The next day came faster than they expected. Emma's phone started beeping but she ignored it sleepily. She felt exhausted... this case was taking the best of her. She felt like she was both physically and mentally tired for the first time in forever. Regina twisted on the bed and and knitted her eyes in great discomfort.
"Are you awake?"
Emma murmured half asleep and twisted on her side. Regina just moaned and got out of the bed dizzily. The very next moment she was in the bathroom hugging the toilet while throwing up violently. She coughed annoyed as she barfed and wiped her mouth with a piece of toilet paper. Her head was spinning...
She leaned her head on the toilet seat and groaned. Emma followed her inside the bathroom and kneeled down on the floor rubbing her back.
"You're probably still jet lagged."
"Jet lag is not about throwing up Emma..."
She huffed out of breath and stood up slowly holding Emma's shoulder for support.
"Food poisoning?"
"How the hell can I know? I'm not a doctor."
Regina replied pretty irritated and tacked her hair behind her ears. She took a deep breath and put on a slim satin purple dress. Emma couldn't help but stare... even though the mayor was sick she wouldn't allow herself to look untidily.
"Are you in the mood for breakfast?"
Emma asked her in wary not leaving Regina's eyes for a second. The queen didn't seem like she was in a good morning today. She was definitely moody and tired. That meant that Emma had to be extra careful with what she said.
"I could use a cup of black coffee."
The former mayor admitted and put a pair of black heels and balanced on them with great easement.
Emma threw a sloppy buttoned up shirt and a pair of blue jean shorts and grabbed the room card.
"I guess we are ready to go then."
Regina nodded her head and walked out of the room looking white as a piece of paper. Both women walked downstairs inside the dinning room and sat down on a table. Regina served herself a cup of black coffee, and a couple of brownies. She played with her food thought... she wasn't in the mood to eat. Her stomach wouldn't appreciate it that much.
Emma from the other side was really glad to have a big variety of food to eat. She grabbed a plate that fitted two French toasts, a couple of croissants and piece of cake as well. She had been always a foodie person.
She followed Regina on the table who was pretty focus on a fashion magazine.
"I'm still waiting for the police to let me know about any possible evidence in the gardens."
"Oh yeah? Why didn't you go look yourself?"
Regina asked not raising her sight at all.
"What do you mean?"
"You know how sloppy local police officers can be. After all they have no idea what's going on in our case."
"Actually... Michael informed them about everything. He had no choice.. people were getting scared and worried... he had to tell the police in order to calm down the terrified mob."
Regina rolled her eyes and held her head inside her arms.
"You could have investigated the gardens on your own though."
She mentioned criticizing the blond woman and focused back on the magazine she was reading.
"Regina you were missing and I had to deal with multiple quests on my own yesterday! I can't be in several places at once!"
Regina rolled her eyes for once again and stood up still holding her cup of coffee.
"I could use some tan. Meet me in the pool whenever you finish eating that humongous breakfast."
She finished her phrase and walked away shaking her hips. Emma held her forehead annoyed.. last night she was holding a crying Regina in her arms while she was trying to soothe the pain and today Regina treated her like a piece of garbage.
She rolled her eyes and kept eating her breakfast when she heard that familiar voice coming from the other corner of the room.
"MUM."
Emma's eyes wondered around the room in astonishment. Did she hear correctly or was it just her mind playing games on her? A couple of seconds passed when she heard the exact same word and voice even louder this time.
She stood up scanning the room curiously when she focused on the familiar figure standing across her.
She narrowed her eyes confused when she realized that she wasn't dreaming. Her jaw dropped.
"Henry?!?!"
Henry approached her with a worried look on his face.
"Why weren't you answering my calls?"
He demanded to know and crossed his hands under his chest.
"Henry I was really busy like I told you! How did you come here? Does Killian know?"
"I guess that he's gonna find out as soon as he gets back from work! It wasn't that hard. I just grabbed his passport and claimed that I needed to visit my dying grandma ASAP! Victimizing yourself is really helpful sometimes! Your psychology books helped me lots mum. Thanks."
He winked at emma and smiled in confidence. That little rascal was actually proud of his mischievous actions. Emma wanted to laugh and praise his sneaky mind but then the idea of Regina finding out that Henry was here made her shit her pants. The brunette was gonna flip out!
"Henry... this is a dangerous place and definitely not the kind of place that you should be at. There's a serial killer among us and I can't risk your life! You're going back to Boston!"
She kneeled down and hold his hand with pleading eyes.
"Please Henry... it's dangerous! I can't lose you."
Henry rolled his eyes and tapped Emma's shoulder.
"Chill mum! Im not a kid anymore and I'm definitely not leaving until we short this out!"
He winked again playfully and started walking towards the swimming pool area.
"Wh-where are you going?"
Emma asked him in loss of words.
