Hello! Thank you very much for your kind words and for following and reading my stories. I love reading a lot of fanfictions and I am so glad that you guys enjoyed what I am writing. You people are so nice to me and I am very thankful for it. I was having difficulties in writing this chapter because honestly my vocabulary in English is extremely limited and I am at lost in where I am going. There are a couple of things I would like to put in this chapter and I just couldn't resist to put them here all at once. I hope you enjoy it guys and thank you very much! Love yah! P.S. This is a pretty sappy part of my FF and I am not a very sunny-life is full of rainbows-kind of person so I tried to make this as sweet at I possibly could... *crossfingers*

"I kinda missed this." Henry said in a trance like voice as he and Regina walk their way to Granny's for breakfast.

"Missed what?" Regina asked curiously, not really understanding what her son wanted to imply.

"This." He replied with a shrug of his shoulder, looking around the people who walk casually across the streets, stopping by to take a look at the recently opened shoe shop nearby, "You walking with me around town, grabbing breakfast together, just… this. Us. Me being just me and you being… my Mom." Henry smiled to himself as if he was reminiscing the things he and his mother used to do. "Just this. Happy."

Regina smiled at her son.

"I am always happy whenever you are around." Regina replied with warm smile, but it is the kind of smile that barely reached her eyes.

Henry looked at his mom but his smile just faded away, "But you are not as happy when Robin was around." He murmured sadly.

"Henry." Regina frowned with what her son just said and she stopped on her tracks as they were a corner away from Granny's Diner, "You know that's not true."

"It is, Mom." Henry replied as he paused from walking and then faced his mother and saw the guilt that was drawn on upon her face, "It's not like I am jealous of your 'you-know' or anything like that –" Henry said defensively, and then his voice changed into a much calmer, solemn tone, " It's just that, you look happier when we are around. And now that Robin's gone, that happiness.. It's just not the same – there's always something missing about you – your smile. I miss your smile… your real smile whenever you are really happy. And you can't say otherwise because I can tell whenever you lie, I know you that much."

Regina stepped toward her son and wrapped an arm around him, pulling him closer to her. Gosh, he's almost taller than her now. It was just like yesterday he was just this little boy who can hardly reach her hands whenever they are walking around and now he's… almost a man… how time flies..

"Henry." Regina said softly as she looked deeply at his eyes, "I am happy. As long as your happy, I am happy. You are more than enough for me." Regina bestowed a kiss on top of his head and then she chuckled as she tousled his hair, "Stop analyzing things too much. You're young, let adults deal with adult problems. I can handle myself. Stop nosing around." She said jokingly as she run a finger at the top of his nose.

"Well, you have to blame yourself for that. I got it from you." He replied and this time there is a smug look on his face. But the smug look suddenly disappeared as he saw someone from the corner of his eyes and he immediately pushed himself away from his mother's side and panicked on which way he should look to go run and hide. This sudden change in Henry's actions earned a frown from Regina's face.

It was only when a young blonde called out Henry's name approached them with a perfect smile on her face. Her golden hair tied in a neat pony tail and her soft features is slightly illuminated by the sun rays. It was Paige – or was it Grace? Whatever, it is Jefferson's daughter.

Regina smirked at her son when she saw his cheeks turned from white to crimson red.

"Hi, Henry!" Paige or Grace – whatever her name is, came up to them, "Good morning, Madame Mayor." Regina gave the young girl a warm smile. This girl is very well mannered – not like his father.

"Just call me Regina," she replied with the smile on her face, "I am no longer the mayor."

"I can call you by your name?" the girl replied with amazement, "cool!"

"Right, cool." Regina laughed softly as she mimicked the young lady while she secretly elbowed her son who just stood there by her side, frozen on the spot, "Aren't you going to greet you friend Henry?" she teased her son, "what's your name again?"

"Grace." Henry and Grace replied in unison which made him blush even more.

"uhh.. Hi." Henry said timidly as he made an awkward waving gesture. If only Grace was not around, she would've laughed so hard at Henry.

