AN: Hello all! Just a few quick notes to make- this story is AU, present time. No magic.

I want to quickly thank michebellaxo and onceuponmakeup (snoopydoodles17) for previewing this chapter and story idea! Thank you ladies!

Enjoy :)

"I want to meet her."

"Henry-"

"No, I want to meet her."

Regina sighed, wanting this conversation to end. "You can't."

"She's my real mom! You aren't."

There it was again, that jolt of pain in her heart, just from his words. "Henry, please stop saying that."

"But it's true! I want to meet her."

"You can't because it was a closed adoption."

"What does that mean?" Henry glared at Regina, his hands clenched in fists in his lap.

"It means I can't get any information on her because she didn't want to be known." She glanced over at him in the passenger seat, his eyes pinned on hers. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. There's nothing I can do." She was fighting her tone, trying to keep it level from the whirlwind of emotions flowing through her mind at that moment.

"You just don't want me to know her." His words dripped with poison as he felt the car shift lanes until they were parked in the breakdown lane on Interstate 95.

They had just crossed the Maine border into New Hampshire and she couldn't take another second of his heated words. She gripped the steering wheel, and stared straight ahead for a minute, trying to prepare her own. Her eyes burned with tears, but she wouldn't let them flow; she couldn't show him he was getting to her. "Look, Henry," she started, finally figuring out what to say. "I know this week has been hard for you. No, more than hard…it's been hell." She watched him react to her word choice, but he glared down at his fists, now playing with the hem of his jacket. "I am sorry you had to find out this way. It was never my intention to hurt you."

"You didn't plan on telling me at all," he murmured.

Regina drew in a deep breath, knowing they should get back on the road because it was no use in talking to him here, on the highway, still 2 hours from their new home. "Please, let's just drop it for now. We can talk when we get-"

"Home? It won't be home. Storybrooke is home. Not stupid Boston." He was now staring Regina down, waiting for some reaction, other than her apologies.

She wanted to say more, but it would be a waste of air. She looked in her side mirror, and proceeded to pull back into the travel lane. Picking her speed back up to 70, noticed Henry put his headphones back in his ears and placed his attention on his iPod. Finally, a tear slid down her face. She wiped it away and shook her head from her thoughts. It's still new to him. Let him be angry for now. He will forgive you.

It had only been one week since Henry found out he was adopted; 7 days since he knocked over the box full of his adoption records in the basement; 168 hours since he read about his true lineage; 10,080 minutes since Regina's heart shattered as her son asked "what's this?" as he examined the file. Her mind kept playing the scene over and over, searching for a way out, but she knew there was no other way. He would have learned eventually…she just wished it hadn't been this way.

"You lied to me?" he asked her, staring at the forms in his hand. "I didn't lie to you Henry, I just…never told you. I didn't know how" she confessed as she reached for his cheek. He pulled away. "So you're not my real mom?" He had tears in his eyes. "Of course I'm your real mom!" She smiled, letting her own tear slip down her face. "I just didn't give birth to you. I raised you though, and I love you. That's what a real mother does!" "No, no you're not my real mom. Dad wasn't my real dad either. I'm…I…" she watched him grit his teeth and drop everything in his hands. "I hate you." He flew up the basement stairs, leaving Regina alone in the mess of papers and infant clothes and toys. She picked up the light blue onsie he had worn home ten years ago- he was only 6 weeks old- and she held it to her chest, falling to the cement floor, sobbing.

As the approached the tolls, and traffic slowed down, she watched other cars pass by, wondering what other conversations were occurring. She wanted to be anywhere but here- on the receiving end of the cold shoulder from her son. She knew this change would be good for them…of course she wasn't expecting this wrench to be thrown into it all. It was hard enough telling Henry they were moving to a new state half way through the school year, all because she was offered a job working for an old friend. It was a change she had been waiting for and it took far too long for it to appear. It had just been her and Henry for the last eight years, and Storybrooke may have been their home, but it was also a tomb filled with memories she was ready to forget. Henry, of course, had only good ones. In his eyes, she was already the bad guy with her announcement of their departure from the town. Then the box fell in the basement, and she had become a villain.

She smiled when the sign came into view. "Entering Brookline, est. 1705," she read, knowing Henry couldn't hear her. His eyes were still glued on his iPod, showing he couldn't care less about his surroundings. Regina smiled at him regardless. You're still my baby boy; my little prince.

