A/N: You're in luck! The internet was down at work this morning so I had very little to do except type for you lovely people so I could upload as soon as I got home (back to civilisation!)

"What?"

"Don't get mad," Regina repeated, reaching for Emma's hands.

"I'm not mad," Emma said, pulling her hands out of Regina's reach even as she spoke. "But … what?"

Regina took a deep breath.

"After we spoke about your son and you said how much you wanted to know that he was ok. I did some digging."

"Digging?" Emma asked. Her heartbeat quickened.

"I'm a lawyer, have access to large databases and my mother's firm is well connected and respected," Regina said. "I thought I might be able to find something you couldn't."

"And did you?"

Regina bit her lip. "No."

Emma closed her eyes and let her head fall against the back of the couch. She had, just for a moment, believed she was about to find her son.

"I'm sorry," Regina said. "I didn't mean to give you false hope. In fact, I wasn't going to tell you at all, not if I didn't find anything."

"Why were you even looking?" Emma said, a hint of annoyance in her tone. "I mean, why didn't you tell me? Or ask my permission, perhaps?"

Regina felt a wave of guilt wash over her at the accusations.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask you, Emma," she began. "And I'm not looking any more. The last idea I had didn't pan out so I've had to give up. But I wanted to see if there was anything worth pursuing before I told you. Like I said, I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"So you just went behind my back instead?" Emma asked, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees.

Regina swallowed. She forced herself not to reach out and touch Emma's back which was firmly, symbolically directed towards her.

"I did."

Emma let out a long, weary sigh. "I've had a really long day and I don't want to talk about this right now. But please don't do that again. I know you were doing what you thought was best," Emma turned as she spoke, "but I can search for my son on my own. If I want your help, I'll ask for it. I don't appreciate being lied to."

"I never lied to you," Regina protested, sitting up straighter and moving towards Emma. The blonde shifted further away and Regina stopped at once. "I never lied, Emma. I told you the moment your son came up in conversation."

"But you didn't tell me when you started," Emma pointed out. "To me, that's lying. You kept something pretty fucking massive from me and … look, you know I don't trust easily and after seeing Lily again today I've been reminded why. Please, please don't do anything like this again. I … it's too much. I can't deal with dishonesty."

Regina's eyes filled with tears as Emma spoke. The blonde smiled sadly at her before standing up and walking out of the room. Regina curled up on the couch and cried into a pillow, muffling her sobs. What had she done? Why hadn't she just told Emma? She knew her reasons at the time had made sense: not wanting to get her hopes up, doubtful if she'd even find anything etc. But when she had said them out loud to Emma, she had realised that for someone with such severe trust issues, those excuses were pathetic and meaningless. She should have told Emma. She should have asked her permission, discussed her ideas with her, not treated her like a child who was too sensitive to be involved. Emma wasn't as fragile as Regina made her out to be. Most of the time, at least. The one area of their relationship which needed particular care, however, was their honesty and trust between one another. And Regina had damaged it.

By the time Regina made her way to their bedroom, the lights were off. She went about her nightly routine and then slipping beneath the covers, settling down against the cool, crisp sheets. She hesitated before she whispered through the darkness.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes," came the murmured reply.

After a moment's hesitation, Regina reached out a hand and felt for Emma's beneath the duvet. She found it and let out a sigh of relief when Emma allowed her to interlace their fingers. She squeezed softly before continuing.

"I don't like to go to bed on an argument," she said. "I'm really sorry, Emma. Please forgive me."

"We're not arguing," Emma said, the sheets rustling as she turned towards Regina. The brunette let out a little shiver as Emma's hand came to rest tenderly on her stomach, fingers stroking her skin through the thin silk nightgown. "I'm not angry with you, Regina. I'm just … disappointed."

Regina swallowed thickly. That was even worse. She felt tears sting her eyes again and was glad the room was dark. She didn't want Emma to know how much her heart was breaking at that moment.

"I'm sorry," Regina whispered, the words catching in her throat. "I'm so sorry."

"It's ok," Emma said. "I just thought you understood. I thought you were the one person in the world who understood how important it is for me that people tell me the truth. That's all I ask for, Regina. I could have dealt with the anticipation and then the let down of your search. I would have given you permission to look, and thanked you a thousand times for trying. But you didn't believe I was strong enough to cope. You didn't trust me to know what I'm capable of. I've been searching for people my whole life, Regina. First my parents, then my son. Even Neal for a while. I know how it feels to hit dead end after dead end. I can deal with that. If I didn't think I could, I wouldn't have been looking myself."

"You've been looking too?" Regina asked.

"I'm always looking," Emma sighed.

"Did you find anything?" Regina said, turning onto her side and shuffling a little closer to Emma, looping her arm around the blonde's waist.

