The sunlight pouring into the room was an odd awakening. Some kind of alarm usually sounded well before now. Regina rolled toward Emma's side of the bed seeking physical contact. Maybe it was a rare weekend where neither was needed. As her body hit the cold space beside her, it all came rushing back. The sheets didn't even smell like Emma. She buried her face in her pillow for a long moment before she remembered that Henry was still there. With a resentful groan, she pushed herself out of the bed and took a long shower. She didn't even know what day of the week it was.
After pulling on one of her old mayor outfits, she found herself alone in the kitchen. It was after 9 and no word from Henry. Did he even go to school in this world? Who knew if the school or government was even in place any more? Her hand was rubbing her temples contemplating waking him when Henry sleepily appeared in the kitchen.
"Apple pancakes?" he asked innocently. She stared at him for a long moment.
"Please tell me it's Saturday," she said, giving him her worst mom stare.
"It's Tuesday," he muttered, looking down.
"There is no schooling in this world then?"
"Well, with the Wicked Witch terrorizing the town and my sudden sabbatical from my school in New York…" Henry looked up at her. "I've gotten a lot better at math!" He gave her a wicked smile. "You weren't awake either."
"I'd think traveling between worlds is a good excuse for sleeping late," she said as she began preparing the ingredients for their pancakes.
"You would have kept me from school today anyway," he said from his seat at the island.
"So sure of that?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at him with a smirk. He broke into a huge grin and climbed off his seat and hugged her from behind.
"I've missed you," he sighed into her back. She turned in his arms and looked down at her young son.
"Be sure to tell her that," she said simply as she rubbed his back. He nodded. He had long since told her that and he still greeted her with hugs even well into his teenage years. The Regina whose life she was living, ached for these kinds of moments. She remembered that time all too well. She kissed his head and turned back to preparing breakfast.
"I will," her dear son said. "I promise." He climbed back onto his seat to watch his mom work her culinary magic. "Have you called Snow White yet?" he asked from his perch. Regina shook her head in the negative. "She really doesn't hate you here," he said watching her.
"I'm glad." She turned toward her son. "I don't hate her either." His smile warmed her heart.
"Good. Do you want me to call her?" he asked her as she gathered ingredients.
"I think I can handle Snow White." She gave him a wink over her shoulder. He burst into giggles and her heart felt like exploding. She had grown used to a more adult laugh coming from her son. Hearing his youthful giggles now brought on waves of nostalgia. She put the flour down and pulled her son into another hug. "I love you so much," she murmured into his hair. He hugged her back just as tight.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you," he said into her chest.
"Your doubt just proved to me that I raised an intelligent, good, young man." He looked at up at her. Her eyes were watery as she said, "I couldn't be prouder in any world. Now go take a shower and breakfast will be ready when you are done." He leaned up and kissed her cheek before darting out of the room. At least Henry made this bearable, she thought as she prepared a meal the Henry in her world had spurned for years. It seemed a year without her made him nostalgic as well.
Henry reappeared with damp hair carrying a video game and a card. "What's that?" She asked, adding more pancakes to the plate and carrying it into the dining room, syrup dangling from her finger. "Grab some plates."
"It's from you. Well, the other you," Henry said as he entered with plates and silverware. The card says it's for the birthday she missed."
He set the table as she sat. The game was gone, but he still had the card. "Oh, do you like it?"
His face lit up. "I've been begging Emma to get it for me for weeks." He looked suddenly shy. "I may have mentioned it to you." She laughed. Her sly boy strikes again.
Finally, he sat and he eyed the pancakes with a strange look. Her eyes drifted to the plate and she immediately realized her mistake. There was way too much.
"You still made the shapes," he said after a moment. She wondered if that was what the look was about or if her too clever son realized she wasn't used to cooking for two anymore.
"Why wouldn't I?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He shrugged with a wide grin.
"It's weird, you know? You're my mom, but not." His hand tipped the syrup over his pancakes as she watched. He picked up his fork. "I'm tempted to ask why there are so many, but I think I'll let it go for now," he said as he took a big bite and enjoyed his first breakfast with his mom in well over a year. Regina just laughed.
SQSQSQSQ
Henry was downstairs playing his new game and after a few calls inquiring about Storybrooke's education system, she knew Snow could not be postponed any longer. Regina dialed the contact and walked into the living room as she waited for the call to connect.
"Regina!" Snow gasped into the phone. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry about what happened."
