A/N: I hope you are all prepared for a LONG chapter and a very great one if I do say so myself. :) I also hope you all enjoy it and are eager for more with writing out more reviews regarding this story. Good things are coming along! Stay tuned. Happy reading!
They made it into New York in three hours. Regina was impressed, of course, with Emma's ability to drive fast and not cause a wreck. Who knew this little old, beat up Volkswagen could drive with so much power. Or maybe it was because Emma was driving it.
Their drive into the city was a quiet one, except for the occasional small talk and the radio playing a few tunes here and there at a low volume.
"Can I ask, out there…" Out there. That's all Regina had to say for Emma to know that the question that followed would be about her time at war. "Did you ever have to deal with people bigger than you?"
And every time the question wouldn't include how August died, it was a relief. "Sure. From time to time, I had my fair share of encounters with others bigger than me. Nala always had my back, of course. Or August."
"Did you… have to kill a lot of people?"
Emma's lips thinned into a grim frown. "Too many to count," she murmured.
"Does it ever haunt you?"
She nods, "All the time. I've just learned to keep a lid on it." Her eyes look over to Regina.
"We're here." Regina points to the little restaurant where they would be meeting with this lawyer.
Emma pulls in, parking along the side of the curve. She exits the car as quickly as she moves to the passenger door to pull it open for Regina to step out. Once she does, the door shuts in place, squeaking a little louder the last time. She made a mental note to check that out once they got back into Storybrooke.
Luigi's is a little Italian restaurant that was chosen for the occasion. Tables and booths were scattered around, neatly lined up in rows, giving everyone their own personal privacy with one another. The lights were dim, but not overly romantic. Of course, Regina had her lawyer book a reservation outside along the patio for more privacy.
"Welcome to Luigi's," a young hostess smiled warmly at them. "Table for two?"
"No, we're actually expecting someone. Table for a Charles Carter." Said Regina.
"Oh, yes!" The girl's smile grew. "He's already here. He's just outside." She motions to the patio and Emma follows close behind Regina as she heads in the direction.
Once they reached the outside, Charles, looking snappy in his all black suit and silk red tie stood to greet them.
Both Carter and Emma freeze in their spots as their eyes meet.
"Swan?" Carter smiles.
"Whoa, Carter?" Emma blinks.
Carter allows a laugh to escape his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing with gusto as he shook Emma's hand and pulled her into the tightest hug Regina had ever witnessed. "Look at you!" His masculine hand patted Emma's back a little too roughly for Regina's level of comfort, but Emma seemed to handle the gesture well. "I gotta tell you, in all my years, I never thought the day would come when I saw Private Emma Swan as a civilian." His eyes look over Emma. "It looks good on you, too."
"I'm not a civilian yet. But thank you." Emma smiled, patting the man's shoulder in return. "It's good seeing you."
"Oh, hey, great seeing you. Shall we sit?"
Emma held out Regina's chair and Regina took it, scooting right in. To have her chair pulled out was such an alienated gesture for Regina. One that made her feel cared for, protected and a little off balance.
"So, you don't just run the rescue crew." Emma said as she and Carter took their seats.
"I'm just a volunteer. Keeps me on my toes, and it's not like there's a ton of family law business for small towns such as Storybrooke." Carter shrugged.
"So, you two know each other," Regina said lightly, even though the moment felt anything but.
Emma smiled directly at Regina, while Carter replied, "Oh, Swan here and I go way back."
Such a small world. "Thank you, Charles for meeting us on a Saturday. I'm sorry if it was such short notice." Said Regina.
"No problem at all. My wife actually had plans on visiting her mother for the day, taking the kids with her. Trust me, I much rather be here with you guys than having to deal with my mother-in-law." He fidgets with a manila folder, tapping it along their table to straighten the pages within. "So, what's up? When you called it sounded quite urgent."
Emma and Regina exchanged a look, and Emma nodded.
"Why don't we order something to eat and we'll fill you in on everything?" Regina suggests with a warm smile.
"Sounds great to me. I'm starving!" Carter grins. He waves down a waiter who takes their order.
