A/N: Thank you all for being so patient for my next update. I've had a busy couple of days that take up my writing time, unfortunately, but here is the next chapter on this story! :) I hope you all like it and review soon. Happy reading!

And once again, please I ask kindly that you DO NOT ask to translate this or ANY of my works to other languages and much less for other fandoms. I write for SQ only and that's the way I want my stories to stay.

For the first time since August's funeral. Regina allowed herself to cry, as soon as she welcomed herself into Emma's embrace after his surgery. She had weeped and couldn't help but notice how warmingly Emma's arms just pulled her in. Held her close.

Thankfully, Henry had come out on top during his surgery. And Regina could never be more thankful for that. Although, there was still the matter of making sure his body didn't reject the transplant; which she was informed that he would need to remain in the hospital for at least a week. Just to be on the safe side.

Two weeks didn't take long to pass. And after those eternal two weeks, Regina was finally allowed to take him home. To Henry, being out of surgery was heaven to him, not only because he wouldn't have to be in a cold hospital room, but because him and Regina has been staying at the bed and breakfast, in one of the largest and bigger rooms from downstairs.

Regina needed some convincing to accept such hospitality, but after thinking about it, she decided that it wouldn't be wise to make Henry climb all those stairs at home simply to get him into his own bed.

After all, she couldn't complain. Their room at the bed and breakfast was so accommodating. And Ruby and Granny couldn't possibly have been more delighted to have them under the same roof.

"Okay," Regina held one of Henry's shirts above his head. "Here we go. Arms up."

Henry lifted his arms above his head, feeling the widened out neck of his t-shirt being pulled over his head and the rest of it smoothed out over his body.

"Are you in any pain?" Regina asked, fluffing out his pillows.

"Nope. Pain free!" Henry assured her with a smile to him.

"Are you sure?" Regina placed August's infamous Teddy bear right by her son.

"Mom, I'm fine. My scar is a little itchy, though."

"I know. That's because it's still healing. But remember not to scratch, okay?"

"Can we go on a picnic this weekend, along the beach like we used to with uncle August, mom?" Henry asks, his eyes lighting up.

"We'll see." Regina snugs the covers along Henry's body, wrapping him up like a burrito from the waist down.

"Please, mom? I'm fine, really!" He assured.

"I said we'll see, now tomorrow you have school. But remember, if you feel anything different you can always call me."

"Emma! Nala!" Henry's face lit up as he reached for Nala, who hopped onto his bed and laid by his feet.

"I thought you would like some company." Emma grinned.

Henry's hand stretched forward to scratch Nala behind the ears.

"That's nice of you," Regina turns to Emma. "But, won't she miss you?"

"She knows perfectly well where I am. Besides, she likes Henry."

"Mom," Henry frowned. "I don't want to go to school tomorrow."

"Why?" What's wrong?" Regina is quickly at his bedside.

"Tomorrow was supposed to be Show and Tell and I don't have anything. I'm going to be the only kid behind without anything to present to the class."

Just as Regina is about to speak, Emma steps in, "How about Nala?" She takes a seat at the edge of the bed. "You know, she does amazing tricks. I taught her myself. Her and I can be your Show and Tell."

"Really?" Henry grins.

"You don't have to do that," Regina shakes her head.

"Just let me know the time. Your mom and I can go." Emma smiles.

"Great!"

Regina leans into Emma once Henry occupies himself by petting Nala. "You do realize what you just did, right? He's not going to let this go." She whispers.

"I won't let him down. Or you." Emma whispers back. "You can trust me."

Green eyes connect intensely to Regina's that Regina forgets how to breathe.

"Knock, knock," Ruby enters along with Eugenia. "Emma!" Her eyes light up. "What a surprise."

Emma stands and nods curtly. "Ruby. Eugenia."

"Guess what? Emma is going to help me with my show and tell at school tomorrow! With Nala!" Henry beams.

"Are you?" Ruby's eyes flicker over to Regina. "Well, isn't that nice?"

