Notes:

Hii, I'm back with a long chapter! We'll finally get some of the things we've been waiting for.
Enjoy!

In the previous chapter

So what happened to his real mother that she had to be hospitalized? The boy thought for a moment that she might have had a heart attack. What if she had died without the opportunity to get to know him, before she had a chance to explain herself, as the last words she heard from her son were the cruellest. Henry would never forgive himself. He hoped Regina could forgive him.

He wiped her tears quickly and left his room when the coat rack by the door suddenly appeared in his mind. A long red coat had been hanging on the hanger full of Emma's and his own coats all afternoon. If his mother didn't have such a thing... Regina must have forgotten as she rushed out. As he passed the living room, he realized that Emma was not there. Better. He didn't want him to see you pick the coat up from the hanger. He went back to his room quickly and locked the door behind him. He knew right away that what he was holding was very expensive, it definitely belonged to his real mother. He ran his fingers over the soft fabric. He timidly lifted it up and brought it to his nose, and the smell of vanilla that permeated him filled his lungs. His arms involuntarily clung to the coat he held, unable to prevent the butterflies flying in her stomach. Was that how he would feel when he hugged her? Like she is filling up all his missing pieces?

After Zelena talked to the hospital management and kept the truth hidden, she went out with Regina's doctor to make a statement to the press. They said there was a little disease and the queen was fine.

The red-haired woman went back to her sister's room and ran her fingers through her dark brown hair. It was a shock to Zelena when Regina suddenly took down her walls after standing up for years to get her son back. She thought she was going to fight for him, but instead, her sister has given up at the first refusal. She understood better now that the mask she had been wearing for sixteen years was nothing but an illusion, and how much the woman's struggle had torn her apart.

She was thinking of talking to Henry herself when she heard a weak groan. She suddenly got up from her chair and leaned over the bed. She ran her fingers over her sister's pale face.

"Regina?"

"Hmm." Brown spheres appeared and disappeared again from under her eyelids.

"Are you okay dear? Are you in pain?"

"I'm tired." Her voice was hoarse.

"I'll call the doctor and come back, okay?" She bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

The woman in bed approved in agreement with a wink. Her mind tried to piece together her last memories until her sister came back with the doctor. She remembered that went to Emma's house, and then Henry came. He said that he didn't want her... The pain rushed from her mind to her heart again. She didn't need to think any further, her eyes filled with tears. As the door opened, she brought her hand to her eyes and wiped the tears.

"Your Majesty, how are you feeling?"

"My stomach and head hurt."

"Your pain may last for a few days. Can I examine?"

As Regina nodded, the doctor approached and examined her eyes, reflexes and movements. He said that everything looked fine.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember came to palace, it's so blurry afterwards."

"I see. You probably had a nervous breakdown, just let your mind rest. "You'll be discharged tomorrow, but..."

"But what?" The queen said and she straighted up in the bed.

"I recommend seeing a psychologist."

"A psychologist? Zelena?" She turned to her sister and looked with questioning eyes.

"We'll talk about it later, Regina." She smiled slightly. "Thank you, let me accompany you."

After the red-haired woman sent the doctor out of the room, she returned to the chair next to the bed and sat down.

"Zelena?"

"Do you remember what happened in this morning?"

The brunette woman bit her lip nervously.

"I promise, we are going to find a way, Regina. I will bring you together, if it is the last thing I do."

"He don't want to see me, Zel."

"Give him a little time. I'm sure he'll come to you himself."

Regina suddenly frowned. The moments when she cluttered her room flashed in her mind. What happened next? She... Lost self-control?!

As she began to take deep breaths, the woman, whose blue eyes widened with concern, got up from the chair and sat on the bed.

"Gina?"

"I..." Her eyes filled with same pain as a few hours ago, began to shine with tears.

Zelena understood that she remembered everything. She pulled her into a hug carefully, not letting her be alone again in the deep pain she was feeling.

"Shh, it's okay. It's over, I'm with you."

Regina had already buried her head in her chest and started to cry again.

