A/N – I am literally loving this story. Sorry for changing the title, but I just didn't really like it. Thank you all for the continued support for this story. I don't know if it as good as the last one, but I plan to make this slightly more interesting soon enough. As always, reviews and comments are always welcome, and I hope people keep with the story, I can't tell you how much your support really does mean to me. Anyway, onto the next chapter.

"Something tells me you're right. But let's see what she is like on Monday. First impressions aren't always the most accurate." And now, I really did leave. But I brought all my thoughts of Regina with me. And they didn't look as though they were going anywhere tonight.

I walked through the door, I called out for Henry.

"Henry, you home yet?" I was returned with simply the echo of my question ringing through the, apparently, empty house. I guess he still had some steam to blow off. If he wasn't back by six, I was going call him to tell him to come home. And if he didn't pick up, I was going to have go looking for him. He couldn't stay out late. And he certainly wasn't going to stay out without my knowing of where he is. If he is at a friend's house, then that is fine, but he wasn't going to stay outside after dark. It was only five now, so he had an hour to come home, or have me chasing him around. Unfortunately this sort of thing became a common occurrence for us. He would walk out angry, and I always ended up having to try and find him. It wasn't a good routine by any means, but I didn't know what else to do. If I tell him what to do, he just pulls back even more. I don't tell him what to do, he gets into trouble. I keep finding myself caught between a rock and a hard place with him. A knock at the door brought me out of my ever plummeting thoughts.

"Ruby! I am so going to kill you." Ruby walked into the house with the biggest smug grin plastered on her face. She waltzed over to the couch and plopped down in the middle of the seats. I took a place in one of the single seats. Her grin never faltering.

"So I take it you met Regina."

"You think. You could have warned me that the person coming to work with me was also going to be my babysitter." It may not have seemed like a big thing to be upset over, but I wanted to meet Regina on my own terms. Get to know her as a person and see if she would be good to babysit Henry. Meeting her at my place of work, was not what I had in mind.

"Oh relax. You met her. So what did you think?" She had a smirk on her face, but I couldn't quite work out what it was for.

"She is a very nice young lady. And she actually seems very respectable. Now would you please explain why you have a smirk on your face reaching from ear to ear?" She sat up on the couch and got comfortable for something big.

"You didn't notice anything else about her?" I still didn't understand where she was going with this.

"I am sure I noticed plenty more about her. What is it exactly you were hoping I would notice?" She moved closer to me on the couch, and leaned in close.

"Emma, you know what I am like when it comes to people. How, I know what they like. And how, I have this way of just understanding others. Especially when it comes to attraction." Oh shit. Now I was starting to see where she was going with this. "Well, lately I have been getting a feeling about you, and that you haven't been completely honest with me." I moved my gaze to the ground. I didn't really plan on telling her about this, not any time soon at least. "Emma?" I looked up, and the look in her eyes told me I could trust her right now. That she would be there for me no matter what.

"Ruby, can I tell you something, and know you aren't going round to the whole town blabbing it?" She looked hurt but I knew it was just an act. I slapped her on the leg and she got serious.

"Emma you know you can tell me anything and I would take it to my grave."

"You remember how Neal and I met don't you? You were there." Ruby nodded at me. I think I was starting to confuse her with where this was now going. "Well, would you believe me when I said that he was my first and last boy?"

"Strangely enough, I could believe it. But I still don't get what you're trying to tell me."

"He was my first and last boy. But he wasn't my first." It took her a second before the light bulb clicked on and she caught on to what I meant.

"Wait, you were with a girl before Neal?"

"Well, I was eighteen, still a virgin, and I was looking to experiment. And being with a guy scared me I guess. So I wanted to start of easier if that makes sense." Ruby nodded, and was clearly thinking through what I was saying.

"A girl isn't as aggressive as boys. Not as dominating. You feel like you're on equal terms."

"Exactly. Well, I went with a girl, and I found that I really liked it. But the thought of being with a boy still made me curious. So I went with a few more girls just too sort of boost my confidence. And then when we went out that night to party, and I slept with Neal, I found out that I really didn't want to sleep with men anymore." We both let out a small laugh, and it just relaxed the whole atmosphere. "It was only meant to be a one night stand, for me to have that experience. But it turned out that one night was all it took. And when my period was late that month and I took the test, I freaked. I panicked. I got hold of Neal and told him. Give him his due, he was straight in there saying he wanted to be part of Henry's life. And I couldn't really deny him that chance." I started to get quiet, beginning to think about what I did to him afterwards. "When I told him, he tried to kiss me. I stopped him, and told him I wasn't actually into guys. He was confused at first but when I explained that he was my first and that I was just testing things out, he understood. So we talked about what we were going to do. I was in no way ready to tell anyone that I was a lesbian. That was the last thing I wanted to do. So we decided that we would live together and raise Henry, but we wouldn't actually be together. We never did anything a married couple would do." I finally finished speaking, and I thanked the gods Ruby had just sat there and didn't say anything whilst I was talking. I don't think I would have been able to start again if she interrupted me.

