So its been a really long time since I've posted anything. With school, work, and life; I've been busy and somehow along the way I lost my passion to write. Now that I've finished school I'm getting that passion back. Here's my comeback story. It's a bit dark, but my fics usually are. I hope you guys enjoy this one.

This is an alternate universe where the curse doesn't exist. Regina and Leopold are married and adopted Henry. Keep reading and you'll find out just exactly how Regina ended up with him. Swanqueen all the way! :)

Title - A Queen Without A Crown

Setting - Season 1, the pilot and it goes into an alternate universe

Chapter 1 Welcome to Storybrooke

It was an early morning in Storybrooke. The sun had risen in the sky and the air was chilly and nipped at her face. Emma Swan would give anything to be back in her warm soft bed under a mountain of big comfy blankets. However the beds at Grannies Inn were unforgiving on her back. She was awake most of the night unable to sleep and so she found herself in the diner, deciding that maybe it be best to stick around a little longer. She knew she had given up her rights to Henry, but she wanted so badly to get to know the little boy she had given up ten years ago.

She's only been here one night and already found it so hard to leave him when he believed in curses and evil queens and princesses. His adoptive mother, Regina Mills, was a piece of work. Her husband, Leopold Blanchard which she had yet to meet, was the mayor of this town she found herself in. Regina was the only one to meet her when she brought Henry home last night. She guessed as mayor, he just couldn't be bothered. She wondered what kind of relationship he had with his adoptive son.

So she sat at Grannies with a hot mug of coffee warming her hands. She couldn't help but notice something was off about the beautiful brunette that welcomed her into her home after Henry had stomped upstairs. Behind the tough exterior and cool professionalism, she could see Regina was holding something back, as if she had something to hide. Emma, who had a real talent for reading people, could tell by the way she seemed to glance anxiously at the door as if expecting someone to come in or even by the way she kept herself emotionless, unreadable almost.

She guessed Henry wasn't the only one that was keeping her in this town.

It wasn't unusual for the bell on the door to ring, signaling the arrival of a new customer, so she ignored it. It was when she heard a familiar voice, then she finally look up from her steaming cup of coffee. She watched as Regina placed her order at the register and then quickly looked back down at her coffee when Regina suddenly turned in her direction. She heard the clicking of heels and knew before Regina even spoke to her that she had been caught staring.

"Miss Swan, I hope your drive back to Boston goes as smooth as ever."

Emma looked up to see that political smile. Big and bright with no real meaning or even emotion behind it. She wanted her gone and Emma could understand that. She was just worried for her son.

"Actually Regina, I think I might stick around a little longer."

The moment those words were out of her mouth, she was fixed with a long stare. The smile Regina had just a few seconds ago was gone and Emma forced herself not to shrink back in her seat. She didn't want to give Regina the satisfaction.

"You think because you brought him home, it's just an invitation to his life?" she asked coldly, her dark eyes boring into her. "You gave him up Miss Swan. You asked for a closed adoption, you have no legal right to him or his life so you might as well pack up that yellow deathtrap of yours and leave this town."

Emma stood, facing Regina straight on. They were so close they could feel each others breaths.

"I get that, trust me I do, but it doesn't mean I can't care about him. This fairytale book, these stories… he believes they're true. I just want to make sure he's ok."

"I have it taken care of," she dismissed her, her eyes going dark when Emma mentioned the fairytale book.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I have him in therapy."

"Dr. Mills, your order is ready," Ruby announced from the counter purposely to break up the tension between the two. Regina stepped back and with a final glare she turned and took the two coffees from the young waitress and left the diner.

Emma watched Regina through the window as the brunette hurriedly approached the car parked outside as if she had spent too much time in the diner. She stepped closer to the window when she realized her husband was behind the wheel. She wondered if Henry was in the back seat. Besides from Regina she was curious as to who exactly has been raising her son.

Once the car drove away, she went up to the counter where Ruby was wiping it down with a damp clean towel.

"Dr. Mills?" she asked, emphasizing on doctor.

"PhD in political science. She teaches at the community college. I'm in her afternoon class. She's a good teacher, but she expects a lot."

"I bet she does," she grumbled.

The Mercedes Benz stopped in front of the elementary school. Henry tried pulling open the door, but the child locks were activated and he slowly looked up to see his adoptive father glaring at him through the rearview mirror. Regina was quiet, her gaze turned down and looking so defeated. She had always been able to shield her son from Leopold's anger, but these past months the young boy had really been testing his father's patience. In this moment she felt useless. She could feel Henry watching her, waiting for her to stand up to him, and her heart shattered as she once again disappointed him.

Leopold turned in his seat and Henry defiantly stared back at him.

"After your little field trip yesterday, you are not allowed to go anywhere after school. It's straight home, understood?"

