Chapter 21

Regina stared at the blonde woman for an odd amount of time before asking her to come in for a glass of cider. Her mind was reeling. How did Henry even find this woman? Regina had searched extensively for a mother and had come up with nothing at all. How had the woman gotten into the town? How had Henry gotten out and in again? That shouldn't be possible. In 28 years, no one has come or gone. All the false memories of people leaving or returning were just that; false.

She tried to calm her nerves a bit by pouring two glasses of cider. She gave one to the woman and sipped her own. The silence stretched out until finally, Emma said, "okay. So, this is really awkward. I'm sorry, really. I didn't reach out to him or anything. I couldn't have if I tried, it was a sealed adoption process. I'm not even half sure how he found me."

Regina nodded, gesturing to chair for Emma to sit down. "I'm not sure either. Did he tell you how he came to be with us?" Emma shook her head. "Well, we found him outside our front door one evening. We didn't go out and adopt him, you see. He was left on our doorstep. Of course, we fell in love immediately and then adopted him, but it wasn't arranged."

Emma frowned at her, "I don't understand at all. I signed the papers as soon as he was born, putting him up for adoption. He should have been cared for in the hospital until his adopters picked him up. I was told it had already been arranged and the family was waiting for him."

Regina shrugged, "well, I don't know how he got to us, but I can assure you, he is staying with us."

Emma choked a little on the very strong cider and held her hand up shaking her head, "oh, no! No, please. Don't think I am here to reclaim him, or anything. I mean, he seems great and I could probably handle a kid at my age now, but… I wanted him to have his best chance, you know? At the time, it was not with me. He has some crazy things rattling around in his head, but he's the mayor's kid. He has had way more love and attention than I ever did. I wouldn't try to take him."

Regina nodded and set her empty glass down. "Well, Miss Swan, it is late and if you came all the way from Boston today, you must be tired. There is a bed and breakfast just down the street, if you would like."

Emma finished her drink and stood, feeling dismissed. "That would probably be for the best, yeah." They walked to the door and Emma couldn't help herself, "you know, I wanted him to have his best chance… He seems really out of it, from what I can tell. Is there anything I should know, like, about his home life?"

Regina clenched her jaw. "Miss Swan, if you are insinuating that there is some kind of disturbance in my home…"

Holding her hands up, but not backing down, she said, "I'm just worried about the way his imagination seems to have over taken him. That's all."

Regina crossed her arms on her chest, standing straight. "Good night, Miss Swan. Have a safe trip back to Boston tomorrow."

…

Regina closed and locked the door, internally panicking. If that woman was the savior, her time was limited. She had to get her out of town before she tripped over something and accidentally broke the curse. Regina highly doubted the woman was capable of breaking anything on purpose.

She climbed the stairs quietly and stopped at Henry's door. It was open slightly and she could hear him and Rory talking.

"Okay. So, if your mom is the evil queen, then why does everyone here like her so much? Do you know how many people she has helped in town?" Rory was talking in a thoughtful tone.

Henry sighed heavily, "I don't know why she has helped people. Maybe she felt bad about cursing everyone to a wrong life in the wrong world?"

"I see. So, you're telling me, the evil queen had a change of heart? She suddenly feels bad for uprooting everyone?" Silence and Regina assumed Henry had nodded because Rory continued. "Okay, so then, she wouldn't really be the evil queen anymore, would she?"

"But she is. Even if she did turn into a nice person, everyone is still cursed. That's not right, even if most people are happy now. It's still not fair."

"Fine, I can roll with that. But, do you really think she deserves to be treated the way you have been treating her lately? After she's had this change of heart? Before you got that book, you were a sweet boy with manners and shit…" Henry made a noise and Rory corrected herself, making Regina smile, "and stuff. You never once felt unloved did you?"

Sighing again, Henry was shifting in his bed, getting comfortable. "I know she loves me. I really do. I just wish she would let Emma break the curse."

