A/N – Okay my lovelies, let's see if we can't make a few things just that bit easier for Emma. And maybe make things that bit tenser between her and Regina. Got have a little fun with these two. Anyway, I hope people like the chapter.

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.

It was Monday, and I was so happy it was. It meant Henry was out the house, and I could go to work. Henry didn't say a word to me yesterday. He just stayed up in his room all day, and only came out for food, and the toilet. But he never spoke to me. I don't think he even made eye contact with me. I knew he was mad at me, but I had a right to be angry with him. He just didn't like the fact that he was grounded. And I couldn't blame him. I hadn't had to ground him often, but this past year I found I was grounding him every other week. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing, but it had to be done. But now it was just becoming pointless. I could ground him, and take away everything he owned, but he would still go out the next day and get into trouble again. I was just at the end of my rope. And out of options. So I just took it all day by day, and did what I had to do when I came to a new obstacle. Henry came stomping down the stairs and was going straight for the door.

"Henry, don't forget your lunch." He never turned around to look at me.

"Already have it."

"And make sure you come to the gallery after school, I am going to be working until about six tonight."

"Whatever Emma." Did he just call me Emma? Before I could say anything more to him though, he had already walked out the door. He has never called me Emma. He took away the title of being his mother. Why would he do that? Is he just trying to hurt me, because if he is, he really is going the right way about it? But I couldn't let it get to me. I had to hold strong. I couldn't show him any sign of weakness. Not now. So I held my head high, and headed out for work. But something told me today was going to be a long day. I hadn't taken two steps into the building when Graham was at my side. He rambled on about hundreds of things that didn't really interest me. He stopped for a second and then added one last thing.

"Oh, and Miss Mills is waiting in your office for you."

"Regina is here already?" My voice was a bit more excited than I had hoped to make it. I think I was giving myself away. He gave me a smirk. He was one of the only people who knew I was a lesbian. An office party got a bit too out of hand, and he caught me in one of the back rooms with one of the waitressing staff. Not my finest moment, but he understood, because he too was into his own gender. But we are both closeted, so we keep each other's secret, and have a good laugh about it from time to time.

"Oh, has someone caught your eye Emma?" His cheeky grin never left his face. He would pay for that one day.

"Maybe. But we shall have to wait and see." He turned and headed back to his own little office, whilst I slowly made my way to mine. Now that I knew Regina was into women, it made talking to her all the more nerve racking. If I wanted a shot with this girl, I was going to have to play my cards right. Be cool. Be smooth. So as I made my way into the room, I made sure to take a quick calming breath, and went straight to my seat. Regina was sitting on the sofa to the side of my room. "Good morning Miss Mills." I placed my paperwork on the table, and pulled my seat in.

"Regina, please. If we are going to be spending so much time together we might as well be on a first name basis. And good morning Emma. How are you today?" I blushed, feeling so stupid for calling her Miss Mills. But how was I supposed to know any different. This girl seemed to be two steps ahead of me at all times. I would be playing catch up for some time now.

"I am fine, thank you for asking." She just stayed sitting on the couch, looking at me. Those dark eyes could have me drowning if she wanted. I couldn't seem to leave them though. "Would you care to take a seat up here, and we can get to work." I gestured to the seat on the opposite side of the desk, and she moved up from the sofa and took the seat. She looked even better close up. Which is good, because some people can get uglier the closer you look. But not with Regina. It was as if, the closer you looked the more beautiful she became.

"So, what are we going to do first?" And her voice. So authoritative, and yet at the same time, so vulnerable. She had so many different aspects about her that fascinated me, and intrigued me. And I am sure she had plenty more that would surprise me.

"Well, why don't we just jump straight in and get the event ready. The sooner this things is panned, the better I will be able to sleep at night."

"Fine by me." She leant over on her chair and picked up her laptop and placed it on the table. Luckily my desk was usually fairly tidy, so I didn't have to move too much around. "Should we set up a shared file? That way we can work on the event and see what each other are doing."

"You can do that?"

"Yeah, it's really easy. Let me just send you an email, and all you need to do is follow the instructions. That way we can both work on all the spreadsheets, and documents, and we can see what the other one is doing. Plus we can both work on them at the same time." We went silent and I found the email, but I got confused straight away. I have never been good with computers.

"Uh, could you give me a hand quickly? I suck when it comes to technology."