"No," Emma replied. "Nothing."

Regina closed the narrow gap between their bodies and pulled Emma into her arms. She hugged her tightly and peppered kisses along her neck. Emma's arms gripped her too, their legs intertwined.

"I love you," Regina whispered as she pulled back slightly to kiss Emma's lips. "And I'm sorry."

"I love you too," Emma murmured, prying Regina's lips open with her own. "And I forgive you."

Emma dawdled outside Henry's nursery the next morning. She waved at him until he disappeared inside and then stood for another five minutes, staring at nothing in particular in the playground. The walk to his nursery that morning had been the moment Emma had chosen to tell the little boy that she had a new job. A full time job. One that meant she wasn't going to be able to spend Thursday and Friday afternoon with him. He had pouted and grumbled about the loss of his special Emma time but when she promised to make up three new Marlo stories that weekend, he had perked up. Emma wished she could be so easily placated.

She wasn't angry with Regina. She really wasn't. Disappointed, yes, but not angry. She had kissed her girlfriend goodbye before Regina left for work, promising to text her that evening if she got held up at work. Which, with Mal's absence, was a distinct possibility. As she meandered back to the penthouse, Emma thought about what Regina had done for her. She had searched, hard by the sound of it, for a lost little boy who had been swallowed up by an impenetrable system. Regina had tried to use her position, her power, to break through. For Emma. She pulled out her cell and sent a quick text just as she entered the apartment block.

Regina hid her face behind the sheafs of paper she was holding as she rolled her eyes. Mr Gold really was the most dreadful bore. She glanced around the conference table and noted that many of the other lawyers in the meeting were wearing rather glazed expressions. Only Cora Mills was sat with rapt attention, nodding enthusiastically in agreement as Gold spoke. It was sickening really, Regina thought. You could practically smell the woman's desperation. Regina's mind wandered to her deceased father but before she could tumble too far down memory lane, her cell phone vibrated. Cora shot her a dirty look at the interruption but Regina just ignored her. Opening the new text, she felt the smile spread steadily over her face as she read.

I'm sorry about last night. I'd had a stressful day and I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I really appreciate what you tried to do, even if you kept it from me. You're the best girlfriend in the world and I can't wait to see you tonight and hold you in my arms. E x

"Something you'd like to share with the rest of us?"

Regina's eyes snapped up at the sound of her mother's voice. Everyone around the table was looking at her. Her cheeks pinked.

"No, sorry." She quickly pocketed her phone without finishing her reply.

"Oh don't be shy, Regina. Clearly your text was about something frightfully important if you were distracted enough to ignore the question Mr Gold just asked you."

Regina's gaze flickered to the ageing man sat beside her mother. He was wearing a slightly amused expression. As a corporate lawyer she supposed he rather enjoyed the tension which was now filling the room.

"Apologies, Mr Gold," Regina forced herself to say. "What did you ask me?"

"I wanted to know if you had been able to come to an agreement with Turner and Co. about the termination of their contract."

"Oh, yes," Regina nodded, reaching quickly for the relevant document and passing it up the table to Mr Gold.

Cora looked at her daughter with a curious expression. It was almost as if she was disappointed. Not in Regina, but in her ability to have provided Mr Gold with what he wanted. As if she had wanted her to … fail? Regina mentally shook herself. What would her mother gain from her only daughter looking foolish in front of their entire office? She forced herself to focus on whatever Mr Gold was talking about and made a mental note to reply to Emma on her lunch break.

It took Ursula less than five minutes to bring Lily up in conversation when Emma arrived at work that afternoon. As the blonde had expected, their brief, awkward encounter the previous evening had not gone unnoticed and as soon as Lily had returned from the cafe, the truth had come out.

"Seriously? You and Lily were an item?" Ursula asked as she laid out the food in preparation for the children arriving that afternoon.

"Yeah," Emma nodded.

"What happened?" she asked.

Emma hesitated before replying. If Lily had kept her word, Mal would know the truth and that Lily had left Emma. If she had lied then Emma could be seen as vindictive if she told Ursula what really happened.

"Mal said Lily left you," Ursula continued before Emma had a chance to say anything. "Is that true?"

"Yeah," Emma said again.

"Shit. Sorry, mate," Ursula said, beckoning Emma to follow her out into the yard where the two of them began to tidy up and get out the sports equipment. "Is that how you ended up on the streets?"

"Yeah, but Lily doesn't know about that part of my life. I didn't tell her."

Ursula raised her eyebrows. "You don't think Mal will say something?" she pointed out. "They're driving to Connecticut and back today. That's a long car journey. Pretty sure you're going to come up at some point."

Emma hadn't thought of that. She had been so wrapped up in Lily not telling Mal anything which might jeopardise her job that she hadn't considered the fact that her boss knew literally everything about how awful Emma's life had become after the break-up. Ursula seemed to read Emma's panicked expression and patted her shoulder.

