Chapter 7

As Henry and Regina made their way up the walkway to Emma's front porch, they could hear the sounds of a violin coming from inside the house. Regina recognized it as Nocturne in C Minor by Chopin. The notes flowed through the air and she found her body swaying as she listened. Henry watched his mother fall prey to the soothing notes. Voices could then be heard with words of encouragement and the music stopped followed by clapping. Henry was about to knock, but then realized who was playing and his eyes blew wide open. 'That was Tris? Holy shit! She's just like Ma!'

KNOCK, KNOCK

Emma ran to the door and opened it, "Mornin, Kid." She then noticed Regina standing behind Henry. "Good morning, Regina.", she said in a more serious tone.

Regina noted the cool atmosphere, "Good morning, Ms. Swan. I'm just dropping Henry off for breakfast. Where was that beautiful music coming from?"

Emma panicked, "Oh! Um, that was Audrey." She then turned to Henry to try and change the subject, "Tris is in the kitchen with Audrey and Mal so go on ahead. She'll be thrilled that her big brother is here. I didn't tell her that you were coming so it'd be a surprise." Emma smiled as Henry's eyes glowed.

"Mal is here too? Oh, awesome! Bye, Mom. See you at lunch?", but then he ran towards the kitchen before receiving a confirmation from Regina.

Anger grew in Regina's belly at the knowledge that Emma's girlfriend was there and probably knew everything that was going on, yet Regina knew nothing about the blonde's life. She wanted so bad to be the one Emma confided in. She wanted to hug Emma and hold her close, telling her that it would all be okay. Then she heard Tristan scream at Henry's presence in the distance.

"Hen Hen!" The laughter could be heard throughout the house and Regina wouldn't be surprised if people across the street could hear the happiness coming from the Swan household.

Emma looked back towards the kitchen and smiled. She then turned back to Regina, "You're welcome to join us. There's plenty of food. I think Audrey and Mal went overboard because of the kids.", she chuckled as she explained. Then her expression grew more serious, "Besides, I think we have some things to discuss. I learned some stuff last night and some of it pertains to you.

Regina's confusion was evident on her face so Emma explained further, "I went through some of what Rumple left me."

Regina nodded in understanding, "I can't imagine what any of this has to do with me, Ms. Swan. I think it would be best if you joined your family and … girlfriend. I have things to do so if you'll excuse me." Regina hastened her step off the front porch and walked back to her car while Emma stood in the doorway in shock at Regina's sudden change in demeanor.

'What was that all about?'

Emma closed the door and went to join her family in the kitchen. She found Tristan in Henry's lap at the table while Mal colored with Tristan and Audrey finished cooking pancakes, eggs and bacon. Emma's smile grew at the hominess. She felt complete in this moment.

"Need any help, Aud?", Emma had walked up and grabbed some plates to set the table.

"I'm good, Sweetie. Just go sit with your kids and we can dive in."

Emma nodded and brought the plates and silverware to the table. She then cleared Tristan's coloring books away and they anxiously waited for their food.

Once everyone had been served and was well into their meal, Henry spoke up, "So, Ma, how are you holding up after yesterday?"

Emma stopped chewing her food and looked at her son, 'We're doing this now?', she thought. She swallowed the rest of her big bite and responded, "You mentioned that you knew some of what was in that letter. What did you know about?"

Henry looked down at his plate and then at Audrey and Mal, unsure if he should respond. Emma made it easier for him, "They already know everything, Kid, so I'll ask again. What do you know?"

"Um, well, I know about Mom's relation to Tris. That was at the beginning of the letter that I saw on his desk one day and he caught me trying to read it. I only got that far."

Emma nodded, "I see." Emma let out a heavy sigh, "I still can't believe it. I read the book page that he asked me to, but I don't remember sharing True Love's kiss with your mother. I kissed her, but nothing happened when I did."

Henry blushed and then smiled, "Actually, Ma, something did happen. I was spying on the two of you that night and when you kissed, a ring of white magic spread across the town. It was True Love's Kiss."

