Regina was pulling the bedcover aside, and rearranging the pillows to fit her use, when she felt eyes on her. She turned her head so she can look over her shoulder, and found Henry standing behind her. The flannel-type pants and royal blue shirt suited him well, and she was glad that she was able to guess her son's size correctly, even though she hadn't seen him for a year.

"All ready for bed?" she asked, turning around.

"Yeah." He answered, walking into the room.

"You want me to tuck you in?" she asked half-heartedly, her eyes searching his for any clues as to what happened that morning that left him so rattled up. Not to mention that she was hoping that he will ask to spend the night with her. She wanted it with everything in her, but she didn't want to seem too attached. After all, the last thing she wanted was to drive him away once more.

He smiled mischievously at her, "I think you already know the answer." He quipped, and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "You arranged the pillows for two people." He pointed out, as he motioned towards the pillows.

She turned her head, and found that she did indeed arrange the pillows to accommodate two people. "I didn't realize that!" she mumbled truthfully, before she turned back and took his face into her hands. But before she could let him know that she wasn't trying to force anything on him, he put her mind at ease.

"It's okay. I'm not ready to sleep in my room just yet." He confessed, and she smiled comfortingly at him, though she couldn't keep the happiness from shinning in her eyes. She wasn't ready to part with him just yet, she missed him terribly and still couldn't believe that he came back to her. But on the other hand, she didn't want to force anything on him. And so, she was tremendously relieved and comforted by his words. Her son wanted to be around her, and still needed her.

She slowly guided him towards the bed, and watched happily as he climbed under the covers, scooting over to the other side before he patted the bed next to him.

She happily obliged, chuckling at her son's antics. He used to do exactly that every night when she would tuck him in and pretend to forget about reading him a story. He would pat the bed next to him, a serious expression on his face, before he reached over and grabbed the storybook she conveniently left on his nightstand. It warmed her heart to see that her son didn't forget their time with each other entirely. He remembered the little things, the things that were uniquely theirs, and it brought unimaginable joy to her fragile and broken heart.

Once she adjusted the covers over the both of them, she put her pillow against the headboard, and leaned back against it, her arms open in invitation, one which Henry happily accepted. He wiggled close to her, put his head on her chest and wrapped his arms around her waist, sighing in relief when he felt her arms go around his body, as she planted a kiss to the top of his head, one hand already combing through his messy brown hair.

"So," she started, and judging by how he stiffened slightly in her arms, she suspected that he knew what she was about to say. "Do you want to tell me what happened today at Snow's apartment?" she asked cautiously.

He stayed silent, debating whether or not he should tell his mother everything, or should he even tell her at all. He had no idea where to begin, or how he was supposed to tell her what happened without opening old wounds for her once more. He knew she was fighting against the darkness that had consumed her for so long, and that she once again was broken hearted. So the last thing he wanted to do was add to her pain. But he knew his mother, and he knew her well. She will never let it go, not until she finds out what left him so rattled up. She never let anything that upset him slide before, so why would she start now?

"Henry." Regina called softly.

"They didn't remember," he mumbled quietly, his voice a tad over a whisper that she nearly missed it hadn't she been paying attention.

"Didn't remember what?" she wondered.

He sighed, before he pulled back slightly from the hug, so he can look at her. He smiled softly at the confused and worried look in her eyes, before he answered her question.

"My birthday."

This only confused Regina even further, and it showed on her face.

"My birthday was after the curse broke, I was living with them, and no one remembered. Not even Emma," he elaborated, and Regina's heart sank. She had always assumed they celebrated it, that Emma would never forget such a day, no matter how bad it was. Even if his birthday was two days after Snow killed Cora, she always assumed that Emma at least celebrated it when things calmed down a bit. She had half a mind to go bite Emma's head off right then and there. But if she thought she was angry now, she certainly was mistaken. For what Henry said next nearly turned her back into the Evil Queen right then and there.

"Grandma and Grandpa looked like fish out of water. They didn't even know when my birthday was!" he added dejectedly.

"Oh Henry!" she exclaimed sadly. She can forgive the three idiots for hurting her, but she can never forgive them for hurting her son. She can never forgive anyone for that.

"And the worst part is," he continued, much to Regina's surprise.

'That wasn't it!' she couldn't help but think to herself.

"Grandma always said that she was good to you when you were married to the King, that she was happy when you two got married because she cared about you," he blabbered, "but she didn't even know your birthday!" he exclaimed in frustration.

"Sweetheart," she breathed in surprise, "you're mad at them for my sake?" she asked in disbelief.

