Regina can't believe that this day is here. That 18 years of her son's life has passed by, eighteen years of her live raising her son.
They were getting ready for Henry's graduation ceremony, he is going to be a graduate of High School soon and he had been accepted in NYCU, Dean, Berkeley, UCLA, Storybrooke University and Brown.
Regina wanted to stop time. Wanted to kidnap her son and not let him go out of the house. And Emma knew this so she was the one supervising the twins into dressing themselves, because according to them four was old enough to get dressed by themselves, and she was the one currently running after a naked one year old Livvy so she could put her on her fancy sundress.
Regina caught her daughter by the stairs, trying to climb the security barrier.
"What do you think you are doing Missy?"
Livvy grinned at her and wrapped her tiny arms around her brunette mother. She was currently 14 months and just learned how to run and it was her favorite method of moving lately.
"She refuse to put on her sundress. She only knows a few words but no is her current favorite" Emma wrapped her arms around mother and daughter "She is totally you Madam Mayor"
"Totally, because i am full of energy and want to run naked around my house. That's so you"
They kiss but they are soon interrupted by a pair of hands clapping against their cheeks, they can't help but laugh at their energetic kid, they kiss her cheeks in unison and tickled her tummy.
A couple of hours earlier when they went down to the kitchen with three of their four kids they found Henry turning off the stove and can smell pancakes, coffee and bacon and eggs.
"What are you doing Henry?"
"I wanted to make breakfast for you, and i wanted to rush so i can head to the school ASAP to help Violet and the other kids with decoration and she is going to help me with my speech"
They had a very great breakfast, talking about his expectations and about how proud they are of him, the twins gave him a picture and he tucked it in his pocket.
"In this way you would be there picking the diploma with me"
And now was time to go and cry, thought Regina while sitting in her designated chairs with Emma, their kids, her parents, sister's family and parents in law with their kids. And she was not the only one crying when Henry was there as the valedictorian giving the speech for his class.
"Good evening Principal Johnson, Vice Principal Kafar, teachers, parents, grandparents, friends and classmates. We are here, finally here, can you believe it? I can, I mean, how cant I not if I have the heart of the truest believer! When i woke up this morning I thought that the day would be the same as every other one until my gf texted me to ask me if I was excited for today and i didn't know what to say. My live has changed so much from when I was a ten year old mad at his mom for "lying" to me about my "real parents" but what she taught me and every other person in my family taught me is that change is good:
For my mom changing meant adopting a baby boy and bring happiness into her live and also meant fight for redemption to finally be with the person she loved.
For my ma changing was accepting that magic was real, that she was surrounded by fairytale characters, that she have her son back in her live and that she was in love with someone different as the one who she was currently with.
For my grandparents changing was forgiving the cruelty of their arch nemesis and accepting that they weren't as good as they thought they were. And my other grandparents just meant having a second chance with their daughters and with each other. My aunt also found changes in her live and second chances in the form of her husband and kids.
So for me, this new chapter, this change mean that I can be who I want to be, be with the person i want to be with, accepting that I would not always be totally good but that i would have a second chance after that.
So don't be afraid, go out and find your path that Storybrooke would always be with you!"
After his speech he returns to his seat and wait to be named, his middle name is Swan Mills now so he has to wait more than when he was just Mills but all his nerves left his system the moment the principal called his name and he walked with confident ready for new adventures.
Emma and Regina stand up and cheered for him, Livy trying to run the moment she was on her feet but Cora caught her and raised her in her arms so the baby can see her brother. When Olivia register Henry she claps and giggle, Henry smiles at her and blow her a kiss.
When all the kids had received their diplomas they went to their families to take some pictures, Emma and Regina immediately hug him and fill his face with kisses, after that Henry look around for signs of someone witnessing that moment, but internally he was thrilled.
"We are so proud of you little prince, you can't imagine"
"Thanks mom"
His family make him take photos with everyone and after that they head to Granny's for the graduation celebration where Granny, Gepetto, kid August, the seven dwarfs, Ruby and Dorothy, Belle and his grandfather with his uncle Gideon were there to celebrate with him. Regina arranged with Granny to close the diner for only them and with magic she decorated the room with blue balloons and banners in which you could read CONGRATS HENRY and she also put in a wall photos of Henry in every age, from the age five they are his school photos. After a very great meal Snow stands up and decide it was time for presents.
"You give me presents?"
"Of course we did, kid. You made extraordinarily in school and we are super proud of you" Emma noticed Henry averting his eyes but decided to wait for the next day to say something to him "Come on, open your gifts"
Henry proceeded to do that, receiving a new game from his grandparents Snow and Charming; new schoolbag and school supplies from Gepetto and August so he can take them to college; the snickers that he wanted from Ruby; a new laptop from his Grandfather Rumple and Belle; new clothes from Zelena and Hades and shoes and scarfs from grandparents Cora and Henry Sr. and finally he received his gift from his mothers.
It was a key chain with the Mercedes Benz symbol on it. Henry's jaw dropped.