Grace smiled, and then the girl looked back at Regina, "So, Miss Regina, I would just like to –"

"Grace?" Regina saw Jefferson exiting Granny's diner, jogging his way to his daughter, "Why did you left the diner without telling me – oh, Regina." Jefferson almost jumped back as he saw the former mayor standing before him, "You're here."

"Obviously I am," Regina's smile disappeared and replaced by a frown as she saw Jefferson suddenly jerked his left arm to hide something in his back, "unless you are just seeing things again, then I suggest you are just seeing apparitions of me and my son." She said with her right brow raised and her face unamused.

"Right." Jefferson replied staring at her straight in the eye.

Regina would've enjoyed talking with Grace, but certainly not with her father.

"We need to go, and I certainly do not want to hold you back to wherever you and your daughter needs to go, excuse us." Regina said formally as she tugged her son away. Despite of everything that happened in the last month, she and Jefferson still have bad blood running between them and she don't want Henry be part of that mess, "Let's go Henry."

"Wait, Miss Regina," Grace said as she softly laughed beside her while she watched as her father shifted himself and unable to decide to leave or to stay, "I just.. Uh.. Papa, can you please tell her?" Grace said bashfully.

Regina's eyes furrowed but her features softened as she look down at the girl, "Tell me what?" she asked, only to be answered by Jefferson stretching his arms on her direction, he was giving her a pink envelope, "What is this?" she asked warily.

"It's a house and lot in a vase." Jefferson said sarcastically as he watched Regina opened the parchment in her hand, her eyes still glaring at him, "It's an invitation for a party I am having for my daughter's birthday." He stated.

"My Papa is throwing a ball for me," Grace said excitedly, "Just like the ones Papa used to attend in Enchanted Forest! Isn't it amazing?" Grace smiled at Henry, "and we can dress up like the ones in your book!"

If not for Regina staring blankly at Jefferson, she could've seen the glow in her son's eyes at the thought of him dressing like his Grandpa Charming.

"The balls you used to attend huh?" Regina said mockingly at Jefferson.

"Yes." Jefferson said pointedly, "The ones I used to attend, your majesty."

"Very well then," Regina replied as she fold the invitation and put it back in the envelope, "I will tell Emma about this. I am sure she will be glad to be there with Henry."

"But you're going to my party to, right Miss Mills?" Grace replied hopefully, "I would really love to have you there as well. Having a Queen at my first ball will be the best thing I could ever have."

"I can't promise you anything dear," she replied, "Besides, having an Evil Queen on such joyous occasion doesn't sound very nice."

"But you're not." Grace smiled, "actually, you are our hero. And someday when I grow up, I just want to grow up to be like you."

Jefferson and Regina winced at this statement.

"Believe me, it is the last thing you'll wanted to be." Regina replied as she looked at Jefferson who is nodding his head with agreement.

"Definitely the last thing you'll want to be," Jefferson murmured as he wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulder, "So I guess, I'll look forward in seeing the two of you and the rest of the charmings at the ball?"

"I believe so." She replied, "We have to go."

Regina and Jefferson nod their heads goodbye as they went on opposite direction, but they were merely a few steps away when Jefferson called out her name once again.

"Please, wear something that won't fright the children." Jefferson said with a funny look in his face, remembering the kind of gown's this woman used to wear back in Enchanted Forest.

"Oh, shut up." Regina rolled her eyes as they left the streets and headed towards the diner.

Regina and Henry are enjoying their meals at Granny's when Regina's phone suddenly rang. It was Emma calling. Regina left the table with a grunt right after she excused herself with Henry and went outside the diner

Henry just watched her mother through the diner window as she argue – as usual – with his other mom. He is happy with this friendship that bonds his two mothers. It is amazing how these two completely different women found a common ground with him. And that made him feel special.

His thoughts are suddenly interrupted when someone stood by his side.

"Enjoying the view, Henry?"

"Hey, !" He greeted back with a smile on his face, not aware of what this old man's real intentions were, "I didn't know you're back. How are you?"