"It'll be fine," she said, unconvincingly.

The rest of the day dragged by for Emma. She was just waiting. Waiting for Mal to walk back through the door with Lily. Waiting for Lily to look at her with pity in her eyes. Even playing a new, complicated card game with Felix and Mathew didn't distract her. They kept having to tap her on the arm and pull her attention back to the room as she stared off into space, her mind coming up with endless scenarios for how Lily would react. She didn't think any of them were favourable.

As evening crept in, Emma's eyes snapped to the door every time it opened. But it was always just parents or older siblings coming to collect the children. She greeted them with a fake smile and helped the kids to gather their things. The centre was almost empty by seven thirty and Emma was beginning to think Mal wouldn't make it back in time. Lily left New York the following morning, she knew, so maybe she wouldn't have to see her ex again.

Reappearing from the back yard where she had climbed up a tree to retrieve a soccer ball for two girls, Emma stopped dead in her tracks when she saw who was standing by the front door.

"Surprise," Regina said.

"Hi Emma!" Henry grinned, running across the room and leaping into her arms.

"Hey kid," she said, hoisting him up onto her hip. "What are you doing here?"

"It was Mama's idea," Henry announced. "She said we could go for pizza and then come here to see you."

Emma looked at Regina who was still standing by the door. She looked as if she wasn't sure coming had been a good idea. Emma crossed the room and gave her a lingering kiss.

"Hi," Emma murmured. "Thanks for coming."

Regina wrapped her arms around the two of them and kissed both their cheeks. Her body practically sighed with relief.

"How was your day?" Regina asked.

"Fine," Emma said, putting Henry, who had begun to wriggle, on the floor and watching him run off towards the books. "Ursula grilled me for about half an hour about Lily but I expected that."

"And is she -?"

"Here? No," Emma said. "They're not back yet. And since we're so quiet now, I'll ask Ursula if I can knock off early. I assume you saved some pizza for me?"

Regina nodded and Emma grinned, kissing her once more before disappearing off into Mal's office where Ursula had taken up residence to fill in the paperwork for the evening. The older woman assured Emma she could manage the closing up on her own and thanked the blonde for all her work. Grabbing her handbag, Emma wished Ursula goodnight and headed back to the main room. As she entered, she stopped dead in her tracks. Again.

"You're back."

"I am," Lily replied. "Mom insisted on coming here and checking everything went well. She's just parking up but I'm glad I ran into you before you left. I wanted to speak to you about something if you have time. It's important."

Emma glanced at Regina. It was obvious her girlfriend knew exactly who had just walked in. Her hands had clenched into fists by her side. Walking quickly towards Regina, Emma looped her arm around the slender waist before turning to face Lily again.

"So I suppose I should introduce you two. Regina, this is Lily. Lily, this is Regina, my girlfriend."

Lily didn't look the slightest bit surprised at the news and held out her hand courteously for Regina to shake. There was a split second pause but when Emma's fingers dug gently into Regina's waist she reached out and took it.

"Nice to meet you," Lily said. "I'm glad Emma's found someone who appreciates her and makes her as happy as she deserves."

"Thanks," Regina said shortly.

"I'm afraid I don't have time to talk, Lily. It's past a certain person's bedtime already so we'd better get going," Emma said, not wanting the conversation to continue for any longer than it needed to and definitely not wanting to talk to Lily alone. "Henry," she called. "Come on, we're going home."

Obediently the small boy closed the book he had been reading, replaced it on the shelf and trotted over to the group. Noting the appearance of the tall stranger, he instinctively reached for Emma's hand. Lily's eyes drifted down to him and she gasped.

"Oh Emma! You found him!"

"What?" Emma frowned. "Found who?"

Lily looked up at her ex in equal confusion. "What do you mean? You found your son." She gestured to Henry.

Emma and Regina both frowned now but it was Regina who spoke first.

"Henry's mine actually," she said. "We're … well, we're still looking for Emma's son."

"Oh," Lily said, eyebrows raised. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to assume. He just looks so like you, Emma. I mean, his eyes are almost identical to yours."

Emma opened her mouth to reply but just as she did so, her boss walked through the door. Mal glanced between the three women and gave a genuine smile. Clearly the palpable tension in the room hadn't yet reached her.

"Hi ladies, I see you've met my daughter. Again," she added, looking at Emma.

"Mal, I can explain," Emma began but Mal held up a hand.

"No need," she assured. "Lily told me what happened and I've told her she was a complete idiot for leaving you. Although her idiocy obviously worked out well for you, my dear," she smiled at Regina. "Anyway, Lily also told me you were worried about your position here now that I know your history and I just want to say you needn't. I hired you because you're great at your job, and as long as you continue to perform well, there's no problem."

