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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” On TV, a gleeful parent pushed a shopping cart full of school supplies as two gloomy children trailed behind.Even from the kitchen, Mary Margaret’s yell pierced through the sizzle of the griddle. “Change it! Hurry! I’m having a good morning!”Emma scrambled for the remote, switching the channel to Wheel of Fortune, but Mary Margaret (though Emma called her “Snow White” for her resemblance to a fairy tale princess) slammed the frying pan on the counter a little too aggressively.Raising an eyebrow, Emma entered the kitchen. Snow’s face contorted into a scowl and a pout.“It’s not the most wonderful time of the year,” she huffed, angrily scooping scrambled eggs and turkey bacon onto their plates. Two angry dumps of orange juice into glasses followed. “Some of us cherish every precious minute of our summer vacation because it’s the only time we get to feel human!”“And piss when we need to,” Emma added.Snow closed her eyes with a resolute deep breath. “And piss when we need to.”Emma joined her at the table. If she could get Snow White to swear this early in the morning, then it was a definite sign she needed to eat breakfast with her. Unlike Emma, Snow had dressed for the day. She even pinned little white flowers into her pixie cut. Emma used this to change the subject.“You look nice today.” Emma gave an encouraging smile. “Are you gonna meet a certain… someone?”Snow’s eyes sparkled playfully, though she attempted to hide her smile behind a glass of orange juice.“Just a meeting. David wants to review the school board changes before Monday.”“Shouldn’t that be an email? Sounds like an excuse to spend the afternoon with a charming music teacher if you ask me.The tactic succeeded. Miss Mary Margaret beamed, giddy like a schoolgirl. Emma contentedly crunched on a piece of bacon, enjoying the moment of quiet her agreeableness provided. Though it was short-lived.“What about you? Please tell me you’ll do something outside the apartment today.”Emma’s mind had already wandered to the congealing white box of leftover Chinese takeout in the fridge and a Law and Order marathon.“Yeah, I’ll hit the gym.”That pleased Snow. “And then?”“And then, uh…” Emma hadn’t anticipated further interrogation“Emma.”“What?”Snow’s pout returned, signaling an impending lecture. A headache built behind Emma’s eyes.“I’m concerned about you, Emma.”Emma stood to escape Snow’s pitying blue eyes and grabbed some coffee.“You’re not going to therapy, and you’re isolating yourself. It’s not healthy.”“In thirty-six hours, I’ll be surrounded by ten-year-olds for eight hours a day,” Emma countered, draining her coffee in one gulp. “And Mother Superior.” They both shuddered. Emma thought about the older nun’s collection of yellowing composition notebooks full of lesson plans from thirty years ago.The silence hung heavy. Glumly, Emma speared an egg on her fork, feeling Snow watching her.“Have you… called him?”Emma set her fork down harshly, and Snow flinched. “I’m not calling him. I made it clear we were over, and it’s been three months. I’m moving on.”Snow’s voice softened. “I’m sorry to keep bringing it up. It’s just- you’re like a daughter to me. I want you to be happy. Are you happy?”“I’m fine,” Emma answered, though neither of them believed it.As lunchtime approached, Mary Margaret threatened to drag Emma along to her meeting with David. Emma quickly pretended to look busy, pulling out her shoebox of documents and unpaid bills, along with her aging laptop.Emma paid her phone bill, credit card debt, and had $56 left in her bank account, so she donated to the Storybrooke orphanage. She was sure they wondered where the sporadic $20 and $30 anonymous donations every few weeks came from. It wasn’t much, but she always hoped it helped.Her laptop needed a few love-taps to function properly, taking forever to load anything. Eventually, Emma managed to check her email. She promptly deleted David’s welcome back to school email. Like Snow, Emma also didn’t want to think about work. At all.The anxious bubble in her gut grew when she saw another email that read: Urgent, Parent-Teacher meeting requested immediately. Her stomach churned as she skimmed the email. One of her student’s parents wanted to meet with her Monday morning before school started. Her boss, David, was cc’d on the email. What a freaking great way to start the year.Emma texted Snow, glaring at her laptop screen. “Who is Mrs. Mills?”To her surprise, her phone buzzed with Snow’s response instantly. "CALL. ME. NOW."Anxious, Emma clicked speed dial. Snow answered hastily, her voice tinged with urgency. “Please don’t tell me you have Henry Mills in your class.”Scanning the email again, Emma’s heart sank. “Yes,” she admitted. “What’s the deal?”“His mother, Regina! She’s an absolute nightmare, Emma!” Snow sounded on the verge of tears. “She’s the head of the parent’s association. I called her once- two years ago- because I was worried that Henry was depressed. She almost got me fired for that. I had to go on leave for a month!”“Oh God,” Emma groaned. Her fingers pressed into her temples to ease the mounting headache.“Emma, ask David to move Henry to the other class. Regina will make your life a living hell. Promise me you’ll call him. They don’t call her the ‘Queen of Storybrooke’ for nothing.”“I will,” Emma assured Snow, though she was also reassuring herself. She’d barely left her low-paying bounty hunting job for this teaching position, and she couldn’t afford to risk it.“I sprinted to the bathroom when I got your text, but my meeting with him will be over in fifteen minutes. Call him right away.” Snow ended their call, and Emma’s head sank onto the desk. Just wonderful.After waiting exactly fifteen minutes, Emma called David.“Hey, Emma!” His charming voice always radiated, even over the phone. “I was expecting you.” Bless Mary Margaret Blanchard, Emma thought, gratefully.“I hoped I would catch you.” Emma said, feeling a wave of social awkwardness. “Is now a good time?”“Absolutely. Listen, it’s no problem to move Henry to Mother Superior’s class, but you need to run it past Dr. Hopper at your Monday meeting. The counselors manage the class numbers and all that.”“Wait- you won’t be at the meeting?” Emma’s shoulders sank.“No, I’m double booked with Mr. Gold.” His voice was gentle. “Don’t worry, Emma. You’ll be fine. Regina’s not that scary. She’s just an incredible advocate for her son and wants what’s best for him.”“What about what’s best for me?” Emma couldn’t help but mutter, and David chuckled.“I think you’ll grow to like her.”Emma could hear the stupid smile in his voice, so she glared at her phone. “Not helping.”“You’re gonna give Mary Margaret a stroke if you two don’t get along,” David’s voice lowered conspiratorially. Snow must have been nearby. “You should’ve seen her face when she told me.” They both knew Snow didn’t need another reason to worry about Emma.“I’ll be on my best behavior,” Emma promised.“That’s not terribly reassuring.”Now it was Emma’s turn to chuckle. She hung up, and immediately dug her leftovers out of the fridge, grabbing two packets of ramen for good measure.She was already dreading Monday morning.
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Dr. Hopper squirmed, his gaze darting between the open door and the papers scattered across his desk. At least someone is more nervous than me, Emma thought.A little boy entered. Dr. Hopper smiled. “Good morning, Henry!”A sharp click of heels echoed through the school corridors as Regina Mills followed. Dr. Hopper rose from his seat as if royalty had entered, and Emma hastily followed suit.“Good morning,” Dr. Hopper choked out. He gave Emma a pleading glance. Help me, his eyes said.“Good morning, Mrs. Mills,” Emma greeted awkwardly, extending her hand. “Glad to meet you.”Regina’s dark eyes scanned Emma from head to toe, analyzing Emma's every weakness. “Ms. Mills,” Regina corrected. She didn’t shake Emma's hand. Emma let it fall stupidly to her side. Despite her pounding heart, Regina captivated her.Regina approached Henry, her demeanor shifting to one of gentle encouragement. “Henry, why don’t you show Ms. Rose your new lunchbox? This won’t take long.”Henry glanced at Dr. Hopper, their silent exchange laden with apprehension. With the resignation of an old soul trapped in a child’s body, Henry relented. “Alright, mom.”Regina gently nudged Henry out the door, her smile fading as soon as he was out of sight. Dr. Hopper wilted under her gaze.“I’ll be brief, Hopper,” Regina said. “Henry needs to be switched to Mother Superior’s class immediately.”“May… May I ask why?” he stammered. “Ms. Swan’s a wonderful teacher. She received glowing praise from parents last year.”Emma couldn’t believe it. Dr. Hopper was trying to defend her? Though the praise was validating, she subtly signaled to him that in no way did she want to deal with this parent.“Wonderful though Ms. Swan may be,” and Emma nearly flinched hearing the poison of Regina’s sarcasm, “she lacks the experience that Mother Superior offers. I had counted on Henry being in that class all summer—what happened?”Dr. Hopper’s mouth opened to answer, and he frowned, hesitating.“I happened,” Henry’s voice piped up from the door, catching them all off guard.Regina’s tone became stern. “Henry, what is this?”“I emailed Dr. Hopper and asked to be in Ms. Swan’s class,” Henry explained. “Remember? My therapist says I do better with more unconventional methods.”Regina stiffened. Something about the way her eyes filled with grief made Emma want to intervene.“Henry, I’d love to have you in my class. But maybe you should listen to your mom.” Emma gestured to Regina, who looked grateful. “She knows what’s best for you.”Henry met Emma's gaze, undaunted. He had to raise his chin to do it, but the effect was the same. Emma couldn’t help but like him a lot. “Actually, I know what’s best for me. If school is too easy for me, I get in trouble. I heard you do projects and field trips in your class. And lead the school play. That’s right up my alley.”“That is true,” Emma couldn’t help quietly agreeing with him, and she could feel the heat of Regina’s wrath from a pace away.“That’s all well and good, but Henry needs structure and discipline. Harvard is only eight years away. Mother Superior’s test scores are phenomenal.” Regina waved her hand dismissively, clearly used to getting her way. “I don’t have time to debate. I have a meeting in half an hour.”Dr. Hopper and Emma both made the mistake of gauging Henry’s reaction and received the full force of his puppy dog eyes. “Please,” Henry begged. “I want to be in Emma’s class.”“Henry!” Regina started to scold him, but Emma interjected. “I let students call me Emma or Ms. Swan. It doesn’t bother me.”“You allow first name basis?” Regina’s voice dripped with disapproval.“I pick my battles,” Emma replied, meeting her glare. A tense eternity passed before Regina finally looked away.“Henry, I don’t understand why you’re fighting me on this.”Henry looked at the floor. His shoulders slumped, and his expression wavered, on the verge of tears.Then, the morning bell rang, jolting them all back to reality. The sounds of students flooding into the school echoed through the corridors.The first-day jitters hit Emma like a ton of bricks, and she needed to get to her classroom. Henry still wouldn’t look at any of them, so Emma knuckled his hair in a playful noogie.“Hey, kid. Let’s compromise. You can try my class for a week, and if your mom isn’t satisfied, you can switch,” Emma suggested.Regina crossed her arms, contemplating the proposal. “I’ll need to observe your class.”“Well, I still need a room mom,” Emma offered. Dr. Hopper gave her an incredulous look, and Emma could hardly believe what she was saying either. Something about Regina made her speak without thinking.“Yeah! That’s a great idea,” Henry chimed in eagerly. “Mom, they go on field trips and help in the class. With like, cutting out paper and making copies and bringing snacks. Stuff like that. You honestly do all that already.”Regina relented, albeit reluctantly. “Fine. I accept the compromise. But I reserve the final right to decide what’s best for you.”Henry extended his hand, sealing their bargain with a firm shake. “Deal.”Their interaction, though unusually very business-like, was heartwarming to witness. David’s assessment of Regina as an incredible advocate for her son was starting to make sense. Henry was clearly extraordinary.“Mom, we need to get to class, or we’ll make Emma late.”“Please call her Ms. Swan in front of the other students,” Regina reminded him, looking at Emma. Her dark eyes had lost a little bit of their earlier dislike and were now curious. “She needs to earn their respect.”As Henry departed, leaving Dr. Hopper and Emma behind, Regina leaned in closer, her lips curling into a smirk. “You’re going to need all the help you can get, Ms. Swan.”With all the grace she could muster, Emma hurried to her classroom, weaving through chattering, animated students in the halls. Snow was waiting outside her door.“Well?” she pressed.Before Emma could respond, Henry Mills flashed them both a bright smile and sauntered into her classroom. They smiled big teacher smiles as a few more kids trickled in. Most of them paused to give Mary Margaret hugs as they passed. When the coast was clear, Snow gripped Emma's shoulders.“What happened?”“It’s a long story,” was all Emma could muster. She still had no idea what the hell happened back there herself. “She’s gonna be my room mom too.”Snow’s fingers tightened on Emma's shoulders. Her eye twitched. “What?”“Tea—cher!” a tiny voice sang, interrupting them. “Lilo put a sandwich in the gecko cage.”“Say what?” Emma blinked at the tattler.The student pointed inside the classroom. A small crowd of students had gathered around the classroom pet setup. A girl stood on a chair while the crowd giggled mischievously.“Gotta go.” Emma squeezed Snow’s hand on her shoulder, and she nodded.“Text me as soon as you can,” Snow pleaded.“I will,” Emma promised, sprinting inside. “HEY! BACK AWAY FROM THE LIZARD.”The giggling students dispersed. Emma fished out the peanut butter sandwich from the lizard tank and secured the lid. The soggy sandwich disintegrated on its journey to the trash. Lilo hadn’t budged from the tank.“Lilo, why did you do that?” Emma asked, approaching her.“I don’t know. He looked hungry, I guess.”Emma knelt to her level. Lilo refused to look at her, gripping her dress so tightly her knuckles paled. Emma realized she needed to be gentle.“That was nice of you to think of him, kid. But, yeah. Geckos can’t exactly eat sandwiches. Do you know what they can eat?”Lilo shrugged.“Bugs!” Emma said, smiling.“EWW!” a few students cried. Some had gathered around, watching their interaction curiously. Henry was among them.“That’s nasty,” another student remarked, wrinkling his nose.“Bugs aren’t nasty,” Lilo said. “We need them to help plants grow and eat pests.”“I agree,” Emma said. The other students quieted at that. “Bugs are incredibly important to our ecosystem. That’s smart of you to know that.”Lilo shrugged again.“Would you help me feed him some cockroaches this week?” Emma asked.“Sure.” Lilo nodded, finally looking up. “Can I sit down now?”“Yep,” Emma said, pushing herself up. She straightened her red leather jacket, already feeling the weight of the day.As the students found their desks and settled in, Henry caught Emma's eye. “Thanks for being nice to Lilo,” he said. He jabbed a thumb towards the tank. “What’s his name?”“Killian,” Emma replied without hesitation.“Ms. Swan,” Violet Morgan’s hand shot up. “Can I read the date on the board?”Emma laughed, tiredly. “When the final bell rings, yes.”Scanning the rows of desks, grouped into fours, Emma searched for latecomers. At the back of the classroom sat Regina, her shapely leg crossed over the other. She caught Emma staring, smiled, and tapped a pen on her clipboard rather menacingly.Emma hurried over, feeling her voice betraying her surprise. “I thought you had a meeting.” Immediately, she felt self-conscious. “How long have you been here?”“Long enough,” Regina replied, not looking up from her clipboard. Regina had filled half a page of notes in elegant, sprawling cursive. “Will you be writing up Miss Pelekai?”Wait, how did— but then Emma pushed the question aside. Of course, Regina knew all the students too. She probably knew everything there was to know about the school.“No,” Emma said simply.Regina raised an eyebrow. “And you aren’t going to call her guardian?”Emma had spent the weekend combing through academic files, IEPs, and 504 plans for every student in her class. At only ten years old, Lilo Pelekai’s file already bulged with discipline and suspension records, as well as several CPS entries. Like Henry, she too had an IEP. Why would I write up an already traumatized little girl on her first day of school, Emma wanted to say, but she let her “no” speak for itself.Across the hall, Mother Superior’s fifth graders lined up outside her classroom. She was lecturing them on how to enter the class, and the children all stood silent and rigid. Mother Superior would have sent Lilo to the principal, Emma realized with dismay. And she would have called Lilo’s older sister in front of the whole class. With resignation, Emma knew there was no way that she would last the week before Regina moved Henry to Mother Superior’s orderly class. However, Emma wasn’t going to change her teaching style just to put on a show for Henry’s mom.“No,” Emma confirmed it. “Lilo didn’t mean any harm, and her sister has enough to worry about.”“Hm,” Regina remarked noncommittally. She jotted something down. Emma immediately regretted asking Regina to be her room parent. In fact, she regretted becoming a teacher altogether. Nevertheless, something deep inside Emma craved Regina’s approval. Oddly enough, she wanted her feedback. Her fear warred with her fascination.“Maybe… Uh. Can you maybe go over your notes with me at the end of the day?” Emma asked, uncharacteristically shyly.Regina’s fingers froze around her pen, and her gaze locked onto Emma. Emma couldn’t help but notice her beauty—the graceful cascade of black hair, the faint silver scar accentuating her lips. Regina reached for her Blackberry phone, tapping away briefly. Eventually, she nodded. “Looks like I have some time. Sure, why not?”Regina’s expression was hard to read. Somehow though, Emma felt a glimmer of hope that her request had intrigued her.The final bell rang. Emma forced calm into her frazzled nerves and did her very best to ignore the beautiful but terrifying woman watching her every move.Despite the early morning meeting, the gecko incident, and Regina’s presence in her class, the students and Emma enjoyed a great morning. She planned fun icebreakers to help them get to know each other, and by lunchtime, they were smiling and relaxed. Emma kept an eye on Henry, who seemed fascinated by her interactions with Regina.After lunch, though, things went downhill.Scheduling math right after lunch ended up being disastrous. The students were either hyper from recess or sluggish from food. Ten minutes in, Emma had to adjust the activity on the fly because so many students were below grade level. The lesson fell apart. Frustrated students with raised hands, bored advanced students wandering around, and Regina Mills noting every misstep. Emma even had to assign the first demerits of the year to two boys who flooded the bathroom by flushing a hallway poster down the toilet.When Miss Fa cheerfully arrived to take the students to gym, Emma nearly hugged her in relief. Several kids squealed with delight at her appearance. They all agreed math time was over.“Thank God,” Emma muttered as Miss Fa lined up the students. Mulan quirked an eyebrow at her, her handsome smile as unyielding as ever.“Why is Regina Mills in here?” Mulan whispered.“She’s my room mom,” Emma whispered back. “Long story. I’ll fill you in at PD.” Regina was watching them, so Mulan smiled brightly at her.“I’ll pray for you,” Mulan said sympathetically. “Alright kids! Let’s enjoy this nice weather with some kickball!”The students cheered, and Mulan led the class outside. As Henry passed them, he said, “Good luck with my mom.”The door shut, leaving Emma alone with Ms. Mills, who was already snooping around her desk. Behind it hung a wall of student drawings from last year—anime characters with massive eyes and postcards from winter break travels. Pinned up next to her class phone was a rainbow flag.“Who’s this?” Regina asked, her eyes landing on a photo of Killian and Emma at the beach. With a pang, Emma grabbed the frame and dumped the photo in the trash before the hurt could settle in.She brushed the dust from her hands. “An ex.”“Oh,” Regina said, clearly startled by her nonchalance. “Sorry to hear that.”“Don’t worry about it,” Emma replied, sidestepping a deep dive into her personal life with Regina Mills.Emma pulled a student desk over to hers, the ancient metal legs screeching against the tile. She sat down, annoyed by the butterflies in her gut. Regina eyed the desk with disdain, pulled a packet of alcohol wipes from her purse, and wiped the desk down before sitting. She tossed the crumpled wipe into the trash, landing it on Killian’s face.“Well,” Emma began with a forced smile. “What did you think? I know the math lesson was a disaster, but I have some ideas for tomorrow. And—”Regina interrupted. “Quite frankly, Ms. Swan, I have no idea how you’ve made it this far.”Emma’s mouth snapped shut at her brutal honesty. Heat rose to her face as she glanced down, spotting graffiti carved into the desk: This class sux. The fog of impostor syndrome rolled in.“I’m not sure what you mean,” Emma managed.Judging by her pitying expression, Regina had noticed the graffiti too. She gestured to the hallway. “They’re doing sixth-grade math in there. Did you know that?”Emma believed it. “I can’t help that my students are behind,” she said. Frustration and defensiveness stiffened her jaw.“Ms. Swan, you asked for my notes,” Regina said, picking up on Emma's tone. “I’m not here to kiss your ass. If you want my feedback, it’s not going to be pretty.”“I can take it,” Emma said, her competitive nature igniting. “If I’m not doing my best for the students, I need to improve.” She let out a breath and unclenched her jaw. “I’m sorry for getting defensive. I’ve never been in this situation before. But I want to do my best, and I want to help Henry. Please give me your feedback, and don’t hold back.”“Well, okay then,” Regina said, returning to her notepad. “That’s better.”“Before you start,” Emma interrupted, “I have to ask—are you going to move Henry?”“Why are you asking?” Regina’s voice sharpened with protectiveness as they finally broached the topic they’d been avoiding.Emma thought of Henry’s face as he watched her talk to Lilo. The cruel note his teacher from last year had written in his file lingered in her mind: Henry would fare better in school if he stopped talking so much.Choosing her words carefully, Emma said, “I think I can reach him.”Regina scoffed. “What do you even know about my son?”“He’s wonderful,” Emma blurted. “He’s smarter than me, probably smarter than most of his teachers. He has a good heart and cares about others. Did you hear him thank me for being lenient with Lilo? Not many ten-year-olds are that aware of how often kids like Lilo are mistreated.”For a moment, the icy edge in Regina’s eyes softened as they both thought of Henry. Her voice warmed with adoration. “Yes, Henry is wonderful. He’s all those things and more, and I’m proud to be his mother. But tell me, Ms. Swan, why didn’t you discipline Ms. Pelekai properly?”Emma thought of her own scrawny, hardened teenage years, bouncing from foster home to foster home, unwanted and unloved like an ugly duckling. “Her therapist wrote in her file that Lilo used to feed a fish back home every day because she believed it controlled the weather,” Emma explained. “Her parents both died in a car crash during a terrible storm.”Regina’s expression shifted from confusion to a spark of sad realization.“Some kids just need a little more love,” Emma said quietly. She hesitated briefly, then decided to be honest. “Kids like Henry, too.”Regina studied Emma, clearly hating every aspect of her—from her roommate, Mary Margaret, to her leather jacket and jeans.“You asked me if I plan on removing Henry from your class? Yes, absolutely,” Regina snarled. “And if you’re not careful, I’ll see to removing your job too.”“Go ahead and try,” Emma countered. “I’m not scared of you.”Regina stood up abruptly, and Emma did too. “Good afternoon, Ms. Swan.”“Good afternoon, Ms. Mills,” Emma replied through gritted teeth.Regina tucked her clipboard under her arm and stormed out.Emma collapsed into her chair, rattled and furious, hands still shaking. She ripped open her laptop and typed a hasty email. Dr. Hopper, David— I plan on keeping Henry Mills in my class this year. Thanks, Emma.“Game on, Ms. Mills,” she muttered, and hit send.