As she pulled into the driveway of their new home, Henry finally peaked up and tugged his headphones down. "It's small," he commented, noticing the house was smaller than their mansion-like estate in Storybrooke, "and weird looking."

"Yes, but it has 4 bedrooms, and you have your own bathroom again!" Regina turned the car off and opened her car door, hoping Henry would do the same. Instead, he sat there, staring at the pale red brick, two story house, with brown shutters encasing the few windows that were visible. "Henry," she began, settling back in the driver's seat, "I've said all I can say. I know my words don't mean anything to you, my actions have obviously failed you, and I can't change what's already happened. I love you, I will always love you, but your attitu-" He was out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

She watched him head up the walk way to the door and sit on the cement steps, looking across the street. Her eyes turned back to the garage in front of her, then down at her steering wheel. She smacked her hands against it, once, twice, three times then rested her head back against the seat. "I can't say anything right, can I?" Finally, she stepped out of the car and reached for the new set of keys on her key ring. Approaching him, she could see he was just as angry as she was, but this wasn't a new look. But it still hurt. She sighed and opened the glass door, reaching for the doorknob behind it. "Shall we?" Unlocking it, she pushed the door open, and watched Henry step in and begin searching for his new room.

"Why 4 bedrooms?" He asked her, noticing she was following him up the stairs.

"Well, in case we ever have company. Plus, I'll use one as an office." She turned the corner and looked into the first bedroom. "When your friends visit, they can have their own room!" Regina smiled, knowing he wouldn't turn to see it. "You can also make it your own study if you'd like."

"Are you trying to bribe me?" He questioned, finally looking at her.

Regina smirked. "Maybe!"

Henry shrugged his shoulders. "It's small" was his response again as he entered the room.

"Why do you think I'm giving you two rooms?" She rubbed his back and went to the closet, inspecting it for cleanliness.

He walked over to the window and looked out at the street in front of him. "There's no clock tower."

"Actually, there kind of is. We drove by it, but you were too busy with your game!"

"But I can't see it like I could Storybrooke."

Regina rolled her eyes and turned back to inspect the rest of the room. Just as she went to speak, the doorbell rang, causing both of them to jump. "Who's that?" She asked out loud, heading to the first floor of the house. Upon reaching the door, she spotted a man and a woman at the door, both with smiles on their faces. "Hi, can I help you?" Henry was now behind her, watching the strangers.

"Hi!" The woman with the pixie hair cut greeted. "I'm Mary Margaret, and this is my husband David!" She gestured to the man beside her as he waved. "We live across the street and saw that you two had arrived. We were waiting to see who our new neighbors were since we saw the for sale sign change to sold!"

"Oh," Regina was taken aback by the over friendliness of her new neighbor, "well, hello! I'm Regina Mills, and this is my son Henry!" She wrapped her arm around his shoulders, feeling him stiffen. Waiting for a response from Henry, she nudged him, "say hello" she growled under her breath.

"Hello." He finally said, leaning out of Regina's touch.

Mary Margret continued to smile at the two as her husband spoke up. "So what brings you two to Boston?"

"Work." Regina answered simply, wanting to skip the chit chat and begin unpacking, seeing as the moving truck just arrived in the driveway.

"Oh very nice!" Mary Margret commented. "You or your husband?"

"Uh, me. I'm not married." Regina answered.

"Oh, oh please pardon my question. I only assumed…you know what, I'm going to stop talking!" Mary Margret placed her hand into David's. "Well, you two must have a lot of work to do! Please, if you ever need anything, David and I would love to help!"

"Please don't hesitate to ask!" David added, pulling his wife down the steps and across the yard.

Regina watched her neighbors disappear into their yard, then let her gaze fall on Henry. "Well then!"

"Why didn't you say the truth?" Henry asked, curious to his mother's response moments before.

"That was the truth Henry. I'm not married. They don't need any details. We've only just met." She answered simply and made her way to the truck.

Henry rolled his eyes now, following his mother to the driveway.

The house was beginning to turn into a home. As boxes were emptied and decorations were scattered throughout each room, Regina felt at peace. Everything had its own place in the house, and being able to redecorate brought joy- something she hadn't felt lately.

Unfortunately, Henry was keeping that peace and joy down low in her as he continued to sulk around, refusing to empty all his boxes, continuing to comment about his adoption, and throw tantrums that a 10 year old should not be doing. It was only 2 days into their new life, and he refused any aspect of it.