It takes three glasses of wine and all of brunch to explain everything to Carter in detail. Regina was always thankful how closely Carter paid attention to every detail. He was obviously good at what he did. And for a moment, Regina thought of the possibility of being married to Emma, and the possible future that they could share. But just as quick as the thought had entered her head, she shook it away, replacing it with the memory of their shared kiss and how embarrassed she felt to which circumstances it happened under.
"Wow," Carter breathed, his chest deflating at the arrangement that had been settled between both women. "Alright… then let's not push the option of marriage, unless both of you decide differently in the near future." His eyes look to both of them. "So, Regina. Now that I have a good idea of what's going on, it's your turn. You said you had an idea?"
"Yes," Regina nods, pivoting her chair to look directly at Emma. "So, what you're offering is to basically make Henry your son? Even if it's only on paper?"
"Yes. Legally."
Just the confirmation alone sent a spiraling warmth over Regina's belly. Or maybe that was the wine, but whatever the reason was- it gave her the courage to continue.
"Right," Regina breathes, taking a moment before she says, "Well, you should know that… I'm a little damaged."
Emma's brow quirks up as if she was saying tell me something I don't know already.
"And sometimes that damage blinds me. It gets in my way and holds me back. And I'm okay with that. But I'm not okay with it hurting Henry. So, if there was a way for you to be their legal mother, giving him all the same protections that being my… wife would… without me being your actual wife, would you still want to adopt him?"
Emma's brow drew together, "Not marrying you?"
"Removing me, and my damage, from the equation," Regina clarified before dropping her voice to a whisper so only Emma could hear. "As someone wise once told me, it's not about not wanting you."
The corner of Emma's lip barely tilted, but Regina could detect an understanding smile there.
"So? Would you still want to do it?" Regina waited.
"Yes." Emma answers without hesitation.
"Forever?"
"Always."
That warmth in Regina's belly spread, combining itself with the love that already burnt so intently inside of her chest. Regina then pulled her eyes away from Emma's emerald ones to look at Carter, seeing his mind already at work as he stared at both of them.
"Carter," Regina nods. "Could Emma adopt Henry without marrying me?"
"Sure," Carter looked at Emma. "Is that something that you're willing to do?"
"Yes." Again, Emma answered without an ounce of hesitation.
"And Regina," Carter turns to Regina next. "Have you thought about what that would really mean?"
"Yes," Regina nods. "I know that puts Henry in some risk." She feels Emma tense a little beside her.
"It could," Carter agreed. "It would be like having another parent- there would be support to consider, visitation, custody rights, both physical and decision making. It's basically sharing your kid with Swan. But it does protect him more, too. The moment she adopts Henry, he will be covered by her insurance no matter the status of your… relationship. The military will always see Henry as hers."
"Even once Emma leaves the military?" Regina asked.
Emma's green eyes find Regina's, "Yes. You could even sue me for support if you wanted."
"I would never sue you for support." Regina assured her.
"Right, but you are still giving a portion of your rights to her, Regina." Said Carter.
Regina's heart died a little. For nine long years, Henry had always been hers and only hers. "Could we lessen the risk?"
Carter leaned back, his fingertips slightly touching one another. "Sure. You'd just have to draw up a custody agreement to be signed immediately after. You could say that you have sole physical custody, Swan has zero rights to visitation, but you should share decision making, or it looks pretty darn fraudulent. You wouldn't even have to file it unless there's an issue. Just in case someone comes looking."
"Is it fraud?" Regina needed to know. No matter what Carter said, she would still go through with it of course. Henry was worth that and so much more. "I mean, marrying Emma would seem way more fraudulent to me if neither of us will be living under the same house, and we'll be living separate lives, with separate names. That's more of a fraud than Emma wanting to be there for Henry, right?"
"Do you want to parent Henry?" Carter looks straight at Emma.
"Yes," her answer is instantaneous. "I love Henry. Nothing would make me happier than to protect him like this, to give him whatever I can."
Regina's heart melts on the spot.
"You're going to have to do a little better than that with a judge. In your case, it would be with Judge Stevens. He's a softy for Regina- always has been. But you Swan, you're not a local. He's not going to trust you just because you showed up for a couple of hospital stays and did a Show-and-Tell with the kid."
