Emma woke to the cozy warmth of Regina's arms around her, clothes still piled together. No honking traffic, no creaky plumbing, or noisy neighbors. Just this goddess beside her. Regina stirred, roused by Emma's movements.
"Good morning," Emma whispered, voice husky. She kissed Regina's neck. "How's your head?"
Regina turned, eyes blinking sleepily. Her usually perfect hair stuck out in tufts, making Emma giggle.
"A bit foggy, but manageable," Regina replied. "As I said before, not my first rodeo."
"How long have you wanted to do that?" Emma asked, eyes twinkling. She pulled her closer.
"Do what?" Regina teased.
"Me," Emma laughed, kissing Regina's forehead.
Regina smiled. "Since I bought you that drink, I think. You?"
"Ever since you said, 'Actually, it's Ms. Mills,'" Emma mimicked Regina's voice, earning a playful glare.
"The first day we met?" Regina snorted. "Did I captivate you that much? I'll have you know that I'm not that easy, Ms. Swan."
"Oh yeah?" Emma grinned. "How many women have been in this bed?"
Regina looked sheepish. "Well, more than Henry knows about."
Emma traced Regina's jawline, then tensed. "Damn. Didn't think that would make me so jealous."
"No one since I met you," Regina said softly, eyes fluttering closed.
"Same here," Emma murmured. "Maybe even longer."
Regina hummed, but then a bit of bite returned to her voice. "That explains why you didn't last long."
"Hey," Emma began, ready to defend herself, but Regina's arms encircled her, inviting her back. With Regina's curves pressed into her, spicy perfume filling the air, Emma let it go and enjoyed the quiet morning.
Before she could doze off again, sunlight pierced through the blinds; a door opened and closed upstairs, followed by footsteps and a flush.
Regina shot up, yanking the covers off them. "Shit." She scrambled out of bed, darting to her dresser, quickly grabbing fresh underwear and a bra. Emma admired the view until Regina tossed her own bra at her.
"Emma!" Regina whispered so frantically that if her voice rose anymore she would be screaming. "You can't be here when Henry wakes up— I have no clue how to explain that I just slept with his teacher!"
"Regina?" Emma questioned, startled and a bit hurt. Though she reluctantly rose to dress too, slipping on her bra and fastening it.
Regina's panic and the impatient clack of hangers made Emma's heart race with nerves. She slapped her suit pants to smooth the wrinkles before pulling them on, grimacing. Formal clothes again. Emma frowned as she buckled her belt. "Henry isn't a baby you know— he'll understand."
But Regina wouldn't hear it. In moments, she stood in front of Emma, holding up her hair expectantly. Emma sighed, zipping up Regina's dress, baffled by her behavior.
Regina spun around. "I'll call you as soon as I can," she promised, fixing her hair. Her eyes were urgent. "Don't let Henry see your car either. He has no idea I'm a lesbian."
"Okay, okay," Emma relented.
She leaned in for a kiss goodbye, but Regina swerved, wrapping Emma's suit jacket around her shoulders and pressing her keys into her hands. And then, Regina disappeared down the hallway.
Emma idled her yellow bug outside Granny's after racing from Regina's estate. She wolfed down two greasy breakfast sandwiches while watching her nearly-dead phone like a hawk. She'd missed messages from Snow, Mulan, Elsa, and Merida. Snow had sent her two.
Hey Emma, it's late and you're not home…. are you okay? Text me soon xx
girl I saw u and ms milf leaving together, u better dish or i'm breaking your kneecaps
Here's some cute pictures! You and Mulan look so good!
Sorry I missed the event- my wee brothers had a karate tournament out of town. How'd it go?
EMMA! Don't worry about my last text. At ALL! Have fun! love you xoxoxo
"Ugh," she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat, cheeks burning with embarrassment. Emma would rather drive straight back to Boston than spilling to Snow.
So, Emma drove to the gym instead. Her phone died halfway through her cardio routine, giving the slightest reprieve from manically checking her messages.
After an intense two-hour workout, sweat poured down Emma's face. She desperately craved a shower. The gym bathroom, empty due to how early she'd arrived, felt extra bleak as Regina's spicy scent still lingered on her skin.
After showering and changing, Emma stuffed her wrinkled, lipstick-stained formal wear into her duffel for later cleaning. Her throat caught as an inexplicable loneliness washed over her. She drove home, struggling not to cry.
As soon as Emma walked into their apartment, Snow dropped her knitting and rushed over. Her face lit up with curiosity.
