Author's Note-

Here's my take on the end of S1-E11.

Enjoy!

Bye, For Now

Sitting in her yellow Bug, Emma couldn't take her stare from Henry as he wandered around the new, fancy playground the Mayor built- well, was responsible for building. Emma hated that Regina looked like the town hero while she came off as the town fool. Emma was sure she nailed the Mayor with the mysterious missing funds, but instead, Regina got all the glory when she surprised the town with a new and safe area for the kids to play on.

"Damn her," Emma cursed in frustration.

Emma knew she went too far. She pissed off the Mayor and now because of it, she couldn't see Henry. She couldn't be with her kid. But Regina's reaction only added fuel to the fire. It made Emma want to expose the Mayor for who she really was and take her down, take away her power.

Sighing, Emma looked to the window to find Henry waving. The sight of him brought a smile to her face as she waved back.

Watching as Henry pulled out his walkie-talkie, Emma grabbed hers from the passenger's seat as his voice came through saying, "Why are you so far away? Come out here."

Emma put her walkie-talkie to her lips and with regret in her voice, said, "Sorry, kid, I can't today."

With a grin, Henry said, "You're undercover, aren't you? For Operation Cobra?"

After mentally cursing Regina once again, Emma said, "No, Henry, I'm not undercover… you're mom… she doesn't want us seeing each other for a while."

"You don't have to listen to her. You're my mom too. You're my real mom. She can't keep you away from me," Henry protested.

Taking a breath, Emma closed her eyes while saying, "I screwed up, Henry… I got mad at Regina about you and the book and everything and… well, we're just gonna have to be apart for a little while."

Falling to a tree stump, Henry said, "I don't want to be apart. We've been apart for years. This isn't fair."

"I know, and neither do I, but right now we have to. Don't worry. I'll find a way back in. And hey, if it's out there, Henry, I will find your book."

"Good luck. It's probably gone and it's never coming back."

"I'll find it," Emma said firmly.

"Okay," Henry replied doubtfully.

"I have to go, but stay safe, okay?"

"Wait!" Henry yelled while running towards her car. Dropping the walkie-talkie to the ground, Henry pulled the door open and reached inside to hug his mom.

Through a smile, Emma sighed while wrapping her arms around her son.

"Don't let her win," Henry said over Emma's shoulder. "Don't let her keep us apart."

Taking his shoulders, Emma pulled Henry back to find his eyes and say, "hold out your pinky."

"Why?" Henry asked while doing so.

"Because," Emma started while wrapping her longer pinky around his shorter one," I pinky promise that I won't let Regina keep us apart, not for long. I will see you again, Henry. You're the only reason I'm here, and I'm not leaving."

"No matter what?"

"No matter what."

Pulling his pinky away, Henry nodded, though a frown was on his face.

"Now go," Emma said while fighting to keep her eyes from watering. "The Mayor made that new playground for you. You should use it."

Henry nodded while backing away from the car, his stare on Emma.

"I'll see ya later, Kid," Emma said while pulling her door closed and driving away.

As Emma drove through the woods, she couldn't stop the tears from falling from her eyes.

The End

Thoughts? Please leave them before you go! Thank you!