Emma drew in a deep breath as she rotated her now empty glass along her fingers. "I didn't have my parents growing up. I never even met my father, and my mother… she never wanted me to begin with. A lot of families that I stayed with over the years, well, generally they would hit first and ask questions later. Or just generally ignored me, so I never really knew what it was like to have a mother to begin with. Henry's father," her eyes look over to Regina. "He doesn't give a shit about him or Regina. I do. And I'm here." She looks back at Carter. "Regina has been more than enough for Henry, but I've always believed that a child should have two parental figures to look up to. No matter if they are heterosexual or the same sex. They are both equal for a kid. I want Henry to know what that feels like- in whatever capacity Regina would allow me to be there for him. I just want to be someone Henry and Regina alike can depend on."
Once again, Regina was floored. No. Scratch that. She was swooned. And if Carter wasn't here right now, she would dare herself to kiss Emma for that speech she just gave.
And judging from Carter's smile, she could tell he was sold. "I believe you'll hold up in court just fine. It's not fraud if you are adopting so that you can help raise Henry. The insurance is definitely a perk, though- one that Judge Stevens would see. But he lost his wife to cancer about ten years back, so I honestly think you've got a good shot that he'd choose to see it as just that: a perk and not the reason. Would the lack of rights bother you?"
Emma shook her head, "Henry being unprotected bothers me. I would never take anything from Regina that she didn't want to give, and I'd never do anything that would hurt her son."
In that moment, Regina pictured Henry's little face, the way it would light up every time Emma would walk into a room. He not only idolized her, already seeing her as some kind of superhero that jumped out of the pages of one of his comic books to save him and his mother, but he loved Emma. And Emma loved Henry. And that was something Regina was already on board with. The fact that Henry having so much to lose in this was instantly brought to her attention.
"Would Henry have to know? Right away, at least?" Regina blurts out. Henry would absolutely be crushed the moment Emma would have to leave. And if Emma ever decided to walk away from this, once the weight of it was too much to bear on her back- Henry wouldn't be able to handle that type of rejection.
Emma's body tensed, but her gaze remained steadily on Carter.
"Uh…" Carter's eyes shifted between the two of them. "I guess not? Kids don't have to be informed or give consent until they're twelve. We'd just have to talk to Judge Stevens. Seeing how he's always favored you, and his hatred of the Locksley's, well, I think we could sway him to agree."
"So, we could really do this?" Regina asked, a tiny hope of flame flaring up inside of her. "Even though we're not married?"
"Sure," Carter shrugged. "Although, I'll be honest, marriage would be the easier route."
Regina turns to Emma.
"I'm with you. Whatever you want to do." Emma said.
Regina sighs, "It's not that I never want to get married…" She turns to Carter. "I just can't. Not now. Not after what I went through with Robin. I'm in absolutely no rush to be wearing a wedding ring."
"That's fine," Carter nods. "And Judge Stevens will understand that. You just have to explain it exactly how you are explaining it to me right now. The definition of family has changed a lot over the last couple of decades, and marriage isn't the determining factor anymore. And since Regina is Henry's legal mother, and he isn't a ward to the state, the only complication would really be the Judge's opinion. But that's easily persuaded, too."
"How?" Regina asks.
"It's simple," Carter sits back. "You two just have to play up the partner part a little bit."
Regina's cheeks warm as she exchanges a look with Emma. Regina couldn't even remember what it felt like to have a partner, let alone one that actually wanted to provide for them. "And that would be it? It would be settled?"
"Well… there is one catch. You're going to have to get Robin to sign over his parental rights."
Regina's heart sank instantly, "Why? He's not on the birth certificate, and Henry is a Mills, not a Locksley."
"That's true, and I hear you," Carter nods. "But Regina, you come from a small town. Everyone knows Robin is the father. Whether or not you admit it on the birth certificate doesn't eliminate his rights. One paternity test and the adoption would be voided. I'm not saying he'd ever exercise his rights, but the judge is going to require the release. No release. No adoption."
