A/N: Bad news - I screwed up the time line just a little. Good news - nobody noticed. I'll be revising that when I do my revisions after finishing the story - whenever that may be. Just in case, these things bother you as much it bothers me. Well, I hope you still like this...

On Friday, Emma and Regina had returned to the hospital and magically repaired the ceilings, walls and floors that had sustained water demage. It had been an exhilarating experience for Emma who tapped into magic like a child playing with finger paint for the first time. And it had made Regina happy to see that side of Emma as well as doing something worthwhile with her magic. They had brought those feelings home to Emma's and had made love for most of the night - both grateful that Henry had been at his dad's where they were to meet him early the next day.

It wasn't really that early anymore when Emma parked Regina's Mercedes in front of Gold's shop which was now Neal's shop, of course. Neal hadn't re-opened it yet and Emma was doubtful that he would. Most of the belongings in the shop had come to this realm via the curse and everybody already knew that most of these things weren't even Gold's to begin with. Neal thought of giving them back to their rightful owners - once everything was sorted through and hopefully a way home found.

Emma tried the door to the shop and it opened. They stepped inside and found Henry looking curiously into a display cases. He smiled at them.

"Morning, moms," he said.

"Hey, kid. What're you looking at?" Emma came over to join the boy.

"Just some old jewellery. It's pretty, don't you think?" He pointed at a necklace.

"Yeah, it's very pretty," Emma agreed. "I think it would look gorgeous on your mom," she added in a whisper.

"Maybe you should get it for her," Henry whispered back and they smiled at each other.

"What are you two whispering about? Are you trying to get our son into trouble, savior?" Regina asked as she looked at them from behind the counter where she was looking at a glass cabinet.

"Would I do that?" Emma gave back playfully and Regina raised an eyebrow at her.

At that moment, Neal entered.

"Hey, you're already here. I didn't hear you come in," he said, completely focused on Emma. He hadn't yet seen Regina because he stood in the doorway and the mayor was hidden from his view by the cabinet.

"Hey, Neal. We've just arrived," Emma told him and looked at Regina.

Neal took a step forward and could now see the other woman as well.

"Good morning, Mr. Cassidy," Regina greeted him cordially and he tried a smile.

"Good morning. I... erm... haven't found a key to that particular cabinet yet," he said, looking at the possibly valuable things Regina had just been looking at.

"I'm pretty sure you won't find one. This lock isn't meant to be opened by a key, Mr. Cassidy," Regina told him and touched the lock. There was a slight stirring in the air that Emma immediately recognized as magical. Then there was a click and the cabinet opened.

"Well, I can see where a talent like that might come in handy," Neal said with a look of utter distaste on his face.

"It's not strictly speaking a talent. Everybody can learn magic if determined enough."

"I didn't learn it," Emma argued.

"No, you were given it which is even rarer than talent in these matters. Still, you have to learn how to control your powers," Regina lectured but then smiled. "You did very well with it yesterday, though."

Emma smiled at the pride that she could detect in Regina's voice.

"Did you repair the hospital?" Henry asked.

"Yeah, we did, kid. It was... great. Your mom is truly amazing," Emma told their son beaming with pride... and something else that Neal could only wonder at. So far, he had thought that Emma and Regina merely tolerated each other because of Henry. Yes, they had worked some mind-blowing magic in Neverland but even then, they had done it for Henry and because of Henry. Neal never would have thought that the two women would work together on a regular basis - and without the imminent threat of someone dying.

"Neal, have you found some kind of... inventory in your dad's papers?"

"No, I've been looking for it most of last week but... dad wasn't especially organized. Sorry," he said.

"That's hardly your fault. What're you thinking, Regina?"

Regina was looking around the room, her eyes straying over items but not looking at anything in particular.

"I'm not sure... nothing stands out so far. Knowing Rumple, I doubt that he'd display anything really worthwhile in plain sight... of course, he was shrewd like that and you never know. I'm pretty sure he'd have some... hiding places, maybe an alcove behind one of the cabinets or under our feet. There's so much stuff here, so many possibilities to hide something," Regina mused. She looked back at Emma and Henry. "I'm not sure Henry should be here," she then said.

"What? But.. he was my grandfather and... I can help," Henry protested.

"Henry, come here," Regina asked of him and he came over to her unwillingly, his head lowered. He seemed to already know that this was an argument that he couldn't win. "I know you liked Rumple... but he... was The Dark One. I'm sure, your father would agree that it wasn't always safe to be around him?" Regina looked over at Neal who merely shrugged non-commital.