"Thank you," Emma said, relief washing over her. "That means a lot."

"Of course," Mal smiled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check on a few things. Lily, give me ten minutes. Regina and Henry, it's been short but sweet. And Emma, I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, the older blonde swept towards her office, leaving the foursome still standing awkwardly by the door.

"Well we'd better get going," Regina said after a pause. "Henry, come on."

Henry reached for his mother's hand and the two of them headed out of the centre.

"Bye," Emma said, holding out her hand for Lily to shake. "And thanks for telling your mom the truth."

"Of course," Lily said. "But I still want to talk to you."

"Sorry, Lily," Emma shrugged. "I can't. Regina and Henry are waiting for me. I have to go."

She pushed the door open and stepped out onto the street. She saw Graham leaning against the town car on the far side of the street. Henry and Regina were looking each way in preparation to cross the road. She hurried to join them and took hold of Henry's other hand. They had almost reached the other side when they heard the shout.

"Emma, wait!"

They stepped onto the sidewalk and, in unison, turned around. Lily glanced both ways and then dashed between two cars to join them.

"Lily, please," Emma said, stepping in front of Regina and Henry. "Not now."

"I just wanted to say sorry."

"You said that yesterday," Emma reminded her.

"No, not for that," Lily said. "I'm sorry for what happened to you after I left. Mom told me."

And there it was. Emma closed her eyes and exhaled. So now Lily knew. She knew how Emma had fallen apart. How she had become a prostitute. How she had lived on the street. How she had been raped.

"I'm so sorry for everything you went through," Lily said. "I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I thought you'd be alright."

"Alright?" Emma whipped around at the sound of Regina's voice, cold and hard. She saw Henry shrink into his mother's side at the tone. She wasn't surprised; it had scared her too. "How was she going to be alright? You left her. You broke her heart and you left her with nothing. What did you think she was going to do? Did you really believe her life was going to be all unicorns and rainbows after being so thoroughly fucked over?" Henry's eyes went wide. He knew that was a bad word. Tears started to form. "Stay away from my girlfriend," Regina continued, taking a step forward. "Stay away from her and our family. I don't want to see you ever again and you are not to try and contact her either. She'd done with you. She's moved on. And yes, it took time and some bad things happened but she's come out the other side a stronger, better, and more incredible woman. She doesn't need you. She doesn't need your apologies or your pity. She needs you to stay the fuck away from her. Got it?"

Lily took a step backwards, her face white. Emma remained rooted to the spot, stunned.

"Y- yes," Lily managed to stammer. "I'm sorry, Regina. I didn't mean -,"

"Go," Regina hissed, narrowing her eyes.

Lily glanced once at Emma and then turned, running back across the road and disappearing into the youth centre. Once the door had closed, Regina's legs began to tremble. Emma caught her just before she hit the ground.

"Shhh, it's ok," she comforted, feeling the wetness against her neck where Regina's tearful face was buried. Henry began to cry too and Emma put her arm around his little body.

"What's going on?"

Emma looked up gratefully at Graham and together they heaved the two Mills' into the back of the town car. The drive home was silent except for crying. The pizza box lay untouched on the seat. By the time they had arrived up at their penthouse, Henry was asleep in Graham's arms. Emma deposited a still sobbing Regina on the couch and then took the small boy. Thanking Graham, Emma quickly put Henry to bed before returning to her girlfriend.

"I'm sorry," Regina cried as soon as she saw Emma. "I'm sorry, Emma. I just couldn't help myself."

"It's ok," Emma soothed. "No need to apologise. Really, I appreciate everything you said."

"But what about your job?"

Emma shrugged. "You heard Mal. She's employing me because I'm good at my job. I doubt my girlfriend shouting at her daughter for something she too condemns is going to be a problem."

"Do you think so?"

"I'm sure of it," Emma said, marvelling briefly at how much had changed in just twenty-four hours. "We're going to be fine, Regina. My job's going to be fine. You're going to be fine once you realise how fucking awesome you just were. Henry's going to be fine once we explain to him that the word fuck is … well, I'm going to leave that explanation to you." Regina managed a giggle. "And we're all going to be fine because I'm pretty sure I'm never going to see or hear from Lily again."

Regina cuddled up even closer to Emma and inhaled her unique, sweet scent. She could hear Emma's heart. Her strong, loving heart beating beneath her ribcage.

"I love you."

"I love you too," Emma whispered, kissing her girlfriend tenderly until the tears stopped and the touches deepened and they found themselves undressing and stroking and gasping and sucking and cresting in each others arms.

A/N: for those of you who thought things weren't quite resolved with Lily after yesterday's chapter … no need to doubt me! I'm always going to make sure the bad characters get what they deserve!