"Right," Regina murmured. All hope she had gone. She didn't want to see Robin, and who was she kidding? Robin never wanted to see her. She knew perfectly well what type of man Robin was, and he would never sign off on his parental rights if it meant it would make her life just a little miserable. She was screwed. "Excuse me for a moment." She stands and rushes inside the restaurant.
"I'll be right back," Emma instantly stood to her feet, quickening her steps to catch up with Regina just as they reached the door to the ladies bathroom. "Regina," she reached for her arm, seeing her eyes glossing over. "Hey. Don't worry about this. This is just a little set back."
"A little set back?" Regina scoffs, shaking her head. "Emma, Robin will never sign that release. He won't."
"He will." Emma promised, looking into Regina's eyes. Her hands cradling her shoulders. "Look, I don't want you to worry about anything, okay? I will handle it. You won't even have to see him."
Regina slightly chuckled, "And just how are you going to do that?"
"I will handle Robin," Emma promised again. "I'm sure that if he sees you, he will run for the hills screaming. At least this way I can blindside him."
"You'd do that for me?" Regina couldn't ask Emma to do such a thing. Not when it was Regina's own responsibility, but she could also see the determination to keep her safe, shining in her eyes.
"I would do anything for you." Emma's eyes locked more intensely and with a little bit of a hurt behind them. "What is it going to take for you to believe me? To trust me? You want my background checked? Do it. You want my credit score? I'll give it to you. My bank account? I'll add you on. You have my word, Regina. My body, my time, and I'm standing here offering my name, and my own blood. What else can I give you?"
"Emma," Regina leans in, realizing that somewhere along another one of Emma's grand speeches, she had her pinned up against the wall, her body leaned in closely.
"Excuse me," a young girl called out, causing both of them to part instantly from one another. "Are you in line?"
"Uh, no. No." Regina shook her head, blinking. Her hand lightly patted her blushing cheek before she turned back to look into Emma's eyes. "I guess I have to wait now."
"Yeah," Emma smiled. "I'll go back to Carter, and then we can leave once you're back."
"Okay."
"Okay." Emma's hand gave Regina's shoulder a gentle squeeze before she headed back toward the patio where she joined Carter. "Sorry about that."
"Everything alright I hope?" Said Carter.
"Yeah. Everything's fine." Emma smiled.
"I gotta say, Swan… I never pictured you as the domestic type." Carter chuckled, nodding toward the door that led to the inside of the restaurant. "You really like her, huh?"
Emma took a sip of her glass of water, Carter's question going unanswered. "I have a favor to ask…"
"Shoot."
"You still friends with that P.I. guy of yours?"
"Oh, you mean Greg! Yeah. I mean you won't catch me having a beer with the guy on his day off, but… we talk from time to time. Why?"
"Is he still reliable?"
"Quicker than the Flash himself. What do you need?" Carter asked, seeing Emma's eyes meet with his from behind her water glass as she enjoys another sip.
Calloway: Updated papers are ready with new dates. They've been mailed to the current address that you requested.
Swan: Thanks.
Emma sighed, her thumb tapping along her steering wheel in no rhythmic fashion. She knew Calloway would soon contact her with her new dates in the service, just like she knew he hoped that she would consider still staying on board. But Emma couldn't stay. Not anymore. Her eyes flicker to her phone screen, seeing an email notification from Carter.
Here is that information you asked for on Locksley. Guy's as cynical as they come if you ask me. Good luck. (Not that you need it.)
Emma clicked on the PDF file attached to the email, reading all up on Robin Locksley in just under five minutes. Her thumb tapped along her steering wheel for one more beat before she reached for a manila folder along the empty passenger seat. She had driven back to New York after dropping Regina off to be with Henry, and she preferred it that way. Although, Emma couldn't imagine this Locksley guy would be any problem at all.
"Good evening," A woman with largely round spectacles smiled up at Emma from behind the reception desk of an office building. "How may I help you?"
"I'm Emma Swan. I had an appointment with Mr. Locksley."
"One moment, please," she picks up the phone, pressing a single button. "Mr. Locksley. Emma Swan is here to see you, sir. Yes, sir. Right away." She hangs up. "He's expecting you, Ms. Swan. Go on in."