Regina heard Rory standing and moved back just a little, she didn't want Henry to know she had been listening. "Well, if what you say is right, she won't be able to stop it right? So, let the blonde bombshell savior work her magic. You, however, need to act right. You tell me I'm the evil queens guardian, so it's my job to protect your mom. You keep hurting her and I'll break out my siren karate and kick your ass."

Regina covered her mouth to stop her own giggle as she heard Henry laughing. The two said goodnight and Rory came out, closing the door behind her. She took Regina by the hand and led them to bed.

Regina laid awake on Rory's chest for hours, trying to figure out how to get Emma to stay away from her curse. No matter what, she couldn't let it break. She would lose Henry to Emma, and she assumed once Lorelei woke up, she'd lose her too. She refused to give up her finally happy ending.

…..

Regina and Rory made their way to the diner for breakfast together. Henry had wanted to eat at the diner today, so that's where they were headed before he had to be off to school. He had run ahead as he usually did. They watched him run into the diner and followed at a more respectable pace. Regina immediately regretted not sprinting.

As Regina entered the diner, she spied her son sitting across from Emma in the back booth. Her booth, to be precise. All eyes seemed to dart from Regina to where Emma sat and back again, as if waiting for an explosion. Rory squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, "kill her with kindness. If she thinks Henry's fine, she'll leave town and we won't have to worry about her trying for custody. She doesn't want a kid, she just wants to make sure he's good."

Regina swallowed hard and nodded, making her way to the booth. She sat next to Henry as Emma watched with wide eyes. Rory popped down beside Emma and physically scooted her over to the wall with her own body, making herself plenty of space. She then smiled brightly at the stunned blonde and said, "good morning."

Emma nodded and gestured to the seat they now shared, "make yourself comfortable."

Rory winked at her, "I always do."

Henry giggled from across the table, "she's super intrusive sometimes."

Emma looked about to say something when Ruby came over to them, eyes firmly on her notepad. Emma frowned up at her and asked her instead, "Ruby? Is something wrong?"

Ruby smiled and looked at Emma specifically, "nope. Everythings great. What can I get you all?"

Looking confused, Emma shook her head and ordered her food. Once she was done, Regina, Rory and Henry all said, "the usual please" in unison.

Regina wasn't ready to speak to the blonde, so Rory tried to make small talk. "So, Emma, how're you doing?"

"Ah, fine, I guess. I got a room here last night, it's pretty nice, I guess." Emma looked at Henry, silently asking for help from Rory's penetrating stare.

Henry tried to help, "how long are you staying? Will you stay at least a year?"

Regina inhaled sharply at her sons forwardness, "Henry, that's really not polite. Miss Swan has a job and a life in Boston, I assume. She should be getting back to it."

Henry looked deflated, "oh. Well, maybe just a few days?"

Emma smiled at him, he was a really cute kid. "Maybe a few days, but I do have to get back before too long."

Regina clenched her jaw in anger. A few days was far too much time. "Miss Swan, please, don't feel obligated to stay longer than you already have. It can't be convenient to suddenly leave your job and home to return Henry to us."

Emma waited to respond as a different waitress put their plates in front of them, then she took a bite and closed her eyes making approving noises, "it's no inconvenience for this food. This is fantastic. I think I'll stick around a few days just so I can eat here a couple more times."

Regina smiled tightly and held her anger in check. It would not do for Henry to see her choke the woman. "Well, Granny's does make the best food in town."

Rory was already half way thru her plate of food and she swallowed a massive bite to quickly add, "second best!"

In spite of her anger, Regina laughed at her, "I'm sorry, of course, second best. Rory here is a very fine chef."

Henry nodded eagerly, "yeah she can cook like nobody else!"

Rory smiled proudly, with her chest out and pointed her fork at Emma's face, making the blonde jerk away, "Hear that? I'm the best chef ever!"

Emma stared at the fork, "ok. I believe you. I haven't had your food, so how could I know?"

Henry stretched across the table with his butter knife and pushed Rory's fork away from Emma, "ma, not nice to point sharp objects at peoples eyes." Once Rory nodded and went back to her food, Henry said, "why don't you come to dinner tonight? Then you could try it yourself."

