A/N:

Prompt - Divorce mommies AU! It is from the last swan queen week, team moms! It is very nearly finished. It is angsty for a while, and there is some smut ahead. I'll add a note on the appropriate chapters. I do promise a happy ending! I will be updating daily. Enjoy and let me know what you think :)

At night, the skyline view from her apartment window was spectacular. Emma looked out to it, glancing down at the busy streets even during the late hour, whilst pressing the phone to her ear. She counted the rings, heart pounding so loudly it overrode any other sound. Spinning around, she leant back against the large window, taking in the boxed up apartment. It was well furnished, spacious and the nicest place she'd ever lived in, but she hadn't made a single memorable memory in the six months she had been here. On the tenth ring, the person in question finally answered.

"Hello?" came the voice on the other side, weary in ways which had Emma's heart clench.

"Hi, Regina, erm…how are you?" Pushing off the widow, Emma began pacing around the apartment, stopping at the couch and lightly gripped onto the leather jacket flung over it, pinching the material between her fingers.

"I'm good thank you and yourself, dear? Is there a reason for your call?" Emma bit her lip, knowing she would have to do this sooner or later, the red material still moving between her fingers.

"Yeah, I'm, I'm good, thanks. It's just…erm, I need to give you a heads up about something." She sounded pathetic even to her own ears, but she shook her head and let go of the jacket in favour of making her way to the fireplace and more importantly, the picture she'd placed there the day she had moved in.

Mom! Have you seen my homework? A familiar voice bellowed in the background. Emma leant her head to the side, almost as if she could get closer to the two of them.

"You left it in my office," Regina called back as Emma stood almost six hundred miles away, feeling as if she were intruding on a private moment, not listening to her son and his other mother. "Sorry, Emma," she said after some movement and rustling came from the other end, "what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"How's Henry?" she said instead, "I thought he would be sleeping by now. I can call back." Or simply turn up at her doorstep with a feeble explanation, because this was proving harder than she'd anticipated.

"Oh, there was a festival and we got home a little later than planned, but he's doing really well. He actually won an award for a piece of writing he did for an English paper." Emma swallowed the lump in her throat, smiling as tears welled up behind her eyes.

"Good, that's…that's great Regina, I'm so proud of him," she said, voice thick as green eyes scanned the empty apartment, "he's a talented kid. Don't know where he gets it from." Emma tried for a chuckle, but it fell flat and the other end remained silent.

"But it is getting late, so if you would like to get on with whatever you need to tell me…"

"Right." The shortness to her tone sobered Emma up immediately. This wasn't some friendly call and she was almost certain her ex-wife resented the hell out of her, which made this even more difficult. "It's about my work, they're going to transfer me again."

Turning back around to the fireplace, Emma ran her fingers down the picture of her two favourite people smiling back at her, hardly remembering a time when everything had felt that good.

Regina sighed audibly, "if you're moving even further away and are about to tell me you won't be able to see Henry as much then I suggest-"

"There transferring me back to Maine, Regina. Back to Storybrooke."

"Oh."

Emma spun and made her way to the couch, perching on the edge and waiting for more of a reaction. She hadn't known what to expect, but there was a part of her which had hoped Regina would respond with at least a little enthusiasm.

"You only moved to New York a few months ago."

"Yeah, well, there was a need for a detective in Storybrooke and because I knew the area, they thought I'd be best for the job." It was a little white lie, but nothing that would hurt.

"When are you moving?" Regina's voice came out strained even to Emma's ears.

"I move in a week and I would've told you sooner, Regina, but they sprung this on me, but I rang as soon as I knew and-"

"It's fine. I understand. I'm sure Henry will be happy to be able to see you more often, but I have to go, Emma, it really is getting late."

"Or course-" her bottom lip trembled and heart sunk simultaneously; a bad reaction would've been preferable to none at all, "I'll speak to you soon, I guess."

"Goodnight, Miss Swan."

"Night, 'gina," she said, throwing the phone besides her once the line went dead. It rebounded on the couch, not that she cared. Emma fell backwards and ran a hand through her loose strands of hair.

It could've gone worse, but the use of the name had her insides numbing and she remained slouched for a long time, the anticipation she had had over moving, morphing to dread.

The door to the mansion opened and Emma had to suck in a breath, not ready to come face to face with the woman her heart still went pitter-patter over. No matter how long it had been since the divorce papers had appeared on her doorstep, the feelings wouldn't squash themselves enough the be gone for good.