The next morning, while they were leaving the hospital, the press was still standing guard at the door. While Zelena and Graham were trying to plan an escape, Regina interrupted and wanted to exit through the main door. She could have answered a few questions, otherwise she thought it would spark gossip. She who was wearing simple pants and a blouse eventually got in front of the camera, stripped of her usual heavy make-up. She thanked the hospital staff and got in her car, saying she was fine, nothing serious, with her usual smile. The moment the door closed, her smile faded, and she gave way to exhaustion. She was fed up with all this bullshit, she just wanted to be normal, why was it so hard? Why was she still giving orders in her prison instead of sitting in a house with a garden with Henry and Robin?

"Mom, come here!" Henry called his mother, who was in the kitchen from the living room. "Regina is leaving the hospital."

Emma appeared through the door in her apron, standing in front of the television watching the screen while Regina was explaining.

"They didn't say what happened. Do you know?" Henry asked.

"I don't know, babe." She lied.

"Mom..." He lowered his gaze on the floor and called out timidly. "Should we call her to say get well soon?"

Emma's eyes shined. "Do you want to call?"

"I owe her considering it's because of me."

She sat next to her son and hold his hand. "I said that it was not because of you."

"I'm not a child, you know, don't you?"

Emma was silent for a few seconds, but finally agreed. "I know."

"I want to let her to rest, and I'll call her tonight."

"She will be so happy." She smiled.

After Henry returned her smile, Emma got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen to return to making breakfast.

"Are you comfortable like this?" Zelena asked after she had fixed the pillow behind her for perhaps the tenth time.

"I was comfortable when you first fixed it too, please leave the poor pillow alone."

This earned to the queen a snort from her sister. She chuckled lightly.

"Don't you have any work?"

"I postponed everything this week until next week. I will stay with you."

"Zel. I'm really fine. There's nothing to worry about. I'm sorry to scared you, I just-I just lost myself. It will not happen again."

Sitting on the bed and holding Regina's hand, Zelena tried to smile. "I know it's hard, and you know that I won't leave you alone. We're in this together. We will get our Henry back. And… your thief." She winked.

"I don't think Robin would even want to see me."

"What made you think that way?"

She shrugged. "We didn't break up well."

"Do you still love him?"

She lowered her eyes on her hands and kept quiet.

"He still loves you too."

"Not possible. I've broken his heart too bad I can't fix it, Zelena. He has gone on with his life. I'm sure, he will want to be in Henry's life, but not in mine."

"I know Robin has never been married, Regina. And I know that you know too. His longest relationship lasted two years. It's coinciding with your depressive period when no one understands, remember?"

"Are you spying on Robin?" She frowned.

"You are not surprised. You're spying too." She smiled mischievously.

"I-I..."

"You what?"

"I have a right to know that my child's father is okay."

Zelena's laughter is echoed. "I know how you've been running this country for years. You're a terrible liar and excuse maker."

"Go find some other pastime, Zel. I will sleep." She pushed her brother off the bed.

In the evening, Henry and Emma were sitting nervously on the sofa. The woman was holding her phone tightly.

"Are you ready?"

Henry shook his head, then she clicked on her name, the raspy sounds of the phone filling her ears. After a few rings, a sweet voice was heard on the other side.

"Hello."

"Regina? Were you sleeping?"

"No, I am resting."

"How are you? I talked to Zelena."

"I'm okay. I guess she told you. I hope you didn't say anything to Henry."

"No. Actually, I called for him. Henry is worried about you."

Her son frowned and glared at his mother, it didn't need to be so obvious.

"Really?" Emma smiled when the tired voice brighted suddenly.

"He wants to talk to you. If you are available..."

"Give the phone, please." She didn't even let her to complete her sentence.

"Um, okay. See you later." She gave the phone to the boy next to her.

Henry took a deep breath and picked up the phone. He tried to his sound is strong, but he was unsuccessful and said "Hello." weakly.

"Hi Henry, I'm glad you called."

"I... I feel guilty. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Oh, it wasn't your fault. Please, don't think like that."

"What did you have? You looked good that morning?"

"It's just... food poisoning. Something I ate must have touched. There is nothing to feel bad about."

"I'm glad you're okay now."

"Thank you. I mean, for you called. I feel better now."

"I was wondering... Can we meet when you get better? I think we should talk."

Regina was almost unable to breathe from the knot in her throat, her silent tears were about to give way to sobs. She pressed her hand to her lips to block it and closed her eyes.

"Your Majesty, are you there? If you don't want…"

"I'm here, I'm sorry. Let me specify that I am surprised. Of course, I would like to meet you, there is nothing I want more than that. And... Please don't call me that. Regina is enough if it's okay with you."

