Reginas alarm sounded at 6:10am the next morning. Even with the late night wake up Regina had one of the best night sleeps she has had in a very long time, she felt rested.

Regina could still feel Emma's soft and even breathing against her neck. For the first time in a long time Regina didn't want to get up and go to work, she wanted to stay at home and spend the day with Henry and Emma. Sadly Regina had a town to run and Henry had school.

She gently pried Emma's arms from around her waist and gently set them on the bed. Regina went about her morning routine including waking up Henry and taking another shower. While in the shower she realizes that she didn't have anywhere to leave Emma for the day. Regina runs through a list of people she trusts in her head. The only one coming to mind is Kathryn Nolan. While she would ask Kathryn to watch Emma she knows Kathryn isn't in the right frame mind to watch a child, considering her recent breakup with her husband David.

Regina places her head against the shower wall and sighs, "Well, I guess Emma is coming to work with me today"

Regina gets out of the shower and looks at Emma's still sleeping figure. She gets dressed in a grey dress and black heels. When Regina goes back to Henry's room to make sure he is up she remembers she needs to get clothes for Emma to wear. Henry is already dressed and heading downstairs when Regina knocks on his door.

"Ok, who are you and what have you done with Henry? Not that I mind not having to rip covers off of you to get you up."

Henry laughs and says,"Well this Henry has been waking up extra early to get food and stuff to Emma and has gotten used to waking up unreasonably early. Also I want to go to Granny's for some hot old Henry is happy to make an appearance once in a while."

Regina laughs and says "That's alright I am really liking the Henry standing in front of me."

Henry blushes and says, "Thanks mom. So is Emma going to work with you or do you need me to stay home with her? I can take her to Granny's with me."

Regina raises an eyebrow, "As thoughtful as that is, you are going to school. So yes Emma is coming with me to work."

Henry smiles and says, "It was worth a shot."

Regina rolls her eyes and walks to the other spare room and searches through the bin of Henry's old clothing. She finds a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Regina walks bank into her room and gently taps Emma awake. Emma groans and tries to bat Regina's hand away. Regina can't help but laugh.

Emma finally opens her eyes, Regina smiles and softly says, "Come on Emma, it's time to wake up."

Emma groans again but sits up. She yawns and stretches, then crawls to the end of the bed and shimmies her way to the floor.

Regina hands Emma the clothes and tells her to get changed a wait for her in the bathroom. Regina runs to the linen closet and gets Emma a toothbrush.

When Regina returns Emma is running her eyes and yawning but, patiently waiting for her. Regina hands Emma the toothbrush a picks her up so she can reach the sink. While Emma is brushing her teeth Regina puts on her makeup.

Emma finishes and Regina tells her to go wait for her downstairs.

Regina can hear Emma slowly making her way down the stair, and Henry moving around downstairs.

Five minutes later Regina hears Henry bound up the steps, "Hey mom, I'm leaving and Emma is downstairs ok."

Regina meets him at the top of the stairs and give him a kiss on the cheek, " ok Henry. You have money?"

Henry nods his head and heads back downstairs towards the door, as he is leaving he hears "Be careful! Have a good day! Love you!"

Henry yells back a quick "Love you too! See you later!"

Regina heads to her office and grabs the files she needs for the day. She is about to walk out the door when she remembers Emma, oh shit!

Regina calls out to Emma and she hears tiny feet running towards her. Emma is smiling and looking up at her with an unopened chocolate milk box and an apple in her hands.

Regina smiles and makes a mental note to thank Henry.

Regina looks at Emma, "you want me to hold your milk and apple until we get to my office?"

Emma nods and extends her hands towards Regina. Regina takes the milk and apple and puts them into her large Michael Kors purse.

Regina looks at Emma and says, "Since we didn't have time for a good breakfast how about we get lunch at Granny's. How does that sound?"

Emma has a 100 watt smile and says, "that's sounds awesome! I'm so excited!"

They are both almost out the door when Emma yells "Wait!"

Regina is startled but before she can say anything Emma is running back upstairs. Regina sighs and looks at her watch, I'm going to be so late. Just as Regina was about to call out to Emma she hears Emma's footsteps coming back down the stairs. Emma jumps off the last steps and runs over to Refina, " I almost forgot Mr. Corduroy."

