The morning of the home visit started out deceptively calm. Emma woke up in the guest bedroom to the scent of fresh coffee wafting down the hall. She stretched lazily before spotting another note from Regina on the bedside table:

'Breakfast is ready. I've told Henry not to disturb you, but we need to be prepared for the home visit. Yours, Regina.'

Emma smiled faintly, brushing her fingers over the elegant handwriting. She let herself savor a rare moment of peace before dragging herself out of bed and into the kitchen.

There, Henry was perched at the counter, munching on a piece of toast, while Regina flitted about, making last-minute adjustments to the already spotless kitchen.

"Morning," Emma greeted, her voice rough with sleep as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

Regina turned, giving her a once-over. "Good. You're awake. We have a lot to do before Angela arrives."

Emma groaned into her coffee. "It's all going to be fine, Regina. The house is spotless. You've got this."

Regina gave her a sharp look. "We've got this, Emma. This is as much your responsibility as mine."

Henry grinned at Emma. "She's been like this all morning."

"I can tell," Emma muttered, sipping her coffee.

Before she could say more, Regina handed her a list.

"What's this?" Emma asked, holding it up.

"A checklist," Regina replied briskly. "We need to make sure everything is perfect."

Emma sighed but didn't argue. She could tell Regina was on edge, and as much as she wanted to push back, she also knew this was too important. "Alright, what's first?"

A Few Hours Later

The trio was in the living room, finishing their final preparations, when the doorbell rang. Regina straightened her blazer, smoothing invisible wrinkles as her gaze darted toward Emma.

"Answer the door," she instructed.

Emma smirked. "Yes, ma'am," she teased, earning a glare from Regina.

Emma opened the door to find Angela standing there, clipboard in hand and a warm smile on her face.

"Hi, Angela," Emma greeted, stepping aside to let her in.

Angela stepped into the pristine mansion, glancing around appreciatively. "This is a lovely home."

"Thank you," Regina said, her voice perfectly even as she joined them. "We've worked hard to create a space that's comfortable for Henry."

Henry appeared at that moment, offering Angela a polite smile. "Hi," he said.

"Hello, Henry," Angela said kindly. "I hear you're very excited about the possibility of a sibling."

Henry nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I've always wanted a little brother or sister."

Angela chuckled before turning back to the adults. "Well, let's get started, shall we?"

Angela began with a tour of the house, taking notes as Regina and Emma walked her through each room. Regina spoke with confidence, detailing how they are preparing the guest room to be a nursery, while Emma added the occasional comment, trying to lighten the mood with humor.

When they reached Henry's room, Angela asked him a few questions about what it was like living with both of his moms.

"They're great," Henry said earnestly. "They both care about me a lot. And it's cool having two people to go to when I need help."

Angela smiled, jotting down a note. "That's wonderful to hear."

Finally, they settled in the living room for the interview portion of the visit. Angela's tone was friendly but professional as she asked questions about their parenting styles, routines, and their relationship.

"You seem like a very committed team," Angela observed, glancing between them.

Regina smiled tightly. "We are. Henry is our priority."

Angela nodded, flipping a page on her clipboard. "One last thing. Emma, I noticed that you aren't listed as Henry's other parent, are you intending on adopting Henry as well?"

Emma blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah, absolutely. I want to make it official."

Henry's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and excitement. "Really?"

Emma turned to him, her expression softening. "Of course, kid. You've always been my son. This just makes it official."

Regina looked over at Emma, a flicker of warmth crossing her face. She hadn't expected this, but seeing the way Henry lit up, she felt a pang of gratitude toward Emma.

"That's wonderful to hear," Angela said, her smile widening. "It shows how committed you are to building this family together."

Emma nodded, her resolve strengthening. "We are."

The moment the door closed behind Angela, Regina let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Well, that went better than expected," she said, leaning against the wall.

Henry grinned. "She liked us, right? I think she liked us."

"She definitely did," Emma said, ruffling his hair.

Regina straightened, giving Emma a small but genuine smile. "Thank you for…everything you said in there. About Henry. It meant a lot."

Emma shrugged, though a faint blush crept up her neck. "It's the truth."

Regina's smile lingered as she turned to Henry. "Why don't you pick a movie for tonight? I think we deserve a little celebration."

Henry cheered and dashed off to the living room, leaving Emma and Regina alone in the foyer.

Emma glanced at Regina, her expression softening. "You really think it went well?"

"I do," Regina admitted. "And I think we make a better team than I expected."

Emma smirked. "Careful, Regina. That almost sounded like a compliment."

Regina rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched upward. "Don't let it go to your head, Miss Swan."

