AUTHOR'S RANTING/WARNINGS/NOTES: THIS IS DARK CONTAINS VERY ADULT THEMES AND IS MEANT FOR A MATURE AUDIENCE ONLY! PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE NOT OF AGE AND IF YOU ARE FAINT OF HEART! THIS IS NOT FOR YOU! That being said I've had a question in a review that I felt like answering. The reason Emma didn't stay was because Cora was coming home VERY soon and she wasn't stupid enough to be caught in the woman's house with Regina and Henry. She is seen as a threat and she knows it. If she wants to get close to them she has to do it in secret and she's accepted that. That being said I hope that clears up her actions a bit.

Helpless

Chapter 3

Regina shifted and slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she could remember was passing out when she'd tried to get out of the bathtub. She looked over at the clock with a frown the red neon letters read four o'clock. She'd had to pick Henry up at 2. After her mother had finished with her she'd been sent home to clean up to make herself look more presentable. Cora hadn't wanted Henry to see her looking so disgusting as she'd put it. Regina shivered at her mother's cold tone and icy gaze. The thought of just leaving often flashed through her brain but even when it did she'd known she wouldn't.

She remembered the first time ten years ago when she'd told her mother she was planning to leave.

"I won't stay any longer. You've abused me for the last time Mother." She could still remember how clear her eyes were, how low her voice had been confident and smooth.

"What are you talking about Regina?" Cora had asked sweetly setting her tea cup down. The white china cup with its little gold designs trembled from the force of hitting its saucer. Regina could still remember the cold hard look in her mother's eyes.

"I'm leaving this house, this place and most importantly I'm leaving you Mother." Regina had spat.

Cora's eyes narrowed, "You don't know what you are saying Regina. Now be a dear and bring me some more hot water. My tea is getting cold."

Cora insisted on drinking tea instead of coffee finding the stouter hot drink terrible. She thought coffee was too strong, too barbaric as she'd put it. She'd forbidden it in her house. Regina had tasted it one time when she'd been given permission to take Henry to the diner to quiet him down when he was two and crying because he was hungry. Cora had had meetings she remembered and she'd sent them away so they wouldn't disturb her.

"Get it yourself mother. I'm not doing it anymore." Regina snapped folding her arms. She moved back towards the heavy wooden front door grabbing her small black suitcase from the polished wooden floor of the foyer. It was the only thing she was taking with her.

"Do you really wish to leave so bad given what I have arranged for you?" Cora asked still seated in the dining room chair at the head of the table.

Regina paused in the doorway not wanting to but needing to know just what her mother had in mind. The doorbell rang the chimes echoing throughout the large open house.

Cora stared at her with a small smile. "Well are you going to answer the door?"

Regina set her suitcase down and moved to pull open the front door with a bit of effort. The wind often worked to make it heavier than it actually was. It created almost a seal on the door and Regina had often wondered if her mother hadn't done that on purpose.

Mr. Gold was standing on the other side on the brick walkway with a greasy smile on his face. She stared at him for a moment and then she heard the soft cry. She looked down with a gasp. A tiny infant was held in the crook of his arm, a blue blanket swaddled tightly around the slightly moving infant whose big brown eyes were staring up at her from tear stained pink cheeks. He was beautiful Regina thought hazily as Mr. Gold looked past her at her mother who had moved from the dining room chair to stand in the doorway. Regina was never acknowledged by anyone especially with her mother around.
"Madam Mayor I have what you asked for."

"Well give him to his mother." Cora arched a reddish brow at him waiting impatiently.

Mr. Gold gave the same smirk he always had and handed the infant over to a startled Regina.

Regina stared down at the baby who upon being placed in her arms immediately stopped crying. He looked up at her with his large brown eyes and Regina fell instantly in love. She smiled tucking the light blue hospital issue blanket a little tighter around him holding him against her chest to keep him warm. She walked back towards the immaculate living room sitting down on the brocaded couch with the small baby who was looking up at her with same wondrous look she was wearing. She smiled softly her first true smile in a long time. She couldn't remember the last time she smiled like that.

Her mother stopped peering into the den at her with a frown. "Don't I even get a thank you, you ungrateful girl?"

Regina looked up her mother's folded arms and set lips giving away just how angry she was. Regina looked down at the baby. "Thank you Mother. He's beautiful."

Her mother had always used her weaknesses against her. One of her biggest was that she had wanted to be a mother so desperately. She held the infant closer studying his beautiful face.

"Henry." Regina said softly and Cora stared at her. "I want to name him Henry."

"Must you Regina? That's a pathetic name for him."

"Mother if he's my son may I please name him what I choose?" Regina asked finally tearing her eyes off her new son's eyes to look at her mother with a pleading expression.

Cora waved her hand. "Do what you will but if I see you messing that boy up make no mistakes I will correct whatever problem you put into his head."

Regina shivered knowing she couldn't leave now not to let this innocent child face her mother alone. She had to stay and she knew that's exactly why Cora had done this.

Looking back on it Regina should've known she was just setting herself up for more abuse but with Henry she'd found a kind of joy she's never felt before. He was so sweet and beautiful. And the first time he walked or spoke his first word which was mama she had cried from sheer happiness. When he'd mastered walking he was her constant shadow clinging to her legs running to her with the childish glee that only toddlers have when they see their favored parent. She adored how he would sit and color in her lap for hours or how his brow would furrow and he'd cock his head to the side like a little puppy when he was trying to figure something out before he'd finally turn to her and ask her what it was or what it did.

She shook her head rising to her feet. She frowned when she noticed she was in her mother's nightgown and her clothes which she knew she'd left on the floor were not there. Henry, she realized, he must've come home and found her but how did the small boy manage to get his fully grown mother out of the tub and into the bed. It didn't make any sense. She sighed as she shook her head and forced herself to get dressed hanging her mother's gown up carefully before she pulled on a pair of loose slacks and a black turtleneck. It would hide the bruises at least. She walked down the hallway her bare feet not making any noise due to the plush carpet and knocked on Henry's white washed door.

The boy opened it a moment later and smiled at her. "Hey Mom; did you have a nice nap?"

"Henry I'm so sorry. I didn't realize what time it was."

Henry reached out gently sliding his arms around her waist and hugging her close almost as if he sensed the bruises hidden beneath her clothes. "It's okay Mom. I got home safe. Emma walked with me so I would be safe."

Regina frowned, "Henry you know what I told you about her."

"You said that you didn't mind as long as grandmother didn't find out." Henry recited looking up at her. "I think Emma really likes you Mom."

"Henry she's barely spoken to me." Regina offered back motioning for the boy to follow her so they could continue their discussion while she started dinner. If it wasn't ready by the time her mother got home there would be hell to pay.

"She likes you Mom trust me. She wants to take us out to dinner one night just you me and her."

"You her and I," Regina corrected softly.

"Yes ma'am." Henry muttered, "But please Mom grandmother has a council meeting this Friday. We could go to Granny's and have dinner together the three of us…like a family."

Regina looked at her son's earnest features and sighed knowing she'd never be able to tell him no. She smiled at him. "I'll think about it." She promised and seeing the smile on her son's face knew she'd made the right decision.

"Thanks Mom. You're the best."