Well, the reactions to the last chapter we're quite interesting to read. There were very different perspectives on Henry and although some were quite surprising to me, I guess I can really appreciate how involved everyone is and that they feel so strongly. Now, one person, a "guest", did say it seemed I went out of my way to make Henry a douche. Which, lemme tell you, no one has to go out of their way to do that. But that's not my point. That was literally the exact opposite that I was trying to do in ch 10. I'm trying to show some of his progression from the spoiled brat he was before. I don't expect to make you fall in love with him, I did put him in a bad light before, but as I've always said with this story, it needs to be read with an open mind or you'll always find something to be angry about… I regret none of the aspects of this story and I sincerely hope you all enjoy the directions it goes in. :)

Safe Haven

"Regina, come on in." Susan greeted with a smile. Regina returned it and stepped inside. "Coffee?"

"You have to ask?" Regina smirked. Susan shook her head and led them back towards the kitchen, pouring two cups.

"Excited for today?" Susan asked as she leaned back against the counter.

"I am actually. I think it's going to be great."

"It will. You've done so much in just a short time. I had wondered if we would ever get that place running. I am thrilled you came along and took on the project. Without your enthusiasm, I don't think it would have come about at all."

"I will say I have somewhat of a passion for…lost children." She said with a small tilt of her head. Susan smiled warmly. "Though this was all your idea. It's your baby, you need to take a lot more credit."

"We'll co-parent it." She grinned and Regina paused only a second before smiling back.

"Mum?" Luca appeared at the doorway to the kitchen and Regina faced him.

"Good morning, sweetheart." She reached out and he came to her side, hugging her in greeting. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, we built a fort out of couch cushions and then spent all night playing video games inside." He said excitedly.

"You did?" She smiled as she continued to hold him, but turned her eyes slowly towards Susan again. "All night, hmm?"

"Not all night." She defended weakly. "Sorry." She looked down shamefully and Luca giggled slightly.

"It's fine, dear. Tonight, when they get all cranky and moody, you can watch them." She smirked at Susan's immediate frown.

"What if I buy breakfast instead?" She said hopefully. Regina laughed and gave her a nod.

"Come on boys." Regina placed her arms around both kids and walked them out, all of them in high spirits.

Regina couldn't remember the last time she had been this excited. She was trying to remain cool and collected, but she was buzzing. Far more kids had shown up than she had thought. Not all of them were from the children's home up the street or even foster kids at all. Some were just lonely children or teenagers that needed a place to go. She was actually wondering if they would need more staff. Though at times Regina found the soccer moms a little overwhelming, they sure liked to volunteer.

Regina walked down the hall, passed a few rooms where kids were checking out the different activities available to them. They seemed genuinely excited about it and that warmed her further. She noticed most of the older kids there stuck to the more casual living areas, but she was happy they could just relax and be safe.

When she made her way to the yard in the back, she completely melted. She watched as Luca took a little girl by the hand and walked her back to the ball. He knelt down and directed her until she flung out a leg, hitting the ball on the side and sending far away from the intended target. Despite the miss, Luca praised her and gave her an excited high five.

"What are you two doing?" She approached and both turned and smiled at her.

"I'm playing soccer." The little girl said and Regina bent down to eye level.

"You are?" Regina smiled at the four year old as she nodded excitedly.

"Yup."

"And is Luca helping you?" She glanced over to him and Luca seemed happy as can be.

"Yes, he said I'm getting really good." She started and then leaned closer like she wanted to tell Regina a secret. "I think I can beat him." She whispered and Regina chuckled.

"You think so, hmm?" She said and the girl nodded. "Maybe we should challenge him." She rose an eyebrow and got another excited head nod in response. "What do you say, Luca?"

"Bring it on."

"Well, you heard him." Regina took her hand and the little girl bounced on her heels excitedly.

"Let's get him!" She ran over to the ball and just started kicking. Luca glanced at Regina before shrugging and chasing after.

Regina found that in moments like this, she loved Luca even more. He chased after the girl and had her giggling and squealing in delight when he snuck up on her. He stayed back enough for her to kick the ball and then slowed his own running when she was trying to catch up. Regina just loved watching, but apparently that wasn't quite enough.

"Regina,help me!" She demanded and Regina chuckled a little at her tone.

"Yes, Princess."

When the ball went off in a new direction and both children went after it, Regina ran up behind the girl and lifted her up before running faster and beating Luca to the ball. She laughed as Regina lowered her down to the ball and she hit it with her foot, sending it straight into the goal.

