Chapter One: SwanQueen

Regina's POV

It's been three years since Emma and I watched Henry ride off on his motorcycle. He promised to return by his twenty second birthday. It was now August 15th and I had his room ready for his return. "Babe, you're pacing again."

Feeling strong arms around me, I relaxed into my wife's embrace. "I know, Emma. I just I can't wait to see our son. I know Henry writes when he can but it's not the same. It's been four months since we heard from him."

"I know it's not." Pecking me on the cheek, the taller woman held me tighter. "But he promised he'd come home today and he'll keep his word. No one in their right mind would break a promise to you. I get scared when I lie about whatever surprise I'm trying to pull off for our anniversary. I've been at the receiving end of your range and it's not a place I like to be."

Chuckling, I turned in my wife's arms. "Emma Swan-Mills, if you ever cook in my kitchen again, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do." The shiver I cause to go through Emma never loses its pleasure. "Because if you do," my voice dripped with seduction. "You'll sleep on the couch for a week while I enjoy our nice big bed alone in my favorite lingerie." Hazel eyes darkened at the thought. "Understood?"

"Yes, your Majesty." Grinning, Emma closed the distance between us with a searing kiss. The moment was broken by the sound of a motorcycle.

"He's here!" Engulfing Emma and I in a cloud of purple smoke, I teleported us outside. As the smoke cleared, Henry's bike pulled up the driveway.

"Moms!" Unbuckling the helmet, he placed it on the leather seat. "It's so good to see you." Wrapping an arm around each of us, Henry squeezed. "You still smell like apples and Ma like coffee." He paused, "the smell of home."

"Somethings never change." Emma ruffled Henry's helmet-matted hair. "Good to have you home, kiddo." She paused, "well…,"

"No matter how old I get, I'll always be your kid. I know." With a smile, Henry grabbed a bag from the rack on his bike. "I have so much stuff to tell you. But first, I desperately need a shower."

"Nothing has really changed. Your room is ready for you. Fresh towels and toiletries are on your bed."

Moving his attention towards Emma, Henry grinned in only a way he inherited from her. "She's been planning this moment for three years, hasn't she?"

"I think she's been planning this moment since you left." Glaring at them, I turned to walk back inside. "Oh, come on, Regina! You know it's true." Emma followed me inside with Henry in tow. "Regina, you know I'm joking. Come on. Baaabbbeee!"

Stopping abruptly at the staircase, I turned. "Henry, go freshen up and I'll have lunch ready shortly. As for you, Miss. Swan, you can set the table."

"Ooohhhh, you got "Miss. Swan-ed." You're in trouble now." Dashing up the stairs, Henry went to his room.

"It's good to have him home." Smiling, I hummed and walked into the kitchen.

"It really is." Setting the table didn't take Emma long. Once finished, she leaned against the counter.

It's nice having three place mats again. "I wonder if he's told-" My question was answered when I heard my mother-in-law knock.

"Emma! Regina! Open up! You can't hide him forever!"

"Oh yes we can!" I responded, opening the door with a wave of my hand. "Should Emma set the table for two more?"

"No, we just wanted to see him. I know the two of you want to visit first. We'll have a welcome home party tonight at Granny's." David hugged his daughter as he always did. "Where is he?"

"Upstairs freshening up." Emma paused, "where's Neil?"

"With Ruby at the park." Mary Margaret was interrupted by the sound of footsteps barreling down the stairs.

"Grandpa! Grandma!"

"Henry!" The un-charmings spoke in unison as they wrapped themselves around their grandson.

"You've grown up so much!" Mary Margaret cupped Henry's face in her hands. "You have to tell us everything."

"I will. I promise. But, I need to tell Mom and Ma first since it deals with them." Emma and I shared a glance. "Nothing bad. You've actually helped four people find their happy endings."

"Oh! I can't wait to hear. Henry, our little match maker." Mary Margaret was far perkier than usual but I grinned and bared it.

"We'll have a welcome home party at Granny's tonight. Enjoy lunch and we'll see you around seven." With that, the Charmings were gone.

"They've not changed." Henry chuckled seeing the look of disgust on my face.

"Nope. Still as perky as always. Take a seat. Lunch is on the table."

"So, how did we help others get happy endings?" Emma took a sip of her drink.

"Well, I traveled to different dimensions and times. Yeah, I time traveled! Each place I went, I met people who, like you guys, were destined to be together. I hoped, maybe, soon we could have a party here so they could meet you?"

"Henry does have a great success story under his belt." Taking my hand, Emma continued. "Look at us. If I never had Henry, we never would have met. And if I wasn't so head over heels for you, I wouldn't have put up with your crap for so long."

Narrowing my eyes, I spoke flatly. "Couch. For a week." Henry snorted.

"Reginaaaaaa...come on. I was joking." A pause, "mostly." Sighing, Emma began to pout.

Knowing our son, he was holding something back. "What else?"

"N-nothing much else…" Our son fidgeted like he always does when he's hiding something.

"Henry," I warned. "What else?"

"I kinda, sorta, almost got sacrificed to an anglerfish God…"

"What?!" Emma and I spoke in unison.

"I was saved. Calm down."

Trying to defused the situation, Emma chimed in. "What dimensions did you go to?"

"This has to stay between us. I know in Storybrooke, time travel and stuff isn't too "out there," but I'm not supposed to tell anyone. Mrs. F may track me down and bronze me."

"Excuse me?" No one hurts my son.

Henry's face paled slightly. "I've not seen that look in a long time. Mom, it's a joke…Kind of. Anyway, in one dimension, and back to 2012, the Earth was covered with artifacts that were dangerous. A select group of people tracked these down and hid them away so no one could get hurt. One agent was clearly in love with H.G. Wells, yes, the author. But Helena, yes, H.G. Wells is a woman, was lying to herself about loving Myka, the agent."

Emma and I sat in silence letting the information sink in. "So, in this dimension, H.G. Wells, the Father of science fiction, is a woman?"

"Yup! She supplied the ideas and research while her brother supplied the mustache. He was the writer."

"And how exactly did H.G. get to Myka's time period?" Emma had a harder time wrapping her mind around the idea than I did.

"She was bronzed for over a hundred years. Got de-bronzed and they met. For a former "bad guy," she's actually really awesome. Now that she's not trying to destroy the world with a giant fork."

"And the second dimension?" Emma blinked away confusion.

"The second place was legit comic book styled. I was spit out in a large town, kind of like California, called National City. Thankfully, I was back to 2017 so I didn't seem like a crazy person. But anyway, its superhero was a woman named Supergirl who is in love with Lena Luthor, the C.E.O. of L-Corp."

"Wait, like Superman type?" Of course, Emma would make that connection.

"Yes! Supergirl is his cousin. That's one reason why I think they've not gotten together yet. Lena's brother, Lex, is in prison. Their mother, Lillian, isn't a big fan of the Supers."

Now it was my turn to be confused. "Right…" Sitting back, I listened as my wife and son geeked out about comic books. I'm married to a grown child. "Start from the beginning. You drove off here and…"

"Okay. That'll be easier. I drove into the portal and came out on a dirt road. I kept going and found myself in a suburban area in Boone."