A/N: Here's some quality SwanQueen-time for you. And more fluff, just because...

There was a knock on her office door and Regina looked up from her work. Her eyes fell on the clock and she was surprised to see that it was already four, time for her talk with Emma about Henry. This morning she had fretted over what to wear, she had thought that the hours until the sheriff would come by would probably be slow and laborious... but they hadn't been. The day had flown by with only a short break for lunch at the diner.

"Come in," Regina called out and the door opened.

Emma entered and closed the door behind her.

"I was always wondering about this - why don't you have a secretary? You're the mayor, shouldn't you have some kind of staff?"

"You know, it's a lot easier to be a villain if nobody can find you out?"

"You're not a villain, Regina, not anymore," Emma argued.

"You shouldn't be too sure about that. I may be tamed but I still got my claws," Regina gave back. There was no heat behind this argument, though. Instead, they seemed to connect over it, their eyes locked and neither one felt the need or inclination to look away.

"You may want to overthink that last statement. I'm here to talk about Henry, remember?"

"Right, in that case: I'm harmless. Please sit," Regina motioned to the chairs in front of her desk and Emma sat down in one.

"For serious, though, why don't you have a secretary?"

"It's about resources, Emma. Storybrooke is pretty much self-sufficient. Sure, it's integrated into Maine's electricity and water supplies but apart from that... food doesn't just appear out of thin air, sheriff. I had to... arrange the human resources to cover what kind of work I needed done and a secretary for me wasn't on the top of the list. Plus, there wasn't really anyone I trusted besides Sidney... well, he was very useful for some time. Not anymore, though."

"What did happen to him?" Emma now asked as if she'd never really thought about his fate. "You didn't... kill him, did you?"

"No, he's alive and taken good care of."

"You know, someday I'm going to find out all of your secrets," Emma said with a touch of earnestness.

"I don't think that's going to happen but you can keep trying. It will be interesting to see how far you're going to get," Regina countered and smiled.

Emma smiled, too, she couldn't help to. She knew there were some serious implications, there were things so deeply burried underneath Storybrooke that she would probably need a bulldozer to uncover them. And a part of her didn't want to dig too deep, didn't want to know it all. But she wanted to know Regina, and knowing Regina would ultimately mean to know what she was really capable of, what she hid behind those enticing caramel-colored eyes, that sexy smile of hers.

Emma shook her head to clear it. Sexy smile? Okay, yes, but that wasn't why she was here today.

"Henry," she said as if to remind herself why she was here and Regina nodded as if her mind had been just as far away as Emma's had been.

"You wanted to talk about him," Regina agreed.

"Yes, I did. I think after all that happened in Neverland we should talk about some kind of... schedule, a kind of... joined custody thing? With Gold... gone, there's not really anyone in town to... draw up something close to leagally binding but I would like to... maybe work something out between us?"

"You said joined custody. That doesn't just mean that he comes to visit me every once in awhile, it means that he would live with me part-time?" Regina asked slowly, deliberately.

"Yes, I think... it's what Henry wants. I mean we haven't really talked about it but I know he... misses you and... well, he doesn't want to hurt either one of us but I know that he wants us both around. If we could show him that... we can get along, that we can work something out permanently, that would be good for him. I think that would be good for all of us," Emma explained.

Regina looked at Emma for a long moment, she seemed thoughtful.

"You want us to share Henry in a kind of... agreed-upon yet not legally binding joined custody agreement that gives us both rights as his parents? Is that it?"

Emma nodded.

"We could make it legal if you insist. We can leave Storybrooke, have lawyers work on it. It's just... our case is kind of unique and, well, I'm not sure how you feel about... involving outsiders," she said.

"I don't want outsiders to meddle in Storybrooke, you know that... just...," Regina licked her lips, then she raised an eyebrow. "Where's the catch, sheriff?"

"The catch?"

"Yes. I know you come from a long line of people who trust just about anyone with a friendly smile but... you know me better than to do that. So... where's the catch?" Regina wanted to know.

Emma looked at her earnestly.