Emma raised her eyebrow, causing a sharp laugh to escape from Regina's lips. "Forgive me," Regina rolled her eyes before closing the distance between them and placing a kiss on the corner of Emma's lips. "Mrs Swan-Mills…" She whispered before pulling away.

With that, she walked toward the living room, leaving Emma standing there with a grin on her face and a feeling that, for the first time in a while, things might actually work out.

The living room was quiet as the movie credits rolled. Regina grabbed the empty popcorn bowls while Emma stretched her legs out on the couch, her eyes following Henry as he fidgeted, his gaze cast downward. She could tell something was on his mind.

"Alright, kid," Emma said, patting the seat next to her. "What's up?"

Henry hesitated before moving to claim Regina's spot. "Nothing," he mumbled, but his hands were gripping the hem of his shirt, giving him away.

"Henry," Emma pressed gently, leaning toward him. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Henry glanced up at her, his expression conflicted. "It's just…I was thinking about what you said earlier. About adopting me."

Emma's heart clenched. She hadn't realized how much that moment had affected him. "Okay," she said, keeping her tone calm. "Let's talk about it."

Henry took a deep breath. "Why didn't you ever think about adopting me before? Like, was it because you didn't want to?"

Emma's chest tightened, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Henry, no. It was never about not wanting you. I guess…I just didn't think about it because I already felt like you were mine. From the moment we met, you've always been my kid."

Henry looked down, fiddling with his shirt again. "But now that you're adopting this new kid…does that mean you actually want them? Like more than you wanted me?"

Emma's eyes widened, and she quickly pulled him into a hug. "Hey, no. No way, Henry. Look at me." She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. "I love you. You're my son, and that's never going to change. This new kid, they're not replacing you or taking anything away from what we have. I'm gonna love them too, but that doesn't mean I love you any less."

Henry's lips trembled slightly, but he nodded, seeming reassured. "Okay," he said softly.

Emma ruffled his hair, her voice lighter. "Good. Besides, you're gonna be the coolest big brother ever. That's a pretty big deal, you know."

Henry smiled faintly, and Emma felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Unbeknownst to them, Regina stood just out of sight, leaning against the doorway. She had heard every word, and her heart swelled with emotion. It had been a long time since she had felt this kind of warmth—this sense of family. Emma's words, her love for Henry, it all reminded Regina of why she had taken this leap with Emma in the first place. But this sense of safety with the blonde also terrified her. She hadn't felt this secure in a long time, and she was afraid that something would come in the way of feeling this safe and loved. That particular something being the swell in her heart she felt every time Emma even glanced in her direction.

She cleared her throat lightly as she stepped into the room. "Well, I was thinking," she said with a small smile, "since we all deserve a little treat after today, how about we go out for ice cream?"

Henry's face lit up. "Really?"

Regina nodded. "Really. Get your coat."

"Ice cream before dinner? Mrs Swan-Mills, you are a wild one." Emma winked as she jumped over the back of the couch to face Regina.

Regina let out a hearty laugh, "You have no idea, dear." She sealed the conversation with a playful wink of her own as she swayed away, confident that she had Emma's eyes following her every step of the way.

The three of them sat at a small table, Henry eagerly digging into his triple-scoop sundae while Emma and Regina opted for simpler cones. Emma's still childlike and covered in chocolate sauce and sprinkles, while Regina's was plain besides the small cherry that rested on top. The mood was light, and for a moment, it felt like everything was falling into place.

That was until the door jingled, and in walked Snow, David, and Neal.

Emma tensed slightly, her hand instinctively tightening around her cone. Regina noticed immediately, her eyes narrowing as Snow spotted them and made her way over.

"Emma," Snow greeted cautiously, her voice soft.

"Mom," Emma replied, her tone neutral as she glanced at her father, who gave her an encouraging smile.

Regina straightened in her chair. "Would you like to join us?" she asked, her tone polite but firm.

Snow hesitated, her eyes flicking between Emma and Regina before she nodded. "If that's alright."

Henry quickly slid over to make room, and Snow sat down beside Emma, holding Neal on her lap.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence. Then Snow took a deep breath. "Emma, I've been thinking a lot about everything. About you and Regina."

Emma looked at her, wary but curious.

"I still don't understand everything," Snow admitted, her voice honest. "But I want to. And I want to be here for you. So whenever you're ready to talk, I'm ready to listen."

Emma stared at her mother for a long moment, her walls slowly coming down. "Thanks, Mom," she said quietly.

Regina, observing the exchange, placed a comforting hand on Emma's arm under the table. Emma turned to her briefly, their eyes meeting in a silent moment of gratitude.

The rest of the evening was uneventful, filled with small talk and laughter as Henry recounted stories from school. But for Emma, that simple moment - a small promise of an open and honest talk - with her mother was a turning point—a step toward healing, understanding, and moving forward as a family.