Emma shrugs, a little smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

"Um," Regina leans into Emma, keeping her voice to a whisper. "You do realize what you just did, right? He's going to hold you to that tomorrow."

"I won't let him down. Or you." Said Emma. There wasn't a day where Regina didn't find herself staring into those emerald green eyes and feeling utterly lost. Enough to where her cheeks would grow pink, and she would have to clear her throat and withdraw back a step or two.

"I guess we'll see you tomorrow, then." Regina cleared her throat, rubbing the back of her neck.

"I'll be there." Emma nods, walking along the room to talk to Henry a little. "Hey, kid. You mind if Nala sleeps with you tonight? She could really use your company."

"I'd like that!" Henry's eyes light up. His hand petting the fur along her back.

"Nala," Emma runs a hand along Nala's neck. "Stay. Take care of Henry. Okay?" She smiles at the light tap of her tail wagging along the bed. "Rest up, Henry." She ruffles the kid's hair. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Emma!" Henry waves.

Emma stops right before Regina, "If you need anything…"

"I know where to find you." Regina nods.

Emma slightly smiles before she walks out.

"Henry, what do you say to some ice cream?" Granny offers.

"Yeah!"

Regina moves over to the mirror, and checks herself over, running her fingers through her hair as they comb through it. Her eyes meet Ruby's as she lays her chin along her shoulder, eyes watching her through the mirror.

"You know, she's gone now. You don't have to beautify yourself," said Ruby." Besides, you are always beautiful, Gina."

Regina snorts as she rolls her eyes a little bit. "Me, beautiful? Only you would think that, Ruby." She didn't think she looked beautiful at all. Especially with the large evidence of bags hanging from her eyes.

"Mm-mm," Ruby shakes her head. "I can promise you, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Emma thinks so, too." She grins.

"What?" Regina's brow lifts, her eyes watching Ruby's through the mirror.

Ruby rolls her eyes. "Regina, her eyes light up every time you walk into a room. She practically needs a drool cup around you."

"She does not," Regina shakes her head, her fingers rubbing away at the bags under her eyes as if they would magically disappear by that action.

"Does to!" Ruby's hands grip along Regina's shoulders as she forces her to face her. "Around you she says more than one word. And now she's helping Henry with his Show and Tell tomorrow. Plus, how many times did she drive in and out of that hospital while Henry was still there?"

"Okay, Ruby-"

"How many?" Ruby waits.

Regina sighs, "Three."

"And that was just in a week. Gina… really… when are you going to put the poor girl out of her misery and ask her out?"

"Ruby, not this again," Regina walks out of the room, being caught by Ruby right outside the door.

"Yes, again. Look, if any one of us needs a night out, it's you. Especially after everything that you've been through with Henry. You could use a break."

"No," Regina shakes her head. "I can't. I can't just leave Henry."

"You won't be leaving him alone. Gran can look after him, I know she wouldn't mind." Ruby grins. "Look, we'll double date, okay? You, Captain Marvel up there," her thumb points upward. "Me and Belle. We can go to see a movie or try that new karaoke bar just outside of town. It'll be fun! I know Emma will love to go with you."

"Since when are you and Belle a thing?" Regina's brow furrowed.

"We aren't. I just thought I'd ask her out and hope she says yes."

A bar with Emma? God… as far as Regina knew, bars were more for single people who didn't have the responsibility of a kid at home. Plus, it's been what felt like years since Regina has worn any makeup at all. She couldn't even remember the last time she was on a date.

"Look, just think about it. Okay? I'll make you a deal. If you ask Emma, I'll work up my courage and ask Belle." Ruby grinned.

"No."

"Okay, then if I dare to ask Belle, will you finally ask Emma out? Regina!" Ruby follows Regina as she walks back into the room.

