It is tiiiiiime to get the ball rollin again! Please leave a review! The next chapter will be more fun ;) happy reading!

"Hello."

Regina snapped up at the greeting, curious and confused as to who was trying to speak to her. No one spoke to her in this town unless it was unavoidable. She smiled politely though when her eyes landed on Tamara, "hello."

"Are you meeting anyone?"

"No. Just grabbing a coffee before I head to the office," she smiled with a shrug of her shoulders and kept her hands on her elbows and her arms on the counter of the diner.

"Well that's nice," Tamara smiled and Regina hummed shortly in agreement as her dark eyes watched her slide on to the stool beside her before flashing up to meet her own eyes once more. "So is it true that you are actually a queen?" She asked simply and watched the woman's expression turn guarded as her relaxed posture grew taller with her wariness.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Neal," she started and reached in to her bag, Regina's eyes following her hands as she pulled out a folded piece of paper, "he uh he made me a list of who the people are in this town. Well all the ones he knew anyway. It says here that you are actually the evil queen. Like from Snow White," she explained and Regina looked down at her through hard and suspicious eyes, "I'm actually having sort of a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this town is full of fairytale characters and magic."

"There are no fairytale characters in this town," Regina argued rather irritably but hardly enough to be noticeable. If the woman was going to lie and play innocence she could at least try to be more believable. But Regina decided to play along all the same, "simply people with lives this world has deemed fiction, legend, or rhyme."

"I suppose that's true isn't it," Tamara laughed lightly while she wished the woman would allow her closer so she could turn around and stab her in the back. It was so much easier when they let you close, "but you are the infamous evil queen?"

Regina hummed and pulled her coffee closer to her once Granny had placed it in front of her, "indeed."

"Really?" Tamara laughed out doubtfully when really she had known the truth all along, "you don't seem like the evil type."

"Is that not the point?" Regina replied smoothly with a hint of amusement in her voice that remained in her eyes when the woman's mask truly faltered and she saw the hesitance there for just a moment. And then it was gone again. "However you are correct. I have given up on that evil. Making love to Prince Charming will do that to you."

"Yes how did that happen? I mean I don't mean to be rude but...really? Prince Charming and the Evil Queen?"

"If you figure it out please do let me know," she replied with a small smile and then moved her attention to Granny fixing up her coffee as the bell rang over the door of the diner.

"Hey babe," he greeted and kissed the side of her head as he slung his arms around her middle, "keeping out of trouble on this wonderful morning?"

"I'm never in trouble in the morning," she retorted with a smirk as she took the to-go cup of coffee Granny placed on the counter in front of her.

"Aren't you supposed to be in your office?" He asked curiously and rested his chin upon her head after smiling at Tamara in greeting.

"I'm on my way now. Just had to get my coffee."

"Ah well Emma has taken the liberty of bringing your morning coffee to your office so I suppose I'll just take this one off your hands."

"Hey!" She yelped when he plucked the cup from her hands and stepped away from her as she spun around and stood up.

"If you hurry yours will still be hot when you get to the office," he teased from behind the top of the cup.

"But I want that one," she reasoned as she folded her arms over her chest and looked at the cup in his hand and then back at his face with her head cocked expectantly.

"Well that's unfortunate," he smirked and took a tentative sip of the hot liquid and then hummed appreciatively, "what do you get them to do to this? Mine is never this good."

"Secrets."

"Well you're never getting it back," he smirked and took another sip and she huffed irritably but not enough to make him worry. "Pouting is unbecoming, your majesty," he teased as he stepped up to her and pinned her back against the counter.

"I'm not pouting."

"Hmmm," he smiled and raised an eyebrow and she crossed her jaw to keep herself from smiling too much. Then he dropped his head and kissed her and she kept her arms folded over her chest while his hand was rested on her hip. It was just one lingering kiss and then he was stepping back from her with a grin and a, "thank you for the coffee."

Regina rolled her eyes at him and pursed her lips to keep herself from smiling too much. Then he winked at her as he walked backward out the door and she rolled her eyes one more time but couldn't help the way she gave in to a smile and turned back to the counter with a shake of her head.

"Well he certainly can be charming," Tamara noted and Regina hummed in amused agreement.

"Indeed."

"He's enthralled with you," she smiled and Regina laughed lightly.

"So it would seem," she nodded and when Granny passed in front of her on a path to the kitchen Regina stopped her, "does Miss Swan have my proper coffee or must I bring another with me for back up?"

"I haven't disappointed you in years, girl," Granny retorted as she wiped her hands on a towel and Regina smiled that pretty and smooth smile, "what makes you think I would give you a subpar cup of coffee now?"