The mayor walked out, wearing her signature grey blazer and skirt, a blouse underneath with just enough buttons undone, Emma had to keep her eyes uplifted at all times.

"Hi," she said, uncertain, slipping her hands into her jean pockets and smiling shyly. Regina remained tight lipped, eyes glistening and nodded stiffly.

"How would you like a drink of apple cider?" Regina crossed both arms and didn't make eye contact with the younger woman. The question had come out thickly and Emma wasn't sure if it was a real invitation or a polite one. Either way, Emma had spent the day travelling and was exhausted by the time she'd made it to her tiny apartment, only unpacking the essentials.

"Got anything stronger?" Emma quirked a brow, pleased to note the small smirk appearing at the edge of Regina's mouth. She tipped her head then turned, making her way back inside the mansion and Emma followed as expected.

They didn't speak as they made their way into the study, Emma already knowing where she kept the strong stuff. As Regina handed over the tumbler, she smiled gratefully, taking a small sip and letting the burn wash down her throat.

"Tough day?" Regina asked, making her way to the couch, tipping her glass towards the one opposite, prompting Emma to take a seat.

She gave a little chuckle, "you could say that," she said, falling backwards onto the couche, "but I'm glad to finally get here. I've got a few days to sort everything out before I'm expected at the station." It would give Emma time to make her way around the town and reconnect with some old friends. She wasn't sure how it was going to go and it made her almost as nervous as sitting opposite her ex-wife who had yet to make eye contact at all.

"I'm sure that'll be good for you." Regina sipped her drink, one leg coming up to cross over the other. It had Emma's mouth going dry, remembering what it had been like to feel those thighs beneath her palms. Taking a large gulp of her own drink, Emma berated herself and put the memories to the back of her mind.

"How's Henry?" she asked, steering the lack of conversation into the one topic they could converse over. Emma had wanted to know his reaction to the news sooner, but hadn't wanted to keep pressing Regina.

"Good-" she nodded, her entire body rocking slightly as she did, "he's excited to see you. And I'm sure you'll be wanting to discuss some kind of custody arrangement." She sounded as if she were talking during a meeting to a business client, "or we can talk about it another day, if you're too tired?"

"Now's fine, Regina and yes, of course I would love to be able to spend more time with Henry." Their initial arrangement had been difficult enough, one weekend every month with her son, but after she'd moved to New York those weekends had seemed like a distant memory.

"I would wish to see your apartment first, though I do presume you have made space for him in your new life-" the tumbler found its way between her lips as she finally sought out Emma's eyes, glaring directly at her. Emma shivered and bit her tongue, not wanting to get into an argument.

"My apartment is big enough for the both of us," she said dryly. If Regina thought she would move here and not considered Henry at all, then she really didn't know her ex-wife and how much she he missed spending time with him after her move.

"I propose every other weekend and one evening for a few hours after school to begin with. Though I have conditions which we can discuss at a later date." The tone was irritating, but Emma smiled tightly and let it go, knowing she was the one to be the cause of it in the first place.

"Yeah, okay, that'd be…I'd like that." Emma wasn't sure how generous Regina would intend to be when it came to having time with their son, but she had said to begin with and the time she had been getting what a loss less than Regina's proposal.

She finished her drink and placed it on the coffee table, wishing she had thought to take her time with it. Even with the hostility in the air.

"That's settled then, you can see Henry tomorrow if you wish and you can start with your weekends the weekend after next." Emma nodded profusely, desperate to see her kid and finally be able to see him more frequently.

She found herself smiling softly, "yeah, thanks, Regina. I've missed him." Emma made sure to say the words softly and connected their eyes as she did so, hoping her eyes held more meaning. Regina visibly swallowed and looked down at her drink which she began to swirl.

"As has he." If Emma hadn't been married to her for a decade then she wouldn't have caught the way her voice cracked. It made her stomach clench, the distance between the two couches seeming all the more wider.

"Well, I should get going and I guess I'll see you tomorrow-" they both stood and when Regina nodded in her direction, the gleam in her eyes was more than evident, "I can see myself out," she added, not wanting to put Regina through any more unnecessary pain.

"Goodnight, dear," she said, smoothing down her skirt as Emma said her goodbyes then turned to make her way to the front door of the mansion.

It might only have been her first night, but Emma was beginning to see why she had stayed away so long. Under this roof, she was closer to her family than she had been in years, yet she had never felt so far away.

Existing the mansion, she took shaky breaths as she once again, left them behind.

