I don't own OUAT.

This chapter isn't beta'd, all mistakes are my own tonight...gonna fix them later if and when I find them. Got some other stuff to do.

I hit a wall with Dark as Knight, currently working through that kink...fml. In the mean while, I posted another SQ story if some of y'all weren't aware already. I recognized a few of you guys already there and I manage to gain a few more followers which is always awesome, so thanks! Enjoy.:)

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

Local grocery store in Brooklyn, New York [Thursday, January 8th 6:37 pm]

Pushing her grocery basket full of junk food down the frozen food isle Emma sighed for the fifth time in the span of ten minutes. She didn't really have anything in her basket except for a few dozen Jimmy Dean's breakfast bowls, blueberry waffles, a cheesecake, bread, sugary cereal that was most likely bad for her teeth and a twelve-pack box of hot pockets. She had alcohol at home, so she didn't bother going down that isle. Since she wasn't a big fan of pizza, the Wall Street CEO was now trying to decide between the left over frozen lasagna and chicken alfredo ...that is until she spotted Regina Mills coming down the isle with her body guard, Robin Locksley, in town. Robin was short and burly, and he had always looked liked he was plucked off the streets, and the suits he was required to wear didn't really help improve his image.

It had been about a week since Emma helped the Mayor of New York keep her sons previous home, 'the unnamed orphanage' in operation. Despite Regina's attempts to keep the entire ordeal under wraps, but it somehow still made the front page. However Regina's fears of her image taking a hit was fruitless, though the act of kindness went ignored; the press focused on the fact that Mayor Mills did in fact have some pull with powerful people in New York—though the deal that was constructed between Emma Swan and the Mayor remained a mystery, Mayor Mills' actions shut down more than a few of her naysayers.

Even though they hadn't officially agreed on it, Emma took Regina's original asking price..and doubled it. The orphanages mother, Mary Margaret, had happily and gratefully accepted the offered money and moved herself and the children into a bigger and better in a safer neighborhood that wasn't too far from the school the children already attended. Mary Margaret also purchased two new buses to transport them back and forth, and hired a nanny to help her with the children. After putting away what Mary Margaret thought they needed, she took the rest of the money and donated it to other struggling foster homes around the city and to homeless shelters, much to Emma surprise but not Regina's. Mary Margaret had a big heart when she first met her, and it hadn't changed in all the years she's known the woman...otherwise she would have abandoned those children just as their parents did.

To show their appreciation, the kids wrote letters to Emma and Regina, mainly Emma. Some were typed and some were in crayon with backward letters and a bit sloppy, but the effort put into those letters and drawings brightened Emma's day when Belle brought in the small delivery box.

"Mayor Mills, fancy running into you here."

"Ms. Swan," Regina inclined her head, smiling softly as she brought her own shopping cart to halt near Emma's. "It's nice to see you again, how are you?"

Emma rolled her shoulders nonchalantly, "Fine, I guess. Up to my neck in paper work. Yourself?"

Regina waved her hand this way and that, but offered no verbal response. Emma was about to tease the brunette about the gesture, but before she could even open her mouth, a small voice belonging to a small person she hadn't even noticed spoke to her. "Hi."

Vibrant green eyes peered down into the basket and found a cute little boy sitting between a variety of healthy foods with a commando action figure and an armored Tyrannosaurus Rex in his hands. Emma smiled sweetly, "Well hello there Henry Mills."

Henry's eyes narrowed somewhat, Emma thought it was cute. "How do you know my name?"

"Yes, how do you know his name Miss Swan?" Regina asked, though she hardly sounded as suspicious as her son. Henry's name was mentioned in a few local magazine articles that Regina interviewed for and she does recall calling her son by name in Emma's presence the previous week, she was just surprised the blonde actually remembered.

"The same way I know that Commander Skull and Dino Rex aren't friends."Emma shrugged, winking playfully.

Henry offered Emma a mega watt smile, though he was missing two teeth at the bottom. Still standing off to the side, Robin sighed inwardly, shaking his head somewhat. He hated that Henry was allowed to play with toys and watch cartoons that held no real value, and he hated that Regina allowed the young boy to indulge his cartoon cravings every weekend rather than put him outside and get dirty. He thought she coddled him way too much, and it was another point proven that women should not be allowed to raise boys without a man to help because women raised punks not men.

