Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them all! It's refreshing to write this type of SQ fic, especially when I've been working on Another Sleeping Curse, which is full of heartbreaking, hurt and angry SQ. But any type of SQ is good to me! Anyway, enjoy chapter 12 :)

Time posed a problem for Emma throughout that week. She felt as though she was consumed by a fog. Her only thoughts revolved around Regina. Whether she was reminiscing, wondering what she was up to, or thinking of when she'd see her again, the brunette never left her mind. Her thoughts only went interrupted by the yelps of her new puppy. As she looked down at the waddling fur ball, she realized she was grateful for the distraction.

Aside from that, it was entertaining to see the tiny shepard pup attempt to run, as he usually stumbled over his front paws.

"I seriously doubt you're going to make a decent K-9 unit, bud," she said to him as he brought her a stick. But the pup simply let his tongue hang out happily, content to be outside in the park, taking in all the new scents.

Just when the pup got distracted and started to attack clumps of grass, Emma felt her phone vibrate. She chuckled and then looked to the screen to see Henry's name.

"What's up, kid?" she answered.

"Just got out of school," he answered. "Are you busy this weekend?"

"I don't think so," she said, eyes on the pup who had fallen over and was now veering his entire body in a circle, his tiny rounded jaw still clamped down on the threatening weeds. "Why? What do you need?"

"Well, Mom has another meeting on Friday," Henry began, "And the Storybrooke Town fair is also this weekend."

In the past, she would have questioned why he wasn't going with one of his friends. But Emma was already on board when he asked if she had plans.

"Sure thing, kid," she answered.

"Really?!"

"Yeah," she said with shock at his surprise, "couldn't have you miss the fair, could we?"

"Great! So I'll see you Friday night!"

"I'll even pick you up from school."

The boy squealed in excitement, making Emma laugh. On the inside, she was squealing too at the thought of seeing Regina again, even if it was just for pick up and drop off.

She was eager to get home and pack. She found herself scrambling around early on Friday morning before the sun was out. She looked over to Kate, who was still asleep. Emma had asked her if she wanted to come, but was somewhat relieved when she said her band had another gig that weekend. She had offered to watch the puppy, but Emma wanted to take him along so Henry could meet him. Besides, she knew she could use the company for the trip.

The ride up to Maine went smoothly. Her travel companion ended up curling up and drifting off as soon as they hit the state line. Emma couldn't help but laugh when he stirred, only to move his paw over his face to block out the sun.

As they had arrived earlier than she'd anticipated, there was enough time to stop into Granny's. She harnessed her little buddy and scooped him up, as he was too tired to walk on his own. No sooner had she entered the diner was she greeted by the cooing of Ruby.

"Oh my God," she said as she ran over to pet the bundle of fluff, "he's adorable!"

"Say hello to my new partner," Emma said with pride. It had only been a week, but she was already growing fond of him.

"What's his name?" Ruby asked.

"Doesn't have one yet," Emma said as they both watched his tongue curl up as he yawned.

"What about Snuffs? Or Powder?"

"Ruby!" Emma exclaimed. "I also have a twelve year old son. I cannot have a dog named after street lingo for drugs!"

Ruby raised her eyebrow at Emma, in surprise by her maturity. The Emma she knew when she just arrived in town wouldn't think twice about the suggestion; she'd find it hysterical. Rolling her eyes, she went to grab Emma her hot chocolate.

After the diner, Emma drove over with the pup to pick up Henry. She ruffled the fluff on top of the pup's head. "Ready to meet the kid?" she asked as she scooped him up. He let his tongue hang out in excitement.

Henry walked out when the bell rang, looking around for the yellow bug. He saw his mother, holding the bundle of fluff. Emma laughed as she saw his jaw drop. He ran full bore toward her.

"Woah!" he cried. "Ma, you got a puppy?"

"Yeah," she laughed, as the boy received licks from his new friend, "you can thank Neal for this one." She took his backpack and handed him the puppy to hold. "Come on, kid, let's run by your mom's place and grab your stuff for the weekend."