"Okay… Regina. Is the weekend okay?"

"Yes, of course."

"Shouldn't you be looking at your agenda? Or if you ask someone, maybe…"

"I don't need any of them. I will be available whenever it is available for you."

"Goodbye then."

"Goodbye."

When Henry hung up and handed it to his mother, he saw Emma's proud eyes, but he could also sense the fear behind the green orbs. That's why he got right into her arms.

"I love you mom. I will always love."

"I love you too Henry. More than anything."

Although the days seemed to drag on as if slowed down, Saturday finally came. There was mobility in the Storybrooke palace and the Swans' house.

The queen kept glancing over the clothes in her great closet, and nothing she had removed looked good enough.

"Aren't you ready yet?"

"How is this?" She showed off a red long sleeve dress.

"You are not going to the meeting, you are going to meet your son." She walked over to the closet and kept pushing the clothes into the corners. She found a pair of black fabric long trousers, looked with admiration and tossed it into her sister's arms. She took off a white blouse and black jacket. "Hurry, the car is ready."

After the Queen changed and checked her hair and make-up one last time in the mirror, she left her room.

Meanwhile, the same indecision was taking place between Emma and Henry.

"You can wear your blue shirt."

"Isn't the shirt weird?"

"Okay, black sweater then."

"Simple?"

"Henry, my God!" She took off his ice-blue denim shirt and navy blue sweater, and matched a pair of jeans underneath. "We will be late, put on quickly."

The two cars departed from different points. The black Mercedes was the first to arrive at the designated restaurant. Regina was greeted as soon as she stepped through the opened door.

"Your Majesty honored to us." The Queen smiled gently. "We have prepared your table as you wish, security measures have been taken. A section is reserved just for you."

The Queen suddenly stopped walking and turned to the man speaking beside her. "I have not made such a request. I just wanted a table."

"But..."

Graham appeared beside Regina and interrupted the attendant. "Just a precaution for safety, your Majesty."

"You know I don't like this kind of situation, Graham. Especially for today."

The last thing she wanted was to look like she was showing off in Henry's opinion. That's why she wanted to meet up outside, somewhere normal but where she liked to eat. Now that everything was fine, she would never let it be turned upside down.

She turned back to the restaurant manager. "Open the tables around to your customers, please. I ask only those who are very close to be left blank. There are enough security measures." It would be enough for a few tables to remain empty so that their conversations could not be heard.

"I will arrange as you wish." After the table reserved for Regina was shown, her guards took their positions. It won't disturb Henry, but it's far enough to protect the queen. Everything was perfect. Now all that remained was to wait for Henry.

Emma stopped the car in front of the door and turned to her son. "Remember what I said, try to understand each other, okay, honey? Regina is not a bad person, trust me."

Henry nodded his approval before getting his mother out of the car. Once inside he said that he was the guest of the queen and his name.

"Follow me please, our queen is waiting for you."

He had thought that Regina would come after him, and although Henry was not late, she was here before him. He felt his hands tremble slightly as he passed the tables. He calmed down with deep breaths, why was he so nervous? It was her mother. His mother, whom he had not seen once in 15 years. His mother who left him.

He saw the table where the woman, that her brown hair falling freely to her shoulders was sitting. Regina was alone, there was nothing extraordinary around her. He hadn't imagined that, he had thought a wall of flesh would be built around them, but it looked like a normal mother-son reunion.

When Regina saw Henry, she stood up, her smile growing wider with every step her son took. Henry joined her, the queen's smile passed to him involuntarily, like magic.

"Henry, welcome." She didn't know whether to hug or shake his hand, but she wanted to try her luck and took a few steps towards the boy.

"Hi." Henry blocked her, holding his hand between them.

Regina's smile dimmed a little, but then got bigger again quickly, took the hand outstretched to her and squeezed it lightly. Their first contact after fifteen years. Memories of the queen led her to the tiny soft baby fingers reaching for her, Henry's little hands clasping the waves of her hair...

"Would you like to order now?" The waiter asked.

"How would you like?" After the queen had sat down, she asked the boy. "Are you hungry?"

"I'll get some water first."

"I'll get a coffee without sugar, please."

