A/N: picking right up where we left off and let's find out what happened to Dani …

"What was that for?" Emma asked, her voice hoarse.

"That," Regina said, standing from the couch and heading towards the kitchen, "was my way of telling you exactly how I feel."

Emma flopped back against the cushions and closed her eyes. Had that really just happened? Had Regina Mills, one of the sexiest, richest, and most powerful women Emma had ever laid eyes on just kissed her? Emma's lips still burned from the brief contact and she could feel the heat already coiling between her thighs. Squeezing them together, she tried to regain control of herself. Just because Regina had kissed Emma, didn't mean anything more would happen between them; that night or ever. Especially since Emma had just admitted that she used to sleep with random strangers for money. She doubted Regina Mills regularly invited ex-hookers into her bed.

The couch dipped beside her and Emma opened her eyes to see Regina had sat back down, much closer than before, and with two full wine glasses in her hands. Regina handed Emma one and smiled reassuringly.

"Yes, that did just happen," she joked. "And yes, I do want it to happen again."

Emma's heart fluttered. So Regina wanted her. At least, wanted to explore what was possible between them. Whatever this was, it wasn't as one-sided as Emma had feared.

"We have to take this slow," Emma said after sipping her refilled drink. "I'm not … relationships and me … can you be prepared to be patient?"

Regina smiled softly. "Only if you'll be patient with me," she replied. "I don't have the best track records with relationships either."

Emma nodded her understanding. Questions raced through her mind and they must have registered on her face as Regina nodded her consent. Emma pondered for a moment as she considered which one to ask first.

"Your wife," she said eventually. "What happened?"

Regina set her wine glass on the table and curled her legs under her body on the couch. She looked smaller, softer, and her eyes grew immediately sad.

"She died."

"I'm so sorry," Emma said at once. "Regina, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I didn't mean -,"

"It's ok," Regina assured the concerned blonde. "You were going to have to find out about her sooner or later. And it's been over four years. I'm … starting to move forwards. Talking about her is still difficult but it's getting better. Please, ask whatever you need. I'll tell you if this is getting too much."

Regina didn't talk about Dani often. Most people in her life knew what had happened and didn't need to be told nor talk about that painful time. The few people who hadn't known her four years ago were mostly kept at arms length. But not Emma. Emma, somehow, had burst through Regina's defences and was now sat on her couch, waiting to hear about Regina's greatest personal tragedy.

"What happened to her?" Emma asked.

It was a simple question but as good of a place as any to start.

"She had a congenital heart condition," Regina said. "When she was a baby she'd had surgery to correct a faulty valve. Everything was fine. She lived life like a normal, healthy woman and then one day, the valve just stopped working. By the time we got to hospital, it was too late."

"I'm sorry," Emma said. "I can't imagine how hard that was for you."

"Henry was seven weeks old," Regina continued. "He'll never know his other mother. Dani was the one who had wanted us to have a child. It had taken her a while to convince me. We were both still young, my career was just starting out and I thought a baby would be a distraction. She was going to be a stay at home mom, to allow me to keep working. And then, less than two months after we got Henry, she was just … gone."

Emma didn't say anything. She didn't think there was anything she could have said which would have expressed quite what she was feeling in that moment. Instead, she simply reached for Regina's hand, grasping it tightly in her own.

"Henry kept me grounded," Regina went on. "I had to focus on him. I had to move forward with our lives. I took some time off work, cared for him just as Dani was going to. When he turned one I found Zelena, our childminder, and started going back into the office two days a week. It got easier once Henry started nursery too and now I'm back to my sixty hour weeks. He deserves me to be around more but I love my work and I have to provide for him."

Emma glanced around the penthouse. Henry's life might have started with a tragedy but it was quite clear the boy wanted for nothing.

"You're an amazing mom," Emma said. "I'm sure Dani would have been very proud of how you've raised him. He's a wonderful testament to you."