As they drove in the car, the puppy riding on Henry's lap, Henry went on about his immediate love for the puppy. Emma smiled as he talked about teaching him tricks, introducing him to Pongo, and taking him for walks.

"What's his name?" he finally asked.

"Well, kid, he doesn't have one yet," Emma said, "I was hoping you could help me out with that."

"Really?" he asked eagerly. He thought for a moment. "He's a K-9 unit dog, right? What about Powder?"

Emma shook her head. "You've been hanging out with Ruby too much," she said, making a note to have a chat with the wolf about teaching her son this lingo. Then it came to her—Ruby—Red…police colors….

"Henry?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think about Blue?"

Henry smiled. "I like it."

As Emma pulled into the driveway of 108 Mifflin Street, she was surprised to see Regina's black Mercedes. She looked over to Henry, who had the same shit eating grin plastered on his face that he had when he intentionally left his book in her car the night they'd met, forcing her to stay in town. Something was definitely up.

Henry bolted from the car, holding tight to Blue's leash as the pup hopped and bounced up the path to the house. Emma followed behind, still laughing at the puppy's staggering attempts to walk properly. Just as her son reached the top of the porch, the door flung open revealing a surprised Regina.

Regina looked down the path, not expecting to see her ex. "What are you doing here, Emma?"

Emma arched her eyebrow. "I came down to take Henry to the fair," she answered, "but I was just about to ask you the same thing…"

"The fair?" Regina repeated Emma's words with inflection. "I told Henry that I'd be back in time from my meeting to take him."

As the realization hit his mothers, Henry handed Emma the leash and tried to slip passed Regina into the house. But she put out her arm, blocking the door as it gently graced the cross of his chest. "Oh no you don't," she said, scolding her devilish son. "Henry…do you want to explain this to us?"

Emma interjected before he had the chance. "Regina, I think he's trying to parent-trap us again."

"Oh, I don't think," she smirked, and then glared in disapproval at her boy, "I know damn well that's exactly what he's trying to do."

Henry pressed against Regina's makeshift blockade, trying to get through. "Gah, I have to get my stuff." When he saw his effort was useless, he tried playing dumb. "Mom, I totally forgot you said you'd be home," he let out with a gleam in his eye, "buuuuttt, seeing as Ma drove all the way here, maybe you both…"

Regina cut him off instantly, placing her hand on her hip, allowing the curve of her figure to be pronounced. "That's endearing, darling," she said, and turned to Emma, "dear, do you believe it?—he thinks he's still going to the fair after his little stunt."

Emma tried to conceal her laughter and pleasure in seeing Regina's flexed body's display of her assets. She shook her head at her son. "Sorry, kid, but I think you blew this one."

"But Maaa?!" he pleaded. Emma tried to deny his begging eyes. He knew it was her weakness.

"Gah, damn it, kid," she said, and then looked up at Regina. "I did drive all the way here."

Regina glared at her ex, annoyed that she was caving into the demands of their son. Without looking at her son, she released her arm from its hold against the door's threshold. "Henry, go put your bag upstairs, wash up, and we'll think about whether or not you still deserve to go."

"Thanks Mom!" he exclaimed, sliding passed her and tumbling up the stairs.

"No running!" she yelled after him, to no avail. Regina put her hand to her head and shook it. "I swear—that little fiend just gets sneakier by the day. He's going to put me in an early grave."

Emma laughed once Henry was out of earshot. "Probably gets it from me and my days of debauchery and crime."

Regina ignored the perfectly given opportunity to make a snarky, degrading remark in agreement. "I'm sorry you drove all the way down here. Did you have plans this weekend?"

"No worries," Emma answered. "Not really—Kate's band has an out of town music gig, but I wasn't in the mood anyway." She paused, making Emma wonder why she wasn't eager to be at her girlfriend's performance. "Besides, I do love the fair."

Regina smiled. Just then, her attention was brought downward, as she followed the sound of a tiny yelp. She looked down and jumped back a bit at the sight of what looked to her like a clump of fluffy fuzz she'd likely find under Henry's bed when he decided to sweep the dirt away instead of vacuum.