"Show me around."
Emma rolled her eyes and grabbed his wrist pulling him back.
"Henry listen to me! This is the place I work okay? Not a place for children! You're going back to Boston either you want this or not!"
She slightly raised her voice.
"Is that the real reason why you won't me gone?"
He narrowed his eyes examining Emma's face.
"Excuse me?"
"I know Regina is around here... You obviously don't want me to cross paths with her."
Emma shut her eyes and rubbed her temples.
"No it's not that! It's just..."
She had no idea what kind of excuse would do the job. She couldn't lie... she couldn't lie to him... he was way too smart to get that easily fooled.
Henry tapped his foot on the floor as his impatience grew bigger and Emma just raised her hands on the air. She surrendered. She had no idea what to say to hide the fact that she wanted to protect the brunette...
"That's it huh?"
Henry asked again slowly making sure that he was right.
"Henry... well yes! It's not the right time really."
"Right time for what?"
Another voice echoed from the back when Henry turned around to realize that it was Regina. The brunette's eyes widened open. She couldn't react. She had no idea what to say... it was probably a dream. A pretty bad dream. But no... Henry was standing in front of her flesh and bones! It was really him.
He froze staring at the brunette in wide eyes. He took a few steps back approaching Emma but Regina didn't move. She just stayed still looking at the younger boy. Suddenly all that pain and guilt flooded her eyes with hot crystal clear tears.
She tightened her grip on her fists and sighted.
"Regina... Henry is here."
Emma said completely embarrassed and worried. The brunette forced a smile.
"Welcome."
She managed to say. Her voice was hoarse... she could barely spell a single word. Henry hesitated to speak at first but he tried to be nice.
"She wasn't answering my calls..."
"I get it. You got worried."
Regina replied.
"I didn't mean to get in the middle of your job."
Regina nodded her head.
"I should better leave you two alone. You got many things to talk about."
She forced a pained smile and walked away. Emma slapped her forehead in distress and sat down on the table. Henry approached her and held her hand.
"I'm sorry... "
"It's too late kiddo."
She opened her cellphone seeking the roots of the flights back to Boston but there was nothing. Due to aggressive weather phenomena there were no planes flying back to Boston for the next two days.
Henry would have to stay here. She rubbed her temples for once again trying to ease the headache.
"Seems you're lucky... you're staying here for the next two days."
Henry rolled his eyes.
"Great..."
He said in an ironical tone and followed her upstairs in the room. Emma walked inside the room and the same moment Regina exited the bathroom with red bloodshot eyes. She looked at emma and then Henry who was standing next to her silently.
Regina gave emma a death stare and and huffed.
"What is it now?"
"Henry is staying with us for the next two days. There are no flights available."
She mentioned and escorted Henry inside.
"Great... I'm gonna go take a look at the gardens. You guys can spend some time together."
"Regina there's no need."
Before she got the time to finish her sentence Regina exited the room. Emma breathed out in desperation and sat down on the bed. Henry looked like he was lost in his thoughts. He didn't seem like he was in the mood to talk. He was probably fighting with her feelings for his mother... he was way too confused to think straight right now.
Regina headed outside in the gardens trying her best to ignore the warm tears running down her cheeks. She sniffed wiping away the tears that managed to escaped and looked around her. The garden area was way too big. The killer had surely plenty of time to do whatever he had to here without anyone noticing.
She started walking around the gardens when she tripped on something and landed on her ass. She groaned annoyed and looked down seeking for the object that made her fall.
There was a knife laying in the middle of the path covered with mud and a weird red substance. Blood... she kneeled down examining the knife to realize that it was a hunting knife. Like the kind of knife the criminal used to hurt Briana.
Whoever was behind all this was pretty familiar with hunting techniques... her phone started ringing and shook her thoughts away. She cleared her throat and answered the call.
"Agent Mills talking. Who is this?"
"Is Henry there?"
"Killian?"
"Please tell me he's there! I can't find anywhere! Emma is gonna to kill me!"
He yelled all worried.
"It's okay pirate. Henry is with us."
She replied and heard Killian breathing out in relief.
"Thank god. How did you take it?"
"Take what?"
"Reuniting with Henry."
"It's none of your business."
She rolled her eyes.
"Okay queeny I'm sorry. I was just trying to be nice."
"Whatever."
Silence followed.
"Killian?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a random question?"
"Go on."
"Have you talked to anyone from storybrooke since the destruction of the town?"
She asked and frowned.
"No... I haven't! Why?"
"I was just wondering that's all."
She smiled broadly. She was now sure that Killian wasn't as innocent as he seemed. He both a liar and a traitor.
"Have a wonderful day."
She replied and hung up the phone. Now there was only one question torturing her pretty head. How was she supposed to convince and tell Emma?
-To be continued
