Chapter 9

Americans, please tell me why you have to have the Super bowl from 12am to 4am German time? And that on a monday morning when school is starting? You are insane:D

Regina's sleep got disturbed much too early for her liking. Regina looked at the clock and groaned. It was just 3am. The reason why she woke up was Henry. He was trying to muffle his cries and laid down next to the bed. "Henry.",Regina said softly. "Get in here." Henry looked up shocked but obeyed. Regina pulled him between her and Daniel and draped her blanket over him. Daniel was still out cold. "What's up, Henry?",Regina whispered and stroked his cheek. "I...I had a nightmare...",Henry answered and Regina pulled him against her and just held him. "Do you wanna talk about it?",Regina asked and kissed his head.

"I...I dreamed that someone would take me from here...",Henry answered and started crying again. "But nobody will. I will fight everyone off who wants to take you away from me. No one will take my children away from me. I promise you that.",Regina whispered and cupped his cheeks. Henry locked eyes with Regina. "Really?",he asked and Regina nodded. "I'm your mother, Henry, and a mother protects her children.",she answered and wiped his tears away. "And now go back to sleep, honey. It will be exhausting later." He nodded and snuggled closer to her. She felt how his breathing evened out and he was peacefully sleeping.

Daniel and Regina woke up 6 hours later. "What's the time?",Daniel muttered when he felt a hand in his own. "I don't know. I can't move.",Regina answered and Daniel opened his eyes and looked to the side. Henry was laying half on top of Regina. His head on her chest and his arms tightly wrapped around her torso. "When did he join us?",Daniel asked surprised and Regina shifted a bit so that she laid more comfortable. "Something around 3. He had a nightmare and was crying. He wanted to sleep on the ground first but I took him in the bed.",Regina answered and Daniel smiled.

"Wait. Let me take a picture.",Daniel said and reached for his phone. He turned back. Regina had turned on her side and now was running her fingers through Henry's short hair while her other hand held his tiny waist. Daniel took a picture of them and directly made it to his screen. Henry started to stir in Regina's arms. "Hello, buddy.",Daniel said and Henry opened his eyes. He looked up surprised and than smiled. "Mom.",he breathed out and snuggled closer to her. Regina looked to Daniel with a grin. Daniel pouted. "I wish someone would greet me that happy.",he said and Henry turned around. He hugged Daniel and sighed contently.

Regina snuggled close to them and together they held Henry. "Will you show me how I have to shave my beard when I'm older?",Henry asked Daniel who chuckled. "I can do that. But we still have much time.",Daniel said and Henry nodded happily. "Do you have a Playstation or something like that?",Henry asked Daniel who nodded. "Yes, but it's an older one. Not the new kind. Why?",he answered. "We could play together. I mean... as long as you can't walk we can still spent time together.",Henry answered and Regina chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Very smooth. That's definitely your father's gene.",Regina said and felt Daniel's hand tickling her.

"S-stop!",Regina said giggling and Daniel smirked. "I would like that very much, Henry.",he than answered and saw Henry's bright smile. "We have to get up, guys.",Regina said and got up. Luckily both had dressed again after their love making. Henry sat up and sighed. "Really?",Henry asked pouting and Regina pulled him towards her and tickled him. He squealed and squirmed underneath her hands. Daniel laughed loudly until he couldn't breath anymore. Regina stopped shortly afterwards and smiled down at him.

"Get up, honey.",she said and he sighed but got up. "Dress, we'll go to Granny's.",she said and stroked his cheek and he bolted off. She turned to Daniel who smiled at her lovingly. "I love you, Regina.",he said and Regina crawled back on the bed and kissed him passionately. "We have to make us ready too.",she whispered against his lips but still stole another kiss. "You are the one who is slowing us down.",he answered and chuckled. She kissed him a last time and than got off the bed. She quickly showered and than dressed for the day. Daniel was already finished and waited with Henry for Regina at the door. Ruby and Emma were at school because it was a school day.

"Sorry. The shower got cold suddenly.",Regina said when she came down. "It's alright.",Daniel said and they left the house and drove to the diner. When they entered they just heard a loud squeal and suddenly Henry was lifted up. Henry fought against the grip. "Let me go! Please! Don't hurt me!",he said and suddenly he was sat down again. He gripped Regina's hand and hid a bit behind her. "It's alright, Henry. This is Granny. My adoptive Mom.",Regina said and kneeled down to him. "She has this attitude but she is one of the kindest person in the whole world." He looked to Granny doubting who smiled at him softly.

