Thanks for the reviews! I think this chapter will begin to clarify some of the mystery. Hope you guys enjoy it!
It wasn't enough that her mind had been racing trying to figure out why her son was trying to get to Neverland, but now she had to wait for several hours under florescent lights sipping tea that had not been properly steeped. Regina cursed Hook for telling Henry all about the things that he hadn't seen during his stay when they all sailed back home. If she had him now, she was sleep deprived just enough to rip that hook of his off his wrist and jam it somewhere unpleasant.
"Can I get you anything else, Madame Mayor?" Ruby asked.
"No, Red, thanks, I'm alright."
She wasn't certain, but Regina figured that Ruby wasn't asking if she wanted anything to eat. Whenever Regina came in, there was always an awkward feel in the air. Ruby and Emma had been close, ever sense Ruby helped out at the police station before David began working. While she was at their wedding, and always a guest at their big family parties, Regina and Ruby didn't talk much. It wasn't for any reason other than that a friendly relationship hadn't been established before Emma died. Nonetheless, they both felt the absence in each other's lives and wondered if they should talk. But the awkwardness always outweighed the desire to reach out.
Regina stared back down at her tea flavored water. There was only one time she could remember enjoying the tea at Granny's and it certainly wasn't for the taste. The first time she realized she was in love with Emma was over a cup three years ago.
There wasn't enough scotch in the world to make Regina feel better. She sat in a booth, downing her third glass, hating everything about this town. It didn't matter that she had power if she couldn't have the one thing that mattered—Henry. After being rejected, even after she had given up magic and been nice to the Charmings, her son had still chosen his birth mother over her.
She didn't notice the tea right away, as she had been dazing off, wishing to be anywhere else. But when she looked up to see if Ruby could grab her another, she saw someone had replaced her Scotch with a cup of hot water and a tea bag.
"I think it's time to switch off," said the blonde as she sat across from Regina.
"Pssshh," Regina shot back at Emma. She was too drunk to dignify her with a response, even if she was curious as to why the blonde had trekked out on this particularly cold November night.
Emma simply smirked and proceeded to fix the tea for Regina. "You know, he doesn't hate you."
"He doesn't, does he?" Regina answered, louder than speaking volume. "Then why has he moved in with you? Why won't he speak to me?"
"He's just confused, that's all," Emma said as she stirred in the cream and sugar. "He'll come around."
"How do you know?" Regina asked, taking the tea.
"Because I'll make him."
There was a long pause, as they both let Emma's assertion slip out of their minds. Regina looked at the woman across from her. Why was she here when she could be at home drinking hot chocolate with her son? She took a sip of her tea and spat it out.
"This is disgusting, Ms. Swan."
"Maybe it needs more sugar," she said, pouring some in.
"Ickk…still dishwater."
"No?" Emma grabbed some honey, "This will do it."
"Still awful."
"Hmm…," Emma took a sip. She concealed her own disgust with a smirk. "How about some salt." She dashed some in. "No, I know! Lemon!"
"Are you trying to kill me, Miss Swan?" Regina asked. But the blonde was busy reaching over to her own seat for some fruit. She plopped three grapes in.
"Now try it!"
They were both laughing by the time Emma added tobasco sauce, ketchup, pepper and anything else in her reach.
"Oohhh," Emma said, taking a sip just to make the other woman laugh, "delicious!"
"You are fucking crazy," Regina said, still laughing, but Emma has buried her face in the newly added whip cream.
"You don't know what you're missing," she said, whip cream stashe and all.
Regina let out a huge laugh and without thinking, took a napkin and wiped Emma's face. The two of them froze in the moment. They ignored it, but they both knew.
Still looking at her dull tea, Regina smiled.
"Am I interrupting something?" a voice asked.
Regina looked up to see Dorian standing there.
"You looked like you were deeply enthralled by your tea."
Regina laughed. "What are you doing up this early, Dorian?"
"Oh, well, on nights I can't sleep, passed a certain point, I figure, why not watch the sunrise?" He smiled and sat, "And you, Madame Mayor, would I be wrong to say you haven't been to bed yet?"
"I told you, it's Regina," she said, putting the tea to the side, "and you'd be correct. I've been up working on that research you got me into."
"I didn't intend for a restless mayor," Dorian replied, "But while on the topic, provided you manage to rest, what would you say to that dinner this Friday?"
"If I can get through my paperwork by then," Regina joked, "Friday would be lovely."
"Well, I'm pleased," he smiled, quickly getting up, "now if you don't mind me, I have a sunrise to see. Unless of course, you'd join me?"
"I would," she said, checking her watch, "but I have matters to attend to."