When they were alone, Henry began to play with his fingernails, and Regina felt that he was just as nervous as she was. She licked her lips and moistened them.

"Thank you for coming."

"Thank you too."

"For what?"

"For forgiving me. Your disease."

"I thought we made it clear it wasn't about you."

"You must know that my mother can understand lies. She told me that you used to be very close friends. I have the same. Let's just talk facts today."

"I promise that whatever you ask, I will only tell the truth, but let's pass this disease issue, please."

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of water and coffee. They both thanked and waited to be alone again.

"Can I ask whatever I want?"

"Whatever you want. Emma told me you already know some things, but if you want to hear from me, I'll tell you."

"Is it right?" He bowed his head. "Your mother's threat?"

"Yes. My mother was a very ambitious woman, she could move the world when she didn't get what she wanted."

"Is she alive?"

The prospect of seeing her grandmother one day made his blood stir. He wanted so badly to stand in front of the woman who had caused everything and call to account.

"She died three years ago."

"I'm sorry."

"If I say I'm not sorry, does that make me a bad person?" She asked sincerely.

"Didn't you ever love her?"

"I loved her, of course. But I wanted her to love me too. I wanted my mother. However, she cared more about being a manager rather than being a mother. She didn't become the mother a child needed. I wanted to ensure that your childhood will not be like my own, which is why I asked Emma to raise you. I knew she would be a very good mother."

"She did."

"I'm happy for you." she said with a wry smile.

"Thank you. At least for guaranteeing it."

"It's nothing to thank, Henry. If I couldn't protect you, it was my duty to find someone who would." Her eyes sparkled with tears, but she wasn't going to cry. Not today.

"If your mother died three years ago, why didn't you come then?"

"You know the king died a year and a half ago." She drank a sip of her coffee and held her breath. "Royal life is not exactly what we see on TV. We don't always look perfect, we don't get everything we want. At least those of us who don't have royal blood. Leopold never knew about you, and if he had, he would have acted no differently than my mother. He needed me to show the world, for his image; he couldn't afford to lose."

Years of suffering marriage flashed before her eyes as she spoke with Henry about Leopold, but she could not tell her son that the king was a jerk. After explained as well as she could, she began to worry if it was too much, and she asked before Henry had time to answer. "I say it because we promised honesty. Please tell me if it's too much."

"I prefer bitter truths to sweet lies. That's fine."

"I'm glad. In case you're wondering about the year and a half in between, I must admit I wasn't brave. I was so afraid of messing up your life and order. I've preferred you don't know about me than hate me. I wanted to appear in front of you so many times, but I couldn't."

"Did you have to overcome your own experiences?" The queen smiled her clever little boy. His understanding reminded her of a blond man with blue eyes. She knew he would want to talk about his father, but thought it would be good to take a break first.

"Would you like to order lunch? I'm a little hungry."

If Henry thought a few days earlier, he wouldn't have imagined that the Queen of Storybrooke would have told him she was hungry. But he was here. At the very beginning of a new page opened in your life.

Regina ordered a grilled chicken salad while Henry asked for a hamburger.

"I love the food here. I'm curious about your opinion too."

"Do you come often?"

"Let's say occasionally." said. "I usually eat at the palace, except for formal dinners."

"Do you like hamburgers?"

"My father and I used to eat secretly from my mother." The sadness in her eyes when she remembered her father caught Henry's attention.

"Your father wasn't like your mother?"

"No. He has loved me and my sister so much. Unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough to protect us from my mother. He died two years before you were born. I-I named you after him."

"Am I named after my grandfather? That's an honor."

The fact that he considered her father to be his grandfather made butterflies fly in the queen's stomach. That meant he considered her as his mother, right?

Regina smiled and nodded. "He would like to know you."

"I would too." The Queen looked at the boy in surprise. "I mean, I wish everything was different. But on the one hand, I wouldn't want a world where Emma wouldn't be my mother."

"Maybe everything is going as it should. All we have to do is look ahead."

"I think so too."

While they ate, they talked about Henry's school and country administration. The more they talked, the more they wanted to know about each other's lives, but there was one more important issue to talk about.

After the plates were removed from the table, there was a deep silence between the two people. Regina didn't know whether to raise the issue directly or wait for Henry to ask. When their eyes met, a broken smile graced both of their faces.

"Please, ask." Her voice lost its strength and turned to a whisper.