Emma's eyes grew wide again and she stopped the fork from reaching her mouth as she was taking a bite. "We shared True Love's Kiss? For real?" Henry nodded and smiled. "That means, Regina's my True Love." Emma began to laugh and stared at her friends, "Regina's my True Love." She then looked around the table and settled on Tristan who was staring back at her and then her expression grew sad. Emma then wiped her mouth with her napkin, "I guess that doesn't matter though, does it. She's with Robin, her soul mate." Emma sat her napkin down and looked at Mal, "And now that she knows about us and our condition…Oh God." Emma stood from her chair, "Please excuse me.", and ran out the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door.

Henry sat there confused and looked to the other ladies for an explanation, "Condition? What's she talking about?"

Mal and Audrey shared a look and then both nodded in silent communication, "Let's clear the table and then we'll have a nice long talk.", Mal wrapped her arms around Henry who she considered like a son.

Tristan was playing on her trampoline in the backyard while Henry sat with Audrey and Malia at the picnic table. Each had a glass of lemonade and Henry waited for someone to start. Malia decided it should be her.

"Henry, do you remember the day your mom gave birth?" He nodded in confirmation and for her to continue. "As you recall, my blood was the only type that worked on your Mom and Tris. That's because…" Mal looked to Audrey for some courage and then continued after swallowing hard, "That's because they're vampires like myself."

Henry just stared at both ladies and then began to laugh, "Yeah right. Good one, Mal. Now seriously, what's really going on with Ma?" Henry then noticed that neither lady was laughing and both were staring at him seriously. He quickly quieted down and cleared his throat.

"When your mother was pregnant, she was attacked one evening by a rogue vampire on her way home from the store. He had almost completely drained her. I happened upon the scene and got rid of him and then took your mother home to nurse her back to health. I gave her my blood by allowing her to suck from my wrist. When a human is close to death, but then replenishes from a vampire, they are then turned to one. What we hadn't anticipated was it's reaction with your mother's magic."

Henry nodded and looked to Audrey, worried at what was coming next, but then turned back to Mal.

"Her blood was like a drug to other vampires. News quickly spread of its effects on the man that bit her. Others wanted a taste so they began stalking your mother at night. I sensed them and was able to deter them since I'm considered an elder and young ones must adhere to the words of an elder. During the day, she was safe because vampires can't venture out into the sun."

Henry perked at that, "But you're outside! How is that possible? Ma has been out during the day!"

Mal nodded, "Correct, and that's because of her magic. Her magic has allowed her to break the laws of vampirism. Vampires can't enter a household without being invited. They must adhere to the rules given from an elder. Also, they may not venture into the sun. Your mother's magic has allowed her to survive in the day, eat normal foods, rarely take blood, ignore commands given to her and it's given her strength that would normally only come with age. She also doesn't have to be invited in. There are gangs of rogue vampires that are looking to break the rules of the elders. We've had a long-standing rule that no human is to be attacked. We only take blood offered to us. However, they disagree with this philosophy and see themselves as higher beings and humans are merely food equivalent to livestock."

"That's terrible!" Henry's color had paled as the story continued.

"Yes. The reason I'm able to break the rules is that I also have Emma's blood. She had helped me one day and allowed me to feed. Now I share her gifts." She then turned to Audrey, "Audrey was on her death bed from her cancer, but at the last minute, Emma gave her The Bite and Audrey recovered."

Henry turned to Audrey, "You're a vampire too?" Audrey smiled and nodded.

"When Tris was born, she was different. We discovered that she was born a vampire which is completely unheard of. She shares the gifts that Emma has." Mal took a sip of her lemonade and then continued, "The rogue gangs want to create a new breed of vampires and use Emma's blood to do it."

Henry gulped at this news.

"In Boston, we were safe at night as long as we were indoors since they require an invitation. When out at night, we were fortunate to have Emma's strength, but now here in Storybrooke, we've put others at risk with our presence and these new vamps know of Emma's ties here somehow. A couple of nights ago, Regina was attacked and Emma saved her, but now your mother knows about Emma and Tris' condition."

"What? She knows? She didn't tell me! How did she react?"

Mal turned to Audrey motioning for her to take over, "Not so well, Henry. She accused Emma of biting Tris and turning her and you know how protective Emma is of her daughter. She took offense that Regina would think that of her and kicked Regina out." Henry winced, but not entirely surprised by his mother's knee-jerk reaction. "Tris' vampirism has always been a sensitive subject for Emma because she blames herself for allowing it to happen. She wishes her daughter would have a normal life, but now she never will and Emma blames herself for that. Regina just poured salt into that wound without realizing it."

