I might have made Emma a little harsh in this chapter but under the circumstances she has every right to be mad and when you're that scared you can't control what comes out of your mouth. I still love her! lol Enjoy and I'll update soon :) Thank you for reviewing!

Chapter 10 Because I'm His Mother

When they got home, Regina had ended up inviting Jason to stay for dinner which he gladly accepted. The evening had gone as well as their day. Not only did she get to spend time with her son, she and Jason finally had the talk followed by a heated make out session in the car that left them both literally breathless.

Boyfriend…

Wow that still sounded so weird to her. Daniel was the only person she had been with but sadly it was a relationship that never got the chance to flourish and Leopold… Well he treated her more as an object than a wife. She was nervous but at the same time ecstatic. She's never been in a real genuine relationship where she didn't have to worry about either getting caught by her mother or the next time she was forced to perform her wifely duties against her will. No, this she planned on making it work. She wanted this to work.

Regina did worry about Henry though. He seemed sullen and quiet since they got home. What she didn't know was he had saw them kissing and was taking it pretty hard. It wasn't that he didn't want his mom to be happy. He was just scared. He had pushed her away in the past and even though their relationship was still improving, in his twelve year old mind it now seemed to him that he's pushed her too far away to the point where she was finding happiness with someone else and she might just forget about him. She might just give up trying to salvage their relationship. He feared it was too late for them. He loved Emma but Regina was still his mother and the truth was he'll always need her. This was why he was so upset that Regina was falling for Jason.

"Henry, are you ok? You hardly touched your food," Regina said. They were eating at the table with Regina sitting at the head and Jason and Henry each sitting next to her. Henry had spent the better part of dinner pushing his food around with his fork and only tuning in on Jason and Regina's conversation when he was addressed. Regina automatically knew something was wrong because he can talk someone's ear off but instead he was unnaturally quiet and moody.

"I'm just not hungry. Can I be excused?"

"Are you feeling ok?" she asked, her tone full of worry as she reached over and placed the back of her hand on his forehead in a motherly way. "You don't seem to have a fever."

"I'm not sick," he grumbled in annoyance as he pulled away. Regina seemed to be taken aback from his tone of voice.

"Ok Henry, why don't you take your dish to the sink and go choose the movie. Jason and I will join you in a few minutes," she said in a tone he only heard when he was in trouble and she was barely keeping her patience. He knew he shouldn't have talked so rudely to her but he couldn't help but feel resentment at the two adults. Yet, he knew better to provoke her any further and simply did what he was told without another word but instead of getting the DVD ready he ran up to his room and snuck out his window since the front door was viewable to the dining room. Since Emma was working and he had no idea where she was in this storm he figured he could stay with Snow. He didn't care that it was raining or that his mother would be worried sick the moment she discovered his absence. He just needed to get out of there and go home where he didn't have to be reminded of the possibility of losing Regina to this other man.

Jason could feel the tension between mother and son even after Henry had left. In fact he could sense the longing in Regina everytime she talked about him. During their coffee date he knew something in the past must have happened to put so much distance between the two.

"Regina, are you ok?" he asked softly. Her brown eyes never left the door where Henry had disappeared. It wasn't until she heard Jason speak that she finally turned her gaze to meet his. Her eyes were full of hurt from how she had to scold Henry the way she did. Ever since she started trying to be a better person, she hasn't had the reason to discipline him. Henry was a good kid and rarely acted out. His attitude not only worried her, it hurt her deeply.

"I haven't scolded him like that since…" she trailed off, shaking her head in disappointment before averting her gaze. "I'm sorry dear but I seem to have lost my appetite." Her voice was heavy with barely controlled emotion as she stood and took her dish to the kitchen.

"Gina, wait," Jason said as he too grabbed his plate and followed her. She had already started washing the dishes when he entered. He didn't say a word as he approached her and pulled her by her waist, turning her and bringing her into a comforting hug. She wanted to cry but she didn't. She did what Snow despised so much… she bottled up her emotions and simply just held on to Jason as if she were going to lose him if she lets go. She was afraid of looking weak in front of him for reasons she didn't know why.

"It's ok," he whispered. "Just go talk to him." She pulled away at those words.

"It's not that easy," she said. "Henry and I… well… we're not as close as we used to be."

"Because of the return of his mother," he stated.

