AN: Sorry this took so long. Got a bit distracted and now there's the AU story Definition of Family that I'm working on as well. Hope this is okay. I started out thinking I would incorporate more of the episodes and their dialogue but then realized it wouldn't work since their best scenes are of Regina trying to get rid of Emma and that doesn't fit this story. So while I will be using moments from the show and a line or two here and there, I'm also going to veer off the canon track alot here. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Hot Chocolate with Cinnamon

The morning after their first date, Emma was sitting at the counter in Granny's diner, reading the morning paper as she waited for Ruby to finish with another customer before taking her order.

After a few moments, Emma noticed a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream and…was that powdered cinnamon on top…slide close to her just before she heard Ruby's sweet voice, "Here you go."

Emma looked up and noticed the dark haired waitress was grinning. "Thank you but I didn't order that."

Ruby just grinned, "Yeah, I know. You have an admirer Miss Swan."

Emma, slightly confused, casually glanced around the diner trying to determine who would send her the drink, which just happened to be her favorite hot beverage. Her eyes fell on the sheriff sitting at a booth looking all nonchalant. She stood up from the stool and walked over to his table, mug in hand, prepared to return it to him and let him down easy, not really relishing making an enemy of the top cop in town. His cocky smirk when he looked up and saw her walking to him killed that notion though.

Graham leaned back when he noticed Emma Swan approach his table. She was beautiful and sassy and Graham could admit he had a bit of a crush on her. "Ah, so you decided to stay in town?"

"Observant. Important for a cop." The sarcasm in her voice would've been obvious to anyone else, but it was a bit lost on Graham.

"I think you'll find I have lots more hidden skills…not just as a cop." His eyes dipped briefly to her chest before returning to her eyes. He was trying to flirt but, frankly, he kind of sucked at it.

Emma had grown weary of him already, "Look, the cocoa was a nice gesture, and I am impressed that you guessed that I like cinnamon on my chocolate 'cause most people don't, but I'm not here to flirt. So, thank you but, no thank you." Emma placed the mug down in front of him.

Graham, a little confused, shook his head, "I didn't send it."

Before Emma could reply she heard another voice say, "I did." Emma looked over to a booth a few feet away where Henry had been sitting. He was standing up and getting out of the booth by now and he smiled at Emma, "I like cinnamon too."

"Don't you have school?" She wasn't expecting to see him so soon but she wasn't exactly complaining. She just wanted to make sure he wasn't trying to skip school again.

"Duh, I'm ten." Henry finished putting his back pack on and smiled as he said, "Walk me."

Emma shrugged and agreed, leaving diner with Henry and not giving the sheriff another glance.

As they walked away from the diner, Henry asked, "So what happened with you and my mom?"

Emma's steps faltered briefly before she regained her footing, hoping Henry wasn't about to ask her if she was dating his mom. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you two had dinner last night, to talk about things right? So what happened?" Henry was curious to know what his moms had come up with in terms of his getting to know Emma.

Emma relaxed a bit then said, "We talked about finding a way for us to spend time together so we can get to know each other that wasn't going to interrupt your schedule. Your mom, she wants to make sure that, this…me being here, doesn't mess up how things have been, do you understand?"

In truth, Henry didn't completely get it but he did understand that his mom was going to let him get to know Emma and that was all he really wanted so he would agree to almost anything in order to make that happen. "I think I do. So what does it mean though? Are we going to like, have a schedule of appointments or something to spend time together?"

Emma frowned, that sounded far too clinical for what she wanted and what she figured Henry wanted. "Something like that but not necessarily that structured. Just time set aside to hang out. We're still working that out."

Henry's head dipped down, "Oh…" There was a lull in the conversation as both of them just walked then Henry's head shot up, "Hey, do you think one of those times could be you walking me to school and maybe picking me up? That would give us time to talk and stuff."

Emma thought about that and realized she liked the idea of walking her son to school and picking him up, but she was going to have to run it by Regina before she agreed to anything. "Maybe, I'll ask your mom about it later when I go see her at her office."