"Thank you," Regina said. "He's a fantastic little boy."

"Does he know about Dani?"

"Yes," Regina nodded. "There have always been photos of her in the house and I wanted him to be told about his other mom as early as possible. He doesn't know or understand much but he knows she died. When he's old enough to ask questions, I won't lie to him."

"Who carried Henry?" Emma asked.

"What?" Regina frowned.

"I mean, who gave birth to him?"

"Oh, Henry's adopted," Regina said. "We got him when he was just three days old. He was so tiny, swallowed up by this gigantic blue blanket. We considered using sperm donors but decided in the end that it didn't matter to either of us if the child wasn't ours biologically and there are so many unwanted babies out there."

Emma swallowed. "Yes, I suppose there are."

"Damn," Regina said. "Sorry, Emma. I wasn't thinking. I mean, you ended up in the foster system, didn't you."

"Yeah," Emma said quietly. "But it's ok. I'm over it."

"I don't know how you can ever quite be over someone not wanting you," Regina said, missing the flash of pain on Emma's features. "That's something I've become aware of with Henry. He grew up knowing he was adopted and Dani and I both wanted to make sure he always knew he was wanted by us, even if his birth parents didn't feel the same."

Emma downed the rest of her wine. Regina winced. She hadn't meant to sound quite so insensitive.

"Sorry," she said again.

"It's fine," Emma assured her. "Some people just aren't supposed to be parents. I'm sure mine, whoever they were, gave me up for good reason and I'm probably better off without them. No one gives away their own child unless they have to."

"Have you tried to track them down?" Regina asked.

"Yeah," Emma said. "But they don't want to know me. Every clue I've ever uncovered has led to dead end after dead end. They've made it impossible for me to find them and I guess that's what they wanted."

"They don't deserve you, Emma," Regina said softly.

"You think they'd be proud?" Emma scoffed. "Of the beggar their daughter became. I tumbled my way through school, got kicked out of so many foster homes I've lost track, landed in prison when I was eighteen and then ended up turning tricks on a street corner just to be able to afford food. I'm pretty sure I don't deserve them."

Regina looked sadly at the woman before her. Emma was slumped back on the couch, looking defeated and utterly lost. It was like her words had finally registered with herself and she was now starting to realise just what her life had become.

"Don't look at me like that," Emma sighed after a while.

"Like what?"

"Like you pity me," Emma said. "If you want us to … I don't know, date? Or at least get to know each other better, you're going to have to stop looking at me like I'm someone you feel sorry for. I don't want to be that person with you, Regina. Can't you just see me for me? Emma. Nothing more, nothing less."

"I think I can do that," Regina said with a smile, leaning towards the blonde.

Emma smiled her thanks just before plump lips pressed against her own. The kiss was still tender, still restrained, but there was something more to it this time. There was promise, and anticipation at what was to come. Emma's hands threaded through Regina's soft hair, pulling the brunette towards her slightly. Regina's own hands landed on Emma's thighs, feeling the heat of the blonde's body radiate even through her jeans.

"So, you want to date me?" Regina asked when she pulled back.

Emma laughed. "I'd love to date you," she said. "The real question is, do you want to date me?"

Regina kissed Emma again. It was short and sweet but told the blonde all she needed to know.

"Yes, Emma," she said. "I would very much like to date you. In fact, would you like to go out on an actual date with me next week?"

"Didn't I already ask you out for dinner?" Emma said, quirking her eyebrow. Trust Regina Mills to try and outdo the blonde.

"Yes but that was before you got all your money stolen," Regina reminded her. Oh yeah, Emma thought. She had a point. "Please, let me take you out. You can return the favour when you get a job, ok?"

"If I get a job," Emma huffed. "It's not easy to find work when you have a criminal record. That's why I didn't tell Granny about my conviction."

"Do you have a parole officer here?" Regina asked. "Can't they get interviews for you with employers who work with programs?"