He didn't yell, but he was furious. Henry could tell in the way he had lowered his voice and cold hard stare that was fixated on him. He looked at his mother once more and sank back into his seat when he realized she wasn't going to do or say anything. She was too scared. His mother was tough, but when it came to her husband, she was absolutely terrified.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"Don't be late," he growled, the locks clicking open and Henry wasted no time in opening the door and clamoring out without so much as a goodbye. When he was gone, Leopold turned to his wife.

"Look at me," he demanded in the same tone he used with Henry. He wouldn't try anything here. There was too many people around, but it didn't mean she was safe from his anger. She slowly met his eyes. "You will make sure he goes straight home. If anything happens… if he magically disappears again… he won't be the only one in trouble."

She walked into class in an incredibly foul mood. Her students were quiet, already picking up on the tensed atmosphere. They were used to her rapid mood swings everyday. She was a great teacher, but had trouble separating her feelings from work. Some students often became suspicious of what the cause of her moods were, especially if she'd come in with bruises on her face. Of course it was just rumors of Mayor White beating Professor Mills, and nobody believed them.

Her heels clacked on the hardwood floor as she walked to the front on the room. She deposited her things on her desk and faced them. She wasn't an easy A, nor was she one to coddle her students. Tough but fair was how the other professors described her. The students had a more colorful vocabulary when describing her as a teacher. Only political science majors dared to take her courses.

"Summarize the key points in your reading from chapter 5," she asked, looking around and growing irritated when the class remained silent. Not a single hand went up and some were even avoiding eye contact. Her eyes landed on the young man in the back of the room who was looking at his phone. "Mr. Davis?"

He dropped his phone on his desk and stammered, looking through the pages of his barely used textbook. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"For god sake… did anyone do the reading last night?"

Still no one answered, and instead they started flipping through their books and notes, murmuring amongst themselves.

"How do you expect to go into your midterms next month without having done any of the reading assignments. Do you expect to wait till the night before, wing it, and hope for the best?" she asked in frustration. "Are you still in high school? Do you want me to teach a high school class? In fact, open all your books to chapter 5 and read silently to yourself. You have one hour and after you're getting a pop quiz."

They all groaned and Regina shook her head in disbelief.

"Start now!" she snapped and when every student was silently reading, she slipped outside for a breather and a cup of coffee.

She knew she was being tough with her students. She knew she was letting her mood get the best of her. The stress of Henry's behavior and Leopold's abuse was making it hard for her to separate home from work.

As she made her way to the lounge, she mentally planned to apologize after their quiz along with a mini lecture on how important it was to read and come prepared for her class. She wanted to see every student pass but at the rate some of them were going, it didn't seem possible especially with midterms vastly approaching.

As the day went on, her anxiety and her bad mood started to wane just a bit, leaving her feeling exhausted. Her energy was drained and was glad she was at the end of her afternoon courses. Just as class was dismissed, her cell started ringing. She gathered her things, and walked out. She saw it was the school and held her breath as she answered it.

"Dr. Mills," she answered shakily.

"Regina, it's Mary Margaret," her stepdaughter's voice sounded in her ear and she rolled her eyes in annoyance. The young woman had distanced herself from her family after she found out of the abuse her father was inflicting on his wife. She cut off all contact with her father only. Since then the anger and beatings became worse. "Henry didn't show up to school today. Is he home with you?"

"No…" Her blood ran cold and she stopped in her tracks and had to sit on a nearby bench. Her hands shook as Leopold's threats rang in her head. Worry for son only intensified her fear.

Mary Margaret heard the fear in her voice. She knew she was terrified for Henry and of what Leopold might do.

"Listen, I can help you find him before my father finds out."

Regina's walls went up at that point. Mary Margaret may know about the domestic violence she dealt with, but she had no idea she was the reason she was forced into this marriage. Her mother practically sold her to a man who was old enough to be her father and play house to a girl who was only 8 years younger than her. She didn't want help from the little brat that ruined her life.

"No, I have it under control."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'll find him on my own!" she snapped and hanged up without another word. She decided to find the one person who might have an idea where her son might be.

She found Emma at the diner again and wondered if the woman had even left in the first place. Regina walked up the booth to see she had a newspaper opened to apartments and rooms for rent listings. Her heart sunk in her chest when she realized the blonde was planning to stay. She didn't know whether to feel angry or afraid that she could be losing her son to her. It was bad enough Henry had run off to find her and here she was asking her for help.

"You plan on staying?" she asked, her tone unreadable. Her eyes were fixed on the apartment listings. Emma looked up at her sudden guest.

"Just for a few months," she replied. "I'm just worried."

"I told you I have it under control," she snapped.

