All for One

by StarvingLunatic

After returning from Neverland, Regina and Emma part ways with Henry going with Emma. Regina has to cope with losing both of them, along with other things, and deal with the usual madness that is Storybrooke. A friend from her past shows up to help her. Meanwhile, Emma's struggling not to drown as her parents and Henry ignore her to push her to be with Neal. For SQ Supernova.

8. Raw Deal

I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.

8: Raw Deal

Emma took a deep breath as she stood at the loft apartment door. She was not sure what to expect when she went in, but she was sure it would be a shit show. The second the door opened, Snow was in her face.

"Emma, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on your family dinner date? Where's Henry?" Snow asked, one question after the other in rapid succession.

Emma snorted. "With Neal at the restaurant, I imagine."

"How could you just abandon Henry at the restaurant?" Snow had the nerve to glare at her.

"Abandon? Last night the mini-Dark One was practically part of the family and now leaving Henry with him is abandonment. Wow," Emma replied. Her parents did not understand the concept.

"You left him when you were supposed to be on a family dinner date with him and Neal. How is that fair to them?" David asked.

"How is any of this fair to me?" Emma was surprised her voice did not shake the house, but the wind howled outside and she was almost sure that was her. That's new.

"Emma, they're just trying to be your family. You and Neal are Henry's real parents and you can be a family together. Isn't that what you wanted?" Snow asked.

"Henry is my family and this is supposed to be my family!" She threw her arms out. "You guys are supposed to be my family!"

"Oh, sweetie, of course we are," Snow replied. How could she sound both clueless and condescending at the same time?

Emma growled. "You don't get it. I'm never going to like Neal. He's not my True Love. We'll never be a family because he costs me my family. He cost me my happiness."

David frowned. "No, that was Regina."

"No!" Emma pointed at them. "Regina cost you, not me! I could've been happy in a shack in Tallahassee as long as I had Henry and could provide for him, but once Neal left, there was no way I'd have been able to do that. I was only eighteen! Do you not get that? I was eighteen and alone and in prison. Thanks to him. All thanks to him, and you're acting like I'm the bad guy."

"Because you're not trying," Snow said with a huff. It was a surprise she did not stomp her foot.

"Trying for what!" Emma stomped her foot and there were the buzzing power lines she was used to when she got really upset.

"Trying to be happy. You're living in the past," Snow replied.

"Oh, like you guys blaming everything on Regina? Shouldn't you be backing me up when I say I'm uncomfortable around some dude?"

"He's not 'some dude.' He's Henry's father," David said. "And a good guy."

Emma shoved David, who had the nerve to look shocked. "How dare you! You claim you're my dad, but you won't stand up for me like you will for fucking Neal. Does it matter to you at all that he was an adult and met me when I was seventeen? Does it matter to you that he let me go to prison on purpose? Does it matter to you that he left me alone, scared, and pregnant?"

"He needed to do those things to make sure you came here and broke the Curse," Snow said.

Emma sobered at those words. "And that's all that matters to you."

"We're together now. That's what matters." Snow smiled.

Emma laughed. "Is it really? Not too long ago in Neverland, you were ready to stay with David while me and Henry left. Now, it matters if we're together? This is a crock of… You two have no idea how full of shit you really are, do you?"

"Emma, I know you're upset—" Snow did not get to finish.

Emma held up her hands. "No. I'm actually beyond it now. Go ahead and work on your campaign to be the next mayor. Wait up for Henry, so he can cry to you more about how much he wants his dipshit birth father. Plan to have a baby sometime in the near future. Have fun celebrating how important blood relations are and all that."

David scowled. "Emma, it's not like that and you shouldn't talk to your mother that way. You're letting D'Artagnan and Regina get to you. They're trying to divide us."

"Regina's just using you," Snow said.

"And, of course, we turn this into something about Regina. Look, can we just let this go?" Emma wanted to be able to at least sleep here. She could only imagine the fight if they kicked her out and then she had to try to take Henry to Granny's for a room.