"Sure. No problem." She got up from the chair and came and joined me on my side of the desk. She came up behind my chair and leant over to look at the screen. But honestly, if she leaned over any more, I swear something was going to fall out. She was wearing a low cut shirt anyway. But it was tight to her chest. It held everything in. But it really didn't leave much to the imagination. And I as struggling not to look over. "Oh, see? All you have to do is download these files, and then we can start working." She was pointing at the screen, which made her turn to me even more, and it made it virtually impossible not to look. So I snuck a quick peek. Although I might have chosen the wrong time to look. "See something you like Emma?" Oh fuck. I shook my head trying to clear it of all the thoughts that had just been running through my mind.

"I'm sorry. I was just…I don't even know what I was doing." I could feel my cheeks going red, and I knew there was nothing I could do to stop it. She pulled back slightly and whispered in my ear.

"It never hurts to look. But make sure you never touch." Her voice sent shivers down my spine and pooled between my legs. This girl was so much trouble. I don't think I really knew what I was getting into. She was going to be a challenge, and that was understating it really. She went back around and sat back in her chair. We worked in silence for some time. Working on the documents. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence. I don't think. But there was at least some tension between us. But what kind, was another matter. "What sort of entertainment would you want at the event?" She made me jump with the sudden question. I wasn't really expecting much talking.

"Uh, I don't know. Nothing to fancy. Maybe a small band. Or a solo singer. Just nothing to over the top."

"Alright." And she went straight back to working on the computer. It took me a while to get use to this type of working. We could see what the other was doing with all the spreadsheets, whilst we were working on them ourselves. But once I got the hang of it, I was fine. A little notification on the side of my screen popped up. It just said message. I didn't really know what it was though. If I got a message on anything, I would receive an email notification. This seemed to be on the spreadsheet. I clicked the little tab saying message, and it popped open to a messenger column. I was still able to work on the task, but there was a conversation section to the right hand side of my screen. And I saw there was a message from, Regina? But she was sitting opposite me, why would she message me? The message read,

Sorry if I scared you with the sudden question. Also, I'm glad I could have been an assistance earlier. My breath caught in my throat after reading the message, I practically started choking. I made a quick save and just grabbed my bottle of water and had a quick sip. When I regained my composure, I looked back at the screen to find where I could reply. I quickly typed up a reply.

You didn't scare me, I was just deep in thought and wasn't expecting anyone to say anything. And thank you for the assistance, I truly appreciated it. She was probably talking about helping me with the setting up of the documents, but my mind just decided to jump to every wrong option possible. She replied quite quickly, I didn't even hear her typing.

I'm sure you did. Oh my actual fucking god. Was she trying to distract me? Was she trying to send my head spinning? Because she really was doing a very good job. I took a glance at the clock, and saw it was lunch time. Guess we had been working longer than I thought. I sat there for a second, thinking about what Ruby had said to me on Saturday. Just give it a chance. Why not? It couldn't hurt to ask, right?

"Regina, do you want to join me for lunch? I was planning on heading home for lunch, and I have yet to talk to you about the babysitting position."

"Sure. I haven't got anything else planned for today, other than working on the event. Just give me a second to save everything, and then we can head out."

"No problem. Take your time." I packed away all my stuff up and waited patiently for Regina to finish up herself. She didn't take long, and before I knew it we were in my car, driving back to my house. Whilst we were in the car, I figured it would be the best time to try and get to know Regina. "So, Regina. What sort of things do you like to do?" She didn't answer straight away, but when she did, I wasn't sure she would ever again be quiet.

"Well, I like lots of things. I enjoy a good night out on the town with the girls. But I also like the peace and quiet of the night at home. I like to settle down with a good book, and a nice cup of hot chocolate. It is pure bliss. And then I enjoy doing the weirder things. You know, the stuff that makes you step outside of your comfort zone. The last thing I did was…Actually maybe I shouldn't say." I looked over at her, and she was starting to curl into herself. "It is a bit embarrassing."

"Oh come on. You have been strutting around all day so far, as if you own the place. And you choose now to get shy. Come on, it can't possibly be that bad." She hesitated for a moment, before taking a breath.

"The other week, I…took a…pole dancing lesson." Okay wasn't expecting that.

"Wow. And, um…how…how was it?" I was trying to act as though it was nothing, but in reality all I could think about was Regina pole dancing, and it sent my hormones into overdrive.

"It was fun, but not something I would do again. I just didn't think it was really for me."

"Fair enough."

"Well, what about you?"

"What about me?" I knew what she meant but I was hoping the longer I kept her talking the less I would have to say.

