Wow, I really didn't intend to keep you all in suspense so long. Sorry about that guys!

The two women broke apart quickly, startled not only by the volume of the voice but by its accusatory tone.

Emma looked over to the doorway to see the flushed, enraged face of her father. His jaw was set in a hard line and his eyes were flashing dangerously. Beside him, Snow was opening and closing her mouth silently like a goldfish.

Emma tried to bury the urge to blush guiltily. She had done nothing to be ashamed of, she assured herself. At her side she could feel Regina's body tense and she chanced a quick look over at the bristling woman.

Emma could see that Regina was trying to stay calm. She was ushering in long, deep breaths and there was an obvious struggle in her eyes. Everything about her stance screamed "Fight or Flight?"

Regina was a bomb right now, Emma realised. She needed to be defused quickly or she was going to go off. Emma reached a hand out and grasped her firmly but gently by the elbow – a wordless gesture of reassurance. Regina's muscles relaxed minimally at Emma's touch and she gave her a small, tight smile.

It wasn't much but it was enough.

Emma turned now to her parents. This was a conversation she'd known she'd have to have eventually but the fact that it had come so soon was like a slap in the face. She was not looking forward to what was about to go down.

"Dad, Mom…" she started, trying to appease them with the use of their affectionate titles.

David was obviously having none of it. No sooner had Emma opened her mouth than he let out an incredulous scoff.

"Don't Dad me Emma – I want some answers. What were you two just doing?"

Emma's patience, never very stout at the best of times, was waning. Before she could clamp down the impulse she was snapping back at her father's impertinent question.

"Well you see," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "When two people like each other very much, they put their mouths…"

"Enough!" David's voice crackled with rage and for the first time in her life Emma felt chastened. Was this what having a parent was actually like?

Ever the peacemaker, Snow chose now to get involved. She placed a calming hand on her husband's shoulder, echoing the movements Emma had made to settle Regina. The parallel wasn't lost on any of them, making the atmosphere in the room even more highly charged.

"Emma, honey…your father and I just want to know what's going on. We're….well we're a little confused."

Emma almost cringed at the falsely sweet tone in her voice. If the sentiment had of been genuine Emma would have hugged Snow for being so understanding and open. Instead the hint of shrillness just below the surface of her mother's words set Emma's teeth on edge.

"Mom, Dad…" she began again, feeling like she was in some melodramatic teen movie. "Regina and I are together."

"We are?" came Regina's quick reply.

"Aren't we?" Emma's puzzlement was clear in her voice.

"Well we didn't really get a chance to talk about it after…"

"I know, I guess I just assumed. Sorry I…."

"No, it's okay, I'm not saying you're wrong I just thought we should…"

"Talk about it."

"Yes."

"So, does this count as talking about it?"

"I suppose so."

"Well I think we should be together. What do you think?"

"I…I guess… I would like that."

"Okay then, it's settled."

Charming and Snow had been watching the rapid fire exchange with bewilderment, too muddled to work up any rage over the topic of the women's discussion.

However as they ceased speaking Charming felt the twinge of anger spark inside him once more.

"So that's it, is it? You're just together now? Just like that!?"

Emma shrugged nonchalantly. "Pretty much," she said, unapologetically. She bit down the urge to immaturely follow this statement with a "You got a problem with that?" Clearly the man did have a problem with it and baiting him was not the way to get him over that problem.

"I don't accept that."

Emma heard a low growl issue from Regina's throat. She would have found it sexy if it weren't so terrifying.

Before anyone could say anything they'd live to regret, a cheerful voice issued from the window.

"What's going on?

Emma silently took back everything she'd ever said about Henry's timing. It was perfect. His presence was perfect - surely Charming and Snow wouldn't continue this conversation in front of him.

"Henry," came Charming's stern but affectionate voice. "Can you go back outside please? Your mother and I were in the middle of a discussion."

"About?"

Normally Henry's cheeky question would have made Charming laugh out loud. He would have been proud of his grandsons' boldness. This time it caused his face to draw into a tight scowl, a dark cloud brewing inside of him.

Henry noticed the change and took a step back, affronted. Like the do-gooder she was, Snow stepped up to try and smooth over the tension.

"Henry, sweetie, why don't you and I go and get something to eat?" she asked pleadingly. "Maybe grab an ice cream?"

For perhaps the first time in his life, something took precedence over Henry's stomach. He steeled himself, holding strong where he stood.

"No," he said firmly. "I want to know what's going on. Mom looks upset."

The room collectively noticed that he was looking straight at Regina as he said this. Once upon a time hearing that word come out of Henry's mouth and knowing that it wasn't directed at her would have pained Emma. Now it warmed her heart to know that the divides between Mother and son – divides she'd had a part in forging – were beginning to close.

Maybe this whole family thing could really work.

"I'm all right Henry," said Regina tightly.

His eyes narrowed. Henry was clearly displeased that he was being so obviously lied to but he didn't jump down Regina's throat about it. Both she and Emma took that as progress.

"Were you guys talking about Mom's being a couple now?"

If it were possible to get whiplash standing in one spot, Charming would have received a nasty case at that moment. He swung fiercely first in Henry's direction and then in Emma and Regina's.