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Regina Mills turned out to be a formidable enemy, and Emma's first week of school was a trainwreck. It even managed to top last year's chaos, and that's saying something, considering a student had stabbed another with a pencil on day one."Miss Swan! Help!" A student waved her math book frantically. The cover detached, hanging by a thread."Is it art time yet?" another student shouted over the din."This is a disaster," Emma muttered as three more kids simultaneously clamored for a bathroom break. She snapped the math book shut, and dust wheezed out from the pages, making Emma and the entire front row of students cough.Temptation to scream, walk out, and cry threatened to overwhelm her. Emma even mentally scheduled a trip to the crying closet in the teacher's lounge once the kids headed to their special.Henry Mills, her dependable ally, had even started side conversations. Emma was hurt but pushed it down, reminding herself of her motto never to take kids’ behavior personally. If Henry couldn’t handle this lesson, maybe she really was the problem.Emma longed for some help—a normal room parent would have been a godsend. They could have split the high and low math kids and done focused activities or stations. But her room mom was Regina Mills, who was hell bent on destroying Emma’s career.Emma hadn’t seen Regina since that disastrous meeting or her impulsive email, but the entire week had been one pitfall after another. The school board decided to deny Emma’s request for a class aide “due to funding,” and three of her brightest students transferred to Mother Superior’s class. When Emma asked David about it, he just shrugged and said the parents were adamant. Emma knew Regina was behind all of it, but she wasn’t about to fold under the pressure.Emma tried her last resort: turning off the lights. "Okay, heads down, deep breaths. We can get through this together," Emma encouraged the fifth graders. They obeyed, clearly needing the break. For two blissful minutes, silence reigned, and her head stopped vibrating.“I could hear your kids from the other end of the hallway,” Mr. Geppetto grumbled, arriving to take them to art.“Finally!” Lilo yelled. “Save us, Mr. Geppetto!” Some kids' heads popped up, and they started cheering. A stern look and folded arms from Mr. Geppetto silenced them instantly."Sorry we aren’t ready," Emma said, cringing at her lack of classroom control."No, I approve," Geppetto dismissed her concern. "Take your time. If they aren’t behaving, no papier-mâché.""We're doing papier-mâché?!" Lilo cried. A few boys, catching the 'break the rules' vibe, started screaming. Things were devolving. Emma turned to Mr. Geppetto for help."Lilo, demerit," he barked. "You two, hallway. Now."The boys, instantly subdued, obeyed. Lilo put her head down, and Henry stared at Emma. The class stilled, the energy sucked out."Miss Swan, may I please use the restroom?" Henry asked, hand raised, mouth set in defiance.Emma admitted defeat, exhausted from this proxy war with Regina Mills. "Go ahead," she said weakly. Henry crossed to the door, upset.Geppetto returned with the boys at the absolute worst moment. "Sit down, Henry. We’re getting ready to leave," he ordered, blocking the exit."She said I could go," Henry argued, looking at Emma.Before she could respond, Geppetto loomed over Henry. "That’s a demerit for you too, Mr. Mills. Sit down.""This is so dumb," Henry hissed, storming back to his seat and slamming his head down, copying Lilo. Emma felt like she’d failed him.“Alright,” Geppetto said, heaving out a sigh. “Let’s go to art.”As soon as the class left, Emma dashed to the teacher's lounge and broke down in the closet.The next day wasn't better. They had professional development, meaning Emma's alarm blared an hour and a half earlier.Snow and Emma sipped their coffee, too tired to talk. Emma felt like she could fall asleep at the wheel, and every few minutes, Snow's whack kept her from drifting off. Lately, sleep evaded her, and she was plagued by nightly teaching nightmares. Her anxious brain just wouldn’t shut off.They arrived at the library, where Snow immediately joined Ms. French and Mother Superior in the front row. Emma joined her usual table of problem gays in the back. Mulan slapped her back so hard she reeled forward."Swannie! Haven’t seen you in the gym lately," she grinned. "You doin' okay?""Ye look like shite," Merida raised an eyebrow."That’s not nice," Elsa scolded. "But seriously, you look like you haven’t slept in weeks."From another table, Emma saw two teachers she didn’t recognize whisper, one pointing at her. Her blood ran cold. "Are people spreading rumors about me?" she demanded to know. Mulan and Elsa looked away, and Merida stayed silent. Ruby sighed."Yes. They're saying a parent pulled their kid from your class because you’ve done prison time," she said reluctantly. Ruby’s ability to hear everything was uncanny, but Emma imagined it was a superpower in the classroom."What?" Emma gasped, ready to confront the gossipers, but Merida grabbed her shoulder, flipping her around with brute strength. "Calm down, lass," she warned.Emma was seething. "Who is spreading rumors like that —" and then it hit her. "Regina." The others at the table nodded.Ruby stared at Emma like she’d lost her mind. “I can’t believe you picked a fight with the queen of Storybrooke. Girl, what were you thinking?”“I don’t know,” Emma groaned, rubbing her temples. “I can’t stand losing to her, but she’s making my life hell. The worst part? I wish she’d show up as my room mom. I’d take her sneering, hateful comments if it meant I didn’t have to come here at 5 AM to make copies or waste my lunch break cutting out letters.”“Yeah, and she’s kind of a MILF too,” Mulan added, unhelpfully. They all did their best to keep their faces respectfully blank, though Emma secretly agreed.“Our 8th-grade room mom, Ariel, is amaaazing! She baked my entire class mermaid-themed cupcakes after their test on our summer reading book The Odyssey,” Ruby bragged, changing the subject.“Not helping,” Emma muttered, but David had stepped up to the podium, signaling the start of the meeting. Emma spotted Mary Margaret snapping upright, looking head-over-heels and eager. It was adorable.“I have good news and bad news,” David began, and they all groaned.“Bad news first,” the shop teacher they all just called Grumpy shouted, earning some chuckles from the veteran teachers.“Bad news,” David began. “With the support of the PTA, the school board voted on changing teacher evaluations to link them to student test scores. To prepare, we’re launching new and rigorous benchmark tests for reading and math.”The entire staff room looked grim. Some older teachers barely resisted their groans and eye rolls. It was the beginning of the year when most of them were still developing class routines and management strategies. None of them needed this extra pressure.“Thanks a lot, Ms. Mills,” Mulan muttered.“I’ve seen the math test,” Elsa whispered. "It’s incredibly difficult, and the new methods confuse the kids.” Ruby buried her face into her hands in dismay.Despite the weariness permeating the crowd, David continued, radiating leadership and calm. “The PTA wants STEM and technology as a focus in all classes, so we need to be on our game. The school board is even discussing cutting electives if we don’t score well on the benchmarks, but I’m pushing back. That means, I need all your help to save our specials because we know how much our kids need them.”David glanced at Snow, who looked back, grateful but nervous. Mr. Geppetto nodded in agreement. Kids like Henry and Lilo would be lost without music and art.“What’s the good news?” Grumpy called.“Well, none of us have quit,” David joked. Moans and weak smiles emerged from the crowd.“Yet,” Emma quipped, and her table snickered. The teachers gossiping before the meeting laughed too.David’s eyes zeroed in on her, and Emma caught his frown. She felt a pang of guilt. David had defended her decision to keep Henry. He was probably the only reason she still had a job, despite Regina’s attempts to steamroll them with the PTA and school board. Emma resolved to apologize after the meeting. Thankfully, she didn’t have to go out of her way. As soon as the professional development session ended, David approached her.He looked tired. “Emma, can I see you in my office?” David asked. Bracing for the worst, Emma followed him."Is this about Ms. Mills again?" Emma groaned as the door closed behind. "Please not another student being transferred?"David adjusted his standing desk and plopped down, motioning for her to sit, too. His office exuded humility and nerdiness with its simple décor and history memorabilia. Paintings of knights, swords, and monarchs adorned the walls, hinting at David's previous career as a high school history teacher. The room felt safe and inviting, filled with stuffed armchairs and colorful bean bag chairs for the kids. The whole room smelled like a dad.Emma slumped into a bean bag chair. "... Sorry about my smartass comment during your meeting. I didn’t mean it. I've just been incredibly stressed out."David's unwavering eye contact might have been unsettling from anyone else, but his gentle gaze radiated warmth and reassurance. He waved off the apology."I know," he said, offering a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry about it.""I appreciate your support," Emma hurriedly added, not wanting any doubt to creep in. "Despite what Ms. Mills says, I'm doing my best."David rocked back and forth in his chair, avoiding her gaze as he contemplated how to deliver the inevitable bad news."Let's not beat around the bush," he said finally. "No, there haven't been any transfer requests from parents, but Mother Superior's class is already at capacity. This is serious, Emma, and I need to address it as your principal.""Okay," Emma replied, jaw clenched in anticipation. She sat up.David slid a manila folder across the desk. Emma rose to grab it, immediately spotting the stamp from HR on top. This was it."I'm being fired," she whispered."You're not being fired," David clarified quickly, his gaze drifting to the window where the sounds of students at play filtered in. "Regina Mills filed a formal complaint with HR yesterday. Something about a FERPA violation during your parent-teacher conference?"Emma strained to recall the incident but couldn’t. Opening the folder, she skimmed through the complaint, feeling a surge of regret spotting Lilo Pelekai's name. She did remember divulging information to Regina and could have kicked herself for the lapse in judgement."She's my room parent," Emma said instead, defending herself. "She asked about a disciplinary issue, and I explained.""I know," David reassured her. "But HR will need to conduct a formal investigation, and I have to follow protocol. Until then, it's business as usual. No retaliation against Ms. Mills or anyone involved."Angry tears welled up, bitterness coating Emma’s tongue. She hastily wiped them away, refusing to break down in front of David. It all felt profoundly unjust. Emma had fought tooth and nail for her teaching degree, working multiple jobs to afford college, overcoming a tumultuous past with no one’s help. Losing her teaching job, which brought light into her life and allowed Emma to help kids like her, would be too devastating to bear."I wanted you to hear it from me first," David said softly. His hand patted Emma’s as tears fell onto the folder, staining its beige surface."I can't lose this job," Emma murmured, voice barely audible, so it didn’t catch."Perhaps it's time to let Henry switch?" David suggested, switching from principal to dad. "I'm sure we can make an exception—" But Emma cut him off with a resolute head shake."No. Hell, no, David. I'm not letting her win," she declared, determination unwavering. "Regina is pulling all these strings just to make me switch Henry." Emma’s voice turned deadly. "But no one messes with me."Rage had always come easier than grief. It energized Emma, extinguishing her tears as she became resolute. "Just watch. My class is going to get the top scores in reading and math, even though Regina and Mother Superior stacked her class with high-achieving kids.”David sighed. "Emma, you know I'll always have your back. But the students aren't pawns in a game. This isn't personal—""It is," Emma shot back. "It is personal. I know what happens to kids like Henry when no one sees or hears them. His light will be snuffed out in the other class, just like mine was."“Oh, Emma,” David murmured."I'm fine," Emma composed herself, clearing her throat obnoxiously loudly to cover her slip into vulnerability. "Sorry, it's just... I need to fight this battle, David. Yes, for myself, but for Henry too. I need to help him. And I'm not going to sit here and take Regina’s bullshit just because she thinks she can walk all over me.""I won't stand in your way, but remember your limits," David advised. "I'll support you however I can, but Regina does have the influence to take your job. You don’t have tenure. Be careful, Emma.""I will," Emma lied. She ignored the furrow in David's brow and excused herself.“Woah, hold your horses!” Snow caught Emma’s arm before she left the main office. “Hey, what happened in there? You okay?”“I need a minute,” Emma replied, pushing past her. Seeing the worry on Snow’s face, Emma recalled David's words about how all this would affect her. Guilt nudged at Emma, so she turned back and allowed Snow to envelop her in a bone-crushing hug.“Take your minute,” Snow whispered into her shoulder, giving Emma one last squeeze. “But come have lunch in my room. It’ll be private and quiet, and you can tell me what happened.”“Okay,” Emma agreed. She wondered if having a mother’s love like Snow’s as a child might have changed her own path.Emma fumbled for the key to her classroom but noticed the door was already unlocked and the lights were on. Frowning, she pushed the door open and spotted Henry, sitting alone at his desk.“Henry? What are you doing here?” Emma looked around in confusion. “How did you get in?”Henry turned and waved a greeting, but his energy was low, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. "Hi, Emma. I waited for you. The custodian let me in. I wanted to check on Lil… on Killian.""Who?" Emma's stomach dropped before she remembered she was the idiot who named the gecko after her ex. "Oh, yeah. Lilo was supposed to feed him this morning." Emma checked the clock. They had a few minutes before the bell rang, but Lilo still hadn’t shown up. Odd, Emma thought, wondering if Lilo had forgotten.“You look a bit tired, kid,” Emma remarked, as Henry yawned widely.“I asked Mom to drop me off early,” Henry said with a shrug. His eyes drifted sleepily to his desk. “I’m fine.”“Mmm, not buying it,” Emma said dryly. “C’mere. Let’s see if we have any snacks in here to help wake you up.”Henry popped out of his seat, clearly excited for human interaction, and followed Emma to the tiny classroom storage closet that smelled of dust and mothballs. She rummaged through some drawers, avoiding the caked in foul-smelling substances, and found a couple of packets of instant coffee and hot cocoa. She quickly checked the expiration dates; thankfully, they were still good."Maybe some hot cocoa will give you a little extra pep," Emma said, smiling as she handed Henry the packets. "I bet if you ask Ms. Rose nicely, she'll give you a styrofoam cup and let you use the hot water machine."Henry beamed at her and disappeared out the door. While he was gone, Emma set up the morning lesson, writing the objectives and date on the board. She peeked through the blinds, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lilo. For some reason, she had a sneaking suspicion something terrible had happened to her.Henry returned with two steaming cups and a granola bar packet in his mouth. He greeted Emma, his words muffled by the package, making them both laugh."Careful—you don't want to spill," Emma said hurriedly, taking the cups. "Then your mom would really kill me."Henry quickly unwrapped the granola bar and devoured it. Emma raised an eyebrow. "Alright, talk. You're a mess this morning."Henry took a mischievous sip of cocoa. "Mr. Hopper thinks it's puberty."Emma blanched. "Never mind. Stop talking. Immediately."Henry laughed, a playful smile on his face. He handed her the coffee. "You look tired too. Early morning?""Yeah," Emma said, taking a grateful gulp. "Thanks for the coffee, Henry.""Thanks for the loaner," he said, holding out his cup. Emma clinked hers against his. It felt good to see him happy. Throughout the week, Henry had seemed a little down. Emma tried to remember if she had ever seen Henry walking the halls with anyone, but he always seemed alone."Maybe bring a friend next time you come to my class early, huh?" Emma teased, but Henry looked away."I don't have any," he said. "Can I feed Killian?""Sure can," Emma said, though her heart fell at his admission. She tried not to let it show, in case it wounded Henry's pride.They returned to the storage closet, and Emma showed Henry how to pick up a healthy cricket from the container with tongs and lightly dust it with a shake of calcium powder inside a bag. Henry jumped excitedly when the gecko snapped up the breakfast he held out for him. They exchanged happy grins."Well done, kid!"“That was awesome,” Henry said, unable to hold back a smile.The bell rang, and they cleaned up as students started trickling into the class."Tea—cher!" The tell-tale sing-song voice of the tattler rang out. "Lilo got in trouble on the bus, and I think she's suspended!"Shock and pain washed over Emma in quick succession. She glanced at Henry, whose entire demeanor darkened. The inklings of a crush had clearly started to bloom there, but Emma decided to keep that to herself.Needing to act fast to resolve the situation, Emma first addressed the tattler. "It's not nice to tattle or spread gossip," she said seriously. "Unless the teacher needs to know something to keep everyone safe, keep it to yourself. How would you feel if someone ran around the school laughing about every time you made a mistake?""I wouldn't like it," the student said, looking up fearfully. "I'm sorry.""Now you know better and can be better," Emma smiled. Their class motto. The tattletale nodded and rushed to her seat."Henry, I need your help," Emma called. He perked up, always happy to have a special job. "Collect all the homework and bring it to the office at the end of the day for Lilo."He nodded eagerly. "Yes, Em— Miss Swan."Morning reading and writing lessons flowed by as Emma waited to talk to Snow. She looked forward to it, needing adult time, and couldn’t help watching the clock.Neither could Henry. Despite their bonding time that morning, Henry still seemed bored and disengaged from the lessons. Even during reading, which was usually his favorite. He hadn’t done any of the homework packet either. Emma fretted over Henry’s wellbeing and the possibility of having to call Regina about his grades slipping. She would rather die than do that.Lunch and recess finally arrived, and as soon as the last child was out the door to the playground, Emma beelined to the music room.Mary Margaret, dressed in a crisp white blouse, blue cardigan, and tiny daisies in her hair, was still talking to a group of middle school girls. Emma hung back, letting them finish. Two of the older grade teachers walked by. One cackled as they passed.“…Hear she’s sleeping with the boss.”“No wonder he made such a big deal of saving specials.”“What do they even do in music anyway?”Emma glared as they tittered down the hallway. When she turned back, the students had left, and Snow looked furious.“They’re gossiping about me now?” she cried.Emma felt awful. “I hope it’s not because we’re friends. They were gossiping this morning too.”Snow led her inside, and Emma let out a surprised laugh when Snow immediately locked and bolted the door to the music room.“No student enters my sanctuary unless I’m being paid,” she said sagely.Snow had packed Emma a lunch, and Emma gratefully crammed half a turkey sandwich into her mouth, sighing in contentment.“Did you really go to prison?” Snow asked, squinting.Emma nearly choked on her bite, protesting weakly as Snow grabbed her arm tensely. “C’mon! I got busted as a teenager for shoplifting. Give me a break. I was a stupid kid.” Emma finished the sandwich, grumpily. “My record should have been sealed when I turned 18. How the hell did Regina find out?”“How does she know about me and David?” Snow wondered.Emma looked at her dryly. “Everyone knows about that, Snow.”“Not that we’re…. you know,” she trailed off, blushing.“Fucking?”“Emma!” Snow rushed to grab her arm again, shushing her. Snow looked around frantically, but they were the only ones in the giant music room. Then she smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye.“But yes, that.” Snow opened her tupperware of salad and stabbed a carrot with a plastic fork, looking overly innocent. “A little birdy told me you may have the hots for someone yourself.” Snow gave Emma a knowing look. “A queen, even.”“Ugh, Mulan,” Emma groaned, leaning back. Her ears felt hot. She would never tell her anything again.“It would be totally cute if she wasn’t trying to, y’know, get you fired,” Snow said. “I can totally picture you with an older woman. Just… anyone but her.” Snow shuddered.“I can’t even think about that right now,” Emma said, slumping. “I’m really worried about Henry. He’s not paying attention in class or doing any homework either. You’re right, he does seem depressed.”“God, don’t tell Regina that,” Snow warned, eyes flashing. Then she grew thoughtful. “You know, Henry has a cool special interest. I discovered it one time when I was subbing for his fourth-grade teacher. Wow, that guy is a real piece of work.”Emma thought about the note he wrote in Henry’s file and agreed.Snow set aside her barely touched salad and rifled around her shelves. After a moment, she pulled out a giant book with gold-edged pages and a prince and princess on the cover.“Fairytales?” Emma wondered, smoothing her hand over the glossy cover.“Yeah, he loves them,” Snow said fondly. “You should take it and read some. Maybe you can use it in your reading class or something.”“Thank you, Snow,” Emma said, giving her a hug around the shoulders. She grinned. “Maybe I should tell Henry the nickname I give you and Prince Charming.”“Just make sure he doesn’t find out you have the hots for his mom,” Snow teased, and Emma whacked her.Emma and Mary Margaret’s lunch flew by, interrupted too soon by the afternoon bell. Emma’s ensuing math and science classes went as dreadfully as ever, but her heart lightened thinking about tomorrow’s class with the book of fairytales.That evening, Emma flipped through the book and planned a reading lesson around Snow White and the Evil Queen, as that story had captured her interest right away for some reason. She designed a rigorous lesson where the students would tease out subtle inferences about each character. Confident in her planning, Emma finally looked forward to going to work. She hoped that even HR’s observation of her class would go smoothly with Henry engaged.Before heading to the gym, Emma made a quick call to Nani, Lilo's older sister, whose voice sounded both surprised and relieved at the positive news from the school for once. Learning that Lilo’s suspension was only three days and that she would return the following week lifted a weight off Emma’s shoulders, and she knew it would bring relief to Henry as well.As the classroom filled the next day, Emma faced an unexpected audience: stern-faced men and women in business suits wielding clipboards. Sweating profusely in her own suit, Emma passed out reading packets and ignored her nerves. Henry’s sudden attentiveness at the sight of the Evil Queen's illustration brought Emma a fleeting sense of triumph amidst the chaos.The HR representatives left before the lunch bell rang, giving Emma encouraging smiles as they departed. One even gave her a thumbs up before the others shooed him out the door. Emma desperately hoped that would put to rest all the complaints about her teaching abilities. Her students had focused and worked exceptionally hard.Henry approached her desk as the rest of the fifth graders packed up for recess. “Who were all those weird people?”“They were, uh… here to make sure I’m a good teacher, Henry,” Emma answered him honestly. Henry could detect lies just like Emma.“Oh, well that must have been easy,” he said. He bounced on the balls of his feet. “Can we read more stories like that?”Emma smiled at his enthusiasm and nodded. Henry’s wistful gaze fixed on Mary Margaret’s book prompted Emma to hand it to him. “Why don’t you take this home over the weekend? You can find some stories that the other kids will like too,” Emma suggested. Henry’s face lit up and he enveloped her in a grateful hug.“I’ll take really good care of it,” he promised.As Henry joined the line for recess, he cradled the book protectively to his chest, a sight that tugged at Emma's heartstrings. Despite the trials Regina had put her through this month, seeing Henry's joy felt like a small victory.Emma arrived at school early that day, spirits high. After checking her mailbox and signing in, she couldn't resist snagging a donut from the box on Secretary Aurora’s desk, who smiled sweetly as she walked by. While making copies, a furious voice emanated from David’s office.Donut dangling from her mouth, Emma turned and saw Regina and David through the glass walls. Regina was pointing a finger at David, who had his hands up in a defensive gesture. Emma sighed, instinctively knowing the meeting was about Henry, and left her sugary treat on the table outside David's office.“Oh sorry,” Emma feigned ignorance as she entered, letting the door swing halfway closed behind her. “Should I come back, or?”“No, stay,” David waved her in. “This meeting has been a long time coming.”Emma stepped into the office. Her breath caught at the sight of Regina, who was clad in a black sleeveless turtleneck sweater dress that accentuated her perfect figure. With effort, Emma dragged her eyes to the back of the room so they didn’t linger places they shouldn’t."Good morning, Ms. Mills," Emma greeted, mustering as much courtesy as she could for the woman trying to get her fired."You weren’t invited to this meeting," Regina's voice was cold, her gaze fixed firmly on David.David intervened, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Let’s all just try to calm down and take a seat together," he suggested.As a gesture of goodwill, Emma sank into one of the armchairs, while Regina followed suit, crossing her legs elegantly but still clearly enraged. The room fell into an awkward silence, thick with tension.David broke the silence. "None of us has to like each other, but we all need to be respectful," he asserted, his leadership shining through even in such trying circumstances. "Ms. Mills, Ms. Swan, I think there could be something here besides animosity. I think Henry has an amazing mother who fights for him. And I think Ms. Swan does too. Maybe her methods are a bit unconventional, sure, but she cares about your son."Regina held up a packet, last night’s homework, and Emma recognized it immediately. Regina's glare intensified as she handed it to David. "This was what Henry brought home last night. It’s not on any of the approved reading lists."David skimmed through it, frowning. “What’s the problem here? The reading level of this assignment is high, but I don’t see anything objectionable.”Regina's frustration was palpable as her nails tapped impatiently along the desk. "While Ms. Swan teaches… whatever that is," she waved her hand dismissively, "Mother Superior is reading Of Mice and Men. It’s a 7th-grade level novel, a classic. For the last time, please move Henry to that class. I’ve tried asking nicely, and both of you have given me no other choice but to play dirty.""Henry hasn’t been doing his homework," Emma interjected finally."What? How am I just now hearing about this?" Regina demanded.Emma pointed to the packet in David’s hands. "This is the first time I’ve seen him do it. He loves fairy tales, Ms. Mills. I was only trying to help him engage more."Regina turned back to David halfway through Emma’s explanation rudely holding up a hand as if to silence a petulant child. "If you won’t do what I ask, maybe it’s time the school board discusses a new principal."David remained composed, leaning back in his chair and considering Regina's words carefully. "Ms. Mills, I would be happy to meet with the school board anytime. But my final decision is that unless the school board or HR finds a serious reason to switch Henry to the other class, I don’t plan on changing my mind."Regina stood, bristling with annoyance. “Thanks for wasting my time.”“Have a wonderful day as well, Ms. Mills,” David returned, smiling serenely.Regina left and Emma could have sworn a cloud of purple smoke followed her. Emma couldn't shake the feeling of impending trouble. "She’s going after you now because of me," she groaned. "I can’t let that happen. You haven’t done anything."David shrugged. "It’s not ideal, but I’ll manage. As long as your heart is in the right place, I will always defend you, Emma."Determined to address the situation head-on, Emma hurried to the parking lot, where Regina was already making her escape in her sleek black 1988 Mercedes Benz. Emma jogged towards her, feeling a surge of anxiety."What do you want now, Ms. Swan?" Regina snapped, irritation evident in her tone."Wait, Regina, I—" Emma began, but Regina cut her off sharply."That’s Ms. Mills to you," she retorted, her eyes flashing dangerously.Emma swallowed her nerves, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. "Sorry, Ms. Mills. I know you’re upset with me. Please don’t take this out on anyone else but me. Mr. Nolan and Ms. Blanchard have nothing to do with this."Regina waited, her expression unreadable, as Emma stumbled over her words, attempting to regain her composure. "I’ve been hoping to see you in the classroom and have your help, but you haven’t been coming?" Emma tried weakly."I gave you a gift by staying away," Regina deadpanned.Okay. Emma thought. This is not going well. She persisted, hoping to reason with her adversary. "Listen, I shouldn’t have told you about Lilo's file. That was confidential, and I don’t plan on making that mistake again. But the reason I shared that with you was because I see what Henry writes about you. I see how much he loves and respects you, and I figured telling you might help you understand why I care about these kids so much. Why what I do might not make sense. But I have reasons for everything."Regina paused, considering Emma's words, and for a moment, they seemed to be making progress. But Regina's walls quickly went back up.“I’m not interested in your career or what you do,” Regina said. “Remove Henry from your class, and I’ll be happy to never see you again.”“No,” Emma replied. “He wants to be in my class. Unless Henry tells me otherwise, I’m not abandoning him.”“Abandoning—” Regina laughed darkly, shaking her head. She looked ready to explode, and Emma wished this could be easier for her. Despite everything, she couldn’t help but feel for Regina, maybe even admire her.Regina stepped closer, so close Emma could smell her exotic perfume, feel her breath on her skin. Emma shivered.“Stop filling my son’s head with your stupid fairytales.” Regina’s voice dripped with hate and silky venom. “Life isn’t kind to boys like Henry. The world isn’t a fairy tale for him. He can’t ever be second best. He must be twice as good as everyone else to be just as good.” Regina’s voice quivered, and Emma wondered if they were still talking about Henry. Regina stepped back, and Emma noticed the tears in Regina’s eyes.“I just got Henry past his latest attempt,” she said, her voice catching. She wiped her tears, but they kept coming. She’d clearly been holding this in for too long, and now it was erupting.