Regina walked into Granny's to find the place packed. It was as if every single person in town had decided to drop in just before seven.
"Hey, Regina," Red said as she quickly passed her en route to a table.
"There are certainly a lot of people here," she said, attempting to keep up with the girl who was moving back and forth between the kitchen and her tables.
"I think we're going to have to take a rain check on dinner," Red said, never stopping on her mission to deliver every meal. "Our other waitress didn't show, and I am swamped. I'm so sorry," she added genuinely.
"You know what, don't be," Regina said. She walked behind the counter and put down her purse by Red's. "What kind of help do you need?"
Red stopped in her tracks. It was the first time in an hour she had stopped moving. "Seriously?"
"Yes, dear. Just tell me what to do," she said, coming around from behind the counter.
"Can you help me wait tables?"
"Absolutely."
Red nodded happily. Regina could practically see the weight lifting off her shoulders. "Okay," she said. "See those tables over there?" Regina nodded, and Red continued by explaining which table was which. She then handed Regina a pen and pad to take orders. "You sure you want to do this?"
"Why not?" Regina said, smiling. She then moved to one of the tables which Red had assigned her before realizing who was sitting in the booth.
"What are you doing here?" Grumpy asked.
"Helping," Regina said, maintaining her smile and gesturing with the pen and paper in her hands.
"You're waitressing?" Grumpy asked, astonished.
"Be nice to her," Astrid said from the other side of the table. It wasn't in a tone that suggested that if they weren't nice, Regina would do something horrible. It was just a reminder to her boyfriend to mind his manners. Regina appreciated that.
"What would you like?" Regina asked. She wrote down their order for 2 iced teas, a cheeseburger with fries and a patty melt and moved to the kitchen to put in the order.
Regina helped out until closing, despite Red insisting that once things slowed down, Regina could just sit and order dinner. They sat at the counter, shared a plate of fries and counted the money made. "It would just so happen that the night I make plans, I get swamped at work," Red said as she finished counting her tips for the night. "Fifty-two bucks," she said proudly.
Regina smiled. "Make that ninety-eight," she said, putting her wad of cash on top of Red's.
The girl was shocked. Regina just took a bite of a french fry. "Why?" Red asked.
"I don't need the money," Regina said. "One of the perks of the curse." She bit into another fry. "But more importantly, ever since everyone woke up and realized who they are, I've had…no friends. No one was willing to take a chance on me except you. I did this because I wanted to help. Not because I wanted the money."
Red smiled widely. "Like I said, I believe in multiple chances." She put the money in her purse. "So…can you tell me what that was all about today?" Regina looked at her, completely confused. "I kind of heard what you said to Jam—" she caught herself "David about not being happy."
"Oh," Regina was embarrassed. "I, uh…I've just lost a lot in my life." She paused uncomfortably. "Something was taken from me that I can never get back. Someone, actually." She didn't know what it was about Red, but she felt comfortable talking to her.
"Wow," Red said.
"Surprised I'm really human?"
"No," Red said. "I'm more surprised that we have something in common. I, um…lost someone, too." She leaned onto the counter with her elbows. "Granny didn't tell me I was the wolf, and I thought Peter was."
"Peter?"
Red looked uncomfortable. "Um, yeah. Peter was my boyfriend."
"I'm so sorry, dear," she said.
"Who was yours?" She asked out of sincere concern.
Regina shifted, unsure whether or not she should share. But she took a breath and the words just flew out, "His name was Daniel. He was my fiancée. My true love."
The younger woman watched as Regina told her the story of how she was to run away with Daniel. She told her everything from how they fell in love to Cora ripping his heart out and forcing her to marry King Leopold. "I vowed to destroy Snow White's happiness."
"I remember," Red told her with a laugh, recalling Snow's wedding.
Regina opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by the door opening. Both women looked in the direction of the entrance to see David walking in.
"Hey," he said, smiling.
"Hi, David," Red said. Regina just stared at him, alarmed. "What are you doing here?" The waitress continued.
"Where's my son?" Regina finally blurted.
"Well, for one, I needed coffee," he said plainly. "As for your question, Your Majesty, Henry is getting ice cream next door."
"And here I thought you were taking my lead in giving Regina another chance," the girl teased.
"Red!" Granny called from her office.
"Coming, Granny!" She looked at the pair. "I'll be back."
