CHAPTER 5

Ruby came over and began clearing the table. "You got left behind huh?"

"Well, the kids had to get to school," Emma explained as she drained her mug. She put it into the bin Ruby was carrying along with the other dishes. "What do you know about them?"

"The Mayor and her kids?" at Emma's nod she continued, "Just that she's really protective of them. If they so much as get a scratch she goes a little nuts. Henry scraped his knee once and she almost had a heart attack. You would've thought he'd just been stabbed. Other than that, they're a normal family. Henry's been a little sad lately but she's kinda strict. I guess pressure is just getting to him."

Ruby's impression wasn't far off from Emma's. She could've said all of that herself. And Ruby had known them for a lot longer. She just really needed to get to the bottom of this situation with Henry. "What all do you have around here to do?"

Ruby grinned, "You thinking of staying?" When Emma shrugged she went on, "well we have the usual town festivals. In fact, our winter festival is coming up here soon. Aside from the watering holes, there really isn't much else to do, I'm afraid."

Emma stood and pulled out a few bills. Regina had left enough to cover the meal and tip but she wanted to contribute something too. "Thanks for your help," Emma handed the money over and then made her way outside.

She was walking aimlessly down the street when she found a sign out front of the town hall. She shuffled from foot to foot for a few seconds while deciding what to do. Finally she just shrugged and went for it. She made her way into the building and eventually stumbled upon Regina's offices.

There was a receptionist out front who was manning the phones. "May I help you?" she looked at Emma like dealing with someone else was the last thing she wanted to do.

"I was just wondering if the Mayor was around?"

"The Mayor is busy. Did you have an appointment?"

"No, no. I was just dropping by. I'm - ," Emma was in the process of walking out when none other than the woman herself came out of her office.

She dropped a stack of papers on her secretary's desk. "I need these transcribed before the end of today." She turned at the movement in the corner of her eye that was Emma trying to sneakily make her way out of the room. "Ms. Swan? Did you need something?"

"It's Emma," Emma had no idea why the woman insisted on being so formal. She wasn't even that much older than Emma herself. 5 years maybe max? "I was just - ," again Emma was cut off.

"Well come on in," Regina glanced up at the clock. "I have a few moments free before my next appointment."

Emma followed Regina into her office. She couldn't help but follow her with her eyes as she crossed her legs after sitting down in a short skirt. She looked really sexy. She had her long legs crossed over to the side and her knees bent down low as she clasped her hands in her lap.

"What can I do for you?" Regina motioned for Emma to have a seat in the chair opposite her desk.

Emma plopped in the chair with her usual aplumb. She tried crossing her legs like Regina. She however ended up looking like a giraffe trying to figure out how to meet a watering hole on legs that were stilts. She sat frowning. She had no idea what she could do for her. "Well, its Henry," Regina sat back in her chair her body going on the defensive at the mention of her son. "I mean, I still am trying to fit the pieces together."

"What is there that you're confused about?"

"What shouldn't I be confused about? I mean, I don't even – I mean, is he really my son?"

Regina began to frown. "Do you not know?"

"I mean," Emma was flustered. Her cheeks began to flush with her embarrassment. "He just showed up and said he was. But what if the information he has was wrong. Or what if he was switched at birth or something? Or what if -," she was wildly waving her hands around by this time and becoming very excited. "Anything could have happened right?"

Regina stood and grabbed her a bottle of water from the mini fridge in her office. "I think you really need to calm down Ms. Swan." She sat next to her and opened the bottle for her. She handed it over to her.

Emma reached for the bottle but instead got lost in the feel of Regina's skin and how easily her hand fit into hers. She clasped her hand around hers. She began to absently rub her thumb back and forth across her knuckles.

Regina's breath hitched in her throat. She kept telling herself this was wrong. But she couldn't break the hold the woman seemed to have her under. All she could see were those large green eyes coming closer and closer toward her.

Emma's body began to move forward of its own accord. Henry was right, she thought. She had to be a witch to trap her underneath a spell this quickly. She licked her lips and moved closer to Regina. Her eyes betrayed her intended destination as they took in the fullness of Regina's beautiful red lips.

As soon as Emma's eyes released her, Regina instantly shot up. She moved over to the other side of the room. She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned over at Emma, "I'm not a lesbian Ms. Swan."

Emma nodded and rose. She headed to the door. "By the way, neither am I. The proper term is bisexual." She slammed the door shut and stalked past the secretary.

She went back to the inn and collected her things. Then she made her way back over to Regina's mansion. She left Henry's backpack on the front step. Then she made her way out of town.

XOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Sheriff Graham stood beside his patrol car as he waited for the kids to exit the school. Luka was the first to come out surrounded by her friends. Henry strolled out after her all alone.

"Uncle G," Luka launched herself at him. Uncle Graham was her favorite adult besides her Mom and her Aunt. He and Zelena had been married forever as far as Luka was concerned. They had a tight knit family and Luka loved being the baby.

Graham tossed her into the air and held up her in the sky on the flat of his palm. She giggled as she wriggled around. He tossed her like a pizza pie before setting her down and turning to Henry.

"Hi babydoll. Hi Henry," Sheriff took in the way the boys eyes shifted around before settling on him with suspicion.

"She sent you here didn't she? You're supposed to spy on me right?"

Graham sighed. The kids normally went to Zelena's afterschool. She made them a snack while they did their homework at the bar. Then they were allowed to hang out with their friends or have playtime until their Mom got done with work. She'd collect the kids and then head home. During the weekdays Zelena left the place in charge of the day manager. And since Zelena and Graham lived on the same street, more often than not, they would end up having dinner as a family.

That was until yesterday when things changed. No one saw what Henry had planned coming. They had all noticed his closing up and pushing them away. And Graham watched the pain in Regina's eyes everytime she was at the receiving end of one of the boys rants which had unfortunately become more and more routine behavior for him. But there was little to nothing anyone could do about it.

Had Henry come to them in the right way, they probably would've sat him down and told him the whole story. For Graham, Zelena, and Gold were the only ones who knew everything that had transpired in the Enchanted Forest. But taking his behavior yesterday into account, Graham had reluctantly agreed with Regina and Zelena, Henry just couldn't be trusted.

Graham understood he was a young boy and that he was unhappy. But the callous way he disregarded anything except what he was after didn't exactly endear him to Graham either. "If by she you mean your Mother then yes, she did send me to collect," Graham put heavy emphasis on the word, "you. Luka's going on ahead with your Aunt," he spoke to Henry in a voice that brooked no nonsense. He pointed to each child in turn as he spoke, "You, are coming and staying with me. Now you can march yourself over the car and get into the back. We're going to drop Luka off first."

Henry snapped his head around at his Uncle's scolding. It wasn't something he was used to being on the receiving end. The Evil Queen had obviously gotten to him too. Henry stomped over to the car and slammed the door shut. He was already planning the next part of his operation.