Chapter 3

Henry rounds the corner of the street where Regina Mills lives, walking next to his bike while throwing papers at the houses that don't have a mailbox. He knows it would be easier to throw them at every house regardless like the other carriers do. But he doesn't feel right doing it that way. To him, it's obvious that if they have a slot or a box right on their door, it means they don't want to walk out of the house if they don't have to.

The morning is like every other Saturday, nothing special...until Henry's mom realized that they were going to have dinner with Regina later. She may or may not, have freaked out a little. Which may have involved her grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him while gasping out "Henry, what do I wear?" over and over again. But all in all, it is just a normal morning.

He leans his bike against the fence surrounding Regina's house, takes the earplugs with some 'The Weeknd' playing, out of his ears, and walks onto the footpath of house number 108. Knowing by now that Regina always opens the door to either just say 'good morning' or about to go out for her morning run. And as he thought, when he is about to push the newspaper through the mailbox, the door swings open.

"Good morning, Henry" Regina smiles, she looks ready to go and run her usual six miles. She's a speedy one and always completes it in way under an hour. It's another aspect that makes him think she is right for his mom. Even though his mother works so hard and can't afford a gym, she still finds the time to do bodyweight exercises. He remembers how ecstatic she had been when he had given her a pull-up bar for Christmas a few years back.

He smiles back, "morning," and hands her the newspaper. "I was thinking about Italian for tonight?" He says, but it comes out more like a question. Regina takes the newspaper, and puts it on the table next to the door. "I love Italian."

"Awesome," Henry smiles even wider.

Regina smiles as well, pulling the front door of her house, closed. There is a comfortable silence that falls over them as they walk down Regina's walkway towards the street. Henry informs his professor they will pick her up at 8pm, and they say their goodbyes for the time being.

Henry goes on with the last couple of blocks left for his newspapers…well, he still has some more neighborhoods to go to but he likes to think to himself that the worst part of his route is already done.

Earplugs back in, he rolls through the streets with his bike. He's got a nice flow going with the newspapers, throwing them in the gardens of the big houses, and putting them into the mail boxes of the smaller ones. He loves doing the route because he gets to talk to different people, but mostly 'cause he can zone out a lot, into his own world.

Like he is right now. Just thinking, not about anything special…just zoning out into the music. He is on his bike, on his way back home, all his newspapers delivered and happy he is early as well. But sometimes, he gets into trouble because he zones out so very often. And at the worst time.

As he rides around smoothly on his bike, music in his ears and a nice breeze whipping past him, he turns left to ride through the park. Cars rarely ever really pass through that part of the quiet neighborhood so he doesn't look as he turns to ride into the park. Only this time... there is a car.

The car hitting the breaks creates a horrible noise that makes the hairs on the back of Henry's neck stand up. That is the moment he realizes he should have looked where he was going, because one second later, he is on top of the hood of the car. A loud groan comes from his throat as the car finally comes to standstill and he rolls off the hood onto the cold concrete.

He keeps his eyes closed tightly, feeling the pain go through the left side of his body where the car had struck him. He can hear the ball bearings of the spinning wheel of his bike lying next to him. He can also hear a car being turned off and someone getting out in a hurry. The car door slamming muffles the sound of a barking dog.

"Oh god, are you okay?" The person is falling to their knees to check up on him. "Henry?" The voice says. Opening his eyes slowly, he doesn't see much because the sun is shining in his eyes. But he sees short ginger hair and some glasses. Archie. Henry groans again.

"I'm alright," Henry says trying to get up. "No, don't move" Archie says, "We have to make sure nothing is broken." He takes out his phone to call 911.

Henry just nods and lies back down, but turns to lie on his back instead of his side. "Henry, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were going to make a turn." Archie says looking very worried and very sorry.

"No, I should have put my hand out to show you I was about to turn... and maybe looked if there was a car." He chuckles. But all Archie can do was just smile apologetically, his hands shaking as he keeps entering in the wrong code to unlock his phone, completely forgetting he doesn't need it for an emergency call.

"Henry?" A woman's voice calls for him loudly. He groans again but for a different reason. He knows that voice anywhere. "Oh my god, Henry, are you alright? What happened?" Regina kneels down next to him. She turns her attention to the kneeling man. "Have you called 911 yet?"

"I didn't look where I was going, but I'm fine," he says, trying to get up again, with a little help from his professor. "There's no need to call, please."

"Easy there." Regina mutters as she helps him regain his balance.

With a groan, Henry is now up and standing, "yeah, I'm okay." He assures them.

"Alright," Regina says.

Henry looks at her and sees her glaring at Archie. When she turns back to him, she looks worried.

