She was nervous…no the word nervous did not even begin to describe how she felt…..she was a wreck! She had barely managed to stay in one place since receiving her son's text that morning. She was happy at first, giddy even, that she was going to see her son and have a meal with him. But when the daunting realization that the talk was probably not going to be around his day in school, the happiness evaporated and was replaced by a sense of dread.

She racked her brain as she tried to focus on the paperwork that had piled on her desk –and failing miserably – for something to say to Henry, for a way to start the conversation, for even the right words to soothe his anger, and came up empty. He was right, in every single word he said….He was right.

And now, as she sat in the booth, waiting for her son to arrive, she could not help but reflect on the first time she sat facing him here in the diner. He was so young, so hopeful, so happy to be with her. He had begged her to believe him, to give him a chance, to listen to what he had to say. And even though she eventually did stay and play along, she was not happy to admit that in the beginning she had every intention of leaving and never looking back. After all, that is why she gave him up in the first place.

But now, now was different. She loved her son, she would gladly give up her life for him, and she wanted nothing more than for him to be with her at all times. A small voice reminded her that this must've been how Regina felt for nearly two years, while Emma actively kept Henry from her. How it must have been worse for her since she was used to having Henry in her life all the time. She was the one who nurtured him, loved him, cradled him as a baby, soothed his fears as a toddler, and endured every tantrum as he grew up. Hell, she refused to hand him off to Emma even though she knew it would preserve the curse. She endured all the cruel and harsh words Henry threw her way, the awful way the entire clan – hell, the entire town – had been treating her. Even her son.

She stared at the cinnamon covered whipped cream on her cocoa, and couldn't help but smile proudly at how even though her son didn't grow up with her, he still had bits of her in him. But then the picture of a livid Henry yesterday entered unbedding into her mind, and it reminded her that even though he may have little things like her, he was mostly like Regina. As he should be.

Her head snapped up at the sound coming from across the table, and she saw her son dropping his bag and sliding in after it.

"Hey," he said simply.

"Hey," she replied nervously. "How was your day?" she asked hesitantly.

"It was good," he told her.

"Listen, Henry," she started, as she looked down at her fidgeting fingers. She wasn't sure what to say, or how to start, or where.

"I think I should start," Henry decided to save her the trouble. His thoughts were much more organized.

"Okay."

"I realize that I was a bit harsh yesterday, but that doesn't mean that I think it's any less true. I do think that I could've found a better way to say them, and for that I am sorry," he said softly. "But I am not sorry for standing up to my mom, I know I've stood by and watched people hurt her before, even hurt her myself, but I won't let that happen anymore," he added firmly.

"I understand, and I'm sorry too. I realize that in the past I've made some mistakes when it comes to you, but you have to get it out of your head that everything I do revolves around hurting Regina, or that I'm trying to steal you away from her," she argued pleadingly.

Henry sighed in frustration, he was hoping that his mother would actually admit to her mistakes, and they can have a rational conversation without any lies or excuses. But it seemed that even though he saw it in her eyes, the fact that she knew that every word he said that last night was true, she was not going to admit it to him. Whether it was fear of rejection on his part that she feared, or some idiotic idea that she had to appear the more superior in his eyes so he will continue to love her, he was not sure.

"Mom," he breathed in frustration, "I didn't come here to hear any more excuses. You and I both know that I made you believe that she had no rights to me, and as soon as the curse broke, you assumed those rights as your own. And I am at fault too, but you took it too far. You stopped even asking me how I feel in it all. You decided that we were gonna back to live in New York, twice. You had decided not to give me my memories back, because you were afraid that I would choose Storybrooke over New York, and for whatever reason it was, you didn't want to stay where your family was, but you knew that I probably would. And so you decided to let me believe that you were the only family I had so that I wouldn't object to going back. Even after Mom broke the curse on me, you still planned on going back. And it appeared that how I feel didn't matter in the least in it all, let alone Mom's!" he exclaimed incredulously.

Emma was slightly speechless, her son saw right through her façade. She had admitted all that to herself, but hadn't decided to admit it to him. She knew he held her on a high pedestal and she didn't want to disappoint him. But as it would appear, she already did. She could feel the tears stinging her eyes, but she knew better than to cry. And so, for the first time in her life, she decided that she was going to be completely honest with him.

"Henry, I spent my whole life on my own, I was too scared to allow myself to be with a family. And I had those images of a life that you and I had together, and I wanted it so bad, that I thought the only way to get it was to go back to New York. And I was wrong, and I am sorry for that. But I promise you that I did not do all of that with the intention of hurting Regina. I was only thinking of you," she said tearfully.

"Then how come you had no problem telling me that she killed Archie, but refused to tell me that Grandma had killed Cora?" he deadpanned, and Emma's heart sank. She was absolutely shocked that Henry's mind had made the same connection that she made.

"I just…." She stammered, "I just didn't want you to be disappointed in someone else you love," she mumbled, and only realized what she had just said when his eyes flashed angrily, and his jaw clenched as he tried to stay calm.

"And what? You didn't think I loved mom? Or maybe since she was the Evil Queen and all I wouldn't have been disappointed!" he seethed through gritted teeth.

"No, Henry, I knew it would was going to devastate you, but you had such hopes in her, and I hated the fact that she kept crushing them, so I didn't want you to keep your hopes up any more," she objected softly, but it seemed that this angered him even more, though his tone remained surprisingly calm.

"That's my point. Somewhere in your mind you thought that if I gave up on her that somehow that would make me want to see her less, and agree with whatever you do or say without any objection. And I went along with it for a while, and like I said I was at fault too, but you can't keep denying the responsibility." He almost hissed.

