A/N Thank you to everybody who has read/reviewed/followed/favourited this story so far. Here is a quick update before I go on holiday. It'll probably be at least two weeks before I get a chance to update again. Hope you all enjoy!

"Oh" Emma was unsure what she had been expecting to come out of Regina's mouth but it certainly was not an admission that her son was being bullied. She would have been less surprised if this visit had been Regina seeking her blessing to pursue a romantic relationship with Mary Margaret – Emma was sure she was also more equipped to handle that situation.

"I knew he had been a little off recently" Regina continues, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil going on inside Emma. "I assumed that it was the stress of hiding our meetings and that he would speak to you about anything else. I should have been more cautious"

Emma flinches at Regina's words despite the fact there is no sting to them. She had not noticed anything different about Henry, he had been chatting away as usual. True he had been side stepping questions about school but then again she thought all children did that. Then there was the fact that Regina had assumed that Henry would speak to her should anything be the matter and by extension Regina had trusted that Emma would deal with it. Which she had failed to do.

"Has he been skipping school?" Emma jolts as she realises the question is aimed towards, and shrugs uselessly. Regina's lips purse with undisguised irritation and she breathes a lengthy sigh before she speaks again.

"Well obviously this has to be nipped in the bud. I suggest you put on some pants Miss Swan and we'll deal with this – firstly we'll speak to Henry. There is no point in stopping the bullying without Henry realising that we are there for him, his emotions will be running high and he'll need some support. Additionally I believe that it is possibly the high status of his family that may be causing his an attack on the weakest link if you see what I mean? It will not help him in the slightest that the curse has been broken and the whole town now sees me as the evil queen. That's a lot of lineage for a young boy to carry"

Regina paces as she speaks and Emma finds herself transported back to the days when she was the mayor. She was always so in control and knew exactly what to do in every emergency tonight Emma was beginning to see that she was the same as a mother. Except there was something else, something more terrifying and yet strikingly innocent, Emma was getting to watch the maternal fire Regina had for Henry. The selfless urge to do anything for him, why was it that she had never noticed it before?

Whereas Emma really struggles feeding the boy something that is not pop tarts or a burger from Granny's, she has let him watch a DVD that had given him nightmares, she had not noticed that he was being bullied. Could it really be that she had been kidding herself this whole time about being a suitable mother for Henry? Her fear is heightened when Regina stops pacing upon finishing her monologue and eyes the other woman expectantly.

"Miss Swan, get dressed!" she snaps but Emma finds herself unable to move – she literally had no idea what she was doing. With a helpless shrug of her shoulder Emma forces herself to meet Regina's eye. Well she was actually looking at a spot behind Regina's head, but at least her eyes weren't on the floor.

"Uhm…maybe you should just handle this one?" Emma's voice is quiet but it carries in the near silent room. She expects triumphant glee from Regina, a scathing comment that shows her that no matter how she tries Emma will never be the mother that Henry needs. Instead she hears a small huff.

"Don't be an idiot Miss Swan" before Emma can protest Regina has a surprisingly strong grip on her wrist and is pulling her towards her bedroom. Emma twists her arm like a child trying to avoid being sent to her room but the former Mayor pays no attention. Regina pulls the door of her bedroom open and pushes Emma in ahead of her. As the brunette walks towards her, Emma finds herself struggling to shallow the lump of fear that has risen in her throat. Regina's lips had created a thin line, and a familiar menace flashes in her eyes. She steps into the blonde's personal space as she had done any times before, when she speaks her voice is low and it leaves no room for argument.

"You listen dear because I am about to tell you exactly how this is going to work. You are going to put on a pair of those ridiculously skinny jeans you are so fond of wearing, and then you are going to find that tacky excuse for a jacket you love. Then we are going to walk over to the two idiots' apartment and we are going to get to the bottom of this." Regina raises an eyebrow waiting for Emma to challenge her authority but for once the blonde elects to stay silent.

"The thing is Miss Swan despite your usual arrogance you are missing the point. For starters I am aware that I am probably the cause behind Henry's issues at school, this seems far more likely than his noble heritage." Emma is surprised to hear the brunette's voice waver slightly here, displaying perhaps a slight guilt about her past actions.

"Secondly, despite this being the last thing I desire you are now Henry's guardian and you will be there for him and raise him well if I have to teach you how to do so myself!"

Emma is literally gob-smacked, and more than a little suspicious Regina never did anything that would benefit Emma? But this was Henry and Henry was the one thing that they had in common. It is for this reason that she follows Regina's instructions with minimal complaint.

[xx]

Before Emma knows what is happening they are standing at the door of her parent's apartment. The brisk walk in the crisp Maine air had been almost silent, and for the briefest of seconds she forgets why they are there. Then Regina raises an eyebrow at her.