"Morning," she sang. Then, her eyes narrowing knowingly. "Did you… have a good night?"
Emma expertly stepped around her, ears flushed. Craving a beer for her nerves, Emma headed directly to the fridge, only stopping to plug in her phone. She popped off the beer bottle's lid with her belt and then chugged, hoping the numbness would settle in soon. Her dead phone sprang to life. Over three hours since leaving Regina's—surely, she would have called or texted by now.
"Emma?" Snow asked, puzzled.
Emma drained the bottle. Then, she scrolled through her phone, holding back hope. No new messages. No missed calls. Turning to a still-expectant Snow, Emma crumpled. "I think I got dumped," she admitted— then, humiliatingly, broke down.
"Oh," Snow breathed, surprised. Not knowing what else to do, she gathered Emma into an embrace and simply let her cry.
Regina didn't call or text the next few days either. Emma fought to stay away from her phone, resisting the urge to check every minute.
Worry gnawed at her, and she finally left a voicemail the weekend before school started back up. "Uh, hey, it's me." A nervous throat clear. "Uh… sorry. It's Emma. Hey, call me when you get a minute. I haven't heard from you in a while, and…" her voice went quiet, feeling foolish. "But, I really miss you. Okay, bye."
Emma's texts went unanswered too. Their last message exchange was from the night of the gala:
this is going to be a huge success. don't be nervous. :-)
Thank you
The night before school began, Emma barely slept. Flopped on her stomach, the only light in the dark room came from the laptop screen's glow. With bedroom lights forgotten hours ago, eyes used to strain, and a heart used to emptiness, Emma worked in the blackness.
Every few minutes, in between writing lesson plans, she checked her phone. With school starting in exactly eight hours, frustration simmered within her. Emma even hoped for something from David about Henry, but there was nothing in her inbox aside from his usual corny welcome back to work email.
Trying to sleep ended up being futile, as Emma hugged her pillow, glaring into the darkness and trying to imagine seeing Regina again. What would she do? Walk up to her like nothing happened as she dropped Henry off? Show up to make copies or bring her coffee as if Emma's mouth hadn't kissed every inch of her skin, Regina's lipstick still staining her dress shirt?
Her anger boiled, and with it, a familiar self-hate. A phantom Neal pressed into her. In a similar blackness, Emma had traced circles on his back, fighting so hard to love him, giving up her freedom for him, only to end up being used.
The memories spiraled further back. The unloved ugly duckling with no parents, endless holidays at the orphanage when she didn't have foster parents.
Emma slept fitfully. She dreamt of Killian, the real one. In her dreams, she sank under ice-cold, black water, choking and unable to breathe. When her phone's alarm blared at 6:00, she jolted awake, disoriented and shaken by vertigo.
"What will you do when you see her?" Snow asked over their back-to-school breakfast.
Emma, still unnerved from her nightmare, perked up at the cute smiley face drawn on the pancakes. Snow would make a good mom, she thought. She took a gulp of coffee, trying to muster some cheer. "I have no idea. Radio silence since..." She shrugged, letting Snow fill in the blanks.
Snow's face fell, but then she tried a brave smile. "Maybe Regina just needs some time? Y'know, to sort things out with Henry. Regina's complicated."
"Maybe," Emma muttered.
Snow's coddling only made everything worse, so Emma excused herself, opting to drive alone to work. Snow nodded, fighting not to look hurt. Emma left her uneaten breakfast on the table.
The office was dark when Emma arrived. She was two hours early. The day was going to be long.
The classroom, floor freshly waxed over the break, smelled of Pine-Sol and vinegar, old wooden cabinetry, and Emma. She paused, breathing it all in. She'd missed it.
The two hours flew by as Emma rearranged the classroom. She stripped off winter holiday decorations, arranged new groups of desks with fresh nametags, and prepped for the upcoming class play. The to-do list: call and arrange use of the theater, get permission slips for after-school rehearsals, contact the costume lady, print scripts, set a date for auditions... Her mind spun with all the work ahead. But work kept her mind from drifting to loneliness— to Regina. Emma was not ready to face her, lost for what they could even say. Something felt broken between them.
All too soon, the morning bell rang. Emma stood at the door with a genuine smile, ready to welcome her students back.
"Emma!" Henry, as always, was the first to barrel down the hallway, racing straight into her arms. Despite everything, she lit up, overjoyed to see him.
"Henry!" Emma's voice caught. She quickly blinked through the sting of hot tears,
cleared her throat and smiled. "Wow, kid— did you get taller over the break?"