"It's so much more than that," she whispered, her voice cracking under the strain of keeping her emotions intact. If only I could tell you…

"It's been a long day. Maybe he just needs to blow off some steam," he said softly, his tone comforting as he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. His hand rested on her cheek when they pulled away and met each other's gaze. It was as if he knew exactly what to do to make her feel better.

"I'm going to go," he whispered, his voice husky from the kiss. "I think it be best if you two spent some time alone together." She didn't want him to go but she knew maybe that's what Henry needed at the moment and maybe they might even have a talk as to what's bothering him.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered, her voice just as breathless. The distance between them was closed and she can feel his heart beating against her chest.

"Don't be sorry Gina. I had a great time today and Henry is a great kid." He kissed her one more time. This one lasted longer and when they pulled away Regina suddenly missed his warm body against hers. She took his hand and led him to the door.

"I'll call you later," he said, his hand squeezing hers and with one last kiss Jason stepped out into the pouring rain. The house was deathly quiet once she closed the door and it was then that she realized Henry wasn't in the living room. In fact she heard him run upstairs and she knew he never came down. Something was wrong and she rushed into his room only to find it empty with the window wide open and a rope made of sheets hanging on the window sill.

No! No! No! No!

There was no way he'll survive out in this storm and she practically ran to the window and leaned out, trying to see through the howling wind and rain to see if Henry was down in the yard. There was no sign of him.

"Henry!" she cried. Her heart was beating rapidly out of fear even as she ran down the stairs and out the door. She didn't even bother to grab her jacket or even an umbrella. She didn't care that she was getting soaked or was freezing to death. All that was racing through her mind was Henry and after searching his usual hiding spots in the backyard she got in her car, determined to find that kid before anything bad happens. God, he could get pneumonia or hypothermia. What the hell was he thinking? With shaking hands, she started the ignition and before she can pull out of the driveway her cell rang. It was Snow.

"Snow? Henry ran off and I have no idea where he is," she cried, her voice shaking with fear and coldness.

"Hey, hey it's ok. Take a breath Regina. He's with me and he's safe." Her voice was comforting and Regina let the loving tone of her stepdaughter's words calm her. She was quiet and took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm herself. Out of everything she had been through in her life she has never felt so terrified as she did now.

"Regina? Are you there?"

"Yeah… yes I'm here dear." Her voice was still shaking and it didn't go unnoticed by Snow. She knew how scared Regina must have been because when Henry had showed up soaked through to the skin she was terrified for his safety and then she got angry. He risked his health and safety and not to mention how scared he knew Regina was going to get once she found out he was gone. Henry was obviously holding back what he was feeling and she had given up trying to talk to him and sent him across the hall to his home to change. Now as she talked to Regina she was standing outside of Emma's door, making sure he didn't go anywhere else as she waited for him to change.

"Come talk to him Regina. I lectured him as a stepsister and grandma should but he's holding something back and I can't get through to him."

"Ok… I'm on my way."

She didn't even bother to go back inside and change, so in her wet clothes and shivering almost violently Regina sped towards Snow's apartment complex. She parked the car and ran up the steps and knocked loudly on Snow's door. She was so cold but she wouldn't let herself think of her own needs until she saw Henry. Even though Snow said he was safe, she needed to see it for herself. The door opened and Snow took in her stepmother's appearance.

"Regina, you're soaked!" she said worriedly but Regina could care less at the moment and Snow could see the fear in her eyes. At the moment, she would let Regina go to Henry and then she'll worry about the state she was in.

"Where's Henry?"

"He's in the loft." Regina gave her a single nod of thanks before turning towards the loft.

"Henry, come down." Snow hated the sound of her voice. It was full of fear, worry, and relief all clustered together along with the fact that she was shaking so hard from the cold.

Slowly and hesitantly Henry came down the stairs. He knew he was in trouble. At the time when he made the choice to climb over that window sill, he just didn't care but now he wished he had thought about the consequences. Regina's expression was stern but behind the anger he can see the raw fear shinning in her eyes. He remained quiet, looking sorry as she approached him and knelt down to his level. She simply looked him over as if she were searching for injuries and when she was satisfied he was ok she met his eyes and embraced him into a relief filled hug.

"Henry, what were you thinking?" she asked, her voice soft but as stern as her expression and he knew whether or not he lived with Emma she was probably going to ground him for life.

