Chapter 10

Walking into the cafe for coffee, Regina wonders what today will bring with regards to work also how her new found friends day will be with school and work. Reaching the counter she sees the waitress place a coffee down in front of her. Raising an eyebrow, she looks to her. "I haven't ordered yet.."

The waitress smiles. "It was brought for you by the boy in that booth over there"

Regina takes the coffee looking over seeing Emma and Henry having breakfast. Walking over she looks between them. "Good morning, Henry thank you for the coffee although you have me rather lost as to why?"

Henry smiles. "For your help last Friday and your message yesterday"

Regina nods. "Oh..I wasn't expecting anything in return but thank you"

Emma looks up at her. "Do you want to join us?"

Regina bites her lip then smiles. "I can spare a couple of minutes"

Emma smiles back and moves over for her to sit. Regina sits next to her having some of her coffee then looks at her. "I'm sorry I forgot to ask, are you starting your job today?"

Emma nods. "Yes however it's not exactly new I used to work for the company before"

"Oh well I hope it goes well and that you get a boss you like, they are hard to find"

Emma chuckles. "That is a good point. Il be fine"

Regina raises an eyebrow. "I don't doubt that dear"

Henry looks away grinning. Emma notices and clears her throat. "Hey kid we need to get you to school"

Henry nods and stands. "Bye Regina" heading to the door, he spots Kate walking in winking at him. Emma follows Henry giving Regina a wave which the brunette finds adorable.

Kate heads straight over. "Hey just a quick message before work, I can't come with you to your work thing.."

Regina looks to her eyes widen. "What?! No..."

Kate looks sorry. "I have a family thing..."

Regina glares at her recognising her friends look. "You don't have a family thing do you?"

Kate bites her lip. "Oh come on! Seriously I can't make it"

Regina sighs standing taking the last of her coffee with her.

Kate grins with a nod then messages Henry as Regina leaves the cafe.

Finding the morning pretty boring, Regina thinks about this morning and what she is going to do with regards to the work do. Being pulled out of her thoughts, Regina looks to the door at Larry. "Yes?"

Larry walks in and drops two tickets on the desk. Regina rolls her eyes not getting a proper look at the tickets. "You are never going to give up are you? It is and always will be no"

Larry frowns and points to the tickets. "The work do...you did say you were bringing someone did you not?"

Regina realizes and glances at him a little embarrassed. "Yes..I am"

Larry nods. "Is it a date?"

Regina sighs thinking how am I going to pull this one off. "I don't see how that is your business"

Larry raises an eyebrow. "Got a name?"

Regina scoffs. "Wouldn't you just love to know her name"

Larry's eyes widen and gulps. "Her?"

Regina just smirks and goes back to her computer. Larry stands there a moment looking like he is trying to picture it. "Okay...great..see you later" backing up to the door he leaves.

That evening, Regina makes it her mission to catch the blonde on the way home. Regina spots her then walks up beside her. "Emma.."

Emma stops looking over with a smile. "Hi..you okay?"

Regina nods. "About that running commentary over yours and Henry's day...would you like to include some wine with that?"

Emma chuckles. "Sure..let me just sort the kid out, do you want to come over in an hour?"

Regina nods. "Yes I will see you then"

Emma smiles again heading to her apartment looking at Regina once more standing at her door before going in.

Regina goes inside quick and showers to change out of her work clothes then sticks a t shirt and sweatpants on.

Emma gets Henry his dinner telling him that Regina is coming over. At this he says he will disappear excitedly. Emma sighs at his enthusiasm. "Henry nothing will happen"

Henry pouts. "I don't see why it can't"

Emma bites her lip. "Because its-"

"Complicated I know"

Henry goes to the kitchen grabbing a drink as his mom answers the door when it goes. Letting Regina in, the brunette approaches the kitchen counter placing the bottle down and smiles at Henry. "Hi Henry did you enjoy your day?"

Henry nods. "Yes it wasn't as bad as I expected..already made friends. Oh ma I forgot" looking to Emma he smiles. "I actually got invited round my friends house to stay next Friday can I?"

Emma looks put on the spot. "Oh well kid I don't exactly know who they are"

Henry looks stumped. "What if I get their mom to contact you?"

Emma thinks a moment. "Okay..I'll talk to them first"

Henry grins and heads to his room. Regina looks over to Emma. "You must be relieved he settled in well and made friends so quick"

Emma nods with a smile. "I guess"

Walking round the kitchen, Regina grabs the glasses remembering from dinner where they are kept, while Emma opens the bottle pouring.

Regina leans against the counter and fiddles with the ring she wears causing Emma to give a small smile noticing it as a sign of nerves. A lot of things Emma had noticed Regina does both in her cursed and non cursed state. unfortunately for Emma the reason behind it is that Regina has lost her bottle with asking Emma to join her at her work do.

Regina has some of her wine watching the blonde finding the silence off putting. "So Miss Swan what exactly is it that you do for a living?"

Emma's eyes widen at the use of her surname. "Erm..what...how do you know.."

Regina notices her look. "Sorry your name is on the list downstairs for the buzzer"

Emma takes a much needed breath. "Oh..yeah of course sorry.."

Regina shakes her head then smirks. "Don't worry I'm not a stalker"

Emma bites her lip smiling. "Of course not. Have you eaten? I was gona just get some takeout and I thought considering you were just coming home from work when we spoke you haven't"

Regina takes the bottle. "No I haven't but ill have whatever you get"

Watching Regina walk over to the couch and sitting herself down, Emma quickly makes a call then follows sitting next to her. "So what is your friend doing tonight?"

Regina turns herself to face her better. "Kate?"

By the end of the night, both women had settled into conversation Emma revealing information that she was sure her Regina would know, while Regina gave her an insight into her memories of New York.

As they both had work in the morning, Regina announced at about 11 that she would need to leave. Emma follows her to the door. "Well tonight has been interesting, thanks for sharing your view on New York"

Regina bites her lip worried she has been giving too much info and talking too long. "Yes..sorry about that"

Emma looks confused. "What? No! Don't be silly I liked hearing your stories and getting to know you"

Regina nods in appreciation. "thank you and the same goes to you. I meant what I said before Emma, you and Henry...your great and by the looks of it an amazing mother"

Emma gulps attempting a smile. "Thanks, you know you can call by anytime...if like your alone if Kate isn't..around"

Regina smiles. "Of course you would be the first person id go too"

Emma looks down briefly at how much that statement means to her. "Il talk to you soon.."

Regina doesn't know whether it is Emma's actions or the fact that she cannot help herself, as she leans over giving the blonde a hug. Emma at first tenses with shock then hugs her a little more tighter than expected getting teary while Regina cannot see her face. The brunette however simply smiles rubbing her back.

Sat in his room, Henry was messaging Kate on the next part of the plan as it is now down to him. Operation Swan Queen ...was now in progress.

Author's note: I know the operation name is kinda original but I was stumped! Also sorry for the vague info on the plan haha cant give the game away although it will be next chapter! :)