"Happier. Enjoying the things I have while I still can." Sydney replied with a look that even Henry could not decipher, "You should too, especially these kinds of moments with your mother, it might not happen again." Sydney winked at Henry and prepared himself to leave when he heard the doorbell ring.

With those words, Henry's smile turned into a frown.

All is well.

This is the perfect phrase to describe Storybrooke since Robin and Gold left the town line because since then, Storybrooke turned back into this perfect old town in Maine where everyone lives in peace and happiness. But it is a very different town if you will look at it at Regina's eyes.

For Regina, it feels like the nights had gone shorter as her days gone longer, and having to tutor a whiny 28 year old blonde for the fundamentals of magic doesn't help at all. Though she quite enjoy the younger woman's company in the past few days, the lesson that she teaches her as well as the sleepless nights that she has to endure because of the nightmares that plagues her seems to take toll on her health.

"See you at 10." Regina said before she turns off her phone and headed back to the diner. She haven't started today's lesson with Emma and here she is tired already before she even start.

She always feels tired these past few days. If not for her daily breakfast with Henry, she would still be in her big house and having an affair with her soft bed. She wants a good full body massage. No. She NEEDS a GREAT full body massage. Her bones hurt like hell.

Regina enter the diner with her warm smile (and she is still surprise whenever the townsfolk smiles back at her) as she made her way to Henry's favorite booth but she stopped on her tracks when she saw a man standing beside Henry, his back was turned on her direction so she couldn't see his face, but she could identify this figure of the man even if her eyes were closed.

It is Sydney.

What does he want this time? Regina thought as she ready herself to pull Sydney away from her son through his thinning hair and scalp him alive.

But Regina was not able to do that when she felt her heart skipped a beat as she saw how Henry's face frowned as the man turned his back on him with a smirk on his face and stare directly in her, and before she was even able to process her thoughts, Sydney walked straight to her, the smile never once leaving his abominable mouth, and stopped his tracks to stand before Regina.

"Hello, Madame Mayor." He said casually.

"Stay away from my son," Regina warned - nearly growled at the man before her, "He has nothing to do with this."

"You couldn't be more wrong, Madame Mayor." The man said with a hint of malice in his voice. Regina could feel herself cringe with disgust just by looking at his placid face and the thought of what he could possibly do to harm Henry. But she will not back down. She may not be the Queen in this world but she is still known as the woman with power and ability to break anyone who stands in her way, especially if that someone actually dares to hurt the person she loved the most, her son.

"Dare to hurt even a single piece of his hair and I swear, even the crows will not be able to feast on your foul carcass." Regina replied, almost a whisper, but her voice is still laced of poison and intent for murder, " Stay. the hell. Away. from us." She hissed as she emphasized her words, her voice a little louder for a whisper but a little softer for a yell.

Most of the people would have cowered once they heard the "Evil Queen's" threats, but not Sydney.

Instead, he just stood there, his smile grew wider and his eyes still fixed on her nearly enraged face, and then a hearty laugh left Sydney's lips.

"You never changed, Your Majesty. It is a pleasure to meet you too." Sydney replied which made Regina's brows to furrow as she saw something else within this man's eyes. Something even she could not understand, she just stood there and let the man pass through but when he is standing just by her side, he stopped on his tracks and touch the brunette's right shoulder, leaning close to her ear which made Regina stiffen her posture, "most especially when we are this close."

"Stay the hell away from me!" Regina said a bit louder than she intended as she pushed him away making other patrons of the diner to stop on their meal and stare at their direction, even Granny started to remove her apron and is about to approach them, she is too angry to care if she is actually making a scene in the small space of the diner, She wanted to incinerate him right there and then but she didn't do it, not while Henry is around and giving her that worried look on his face, not when there are people who might get hurt with the possible crossfire.

She just stood there with an evident rage on her face as she watched Sydney walking away without looking back and left the diner, when he is out of her sight, Regina let out a breath of air that she was not aware she was holding in.

"Mom, Is there something wrong?" Henry asked. She did not realized that Henry actually left his seat and is now standing right by her side, tugging her hands.

