They spent most of the short ride over in silence. After Regina had made the requisite insults at the idea of riding in Emma's "death trap" and Emma responded that it was likely the safest they would be all day considering how a portal is an actual death trap. The brunette focused on smoothing creases from her dress, fixing her hair, adjusting her mask for her trip into enemy territory. Emma watched her out of the corner of her eye, so intrigued by the inner workings of the woman next to her.

As they approached Mary Margaret's front door, Regina's mayoral façade was complete, the vulnerability Emma had seen not minutes earlier relegated to the back of her consciousness. Emma gave her a look before opening the door, one last check in. Regina just rolled her eyes. Emma simply smiled back, knowing that lying just beneath the collected exterior was a bundle of live wire nerves.

Emma opened the door to see her parents holding each other and Henry just off to the side, moving towards her. Accepting his smile, she stepped aside entirely to reveal Regina.

All the work she had put into creating her sneer crumbled instantly when she saw Henry light up and make the gap between them in short time, hugging her securely around her waist.

"Mom! I'm sorry I thought you killed Archie." He had gone to hug her without thinking, no consideration for the Evil Queen, because honestly, he was just happy to see her. He was 12, and he missed his Mom. He missed her hugs.

"Oh, Henry…" Regina melted into his embrace, holding his head just below her chin, now that he was getting so tall, and petting his hair.

But almost as quickly as it happened, Henry was pulling away. His determination to punish the Queen, punish evil, had seeped back in, not realizing that his ideals of good and evil had only come from his mother teaching him right and wrong in the first place.

But like many crusaders, Henry's driven dedication was the result of emotions, not logic.

"You used magic to escape Grandma and Grampa." He frowned. "You said you wouldn't."

Regina was on the verge of tears from first the hug and then the subsequent rejection, a full ride on her emotional tilt-a-whirl, but she couldn't help but forgive him, even through his angry accusations. She had promised.

"I—I'm sorry, Henry." Her head hung low, trying to forget that the Charmings were there to witness this whole thing, feeling lower than she ever had in their captivity. Leave it to her son to strip her bare of defenses in front of her enemy.

Emma knew she couldn't call Henry out on his fickle tweenness, not without making things worse, but she needed to do something. Instead, she moved closer to Regina and lightly placed a hand on the back of her shoulder. Surprisingly enough, the Queen did find comfort in it, grateful for the blonde's reminder of support, and she made sure to stand a little straighter.

Snow was shocked to see the touch, the apparent closeness between the women, especially after Emma had accused Regina of Archie's murder, the last one to revoke her support and so drastically. She looked to Charming for confirmation she was seeing correctly. Her husband was only slightly less surprised. So this wasn't a one-time thing.

Henry, who had been resolved not to accept his mother's apology, lost his focus when he noticed the weirdness. His mom was letting Emma touch her. Emma appeared to be touching her voluntarily to comfort her. It didn't make any sense.

"Emma, what's going on?"

This time, both women shocked away from the touch, standing far enough apart not to try it again. Henry's questioning had restored electricity to the circuit.

As the question had been addressed to her, Emma tried her best to explain. "Uh, well, kid, your mom and I, we're—we did some…bonding, 'cause we had to work together, and it turns out, we're not such a bad team."

Lacking as she found Emma's response, Regina felt that she would do no better—not to mention that any explanation from her would likely be dismissed as untrue or manipulative, or whatever the Charmings felt best to throw at her, so she remained silent, meeting the blonde's eyes.

Henry was also not impressed and found he had more questions than before. His moms shouldn't be working together—the Savior and the Evil Queen would always work against each other. He would have asked, too, but Snow rapidly cut in with an interrogation of her own.

"What do you mean? What happened?"

Emma glanced at Regina before offering a response to her confused and worried mother.

This wasn't going to help any.

"We kind of fell through a portal."

The cacophony of responses was immediate and surprisingly deafening considering there were only three questioners.

"How? When?"

"Who opened it?"

"What happened?"

All it took was a harsh glare from Regina, the kind she was used to leveling as a mayor who had to supervise town halls, and the three managed to quiet enough to let Emma respond.

"It kind of opened itself. Regina and I were—having a discussion in the Sherriff's Station—where you found us, David—and the floor just opened up."

With that, Snow converged on Emma, checking her over for injuries like she had fallen off a playground swing. "Emma, are you okay?"

Emma, incredibly uncomfortable with the amount of fussing she was being subjected to, slid closer to Regina, intending for her to work as an opposing magnet, and paired with some mumbled assurances to Mary Margaret, it did the trick. However, once Snow was deprived of her emotional outlet for mothering, her logic returned.

