Emma ran into the house from the back door, "come and get me," she yelled playfully.

Regina made her way into the house with her walker, "just because the doctor said I could start using my cane with supervision doesn't mean I'm ready to chase after your immature ass."

"I love how little you care about what you say."

"I do care. Well, not much." Emma kept jumping up and down from side to side, "are you through?"

"Nope," she smiled, "I have a lot of energy."

"Great, use some of that to clean the house."

"You're no fun." The doorbell rang, "oh well, I have to get that." Emma ran out of the kitchen and left behind her wife who was slightly laughing. Emma opened the front door and stopped jumping instantly,

"Henry, what are you doing here?"

"Being a grown-up," he answered, "you didn't have to stop jumping on my account."

"Well, I better before I really annoy your mother." Emma stepped aside to let her son in. She noticed the rest of his family hiding out of sight, "you can come in too. Might as well get this all over with at once." Ella carried Celia in and Lucy went to hold her father's hand. "I know it's been four months, but I need you all to watch how you speak to her. Try to stay as calm as possible. If I think things are getting too intense then I'll shut the whole thing down." The little family followed Emma up the steps and turned towards the sitting room. Emma had them wait in the hall, "honey, there are a few people here to see you."

"It's them, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I can tell them to leave."

"No, let them in. Just don't leave me."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Emma went to get Henry and his family. Henry and Lucy sat on a loveseat together while Ella sat in a chair. Emma sat with Regina on the couch.

"How are you doing?" Henry asked Regina.

"I'm doing well. What about you?"

"We're good," he said.

"This is ridiculous," Emma groaned.

"You'll be happy to know that mama ripped me a new one," Henry said.

Regina turned and looked at her wife in surprise, "is that why you had my mother come over?"

"Yes, and I don't want to hear it. I mean, look what I accomplished," she answered as she gestured to the people in front of them.

"Why did you keep canceling?" Henry asked.

"I told you that I wasn't up for company."

"Regina," Emma warned in a low voice.

"Fine," Regina rolled her eyes, "I had been having a lot of trouble at the time. Especially with my left knee and leg. I didn't just cancel on you. I canceled on everyone. The reason I canceled was that I hate how I feel when you are all around. You treat me as if I'm fragile and the slightest misstep will break me. I've been living like this for nineteen years. Yes, I fall. Yes, I trip. Yes, I tire easily from time to time. That doesn't mean I can't function. As long as I was dealing with that, I didn't want anyone around. Your mama doesn't treat me that way. Neither do your grandparents. After a long conversation with your mama, your siblings hardly treat me that way anymore."

"Why didn't you just say all of this?"

"I shouldn't have to. Henry, in nineteen years, how many times have I tripped or fallen?"

"I don't know...a lot."

"How many of those times have I landed in the hospital really hurt?"

Henry sighed, "not many."

"Then why don't you trust me? I know my own body. That weekend you were supposed to all be here, I didn't tire at all. I had been taking better care of myself, but I still pushed things. After the third time I canceled on you, your mama and I had a long talk. We figured out how I could take it easy and not feel useless."

"I'm sorry," Henry said.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure," Henry said softly.

"Why did you tell your mama you were coming that weekend and then not show up? You didn't even call to cancel."

Henry paused for a moment and a look of guilt formed on his face, "I wanted you to feel the same way you had made Lucy feel."

Regina slightly gasped. Henry knew when he said 'yes' to Emma that he had no intention of showing up. Regina sniffled as she tried to keep from crying, "well, I really am sorry. I guess this is karma. Just like the last time."

"Regina," Emma sighed. The mayor put her hand up and grabbed her walker. She left the room without another word. Emma made sure Regina made it to their room safely before returning to the living room and plopping down on the couch.

"Do you want to yell at me again?" Henry asked.

"No, I'm tired."

"Well, you've been working a lot harder lately."

"No, I'm tired of all of this. I'm tired of being the one who has to get everyone back together. What was nice about your siblings is that your mother felt comfortable calling them and making things up to them. She didn't even have to with Odette. One day they just showed up here with the twins. Your mother is terrified to talk to you when you're angry with her. The last time I had to do this was when Cora left after Regina freaked out on her when Odette was barely a month old. I don't know what to do with you, Henry. You keep hurting her whether you're in her life or not. You left to find yourself after high school and promised to visit regularly. We didn't see you for six years and by then you were married and had Lucy. No call, no message, nothing."

"Most of what I've done has been what I feel is best for my family."

"We're your family too. Regina has been in your life longer than I have. I just don't..."

"She's the Evil Queen!" Henry yelled.

"What the hell?"

"I can't get past it ever since Lucy figured it out. She found out about everything Regina did and I won't force my daughter to spend time with someone she's afraid of."

"Why is Lucy afraid of your mother? I mean, I would think after talking to her that you woul...," then it hit, "you haven't talked to Lucy? You've been letting her think your mother is this terrifying person?"

"I'm doing what any father would do."

"Any father would have told the truth. Instead, you decided to hide behind the past. That makes you a coward."

"Henry," a small voice came from the doorway. It was obviously Regina. Her face was stained from her tears and her voice was raspy from crying, "you're free, Henry."

"What?"

"I'm letting you go," Regina took a deep breath to collect herself, "you don't have to worry about me anymore. You don't have to think of me as your mother. Your parents are Emma and Neal. I'm finally giving you what you've always wanted." She paused to take another breath, "goodbye, Henry. No matter what, I will always love you. All of you." Regina slowly turned and made her way back to her room.

Emma was now in tears, "I think it's best if you leave."

"Okay, I'll call you later," Henry said.

"No," Emma said quickly, "if she's not a part of your life then neither am I. I know she 'freed' you, but you haven't given her much choice. This is the only way she can move on. If she lets you go. I love you all more than anything, but I vowed to always be there for Regina and care for her. She needs me, needs us, now more than ever. It's best if I say goodbye too." Emma walked them to the door and let them out before closing the door and locking it. She went to her room where Regina was sitting on the bed, staring straight ahead, and silently crying, "they're gone."

"I hated doing that, but I had to."

"You did the right thing."

"I'm guessing you cut them out too."

"You guessed correctly."

"Thank you for standing by me." Regina paused and began to cry harder, "he called me the Evil Queen."

Emma walked over and opened her arms for her wife to snuggle in them as she fell apart.