As they pulled into the grocery store parking lot, she knew this would be another challenge. Trying to convince him to do anything at this point was useless. "Can I stay in the car?"

"No." Regina opened the car door to get out.

"I'm 10" was his argument.

"Exactly." She snapped back. "Let's go."

"I'll lock the doors and will scream if someone tries to take me. I'm not stupid." He looked at her from his seat. He was still buckled, his iPod once again in his lap.

Regina rolled her eyes. She could either get back in the car and drive home, leaving them without any food, or she could drag him out of the car, causing a scene.

Or she could let him sit in the car. He was a pretty tough kid, especially for someone so tiny. She groaned. "Fine. Keep the doors locked. Do NOT put your headphones in." She closed her door and pressed the lock button on her keychain. Looking at him for a moment, she saw him smiling. Another battle he had won.

She entered the grocery store and pulled out her list. Ok…we need peppers, carrots, apples, bananas…she began reading through her list, racing through each aisle so she could get to the car quickly. She trusted Henry, but she didn't trust others, especially now that they were in a new place. But her list was well organized, making it easy to grab the items she needed.

Regina moved towards the next aisle, scouting for pasta to make baked ziti- a request she and Henry could agree on. But a voice stopped her as she rounded the corner.

"Daddy? Daddy!"

She moved from her cart to the little boy who stood in the middle of the aisle, clutching to a box of fruity cereal. "Hi there!" She said in a soft tone, slowly approaching the scared child. "Are you ok?"

"I can't find my daddy!" The young boy said, nerves in his voice.

"Ok," Regina said, bending down on one knee in front of him. "Maybe I can help you?" She watched him look her up and down, taking the stranger in, and then nodding his head, accepting her offer. She smiled softly, reassuring him he'd be ok. "What's your name?"

"Roland."

She smirked at his name- one you don't hear often, but it worked for him. "I'm Regina. Where did you last see your dad?"

"In this aisle…I went to go get cereal." He held up the box. "But he's not here anymore."

"Alright, well, maybe he went to look for you!" She looked over his shoulder, not seeing anyone else around them. "What's his name?"

"Robin." He answered with a strong voice, trying to be brave.

"Ok, let's go down here to the main aisle and call him!" She stood up and offered her hand to the boy. He took it and walked with her as they called "Robin!"

"Daddy!"

"Robin!"

"ROLAND?!" A loud voice boomed from two aisles away.

"Daddy!" The boy shouted once more as his father turned the corner and ran to him.

"Roland!" Robin met up to the little boy and embraced him. "My boy, where were you? I told you to stay next to the trolley!"

"I wanted my cereal." Roland held up the colorful box and stuck out his bottom lip. "I'm sorry."

Robin grabbed Roland's hand and moved towards Regina. "Thank you," he said as he let out a sigh of relief.

Regina nodded her head, sweeping a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh no problem, I'm glad he's back where he belongs!"

He grinned at her, then looked back down at Roland. "Can you thank-" he looked back at her "I'm sorry, your name?"

"Regina!"

His smile stayed on his face as he looked back at his son, "can you thank Regina for helping you?"

"Thank you, Regina!" The boy said with a smile, almost identical to his father's.

"You are very welcome Roland! But please remember, dear, your dad tells you to stay with the shopping cart so you can stay safe. He loves you very much, from what I can see!" She looks from Roland to Robin. "I know all too well that pit in your stomach when you can't find your child."

Robin picks Roland up now and swings him onto his hip. "It's not fun!"

Her phone chimed, eliciting a roll from her eyes, as she read the 'buy Oreos' text from Henry, using his messenger app on his iPod. "And then they grow up and have the nerve to remind you to buy cookies!" She puts her phone back in her pocket and looks at the two in front of her. "Stick with your father!"

"Thank you again, Regina!" Robin says, and watches her walk away. His gaze turns back to his son, who looks at him with innocent, big eyes. "You, young man, are sitting in the trolley from now on!"

Regina glanced over her shoulder at the two as she moved back to her cart. She continued to smile, feeling good that she helped reunite the two. Then her smile fell, as she remembered how Henry used to be so innocent, just as this little boy was. I miss those days she thought to herself, wishing she could go back to the past for a moment. But she knew those days were only memories now.

After paying for the groceries, she returned to the car, seeing Henry still in the passenger seat. Her heart began to ease, knowing he was ok. He was still there, and that's all the reassurance she needed right now.

