Chapter 2

Partners in Crime

The clatter of silverware against plates merged with sleepy tones of the citizens of Storybrooke as they rolled through their morning routine of breakfast at Granny's. Regina didn't always allow Henry to eat there but she tried to make an exception at least once a week. He ordered pancakes and cocoa, with cinnamon, of course, while Regina had egg whites and oatmeal. Most of the conversation they shared that morning was par for the course. He talked about school, his comic books and the new subject that she was warming up to more and more: Emma Swan. But there were also a few moments where she noticed him attempting to bring up something else. Little pauses where his mouth opened but nothing came out. She wondered what he could possibly be afraid to ask her at that point but then she remembered that their past had been filled with a great deal of lies on her part and Henry was just getting used to trusting her again.

Finally, after nearly every bite on his plate was taken, he found the courage he was looking for.

"What are you doing with Ava and Nicholas?" he asked, brown eyes fearful of the answer he might receive. "I know the law. You can't just keep them here forever and… well, I know who you are and who they are. You didn't exactly part on good terms back in the Enchanted Forest."

"Oh Henry, not this again," Regina nearly spat as she rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee. "How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not this Evil Queen you keep trying to make me out to be."

She hated lying to him like that. Hated that he knew so much and she couldn't at least explain her side. But this was the situation in which they found themselves and Regina Mills would be damned if she allowed Henry to be made fun of because he was walking around with not only his imagination running wild but his mother confirming his suspicions and placing herself one step away from the psych ward at Storybrooke General.

"Maybe not anymore," he conceded, taking another bite of his pancakes. "Whatever happened to you over Christmas has obviously changed you for the better, and I'm happy about that, but we both know I'm right about the book. You're just not ready to admit it yet. Now, tell me, what are you going to do to Nicholas and Ava?"

With a deep and frustrated sigh she placed the coffee cup down on the table and looked at him seriously.

"I am trying to reunite them with their father," she hissed in a whisper. "As you so helpfully pointed out for all the diner to hear, Nicholas and Ava are technically orphans at this very moment and if I don't turn them over to either their father or the state I'll soon get caught for breaking the law."

He looked at her, in much the same way he'd been looking at her all week, as if she'd grown a third eye or a second head.

"You're trying to save them?" he asked incredulously. "You want to give them back their happy ending?"

"Oh dear god," Regina huffed as she raised hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose.

"That's great news," he regarded her with a smile as he continued. "Maybe I can help you. I could do some digging in the book. And maybe Emma can help. She's good at finding people."

"Oh, trust me, I'm well aware of that inconvenient truth," the mother deadpanned as she left a few bills on the table to cover the check. "I'll have you know that the Sheriff is already aiding me in this little venture and neither of us are going to let you get involved because we have no idea what we'll find on our quest."

"Emma's helping you?" his eyes seemed to grow wider with every word Regina said. "Wow, she really is the Savior. I just didn't realize she was going to save you too."

"Enough, Henry!" her tone was loud, sharp and not to be trifled with. "Now, come on, I have to go to work and you have at least three video games to finish before school starts back up again."

"Alright, alright," he grumbled as he stood and put on his coat.

They made their way out of the diner and Regina kissed him on the forehead. Angry or not she'd never leave him without showing the love and affection she'd felt for the boy since the day he came into her life.

"Be good and call me if you need anything," she said as she searched for her keys in her purse.

"I will," he confirmed and turned to walk home but stopped and swiveled back. "Mom, what you're doing now, trying to bring back the happy endings, I think it's really great."

He didn't give her time to argue with him or tell him he was wrong. He simply smiled and walked away, leaving Regina standing there with the smallest of proud smiles on her face. Her son was starting to see the good within her once more. Maybe with enough of that, Regina might one day see the good in herself.

"Special delivery," the feminine voice was accompanied by a knock at Regina's office door.

The smirk that graced Regina's lips was masked along with the excitement that grew within her upon hearing the Sheriff's voice.

"Come in," she called out, finishing her signature on a few legal documents.

There were no magical books to hide that day. She'd taken them home and locked them in her study to ensure Emma didn't clumsily knock one of the texts off her desk and inquire as to why the Mayor would need a guide to the poisonous plants of Neverland. The swagger of the denim clad hips was more enunciated that it normally was and Regina couldn't help the prolonged glance that settled on the hypnotic sway of that gold star that proclaimed the Sheriff's authority.

"Bam!" the blonde proclaimed, slamming a piece of paper onto Regina's expensive desk. "We've got a name and a place of employment. You're going to need to double order on the dip and champagne for New Year's, Madam Mayor."

"You must be joking," the brunette said as she took the paper into her hands. "How did you possibly get this in under twenty-four hours?"

"Regina," the blonde huffed and held out her arms as if the answer were obvious. "I keep telling you I'm good at finding people. Have a little faith!"

"Praise the lord," the Mayor deadpanned. "Now, tell me, how did you get this information?"

"Well, I did what you said," the Sheriff answered, sitting down in the visitor's chair. "I talked to Nicholas and Ava. They gave me this compass that belonged to their father so I took it to Mr. Gold's shop…"

"You went to see Mr. Gold?" Regina asked incredulously, amazed that he would do anything to help someone out without asking for something in return. "What did he want from you?"

"Nothing. I already owe him from when I helped out Ashley," Emma remarked with roll of her eyes. "This one was free of charge."

This was a strange turn of events in the Mayor's mind. Why would Gold help the Savior? He'd gotten everything he'd asked for in their little deal. He was rich, powerful, creepy. It certainly seemed as if this was his happy ending as well. Why would he do anything to help Emma get even one step closer to breaking the curse?

