Emma had never fit the mold of a Type A, worrywart teacher like Mother Superior or Belle. That's probably why she ended up paired with both of them for Storybrooke Academy's annual field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo.
Honestly, her friends would have been shocked that she became a teacher. Not that she ran with the same crowds from her juvenile delinquent years, but her journey from a troubled youth to an educator with a science degree was a testament to her resilience.
At eighteen, Emma gave her accidental baby up for closed adoption (while incarcerated) and clawed her way out of a life of crime and poverty. She found stability, only thanks to meeting Mary Margaret, who offered her a room and encouraged Emma to put her smarts to use. Colleges eagerly offered her scholarships when she finally found the courage to apply eating up the story of a criminal foster kid finding hope and joy in science. Despite this, Emma often worked three jobs to make ends meet, reviewing lecture notes while sitting on the kitchen counter to avoid falling asleep.
Her biology degree and teaching credential now hung proudly above her desk (in cheap dollar store frames, only slightly dented from falling a few times due to her lazily nailing them up.)
Teaching 11-year-olds, with their crude jokes about farts and boogers, felt natural to Emma and led her to middle school. This age group demanded a unique blend of bravery, strictness, unconditional love, and very unconventional methods. That, and the preteens and teenagers never judged her for wearing the same outfits or being grumpy on tough days. All this to say, Emma had a knack for connecting with kids, especially the ones no one else liked.
That's why she now found herself in the back with the troublemakers. This arrangement pleased Mother Superior, who chose the front, sitting stiffly with her clipboard, gritting her teeth at every bump in the road. Emma, however, enjoyed the chaos, laughing and joking with the kids, feeling right at home.
Combining both fifth-grade classes on the bus had created an interesting dynamic. Emma's students were a lively bunch, making bracelets, singing, laughing, and trying to stick their heads out the window—much to her annoyance. The other class, in stark contrast, sat quietly in their assigned seats.
Belle chose a seat in the back along with Emma, much to her surprise. While Emma would have preferred Mulan or Snow as her Specials teacher co-chaperone to pal around with, Belle was sweet and easy to talk to.
"Do you think they'll have a kangaroo?" Christopher Robin, one of Emma's quieter boys, asked. He'd sought the spot where the teachers were at, clearly avoiding the chaos of his classmates.
"Maybe!" Belle laughed, her accent always charming. Her eyes flicked over to Emma. "If anyone can spot a kangaroo, it's me!" she said with a smile more resembling a pained grimace, making Emma snort in laughter. Belle must have heard every Australia joke in the book.
"Or a little bear," Christopher Robin said softly. "I'd love to see a real one."
With a pang, Emma realized that Henry would have loved to join this conversation, but like many kids with chaperoning parents, he'd opted to ride with his mom on the four-hour trip to Boston. Emma didn't blame him. The clatter of the bus and the students' obnoxiously loud chatter was already giving her a headache.
As the bus pulled into the zoo, Emma made her way to the front and gave her students a playful stink eye to get them quiet. Mother Superior and Belle busily counted heads with military precision. Emma fought the urge to roll her eyes at their strict adherence to every rule.
"Alright, children," Mother Superior said sternly, tucking her clipboard into her seemingly bottomless Mary Poppins tote bag. "Stay with your chaperone at all times and meet here at bus B promptly at three. Any deviation will earn you three demerits, which, as you know, means immediate after-school and weekend detention."
Mother Superior's stern announcement cast a heavy silence over the group. Belle gave Emma a pleading smile, sensing the tension
"Alright, let's make this fun," Emma said, trying to lighten the mood. "Who thinks I could win an arm wrestling match against a gorilla?"
The students erupted in laughter, immediately debating whether their teacher stood a chance. Emma snickered along with them until she caught Mother Superior's glare. She cleared her throat and gave the kids a look until they quieted down. Belle covered her mouth to hide her smile.
"Alright, guys, let's keep it cool and not scare the animals," Emma tried again. "As long as we all follow the rules, this should be a great day. Right?"