He gave her a dry look. "Not you too! Mom said the same thing. It's only been a few weeks." His face fell a little. "Y'know, I was really bummed when Mom said you were too busy to come see us after New Year's, but I hope you had a good break."
"Your mom said that?" Emma's brow furrowed. She would never be too busy for Henry, but she couldn't exactly call Regina a liar in front of him.
"Yeah," Henry sighed, kicking at the floor. "Mom's acting super weird, Emma. She was happy for a while, and now she's back to keeping things from me."
"Hm," Emma murmured, trying to keep her voice steady. A flicker of panic sparked inside her— had he seen her that morning sneaking out of the house? She pushed the thought away and tried not to dwell on Regina.
"But she's gonna bring Killian back after school today!" Henry's mood brightened as quickly as it had darkened. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her and get her to smile."
"Henry," Emma snorted, shaking her head. "I doubt anyone's that powerful." But he didn't hear her sarcasm, too distracted by the boxes stacked beside her desk marked with SCHOOL PLAY in bold sharpie. He immediately bombarded her with questions, his curiosity endless.
The day after a long break was always chaos. The kids forgot the rules and routines; many of them carried their home troubles into the classroom, lashing out at teachers and peers alike. Emma spent the morning revisiting classroom rules and issuing demerits to those testing boundaries. It was tough, and the kids were just as tired and grumpy as she was. She knew they'd settle in later in the week, once they adjusted, but that didn't make the day easier.
Mr. Grumpy arrived to pick the kids up for Specials, a rare sight since Mr. Geppetto was still recovering from surgery. The students had been buzzing all morning about their first day of woodshop, so when he entered the room, they fell uncharacteristically silent.
"Alright, they don't call me Mr. Grumpy for nothin'" he growled. "I don't give warnings. I'll only tell ya something once, nice, before I say it again mean. Capeesh?"
Small faces nodded quickly. He waited until they were all perfectly still before leading them down the hall.
"You," he pointed to Emma as they passed. She jumped being addressed so gruffly. "You got a special visitor in the office. Little smiley, spotted fellow. Goes by the name of… what the heck was it?"
"Oh, thanks! It's our class pet," Emma replied, biting her lip. "Is… the lady who brought him in still there?"
"You mean Ms. Mills? Savior of Storybrooke Academy," Grumpy corrected dryly, and Emma paled, glancing around to make sure the kids didn't hear. "Yeah, but she seemed in a hurry. Better run if you wanna catch her."
Emma moved quickly as soon as the kids disappeared down the hall, speed-walking past Elsa and Merida's classrooms. Merida had the sixth graders in history, and several of her former students waved energetically when they spotted Emma. Merida held up a giant map and called out, "Oi, Swan! No runnin' in the halls!" which made her class burst into laughter.
Emma caught Regina in the office just as she was signing out of the visitor's log. Her heart caught in her throat. Memories of their last night flooded in her mind. Regina's lips on her neck, Emma's canines over her ear. Anger tangled with longing— Emma couldn't decide if she wanted to yell at Regina for ghosting her or drag her into a broom closet to relive those moments.
"Ms. Mills," Emma greeted, forcing herself to stand straighter.
Regina finished her signature with a flourish before turning around. She froze when she saw Emma. A gift bag dangled from Regina's hand, a cheerful balloon tied to it—no doubt a thank-you for her efforts with the gala. Regina's expression stayed guarded, lips pressed into a thin line, but her eyes glistened.
"Hello Ms. Swan," she replied, voice formal and clipped. "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, you can," Emma countered, lowering her voice "I'm looking for my friend, Regina. Haven't heard from her in a while. You seen her?"
Regina's gaze darted around the office, aware of the curious eyes of secretaries and staff nearby. "Ms. Swan, now's not the time," she said.
"Now's a great time," Emma pressed. "It's my prep, and I think you knew that, which is why you're here returning my pet."
"Yes… Kingston," Regina replied, shifting uncomfortably.
Emma shook her head, exasperated. "Please, just talk to me," she pleaded, voice gentler. "Ms. Mills."
A shadow of guilt appeared, then, and Regina nodded, reluctantly. "I… Maybe after school would work better."
"Can't," Emma shot back. "I have work for the musical. Probably most days, actually."
Regina pursed her lips, and Emma realized she'd pushed too hard, too publicly. She bit back her irritation, recognizing the misstep. "You're right, now's not the time," she said. "How about tomorrow morning? After professional development?"