"He could have had all kinds of magical traps hidden here and... though he wouldn't want for you to get injured by them, he would have protected his most valued possessions from... well, me, mainly."

"But then it's dangerous for you, too," Henry argued.

"Yes, it may be but I have my magic to protect me, same with Emma."

Henry made a face.

Regina looked at Neal.

"I think from now on, the shop and the backroom should only be open for people with magical powers, just to be on the safe side. We can't have everybody just traipsing around here and possibly falling victim to a curse. Do you agree?"

"That would mean me too?" Neal asked.

Regina nodded.

"This is my shop now, you can't just shut me out. I'll stay at my own risk, thank you very much," Neal told the mayor.

"That's your decision, of course." It was evident that Regina didn't approve of it, though.

Emma looked from her ex to her lover. They were looking at each other suspiciously and Emma would have liked to roll her eyes at them but she already knew that she was probably part of whatever was going on just now.

"Well, if it's so dangerous... one of us should probably get Henry over to my parents," she suggested and the others looked at her. Then the two women looked at Neal and he let out his breath in an angry huff.

"Sure, I'll do it," he said. "Come on, son, let's get our jackets and get out of the witches' hair."

He said it with an easy smile, as if he was making a joke, but for some reason Emma didn't buy his nonchalance. She could understand why magical powers bothered him, they made him lose both his parents, but hers weren't a threat. She would never harm anyone, and she certainly didn't see herself as a witch. And by the look on Regina's face there was yet another layer to his passive aggressiveness: calling Henry 'son' had its aggrevating effect on the dark-haired woman. She didn't say anything but Emma could detect a dark energy emanating from Regina.

"I'll see you later," Henry said with little enthusiasm and followed Neal into the backroom.

"We won't be too long," Emma promised him and then went over to where Regina stood rigidly staring into a display case. She came up behind her, laying both her hands on the display case, trapping Regina between them.

"Hey," she said.

Regina turned her head toward her.

"Hey," she answered.

"Don't let Neal get to you, woman. He's... not important."

"He's Henry's father," Regina argued.

"So far, he hasn't done much to earn him that title. He's more of a friend to Henry than a parent. We're Henry's parents and he knows that."

"He wants you back."

"I don't care what Neal wants, he's not gonna get me or Henry," Emma promised. "You know, last night... was amazing. I've never felt so close to anyone, Regina. And even though, it scares me how... deeply I feel for you... I want more of you, I want all of you."

The mayor smiled shyly at her lover and Emma could feel the dark energy dissipate and something far more precious taking its place - love. She could see it in Regina's chocolaty brown eyes and it made her smile in answer.

"You're quite remarkable, Emma."

"You say that like you're surprised," Emma teased.

"Positively so," Regina gave back. She lifted a hand to Emma's cheek and cupped it. "So beautiful," she mused as Emma closed her eyes, enjoying the touch. She opened them again when Regina kissed her.

"You know we can be seen from outside," Emma reminded her lover.

"I don't care who sees us. Do you?"

Emma shook her head.

"Though I would hate for some people to just stumble across us or being told by others," she said.

"Including Neal?"

"Including Neal," Emma admitted. She lay her arms around Regina and held her close laying her chin on the other woman's shoulder. "I'm gonna tell him... soon, I promise. And Hook and... I'm not sure who else..."

"I think Bashful has a thing for you, too," Regina said.

"Is there nobody you'd want to tell in person?" Emma asked.

"Maybe... Dr. Hopper.. though I already... told him in confidence that there's someone... I'm attracted to."

"You told Archie about me?"

"I had nobody else to... talk to when I realized that I liked you," Regina admitted and blushed.

"But you didn't tell him who I was?"

"No, though I'm almost sure he guessed that I was talking about a woman," Regina said.

"Really? And what did he have to say to that?" Emma asked with a smile.

"I didn't really give him the chance to comment on it."

"You know that from now on I'll always be here for you, right? I want us to be able to talk about anything," Emma told Regina.

"Even if I'm irrationally jealous of one of your... admirers?"

"Yes, and I'll promise you to reassure you that you're the only one I want," Emma said. She kissed Regina on her cheek.

"Good. Now, we should probably have a closer look at all this junk and see if we can find something that might be helpful, just in case Rumple actually put something worthwhile on display... for everyone to see but no one to know."