"So wait, if you two were together for the sake of Henry, why did he leave?" That was the question I knew was coming.

"When his note said I can't keep living this lie, he was talking about how I didn't love him. He loved me, and he had made that clear on many different occasions, but I could never return what he felt for me. And he was tired of being with me all the time, and never being able to touch me. He told me about it a while back, but I just said that there was nothing I could do. The idea of being with a guy just made me cringe. And I just couldn't give him what he wanted." I was close to tears, and I could see Ruby was choking some back as well.

"Emma, I am so sorry, I had no idea you and Neal were having so many issues."

"It's okay. How could you have known? We always put on our brave faces around everyone. We wanted to keep up appearances. Not raise any suspicion around anyone. It was just easy to handle that way. And that meant hiding our pain." We sat in silence for a moment letting all that had been said wash over us. As my brain was running back through the conversation, I realised Ruby still hadn't told me why she was so smug when she heard I had met Regina. "Now will you please explain to me the fascination you have with me and Regina?" Ruby started to laugh which was never a good sign.

"Not until you tell me what you really noticed about her." I might as well now that she knows my dirty little secret.

"Fine. I'll admit it, she is one damn good looking girl. But so what? I doubt she would ever be into me. I doubt she even likes women. She probably has a new man crawling at her stiletto high heels every day. What possible chance would I have with her?" Her grin only grew when I asked the final question.

"More than you think. See, the thing for working for Mr Gold, is that he has certain rules. And one of his rules is that you must be open about your sexuality, in order to make people more comfortable, and so people know who they can and can't go for. Anyway, getting off track. When Regina informed us of her sexuality, she said, and I quote, any girl looking to have a good time." My mouth dropped down to my chest with that. There was no way those words came from her mouth. "You would be surprised by Regina. She might still be young, but she has the sass, of a black diva. And the confidence like no one I have ever seen before." Maybe Regina was more than she chooses to show. "Why not go for it? Just give it a chance. Who knows, you might find she sweeps you off your feet." Everything was rolling around in my head, when I noticed one thing wrong with Ruby's plans.

"Ruby, you do realise I have met the girl once. And I wasn't even acting like myself around her. And from the way you're describing her, I don't think she was either. Try and give me an answer for that one smarty pants." Ruby thought it over for a second before bursting back into it.

"Well, you will be working with her all day at the gallery for a month, and then she is going to be babysitting Henry for you, right?"

"Well, I am going to see her at the gallery, but I forgot to ask her about the babysitting thing. And even if she did do the babysitting I wouldn't see her then because I would be out. Hence needing her as a babysitter. What did she end up saying anyway?"

"Oh my god, do I have to do everything." I slapped her lightly on the arm. She rarely ever did anything. "She said she was more than happy to babysit Henry. I gave her your number, and I would have assumed she would have given you a call. Anyway, I'm sure she'll call soon. Back on track though, if she does babysit Henry, when you get back from whatever you were doing on the night, just talk to her. Get to know her. Offer her a drink. Just get her talking. And you might find she opens up quickly."

"Thanks Ruby, but maybe for now it would be better to just keep things professional. Say I were to go out with her and things went bad, I would have to see her almost all the time, and things would be really awkward between us. And I don't think I could handle that. Maybe after the event, so that way if things do go bad, I won't have to worry about seeing her every day." Ruby contemplated my compromise, but I knew she wasn't going to give up quick so easily. She might cave now, but give her a week and she will be on my case again.

"Do you even realise how negative you sound right now? But okay, that seems fair." We sat together just trying to retain everything that had just happened, when something popped into my thought train.

"Rubes, when you had to say what your sexuality was, what did you say?" She took a deep breath as if preparing herself for something big. Her cheeks were starting to go red, and I could see she was struggling to gather her words. "Hey, don't worry. If I could tell you I was into women, you can tell me anything."

"When I said what my sexuality was, I said…I was bi, with a preference to women." She said it so fast I almost missed it. For a girl who was normally as obvious as a fire truck, she certainly seemed shy about admitting that. "And, there is something else." I looked at her, and gave her a reassuring look. "You know Belle?" My heart began to sing. I tried to keep a straight face, but it was quickly becoming difficult. I nodded quickly, waiting anxiously to hear Ruby say what I knew Belle was dying to hear. "I have had a huge crush on her since the first time I saw her. I just haven't ever been able to ask her out. I don't even know if she is into women. Do you?"

"I know more than you think. Ruby, Belle has wanted to ask you out for years now. You both have just been so scared to ask each other out. Honestly it has been like watching my own TV programme in reality. It has been so funny, but at the same time, it has been so hard not to tell you. She made me swear not to tell you, which I am now breaking, but with good reason." I finally stopped rambling and saw those sparkly white teeth on Ruby's face. She was clearly as happy as I knew Belle would be. "Now, next time you see her, would you please ask her out on a date. I think I might go insane if I have to listen to Belle complaining about how she can always look at you, but never have you for herself. It has been pure torture for her. And as the good friend I am, I just sit there and laugh."

