"So after I found out who Mom was, I tried to run away every chance I could to be with Emma." Henry said.
Alize walked next to him and silently listened as the little boy talked.
"I told her to stop using magic, I called her the Evil Queen, I- I hurt her, every chance I could get."
"Well, Regina was evil, she'd done some terrible things and she can be a bit of a hardass at times, but she's not that person anymore. She can relapse sometimes, but she's working on it." Alize said.
"She wanted to change for me and I didn't think she could. I was so afraid of her, that she would use her magic on me."
"The natural response to something you don't understand, is to fear it. After Regina told me her story, I went and read a book about Snow White. It was completely inaccurate by the way, and I never liked Snow White-"
"What? Why?" Henry interrupted with an incredulous look. "She's really nice."
"Borderline creepy nice, yes. Who goes into a house, in the middle of the frickin' woods and falls asleep? There could be anything in there!" He laughed. "I mean seriously." She smiled. "Anyways, I wanted to understand Regina because she'd already been hurt and I'd already stolen like $80 out of her purse and I didn't want to piss her off and make her turn me into a toad." He snickered again. "I wanted to know who Regina was."
"Did you find out?" He asked.
"I already knew. She was the same one I spent a year with. And I'm sure you did too, that no matter what she may have done, she loves you and would do anything for you. You were actually the only reason she came back."
"Really?"
"Mmh hmm." Alize nodded.
"Where is she? I want to tell her I'm sorry."
Alize smiled. "You're gonna have to wait, kid. She's down at the well."
"Well, let's go get her." He suddenly took off down the street.
"Wait! Henry!" Alize yelled as she raced after him. "Your mother is going to kill both of us!"
xxxxxxxxx
The earth was rumbling as Regina returned to the well and waited for Emma. She didn't acknowledge the Shepherd or the Imp and was lost in her thoughts, trying to control herself. She knew she shouldn't have went to get Emma. She didn't want any of the old feelings that she'd had for the irritating blonde to come to the surface. She didn't want Emma anymore, she'd hurt her enough. She thought of Alize, of her beauty, her voice, her laugh, the way she accepted her even after she found out who she was. Alize made the pain go away.
Emma arrived a little bit later, looking better but barely responsive. They were prepared to enact their magic and raise the magic out of the water, but the ground shook violently. Emma nearly fell in but David caught her and the four of them moved back, the earth splintering and cracking.
"What's happening?" David demanded.
Gold scowled at the pool of water before disappearing in a cloud of red smoke. Regina was prepared to do the same but a scream made her freeze. "Alize!"
"Henry!" Emma cried, racing with her towards the sound. The ground fell away, widening the crater that housed the magic water.
Regina pushed her legs as fast as they could go in high heeled boots. She and Emma arrived just in time to see Alize throw Henry backwards as the earth gave way beneath her feet. "Alize!"
xxxxxx
Emma quickly pulled Henry away as Regina removed her shoes and coat. She couldn't see Alize. The woman was an excellent swimmer so she couldn't understand why she wasn't visible, unless she'd hit her head.
"Regina, it isn't safe." Emma cautioned, but Regina ignored her. She wasn't about to let her girlfriend die. Alize had saved her, time to repay the debt. With a quick breath, she dove head first into the water.
The water sparkled before her eyes and was a slight pink. Her body was on fire as she propelled herself forward with powerful strokes. Finally she saw her, nestled at the bottom, her golden hair forming a floating fan around her head. Regina braced her feet on the lake floor and wrapped her arms around Alize's waist. She pulled the blonde out of the grip of the mud and pushed them upward with a hard push of her legs. She broke the surface, gasping for air, but Alize didn't even stir.
"Don't come in!" She roared as Emma took a step towards them. She used her magic to transport them to safety, a few yards away from the sheriff and her son.
Regina knelt on the other side of the woman and lowered her head to the blonde's chest. She could hear the water bubbling within her and grabbed ahold of it with magic. She yanked her hand upwards, yanking the water out of the woman's throat.
Alize's eyes snapped open. They were bright purple and glowed before settling back into their natural purplish blue. "Regina?"
"I'm here, are you okay?"
"Where's Henry?" Alize asked. "Is he alright?"
"You saved him. He's fine. You didn't answer my question." Regina answered. She waved a hand over the blonde's body, searching for any injuries.
"I'm okay, Gina. Thanks to you." She smiled and leaned against Regina's shoulder. "Can we go home, I'm really tired."
"Of course, baby."
"Mom!" Henry cried, running over. "Is Alize okay?"
"Yes." Regina gently leaned a barely conscious Alize against a tree and faced her son. "Why aren't you in school? More importantly, why are you here?! You could've been seriously hurt if Alize didn't have the wherewithal to push you to safety."
"I'm sorry. That's why I wanted to come see you, to apologize for the way I treated you before you left. It's all my fault. Alize tried to stop me but I didn't listen. Don't be mad at her." He hung his head while His mothers glared at him.
"If you wanted to see me, why didn't you just come to the house?" Regina asked.
"I didn't think you wanted to see me." He said softly.
"Henry." She raised his head and looked him in the eye. "I love you, with all my heart, and always will. I will always want to see you." He smiled and hugged her tightly. "I emailed you at least once a week. You didn't get them?"
"No." He said. He released her and bent to talk to Alize.
Regina glared at Emma and pulled the blonde away from her son. "What the hell? Why didn't you tell him about my emails?" She demanded, struggling to control her anger.
Emma remained strangely calm but her eyes were dark with sadness. "Because they weren't about me." She answered softly. "They weren't for me. You ignored everything I sent you and I got angry with you. After a while I just didn't read them." She sighed. "I'm sorry, but I did tell him that you loved him. I told him every day. I'm sorry, Regina."
Regina turned on her heel and walked back to Alize without another word. She helped the blonde to her feet and smiled at Henry. "Stop by tonight for dinner. I'm sure Alize will be awake by then and you can talk to her then."
"Okay." He grinned and hugged her again. "I'm sorry Alize, get better."
The blonde lazily raised an eyebrow. "I'll try, kid."
He ran towards Emma before pausing and turning around and racing back. "Oh yeah, Alize stole $80 out of your wallet."
"What?!" Regina said.
"You little bastard." Alize whispered while purposefully not looking at the brunette.
"We're talking about this when we get home."
"I'm really tired."
"What the hell did you spend $80 on?"
"It wasn't $80. It was way more than that." Alize said absently.
They continued to argue even as Regina transported them away, leaving mother and son alone.