As you can no doubt tell, you're well off. Regina sipped thoughtfully at her coffee as she started to read the first notebook, titled simply 'Number One.' Clearly, she was a person who believed in brevity. She picked up her chocolate croissant and took a small bite, chewing slowly as she continued to read. You have a family, but it is exceptionally complicated. All you need to know is that you have a son. She stopped chewing. She had a child? Why would she have left her child? You didn't leave him alone, so do stop panicking. He's safely with his other mother, Emma Swan. No, you two were never lovers. You adopted your son, Henry, when he was a baby. He found his birth mother on his own and brought her to town. She now lives in Storybrooke. You share custody.

Slowly setting her food down, she let this information roll over in her mind. That didn't seem like an extremely complicated state of affairs, though that did beg the question as to whether or not she had a lover at all. She glanced down at the page. You don't have a lover. Well, that answered that. Was there even anyone who… You have no prospects. It's better if you keep it that way. Yes, you'll find you're attracted to both men and women. No, it is an exceptionally bad idea to even entertain the idea that you and Emma Swan would be anything more than acquaintances. Most of what you've known about Miss Swan is something you want to forget, so leave it alone. Regina frowned. It sounded as though her life was a lonely one.

There is a young couple with a baby that Henry will call his grandparents and Emma might call her parents. Don't worry about the particulars. Accept that they have an arrangement, and the couple is safe. They love Henry and will protect him at all costs. Know that you and the couple are not on good terms. It's best to speak as little as possible to all three of them: Emma Swan, Mary Margaret Blanchard, and David Nolan.

She sighed. Was there anyone she was going to be around that she was friends with or, at the very least, wasn't on bad terms with. She turned the page and gave a humorless chuckle. No one likes you. You're hated in the town, but the town needs you. The assumption is that you've retained the memories needed to be mayor. Steps were taken to ensure that. She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. This was ridiculous. She didn't know anything about… no, that wasn't true. As she thought about it, she realized she did, in fact, know how to run a small town. Why would she know how to run the town but nothing of her son? You owe it to the town to remain mayor for as long as they'll allow it. It's best not to ask why. It's one of the things you wish to forget. You can't remember your son because of his interconnections to the myriad of things you wish to forget. There was no way to separate him out. Accept that you have a good job that pays well and is, possibly, the most secure job anyone anywhere would ever find. Accept you have a son that does love you, and you do love him. Be grateful you have these things.

Grateful? Who did she think she was to tell her that? She rolled her eyes. She was suddenly angry at herself. It was probably best to let that go. With a sigh, she read on. Be the perfect politician and mother. It's what you're best at doing. Smile, shake hands, kiss babies, make Henry lunches, and be a cordial and respectful hostess whenever he wants to bring people over, except the three already mentioned. If Henry insists they visit, allow it, but say very little. Trust it is better this way.

Who were these people that she hated them so much yet was forced to share her son with them? What kind of madness was this? She slowly shook her head back and forth. Her life felt like it was a hot mess.

The remainder of this book contains photos of your son and the three people mentioned along with explanations of specific events about which you should probably know.

Taking in a deep breath, she turned the page and found the bright, shining face of a young man with eyes that sparkled with warmth staring back at her. Her heart sped up. This was her son, and he was beautiful. Why would she allow herself to forget him? How could she do that? Clearly, she wanted to keep him, and her instructions indicated there was an expectation for her to return to this town with these people… and her son.

She stared at the photo, running a finger along it as she studied his face. For him, she'd go back despite going in blind. She felt a tug that said all she really needed to know. He would be worth whatever else she'd have to deal with.

Nodding to herself, she moved her eyes to the next photo, a picture of a tall, athletic looking woman with long blonde hair and remarkable green eyes. The caption told her it was Emma Swan, Henry's birth mother. The woman was absolutely striking. Even in clothing that didn't highlight anything about her body, it was clear she was beautiful, and she held herself with a cocky confidence that very much appealed to Regina's sensibilities. From the photo alone, Regina was intrigued, but the caption held a warning. Don't even consider it. She sighed and moved on.

The last photo in the spread was of a couple holding a baby. Mary Margaret Blanchard, David Nolan, and baby Neal Nolan. They looked nice. What could they have possibly done for Regina to dislike them so much? She shrugged. Maybe they were animal abusers or something? No, that didn't feel right, but, whatever it was, it was something that made her feel anger toward them even though she had no idea why. It wouldn't be an issue for her to follow the instructions regarding them.

Taking another sip of coffee, she flipped the page to find more pictures of Henry from various ages. She smiled and leaned back in her chair as she slowly went through album of photos of her son.


