The insides of her head felt like they'd just been doused with gasoline and Cora was holding a lit match.

'Mother's just asking a question. There's no need to be alarmed', she told herself as she took a moment to make sure her question came off casual and not panic-stricken.

"Who did you see outside?"

Cora, unable to see Regina's face as she was sitting behind her, took a generous sip from her glass, "I was in my room when I saw you talking to someone, someone with blonde hair."

Regina looked at her reflection in the clean wet plate her fingers were clutching desperately, "Oh."

'That was the first name that came to your mind?'

'Yes.'

'Why didn't you say it was me?'

'You made Henry lie.'

'Well what did she say?'

'Nothing.'

Emma groaned as she read the last reply. She kicked away the comforter to sit up as she typed in a new message.

'Can you come over right now?'

'Ok.'

As soon as she dropped the phone on the bed, a spot of purple smoke appeared near the mirror. Emma shifted till her back rested on the headboard, "You know I think you're neat and stuff, but man I hate your texts."

Regina rolled her eyes as she sat on the bed, tired of the tiring and resurfacing topic, "Well I answered what you wanted."

"Yea but you always sound like a telegram."

"Well it's called Short Message Service. If you want to have a meaningful talk you should call me."

"Or you can just come over you know. You have magic teleportiness, not me."

Regina scoffed, "I'm not going to make an appearance every time you're too lazy to call me."

Emma laughed as she pulled the brunette's hand resting on the bed, catching Regina in her arms, "You're something you know." She smiled as she leaned in to lay a chaste kiss on red lips. Those lips upturned as Emma's left them, "I am well aware", Regina grinned as she pulled Emma towards her to kiss her properly before shifting to sit besides Emma. Her heel touched the night-stand as she tried to tuck in her feet away from the bed.

"So, what did Cora say", Emma asked.

Regina rolled her eyes at the tone but replied nonetheless, "Nothing, she just enquired about her, about how I knew her."

Emma hummed as she took Regina's hand in her, her thumb running over the tan fingers in a soothing motion, "Kathryn huh? She was your good friend right?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you meet her, have a little chat?"

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"But-"

"Emma I think I just said it's not required", Regina snapped.

Emma disagreed but sensing her discomfort, let it slide.

It was a familiar dance for them, pushing each other's buttons till they snapped and then trying to undo it. It was Regina's turn to lead when the silence stretched on.

"So, Henry really liked the bag we bought him. He also told me later that you should have told me what happened to his previous one." Her tone was entirely mischievous but Emma's response wasn't.

"Ugh I swear that kid is spoilt, the bag had a tiny scuff on it." Emma said taking Regina's thumb finger and index finger apart to emphasize on the size.

"He is not spoilt", Regina jerked her hand away, "tell me what really happened."

"I.. sort of dropped it from the balcony."

"How?" Regina shook her head, "Seriously, how?"

"I was", she blew an irritated breath, "kind of using it to shoo the birds away" she said slowly but sped through the next part, "But that kid is spoilt, I would have been thankful for anything that had a working zip. His only had some dirt on it."

Regina sensed the source of Emma's irritation and found herself unable to say anything more. Instead she just dropped her head on the bare shoulder next to her. When Emma finally put her arm around the brunette's waist, pulling her closer, Regina whispered, "But he's not that spoilt."

Emma laughed as she shook her head, "Yes mommy, he's your perfect little boy." Her laugh slowed down before asking, "So today was a busy day?"

"Oh yes indeed. Kitchen, bug's office, docks and kitchen again. And then a very messy room of our town's ornithophobic sheriff who still lives with her parents."

Emma bumped her shoulders, "Hey, in case you forgot, so do you."

"No Miss Swan, my mother lives with me", she said smirking.

"Yeah yeah, you should refer to what I said earlier."

"That I am something?"

Emma nodded as she swooped down to kiss her, "Have you thought about what you want to do?"

