A/N: Thanks to all who decided to stick with this story and review. Really means a lot that people are still interested in what I write. Beta work done by Madam Mayor. To whom I owe special thanks as without the help on this story it would've been boring just by myself. I have a few more Swan Queen ideas so keep an eye open for any new stories in the future :)
A million thoughts were running through Regina's mind. Was he hurt? Murdered? Tortured? Kidnapped? Someone knocking on the front door snapped Regina out of her thoughts.
"Henry?" she called softly and raced to the door. "Oh," she muttered after swinging it open to find Emma Swan standing before her. Emma gave a faint smile at the Mayor, and let herself in.
"Come on," Emma said, resting a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Everyone is waiting at the Town Hall," she added, staring into the chocolate brown eyes.
"Everyone?" Regina frowned.
"After you called, I recruited people to help aid the rescue party," Emma explained, letting her hand fall to her side. Regina smiled back at the blonde and followed her to the yellow Beetle parked in front of her home.
The drive to the Town Hall was silent. Both women were worried about Henry's disappearance. They both had a good reason too, there was only a few hours left of light before night fell. Once stepping inside, Regina's heart caught in her throat at the sight of everyone who had turned up to help her. Inside the Town Hall was the usual suspects plus extra townspeople.
"Don't worry Regina. We will find him," Ruby said with a smile as she stood by her grandmother. Regina smiled back and moved towards the front to stand by Emma.
"Leroy, take a group and search the mine tunnels. Granny, Ruby, set up a search in town. Street by street. Mary Margaret, you've got a contact list of your class," Emma questioned after finishing delegating search areas to everyone.
"Yes, I do," she nodded in confirmation.
"Give them a call. Maybe Henry is hanging out with someone from his class, and just forgot to let us know," she instructed. "Regina and I will search the woods. If anyone finds him, call us immediately, and we will do the same." Emma moved to the side of the room to the table with flashlights. She grabbed two, and returned to Regina who was frowning; the brunette looked like she was having an internal argument with herself. "What is wrong?" Emma asked quietly.
"What if Henry returns home, I should be waiting there for him," Regina muttered.
"I can go," David volunteered.
"I can wait with him, and make the calls at the same time," Mary Margaret added. Regina thought for a moment before nodding her head.
"There is a spare key under the front mat," Regina muttered.
"He could just be lost in Storybrooke, Regina," Mary Margaret said, trying to cheer up the Mayor.
"Lost in Storybrooke?" Emma repeated. "It's a small town, how could someone get lost?" she chuckled.
"It is totally possible to get lost in Storybrooke. This town is bigger than you think, Miss Swan," Regina snapped.
"If he is lost, which I doubt he is, Henry has lived here his whole life, so he should know his way around town," Emma thought aloud logically. "Sorry Mary Margaret," she apologised.
"Don't worry. Just trying to lighten the mood," Mary Margaret said as she shrugged.
"Let's go," David said to Mary Margaret.
"We'll just have to quickly head to the school first," she replied, adjusting the bag hanging on her shoulder.
Regina bit on her lip as she watched the people about to file out of the room. "Excuse me everyone!" Regina called, raising her hands to get everyone's attention. "I know I may not be your favourite person at times, but this means a lot to me," she paused taking a breath. "Henry means the world to me."
"To us," Emma corrected interrupting Regina. She glanced across at the Sheriff and smiled.
"So I just want to thank you all, in advance, if I do not get the chance later after we've found Henry," Regina continued. The room which was full of people, emptied within seconds. Regina sighed, and glanced over at Emma.
"Ready?" Emma queried staring at Regina. The brunette nodded her head and watched as Emma walked towards the exit. Regina felt a sudden urge of hope rush through her body. 'If all these people were really here to help, it won't be long before we find Henry' Regina though to herself as she quickly joined Emma at her car. She got into the passenger side, and Emma speed off towards the woods. "We go on foot from here," Emma said, parking on the side of the road, and turned off the engine.
"Yes I gathered that, Miss Swan," Regina snapped.
"I'm just as worried as you, so getting cranky with me won't work!" Emma growled.
"I'm sorry," Regina whispered, and disappeared off into the woods.
"Regina wait," Emma cried, chasing after her. "Here," she said handing her a flashlight.
"Thanks," Regina muttered with a smile as they ventured further into the woods together.
/ - x - x - x - /
"Oh, this is pointless!" Regina shouted frustratedly after searching for over an hour.