"Just as soon as you've given me a decent kiss," Emma whispered into the other woman's ear.

"Alright, but just one. It's not like you've done anything to earn it yet," Regina teased.

"You're so demanding. How will I ever be able to keep up with you?"

"Practice, practice, practice," Regina answered smiling. She turned within Emma's embrace and kissed her lovingly. "Though you're sure good at this," she murmured against Emma's lips and they intensified their loving exploration.

The backdoor falling into its lock interrupted them a short while later and they parted when they heard footsteps coming their way. A moment later, Neal reappeared in the doorway, looking at two rather flushed faces.

"Henry's safe and sound at your parents'. He wasn't happy, though, to just get dumped there," he said with a suspicious look at Regina.

"We're not dumping him, we're getting him to safety. That's what parents do," Regina told him.

"He's my so..."

"Neal," Emma interrupted. "You know since you insist on staying, maybe you could, like... make a list, an inventory of stuff in the back. You probably shouldn't touch anything, just to be on the safe side, but you could look over things and write them down. Regina could look it over later and see if there's anything there that could be helpful?"

Neal looked at Emma then back at Regina. He didn't seem too happy with Emma's suggestion but what was he supposed to say? I'd rather stay here with you guys and glare at Regina?

"Sure, I'll do that," he finally said. He walked into the back room and picked up something to write.

"Thank you, darling," Regina said in a low voice when she was sure he couldn't overhear them. She threw Emma a slight smile.

"You're welcome, love," Emma said in an equally low voice and answered the smile, too.

"One of these days, we're going to cook in that kitchen of yours. And that's not a threat, it's a promise," Regina said as they entered the house, referring to the bags of take-out Emma was carrying.

"I still need so many things for the kitchen, like... a spatula and... stuff," Emma argued as she carried their dinner into the kitchen.

"I've got plenty of extras, I'll just give you what you need from my kitchen," Regina gave back.

"Or we could just all move into the mansion," Henry suggested and looked up at his moms with a wise-crack expression.

"Henry, we talked..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You need time and all that. For two people who've just gotten together you sure bicker like an old married couple," he told them.

Henry hadn't been too happy when Emma had picked him up at her parents'. But it wasn't about his moms dumping him, he'd gotten over that as he had talked to Snow about it. There was something else that was bothering him and Emma hadn't yet found out what it was. He seemed fine now and she had the hope that he'd tell them over dinner.

"You're not wrong," Emma said before Regina could argue against it. She smiled at her lover and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You guys wanna watch a movie tonight?"

"Only if I get to pick," Henry piped up.

"Only if it's something other than Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings," Regina told him and he made a face but only for a second.

"The Golden Compass," he suggested and Regina rolled her eyes.

"I'm looking forward to a time when you'll feel too old to watch fairy tales," she murmured. "I think I'm going to have a glass of wine with dinner? You?"

"Nah, I'll have a beer," Emma said and took one from the fridge. "Kid?"

"Juice," he told her and she handed him the carton.

They puttered around the kitchen for a while longer. Emma and Henry left while Regina poured herself a glass of her favorite red wine.

"You know, Henry, today... we wouldn't have sent you to your grandparents if it hadn't been for your safety. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know. I kinda wish I could learn about all that stuff... magic. But I guess, The Dark One's a little too advanced to start at. But I'd really like to... know about some stuff."

"You still haven't given up on going to Hogwarts, have you?"

Henry made a face.

"I didn't get my letter. So either Hogwarts doesn't exist or I'm this family's squib... I'm not sure what's worse," he said.

"You've already done magic, Henry. When you gave Pan your heart," Emma argued.

"I'm not sure that was about me, maybe it was Pan."

"Well, I'll talk to your mom about... teaching you something and then we'll find out."

Henry nodded.

Regina came into the living room and put her food and drink down on the coffee table. She let herself fall into an arm chair with a deep sigh.

"You alright, love?" Emma asked.

"I'm exhausted... it's been a long day," Regina added for Henry's benefit since Emma knew full well that the night before had been exhausting, too.

"Have you found anything in Gold's shop?" Henry asked.

"Well, we found plenty useful things but nothing that can help us cross realms, not yet," Emma answered and watched Regina pick at her food. The mayor didn't seem very hungry, and she looked bone-tired. The ringing of a cell phone made them all look up.

"Oh, that's mine. Excuse me," Regina said and rose from her seat.

"There are rules about that at the mansion," Henry murmured.

"We're not at the mansion, Henry," Regina gave back as she left the room.