Regina smiled briefly, "While your suggestions were all so good, overlooking that you simply prefix sexy to common professions, and sometimes simple verbs."

Emma shouted as though offended, "Hey! Sexily bending and picking pens up is a real job."

Regina scowled slightly as she wound her hands around Emma's arm, "Mother keeps pressing me for something.. simpler. I believe it's her guilt into making me choose the life of a queen."

"Sounds like a big but coming."

"But", she sighed, "I want to be the mayor, I like being the mayor, I like the authority. Is that so bad?"

"No, it's not. I mean it may have been for you once but you're definitely not the same person you were all those years ago."

"But who am I fooling, it's not like I'll ever get my job back."

"Hey, maybe if you'd get out more, socialise, campaign maybe. Don't you roll those eyes at me."

Regina shook with silent laughter but there was resignation in it, which pained Emma because Storybrooke would be lucky to have Regina re-instated as the Mayor.

"I think I should head back."

Emma looked at her phone to check the time, "I disagree."

Regina rolled her eyes as Emma faced away crossing her arms, which was difficult seeing Regina's arms still had a good hold on her right one. She tilted her head up to kiss Emma on the cheek before she disappeared. When the wisp of magic took away Regina with it, Emma sighed, sliding down till her head met the pillow. They'd been taking it pretty slow and not that Emma minded, it was just, their time together was always limited and rarely private. She yearned to just spend the night holding her girlfriend like the first night Regina had spent in the Charming house. Groaning, she turned off the lights.

"So Miss Mills, how have you been?"

"I've been well", Cora smiled. As an afterthought she added, "And you?"

Archie smiled but it soon disappeared when Pongo started barking incessantly from inside.

"I'm sorry, he must have seen a mouse or bug in the room."

Cora's eye twitched at the pathetic lie. She was well aware that the cause was her. The noise was piercing as it reverberated in the small office. Not that Cora would ever need a dog's validation but it was tedious that he went berserk during every single session. The cacophony slowly eased into sloppy munching noises and Archie returned right after.

Adjusting his glasses he asked, "Regina is busy?"

"Yes, she needed to stay back. Henry wasn't feeling very well, minor stomach flu. It's nothing serious but she wanted to visit him. I hope that's not a problem."

"My doors are always open to the both of you, together and individually. Was there something in particular you wanted to talk about?"

Cora resisted fidgeting, unsure if what she said would be relayed back to Regina. Her daughter had been assured and reassured of doctor-patient confidentiality in the beginning; Cora just hoped it extended to her kins as well.

"Yes. You said admitting is the first step and then one can only move forward. But lately I feel I've been regressing. I've started becoming a little short tempered. I almost snapped at Regina the other day."

"You need to remember that you're not on probation with her."

Cora's head snapped up mentally saying, 'I should be.'

Archie continued unfazed, "You shouldn't withhold from communicating with her. You just have to monitor the method of how you communicate."

When Cora remained silent he prodded.

"Is there a particular reason you feel is causing this?"

"The boy."

Archie tried to keep the surprise out of his tone, "Henry?"

"Shouldn't he be living with Regina now? You're well known around here, can't you talk to your", she cleared her throat, "your queen?"

"I think that's a decision Regina and Emma have and ideally should make themselves. I understand your concern but-"

"But his place is in our home, not with that woman."

Archie shuffled in his seat at the venom in her voice, "Emma? You have to understand that she is his mother too."

"But she is incompetent, she is not the mother he deserves. Do you think the boy would have contracted the disease if he was eating under Regina's supervision?"

"Now Cora-"

"Miss Mills", Cora gritted out.

"Yes, sorry. Miss Mills, it's important for Henry to have both his parents in his life. It's already hard enough to have a father who scarcely visits him."

"But it's not fair to Regina, to say goodbye to him, to hear Henry say things like you missed it mom or you should have been there. It's just not fair. And Regina acts so weakly in front of that Swan female. No, it's definitely not getting easier with time for me to tolerate this arrangement."