Emma noticed they had arrived at the school and she nodded her head in the direction of the building, "This is your stop kid. Have a good day."

Impulsively, Henry hugged her then he ran off towards the school. As he passed by Mary Margaret he turned around and grinned, "Think of that as incentive to convince my mom! See you later Emma!" With that, he turned and ran the rest of the way towards the school.

Emma watched as Mary Margaret walked up to her and smiled, "Hey, it is so good to see his smile back." The tone in her voice implied she was convinced the smile was all Emma's doing.

Emma deflected, "I didn't do anything."

"You stayed. So how'd it go with the Mayor last night?"

Emma saw this as her chance to see how Mary Margaret felt about Regina, since she already knew the other woman's feelings. "I survived. She seems a bit young to have been Mayor for so long, how'd she get elected?"

"She's been the Mayor as long as I can remember. No one's ever been brave enough to run against her. She inspires a great deal of…well fear in people. I'm afraid that only got worse after Henry's accident. When he pulled away from her, she took it out on anyone who crossed her path."

Emma nodded, understanding how that might make someone cranky. But she still couldn't see why Regina disliked this sweet woman so much. She mentally shrugged then asked, "Can I ask you a favor? Regina mentioned last night that the kid was in therapy but she didn't tell me with whom. Do you know where I can find the doctor?"

"Sure. Dr. Hopper, he's on Main Street, near Marco's Hardware Store." The bell rang just then and Mary Margaret briefly turned towards the school before looking back at Emma, "I have to go. I'll see you later?"

Emma just nodded, "later."

She stood there and watched as the schoolteacher raced into the building. When the doors were closed, Emma turned around and began walking towards Main Street. She was supposed to meet Regina in her office at ten, it was only eight o'clock right now, so she had time to swing by the shrink's office for a chat. She wanted to help Henry get over his issues with Regina and the adoption, and she figured this doctor might have some insight as to how to do that.

Emma's meeting with the shrink didn't go quite as she expected. He had basically told her that Henry's main issue stemmed from his knowledge of being adopted and that he was struggling with the underlying problems that usually came with knowing that your birth parents had given you away. Emma was very familiar with those feelings and she hated that her son was going through it too. She had hoped, when she'd given him up for adoption, that he would never find out he was adopted and never have to face the questions and the doubts.

Dr. Hopper had also mentioned that, with Emma back in his life, Henry was even more confused than he was before. He has two moms now and Henry had confided in the doc that he didn't know which one he was supposed to love now; the mom who had raised him or the one who had given him life.

Emma was walking down the street, heading in the direction of City Hall where Regina's office was located, lost in her own thoughts. She never wanted Henry to have to choose between her and Regina, hell, if she got her way, he would have them both in his life for a long time to come. Emma had no problem admitting, to herself at least, that for the first time in her life, she wanted to settle down and have a life and a family with someone else…with Regina. She just had to find a way to make it happen.

Emma walked into City Hall and headed to Regina's office. She stopped by Melody's desk and grinned at the redhead. "Hey Melody, how's it going?"

Melody looked up at the blonde woman who always managed to make her heart beat just a tiny bit faster, and smiled, "Hello Miss Swan. Is the Mayor expecting you?"

Emma's grin faltered a bit but she recovered quickly, "Yes she is, but you can call me Emma. I won't bite, I promise." Emma winked at the girl, putting forth her most charming smile, hoping to win the girl over to her side. Emma knew that secretaries were the gatekeepers in these situations and, if she wanted to one day have the freedom to just walk into Regina's office without having to check in with Melody first, she would need to bring Melody over to her side. Hence, the flirting and the charm.

Despite herself, Melody felt the blush steal over her face as she envisioned the blond biting certain, sensitive, places on her body. She shook her head and blinked before looking back up at the blonde. "Very well, Emma. I'll just check with her Honor. Please have a seat." Melody motioned to the chairs by the wall which were there for people waiting to be seen.

