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Chapter thirteen

"You look like shit," Ruby said to Killian as she poured him some coffee.

He scrunched his face in his attempt to smile.

"Gimme two," he said. When Ruby poured a second cup, he pointed at the empty side of the table. "Now sit down. I bought you coffee."

Ruby rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help grinning. She placed the coffee pot on the table and took the seat.

"Is it true?" he hissed, his breath a mix of caffeine and tequila, as he refilled his cup. "Is the Queen back?"

"Yeah," she shrugged, sipping her coffee.

"Holy cow, does Emma know?"

"Emma jumped inside the old mine to rescue her son. Jesus Christ, Killian, do you even live here?"

He grinned. "I was busy yesterday. But wow. She has a kid?"

"Hey!" David exclaimed, smacking the back of his head as he and Mary Margaret approached the booth. "You look like shit!"

"Leave him alone," she scolded her husband, reaching out for an aspirin bottle on her bag. "Here, honey. Take two."

"That's why I love her and not you," Killian said to David as they all squeezed together in the booth.

They always had breakfast at Granny's on Sundays.

"Where's Emma?" Mary asked, and the three of them turned to Ruby, who shook her head.

"Not on my bed. She went home around midnight."

"Is she okay?"

"She is… Emma," Ruby muttered and shrugged. "I don't know."

"Man… She must be crushed," Killian said. "Remember when-?"

Before he could finish, the doorbell rang and Regina entered the diner with her son.

At first she looked embarrassed; the day before had been a little too much for a reencounter. Mary promptly waved, beckoning her to come sit with them.

Killian stood up with a shit eating grin that Regina missed more than she was aware of.

"Time's always doing wonders, eh?" he said, hugging her. "Look at us, Mills! So hot after so long. We're like wine-"

She patted his bearded cheek. "You do look handsome, Killian," she smiled. "A hundred percent modest but not a hundred percent sober."

"Eh, it's the weekend, love," he looked down at Henry. "And who's this young man?"

"I'm Henry," the little boy shook hands with him. "Where's the rest of your fingers?"

"Henry!" Regina exclaimed as the others burst out laughing.

Killian squatted in front of the boy with a serious face. "I lost them at the sea, son," he said with a grave voice. "I fought a great white shark once-"

"Yeah, it was called a homemade bomb," Ruby smacked his head as well. "Stop making up stories, he's not stupid-"

Henry flushed and grinned at Ruby, who beckoned him towards the counter so she could show him the milkshake options.

"Uh, thank you for… yesterday," Regina said to David, taking Ruby's empty seat. "And I'm sorry for… losing my temper."

"I'm sure I would have, too, if it was my child down there," he said with a kind smile. "I'm sorry I was a little harsh."

Regina grinned at him and Mary. "So… How long have you two been married?"

"A billion years," Killian said.

"Nine," David said proudly, ignoring his friend. "What about you? Are you married?"

There was a gasp, and Regina was sure it came from Mary Margaret. "No," she shook her head with a smile to indicate it was okay to ask. "It's just Henry and me."

"Henry and I."

The four of them turned around and found Emma standing there. She shrugged.

"I didn't write the grammar," she muttered, giving a small smile that made Regina's heart flutter.

What a vengeful little shit.

"Hi," the blonde said softly.

"Hi."

"So…Where's the coffee?"

"You have competition, Swan," Killian pointed Henry watching Ruby with such obvious air of infatuation that imaginary hearts were popping out of his eyes.

Mary aimed a kick at Killian under the table, and by the time he grunted in pain, it was already too late. Regina was staring at Emma.

"So. You and Ruby."

"We're friends," Emma mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

"Well, friends fall for each other all the time, don't they?"

Oh right back at her…

"Well, I just came to pick something to go," Regina said, standing up. "I'm staying with my dad at the hospital so that my mother can go home a while-"

"Why don't you leave Henry with us?" Mary suggested, seeking approval in her husband's eyes.

"Yeah, he seems to like Ruby a lot," David chuckled, watching the boy and then looking back at Regina. "Your mother needs to rest, and we won't let him fall in any other hole in Storybrooke."

Regina laughed, but she looked torn; Henry seemed a lot comfortable with her old friends, a lot more than with Cora, anyway, but she wasn't sure if that was a good idea.