Regina wondered why Emma named her bear Corduroy but figured she would ask when they got in the car. Regina ushered Emma out the front door and into her car. Regina got Emma buckled in threw her stuff onto the passenger side floor, Emma didn't mind since her legs just dangled off the seat.

Regina was on her way to the office and decided to ask about Emma bear. "Emma I like where did you get him?"

Emma looked down and started fiddling with the bears ears. "My second mommy and daddy got him for me when I came to live with them."

Regina smiled a little happy that Emma had some good experiences, "Why did you name him Corduroy?"

"Emma snuggled the bear tighter and said, "Cause when my second mommy and daddy bought him they read a book called Corduroy. He looked just like him." Emma paused and Regina nodded, "and cause just like Corduroy in the book nobody wanted him cause he was broken, just like me."

That last comment made Regina pause. She had just parked the car in her usual spot and she turned to Emma. Regina gently wiped the tear that ran down Emma's face and lifted her chin to face her.

Regina quietly but firmly said, "Listen to me Emma. I don't know about your other foster parents but with me you will always be wanted. You are not broken. You are perfect just the way you are. You understand?"

Emma met Regina eyes and have a small nod. Regina gently stroked her cheek and then looked at the clock in the car, "Geez we are late! Ok. Come on grab "

Emma undid the seatbelt, grabbed her bear, and opened the door. Regina walked around the car to get Emma's hand. Emma quickly took hold of Emma's hand and they briskly walked into town hall and out of the chilly October weather. Regina knew that her conversation with Emma was going to be one of many, but was happy that Emma was opening up to her, she just hopes that she is enough for this special girl.

Regina and Emma enter town hall and walk past security. Regina give a glare while the security gaurd stares at her and Emma. Emma is too busy looking around the building to notice the odd stares. Regina picks up her pace head towards her office.

Regina opens the door and let's Emma walk through first. There is a medium height half wall that blocks Emma's view of the rest of the office. All Emma can see is that the space opens and that there is a large door.

Regina is greeted by her assistant Jack who doesn't look up from his computer screen, "madam mayor is everything alright you are late today."

Before Regina can reply Jack starts talking again, "today you have a 11:30 meeting with the council about them wanting to build a fountain at the end of the beach. Which in my opinion is going to look out if place and pointless, but whatever. You then have a phone meeting with at 1:30pm. As always it is urgent, it always is with that man. There are a few documents that need your signature, which are already in your office. Is there anything else? Any lunch plans I need to schedule in?"

Usually Regina is thankful that Jack gets straight to the point, but today it was a little overwhelming. Emma pulled on Regina's hand and curls her hand in a come down here motion. When Regina is at Emma's height Emma says, "He talks a lot and really fast. Are we still going to have lunch at Granny's? It's ok if we don't."

Regina taps Emma on the nose and says, " I know he talks really quickly. Of course we are still having lunch at Granny's."

Emma smiles, Regina doesn't even want to think about how many times Emma has been let down. She refuses to be another person to let Emma down.

When Regina doesn't answer straight away Jack finally looks up from his screen only to see Regina bend down. Jack curiously waits for Regina to stand again. When Regina and Jack make eye contact Jack raises a confused eyebrow.

Regina says, " Yes I have lunch plans for Granny's with Emma."

Jack is typing everything into Regina's calendar when he pauses, "Emma? Who is Emma?"

Regina smiles and gently guides Emma forward and around the half wall. Emma sees Jack and backs up into Regina's legs. Regina lays a hand on Emma's shoulder and Emma grabs her hand.

Regina turns to Jack and says,"This darling, is Emma."

Emma shrinks when Jack gets up and walks over to them. He bends down and says, "well Emma it is nice to meet you, and I will put you into Regina's calendar. "

Emma smiles shyly and nods her head. Jack stand and heads back to his desk.

Regina sighs a breaths of relief as she guides Emma through the large double doors behind Jack.

Regina had been worried about the rumor mill since Sidney and his goons had taken pictures of her and Emma. But after jack's seeming acceptance of Emma Regina hoped that today would progress without any problems. Regina can only hope.