Surprise! I hope you all enjoy this new chapter that's simply loaded with more interactions between Henry and Regina. There are some /very/ important developments in here. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you all have fun reading it!

Storybrooke's location in America meant that all inhabitants celebrated all major American holidays, and the Curse was apparently aware of the stereotype that all small towns celebrated with much gusto and community bonding. The children were more than thrilled that Halloween that year fell on a Friday, meaning that they could stay up late trick-or-treating, eating candy, and playing with their friends.

Every business and storefront was decorated accordingly, and Regina couldn't help but be amused that skulls and cross bones were considered festive in this realm. Such symbols often heralded much less pleasant tidings in the old world.

To include everyone in the festivities, a special Safe Halloween was held every year in the middle school. It was for all of the youngest children who couldn't quite stay up as late, or even walk in some cases. Many prominent members of the town, school clubs, and community groups would each be assigned a classroom to decorate as they chose, and the children with their parents would go from room to room collecting their goodies.

As mayor of the town, Regina traditionally had a room at the school. She never dressed up, and her secretary did the decorating; however, she always handed out treats to the kids. Since it was fall, she picked apples from her beloved tree and hand-dipped them into caramel herself. It was always a struggle to keep Henry's fingers out of the sticky sweet, and keeping him from sneaking one of the finished products for himself.

Despite Regina's frosty exterior, she actually liked handing the caramel apples out to the kids. They seemed to be the only ones happy to see her, and didn't look at her with caution or avert their eyes. She tried not to let it show, but if anyone looked closely they would see her eyes twinkling with mirth. Sean and Ashley both shared looks of incredulity when the brunette handed an apple to baby Alexandra - who was dressed as a pumpkin - and actually gave a genuine and warm smile when the infant promptly stuck the dipped apple, wrapper and all, into her tiny mouth.

Safe Halloween was the only part of the holiday that the woman genuinely enjoyed, aside from spending extra time with Henry. He had stubbornly and deliberately chosen to be Prince Charming that year, and Regina begrudgingly sewed the costume for him. She also bought a plain, wooden sword, which he insisted on painting himself.

It was very chilly that night, and Regina was silently grateful that the tunic, breeches, and cape she made all added up to a very warm costume. Henry was usually bouncing up and down relentlessly in his seat when they set out from Mifflin, but this year he seemed much more subdued.

The woman could still see the excitement buzzing under his skin, but something was holding him back. She couldn't tell if something was on his mind and simply distracting him, maybe his age, or if the events in the recent months had taken away some of his enjoyment of even the most thrilling holidays. Maybe it was all of those things.

As the night wore on, the tension coiled in the pit of her stomach only grew tighter. Not from her son's behavior, but from what she knew had to be done later. It was time to discuss some very important matters with the boy, and she figured a whole mess of sweets would make him more open to her words.

"That was fun!" Henry exclaimed, leaping out of the Benz with his loot bag in tow. It didn't take long for his mood to improve once they started hitting up the houses. He didn't care that the chill in the air was threatening to end the night's celebration early.

In fact, about ninety percent of Storybrooke seemed determined to ignore the looming presence of Winter. The children were eager, and the parents all dressed warmly. Granny was handing out free hot chocolates to anyone looking to chase away the chill, and, for all the adults without children, drinks were half-priced at the Hole.

Regina closely followed her son, and thought, not for the first time that night, that he really did look dashing dressed as a little prince. By the time she made it through the front door, Henry was already in the den. She heard him upend his candy bag on the floor, as was tradition, to begin sorting out his candy. She joined him moments later, and sat down on the floor across from him.

"Your cheeks are red, dear. Do you want me to make you a hot cocoa?"

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks, though," he said with a casual shrug. Leave it to him to try and show that the cold didn't bother him.

"Do you mind if I help you sort your candy?" she offered hesitantly, and he looked up at her.

"Do you know what stuff I like?"

"As your mother, I think I have an accurate idea of the sweets you do and don't like. But, you can always point me in the right direction if I'm wrong."

"Knock yourself out," he said, turning his attention back to the pile of sugary goodness between them.

They made short work of the sorting, and Henry looked fondly down at his haul, knowing that this was one of the few times a year that Regina allowed him to splurge. Once he was thoroughly engrossed in a Reeses peanut butter cup, the woman stole away to the kitchen. She returned moments later with something clutched in her hand, and the boy's eyes widened when he saw it.

"Is that for me?"

"Yes, dear. I saved one for you." She held out the dipped apple, and it disappeared from her fingers in the blink of an eye.

"Whoa, thanks Mom! I haven't had one of these in forever!" He wasted no time in tearing off the wrapper and sinking his teeth into the gooey, juicy treat. "Oh man, this 's as good as I rem'mber," he managed to get out around his mouthful of apple.

"I'm glad you still like them," Regina responded with a tight smile.

"You okay? You've been kinda quiet all night," He asked swallowing loudly. He set the apple down in its wrapper, untying his cape from around his shoulders.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I was. Henry, do you remember telling me that you weren't ready for adult conversations?" The brunette fixed the boy with an intense stare.

"Yeah...why?"

"I'd like to have one of those with you, if you're not too tired from tonight."

"I'm totally awake, Mom!" Regina smiled sadly at his eagerness.

"I thought you would be. This isn't a game, and what we're going to talk about...there's no easy solution, understand?" Henry nodded, squaring his shoulders trying to display his seriousness. "Why haven't you talked about the Curse lately?"