Regina nodded in agreement, but when morning came, she never showed up. No Henry either.
David had also canceled that morning's staff professional development meeting at the last minute. Apparently, their guest speaker had been delayed. That meant PD would move to after school. Emma was tired and grumpy, and now for no reason— and she'd be going home late to boot.
Emma paced her classroom, glancing between her phone and the clock, frustration gnawing. Due to her foul mood, she wasted the morning. The students soon arrived to a grumpy Ms. Swan.
Five minutes after the bell, Henry shuffled into class with a sour face, handing Emma a pink late pass. He'd never been late before.
"Mr. Gold took me to school today. Mom left for a trip last night," he grumbled.
"Oh," Emma's shoulders sagged. "She never told me. We had a meeting this morning."
"She didn't tell me either! Mom knows I hate surprise plans." Henry dropped his backpack on the floor and slumped into his seat. Sensing escalation, Emma typed out a quick email to Mr. Hopper, letting him know Henry could use a break soon.
"Well, she'd better get back soon. We have rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz next week," Emma said, letting the name of the musical slip. That immediately grabbed Henry's attention. He perked up, curiosity lighting his face, just as Mr. Hopper poked his head in to collect him for a quick appointment.
With Henry gone, the rest of the day stretched on, each hour heavier than the last. The kids, still restless from winter break, bounced off the walls. They struggled to focus on lessons, preferring to whisper and giggle, some even slipping notes across desks. Emma's patience frayed by the minute. Usually, Regina would've been there to step in, offering her own brand of stern but calm control, smoothing out chaos. But today, Emma stood alone, trying to wrangle a room full of energy and distracted minds.
By lunchtime, the kids had picked up on Regina's absence. "When is Ms. Mills coming back?" Jacinda asked.
Henry immediately sunk into his arms. Emma scrambled for a distraction. "Well, you know Ms. Mills is always busy saving the world. Now, who can tell me which Wizard of Oz character they'd like to audition for?"
It worked—barely—but Henry's frown lingered.
After lunch, Henry's mood only worsened, so Emma scrawled a note for Mulan (an easy and reliable quick distraction) and hastily folded it into an envelope. Hey dude, my kid needs a break, she wrote, knowing Mulan would work her magic. Handing the sealed note to Henry, Emma leaned down. "I've got a very important task for you, kid. Think you're up for it?"
Henry's shoulders straightened, a hint of his old spark returning. "I won't let you down, Ms. Swan," he said earnestly before dashing off to deliver the message.
Emma watched him go, her heart twisting with frustration. If Regina would just talk to her, all this heartache, all this uncertainty could be avoided. But instead, she was left floundering, trying to patch the holes alone.
By the time after-school PD rolled around, the exhaustion had settled deep into Emma's bones. She trudged into the library, where the rest of the faculty gathered, buzzing with their own frustrations. Snow and David stood off to the side, faces tight with worry. Mulan and Elsa chatted by the coffee machine, Mulan making a joke that had Elsa rolling her eyes but smiling.
Emma joined them, accepting a steaming cup of whatever brew Mulan had whipped up. The atmosphere shifted as David moved closer, his expression unusually grim.
"What's up, Sheriff?" Mulan asked, raising an eyebrow.
David glanced toward the front of the room where a projector sat waiting. "Ingrid's here. The Board asked her to lecture on some Camelot Charter methods," he muttered, his tone low and irritated. "We don't have a choice but to hear her out."
Emma's grip tightened around her cup, but Elsa asked, "Is she trying to turn us into their charter?"
David's jaw clenched. "Yeah. This is probably step one."
Before she could press him for more details, the door swung open, and Ingrid stepped in, heels clicking against the tile. She carried herself with an air of cool confidence, a sharp smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. She swept her gaze across the room before turning to her laptop, hooking it up to the projector.
"Thank you all for being here," Ingrid began, her voice smooth, echoing off the quiet room. The screen lit up behind her, displaying a logo for Camelot Charter Schools. "I'm excited to share with you some of the teaching methods that we've implemented at Camelot. We believe these will not only enhance student performance but ensure the long-term success of Storybrooke Academy."
Emma glanced around the room, catching the uneasy looks on her colleagues' faces. Snow's brow furrowed, lips pressed tightly together. Elsa folded her arms, Mulan shooting her a sideways look of skepticism. David stood with his arms crossed, jaw set, as if the words coming out of Ingrid's mouth pained him.