She scampered off to Granny's office. As soon as she was out of earshot, Regina flipped to David. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"This is where the coffee is," David said. Regina's eyes obviously said that she didn't believe him. He laughed. "It's true! You see that machine? It makes coffee!"
"Why do you need coffee at ten o'clock at night?" She asked.
He sat beside her. "I'm going to be up late. Lots of stuff to catch up on." She nodded in understanding and took a sip of her tea. He noticed the order pad in front of her on which was unmistakably her perfect script. "So, what, you work here now?" He asked, laughing.
She laughed in response. "Yes, it's my calling," she said. They laughed together. David had missed that laugh.
"Would you like to come over tonight?"
"David!"
"That was not as forward as it sounded," he said, embarrassed. "I meant so you could spend some time with Henry. It's been a few days, and he said he misses you."
Her eyes lit up at the thought of getting to see her son again. "Are you sure?" She asked.
"Absolutely," David replied, squeezing her knee gently with his hand.
She crossed her legs to remove his hand just as Red came out of Granny's office. "Okay, well we're closing up for the night," she said. "Thanks so much for your help, Regina." She gave the former mayor a hug before moving around to pour David a coffee to go.
"Any time, Red," she responded, flashing a smile. "It was actually a lot of fun."
Red handed David his coffee and he paid her before he and Regina walked outside. She locked the door behind them and waved through the blinds. The stand-in sheriff and former mayor waved back and made their way down the steps to the truck.
Henry came running up just then. "Mom!" He shouted excitedly, ice cream covering his mouth.
"Henry!" She smiled widely, so excited to see her son. "I've missed you!" She hugged him tightly.
"I miss you too, mom." He meant it. He really did miss her.
"Henry, your mom is going to come over to the apartment and spend some time with you. Is that okay?" David asked. Henry nodded his head vigorously and climbed into the truck, crawling into the back seat.
David held out his hand to assist Regina in getting into the car. "Thank you," she said quietly, and he knew she didn't mean for helping her into the truck.
Regina sat on the couch of the apartment Snow, David, and Emma shared. Henry sat on the floor in front of her, wrapped in a blanket. He loved the movie Up!, and they were watching it together. She was so happy to just have the chance to be with her son again. She messed with his hair affectionately as they watched the television.
Eventually, David got up from the table where he'd been overwhelmed with papers and moved to sit on the couch. He sat far away enough that he didn't make her uncomfortable, but close enough that he could still reach out and touch her. He looked at her. She was watching the movie, but he could tell her real focus was on Henry. She was savoring every second she got to be with him. Regina felt his eyes watching her and turned, looking into his eyes. She missed him badly. Love is weakness, Regina.
A few moments later, she realized Henry had dozed off. David moved to pick him up, but Regina waved him off. She wanted to tuck her son in tonight. "Henry?"
"Mhmm?" He asked, his eyes still closed.
"Henry, it's time to go to bed." He nodded and reached up to wrap his arms around her neck. She picked him up and carried him to Emma's room, where she sat him on the bed. "You need to brush your teeth, okay?" She said, remembering the ice cream he'd eaten.
"Okay," he said, dragging his feet to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth and returned to the bed where his mom had pulled back the covers. He climbed in and she tucked him in before giving him a kiss on the forehead. "Mom, I'm really sorry about what I said about you being the evil queen."
"It's okay, dear. I have made some very bad decisions in my life, and I'm trying really hard to change. I want to be a better mother for you."
"You've always been a great mom," he said, stunning Regina. "You're just…" he chose his words wisely. "You're very protective."
She smoothed his hair. "I love you very much, and I don't want to see you get hurt, but if I need to release the reins a bit, I will."
"So you'll let me hang out with Emma, too?"
"Yes, dear. If you want to spend time with her, you may. I didn't let you before because I was so scared of losing you. You are my whole world. I have never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you. And even though I didn't give birth to you, you're still my baby," she told him. "I would do anything for you."
"Can you answer a question for me?" He asked timidly.
"Yes, Henry."
"Do you still love David?"
She'd tried to stay away from him. She wanted to prove to Henry that she wasn't trying to hurt Snow anymore, but she couldn't lie to him either. "Yes, I do."
"Why aren't you together, then?"
"Because he is in love with Snow."
He blurted out, "No, he isn't!" He looked down sheepishly.
"Why do you say that, Henry?"
"Because he said so in his sleep," he said quietly.
I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are virtual hugs! 3