"I kinda … skipped out on my last one in Tallahassee. Dropped off the grid and they're yet to catch up with me. As and when they do, I'm sure there'll be hell to pay though."

"Would you permit me to make a call on your behalf?" Regina asked, not wanting to overstep into an area she knew Emma was sensitive about. Of course, the blonde looked immediately suspicious and regarded Regina for a moment before answering with a question of her own.

"What kind of call?"

"I may be a corporate lawyer but I know several people who work in the criminal sector. I should be able to find someone who'll go easy on you so that when you do resurface, you'll not be given such a hard time. If you want to get your life back on track, you're going to have to poke your head above the parapet sooner or later, right?"

"I know," Emma nodded. "I just wish it could be later."

Regina smiled. "So you'll let me?"

"On one condition."

"And what's that?" Regina asked, her eyes twinkling at the teasing tone of the blonde.

Emma didn't answer, she just leaned towards Regina and kissed her, their lips finally parting and their tongues meeting for the first time. Regina moaned involuntarily, her arms encircling Emma and pulling her closer to her. She allowed Emma to dominate at first, revelling in the way the blonde's pointed tongue explored her own mouth. Soon however, she wanted her turn. She nipped at Emma's lower lip and smirked into the kiss as the blonde's tongue retreated, followed at once by her own. Wine lingered in both their mouths, making the kiss spicy and intoxicatingly addictive.

When they eventually broke apart, Emma was lying on her back with Regina pressed hotly against her front. Emma reached up and tucked a stray tendril of dark hair behind a pinked ear. Regina smiled back down at the blonde, her lips swollen from their passionate exchange.

"I think I can agree to that condition," Regina mused.

"Good," Emma chuckled, craning her neck to plant a chaste kiss on Regina's lips.

It didn't remain chaste for long.

Emma sat on a bar stool, swinging her legs and staring at the little sliver of metal. Regina had all but thrown it into her hand that morning before she has disappeared out of the door with Henry. It was just a key. But to Emma, it symbolised so much more. It was trust, it was the anticipation that Emma would be there when Regina returned from work. And it was also a hint that at some point, Emma should probably leave the penthouse.

It was after lunch and Emma had somehow wiled away the morning exploring Regina's apartment (ok, snooping), tidying and cleaning the guest room she was staying in, and watching television. She knew she should be out looking for work. But she also knew that until she met with a new parole officer, any job she applied for wouldn't accept her once they knew about her past.

Regina had suggested Emma go back to Granny's and beg for her old job. Well, not beg, but ask. Emma had refused. She knew Granny would never hire her again and she also didn't know if she wanted to work there now. The older woman had been hardly understanding or sympathetic to Emma's situation. In fact, she was the reason Emma had ended up back in that tunnel, leaving her vulnerable and exposed to the likes of Killian. Not that Emma could really blame her for that. Her previous poor decisions had ultimately led to that night.

But Emma still wasn't going to go back to the diner. She had considered getting a job at another restaurant however. With experience and a reference from Ruby (Regina had shown her the email the previous night), she thought she might stand a chance. But Emma didn't want to be a waitress or a bus-girl all her life. She knew her stint in prison had cut short her dreams of becoming a journalist but she hoped it wouldn't limit her to the service industry forever.

Regina had told her to use her laptop to look for work and now, after hours of procrastinating, Emma pulled it towards her. Opening the lid, she couldn't help but beam at the two smiling faces which greeted her. Regina and Henry were lying on their backs on soft green grass. Dappled sunlight scattered around them with white blossom petals littering the ground. They were both laughing into the camera lens. Emma thought it looked perfect.

Somewhat reluctantly, she opened an internet browser. And then her fingers froze, lying static over the little black keys. She didn't even know where to begin. A google search for 'ex-convict work in New York City' was hardly going to yield the desired results. She closed the lid, lay it on the couch beside her, and groaned quietly.

