A/N: Happy weekend one and all! This chapter becomes NSFW.

"Where's Mom?"

"She's got some paperwork to do with Gretel," Archie said, settling himself more comfortably on the floor beside his patient. At his age, sitting cross-legged was not exactly his preferred position but he liked to bring himself down to the level of whomever he was talking to.

"Ok," Henry said, picking up another toy car and testing its speed by pushing it hard across the floor. It trundled along happily until it hit a rough patch of carpet and slowed to a stop. The boy frowned in disappointment.

"So, Henry, I wanted to talk to you today about Emma."

"Mom's girlfriend?"

"Yes," Archie said. "Emma came to see me yesterday. She wanted to talk to me about you and your mom."

"I like Emma," Henry said. "Did … did Emma say she liked me?"

The slight falter in his speech and the slowly vanishing smile made it apparent that Henry was not only invested in the relationship but also hoped that Emma felt the same way.

"Emma loves you very much," Archie said. "And she loves your mom too."

"I know," Henry said. "We're all going to live together."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"About living with Mom and Emma?" Henry asked. At Archie's nod, he continued. "It'll be fun. I like playing with Emma and she lets me cook lots of things. I know you and Mom want me to eat more food and Emma's been helping me. Her cooking is better than Mom's so it's nicer food. I like eating with her."

Archie smiled. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you're trying new food with Emma."

"And Mom," Henry added. "Mom's there too. But she doesn't help us cook very much. I'm Emma's shoe chef." Despite both women regularly trying to correct the child on this pronunciation, the obscure French word continued to come out incorrectly.

"So, how do you think your life will be different if Emma moved in with you?"

Henry paused before answering. Unbeknownst to Archie, the boy was trying to think back to a time when he had had two moms. What had it been like with Mom and Ma?

"Emma can pick me up from school some days when Mom is working. And they'll both take me to school in the mornings. That'll be cool. I like walking with Mom but if I walk with Mom and Emma, they can swing me up high using my arms. You can't do that with one mom."

"So, when Emma moves in, how many moms will you have?"

Archie knew it was a bold question. He didn't know how Henry saw Emma. From what he had heard, he knew the boy engaged well with the woman but whether it was a maternal connection or a friendship, he wasn't sure.

"Mom is my mom," Henry said slowly. "I had Ma before, but she left. I don't want Emma to leave."

"Why do you think Emma might leave, Henry?"

The boy shrugged. "Maybe she'll not like us. Or maybe I'll be bad and she'll go away. Like Ma. If Emma is like my ma, then she might leave too. I … I don't want to call Emma 'Ma'."

"You don't have to call Emma anything other than Emma, if you don't want to," Archie said. "But you know, a name is just a name. Calling Emma 'Ma' doesn't mean that she'll leave. And calling Emma by her name doesn't mean she's definitely stay. Henry, do you remember what we said about your Ma leaving?"

"Yeah," Henry said slowly. "Mom said Ma left because she didn't want to live with us any more."

"Not exactly," Archie replied. "In fact, we don't really know why your ma left. But I know you and your mom have agreed to always talk about what happens with her and Emma, right? That's why we're talking now. And that's why Emma came to see me yesterday."

"So if Emma wants to leave, she'll tell us first?"

"Yes," Archie said. "But right now, both your mom and Emma don't think that Emma will ever leave and you'll be living together for a very long time."

"For infinity. Like Buzz Lightyear."

"Exactly," Archie said without hesitation, used to children including popular culture references in their language. It was a way for them to make sense of adult concepts using examples they understood. He also used this as an excuse to head to the cinema whenever a new Disney or Pixar film was released.

Henry looked up at Archie, as if he was about to say something more. But then he went back to playing with his cars. Archie allowed the pause, not wanting to push the child into saying anything he wasn't comfortable discussing.

"If Emma leaves, Mom will be sad again. And I'll be sad again."

The words were quiet, almost whispered. Archie set down the car he was pushing along the carpet and waited for Henry to look at him.

"You know, adult relationships are difficult because no one can see into the future so you never know what is going to happen. You're right. If Emma does leave, both you and your mom will be sad. But what will happen if Emma doesn't leave?"