Emma smiled at him, and glanced at Regina. Regina sighed, her mood had been lightened unwillingly, "Miss Swan, if you intend to stay another night, you are welcome to come to dinner at our home tonight."

Emma raised both brows at that. She was sure Regina despised her, but the offer almost seemed genuine. "Okay."

"What?" Regina said before she could stop herself.

Emma smiled too sweetly at her, "I said I'd love to Regina, thank you."

Regina nodded and gave her an entirely false smile before rising from the booth. "Henry, you will be late if you don't get going."

Henry jumped up and hugged Regina then high fived Rory. He waved at Emma who looked thoroughly trapped in the booth. She tried to politely get Rory to move, but no go. Regina watched Henry run out the diner and fall in with some other kids on their way to school. Then, she looked down and frowned at Rory who was staring at Emma, who in turn was holding her head in her hands.

Smiling, Regina poked Rory's shoulder, "Rory, dear, I think Miss Swan wants you out of the booth."

Rory jumped up as if this was some crazy insight. She took Regina's hand and they walked out of the diner after saying good bye to Emma.

…

Ruby waited until the door shut behind the mayor and Rory before rushing over to Emma. She sat across from her and whispered, "what the hell was that?"

Emma stared at her, "you're one to talk! What the hell was with you leaving me hanging like that? I could've used a buffer!"

They had spent most of the night chatting last night. Ruby was happy to meet someone new and Emma was feeling pretty out of place in this tight knit town. "yeah… me an them have a past…"

Emma frowned, "you didn't tell me that."

Ruby groaned, "I was hoping I wouldn't have to. Look, I'll tell you later, after my shift. Let's just say, I know my place around here, at least when they're around okay?"

Emma watched as Ruby rushed off to clear plates and tend to people. She shook her head and headed back to her room. This was the strangest town she had ever found, and she had seen a hell of a lot of towns.

…

Regina kissed Rory and headed into her office to do the same paperwork as every other day. She hoped Emma would see a nice happy, normal family and go away. In case she didn't, Regina would then consider other avenues. For now, she would let things play out. No major differences had been seen so far, so she wasn't overly concerned.

…

Rory walked Regina to her office then wandered over to the old library. The library itself was closed up, but the apartment above it was occupied by Lacy. Rory let herself in, she never bothered knocking. Lacy was sitting at her small table, eating what looked like cereal.

Rory sat next to her and ran a hand thru her hair, "So, Henry's birth mother is hanging out at the bed and breakfast."

Lacy nodded, "yeah I heard."

"That's it? You heard? You're not concerned or worried or stressed at all?"

Lacy finished her bowl of cereal and took her bowl to the sink. "It has nothing to do with me, I'm not the one with a doorstep baby remember?"

Rory frowned at her and then went to the womans closet, throwing pants and a shirt out at her. "Yeah, well… it's stressful for me."

Lacy stepped around the offered clothing, she had no plans of changing out of her pajamas today until she opened the bar at 5. "Hey, that sucks… for you. Still doesn't involve me."

Rory growled a bit when she watched the woman lay back down on her bed. She picked up the clothes and threw them at her, but Lacy just rolled over, turning her back to Rory. So, Rory did the next best thing, she slapped the womans ass hard enough to make her jump up and start swinging back at Rory. Rory grabbed her hands and smiled brightly as she held onto her, "Come on, it's nearly eleven, time to sort the inventory."

Lacy pulled away, frowning furiously, "I hate you so very much."

"Some days."

"Most days," Lacy said as she got dressed.

….

Emma was trying to keep herself occupied, but how much can you do in a single room? Even if she did have a good view of the main street. She sat and stared out the window for a while before anything interesting happened. She sat up and watched as Rory went dashing away with a small brown haired woman on her arm. They seemed to be going somewhere together in a hurry.

Emma frowned in thought, surely Rory wasn't sneaking off with some other woman while Regina worked was she? Shrugging, Emma jumped up and decided to find out. She really had nothing better to do.

….

