"Miss Swan, I am not sure what you are referring to, but that was never my intent, I assure you."

Her words cut like a knife, in one quick second, making me question everything I ever thought I knew about Regina Mills, myself, our relationship, and Storybrooke in general.

"I...what?!" I sputtered, trying to understand what the woman before me was saying.

"Despite what you may have thought, the only reason I continue any semblance of a relationship with you is for my son." she said, looking into my eyes with her usual burning intensity.

"Well, shit, Regina." I sighed, putting my hands in my jacket pocket, directing my gaze to the ground beneath the apple tree where we stood "Alright" I gently kicked one of the apples that had fallen to the ground and began to walk down the path that would take me out of her yard, not bothering to look back at what I'm sure would have been a smug look on the mayor's face.

"What do you MEAN she said 'no'?!" said Henry, smacking the table in frustration. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked up at me.

"What else can I say, kid? I tried..she not only said 'no', she essentially said I was crazy for thinking there was anything between us..."

"None of this makes sense" he said, resting his head in his hands as he stared down at his cup of cocoa, looking defeated. Luckily, Granny's was pretty empty that day. I didn't need anyone hearing me talk to Henry about this.

"Well, I mean...she's got a point...what proof did I really think I had? This was all just such a bad idea..." at this, he dropped his hands in disbelief and raised an eyebrow, making him suddenly look much older than he was.

"Are you KIDDING me, Emma?! You said just yesterday you were convinced she felt the same way...we went through all the signs together! I know her, Emma. I KNOW her. There's no WAY my mom doesn't love you back..."

"Woah, kid." I said, shifting uncomfortably "Who said anything about love?" At that, he just stared at me. At this, I felt my face flushing and I looked down at my own cocoa, unable to hold his gaze.

"Like I said...she loves you too." he said, matter-of-factly "I thought for sure if you talked to her about it, it would happen...what did you say?!" I sipped at my cocoa, wondering how I let myself take dating advice from a child.

"I don't know..." I sighed, embarrassment swelling up inside me "just everything we talked about...like the looks and the touching...and the talks..." I could tell Henry was disappointed and I was rambling. I knew I fucked this up, I just knew it.

"Did you talk about the magic? Or better yet...your feelings?" he asked, clearly clinging to the hope that I didn't somehow royally screw this up.

"Look, Henry, this is stupid. She said she wasn't interested...and that I had misinterpreted everything. I'm sorry for dragging you into this at all...I should have just not said anything" I said looking down at my hands guiltily, tears filling my eyes.

"Emma" he said softly. I looked up at him as he continued "don't let anything make you feel like your feelings are stupid. Even if we're wrong, - which we're not - you love her. There's nothing wrong with that" I smiled and sat up straight, ruffling his hair.

"How the hell did you end up so wise, kid?!" I said, finally taking another sip from my cocoa.

"Eh, my moms did alright, I guess..." he said smugly, taking his mug into his hands with a wide grin.

"I can't realistically take much credit...but thanks" I said, placing my empty mug back onto the table.

"We just have to figure out why she's lying..." he said, the look of concentration back upon his face as he stared intently at the table.

"Kid, I don't think she'd lie...she-"

"I've got it!" he interrupted "maybe she's trying to protect you!"

"protect me?" I asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah! Maybe she thinks the town will be upset if they find out you two love each other and hurt you!"

"...would the town really cause a riot over the Queen being with a woman?"

He thought about it for a moment and sighed "I guess not..."

I got up and did up my jacket. "Thanks for talking to me about this, kid...but I don't think it'll be going anywhere..." at my words, Henry's eyes filled with tears and he stormed out of Granny's. With a quick wave to Ruby, I was after him.

"Henry, what the hell?!" I said, once I caught up to him. He turned, tears streaming down his face now.

"It's real. It has to be" he said, looking up to me through puffy tear-covered cheeks.

"What, your mom and I?" he nodded, wiping his nose on his sleeve. I sighed and knelt down next to him. "why is this so important to you?"

He looked up at me, maturity and seriousness seeping through his every pore and said "because you're the savior."

"And who says the savior ends up with the Queen?" I asked with a kind smile

"Look, Emma. You can deny it all you want, but you, as the product of true love, are capable of more love than you can imagine. It took me awhile to see it, but I know now that that's why you're here. Not just to break the curse, or save Storybrooke...but to save her." I just looked at him. This clearly meant so much to him.

"I'm sorry, kid...I just don't know...I mean, she's never even said anything..." I started, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"I'm tired of people not believing me, ever." he said, shrugging my hand away. "I'm going home" he said, walking off. I followed, hating that somehow we had reached the angsty teenage phase early.

We walked together in silence until the house was in sight. He stopped walking and turned to me.

"You have to talk to her" he said, his face blank.

"I tried that, Henry. She doesn't want to hear it. Says I'm making it up. I can only push so much..."

"Promise me."

"Promise you what, Henry?! That I'll march in there and announce my undying love to a woman who can barely tolerate being near me?!" I asked, my voice cracking as emotions swelled up inside me. The truth was that he was voicing the tiny voice inside me that didn't want to give up, either. I just didn't want to hear it. It made the rejection hurt much more. To my surprise, he smirked.

"Told you you loved her." I laughed despite myself and playfully nudged his shoulder.

"You are such a pain"

"Yup. So, you gonna talk to her?" He asked again.

"Ugh. fine. Maybe. But not tonight. I'm just dropping you off and going home." I could tell by the look he gave me next that he would let me do no such thing. In seconds, I saw his expression turn to one of despair as he faked his best tears, turned, and ran for the house.

"Seriously, Henry?!" I said, as I started chasing him toward Regina's house.