Regina heard a knock on her door and rushed to get it. When she opened she found Emma and Henry. Following the text she had received, Emma would drop Henry at her house, leaving the two of them have some time alone for the evening as long as it wasn't near the Mayor's house until around 9, when she would drop Henry at Emma's apartment and she could go back to her house.
To say she was nervous was an understatement; it would be the first time she was alone with Henry since the curse had broken. She smiled at both her guests.
"Hey mom," Henry said smiling back. It warmed her heart how he had taken her in again.
"I guess this is where I leave. Have fun with Regina kid, and text me when you're home okay?"
He nodded and she passed her hand through his hair, messing it up a bit. After saying goodbye to Regina, hiding a meaningful grin, she left them alone, driving away in her yellow bug.
Regina looked down at Henry, "What would you like to do?"
He gave it a thought before answering, "Cocoa?"
"I should be worried about the alarming amount of cocoa you drink," she said with a frown as she closed the door behind her and they both walked towards Granny's.
When they entered Granny's, she felt the stares of all the customers who were there. She was surprised though when Ruby approached them to offer help.
"Hello Henry," she smiled down at him and then to Regina. "Hello Regina. Would you want a table?"
Taken aback by the sudden attention, the Mayor just nodded and managed to smile back. Once they were on their seats, Ruby pulled out the notepad and looked at them, "I guess the usual for the little kid here, right?"
He nodded and she noted it on the paper before turning back to Regina, her smile never fading, "Anything for you?"
"A coffee would be just fine, thanks."
Ruby nodded as she noted it and left, only to come back quickly with their order. Henry drank from his mug and got some cream on his nose. Regina notices and smiled, almost laughed, as she reached for him and cleaned his nose with a napkin.
Suddenly, Henry said, "I'm glad you're finally getting along with Emma."
She stared at him and hid a smile behind the mug, "Yeah, me too." They fell into a silence, until Regina asked. "How's your arm going?"
He shrugged, "It's okay, I still can play videogames so it's cool."
She nodded and, before there was another silence, she kept the conversation going, "Emma told me you went to the Pet's Shelter yesterday to give the pets toys for Christmas. That's very kind of you Henry."
He blushed a little. "I kinda wanted to see Scar," he admitted.
Regina couldn't help but laugh at his son's adorable face, "I know, but it was sweet anyways."
They fell into a routine conversation about Henry's life; his new friends, the latest comic book, his favourite videogame, while Regina listened every detail her son told her. It felt good to catch up with him since she had been left out for the past month.
When they finally finished, Regina realised the hour and, after paying, they left Granny's and walked to Emma's apartment. At the door, Henry was about to knock when he turned to Regina.
"Mom? Can I ask you something?"
She kneeled down and looked at him, "Sure Henry."
"Do you think we will all be a family some day? Like, together."
Regina's heart skipped a beat; he had included her. She smiled warmingly at him, putting her hand on his cheek. "I hope so, Henry."
He nodded and then hugged her. She hugged back until he separated and knocked on the door. She braced herself to what was to come and took a deep breath.
It was Snow who opened the door, a smile on his face. Henry went inside, past her after saying hi, and left them alone. Regina nodded, "Snow."
"He seems happier," she said all of the sudden. "He gets to see both of his mothers."
"It is only fair, I raised him" Regina said defensively.
Snow sighed and smiled softly, "I know Regina, I wasn't saying it isn't."
The Mayor frowned, not expecting that, and then cleared her throat straightening her back, "Well, that's all I suppose. Remind Henry to text Emma for me please."
Snow nodded and Regina didn't wait to hear her answer, turning in her heels and abandoning the building. She was a little frustrated at Snow's behaviour, but deep down she knew she was relieved. She hadn't been called Evil Queen, nor judged. She thought of Henry's question and imagined them together as a family, only to shake her head at such idiotic thought.
When she arrived to her door, she found a note. Welcome to the first secret date. Please continue to the back yard. She recognized Emma's messy writing and smiled down at it. She opened the door and followed the orders. As she arrived to the back yard, she gasped surprised.
