A/N: just before I get any comments, I have seven tattoos.

"And then Emma showed me how to braid Ruby's hair with five different bits," Henry continued. "But I kept dropping them and forgetting which one went next so she finished. And then she had to go and do some work but when she came back she helped me to do my jigsaw. Emma's really good at jigsaws. She helped me finish the edges and then she showed me her tattoo."

"Excuse me?" Regina asked, frowning at her son.

"Emma has a flower tattoo on her arm," Henry said. "It's really pretty. Can you get one?"

"Um, no," Regina said, turning back to the pasta sauce she was cooking.

"Why not?"

"Because corporate lawyers don't tend to have tattoos."

"Why not?"

Regina pondered the question. She supposed she didn't know what most of her colleagues had under their expensive suits. Well, she might know a few of them were ink-less for sure. But even those she hadn't seen naked she would be prepared to bet a week's salary that they did not have anything scratched onto their skin. Despite the increasing popularity of tattoos, the stigma still remained.

"It's just not something we do."

"Oh," Henry said, looking confused for a moment. "Ok."

Accepting her explanation, he returned to his drawing and left Regina to her thoughts. Henry had talked non-stop about the young blonde woman ever since they had left the diner over an hour before. He was clearly smitten with her but Regina couldn't quite work out why. From what she had heard, Emma only spent a few minutes with her son in between bussing tables and yet Henry was talking as if they had been lifelong friends.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Henry asked, gathering up his pencils as Regina began to strain the pasta.

"Grandma's coming over," Regina said.

"Ok," Henry said simply.

Compared to Henry and Emma's clearly blossoming relationship, he and his grandmother got on far less well. Regina hoped it wasn't because of her. She wanted Cora and Henry to have a good relationship but feared that the constant tension and regular arguments which accompanied any visit would make that very difficult. Cora just wasn't a 'kids' person. She certainly had never wanted her own. Regina had been an accident and had been told as much for as long as she could remember. Regina's relationship with her mother had been bad all her life. She regularly thought that she must be some sort of sadist to have voluntarily joined her mother's law firm.

"Can I have parmesan, please?" Henry said as Regina placed his pasta in front of him, jolting her out of her musings and focusing her once more on the small boy swinging his legs back and forth in his chair and smiling up at her.

"Of course," Regina said, proud that her son was already developing a sophisticated palate.

Emma sat in silence, her back resting against the cold wall of the tunnel. Snow was falling again outside but that wasn't what was making her shiver. August sat beside her, waiting for Emma to speak.

"Chicago?" she said at last.

"Yeah," August nodded.

"When?"

"Next week."

Emma turned to her friend, green eyes shining with tears through the darkness. August's bright blue orbs glistened too. It had taken him a long time to work up the courage to tell Emma that he had been offered a job almost eight hundred miles away and now that he had, he knew their friendship would never be the same again.

"You're … you're going?" The words caught in her throat.

August swallowed. "I have to."

Emma's chin dropped to her chest. She could feel the tears burning her eyes, threatening to spill over and she knew she was powerless to stop them. Her breathing became shallow. Short, painful gasps as the familiar feeling washed over her. August was leaving. He was leaving her. After just a few short months, he had had enough and he wanted to move on from her. Just like everyone else she had ever met. She was going to be alone. Again.

"Emma, please," came August's voice, choked with his own emotions. "I'm so sorry. I don't want to leave you."

"Then why are you?" Emma spat out, her words intended to be angry but the wracking sob that followed just made them sad.

"Because it's the first job I've been offered in two years," August reasoned, reaching out and feeling for Emma's thin hand in the darkness. When their fingers touched, Emma pulled back, wrapping her blanket more firmly around her and shuffling further down the tunnel.

"Why isn't it in New York?" Emma asked.

"There are no jobs here in his company," August replied. "The only available positions are in Chicago or Texas. I had to make a choice."

"And you chose to leave me?" Emma asked, her voice suddenly weak.

"I chose me," August said. "I chose to focus on getting my life back on track. This job, Em, it could be great for me. It will give me purpose, give me something to focus on. It could be the key to me combatting this PTSD shit."

"But you won't be here," Emma whispered.

"No," August said quietly.

There was a long silence, Emma's sniffling the only sound in the tunnel. It was late. Neither knew what time it was but the blonde was sure her eyes were going to be red at work the next morning, both from tiredness and crying.