Regina was taking a coffee break, staring out the window as she waited for the pattern to occur. Every weekday, she went to work and Rory fetched Lacy to go play at the bar. Regina knew damn well what they did with their days, and it was certainly not inventory. She smirked as she watched Rory nearly dragging Lacy down the street towards the bar. She intended to sit back down and finish the papers she always wrote at the same time, but she saw Miss Swan sneaking behind Rory and Lacy at the last moment. She stared as the blonde woman tried to look casual as she obviously followed them.

Regina groaned and started gathering her purse and jacket. If Emma caught them in the act, it was going to make looking normal happy and healthy far more difficult.

….

Emma watched from around the corner as Rory and the other woman unlocked the door on what must be a bar. The sign said Rabbit Hole and there were no uncovered windows. She frowned hard as she saw Rory open the door and make a small bow to allow the other woman to enter first. Then her brows shot up in surprise as Rory slapped the other woman on the behind before following her inside.

Emma was two steps into that direction when Regina called her name, nearly giving her a heart attack. Emma spun around, trying to look casual. "Hey, madam mayor, how are you?"

Regina didn't have time for this nonsense, she had a schedule and this woman was interfering with it, "are you stalking my girlfriend?"

Emma sputtered a bit before finally managing a verbal response, "what? No! That's ridiculous, why would I do that?"

Regina crossed her arms and glared at the woman, unconvinced, "I watched you sneak around behind them for at least five minutes, Miss Swan."

Emma winced and finally decided to come clean, "okay, maybe I was following them, but only because I'm getting bored and I thought maybe they were going someplace… not boring?"

Regina rolled her eyes and nodded towards the bar, "that's Rory's bar. She owns it. It's a local favorite, nearly everyone stops in on Friday and Saturday nights. During the week, however, it doesn't open until five. If you are in more immediate need of liquor, may I suggest the grocery store up the road?"

Emma groaned in spite of herself, "no, I don't need a drink. I just was looking for something to do besides sit in my room and stare at the walls."

Smiling now, Regina gestured back towards the diner, "well, I am going for lunch now, if you would like to join me? I don't usually eat so early, but my schedule has been interrupted by my girlfriends stalker."

Emma gave her a tight smile and nodded, "sure. I'd love to."

Regina walked silently to the diner, mentally sighing in relief. She didn't need this woman finding a reason to stick around.

….

Regina dropped her things on the small table by the door with great relief that the work day was over, but then she rolled her eyes at the memory that they were having Miss Swan for dinner. She went upstairs to freshen up and change into something more casual.

Rory came home and quickly found Regina changing and decided to start dinner. Archie was dropping Henry off at home today after their session so everything seemed to be going well.

Henry came home and sat to do his homework until dinner was ready, as usual. Regina nodded as everything went the way it does usually. She liked the routine now. She was used to it. The door bell rang and Regina frowned before remembering the break in pattern and walking to the door to let Emma in.

The dinner was perfect, the conversation was awkward. Emma seemed to stay on topics like the food, the weather and Henry. Nothing heavy, nothing invasive. She desperately wanted to hear what past these two had with Ruby though. They seemed fairly normal, even with Rory's quirks. The woman ate like a starving wolf. Then she just sat and rather impatiently waited for everyone else to catch up.

Once the painful dinner ended, Emma said good night and headed back to the inn. Regina shut the front door and sighed heavily with relief. Dinner was boring and normal, just as it needed to be. She sent Henry off to bed and Rory met her in the study, two glasses of cider already waiting on the coffee table. Regina smiled at Rory siting on the couch, waiting nicely.

Regina licked her lips and decided to have an unexpectedly delightful night. She kicked her heels off and slowly made her way over to the woman on the couch. Rory noticed the shift immediately. Regina had that delicious feral look in her eye and Rory's mouth was already hanging open at the slow stalk she was doing in getting to the couch.

Turning her back to Rory, Regina bent at the waist to slowly pick up the glass of cider. She drank it slowly, a low moan coming from her as she sat the empty tumbler down again. She turned to find Rory with slightly glazed eyes, staring at her. She smirked and pulled her skirt up a bit, one half inch at a time until it was high enough for her to straddle the woman's lap.