"I did it!" She yelled and Regina placed her down and turned her around.

"Yes you did!" She smiled widely when the girl jumped into her arms.

"Awe man, you guys beat me." Luca came up to them and Regina grinned at him.

"Hello?" A woman appeared from the backdoor and made her way into the yard. "Sweetie, it's time for us to go." She said kindly but Regina deflated a little.

"I wanna stay with Regina and Luca." The girl pouted and dropped her head to Regina's shoulder. Regina rested her cheek on her head and the other woman looked sympathetically.

"I know, but it's getting late."

"Can I come back here later?" She pulled back to look at Regina who smiled warmly at her.

"Actually, I was planning on picking you up tomorrow. How does that sound?" She asked and the little girl was instantly all smiles again.

"Are we gonna go to the park?!" She asked excitedly. Regina grinned.

"If that's what you want."

"Yes!" She leaned forward and threw her arms around Regina's neck. Regina smiled and held her for another moment.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow first thing, okay?" She lifted her hand to the girl's cheek.

"Okay! Bye Regina." She sounded so happy and Regina wished she didn't have to go.

"Goodbye Lilly." She gave her one more affectionate hug before putting her on the ground again.

"Go grab your bag, honey." The woman approached her and led her back towards the door before facing Regina again. "I'm sorry to have to take her from you." She said and Regina knew she was being honest.

"I know, Becky, it's okay." She tried to keep the disappointment from her tone.

"Won't be long though." She smiled. "This place it truly amazing, Regina. We're all very grateful. I've been having a difficult time rounding up the children. I think they're avoiding me." She laughed.

"I am really hoping they all feel free enough to just come and go as they want." She said honestly.

"I'm sure they will." She touched Regina's arm before stepping back and going inside. Regina went back to Luca and wrapped an arm around him.

"This is really cool, Mother."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She pulled him close as she looked up at the building. She had no idea that she could be so genuinely happy with her own accomplishment. To be truly proud of herself. But she was.

-4 Months Ago-

"I'm really glad you decided to come out with me, Regina." Susan smiled over at her and turned the steering wheel to move down another street.

"As am I. But do you care to tell me where we're going?" She didn't recognize the area they were moving into. Each turn took them into an area a little less attractive than the last.

"Well I did promise you lunch, I just need to make a quick stop." When they pulled in front of an old decrepit looking building, Regina let her skepticism show. Susan laughed. "Don't worry. I know it looks bad, but it's safe…ish." She added casually and got out of the car. Regina looked around carefully before following after.

Susan walked ahead and used a key to unlock the door. Regina stepped in after her and tried to take in her surroundings. While the inside didn't look too much better than the outside, it was definitely more interesting. It was set up like a home, but with a more juvenile look to it. Posters and bean bag chairs, foosball and pool tables and various puzzles and board games lying about. It was a curious place.

"What is all this?" She asked as she continued inspecting the place.

"Well, it was a youth center. There's a children's home up the street and they made this place for them to be able to hang out safely. So they could have a little fun without getting into trouble." She explained and Regina's interest peaked just ever so slightly.

"I see. What happened to it?"

"The man who originally set it up moved away and there was no one to take over. It just kind of went down hill and then the city came in and shut it down. I'm friends with one of the social workers for the home and she told me how badly they needed something like this for their kids. I had hoped to revive it."

"Hoped?" Regina asked, coming back towards her again.

"Well, it's a big undertaking. I'd love to do it, but I don't think I have the time that will have to go into it. We would need someone organized, professional, but caring…" Susan paced slightly, looking around the living room casually. "Someone who obviously loves kids and wants to help them. Who also has the availability and work ethic to get it done." She bit at her lip, glancing subtly at Regina who looked like she was concentrating.

When she still didn't take the bait, Susan tried something else.

"You know, I told my friend I would drop by and say hi. Do you mind?" She asked kindly.

"Not at all." Regina replied and they stepped out of the house.

"We can walk, if you'd like. It's just up this street." Susan pointed and Regina nodded.

It really was close and Regina heard the voices of children before she saw them. From the moment she did get a visual of the place though, she understood why they were desperate for a place like that building.

Kids were outside attempting to play with what little they had, but it wasn't much. The yard was more like a parking lot. A backboard with no hoop, a swing set without the actual swing. Some kids had a ball, but nothing other than the pavement to play on. It was not an impressive sight by any means.