"Poor Ma. Wait, you said my mother was attacked. How did they get into Storybrooke?"

Audrey handed things back to Mal, "We aren't sure, but we believe that someone on the inside is helping them. There's no way they could've known about Emma's love for Regina unless they had first hand knowledge." Mal then sipped her lemonade as if parched from sharing so much information.

Audrey then continued, "It would seem your grandfather knew what was happening and has tasked Emma with getting rid of the vampires threatening the town. He hinted that Killian and Robin were in on this and left evidence he found near Killian's cell the morning after his escape." Audrey held up the feather which Henry took and anger filled his features.

"I've never liked that guy. He's all wrong for Mom. He's so full of himself and such a hypocrite. I don't understand what Mom sees in him."

Malia spoke up, "I believe your mother is so desperate for her happy ending that she's focused on what the fairy dust told her about Robin. She's ignoring all the signs of where her true happiness lies."

"That's the other thing! How could fairy dust get it so wrong?" Henry all, but whined his question.

"I don't know, Hon. You'd have to ask the fairies.", Mal got up and went to check on Tristan and join her for a while on the trampoline.

Audrey took Henry's hand and then rubbed soothing strokes on it, "There was something else in that letter that your grandfather tasked Emma with. He confessed that he's Regina's biological father."

"Holy shit!" Henry couldn't help himself and Audrey didn't correct him because she was just as shocked by all the information shared in that letter.

"He knew Regina wouldn't listen to him, but he wanted to make sure his family was taken care of so he left everything to Emma to take care of them. That's why he left her with so much. He knew she'd find a way to care for Regina and their children. Emma is the mother of both of his grandchildren and he needed to ensure their futures. He wanted to make sure his daughter would be taken care of and told Emma as much by exposing her True Love connection with Regina and Tris' true parentage."

"Wow. No wonder Ma is so stressed. He threw everything on her." Henry guzzled his lemonade and then wiped his mouth with his arm. "I'm gonna go check on Ma. Now I have a better understanding of things."

Audrey smiled at how grown-up he was getting and nodded her thanks. "Just give her time, Henry. Be patient with her." Henry nodded and then left to find his blonde mother.

Henry made his way up the stairs and approached the closed door at the end of the hallway. He could hear the quiet sobs from his mother. He gently tapped the door and then slowly opened it, poking his head, "Um, Ma? May I come in?"

Emma sat up from her bed and wiped her nose with her sleeve, "Yeah, sure. Sorry for leaving, Kid."

Henry sat next to Emma on the bed and gave her a hug. When he pulled back, he noted her red eyes. "Audrey and Mal filled me in on everything including your condition."

Emma swallowed and went pale. She couldn't look him in the eye. Her hands were shaking as she nodded while looking down at her lap. Henry reached over and grabbed her hands into his and squeezed tight, "It's okay, Ma. We will figure this out together. I love you so much. This changes nothing."

That was enough to bring on the tears again, this time in relief. Emma pulled her son into another hug and buried her face in his hair. "What did I ever do to deserve such a perfect son?", she asked rhetorically.

Henry just chuckled, "The same thing I did to deserve such an awesome Ma."

They both heard the doorbell and sat up, "Mal or Audrey will get it.", Emma guessed. She wasn't in a hurry to leave her room just yet.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Malia went to answer the door, but when she opened it, her expression grew deadly.

"Oh! I didn't realize Emma had company.", Snow commented shocked at the stranger at the door.

Malia glared at Emma's parents, "You.", she seethed.

David stood in front of Snow after seeing the woman's murderous expression, "I'm sorry, do we know you? We'd like to see our daughter, Emma."

Malia gave a saccharine sweet smile before baring her teeth, "You'd do well to turn around and leave after what you've done to me and to Emma. If I see you again, I will end you."

Snow had been listening from behind Charming and her blood ran cold at the recognition of Malia's voice. She grabbed David's arm and slowly pulled him back towards her before taking a big gulp, "Maleficent."