"We just want you to be happy," Snow said.

"I'll be happy if we let this go," Emma replied.

Snow nodded. "Want to come help with my campaign?" Like this was supposed to show she trusted Emma.

Wow, she really doesn't listen. "I'm really tired. Today was draining. I just want to go to sleep." That was the truth. Every day had been draining since the failsafe, maybe even before. Maybe since the Curse broke and magic was real and her parents were real, and did not want her.

"Okay, do you want something to eat since you skipped dinner? I made stew for me and David," Snow said.

"Thanks, but I'm good." Emma made her way to her bedroom, feeling like she weighed a ton. She collapsed on the bed, and hoped she had time for a nap before Henry came in. Technically, this was his bed now and she slept on the floor.

She closed her eyes, but could hear her parents talking and doubted sleep would come. They reminded her of every set of foster parents she ever had. And, yet, they acted like blood made all the difference.

"I think all the hero pressure got to Emma," David said.

"If we got a chance to raise her, we could've made her stronger," Snow replied.

"Next kid."

"Of course." She could hear the stupid smile in Snow's voice. "We just have to make sure we take care of Henry until Emma gets on her feet again. I can't believe she keeps denying Neal."

"Right. I mean, what more does she want from him?"

An apology would be a good start, but nothing would ever be enough. If only he had stayed dead, she might have been able to move on, but now he walked around, looked her in the eye, and pretended everything was all right. It was almost criminal. And, the fact that they would not see her side was disgusting. I hate it here.

-8-8-8-8-

Regina wrapped up the half of the pie that was left and put it in the refrigerator. D'Artagnan and Mikey were upstairs. Before she left to go to Emma, they had been upstairs talking as well. Mikey was still out of sorts from seeing her mama undoubtedly and needed the comfort only a mother could provide. Regina knew the pain and only a false version of the comfort. She had tried to provide a real version of the comfort to Henry and failed. Emma, who definitely knew the pain, but did not even get a sham of the comfort, also tried and failed because Henry wanted a man who had abandoned him before he was even fully formed. The very idea made her groan.

Regina made herself some tea and sat at the kitchen counter, lost as anyone else. It was time to concede she did not understand people, not even her own son. Emma was exactly what Henry wanted and then he threw her away when Neal came along. And it seemed like neither she nor Emma could ever redeem themselves with Henry. Have I lost my son? Have we lost him after fighting so hard to get him back?

She wanted to teleport to him right now and demand answers, but that would only make matters worse. So, she drank her tea and then started baking before she even realized it. By the time D'Artagnan came down, dressed in sweatpants and sleeveless t-shirt, she was already done with another pie.

"Stress baking again?" D'Artagnan asked. "Is it Emma or Henry?"

"Both. I think Emma's going to have a breakdown and Henry…" She was not sure.

D'Artagnan offered her a small smile. "I think he's enamored with someone new for right now. And, whatever happened to him while you were gone is probably troubling him more than he lets on, so don't fret over him for now."

"I'll try. How is Emma at work?"

"She's good at work. I wouldn't think she's on the verge of a breakdown, except sometimes she's snappy with David. But, he's an asshole, so I get it. Are you on the verge of a breakdown?" Her eyes fell to the pie.

"I'm…" Regina took a deep breath. "I'm…" She felt like she could spend the entire night baking pies, and none of them would even be poisoned. "How does one go about being a good person, D'Artagnan?" What feat would she have to accomplish to become good and have her son love her?

D'Artagnan smiled and shrugged. "You help others when you can. The best I can explain it. You do that more often than you hurt people then you're good."

Regina could feel her eyebrows knit together as she tried to make sense of such basic information. "I once helped someone and it led to the greatest pain of my life. I went on to pass that pain on to so many others. Can I come back from that?"