The students nodded, already blending into a sea of matching royal blue and silver sweatshirts featuring a definitely-not-copyrighted mouse mascot with a wizard cap and magic wand. The kids loved them, but Emma found the uniform ridiculous. Though, the thought of seeing Regina in one brought a smirk to her face. Emma resolved to find Ms. Mills as soon as she got the students and volunteers settled.
The students dispersed from the buses and found their assigned chaperones. Parent volunteers parked and gathered. Among them, Regina and Henry stood out. Emma did her best not to stare at how the school sweater clung to Regina's curves or how her mom jeans hugged that perfect ass.
Emma waved them over. Henry's face brightened when he saw her. He sprinted in her direction, leaped over the curb, and hugged her.
"Whoa, easy there," Emma laughed, stepping back from the force of the hug. "Happy to see you too, Henry."
"You did it!" he said, releasing her and looking up with a smug grin. "You befriended my mom. Nice job."
"Did she tell you that?" Emma asked, amused.
Henry shook his head, still smiling. "Nope. I could just tell."
Emma ruffled his hair. "You're too sharp for your own good. Let's catch up with your group. I've got a gorilla to arm wrestle."
Regina caught up, giving Henry a look for running ahead and then Emma too, after overhearing what she'd just said.
"Please tell me you're joking," Regina chastised. "As entertaining as that would be, I doubt the school budget covers hazard pay for gorilla wrestling."
"Yeah, my death would mean a big payout," Emma quipped, making Regina snort with laughter.
She tried to look serious. "I regret to inform you, Ms. Swan, that you're not allowed to die," Regina bantered. "Not without my permission."
Henry watched them with keen interest, eyes darting between the two women. Regina noticed his curiosity. "What is it, Henry?"
His grin widened. "Nothing, Mom. You just… seem really happy around Emma."
Regina cleared her throat, embarrassed. Henry quickly corrected himself. "Sorry! I meant Ms. Swan."
Regina shot Emma a look. Emma held up her hands in mock defense. "Whoa! If that's what Ms. Mills looks like when she's happy, I really don't want to see her mad!"
"You don't, trust me," Henry said with a shudder.
"Enough, let's get going," Regina said, ending their banter. She took Henry's hand and Emma's elbow, guiding them to their groups. Emma couldn't help but relish the soft touch of Regina's gloved hand on her skin. She liked it more than she cared to admit.
Emma's class split into groups of five. Each group had a leader: Emma, Belle, Regina, Andy's mom (whose name Emma could never remember), and Lilo's older sister Nani, who had taken the day off to help (despite needing the hours.) Emma and Nani had bonded over the past two months, both working to help Lilo engage more in school.
As the groups formed, Melody, one of Emma's students, waved energetically at a striking redhead and her equally handsome husband approaching the middle school volunteers. Emma guessed this was the room mom Ruby always raved about.
"No fair that Ms. Lucas stole your parents for eighth grade," Emma said to Melody, who grinned.
"Ms. Blanchard says that all the time," Melody replied with a chuckle.
"I like Ms. Mills," Jacinda chimed in, surprising Emma and Melody. Usually silent and very shy, Jacinda rarely spoke unless necessary. "She makes me happy."
Emma subtly glanced over, desperately hoping Regina picked up the compliment. Regina's eyes widened, her face soft with emotion, and Emma's heart fluttered.
By the red panda exhibit, Meilin Lee and a group of eighth-grade girls screamed in delight. They jumped up and down, trying to get the best view of the fluffy red pandas scampering around their enclosure. Meilin's excitement was contagious as she described every playful move the red pandas made to her chaperone, Mulan, who shot Emma an amused but pleading look.
As the students explored the zoo, Emma and Regina's groups gradually merged. The children's pace naturally slowed as they crowded around the exhibits, their excitement creating a lively buzz. Henry stayed close to Emma, his mom, and Jacinda, who effortlessly switched between Spanish and English. Regina laughed at something Jacinda said, and butterflies swirled in Emma's stomach.
The savanna exhibit featured zebras grazing peacefully, their striking black-and-white stripes dazzling against the golden grass. Nearby, lions lounged in the sun, their fur shimmering. A "crashed" land rover positioned against a large viewing window allowed visitors to get up close and personal with the lions, whose thunderous roars echoed through the enclosure.