"I'm sorry, young man. I just saw you once. Directly after your birth...",Granny told him and he looked at her surprised. "Really? Why didn't you saved me?",he asked her and she sighed. "Your grandmother... she got me arrested so I couldn't get you in time...",Granny told him and he looked to Regina who nodded saddened. "Come on, honey. Let's eat something." "I can have anything I want?",he asked and Regina nodded chuckling. They walked to a booth and sat down before they ordered their food.

On the other side of the town a brunette woman was watching Emma and Ruby from a hiding spot. It was Cora. "Oh my dear daughter, how often do I have to tell you that Love is weakness?",she mumbled and shook her head disappointed. "You'll see it soon enough." She looked at the picture of her daughter which was clutched tightly in her hand. Her revenge was probably the only thing which had kept her sane. Anyway, she had to focus on her plan. She would take Emma hostage so that she had some leverage over Regina. So she waited.

Regina's phone rung and she picked it up annoyed. "Mills.",she said. "Sorry to disturb you this early in the morning, Mayor Mills but we have bad news.",Sheriff Graham said. Regina sighed. "Okay... what happened?" "Your mother... she escaped from prison.",he said and Regina froze. "When?",she just asked. "A few days ago.",Graham answered. "And you just thought that keeping it for you is good?",Regina snapped. "I just heard of it today, Mayor Mills.",he answered and Regina sighed. "I'm sorry. Thank you. Could you do me a favor?" "Sure, what do you need me to do?",he asked. "Get Emma from school. If I know her correctly she'll go after her or Daniel.",Regina asked. "Alright. I'm directly getting her.",he answered and they hung up.

"Who is after whom?",Henry asked and Regina sighed. "My mother... she is probably around here.",she answered and Daniel gasped. "I asked Graham to pick up Emma. Better save than sorry." Daniel nodded. "Do you think she knows that he is back?",Daniel asked and Regina nodded. "I think she knows more than we want her to... I need to tell Granny.",she answered and got up. "What did grandmother do beside of ripping me away from you?",Henry asked Daniel. "She hit me with her car with the intent that I die... but our family always was tough and luckily you inherited the same gene.",Daniel told him and Henry smiled slightly.

"Will she hurt us?",Henry asked and Daniel shook his head. "Regina and I will do everything in our power to protect you and your sister. Cora destroyed our lives once, we won't let it happen a second time.",Daniel assured him and took his hand. He squeezed it softly and Henry sighed. "Bad luck is following me around like I don't know what...",Henry said and Daniel shook his head. "Emma uses to say the same thing but it's wrong. Everyone has tough times but they also end and everything gets alright again. Look at your mother. She fought so long for getting adopt by Granny and she did it. She is her adoptive daughter now. And you know why? Because she is a tough woman. A woman who never gives up because she has people to rely on. And you have that too. I hope you know."

Henry nodded and stood up. He walked over to Daniel and hugged him. "Thank you,...Da-dad.",Henry said and suddenly heard Daniel sniffing. "God. Why are you two always crying?",Henry asked cheekily and felt Daniel's chuckle. "When you are older you'll get it, Henry. But what I want to ask you is... would you mind buying things on another day? With Cora in town it's just too dangerous.",Daniel answered and Henry shrugged. "I'm happy to finally be with you. Things like clothes aren't so important to me.",he answered and looked up again. Regina had came back to them and smiled lovingly at him.

"We'll finish eating and than go home, if this is alright with you?",she asked and sat down. Henry nodded. "I'm fine with it. I'm hungry though.",he said and Regina laughed. "The more time I spent with you the more I see your father's genes." "I hope you just see the good ones.",he answered and Regina chuckled. "Yes. Your father has not many bad traits. And the ones he has are acceptable.",she told him. They finished eating and went back home where Emma was waiting with Ruby and Graham. "Why the hell did you sent the Sheriff after me?",Emma asked slightly angry. "My mother escaped prison.",Regina answered and Emma paled. She knew exactly what that meant. "Fuck..." "Indeed.",Regina said sighing.

"I hope you understand that Graham will stay with you for the next few days until the deputies found my mother." "It's no problem. It's nice that you directly looked out for me... sorry that I was such a jerk." "It's alright. Maybe I should have told him to be nice and gently.",Regina answered and Emma chuckled. "It was just a bit strange to leave school in a police car.",Emma answered and Regina nodded. They tried to occupy themselves while they waited for the deputies to find Cora.

TBC...?