"When do you leave?"

"Monday."

"Two days?" Emma said, anger rising inside her. "How long have you known?"

August bit his lip. He knew she was going to be pissed when she found out he was keeping a secret from her. Emma hated secrets.

"Since Tuesday."

Emma didn't reply. She simply turned and lay down on her side, her back firmly to the man who had slept beside her almost every night for the past five months. The man who had kept her safe and warm during those cold, dark New York nights. The man whom she had started to believe would always be there for her. The man who she believed she could trust. The tears ran down her cheeks and soaked into her sleeping bag. She didn't say anything more. Eventually, she felt August's hand on her shoulder. Previously, it had been a safe, reassuring pressure but now it felt like lead, pressing almost unbearably on her body and squashing her into the hard tunnel floor. She wriggled away. August lifted his hand, sighed, and a few moments later she heard him rustling around as he settled down for what was left of the night.

Henry's sobs made her heart clench. She pried his fingers from the nape of her neck and gently pulled away. Wiping his damp, red cheeks, she tilted his chin up and smiled softly.

"Henry," she said quietly. "I'll see you tonight, as I always do. Ok?"

"I … I don't want," he hiccupped. "I don't want to go." He threw himself back into his mother's arms, crying into her neck

"To nursery?" Regina asked, frowning up at his teacher who was stood beside her.

"To Lena's," came the mumbled reply.

"Why not?" Regina said. She had picked Henry up from the childminder's the night before and Henry hadn't said anything at all about not wanting to go back.

"Nick."

"Nick what?"

"He pinched me."

Regina sighed and pulled Henry from her body again. His tear-stained face broke her heart again but she forced herself to smile.

"Henry, Zelena sorted that out, don't you remember? Nick said sorry for hurting you yesterday and said it wouldn't happen again."

"I don't want to go," Henry repeated.

Regina sighed and stood up. Henry's arms wrapped around her legs, his face buried between them and her skirt soaking up his tears. She pulled out her phone and quickly dialled her best friend. She didn't like to give in when Henry made a fuss but she was about to be late for work and opted for the easy solution.

Emma cursed quietly as she dropped the pan, the metal clanging noisily against the cupboard. She bent down to pick it up, rinsing it quickly before replacing it on the shelf. Turning back to the dishwasher, she opened the top and slid the tray out. Even the sight of pristine, steaming porcelain which usually gave her a strange sense of satisfaction didn't lighten Emma's mode. She stacked them quickly, not caring if she chipped them as they clanked together, and heaved them off the counter. Just as she was depositing them in their rightful home, Ruby walked in.

"You ok?" she asked as soon as she saw Emma.

It was already after lunch but the blonde looked like she had just dragged herself out of bed. Her eyes were puffy and red, her skin even paler than usual, and her hair was twisted into a messy bun. Even for someone who lived on the streets, she looked bad. Ruby hadn't seen Emma since Monday afternoon when she had left at the end of her shift. Thinking back, the brunette realised their new worker had seemed more subdued than usual but she had presumed that was because the snow still hadn't stopped falling and she wasn't relishing the thought of the night spent outside.

"I'm fine," Emma said shortly, not looking up.

"Really? Because you look like shit."

Subtlety had never been one of Ruby's strong suits but she also didn't think now was the time to sugar coat it.

"I didn't get much sleep last night," Emma said, her back still to the brunette.

"Why not?"

Emma leaned her palms on the counter edge and sighed. Ruby saw her shoulders sag in exhaustion.

"Ever slept in a tunnel in freezing conditions?"

"No."

Emma didn't say anything more. She figured that would be enough for the brunette to leave her alone. She jumped in surprise therefore when a gentle hand landed on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned her head and looked into the concerned brown eyes beside her.

"Emma, do you … need a place to stay?"

"No. Thanks," Emma said. She didn't need charity. She'd get enough money for a place soon enough.

"What about a shelter? Is there one nearby which might have a bed?"

Emma gave a dark chuckle. "Ever spent a night in a homeless shelter?" Ruby shook her head. "Yeah, they're not the best. You have to watch your back in those places more than you do on the streets."

"So you're just … alone?"

Ruby had never asked about where Emma went every afternoon when her shift ended. She thought it was too personal considering the short length of time they'd known each other. As she spoke however, she saw pain flicker across Emma's face and the blonde quickly turned away, a hand raising to wipe away the tears which threatened to fall.