Regina relaxed her features before she look back at her son.

"Nothing Henry," she smiled, smoothing a wrinkle on her son's jacket, "Let's go to your Grandma's house, I need to go and meet Emma."

It's been a week since Sydney had made his presence known to Regina and within those days, Regina became more tired and listless. She felt like in every moment of the day someone is spying on her, like someone might take her by surprise and hurt her. Or worse, hurt Henry, Emma and the two idiots she now consider as her family.

He just doesn't stop taunting her, first he came into her house and made her living room his own creepy gallery, a couple of days after that, he sent her a broken mirror and just earlier that morning she found a broken marionette doll clothed like the Evil Queen just outside her front porch steps.

As much as Regina did not wanted to let the man get into her nerves, she could not stop herself thinking about him and the things that she had done to him. He couldn't blame the man for hating him. He was one of the few people whose willing to stay by her side during her highs and lows, and yet, just like her other loyal subjects that couldn't give what she wanted, she destroyed him, three times.

First is when she used him to murder her own husband, the very man who granted him his freedom as genie of the lamp and took leverage in his obvious obsession towards her back in the Enchanted Forest. And when he accidentally entrapped himself in the mirror as the price of the last wish he wanted for himself, she took great pleasure watching the man suffer in the confinements of her looking glass instead of giving compassion for the man who set her free as the trophy wife of the King.

Second is when she framed Sydney to do her bidding to take Katherine and make the town believe that the woman's disappearance is caused by a heartless murder whose crime will befall upon Mary Margaret. As expected, her plan failed and in order to avoid the stinky rooms of a jail cell, she convinced Sydney to confess the crime that she schemed, in which Sydney is more than willing to oblige - Which led him to another restricted confinement in an underground mental facility

Time and time again she tried to convince herself that everything that happened to Sydney is his own undoing. It is his own fault and that she tried to make the best out of the worst. From time to time again she believed it, after all she was still in her evil phase when she did those horrible things.

But she is wrong.

Because for the third time, when she found a perfect use for the poor man, she did not hesitate to take the opportunity, and like always, Sydney Glass is ecstatic to bend to her every whim. That is until she entrapped him once again as her Magic Mirror. But it appears like Sydney had finally took the last straw and planned for her demise as his affection turned into blood red vendetta against her.

And still she couldn't blame him for wanting to get back to her. But if that is the way he wanted to extract revenge he must find something better in order to scare her out of her wits.

"Is everything alright Regina?" Emma asked, taking her away from the reverie that plagued her mind, "You are not yourself."

Regina rolled her eyes as she tucked a fallen strand of her hair behind her ears, "Tell me about it." Regina scoffed as she took a seat at a fallen log near her, "of all the places that you could have picked as your training ground, you actually chose the forest – this muddy, smelly place – and you asked me if I'm alright. Seriously, Miss Swan." She replied, "If this is not torture for me, I don't know what is." She added because that is the truth.

Everything about the forest reminds her of Robin. The green leaves of the trees reminded her of the vest she gave him not long ago when the second curse struck, the vest he never fails to wear. The clear blue sky reminds her of his eyes. The cool winds of the forest remind her of the calming feeling he gives her and the scent of the forest… It's just… The forest makes her miss Robin even more.

"So if you don't mind Miss Swan," Regina said as she brushed the non-existent dirt that seem to keep falling upon her lap because it is the umpteenth time the she brushed her hands on her lap since they came, "practice your craft so my suffering will actually worth something . Now back to your lesson," Regina straightened her shoulder and changed demeanor to a more business manner, "close your eyes and try to concentrate on the place you wanted to teleport yourself to. Seriously, Miss Swan, this is one of the simplest tricks and you can't even do it. "

"Well that's the thing, Regina," Emma said sheepishly, "we are not here to train. And I did not bring you here to suffer."

"Emma." Regina said with an ominous tone on her voice, "Then why on earth are we here!?"

Emma was about to say something when someone suddenly called out for her attention.