"Right of course" Emma mutters, getting them into the apartment falls strictly into the category of her job. This is probably the only bit of help she is going to be able to offer. Taking a deep breath she takes the smallest of steps forward of that her body is partially hiding Regina's. In case either of her parents decides to tackle Regina on sight. Then she raises a hand a knocks, surprised with how confident the noise sounds.

Mary Margaret's face splits into a massive smile when she sees Emma at the door this smile, however, drops from her face almost instantly when she sees Regina standing behind her. Alarm, panic, fear and then anger cross her features as she visibly tenses preparing for a fight.

"What are you doing here?" She hisses in a voice so unfamiliar to the blonde she would have never recognised it. This was the voice of an angry monarch. This woman may be dressed in an oversized pink sweater but she would take Regina on if given a reason too.

"Relax," Emma says hurriedly hoping to defuse the situation before it escalates. She takes a step forward, hoping to get Mary Margaret to relax a little. "Just let us in. We have an issue to deal with trust me." The she side steps Mary Margaret and walks into the apartment hoping that Regina will be allowed to do the same.

"What is she doing here?" If Emma thought her mother was being hostile it was nothing compared to the contemptuous tone coming from her father. She found herself being thankful that his sword was not in his hand. He and Henry had both risen from the couch, a paused game of Mario Kart displayed on the screen. His hand resting protectively on Henry's shoulder, ready to pull him out of the way if need be. Emma finds herself worrying for a second, or perhaps hoping, that Regina was mistaken. Her kid was perfectly happy and enjoying a family evening, there was no way he was getting bullied.

"Mom?" Henry's voice pipes up when Regina fails to answer David's question. Emma suspects her reason for doing so is that she is unable to come up with a response that would not be scathing. Instead the brunette has her eyes fixed on Emma; clearly she was expected to take charge of the situation.

"OK, here is what's happening. You two" She says pointing at each of her parents in turn "will sit down and be quiet for five minutes. Regina is here because she came with me and she has something important to discuss with Henry. In saying that neither Henry nor Regina will leave our sight for the duration of this visit" She looks around to room green eyes meeting every other set. Hoping the she is using her authority correctly, and hoping that her parents will listen to her. Confusion is evident on both theirs and Henry's face, whereas Regina's holds the smallest hint of a smirk. Apparently hearing your former nemesis being told to sit down is appealing no matter the context. Thankfully, nobody argues with her. Mary Margaret slowly crosses the room and takes David's hand before the pair of them sit, their eyes never leaving Regina just as the tension does not leave their bodies.

Regina pays them no notice and walks slowly over to the breakfast counter, clearly separating herself from the rest of the group. Emma considers following her, but as she watches the brunette reach out an inviting hand to the confused Henry she decides against it. This is a moment for observation on her part. Even still she feels like she is interrupting something private. Henry, despite still being unsure about what is going on walks over to his adoptive mother without hesitation.

He trusts her Emma thinks to herself. Despite all that she is done, despite thinking that she had killed Archie or that not so long ago she and restrained him with a tree, he still goes to her.

When he is level with the disgraced mayor she runs a hand slowly through his brown locks, before kneeling down to his level and looking him straight in the eye. The way she always does this when she has something important to say to him. Regina's gaze is so intense that Emma finds herself wanting to look away – emotions are being displayed there that the brunette would never allow to the surface at any other time. All the love and care Regina has held for him over the years, and all the shame she carries from causing him pain is reflected in that gaze. It is far more powerful than any words that could have been spoken. Without lowering her gaze, Regina slowly moves her hands to Henry's torso, moving at an almost painstaking pace. Allowing the boy time to process exactly what it is she's doing. When slender fingers reach the plaid of his shirt she slowly bunches up the fabric so that it is resting slightly above his ribs. Her eyes still locked lovingly on the boy in front of her. As pale skin comes into view for the rest of the room Mary Margaret's gasp in audible, Emma closes her eyes pinching her bridge sharply as another wave of shame hits her. How could she have not noticed this?

Henry's pale skin is marred with an assortment of bruises, ranging from dark purple to yellow. A fresh boot print clearly visible on his left side. He must have been in a terrible amount of pain, but never once had he let it show. Regina's brow is furrowed with worry but she has yet to break her silence, her question hangs in the air without needing to spoken. She is waiting for Henry, waiting until he is ready.