“Oh my god,” Emma breathed. Unable to stop herself, she stepped forward and grabbed Regina’s shoulders, trying to offer some solace. Regina didn’t push her away. “I am so sorry, Ms. Mills. I had no idea. Oh, Henry.”“He doesn’t need to hope for a world where everyone is good and good people get happy endings,” Regina continued, her mascara running. “Sometimes good people have terrible endings, and it’s not their fault.”Emma thought of her own childhood and agreed wholeheartedly. “Please, tell me what I can do.”For a moment, Emma saw a hurting, betrayed woman behind Regina’s eyes. The vulnerability was there, but only for a second.“Resign,” Regina said, venom in her voice. “I’ll be gone for three weeks on business while Henry stays with a relative. When I return, you better be gone, or this will get ugly.”She slid expensive shades over her eyes and got into her car. Emma stumbled back as Regina turned the ignition, stepped on the gas, and sped away with a cruel wave.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Granny’s diner buzzed with the Saturday lunchtime rush, but Emma, Snow, and David had secured their favorite corner booth. David, casually dressed in a bomber jacket and jeans, looked almost out of place. Emma fully expected him in his usual dress shirt, tie, and slacks.Ruby sauntered over with a lipstick-y smile. “Look at this big happy family,” she teased. “It’s been almost twenty-four hours since I’ve seen you all. I almost died from loneliness.”Emma smirked, swatting her with the menu. “Can it, or I’ll show up tomorrow too.”Ruby sighed dramatically. “It’s pretty messed up that I don’t get any days off. Teaching with you all week and then working for Granny on the weekend.” She pointed a warning finger at Emma. “Don’t ruin my Sunday too. If I have to hear about Regina Mills one more time…”“Hey,” Emma tried to interrupt, glancing at Snow and David, who were both grinning. “It’s not what it sounds like. She’s currently my mortal enemy.”“Yeah, sure, lover girl,” Ruby said, rolling her eyes playfully. “Alright, what’ll y’all be having?”Snow suddenly looked panicked that her turn had arrived so quickly. “Um! I’ll have the cobb salad, please. But could you make it without the bacon? And hold the cheese?”“No bacon? No cheese?” Ruby pressed. “That's the best part!”Snow chuckled. "Well, I'm Jewish, so I try to keep kosher."Ruby nodded thoughtfully. "Oh! I didn't know that. Sounds good. And for the beefcakes?"“Steak,” Emma said, folding her menu. “Medium rare, please.”“Same,” David added.“Typical,” Snow sighed, shaking her head.Emma leaned back. “Gotta keep up on the protein for the gym. You should see what Mulan and Merida are eating these days.”As Ruby left to put in their orders, the bell above the diner door jingled. Emma’s eyes widened as Mr. Gold limped in with his cane, followed closely by Henry.“Wait, is that…” Snow trailed off, following Emma’s stare.“Henry!” Emma called, waving. Henry turned in surprise but lit up when he saw them. He ran to their booth, startling Mr. Gold, and gave all three of them a hug. Emma felt a bit smug that her hug was the longest.Henry’s energy was infectious. “Hi, Miss Swan! Hi, everyone!”“Hey, kid,” Emma greeted, ruffling his hair. “What brings you here?”Henry shrugged, still grinning. “Just having lunch. But I saw you guys and had to say hi!”David chuckled. “Glad you did, buddy. How’s your weekend going?”“Good! Mom’s out of town, so I’m staying with Mr. Gold for a bit. I finished all my homework, so mom told him I could get a hot chocolate. Granny makes a mean one. And she even remembers that I like cinnamon on top!”“Really?” Emma smiled. “Me too!”Henry smile’s faded sightly as he grew thoughtful. “Miss Swan, can I talk to you about something?”“Sure, kid. What’s up?”Henry glanced at Snow and David before leaning in closer to Emma. “It’s about Mom. She’s really stressed out about work and stuff. She didn’t tell me much before she left, but she seemed sad. Really sad. I think she needs a friend.”Emma frowned. “I’ll see what I can do, Henry.”Mr. Gold finally arrived at their table, and David nodded respectfully. “Mr. Gold, pleasure to run into you.”Gold glanced at them with his usual wearied expression. “Can’t say the same,” he grumbled.“Re… Ms. Mills mentioned Henry was staying with a relative. I didn’t know you and Henry were related?” Emma asked, turning to him. She hadn’t formally met Gold before, but she knew he was on the school board and a major investor in Storybrooke Academy. “It is a very long story,” Gold replied curtly, offering no further details. Emma decided not to push.An awkward silence settled until Snow cleared her throat and said brightly, “Looks like your hot cocoa is ready, Henry!”“Yes!” Henry cheered. He waved and then dragged a weakly protesting Gold along. “See you at school!”Snow watched them both go, her expression thoughtful. “Henry’s a great kid. And he’s really warming up to you!”“Yeah,” Emma agreed, her mind already working on how to handle Regina.David sighed. “You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?”“Can’t help it,” Emma admitted. “That’s part of the reason I asked you both to lunch. I need some advice. Regina’s only gone for the next few weeks. I don’t have much time before she comes back. Look— I’m fresh meat to the board because my math scores are shit. Even Henry hates math, and that kid is smarter than all of us.”“Oof, yeah,” David said, flinching. Emma knew that David would never say it, but he was probably stressed about her bad scores too. He had to impress the PTA and school board with their school’s STEM scores and that meant he looked at those tests constantly.His face grew thoughtful as he mulled over some ideas. “Here’s a thought—rally the troops. Give your students a speech about why math is important, why they need to care about the test, and set a goal. Maybe even offer them an incentive or reward for meeting the goal you guys create.”“And don’t forget you can ask for help,” Snow added. “Maybe you can ask Elsa to join your class on her prep sometimes? And, it wouldn’t hurt to meet with him.” She nodded towards Mr. Gold and Henry sitting at the front.“Gold? Why?” Emma asked.“I’m just saying — he and Regina have a history,” Snow said innocently. “He’s got a lot of power within the system too. Maybe he’s got dirt on her or something… Maybe he can help you with her?”Emma glanced at Gold, curiosity piqued. A chill ran down her spine— as if he could sense her gaze even with his back turned. She quickly looked away, unnerved.“I’d be happy to arrange a morning meeting for you two,” David offered. “I’m sure a member of the board would be thrilled to hear about your plans to focus on math, Emma.”“Alright, but not until my class has some time to improve,” Emma said. Something about Gold gave her the creeps.Ruby finally arrived with their lunch. Their game plan talk quickly changed to sports and gossip, and Emma enjoyed the rest of the lunch with Snow and David.***Emma wasted no time during those three weeks, possessed with a solitary purpose: math. She embraced the role, diving deep into the new methods. Late nights saw her poring over the teacher’s guide and watching online videos of experts breaking down the concepts. Emma even spent lunch periods with Elsa for advice and observed her 8th-grade math class. Elsa advised ditching the ancient math books in favor of resources designed to meet the benchmark standards. Though the benchmarks were incredibly difficult, Elsa provided scaffolds and resources to support Emma's lower learners, easing some of her anxiety.Henry started to show signs of loneliness, missing his mom, so Emma kept him busy with projects and special jobs around the class. Something Emma wished she had done earlier was assigning advanced students as helpers when they finished early. This found a ton of success with Henry. He eagerly assisted during reading time, showing students how to make inferences and use textual evidence. Many students preferred Henry's help over Emma's, feeling safer learning from a peer. Henry’s confidence grew, and he started to joke and play around with classmates at recess. Emma felt a warm satisfaction seeing him cheer up, especially when Lilo returned from her suspension.The class goal of a pizza party for passing the math test went over extremely well, improving classroom management. Emma borrowed a points system from Merida’s 8th-grade history class: groups earned points for good behavior and lost points for disruptions. Sometimes, just hovering near the whiteboard points tally with an eraser was enough to snap the kids back to attention.Finally, the day of the first fall benchmark test arrived. The entire school buzzed with anticipation. Emma arrived early to organize her desks into rows and place encouraging sticky notes and peppermints on each desk for her students.“Alright, guys,” Emma said, when school begun, bracing them all for the test as the clock counted down. She met each of their eyes. “I don’t care what grade you get. I just want you to practice everything we’ve learned and do your best. Can you do that?”Around the room, little faces nodded urgently. Her heart swelled. They’d developed such a close bond in the past few weeks, and she was proud of them no matter what.Emma held up the timer, and the kids gripped their pencils. “Ready…” She trailed off, looking expectantly at Lilo.“GET SET GO!” Lilo yelled quickly, making the class and Emma snicker. Emma hit the timer, and the kids set to work.Settling into her desk, Emma listened to the sound of pencils scratching against paper. A sultry, spicy perfume caught her attention, followed by the click of heels at the doorway. Emma looked up, her heart stopping when she saw who it was.“Ms. Mills,” Emma whispered, eyes widening.“Mom!” Henry dropped his pencil, his face lighting up with joy. He glanced at Emma, who nodded, giving him permission to greet her.“Focus, class,” Emma reminded the kids who’d looked up from their tests. They dutifully obeyed, smiling as Henry ran past their desks, happy for him.Henry engulfed his mother in a hug, and she kissed his head. Emma looked away to give them privacy, grateful that both Regina and Henry had kept their reunion quiet to avoid disturbing the testing students. Shortly after, Henry returned to his desk, beaming, looking like the whole world had opened up for him. He set something down on his desk, and Emma noticed it was a little mongoose stuffie.Regina stepped over to Emma’s desk. Emma quickly reached over and pulled an empty plastic chair from her small group table. Regina sat down, smoothing her dress awkwardly.“I hope it’s okay for him to have that,” Regina motioned to Henry’s desk. “It’s his lucky mongoose. It helps him calm down and focus on big tests.”“No problem at all,” Emma said easily. Despite their past exchanges, she was happy for Henry to have his mom surprise him. “And welcome back,” Emma added with a genuine smile.Regina looked slightly taken aback by Emma’s kindness, glancing away and readjusting her seat. “You mentioned you could use my help,” she said. “Well, here I am. For today.”Emma couldn’t hold back a smug smile at Regina’s attempt to seem indifferent. She was grateful for the extra support. “Actually, yes. When we get to part two of the test, I have two students with IEPs who need one-on-one readers. Maybe you could take one?”“Sounds simple enough,” Regina agreed, looking around the room curiously. “It looks different in here,” she remarked.“We’ve filled the place with math and science,” Emma replied, holding back a laugh. Posters of math concepts from group projects covered the walls. Regina took it all in, and Emma was shocked to see a hint of approval in her expression.“That… is a first,” Regina admitted.After half an hour, Henry walked up and handed his paper to Emma confidently. He was usually the first to finish a test.“Did you…” Emma began to ask if he took his time.“I double-checked every question and showed my work on everything,” Henry smirked, interrupting. “It was easy.”Regina scanned the paper from her seat, a smile breaking through. “Good job, Henry.”“You know what to do,” Emma said, and Henry nodded.“Yep!” He returned to his desk and pulled out a silent reading book: Of Mice and Men.The timer went off after another thirty minutes, and the fifth graders cheered. Emma collected all of the tests and bundled them, ready for the scantron machine to grade. Regina surprised her by accepting the bundle and disappearing to the teacher’s lounge to run the tests for her.“Is it time for lunch yet?” a boy groaned.Henry raised his hand. “Miss Swan, when do we get our results?”“Ms. Mills is running them right now,” Emma answered. “After lunch, I’ll announce them. Remember, if a student gets 100% on the test, the entire class gets an ice cream float party, and if we all pass, we get a pizza party too.”Lilo kicked her legs under her desk in excitement. “Ooooh, I hope we win!”“We can do it!” Henry encouraged, lifting the class’s spirits. Emma lined them up and sent them off to recess and lunch.When she returned to her classroom, Regina had beaten her back. She held a bubble sheet in her hand, and Emma already guessed whose it was.“Well?” Emma pressed, shutting the door for privacy. “How’d Henry do?”Regina blinked, clearly still in shock. “He got a perfect score.”“What?” Emma cried, elated.“I swear I didn’t mess with the results,” Regina defended. “I would never do something like that. But what shocked me even more was who got second place.”“Who?” Emma demanded, eager. “Lilo Pelekai. She got a 98.”Emma danced in place for a second, giddy. It was the best news she could have received, and Nani would be thrilled. There was only one more thing that would make this a perfect win and that was if...“Unfortunately, Ms. Swan, not all of the students passed,” Regina said, but without her usual malice or gloating. “Two students failed.”“Oh,” Emma deflated like a balloon. She sighed, trying to recover. “Well, they’ll be crushed not to get their pizza party. But at least they’ll get something.”Regina, ever the analyst, perused the bubble sheets. “The two that failed. One is Jacinda, and the other is Riley Andersen.”Emma racked her brain trying to think of what could be holding them back. “Riley is new, just transferred a few days ago, so I’m not surprised. And Jacinda’s family recently arrived from the Dominican Republic. I wonder if David has her English proficiency scores.”Regina nodded. “Could be a language barrier.”“Wait a second…” Emma paused, raising an eyebrow. “Are you… actually helping me?”Regina stepped closer, defiantly clicking her heel. She glared. “No. I’m just interested in the students’ STEM scores as a member of the PTA and school board.”Emma rolled her eyes playfully, enjoying this new side of Regina. “Would you like to continue not helping me and bring the kids in from lunch?”“Very well,” Regina replied, heading out the door without waiting for Emma, clearly nettled by her teasing. Emma stumbled after her.The cafeteria, as usual, was chaos, noise, and pandemonium. Emma never understood how the lunch ladies and lunch monitors hadn’t all quit by now. She and Regina approached the fifth-grade lunch table.“… it’s gonna be awesome,” a boy cried, wiggling in his seat. “My mom’s gonna have dinosaur gift bags for everybody.”Henry saw them coming and waved energetically, running over to them. He looked at Regina with the most excitement Emma had ever seen from him. “MOM! I got invited to a birthday party!”Regina’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful! Did you accept?”“Yeah!” Henry said, vibrating with energy. “It’s this weekend though… Is that enough time?”“We’ll make it work,” Regina promised, clearly delighted. “Oh, Henry, make sure to say thank you for the invitation.”“I will,” Henry promised and returned to his lunch table. Emma’s heart swelled, and she turned to Regina, who had quickly turned away, wiping her eyes.“Be right back. A… contact came out,” Regina said, and disappeared out of the lunchroom.***The next morning, Emma arrived at work early again. Only David and the head secretary, Aurora Rose, occupied the office. Lights from the gym in the next building over illuminated her walk, indicating Mulan's early morning practice with the basketball girls. The fall weather brought a chilly darkness, both on the drive in and the drive home.“Good morning,” Ms. Rose smiled at Emma, now accustomed to her early arrivals.“Morning. I have a 7:00 with Mr. Gold,” Emma said, a bit nervously.“I think he might already be in the conference room,” Aurora said, sticking a pen in her mouth, flipping through a clipboard, and squinting at her computer screen. “Go ahead in.”“Everything okay?” Emma asked, noticing her struggle.Aurora smiled sheepishly. “It’s just that, after marrying Phillip and getting pregnant, I was out for so long. These new software programs confuse me, and I’m too embarrassed to ask for help.”“You know,” Emma said slyly, realizing basketball practice would end soon, “Miss Fa is really good with this stuff. I bet she’d help.”Aurora lit up and then tried to play it off. She blushed and distracted herself by straightening succulents on her desk. “Oh, thanks for the idea! I’ll definitely ask.”Emma headed into the conference room, where Mr. Gold sat at the head of the table, legs crossed and checking his watch. He nodded when she entered but didn’t stand up.“Forgive me for not rising to greet you,” he said. “Leg’s troubling me today.”“No worries,” Emma said, dismissing the concern with a wave.“Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?” Gold said, folding his hands. “Why am I here? Is this about your little problem with the Queen of Storybrooke?”Emma slid into a chair a few seats away from him, immediately regretting asking David to set up this meeting. Gold radiated a soul-sucking kind of energy, and Emma felt the need to be cautious. She thought back to Snow’s idea of asking Gold for dirt on Regina and immediately regretted ever considering it. Panic almost set in until Gold sighed wearily. He shook his head and gave her a knowing grin, revealing a gold and silver tooth.“I know everything about this school, dearie. If Regina is the queen, then call me... the court advisor, if you will.”His frankness prompted Emma to be direct. She held up her hands. “Listen, I’m not trying to pick a fight with anyone. In fact, Regina started it. I just want to teach.”Gold looked away, glancing at some of the art on the walls. “You did pick a fight with Regina when you made Henry your problem. You should have minded your business, and none of this would be happening to you.”Emma’s shoulders sank. “Is there anything I can do to make her stop?”“You’re not going to beat her,” Gold answered firmly. But then he met Emma’s eyes. “So why don’t you join her?”“How?” Emma asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.Gold leaned back. “Regina values results, Miss Swan. Show her you’re not just a thorn in her side but a valuable ally.”Emma frowned, considering his words. “And how exactly do I do that?”“Stand your ground, but don’t antagonize her. Help Henry excel and make it clear that you’re here to stay. Regina may be fierce, but she’s not unreasonable. She’s a mother first and foremost.”Emma took a deep breath, feeling a mix of determination and trepidation. “Alright. I’ll try.”“Good. And remember, I’m always here if you need... advice.” His lips curved, flashing a gold tooth again.Emma stood up, feeling the need to escape Gold’s unsettling presence. “Thank you, Mr. Gold.” *** After that intense meeting with Gold, Emma realized she needed a break from the constant stress of school, and the perfect reprieve came that weekend. Snow had threatened to take Emma to a museum followed by wine tasting if she didn't have birthday plans, so Emma had quickly called up her queer friends. Mulan, Elsa, Merida, and Ruby had all insisted on making her twenty-eighth birthday unforgettable, and so, that night, Emma found herself at Ursula’s Den, the town’s only gay bar.The place pulsed with energy, neon lights casting vibrant hues over the packed dance floor. Emma wore a sleek, black jacket over a crimson form-fitting top and dark skinny jeans. Emma looked effortlessly stunning— blonde hair cascading in loose waves and a pair of ankle boots completed the look, adding a touch of edge.Nursing a fizzing green and pink cocktail, a grin spread across her face as she watched Merida and Ruby tearing up the dance floor. Mulan leaned in close, her voice just barely audible over the thumping bass. "Having a good time, birthday girl?""It's perfect," Emma yelled, already slightly tipsy.“Girl, we gotta get you to take someone home,” Mulan said with a wicked grin. “How long’s it been?”“Too damn long,” Emma admitted. She hadn’t been laid in months.“Go get another drink and talk to someone hot!” Mulan ordered. “Or else I’m gonna set you up with that weird old dude Merida tossed in the trash.”Emma laughed, cringing at the thought, and headed to the bar. She jammed her hands in her pockets, feeling suddenly a little out of practice. Storybrooke might be small, but the weekends usually brought in plenty of college kids from nearby schools. The thought of that disappointed her, but she scanned the room anyway. No one really caught her eye. Annoyingly, none of them compared to Regina Mills.The line to the bar moved forward, and Emma caught a glimpse of a perfect ass and legs a mile long in heels, paired with an intoxicating spicy perfume: Regina Mills stood right in front of her. She wore a sleek black silk blouse with a deep V-neckline, paired with high-waisted, tailored trousers that accentuated her figure. Elegant stilettos added a touch of height and sophistication, and a delicate silver necklace and earrings added just the right amount of sparkle, making her stand out effortlessly.Emma’s heart dropped into her lungs, and her pace quickened. Why did Regina keep doing this to her? Showing up out of nowhere and making her nerves go wild?“God,” Emma muttered aloud.Regina, who'd finished ordering her drink, flipped around. As soon as she realized it was Emma, she raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Miss Swan," Regina said smoothly, her voice like silk. "Fancy meeting you here."Emma swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. "Ms. Mills. Didn't expect to see you in a place like this."Regina's smirk tightened. "A place like this? You mean— where people come to unwind and enjoy themselves?"Emma nodded, feeling her pulse race. "Something like that.”Regina took a step closer, her perfume wrapping around Emma like a warm embrace. "Well, it seems we both needed a night out."Emma chuckled nervously, her eyes flicking to Regina’s lips before quickly looking away. "Yeah, I guess so. It’s my birthday, actually.""Happy birthday,” Regina said, sounding a bit tipsy. “Let me buy you a drink.” The bartender caught her gaze and nodded, making a second drink for Emma."Thanks, that’s kind of you.” Emma's heart fluttered. Was Regina flirting with her?“Well, it’s the least I can do,” Regina admitted. “Henry’s at his very first birthday party tonight. A sleepover. It made his whole week.”Emma smiled fondly. “I’m really happy for him, Regina.” Then she flinched, slapping her head. “Sorry. Ms. Mills.”Regina looked at her dryly. “You can call me Regina outside of school. Otherwise, our friend here might think you have a kink.” She eyed the bartender, who was grinning as she finished up their drinks.Emma flushed red. “Please, can we go sit down somewhere?”The bartender slid their drinks over. “Alright, ladies. I’ve got a Poison Apple Martini and one for the birthday girl. I’m gonna call it the Savior’s Golden Cider, because you’re saving me with your cute-ass flirting.”Regina’s grin widened as Emma wished she could fall into a hole, break all her bones, and die instantly. Regina paid for their drinks and motioned to a seat away from the noise and gyrating bodies.They settled into a plush booth, and Emma's heart raced. Regina exuded an effortless confidence, cool and collected, and Emma realized Regina could pick up anyone in this bar. She picked ME up for crying out loud, Emma thought.Emma took a gulp of her drink, accidentally swallowing too much. It burned down her throat, but the drink—a mix of spiced rum, apple cider, ginger beer, and cinnamon, with a rim of golden sugar—was delicious.“This is really good,” Emma said, eyes widening. “Thanks again. I feel better away from the noise.”“Don’t mention it,” Regina replied, her eyes fixed on Emma. She sipped her martini, a blend of apple vodka, sour apple liqueur, cranberry juice, and a thin slice of green apple.Emma bit her lip. "I didn’t know you were... you know."Amusement flickered in Regina's eyes. "Gay?""Yeah," Emma said, feeling her cheeks flush.Regina sighed, tracing the rim of her glass. "It's a long story. My ex-husband was an abusive, manipulating, and controlling asshole. I wanted to poison him, but law school taught me that was a bad idea." Her eyes glimmered darkly, but a sorrowful haze crept into them.Emma’s heart ached. "I'm sorry you went through that."Regina huffed. "Then there was Robin, who slept with my sister and got her pregnant.”"Wow. That’s... a lot." Emma cringed, but something about Regina’s very dark, deadpan delivery was both brave and captivating. Regina had a way of turning her tragic stories into something almost humorous, making Emma want to laugh and cry at the same time.Regina nodded. "It was. And then there was Daniel, the sweetheart who made me realize I was a lesbian. It wasn't fair to him to stay in a relationship where I couldn't give him everything."“Or fair to you,” Emma added, thinking of Killian. Her voice softened. “You deserve everything too.”Regina gave her an odd look, and Emma spoke quickly. “I mean, being gay isn’t your fault. You don’t need to blame yourself.”Regina nodded, sipping her drink. Emma took another gulp of hers.“Did you know I was gay?” Emma asked after a moment.“I didn’t know what to think of you, especially after you dumped your guyliner photo in the trash the first time we met,” Regina said, holding back laughter. “But I saw the flag in your classroom. That was brave.”Emma smiled, thinking of the student who’d given it to her. “I try to help kids like us feel better. Not so alone.” Feeling more confident, Emma turned her glass in her hands, wanting to know more about Regina. “Did you have a good trip? Uh, wherever you went?”Regina looked away, her eyes liquid. “Not really. If you must know, Miss Swan, my mother died."Emma’s breath caught. "I'm so sorry, Regina. I had no idea.""Thank you. It’s been... difficult. We had a strained relationship, but I still loved her, and her death left a vacuum in the company that I had to deal with." Regina sighed, clearly overwhelmed and exhausted. Emma realized Henry was right—Regina needed a friend.Emma hesitated, then placed her hand on Regina’s, giving it a quick pat. Something she picked up from David. Regina eyed her hand but didn’t move. Emma remembered Gold’s advice."You've been through so much. I know we’re not friends, and you might not trust me. But I’m here for you. And Henry.” Emma’s eyes were firm. “I care about you both a lot.”Regina looked down, then withdrew her hand. Emma braced for a lashing, but it didn’t come. Regina simply nodded. “Thank you, Ms. Swan.”“Call me Emma,” Emma said.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Emma spent Sunday morning nursing a hangover, ignoring her friends' constant texts asking about what happened with Regina.“Nothing,” Emma muttered to herself, feeling a bit ashamed that her tipsy self hadn't done more than just talk to Regina. The incessant buzzing on her nightstand continued. Groaning, Emma buried herself under the covers, hoping to hide from the noise. Maybe avoiding her friends was better if they acted like this over one small talk at a gay bar.But something had clearly shifted in her and Regina’s relationship; the antagonism had softened. The best birthday gift she could have hoped for.Monday arrived too quickly, as it always did. Emma still nursed a headache, exhaustion evident in her gaze. As she set up her classroom, Regina stepped in, surprising her once again.“Good morning,” Emma greeted with a yawn, chuckling. “Sorry. Still waking up.”Regina smirked, a look Emma was getting attached to, and handed her a latte in a cup stamped with a fancy French logo. Emma accepted gratefully and took a curious sip. The coffee tasted delicious, frothy, creamy, and rich, leagues ahead of the 60-cent stuff she usually grabbed from the sketchy stand by Mary Margaret’s place.“Is it?” Regina asked. “How’s your head?”“Better,” Emma admitted, especially after David, who’d spent the weekend at Mary Margaret’s, made his hideous but effective special hangover concoction with at least two raw eggs in it. “You?”“Please,” Regina said, waving her hand dismissively. “Not my first rodeo.”Emma smiled. Regina, likely ten years her senior, seemed experienced at everything. An attractive quality. As Regina helped prepare the morning stations, Mulan’s MILF comment sprang unbidden into Emma’s mind. She nearly choked on her next sip of coffee, shaking the thought away.“Everything alright, Ms. Swan?” Regina looked up, her expression hinting at second thoughts of being there.Emma composed herself, trying not to blush. She cleared her throat gently and gave Regina a pointed look. “Emma, remember?”Regina rolled her eyes but nodded. “Emma,” she corrected.Emma was pleasantly surprised at Regina’s easy relent. Though, over-formality between them seemed absurd now— considering they had shared drinks together at a gay bar.The kids trickled into the classroom, their chatter filling the room with the usual morning buzz. Emma greeted each one with a smile, noting how the kids’ eyes widened slightly upon seeing Regina standing by her desk."Good morning, Ms. Mills," one of the braver students greeted politely."Good morning, Melody. Take your seat and prepare for morning work," Regina said. Her crisp tone left no room for dawdling.As the morning progressed, Emma couldn't help but notice the subtle signs of the children's apprehension around Regina. They were more subdued than usual, their whispers hushed and their movements cautious. Regina's reputation for strictness preceded her, and it showed."Kiara, that's your second warning for talking out of turn. See me after class for a demerit," Regina announced. Kiara’s face turned pale as she nodded quickly, avoiding eye contact.Then, during a group activity, a couple of boys started giggling and passing notes. "Unacceptable,” Regina lectured, eyes sharp. “Hand over the note. Both of you will receive a demerit for being off task.” The boys immediately complied, their previous bravado evaporating under her stern gaze.As the day went on, Regina's presence maintained a strict order. During silent reading time, Emma immersed herself with the struggling readers at the small group table, delighting in having Regina’s watchful eyes on the rest of the class. As they worked on their independent novels, Emma felt a tug on her sweater.“Miss Swan, can I please talk to you in the hall?” Henry whispered.“Sure, Henry,” Emma said. Regina, busy helping a student with the correct color coding rules for class annotation, didn't notice as the two of them slipped out. Emma shut the door behind them.“What’s up?” she asked. “Everything okay?”“Um,” Henry's eyes squinted, struggling to form his statement politely. “I think the whole class is terrified of my mom.”“Me too, kid,” Emma admitted. “Our styles are pretty different, but I think they’ll get used to her rules with time.”“Mmm…” Henry fidgeted. “A couple of the other kids were upset at lunch because of all the demerits. What if they stop being nice to me?”“Oh, Henry,” Emma breathed, understanding now why he looked so anxious. She gripped his shoulder. “I’ll talk to her when you guys go to music, okay?”He looked immensely relieved. “Thank you, Emma.”They returned to the classroom. As Emma slipped into her desk, Jacinda, one of her regulars at the small-group table, had her head down. Riley, a new student who always looked a little down, shrugged when Emma passed her a curious look.