Emma nodded and walked over to the chairs, having seen Melody's reaction to her words and she counted that as a point in her favor.

Melody got on the phone and told the Mayor Miss Swan was there to see her. Regina told her to send her in. Melody hung up and informed the blonde she could old the Mayor Miss Swan was there to see her. Regina told her to send her in. Melody hung up and igo into the office now.

Emma stood slowly and walked to the door. She turned and caught Melody's eyes for a moment, then she smiled and winked before slipping into the office.

Melody watched the blond disappear and she frowned, wondering what the other woman's game was, flirting with her before going in to see the mayor. After a few moments, Melody shrugged, dismissing it from her mind as she focused on her work, knowing if the Mayor caught her just sitting there, there would be hell to pay.

Emma walked into Regina's office and took a moment to just watch the dark haired woman working at her desk before she cleared her throat. "Hey."

Regina looked up and smiled at Emma, "Hello, did you have a productive morning so far?"

Emma arched an eyebrow at Regina, "Something like that…why do you ask?"

Regina chuckled, "Emma, dear, this is my town. There's very little that happens here that I don't eventually find out about. Was Dr. Hopper helpful?"

Emma sighed as she sat down on the small couch that was off to the side and motioned for Regina to join her. "He filled in some of the blanks. But honestly, he didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or suspect."

Regina moved over and sat in the armchair, keeping her distance for the moment, knowing if she got any closer to the blonde she'd forget everything else and just kiss the woman…and there were things they still needed to talk about. Last night's date hadn't allowed for certain subjects to be discussed. "I see. Like what?"

Emma grinned, "The usual stuff that most adopted kids go through. The questions and the doubts that can really only be answered by their biological parents." Emma cast an apologetic look at Regina at that then she continued, "Which is why I think we need to talk a bit more about me spending time with Henry to answer his questions."

Regina's first instinct was to refuse, to shield her son and force away the woman who was a threat to her relationship with her son…but she squashed that when she remembered this was Emma. Emma wasn't trying to take Henry away from her…if anything, Emma seemed to be working towards the idea of the three of them forming some kind of, dare she say it, family. So she simply nodded, "Indeed. I suppose you have something in mind?"

"Actually, I ran into Henry at Granny's this morning and I walked him to school. We talked for a bit and he had the idea that maybe…maybe I could walk him to and from school to give us time together to talk?" Emma ended her words in a question, looking at Regina and hoping she wasn't about to undo any progress she made last night in her goal of winning the brunette's heart by admitting to seeing Henry without her permission first.

Of course, Regina had known about the impromptu meeting of her son and Emma, Graham had called her to let her know. Regina smiled at the thought of Emma planning to be around long enough to make a routine of taking Henry to school and back home, it gave Regina renewed hope for the future.

"I think that's a wonderful idea Emma. Just as long as you agree to bring him by here on Thursdays so we can all go out to dinner before his appointment with Dr. Hopper."

Emma just nodded, smiling and glad that Regina was being so accommodating, "I have no problem with that."

Regina smiled, "Good. I guess that settles that then." Regina didn't know what else to say, she wanted to bring up their date the possibility of a second date but she wasn't sure how to ask about that. When she was with Graham, they never really went on dates, they just met at her place or in his room at Granny's and had sex. During the year she was seeing Emma in Boston they didn't go on dates either, just the bar and then Emma's apartment. Regina was a bit new to this whole dating thing.

Emma saw the conflict in Regina's eyes and decided to have a little fun with her, especially since she didn't really like this distance between them. Emma stood up from the couch and quickly crossed to the armchair Regina was sitting in and lowered herself to straddle the brunette in the seat, gripping the armrests of the chair for balance. She looked into Regina's eyes and grinned, "So…I was thinking that since last night went so well…maybe we could do it again? Maybe this time…something simpler like say, a picnic in the woods? What do you say?"

Regina's arms came up and wrapped around Emma, her hands resting on the small of her back as she smiled up at the blonde beauty in her lap. "I'd like that. When did you have in mind?"

