David sat in his apartment and appreciated the deceptive harmony and serenity surrounding him. He was alone, which was a rarity. His wife had gone out during lunch on an errand he was sure he didn't want to know anything about. His daughter was working, which, he supposed, he ought to be doing as well, but he liked to take lunch later than she did. Emma normally took lunch at noon, and he liked to take it between 1 and 1:30, which staggered the sheriff's station to ensure someone was always around, just in case.

Henry was, of course, at school. He wouldn't be out for another few hours, which meant David had a precious few minutes alone in his home. A man's home might be his castle, but his home was starting to feel more like Grand Central Station. Any time there were less than three people in the apartment was a time to be treasured.

Since Emma and Mary Margaret's return, the town had been in a lull. He knew it couldn't last. It was only a matter of time before something happened that would stir the pot, cause a tiff, and force him to step up in the role of parent, spouse, monarch, deputy, all of the above, or at least some of it.

So, for now, he took what little reprieve he could while it was there.

His peace lasted for all of the first twenty minutes of his lunch break. After which, his wife came barreling into the apartment in a clear rage. The front door slammed, she stomped to the island where he was sedately seated drinking his coffee, and the first words out of her mouth nearly made him spew it across the counter top.

"Your daughter refuses to accept that Regina being allowed to be mayor again is a bad idea. What's more," her eyes narrowed, "she's taking Regina's side. David, I'm worried. I think Regina's done something to Emma."

He swallowed down the coffee in a hard gulp and blinked a couple of times to clear out the tears from the pain of swallowing. "What do you mean?" He cleared his throat. "You think she might have cursed her or enchanted her or something?"

She shook her head. "I don't know, but something's not right. I would accuse Regina of stealing Emma's heart and controlling her, but I know for a fact Emma's heart can't be taken like that." Mary Margaret frowned deeply as she removed her coat and hung it up while she continued explaining. "Think about it. We get back home, and Emma suddenly thinks Regina's worth saving. Why? What happened all of the sudden for Emma to go from blaming Regina for everything we've all been through to saying she's some sort of broken and lost soul in need of help? How does a person shift gears like that so quickly?"

He let it all roll around in his mind as he watched his wife fix herself a cup of coffee. He had wondered the same thing the day before when he'd approached Emma about Regina. Since then, he'd had time to think about it, and, upon serious consideration, he was starting to see other sides to the issue. "You know," he was trying to tread lightly, but he knew this would be a challenge. "Regina did a lot to try to get you and Emma back when you were away."

"That's only because she got us there in the first place, and," her eyes dared him to forget all the pain and suffering they'd been through, "need I remind you, David, that, had it not been for Regina, none of this ever would have happened?"

"I know," he pushed his empty mug away and leaned back a little on his stool. "But she didn't have to try to help. She could have done just the opposite." He held his hand up to keep from being interrupted. "I know she did it for Henry because she's trying to prove to him that she's changing, and I know you're going to say that she's faking it to try to earn our trust back." He shrugged. "You might be right. You know I wanted to execute her, so I definitely know how dangerous she can be, but," he took in a deep breath, "she did help rescue you, and she told Henry to come live with us because she wanted him to be happy. I honestly think she's trying to do the right thing. At least, for now she's trying. Later? Who knows, but wouldn't it be nice if we were all on the same side for at least a little while? Don't you get tired of constantly fighting?"

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, and he could see her jaw flex with the effort not to yell. "That's almost exactly what Emma said in the diner today." She shook her head, mumbling to herself, "Like father, like daughter."

"Look, all I'm saying is that a lot happened while you two were away, and I think that maybe," David held his hands out in a show of sincerity, "we should think about at least letting Regina try. I'm not saying we should just let her do whatever and be blind about her actions. I think we should watch her, but you know the old saying, 'Keep your friends close..."

"And your enemies closer." She nodded before taking a thoughtful sip of her coffee. "Emma said she and Henry are having dinner with Regina tonight."

"Oh really?" David raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"She told me not to wait up. I don't know what that means, but I think," his wife began to look sheepish, "I might have made her angry enough when I went to talk to her at lunch that she's planning on spending at least tonight somewhere else."

His face fell into a scowl, and he stood to check Emma and Henry's belongings. He found items missing and two suitcases gone. Coming back into the main area of the apartment, he pointed to the table to indicate she needed to take a seat. "I think you need to tell me exactly what happened at lunch."