"I think the best you can do is try and it seems like you are. You're helping me and Mikey. You're helping Emma."

Regina scoffed. "You're all noble idiots who need someone to look out for you."

"And maybe that's it. You were once a noble idiot, too. You just didn't have someone looking out for you."

That was so true. Young Regina had been a noble idiot. That explains a lot. Regina sighed. So, she had to continue to help people. She could do that. It did not need to be everyone. She could focus on those she cared about. She could help Emma, D'Artagnan, and Mikey.

-8-8-8-8-

Emma groaned as D'Artagnan sat at her desk across from Emma. Regina did not say anything, simply leaving breakfast and lunch in front of Emma and patting her head. Emma grunted as a show of recognition and then Regina was gone. Emma's heart sank.

"You look like shit over there," D'Artagnan said.

"Long night. What's your excuse?" Emma replied without looking.

"Keep being rude and I'll say I gave your lady a proper ride," Emma's head snapped up in a glare and D'Artagnan chuckled. "But we both know that's a lie. She was with you."

Emma's brow wrinkled. "What? What lady?"

D'Artagnan blinked. "Wow, you really are out of it. What happened?"

"Well, after deciding not to be a hostage to my son and Neal, I went home where my parents are plotting my mother's run for mayor. That's also why David isn't here today."

"Yeah, because that's totally professional."

"Anyway, they paused that to ask me about my 'family dinner date.' They actually used those words. Does no one care that I want to stab Neal in the face with the nearest object? It doesn't even have to be sharp! And then they started going on about how great it was for Henry to have his 'real' parents. Again, actual words. They seem to think that making a baby is the only thing that makes you a parent. Like you don't have to actually do something!"

D'Artagnan winced. "Snow never fails to miss the forest for her own selfish tree."

"She wrecked something for you?" Emma could only imagine what gasoline and match Snow tossed into D'Artagnan's life, but considering how she walked away from explosions unharmed and without guilt, it would not surprise Emma how huge it was.

"Not a story you want to hear as her daughter. Anyway, what happened next?"

"Then Henry comes in all pissed at me, screaming about how I don't want him to have a family. So, I, like a mature adult, start screaming back about how he does have a family."

It was not healthy to keep yelling at Henry, but he was not hearing her. It was like she was screaming into the void with him, with her parents, and Neal. Thankfully, she had not seen Hook lately or she would have lost it. You did lose it, on your kid.

D'Artagnan shrugged. "You're not wrong."

"But, I don't want to be that parent. He's my kid. I shouldn't be screaming like that."

"No, but he also shouldn't be forcing you to go out with someone you've been very clear you do not like."

Emma sighed. "Anyway. It was just a huge headache after that. I'm the bad guy in the house for not wanting to go back to my deadbeat ex who abandoned me at eighteen and pregnant and let me go to prison for crimes he committed. And this wasn't the first offense, so I did real time."

D'Artagnan winced. "Damn. Look, if you ever, you know, need some place…"

Emma shook her head. "Thanks, but I have to sort this crap out… or, you know, develop a tumor from the stress and die."

"Ah, the easy way out." D'Artagnan nodded. "I can hit you with a patrol car if the new mayor gives us a budget increase for another one."

Emma groaned. "Do you know we're up to twenty candidates? This is going to be a mess."

"I talked my friend Aramis into running."

Emma's mouth dropped open. "Another musketeer. Are all of you here?"

D'Artagnan blew out a long breath. "Unfortunately, we're the only ones still alive."

"Is this part of the story you won't tell me?" Emma asked. D'Artagnan was not a petty person, so it had to be big for her to hold a grudge against Snow.

D'Artagnan rubbed the back of her neck. "It's a hell of a story and I really don't think you want to hear it. Anyway, Aramis is running. I think he has a good chance, despite his association with me."

"It sucks. You're so damn cool. Everyone should enjoy the real life D'Artagnan."