She knew she had been lucky to have Ruby lobbying for her when it came to finding work at Granny's. She also knew that without a similar ally, finding a replacement job was going to be difficult. But she had promised herself and Regina that she would try, so she forced herself to get up, pulled on one of Regina's coats, and headed out.

It was still raining. Emma had hated it when it snowed but rain was possibly worse. At least she wasn't in the tunnel where the water ran in and pooled in cold, muddy puddles for weeks on end. The streets were grey and unwelcoming, almost empty except for a few hunched figures hurrying between destinations. Regina's coat was thick and warm and Emma pulled it close, inhaling the smell of the other woman as she set off down the road.

Henry's sobs were muffled by Regina's thighs as he pushed his face into his mother's lap, seeking comfort. She stroked the back of his head gently, trying to continue her conversation with Zelena when all she really wanted to do was go home and hug Henry. And Emma.

"I've spoken to Nick's father," Zelena was saying. "But I don't know what else I can do. You know what little children are like. I'm sure this is just a phase that will pass."

"It's a bullying phase," Regina frowned. "They might be four but it's still bullying."

"I know," Zelena nodded. "And I'm so sorry I wasn't able stop Nick in time. He's … speedy."

Regina looked back down at Henry. His sobs were still loud and his hands fisted in her skirt. She could feel him trembling.

"Maybe it would be a good idea for them to have some space from each other for a while," Regina suggested. "I coincidentally have someone staying with me at the moment and I'm sure she could look after him."

"You're pulling Henry from day care?"

"Temporarily," Regina nodded. "I know both Nick and Ava come here so it's not fair on his sister or father to ask Nick not to come, even if he is the problem. But I want Henry to return here. I think it's good for him to interact with the other kids and learn to get along with everyone. But maybe these two boys need a break."

"If that's what you think is best," Zelena nodded. "But just so you know, I'm really sorry this all happened and I really hope that Henry will be back here in the future."

"I'm sure he will be," Regina assured her. "He used to love coming here."

She coaxed Henry upwards and he threw his arms around her neck. She stood with difficulty, Henry's legs clinging to her waist like a little koala. Zelena followed the two of them out to the town car and passed Regina her handbag and Henry's school things.

"I'll call you in a couple of weeks," Regina said through the open window.

"Ok," Zelena said, compassion and understanding on her face. "Bye Henry. I hope your finger feels better soon."

Regina frowned when she stepped into the dark apartment. Henry had stopped crying but still held tightly to her hand. She flicked on the hallway light and moved inside.

"Emma?"

She knew there was going to be no reply even before she had called out. There was a feeling of unease as the brunette headed for the kitchen to get Henry a glass of milk before bed. Emma wouldn't have left, would she? Not after last night. The two women hadn't gone any further than making out like teenagers on the couch but Regina had felt far more connected to the blonde than she had to anyone in a long time. Emma wasn't going to walk away from whatever was starting between them, was she?

"Where's Emma?" Henry asked from the doorway.

"I think she went out to look for a new job," Regina replied, recalling their conversation from the night before and making a mental note to buy Emma a cell phone so she would be contactable.

"Ok," Henry said. "Can we read Curious George tonight?"

"After your bath, yes," Regina nodded as she returned the milk to the fridge.

"But I can't have a bath," Henry replied.

"Oh?" Regina asked, screwing the lid onto Henry's sip cup and turning around. "And why's that?"

"My finger."

Henry held up his little finger on his right hand, the skin still red and dented slightly from when Nick's teeth had sunk into the skin. Regina crouched down in front of her son and took his hand gently in hers. She pretended to inspect the injury carefully before schooling her face into her most serious look.

"I think, Master Henry, that you finger is absolutely fine for a bath."

"No, it hurts," Henry pouted.

Regina tried hard not to laugh. Her son was, after all, in pain. But he was also excellent at making up excuses for avoiding bath time.