By Monday, Emma was on time and Nala was the best Show and Tell of the school. Regina stood within the crowd in the classroom, smiling as she had never seen Henry look so happy. Henry was never one to have many friends, especially when surprisingly there weren't a lot of kids in this town to be friends with. But seeing her son with Emma always seemed to tug at the strings of Regina's heart.

Both looked like the pair of friends who have known each other for ages. Which surprised Regina.

"Who is that?" Regina heard a feminine voice from behind her.

"No idea." Said another voice.

"Forget it. Ruby told me she doesn't really like socializing with anyone. She has that quiet yet smoldering charm about her, though."

"Mhm. I'll say."

Regina rolls her eyes at other's comments regarding Emma's appeal. She masked her discomfort of others drooling over Emma by giving her best smile and clapping along with the rest of the parents.

"Mom, did you see me with Nala? Did you see how high she jumped, mom?" Henry asked, his face practically beaming.

"Yes, I saw." Regina brushed his long bangs away from his face. "You were great, sweetheart."

"So was Nala."

"Yes, so was Nala," Regina bent down, scratching Nala along the ears. She stood to be at Emma's level, finding her eyes staring down into hers. "Ms. Swan."

"Regina." Emma nodded.

"Thank you… for doing this with Henry."

"It's no problem. It was the most fun I've had in a while," Emma smiles down at Henry, her arm hangs loose off of his shoulder. "Right, Henry?"

"Right!" Henry grins. "Mom, can I come outside with Nala, please? Then I'll come back to school."

"Sure." Regina looks over at Emma, who follows right behind them.

"Regina?" A woman's voice stops them in her tracks, just outside the classroom.

"Candace. Hello." Regina gave her best fake smile. Emma can spot those a mile off.

"I see having a child out of wedlock wasn't enough, you seem to have your hands quite full with an entire family."

Regina looked away and coughed, her body shifting uncomfortably. "And how are you?" Her fake smile was on again like a light. "How's Frank?"

"Oh, well you know. Busy with all those business trips, but we are going to the Bahamas this summer. He promised the kids." Candace smiled.

Regina chuckled, "Yes, and I'm sure you must be really proud of his many… successes."

Candace slightly frowned, her eyes looking over to Emma. "And who might this be? I don't recall having the pleasure."

"This is Emma Swan. She's a guest at the bed and breakfast, and a friend," Regina's eyes shift to Emma.

The corner of Emma's lip lifts to the word friend. Even though she dreamed of being more, she didn't push her luck. "Ma'am." She nods curtly.

"How do you do?" Candace shakes Emma's hand. "Well, I am taking little Jamie here to a nice dinner after he did fabulously in his Show and Tell. Would you care to join us?"

"Actually, I was about to ask my Regina here, and Henry for a pizza." Emma wraps her arm around Regina's waist, pulling her close. Her smile beaming.

Despite Regina's surprise, she masked it by putting on her best smile and welcoming herself a little more into Emma's embrace.

"Oh." Candace's eyes are wide. "So you two are…?" Her throat bobs. "Well, how grand. Let's go Jamie." Her hands tighten along her son's shoulders. "I'll tell Frank you said hello."

"You do that." Regina gins, watching the woman walk away. She turns to Emma, stepping away from her embrace. "Thank you for that."

Emma smiles and gives a small nod.

"What a witch." Henry said.

"Henry." Regina glares at her son.

"What? It's true!"

Emma's smile widens. "I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Henry. You could use some better friends."

Regina's eyes flicker to Emma. "Luckily she's not a friend. She's just another bored housewife whose husband is having mindless affairs all across the country."

"I gathered that." Emma chuckled.

"What's an affair?" Henry looks up at his mother.

Regina rests her hands along his shoulders. "I'll tell you when you're older. Right now, that whole pizza idea made me hungry, so how about we ditch school for the day and we go get that pizza?"

"Yeah! Can Emma and Nala come, too?"

Regina and Emma's gazes met for a minute. Until Regina's smile was as genuine as Emma had ever seen it. "Would you like to come?" She asked.

