Chapter 3
"What's up, Rubes?" Emma said as she entered the diner.
Emma had taken the day off in order to make sure she was able to come to Storybrook. She didn't want to have to cancel on Henry or be late to pick him up from school. It had been so long since she had taken the time to pick him up from school and spend some time with him that if she really thought about it, it would end up making her sad and ruining this whole day.
"You came in just in time because my break just started." Ruby said with a big smile. "We can finally have a conversation someplace where people are not constantly shouting orders at me."
"Hello, Ruby." A girl with what Emma guessed was a foreign accent she couldn’t quite place greeted as she entered the diner with Mr. Gold in tow.
"Hi, Belle." Ruby said with a dreamy smile, her eyes followed the girl as she sat down on a both with Mr. Gold. Emma cleared her throat to get Ruby's attention. "Oh Emma, right. Today is your lucky day because I happen to be on my break as of five minutes ago."
"I'm very lucky indeed. Shall we?" Emma said as she held the door open for Ruby.
"We shall." Ruby said as she laced her arm with Emma's.
They talked and walked aimlessly for a while before they sat down by the docks. It had been a while since Emma just sat and talk with anyone. Ruby was great company, she was funny, always had new gossip and Emma enjoyed the way Ruby jokingly flirted with her. She appreciated the attention.
"So who was that girl?" Emma asked after they sat down. "Back at the diner. I don't remember seeing her before."
"Oh she's Belle." Ruby said. "She's kinda new in town."
"Let me guess, Gold's long lost daughter." Emma said with a chuckle.
"Try girlfriend." Ruby said her eyes saddening a little.
"So he likes 'em young. Figures that a guy like that would like girls half his age." Emma said before she took a good look at Ruby. It didn't take a genius to tell what was going on. "And you like her."
"I-I I don't." Ruby said. "She's a good friend. She's smart and funny. Super sweet. Beautiful…"
"Yeah good thing you don't like her." Emma said. "She sounds awful." Emma took a quick glance at her watch. "I'm going to go pick Henry up. Wanna come with?" She said as she stood up from the bench.
"If you're sure." Ruby said. "I don't want to interrupt any mother/son bonding time."
"I'm sure, come on." Emma said before she held her hand out to Ruby who took it without a second thought.
"You came!" Henry said as he ran to hug his mother.
"Of course I came." Emma said as she hugged him back. "I missed you too much."
"I missed you too." Henry said when he noticed his mother's companion. "Hi, Ruby."
"Hey, Henry." Ruby said with a small wave. "I hope you don't mind that I tagged along."
"Not at all." He said with a big smile.
The ice cream parlor was within walking distance from the school. On the walk there Henry ranted about his day at school and then he and Ruby went on to have the Marvel vs. DC debate. That was fun for Emma to watch, it was a bore to hear but it was funny to see Ruby riling up Henry. It was all in good fun and she knew that deep down Henry really cared for his favorite waitress. It started to get late and Ruby had to go back to work, which left Emma alone with Henry.
"You're not dating her, are you?" Henry asked skeptically. Sure he liked Ruby, he just wasn't sure if he liked her that much.
"No! No. Of course not." Emma answered promptly. "She's- it's not like that, kid. You don't have to worry."
"I don't." Henry said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "It would just make things a little harder for when you get back together with my mom."
"Henry…" Emma sighted. They just had this conversation a few days ago.
"I know, I know." Henry said. "I was just saying…"
"Lets just not go there ok?" Emma said and before she could get another word in her phone started to buzz from inside her pocket. "Speaking of the devil…." She muttered to herself before she answered the phone. "He's with me and he is safe and sound with all of his limbs intact."
"I must say, dear, your phone etiquette leaves a lot to be desired." Regina said. "I am aware that my son is with you, I was calling to ask whether you will be staying for dinner or not."
"No, I don't think that given recent events that would be a wise decision." Emma said. In reality she wanted to stay for dinner, she wanted to spend more time with Henry, she wanted to help him with his homework, help Regina clean the dishes… She didn't want to have to leave after dinner. She wanted to stay.
"I understand." Regina said after a small hum. "I trust you'll bring Henry home soon?"
"Yeah we're just finishing up." Emma said. "We'll be there in a few."
"Very well then." Regina said before she ended the call.