"Well the skin isn't broken so I don't think water is going to make it hurt more. And if you're going to stay here with Emma tomorrow you don't want to be all stinky do you?"

Henry thought about this carefully. "Ok," he conceded. "But can we read two Curious George books?"

"Deal."

Henry had already been asleep for an hour when Emma eventually walked through the door. She was drenched, having been wandering the streets all day. With no success, as she had anticipated.

"Hi," Regina called from the living room when she heard the front door click shut.

Seconds later, Emma appeared in front of her, blonde hair hanging in wet tendrils around her shoulders.

"Shit, Emma! You'll catch your death," Regina said, jumping up and rushing towards the blonde.

"I've been colder," Emma said, her teeth chattering despite what she was saying.

"Go and have a hot shower and then come back here. I've got some leftover stew and baked potatoes in the oven for you. Shall I plate some up?"

"Please," Emma nodded, realising just then that she was starving. She hadn't eaten all day, having left the house without any money. And not having any money in the house to return for.

When Emma emerged, a towel turban on her head and her pyjamas already donned, Regina was just spooning a rich looking brown stew onto a plate.

"Beef," she said as she handed it over. "Would you like some wine?"

"Careful," Emma joked. "You keep treating me like this and I might never leave."

Regina forced herself to laugh but her stomach did a little flip at the thought of Emma never leaving her home. With both of their wine glasses full, they headed into the living room. Once they were settled on the couch and Emma had begun to eat, Regina asked her about her day.

"About as successful as you'd expect," Emma shrugged. "I left my name and your number in a few places but I doubt I'll here anything."

"Well that might not be such a bad thing, for now at least," Regina said.

"What do you mean?" Emma frowned.

"A kid bit Henry at the childminder's today," Regina explained. "He's fine," she added at the panicked look on Emma's face, "but I don't really want him going back there for a while. Something is going on between him and this kid and I think a couple of weeks away from each other would be good. So I was going to ask if you'd be free to take him."

"You … want me to babysit your kid?" Emma asked.

"Yes," Regina nodded. "You'd drop him off at nursery in the morning, pick him up after lunch and then look after him until I get home in the evenings."

"And you want me to cook him dinner?" Emma asked sceptically. The penthouse still smelt faintly of smoke.

"I'm sure even you can't mess up pasta," Regina teased. "And I have several frozen sauces and other dishes you could defrost for the two of you."

"What does Henry think?"

"He's already planning what you two are going to do tomorrow afternoon," Regina said.

The little boy's face had lit up when Regina had suggested her plan to him. Henry had expected to go back to Zelena's the next day and have to see Nick but when presented with the option, he had finally stopped crying.

"I pay Zelena three hundred dollars per week," Regina continued. "But if you drop Henry at nursery in the mornings, I'll throw in an extra fifty."

"Three hundred and fifty bucks per week?" Emma exclaimed. "Regina, no. I can't allow you to pay me."

"I'd just be paying someone else if it wasn't you," Regina reasoned. "And I'd really, really like it if it was you. I trust you with Henry and that isn't something I say to many people."

Emma looked at the woman before her. Regina looked more stubborn than Emma had ever seen her and she couldn't help the small smile that spread across her face at the sight. Regina wanted Emma to look after Henry. Regina trusted Emma to look after the most important person in her life.

"I have conditions," Emma said.

"Good," Regina said, already leaning towards the blonde. "I love your conditions."

Emma rolled her eyes at the innuendo. "No, not that. My conditions are that you allow me to contribute to the weekly shop if I'm going to be staying here and eating your food. And you have to let me take you out for our first date. Your argument that I have no money is now invalid so I'm reasserting my role as the date-planner."

"Is that all?" Regina asked.

"Well," Emma said, cocking her head to one side. "There might be one more condition."

The blonde let out a little 'ompf' as Regina landed on her lap, legs straddling her hips as their mouths met for the first time that day.