"Very well," Dorian threw down a few dollars to cover her tea. "Until Friday, Regina."
Just shortly after the sun rose, Regina anxiously knocked on the Charming's door. She couldn't wait any longer to see what her son was up to. She was greeted by none other than her little girl.
"Goo'morringg Momma!" she said, hugging Regina around the legs.
"Hi, Baby, what are you doing answering the door? Where's Grandma Snow?" But as soon as the question came out of her mouth, she heard Mary Margaret coming, hollering at Ellie. She emerged, tying her bathrobe and greeted Regina.
"Sorry, Regina, she just runs!"
"I know," she said, kissing her girl, "I can barely keep up with her."
"God, if Emma could see her," Snow sighed, looking into the little girl's eyes, "She was so excited to teach her how to walk."
"I know." Regina paused for a moment. "Um, anyway, is Henry awake yet?"
"No, out like a rock," David answered from the kitchen, pouring the coffee, "I'd be happy to wake him."
"Please, I need to speak with him."
As Regina, Snow, and Ellie moved onto the couch, David climbed the ladder to the loft. Snow handed Regina her coffee and they both heard arguing from David and Henry. Regina was pleased to hear the grumbling of her miscreant son. When he stumbled down the ladder, he had the same look that Emma did when she was woken.
"Hey Mom," he greeted her, rubbing his eyes.
"Don't you 'hey Mom' me. Get over here. We need to talk."
David looked to Snow to see if she knew what this was all about, but she shrugged and just handed him his coffee.
"Hennnee's in trubblllee," Ellie squealed and David couldn't help laughing. He picked her up and brought her to the kitchen while Regina continued.
"What the hell are you thinking?"
"I dunno what you're talking about."
"Well, you better damn well know, Mister," Regina put down her mug on the coffee table. "Why are you asking the whole town about Neverland?"
Shit. That was the expression on Henry's face. Regina also recognized it as one of Emma's.
"Are you trying to go there?!"
"No!"
"Then why the interest?"
Henry looked to Snow for an answer, but she couldn't help him out of this one. "I was just curious."
"Just curious?"
He stalled for a second. "I've never been to the Enchanted Forrest. And when I finally get to go to Neverland, I'm kidnapped there, so it's no fun. I just wanted to know what it was like."
"Dangerous," Regina answered. "Henry, I don't want you looking further into this. I saved you once and I'll be damned if I have to do it again. Understood?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Grounded. One month."
"But!"
"No buts. Go get ready for school."
As he stormed upstairs, Regina shook her head. Snow tried to comfort her by patting her on the back. Tears began to stream down her cheek and Snow wiped them away with her sleeve.
"Does he not get that I would be a wreck if anything were to happen to him again?!" Regina cried out hysterically.
"Aw, Sweetie, he just wasn't thinking."
"That's the problem," Regina answered, anger growing in her tone, "he wasn't thinking. About anyone but himself."
Snow tried to calm her down, but Regina was too upset. As she held Regina against her shoulder, David looked over to her to see if he could help. She swatted him away knowing that Regina was likely to throw out insults when she was vulnerable.
"I can't do this without Emma."
"What do you mean, Regina? You raised Henry for ten years as a single parent."
"But then I had her," Regina said, looking into Snow's eyes, "and I knew what it was like. I really fucking need her."
Henry listened to his mother wail from the top of the loft. She never let him see her break. She was tough and from the moment Emma had died, she stayed solid. He didn't even remember seeing her cry. She had acted more as if they had divorced and Emma had left. He knew they were having problems, but Regina's lack of emotion made it feel like she didn't love Emma at all. It wasn't until now that he had heard her really mourn.
As if the idea had never come to him before, he suddenly bounced with excitement. Henry scavenged around the top drawer of his night stand to find it. He trifled through old papers and photos that he left carelessly on top of the dresser. Finally, after pushing aside some change, he found the necklace that Mr. Gold had given him.
Henry carefully put it around his neck and hopped into his bed. Lying down on his pillow, he wished he could make his mother believe that he wasn't being selfish. If anything, he just wanted to help her. But if he told her the truth of what he really felt, she wouldn't believe him. At least not yet.
Henry wasted no time waiting for his vision to clear. He had been here a thousand times since he had gone to meet Aurora. He had often slept with the necklace on hoping to find himself in the Enchanted Forrest. But now was not playtime. He had a purpose. He jumped through the flames and passed the red curtains. In the distance, he saw a shadowy figure.
"Hello?" Henry called out. He moved forward, raising his arm to his mouth to cover it from the smoke. Moving a bit closer, he could just make out the figure. And when he did, he ran to hug her.
"Hey, kid."