"But Emma, how could you fall through and get back so fast?"

This was where it was going to get complicated. Emma was amazed at how even in a world where just about everything was possible, there'd always be disbelief.

"Well, we didn't, really. I mean, we did faster than we did, and thank god, 'cause I couldn't handle smelling that bad again." Emma was trying to distract from the surreal conversation with her typical awkward humor, and Regina latched on to the normalness as soon as she could.

"Oh, really, Miss Swan. I didn't realize it was all that different from your usual scent."

Emma was more than grateful for the teasing and the women shared a small, if somewhat devious smile.

This exchange did little to settle everyone else, however. And before Emma could respond with a retort of her own, David brought them back to the subject at hand.

"Emma, I saw you this morning before my patrol, so even if you fell through right away, you still couldn't have been gone more than a few hours. What happened over there?"

Emma exhaled slowly. This would all be easier if everyone in the room liked each other, or if she weren't so tired, or if this were at least an accepted occurrence for the likes of Snow White and Prince Charming.

"We only fell through right before you came into the station looking for me, David. We came back so quick because we were in the past. Though we were actually gone for a day. Only a day, thanks to Regina."

That was enough to turn Henry's attention. "Time travel? Cool!"

"Yeah, not so much, kid. I'm gonna try and stick to only going forward from now on."

Henry watched the slump in her shoulders and the matching one in Regina's, the deep meaning between them not understood but also not missed. Their exhaustion made him realize he was not as pleased by this time/realm travel as he thought he might be. Other worlds didn't seem so appealing if it meant the people he loved would be sucked through without him all the time.

Snow was still blown away, not realizing that this kind of travel was even possible, but David, ever rational, was stuck on the logistics.

"But how did you get back? Do we have to worry?"

Emma was grateful for the second question, not interested in getting into the details of their trip with anyone but Regina. Offering more specifics would just mean more questions, and suddenly Emma realized how Regina must feel around her. Apparently, inquisitiveness was a Charming genetic trait.

"I don't think we have anything to worry about, per se. At least not from your land. Nobody followed us. Though we may need to cordon off that part of the office. Or just not let me or anyone else with magic near it."

As she considered the dangers of their trip, she remembered that the real threat was already here. Cora. As much as she wanted to pretend that she wasn't an issue, they needed to prepare. There was no time like the present.

"We need to have a serious talk about what's been going on here, though. Anything new on Cora since Archie came back? Anything from patrol?"

Snow and David exchanged some not so subtle looks over Regina being included in the conversation, but Emma fixed them with a stare that said, "don't even try."

David took his daughter's command and spoke to both women. "There's not much to tell. Nobody has seen her…at least, not as her." He looked at Regina guiltily before continuing, "Hook has been spotted on occasion but they don't seem to be working together."

"At least not the way they were in our land," Snow added on.

"So she tried to frame her daughter for murder and is now just hanging out? What is she up to?"

Regina spoke up softly. More so than she had intended. "She wants me."

"Regina."

Snow preempted her daughter's response. "No, she's right."

Entirely ignoring Snow, Regina turned to Emma to explain. "She set me up for the bu—Dr. Hopper's murder because she has a plan. She's manipulating the pieces of her game. And I am first."

From her limited experience with the Queen of Hearts, Emma knew Regina's assessment was spot on. But long cons had never been her specialty. "Does she know you know?"

"She likely assumes. But she couldn't possibly have expected him to escape or prepared for the reactions to that." Regina couldn't help but feel a little impressed by the cricket. Having the upper hand would go a long way in figuring out what her mother was after and trying to stop her.

"How are we going to deal with this?" Emma asked Regina specifically. Her parents may have been capable of many things, but not dealing with Cora.

"Let her come after me." The answer was simple. There were no other possibilities.

"Regina, no." Emma found herself replying rather vehemently, though her force went unnoticed by her parents who also opposed the plan, albeit for different reasons.

"Mom!"

Regina was most startled by Henry's concern, though she tamped down her response, listening to the nagging feelings that said he was just worried she would fall back in with her evil mother, like the Charmings were. Still, she made her case to all.

"We have to. There's no use fighting her until we know what she truly wants…even then…" Regina trailed off, refusing to consider just what her mother was capable of—the one foe she truthfully feared. Emma was fidgeting; David had his knight's façade of stoicism in the face of danger on; and Snow looked whiter than her namesake all just thinking about Cora.