After spending a good few hours of her morning unpacking, Emma's stomach growled only for her to walk around her apartment to find a half empty bag of chips and a candy wrapper from the dinner she'd had the night before. Emma knew she would have to face the familiar faces of this town at some point, but had half been hoping she could push of the inevitable.

On the way to the store to pick up the groceries, Emma slowly drove past Henry's school, a mixture of anxiety and excitement to finally see her kid. The last visit had been over a month ago and she had missed him terribly. She drove her bug into the parking lot, getting out of the car and shoving the door shut, silently wishing she could get in and out of the store as quickly as possible.

Until she walked down an aisle, cart nearly full and an old friend did a double take.

"Emma? What are you…what are you doing here?" Rushing over she enveloped the young woman into a hug, circled her back a few times before leaning back then gripped each shoulder. "Is it…Regina? Are you guys back together?"

"Hi, I'm great and you?" The woman with the pixie cut hair-do rolled her eyes and let Emma go, crossing her arms.

"I'm fine, but you didn't answer any of my questions. So…are you?" She looked hopeful, which wasn't unusual considering the woman had the most positive outlook a person could possibly have. To the point it was almost infuriating.

Emma shook her head with a sad smile, "no, I got another work transfer-" she swallowed, only wishing that were the reason for her return, "she still hates me."

"Oh, Emma. I'm sure that's not true. Maybe you both simply need to reconnect. That type of love doesn't simply vanish into thin air."

Emma sighed, "tell that to Regina. Anyway, I'll catch up with you soon, but I really need to go and finish unpacking. I'm seeing Henry after school, so I need time to get things sorted."

"Well, take care, Emma-" she planted a quick kiss to her cheek, "if you need anything don't hesitate to call. And don't be a stranger, both me and David would love to have you over for dinner one night."

"Thanks Mary-Margret. I'll see you around." She began to push the cart, giving the woman who had treated her like family a tight smile as she passed. They'd kept in contact, but not nearly as much as she should have.

Emma had managed to do the rest of her shopping without bumping into anyone she had once known. Even the person behind the desk wore a new face. That was until she was at her bug, unloading the bags into the trunk when a blonde woman leant against her car.

"Hurt her and you're dead," she said, pushing the sun glasses up through her hair.

Emma shut the trunk with a bit of more force than needed, "hi, Katherine-" she paced backwards and crossed her arms, "nice to see you too."

"I mean it-" her heel pushed off Emma's bug and she had to hide her wince, "she still loves you after everything you put her through, so if you think you're going to worm your way back into her life only to hurt her again, then you're dead."

Emma nodded tightly, suddenly unable to form words. She'd only known what she had gone through and because Regina was Regina, she had simply gone from caring to being short with her, any pain she had been feeling would've been hidden. Except from her best friend. That short list including Emma at one point.

"If I hurt her you have permission to kill me. I'll write a statement to give you immunity," she said dryly, knowing she couldn't actually do that, but her badge made it a joke…almost. Not in the mood for Katherine, Emma pulled open the door to her bug and gave her a glare.

"I'm glad we're on the same page." She made her way around to Emma's side, which had her sighing internally and when she was close enough she poked her chest between words, "don't…mess…it…up."

The next thing Emma knew she was being pulled in for a tight hug, bottom lip trembling as she hugged her friend with all of her might. Regina may have gotten her in the divorce, considering they had been friends before Emma had even met Regina, but over the years they had made a friendship too.

"I still love her too," she whispered into the crook of her neck.

"I know you do and I'm telling you, if you want her back it's going to take more than a bouquet of flowers. But if you dare hurt her again, then I won't let you get another chance." Emma nodded and pulled away, glad there was some people still rooting for her relationship. She hadn't been sure what she was going to return to, but this was more than she could've hoped for.

"I won't." Emma would try her hardest not to let Regina get hurt again, no matter the cost to herself. "I guess I'll see you around," she said, now Katherine had let her go and was taking steps backwards.

"Bye loser," she called over her shoulder, which had Emma smirking during the entire ride back to her apartment.

"Mom!" Henry came crashing down the stairs whilst Emma had been waiting at the bottom. It felt strange, being back in her home but feeling so out of place and uncomfortable. Then Henry was barrelling into her and she had her arms around him and everything didn't feel as bad.

"I missed you," she whispered, holding her son close. The pair had their eyes closed as they clung to each other for a good few minutes. Regina had walked into the foyer during their embrace and Emma knew she was leaning against the door frame by the way her heels had clipped and stopped a little distance from them.