"I'm a prince" Henry says eventually his voice cracking and his chin wobbling as he fights back tears. "I should be strong enough to handle this" With this his brave façade cracks and he lets out a pained sob. Without hesitating Regina pulls him to her. Sitting down on the floor with her back against the breakfast bar she hushes him softly. Speaking comforting words, and not even flinching as his tears stain her designer jacket. Unbidden Regina's words from long ago come to the forefront of Emma's mind:

"I've changed every diaper, soothed every fever, endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but I am his mother"

Now she was seeing that Regina was right, being a mother to this boy was far more than occasionally letting him have a burger and stay up past his bed night. It was being able to care for him on a level that Emma had never cared for anybody, and here was Regina the so-called Evil Queen doing it relying solely on what seemed to be instinct. Yeah Emma loved Henry, but when he was born she was unequipped to look after him, and she certainly does not feel any better qualified now. Henry's sobs begin to dull as Regina whispers into his hair, straining her ears Emma realises that the brunette is singing but she cannot make out the words. When the last tear has been shed Regina gently props her son up and turns him to face her. Making him meet her eyes, so she can convey the truth she speaks.

"Henry I want you to listen to me because I should only need to say this once" Her voice is almost stern, but her eyes are tender "You do not have to be ashamed about what has happened to you. Everybody here has gone through something that has caused them pain. What I want you to understand is that every person in this room is here to help you. Do you understand me?" Henry nods his eyes still full of tears, but they are no longer falling. Regina smiles and leans into kiss him on the forehead.

"Good, now I have made a battle plan or two in my time so here is how this one is going to work" Despite the fact that she has never taken her eyes of Henry, everybody in the room tenses slightly at the mention of a battle, but the brunette's tone is light focused on to putting Henry at ease. In this moment it is as if the curse that never existed.

"If it were up to me, I would go for the more direct route which would involve a couple of explosions" At this Regina fakes a playful pout causing Henry to laugh a genuine laugh. Emma also finds herself smiling because the brunette cannot resist an opportunity to wind her parents up. Besides she has never seen the brunette act in a way that was not deathly serious before, although there is no doubt Regina is taking the situation seriously she is being playful.

"But I have sadly reformed, so we are going to do this the grown-up way. Firstly you are going to need to tell us who is doing this to you. You don't have to tell us right now, but I am expecting you to have told at least one of us by Sunday night. Then Mary Margaret…" The raven haired woman jumps at the sound of her name, clearly not expecting to be involved in any of Regina's plans. "…will approach the school board, and deal with this matter as the school sees appropriate. Then David will go to school as the deputy sheriff and give an assembly on the effect and consequences of bullying a classmate. Finally Miss Swan"

If Mary Margaret was surprised to hear her name spoken it was nothing to how Emma felt. She could not do anything to help; she was totally unequipped for this. For the first time since the conversation began Regina took her eyes off Henry and looked directly at the blonde as if sensing her panic. As the brown eyes held her gaze she felt calmer, Regina may be dividing the tasks was in control and there was no way she was going to let Emma mess this up.

"Miss Swan will visit the families of the children, not as the sheriff and certainly not as the saviour but as…" A flash of pain shots through Regina's face and her shoulders slump slightly as she averts her gaze from the emerald ones. "…As your mother. That way it can be discussed with the parents and a plan created. How does that sound?" Henry nods shakily his hand in his mothers.

"If can fails can we revisit the explosions?" he smiles tentatively. Regina laughs, a real genuine laugh and ruffles his hair her eyes twinkling.

"We'll have to see what your grandparents say about that"

Eventually Henry untangles himself from his mother and stands. She quickly follows suit, and it instantly become hard to believe that this woman sat on the floor. She brushes imaginary dirt of her slacks as Henry asks David if they can finish their Mario Kart game before bed. Giving one last smile to her son Regina begins to walk towards the door.

"Mom, wait" Henry calls out, "Would you like to stay for a little while" Regina smiles; the smile that she seems to have reserved for Henry, but casts her eyes around the other occupants of the room.

"Perhaps some other time dear, but I will see you soon" She walks towards the door again and without really knowing why Emma follows her outside.

They are back out in the cold air before Regina acknowledges Emma is following her. She stops, her body is tense and Emma knows this woman well enough to know she should not approach. She does not want to risk ruining an evening that has done more for their relationship than any one previous. So she stands about six feet away hands in her pockets, shuffling her feet slightly.

"Miss Swan?" Regina's voice is hoarse and cracking slightly, despite her back being to Emma, the blonde can tell she is crying.

"Yeah…"

"Can you please arrange for me to see my son? I will go to trial as soon as possible if that is what it takes."

Emma nods, although of course Regina cannot see her. Regardless she does not wait for an answer but walks away into the cold night. With Emma helplessly staring after her.

A/N I hope you all enjoyed this. I could see the scene between Regina and Henry so clearly in my mind but I'm not sure I did it justice.