The next week or so saw Regina and her children choose a house, and move out from her father's place and into their new home. It was a large house, one of the oldest in Storybrooke, and one of the nicest looking. It was two story's, the exterior had wooden panelling and was painted white, it had a blue steel roof, and a porch, complete with white marble columns and a loveseat swing.
The boys each got their own bedroom, plus there was a nursery next to Regina's room for her unborn child and two spare rooms. The bathrooms were all bronze and marble and it had a large kitchen for Regina. The kids were about as happy as they could be, given the situation, but all of them had at least agreed on the house, so that was positive.
Her father was sad to see them go, and though she liked being close to him Regina was relieved to be standing on her own two feet again. She wired a large sum of money to her father's bank account, despite his protests, to thank him for taking them in, and left him with a batch of his favourite biscuits.
The new house was quite large, and even once they'd finished unpacking, there was still an emptiness in the air, one that Regina found uncomfortable, and she hoped none of her sons had noticed it.
On top of that, she had to face sleeping alone.
It hadn't hit her as hard at her father's house, especially because Daniel and Henry had been upset about the split and the move, and had often accompanied her sleep.
The third night in the house, after the little boys had gotten used their new rooms, was the first night she'd have to face the truth.
She'd locked up the house, turned out the lights, and tucked her kids into their beds. She changed into her black silk pyjama pants and shirt, which her baby bump was now protruding out of a little bit, brushed her teeth, washed off her makeup, and moisturised, and now she had no choice but to go to bed.
And she did, but even in her familiar, luxurious, king-sized, four-poster bed, with her favourite red comforter, silk sheets, and plush pillows, she felt terrifyingly, achingly alone.
She was lying on her side, with one hand on her belly, seeking comfort in the movement of her baby, and staring through the darkness at the empty space beside her in the bed.
She wished she didn't miss Emma. She wished Emma hadn't left. She wished Emma still loved her.
But wishes were for children and all Regina had was a huge hole in her heart, several thorns in her side, and a literal human in her uterus.
She knew she had to be strong.
But god damn, it was hard when she was alone in the dark.
Regina wiped a tear away from her eye, cursing inwardly, and adjusted her position to get more comfortable. She'd just settled down when she heard bare feet padding into her room. Relieved beyond words she waited for a child's voice to whisper for her attention, but was surprised when instead, someone climbed into her bed, someone much too tall to be Daniel or Henry.
"Mom?" Damon whispered as he shimmied under her comforter.
"Yes?" She whispered back, reaching out her hand until she found his form.
"Can I stay with you?" He asked, seeming a little embarrassed, but genuine nonetheless.
"Of course." She agreed, her eyebrows knitted with concern as she moved over so that he could fit. He lay on his back beside her, and she wrapped her hand around his arm, finding a lot of comfort having his warmth.
"Are you worried about court tomorrow?" She asked him softly, rubbing her thumb against the fabric of the hoodie he slept in.
"Yep." He didn't need words to express how he was feeling to his mother, his voice was choked up enough with emotion for her to get a full picture.
Regina didn't know how to comfort her son, so she just hugged him tight. She was going to be his lawyer tomorrow, she had prepared him to plead guilty, and would fight for no jail time. She didn't think her son deserved to go to jail for carrying slightly more weed than you were legally allowed to carry. She did want him to be punished though, certainly, and she didn't want him using drugs at all, even the safe ones. So with that viewpoint, she didn't know what to say to him, and instead held him until she fell asleep.
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Waiting at the court house was incredibly tense. Henry and Daniel were staying with Regina's father, and Regina herself was waiting with Sherriff Nolan, Emma, and parents/guardians of the other two teenagers that had been arrested, Granny, of Granny's diner, and Mr and Mrs Fa.
Damon was sitting with his two friends, the vulnerable, scared boy that had climbed into his mother's bed the night before was locked away deep inside, and the boy present was sprawled arrogantly on the bench, with his hood up and wearing a sullen expression.
The two girl's also facing sentencing today were Ruby, the orphan daughter of Granny's deceased son, and Mulan Fa, a Chinese girl whose family had only moved to Storybrooke in the last year.
Regina thought Ruby looked a bit sluttish, despite the snow she was only wearing tiny red latex shorts, and a white, ermine lined, mid-drift baring puffer jacket, huge gold hoop earrings and sparkly stilettoes. Her long brown hair had several red streaks and was a beachy mess, not to mention she was wearing more eyeliner than both of the prostitutes being incarnated beside them were between them.
The other girl, Mulan, was dressed in boy's jeans, a plain shirt, a hoodie and Vans, similar to Damon's. She wore no makeup, and despite the gap shaved into one of her eyebrows, she was very beautiful. Her bronze skin was smooth and her thick black hair, which was pulled back into a braid, hung past her waist. She was the one who had been caught with several knives concealed about her person. Regina couldn't say it about a lot of people, but she found her a bit intimidating.
Emma was standing quietly, and Regina couldn't help but notice her soon-to-be ex-wife looked tired, and her eyes were red.
Perhaps living with a 20 year old twat wasn't as relaxing as she'd thought it would be, Regina thought inwardly with a small twinge of satisfaction.
Soon it was their turn, and the proceedings went smoothly, Regina was a good lawyer and none of the kids had prior criminal records. They all pleaded guilty, and Damon and Ruby, who'd been carrying, were sentenced with community service hours, more for Damon, since he'd been carrying more, and a five thousand dollar fine each. Mulan was charged for possession of concealed weapons, but as none were firearms and the knives were no bigger than a pocket knife she was let off with a warning.
Afterwards Emma approached Regina by her car.
"I want to have the boys again." She said quietly, pushing the door Regina was about to go through closed, shutting Damon, who was already seated, out of hearing their conversation.
Regina sighed and folded her arms.
"I don't think Damon will want to visit you after what happened last time." Regina told her honestly, and unapologetically.
"What about the little ones?" Emma asked hopefully, brushing over Regina's statement as though her oldest son being mad at her was meaningless.
"I'll ask them." Regina replied coldly, Emma's dismissal not going unnoticed.
"Maybe I could have them over for dinner." Emma suggested, desperate for more of a response from Regina.
"I'll ask them." Regina repeated, opening the driver's door and sliding into her car. Emma kept trying to speak to her but she just closed the door and started the engine.
"Ready to go bub?" She asked Damon, catching his eye in the rear-view mirror.
"Floor it." He suggested, cracking a brief smile before sinking back into his sullen exterior.
Regina chuckled and gave Emma a fake friendly wave through the window and pulled out of her park.
They had to cross town to get home and Damon requested they stop so he could buy a burger at the diner. Regina agreed and pulled up out-front and handed him some cash. "Get some for your brothers as well."
Damon nodded and left the car, trudging through freshly fallen snow to the shop.
Regina waited in the car, turning the heat up and checking her social media until her phone alerts informed her she had a new email, one from Robin Hood.
Interested, she opened it, and couldn't help but smile as she read, and re-read its contents.
She typed up a reply, and about to press send when her attention was caught by light reflecting off the window of the diner. She glanced up, and to her chagrin, saw Damon in passionate lip lock with his 'friend', Ruby.