Regina, oblivious to her bodyguards displeased frown, on the other hand couldn't help but find mild amusement from the fact that Emma knew something about action figures and the cartoon shows they originated from. The Wall Street CEO had no idea that the Mayors son would be so enthusiastic about action figures, but Regina didn't have to come to the rescue because Emma seemed quite fluent with talking with children, more so than she had let on, Regina took notice of that at the orphanage last week. Emma kept up with Henry's incessant ramblings that were all over the place, he's never met an adult liked the same super hero cartoons he did, hell, he's never met any kids his age that liked Commander Skull either. While Emma kept her son busy, Regina began looking through the breakfast foods on the other side of the isle, going for the healthier choices.

In midst of their conversation, Henry got too excited and Dino Rex went flying out of the cart. Emma bent down to pick him up, as she stood back up and gave it back to the boy, Henry eyes zeroed in on the necklace hanging from Emma's smooth neck, his words caught in his throat. Regina and Robin immediately noticed the silence and both turned, relieved that he was in no danger, but confused as to why he just stopped talking.

Emma realized what he was looking at and quickly tucked away the necklace, "You know, I have a super collection of the Commando's and Dino Warriors, even Commander Creed and Titan the Spinosaurus...and let me tell you, Titan is even bigger than me!"

That caught Henry's attention, eyes widening with wonder. "No way!"

"Yes way, I even have all 7 Dragon Balls with Vegeta guarding them."

Henry had forgotten all about his own Commander Skull and Dino Rex, he looked like he was ready to climb out of the basket and go home with Emma, "What else do you have?"

"Well I have—"

"Okay Miss Swan!" Regina cut off whatever Emma was about to say as she put a box of waffles in the basket, "Before you break my poor son, we have to be going."

"Aw man..." Henry pouted and sat back in the basket.

Even though Emma was disappointed as well, she understood. "Of course Madam Mayor, my apologies."

Henry perked up once again, looking up at Emma with inquisitive brown eyes, "You should come to our house so I can show you my collection!"

"Henry Mills! You do not invite strangers to our home!" Regina scolded her son immediately, then turned to Emma apologetically. "No offense Ms. Swan."

Henry turned around, trying out his newly acquired weapon; the puppy eyes. "But—"

"No Henry." Regina interrupted sternly, her tone leaving absolutely no room for argument from her four year old son.

Emma chuckled, holding up both of her hands and walking back towards her own basket. "No offense taken Mayor Mills. You all have a good night, and please be safe. And you..." Henry looked up, his eyes watery, breaking Emma's heart just a little. "Listen to your mother kid because she's right, I am a stranger."

After a courteous nod, Emma continued on with her junk food scavenger hunt while the Mills family and their bodyguard went to the front of the supermarket, and checked out.

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

Mayor Mills Manor...2108 Mifflin Ave, Brooklyn, New York...[ 7:09 pm]

After dropping Robin off at the front gate of the Mills Manor, Regina and Henry carried their groceries inside as it began to pour down heavily outside, maybe the weatherman finally got something right Regina mused as she kicked off her heels by the back door to dry.

Henry used the bar stool to sit on top of the kitchen counter to help his mom put away the groceries by handing her anything closest to him.

"Henry..." Regina started as she put the last can of soup away in the pantry and closed the door. She went around the kitchen island to stand in front of her son, hands flat on the counter on either side of his little body. "You do not ask strangers into our home without permission, do you understand me?"

Henry looked at Regina curiously, "But she wasn't a stranger mommy, she's been to our house before...a lot." he whispered as if it was some kind of conspiratorial secret.

"Excuse me?" Regina blinked several times, confused.

Henry smiled, nodding excitedly. "Yeah! Once a year. That was Santa Claus mommy!"

Regina was now even more confused. She was aware that he knew that Emma was the one that helped his previous home out of poverty, but he never mentioned Emma being Santa Claus before—until now. "Henry, sweetie...Emma Swan is not Santa Claus. She was just nice enough to donate to the orphanage."

Henry sighed and shook his head, "That's what she does! Santa is supposed to help kids like me... I've met Santa and gave her the snowflake...she was wearing it! I seen it! And-"

"Henry!" Regina cut in sternly, with a touch of worry. "Emma Swan is not Santa Claus okay? Santa is a man that lives in the North Pole, not a woman living and working in New York."

"But I remember mommy! I remember! I waited for Santa and I remember!"

Regina was becoming increasingly worried about her son, and why the hell he was so damn convinced that Emma Swan of all people was in their house in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. "Ahem, Henry? Did you see Emma in our house ? Her face, honey, did you see her face?"