"I know that she already apologized for that today, but…." He shook his head in frustration. "When I got the book, I thought that you were either a villain or a hero. But now I know that it's never that simple. That even the most honorable of heroes sometimes do inexplicable things. Grandma killed your mother, and Emma didn't even tell me. I found out after the trigger was activated when Grandma said it herself. She knew that Grandma actually killed your mother and she didn't tell me," he ranted.

"She probably didn't want you to be disappointed in Snow," Regina argued, not seeing where he was going with this.

"And yet," he said suggestively, "she had no problem telling me that you killed Archie." He finished gravely.

Regina froze, she knew that Emma told him that they thought she had killed Archie when her mother had framed her. Hell, she saw Henry's reaction, how he didn't even stand up for her, didn't even seem to doubt that she could do such a thing. She didn't know what to say.

"You owned up to the things you did, they keep reminding you of it, make sure you never forget. But not once did any of them own up to the wrongs they did you. Except for Grandma, maybe. They claim to be the heroes when all of them have done some terrible things at some point, all in the name of the greater good." He finished.

"Sweetheart, you don't have to be mad at them for my sake. Snow and I already talked about our past, and we really did put it to rest." She soothed him, but he shook his head defiantly at her.

"No, Mom. That's not what I mean," he objected. "Emma claimed that she was only doing what was best for me, but she had her own selfish reasons. She told me you killed Archie, and lied to me about your mother's death. She was going to take me back to New York with the fake memories you gave me so that I wouldn't remember the life I had with you. She even decided that we were gonna go back to living in New York without asking me what I wanted. She didn't even take your feelings or your rights into consideration, but she got mad when I told her that I was staying with you. Said that she and I needed to discuss it first." He explained. "I had to drag her here, and bent over backwards to make her stay, all the while pushing you away, and it made her think that somehow that takes away your rights and gives them to her." He added.

Regina was shocked by her son's words, she knew that Emma thought she had no rights over Henry anymore, but it surprised her that even her son picked up on it. She didn't know that Emma hadn't told Henry about Snow killing her mother. She sighed, knowing that despite the fact that she wants to kill Emma at the moment, she had to do the right thing.

"Henry, listen to me," she said. "I know that Emma may have stayed here unwillingly at first, that she did not seem like she wanted you at the time. But sweetheart, that doesn't mean she doesn't want you now. She loves you very much, and she does want what is best for you. But maybe she's going about it the wrong way." She explained softly.

"Mom, I don't doubt that she loves me now. But that doesn't mean that she doesn't think she is entitled to certain rights that she is not even willing to give you, let alone admit that they are actually yours. And she even gets mad when she is treated the same way. And I can't help but feel guilty. After all, I do have a hand in it all." He argued.

"Sweetheart, you were a child. We were the adults, and I won't lie to you. None of us handled it correctly." She soothed.

"I guess I'm just coming to terms with the fact that it is never as simple or black and white as heroes and villains!" he pointed out, and she smiled at him.

"No, baby. I'm afraid it's not." She confirmed sadly, before she leaned forward, and kissed his forehead.

He leaned into her kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist once more, before he laid his head under her chin, as she slid down under the covers.

"Henry, I don't want you to stay stuck in the past. Don't dwell on it. Believe me, I know better than anyone that it won't do much good. Just leave it all where it belongs, learn from it, and focus on what's to come. Alright?" she suggested, and he nodded in response.

"I love you, Mom." He mumbled sleepily.

She smiled against his head, "I love you too baby."

Unbeknown to both mother and son, a pair of furious red eyes were watching the entire interaction. The red pupils were not just from the anger, but rather the pure evil and malice filing the creature's cold and black heart. The sight before it only added to the rage swirling inside.

Regina and Henry were about to fall asleep, when the various barking of dogs reached their ears. The barking was hysterical, almost as if in fear of something, but nothing else was heard. Regina got up and looked outside her window, but saw nothing but the empty street, the starlit sky, and the partially hidden moon. She shook her head at her own paranoia, and turned back towards the bed. She smile reassuringly at Henry's tired, inquisitive look.

"Everything's alright, sweetheart. Go to sleep."

The next morning, everything went as normal as it can in a magical town. People went out to open their businesses, as others hurried to get to their jobs. Even the dogs who had gone on a seemingly inexplicable barking frenzy the night before, seemed to be running about happily with their owners.

Regina and Henry stood in front of his school, as she adjusted his tie and jacket. It was his first day back at school, and her first day back at work. She knew that they both had a long way ahead of them, but she thought that they both needed some normalcy in their lives.