“Hey, you okay?” Emma asked Jacinda gently, leaning forward. Jacinda flinched and covered her head with her arms. Even while buried in her arms, Jacinda’s firm head shake was visible. No.“Don’t like,” her muffled, accented voice came. “Don’t like reading.”Aware that their conversation might attract curious looks, Emma nodded, busied herself with the other students at her table, and let Jacinda have her moment.“What seems to be the problem here?” Regina’s click of heels announced her presence.The rule was students couldn’t put their heads down during class time unless the teacher permitted it as a break. Before Emma could explain that she had allowed it (silently, at least), Regina leaned over Jacinda’s desk.“Sit up, Jacinda,” she said. “It’s time to read. This isn’t like you.”Jacinda flinched again but didn’t move. Regina’s expression softened, and she placed her hand on Jacinda’s head, between her cute black pigtails. She spoke softly in Spanish, and Emma didn’t understand. But whatever Regina said made Jacinda sit up immediately, looking pleased. She picked up her book and began to read.Something powerful and indescribable built inside Emma as she observed their interaction, feeling that having Regina in her classroom might be the most impactful thing this year for Jacinda and kids like her.Mary Margaret waltzed into the room when it was time for music, striking a silly pose as the kids packed up their books, making them laugh. She wore a paint-stained art frock and had a paintbrush tucked behind her ear. Emma raised an eyebrow.“Mr. Geppetto had surgery, so I’ll be covering his art classes for a month or two,” Snow explained. She made a crazy face, showing her frustration from all the extra work, causing Emma to snort and cover her mouth to stifle her laughter. When Snow noticed Regina, she became rigid and still, nodding at her.“Ms. Mills,” she greeted solemnly, the playfulness evaporating.Regina, still clearly not her fan, made a noise of disapproval, ignored her, and went back to grading the spelling tests from Friday.Snow gave Emma a bright look. “That’s actually a huge improvement,” she whispered. “Normally she says something nasty.”She clapped her hands together. “Alright, everyone. Since Halloween is coming up, we’re going to be doing some spooooooky music,” she said, drawing out the "ooooooo" in a ghostly noise that made the kids laugh again. Clearly, she was beloved by them. Most of the kids had been together since kindergarten, so they’d had Mary Margaret as a teacher for years. Seeing Snow’s camaraderie and management through love and mutual respect inspired Emma. It was how she wanted to be as a teacher too.Snow waved goodbye and took the kids to music, and Emma braced herself for another tough conversation with Regina. Regina sat at her desk, licking a finger to turn over spelling tests, grading rapidly, and frowning as she wrote the scores. Emma tried not to feel anxious.“Hey… can I talk to you for a minute?” Emma asked, trying to sound confident. She hopped up and took a seat on top of a student desk.Regina looked up dryly. “What is it now?”“Having your help today has been a godsend,” Emma began, raising her hands slightly. “You’re a natural in here. But…”“But what?” Regina interrupted, scowling.Emma sighed. “Don’t you think you’re a bit tough on the kids? Your management is impressive, but Henry might have a hard time making friends because... well, people are scared of you. Not just the students, but the staff too.”Regina set down the red grading pen with a sharp click and glared. “I can’t help if they’re intimidated by me. Maybe they should try being less weak.”Emma sensed she’d hit a nerve, maybe one of Regina’s sore spots. Mulan had mentioned something similar once, that being a woman of color meant people often projected meanness and aggression onto you, even when none was meant. Emma thought of how gently Regina had spoken to Jacinda. She knew Regina was actually a very kind-hearted woman, undeserving of her horrible reputation.“I’m not scared of you,” Emma said. She chuckled. “I was at first, but then I realized you’re actually kind of a sweetheart.”Regina sneered, and Emma couldn’t help laughing. “I promise I won’t tell anybody,” Emma said, trying to lighten the mood.Regina relaxed a bit and resumed grading. “What’s your point? Would you like me to stop coming into the classroom, then?”“Please, no,” Emma replied frantically. “Losing your help would be a disaster. Henry really likes having you here. And so do I. Maybe we can give more warnings and fewer demerits as a start?”“Sure,” Regina said. “Though I normally don’t assign so many. Life works easier with the students if you scare them in the beginning.”Regina continued grading. Emma tidied up the classroom, picking up scraps of paper and garbage left behind by the students. At the small table, she noticed the slim, level-one readers left behind. Her heart sank, thinking of Jacinda’s head in her arms.“Hey, thanks for helping with Jacinda earlier by the way,” Emma said, turning to Regina.Regina shrugged. “She’s normally a wonderful student. Her grandfather is really sick.”Emma nodded, understanding. “That explains why she’s been so down lately. I wish I’d learned Spanish, but honestly, I wasn’t a great student,” she admitted, feeling a bit shy. “What did you say to her?”“I told her that tomorrow I would bring her a book in Spanish to read. Only for independent reading, of course,” Regina replied, flipping a page and marking it expertly.“Wow,” Emma breathed. “Thank you. That probably meant so much to her. Even more so having someone that looks like her in the classroom and speaks her language. You’re really incredible, Regina.”Regina scoffed, stopping to look at Emma with a raised eyebrow. She looked embarrassed. “It’s really not a big deal.” Then she relented a little. “But, thank you.”Gold’s voice echoed in Emma’s mind: Regina values results. She seized the opportunity. “Maybe if you work closely with Jacinda for a while, and I work with Riley, we can get all the kids to pass the winter benchmark math test?”Regina nodded. “Not a bad idea. I’d be happy to work with her.”Emma’s spirits soared at the praise. Winning approval from Regina felt like scoring a touchdown every time. This arrangement would be a win-win: Regina would have a focused task besides handing out demerits like candy, and the students would benefit too.Emma sat down next to Regina, opened her laptop to check emails, and felt lighter than in a long time.***October came and went, and the entire staff of Storybrooke Academy felt grateful that Halloween and the kids’ candy rush had finally ended. November often presented as one of the darkest and most difficult months for new teachers. Studies supported this claim. Early months with a new class were challenging as kids tested boundaries, rules were still being learned, and the days grew shorter.Emma dragged herself to the Tuesday morning PD, noticing her table mates looked equally tired and grumpy.“No girlfriend today?” Mulan teased, and Ruby beat Emma to smacking her.“Leave it alone,” Ruby sighed, rubbing her temples. “The middle schoolers are giving us hell right now, and Elsa, Merida, and I have a parent meeting in the middle of this with that Mother Gothel woman.” The three of them shuddered.“Man, you ladies should get good. I never have a problem in P.E.,” Mulan joked.Merida looked at her dryly. “Aye, it’s P.E. Ye throw rubber balls at each other’s faces and get to hit things with rackets. What’s not to like?”“We’re not in the mood, Miss Fa,” Elsa said tiredly. The purple circles under her eyes stood out starkly against her pale skin. Glitter eyeshadow usually adorned the corners of her eyes, but today, even Storybrooke’s goddess looked like a mere mortal.Mulan leaned back, properly chastised but passed a grin to Emma. “Tell me when things heat up between you two.”Emma scowled at her but with a smirk. “Tell me when things heat up with you and a certain someone in the main office.”Mulan’s eyes widened that Emma knew about her little secret, but David stepping up to the podium spared her.“Alright, team. I have good news and bad news,” he began, amidst a room of groans at this familiar corny setup.“Bad news,” Grumpy demanded, not even in the mood to yell it.“Well,” David began, “at the school board meeting last week, they discussed some budget shortfalls. We’re in a pretty bad deficit, which means there will be cuts.”“We’re doomed,” Grumpy moaned, putting his head in his hands. Mary Margaret placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Emma felt a pang of sympathy for the specials teachers. She gripped Mulan’s arm, knowing that specials were always the first to get cut.“I know it’s scary,” David said quickly, sensing the tension in the room. “But, as your principal, I’m not going to let anyone get laid off. We’ll try to cut things we can do without for now. Unfortunately, that means our annual field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo will have to be canceled.”A murmur of disappointment and disapproval spread through the room, and several hands raised. Disappointment settled over Emma. Last year, her fifth graders truly bonded during that trip, which provided valuable lessons in science. While David fielded questions, the scent of Regina’s perfume wafted by, indicating her presence at the meeting.“Ms. Mills?” David called on her.Regina crossed her arms, looking extremely displeased. “Well, I for one do not agree with this decision. My son looks forward to this trip every year.” She looked at David pointedly. “I’d be happy to make a sizable donation for my son’s class to attend, and I’m sure the PTA members would do the same for their children’s classes.”David sighed. “Unfortunately, while that’s a generous offer, I can’t allow it if only some classes can go and not others. It wouldn’t be fair.”Emma surprised herself by raising her hand, always acting without thinking when it came to helping Regina. David, surprised himself, called on her.Emma cleared her throat, nervous speaking in front of the entire staff. “What if we did a school-wide fundraiser?” She looked at Regina, who seemed grateful for the assistance. “Maybe each class can contribute? I’m sure, along with the PTA’s help, we can raise enough money.”“Nice one, nerd,” Mulan whispered, and Merida snickered, but Emma ignored them.“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mary Margaret chimed in, beaming at Emma.David smiled. “I can get behind that. Thanks, Emma, I needed some good news this morning.” The staff chuckled. “Bring your fundraiser ideas to our next PD, and we’ll get them approved so we can start raising the funds right away.”After the meeting, Emma tried to catch up to Regina, but she had beelined for David, clearly frustrated. Emma headed back to her classroom early.Once again, her door was unlocked, the lights were on, and Henry was inside, waiting as usual on days Regina came to school early. He didn’t hear Emma walk in, as his back was turned and he was talking to Killian the gecko.“… you know what I mean?” Henry asked glumly. “Girls are really hard to understand.”Killian the gecko munched on his cockroaches, happily.“Thanks for talking with me, Killian. I’m glad you’re my friend,” Henry said.Feeling embarrassed for listening in, Emma stepped back out, then re-entered, making a ridiculous amount of noise and banging into the door on purpose. Henry spun around, brightening when he saw her.“Morning, Emma,” he greeted. “How was your meeting? Did Mom do anything embarrassing?”“Morning, kid,” Emma returned. “Boring and long, as usual, and no, she was really cool actually.” Emma tossed her keys on her desk and sat down on top of it. “We need to raise some money for our annual field trip to the zoo. Got any ideas?”Henry hopped up on his desk, giggling, knowing Regina would lecture him as soon as she came in. He kicked his legs as they dangled.“Hmmm,” he mused, then lit up. “How about a bake sale? Mom makes this thing called pastelón de manzana, and it’s really good. I dream about it sometimes.” Henry sighed. “She said she’s gonna teach me how to make dulce de manzana soon. It has my favorite things in it: sugar and cinnamon.” They both laughed, but then Emma tried not to remember the Halloween Candy Black Market of 2011 from a week ago.The way the Spanish words rolled off Henry’s tongue, Emma guessed he was fluent but was curious. “Henry, do you speak Spanish?”He nodded and said something long and rapid in Spanish, much too fast for Emma to catch.“Woah, uh, sorry—my Spanish is pretty much nonexistent,” Emma admitted reluctantly.“I said, yeah, I practice it at home all the time with my mom.” Henry shrugged. “It really helps me learn French in Belle’s class.”Emma lost her train of thought, giving him an amused look. “Do you call all your teachers by their first names?”Henry shrugged again. “Only the ones I like.”Regina walked in, still looking slightly agitated. She didn’t need to say a word, only gave Henry a motherly look, and he quickly hopped off the desk and sat in it properly with a sheepish smile. Regina sighed, then walked over to Emma.“Well, do you have any ideas?” she asked, tiredly. “I tried to change David’s mind, but he’s adamant. I’d be happy to donate for the entire school, but I’d have to get Zelena’s approval since she’s also part of the company. And right now, I don’t want to speak to her whatsoever.”“I don’t blame you,” Emma said, not needing a longer explanation, since the little Regina had shared before was enough. She nodded at Henry. “Henry thinks we should do a bake sale. Says you can make a mean…” Emma looked at him helplessly.“Apple flan and sweet stewed apples,” Henry helped her out.Emma smirked at Regina, playfully leaning forward. “I’m sensing you like apples, huh?”Regina backed away a little, clearly blushing at the proximity, but she nodded. “Papa worked the harvest when I was growing up. We always had delicious fresh apples, and so I tend to cook with them often.” She patted Henry’s back, fondly. “Good idea, Henry. I’ll get the PTA and Mr. Nolan on board.”“Can I help?” he asked eagerly.“Of course,” she agreed, and Henry danced happily in his seat. His eagerness sparked another idea in Emma’s mind.“Henry, we’ll need some students to volunteer at the bake sale. Do you want to ask Jacinda to help us? I think she would love to try some familiar foods and maybe even make some with her parents.”“Sure,” Henry nodded.With Regina’s help, the PTA and David launched their fundraising with weekly bake sales before Friday school sports events. The effort would culminate right before Thanksgiving break with a late-night dinner and auction, featuring fall-themed games and activities. The entire staff got on board to help, with Grumpy and Mary Margaret’s classes making wood and art decorations, and the middle schoolers hosting the event.One Friday, Emma stayed late to finish grading essays. The squeaking of shoes, cheering audience, loud buzzing scoreboard, and Mulan’s coaching shouts pulled her to the gym, lured by the excitement and the delicious smell of the bake sale.At a table, Regina sat with a beautiful, lipsticked redhead. Emma smiled, pleased to see the bake sale packed with patrons. Pies, cakes, cookies, and cupcakes piled high on the table. Some looked professional, while others had charmingly crooked lettering with store-bought icing. Everything smelled amazing, showcasing the school’s community spirit. Regina clearly had a talent for organizing the parents.“Why, hello there,” a playful British voice greeted her. “You must be Miss Emma Swan, judging by my sister’s reaction.”“Ah, you must be Zelena,” Emma replied, noticing Regina’s simmering dark rage next to her.Zelena waved her arms proudly, leaning back. “My reputation precedes me, how wonderful.” She gestured to the spread. “My lovely sister and I are having a bit of a friendly competition to see whose dessert is the most popular. Care to participate?”Emma dug her wallet out of her back pocket and bought the two desserts Zelena pointed to. She unwrapped what looked like a brownie from its saran wrap and took a bite, realizing how long it had been since lunch.A swirl of dark chocolate ganache topped the brownie, sprinkled with edible green and gold glitter. Inside, creamy, mint-flavored ganache added a refreshing twist to the rich chocolate.“Delicious,” Emma admitted, with an apologetic look at Regina, who remained stubbornly silent.“I don’t even know why I let her on the PTA,” Regina grumbled.“Now try sister dear’s,” Zelena ordered, moving the plate closer.Emma picked up a piece of Regina's pastelón de manzana and took a bite. The smooth, creamy custard infused with vanilla perfectly complemented the layers of tender, spiced apples. Each bite offered a harmonious blend of tart apples and sweet caramel, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The delicate, buttery crust added a satisfying crunch, making every bite delightful. Emma sighed dreamily, unable to keep a happy smile from her face. “This is… probably the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”“Surely not… the best thing,” Zelena pressed with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Regina smacked her so hard she yelped.“Enough, Zelena,” Regina hissed. “There are children present.”“Yes, there are,” Zelena said again, rubbing her stomach. Regina, clearly fed up, stood and stormed out to the parking lot.“Oh dear,” Zelena sighed. “I pushed too far. Be a dear, Miss Swan, and go fetch her back for me, would you? I’ll mind the table.”Emma nodded and hurried after Regina.“Hey!” Emma called out, hoping to catch Regina before she drove off. Regina didn’t make it far. It was pitch black outside, and the wind picked up, biting through to the very marrow of their bones. Emma pulled off her leather jacket and wrapped it around Regina’s shoulders. Regina, clad in a sleeveless dress, shivered.“Thanks,” Regina said darkly. She softened when she looked at Emma. “I left my sweater inside but felt foolish going to retrieve it.”“I’ll get it,” Emma said. “Before you leave. You okay?”Regina sighed, tugging Emma’s jacket tighter. “I’ll be fine. That’s just the way she is. She can be cruel and hurtful, but she doesn’t mean to be. She honestly can’t help it. It’s the way our mother raised her.”“I’m sure she could have helped not having your ex’s child,” Emma said.Regina snorted. “True, but maybe it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because now I’ll never be tied down to a man again.”“That’s the spirit,” Emma said, patting her shoulder. Regina finally caved and smiled a little, then frowned.“Ms. Swan, why are you so kind to me? I’ve done nothing but make your life miserable, and I’m not… a nice person.” Regina shook her head. “I don’t understand you.”“Everyone deserves kindness,” Emma replied.“Not everyone,” Regina muttered. Emma sensed a bigger story there but didn’t want to press. Instead, she stepped closer, taking both of Regina’s shoulders. Regina still looked hurt and vulnerable.“You deserve kindness,” Emma said firmly, waiting until Regina’s liquid black eyes met hers, the silvery scar over her lips visible. “I’ve already forgiven you for what happened at first. Now, I honestly see you as a friend. You’ve helped me so much and clearly want what’s best for the students. Maybe it’s time to let the past go, Regina.”“You think of me as a friend?” Regina asked, dumbfounded.“Yeah,” Emma admitted, smiling. “Will you be friends with me?”Regina’s hands clutched tighter around Emma's jacket, and she glanced away, biting her lip. A bit of the vulnerability passed, and she nodded.“Alright, but I’ll probably be an insufferable one,” Regina said.Emma couldn’t help but laugh, feeling infinitely pleased.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Emma had never fit the mold of a Type A, neurotic teacher like Mother Superior or Belle. That’s probably why she ended up paired with both of them for Storybrooke Academy’s annual field trip to the Franklin Park Zoo.Honestly, her friends would have been shocked that she became a teacher. Not that she ran with the same crowds from her juvenile delinquent years, but her journey from a troubled youth to an educator with a science degree was a testament to her resilience.At eighteen, Emma gave her accidental baby up for closed adoption (while incarcerated) and clawed her way out of a life of crime and poverty. She found stability, only thanks to meeting Mary Margaret, who offered her a room and encouraged Emma to put her smarts to use. Colleges eagerly offered her scholarships when she finally found the courage to apply eating up the story of a criminal foster kid finding hope and joy in science. Despite this, Emma often worked three jobs to make ends meet, reviewing lecture notes while sitting on the kitchen counter to avoid falling asleep.Her biology degree and teaching credential now hung proudly above her desk (in cheap dollar store frames, only slightly dented from falling a few times due to her lazily nailing them up.)Teaching 11-year-olds, with their crude jokes about farts and boogers, felt natural to Emma and led her to middle school. This age group demanded a unique blend of bravery, strictness, unconditional love, and very unconventional methods. That, and the preteens and teenagers never judged her for wearing the same outfits or being grumpy on tough days. All this to say, Emma had a knack for connecting with kids, especially the ones no one else liked.That's why she now found herself in the back with the troublemakers. This arrangement pleased Mother Superior, who chose the front, sitting stiffly with her clipboard, gritting her teeth at every bump in the road. Emma, however, enjoyed the chaos, laughing and joking with the kids, feeling right at home.Combining both fifth-grade classes on the bus had created an interesting dynamic. Emma's students were a lively bunch, making bracelets, singing, laughing, and trying to stick their heads out the window—much to her annoyance. The other class, in stark contrast, sat quietly in their assigned seats.Belle chose a seat in the back along with Emma, much to her surprise. While Emma would have preferred Mulan or Snow as her Specials teacher co-chaperone to pal around with, Belle was sweet and easy to talk to."Do you think they’ll have a kangaroo?" Christopher Robin, one of Emma’s quieter boys, asked. He’d sought the spot where the teachers were at, clearly avoiding the chaos of his classmates."Maybe!" Belle laughed, her accent always charming. Her eyes flicked over to Emma. "If anyone can spot a kangaroo, it's me!" she said with a smile more resembling a pained grimace, making Emma snort in laughter. Belle must have heard every Australia joke in the book."Or a little bear," Christopher Robin said softly. "I’d love to see a real one."With a pang, Emma realized that Henry would have loved to join this conversation, but like many kids with chaperoning parents, he’d opted to ride with his mom on the four-hour trip to Boston. Emma didn’t blame him. The clatter of the bus and the students' obnoxiously loud chatter was already giving her a headache.As the bus pulled into the zoo, Emma made her way to the front and gave her students a playful stink eye to get them quiet. Mother Superior and Belle busily counted heads with military precision. Emma fought the urge to roll her eyes at their strict adherence to every rule."Alright, children," Mother Superior said sternly, tucking her clipboard into her seemingly bottomless Mary Poppins tote bag. "Stay with your chaperone at all times and meet here at bus B promptly at three. Any deviation will earn you three demerits, which, as you know, means immediate after-school and weekend detention."Mother Superior's stern announcement cast a heavy silence over the group. Belle gave Emma a pleading smile, sensing the tension"Let’s make this fun," Emma said, trying to lighten the mood. "Who thinks I could win an arm wrestling match against a gorilla?"The students erupted in laughter, immediately debating whether their teacher stood a chance. Emma snickered along with them until she caught Mother Superior’s glare. She cleared her throat and gave the kids a look until they quieted down. Belle covered her mouth to hide her smile."Alright, guys, let’s keep it cool and not scare the animals," Emma tried again. “As long as we all follow the rules, this should be a great day. Right?”The students nodded, already blending into a sea of matching royal blue and silver sweatshirts featuring a definitely-not-copyrighted mouse mascot with a wizard cap and magic wand. The kids loved them, but Emma found the uniform ridiculous. Though, the thought of seeing Regina in one brought a smirk to her face. Emma resolved to find Ms. Mills as soon as she got the students and volunteers settled.The students dispersed from the buses and found their assigned chaperones. Parent volunteers parked and gathered. Among them, Regina and Henry stood out. Emma did her best not to stare at how the school sweater clung to Regina’s curves or how her mom jeans hugged that perfect ass.Emma waved them over. Henry's face brightened when he saw her. He sprinted in her direction, leaped over the curb, and hugged her."Whoa, easy there," Emma laughed, stepping back from the force of the hug. "Happy to see you too, Henry.""You did it!" he said, releasing her and looking up with a smug grin. "You befriended my mom. Nice job.""Did she tell you that?" Emma asked, amused.Henry shook his head, still smiling. "Nope. I could just tell."Emma ruffled his hair. "You’re too sharp for your own good. Let’s catch up with your group. I’ve got a gorilla to arm wrestle."Regina caught up, giving Henry a look for running ahead and then Emma too, after overhearing what she’d just said."Please tell me you’re joking," Regina chastised. "As entertaining as that would be, I doubt the school budget covers hazard pay for gorilla wrestling.""Yeah, my death would mean a big payout," Emma quipped, making Regina snort with laughter.She tried to look serious. "I regret to inform you, Ms. Swan, that you’re not allowed to die,” Regina bantered. “Not without my permission.”Henry watched them with keen interest, eyes darting between the two women. Regina noticed his curiosity. "What is it, Henry?"His grin widened. "Nothing, Mom. You just… seem really happy around Emma."Regina cleared her throat, embarrassed. Henry quickly corrected himself. "Sorry! I meant Ms. Swan."Regina shot Emma a look. Emma held up her hands in mock defense. "Whoa! If that’s what Ms. Mills looks like when she’s happy, I really don’t want to see her mad!""You don’t, trust me," Henry said with a shudder."Enough, let’s get going," Regina said, ending their banter. She took Henry’s hand and Emma’s elbow, guiding them to their groups. Emma couldn't help but relish the soft touch of Regina's gloved hand on her skin. She liked it more than she cared to admit.Emma’s class split into groups of five. Each group had a leader: Emma, Belle, Regina, Andy’s mom (whose name Emma could never remember), and Lilo’s older sister Nani, who had taken the day off to help (despite needing the hours.) Emma and Nani had bonded over the past two months, both working to help Lilo engage more in school.As the groups formed, Melody, one of Emma’s students, waved energetically at a striking redhead and her equally handsome husband approaching the middle school volunteers. Emma guessed this was the room mom Ruby always raved about.“No fair that Ms. Lucas stole your parents for eighth grade,” Emma said to Melody, who grinned.“Ms. Blanchard says that all the time,” Melody replied with a chuckle.“I like Ms. Mills,” Jacinda chimed in, surprising Emma and Melody. Usually silent and very shy, Jacinda rarely spoke unless necessary. “She makes me happy.”Emma subtly glanced over, desperately hoping Regina picked up the compliment. Regina’s eyes widened, her face soft with emotion, and Emma's heart fluttered.By the red panda exhibit, Meilin Lee and a group of eighth-grade girls screamed in delight. They jumped up and down, trying to get the best view of the fluffy red pandas scampering around their enclosure. Meilin’s excitement was contagious as she described every playful move the red pandas made to her chaperone, Mulan, who shot Emma an amused but pleading look.As the students explored the zoo, Emma and Regina's groups gradually merged. The children’s pace naturally slowed as they crowded around the exhibits, their excitement creating a lively buzz. Henry stayed close to Jacinda, Emma, and his mom, who effortlessly switched between Spanish and English. Regina laughed at something Jacinda said, and butterflies swirled in Emma’s stomach. She had begun to cherish the sound of it. The savanna exhibit featured zebras grazing peacefully, their striking black-and-white stripes dazzling against the golden grass. Nearby, lions lounged in the sun, their fur shimmering. A "crashed" land rover positioned against a large viewing window allowed visitors to get up close and personal with the lions, whose thunderous roars echoed through the enclosure.Kiara’s eyes widened as she pressed her hands against the glass, her face glowing with joy. "They’re so beautiful!" she exclaimed, her voice full of wonder. Her braids, adorned with colorful beads, clacked together as she ran back and forth, trying to get the best view.Henry joined her, equally captivated. "Look at that one, Kiara. He’s huge!" The lions continued their regal display, roaring and playfully swatting at each other.Next came the tropical house. The air grew thick and humid, filled with the sounds of playful monkeys screeching and swinging from branches. A dwarf crocodile lurked in its pond, and a snake slithered along a branch. A baby gorilla paused playing with a toy, her eyes following the strange guests.Regina wrinkled her nose at the pungent animal odor. "I could do without that smell," she whined, drawing an eyeroll and chuckle from Emma.“Femmes,” she muttered.Nearby, Riley, who had grown close to Emma over the past few weeks, pointed to a huge silverback gorilla. "Hey, Swan, think you could arm wrestle him?"The silverback, towering at nearly six feet tall, suddenly stood, as if squaring up. Emma stumbled back with a yelp. The students nearby burst into laughter, especially Riley.Heart thumping wildly, Emma laughed weakly, shaking her head. "Holy sh… Uh, maybe I’ll just stick to arm wrestling a baby one instead."