"Oi, sherriff!" Will Scarlet yelled in a sing song-y voice, "I got me' self ready for me date!"

The two ladies just watched the man as he awkwardly made his way to their direction. Jumping –and almost slipping- to every fallen log that blocks his way. And when he did approached them he stood beside Emma, facing Regina.

"It seems like I am not dressed well enough for your presence, your majesty." Will said as he mocked a bow towards Regina.

"oh, Shut up!" Regina scoffed, "what on earth are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be with the Merry Men doing…." Regina paused, thinking what those former outlaws are doing since their leader left the town, and realized, she didn't know, "- whatever you are doing." She said waving her hands in circular motion as her right brow jerked upwards and then back.

"You're a real ray of sunshine, just like what Robin said." Will retorted with a smirk on his face.

"Shut it you two." Emma said before Regina could even retort.

Regina glared at her as the brunette pursed her lips.

"Regina, look," Emma mumbled, putting her hands on her waist as if weighing the words she was about to say, "well since Robin left…"

"Don't start Emma." Regina said putting her hand on air as she turn her back from Emma, "we can have this discussion one of these days but not today!"

Regina tried to walk away from Will and Emma, but the younger woman was able to take hold of her arms, "We need to talk about this. You keep putting me off whenever I try to talk to you and I let you everytime but today is not one of those days!"

Regina felt a pang in her heart as she heard the phantom voice of Robin saying the exact same words back in her vault when he decided to choose her over everything that holds him back, today is not one of those days. Regina shut her eyes trying to push back the tears that now wells her eyes. She didn't want to talk about him and the thought that he is happily playing house with his family in New York and forgotten her while she's here.. just here. Not talking about her soulmate is what helps her be 'normal', helps her pretend she is not hurting, that she is healing.. but now Emma just stabbed her open wound and rubbed it with rock salt. It is too much for her right now.

The brunette opened her eyes but surprised that a new surrounding welcomed her. One moment she was standing beneath the canopy of the pines, but now, she is in a middle of half constructed house in a middle of the clearing.

"What the hell.." Regina said under her breath as she spun around making Emma to lose her grip, "you little bitch, "she hissed, "you can apparate yourself – you're playing dumb all this time! You're PLAYING DUMB ALL THIS TIME?" Regina yelled glaring at Emma then shifted her gaze to Will then back to Emma.

Emma winced and then she made a face, "Not really, I just learned how to poof... yesterday."

"And where the hell did you brought me?" Regina asked her nostrils flaring, she is not mad about Emma being able to apparate herself, she is mad at her for not telling her and made her look like a complete fool.

"Robin's house." Will interjected, "Well, Robin's half made house to be precise."

"Robin's what?" she replied, so he is planning to make a house for him and Marian, all the while when he was making her believe that he and she, that robin and her, that they… "I'm getting out of here." She said with finality as she moved past Emma.

"No you're not." Emma said, her voice is as equally stern as hers, "You need to hear us out. Give me at least 5 minutes, because none of us are leaving this place unless we talk."

Regina glared at Emma while the blonde just stared back at her, both women crossed their arms on their chest.

"One." She bargained.

"Four."

"Two."

"Three." Emma said with finality, "Three minutes, give me three minutes and we'll never talk about this again. Like. Ever."

Regina narrowed her eyes, weighing her options, "Fine, three minutes, your time starts now."

Emma took a deep breath.

"Regina, since Robin left, you are not the same –"

"The hell I am."

"Shut up, I have three minutes to talk, you shut up and listen." Emma's brows furrowed, "Since Robin left, you are not the same… Since Robin left, you walk around fooling everyone with this mayoral mask you expertly wore every day and acting like everything is like the way it is – you can fool them, Regina. But not me. Not Henry. Not your family."

"I- " Regina tried to argue but Emma cut her off again.