"Oh really?" Emma asked. "Because him running away and finding me in Boston sounds like you have it under complete control."

"Alright enough," she put an end to it, because right now finding Henry mattered more than this woman planning to stay. "He ran off again."

"I'm not surprised," Emma sighed, rolling her eyes and then looked up into dark brown eyes. Regina looked absolutely terrified and she instantly felt guilty. She guessed yesterday's ordeal must have really shaken her up and now it was happening again.

"Hey, I'm sorry," she said, standing and taking her hands to try and calm her. "We'll find him, ok? Does he have any friends?"

"No," she answered, pulling her hands away and realized with a sickening feeling that she missed the warm contact. "He's kind of a loner."

"Every kid has friends. Have you checked his computer?"

"No."

"Then that's where we should start."

Regina was furious the moment she saw Mary Margaret's name on that computer screen when Emma had pulled up the site Henry used to find her. Her stepdaughter had a hand in this. She wasn't surprised. The girl was constantly trying to ruin her. She barged into the classroom with Emma following behind.

"Did you give my son your credit card to find her? She accused the moment she saw Mary Margaret.

The petite woman looked at the blonde that had walked in. She's never seen her before. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"I'm um.. I'm his…" Emma stammered, unable to say the words I'm Henry's birth mother out loud.

Regina rolled her eyes.

"The woman who gave him up for adoption."

Bells went off in Mary Margaret's head as she made the connection. This was her adoptive little brother's birth mother. This could explain her stepmother's edgy mood. She was on guard. She loved Henry fiercely in a way she knew she could never love her.

"You don't know anything about this do you," Emma asked.

"No unfortunately not…" she said, opening her wallet and seeing her credit card was missing. "Clever boy. I should have never given him that book."

"What in the hell is the book I keep hearing about?" Regina snapped.

"Just some old stories I gave him as you well know Henry is a special boy, so smart, so creative and as you might be aware… lonely," Mary Margaret said, looking straight at her stepmother. "He needed it."

"What he needs is a dose of reality," Regina said. "This is a waste of time." She turned to leave, knocking a stack of books to the floor purposely. Emma looked at her in shock before leaning down and helping the school teacher pick up the books.

"Sorry to bother you," she said, sympathetically.

"No, it's ok," she looked at Emma. "I fear this is probably my fault."

"How's this book suppose to help?"

"What do you think stories are for?" Mary Margaret as as they stacked the last of the books and walked out of the classroom together. "These stories… The classics. They're a way for us to deal with our world. A world that doesn't always make sense. See Henry hasn't had the easiest life."

"Yeah," Emma scoffed. "She's kind of a hard ass."

"No, it's more than her," she tried defending her stepmother, because at one point she remembered when she and Henry were inseparable. That is until he had found the adoption papers. "He's like any adopted child. He wrestles with that most basic question they all inevitably face, why would anyone give me away."

She stopped walking and looked at Emma the moment she realized what came out of her mouth and exactly who she was talking to.

"I am so sorry!" I didn't mean in any way to judge you!"

"It's ok," Emma said as if she swallowed a pill.

"Look, I gave the book to him because I wanted Henry to have the most important thing anyone can have… Hope. Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing."

"You know where he is, don't you?" she asked, getting a sense there is more the teacher wasn't telling her.

"You might want to check his castle."

The moment Regina got that text from Emma saying she found Henry and was bringing him home, wasn't nearly enough to settle her nerves. Leo would be back soon and he'd lose it if Henry wasn't here. She texted back to bring him home immediately, knowing if Leo arrived just as Emma did, there was no escaping her husband's wrath.

And of course, minutes later Leo was pulling up into the driveway just as Emma was leaving.

"Hi, Leopold Blanchard, mayor of Storybrooke," he held out his hand to the stunned blonde.

She looked at the older man with graying balding hair, unable to believe this was Regina's husband.

"I'm Emma Swan," she introduced herself, her mouth slightly hanging open in shock as she shook his hand.

"Emma, as mayor I take it my duty to know everyone in this town. I'm afraid I haven't seen you here before."

"Oh I uh…"

"She stopped for directions, just as I was bringing Henry inside. I walked him home," Regina cut her off and Emma looked at her in confusion. Brown eyes pleaded with her.

"Uh… yeah," she agreed, getting the feeling that something was definitely off about the couple. "I was just passing through and looking for a place to stay."

"Well I imagine Grannies is quite accommodable," he said, his cold brown eyes staring into her. She shuddered, not exactly knowing why this guy rubbed her the wrong way.

"Thanks, Regina mentioned it. Well I must be going. Nice meeting the both of you."