They stepped inside and Susan led them down a hallway. When they moved past an open door, Regina's attention was drawn in. She paused when an little girl playing inside turned and waved at her. Regina found herself smiling and waved back.

"This is kind of like a playroom for them. It has what toys they have." Susan said as she saw Regina looking inside. She noticed her peaked interest in there. "You know, if you want to stay here, my friend's office is just down the hall."

"Ok." Regina said right away and Susan grinned from behind her. Regina stepped into the room and walked over to the girl who had waved to her.

"Hi." The little girl said and Regina knelt down beside the table she was sitting at.

"Hello."

"What's your name?" She asked with her head tilted.

"My name is Regina. What's yours?"

"I'm Olivia." She said with a smile.

"That's a very pretty name." Regina moved into the small seat there and Olivia beamed at her words.

"Thanks." She looked off a little shyly. "Will you play with me?" She said and lifted a Barbie towards Regina.

"I'd love to." She took the offered doll and stood it up on the table. She couldn't help notice the missing limbs from nearly all the dolls. She glanced over at the small house Olivia had been playing with and noticed it was also missing components.

"You're the princess, and you're room is in there." Olivia said and pointed to one of the bedrooms inside the doll house.

"Alright." Regina nodded along and placed her Barbie is her designated area.

"And I'm the queen and I go here." She lifted her own doll and placed her. Regina grinned.

"Oh your Majesty, what a fine place you have here." She said and Olivia giggled.

"Thank you, Princess."

They went on for a few moments with Olivia explaining the rules of the "castle" and Regina nodding along obediently. She had noticed a few other children in the room glancing their way curiously, trying to size up the new stranger. One little girl, with dark long hair in a dress that Regina had to assume had seen several other owners, had stood watching the whole time. She took a few steps closer and paused when Regina noticed her.

"Hello." Regina said kindly. The girl looked away until Regina went back to playing with Olivia. Then she started edging closer again.

Regina kept up with playing the Princess for another few moments and before she realized it, the little girl was right by her side. She decided not to speak right away, fearing she would scare her off. The girl kept edging closer and closer until her arm was resting against Regina's. Regina reached for another doll.

"Olivia, who is this?"

"That's another Princess." She said confidently. Regina nodded and slowly moved the doll towards her.

"Here you go, Princess." Regina held it in front of her. The girl seemed to be thinking about it for an extra moment before she finally took it from Regina's hands. She moved herself in front of Regina and sat back on her lap without warning or saying anything. Regina smiled softly and helped her sit back further.

Regina didn't ask her anything, knowing she probably wouldn't get a response. Instead, she just played with her doll and let Olivia direct them. The girl in her lap just held onto the Barbie, still not saying anything but she didn't move away. It took Regina several more moments to notice the women standing in the doorway.

When she did she carefully lifted the girl off her lap and placed her in her own chair. She excused her self from the table to moved over towards the doorway.

"Regina, this is Becky." Susan said and Regina turned to face her.

"It's nice to meet you." They shook hands and Becky glanced back inside the room.

"I see they've taken a liking to you. Lilly barely ever plays with anyone." She said curiously.

"Lilly?" Regina glanced back to the girl that was still in her seat, though also still not really playing. Becky nodded. "Does she talk to anyone?"

"No." She said sadly and Regina frowned. "We got her last year. Her parents had just moved them here from Mexico for a new start but I guess they were involved in an accident. Luckily Lilly wasn't in the car at the time."

Regina turned and watched her again. Lilly still just sat quietly while Olivia chatted away happily. Lilly seemed to sense her gaze and when she glanced towards the door, Regina smiled at her. She stayed that way for another moment before turning back and stepping completely into the hall with the other women.

"Well, they're very cute." She had to admit.

"Yes they are. It's such a shame they don't have a better place to play. That they don't really have a safe area to run free-"

"Enough Susan, I know what you're doing." Regina stopped her and Susan had the presence of mind to look just slightly shameful.

"So…is it working?" She asked with a hopeful smile. Regina rolled her eyes and watched the children for another few seconds.

"Yes."

-Present Day-

Regina was getting a bit tired now, but it was a good tired. One that spoke of the accomplishments of the day. She wasn't just proud of herself, but everyone. The women she was a bit startled to actually call friends, had stayed throughout the entire day even though she had only asked for a couple hours. And even that, she hadn't technically even asked for. She had merely mentioned it a few months ago and immediately all had volunteered to help whenever she needed. Today being the opening day, they had all come out and all stayed to see it through.

