Hey guys! Okay, so this chapter will be a tad different as I am very much under the influence of a perfect movie I had seen recently, and I cannot get it out of my head for almost a month now. I know not all of you have seen it, but I believe this chapter will be amusing and over-all understandable even for those unfamiliar with the movie(and musical). Enjoy reading, and I suggest listening to the song so you can get a better feel for the atmosphere and the relationship I was trying to portray.

Enjoy reading, reviews are love!

xoxo

Tasha V.

Regina's knees buckled and almost gave way, but she managed to stand her ground. All of a sudden, she felt like a child faced with the greatest of adversities. In her mind, there was a song on repeat, soothing in its teear-inducing quality.

It was highly apt that of all the musicals she could ever like, that particular one was first on her very short list. Suffering and pain and hope,all elements of the story, spoke to her on a very personal level. The mpvie version came out on Xmas day.

She and Henry had absolutely no plans, since she had no friends nor family to speak of (save for Severus and he was the chaperone for yet another one of Hogwarts' balls), not to mention the fact that she had never had any Xmas traditions. She knew that it was the day the movie premiered, and debated whether to go. But she couldn't leave Henry, and couldn't make a five-year-old boy sit through a three hour long musical feature.

Then he did what he always did, almost regularly. Made her love him even more. He came up to her as she was gazing out the window on Xmas Eve, the room lit only by the wonderfully decorated Xmas tree. He climbed onto her lap and locked her stare to his.

''Let's go see that musical thingy you always go see with uncle Severus, it comes out tomorrow, right?''

She looked at him in wonder, smiled and hugged him to her chest, hearing the pulse of her heart beating erratically. Nestling her chin upon his soft hair, she shed a tear, grateful to have such a wonderful child.

''Henry, much as you know Mommy likes it...why would you want to go? You know it's very long and it might be boring for you.''

''I know. But you'll be happy. And I know you wouldn't go alone and leave me with a stranger on you?''

He feigned a pout and giggled and she smiled.

''Okay. It's settled then, we shall go. But if you feel like you wanna get outta there, if you don't like it...you know you can tell me, and we will leave. ''

''I , rememeber, I liked it too that one time you and Uncle Sev took me. I liked almost all the songs.''

''Yes...yes you did.''

He nodded once more to seal the deal and then turned to the kitchen holding his tiny hand out to her.

''Come on, Mom, we have to make the Xmas pudding, Uncle Severus said he should be here soon,and I know how much you hate using magic to get things done in time.''

She rolled her eyes in mock anoyance, grinned and followed her son to the kitchen.

And so, it was with that soundtrack, and with a most peculiar song of choice as empowerment that she stood before Emma, gathering her shattered self.

''What are you doing here?''

Just as Emma was about to utter her reply, the front door opened and Henry walked in.

''Mom, Brendan has a stomachache, so Mrs Roads brought me back, in case it was the flu...''

He stopped short and took note of his mother's flushed face and, being the son of Regina Mills, read the entire situation in asecond. He knew his mother was quite uncomfortable and unhappy. He turned to the other woman in the room and gave her a subtle once over.

Regina knew he was making his assesment. Being of magical heritage, mentally, the boy matured faster than his peers. She smiled and beckoned him over. He came up to her and she picked him up, balancing his tiny body against her left hip easily. She clung to him for support and he felt it.

''Are you okay, Mommy?''

Regina noticed he was eyeing Emma almost angrily and smiled, just for him.

''Yes, why wouldn't I be? Now, would you like some apple pie? I took some out for myself, but you can have it, I'll get some later.''

''No. I want to stay with you.''

''Henry...Excuse us for a moment, Princess.''

She took the boy out of the room, and Emma felt the title and the mocking tone of it like a dagger through her gut. But, now was not the time to give up.

Regina shook slightly and almost hated herself for the tone in which she spoke to Emma, but she knew she couldn't let anyone get anywhere near as Emma had all those years ago. Not even Emma herself. Especially not her.

For the time being, she focused on Henry and his tiny cheek, pressing against her shoulder. He was sleepy, and she thought she could feel a fever starting to spike. Damned that woman, couldn't she have noticed her son was falling ill before she put Henry in danger,too.

''Henry, how do you feel?''

''Thirsty. But...I don't want anything, I want to be with you, in case you need me.''

Regina's heart melted further and she let the tears go. The child Cosette in her had grown up, and the vow to make her own son happier than any that ever lived grew stronger every day.

''Oh, sweetheart, I need you every minute of every day. But that doesn't mean I should tie you to myself. Much as it pains me, it's the truth. One you will realize soon enough. ''

''She makes you sad.''

''Yes...yes she does. But there was also a time she made me happy.''

Henry seemed puzzled by this and instead of saying anything else, took the profered glass of water and a piece of candy (he knew it was his mother's conjured and masked version of cold medication, but he didn't care, it tasted like honey and mint and he munched on it happily)

Once Regina changed him into his pajamas and tucked him in, she made sure all the windows were closed tightly so that he wouldn't be chilly. Then she brushed the soft locks of dark-brown hair out of his eyes.

''Mommy...Will you sing it to me, before you go?''

''You really like it, don't you?''

''Yes. The little girl is really pretty, and sings it nicely. But you do it better. Please?''

''Okay...but only because you're my most favourite person in the entire universe. You know not even Uncle Sev can make me sing, right?''

He seemed proud of her words and of himself and nodded, settling more comfortably in his bed, awaiting the familiar tones performed in his mother's emotional, lulling voice.

Regina, on her part, closed her eyes and let the melody flood her mind yet again. Her voice, was of course deeper, but she somehow made the lullaby work beautifully, infusing it with just the right amount of solitude and that inkling of hope. She knew that she would sing it over and over again as long as it made Henry happy.

There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says:

Henry, I love you very much."

I know a place where no one's lost,
I know a place where no one cries,
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

As the final notes died out, Henry was fast asleep, and she snuck out of his room, leaving the door slightly ajar so she could still keep an eye on her dormant prince. And then she remembered her unexpected visitor. The night was going to be longer than she thought.