CHAPTER 9

After leaving the inn, Emma stopped at a florist. She picked out a small bouquet of delicate flowers and hoped it would go over well. She didn't want to appear too overeager. Even though she was.

She went over to the Mayor's. She rang the bell and stood back. While she waited for the door to be opened she went over a few greeting scenarios in her head. She was sure Regina would open the door herself. It was her house and all. Then she heard what sounded like locks being turned. She decided to go for the nonchalant greeting.

Regina's head reared back when she opened the door, "Miss Swan? Can I help you?"

Zelena had come up behind her. "I invited her over for dinner with us." Regina glared her betrayal at her sister who walked over and grabbed Emma's hand. She pulled her inside and smiled over at her. "Hello again Emma."

Emma smiled over at them both. She held the flowers out to Regina, "I got you these."

Luka walked in as Regina took the proffered flowers. She came over and smiled, "Hey Emma," she threw her arm around her waist and gave her a side hug.

Regina stood with her mouth slightly ajar. Henry she understood. But the rest of her family standing here acting as if this woman wasn't the worst news to ever happen to them? Her own sister and daughter had betrayed her to the enemy.

Then Graham came out into the foyer carrying two glasses of wine. His wife had already filled him in on her line of thinking. He handed a glass over to Emma, "Hi Emma. You're a little behind. Don't want be the last one here when there's wine and these two," he gestured to Regina and Zelena.

Zelena playfully hit him in his arm, "Hey! You'll have her thinking we're alcoholics or something.

Emma just smiled as she took in the easy camaraderie. "It's not how much you drink. It's how you handle your liquor," Emma told him as she took her first sip. She was more of a beer and pizza girl but a glass of wine from time to time wasn't bad.

Zelena grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the den. "Come and sit while we all stand around interrogating you."

Emma let herself be pulled along. "I'm not sure you have enough liquor in this town for that."

Graham and Zelena laughed. Luka followed along happily. Regina just stood glaring at their retreating figures. She wasn't happy about her sister's betrayal but she would deal with her later. Mother had raised them to always be ladies. She pushed her annoyance back and followed everyone else to ensure their comfort as a good hostess should.

They sat and chatted for a while. Regina learned of Emma being at Zee's fun center and that was obviously where she'd struck up some type of weird – friendship for lack of a better word – with Zelena and Luka. And once you were in with Zelena, then you were in with Graham. Regina just wished she hadn't been ambushed like this. She didn't like the way they all seemed to be comfortable with the woman destined to break her curse. Then a buzzer went off. As Regina stood to answer it she looked over at Luka, "Please tell your brother to come down for dinner." She turned to everyone else before walking out, "Just go right in and seat yourselves."

Luka ran upstairs and back down quickly after delivering the message. She made it to the dining room where everyone was being seated and nabbed the chair next to Emma. She really liked the woman.

Henry was walking in looking sullen when he saw Emma and did a double take. "Emma," he gushed breathlessly, "what are you doing here?"

"Your Aunt invited me for dinner. I figured I'd better take her up on it while I can since it looks like I'm going to be stuck with diner food while I'm here."

Regina came out of the kitchen carrying some serving dishes. "Henry take a seat."

Henry's glare transferred from his Mom to his sister as he watched her sitting next to Emma. "Why don't you move? I want to sit next to my Mom."

Luka and Emma had been speaking quietly to themselves and stopped when Henry made his really rude demand. His sister returned his glare and was about to say something when Emma got there first.

"Please don't call me that. I'm not your Mom and it makes me really uncomfortable that you insist on doing that," Emma told him calmly. She saw the slight pinch of Regina's lips and the way her eyes would narrow ever so slightly when Henry insisted on calling her that. She wanted her to understand that she wasn't encouraging him.

Henry's face fell and he loudly pulled out the chair next to his sister. He unceremoniously plopped himself down into the chair and returned to glaring alternately at his Mom and sister.

Regina saw the disappointment cross her son's face at Emma's request. Now Regina turned her own glare upon Emma. "He's only trying to get to know you!"

"By calling me his Mom? That's a little bit too personal don't you think?" Emma countered. She shook her head, "I'm not comfortable with that. And I can't see how you'd be either."

Regina knew she was sounding like a petulant child. So she turned to the dishes in front of her and began passing them around.

The dinner went off well. Graham, Zelena, Luka, and Emma seemed to be having a good time anyway. The 4 of them kept up all the chatter while Regina sat back and played with more food than she actually consumed. She wasn't sure what angle Zelena had up her sleeve here inviting this woman into their lives. But she didn't like it at all.

