"No, Regina, no way," Emma says, backing away from the German Shepard straining against its leash to get at her. "That thing's vicious."

The dog whines, tongue lolling out of its mouth. Regina lifts her gaze from the dog to Emma, eyebrows perfectly arched in an expression of disbelief and condescension.

"Of course, dear." Regina closes the mansion door, crouches beside the dog and removes the leash. It jogs up to Emma who takes a step back. "However, if you recall, this is my house. If I want to adopt a pet there isn't anything you can do about it."

"Why do you want a dog anyway? I pictured you as more of a cat person."

Regina frowns, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Seeing as how the house is empty, I have plenty of space to give an animal a home."

Emma winces, feeling the full sting even though the jab was indirect. The house is empty because Henry still spends most of his time at Emma's apartment. "I'm going to ask him to move back in here, I swear. It's just so hard to get a moment alone with Mary Margaret and David always there."

"Yes, of course, dear," Regina says.

Emma skirts around the dog, which sets off exploring the house and all the new smells, and wraps her arms around Regina's waist, not letting her back out of the hold. "Look at me. I'll ask Henry tonight, I promise. I'll bring him back, okay?"

Regina looks away and pulls out of Emma's grasp. "I will believe that when it happens, and not one second before." She heads off after the dog, disappearing into the house.

Emma runs a hand through her hair, feeling all the weight of all the crap that's happened pressing down on her. Henry doesn't need to agree to come back home, Emma decides. She will bring him home tomorrow night. This is where he belongs, with his mother and their new dog, and maybe with Emma too.

(And if anyone asks she will say it is too crowded in the apartment and not because she has fallen irrevocably in love with Regina Mills.)