"But I can do this…" Regina said as she dropped the spell into the fire she had conjured.
She watched the piece of paper burn. As the letters of the spell blackened and the words turned to ash, she was reminded that this spell was her only hope of getting Henry to love her. But, as Henry had pointed out – it wouldn't be real love. Regina knew she couldn't force her son to love her, as much as her heart desired it.
Henry looked at her and saw the sadness in her eyes.
"Thank you" he said. And he meant it. For the first time in a while, he understood how much his mom wanted him to love her. How much she wanted him to stay with her.
As Henry watched tears well up in his mother's eyes, he knew that he could give her his love. She was not the perfect mom. She had done terrible things. She had filled years of her life with hatred and vengeance. And she was the Evil Queen. But she was also his mother. She had always been there for him when he needed her. And Henry knew that despite everything, Regina Mills loved him with everything she had to offer.
As Regina extinguished the fireball she held in her hand, she looked past her son at his biological family. She noticed the protective way Emma, Neal and Charming were standing. She saw the fear in their eyes at the thought of Henry's life being threatened. And Regina was grateful that her son had love in his life. She just wished that he would accept her love too.
Henry saw the flame go out and noticed the fight leave Regina as well. Henry didn't want his mom to be upset. He glanced at Emma, gave her a reassuring smile – and then ran to Regina. Henry threw his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. Into that hug he tried to put all the love they both had trouble expressing. And as he smiled up at his mom's surprised and elated face, he knew without a doubt that she had felt it.