a/n: *inserts 'surprise bitch, i bet you thought you'd seen the last of me' gif*
Hello how are we all? good? yes? excellent.
Now a little heads up, this is all from Emma's point of view.
If you have read my previous OUAT fic, Queens as Kings, you will all know I how I like my Regina ;) dark, powerful and 150 percent sexy. Like, what's more delightful than squishing all that into a Head Mistress? Hmm? it's like every lesbian's dream, wow.
Also, I am very aware of the shitty format that it is in. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
Anyway, happy reading! Please review, amigos!
x

Saying I was desperate for work was a complete and utter understatement.

I mean, it had only two weeks ago that my last school let me go. Yeah, good going Maine Falls High School, you bunch of tosspots. You lost your best supply teacher. I may or may not have slipped on some dark shades, and blasted Kanye West through open windows as put my middle finger up to the school as I drove out the grounds. Did I get bonus points for having my passenger seat completely stacked with a teetering pile of 'farewell' gifts and cards from my students and co-workers? No. Damn.

Anyway, I slammed my car door shut and shoved my groceries up onto the roof of my little pride and joy; my little yellow bug. First things were first; I had to locate the front door key before I even thought about going near the house. Not that it was hard; I had like three keys, the rest were stupid tacky key rings from places Henry and I had visited. Speaking of Henry, I glanced over to the door and sighed. Henry definitely had to home because I spotted his scuffed leather school shoes sitting on top the large pile of discarded shoes near the door. I still needed to sort that out.

"Henry Swan, get your butt out here and help your poor Mother bring in the food," I hitched up my black jeans and pulled down my red top, "now!"

"Hello to you too Mum," he yelled out through the screen door. Henry padded out the front door, tip toeing through the prickles that covered the front lawn and grabbed four of the heavy bags, two in each hand. He had literally took over half the shopping in with one go, excellent.

I checked the post and was thoroughly intrigued when I received two letters from Story Brooke College in between a thick pile of bills and junk mail. I bet one was a rejection letter of my job and the other was simply a reprint of that same letter; Story Green State High did that. Double helping of salt in the wound if you ask me.

I stuffed the letters into the single shopping bag that strained in my fingers and waltzed inside the house, banging my heel on the stupid piston-operated screen door.

I dumped the foodstuffs onto the counter and ran my fingers through my dirty hair as I turned the kettle on. Henry threw himself back onto the couch and slurped loudly from his orange juice box.

"Mum, what's for dinner?" He asked as he flicked through the television channels. I took a seat on one of the bar stools and picked up a pizza voucher.

"I've got a pizza voucher here,"

"Does that mean pizza?" Henry turned around and stared eagerly at me. I waved the voucher in the air,

"No, I'm just stating I have a pizza voucher, not that I'm going to use it,"
Henry frowned, "Aw damn it,"

I sighed at his stupidity. I mean, he's not stupid but like, I swear some days he's as thick as two short planks.

"Henry that was sarcasm; of course we're getting pizza, Jesus,"

"Hell yeah, can we get the Hawaiian?"

Pizza topping was probably the only thing we both agreed on. Everything else was pretty shot.

"Okay, but we're getting lemonade,"
"Why not Coke?"

"You know I hate Coke," I scrunched my nose up at him. He sighed and rolled his eyes, typical teenager.

"Oh right, I forgot; you're a Pepsi fan,"

"I still don't get how you hate the stuff, it's great," I pulled the two Story Brooke College letters from the pile and tore open the first one.

"It tastes like Coke Mum,"

"Pretty sure it doesn't," I kept my eyes on the paper but aimed my raised eyebrows at my son who sighed again, "seriously, sigh some more, I dare you,"

Alas, I clearly signed myself up for that. Henry took a deep breath and let out the longest sigh that was humanly possible. I hung my head and I could almost feel Henry's smug grin. The kettle whistled loudly and Henry smirked once more at me as I turned to sort out a cup of black tea. He was so me when I was a kid. I mean, I'm pretty sure I was kicked out of a foster house for being too sassy. I feel like that would be a legitimate thing; being kicked out for sassy mouth, or just maybe kicked out because I did a whole heap of illegal crap when I bordered adulthood, either way.

"Henry, why didn't you tell me you have parent-teacher interviews?" I called over my shoulder as I swirled my spoon.

"Oh. Um, Mum, we have parent-teacher interviews tomorrow night,"

"Thank you Captain Obvious, I received the letter today," I licked the hot spoon and chucked it into the sink.

"Oh, well, um…"

I tucked my foot under my thigh as I perched myself awkwardly back onto the stool. I reread over the letter,

'Good Day Ms Swan, three of Henry Swan's teachers have requested an interview with you on the evening of the 15th. The interviews will be held at the school hall starting at 5pm.

