AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to all whom had favored and followed this story; it means a lot and today being Lana Parrilla's birthday I thought it was a perfect time to post. Here's chapter two let me know what y'all think.
Sorry in advanced for the mistakes.
PS. Happy birthday Lana, you most likely will never read this but just in case you ever do, I love you and you are such an inspiration to everything I do especially my writing.
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It has been two weeks since Henry had asked her about her family history. During those two weeks Regina had tried to go by her days as normal as possible with her family but after that innocent question those doubts and fears about the curse, who she really was, and the bone crushing fear of her husband or her sons finding out about her past and what she has done in order to achieve her happy ending and hating her for it, has started to become so strong that sometimes it was hard to breathe. Losing her family, that was what she feared most. Her greatest weakness.
After everything she had been through in her life, she finally won, casting the Dark curse gave her everything she wanted in life. And she had vowed that she was going to make sure that she stayed winning that the town stayed how it was and her family was forever together and with her.
That ought that she to have made with herself was getting harder and harder to maintain after her eldest son received a gift from Snow White. A storybook full of the people and their stories of the Enchanted Forrest, and of course hers and Robin's stories were front line. Those tales that Henry has been reading was making his imagination run wild, and Regina was terrified, he had become more distant with her with every story he read, he questions everything she did or said at every turn.
The final blow was when her eldest son blatantly ignored her at breakfast and only had his nose buried on that book, it actually took Robin to formally tell their son that there was no reading at the table for him to put that damn book down however even without that god forsaken book as a barrier he still didn't converse with her. He had focused his full attention on his pancakes and on his little brother. That had just happened that morning and Regina has had enough.
That night after her children were tucked safely in bed (Henry refused to have her give him a good night kiss so Robin was the one to do it) did she approach the subject with her husband. She came out of their en-suit clad in her silk pajama dress, whilst rubbing lotion on her arms Regina looked at her handsome husband, he had his back to the headboard on the right side of the bed with work papers on his lap with his legs crossed and big framed glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose, her husband was a very sexy and beautiful man.
"Love if you keep staring at me like that, I will have to start charging you." Her husband said in his addictive British voice with a smile that put those dimples of his (which thank god their son has inherited) on full display.
"What? Is it a crime that I want to admire my sexy husband while he reads?" She says coyly, although she had not forgotten the pending conversion that she had to have with him, it never hurt to flirt with the love of her life, especially before bed.
"Oh! Well then how about you get in this bed and I'll let you admire me more up close and personal." His invitation of just going to him, climbing on his lap and doing all the things she knows he loves had her biting her lower lip in excitement, but no this talk had to happen.
"I would love to my love but before that, we have to talk Robin." The mayor said, the playfulness leaving her voice now replaced with seriousness, after those words left her lips, she walked to her side of the bed and sat in front of him, their crossed legs touching.
"Uh oh! Conversations never ended well when started with those infamous words." Robin said playfully, he knew she wanted to talk about Henry's behavior as of late, he could see how his distant behavior towards her was hurting her, so he tried to lighten the mood.
"Robin I'm serious, we need to talk about what we're going to do about Henry and his not so loving behavior towards me. That stupid book has filled his head with fantasy's and other nonsense, we have to do something about it now before it gets to a point where he can't distinguish between what's real and what's fantasy." His wife's words were laced with fear and uncertainty.
"I know, but my Love we cannot just take away the storybook, or make him do as we please, there has to be another way." Robin said because he really believed that just taking away his son's beloved book and forcing him to go back to how it was, would be counterproductive.
"Ok then what do you suppose we do Robin? Our son doesn't even want to talk to me because he honestly believes that I'm some evil queen from some fairy tale story. Robin it feels like a stab to my chest every time he looks at me like if I'm some villain not his mother." Regina was actually close to tears, she laid her hands on her face, trying to keep the tears at bay but the dread and the fear that had been in her was becoming too much and she honestly couldn't take it anymore.
She felt her loves arms wrap around her waist and pull her to his lap, she laid her head on his shoulder and put her hand on his strong chest feeling the drumming of his heart beat whilst she took all the love and security that she could only find in his arms and that she is so terrified of losing.
"Babe please don't cry it's going to be ok I promise. How about we make him an appointment with Dr Hooper tomorrow, it would do him good to see a professional and we can ask him advice on how to proceed on this and how to deal with it better. Ok?" Regina could only nod her head and after a while of just being in each other arms she felt his lips on her forehead, the distraught mother lifted her head of his shoulder and her lips found his instantly, that simple touch of their lips ignited the fire that always burned below the surface and in no time they were completely lost in each other's arms.