**************
When Emma knocked on Regina's door what she got was not at all what she was expecting. A mixture of anger and jealousy surged over her. In her mind she counted backwards from ten and took a deep breath. She was determined to keep her cool. Graham opening the door of what used to be her house did not bothered her at all. Not. At. All.
"Oh Hi, Emma." Graham greeted in his usual friendly tone. "How've you been?"
"Not as good as you apparently." Emma said before she could stop herself. Graham was at a loss. He did not know how to respond to that and it was evident in his face. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I'm doing fine, Sheriff."
"Little man, your mom is just finishing up with dinner." Graham said as he ruffled Henry's hair. She could see why Henry thought he was trying too hard. "Are you staying for dinner?" He asked Emma.
"Oh nooo, no. No." Emma said.
"Henry?" Regina came to the door wearing her usual pantsuit looking as flawless as always. "Dinner is ready. Why don't you say goodbye to Emma and then go wash up?"
"Bye, ma." Henry said as he hugged his mother.
"Bye, kid." Emma said. "I'll see you on Friday. I love you. Be good for your mom."
"I love you too." He said before he hugged her once more.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Graham asked politely earning himself a shut-up-or-I'll-kill-you look from Regina.
"I'm very sure." Emma answered her eyes never leaving Regina. "Can we talk? In private?" She said shooting a glance in Graham's direction.
"Of course." Regina said, "Let's go to the study."
"I'll go serve dinner." Graham said before things got too awkward.
"He's answering the door now?" Emma said as soon as Regina closed the door. "What the fuck? Does he live here now? Is that it?"
"This is my house and I -" Regina said.
"That I paid for!" Emma yelled.
"That my mother paid for, dear." Regina said.
"Hey, I paid her back every cent. No thanks to you by the way." Emma reminded her.
"I never asked you to pay her back. No one did." Regina said. "Its not my fault you are so stubborn and proud."
"Excuse me for not wanting your mother to hold over my head the fact that she paid for our house." Emma said. "Some of us have to work hard for the stuff we want. Not all of us have a ridiculously big trust fund to fall back ok?"
"You have always resented the fact that I had a privileged upbringing." Regina said. "It always comes back to that."
"No, it always comes back to the fact that you've never appreciated anything that I have done for you. Never." Emma said. "All that hard work so that this fucker fucks you at night in my bed." Emma said as she threw a glass against the nearest wall.
"Are you done?" Regina asked coolly.
"No. The next time I come here he better not fucking answer the goddamned door." Emma said in a threatening voice.
"Or what?" Regina said not backing down.
"I'll take Henry away. I'm not afraid to fight you for full custody anymore. Your mother will not intimidate me this time. I'm not fucking around, Regina." Emma said. "You two will not play house with my son."
"I'd like to see you try." Regina said. "You will not take my son away from me just because you're having a fit of jealousy."
"I'm not having a fit of anything. I couldn't care less about who you fuck." Emma said bitterly.
"Really? That's not what you were saying on Monday night when your head was trapped between my legs." Regina said as she invaded Emma's personal space.
"I hate you." Emma said tangling her fingers through Regina's hair. "I fucking hate you." She said as she rested her forehead against Regina's.
"I hate you too." Regina whispered before she gently grazed her lips over Emma's. Emma responded with a gentle kiss. Regina's hands gripped Emma's brown leather jacket while Emma tightened her grip on Regina's hair.
"I don't like this." Emma whispered into Regina's ear. "I hate this. I don't like that you're with someone else."
"Emma, please don't." Regina said. "Don't do this to me." Their anger towards each other had significantly diminished; their physical closeness was sobering. They just held each other for a moment not knowing how to utter all those unspoken words that needed to be said.
"I'm sorry, for what I said." Emma kept whispering ignoring Regina's plea. "I do care. I care too much." Emma pecked Regina's lips with a small but meaningful kiss before she let go of her ex-wife. "I didn't mean what I said about taking Henry away." She said as she took a step backwards. "I was angry."
"I know, dear." Regina said. "I'm also sorry. I should have warned you that he was going to be here."
There was a knock on the door followed by Graham's voice asking if everything was all right. He was concerned because he thought he heard some yelling and something breaking. Little did he know that that was a typical Swan-Mills 'disagreement'.