"I said a few things about myself. It's your turn. It's only fair. And one of the things you say has to be embarrassing to make us equal." Shit, what the hell was I meant to say? I was running so many different embarrassing moments through my head, but I didn't want to say any of them. So I decided to start off with the easier things.

"Okay. Let's see. I guess I'm like you. Love a night out on the town with my friends. Even though they try and get me to do a load of crap with them."

"Like what?" We were only about five minutes from the house now. I might be able to get away with not saying the embarrassing moment.

"I'll tell you about that some other time. But, let's just say I never have a boring moment with them." She let out a small giggle. And I kind of liked it. Her laugh was so sweet, and innocent almost. It just seemed to fit her perfectly. "Anyway, I don't have many hobbies. Over the years, most of my time was devoted to looking after Henry, he's my son, and I guess I just sort of lost myself over time. I don't really know what I would do if I didn't have work. I don't really think that much about it. I am always keeping myself busy with something. But not something that I always enjoy doing." I started to trail off into my thoughts. Thinking about all I had done in the past ten years. And I realised the last time I did something for me, was before I met Neal. It was like, once I met him, I wasn't myself. Like something told me I needed to change. Because I was going to be a parent, I couldn't be me. I was so lost in my thoughts I almost drove past the house. "Here we are. Home sweet home." I pulled up into the drive way, and parked the car.

"You have a lovely home Emma."

"Thanks. It is nice, and big. Too big sometimes." We both got out the car and headed for the door. I pulled my keys out of my bag, and as we stood in front of the door, I could feel Regina behind me. I could feel her breath on my neck. I could feel her body pushing into me, and it made me nervous. And my hand started to shake. I started to struggle with the keys. They started to jingle. And then I felt a warm hand cover mine. The soft touch that warmed my heart, and made me feel lighter than a feather.

"Let me help." She moved round to my side slightly, still keeping body contact, and helped me with the key to open the door. I didn't look over to her. I knew if I did, I probably wouldn't be able to control myself. So I kept looking at the door as it swung open. I had to admit, this girl was smooth, and she knew how to work the game. And she was definitely winning at this moment. I walked into the house and went straight for the kitchen. I heard Regina close the door behind her, and the click of her heels on the wooden floor as she made her way to the kitchen as well. "You have a lovely home."

"Yeah, I just wish it was a lovely atmosphere."

"I'm sorry." She took a seat at the counter. Even in one of the higher chairs, she still looked tiny.

"Nothing, don't worry."

"No, tell me. You obviously meant something, otherwise you wouldn't have said it in the first place."

"It's a long story."

"Good thing we have time." She was persistent, I'll give her that. But I don't think this story was one I should be telling her after just our second meeting.

"Maybe some other time." I think she finally got the hint that I wasn't comfortable with the topic, although I guess it was my fault for bringing it up. But I was just glad she knew to back off. "I was just going to cook up some chicken breasts and fry some chips. Are you alright with that?"

"Of course. Anything I can help with?" I quickly thought through the recipe to see if I could put the girl to work.

"Uh, you could chop the potatoes up for the chips. I like making them from scratch. I just think it makes them taste better." She got up from the stool and moved round to the cooking area.

"Just show me what to do." I got her a chopping board, a knife and the bag of potatoes.

"First wash the potatoes then peel the skin off, and then you can just slice them into chip strips."

"Perfect."

"I'll give you a hand as soon as I'm done preparing the chicken breasts."

"That's okay, take your time. I think I can handle washing and cutting potatoes on my own." I let a small laugh escape my lips, and she looked at me like I had something growing out of my ear.

"What?"

"You laughed."

"And?"

"Nothing. It's just that was the first time I've heard you laugh. I mean I've seen you smile, but a laugh is something different." And just like that, she became even more attractive. We got to work on the food in silence. I wasn't use to working in the kitchen with someone. Neal never helped to cook, and Henry never set foot in the kitchen, so I didn't quite know how close I was to Regina, until I grazed the small of her back with my bum.

"Oh, sorry. I'm used to working in the kitchen alone."

"Don't worry so much. I've worked in smaller spaces than this." She turned back to the potatoes and started peeling the skins off. You didn't have to peel them, but the skins always made me feel sick. I didn't take too long with preparing the chicken, all I had to do was wash it, and sprinkle some herbs on it. Then stick it in the oven. When I moved round to help Regina with the potatoes, she had already skinned them all. And was about to start cutting the first one. How fast could this girl work? "Did I do something wrong?"

"What?! No. I was just surprised to see how fast you worked. It normally takes forever to do this. It took you about five seconds." She laughed. I liked the fact that I could cause her to laugh. I liked the fact I could make her happy.