"Sure, no worries. Now that I know she is into me, it takes off so much of the pressure." I smiled at my friend because I knew that she and Belle were a good match. They would be happy together. I looked up at the clock and saw it was coming up for six. I figured I might as well and call Henry, and get the daily finding over with now.

"Can you just give me a second? I need to go call Henry to tell him to come home."

"Sure. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." I laughed and moved off from the seat, and headed for the kitchen. I dialled Henry's number and wasn't surprised to hear it go to voicemail. So I hung up without leaving a message, and went back to Ruby.

"Okay, well Henry isn't answering his phone, again. I'm gonna give him a few minutes then call Hansel's house. If he isn't there, we are going searching."

"Oh, do I really have to go with you?" She started whining, and after the day I have had, I so wasn't in the mood. I tried to make my tone as joking as possible, but it didn't quite go as well as I'd hoped.

"Yes Ruby. Because my son is only ten, and is still afraid of the dark, even he tries to say he isn't. He still has to sleep with a night light. So yes, you can come with me. You can use that freaky nose of yours to track him down." She reached up and started holding her nose.

"I don't have a freaky nose. I have a sensitive nose."

"Sensitive? Ruby you found my phone when I lost it somewhere in the south end of town. And all you did was smell it out. You have a freaky nose. It's like some kind of super power."

"More like supernatural power."

"Call it what you want. It still freaks me out." She started grumbling under her breath, but I just ignored her. I called up Hansel's house, and his mother answered instantly.

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is Emma, Henry's mother. I was wondering if he was there at all. He isn't picking up his phone and he and Hansel are good friends so I was just curious."

"No, I am afraid I haven't seen Henry round here today. Is he alright?"

"I'm sure he is fine. He just doesn't want to talk to me right now. Thank you anyway. Goodbye."

"Good luck finding him."

"Thanks, Bye." I hung up the phone. As nice as that lady was, her voice drove me crazy. She was always so chipper, and it made me go completely insane if I listened to it for too long. So I always limited talking with her to a minute. "Okay Ruby, grab your stuff. We're searching tonight." She groaned as she lifted herself off the couch and picked up her coat on the way out.

Ruby was like a bloodhound with her nose. And thank god she was. It would have taken me forever to find Henry if she wasn't with me. We were heading for the park. It didn't surprise me he was there. He would always go there to just try and calm himself down. He found it to be his own little area because not many people visited the park anymore. As we turned the last corner heading to the park, Henry came into view, as did a few things that I swear I was going to explode at. Henry was sitting on the park fence, with a group of boys surrounding him. I recognised them instantly. They were known as the lost boys, because they had no future and were just cruising along in life with no direction. They were into all sort of things. Drugs, smoking, alcohol. And what I saw Henry doing, sent my temper through the roof.

"Henry Swan. If you don't take that cigarette out of your mouth right now, I swear I will rip you lips off your very face." I was storming over to where he was sitting, but before I got there, he took another breath of the cigarette. His face made it seem like he couldn't care less. I yanked the cigarette out of his hand and through it straight to the ground. I grabbed him by the ear and pulled him away.

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Mum, you're hurting me." I stopped and let go of his ear. I turned to face him so he could see the full extent of my anger and fury.

"Am I now? Well guess what Henry, you have been hurting me ever since your father left. And you haven't seemed to care for one second how you have made me feel. You need to remember he walked out on me too. Now I may not have loved your Dad as much as I probably should have, but I cared for him with all my heart. And the last thing I wanted was for him to leave. And I am sorry you feel abandoned, but there is nothing I can do about that right now. I have told you over and over that he left of his own choice, but you refuse to believe it. You choose to blame me, and that hurts Henry. You have no idea. And yet I put up with it, because I think that you have a reason to blame me. I think that you are angry and that you need to let you feelings out on someone. So I figure, it might as well be me. Now, you are going to come home with me right now, and you are going to be grounded for as long as I see fit. You have messed up big time Henry, and pulling a stunt like that," I pointed back to the group of boys looking on at my blow out. I could feel the tears already streaming down my face. "That was the last straw Henry. Now get your ass home." He didn't know what to say. So he just bowed his head and walked past me. Ruby put her hand on his shoulder as he passed her, and he just shoved her off. I know he was mad at me, but he had no right to be cruel to Ruby. We walked home in silence. Henry walked in front so I could keep an eye on him, and Ruby and I walked side by side. Ruby caught a cab and headed back to her house. Leaving me and Henry to walk home alone. We got back to the house, and Henry stormed straight upstairs to his room. He slammed the door and I didn't hear another peep from him all night. I just sat on the couch and cried my eyes out. I never liked yelling at Henry. Nor did I like telling him the harsh truths of reality. But sometimes he needs to understand that I am not made of stone. I am a human being like anyone else, and I can break down. And as I thought about the day that occurred, I noticed I am ending the day the same way I started it. Sitting on the couch crying my eyes out.

A/N – Okay, big emotional bit for Emma and Henry. Sorry to make it so surreal, but I needed things to go bad, before they get good. So I am planning to have happy family times in the future, but for now, times are tough. Please let me know what you think, and I love you all so much for your continued support. Goodbye my lovelies.