Work Text:
She had been waiting for this.
She had finally managed to get off work earlier than Emma – when she had heard the Sheriff was having to work a couple of extra hours, she jumped at the chance by cutting her own hours by a few.
She had been wanting to cook for her family again for a while now. Yes, her Sundays mainly consisted of preparing home-cooked meals for the people in the household to heat up when and how they wanted, but it just didn’t feel the same. If she didn’t get to watch them eat and enjoy the food she had made for them, it just felt like a job half-done. That’s why she was so excited to finally be in her kitchen – hair clips pinning her bangs back, and out of her face, apron tied at her waist.
Henry had requested lasagna a few nights ago, which actually worked perfectly for her – Emma’s favourite meal that she would cook, one of Henry’s favourite meals too. And she actually enjoyed making it. She barely even had to think about it any more. She was able to just let her mind wander as she performed the tasks she had all but memorised years before. She loved lasagna, and the simplicity of it.
Hell, she had hardly even noticed the hour that she had spent making the sauces from scratch, and then assembling the layers in a dish – it was soothing, the repetitiveness.
She put it into the oven as her son came through the door, home from school and his after school club – chess. He wasn’t expecting anyone to be home, since both of his mother’s were still supposed to be at work. Even though it was Friday, and they should probably be doing something as a family.
So when he saw one of his mom’s standing in the kitchen, looking all warm and homey, his eyes lit up. He was too old to really hug his mothers any more, in his eyes – but he was at home now, so he supposed her could let it slide.
He sauntered into the kitchen with a lopsided grin on his face.
“Hey, mom. What are you doing home?” he asked, giving her a sideways hug as he sat down at the kitchen island, pulling his essentials out of his pockets, and setting them on the counter. His phone, headphones, wallet.
Regina smiled, hugging her son back enthusiastically – when her son initiated physical contact without being prompted or asked first, she always held her breath and let the moment pass peacefully. She loved her and Emma’s kid so much, and he took after Emma in a lot of regards. Sensitive to touch, sometimes, with other accompanying sensory issues. She loved them either way, despite being a very physically affectionate person, because she could survive a few hours without being held in some capacity. Whether it was cuddling on the sofa, holding hands as she did chores and Emma tagged along, especially when she was laying in bed, and her lover hugged her from behind and they lay in silence – she was a sucker for all of it.
“I only went in for a few hours. There wasn’t much to do at the office, so I left Barbara to deal with it – Lord knows she needs more to do, considering her work standard versus the money I’m paying her.” she joked quietly, gently ruffling his hair as she sat beside him, before picking up his wallet and absent-mindedly playing with the clasp.
Henry smiled, and then so did she. She loved being the reason there was a smile on his face.
“And your Ma is doing a few hours extra at the station tonight. I thought I could surprise her with a household favourite for dinner?” she cocked her head to the side playfully, silently asking him if he could guess what it was.
His face lit up just a little bit more – it was like Christmas day for this kid, who had been quietly waiting for an opportunity to enforce some more family time.
It wasn’t like they weren’t trying, but their schedules conflicted horribly, and sometimes it felt like they were al living in the same house separately. Not seeing each other, not really communicating besides notes on fridges and in packer lunches.
“You’re making lasagna?” and there was that childish gleam in his eye that Regina had been dying to see again. He always looked like his younger self when food was involved, she realised. More specifically, her home-cooked food – maybe it was a subconscious thing? Linking his childhood to the meals he was consuming?
She didn’t know, but she did know it was adorable, and she adored him. Her son.
“Yes, I am. Now, go knock out all of your homework before your other mother comes home. Then we’ll eat, and maybe watch a movie if we’re all feeling up to it, okay?” she offered, gently patting his back as he moved away to do as he was asked. She may be soft for him most of the time, but there were times when she was not. She could be strict when she needed too, for certain.
Once the lasagna was finished baking about an hour later, she took it out from the oven, and sprinkled a layer of cheese over the top, and then placing it back in the oven for a minute to let it melt. Emma should be home soon – it was nearly 7pm now, and since she normally finished at 5pm, it was late.
When she heard a key turn in the door, she smiled. Finally! Her girlfriend was home. And now she could force her to eat good food, and relax with them.
She went to meet her in the foyer – and damn, did her girl look shattered. Her hair, which was in a ponytail this morning when she had left the house, was now loose over her shoulders, and her eyelids seemed to be weighed down by the dark eyebags beneath them.
She felt sorry for her – she shouldn’t have let her pick up those extra hours, she knew she was going to be exhausted.
“Hey, my love. Tough day?” she asked softly, watching as the blonde tugged off her boots, and then her leather jacket.
She gave her a look that said it all, before she nodded.
“Tough day.” she agreed quietly, walking over and falling into the other woman’s arms – not literally, because she was quite heavy, but metaphorically. Her head hit Regina’s shoulder as she rest against her, arms draped gently around her shoulders.
Regina tutted sympathetically, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend too so that they were embracing. She let it stay quiet for a little while, before she murmured to her again.
“Would dinner change your mind? I made your favourite.” she teased softly.
Emma looked up at that… her favourite? She was really hungry, and her favourite meal sounded so good right now
“You made lasagna? How did you have the time?” she asked, sounding slightly accusing, though mostly grateful. Yes, she needed this. Comfort food and a Pixar film. Sounded amazing.
“I may or may not have taken a few hours off work. But it doesn’t matter, darling, okay? Let’s just go and sit and eat, with our son.” Regina offered, and her smile was so warm and inviting that Emma couldn’t even bare to think of saying no.
“Sounds like bliss.” she murmured, before allowing herself to be dragged to Heaven.