"So, are you going to help me, or stand there ogling at my work?" I finally shook myself out of my state of shock, and picked up the knife.

"Sorry. Like I said. I'm used to working alone." We started chopping up the potatoes, and I tried so hard not to look at Regina. My head spun every time my eyes caught sight of her. But I had to look at her hands, just to keep myself at bay. And good thing I did. "Oh, Regina. You're cutting them too small."

"Am I? I'm sorry, I've never cut my own chips. I always use them out of a bag."

"No problem." Without even thinking I moved round the counter and came up behind her. "May I?" I held my hands up at her sides. I swear my brain wasn't working right today. She nodded and I slowly wrapped my arms around her, and took her hands in my own. I guided her hands and sliced the potatoes. She was slightly smaller than me, so it made it easier to do. My head rested in the crook of her neck. She was tilting her head to the side slightly, and I got an amazing view of that silk perfect neck. I had to steer my sight back down to the counter, or I might just have had her there and then. I tried distracting myself by talking to her. "See, too big and the potatoes don't cook fully. Too small and all you're eating is air." She turned her head so she was now facing me. I looked to her as she turned. Our lips only inches apart. I could feel her breath against my chin. She started leaning to me. I couldn't move. I was frozen to the floor.

"What are you guys doing?" I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard Henry's voice coming from the kitchen doorway. I never even heard him coming in. Wait a second. School isn't finished. I straightened myself up, and turned to Henry with a new sense of dominance, still reeling from the moment with Regina.

"Actually, I think the better question is, what are you doing home? School's not finished yet. You still have about another three hours." He suddenly went very quiet. Looking down to the floor. Wriggling on the spot. "Henry! What did you do?" My voice never faltered, and I was sort of proud of how well I was handling myself and my son right now.

"I got sent home alright."

"What for?"

"I got into a fight with some of the guys at school." I looked him over, and he looked fine from where I was standing. No cuts or bruises. But that wasn't the first thing to pop into my head.

"Why did you get into a fight?"

"They were picking on me. And saying stuff about Dad." He wasn't telling me something. He was trying to hide something from me, and he will one day learn that he can never hide anything from me.

"What else? They did something else to push you over the edge. What was it?" He stood there, hands in pockets, trying desperately to think of something to say. But he really wasn't good at lying. "Henry. Don't make me ask again."

"They we saying stuff about you. They were lying about you. Saying how you were just a floosy to Dad. And he moved on once he was bored of you. And after what you said to me on Saturday…I didn't want to listen to them. They were hurting you." He went quiet. And suddenly it occurred to me. I had told him something, and he had actually heard me. He listened to what I said, and he actually knew how I felt. Tears started to swell in my eyes. And I could practically feel my heart singing. I walked over to him slowly and as I reached within a meter of him, I couldn't help myself anymore. I pulled him into a hug that had been a long time coming. But he immediately started moaning. But not whining. It was a moan of pain. I let him go, and lowered myself to his level. He lifted up his shirt, and I finally saw the damage those boys had really done. He had bruises on every inch of his stomach and chest.

"Oh my god. Henry." I started turning him around to see if he was hurt anywhere else. He had a few cuts on his back, but other than that, nothing else.

"It's fine. It doesn't hurt that much, just when I laugh, or someone hugs me." I had tears running down my face from joy, and worry. But I still managed to show a smile at his spirits. "I was thinking I would just have a bath, and then try and sleep some of this off. Are you cool with that?" I looked him dead in the eye, and saw he was trying to be brave. Trying to put on a strong face. But he didn't need to anymore.

"Sure Henry. Are you going to be alright to do it yourself, or do you want a hand with anything?"

"I think I'll be alright. I'll call if I need anything. But thanks." I decided to let him do as he wanted. If he needed something, he would call for me. Even he knew his limits as a human being. I got up from my crouch, and sent him on his way. I kept my eye in him, till he turned and was heading up the stairs. I turned on the spot and saw Regina standing there, and suddenly realised she probably had no clue of what the hell just happened. I moved back over to the counter, and leant my palms against the top.

"How about, we finish up cutting the potatoes, and then I can catch you up on everything that just happened." She simply nodded. Lost for words. Which was certainly a first for her. But to me, it just made her look all the more cute.

A/N – Ah, finally a happy time for the two. Both Emma and Regina, and then Emma and Henry. And fair warning, there will be other teasing moments in the story. I love a good show. I find it makes the story a bit more interesting. Anyway, comments. Reviews. Always welcome. Goodbye my lovelies.