Emma sighed happily to herself as she finished off the cookie. It was a damn good cookie. She'd have to find out where Regina had stashed them again. Sugar in the Mills household seemed like a miracle, if Emma was to go by Henry's exaggerated complaints.

Leaning against the kitchen island she listen to the silence of the house. It was so quiet now Henry wasn't charging about upstairs, and Regina wasn't yelling at her.

Noise had always been a big part of Emma's life. There had been no such thing as peace and quiet in the group homes, or schools, or cities she lived in. She'd loved noise. It reminded her she wasn't alone.

This silence though was comforting. She closed her eyes and if she strained her ears hard enough she would swear she would hear Regina flipping pages in the study.

She opened her eyes and looked out upon the immaculately groomed garden, Regina's doing of course. She lost herself in thought at how they'd gotten to this point.

She was unfailingly glad Regina had forgiven her, but was she happy? Had Emma done enough? Maybe the fairy dust was wrong the second time. God, what had she been thinking?

Emma held the vial tightly. She looked down at the sparkly dust with a heavy sigh relaxing her grip. It wouldn't do to break it and ruin the chance to regain the trust she'd lost.

She watched Regina patiently, her hand pressed heavily into the apple tree where a branch had once been. She paid no mind to the world around her. It didn't seem to matter to her anymore. Her chance at a happy ending had vanished with Marian's reappearance in Robin's life.

And it was all Emma's fault.

Emma took a deep breath before approaching.

"What do you want?" Regina whispered before Emma had made it halfway toward the tree. The defeat in Regina's voice halted her stride.

"I-I have something for you."

"I don't need another apology, Emma. I forgave you."

"I know. But you're still not happy. And I think - hope - that this will make it better."

Regina finally turned to stare at Emma. Her eyes were devoid of the fire and life they had once held. "What is it?"

"Tinkerbell explained the... the bar thing with the dust. So I thought maybe it'll do the same for me right?" She asked rhetorically.

"Things not going well with the pirate?"

"Regina, not the time. Anyway, Blue gave me a vial. Said it was good that I was believing, but anyway-" shuffling on her feet Emma held out the vial to Regina.

"Emma, I-"

"Take it. Maybe it won't work. Maybe it will and just lead to Henry but he's enough, right? I mean he's a little grouchier now he's growing, but still a good kid. And he makes you happy. So take it." Emma moved closer, taking Regina's hand she closed it around the vial of fairy dust.

"I-what-what if it just leads me to him?" Regina said with shocking vulnerability, her eyes not leaving the hands holding her own.

"Then you find me and I'll make sure the liquor cabinet's fully stocked so you won't remember. Okay?" Regina glanced up at the kind smile. She nodded slowly. Though Emma Swan might have unknowingly ruined her 'soulmate' relationship she was here. Trying to save the day any way she could.

"What if I just want to be alone?"

"Will you?"

"Maybe."

"I'll be there until you're so sick of my face that any time you see me you'll wanna fry it." Regina almost missed the way Emma's smile failed to reach her eyes.

Almost.

"Okay."

"Whatever happens, wherever it leads, let me know. I-I need to know."

"Thank you, Emma." Regina turned the vial over in her hands as Emma walked off the grounds. "Wait."

"You okay?" Emma asked spinning around urgently looking for any signs of distress.

"It's full." Regina said, holding up the vial at the crease in Emma's brow.

"And?"

"You didn't use any."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Everyone from the Enchanted Forest puts too much faith in magic. I grew up here. I put faith in what I know." Emma shrugged.

"And what's that?"

"I didn't need some magical dust to tell me where to go. Use it wisely, Regina."

Emma waited near the door. She'd heard Regina's heels echo on the stairs as she climbed, but it seemed she'd lost her confidence. Emma bounced on the balls of her feet before opening the door. Regina stared at her in shock

"Here. I told you I'd keep it stocked."

Regina said nothing as she took the offered drink and downed it in one go. She moved past Emma into the apartment she'd taken sole residence of. Snow and David had realized that an apartment wasn't suited for their growing family. Emma had been more than happy to have the space to herself.

"Easy there, tiger." Emma said her hand stopping Regina's from grabbing more scotch.

"I-I..." Regina stuttered uncharacteristically her eyes looking anywhere but Emma's.

Emma held back her sigh and refilled Regina's glass. Only half this time.

"Thank you."

"Talk to me, Regina."

Emma watched Regina sip the scotch and look anywhere but at her. If Regina didn't talk then she would.

"It took you to him, didn't it?" Emma shook her head. "I'm sorry, Regina."

"Stop apologizing. It... it didn't actually." She said.

"Then who? I get you probably don't wanna tell me. Especially if it's Leroy. It's not Leroy, right?"

Regina shocked then both as she laughed loudly at Emma's question. "No. Not Leroy."

"Thank god for that, huh?" Emma said relaxing into the dining chair with a smile. "Not that there's anything wrong with the guy, but trying to picture the two of you living in grumpy bliss is... super weird."

"Grumpy bliss?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Oxymoron, dear."

"...did you just call me a moron?"

And once again Regina laughed at Emma's confusion. She felt relief like she hadn't in a while at begin able to laugh freely. "No, it's a literature term, dear. It means-"

"I know what it means, Regina."

"You do?"

"Contrary to popular belief - well, mainly yours - but I did go to school when I had the opportunity. I know what an oxymoron is."

"Then why the question?"

Emma just shrugged in response. "Because I knew it would make you smile." Both women took hearty swigs of their drinks as silence descended between them. Neither knew how to regain the momentum of conversation, both had many questions they needed answers for.

"Was it Henry?" Emma asked quietly, refilling their glasses without meeting Regina's eyes. Regina's eyes had always been expressive. And they'd always been able to pick out the emotions in her own eyes. Now was not the time to give away how she felt. This wasn't about her.

"Pardon?"

"Did the dust take you to Henry? I wouldn't be surprised if it did." Emma traced her finger around the rim of the tumbler. She sighed heavily before taking a sip. "Don't tell me."

"Then why do you ask?"

Emma sighed as she leant back. "Cause I just want to know if there's a chance you can be happy."

Regina watched Emma closely. Emma knew she was guarding herself, and Regina couldn't find a reason why. "You don't seem happy."

"I will be when you are." Emma shrugged. She finally looked up, smiling at the confusion on Regina's face. "I do care what happens to you, Regina. I hope you know that."

"I... I think I do." Regina said, surprising both of them with the honest answer.

Emma had brushed off the serious nature of their conversation to talk of Henry. The safe zone. They spent the rest of the night talking about Henry, paperwork, random gossip they'd heard from Ruby, and anything but the topic of fairy dust.

Emma broken from the memories as the doorbell sounded through the house. She waited for the clacking of Regina's heels to reach the door but waited to hear it open. Instead all she heard was Regina tapping her foot impatiently.

Emma settled herself more comfortably against the counter as they both waited for the other woman to face them. Emma chuckled. This was going to be good.