" – shut up, I still have a two minutes and a half." Regina pursed her lips tightly while Emma continued, "You are tired a lot lately, you can barely cast spells that is why you let me try your tricks without demonstrating it and even if you do, your magic barely leave your fingertips, whatever you are feeling obviously affect you not only emotionally but also magically, you act like you are okay, but you are not, your smile doesn't even reach your eyes anymore, the rest of the town is starting their lives – rebuilding their lives and yet here you are …" Emma's voice trailed off unable to utter the last word she was about to say as she saw Regina's eyes became glassy with the tears that is about to fall any moment, but Will Scarlet did.

"Stuck." Will said almost a whisper.

"Stuck…" Regina laughed coldly as her tears fall down her cheeks and quickly wiped them away, "Stuck."

"You need to move on too." Emma said softly, her voice full of sincerity. But instead of feeling the calmness that Emma wanted her to feel, it only broke the dam of pain and sadness she tried to keep since Marian came back.

"That's the point! I can't! I-" Regina snapped ungracefully, making Emma and Will jump off their feet, "They moved on with their lives" she said, her voice breaking, "Everybody moved on! Belle is parading herself around town with you with your cups of coffee and flirting laughters," Regina motioned out her hand at Will Scarlet, and then she waved her hands toward Emma, "You have your one-handed Jack Sparrow at your dismissal. Your parents are rebuilding their lives with you and Henry and Neal – everyone is moving on – everyone MOVED ON" Regina paused to catch her breath and wiped her tear stained cheeks and shake off the sense she was falling apart in front of these people, because she already is, "Robin and his family moved on, they moved on and left everything behind here in Storybrooke, including me.." she continued with her voice much lower than before hoping it will help her calm herself not to mention saying Robin's name takes away her energy, but her voice seems so small, she sobbed "I am here. Just here. Stuck. I DID try to move on – I did try to forget but… I did try … andI can't. And it's killingme." Regina sobbed.

"Regina.." Emma tried to reach out but Regina shoved her away.

"Don't – just don't" Regina shook her head, " Let me just walk away from all of this, because if you think this house that Robin is building for Marian will help me pick up the pieces and move on. It's most certainly will not."

"It's not for Marian," Will said clearing his throat.

"What did you said?" Regina asked her red eyes focused on Will's sullen face.

Will closed his eyes, Robin is gonna kill me for this, he thought.

"It's for you." Will said quietly, "He started building it a few days after that cracked up witch took your heart. He said, when the right time comes, when he got your heart back and when you are ready, he will ask you to marry him in a way you imagined it to be, in a way you wanted it to be." Will gave a small sad smile, "because that is what – in his words – My other half deserves."

Will stare at Regina, her eyes are now closed, her shoulders slumped and crying in front of him, and that moment he saw how vulnerable the former Evil Queen truly is. Robin was right, Regina is not as tough as everyone thought her to be. And he remembered the last words Robin told him before he left the town line:

"Will Scarlet." Robin left little John's side to close the distance between them, "I need to ask you a favor."

"Anything for you mate."

Robin glance back at Regina's car and saw the woman talking with someone inside her car but could not distinguish who it was.

"It's Regina," Robin started as he took something in his pocket and enclosed it in his palm, "kindly take good care of her while I am away."

"She can handle herself mate. No one would dare to approach her even at arms length."

"Will Scarlet, I mean it." Robin said with a serious look upon his face, "She is mylife. Will. She ... She is a shell of who she was and a ghost of who she wants to be. Protect her. Look after her. I beg of you. She's not as strong as what she wants everyone to see. So please, take care of her while I'm away."

Will was taken aback by the words the famous outlaw just said. He begged. The man who did not cower even in the face of death just begged him. For her..

"No need to beg mate." Will said as he put his left arm on Robin's right shoulder, "I'll look out for her. For you. It's the least thing I can do after everything you did for me. I owe you that much"

Robin smiled and took Will's hand from his shoulder and slipped something between their palms. Something cold, small and... round.

"Keep it, mate." Robin said with a sad smile on his face and glistening tears in his eyes, "I'm coming back for it. For her. For us. So don't even think about pawning it." He joked.

