A/N: So, I've decided to give Regina a chance to redeem herself without Cora screwing her over. Basically, this is an AUish story following the idea that Hook and Cora never made it to Storybrooke, so Storybrooke went back to being a sleepy little town as everyone settles into their happily ever after. In a bit of a twist, I see Emma taking to the "new Regina" poorly, a bit bitter that Henry continues to warm up to her after all she's done, and struggling to find her place now that she has fulfilled her role as the savior. Events from 2.10 are irrelevant.

Hope you enjoy :]

The afternoon is bleak. From her perch at the kitchen table, Emma can see a layer of misty rain fogging out beyond the window, engulfing the sleepy town. She lets out an irritated sigh, positioning a corner of a napkin that has been packed tightly into a damp ball with her saliva onto the end of her fork, nudging it away from her empty pie plate in attempt to test her homemade catapult. She brings her fist gently up into the air, ready to aim for the trashcan a good few yards away.

"Emma?"

Mary Margaret's voice startles her. She brings her hand back down into her lap, looking grimly up at her mother.

"You're still here?" Mary Margaret's voice is slightly surprised. It's been over two hours since the rest of the family disbanded from lunch.

Emma shrugs, morosely eyeing her torn napkin and silverware catapult.

"I thought you and Henry were going to spend the afternoon together?" Mary Margaret runs her hand through her short hair, as if to subconsciously gage the length. She's been growing it out, and it has reached an awkward length, splaying over her ears and just barely covering her neck.

"Yeah, well…he's with Regina," Emma huffs, wringing her hands together as they rest in her lap.

"I thought today was your afternoon with him," Mary Margaret frowns. "Or are you and Regina trying some sort of new custody schedule?" The slight bitterness in her tone is apparent. All of them are still a bit wary of the Evil Queen, even as she mends her ways.

"Nope, Henry wanted to," Emma shrugs. "Took him to see that new super hero movie, or something." She pretends not to care, staring out at the rain once again.

But she misses it, when Henry chose her first, when Henry loved her best. She hates it, that she now has to vie for his love.

Mary Margaret gives her a reassuring smile. "You're a wonderful mother, Emma." The words hang thickly between them as they penetrate through both women; they both need to hear them.

Emma tries to smile, before pursing her lips, bringing her fist suddenly to the end of the forgotten fork, sending the napkin wad soaring. Mary Margaret jumps, a small gasp escaping her lips. She watches in a mixture of shock and fascination as the tiny ball lands perfectly in the trashcan. "That was," she pauses, closing her gaping mouth, "impressive."

Emma shrugs, though a somewhat proud smile dances at her lips. "Had some practice. Back in one of the group homes I was in, there was this annoying-ass kid, Tyler, who always stole my food. And being like, three hundred pounds lighter than him, I had to come up with more innovative ways to ward him off. Got pretty good at catapulting peas and other small veggies straight into his eye."

Mary Margaret tries to chuckle, but this is hardly the kind of story she wants to hear about her daughter's upbringing – the upbringing she wasn't able to provide. She finds Emma's eyes, regret edging at her lips.

A gentle knock at the door disrupts the two of them, Mary Margaret's words lost as they both startle. Emma huffs out a breath of relief, not sure she can handle another apology without snapping. Her knees crack as she rises from the table, her body stiff from hours of stagnancy. As she opens the door, Henry immediately throttles himself at her, a smile melting onto his face.

She clings to him, looking up to catch Regina's eye as she hangs back in the doorway. She clutches him tightly, silently claiming what is hers. Emma licks her lips, watching as Regina purses her own. "Did you guys have fun?"

Henry wriggles out of her grasp, grinning up at her. "It was so awesome. Thor is totally my favorite. I want to see it again – maybe you can come next time?" he asks hopefully.

"I'd like that, kiddo," Emma smiles. She runs a hand through his short brown hair, her heart clenching slightly. "Why don't you go see what Mary Margaret is making for dinner?"

He nods before hurrying off, leaving the two women with the layer of suffocating tension draped between them.

"Do you have something you'd like to tell me, Ms. Swan?" Regina raises an eyebrow, delicately skimming her tongue along her ruby lips.

"Not a word," Emma hisses through gritted teeth. "Though I presume you do, seeing as you have yet to leave."

"I'm merely ensuring the safe delivery of my son," she speaks slowly, "but seeing as my presence is no longer wanted, I'll take that as my cue to leave." She curtly nods, her eyes flashing tauntingly.