"I can take him to the docks," Killian suggested. "There's a boat race going on today. He might enjoy it."

"And Ruby can always provide food," Mary said with a grin. "Granny's still kid's favorite place in here."

"It's the only place," Ruby barged in. "You're not seriously considering to leave him with the Ev-" she cleared her throat. "-Your mother, are you?"

"Well, if you insist," Regina sighed. "He's an easy going boy, but if you have any trouble, I'll be at the hospital."

She bent over slightly to talk to him, and by the smile on his face, he seemed to enjoy the plan. What she hadn't expected was that her son was going to hurry to stand near Emma.

"Can you take me for a ride on those police cars?" he asked the blonde.

"Henry-"

"Huh, sure," Emma looked between him and Regina. "If your mom's okay with that."

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

"You said yesterday that you didn't dislike her, so I think it's a great idea," he shrugged.

Mary, David and Killian had to look away to hide their smirks, while Emma flushed like a school girl.

"I love this kid," Ruby chuckled, turning away to get more coffee and his milkshake.

"I should-" Regina pointed the door over her shoulder.

"Send your dad our regards," Mary said, grinning.

"I will," Regina smiled at her, and then pecked Henry's cheek. "And you, behave-"

She exchanged looks with Emma for half a second and then she left.

XXX

When they finished breakfast, Mary suggested that Emma took Henry for his ride and then they could all meet at the docks for the boat race and lunch.

Emma didn't like that knowing look MM was giving her.

The short brunette shrugged, reading Emma's look of reluctance. "Well, you should start bonding with him if-"

"There's no if!" Emma hissed, annoyed. "Nothing's happening and nothing will happen, so you can stop meddling!"

It came out harsher than she intended. Mary tilted her chin, something she did when she was insulted and wanted to demonstrate that she was okay, keeping her voice even so that the conversation stayed only between the two of them.

"Well, it's not me you need to convince about anything. If it's over, then you can stop being a bitch to everyone and move the fuck on. See you later-"

She spun on her heels and left with the others behind her.

A slap would have hurt less. Emma had to move on, and she had to stop hurting people just because she was hurt.

It was time.

She looked at the boy, who was oddly quiet waiting for her.

"So," she sighed. "Are you ready to feel like a criminal?"

He grinned and nodded eagerly.

Emma had a strange feeling that his choice to be with her was not random or based on his new found admiration for her. It felt like he was watching, studying her, like he probably did with Regina when they got home the day before.

He didn't know about their past together, but he definitely sensed something in the air. She would have to be extra careful and reserved with that brat.

"So," she looked through the rear view mirror. "You're not asking questions today?"

"Nothing came up to my mind yet," he said distractedly, watching Storybrooke as it passed by the window.

"Okay," she nodded, hitting the dial on the panel.

After a soda advertising, Emma felt like she was hit by a bullet. Faithful by Journey started to play, and that made Henry shove his head between the bars that separated the front and the back of the car.

"My mom loves this song," he said. "I don't know why, though. She always cries when it plays on the radio. I don't know how you can love something that makes you sad."

Another bullet.

Emma hit the break all of a sudden, and both of them jerked forwards.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry," Emma whispered. She felt disoriented. That song alone felt like a stab in the heart. It hurt twice to know that it made Regina cry. "I'm a monster," she mumbled to herself.

"What did you say?"

"I said…" Emma inhaled deeply. "I said we should go to the docks."

"That's not what it sounded."

"If you heard it the first time, then why you asked?" she rolled her eyes.

"Looks like it's not only my mom who gets cranky because of this song-"

Emma turned back to look at him. "I'm sorry, kid. I just really hate Journey."

The docks were packed with people, especially children. It was sunny, and a soft, warm breeze sprinkled their faces with salt.

"That was a quick ride," David muttered to Emma when she approached them with Henry. The boy hurried to the commotion, and when she made sure Ruby was holding his hand, Emma turned to David.

"It was a terrible idea."

"I suppose it's a lot to take in," he nodded comprehensively. David was always like that around her. "But I guess you'll have to adjust to it, now. She's staying with him in Storybrooke, and… Are you worried about his father showing up?"

Emma took a deep breath, leaning on the rusty handrail, watching the seagulls for a moment as she absently minded removed the cracked blue paint that remained on the iron bar.

