1:36am

Swan, Emma

Subject: Re: Re: Fw: Hey

Hi Henry,

I am glad you enjoyed the downloads. Your mom mentioned to me that you had requested my newest album for your birthday. Since I could make that wish come true, I did. I also thought you might like to have everything else, including all of my unreleased stuff. You're one of very few people to have copies of those tracks. Guard them well. Ha-ha.

As you have probably figured out by now, being that you're a smart kid, this is really Emma Swan. Your mom and I met and became friends at the concert she attended in Boston. Let me tell you, kid. Stranger things DO happen.

"Operation Peter Pan" is about wishing one could bend or stop time in order to find that which seems impossible to find. But, it's mostly about hope. Maybe I will explain it better to you someday. Or, maybe you already know what I am talking about.

Can you do me a favour? Please let your mom know that I am sorry, but I will be falling off the grid for a little while. Things are about to get really busy, and I am not sure I will have a lot of time for correspondence.

Thanks, kid.

Emma Swan


"Mom!"

Regina could hear Henry's bare feet racing down the hall, the soles of his feet squeaking a bit as he rounded the corner into her study. Chuckling for the first time that morning, she scanned her inbox once more before closing her laptop and turning her attention to a sleep tousled, pink cheeked Henry.

"You'll never guess in a million years, mom!"

"You have discovered a deep and unyielding love of mathematics?"

"No! I..."

"Let's see...hmmm...you've decided to join Pongo on his quest to pee on every fire hydrant in Storybrooke?"

"Mom. You're stretching. Not only has Pongo already peed on every fire hydrant AND light post in this town," Henry's face took on a diabolical gleam. "What makes you think I haven't?"

"Henry Mills!" Regina exclaimed, pretending to be scandalized.

"Jeez, mom. No. Listen. Remember that e-mail you sent me with Emma Swan's music?"

"Of course I do. I sent it the day before yesterday. Are you enjoying it?"

"Yes. A lot. But, I e-mailed her."

"H-how..."

"You forgot to remove her address when you forwarded it to me. I didn't know for sure whether it was her at first, but after thinking about it for a little while, I just couldn't pass up the chance to talk to her."

Regina knew she shouldn't be surprised. Henry was a smart, intuitive kid. When she'd sent the e-mail to him, she had made sure to delete all traces of conversation, wanting Henry to have the music, but wanting the rest to follow at Emma's pace. She'd been concerned when there hadn't been a response from Emma waiting for her this morning, but now she was downright worried that she'd made a dire mistake in forgetting to delete Emma's e-mail address. Her son could be a bull in a china shop at times, and Regina wondered where he got that trait from.

"Did she respond, Henry?" Regina queried, trying to keep her voice even.

"Yeah. She was really nice. Answered a question I asked about one of the songs. But, " Henry scratched his head, lost in thought for a second. "It was strange. Or maybe she seemed strange. I don't know."

"Strange how?"

"Like...maybe I freaked her out or something. She answered my question, but then told me to give you a message."

Regina's heart sank into her toes and chilly sweat began to prickle at the back of her neck.

"What did she say?"

"She said she's be off the grid for awhile and that she wouldn't have time for correspondence. It was...I felt kinda bad, like maybe I had bothered her by talking to her." Henry stared at his feet, his face screwed up into a frown of confusion.

Regina slammed back into herself and reached for Henry, pulling him close.

"You didn't bother her, sweetheart." She murmured into his messy hair, taking a moment to breathe him in as she mulled over what to say next. "How could you possibly bother her? She is just busy, that's all. You know she's on tour. She's probably exhausted and has to devote all of her energy to that."

"Ok," Henry whispered into her shirt, and then pulled away a bit. "But, mom?"

"Mm?"

"Why didn't you tell me you guys were friends? That's a pretty big deal."

"I'm sorry, Henry. I guess it just never came up."

She could feel the boy searching her eyes and cataloging her body language for any signs that she was keeping something from him. She waited his careful scrutiny out, an amused smile on her face.

"Ok." Seeming satisfied, Henry nodded. "She's really great, y'know. I hope she talks to me again sometime."

"I know. Me too. Now, your breakfast is waiting for you in the oven. You'd better eat and get dressed. You have 20 minutes before we need to leave for school."

Henry trotted off to do as he was asked and Regina drifted back to her desk and sank, boneless, into her chair. Was Emma angry? Frightened? A combination thereof? It was obvious that the woman needed space, but Regina wasn't sure why. Had it been Henry's e-mail or her own that had caused Emma's retreat? There was just something about Emma that brought Regina's feelingsPerhaps she shouldn't have said the intimate things she'd said or been so familiar with someone she barely knew, but she'd been unable to help blurting it all out.

If Henry was a bull in a china shop, Regina realized, it was only because Regina was an elephant in Tiffany's. The apple did not fall far from the tree.

Regina made a quick decision, opened her laptop and began what she hoped wouldn't turn out to be her last message to Emma.


7:32am

Mills, Regina

Subject: I'm Sorry

Emma,

Henry gave me your message and I will respect your wish for silence, but wanted to first apologize.

Henry is concerned that his e-mail upset you. He's an astute child and noticed a strangeness in your tone. I forwarded what I thought was just the music, but neglected to erase your e-mail address from the header. I am so sorry.

I know I said that how we proceed is up to you, and it still is. I haven't told him anything; only that I didn't think he upset you, that you probably are just busy, as you said. I think he feels somewhat better, but I can tell he's still troubled. He is bothered, in particular, by the fact that I did not mention my friendship with you.

I dislike keeping things from him, but it's for the best. If you decide not to be part of his life after all, I'd rather him never know how close he'd come to really getting to know you.

He adores you, Emma. He's over the moon that you so much as spoke to him.

Also...I'm sorry if anything I said caused you concern. I do not tend to be as open with my feelings as I have been with you. Perhaps we were not on the same page after all. I realize I may have misinterpreted the way you looked at me, your choices in wording, etc. Please believe me when I say I did not intend to cause you discomfort. In fact, the opposite is true.

Please take care. I do hope to hear from you again.

Regina