She got in her car and watched as Leo took Regina's arm, leading her inside. Something was very wrong. The moment he arrived the fiery tempered brunette was suddenly quiet and visibly shaken by his arrival. The age difference threw her off too. He was twice her age. Regina didn't seem to be the type to marry for money, not with the type of credentials she had. Also what confused her the most, was the fact Mary Margaret had the same last name as Leo.

The moment Emma drove away, Regina felt his grip tightened. It wasn't until Henry had run up the stairs and the front door was shut, was she suddenly slammed against the door, trapping her inside the prison that was supposed to be her home. She gasped, his body crushing her. His face was close to hers and she closed her eyes in fear.

"You really think I don't know?" he said in a scary kind of calm that sent shivers down her spine. "I know Henry wasn't at school today. I know that woman brought him home."

She wondered how he found out. Could it have been his daughter?

"Look at me!" He suddenly backhanded her hard and she gasped in pain and shock.

She looked at him, his eyes cold and furious and she shrunk back into the door even more if it was possible.

"I told you to get that kid under control!"

"I'm sorry… I'll talk to him," she promised, her voice shaking as she desperately tried to hold back tears.

"And if that doesn't work, the next time he skips school, maybe a good smack will teach him a lesson."

At those words she fiercely shoved Leopold off of her.

"Don't you dare threaten my son!" she yelled, the fire in her eyes returning. "Don't you dare touch him!"

He slammed her back against the door again, his hands wrapping around her throat and she fought to breathe. Her lungs burned and she was starting to see stars. She clawed at his hands.

"Leo… Please… I can't breathe."

His grip tightened and she let out a choking sound, her face turning red from the lack of air. She needed air and she started to panic. She struggled against him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Don't ever talk to me like that again," he threatened and then he finally released her, letting her fall to her knees. She gasped, taking in deep breaths of air. He knelt down to her level and grabbed a fistful of her hair. She cringed as he pulled her head up so she'd look at him.

"You think I like doing this?" he asked and when she didn't respond he stood and kicked her hard in the ribs. She cried out, mentally berating herself in case Henry had heard. He didn't know and she tended to keep it that way. "And stop crying you insolent girl!" he snapped, finally leaving her alone. He went into the study and slammed the door shut.

Her ribs were throbbing and she tried to breathe through the pain. She angrily wiped the tears from her face. She wouldn't dare cry and give him the satisfaction. She sat there for a long time, waiting till the pain subsided. She was trapped in an abusive marriage with no way out. After years of fighting and trying to run, she just gave up. After he decided to adopt a child to chain her to him, she couldn't risk losing Henry. So she stayed and lived in fear, taking his abuse and praying he doesn't take a fist to Henry as well. So far he hasn't, but the way Henry has been acting out lately, she feared someday he'll snap and hurt him too.

When the pain finally subsided enough to stand, she pulled herself up on shaky legs. Leopold was in the study still and she hoped he wouldn't come out. She climbed the stairs and headed to Henry's room. She needed to talk to him. Leopold was on his last nerve with him. Ever since she told him he was adopted after he had found the adoption papers, he's been growing further and further apart from her. He was no longer the little boy who needed her and was so excited to see her when she picked him up from school. Now he resented her just as much as he resented his adoptive father.

She hesitated outside his door for just a moment, wondering if she should go in. He hated her enough and she'll make it worse by going in and grounding him. She knew she had to be strong. If it wasn't her then it will be Leopold and she couldn't let that happen. She took a deep breath, trying to get rid of the sudden heaviness in her throat and chest. She held in the tears and knocked before opening the door.

"Henry?" She walked inside to see him lying on his bed, his back to her. "Can we talk?"

He didn't answer and so she sat at the foot of his bed.

"I know you're hurt and angry and confused. I'm sorry I kept the truth from you. Adopting you was the best thing I've ever done and it doesn't make me love you any less. This running off has to stop. Go ahead and be angry, but you can't do this again."

"You don't love me," he said so quietly she almost missed it, but she heard it and her heart broke into a million pieces.

"Why would you say that?" she whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"You always take his side."

"Despite what you think," she went on, ignoring his accusation. If he only knew what she was constantly protecting him from. "I want what's best for you even if I have to ground you."

At those words, he quickly turned, facing her with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Yes, no more running off. It's straight home from school. And where is this book I keep hearing about?"

He didn't answer, his eyes silently pleaded with her not to do this. She spotted his backpack on the floor and went over to pick it up.

"Mom you can't do this!" he exclaimed as she took it out of his backpack. It was an old brown leather book with the gold letters Once Upon A Time written across from it. She had her suspicions it was this book, she just couldn't believe it until she held it. The last time she held this book in her hands…. She couldn't even think about the past right now.

"You'll get it back in two weeks," she said, turning quickly so he wouldn't see the tears streaming down her cheeks as she headed for the door.

"I hate you!" he yelled just as she closed the door.