The shower did nothing to wash away the visions – memories, she reminded herself though hated to acknowledge that it had happened – as Regina sighed and shut it off. Covering her face with her hands she pushed the thoughts to the recesses of her mind and got out of the shower.

Leaving the thoughts behind as she donned her armour for the day. She didn't hear any noise from her temporary resident as she straightened her blouse entering the hall.

Pausing in the doorway to the kitchen she watched Emma as she looked out into the garden.

"I made coffee." The blonde said quietly not looking away. Even in the reflection of the window Regina could see the noticeable bags under her eyes. The empty mug in front of her and half-full coffee pot told Regina more than she wanted to know. "I can make you something to eat or-"

"No."

Emma sighed. "Okay."

"Granny's."

Emma turned and watched her sip the coffee. "Sure?"

Regina shrugged. "Might as well see how far apart we can be before things turn bad."

Emma's jaw tightened, disappointed. Turning to the mug Regina couldn't handle the saddening eyes watching her closely. "What do we do at night?"

"Pardon?"

Emma gestured at the whole kitchen. "If we can barely cope when you go off to Gold's how will we cope if I go home? I live further away from you than Gold's shop is."

Regina hated logic. The thought of Emma's permanent residence in her house should have caused more hate, but she was curiously fine with it. But... "What about Henry?"

Emma rubbed at her eyes as she leant back against the counter. "We'll tell him I fucked up. Again. It's my fault and you're fixing it."

"Emma-"

"No, it's true, Regina. I fucked up. Again! I'm useless!" Emma blurted with a self-deprecating laugh sagging further against the counter. "Some Saviour I am. All I've done is repeatedly ruin your happiness. Fucking hell. Now you're married to me."

Regina remained silent as Emma turned her anger inwards. Her knuckles tightened against the counter edge. Regina's hands covered Emma's without realising she'd moved forward.

"We'll work it out."

Emma let out a heavy breath. "There shouldn't be anything to work out. If I'd listened to you, paid even the slightest bit of attention-"

"Stop it." Regina snapped digging her fingers under Emma's to pry them loose. "Stop putting yourself down. Let me do it for you." She smirked as Emma released a tentative smile. Emma bit her lip before laughing freely, shaking her head at Regina.

Emma opened her mouth to speak but closed it and just watched Regina, the smile still prominent on her face. "You're pretty amazing, you know that?"

"Yes, I do." Regina replied haughtily as Emma laughed again. "Go grab your jacket." She said patting Emma's hands as she moved away.

"Why?"

"Henry's going to meet us at Granny's and you cooked for us yesterday. And I don't want to push my luck with food poisoning."

"Hey! You liked it! You had seconds!"

Regina stopped the car a block away from Granny's. She turned to Emma and waited until she'd paused whatever game she was playing on her phone and looked at where they'd stopped.

"What? This isn't Granny's."

"I know. Now, out."

"What?"

"We're not arriving together."

"Oh god." Emma groaned slumping in the passenger seat. She covered her eyes with her hand, peeking at Regina through her fingers. "Tell me you're not serious."

"I'm serious."

"Hi Serious, I'm Emma." Emma chuckled flinching away from the hand that slapped her arm. "Ow. Calm down, Serious."

"I swear to god." Regina seethed. She was at war with herself, fighting the smile at Emma's horrible jokes and wanting to shove Emma from her car.

"Okay. Okay. Chill. I'll see you inside then." Emma smiled sliding from the car. She held the door open as she ducked back into the car. "Want me to get us a table?"

Regina hesitated at the hopeful expression on Emma's face. "No." She answered softly.

"No?"

Regina shut her eyes against the defeated expression. So that's where Henry gets it from. "I think it would be best to spend at least some time apart."

"Oh, okay. Sure. I get it. I'll... I'll see you inside then." Emma said closing the door and pausing before walking to the diner. Regina watched her go, the hand rubbing the back of Emma's neck said that she didn't get it. Neither did Regina if she was honest with herself. But she wouldn't be. Personal honesty had only brought her pain in the past.

Shaking the thoughts away she drove to the diner. Ignoring Emma's eyes on the car as it passed.

"Emma!" Her head shot up at the boisterous call of her father. David was sitting in a booth, wide smile on his face and ketchup on his cheek.

Emma shook her head fondly as she made her way over. "You got a little something." She said pointing to her own cheek. He tried wiping it away only to smear the sauce further.

"So how did things go with Gold?" He asked watching her as she avoided eye contact.

"Yeah. Good."

"Good?"

"Yup. That's what I said."

"So, your mother's almost aneurysm had nothing to do with anything she might have heard from you?"

Emma opened her mouth to lie. "I-" The ringing of the bell pulled her focus as Regina walked in. Emma watched her march up to the counter and sit with the regality she hadn't noticed in a while.

"I did something stupid." Emma groaned, head falling into her hands.

"Such as?"

Emma raised her head and glared at her father. "You're supposed to say 'You? Stupid? Never.' Like a good parent would."

"No, a good parent would roll their eyes, get you to explain, then sit you on the naughty step." He answered logically with a shrug at her glare. "At right now I'm about to do step one."

He rolled his eyes as Emma threw a chip at him. "You wouldn't dare."

"Don't play with your food." He smirked pulling the plate further from Emma. "Now tell me what's up."

Emma spun her phone around and around on the table top as she tried to figure how to tell her father she'd married his previous enemy. Accidentally, of course.

"Well, um... I-"

"Just spit it out, Emma." David said encouragingly shoving the last of his fries in his mouth.

"I married Regina." Emma spat out, quickly hiding behind her hands as David did the same with his chips.

"What?!"