"Snow. Calm yourself." I have no idea what you are talking about, she thought. "I have something important to talk to you about."
"Is it about Emma?"
"Why would it be about Emma?" she asked, before she could stop herself. "No. It's not about Emma. Something happened last night very much unrelated to the festivities."
"We saw."
"You saw the magic?"
"Magic?"
"Last night, I joined the privileged group of those unwillingly sucked into what I suppose was a portal of sorts."
"Oh my! Where did you go?"
"I went here."
"What does that mean?"
"I am Regina, but not the Regina you know. It's complicated."
"What?"
"We need to talk. How does lunch sound? I could pick up Granny's on the way to your apartment," Regina said, ignoring the bewildered noises Snow was making. "I'll place the order. You prefer fries and a turkey club and Charming likes the Chicken salad sandwich, right?" she asked as if she hadn't watch them order the same thing over and over for years. "Will Emma be there?"
"She ran out this morning. I'm not sure when she will be back." Snow said.
"I'll bring a grill cheese just in case then. Do you need me to pick up anything for the baby?" Regina asked. Calling him Neal felt wrong and sad. He was Daniel to her, a bundle of smiles and dimples that never failed to quiet after being put in her arms.
"Diapers?" Snow sighed into the phone. "So many diapers."
"I can do that. Henry and I will be there at 12."
"Thank you."
"Of course," she said, disconnecting the call. The party in her world had been a small get together at Granny's as well. Most of her night was spent shaking hands with partygoers. In her head, she had considered it the unfortunate cost of the magic used to save Snow and her child. That was the night her redemption truly felt won.
A few weeks later, a family dinner turned into a sleepover and her happy ending. Regina smiled to herself. Emma always made dirty jokes about happy endings. The world without magic certainly made a lot of ideas dirty. It was a wonder Jefferson hadn't called her out on her line about getting the Savior to taste her forbidden fruit. Then again, he was from the Enchanted Forest as well. Perhaps he hadn't realized how gay she sounded. She smiled at the memory even though she knew she probably shouldn't. It was, after all, right before she cursed her own son.
She tried to recall the lunch she had with Snow after the party and the things the woman needed. Fairy tale characters weren't exceptional gift givers, she thought as she considered Maleficent. Notoriously bad, Snow had decreed. Marco had been the exception, with a beautifully hand carved basinet, but even that had its downside. Secretly, Snow had confided she coveted the basinets that could be turned into beds when the child had outgrown the need for barriers. There was no longer a castle full of empty rooms to store old baby memorabilia and such a fine item couldn't just be thrown away. A year later and there was a wink wink nudge nudge about storing it at the mansion just in case.
Snow and Charming had surprised her. They accepted the relationship as a matter of due course. In fact a large portion of the town did when they came out about their relationship. Regina had wondered if Neal had started buttering them up for it, but during one of their weekly lunches Snow confided that she had done it.
The sound of feet pounding down the stairs shook her out of her nostalgia. "Henry! You know better!" she called from the living room. His feet slowed and she heard a laugh.
"I never thought I would miss being reprimanded," he said from the other room. It made her laugh, but it also broke her heart. She was stealing these moments from his other mother. He poked his head around the corner and gave her a huge grin.
"I spoke with Mary Margaret. We have to stop and pick up a few things before we go to the apartment. What do you want from Granny's?" He scrunched his face up like he was picturing the menu. His order switched up a lot, but she remembered this Henry and knew what he'd want.
"Cheeseburger without ketchup or mustard but with extra cheese and light on the mayo," he said like it was a surprise to her. It would probably have been a surprise to the Regina that belonged in this world. With a quick smile, she dialed Granny's as he looked on and after being informed that Robin Hood had just finished eating, she ordered for pickup at 11:45. She suspected Eugenia didn't want any trouble. She thought about asking Henry what had happened, but hoped her love life was outside his purview.
After the order was placed she cornered Henry about the upcoming discussion. Henry never liked being kept in the dark, which was a quality she respected. "Henry, please sit." He gave her a suspicious glare as he sat.
"Is this where you tell me I can't hear what Snow White has to tell you?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Really?"
"It's not just what Snow tells me. I worry about what I will tell her. I don't want to influence you in any way. So much has changed." Her head dropped. Her hand absently ran through her hair. Henry was a smart boy, but he was constantly put into awkward situations. He gave her a solemn nod.
"It's so weird," he said frowning. She sat next to him and he scooted closer to her.