D'Artagnan snorted. "Not everyone thinks that. But, that's not the point. Aramis will hopefully try to make things equal for everyone. I don't think any other candidate brings that to the table."

"At this point, Regina would do the best for everyone and just resent the hell out of it."

D'Artagnan nodded. "You've had a really good effect on her. I hope that continues."

Emma sighed. "I don't feel like it. Regina's the one with her shit together."

D'Artagnan laughed. "You have to know better than that."

Emma was very aware that the more normal Regina acted, the more she was dying on the inside. She had a distraction now, but once D'Artagnan's family was whole, there would be nothing. That was when they would have to look out. We have to fix things before that.

-8-8-8-8-

For the past few days, Regina and Mikey had ice cream at Granny's. Henry glared at them each time until Neal ushered him away. Regina was not at all happy about Henry being around him, but she understood why Emma allowed it. Mikey shook her head.

"He's not good at avoiding you," Mikey said.

"It might just be his way of making sure I don't kidnap you," Regina replied.

Mikey laughed. "I think he's jealous. He wants to be here with you."

Regina shook her head. "He's welcome to join us anytime."

"Not with his pride blocking him the way it is. Kinda reminds me of Mama," Mikey replied.

Regina wished their situations were the same, but with each passing day she was less certain Henry would come back to her. It had been more than a fortnight already. He had made up his mind, made his choice.

"Would you like to go to the park after this?" Regina asked, wanting to get her mind off of Henry, even though this was part of her plan with Emma. It might help change the thoughts, at least.

Mikey's eyes lit up. "Yes, I hadn't been able to go and now I forgot I could. We could scout it out. If it's safe, Faruq's parents might let us go."

Regina smiled. "He's your best friend?"

"Yup. Before and after the Curse broke. He saw me, but he was scared for me instead of scared of me. His parents… They're adoptive. The Curse gave him to them, but they kept him and they care about him and they just want to keep him safe. So, when they're sure it's safe for me outside, we can hang out again."

"You're been out for two weeks."

"Yeah, but with you. We're not sure what would happen if you weren't there."

"True. Are you all right with them being so cautious?" Regina was impressed that the boy's parents kept him once the Curse broke, but she should not have been. Many Cursed families stayed together when the Curse broke. Probably from habit, but there were always residual emotions to deal with.

"I am. I know how dangerous it could be for me. I had encounters back in the Enchanted Forest. We lived in a cave, deep in a forest, but with high hills, and a couple of times I wandered off. Once, a hunting party found me and decided I was game." She tilted her neck and pulled her collar to the side. A hint of a scar greeted her. "They treated me like target practice." She put her hands down.

Regina swallowed hard, pushing curse words from her throat into her belly, but all it did was light a fire in her. What sort of bastards used a child for target practice? How was she expected to be good when people like that roamed the globe unpunished?

Mikey sniffed. "Anyway, his parents let us talk and that's good enough. I don't want him to get hurt because of me."

"That's very mature of you. It's upsetting that you had to go through such things."

"Don't worry. My mom made them pay."

"I can only imagine." She could only hope D'Artagnan destroyed them.

They finished their ice cream and then made their way to the park. Mikey took off like a toddler. Regina laughed as she watched Mikey go. Mikey found a tree and wasted no time climbing it. Regina found a bench to sit on and texted Emma where she was. While she did not get a text back, she saw Emma and Henry in the distance a few minutes later. She did not get a chance to process that as Mikey called her.

"Regina, look at how fast I made it to the top!" Mikey waved her arms for Regina to see her.

Regina fought off the urge to call Mikey down or use magic to get her down. Emma and Henry walked up to see Mikey celebrating that she conquered the gigantic tree. Regina stood up next to Emma.

"That's definitely D'Artagnan's kid," Emma said as she looked up at the top of the tree.

"Okay, Mikey, you can come down," Regina said, and hoped.

"I have a great view! This park is so big!" Mikey made a show of looking around, like she was in the crow's nest of a ship.