"There is no... catch, as you put it. I'm doing what's best for Henry. I think from what happened on Neverland, it's quite clear that we work well together when it comes to our son, better than when we're fighting each other. We moved the earth to save him. I'm not saying that... I trust you completely, but I trust that you will do anything in your power to protect Henry. You want him to be happy, and that's what I want, too. I think we should start working on that together, don't you?"

"That's what you said that night, that you wanted us to make the decisions for him together," Regina mused.

"Well, yeah. It was on my mind then," Emma agreed.

"This is not about... I mean you wouldn't use Henry to..."

"To what?"

"Get close to me? Try to seduce me, perhaps?" Regina asked suspiciously and Emma's mouth fell open.

"Excuse me?"

"You kissed me that night. I think you wanted things to go even further but I... stopped you. You're not trying to.. use Henry to..."

"Get into your pants?" Emma interrupted and bellowed an insulted laugh. "You're not serious! And if I remember correctly it wasn't just me kissing you that night, so stop pretending that it was all one-sided!"

They stared at each other, Regina pushed her chin forward in hurt indignation but Emma wasn't giving in this time, she stared back just as determinedly.

"For someone who only wants to forget about that night, you sure have a penchant for bringing it up," she said in a calmer voice, it was also lower and just hinted on seductive.

"In my experience you don't get anything for free. I know that's not how your family sees the world but I always had to pay for everything... especially the things that looked like gifts. I just want to know the price on this," Regina countered in a no-nonsense voice.

"Well, it's not sleeping with me, okay? I'm not saying that... geez Louise! I am attracted to you, Regina! And from how you kissed me that night..."

"Emma!"

"Come one, just say it: you liked it," Emma challenged her.

"You're out of line, sheriff," Regina warned.

"I'm not the sheriff, right now. And you're not the mayor. We're Regina and Emma, we have a son and... well, there's something between us. Obviously we're not going to give into it but... denying it will only make it stronger. So..."

Regina looked at Emma blankly. She wasn't going to crave on this one and she shook her head slightly to let Emma know that. The blonde let out her breath explosively in frustration.

"All right, then let's try something else instead: if I remember 'that night' correctly, I told you that I like you... and I do. It has nothing to do with sexual attraction, I just... like you. And I think you like me, too. So, for Henry's sake, for him to see that his parents can get along... I'm suggesting that we're gonna try and be... friends."

"Friends?"

"Yeah, consider it the price to pay for this joined custody agreement. We'll be friendly," Emma suggested.

Regina raised an eyebrow at the other woman.

"What exactly does that include?"

"Well, for one we'll be greeting each other on the street when we see each other," Emma said.

"We're already doing that," Regina countered.

"Yes, I know. For another, when we're both at the diner, every once in awhile, we're gonna sit together and have a conversation. That might include any kind of topics, Henry, of course, but maybe I will ask you how your day was and you can ask about mine... I think that's it for now. We may expand on that when we get the hang of it," Emma told Regina, trying not to smile at this strange bargain they were making.

"I think I can do that," Regina said. "There's not gonna be any hugging, though."

"I didn't say anything about hugging," Emma gave back, slightly puzzled.

"Something you said that night," Regina reminded Emma but the blonde didn't seem to recall. "Anyway, I assume you already have an idea about this joined custody agreement, how we're gonna arrange that?"

"Yes, I thought we split the week. You'll have Henry from Monday to Wednesday, I'm gonna have him from Thursday to Sunday. The holidays..."

"One moment. That would mean that you're not only going to have him for four days a week but you would have him for the whole weekend. I hardly think that's fair," Regina argued.

"You had him for the first ten years of his life," Emma gave back.

"You gave him up for adoption, Emma. Legally..."

"I know," Emma interrupred before Regina could remind her that legally she had no claim on Henry at all. "Okay, how about, you'll have him from Sunday to Tuesday. This way, you have part of the weekend. I would bring him along Saturday night... unless something came up like... a late show at the movies in Bangor, maybe. Then I would get him to you by Sunday morning?"

"In which case I would bring him back to you Wednesday morning," Regina added. They looked at each other challengingly but then smiled.