"Don't tell me you miss when our lives were normal," she laughed. He giggled and she kissed his temple. "I don't miss it either. I'm glad you broke the curse." His head turned sharply to her. "It's better this way." Their eyes met. "We aren't alone. We have family."
"You're right. We do."
"Henry, I love you no matter what, but there are going to be parts our conversations I definitely don't want you to hear. I don't want to influence you about people that acted differently in my world than they did here. Neither of us knows all of what happened here and for now I also have to trust their judgment about what you know and what they don't want you to know." The preteen nodded. "When you were around this age I made a pact with you." Their eyes met. He was so young yet so old. "I promised that on your 17thbirthday I would answer any question you had for me and I did." She paused. "Ask your mother. She won't say no."
"I'll ask." She smoothed his hair back.
"I feel guilty for every moment you give me that your real mother is missing. She may be me, but she is missing every bit of you missing her. I needed it then and I'm sure she needs it, too."
"I'll ask."
"Good."
SQSQSQSQ
Henry was opening the door before she could knock. She felt awkward entering the Charming's, especially this apartment. The house they lived at now was much more impressive and lacked the many dangerous memories this place had. Shortly after Pan, Emma had moved into an apartment, but Snow's pregnancy had them looking for a new place. She helped them find a delightful home abandoned after the curse reunited the person with their family and the apartment was rented off. The breaking of the curse had opened up a lot of prime Storybrooke real estate. It was oddly fascinating to watch as Mayor.
Initially, she had thought it would help them expand into the real world, but quickly realized that the population of Storybrooke was now aging again. An odd mixture of characters scooped up the leftover apartments and homes and Regina could only feel glad that she had secured Fred's apartment for Emma and the aptly described charming townhouse for the Charmings. For proprieties' sake she had pretended that they were lucky opportunities she had randomly heard about when in reality she had actively looked for them. From talking to Henry, she wasn't sure this Regina would be so obliged to help them and was feeling odd about setting up deals she had been pleased about before.
Snow was sitting at the island near the kitchen when Regina followed Henry in. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before he ran off to see who else was lurking in the apartment. She wondered if Emma was off with Hook. Snow gave her a forced smile and she smiled back before they heard Charming and Henry. Neither could help the smile it brought to their lips. They were both chuckling when their eyes met. Those soft brown eyes burrowed deep and found her wanting.
"You really are different, aren't you?" Snow asked.
"I've talked extensively with Henry. It appears I am from an alternate universe. Our timelines diverge in the defeat of Peter Pan," Regina said placing the bags on the table.
"Well, after last night…" Snow trailed off still watching Regina's reactions, looking for any hints of deceit. Subtlety was never one of Snow's strong suits. It was easier to pretend she didn't notice.
"After I apparently broke it off with Robin Hood?" she snorted. "It's a pretty ridiculous lie just because I got dumped." Her phone was instantly in her hand and she pulled up photos of Neal and Henry as they were now and held the phone up to showcase the photos. Snow's hand flew to her mouth and it reminded Regina of dealing with Snow as a child, obscene shock at things she didn't understand. She lifted Snow's chin up and their eyes met. "This isn't a play or a game. This is my life and I just want to go home," Regina said as she stared softly at her stepdaughter. "I would not disrespect the dead by forging this picture."
"You are happy there?" Snow stuttered out.
"When I'm not being sucked into portals. Yes. Very."
"You are actually happy?"
"Yes, Snow, and oddly enough you are apart of that," Regina said as she dropped Snow's chin and her hand slowly enveloped Snow's. There was a small squeeze from Snow's end until they heard a cry from the newborn. Both heads turned toward the screaming. "I left the bags on the table. Why don't you see to them? I'll handle the child," Regina said as she moved into action. Snow was still looking through the things Regina and Henry had bought when Regina entered the room bouncing Neal on her hip.
"He hasn't taken to anyone that quickly. Not even Emma."
"He has a love/hate relationship with Emma. Always," she said, without thinking. "But he knows that I know him." Her face dived into the soft skin under his neck causing him to make weird gurgling noises. The sound of his laugh always made her smile, but he was still much too young for that. Regina hefted him up and gave him a good look over. He was maybe a week old at most. "As healthy as I remember." She looked at Snow.
"He's a sturdy little boy. If you need any help, you can call on me." Her eyes narrowed on the shorthaired brunette. "Even if I'm not the Regina you remember exactly, I will help." Regina swung the baby in a way that made the child's eyes go wide. She sat down and bounced him in her lap.