Will just smiled and said nothing as he took a look at the ring on his hand. It was the same ring that Robin smith a few weeks ago, there was a small white diamond that Robin probably asked Leroy for. Will smile to himself as he enclosed his hand once again to hide it from the Regina who is making her way towards them.

"I am not supposed to show you this," Will said as he took something from his pocket and closed the distance between him and the former mayor. He took her hands and then placed the golden band to the woman's palms, "He made this with his own hands." He said, his eyes focused on Regina's, "for you." He smiled, "He's coming back milady, he'll be back for you. He will never leave you behind… ever."

Regina stared at ring on her palm. Her eyes are blurry but still she noticed something engraved on the ring.

To where my heart leads me ~Robin

Regina's eyes welled as she saw a sloppy engraved drawing in the ring a heart pierced by an arrow.. or was it an apple? She is not sure. But there's one thing she is certain… he is coming home.

That night, Regina felt calmer, more at peace, happier.

Henry was upstairs fussing around his room saying it feels so much smaller than he remembered and she just laughed, telling him that his room didn't shrunk, he just grew up. And the evening went like that in her used-to-be sad and depressing mansion. She and Henry laughing about things, about him fussing about what to wear to Grace's upcoming birthday in two weeks' time and she teasing her son about his crush (which Henry greatly denies with his whines and blush on his cheeks) and she'll burst out laughing which embarrass her son in the cutest of way Regina could ever seen. Gosh, he's really growing up.

It feels like she's complete again. No missing pieces. No nagging pain in her chest. Just happy. Knowing that he, her Robin, is coming back for her.. for them.

Regina left Henry's room leaving her adolescent son to fuss about his "coolest" outfit, went to her bar and pour herself a glass of wine, she then turn on their radio and let a soft music start to fill her upstairs living room.

It started out as a feeling

Which then grew into a hope

Which then turned into a quiet thought

Which then turned into a quiet word

Regina just sat on her sofa with her eyes closed and let herself carried away with the music as she slowly sway her head with the rhythm of the song filling her senses. She stayed like that for a moment until she started to hum the song and be in that moment, she decided to put down her glass of wine and started to sway on her hips while she continue to hum the song. She loved this song, it is her song or at least it is the song that best represent what she feels right now. She is not much of a dancer, she used to love to dance when she was younger, it was until she got married and life started to happen she decided to stop dancing. But tonight, she wants to dance, even if she dance alone.

And then that word grew louder and louder

Till there was a battle cry… I'll come back when you call me

No need to say good bye

The song started to overwhelm her senses that she did not heard the soft clicking of Henry's room as the young man decided to join his mother in the living room. It was their song, back when Henry was little and they watched Narnia not so long ago, whenever Henry feels sad and alone after a long day at school, she would sing this song right before she tuck him at night.

Just because everything's changing

doesn't mean it was never been this way before

All you can do is try to know who your friends are

As you head off to the war

"I don't think you thought me to how dance that well." Regina heard Henry's voice behind her taking her away from her reverie with an embarrassed blush upon her cheeks, "Oh, right you never taught me to dance at all."

"Because you are never interested to learn to dance." came Regina's reply as she tucks her hair behind her ear, "Besides, there's not much occasion here that requires dancing."

"But now there is." Henry replied and paused for a moment, a blush start to crept on his cheeks, "You see, uh… in Grace's birthday. Jefferson is setting up a Grand ball –ish of event and… there will be dancing and.. uh.. and…"

Pick a star from the dark horizon and follow the light

You'll come back, when it's over, no need to say goodbye..

"You wanted to have a dance with her."

"Yeah." Henry replied, his head bowed low, "or atleast, I don't want to step on her."

"You won't," Regina said softly as she took a step toward her son, and lifted his chin with her fingers, "Here, let me teach you."

You'll come back when it's over… No need to say goodbye…

Regina took her son's hands and showed him the basic how to's in dancing : How to ask the girl for a dance, how to hold a girl's hand while dancing and how to take the lead in a dance.