"It could be about the hospital," Emma said to him and he nodded.

"I guess."

"Are you alright? You seem... upset?"

"It's nothing," Henry said a little too quickly.

"Did something happen at your grandma's?"

Henry sighed, pushing his plate from him.

Emma put a hand on his back and he looked back at her.

"David and I talked, you know, just... talk and then I mentioned something... it wasn't much, just that you two get along so great and... he just got up and left."

"He did what?"

"He... didn't say anything. I mean, one minute we're just talking and the next he... looks really upset and I wasn't even aware what I'd said at first. But then he got up from the table and left the apartment. Snow said he does that sometimes and not to take it personally but... he's really upset about you and mom being together, isn't he?" Henry asked Emma.

She could see how sad he was. Henry loved his grandfather - David was probably more like a father to him than Neal - but Henry was happy that his mothers were together. And David was not.

"He is upset, yes," Emma answered his question.

"I don't get it. Shouldn't he be happy for you?"

"I don't get it, either, Henry. It's... not easy for him to see me with your mom, to know that I love someone who... tried to destroy his family."

"But she's not that person anymore," Henry argued fervently.

"I know that, kid, but David... he can't except it, not yet. He needs more time to... see that she's doing good, or at least not evil."

"But even Snow has forgiven her, why can't David?"

"I guess, it's about... being a man, thinking that he has to be the protector of his family. Your mom made that impossible for him, kid. I mean, it's a little archaic but I think she hurt his male pride," Emma said.

"For real?" Henry asked and rolled his eyes.

Emma smiled at him.

"That's part of what being a hero is about, at least, it is for your grandfather," his mother told him.

"He never had the same problem with Gold, though," Henry argued.

"Well, he wasn't really my type, so..."

Now Henry rolled his eyes at Emma but then he seemed to think of something:

"You don't think it has anything to do with mom being...," but he didn't finish the sentence, he merely looked at Emma meaningfully.

"Your mom being...?"

"A woman?" Henry finally finished his thought.

"No," Emma said without even thinking about it. Then she did think about it for a moment. "No, I don't think... I can't imagine that... Regina told me that... homosexuality isn't such a big deal in the Enchanted Forest as it is here, or rather, as it is made here."

"There still might be some people who don't like it," Henry argued.

"But I can't imagine your grandfather being one of them. He's... I can't imagine anyone from my family being a phobe," Emma mused. "I mean, he seems cool with people being different, right?"

"I guess," Henry said and shrugged.

"How do you feel about that? I mean, I know you wanted for us to be together but... have you thought about... us being two women?"

"For a second or so... I mean, at first when I thought about who either one of you could be dating I thought about... men. But then... I watched you together and it made sense to me, more sense than you being with Neal. Was it strange for you... falling in love with mom?" Henry asked.

"No, but... well, there have been women in my life, so..."

"Really?"

They were interrupted by Regina clearing her throat. She stood in the doorway watching them.

"I'm not sure that's something Henry needs to know about," she said.

"Oh, come on, mom. You taught me it's okay to ask questions about sex," Henry protested.

"This isn't about sex, it's about Emma's past. And I think some things should be private."

"I wasn't going to spill any details," Emma said smiling. She could plainly see that Regina really didn't want to hear anything about her being with other women, or other people for that matter.

"So are you bisexual?" Henry asked his blond mother.

"I guess," she said and nodded.

"How about you?" Henry turned to Regina.

Regina came over and took her earlier seat.

"I'm... I really don't like the kind of labels that are so common in this realm. I'm a human being in love with another human being, and that's all you need to know,"she told her son after some contemplation.

"Fair enough," he agreed. "Are you, like, going to tell everybody? Dad doesn't know yet, does he?"

"No, he doesn't but... yeah, I'm gonna tell him, we're gonna tell people but... we'd like to do that... ourselves," Emma tried to explain.

"I'm not gonna tell anyone... well, I told Gretel yesterday but she promised she wouldn't tell anyone else," he said looking at his moms a little guiltily.

Emma looked at Regina.

"It's okay, Henry. I guess we all need someone to confide in, especially when something good happens," Regina said and he smiled at her.

"Yeah, it's good," he agreed. "Gretel thinks you guys are really cool and make a really beautiful couple."

"She said that?" Emma asked beaming with pride.

Henry nodded.

"She did, and she's right," he said blushing. He got up from his seat to turn on the equipment for their movie night.

Emma looked at Regina behind his back.