"In my world, he has a different name, but he is still the same child." Snow sat across from her staring. "As strange as it is, this child loves me for some weird reason. It felt like fate the first time. Look at him now. It still feels like fate," Regina said, holding the small child who loved her immediately. With a few quick steps, Snow was in Regina's space. With the baby in her arms, Regina had no room to escape. Snow tilted Regina's chin toward her. Regina let her to Snow's surprise.
"What is his name in your world?"
"It doesn't matter. Events in my world made it a less arduous affair."
"Regina."
"Why does it matter?"
"What is his name?" Regina looked solemnly at the newborn.
"His name is Daniel," she said quietly as she stared at the newborn. "In my world, I saved you and him. You asked me if you could name him that. You wanted to give new life to the man I had lost."
"You let me?"
Regina looked at her Daniel. "I did, but our relationship was worlds different than it is here." She looked at Snow. "Or at least I assume it is? Henry only knows so much. I came here for you to fill in the blanks." She let out a long sigh. "To be honest, I care and I don't care," Regina said as David and Henry walked in. She could feel David eying the streak of grey and the new sparse wrinkles as she held his son. It was still unsaid, but she knew Snow believed her now and David didn't. Yet. It felt like a weird bucket list. Henry and Snow checked off and now Charming and Emma. God, unexpected portal jumping was something no human being should have to experience. An awkward silence settled in as Henry took the seat next to her.
"So… did Snow catch you up?" Henry asked breaking the standstill. In her mind, she debated telling him that he called her Gran in her world. She could still picture Snow's face the moment the name slipped from his lips. She felt like a thief.
"Not quite." She patted his leg. "She needed some convincing." Neal rolled in her arms as if to remind everyone of his presence.
"Well, if you are holding my uncle I think it worked," he grinned.
"Perhaps," she said, looking to Snow. There was a slight tilt to her head and then a full nod. David stared aghast at his wife.
"Another portal? Really?" he asked.
"It was the first portal in my world since we used the bean to get to Neverland. I take it there have been more?"
"A few," Snow replied with a slight shake to her head. Many traces of the pregnancy still lingered on Snow's features and Regina wondered again how long ago the birth was. Maybe the misery of this world would help her lose the baby fat faster than she did the first time. Watching a chubby Snow jog around town with Emma had been delightful. Snow had the most awkward gait when running and the whole town would watch with amusement when the pair would pass Granny's. Ruby would occasionally join them and the town would watch for an entirely different reason. That was rare though. The lanky brunette lacked the patience for their kind of running and only went with them if she wanted to gossip.
"Why don't we eat first and talk later? Your fries are probably getting cold." Henry had been starving on the way over and she had no intentions of making him wait. She also didn't want to send him away to eat. She couldn't pass up on the opportunity of sharing a meal with her son. "Or maybe a brief outline? Henry understands that we have some sensitive things to discuss. I'd rather avoid those until after we eat." Seeing him this way again was too special to be squandered. The Charmings shared a look and agreed.
Snow took the baby from her and placed him in one of those vibrating bouncy chairs by her seat. Regina and Henry followed them to the table carrying the bags of Granny's takeout. Regina found Emma's grilled cheese and moved it back over to the island. A part of her desperately wanted Emma there and the other prayed that she would stay away.
Charming peeled back the bread on his sandwich hunting for the tomatoes that Granny and Snow always forgot he hated. There weren't any. He looked up and caught Regina smirking at him with a knowing look. His gaze fell back on his sandwich before looking at her again. She simply raised an eyebrow and his eyes widened. For some reason, she had thought David would be harder to convince than getting his order right at Granny's, but she quietly checked David off her bucket list with a small chuckle. Snow looked at her hearing the soft laugh.
With a shrug, she replied, "Tomatoes," and nodded toward David. He shrugged and grinned at Snow while Henry shot Regina a confused look. "Snow always forgets and at this point Eugenia knows, but enjoys putting them on whenever Snow forgets to ask."
Snow groaned. "I'm still forgetting to ask? I was hoping it was baby brain."
"You did it before the baby." Snow scowled and took a bite of her club. Charming and Regina shared a knowing laugh. Their eyes met again. Snow had told her once that she thought Henry got his unshakeable belief from David. She could see in David's eyes that he believed. His belief felt like a tangible thing and she could see why Snow had thought that. She took a bite of the salad she had ordered. The conversation ahead of her seemed a little daunting and she wanted something light in her stomach.