"Maybe you're just spending a lot of time thinking about it. It would help if you had a distraction."

Cora looked like she wanted to snap again but instead mentally counted to ten like Archie had proposed in such situations.

"What kind of distraction?"

"I think I'll just tell her that Kathryn fell sick", Regina commented as she watched the street lights passing by.

Emma was dropping her back to Mifflin after her visit to Henry. She was patiently listening to Regina on how Cora had been badgering her about Kathryn.

Emma sighed as she slowed down at a Stop sign, "Ok, and after the ten times she falls sick, then what?"

"Then I'll tell her we had a falling out. Simple."

Emma didn't say anything right away, saving her words till when she stopped the car, "Regina there's a simple solution to the problem, you know."

"I wasn't aware we had a problem."

"Well, isn't that why I'm here, to remind you of your problems", she smirked.

"Emma just drop it, I really need to jam the saviour switch on you."

"See that, I think it's probably a little too late for that." Emma pointed behind Regina. When she looked back she realised Emma had driven them till outside her old friend's house, and the owner was standing on the porch looking as uncomfortable as Regina felt. She gave a small wave and Emma waved back, her hand stretching across Regina's seat so she could reach outside the window.

"What did you do?"

Emma's hand froze mid-air, she had forgotten how often she used to be on the receiving end of that tone.

"I", oh boy, "I thought you could use a... friend." The last word came out in a squeak.

"So you went behind my back and did this?"

"I-I-" Emma cursed herself, "You don't have to go."

Regina huffed something that sounded like unbelievable and opened the door, "Oh I think I'd rather be anywhere but with you right now."

"Oh come on", Regina slammed the door making Emma scurry out of the car, "Regina."

"Stop trying to fix everything."

"Jesus Christ", Emma bumped her head on the car as she saw Regina disappear into Kathryn's house.

"Hi Belle."

Belle looked up from the book she'd been nose deep in, only to smile, "Hello Ruby, how are you doing?"

Red's hands shook as she removed her hat and coat, "Cold and bored to the core."

Seeing the library was empty she plopped the winter gear on the nearest table, following suite on the next chair, "I don't even know what people can think of doing in this weather. The diner is so slow in winters, it's crazy."

Belle got up from her seat behind the main desk to sit at the table with Ruby, giving her a sympathetic smile.

"Have you ever thought of leaving this place", Belle mused.

"All the frickin time."

"Then", Belle asked only to answer it herself, "Granny."

"Yeah, but that's only like half the reason." Red sighed as she twisted the newspaper laid on the table between her fingers, "It's strange ya know. When I was Ruby, all I wanted to do was get out of this town but the curse kept me from leaving. Now with the curse broken and everything, I rarely have such thoughts. I feel like I have some sort of responsibility here. Like I need to stay here."

Belle nodded to appear supportive but couldn't really understand what Red was trying to say. The silence matched the surroundings and Belle decided to start a new topic, "Oh Red, you know what happened today, Dr. Hopper called."

"Oh?" Red asked with confusion, "What did Archie want?"

"He wanted to know if I required some help around the library."

"Oh, do you? Because you know I'd be willing to help out. You know, stay creepily quiet, dust old books", she snorted, "wait, nope, that sounds boring."

Belle's nose scrunched up as she spoke, "Your sense of humour is horrible. But I said yes. He said he has someone in mind."

"Oh do I know 'em?"

"Well he didn't say a name and", she bit her lip, "well, I forgot to ask."

A/N:

The word apology is tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes from in here - ok ok I'll stop. It was hard to regain momentum once I'd broken the weekly cycle but thanks to a recent reminder I got (yes I'm looking at you Guest), here I am. So new year resolution: try to be more regular.

Speaking of resolutions.. how's the new year treating you guys.. Stay safe, have an awesome and productive year ahead. Instead of thinking how big a clusterfuck last year was, think of the eleven new months we get to fuck up! Cheers x