Henry's excitement died a little when he shook his head no, and pouted cutely. "...but she was wearing the snowflake I gave to Santa! I'm not lying mommy. Swear..."

Regina knew that her son really believed what he was saying and shook her head. She had no idea what to make of it, but she would definitely be asking Emma Swan about this snowflake. With a tired sigh, Regina lifted Henry off the kitchen counter and set him down on his feet. "Sweetheart, go upstairs and get ready for bed. I'll be up to tuck you in, in a few minutes. Okay?"

Henry looked up at his mom, "Mommy,you believe me right?"

Regina bit the inside of her left cheek, staring down into those wide innocent brown eyes. "Yes sweetie I do, now go get ready for bed."

Henry smiled and hugged Regina's legs before running out of the kitchen. Regina absolutely hated lying to her son but she wouldn't break his little heart by saying she didn't believe a word he said either.

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

E. Swan Residence...2209 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn New York...[ 7:22 pm]

Emma wasn't so lucky to make inside of her house before the rain started pouring down. Because she left the supermarket a little later than Regina and her son did, the rain caught her in the supermarkets parking lot.

Thankfully her car had pure leather seats and came equipped with all weather floor mats. She had her seat warmers on along with the heat. It helped her stay warm but her clothes were stuck uncomfortably to her skin and it made the blonde feel itchy all over, like something was crawling all over her skin.

By the time Emma got inside of her home with all of her groceries, she looked like a drowned street cat. Thankfully Emma's live-in housekeeper, Johanna, was always one step ahead of Emma. Johanna had a fluffy navy blue towel ready, along with Emma's black silk robe.

Johanna shook her head, somewhat amused at Emma's helpless appearance. "I had the towel in the dryer for you, but it looks like you're already getting sick. Get out of those clothes before you catch hypothermia!"

Johanna set the towel and robe down on the table in the foyer, and grabbed the small amount of groceries to take to the kitchen while Emma began getting undressed as fast as she could, starting with ankle high leather boots.

Emma had taken her own wet clothes into the laundry room now in her robe that stopped mid-thigh with the towel hanging around her neck. She used magic to clean up the wet spot on the floor in foyer simple because she was too lazy to do it herself. She went into the kitchen with Johanna and sat at the counter, waving her hand flippantly and two aspirins and a glass of water appeared in front of her instantly.

"Any new reports come in from the station today?"

Johanna shook her head, throwing away the last wet plastic bag and drying her hands on the green kitchen towel. "Leroy called about two hours ago, the sleigh is back in working condition but you'll need to go up there sometime this month to make sure it's to your liking."

Emma tiredly started to rub her reddening eyes, trying and failing to stifle a yawn. "Something is always wrong with that damned thing. I think it's time for a new one, don't you think Jo?"

"What I think," Johanna drawled, reaching into the cupboard to pull out a mug for her nightly tea, "is that you had better call your grandmother back. Not tomorrow, not after you shower... now. She didn't sound too happy over the the phone this morning."

Emma groaned and really wanted to face plant into the counter, Granny called her office this morning but Emma was busy catching up on proposals and trying to organize her schedule for the rest of the year. She got up from the bar stool with a sheepish smile, "I promise I will call her...tomorrow. I'm going to shower and go to bed, I feel weird. Goodnight Jo."

Emma transported out of the kitchen before Johanna could get another word in. The older woman sighed and shook her head, she hated when Emma did that...it was so rude and it was so Emma Swan. Johanna wasn't about to go chasing after Emma to call Eugenia back, that was between those two...she was simply the messenger.

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

E. Swan Residence...2209 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn New York...[10:22 am]

Emma sat in her home office goofing off on the internet watching cat videos. One wouldn't think this was an office considering the large screen TV mounted on the far wall between two large Wonder Woman framed posters. Her office literally had comics everywhere from the floor, to the coffee table and lodge in some corner behind her files in a drawer in her desk. If it wasn't for the desk being in there and the file cabinets behind it, this would not be labeled as an office at first glance.

Emma didn't feel well enough to go to the office, that and she was probably contagious by now, but she was well enough to give Johanna a difficult time this morning. The older woman was trying to wake Emma up for breakfast but it had taken forever, and by the time Emma was awake...the eggs were cold, and the biscuits were no longer warm and fluffy. To make it up to Johanna, Emma gave the woman keys to some car sitting in her garage, her credit card and told her not to come back home until dinner, which was going to be pizza and wings. Of course Johanna managed to remind Emma to call Granny back, and of course...Emma was stalling because she knew what the woman wanted and Emma 'forgetting' to call back was the blondes way of saying no.