Emma tried to focus on the presentation, but her thoughts drifted back to Regina— Regina, who'd fought so hard for this school. And now, instead of standing beside her, she was off somewhere, while Emma grappled with all this alone. We need you, Regina, she thought.
The presentation finally wrapped up, and the teachers filed out of the lounge with heavy steps, muttering to one another. Emma swung her bag over a shoulder, ready to head home and order the greasiest pizza imaginable. But when she stepped into the hallway, Ingrid was already waiting for her.
"Ms. Swan," Ingrid greeted, her tone deceptively friendly. "Mind if we have a quick word?"
Emma's muscles tensed. "No," she said, trying to pivot, but Ingrid blocked her path.
Ingrid smirked, looking Emma up and down like a predator sizing up prey. "I must admit, I'm surprised to see you alone. Where's your Queen of Storybrooke?"
Emma's jaw tightened. "Get out of my way."
"I heard you're on the outs with her. Secretary told me when I came in. Must sting, hm? Maybe she's already moved on, just like she did with me."
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Emma snapped.
"Oh, don't I?" Ingrid hummed, completely unbothered. "Maybe Regina realized that trying to save this school is a waste of time. Maybe she's realized that you're a waste of time, too."
Emma's eyes blazed, but then a steel cool settled over her. She stepped closer, deadly, and Ingrid's smug expression finally faltered.
"Regina's not the one who abandoned this school. She's been fighting for it from day one. You wanna know who abandoned us? You did. With your phony smile and your charter full of kids with rich parents. And as for you and your step one— over my dead body. This school is staying right where it is, with the people who care about it. I'll never let you hurt the people I care about."
Ingrid's confidence was cracking. "You're making a mistake. You could be better… stronger—"
"Enough," Emma ordered, the authority in her voice echoing down the hallway. "You're not fooling anyone, and you're not welcome here. Now get out."
A tense silence filled the air between them, but Ingrid finally took a step back, turned on her heel and strode away.
Emma exhaled, trying to steady the adrenaline pounding in her chest. She rubbed her hands over her face, anger and frustration mixing with the ache in her heart.
"Ms. Swan?"
A familiar silhouette in the doorway of the nearby office. Emma spun, unable to believe it, but Regina stood there, half-hidden in shadow. But there was a softness in her eyes, something almost gentle, and her lips parted as if she'd been about to speak.
"Regina," Emma started, voice barely above a whisper. Her anger and hurt from moments ago suddenly felt exposed, raw under Regina's gaze.
Regina stepped forward, out of the shadows, looking a little unsure of herself. "I... heard what you said," she said quietly, voice slightly wavering. "I didn't expect you to defend me like that."
Emma swallowed, her throat tight. "Well, you're worth defending," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions inside her. "Even when you're making it really hard."
"Well, thank you," Regina said, with a nod, as if allowing herself to be frank. "For what you said back there."
"Yeah, well," Emma said, trying to think of something sarcastic, but deflated. "You're welcome." She gestured tiredly in the direction of the gym. "Henry's with Mulan. Let's go get our kid."
Regina made a funny face but followed Emma's lead through the quiet, darkening hallway. They walked in silence.
Inside the gym, Henry was helping Mulan tidy up after the basketball game, stacking equipment into neat piles with a focused expression on his face.
"Hey, kid," Emma called out as they entered. Henry's head popped up, and he broke into a wide grin.
"Emma! Mom!" He abandoned the pile of basketballs and jogged over, looking between them with bright curiosity before giving Regina a warm hug. "Mom, you're back! And it looks like you're friends with Emma again. Finally!"
"Henry—" Regina spluttered, but Emma just shrugged, absolutely used to every Henry-ism by now.
Mulan, ridiculously blissful, jabbed Emma's side with an elbow, causing her to yelp. "Didn't I tell you she just needed time?" Mulan whispered. Then she ruffled Henry's hair. "Hey Ms. M, this guy's got a pretty good basketball arm. Think you'll let him try out next year?"
"Please?" Henry begged.
"The school play, ice skating, and now basketball?" Regina asked in disbelief. "What's next? Wrestling?"
"Don't let him talk to Merida," Emma warned.
Henry puffed out his chest. "All of it!"
While Henry and Mulan rifled through the closet for basketball supplies, Regina caught Emma's eye. "I need to call a taxi," she said. "I came straight from the airport to see Henry, and I didn't drive."
"Don't bother," Emma offered. "I'll give you both a ride home."
Regina hesitated, faintly surprised, but then she nodded.
