Regina had probably been standing frozen for what seemed like a century, and the kids were getting worried.
"I think we broke her." Zorana whispered.
"I'm going to call your parents. Give me all of your parent's numbers, all of you." Regina demanded. She was pacing around the room, using the familiar click click click of her heels to soothe herself.
"That might be difficult…. Besides, we're here to help." Vanessa reasoned. "We are your personal fan group. We found documentation of Storybrooke in Alex's attic, and since we live in the future/ another world and the writer is definitely NOT looking for some B.S. reason why we're here so we can get on with the plot, we used magic/ time machines/ portals to get here and show up whenever we want or you need us. The details aren't important. Seriously, don't ask questions."
"Okay, so you're crazy. Great. I have five certifiably insane teenagers in my house." Regina mumbled as she grabbed her phone.
"Hey, I didn't kill my dad." Commented Zorana.
Regina stopped dead in her tracks, and dropped her phone. "How dare you say such a thing!" She denied, but you could the fear shining in her eyes. How does she know about that? Who are these people? If they know about my past, why aren't they terrified of me? She thought.
"Oh, cut the crap, your Majesty. We know everything. I like you much better when you're being honest." Marisa spat out.
"I think you mean evil, Mare. I love you, but you're crazy. I'm pretty sure you're only here because you hope she'll rip out a heart." Zorana snorted.
Regina hurriedly bent down and snatched up her phone. It took her only seconds to dial Graham's number, probably some sort of record. "Graham?" She said, unable to keep the quiver out of her voice. "There are some hooligans pestering me. Remove them, now." She continued, immediately snapping the façade of control back into place. "Yes Ma'am" He grumbled.
"That's not really how it works." Andrew squeaked, drawing her attention to him.
"I'll be deciding 'how it works'" Regina scowled
"Oh honey, no, no, no. That's not how it works either." Alex retorted.
"Really, we're here to help. You should take out advice."
It was becoming obvious to Regina that these were just a bunch of kids plagued with a hero complex (Except maybe Marisa. Scratch that, definitely not Marisa.), probably hired by Ms. Swan herself! No, she would not be taking one word of their advice!
She had conveniently forgotten that anyone employed by Emma Swan would not know about Henry Sr. but hey, let's allow her these little delusions, at least for now.
It was another 10 minutes before Sherriff Graham appeared, much to Regina's annoyance. When her doorbell rang she practically sprinted to the door, even in the killer four inch heels she was always sporting (Seriously, how DOES she do it?) "Graham. Took you long enough." She scolds as he strides through the doorway. These kids have put her in quite the mood, and poor Graham is getting the brunt of it. The brunette led him through her house at an extremely brisk pace, only to find her living room deserted.
"What the hell? But… they were right here, in this very spot!" Regina cried. She spun around searching for any possible way they could've escaped. This is insane! Maybe I'm insane, she thought. Maybe all of the years I spent as the Evil Queen finally caught up to me. No, Regina! Get a hold of yourself! You are not some scared little girl hiding from mommy anymore. You are more powerful than anyone in this land. You are not weak.
"You should rest a little, Regina." Graham placed a hand on her shoulder. "Henry's biological mother showing up must be extremely stressful for you." He began guiding her upstairs. She stopped dead at his last line. "THAT WOMAN IS NOT HENRY'S ANYTHING! SHE GAVE THAT UP WHEN SHE GAVE HIM UP!" She whipped around to face him, possibly to hurt him in some way, before she realized where she was, who she was in this world, and reined in her temper.
"I will be expecting you later on tonight. Come after Henry's asleep." She spat out.
Graham came around midnight. Even though she had been expecting him the knock on her door still made her jump.
Why are you doing this to yourself? You're only hurting yourself, and Graham. He's not Daniel. He'll never be Daniel.
These thoughts circled her mind over and over.
But I can pretend. Said another voice.
Still such a child, Regina. Scolded yet another voice. One who often visited her. Cora's voice.
She opened the door decisively.
"Graham." Said the brunette, motioning for him to enter. "Come in."
Pretending is all I have. She thought.
