One sleepless weekend and five days of none stop paper work and Regina was coming home completely exhausted at 6:45, dinner uncooked and another day of avoiding Emma Swan achieved. Yes, Regina had stuck her head into paper work and avoided her feelings and pretty much every person in town for the past 6 days- as Mayor that would have to be some kind of record.
"Henry?" Regina called outward into the Mills manor as she slumped against the front door in an attempt to close it.
Shortly after there was a response. "In the kitchen."
In a very un-Regina manner Regina kicked of her heals in the foyer and made her way towards the kitchen. That's where she found Henry chopping vegetables at the kitchen island. Regina smiled fondly at her son, he was growing into a wonderful young man.
"Are you cooking?" Regina clearly knew the answer but she was in shock.
"Salad with roast veggies and chicken." Henry stated, his eyes still on the knife in his hand.
"Wow, maybe I should just stop cooking and let you do it." Regina remarked with a small laugh.
"Well, you've just been so busy at work lately and I thought I could help." Henry explained as he put the knife down and turned to face his mother.
"Henry," Regina cooed in a loving tone. "Thank you, that's very thoughtful." Regina stepped toward her son and pulled him into a hug.
"The least I can do, mum." Henry returned the hug.
"Do you need any help?" Regina asked as she pulled from the hug and place a soft kiss on Henry's forehead.
"I'll be okay," Henry smiled. "Head into the dining room and I'll bring the food out soon."
Regina wasn't going to argue with Henry's suggestion, so she quickly poured herself a glass of wine and headed out of the kitchen.
Regina sat in her usual chair and couldn't help but stare at the empty chair across from her. It was Emma's favourite seat. Emma had once said that it gave a perfect view, what the perfect view was Regina wasn't sure. The thoughts Regina had been ignoring all day finally came crashing through, Emma, Emma, Emma! Regina couldn't shake the name or the beautiful smiling face that came along with it.
It was becoming more and more obvious to Regina that her feelings weren't those of a lonely woman but those of a woman in like, or lust. However, Regina was still trying to think her way out of, perhaps the feelings were the kind that would dissolve with time and space. Perhaps these feelings she had for Emma were just a new type of admiration and friendship. Yes, that made sense, because Regina being in like with Emma Swan in a romantic and sexual manner was ridiculous- it was fiction.
Regina let out a long sigh and placed her face into her hands. Perhaps if Regina could actually sleep on this she would be able to figure out what she was feeling, and why she was feeling it. But as of yet Regina still hadn't had a decent night sleep and the bags under her eyes were becoming visible through her make-up.
"Mum?" Henry's soft voice drew Regina from her thoughts.
"Mmm?" Regina questioned as she pulled her face from her hands and looked at her son.
"Everything alright?" Henry question as he placed a plate of food in front of his mother.
"Just tired," Regina stated softly as Henry headed back into the kitchen to retrieve the last of the food.
Once Henry returned his sat next to his mother and smiled kindly. "Are you sure that's all it is?" He asked gently. "You say you haven't been sleeping well because of work but you've always got a lot of work," Henry paused to think about it. "I mean, there hasn't been much difference in your work load since last month has there?"
Regina loved that her son was observant but in this exact moment she wished he wasn't. "Well, without magic I have to get used to signing everything by hand." Regina smiled oddly at her failed attempt of a joke. "Without magic it's the small things that add up."
Henry nodded and finished his mouthful before speaking. "Before the curse was broken you didn't use magic, so how's it any different?" Henry knew his mother and that meant he knew there was more going on, so he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Over the past 6 years I became complacent and reliant on magic to help with the small things. Now I'm breaking that habit, again." Regina explained, but she knew that from the look on Henry's face he didn't quite believe her.
"I believe you," Henry began slowly. "But I know you didn't become that reliant on it," Henry looked at his mother. "Whatever's going on, you can tell me." Henry offered sweetly.
Regina sat for a moment looking at her son, debating whether or not to tell the truth. Perhaps discussing her confusion with someone would help her work through it- but this wasn't just someone, it was her son… and Emma's son. "You're right Henry," Regina took in a deep breath. "Sorry I haven't been forth coming. I've had a lot on my mind as of late."
"Yeah, since your birthday, I know." Henry had noticed the shift in his mother's mood, and that was it's turning point. Henry had always had a keen eye for detail. Regina raised no fool.
"Since my birthday?" Regina questioned with a cocked brow.