'We are a beautiful couple,' she mouthed at her lover.

'Yes, we are,' came the silent confirmation from Regina.

"Regina, love. Wake up," Emma whispered and rubbed her lover's back.

"Hm?"

"It's late," the blonde said and Regina lifted her head from where it had been lying on Emma's chest.

"Where's Henry?"

"He's already in bed, I guess. We both fell asleep during the movie."

"Hmmmm," Regina made and put her head back down where she could hear Emma's heart beating. It was a strangely comforting sound.

"You're not gonna fall back to sleep, are you?"

"Maybe," Regina whispered drowsily.

Emma smiled and tightened her hold on the dark-haired woman.

"I love you," she said.

"Because I'm such a great cuddler?"

And now Emma laughed.

"Yes," she answered and Regina lifted her head again.

She looked at Emma, her warm brown eyes seemingly drinking her in and Emma felt completely lost and yet safely found.

"Let's go to bed. I'm beat."

"I can tell but... can we lie a little longer. There's something...," Emma started but then seemed to think better of it. She shook her head and tried to sit up but Regina was still lying mostly on top of her and her hand pressed against Emma's chest.

"What is it? Is it about Henry?"

"No, it's... about you," Emma said.

"What about me?" Regina asked.

They looked at each other for a moment then Regina raised an eyebrow at Emma, urging her to continue.

"There was something today... at the shop. I thought... well, I didn't think much of it at first but... you seem... drained tonight. Rumple's magic, it affects you, doesn't it? I mean more than it does me?"

Regina took a deep breath and tried to sit up but Emma held her.

"Please, Regina, just talk to me," she pleaded with her lover and Regina lay back down on Emma's chest. She could hear Emma's heart beating faster now as if anticipating something bad.

"Yes, Rumple's magic affects me. Some of the items... you must have felt it, too... they... exude bad mojo, I guess you could call it," Regina said.

"I did feel somethng but it was more... about you. Before Neal took Henry over to my parents' he called him 'son' and you... there was something, it was like dark energy coming from you."

"Emma," Regina pleaded and worked herself free of her lover's embrace.

"Regina, please. What is it?"

"It's... magic, the bad kind. I... have it under control but... it's more difficult when I'm surrounded with so much dark magic," Regina said unwillingly.

"Is that why you wanted Henry out of the place?" Emma asked.

"No, I wanted him out of there because of why I said I didn't want him there. I... I guess I didn't even realize how much it affected me... other than... having some rather disturbing thoughts about... Neal."

"Neal?"

"He was ogling you the whole time we were there," Regina argued.

"He didn't..."

"Yes, he did and I... I wanted to... This is not good, Emma," Regina said and rose from the couch. Emma got up, too, taking Regina's hands in her own.

The mayor looked at their hands, a frown forming between her eyes. Then she looked up and Emma could see the same kind of sadness there she had seen earlier in Henry's eyes and - just as before - she wanted to desperately make everything better. But Regina wasn't just sad, she was frightened, too.

"You wanted to hurt Neal?" Emma asked and Regina nodded.

"He made me... so mad. But it wasn't all me or him, it was the magic around us. I can control it but... I guess, it just surprised me how powerful it's sway was," Regina explained.

"You shouldn't be there. If it effects you so much..."

"No, that's exactly why I should be there. It's a test I have to pass... to prove that I can be... stronger than the dark magic inside me."

They looked at each other, holding a silent conversation for awhile before Regina asked:

"Do you trust me, Emma?"

"Yes," without hesitation. "I trust you."

Regina nodded.

"Then I can do it. I just might... need a few more hugs than usual," she told her lover with a slight smile.

"I'll throw in some intense make-out sessions if it makes you feel better," Emma suggested.

"Our make-out sessions always make me feel pretty fantastic."

Emma hugged Regina to her and it seemed to her that her lover held on for dear life.

"Are you sure about this?" Emma asked.

"Yes, I'm sure but... if you feel... me getting out of control... tell me."

Emma nodded. She put her hands to Regina's face, cupping it.

"You shouldn't feel like you have to risk this," she said.

"I wouldn't do it if I thought I couldn't make it, darling. I'm stronger than I've ever been to resist the... darkness inside me. I know it'll never go away but... I'm in control, not the Evil Queen."

"You're amazing, woman. I can't tell you how proud I am of you or how much I love you. And I'm here for you, always."

Emma kissed Regina, trying hard to convey the emotions behind her words.