“Here, I’ll save you,” Riley joked, playfully pushing Emma away from the gorillas into the next exhibit.As the children ran ahead to the birdhouse, Emma and Regina fell into step together, enjoying a moment of quiet. Roland Locksley, another of Emma’s fifth graders, hung close to Regina, clearly comfortable around her. He tugged on her sleeve, asking about different animals.Once Roland ran off to join the other kids, Regina cast Emma a sideways glance. "Thanks for putting my ex’s son in my group," she remarked dryly.Emma blinked, taken aback. "I didn’t know Roland was your ex’s son. I’m sorry, Regina. If it’s uncomfortable, I can—"Regina shook her head, her gaze softening as she watched Roland rejoin the group. "It’s fine. Just because his father’s an ass doesn’t mean his child deserves to suffer."Emma nodded, appreciating Regina's resilience. "Uh, speaking of the kids— how’s Jacinda doing in math?" she asked, shifting the conversation.Regina smiled, competitiveness in her eyes. "Very well. She’ll be caught up by December. And Riley?”"Riley too," Emma said, pride evident. "She’ll give your one-on-one a run for her money for sure."Regina raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?""Maybe it is," Emma replied, smirking.A peal of laughter distracted them. They turned, as Henry and Jacinda conversed brightly, heads close together."Looks like Henry’s quite the charmer," Emma remarked, watching them.Regina's eyes narrowed slightly. "He better be on his best behavior.""Don’t worry, he always is. Though… Henry did confess a little crush on Lilo a while back, but she turned him down. Now he’s torn between Violet and Jacinda."Regina rolled her eyes. "Girl drama. Wonderful.""Maybe it’s okay he’s making girlfriends?" Emma tried. "Henry’s been talking to the class lizard lately... He seems lonely."Regina sighed, her expression hesitant. "You might not know this but… I adopted Henry. Sometimes it’s hard for him to connect and to trust others."Emma nodded, understanding. "I get it. I was in foster care my whole life, so I know how tough it is."Regina looked at Emma thoughtfully for a moment. "Do you have any children?""Not anymore, no," Emma replied, taking in a harsh breath to steady herself. She let it out with a whoosh, folded her arms, and glared into the distance, distracting herself by observing the kids’ behavior.Regina hesitated, then placed a faltering hand on Emma’s shoulder, as if she wasn’t used to such intimate gestures. The tentative touch made Emma think Regina might be very lonely, perhaps not used to physical affection, filling her with a pang of sadness. Determined not to add to Regina’s isolation, Emma pushed through her own discomfort to accept the gesture. Regina had been vulnerable, so Emma decided to be too."I should get back into therapy," Emma admitted reluctantly. "I mean, people say it helps."Regina glanced at her, silent. Finding more confidence, Emma kept pushing. "It’s good for kids too. To have someone to talk to."Regina sighed, her eyes drifting to Henry in the distance. "I know where this is going. I’m not opposed to therapy at all. It’s just that I want to protect Henry. I… don’t want him to think he’s broken."That made perfect sense to Emma, and she nodded. "I know you don't like talking about this, but you and Henry aren't alone, okay?" Emma hesitated, then added, "I'm even trying to get Riley into therapy. To help with her homesickness. I figure that’s holding her back in class. It’s worth a shot, you know?""Maybe you're right,” Regina said quietly, her eyes still on Henry.Lively chirps and squawks of vibrant birds rang through the avian exhibit. The kids laughed at the kookaburra’s loud call and marveled at the colorful feathers of the exotic parrots. Near the kookaburra, Melody spotted a small animal hopping around and exclaimed, "Look, a kangaroo!"Cody, an elementary exchange student, wandered over to their group, eyes wide with excitement. "That's a wallaby, not a kangaroo," he corrected confidently.Belle, who had just caught up with the group, smiled at him. "You're right! And hey, is that an Aussie accent I hear?”Cody smiled shyly. He tucked his chin into his shirt.Henry quickly stepped in and tousled Cody’s hair gently, warming Emma’s heart to see his kindness toward the littles."Yeah, he lives in the outback,” Henry said, “and Cody loves all animals, especially eagles. We talk about them a lot during resource pullout since he’s my reading buddy. Which one’s your favorite again?"Cody held his hands in front of his face, clearly overwhelmingly shy, and whispered through his fingers, "Wedge-tailed eagle..."Belle's smile widened with genuine delight. "Wedge-tailed eagles! They're amazing creatures, one of the largest birds of prey in the world. I love them too." She crouched down to Cody’s level. "Keep learning about animals, you two. With your passion, you'll get to see all kinds of wonderful creatures!"Next, Emma and Regina’s groups visited the aquarium. Nemo, a tiny boy in Emma’s group, with a mop of orange hair, became captivated by the all the different fish gracefully swimming by. He pressed his face against the glass to get a better look at the colorful clown fish.Around one, the kids began showing signs of hangriness, so Emma led them to the expansive play and picnic area. The timing was perfect as David, Ms. Rose, and several other staff members unloaded the students’ sack lunches onto tables.The children scattered to climb, explore, and enjoy their lunch, laughter echoing joyfully through the zoo. The delicious aroma of cooking burgers and pizza filled the air, mingling with the rustle of kids tearing open brown sack lunch bags and the cheerful pop of juice boxes. Emma's stomach rumbled, reminding her it was time for a much-needed break herself.Regina, Henry, and Jacinda settled at a picnic table. Regina had pulled out what looked like homemade enchiladas, neatly arranged in expensive glass Tupperwares from her bag.Meanwhile, Emma found herself at a nearby table, looking down at the sad-looking school lunch. In vain, she tried to spot Mary Margaret, but the zoo was so packed and busy that she hadn't run into any of the other grades. Grumpily, she devoured the measly peanut butter and jelly sandwich in three bites and gave the juice box to a nearby kid, too embarrassed to drink it. She vowed to ask Regina for lunch in the future, as the enticing aroma of the enchiladas wafted over to her.A blonde ponytail and long flowing skirt caught Emma’s gaze, and she spotted Elsa eating alone on a bench. Emma jogged over, relieved to see a familiar face.Elsa unpacked what also looked like a delicious homemade lunch: open-faced sandwiches with brown cheese and cured meats, fresh fruit, and a thermos of hot soup.“Femmes,” Emma grumbled, again. She really needed to pack her own lunch. But cooking? That was never going to happen.Elsa looked up, mid-bite, wide-eyed. She perked up, realizing it was Emma and not another student, and scooted over to make room.“Where’s your lunch?” Elsa asked after swallowing. She scowled. “Did you forget?”Emma grinned in reply, so Elsa glowered and pushed her lunchbox over to Emma in a wordless demand. Emma gratefully accepted a strawberry, popping it into her mouth.“Thanks,” she said, mouth full.Elsa shook her head in disapproval, stirring her soup. “We have got to get you a girlfriend.”Just then, a delighted child’s shriek, like Paul Revere, announced the ice cream cart.“ICE CREAM!”Elsa and Emma quickly moved to break up the stampede of students. Emma stepped aside, watching as Elsa efficiently directed the kids into an orderly queue, reminding them to use their manners. Despite being a new teacher like Emma, Elsa displayed a strong presence with the kids.The ice cream lady thanked them after the kids received their treats.Elsa’s face flashed in recognition. “Oh, you look so familiar!” she said.The woman smiled, effortlessly gorgeous despite the pink ice cream visor and apron. “Yes, Ingrid,” she greeted. Her eyes were disconcertingly knowing as she looked at Emma. “And you’re Elsa and Emma, I would never forget such wonderful teachers.”Elsa blushed, and Emma’s gut told her something was off. Ingrid, sensing the frosty reception, quickly handed them both cones. Elsa and Emma stood there, holding the blue and pink bubblegum cones, and exchanged puzzled looks. Elsa raised an eyebrow, and Emma shrugged, taking a bite.“There we go,” Ingrid chuckled. “A little sugary sweet helps break the ice, doesn’t it? I’m volunteering here because one of my fosters is on a field trip with Camelot Charter today.” She made a goofy face. “Sorry! I should have explained. I used to be on the PTA at Storybrooke. We left in the middle of last year… just needing something else. No offense intended. Different schools serve different needs, you know?”“I’m not offended at all,” Elsa replied. “Though, isn’t it true Camelot is pretty selective with the students who can attend?”“Well, yes,” Ingrid admitted. “One of its charms. Storybrooke’s riffraff would simply not fly there,” she giggled, and Emma decided she did not like Ingrid at all.“You know, the administration is recruiting excellent teachers like yourselves,” Ingrid smiled warmly. “You should think about joining. I’ve heard so much about your math scores from Regina. I’ve been hoping to get Henry enrolled for some time. Our teachers make five figures as starting pay, you know.” She gave Emma a pointed look that felt like an x-ray. “And, as a former foster child, you could make an especially big impact, Emma.”She discreetly slipped a business card into Emma and Elsa’s hands. Elsa looked at it, clearly uncomfortable, and glanced at Emma for help. Emma caught her look and, trying to diffuse the tension, said, “Thanks for the offer. We'll think about it. We better get back to our kids.”“Of course,” Ingrid nodded, giving them a polite smile before moving on to serve the next school.“I don’t feel good about her,” Elsa said suddenly, once Ingrid was out of earshot. She looked at Emma, lips pursed in concern. “I don’t like how much she knew about you. Be careful, okay?” *** Emma kept an eye out for Ingrid and any more recruiting from Camelot Charter, but as November turned into December and New England’s wintery days hit Storybrooke, everyone focused on surviving the cold and dark until Christmas break.Emma knew she should have told Regina about Ingrid's recruiting attempt, but with their relationship going so well, she didn't want to bring it up.With Regina's strong presence in the school and her supportive colleagues, Emma felt confident in her class. She continued using the math strategies she learned from Elsa and, despite the teasing from Mulan and Merida, attended a voluntary math PD after school with Mary Margaret and Belle.“Neither of you teach math—why are you even here?” Emma asked, mildly annoyed.“I need the extra pay for plane tickets home,” Mary Margaret said. “David is finally meeting my parents. Tickets aren’t cheap, Emma!”Belle shrugged. “I thought it might be interesting,” she said, and Emma shook her head, realizing Mulan and Merida’s mockery wasn’t entirely unfounded. Despite that, Emma picked up some useful strategies, especially for helping students decode word problems.Her efforts paid off when Regina announced, on the Monday of the last week before Christmas break, that 100% of the students had passed the winter math and science benchmarks. Emma couldn’t resist giving Regina a hug—they had both worked so hard, and Regina even returned it.“We did it!” Emma said, tears spilling down her cheeks. She hastily wiped them away. “Sorry, I’m just so happy.”“Tears are nothing to apologize for,” Regina said, pulling tissues from the box on her desk and handing them over. Emma accepted gratefully, dabbing her eyes. “You’ve put in a lot of hard work. It’s okay to be emotional.”“Hey, you have too,” Emma interjected. “Seeing Jacinda in the top 10 in both math and science did me in. I’m so happy for her. Her grandpa’s gonna lose his mind. Maybe you can call him for me?”Regina held up her Blackberry, grandpa’s number already on speed dial. “Way ahead of you, Swan.”Emma scanned the score sheet, eager to see how Riley did. She was last on the list, passing but barely. She was in the orange category, below grade level, and still on the cusp of failing the state exam at the end of the year. That snapped Emma out of her emotional moment. Clearly, there was still work to do.Regina, reading her well, gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t beat yourself up about Riley. She passed, and that’s the first step. We’ll get her there.”“Thanks,” Emma said. Regina’s compliments meant a lot. Always honest, sometimes brutally so, she never said anything nice unless she meant it. Her kindness, often critical but always out of genuine concern, showed she cared.Regina hopped off a student desk, mimicking a habit she seemed to have picked up from Emma and Henry. Emma found it both hilarious and endearing. “Well,” she said. “Looks like we’ve got a party to plan.”Emma stayed late each day that week, decorating the classroom with tinsel, snowmen, snowflakes—anything wintery but not too holiday-themed. She pinned up the kids’ art decorations, and by Friday, the classroom felt warm and cozy. Regina splurged on the kids, bringing in a hot cocoa maker, whipped cream, and sprinkles, and putting in a jumbo order to the best Italian pizza spot downtown.Since the kids and staff were allowed to wear holiday-themed sweaters on Friday, the school buzzed with festive energy. Emma, who had never been a fan of holidays because they reminded her of the lonely times in foster care, donned a Hanukkah sweater to support Mary Margaret, who had decorated their apartment for the occasion. Regina showed up in a fashionably ugly reindeer sweater and a Santa hat, with Henry matching in a similar outfit.“Mazel tov,” Henry said with a smile. “Is that right?”“I don’t know. I’m not Jewish—my roommate is,” Emma clarified quickly. “Uh… Feliz Navidad?”“Ugh,” Henry and Regina groaned in unison at her terrible pronunciation. Henry's mood brightened when he saw the whiteboard where Emma had started planning the spring musical, "The Wizard of Oz."“Yes!” he cheered. “I’ve been waiting forever to be in fifth grade because we get to do the musical in your class.”“I’m not exactly sure how I got this job, probably because I'm new, but last year's play wasn't horrible. Mary Margaret does most of the musical stuff anyway. It should be interesting at least.” Emma smiled at Henry. “You gonna audition?”“Yep!” Henry said proudly.Regina raised an eyebrow. “Really? I didn’t know you liked theater, Henry. That’s wonderful.”“Well, Violet’s gonna audition too, I think,” Henry mumbled, looking suddenly flustered. Regina’s smile faded into a scowl. Henry quickly busied himself with helping set up the party. Emma gave Regina a look and intervened when Henry was out of earshot.“Be nice,” Emma warned. “Everyone does silly things for their crush. I know I did.”Regina snorted. “Did you?”“Yeah, back when I thought I loved him, I helped my boyfriend commit a felony,” Emma shrugged.Regina stared, slightly horrified.Emma ignored her look and pressed on. “And anyway, girls who are into literature and the arts are really cute. You can’t blame him.”Regina, a literature major and juris doctorate holder, held back a smile. “I’ve always found women in STEM to be more charming.”Emma grinned cheekily, and Regina tossed some tinsel in her face.The hours spent on a rickety ladder, hanging garlands, decorating bulletin boards, and stapling art to the walls paid off when the students walked into the classroom, eyes wide with awe. Their joy made it all worth it. Emma exchanged a high five with Regina as the kids settled in, their excitement contagious.With a party on the agenda, Emma planned lighthearted and fun lessons. The day before a break was always chaotic, with some kids acting wild. For those with tough home lives, the trauma showed more on days like this, so Emma made sure to give them extra attention and care.As the delicious smell of pizza filled the room and the kids munched happily, Emma realized how much she would miss them over the two-week break. It felt like an eternity to be away from Henry, Regina, and her students.Many of the kids felt the same, exchanging addresses, phone numbers, cards, and making sleepover plans. Henry seemed particularly down, his usually bright face guarded and quiet.During the kids’ last special of the year, Emma took the chance to shovel a slice of meat pizza into her mouth, tomato sauce dribbling down her chin. Regina handed her a napkin with a look of mild disapproval. Emma accepted it sheepishly. Regina blotted the grease from her veggie pizza slice before taking a small, almost elegant, bite.“Ugh, I knew you were an almond mom,” Emma teased, swinging in her desk chair, feeling giddy at the prospect of sleeping in and binging on junk food over the break.Regina shot her a confused look but took another dainty bite, making Emma chuckle.“If I could cook like you, I’d probably be one too,” Emma admitted.Regina finished chewing and said, “I can bring you meals. It’s really no trouble. I make plenty at the beginning of the week for Henry and me, and there’s always enough left over.”Emma's face lit up. “Seriously? You’d do that?”Regina flushed slightly and looked away. “Yes, I’ll start after the break. It’s hard to watch you eat those pitiful lunches.” Emma couldn’t argue; most of her lunches consisted of a bag of chips or a protein bar.A knock sounded at Emma’s classroom door, and she was too comfortable to get up. “COME IN,” she yelled.The door opened, revealing a miserable-looking Henry and Mulan, her normally smiling face etched with worry. Her hands rested comfortingly on his shoulders.Regina stood up immediately, concern evident. “Henry? What’s wrong?” Emma followed quickly.Henry, upon seeing them, burst into tears and leaned into Mulan’s arm. She gave him a quick squeeze.“Someone’s having a hard time thinking about missing his teacher and friends,” Mulan said gently. “Normally I encourage the kiddos to walk it off, but... Henry looks like he needs his mom.” She gave him a soft push, and he ran to Regina, collapsing into her arms.“Henry?” Regina pressed softly.“I’m sorry,” Henry managed before burying his face into her. Regina looked up at Emma, who gave her a comforting look. She knelt down to Henry’s level.“Hey kid,” Emma said. “You know... when I was your age, I didn’t have parents. No holidays, no real friends. I always felt like anything good would get taken away. Especially kind people. I never knew how long they’d stick around. I liked it when things were normal and predictable. New things made me scared and angry.”Henry’s quiet sobs still shook him, but he seemed to be listening.“It might not feel like it now, but I need you to know something, Henry,” Emma said earnestly. “I’ll always be here for you. Once you’re my student, you always will be. No matter how old you get. Got it?”Henry gave a subtle nod. Regina blinked back tears and kissed the top of Henry’s head. She looked at Emma with an unreadable expression that made Emma want to hug them both. So she did.“How about we invite Ms. Swan to Granny’s with us over the break?” Regina offered. “Would you like that?”Henry nodded.“I’d like that too,” Emma said. An idea struck her. “You know, I need a huge favor from my most trusted student. You in?”That was Henry’s kryptonite. He finally pulled away from Regina, eyes red, cheeks tear-stained, and sniffling. “What is it?”“Killian can’t stay in the classroom over the break because someone has to take care of him and feed him. My roommate is really scared of him. Do you think you can take him home for the break?”Henry’s eyes brightened, and he looked up at Regina hopefully.“Of course,” Regina said, rubbing Henry’s shoulders affectionately.Henry took a halting step, then embraced Emma. The warmth of his hug caught her off guard. It was the first time she felt truly loved, unconditionally. She returned the hug with all her heart.“I love you, Emma,” Henry said.“I love you too, kid,” Emma replied, her voice thick with emotion.Regina’s eyes shimmered as she looked away, giving Emma a moment to compose herself. If Emma had met Regina’s gaze, she would have noticed the love in them and might never have let go.In that moment, Emma realized she had found something she never expected—a family.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“What’s got you all excited?” Snow asked over her cup of coffee.David, practically living at Snow’s apartment these days, flipped the newspaper with a smile. “Emma’s got a date.”Emma paused, mid-lace of her boots, raising an eyebrow at him. “It’s not a date, just lunch with Henry and Regina. And how the hell did you know that?”David didn’t look up, still smiling. “You get a certain look in your eyes when you think about them.”“That’s true,” Snow agreed, her eyes warm with fondness. “She does smile a lot more these days.”“Hey, what is this? Am I on trial? Jeez,” Emma flushed, lacing more quickly to escape their probing. She pulled on her winter coat and beanie.David chuckled. “Have fun on your date. Say hi to Henry for us.”“Ugh,” Emma grumbled at the door, letting her irritation at them both show, before it swung shut behind her.Heat blasted the chill from Emma’s face and fingers as she entered Granny’s, which was packed with patrons. She spotted Regina and Henry at their favorite corner booth. Henry, who’d clearly been watching the door, waved energetically.With only four days before Christmas, Bing Crosby crooned on the radio, and couples and families filled the tables. Regina, in a deep green silk blouse with silver threading and tailored black trousers, looked elegantly festive. Her perfume, as intoxicating as ever, drew Emma in like a love spell.Butterflies swirled in Emma’s stomach as she debated where to sit. Boldly, she slung her jacket over the booth where Regina’s and Henry’s coats already lay, giving Henry a quick half-hug before sliding in next to Regina. Emma immediately regretted her choice when her jeans brushed Regina’s thigh.“Morning,” Emma said, a bit nervously. She cleared her throat and corrected herself. “Afternoon, I mean. Sorry.”“Hi, Emma!” Henry greeted brightly, closing the book she had assigned for extra credit over the break.“Good afternoon. I see the princess curls have returned,” Regina teased.Emma had spent an embarrassingly long time with the curlers last night, not to mention the agonizing minutes in front of the mirror this morning, trying to find an outfit that would match Regina’s flair. Emma ended up settling on a wine-colored blouse.Emma slouched slightly, self-conscious, holding up the menu to shield herself. “Do they look bad? Be honest.”“No,” Regina said with a genuine smile. “You look beautiful. Doesn’t she, Henry?”“Yes,” Henry agreed. “And you both match!”Emma and Regina exchanged glances, noticing their complementary red and green outfits. Emma’s heart warmed at how much they resembled the families around them.“Henry has been looking forward to this since last week,” Regina continued, flipping over and perusing the menu. “And he’s been taking good care of Kenan.”“Killian, Mom,” Henry corrected, shaking his head with mock sadness.“Good to hear, kid,” Emma said, proud of Henry. She set down the menu, already knowing what she wanted. A young man, likely a seasonal temp for the holiday rush, approached their table.“Hello,” he greeted them tiredly. “What can I get ya?” He looked straight at Emma, earning a slight scoff from Regina. Emma, used to always being addressed first as a soft butch, fought not to laugh.“Steak, medium rare,” she said without hesitation. “And water’s fine.” She would have ordered a beer with David and Snow, but with Henry present, she opted out.He jotted it down. “And for your wife?”“I’ll—” then Regina spluttered, turning red. Emma’s cheeks burned, unsure whether to intervene or not to avoid Regina’s wrath.“She’ll have the grilled chicken salad, hold the croutons, and a glass of sparkling water with lemon,” Henry filled in brightly. “And for me, grilled cheese and hot cocoa, please.” Henry stacked the menus and slid them over like a seasoned pro.The waiter nodded approvingly and promised to bring their orders out soon.Henry beamed at Emma and Regina. Emma, impressed by Henry’s maturity, looked at him. “Does she get the same thing every time too?”Regina opened her mouth to argue, but Henry, clearly enjoying himself, answered. “Only when she’s on a date.”“Henry!” Regina exclaimed, clearly embarrassed. “What’s gotten into you today?”“Does your mom go on many of those?” Emma teased, subtly glancing at Regina, who was scowling at the table.“Not really,” Henry replied with a shrug. “Mom doesn’t let anyone meet me unless they’re really special. Like, really, really special.”Regina sipped her water, clearly flustered by the teasing. Emma decided to shift the conversation. “Well, I am your teacher,” Emma joked. “So, I am pretty special. And it helps to keep your teacher happy, right?”Regina, grateful for the change in topic, perked up. “Speaking of, Henry, did you bring your gifts?”“Yep!” Henry said, leaning to dig through his backpack. He produced two lumpy, poorly but charmingly hand-wrapped presents in shimmering gold paper. Regina then set an elegantly wrapped gift next to them in silver paper with a professional-looking ribbon, like something out of a Christmas catalogue.Emma’s heart warmed at the thoughtfulness. Despite her age, she never tired of receiving gifts, probably due to her lonely Christmases as a foster kid, where presents were often donations or hand-me-downs.“Should I open them now?” Emma asked eagerly, and they both nodded.She opened Henry’s first: a leather-bound journal and a mug that read #1 Teacher, stuffed with high-end hot cocoa and a cute stress-relief cobra.“Remember how you said you loved my stories?” Henry said, kicking his legs excitedly. “I wrote you one, where you get to be the chosen one and defeat all the bad guys. You have really cool magic in it. And I put all your favorite things in— especially your yellow bug. The cobra is for stress, so you can squeeze him when our class gets on your nerves.”Emma’s eyes grew wet with happiness as she leaned over the table to ruffle Henry’s hair.“Okay, now mine,” Regina said, smiling too.Guilt washed over Emma for not bringing them anything. When she mentioned it, they both shook their heads. Relieved, Emma promised to treat them to something fun down the road.Feeling the package, Emma smirked. “I thought it would be a book, but this seems like a frame.”“Just open it, Swan,” Regina sighed.Emma carefully unwrapped the gift, trying not to tear the beautiful paper. Her smile widened at the sight of the framed photo inside: the class picture from their zoo trip, perfectly sized to replace the one she’d thrown away of her and her ex. They had taken several photos that day— one with silly faces, one proper at Regina’s insistence, and another with Regina included because the kids insisted Belle switch to be the photographer. Regina had chosen the one where they all smiled naturally after Emma's silly pose broke the ice. A perfect snapshot of a perfect day.“I love it,” Emma said, looking at Regina adoringly. She cradled the photo to her chest. “I can’t wait to put it on my desk.”The three of them enjoyed their lunch as Henry animatedly talked about books, a new TV show, Killian the gecko, and even tidbits about his classmates.“Who calls our house all the time?” Regina asked, picking at her salad. “Was that the boy who invited you to his birthday?”“Yeah!” Henry replied. “Mohan. He loves dinosaurs too, maybe even more than me!”“That’s hard to believe,” Regina said, with a pained look. “Henry only talked about dinosaurs from ages six to eight. He wouldn’t respond unless it was about them. He memorized the scientific names of every dinosaur and their periods before he could tie his shoes properly.”“To be fair,” Emma said, “dinosaurs are awesome.”“Not you too,” Regina groaned.“What about you, Emma?” Henry asked eagerly. “What are you doing for the break?”“Uh,” Emma hesitated. She had no plans. No family to visit, no money to travel. Not wanting to disappoint Henry, she shrugged. “Oh, this and that.”“Emma,” Regina said, disapprovingly. “You don’t have any plans?”“This is the best part of it so far,” Emma admitted, gesturing to them.Henry beamed, and Regina’s expression softened, though she tried to look stern. Emma tried to save herself. “Maybe tomorrow, as a thank you for the gifts, I can take you both ice skating? My friend Elsa invited me. She’s good, like Olympic levels of good, and she has extra skates.”Henry jumped up excitedly, turning his pleading gaze to Regina.“There’s no way I can say no to that face,” she sighed. “Alright, we’re in.” *** Regina clung to Emma while Henry offered moral support by holding her elbow.“Come on, Mom!” he encouraged. “There are really little kids doing it, so you can too!”“I’m trying, I’m trying!” she yelped, nearly slipping until Emma steadied her.Storybrooke Lake, frozen over, teemed with couples skating. Christmas lights twinkled over the shops in the distance, creating a picturesque backdrop. The quaint Maine town buzzed with holiday cheer, storefronts adorned in festive decorations. The air carried the scent of pine and the joyful sounds of laughter.Elsa skated gracefully nearby, keeping a watchful eye on Regina. She wore a sparkling blue outfit, her blonde hair braided down her back. She danced on the ice, her movements seamless and breathtaking.Henry, eager to skate faster, glanced at Regina. “Mom, can I go skate with Miss Elsa?” he pouted.Regina waved an arm frantically while Emma held tight to her black peacoat. “Yes, go ahead!” she agreed, her face scrunched in concentration as she struggled to stay upright.Henry, with his youthful agility, zipped ahead to join Elsa, who matched his speed with ease.Emma smirked at Regina's unsteadiness, savoring the rare moment of being needed. Regina leaned heavily on Emma, unguarded and fully dependent.“Don’t start,” Regina ordered, pointing a gloved finger dramatically. Seeing Emma’s smirk, her irritation only deepened. Emma suppressed a laugh and put on a sympathetic face.“I’m starting to feel a little tired,” she lied. “Now that Elsa’s got Henry, want to sit down a minute?”“Yes,” Regina responded quickly, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “Yes, for your sake, let’s take a breather.”Emma rolled her eyes and guided Regina back to the shore, though they hadn’t ventured far. Regina leaned heavily on her, unsteady but determined.They stumbled to the bench where their boots waited, quickly swapping them out. As they returned to the shoreline, Henry's laughter echoed through the air. Elsa twirled him around, his face bright with joy. Regina’s expression warmed as they watched.“She’s amazing with him,” Regina admitted. “Your friends are good people.” She nodded toward the lake. “These are the kinds of plans you should make for winter break. No one should be alone.”Emma gave her a look. “What, are you assuming I’m lonely?” She added playfully, “Or that I don’t have a special someone for Christmas?”“Well, as far as I know, your special someone ended up in the trash,” Regina replied dryly.“Touché,” Emma sighed.Regina hesitated, then finally asked, “Do you have someone like that?” Her tone carried a hint of disappointment.“What if I did?” Emma teased. “Would you be jealous?”Regina didn’t take the bait. She folded her arms, looking unimpressed. “It’s not funny. I just don’t like being out of the loop. I thought we were friends.” Her pout tugged at Emma’s heart, making her regret the teasing.Emma bumped her shoulder playfully. “Hey,” she said with a smile. “We are friends.”“Well, good,” Regina replied, her eyes gleaming with that luscious, liquid look when she pouted. “Then tell me. Any special women in your life?”“Ugh!” Emma groaned, swatting at her and laughing. “I fell for it!” She shook her head with a huff. “Fine. No, there’s not. Well, there’s one, but she’s annoying as hell and mean to me, but her kid is in my class and he’s pretty damn cute.”Regina’s smug smile grew, and Emma rolled her eyes.Suddenly, a hush and several cries emerged from the skaters, drawing their attention back to the lake.“Oh my God, did the ice break?” someone nearby whispered. Emma’s heart pounded as she searched frantically for Henry. Regina seemed poised to dash onto the ice in her boots. Thankfully, Elsa grasped Henry’s hand firmly, guiding him toward the shore.Henry stumbled into Regina’s arms. “I’m fine! I promise.”With Henry safe, Elsa skated back out to where the ice had broken. A chill fell over the crowd. People checked on their loved ones, heads straining to see in the dark. A whistle blew; a lifeguard called an all-clear. Whoever had fallen in was immediately rescued. Sirens blazed as a fire truck and ambulance rolled into the park.Returning, Elsa rolled to a stop in front of them, the ice powdering beneath her skates. “High schoolers by the no-skating sign,” she explained, shaking her head. “They were smoking and throwing rocks, then one jumped in. On purpose. Sometimes, I’m so glad we teach the younger grades.”“I’m glad everyone’s alright,” Henry said, though his teeth chattered so badly that Emma tugged off her winter coat and wrapped it around him as an extra layer. The cold bit quickly through her bones, even through her wool sweater.