"Interesting," Regina noted before pulling herself out of her musings. "Well, I suppose the next step would be to speak to him about the children."

Standing from her position at the desk, Regina moved around it to grab her coat from the rack. Emma followed suit but with more timid enthusiasm.

"Ok, I know that does sound like the logical next step but let's not get our hopes up," she warned as she stepped closer to the Mayor. "Just because we tell him he has kids doesn't mean he'll want them."

"Is that supposed to be a joke, Miss Swan?" Regina asked, straightening her collar. "It took you all of one glass of cider to decide you wanted to rip your son out of my very expensive and healthy home. Without any obstacles, like the perfect example of matriarch I embody, they'll be eating pot roast for dinner and reading bedtime stories by eight."

She didn't even wait for an answer before exiting the office with an eye rolling blonde in tow.

"It took a few hours in jail and your charming disposition to convince me that I wanted to be a part of Henry's life," Emma said as she followed Regina down the stairs. "I'm just saying that he might not be quite so keen on the idea of two more mouths to feed and lots of questions about the world to answer. Being a parent, when you're not ready to be a parent, can be a scary thing."

Regina wondered if it was as odd for Emma to admit her parental insecurities as it was for the Mayor to hear them. The Sheriff had always seemed so sure of herself, so arrogant and careless in her advances on Henry. Regina never would have thought that she had doubts. And, while her former way of handling things would have led her down a path of insults, she simply didn't have it in her heart to do so now.

"You're quite skilled at hiding those fears, Emma," she remarked as she unlocked the Mercedes and slipped inside along with her co-pilot. "I certainly couldn't see them and Henry knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's wanted by you. Well done."

"Did you just… Did you just compliment me on my parenting skills?" green eyes widened as the question was asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about and if you ever repeat my words I'll cut out your tongue," Regina replied before starting the car and pulling away.

It was quiet within the marble walls of the Mayoral Mansion. Far too quiet for a house holding a ten year old who should have been shooting zombies in surround sound. But Henry wasn't interested in having adventures on a screen. He wanted to live out the very real one that could be corroborated right behind his mother's study door. He just needed to figure out how to get inside.

He'd already tried tweezers, a safety pin, a bobby pin and a kitchen knife.

No dice.

Not that dice would have made a very good lock pick.

He'd tried sneaking in through the window too. It was locked as well. There was only one other way into that study. And that's why he was on top of the roof, tying a rope to the grate on the chimney. He'd stopped believing in Santa a long time ago but, in the time that he did have faith in the existence of the jolly, happy soul, he had examined the study chimney many, many times. It never seemed wide enough to accommodate someone with Santa's weight problems but it definitely seemed large enough for a small boy to pass through.

So, with a deep breath and a quick tug to the rope, Henry went down the chimney to his mother's study with a boisterous 'Ho, ho, ho'.

"How could a father possibly not want his own children?" Regina asked from inside the cold seat of the luxury car, shaking her head.

"I'm not sure," Emma replied, exasperated and resting her head against the hand that was propped against the passenger door. "But I'll tell you one thing, calling him a deadbeat hammer swinger certainly didn't sell him on the prospect. Regina, you have got to stop insulting people when they don't do what you want. It's just going to drive them away."

"It certainly didn't work with you," the Mayor replied sarcastically with a purse of her lips. "What do we do now? As much as I wish it were in my power I can't force him to own up to his responsibilities."

"I have no idea," the blonde answered with a sigh. "Sometimes I wish you really were the Evil Queen. It would make situations like this a whole lot easier."

"Yes, well I'm not, Miss Swan, so we're just going to have to figure out another way," Regina replied, annoyed at the statement.

Then, suddenly a thought occurred to the Sheriff.

"You were never evil," Emma stated aloud and sat up straight.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. You don't know everything about me," the Mayor replied, honestly and with a casual quirk of her head.

"No, I mean, you were never evil. I only thought you were," Emma explained. "I was afraid that you were bad for Henry. That you would hurt him. That's why I stayed and that's why I fought so hard to be with him. Then, after a while, I just… well he grew on me and I wanted to be with him more and more. Your...colorful disposition," she said, hoping not to offend the mayor, "is what lit a fire under my ass to be a part of Henry's life. Maybe that's what Michael needs too. You just need to create a fireball."

Then, for the first time in quite a few days, an evil smile graced Regina's lips.

It had been a very good day. After making a big scene in front of half the town, Emma picked up the crying children to take them to a state orphanage under Regina's orders. Then everything came together. It had actually been fun; conspiring with Emma Swan. Ava and Nicholas were reunited with their father and Regina had made it home just in time for dinner.

"Henry," she called out as she hung her coat on the rack. "We did it, we were able to save Ava and Nicholas. I think we should celebrate with meatloaf."

She checked the kitchen and the living room but found no sign of her son.

"Henry!" Regina called out once more only to be met with the sound of a ten year old coming from her office… her locked office.

"In here!" Henry called back.

Regina couldn't believe it. How in the world had he managed to get inside her office? It was still locked! She rummaged around her suit jacket pocket for the key and opened the door only to find a very sooty ten-year-old standing over a plethora of open guides, maps and grimoires detailing so many secrets of her world and many more.

"Henry," the Mayor rasped as she tried to figure out how she was possibly going to explain this.

"Are you ready to tell me what's going on now?" he asked. "Because I think I just found something we can definitely bond over. I'm calling it Operation Tiny Tim."