Henry seemed to be thinking hard. "We'd be happy. Mom would be happy with Emma and I'd be happy cos I get to be the shoe chef."

"And what would happen if Emma didn't come to live with you?"

"Well, now she comes over late at night but Mom says I can't stay up to say hello so I don't see Emma much. She picked me up from school on Monday. We went shopping to buy food. Then we made fapitas. But Emma worked on fun days like Saturday and Sunday. So she can't join us at the park or the zoo."

"Ok, so now I'm going to ask you a big boy question," Archie said. "Do you think you're old enough to understand two options about Emma?"

Henry nodded seriously, his own toy car now stationary as he turned his full attention towards the man sat beside him.

"What would be better? For Emma to come and live with you and your mom or for things to stay as they are?"

The small boy seemed to be thinking momentarily before asking a follow-up question, wanting to collect as much information as possible before he gave his answer.

"If Emma comes to live with us, will she leave?"

"I can't answer that," Archie said. "But I can say that if Emma was going to leave, that would happen whether she was living with you and your mom or living in her own house."

"Why?"

"Because if Emma left, that would be because the relationship ended and that end is not likely to be anything to do with living together. Sometimes two people just decide they don't want to be in a relationship any more."

"So, Emma living with us wouldn't make her want to leave?"

"I don't think so," Archie replied. "The real question here is how you think Emma moving in with you would change your life?"

"I want to live with Emma," Henry said. "But I don't want her to leave. Emma is fun and she teaches me to cook and she makes Mom smile. I don't want that to change."

"And if it did change, how would you feel?"

"Sad," Henry said simply.

It was simple. The idea of Emma not being in his life made Henry sad. It would make his mom sad too. He knew that. He didn't like it when his mom was sad.

"Do you think feeling sad if Emma left would be worth all of the happy feelings you'd have while she was living with you? Would the happy time you spent together, whether it was one year or five years or ten years or fifty years, be worth feeling sad?"

This, Henry decided, was a more complicated question. He thought back to how he felt when his ma had left. He had been sad because she had disappeared but he had also felt worried because his mom was sad and he didn't know why. If Emma left, he would know why because she and his mom had promised to tell him. So he wouldn't feel worried or confused like last time, he'd just feel sad.

He tried to remember how sad he felt when his ma left. And he had only been four then. Surely now he was six, nearly seven, he'd feel bigger sadness. Cos that's how feelings worked. But he'd also get to feel bigger happiness when Emma taught him to cook. So that would be cool. And he might be happy with Emma and his mom for one year or five years or ten years or fifty years, like Archie said. How long had he been sad for after Ma left? He couldn't remember. He was only four then.

"Yes, I think so," Henry said. "Emma makes me happy cos she's fun. And she makes Mom happy too. I think those happy feelings are stronger than the sad feelings."

At the end of the session, when Henry had been sent out to Gretel to collect his sticker for completing the hour, Archie closed the door and turned to Regina who had been invited back into his office.

"Well?" the woman asked at once, desperate to know how the meeting had gone in her absence.

"I think he's on board," Archie said.

A sigh of relief escaped Regina. She knew Henry liked Emma and wanted to spend more time with her. But she was also aware that he was worried about the fact that Emma could leave them, just like Mal.

"What did he say?"

"That the happiness Emma brings to your family would be worth any sadness which you'd have to deal with if she left."

"Really?"

"Not in so many words but yes. We talked about whether the happy times would be worth the sad times and he decided they would be. As we've already discussed, I recommend you are open and honest with him as the relationship develops and the move gets closer."

Regina nodded her understanding. "Of course."

"But I am also recommending that you and Emma take your own feelings into consideration."

At that, Regina frowned and crossed her arms, almost defensively. "What does that mean?"

"That means that you are a wonderful mother and I think it's very admirable that you are so attuned to how your romantic relationships are affecting your son. But it's your life too, Regina. Now we know that Henry is on board with inviting a new person into your lives, you need to start reasserting your position as the parent in this relationship. I understand why it has happened but over the past few months and even years, I think Henry has developed too much authority."

"Authority?"

