I just want to say a big thank you to those that have chosen to follow this story. It means a lot that you liked the first chapter enough to want more. :) My little writer heart is happy. And to the few that posted reviews. 3 Your words of encouragement and love of the story make me want to continue. SO thank you to all! Now without further ado...


Chapter 2

Have We Met?

"Mom! Can we go to the park today?" Henry called out while rummaging through the refrigerator to get to the milk for his cereal. "We'll see Henry. Finish your breakfast first." Emma stated as she came from the room, scrunching her wet hair with a towel. "I have errands to run today so we can't stay all day if we go, alright kiddo?" The boy just nodded as he shoved a spoonful of cereal in his mouth.

Emma threw the towel in the hamper then headed to the counter and opened her laptop to boot it up. "Did you leave me any?" She asked teasingly to her son, grabbing the box of cereal and a bowl to pour some for herself. Snatching a spoon from the sink and the milk, Emma leaned over the counter to munch on her breakfast as she searched her unread emails. "So, when do you want to go search for our Christmas tree?" She asked peering over the top of the computer to look at her son. The boy finished his mouthful of cereal before answering. "Can we get it tomorrow after school? Unless we can go after you finish today?" He took another big bite. "I want to get a big one this year." A bit of food went flying from his mouth.

Emma chuckled at the scene in front of her. "Don't talk with your mouth full and get a napkin. And we'll have to see about today. It depends on how long you keep me at the park." Emma answered, raising her eyebrow slightly at him before breaking into a small smile. "If we do though, then you will have to help me with my errands and the chores that need to be done today. Deal?" "Deal." Henry said between mouthfuls, then looked up at his mom with a cheeky grin. "Sorry." He took the napkin and wiped his mouth. She laughed and shook her head at him.

She gave a small sigh at his comment on wanting a bigger tree this year. "I don't know if we can afford a big one kid. Money is tight right now." Henry frowned a little but nodded. "I know. But... maybe we'll still find a big one that we can afford." He still wanted to hold out hope. Emma just gave him a small smile before looking back at her computer to finish checking what she needed. After closing the laptop she walked over and gave Henry a kiss on the head before taking his empty bowl to add to hers and took them to the sink to wash. "Go get dressed and we'll head to the park soon." Henry jumped up. "Can we play frisbee again? That was fun." Emma laughed. "Alright. Grab it on your way back. It's in my closet."


"Go long mom!" Henry called out as he flung the frisbee in the direction of the blonde. Emma reached up and snatched it out of the air, quickly sending it back to her son. Catching it, Henry tried to do a trick with it as he flew it toward her once more but it lost momentum and fell, rolling in the grass away from them. "Oops!"

"Don't worry, you'll get it. It takes practice." Emma stated back as she picked it up and brushed off the grass. "You ready for this one?" Henry grinned and nodded. She spun around once before sending it high and long in the air. Henry began to run where it was headed, turning around to run backward as he got closer so he could see to catch it. "Henry! Careful! Watch where you're going." Emma called out to him but it was too late, he didn't hear her. He jumped up to catch the ball and came down taking a few steps backward to steady himself, bumping into a lady and her dog.

"Watch where you're... " Regina began to say but stopped when she looked down to find familiar brown eyes staring up at her. "Sorry, sorry." Henry apologized, backing up out of the lady's personal space. Regina's demeanor completely changed as she softened her expression. "Are you alright?" She simply asked, tilting her head to the side and bending down to his eye level. "Yeah. I'm okay. Sorry for running into you. I should have watched where I was going." The boy stated looking down at the ground in front of him. "It's alright. No one was hurt." The brunette woman gave him a smile of reassurance when Henry slowly looked up as the woman spoke and he was set at ease knowing she wasn't mad at him. He gave her a smile back and it warmed her heart to see that smile she never thought she would see again.

"Does your dog bite?" He asked looking at the Beauceron sitting there patiently., its attention focused on a squirrel off in the distance. "No, she doesn't bite and her name is Maddie. You can pet her if you'd like." Henry's smiled grew a little bigger as he leaned over to stroke the dog's fur. Maddie turned her head to find who was petting her and wagged her tail in appreciation. "I always wanted a dog but mom says I'm enough trouble." Henry stated with a little chuckle before getting on his knees to continue petting the dog as the Beauceron licked him on the chin to say thanks. "And we can't really afford one right now." He added, giving the dog one last pat on the head before standing back up and brushing off his pants.

"Oh?" Regina was just about to say more when Emma bounded up slightly out of breath. "Henry, are you okay?" She asked her son, crouching down to check him over. Once she was satisfied there were no injuries she stood back up to speak with the woman he had run into. "I'm so sorry. It was my fault. I threw it too far and tried to get his attention. Are you alright?" Regina stood there a moment just staring at the blonde before her. She had not expected the surge of feelings trying to pull her towards the two. She had been trying to think of different scenarios of them meeting and how she would feel or what she would do, but the planning had all been for naught. There she stood frozen trying to collect her inner self. "Hello?" Emma furrowed her brow a little in concern. "I asked if you were alright?" Regina stood a moment longer before snapping out of her thoughts. "I.. I'm sorry. Yes, I'm fine. There's no need for concern." Regina finally answered.

"Well, sorry again. Come on Henry, I think you've bothered the woman enough." The blonde placed her arm over the boy's shoulder. "He was really no bother." Regina commented back with a warm smile. "No harm was done." She looked down to the boy and gave a small wink. He smiled back at her then tilted his head back to look up at his mother. "This means I'm not in trouble right?" Emma looked down and gave him a quirk of her brow. "I'll show you trouble." She stated before taking her free hand and tickling him a little. He laughed and squirmed a bit before settling as she stopped with the tickles. Regina watched the mother and son interact with each other and felt a warmth in her heart; the words she spoke to them that day she lost them both playing back in her mind like distant echoes. My gift to you is good memories. A good life for you and Henry. You'll have never given him up. You'll have always been together.

"Well thank you for not being angry at him." The blonde commented with a little crooked smile. She then reached out her hand. "Emma." She introduced herself. Regina hesitated a moment looking from her to her hand before extending her own to take it. "Regina." As the brunette's hand touched hers, Emma's eyes widened as a scene flashed in her head. A woman who looked like Regina, standing there offering up an apple to her. Regina cocks her head to the side in puzzlement. "Is there something wrong?" She asked the blonde who had gone quiet and still. "Emma?" With her name, another flash jumped into view. Again, a woman, seeming to be Regina, lay in the middle of a street. Henry is there along with Emma as they try to… wake her? The woman opens her eyes and says Emma's name.

"Emma? Are you alright?" Regina asked once again, her tone laced with concern. That voice. Emma blinked a few times and shook her head free of the strange images, letting go of the other woman's hand. "Yes...Sorry. It was just... nothing. It's... have we met before?" Regina just quirked her brow but didn't answer. She didn't want to lie to her, so instead said nothing and gave a light shrug. A slight blush of embarrassment came upon Emma's face as she turned to look away and clear her throat. "Well Henry, you uh... ready to go?" Henry nodded and gave Maddie a goodbye scratch on the head. As they went off their separate ways, Emma couldn't help as she looked over her shoulder to watch the brunette, wondering what those images she saw meant. She turned back around and shook her head to try and clear it once more. Wrapping her arm around her son's shoulders, she gave him a small hug squeeze and smile as they made their way out of the park.