"I don't know," he mumbled and she abruptly pulled away at those words, her hands still gently gripping his arms. He didn't miss the way she was shivering and it was then that he realized just how much danger he put himself by running off in that storm.

"That's not an answer Henry. What on earth made you think you could just run away in the middle of a storm? Did you not think about your safety or the fact that you scared me half to death? You could've been killed!"

"I'm sorry!" he cried, his voice shaking with suppressed tears. She was scaring him. Never in his life had he seen her so small and terrified. "I wasn't thinking!"

"No, you weren't Henry!" she snapped and regretted it instantly when he winced away from her and ran back upstairs. She watched him go, her expression full of hurt as Snow approached her and intervened.

"Regina, come on. You're freezing. Let's get you warmed up before you get sick," she said as she helped her stepmother up.

"I… didn't mean to… to scare him. I just…" Regina was now shivering violently making it hard for her to talk.

"Shh, I know…" Snow comforted her as she led her to the bathroom and wrapped a towel around her shaking shoulders. Henry had scared her to death. She didn't mean to lose her temper and raise her voice like that. She needed to apologize.

"I need to talk to him," she said, intent on leaving but Snow stopped her.

"No, first calm down and dry up before you get pneumonia or something. Then you can talk to him." Her voice was as stern as Regina's had been a while ago. Maybe a year ago before they called it truce Snow probably would have been too afraid to talk this way to her stepmother but now things were different and Snow wasn't letting her risk her health a moment longer.

"Snow, please!"

"Regina! You're shaking so hard you can barely talk! Now take off these clothes and I'll bring you some dry ones."

"No, I'll be fine just let me talk to him first and then you can fuss over me as much you like dear."

"You are just as bad Henry. You're angry at him for risking his health and here you are doing the same…"

Regina was about to protest but Snow stopped her.

"Regina, quiet. Give yourselves both some time to calm down and when you're done and can stop shaking long enough to form sentences then you can talk to him as long as you like." Snow was sure Regina was going to angrily bite back but instead she watched as her resolved crumbled and all that was left was the fear.

"He scared me Snow." Her voice was barely above a whisper and the shaking made her look even more small and vulnerable. Snow's stern expression eased as she embraced her in a loving hug, desperately trying to calm the distraught and soaked woman.

"Oh honey, I know," Snow whispered and she felt Regina melting into her arms. The shaking was unnerving so Snow pulled away too soon for Regina's liking and grabbed another towel and wrapping it around her as well.

"Dry up and I'll bring you some clothes ok." Regina nodded and before Snow could leave, Regina stopped her by grabbing her hand.

"Snow, thank you." Snow smiled at those sincere words and lightly gave her trembling hand a squeeze.

"Anytime Regina."

All Snow had was a pair of flannel sleep shorts and one of Charming's oversized black shirts that she can lend Regina. It was bad enough Regina would have to wear shorts and she didn't want to subject her into wearing a tank top. Regina hardly cared though and as she quietly climbed the stairs she mentally went over in her head on what to say to her son. She can hear Snow in the kitchen talking to Emma on the phone and she knew without a doubt that Emma was going to drop whatever she was doing and come over as soon as possible. For now, she would worry about Emma's reaction later. She made it to the top and pushed open the door. Her heart broke at the sight of Henry lying face down on the bed, his face buried in his pillow. She didn't say a word as she got on the bed and lied next to him.

"Henry," she said softly and when she didn't get a response out of him she spoke anyway. "What you did was wrong. Anything could have happened to you and it scared me not knowing where you were. That's why I was so angry and I know now that how I handled it was wrong too. I'm sorry Henry and I know you are too so please would you look at me?" It took a moment and when he finally looked up Regina looked hopefully into his eyes. She didn't want them to be angry at each other.

"You look funny in grampa's shirt," he said and Regina couldn't help but laugh softly.

"Come here," she said, her eyes full of affection as he cuddled into her side. "What's going on Henry? Why were you so angry at dinner and felt the need to run away?" He was quiet for a second until he finally decided to tell her what was really bothering him.