"All ready?" she asked.

"Yeah. It should be fun going back there." He commented, and she smiled at the enthusiasm in his eyes.

"Swing by after school, we'll have a late lunch together." She said.

"Actually," he bit his lip uncertainly, and she furrowed her eyebrows questioningly at him. "Is it okay if I go see Emma? I think I should have a calm and rational conversation with her." He explained.

"Are you sure you're up for it?" Regina wondered.

"Yeah, I think so." He replied, and she nodded. "I'll come by as soon as I'm done." He added.

"If you want to spend the day with her, or even the night, it's okay." She told him.

"I know. But I'm not quite ready for that just yet, she's had me for the past year, I want to spend some more time with you, before you two start sharing me." He informed her, and she smiled tearfully at him, though she did manage to swallow the tears. Her baby boy had returned to her, on his own accord. She watched as he ran with the kids towards the familiar building, repeatedly reminding herself that he will come back, that things have changed for the better with Henry.

She turned the corner to City Hall, it was a beautiful day and she decided against driving, opting to walk. She did need the fresh air, and it gave her some time to herself. She hadn't quite reached the front lawn yet, when a child's loud screech reached her ears.

"GINA!"

She turned her head towards the sound, though she didn't need to look to know whose voice it was. She knew that squeaky happy voice by heart. It was Roland's.

She smiled when she saw the little boy in question sprinting in her direction, and her eyes immediately scanned the street for any oncoming cars that might pose a danger to him, and found none. What she did find, were a very pissed off Marian, and a still tortured-looking Robin walking fast behind Roland. She knelt down, and easily caught the energetic five year old, scooping him up into her arms, her smile now finally reaching her eyes as he wrapped his small arms around her neck.

"You're alright!" he mumbled against her shoulder, before she could say anything.

"What?" she questioned, confused.

He pulled back, but made it clear that he did not want to be put back down when he didn't loosen his hold on her jacket. "Papa said that you were sick," he explained.

Before either of them could say anything, an angry growl made Roland jump in fear, and to Regina's surprise cower away in her arms.

"Roland, what do you think you are doing?" Marian nearly barked at the small boy, who curled up in Regina's arms in fear.

Regina was surprised by Marian's aggressiveness, but even more by Roland's reaction. The little boy seemed absolutely terrified of her. The way he balled up against her at the sound of her voice, and the slight shake of his body as he looked at her.

"I looked both ways, there weren't any carriages coming." He hastily explained, feeling slightly safe being in Regina's arms.

"Roland, you shouldn't let go of my hand like that." Robin reprimanded softly.

"Sorry," he mumbled dejectedly, his frightened eyes not leaving his mother's furious ones.

"Let's just go back to camp," Marian snapped, as she reached for Roland, and practically plucked him out of Regina's arms, before she turned around and walked back across the street without another word.

Regina watched sadly as Robin quickly followed without another word, and the look in Roland's eyes tugged at her heart. The boy looked terrified, and absolutely miserable as he waved at Regina. She put on a brave face, and waved back at him, trying her best to swallow the tears that glossed over her vision.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was suspicious about the way Marian was acting. It seemed like an overreaction to Roland running across the street. She could say that it was rather the fact that Roland was running towards her that made the other woman furious, but her instincts told her it was something else. And reflecting back on the way Roland reacted, no matter how hard she tried, she could not bring herself to believe that this was solely because Roland was running towards her.

She opened the door to her office, sighing as she readied herself to another day of boring bureaucratic work, when she nearly jumped in surprise. She stopped in the doorway, when she found Ruby leaning against the secretary's desk. She hadn't really hired anyone since the curse broke, since no one wanted to work for her, and she highly doubted that Ruby was here to offer her help, especially not with that look on her face.

"Ms. Lucas!" Regina exclaimed in surprise.

"We need to talk!" Ruby said gravely.

I know that sorry doesn't even cut it, but this chapter really did prove to a b**** to write. I've re-written it a thousand times over the past three months, and even though I am not totally happy about it, I decided not to leave you guys hanging any longer. After all, it's been three months and I do apologize for the hideously long wait. The good news is, with my work hours being a bit less crazy now, I should be able to update more regularly now.

I do apologize if this chapter is a filler, but I did need to set a few things, before things start to pick up. The next chapter is almost ready, but your reviews will motivate me to write even faster.

Let me know what you think, and I do apologize once more about the delay.

Thank you to all who are sill following and to those who review.