"Where are you going?" Henry's voice forced Emma to stop in her tracks.

She winced and slowly turned around. "For a walk?"

"At 8 in the morning?" He shook his head. "No way. You work out at night, Mom. You're going to the mansion, aren't you?"

She tried to put on her best nonchalant face. "Why would you say that?"

"Because I thought about it, too, but I figured you'd be really mad at me if I went alone." He shrugged.

"You're not coming. She was right. It really could be dangerous." She narrowed her eyes at her son. "You didn't buy the 'she needs a break' thing, either?"

"Nope." Henry finished walking down the stairs as he fished in his front pocket. "Here." He held at key. At the question on his mom's face, he rolled his eyes. "It's the key to the house. Mom would have a fit if you broke something trying to get in."

"You're not going to demand I take you with me?" She reached out slowly for the key.

"I want to, but I know that it's not going to help if I get kidnapped again, but," he put on his best threatening face, and Emma took a quick second to appreciate how well he mirrored Regina's best threatening face, "promise me you'll tell me everything you find out."

"If I find something, I'll let you know." She snatched the key from his hand and stuck it in her pocket. "Will you tell Mary Margaret and David I went for a walk?"

"Nope." He shook his head again and then grinned. "They won't believe me. I'll tell them you went the beach to watch the waves because you didn't sleep well last night."

"I'm not going to ask. Whatever you think they'll believe." She leaned over and kissed his cheek goodbye. "Thanks, kid."

He wiped at his face and grumbled as he shut the door behind her.

She chuckled at his typical teenage antics before going back to business. Pulling the key out of her pocket, she held it in her hand and stared at it. Should she really do this? She shrugged. It didn't matter. She was going to do it anyway.

Clutching it in her hand, she hopped in the bug and headed for the mansion. It only took a couple of minutes before she was parked and walking up the front porch steps.

The key worked just fine, and she carefully entered, half expecting some spell to propel her back out the door. When nothing happened, she quietly closed the door behind her and looked around.

Everything looked the same. Nothing was out of place, per Regina's usual housekeeping habits, and nothing felt off. She frowned, trying to decide what to do first. If she were Regina, where would she keep damning evidence?

Nowhere. Regina was smarter than to keep it at all.

She rolled her eyes. This was an impossible task. What she needed right now was a drink, and she happened to know the right place to go. She made a beeline for the study and the dry bar therein. She almost yelped out loud when she found an envelope with her name written in Regina's distinctive cursive.

She sighed. Regina had known Emma would somehow break into her house. The brunette just seemed to know what Emma would do. The blonde frowned as she picked the envelope up. Truth be told, Regina knew Emma, just as Emma knew Regina. There was a connection there wrought from everything they'd been through. She really shouldn't be surprised Regina would know she'd come snooping around to make sure the brunette was okay.

Turning the envelope over, she broke the seal and pulled out a folded piece of paper with a hand written note on it. She gave a small smile. Regina always had liked giving things a personal touch.

Miss Swan,

Try to refrain from drinking all of my cider while I'm away. I'll be back in a week's time. I probably won't act the same. At least, I hope that to be the case. I'm taking a break from Stroybrooke and all of you to clear my mind and reset my goals.

There are many things I have to accept that I cannot change nor control. For me, this is a difficult realization, as you might imagine. However, there is much I can control, such as how I interact with you, your family, and citizens of this town.

I've decided to take a political retreat, catch up on recent policy changes, and come back refocused on being effective mayor and mother for Henry.

I'd appreciate it if you'd at least respect me enough to support this decision and, unless I must interact with you for Henry's sake, to leave me alone. Yes, I still hate you. No, I doubt highly that will ever change.

Lock the door on your way out.

Regina

Emma sighed. She supposed that made sense, and, if she were honest with herself, it would actually be remarkably healthy for Regina to focus on something other than revenge or keeping Henry with her. He wasn't going to go anywhere, and trying to get revenge hadn't ever worked out well for the brunette.

Slipping the paper back into the envelope, she stuck it in her pocket and turned to leave. She supposed there wasn't anything left to worry about. Of course, if Regina didn't come back in a week, she'd start snooping around again, but, for now, the letter was enough.

The last thing she wanted to do was tick Regina off more by not respecting the woman's requests to be left alone. She owed Regina at least some privacy. She winced, realizing she wasn't even giving Regina that much. Quickly exiting the house and making sure to lock the door behind her, she made a hasty retreat to her car.

She'd let Henry read the note and then let it go for now.


Well, what do you think so far?