"Thank you, Granny," Regina rocked her head and Granny nodded before she continued on her way. "If you see Neal before I do you may tell him that the both of you are invited to dinner at my house on Thursday," she smiled sweetly and Tamara looked at her in surprise.

"Why?"

"Not exactly the answer one expects after inviting someone to dinner," Regina drawled out as she gathered her bag with a raise of her eyebrow.

"No, sorry," Tamara laughed quietly and cleared her throat before trying again, "I'd love to come for dinner. It would be a pleasure and an honour."

"Laying it on a little thick but it's better," Regina smiled and swallowed down her desire to simply kill her on the spot and save herself the formalities. "Thursday at seven. Mifflin Street. You'll know it when you see it. Don't be late," she dipped her head and raised her eyebrows as she began walking away.

"Wouldn't dare," Tamara laughed and watched her leave, curious as to what her angle was. She knew for a fact that the woman was not as oblivious to everything as she appeared to be. However she couldn't say exactly how much she did know.

...

"There you are," Emma smiled as she turned around at the sound of the door opening and saw Regina walking toward her curiously, "I brought you coffee."

"What did you do?"

"What? A friend can't bring another friend coffee without being accused of maybe setting her apple tree on fire?" She drawled out and Regina froze mid reach for the coffee and stared at her wide eyed and waiting for confirmation on what she had just heard. "Totally kidding," Emma soothed and Regina let out the breath she was holding in a long huff as she snatched her coffee from her hand. Emma simply laughed quietly and took a sip of her own coffee as Regina walked past.

"Miss Swan you are coming to dinner Thursday night."

"Well there's no need to demand it," Emma chuckled as she turned on her heel to follow the brunette, "I've been coming over almost every other night for dinner. Your food is so much better than everyone else's. I'd probably end up there Thursday anyway. Regardless of an invitation or not."

"Yes well this dinner is different and you will be attending it. Whether it be of your own free will or me casting a spell to keep you present," she stated plainly and Emma looked her over curiously, "now you have two choices. I either tell you what is going on or I leave it and you figure it out on your own."

"I'd go for the latter," Cora chimed in from the door as she walked in, "Regina is terrible at surprises."

"I am very good at surprises," Regina shot back with a playful and questioning smile, wondering what exactly she was doing there of all places.

"She is terrible at good surprises," Cora clarified and Regina hummed in temporary acceptance.

Wary but curious, Emma removed her attention from Cora and looked to Regina, "alright I'll bite. What are you plotting now?"

"I am inviting Neal and his delightful fiancé to dinner."

Emma stared at her wide eyed with her mouth slightly agape as she tried to process the words that had just left the brunette's mouth. "Wh-what-why would you want to do that?! And more importantly why am I required to be there?!"

"Because you still haven't told either Henry or Neal who they are to one another and it is getting to be a nuisance."

"Well I am sorry I have inconvenienced you! But what the hell! You don't sit us all around a table for dinner and start the evening off with a game of family tree!"

"Oh no I have other plans for this dinner. It just so happens that it conveniently works as a kick to get you moving. They find out before the dinner or they find out during. When is entirely up to you. In my opinion it will be much easier for them to know beforehand."

"Regina-!"

"Do not fight me, Miss Swan," Regina snarled as she leaned forward, promptly cutting off the blonde's low growl, "you will not win. Henry deserves to know who his father is and I am tired of standing around waiting for you," she bit out through her bared teeth as she placed a finger on her desk, "understood?"

Emma held Regina's firm dark gaze with a scowl of her own but she knew she was right. She was just being stubborn. But Regina was right. Not that she would admit it to her face right now.

"Dinner will be at seven," she instructed with a smoother voice as she stood up straight again and Emma remained scowling as she crossed her jaw and grumbled.

"I regret bringing you coffee."

"Would you like me to pay you back for it?" Regina smirked as she took a sip to find it still quite hot.

"No," she grumbled as she unceremoniously dragged a chair from the large table plopped herself ungracefully in to in front of Regina's desk.

Regina bit back a laugh as she withdrew her cup from her lips and then looked to Cora who was standing almost beside her, "did you need something?"

"No," Cora smiled with a small shake of her head, "no I just uneventfully saw Henry off to school and decided to come see you and keep you company. Unless of course you rather I wouldn't and I can come another time."

"Uh no...no you can stay. The company would be nice actually."

Emma smiled at the pair from behind her coffee. She found it heartwarming to see Regina so small and willing and quick to please while around Cora. There were not many people Regina would bend for and she would do anything for a praising word from Cora and would move mountains to make time to spend with her. It had been different before and Emma knew it had been so incredibly horrid way back in the past but now it was sweet and tender and still so very tentative. So with a smile and a happy heart, Emma stood up from her seat, "well I'm gonna head down to the station. I'll see you guys later," she nodded and raised her coffee up in farewell."