"I'm observant, Mum," Henry raised his brows knowing Regina knew that he was right. "Originally, I thought it had something to do with that card you got, but when we were horse riding Ma said that she had written it."
"Oh," Regina nodded, having an observant son wasn't always a good thing.
"Oh?" Henry questioned, he knew he was close to some kind of answer. "So, it has something to do with the card?" Henry knew his mother didn't like him prying but his rationale was that she was suffering- he was helping.
"No, not exactly." Regina looked curiously at her son. "When did you get so keen for details?" She tried to change the subject.
"When I was trying to prove that my mother had cursed the entire town." Henry grinned, his face lit up with a cheeky glee.
"Oh really?" Regina raised her brows at her son, telling him to tread lightly.
Henry nodded. "Yep." His smile faded a little as a more serious look covered his features. "So, what was it about the card?" He took a moment to think before speaking again. "Or was it your birthday, is this one of those I'm-getting-old things?"
Regina shook her head with a small laugh. "I had my I'm-getting-old moment a long time ago, Henry."
"Then what is it?" Henry questioned, all he wanted was for his mother to be happy and well again.
"it's just," Regina paused, not knowing what to say. She had come so far and yet she was still unsure if telling Henry was the right thing to do. "The card Emma wrote for me, gave me a lot to think about."
"How come?" Henry asked quickly.
"Oh, Henry, I couldn't answer that if I tried." Regina sighed.
"I think the poem was straight forward. Did something happen with Ma that night she came over for dinner?"
Regina looked down to her long-forgotten dinner and cursed having such a smart son. Perhaps telling him the truth really would be the best thing right now. "The poem was straight forward, you're right." Regina nodded slowly, still looking at her food. "Yes, after dinner Emma and I got talking and," Regina let out a shaky breath. "Well, she said a few things, and I was up the whole night thinking about how such few words could completely change my view of somebody." Regina hadn't even flat out said to herself that she had feelings for Emma, so there was no way in hell she was saying it to her son.
"Did she say something rude?" Henry queried softly. "Are you guys not friends anymore?" Henry's voice had a sadness in it that wasn't missed by Regina.
"No, Henry, we're still friends." Regina tried to settle her son's mind with a warm smile.
"Then, I don't get it." Henry looked more confused than sad now.
"Emma didn't say anything rude, in fact she only had nice things to say." Regina knew there was no turning back now. "And because of that I started seeing her in a different light, and now, well now, I think I-" Regina trailed off, her words dissolving on her tongue.
Henry's face brightened as he realised what his mother was trying to say. "You like her?"
Regina smiled softly at her son. "Well, I'm not sure," Regina sighed, she didn't even know how to explain this to herself. "I'm not sure what my new feelings towards Emma are just yet, and that's why I've been so tired. My thoughts have been keeping me awake."
"You like her," Henry repeated, "It all makes sense now." Though Regina wasn't sure that those words were meant for her ears. "Does she like you?" Henry's tone a little louder- happier- now.
"No, Henry," Regina shook her head. "Emma doesn't like me like that."
"Did you ask?" Henry questioned with surprise in his voice.
"No," Regina was quick to shut that thought down.
"Then how would you know?" Henry contested... To him, it seemed so simple.
"Emma isn't interest in women, Henry." Regina said plainly.
A little laugh erupted from Henry's chest. "Well that's what I thought about you until now."
Regina's eyes widened as she realised that she had indeed just come out to her son. "Oh," Was all Regina could manage. It wasn't that her sexuality was a secret, nor was it something Regina was ashamed of, but it just hadn't ever been something Regina was overly obvious with.
"I think you should talk to her." Henry stated firmly.
"Henry, I don't even know what I'm feeling, so there will be no talk of this to Emma until such a time." Regina said firmly, she needed Henry to know this wasn't something he could tell Emma.
Henry raised his hands. "I won't say anything, but I still think you should."
"Well I think I should be getting the rest of my paper work done." Regina stood slowly, preparing for another long night.
"Paper work, really?" Henry scrunched his nose.
"Yes, I actually do have a lot of it." Regina grimaced a little.
Regina spent the rest of her Friday night in her office doing paper work. Her Saturday was much the same. Her Sunday however was a little different. Henry had suggested that she get out of the house because being cooped up all weekend wasn't going to do her any good. Regina had taken Henry's advice as spent the better half of the day up at the stables with her horse Riptide. Unfortunately, when Regina got home she had disappeared into her office once more to continue working.