Henry broke free, "I missed you too-" he glanced towards his mother then back at Emma, mouth opening before looking to the mother still leaning against the wall, "could mom stay to play video games?" he asked, not sure who he should be asking.

Emma looked towards Regina, swallowing at the longing in her eyes. Family hugs had been a frequent occurrence in the swan-mills household, but now their family was no longer whole, so one of them was left out in the cold as there was no more family hugs to be had. Though, Katherine's words were still planted firmly in her mind; it wasn't as if Emma had planned to come back here to win her ex-wife back, but deep down, it was all she could think to do.

"If your mother is okay with that?" Emma nodded at Regina, trying for a small smile before turning to face her son with a wide one. It pushed on her cheeks and although she was more than happy to have time with her son, it felt fake.

He grabbed onto her hand, dragging her into the next room, "you gotta play this with me," he said, handing her a controller and plonking on the couch next to her. They began to play the game, a huge chunk of time rolling past unnoticed, until Regina came from behind them, one hand falling to Emma's shoulder.

Emma spun as the hand was snatched away. Regina cleared her throat and crossed her arms, not looking in Emma's direction.

"Sorry," she mumbled, as if she had to apologise for their past seeping into the here and now, "but dinner will be ready shorty, Henry. Time to say goodbye."

"Aww, mom, can't she stay for dinner?" He twisted his head and pouted, but Regina's eyes had hardened and she was shaking her head-

"Sorry, Henry. I still have a lot of unpacking to do. Maybe another time-" she glanced to Regina with a nod, knowing when she wasn't welcome. To stay it stung was an understatement, but Emma had to hold onto the hope it wouldn't be this way forever.

Monday morning rolled around and Emma found herself sitting behind a desk at a station she used to love. She had a bigger office than before, the promotion seeing to that, but her officers were the same ones she had once thought of as almost family. Now she ranked over them and had already had to boss them around a little bit, but so far, she'd received pats on the backs and the station had been filled with the banter she had once been accustomed to.

Each foot stomped onto her desk as she leant back in her chair, sighing deeply as so many memories of this place came flooding back. The way Henry would sometimes visit after school when she was working on a late shift or the occasional time she and the very gorgeous mayor had spent some quality time together in her office, the door shut and locked. But a particular memory came fore front and centre…

They had been waiting on the news for weeks after having discussed the pros and cons of Emma potentially taking a promotion in Boston. Regina had shifted a few meetings around so she could be at the station when Emma finally got the news. Their hands had been clasped tightly together as Emma's phone rang. She'd picked it up whilst her wife gave her a reassuring smile.

Emma had been silent for most of the phone conversation, not giving anything away until the director of chief at Boston PD had finished speaking. In disbelief, Emma had placed the phone on her desk, turned to her wife, "I got it," she'd said, still unable to process the news.

"Emma!" Arms had wrapped themselves around her body then lips were being pressed to hers firmly. "I'm so proud of you," she'd said then kissed her again.

That night they had sat down and talked for hours about what they planned to do. Emma had three weeks to move to the city, but Regina wouldn't be able to finish her term out within that time. She didn't want to leave her Mayoral position suddenly, so like always, they worked together to find a solution.

"That's what we do," Emma'd said, a hand squeezing Regina's thigh from where she had been sat next to her on the couch, "I move to Boston and see how it goes-"

"And I'll finish my term whilst we look for schools." They'd both nodded and Emma had leant forwards to capture her wife's lips in a lazy sloppy kiss.

"Then, if everything works out, you and Henry will move up to Boston in three months and we'll start a new adventure together." Regina had smiled and kissed her again, humming as she did so. It had led to them shedding clothes as they tumbled their way up the stairs, kissing and laughing and spending the night making love and having some of the hottest sex Emma had ever experienced.

Her phone bleeped, pulling Emma away from her thoughts. For a second, she had hoped it was Regina, but it was simply a message from her phone company. Flinging it back onto the desk, she fell back into her chair, wondering how their seemingly perfect plan had ended up going so wrong.

During the three months Emma had commuted often and Regina and Henry had made a few trips to see her, but as those months went by, it became seemingly obvious something was wrong. Then it came time for Regina to leave the office, but as elections started up again, she began to hesitate about the move, uncertain what it would mean for her career and not wanting to pull Henry out of a school he loved.

Emma had been loving her new position in Boston, but Regina changed her mind about moving. She had asked Emma to come back, but instead of giving up her job, she had convinced herself she could make both work.

Ultimately, she had made the biggest mistake of her life.