"He knows!? You actually exposed your son to this?"

"Exposed him?! To what – his Mom and I being in a relationship? To us kissing?" Emma gestured an arm towards a gleeful looking Henry, whose smile had broken his face at Emma's mention of kissing. "Well, I can see why you're so worried right there. The kid's obviously traumatised."

Regina, who had stayed uncharacteristically quiet up until this point decided to get involved off the back of the look Charming shot Emma and the fury with which he began to open his mouth to respond. They may have been the bane of her existence but Regina had no desire for Emma to lose her family. She wouldn't have the guilt of that pressing on their relationship.

"Look, we're all a little thrown here. Why don't we…"

"What did you do to her?" Charming interrupted.

"Excuse me?" Regina's reply was slow and quiet, dangerous.

"A spell, a curse? What was it?"

Genuine hurt flashed in Regina's eyes. She quickly buried it, choosing instead to go for her old friend rage for comfort.

"How dare you!" She boomed, gathering all the queenly disdain she could muster.

"How dare I? How dare I!? You poison my daughter into thinking she's wants to be with you and you ask how dare I?"

"I wasn't poisoned…"

"Honey that was a little harsh…"

"I think your daughter is capable…"

"I just can't believe…."

"And for your information…."

The four adults shouted over each other, struggling to be the most dominant voice in the din. Half formed accusations and grunts of indignation permeated the air.

Somehow, projecting across all of it, rang the voice of the smallest person in the room.

"Hey, stop it!"

Maybe it was the disgust in his voice, or simply the reminder that they were behaving like this in front of him. Whatever it was Henry's call made them all fall silent, shamefaced.

"You shouldn't be fighting. This is a good thing. The curse, it's really broken now. Everyone is getting their happy ending."

"Henry, it's a little more complicated than that." Snow urged. "Regina, she…"

"I know – I know what she did to you. But she's not that person anymore. She's different."

Charming seemed to be trying to contain his anger in an effort to appease Henry.

"You can't know that Henry. We thought she'd changed before and we were wrong. You can't trust her. She's..."

"I'm not going to hurt her." Regina interjected softly.

Charming and Snow appeared startled at her gentle tone, their surprise giving her enough time to continue unopposed.

"I'm not going to lie and say that all we've been through is in the past. Or that we could ever be friends after everything that's happened. And I understand why you're worried but I'm not going to hurt Emma. You have to believe me."

"Why should we?" It was Snow this time, asserting her subdued but righteous anger over the situation. "You stole her childhood from us and now you want to steal her future and we're supposed to be okay with that?"

"Regina isn't stealing me!" Emma said with mild frustration. "We decided together that this is what we want."

"And we don't get any say?" asked Snow petulantly.

"No, you don't." Emma's words were matter of fact, said without anger. "Look more than anything I want us all to be a family. A bizarro, mismatched, really dysfunctional family. But if you guys can't get on board with this – then you don't have a place in my life. I'm sorry, that's just how it is."

"Emma..." Snow's small, heartbroken voice was holding back tears. Emma's own heart twinged with guilt that she was causing her mother pain but she knew that it had to be done.

"You know what, it's been a long, confusing day for all of us. Why don't Henry, Regina and I go back to Mifflin Street and give you guys a chance to...process. We can talk about this some other time right?"

Snow and Charming exchanged glances. They both knew that pursuing this would only push Emma away. Nothing good would come of continuing this fight today.

With the air of defeated man, Charming dropped his head.

And as angry as he'd made her, Emma couldn't leave her father looking so dejected. She took a step forward and touched him gently on the arm.

"I'll come back and see you soon...okay?"

Not trusting his voice Charming gave a curt nod and moved out of of the doorway to let Emma pass.

Grabbing Regina by the hand, Emma ushered her and Henry out of the apartment, shooting hopeful looks at her parents as she went.

Once outside both women visibly deflated, exhausted from the heated encounter that had come so hot on the heels of their own emotional revelations. Only Henry seemed unphased by it all. If anything he seemed more enthused and energetic than ever.

"I think they'll come around!" he buzzed.

"And how do you figure that kid?" Emma asked dryly.

"Well, no one drew a sword or punched anyone. And Mom, you didn't throw fireballs or anything. I mean, I think it went pretty well all in all."

Emma and Regina shared a disbelieving look over his head.

"Are you hearing this?" Emma asked.

Regina looked at Henry with mock disappointment, her affection shining through the facade. "He's always been infuriatingly optimistic. I thought he would have outgrown it by now but it must be genetic. He obviously didn't get it from me."

Emma smiled and tugged on Regina's hand. "I don't know about that. You're taking a chance on me, there must be an optimist in there somewhere."

"Must be the after effects of the curse. I'm still addled."

"Oh is that right?"

"Mmm..."

Henry's nose wrinkled with distaste. "Oh god," he whined. "Is this what it's going to be like from now on? You guys flirting and me gagging..."

Emma playfully swatted him across the head.

"Hey, you're the one who brought her here! And I hear the kiss was your suggestion too so you kind of brought this on yourself kid."

Regina shook her head at their antics. "Come on you two," she said. "Let's go home."

Home, thought Emma. That has a nice ring to it.

Happy to have me back?