"He dictates your meals, your plans, even your decision to date again. While all mothers must take into account their children's likes and dislikes, and I recognise that Henry's eating disorder heightens this, at the end of the day, you are the parent. Henry is the child and he doesn't always know what is best for him. As his mother, you are responsible for making big decisions for him. If you think Emma moving in isn't going to have a negative affect on your son, then the move should happen. Take into account his feelings, of course, but don't let them control your life, especially when they steer you away from what you really want."

Regina took a moment before answering. She suspected she had just been told that her son was spoiled and she needed to lay down some ground rules. And, to be honest, she couldn't dispute that. She loved Henry with all her heart and she couldn't deny that her little prince had been rather indulged. It seemed, however, that the power dynamic between them needed to shift back to a more traditional one.

"You think he's ready?" Regina asked. "I mean, I don't want to undo the progress we've made with his eating."

"It might not be plain sailing straight away," Archie said. "I don't think the kid has heard the word no often enough. But I think it's something that he can handle. You might get a backlash at first but I think he's ready in terms of his eating. And to be honest, his relationship with Emma and his interest in cooking may help. You can allow him to have a say in what he eats but he needs to understand that you are the one in charge when it comes to big decisions in your lives, including Emma moving in."

"But you just said Henry is on board with that."

"He is," Archie nodded. "But I don't think he should know that you two are going to live together only because he has agreed to it. It's your relationship; it's your decision. Yes, you have to take him into account but he's a child. He shouldn't be aware of how much control he has over your life. Does that make sense?"

Regina nodded slowly. "Yes, I think so. Thank you, Archie. So much."

"You're welcome. I'll see you both next week. I think another couple of months of regular meetings is advisable. See Henry through the transition process of Emma moving in and also make sure that the progress he has already made remains."

Hours later, curled up on the couch, Regina repeated everything Archie had said to Emma. It was good news, they knew. Henry was on board, Archie seemed to think there would be no repercussions outside of an adjustment period as the trio learned to live together. But now it was real, serious, imminent.

"So we're really doing it?" Emma asked.

"If you still want to," Regina nodded.

"Of course I do," Emma said. "It's just … big. I mean, I know we told Henry we couldn't say 'forever' but that is essentially what we're saying, at least, it's saying that's what we want."

"True," Regina nodded. "Is that what you want?"

"You know it is," Emma nodded. "And I have complete faith that we can make it."

"Me too," Regina said, cuddling closer into the warm body beside her. "And you can help me make sure Henry doesn't become a spoiled brat."

Emma laughed. "I'll do my best. But it's those big eyes. He has the pleading look down to a tee, you know that, right?"

"Oh yeah," Regina nodded. "After a while you become immune to it." Emma raised her eyebrows at that. The boy's mother was most certainly not immune to his charms. The look of scepticism forced the brunette to reassess her statement. "Well, I'm nearly immune."

Emma just chuckled again and pulled Regina closer. "I'm sure we'll make sure he doesn't become a complete brat. But giving him treats every now and then is fine."

"Agreed," Regina said. "Just as long as he doesn't completely dictate our life."

"Our life," Emma repeated. "I like that."

"Me too."

They fell silent, content to just be in one another's company. It was a mark of a good relationship, Regina had always thought; being comfortable in silence. As she lay there, she realised that Mal had never enjoyed sitting quietly and had always wanted to talk. The brunette mentally scolded herself for thinking of her ex, especially given her current position in Emma's strong, safe arms.

She yawned, catching sight of the old grandfather clock she had inherited after her parents died, and realising she ought to go to bed.

"It's late," she said, making no attempt to move.

"It is," Emma agreed, she too in no hurry to break the spell which had fallen over them.

"I'm going to have a quick shower," Regina said after a few more minutes had gone by.

At that, Emma's interests were piqued in more ways than one. "A shower? You don't usually shower at night."

"I was standing out in the baking sun all morning with Kathryn at a photo shoot for a new client who specialise in roof gardens. Inner city green spaces, basically. But I got all sweaty standing around. The aircon cooled me down but I still feel a bit grimy. I want to shower before I get into bed."

"Oh, ok," Emma said, uncurling her arm and allowing Regina to sit up before asking her next question. "Can I join you?"