"Henry, get a new bike, whichever you want and let me know. It's the least I can do." Archie offers.

"Let's leave your bike at my house, and I'll drive you to the diner to your mom."

All Henry does is nod, 'cause even he knows Regina and his mom will probably not want to go out anymore tonight because of this, thinking that they need to fuss over him. He also knows this is a great opportunity to get them alone for a nice, maybe even more romantic dinner. Henry tries very hard not to smirk at his own wonderful idea. Even if it did come at his own unexpected expense.

SQSQSQSQ

Henry hears the bell above the diner door ringing as Regina opens the door for him to step through.

"Henry?" He sees Ruby putting down whatever she is doing and quickly walking towards him. "Oh my god, what happened?"

Before Henry can even utter a word, Regina jumps in. "He was on his bike and got hit by a car." She puts a hand down on his shoulder. "Where is Emma?"

Ruby looks with wide eyes at a banged up Henry and back to the brunette woman, "in the back" she says, her mouth hanging open just bit. Regina however, does not waste another moment and Henry feels himself being pushed towards the back of the small diner.

It is just before the lunch rush hour and Henry is supposed to come in at around this time right before his shift starts. Even though, Granny most always lets him leave about half an hour early, because 'a kid your age shouldn't have to work so hard, it's very noble to help your mother out... but now get out of my kitchen'.

Walking straight into the kitchen, Henry's professor doesn't waste any time. "Emma?"

"Yes, I know, table three, coming right up. I just need one sec-" Henry almost chuckles at his mother's face. Standing still with an egg in her hand, her mouth slightly agape when she sees Henry and Regina standing in the kitchen.

"Oh my god," Emma drops everything on the kitchen counter and walks towards Henry. There is a slight bruise starting to be visible near his temple and a roughed up elbow, but nothing horrible. "What happened?" She asks, looking like someone slapped her in the face.

"Nothing, Mom, I'm fine," Henry mumbles and looks down to focus on his shoes. He hates to stress her out even more, especially when it's clearly his fault.

Emma sighs and Henry feels his mother's fingers wrap around his chin, making him look up at her. "This isn't nothing, Henry," she says in almost a whisper, green eyes roving all over his face.

"He got hit by Archie's car while riding his bike," Regina supplies, still having her hand on Henry's shoulder.

Henry can see his mother's eyes fly over to the brunette woman stand next to him. Even Henry can see the women's eyes lock. And maybe even sparks. Sparks? Maybe I have a concussion?

"What the hell is going on here?" The voice of Granny echoes through the kitchen. "Lady, what are you doing in my kitchen?" She asks, irritated. She walks over and sees the bruise on Henry's eye. "My god, what happened? Have you been fighting, young man?" She peers at him over her glasses with a gaze that would have the bravest of men shaking in their boots.

Emma clears her throat, "he got hit by a car." She says.

"Oh god, Henry, go home," Granny bellows, already shooing him out of the kitchen. "I'm sure I can let your mom get off a little bit early to take care of you, now go, we'll be fine." Granny starts grumbling too low for anyone to hear as she goes back to work in the kitchen, taking over whatever Emma's task was and working on the food.

Emma grabs Henrys upper arm and walks him and Regina towards the side of the kitchen. "Listen, I have to work 'til four, hopefully, like Granny says, I can get off a bit earlier." Henry feels a little uncomfortable at the intense stare his mom is giving him. "'Til then, maybe you can stay with him?"

Henry can hear the brunette next to him gasp a little and out of the corner of his eyes, sees her nod.

"Alright," his mom says, "hey, you got the key-"

"I think that it would be a better idea if he stays with me for now. I can drop him back home later when you get off from work." Henry tries really hard not to show his surprise, his mother... didn't do a good job of hiding hers though.

"Yeah sure...I don't really care right now." Henry mumbles. He kind of wants to object because he's fine but he figures it's worth it since it means more interaction between the two women.

"Alright, if you don't mind, 'cause I'm sure I can call someon-"

"No, it's fine, really. I don't mind at all."

Henry sees Regina smile at him. Maybe she's starting to see me as more than just her student, like a stepson already? Again, henry tried hard not to smile at the thought of his mom and Regina being together like that.

"I will drop Henry off when you get home from work, I'm sure he can show me where you live." Henry sees Regina smile warmly at Emma and he sees his mom nod, beaming.

"Alright, okay. Yeah…okay," Emma's nods. Henry notices his mom's eyes were once again, locked with his professor's and he tries not to smirk. Tonight, he is going to strive to make his mom, and his professor go to dinner, together, instead of the three of them.