"You are passing the Mercedes to me?"
"Yes, we have the SUV and your mother's death trap is still intact, don't know how but it still is so now that you are eighteen you should have my car. It is even better because with it you can take friends for a ride"
After that he went to the graduation party so his moms and siblings head home. The twins were walking ahead of them, chatting about a new game while the mothers walked linked by the arm, with Emma pushing the baby carrier where a sleepy Livvy was. Regina put her head on Emma's shoulder and the blonde kissed the side of her head. Regina feel happy, feel content and secure. She has raised a perfect and handsome young man that was currently in a party celebrating with his friends and girlfriend that he has graduated and that he is going to go out, out to the big world and become someone extraordinary, of that Regina has no doubt. She is content with her life because she has found her true love and with her she has had another three children and are raising them to perfection too and she has her parents and sister with her. And she is secure, she is always secure in her favorite Sheriff arms.
SQ SQ SQ SQ SQ SQ SQ
Next morning Henry woke up at noon in his bed, even if he was sure that when he came home at 3 in the morning that he was too tired to climb the stairs so he collapsed on the sofa.
He needed a shower.
The party was brilliant, he only drank one beer because he don't like alcohol that much and because he wanted to celebrate dancing with Violet and playing cards with his friends instead of being drunk and do stupid things and so he did that until 1 in the morning that Violet took him to the car to "make good use of it" she said and then he take her to her house and collapsed on the sofa when he came to his.
After his shower and while descending the stairs he could hear voices in the backyard so he guessed that his family was there. He sighed and exhaled, he was going to tell something to his moms that would probably crush their hearts. But he has to do it, it was already the middle of May and his adventure would have to take place in June.
He grabbed some apples and a plate of crumbled eggs that he found waiting for him and took them to the table of the backyard. His moms were in the pool, Regina was teaching the twins how to swim and Emma was swimming around with Olivia. He sighed again, he is going to miss them.
"HENRY, are you finally awake kiddo?"
"Yeah, came pretty late yesterday…well I suppose today"
Emma laughed and left the pool, she wrapped Livvy in a towel and sat down next to him, placing her younger daughter on her lap. She smiled at Henry.
"You are just like your ma, you party hard eh?" Livvy said "Ma-ma" "Yeah baby, I am your mama"
Henry laughed and stole his sister from her and Emma took a photo. Since the twims were born she decided to take photos of every moment and she has a feeling that she has less and less time for Henry to be in them.
"Mom, can you please come here? I need to tell you something" Regina was there five minutes later after letting the twins running around in the backyard, Livvy joining them "Thanks mom"
"Anytime my little prince. What it is that you have to tell us about?"
"Well…it is very difficult for me because I don't wanna disappoint you or break your hearts"
"You will not Hen, we are very proud of you and we will always will. You can tell us everything"
"Ok, well I have been thinking and I think I know what I would like to do in the future, or well almost the present now. I decided to start NYCU on January because I have been talking with Tiny and he has a good amount of beans so I want to go explore the old world or another realm, to have adventures and meet the world that you were raised in Mom and the want where you were born Ma. I will also write a book while there, a book about our story and our little town in Maine because…I mean, I am the author and I love reading and writing. And when I come back to the Christmas holidays I would have many more ideas for fantastic books and in university I would perfect my technique"
After his speech the only thing that could be heard were the laughter of his little siblings, his moms has gone very pale and very quiet. He knew it, he had crushed their hearts.
"I am sorry, is…is what I really want"
Emma shaked her head and took Regina's hands in hers while taking Henry's with her free hand "I love you kid and I think that you are mature enough to be out there and be whoever you want to be and you would surely be the best writer in the world. I support you kiddo"
Regina let go of Emma's hand and wrapped both of her arms around Henry's shoulders and cried silently, wanting to feel her son for a little bit more.
"Is ok Henry, you did not broke my heart baby, I want you to have adventures and success in your life and you would do that, I am sure. You go there baby, but you go with as many protections and advices as I can give you, ok? And when you came back you would have your car to take you to NY and then take you back home to visit your family"
"What about Violet Hen?"
"I…I want to start fresh, I haven't been single for the past three years and…and I think Violet want to stay here…and I don't"
So Henry started fresh from that day, he spent as much time with his siblings as he can, he learned as much as he could of the old world from all his grandparents, his mother and Killian. This one gave Regina and Henry a sea bottle so Henry could ask for help and they would know it, David gave him his sword and Regina gave him horse-riding lessons and a pass to use her castle as the heir of the queen. Maleficient gave him advice on how to treat a dragon and Snow gave him a map of the old world and Blue gave him enchanted letters so he could talk with his mothers and they could respond to him across realms.
The 8th of June he was ready to part and after he crossed the portal his mothers felt that smething was already missing in their hearts. Henry was out there living adventures and they would not see him in six months.
AN: next chapter would be the epilogue. Telling the story of our ladies and their family 25 years later. It was a beautiful journy writing this fic for YOU so thank you guys and hope you like it.