"Look, I love you," he added calmly, yet sincerely. "And I know that I made you think that Mom has no rights over me anymore, and that you do, but I was wrong. And I need you to understand that before we can sit down and come up with a system that allows me to be with both of you."

Emma nodded affirmingly. "I'm really sorry, Henry. You're right, I may have acted selfishly at times. But I promise you, it won't happen again," she vowed sincerely, and he smiled assumingly at her.

"How about we order something then? I'm starving!"

Regina sat on one of the chests in her vault, looking intently through the book that she had in her hand, before she sighed in frustration and slammed it shut. She had been at this for hours, and was still coming up empty. She had looked through every single booked she brought back from the Enchanted Forest, but none of them mentioned a creature whose screams could only be heard by wolves and dogs. She ran her hand through her hair, as she got to her feet and walked around the small room. She wracked her brains for something that could point them to what this creature could be. She looked at the potions she had, the different ingredients that may help her. She studied every charm and herb she had, hoping for an inspiration, or an idea.

The sounds of the heavy wooden doors opening on the floor below snapped her out of her reverie, and she made her way towards the stairs in time to see Ruby coming down.

"You look like you have splendid news!" Ruby quipped sarcastically, and Regina growled in frustration.

"I've looked at every book I've ever owned about magic, potions, ingredients, charms, incantations. I even tried to remember all the toes I've stepped on, but still came up empty. It's like no one has ever met this creature!" she cried in frustration.

"Or it could be the fact that we don't even know what we're looking for," Ruby suggested cheekily, chuckling when Regina rolled her eyes.

"You are not going on a wild goose chase in the woods on your own!" Regina shot down the idea before Ruby could bring it up again.

"Regina, you said you'll do some research so that we know what we're dealing with, and found nothing. We don't know what we are looking for, or if it's a what. I mean, as much as I hate to say it, but it could be a 'who'!" Ruby exclaimed incredulously. "The only chance we've got is me, and it's a pretty small window." She argued softly.

"This creature could be dangerous, and I know that a werewolf is pretty strong and powerful. But for all we know, this creature may possess the ability to take you down with a blink of an eye," Regina pointed out rationally.

"If it even has one!" Ruby joked, smiling when Regina chuckled.

"If it even has one," she repeated good naturedly.

"You know I'm your best shot at figuring out what this is," she reasoned, and Regina reluctantly nodded.

"On one condition!" she held up a finger firmly. And when Ruby didn't say anything, she continued, "I will come with you."

Ruby opened her mouth to object, when the creaking sound of the heavy wooden door echoed once more, and both women looked at each other, quite confused.

"Henry?!" Regina called expectantly.

There was no answer, with the exception of confident footsteps. She was about to call again, when she noticed the grave look on Ruby's face and the way she shook her head. This was not Henry, and whoever it was, it left Ruby's skin crawling.

Both Ruby and Regina walked back to Granny's, neither of them saying a word, both focusing on the impending night. They silently climbed up the stairs, and entered the diner, just as one of the waitresses was serving Emma and Henry their orders. Henry – who was facing the door – easily spotted Regina when he looked at the door after the bell chimed.

"Mom," he exclaimed in surprise, which made Emma turn around. Regina smiled lovingly at he son, and completely ignored Emma.

"Can we talk for a minute?" she asked, and his answer was to get out of the booth and walk with her.

Emma looked a bit hurt by Henry's attitude, and the disappointment was evident since she thought she'd be spending the afternoon with Henry.

"Don't worry, she just needs to tell him something, then he's all yours," Ruby soothed, and Emma was quite surprised that Ruby was the one explaining Regina's actions.

"What is it, Mom?" Henry asked as soon as they were far enough from where Emma was sitting.

"I need you to stay with Emma tonight," she told him.

"What? Why?" Henry wondered, his voice betraying the slight pain he felt at his mother's request. He was looking forward to spending time with her alone, like the old days.

"I'm spending the night with Ruby out in the woods, and I don't want you to stay alone at home," she replied honestly.

Henry furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "why are you two spending the night in the woods? I know that tonight's a full moon, but Ruby knows how to control her wolf side," he sounded confused.

"That's now why I'm going with her. She heard a weird sound coming from the woods yesterday, and we want to check it out. Make sure everything is alright," she explained.

"Can I come with you then?" he asked hopefully, already knowing the answer, but he just couldn't resist.

He knew his mom well, and he knew the reaction that question was going to get out of her, which is exactly what he was after. And true to his suspicions, Regina narrowed her eyes playfully at him, and half glared at him.

"I think you already know the answer to that!" she whispered playfully, and he grinned ruefully at her.

"And I also knew the reaction it was going get from you," he teased, eliciting a joyous laugh out of her.

She pulled him in for a hug, "I'll see you tomorrow," she murmured into his hair, as she kissed the top of his head.

"I'll be there first thing!" he promised, and for the first time in a very long time, she believed him, without any fears or doubts in her mind that he truly will come back to her.

So I know that I have been gone for a ridiculously long time, and I will not blame you all for wanting to kill me, but I come bearing good news. Since I have taken some time off work, updates should be weekly now that I have more time to actually sit down and write.

I know this is short but I didn't want to leave you guys waiting any longer, and if you guys help motivate me, then I will type faster and update sooner.

I will re-read this tomorrow so I can check for any grammar or spelling mistakes, so excuse them for now, but it is 3 am and I am barely awake.

Thank you to those who read, followed and favorited, and of course a special thanks to those who took the time to review.

You know what makes me happy, so keep'em coming.