She opened the driver's side door and sat, followed by plopping the container of Oreos on Henry's lap. She watched him smirk, and mumble "thanks" as he tears the package open.

Regina opened her mouth to yell at him and command he not eat those now. But she stopped and turned on the car, watching him indulge in a cookie. It's a battle she's not going to fight. Not now. Not while things are still fractured between them. The thought angered her, but she knows this battle will be lost with her own words, because she already anticipates his own weapon of choice- the words "you're not my real mother".

A week had passed since the Mills arrived in Boston. While Regina settled in at her new job as a paralegal under her friend Kathryn, Henry continued his standoffish attitude towards his mother when he would return from school. She knew the transition would be hard for him, but knew he would make friends fast, just as long as he opened up. But Henry didn't see it that way. She had picked him up from school each evening, and he would not utter a single word until dinner time. As usual, conversations between the mother and son always ended in one of them feeling hurt and the other upset.

Friday afternoon finally arrived- the end of their first 'real' week of normalcy. Regina pulled in the driveway just before 3:15, and anxiously waited for Henry's bus to pull up. She couldn't pick him up every day, and was pleased to know a bus would drop him off in front of their house. Today was one of those days. As she got out of the car, she spotted a police car across the street in the Nolan's driveway, and watched as David walked out of the house, dressed in a police uniform.

He spotted her and waved. "Happy Friday, Regina!"

She waved back, unable to get over how giddy this couple was. "T.G.I.F!" she shouted back, slowly making her way to the end of the drive way. "You're a police officer?"

"Yup!" he grinned, stepping to the edge of his own driveway. "Boston's finest!"

"Well that's a bit comforting. Good to know there's a good set of eyes on our neighborhood." Regina crossed her arms across her chest, shivering as the gentle early April breeze hit her.

"I just like to help others!" He smiled at her. "How are you and your son liking it here?"

She shrugged, "not too shabby! I spend a good chunk of my morning commute stuck on the highway, but at least I get out early enough to avoid most of the traffic in the afternoon!"

David nodded in agreement. "The pike is awful in the morning. But that's good to hear. Is your son liking school?"

At that, she rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't know. He only tells me if he has homework or not." She signed, looking down the street, seeing the bus turn the corner and make a stop. "But I guess that's what I get for uprooting him half way through the year."

"Hey, you're his mother. You do things for his well being, and getting a better job is part of that plan, right?" He asked her, watching her face look down at the ground. "He's also, what, 10? He's at that age where you are un-cool. Give him time, he'll adjust. I used to be the same way!"

So you're adopted and found out because you made a mess while packing? She asked him in her head, but nodded and looked up at him. "True."

The bus approached Regina, but did not stop, and continued down to the end of the road and suddenly turned down the next street. Her heart dropped. "Where is it going?"

"Is Henry supposed to be on the bus?" David asked, seeing her sudden concern.

"Yes, I told him this morning!" She ran to her car and grabbed her purse, yanking her cell phone out. She dialed the school and waited for a secretary to pick up. "Hi, yes, this is Regina Mills, my son Henry is in 5th grade. He was supposed to take the bus home this afternoon, but the bus just drove right by!"

"What bus number was it?"

"23? Yes, 23."

Regina heard typing in the background, followed by the woman saying "yes, that is his bus, let me call down to his homeroom teacher, one moment." Silence filled her ear now as she noticed David was running over to her.

"They're calling his teacher." She told David, her free hand tapping the trunk of her car anxiously.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked

Finally the secretary returned to the call. "Mrs. Mills, his teacher said she gave him a note saying he was walking home today. Do you recall this note?"

"Absolutely not! He is either a pick up or bus, that's it. I never gave him a note stating that." Her tone was stern. Then it hit her…he forged a note. He was always a clever kid, but this was taking it too far. "I'm coming down to the school. You best have someone searching for him." She hung up and looked at David, who was now on his radio, requesting officers patrol the streets surrounding the school for Henry.

"Go." He told her, "I'll stay in the neighborhood. You have my number?"

Yes, of course she did. Two days after moving in, Mary Margret returned to their doorstep with a list of emergency contacts. "Yes."

"Send me your number. If I hear anything, I'll call you." He jogged across the street to his town vehicle.

She followed, racing her 1988 Mercedes down the street to Henry's school.