"I'd love to." Said Emma.

Henry runs ahead of Regina and Emma along with Nala, barking beside him until they reach the car.

Regina brushes her arm with her hand, unable to unnotice the muscles hiding beneath her sleeve. "Ruby was right. You're not a big people person, are you?"

Emma grinned. "Is it that obvious?"

"Extremely." But Regina had to admit it was also oddly endearing, too, realizing that Emma was in fact different with her. "I just didn't seem to realize it until now."

"Yeah, well… I guess I'm just comfortable around you."

That simple confession felt like a compliment that made Regina's cheeks warm against her will.

Pizza had never tasted better for Emma. She picked out the last pepperoni that had been abandoned along the hot dish and popped it into her mouth. Henry had been allowed to feed Nala a few pieces, and even Regina.

"Here's your bill." A friendly waitress smiled, leaving the check and walking away.

Emma reached for the check, "I've got it."

Regina snatched the check right out of Emma's hand. "Oh, no. You're not paying for the pizza."

"Am, too."

"Are not." Regina crossed her arms across her chest, hiding the slip of paper within them.

"Am, too."

Regina leaned into the small table, her face inches away from Emma's. Emma's eyes couldn't help but look down at Regina's parted lips, so kissable. But not before looking into her fiery and stubborn brown eyes.

"I'm paying," said Regina, all soft and slow, like she knew Emma was struggling to keep her damn hands to herself right now.

Emma's brow slightly lifted, "In your dreams."

Regina's expression grew soft, and Emma would have given all the money she had if she could just know what Regina was thinking at that moment. "Fine," she said. "But only if you agree to have dinner with us."

"Deal." Said Emma, sharing her first equal smile with Regina.

As Emma withdrew money from her pocket, Regina gathered her purse, "Alright, you ready? Let's go." She slid out of their booth.

"Regina?" Regina looked up to an older, well dressed couple, closing in on her and Henry until they reached their booth.

It wasn't the pause the older couple took that triggered Emma as she stood next to Regina, it was the look on their faces of utter shock as they looked down at Henry.

And just as Nala began to moving in on the couple, so did Emma.

The older woman started moving forward as if she didn't have control of her own actions and Nala bared her teeth at her and began growling. And as Regina sucked in a breath, Emma knew everything she needed to know. "No!" Regina stepped in. She wasn't shouting at Nala, but at the couple standing before them. "Go. Now."

Emma stepped forward, protecting Regina and Henry. "I wouldn't come any closer if I was you. She'll go for the jugular if you move one hand toward the kid." Her voice low and even. Nala just awaited orders, she waited to feel Emma's agitation growing for her to become instantly aggressive.

"That dog is a menace," the older man said, sneering up at Emma.

"Only to people she sees as threats to Henry or Regina. Now, I believe Regina asked you to go." She took a step forward, forcing the couple to retreat, knowing Nala would follow and give Regina the room to keep Henry away from any harm.

"And who exactly might I ask, are you?" The woman demanded.

"That's none of your business." Said Emma.

"That child is not your business. He isn't yours," the man seethed.

"He's not yours, either," Emma said. "But I'm theirs, and that's all that matters. And I can tell you that if you ever come close to them without Regina's permission, Nala will be the least of your concerns."

When the older man stared Regina down, Emma moved in forward, blocking Regina from the line of sight of disgust the man was throwing her way.

"Emma," Regina called softly, her hand landing along Emma's shoulder. Her eyes took a quick scan along the room, noticing the crowd that had gathered.

"Have a nice evening," Emma said to the couple, but didn't turn her back on them for an instant.

"You can't keep us away, Regina," said the older man. "We have rights."

"Watch me." Regina challenged.

The old couple walked away, leaving through the exit door. And that's when Emma's body relaxed, and as soon as it did, so did Nala, putting away her teeth.

"Who was that, mom?" Henry asked, looking up at his mother.

"No one you need to worry about," Regina answered.

"Nala was worried," Henry noted.