Regina, who was already on her feet, paused and turned to look down at the blonde who was wearing an almost sheepish expression. "Join me in the shower?" The returned nod was so enthusiastic that Regina had to stifle a laugh. The lust in the blonde's eyes was unmistakable and rather flattering. "Well, I've had no problem washing myself for thirty-one years but I suppose I could use a hand."

Emma grinned and jumped to her feet. "Firstly, I'll be using two hands," she said, reaching for one of Regina's as she spoke and tugging the brunette out of the living room and down the hall. "And secondly, I know you're an incredible woman but I think even baby and toddler Regina Mills would have needed some help washing herself."

The brunette chose not to answer the pedantic young chef and instead allowed herself to be led into her own bathroom. It wasn't the sexiest room in the house; the last of the bubbles from Henry's bath that evening still clung to the porcelain of the tub and a net bag hung from the tiles, stuffed with his waterproof toys. But Emma didn't seem to mind. And as both women began to undress one another, Regina realised she didn't care either.

It was only as the layers peeled away that she noted how well-lit the bathroom was. Even though they had been dating for two months, Regina still felt a little self-conscious about her body and in the cold, stark light of the bathroom, there was no hiding the flaws she saw in her own skin.

But Emma didn't see them. When she felt Regina stiffen slightly as her blouse was unbuttoned, she simply slowed her fingers, softened her kisses and tried to silently reassure the woman before her. Regina seemed to respond so Emma completed her task, letting the silk flutter open and then pushing the material gently off her shoulders. Without breaking the kiss, Regina returned the favour, too focused on the feel of Emma's supple, toned body to worry about her own.

Once they were both naked, Regina leaned over the tub to fiddle with the shower settings. As she waited for the water to come to the right temperature, she could feel Emma's hands caressing up and down her back. She shuddered in delight as fingernails scraped from the sensitive skin of the nape of her neck down to the base of her spine, swiping between each of her back dimples.

"Your back is so sexy," Emma remarked as the brunette stood up, the water now the perfect heat.

"My back?" Regina asked as she stepped into the tub.

"Yep," Emma nodded, following the naked woman. "It's toned and muscular and tanned. Your dimples are adorable too. I love your back."

"I'm fairly sure no one has ever complimented my back in my life," Regina said as she stepped under the warm spray, the water instantly making her feel more relaxed.

"I'll compliment every one of your body parts if you'll give me a chance," Emma said, stepping behind Regina and wrapping her arms around the shorter woman, forearms crossed just below Regina's breasts. The brunette still had her back to Emma.

Regina sighed and leaned back, her head resting on Emma's shoulder, face turned away from the fine spray now angled towards her.

"Regina?" Emma murmured, lips caressing the shell of her ear. "Will you turn around for me?"

The body in her arms stiffened once more. Regina knew it was inevitable. And she also knew that her fears were unfounded. Emma was attracted to her and she was committed to their relationship. A few stretch marks on her stomach weren't going to change anything. Logic stood little chance in the face of any woman's body hang-ups, however.

Without saying another word, Regina turned slowly, Emma's grip loosening to accommodate the movement. But as she moved, Regina stepped backwards, further into the shower so that Emma was forced to release her and the water cascaded down between the two women, obscuring Emma's vision.

"Gina," Emma said softly, "come here."

Through the water, Regina looked into those familiar green eyes before glancing down her own body. She knew Emma. She trusted Emma. She knew she was being irrational. Her hands curled into fists by her side before she nodded once and stepped back through the water.

Emma looked at her as if she was a beautiful sea nymph, emerging from behind a tropical waterfall, hair dripping wet, rivulets of water cascading down her slick olive skin. Given permission to do so, Emma allowed her gaze to rake up and down the soft curves she had only felt with her fingers and tongue or glimpsed in the darkness of the bedroom until then. If it were possible, she thought Regina was even more beautiful now.

"You're stunning," Emma said, reaching out and pulling Regina's wet body against her own.

Regina almost wanted to argue, wanted to tell Emma she was far from stunning. But the feel of her girlfriend's body against her own, warm and wet and breathing heavily, coupled with the tongue now dancing with her own, melted those thoughts from her mind.