Kiara's eyes widened as she pressed her hands against the glass, her face glowing with joy. "They're so beautiful!" she exclaimed, her voice full of wonder. Her braids, adorned with colorful beads, clacked together as she ran back and forth, trying to get the best view.
Henry joined her, equally captivated. "Look at that one, Kiara. He's huge!" The lions continued their regal display, roaring and playfully swatting at each other.
Next came the tropical house. The air grew thick and humid, filled with the sounds of playful monkeys screeching and swinging from branches. A dwarf crocodile lurked in its pond, and a snake slithered along a branch. A baby gorilla paused playing with a toy, her eyes following the strange guests.
Regina wrinkled her nose at the pungent animal odor. "I could do without that smell," she whined, drawing an eyeroll and chuckle from Emma.
"Femmes," she muttered.
Nearby, Riley, who had grown close to Emma over the past few weeks, pointed to a huge silverback gorilla. "Hey, Swan, think you could arm wrestle him?"
The silverback, towering at nearly six feet tall, suddenly stood, as if squaring up. Emma stumbled back with a yelp. The students nearby burst into laughter, especially Riley.
Heart thumping wildly, Emma laughed weakly, shaking her head. "Holy sh… Uh, maybe I'll just stick to arm wrestling a baby one instead."
"Here, I'll save you," Riley joked, playfully pushing Emma away from the gorillas into the next exhibit.
As the children ran ahead to the birdhouse, Emma and Regina fell into step together, enjoying a moment of quiet. Roland Locksley, another of Emma's fifth graders, hung close to Regina, clearly comfortable around her. He tugged on her sleeve, asking about different animals.
Once Roland ran off to join the other kids, Regina cast Emma a sideways glance. "Thanks for putting my ex's son in my group," she remarked dryly.
Emma blinked, taken aback. "I didn't know Roland was your ex's son. I'm sorry, Regina. If it's uncomfortable, I can—"
Regina shook her head, her gaze softening as she watched Roland rejoin the group. "It's fine. Just because his father's an ass doesn't mean his child deserves to suffer."
Emma nodded, appreciating Regina's resilience. "Uh, speaking of the kids— how's Jacinda doing in math?" she asked, shifting the conversation.
Regina smiled, competitiveness in her eyes. "Very well. She'll be caught up by December. And Riley?"
"Riley too," Emma said, pride evident. "She'll give your one-on-one a run for her money for sure."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe it is," Emma replied, smirking.
A peal of laughter distracted them. They turned, as Henry and Jacinda conversed brightly, heads close together.
"Looks like Henry's quite the charmer," Emma remarked, watching them.
Regina's eyes narrowed slightly. "He better be on his best behavior."
"Don't worry, he always is. Though… Henry did confess a little crush on Lilo a while back, but she turned him down. Now he's torn between Violet and Jacinda."
Regina rolled her eyes. "Girl drama. Wonderful."
"Maybe it's okay he's making girlfriends?" Emma tried. "Henry's been talking to the class lizard lately... He seems lonely."
Regina sighed, her expression hesitant. "You might not know this but… I adopted Henry. Sometimes it's hard for him to connect and trust others," she said slowly, revealing a trace of vulnerability at this admission.
Emma nodded, understanding. "I get it. I was in foster care my whole life, so I know how tough it is."
Regina looked at Emma thoughtfully for a moment. "Do you have any children?"
"Not anymore, no," Emma replied, taking in a harsh breath to steady herself. She let it out with a whoosh, folded her arms, and glared into the distance, distracting herself by observing the kids' behavior.
Regina hesitated, then placed a faltering hand on Emma's shoulder, as if she wasn't used to such intimate gestures. The tentative touch made Emma think Regina might be very lonely, perhaps not used to physical affection, filling her with a pang of sadness. Determined not to add to Regina's isolation, Emma pushed through her own discomfort to accept the gesture. Regina had been vulnerable, so Emma decided to be too.
