Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time (obviously) and am in no way profiting from writing this story. If I did, Regina's heart would be broken far less than it currently is.
Author's Note: I've been a SQ lurker since the beginning of its inception on this site, but after watching The Miller's Daughter I've felt the need to contribute in some way to this wonderful fandom. Regina needs her happy ending, darn it! I'm hoping to continue this story past being a one-shot if anyone is interested in reading it. I have so many ideas about how Regina can continue on her path to redemption and even how she and Snow can finally end the feud between them. Plus the Swan Queen is obviously important and central to the story. J Please let me know what you think! Reviews are love!
This story is un-betaed so all mistakes are mine.
Regina grimaced as the harsh taste of the cider burned down her throat, already raw from hours of quiet weeping, as the storm outside raged in a perfect reflection of her thoughts. It seemed even this consolation wasn't to be had without pain. She had expected nothing less, though; love was weakness and weakness was pain. Her mother's passing…no, her mother's murder…had nearly crippled her with its blinding intensity, proving just how true that particular sentiment was. Now, rather than sharing house and home with a woman capable of loving her as a mother ought to love her child, she was seated in her study with no more than a glass of cider to keep her company. Well, that and the increasing desire to hunt down and destroy the woman who was once more responsible for ripping her happy ending from her.
But no, she would not give in to her justified rage and need for revenge. The so-called Evil Queen she may have once been, but she was so much more than that caricature now. Love and its ever-present weakness had changed her beyond recognition, even if the simpering peasants in this town failed to see or understand that. Her love for her mother may demand justice in the name of her murder; that much was certainly true. But her love for her son, as strong now as it was the day he was first placed in her arms, made the fulfillment of such a demand impossible. Regina sighed in audible frustration at her current predicament and set the glass of cider down heavily on the table in front of her.
A swift and sure knock sounded from the foyer and Regina jumped in surprise. Scoffing internally at her jumpiness, she quickly straightened her hair and dress before making her way to her front down with steady strides. She may be a heartbroken daughter grieving for the love of a mother untimely taken from her, but she was once and would forever remain a Queen in her actions. She would do that much for Cora.
Grasping the handle of the door, she swung it open with her customary mayoral smile firmly in place and offered a jovial, "Can I help you?"
"Mom!"
Regina was prepared for many things: a new mob come to seek vengeance on her, a blustering and tactless Snow White, or even Gold and his seemingly endless deals. But this? Nothing could have prepared her for this. A small body flung itself at her from outside, soaked through from the pouring rain. Arms fiercely wrapped around her middle as the young boy dug his face into her now wet dress.
"Henry?" His name escaped her lips in a whispered prayer as she clung onto him desperately; never again wishing to let her hold on this boy, her son, slip away from her. A distant rumble of thunder interrupted the miracle of this moment as Regina reluctantly pulled away from Henry, though keeping a tentative grip on his small arms as she did so. "Henry, what are you doing here? It's the middle of the night and you're freezing!" She sternly admonished the boy, her maternal instincts taking over even as she cringed at chastising him. A bright grin met her questioning as Henry motioned diagonally behind him to a taller form still wrapped in shadows.
"Emma brought me. I asked her if I could come and see you and so here I am!" Henry continued to smile broadly as the shadowed form of his blonde mother shrugged ruefully and stepped forward into the soft light streaming outside from the foyer.
"I would have brought him here sooner if a certain inconsolable fairy tale character wasn't being so clingy during the day. It took everything David and I had to convince her to sleep so I could slip out with Henry and…" Emma stopped abruptly as she noticed the cold gleam in Regina's eyes at the mention of Snow White and promptly shut her mouth before it caused her even more trouble.
"I'm sorry, mom, about Cora. Mary Margaret, she…she shouldn't have done that to you. That's not what the good guys are supposed to do. They're supposed to be good." Henry spoke softly to his mother, hanging his head in shame as he once again sought to wrap his arms around her.
Regina allowed and even welcomed the embrace, even if the mention of Snow White as a "good guy" was enough to set her insides fuming again.
"Kid, we've talked about this. No more good guy, bad guy stuff, ok? Everyone has good and bad in them and can do good or bad stuff at any time. Our choices are what are important."
Regina eyed the blonde thoughtfully as she gently placed her chin on Henry's tousled hair and forced the raging battle in her heart to subside. There would be a time for dealing with Snow White, in whatever way her son would allow, but that time was not now. Now she was going to relish the feel of him in her arms once more. More than that, she was going to do everything in her considerable power to make sure that he would want to remain there in the years to come, even if that meant taking this next painful step. Holding Emma's eyes over the head of their son, Regina gave a slightly forced smile.
"Miss Swan, would you like to come in for a drink?"
