Two scoops
"Mom, did I have a dad?" young five year old Henry asked as he approached Regina who stirred boiling pasta over the stovetop. Regina frowned and looked over at Henry, concerned.
"What do you mean, Henry?" She asked not knowing how to respond.
"All the kids on TV have a mommy and a daddy. Where's my daddy?" Henry didn't look upset, simply curious. Henry was always a perceptive boy and Regina knew she would have to answer this question someday, she'd just expected it to be later rather than sooner.
"Well, it just didn't work out that way, Henry," Regina said hoping to dodge the conversation. Her attempt was futile though as Henry pursued a different question with a stronger punch. "How are babies made? Do they hatch like chickens or can you get them at a special store?" All were innocent questions, yet all would come with a price.
"Well, Henry…" Regina started as she drained the pasta in the sink, "When a man and woman love each other sometimes they're lucky enough to be able to make a baby together."
Henry's eyes lit up with curiosity, "How do they do that?!" He asked excitedly.
Regina smiled, now finished making the spaghetti and scooped Henry up into her arms. "With lots of love and kisses!"
Henry squealed and giggled as Regina kissed all over his tiny face, "You must have loved daddy lots! Where is he?"
Regina's expression instantly changed as the question came back knowing she could answer it many ways, most of them lies but she could still give them. But Regina knew that even if she lied to him now, he would still find out later. The best option would be the truth. She sighed softly and told him. "I didn't make you Henry. Another man and woman made you, but they couldn't take care of you so, I adopted you and made you my little prince."
Henry didn't look upset, but instead he looked thoughtful. "You're not my real mom?"
Regina frowned and gently bounced him. "I didn't make you, but I love you more than any mother loves her son, Henry."
This made the little boy smile wide. "If you love me that much then can we eat ice cream after dinner?"
Regina softly smiled. "I suppose once scoop wouldn't hurt."
Henry giggled and planted a big kiss on his mother's cheek before he helped her set the table by setting out their plates and cups. His mother smiled and helped him cut his spaghetti and clean his face when he finished. She even gave him two scoops of ice cream instead of one for dessert. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him eat, grateful for a child's perspective, an unjudging, loving, loyal, and fresh perspective on herself. One she would always cherish. He truly was the only one in all the realms who believed in her.