"Long day," Regina corrected, walking briskly toward a filing cabinet and selecting key folders. "Some investors have pulled through on a project that needs to be finalized by 8 am tomorrow. I have to stay and discuss tactics with them and sign off on their tasks."
Emma looked down at her watch to see it was nearly five. "I can pick up Henry," Emma offered. "We can come back here and have dinner with you."
Regina took a moment to look up from the cabinet to smile thoughtfully at Emma. "I appreciate that, but I can't wager how long I'll be here, and he tends to get aggravated when waiting too long in my office. Perhaps you and Henry can have a night in with yourselves?"
"Yeah, I think I can manage without burning the place down," Emma teased as she followed Regina to a picture frame where behind it she kept a safe.
Regina ignored Emma's seriously? look at the safe before inputting the code and retrieving the spare house key.
"All that for a key?" Emma eyed the small piece of metal.
"I take safety very seriously, soldier," Regina explained haughtily though Emma simply grinned and nodded.
"I'll pick up the kid and see you at home." Emma squeezed Regina's arm on her way past her before calling out over her shoulder, "try not to make anyone cry while I'm gone."
"I make no promises."
Regina was exhausted by the time she stepped out of her heels, placing then delicately on the shoe rack inside her hallway closet and allowed her toes to breathe for the first time all day. Regina had worked efficiently in order to get the investors out of her office by 8, allowing her to walk through her door at 8:30. She was expecting the first floor to be quiet for Henry was scheduled to be in bed half an hour prior, but the indistinct chatter in her living room led her to believe that her son had successfully conned Emma into a later bedtime.
She placed her briefcase quietly on the side table and walked softly on the hardwood to inspect the culprits. She stopped just shy of the living room entrance, partially hidden by the wall, and couldn't help but let the wide smile that was forming on her face to bloom.
Emma was lying on her stomach behind the couch with what appeared to be eyeliner marks under her eyes like a football player. Henry, who was hidden under the coffee table, sported similar marks on his cheeks as he remained low to the ground as well.
"Pssh," Emma mimicked radio static as she spoke into a fisted hand, oblivious to Regina's presence at the entrance of the room, "the target is in sight, Commander. Do you read me? Over."
"Loud and clear," Henry nodded seriously.
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is search and rescue, Commander. One of our own has been captured and it is your duty to bring them back."
"No one gets left behind," Henry replied, and from the slight smirk on his face, Regina could tell it was a phrase Emma had just recently taught him.
"Exactly. On three. One, two, three."
On three, both Emma and Henry moved from their spots, crawling on their stomachs toward what Regina could see as one of Henry's dragons hidden behind the fireplace gate Regina had installed when Henry was a baby.
Regina nearly moved to pick up Henry when the boy bonked his head on the underside of the table, but he muttered a simple "ouch", rubbing the bump and proceeded on his mission toward the dragon. She didn't realize how big he was getting until then. Before every bump and bruise was soothed by a kiss, but now her little prince simply soldiered on.
"Approaching enemy lines, Commander. Stay low," Emma narrated as she met up beside Henry. He gave up on the crawling and pulled himself to his feet, racing towards the gate.
He caught the dragon in between the gates and pulled it up, reaching over to free it and hug it to his chest. "Rescue complete."
Emma laughed and reared up on her knees, speaking into her makeshift walkie-talkie. "Pssh, search and rescue completed. Let's go home, soldier."
She picked up Henry in her arms and stood, turning to find Regina.
Regina raised an eyebrow, her arms folded across her chest and a knowing smirk on her face. "The mission went well, Corporal?"
"Yes ma'am," Emma nodded, grinning when she realized she wasn't in trouble, for the time being at least.
"Rescue complete!" Henry repeated, launching himself into Regina's arm when Emma closed the distance between them.
"You certainly are a brave hero," Regina nuzzled his cheek and pressed a kiss there. "And brave heroes need their rest."
"I promised him one more mission," Emma explained.
"And two stories," Henry reminded her, holding up three fingers.
"I did, didn't I?" Emma asked, lowering one of his fingers. "Well, let's go, little soldier."
Regina set Henry down and let him lead up the stairs as she walked beside Emma, smirking at the blonde. "Extended playtime and two stories. Who's the weak one now?"
Emma had decidedly taken up Graham's offer, for the time being. When Regina had noticed Emma's eyes begin to drift at the paperwork she was supposed to be reading, Regina had suggested that Graham was always looking for extra help around the station, and it was in the same building anyhow so their paths would cross eventually. Emma found that despite the small town, going on patrol with Graham, and occasionally settling disputes throughout the day, was quite fulfilling. It was like being out on patrol in the Middle East, except a lot more safer and a lot less humid. There were no rifles or bombs or dead- Emma shook off those thoughts quickly, reminding herself of where she was. She had worked with Graham for two days now, and already she was starting to feel as if she were truly part of the town.
Today, however, Regina had finished work early, and she, Henry, and Emma had opted on enjoying the late April weather at the park. She was glad Henry was so smitten with Emma for it gave her the opportunity to catch up on her latest novel, but despite her eyes being glued to the page, she couldn't help but glance over the top of the book as Henry chased Emma around the jungle gym. Her eyes followed her son as his stout legs ran haphazardly, kicking up the sand in the process. Emma had slowed her pace some, letting Henry touch her with his outstretched fingers before suddenly she jumped up, pulling herself up on a high horizontal bar and swinging herself up and over the pull up beam, landing gracefully behind a still running Henry who hadn't seen it coming. Regina gasped at the move, but her shock was immediately replaced with soft laughter as Henry also realized what had just occurred and stared up at Emma in awe. Henry had barely enough time to run before Emma caught him around the middle and tickled his sides. A loud obnoxious laugh emitted from him as he squirmed in Emma's grasp.
Regina hid her laugh behind her book, but it was no use for Emma caught her eye and grinned, putting all of Henry's weight on one arm to wave at Regina mouthing a breathy 'hi'. Regina shook her head playfully and waved back, though why she didn't have a good enough explanation for.
"Ms. Tina!" Henry yelled, wiggling out of Emma's grasp.
Both women looked to see Henry running towards his pre-school teacher, Ms. Tina Bell, a petite woman with tight blonde curls and a New Zealand accent. Regina placed her book back into the large bag that held anything Henry could ever need and stood, making her way toward the teacher as courteous as ever.
"Ms. Bell," Regina greeted, extending out her hand cordially once Tina had released Henry from his impromptu hug. She motioned to Emma beside her. "You remember Ms. Swan?"
"'Course," Tina smiled. "Emma's picked up Henry before. And from what Felix has told me, she had quite the talk with him the other day."
"Really?" Regina inquired while Emma shrugged half-heartedly.