Fail-safe- part 2

Effervescent Dreamer asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch2959 "Fail-safe" where Snowing try to help Henry cope with his loss.

Henry still couldn't believe it. How could his mom be dead? He never even got a chance to say goodbye…

He was proud of her, there was no doubt about that. She had died a hero. She died saving everyone else, a selfless death. Henry would always be proud she finally turned her back on her evil ways, he just wished she didn't have to die to do it.

Snow and Charming didn't know what they could say to help their grandson heal. Sure, they'd both lost their parents, but this felt different. Henry was still so young, he should still have plenty of years left. He should have been able to see Regina blossom into the hero she was finally becoming for him. Now he'd never get the opportunity.

Since Regina had died in the Enchanted Forest without a chance for a proper burial, the town had agreed to build a memorial garden in Regina's name. With apple trees being the star attraction, of course. Henry was putting his all into that garden. It was his only coping mechanism right now. Everyone was worried what he would do when it was complete. They knew they had to step in before that point. As his grandparents, Snow and Charming volunteered. So one afternoon, they went down to the garden to offer Henry a hand in whatever job he was doing that day. He soon snubbed them.

"You're pregnant." He pointed out to Snow. "It's not a good idea for you to be gardening. You could go into labour at any minute. It's fine. I'm better off on my own." Henry told them. Snow and Charming frowned. This was going to be harder than they thought. Maybe the gentle approach wasn't going to work. Maybe they had to be firm.

"Why are you better on your own?" Charming prompted him. Henry shrugged, moving some of the plant pots to where he wanted them. "Maybe so you don't have to face anyone else? So you don't have to tell them how you're feeling?" Charming suggested, remembering the feeling well.

"Well how do you all think I'm feeling? My mom's dead!" Henry snapped, throwing a small plant pot against the wall. His grandparents didn't even flinch as it shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. This was exactly what Henry needed. They came over to either side of him and just stood with him as he finally allowed himself to cry. They wished they could tell him this would all be ok, but they reality was it wouldn't. Yes, in time, he would be able to cope with the loss better. But what good did that do him right now? Right now, all Henry needed was a safe place to begin to grieve his loss. In the little safe haven of Regina's memorial garden with his grandparents to hold him, well, that was as safe a place as Henry could have wanted for the situation.