"Goodbye Miss Swan," she nodded and Emma rolled her eyes halfheartedly with a laugh at the title before she disappeared from sight. Then her eyes fell to the chair she left behind and she laughed softly with a shake of her head but left it there for now.

"I brought you something."

"Oh?" Regina furrowed her brow curiously as she twisted at the waist and watched as Cora reached in to the pocket of her black blazer and withdrew a small box made of dark wood and offered it to her, "what is it?"

"Open it," Cora laughed gently and her smile was kept in place when Regina cocked her head and shifted her weight to one foot with a smile as she placed her coffee on her desk and gingerly took the box.

With another quirk of her head she carefully opened the box, entirely unaccustomed to receiving gifts from her mother. Her smile faltered though when she saw what was inside and shock replaced it. She was speechless and she looked up at Cora to find her smiling with her head tilted to the side, "where...where did you find this?" She asked as she looked back at the gold pendant that had been lost to her for decades. The intricate grand tree enclosed in a circle slung on a delicate gold chain. Her father had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday and she had worn it almost everyday until the day it had disappeared.

Cora hummed through her smile as she watched Regina gently move her thumb over the pendant with a pained smile, "I was talking with Belle yesterday while she was organizing some of the items in Rumple's shop. To be honest I don't believe she has a clue as to who I am but that is beside the point. She was detangling a knot of chains and this one happened to be among them. I told her I would detangle the chains for her if I could have this one in return for it belonged to my daughter and she happily agreed," she shrugged with a smile and Regina brought the box to her chest and gave her a rather watery smile, "I would have given it to you yesterday but I had to get it cleaned first. The thing was quite filthy and I couldn't let you wear something less than perfect."

Regina laughed quietly as she looked at her mother in wonder. Before she never would have paid any mind to something so precious and sentimental. It meant so much to her that she had. It meant so much that she had even recognized the necklace in the first place let alone remembered that it meant the world to her, "thank you."

Cora simply smiled and stepped forward so she could take the box from Regina's hands and gently pulled the necklace from the box, "your father meant everything to you," she started gently and with a wave of her fingers Regina obeyed and turned around so Cora could clasp the necklace behind her neck, "I thought you would be happy to have a piece of him back and close to your heart," she nodded and then placed a gentle hand over the clasp when she was done as a signal for Regina to turn back around. And she did with her fingertips over the pendant and tears in her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered again and then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Cora's neck, her tears falling silently when she closed her eyes and buried her face in Cora's neck and shoulder.

"You're very welcome," Cora smiled as she hugged her back and kissed the side of her head. She absolutely treasured these embraces for they were few and far between. They made her want to cry herself but she didn't and took a deep breath as she combed her fingers through Regina's silky hair and held them there while her other arm remained snug around her middle. "I love you, my darling."

"I love you too," she whispered and never had she felt her mother's endearment for her sound so warm and sincere. It seemed every time she heard the word 'darling' leave her lips it became more honest and less of a taunt.

...

Finished early with her work in her office, Regina stopped by the sheriff's station on her way home just so she could see David. Emma was on the phone in her own office but David was doing nothing at all so she held no guilt in distracting him for a few minutes, "you enjoy my coffee this morning?"

Immediately David's eyes fell on Regina and he smiled at her teasing tone, "indeed I did. What brings you over to this side of town?"

"Everything mayoral is caught up. I have nothing more to do today so I figured I'd stop by before I started on dinner," she smiled and he pulled her down so she sat sideways in his lap, his hands on her hips and her arms slung lazily over his shoulders.

"Well it certainly is a wonderful treat," he smiled at her and her fingers began playing with the hair on the back of his head. Truth be told he was having an off day and was relieved to finally have her back in his arms. It seemed she noticed something was wrong and before he could shake it off or deter her attention, she brought it up. There was no hiding from this woman.

"What is bothering you?" She asked quietly with a small frown and he breathed out a laugh and shook his head as he dropped his eyes, "hey," she whispered and lifted his head with her hands on either side of his face, "talk to me."

"I'm...anxious."

"Whatever for?" She soothed and traced her fingertips along his hairline and jaw while he leaned in to her other hand and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Henry," he breathed out with a nervous and breathy laugh and shook his head while Regina cocked her head and her lips formed a line somewhere between a frown and a smile. "I love him, Regina, I really do and he is like a son to me. We've been so close lately and I love it but now with Neal here and him being Henry's father...they get along so well and it worries me, Regina. I don't want things to change, I don't want to lose him. I love being his father."