“Let’s get a warm drink,” Emma suggested, shivering.They bid farewell to Elsa, who needed to catch up with her sister and her sister’s fiancé and crossed the street to a hip coffee shop playing indie music. Regina and Henry saved a table while Emma grabbed hot chocolates. The place was crowded, likely with other park-goers seeking warmth.As Emma carried the drinks to the table, she bumped into someone. The drinks sloshed, hot brown liquid bubbling from the small holes in the lids, but she steadied the tray just in time.“I’m so clumsy,” a familiar voice apologized profusely.“Sorry… Ingrid?” Emma’s eyes widened in surprise.“Oh, Emma!” Ingrid’s voice rose in delight. “I’m so happy to see you!” She grabbed Emma’s arm, overly familiar, sending prickles of discomfort through her. That strange, uncomfortable feeling returned, along with the unease from Ingrid’s piercing blue eyes.“Can you let go, please?” Emma asked. Ingrid released her arm, tittering, and Emma realized she was tipsy—maybe even more than that.“Sorry!” Ingrid sang, her tone childlike and patronizing. But then her eyes hardened, the cheer vanishing from her expression. Ingrid’s face always seemed to pull down at the corners, exuding a deep sadness and loneliness.“I’d better get back,” Emma said, stepping back, guard up.“Wait,” Ingrid held out a hand. “I think you deserve a heads-up about some news, since you’re such a wonderful teacher and all,” she said with a smile that felt cold.“What’s that?” Emma asked warily.“Storybrooke Academy is out of money. It’ll be closed by March. Camelot Charter plans to buy it out and turn it into a satellite school.”“What?” Emma gasped. Her heart pounded. “Is that true? What does that mean?”“Yes,” Ingrid said, not sounding sad at all. “They’ll restructure the school, fire the useless staff, and keep the good teachers like you and Elsa. Most of the students will have to leave, since Camelot has a strict vetting process.”“You sound happy about this,” Emma accused. “It’s terrible. It will hurt so many innocent people and kids!”“Well, I don’t see it that way,” Ingrid replied with a cruel shrug.Before Emma could argue further, a firm hand rested on her shoulder, gently pushing her back. Regina stepped in front of Emma with a stern click of heeled boots, looking deadly.“Well, well, if it isn’t the washed-up traitor who couldn’t cut it in the PTA.” Regina’s lipsticked smile was sharp as a knife.“Regina,” Ingrid greeted in surprise, her confidence faltering. “What a… surprise to see you here.”“You know, it’s funny,” Regina continued, ignoring her. “After sending your child to a new school, many of Storybrooke’s biggest names transferred. Isn’t that odd? Almost as if they were being recruited.”“Yes,” Ingrid gave a shaky laugh. “How odd, indeed.”“Almost as if a certain charter had a vested financial interest in securing those transfers.”Ingrid’s eyes widened, the whites fully visible. Her breath hitched, and she took an involuntary step back. “Apologies,” she stammered, voice trembling. “I think I see my ride.” She hurriedly excused herself, a strong smell of bergamot perfume trailing behind.Regina turned back to Emma, concern replacing her smirk. “Did she say anything to upset you?”Emma exhaled sharply. “Man, remind me never to get on your bad side. That was intense.” She grinned. “But seriously? You’re cool as hell, Regina.”Regina’s smile returned briefly, then faded as her eyes shifted to the slightly spilled drinks. “We should finish these before they get cold.”They returned to their table where Henry waited. The warmth of the drinks thankfully remained, helping to chase away their lingering chill, and Emma recounted what Ingrid had said about Storybrooke Academy.“They can’t do that!” Henry cried, outraged. “What will happen to all the kids?”“Don’t worry,” Emma said firmly. “We won’t let that happen.”The potential school closure loomed like a nightmare. Kids without money, good grades, or spotless records wouldn’t be allowed in a charter school. They’d have to endure long bus rides to distant public schools, likely ones no one ever heard of, leaving kids like Lilo, Riley, or Jacinda to slip through the cracks.Regina furiously tapped away on her phone, text tones pinging as her messages received immediate responses. Emma couldn’t imagine anyone ignoring a text from the Queen of Storybrooke. After a few more minutes, a triumphant grin spread across Regina’s face.“I think I have a solution,” she said, a glint of triumph in her eyes. “I’ve rallied the biggest players, and Gold says he can leverage his connections with investors. We’ll host a massive fundraiser gala for New Year’s at the school.”Emma nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “Hit the pocketbooks, I like it.” She leaned back, genuinely impressed. “You managed all that in ten minutes? You’re amazing at this.”“I have my ways.” Regina smirked, attention briefly returning to her phone.“Maybe we could run another auction?” Emma suggested. “The one at the autumn event went well. Mary Margaret and I collaborated on some pottery pieces before the break, and she probably has more projects lined up.” Emma hoped this would ease tensions between her and Regina. Besides, Snow would do anything to save the school.Regina hesitated, clearly wanting to decline, but finally relented. “Sure,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But if she starts giving any friendship speeches, I’m kicking her out.”“Fair enough,” Emma agreed, suppressing a laugh.Next to them, Henry’s head drooped onto Emma’s shoulder, his small frame exhausted from trying to keep up with the adult conversation. Emma’s heart softened.“I think it’s time to get him home,” she whispered, and Regina nodded. *** Weeks flew by in a whirlwind of planning and preparation, and finally, the night of the gala arrived.When Emma stepped into the school’s gym, the transformation took her breath away. Soft, twinkling fairy lights draped across the ceiling, while white cloth tables adorned with crystal centerpieces and fresh flowers added an air of sophistication and class. The atmosphere buzzed with hope and anticipation, perfect for impressing the wealthy investors.Emma masc-ed up for the night, donning a sleek black suit and tie, her curls pulled back into a neat ponytail. She caught sight of Mulan, who dazzled in a tailored suit and fresh undercut. Emma grinned—they’d both had the same idea. A touch of edgy makeup around Mulan's eyes emphasized a glittery sheen she only sported on special occasions.“Looking handsome as hell,” Mulan hyped her up. “Where’s your lady?”Emma, already scanning the room, easily found Regina—she always could. Regina mingled with the guests, her deep burgundy gown and matching ruby necklace sparkling under the lights. Her hair was pinned up in an elegant, queenly fashion that made Emma’s heart skip a beat.“Aw, girl,” Mulan teased, though her voice held genuine happiness for Emma. “You are so down bad. Adorable.”In a trance, Emma’s feet carried her over to Regina, nerves forgotten. “You look absolutely stunning,” she breathed, voice low with admiration.Regina’s eyes met hers, and she politely excused herself from the group. “Thank you,” she said, confidence radiating. “You look very handsome. Swoon-worthy, even, in that suit.”Emma beamed. “Thanks. My friends and I are here to support you tonight.”Just then, Mulan appeared beside Emma, her charming smile in place. Emma gestured to her like she was a movie star.“Miss Fa,” Regina greeted, squinting slightly as recognition dawned. “Hold on. Do I know you from somewhere outside of school?”Mulan grinned. “You might have seen me performing. I used to do drag.”Regina’s eyes widened. “At Ursula’s, right? You were incredible! Your warrior routine was really hot.”“Thanks,” Mulan replied, turning red. “It’s been a long time since I performed, but I still enjoy dressing up.”“Well, you look amazing,” Regina said.“Thanks, Miss Mills,” Mulan said, her eyes sparkling at Emma, pleased with Regina’s huge shift in agreeability. “We’ve all got your back tonight.”Regina was soon pulled into another group, everyone recognizing from the PTA, the school board, her family’s company, or law school. Emma and Mulan stepped aside to help around the gym, but Emma’s eyes kept drifting back to Regina.As the night progressed, Emma noticed Regina sharing multiple glasses of wine with guests, seamlessly navigating conversations and networking. Despite knowing Regina was a pro at this, Emma couldn’t resist checking on her, just needing a reason to be closer.“You holding up okay?” she asked, approaching Regina with concern.Regina gave her a funny look. “Emma, I do this for a living, you know.”Emma flushed slightly. “Yeah, I know. Just… wanted to make sure you’re alright.”“I’m fine,” Regina assured her.Emma felt foolish for worrying and immediately felt overbearing, taking a page from Snow’s book. She sheepishly dismissed herself, looking for a way to be helpful elsewhere.When the auction began, Emma watched as items, including the pottery she and Mary Margaret had created, were sold for impressive amounts. Other charming handmade projects by the kids included finger-painted canvases, handwoven friendship bracelets, and meticulously crafted clay animals from the middle schoolers. The room buzzed with excitement and generosity as relatives of students splurged on the art.It was going so well that, at one point, Emma dragged Regina over to Snow, who was overseeing the auction table. Regina begrudgingly thanked her.Snow looked mildly surprised but nodded. She gave Emma a knowing look. “Well, thank you, Ms. Mills. The kids worked very hard on these projects.” She smiled graciously. “And this event is looking to be a total success. Thank you for your hard work for our students.”Regina nodded curtly. “We might actually pull this off.”Emma watched from a distance as Regina and Snow tried to cooperate. A small step, but it meant a lot to her.The night continued, and with each passing hour, the success of the gala became more apparent. When the final tally was announced, cheers erupted throughout the gym. They had exceeded their goal, securing the future of Storybrooke Academy.As the event wound down, Emma found Regina again. “We did it,” she cried, but catching sight of Regina’s exhausted frame, Ema’s joy turned to concern.“You okay?” Emma asked.“More or less,” Regina replied, looking tipsy. “I definitely can’t drive.”“I’m taking you home,” Emma ordered. “Come on.” *** By the time they pulled up the long driveway to Regina’s house, Regina had sobered up, thanks partly to Emma pushing her to drink water and eat a granola bar on the long drive up the winding hill to Regina’s estate. Emma couldn't recall Regina eating anything substantial the entire night, always working herself so hard. Killing the ignition, Emma exited the car and opened Regina’s door for her, ever the gentlewoman.Regina wobbled slightly, her usual grace in heels compromised, needing to latch onto Emma for support. Emma’s hand instinctively went to Regina’s lower back, the touch lingering a moment longer than necessary.“I’m not a princess, you know. I’m fine,” Regina grumbled, annoyed. She fumbled in her purse for her keys.“Sure you are,” Emma teased.Regina shushed her with a finger to her lips, leaning close, the contact making Emma’s heart skip a beat. “Henry’s probably asleep… we have to be quiet,” she whispered, breath warm and inviting.Regina finally managed to unlock the door. As she met and dismissed the babysitter and checked on Henry (who’d already gone to bed), Emma strolled around the main foyer. She admired Regina’s sophisticated style. The space was elegant and modern, just like her. High ceilings with recessed lighting, a grand staircase with polished wood railings, and very sleek and minimalist decoration. Red roses in an intricate crystal vase added a touch of coziness to the foyer, radiating a pleasant, fresh scent. A far cry from her old apartment, and even Mary Margaret’s too.“Nice place,” Emma murmured, genuinely impressed, when Regina returned.“Thanks.” Regina gave a small, tired smile. “Can I make you some tea before you go? I could use some myself.”“Sure,” Emma agreed, surprising herself, and followed Regina. The kitchen matched the foyer’s immaculate style, with granite countertops and state-of-the-art appliances. Regina filled a kettle with water and set it on the stove.“So, did you have a good time tonight?” she asked, leaning against the counter, her gaze steady on Emma.“I did,” Emma said. “It was great to see everyone come together for the school. You killed it.”Regina nodded, pleased, pride in her eyes. The kettle whistled, and she poured the hot water into two mugs, handing one to Emma. As she accepted, their fingers brushed briefly. The two women stood in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their tea.“You know, for all the times we butt heads, I really do appreciate everything you do for the school,” Regina said, suddenly a little shy. “Tonight showed me just how much you care.”Emma looked at her, surprised by the sincerity. “Thanks, Regina. Hey, I appreciate what you do too.” “We make a good team, don’t we?” Regina’s eyes drifted to her tea, expression fond.“Yeah, we do,” Emma agreed.They finished their tea. Emma set her mug down, though she wanted to stay. “I should get going. Long day tomorrow,” she sighed, the words feeling wrong as they left her mouth.A subtle disappointment flickered over Regina’s face, but she nodded.They returned to the door, and Regina held it open. “Drive safe,” she said.Emma nodded. “I will. … Goodnight, Regina.”“Goodnight, Ms. Swan,” Regina replied, her voice sweet but tinged with sadness. The door closed reluctantly.Emma took a few steps towards her car, then stopped. Leaving felt entirely wrong. She turned back, feeling a pull she couldn’t resist. She walked back to the door and knocked softly.Regina opened it, surprise in her eyes. “Emma?”Without a word, Emma stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Her heart raced as she gently cupped Regina’s face and leaned in. They met in a soft, tentative kiss; Regina surprised her by returning it wholeheartedly. When they finally pulled apart, lips moist, Regina’s eyes searched Emma’s, vulnerable.“You came back?” she whispered.Emma’s thumb brushed against her cheek, and Regina's eyes shone. “I couldn’t leave without doing that.”“Well, it’s about damn time.”Emma laughed softly, resting her forehead against Regina’s. “Yeah, it is.”Regina hesitated, biting her lip. “Do you… want to stay?”Heart pounding in her throat, Emma wet her lips and nodded, eyes sultry. “Yes, I do," she said, and Regina pulled her inside, with another kiss, this time full of heat, letting the door close behind them for good this time.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
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 spill 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. 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.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The next morning, Regina texted Emma to say she’d be keeping Henry home for the first half of the day.
We need to talk to Henry together. It’s time to tell him the truth.
Emma stared at her screen, biting her lip. Her thumbs hovered before she replied with a rainbow emoji and a question mark.
Yes. I’m going to try.
Emma typed back. Good luck. Her fingers lingered over the keyboard. For a moment, she thought about adding love you. The impulse startled her, and she scowled at herself, quickly deleting it. She hit send, pocketed her phone, and focused all her energy on preparing for class. The sudden vulnerability made her feel unsteady, like standing at the edge of something she wasn’t ready to jump into.Her classroom bustled with activity that morning. The spring benchmarks loomed on the horizon, and there was still so much to cover. Emma worked through the math groups, her thoughts occasionally straying to Regina’s message. The kids were extra lively. A few students from Camelot Charter had joined after the holidays. Emma was fascinated—and a little frustrated—by how behind many of them were, especially in math. David had mentioned the nationwide STEM struggles in their last PD. Emma allowed herself a small, proud smile at how far she'd come as a teacher.Just as Mulan arrived to pick up the students for gym, Regina and Henry walked in, three greasy brown bags from Granny’s diner in tow. Emma’s stomach growled, her protein bar suddenly a distant memory.“Hi, Emma!” Henry greeted brightly. He quickly pulled up a chair with an ease of familiarity. Emma’s chest warmed as she realized just how many mornings they’d spent like this.“Hey, kid,” Emma said with a grin. Then, turning to Regina, her voice softened. “Hi, Regina.”Regina offered a small smile as she set the bags down, pulling over a desk for herself and another for Henry. She retrieved a disinfectant wipe from her purse, efficiently cleaning off each surface before handing out the food. When she reached over to clean Emma’s desk, Emma half-heartedly protested, laughing at Regina’s insistence.“You have no idea how disgusting these classrooms are,” Regina muttered darkly, squirting alcohol gel into all their hands before deeming it safe to eat. “Thank me when you avoid the flu.”Emma thought of Mary Margaret’s incessant coughing fits that morning and nodded solemnly. “Fair point. You're right.”“Aren’t I always?” Regina returned. Her lipsticked smirk made Emma's heart flutter.Henry tore into his burger, oblivious to the ketchup and mustard smearing across his cheeks. Emma chuckled, cramming a handful of fries into her mouth, only realizing how hungry she was when the salty grease hit her taste buds. Regina, ever composed, picked at her grilled chicken salad but didn’t resist sneaking a few of Emma’s fries, unhurried and easy.“So, what’s today’s meeting about, Mom?” Henry asked between bites.Regina stilled for a moment, her nerves showing only in the faint clench of her jaw. She glanced at Emma, who offered an encouraging nod. Regina exhaled softly and reached over to swipe her thumb across the corner of Emma’s mouth, wiping away a stray smear of ketchup.Emma blinked, startled by the tenderness of the gesture. Regina’s eyes flickered, realizing it too. Flustered, she turned her attention to Henry, grabbing a napkin to clean his ketchup-y face instead.“Mom, I’m not a baby!” Henry groaned, pulling away. “You can trust me with stuff.” He gazed at them both, serious. “Like knowing about you and Emma.”Regina paused, her hand frozen in midair. Emma’s heart thudded as Henry sat back, his expression earnest.“You can trust me,” Henry repeated gently. “You don’t have to hide, Mom. Not from me.”Regina’s breath hitched. She nodded, her lips parting but no words coming out. Emma clasped her hand, taking charge.“Henry, why don’t you ask your mom and me any questions you have,” she suggested. Henry didn’t respond to coddling— he thrived on honesty and being treated like an equal. Right now, Henry needed their trust and openness. Emma added, “I know this isn’t an easy... with me being your teacher and all. So, whatever you want to say or ask, it’s okay. Nothing will upset us. We both care about you and want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”Henry’s smile returned, bright and sure. “So, you two are dating?”Emma nodded. Regina hesitated, then followed suit.“Does that mean Emma will come to our house sometimes? Like, outside of school?” Henry asked.Regina’s eyes flicked to Emma, a little sheepish. “If she wants to, yes.”“Can I visit Emma’s house?” Henry asked eagerly, his curiosity boundless.“Sure,” Emma said with a grin. “Just don’t expect it to be as clean as your mom’s house. Ms. Blanchard would probably faint.”“Cool!” Henry beamed but then paused, his brow furrowing. “What if you break up? Would I have to leave Storybrooke?”“No way,” Emma said quickly. “If we ever broke up—hypothetically—we’d still be professional. You wouldn’t have to leave, and you could even switch teachers if you wanted.”“No way,” Henry echoed, shaking his head. “You’re my favorite teacher.”The simple declaration hit Emma square in the heart. “Thanks, kid,” she said softly.Henry tilted his head, suddenly contemplative. “If you’re dating my mom... what should I call you?”Emma smiled. “Just Emma, like always. No need to change a thing.”He nodded, clearly comforted by the familiarity. “But I shouldn’t tell the other kids, right? Like Jacinda?”“No,” Regina said, her voice even but kind. “It’s family business, Henry. At school, Emma and I will be professional, like always.”“Got it,” Henry said. Then his eyes lit with realization. “Oh! Like Mary Margaret and David!”Emma choked on her soda, coughing as Regina raised a skeptical eyebrow. “How did you know about that?” Emma asked, wide-eyed.Henry gave her a flat look. “Come on. Everyone knows.”Emma spluttered, but she rallied quickly. “Okay, but have they ever acted unprofessional at school?”Henry thought about it and shook his head. Understanding dawned in his expression. “So, you two can just be like that.”Emma caught Regina’s searching gaze. She had not let go of their hands, so Emma squeezed hers. They could be just like that.Regina finally turned back to Henry. “Are you okay with this? Truly?”Henry looked thoughtful, his young face unusually serious. His eyes flicked between them. The room grew still. Even Emma held her breath, the sound of the clock ticking like thunder in the quiet. Finally, he nodded. “Yep,” he said with a bright smile, and then, as if the conversation were as typical as discussing the weather, shoved the last of his fries into his mouth.Emma laughed, the tension in her chest dissolving. Even Regina chuckled.“You’re sure?” Emma pressed. “It’s okay if you’re not. We can figure it out.”Henry swallowed and looked directly at Regina, unwavering. “I’ve seen how closed off you’ve been from the world, Mom. It kills me that you’ve had to hide like that. I just want you to be happy. Emma makes you happy.”Regina’s eyes glistened. Emma’s heart swelled. For the first time in weeks, something inside her felt whole again.Outside, the winter sunlight filtered through the window, catching the three of them in its glow. ***As winter passed, they settled into their new rhythm with quiet ease, like the snow blanketing Storybrooke’s rooftops.Regina kept her promise, bringing Emma packed lunches that quickly became the envy of the faculty. A few times a week, the three of them would gather in Emma’s classroom, the soft hum of conversation filling the space. Regina quizzed Henry on spring benchmark material with laser focus while Emma did line-reads with him, since he’d gotten the part of the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz. These small moments became a kind of warm sanctuary against the biting cold outside.Emma’s afternoons and evenings, however, were consumed by the play. Rehearsals, set designs, costume adjustments—every task piled on. The chaos of this time of year usually left her frazzled, but this time, something felt different. Despite the stress, Emma’s heart remained full and warm, a small miracle in February’s chill.When Regina invited her to her birthday party at her law firm’s downtown office, Emma hesitated. The invitation came with no expectation, no pressure—just an open hand. But standing among the sea of tailored suits and diamond necklaces, Emma couldn’t help feeling like a fish out of water, much like the gala weeks before. She’d never had champagne, never imagined spending time in a room full of Ivy League graduates and high-powered professionals who spoke a language entirely foreign to her. The extravagance felt like something she didn’t deserve, a world she didn’t belong to.In those moments, her mind wandered to Neal, to the years she’d spent trying to shape herself into something he wanted. A smallness crept in, sharp and familiar, like a shadow rising at the edge of her mind. Sometimes she thought she saw his disappointment reflected in the gold trim of the champagne flutes or the mirrored shine of the elevator doors. And when she did, she felt frightened—of being an imposter, of being left again.But Regina surprised her.She always caught the look, the way Emma lingered close to the walls, watching the crowd from the edges. Without fail, Regina would slip through the room, seamlessly leaving one conversation to find Emma. She’d link their arms together, grounding her with the warmth of her touch, and walk them both up to some esteemed colleague or family lawyer, introducing Emma as her girlfriend. Her voice never wavered.Regina didn’t just accept this new part of herself—she embraced it, standing tall and proud. She was unafraid. She was out. She was stepping out of the shadows, and Emma realized, with a pang of awe, that she could try that too.In those moments, the champagne didn’t matter. The Harvard degrees didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the woman at her side, squeezing her hand, her smile blazing like a lighthouse in the storm of Emma’s insecurities. Regina was showing her how to step into the light. And for once, Emma felt like maybe she belonged there.But like all rhythms, they faltered. Both Emma and Regina had spent their lives carefully guarded, navigating the world with walls so high even they forgot what it felt like to lower them. They’d had to, in their own ways. Vulnerability didn’t come naturally—it arrived in fits and starts, sometimes too sharp to bear. Maybe that’s why the world seemed obsessed with dissecting it: TED Talks, videos, podcasts, endless self-help books. All dedicated to the monumental task of teaching people to let their defenses down.For Regina, the mere suggestion of vulnerability put her on edge, bristling like a cornered animal. And sometimes, it made her mean. Downright nasty, Emma had called her once, after a particularly bad fight. She’d been pulling on her clothes, fumbling to zip up her jeans as Regina stood by the bed, arms crossed, stammering out something that sounded like regret but didn’t quite land.“Emma, wait—” she’d tried.“No,” Emma had said, voice tight, her tears held back by sheer will. “You don’t get to do that. Not when I’ve been trying—begging—for you to talk to me.”Regina had flinched, but Emma had already grabbed her keys, her jaw set in that determined way Regina both admired and feared.When they made up, after both had cooled down, the conversations were softer, but no less raw. “You have to talk to me,” Emma would plead, her voice low but steady, her hands holding Regina’s like she was anchoring them both.And slowly, they worked at it. That’s what a real relationship was—ebb and flow, like water, like the tide. It wasn’t perfect, and it didn’t have to be. What mattered was that they kept coming back to each other, no matter how rough the waves.There was Henry, after all.Henry, who was thriving this year in ways neither of them had dared to hope. His grades had improved, but more importantly, so had his confidence. He was glowing—happier, more social, diving into his friendships with a kind of energy that made Emma’s chest ache with pride. He loved sitting in on Emma’s rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz after school, running errands for the cast and helping paint sets. Regina marveled at how animated he’d become, how his once-guarded demeanor had softened, mirroring her own slow transformation.They worked hard to keep Henry’s world steady, even when theirs tilted and swayed. Late-night talks and handwritten notes tucked into lunchboxes, dinners at Emma’s apartment where Henry perched on a kitchen stool, laughing as Emma flipped pancakes for dinner. Mornings where Regina dropped Henry off with an extra coffee for Emma.Sometimes, love wasn’t grand or cinematic; it didn’t come with sweeping gestures or enchanted castles. Sometimes, it was found in small moments just like that— the simple magic of two people daring to try. ***As Winter died, March— and Spring— loomed ahead, bringing its own challenges, chief among them: the fifth-grade overnight camping trip.Emma nearly laughed herself to tears when David first brought it up at the staff meeting. “Overnight?” she’d repeated, incredulous. “With ten-year-olds? Are you serious?”David, looking entirely too chipper, had nodded. “It’s tradition. Builds character.”“It builds something,” Mulan muttered from the back of the room, earning a stifled laugh from Merida.When Emma mentioned it over lunch with Regina, Henry perked up immediately. “We get to go camping? With you?” he’d asked, his enthusiasm contagious.“It’s not exactly camping,” Emma clarified. “There’s a lodge and bunks. But yeah, I’ll be there. And Mother Superior, Mr. Grumpy, and David.”Henry’s excitement was immediate. “This is going to be awesome! Mom, you’re coming too, right?”Regina froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. “I wasn’t aware parents were involved,” she said carefully, glancing at Emma for confirmation.“They’re not required,” Emma had replied with a smirk, “but if you wanted to come, I wouldn’t mind the backup. Someone has to keep David from singing campfire songs all night.”Henry, ever the diplomat, chimed in. “It’d be really cool if you came, Mom.”Regina hesitated, her expression shifting between reluctance and something softer. “I’ll think about it,” she promised, though the look she shot Emma suggested she was already mentally planning how many hand sanitizers and wet wipes she’d need to pack.As the weeks crept closer to the trip, the school buzzed with activity. Permission slips trickled in, supply lists were finalized, and Emma tried not to think too hard about the logistics of wrangling two dozen fifth graders in the wilderness. She found herself looking forward to it despite her initial reluctance—though whether it was the trip itself or the thought of Regina there with her, she wasn’t entirely sure.Outside the classroom window, the last of winter clung stubbornly to the edges of Storybrooke, frost glittering on bare branches. Soon, the thaw would come. It always did.But something lingered in Emma’s chest, a weight she couldn’t shake. Like the tide pulling back before a storm. She pushed it aside, chalking it up to nerves, the kind she always got before big events.Still, that night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her mind wandered. To Regina’s smile, to Henry’s bright laughter, to the fragile, beautiful balance they’d found together. To the way life had a way of giving just enough to make you believe—and then testing how tightly you could hold on. Ebb and flow. Love and loss. Life and... Emma turned over, squeezing her eyes shut against the thought.Far away, the stars hung cold and steady, indifferent to what the morning might bring.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The school bus doors hissed open and a flood of fifth graders poured out like a burst dam.Little boots crunched on packed snow and frostbitten dirt as their excited voices warmed the crisp morning air. Mr. Grumpy and David trailed close behind, tugging hats down lower against the cold and adjusting too-heavy overnight backpacks slipping off shoulders. The breath of Emma’s twenty-five children hung in the air like little clouds of mischief.“Everyone off the bus and into line!” Mother Superior’s sharp clap echoed like a gunshot, and half the kids flinched. “Count off as you go. If I must call anyone twice, you’re scrubbing dishes after dinner!”Emma pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as she stepped off the bus behind them. Her boots met the frozen ground with a solid thud, and she took a moment to inhale air so clean and crisp that it stung her nostrils and lungs. Elsa would have been right at home, Emma thought, missing her friends.The sign “Camp Enchanted S'morest” hung above the entrance like something out of a summer camp postcard, the wood carved with curling letters and the outline of a chipper little bear waving at them with an acorn in its paw. Towering evergreens bordered the entire campground. To the east, beyond the rows of bunkhouses and a small lodge, the Penobscot River glittered in the distance, its frozen surface stretching like a silver ribbon through the snow-covered woods. It was stunning, breathtaking, even.
