Shared Pain

Chapter 20

"Are you excited for your second date with Regina?" Eva eagerly asked as she watched her mother applying some lipstick.

"Second? Oh, no, honey, that first meal was not a date," Emma quickly said as she smacked her lips together in front of the mirror.

"But Henry said that-"

"You shouldn't always listen to your brother, honey," Emma interrupted her daughter and looked at her through the mirror.

"Are you really okay with me going out with Regina?" She asked as she turned around and kneeled down in front of Eva.

"Yeah.. I mean, she makes you happy, mom. And she's helped you - and us - a lot. She's the reason I did so well on my previous assignment about the middle ages."

"So, you're not bothered by me going out with someone else than your dad?"

After the kids found out she and Killian were divorced, they'd had a good talk, but they didn't seem to really want to talk about it anymore.

They all said they were okay and had promised several times that they'd come to her if something bothered them.

Eva shrugged. "You know, we talked about it a lot. Henry, Lola and I, I mean. Even before you got divorced. You never went out with dad, he didn't have the time, so it's not that weird. We all knew this was going to happen."

"How are you all so mature?" Emma questioned and Eva giggled.

"Well, someone has to raise you adults," she said with an exaggerated eye roll.

"I love you, kid," Emma said and pressed her lips against the little girl's cheek.

"Oh, no," Eva muttered as she tried to rub the lipstick away from her cheek. "That's gross."

Emma laughed and ran her hand through Eva's long brown hair. "If you or your brother and sister ever want to talk about everything that has happened, please just come to me. It's very special that you kids handle this so well, but if there's ever anything-"

"Yeah, mom, I know. We'll talk to you, don't worry. We always do," Eva cut her off and hugged her mother, when the doorbell rang.

Eva immediately disappeared to the hallway. Emma laughed as she ran her hand one last time through her hair before she went downstairs.

She expected Ruby first, but apperently her kids thought that Regina would come, because she heard a disappointed groan.

"Nice to see you too," Ruby said as she hugged the children. "Hi, Emma," she greeted the blonde and Emma hugged her friend.

"Hi, thank you so much for coming," Emma replied and pecked the woman's cheek.

"Not a problem, I love these kids!" Ruby exclaimed as she tilted Lola from the floor.

"Have you seen my new racecar?" Lola asked beaming.

"It's not new! You already have it a couple of weeks," Eva replied smugly, earning an angry glare from her sister.

"Why don't you get it and show me?" Ruby asked kindly and set the little girl down gently. The other two kids went to the living room as they saw that Emma and Ruby wanted to discuss some things in private.

"Em, I asked my grandma if she could keep a room apart for you two tonight," Ruby said and Emma blushed.

"Rubes, you didn't have to do that! I don't even know whether this'll be a success, plus, it's just the first date."

Ruby laughed and shook her head. "Well, from the way you two talk about each other, I'd be very surprised if this doesn't work out and she's been practically living with you for the past weeks. You need it, she needs it and if things really work out differently than expected, you can use the room to cry in and eat chocolate without your kids noticing."