It was evident that her question caught the boy off guard, because his face wrinkled in confusion while tilting his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"It used to be the only thing you would speak of, Henry. Now, it almost feels as though you're pretending it doesn't exist...but you and I both know that's not the case."

A deep frown fell over his young face. "Emma's gone. There's no point in bothering with it anymore."

"Why is that?"

"'Cause it was my job to get Emma to believe. She's the key to breaking the Curse, Mom. You and I know that's how it works, since she's the Savior and all. But she's gone. I...I don't think she's coming back. So there's no point."

"Do you still want it to be broken? The Curse?" Regina asked tentatively, and Henry bit his lip, his frown deepening.

"I do... It was designed to be broken, wasn't it?" The brunette nodded in confirmation. "How come she hasn't done it then? It's her destiny, so why doesn't she see?"

Regina moved to sit next to her son, pulling him into her side for a one-armed hug. "I know you don't want to hear this, but it's complicated. You're being very mature about all of this, dear, and I am so proud of you. But, I'm afraid that's a grown-up talk for another night."

"So what's tonight's talk for?"

"What if I told you that I might be able to break the Curse?" she offered quietly.

Henry twisted to look incredulously as his mother. "You?"

"Not me alone, but I will have a hand in it, yes."

"But...why? I thought...I thought you'd do anything to keep it the way it is."

"I thought so as well, but things have changed, Henry."

"What things? What's changed?" he demanded.

Regina was silent for a long moment, thinking through her next response. "Do you remember what you thought was supposed to happen at the end of your book? Between Emma and myself?"

"Yeah. On her 28th birthday, she'd come to break the Curse, and the final battle would begin. Are you saying that's gonna happen?" He looked up at her, hazel eyes shining with worry.

"No, dear. You also remember when she was in the coma? And you figured out who...could wake her up?"

"Yeah. I was you..."

"Do you remember the conclusion you came to about the two of us once you figured that out?"

Henry shook his head. "No, I don't really remember anymore. What was it?"

Regina smiled fondly. "You told me that Emma was the Savior, and that it was her job to save everyone...even me. That she would save me with True Love."

"Oh! I remember now! Yeah, I bet you thought that theory was pretty lame, huh?"

"Quite the opposite, Henry. I think...I think your theory was right. Yes, the final battle would begin, but it's not a battle of Good and Evil."

"What kind of battle is it?"

"It's a battle of hearts, dear."

"I don't get it," Henry responded. "You...you haven't even seen her since she hurt you. And now you're saying you love her or something? That's not right, Mom."

"It's not quite like that..."

"Then what is it like, 'cause I'm not seeing what you are right now."

"Henry, please. It's complicated."

"I know it's complicated! It's always complicated. Isn't that just life or something? You said you wanted to have a talk with me, but you leave out half of the important stuff, Mom. What're you hiding?"

Regina pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "It's not so easy to explain. It's not even easy for me to admit."

"Why don't you go and tell Ruby, then? You two are all BFFs, so I'm sure you can tell her your secrets!" he spat petulantly.

"Watch your tone, young man! I will not have you talk to me in that manner. If you want me to talk to you like an adult, then be patient with me like one as well," the brunette scolded. Henry closed his mouth, but the edge in his glare remained. "Things have changed. Things even I couldn't see coming."

"You keep saying that, but you don't tell me what exactly has changed."

"I know, Henry. I'm sorry that I always seem to underestimate you."

"You also say that, but never fix it. You gotta start somewhere."

"And you think this is the time for that?"

"Why not? I mean, you've already tackled talking about the Curse. Can't be heavier than that, right?" he offered with a small smile.

"I would ask if you're ready, but something tells me the answer is a yes." She reached out and took his hand. "I've had the charges against Miss Swan dropped."

"Whoa! You what? How come?"

"Nothing can move forward with the arrest warrant dangling overhead."

"But she's gone...how will she even know?"

"Because I will tell her myself," Regina said evenly, forcing all emotion from her voice..

"How? She's missing!"

"I've...been communicating with her."

The boy's jaw dropped. "Since when? Communicating? Like on phones or something? How long?!" he demanded sharply.

"Roughly two months."

"But how!"

"I know where she is..."

"And you didn't tell me? You just let me think she was gone forever? What's wrong with you! Why would you do that to me!" Henry was on his feet, his little fists clenched into tight balls.

"Because it wasn't the right time, Henry! You have to understand that I didn't do this out of malicious intent, but I was doing it for everyone's good! We all needed time!"

"That's the worst excuse!" he yelled.

"Henry-"

"No! I don't wanna hear any more!" He turned and bolted from the room, and Regina could hear the sound of his bedroom door slamming shut. She remained seated on the floor for several long minutes.

She wasn't entirely certain what she expected to happen that night, but she did know that his reaction wasn't surprising. She knew the topic of his birthmother would be a sensitive one, and storming off was actually a far better outcome than she had expected. Regina knew his anger was only a mask for the hurt and confusion he felt. Leaving him alone for the time being to sort through his emotions was the best course of action, and she busied herself with picking up the pile of candies on the floor.

The plot thickens! I love the response that this story has gotten, and I sincerely enjoy hearing from you guys. So, don't be shy! Find me on Tumblr at Writers-Dilemma. com and you should also seek out my marvelous beta, Jasmine, as she's even more awesome than I! She can be found at obligatory-regal-name. tumblr. com