A/N: Sorry, guys. Things have been crazy with divorce and visiting family (finally!). Also, my girlfriend is extremely distracting. And don't act surprised that I have a girlfriend already. I am a lesbian after all :) Enjoy! I will do my best to find more time, especially now that I'm back in town.

Arms wrapped loosely around her knees, Emma sits on the beach in shorts and a beater. She watches the water and fiddles with the sand between her toes as the sun sets over the horizon. Her phone buzzes on the chair behind her. Not taking her eyes off the water, she reaches back and grabs the phone to answer it without looking at the caller id.

"Hello?"

"Emma."

Emma's face pales at Regina's voice. "Um… Can I- Are you- Hi?" Standing up, she wraps an arm around her chest and keeps her eyes on the setting sun.

"How are you?"

"Fine." Emma pulls the phone from her ear, checking the caller id as if she doesn't have every sound that comes from Regina's lips memorized. She sighs and puts the phone to her ear again. "You?"

"I miss you."

With a heavy sigh, Emma drops her hand to her hip. "Okay."

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know, Regina. Whenever it feels right."

"Where are you?"

Emma kicks the sand under her feet. "The beach."

"That sounds nice."

"It is." Emma nods slowly and watches the sun disappear. She grabs her flip flops and heads up the beach to her room sitting at the top of the private beach. "Is there something you needed?"

Regina clears her throat. "I wanted to check on you. I was worried. Henry refused to talk to me about you."

"Finally the kid listens to me."

The line remains silent for a moment. "I understand. Do you need anything?"

"Nope." Emma drops her shoes at the door and plops on the bed. "You?"

"No, I am managing."

"Okay, well, is there anything you need to talk about cause I need to hop in the shower before grabbing dinner?"

"I suppose not. Have a good evening, Miss Swan."

Emma cringes when the line goes silent. "Have a good evening, Miss Swan," Emma mocks. She sits up and rolls her eyes at herself, dropping her phone on the bed. "Can't even enjoy the damn beach," she grumbles as she trudges toward the bathroom, peeling her clothes off as she walks.

In the familiar mayoral mansion on Mifflin Street, Regina stands in her study with her arms wrapped around her torso. She rests her phone on the table and picks up her cider instead. Moving over to the couch, she carefully sits on the sofa with her eyes focused on a picture of Emma and her resting on the mantle.

Her phone chirps with a text and she rushes over to the desk to check the message. Seeing Mary Margaret's name across the screen, she releases a defeated sigh and allows her head to hang slightly as she moves back to reclaim her position on the couch.

Ignoring the text, she drops her phone on the table and crosses her legs. After a long sip of her drink, she closes her eyes and rests her head in her palm. "Emma, please come back to me."

"It's gonna take more than that."

Regina spills her drink when she jumps at the new voice in the room. She turns to see Henry sliding the doors open and entering the room.

"Henry," she breathes out and stands to greet him.

He walks over and hugs her, avoiding the wet spot on her side. "Hi, Mom."

Pointing at her phone, Henry states, "Gram texted you that she had dropped me at the door."

Regina follows Henry finger to the phone. "Perhaps ignoring her text messages is not always wise."

Henry chuckles lightly. "Still avoiding her?"

"She can be exhausting at times."

Henry smiles and hugs her once more before pulling back. He leads her to the couch. After they sit, facing each other, Henry offers a half-smile. "Mom, you need to be patient."

Regina rolls her eyes. "I am being patient. Every day she is over here helping me, and I am perfectly polite and appreciative."

"I meant with Ma."

After holding his gaze for a moment, Regina folds her hands in her lap and sits back against the arm rest. "You do not feel that I am being patient with your mother?"

"Well, you're not. Didn't you just get off the phone with her?"

Regina glances at her phone then up at Henry. "You are not wrong."

Henry scoots closer and puts his hand on top of Regina's. "You need to give her space."

"She's at the beach, Henry. I would say that is space enough."

Henry sighs. "Fine, then time. Space and time."

Stiffening up a bit, Regina responds, "I was simply ensuring that she is well and safe."

Henry pats her hand and scoots back. "Do you want Ma back?"

Regina perks up. "Yes, more than anything."

"Then you have to respect her wishes. Give her some time. You need time as well. There is no way all of your emotions are suddenly back in check."

Clearing her throat quietly, Regina lifts her chin. "What makes you so sure?"

Henry stands up and straightens out his jeans. Leaning down, he kisses Regina on the head and smiles. "Mom, I know you love Ma, and I know that not so long ago you were in love with Ma."

"I am still in love with her."

Henry shakes her head. "I think you want to be in love. Take time to rebuild your feelings, Mom. For all of us. I love you." He turns and leaves Regina in the room by herself.

Looking down at her phone, she quickly wipes a tear from her cheek. "I do love you, Emma Swan," she whispers to the phone as if Emma can still hear her.