Parking in the fire lane did not phase Regina as she ran inside the school's main office. "I'm Regina Mills, any word on my son?"

"Yes, actually," the secretary said, pointing down the hall behind her desk. "Mr. Mills?"

Henry slowly sulked out from the hallway and stood before his mother. "Hi."

"Henry!" She shouted, her tone mixed with joy and anger. Bolting to her son, she wrapped her arms around him. "Henry, you had me worried sick." She moved her hands to his shoulders and bent down to his eye level. "Never. Do that. Again. Do you understand me?"

"Yes." His tone was bitter.

She sighed and stood up straight, her eyes looking towards the secretary. "Where was he?"

"On the playground." She answered. "Actually, Mr. Locksley found him, he asked if he could have a word with you. He's in his classroom, 221. I'll keep an eye on Sir Fake Notes-A-Lot." The secretary eyed Henry.

Regina nodded a thank you, as she turned her attention to Henry. "I'll be right back", her eyebrows rising as her stern face watched his coil up. She could see he felt guilty now. But with a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, she left the office and headed to room 221.

Entering the doorway, she knocked. "Excuse me, Mr. Locksley?"

He turned around, knowing it would be Henry's mother Regina, but not expecting it to be THIS Regina. "Regina? From the grocery store?"

Her jaw dropped. He remembered her…but she remembered him. "Yes, Roland, your son was the wanderer, right?"

"Right!" He stepped closer, extending his hand. "It's nice to meet you officially, under unfortunate circumstances again."

She chuckled and shook his hand. "Well, I found your son, and you found mine. I guess we're even!"

"Very true! Please, have a seat." He motioned her inside, but she remained at the door.

"I actually only have a few minutes. I have some grounding to do." She said, finally stepping forward and leaning against a desk.

"Of course. Well, I'll make this brief. I found Henry on the playground. My boy attends kindergarten here, so I grabbed him from his classroom and overheard the staff in the office talking about your boy missing. Roland and I usually stop at the playground before we head home, so we made our way outside, and there when I saw Henry sitting on the swings. I asked him where you were, and he said you were in the car. That's when I called him out on his lie." Robin crossed his arms, tucking his hands under his biceps. "Is this usual behavior from him?"

"No, it's very unusual for him." She said, looking at the floor. "But as of late, he hasn't been himself."

"I know."

Regina looked at Robin and gave him a questioning look. "What did he tell you?"

"If I said everything, would that sum it all up?"

Regina pursed her lips together and grumbled. "I don't know what to do."

"Well there really isn't anything for you to do. He just found out he's adopted, his father is dead-"

"He barely knew his father." Regina quickly noted.

"But he doesn't see it that way right now. From what I can tell, he sees this as the end of the world. First he loses his father-" Robin put his hand up to reassure "-just in a matter of facts. Then he finds out he's moving, leaving everything he's ever known behind. THEN he finds out he's adopted, which essentially means he's lost you. So now he feels lost."

She nodded his head as he spoke. She never thought of any of that in such a manner. But it was all true. "I never looked at it that way." Regina looked up at Robin, shifting her feet a bit.

"Is he in counseling?" Robin asked, moving to his desk and grabbing his messenger bag.

"No. I tried to get him in with the counselor here, but they said they require a teacher to suggest it, as well as the parent. I also considered bringing him to one outside of school, but I know he wouldn't agree to go." Regina stepped into the hallway as Robin closed his classroom door and locked it. "Why, would you be willing to suggest he see the counselor here?"

Robin slung his messenger across his torso and shook his head. "To be quite honest, Mrs. Mills-"

"Regina." She corrected him. "And it's Ms. Mills, if anything."

"Oh. Well, to be honest Regina, the counselors here can only do so much. My personal opinion would to be find counseling outside of school. Of course, the ones here can assist, but from the sounds of it, Henry needs outside simulation to get him on track with his current situation."

As they walked down the stairs, the main office coming into view, they stopped. "But in the mean time, I could talk to him. He seemed to open up to me once I began asking him the right questions."

Regina stared at her son through the glass walls of the office. He was playing with a race car, next to Roland, who was being watched in the office as well. "I just want my son back."

Robin placed his hand on her shoulder, grabbing her attention. "He will be. I promise."

She smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you." Regina watched Robin smile back and move his hand from her shoulder, leaving it cold as he headed into the office. She felt better about everything, at least in that moment. She had help, and if that's what it would take to bring Henry to his senses, then she would take it.