Regina laughed and wince in each time Henry steps on her, but she couldn't blame her son, it is his first formal dancing, and to be honest, she is quite thankful that her son is giving her his full attention in their waltzing lesson 101. At first she listen as her son counts his steps, looking at the floor from time to time to avoid his feet from colliding with hers, but somewhere in the middle of the song Henry managed to look at her straight in the eye and lead her throughout the dance.

"You're a natural dancer." Regina said with pride as she saw her son's smile.

"Nah. I just learned it from the best." He replied with a smug smile on his lips while he waltzed with his mother in the middle of their living room.

Now we're back to the beginning.. it's just a feeling and no one knows yet

And just because they can't feel it too doesn't mean that you have to forget

"So, Grace. You really like her, don't you?"

"Yeah, I think so." He replied as he let out a soft chuckle, "you do know how awkward it is to talk about my crush with you right?"

Let your feelings grow stronger and stronger till they're before your eyes

You'll come back when they call you.. No need to say goodbye

"I do." Regina replied as she made a twirl, "But I am glad you told me about it."

"Don't tell, Emma, please?" Henry pleaded, "At least not yet?"

"I wont. I promise." Regina replied as she made a face, "She will smother you with teases once she found out."

"I know," He winced, " I had enough from you today."

You'll come back when they call you, no need to say goodbye…

As the song is about to end, Henry made the last twirl and made a dramatic bow, "It's been an honor to share a dance with you your majesty."

Regina returned the gesture, "The honor is mine, my dear prince."

The two shared a hearty laughter seeing how ridiculous they look at the moment and yet, this is something that Regina will surely hold dear in her heart.

how time flies, Regina thought as she look deep upon his kid's eyes.

She hugged Henry as tight as she possibly could and then she let go of him and kissed his forehead, "Can you please stop growing up? I don't want to lose you yet."

"Mom," Henry whined, "I was just having dance lesson, it's not like I am getting married."

"Right." She looked longingly at her son, "But soon you will be, and when that time comes, I want to be ready."

Henry made a face, "Then you will have a very very long time to prepare yourself, Mom. Because I am not doing it any time soon."

"You better be young man." She replied as she tousled his hair and kissed his forehead once again, but this time Henry whined and made a face.

"Mom, stop it."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop." She replied lovingly as she gently pushed her son towards his bedroom door. Regina is about to walk Henry to his room when their doorbell rang. They both stopped.

"Are you expecting someone?" Henry asked with a frown on his face.

"No." Regina replied, it was 10:30 in the evening, even the Charmings call her first before coming in to her house at this time of the night, "has Emma told you anything?"

Henry shook her head.

"Well that's odd." Regina said to herself, who would possibly pay them a visit at this time?

There's another ring from the doorbell.

"I'll go get it," Henry said but Regina stopped it.

"It's passed your bed time," Regina replied, "Go get into your room, I'll be with you later."

"Okay." Henry went inside his room while Regina rushed downstairs, the person on her front porch seems to have an pressing matter to discussed since it just pressed her buzzer a hundred times in every second.

"I'm coming!" Regina yelled as she rushed on her staircase and another *ping* echoed on her house, and when she finally reached her front door she yelled as another *ping* came bothering her eardrums, "will you stop pressing the damn buzzer!"

Regina jerked the door open and ready to scold anyone standing on the other side, but the view that welcomed her caught her by surprise.

"Good evening, Your majesty. Seems like you already forgotten about me."

Okay.. so that's all for this pretty long chapter... uhm.. I do really hope you enjoy it and if there's anything I can do to improve my writing, I'd be more than happy to hear it from you. By the way, I am half done for the next chapter and I'll be uploading it in two weeks time (which is a dark chapter so beware), I hope you are still with me when I uploaded it :D

BTW I would like to thank the adorable WoolGrillRegal for answering my questions and I bow to Taylor King for his/her awesome story on A03 which is a thousand times better than this fic. I hope I don't upset him/her if we somehow have the same theme. I promise this one will be on the different path from your writing, I hope I didn't upset anyone when I wrote this..

Once again thanks for reading and have an awesome day! Besos!