Chapter25

Regina finished soaking in the tub and climbed out putting on her silk pajamas. She had washed her face in the sink and patted it dry with a towel. The mayor glanced down at her toothbrush holder and saw the extra toothbrush sitting in an empty slot just like it was meant to be there. She smiled to herself.

After she brushed her teeth she wiped her mouth and went into the bedroom. Emma was leaning against her dresser looking deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about", the queen asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed grabbing her moisturizer from her vanity as she passed.

"Henry is still mad at me. I tried to talk to him, but I didn't get very far", Emma said biting her lower lip.

Regina put some lotion in her hand as she raised one leg of her pajama pants, "I'm sure he's just trying to deal with all of this."

Emma nodded, "You're probably right, he just seemed weird."

The brunette rubbed the lotion onto her legs, "What do you mean?"

The sheriff walked over to the woman and sat down at her feet taking the lotion from the other woman and began applying it to the mayor's legs, "I'm not sure, he was very aggravated or irritated and it seemed it was at me. I think he even threatened me, but then he said he was tired and going to bed and he acted normal again."

Regina watched as the blonde rubbed the lotion into her skin, and it was very relaxing, "He threatened you?"

"He told me I better not make you cry again, but it wasn't the words it was the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice", Emma said seeming to stare through the bed as she thought about what she was saying.

Regina would have normally brush something like that off, but there was not anything normal about their lives, and for Emma to be affected this badly, something had to be wrong, "Well, When David and you go to check in at the convent tomorrow, I will take Henry to see Archie."

Emma nodded, giving the lotion back to the queen since she had finished putting the lotion on the mayor's legs.

Regina looked down at Emma's legs, "Why are you still wearing your jeans? You are not going to be able to sleep in those."

Emma stood up, "I wasn't sure if I was invited to stay."

Regina looked up into the blonde's eyes and she could see the insecurity, "I want you to stay."

"What about tomorrow? I'm not rushing you, but I don't know what you want. I mean I know you love me, but you said you loved me for today, but you were certain about tomorrow", Emma said looking at her.

Regina could hear how bad that must have sounded coming from her own mouth, "Can we start with the weekend, and then go from there?"

Emma stared at her for a second, but smiled, "Of course."

The queen could see how hard the sheriff was trying, but she could tell it was affecting her, but she didn't know how to do this. It was all new to her and she didn't want to mess it up. She stood up and stepped closer to the blonde. The mayor softly slid her hand across the cheek of the other woman and pulled her in for a kiss. She gently teased the sheriff's lip with her tongue, until the other woman's lips parted granting her access to her mouth.

The kiss was getting heated quickly and the mayor snapped her fingers making Emma jeans disappear, leaving her in her hot pink boy shorts. The mayor move her hands from the blonde's face, slowly down her sides bringing one of them to the flat of the sheriff's stomach, stopping as her tongue battled for dominance with the younger woman.

She slowly made her way to the waist band of the boy shorts, just as she started to slide her hand in, Emma grabbed her wrist gently and broke the kiss, "Please don't."

Regina looked shocked and hurt, "Why, did I do something wrong?"

The blonde smiled, "No, God no. I just think that if we are taking things in this relationship slow, then I think we should hold off on going this again as well."

The queen was still a little confused, "I thought this is what you wanted."

It was the sheriff's turn to look confused, "What," Emma pulled the woman to her chest, "Regina, making love with you has been like nothing else on earth, and I won't lie, I could have taken you while you were in the tub", she smiled, "But you need time to figure this thing between us out and I think it is only fair that we take our time to at least get to know each other better. And before you say something smart ass, I mean to know each other in a more intimate way and not just sex."

Regina was surprised; she did want the blonde in a sexual way, and pretty badly, but she also agreed, waiting would probably be best, but at this moment she wasn't sure how long she would last.

Emma looked at the queen, "Are you mad at me?"

Regina sort of chuckled, "No, I'm not mad", she kissed the blonde lightly on the lips, "I'm going to go check on our son before we go to sleep, so you can go ahead and get comfortable."

She walked out of the room and sighed. This could be harder than she originally thought. Now she couldn't get the hot pink boy shorts out of her head or the feel of the blonde's hands when she had been rubbing lotion on the mayor's legs. A shiver of pleasure went down her spine and straight to her core. Oh yeah, this was going to be very hard.

As she reached her son's door she lightly tapped. There was no answer so she guessed he had fallen asleep. She decided she would just check in on him like she did nearly every night since he was a baby.

Opening the door, the room was dark, but the street light beamed a yellow glow over the room. The window looked as though it was open, so she flipped the light on. She didn't care if it woke her son up or not, but it was too chilly outside for him to leave the window open. To her surprise his bed was empty.

There was an oddness to the room, almost like a scent. It was like the weird smell of the liquor that Robin had been drunk on when he came into her house, and the same liquor that was all over Henry in the woods. It was a magic scent, and Regina's pulse quickened and her stomach rolled. What if the person who cast the spell for Hook had taken her son?

"Emma", the queen screamed in panick!

A few seconds' later running feet were heard on the carpet of the hallway and Emma appeared in the doorway.

