The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 13

I need to see you. I need to feel you. I want the routine with you and I want the madness with you. I want all of it with you. I want you here with me. ~Ernest Hemingway.

#

The next morning Emma, her parents, and Henry all headed to Granny's for breakfast. They stayed with Mary Margaret and David for the night and Henry was a bit too tired to question who they were which gave Emma time to think up a good enough lie that they boy would believe.

She didn't get a chance to explain it first, unfortunately. The couple introduced themselves to him quite horribly, stumbling over their sentences and making stuff up as they went along. Emma visibly cringed at the interaction.

She sat in the booth and her mind wandered to Regina. She felt bad for leaving her last night. She showed up for the first time after having forgotten about her for a year, greeted her with an intense make-out session before leaving again. She allowed herself to wonder what it would be like falling asleep with the other woman wrapped in her arms and waking up to see her beautiful smile.

She was snapped out of her trance by a loud smash. Her head shot up to see Regina standing in the middle of the diner with a look of shock spread across her face, broken mug at her feet with her eyes on Henry.

Emma frowned at the reaction. It may have only been a year, but the boy had changed so much. He was taller, slimmer and had lost his baby face. She knew that Regina would be upset over missing watching her son grow up.

Regina gulped. "I'm sorry if I scared you," she said quickly, directing the apology towards the young boy.

Henry nodded slightly. "It's fine" he said politely, turning away from her and staring back down at his Gameboy.

Emma sighed as she watched Regina walk towards the back of the diner. "I'll be back in a minute," she muttered before leaping to her feet and walking swiftly after her. She caught the older woman just as she was about to sit down at one of the booths at the back of the room and led her out into the back hall. Once they were out of view of prying eyes, Emma pulled her into a hug.

Regina let out a soft sigh and melted into the embrace, wrapping her arms around her waist.

Emma placed a soft kiss on her forehead as they pulled apart. "Are you okay, Gina?"

She sighed and nodded slowly. "I just wasn't expecting him to look so different. It feels like I've missed more than a year."

"Why don't you come meet him? It might make things a bit easier? You can't put it off forever," Emma offered. She watched the older woman debate with herself over whether or not to accept the offer. "It would also mean that I get to spend a little more time with you," she added with a cheeky smirk, running her hands along the soft slant of her waist.

Regina chuckled softly, leaning in, and pressing a quick, sweet kiss to her lips. "I would like that. Thank you, Emma," she whispered with a smile.

Emma smirked. "Would you like to join us for breakfast, Madame Mayor?"

She laughed and nodded. "I'd like that, Sheriff." 

Emma quickly led her out to where she was previously sitting. Henry looked up at them in confusion. "Henry, I would like you to meet Regina Mills. She's the Mayor," she explained quickly.

He nodded and shot Regina a kind smile. "Nice to meet you, Madame Mayor," he greeted her politely.

Emma couldn't help but notice how Regina visibly flinched at the name.

They quickly took their seats and Ruby came over, setting their drinks down in front of them. "Here's a new coffee, Reggie," she squeaked happily as she set a new cup of coffee down in front of her.

"Thank you, Miss Lucas," she replied quickly with her formal Mayor voice.

Emma watched as Henry inspected his hot chocolate. "How did she know to put cinnamon on it?" he asked innocently.

She coughed awkwardly. "Ruby's an old friend," Emma stuttered nervously. "She knows that's how I take mine, maybe she just assumed?"

He seemed to accept the answer, much to Emma's relief, because all he did was shrug and take a drink of the hot beverage.

#

After breakfast, Henry went off with David and Mary Margaret while Regina went to the town hall with Emma to see if they could figure out why none of them had any memories of the past year.

They stepped into the office and Emma let out a soft chuckle. "Reggie, huh?" she questioned with a smirk.

Regina groaned as Emma wrapped her arms securely around her waist. "I have no idea what possessed Ruby. Don't ever call me that," she snapped. 

"Oh, no, never. You're my Gina," she mumbled softly.

Regina felt a soft blush creep up her neck.

Emma smiled as she captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Regina returned it instantly, tangling her hands in the blonde's hair. Emma laid her hands on her waist and pulled the smaller woman tight against her front.