"I saw you."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"You and Jason… I saw you kissing in the car and that means you two love each other and you'll give up on me and forget me because he makes you happy and it's too late to fix things between us. I pushed you away too much and now you don't need me because you have your new boyfriend. It made me mad just looking at you two." The last sentence he said so quietly that Regina had barely heard him but she did and everything he had said made her understand why he had been so moody since they got home.

"Henry," she said, reaching down and tilting his chin so he would meet her eyes. "None of that is true. I love you and as for Jason I don't know if we love each other yet buts it's too soon for that. The point is whether or not we do fall in love I will never forget you or give up on you. You make me happy dear. You and Snow are what makes me want to be better. I can never forget about you, please understand that."

"I do now," he said, averting his gaze in shame as the realization that she was right dawned on him.

"Next time please talk to me, or talk to Emma if you can't. Don't run off like that again."

"I won't, I'm sorry mom. I never meant to scare you."

"I know and I didn't mean to scare you either. The fact that you were out there in this storm terrified me Henry. I didn't think I'd see you again. That's why I snapped at you. It was wrong and I'm truly sorry dear."

"I know," he said as he hugged her, burying his face in her chest. She smiled down at him and brushed the hair from his forehead before giving him a soft kiss.

"I love you mom," he said and by the sound of his voice she knew he was on the verge of falling asleep.

"I love you too now get some sleep." He didn't reply and she knew at that moment he was asleep. She held on to him and she wasn't sure how long she was lying there thinking about the recent events before she heard Emma coming in. By the sound of her movements and Snow's hushed whispering, she knew Emma was pissed and that she would have to talk to her. Careful as to not wake Henry, she got up from the bed and brought the covers up to his shoulders. When she was satisfied that he was asleep and comfortable, she placed a kiss on his forehead and quietly went downstairs.

Emma was in the kitchen behind the counter, obviously having a heated discussion with her mother. It wasn't until she saw Regina then she angrily stride over to her and Regina could see she was desperately holding back from smacking her in the face.

"I leave you alone with my son for one night and I hear he runs away in the middle of a storm. How the hell could you let that happen?" Her voice was angry and Regina couldn't help but let her own temper flare at the accusation and the fact that Emma referred to Henry as only her son.

"Oh, so this is my fault? My kids a runner Miss Swan. He runs when he's upset. You should know that better than anyone!"

"Yeah well so should you Regina and yet you were too distracted by your boyfriend to realize he had ran off!"

"Emma!" Snow warned.

"No, don't bring him into this," Regina said, her voice hoarse with anger and she could feel the magic she suppressed so long ago flowing through her veins like a reawakened predator ready to take its first kill.

"Don't defend her!" Emma snapped at her mother, ignoring Regina's rage filled words. She didn't even notice the way she was clenching her fists in attempt to keep the magic under control. She never had full control over it when she was angry and right now was no different. Emma turned her gaze back to the former Evil Queen.

"Henry could have died under your watch and I regret ever trusting you with him tonight. We're done Regina. Henry is grounded and you are not to see him unless I say otherwise." Those words hit Regina like a ton of bricks. Her heart shattered and it made her even more angry. The magic was building inside her.

"Do you really think you can keep his mother from him? I raised him! I took care of him! He's my son! So you don't get to tell me what's best for him! I know what's best for him because I'm his mother!"

"You may have raised him, but he chose me," Emma said, her voice low but harsh with anger and before anyone could stop it Regina's magic was unleashed and Emma flew back against the wall.

"Emma!" Snow cried worriedly as she rushed over and helped her daughter up. Emma's eyes flashed with anger as she locked her gaze with Regina.

"There's no way I'll let you see him now. That stunt just proves you haven't changed. You will always be evil and Henry will always be in danger as long as you have magic." Those words were cruel and Regina's anger faded into remorse. She shifted her gaze from Emma to Snow and could see the conflict in her eyes as to who to side with. Snow knew Emma was being harsh but Regina shouldn't have used magic. Regina hurt her daughter and as much as she knew Emma was wrong for the things she said, she literally felt her heart stop when she saw Emma slamming into that wall. She decided to remain neutral and perhaps lecture them later when things had calmed down but Regina took Snow's lack of speaking up for her as a betrayal and she darkly narrowed her eyes at her stepdaughter.

"If that's what you want then fine. As long as I carry magic I'm evil and therefore don't deserve to be part of this family."

"Regina…" Snow said, her voice full of grief but Regina ignored her and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.