"So what happened after Pan in your world? How did you escape the curse?" Charming said after swallowing a large bite.
"There was no curse," Regina replied, looking toward Henry. "I'd rather not discuss why yet." He looked up at her and she gave him a sad smile. He gave her a small nod before returning to his burger. She caught the Charmings sharing another look. Their silent communication used to irritate her, but she had long ago grown used to it. "Why don't you tell me how you defeated Pan?" she said taking a bite of her sandwich.
"It was Rumplestilskin," Snow said. "He stabbed him with his dagger and they both disappeared."
"Is Rumplestitskin dead?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He was. He's alive now," David said. Regina gasped. Raising the dead was impossible. She would know. Two of the most fundamental rules of magic had been broken in this world. The cost must have been unimaginable.
"But then how…" Her heart stopped. "Neal," she said softly. Henry coughed as he choked a bit on his food. No one said anything only confirming Regina and Henry's conclusions. Of course, the Dark One would have magic to resurrect its evil back into the world. At a cost. How could Neal be so stupid? He knew the cost of magic was always high. Her relationship with Rumple was nuanced and challenging. She didn't wish him dead, but Neal was her friend. Given the choice between the two, she knew her answer and it was easy even knowing Belle.
"But, I thought Zelena did that."
"She did, but it's complicated, Henry," Snow replied.
"He's my father. I deserve to know how he died," Henry said, pushing the remainders of his burger aside.
It was during the silence that awful moment brought that Emma decided to reappear with Hook at her side. She quickly took in their expressions of horror and the smile faded from her face.
"Bad timing?" Her parents' faces said unbelievably so and Regina's eyes just looked sad. Henry scowled at her, his eyes narrowed. Regina mouthed Neal at her and it became a little clearer. Emma had laughed at her mother's weird text about Regina being from another world, but in that moment she believed it as she moved toward her son. "Henry?" Hook faded back toward the door.
"How did my father die, Emma?" he asked standing.
"He died a hero. Zelena tricked him."
"How?" Regina stood up behind him.
"I don't know all the details."
"How do you know he was a hero then? You told me my father was a hero before and that turned out to be a lie. How can I trust you now if you won't tell me the truth?"
"Henry…" Emma started.
Regina's hand found her son's and she interrupted, pulling his eyes toward her. "Henry. Your father was a hero. He was a brave and kind soul. He made bad choices like any human being does, but I would never hesitate to call him a hero. The choices he made to find you don't change that. I'm proud he was your father." Henry burst into tears and lunged into her body. Her eyes met Emma's over his head and she tried to convey sympathy in her gaze, but she doubted Emma could even recognize it through her shock.
"Aye, Henry. He was a good man," Hook interjected. Regina glared at him before turning to Snow.
"I don't want him here for this." She cut off the startled responses with a wave of her hand. "I have a long list of reasons none of which my son should hear." Hook held up his arms in surrender and made for the door. Emma grabbed his arm and they exchanged a few quiet words. Somehow this world had brought them together. Regina wondered if Neal's death had been a contributing factor. The thought disgusted her. Hook winked at Regina as he left and she had to bite back a snarl. Henry was looking at her with watery curious eyes.
"I'm sorry, Henry." She moved her hand through his hair.
"I kinda like Killian, but if he makes you uncomfortable…" He trailed off. "I understand." She gave him a little squeeze in thanks.
"Your father sacrificed his life for us Henry. He died to give us answers about Zelena," Emma said, slowly. "He was a hero." He was still clinging to Regina, but he gave Emma a small nod. He detached himself carefully from his brunette mother's arms.
"I think I'm just going to go upstairs and read or something. You can talk and I can…" Regina squeezed his hand.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to interrupt. You are more important than all of this," Regina said. They all murmured their agreement as he climbed the stairs. Regina looked at them. "I'm going to soundproof the room. We all know how curious Henry can be." They nodded again, lost in their thoughts. She sent magic around the room cutting Henry off from their conversation. When she turned back to the Charmings, they still looked lost. Emma looked a little angry.
"So what's your problem with Killian all of a sudden?" Regina quirked her eyebrow at the woman and looked at Snow.
"You haven't told her?"
"She told me, but I thought she was joking."
"Well, she wasn't," she said, as she pushed a strand of hair from her face. "I assume you have questions."