"I should get back into therapy," Emma admitted reluctantly. "I mean, people say it helps."
Regina glanced at her, silent. Finding more confidence, Emma kept pushing. "It's good for kids too. To have someone to talk to."
Regina sighed, her eyes drifting to Henry in the distance. "I know where this is going. I'm not opposed to therapy at all. It's just that I want to protect Henry. I… don't want him to think he's broken."
That made perfect sense to Emma, and she nodded. "I know you don't like talking about this, but you and Henry aren't alone, okay?" Emma hesitated, then added, "I'm even trying to get Riley into therapy. To help with her homesickness. I figure that's holding her back in class. It's worth a shot, you know?"
"Maybe you're right," Regina said quietly, her eyes still on Henry.
Lively chirps and squawks of vibrant birds rang through the avian exhibit. The kids laughed at the kookaburra's loud call and marveled at the colorful feathers of the exotic parrots. Near the kookaburra, Melody spotted a small animal hopping around and exclaimed, "Look, a kangaroo!"
Cody, an elementary exchange student, wandered over to their group, eyes wide with excitement. "That's a wallaby, not a kangaroo," he corrected confidently.
Belle, who had just caught up with the group, smiled at him. "You're right! And hey, is that an Aussie accent I hear?"
Cody smiled shyly. He tucked his chin into his shirt.
Henry quickly stepped in and tousled Cody's hair gently, warming Emma's heart to see his kindness toward the littles.
"Yeah, he lives in the outback," Henry said, "and Cody loves all animals, especially eagles. We talk about them a lot during resource pullout since he's my reading buddy. Which one's your favorite again?"
Cody held his hands in front of his face, clearly overwhelmingly shy, and whispered through his fingers, "Wedge-tailed eagle..."
Belle's smile widened with genuine delight. "Wedge-tailed eagles! They're amazing creatures, one of the largest birds of prey in the world. I love them too." She crouched down to Cody's level. "Keep learning about animals, you two. With your passion, you'll get to see all kinds of wonderful creatures!"
Next, Emma and Regina's groups visited the aquarium. Nemo, a tiny boy in Emma's group, with a mop of orange hair, became captivated by the all the different fish gracefully swimming by. He pressed his face against the glass to get a better look at the colorful clown fish.
Around one, the kids began showing signs of hangriness, so Emma led them to the expansive play and picnic area. The timing was perfect as David, Ms. Rose, and several other staff members unloaded the students' sack lunches onto tables.
The children scattered to climb, explore, and enjoy their lunch, laughter echoing joyfully through the zoo. The delicious aroma of cooking burgers and pizza filled the air, mingling with the rustle of kids tearing open brown sack lunch bags and the cheerful pop of juice boxes. Emma's stomach rumbled, reminding her it was time for a much-needed break herself.
Regina, Henry, and Jacinda settled at a picnic table. Regina had pulled out what looked like homemade enchiladas, neatly arranged in expensive glass Tupperwares from her bag.
Meanwhile, Emma found herself at a nearby table, looking down at the sad-looking school lunch. In vain, she tried to spot Mary Margaret, but the zoo was so packed and busy that she hadn't run into any of the other grades. Grumpily, she devoured the measly peanut butter and jelly sandwich in three bites and gave the juice box to a nearby kid, too embarrassed to drink it. She vowed to ask Regina for lunch in the future, as the enticing aroma of the enchiladas wafted over to her.
A blonde ponytail and long flowing skirt caught Emma's gaze, and she spotted Elsa eating alone on a bench. Emma jogged over, relieved to see a familiar face.
Elsa unpacked what also looked like a delicious homemade lunch: open-faced sandwiches with brown cheese and cured meats, fresh fruit, and a thermos of hot soup.
"Femmes," Emma grumbled, again. She really needed to pack her own lunch. But cooking? That was never going to happen.
Elsa looked up, mid-bite, wide-eyed. She perked up, realizing it was Emma and not another student, and scooted over to make room.
"Where's your lunch?" Elsa asked after swallowing. She scowled. "Did you forget?"