"Thank you." Emma goes through the entrance with Robin's name neatly written in gold lettering along the wooden door.
"Ms. Swan, I presume?" Robin is already standing from his desk, extending his hand at her as he meets Emma halfway across his office.
"Mr. Locksley," Emma answered, shaking the man's hand firmly out of courtesy. So this was Robin. The man was handsome, she had to give him that. She could see some of that charm Regina fell for, but she could also see that he was no more than a grown man who still lived off his father's money.
Emma quickly took her seat across from him at his desk, scared that she would let her anger get the best of her and beat this asshole to a bloody pulp for ever daring to touch Regina. Let alone abandon her and Henry. He didn't deserve Regina. And he sure as hell didn't deserve Henry.
Robin unbuttoned his suit that looked to be expensively tailored for him as he took his seat across from Emma. "So what can I do for you, Ms. Swan?" He asked, charming his way with a smile.
"I understand that you're the youngest junior partner at your firm." Said Emma.
"I am. Just graduated law school as a matter of fact." He seemed proud of it.
Emma gave her best smile, not at all making an effort to make it appear sincere for him. "Perks of having a dad with his name on the wall?"
Robin's smile instantly left him just as it had appeared. "I consider it part-ownership in the family business," she shrugged.
"Ah, family. I'm so glad you brought that up." Emma shoved the manila folder across his desk, watching Robin's hand catch it before it reached him.
"What the hell is this?" Robin asked, scanning through the documents.
"You know perfectly well what it is, unless that fancy law degree didn't teach you how to read." Emma shifts in her seat. "Sign it."
Robin read over the documents again before he placed the folder down slowly. A small cynical laugh escaped him as his eyes met Emma's again. "Tell me something, because I have to know. What did Regina pay you to do this?"
"I'm sorry?"
"There has to be a reason. It's been nine years."
"There is." Emma nods. "I'm adopting Henry."
Robin's smirk disappeared instantly again from his pretty-boy face, and his baby blue eyes fell on Emma's left hand, obviously looking for a ring. "You marrying her?"
"I can't see how that's any of your business."
"Well, seeing as you'd like to adopt my kid-" Robin shifts in his seat, allowing his suit jacket to fall open.
Emma's knuckles crack as her fist tightens. All of the emotion drained from her body in a familiar retreat. The sensation was the same as every time she stepped into combat, ready to commit unforgivable atrocities. "He's not your kid." She said.
"Yeah, I'd beg to differ on that," Robin scratches along his scruffy cheek. "You know, considering how many times I screwed her in the two months we were… together." His fingers draw out air quotes in the air. "You know how it is- small town girl with a small town mind just expecting a ring simply because she couldn't keep her legs closed."
Emma's body tenses as she mentally counts down from ten. But as she counts, she can imagine Nala going right for the guy's throat, given her body tension alone. "You might be Henry's biological father, but you're sure as hell not his dad. You've never so much as seen him, spoken to him, or had any interaction with him. He's not your kid. He's mine."
Emma thanked the words that left her mouth then. Because those sweet words alone toward Henry is what helped her overpower all of her killer instinct emotions, giving her half a mind to reach across this desk and rip this guy's throat out with her bare hand.
Robin's eyebrows shot up as his body did off of that chair. He walked over to his mini-bar and Emma could hear liquid being poured into a glass. As he came back along his desk, he set down a second glass before Emma. "And just what exactly is in it for me, Ms. Swan?"
Emma blinked, unable to believe what she was hearing. Then again, she can't say it wasn't to be expected. "Are you serious?"
Robin shrugged, swallowing down the amber color liquid. "Consider it a business transaction. You clearly want something I have. What are you going to give me for it?"
"How about I tell you what I'm not going to give you for it?" Emma's eyes stare at him intensely.
Robin finished off his drink, lowering his empty glass onto his desk. His perfect jawline hardening.
"I'm not going to give you the over-two-million-dollar bill that is due for Henry's heart surgery and stay at the hospital." Said Emma. "Good enough? Or maybe we can add him to your insurance, since you're so keen on calling him yours. I'm sure that would go over really well with your father, you know, considering he told Regina about a month ago that he really didn't care if Henry lived or died as long she left him and you the hell alone. And then him and your mother turn up, harassing the hell out of him and Regina. I'm sure that would be great for business if it got out."