Together, the three of them said goodnight to Mulan and walked out to Emma's yellow bug. Henry carried a gym bag nearly as big as he was with every basketball essential imaginable. Henry filled the car ride with excited chatter about The Wizard of Oz and the different roles he was hoping to audition for. Emma's heart warmed when he gushed about Mulan and how cool she was, like an older sister.
Emma tried to focus on the road but couldn't resist stealing glances at Regina in the passenger seat. Regina's jaw and shoulders were tight, as if she were holding back something heavy. Her manicured hands curled and uncurled on her seat.
When Emma's car rolled to a gentle stop in the Mills's driveway, Regina promptly turned to Henry. She tossed him her set of keys. "Why don't you go get ready for bed, mijo? I just need to talk to Ms. Swan for a moment."
Henry, always perceptive, cast a curious look between the two women but didn't argue. He grabbed his gym bag and bounded out of the car, calling over his shoulder, "Thanks for the ride, Emma! Don't forget to remind Ms. Blanchard she owes us jellybeans tomorrow."
Emma chuckled, giving him a small wave. "You got it, kid."
As soon as Henry disappeared inside the house, the air between them shifted. Emma's hands gripped the steering wheel, pulse racing. Her mind spun through a hundred different scenarios of what Regina might say.
Regina took a breath. "Emma…"
Emma's heart thudded in her chest. "Yeah?"
Regina hesitated. "I want to kiss you, but I know Henry's watching." There was a catch in her voice. "I'm sorry for running away."
Emma's stomach twisted with a stubborn bitterness. "At least you're here now. I wondered if you'd come back."
Regina flinched, turning her face toward the window. "Yeah," she murmured, her tone very small.
Silence fell. Night sounds drifted in—the chirp of crickets, the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Emma admiring the manicured lawn and perfect landscaping outside her window. But it felt strangely empty, like the walls held more echoes than warmth. Too big, and too cold. Her gaze lifted to Henry's window, catching sight of him, already in his pajamas, trying—and failing— to hide behind the curtain.
Emma reached across the console, letting her fingers brush against Regina's, and squeezed gently. Regina's hand trembled in hers.
"You're not okay," Emma said, the words coming out more direct than she'd planned. "We're not okay. Something's off, and it's affecting Henry. We have to figure it out."
Regina's breath hitched, and she squeezed back. "I know," she admitted. "I wanted to apologize the next morning, after... after that night. But I kept thinking... If I just… then maybe I wouldn't have to deal with everything that comes with it." Her laugh was weak, almost bitter. "But that just made things worse."
Emma leaned back, frowning a little, trying to process. "What's 'everything,' Regina?"
Regina met her eyes then. "I've spent years telling myself I wasn't allowed to be happy. That I couldn't really be... like this. Not with Henry depending on me. Not with everything people expect of me. But then you showed up, and I—" Her voice broke, and she shook her head. "You changed everything, Emma. And that scares the hell out of me."
Emma's jaw worked, trying to find the right words, something that could make the tension ease up, even just a bit. "I didn't exactly come in here with a plan either. I've messed up, too. I just thought... I don't know, maybe we could figure it out together?"
"You think I'm the type who likes not having a plan?" Regina asked dryly.
Emma smirked at that, sensing a crack in the heaviness. "Pretty sure you've got a backup plan for your backup plan. Like, three folders in the cloud, color-coded. Am I close?"
A real laugh escaped Regina, though tired. "You're not far off. Though I wouldn't expect you to appreciate the value of proper organization."
They shared a look, a smirk passing between them, the kind that felt like old times. Emma exhaled, relieved that they'd moved from the edge.
"I missed that, you know," Emma said, quieter now. "You busting my chops. I missed you... at school too. The kids ask about you every day."
A watery laugh bubbled out of Regina, and she covered her mouth, trying to stifle it. She groaned. "I'm the worst room mom ever."
Emma rolled her eyes, mouth twitching. "Yeah, maybe. But you're the kids' favorite, you know. And mine, too." As she thought of the students, Emma noticed Henry still awkwardly spying from his window. "Think you'll tell him?" she asked, gentler this time. "About... you know."
Regina hesitated but then nodded. "I will. He deserves to know the truth. And I'm tired of hiding from him. From you."
The air in the car settled into a more comfortable quiet, a tentative hope threading through the moment. Emma shifted closer, her voice dropping. "So... can I kiss you?"
Regina's lips twitched, a hint of a playful smile. "Sure."
Emma leaned in, but just before their lips met, Henry slipped away from his window, disappearing from view.