"It would be ironic if she broke her neck on your watch, right?" Emma asked.

Regina sneered. "Oh, so now you understand irony?"

"Does that make it more ironic?" Emma grinned. She was a far cry from the Emma this morning or last night.

"I can go get her," Henry said.

"No, because she will be coming down on her own." Regina would not survive two children up such a tall tree. "Mikey, it's time to come down!"

Emma arched an eyebrow. "You act like you didn't climb trees as a kid, your Majesty. Let her have her fun. If she breaks her neck, you can put her back together better than all the King's horses and all the King's men."

Regina conceded that by sitting down. Magic would allow her to save them before they got hurt. Emma followed her and Henry shot off for the tree. It took all of Regina's willpower not to say anything. Then, Emma's hand was on her thigh and she felt relaxed for the first time in a long time.

"Why didn't we think of this sooner?" Emma asked.

Regina sighed. "Too much chaos for there to be easy answers. How are you beyond work?"

Emma's shoulders dropped. "I'm so tired. I'm sick of hearing about how I should be with Neal. Henry's been quiet about it since his fake date, but my parents won't shut up about it. They keep talking about how cute our family is and they don't understand why I'd sooner run Neal over with a car in front of them and Henry than date him."

Regina grimaced. "That bad?"

"None of them understand he's the damn reason we don't have a cute little family. I wanted that with him. I wanted to go to Tallahassee and build something neither of us ever had. I wanted a family. He didn't." Emma scowled, as if offended by the very idea of Neal. "What was I supposed to do? I was eighteen when I had Henry. I was still in prison for two years after. I didn't even have a high school diploma. Was I supposed to sit around and wait for him? His sudden appearance doesn't change the fact that he disrupted two lives and can't even be bothered to acknowledge that. I'm supposed to just forgive because he didn't die before? I'm supposed to act like my life wasn't blown to pieces thanks to him?"

Regina nodded, but she frowned. She took Emma's hand and covered it with both of hers. "I understand your sentiment."

"Just hard to empathize because it got you Henry?"

"No, it's very easy to empathize. Your situation, while different from mine at your age, was still terrible. I don't need to experience something similar to understand that and even if it did get me Henry, I'm not pleased with the circumstances."

Emma chuckled. "Not very Evil Queen, or demonic of you to empathize with me, you know?"

"Despite what everyone wants to believe, I can feel others' pain. It's just for a long time, I thought my pain was greater." She understood now that it was not a contest and no amount of payback would take away her original pain. "I'm willing to admit that's not the case now."

Emma sighed and a light returned to her eyes. She just needed to know she was not wrong for being hurt over Neal and his entire unapologetic existence at this point. It probably did not help that he was absolutely useless in Neverland and did not help them retrieve Henry.

"I can turn Neal into a frog if you like," Regina said, patting Emma's hand.

Emma smiled. "Thanks, but no. Henry would never forgive you."

"He's already quite upset with me."

"I don't think he is. His face lit up when he saw you and then noticed Mikey up the tree. He was not happy."

Regina's mouth twitched, but she fought off a frown. "I don't understand why he would care. He doesn't want to be with me."

"He's a kid, Regina. Did you make sense as a kid?" Emma looked her up and down. "No, don't answer that. Most kids don't make sense. Hell, most adults don't make sense. Look at my parents."

Regina grimaced. "Please, no."

Emma laughed. "Yes, let's not do that, but even think of your own behavior in the past. You can look back and see you did things that may not make sense to you now. Same with me."

"So, what do we do about Henry not making sense?"

"I think you're right about waiting for him to come to you. I want him to talk to us and at the moment, he's having a huge communication problem with me. Eventually, I think he'll come to you to start figuring it out. Maybe he's overloaded at the moment, but we gotta wait. We can help him make sense of things. Talking to you helped me see I'm not crazy for my feelings about Neal."