"Thank you for everything you do for me and our family, for being my rock, I don't know what I would do without you. I love you so much Robin." She whispered to him hours later when they were both sated and feeling sleepy, and most of her worries and fears were gone with the wake of his touch. Regina lifted her head up from its resting place on his chest and looked into his eyes, the amount of love and complete adoration that she found in those pair of oceans took her breath away, she never wanted to lose this. Him. This feeling of belonging that she had only felt with Robin and her children.
"I love you too Regina Locksley, and we are a team, every problem that comes our way we'll deal with it together, especially when it comes to our children." The complete confidence in his voice had her actually believing that they would always be like this. Together.
Even if she knew deep down that if who she really was and everything she had done came forth, he wouldn't be saying those amazing words to her, or looking at her the way he is now, it was just not possible to love the real her. But for now she was just going to give him a heartfelt smile, kiss him gently on the lips and on his shoulder, settle herself more comfortably on his chest and let his calming heart beat lure her to dreamland.
The next morning was Tuesday, and Regina wanted to make the appointment with Dr Hooper as soon as she woke up, but she knew that it was only 6:30 am and even for the mayor it was too early for calling for appointments, so she settled for calling while she made her family breakfast. After her thoughts were put into place, that she disentangled herself from her lovers warm body, got herself up from her comfortable bed and went to take a blazing hot shower before starting her day.
10 minutes into her shower she heard the en-suit doors open and a "good morning my love" from her husband while he began to brush his teeth. "Good morning dear, please go wake up your children, and make sure they are both showered and teeth brushed by the time I make myself presentable."
Regina told her husband while she rinsed the apple and vanilla scented shampoo from her hair, she knew that he was going to do it anyway; he was the most amazing father she had ever known. But it never hurt to remind him that their children really did need to shower in the mornings, no matter the excuse they both made of how they showered the night before and it was pointless to do it in the mornings as well (most of the complaints comes from her four year old) it was a must and her husband couldn't keep being persuaded by them.
"As the boss lady wishes." Even though her back was turned she could still feel the stupid smirk on his stupidly attractive face. "Keep that up sarcastic and you might just become very acquainted with the couch tonight." Regina lightly threatened though she aware that he knew she was bluffing and that she couldn't sleep without him there with her. Which was exactly what he told her as he made his way out of their bathroom, Regina just shook her head, amazed at how just the night before they had a serious conversation that actually brought her to tears, to having her smiling like an idiot in the shower the next morning. That man. That insufferable, amazing, loving , sexy as hell man, Regina thought with a smile.
Robin made his way across the hall to his eldest son's bedroom, he opened the door and found his boy faced down on his pillow with his blanket falling to the floor and the book that had brought so much dread to his wife next to him at the night stand. Robin made his way to his son's bed and sat down on the edge, looking at the 10 year old's sleeping face brought back memories of staying awake all night long with a grumpy baby that just didn't want to sleep, all that he seemed to want to do was cry, the only thing that calmed him down enough to sleep was if Regina told him a story, or if Robin sang all the Disney songs to him. Now he was becoming distant and growing up way too fast for Robin's liking.
Robin put a brave face for Regina but he was hurting too, watching his first son distancing himself from his mother and also from him and looking at them as if they're strangers, hurt him badly. Shaking those thoughts off his head, Robin gently ran his fingers through his son's hair and said softy, "time to wake up my boy." Robin heard the very familiar grumpy noises that actually brought a smile to Robin's face for the first time. "Come on time for school." The smiling father heard a baffled "5 more minutes." At that plead Robin did chuckle, no matter how tough and distant Henry wanted to act, at the end of the day he was still his boy, the one that always pleads for five more minutes in the mornings and will ask for extra syrup on his pancakes at breakfast. "No my boy, come on time to start the day." Robin pulled his blanket completely off and kissed his son's head, at the sudden loss of the warmth his blanket provided, Henry got up and made his way to his own bathroom.
Robin then went to his next stop which was youngest son's bedroom which was located next door to Henry's, when he opened the door he found his four year old in a similar position as his brother though he was clutching his stuffed monkey to his chest and his left thumb in his mouth with his curly hair all over his face, in other words he looked absolutely adorable.
With a loving smile on his face, Robin made his way to his baby boy's bed, "time to wake up sleepyhead", the reaction he got was exactly the one Henry gave, it was another proof that blood didn't make a family, love did; Even if Henry and Roland didn't share the same blood, they still acted alike. Robin picked him up over his shoulder receiving a scream followed by laughter, "come on little man, let's get you ready for a fun day at preschool."
After Robin bathed and dressed his little man he sent him to the kitchen while he went back to his and Regina's room to get himself ready for the day.