Robin's eyes darken, "Is that a threat?"
"Not in the least." Emma shook her head. "Why would I do that when you're going to sign that release, and your secretary outside is going to notarize it all nice and pretty?" She leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Besides… let's look at the positive in this. For you. You sign that release like the honorary son that you pretend to be around your parents, and you'd be rid of Regina and Henry for good. And I'm sure that the other woman that you are currently engaged to will be able to sleep at night knowing that they are no longer a threat to her perfectly-pampered life."
"How do you know about that?" Robin's jaw tightens as he gets no answer. "Fine. I'll sign it." He ripped a pen out of the cup in the center of his desk and scrawled his name across the paper. He shoved the paper across his desk.
Emma shoves the paper back at him. "Have it notarized."
Robin cursed under his breath as he shoved up off his chair. His feet rushed to the door as he swung it open. "Claire!" He barked at his secretary, immediately instructing her to stamp it and sign her name along the document.
Emma could hear Robin's steps coming from behind her. She watched him with a scowl across his face shove the folder more forcefully at her this time. But she wasn't ready to leave. Not yet. She opened up the folder and read over the document making sure that it was properly stamped and signed by both parties. No way was she coming back here to do this again a second time. Not if Robin wanted to continue living his luxurious life.
"Now if that's all you needed…" Robin motioned to the door. "As you can see I'm a very busy man. Or is there anything else I can do for you?"
Emma smiles, her lips tight. "Yeah. Get your checkbook."
Robin's eyes stared widely as if she had gone crazy. "Excuse me?"
"You are going to write Regina a check for nine years of back support on the Henry."
Robin scoffed, "The hell I am. Besides, I just started working last month. What do you want? Thirty percent of nothing?"
"Yeah, but your million dollar trust fund kicked in the minute you attended your first class freshman year of college. So you're going to write a lovely, fat check to Regina."
Once again, Robin's eyes pop. "How the hell did you know that?"
"That doesn't concern you. What should concern you is that if you don't write what you owe Regina, I'm going to take this document to your fiancee's father." She holds up the manila folder. "He's a senator. Am I right? And then I'm going to leak it to the press that you not only abandoned your kid, but you left their mother while she struggled to afford all of those doctor visits for just so Henry could have his medications for his heart condition. Plus, that you weren't even there when he had to have an emergency surgery performed on him. Which way do you want to play this, Mr. Locksley?"
Emma knew Robin could give two shits about Henry's condition or what he went through with Regina. But he did care about his career. His reputation.
Despite being whiter than a sheet of paper, Robin scoffed, smearing down at Emma. "You wouldn't dare."
Emma stood to her feet, and leaned up against the desk. Her eyes hooded as they looked menacing into Robin's. "Fucking try me."
Robin's Adam's apple bobbed. "Why are you doing this? Huh? Because I ruined Regina?" He scoffs. "Like she had much of a future anyway."
Emma leaned closer. Her upper lip quivering. "You really think you ruined Regina? Because I've got news for you, Mr. Locksley, there's not a soul on this planet who could do that. Don't flatter yourself. The only reason she's not here is because you're not worth her time. Now get your checkbook." She wasn't about to repeat herself a second time.
Robin pulled out a drawer from his desk, and pulled out a leather checkbook. He reached for his pen once again. "How much?"
Emma shrugged one shoulder, "Whatever you think is worth to keep your future father-in-law happy and your father's name on that wall."
The pen scrawled across the paper forcefully. Robin ripped it and tossed it directly in Emma's face. The paper flung along the desk in front of her and Emma picked it up, folded it in half and tucked it safely along her breast jacket pocket.
The corner of Emma's lip lifted into a tiny smirk before she walked across the office, her hand landing along the doorknob.
"You're not even going to look at it?" Robin asked in shock.
"It's either enough, or it's not." Emma swung open the door.
"Wait," Robin walked to the center of the office. "How did you know about the trust fund?"