Regina felt her heart melt in her chest and she shook her head while her hands kept David's up, "Henry adores you," she assured as she nodded her head forward and he sighed out his nose, "I can't tell you that things won't change once Henry is aware of who Neal is but I do know that you will never be cast aside. You hang the moon in Henry's eyes, you are Prince Charming, you love me, you love him, you play with him, you teach him, you mean so much to him, David," she shook her head with a smile and he smiled just a little in return, "I love watching the pair of you together. It brings me such joy and takes away any worry I have in bringing a new life in to this mismatched little family we have created," she laughed softly and earned herself a real smile from David as he hugged her tighter.

"He has managed to balance two mothers," she smiled and David hummed a short quiet laugh, "I'm sure he can learn to balance two fathers," she assured and David relaxed a little more, "and the fact that the two fathers in question are not trying to drain one another of all their blood, it should be much easier than the first go around," she added begrudgingly but had a smile on her mouth the whole time.

David couldn't help but laugh at that and she pursed her lips to keep her smile from getting too big. His heart and mind had been soothed almost entirely and he felt calm once more which had him shaking his head as his laughter died quietly but his smile remained, "you are incredible," he admired and she hummed a quiet laugh, "thank you for finishing work early."

"I do try," she smirked lightly and then let him kiss her. Slow and comforting as she sunk in to him and lazily wrapped her arms around his neck. When he stopped she stayed close and nuzzled her nose against his as she rested her forehead against his and moved her fingers through his hair.

"I like your necklace," he whispered and she smiled and hummed, "I don't recall you wearing it this morning?"

"My father gave it to me and I wore it every day. I lost it shortly after I became queen. My mother found it and gave it back this morning," she smiled and kissed his nose. She adored that he noticed the little things.

"Well isn't that precious," he smiled and she hummed in reply, "and it just goes to prove that nothing is truly lost until your mother can't find it," he teased and she laughed a pleasant melody as she bumped her nose against his.

"Indeed," she laughed and he kissed her again, quick and chaste as they laughed with one another and then heard the approaching voice of Henry paired with the footsteps of Cora.

"Oh and there was this one time my dad and I were sword fighting and he was winning but then I did this super cool move my mom showed me where you kind of like spin around and jump to the side sort of and then knock the sword out of their hand and it totally worked and I won!"

"Oh I imagine the look on his face was absolutely priceless."

"You have no idea!"

Regina laughed softly at the sound of Neal's voice and David hummed with a pride filled smile at the way Henry talked about him with such enthusiasm. She kissed him then, soft and sweet and pulled away with a smile just as Henry came bouncing in to the office with Cora and Neal in tow.

"Hey, mom! Is it true that Neal's coming over for dinner on Thursday?!"

"It is," she smiled as she stood up from David's lap, her fingers trailing through his hair one more time before falling to her side as she stepped closer to them, "unless of course you are unable. Then I can move it to a different evening?"

"Oh no Thursday works just fine. I just wanted to hear it straight from your mouth in case it was all some big trick. It's not everyday you get invited by the queen or mayor's home for dinner," he smiled as he stopped a couple steps from her and Henry perched himself on David's lap with a grin, "unless my estranged father is invited? Then I must apologize for my schedule has just inexplicably filled up."

"No," Regina laughed with a shake of her head, "he is not exactly the dinner party type."

"That he is not," Neal breathed out and shook his head, "should we bring anything? Dress code?"

"No you needn't bring anything," Regina smiled and then shrugged, "as for dress code you don't need to wear anything ridiculous. Jeans and a nice shirt will be just fine. Also Emma will be joining us as it is her favourite meal. Just so you aren't blindsided as I know you two have a past."

"Oh Emma's nothing I can't cope with," he assured happily and wondered exactly how this woman had been feared in the past, "I suppose I'll see you on Thursday. Big white house with the pillars?"

"That's the one."

"Perfect. See you then!"

Regina nodded in farewell and just as he left Emma came out of her office with a scowl and plopped herself on David's desk which had Regina laughing, "get over it."

"I don't want to."

"I'll make your favourite."

"...the spaghetti with the big pull apart garlic bread?"

"Mhm."

"...fine."

"Good. Now that that's settled, what do we want for dinner tonight and who is coming?" She smiled and everyone laughed quietly as they thought. She loved cooking for her people. Not everyone. Just her people. She loved seeing them happy and fed while they laughed and talked across her dining room table. The only part she didn't care for was the clean up but David always helped her with that anyway so it wasn't all that terrible. It was a shame really that Thursday night was going to take a rather unpleasant turn.