At the same time Regina was just finishing on the phone and putting the boy's orange juice on their respective sides of the table. "Yes Dr. Hooper, I'll make sure he's there at 4 pm today thank you", as she was putting her phone on the table when she was hit by a little tornado also known as her four year old son. "Mama." His sweet little voice and dimpled smile could always make her forget about every single one of her problems. "Good morning baby, how did you sleep?" Regina asks her baby as she picks him up. "I slept good mama, I had dream of candy house with lots of chocolate and then I fought a big dragon that was trying to take all the candy and I saved the princess." His innocent little voice explained.
"Wow!, that sounds like a pretty great dream baby, so brave of you to fight such a dragon and winning I think you would make a great knight." At the same time that Regina was talking Henry was making his way inside the kitchen and heard the last parts of her conversation. "Yeah I'm sure you know lots of knights, being the queen and all", that comment was the last straw, even if Regina knew that he was just trying to get a rise out of her, it still set her nervous on fire with irritation. He wanted something that would prove to him that she was the evil queen but she was not going to give him the satisfaction so even if Regina just wanted to scream she took a deep breath and with a very level voice Regina told her eldest, while putting her youngest in his chair. "How many times do I have to tell you Henry that I am not some evil queen from a fairy tale book. And good morning to you too dear. "
Regina turned to the sink, trying to rile in her temper before she continued, "And I just finished making you an appointment with Dr. Hooper for after school" Henry stopped his fork in middle air, "what? Why would I need to go to Dr Hooper? you think I'm crazy because I know the truth about you and about everyone in this town." With each word he said his voice got louder and louder.
Regina turned completely surprised by the ten years olds reaction. She was about to say something when her husband's voice beat her to it. "Henry I can tolerate you not wanting to talk to Regina or me at all but I will not let you raise your voice at your mother." Robin had heard the whole conversation and just like Regina he was completely cut off guard by the rise of voice of his son to his mother. "She just wants to make me look like I'm crazy because she doesn't want the curse to be broken, but it will because good always wins and she's just evil, and she's not my mom. She's the evil queen." After saying his peace, Henry got up from his chair and left before either Regina or Robin could say anything else, Robin made a move to follow him but Regina stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm. He turned and saw all the pain in his loves eyes at their son's words, without hesitation he pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. Roland just looked at his parents with confusion in his eyes.
"Mama, why Henry angry?", Roland asked with his little mouth full of pancakes and a confused frown on his adorable little face. Regina removed her arms from around Robin's waist and faced her youngest son, with the little confidence in her voice that she could manage she said, "Baby, Henry is just being grumpy this morning. He'll be fine, you don't need to worry. Ok? Now finish your breakfast, daddy's going to take you to preschool today." With that Regina made her way back to the sink to finish washing the dishes, while Robin sat and looked at his son eat. Both with a million and one questions on their minds.
Henry was upstairs in his room fuming, how dare she make him an appointment with a crazy people doctor. He was not crazy, he knows that everyone is under a curse; he knows that Mary Margaret is Snow White and that David, the one in the coma, is Prince Charming. Henry had to find the savior to break the curse, he knew that the savior was his mother; Emma Swan and she lived in Boston. He just needed to find a way to get there. As Henry sat on this bed thinking hard, all of a sudden a light bulb lit up in his head, he knew what he had to do, though he also knew that what he was going to do was very wrong and if his parents... no Regina and Robin NOT his actual parents found about what he was daring himself to do, he would be in a lot of trouble. But Henry had to do it; it was for the greater good. He was going to become a hero.
Henry waited for his dad's car to go down the road before he made his move. He sneaked out the back of the school and went to the bus station. This morning when he made the decision to go find his real mother, he sneaked inside Regina's room and stole one of her credit cards; he did need money to get there. Though he did feel a little bit bad for what he was going to do, he also knew that there was no other way, it had to be done, and he could not let the evil queen win. After he arrived at the bus station he had to wait 5 minutes, and those minutes were filled with questions and his plan to when he finally gets to Boston, with those final thoughts the bus arrives and he got in and made his way to the back.
'Here we go.' Henry thought as the bus's engine roared and the wheels turned to exit StoryBrooke.
Robin was at the station, reading over reports of the petty crimes of the small town when his phone started ringing. He got up from his share and reached for his phone in his jacket. It was the school, 'that's rather strange, they usually called Regina. Maybe she's in a meeting and they are calling about parent teacher conference.' Robin thought while he grabbed his iPhone from his coat and answered, "hello"
"hello, Mr. Locksley I just wanted to know the reason as to why Henry did not come to school today." The teacher of his son said at the other line.
Robin bolted up from his sit, "what do you mean, he didn't come to school? I dropped him off myself." Robin said to Henry's teacher, panic rising in him. "I'm sorry Mr. Locksley but he has not been inside the building together. I tried to call Madam Mayor but her secretary said she was in a meeting, so I decided to call you."
