Hey guys! The response to this story made me really happy. Thank you to all who followed and reviewed. It means a lot. Here's chapter 3.

Robin nervously paced the waiting room while Henry talked with his mother. Snow wrung her hands as she sat in a chair anxiously awaiting news of her stepmother.

"Do you really think a picture of your wedding day will be enough to bring back her memories?" she asked.

Robin shook his head. "No but it might be enough to convince her I'm not crazy or out to hurt her. Maybe then she'll agree to see me."

Snow just nodded at his words. She hoped he was right.

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Regina stared at the photograph in disbelief. She was married? To a man she didn't even remember. She studied every piece of his face that she could see. He wasn't facing the camera in the photograph, he was looking at her. Or rather they were looking at each other. The way he was looking at her… she couldn't remember anyone looking at her that way. It was too much. She looked away from the picture and back at her son. Her now fifteen-year old son.

"Is he good to you?" she asked with all the composure she could muster.

"Yeah," said Henry earnestly. "He talks to me about girls, and traveling and life. I love Robin. He treats me no differently than he treats Roland."

"Roland?" said Regina curiously knitting her eyebrows.

"My new little brother," said Henry proudly pointing him out in the photograph. Regina stared at the young boy in the photograph. He looked adorable and extremely happy. He clearly got his dimples from his father. He looked young. Almost young enough to be…

"Is he…?"

"No. He's not your biological son," said Henry quickly.

Regina let out a sigh of relief at Henry's words. It was hard enough knowing she'd missed years of his life. She didn't think she could handle if she'd forgotten the birth of an entire child.

"So he's my stepson," she replied Regina with a grimace. She didn't know why but she felt awfully uncomfortable with the idea of having a stepchild.

"Yes," answered Henry. "But you and I both know blood doesn't define family."

Regina began to nod at her son's words when she realized something. "Wait what do you mean blood doesn't define a family?"

Henry's eyes widened when he realized his mistake. Five years ago he was still unaware of the fact that he'd been adopted. He'd been hoping to put this off for a while.

"I mean I know that you don't have to be blood related to be someone's family," he said nervously. "And I know that because… you adopted me."

Regina felt her heart break at her son's words. He knew he was adopted. How did he find out? For some reason she couldn't fathom she knew that she'd never planned on telling him at all.

"H-How did you find out?"

Henry hesitated before answering her. "I found the adoption papers in the back of your closet."

Regina silently cursed herself. She knew she should've kept those papers in her safety deposit box at the bank. He hadn't even heard the truth from her. Henry saw his mother's inner turmoil and squeezed her hand.

"Hey," he said looking into her eyes. "No DNA test is going to change what I know. You're my mom. Always and forever."

She smiled sadly at his words and put a hand to his cheek. "You're so grown up."

"You're just saying that because I'm a foot taller," he joked.

She let out a genuine chuckle at that and wrapped her arms around her son. He warmly returned her hug being extra cautious of her injuries.

"I was really afraid that I'd lost you," he whispered.

She rubbed his back comfortingly. "I promise I'm not going anywhere."

"Well that's good to hear," he said letting her go. "But I'm not the only one who needs to hear it."

Regina sighed thinking of the man and boy in the photograph. Her husband and stepson. She was a wife and stepmother. Just thinking of herself in those roles felt wrong and painful somehow. Why was that? Henry watched as his mother grappled with the idea of a new husband and child. He knew this couldn't be easy for her but Robin and Roland needed to see her.

"Mom… do you want to meet them?"

XXXXXXXXXX

Snow and Robin rushed over to Henry as he walked back into the waiting room.

"How was she?" asked Snow anxiously.

"She was good. She was up and talking. She's pretty beat up but I don't think she's in a lot of pain," he answered quickly.

"How did she take everything?" asked Robin.

"Like she used to take everything. With a mask on and walls up," answered Henry. "She's confused… about everything. And I can already tell she's not going to talk to me about it."

"This is Regina from five years ago," said Snow sadly. "Opening up wasn't something she was exactly comfortable doing."

Robin hesitated before asking his next question. "Did she… did she say if she was willing to see me now?"

"She said… she didn't want to see you," said Henry sadly shaking his head. "Or Roland. She's just… not ready."

Robin just nodded resignedly at Henry's words. He knew that the photo would be a long shot but he really thought that it would be enough for her to see him.

"She believes you though," said Henry quickly. "She knows that you're married now. I think that's she's just afraid of how much she's forgotten."

"I understand Henry," said Robin giving the boy a pat on the shoulder. "Thank you for all you've done today. I want you to know that I am very proud of you for helping your mother like this."

He sent him a painful smile. "You should head home with Snow now. I'll be back around later tonight."

"Okay," said Henry sadly. He gave his stepfather a small hug before gathering up his things.

Snow looked at Robin with a small hopeful smile. "Hey I never said things would happen quickly."

"I know Snow," he said, rubbing his forehead in exhaustion. "It's just… every minute I'm not allowed to hold her… it feels like I die a little inside."

"I know," said Snow understandingly. "But we are taking steps in the right direction. She knows you're a part of her life now. And that's a start."

Robin gave her small smile. "Yes I suppose it is."

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It was after visiting hours but Robin convinced the nurses to let him stay a little while longer. He stuck to the shadows and tried to peek into Regina's room. Once he saw that she was sleeping he let himself take a closer look. The sight of her with her eyes closed still gave him a bit of anxiety but the doctor had assured him that she was just resting now. Even with all the cuts and bruises she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He missed her. She was in front of him but he still missed her more than he ever had before. He'd find a way to get her memories back. He had to.

"I won't give up on you," he whispered to her sleeping form. "I swear I won't."

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