"Come on, Henry." Regina had been trying to coax her son into standing up and walking for the past five minutes, to which she'd had no luck. Henry was now ten months old with brown hair and the biggest brown eyes.
A few weeks ago Henry had surprised his mother by standing up by himself and since then Regina had been trying to grasp every opportunity to get her son to walk, even just a little, but he was having none of it.
Regina sighed, in her right hand she held Henry's most prized possession; his grey toy rabbit which had long floppy ears. "Henry! Henry, what's this? What's mommy got, hm?" She looked at her son with wide eyes and spoke to him in a light sing song voice. In response to her questions Henry just giggled.
At least she had his attention. The Mayor tried again. "Does my little prince want his rabbit?" Henry giggled again. "Come on then, baby. Come and get the rabbit." She brought the toy forward, ever so slightly, to try and coax him into walking.
However, Henry was not having any of it. He just laughed and produced a tiny spit bubble before clapping at his own silliness. Regina groaned, giving up. Luckily her frustrations were short lived as the doorbell rang through the hallway. Henry turned his head to look at the door. "Shall we go see who that is my little prince?"
Regina picked Henry up, resting him on her hip and walked to her front door. Before opening the Mayor checked herself in the small mirror. 'Perfect' she thought. With a smile she opened the door, but the smile quickly vanished when she saw Mary Margaret there.
"Miss Blanchard, how can I help you?" Regina asked in a clipped tone.
"Hello, Madame Mayor, I thought you could do with some food so I brought you a basket of goodies." Miss Blanchard smiled her sweet smile and looked from the basket to the Mayor.
"That was kind of you, Miss Blanchard, but I've just eaten." The Mayor was about to turn around and walk back inside when the raven-haired teacher continued.
"Oh, well keep it anyways. It wasn't much bother and I know how hard it can be looking after a baby. You need all the help you can get." She held the basket out for the Mayor to take and with a subtle eye roll Regina did.
"Thank you, now if you don't mind we're busy." This time starting to close the door, but once again then persistent sickening ray of sunshine continued.
"Oh yes, I hope you and Henry enjoy the food." As if on cue Henry let out a monstrous cry.
Regina immediately started bouncing him on her hip, gently shushing him. Just then a slight laugh escaped her lips. "One mention of food and you remember you're hungry. Come on, mommy will make you some lunch." She gave a devil glance at the basket in her hand.
"Would you like some help? I don't mind looking after him whilst you make his lunch?" Regina didn't know what to say. She'd usually strap Henry into his baby bouncer whilst she made food, so he wouldn't flood the house with his tears. As much as she didn't want to accept help of anyone, especially Miss Blanchard, she knew it would be easier.
•••
Regina left Henry with Mary Margaret and quickly made for thr kitchen. It would only take her a few minutes to make up Henry's bottle and then she could send the school teacher on her way.
From the other room Regina could hear her sweetly singing to Henry "The wheels on the bus go round and round..." Regina had to admit it sounded nice to hear Henry laughing for once instead of screaming the house down in terror for his food.
Just as Mary Margaret had finished singing about the three little pigs Regina waltzed back into the sitting room. "Thank you for your help, Miss Blanchard, but I think we'll be okay now." Regina smiled down at her little prince as she held him back in her arms, escorting Mary Margaret out.
The school teacher grinned as she walked down the garden path "Mayor Mills, you're so lucky to have Henry. He's very precious." With that she opened the gate and was out of sight. Regina stood on her step for a moment, shocked before smiling as she did know how lucky she was to have Henry in her life.
•••
Henry began to get grizzly again. "Yoir food is coming, your majesty..." Regina trailed off looking down at him with a glint in her eyes as an idea formed.
She sat Henry down a few feet in front of her and held up his bottle, smiling. "My little prince is hungry, isn't he?" Henry's eyes were fixed on the warm liquid in his mothers hand. "Come to momma, Henry. Come on." Regina shook the bottle and Henry chubby face erupted in a huge smile.
Slowly Henry pulled himself up to a standing position, putting most of his weight on the sofa at the side of him. Regina had seen Henry Henry thisn handful of times now, but every single time it still managed to warm her heart through. "Well done, my little prince, now come and get the bottle off mommy. Come on." She coaxed again.
Henry hastily put one foot forward, his hands gripping to the sofa cushions. Regina wanted to cry with excitement. She could feel the hope bubbling inside her. "Now the other foot." She said as he put the right leg in front, wobbling slightly.
"Just a few more steps, Henry, you can do it!!" He stopped for a second as if his brain was trying to process what to do next. Regina shook the baby bottle and like magic his senses cleared and his placed his left foot forward. He wobbled again, but couldn't regain his stance and fell landing squarely on his b
Regina let out a small giggle. "It was just a minor setback my prince. Let's try again. Come on." In that moment her voice was full of so much hope and happiness and it seemed to shine through to Henry. Like he could truly understand her.
The little bouncing babe creased his brow and pulled himself into a standing position once again. This time he seemed to remember what he was doing, straight away as he took the last two steps into Regina outstretched hands.
She couldn't help herself. She dropped the bottle, grabbed Henry and twirled him around as tears rolled down her cheek. She smiled at her baby with nothing but love. She quickly placed a light kiss onto his forehead. "Mommy is so proud of you, my little prince!"
Henry gurgled back in response and the pair soon sat on the sofa where Regina finally gave her son the reward of nice, warm milk.
Soon after Henry was asleep in her arms and Regina couldn't help but stare at her baby boy. She wish he could stay this small and precious forever, that way she could always protect him for he was a prince and was a queen.