Regina nodded. "Speaking with you in Neverland helped keep me sane, especially when my dormant magic scratched under my skin."

"So, we can just let him know we're here to talk when he's ready. But, I think…" Emma pointed up the tree. "This might be the thing." Mikey and Henry were definitely arguing up that tree.

Regina chuckled. "She's scolding him."

"Good. He deserves it for making me sit down with Neal, even though I made a scene and got on his case, but he got on my case right back, so yeah, he deserves it."

Regina smiled and they sat there in comfortable silence with Emma's hand on her thigh. They watched Mikey and Henry, who were definitely arguing, and after a few minutes the children made their way back down to Earth. Mikey was still reprimanding Henry, but he was not having it. He shot right back. I wish I could hear them. They were too far, even as they stood at the base of the tree.

"How have you been?" Emma asked.

Regina was not too sure how to answer. "As fine as I can be, I imagine. I have no desire to curse anyone to another realm, so I have to assume that's better than usual."

Emma chuckled. "What do you think you're going to do? Do you know yet? I mean, I know you don't plan to stay with D'Artagnan forever. So, what's next?"

"Well, I'd like to look for another home." They needed one.

"You want to stay in town?"

That never occurred to Regina. This was her home, so she just assumed she would stay here, but she did not have to. This was not really home. Most of the people did not care for her and she did not care for them. Right now, only a select few kept her here.

"Do you think you would leave?" Regina asked.

"Like right now?" Emma watched Henry and Mikey as they moved a little further away as they continued to talk.

Regina smiled. "No, not right this moment, but eventually. I know you've lived all around the country, but do you think you would leave Storybrooke at some point?"

Emma stretched out and wiggled her feet. "I think… I think… I think I want to stay here, even if my parents are annoying and even if Neal stays. It feels right to be here… or something. I'm not sure." She gave Regina a sidelong glance and then shrugged.

"Feels like home?" Regina asked. It never felt like that for her before, but now it did. Great timing when my house is a pile of ashes.

"I think so. It's not what I expected home to feel like, you know?" Emma replied.

"For once, I do not."

Emma snorted. "Yeah, I guess nothing around here really would be like home, except for your actual home, right?"

"I actually think I'm getting a better feel for this place and these people because of this. I've always lived apart, even when I was in the thick of things. I've never really had a chance to live among people."

"You hate it." Emma laughed.

"I am… unsure." Regina grimaced. "I enjoy being around D'Artagnan and Mikey to be sure, but I hadn't really interacted with anyone else worthwhile. I'm sure there are people like them, but it seems to be more… others." Regina curled her lip. But, when she was in the mayor's office, working with them, they seemed fine. Parents at the school or people at the grocery store were a different matter. She got dirty looks, but they all wisely kept their distance and held their tongues.

"You think eventually you'll leave?"

"I doubt it. I might travel at some point to see what other places are like, but I know Henry would never leave here and even if he never comes back to me, I still need to be around him."

"He'll be back, Regina." Emma grabbed her hand and held it tight, looking her directly in the eye. "I promise."

For some reason, at that moment, Emma could have promised her the moon was made of green cheese and Regina would have believed it. She was not sure why. There was something about Emma holding her hand and looking at her with such intensity.

Suddenly, Henry's voice broke through their moment. "You're wrong!" They both turned to see what the children were up to.

Henry's face was red and he stood almost nose to nose with Mikey, except she was taller. She was not faring much better, her face bright as well. They glowered at each other for a long moment and then turned around, focusing on their adults. They both marched over to Regina and Emma.

"Can we leave now?" Henry had a very angry curl on his upper lip.

Emma shrugged. "I'm really enjoying the air. I was in the station all day."

Henry sucked his teeth. "Well, why don't you stay and I'll go hang out with Dad?"

Mikey scoffed. "You're so selfish. You have two mothers who want to spend time with you and you just run the second you don't get your way to a fake parent."

