Sorry about the long hiatus between chapters folks :( Sometimes RL really sucks and you don't realise it until you get slapped in the face with a wet fish.) I hope to not take as much time to post the next chapter as I know what's gong to happen and I think it could be interesting. [I find it interesting but that's just me.]

Please note – there may be some questions about character behaviour which will be explained further down the track. [And yes I do know that Henry still living with Regina is not canon at this point of the series but I deliberately took creative licence with this.]

Reviews would really really be appreciated.

xoxox

The bell above the door tinkled softly as Regina walked into Granny's. Ruby glanced up, saw the mayor and gave a brief nod of acknowledgement before returning her attention to the open magazine on the counter before her. Slightly bewildered Regina automatically nodded back, still unused to the townsfolk reacting to her as they would to anyone else rather than running, screaming, from her vicinity.

Looking around the room, Regina saw Henry seated in one of the end booths, a drink of chocolate cooling slowly before him as he was completely absorbed in his hand-held game. Much to Regina's surprise he was alone even though this was the day he was supposed to spend with Emma. Usually on these days the two of them would be as thick as thieves, attempting to cram as many activities as possible into the day. This was why Regina had come to the diner – she had expected the two of them to be there busily planning their day – a scenario which would have given her the chance to approach Emma. Regina's reasoning had been that Emma would've been less likely to make a spectacle in public and in front of Henry and this would've, perhaps, given Regina the chance to arrange a more discrete meeting to discuss the events of the previous night in a civilised manner.

Because it was something that she really needed to discuss with Miss Swan - confused feelings and thoughts were ripping Regina's very soul apart – or so it felt. Even now, she was certain that she was still experiencing a physical reaction to her oh-too-brief encounter with Miss Swan the previous evening while, at the same time, feeling a growing resentment towards the blonde for not having the decency to answer her phone at a time when Regina really needed to talk with her. Add to this, Regina's abrupt realisation of the depth of her true feelings for Emma, and she was nearly completely overwhelmed by the resulting emotional turmoil. It was a wonder that she had been able to maintain an illusion of being her usual cool, calm, collected self for as long as she had this morning.

Taking a deep calming breath, Regina strolled, in what she hoped appeared to be a completely nonchalant manner, over to the booth where Henry was sitting. Sliding into the seat opposite her beloved son, she smiled warmly at him.

Sensing her arrival, Henry looked up from the game and grinned back at her. "Hi Mom," he said cheerfully, "you looking for Emma?"

A slight frown creased Regina's forehead as she gave Henry a perplexed look. "What makes you assume I would be looking for Miss Swan, Henry?" As Henry was fully aware of what had occurred with Emma returning Marion to her husband, and the resulting fallout, Regina was unperturbed to continue, "She would be the last person on earth who I would want to think about, let alone actually see at present, wouldn't you think Henry?"

Henry grinned again and shrugged as he placed his console on the table and picked up his mug of cocoa– that non-committal shrug that Regina found both infuriating and adorable in equal measure.

Why did she have to raise a son who was so astute? Regina sighed inwardly. "As this is the day you usually spend with your birth mother, I assumed that she may have been here with you. Have you seen her yet this morning?"

"I knew it." Henry grinned yet again.

"Don't take my desire to speak with Miss Swan as necessarily being a good thing Henry. I may be looking for her in order to tell her to leave Storybrooke before she destroys anybody else's happiness," Regina stated emotionlessly.

Henry scrunched up his face as he thought about what his mother had said. After awhile he shook his head slightly and took a mouthful of his drink. He obviously disagreed with Regina but chose to say nothing about it. "Actually, she was here not long ago but she had to leave," he said.

Raising one immaculately shaped eyebrow, Regina asked, "Did she say why?"

Henry thought for a moment. "It was a bit weird actually," he mused. "We were both here like normal but then her phone rang. She didn't answer it but she got this really funny look on her face, kinda sad but there was something else as well." He paused to finish his drink while Regina wondered which one of more than a score of her attempted calls that particular call had been. "Emma said it was something had come up at work and then she had to leave. I didn't really think about it at the time, but how did she know she had to go to work if she didn't answer the phone?"

"I don't know Henry," Regina said truthfully. "Maybe she saw that it was a call from your grandpa and assumed she had to go help him with something." Or she realised that I would probably come to the diner to look for her, Regina thought to herself, and decided to vacate the premises before any sort of encounter occurred between the two of them. That blonde is certainly an expert at running away from anything that might involve emotional upheaval. Regina was determined that this time she most definitely wasn't going to allow Miss Swan to evade her. "If something has come up in Storybrooke then perhaps I need to go help assess the situation and see what needs to be done. It wouldn't be appropriate for the town mayor to remain oblivious of any crisis which might be happening," she said to Henry seriously – adroitly, she thought, setting the scene for her imminent departure from the diner.

Henry gave his mother an unreadable look and then frowned thoughtfully. "Yes," he nodded. "I think you should. It could only help."

Clearing her throat softly, Regina said, "Right then. I'll go." She paused. "I trust that you will be responsible and behave appropriately while gone."

"Sure Mom," Henry smiled. "I'll go and see how my Uncle Neal is. I don't think he'll lead me astray."

Smiling fondly at her son Regina said, "No, I don't expect that he will." Standing, she went over and kissed Henry on the forehead. "Just make sure that you don't lead him astray instead."

"I'll try not to."

Regina laughed. "I'll see you soon then if the emergency isn't a real emergency after all. Love you."

"I love you too," Henry said to Regina's back as she left the diner. He had a growing suspicion that there was a lot more going on than even he suspected.

Little did Henry know but more was happening than anyone could imagine.