“ONE!”
“TWO!”
“THREE!”
The kids, full of energy, yelled out their numbers as they lined up, most of them still craning their necks to gawk at the cabins and the frozen river. Emma moved along the line, scanning faces and mentally counting heads. Regina’s influence.As they waited, Riley nudged Henry, pointing toward the river. She grinned wide, and they both stepped towards the icy surface in the distance.“Don’t even think about it,” Emma warned dangerously. Both kids jumped, clearly surprised an adult had noticed.But she wasn’t the only one. David, clad in a red beanie and thick utility coat, cupped his hands around his mouth.“Away from the river! Ice this time of year’s a liar. It’ll crack before you hear it coming!” His booming voice echoed through the trees, and several kids turned to stare, wide-eyed.“Y…yeah, we know,” Riley muttered, elbowing Henry as they trudged back toward the group. “We’re not stupid.”Emma’s gaze lingered on the river. She watched as a breeze rippled through the evergreens, the shadows of their needles dancing across the ice. Almost like ghosts.She shook the morbid thought away and focused on the kids. “Everyone got their buddy? If your buddy goes missing, I better hear you yelling louder than a fire alarm. Mother Superior and I will be doing cabin checks before dinner, so if you think sneaking off is cute… think again.”Emma’s gaze swept over her fifth-graders, sharp and steady, mouth firm, eyes unwavering. One by one, their faces shifted from playful to serious, their small nods coming quick and certain. That was all she needed. Message received.A soft drag of fingertips traced down her back, followed by the warm scent of jasmine and spice. Emma’s breath hitched at the quiet spark those fingers sent down her spine.“Your teacher voice has gotten so good,” Regina murmured, close enough that Emma could feel the warmth of her breath near her ear.“Yes, it has,” Mother Superior’s voice cut in from the side, making Emma straighten on instinct. Mother Superior, cheeks pink from the cold, smiled tightly but not unkindly. “You’ve really come a long way, Ms. Swan.” Her gaze shifted to Regina. “You both have. You should be proud, Ms. Mills.”Regina’s face flickered with surprise, but she recovered quickly. “Yes, I am proud,” she said, warmly. Her eyes crinkled as she looked at Emma. “Ms. Swan is my son’s favorite teacher for a reason.”Emma’s throat tightened. “Thanks,” she said, quieter than she intended.Mother Superior moved on, already halfway toward her own students, calling them to attention with another sharp clap. Regina lingered, just a moment longer. No words, just that look. Soft and steady. Then she too followed the kids, directing them toward the lodge to set up their sleeping bags.Warmth bloomed in Emma’s chest. She glanced at her boots, digging a toe into the snow. For a second, she let herself have it. The feeling of being seen, of being valued, of knowing someone was proud of her. Proud of her. It wasn’t the kind of thing she let herself feel often.Her breath fogged in front of her as she turned toward the riverbank. A group of boys had gathered by the edge, their focus locked on David, who stood firmly between them and the frozen water. His arms gestured animatedly, voice loud and booming as he regaled them with one of his legendary fishing tales.“And just as I’m about to pull it up… WHAM! That trout flips so hard it slaps me right across the face! Got scales in my beard for a week!”The kids burst out laughing, and even Emma snorted, the sound catching her off guard. David’s grin stretched wide, and he stood taller, basking in their amusement like it was fuel.He’d been like that all morning. Sparkle in his eye and a pep in his step. On the bus ride over, he hadn’t stopped smiling, his head leaned against the window like a lovesick teenager. Every so often, he’d sigh— a dreamy, contented sound that had Emma side-eyeing him.David glanced up, catching her grin and matching it with a goofy one of his own. “What?” he asked.“You look happy,” Emma remarked. The group of boys had already scattered, lured away by the distant call of hot cocoa from the canteen. She narrowed her eyes. "Suspiciously happy.”David tried to shrug it off, ducked his head even, but his smile was too big to hide. “Can’t a guy just be in a good mood?”“Yeah, except I know that dopey look means you’re thinking about Mary Margaret.”David chuckled, but he didn’t argue.They stood there a while, watching their campers settle in. Mr. Grumpy chopped firewood in the distance, whistling something that might’ve been a camp song. Every clean swing of the axe sent a sharp crack echoing through the air, chips of wood scattering like confetti. A few kids gathered to watch, like he was Paul Bunyan himself.It wasn’t often she and David got moments like this— just stillness. No kids hanging off their arms, no meetings, no deadlines.“Hey,” David said after a long pause. His voice quieted now, like he didn’t want to shatter the calm. “Can I tell you something?”“Sure.”David glanced around, checking for any stragglers, and stepped a little closer. “I think I’m gonna ask Mary Margaret to marry me.”Emma froze, heart jumping in her chest. “What?” Her face broke into a grin so wide it hurt. “You’re… Are you… Holy shit!”“Yeah,” David said, cheeks blazing. “I, uh… figured I should ask her work-daughter’s permission first.”Emma’s chest clenched. Her heart ached. It pressed into her ribcage like it had nowhere else to go but her eyes. “You have it,” she croaked, immediately. “You have it, you absolute dork. Of course you do.”She pulled David into a hug, smacking his back harder than necessary just to hear him wheeze a laugh. They held on for a little longer than they usually did— than they needed to.“Thanks, Emma,” David whispered into her hair.Emma nodded against his shoulder, eyes closed tight, letting herself have that feeling too. ***The whole day felt strange. Emma couldn't shake it.Her eyes tracked the students as they ran wild, giggling and tossing clumps of snow that exploded in soft puffs against each other's coats. Her heart did that weird twisty thing again— tight but not painful, big but not heavy. It wasn’t just love, not exactly. It was more.Emma watched the children feeling faraway. Something settled into her, the understanding of it. Her kids. They weren’t really hers, not the way Henry was, but she loved them fiercely all the same. Their "Dear Teacher" letters armored her, she lost sleep thinking about them, felt her chest ache when they cried.It wasn't something she signed up for. No one tells you that’s part of the teaching gig. But it was as real as the ground beneath her boots and the giant snow-covered log she sat on. As real as the pines that stood long before she got here and would stay long after she was gone.Emma had never been like those pines. She’d always been a boat with no anchor, drifting wherever the current took her. But something had changed. It had been slow. Roots breaking through stone, quiet and unseen— but now it was undeniable. She’d put down roots here. Here. Her chest rose with a deep, shaking breath.“Stop looking like you’re about to cry,” Grumpy grumbled, stepping in front of her with a chunk of wood and a small carving knife. He pressed them into her hands with a scowl. "Here. Do something with your hands before you start leaking all over the place. Embarrassing.”Emma blinked, glancing at the wood in her hands. "What am I supposed to do with this?""Figure it out,” he snorted, already stomping away toward a group of kids trying to sneak too close to the riverbank. “You’re supposed to be a creative type, ain’t ya?”Emma’s lips twitched. Grumpy, the secret patron saint of emotional regulation. She turned the wood over in her hands, testing the weight of it. Small enough to carve something simple. Her fingers curled around the knife, and before she even realized what she was doing, she started slicing away pieces of bark.She didn’t have a plan for it, but somehow her hands knew. Of course, it’s a horse, she thought bitterly, chipping away at its neck. Her thumb brushed over the rough, uneven snout, the point of its nose still too blunt. It was nowhere near finished, but she could already see it coming together. Regina loves horses.Her gaze flickered toward the lodge, where she’d last seen Regina with Henry, and her heart did that twist again. She hated it. Hated how much she’d let herself care, how much it hurt now that it was too late to stop.The horse’s ears were too big, its legs too stubby, and she winced at the wonky shape of it, but she kept going.The sun shifted, and something blocked the light. A shadow stretched long in front of her. Regina stood just a few feet away, hands in her coat pockets, her back to Emma, head tilted up. The sun hit the edge of her sunglasses, flashing bright, and the world around her glittered with fresh snow.The sight of her used to send Emma’s pulse into overdrive. Shallow breathing, heart punching in her throat. But lately, it was the opposite. Her chest felt warm, her breath even, like everything inside her finally understood it was safe to be still. Safe to stay.Emma eyed the lopsided little horse in her hands, exhaling through her nose. With a flick of her fingers, she set it aside, brushing snow from her jeans as she stood. Regina didn’t turn, giving Emma space in that quiet, unobtrusive way she always did.Mr. Grumpy was now guiding two kids in stacking firewood. His eyes darted toward her, guilty and quick, before snapping back to what he was doing. Well, that explained how Regina found her so quick.“I think that’s why he likes woodshop,” Emma said, tilting her chin toward Grumpy.Regina’s head tilted slightly, just enough to show she’d been listening. “Who?” she asked, feigning disinterest.Emma smirked, arms crossing over her chest. “Grumpy. He’s always pissed off, so he keeps his hands busy. Keeps it from eating him up.”“How insightful.”Emma shot her a look. “What? Don’t act so shocked. I have layers too, you know.”That earned her a laugh. Regina finally turned, snow catching in the edges of her dark hair. Funny how quickly their walls had come down. Without realizing it, they’d built a quiet little bridge between their fortresses.“What’s wrong?” Regina asked, not wasting time with small talk“Nothing,” Emma lied. Then, because it was Regina, she added, “Everything.”Regina didn’t press, but her black eyes didn’t budge. She’d wait Emma out, patient and unyielding.“I’m happy,” Emma admitted, finally meeting her eyes. “I’m so damn happy. And that usually means something’s about to go belly up.”Regina stepped forward, the snow crunching beneath her boots. “Don’t do that,” she ordered. “Don’t punish yourself for getting what you want.” “Yeah, well. Old habits.” Emma shrugged.“Break them,” Regina said. She was so sure about it. Her voice didn’t waver. “For Henry’s sake, if not for your own.”She noticed the little horse Emma had left beside her and her eyes softened. Regina pulled her hand from her pocket to reach out and brush a thumb over its blunt snout.Her lips pressed together, like she was holding something back. “For mine too.”Emma blinked hard, looking up at the glittering sunlight breaking through the pines, breathing it in slow. Her chest swelled.“Okay,” Emma said softly.The frozen river in the distance glowed faintly under the sun’s glare. It was sturdy now, but Emma knew better. Ice never broke all at once. It cracked slowly, until it didn’t.In front of her, Regina, held the little horse in her palm like it was something precious. Emma sucked in a sharp breath, letting cold air flood her lungs. And somewhere in the back of her mind, a shadow moved. Not seen, not felt— just a flicker of knowing. A pull, like the part of you that senses when a wave’s about to break.But Emma stayed where she was, feet firm in the snow. ***The canteen buzzed with noise, the hum of conversation and clatter of trays filling the space like Granny’s diner at rush hour. Steam rolled up from long metal trays of food under heat lamps, the scent of roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and fresh rolls filling the air. Emma’s stomach growled, loud enough that one of her students, Kiara, snickered.“Hungry, Ms. Swan?” she teased. A cat-like grin widened behind her milk carton.“Starving,” Emma admitted, clutching her tray with both hands. She glanced over her shoulder to see Henry piling his plate like it was a Thanksgiving feast. Regina, behind him, stared, concerned, as he heaped on extra helpings of everything.“Are you sure you can finish that mountain of potatoes, Henry?” she asked, but she didn’t stop him.“A potato mountain build character, Mom,” Henry shot back with a grin.“A potato mountain puts you to sleep,” Regina muttered, tossing an apple onto his tray with a well-practiced flick of her wrist. Henry groaned.Dinner tasted even better than it smelled. Emma’s plate was practically empty within minutes, and she leaned back in her chair, poking at the last crumbs of roll with her fork. Henry sat next to her, feet swinging under the table like he’d forgotten he was ten and not five. He stuffed a final bite of mac and cheese into his mouth, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk. Across from them, Regina picked at her plate, taking neat, measured bites of chicken. Emma eyed her for a moment, trying to figure out how she ate so slowly when the food was this good.“Maybe your mom is just trying to outlast the apocalypse?” Emma joked to Henry.“Maybe you are just three racoons in a trench coat,” Regina shot back.Henry snickered into his cup of water, eyes darting between them like he was watching a tennis match. Emma reached across the table and swiped one of Regina’s last bites of mashed potatoes, popping it into her mouth with a wink.“Unbelievable,” Regina muttered.After supper, the adults gathered both classes outside. The giant campfire crackled in the clearing, flames leaping up toward the stars.Grumpy sat on one of the logs, guitar in hand, his rough voice leading them in off-key campfire songs that somehow still sounded perfect. David, standing beside him, clapped his hands in rhythm, stomping his boot to the beat. It was the kind of goofy, un-self-conscious joy Emma didn’t often see from him, and it was infectious.Regina leaned against her, arms crossed and head tilted to the stars, tapping her boot in time.When the first round of “If I Had a Hammer” ended, Grumpy barked, “Alright, alright, enough singing. Time for the only reason kids come to camp— s’mores.”Soon the sweet, golden smell of marshmallows bubbling over flames filled the air. Students knelt by the fire, their faces intense as they turned their sticks, aiming for that perfect toast.Emma, never known for patience, shoved her marshmallow directly into the flames, holding it steady until it caught fire. The blackened, crackling shell spread fast, and she blew it out, holding up the charred wreckage with a grin.“Looks perfect!” Henry laughed. He then squished his perfectly golden marshmallow between two graham crackers. Chocolate oozed from the sides, and he licked it away before it dripped onto his gloves.“Art,” Emma declared, waving her marshmallow like a scepter. “This is modern art.”Regina, perched on the edge of the log next to her, shot her a dry look. Her marshmallow, of course, was golden perfection. Emma watched as Regina pressed it between graham crackers, her fingers gentle, deliberate, like she was assembling fine jewelry.“Ms. Mills, not everything is a contest you know,” Emma muttered, taking a messy bite of her scorched one. Flakes of black ash stuck to the corner of her lip.Relenting, Regina glanced at Emma, lip twitching. “I’m sure yours still tastes good, though, doesn’t it?”Emma held up her half-eaten s’more with mock pride. “Darn right, it does.”“See? Looks can be deceiving,” Regina said, and Emma perked up again.Beside her, Henry chewed quietly, his eyes flicking from Emma to Regina. He’d been watching them all night.Henry swallowed, rubbing his sleeve against his mouth. “Sometimes I wish you were my mom too,” he mumbled quietly, eyes on the fire.The words hit Emma with the force of a wave. Her eyes darted to Regina, whose face had gone still.“Henry,” Emma said softly, voice catching.“Sorry,” he muttered. “I just… never mind.”“Don’t ‘never mind’ me, kid,” Emma said, setting down her s’more. “That’s not how this works. You say something big like that, you gotta let me answer.”Henry glanced at her, wide-eyed, and then at Regina. Emma could see his fingers twisting in his coat sleeve.“You don’t have to wish, kid,” Emma said, smiling. “You already feel like mine.”“Really?” Henry pressed eagerly.“Really, really,” Emma said.At that, Henry’s face softened, his whole body easing like tension had been wrung out of him. He leaned against Regina, head resting on her shoulder sleepily.As the stars sharpened into cold pinpricks and the fire dimmed to its final embers, exhaustion finally won out over the staff. The kids gathered at the outdoor sinks, their breath curling in little clouds as they rinsed, spit, and splashed water on their faces. It should have been an easy, routine wind-down. But nothing about children ever went according to plan, and Emma had every reason to believe tonight would be no exception.Lilo zipped her coat up to her chin, arms locked so tight she looked like a burrito of pure defiance. Across from her, David held up a tiny medicine cup, his patience hanging on by a thread.“It tastes like feet,” Lilo announced, chin jutting up in challenge.“It tastes like bubblegum,” David countered, voice flat.Lilo squinted at him. “Feet.”“Bubble. Gum,” David enunciated, voice dangerously close to cracking.“Feet,” Lilo repeated, unwavering.David exhaled through his nose, grip tightening on the little plastic cup. “How would you even know what feet taste like?”Emma, biting back laughter, nudged him as she passed. “Bubblegum-flavored feet, David. Just let her live.”Nearby, Nemo stared in horror at the toothbrush that had—once again—tumbled into the frozen dirt.“Ew! Ugh! Gross!” he wailed, staring at it as though it had personally betrayed him.Emma crouched beside him, picking it up. “Relax, kid. We’ll rinse it.”“But what if—”“No one ever died from a little mud,” she interrupted, already running it under the sink.Nemo gave a long, suffering groan but snatched the toothbrush back with a dramatic sigh, as if accepting the worst fate imaginable.Meanwhile, Kiara sat cross-legged on a log, braiding Melody’s hair with quick fingers. Across from them, the ever-vigilant Tattle Tale had her arms crossed, expression scandalized.“That’s against the hygiene rules,” she declared. “You’re not supposed to share hairbrushes or anything with scalp contact.”Emma pinched the bridge of her nose. “For the love of all things holy, shut it down,” she muttered as she slumped onto a log next to Regina.Regina, ever the enforcer, straightened. “Alright, that’s enough,” she called, her voice cutting through the night with quiet authority. Immediately, children halted, and voices quelled. “To bed. Now.”Like magic, the kids fell in line. Emma watched, impressed, as they scrambled to obey without so much as a groan. She shot Regina a look.Regina arched a smug brow. “What?”Emma huffed, shaking her head. “Maybe I should just resign after all.”With the chaos finally corralled, David called a final, “Goodnight, campers!” His voice echoed into the trees, soft but commanding. The student sleeping bags took over the entire main floor of the lodge, but there were only a few giggles lingering in the packed room Soon, the distant creak of branches filled the empty space where chattering voices had been.Emma zipped herself into her sleeping bag, the nylon crinkling as she shifted. This—this felt like family. The quiet hum of night settling over them. Kids whispering under blankets. Grumpy snoring somewhere close by. David’s boots crunching in slow, steady circles outside, a sentry on patrol.Regina sat nearby, phone close to her face, catching up on the mountain of work Emma knew she’d been putting off to be here. Her hair was soft and mussed, reading glasses perched on her nose, pajamas loose and comfortable—utterly, ridiculously adorable.Emma exhaled, letting the warmth of the sleeping bag wrap around her. If she could freeze any moment in time and keep it forever, it might be this one.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The cold press of Jacinda’s hand yanked Emma out of sleep.“Señora Mills! Ms. Swan!”Jacinda’s whisper hissed like a lit match. She shook Regina’s arm. “Henry’s gone!”“What do you mean gone?” Emma demanded, sharp enough to make Jacinda flinch. Emma scrubbed her hands down her face, swallowing the rising tide of panic. “Sorry. Tell me what happened.”“I woke up, and his sleeping bag was empty. Riley’s missing too. I can't find them anywhere,” Jacinda half-whispered, half-sobbed, trying not to wake the other sleeping students. She met Regina's worried gaze, and her face crumpled."You did well to tell us right away," Regina said, approvingly. She smoothed a calming, mothering hand over Jacinda's glossy locks. But her eyes darted wildly around the room, scanning every shadow.Emma’s stomach twisted into knots. She followed the trail of boots and coats haphazardly discarded by the door.“The river,” she breathed. The words tasted like ice.Regina’s gaze snapped to hers. “No,” she said, shaking her head like she could will the thought away. “He wouldn’t…”Emma didn’t wait to hear the rest. She grabbed her coat, shoving her arms through the sleeves with numb fingers.“David!” Emma called. “David! Henry and Riley are missing!”Beside her, Regina fumbled with her boots, hands shaking so badly that Emma reached over to help her lace them. David stormed over seconds later, face grim. When Emma told him, he didn’t ask questions.“I’ll stay with the kids,” he promised, voice low and steady. “Go. Find them.”Emma nodded, already moving.They tore through the trees, flashlights cutting jagged paths through the dark. Lanterns swayed in the distance, barely illuminating the trail. The air cut like knives. Every step crunched against brittle frost.Regina stumbled after her, clearly in disbelief. “He wouldn’t jump in...” she whispered, clearly trying to convince herself. “He wouldn’t...”Then, a crack. A deep, splintering groan that echoed through the forest.The river was coming to life.Emma pushed harder, lungs bursting, until they broke through the treeline. The Penobscot River lay ahead, black water glinting under moonlight. Shards of ice floated downstream, restless.And there, a flashlight flickered like a beacon in the distance.“Henry!” Regina yelled.“Mom!” Henry's voice, small and raw, clawed through the night. “I tried to stop her, but she ran in! The ice broke — I can’t find her!”“There!” Emma pointed, flashlight beam catching the tiny, flailing figure.Riley bobbed to the surface, face pale, mouth barely above water. “Help!” The word scraped out of her throat, sharp and heart-shattering.“I have to save her,” Henry urged.“Oh, no, you don’t,” Regina snapped. She yanked Henry to her by the back of his jacket.Emma didn’t think. Her body moved before her mind caught up. She launched herself into the river.Ice water punched her lungs. Emma gasped from the shock. The river seized her limbs, making them sluggish.A whistle, sharp and shrill. Black water. Cold like knives, like death.Something jagged and half-submerged slammed into her temple. A bloom of red unfurled in the water, staining the ice like ink.Seconds stretched and snapped. Still, Emma pushed. She reached. Then — a hand.“Ms. Swan!” Riley rasped, her tiny voice shredded from screaming.Emma grabbed her hand, then pulled Riley in, wrapping the small girl’s body against her chest even as her own consciousness splintered.A life ring splashed down, bobbing toward them, and Emma forced herself to hold on while the world went black. ***A kaleidoscope of sensation followed. Red and blue flashing lights. Voices. Muffled, frantic. Water choked her. Gushed inside her ears, her nose, her throat, her lungs.Palms, firm and unrelenting, pressed into her chest. Her ribs strained with sickening cracks, and she gasped, choking. River water spilled from her mouth in violent, heaving surges as her body wrenched itself back to life. As her lungs wrung themselves to dry.Snow pillowed the back of her head, but something warm and sticky continued to pool there. It reeked of copper. Something ached.A soft, warm hand cradled hers. Someone lifted her. Another, smaller hand squeezed her fingers, clinging tight. Perhaps it was those hands that anchored her to life.And finally… finally, the pain ebbed, melting into quiet.Warmth bloomed beneath her skin. ***When Emma opened her eyes, everything blurred. The world hummed around her, distant. Her skin prickled with cold, and she registered the scratchy texture of a hospital gown against her skin. She suddenly felt stripped bare and exposed.Emma shifted, and an IV tugged at her arm. Her body felt foreign and heavy, like she was still moving underwater. For a fleeting moment, Emma was back in that sterile hospital bed, cradling her newborn son with trembling arms. The ache of handing him to a stranger, sitting in that empty, lonely room after. The ghost of a pain she thought she'd buried.A voice broke through the haze. It was terribly raw and fragile. “Emma?”Emma blinked rapidly until the room steadied. The first thing she saw was Regina, perched on the edge of the bed, her face a wreck of relief and exhaustion. Her makeup smudged, eyes rimmed red. Yet, she was the most beautiful thing Emma had ever seen.“Oh, Emma.”Regina didn’t hesitate. She leaned in, cradling Emma’s face as she pressed a trembling kiss to her lips. Reverent, desperate, like she’d been starving for it. The weight of her body followed, carefully but completely, wrapping Emma in the warmth of her arms. She smelled so damn good. Like jasmine and spiced apple wine. Like home. Emma melted into the embrace, letting herself be held. For a moment, or maybe an eternity, neither of them spoke.Emma pulled back just enough to look at her. “What happened?”Regina swiped at tears. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “You almost drowned, Emma. You… you saved Riley, but you were underwater for so long, and your head...” Regina’s voice fractured as more hot tears spilled out. “I thought I'd lost you.”Emma swallowed, trying to piece together fragments of memory. Henry had been missing, hadn't he? “Where's Henry?” Emma blurted out, frantic.Regina soothed her immediately, smoothing Emma’s damp hair back from her forehead. “He’s safe. He wouldn’t leave your side. He stayed all night until he passed out, so Zelena took him home to rest.”Emma exhaled, the pressure in her chest loosening slightly. But then, another face flashed in her mind — smaller, more fragile. The river. Black water. Suffocating, nauseating cold.“Riley,” Emma whispered, already trying to sit up. Her fingers fumbled at the IV. She felt a surge of desperation, the image of that tiny body in the water seared into her memory.Regina gently but firmly pushed Emma back against the pillows. “She’s okay,” Regina promised, kissing Emma’s forehead, her temple, her cheek, like she could physically press the reassurance into her skin. “You saved her life, Emma. She’s with her parents now. They want to thank you when you’re feeling better.”Emma slumped back in relief. Regina inhaled sharply, grounding herself. “I should call the nurse.”She pressed the button, and a nurse bustled in, checking Emma’s vitals and asking her a few soft questions. She also flushed Emma's IV and adjusted her pain meds. Something medical puffed in Emma's nostrils, and her veins cooled. Then, warmth followed shortly after and that floaty sensation from before.While the nurse made notes in Emma's chart, Emma glanced around the room properly for the first time. An overwhelming explosion of love greeted her: silver Get Well Soon balloons clustered in the corners, stuffed animals piled on chairs, flowers blooming from every available surface. Handmade cards scrawled in crayon and glitter, letters from her students taped to the walls.Her throat tightened painfully, and before she could stop herself, tears slipped down her cheeks. Her breath hitched, and everything felt so crushing and overwhelming. How long had she been out? How close to death had she been?The nurse mercifully left to give them some privacy. “Regina,” Emma choked out, voice small. “Can you hold me?”Regina immediately gathered Emma up as she cried. Regina rocked her gently, like she was soothing a child."I have you my dear," Regina promised, gently.Regina's warm and steady softness kept Emma from breaking apart. Their bodies fit together so perfectly. They were made for this, for finding safety in each other. Her beating heart quieted, and Emma's breath finally slowed.They stayed that way for a long time. Long enough for Emma to crave sleep again. She let her eyelids droop, comforted in Regina's arms.The rocking stilled and then a quiet breath, like a prayer: “I love you, Emma Swan."Regina laid her head on top of Emma's. Wisps of blonde hair whirled onto her cheek. Regina's voice cracked. “I love you so much, Emma. I thought I lost you forever.”Emma’s fingers curled, searching. Her grip was so weak, from fatigue and exhaustion, but Regina's hand found hers to clasp.“I love you too,” Emma murmured, half asleep.“You can’t ever do that again,” Regina demanded, tearfully. She'd clearly been holding them back the entire time. “You can’t ever leave me like that. Not ever again.”Emma nodded. “I won’t,” she promised.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
March soon gave way to April.As the school year neared its end, life steadied into something almost normal. Emma moved through her days with a lightness she hadn't felt in years.After Emma’s discharge from the hospital, Snow kept a vigilant watch over her at school. Regina and Henry took charge at home, making sure that Emma truly rested during her stay with them.Regina baked Emma healing, hearty meals every day, and Henry kept her smiling and laughing. He even read aloud to her from his book of fairy tales. Meanwhile, Mulan, Elsa, Merida, and Ruby promised to take care of her students while she was out. (Though Merida threatened to break Emma’s legs if she pulled another reckless stunt like that again.)When Emma finally returned to work, she was met with a mountain love and excitement from her soon-to-be sixth graders.Lilo was the first to launch herself at Emma, a tiny cannonball of emotion. She buried her face in Emma’s red jacket."I thought you were never coming back!" she cried.Lilo's small hands clutched Emma with the desperate strength of someone who’d lost too many people already. Emma felt the ache of that fear like a familiar shadow."Oh, Lilo," Emma said, holding her just as tightly. "You’d have to send me to the Underworld to keep me away from you kids.""I missed you so much, Miss Swan!" Nemo wailed, crashing into her next. He clung to her waist like a barnacle, and he refused to let go for a solid five minutes."I missed you too. So much. And I promise — I’m not going anywhere, okay?" Emma knelt, meeting his tear-streaked gaze. "I’m right here."Kiara, usually cool and detached (they were practically almost middle schoolers, after all), lingered at her desk before finally walking over. She handed Emma the card the class had made. Its surface was crammed with lopsided hearts and wobbly letters. Glitter spilled out in a shimmering mess, evidence of someone getting a little carried away."Here. It was Lilo’s idea," she muttered, shrugging like her quivering mouth and tear-bright eyes weren’t a dead giveaway that she cared.Emma flipped it open. The scribbled messages inside instantly tugged at her heartstrings:
We love you, Miss Swan!
