Snow sat on a rock near her tent. She watched as the sun rose over the ocean. No matter what realm she was in the sun rise was always beautiful.
"Enjoying the view?" Snow turned and saw Nahuel standing next to Henry, grand as ever.
Snow nodded as Henry ran into her arms.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked.
"Yes." Henry answered.
"I was hoping you would allow me to speak with you." Nahuel asked kindly.
"Anything. We owe you."
"Why is it that you are so willing to risk things for the Evil Queen?"
Snow gave a small smile. This was something she herself had pondered over for a long time. It was something she knew no one would ever understand. Truthfully, she didn't even understand it.
"She isn't the Evil Queen anymore. When we arrived here it would have been so easy for her to kill me, but she didn't. She loves Henry and will be good, for him. I lived with her for years and she never laid a hand on me. She was so alone, so miserable and it was my fault. She took so much from me, but dwelling on the bad is what made her who she is. I loved her once and I still do. I will never give up hope that one day she will manage to fully break through the darkness. Even if she never loves me I hope that she can be happy. She may have done horrible things but I truly believe that she just wants people to believe in her."
"You claim that she has changed but she was conjuring up fire when I met her."
"Yes, to protect Henry. Look, there are some things I will never and can never forgive her for. But, I have learned, that she becomes very dark if she feels threatened. I promise that she will hurt no one as long as she is left alone. I urge you to treat her fairly, don't judge her too harshly or she will lash out. All she wants is Henry safe."
"You seem very sure. I hope that you are right." With that, Nahuel walked away.
"Grandma?"
"Yes Henry?"
"Do you really love her?"
Henry looked at her with such confusion, and she couldn't blame him. Regina had done horrible things, yet she could never shake away the memories of a young woman on a horse or a mother in a mine. For Snow the good always overpowered the bad. She remembered a time when Regina and been with her in disguise. Regina, or Wilma, was so eager to have a family. She knew that Regina still felt that way, but was too proud to admit it. No matter what Snow knew she would have to be there for Regina, because if she didn't no one would.
"Yes. I do. And one day, when she is ready, I will tell her that."
Henry smiled at her; a bright happy smile that lit up his face. His eyes shone like stars as he looked at his grandmother.
"So it is okay that I love her?" He asked excitedly.
Snow's heart broke at that sentence. She hadn't realized how much Henry would have been affected by the whole town talking badly about Regina. Though she had brought it upon herself no child should ever feel guilty for loving their parent. Snow wrapped Henry into a big hug.
"Of course it is okay Henry. She raised you, she loves you. There is nothing wrong with you loving her."
Regina sat at the end of the chestnut table. She looked out over the room and saw the guards. They were her only companion, a group of quiet companions. They stood around her at all times, making sure she stayed in the palace. The few times that they addressed her they spoke with very few words. Yet, every word was a gift to her.
This palace was her prison. The irony was that she had the highest position that any woman could have. She as surrounded by people and lived in a grand palace. But, she would rather be locked in a cell. At least in a cell there was no lying. This palace put on a mask of freedom when in reality she was trapped.
All Regina wanted was to run. Run away and never look back. Run until her legs gave out and she fell to the ground. Run herself to death. This was her wish. Sadly, this was a fate she was forbidden from reaching. She must continue on, she must continue on in misery.
Regina jolted awake. She had dreamt again of her past, a past she wished she could forget. As her vision became clearer she stood up and turned around. Henry and Snow weren't in their beds. She was alone once again.
***
Emma opened her eyes, and then shut them quickly. The light was on, she must have forgotten to shut it off. She slowly opened her else again, this time using her had to block some of the light. She looked over at the clock. 7:00 am. It was way too early for this. She was about to go back to sleep when she heard a low rumble. Damn, she thought. Emma reluctantly got out of bed. She shuffled her way into the kitchen. She wasn't in the mood to make herself a real breakfast, she never was. Emma decided to just grab something quick. She took a huge bite out of a jelly donut.
Emma shuffled back to her bed and flopped on top of the blankets. She hated mornings more than anything. She let her grogginess take her over. Emma started to fall asleep until something jolted her awake. Henry! She had forgotten to make him breakfast; again. He always complained how she never remembered to do things like that. Emma got up. She had to make him breakfast, and apologize for forgetting. She didn't want him to decide that her lackluster efforts at mothering wasn't good enough and go back to Regina. She couldn't lose her son, he was all she had.
Then it hit her. Henry was gone. Emma started to cry. How could she do that? How could she forget? She couldn't believe it. She hated herself for forgetting. She had grown so use to being alone that sometimes she forgot that she wasn't anymore. She needed to get Henry back. She needed to find her son. She needed to tell him how much she loved him, how much he changed her life. Then it finally hit her, she knew how to find out how Henry was, she just had to go wake up David and call Blue. She was going to get her son back!