"Sounds like a plan," Emma agreed.

"What about the holidays? Henry and I have some... family traditions that I wouldn't want to miss out on."

"Well, I think if it's not a major holiday thing, like Christmas or Thanksgiving, we should stick to the original plan and... well, maybe... we could at least spend part of those holidays... together? I mean, you said it, they're family traditions, right?"

"Are you suggesting that we're a family now, Emma?"

"It beats sitting under the Christmas tree alone, doesn't it?" Emma asked.

"We'll have to talk about this some more because if this... family thing involves your parents..."

"It wouldn't," Emma said and Regina raised an eyebrow. "I'm not saying that... I don't wanna spend time with my parents during the holidays but... well, we also don't have to spend every minute of every holiday together," Emma explained lamely. She blushed just a little and fidgeted in her chair.

"So we're going to spend whatever part of the holidays we spend together at the mansion?"

"Not necessarily. I'm actually looking for... a place for me and Henry. I thought, maybe, you... could help?"

Regina looked at Emma surprised but a moment later she seemed to think Emma's request over.

"I might know about something but... well, I'd have to talk to someone first. I will get back to you on it, if that's okay? I mean if you really want to move out of your parents' apartment?"

"I do," Emma assured the other woman but deliberately left out any kind of reasoning.

Regina remembered that Emma had already said something like this to her on 'that night,' and she didn't ask any further.

"I think it's a good idea," she said instead and Emma merely nodded noncommittal.

"Okay, then. I think that's all we needed to talk about for now, right?" Emma asked and Regina nodded.

"Yes, I think that's it," she agreed and Emma stood.

"Good. If it's okay, I'll bring Henry by Sunday morning?"

"That'll work for me," Regina assented.

Emma nodded once with an attempt at a smile and then walked to the door. Before she could leave, however, Regina called out to her:

"Emma?"

The blonde turned once again, already grabbing the doorknob.

Regina wasn't looking at her.

"Yes?"

"That... kiss. It wasn't the most horrible experience of my life, either. In fact, it was... pleasurable. I haven't...," Regina lifted her head to look directly into Emma's widening eyes. "It's been a while for me," she finally confessed.

"Yor're an attr...," Emma started to say but Regina lifted a hand, interrupting the sheriff.

"That's all," she said, dismissing the other woman.

Emma nodded, smiling self-deprecatingly to herself.

"Madam Mayor," she said with a nod of her head.

"Sheriff Swan," Regina answered in fashion and the blonde left her.

Emma knocked on the beam she leaned against, making Henry aware of her presence. She had watched him for a moment, sitting on his bed, engrossed in a book - not surprisingly it was a Potter-novel, The Half-Blood Prince. It was his favorite, Emma knew.

"Hey, may I come in," she asked as he smiled up at her. He nodded. She walked through the about door-wide gap between the curtains that seperated their private spaces upstairs in the apartment. They had said it was a temporary solution, that they would build some more permanent walls into the space, possibly a bathroom, too. But so far none of the adults in this household had had time for this, and now Emma thought, they wouldn't have to make time. Getting their own place would be the best solution for everyone.

"Sure, I was just reading," Henry said in answer to her question.

"You finished your homework yet?"

"Yeah, I have," Henry answered with an eyeroll as Emma sat down on his bed cross-legged.

"Want me to look it over?" She offered and he shrugged.

"If you want," he agreed and was leaning down toward his backpack. "Math and some grammar stuff," he said as he pushed his ring binder at her.

She took it but then just folded her hands above it and looked at her son.

"What?" he asked. "Did I do something?"

"Not as far as I know," Emma answered with a grin and he gave her his own back. "I talked to Regina today," she then told him.

"And?"

"We have agreed on... a schedule for you. I know you like to just go over whenever but I... well, we think that you need some more stability in your life, that is about where you live and when you live there, who's responsible for you and all that," Emma said.

"O-kay," Henry said suspiciously.

"You will be living part of the week at Regina's and the other part here... as long as I haven't found a place for us. I'm looking for something, you know?"