Emma grinned in reply, so Elsa glowered and pushed her lunchbox over to Emma in a wordless demand. Emma gratefully accepted a strawberry, popping it into her mouth.
"Thanks," she said, mouth full.
Elsa shook her head in disapproval, stirring her soup. "We have got to get you a girlfriend."
Just then, a delighted child's shriek, like Paul Revere, announced the ice cream cart.
"ICE CREAM!"
Elsa and Emma quickly moved to break up the stampede of students. Emma stepped aside, watching as Elsa efficiently directed the kids into an orderly queue, reminding them to use their manners. Despite being a new teacher like Emma, Elsa displayed a strong presence with the kids.
The ice cream lady thanked them after the kids received their treats.
Elsa's face flashed in recognition. "Oh, you look so familiar!" she said.
The woman smiled, effortlessly gorgeous despite the pink ice cream visor and apron. "Yes, Ingrid," she greeted. Her eyes were disconcertingly knowing as she looked at Emma. "And you're Elsa and Emma, I would never forget such wonderful teachers."
Elsa blushed, and Emma's gut told her something was off. Ingrid, sensing the frosty reception, quickly handed them both cones. Elsa and Emma stood there, holding the blue and pink bubblegum cones, and exchanged puzzled looks. Elsa raised an eyebrow, and Emma shrugged, taking a bite.
"There we go," Ingrid chuckled. "A little sugary sweet helps break the ice, doesn't it? I'm volunteering here because one of my fosters is on a field trip with Camelot Charter today." She made a goofy face. "Sorry! I should have explained. I used to be on the PTA at Storybrooke. We left in the middle of last year… just needing something else. No offense intended. Different schools serve different needs, you know?"
"I'm not offended at all," Elsa replied. "Though, isn't it true Camelot is pretty selective with the students who can attend?"
"Well, yes," Ingrid admitted. "One of its charms. Storybrooke's riffraff would simply not fly there," she giggled, and Emma decided she did not like Ingrid at all.
"You know, the administration is recruiting excellent teachers like yourselves," Ingrid smiled warmly. "You should think about joining. I've heard so much about your math scores from Regina. I've been hoping to get Henry enrolled for some time. Our teachers make five figures as starting pay, you know." She gave Emma a pointed look that felt like an x-ray. "And, as a former foster child, you could make an especially big impact, Emma."
She discreetly slipped a business card into Emma and Elsa's hands. Elsa looked at it, clearly uncomfortable, and glanced at Emma for help. Emma caught her look and, trying to diffuse the tension, said, "Thanks for the offer. We'll think about it. We better get back to our kids."
"Of course," Ingrid nodded, giving them a polite smile before moving on to serve the next school.
"I don't feel good about her," Elsa said suddenly, once Ingrid was out of earshot. She looked at Emma, lips pursed in concern. "I don't like how much she knew about you. Be careful, okay?"
Emma kept an eye out for Ingrid and any more recruiting from Camelot Charter, but as November turned into December and New England's wintery days hit Storybrooke, everyone focused on surviving the cold and dark until Christmas break.
Emma knew she should have told Regina about Ingrid's recruiting attempt, but with their relationship going so well, she didn't want to bring it up.
With Regina's strong presence in the school and her supportive colleagues, Emma felt confident in her class. She continued using the math strategies she learned from Elsa and, despite the teasing from Mulan and Merida, attended a voluntary math PD after school with Mary Margaret and Belle.
"Neither of you teach math—why are you even here?" Emma asked, mildly annoyed.
"I need the extra pay for plane tickets home for Christmas," Mary Margaret said. "Tickets aren't cheap!"
Belle shrugged. "I thought it might be interesting," she said, and Emma shook her head, realizing Mulan and Merida's mockery wasn't entirely unfounded. Despite that, Emma picked up some useful strategies, especially for helping students decode word problems.
Her efforts paid off when Regina announced, on the Monday of the last week before Christmas break, that 100% of the students had passed the winter math and science benchmarks. Emma couldn't resist giving Regina a hug—they had both worked so hard, and Regina even returned it.
"We did it!" Emma said, tears spilling down her cheeks. She hastily wiped them away. "Sorry, I'm just so happy."