"He's my dad! He's my real dad!" Henry stomped his foot.

"Mikey, that wasn't very nice," Regina said. At least now she could guess what they had been arguing about.

Mikey threw her hands up. "I'm sorry, but he's not very nice!"

Henry growled at her. "You're one to talk!"

"Maybe I should get him out of here," Emma said.

Mikey pointed at her. "You don't negotiate with terrorists! You definitely don't appease them."

"I am not a terrorist!"

"You're an emotional terrorist!"

"Nope, definitely getting out of here now." Emma climbed to her feet. She glanced down at Regina, eyes apologizing, but Regina was not sure why. There were so many things. Maybe because their plan did not work, maybe because the children were not getting along, or maybe simply because she was leaving.

"Perhaps we should leave as well," Regina said.

"What? No! I'm so sorry!" Mikey pressed her hands together. "You know I haven't been outside like this in a long time." She turned to Henry. "I'm sorry for calling you selfish and a terrorist. I'm sure you're not a brat at all."

"Wow, I've given bad apologies before and I think you topped me with that one," Emma said.

It was awful, but Mikey had been trapped in the house since the Curse broke, so Regina took pity on her. She waved Mikey off and Mikey went back to her tree. Regina sighed, hand pressed to her forehead.

"I didn't think you'd accept that," Emma said.

Regina shook her head. "Mikey's been through a lot. She needs outside more than any of us."

Henry glanced at the tree. "Why doesn't she get outside a lot? Are you keeping her prisoner or like a pet or something?"

"Henry!" Emma glared at him.

Regina's heart clinched and she blinked back tears. "Do you… do you really think I would do that now? You think so little of me?"

Henry looked away and rubbed his arm. "It's just… Why are you with her? Like you're babysitting or something."

Regina was not sure what to make of his reaction or response. Perhaps Emma was right. There was something there, but regardless, he still wanted nothing to do with her at the moment.

"I'm with her because she needs me to be," Regina replied. It was the pure and simple truth. She wished it were not so, but she wished a lot of things were different and wishing never did anything for her.

Henry frowned. "Maybe she really needs to be on her own. She's old enough."

Regina was sure that was more about him than Mikey, but she did not understand why he would bring that up. She was leaving him to be on his own. "This has nothing to do with her age."

"I bet she could take care of herself."

"We all need help sometimes. She just happens to need a bodyguard." Regina shrugged.

Henry's face twitched, but he did not seem to have anything to add to that. He grabbed Emma by the hand. "Come on. Maybe we can catch up with Dad."

Emma gave Regina a pleading look as Henry pulled her away. Regina was not sure she liked this situation. Yes, Henry was entitled to know his father, but he had no business trying to hook Emma up with Neal. And, Neal should have the decency to make sure Henry understood that.

Before Regina could order her thoughts about Henry and his father, she saw another wayward parent in the distance. Nanette stood out, with regal bearing in her long, cream-colored coat, hair blowing in the wind. Regina glanced up in the tree to see if Mikey noticed. Mikey was turned around, sitting on a limb rather than at the top of the tree, and looking in the direction of the playground.

"Mikey, perhaps we could both go to the swings. It's been years for me," Regina said. There was less of a chance Mikey would notice Nanette and have another breakdown.

Mikey was out of the tree so quickly Regina thought it might have been magic, but no, Mikey was just fearless. She jumped and landed perfectly. She grinned at Regina and offered her arm. Regina smiled back and accepted.

"I was thinking about how my moms would take me to the playground when I was little. It was so fun," Mikey replied. It was good to hear her speak with more certainty now. Those things happened. She could appreciate them because she had control of herself now.

"I used to swing Henry on the swings when he was little. And then, when he wanted to do it by himself, I would swing next to him," Regina said.

"Well, we should do that." Mikey's eyes twinkled.

And, so they did.

-8-8-8-8-

Next time: Neal continues being the gift that Regina and Emma just want to give back.