After dinner, the family retreated to the living room. Henry practically shoved his sister to the ground in his haste to secure a place next to Emma. Emma caught her and Luka frowned over at him as she rubbed at her arm. Henry ignored it all, "Hey Mo- … I mean Emma, why don't you come up to my room so I can show it to you?"

Henry needed some alone time with her. He was confused how she could sit in the same house as the woman who'd destroyed theirs and their family's lives. He had watched her throughout dinner waiting for a chance to intervene and remind her of who she was. But the conversation had flowed between Emma and his – he meant the Evil Queen's family members. He knew his Mom must be up to something. He'd thrown her dirty looks throughout the dinner.

Emma shook her head. "No thanks. I think I'll just stay and chat with the adults," she turned back toward something Zelena was saying to her. Henry still insisted on making her uncomfortable. She really didn't want any alone time with the kid. Now Luka was another subject. That kid was a real cutie.

After Henry practically shoved her on the ground, Emma had scooped her up. She had made space for Luka on the other side of her. She rubbed her hand absently up and down the child's arm. Henry had again glared his disapproval. He slumped back in his seat dejectedly.

Regina brought in some coffee and passed cups around to the adults. Emma declined in favor of her wine.

"I tried to get out to see you this morning. But the Evil Queen locked me inside," Henry loudly informed Emma. Again he threw Regina one of his looks filled with disdain.

Emma looked between Regina and Henry. She was a little surprised at Regina's behavior. She seemed like she was wound up really tight and yet she allowed Henry's behavior to go unchecked repeatedly. She'd seen him throwing her dirty looks all throughout dinner and it really made it harder for her to want to get to know him. "Well it's not a fire hazard or anything. As long as you can still get out in an emergency, there's no law against keeping your family secured inside the home."

"But she's evil!" Henry shrieked. He began waving his arms around wildly and talking rapidly and loudly, "She cursed our entire family. Your Mom doesn't even know you're here! I tried to tell your Mom but she can't remember who she is because of her."

Everyone stared at Henry blankly. He ignored them and instead sat up on his knees leaning toward Emma. He needed to make her understand. But before he had a chance to Regina stepped in.

"Go upstairs and get ready for bed Henry," Henry turned on her to argue but she held him with a steel gaze. He quieted swinging his head between her and Emma. When he saw he would get no assistance there he jumped off the sofa and glared at his Mother, "I hate you," he told her as he walked past her and made his way upstairs.

Emma's leg began to jiggle. She, Zelena, and Graham all averted their faces so that they wouldn't have to witness the pain that had made its way fleetingly across Regina's before she'd covered it with her usual nonplussed façade.

She turned to Luka, "You too poppet. I'll be up in a few."

Luka hugged Emma then her aunt and uncle. Her head hung as she slowly made her way upstairs.

"Maybe, I should go," Emma said quietly in the wake of the silence. She put her wineglass down and turned towards the front door. "Um, Regina, could I have a quick word outside?"

Regina was surprised but answered in the affirmative anyway. She grabbed her coat and pushed her arms through it quickly. She followed Emma over to her car. She folded her arms across her chest and looked at Emma expectantly.

Emma wasn't sure what to say now that they were out here. She took a deep breath, "I'm really sorry for that," she said quietly.

Regina waved her away, "You have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong. Henry's just – had a hard time coping lately."

Emma snorted but let it go. She reached out automatically and ran her hand back and forth across Regina's forearm. Regina's breath hitched as Emma looked down into her eyes. "I'm still sorry that you have to go through that. I'm not sure if my being here is the problem or not. I just knew – I needed to be near you." As she'd talked she'd began stepping closer and closer to Regina closing the distance in between the two.

Regina's heart hammered in her chest. This woman had way too much power over her. She searched for an abrupt retort to put distance back between the two of them but found her mind had lost its ability to form words.

Emma moved in closer to Regina. She had no idea why she was so drawn to this woman. But she couldn't seem to keep her hands off of her. Her tongue snaked out as she moistened her lips while staring at Regina's. Her head darted forward but before she could make contact she heard the front door. And just like that, the spell was broken.

Regina practically ran back towards the front of her house. She threw a quick, "Good night Miss Swan," behind her as she escaped onto her porch. She said a quick goodnight to her sister and brother-in-law then went back inside.

Emma frowned after her. She knew that Regina felt the way she felt. She had no idea why she insisted on denying it though.

She smiled at Graham and Zelena as they made their way toward their home. They waved at her and continued on as she got into her car and drove off.

Even though she hadn't been invited back yet, Emma knew it was just a matter of time. The connection between she and Regina was strong. There was no way she was letting her slip away from her.

The fact that she was looking forward to it, shocked her. But only for a little while. Even though she'd never been a relationship type person. She was sure she'd met her match. She grinned like a schoolgirl over that thought.