"Emma?"

The young woman walked quickly away from Ruby, heading out towards the diner. A hand closed around her wrist before she could leave however. She stopped, her gaze fixed on the floor as Ruby walked around to stand in front of her. Ruby waited, knowing she couldn't push. Eventually, sad green eyes rose to meet her own.

"My friend left on Monday," Emma said. "He … we were kinda a team, out there, together. We looked out for each other. But then he got a job in Chicago and he's left me."

"I'm sorry," Ruby offered, knowing there was no way for her to even start to understand how Emma felt when she was alone on the streets. She got freaked out herself whenever there was a storm and Dot wasn't there for her to cuddle up with.

"I can't sleep," Emma went on, unable to stop now she had finally opened up to someone. She hadn't spoken about her life on the street to anyone aside from fellow homeless people. "Without August there to protect me, I can't sleep. Every time I drift off I jolt awake, convinced that the sound of a rat or footsteps above me are someone coming to …." She trailed off. Ruby didn't need her to complete that sentence.

"Footsteps above you?" Ruby said. "Where do you sleep?"

"A tunnel," Emma replied. "At least, that's where August and I have been sleeping for a few months."

"A tunnel?" Ruby repeated.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Emma said, not sure whether she was trying to convince herself or Ruby. "It's warmer than most places and we're rarely disturbed. Not many people come into Central Park at night."

"Yeah, for good reason," Ruby said. The park was not safe once night fell; everyone knew that. "Emma, please. Let me help you. I have a couch upstairs you can crash on until you have enough money for -,"

"No," Emma interrupted. "I'm not a charity case."

"No, you're not," Ruby agreed. "But you can't carry on like this. Two days without sleep and you look like a zombie. You're not going to be able to do your job properly if you don't get some rest and then Granny will have to let you go." Emma's eyes widened in alarm. "But," Ruby continued, "if you move in upstairs then at least you'll be able to get some rest every day and have a proper shower."

Emma blushed. She wondered whether Ruby knew she had taken to washing as best she could in the diner toilets before her shifts started.

"Emma, please, let me help you."

"I don't need your help," Emma bristled.

"Don't you?" Ruby said. "Look, you're a fantastic worker and a lovely person but you have to admit that you're not doing too great right now. I'm offering you a place on my couch. It's nothing special. In fact, it's not even long enough for you to stretch out. But it's warm and safe and you'll be with someone who cares about you."

Her heart thudded at what Ruby said but she still wrinkled her nose. She didn't want to accept. She really didn't want to be the homeless bum who ended up on her employer's couch. But she could also tell Ruby wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Can I pay you?" Emma asked. At least that was she wouldn't feel quite so pathetic.

"How are you going to save up for a place of your own if you're paying me?" Ruby replied.

"I'm used to living on a shoestring," Emma shrugged.

"Five bucks a day," Ruby said. "And you have to cook for me once a week."

Emma laughed. "Trust me, you don't want that."

"You can't be as bad as Dot. She gave me food poisoning for our one year anniversary when she cooked us chicken pie. I still don't quite know how she managed it considering she followed a recipe."

Emma smiled. "Are you sure?"

"I insist on it," Ruby said. "Go and get your stuff now and you can move in today."

"I've still got half an hour of my shift left," Emma said, glancing at the clock.

"Granny's out with our accountant," Ruby said. "I'll cover you on one condition."

"What?"

"Henry's out in the diner. I just went to pick him up from nursery because he didn't want to go to his childminder's. Reckon you could entertain him this afternoon? I usually just sit him down with some paper and pencils but he gets bored and I feel bad."

"Sure," Emma nodded.

"Great, see you in a bit, roomie."

Emma smiled at the term before ducking into the staff room to grab her sweater and newly acquired coat and heading for the door.

"No, they declared bankruptcy already," Regina said, tapping her pen against her desk. "That is merely a formality at this point."

"And they're asking how much?" came the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Twelve million for everything," Regina replied. "That includes all off-shore assets and any remaining funds."

"Which amounts to what?"

"They have a few hundred thousand from a last minute deal," Regina said, scanning the documents on the computer. "But the factory in Myanmar is worth several million and is still in production. And I believe they have a plot of undeveloped land which has attracted seven figure offers in India."

"Go back to them with ten million and let me know what they say."

"I will try," Regina said. "But don't expect a reply today. It's already after five and I doubt there's anyone left at the office."

