Mid-afternoon on the first Saturday of Henry's Spring Break, Emma paces the living room. The TV on mute, her laptop turned on, a book open but lying face down, and her phone twirling in her hand.

"This is stupid," she says as she phones Henry. "Hey, kid. It's Saturday and finally nice outside. I've been here all day. I'm going out."

"Ma, no. You said you would wait."

"Why do I have to wait?"

"My package will be there soon. You have to be there for it."

Emma groans. "So why aren't you here? It's your package."

"Because it's my break, and you're my mother who loves me dearly and would do anything for me. Now stay put."

Emma sticks her lip out in a pout and falls on the couch. "You owe me."

"Don't worry. You'll like my package."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Cause it's for you too."

Emma smiles. "Well that's something at least."

"Okay, I gotta go. Order yourself a pizza or something."

"I don't want a pizza. I want to go outside, but I'm trapped by my evil son."

Henry chuckles. "Bye, Ma. I love you."

"I don't believe you," she responds petulantly as she hangs up. She looks around the room. "This is still stupid."

An hour later, Emma is laying upside down on the couch, a Twizzler hanging out of her mouth, holding her laptop above her head as she watches a show.

A knock sounds at her door.

"Finally," she grumbles as she rolls off the couch setting down her computer but leaving the candy hanging from her lips. As she opens the door, she says, "I was starting to think you weren't coming." Her eyes go wide at the sight before her.

"Were you expecting me, dear?" Regina asks with a suit case at her side.

Emma chucks the candy on the kitchen counter and leans out the door to look down the hallway.

"He's not here, Emma. We got on the elevator, and he jumped out just as it closed."

"Sneaky little boy," Emma narrows her eyes at the thought and finally turns her attention to Regina. "What are you doing here?"

Regina looks about as irritated as possible. "I was planning on asking to come in, but if you insist on the hallway then that's fine."

"Sorry, yes, come in," Emma says as she moves out of the way, holding the door for Regina. "Here, let me take your bag." She takes the suit case from Regina and sets it along the wall.

Regina looks around the apartment.

"Not much, I know," Emma says sheepishly.

"I was going to say it's lovely. I can see why Henry likes it."

"So, uh, when'd you get here?"

Regina gestures to herself still clad in her coat. "Just now."

"Right." Emma shakes her head and takes Regina's coat to hang on the coat tree. "How'd he get you out here?"

Regina moves to the kitchen and takes a seat on a barstool, crossing her legs. She spends very little time actually looking at Emma. "He informed me of his newest operation."

Emma swallows thickly. "How much of that did he inform you?"

"Just that I need to be here for it. He didn't spill any of your secrets if that's your concern."

Emma enters the kitchen and leans on the counter across from Regina. "Nope. No concerns here."

Regina looks at her nails then sighs and looks at Emma finally. "Are we going to simply sit here all day, dear?"

"Go on a date with me."

"What?"

Emma stands up straight, suddenly more confident. "Go on a date with me. We can go get lunch."

"It's too late for lunch."

"Okay, dinner."

"It's too early for dinner, and I'd like to eat with our son."

Emma sighs. "Then linner. Stop making excuses and come out with me."

Regina purses her lips. "Why?"

"Because I want you to."

Regina rolls her eyes. "I'm going to need more than that, dear."

After dropping her head to take a breath, Emma moves quickly around the counter to stand directly in front of Regina. "I know you want to go out with me too."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because you wouldn't be here otherwise. You'd be at some fancy hotel ignoring my ass for as long as possible. You told me to start making decisions, well this is my decision. Come out with me. We'll go right now."

Regina studies Emma's face then nods slightly. "Fine, but I'm not hungry. I know it's hard for you to think much beyond food, but I'm asking that you try to be a bit more creative for this… date."

With a broad smile, Emma puts out her hand to Regina for her to stand.

Regina raises her eyebrow and tries to hide a pleased smirk when Emma kisses her hand before leading her from the apartment.