"Henry's gone," Regina said.

Emma looked around the room, "Did you check down stairs, maybe he…" She sniffed the air, "Is that liquor I smell."

"Yes, it's the same as that Henry had on him last night. What if they took him", Regina said with a shaky voice?

Emma walked closer to her lover, "What if who took him?"

"I don't know, I just know that smell is what Robin was drinking when he came here, it was the smell he had on him when he…attacked me at the office and the same as the smell that Robin poured on Henry. The only difference this time is, I can smell a magical essence on this one, well not necessarily smell, more like feel", the queen explained.

Emma's eyes grew big, "I thought maybe he just snuck out again."

Regina narrowed her eyes, "You make it sound like he sneaks out all the time."

Emma closed her eyes, "I meant to talk to you about that."

"So you have kept more secrets about my son from me", She glared crossing her arms over her chest.

The blonde sighed, "It's not like that, and he only snuck out once and I went and got him. I didn't know he snuck out when he met up with his little girlfriend."

"So when I asked you why you were wearing the shirt you did not have on when went to sleep back at your parent's plce, you lied," the brunette clenched her teeth.

Emma eyes pleaded with the queen, "I didn't mean to, Henry was working on a surprise for you and didn't want me to tell you."

"So again, you let a teenage boy make the rules? You know what, I don't have time for this, I have to find my son", the older woman huffed.

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Henry knocked on the glass door to his grandfather's shop. He knew he was probably sleeping, but he really needed to talk to him. After a few minutes, his anger was growing; he stared at the door handle. The metal of the handle started to turn red, like if it were molten lava, slowly it melted down till it hit the ground, causing the door to open.

Henry's eyes grew wide. Wow, how did he do that? He couldn't shake the hate and rage that he felt deep down. He stepped into the darkened store. The bell over the door jingled. He walked slowly in, not sure if his grandfather would come out swinging or something worse.

He heard movement from the doorway behind the curtain, without thought Henry snapped his fingers and he could hear grunting from behind the curtain, he moved his hand toward him and in turn the person behind the curtain floated out into the center of the room.

He noticed it was Belle, and gasped while he quickly released her. Gold appeared in front of him in a puff of purple smoke similar to his mother's with his fist raised, until he realized it was his grandson.

"Henry", Gold asked confused?

"I'm sorry Belle, I didn't know it was you", Henry said.

Gold grabbed his grandson face with his hand and turned his head from side to side as if he were examining it, "Where did you get magic boy?"

Henry looked into the man's eyes with tears in his, "I don't know. Something is happening to me."

Suddenly Henry screamed out in pain as he hit his knees grabbing his head.

"Belle get dressed and go to the library and stay there", Gold commanded his wife.

"Why Rumple? What's going on", Belle asked with fear in her voice?

Belle, damn it, do what I say", He snapped.

She paused only for a moment before she disappeared back behind the curtain. A few minutes later she reappeared, dressed and carrying a bag, she stopped briefly by Henry, her face full of worry, then she hurried out of the store.

Gold's face was dead serious, "Come on boy, we need to get you to the back."

Henry stood up and let his grandfather help him to the back where he sat the boy on a couch.

"What's wrong with me", Henry said.

Gold sat in a chair across from the boy and ran is hand over his mouth, "I'm not completely sure", he said, "What are you feeling?"

"Anger and rage and I don't know why. I keep seeing people that have made me mad in my mind and all I can think about is how I can hurt them. The headache is new, though", the teen said.

The man looked closely at the boy, "When did this start?"

"This morning after we got home from the woods", he said, then he winced in pain again but then a weird growl escaped his throat. What the hell was wrong with him?

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"Where did he go when he snuck out the first time", Regina asked with coldness to her voice.

Emma was hurt by the tone, but responded, "The library."

Regina grabbed the blonde by the arm and they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. They reappeared outside the library, "Umm, Regina?"

"What", the queen snapped?

Emma gestured towards her own clothes, "I'm not exactly dressed for this."

Regina rolled her eyes, but waved her hand making the blonde's jeans and shoe reappear on her.

The queen headed for the door and when she went to open it Emma grabbed her forearm, "I'm sorry, but he trusted me and he wasn't in danger so I made the call not to tell you."

The mayor tried to pull her arm free, but the blonde refused to release it.

"Mrs. Swan how am I supposed to trust you when you keep secrets from me that pertain to my son", the brunette asked with her eye brows furrowed.

Emma clenched her jaw, "Wow. So not only are we back to Miss. Swan, we are back to you saying your son. Boy, this day just keeps getting better."

When the older woman's expression didn't change, the blonde released her arm. Damn it, this keeps getting harder. We take one step forward only to take five back, she thought. She watched the other woman open the door and walk into the building; Emma sighed and then followed her inside.

The light was on and they could hear someone moving around in the loft upstairs.

"Hello", Regina called out?

Quick footsteps could be heard on the stairs as they were descending. Belle rounded the corner and her eyes widened when she saw the other two woman.

"Regina, Emma? What are you two doing here", Belle asked?

Regina looked at the woman for a moment, "We are looking for Henry, is he here?"