"Really?" Henry asked excitedly but then seemed to think about it. "For us? Just you and me? We're leaving grandma and grandpa?"

Emma nodded.

"Yeah, I think it's time we got our own place, you and me. Don't worry, you can always visit, you know that. We'll be here all the time, just not living here anymore," Emma explained.

"Did you have a fight?"

"No, we didn't. It's just... this was all supposed to be temporary and it's... it's crowded here. I think we all need some more space."

Henry seemed to think about this.

"I like it here but... well, sometimes it's... it's been so strange since we've been back. You all act so weird sometimes."

"We do?" Emma asked surprised.

"Yeah, like... you're watching them when they cuddle when we're all watching tv and then you sigh and they would look at each other and then watch you while you're staring at the tv. Then they pull away from each other... it's so exhausing. It's like you feel like you're all living in a box and you can barely stand each other," Henry told Emma and she frowned.

"Is that why you wanted to go over to Regina's so often?"

"I like being at the mansion. I got most of my stuff there and I like spending time with mom but sometimes... sometimes I just wanna get away from you all watching each other," he confessed in a small voice, not even able to look at his mother.

"I'm so sorry, Henry. You should have said something," she said and changed her position so that she was sitting next to him. "Come here," she said, opening her arms to him and leaning back. He sank into her arms, laying his head on her shoulder.

"I thought that something had happened in Neverland and that... you would work it out," he said.

"You know, sometimes adults are... not really insightful, I guess. I'm not sure what it is... but you're right, it feels like we're living in a box."

"Is that why you want me to live with Regina?" Henry asked.

"No, I want you to live with her because I think it's what you want... and also what you need. You do want to spend time with her, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I just don't want you to think that... I want to spend time with her more than I want to spend time with you," he anwered honestly.

"I don't think that. You know, I understood something in Neverland that I didn't want to see before," Emma said thoughtfully.

"What's that?"

"That we're both your mothers, and that you need us both. We should be a team, not enemies."

"Sounds sensible," Henry mused and Emma smiled down at him.

She kissed his head.

"Well, I'm glad you agree."

"Have you told Snow and David that you want to move out?"

"Yeah, I have. They don't exactly like it but... it's gonna be alright. We'll still be a family but... I think we need to be a family with Regina, too, the three of us," Emma mused.

"Like how? I mean... your parents won't like that and... we're not gonna move into the mansion together, are we?" Henry asked confused.

"No, I... not like that but... I don't know. I would like to see if Regina and I can be friends. I... would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm not sure how though," Henry gave back. "So far, you've mostly been fighting."

"I know but... Ruby says if you want to be friends with someone you just have to be it. I'll see if that works," Emma told him.

"I could help you," Henry suggested.

"How?"

"Not sure but I know my mom. I could give you some pointers," he said grinning up at Emma.

She smiled.

"I would appreciate the help," she said.

They sat for a while, thinking to themselves, holding onto each other. Emma felt peaceful, probably for the first time since they'd been back from Neverland.

"When am I gonna go stay with mom?" Henry asked into the silence.

"Sunday. We agreed that you'd stay with her Sundays to Tuesdays, and Wednesdays to Saturdays with me," she told him.

He nodded.

"I think it would be good for mom to have a friend," he said after another while. "Most people here don't like her."

Emma nodded. She didn't say anything but she silently agreed with his words.

"Snow's probably almost finished with dinner. We should wash up," Emma suggested.

"Yeah, we should," Henry answered but neither of them moved.

Emma started laughing and Henry joined her.

"Come on, get," she told him and started to tickle him.

He practically jumped from her arms and fled the bed.

"Not fair," he groused still smiling.

"I never said I was," she gave back to him as she rose from the bed herself. "Go ahead, I'll be right down," she told him and he left his room. She followed right after but walked into her own space. She went to her nightstand and took a notebook and a pen from it. She opened it to an empty page:

"How to become Regina's friend," she wrote. "1. Be nice. 2. Pay attention. 3. Convince her that you care." Emma wrote from memory what Ruby had told her. She underlined the last one twice then nodded to herself before she followed Henry downstairs.