With her hands behind her back, Regina walks slowly around a statue in the High Museum of Art. Emma smiles watching Regina study the figure before her.

"We can take Henry to the aquarium tomorrow."

Regina stops and looks at Emma. "He's 19 years old."

"And?"

Regina laughs and moves on to the next exhibit. "These are very unique."

Emma moves to stand close to Regina, relieved when she doesn't pull away. "The exhibits rotate. You can find new things every season. We missed the Transforming Fashion segment."

"Hmm, that's a shame. I haven't been to an art museum in a long time."

"Is this better than food?"

Regina smiles at her. "Much." She runs her hand down Emma's arm.

As her phone rings, Emma groans and has to pull away from Regina's touch slightly to retrieve the device. "Swan," she says without looking at the caller ID. "Oh, the devil himself. How are you, kid?"

"Tell him I say hi," Regina whispers.

"Your mom says she's mad at you." Emma laughs when Regina glares at her. "We're at the museum. Hey, do you want to go to the aquarium tomorrow?" Emma smiles and turns to Regina. "I told you so."

Regina rolls her eyes and walks away from Emma, leaving her to speak with Henry.

Emma leans against the wall and watches Regina. "I haven't messed up, kid. I was a little worried in the apartment, but it seems to be going well right now… Yeah, that worries me too," Emma responds with a chuckle. "Meet us for dinner… Oh we are so going to The Vortex. She's gonna shoot us when we eat those heart attack burgers." Emma smiles as she listens to Henry.

Regina looks over her shoulder and gives Emma that same sweet smile which always warms her heart.

"Wait, what? I stopped listening to you… I'm sorry, your mother is very distracting… God, kid, not like that. We're in public… Anyways, yeah meet us there in an hour… I love you too. See you soon." Emma ends the call and quickly moves back to Regina.

Regina turns to her when Emma lightly takes her arm. "Everything okay?"

"Your son and date are starting to starve to death."

Regina raises her eyebrows. "Oh my. That sounds dire."

"Completely. Told him we'd meet him in an hour. That gives us about thirty minutes or so to roam." Emma pulls out the map of exhibits from her back pocket. "Figure out what you really want to see then we'll head out."

Regina takes the map and leads the way.

At the restaurant, Emma and Henry watch as Regina looks over the menu in utter disgust.

"Why are we here?" she asks with contempt.

Henry laughs at her expression and Emma smiles. "It's really good, Mom."

"That is not even feasible, Henry. Some of these foods are named after severe medical conditions."

Emma leans forward. "And they are delicious."

Regina hums her disbelief and slowly drops the menu. "At least they have what appears to be a reasonable salad on the menu. Hopefully the chef can avoid pouring grease into it from your burgers." She turns her attention. "If you were any younger, you know you wouldn't be here, correct?"

"Let the kid live a little," Emma chimes in.

"That's my goal. You may want to take your own advice next time you choose where to dine." She looks around at the unique walls and architecture. "If that's what you can call it."

"It's artistic, Mom," Henry says. "You're in Little Five."

"Little Five what?"

"Little Five Points. It's like an art haven of Atlanta. Cool, huh?"

Regina clears her throat and lays her napkin neatly in her lap. "Sure, dear."

Emma and Henry laugh.

Through the meal, Regina can barely eat with how grossed out she is by Henry and Emma devouring their burgers. By the end, she's shielding her eyes from them with her head down to focus on her salad.

Henry's phone chimes and after reading it, he perks up. "Hey, there's a concert right around the corner, and my friend just got free tickets. Mind if I go?"

Emma and Regina look at each other. Regina nods and Emma shrugs. "Have at it, kid," Emma barely gets out before he bursts out the door. "Looks like it's just us," Emma says finally pushing back from her plate.

"Looks like it," Regina agrees.

"Want to go back to the apartment or hang around?"

"Will Henry be alright by himself?"

"Oh yeah. That kid's resilient. He's got money for a cab if he needs it."