Emma looked over her shoulder. "Small town people with small town minds, they have big hearts and bigger mouths. You'd do well to remember that, Mr. Locksley. Oh," she turns back just as she placed her right foot out the door. "You have a nice little tradition going here in staying out of Henry and Regina's lives. Hell, if you ask me; that's about the only good thing you've ever done for them. I'd keep that tradition if I were you. Because I sure as hell protect what's mine."
The door to Robin's office slammed shut and that day, Emma walked with a little pep in her step.
"Emma! You're back!" Henry smiled at her as he greeted her at the front door of his home.
"Hey, Henry!" Emma couldn't help herself in scooping Henry up into her arms, carrying him the rest of the way along her hip. "How's that new ticker?"
"Great! Mom and I went on a walk today. We picked apples."
"Oh, yeah? Where is your mom?"
"In the kitchen. I'm helping her bake an apple pie."
"I can smell that," Emma grinned, putting Henry down along the ground. "Hey, girl," She scratched Nala along the ears as she stood on her two back legs to greet her next. "Good dog." She praised her, knowing that she took care of Henry and Regina the entire time she was in the city.
"Do you want to stay for dinner, Emma? Can you?" Henry asked.
"If it's okay with your mom."
"Great! I'm gonna go pick out a movie for us to watch!" Henry hurried (but not ran) into the family room with Nala following close behind.
"Hi," Emma greeted Regina as she entered the kitchen.
"Hey." Regina quickly removed her oven mitts and hurried over to Emma. The scent of apple pie lingering in the room. "How'd it go? Did you see Robin?"
"Sure did," Emma held the manila folder before Regina.
Regina snatched the folder too eagerly from Emma's hands, and scanned through the documents before she looked up at Emma. "You did it."
"I did. You're free, and Henry, too."
"How?" Regina breathed through a smile, looking over the documents again.
"Fun fact about me: I can be very convincing."
Regina grinned up at Emma, "That, I believe."
"Oh, and…" Emma reached for the check along her breast pocket. "Turns out I was so convincing that he gave me this to give to you."
Regina eyes the check written out before her, and her mouth falls open. "What is this?"
"What you're owed."
Regina slowly reached out for the check as if what Emma had just caught was some sort of exotic, beautiful creature that would flee at any given time. "Emma… this is half a million dollars." Her breathing trembled, "Why would he… what did you do?"
Emma drew in a breath, "Well, let's just say that… I had a heart to heart talk with Mr. Locksley and it turns out he does have a little bit of a conscience after all."
Regina breathed out a small laugh. Her head shook as she stared down at the check before her. "I don't believe it. In nine years, that man wouldn't have given his left testicle to help us, or even acknowledge that we exist. And one word from you and he lets this money go as if it were twenty-five cents?" Her smile dies almost instantly. "I don't want it."
"I knew you wouldn't."
"You did?" Regina blinked.
Emma nods. "You raised Henry on your own. I figured the last thing you'd do is take his money now. It's what I expected you'd say."
"I don't understand…" Regina gawked into Emma's eyes. "If you knew I wouldn't take this money, then why did you even-?"
"I brought you this money because I didn't want to take that choice away from you." Emma takes a small step forward. "That money could pay off all the debt. Hospital bills for Henry. Or for his college tuition if that's what you want it for. I also don't want to force on you, me adopting Henry. I'm not Robin. But this money gives you options." Emma points to the check still in Regina's hands. "That check means you're not cornered. You don't have to choose me if you don't want to."
She had options. For a very long minute, Regina stood there, silent, staring deeply into Emma's eyes. Their eyes lost in their conversation before them. Emma's hoped that Regina would choose her. That she needed her. That she wanted her to be a part of Henry's life while Regina's sparkled with their answer.
A rip echoed between them as Regina ripped the check again and again, until all that was left flew like confetti around them to shreds. "I choose you." A grin spread across Regina's lips that soon matched Emma's. And for the first time since they've met, and without a second thought in the world, they held each other in an embrace.
As they pull apart, their arms don't release each other. Their faces remain an inch apart to where they both start leaning in ever-so-slowly. "Mom Guess what? Emma is staying for pie!" Henry's announcement however does force them apart. But they still share a knowing a look with a smile spreading across their lips.