Chapter 8

"Thanks...you don't have to though, I'm sure helping me out is the last thing you want to be doing on a Friday night..you probably have plans"

Regina shakes her head with a smile. "No I don't actually, so let's get started" giving his shoulder a comforting rub, Regina removes her coat hanging it up before heading over to the kitchen surface to see what can be done.

Half an hour later and Regina is standing at the counter which Henry has sat himself on, mixing some rice and explaining to Henry how to add extra flavour. Henry smiles commenting back about what other flavours could be used causing Regina to laugh at his suggestions that are similar to ice cream flavours. "Henry not all flavours work!"

The pair laugh again hearing the door open and heels being thrown to the side. "Kid I'm sorry I got lost..slightly but hey I'm not..." Emma looks over seeing both Regina and Henry in the kitchen. "...too late"

Regina smiles at her. "Hi..sorry Henry needed a hand with a surprise for you so.." The brunette gestures to the dinner made as Emma follows her gaze.

"Oh..thanks you didn't have to"

Regina nods. "I know but..Henry informed me of your day and why you were late so I guessed you wouldn't want to come home and cook"

Emma raises an eyebrow. "But you would?"

Regina smiles a little. "I don't mind when there is someone to cook for"

Emma smiles back. "Well in that case you at least gotta stay for some?"

Henry smiles between them agreeing. "Yeah m-Regina stay"

"Okay..I suppose it's not like I have far to get home"

Emma enters the kitchen as the pair take the dinner to the table while she grabs the drinks before sitting with them. Regina glances over starting on her food. "How did it go with your meeting?"

Emma nods taking a bite. "Good..kid you start Monday"

Henry puts his folk down pulling a face sighing causing the women to chuckle. Regina stops eating a second and looks to him. "Do you not like school Henry?"

Henry looks back. "It's not that I don't, its just I was helping mom with..something"

"Oh?"

"Yeah..its..we need to find someone"

Henry gains a mini glare from Emma. Regina glances over at her briefly. "Still haven't found them?"

Emma butts in quick before Henry says anymore, kind of nervous. "It's complicated...they don't..it's just complicated"

Regina frowns slightly before finishing her dinner. "Right..well if I can help with anything I'm just down the hall"

Emma smiles sadly also finishing. "Thanks.."

Once the trio had finished, Henry took the plates to the kitchen before disappearing to his room. Regina stands to help in the kitchen but is stopped by Emma's hand grabbing her wrist, both feeling a little awkward at the first sign of contact. Emma smiles a bit. "You cooked" walking around the brunette, Emma starts on the dishes trying to take a blind eye on the fact that Regina stares at her a moment before picking up the towel to dry.

Regina bites her lip at the silence and turns to the blonde drying a glass. "So Emma..what's your story?"

Emma looks over at her startled by the question. "My story?.."

Regina nods. "Well considering you have just moved to the big city..you must of come from somewhere?"

Emma looks away continuing with the last of the dishes. "Well..yeah that is kind of complicated too..originally though it was Boston but we have moved a couple of times since"

Regina notices Emma's defence but finds the blonde such a mystery she continues. "Moved a couple of times to find someone?"

Emma empties the sink then leans against the counter causing Regina to do the same. "No.. I was in Boston then I moved to this little town where I met someone..they recently left and they meant a lot..to both me and Henry so we wanted to find them"

Regina looks over at her. "Do they want to be found? I mean do they feel the same way?"

Emma shrugs looking down. "I don't think they know..either way"

Regina reaches over placing a hand on the blonde's arm. "If you believe they are worth fighting for..then you must continue looking. If or when you do and they don't want to know at least you can stop wondering, besides if tonight is anything to go by, they'd be a fool not to want you and Henry in their life"

Emma tenses up feeling a tear escape and clears her throat. Regina removes her hand giving an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I shouldn't of said..I've upset you"

Emma shakes her head trying not to let another tear go. "Its..it's just hard when..your alone"

"You have Henry...he is a great boy, very thoughtful"

Emma smiles a little sniffling. "Yeah he is a great kid"

Regina watches her a moment then quickly wipes a tear about to fall onto Emma's cheek. Emma looks over confused as Regina backs up a bit. "Sorry..."

Emma nods wiping her face dry. "I better go check on him...he needs to get to bed"

Regina walks round to the door picking her coat and bag up. "Il leave you too it"

Emma looks over giving a smile. "Thanks for dinner..and listening"

Regina nods smiling back. "You're welcome dear, anytime..and thank you for the company. Goodnight"

"Goodnight Regina" Emma stand still a moment getting teary again once Regina has walked out the door, then feels a pair of arms wrap round her. Looking down to her son she hugs back. "Hey kid let's get ready for bed...wana share tonight?"

Henry nods seeing Emma's hopeful look knowing she does not want to be alone. Ruffling his hair, Emma turns everything off and heads to her bedroom for the night, son in tow hugging the entire time.

Settling back into her apartment, Regina sits on her bed reaching for her phone noticing a couple of missed calls from Kate. Knowing she will still be awake for gossip, the brunette dials for her friend.

"Regina?! Where have you been all night?"

Regina chuckles half heartedly. "Sorry 'mother' I wasn't aware I had to check in. I..had dinner at Emma's"

Kate gives a gasp. "Tell me more?!"

Regina shakes her head despite her friend not being able to see her. "There is nothing to tell..we..got to know each other.."

"So when exactly are you going to just bite the bullet and ask her out?"

Regina sighs looking down. "I'm not Kate...she..she has feelings for someone else..the person she is looking for, who she thought lived here"

Kate frowns. "But I saw the way she looked at you.."

"Right..but it's not going to happen.." Regina grows quiet to Kate's concern.

"You do like her..don't you?"

Regina rubs her head sighing again feeling conflicted. "Yes..I..there is just something about her that...is so familiar I..since I saw her moving in I can't..stop thinking about the pair of them"

Kate feels bad for her friend having never actually seen her so tormented. "I'm sorry Regina..who knows..maybe she will never find the person she is looking for and then you can have your chance?"

"No..even if that happens it's clear that considering the circumstances of uprooting and moving around to find them, Emma must really love them to do so..she's so torn. I hope for her and Henry they can find their happiness, they deserve it"

Kate bites her lip. "So do you Regina.."

Regina frowns."For some reason I'm not so sure about that"

Ending the call and laying down, Regina stares at the ceiling. Why is Emma getting to her so much? She has never let anyone get to her this way before. Sighing she turns over shoving the duvet over her head.

Author's note: oh jeez! Emma loves Regina, Regina's falling for Emma, Henry is just the little piggy in the middle!