"What…is this?" she questioned, her eyebrow raised as she contemplated the size of the puppy. Blue simply barked happily at Regina's acknowledgement.

"Him..?" Emma asked, tapping her foot gently by the dog. "This is Blue."

Blue stuck his tongue out, panting and eagerly awaiting Regina to pet him. She simply gave the dog a stern look of rejection, and crossed her arms. "Can you please pick him up?" she asked. "I don't want him scampering in my house with his dirty little paws."

Emma complied, scooping up her boy. He grew excited, and tried with all his might to lunge toward Regina to lick her. She moved further back in disgust.

"Aw," Emma said as she patted the pup, "he likes you."

"Well," Regina said, looking directly into the puppy's eyes, "the feeling, my dear, is not mutual."

"Who doesn't like dogs?" Emma asked, mocking Regina.

Regina fixed her hair, as the eager dog made her feel as if he had already messed it up. "They're jumpy, they eat garbage, they shed, they bark," she rattled off, "they're not exactly the most refined creatures in the animal kingdom."

Emma chuckled as Blue yelped, desperately vying for Regina's attention. She switched the subject back to the matter of their son. "So, the kid's coming down soon," she said, "what's the verdict, Mom?"

Regina blushed at the sound of Emma referring to her as 'Mom', as a married couple would do when discussing their children. Since they'd broken up, Emma hadn't done it. The name's reemergence made her happy.

"I don't know," she sighed, "he lied to you. He was trying to deceive the both of us."

"Yeah…," Emma said, as she ruffled the hair on the back of her head with her hand, "but the fair only happens once a year…and I understand why he did it…and so do you."

Regina stepped forward, asserting her point. "Exactly. If we let him go, we're only telling him that it's okay for him to try and get us together."

"Honestly, I think you're over thinking it," Emma answered. Regina studied the blonde's face, trying to determine how she really felt about the issue. She shook her head and drew her attention back to the present moment.

"I suppose you have a point," she said. "But I really want you to talk to him—make it clear that—,"

"I know, I know," Emma cut her off, "that we're not getting back together."

"Right," Regina nodded, "we're not getting back together," she repeated, unsure whether it was for clarification or for herself to hear. There was a moment's pause as she studied Emma's eyes once more. Was she mistaken in seeing a familiar light—the longing glare that Emma had whenever she wanted to kiss her? Her thought was interrupted when Henry came barreling down the stairs.

"So can I go?" he asked with impatience.

Regina sighed, knowing she'd caved. "Yes, you can go," she said, "but only if you promise to stop this sneaky nonsense!"

"Dunno what you're talking about," he said, shrugging, making Emma laugh. It was the same gesture she used whenever she was dismissing the brunette. Regina knew it too, and rolled her eyes at the blonde.

Emma turned to walk back to the car after Henry, but stopped midway. She looked back and put her arm out, hoping it would help pull the words out.

"You know," she said to Regina, "I was thinking of asking Red if she wanted to tag along…so…if you came too…"

Regina emphasized her crossed arms as she gave the blonde a raised eyebrow.

"…if you came too, it wouldn't be like Henry got his way…it wouldn't be like a date set up by our juvenile minded son," Emma said slowly, making Regina laugh. She was asking her on a date. She had that same shit eating grin that Henry had. When Emma heard Regina laugh, she smiled, knowing the brunette knew full well she was inquiring. "…It'd be more like a bunch of friends."

She waited for Regina to answer, watching her roll her eyes at how very smooth she thought she was. She expected a sly remark. But instead, she received an answer. "Pick me up at seven?"

Stunned, Emma failed to answer right away. She finally nodded. "Yeah, seven…seven sounds good." Regina grinned at how Emma stuttered, shocked by her answer.

"Don't be late, Ms. Swan," she called out to her as Emma backed away nervously.

Damn—Emma thought as she heard Regina's flirtatious tone ringing the words again in her head—she's going to put me in an early grave.