Regina watches her. "You're certain?"

Emma leans forward and lays a hand over Regina's. "Yes, Regina. He will be fine. This is nothing new."

Regina nods slowly. "Alright. Let's return to the apartment. Your date has been lovely so let's try not to let you ruin it."

"Ruin it? How would I ruin it?"

"I'm certain you could find a way," Regina says barely concealing her smirk.

Holding her hand out for Regina to stand, Emma pretends to huff in frustration. "Maybe you'll be the one to ruin it."

"Oh, I hardly think that's a concern."

Emma rolls her eyes and leads Regina from the restaurant.

Back at the apartment, Emma hands Regina a glass of wine as she sits on the couch. "I'm glad you're here. Think the town will survive without you?"

Regina sighs. "Not in the slightest; however, Henry was persistent."

"I hope it's worth it."

Regina turns and looks at Emma. "We'll see. Are you ready to talk?"

Emma is a bit taken aback at the abruptness. "Ready to ruin that good date already?" She tries to joke, but Regina doesn't smile.

"I'd say the date's over. I'd like to talk."

"About?" Regina glares at her harshly causing Emma to grimace and shrink back. "Just kidding. Yeah, sure, let's talk. Let me just get a beer."

"No."

"Why not?" Emma says, half standing from the couch.

"I want you sober. I'm tired of your drunken conversations."

Emma stands up completely and shrugs her off. "It's just a beer, Regina."

"Emma Swan, I am asking you not to drink it." When Emma turns to look at her, she adds, "Please."

Sighing, Emma nods and sits down. "Alright, who starts?"

Regina raises an eyebrow. "Who do you think?"

Emma shifts a bit. "Regina, I've been thinking-"

"That sounds dangerous."

"Regina."

Regina smiles. "Go on, go on."

She clears her throat to begin again. "I've been thinking about us, and I like the idea of an us, and I'm wondering if you like that idea too."

Regina watches the wine swirl around her glass. "I'm not sure."

Emma instantly deflates. "That's really not the answer I was hoping for."

"Well, what do you expect Emma? You expect me to come here after everything you've said to me and how you ignored me for weeks and suddenly just give into your every whim?"

Emma shrugs. "Kind of."

"Then you were wrong. I enjoyed our date, yes, but a date is not a promise or a guarantee. You're going to have to do a lot more than take me to a museum and a god-awful restaurant to convince me you aren't going to turn around and be a jerk at the next sign of trouble." Regina sets her glass down and stands up.

"Where are you going?"

"To your room. The couch looks plenty comfortable for you. Please send Henry in to say good night when he arrives."

Emma stands up and stops Regina from moving past her. "Wait, that's it? I say one thing that displeases you and you're shutting me out for the night?"

"You've said a lot more than one thing that displeases me over the last month. I came here for Henry and in hopes that you would be ready to work on our issue. Instead, you thought you could wash it over with a cute date and a pathetic attempt at an apology, if that's even what you can call it."

Regina's eyes go wide as Emma lips are suddenly on hers. Briefly stunned, she just stands there, then anger sets in her eyes and she shoves Emma back, hard.

Emma stumbles and confusion covers her face.

"How dare you," Regina hisses. "How dare you kiss me right now? What part of that made you think it was okay to kiss me? Did you really think you could just wash away my hurt and my anger like that? Is that really how you want to remember our first kiss?"

Emma stammers but can't form any words.

Regina shoves past her to pick up her suitcase. Emma grabs her arm to stop her. "Get your hand off of me, Miss Swan." Emma quickly recoils at the fury in Regina's voice.

"I- I'm sorry, Regina. It was foolish. I just… I'm sorry."

At Emma's bedroom door, Regina doesn't bother turning around. "You're going to have to do a lot better than that, Miss Swan."

Emma flinches when the door slams shut. All she can do is stare at the door. She closes her eyes tight when she hears Regina fail to conceal a sob.