She gave in to the sensations, moaning into the kiss as Emma's hands glided up and down her sides. Her own arms wrapped around Emma, pulling her further into the shower and under the water. When the kiss ended, she saw the usually bright blonde hair had darkened, hanging down below the young woman's nipples, a natural modesty shield. But neither cared for modesty in that moment so Regina swept the hair aside, leaned down and covered one of Emma's nipples in her mouth.

Emma's hands were still questing, stroking slickly over her skin. Regina had quite forgotten that the initial reason for her shower was to get clean. In that moment, she couldn't understand why anyone would do anything other than make love as warm water washed over them.

"Put your leg up here," Emma said when Regina had laved both nipples with equal attention, pointing to the curved edge of the bathtub.

Regina did as requested, opening her centre up to the woman's hungry gaze. Emma placed a gentle kiss to Regina's lips before dropping to her knees and sliding closer along the slippery tub. The brunette looked down in wonder as Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's hips but then, quite suddenly, she froze. The blonde felt it and looked up, concern in her green orbs.

"Are you ok?"

Lips tight, Regina nodded, breaking the eye contact and looking away. She heard a squeak as Emma got to her feet and felt slender fingers gently on her jawbone, encouraging Regina to look at her. As she turned her head, Regina's foot slipped from the edge of the tub and tucked, self-consciously behind her other ankle.

"What's wrong?" Emma asked, not wanting Regina to feel in any way uncomfortable around her.

"My … my stomach," Regina admitted. "I hate my stretch marks."

Emma forced herself not to think about her own desires to bear children, desires that would never happen, and instead cupped Regina's face in her palms.

"Regina, you are a beautiful woman and I love you," she said simply. "Stretch marks don't change how I see you nor how I feel about you. If anything, it makes me love you even more because they are a sign of those nine months you carried and nurtured Henry. You have nothing to feel ashamed of. Please, let me show you."

There was nothing but honestly in Emma's words and the way she looked at Regina. After a moment, the brunette nodded. Emma grinned and leaned in, kissing her girlfriend once more before resuming her position kneeling on the floor of the tub. The position put her eye-line right at Regina's stomach. She couldn't help herself. She pressed a tender kiss to the skin lightened by the marks which Regina so hated. Emma closed her eyes, lips still in place, relishing in the closeness. She felt Regina's fingers in her hair and opened her eyes, meeting the brunette's gaze.

"Thank you," Regina murmured.

"You're welcome," Emma said.

With a final quick kiss to Regina's flat stomach, Emma guided the brunette's foot up to its original position, widening her stance so she could feast more easily on her girlfriend's core. And feast she did.

Regina placed her palm flat on the tiled wall, trying to steady herself as Emma's mouth covered her sex, eager at once to draw pleasure without any teasing or preamble. She gasped as she watched, Emma's head bobbing in front of her, eyes closed in bliss as she drank the musky nectar. The woman's mouth was pressed hotly against her, tongue swiping at her already tender clit, fingers digging lightly into Regina's thigh as she held her legs wide open.

It was going to be over quickly, Regina realised, as Emma's other hand came into play and deft fingers slid through wet folds. But she didn't care. Not when it felt so good. She rocked her hips, matching the lashes of Emma's tongue against her nerves as two fingers pumped in and out, in and out. She could almost feel the smirk as blonde she cried out, hands now on Emma's shoulders to steady herself. There seemed to be nothing Emma Swan liked more in the world than making Regina come.

And, Regina thought as her orgasm washed over her, she was perfectly happy to be a part the blonde's preferred extra curricula activity.

Once they had both come, twice, the shower became more practical. Each woman took the time to lather the other with Regina's sweet smelling body wash, the room heady with the apple and cinnamon scent by the time they finally stepped from the tub. Wrapped in fluffy towels, they made their way to Regina's bedroom to get ready for bed.

"When I live here, we can do this every night," Emma observed as she pulled on her pyjamas and climbed into bed.

Regina, who was applying her evening moisturiser at her dresser, smiled at her girlfriend's reflection in the mirror.

"I can't wait."

A/N: The cliffhangers will start on Wednesday …