"These are pretty big woods," Emma said, leaning against a tree to catch her breath.
"So you are saying that we will never find him?!"
"No, that's not what I meant," Emma growled. "We have only covered a small section of the woods. He still might be out here. We still have a lot to search," she added. Regina fanned herself with her hands then put her hand over her heart. "Come here," Emma called. Regina moved to stand in front of the blonde. Emma lifted her hands resting them on Regina's hips, and pulling her closer. "Everything will be alright," Emma whispered in Regina's ear before she kissed her cheek.
"How can you be so sure?" Regina asked, staring at Emma.
"Half the town is looking for him. He will turn up somewhere," Emma smiled.
"You are incredible, you know." Regina said, smiling weakly as she started calming down.
"I love you," Emma muttered.
"What did you say?" Regina squeaked.
"You heard," Emma teased, beaming.
"I don't know how to love very well. I wasn't capable of it for a very long time. I've ruined all chances between us because I questioned how you felt towards me," Regina muttered quietly as tears filled her eyes, threatening to spill over.
"That doesn't matter now, all that matters is that you feel the same," Emma smiled and kissed her passionately.
"That ring," Regina paused, clutching her top around her neck. "I was engaged to my first love," she continued.
"What happened?" Emma asked quietly, encouragingly.
"He died."
Emma smiled at Regina and wiped away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks at the confession.
"What was his name?"
"Daniel...his name was Daniel," Regina sighed. "I don't think I would survive if I lost another love like that. I guess that's why I've been a bit hesitant," Regina explained.
"It wasn't all your fault. I don't get into relationship out of fear of rejection, because of how my parents didn't want me," Emma muttered. "Let's meet our fears head on, and just be together. I have never felt this strongly about anyone before. It's feels so right!" Emma said, smiling bashfully. She gave Regina a quick kiss on her cheek. "Let's go find our son," she said, stepping to the side, and once again walked further into the woods.
"Emma, look!" Regina cried, grabbing her hand. She shone the flashlight at the ground. Someone had skidded down the slope, leaving a big drag mark in the dirt. Both Regina and Emma aimed their flashlights down the bottom.
"Mum! Emma!" Henry shouted, shielding his eyes from the beams of light.
"Henry!" Both women shouted at once. Regina carefully manoeuvred down the slope quickly followed by Emma.
"Are you alright? Anything broken?" Regina asked, kneeling beside her son. Emma squatted down beside Regina and placed her hand on the older woman's back for balance.
"You sure scared the hell out of us kid," Emma said, fighting back the tears.
"What happened? Why didn't you come home?" Regina questioned.
"I thought I would take the scenic route home from Emma's place," Henry began. "That's when I tripped on a root, and fell down here," he paused, his face crumpled in pain. "I think, I think I have twisted my ankle or something," he winced, reaching for his ankle. Emma smiled faintly at Henry as she stroked his cheek. She rose to her feet, and pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. "Mum," Henry whispered. "Are you mad at me?" he continued as he looked up to see Emma had re-joined them.
"That was quick," Regina said surprised.
"I just rang Ruby. She said that she would get in contact with everyone else. She also mentioned that Granny was going to make some food and deliver it to your house," Emma explained.
"Everyone?" Henry squeaked, frowning.
"Don't you worry about that. All that matters is that we found you, and you are safe," Regina muttered. Emma nodded in confirmation and smiled across at Regina.
"What's going on?" Henry asked, looking from Regina to Emma.
"Well," Regina started.
"We talked," Emma continued.
"And?" Henry prompted his eyes widening in hope.
"We sorted things out," Regina smiled.
"AND?" Henry squealed.
"We are going to give it a go," Emma answered. Henry lurched forward to hug both his Mum and Emma, but abruptly stopped, and cried out in pain. "Can you walk?" Emma asked, wrapping her arms around Henry.
"If I could, I would've walked home," Henry snapped. "Sorry," he mumbled. Emma smiled faintly at him as she rose to her feet. She bent down and scooped Henry up in her arms.
"Careful!" Regina gasped.
"Relax," Emma giggled. "I am stronger than I look," she whispered with a wink. She turned around and stared at the hill before her.
"This way," Regina said, pointing to their left. "It may be longer getting back to your car, but at least it's flat," Regina explained. Emma nodded slightly, and a grin appeared on her lips as Regina wrapped her arm around Emma's shoulder; protecting her family.
- The End -