"Nala is just a good judge of character," Regina muttered. "They were just some people I used to know."

"They weren't very nice," said Henry.

"They have never been, sweetheart."

The ride back was a quiet one. Henry had fallen asleep in the backseat, which Emma offered to carry him inside the bed and breakfast while they headed inside. Once snuggled in, Regina accompanied Emma until they reached outside of their room. "I'm very sorry about earlier. That was unexpected and uncalled for."

"It's not your fault, Regina." Emma said, shaking her head.

Regina bit on her lower lip. "Those were Robin's parents."

"So I assumed." Said Emma.

Regina's eyes lifted directly to Emma's. "You're just like August when you do that, make conclusions about everything around you. People, too."

"Keeps us alive," Emma responded. Her eyes closed slightly at the blunder and pain that followed. "You know what I mean."

Regina nods. "They've never even seen Henry. Never even asked him.

Emma knew that, of course. She not only picked up from reading Regina's letters time and time again, but from Nala's reaction. The way the hairs stood up along her back.

Regina sighed, feeling a weight crushing her on the inside that needed to stop. "Robin was a one night stand type of thing. He actually tried to do the right thing when he found out I was pregnant, but he walked out on me when I was eight weeks along." She looks away, ashamed, stepping into the memory all over again. "He hadn't wanted to get married, truth be told neither did I. Not after realizing what I really wanted. Which is what he could never provide. Still… they say a mother would give anything up for her child. And until I had Henry growing inside of me, I never realized how true that was."

"You expected maybe a little more from him." Emma said, clearly seeing the answer in Regina's eyes.

Regina blinked away tears that threatened her, nodding. "I met Robin when I was in High School. He was from here. Of course, he had big dreams, leaving this small town life behind and becoming some sort of big shot in the city. I became the laughing stock of the town for a while once they found out I was pregnant and alone." She chuckles, shaking her head. "Robin's parents disowned him once they found out, they gave him an ultimatum. Me with a burden or his high and mighty career."

Emma attempted to put herself in Regina's situation. And yet, she couldn't understand what type of asshole would put anything before a woman like Regina. "You are incredibly strong, Regina."

Regina chuckled, "Strong…" she muttered, shaking her head. "I wasn't strong, Emma. From the moment I took that home pregnancy test, to the moment the doctor confirmed that I was pregnant. I regretted everything. I would have given anything to change it."

"You were young and scared." Emma notted. "I can't imagine being seventeen and pregnant. I would be scared, too. Anyone would."

"I was in a situation with a young guy who didn't have a clue on what to do. I remember giving him the news, hoping that he would stand by me, like you see in the movies when you find yourself a great person to spend the rest of your life with. Of course, I knew Robin wasn't that person, but once pregnant… one could only hope."

"What did he do?" Emma asked.

"He demanded I get an abortion." Regina shrugged.

Emma's nails dug into the skin along her palms. Her hand trembling.

"But it was then that I understood I wanted my son. I wanted him more than I ever wanted anything in the world. And I would fight tooth and nail to protect him from everything that meant to cause him harm. I wasn't going to give him up." Regina's eyes teared up, but no tear was seen in sight. "When I refused, he threatened me. I refused again, and by morning, he was gone."

I'm really sorry that you had to go through that." Said Emma.

Regina shrugged, "It is what it is. And it taught me never to trust a liar. It keeps me on my toes. Because if there's one thing I've come to learn is that people disappoint you. One way or the other. Everyone breaks their promise."

"I won't." Emma stepped forward, dying to reach for Regina's hand but she retracted back. Instead her eyes lock onto Regina's. "I may not have your trust now, but that's only because I have to earn it. And that's okay. I want to earn it. I want you to see for yourself that no matter what… I will always be around. I will come back, and I will not die. You can trust me."

Regina stared right into Emma's eyes and saw the frightening truth behind them. So frightening, it scared her. Because how could she trust Emma when she trusted August and he ended up dead?