"Tears are nothing to apologize for," Regina said, pulling tissues from the box on her desk and handing them over. Emma accepted gratefully, dabbing her eyes. "You've put in a lot of hard work. It's okay to be emotional."
"Hey, you have too," Emma interjected. "Seeing Jacinda in the top 10 in both math and science did me in. I'm so happy for her. Her grandpa's gonna lose his mind. Maybe you can call him for me?"
Regina held up her Blackberry, grandpa's number already on speed dial. "Way ahead of you, Swan."
Emma scanned the score sheet, eager to see how Riley did. She was last on the list, passing but barely. She was in the orange category, below grade level, and still on the cusp of failing the state exam at the end of the year. That snapped Emma out of her emotional moment. Clearly, there was still work to do.
Regina, reading her well, gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't beat yourself up about Riley. She passed, and that's the first step. We'll get her there."
"Thanks," Emma said. Regina's compliments meant a lot. Always honest, sometimes brutally so, she never said anything nice unless she meant it. Her kindness, often critical but always out of genuine concern, showed she cared.
Regina hopped off a student desk, mimicking a habit she seemed to have picked up from Emma and Henry. Emma found it both hilarious and endearing. "Well," she said. "Looks like we've got a party to plan."
Emma stayed late each day that week, decorating the classroom with tinsel, snowmen, snowflakes—anything wintery but not too holiday-themed. She pinned up the kids' art decorations, and by Friday, the classroom felt warm and cozy. Regina splurged on the kids, bringing in a hot cocoa maker, whipped cream, and sprinkles, and putting in a jumbo order to the best Italian pizza spot downtown.
Since the kids and staff were allowed to wear holiday-themed sweaters on Friday, the school buzzed with festive energy. Emma, who had never been a fan of holidays because they reminded her of the lonely times in foster care, donned a Hanukkah sweater to support Mary Margaret, who had decorated their apartment for the occasion. Regina showed up in a fashionably ugly reindeer sweater and a Santa hat, with Henry matching in a similar outfit.
"Mazel tov," Henry said with a smile. "Is that right?"
"I don't know. I'm not Jewish—my roommate is," Emma clarified quickly. "Uh… Feliz Navidad?"
"Ugh," Henry and Regina groaned in unison at her terrible pronunciation. Henry's mood brightened when he saw the whiteboard where Emma had started planning the spring musical, "The Wizard of Oz."
"Yes!" he cheered. "I've been waiting forever to be in fifth grade because we get to do the musical in your class."
Emma smiled. "I'm not exactly sure how I got this job, probably because I'm new, but my last few plays haven't been horrible. Mary Margaret does most of the musical stuff anyway. It should be interesting at least." She smiled at Henry. "You gonna audition?"
"Yep!" Henry said proudly.
Regina came over with a curious smirk. "Really? I didn't know you liked theater, Henry. That's wonderful."
"Well, Violet's gonna audition too, I think," Henry mumbled, looking suddenly flustered. Regina's smile faded into a scowl. Henry quickly busied himself with helping set up the party. Emma gave Regina a look and intervened when Henry was out of earshot.
"Be nice," Emma warned. "Everyone does silly things for their crush. I know I did."
Regina snorted. "Did you?"
"Yeah, back when I thought I loved him, I helped my boyfriend commit a felony," Emma shrugged.
Regina stared, slightly horrified.
Emma ignored her look and pressed on. "And anyway, girls who are into literature and the arts are really cute. You can't blame him."
Regina, a literature major and juris doctorate holder, held back a smile. "I've always found women in STEM to be more charming."
Emma grinned cheekily, and Regina tossed some tinsel in her face.
The hours spent on a rickety ladder, hanging garlands, decorating bulletin boards, and stapling art to the walls paid off when the students walked into the classroom, eyes wide with awe. Their joy made it all worth it. Emma exchanged a high five with Regina as the kids settled in, their excitement contagious.
With a party on the agenda, Emma planned lighthearted and fun lessons. The day before a break was always chaotic, with some kids acting wild. For those with tough home lives, the trauma showed more on days like this, so Emma made sure to give them extra attention and care.