It was no wonder she ended up the way she did, Regina mused. She was born to be a villain. She reinforced her cold strength further as she took a step towards the door.

"I should go back home. She won't approach me with others around. Perhaps I can try carrying out the charade of your belief in my guilt." Regina spit out the final words with a venom more suited to her past reign. She knew she should be trying to play nice in front of Henry, and now, she was surprised to care, Emma, but with everything from the past bubbling up to the surface, it was becoming all the more difficult to contain her rage. She was at least grounded enough to recognize that this was probably what her mother was hoping for.

Henry didn't know much about his grandmother, but based on the looks of the adults in the room he didn't much want to. If she was someone both the Savior and the Evil Queen could fear…suddenly he was afraid. Even after everything, he didn't want to lose Regina. She was his mom. And Emma didn't seem conflicted about being friends with her now... He ran over to stop her from reaching the door.

"Mom, no, please! I'm coming with you."

When her eyes met his, Regina couldn't deny he was actually worried for her, despite his heroic presentation, and her heart melted in a way that only he could manage. But she still steeled herself because she couldn't give in. She couldn't give in to the temptation of having him back when despite everything that had changed between her and Emma for now, that would likely never happen. Besides, now she had a reason she needed to keep him away. For his own good.

As deadly serious as she had ever been, she leant down to his level.

"No, Henry. I wish you could, but I don't want her anywhere near you. My mother…takes away the things I love, and that means you. You need to stay here for now."

Sensing that she wouldn't give on this point, but not a fan, Henry protested, "Mom, you can't be alone!"

"She won't be alone, kid, I'm going with." Emma's response was instantaneous. She had been feeling most of the same things Henry appeared to. She did not like the idea of Cora alone with Regina one bit. But more importantly, she didn't like the idea of Regina being alone at all any longer. And she had promised.

"Emma—"

"Regina, I'm not leaving you."

There was so much more behind those words that the air in the room crackled with tension. Regina found herself oddly swayed, but Henry was simply pleased with the compromise. And as much as he'd miss Emma, he kind of liked his moms getting along.

"Yeah, Mom, Emma'll protect you!"

Regina paused, evaluating her options, seeing the hope in Henry's eyes and the confusion and slight horror in the Charmings'.

"Fine." She managed to remember to add on, "If it will make you happy, Henry."

Very little resolved, but too wiped to consider anything else, Emma snatched on the opportunity to put things, like herself, to bed.

"Ok, good. Let's go then. 'Cause I'm exhausted."

Emma volunteering to protect Regina was one thing but willingly leaving everything to go home with her? Snow knew not to question her motives, but she didn't want to let go of her daughter to her enemy quite yet.

"Really, honey, so soon?"

"Yeah, Emma, it's not even dinner yet!" Henry was fine with Emma doing her job as the Savior, but that shouldn't mean he didn't get to spend any time with her.

"Guys, remember the part where I said me and Regina spent a day in the past? I meant a day." Emma complained. Why did everything have to be a fight? Being involved in other people's lives could be such a drag.

Regina took a moment to consider the situation. She wanted to leave this hovel of an apartment as soon as possible, but Henry was here. And no one was saying anything about her being here with him. And he had even expressed some concern on her behalf. She wanted nothing more than time with him, and right now, she could actually have it. She turned to Emma.

"Miss Swan, I'm sure you've pulled foolhardy all-nighters worse than this. Surely you should eat something first."

Emma was shocked at the words. She knew that Regina was just as ready to collapse as she was, if not more, but eating did sound pretty good, as her stomach was happy to remind her. More importantly, Regina was willing to tolerate her parents just so she could have a little time with Henry. The woman truly would do anything for her son.

She questioned her quietly enough so only Regina could hear. "What about your mom? Keeping up the charade?"

Regina responded in kind, impressed by the blonde's foresight. "We can risk it."

Their moment was interrupted when Henry spoke up with a question of his own.

"Mom, would you make dinner? Here, I mean? If it's ok?"

This time all of the adults were similarly shocked. Though you would have missed it in a blink, Regina recovered enough to look briefly to Snow who dipped her head in surprise, granting her former stepmother reign of her kitchen.

"Of course, dear. Anything you want." Regina grinned. This would certainly be worth another few hours being side-eyed by the Charmings.

It turned out it was worth it for everyone. Mary Margaret was a fine cook, but Regina was a pro. She made a wonderful early dinner, and a ton of it, using everything from Snow's pantry as if she were an Iron Chef, and not only was Emma once again awestruck, she was thrilled and so grateful because she realized just how long she had gone without food, and she was ready to faint just at the thought of it.