"He's not… He's not Regina's biological son. There's no father. She adopted him."

"When the hell did she tell you that?"

"She tried to," Emma made a pause. "Ten years ago, she tried to tell me on those letters."

"Shit," David said, watching Mary and Killian fight over the biggest cotton candy on the food stand.

She reached out her back pocket and produced her wallet. She took the old Polaroid and showed him.

"I should've opened the letters before," she confessed, and it was the first time he caught pain in her voice instead of contempt.

"Really? You would've freaked out, Em. I think it was better this way."

"Maybe I wouldn't have freaked out," she shrugged.

He chuckled. "You think you'd fly to England and bring them home with you?"

"I think I might not be so angry for so long. And I think I would've done it differently with Ruby."

"Yeah, about that… I'd be careful. Mary said she was going to slap you to death if you didn't stop fooling around with Ruby."

"I know that."

"Don't look like that. You know that's fucked up."

"That's why I'm looking like that! Because I know you're right. And you two are the most annoyingly self-righteous couple in this town. It's sickening how you can make me feel bad."

David grinned.

"Well, you are our overgrown child, Em. That's our job."

XXX

"You were walking on the streets like that?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "Good morning to you too, mother."

"You're the Mayor's daughter," Cora went on. "If walking in pajamas is okay in New York, well, this is Storybrooke-"

"I'm not on pajamas," the brunette said, walking towards the head of the bed. "Morning, dad."

"Hello, beautiful girl," Henry smiled. "How are you?"

Regina was about to answer, when Cora returned to the bedroom. "Where's Henry?"

"He stayed with-" here she hesitated for a split second "-the Nolans. They took him to the boat race at the docks."

"Well, you know who they are friends with."

"She saved Henry's life!"

"That's her job! Or do you think everything should be forgiven just because she's competent now? She embarrassed you, she exposed you! Did you forget that? Because I didn't, Regina!"

"She didn't do any of that, and you know it, mother. She just couldn't prove it, but everybody knows that."

"I don't care. She deserved what she got. She stained your reputation, and now you can't even find a husband -"

"Can you please leave?"

Both women looked back at Henry. He seemed angry, and his tired eyes were on his wife.

"You stayed long enough, Cora."

She kept her composure and grabbed her purse, throwing one last look of disapproval at her daughter before she left.

"How can you stand her?" Regina muttered, and her father laughed.

"She's harmless when it comes to me. I got the money and the title, there's not much she can do."

Regina sat down on the armchair. "Do you feel better?"

"Yes, dear. I'll be out soon."

She knew that smile, and she knew when he lied to her. He had done that all her life, to protect her from Cora many times, but now she didn't need it anymore.

"Maybe you could stay a little longer," she said. "Just to be sure."

Henry sighed. "I miss my couch and my cigars."

"They're not going anywhere," Regina smiled, trying to remain strong. Her father had always been an imposing man, and it hurt to see him so weak and helpless. "Everyone is sending their love."

"Oh, send my love back. I liked those little rascals back then. So… Is Henry with Emma?" he asked with a smirk, and Regina rolled her eyes.

"Can you believe that? From all the people, he had to like her most!"

"Well, maybe he got that from you-"

"Dad!"

XXX

"Well, it's late," Emma said. "Who's-?"

Killian yawned and pointed his flask. "Not me."

"My shift starts in five minutes," Ruby said, ruffling Henry's hair and saying goodbye to the others.

"You can drive him back, I'm sure you're not gonna die if you act nice once," Mary said before David could soften, looking sternly at Emma.

"MM, look –" the blonde took a step closer. "I'm sorry about earlier. You were right."

"Yes I was," she spat, just then realizing that Emma was not fighting back. "Well, I'm glad you know that."

She moved away to get Henry; he was by the handrail, watching the last boats anchor.

"Are you sure this plan's going to work?" David muttered.

"They need to figure out their issues and move on," Mary said firmly. "Let her deal with Regina, she's a grown up."

"Well, fine. If you say so."

When Emma returned with Henry, Mary and David bid them good night and took off.

"So," Henry looked around. "I'm hungry."

Emma scoffed. "Yeah, so?"

"You need to buy me food."

"No, I don't."

"You never took care of anyone before, right?"

"Can you tell?" she asked uninterested, leading the way to the car.