Yours Sincerely, Regina Mills, Head Mistress'

"Henry who is Ms Mills," I asked as I took a nervous sip of my scolding hot tea. Henry shrugged his shoulders heavily,

"She's the new Principal,"
I eyed her neat little signature, "what happened to Mr Gold?"

"Eh, I don't know. I think he retired or something," Henry crushed the empty juice box and threw it onto the coffee table. I knew he'd forget about it later but I was too tired to even argue with him.

"Shame, I liked Gold. Okay, I'm calling the pizza place, keep quiet,"

I picked up the cordless phone that had been tossed into the fruit bowl, and dialled the local pizza house. As the phone rung, I ripped open the second letter from Story Brooke College. The school's golden emblem flashed blindly from the top corner,

"Thanks for calling Mario's Pizza Place; what can I get you tonight?" I rested the phone between my ear and shoulder,

"Yeah hi, can I get two Hawaiians and a bottle of lemonade,"
"Garlic bread?"

"Nope, just that thanks,"

"Okay, will that be picking up or we can deliver it for an extra charge,"

"Drop off please," I told the girl my address and last name then hung up.

"It'll be here in twenty," I said to Henry as I sat back down, staring at the shiny emblem.

I gawked at the letter, rereading it for the fourth time.

Story Brooke College had accepted my application. They wanted me to work for them. Me.

"Henry…?"

"Yeah,"
"I got a job,"

Henry jumped off the couch and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, "that's so cool Mum, where at?" He glanced down at the letter in my hands and gasped at the familiar emblem, "wait, what?"

"Yeah, uh, surprise. Story Brooke wants me,"

"But that's my school. Ugh, are you going to embarrass me in front of my friends? What happens if you take one of my classes…Mum, why did you even apply there?"

"I was desperate alright! But trust me Henry, I will be a delight," I pointed to the set dates I was to work, "look, it's only for a term and a bit, you'll be fine,"

Henry pressed his lips onto my temple, "fine, but I swear if you embarrass me, I won't acknowledge your presence for a week,"

"Fine, deal," I knew that was lie. I mean, I cooked him dinner every night. He couldn't ignore that. He loved my cooking.

"Anyway, now back to the main issue here; why didn't you tell me about parent-teacher interviews?" I folded the acceptance paper up and slipped it into the back pocket of my jeans.

"I'm not trying to hide anything; I swear I totally forgot,"

"Uh huh, okay," I kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his hair, "now I have interviews with Ms Blanchard, Mr Nolan and Ms Midas,"

"Okay, Blanchard is English and History, Nolan is Science, and Midas is Maths,"

"Good, easy," I nodded and made a mental note. There was a loud knock on the door. I grabbed my purse and opened it. A spotty faced teen stood with a stupid cap on his greasy head, holding two pizzas. His eyes openly grazed my body and I swear I could've punched him.

"Uh, two Hawaiian pizzas for Swan?" he scrunched up his order and shoved the pizzas into my arms. I handed them down to Henry and pulled cash from my wallet.

"Here, keep the change," I slammed the door before the boy could get another good look at me, "creep". I grabbed a slice from the freshly opened boxes and moaned; maximum cheese, maximum pineapple, the best combination.

"I love pizza," Henry mumbled, his mouth full.

"Mm," I sat down again and helped myself to a second piece, "Mario's does it best,"

"Damn straight," Henry twisted open the lemonade and poured two glasses.

"After dinner, you need to do your homework and I need to get ready for work,"

"Are you starting tomorrow?" Henry swallowed loudly and reached out for a third slice,

"No, I start next week but I need to organise and wash all my teacher clothes and stuff,"

"Okay," Henry guzzled down his lemonade and poured himself a second glass,

"No, only one glass," I took the cup from his fingers and downed the drink, waggling my eyebrows, "you have school tomorrow Henry; I will not have you bouncing on walls tonight,"

"Ugh, yes Ms Swan," Henry emphasised our last name and I just poked my tongue out to him like the true adult I am.

"Better get used to that kid,"

Henry rolled his eyes as he picked up the left over pizza. I watched him slide the two pizzas together into the one box and stuck it in the over packed fridge.

"Now, when I open that tomorrow morning, will that pizza land on me?"

Henry shrugged his shoulders as he slammed the fridge door close; rattling the fridge magnets,

"Probably,"

"Stick a note on the fridge or something because I'm going to forget. Now, I'm going to organise my stuff for tomorrow. Can I trust you not to set fire to the house?"

"Why would I set fire to the house?"

"Because the speed you will be writing your homework down will cause friction and next minute, your book and the kitchen table will be ablaze,"

"Because that'll definitely happen," Henry teased as he stuck a yellow Post It note to the fridge marked with 'Pizza'.

"You never know," I pulled Henry to my chest and kissed him on the top of his head, "night homie, see you tomorrow,"

a/n: DO YOU LIKE IT? I mean, my new found style of writing? yes? no? please leave some reviews you delightful balls of excellence. Cheers! x
PS I have already written like ten chapters of this...