She was proud of the boys too. All of them. The boys on the team were nearly all from well off families in nice, comfortable homes, but you wouldn't know it by looking at them today. They all interacted with the homeless and foster children like they did each other. She had found Luca and Damian teaching a few of the boys from the home about a video game and despite her not being a fan of him spending too much time on those types of activities, she couldn't bring herself to stop them.

By the time the sun was dropping in the sky, most everyone had left. She found Susan trying to get her now clearly exhausted son up off the couch and towards the car. Regina thanked him for his help before searching out her own son. She found him in an even more severe state. She smiled as she saw him asleep in a chair.

"Luca?" She grazed her fingers over his cheek until his eyes met hers. "It's time to go home now. Time for sleep." She added with a smile.

"Okay." The fact that he didn't fight her on that, spoke volumes of his exhaustion.

"Think you can carry a few things out for me?"

"Yeah." He stood and shook himself a few times before walking with her.

"Alright take this, and grab your ball." She handed him a box he took it, balancing his ball on top. Regina grabbed another crate and they made their way out of the building. She opened the door, one handed, and placed hers inside. "I'll be right back, okay?" She said and turned to walk back towards the door. Luca's ball rolled off as he maneuvered his box inside, and he went after it.

Regina hadn't gotten far when she heard the revving of an engine from a car driving much too fast down the road. While that had grabbed her attention, it was the screeching of tires that had her spinning around. The sight that greeted her was nearly incomprehensible.

It wasn't just the car. It wasn't even just that and Luca being in the street. It was that and the body that collided with his to shove him to safety before they could be run down.

Regina was running before she was processing any of it. She didn't even know she had yelled out. She reached for her stunned son first, her eyes moving frantically over his form. Luca sat up, seemingly unharmed and that was when the other child shifted and opened his eyes, gaining her attention. Regina's jaw fell open.

"Henry…"

Henry had stood next to an old house. He looked out across the street and up to the building opposite him. He knew he had found the right place. He had assumed when he saw that there was a place opening today, that maybe that was the "center" Regina had been referring to. He was sure now as he had seen her a few times now.

He still couldn't make a decision on what to do. Once again, she was within reach. He could just walk up to her and say what he needed. From the glimpses he had seen of her today, she was in a really good mood. He could do it. Just walk in there and say something. It could be that easy.

But then every time he tried, nothing happened. His mind kept going back to the last time he spoke to her. Those words he screamed at her. Every time he recollected that night, his words grew harsher and his tone louder. Now when he thought of it, he pictured himself tearing into her. Cutting deep into his own mother. He couldn't get the thoughts out of his mind.

He left three times during the day. Turned and walked down the street, one time he made it to the gas station, one time almost all the way back to the hotel. But just as he felt the need to run, he felt the need to come back. He kept remind himself of the mission here. Good or bad, he always accomplished his missions.

Less than four years ago, he was able to find and retrieve his birth mother. About three years ago, he managed to survive a stay in Neverland. Just two years ago, he even ran his own mother out of town. And over one year ago, he ended a marriage. He really could do anything, and could do this now. He would do it now.

After a long bout of gathering his confidence, he stepped out of the safety the shadows of the house provided him with. He made it to the grass touching his side of the street before the sight of Regina and Luca coming out of the building stopped him short again. They didn't see him, but he was completely exposed.

Regina and Luca carried a few items that they placed in the car parked out front. It was late in the day and he guessed they were closing up now. He shouldn't have wasted so much time. When Regina turned to walk back inside, Henry lost his confidence. They were probably tired now anyway. He started to turn but that was when he saw the car speeding down the road.

He glanced back and his eyes widened as Luca was jogging into the street after his ball. There wasn't time to think. No time to consider all the results of his actions. No time to see the poetics of the moment. He only had seconds. He was right there and he ran.

He wasn't really the athletic type, but the adrenalin was pumping and Henry just slammed into Luca. They went flying and there were a few seconds after impact that Henry just blacked out. They hit the ground hard and his head just went blank.

When he finally did open his eyes, he was finally brought face to face with his long lost mother.

"Henry…"

Well, I hope at least some of you were surprised by Lilly. ;) I tried really hard to stay just elusive enough. A lot of you guessed something relatively close to the role she will play, but some had a few other guesses. Anyway, I really hope you like this. I know it got pretty dramatic here at the end. Don't worry, chapter 12 starts right where this one leaves off and moves straight through. You will get plenty of looks into the last 2 years, but I understand some moments need to be uninterrupted. Let me know what you thought :)