Regina smirked at the blonde practically drooling, wondering how that tiny body could consume all it did and how the Sheriff was going to out-do herself this time since the rumbling in Regina's own stomach was almost loud enough to hear. Henry helped with little things in the kitchen, the way he used to when things were different, happy to be around his mom, realizing that he had missed her in spite of himself, and maybe he would have to give some consideration to people not all being one thing or another. More than that, he was happy to be with both of his moms, and when they were getting along so well—as bizarre as that was. Emma had leant against the island watching the brunette move intently, occasionally trying to sneak a taste but always swatted away by quick hands that had far too much experience with potential thievery.

Snow and Charming stood together at the other end of the room, undecided on whether to stay and make sure something, they didn't know what, didn't happen, but then Regina had dismissed them halfway through, saying dinner would be ready in a half hour, and they took the cue, leaving the trio alone, though within hearing distance so they could keep tabs on this odd turn of events. Emma had been opening up to the former mayor ever since the well, but this, this was a little much. Snow would have to have a talk with her daughter about toning down the niceness.

When dinner was finished, it was in fact, magical, despite the literal lack of magic involved in its creation. Their eating would have been spent in awkward silence but Emma was too busy alternating between stuffing everything down her throat and moaning praise to Regina to notice. And Regina, though she ate with the grace she always did, had a little smile of amusement drawn across her lips, thoroughly enjoying watching Emma and being with Henry enough to ignore the Charmings. The Charmings themselves had been struck completely dumb at this point, the only noise coming from David letting slip a hum of appreciation of his own before Snow kicked him underneath the table. Henry, despite enjoying the change of pace, had grown increasingly disturbed by the drastic change in his mothers' behavior, and decided that he was going to recount the storyline in the most recent comic he had read, answering the occasional question from Regina—and Emma during the odd time she actually managed to swallow.

(Regina had shot her a look a couple of times when she had tried to speak with her mouth full, and once again to everyone's astonishment, Emma actually complied.)

After eating, Emma's exhaustion had fully swept over her, and everyone recognized that the pair would have to go. Regina, not surprisingly, was holding herself together much more adeptly, but even she still couldn't manage to stifle a yawn.

"Thank you for dinner, Regina. It was delicious." Snow handled being gracious for now, though she was still incredibly wary.

Regina could only nod at the woman sitting at the other end of the table. Just because whatever this was was different between her and Emma, that didn't need to extend to Snow. She was also more than a little discomfited because she had almost begun to clear the table as she normally did at home, taking comfort in cleaning dishes. She had almost believed that things could be normal again. But they weren't. Not even close. And she certainly would not submit to cleaning for Snow.

"Ok, kid, you got your dinner, and man, am I glad you did, but I've got to go to sleep like, now." Emma was reluctant to tear Regina away from Henry—again—but it took all her concentration to get a sentence out, and she knew that if they stayed any longer without distractions, her parents would start with the questions, and that could only lead to trouble.

"But Emma, if you're asleep, how are you gonna protect her?"

"Henry—" Regina started. Her son's concern for her was starting to be too much. She didn't know how she would be able to handle it when he went back to hating her.

Emma read the truth in Regina's eyes and stood up to ruffle Henry's hair. "Hey, don't worry. I've got this." Her words were as much for Henry as they were for his mother. "Plus, kid, your mom doesn't need protection, you know? I'm just there in case she needs me. Just like she was for me at the well, right? Besides, let's hope Cora keeps normal business hours."

Regina was going to go for something snide to keep her from feeling Emma's sentiment too deeply, but she didn't want to worry Henry knowing that if Cora were ready, she would make her move whenever she damn well chose.

Henry had already stood up to give Emma a crushing hug.

"Okay. Will you come back in the morning?" The question was directed to both women, his arms around Emma, but his eyes darting between them.

"Sure, Henry. We'll both come and check in," Emma answered, knowing Regina would like nothing more.

With that, he moved to his other mother and surprised her with the strength of his grip.

"Be safe, Mom."

They weren't quite back to "I love yous," but for Regina, this was more than enough. She resisted the urge to hold onto him as he loosened his grasp.

"I will, Henry. I promise. I love you."

Stopping herself from grabbing Regina's hand (she needed to explain that urge to herself before exposing it to her parents), Emma instead directed the brunette towards the door.

"Bye, guys. See you in the morning."

David wrapped his arm around his wife at they both stared at the door their daughter had gently guided the Evil Queen through. The same thought consuming them.

What could have possibly happened in a day?