You’re the best!
Please never leave us
You’re our favorite teacher
And, in bright purple crayon and badly misspelled: Nemo says a bad word when he loses at math games"This is so perfect," Emma laughed, absolutely touched. She wrapped Kiara in a hug despite her half-hearted protests. "Thank you."Riley stood apart. When her eyes met Emma’s, a hush fell over the class. For a moment, everything seemed to pause. Then, Riley broke into a run, flinging her arms around Emma in the biggest hug yet."I told everyone you’d come back," she whispered. Her voice was muffled against Emma’s shirt.Emma’s throat tightened as she hugged Riley back."I think you might be the bravest kid I’ve ever met," Emma told her.Riley bounced on her toes, grinning wide. "I’m gonna tell Dr. Hopper that!" she yelled, and the class burst into giggles. ***Later that month, the auditorium buzzed with excitement.The stage curtain fell on the final scene of the Wizard of Oz. Parents, teachers, and even other students leapt to their feet, applauding, as Emma's fifth graders bowed.Backstage, Emma's heart still raced. Somehow, she'd survived. Despite the heart-stopping chaos: last-minute costume disasters, kids forgetting their cues, the fog machine dying so Emma had to frantically wave at Melody to pretend to melt to death anyway, and Nemo sobbing mid-scene because his dad actually showed up (late) — they pulled it off. The whole school had seen the mess, but also the genuine heart that was Miss Swan's fifth grade class."They did it!" Emma scream-whispered. "It was incredible!""It was... something," Regina mumbled. It sounded close enough to a compliment, so Emma decided to take the win. Regina hugged her tight after, and Emma melted into it, deciding she didn’t care either way. They’d survived, and that was enough.Henry barreled toward them. His scarecrow costume was slightly askew, and remnants of straw stuck out of his sleeves. "Mom! Emma! Did you see? We nailed it!"Emma scooped him into a hug, lifting him briefly before setting him back down. "You were incredible, kid. Seriously. Where did you get that voice? Total goosebumps."Regina smoothed Henry's messy hair, her fingers lingering. "I’m so proud of you, darling."Henry’s grin grew. "And we raised so much money! Ms. Rose said the donations might even pay for a real computer lab!""This might be Storybrooke's best play yet," Emma said, warmly. She shared a glowing look with Regina. They were both unbelievably proud of him.Henry, still buzzing with energy, spotted his friends and bolted toward them. "I promised the others I’d sign programs!" he called back, already halfway across the stage.Jacinda, still in her Munchkin costume, proudly tugged her grandpa towards Emma and Regina.Grandpa Vidrio's eyes glistened with gratitude, but as they approached, he slowed. He glanced at Emma with uncertainty, opened his mouth as if to speak, then hesitated. Brown, weathered fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. Jacinda, oblivious to his nerves, bounced on her toes, chattering to him in a flurry of excited Spanish.Before the silence could stretch, Regina stepped in smoothly. As she greeted him in Spanish, Jacinda’s grandpa’s face lit up instantly. His shoulders relaxed as he returned the greeting, launching into a conversation with Regina.Emma couldn’t understand the words, but she didn’t need to. It was all there in Jacinda’s glow. The way her eyes sparkled as she clung to her grandpa’s hand, nodding eagerly with every word he spoke. This is her. This is teacher who is like us.After a few moments, Grandpa Vidrio turned to Emma, his expression glowing with warmth. He spoke again, slower this time, glancing toward Regina. Regina gently touched Emma’s arm."He says he never thought he’d see Jacinda come out of her shell like this. That seeing her on stage tonight, standing tall and smiling... it felt like a miracle."Jacinda squeezed Emma’s hand, her pigtails bouncing as she hopped on her toes. "I was a Munchkin!" she declared."You were amazing," Emma laughed. She brushed a curl from Jacinda’s face, cradling her cheek as she met the sparkle in her eyes. Emma’s chest swelled with so much love and pride it almost hurt.Jacinda’s grandpa’s eyes shone, deep and bright like black stars. He spoke again, directly at Emma, as if his words needed to reach her soul.Regina hesitated. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, but then she continued, very soft."He says... the world needs teachers like you. People who see the quiet kids, the ones who hide in the corners, who feel invisible. Who love them for exactly who they are and help them find their voices."Jacinda grabbed Regina’s hand and swung it back and forth, her small fingers curling around Regina’s without hesitation. Regina didn’t pull away or flinch; she simply let Jacinda hold on, as if carrying a child’s hope was the most natural thing in the world.Emma’s throat burned too much to speak. Instead, she knelt and hugged Jacinda, holding her close. This was her why, the reason she’d become a teacher in the first place.Then, David took the stage, and the room settled into expectant quiet."Before we end the night," he announced, voice ringing through the auditorium, "there's one more person we need to thank. The one who organized every rehearsal, stayed late into the evenings painting sets, and made this whole play possible — Ms. Emma Swan!"The room erupted. Cheers, whistles, and applause crashed over Emma like a hurricane. She shrank back, deeply embarrassed, but Jacinda tugged her hand, beaming like the stage lights hadn’t dimmed."Let’s get a picture!" Jacinda yelled over the noise. "Henry!"Henry appeared in an instant, straw flinging every which way as he skidded to a stop. Regina leaned in beside him. Jacinda tugged Emma down, her face glowing with excitement, while her grandpa carefully placed a gentle hand on Emma’s shoulder.And then, without hesitation, Regina pressed a kiss to Emma’s cheek. Tender and completely unhidden. It shocked them both, maybe even a few people nearby, but Regina didn’t seem to care. Emma’s chest swelled. The quiet miracle of being seen. The year was over, and they didn’t have to pretend anymore.Elsa sprinted over, breathless but radiant, raising her phone to snap the shot.That picture was worth more than a million bucks, and Emma would cherish it forever. ***The end-of-year student and teacher party — part school dance, part chaotic send-off — transformed the gym once again.A mismatched blend of leftover decorations from last year’s superhero bash and unused set pieces from The Wizard of Oz created a hilariously low-budget spectacle. Emma wouldn’t have had it any other way.Seventh graders spun across the floor, laughing and shrieking to the latest pop hits, while teachers attempted (and mostly failed) to corral them. Eighth graders lingered by the walls, trying to look too cool to care.Emma stood by the refreshment table, nibbling on a cookie. An arm suddenly looped through hers."There she is," Ruby sang. "The woman of the hour."Emma snorted. "Hardly.""Ye carried this school on yer back," Merida said, flicking a curl over her shoulder. "Least ye could do is take a wee bit of credit."Elsa, teary-eyed and clutching a glass of punch, wiped at her face. "I saw you and Regina kiss," she blurted, voice wobbling. "I haven't stopped crying about it."Emma blinked, cheeks burning. "Oh.""No, really!" Elsa insisted, sniffling. "We all watched you two dance around each other for months. I thought I was going to lose my mind."Ruby cackled, clinking her cup against Elsa’s. "Swan Queen," she declared, as if she’d just discovered fire. "That’s what I’m calling you and Regina.""You can’t just name people like they’re a celebrity couple," Emma protested, halfhearted — because the moment Regina’s name came up, her eyes automatically swept the room, searching for her. Regina stood by the stage, talking to Henry with that soft, open look she saved just for him — and, more and more, for Emma.Mulan snorted. "You’re not even subtle. It’s adorable how whipped you are.""See?" Ruby grinned. "That’s exactly why Swan Queen works. It writes itself.""Okay, fine," Emma muttered. "Maybe it is kinda nice not pretending anymore."Merida clapped her on the back hard enough to make her stumble. "Atta girl.""Speaking of not pretending," Ruby said, wiggling her eyebrows. "I met someone. Her name’s Dorothy. She has a dog. It’s fate.""Dorothy, huh? Is she good enough for you?" Emma teased.Ruby pretended to think. "I dunno. She hasn’t run away screaming yet, so probably."Elsa’s face went pink. "I met someone too. Her name’s Honeymaren. She’s Sámi, and she carves these beautiful wooden figurines..." Her smile turned dreamy. "She made me an ice castle."Emma smiled. "Elsa, that’s amazing."Elsa giggled, pink-cheeked. "I know. I feel like I’m living in a romance novel."Mulan cleared her throat, glancing toward the office. "Aurora finally left her husband."Ruby gasped. "No way."Mulan shrugged, trying to look casual and failing miserably. "I might... ask her out."Elsa’s jaw dropped. "You’ve been crushing on her this whole time?""Maybe."Ruby practically vibrated with excitement. "I knew it."Merida, watching the chaos unfold, leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. "I’m thinkin’ of askin' Belle out," she admitted.Emma deadpanned. "Belle? Like, French teacher Belle?"Merida nodded. "She reads me stories."Emma doubled over, laughing so hard she almost spilled her drink. "You guys are the sappiest gays I have ever met."Ruby grinned, raising her cup in a toast. "Takes one to know one." ***Several weekends later brought Mary and David’s wedding, held in the town’s sun-dappled park.The scent of roses and fresh grass sailed on the air, and sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, dappling the guests with golden light. Emma, a bridesmaid, stood with a bouquet of wildflowers. Her heart brimmed as Mary Margaret walked down the aisle.Grumpy, proudly escorting her, sobbed into a handkerchief the entire way."I’m fine," he wailed. "I’m just so happy!"Mary patted his arm. "I know, Grumpy.""You’re like my own kid," he blubbered. "An annoying kid, but still!"The ceremony was simple and heartfelt; Snow and Charming's vows wove through the breeze like a blessing.At one point, Regina and Mary Margaret caught each other’s gaze. Mary hesitated, then offered Regina a small, tentative smile. And after a beat, Regina returned it. A fragile truce. Emma was so pleased to see it. They were both trying, not just for her sake but for the family they were all becoming.At the reception, the town buzzed with joy. David twirled Mary around the dance floor. Their laughter spilled out like music."You married me," David laughed. He pressed his forehead to Mary’s. "Finally."Mary smiled, wiping at her eyes. "I’d marry you a thousand times.""Deal," David promised. He even kissed her gently to seal it.Nearby, Grumpy perched on a chair, gnawing on a slice of cake and watching them with puffy eyes. "They’re perfect," he grumbled. "Disgusting. Makes me sick."Emma grinned. "Aww. Need a hug?"Grumpy waved his fork at her. "You and the queen are just as bad, Swan. Don't even start with me." Later, beneath the glow of streetlamps, Emma and Regina lingered in the park. The wedding had ended hours ago, leaving behind scattered petals and half-empty glasses forgotten on tables.Emma rested her head against Regina’s, their fingers laced tightly. "I never thought I’d be this happy," she admitted.Regina sighed, her gaze lingering on the spot where Snow and David had exchanged vows earlier. Something soft, almost longing, flickered in her expression. Emma noticed and bumped her playfully with her shoulder."What are you thinking about?" Emma asked, her smile gentle — then it sharpened with mischief. "Hopefully not plotting Snow’s downfall on her wedding day?"Regina rolled her eyes, but a faint blush crept up her neck. "I'm not that bad.""Uh, remember when Snow got escorted out of the school by cops? Or when I had, like, twelve guys from HR in my classroom over a FERPA violation?"Regina winced. "It wasn’t my finest moment," she admitted. She looked away, stiffening. "She was just trying to help Henry, and I... I punished her for it. I was angry, but that doesn’t excuse what I did. To either of you."Emma gently tugged Regina’s hand, coaxing her to look back. "Hey," she said softly, her eyes warm and steady. "You're making things right. And letting this thing with Snow go... it makes me happy. Thank you."Emma leaned in, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to her lips. Regina looked at Emma then, her face an odd mix of embarrassment and vulnerability."You make me happy," she confessed."Maybe we should make it permanent," Emma said, voice teasing but hopeful.Regina’s breath hitched. "Slow down, Sheriff," she muttered, bright as a tomato.Emma laughed, the sound low and fond. She adored seeing Regina come apart like this. Unable to resist, she kissed her again. Slow and sweet, the bubble of hope hung in the air.One day, Emma thought.Above them, the stars blinked softly, like they were watching — like they approved. ***May slipped by into June in a heartbeat, and the final weeks of school melted into a rhythm.Mornings filled with eager hands shooting into the air, voices overlapping with excitement as they solved problems together. Afternoons stretched out on the playground, with Lilo twirling in circles after butterflies and Kiara dramatically unraveling her fanfiction plots, her hands flying as she described every twist. Nemo finally conquered long division, his pencil wobbling with each careful line, and Emma knelt beside him, cheering as if he’d won a gold medal.Henry practically glowed with pride every time he helped a classmate understand something difficult. His eyes would flick to Emma for quiet approval, which she always gave with a smile.That was usually when it happened. This time, he handed a worksheet back to Riley and said, "Just like that, right, Mom?" without missing a beat.Emma barely blinked. "Yep!" she said, smile unwavering.It had been happening more and more lately, and she didn’t even bother correcting him anymore. Neither did the students. Emma's class tackled the final spring benchmark test like warriors.Pencils scratched against paper, foreheads creased in fierce concentration. Emma paced the room, offering quiet encouragement. Her students had grown so much. Watching them, she felt that familiar lump in her throat, the ache of loving something so fiercely that it hurt.When the final bell rang on the last day of school, the students didn’t leave right away. They lingered and dawdled. One by one, they hugged Emma tight, their small arms clinging like they were afraid to let go.Lilo clipped a handmade friendship bracelet onto Emma’s wrist, the beads spelling out teacher in cute rainbow letters.Nemo handed her a carefully drawn picture of the whole class. A lopsided stick figure labeled "Miss Swan" stood in the center with a crown.Kiara made Emma pinky swear she’d read her summer writing project, her voice uncharacteristically shaky.And Riley hugged Emma so fiercely she almost knocked her over. She whispered, "I love you, Miss Swan," before darting to her waiting parents. When Emma shut the door to her empty classroom, the click of the latch echoed louder than it should have. The room smelled of old markers and fresh paint, the sharp scent of summer renovations already seeping in. Cardboard boxes stacked against the wall, posters rolled up and ready to be tucked away. The remnants of art projects lingered — glitter stubbornly clinging to the corners of desks, a few crooked paper stars still taped to the ceiling. Killian the gecko blinked lazily from his terrarium, ready to head home for a long vacation.Emma stood in the middle of the mess, taking it all in. Somehow, the classroom still hummed with life, echoing with the ghosts of their voices. Lilo’s giggles. Henry’s endless questions. The soft scrape of chairs and the rustle of papers.At some point, Snow wandered in without knocking. She rested her head on Emma’s shoulder companionably."Can you believe," Emma whispered, her voice shaking with a quiet, broken laugh, "that I’m gonna miss this class so damn much?"Last year, she’d practically sprinted home on the last day, ready to order two large pizzas, down a six-pack, and binge-watch Desperate Housewives without a second thought. But this? This felt like leaving a piece of her soul behind. This was the room where she’d met Henry. Where she’d stood toe-to-toe with Regina Mills and somehow, against all odds, found true love. A family.Snow slipped her hand into Emma’s, squeezing tight. "They’ll always be your kids," she said softly. "You’ll see them next year." Then, Snow tried to lighten the mood, bumping Emma’s shoulder. "And they’ll all try to sneakily add you on Facebook."Emma snorted, rubbing her eyes.Snow grinned. Her voice dipped into playful mischief. "And...! At least now we can piss when we need to!"Emma burst into laughter. It was the kind that made her stomach ache. She bent over with the force of it until she had to grip a desk to stay upright.Snow hooked her arm through Emma’s. "Come on," she said, leading her to the door. "Let’s go home."To a home that wouldn’t be either of theirs for much longer. Snow was married and moving out. Emma, if she played her cards right, was hoping Regina might ask her to stay — to make permanent what already felt inevitable.Emma glanced around the classroom one last time. Then she shut off the lights, letting the room settle into quiet. ***Later, in the quiet glow of Regina’s living room, Emma, Regina, and Henry curled up on the couch. The remnants of their celebration scattered around them. A half-eaten bowl of popcorn sat forgotten on the coffee table. Emma’s Teacher of the Year award gleamed on the fireplace mantel.Henry nestled between them, head resting on Regina’s shoulder. He insisted he wasn’t tired, but his heavy eyelids told another story."So, you’re really moving in?" he triple-checked.Emma chuckled, but nodded her confirmation for third time. She ran her fingers through his hair, the strands slipping soft between her fingers. "If that’s okay with you, kid."Henry’s face split into a tired, contented smile. He hugged them both. His arms barely reached, but he squeezed as tight as he could anyway."It’s more than okay," he approved.Not even minutes later, Henry drifted off, breathing slow and steady against Regina’s side.Emma carefully scooped Henry up and carried him upstairs. She tucked him into bed, smoothing the covers over him and brushing a kiss against his forehead.Downstairs, the house was quiet, the only light coming from the faint glow of the fireplace. Regina was standing by the mantel, lightly tracing the edge of Emma’s award, her expression unreadable.Emma slipped behind Regina, seizing their rare alone time to wrap her arms around her waist. She held her close, breathing her in before finally letting go."You’re not still mad I got Teacher of the Year, are you?" Emma teased, a grin tugging at her lips. "Even after spending half the year siccing the PTA on me?"Regina snorted, but she leaned back into the embrace. "Please. If I’d known a relationship with you came with this much chaos, I would have transferred schools."Emma pressed a kiss to Regina’s neck. "Aren’t you just hot for teacher now?"Regina turned in her arms. Her dark eyes gleamed. "Well, yes," she deadpanned, and before Emma could come up with a clever comeback, Regina kissed her.They celebrated, in a much more private way, after that. ***Later, tangled in bed beneath the sheets, Regina and Emma lay together in the soft glow of starlight. The open window let in a summer breeze, cooling their flushed skin."Did you ever picture us like this? Even when you thought I was a total disaster?" Emma asked, her voice soft with curiosity.Regina hummed. "Maybe," she said, teasing. "I might have thought about it."Emma chuckled. Her fingers lazily traced Regina’s spine. "Seriously?"Lifting her head just enough to smirk, Regina met Emma’s eyes. "Yes. And I stand by it — you were a disaster. Honestly, it’s a miracle the school didn’t catch fire."Emma gasped in mock outrage. "Rude. I was new.""You let a kid stab another kid with a pencil.""It was a poke. Barely broke the skin.""Parents found out you did prison time.""Yeah, because someone in the PTA told everybody. My coworkers thought I killed someone.""True... Sorry about all that, by the way."Emma sighed. "Guess you’re just into bad girls.""You’ve come a long way," Regina whispered, and Emma turned to press a kiss to her palm."Those happy endings in Henry’s fairy tales? They’re real," Emma said gently, leaning into their quiet moment. "You know that, right?"Regina exhaled, her voice rough with exhaustion. "It’s still hard to believe," she admitted. "Life hasn’t exactly proven that. Every time I reached for something good, it slipped away." She swallowed. Her eyes shone with bravery. "But I want to try."Emma kissed her. She didn’t say it out loud, but her heart whispered the promise anyway: I’ll hold the hope for both of us, for as long as it takes. Later, when Regina hovered on the edge of sleep — because, as Emma had learned, she had exactly ten minutes of post-intimacy coherence before crashing — Emma blurted out, "Quick question."Regina, already halfway gone, barely lifted her head. "Mm?"Emma bit her lip to stifle a laugh. "Are you gonna be Mother Superior’s room mom next year? Should I be jealous?"Regina let out a soft, breathy laugh. She rolled into Emma, pressing against her shoulder. "Jealous of a nun?" she muttered, voice thick with sleep. "You’re ridiculous.""I’m just saying... she makes killer brownies. I can’t compete with that.""Go to sleep, Swan."Emma pulled her closer, tucking the blanket around them. She stared at the ceiling, voice dropping."If that woman brings cookies to the first PTA meeting, I’m declaring war." The End