The garden was decorated with white Christmas lights on the trees. The snow had been shoved to the sides, and there was a table, with a few candles to throw some light to the plates, under a small tent, and Emma was sitting on one of the chairs. She stood up as soon as she saw Regina and smiled.
"Before you say anything I made sure this wasn't seen from the streets, even though I highly doubt anyone will come anywhere near this street now."
She walked towards Regina, who was still surprised, and rounded her waist with her arms. Then the Mayor seemed to finally wake up and stared at her, "This is actually beautiful."
"Ouch, don't sound so surprised."
Regina smiled apologetically, "I mean, I wouldn't expect this for…me."
"Well then, it's time for you to change your mind about that."
She led Regina to the table, offering her seat and then taking her own in front of her. She raised the lid of the tray to reveal a pizza and smiled, "I'm not really a cook."
Regina relaxed her shoulders and looked at the woman in front of her. The flames of the candles danced on her eyes, gleaming as they locked with hers. Emma was beautiful, and one only needed to have eyes to see that. Behind her tough posture and questionable manners, there was a strong woman, who fought for what she wanted. That made her even more beautiful. While that used got her in her nerves, Regina still appreciated that quality of her, even then when they were at each other's throats for Henry's love.
She took a piece of pizza and Emma mirrored her, both enjoying the meal. "So this is why you needed the house free?"
Emma nodded, "That and I also thought you could have a good time with Henry alone. How was it?"
"It was great."
"And leaving him at my apartment…" Emma raised her eyebrows.
"It was…civilized. Nothing to worry about."
Emma smiled at her, "I knew there wouldn't be."
Regina took a bite and frowned a little, "How could you be so sure? You do know she is my archenemy, right?"
Reaching for her hand, Emma took Regina's as she looked into her eyes, "I know you, and I believe in you. That's not who you are, at least not now."
Regina smiled back, but it faded a little as she felt a weight on her chest. "You don't know half of the things I've done Emma," she whispered.
"I know some things…I know you have a past, but I also know that you've changed. You love Henry above all, and that's what drives you."
"Thank you, for seeing that."
Emma stood up and held out a hand to Regina, "Wanna dance?"
"Dance?" the Mayor asked raising an eyebrow, taking her hand and standing up.
"Yeah," Emma pulled out a remote and pressed a button. The tent suddenly was filled with a soft melody and Emma pulled Regina closer. "Is this how you danced back there?"
"Do you mean in the Enchanted Forest?"
Emma nodded. Regina read curiosity in her eyes, but a furrow crossed her face, like if the thought of a place such as the Enchanted Forest was still foreign to her. "Well, the balls were usually held in a palace, with many, many guests all dancing to the same choreography."
"Did you dance a lot?"
"I used to, when I was younger, but along the years I didn't really have anyone to dance with," she realised with sadness. She felt Emma's thumb caressing her hand as they danced and Regina smiled at her.
"Can I ask you something Regina?" The Mayor hummed and nodded, and Emma looked at her. "I know you rather keep this a secret, but why?"
She saw how Regina's eyes hardened, and quickly reassured, "I'm okay with that, I respect you. I just want to know why. It's not like it's your first time with a woman, isn't it?"
Regina's expression softened a little as she shook her head, "It isn't, but it isn't about that. Back in that land people didn't judge that like in this land anyway, so they wouldn't mind."
"Then what is it?"
Regina bit her lips and furrowed her eyebrows. She hadn't thought much about that; she just felt safe like that. She felt like if they didn't say, she wouldn't lose Emma. She looked at Emma, who was staring back at her with an encouraging smile, and found in her eyes the trust she needed to admit it.
"People treat me like the Evil Queen I once was, and even worse, before they were afraid of me but now they just hate me. If this, us come out, they will probably go on you telling how wrong you are, they will think I did something to you and they will blame me for lying to you, and probably will think I'm planning something evil. I'm not, I just, like this and I don't want to…lose you when this just started."
Emma stopped dancing and raised her hands to Regina's cheek, cupping it and caressing her, "I know how to deal with them and I won't go anywhere whatever they say. I want this as much as you do."
She leaned down and gently kissed her to prove her point. Regina kissed back and embraced her tightly before separating and whispering, "Thank you for giving me a chance."