Emma slams the door with such force that the pleasant chatter from the kitchen stops abruptly. Henry and Mary Margaret look up from the strips of chicken sizzling on the stovetop, their expressions worried.

"Sorry," Emma mutters dutifully. She plops down on the couch with a huff, trying in vain to subdue her anger.

XXX

"Should we wake her?" Henry whispers as he steps toward the couch, watching as Emma's chest rises and falls gently, her face creased in agitation despite her slumber.

Mary Margaret bites her lip, the fajitas steaming pleasantly on the table behind her. She glances back toward Emma. "No. We'll let her sleep."

Henry looks just as concerned as his grandmother, letting out a heavy sigh. "Do you think she's happy?"

Two pairs of eyes fall on her, a feeling of regret bubbling in Mary Margaret's chest as she struggles to answer. She wishes it were easier than this. "She's just trying to find her place." She avoids what she doesn't wish to admit.

"But she has a place. She has a family. She belongs here," Henry insists, standing firmly by the couch, his bottom lip quivering slightly.

"I know she does. We just have to keep reminding her that," Mary Margaret puts on a brave face, rubbing Henry's back gently as she guides him toward the table, waiting for David to join them.

XXX

The bell clangs as Emma enters Granny's diner the following morning before work, the chatter lively as she skulks back to the corner, a permanent grimace of bitterness etched on her face. The chair across from her slides across the linoleum floor with a creak, and she doesn't have to look up to see who has joined her, the sharp smell of apple and cinnamon stinging her nose.

"What do you want?" Emma huffs, her eyes darting up to meet Regina's dark ones.

"I was merely offering you some company, seeing as you are here alone," Regina mutters, her tone elusive.

"Oh, cut the crap. I can see right through you, even if the rest of this damn town can't – even though you continue to manipulate your own son." Emma spits at her, gripping the handle of her empty coffee cup with such force that she's frightened she might shatter it.

"Excuse me?" Regina narrows her eyes. "I can assure you that I treat my son with the utmost sincerity. My son, whom I have legally adopted. My son, whom I am stable enough to support."

The words sting more than they should. Emma clenches her teeth, baring her icy stare into Regina's eyes.

"Miss Swan, I know my past hardly provides me much credibility, but I am trying for Henry's sake, and being civil toward you is one of his standards, so it would be nice if you'd make that task somewhat bearable," she clamps her teeth together.

"Yeah, well, when you can prove you'll be genuine for the long haul, then maybe I'll cut you some slack. Until then, I can be as bitter as I damn well please," Emma growls at her.

"Suit yourself, but you'll soon see that you're the one causing Henry grief for a change," Regina smiles ever so slightly.

"You took my place," Emma grits her teeth. "I was the one who was there for him when you weren't. I was the one who loved him."

"Don't you ever insinuate that I don't love Henry, Miss Swan. Claim all you want about me, but never underestimate the love a mother has for her child," Regina's eyes flash with rage and a hint of pain. "You of all people should understand that."

Their heated words go unnoticed as the diner continues to buzz around them. Emma lets a stream of breath out through her teeth, relinquishing a small piece of her grudge. "I just don't see this working – I know we're trying this whole shared custody of Henry thing, but do you honestly see us reaching a place where it's not hurting one of us?"

"You're the one being the skeptic, Miss Swan," Regina reminds her. "And if you continue to hold this attitude, perhaps your time here in Storybrooke should come to end," Regina rises, forcing a pleasant smile in Emma's direction. Her heels click gently against the floor as she leaves the eatery.

But even after she's gone, the sickly sweet smell of apples hangs thickly around Emma.

A/N: A bit unexpected after how we saw Emma treat Regina last night, but I'm intrigued by the potential angsty and twisty side of Emma that could be brought about by these events. Instead of her falling happily into the role of Charming and Snow's daughter, I can see her resisting it, feeling as though she's lost her chance and doesn't know how to embrace it. And likewise, I could see Henry falling back comfortably into a life with Regina, especially now that she's so intent on being the best mother she can for him, and for Emma, this is especially difficult for her to embrace because not only does she feel like she doesn't have a place as Charming and Snow's daughter, but now she's losing her place as Henry's mother. So a bitter hatred starts forming in her that fuels events in this story, just to give you a better glimpse at my reasoning because I've decided to handle this differently than the show.

That being said, I would appreciate your feedback very much :]