Emma felt a dry lump form in her throat. Maybe it was karma that she could never look at her son without beginning to cry. Like all the guilt and hatred she felt about herself for giving him up 10 years ago was wrapping itself into a physical ball and telling her to cry. Not one day she had gone by without thinking about it, and everyday that guilt, that pain, that lump in her throat was there, reminding her that she couldn't let go of the past. But maybe today all of that would change?

'No don't be silly, Emma. If I cant forgive myself for giving him up, how could he ever forgive me?' She thought to herself.

Quickly, she put the picture back in the envelope and tucked it into the seat in front of her. Ruby could tell she didn't want to talk about it so looked away and didn't say anything. She wasn't one to pry. There was an eerie silence between them until the seatbelt sign went off and made a loud 'ding.' Emma stood up, shuffled her way past Ruby, muttering apologies under her breath, and headed for the toilet.

On her way down the isle she couldn't help but notice a little girl with blonde curls giggling with her father. The two of them were clapping their hands and laughing at each other, care free of the world around them, like they were the only thing that matter to one another. Emma had to hold back tears; she had often wondered what it was like to have such a bond... She realised she was now staring and dropped her eyes to her feet as she scurried to the bathroom. Pushing the lever to 'occupied' she sat on the closed toilet seat and sobbed.

'Is this all a mistake? I wouldn't know even where to begin in motherhood.'

She took a deep breath an tried to compose herself. Looking in the mirror she wondered what her son was doing right now, she may not know much about him but she was the woman that gave him life, she knew it was his birthday.

"Happy birthday, Henry," she whispered.

Regina teetered along the floorboards to her sons room. She cracked the door open and saw the quilt move slightly up and down, and heard the heavy breathing of Henry. Her heart melted at the sight just like it did every morning. She perched herself on the edge of the bed, careful not to sit on his legs, and gently shook him. Henry had always hated the sound of alarms and refused to set one, consequently resulting in Regina waking him up. But she didn't mind. It was their special routine that made their unbreakable bond even stronger. Henry squirmed and flustered his eyes open. He smiled as he saw his mother above him,

"Happy Birthday, my little prince," she said and their noses touched.

"Mum, I'm a big boy now, I don't need silly nose kisses," Henry replied but his sparkling eyes and radiant smile told Regina otherwise. Nevertheless she pulled away and put on her 'fake serious face,'

"Anything for the Prince on his birthday," she said and Henry laughed, "Now, what would you like for breakfast?"

Henry thought hard, Regina could see the concentration on his face like it was the toughest decision he had to make. This was another tradition they did every year. Regina would cook anything he liked all day, with her signature Apple Tart to finish off the celebration. She saw his eyes light up as he said,

"Pancakes...and waffles. With lots of strawberries and a hot chocolate. Please." He said and Regina laughed,

"Pancakes AND waffles?! Well I suppose my little prince is growing up, and so is his belly." She tickled his stomach and Henry wiggled under the covers as he cried hysterically. The only time Regina genuinely smiled was when she was with her son, these mornings were the ones she treasured, and would do forever.

"That's 2 pancakes, 2 waffles, strawberries and an extra large hot chocolate coming up," she said heading for the door.

"Oh, and Mum, don't..."

"Forget the cinnamon," Regina finished. She knew her son as well as he knew himself. He had such an obscure taste pallet and she knew that no-one could know him any better than herself.

"Anything for you M'am?" Asked the air stewardess, stopping the cart at isle 16. After Emma left the toilet she went back to her seat and apologised for her behaviour. Ruby said it was fine and told her how brave she was for doing this. However she knew it was a sensitive subject so started talking about herself and her travelling. She had been to all the states Emma had heard of, and even a few she hadn't. Whilst discussing her trip to Vancouver last summer stewardess came. Emma looked up at her and thought like it was the hardest decision she had to make,

"Do you have any hot chocolate?" To which the steward nodded and started to pour a very watery looking liquid from a silver container.

"Thank you," Emma said and took the cup, which wasn't very hot for - supposed hot' chocolate. Once she had moved down a few more rows she whispered to Ruby,

"Is this actually drinkable?"

Ruby laughed, "I don't think so, but if you like hot chocolate then just wait till you try my Granny's. Better than this watery crap."

"Grilled cheese and hot chocolate, believe me you won't be able to get me out of the diner. I kinda have a weird thing about hot chocolate though, I love it with cinnamon." Emma laughed at herself, but Ruby looked serious,

"Cinnamon?" She asked and Emma nodded, losing her smile. "Emma, what did you say your sons name was again?"

Emma frowned, "Henry, why?"

Ruby shifted in her seat, "I know him. Henry Mills."

Emma almost brought back up the sip of hot chocolate she had just taken, "You... You know him? How?"

Ruby didn't dare make eye contact with her, instead she kept her eyes locked on her red boots and sighed, "He's the son of Regina Mills, the biggest and best lawyer in Maine. She defended me in court once- long story- and she won. I...I never thought he was adopted, I just assumed that..." Her voice trailed off. Ruby was known for talking too much and never knew when to stop, but Emma didn't want her to stop,

"What did you assume?"

"Nothing, just never thought that someone like Regina Mills would adopt a kid."

Emma paused. She didn't know what to think, she didn't know what to say. But she needed to know,

"Is he happy?"

Now Ruby didn't know what to think or say. She shouldn't lie, but she by no means wanted to hurt this woman sitting next to her. Regina may not be a nice person, buts even Ruby has to admit, shes a good mother. The pilot cut her off as she opened her mouth,

"Hello, this is your pilot speaking, we are just starting to decrease into Maine, please buckle your seat belts and thank you for flying with us today."

Emma touched Ruby's hand and looked into her eyes. During the flight Emma had felt like they had made a special connection, maybe even a friendship,

"It's okay, I get it, it's fine. I'm sorry I asked."

Inside she was screaming it wasn't fine- not fine at all. But then again, what was she expecting? Yet again she has proved to herself that hope only ends in heartbreak. Her world jolted as the plane hit the floor, not nearly as smooth as when they took off. Ruby squeezed her hand back,

"It will be okay, Emma. I'll drive you back to Granny's and we can have grilled cheese with a nicer hot chocolate than this watery crap, yeah?"

Emma forced a smile, "Don't forget the..."

"Cinnamon," they said in unison. The two girls laughed as they walked off the plane.

'Maybe this journey wouldn't be that bad after all,' thought Emma to herself, a tiny voice in the back of her head was still clinging onto the hope that she could have her son. A family that she never had. But there was something in her way: Regina. Now, a woman she had never met was on her mind, and little did she know, Regina Mills wasn't going to be leaving her thoughts anytime soon, no matter how hard she tried.