A/N: I always wondered this conversation between them so... total RegalBeliever story I hope you all enjoy it.

Prompt – Regina and Henry conversation right after she introduced him to Robin, after the curse was broken.

"So… You were right. I do have more family than I can handle." He chuckles and looks at her. She's happy. Well, the proper word would say she's in disbelief. That's what he thinks. He catches her looking at him, but he acts naturally. Her eyes are pained, but much lighter than it used to be. Her eyes are in a constant search for something that is going to go wrong. Something to deceive her.

What she doesn't know is how amazed he is. How natural it is to love her now. How great it feels to call her mom, to know for sure that she loves him. Even more, to know that she loves him, but not only him. She allowed her heart to love.

"I told you, didn't I?" she smiles and holds his hand. "I, for one, have way more family than I can actually handle."

He chuckles at her response. They walk for a while just holding hands. And it is more than Regina ever thought she would have. And it is something that Henry never thought he would live with her.

"Mom?"

She's spaced out enjoying the warmth of his touch and the love that embraces her heart when she's with him. She's called back to the moment by a voice she'd missed so much.

"Yes, Henry?"

"Tell me about the year in the Enchanted Forest?" he surprised her, "How was it to be back?"

"Oh" she's taken aback by the question, because it was a very painful year. And although so much changed, it still is hard to think about the missing year. So she tries to focus on the good moments with Snow, on her catfights with Robin and his annoyance… Things that make her laugh.

"Well… It was different from what I've lived before."

"How different?"

"I gather you're still as curious as you were before." She laughs shyly, because she's amused by her own son. Henry listens to the sound of her laugh and it is a beautiful sound that he hasn't listened in a while.

"Yeah. Am and will always be. I just want to know about you Mom. That's all." His statement is shy but very powerful.

"Alright then. What do you want to know, my little prince?"

"I'm not little, Mom. Not anymore. I do enjoy the royalty title though." She smiles.

"I thought you would."

"Start from the beginning."

"Alright then..." She pauses, faces the landscape in front of them and continues. "As soon as we got there we met Aurora and her prince. And they were as annoying as I'd remembered." She rolls her eyes at the thought but he just smiles. "It felt very weird to be in my royal gowns again and Mary Margaret's long hair unsettled me for a while. I got used to it again later. Well, my own hair was very different... It felt like I was the queen again" She tilts her head. "not the Mayor and certainly not Regina." These last words flowed from her mouth very smoothly, as if she was thinking out loud. It sounded more like a confession and she was a little startled when she realized what she said.

Henry noticed the change on her tone and on her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Henry. I don't... I don't know how to tell you... It's complicated."

"Don't be. Mom, I want to know what was it like to be there again for you. I really want to know what Regina, my mother and the queen, went through and how she felt. I've met the Evil Queen… Actually I didn't. Not fully. When I met her she was more like Stubborn and Petulant than Evil." His words are harder than she thought it would be to listen to.

"For the record, I'm not stubborn. I am just… very determined. And I'm very sorry that you got to know that… side of me. I'll be as honest as I can be, I promise. But I'm not sure if I can share everything."

"Honesty is fair enough for me." He stops walking and she's startled by the sudden stop. She realized she was not paying attention to where she was going. He hugs her tightly and points to a bench. "Do I need to call you Your Majesty now that I'm a prince?" He's teasing her. She gives him the most motherly look she has.

"I'm not your queen Henry. I'm your mother."

"Perfect. Mom. Let's rest a little." They go to the bench and she's very tense to have this conversation with him. What is this conversation after all? She's sharing her life with her son.

She's sitting in a very regal position, but she's absent-mindedly staring at her hands when she starts to speak.

"I struggled a lot going back there... I've fought so hard to become a better person for you and then... I lost you. And everything I had done lost its sense to me. That whole land reminded me of who I was and the things I've done. I felt I was not wanted. Except for Snow." She smiles at her stepdaughter's name. "She was like a sentinel 24 hours observing me, taking care of me, worrying… it was quite obnoxious really. But then again, she is obnoxiously good."

He's looking at her. She quickly glances sideways and then faces forward.

"Snow and I made amends… at least the most we could do of it. But I decided to trust her once more. I believe I forgave her before I'd even realize I did it. And she did the same. Still, she surrounded me with emotions and I don't like that. But she saved me in a very important time."

"What happened?"