Now Robin was in full blown panic, 'where is my son? Where could he have gone? God Regina is going to have a heart attack.' he thought in a panic. "Ok thank you Ms. M, I'll go look for my son, please do not call my wife, I'll be the one to tell her." The last thing Regina needed right now was more stress, he'll go look for his son and if he didn't find him in two hours then he would call her. With that thought Robin hanged up the phone, grabbed his jacket and told Graham that he'll be out for the rest of the day that he was in charge and then took off.
Storybrooke was a fairly small town and his son was just ten years old, there were only so many places that he could have gone. Henry where are you? That was the only thing on Robin's mind, Henry running away was the last thing that they needed. Once Robin finds the ten year old, he will make sure to give his son a very strong talking to. But before that he needed to find him, Robin went to granny's to see if he was there, the library, the park where his favorite castle is with no luck. And it had been close to two hours running around town looking for his boy, now completely terrified that something did happen to his son, Robin had no other choice... so with dread Robin went to the town hall. He had to tell Regina, the women he loved the most petrifying news a parent could ever hear; that their son was missing.
Henry was just getting off the third bus he had taken, he was getting tired. He didn't realize that Boston was going to be so far away, it had been almost 9 hours, he knew that once school ended 3 hours ago that they called Regina and Robin saying he hadn't showed up to class. Regina and Robin were probably looking for him but he didn't care, he's mantra kept him going; Everything he was doing was for the greater good, the town needed to be saved and the hero's had to have their happy endings and for that to happen they needed the savior to break the curse his mo... No the Evil Queen caste, with that in mind and a regained confidence he kept walking, a little faster this time. When he finally got closer to a bunch of houses and shops, he started looking around for the street his mother lived.
After walking for about 10 minutes he finally found the house, now that he was here he was actually very nervous, how do you go up to a complete stranger, tell her you're her son, that she is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming which deemed her the savior and she has to go save a town from the curse the evil queen castes?
As Robin made his way to his wife's office, he was thinking about what he wanted to say to her, he needed to be careful and well spoken. He couldn't just go bursting through the doors screaming that their son was missing that would give her a heart attack for sure. As he rounded the corner, he took a deep breath preparing himself for what he was about to do. "Hello Mr. Locksley", Becky, Regina's secretary greeted, Robin was so deep in thought that the young girl's voice startled him.
After regaining his voice, Robin in a very leveled voice said "hi, is Regina in a meeting?", Becky looks at him weirdly, though it was not uncommon to see madam mayors husband visiting it was strange of him being unannounced. But she knew better than to question it, so she just told him that his wife was alone in her office. Robin said thank you in his very attractive accent that made all the women he spoke to swoon, took another deep breath and walked to the door.
When Robin opened the door, the first thing Robin saw was his beautiful wife, slouching on her chair, her blazer long gone, the first two bottoms on her dark blue silk blouse unbuttoned and her big framed glasses (that looks absolutely adorable on her) resting on her fine nose. Even though the matter in which brought him here was the worst imaginable he could not help but love the sight that greeted him. 'God I love this women.' He thought, drawing strength from that love to be able to hold it together as he spoke with his wife.
It only took Regina two seconds to figure out that she was being watched, all those years as queen and with many, many enemies wanting her demise had taught her to enhance her senses so it was not so difficult for her to hear the door opening even though she was very concentrated on the papers that she was reading on some reports. For a town with a small population, they sure complain a lot.
After 30 seconds Regina noticed that whoever entered was not going to speak, with a inner sigh she lifted her eyes with a few choice words at the tip of her tongue for whoever decided to enter her office and not say anything at all. But when her eyes locked with her lovers, she couldn't form the words; the look in his eyes told her that he was panicking about something and Regina knows her husband, he didn't panic over things, worries? Yes. But not panic, that was usually her thing.
Robin saw Regina get up from her chair and shorten the distance between them, until she was right in front of him. Now the whole speech that he had prepared completely vanished from his mind, the look in her eyes told him that she knew something wasn't right. that's usually how they were, they knew each other better than anybody could ever dream of, it had been like that from the very start, it was like their souls were molded together and they were able to connect in a whole different level.
He saw her small, warm hands rise up and her fingers start to caress his hair, with curiosity in her eyes she whispered, "what's wrong my love?" Robin just looked at her for a few seconds, then he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, he knew that after he told her the bone crushing news, she was going to go into Mother bear mode He was going to have to bring her back so they could think rationally about what they were going to do. So tightening his hold on her, Robin looked deep into her beautiful brown eyes and said, "The school called me about two hours ago, saying that Henry never went to class. I left to look for him but I couldn't find him anywhere, my love our son is missing".