"Fix your hair." Emma said softly as she rested her hand against the doorknob. Regina stood in front of the mirror to make sure she was presentable. "Come here." Regina obliged and Emma gave her a small kiss on the lips. "I'm sorry."
"Its quite alright, dear." Regina said as she fixed Emma's runny eyeliner. "Stop apologizing and open the door."
"Babe, its everything alright?" Graham asked and Emma almost threw up.
"Everything is fine, thank you for your concern." Regina said. "Where's Henry?"
"He just finished his dinner. I think he went to his room." Graham said still sensing something off between Emma and Regina. "He got nervous when he heard all the noise." Upon hearing this Regina and Emma looked at each other knowing that they had done it again. This was one of the reasons for Emma to move out. They didn't want to affect their son with their constant fighting.
"We should go talk to him." Emma said to Regina. "Make sure he knows everything is fine."
"You go ahead. I'll be there in a minute." Regina said and with a small nod Emma went up to check on her son.
"What happened?" Graham asked.
"We had a disagreement, that's all." Regina said not wanting to go into detail.
"It sounded serious." Graham said. "Are you alright?" He said putting a gentle hand on Regina's cheek.
"I'm fine, dear." Regina said. "There is a reason why Miss Swan and I got a divorce. We don't always like each other."
"I see." Graham said. "If I'm not imposing I'd like to wait for you here. I don't want to leave you alone."
"That's fine, dear. Make yourself at home." Regina said before she walked up the stairs to Henry's room.
*************
Emma and Regina entered Henry's bedroom together. They tried to look like a unit in front of Henry. Emma and Regina may have their problems with each other but they never allowed those problems to interfere with the parenting they had to do together.
"Hey, kid." Henry was lying in his bed on top of the covers reading one of his comics. "I'm sorry about all the noise you heard." Emma apologized.
"I'm used to it." Henry said as he wiped his eyes.
"You shouldn't be, Henry." Regina said. "Emma and I should not be fighting like that when you're in the house. I'm sorry you had to hear that."
"You guys hate each other and we'll never be a family again." Henry said. "I get it." Regina looked at Emma and she took that look as her cue to talk.
"We don't hate each other and we are a family." Emma tried to reassure him. "We'll always be a family."
"We can't be a family because you hate my mom." Henry said a little bitter, still not taking his eyes off of his comic book.
"I don't-" Emma said taking the comic from Henry's hands. "Look, I can't never ever hate your mom because she gave me you." Emma said glancing at Regina. "I may not always agree with her or even like her at all. But I can't help but love her. She's your mom and you're my son. I will love the two of you until the day I die ok?"
"I agree with Emma." Regina said. "We need to work on the way we express our thoughts to each other…but there will always be a level of respect between us. We love you, Henry and we didn't mean to upset you."
"But you wont ever get back together?" Henry asked. Even thought he knew the odds of that ever happening were pretty slim he still had faith.
"No. I'm sorry, kid." Emma said. "Your mother and me- well we just cant seem to get things right between us and that is not healthy."
"But that doesn't mean we love you any less." Regina added. "We have a level of care and respect towards each other but that's the extent of our relationship."
"And you won’t fight ever again?" Henry asked.
"We probably will." Emma said and Regina threw a murderous look towards her. "What?" Emma asked confused. "I'm not going to lie. We will probably argue again some time soon but we will keep it civil and respectful."
"Do you promise?" Henry asked this time looking at Regina.
"We promise." Regina said.
"Ok, come on." Emma said taking Henry's hands and pulling him off the bed. "Lets have a family hug."
"Maaa." Henry said annoyed.
"What? You used to love family hugs!" Emma said.
"I'm not eight anymore." Henry said.
"Well that sucks for you because this is happening anyway." Emma said as he hugged him. "Come on, Regina. You know he secretly loves this." Regina just smiled and even though it was unlike her to indulge in such behavior she did because she knew it would make her son happy.
The three of them held each other for a minute until Henry claimed that he was losing his breath. For that moment they forgot that in a few minutes Emma would be on her way to another State and that after putting Henry to bed Regina would go back to the study to spend the night in the arms of someone who wasn't Emma. For that brief moment everything was right and they allowed themselves to be truly happy again. Even if it was all an illusion.