"I… It was very hard for me to let you go…" She sighs deeply. "I don't deal very well with pain. And I think I felt very weak to fight…" She looks at him and smiles, a smile he knows too well – it's the one that tells him she's not saying everything, she's trying to protect him. "Well, it's fine now, but she just gave me some hope to hold on to. That's what you, Charmings, do best."

"Have you deserted me from my family?"

Her eyes widen in a scared and puzzled way. "Of course not. Why would I do that?"

"Then, I have a very… very Charming blood running through me. But I'm a Mills boy."

She looks so surprised and her eyes say everything. Henry wonders if she knows how transparent she is with her emotions.

"That you are. Will always be. Anyway, Snow was the first one to point out Robin for me. I completely refused the idea because he was excruciatingly annoying there. He was a thief full of pride… And I provoked him a little too. But one day I saved his son from a flying monkey and he honored me by accompanying me in a task… one that I most likely wouldn't come back from… but we were most of the time arguing... I don't know what it was... He just got to my nerves easily. But he was always there if I needed him. We became... We started to..."

"Date, mom. It's called dating."

"Here in Storybrooke. He became a good friend."

"The outlaw and the Queen. Mom, you have to admit that it's hilarious. Your mother would be so proud." He laughs at his own words and she follows him.

"I guess my standards were never too royal. A stable boy and a thief." She's laughing again and he loves the sound of it.

"Mom, I've never seen you like this before." She looks at him with confusion. "I mean… like… happy. Just happy. You were always so tense, and guarded…" She looks down and she's about to answer when he says, "Don't worry. I love you the way you are. I just really love the sound of your laugh. And it's so spontaneous. Is that what… were you… were you like that before you lost Daniel?"

Her son had really grown up. His question is full of meaning and maturity.

"I guess yes. I was a very careless, spontaneous, clumsy girl. I loved horses. I loved riding and that's how I met Daniel. I never wanted to be a queen. That was my mother's plan..." She squeezes his hand and adds, "But, sweetheart, you know I can't be that girl anymore. I've seen, done and felt a lot in my past. I can't go back."

"Oh no! I would never want to have a careless, spontaneous teenager as my mother." He chuckles at her and she just smiles and nods.

"You got a point. Plus, you have Emma to cover that."

"There you are. Regina, my mother."

"Is that so?!" She sends him a challenging look.

"Yes. My sassy, brave, selfless, hot-tempered and loving mother. I always wondered about the Regina that Snow White first met."

"And how exactly do you know that Snow met me when I was a teenager?"

"Oh… Sno… uh, Mary Margaret told me this story."

Regina was a little startled. She thought that Henry didn't know about the beginning of their relationship.

"Did she, really?"

"Yeah. There was a time when I… I was almost giving up on you. I thought you would never love… the right way and… and she told me this story about this woman who taught her that love was the most powerful magic of all. And, that this kind of love created happiness."

Regina's eyes were glimmering and Henry smiled at her.

"She told me that woman was you and that one day you would remember that lesson you taught. She told me I could not let go of my hope. She told me that she did and it did her no good and deep inside she always hoped for that woman to come back again."

"I didn't know you knew that." That's all she says and she's somehow embarrassed even though he doesn't understand why.

"It's a great story, I think I'd like you to tell me your version one day. When you feel ok to tell me about Daniel."

"I... Didn't know you wanted that story. It really is a good story and I'm sure you would like Daniel."

He thinks she wants to cry but she puts on her regal mask, although her eyes betray her as always.

"About Snow...Snow and I were just part of a greater plan of my mother's. We were also part of the Imp's plans to get to his son… But, I understood that it was not Snow's fault. Nothing was her fault. Unfortunately it was too late and I had done too much damage." Her eyes become darker and Henry never thought she would tell him so much. "But you know your insufferable family and how they don't give up and stubbornly love each other… So we became friends."

"I'm so proud of you. And I'm happy you're not that naïve Regina. I prefer you now. You made your own destiny mom. I hope – for his own sake – that Robin Hood is a great man… He kinda is in the book and the movie but… you fairytale characters have your own twist in real life " she's smiling " Because you are the best. And right now I don't know what I would do if someone hurts you."

She feels a tear roll down her cheek.

"I love you, Henry, more than I will ever be able to show. Don't you worry about Robin, he's a very good man. It is really good to have my little prince back." She puts her arm around her grown up son and cuddled him.

He relaxes at her embrace and says, "Mom, thank you for telling me these things. I never thought this day would ever come. But it was better than I could possible have imagined."

"You're welcome, Henry. I promised you the truth and I will do my very best to always give you that. But if one day I falter you with that is only to protect you, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too. And thank you for believing in me."