The office phone rang for the third time that morning and Emma sighed, mildly annoyed. "Can I watch cat videos in peace?" She checked the caller ID and noticed that it was a local office number, one she didn't really recognize. She tipped her chair back slightly to snatch the phone off the receiver before it rang the third time. "Arendelle International Stock and Trade, Emma Swan speaking."

"Good morning Ms. Swan."

Emma immediately, and unnecessarily, straightened up and paused the funny cat compilation. "Mayor Mills, what can I do for you this rainy morning?"

"Your secretary informed me that you have taken the day off, so this will not take long." Regina paused, but Emma said nothing so she continued before the silence became awkward. "This call may seem a little strange but please, bear with me."

Emma's curiosity was piqued even though she had an inkling as to where this was going. "Okay, I'm listening...?"

Regina took soft deep breath, "Ms. Swan, my son seems alarmingly convinced that you of all people, no offense, are Santa Claus. And that's not even half of it."

Emma bit her bottom lip, rocking back in her leather chair. She was hoping that Henry would forget all about seeing her necklace but of course that was wishful thinking on part. The boy was her truest believer...he wasn't going to forget the gift gave her or not recognize it when he saw it. "Not sure if I really want to know what else your son has said...but I'm going to ask anyway, what is the other half?"

"He seems to think that you've been in our home...several times on Christmas Eve. So now I must ask; in the past two years have you done any charity work dressed as Santa Claus on TV or around Brooklyn?" Regina's tone wasn't accusatory, but she simply sounded like a concerned mother trying to get to the bottom of her son's seemingly wild imagination.

Brooklyn, hm? Emma found it interesting that Regina would mention Brooklyn specifically. Brooklyn was popular, obviously but for a woman of Regina Mills' stature...mentioning Brooklyn was very revealing. Of course Emma was already aware of the Mills family location, a few blocks from her own estate but then again...that was her job. Memorize millions and millions of addresses (with the help of a little magic)leave the station at ten at night and beat the midnight deadline. Then Google maps was invented, but that was besides the point.

"Er, I..." Emma paused and stared at the unsigned paper work on her desk. She knew she a lie, or several, would be necessary but her gut was telling her to stretch the truth—Emma ignored her gut despite it never being wrong before. "I don't recall ever doing anything that elaborate Madam Mayor. The most I've done is donate large amounts of money to the unfortunate. I hope me talking to Henry last night didn't start any trouble with his imagination?"

"Not at all Ms. Swan, I simply had to check to make sure he wasn't making up these...wild stories of his. I was hoping that it wasn't just a figment of his imagination but it appears that I was wrong."

Emma nodded her head, hoping she didn't just put that poor kid in the nut-house. "I understand Mayor Mills, but I feel like some of this may be my fault...for egging him on last night." There was no real or better explanation Emma could offer as proof to back up that statement...none that she was willing to give up. "I'm human, not some jolly fat man breaking into peoples houses all around the world."

"Of course not dear, my apologies for this ridiculous phone call...I trust that you know what the term 'discretion' means, correct?"

For someone who means no offense, Regina is very offensive this morning Emma mused mildly amused. "This conversation never happened. You have a wonderful day Madam Mayor, and I'll be seeing you at the city council meeting Tuesday evening."

"Come prepared dear and do not be late. Arrive thirty minutes early so that we may discuss our notes and solutions. Does that work for you?"

Emma shrugged even though Regina couldn't see it, "I'll get there when I get there. I'm the financial adviser Mayor, can't start without me. See you Tuesday." Emma put the phone back on the receiver, laughing giddily. She was New York's new financial head adviser as of last month, the previous adviser had a heart attack and Emma was anonymously voted to replace him. Of course that still required the Mayors approval, which meant that Emma was probably alright in Regina's books...but it didn't mean that she couldn't mess with her a little. Emma was about to continue with her funny cat videos when the phone rang again, thinking it was Regina again Emma snatched the phone off the receiver again without checking the caller ID.

"Arendelle International Stock and Trade, Emma Swan speaking."

"What happened to calling me back, hmm?!"

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ

Thanks for dropping in to read! Next chapter we will get to see Emma and Regina side by side through half the chapter and why Emma is avoiding Granny like the plague. And don't worry, OQ doesn't even exist here but Robin has purpose so I can't kill him. Ugh...

MonsterG