The beauty looked from one woman to the other with surprise, "No, he is with his Grandfather."

Emma narrowed her eyes in confusion, "Why would he be with my dad?"

Belle's eyes remained large, "Umm, not that grandfather."

"What the hell would he be doing with Rumple", Regina hissed.

Emma could see a very red and irritated mark on Belle's neck, "What happened to your neck", she asked thinking maybe Gold had gotten rough or something?

The Aussie swallowed, "Henry."

Regina stiffened and glared, "Mrs. Gold, do you expect me to believe my son attacked you?"

Belle rubbed the place on her neck, "He did it with magic. He broke into the store a little while ago and I was going to see who had come in and he grabbed me by my throat, but once he saw it was me, he let me go. Rumple seemed very concerned and made me come here."

Emma could tell the woman spoke the truth, and Regina looked over to the blonde to confirm and she nodded.

Before Emma could say anything the queen disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Emma let out another sigh.

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Regina appeared outside the pawn shop. She could see the door was ajar and the contorted door handle on the ground. The brunette bent down and grabbed the handle. The object was still very warm, but enough to burn her.

How could her son have magic? Just because Emma had it, didn't mean he did. She was lost in her thoughts and hadn't heard the blonde come up behind her.

"You know, it's a good thing the library like a block away", the sheriff said.

Regina didn't acknowledge the blonde's words; instead she continued to examine the door handle.

"So that's it? You're done with me now", Emma threw her hands up?

The queen looked up at her, "What?"

The blonde ran her hand through her hair, "I'm asking if we are through?"

"Why in the hell would we be through? I, the same as you Miss. Swan, can get mad too", she said before turning and entering the Dark one's shop. She heard Emma breathed out a sigh of relief, and had she not been angry with her at the moment, the brunette may have smiled.

"Rumpelstiltskin", the mayor called out?

"You two do not want to be here right now", Gold voice called from the back room of the store.

Regina stormed towards the back but stopped when she heard an almost demonic growling coming from that direction. She turned and looked at Emma who was following her with a concerned expression.

The brunette continued forward, but at a slower pace. As she pulled the curtain back she could she Gold sitting in the arm chair with a blank look on his face but staring intensely at the boy across from him.

"Henry, honey", she called softly?

His head snapped in her direction. He looked angry and it seemed his eyes were now the color of coal. This wasn't her little boy.

Suddenly he started laughing in a sinister manner, "Well if it isn't the pathetic Evil queen."

Her mouth fell open as her suspicions were confirmed, this was not her Henry.

The mayor's eye looked over to Rumple who was still sitting with the same look.

"What is wrong with him", she asked as she glared at the dark one.

He inhaled deeply then released it, "I'm not completely sure."

"I see you brought your love sick dog with you", the boy said looking towards Emma as he laughed.

Regina glanced back at Emma, who seemed to keep her expression neutral, other than the worry she had for the well being of their child.

"Henry, honey how are you feeling", the queen asked?

"Fuck you. Like you actually give a shit about anyone other than yourself", He snapped.

"Henry", Emma scolded!

The boy looked up at his other mother, "You are not my mother, you threw me away remember, just like your parents threw you away?"

Emma started to fire back but Rumple stood and put up his hand to stop her, "Do not attempt to speak rationally to him, he doesn't comprehend that in this state."

"Shut up old man. My father would still be alive if it weren't for you. Belle will see you for what you really are, a coward", He growled.

Rumple looked down at the ground and licked his lips, "Perhaps we should go into the other room to talk."

"You can't handle the truth can you imp", the boy shouted at him as they moved into the main store room.

The three stood in silence for a moment. What the hell was going on? She would have normally laughed at any kind of truth riddled insult that was shoved at Gold, but there was nothing funny about this.

"What the hell is going on", she asked?

Gold looked up, "I put a protection spell on the couch. He can't use his magic and he can't leave the spot he is in."

The mayor put one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead as she paced. She was just now noticing that she was still in her silken pajamas, and shook her head.

"So what do you know", the queen asked?

Rumple leaned up against the counter, sporting his blue robe and striped slippers, "Well he seems to have been contaminated by some sort of dark magic."

Emma tilted her head, "Like he is possessed?"

The man scratched his head, "No, more like he has been poisoned. This isn't spiritual, it's magical."

Another growl came from the back room, and Rumpled shook his head slowly.

"You're eating this up aren't you", Regina asked with darkening eyes.

Rumple stood up straight walking closer to the brunette, "If this was happening to you, I might be, but it is happening to my grandson, so no I am not."

"Are you trying to pretend you care about Henry now", the blonde asked?

The man's head turned to Emma, "My son was a good man. He was a better man than me, and that is what I see in Henry. I would not wish any harm to come to the boy. The last thing I would want is for him to be like either of us, he said gesturing between the queen and himself, he is all that I have left of my Bae."

Regina saw the fire flash in his eyes and the crack in his voice and she didn't need the sheriff to confirm if he was telling the truth because she was pretty sure she had just gotten her answer. She put her hands up in surrender.

"So what do we do now", she asked?

"I think this is going to be a team effort, so Mrs. Swan may want to call in her parents", He said looking to each of the women.