Emma stared down at her stomach with wide eyes before meeting Regina's eyes. She glared as the woman opened her mouth, no doubt to say some clever quip. It wasn't her fault she was hungry.

"Hungry, dear?"

Emma knew answering would be a trap but she couldn't let Regina win without a fight. "Not my fault we never actually got something to eat. Thanks to someone. She turned and stared at Henry.

His expression turned from laughter to something eerily similar to Regina's when Emma had managed to do something to anger the woman.

"How dare you." He whispered with a glare. Although as hard as he tried he couldn't stop the smile pulling at his lips.

Regina rolled her eyes and rose from the seat. "Be calm, children. I'll make us something. And hopefully no one will decide to spit it out, yes?"

Emma watched Regina walk away to make them something to eat, seeing as they'd never had the chance to be served after the incidents. Henry kicked at her thigh earning a glare that did nothing to faze him.

"So, tell me the truth?"

"What?"

"The truth."

"We did." Emma's brow furrowed wondering where he thought they'd lied. She didn't know what Regina had said once she left so it must have been something she'd said. "I don't know what your on about, kid."

Henry sighed and shuffled further into the arm of the couch. Emma decided on copying his position, it seemed they were going to be talking for a while so she might as well be comfortable.

"Was it really an accident?"

Emma smiled sadly. "Yeah, kid. I wouldn't- I wouldn't..." She ran a hand over her face trying to think of what to say. "Has she told you about her time as queen?"

He tilted his head as he thought over the question. "When she was trying kill Snow?"

"No, before that. When she became queen."

"Not really. She didn't want to talk about it when I asked." He said picking at the cushion he held tightly to his chest.

"You know what arranged marriages are though, right?"

"Yeah, parents arrange it for their kids when they're little with other rich families."

"That's... kinda what your mom went through. And that's what these bracelets are for. I wouldn't force your mom into anything she didn't want to. It was an accident, a really shitty one I should've thought about before I did anything. But it happened I can't take it back, but I would."

"No matter how much you enjoy spending time with her?" Emma watched Henry, curious as to when he'd noticed that. He shrugged under her gaze and she could only smile.

"If she's forced to spend time with me then I can't enjoy it. If she's happy I'm happy. If she's not, then I'll do what I can to make it better."

They scrutinized each other closely, hoping that the other understood them clearly. They were pulled from their judgement by a clearing throat.

"I made pancakes." Regina spoke softly, smiling when Henry jumped off the couch. She was shocked when he gave her a quick hug before running into the kitchen.

Emma stood up slower and observed Regina. "How much did you hear?"

"Nothing. You were just staring at each other." Regina said. And as much as Emma wanted to believe her she knew it was a lie.

"He blinked first." Emma shrugged nonchalantly, feeling anything but.

"Still nothing?" Emma leant against the doorframe watching another book land on the pile of other useless books. Henry had vanished to his room after trying to decipher the Elvish text. It probably hadn't helped that they'd started quoting Lord of the Rings. Especially when Henry had decided to be Gandalf and cast Emma in the role of the Balrog. Which, now that she thought about, was kind of insulting.

"Ugh, there's nothing!" Regina leant against the back of the sofa, her head thrown back as she stared at the ceiling. Emma watched her and all she could think about was running her hands through the dark hair and easing Regina's discomfort.

"We'll find something." Emma nodded, more to herself than anything. She didn't want to force Regina into anything, didn't want to be forced into anything herself. She hated the idea of destiny and fate being determined for her. "It may take a while but we'll get it."

Regina rolled her head still resting on the sofa around to stare at Emma. "You really think so?"

"One of us has got to be the optimist. And no offense, but it would be weird if you started acting all happy go-lucky."

"The day I act like your parents is the day I die."

"Let's hope that day never comes." Emma ignored the pointed look. "I actually came here to see if you wanted a coffee or anything."

"No." Regina sat up and reached for another book before pausing with her hand on the cover. "Thank you. For asking."

"No worries. By the way, I found your cookie stash." Emma began to walk backwards away from the study as Regina whipped her head round to glare.

"How?"

"I'm good at finding things."

"At least it's only the cookies." Regina muttered to herself, turning back to the book.

"Is it?"

"Emma! No!" Regina jumped off the couch as Emma raced into the kitchen. She came to a halt and stared at the spread of chocolate and sweets on the kitchen island. She;d found them. All of them. Even Henry hadn't managed to find all of her hiding places.

"I told you I'm good at finding things." Emma smirked before lifting a cookie to her mouth and biting it slowly.

Regina would deny any arousal and claim the dilation of her pupils was due to anger. She waved her hand, vanishing the food to a different hiding spot in her house. Emma leant forward on the counter munching happily on her cookie. Regina knew she would have to get creative now the nosy menace was staying at her house.

"This is going to be fun, isn't it? Like an epic slumber party." Emma smiled taking another bite of the cookie. Throwing her hands up in the air Regina turned and stalked from the kitchen stopping when she spotted Henry on the stairs.

"I'm going to Grace's. Again. Help her clean up from the party, I might stay for the night." He said watching as Emma exited the kitchen with crumbs on her shirt and a grin on her face. "You guys, just... keeping the fighting to a minimum and no breaking things."

Regina and Emma watched with wide eyes as he picked up his backpack and moved to grab his coat. "I'll call you from Grace's."

He was out the door before they could get an edge in otherwise. Regina turned to Emma, mouth open ready to blame this on her before the blonde started laughing.

"He grounded us! Actually grounded us. Oh my god, he's totally your kid." Emma continued chuckling as she went back into the kitchen. Regina turned back to the front door and smiled. He was her kid, her son.

But he would have another thing coming if he thought that walking out of her home without fair warning didn't come with a lecture. No one grounded a Queen.

She huffed and walked to the study ignoring the sporadic chuckles echoing from the kitchen, and the way they made her smile.
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A/N: over 100 views in just a few days ! You guys are awesome! Hope you enjoyed this chapter !💋😍😘❤️