Breathing heavily, Rory had to clear her throat twice before she could speak, "well hello there. Please, make yourself comfortable."

Smirking down at the other woman, Regina slowly popped open two buttons on her blouse, "I always do darling. Now, tell me, did you miss me today?"

Rory nodded slowly without taking her eyes off the blouse that was slowly being unbuttoned while she ran her hands up and down the smooth thighs pinning her down to the couch. "Oh, yes. Yes I did. Very very much. How are you so fucking perfect?"

Regina undid the last button then grabbed two fistfuls of Rory's hair, pulling her head back and kissing her passionately. She then leaned down, holding the woman's head back, and whispered in a deeper voice than usual, "prove it."

….

Emma made her way back to the inn to find Ruby sitting on her bed. She shut the door and locked it before kicking off her boots and throwing her jacket on the chair. She finally sat by Ruby and sighed heavily, "aside from Rory having an affair, they seem totally normal."

Ruby started laughing so hard she had a few tears in her eyes, "an affair? Rory? You're very mistaken!"

Emma glared at her until she stopped laughing, "I am not. I saw her with a smaller woman with brown hair today. They practically danced over to the rabbit hole and then, Rory smacked the girls ass before they went in."

Ruby giggled some more but still shook her head, "it's not what you seem to think. The other girl is probably Lacy, the bartender. Lacy tends all week on her own, and on Friday and Saturday Rory tends with her."

"Oh, so no such thing as a boss banging an employee? Come on Rubes, you can't be that blind."

Ruby rolled her eyes, "trust me, I know for a fact that they are not 'banging'."

Emma crossed her arms on her chest, "how do you know?"

"Okay, I tell you what, stick around until Sunday and I can prove it to you."

Emma chewed her lip for a minute. She had intended to leave in the morning, the kid was fine, just a little too imaginative. She couldn't justify hanging around just to spy on Rory. "Tell me about your past, then I'll decide."

Ruby got a sad look on her face then, and went to the small fridge to get beers. She handed one to Emma and opened her own, "fine. But we're gonna need more beer."

Emma listened as Ruby started from the top and worked her way to present. They had all known each other pretty much their entire lives. Rory was always defending Regina from her mother and bullies at school like a little body guard. Even when Regina went to college, Rory went with her and worked while Regina did classes. Everywhere Regina went, Rory went. When Ruby and Rory started dating, Ruby thought she would have Rory's time, but not if Regina needed her. Rory would run off at the drop of a hat anytime Regina spoke. Ruby couldn't deal with it forever, no matter how much she loved her. One day, Ruby decided to leave Storybrooke to go travel. She begged Rory to go with her, but Rory wouldn't leave Regina. Regina was grounded already looking to become mayor.

Ruby waited and postponed her plans a thousand times, hoping Rory would pick her just once. Then, the first drunken night happened and Ruby had enough. Regina's mother had just died and been buried so Regina was a mess. Ruby gave Rory an ultimatum of one or the other. Rory didn't even blink before picking to stay with Regina.

Ruby had left, broken hearted, and by the time she came back, Regina was mayor and Rory lived with her. She had then decided to keep her head down whenever they were around.

Emma shook her head, "I'm sorry Rubes, that sounds like torture."

Wiping a tear from her face, Ruby nodded, "yeah, it was. But, it's in the past now, so no worries."

"Now they live a happy little life with a kid and everything."

Ruby huffed and fetched another beer. "Except Regina is a manipulative bitch, yeah."

"How so?"

Ruby sat and proceeded to tell her every under handed dirty maneuver the mayor had used through the years to secure the entire town. Emma listened and became more concerned by the second.

….

As Regina came down from her second release, she was ready for more, but then something happened. Everyone in town felt it. From one moment to the next, something shifted. Regina stared at Rory as Rory felt it too and stared back. Shrugging it off as a chill, Regina promptly took Rorys hand and they raced to the bedroom to finish the evening with enthusiasm.

Neither bothered to pull away long enough to find the source of the unusual feeling, if they had, they would have noticed that the old clock tower that had been forever stopped, had just ticked it's first minute in 28 years.