Instead of answering, Emma leaned down and softly brushed her lips against Regina's lightly at first but then adding more pressure when she felt Regina respond. They kissed for several moments before Emma pulled away to take a breath. She smiled at Regina, "I was thinking we could have a picnic tomorrow afternoon? Seeing as how it's Saturday and you won't have to work. Henry can even join us, we can make a family day of it…if that's okay with you of course." Emma had gotten the idea of a family picnic in her head on her way over from Dr. Hopper's, thinking it might be a good way to show Henry that he didn't have to choose between them…and if she was being honest, the thought of a family picnic was appealing to her.

Regina leaned back as she studied Emma's face. "You're serious. You want our next date to include Henry and be a family event?"

Emma nodded, "Yeah…I just…" Emma took a deep breath, "I don't want the kid to think that he has to choose between us you know?"

"Why would he think he had to choose?"

"Something Dr. Hopper said earlier. Gina, I told you before I don't want to take Henry away from you, I just want to know him…but I also want for the three of us to one day, be a family. I think it would be good for all of us if Henry saw that it was a possibility."

Regina took a moment to think about that and she realized that Emma had a point. She sighed, "Very well Emma. Tomorrow afternoon, the three of us will have a picnic in the woods. However, tonight you are coming over to my house for dinner, agreed?"

Emma grinned, "Dinner? At your house?"

"Yes dear, is that a problem?"

"No! No problem at all. I'd love that." Emma leaned in and kissed her again.

Regina took a few moments to enjoy having Emma this close to her before the intercom on her desk buzzed to life and Melody's timid sounding voice came through the speaker, "Um…Mayor Mills? You're 11 o'clock appointment is here to see you."

With a low growl, Regina pulled away from Emma and frowned up at the blonde, "That's the Sheriff Emma, weekly paperwork and reports."

Emma just nodded, not moving from Regina's lap as her lips found the tender skin of her neck. "Mmmhmm."

Regina took a deep breath, "Which means you need to get up so I can get to the intercom, baby."

Emma's head shot up fast as she looked at Regina, "You called me baby."

"I needed to get your attention, dear. While I love the attention you're giving my neck, duty calls and I must answer it. However, tonight after dinner…there won't be anything to interrupt us so we can pick this up then, agreed?"

Emma's shoulders slumped as she realized Regina was serious about her moving. She carefully stood up and took a few steps back. "Careful Gina, I might not be so easy to stop next time. But for now, I'll let you get back to work. I'll see you tonight, what time should I be there?"

"Dinner is at 7 but get there for 6." Regina stood on shaky knees, still recovering from the arousal that Emma's kisses had triggered that was slowly receding. She walked slowly over to her desk and told Melody to have the sheriff wait a few moments then she turned back to Emma who hadn't moved. "I'll see you tonight Emma."

Emma grinned, taking this as her cue to leave. She gave a small nod, then turned and walked to the door. Before she opened it she turned back to Regina and winked, "Until tonight Gina."

With that, Emma left the office and, after nodding to Graham, she smiled at Melody and left the building. Her next stop was Granny's for an early lunch and to pre-order the food for the picnic. Emma wanted to do this right.

Graham watched Emma leave and frowned, wondering why she was meeting with Regina. Graham knew that he had blown it with Regina when he cheated on her and got caught, but that didn't mean he had given up the small hope that she would one day see he was the one for her. In the meantime, Graham didn't see the harm in flirting with other women, and enjoying his freedom until Regina came to her senses.

He walked into the office and smiled at Regina before he handed her the reports and settled in for their usual hour-long meeting about the big fat nothing that had happened in town that week. Just another week in the life of a small town.

AN2: The idea of the family picnic is my way of helping Emma out a bit. Most single mothers (like Regina) usually date people who often times don't think to include the kids. I think if you're going to date a single parent, eventually you gotta include the kids...they're part of the deal. Plus since Henry is her biological son, Emma has an extra reason to include him. Make sense?