As the delicious smell of pizza filled the room and the kids munched happily, Emma realized how much she would miss them over the two-week break. It felt like an eternity to be away from Henry, Regina, and her students.
Many of the kids felt the same, exchanging addresses, phone numbers, cards, and making sleepover plans. Henry seemed particularly down, his usually bright face guarded and quiet.
During the kids' last special of the year, Emma took the chance to shovel a slice of meat pizza into her mouth, tomato sauce dribbling down her chin. Regina handed her a napkin with a look of mild disapproval. Emma accepted it sheepishly. Regina blotted the grease from her veggie pizza slice before taking a small, almost elegant, bite.
"Ugh, I knew you were an almond mom," Emma teased, swinging in her desk chair, feeling giddy at the prospect of sleeping in and binging on junk food over the break.
Regina shot her a confused look but took another dainty bite, making Emma chuckle.
"If I could cook like you, I'd probably be one too," Emma admitted.
Regina finished chewing and said, "I can bring you meals. It's really no trouble. I make plenty at the beginning of the week for Henry and me, and there's always enough left over."
Emma's face lit up. "Seriously? You'd do that?"
Regina flushed slightly and looked away. "Yes, I'll start after the break. It's hard to watch you eat those pitiful lunches." Emma couldn't argue; most of her lunches consisted of a bag of chips or a protein bar.
A knock sounded at Emma's classroom door, and she was too comfortable to get up. "COME IN," she yelled.
The door opened, revealing a miserable-looking Henry and Mulan, her normally smiling face etched with worry. Her hands rested comfortingly on his shoulders.
Regina stood up immediately, concern evident. "Henry? What's wrong?" Emma followed quickly.
Henry, upon seeing them, burst into tears and leaned into Mulan's arm. She gave him a quick squeeze.
"Someone's having a hard time thinking about missing his teacher and friends," Mulan said gently. "Normally I'd tell them to walk it off, but Henry looks like he needs his mom." She gave him a soft push, and he ran to Regina, collapsing into her arms.
"Henry?" Regina pressed softly.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Henry managed before burying his face into her. Regina looked up at Emma, who gave her a comforting look. She knelt down to Henry's level.
"Hey kid," Emma smiled. "When I was your age, I didn't have any parents. No holidays, no real friends. I always felt like anything good would get taken away, especially kind people. I never knew how long they'd stick around. I liked it when things were normal and predictable. New things made me scared and angry."
Henry's quiet sobs still shook him, but he seemed to be listening.
"It might not feel like it now, but I need you to know something, Henry," Emma said earnestly. "I love you. I'll always be here for you. Once you're my student, you always will be. No matter how old you get. Got it?"
Henry gave a subtle nod. Regina blinked back tears and kissed the top of Henry's head. She looked at Emma with an unreadable expression that made Emma want to hug them both. So she did.
"How about we invite Ms. Swan to Granny's with us over the break?" Regina offered. "Would you like that?"
Henry nodded.
"I'd like that too," Emma said. An idea struck her. "You know, I need a huge favor from my most trusted student. You in?"
That was Henry's kryptonite. He finally pulled away from Regina, eyes red, cheeks tear-stained, and sniffling. "What is it?"
"Killian can't stay in the classroom over the break because someone has to take care of him and feed him. My roommate is really scared of him. Do you think you can take him home for the break?"
Henry's eyes brightened, and he looked up at Regina hopefully.
"Of course," Regina said, rubbing Henry's shoulders affectionately.
Henry took a halting step, then embraced Emma. The warmth of his hug caught her off guard and brought unexpected tears to her eyes. This was the first time she felt truly loved, unconditionally. She returned the hug with all her heart.
"I love you, Emma," Henry said.
"I love you too, kid," Emma replied, her voice thick with emotion.
Regina's eyes shimmered as she looked away, giving Emma a moment to compose herself. If Emma had met Regina's gaze, she would have noticed the love in them and might never have let go.
In that moment, Emma realized she had found something she never expected—a family.