"Tomorrow then."

"Of course. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."

Regina hung up and leaned back in her chair. She smiled at how quickly she was going to complete the deal before realising with a jolt that she was due to pick up Henry is less than ten minutes. Jumping up from her chair, she stuffed her cell and diary into her handbag and headed for the door. Shouting instructions to a harried looking Mary Margaret as she passed, Regina dashed towards the elevators and pummelled the 'down' button.

Amazingly, it only took Graham half an hour to expertly negotiate the New York rush hour traffic and Regina leapt from the car just before six and headed into the busy diner. Henry waved at her as soon as she entered. He had obviously been looking out for his mother. Regina was surprised to realise that beside her son sat Emma. Again.

"Good evening," she said, bending down and placing a kiss on the top of Henry's head. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's ok," Henry said. "Emma made me dinner because I was hungry."

Regina raised an eyebrow and looked at the blonde.

"Sorry," Emma said. "Ruby told me it would be ok. I just put together a sandwich for him. Ham and cheese. With lettuce."

"Which she made me eat," Henry said with a scowl.

"Lettuce is good for you," Emma said, turning her attention to the boy and secretly grateful she had an excuse to look away from the piercing brown eyes of his mother. "If you want to be strong when you grow up you need to eat lots of vegetables, remember?"

"Where's Ruby?" Regina asked, interrupting the nutrition lesson this almost perfect stranger was giving her son.

"She's out the back," Emma said. "There was a mix up with a delivery and she's arguing about whether or not we have to accept twelve dozen bottles of olive oil as opposed to just twelve. Apparently there's a storage issue."

Regina looked towards the back corridor and then slid into the seat opposite her son. And Emma. There was a moment of awkward silence before Emma cleared her throat.

"I'd better get going. Ruby asked me to watch Henry but since you're here now," she made to stand up before realising she couldn't move because Henry was sat in the way.

"Henry, can you let Emma past please."

Emma felt her gut twist as she heard her name said in that deep, sultry voice. She didn't even register the fact that Henry had obeyed and that she was now free to move. She just sat there, staring at the lips from which her name had tumbled.

"Emma?"

It happened again. Her heart beat quickened.

"Sorry," the blonde said, jumping to her feet and knocking her thighs painfully against the table edge. She didn't react. Instead, she slid from the booth and made to leave.

"Thank you," Regina called after her.

"For what?" Emma asked, turning back.

"For looking after Henry and for feeding him. I got trapped at work … again, and I'm glad he was spending time with someone who was paying him attention. He spends far too much time here waiting for me and I know Ruby has work to do."

"It's ok," Emma said. "He's a great kid."

"Yes, he is," Regina nodded, reaching down and ruffling Henry's hair. The boy had already resumed his seat in the booth and wasn't paying either woman any attention. He had pulled Regina's iPhone from her back, unlocked it, and opened a game app.

Emma paused, not sure quite what to say. She watched as Regina smiled fondly down at Henry and wondered whether anyone had ever looked at her with such love in their eyes. She doubted it. Henry might not spend as much time as he'd like with his mother but he was one of the luckiest kids in the world to have the brunette's unconditional love.

"Right, well, I'll see you around," Emma said after a while.

"Yes, thanks again, Emma."

Emma swallowed. "You're welcome -,"

"Regina," the brunette supplied, smiling and showing off perfectly straight, pearly white teeth.

"You're welcome, Regina," Emma said, swirling her tongue around the name. It suited. Regal and elegant. "Bye Henry, see you soon."

"Bye Emma," Henry said, not looking up from the screen where a bright yellow bird was zooming towards a toothy pig.

Emma smiled and finally walked away. She felt something low in the pit of her belly. She knew what was causing it. Those rich chocolate eyes were staring at her as she left. She forced herself not to turn around and eventually reached the back corridor which led towards the apartment entrance. She leaned against the wall and breathed deeply.

This could not happen. Emma closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing heart. It was ridiculous. It was impossible. There was no way a woman like Regina would ever be interested in a street rat like her. And she had a son. She was clearly not gay. Emma mentally shook herself and opened her eyes. She needed to get a grip. Developing a crush on her employer's best friend was possibly the worst thing which could happen to her now August had left and the quickest way to get fired. Which simply meant it wouldn't happen. Emma nodded her head in finality and reached in her pocket to fish out her key to the apartment.