"Is my father alive?"

"Yes. His name is Robin. Robin Locksley."

"Aren't you in contact?"

"The last time I saw him was sixteen years ago."

"Does he know about me?"

"No. If he had known, he wouldn't have left you or me. It would have ended as you can imagine. I couldn't take the risk."

"It doesn't seem fair that you plan everything yourself. He had a say."

"I know… But I was terrified, Henry, I loved you and him too much to endanger."

"I want to know him too. We're going to have to say it at some point."

"I'll set up a meeting this week and explain, I promise."

"Are you going to him as queen or as Regina?"

"What does it matter?"

"Can't you see that it matters a lot? While I can see that you still love him, you can't be feeling it. It's not the queen who loves him, it's Regina."

The fact that Henry was no longer the baby she held in her arms fifteen years ago struck Regina once again. He was old enough to give advice to his mother. His heart was big enough to give her a chance to be his mother.

They chatted for a while longer, and when they realize that the hours have passed, they realized that it was time to leave. There was a sadness in both of them, but this would not be their last meeting.

"Thank you for today, Henry. It was very meaningful to me." Regina said as they got to her car. Emma's yellow car was also waiting for Henry.

"Thank you too. I am happy that we have spoken clearly about everything."

"Can we hug, if it's not too much for you?" She asked with a small pleading smile.

Henry hesitated for a moment, but took a step towards his mother and slipped into her arms. It felt so much better than being wrapped in a simple piece of cloth, the vanilla scent was more intense, the peace he felt was greater. The eyes of the two people with their arms wrapped around each other were filled with tears, they could not help it. Although they didn't want to let go, necessity separated them.

"I'll let you know when I set up the meeting I promised." The queen said, her voice hoarse as she struggled to cry.

"Would you give me your phone?"

Regina took her phone out of her bag and handed it to the boy. Henry saw on the screen a photo of Regina with a baby in her arms. His lips opened in surprise.

"Is-Is this me?"

"One of our few photos." The urge to cry became so intense that she had to bite her lip.

Henry didn't dare lift his watering eyes from the screen. He quickly pressed the numbers and handed the phone back to Regina.

"You don't need to call my mom. You can call me."

Regina no longer had the strength to speak up, she nodded, smiling. Now they could see the tears in each other's eyes.

"See you soon," Henry whispered. He murmured and took quick steps towards the waiting car. After opening the yellow door, he turned his head and took a quick glance at where he had left his mother before stepping inside, seeing that Regina still hadn't gotten in the car.

She walked through the open door after seeing Henry safely get into the car. The tears that she had been holding for hours were discharged with all her emotions. The tears were of happiness this time, unlike years.

The queen's radiant mood soon took over the entire palace. After a gloomy week, it felt like medicine to everyone. Especially to Regina. She couldn't help her heart pounding as she thought she had another meeting to make, and since it would be hard for her to dare again if she waited any longer, she called the Locskley Law Firm personally the day after she met with Henry and requested an appointment with Robin Locksley. Although call of the queen surprised the secretary , she set up an appointment for the next morning.

"Mr. Locksley, I know you want program in bulk, but you have a very important appointment tomorrow, I wanted to let you know."

Robin turned his eyes from the computer screen to his assistant. "Who?"

"Regina Mills. I just spoke to our queen!" As the woman spoke with great excitement, in a way that would have screamed and danced if she is not embarrassed, Robin's face was filled with astonishment, and he fell into silence.

"I get it Ella. What time?"

While Ella was surprised at the calmness of her boss, her joy faded and gave way to professionalism again. "At 10 a.m."

"Thank you." He turned back to the computer screen and began pressing keys on his keyboard.

The moment the little woman left the room and closed the door, he erased the complex letters in the last two lines of the document and lowered the cover of the computer. He propped his elbows on the table and covered his face with his hands.

The last time Regina wanted to meet, she had thrown his life away. It took years for Robin to get over that day, and no matter what he told himself, he couldn't even get over it. He was just trying to put aside the pain in his heart and move on with his life. In fact, this was not possible when seeing the face of the woman in every news he opened every morning, every evening.

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this mother-son meeting. Everything will be better, we are getting together!
Regina and Robin will meet in the next chapter, I have to say in advance that it will be a bit of a hard confrontation.
Thank you for reading! See you soon!
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