"Why are you so cranky?"

"I'm not."

"I think you should eat too."

"I think I should drop you off, c'mon. Get in the car-"

Henry slumped down the backseat and sulked all the way towards the Station. When they got there, Emma got out of the car and entered the office to get her keys and lock everything. She heard him hurry to catch up with her.

"Hey, it's dark out here!" he puffed. "You shouldn't leave me alone in there!"

"Okay," she said, getting her stuff. She didn't notice he was already going through the many scattered items on David's desk.

"Is that you and my mom?"

Emma felt her stomach drop to her feet when she saw what he was holding. David kept a portrait with the six of them in front of Emma's house. Ingrid took that picture a day before prom, and they were all smiling to the camera. Emma had one arm around Regina's shoulders and the other inside the scribbled cast. Regina looked so happy that Henry could barely recognize his mom.

"Huh…"

"You were friends?"

"Huh…"

"Did you fight?"

Emma sighed. "It's a long story, kid."

"You can tell me while we eat pizza."

She was trying to remain distant, but his smile was just too cute. She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Fine, let's get some pizza. But on one condition-" she added as he jumped in the air "-you can't talk while we drive there. It's a silence game."

"I never win silence games, so don't bother," he said with a smug smile.

Emma led him to the Bug, unable to believe she was being manipulated by a ten year old boy with a smart mouth.

"Go wash your hands," she said when they picked a table at the pizza place.

"Aren't you coming to wash yours as well?"

"Mine are clean."

"I've been to the same places you did, so-"

"I'm an adult, okay? Kids have germs. Adults don't."

"That is not true. Germs can't know how old we are. They're germs."

Rolling her eyes for the millionth time that night, Emma followed him to the restroom area.

"My mom never let me eat without washing my hands. Can you get me a paper towel?"

Emma pulled some from the metal container on the wall and gave to him. He babbled all the way back to their table and while they waited for the pizza. Emma made sure she was nodding and grunting sometimes, just to keep him distracted.

When their pizza arrived, Henry took a slice and stared at her.

"So, I'm ready for that long story."

Emma wanted to laugh, but she kept a straight face.

"There's nothing I want to tell you, kid."

"Why not?"

"Because it's none of your business!"

"My mom is my business, and if you weren't nice to her, I want to know."

Emma had no idea what to say. The way he sounded protective and concerned about Regina was too much to bear, and it reminded her about how she felt when she was seventeen and in love.

"I was not very nice, okay? But I never meant to hurt her."

"Does she know that?"

"I think she does."

"Why don't you say it? Just to make sure?"

"Your mother doesn't like to talk to me much anymore."

"That's because you are terrible to talk to. You just grunt and nod and look bored!"

Here she genuinely laughed. What a piece of work…

"Eat, kid!"

"Can we go to the video store and rent a movie after?"

"It's getting late and I need to drive you back-"

"It will be quick, I promise. My grandparents don't have anything fun to watch in the house!"

"Fine-"

It was around nine p.m. when Emma parked in front of 108, Mifflin Street. Regina came out with a look of worry, but she smiled when Henry jumped of the car and ran to her.

"Mom, we went to the boat race, and then pizza, and then Emma let me rent Jurassic Park on her account at the video store-"

Emma climbed the stair steps slowly, holding the tape and the pizza leftovers as he hurried inside.

"I hope he didn't give you any trouble," Regina said hesitatingly, folding her arms across her chest. "He can be a handful sometimes."

"He's incredible," Emma muttered, avoiding her eyes. "Well, I should go-"

"Thank you for-"

"Sure."

"Bye, Emma!" Henry came back, throwing himself at her and holding her around the waist into a tight embrace.

Emma felt her throat burn as she automatically bent over and kissed the top of his head in a very clumsy way.

"Sleep well, kid."

Regina was watching them, and for a second it looked like she was doing that thing she did when they were young – she was unpeeling Emma's layers of bullshit and seeing her for who she was, especially when she did something nice.

Henry disentangled himself from the blonde and hurried back inside, this time holding the tape and the rest of the pizza.

Emma cleared her throat. She didn't want to leave. "So, I'm gonna-"

Regina wanted to invite her in. "Good night, Emma."

She stared long and hard at the brunette. She missed those good night kisses.

"Night, Mills," she offered her a small smile and left.